Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
Written by Dessi Jackson
Illustrated by Lydia Grace Kadar-Kallen
Published in 2014
Why we chose this book:
The Easter Bunny brought this for T last year. It has been one of his favorite books lately, so we are sharing it with you now.
Mom's Review
The life and works of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary are narrated by a grandmother to her granddaughter.
Within the frame of a little girl asking about her namesake, the audience learns who Elizabeth of Hungary was. Roses in the Snow begins with a little girl, Elizabeth, asking her grandmother to tell her the story about "My Elizabeth" and the roses. The grandmother obliges, with a well-crafted story of how Elizabeth grew up to marry the Landgrave of Thuringia and used their wealth to feed the hungry and help those in need. The Landgrave's mother did not like this, complaining regularly to her son. On one charitable outing, Elizabeth encountered her husband and mother-in-law. When asked what she was carrying (in the snow in the dead of winter), she replied, "Roses." When her basket was uncovered, however, the food had miraculously turned to roses. The biographical information ends with Elizabeth turning to the Third Order of Franciscans after her husband's death and her mother-in-law's rejection. The frame concludes with young Elizabeth and her grandmother taking roses to lay at the feet of the Saint Elizabeth statue in their church.
Beautiful art complements a beautifully woven story about a woman who held fast to her convictions. Roses in the Snow is a story about a saint and the miracle performed by God to protect her, but its message transcends denomination.
Back matter provides further biographical information about the saint.
Son's Review
(Age: almost 4 years old)
Mom: What did you like about Roses in the Snow?
Son: That there was flowers, roses. I like red roses.
Mom: I like pink flowers, and I like pink roses.
Son: And I also like Guns 'N' Roses.
Mom: Me too. What do you know about Guns N' Roses?
Son: Since they say "guns," that means they're a little bit bad. And since they say "roses," that means they're a little bit good.
Mom: I like their music a lot. And in this story, did you think the roses were important?
Son: No. I thought that they weren't important.
Mom: What's the most important thing about this story?
Son: I think, well, the story.
Mom: Did you like the little girl Elizabeth?
Son, pointing to Saint Elizabeth on the cover: No. I like how they told the story of this Elizabeth.
Mom: Do you like knowing about the saints?
Son: I just like saints!
Mom: How did the story make you feel?
Son: I liked it. And it is a good book to read.
Mom: When is it a good time to read this book?
Son: Haha. My little laugh meant that this is a good time to read Roses in the Snow.
Mom: What do you think is the most important thing to know about Saint Elizabeth of Hungary?
Son: Haha. That little laugh meant that I liked the snow.
Mom: And who is this a good book for? Why?
Son: The Easter Bunny! Because he brought it!
Mom: And what is the best part of this story?
Son: [Where Nagymama tells] the story part.
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