SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

March 2, 2020 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

March 2, 2020 by Betsy Bird   1 comments

Were you British, you might find it downright odd that we have chosen to do Raymond Brigg’s wordless picture book in March. That is because in Britain this title is generally considered a Christmas classic. Here in the States not so much. Now I did not expect my conversation with Kate about this book to devolve into a very long and intense argument over whether or not Frosty the Snowman dies at the end of his song. I say he doesn’t, she say he does. It was like we were discussing the end of The Giver or something! Please, show your support for my CORRECT interpretation of the song by telling my sister she is wrong.

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, PlayerFM, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

I am so happy to report that my new show The Story Seeds Podcast is up and running! More about the show in the future.

Kate challenged me to bring her a celebrity picture book, but I found the request too difficult. Seriously, folks, if you can think of a “classic” celebrity picture book that people ACTUALLY LIKE, let us know what it is at FuseKate8@gmail.com.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Well worth reading today: The Guardian article Raymond Briggs: Don’t call me the king of Christmas. I don’t like children, I try to avoid them.

“So he’s gonna die of pnemonia. Okay.” She’s not a mom yet, but already Kate has a keen sense of the basics of motherhood.

Kate takes much issue with this boy’s method of snowmanship saying that this is, “Essentially a snow fridge with a ball head at the top.”

What the heck . . . Hey! That ain’t a nose! It’s supposed to be a carrot. Like God intended, doggone it. And look! It’s not like they aren’t already in the house already!! If you have a choice between a carrot and a clementine, I’d say the answer was staring you in the face as to which one you’d use snowmanwise.

This part may be the most British moment in the book. A ten-year-old boy, who has thought to throw on a robe and slippers, shakes hands with the magical snowman he created earlier in the day.

Huh. Kate asks a good question. Why is the snowman so sad in this scene?

Eating ice cubes for fun. Like ya do.

How are these trousers fitting The Snowman, precisely? Dad, as you can see, is not huge.

I love that Kate could believe every single aspect of the book was real… but now they’re FLYING?!?!? That, apparently, was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Your vote, folks. Is this the saddest image in all of children’s literature? I’d say that it is at least a contender.

Here is the short film based on this book that they run in England every year around Christmas.

And here is the advert (if you will) that made fun of it:

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Fuse 8 n' KateRaymond BriggsThe Snowman

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Gerald McBoing Boing by Dr. Seuss

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margaret & H.A. Rey

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: The Mitten by Jan Brett

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Fuse 8 n' Kate: A Valentine for Norman Noggs by Valiska Gregory, ill. Marsha Winborn

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

BLUE FLOATS AWAY Turns Two!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Faced with a Parenting Dilemma? Write a Book About It! Jacob Grant Comes By to Talk About NO FAIR

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Pardalita | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

When Boredom Ruled, a guest post by Hena Khan

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

First Books About Large Gatherings | Milestones

13 Hi-Lo Titles, Including Speculative Fiction, Horror, Sports, and Graphic Novels

Books, Films, and Resources for Young Climate Activists

Top 10 Music of 2022

Books in Verse: These middle grade works speak to the heart through lyrical language | Great Books

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessalynn Gale says

    March 4, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    I always thought the snowman was sad (while looking at the flowers) because he’ll never see warm weather and flowers blooming.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023