Library Notes
1-20-2013
Marissa Creamer

The Magic of Snow

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is behind us; the glittery decorations have been put away for another year; the giddy euphoria of New Year’s Eve is past. We are left with the stark reality of January, with its resolutions to lose weight and exercise, and the cold, gray, dreariness of winter. In winter we need some magic, some sparkle, something to brighten up the gray landscape; we need snow. There is something magical about the first snowfall; everything looks pristine when covered in a fresh blanket of glistening white. The stark gray trunks of trees are beautiful in contrast; the world is peaceful and quiet.

The mystery of the snowflake has long fascinated humans. The first medieval scientist to examine snowflakes was so astounded by their remarkable symmetry that he wondered if these ice crystals might even have souls. You can explore the magic of snowflakes with “The Snowflake: Winter’s Secret Beauty,” by Kenneth Libbrecht. This fascinating book details what snowflakes are, how they form, and why each one is unique. Libbrecht also discusses snow crystals and what type of weather conditions produce snowflakes. These fleeting works of art were “plucked from the air as they fell” and photographed by Patricia Rasmussen.

Of course, it was the snowflake savant Wilson Bentley who first photographed snowflakes, on his Vermont farm back in 1885. "Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind." Using a bellows camera with a microscope attached, Bentley was finally able to replicate the visual complexity of a single snow crystal in a photograph. His passion for the amazing diversity of snowflakes led to a collection of over 5000 photographs. Read more about Wilson Bentley and his enthusiasm for snow in the Caldecott Medal-winning children’s book “Snowflake Bentley,” written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, with illustrations by Mary Azarian.

Although snow is a relatively rare occurrence in this area, you can still bring the gossamer beauty of a snowfall into your home with “100 Snowflakes to Crochet,” by Caitlin Sainio. Designed for all skill levels, this book begins with a review of crochet basics, and contains discussions of materials and finishings, the structure of snowflakes, and methods of blocking and starching your creations. The “Snowflake Selector” lets you browse for a pattern that matches your skill level so you can make your own indoor snowdrift. Projects show you inventive ways to use your creations, and include a beautiful “Blizzard Scarf,” snowflake-adorned pillows, framed snowflake art, and a colorful snowflake mobile.

Come to Rowan Public Library for these and other books about snow, and make sure you are well stocked with plenty of reading material in case we actually see some of the white stuff and get snowed in!