Snowmen at Night
Caralyn Buehner, Author
Mark Buehner, Illustrator
Dial Books for Young Readers, Fiction, 2002
Suitable for: Ages 4-7
Themes: Snowmen, Imagination, Winter
Opening/Synopsis: “One wintry day I made a snowman, very round and tall. The next day when I saw him, he was not the same at all!” A boy builds a snowman, but the next morning his snowman has changed. It made him wonder what snowmen do at night. He imagines them sliding away from their homes and going to a park for a night of fun and games with other snowmen.
Why I like this book: Written and illustrated by husband and wife team Caralyn and Mark Buehner, Snowmen at Night is a spectacular and funny book that will spark the imaginations of millions of children. They wrote the story after they opened their front door and discovered the snowman they built the night before, had moved several yards. They wondered… And, so will their young readers. This book is beautifully illustrated and kids will want to study each detail on the page. And, Mark has hidden shapes in his winter scenes that kids will want to search for.
Resources: When it snows, encourage your child to build a snowman, dress it up and watch each day for any changes. Encourage them to make angels in the snow, or help them make snow ice cream.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 06:38:53
I have read and loved Snowmen at Night. Adorable!
Dec 10, 2012 @ 14:23:40
Genevieve, this is a beautiful book. Love the illustrations.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 08:35:32
Haha, I am wondering too, now!
Dec 10, 2012 @ 14:24:15
Joanna, love books the encourage kids to imagine.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 09:37:22
Anything that empowers a child’s imagination will become a source of future healing, as being able to imagine helps healing happen should the need arise.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 14:26:30
Niamh, very wise statement. You have to believe and imagine the best outcome when faced with a situation.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 09:49:33
I need to read this! I love books that encourage imagination… and I love that it was based on a real experience. (I wonder what happened to that original snowman? How did he move?)
Dec 10, 2012 @ 14:27:42
Ha! Ha! Even the authors wonder to this day. Delightful book.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 09:50:47
This sounds like a great book to read to my second grader’s class!
Dec 10, 2012 @ 14:28:34
Oh, this would be a fun book to read to a group of second graders. Let me know what they imagine!
Dec 10, 2012 @ 11:43:52
That sounds adorable! And what a beautiful cover too. Thanks Pat!
Dec 10, 2012 @ 14:29:06
Yes, the book glows in your hands — its magical!
Dec 10, 2012 @ 23:48:33
This is one of my all time favorite books!! We don’t get many snowmen around here. They come and go very quickly. So I have to use my imagination when reading snowmen books. But I love reading this one with kids because it does bring out the giggles! Thanks for sharing this!
Dec 11, 2012 @ 19:17:21
Love the use of imagination in the book! It really is a fun book.
Dec 11, 2012 @ 17:53:31
Can’t wait for the first snow! Will check this one out with my grandson. He is still young enough to have an imagination.
Dec 11, 2012 @ 19:18:41
Yeah, I’m kind of hoping we have a snow near Christmas. I loved making snowwomen as a child. Great for children’s imagination!
Dec 11, 2012 @ 21:10:34
I love books about imagination! This one sounds perfect for my five year old cousin. Right now she is trying to investigate if gnomes come alive at night, it’s something her older brother told her, haha =)
Dec 11, 2012 @ 22:54:03
Yes, I love books that encourage imagination. Read Dr. Niamh Clune’s remark below. Let her believe.
Dec 12, 2012 @ 17:52:24
And just today I saw in a bookstore a delightful new title: SNOWMEN AT WORK! You will love perusing that one too!
Dec 12, 2012 @ 17:55:05
Thank you Cathy! I appreciate the recommendation. It’s fun to have holidays and not be so serious!