All You Need for a Snowman [Paperback]

Alice Schertle (Author), Barbara Lavallee (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2007 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

One small snowflake fluttering down--
That's all you need for a snowman.
     Or is it? In these pages, an exuberant crew is summoned to create a snowman of heroic proportions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While this deceptively simple book starring children building a snowman is ultimately about community-how human beings, no matter how small, can help each other create something bigger than themselves-youngsters will find the lilting language and action-filled illustrations to be just plain fun. Schertle's (How Now, Brown Cow?) text deftly describes what goes into making a snowman: "Billions of snowflakes/ piled in a mound,/ pat them/ and pack them/ and roll them/ around/ into one big ball." Her refrain-"That's all you need for a snowman. Except..."-encourages readers to turn the page for each new component. The watercolors, meanwhile, feature children in padded winter jackets who work together. As in childhood, the snowman looms larger than life. As they roll that "one big ball," for example, the children appear to be hugging the edge of a snow-white planet. They place saucer-size bottle caps on the snowman's face-"Surprise!/ Snowman's eyes!"-and add a broom taller than a house. The completed snowman is so huge that the book needs to be turned sideways to view it. Lavallee's illustrations, in the style of her work in Mama, Do You Love Me?, emphasize the children's profiles, shadowing one half of each face as if each character possessed both light and dark skin. A wintertime treat. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Working cooperatively, the children of this snow-clad chalet village build two huge snowmen. In colorful winter clothing, these plump and squat kids, with their two-toned faces, swarm the white pages as step-by-step they create a snowman so big that readers must turn the page sideways for a full view. The text is bouncy and light, and rolls along like hand-packed snow. A heavy use of the word "except" entices children on to the next page. Finally, they see two snowmen of Paul Bunyan proportions. The skill of both the author and the artist gives this book energy. Toddlers will be thoroughly satisfied.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152061150
• ISBN-13: 978-0152061159
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 7.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Sports > Winter Sports
  • #22 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Winter Sports

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great snow day story, nothing more than that, January 27, 2005

By 

A. Alexander (Washington state) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All You Need for a Snowman (Hardcover)

My 3 yr old son absolutely loves this book and I was pleasantly surprised with the simple rhyming story and how nice it reads aloud. I couldn't disagree more with a previous reviewer's insinuation that this book is depicting a hidden sexual message simply because the two snowmen are male at the end. Last time I checked two men ("snow" or of any other type) can be friends without it meaning anything else. Ridiculous. Like I said, a great inexpensive read - words flow beautifully and the pictures are sweet and great for kids.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All You Need for a Snowman, December 15, 2004

By 

Elizabeth M. Timmins "desperate librarian" (oneida, wi) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All You Need for a Snowman (Hardcover)

PreS-K. "One small snowflake fluttering down- that's all you need for a snowman. EXCEPT." Alice Schertle uses rhyming, catchy text in describing how to make a snowman. The use of the word "EXCEPT" encourages children to listen closely as they wait for the page to turn. The watercolor paintings help tell the story of neighborhood children working together to build a larger than life snowman. The children, dressed in colorful clothing "pat them and pack them and roll them around," and then, that "one big ball," seems to be larger than a house. The finished snowman is so large the book needs to be turned sideways to see it. These beautiful paintings along with the fun text keep the energy alive in this book. A great book for a snow or snowman themed storytime!

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and charming, March 1, 2010

By 

Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All You Need for a Snowman (Paperback)

We start with one snowflake, which is ALL you need for a snowman, except... more snowflakes. And a snowball. And more snowballs, and clothes and all.

Love the artwork, love the bouncy rhymes, this is a great book, nice and short for the preschool set. I'm going to pass it off to my local pre-k, I think they'll get a lot of use out of it - and I'm *definitely* buying "All You Need For a Beach" to go with it later this year!