The Snowman Storybook (Pictureback(R)) - Softcover

Briggs, Raymond

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0679883436 ISBN 13: 9780679883432

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1997

Synopsis

Now in Pictureback® format comes Raymond Briggs' award-winning, enchanting story of a young boy and a snowman who share a magical night of friendship, fun, and flying. "The experience is one that neither he nor young readers will ever regret or forget." (Booklist, starred review). Our new Pictureback® format provides simple text written by the author.

About this title

About the Author:

Raymond Briggs was born in London in 1934.  At the age of 15, he  went to Wimbeldon Art School to learn how to draw, as he wanted to become a cartoonist.  But there he was told that cartooning was not a profession for gentlemen and that he ought to be a painter.  Raymond then went on to the Slade School in London to study painting as a full-time student.  During his spare time, he began work on a portfolio of illustrations of all kinds, including jackets and a wide selection of drawings to take to publishers.  After illustrating for advertising, newspapers and books, Raymond discovered that book illustration inspired him the most, since it offered far greater variety and freedom than anything else.  Raymond has always found it unfavorable to sustain a consistent illustration style for a long period of time.  He is always seeking to try something else new and different with his work.  Some of Raymond's best known works are The Snowman , The Man , and The Bear .  The setting for The Snowman is based on Raymond's own house and garden, which is in Sussex, England at the foot of South Downs, a few miles from Brighton.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-K-- For some reason, Briggs has added words to his immortal wordless picture book about a small boy's nocturnal adventures with an all-too-mortal snowman. The result, to say the least, is disappointing. It features fewer pictures described in simple declarative sentences that relate the action but lose the potency of the narrative. Further, the story has been trimmed, and incidents adding texture to the original have been lost. Much of the snowman's characterization is gone; his gentle meeting with a cat has been cut, as have his telling fear of a lighted stove, his wonderment at the TV, and his bemusement at a pair of false teeth. All of his slapstick adventures with James's toys are gone; half of the flying journey has been eliminated. The bittersweet ending remains as Briggs allows James to make his discovery of his melted friend without comment, but much of its resonance is missing with the lost pictures. What is left is a simple, rather ordinary story of an adventure with a flying snowman suitable for preschoolers who might well have waited a bit longer until they were old enough to enjoy James's magical interlude in its fullest glory. --Christine Behrmann, New York Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0679883436
• ISBN 13: 9780679883432
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 24