Children's Book Review: Willow and the Snow Day Dance

Willow and the Snow Day Dance
Written by:  Denise Brennan-Nelson
Illustrated by:  Cyd Moore
Published by: Sleeping Bear Press, 2011
32 pages

from goodreads.com:
Mr. Larch is not a very neighborly neighbor. He never has any visitors. His gray, gloomy house never has any decorations. He avoids everyone and everyone avoids him.

But now Mr. Larch has a new neighbor. Willow and her family have moved into the bright yellow house directly across the street.

Willow loves her new house and neighborhood. She loves the summer and planting her garden. She loves the fall and sharing vegetables with her neighbors. And when winter arrives, she loves that, too. She can't wait for the first snowfall because she has found the perfect hill for sledding. And it's right behind Mr. Larch's house.

Can Willow melt his cold heart in time to enjoy a Snow Day?

* This book was sitting on display at the local library.  While we haven't had very much snow, and no snow day yet, here in New York, it caught my eye.  Willow is a very likable character.  She is very creative and thoughtful of others.  I enjoyed her notes to the neighbors, in a time when handwritten notes are few and far between.  I especially liked how her friendliness touched her neighbor, Mr. Larch, who everyone else avoided.  The mysterious note in Willow's mailbox with instructions for "The Snow Day Dance" brought back memories of hearing about it (but I never actually performed it!) growing up. 

Family Rating: 1 1/2 thumbs up!