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Just in time for the holidays, we whisk away on a cozy, magical journey through the enchanting world of The Snowman Code with Simon Stephenson. Warm yourself with this comfortable conversation about friendship, mental health, inner strength, and the transformative power of empathy as Simon shares the creative process behind his debut middle grade novel.

Summary

This week on the Adventures in Learning, Dr Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes author Simon Stephenson, who unveils the American publication of his debut middle-grade realistic fantasy The Snowman Code. Simon shares his journey from being a children's doctor to writing for films like Luca and Paddington 2. Discover how his experiences with foster care children influenced The Snowman Code, a story about friendship, magic, empathy, resilience, depression, and finding your inner strength. We explore Simon's familial inspirations for the pompous and loving Albert the Snowman. Learn more about the artistic brilliance of illustrator Reggie Brown, whose rich multicultural illustrations add depth and unexpected surprises into this heartwarming story. Plus we envision how the book translates into a potential cinematic adaptation.

Timestamps:

01:02: The Author Behind The Snowman Code

03:26:Blessing, Foster Care, Trauma, and Resilience

07:28:Familial Origins of Albert the Snowman

12:20:Themes of Empathy, Kindness, Compassion, and Sacrifice

15:30:UK Reaction to The Snowman Code

18:21:Exploring the Insightful, Layered Illustrations of Reggie Brown

20:43:Imagining The Film Version

23:52:What Brings You Hope?

Links:

Purchase The Snowman Code

Follow Simon Stephenson on Instagram

Discover more about Illustrator Reggie Brown

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.