Nov. 8, 2009 - Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid

I was fortunate today to attend a reading and book signing of a new children's book by Barbara Reid. Perfect Snow describes the childhood experience of a typical Canadian winter replete with the construction of armies of snowmen and monstrous snowforts seen on schoolyards across the country. The excitement and the frenzy were artfully depicted by Barbara's unique plasticene drawings which captured the mood and experience perfectly. During the expressive reading, she captivated children and adults alike by acting out parts of the book using props such as snow confetti and articles of winter clothing.

After the reading, children and parents were able to ask questions. They were extremely interested in the process Barbara follows to complete her pictures. The author gave detailed information about the length of time it took her to complete a picture, the elements of design, the layering of images and the tools she uses. A video on her website demonstrates the process.

There is definitely something magical about the first snowfall of the year, no matter how many times one experiences it. I witnessed this first hand with my Grade 8 class last week. All of a sudden, the whole class stopped listening and students stood up or ran impulsively to the window because it had started to snow. Who would think that magic still existed for them despite the teenage persona they normally displayed in public? It was truly a sentimental moment.