Snowman in Paradise
From the catchy title to the surfing snowman on the cover, this book creates instant interest and visual appeal for the reader.
It's the story of a snowman after Christmas who wishes he could see the world instead of coming to the usual, squishy end he experiences every year. Then, as luck has it, a magical bluebird grants the snowman his wish, and off he goes to a paradise island with the promise that he won't melt if he'll come back next Christmas.
We are then taken through the months of the year on the island and given a look into the snowman's pleasant new life. He sleeps late, eats a lot, paints and makes friends with the natives. But his quiet respite is ruined by some partying warriors who need ice for their drinks. They think a chunk of snowman would work great, so they chase our hero off the island, and he returns to Manhattan and the magical bluebird. The bird inquires as to the gift the snowman has brought back from paradise, and a beautiful surprise is unveiled.
The rhythm and rhyme in the story follow the original extremely well, but even if you find this kind of retelling somewhat overdone lately, the artwork in this book will make up for any shortcomings. Michael Roberts' bold, modern style of art splashes across the pages, giving us both the warmth of the tropics and the iciness of the snowman all at the same time.
It's this unique combination of visual elements tied in with the wacky story that makes the book so fun. And unlike a lot of Christmas stories which seem out of place after the season, this one will remain readable for a larger part of the year.
