The Snowman: Inspired by the original story by Raymond Briggs

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It was made into an animated film by Channel 4, one of our terrestrial television companies, with a sublime score by Howard Blake. I mean, predictable and necessary, but can we not have some kind of resolve that the boy is all right? This graphic novel tells the story of how his father, a milkman, met his mother, a lady’s maid, and how they lived together in the same house for forty-one years. Raymond illustrated a book of nursery rhymes, The Mother Goose Treasury, in 1966 for which he won the Kate Greenaway medal.

The Snowman : Inspired by the original story by Raymond Briggs The Snowman : Inspired by the original story by Raymond Briggs

It was as big as me, that I remember clearly, with an old hat on his head and a scarf around his neck. He needed greater freedom perhaps than the standard 32-page picture book format allowed and created a radical and beautiful innovation: a wordless picture book for children, a storyboard of stills that became an instant classic in its own right, as well as the much loved animation. With his wife Clare, he set up the charity Farms for City Children, and for their pioneering work they were both awarded the MBE in 1999. This is a delightful book, drawing on Raymond Briggs' wonderful illustrated, wordless story, The Snowman.We hope that people love the coin’s design and look to collect a piece of British Christmas history. Plus, having James’s grandma involved in the story made the ending less bittersweet compared to the original. With his wife, Clare, he set up the charity Farms for City Children, and for their pioneering work they were both awarded the MBE in 1999. He spends the whole day making his perfect snowman; he has coal eyes, an old green hat and scarf and a tangerine nose… just like the snowman from his favourite story. What a joy that Morpurgo has chosen to include the aurora borealis and have the grandmother meet and adventure with the snowman, bringing in special Christmassy features from both nature and family.

The Snowman - Penguin Books UK The Snowman - Penguin Books UK

At the end of the story, there was a section about Christmas traditions around the world as well as the art of snowman building.This year’s edition of The Snowman coin is particularly special, being the first of our Christmas coins with King Charles III’s effigy on its obverse. His best-known work, War Horse, was adapted into a multi-Oscar-nominated film by Steven Spielberg and into a widely acclaimed play. I always really liked this book (so I should have voted 4 stars), but this past winter my 13-year-old son Alma (Down Syndrome, autism) fell in love with it. The illustrations are just so full of expression, such as when the boy simply cannot sleep over wanting to be with his snowman. Not the Channel 4 film, not its sequel (which is still wonderful), not the stage production, nothing.

Royal Mint unveils 50p coin celebrating beloved Christmas

maybe dreams are just a gate to another reality, a world where everything is possible and nothing denied. It deals with a boy who witness that winter has finally arrive since the whole backyard is cover in snow. It makes you feel like you are reading the Snowman for the first time as he keeps elements of the original story whilst adding a few of his own twists.The main difference occurs near the end, and was a positive and warm addition to the story that makes it stand out as its own entity. Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services at the Royal Mint, said: "Continuing our partnership with award-winning illustrator Robin Shaw, we are excited to release another original festive coin that brings Raymond Briggs's story to life in a new way. As is often the case, the basic story remains the same as the one you know, but with extra details and backstory added in. The book, published by Puffin and first released in 1978, tells the story of a young boy named James who builds a snowman which comes to life. However, Briggs continued to produce humour for children, in works such as the Unlucky Wally series and The Bear.