Snowbear's Christmas Countdown [Hardcover]

Theresa Smythe (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

On the first day he wrote a list of all the presents he wanted Santa to bring him.

Come celebrate with Snowbear as the days leading
to Christmas fly by in merry preparation!

December is full of joyful anticipation for Snowbear-there are just so many things to do before Christmas arrives. For starters, Snowbear must put up decorations, buy gifts for his friends, make hot chocolate and cookies-and let's not forget-play in the snow, and go for a sled ride! So count along with Snowbear as the days pass and the excitement builds to Christmas day!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–On December 1, Snowbear begins his preparations for Christmas by making a wish list for Santa. Each of the next 24 days finds him engaged in a new activity–stringing lights, arranging his snow-globe collection, sending cards, making ornaments, wrapping presents, watching his favorite holiday movies. The simple text and appealing cut-paper collage illustrations provide a complete iconography for a warm-and-fuzzy celebration for this winning character and his animal friends.–V. W.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. Expertly crafted cut-paper collages illustrate this simple roundup of holiday delights. Each page represents a day in December as Snowbear, a fuzzy white polar bear, prepares for the holidays and enjoys winter activities. On the first day he writes Santa; on the third day he hangs Christmas lights; and so on. There's plenty of playtime, too. On day ten he brings out his toy trains, and on day thirteen he sleds with his animal pals, who all join him on the twenty-fifth for presents and celebration. Skillfully combining textured and patterned papers, Smythe creates vivid, detailed scenes of Snowbear at work and play that capture both the joyful, energetic bustle and the deep coziness of the season, and his simple, direct words are just right for reading aloud. Merry and bright holiday fare that young children may want to return to throughout the year. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Company; First Edition edition (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805072446
• ISBN-13: 978-0805072440
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,690,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Theresa Smythe, (born 1961) has a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and started making children's books in 1997 when she left the animation field after sixteen years of dedicated service. Her animation career consisted of animating on numerous feature films, commercials and coincidentally, many half-hour animated specials based on classic children's books for PBS and HBO. She now works as both illustrator and author and has illustrated two other children's books besides her own title, SNOWBEAR'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN.

Theresa put her career on hold for a while when she took time out to have her first and only child but is happy to report that she is "expecting" another title due out in 2013 as both author and illustrator entitled CHESTER'S COLORFUL EASTER EGGS.

Theresa's illustration technique combines a love of paper, glue, scissors and a vivid imagination in order to render her cut-paper collages. She also has a special place in her heart for bears, and likes to sew heirloom teddies out of mohair as well as collecting vintage holiday decorations.

You can find out more about Theresa by visiting her website at:
www.theresasmythe.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars countdown to christmas, December 8, 2004

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snowbear's Christmas Countdown (Hardcover)

Snowbear is so excited that December is finally here! He has lots of things to do each day. Follow his adventures as the month flys by. He does things like decorates the Christmas Tree, watches his favorite holiday movies, and bakes Christmas goodies. When Christmas Day arrives he has a great day just being together with his friends.


The college illustrations were really fun to look at and added a lot to this simple picture book. Also the concept of counting is introduced in the story. This book would be great for a preschool class to share around Christmas.


Yes I would recommend the book to others. It's a great book to share with your family on any day in December!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful New Holiday Children's Book That Teaches Numbers, October 15, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snowbear's Christmas Countdown (Hardcover)

The month of December is very special for Snowbear, as it is home to the Christmas holiday. So Snowbear begins making preparations for the big day. He puts up his decorations, sends out Christmas cards, writes a letter to Santa Claus at the North Pole, buys gifts for all of his friends, rides his sled, makes hot chocolate and cookies, and tons more. And as each day passes, Snowbear's excitement increases at the prospect of the holiday that is quickly coming.

Theresa Smythe has created a wonderful new children's book that captures the excitement that everyone feels around the Christmas holiday, while inserting a subtle teaching method, that will help young readers learn to count from 1 to 25 with the help of Snowbear. Filled with an easy-to-read story, and lovely illustrations SNOWBEAR'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN will be a favorite among parents, and children, as well as educators.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

5.0 out of 5 stars this is our advent calendar, November 26, 2010

By 

trisho - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snowbear's Christmas Countdown (Paperback)

My parents gave this book to my children years ago. It is very special to us. Starting on the first day of December, we read Snowbear's adventures for that day. On the second day of December, we read Snowbear's adventures for the first and second day and so on. It is great fun with a wonderful book.