Snow and math. Both beautiful and overwhelming in their own ways, but when brought together they create the perfect picture book. The Power of Snow by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Bryony Clarkson introduces the concept of exponential growth with playful verse and intricate illustrations as a snowstorm builds snowflake by snowflake.
Today author Bob Raczka joins us to discuss his inspiration, his decision to incorporate math into a picture book, and more! Read on to download a free educator resource filled with activities and questions for young readers.
Where did you get the idea for this book?
I love snow. I can remember being a kid and looking forward to snow days. And I’ve always wondered how many snowflakes it takes to cancel school.
How did you decide to write about exponents?
I knew I wanted to see more snowflakes with each page turn. So I thought I’d start with two, then show four, then show eight, doubling the number of flakes with each turn. Then I realized, “Hey, that’s exponential growth. This could be a math book!”
Why did you write the text in rhyme?
I started thinking about ways to describe how snow falls and realized I could do it very effectively with verbs. Then I challenged myself to find 14 pairs of verbs that rhyme. I think rhyming makes the book a little more fun to read.
Is there anything about the finished book that is different from the way you envisioned it?
The title, for one thing. My original title was Snow Math. But my editors suggested it should more specifically about exponents, so we changed the tile to The Power of Snow, which is perfect, I think.
How did you figure out how much 2 to the 14th power is?
I used a calculator!
Free Educator Resource
Engage young readers after reading with this free activity guide! Download the file below or visit the Lerner website.
Praise for The Power of Snow
“[T]his arrangement is a delightful, rarer find that jumps from simple counting to exponential growth.” — Booklist
“Cool! Snow really has the power to wow—and teaches math, too.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The beautifully textured illustrations create visual interest, while the snowflakes, a combination of smudge-style dots and the delicately articulated, folded papercut versions familiar from grade-school arts and crafts, offer a counting opportunity for budding numerophiles.”—The Horn Book Magazine
“A great book for the wintertime that can be used to explain what exponents are in math class as one can challenge the students to calculate each new equation on the page.”—Children’s Literature
Connect with the Author
Bob Raczka is a children’s author and poet based in Illinois. His work includes the Bob Raczka’s Art Adventures series. He is married with three grown children, but not quite grown up himself.
Photo credit: Mark Wiegard
For more interviews with amazing authors and illustrators visit these posts on the Lerner blog!