THE SNOWMAN CODE by Simon Stephenson

THE SNOWMAN CODE

Written by SIMON STEPHENSON & Illustrated by REGGIE BROWN

Crenshaw meets The Very Very Far North in this sweet middle-grade novel.

In this cozy winter story, a six-hundred-year-old snowman and a ten-and-a-half-year-old girl strike up an unlikely friendship as they try to bring an end to the longest winter ever, from the critically-acclaimed and award-winning screenwriter behind Pixar’s Luca and Paddington 2.

Article II of the Snowman Code: A snowman always helps a child in need.

It’s March, but the ground is still covered in snow, the lake in the park is still frozen over, and ten-and-a-half-year-old Blessing has three problems:

Problem #1: Blessing hasn’t gone to school in months. She just can’t stand those bullies, the Driplet Triplets, so her only solution to avoiding them is to pretend she and her mom moved to Australia.

Problem #2: Blessing’s mom gets sad in the winter. So sad she doesn’t go to work and sometimes doesn’t get out of bed.

Problem #3: The city is experiencing its longest ever winter, with no end in sight. And the longer it goes on, the longer her mom’s sadness does too. If spring doesn’t come soon and other grown-ups find out her mom is too sad, they’ll be separated again.

Just as Blessing starts to lose hope, she meets an unexpected new friend: Albert Framlington, a six-hundred-year-old snowman who just might hold the key to solving all three of her problems. But Albert has a problem of his own he may need a human’s help to solve.

Can this unlikely duo find a way to defeat Blessing’s bullies, win back Albert’s long-lost love, and overcome the never-ending winter before it’s too late? They have to try—that’s the Snowman Code after all.

Unlike many snowman books, this isn’t a holiday story at all, but instead perfectly captures that feeling of waiting for spring to arrive. Whether you’re cozy by the fire or dreaming of that first warm spring day, this is the book to feed your soul during the post-holiday winter Blues.

Perfect for fans of The Christmasaurus, A Boy Called Christmas, The Snowman and Paddington, THE SNOWMAN CODE is a heartwarming, hilarious and unforgettable modern classic for families to curl up with on frosty winter nights.

“This heartwarming and hopeful story moves at a brisk pace … Stephenson gently and honestly explores bullying, foster care, and seasonal affective disorder … A whimsical, enchanting adventure grounded in friendship and resilience.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Warm … Charming.” – Publishers Weekly

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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 in corporate 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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