Walking in a Winter Wonderland

by Richard B. Smith, Felix Bernard, Tim Hopgood (Illustrator)

Overview

The classic and beloved winter holiday song "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" is brought to life with bright and colorful illustrations.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening . . . Tim Hopgood's joyful and colorful illustrations show all the wonders of winter—snowmen and sleigh rides, sweaters and smiles. Follow a family on their walk through snowy scenes. A beautiful and festive celebration of the season—perfect for sharing!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627793049
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	09/13/2016
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	401,417
Product dimensions:	11.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tim Hopgood is the illustrator of What a Wonderful World, Hooray for Hoppy!, Wow! Said the Owl, and many other popular picture books. He lives with his family in North Yorkshire, England.

Felix Bernard (1897-1944) was a composer of popular music as well as a conductor and, from childhood, a professional pianist. He wrote one-act comedies for vaudeville and toured the U.S., later settling down to work with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Richard B. Smith (1901-1935) was a composer best known for writing the lyrics to Felix Bernard's "Winter Wonderland."

Editorial Reviews

09/26/2016
Having previously adapted What a Wonderful World into a picture book, Hopgood turns to Bernard and Smith’s holiday classic, featuring the lyrics from Peggy Lee’s version of the song. Using a variety of media including pencil, crayon, and pastel, Hopgood transports readers to a snowy forest where a family outfitted in jackets, hats, mittens, and scarves embark on a hike, accompanied by deer, foxes, birds, and rabbits. Music notes fill the air—and, in one case, the bare branches of a tree, and the scenes strike a balance between reflecting the accompanying lyrics and simply showing a family enjoying itself. The lyrics occasionally diverge from versions of the song that are featured more heavily in holiday rotation (“In the meadow, we can build a snowman./ And pretend that he’s a Santa clown”), but Hopgood’s vivid illustrations should keep readers turning pages and singing along. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"A pleasing blend of visual charm and winter cheer that will delight children and grown-ups alike." —School Library Journal on Walking in a Winter Wonderland

“Hopgood interprets this beloved ballad, written by Thiele and Weiss and made famous by Louis Armstrong. His colorful mixed-media collages present a hopeful world, filled with summery trees, sunny blue skies, and pastoral scenes from around the globe. . . . an upbeat story hour selection.” —Booklist on What a Wonderful World

“With a satisfying night-to-day-to-night cycle, the book not only reinforces the concepts of colors but also provides a sense of security of the way things are supposed to be in the world. The repeated refrain of 'Wow!' throughout the book will elicit a chorus among young listeners at storytime.” —Booklist on Wow! Said the Owl

“Straightforward and flowing, this title makes a satisfying introduction to the colors of the day.” —School Library Journal on Wow! Said the Owl

“This sweet, wonder-filled picture book will make a good addition to toddler storytime and a perfect bedtime read, too.” —The Horn Book on Wow! Said the Owl

From the Publisher

10/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—This festive picture book is illustrator Hopgood's second offering incorporating the lyrics of a beloved song (What a Wonderful World, 2014). Based on the holiday classic "as sung by Peggy Lee," this evocative trip through a winter wonderland is beautifully paced and illustrated with great cheer. Large, colorful spreads have a childlike charm and feature a family of five enjoying a walk through a snowy forest, looking at wildlife, building a snowman, and throwing snowballs while a bearded man in a sleigh (is it Santa?) travels by in the background. Musical notes dance across the page, reminding us that this is not just a text but also a tune that begs to be sung. It is worth noting that Lee's upbeat, jazzy interpretation of this holiday standard is a bit more family-friendly than other versions commonly heard during the season, but it still contains the awkward verse, "When it snows,/ain't it thrilling?/Though your nose/gets a chilling./We'll frolic and play/the Eskimo way…." VERDICT A pleasing blend of visual charm and winter cheer that will delight children and grown-ups alike.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

2016-06-28
In this visual interpretation of a classic holiday song as sung by Peggy Lee, Hopgood strings together a beautiful, wintry chain of family pleasures.Pure joy greets readers right from the start: the first double-page spread opens on a lovely snowy landscape with a fox, some deer, and a sleigh as musical notes accompany that familiar opening line, “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?” Readers then meet a family of five with dark hair, rosy cheeks, and peach-colored skin. The loose narrative centers on this merry band as they frolic in the woods. Classic images of a winter paradise soon follow: building a snowman, watching snow fall, sledding down a hill, snuggling up near a fire, and much more. (The line “We’ll frolic and play the Eskimo way,” which seems to describe a snowball fight, will give some readers pause.) Hopgood’s crayon-and-pastel illustrations capture the sheer wonder of winter. Dark and soft blues dominate, serving as complementary backdrops for each spark of red, burst of orange, and smear of green. One particular double-page spread showing the family in front of a white tree with notes hung on its branches just gushes with wholesomeness. Better yet, each turn of the page matches each turn of the lyric impeccably. Both text and pictures cohere into utter cheerfulness, sure to get anybody singing along. As picturesque, nostalgic, and quaint as the happiest of holiday memories. (lyrics, author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews