Reader’s Favourite:
” Reader’s Favorite: Ice Cap by Joan Epp is a delightful holiday-themed children’s book that brings a sense of magic and warmth to winter. The story follows Ice Cap, a friendly snowman from the distant ice hills, who arrives to spread kindness and fun during the snowy season. With his magical hat, cool sunglasses, and a phone, Ice Cap is a modern snowman who captures kids’ imaginations as he plays in the snow with the children, interacts with forest animals, and shares small but thoughtful gifts. The story is full of winter excitement, with frozen ponds and snow-covered landscapes, and introduces children to seasonal words like “fir” and “garland.” Through Ice Cap’s adventures, kids can broaden their imaginations and get into the holiday spirit. Joan Epp does a wonderful job of making the story not only fun but also engaging on a literary level. I loved the way she uses alliteration and rhymes, giving the book a lyrical flow that kids will enjoy and helping them unconsciously learn about literary style. I like that it’s more than just a pretty picture book; Ice Cap teaches valuable lessons, from politeness and safety to time management and the importance of asking permission. As a parent, I relearned that playtime has structure—like kids checking with parents before joining Ice Cap in the snow or knowing when it’s time to rest. As I enjoyed reading this book, older children will enjoy reading it themselves, while younger kids will love hearing it read aloud with a bit of drama. Joan Epp has truly created a book that’s both fun and educational, balancing values with the pure joy of winter adventures. certificate. “
by Chad Richins / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reader’s Favourite:
” What a delightful little book this is. The main character is a friendly snowman named Ice Cap. He loves all the children he sees and encourages them to play. He has characteristics that children will recognise, such as enjoying his cell phone and the games that he plays on it. The story delivers a powerful message about the importance of outdoor activities over screen time, a much-needed example in today’s internet-driven world. Ice Cap’s interactions with his forest friends, such as the squirrel and rabbit, bring the story a healthy ‘outdoor’ ambience. The book ends with a favourite time of year: Christmas.
The illustrations are excellent. They are action-packed, fun to look at, and will stay in the child’s mind after the book is finished, as good art usually does. It is nice to see illustrations that have obviously been hand drawn with hand-picked colours rather than the garish or cartoony computer-generated pictures that often adorn children’s books these days. Children overlook the quality of the pictures, but the adult reader may not. After all, it is they who actually buy and then read the book to the child. At the end, a section with a link offers children the opportunity to write their own story and send it, which is a nice touch. I love how an everyday aspect for some children, such as the snow, has been brought to life, and for those that live in warm climates, it will be new and interesting. The book was perfectly edited. The prose was easy to read, with short sentences using nice, simple, recognisable vocabulary, making it a good learning book for young readers. As it relates to that time of year, it would make an excellent Christmas stocking filler or gift. Children will enjoy Ice-Cap’s antics. I found nothing to dislike at all and enjoyed it. “
Rebecca De Figueiredo / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
