By Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2002
Picture book, 32 pages, ages 2-6
The story opens with a boy building a snowman. Then the fantastical fun begins when he wonders: What do snowmen do at night? They might slide down the street … or sip cups of ice-cold cocoa … or play snowmen games … or have a spectacular snowman snowball fight! Of course, all play must eventually come to an end, and when dawn warms the sky, sleepy snowmen resume their places.
So much fun, you’ll want to stay up all night and be a snowman!
Snowmen at Night is simply a silly story; there is no lesson or moral to be taught. Yet it has consistently appeared on bestseller lists for 20 years, proving that there is value to silly stories. The value here? It teaches language and broadens a child’s vocabulary. It encourages imaginative, abstract thinking. If nothing else, it engenders a love of reading. This is all to say, Snowmen at Night has a legitimate spot on any bookshelf.
There is a lot to love about this book. Endearing characters. Rollicking good times. Vivid illustrations that bring the snowmen to life. Hidden shapes in the illustrations for readers who love seek-and-find activities.
So why the half star deduction? I love a good rhyming book and this one wouldn’t be the same if it didn’t rhyme; its playfulness enhances the story. However, some rhymes are forced, which hampers readability in a few spots. Overall, this is a highly recommended wintertime read.
Snowmen at Night gets 41/2 stars from this reviewer.