Dear Annie Book

Title: The Jacket I Wear in the Snow

Author: Shirley Neitzel

Illustrator: Nancy Winslow Parker

Genre: Pattern, Rhythm

Theme(s): Pattern book

Opening line/sentence:
This is the jacket I wear in the snow.
This is the zipper
That’s stuck on the jacket I wear in the now

Brief book summary: A girl names all of the clothing she needs to wear to play in the snow.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1: An easy full-color rebus enumerates ten items of clothing worn by a young child on a winter day. A catchy rhythm recounts frustrations familiar to anyone small bundled up for play in the snow.

Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Any child beyond the age of three can relate to this fetching book, especially the child who lives in a cold clime where bundling is de rigueur for one-third of the year. The Jacket I Wear in the Snow, in poem/rebus form with the repetitive rhythm of "The House That Jack Built," would be perfect for preschool story time using either winter or clothing as themes. "This is the jacket I wear in the snow. This is the zipper that's stuck on the [drawing of jacket] I wear in the snow." And thus goes the rhyme through scarf, hat, mittens, sweater, jeans, boots, long underwear, socks, and tears. Yes, tears, for child and sled collide with a snowman. Nancy Winslow Parker's simple, inimitable illustrations in soft, bright watercolors and colored pencils create the humorous yet tender-hearted elaboration of the story. Prior to the collision, the left-hand page has a large drawing of the garment under discussion; the right-hand page has the rhyme and rebus figure--each a miniature of the original. When tears fall, we see in half-page the bundled, tangled child attempt to extricate herself from the sled. Then, as mother comes to the rescue, the illustrations are appropriately larger, filling nearly the whole page until the clothing is removed, hung, and mother and daughter prepare to have hot chocolate, doughnuts, and cupcakes.

Response to Two Professional Reviews: I remember loving this book when I was younger. I related to her so much because of where I lived, and the 2nd review stated that. It is relatable for children who live in colder climates.

Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book has a catchy rhythm to it. It repeats itself and it just captures children’s attention. I read this in my preschool class and they love it. They always ask to read it when its getting cold out. The colors are capturing to them and the rhythm of the book draws them in.

Consideration of Instruction Application: I think a felt board would be a cool idea for this book. You would be able to dress up the little girl in all the clothing required to go outside in the snow. Using this you could ask the children what they think will come next. You could even have a snowman on the felt board