‘It Snowed’: Halifax musician Meaghan Smith turns popular song into children’s book

Halifax-based musician Meaghan Smith has turned the song “It Snowed” into a children’s book.

For more than a decade, Meaghan Smith’s “It Snowed” has been a popular holiday hit – and now it’s also a children’s book.

“So I thought, what a better way to celebrate the season and snow than to write a book, write a cozy book that you can read with your kids after you played in the snow for a really long time,” Smith told CTV News Atlantic’s Katie Kelly.

The Halifax musician says “It Snowed” seems to get more popular every year.

“It has just grown and grown,” said Smith. “More and more people tell me, ‘It’s part of our Christmas tradition.’”

The book follows the lyrics of the song, illustrating a child’s perfect snow day from start to finish.

“You wake up and you see that it snowed and everything is cancelled, there’s no school, and your put your snowsuit on over your pajamas because you don’t have to get dressed,” described Smith.

“And you go outside, and you make snow angels, and you go sledding and you play with your friends and then when you come in you get cozy with hot chocolate by the fire, and you wish for another snow day.”

The Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter also happens to be a visual artist, and she drew all the illustrations by hand with coloured pencils.

“I wanted the book to look very fluffy, like snow, like the consistency of snow,” said Smith.

“And so, I really wanted the pictures to give you that feeling of light, airy, fluffiness, but also warmth, because the snow isn’t just cold, it can also be very warm and the whole season can be so warm and cozy.”

The book, which was released on Tuesday, is available online and at local bookstores.

“I hope that people see how wonderful the cold and the snow can be,” said Smith. “There’s just endless things you can do with snow, and I hope that everybody goes and plays in the snow and then goes somewhere warm and reads my book.”

Meanwhile, Smith is also gearing up for two family-friendly holiday shows at the Bella Rose Arts Centre in Halifax on Dec. 19 and 20, where she will be presenting her debut picture book.

“I have gone all out this year. This show is going to be miraculous. It’s going to be so fun,” said Smith. “There’s going to be cookie decorating, I have special musical guests, and I even have been speaking with Santa to see if he can stop by.”

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