ANNOTATION

When his snowman comes to life, a little boy invites him into his home and in return is taken on a flight high above the countryside. Unlike the original edition, this version has words.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Now in Pictureback® format comes Raymond Briggs' award-winning, enchanting story of a young boy and a snowman who share a magical night of friendship, fun, and flying. "The experience is one that neither he nor young readers will ever regret or forget." (Booklist, starred review). Our new Pictureback® format provides simple text written by the author.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

PreS-K-- For some reason, Briggs has added words to his immortal wordless picture book about a small boy's nocturnal adventures with an all-too-mortal snowman. The result, to say the least, is disappointing. It features fewer pictures described in simple declarative sentences that relate the action but lose the potency of the narrative. Further, the story has been trimmed, and incidents adding texture to the original have been lost. Much of the snowman's characterization is gone; his gentle meeting with a cat has been cut, as have his telling fear of a lighted stove, his wonderment at the TV, and his bemusement at a pair of false teeth. All of his slapstick adventures with James's toys are gone; half of the flying journey has been eliminated. The bittersweet ending remains as Briggs allows James to make his discovery of his melted friend without comment, but much of its resonance is missing with the lost pictures. What is left is a simple, rather ordinary story of an adventure with a flying snowman suitable for preschoolers who might well have waited a bit longer until they were old enough to enjoy James's magical interlude in its fullest glory. --Christine Behrmann, New York Public Library