I'm Going to Build a Snowman

by Jashar Awan (Author) Jashar Awan (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

In this sparkling picture book celebration of winter and creativity, a boy's snow day efforts show that perfection is relative and what's important is taking pride in what you do!

When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there's only one thing to do: make a snowman, and not just any snowman--he wants the best snowman ever. But when his perfectly packed and powdery dreams clash with cold, slushy reality, he realizes the best snowman ever may be out of reach...but he can make his best snowman yet.

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Publishers Weekly

When an adorably compact child shown with brown skin awakens to find snow falling outside, they react excitedly. "MOM!" the child yells, nose in the curtains next to a wall decorated with the hand-drawn image of a smiling snowperson. Now they can build "THE BEST SNOWMAN EVER!" Starting with what seems like a quiet hat tip to the simple forms of Ezra Jack Keats, Awan (Strum and Drum) renders comic strip-like action as the child bundles up ("ziiiip... fwump") and heads outside. In fanciful monochromes, an instructional interlude ("Start by rolling a snowball until it becomes a perfect circle") leads to a dreamy sequence in which a picture-perfect snowperson becomes a song-and-dance partner before the two "fly off into the clear night sky." Back on the ground, the real building starts, resulting in a lopsided figure before it's "time to decorate!" A page turn reveals a snowperson that's significantly different from the ideal, but after making a single adjustment, the child is satisfied with "MY BEST SNOWMAN YET." The sunny protagonist accepts their creation in all its reality, and readers can, too, in this exploration of a maker who gleefully accepts their own work. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Jashar Awan
JASHAR AWAN needed a tow truck during the making of this story. He is thankful to everyone who helped him with his car troubles and to everyone who helped him bring this book to you. Jashar's previous picture books include Strum & Drum: A Merry Little Quest, Only Ants for Andy, What a Lucky Day! and I'm Going to Build a Snowman, which was an ALA Notable Children's Book of 2024 and a JLG Gold Standard Selection. In December 2020, he was profiled by Publishers Weekly in their "Fall 2020 Flying Starts" as one of the most promising children's debut authors. A longtime New Yorker, Jashar now lives in Ohio with his wife and son.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781665938174
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Publication date
September 19, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV003000 - Juvenile Fiction | Art & Architecture
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Snow
Snowmen

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