Manybooks's Reviews > The Snowman

Yes I know and more than well do realise that Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman is considered by most to be a modern children’s classic (and probably one of the first really universally popular wordless picture books). But while I do in fact find The Snowman somewhat and mildly amusing, both Briggs’ picture sequences and the resulting wordless storyline have also never in any way managed to wow, to truly and lastingly enchant me. For to my eyes and according to my aesthetics, the illustrations of The Snowman, they actually seem mostly rather vague and washed-out in appearance (and as such lacking in both expression and boldness of style) and the story sequence itself for The Snowman, while definitely fun and imaginative, has equally always seemed just a bit too outrageous and unbelievable, at least for my personal tastes. And in fact, to and for me, Raymond Briggs’ eponymous snowman does not really even appear to be a bona fide snowman at all anymore once he enters into the little boy's house or later, when he and the boy take to the air (as I have always thought him more akin to a man clad in a snowman suit than a bona fide magical snow entity).

And while I personally have never been all that much bothered regarding the ending of The Snowman, I can certainly see how a very sensitive child might indeed be negatively affected and much saddened by the snowman in effect dying, by him just melting away and the little boy being heartbroken (therefore parents, caregivers etc. should, need to be vigilant and prepared to discuss this if the snowman's demise appears to actually bother readers or listeners). But that all being said, The Snowman is still a clever and generally enchanting enough tale, and one that could perhaps also be a fun and usuable tool for individual storytelling, discussions and the like (for example, in a first, second or third grade language arts classroom, teachers might consider using the illustrations for writing assignments, even for oral presentations). But on a personal level, The Snowman ranks but two stars for me, and once again makes me realise that Rayond Briggs is simply and usually just not my proverbial cup of tea.