'S No Time to Shiver! If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! by Kim Norman

IF IT'S SNOWY AND YOU KNOW IT, CLAP YOUR PAWS.

YOU CAN TUMBLE ON THE TUNDRA JUST BECAUSE....

IF IT'S SNOWY AND YOU KNOW IT,

ROLL A SNOWBALL AND THROW IT!

IF IT'S SNOWY AND YOU KNOW IT, CLAP YOUR PAWS!

In rollicking rhythm and rhyme, an unlikely group of diverse animals gather together on a snowy shore to enjoy a sunny snow day. Their fur gets full of flurries, they outline snow angels in their own shapes, ski in tandem down the slopes, and sculpt awesome snow animals all around.

IF IT'S FROSTY AND YOU'RE FREEZING, BUILD A FORT!

LEAVE ROOM FOR ALL YOUR BUDDIES, TALL AND SHORT!

In her newest, If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! (Sterling, 2013), author Kim Norman adapts the familiar five-line-stanza urban folk song to wintry weather, using all the good stuff of versification--wordplay, alliteration, and a merry meter. Her story in rhyme carries the snow-loving pals through a day of snow play--building snowmen and snow forts, skiing, floating on ice floes (and getting a bump back to shore from a passing beluga whale), singing around their bonfire, and sharing tasty treats--until they slowly grow sleepy and drift inside for some quiet time before bedtime:

IF IT'S SLEETING AND YOU'RE SLEEPY, CLIMB IN BED.

TUCK YOU TAILS AND PAWS AND FINS UNDER THE SPREAD....

Liza Woodruff's colored pencil and watercolored illustrations are picture perfect, with her hyperactive animal actors playing and socializing all over the snowscape, giving this story plenty of page appeal, but the bouncy meter of the verse provides the ear candy which will encourage kids to clap and sing along as well, lending itself to many venues--car rides, field trip bus rides, class programs, circle games indoors or out, and simple storytime readalouds. Clap your hands to welcome to a rousing new classic for the winter snow bookshelf!

For a snow day duo, pair Norman and Woodruff's latest with their sister snow story, Ten on the Sled.