Snowball Reading Guide & Activities | Ages 12 Months–8 Years

Turn storytime into an opportunity to read together, create together, and grow together with this printable companion guide for Snowball, written by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet.

Designed for children ages 12 months through 8 years, this guide helps you enjoy the story at your child’s developmental level—without turning reading time into a lesson or quiz. Start by simply enjoying the book together. Then, return to the story whenever you are ready to explore its rhymes, silly illustrations, changing emotions, and fast-paced snowball adventure through engaging questions and a playful launching activity. 

Inside this 13-page guide, you’ll find:

• During Reading Tips to help children follow multi-picture pages, notice rhyming words, and stay engaged through changes in speed and volume
• Age-appropriate After Reading Questions for:
• 12–18 months
• 18–24 months
• Ages 2–4
• Ages 5–8
• Guidance showing where to ask each question, which skill it supports, and how it helps your child learn
• A complete materials list and step-by-step directions for a reusable craft + activity
• Opportunities to build rhyming awareness, vocabulary, counting, picture awareness, cause-and-effect thinking, emotional understanding, prediction, creativity, and story comprehension

About the activity

The activity brings the movement and silliness of the story to life while encouraging experimentation, hand strength, coordination, and cause-and-effect learning. Families can also create simple challenges. 

The goal is not perfect aim—it is the laughter, experimenting, and time spent playing together.

This guide is a good fit for families who want to:

• Make a lively rhyming story even more interactive
• Build phonological awareness by noticing rhyming words
• Practice counting, observation, and picture-based reasoning
• Explore cause and effect through the snowball’s growing journey
• Talk about changing emotions using facial expressions and body language
• Encourage prediction, imagination, and playful storytelling
• Enjoy a reusable activity that extends the fun beyond the book

Please note

This is a digital PDF download. No physical book, printed guide, or craft supplies will be mailed.

You will need access to a copy of Snowball by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet to use the reading portions of this guide. The book may be borrowed from your local library or purchased separately.

Adult preparation and supervision are required for cutting and for using hot glue or another heavy-duty adhesive. Balloons and small pom-poms should be kept away from children who may place small items in their mouths.

Recommended ages: 12 months–8 years

Format: Printable digital PDF

Length: 13 pages

Included activity: 1