Snowzilla

by Janet Lawler

When neighbors complain that her snowman is too tall, Cami Lou finds a perfect new place for him in the community garden.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Christmas, Fiction, Poetry

Unknown Binding

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Janet Lawler is the author of many books for children and is particularly inspired by the natural world. Her inspiration for this book came after listening to a YouTube recording of ten hours’ worth of walrus sounds, after which she wanted to learn more about these interesting creatures and share that knowledge with young readers. She had great fun creating words that reflect the weird noises walruses make! Janet Lawler lives with her family in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still, no snow here, so I’m reading about snow in books.

It snowed for week after week and then this town built a massive snowman with industrial equipment. Some town members loved it and people came from all over to see it and some town members hated it. They say it will melt and form a lake.

It’s told in Rhyme and you know I love a story told in verse. The artwork is nice for beginners. It’s a story for young kids and people who like snow.

The nephew thought the idea of a giant snowman was awesome. He thought this was a cool idea and he wanted to build one. I told him we don’t get enough snow or cold to build one here. I don’t think we are going to get any winter again this year. That will make 2 years in a row. Maybe some will show up this month, if we are lucky. He gave this 4 stars for a great idea.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good concept and art, so-so execution.

*read for free with Kindle Unlimited *

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly long book. It is a rhyming book about children who make a huge snowman and the town rallies to have the snowman tore down. They end up saving Snowzilla in the end so it turned out to be a happy story.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute with great cadence. This would be fun to do with K-3. Nice winter outreach book

[Suzy Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the mood of this story, the upbeat rhymes and the message about the power of friendship and community. The illustrations were zany and fun! Lovely read!

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horn Book Spring 2013

When Cami Lou and her family build Snowzilla, a colossal snowman, their creation becomes so famous that a judge condemns it for disturbing the peace. At Cami Lou's urging, the townspeople band together to move Snowzilla to a better location, and Cami Lou makes plans for more giant snow people next year. Cheerful illustrations full of smiling people complement the sprightly verse.



Kirkus Reviews October 1, 2012

Community dissension and compromise are brought down to a kid's level in this tale of a giant snowman. With a little help from their family, some equipment and Mother Nature, Cami Lou and her little brother build a huge snowman sporting a hat, scarf and arms with five mittens/gloves each. "Then Cami Lou cheered / as she stood down below. / 'We'll call you Snowzilla! / Our giant of snow!' " People come from all around to see Snowzilla, but when the townspeople complain of blocked views, scared pets and the threat of flood, the judge rules that he must go. The modern-day girl turns to social media to save her snowman, and the next day, in an operation that could be likened to the moving of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, people turn out in droves to help hoist and move Snowzilla. But for all the hoopla, Cami Lou is not particularly sad when Snowzilla melts--she is busy planning something even bigger for next year, a disconnect that might catch readers' attention. Haley's brightly colored acrylic-and--colored-pencil artwork lends a festive feel to the text. Over-the-top patterns and styles of winter clothing, along with the hairstyles and grimaces of the sourpusses, give her characters personality. The power of a community to pull together and solve problems is definitely in evidence here, though the tale's sheer implausibility and its sometimes-stumbling rhythms may turn readers off. Ultimately like Snowzilla--fluff. (Picture book. 4-7)



Publishers Weekly October 15, 2012

In a chirpy story of mild civil strife, a girl named Cami Lou constructs a humungous snowman (helpfully, her parents own a snowplow and a bulldozer) that attracts thousands of visitors. When angry neighbors protest ("A lady warned everyone,/ 'Make no mistake-/ when temperatures rise,/ he'll turn into a lake!' "), Cami and her brother work to have the snowman relocated. Working in acrylic and colored pencil, Haley portrays a playfully lopsided town, but Lawler's rhymes are often labored ("So Cami used e-mail and texting and blogging/ to save all their effort spent packing and slogging") and the ending feels pat. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.



School Library Journal December 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 1-Lawler opens with this Dr. Seuss-like stanza: "It snowed without stopping/for week after week./When it ended at last,/Cami Lou took a peek." Cami Lou (whose name is reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's Cindy Lou Who) makes terrific use of a snow-packed landscape to create, with the help of her mother, father, and younger brother, the biggest snowman ever. "Thousands of people rode buses to see/the towering snowman, as tall as a tree." The burst of tourism is disrupted by petty neighbors, and the case against Snowzilla makes it all the way to court. Readers won't have much time to worry as the irrepressible Cami Lou thinks, emails, texts, blogs, and community organizes her way out of this modern dilemma. Lawler's rhymes occasionally sound contrived, but they scan beautifully. Haley's offbeat, busy, and chaotically colorful cartoon-style illustrations are a lively complement to the bouncy text.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.







Want This Title?





Want
First Choice







My Notes:


Enter your notes here. Notes may be up to 300 characters.


Notes are for personal use and may be included when sharing a list or printing a quote. Notes will not be included with your order or appear on invoices.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family builds a gigantic snowman, which in turn, causes a gigantic ruckus with the neighbors. I liked the concept of this one much, much more than the execution. Three stars.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the rhyming but def had to explained things to kids beyond the words/images. I still liked it and the adults got a laugh out of the ending.

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the rhythm and rhyme of this story. It's about a little girl and her brother who build a giant snowman. Everybody is amazed at it to begin with, until they start to worry what will happen when it melts. A judge then rules that "Snowzilla" will have to come down. The little girl is devastated and then gets everyone to sign a petition to save Snowzilla. Someone then gets the brilliant idea to move him to a park, where when he melts, he won't do any damage. When he finally does melt, everyone is surprised that the little girl isn't sad. But she is already planning something much bigger for next year...a snowzilla family.

The illustrations were well done, but I think I would like them more if they were less crowded; however, since the author is describing a crowd, maybe it is appropriate? I don't know.

[Maria Waltner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really cute. Cami Lou has watched it snow for weeks and when it finally ends she and her brother go outside and make the biggest snowman ever that they then name Snowzilla. Well, Snowzilla is a big hit with some but not so much for others. Neighbors complain and a judge tells them to take it down. So the get together and text and blog and e-mail family and friends and neighbors to save it.

I really liked how active the kids are. First they build this enormous snowman with the help of their parents and then they unite the community for the common good. The use of modern gadgets was an interesting touch. Oh, and the whole thing can be read in the same poetic manner as the Night Before Christmas. Really cute.

[Fjóla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A three and a half stars for us: Great rhymes, good story and cute pictures. The story is a bit modern, as opposed to the timelessness of most picture books. Neighbors are suing each others, but the children text and blog to save the giant snowman. Thankfully the kids were not on Facebook yet. It's a good read although rather forgettable.

[Shelby Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to inspire creativity in children. I also liked how every other line in this book rhymed, which made it easier and more fun to read.
Topics: creativity, new ideas, snow, winter, snowmen, problem solving, friendship, celebration, helping others, sadness.

[Wendy Cushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

This children's story, about a gigantic snowman that caused chaos in the town until it was moved, was delightful! I loved it and the pictures are beautiful. Any child would love to read this cute story or have it read to them.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun rhyming story with cute and colorful illustrations. Nothing overly special or memorable though.

[Margo Dill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book! I love the rhyme and the illustrations. Move over, Frosty!

[Dolores · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a rhythm reminiscent of Dr. Seuss and a plucky heroine, this makes a great read aloud. Fun to share at storytime or at a school visit.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cami Lou, with the help of her family, builds the biggest snowman the town's ever seen. But it causes an uproar, and with the use of the latest technology, she saves her Snowzilla.

[Trisha Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a big hit. The kids kept saying "he's going to melt!"

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just did not care for it very much. Other people I know really like it, but for some reason it just didn't flow well with me.

[Mary Myklebust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Great book!! Really encourages new ideas and standing for what you believe in. Kids really will love it! Great job

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young girl builds a gigantic snowman, but not all the townsfolk are happy about it.

Cami Lou builds the biggest snowman her small town has ever seen, and it quickly attracts a lot of attention. But not everyone is happy about Snowzilla. Tourist attractions are nuisances for the locals. Not all the neighbors are appreciative of the snowman as a public art installation. Some think it is an eyesore, others don't life the crowds it is attracting, and there are worries about potential flooding from melting snow. In a modern American twist, there is a lawsuit, and the judge rules that Snowzilla must be taken down, but a happy compromise is reached, and Snowzilla is saved.

This picture book introduces young readers to the idea of unintended consequences. It is important to understand what can be a source of joy, amusement, and beauty to some people can be an inconvenience or an outright harm to others. The freedom to swing one's fist ends where another person's face begins.

[Savani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Snowzilla is a fun and lively read that brings the magic of winter to life. The story follows the creation of an enormous snowman that captures the attention of an entire town. Despite being a tale about snow, the book is surprisingly colorful and vibrant, with illustrations that add warmth and energy to the snowy scenes.

Janet Lawler’s playful writing makes the story engaging, while the whimsical artwork enhances the fun and excitement. It’s a delightful book for wintertime reading that will spark children’s imaginations and make them dream of building their own "Snowzilla."

Overall, it’s a bright and entertaining story that’s perfect for anyone who loves snowmen and big adventures.

[Cindy Sterba · Rating 5 out of 5]

snow giant controversy

This is a funny story of a giant snowman who causes controversy in the neighborhood. Somewhat like the controversy of giant structures in our space, or in our face which does not please us all. The solution is a tribute to working together to solve a problem.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book, i love snow. as a kid we had snow all the time here in Virginia ... not so much as an adult ... so sad about that. i love the scenery looks with snow ... makes u happy. so perfect. love the sound. what a great read. loved it!!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was original

The story was original but lacked engagement. There was no interaction or fun to be read. My girls were disconnected. There were no twist or turns, just a story of kids who built the largest snowman intown.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a girl and her brother who make a giant snowman. The neighbors get upset and fighting ensues. Will they be able to save Snowzilla? And what about next year?

[Neil Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight

Great rhyming; almost Seussian. Very fun and a great illustration of local busybodies interfering with harmless fun. The snowman does not come to life.

[Lakesha Ceasar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

It’s quick and fun. Long enough for infant and tots to sit and listen. Perfect for a winter night story.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story. Loved the illustrations of the townspeople.

[Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

great rhyming picture book