Warm Smiles: The Smiley Snowman by M. Christina Butler

THE SNOWMAN WAS NEARLY FINISHIED. LITTLE BEAR AND SMALL FOX LIFTED A BIG SNOWBALL ONTO HIS HUGE BODY.

"MY TURN!" CRIED FLUFFY BUNNY. "LET ME HELP."

"HERE WE GO," CRIED LITTLE BEAR, LIFTING HIM UP, AND FLUFFY GAVE THE SNOWMAN A GREAT BIG SMILE.

Small Fox, Little Bear, and Fluffy Bunny are so proud of their fine snowman, smiling and sparkling in the late evening light. But when they return the next day, there has been a big change in their new friend.

THE NEXT MORNING THE NEW SNOW SPARKLED BRIGHT, BUT THE SNOWMAN LOOKED SAD AND SHIVERY.

"HE LOOKS COLD TO ME," SAID LITTLE BEAR.

Little Bear offers his scarf, and Fluffy Bunny even drags his own blanket up the hill to wrap the snowman up even more snugly, right up to his pebble eyes. There!

But the next morning finds the snowman looking even sadder!

DRIP! DRIP! DRIP!

M. Christina Butler's The Smiley Snowman (Good Books, 2010) is a humorous look at how three very young friends discover their own questionable version of the laws of thermodynamics as applied to snowmen. The three soon figure out an alternative scientific solution:

"MORE SNOW!"

That and a big group hug restore the snowman's broad smile in this pleasantly cozy little winter's tale, amplified by Tim McNaughton's pretty wintry palette brightened by plenty of sparkles. A nice addition to any snowtime storytime.