Review Detail

Drift is a snowman with little more than snow to his name. He wishes he had things the other snowmen have: a hat, a scarf, mittens, and a carrot nose. He gets teased for his lack of accessories, and he believes that if he could only have them, he would be normal and would fit in. When Drift finally gets what he wants, he couldn’t be happier. But then, a blizzard comes in, and there are others in need who could use his fancy new accessories. Drift has to decide if he can give up what he thought mattered to him most of all.

Chris Britt’s THE MOST PERFECT SNOWMAN is an excellent winter read. The soft, light colors capture the season well, making it a great choice to enjoy snuggled up with a blanket. The shading is especially impressive since there is so much white with the snow. The details in the shadows of the trees and snow covered roofs on the town houses show just the right amount of background fun.

Though the illustrations are lovely, the story is ultimately what won my heart. In just a few simple sentences, Britt captures Drift’s loneliness, as well as his pain from the bullying from other snowmen. Drift shows that it’s normal to want to fit in with the crowd and be part of something, but he also learns that there are more important things than going along with what everyone else says is acceptable. He finds his own human friends who spend time with him, and when a blizzard scatters the items the children gave him, he is challenged to look beyond what he wants to assist those in need.

THE MOST PERFECT SNOWMAN will help show young readers what it means to be kind and find authentic friendships, rather than changing oneself to fit in.