SNOWIE ROLIE

Joyce makes a foray into Polar Express territory with this flaky follow-up to Rolie Polie Olie (1999). When the sun blows a bulb, Rolie and little sister Zowie take advantage of the ensuing snowfall to build Mr. Snowie, a carrot-nosed new friend. Thanks to prompt Solar servicing, though, the heat soon comes back, so to keep Mr. Snowie from suffering a meltdown, all rocket off to Chillsville for snowdrop soup, icicle cake, “sky-high snowball pie,” and a “chilly cha-cha” with a chorus line of Mr. Snowie lookalikes. Catching a ride home on Santa’s sleigh, which resembles a retro model Star Wars pod racer, Rolie and Zowie find a snow globe left for them, a memento both of their friend and of a day “happy, sad, and everything in between.” Seemingly constructed from robot parts and gumballs, Olie and buddies pose in scenes that look like set-piece dioramas, all glossy, rounded shapes and sharp shadows. Unlike its predecessor, the text is prose, and less sprightly—but the story line is strong and witty enough to hold its own with the quirky, heavily worked visual concept. (Picture book. 6-8)