What initially looks like a holiday story turns out to be an anytime of the year heartwarming friendship tale between a snowman and a girl.

Ten-year-old Blessing has not been to school in several months due to the mistreatment she gets from a trio of bullies. That’s just the beginning of her problems.

Blessing’s Mom is not doing well and is dealing with a deep sadness. She spend long periods in bed and often doesn’t go to work. Mom especially hates the winter as it makes her even sadder.

Unfortunately, the city is having an unusually long winter and it just may last forever. If her mother doesn’t get better, Blessing will have to live with another family, separated from the person she loves for potentially a very long time.

Blessing does not know what to do to make things better. Just in time she meets Albert, a 600 year old snowman who offers to help solve her problems. Albert would also like Blessing’s help in finding his long lost love- a Snowlady friend, Clementine. Blessing and Albert work together, following the important Snowman Code to hopefully find success and bring winter to an end.

Set in London, the third person narration flows along smoothly. The code Albert must follow begins with always helping a child in need. Others include not responding to anyone unless they ask the same question six times and celebrating the end of winter with a huge party.

Frequent illustrations add to the reading experience:

The story has many humorous moments as Albert has very different assumptions about life and the world we live in. There are also some sad moments when you realize if it warms up Albert will melt and be gone for good. THE SNOWMAN CODE is a touching tribute to friendship and solving one’s problems with the help of others. So grab a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy this one with your emerging middle grade reader.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: Dec. 16, 2025. PAGES: 256

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE SNOWMAN CODE by Simon Stephenson

1. The personalities of both Albert and Blessing were created with perfection. They each have their different ways but their friendship grows throughout their ordeal.
2. Blessing faces her problems in such a kid like way. She is always looking for solutions even if it means breaking a rule or two. Such a fun character.
3. The plot covers sad events like bullying, depression, and separation from a parent but does so in an understanding way. It never overwhelms the story and keeps readers focused on the fun relationship between Blessing and Albert.
4. An animated version was constantly on my mind while reading this sweet story. There isn’t one yet but the story sure has the potential, a sign of great story telling.
5. The way the bullies were dealt with included an Abominable Snowman. Silly but effective, the scene added to the fantasy element of the story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

Simon Stephenson originally trained as a doctor and worked in London and Scotland. He previously wrote Let Not the Waves of the Sea, a memoir about the loss of his brother in the Indian Ocean tsunami. It won Best First Book at the Scottish Book Awards, was a Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4, and a Daily Telegraph Book of the Year. His first novel, Set My Heart to Five, has been optioned by Working Title Films. He currently lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a screenwriter. He originated and wrote the film The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and wrote on Pixar’s Luca. The Snowman Code is Simon’s first book for young readers. Visit him online at SimonStephenson.com.

Reggie Brown is an artist and children’s book illustrator. He has a background incorporate graphic design, and is now focusing on illustrating for children. His multicultural upbringing as an African American and Filipino man is what drives his true passion of illustrating children’s stories and bringing underrepresented voices alive through his art. Reggie is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and lives in San Diego, California, where he enjoys eating burritos, watching Star Wars, and spending time with his wife.

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