The Grey Lady And The Strawberry Snatcher

by Molly Bang

Simplified Chinese edition of The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher. A reader's guide by Peng Yi, a tireless translator and promoter of children's literature. This wordless book is a winner of 1981 Caldecott Honor. In Simplified Chinese. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Food, Juvenile, Read For School

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wordless picture book has to be the most unique book on the Caldecott list I have read so far. Remember the troll dolls from the 80s with the faces, those look like the faces used in this story or something. The Grey lady is grey and she picked up strawberries from the store. Some purple blueberry type man is trying to steal them. The grey lady blends into the environment so you can’t see her and gets away from the purple man. It is so strange that it is interesting. She does get away and brings delicious strawberries to her family waiting for her. The purple thing finds a stand of berries to eat and is happy.

None of us knew what to make of this story. It had the nephew laughing at the pictures. Both of them kept asking me what was going on. You really need to read this just to see for yourself what this is about. It defies description. The nephew came up with a crazy story of his own about the giant blueberry. That was his idea. He gave this a wild 3 stars. The niece wasn’t so fond of this. She found it disturbing and a little scary in some way, but she said she wasn’t scared. She gave this 2 stars. I gave it 4 just for being something so new and different. Over 200 books and I can say there is nothing like this.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so this is easy to rate - terrific. Adults, kids - great for any age - no words, but the story is easy to see.

Fabulous colours - there is a "Gollum" like figure - to borrow Calista's description - many thanks to her for posting a review. I was prompted to search and downloaded a version because of her enticing write up.

Back to colours - the blue elf/Gollum figure is swathed in a spring-green cloak, strawberry-red lining, and huge blueberry coloured hat hiding all but a pointy chin and bulbous nose.

The Grey lady consists of face, hands and strawberry punnet in a mesh bag, these are the only details etched in, and deep pink. Her figure is simply an outline matching the pale-grey of the paper.

Each page shows either the lady in sharp relief in the town as she purchases her strawberries and then she blends more and more with the background as she tries to escape, back to the country.

Several pages show a swamp, where only the lady's face is shown in the ripples of water, then she climbs a great pink tree, descending tarzan-style with the aid of a liana rope and then she completely disappears.

Molly Bang is playing with perspective, distance and dimensions in these clever, exciting pictures. It's not always easy to spot that little old lady - she uses her magic to escape the long, bony fingers of the Snatcher.

Could be a tad scary for young ones, but happy resolutions all round for The Strawberry Snatcher and the Grey Lady.

[Manybooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I can to a certain and very small and minute point appreciate Molly Bang's illustrative acumen and craft, I just do not at all like this book, I just do not even remotely appreciate The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher (its Caldecott Honour designation quite notwithstanding). Yes, the illustrations in this wordless picture book offering are indeed expressive and bold, but especially the strawberry snatcher is presented and depicted as much much too massively creepy for my personal tastes, and truly, even potentially offensive in appearance (and as a child, he or rather it, would almost certainly have given me nightmares, especially the long and pointed grasping fingers, with their weirdly reddish tips). I guess if The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher were not a wordless picture book (and thus, of course, entirely dependent on its illustrations), I might have enjoyed this a wee bit more (as I always find I can handle a creepy and frightening narrative much better and much more easily than likewise uncanny illustrations, and the visuals of the blue slinking, creeping and constantly grasping snatcher are simply too chilling and weird for me, and I actually even tend to think that the main protagonist, the Grey Lady, is illustrated in a rather unflattering manner as well, not in a frightening manner, but in a fashion that I have personally not all that much enjoyed). And thus, but one star for Molly Bang's The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher (although I do realise that illustrations and whether one likes them, whether one can handle them, is often an entirely personal matter and thus I would never go so far as not recommending this wordless picture book, but do leave the caveat that I for one have found especially the depictions of the Strawberry Snatcher frightening and the stuff of nightmares).

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 them that much. The lady’s face, the way it was painted, seemed very unappealing to me. (I have liked at least one other Molly Bang book though.)

So, my view definitely differs from the vast majority of Goodreads members (50% gave it 5 stars!) and probably most other readers too, but that’s just the way it is. It could be my mood, but I’m not willing to reread this to check that theory out; I have too many other books I’d rather read. I don’t want to dissuade anyone from trying out this book because it seems to be appreciated by most, but I can’t personally recommend it.

I did like the cover illustration a lot!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally got a chance to read this, a year after Children's Books group, and oh I am so glad I persisted. I found it exciting, but not creepy, because one look at that lady and you know she's smarter and tougher than any imp. I love the details in the pictures, the ones that are so easy to overlook if one reads in hurry. Consider all the neighbors watching the chase, and the heron in the woods, and forms of faces in the trees.... And I am so very glad there is a happy ending for the imp *and* for the lady & her family.\.

Btw, this is now avl. to borrow and read online at OpenLibrary.org.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Rachel Deboer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read all of the five star reviews on this book to try to understand why anyone would like it....and I think it just comes down to the fact that different people have different likes and dislikes. I found this book to be creepy and weird and I did not like the illustrations at all. I think I would have hated this book and been afraid of it as a kid, so I don't really understand why it's a children's book. I love the idea of a children's book with no words, and have read many that I loved. But this book was just not for me.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Weird and creepy" are the words that come to mind when describing this book. So do "not a very strong story". Yes, it is a wordless picture book, but that does not mean the story should be lacking.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caldecott Honor Award Winning story book. But too creepy. And too odd. Definitely interesting and creative but not in a good way. And I plain didn't like the art.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's haunting paintings are filled with wonder and mystery. The skateboarding woman in a sari with a bucket of eels. The mushrooms bloom in the footsteps of the Strawberry Snatcher. These and many other details fill the lush pages with incredible beauty and depth.

[Robert Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

**** Caldecott Honor (1981) ****

Wordless story of a woman dressed in grey who avoids a Blue Meanie trying to snatch her strawberries. Apparently, the Blue Meanie has a bad case of foot fungus, because wherever he/she steps, mushrooms appear in his/her footprints. o_0

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a Caldecott Honor book, but I just can't figure out why. It didn't appeal to me at all.

[Wilmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the 1981 Caldecott Honor Medal Winner’ s was Bangs wordless book. This story illustrated about a lady dressed in grey who live strawberries; but so did the strawberry snatcher. He followed the lady through town, past flower shops and bakeries, meanwhile, trying to be inconspicuous. But the old lady goes fast and starts heading towards areas with more grey color in them. The snatcher follows the old lady through a swamp Wenger things start being tricky, for the background keeps adding more grey to it. There is a point where the snatcher looks here and there, but the old lady is not to be found. Then, deep inside the forest, the snatcher sees a blackberry tree and tastes them. He apparently has a liking towards them, since he forgets all about the old lady and her strawberries. In the end, the old lady brings the strawberries home and her family feasts on them.
This wordless book is an excellent addition to any children’s library. It contains creative and expressive illustrations, which are a necessity when no words are involved. You can clearly observe the thrill of the chase as the snatcher follows around the grey lady. You can also see the confidence the lady had to get herself out of a situation which makes her vulnerable; and heading towards camouflage to hide herself from the strawberry thief. Children will love to put words for the story while they see the pictures.
I consider that this story contains illustrations that are quite vivid and creative. You k now the snatcher is up to no good, since every step he takes, he leaves mushrooms behind. You can also see that he is swift and sneaky as he hurried to follow the lady around and kept on it. The illustrations are great, but some may find them too creepy. They do get darker and darker as she gets closer to escape. This may be a problem for kids who scare easily. But this notwithstanding, I consider this book is appropriate and positive for children to read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 be neatly strange, and she seemed to puzzle over them as much as I did. The story is a happy one, despite the surreal quality of the pictures, and it seems to celebrate finding creative and effective solutions to difficult problems. The kids liked it, and I found it very intriguing--I guess that warrants four stars.

[Linda Lipko]

A book illustrated with no text. Indeed, the illustrations outline and lead the story of an older lady who purchases strawberries for her family. Immediately, she is followed/stalked by a weird blue golum like figure who appears menacing in his intent.

Throughout the book there are close calls when he almost succeeds, yet each time, she outsmarts him.

In the end, she keeps the berries and takes them home to her family. The blue nasty creature finds a bush of berries and munches to heart's content.

This can be a frightening book for little children. Though, it doesn't hurt for them to learn that not everyone in life is lovely and that there are instances when nasty people steal and rob with no thought of civility.

I liked the illustrations and the creativity.

[SamZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

1981 Caldecott Honor - Favorite Illustration: when the thief finds the blackberry bush and has lost his hat in enjoyment of the new fruit!
This wordless story tells us of a little old lady's trip home from the grocer after buying some strawberries. However, a thief has set his sights on the beautiful berries and has determined to retrieve them for himself. I loved the funny ways the little lady escaped from the thief and the joy when the thief finally gets his reward! The illustrations were interesting, and I don't think I would like them in a lot of instances, but they definitely worked well in this book.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

A wordless picture book of a woman dressed all in grey who has some delicious strawberries. But a creepy creature is following her, trying to snatch the strawberries. The strawberry snatcher is creepy and the color scheme and lines made this book feel spooky. There's nothing wrong, necessarily with spooky...perhaps I might have enjoyed this right around Halloween...but it wasn't enjoyable for me to "read." I actually shivered at one point as the lady and snatcher are both in the forest. Not the book for me, at least not today.

[Anina · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Lindsay Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Robyn Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a grey lady that goes around carrying strawberries everywhere she goes, from the market, to the forest, and to her home. She soon realizes that she is being occupied by a rather ugly, and creepy creature that is referred to as the strawberry snatcher. The strawberry snatcher tries in its best effort to steal the strawberries, but fails every single time due to the grey lady's abilities. The grey lady is able to hide in the forest where the strawberry snatcher isn't able to see her. It isn't until the strawberry snatcher discovers berries that it stops following the grey lady.
The illustrations in the book are beautiful. All of the pages of the book are filled with pinks, purples, greens, and greys. The strawberry snatcher is drawn and colored to look like something onw might be scared of. The strawberry snatcher is covered in dark blue, lime green, and purple. The colors that are used on the strawberry snatcher are ugly colors when combined which enhances the idea of the strawberry snatcher being a bad guy and someone you wouldn't want to be around. The grey lady on the other hand, is colored beautifully and looks like someone's grandma. The grey lady has bright, pink skin and white hair. The front cover of the book gives the readers a hint on one of the places that the story is going to take place at, which is the market. The strawberries shown on the cover, look realistic like it was a picture of some strawberries instead of a painting and/or drawing.
The only reason why I didn't give this book 3 stars is because I believe it would've been a better book if it had words in the book. You had to really pay attention to the book in order to understand what was going on in the book. There were a few times where I had to really look in order to see the grey lady and the strawberry snatcher.
I would use this book as a free-choice read since it might be too difficult for a class read-aloud.

[Amy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 another lady on a skateboard and a 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.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is supposedly an allegory, but I couldn’t figure out what it represented. There are a lot of pages where very little happens, and I didn’t understand the significance of the ending, even though it seemed like a happy one. I tend to have mixed reactions to Molly Bang’s books, and this one is no exception.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

• 1981 Caldecott Honor Book •

I was really excited to read this because the title sounded interesting, but I didn't like this at all. The story and pictures are creepy, and there's really not much to the plot. I really don't get the point of the book at all and am unclear how this won a Caldecott.

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[Chrissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wordless. I find this book to be creepy and mesmerizing at the same time. I kind of wish the grey lady didn't look like a troll. And why does the Strawberry Snatcher want the strawberries so badly?

[Katie Bible · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to share my views of this book mainly because this book was scary. It was one of those books you pick up and you're like how is this a children's book. The characters and illustrations are scary! There are no words which I am also not a big fan of.

[EagleRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had read this only to myself I probably would not have liked it at all, but I read it to my 3 and 6 year old nephews and their delight was exuberant. They couldn't stop asking me to re-read it with them.

[Linda (Miss Greedybooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool picturebook.

[Laura Hoyler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now tied with Outside Over There for the strangest Caldecott book I have ever read.....