'Snowflakes Fall' Authors Greet, Sign at Toy Tree

The two creators of the children's book Snowflakes Fall -- one a Sandy Hook native and illustrator, the other a Newbury-winning author -- met and signed books for residents at Sandy Hook's Toy Tree toyshop Monday afternoon.

Illustrator Steven Kellogg — a Sandy Hook native who now lives in Essex, NY — and MacLachlan, the author of Sarah, Plain and Tall, spent about two hours signing books for Toy Tree customers.

Snowflakes Fall is a short but poignant meditation on falling snow and the uniqueness of snowflakes — and children. Featuring moving and colorful illustrations from Kellogg, the book is based around a simple poem by MacLachlan.

The book is dedicated to the children of Sandy Hook, where Kellogg lived for more than 35 years.

"The changing seasons in the woodlands, fields and streams that surround the Sandy Hook village provided an idyllic environment for raising a family," wrote Kellogg in the dedication. "Those scenes and memories inspired these illustrations. It is my hope that this book celebrates the laughter, the playful high spirits, and the uniqueness of the children of Sandy Hook and of children elsewhere."

MacLachlan said she wrote the story after Kellogg told her of his sadness and concern for his community.

"This is a sadness that the world felt, and that I felt too," she wrote in her dedication. "What brought us comfort was the idea of renewal and memory, and while writing Snowflakes Fall, I thought about all the children and families affected by loss."

Publishers Random House Children's Books made a donation to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund in conjunction with the book's publication.

Snowflakes Fall is available from the Toy Tree and other area retailers.