Book details
Ruth Symes - Author
This is a festive fantasy adventure centred on missing Snowball, a baby Bigfoot. The children balance school and sanctuary responsibilities as they try to help, with mythical animals and winter weather part of the setting.
At the Secret Animal Society Sanctuary, hidden away in a remote corner of the country, Christmas is approaching. There's lots to organise with the winter weather drawing in and all the endangered and rare animals to care for. Even fire-breathing dragons need food and shelter! When twins Eddie and Izzie and their family are awakened by two yetis just before the schools break up for Christmas, they realise through sign language that a baby Bigfoot has gone missing. It is starting to snow again finding a baby animal with white fur is going to be difficult. Eddie, Izzie and their little brother Toby all have to get to school for the end of term costume party so reluctantly they head out and the search continues without them. At school, Toby discovers one of the children crying outside wearing a snowman costume. When the little boy doesn't talk Toby names him Snowball and tries to look after him.
Book Analysis
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Sign in for personalised guidanceTalk about: What helps the children decide how to help Snowball?
How the book presents it: The plot places school commitments alongside the search, structuring the adventure around the children's divided responsibilities.
Talk about: How do the children manage their school commitments while trying to help?
The plot offers a child-centred mix of imaginative creatures and practical care for animals. School commitments complicate the search, giving the adventure more than one strand to follow.
The missing baby and subsequent rescue plan create some uncertainty and urgency. A child who finds separation or rescue situations unsettling may appreciate knowing that this is part of the adventure.
What do you think Toby notices about the child in the snowman costume, and how does he try to care for him?
Try reading a little at a time and pause when the search or rescue plan develops. Invite your child to keep track of which characters are helping Snowball and what each can do.
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
Snowball the Baby Bigfoot - Ruth Symes - Google Books
Limited information
Checked: 1 October 2026.
Relevant to: Searching for Snowball; A story with competing responsibilities
Snowball by Ruth Symes | Open Library
Limited information
Checked: 1 October 2026.
Relevant to: A story with competing responsibilities
Benefits, discussion questions and reading approaches are suggestions. Your knowledge of your child remains part of the decision.
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