Snowballs

by Lois Ehlert

It's time to build a snowman in this fresh and imaginative winter classic by Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert.

Ehlert creates a wintry world with her signature style by collaging vibrant cut paper and textured found objects, like buttons, fabric, and seeds, to illuminate the most wonderful time of the year. Readers young and old will marvel at the innovation in this dazzling snow-filled tale and just might feel inspired to build their own unique snow creations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Christmas, Fiction, Art, Nature

28 pages, Board Book

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Lois Ehlert has created numerous inventive, celebrated, and bestselling picture books, including Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Holey Moley, The Scraps Book, Mice, Ten Little Caterpillars, RRRalph, Lots of Spots, Boo to You!, Leaf Man, Waiting for Wings, Planting a Rainbow, Growing Vegetable Soup, and Color Zoo, which received a Caldecott Honor. She lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book confused me. We started the book off about birds; the question is asked, "Do you think birds know when it's going to snow?" I think it's going to be about feeding birds in the snow, but then the rest of the book is full page spreads of the different snowmen they make and what they look like. They make a family of snowmen, including the baby and the dog and cat. There is usually a bird on each page, but I really don't get how they are connected so much. It was simply confusing.

There isn't much story here, it's about the snowmen. They are very cute indeed. It's giving people ideas on best ways to build snowmen. It's cute and I can't say that I don't love books about snow.

We had our second cold day of the year yesterday, but no snow in sight. So, any book about snow is most welcome.

The nephew thought this book simple, but he did like some of the ideas present for snowmen. He wanted to build a snowdog this year. Our dog is named cooper, a mini Dachshund and min-pin mix. He's a right terror and we love him. The nephew wants to make Cooper into a snowman. I told him we probably aren't going to get snow again this year, or at least hope for snow so we can. He gave this book 3 stars and he wants to draw up plans now for his snow men. He really just wants to make a snow boy like him that looks cool.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm afraid Ehlert's books just never really wow me. I love the cover on this and really appreciate her creativity in building the snowpeople/animals in this book, but there really isn't much of a story going and it just feels a little bland and disjointed at times. There is some factual information about snow, but if you are interested in that sort of thing I would highly recommend is The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder.

[Katelynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ehlert’s photographic collages are amazing as always, and this book has a ton of rich information on how snow forms, how animals prepare for snow, and different cultures’ winter clothing.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

We finished up our "OLAF GROWS" -- SNOWMAN story time with this book and I think it might have been the kids' favorite.

A family collects stuff to decorate a snow family -- Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, Baby, Cat, and Dog -- and waits for a big snow storm. The birds and squirrels are waiting too, because the family puts plenty of edibles on their snow creations.

The kids enjoyed identifying the decorations. I would ask, "What is the nose made from?" I would also ask, "Can the birds or squirrels eat that?"

So, along with the fun of the story this was also a nature "lesson" and a science "lesson". (I prefer the word "exploration" to "lesson".)

Notice: this also falls under the umbrella of "reading readiness" through DIALOGIC READING. Learn more about this here: http://www.getreadytoread.org/early-l... .

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family has been waiting for snow for a while now, collecting all kinds of odds and ends for when the big snowfall arrives. And finally - snow, enough snow for all kinds of snowballs. First up is a snow dad, then a snow mom, a cool snow boy, a snow girl, a round snow baby, and finally, a snow cat and a spotted snow dog. But these are ordinary snow people and pets - they are decorated with all those colorful, carefully collected odds and ends. Dad wears a Bolivian hat, mom sports a Guatemalan purse, and there's a felt heart, toy wheel ears, button spots of the dog. In fact, there is a two page spread to show young readers just what and how everything was used. But, uh-oh, the sun has come out and you know what happens to snow people and pets when it warms up - the same fate as Frosty.
But what is snow, and what makes it snow, anyway? Turn the page and find out. And don't forget the recipe for some really yummy looking popcorn balls on the jacket flap decorated to look like - what else? A snowman. Each collaged snow person and pet gets its own two page spread. They are from cut paper shapes, and decorated. Besides the odds and ends, there are raisins, sunflower seeds, corn kernels, twigs and all kinds of fun thing found in nature. This is a fun book to read, whether it's snowing outside or not, and it's chockablock with great ideas for your next snow person - whether made of paper or snow.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit there is no real plot to grasp the children's attention and simply reading it straight through would have probably bored them to death, but I don't believe that was the purpose of the book or how it was meant to be read.

I read this twice this week to a mixed group of kids (ages ranging from infants to about 9 or 10 years old) along with Frosty the Snowman. Each time they appeared to really enjoy the book. We took the time to look at the details of each snow-creature, naming the objects they recognized and getting ideas for the objects they would use in the craft project I set out for them (snowmen, of course, made with various found objects).

[Russell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd call the narrative shallow, but it appears to have completely melted away like the snowman family. Some cute folksy art isn't enough to save this book. I'd need coffee beans for eyes too, if I had to sit through another reading.

The popcorn ball recipe at the end fails to impress, either.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Lots* of vertical pages.

I like the cut paper and other objects in the illustrations (and I love the weather reports on the back cover). Most of those objects aren't what I would have used to decorate snowmen, but on the cut paper snowmen it was all cute.

[Brittany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not a fan of this book. The story is boring, the illustrations are boring. Nothing to really like here.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this at all. I can't stand the illustration style. It's like all these pieces of paper form the images and I've never liked it. Combined with simple, short sentences and this was not worth reading. I didn't like the story. It doesn't really go anywhere and this isn't a winter story that needs to be read.

It starts off asking readers if they think birds know when it's going to snow, leading you to believe this will cover animal behavior during the snow, or saying how animals can feel when bad weather is coming. But it doesn't. The line goes "I do." And that the seed is almost gone. I expected the author to say something about animals eating a lot before a snow, but all she said was that the snow would cover the seeds up.

We never get to even see the main characters. A mysterious "I" thinks birds know when it's going to snow, whoever "I" is. "We" saved up a sack of things, and the things are out-there, not what you'd expect to use on snowmen. There's a brown paper bag with these multi-colored cords and sashes that I've never seen before, and plastic bags of sunflower seeds, popcorn, what look like chocolate cookies, corn, bird seed, and peanuts. What happened to good old rocks, a carrot, and a scarf?

They, whoever they is, made a snow dad, snow mom, snow boy, snow girl, baby, cat and dog. The cat and dog look nothing like a cat and dog. The mom had those colored cords as hair, and a colored bag containing peanuts. The boy had these toy wheels for ears, and bolts for eyes. The girl had these two weird broom pieces for hair. Odd. Very odd. Unlike any snowmen I've ever seen and I didn't like them.

It ended with the snow melting all of them. There were two pages featuring items to use called "good stuff." But the items are insane. Toy wheels. Mexican scrub brush (that were the girl's hair). Thai applique heart--what is that and where do you get one???? Toy fish. Foil candy wrapper--who is going to save a wrapper to put on snow?! Bottle cap. Fork. Cinnamon stick..? Guatemalan belt and tie-because we all have those! Guatemalan purse--feel like the author went through her things and discovered items from her trip to Guatemala, and for some reason assumes we've all been. Luggage tag and claim check--because again, we all have those, and paper is a good item to put outside! Bolivian hat. Another vacation, perhaps? Peruvian sock--third trip! African kente cloth and English silk tie, Japanese stone. Who the heck does she think we are? Coffee beans, raisins, telephone wire, metal nuts, toy compass, jingle bell. I mean come on. Who comes up with this?!

For some reason the pages titled Snow Info was on types of mittens. 2 Wisconsin mittens. Korean glove. Italian mitten. Afghani glove. Okayy...

There was a page on what makes snow, explaining the processes of water evaporating from earth, going into the atmosphere, blowing around in the wind and clinging to dust and salt in the air to form a cloud. When a cloud becomes saturated with water vapor, it releases it to earth. The temperature determines whether a cloud will release rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation. I've never heard that before and really liked learning that. If the cloud's temperature is cold enough, the water freezes into ice crystals and snow will fall. If the air below the cloud is warm, the snowflakes melt and fall as rain. If the air below is cool, the snow will fall to earth. If the earth is warm, the snow melts when it lands. If it's cold, it stays on the ground until the sun melts it. I like how it broke the weather down so easily and made it easy to learn.

There was a recipe on the back inside cover to make popcorn balls. I wish the book had been as good as that last page and had information to learn and not just a simple story with weird snowmen to look at.

[Brooke Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this wintertime story! This story acknowledges what people and birds do when winter is coming. Birds store seeds, knowing that the snow will soon bury the rest. People make unique snowmen. In the spring the snowman melts. This book has some insight to how birds respond to the winter but mainly focuses on the physical change to the environment and the way children respond to it. In the classroom this would be great for a wintertime lesson! The kids could make their own bird feeders and watch the birds go and store their seeds! I felt like this book could have been made a little bit more exiting epically with its illustrations.

[Josie B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for 2 years- kindergarten. The simple, almost non-existent plot takes back seat to the pictures. This is the perfect book for modeling dialogic reading. I usually state by taking about the cover and asking what do the children see. On each page, i ask what the eye, ears, mouth, etc. are made from; with older children I ask how can you tell the snowman is______? (Whatever Ehlert had labeled it). I pair this with All You Need For A Snowman by Alice Scherltle and for an older audience, Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright.

[White House Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the pictures in this book! They really help to bring the story to life and show kids that you can take just about anything from a leaf to popcorn to a tie when creating a snowman. The text is very easy for kids to follow along with. At the end it shows the different items used to make each snow person and includes some facts on what snow is. It also ties in the real world by showing multiple pictures of snowmen that kids have made while discussing what makes it snow. Another great book from this amazing author.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to the first graders as a writing prompt. I went through the book and looked closely at the photograph. Then I gave the students writing paper so they could plan their snowpeople in the even it should snow. It was a no-worry writing assignment where they can write as much as they can in list format or how they choose to plan their snowpeople. No guidance from me once they get started (spelling, grammar, etc). Rule number one is they stay busy while they wait their turn to check out.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book! The collage illustrations are adorable. I will use this as a read aloud and the students and I will discuss what birds do during snow. We will make a simple bird feeder - pipe cleaner and cereal - to put out on the first snowy day. We will also talk about what items we will save in our sack to decorate our snowball people.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehlert's trademark style of illustration is great, but there's no real plot line to this one. I plan on using it for a preschool story time on snow because the illustrations really lend themselves to engaging the kids. "What did they use for the snowman's nose?" and "Could a bird eat that?" It should make for some fun interaction with the kids.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snowballs (Paperback)
by Lois Ehlert
used as a resource for kindergarten to show the idea of sequence and family with snowmen. This is a cute very short book using collage to show items used to create not only the pictures but of the actual snowman.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork gets 5 stars - these collage snow people are awesome.
The kids loved them, especially the snow kids.
The book is mainly worth it for the artwork.
It might inspire kids to do some of their own projects.
It's a quick read.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't that wowed by this when I first read it, despite it being highly recommended. However, my 2yo loves it. She used some props on her nature table to create her own 'snow child' (her words) so that says it all for me really. This book had really inspired her, so it's a winner!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes scientific information about snow and a recipe for popcorn balls, as well as creative ideas for feeding birds.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute story and great information

[Syntha Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first bit about the birds always seems a bit disjointed to me but it's always a hit at storytime and the illustrations and big and bold which is excellent

[Tip Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Children's book about building snowmen and what it takes to make snowman fun until the sun comes out. Lol!

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lois Ehlert builds snowmen? Um, yes please.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

always enjoy looking at Ehlert's art! Fun snow family, with snow facts sprinkled about, back matter explaining the water cycle and snowman photos.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creative artwork. If you have little collectors like I do, they'll love absorbing the pictures and might get a few ideas on how to create art using their own little trinkets.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! Used for snowman themed storytime. Creation of snowman family & pets. Cute to ask the kids what items were used to create the snowmen.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've had this on my to-read shelf for a while, and wanted to get it off.
The illustrations weren't my style at all. It's the crafty kind, where it's just images of paper and craft supplies. So that brought the book down for me.

I did like the lines:
'Snow dad's shrinking.
Mom is mush.
Boy's a blob;
Girl is slush.'

I also found the part at the end about what makes it snow to be interesting.
Evaporation, where water goes from a liquid to a gas, doesn't just happen when you boil water or your windows fog and then run. They're happening all the time when our rivers, lakes and oceans evaporate and turn into water vapor that goes into the atmosphere through pieces of dust and salt in the air, which then turns into a cloud.
When a cloud becomes saturated with water vapor it releases the droplets to earth. The temp of the cloud determines whether it falls as rain, snow, hail, sleet, etc. If the cloud is warm, it releases the droplets as rain. If the cloud is cold, water freezes as ice crystals and snow falls. If the air under the cloud is warm, the snowflakes turn into rain. If the air is cold, snow will fall to the earth.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Booklist Vol. 92, No. 7 (December 1, 1995)

Ages 3-8. A snow family is the heart of Ehlert's newest picture book, which shows, early on, a paper bag overflowing with materials ("good stuff in a sack" ) suitable for decorating. snow sculptures. The snow creations are depicted lengthwise on the pages, beginning with a snow dad formed from circles of paper festooned with raisin eyes and a mouth of unpopped corn kernels. A snow mom with coffee bean eyes comes next, and so on. A variety of objects, from food to ethnic clothing, are used to make each snowman, and Ehlert's trademark cut-paper animals visit the snow critters. Children will love figuring out what each decorative item is, and Ehlert labels everything in a glorious double-page spread that is certain to give kids (and their teachers) lots of craft ideas. Ehlert loses her focus at the end, shifting to explanations of snow science and photographs of real snowmen, but less relevant pages can be skipped easily. A recipe for popcorn balls that can be turned into "snowmen" appears on the back flap as a nice bonus.



Horn Book starred March, 1996

Using "good stuff" like seeds, nuts, corn kernels, and colorful yarn, kids create a wonderful snow family. Placed on vertical page spreads, the snow characters extend the full length of the book, a perspective that enhances the drama of their inevitable demise when the sun comes out. Large well-designed illustrations effectively blend open space, colorful paper cutouts, and real objects.



Kirkus Reviews starred 1995

Vibrant collages and a spare text stretch boldly across pages that must be turned sideways to be read. Snow dad, mom, children, and dog incorporate cut-paper shapes with real materials such as Bolivian hats, African kente cloth, dried corn, and crayon-bright buttons. If every month were December, these pictures would be perfect pin-ups for a calendar. There is a generous spirit to this jolly, unassuming book, as if, having given readers a satisfying meal, Ehlert keeps stuffing yet another treat into their pockets. The back matter extends the text with pages of labeled props that may prompt readers to recreate the collages in their own homes, meteorological information about snow, and photographs of real snowmen. Even the back flap gets a new role--that's where readers will find a recipe for popcorn balls. The whole package is fun to look at, fun to read, and fun to share.



Publishers Weekly October 16, 1995

Only an artist as gifted as Ehlert (Nuts to You!) could take so well-worn a topic as building a snowman and make it as fresh as-well, new-fallen snow. Her faultless sense of design immediately engages the reader: tidy white circles dot the gray backgrounds of her collages; cut-paper birds show off their hand-painted wings; and an offscreen narrator exhibits a sackful of ``good stuff''-birdseed, peanuts, corn kernels, etc.-accumulated in anticipation of the ``perfect snowball day.'' Soon the narrator and invisible colleagues have constructed a whole family of snow people and their pets. Each member of the snow family receives a full spread, to be viewed vertically, and each is decorated with ``good stuff.'' Birds (and squirrels) can feast upon some of the adornments; and bright textiles (a Bolivian hat, a Guatemalan purse) imaginatively intermingle with stones, twigs and such prosaic items as a luggage tag and a claim check. Factual information about snow is included as well as a spread featuring photos of 13 snow creations. Even jacket space is not wasted-the flap has a recipe for popcorn balls, while the back cover features a selection of snowy newspaper forecasts. A joyful and inventive book just brimming with its own ``good stuff.'' Ages 3-8. (Oct.)



Publishers Weekly October 18, 1999

With her signature masterfully designed cut-paper (and found-object) collages, Ehlert takes a time-worn topic–building a snowman–and makes it "as fresh as new-fallen snow," said PW. Ages 3-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.



School Library Journal November 1995

PreS-Gr 2--Ehlert once again displays the innovative collage style that so vividly celebrated spring and summer in Growing Vegetable Soup (1990) and Planting a Rainbow (1988), and autumn in Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf (1991) and Nuts to You! (1993, all Harcourt). Here, she puts a creative twist on one of the favorite traditions of winter--building a snowman, or, in this case, a snow family, including pets. Children who believe snowmen must have charcoal eyes and carrot noses will be inspired by the unique adornments, for each creation here is decorated with the narrator's cache of ``good stuff in a sack.'' Mom's hair is a Guatemalan belt; boy's nose is a toy compass; baby's arms are plastic picnic forks; dog's spots are a collection of buttons. As in the previous books, bold, rhyming text describes the simple pleasures of the season. The contrasting sensations of the crisp iciness and dreary isolation of winter are effectively created by placing the colorfully decorated white figures against a textured gray background on double-page vertical spreads. The background glows bright orange as the sun appears. Ehlert concludes her book with some winter facts, photographs of snowmen, and a recipe for popcorn balls. Another spectacular effort.--Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN

[Ella あいみ M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this at a book store and just read it while waiting for my mom and my siblings. The art reminded me of something but I can't remember what.