The Snowman Code
Simon Stephenson
Simon & Schuster
Published December 16, 2025

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About The Snowman Code

A beautifully hopeful, funny and heartwarming tale about the lasting power of love and friendship, from the critically-acclaimed and award-winning screenwriter behind Pixar’s Luca and Paddington 2.

In London, in a winter which shows no sign of ending, a unique friendship begins.

This is the story of Blessing, aged ten-and-a-half, and Albert Framlington, aged six hundred – an eccentric snowman who has seen many winters in many cities, and who is duty-bound by the Snowman Code to help any child in need. Together, Blessing and Albert must find a way to defeat Blessing’s bullies, win back Albert’s long-lost love Clementine, and even overcome the never-ending winter itself…

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.

My Review

This is the kind of book that people will either love or feel pretty indifferent about, I think. Through the whole story, Albert Framlington “educates” Blessing about the way the world works. Africa, a land of glaciers, is where penguins live. When people go to the hospital, appendix problems are generally the cause. Blessing tries to correct him, but he persists in his way of thinking.

It’s cute, and it keeps the story away from the snowman serving as a magically wise mentor, and makes Blessing the decision-maker and chief problem-solver.

Blessing’s mother has what appears to be seasonal depression (it’s never labeled in the text). The longer the winter drags on, the more severe her depression becomes, and Blessing worries that her mom will be hospitalized and Blessing will have to live with a foster family. Blessing understands that her mom is sad and that she can’t fix it, but the story doesn’t delve deeply into her mom’s experience or show many interactions between Blessing and her mom. This does help to keep the story age-appropriate.

I can definitely see younger middle grade readers enjoying this playful story. The chapters are pretty short and feature frequent illustrations, making this a good choice for readers transitioning from the shorter chapter books to middle grade novels.

This would be a great reading choice for that moment when winter seems like it will never end, and we all wish for a little sunshine and magic.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 11.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Reference to adults in love.

Spiritual Content
Snowmen are alive and can move and talk. They adhere to a strict set of rules called “The Snowman Code,” which keeps them discreet.

Violent Content
Three kids have been bullying Blessing (mostly off-scene).

Drug Content
Having a pipe is a big deal for a snowman, especially a real one. One snowman has a pipe so new it still smells of tobacco.

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