Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul


Children - Picture Book
24 Pages
Reviewed on 01/24/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul is a children’s fantasy picture book written by Yossi Lapid and illustrated by Joanna Pasek. Dan loved his friend Snowman Paul and was pleased to see Paul’s interest in Valentine’s Day. As they walked through the streets downtown, every store seemed to be filled with Valentine’s Day gifts, cards, and decorations. Seeing Dan and his family laden with gifts for the upcoming holiday, Paul asked Dan to help him understand what Valentine’s Day was all about. Paul had been reading up about it, and, as far as he could see, Valentine’s Day was about hearts -- and love. Dan could detect a wistful note in Paul’s voice as he wondered aloud how Valentine’s Day could have anything to do with a snowman like him. Dan thought about it and decided how to respond. He proposed that they both share the moment when each of them felt love for the other. That seemed the best place to start figuring out the answer to Snowman Paul’s question.

Yossi Lapid’s Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul is the latest offering in a marvelous series about a small boy and his best friend -- who just happens to be a snowman. I’m always thrilled to see a new addition to the story of Snowman Paul, as it’s one of my favorite children’s picture book series. While Valentine’s Day is seen primarily as a day for romance from an adult perspective, the holiday holds a different focus for young children and indeed for Snowman Paul. Lapid’s characters explore the role of love and the importance of it in people’s lives. That love is seen as the focal point for Valentine’s Day. I enjoyed seeing how Dan comes up with such an empathetic way to share his feelings about Paul and to tie them into Paul’s questions about his identity in terms of Valentine’s Day. It’s a marvelous way to get children involved in the holiday and help them appreciate the acts of love that have special significance for them. Joanna Pasek’s watercolors are stunning and evoke so vividly the late wintertime setting for the holiday. You can feel the frosty cold air and reach out and touch the snow that still lies thickly on the ground wherever you look. Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul is most highly recommended.

Marie-Hélène Fasquel

Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul written by Yossi Lapid and beautifully illustrated by Joanna Pasek is a lovely children’s picture book and is part of a series of eleven books published by Lapid Children’s Books, some of which I have already read and particularly enjoyed. So I was delighted to read this new addition! Yossi Lapid has been using his knowledge of snowmen stories from his native land, Romania, for our utmost pleasure since 2016, when he launched this award-winning series. This illustrated book for young children is like its predecessors, lovely and funny and celebrates everything that really matters.

When I first read Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul by Yossi Lapid, what I particularly liked was the multiple messages young children will find as their parents read this amazing opus to them. Indeed, all types of topics are broached, such as the importance of reading in order to learn and grow, the power of literature to discover a topic, the force of love, and the real and sincere meaning of Valentine’s Day. It also shows the young reader what love means and how to understand that one is loved, the importance of sharing, of not believing everything people tell you, but most of all it teaches the true meaning of friendship. This lovely storybook can also be used to teach the present -ing tense (sorry, the teacher in me is back!). The lines (like verses) rhyme and this makes for inspiring and delightful reading. Thank you so much for sharing such a jewel!

Barbara Fanson

Valentine’s Day with Snowman Paul is a wonderful story of love and friendship just in time for Valentine’s Day. Paul the Snowman finds out that Valentine’s Day is about hearts and love. But he’d like to know what is love? How would you describe the meaning of love to a friend who happens to be a snowman? Author Yossi Lapid takes us on an imaginative story involving a snowman and a seasonal event. How would you describe the annual event to a visitor? How would you describe love to your child or student? The main character Dan shares a few examples of showing love. How do you display your love? I think school libraries and home libraries could benefit by having this book on their shelf—not just on Valentine’s Day but all year long.

Beautiful, watercolor paintings adorn the full-color pages of Valentine’s Day with Snowman Paul. The artwork by artist Joanna Pasek will invite children into the book, while the story will keep them interested. Author Yossi Lapid has written a thoughtful, creative story that will initiate a discussion about Valentine’s Day and its meaning. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story to my daughter to illustrate that love isn’t always spoken, but rather displayed. This story shows us that love is a special feeling you have for someone and aren’t afraid to express it. This book would be a thoughtful gift to a friend on Valentine’s Day to show your love. This book is one that can be read again and again.

Grace Masso

Valentine’s Day with Snowman Paul is a colorful children’s book written by Yossi Lapid and illustrated by Joanna Pasek, and it is one with a beautiful reading experience and message for children. It is the story of Snowman Paul exploring “Valentine” and its significance. He wants to understand what Valentine’s Day, “this cool day,” is all about. He has read that Valentine’s Day is about hearts and that love is really where it starts, but he does not know what love is, because he is made of snow. Dan shares with him the moments he felt love, like when Paul showed up to romp and play and showed him how to be free from fear. Then Snowman Paul remembers when he showed up on Christmas Eve, sad and grieving, and Dan asked him firmly to come in. In that act, Paul recognized love. Now he understands what Valentine is all about for both humans and snowmen.

This is a good book, a story that an adult will read in less than five minutes, but one that will linger in the minds of children for long. It has more images than words, and each word, each phrase is symbolic. The author delivers a powerful message to children, a message that Valentine’s Day is about love and friendship. The book defines friendship as standing by and for others, encouraging others to be positive, as helping others discover that they have worth and are never alone in their experience of pain and loneliness. The themes are beautifully written and illustrated: love, freedom, friendship, and acceptance. Valentine’s Day with Snowman Paul is an inspirational picture book that is colorfully illustrated and it is one of the best gifts for children, especially for Valentine’s Day.