Sally's Snow Day

October 1, 2024
Sally is going outside...in the snow! Fluffy tan pup Sally prepares to go outside in the winter weather. First, her tan-skinned little human zips Sally into her puffy pink coat; then she gets one, two, three, four boots on her paws. She snuffles her way to a local park, where other dogs await, all dressed in their own winter gear. No two dogs match; they are as different from each other as the snowflakes. The humans in the park are making snowballs; some balls are big, while others are small. All over the dog park, people make snow dogs in a variety of sizes and shapes. Sally investigates every one with a good sniff. After Sally and her person say goodbye to their friends, they head home. Getting the boots off is harder than putting them on, especially since Sally is tuckered out from their excursion. While her little human reads by the fire, Sally sleeps and dreams of...snow dogs! This third installment in Sally's adventures is a simple tale of dog and child enjoying an outing in the snow. Young animal lovers will enjoy the sweet story, possibly recognizing their own behavior in the ways the humans care for and love their pets. Lo's minimal yet colorful digitally created illustrations bring the tale to life. The humans are of many hues, and the dogs of many species. Another pleasurable doggy day with this lovable pooch.(Picture book. 2-6)

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Starred review from November 1, 2024

PreS-K-A fun little book for young children. Exuberant color illustrations show a child with light skin and brownish hair, no gender stated or implied, preparing to take dog Sally for a walk in the snow. There's a coat to zip and boots to put on four paws. At the park, there are dogs and people of various sizes and colors: "No two snowflakes are the same. No two pups are the same either." The people begin making snowdogs, and "Sally sniffs them all" and then heads home for a nap and "dreams of snowdogs." The narrative is upbeat and provides opportunities for counting and talking about dressing to go outside. This is precisely a preschooler's experience of a snowy day. Nothing happens, but everything does! The bright cartoon style drawings use black lines and color shading to provide detail. VERDICT This combination of cheerful drawings and omniscient narrative, plus joyful dogs, will appeal to young readers. The book works for both story time or independent reading. A strong first buy.-Tamara Saarinen

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