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Snow Dude
I'm a snow dude, Just as wild as I can be . . . Run as fast as you can- You won't catch up with me!"
When Nick and Kara Candlewick build the snowman of their dreams, their wish for a real live playmate comes true. Soon their mischievous Snow Dude is on the run, dashing into town to raise a ruckus. Before long everyone has joined in the chase, but the Snow Dude can't be stopped-or can he?
The Snow Dude has all the mischievous appeal of the Gingerbread Man. Children will delight in this rollicking wintery adventure.
When Nick and Kara Candlewick build the snowman of their dreams, their wish for a real live playmate comes true. Soon their mischievous Snow Dude is on the run, dashing into town to raise a ruckus. Before long everyone has joined in the chase, but the Snow Dude can't be stopped-or can he?
The Snow Dude has all the mischievous appeal of the Gingerbread Man. Children will delight in this rollicking wintery adventure.
32 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 3, 2015
* * * Read & Reviewed by Me and My Niece Emma * * *
"Frosty the Snowman" gets a modern makeover and I - an old grump - was highly annoyed. On the other hand, Emma seemed to find him to be a righteous snow dude.
In this, the widest book I've ever seen, a young and energetic snowman runs away from people trying to catch him while repeatedly shouting:
"I'm a snow dude,
as wild as wild can be.
Run as fast as you can run--
you won't catch up with me!"
Reading that awkwardly-phrased paragraph a dozen times makes you wish for a blisteringly hot day in Snowdudeland. And yes, you're not imagining the thinly veiled mugging of The Gingerbread Man, which is one of Emma's all time favorite stories and would explain why she liked this one. When I read the above paragraph for the first time her face lit right up.
This was drudgery for me, but a good time for her. My solace lies in that this is a library book that needs, nay, must be returned as soon as possible. I also like that Emma's favorite part was when Snowdude went out on to the frozen lake and the ice cracked: "It was funny and dangerous, hahaha!"
"Frosty the Snowman" gets a modern makeover and I - an old grump - was highly annoyed. On the other hand, Emma seemed to find him to be a righteous snow dude.
In this, the widest book I've ever seen, a young and energetic snowman runs away from people trying to catch him while repeatedly shouting:
"I'm a snow dude,
as wild as wild can be.
Run as fast as you can run--
you won't catch up with me!"
Reading that awkwardly-phrased paragraph a dozen times makes you wish for a blisteringly hot day in Snowdudeland. And yes, you're not imagining the thinly veiled mugging of The Gingerbread Man, which is one of Emma's all time favorite stories and would explain why she liked this one. When I read the above paragraph for the first time her face lit right up.
This was drudgery for me, but a good time for her. My solace lies in that this is a library book that needs, nay, must be returned as soon as possible. I also like that Emma's favorite part was when Snowdude went out on to the frozen lake and the ice cracked: "It was funny and dangerous, hahaha!"
March 20, 2014
So sad this is out-of-print (but still avail. thru Amazon). Our copy is held together with tape. It's a mash-up of Frosty the Snowman and The Gingerbread Boy. It was a hit with the story time crowd.
October 3, 2013
My 3 yr old loves the rhyming and the pictures. She wants to make her own Snow dude now!
February 10, 2011
I love the illustrations. The children love to join in with the chant.
February 10, 2021
What a fun book! I was not expecting a connection with the Gingerbread Man, but it is there! My students will tell you Traditional Tales are a favorite of mine as I like the predictability with changes in culture, location, and the chant. My students will be quite happy to have this one as it connects to a most talked about sport they all seem to love, snowboarding.
November 4, 2025
Kirk's illustrations are a highlight in this variant on The Gingerbread Man.
The concept was cute; I could not get past the imperfect rhythm of the rhymes.
If you practice ahead of time with the rhyming text, you could possibly use this title for a fun winter read-aloud.
The concept was cute; I could not get past the imperfect rhythm of the rhymes.
If you practice ahead of time with the rhyming text, you could possibly use this title for a fun winter read-aloud.
February 24, 2020
Unoriginal. It's like an uninspired cross between Frosty, and the Gingerbread Man.
Addy liked it though. Emma put it down after three pages. She's such a good girl.
Addy liked it though. Emma put it down after three pages. She's such a good girl.
September 30, 2021
This book was like the snowman version of the "The Gingerbread Man."
January 15, 2026
So cute of a book I want to follow the Snow Dude...😁
September 12, 2019
I chose this book because it had great illustrations.
February 16, 2015
Booklist November 15, 2004 (Vol. 101, No. 6)
PreS. Kirk's takeoff on "The Gingerbread Man"features a roly-poly snowman looking like a first cousin to the Pillsbury doughboy. He runs away from his creators, young Nick and Kara, and races past a couple who wants to adopt him and a circus owner who would like to make him a star. The monkeys at the zoo want him to stay, as do the kids he joins in snowboarding down a hill. "I'm a snow dude / as wild as can be. / Run fast as you can--you won't catch up with me,"he taunts. The last line of the refrain is a little clunky, but the action is smooth right to the last spread, where Nick and Kara implore the horde following Snow Dude to make snow people of their own--which everyone does, with great abandon. Everything comes together well here; computer-ehhanced artwork, in smooth candy-coated color, reflects the frosty milieu. Snow Dude is an impudent, icy embodiment of his gingerbread forebears. Crackling with excitement and mischief, this will be fun to read aloud.
Horn Book Spring 2005
When Nick and Kara build a snowman and "a little mischief" brings it to life, the snow dude takes off, and a great chase begins. People all over town want to catch him. Finally Nick and Kara suggest that everyone should build their own snow dudes. Even the boisterous illustrations can't save this slight "Gingerbread Man" knockoff.
Publishers Weekly December 20, 2004
Kirk (Snow Family) combines the stories of Frosty the Snowman and the Gingerbread Man, minus the somber endings, in this light, bright tale of a speedy Snow Dude. Two children build the boyish Dude and wish he could come to life. They do not notice the smiling, windswept cloud towering behind them: "There's a little mischief/ in the chilly air today!" it says. As the children give their creation coal-black eyes and a carrot nose, he animates and takes off through the neighborhood. A couple calls, "Be our little boy!," and a baker begs, "Help me cool my pies!," but he repeats, "I'm a snow dude,/ As wild as wild can be./ Run as fast as you can run-/ you won't catch up with me!" Kirk adds humorous visual touches as a gathering crowd pursues the Dude. At the bakery, gingerbread men (later chased by a fox) and a wedding cake's plastic couple join the action; when the Dude snowboards down a hill, he's followed by townspeople, sledders, and penguins and polar bears sprung from the zoo. At a thinly iced lake, tragedy seems in the offing, but the Dude's original builders yell to the assembled group, "Build snow dudes of your own!" The horizontal closing spread offers a wide-angle view of a park where all manner of snow folks frolic with the warm-blooded variety. Kirk approaches the short-lived snowy day with good cheer and doesn't spoil the mood with premature melting. Ages 3-8. (Nov.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal January 1, 2005
Pre-Gr 3-Kirk brings "Frosty the Snowman" into the 21st century, adding a touch of the "Gingerbread Man." Nick and Kara build a blue-jeans-clad snow boy in their backyard and wish that he could talk and run. "`Be careful,'" cautions a gust of wind, "`for there's a little mischief/in the chilly air today!'" The snow dude comes to life, dashes past a couple shoveling snow, a barber, a baker, and a lion tamer, all of whom ask him to stop for one reason or another. With everyone in pursuit, Snow Dude scurries on, tossing back his refrain, "`I'm a snow dude,/as wild as wild can be./Run as fast as you can run-/you won't catch up with me!'" With everyone along the way begging him to stay, Kara has an idea. She suggests that they each build snow dudes of their own. The day ends with everyone laughing and chasing them through the park. Rhyming couplets are paired with bold, colorful, stylized illustrations in which the people, the animals, the baker's gingerbread men, and the snow dude are all wearing smiles and enjoying the day. A sunny addition to warm up a winter storytime.-Linda Staskus, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
PreS. Kirk's takeoff on "The Gingerbread Man"features a roly-poly snowman looking like a first cousin to the Pillsbury doughboy. He runs away from his creators, young Nick and Kara, and races past a couple who wants to adopt him and a circus owner who would like to make him a star. The monkeys at the zoo want him to stay, as do the kids he joins in snowboarding down a hill. "I'm a snow dude / as wild as can be. / Run fast as you can--you won't catch up with me,"he taunts. The last line of the refrain is a little clunky, but the action is smooth right to the last spread, where Nick and Kara implore the horde following Snow Dude to make snow people of their own--which everyone does, with great abandon. Everything comes together well here; computer-ehhanced artwork, in smooth candy-coated color, reflects the frosty milieu. Snow Dude is an impudent, icy embodiment of his gingerbread forebears. Crackling with excitement and mischief, this will be fun to read aloud.
Horn Book Spring 2005
When Nick and Kara build a snowman and "a little mischief" brings it to life, the snow dude takes off, and a great chase begins. People all over town want to catch him. Finally Nick and Kara suggest that everyone should build their own snow dudes. Even the boisterous illustrations can't save this slight "Gingerbread Man" knockoff.
Publishers Weekly December 20, 2004
Kirk (Snow Family) combines the stories of Frosty the Snowman and the Gingerbread Man, minus the somber endings, in this light, bright tale of a speedy Snow Dude. Two children build the boyish Dude and wish he could come to life. They do not notice the smiling, windswept cloud towering behind them: "There's a little mischief/ in the chilly air today!" it says. As the children give their creation coal-black eyes and a carrot nose, he animates and takes off through the neighborhood. A couple calls, "Be our little boy!," and a baker begs, "Help me cool my pies!," but he repeats, "I'm a snow dude,/ As wild as wild can be./ Run as fast as you can run-/ you won't catch up with me!" Kirk adds humorous visual touches as a gathering crowd pursues the Dude. At the bakery, gingerbread men (later chased by a fox) and a wedding cake's plastic couple join the action; when the Dude snowboards down a hill, he's followed by townspeople, sledders, and penguins and polar bears sprung from the zoo. At a thinly iced lake, tragedy seems in the offing, but the Dude's original builders yell to the assembled group, "Build snow dudes of your own!" The horizontal closing spread offers a wide-angle view of a park where all manner of snow folks frolic with the warm-blooded variety. Kirk approaches the short-lived snowy day with good cheer and doesn't spoil the mood with premature melting. Ages 3-8. (Nov.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal January 1, 2005
Pre-Gr 3-Kirk brings "Frosty the Snowman" into the 21st century, adding a touch of the "Gingerbread Man." Nick and Kara build a blue-jeans-clad snow boy in their backyard and wish that he could talk and run. "`Be careful,'" cautions a gust of wind, "`for there's a little mischief/in the chilly air today!'" The snow dude comes to life, dashes past a couple shoveling snow, a barber, a baker, and a lion tamer, all of whom ask him to stop for one reason or another. With everyone in pursuit, Snow Dude scurries on, tossing back his refrain, "`I'm a snow dude,/as wild as wild can be./Run as fast as you can run-/you won't catch up with me!'" With everyone along the way begging him to stay, Kara has an idea. She suggests that they each build snow dudes of their own. The day ends with everyone laughing and chasing them through the park. Rhyming couplets are paired with bold, colorful, stylized illustrations in which the people, the animals, the baker's gingerbread men, and the snow dude are all wearing smiles and enjoying the day. A sunny addition to warm up a winter storytime.-Linda Staskus, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2025
Loved this book and so did my kids!!
April 16, 2024
While building a snow dude, two children wish it were alive to play with them. The wind warns them to be careful what they wish for because there was mischief in the air. When their wish comes true everyone who sees him wants him for themselves. This cute rhyming story is beautifully illustrated.
December 3, 2014
The "Snow Dude" is a sort of winter adaptation of the "Gingerbread Man" folktale. After Nick and Kara build their snow dude, he comes alive and runs away, and soon everyone in town is chasing after him. Finally, Nick and Kara suggest everyone build their own "snow dudes" and they do. All of the snow creations come alive and everyone has a grand time. The illustrations are brightly colored and have a textured look to them. The snow dude sports a mohawk and a big smile. The story is written in rhyming stanzas, and the atmosphere of the story is very cheerful. This book would be great for story time sharing.
December 29, 2014
My kids and I found this remake of the Gingerbread Man quite entertaining...the rhymes were well done (with 1 noticeable exception) and my kids found it quite humorous. We all especially enjoyed the illustration on the last page of the many snow creations. I don't love the illustrations of people...the book has a somewhat cartoon like feel...but the illustrations do match the tone of the book. A fun winter read on a day when we (finally) have snow and my kids made a snow man of their own.
February 4, 2013
Snow Dude is about a snowman that comes alive. The snow dude runs around the town and everybody wants to have the snow dude for themselves. Then the children that made him tell everyone that they can make their own and the rest of the people who wanted the snow dude make their own. This is a good book with wonderful illustrations.
January 1, 2015
This book was featured as one of the alternate selections for the December 2014 Snowmen-themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
September 3, 2013
I think this is a good book. The illustrations are good and children would enjoy this. I think it would trigger a child's imagination when the book talks about everyone being able to make their own snow dude. Children enjoy stuff like that so I really believe this is an effective children's book.
June 18, 2008
Imaginitive retelling of the Gingerbread man.
December 31, 2009
The Gingerbread Boy told with snow instead of dough. Fun for winter; lots of rhyme. A little long for storytime, but by getting kids to chime in with the snow dude could be lots of fun.
January 8, 2011
Fun, snowy twist on the gingerbread man story.
This was our library story for the week.
This was our library story for the week.
January 13, 2011
I love the silly voices mommy does for this book!
March 11, 2011
The illustrations are wonderful. This book would capture the attention of young readers with the continuous chant.
July 6, 2011
Similar to ginger bread man story, the Snow Dude is chased by the townspeople.
December 19, 2012
A nice wintery tale to pair with "The Gingerbread Man."
December 4, 2014
Cute, and I liked the way everyone built different snow creatures at the end. But this was still a retelling of the Gingerbread Man story, and it has never been a favorite of mine.
December 7, 2014
A cool (see what I did there?) and clever twist on the Gingerbread Man. Only without the fox, so a much happier ending. And with really fun illustrations and the promise of magic.
March 16, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book, it was very similar to the traditional fairy tale the gingerbread man with a fun twist to he ending.
May 28, 2015
A cute story, told in verse. The colourful, retro-feel illustrations really made the book. I found it a little annoying that the word "dude" is repeated ad nauseum, but good story.
April 11, 2016
Read with my 5yo
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews