How to Make a Snowman (Bunny and Bird, #3)

By Nick Bland

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Nick Bland lives in  Darwin where he works full time as an author and illustrator. His books, which include The Very Cranky Bear, The Wrong Book and The Runaway Hug, have been recognised by many different awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia, the Kids Own Australian Literature Awards and the Australian Book Industry Awards. This is the third in the hilarious Bunny and Bird series, after How to be Invisible and How to Hatch a Dragon.

These books are a delicious blend of zany humour, warm friendship, and mind bending magic. Bunny finds a magic hole in the forest, as you do, and he and Bird have a long conversation about what has jumped out or fallen in as they sit on the swings. Meanwhile a tiger, a bear and a bull have appeared behind them and are busy with snow creating something. What could it be?

Nick Bland’s books demand a high level of visual literacy to fully appreciate all that is happening on the page. How to Make a Snowman, which needs close attention to detail, words and illustrations is no exception. Check out Wombat’s expression as he picks up his magic hole and heads off somewhere. Priceless!

Great fun to share with children aged 3+ and yes, after rereading all three in the series, I can’t wait for the next Bunny and Bird adventure.

HarperCollins AU 2024

Nick Bland