Rupert's Snowman
- 2020 INDIES Finalist
- Finalist, Picture Books (Children's)
Rupert’s Snowman is a captivating picture book in which a boy develops a creative solution to a snowman’s loneliness.
In Phillipa Warden’s charming picture book Rupert’s Snowman, a young boy and his mother build the best snowman ever.
Responding to a blanket of fluffy white snow, Rupert and his mom pack some snacks, wrap up in warm clothes, and climb a nearby hill, stopping to make snow angels along the way. Together, they form an enormous, smiling snowman. After sledding and snowball fights, they head for home. But Rupert doesn’t want to leave the snowman alone on top of the hill, so he comes up with a solution to make sure he has plenty of company. Rupert’s mother shows respect for her son’s feelings: rather than trying to dissuade him from helping the snowman, she partners with him to put his plan into effect.
However, although the activities in the story take place before lunch, the narrative announces the day as Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Eve Day. And the illustrations don’t always work in concert with the text: Rupert’s mother fills a backpack with snacks before the illustration of the supplies appears; in a picture of the two climbing the hill, the backpack is missing; and characters of different races and family configurations are shown having fun in the snow, too, but with no textual mention of who these people are. Still, the text is prone to curving on the page to show movement, resulting in a pleasant reading experience, and the illustrations are bright, lively, and balanced. In them, Rupert and his mother are expressive; their activities reflect their joy at being together, and the cold weather is made palpable by their red cheeks and noses. Further, contrasting, brilliant reds and greens are used to accent the book as happy reminders of the season.
Rupert’s Snowman is a captivating picture book in which a boy develops a creative solution to a snowman’s loneliness.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
