Customer Reviews

Snowmen at Night

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a fabulous book, certain to become a favorite! The creative story is written in rhyme, with clever use of humor along the way. The illustrations are breathtaking and silly. I have read this to my 3 year old, 5 year old twins and 8 year old twins. They can't get enough of the fun snowman antics. I've also read this to a Pre-K class and 3rd grade class. ALL CHILDREN HAVE RESPONDED POSITIVELY to this charming story. The best surprise is when you read the last page and learn about hidden images in the book. After reading this book 5 or 6 times we are still finding new images, like the snowman face in the moon.

A far happier idea of what happens to snowmen than "Frosty the Snowman". Author Caralyn Buehner and her husband Mark Buehner (the book's illustrator) woke one morning to find that the snowman they'd created the night before had surreptitiously moved several yards closer to their front door. Inspired by their snow creature's apparent desire to move around and about, the Buehners started speculating on the eventide activities of snowmen in general. The result is the lovely and ludicrous "Snowmen At Night".

As the young boy narrator tells it, one day he made a snowman with coal eyes and mouth and a carrot nose. The next day he returned to his fine creation only to find it looking all saggy baggy. This causes the boy to speculate, "What do snowmen do at night?". The answer is clear. Snowmen like to go to the park drinking ice-cold cocoa made by (and here it gets a little odd) "snowman mothers". Hm. Then they start to participate in their own very particular games. These include races, skating on the frozen ponds, making snow angels, and having fabulous snow fights. There's even some big time sledding down monstrous (but not too scary) hills. Towards the end, you really can't blame the snowmen if they've lost an eye here or a mitten there. Maybe they look a little bit worse for wear by the morning's light, but rest assured that they've definitely had a good time while you slept.

It's difficult for a person of my generation to read a snowman book and not instantly think of old "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoons. The snowmen pictured here are actually not too different from the ones pictured in Bill Watterson's strips, but they're significantly less scary. I think you'll instantly gravitate to this book the minute you see the cover. On the top half stand the serene smiling snowmen in the bright noonday sun. On the bottom half they're cavorting in a kind of makeshift conga line. Kids will warm to the idea of snowmen (something they themselves have created) having lives entirely of their own. It doesn't hurt any that the guys definitely seem to be having the time of their lives. Caralyn's text is well complimented by Mark's illustrations too. There's even been the extra added element of hidden shapes for kids to find in the pictures. If readers look carefully they might be able to spot a cat, a rabbit, a Santa face, and more. I appreciated that these images never once drew inordinate attention to themselves or distracted from the pictures. That is the mark of an expert illustrator.

The back flap of the book shows a photograph of the rogue snowman that inspired this book in the first place. The book isn't the most original in the world and its illustrations aren't going to blow you away with either their wit or their artistic merits but it's certainly a great wintertime tale. There are five million books about toys coming to life at night, so why not snowmen too? If you want a picture book that takes away the sting of snowmen melting, I suggest you definitely check out and read the jaunty flouncy "Snowmen At Night" and read it to your loved ones. It's a book with pep in its step.

This book is definitely not just for children. Adults will enjoy sharing this with their kids. We just received the book and my husband & I are in love with "Snowmen at Night". The faces and details on the snowmen are outstanding. The artist has hidden little pictures on the pages for you to find. I have a feeling that we are going to get as much enjoyment from this book as our 3 yr. old daughter.

I've read this book countless times to my 2 1/2 yr old son and he loves loves it. The story is original, beautifully illustrated and just plain fun for an adult to read over and over as a bedtime story. A must have for any childrens library!

I got this as a Board book last year for my 2-year old. We both loved it so much that I purchased it for every other child I know age 2-6 (in hardcover for older children)including my 10 month old so she has her own copy! The hidden art is certainly a bonus for adults and kids alike and is so much fun.

My 6month old son fell in love with this book. Now at nine months old he will only fall asleep for his nap after reading this book and "Green Wilma". A must buy for any library!! The hidden pictures will keep any aged child entertained.
(Looking back on this review...now 4 months later, my son will pick this book out of a pile and then lay down for his story.)

Who'd have thought snowmen were so busy at night? This book is great, the story is unique and very enjoyable. The whole concept of the story is that at night the snowmen in your neighborhood all get together and have a grand old time for themselves.They play baseball with snowballs and a broom. They have a tremendous snowball fight, they make snow angels, go sledding. The illustrations are outstanding. One of my best book purchases so far this year. So if you notice in the morning that your snowman looks a little disheveled , it's because he had a very busy night.

I read this book to my granddaughter's kindergarten class and they LOVED it! It's written in verse with a sense of humor...good for inspiring creative thinking. (What do you think YOUR snowman does at night??)

This is a delightful book. My grandson (age 4) and I both love the pictures and the cute story. It's one of our favorite bedtime story books.

Kids like the idea of a snowman 'sneaking' around at night and then not looking so great, come morning - offering a funny reason for that fact.