International Literature- Book 2

International Literature Review

The Snow Lady: A Trotter Street Tale

Authored and Illustrated by: Shirley Hughes

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hughes, Shirley. 1990. The Snow Lady: The Tale of Trotter Street. Great Britain, Walker Books Inc. ISBN 0688098746

PLOT SUMMARY
Everyday Sam, (formerly Samantha) has to spend her afternoons after school with her tidy and strict neighbor, Mrs. Dean until her “Mum” returned home from work. Samantha does not look forward to these visits, because her super clean house intimidated a young child with her “snowy white curtains and the floor that was polished like a skating rink” and not to mention her cat “Fluff” did not get along with precious dog “Mick”. It seemed no matter what Sam did she always got in trouble from her elderly neighbor Mrs. Dean, “Sam , a little less noise , dear, please!” When a Christmas snow arrived, Sam and her friends have a grand time playing in the snow and end up creating a frowning snow lady- and in child like fashion decide to make her name out of stones “Mrs. Mean” instead of “Mrs. Dean”, the children agreed this was a fitting name for the lady made of ice. Samantha’s day was busy and when evening came she stood looking at this lonely snow figure and was overcome with “quite the shock”, what had she done? This would hurt Mrs. Dean’s feelings and Sam makes great efforts to keep Mrs. Dean from seeing her mistake.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Author Shirley Hughes creates another tale of the Trotter Street series that is warm-hearted and filled with light humor. She writes with a great understanding of the behavior of young children and their relationships. She re-creates warm stories that have a child like spirit that helps readers relate to her characters. She expresses this when she has her young character Sam exclaim “Hurrah!” as young Sam watches her complaining neighbor pack her bags. Her writing has small, common childhood problems in which the character grows in very big ways.

Her books have cultural markers through-out especially evident in the authentic British vocabulary. She fondly calls the mom , “mum” and uses phrases like “He and Fluff go on very badly” or terms like “dust bin” to refer to the trash can. The author also talks of children eating “biscuits and milk” instead of cookies and milk. Hughes gives the reader some background information about terms used in this book that might not be familiar to American children.

Shirley Hughes' illustrations pay close attention to the details showing the connections of her characters. Her drawings reflect individuality, which is evident in her drawings of Trotter Street children outside playing and all looking very different. She draws with emotion and blends in slight humor especially when she shows Sam and Mrs. Dean sitting on the sofa in the perfectly clean house “not” enjoying each others company. This picture is sure to get a few giggles. Hughes captures her hometown drawing with spilt pictures of beautifully downtown street scenes sprinkled with very subtle seasonal delights.

Shirley Hughes’ gentle compassion for children reaches beyond borders and speaks directly to their hearts.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus- “This third book about a realistic yet exemplary neighborhood is blessed as usual with Hughes's masterful compositions and characterizations and her warmhearted humor”

School Library Journal- “Whether as a yuletide adventure or a year-round story of compassion, this is a first-rate addition to picture book collections”

CONNECTIONS:
This is a great book to share during the holiday season and would be a valuable character building community circle to discuss how our action can speak louder than words.

Other Books By Shirley Hughes:

Hughes, Shirley. Giving. ISBN 9781564021298.
Hughes, Shirley. Stories by Firelight . ISBN 9780688045685.