Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Love and community central to holiday book adaptation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Snowy Day
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 46 parent reviews
Parents say this adaptation of the beloved picture book is a wonderful and wholesome holiday film that emphasizes kindness, cultural diversity, and the joy of community. While many praise its beautiful animation, calming pace, and engaging music, some critics feel it strays too far from the original book and includes unnecessary commercial elements.
- cultural diversity
- community focus
- calming pace
- enjoyable for kids
- holiday favorite
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 1 kid review
What's the Story?
In THE SNOWY DAY, a young boy named Peter (voiced by Donielle Hansley) sets out on a snowy walk to his grandmother's (Angela Bassett) home to escort her -- and her traditional macaroni-and-cheese dish -- back to his house for a Christmas Eve party. Along the way, he meets neighbors, makes new friends, and plays in the snow, until a mishap threatens to ruin the day. As Peter reconsiders the meaning of Christmas, he comes to see that it's the people around you who make the holiday season special.
Is It Any Good?
With an accomplished voice cast and animation reminiscent of the original picture book, this interpretation takes viewers on a charming journey through Peter's neighborhood on a snowy winter's day. Building on a story that was one of few children's books to feature a Black central protagonist back in the 1960s, The Snowy Day introduces a diverse cast of characters into its city setting, highlighting the mix of cultures and faiths within Peter's community.
With the likes of Laurence Fishburne, Bassett, and Boyz II Men (who pop in as a capella singers on the street) among the voice cast, this simple and wholesome TV retelling has broad appeal. It's a gentle story with familiar stanzas from the book and warm themes about family, friends, and traditions to set the scene for the holidays.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about gratitude in The Snowy Day and in general. What are you grateful for? Why do you think gratitude is an important character strength?
Talk about holiday traditions. What are some of your family's favorite things to do around the holidays? How do they reflect your faith or heritage?
How does Peter's community compare with yours? Is your community very diverse? How do our differences help us to grow?
If you've read the book, compare it to this screen version. What did the adaptation add to the story? Did the screen version fill in any gaps or change how you understood Peter's adventure?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 25, 2016
- Cast : Laurence Fishburne , Regina King
- Directors : Jamie Badminton , Rufus Blacklock
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Amazon Studios
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship , Holidays , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Gratitude
- Run time : 59 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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