Just a Snowman

Little Critter

by Mercer Mayer

Join Mercer Mayer’s classic and beloved character, Little Critter ® , on his snow day! Snow is piled high and school is cancelled. But before Little Critter can build his snowman, he must help his sister wear her snow boots, his dad shovel the sidewalk, and Gator build a fort. Will Little Critter  ever  get to build a snowman? This 8x8 storybook about Little Critter’s fun-filled snow day is an exciting tale for fans old and new. Curl up with your little critter to enjoy these snowy day adventures.  

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christmas, Fantasy, Fiction, Holiday, School

24 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2004

About the author

Mercer Mayer is an American children's author and illustrator. He has published over 300 books, using a wide range of illustrative styles. Mayer is best known for his Little Critter and Little Monster series of books.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercer Mayer puts his spin on a snow day. Little Critter is very busy on his snow day, there is simply so much to do. People keep asking him to sled and skate and build forts, but they get their snowman made by the end of the day. I love the misdirect at the end, not that an adult wouldn’t see it coming. Little Critter is making hot chocolate for everyone and his mom thinks one of the cups is for her, but he gives it to the snowman.

The thing I love, besides all the snow, is that Little Critter is saying all this stuff about how good he skates or whatever and we see what is really happening. His jumping is falling down and so forth. It’s humorous and I enjoyed this book.

The nephew got all excited with this book. He is ready for a snow day. Every morning he wakes up and asks if it’s a snow day. Before he goes to bed, he declares its going to snow and there will be no school. Poor guy. He doesn’t understand that it’s simply not winter here. It was 52 degrees last week. It’s too warm. It’s a bummer. Anyway, he gave this story 4 stars as well and he thought he could do all those things and more.

[Toad Soup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love little critter…

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: "Hooray! It is a snow day! And what a perfect time to make a snowman. But Little Sister needs help putting on her boots, Dad needs a hand with the shoveling, and Gator wants to build a fort. Will Little Critter ever get to build a snowman?"

My Review: Another great Critter book for the collection. This one is full of winter fun. Little Critter just wants to build a snowman but keeps getting distracted by all the things friends and family want to do. Munchkin had a blast with this book and keeps asking when he will get to play in the snow (it is mid-January and still no snow here). Munchkin also had fun finding little Critter's animals friends in each of the pictures (spider, mouse, puppy, cat).

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a snow day! Little Critter gets bundled up, the helps Little Sister into her snow stuff, and out they go. Little Critter wants to make a snowman, but first he needs to help dad shovel the snow. Then Little Sister wants to have a snowball fight, Tiger and Bun Bun want to go ice-skating, Maurice and Molly want to go sledding, Gator wants to build a snow fort, and Gabby wants to make snow angels. Will Little Critter ever have a chance to make a snowman?

The text of Little Critter’s snow day adventures, accompanied by colorful illustrations, will charm young readers who will easily relate to Little Critter’s snow day adventures. Fans of Little Critter will find much to appreciate in this delightful addition to the series.

Recommended.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Critter and his sister are excited because it snowed the night before so they are getting a snow day! Little Critter wants to build a snowman. He puts his clothes on then helps his sister. Then once outside he helps his sister have fun then his friends come along and he has fun with them. All he wants to do is build a snowman but he gets so busy having fun that his snowman is one of the last things he does. In the end they go in and warm up but then think how cold his snowman is so he rewards the snowman with something special.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true Mercer Mayer fashion this wonderful book about winter has great text that tells a good story about the many things one can experience in the winter outside. The illustrations are great, with much to look at with dog, cat, spider, mouse and more popping up on each page. It worked well as a read aloud to a group, but would work great as a one on one reading, so a child could pour over the details in the pictures at their leisure.

[Melissa Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My toddler and I enjoyed being back in the world of Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter series. In this installment, Little Critter is enjoying a snow day and his one goal is to just make a snowman. However his friends and family keep him busy with other fun activities including: skating and snowball fights. As to be expected, this story is delightful and chalk full of funny irony. We look forward to reading more Little Critter books in the future.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, that talks about all the fun things that can be done in the snow. Critter wants to build a snowman but discovers that there are many other things that he can do with friends. Critter chooses helping and playing with others over what he really wants to do. Finally he gets to build a snowman.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

My boys both like this book. I think the funniest part is where he makes a huge mess making cocoa, and it looks like he is going to give a cup to his mom and then he gives it to the snowman! That is just about the way it goes sometimes. No cocoa and you get to clean up the mess :)!

[Brianna Jones]

Genre: Picture book

Reading Level: Emergent

Topics and Themes:

Curricular Use:

Social:

Literary Element:

Text and Pictures:

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"snow day, snowman, playing in the snow, typical understatements of little critter books, short enough for storytime but book size to small"

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a cute story with a cute idea, using the stories of his daily life to teach children.a cute story about building a new snowman

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book series ever for children!

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustration of putting off what I want to do in order to join others in play. Best snow day ever!

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a snow day and all Little Critter wants to do is build a snowman. But his friends has other ideas.

[Aiden and Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

GRL: H
DRA: 16

[Ruth Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love little critter books and now I can enjoy them with my kids.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute adventures of the Little Critters having fun in the snow...a good snow day read.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

My children absolutely adore this book. Reading literature is so important to the development of a child's mind, and I cannot think of thing I would rather do then sit down to read to them in the evenings. Imagination and growth are so vital in those so young.

[Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercer Mayer's stories have animals for characters and first-person narratives: a winning combo. This is a "snow day" story with a naughty narrator. Little Sister gets hit in the face with a snowball. And other escapades.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun entry in this series by Mayer. Brother wants to build a snowman but makes decisions all day to do other fun snow activities. They finally do build the snowman and celebrate the day.

[Angie Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn't send me anywhere. Maybe too many children's books in one day???

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoy this series, i think i read several when i was young ... not sure which ones though?? but fun to pick them up as an adult as well ... please read. love snow any ole' time!!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to target wh-questions, inferencing, vocabulary, and other language goals.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids enjoyed these, particularly the humour. And they’ve aged well.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why isn’t this book titled “Snow Day?” The snowman is only at the very end.

[Alex Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Little Critter series! Bright colorful illustrations and simple language perfect for a kid just beginning to read.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a great one to breakout during a blizzard/school snow day!

[Mindea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic!

[Brandie Bridges-Sells · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved this book. It talks about building snowman and a snow days. This is a book that I'll be reading to my kids over and over and over again because they just can't get enough.