Snow Geese Season: Capturing Quiet Moments in Nature

A young boy’s grandfather wakes him early in the morning when darkness still blankets the surroundings. They quietly descend the stairs and ride in a truck through houses and farmland until they arrive at a field. “Pop nestles me under his shoulder and we wait,” the boy recounts. “Then, suddenly, we hear them…Soft, then loud. One, then many.” This describes the annual snow geese migration.

Angela Burke Kunkel’s picture book, ‘Snow Geese Season,’ explores these serene moments in nature that hold significant meaning. Kunkel resides in Vermont, near the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area. Every fall, the geese transform the landscape into a snowy white expanse. Vermont Fish & Wildlife notes that the geese are best observed flying and feeding early in the morning and late in the day, from early October into mid-November.

Kunkel reflects on the quiet and meaningful connection with nature that inspired her book.

Illustrator E.B. Goodale felt compelled to experience the geese firsthand after reading Kunkel’s manuscript. She describes the unique color palette of Vermont during this season as stunning. “Deep, dusky blues on the mountains and straw-light yellows and oranges in the grass,” she says, marveling at it.

Goodale employed traditional illustration techniques for the book. “I created watercolor washes to amplify the colors,” she says. Her process also involved making monoprints using oil-based inks for texture, followed by line work in oil paint to refine the details.

The story is more about observing than action, featuring two characters waiting for the snow geese. Goodale tackled the challenge of maintaining visual interest by varying perspectives. In one spread, the characters view the field through binoculars; another offers a bird’s-eye view of geese in flight.

“This is the kind of thing I love,” Goodale notes. “Quiet and moody where you can ease into the atmosphere and sense emotions through the place.”

Kunkel cherished seeing familiar elements in the illustrations. “The house the boy and Pop exit is from my town, and even the characters’ attire,” she observes.

Safety during Goodale’s visits was important. Kunkel advised wearing neon gear due to potential hunters nearby. Goodale recounts, “My son and I wore bright orange hats amidst the deep blue tones in the field, and I thought, this is awesome.”

Kunkel appreciates Goodale’s dedication in visiting Vermont twice, enhancing the book’s relatability. Kunkel’s connection to the story draws from her childhood experiences. “I spent time with my grandparents and uncle, who provided space without questions, offering breathing room in nature,” she recalls.

She only realized the link between these experiences and ‘Snow Geese Season’ after completing the book. “It’s the same important moment I had as a child,” she concludes.