Heart of a Snowman

by Mary Kuryla, Eugene Yelchin

Very Christmas Eve, a boy named Owen builds the very best snowman he can, only to see it melt away on Christmas Day. There must be a way to make it last, he thinks.

So begins an adventure that leads Owen to a magical place where curious animals study his snowman piece by piece in an attempt to remake a perfect snowman. But in the end, it is Owen who supplies the one thing they need the most. Have they finally found the secret to making a snowman that will last forever?

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[SamZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute idea, but it just fell a bit flat in execution for me. Kind of too much going on in the factory and not enough about the real "hearts" of snowmen. The story just seemed really slow throughout and then rushed at the end.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every Christmas Eve, Owen builds the best snowman that he can. He knows that the at the heart of a snowman is a perfect snowball. And Owen is an expert on making snowballs (none of that slushy snow--good snowballs needpowdery snow that's a bit melty.) But no matter how perfect he makes it, the snowman always melts the next day on Christmas.

Owen is certain there has to be a way to help his snowman last longer. So, on Christmas Eve night, when a mysterious vessel abducts his snowman, Owen decides to follow in Heart of a Snowman (Sept. 2009) by Mary Kurlya and Eugene Yelchin. What he finds is an immaculate factory where animals tear snowmen down to their snowflake components to make them like new--to make the perfect snowman. What the animals don't realize is that the heart of a perfect snowman is the reason it can never last.

Heart of a Snowman is a weird book. The factory is clinical and, during the snowman disassembly phase, a bit frightening. On my first reading the book seemed a bit strange and I wondered at the story. But after re-reading it I feel more supportive. The audience for this book is narrow. With the Christmas aspect you'd have to be careful to balance it out to keep a storytime secular. Also, being a city child myself, I don't know how universal the experience of building a snowman really is--I know I never built one.

On the other hand, keeping those caveats in mind, Heart of a Snowman does have a certain charm. The story, while strange, is endearing. And the illustrations are nothing short of remarkable. Definitely worth a look.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whimsical tale of how a snowman is made and what's really on the inside.

[Rachel Gillespie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really care for this book because I thought it was a bit weird. It wasn't an interesting book to me.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, part of this book is really weird, but part of it is really awesome. It starts out with a boy building a snowman with help from his sister. It seems like an average enough read until... a flying saucer shaped like snowman sucks the snowman and the boy up into the vessel... So weird. But THEN we go on a journey that reveals the true heart of a snowman, and overall it ended on an awesome note.

My kids had a LOT of questions through this weird adventure. I definitely recommend it as a good Christmas read.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was arousing adventure tale and interesting fantasy, in which a young boy and his snowman are taken to a factory full of animals trying to construct perfect snowmen. But they find out that only human children can make snowmen, because they give their snowmen a heart. And it is the heart of the snowman that melts it, not the sun or heat. The lovely illustrations are large and very brightly colored. The story is fairly wordy, making it more suitable for elementary-age children.

[Elizabeth]

This book is about a little boy's snowman. He always wonders where is snowman goes every year at night and this year he finds out. He sees a beam come and take his snowman away and at the last second he grabs on and is taken away with the snowman. He learns that all snowmen are taken to a factory where they are taken apart, all the way down to each individual snowflake. He soon realizes that he has been brought for a specific reason to this factory.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was odd. Clever in its way, but odd. A young boy creates a snowman. Then he is whisked to a factory where snowmen are being disassembled and, he believes, destroyed. Then as he learns more, he finds that they are doing all of this to try to create the perfect snowman that will never melt. The ending is sweet, but the story was just a bit too bizarre for my liking.

[DK Simoneau · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure how well kids will stay tuned to this one. It seemed to wander around a bit in it’s tale, with an odd message about snowmen always have to melt because of their hearts we put inside when we make them. -It did have very gorgeous illustrations, and if your kids like stories a bit out of the ordinary this might be just for them!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Owen builds a snowman every year on Christmas Eve, only to see it melt by Christmas Day. Owen finds himself taken away to space where he is studied to find out why his snowmen are so perfect. Best part: the illustrations. Ages 5-10.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a "traditional" christmas story. In fact christmas is only mentioned a few times. I would read this book in january or february, when we get the most snow. It's was a fun story and if you like snowmen, it will touch your heart

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has the right amount of Christmas sweetness and sappiness. A book about why children build the best snowmen, because they build them with love and a heart.

[Whitsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did Owen not get frostbite anywhere? I know the story isn't made to be realistic and for kids.. and it's a cute story. But that kid would have frostbite EVERYWHERE.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the reason why snowmen really melt. ;]

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit odd...