Neither snow, nor snow, nor more snow, nor hella snow shall keep the dressmaker's daughter from delivering a commissioned gown. It's a slow slog for Irene and me both. ( )

https://shawjonathan.com/2021/10/31/ruby-reads-28-mostly-william-steig/ ( )

I enjoyed listening to this book. I liked Al Gore reading more than I thought I would. He was extremely animated but his voice was also calming. Irene's mom is a dress maker but gets sick the night of the ball so Irene voluteers to deliver the dress herself. On the way there, Irene lives up to the title of the book by continuing to go to the palace in terrible weather, mean wind, a ton of snow and even gets lost. I'd love to read this book to children to teach a lesson of bravery. It could help them with something as simple as not being afraid to try something new or meet a new friend. ( )

Really really stupid Irene. But persistent. I hope the duchess pays her bill. ( )

Sweet story of a little girl who braves a fierce wind and snowstorm to help out her sick mom, a dressmaker, by delivering a dress to the duchess. Particular highlights included the little girl's caretaking of her mom, and the descriptions of her trudging through the snow despite the efforts of the wind -- including the wind literally sweeping the dress away from her. I also liked the drawings, which are not fairy tale glamorous, but funny lumpy. [return][return]All the characters were white, and the "kind nobility" thing is not my bag. But this is certainly a good substitute for a lot of fairy tales. ( )