The History of the Snowman

The History of the Snowman by Bob Eckstein probably won't make it on the popular reading shelves, but I think it should. It is a light-hearted yet well-researched book on, what else, the history of the snowman.

From an illuminated manuscript dating around 1380 to the popular Frosty we see on television every year, the history of the snowman is traced, showing not only the happy well-rounded character that Burl Ives made famous, but also the darker side where he chases little kids and sells and drinks alcoholic beverages

Chapter titles include Snowman Deconstructionism and Italian Snowballs from the Fifteenth Century, as well as side bars on the Abominable Snowman entitled Yeti Nother Sidebar. Along with several pages of color illustrations this book is packed with illustrations. I would give it a 4 out of 5 rating, but only because it did not include a Calvin 'n' Hobbes strip in the chapter featuring snowman cartoons.

Beth, CFL staff