The Snowman and the Snowdog

At less than 30 minutes long, this heartwarming tale is a good holiday pick for preschoolers just starting to sit still for movies. The Snowman may be a national treasure in the U.K., but here in the States it's not as widely known. Those who haven't seen the original may not understand that the picture the boy finds is from the first movie or that this is a story that's as beloved to certain audiences as Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas are to American viewers. Without the foundation of the original, there may be less emotional connection to the new story -- particularly since there's no dialogue.

Still, if you don't mind the minimalist plot and the lack of dialogue, The Snowman and the Snowdog is a lovely holiday tale about a boy grieving the loss of his dog. His grief leads him to make not only the snowman like the one in a photo he discovers in his new house but also a snowdog companion for the snowman, in honor of his dearly departed pet. There's a beautiful song that accompanies the most exciting part of the story, the flight the trio takes soaring above London all the way to a snowman jubilee.