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Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur — book cover

Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic

by Steven Schnur, Leslie Evans (Illustrator)
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Overview

Sleds sailing downhill on newly fallen snow, animals nestled deep in underground burrows, and families gathered hearthside to share the joys of the season are among the alphabet of cold-weather delights celebrated in 26 acrostic poems, alphabetically arranged. The colors and textures of winter—the cool blue of icy ponds and the golden glow of holiday candles—are gloriously captured in linoleum-cut illustrations. A companion volume to Autumn, Spring, and Summer, Winter rounds out the year of seasonal collaborations by Steven Schnur and Leslie Evans.

Synopsis

Sleds sailing downhill on newly fallen snow, animals nestled deep in underground burrows, and families gathered hearthside to share the joys of the season are among the alphabet of cold-weather delights celebrated in 26 acrostic poems, alphabetically arranged. The colors and textures of winter—the cool blue of icy ponds and the golden glow of holiday candles—are gloriously captured in linoleum-cut illustrations. A companion volume to Autumn, Spring, and Summer, Winter rounds out the year of seasonal collaborations by Steven Schnur and Leslie Evans.

About the Author, Steven Schnur

Leslie Evans has illustrated several books and also makes prints and broadsides in her letterpress studio in Massachusetts, where she lives.

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Editorials

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-A successful collaboration from the team that created Autumn (1997), Spring (1999), and Summer (2001, all Clarion). Schnur's 26 acrostic poems are arranged alphabetically. The linoleum-cut illustrations, like the poems, are simple and graceful. Evans uses thick, expressive lines and clear colors that look both vivid and soft; they match the peaceful, mindful mood of the verses. One quiet and lovely example is the verse for J (for Jewel): "Just as the/Evening lights come on,/White flakes begin falling/Earthward, glittering/Like diamonds." This is a book to savor and it will also have numerous classroom uses. Even children who don't love poetry often enjoy the puzzle quality of acrostics, and they may be inspired to create similar poems on their own. A welcome addition to all collections.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Kirkus Reviews

Schnur and Evans round out the year, producing another visually and verbally entrancing title following Autumn (1997), Spring (1999), and Summer (2001). Evans makes hand-colored linoleum blocks whose strong and supple graphic line sets off her rich colors. The images move from early winter through the holiday season to the drippy days late in the season, when you can leave your coat open and long for a bit of green. Schnur's deceptively simple acrostics trace the alphabet and the season, as for example, Q: "Q uickly we leap from / U nder warm covers / I nto sweaters and boots, / L ate for school / T his cold, snowy morning." The young girl in the picture is wrapped in a patchwork quilt as she glances at her alarm clock, her moon-and-star pajamas peeking out. While most of the pictures-and the poems-reflect a country air (duck ponds, rabbit burrows, horse-drawn sleighs), a greenhouse and a brick city street decked in holiday lights broaden the imagery. With this latest entry Schnur and Evans complete a most satisfying quartet that can be read with pleasure the whole year round. (Picture book/poetry. 3-8)

Book Details

Published
October 21, 2002
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages
32
ISBN
9780547575766

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