“Snowflake Bentley” and the “Snowflake Man” Celebrate 25 Years.
SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY PICTURE BOOK CREATED FLURRY 25 YEARS AGO
by Wayne Howe
The release of Mary Azarian and Jacqueline Briggs Martin’s picture book, Snowflake Bentley, dramatically increased those who knew the Bentley story. The success of the book has been not just local, or regional, but national. Twenty five years ago Azarian and Martin’s book put the Snowflake Bentley story on the map.
The book began merely as text manuscript. The bittersweet ending arrested the attention of a publisher, who as a girl was familiar with north country winters… she wept. After matching the author with an artist, and convincing Houghton Mifflin that this children’s book about a grown up would sell, the book was released in 1998.
Reviews from the publishing industry were complimentary. The Kirkus Review called it “a lyrical biographical tribute to a farmer, whose love of snow and careful camera work expanded both natural science and photography”. The School Library Journal hailed it as “inspiring”. The book quickly sold over 100,000 copies. Horn wrote of the work, “a beautiful blend of [Martin’s] lyrcial text and factual sidebars and Azarian's splendid woodcuts”. The book sold over 100,000 copies in the first year. In 1999 the book won the Caldecott Medal, the most prestigious and influential award in children’s literature. In its citation, the Caldecott committee chair wrote: “Snowflake Bentley has a beautiful and thoughtful design, a poetic and informative text, distinguished illustrations, universal appeal and resonance”. With the imprimatur of quality the foil medallion bestowed on the book’s cover, sales and influence of Snowflake Bentley have continued to this day.
Mary Azarian and Jacqueline Briggs Martin came to Jericho shortly after the book was released, presenting to an enthusiastic audience, attending a dinner in their honor and marvelling at the Snowflake Bentley exhibit inside the Old Red Mill. Later, Scholastic made a film of the book in 2003, dispatching a film crew from California to Jericho for a few live scenes they threaded through the film.
Copies of Snowflake Bentley can be found in schools, libraries and museums across North America. Others have written books featuring Bentley and his work, but none have reached the broad numbers that Snowflake Bentley did 25 years ago.
Wayne Howe
Former President and Archivist of the Jericho Historical Society.
Celebrating Duncan Blanchard’s Quintessential Biography “The Snowflake Man”
By Louise Miglionico
It is now 25 years since the book “The Snowflake Man: A Biography of Wilson A Bentley” by Duncan C. Blanchard was published. Mr. Blanchard was an atmospheric scientist and researcher at the State University of Albany. He became fascinated with the work of Wilson Bentley and thoroughly researched his life and work. He considered Bentley both a scientist and artist. Blanchard interviewed many family members, neighbors, and friends of Bentley. Blanchard also visited many universities and other institutes which housed Bentley works.
In the book Blanchard described the lengthy and painstaking process which Bentley went through to finally photograph his beloved snow crystals (over 5000). Blanchard masterfully described the environment in which Bentley lived and the relationship between that environment and the Snowflake Man’s creations. The book also provides perspective of Bentley’s relationship with his family as well as his presence in the Jericho community.
In his acknowledgements, Blanchard stated concerning his work with the Jericho Historical Society:
“I have spent many hours visiting, talking, and writing to several members of the Society. Jean Smith, the former archivist, sent me copies of Bentley articles that otherwise would have been hard to get. I am equally grateful to Ray Miglionico, the present archivist, who sent me many photographs of Bentley, his relatives, and friends. But most of all, I am indebted to the indefatigable Blair Williams, who for more than twenty-five years has been building up the Bentley Collection at the Jericho Historical Society and has not let the citizens of Jericho or the world forget Wilson Bentley. I have treasured the exchange of many letters with Blair.”
In 2001 Duncan Blanchard came to Jericho for a talk about Wilson Bentley. It was recorded by Peter Wolf Multi Media Studio of Jericho. It can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_VKhnuws-0
Louise Miglionico
Former Board Member of the Jericho Historical Society.
What’s New at the Online Gift Shop
Vermont Snowflakes is already in the process of creating the 2024 “Snowflake” Bentley Collection which is due to be released in late April/early May. You can subscribe to Vermont Snowflakes here: https://vermontsnowflakes.com/challenge#contact_form to be among the first to be notified when it becomes available.
Some of the new products that were very popular the past Holiday Season was the new Snow Crystal Jigsaw Puzzle collection and the new Mini Snowflake Suncatcher set which are made from recycled glass.
Sunday, February 11th will be our first one day only “Zipper Pull Sunday Sale” when all of our Snowflake Zipper Pulls will be 20% off.
Snowflake Bentley Exhibit
If you have plans to visit Jericho and the “Snowflake” Bentley Exhibit, here are the updated hours for 2024:
January - March * Thursday - Saturday, 11-4
April -December ** Monday - Saturday, 11-4
*EXTRA DAYS: FEBRUARY 19-24
** Also open Sundays Thanksgiving through Christmas
Getting Here
4A Red Mill Drive
Jericho, Vermont 05465 Phone: (802) 899-3225 GPS: Zip: 05465 4A Red Mill Drive
