The Friendly Snowflake

by M. Scott Peck, Christopher Peck (Illustrator)

For his first foray into children's book writing, bestselling author Peck ( The Road Less Traveled ) has concocted a slender, self-conscious story. A snowflake lands on young Jenny's nose and she names it Harry. This seemingly insignificant happening causes the reflective child to ponder the concepts of chance, the soul and the interrelatedness of all things. In what often seems like a Sunday school tableau, Jenny's parents are endlessly didactic. (Her father, for instance, says, "Some questions are so big you shouldn't take anyone else's answer for them.") The reader is left with the final image of a small stream leading to a river leading to the ocean; Jenny wonders if this is like veins leading to a human heart. Don't expect youngsters to sit through this prattle more than once. Similar universal themes have been more thoughtfully hidden--and/or revealed--to better effect in other works. In his illustrative debut, Christopher Peck's delicately attractive pictures are sprinkled throughout the text. All ages.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Christmas, Juvenile, Faith, Family, Inspirational

64 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1992

About the author

Morgan Scott Peck was an American psychiatrist and best-selling author who wrote the book The Road Less Traveled, published in 1978.

Reviews

[Jennifer Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a rough day, and I ended up in a used bookstore looking for Christmas picture books. I ended up sitting down to read this one. It has some sweet messages about:

1) the wonder of aspects of how the world works, questioning, embracing the mysteries
2) thinking about the journey of a snowflake—how they are all different, yet individual smaller ones often clump together to make a larger snowflake, comparing it to individual family members being related to each other
3) wondering about if snowflakes, molecules of water, animals and people have souls

In the spirit of M. Scott Peck, it explores new spirituality concepts. The illustrations were peaceful and calming, and the message and language brought me into a child’s world and soothed my soul, focusing on the simplicity and beauty of life for a moment.

[Karen Barna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book today, “The Friendly Snowflake.” Peck addresses the miracle of Serendipity and illustrates how a person’s perspective (attitude) toward the unseeingly unnoticed miracles in our everyday life can create inner peace. Through his illustration of tiny snowflakes and big snowflakes he delineates between members of the family (the individual) and the larger family unit (brothers, sisters, mother, father, etc as the whole). Then through successive lines of questioning, the reader is allowed to see the intellectual debate unfold and reinforces the notion that just because you can’t see something or scientifically prove it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist or that it’s any less a miracle. He sets up the debate by addressing the concept of reincarnation, a religious Hindu belief, with an intellectual debate between believer and non-believer. He reinforces the skill of debate verses senseless arguing without any coherent constructive communication. And finally, he illustrates the interconnectedness of life through the rain cycle of water and bodies of water (brooks, streams, rivers to oceans) and then makes a comparison to the veins that flow from the heart, arteries, veins, capillaries. In the end the reader realizes we are all interconnected on this giant rock we call Earth. Two Thumbs Up! Also a great gift to give at Christmas with materials needed and instructions for making your own borax snowflake.

[Beverly Kennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vocabulary in this book is wonderful! The dialogue is natural and realistic as with other Peck books. It touches on religious ideas, but only presents them as possible explanations, it does not preach a particular belief. I like that the book makes connections between ideas in religions and in nature, it forces the reader to question things. I used this book as a read aloud to fourth graders. It can be read in one class period.

[Liz Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book my daughter read it on a snow day..

[Jennifer Gamel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that allowed me to remember things from a child's point of view, the bigger things in life.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alissa really enjoyed the story of Harry the Friendly Snowflake and what happens to snow. The spiritual parts really appealed to me.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a sweet little surprise. I didn't know what to expect of it all and it turned out to be a journey through trying to understand the spiritual world through the physical one and an appreciation of serendipity. A snowflake falls on a little girl and in reflecting how it came to find her she thinks about if it has a soul, how that relates to the water cycle, and reincarnation. Which could be done....so badly...but it isn't. I can't explain why it works but it does. If you have a child who likes to ask questions (and is there such a thing as a child who doesn't like to ask questions?) this is a character they will relate to...a little girl through a winter just trying to figure out the world she lives in with an older brother who loves to look things up. Would be such a great read for a snow day when you can fall down your own research rabbit holes.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, there is actually a lot to say about this 200 page book... this is one of those books I would NEVER pick up in my life, it's a small book written very small, I'll be honest at the beginning I did slightly snob it a little.. but I'm glad to say I was wrong. I devoured this book in less than 2 days, I think it's right to say that it's one of those books with various levels... if a 7-year-old read it he would only pick up the story.. so it's safe to say that the older you are the more you understand, or better yet realise it's hidden there... I'm very proud of this book and want to make it my winter tradition! I definitely recommend it to any age!!! Have a good read...!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to read on this snowy weekend. ❄️ This is an adorable story about a young girl’s relationship with a snowflake, who she names Harry. This is about her friendship with Harry and what she learns about her life because of Harry. It touches on connection, souls, and reincarnation. It’s a little celebration of all the good things in life. The perfect book to read for my first book of 2024!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Diletta Nicastro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nulla di eccezionale.
Viene suggerito come libro natalizio, ma per assurdo che possa sembrare nel testo, sebbene si parli di neve, bufere e tempo invernale, l'autore riesce a nominare Halloween ma non dedica neppure una parola al Natale.
Non è neppure una favola, ma uno scontro tra Ragione e Spiritualità (solo che quest'ultima è davvero priva di mordente).
Non mi è piaciuto molto, né lo farei leggere a mio figlio.

[Caleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute story about a girl discovering the wonder of snowflakes and relating that to her relationship with God. It was cute, but I'm not sure young students would understand the message behind it.

[Patreesha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Physically, this is a lovely book written by an author whose works I've enjoyed. With a star-rating above 3, this book obviously has an audience, but for me, the excessive saccharine level of naiveté made "The Friendly Snowflake" indigestible.

[Jordan Waldner]

This book was obviously written by a psychologist. The story itself is quite bland, but the underlying themes are significant. If you read this book, try to dig beneath the surface - the child protagonist has learned life truths that remain elusive to most adults.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pull this book out with my decorations but don’t always read it. Quiet Christmas this year so jumped in and my spirits were delightfully lifted. Science can’t prove everything and the story reminded me to have my eyes open for God’s hidden blessings.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian classic

[Klára]

Dostala jsem od babi a dědy čk k 11. narozeninám. Moc roztomilé

[Linda Crawford · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not good.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels like it is made of a lot of extra filler and not as much momentum toward the destination. He compares human souls to water molecules and evaporation to reincarnation. I thought it would be more of a Christmas story.

[Susanne Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing, shortread, heartwarming book.

[Jeana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm still not sure what I read. Hmmm.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid and love its innocent simplicity still. I love how the author never attempts to reason away or change Jenny's beliefs, but instead accepts her childlike faith.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet children's book

[Greegghy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarà pure scritto in modo "elementare".
Ma non c'è anno in cui, quando nevica, da quando me l'hanno regalato, non lo rilegga!

[Carolyn (in SC) C234D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago, and didn’t give a rating. What I wrote was “Very short, gentle tale in which Jennie and her family ponder the journey of a single snowflake.” Since I really can’t remember it, I’ll rate it a rather neutral 3 stars.