Take Root and Write: The Rabbit & the Snowman

August 05, 2008

The Rabbit & the Snowman

Recently, I've been approached about reviewing several children's books. I love children's books, but don't want to inundate you with reviews of children's books. So, I think we'll make the next several Tuesdays "Tuesdays with the Tots"! I'll start by sharing with you about a little book called The Rabbit and the Snowman by Sally O. Lee.

The Rabbit and the Snowman tells the story of a group of small children who build a snowman in a field far away in the forest. They subsequently leave and the snowman is left alone. He is not sure if he has done something wrong for them to disappear. Maybe his carrot nose is too crooked or maybe his stick arms are too skinny. He meets a small rabbit and they become fast friends. When the snowman suddenly disappears as spring arrives, the rabbit is left alone. He also wonders if he has done something wrong. Maybe his ears are too furry or his eyes are too small. The two find each other again and continue their friendship once winter returns again.

Author and illustrator Sally O. Lee grew up in northeastern Massachusetts. She earned her BA in Studio Art and Art History (with distinction) from Colby College and studied graphic design and painting in Boston and New York City. Her work resulted in an art grant from MIT to conceive and create a series of paintings, and from this came her 2002 exhibition- A Journey Into Abstraction. Ms. Lee has written and illustrated fourteen children's books, most of them dealing with the struggles of living with some form of handicap or, as the author prefers to call it, imperfection. Many of her illustrations have been published and she has earned both academic and public recognition for her important work in children's books. For more information about her children's books, go to http://www.leepublishing. net. She has also written two novellas, "Tunnels" and "The Imperfect Daughter" both dealing with hearing impairment.

Heidi Says: This is a simple-to-understand children's book, with plenty of colorful illustrations on each page. The illustrations are quite well-done and pleasing to the eye. The storyline, in my opinion, could be a bit stronger. It started out reminding me a bit of "Frosty the Snowman" only in this story, the children abandon the snowman who is left to sit lonely in the field. The snowman then begins to wonder what is wrong with him that would cause his friends to abandon him. Later, he becomes friends with a rabbit. When the snowman melts, the rabbit exhibits the same feelings of inadequacy. Eventually, when winter returns, the snowman returns, and the rabbit and the snowman pick up where they left off with their friendship. It just seems a bit far-fetched, to me.

The font style used throughout the book isn't consistent, size-wise, and is rather difficult to read. However, the book does have a good moral - friendships will come and go, but true friendships will stand the test of time, even with distance seperating the friends at times.

If you have an early elementary-aged child, you may enjoy this book, or others by the author. You also may enjoy checking out the author's website, where you will find information about her other books, as well as various printable activities.