A Really Good Snowman

A traditional story about familyand friends, well told and softly illustrated, "A Really Good Snowman" gently addresses the inherent conflict between older and younger siblings. Jack the bear (he's cute and has nappy hair like a stuffed animalis about to enter a snowman building contest, and fears that his younger sister Nancy might dampen his efforts. He realizes she just wants to help: IN the past she's helped him illustrate his science papers, and yesterday she helped shovel the driveway (although once she washed out his tuba!). One sparkling morning, they go out to a forest clearing to the snowman contest. Jack meets up with friends Angie and Melden, with Nancy leading him by the hand--hoping she'll join them. Jack's relieved when he learns that the rules allow only three-animal teams, and Nancy's attempt at a snowman looks like a lump of snow. There's a warm denouement though: When bullies throw snall balls at Nancy's effort, her brother comes to her resuce, leaving his buddies to help her. Although his brotherly love and empathy (helping her, he learns why Nancy like to help him) results in his losing the best snowman prize (abandoned teammates Angie and Melden win for their Elvis snowman), he earns a hand-in-hand walk back home with his sister, and a "Best Brother" trophy as well! The pictures are soft, but exciting, and they compliment the text in showing the building excitement as the contest draws to a close. Animals--including an owl, a mouse , a dogs, other bears, and the the moose and pig who act as judges--scurry everywhere, different kinds of snowmen dot the landscape, and the whole "contest" (with the exception of the b ullies) seems especially warm and nostalgic. THere's no gimickry here, just a good-old fashioned story, with a subtle message that rewards come in different forms. A good Christmas time story, and an excellent modeling of how siblings can get along by finding a complimentary role. Jack

Written and illustrated by Daniel J. Mahoney, A Really Good Snowman is an upbeat winter picturebook about a young boy bear with a little sister who loves to "help" him, but whose "help" always seems to cause trouble. When he decides to get together with his friends and build a snowman in the park capable of winning the Snowman Contest, his tries to leave his little sister at home - but she follows him! Even though the snowman he builds with his little sister isn't quite the prize winner, it's still an excellent snowman, and when the day is over, he earns a "Best Brother" trophy made by his little sister's own two paws. A tender story about the importance of family bonds and teamwork.