She is an award-winning illustrator of children’s fairy tales (and more).

Diverse Easy Reader | Illustrated Chapter.

Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.Ī sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint.

4-8)Ī paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere. The page spread of the Snow Princess in her snowflake-studded, ermine-trimmed cloak, her dark hair afloat, with her hand resting on a striding polar bear, will make little girls in particular swoon. Most of the full-page, full-bleed illustrations are done in every shade and tonality of blue, from ice to midnight, and she uses the washed gold of winter sunlight to pick out other effects.

It is easy to underestimate the power of Sanderson’s exquisite oil paintings, with their glowing textures and near-perfect detail. She finds Sergei, lost in the melting snow, and her heart melts, too. Although she runs away, and a great snowstorm comes up, her heart is full of him. When it’s time for the winter fair, she’s enchanted by the dancing, singing, and merriment, and touched by the attention of one Sergei. She goes off to see the world-the forests, the animals, and most of all, the people. The Snow Princess can call snow at will, but her parents remind her that she must never open her heart to falling in love. Sanderson tells a romantic tale of the daughter of Father Frost and Mother Spring.

The Snow Princess by Ruth Sanderson