BUY THIS BOOK.
Really. I mean it.
Every once in a while, a new children’s book author emerges who, quite literally, takes your breath away. JC Little, author of The Last Snowman does this and more.
I first met JC at BlogHer in July. Okay, that’s a lie. I didn’t meet her, as much as gawk at her from a distance and admire her from afar. This woman is so talented and so funny that it was hard not to be in awe of her. I don’t think I got up the courage to go over and say hello, and boy, was that stupid. In the last few months, I’ve come to know JC Little as one of the friendliest and unassuming people I’ve ever met.
You probably already know her from her brilliant blog, The Animated Woman, where she captures the hilarity of life as a mother and wife in her whimsical drawings. It’s with this background that she wrote her new book, The Last Snowman.
I’m not going to give you a synopsis, a review or any other description of this magical book. All I will say is that it made me smile a lot and then it made me cry. It also made my mother-in-law cry. Baby G requests it as her bedtime story at night and cuddles it as she sleeps. Miss M and Little Man keep going back to the story to explore the many layers hidden inside.
I had no choice, really, but to set the book to a composition my talented husband, Darren, wrote. Without further ado, here’s The Last Snowman by JC Little, narrated by yours truly and accompanied by the music from Darren’s soul.
Reading this book made my children wildly jealous that we, in this sweltering Australian Summer, couldn’t also build a snowman. I decided, weather aside, we would. I discovered that, by combining cornflour and baby oil until it formed a mouldable dough and then freezing it, I had some pretty amazing fake snow. It even has that powdery crunch. I even found myself making my own snowman after the kids went to sleep (shhh, don’t tell).
If you’d like be in the draw to win a copy of JC Little’s The Last Snowman, a gorgeous illustrated mug to enjoy a hot coffee on a blustery day and a swag of other sponsored prizes, please “LIKE“ The Animated Woman on Facebook and write your thoughts about this beautiful book in the comments section below.
(Sponsors include Dot & Lil & Boiron)
You can buy your own copy of The Last Snowman on Createspace, Amazon and at The Animated Woman.
This Winter has been so cold , or had the wrong sort of snow. It wasn’t until it started to melt away that we were able to make snowmen. I wanted to strangle all the parents who posted “Frozen” clips of “Do you want to build a Snowman” because, yes, yes I did. He was crushed, but one day, I just made a tiny one right outside the door so he would see it before school, and it seemed to make all the difference in the world. I love the idea of you being able to make one anywhere, anytime with that, and will share that with my son later. Thanks.
Beautifully written. My little ones really enjoyed it
Beautiful Mich on so, so many levels!!! I can see that my gorgeous little ones would enjoy it, and that I could share and unpack it with my beautiful Noa. Thank you for sharing, and in your amazing style xxx
Mich, thank you for sharing this beautiful story in your amazingly talented style. I know my little ones would really enjoy the story and of course the snow experience you created!!! (Can’t wait to try that!) On the other side, my beautiful teenager would also enjoy the story and more so, gain benefit from the deeper messages and conversations we could have together. Again, thank you for sharing x
This looks like a beautiful book to share with my children.
Michelle, thank-you for this lovely review and especially for the little film. Your reading combined with your husband’s original music is truly moving. Thank-you both so much!
Wonderful review and the fake snow recipe?? I can’ wait to try it!