The Roll-Away Snowman by Junia Wonders (Author) and Daniela Volpari (Illustrator)

This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views version here.

One cold winter day, a wind sprite creates a breeze to roll young Marla Little’s snowman all through her town. Marla Little chases after her snowman past many businesses that each gift the snowman with something as he passes by. Finally, Marla Little catches up to her snowman on a hill and makes a final wish that the wind sprite lovingly grants. The book closes out with a helpful list of vocabulary that will most likely be new to the young readers the book is targeted at, as well as those who read aloud (for instance, I learned the word milliner, which means “a person who designs, makes, or sells hats, especially women’s hats”).

The Roll-Away Snowman is the second book by Junia Wonders that I have had the joy of reading (the first being A Halloween Farty Party). Given that I thoroughly enjoyed A Halloween Farty Party, I wasn’t surprised when I loved The Roll-Away Snowman, which is part of The Roll-Away Series. Wonders is deft with her rhymes throughout her charming story, clever with her introduction of new ways to learn (which helpfully appear in sections at the end), and delightful in her ideas for stories. These things are true of both picture books of hers I have had the chance to read, and I cannot wait to read more of her work in the future.

The Roll-Away Snowman would not be complete without its artwork. Daniela Volpari’s playful illustrations are a wonderful complement to Wonders’s words. Volpari’s color palette is soothing and perfectly wintry. Marla Little and all the townsfolk she encounters are rendered in a sweet way while maintaining unique looks (not always an easy feat). Finally, Wonders’ storytelling and Volpari’s artwork merge beautifully to help bring the snowman literally to life.

The Roll-Away Snowman by Junia Wonders is sure to be a runaway wintry hit of a picture book for young readers aged 2 to 6 (though whoever is reading it aloud will also enjoy it). While it feels fairly seasonal since the story focuses on a wintry day, I can imagine enjoying Wonders’ excellent story and Volpari’s engaging illustrations all year long. I will certainly be on the lookout for future works written by Wonders and/or illustrated by Volpari.

The Roll-Away Snowman by Junia Wonders (Author) and Daniela Volpari (Illustrator), Gmuer Verlag