Create a memory badge
Design a paper badge for someone important. Add a symbol, color, or word that tells part of that person’s story. Share why you chose it.
Read. Wonder. Talk.
Help the story continue after the book closes.
Use these simple ideas to help children explore the feelings, choices, and connections inside More Than a Snowman.
A shared reading guide
There is no single “right” conversation.
Children may connect first with Lucas missing his father, the neighbors helping, the decorated snowman, or the sadness of spring.
Follow what they notice. Give them time to look closely at the pictures, name emotions in their own words, and connect the story to moments from their own lives.
Suggested readers: Elementary-age children, families, classrooms, libraries, and community groups.
Conversation starters
Questions to ask before, during, or after reading
- Why do you think building the snowman helped Lucas feel closer to his dad?
- What did Mrs. Bell notice that made her decide to help?
- How did the snowman change when the neighbors added their own keepsakes?
- What is the difference between “Dad’s Snowman” and “Our Snowman”?
- Which character showed kindness in a way that mattered to someone else?
- How do you think Lucas felt when the weather became warmer? What helped him?
- What object, photograph, or tradition helps you remember someone important?
- What is one small thing your family or class could do for someone nearby?
Try it together
Three low-prep activities
Build a kindness chain
Write one small helpful act on each strip of paper. Connect the strips as the acts are completed and watch the community chain grow.
Draw your Story House
Draw a house with a different story behind every door or window. Who lives there? What do they care about? How are the stories connected?
Themes to explore
One story can support many kinds of learning.
Emotions
Missing someone, asking for help, experiencing change, and finding hope.
Service
Recognizing the sacrifices of military families and others who serve.
Community
How individual memories and actions can become part of something shared.
Art
Reading visual details, noticing seasons and light, and telling stories with symbols.
A gentle note for grown-ups
Let the child set the emotional pace.
The story touches on deployment, separation, remembrance, vandalism, and change. Some children may connect these moments to personal experiences. Invite conversation without requiring it, avoid asking a child to share private family details in a group, and offer drawing or writing as another way to respond.
Need something for your group?
Contact Murphy’s Story House about readings, classroom use, or future resources.