by
4.19 of 5 stars
Illus. in full color. A wordless story. The pictures have "the hazy softness of air in snow. A little boy rushes out into the wintry day to bu... read full description

reviews

Jan 25, 2012
Matthieu rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Childhood anemones.
17 comments like (17 people liked it)
Jan 30, 2012
Petra X rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This was a beautiful, gentle story that translated into a magnificent cartoon with music but without words that airs on tv every Christmas in the UK. This book was a real sea change for Briggs whose previous cartoon books include a doleful biography of his parents to their death, nuclear war and creatures that love boogers - much more dark humour than this magical tale of the snowman.
5 comments like (3 people liked it)
Jan 24, 2008
Kirk rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I used to read this book to my son, who recently turned 21. I came across a copy recently and was reminded of just how devastatingly beautiful the story is. I'm no artist, but it looks like it was done in colored pencil, which gives the snow and sky a surreal, dreamy texture. The real innovation is the wordlessness. I remember how my son and I used to just look at the pictures without talking, like we intuitively (telepathically maybe?) understood the story. He was a big fan of the video, too, e More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Jan 30, 2012
Heather rated it: 3 of 5 stars
While i really do love the illustrations and the wintery wonderland feel of this book, I cant help but feel like a little too much is going on on each page. While this bookdoesnt have words, children would still need alot of guidance to read this book because its simply too hard for them to follow.

THe book is kind of set up like a comic book, with rows of pictures on each page that tell a story all on their own. However, their are 9-12 pictures on each page and i think a child woul More...
Sep 26, 2011
Libby rated it: 5 of 5 stars
The story of "The Snowman" is a wordless picture book, and also one of my favorites. When I was little I used to watch the video every year at Christmas over and over. It has no words in it, just like the book, but is filled with Music perfect for the audience. This book tells the story of a young boy spending a snowy day outside in his yard building a giant snowman. Later that night, when hes supposed to be sleeping he looks outside to see that his snowman was come to life. As him an More...
Sep 25, 2011
Catherine rated it: 4 of 5 stars
“The Snowman” is a wordless picture book that tells of a young boy spending a snowy day building a snowman. At night, he looks outside to see that his snowman has come to life. He shows the snowman all of the interesting things inside his house, including the fire, ice cubes, and the light switch. Then, the snowman shows the little boy his world as they fly through the night sky. In the morning, the boy goes outside to see that the snowman has melted and all that remains is the pieces that the b More...
Sep 24, 2011
Sarah rated it: 3 of 5 stars
“The Snowman” is a wordless picture book illustrated by Raymond Briggs. Without any text, Briggs depicts a young boy who wakes up one morning and goes outside to build a snowman. That night, he cannot sleep, returns outside to visit his snowman, and discovers that this frozen statue has come to life. Bringing the snowman inside, the snowman is frightened by items that emit heat such as lights and hot water. Nevertheless, he explores the boy’s home with him. The two play together, and the sn More...
Aug 14, 2011
bistra rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Безкрайно красива и нежна детска книжка без думи, издадена през 1978, разказваща за вълшебната нощ, която едно момче и направеният от него снежен човек преживяват...

Етикетът "детска класика" Снежният човек получава през 1982, когато излиза 30-минутно филмче по книгата, пожънало небивал успех, получило номинация за Оскар и т.н., само дето в него място намират някои елементи, които липсват в оригинала - цялата коледна боза, включваща коледно дърво, посещение при Дядо Коледа, з More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Feb 07, 2011
Megan rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I am a speech-language pathologist and I like to use wordless (or almost wordless) books with my preschoolers sometimes to practice their speech sounds in a conversational context, as well as informally assess their sentence structure and story telling skills.

This book was pretty good. It worked for about half of my 3-5 year old students, moreso with the older ones. I think it only worked for some because currently, I work in a rural town in southern Mississippi, so the concept of More...
Sep 15, 2009
Robert rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Raymond Briggs, The Snowman (Random House, 1978)

Briggs' wordless Frosty the Snowman homage/knockoff became an instant classic upon its release thirty years ago, and has since gone through countless printings in dozens of different editions, has been made into a video (though to be honest it loses a lot of its magic thanks to the narration), and has been read by millions of kids worldwide. It's also a mainstay on bookstore endcaps and library displays come wintertime. (I don't get it. More...
Jul 14, 2009
Heidi rated it: 3 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here
1 comment like (1 person liked it)
Dec 03, 2011
Amy rated it: 3 of 5 stars
1. Wordless picture book
2. On a snowy day a young boy builds a snowman. It is from here that he sees the wonders of the snowman. It is on this magical night that he shows the snowman the joys it is to be a human and the mysterious day to day things a human engages in.
3. a. The strongest point of the story was the simple picture in pastel colors, there are many scenes on the page that allow the reader to view it just like they would text. Reading it from left to right.
b. The More...
Jan 27, 2012
Patricia rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here
Jan 08, 2008
Chris rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of the most beautiful, touching books on friendship I have ever read (though it is wordless) about the magical nature of the birth of true friendship. The basic message is that to have a friend you have to first be one and you each have something special to learn from each other.
The Snowman pure magic and imagination, grounded in what makes us human.
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Feb 01, 2012
Connie rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here
Sep 25, 2011
Katie rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Raymond Briggs does a phenomenal job illustrating this wordless book. Every illustration captures the story perfectly. A boy wakes up and goes outside to build a snowman. The next night, he wakes to find the snowman had to come to life! The boy brings the snowman inside to his the house where he explores. After they have dinner, the snowman takes the boy back outside where the snowman grabs the boy and starts to fly away with him. As they see the sun start to rise, they fly back to the boys hous More...
Jun 26, 2011
Amy rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute, sweet, beautiful tearjerker from my childhood. I didn't recognize this story when I got it for my nephew but I later realized it was based on a holiday cartoon special I had seen as a child on PBS (But I didn't think I cared for it as a child because of the unsatisfying ending...talk about a CLIFF-HANGER; it totally left me at a loss!). Today, however, it has grown on me and I think it is one of my favorite childrens' books of alltime! I seem to remember PBS introducing it as " More...
Sep 25, 2011
Kathryn rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is a wordless story based on pictures for young readers. The readers should be able to read the story based on the pictures. Young readers can review the pictures and pick out their own details and create their own story. This allows for students to use their imagination and creativity to create their own version of the story. To me, the pictures show dreams coming true. The message to the story is heart warming and gentle. The message is every child's dream. Children build snowman and one More...
Apr 19, 2009
I loved When the Wind Blows growing up, but recently was disappointed with Father Christmas Goes on Holiday so I wasn't sure what to expect with The Snowman...
Well it is brilliant. A fantastic book about a young boy and his experiences with The Snowman he built. A story of friendship and loss, of the importance of imagination, of taking advantage of the shocking British weather :)

The only other wordless picture book I've read to-date is The Arrival by Shaun Tan - which is s More...
Jun 04, 2011
Regulator rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Norway has never had a serial killer, until now. Detective Harry Hole, a classic, troubled
anti-hero, is the man who must hunt this killer. Nesbo sets the tension high early as he turns a benign symbol of childhood fun, the snowman, into a menacing harbinger of evil. After this opening twist we are kept uncomfortable the rest of the way as we follow Harry down the nightmare path he must follow to find out who the snowman is. Fans of Mankell’s Kurt Wallander and Connelly’s Harry Bosc More...
Jun 10, 2011
David rated it: 4 of 5 stars
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs is the classic wordless tale of a boy and the snowman he creates, and the magical evening they share together. In 175 frames, Briggs tells this story of friendship.

In this imaginative fantasy, the boy creates the snowman, goes to bed, but awakens to discover that the snowman is alive outside. The boy invites the snowman inside where the snowman reacts to many things, including the fireplace, light, a painting of flowers, the stove, icecubes, the refriger More...
Apr 08, 2010
Ronyell rated it: 5 of 5 stars
“The Snowman” is a cute story from the mind of Raymond Briggs and has been the most memorable classic book to ever grace upon the world of children’s books. This book is about how a young boy starts building a snowman and realizes that the snowman is magical and the true friendship he finds in the snowman. “The Snowman” is a true classic that everyone will love for many years!

Raymond Briggs’ story about a boy and his snowman is told through his beautiful illustrations as this is on More...
7 comments like (2 people liked it)
Aug 25, 2011
Laura added it
This is a lovely story about a young boy who creates a snowman. When it has become midnight, the little boy awakens to see that his snowman has come alive. This glorious picture book depicts the adventures that they both have such as trying on the little boy's mother's make-up etc. It has beautiful colourful pictures.

I would recommend this book to everyone and would tie in with festive artwork at Christmas and also for a lesson to do with snow etc.
Jan 25, 2012
Allison rated it: 5 of 5 stars
As a preschool teacher and a mother of a two-year old and a four-year old, I would highly recommend this book to anyone. The story is magical and told without words. The artwork is amazing. Both of my children narrate it, which is a great step into becoming readers. My two-year old who is just becoming verbal narrates by saying "uh-oh snowman" and "snow ball". It is a wonderful book to read with a child of any age.
Apr 15, 2009
Louisa added it
I've never looked at or even heard of a wordless picture book before, but I'm glad that I chose this book as one of mine to "read". I loved the story and I think that just have the pictures made the story so much better than if it had been narrated. Instead of having to picture things using your imagination you have to come up with the story. I love this book now. I also think that it could be used in the classroom.
Jun 01, 2010
Shannon rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This would probably make more sense to me if I had ever read the original. This is an abbreviated version of James' adventures with the snowman, with flaps. She loved the first one so much, I had to tape many of the flaps back in place and my Dad bought her another copy. I don't like this one very much, and fortunately, Moira seems to be getting a little bored with it.
Nov 05, 2009
Liz rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is a wonderful wordless picture book-
a boy makes a snowman who comes to life--the snowman visits the boy's home to see how the boy lives and then takes the boy on a magical journey to see the world--
magnificent soft illustrations--
this hardback book was given to me by a student I taught at Diggs Elementary and I will always treasure it and the gestire of friendship.
Nov 30, 2011
Mike added it
This book was very elementary. However, I think it does have a good purpose for children. It really ingrained the art of making a Snowman, and also incorporated the ability to imagine them coming alive. The ending was abrupt, as the boy awakens and the the Snowman has melted. Overall, this book was entertaining, quick, and included good crafty illustrations.
Jan 27, 2011
Liesl rated it: 4 of 5 stars
As a child I grew up with The Snowman, the short film, and I have to say that the film is actually better. For one, the music from it will forever remain in my memory, and not only that some of the images/scenes used were more vivid and fun than the book.

If you or your child enjoy this book, I DEFINITELY recommend looking for the film because it's wonderful.
Apr 15, 2009
Michael rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is such a beautiful book. It is a picture book in the strictest sense. It tells a great, fantastical story but features no words whatsoever. The drawings are very subtle but still very beautiful. I can't help but wonder if the last frame of the book might be just a little depressing for children. It sure is for me.