Members of a snow family created by an unseen young narrator of few words are decorated with items one might find around the house or in a winter yard: a strawberry (nose for snow dad), coffee beans (snow mom's eyes), a kente cloth strip (muffler for snow boy), pine cone (snow girl's mouth), red plastic forks (arms for snow baby), maple leaves (ears for snow cat), and buttons (snow dog's spots). After discovering the ingenious double-page spread identifying the "good stuff" at the end of this oversized book, children can enjoy finding it on one snow figure or another and thinking up their own "good stuff," as well. Ehlert's marvelous assemblages are derived from a variety of textures and cultures. Snowballs brings a blaze of warm color within a smart page layout and design along with a wealth of ideas for adorning snow figures. (Ages 3-9)

Some children create a family out of snow. Includes labeled pictures of all the items they use, as well as information about how snow is formed. Pull on your mittens and head outside with Lois Ehlert for a snowball day! Grab some snow and start rolling. With a few found objects, like buttons and fabric and seeds, and a little imagination, you can create a whole family out of snow. Ehlert uses collages of cut paper and vibrant, textured objects to dazzling effect in her tribute to building a snowman--and snowgirl and snowcat. Her inventive designs extend the reader's perspective and tweak the limits of the picture-book format.