"The Snow Tourist" by Charlie English

    There is nothing that compares to waking in the morning to see that a fresh snowfall has blanketed everything overnight; the landscape becomes clean, soft and quiet and glimmers with a magic quality. It feels like a return to childhood.  Many of us, I’m sure, have memories of those mornings of the first snow, of snow days off from school and snowdrifts up to our waists.  So, now, waking and looking out the window to find grassy fields only weeks from December is a little glum, to say the least. You feel like Calvin & his tiger Hobbes, sitting bundled up on the sled at the top of the hill just waiting for a snowflake, pleading with the heavens and doing a small snow dance.

    In that spirit, I’d like to offer a ‘literary snow dance’ of some the best snowy books for the season to tide us over. And, perhaps if we all get our skis tuned up and our sleds out, along with sweaters, layers, mittens and scarves – we can, collectively, will a snowy morning to appear.

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