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The Snowball Fight
From the New York Times bestsellers behind Stick and Stone comes a wintry (but warmhearted) ode to the pleasures of a snowy day outside. A humorous, modern-day classic to be shared alongside other winter tales like Sneezy the Snowman and Mice Skating.
One wintry morning, the snow begins and so does . . . a snowball fight!
In her signature verse, Beth Ferry recounts a day spent behind snowbanks and on sleds, while Tom Lichtenheld’s cinematic art delights readers with sly and snowy twists.
One wintry morning, the snow begins and so does . . . a snowball fight!
In her signature verse, Beth Ferry recounts a day spent behind snowbanks and on sleds, while Tom Lichtenheld’s cinematic art delights readers with sly and snowy twists.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2025
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Beth Ferry
43 books150 followersBeth Ferry is the author of the picture books Stick and Stone and Land Shark. Her family has cared for myriad pets, including two land sharks, a hedgehog, a blue-tongued skink, and a heap of hamsters, but her absolutely perfect pet is an English bulldog named Winston. She lives in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 9, 2025
Richie’s Picks: THE SNOWBALL FIGHT by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld, ill., HarperCollins/Clarion, November 2025, 48p., ISBN: 978-0-06-332707-8
“...There must have been some magic in
That old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around…”
– "Frosty the Snowman" was written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950
“Now the world is white and still.
Peaceful, calm, serene, until…
YAY! HOORAY!
It’s a Snow Day!”
Bundle up and start your fort.
Pack the bottom for support.
Raise the walls up nice and high.
Let that first fat snowball fly,
‘Ha! Ya missed me by A LOT’
It looks so easy,
But it’s not”
I grew up “back East,” regularly experiencing the cold and snow. I still don’t miss them.
But I embrace the sweet, early-1960s childhood memories of snow forts and snowmen and engaging in snowball fights. And I cannot think of another book with “Fight” in the title that is as sweet and packed with wholesome fun as this one!
Two boys, friends, one white and one Black, build forts and have a snowball fight. Sledding and snow angels are next on their agenda. Then, after casting aside their soggy snow gear and thawing out with hot chocolate and marshmallows, they return once again to the great outdoors to build a snowman together.
THE SNOWBALL FIGHT is simple, super-sweet, cool winter fun (without having to leave my warm, cozy reading chair). It’s a winner!
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“...There must have been some magic in
That old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around…”
– "Frosty the Snowman" was written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950
“Now the world is white and still.
Peaceful, calm, serene, until…
YAY! HOORAY!
It’s a Snow Day!”
Bundle up and start your fort.
Pack the bottom for support.
Raise the walls up nice and high.
Let that first fat snowball fly,
‘Ha! Ya missed me by A LOT’
It looks so easy,
But it’s not”
I grew up “back East,” regularly experiencing the cold and snow. I still don’t miss them.
But I embrace the sweet, early-1960s childhood memories of snow forts and snowmen and engaging in snowball fights. And I cannot think of another book with “Fight” in the title that is as sweet and packed with wholesome fun as this one!
Two boys, friends, one white and one Black, build forts and have a snowball fight. Sledding and snow angels are next on their agenda. Then, after casting aside their soggy snow gear and thawing out with hot chocolate and marshmallows, they return once again to the great outdoors to build a snowman together.
THE SNOWBALL FIGHT is simple, super-sweet, cool winter fun (without having to leave my warm, cozy reading chair). It’s a winner!
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
December 5, 2025
More Librarian's Perspective Reviews at MrsReaderPants.
Oh, the magic of a snow day! Beth Ferry has rapidly become one of my favorite picture book authors. This book perfectly captures the joy and laughter of playing in fluffy, white snow.
Told in rhyming couplets, the two children in this story build snow forts, have a snowball fight, avert disaster, go sledding, and make snow angels. Then, they go inside to warm up and enjoy some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies.
The perfect snow day!
The only characters are two young neighbors, who are also friends. Names and gender are unspecified. Both have tan skin, but one is darker than the other.
I've added this title to my Mock Caldecott 2026 list, not because I think it will actually win, but because the bright, colorful illustrations are so appealing to young readers. Caldecott is about artwork, but that does not always translate into books that grab kids' attention.
Young readers will naturally gravitate toward Snowball Fight and want to read it over and over. If you put this title on a display of "Snow Day" books, I bet it will be among the first checked out.
December 16, 2025
The snow starts falling -- and keeps on falling -- until It's a Snow Day! Hooray!
Two neighbors appear and immediately each start constructing a snow fort. And then it's time for a snowball war! Eventually they both get tired and then - watch out! One rescues the other from being buried by snow falling off the roof. Then it's time for sledding and snow angels and a break for some much needed warmth and hot chocolate. Only to be reminded they forgot something important - building an epic snowman!
This is a fun celebration of finding a friend who loves to play in the snow as much as you do. And it also has some great vocabulary sprinkled throughout. While alabaster definitely rhymes with faster, it is not a word that you see often in picture books. But it's a great word for a snowy day and will hopefully inspire at least one child to ask, "What's alabaster?"
Two neighbors appear and immediately each start constructing a snow fort. And then it's time for a snowball war! Eventually they both get tired and then - watch out! One rescues the other from being buried by snow falling off the roof. Then it's time for sledding and snow angels and a break for some much needed warmth and hot chocolate. Only to be reminded they forgot something important - building an epic snowman!
This is a fun celebration of finding a friend who loves to play in the snow as much as you do. And it also has some great vocabulary sprinkled throughout. While alabaster definitely rhymes with faster, it is not a word that you see often in picture books. But it's a great word for a snowy day and will hopefully inspire at least one child to ask, "What's alabaster?"
June 11, 2025
I received an electronic ARC from Clarion Books through Edelweiss+.
Two friends have a marvelous time playing in the snow. They build forts, have a snowball fight, go sledding, make a snowman, enjoy hot chocolate, and most importantly, enjoy their time together. I appreciate the way both author and illustrator make them distinct characters through facial expressions and language. A delightful read for families and classes as winter begins.
Two friends have a marvelous time playing in the snow. They build forts, have a snowball fight, go sledding, make a snowman, enjoy hot chocolate, and most importantly, enjoy their time together. I appreciate the way both author and illustrator make them distinct characters through facial expressions and language. A delightful read for families and classes as winter begins.
September 3, 2025
I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion.
I love this joyful book. Not only is it clever in it’s design, but it also reminds me so much of a modern version of Keats’ classic The Snowy Day. Ferry’s book could easily be a what-happens-next of Keats’ book and I love everything about it. A wonderful day to embrace the job of snow and just being a kid.
I love this joyful book. Not only is it clever in it’s design, but it also reminds me so much of a modern version of Keats’ classic The Snowy Day. Ferry’s book could easily be a what-happens-next of Keats’ book and I love everything about it. A wonderful day to embrace the job of snow and just being a kid.
October 21, 2025
Absolutely adorable!
All the awesomeness of a snow day spent with friends, wrapped up in one cozy story!!!
I loved the rhyming, sing-song style of the story- and the illustrations were spot-on!
We love snow days here in BC, Canada- playing, building, sledding- and then inside to warm up with hot cocoa.
Perfection.
All the awesomeness of a snow day spent with friends, wrapped up in one cozy story!!!
I loved the rhyming, sing-song style of the story- and the illustrations were spot-on!
We love snow days here in BC, Canada- playing, building, sledding- and then inside to warm up with hot cocoa.
Perfection.
December 21, 2025
This is a fun and bouncy story, especially for those who still have real snow days or remember real snow days rather than two hour delay, delays or e-learning days. It has minimal text, that rhymes, beautifully almost in the style of Dr. Seuss. The activities the kids get up to are so real of what used to happen on a snow day.
January 4, 2026
"The Snowball Fight," by Beth Ferry, is a simple children's book about a snowy day and what takes place on that day involving some children. It reads like some children's verses with a fun rhyme- scheme and cool pictures that even a child of five would have no problem with the diction and have a good time reading the book.
November 25, 2025
I cannot say enough about this book...it's *snow much fun!* The text and illustrations equally contribute to the story's success, and I cannot wait to share it during the upcoming winter season with listeners of all ages.
January 7, 2026
The Snowball Fight is a lively and charming story that captures the fun, chaos, and camaraderie of a winter day. With warmth and humor, it celebrates teamwork, imagination, and the simple joy of playing together.
November 12, 2025
This is fun.
December 9, 2025
I'm becoming a serious Beth Ferry fan.
December 15, 2025
A rhyming review of all the fun a snowfall brings.
December 16, 2025
talks about having a snowball fight, then turns into sledding, then forts, then building a snowman. for an older kid, but fun.
December 17, 2025
Such a wonderful celebration of snow day fun! I loved the illustrations and this felt so accurate to how kids would behave.
December 23, 2025
Perfect winter book! It’s fun to read and the illustrations give more life to the story.
December 28, 2025
really fun read aloud.
December 29, 2025
A delightful story about 2 boys enjoying all the magic of a winter's day.
December 29, 2025
A playful winter tale, The Snowball Fight captures the joy, chaos, and fun of a snowy day with charming verse and lively illustrations.
January 1, 2026
After reading, make sure you take a look behind the book jacket to see the snowmen having their own snowball fight!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews