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Summer, a black Lab, and Summer’s best friend, Ben, are told when they wake that school is canceled due to all the snow that has fallen. Ben asks Summer if she’d like to play in the snow and make snow angels and snowmen, and Summer replies with an enthusiastic “Woof!” The two friends enjoy a wonderful snow day together, helping each other with the snowmen and gathering parts to bring them to life. At the day’s end, they snuggle and warm themselves by the fire while drinking the cocoa Mom provides. Obviously, they hope tomorrow will bring a snow day, too.
The bond between a child and a beloved pet always makes for a relatable story, and Eberl leans on that concept here. The author writes about what’s familiar in her picture book. She is the mother of a young boy and owns a black Lab, and that is the material she uses for her story. It is evident through the writing and illustrations that Summer and Ben have a great relationship. Also, the events in the story are familiar to many, as the occurrence of a snow day is common in many areas of the world. Although some additional editing would have enhanced the effectiveness of the book, and some of the awkward limb positions in the illustrations can be a bit distracting at times, the story still has a lot going for it. The author’s book is cute, cheerful, and relatable to children and adults alike. The story could easily be read at bedtime and would make a fitting tale on the night before an anticipated snow.