Even though it’s March in London the ground is covered in snow, the skies are gray, and it seems that spring will never arrive. Ten-year-old Blessing has worries to match the bleak weather. Her mother gets depressed in winter and sometimes has trouble going to work or taking care of their home, and if she sinks even lower into sadness, Blessing may have to stay with a foster family while her mom gets help.

Hope arrives for Blessing in the most unlikely of places after she discovers that a snowman in the park near her home is alive. His name is Albert, and he teaches Blessing all about the Snowman Code, rules that govern their interactions with humans. The first thing Albert helps with is scaring bullies who are mean to Blessing. Then he tells her how they can end winter and bring on spring. It involves finding a snowman in London who refuses to melt.

The task won’t be easy, but as the days go by and Blessing’s mom sinks lower, the stakes get higher. The two will have to work through several problems before they find a solution that helps all involved.

The Snowman Code, written by Simon Stephenson with illustrations by Reggie Brown, is a sweet tale of hope and friendship and love through all kinds of challenges. Similar to classics like Charlotte’s Web, it touches on serious issues like mental health, self-sacrifice, and enduring love without being too heavy for young readers to enjoy. It also has just enough of a touch of magic to bring out a child’s sense of wonder. I highly recommend it for readers aged 8 to 12.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.