Picture Book 6 The Big Snow

 

The Big Snow , Written and Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader

Genre: Picture Book     Sub-genre: Realistic Fiction
Published 1948 by Macmillon Publishers; appears to be currently published under Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

Awarded the Caldecott Medal 1949

Theme: Nature; specifically, the survival of wild animals in the wintertime

Characters: The animals living in the woods; Mr. and Mrs. Hader

                      In this richly illustrated book by Berta and Elmer Hader, we see a variety of wild animals going about their daily "routines" of gathering food, leaving for the south in the cold months, hibernating, and "socializing" amongst each other in their habitats. The charming, simple story of a harsh snow that comes to the wooded area near the Hader's house ends with the elderly couple coming outside to leave food (breadcrumbs, etc.) for the wild animals to find. The animals are grateful because the thick snow on the ground had made it difficult for them to find their own food.

                    Although old, this story would be useful in an elementary classroom for teaching science lessons to young students about the coping and survival mechanisms of animals in the wild, and the hardships that they can sometimes face because of the weather. It would also be a good tool for teaching about migration, hibernation, and the food-storing habits of many common woodland animals. Using this book, I could integrate literature into a science lesson about animals.