- Chapter Books
- Ages 8–12
- Fantasy
The Snow Girl
A tender winter fairy tale about a lonely, anxious girl who builds a snow girl with her grandfather and wakes to find her wish come true, then must face what happens to a friend made of winter when spring arrives.
- Best for8–12
- FormatChapter
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Conversational
Tone
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
- Gentle
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Since a terrifying accident nearly cost Tasha her life, she has lost her confidence and finds it hard to be around other children, yet she is lonely without them. When she and her parents go to spend the winter helping her ailing grandfather on his snowbound farm, Tasha and Grandpa build a girl out of snow, and all Tasha wishes is for her to be real. Then she meets Alyana, a friend made of wishes, starlight and snowfall, and for the first time in a long while she is not alone. But when your best friend is made of winter, what do you do when spring comes? Inspired by the folktale of the Snow Maiden, Sophie Anderson spins a gentle, magical story of friendship, bravery and letting go, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon. Set among frozen forests and spiritual mountains, it is a warm, quietly moving read for anyone who has felt out of step with the world, and a comforting winter tale to share.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A warm winter fantasy for 8-12s reading independently, and a lovely read-aloud from about 7. Gentle handling of anxiety, an ailing grandparent and letting a friend go gives it emotional depth without ever becoming frightening.
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- Best fit · 8–12
- Read aloud · 7–10
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Moderate
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Gift-buying
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: grief.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Winter reads
- Gentle fantasy
- Shy and anxious readers
- Folklore fantasy
Avoid if
- Wants fast paced action
Particularly good for children who are…
- Anxiety and worry
- Low self esteem
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Every child who has wished a snow figure could come alive gets exactly that here, and Alyana is warm, magical and completely Tasha's. The winter setting is cosy and beautiful, and the ache of what spring might mean gives the story real heart.
- Magic powers
- Friendship and belonging
- Cosy safety
Why parents love it
Sophie Anderson reworks the Snow Maiden folktale into a tender story about anxiety, loneliness and courage, beautifully illustrated by Melissa Castrillon. It handles fear and loss softly, making it a comforting, discussable read for shyer children.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Bedtime appropriate
- Conversation starter
About the creators
About the creators.
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Three ways out of this book.
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