I haven't read this book with my nieces yet, but I intend to.

This is a pared down rewrite of the Snow White story (and we all know that story) set in the 1920s. Great artwork, and simple writing, perfect for kids who want a little thrill. ( )

“Once upon a time in New York there was a poor little rich girl called Snow White.” When her father remarries, her wicked and jealous stepmother decides to get rid of her. This is easily arranged since her stepmother is a mob boss. But when the hitman can’t go through with it, he abandons her on the dark streets of the city. She stumbles into a jazz club, where seven jazz-men take her on as a singer. A reporter hears her and writes up a story announcing a new star.

Her enraged stepmother decides to throw a party in Snow White’s honor, but at the party she slips her a cocktail with a poisoned cherry. The city is shocked by her sudden death. Fortunately, at her funeral, one of jazz-men serving as a pall bearer slips, dislodging the cherry, and she comes back to life, and into the arms of the reporter. They have a huge wedding and take off on their honeymoon as the cops put the cuffs on the evil stepmother.

In addition to her witty retelling of the tale, French’s lines, colors and design for this book won her the 1986 Kate Greenaway Medal for the most distinguished work in the illustration of children's books published in the United Kingdom. ( )

In general, I do not feel that this is a good book to read to children because there are elements above their understanding and age level.

Genre ~ FairyTale ~ This is not your typical fairytale, in fact this particular story is rooted from the commonly known fairytale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Snow White is still the protagonist and still wins in the end, but there are different characters that help her along the way. This story also contains out-of the ordinary happenings when Snow White is poisned with a cherry, dies, and is brought back to life through true's loves kiss.

Setting ~ The setting is revealed through the illustrations because the author jumps directly into the story. Readers are able to see that the story takes place in New York city. No time frame is given and there is little additional evidence given to create the setting.

Media ~ Collage ( )