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I'm Going to Build a Snowman
In this sparkling picture book celebration of winter and creativity, a boy’s snow day efforts show that perfection is relative and what’s important is taking pride in what you do!
When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there’s only one thing to do: make a snowman, and not just any snowman—he wants the best snowman ever. But when his perfectly packed and powdery dreams clash with cold, slushy reality, he realizes the best snowman ever may be out of reach…but he can make his best snowman yet.
When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there’s only one thing to do: make a snowman, and not just any snowman—he wants the best snowman ever. But when his perfectly packed and powdery dreams clash with cold, slushy reality, he realizes the best snowman ever may be out of reach…but he can make his best snowman yet.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
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December 3, 2023
A book for young readers, I’m Going to Build A Snowman shows that perfection comes in many different ways. A young boy is excited to build a perfect snowman but when his snowman doesn’t look perfect he rolls with it and shows pride in his work. A cute book with a great theme!
Thank you Simon Kids for gifting me a copy to review.
Thank you Simon Kids for gifting me a copy to review.
December 18, 2023
Cute illustrations! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....and he was pleased with his beautiful Snowman! I so chuckled with this story.
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October 18, 2023The art and story in this book are so STINKIN adorable I can't take it and also this child is clearly a fan of Raymond Briggs' The Snowman (1982) which... same, so a good time was had by all
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October 31, 2023Cute! A great addition to winter storytimes.
March 16, 2024
Very very sweet! All ages, toddler+
PLAY, TALK, narrative skills
PLAY, TALK, narrative skills
October 10, 2023
Absolutely delightful picture book about a little boy who is so excited to make a snowman -- a perfect snowman. Hilariously realistic, the simplified block illustrations feel like an updated classic picture book -- which this very much is. Read alongside or in place of The Snowy Day, The Snowman, and other snow people faves.
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December 9, 2023I'M GOING TO BUILD A SNOWMAN is a sweet wintery picture book read about a young boy who is making his best snowman yet. When he sees it has snowed outside, he is excited to make the most perfect snowman. He knows the steps, and he goes out to make the snowman. While it may not be the perfect snowman he had imagined, it is his best snowman yet, and he is proud of it.
What I loved: This is a simple and cute story that readers can empathize with. The story is told in the first person by the boy who is building the snowman. The story uses images to tell what is happening more than the text, so this will work best for preschool and older picture book readers who can understand the complexities of expressions and images along the way. The images are whimsical, capturing the magic of a snow day and the joy of making a snowman.
The book also includes lots of sound words along the way, which will appeal to young readers. The font is large, clear, and easy to read throughout, making it a good pick for reading aloud. There are great messages about doing your best and pride in your work, even when it might not seem perfect.
Final verdict: I'M GOING TO BUILD A SNOWMAN is a simple and sweet picture book about one boy's quest to create the perfect snowman and his success in trying his best.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
What I loved: This is a simple and cute story that readers can empathize with. The story is told in the first person by the boy who is building the snowman. The story uses images to tell what is happening more than the text, so this will work best for preschool and older picture book readers who can understand the complexities of expressions and images along the way. The images are whimsical, capturing the magic of a snow day and the joy of making a snowman.
The book also includes lots of sound words along the way, which will appeal to young readers. The font is large, clear, and easy to read throughout, making it a good pick for reading aloud. There are great messages about doing your best and pride in your work, even when it might not seem perfect.
Final verdict: I'M GOING TO BUILD A SNOWMAN is a simple and sweet picture book about one boy's quest to create the perfect snowman and his success in trying his best.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 19, 2024
Cuddle up with this and a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day. (Be sure to check to see the secret cover under the book jacket!)
After he wakes up on a snowy day, a young boy describes how he plans to create "The Best Snowman Ever". After he builds his snowman and makes a few corrections, he asks his mom to take pictures of him and "My Best Snowman Yet!"
Many kids will see themselves in this cozy story by Awan. It feels natural and relaxed - the child creates something they "see" in their mind, steps back to see it's not quite what they had pictured, makes an adjustment, then proudly shows off their handiwork. The simple, direct text makes this book useful for beginning readers. Awan's charcoal pencil artwork is colored digitally with Adobe. Artwork that depicts the child's vision of the day are in black and white with one solid color. Reality is depicted in full color. Jawan makes great use of onomatopoeia (set in a sans serif font) for sounds that jump off the page, with the story line set in Strange Times (a serif font that is a bit wiggly and unsteady - like a new reader).
Pair this with Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day for a slushy snowy adventure indoors on a snowy day.
Highly Recommended for PreS-grade 1.
After he wakes up on a snowy day, a young boy describes how he plans to create "The Best Snowman Ever". After he builds his snowman and makes a few corrections, he asks his mom to take pictures of him and "My Best Snowman Yet!"
Many kids will see themselves in this cozy story by Awan. It feels natural and relaxed - the child creates something they "see" in their mind, steps back to see it's not quite what they had pictured, makes an adjustment, then proudly shows off their handiwork. The simple, direct text makes this book useful for beginning readers. Awan's charcoal pencil artwork is colored digitally with Adobe. Artwork that depicts the child's vision of the day are in black and white with one solid color. Reality is depicted in full color. Jawan makes great use of onomatopoeia (set in a sans serif font) for sounds that jump off the page, with the story line set in Strange Times (a serif font that is a bit wiggly and unsteady - like a new reader).
Pair this with Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day for a slushy snowy adventure indoors on a snowy day.
Highly Recommended for PreS-grade 1.
December 7, 2023
What do you do when your snowman does not look like the perfect snowman you had envisioned? You appreciate the one you do end up making, give yourself a pat on the back for your efforts and smile big for the picture with your BEST SNOWMAN YET!
A sweet story about a boy who is sure he would make the best snowman ever. He knows all the right steps, all the right things needed for it, but . . . his snowman ends up looking a bit sloppy, not the perfect circles on top of circles that he had in mind. But this was his snowman and he was proud of it.
If you have read the classic, The Snowman, this would feel like a sweet homage to it.
Great addition to a winter themed storytime. Can be read along with classics such as The Snowman and The Snowy Day, or new favorites such as Just One Flake.
Author/Illustrator: Jashar Awan
Recommended Age: 4 - 8
Recommended Grade Level: K - 3
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for young Readers
Publication Date: September 2023
A sweet story about a boy who is sure he would make the best snowman ever. He knows all the right steps, all the right things needed for it, but . . . his snowman ends up looking a bit sloppy, not the perfect circles on top of circles that he had in mind. But this was his snowman and he was proud of it.
If you have read the classic, The Snowman, this would feel like a sweet homage to it.
Great addition to a winter themed storytime. Can be read along with classics such as The Snowman and The Snowy Day, or new favorites such as Just One Flake.
Author/Illustrator: Jashar Awan
Recommended Age: 4 - 8
Recommended Grade Level: K - 3
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for young Readers
Publication Date: September 2023
February 5, 2024
As a librarian who facilitates seasonal Story Times for preschool children, I am perpetually on the lookout for "fresh" stories that reinforce skills/concepts, as well as introduce *unexpected* or creative perspectives. "I'm Going to Build a Snowman" wins the award for "best new release about a winter topic on which I have 100+ stories" (i.e., snowmen) because of its compelling message: Everyone dreams about capitalizing on freshly fallen snow to create arctic masterpieces...but what happens when such creations do not match self-imposed expectations? Young audiences--as well as their siblings and caregivers--are sure to be enthralled by how the main character chooses to respond in this situation...and the captivating illustrations with "just the right" amount of text don't berate the listener/reader with didactic messages. Such an unexpected treasure!
Publication Date: 2023
Format: Picture book
Elements: Bold illustrations created using charcoal and digitally colored using Adobe Creative Cloud; limited text in bold typefaces; subtle change in presentation to convey moments of "imagination" versus real-life play in/outdoors
Connection/Topics: Winter/snow/snowmen; outdoor play; managing expectations (differences between dreams and implementation); capturing moments
Publication Date: 2023
Format: Picture book
Elements: Bold illustrations created using charcoal and digitally colored using Adobe Creative Cloud; limited text in bold typefaces; subtle change in presentation to convey moments of "imagination" versus real-life play in/outdoors
Connection/Topics: Winter/snow/snowmen; outdoor play; managing expectations (differences between dreams and implementation); capturing moments
November 9, 2023
Wow! I really loved this book. A young child wakes up to the wonder of snow! And decides to build the perfect snowman. We are walked through all the steps -- and then once all the clothes are put on - comes the actual build. Once the masterpiece is beheld, we read - "Something isn't right." Where do your thoughts go? Comparing this snowman to the perfect one? Not our young builder. There just needs one perfect finishing touch and it is the best snowman yet. Take a picture mom!
There are lots of noise words to zip and zing along with. And the illustrations are lovely - so many colors! That purple behind the flying snowman is simply gorgeous.
I live in Texas and we don't get a lot of snow. Most of the snowmen I see in my neighborhood are certainly not ideal snowmen! This is a true celebration of a creation that is perfect in the eye of the beholder.
There are lots of noise words to zip and zing along with. And the illustrations are lovely - so many colors! That purple behind the flying snowman is simply gorgeous.
I live in Texas and we don't get a lot of snow. Most of the snowmen I see in my neighborhood are certainly not ideal snowmen! This is a true celebration of a creation that is perfect in the eye of the beholder.
December 2, 2023
The Snowy Day is one of my favorite picture books from my childhood, and this book felt like a modern, updated version of The Snowy Day. I loved all the fun-sounding words in the book, like munch, crunch, zip, pull, snoring, etc... The colors were bright and inviting, and the boy's joy just radiated from the pages. I think we all turn into this little kid when it snows outside, at least we do in Texas since it happens so rarely.
November 2, 2023
I have to believe every snow-themed book with a kid in a red toque is a nod to Snowy Day, as is proper. (Wolf in the Snow comes to mind, too.) In this book, our MC is a little dude imagining the perfect snowman as he's gearing up to go outside. When he finally makes the snowperson, it is lopsided and a little dirty, and it's perfect. Lovely new addition to the bountiful snowy picture book world.
November 21, 2023
Brief summary: A little boy wakes to see that it has snowed. After eating his breakfast and putting on all of his snow gear, he is determined to build the BEST SNOWMAN EVER.
Comments: The story explores how one's expectations may not be realistic but still can be enjoyable in a positive mindset.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Comments: The story explores how one's expectations may not be realistic but still can be enjoyable in a positive mindset.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
December 13, 2023
I'M GOING TO BUILD A SNOWMAN has somewhat THE SNOWY DAY vibes but Jashar Awan leans into the humor in a way that is quietly hilarious. The little boy in this story wakes up to fresh snow and is determined to make the perfect snowman. He knows exactly what that looks like and has a plan. The reality is of course a little different. Darling. Heartwarming. A delight.
February 15, 2024
A lovely storytime readaloud. Our optimistic protagonist looks forward to snow and building the Best Snowman Ever. The snowman of their dreams is impressive indeed. But reality beckons, and after donning sweater, boots, and coat, the work begins. But the result isn't quite right.
Enthusiasm permeates the text and in the end everyone should be looking forward to playing in the snow.
Enthusiasm permeates the text and in the end everyone should be looking forward to playing in the snow.
October 18, 2023
The differences between our expectations and reality (and the fact that the messier version can be great, too) are on display in this laugh-out-loud book. The illustrations have a classic, retro quality, and there are nods to favorite snowman-centered holiday specials.
November 2, 2023
4.5 stars This is an homage of so many classic snow/snowman books. I just loved it. Loved the illustrations! Loved the narrative, and the sweet tone. It will be the first book I share with my storytime group in 2024.
December 9, 2023
A child wakes up to snow and imagines making the best snowman ever. Although the snowman does not turn out quite as imagined, the child gives it just the right touch. This is a sweet and joyous book that shows how imperfection can be perfection.
December 19, 2023
This was a cute story. I liked the concept.
Absolutely would recommend this book to others.
Absolutely would recommend this book to others.
March 9, 2024
This is the first picture book I have read that addresses the fact that a real snowman is not made of three perfectly round white snowballs but instead they are lopsided and often full of dirt, dead grass and sticks.
October 8, 2023
A modern day "Snowy Day" with a very realistic snowman!
October 13, 2023
Oh this is going to be an absolute must do for storytime! I love how simple it is about building a snowman and yet...it has a deeper meaning (about what really defines perfection)
October 27, 2023
Beautiful and sweet!
November 5, 2023
Perfect book to pair with A Snowy Day...makes me *almost*excited for wintertime.
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November 13, 2023CUTE LOOK AT how you intend to build an awesome snowman, but it can be more difficult than you thought it would be in reality.
November 27, 2023
My eldest literally did this today. So maybe I'm biased? The retro feel was fun.
December 12, 2023
Sweet and funny with great illustrations.
December 18, 2023
CUTE! An adorable and funny story with the most precious illustrations. You'll like reading this aloud again and again!
December 18, 2023
My snowmen never sing and dance.
I am clearly not very good at following directions.
I am clearly not very good at following directions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews