From: Robin Smith <smithr>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 14:05:15 -0600

In the fall, I read the delightful Johanna Hurwitz novel, Faraway Summer, to my class. The cover and illustrations are by Mary Azarian, whose work I have always admired. We loved the book, and a number of students were taken by the character of the eccentric Willie Bentley who bestows a lovely photo of a snowflake on the main character who is visiting from New York City. Once we realized that Snowflake Bentley was a real person, we found the Azarian book in the bookstore and have been in love with it. Never did we think it would win the award. (I think we fell into the trap of thinking that Caldecott winners had to be fictional stories.)

        Imagine the cries of glee when the computer popped up with the familiar blue and brown woodcuts as it announced the medal!

        The book is a huge hit with my students because it takes such a little-known character and brings him to life. Here we are in sun and rain country, with nary a snowflake in sight, and we find ourselves entranced with the thought of all that snow, every year. His life was a monument to perseverance! His parents supported his interest and sacrificed so that he would have all the equipment he needed to explore his unique passion. And all the while, Willie was a real part of a little town with friends and family who loved him.

         The warm feelings that the book fosters are hard to put into words, especially nowadays when children are shuttled from activity to activity and rarely have time to settle in and delve into any subject deeply and passionately. The final scene of Willie's life, when Willie is walking off the page and into the snow, is a fitting tribute to a person who loved snow as much as he did.

        "...there lived a boy who loved snow more than anything else in the world."

        I think it is a wonderful selection for the Caldecott Medal.

        Robin Smith
        Nashville, TN
Received on Wed 03 Feb 1999 02:05:15 PM CST