1949년 칼데콧메달 수상작. 숲 속의 동물들이 무엇을 먹고 어떻게 살아가는가를 알려주는 동화 그림책다. 추운 겨울을 나기 위해 동물들은 어떤 준비를 할까? 철새들과 겨울잠을 자는 동물들은 무엇 무엇일까? 큰 눈이 내릴 때, 텃새들과 겨울잠을 자지 않는 동물들이 겪게 되는 어려움을 글과 그림으로 생동감 있게 묘사하고 있다.

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.

It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.

Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

Awarded the Caldecott Medal 1949

Despite their elaborate preparations for the winter, the animals and birds are delighted by a surprise banquet after a big snow.