Self-described snow addict Whittell (The Times of London) here seeks to explore snow in all of its scientific and cultural milieus. From the science behind how snowflakes are made to topics such as snowflake art and extreme winter sports, Whittell meanders through various aspects of the cold ice crystals, but doesn't go in-depth on any one characteristic, which keeps the subject light and allows him to cover many disparate subjects in different chapters. His cursory takes help with clarity when he describes the complex science behind snow or more sobering realities such as the time scientists expect the last flake to fall. Whittell adds enjoyable trivia, such as how many snowflakes it takes to build a snowman, throughout the book. VERDICT A delightful, enjoyable, and meandering read that will appeal to, and amuse, teen and adult readers.--Laura Hiatt, Fort Collins, CO

Whittell shares a fascinating study of snow and its impact on cultures from prehistoric times to the present, with personal and historical anecdotes woven throughout the text. His keen interest and enthusiasm for the topic are apparent, and his footnotes contain both citations and observations one warns readers about searching the Winter Severity Index online, as it's also the name of a band. The book includes a single image: the Nakaya Diagram, which shows the different kinds of snow created by varying conditions, along with the conditions required for perfect snow. Whittell covers a broad range of topics, from the many (or not so many) words for snow used by the Inuit, to a terrifying first-hand account by a man who survived a deadly Himalayan snowstorm in 2014. The book concludes with an index and an entertaining Q&A section which asks and answers such questions as how do you build a snow cave? and what makes snow so slippery? Readers will want to grab an extra blanket when reading this well-researched and fascinating title, which was originally published in the UK in 2018.--Maren Ostergard Copyright 2019 Booklist