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11th out of 66 books
—
144 voters
The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher
by
Molly Bang
The Grey Lady loves strawberries. But so does the Strawberry Snatcher, and unfortunately for the Grey Lady he is not far away and getting closer all the time. Past flower shops and bakeries he stalks her, silently, steadily, biding his time. He pursues her by foot along haunting red-brick paths, and then by skateboard into the mysterious depths of a swamp both beautiful an...more
Paperback, 48 pages
Published
May 1st 1996
by Aladdin
(first published 1980)
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The illustrations are amazing! A blue strawberry snatcher follows a grey lady and tries to take her strawberries. The woman sees that she is being followed and tries to evade the snatcher. The pictures communicate the story perfectly!
My all time favorite children's book. It is a picture book with no words, so suitable for a range of ages. My 2 year old loves it, and this is a copy that was given to me when I was 11 years old, (I can tell from the inscription in which my godmother instructs me to keep the tradition alive). The story is never exactly the same from one retelling to the next, and there are always new details to pick up on, so it remains fresh and fun after years of reading. Everyone becomes a beloved character,...more
Most pictures are worth a thousand words, but the ones in this book could pay off our national debt. Molly Bang's book makes a good case for the abolition of written language, not to mention birth control. I personally can't wait to introduce my offspring to the Malaysian skateboarding woman with her bucket of eels, nor to soothe them through night terrors inflicted by horror of the Strawberry Snatcher.
Best book ever not written.
Best book ever not written.
1 like · like · see review
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In this tale, the Grey Lady is chased by the Strawberry Snatcher. The Grey Lady runs great lengths to protect her strawberries. Finally, she escapes the Strawberry Snatcher and the Strawberry Snatcher finds something new to love; blackberries!
The illustrations are a combination of collage and paintings. The illustrations are not realistic in the slightest. The people, especially the Strawberry Snatcher are slightly distorted and discolored. The Strawberry Snatcher has blue skin and wears a brig...more
The illustrations are a combination of collage and paintings. The illustrations are not realistic in the slightest. The people, especially the Strawberry Snatcher are slightly distorted and discolored. The Strawberry Snatcher has blue skin and wears a brig...more
May 28, 2010
Lisa Vegan
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Lisa by:
Miriam
I love to read, and I love words, but I also love art and I have found many wordless picture books that I’ve admired and enjoyed.
This wordless picture book was not my cup of tea at all.
It was too creepy for me; sometimes I like creepy, but not here.
It was a Caldecott Honor Book, but I wasn’t wild about the illustrations. Once again, they were too creepy, and too garish, and just not to my taste. I liked parts of several of the illustrations and enjoyed a few of them, but overall I didn’t like th...more
This wordless picture book was not my cup of tea at all.
It was too creepy for me; sometimes I like creepy, but not here.
It was a Caldecott Honor Book, but I wasn’t wild about the illustrations. Once again, they were too creepy, and too garish, and just not to my taste. I liked parts of several of the illustrations and enjoyed a few of them, but overall I didn’t like th...more
4 likes · like · see review
I love wordless books because they give us so much to work with; to think about, create, narrate and enjoy. The illustrations in Molly Bang's book are classic and detailed, very beautiful very creepily strange. The great thing about this story is that it can be shared with kiddies who would have fun searching for the grey lady among everything that is gray around her. Very suspenseful as the woman is being followed by a dark menacing strawberry snatcher. The illustrations are of so many differen...more
This is an intriguing wordless book. The pictures are so surreal and strange, but somehow they are quite engaging. Are they neat, or are they disturbing? I can't quite make up my mind, and each time I look at the book my opinion changes. I guess this is what art is supposed to do to a viewer.
My nephew really seemed to like this book, and he asked me to read it to him again. My niece enjoyed it, as well, because she likes hide and seek books, which this kind of is. She also found the pictures to...more
My nephew really seemed to like this book, and he asked me to read it to him again. My niece enjoyed it, as well, because she likes hide and seek books, which this kind of is. She also found the pictures to...more
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Molly Bang's "The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher was a very unique picture book. There are no words at all; personally, I found the book unappealing and odd. I was surprised at this, because I am a very visual person and enjoy picture books. However, I found it difficult to wrap my head around watching a grey lady disappear through the forests, chased by a multi-colored strawberry snatcher. After reading the book, I stepped back and asked myself, "What just happened in this story?" I was...more
This book simply lives up to the author's last name; and will forever have a reserved home on my bookshelf. Fantasy-filled illustrations take you on an exciting journey that follows a pint of strawberries from market to home-- clutched, protected and treasured by none other than the Grey Lady. Follow her journey, through the city and forest, while sparking a child's imagination to wonder where the next page will lead. This story will never be told in the same way twice, and is left open to many...more
Molly Bang finds a way to illustrate amazing pictures and compile them into a completely wordless, yet very intriguing children’s book. The story’s the illustrations represent are very easy to follow. Bright colors and detailed scenes makes this wordless picture book a page turner. The story communicated gives the reader so much to work with.
The lessons that are possible for Pre K-3rd graders with this book are endless. Whether you want inspire or challenge a child’s ability to use their imagin...more
The lessons that are possible for Pre K-3rd graders with this book are endless. Whether you want inspire or challenge a child’s ability to use their imagin...more
The artistic design of this book is one of a kind and needs to be so since there is no text. The images look like they could be made from watercolors or with very unique shapes and designs. The illustrator did a remarkable job using the entire page and leaving no empty space. When I first grabbed the book, I noticed the clear plastic book jacket, used to protect the book from spills by children. The end papers were blank pieces of white paper which is found in older books to hold the cover to th...more
The Caldecott winning book “The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher” written by Molly Bang, wordlessly tells the story of an old lady that just wants to get home with all of her strawberries without getting them stolen by the infamous strawberry snatcher. The illustrations in this book are very unique and do a great job of camouflaging the grey lady within its pages. However, I do think the pictures are a bit frightening. If I were younger and reading this book, I think the strawberry snatch w...more
The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher, by Molly Bang, is a wordless picture book and a Caldecott Award Winner. I thought the story was interesting, especially because wordless picture books allow readers to use their imagination. This story created suspense and humor all in one. With that in mind, wordless picture books are not my favorite style; I really enjoy the synergy that the text and illustrations form together, which does not occur in wordless picture books. However, one aspect of th...more
There are no words.
This story is told entirely in pictures, and requires no narration. One of the following young reviewers likes it because you can add your own words and make it different each time, but I disagree. This book needs no words. The pictures tell the entire story and evoke more depth and emotion than words ever could.
On to my young reviewers. Upon finishing this library book, I found taped inside the back cover two hand-written reviews. They were clearly written by children, and ea...more
This story is told entirely in pictures, and requires no narration. One of the following young reviewers likes it because you can add your own words and make it different each time, but I disagree. This book needs no words. The pictures tell the entire story and evoke more depth and emotion than words ever could.
On to my young reviewers. Upon finishing this library book, I found taped inside the back cover two hand-written reviews. They were clearly written by children, and ea...more
Molly Bang's pictures are incredibly beautiful and unique. Instead of drawing the grey of the Grey Lady's hair and dress, Bang allows the grey of the paper to show through to create the shapes. Additionally, the bright blue of the Strawberry Snatcher adds an air of lightness to somewhat somber pictures. As far as wordless pictures go, this one seems to pack a lot of story within its pages that other illustrators seem unable to achieve through the colours, style, subjects, and even the compositio...more
Sep 16, 2010
Chandra
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picture-books,
completely-bizarre
I'm always intrigued by books that provoke strong reactions. It seems that for some this is a beloved and memorable book from childhood. But others have a visceral reaction to its creepiness. Izzy and I generally love creepy books so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm also a big fan of the wordless genre.
Well, we didn't get two pages into this book before my generally pretty brave six year old covered her eyes and begged me to take this book far far away. For whatever reason the skulking blue crea...more
Well, we didn't get two pages into this book before my generally pretty brave six year old covered her eyes and begged me to take this book far far away. For whatever reason the skulking blue crea...more
5 likes · like · see review
I love wordless books, and I've been wanting to read this one for a while. But the first thought that came to mind as I started to read was, "How strange!" But as I continued to read, I was pulled into the story. The grey lady buys some strawberries that the strawberry snatcher tries to steal while she is walking home. The chase scene that goes on for a large portion of the book is quite exciting - and that isn't easy to pull off in a wordless book! I also really loved the contrasts of the vibra...more
First published in 1980, this wordless picture book received a Caldecott Honor for its colorful, rich, surrealist illustrations. The protagonist is an old lady who buys a pint of strawberries from the vendor, but the sinister Strawberry Snatcher is lurking around the corner, waiting to steal them. The Strawberry Snatcher is a robed, blue-skinned figure with a purple witch’s hat and long, bony fingers inexorably reaching out to grab the Grey Lady’s strawberries. Striking illustrations create a wo...more
This book was super weird. I'm kind of surprised that it's a Caldecott Honor Book. I am still kind of unsure how I feel about it. There's this blue lady that chases this reddish lady, who kind of blends into her surroundings and who has strawberries. Also, there's an Asian lady on a skateboard and a Buddha baby with a fish. Still not quite sure how those two figured in. Maybe my imagination is not open enough today, but I probably would not add this one to my collection.
There is no words in this book, only pictures. It is about a Grey Lady that bought strawberries for her family, but she finds that the Strawberry Snatcher is close by to take her strawberries. She has to hurry home so her family can enjoy the strawberries. This book can be used to express to students the value of illustrations. They will be able to vividly see that a picture can tell a story.
For anyone who thinks wordless books are for babies, this is the tense tale of a lady trying to run away from sinister "strawberry snatcher." Bizarrely, she is all grey, except for her face. As she flees, we experience various indoor and outdoor landscapes and gradually come to understand her cunning strategy for escape.
Caldecott Honor
Caldecott Honor
One of my favorite classic children's books, I had this when I was around 5 yrs. and used to spend hours starting at it because the pictures are so detailed and, well, creepy. A really good book to get little imaginations brewing (and hopefully not crying!). DCPL peeps, we all just got a new copy, check it out.
This book has stayed in my mind since I was little. The artwork is very evocative and leaves you with a magical aftertaste of mystery and narrowly-avoided danger. I'm sure the strawberry snatcher has influenced my dreams for years. I go back to it, and I highly recommend it.
Oct 06, 2012
Paul
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
caldecott,
childrens-lit
Whaa? What an odd book. The illustrations of somewhat realistic surroundings are predominated by the Grey Lady (who other than her face and hands has no features or color) who is chased by a strawberry-hungry blue figure in green cape and purple hat. It's very imaginative but for me it doesn't ever come together. I don't get it and I don't get what Caldecott was honoring.
I really enjoyed this story. I absolutely LOVED the illustrations. They were wonderful and eye catching. I liked that The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher didn't have words. It opens the readers imagination to what they think happened.
Possibly my favorite story as a child. Oh boy did I love this book. I think only Cinderella beat this out. And that may only be because I was pretty sure that I actually was Cinderella. Who doesn't like a biography of themselves? In pretty pretty dresses?
"on a list of books recomended for teaching books to students on themes and ideas, a picture story depicting the trip home of an old lady avoiding getting her treats for her family stolen by a mysterious blue man, who chases her all the way home.
"
"
Poster paint: a coarser version of gouache because the color pigment is not as finely ground. Story of the gray lady finding her way home with her berries while someone follows trying to snatch them. Ends up in a berry patch. Caldecott Honor Book
What a bizarre wordless picture book...first, my kids were not interested in this book (in the least). Second, I found the illustrations to be creepy and the storyline to be a bit disturbing. I guess I am in the minority here.
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