The Festival of Ice and Snow is a gentle celebration of cultural traditions, presented as a dual-language picture book, in English and Simplified Chinese. Angie Cui is the author of the memorable My Mum Is a Bird. Anna Wilson is a prolific UK-based Australian illustrator who seems to specialise in bringing out the extraordinary in ordinary worlds. This story is inspired by Cui’s childhood memories of the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China.
‘Every year, Grandpa takes us to the Festival of Ice and Snow – and every year, I can’t wait!’ The story follows two children on an adventure with their grandfather, beginning with their train trip, then a long slippery walk, and the big reveal of the wondrous festival’s sculptures, games and food. The writing is highly sensory, conjuring sweet and salty and fruity flavours, and the frosty feeling of a cold bottom on an icy slide. The child’s perspective is amplified by illustrations that have every part of the festival glowing with magical colours. ‘It’s like being inside a kaleidoscope.’ And whilst this festival is, no doubt, very enjoyable, the book reminds us of the childhood sense of absolute wonder and awe that sadly tends to ebb in adulthood.
Capturing the drift of afternoon into evening, at a festival marked by its coloured lights and snowy backdrop, makes for outstanding use of light and shadow in the illustrations. A sense of warmth against the cold is also provided by Grandpa’s protective arms around the children, on shoulders, or holding hands, just enough to offer a sense of security without preventing the children from experiencing the joy of their surroundings.
This is a charming read for any child, but may be especially welcome in multicultural settings, bilingual families, or for cultural celebration days in schools.
