Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee
Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Chronicle Books $17.99
Recommended for ages 4-8.

As we think ahead to the cold weather that is inevitable, we turn our thoughts to the happiness that snow can bring.  For many of us, it means skating on the river or hours spent skiing at our nearby ski hill.  In his latest adventure, Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee are thinking the same thing as they attempt to hit the trails and learn to ski.

 One winter morning at 6:53,
Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee,
Woke to fresh snow and a beautiful sky
And decided, “It’s time to give skiing a try!”

Before hitting the big slopes, Magee tries out his new sport on a little hill with a nice view of the bay.  He puts Dee in his backpack and off they go.  There will be no chance of running into anything at this spot – or so he thinks!
 
In true Magee fashion, there is something that gets in his way.  In fact, it is a moose but instead of colliding with the enemy, Magee and Dee slide under the massive animal.  However he couldn’t be so lucky as to escape unscathed.  Instead, Magee’s skis get snagged on a spruce tree, which send he and his canine flying
 
“Head over heels straight into the gap…
When the ends of the skis came down with a slap!
So there they were stranded, MAGEE and his pup,
Across a ravine, a hundred feet up!”
 
You can only imagine how he gets himself out of this mess.  As with all Chris Van Dusen books, this one is a gem from the cover of the book, to the hilarious illustrations and rhyming text straight through to the final page where Magee and Dee are at home with a mug of hot chocolate and a ski-wearing snowman on the front lawn.
 
Van Dusen is the creator of Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, The Circus Ship and If I Built a Car.  As well, he is the illustrator of the Mercy Watson series.