Snow

The best snow
is the snow that
comes softly in the night,
like a shy friend
afraid to knock,
so she thinks she’ll
just wait in the yard
until you see her.
This is the snow
that brings you peace.

Cynthia Rylant fell in love with the snow when she was a child in rural Appalachia. She is the author of more than a hundred books for young people, including the Mr. Putter & Tabby beginning reader series, and the novel Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Lauren Stringer’s paintings for Snow were inspired by the memories of three generations of her family growing up in snowy Minnesota. She has illustrated many acclaimed picture books, including Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant, Mud by Mar y Lyn Ray, and her own Winter Is the Warmest Season. She lives in Minneapolis.