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Presents decorated with winter and Christmas themes Christmas and Other Winter Holiday Children’s Book Recommendations–2023
2023 Children's Books · Children's Book Recommendations

Christmas and Other Winter Holiday Children’s Book Recommendations–2023

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Christmas and Other Winter Holiday Children’s Book Recommendations–2023 are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted. 

The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.

A brother and sister with large smiles are at a table full of Italian Christmas food with presents and Christmas decorations in the background

Our Italian Christmas Eve 

by Danielle Sedita (Author), Francesco Sedita (Author), Luciano Lozano (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Viking Books for Young Readers
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-4
  • Hardcover picture book ā€ : ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0593621867

Brief summary: Danielle and Francesco tell how their family celebrates the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve at their Aunt Babe’s, where there is a house full of relatives and food. The two realize they must make cheesecake to have enough desserts for the feast.

Comments: What an incredible celebratory story with detailed and humorous illustrations

I was getting hungry reading this book, wanting to taste all these yummy Italian foods.

Rating: 4/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Otto the Christmas ornament is smiling as he hangs from a Christmas tree

Otto The Ornament 

by Troy Cummings (Author)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Random House Books for Young Readers
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-3
  • Hardcover picture book ā€ : ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0593481208

Brief summary: Christmas ornament, Otto believes he is too shiny and unique to be in the middle of the tree and looks for one where he can be on the top. Will he realize where he perfectly fits in?

Comments: I knew I would like this book when I saw that the C.I.P. is shaped like a Christmas tree.

Troy Cummings visited our school district and did a superb job! His patience with our students and presentations were top-notch.

Rating: 4.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

The pages is one side upside down with one child in New Zealand handing the other who live in New York, a dreidel.

Hanukkah Upside Down 

by Elissa Brent Weissman (Author), Omer Hoffmann (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Harry N. Abrams
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: Prek-3
  • Hardcover picture bookā€ : ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1419762966

Brief summary: Noah lives in New York, where it is winter, while his cousin Nora lives in New Zealand, where it is summer. They challenge one another to see who can have the best eight days of Hanukkah.

Comments: Young readers will have Hanukkah vocabulary and learn how people far away from one another can celebrate the same holiday in their own unique traditions.

Rating: 3.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

The blue pigeon is wearing a Christmas hat with a bell next tot he title of the book.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! 

by Mo Willems (Author)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Union Square Kids
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-2
  • Hardcover picture bookā€ : ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1454952776

Brief summary: As soon as Santa leaves, Pigeon wants to drive the sleigh, trying to persuade us how it would be a great idea.

Comments: This is done in the humorous pigeon series style of trying to get the reader to agree with the pigeon’s idea.

Rating: 3/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

The snowmen and snow creatures are outside putting up Christmas lights.

Snowmen’s Twelve Nights of Christmas 

by Caralyn Buehner (Author), Mark Buehner (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Dial Books
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-2
  • Hardcover picture book ā€ : ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0593624726

Brief summary: A dog chases different creatures up a pine tree for twelve nights before Christmas in this Twelve Days Of Christmas Carol parody.

Comments: This cumulative story has bright and happy illustrations that any little one would love to have read to them several times.

This husband and wife duo has other Snowmen-themed books such as Snowmen at Night, Snowmen at Play, and Snowmen at Christmas.

Rating: 3/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A girl with her black and white kitten is standing in front of the Christmas tree with her family members in the background all smiling.

The Twelve Hours of Christmas 

by Jenn Bailey (Author), Bea Jackson (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (October 10, 2023)
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-3
  • Hardcover picture bookā€ : ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0316330973

Brief summary: This Twelve Days of Christmas Carol parody is about a large family gathering twelve hours before Christmas.

Comments: This is a lovely picture book of a family with a nana and grandpa, cousins, aunties, and uncles visiting to celebrate the holiday together.

I was looking forward to each hour to see what would happen next.

The illustrations convey the happiness and love of the family. Be sure to spot the hidden kitten throughout the picture book.

Rating: 4/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Three kings are flying in the air while riding camels as a little girl looks outside her window.

La Noche Before Three Kings Day 

by Sheila ColĆ³n-Bagley (Author), Alejandro Mesa (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž HarperCollins
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-2
  • Hardcover ā€ picture book: ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0063234327

Brief summary: A family celebrates Three Kings Day by decorating shoeboxes, having a large family meal, and dancing to music. The extended family goes home, and the children go to bed. The little girl peeks out of her window at midnight and sees the three kings with camels fill their boxes left by the door with gifts, candy, and coins.

Comments: This book is sprinkled with Spanish words, so I was thankful for the pronunciation box and glossary. The illustrations are festive and bright. The author does explain in the back of the book how she celebrates Three Kings Day on January 6th.

Rating: 3.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A little mouse with huge ears is playing a drum while underneath a Christmas tree with a lot of red and green gifts.

A Creature Was Stirring 

by Heather S. Pierczynski (Author), Skylar Hogan (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Katherine Tegen Books
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-2
  • Hardcover ā€ picture book : ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0063230747

Brief summary: A mouse debunks the T’was the Night Before Christmas poem’s line of “not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” by being too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve and full of endless energy.

Comments: This book contains onomatopoeias throughout the mouse’s wide-awake activities. The illustrations are warm and inviting.

Rating: 3.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Santa Claus is standing on a roof looking at a chimney.

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? 

by Mac Barnett (Author), Jon Klassen (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Candlewick
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-3
  • Hardcover ā€ picture book: ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 153622376X

Brief summary: Hilariously inventive ideas of how Santa Claus goes down the chimney are explored in this picture book.

Comments:Ā Hilariously inventive ideas of how Santa Claus goes down the chimney are explored in this picture book.

Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen have come up with another creative book together that children will love reading. They are in sync with how children think.

Rating: 3.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A Christmas cactus is underneath ornaments hanging from the ceiling. The cover is pink.

The Christmassy Cactus 

by Beth Ferry (Author), A. N. Kang (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž HarperCollins
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-3
  • Hardcover ā€ : ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0063039648

Brief summary: Tiny Cactus was loved by a little girl every day. The child shared all the beautiful Christmas decorations but soon forgot about Tiny Cactus. The plant truly wanted to belong and celebrate with the family but couldn’t figure out how until something magical happened Christmas morning.

Comments: Such a darling and precious story. I’ll never look at a Christmas Cactus the same way again.

This book is illustrated with Christmas colors and a pink hue throughout.

Rating: 4/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A large 10 looks like peppermint candy with Santa and the reindeer carrying Christmas gifts.

10 Things I Love About Christmas 

by Danielle McLean (Author), Mark Chambers (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Tiger Tales
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-4
  • Hardcover picture bookā€ : ā€Ž 24 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1680102958

Brief summary: A young boy shares everything he loves about Christmas, from opening his advent calendar each day, decorating the Christmas Tree, to many events and traditions he shares with his family.

Comments: This would be a good read-aloud and discussion afterward about what they like about Christmas.

The illustrations are detailed. I found myself stopping and looking at them before continuing with the countdown.

Rating: 3.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

snowflake with a blue background Snow and Winter Children’s Books–2023
2023 Children's Books · Children's Book Recommendations

Snow and Winter Children’s Books–2023

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Snow and Winter Children’s Books–2023 recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted. 

The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.

Bruce is in a robe outside holding a tissue box while his three mice friends are playing in the snow

Out Cold-A Little Bruce Book (Mother Bruce Series) 

by Ryan T. Higgins (Author)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Disney Hyperion
  • Year: 2023
  • Grade: Prek-2
  • Hardcover picture book ā€ : ā€Ž 32 pages
  • Dimensions ā€ : ā€Ž 7.24 x 0.34 x 7.26 inches
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1368090222

Brief summary: Winter has come to Soggy Hollow. Poor Bruce has a cold and is stuck inside with his mice friends, Nibbs, Thistle, and Rupert. After playing outside, the mice thought it would be nice to bring the snow activities inside for Bruce to enjoy. I wonder if Bruce will enjoy them…

Comments: What can I say? I love the humor of grumpy Bruce. He reminds me so much of myself.

Rating: 3.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“— 1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A boy in a yellow cate with red mittens and a hat is facing tot he right as he stands in falling snow

I’m Going to Build a Snowman 

by Jashar Awan (Author, Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: Toddler–2
  • Hardcover picture bookā€ : ā€Ž 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 166593817X

Brief summary: A little boy wakes to see that it has snowed. After eating his breakfast and putting on all of his snow gear, he is determined to build the BEST SNOWMAN EVER.

Comments: The story explores how one’s expectations may not be realistic but still can be enjoyable in a positive mindset.

Rating: 4/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

billy barr is looking over his shoulder as he wears a red and black checkered hat with ear flaps while it snows. the background is pine trees on a snowy mountain.

The Snow Man: A True Story 

by Jonah Winter (Author), Jeanette Winter (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Beach Lane Books
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: 1-4
  • Hardcover ā€narrative nonfiction picture book : ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1665932392

Brief summary: billy barr (he prefers all small letters) lives ALONE in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, eight miles from the nearest town. He first moved there as a college student in 1972 for the summer. He lived in an abandoned shack with dirt floors and no electricity or running water. He began to take meticulous notes of all of the wildlife and weather of the mountains.

He stayed for fifty-one years and is still there.

 The scientists at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory used his notes and observations, all written in notebooks, to chart how the mountains’ climate was changing. He still takes notes but enters them into a computer.

Comments: There is an Author’s Note in the back explaining billy barr in more detail.

I had so many questions while reading this biography. Why is he a hermit? What made him go there? Why did he stay so long? Would I want to live like that? What would that be like? Can I get my library up there? And could I bring all of my cats?

This biography picture book could spark some interesting classroom discussions.

Rating: 4/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Below is a short film made about Billy Barr in 2016 called The Snow Guardian  by Day’s Edge Productions.

Source: billy barr in The Snow Guardian by Day’s Edge Productions, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZDHTTtSIg

Forest animals are lined up while the owl is flying above with their gifts of feathers, berries, nuts, and so on are in a circle around the title

Winter: A Solstice Story (The Solstice Series) 

by Kelsey E. Gross (Author), Renata Liwska (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-2
  • Language ā€ : ā€Ž English
  • Hardcover ā€ : ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1665908130

Brief summary: Owl calls down from the top of a pine tree to the creatures of the forest asking who can help brighten the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Each forest animal contributes something to the pine tree as it shines with the full moon upon it.

Comments: This is a gentle and quiet book that could be read as a bedtime story.

Rating: 3/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A very excited boy has his face against the window looking outside

Just SNOW Already! 

by Howard McWilliam (Author, Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Flashlight Press
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-3
  • Hardcover picture books ā€ : ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1947277987

Brief summary: A boy excitedly waits for the snow expected that evening in his neighborhood. He dreams of all the wonderful things he will do in the snow. He keeps checking out the window, not noticing all of the stupendous things taking place on his street, believing that nothing is happening because there is no snow yet.

He begins to wonder what it would mean if it never snowed again.

Comments: The details in these illustrations are action-packed and hilarious. I love the boy’s giant head and all of his facial expressions. This would be a fantastic read-aloud for kids, especially the day before the first snowfall of the year.

Rating: 4.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“— 1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A girl with a red hat and black scarf wearing a snow jacket is lying on the snow smiling

On a Flake-Flying Day: Watching Winter’s Wonders 

by Buffy Silverman (Author)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Millbrook Press ā„¢
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: Toddler-1st
  • Library Binding ā€ narrative nonfiction picture book: ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-13 ā€ : ā€Ž 979-8765605028

Brief summary: When winter arrives, nature changes in many ways to prepare for snow.

Comments: There are large and brilliant Nature photos in this narrative nonfiction picture book.

The back section includes the question: What can you see on a white winter’s day? and then in-depth answers correlating to the pages before, Further Reading, and Glossary.

Rating: 3.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

New Children’s Book Recs–Week of November 12, 2023
2023 Children's Books · Children's Book Recommendations

New Children’s Book Recs–Week of November 12, 2023

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

New Children’s Book Recommendations–Week of November 12, 2023 are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted. 

The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.

Cover of the Book: Braeden wearing a green jacket holding a box of small paper bags with a homeless man and his dog in the background

Just One Pebble: One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger 

by Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky (Author), Sara Casilda (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Clavis
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: 1-4
  • Hardcover picture book ā€ : ā€Ž 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1605377678

Brief summary:  Braeden sees a homeless man on the side of the road as he and his mother drive to the store. Once he gets home, Braeden still thinks about the man and what his life must be like living on the streets. He makes a bag of snacks and things the person may need before asking his mom to take him back to the man.

Braeden puts together more bags and goes to a soup kitchen. When passing them out, he discovers a boy his age is there. Braeden is becoming increasingly aware of those less fortunate than himself, including children his age.

On Monday, his principal allows him to speak to everyone about his Brae’s Brown Bags(3B) to help those who need food, inspiring others to help.

Comments: This book is based on a true story about Braden Mannering, who raises awareness about how others can help those with food insecurity.

The back sections are   About Braeden, One Simple Bag, and A Word From Braeden. 

Teachers could read this book to students during their next food-drive to demonstrate how children can make a difference.

Rating: 4/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

*I received a complimentary digital copy of this children’s book from the author to give an honest review.

Braeden Mannering’s website is https://braesbrownbags.org/

A beautiful Nokomis girl with long hair with the forest and river and yellow sun in the background. A bird, fish, butterfly and feather are on the cover of the book.

My Powerful Hair 

by Carole Lindstrom (Author), Steph Littlebird (Illustrator)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Harry N. Abrams
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: 1-3
  • Hardcover ā€picture book : ā€Ž 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1419759434

Brief summary: A young girl tells how she can’t wait for her hair to grow long. She explains how her ancestors grew long hair, as hair is their memories and source of strength. The girl shares the milestones of her life and how her hair grows parallel to those special events.

Comments: Readers learn why the young girl’s mother has always had short hair and what it means to have hair cut short in her Indigenous culture.

This book’s back pages explain the belief that hair holds strength and power and includes an Author’s note.

Rating: 4.5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A woman with long hair with animals shown within it

The cover of the book is an illustration of each zodiac object around the words Night Lights with a blue starry night background

Night Lights 

by Jeannie K. Johnson (Author)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Juju Press
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: 3-6
  • Paperback short stories ā€ : ā€Ž 94 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1088075509

Brief summary: Young readers will read Zodiac-inspired fables that are new and modern interpretations of twelve constellations, paired together in six short stories: the Ram and the Fish, the Water Bearer and the Goat, the Archer and the Scorpion, the Scales and the Maiden, the Lion and the Crab, and the Twins and the Bull.

Comments: These fables are variants of the Roman/Greek constellation stories. They are original and inspired by the Zodiac.

Each chapter begins with a colorful illustration and ends with the constellation pairing.

This could be a read-aloud to young and older students.

A creative writing idea is reading aloud one of the stories and having students create their own modern fable of one of the constellations.

Rating: 4/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

*I received a complimentary digital copy of this children’s book from the author to give an honest review.

Book Cover: Snowing in a hollow with winter trees on either side with Hubert, the little mouse wearing a red jacket and gray scarf holding a book looking up with a scared look.

The Voice in the Hollow 

by Will Hillenbrand (Author)

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Holiday House
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-3
  • Hardcover ā€ picture book: ā€Ž 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 0823436810

Brief summary: A blizzard causes the library to close early. Hubert must walk home in the storm, deciding a shortcut through the Hollow would get him home quicker. Although it looked spooky and the wind picked up, the mouse entered the Hollow. He was met by a fox who took his hand, and they made a dangerous trek across the snow-covered landscape. He safely returns home to his parents and siblings to share his adventure.

Comments: The illustrations expressed and captured the snowfall and coldness of the blizzard with a beautiful double gatefold at the story’s climax.

This would be a perfect fit snow story for young readers on a gray wintery day. 

Teachers teaching winter units should definitely include this picture book.

Rating: 5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A girl wearing a blue bicycle helmet riding a red bike on the sidewalk with yellow and orange leaves on the ground. The sky and road is gray.

Nothing Ever Happens on a Gray Day 

by Grant Snider (Author

  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Chronicle Books
  • Year: 2023
  • Grades: PreK-3
  • Hardcover ā€ picture book: ā€Ž 44 pages
  • ISBN-10 ā€ : ā€Ž 1797210890

Brief summary: As Fall slowly turns towards Winter, a girl rides her bike through her gray neighborhood, crunching through the fallen leaves to the playground, where she goes on a Nature walk into the woods nearby, seeing more and more colors as she explores.

Comments: This is a quiet story of a girl’s solitude and exploring the world around her area. In its conclusion, we can see how her gray day becomes full of colors.

The front end papers feature gray/blue fallen leaves, and the back end papers feature bright yellow/orange leaves visually representing the picture book’s changing mood and color scheme throughout the story.

This is a perfect read-aloud for young ones.

Rating: 5/5 šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—šŸ“—

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A girl standing at the end of sidewalk with her apartment building in the background with the sky gray and the ground.