Snow Paws

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Marc, Nicole, and Sam live in a city where the snow comes early and
always stays late. Because Sam’s two older siblings are often too busy
to play with him, they offer to build Sam a snowman for company. “Make
it a snowcat?” asks Sam, because even the family cat, Emilie, ignores
him. The result is Snowpaws, a huge snowcat with muffs for ears and two
amber marbles for eyes. That night, Snowpaws comes to life and takes Sam
on a magic ride over the city. For many nights afterward, Sam and
Snowpaws play and share adventures while everyone else sleeps. Then
suddenly Sam’s house is in an uproar because Emilie the family cat has
run away. Everyone, including Sam, becomes so worried about Emilie that
no one notices spring has arrived and Snowpaws is melting. One morning,
Sam looks outside to see only red earmuffs and two amber marbles sitting
in a puddle. Realizing that Snowpaws is gone, Sam is heartbroken. Just
then, Emilie returns carrying a sign that Snowpaws may someday return.

Mary Alice Downie has managed to tell this tale of childhood loneliness
without becoming overly sentimental and soppy. Kathryn Naylor’s
beautiful illustrations add a magic element that makes even an earless
snowcat believable for young readers. Highly recommended.