Before Morning

A young child comes home from school, and it is clear she has had a hard day. Her sadness shows on her face. While talking to her mother, she hides her mother’s uniform hat in hopes of keeping her mother home for some extra time together. This entire opening is shown with illustration, before any words are on the page. From there forward, lyrical, spare language, simple and sweet, carries the story of a wish or invocation this little girl sends some great power, asking it to please deliver a special day filled with snow to make it possible for mother to stay home and spend extra time with the little girl.

When a new book by Newbery Honor winner Joyce Sidman comes out, it is cause for celebration by her legions of fans. Here she uses a mere sixty-six well-chosen words to carry readers through the story. Of course, much of the story work is in the very capable hands of Caldecott medalist Beth Krommes. Her subtly-colored scratch-board illustrations are incredibly rich and detailed. This sweet book will rapidly become a favorite cuddle-time story.