Denise Brennan-Nelson - Willow and the Snow Day Dance

Denise Brennan NelsonIllustrated by cyd mooreFor Mrs. Dubay, who taught us the snow day dance and so much more. And to Jane, Kim, and Allie, thank you!DeniseFor my luminous friend, Amy. Cydr. Larch never had visitors. Not even on holidays.

Only the mailman had a reason to approach the gray house known to the neighborhood kids as The Cave. On the rare occasion when you might catch a glimpse of Mr. Larch, he was stooped over, twisted and knotted like an old apple tree. And he always wore a hat. But he never wore a smile. His yard was lifeless.

No flowers in the spring or summer. No birdhouses or feeders. In the fall months, when yards were decorated with pumpkins, scarecrows, and ghosts, Mr. Larchs yard was bare. And in winter, Mr. Across the street in a canary yellow house with turquoise shutters and a cherry red door, a little girl and her family were moving in. Willow loved her new house and neighborhood. Willow loved her new house and neighborhood.

A tire swing hung from the sycamore tree in the back yard. There were wide sidewalks, a basketball hoop, and a place to plant a garden. Behind the quiet gray house there was a hill. Willow imagined it frosted in snow like a vanilla cupcake. It would be the perfect hill for sledding. It was early spring and Willow couldnt wait to start gardening.

Willow helped her mom clean out the flower beds and dig up a sunny patch of lawn for a vegetable garden. They had brought plants and clippings from their other house but there was room for more. Her generous neighbors kept Willow and her mom busy all spring! Before long, summer arrived. Everyone admired Willows garden! The birds and butterflies, even the deer enjoyed the colorful plants and flowers Willow and her mom had carefully planted, mulched, and watered. Willow cut flowers from her garden and made bouquets to share with her neighbors, even Mr. In autumn, Willow shared vegetables from her garden with her neighbors, even Mr. Larch. Larch.

The annual hat and mitten drive was underway at school, and once again Willows request for help was answered. Winter was just around the corner. Every night, Willow fell asleep thinking of all the things she would do when it snowed. Best of all, when those soft, white crystals fell from the sky, there was always the possibility of a snow day. Willow helped her dad get the winter boots and coats out of the boxes in the attic and wax the sleds and saucers. Now all she needed was snow.

She waited and waited and waited. But the north winds didnt heave a sigh, much less blow. Day after day went by and still no sign of snow! One day, Willow overheard the teachers discussing the unusually warm weather. How long will our luck hold out? said one to the other. I heard were not supposed to get any snow all winter, was the reply. As soon as Willow got home from school she wrote and delivered another letter to her neighbors: Everyone laughed at Willows request.

Well, almost everyone. The next day Willow found a mysterious note in her mailbox. A dance to make it snow? Willow couldnt wait to try it. A few days later, Willow heard the weatherman predicting winds out of the north and the slight possibility of snow. She made copies of the Snow Day Dance instructions and took them to school to pass them out to every student and teacher. And when Willow got home she left the instructions at every house in the neighborhood!