Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs

K-Gr 2—On the run from a wicked witch, Snow White takes refuge in a cottage with not seven, but 77, dwarfs. The promise of a safe haven in exchange for help with chores sounds like a good bargain—until the reality of learning 77 names, packing endless lunches, washing mountains of dishes, and reading individualized bedtime stories sets in. With witty aplomb, Snow White decides to "leave and take her chances with the witch." The overworked damsel jumps at the chance for a poisoned apple ("I'LL TAKE TWO!") and falls into a blissful slumber, warding off bewildered dwarfs and prospective kissing princes with a "Please Don't Wake Me Up" sign on her bedstead. Barbanègre's entrancing illustrations are bursting with vibrant colors. The scenes are chock-full of laugh-out-loud details: every pointy-hatted fellow's name (from "randon to Hokey-Pokey) is announced in speech bubbles, and a ruckus breaks out in the long waiting line for "beard maintenance."