• Age: 6 to 9
• Grade: 1 to 4

This is a charming and poignant tale of Elsie, a girl who lives alone in the woods. Praying for a companion, she is sent a cat made of snow and is told not to let it inside. Elsie plays with the cat and they quickly become friends, exploring the woods and marvelling at the wonders of the northern sky. But after parting for the night, Elsie is too lonely, so she lets the cat inside to lie by the fire. Sure enough, the snow cat melts, and in the morning Elsie discovers the water has run down a hill until it gathered to become a pond in the shape of a cat, where the girl plays all year long, and the pond sparkles “like a diamond in the sun.”

Dayal Kaur Khalsa's profile page

Dayal Kaur Khalsa both wrote and illustrated picture books that celebrate the joys in life: the love between grandparents and grandchildren, the togetherness of a family holiday, the ingenuity of a girl who wants a dog, the thrill of discovering a new and delicious food. Her books have won numerous awards, including being chosen twice for the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year and twice as a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award. Dayal Kaur Khalsa died in 1989.

“A refreshing, original picture book.”
–Booklist

“Khalsa creates a story of simplicity…that reverberates with meaning.”
–Canadian Children’s Literature