Celebrate a day in the snow with Oliver who is filled with excitement for another ski season at Mount Snow in Vermont. His parents have brought him here since he was a baby and now his little brother has a ski pass too. He has a zest for adventure and loves to play outdoors, especially skiing and the occasional snowball fight.
Snowflakes are a symbol throughout the book as no two of us are alike and to symbolize how children can learn to embrace their individuality and offer their own unique unique qualities.
Oliver’s family has a house in Dover, Vermont, home to Mount Snow. He enjoys going to ski school where his instructors are so helpful teaching him how to put on all of his gear, his red hair always sticking out of his helmet. Oliver showed no fear skiing the "black diamond" (most difficult) trailes—is that the easiest trail?
Oliver is learning all of his letters and this book is aimed to inspire learning for children beginning to read, count, and spell. The book pages are filled with soft-colored, hand-drawn art throughout that show his family and others enjoying the mountain in Vermont. Kids of all ages will enjoy spelling out the words and discover the little activities that are inside the pages of this educational experience.
Oliver's family loves exploring the mountain together, they also look forward to hiking this summer and having other outdoor adventures, so readers should watch for the next edition, coming in the fall…
Some things parents and educators can ask the children include:
When you look through the pages, try to find your favorite snowflake.
What did you learn about Mount Snow? Why is it important to embrace diversity and do things like take the MOOVER (public transportation) to burn less fossil fuel? Why is loving nature so important, now, more than ever?
Christen Pratt has a B.S. in Art Education from Central Connecticut State University, and is an elementary art teacher at a magnet school in central Connecticut. Christen is an active artist, a mother of one vibrant little girl, and Oliver’s art teacher! She and her daughter share a love of the outdoors, including playing in the snow and traveling to Vermont. Christen looks forward to teaching her daughter to ski! With a background in culinary arts, as well as fine arts, Christen thrives in many creative facets, and is passionate about teaching, spreading creativity, and family.
Michelle Puzzo was born in Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1998 with her BS in Physical Therapy. She exhausted all options to have children, due to infertility, and she had her first son, Oliver, via surrogacy in 2012, and her second son, Finnigan, was born via surrogacy by the same gestational carrier in 2014. She bought a condo at Mount Snow in 2012, and fell in love with Vermont. Her son Oliver began ski school and she was inspired to write her first children’s book based loosely on his experiences and for her desire to teach people about what an amazing experience kids and families have at Mount Snow. Oliver quickly outskied her so more lessons are scheduled for this season. She is currently working on her next book.