NONFICTION REVIEW: WINTER ACROSS AMERICA

1. Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 1994. WINTER ACROSS AMERICA. New York, NY: Hyperion. ISBN 0786800194

2. Summary
Winter Across America is an impressive photo display of wintery, snowy scenes from different parts of the United States. Interesting facts about the animals and wildlife of corresponding regions are added to complement the pictures, such as a baby gray whale riding alongside its mother on a 10,000-mile journey.

3. Critical Analysis
Simon's selection of stark photographs that cover each page make this book worthwhile. Although some of the photos are his, many have been credited to other photographers. Simon's accompanying text brings the photos to life and light up the imagination of the reader as if you are standing behind the camera. Colorful pastel backgrounds of lavender and blue, dotted with small, inconspicuous snowflakes, frame the photos and text. Given Simon's background in science, no research references are needed. Simon's well-chosen words feel as if he is reading the lines to you in his voice--"winter is a time of earth sounds: the creaking of bare trees blowing in the chill wind, the howling of a blizzard, the crunch of snow underfoot." An enjoyable book, from a renown and respected author.

4. Review Excerpt(s)
BOOKLIST: "Excellent color photographs, often breathtaking scenes of landscapes and animals"
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Simon teams his flowing, poetic narrative style with superb full-color nature photographs"

5. Connections
*have other books on winter available
Berger, Melvin. What Do Animals Do in Winter? ISBN 1571020551
Sunders-Smith, Gail. Winter. ISBN 1560657847

*other books on seasons, some by Seymour Simon
Simon, Seymour. Autumn Across America. ISBN 1562824678
Simon, Seymour. Spring Across America. ISBN 0786800690
Burton, Jane. The Nature and Science of Summer. ISBN 0836821890

*Could include this with a science lesson on winter, botany, or animals
*Could also research some of the animals in the book such as musk ox, chickadee, owl, whooping cranes, etc.