Review
5 Star Review by Amy Louise Hill for Readers' Favorite
The Snow Monster by Jodi Dee is a picture book for young children that tells an unusual story of a young girl named Amia who made a wish on her birthday. Amia loved snow and her wish was to be able to eat all the snow in the world. Amia couldn't believe that her wish had been granted and headed outside to use her new superpower. But unfortunately for Amia, her neighbors reacted badly to her eating all the snow as there wasn't any left for the other children to play in. Amia was banned from going outside in the winter and had to spend her birthdays indoors, watching the other children playing happily outdoors. One day, the town went into emergency mode, and Amia's power was needed to save her neighbors. What do you think happened to the neighborhood? Find out in this charming book.
The Snow Monster by Jodi Dee was a pleasure to read. It is unlike any other story that I've encountered, and that's what kept me interested. I was more intrigued with each page I read. I loved every word and I know children will too. The writing is simple yet descriptive, which allows you to easily imagine the scenes in your head. The illustrations by Chandrani Das are adorable and gave me a Christmassy feel. This book will make the perfect bedtime story or boredom breaker. Children are going to love it and I hope I get the chance to read more from this incredible author soon. Keep up the great work, Jodi, and stay creative.
EDITORS PICK! Publishers Weekly - BOOK LIFE
Life in Tuttle Town is uncomplicated—straight streets, equal-sized houses, and neighbors who all know each other—until a little girl named Amia makes a wish on her birthday that changes her life—and Tuttle Town—forever. Amia loves everything about snow, especially eating it, and looks forward to each snowstorm that heads her way. But when her birthday wish to "eat all the snow I ever wanted" comes true, and the snow from the most recent storm disappears before the townspeople wake up, Amia's suddenly an outcast, and a town meeting is called to warn her that she can never eat snow again.
This charming wintertime story highlights the importance of appreciating others' strengths, as Amia's penchant for eating snow goes from being a disaster to a superpower when an epic storm buries Tuttle Town. The townspeople have a sudden change of heart, prompting them to beg Amia to eat the snow trapping them in their homes—to which she immediately obliges, saving the day and changing her status from a "Snow Monster" to "a gift to [the] town." Readers may long for more insight into Amia's point of view, particularly her feelings when the town banishes her to the inside of her home during her favorite season, but Dee (The Dirt Girl) still crafts an emotionally resonant narrative, and Tuttle Town is vibrantly rendered in jeweled tones and crisp colors in the immersive digital illustrations from Dee and Chandrani Das, effectively evoking the small town feel, especially with the twee cottages sprinkled throughout the neighborhoods.
Younger readers will relish Amia's imaginative talent, and Dee's simple lesson of self-worth, paired with a reminder to be sensitive to others, lands well. Just as Amia learns to value her individuality, the townspeople must also learn to embrace the strengths of even their youngest residents. There's no snow necessary to appreciate this heartfelt ode to self-acceptance.
KIRKUS REVIEW - A snow-loving girl makes a dangerous wish in Dee's picture book.
Amia, a young girl with fair skin and brown hair, lives in a town where everything is simple and everything is the same. She loves snow so much that on her birthday, "I wished I could eat all the snow I ever wanted." When it snows, she gets her wish—and consumes all the snow in town. The townspeople are furious and demand that Amia be kept indoors when it snows. One fateful day the following winter, the town is hit by a dangerous blizzard. No one can get out until a small child remembers Amia's superpower. This clever take on the theme of accepting others melds with another moral lesson: the importance of using your passion for the good of your community.
Dee uses short, simple sentences to make the story accessible for young readers; the full-color illustrations, done in collaboration with Das, blend realism and whimsy, much like the story itself. Though the village's houses and streets are identical, the people are very diverse: The concerned citizens have several different skin tones, and at least one resident wears a hijab. Amia and her sister are depicted looking very like each other but quite different from their father, suggesting that they are a blended or adoptive family.
A modern fable with a unique twist on old themes.
Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite
The Snow Monster by Jodi Dee is about a little girl named Amia who lives in a small and simple town called Tuttle Town with square houses and straight streets. Amia loved the snow, especially eating it because she said it tasted exquisite. Each winter, when her birthday came around, she would blow out her candles and make a wish, but we can all guess what she wished for. Minutes later, her father would announce that a snowstorm was coming, and Amia would get excited. The whole neighborhood was excited, but Amia was a little more enthused than everyone else, so much so that no one else could enjoy the snow. The entire town was upset with Amia. Though Amia got into a lot of trouble, little did the town know they'd need Amia's special powers to save their town one day.
The Snow Monster by Jodi Dee is a colorful, lighthearted, and well-written book teaching children about the value of their gifts and never to give up because there will be a time and place for their extraordinary powers to be needed and even celebrated, even if that's not now. Amia loved snow, and despite the fallout with her town, she didn't let that deter her from doing what she loved; she just needed to learn how to use her power for a greater purpose than herself. Soon, Amia learned how to use her powers to help her town during a difficult period. I enjoyed reading this book because it has a meaningful and encouraging message children can relate to. It's a relevant, creative, and elevating story that is easy to read.
5 Star Review by Ann Linus for Readers' Favorite
Amia and her family lived in a simple town named Tuttle Town. Amia loved snow so much that she even ate it. On her ninth birthday, Amia made a special wish before blowing out her candle; she wished she could eat all the snow she wanted. However, the outcome of her wish turned out to be a curse. By the next morning, all the snow in Tuttle Town had vanished, and when the enraged community traced the snow-eating monster to Amia, she was banned from ever coming out when it snowed. A very sad fate for the biggest snow lover. So, on her tenth birthday, Amia made another wish, and that changed everything. For better or for worse? Read The Snow Monster by Jodi Dee to find out.
Jodi Dee's The Snow Monster was an entertaining and enlightening story that got more intriguing with each page. I loved the unique storyline and I could relate to the characters' feelings. I also liked how the story progressed. I appreciated the moral of this story and its relevance in present times: doing what you love the most with all of your heart is a superpower. This story would have been incomplete without the vivid illustrations by Chandrani Das, which added color and charm to the narrative and portrayed inclusivity. I was also impressed with this book's editing while reading. I enjoyed this little book very much, and I recommend it for parents to read to their children.
"My 6 year old absolutely loved it!" 
