Diamond in the Snow

Illustrated by Vanessa Cabban

One wintry afternoon, Mole finds something smooth and sparkly sticking out of the snow. "It must be a diamond!" he thinks.
As Mole rushes to show his new treasure to his friends, it keeps changing shape in his hands. Could it be magic?
The lovable Mole and his loyal friends Hedgehog, Squirrel, and Rabbit are back, finding magic in the most unexpected places.

"Emmett once again charms us with the unaffected simplicity of Mole, the little woodland creature who believes anything is possible.”

Jennifer Miller, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

"Something of the awe and wonder - that silence, stillness and sheer beauty of a pristine landscape - is captured in this enchanting winter's tale for young listeners and readers."

Jill Bennett, WORDPOOL

Read these and other reviews

Walker Books

UK Hardcover • ISBN-10: 0744586976 • ISBN-13: 978-0744586978

UK Paperback • ISBN-10: 1406305960 • ISBN-13: 978-1406305968

Candlewick Press

US Hardcover • ISBN-10: 0763631175 • ISBN-13: 9780763631178

Click here for details of foreign language editions

Illustrations © 2006 Vanessa Cabban. Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd., London .

After taking more than a year to come up with the second Mole story, this third Mole story came hot on its heels. As I’ve already remarked in my comments on No Place Like Home, one of the striking things about Vanessa Cabban's night time illustrations for the first Mole book, Bringing Down The Moon, is the predominance of the colour blue. The second book was set in springtime and (although Vanessa had not started work on the illustrations at that point) I had envisaged that it would be predominantly green. I wanted to sustain this pattern of dominant colours and so I set this third story in wintertime so that Vanessa’s illustrations could be predominantly white for this book.

This prescriptive approach to the books’ colouring might be intimidating for some illustrators.  However Vanessa is very skilled at working with a limited palette and has once again produced a set of wonderful illustrations.

Mole is always chasing after the unattainable. The theme of this book is similar to that of Bringing Down the Moon, in that Mole becomes enamoured with a beautiful object, in this case an icicle. In this instance, Mole is able to attain the object of his desire, but only for a short time. At first he feels foolish, but eventually he understands that something can still be precious even if it has no lasting value.

I’m too old to remember my first experience of snow, so I was thinking about someone else when I was writing the beginning of the book. I had a college friend, who was an overseas student from Malaysia. As we walked back from a lecture one afternoon, it began snowing heavily, something that I had mixed feelings about, as I knew it meant a treacherous walk across campus for the next couple of days. However, my friend, who had never experienced a snowfall, was thrilled. I can still recall the look of child-like wonder on his face and the way that he spun around, whooping, with his arms outstretched trying to catch the falling snow.

	This book is for Bob & Margaret

A diamond in the snow - that's what Mole is convinced he's found when he takes a walk having emerged from his burrow to find the woods covered in a thick white blanket. But when he tries to take it home, the diamond disappears and his friends find him sad and empty handed. Hedgehog, Squirrel and Rabbit are unconvinced by his story until Mole shows them where he found his treasure. Looking up into the branches of the tree, they see hundreds of diamonds hanging there in the freezing cold and when the sun sets, the bejewelled tree truly sparkles and they are all entranced by the magical sight.
Something of the awe and wonder - that silence, stillness and sheer beauty of a pristine landscape - is captured in this enchanting winter's tale for young listeners and readers.

Jill Bennett, WORDPOOL

   Recoding magical moments that occur in nature can lead to sappy text and overly idealized illustrations – this is NOT the case with Cabban’s illustrations or Emmett’s prose. Readers/listeners will experience the awe and joy of Mole’s first experience with snow just as if they had shared it with him. Part of the enjoyment of this charming story is the fact that the reader knows something that Mole does not – frozen water is just ice, not diamonds. (One must not question how Mole knows what a diamond is but does not recognize ice – well, he does live underground.) Mole revels in the properties of snow as it blankets the world creating a magical hush, slippery surfaces, and beautiful vistas. When Mole discovers an icicle he proclaims, “It looks like a diamond. I must take it home.” Of course, he struggles valiantly to get his treasure up a huge hill, only to realize that it has been “changing” all the while. “Changing” so much that it ultimately disappears! At this point, Rabbit, Squirrel, and Hedgehog come along, cavorting in the newly fallen snow. Upon recognizing Mole’s state of distress, they listen patiently as Mole tells them the story of his disappearing gem. They, gently, explain the science of icicles. Mole stops for one last look at the icicle covered trees and shouts, “Wait a minute!” The last rays of the setting sun have turned each tree into a sparkling blaze of diamond-like glory. “It was the most spectacular thing any of them had ever seen.” The four furry friends stand transfixed at the enchanted sight.
Descriptive adjectives abound in the uncompromising prose: marvellous, wonderful, fantastic, etc. The rich language reinforces Mole’s proclamation: “I told you they (icicles) were MAGIC!” Glowing with light, the illustrations give a real sense of wonder in observing nature. Sharing this lovely story should prompt parents, teachers, and care givers to get their youngsters out into the world to use their own eyes to find “magic.”

Sheilah Egan, CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Mole has never before seen or experienced the wonders of a world covered in snow, he is enchanted by the effect and decides to set off into the woodland to explore this new world. The woodland in snow is like a world under a magic spell for it is so quiet. Mole is so engrossed with his explorations that he misses a slope and taking a tumble crashes into a tree! However there is a surprise awaiting him under the tree, one that he decides to take home. Just as Mole has managed to reach his home he realises he has somehow lost his treasure. Fear not for help is at hand; Hedgehog, Squirrel and Rabbit have come to find Mole for a snowball game. When Mole explains about his treasure they decide instead to join him in his search and all four quickly discover a very unexpected magic in the enchanted snow filled woods.
This is a beautifully told and mesmerising story with a very simple, easy to follow, story line. The text is accompanied by wonderfully simple illustrations which complement the story and create a magic of their own. Clever techniques are used to draw the reader into the story with moles tumble down the hill being divided across a double page into four columns, creating a level of excitement. This is a wonderful story to read aloud and share, especially at Christmas time.

Louise Ellis-Barrett, WRITE AWAY

Cabban hits a home run with a series of splendid illustrations that invoke the wonder, mystery and color of winter. It all begins when Mole pops out of his woodland burrow one morning to discover his very first snowfall. It is all quite magical, of course, this white fluffy stuff, but there is more -- could it be a diamond? -- that has fallen from a tree and is casting light brilliantly in all directions.
A simple tale, gently told and richly visualized.

Nicholas A. Basbanes, ORLANDO SENTINEL

One day Mole wakes up and it is the middle of winter. There is snow on the ground and the woods look completely different to Mole because he has never seen snow before. With wonder Mole walks through the quiet woods looking and marveling at everything. Then Mole finds something truly amazing, a long diamond like object which is wet, cold, and very beautiful to look at. With difficulty Mole picks up his find and takes it with him, determined to show his friends the “diamond” that he has found. It is an odd thing for it is always wet and it keeps changing shape. Unfortunately for Mole, but the time he finds his friends, the “diamond” has quite disappeared. Mole’s friends don’t believe him at first but after Mole takes them to the place where he found the diamond, they realize that what he found was an icicle. At first Mole is disappointed that his discovery was nothing special after all and then something truly wonderful happens and Mole gets to share a very special, and a very beautiful moment with his friends.
Most of us, at some time or another find something beautiful which amazes us. We are sure that what we have found must be priceless and unique. Then we find out that our treasure is not what we thought it was after all. What Mole learns in this story is that though his diamond is only an icicle, it is still beautiful, and when it is seen in the right way, it is even magical. Like the rest of us, Mole is able to see that the world is full of beautiful and magical sights which will delight and amaze us.
Charming illustrations showing expressive and loveable Mole in his new environment perfectly capture the essence of this warm little story.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW

A gentle picture book that oozes charm and child appeal. When Mole wakes up to find the world transformed by a thick blanket of snow, he sets off to explore the magical landscape. Suddenly he slips and bumps into a large tree, dislodging a diamond (or, as astute young readers will realise, an icicle). Eager to get his treasure home, Mole sets off briskly, only to find the precious object disappearing before his eyes. Happily, his disappointment soon turns to wonder as the setting sun reveals the woodland aglow with shimmering icicles.
This simple story reads well and perfectly captures the enchantment of the natural world for young children. 4+
BOOK OF THE MONTH

LEICESTERSHIRE LIBRARY SERVICE

It may be spring, but winter weather lives on in children’s books. This heart-warming tale for age 2+ focuses on the loveable Mole who is very excited when he experiences snow for the first time and finds a diamond, which he thinks is full of magic. But it’s not quite a diamond and his friends say it isn’t magic, but then they get to experience something that is.
A classic tale that children will love, this book highlights the beauty of the world we live in and the magic of nature.

Rachel Newcombe, BABY HAMPSHIRE MAGAZINE

Emmett once again charms us with the unaffected simplicity of Mole, the little woodland creature who believes anything is possible. In his latest adventure, Mole experiences his first snowfall and discovers a sparkling stick jutting out of the snow that he thinks is a magic diamond. After the diamond melts, Rabbit, Hedgehog and Squirrel gently show Mole that his diamond was just an icicle that fell off a tree, but soon all four discover that even sticks of ice can become magical.
Emmett's tender book celebrates a child's openness to being moved by nature.

Jennifer Miller, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

When Mole emerges from his hole one day, the woodland is covered in snow. Even more marvelous is the magical “diamond” that appears at the base of a tree. It is beautiful and shiny, and it changes shape in his paws. He can’t wait to show it to his friends!
Jonathan Emmett’s gentle story is sure to delight young children, especially during the winter months when (if!) there is snow on the ground. Adults will be charmed by the simple fascination with one of nature’s special gifts. Sweet woodland illustrations by Vanessa Cabban will further endear this book to children and “designated readers.”
DIAMOND IN THE SNOW is a darling picture book that should find a cherished spot on family bookshelves everywhere.

Christina Wantz Fixemer, WANTZ UPON A TIME

One of my absolute favourite snowy picture books isn’t about Christmas at all. Diamond in the Snow by Jonathan Emmett and Vanessa Cabban is utterly gorgeous.  Mole finds a diamond in the snow, but when he takes it back to show his friends the diamond has vanished in his hand.  The beautiful illustrations and simply told gentleness of this tale about the wonders of nature are sure to please both children and adults.
This is a book to read over and over.

Eve Harvey, VULPES LIBRIS