Thomas' Snowsuit

When his mother buys him a new brown snowsuit, Thomas loathes it on sight, and refuses to put it on. After a struggle, he is compelled to wear it to school, where the same struggle recurs with his teacher, when it is time for recess. Eventually Thomas and the teacher end up in their underwear, such is the intensity of their fight. In walks the principal, and the fight gets even more complicated, and more intense...

Canadian author/illustrator team Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko have created many celebrated picture-books together, most notably: Love You Forever and The Paper Bag Princess. They joined forces again for Thomas' Snowsuit, originally published in 1985. Although I have enjoyed some of their other books, and appreciate the show more madcap sense of humor they exhibit, somehow this one just didn't work for me. I wasn't offended by the underwear scene, like some online reviewers, and I do understand that there is a certain realism in a story about struggling to get a child into their clothing. That said, I just didn't find Thomas' behavior amusing, and couldn't enter into the spirit of the story. Bad behavior is as natural as breathing to young children, and I have no problem with it being depicted in a children's book. I tend not to like those stories which validate such behavior, however. Tastes vary, of course, and I see that many reviewers have fond memories of this one, so take that as you will. show less

This went over beautifully in storytime. One must really drag out the "nnnnn" on the nos for full effect.

I remember really loving this as a kid. It doesn't have quite the same "read it again!" appeal as an adult. Thomas does not want to wear his new snowsuit, and causes adults all kinds of anguish with his refusal - including his mother, his teacher, and the principal. There is humor (accidental cross-dressing) and repetition ("they had an enormous fight"), and ultimately it's Thomas who - after putting on his snowsuit quite happily to go outside and play at recess - puts the grown-ups back in their right outfits again.
*
Re-read November 2025. So great.

Munsch writes some really funny books. In this one, Thomas won't put on his snowsuit. It's UGLY, and he has no qualms about saying so whenever the grown-ups try to make him wear it. In the ensuing fights, his teacher ends up in his snowsuit, his principal and teacher end up swapping clothes by accident, everybody ends up in their underwear, and Thomas puts on his snowsuit when he decides it's important to go out in the snow.

Bunch of silly nonsense, no moral whatsoever. That's refreshing, isn't it?

There are some things I do and do not like about the children’s book, Thomas’ Snowsuit. Personally, I think the pictures are boring because they do not have much color or detail to them. The background of the characters is always white, the pictures are limited to one side of the page, and text is always on the other page in a plain font. However, I do like the language of the book. The character Thomas does not speak much, but when he does, it is always the repetitive phrase, “NNNNNNO!” On the first page and throughout the text, a lot of N’s are used to spell the word “No” when Thomas says it. I find this interesting and unique because typically the last letters are dragged out, but the author uses a different style. I show more believe the big idea is to show how kids can be stubborn with their clothes and picky about what they wear. Thomas repeatedly says, “No” to wearing a snowsuit, even when his mom, principle, and teacher try to make him wear it. I would recommend this book for kindergarten to second graders, as well as parents because I believe they can relate to the mother trying to dress her child. show less

The first Robert Munsch book I ever read. As an Early Childhood Educator I instantly got the humour of this. I could relate to the mom and the teacher's frustration but admired Thomas's spirited attitude. A lighthearted read for anyone who has ever tried to put a kid and a snowsuit together. Mr Munsch has a gift for writing books that appeal as much to parents and teachers as they do to the children. I never tire of reading this.

Not only are the pictures comical, the whole book made me laugh. Thomas is a stubborn child who will not allow his mother to put on his snowsuit. The situation gets worse and worse as both the mother and Thomas' principal try and put on his suit and they end up in cloud of dust and come out wearing different clothes. Robert Munsch really portrays the behaviour of children in a very funny way, as children are often disobedient for no reason. In the end, when Thomas is left alone, he puts on his snowsuit like it is no problem. I enjoyed reading this book and can understand why children like Robert Munsch's work so much.