(2) K-3 Illustrated by Maëlle Doliveux. Near the end of wintertime, the wind--personified in striking illustrations as a large blue body affixed with different-colored and -textured strips of paper--unsuccessfully seeks a place to rest. Increasingly frustrated, Wind unleashes a blizzard that frightens a girl's brother. She stands up to Wind before finding it an out-of-the-way resting spot. Readers should appreciate the youngsters' cleverness, problem-solving abilities, and empathy in this story inspired by a Yiddish-language tale.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Douglas Holgate. In this entertaining fourth Last Kids on Earth book, Jack plans a makeshift Christmas celebration to cheer up his snowbound friends (and fellow monster-apocalypse survivors). But then a new human villainess kidnaps Jack's friend Dirk for a ritual sacrifice, and Jack and company must prevent her from summoning an evil extra-dimensional entity. Dynamic comic book–style illustrations featured throughout once again support the story's well-rounded characters, humor, and action.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(2) YA Only an anti-anxiety medication and a rigid routine keep the "howling demon" of Elliot's fear at bay. When his mother goes out into a Christmas Eve blizzard for his medication and does not return, Elliot must venture out into the snow. The heart of this novel--a meditation on Elliot's relationship to fear as it paralyzes him, protects him, and eventually propels him to find courage--is compelling.

Reviewer: Christina L. Dobbs | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. When a blizzard strands a young boy at home with his parents and little brother (a.k.a. "the scallywag") on the eve of his school report on Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, he reimagines his family as a restless ice-bound crew. Ebbeler's humorous and evocative illustrations complement the pitch-perfect tone of the entertaining log-style text. An author's note and supplementary information about Shackleton are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 In the thirteenth Wimpy Kid installment, Greg suffers through a snowy winter. Smaller escapades featuring pizza-box snowshoes and hiding from the mysterious Goat Man lead up to the grand finale: an all-out snow battle between the Upper Surry Street and Lower Surry Street kids. As usual, the abundant middle-school humor is amplified by Kinney's stick-figure cartoons.

Reviewer: Rachel Marsh

(3) K-3 When chipmunk Izzy receives Bear's note ("Please come at once!"), she braves heavy snowfall until squirrel Scritch relieves her with a piggyback ride; when Scritch tires, duck Bingle lends a wing, etc. Readers who don't question the advisability of characters risking Izzy's safety to pull off her surprise birthday party will enjoy the friends' mutual devotion and Lies's charmingly old-fashioned acrylic paintings.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Maddie Frost. A legendary 1888 blizzard illustrates the power of winter storms and sets the context for explanations about atmospheric conditions that cause extreme weather as well as the physical science that leads to large amounts of precipitation and high winds. Friendly illustrations of families and animals in the snow are mainly decorative, though a few additional diagrams illustrate the science. Winter-weather journaling tips are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Desperate to get home for the anniversary of her best friend's accidental death, Ryn is trapped in the Denver airport by a blizzard on New Year's Eve. Swoon-worthy stranger Xander draws Ryn out of her anxious bubble and into a variety of unexpected airport exploits. This funny and rollicking romance has a colorful cast of side characters, genuine emotional heft, and a strong voice.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Qin Leng. Two bundled-up bear brothers seek shelter from a blizzard. The other animals, ensconced in their comfortable homes, refuse to house the strangers, but a young fox takes pity and gives them a lantern. The bears build a humble snow shelter, and when the fox family's home collapses, Little Fox's generosity is repaid. Expressive pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings deepen this quiet fable, translated from the French.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(1) K-3 A child carries a lost wolf pup to its family during a blizzard. The wolves repay the favor, staying with the exhausted child and howling until, guided by the wolves' cries, the child's parents arrive. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations balance detail and emotion. Hand-lettered sound effects in this otherwise wordless story support the cinematic feel created through varying perspectives and loosely demarcated panels.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) YA Day of Disaster series. These fictional stories pose the question: when disaster strikes, would you survive? An unsuspecting family or group of friends must work together to endure nature's challenge, whether it be an earthquake (Aftershock), blizzard (Freeze), or tsunami (Water). Wide margins and easy prose make the formulaic stories accessible to hi-lo readers, but they should also appeal to fans of survival narratives. There are three other spring 2017 books in this series. Review covers these Day of Disaster titles: Aftershock, Deep Freeze, and Wall of Water.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) K-3 X-Books: Weather series. These somewhat scattershot but browsable volumes combine history and meteorology with maps, statistics, and embellished photographs. Each book contains a countdown of the "Top Five Xtreme" examples of the weather phenomenon (or meteorological tool in Forecasting), with explanations of the science behind them. Cluttered layouts and occasional difficult-to-read spiral and vertical text detract from the information-packed presentations. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these X-Books: Weather titles: Clouds, Forecasting, Hurricanes, Snow, Thunderstorms, and Tornadoes.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 A blizzard hits Sloan's remote Alaskan community. One resident is injured, necessitating medical attention, so six people, including Sloan, set out for help. But a wolf pack is tracking them... The characters and their relationships are complicated by interwoven histories. A tense survival plot, vivid setting, and the realities of wilderness ecology make this a harrowing and emotionally resonant story.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) PS Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. Though Walt is smaller than the other city snowplows, he's determined to do his bit when a blizzard hits. A steep hill looks to defeat him, but with the help of his driver, Gus, Walt succeeds. A familiar theme (à la "I think I can") and illustrations (think Katy and the Big Snow) make for a not-terribly-original but perfectly pleasant picture book.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) K-3 Drift is a plain, lonely snowman, ridiculed by the fancier snowmen dressed in "finery." When children give him accessories, Drift is proud of his new look. But when he gives his gifts away to someone who needs them more during a blizzard, Drift becomes "the most perfect snowman of all." The message-y story is lightened by editorial cartoonist Britt's finely detailed yet minimalist art.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 1-3 Eerie Elementary series. Illustrated by Sam Ricks. The fifth entry in the early-chapter-book series finds hall monitor Sam and friends trapped inside their school--a "living, breathing" building made animate by mad scientist Orson Eerie--during a huge blizzard. The story contains just enough tension and fright for young readers; an accessible text rife with energetic sound effects is further enlivened by shadowy black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 This or That? Weather series. Full-page photos and clear scientific explanations illustrate the differences between similar weather phenomena. For example, a blizzard is distinguished from a winter storm by its high winds; although both are composed of water droplets, a cloud forms in the air and fog forms near the ground. A summary of similarities and differences and a practical hands-on experiment are provided at the end of each book. Glos. Review covers the following This or That? Weather titles: Cloud or Fog?, Tidal Wave or Tsunami?, Winter Storm or Blizzard?, Hail or Freezing Rain?, Hurricane or Waterspout?, and Tornado or Dust Devil?

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Alison Friend. In three transitional-reader chapters, Maggie and her horse Bramble prepare for a winter storm, weather the snowy night (Bramble gets outdoors via an unlatched gate), and help their neighbors dig out in the morning. Simple declarative sentences convey Bramble's charmingly naive horse observations and Maggie's true horse facts, while frisky gouache illustrations offer close-up views of the affectionate girl-horse relationship.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes. The Bumpus family gathers for Cat and Mr. Henry's Christmas Day nuptials. Cousins Willow and Delia are excited about baking for the wedding and helping at the food pantry's pancake breakfast. When a blizzard strikes and desserts go missing, Delia and Willow try to avert dual disasters. Corresponding recipes and sweet black-and-white illustrations garnish this third treat in the series.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Bel the Weather Girl series. Illustrated by Renée Kurilla. "Weather isn't so scary once you understand it," says Bel. In these books, she and her cousin, Dylan, experience various weather events, and Bel explains each occurrence to allay fears. Information is presented clearly, but the texts are stilted; additional facts appear in sidebars. The family dog and anthropomorphic weather elements in the cartoonlike illustrations add humor. An activity/experiment is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bel the Weather Girl titles: A Party for Clouds, A Snowstorm Shows Off, Raindrops on a Roller Coaster, Spinning Wind and Water, The Sky Stirs Up Trouble, and Weather Clues in the Sky.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan