The snowball

Toddler-PreS-A little mouse finds a snowball and, with the help of his friends, creates an even bigger surprise in this tale of collaboration, imagination, and problem-solving. In this book set against the backdrop of a lovely winter day, the little mouse pushes the snowball up the hill, and each page turn garners a new critter to aid in his journey. The circle die-cut gets bigger and bigger as they reach the hill's apex, but a sudden disaster dissolves the large mound of snow. Never fear! Each animal shares a clothing item to produce a new snow creation. The simple text and watercolorlike illustrations will engage little ones and inspire them to have their own wintry fun. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A group of friends turns a snowball disaster into some spontaneous fun. A sweet-looking little mouse with a red-and-white-striped scarf stands alone in a gently sloping wintry landscape with only a snowball formed by a small die-cut circle for company. The text reads, simply, "A snowball." A cat carrying a backpack and cane soon arrives to help make it bigger. Next, a pig in a tuxedo and top hat is recruited to help push it. The three push the now-giant die-cut snowball over the top of a hill and right onto a little rabbit enjoying a carrot. Soon, everyone is plunging down the hill as the snowball gains momentum until it all comes to a screeching halt with a giant "SPLAT!" "Now what?" reads the text as the animal friends brush themselves off and stare at a big pile of snow littered with objects, including a scarf, hat, carrot, cane, and backpack. Inspired, the friends use the snow and the objects they all lost in the fall to fashion a snowman. The simple, clever plot is conveyed through sparse text, with the force of the story coming from the charming illustrations and the growing die-cut circle representing the snowball. Emphasizing collaboration and creativity, this lovely little board book is a wonderful wintertime selection for toddlers and preschoolers. (Board book. 1-3) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.