Snow White: Silver Anniversary Edition

I ordered a copy that was advertised on the website as illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, who is a superb illustrator. However, I was sent a completely different copy not even remotely like the edition featured in the item description. Not a satisfied customer.

Snow White is beautiful. Too beautiful. At least that is the feeling of the queen who is beautiful, too, but insists on being MOST beautiful in the kingdom. And Snow White, without even trying, is becoming more beautiful as time goes on. "So, there is only one thing to do," thinks the jealous queen: "kill Snow White." But try as she might, again and again, Snow White lives on. "Curses," thinks the queen, "there must be a way." [Picture book suitable for the primary through intermediate grades.]

I found a copy of this version of Snow White in the school library in Japan where I was teaching, and took it home to read to my boys. Later, I photographed the pages and showed slides to my Japanese students, using these illustrations to explain the surface, psychological, and spiritual meaning of the Grimm's stories. Of Grimm illustrators, I think Hyman is best, and while her illustrations of Rapunsel, Living Water, etc, are wonderful, this is her most inspired work. First of all, the paintings take my breath away. Unlike the Disney figures, one can understand why the Mirror on the Wall thought these two ladies beautiful, and why the prince fell in love with Snow White! Hyman uses light brilliantly, beautifully, and with subtlety. Wow! My students liked them, too. Also, Hyman seems to be one of those rare souls who picks up on the spiritual level of the Grimm tale. None of the other reviewers has mentioned the allegorical nature of Snow White, and I don't want to ruin the story for anyone. But if this interests you, pay close attention to numbers, temptations, candles, the mirror, especially the final mirror image, and the face of the King's Son. Hyman has drawn so subtly that it is possible to entirely overlook this quality and thoroughly enjoy her art, as an atheist may enjoy, say, the Chronicles of Narnia. Nor am I even sure she was a Christian. But she may have picked up on something intended by the Brothers Grimm. (For details, see Ronald Murphy's The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimm's Magic Fairy Tales. Or see my upcoming article in Books and Culture, "How the Brothers Grimm Overthrew the Evil Empire.") Lay all that aside, though, and this is still one of the most lovely children's books I have ever read. author, Jesus and the Religions of Man

This is the well-known story of a princess whose evil stepmother tries to have her killed. The huntsmen could not go through with it and tells Snow White to run away. When she does she finds herself in the company of seven small men. They live in a house very happily until the queen finds that Snow White is not dead. She finds Snow White and tricks her into eating a poisoned apple. Snow White dies. She is awoken from her death by the kiss of a prince and they live happily ever after. The reason I enjoyed this version of Snow White more than others that I have read was that is was not as much of a fairy tail like story and more of a darker approach to it. The seven dwarfs, for example, are not shown as happy little creatures that sing and dance all day long. They are merely shown as small, kind men. The illustrations in this book are so beautiful even though they are not the bright colors that would usually go along with this story.

Parents looking for a good edition of "Snow White" need look no further than this one by Paul Heins and Trina Schart Hyman. One day a beautiful, yet proud and arrogant, queen stands before her magic mirror and asks: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is most beautiful in the land?" Instead of replying as usual that she is the beautifulest, the mirror informs the queen that her stepdaughter, Snow White, has now surpassed her in beauty. Driven by envy and anger, the queen orders a hunter to take the girl into the woods to be killed. He decides to spare her life and presents the liver and lungs of a boar to the queen instead of Snow White's. Meanwhile Snow White takes shelter in the house of the seven dwarfs. The scene when the dwarfs return home is reminiscent of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" with the dwarfs asking "Who has taken some of my bread?", "Who has been using my little fork?", and discovering the girl asleep in one of the beds. They allow her to stay. When the queen discovers Snow White is still alive, she tries to get rid of her in a variety of ways: bodice laces that cut one's breath, a poisoned comb and finally a poisoned apple. The fairy tale obviously has a happy ending. There are two scenes in the tale that parents or children might find disturbing. One is when the queen cooks and eats the liver and lungs, thinking they are Snow White's. Second, at the end, when the wicked queen is made to dance in red hot shoes until she falls dead. Other than that the story is well told and the illustrations are magnificent---detailed with rich and vivid colors. I especially liked the one where the queen, disguised as a peddler, is tying Snow White's bodice laces. A wonderul story to add to your child's collection.

I read this book when I was seven years old and have never forgotten it. Having been raised with Disney, I had never known what a real fairy tale was . . . at least, not the original tales. This book tells the story the way it ought to be told. I think that I can honestly say that this book started me on my love of fantasy novels and folk literature.