The psychotherapist author of The Road Less Traveled (a bestseller for over nine years) assays his first children's book--a...

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"THE FRIENDLY SNOWFLAKE: A Fable of Faith, Love and Family"

The psychotherapist author of The Road Less Traveled (a bestseller for over nine years) assays his first children's book--a slight story much burdened with a heavy message. When a snowflake melts on Jenny's nose, she names it Harry and beans a winter-long rumination on its place in the scheme of things, imbuing Harry with individuality and postulating that a larger flake might be a ""family"" of crystals. Jenny's older brother Dennis, a science-minded know-it-all, scoffs, but when Dad comes home from a trip to India he explains the concept of reincarnation--whereupon Jenny, considering the water cycle, concludes that her snowflake might actually come back to a local pond in the spring. In addition to its rather muddled theology, there are superfluous details of the weather and long-winded, informative conversations, as well as stereotyping--sensitive girl, clever older boy with math skills like Dad's, etc. The author's son, still a student, contributes realistic color-pencil art, unexceptional but attractive. First printing of 100,000.

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1992

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 38

Publisher: Turner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1992

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