Raymond Briggs

Yes, a sad loss to the world of illustrated stories, quite unique but leaving behind some thought provoking views mixed in with more gentle ideas. 

I remember my librarian friend many, many years ago introducing me to Fungus and the Bogeyman and When the Wind Blows. The first was hilarious (I was fairly young and like most young men quite immature) and the second very thought provoking.

I can well understand why he wrote The Snowman after all that grime with Fungus and The Snowman is a deeper story than just a fairy tale Christmas treat, dealing with loneliness and death ( of the melting Snowman) and not just for kids.