Samson in the Snow

Samson, an introspective and genial woolly mammoth, spends his days pulling weeds in his dandelion patch and patiently waiting for a new friend. After sharing his flowers with a little red bird on a mission to cheer up a pal who is "having a bad day," Samson falls into a meditative sleep. Samson's dream shifts from yellow (the color of dandelions) to white as a snowstorm hits, disrupting his slumber and jump-starting his worry for the bird: "I wonder if she is out there?...I wonder if she is cold?" Intermittent, wordless spreads of the bird struggling through the storm reveal that Samson's concerns are warranted. As the mammoth searches for the bird, he encounters and gives a lift to a mouse who, unbeknownst to Samson, is looking for the little red bird as well. Eventually the pair stumbles upon a small patch of dandelions in the snow and, subsequently, the near-freezing bird. Succinct dialogue ("'I found you!' cried Samson. 'And I found you, too!' cried the mouse") divulges the trio's interconnectivity and forecasts a warm future. Lush mixed-media illustrations fill nearly every page with richly textured landscapes in mood-reflecting blues, grays, and yellows. Bite-sized bits of wisdom ("It is better to walk than to worry"; "If she is small...then we should watch where we step"), acts of noble unselfishness, and thoughtful pacing boost this missing-friend story into a comforting tale packed with symbolism and beauty. patrick gall

Introspective woolly mammoth Samson waits for a new friend in his dandelion patch. After sharing his flowers with a little red bird, Samson falls asleep. When a snowstorm hits, worried Samson searches for the bird and encounters a mouse who's also looking for her. Lush mixed-media illustrations fill nearly every page with richly textured landscapes in a comforting tale packed with symbolism and beauty.