Children's Literature: Snowmen At Night

I was listening to a recent Writing Show podcast with artist Kalman Andrasofszky and was fascinated with the discussion of colour and light source in illustrations. Having been a comic book fan for most of my life, I could see where Kalman was coming from and why he highlighted the importance of that.

Shortly after listening to that particular episode, I was reading a board book I'd borrowed from the library for Alexander called Snowmen At Night (by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner) -- and the importance shone in an entirely new light. (Pun completely intended, of course)

Not only is the story a fun and intriguing one (it explains to children how snowmen get all droopy and lopsided and disheveled looking overnight -- isn't it obvious? They gather together, horse around and play wonderful snowman games all night - that's how)


It's a wonderful story, fun for both adults and kids, and the artwork is truly spectacular as well. The wonderful lighting effects of the snowmen playing at night was done quite wonderfully, the multiple light sources of the full moon and the streetlights offering up some of the best illustrated lighting effects I've seen in a long time.

Kudos to the Buehner's for such a marvelous book. I think the larger format hardcover of this one is a book we'll want to buy and add to Alexander's collection. (Perhaps just because I love reading it so much)

(Speaking of fun snowmen stories, two of my snowmen stories "That Old Silk Hat They Found" and "Ides of March" are available in eBook form at Amazon, Kobo and many other places)