A beautiful rhyming Christmas mystery, 30 years in the making…
It all began with a story…
A new Christmas Classic to Treasure
For generations, we’ve curled up with holiday stories like ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This year, a new tale steps into that timeless tradition.
Snowball: A Christmas Dilemma by Ian White is a charming rhyming mystery about one frosty Christmas Eve when Santa’s iconic red hat suddenly goes missing. Was it mischief, mistake… or something far more curious? With playful rhymes, a warm heart, and even a twist, this tale delights naughty and nice readers alike.
Before it became a book, it was a voice beside a cardboard fireplace in the halls of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children; read every Christmas to children too tired or too wired to sleep. Later, in 2019, Ian recorded it as an audiobook, his gentle voice like a cozy and comforting warm blanket.
Now it is ink and paper: 36 pages, hand-illustrated by B.C. artist Sarah Cowan and edited by Tim Gentle, son of Ian’s oldest friend. And so, in 2025, Snowball: A Christmas Dilemma has finally tiptoed into the world as a beautifully illustrated softcover—ready to find a spot beside milk, cookies, and maybe just a bit of faintly suspicious jingling.
Bring the Magic Home!
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Directly supports author
Quick, simple
Free Toronto Pick-up (Bathurst/Bloor, and TBA events around the city)
Pick up in Bracebridge, Ontario.
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Perfect for readers outside of Toronto
Fastest shipping option
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Planning to share Snowball with a classroom, library, office, or holiday event? Bulk orders are available with flexible options:
Discounts for 10 or more copies
Pickup or delivery across Toronto and Canada
Personalized notes or gift wrapping can be arranged
Contact us to discuss your bulk order or request a quote.
Peek Inside!
Gather ‘Round and Listen
Take a moment to listen to a short excerpt from the audiobook of Snowball: A Christmas Dilemma.
Hear the rhythm, the rhymes, and the playful mischief that make this holiday tale a delight for children and adults alike. Perfect for cozying up with a blanket, a cup of cocoa, and a little Christmas magic.
Behind the Book
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Author: Ian R. White
Ian White grew up in East London in the 1930s, developing a lifelong love for words, jokes, and storytelling. After immigrating to Canada, he spent more than 40 years at The Globe and Mail. Known for his quick wit, generous spirit, and Santa-like warmth, Ian has delighted children and families for decades with his rhyming tales.
His signature story, Snowball: A Christmas Dilemma, is the result of more than three decades of careful crafting. For many years, Ian shared it live at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, creating a beloved holiday tradition. Today, with the support of illustrator Sarah Cowan and editor Tim Gentle, his dream of publishing his story as a Christmas classic has become a reality.
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Illustrator: Sarah Cowan
An illustrator based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sarah has been fascinated by children's literature and illustrations since her own childhood. Before she learned to read on her own, she would spend hours looking at the pictures in books, and make up stories that she thought would fit.
Her goal as an artist is to create illustrations that will make children love to read. She hopes that she can help young readers and artists unlock their imaginations in the same way that she was able to, thanks to artists such as Jan Brett, H.E. Stewart, and Michael Martchenko.
Sarah's preferred medium is coloured pencils, which were used exclusively for Snowball: A Christmas Dilemma.
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Editor: Tim Gentle
Ian White was my father, Allan Gentle’s, closest friend for more than sixty years. To me, he was larger than life - the “fun uncle” who always arrived with a new joke, a magic trick... or the latest version of this twisting rhyming Christmas mystery he’d begun tinkering with.
I grew up hearing Snowball in many forms. Over more than thirty years, Ian crafted every line with care — refining the rhythm, honing the wordplay, and honouring the timeless art of storytelling. He recited it for friends and family, and from 2010–2017 he delighted children with Christmas readings at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Bringing this story to life on the page has been a profoundly meaningful journey for Ian, Gail and myself, and we are beyond grateful that Ian’s creation, enhanced by Sarah Cowan’s gorgeous illustrations, now has a new life — in the hands and hearts of a new generation of families this Christmas, and hopefully, for generations to come.
Congratulations Ian!
Get in touch.
Have a question, stocking-stuffer request, bulk order, or media inquiry?
We’d love to hear from you!
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, bookstore, journalist, or just someone who loves a good Christmas mystery, feel free to reach out, the Snowball team are happy to help.
Interested in author readings, signed copies, or school/library visits?
Let us know — we’ll do our best to make some holiday magic happen.