Product details
Biographical note
DEBORAH KERBEL is the award-winning author of 11 novels for young readers, as well as 20 picture books, including No Huddles for Heloise, illustrated by Udayana Lugo; Sun Dog, illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo; and When Spider Met Shrew, illustrated by Geneviève Côté. Her books have been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award and the Blue Spruce Award, among many others. Born in London, England, Deborah now lives in Thornhill, Ontario, with her family and rescue schnoodle, Freddie. TINE MODEWEG-HANSEN was born in Copenhagen, and she completed undergraduate and graduate studies in illustration at Designskolen Kolding. Critics named her part of a new generation of Danish illustrators dubbed “The Young Wild.” To date, she has illustrated 20 books, receiving accolades as “one of Denmark’s most offbeat, dynamic and imaginative drawing brains” (Berlingske Tidende) and earning a place on the prestigious IBBY Honour List. Tine lives with her family in Montreal, Quebec.<p>“A cheery tale of a simple, shared winter tradition that connects many hearts.” — <strong><em>Kirkus Reviews</em></strong></p>
<p>“Ebullient ... An idyllic vision of community care.” — <strong><em>Publishers Weekly</em></strong></p>
<p>“The weather may be cold, but this story will warm hearts when its lesson of love is shared with love.” — <strong><em>Winnipeg Free Press</em></strong></p>
Building a snowman becomes a community effort, in this wordless story about a cold winter day that snowballs into a warm neighborhood gathering.
One morning, a girl wakes up to discover that it has snowed overnight. After breakfast she starts building a snowman — and soon realizes that it’s easier and more fun to do with some help!
Other kids join in to help roll the balls that make up the snowman’s body. A passing teenager helps them reach to place the head. Then more neighbors come along and each contribute something unique from their packed lunches or winter ensembles: a pickle for a nose, bagel halves for the ears, lychee buttons, a shawl …
The final touch comes in the form of a poppy pin placed by a veteran over the snowman’s heart. The snowman smiles as the community members pause to admire their work. And when the crowd disperses, the girl and her grandfather stay behind to share a snack and warmth with someone who needs them.
Inspired by a real “community snowman” built by neighbors, author Deborah Kerbel has crafted a narrative about serendipitous connections, working together and paying it forward. These themes — and more! — are brought to life by the comic brilliance of Tine Modeweg-Hansen.
Key Text Features
wordless
panels
illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
- DIVERSITY: Each neighbor contributes something unique to the snowman, demonstrating the value of diversity in neighborhoods and communities.
- GOOD NEIGHBORS: Neighbors in this story, housed and unhoused alike, not only band together to build the snowman but to help each other out when in need.
- WORDLESS PICTURE BOOK: Wordless picture books and sequential art help to promote early visual literacy skills in young children.
- AWARD-WINNING CREATORS: Deborah Kerbel is a Blue Spruce award winner for her 2019 picture book, Sun Dog (Pajama Press; 2019). Her YA novel, Under the Moon (Cormorant Books; 2012), was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award. Illustrator Tine Modeweg-Hansen was named to the IBBY Honour List in 2003.