The Snowman Code

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Author(s)

Simon Stephenson

Publisher

Harper Collins

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

October 10, 2024

ISBN

978-0008668761

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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.

Article II of the Snowman 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

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 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.

Editor review

1 review

A daughter's love for her mother

August 28, 2025 (Updated: July 01, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

What worked:
The book tells a charming story about a sad, young girl named Blessing. The root of her problem concerns the longest winter on record and the effects it’s having on the citizens. Her mother, Margaret, is suffering from seasonal depression, as winter always makes her depressed. Her issues are so severe that children’s services place Blessing in foster care every time winter rolls around. Readers can see how a record-setting long winter will create a massive problem for Blessing and her mom. Blessing is hassled by three bullies (she thinks of them as the Driplet Triplets), which makes her decision to become truant even easier.
The Snowman Code consists of rules snowmen must follow, and they cannot be broken. The first rule readers will encounter states that a snowman must ignore humans, but they must respond if a human speaks to them six times. Albert Framlington is a shoddy-looking snowman (Blessing would rate him as 3 out of 10) in the park, and he reluctantly befriends Blessing. The code guides Albert’s behavior, especially the second rule that says snowmen must help children in need. However, a conflict arises due to a secret Albert is keeping from Blessing.
Albert Framlington adds much humor to the story because of his superior-sounding attitude. He insists people born in the summer (like Blessing) are less intelligent than those born in winter, like him. He spouts off “facts” and can’t believe Blessing doesn’t know the information. Readers may agree with Blessing when Albert says Sherlock Holmes was a famous zookeeper, not a detective. He insists Africa is covered in snow even after Blessing tells him he’s talking about the Arctic. Readers should know Albert’s cheeks turn red when he’s fibbing, although he insists that he never tells a lie.
What didn’t work as well:
Snowmen are always supposed to follow the Snowman Code, but Albert Framlington seems to be less than serious about this concept. His cavalier attitude defines his character, but it may also be confusing. If rule number two says he’s supposed to help Blessing, then why isn’t he more honest with her?
The final verdict:
This magical story will appeal to young readers, as the author creates a very creative tale. The idea of living snowmen and their recurring births presents a story readers have never seen before. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.