But journey through the pages, explore the exquisite detail, and you’ll realise how powerful silence paired with beautiful illustrations can be.
If you’ve never experienced the wonders of a wordless picture book, Once Upon a Snowstorm is a great one to start with.
It tells the story of a father and son who live in the snowy woods. When they set out on a journey through a snowstorm and get separated, the boy gets lost in the snow.
Amongst the trees and midnight stars, the boy befriends an array of wild creatures. They take care of him, and he takes care of them, but when the boy begins to miss his father, he must decide whether he will leave or stay.
This is such a lovely book and a wonderful experience to share with kids because you have no choice but to look closely at the pictures. It allows you to discuss what you see, ask children to describe what they see and come up with a storyline together.
It’s also open for interpretation. The audience gets to decide what the characters are thinking, and different audiences will likely pull different messages from the book.
Richard Johnson’s illustrations are gorgeous and beautifully detailed. The character’s expressions are such a big part of the story, and every single one conveys meaning and emotion.
So if you are up for something a little different, something that might challenge your perception of what a picture is and something that will, without a doubt, engage and excite you and your little ones, I recommend grabbing a copy of Once Upon a Snowstorm.
Title: Once Upon a Snowstorm
Illustrator: Richard Johnson
Publisher: Faber, $24.99
Publication Date: January 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780571339280
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book
