The Snowman

Story

One snowy day, a small boy builds a huge snowman. That night, at the stroke of midnight, the snowman comes to life and the two have fun exploring the house and garden, then take off into the winter sky…

Why we chose it

The Snowman is a wordless picture book by Raymond Briggs that has become a much-loved Christmas classic. A moving story, beautifully drawn and simply told, it captures the delight of flying away for a magical adventure with a new friend.

Where it came from

Raymond Briggs was born in London in 1934 and went to art school at 15 before working as an artist and teacher. His first illustration job was a children’s book in 1958 for Oxford University Press.

Briggs describes himself as a ‘grumpy old man’. His other popular picture books include Father Christmas (about a curmudgeonly Santa with a secret heart of gold) and Fungus the Bogeyman (about a scary ogre who is a loving husband and father). After spending two years creating Fungus’s slimy world, Briggs wanted to make a book that felt cleaner and simpler. The Snowman was the delightful result. The instant bond between the boy and the snowman suggests that Briggs also has a soft centre.

Where it went next

The Snowman was a critical success and runner-up for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. It was adapted into a film animation in 1982 which won many awards and has been a festive favourite ever since. The animation is also wordless apart from the famous song ‘Walking in the Air’ that accompanies its extended flying sequence. The film and book have inspired a stage show, video game and winter attraction.

The animation team – which included Oxfordshire artists Hilary Audus, Michael Gabriel and Joanna Harrison - were careful to mimic Briggs’s soft crayon style. In 2012 the team created a sequel, The Snowman and The Snowdog.

Associated stories

Raymond Briggs’ other illustrated books include Father Christmas, Fungus the Bogeyman, and the graphic novel Ethel & Ernest which tells the true story of his mother and his father, who worked as a milkman.

In the Museum

Find The Snowman in the Enchanted Library.