Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Constance R. Bergum Grades 1-4 32 pages Peachtree September 2009 Hardcover     A family - Mom, Dad, and two siblings - trek across a snowy landscape. Along with illustrations of the family doing the usual outdoor winter activities - sledding, skating and having snowball fights - are images, some inset, of the incredible hidden winter world under the snow. In a gap in a low stone wall live dozens of ladybugs, all packed together. A vole tunnels through the snow, looking for bark to strip off and eat. Wood frogs, caterpillars, and woodchucks all slumber quietly under the layers of snow. Below a layer of ice on a pond, bluegills swim slowly in the chilly water; deeper below, a carp stays very still. Under the Snow is a fascinating look at how animals survive the winter months by adapting to the change of seasons in different ways. Beautiful, calm illustrations that capture the essence of winter and a truly informative and interesting text make this a perfect book for any budding naturalist.     web reviews   Usha Reynolds/2009 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)