The Snow Lambs

by Debi Gliori

When Bess the sheepdog goes missing on a snowy, blowy night, Sam worries, until Bess returns with Dad's best ewe, who had been lost in the storm and who gives birth to twin lambs later that evening.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Christmas, Dogs, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 1995

About the author

Debi Gliori (born 1959) is a Scottish author and illustrator of children's books.
She grew up as an only child in Glasgow, and when young began drawing and writing stories. She started writing children's books in 1976, and attended art school in Edinburgh from 1979 to 1984. She then received a travelling scholarship award to go to Milan, and worked as a freelance from 1984 onwards.
She is the author/illustrator of many books for children including Mr Bear, the winner of a Children's Book Award. She is best known for her black comedy Pure Dead series for older children, which display strong elements of family lives amid dark and fantasy-based plots.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When his sheepdog Bess goes missing one snowy night, Sam imagines all the the terrible things that might have happened to her, his fears running parallel to his own evening activities. As he takes his bath, he thinks of how dirty Bess will be, when she gets home; as he listens to his bedtime story - a tale of monsters! - he hopes Bess isn't as frightened as he is; and when there is a power outage, plunging him into darkness, he wonders how Bess will find her way home, in the dark. When Bess finally does arrive, it transpires - contrary to Sam's father's expectations - that she had been doing something very important, in guiding their prize ewe home...

I really enjoy Debi Gliori's colorful artwork - her No Matter What is, in addition to being one of my favorite "reassurance tales," a visual delight - so when a few of my online friends reviewed The Snow Lambs favorably, I added it to my to-be-read shelf. A little more than a year later, after our first snowfall this season, I've finally gotten around to it, and I'm glad I did. As expected, the artwork was charming, with a very effective visual comparison offered, on each page, between Sam and Bessie's activities, in that moment. The story itself didn't "wow" me - and the father's rather stern attitude about Bess was a little off-putting - but it was engaging enough to please. Definitely one that Debi Gliori fans will want to take a look at!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story--it is a picture book where the illustrations really do help TELL the story, rather than just represent/mirror it pictorially. As a snow storm builds, a father and his son bring in the sheep. Sam thinks his father missed one sheep in the count, but the father is sure they are all in and, besides, the storm is getting stronger and it's time to hunker down in the house. But where is the sheep dog, Bess?! Sam is worried about her, but the father is frustrated--why can't she be a good herding dog and help rather than wandering off.

The night progresses, Sam trying not to worry about Bess as he does various activities in the house. Meanwhile, we see Bess has found the lost sheep and is trying valiantly to bring her home through the storm! The illustrated parallels between Sam and Bess are wonderful and the tale of a child's faith in his dog (and, okay, of being right when the parent was wrong!) is one that will surely resonate with younger readers. Don't worry--there is a happy ending. Highly recommended!

Also, for fans of Scotland--Gliori lives near Edinburgh and, knowing that, it's easy to see this tale taking place in the Scottish countryside.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely winter story about Bess the sheepdog who is left out in a snowstorm. Sam is really worried about her and can't go to bed or sleep until she's home. Eventually she comes back but brings a sheep with her who was also lost in the snow. The illustrations are lovely and really help to tell the story along with the text. There are some good literacy concepts including personification which children could include in their writing. It would be a good read aloud class story and I think it could be enjoyed by children up to Year 3.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s rare that my vegan sensibilities get in the way of enjoying any fictional book, but I admit I couldn’t stop thinking about the fate of the lambs.

Otherwise, this was a terrific book. There’s even a map of the area in the inside front cover (in clear weather) and the inside back cover (snow covered) and I love maps in books. This farm is obviously in/near the Scottish highlands, well in Scotland at least.

I love the sheepdog in this book. What a wonderful working dog. I also appreciate how the boy is both worried about and has faith in his dog.

The pages alternate between the dog and a sheep in the snowstorm with the dog leading the sheep toward home, and then the boy, father, mother, and pampered cat warm and cozy already at home. The differences in style, colors, and look of the illustrations of these two alternating parts of the story are so striking. They tell the story so well.

ETA: Check out Kathryn's review. She captured the book perfectly!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tale about a boy's concern for his lost sheepdog on a blustery, cold, snowy, winter night. The comparisons between what the boy is doing getting ready for bed, and what the dog must be going through is very sweet (i.e. the boy asks to be read a scary story, but then regrets it and wonders if his dog is scared out in the cold).

I really enjoyed this book, especially the love and devotion that the boy has for his dog and the wits and devotion the dog has as well.

The illustrations weren't anything that personally blew me away, but I did enjoy them.

The only reason I took off a star is that it bothered me how little the father seemed to be concerned about the dog, and that being stuck in the cold might "teach the dog a lesson." I just thought this was a tad harsh for: a) the dog, and b) the feelings of the boy. But, I was pleased with the ending, so I think the author made an attempt to address this.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really lovely story about a young boy and his lost dog. Tells you of the two different adventures both of them go on when they lose each other. I love the illustrations and how well they captured the nature around

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preschool story time. Can talk about how there are two different stories happening, the one with Sam and his family and then Bess's journey to bring the sheep home.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me as a child and is really sweet!

[Megan Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a dog that is left outside in the snow storm because he is out searching for a pregnant ewe. The child in the book is worried about his dog being outside in the freezing winter air. Luckily the dog eventually makes it home with the pregnant ewe just in time for the ewe to give birth to twins.

This book could be used to teach students about the weather. The snow storm brewing outside grows progressively worse as the book continues.

I would use this book with younger grades. Perhaps K-2nd

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this charming tale, Sam, his Dad, and their dogs round up the sheep as the snow begins to fall.  But when the sheep are safely in the barn, Sam’s sheepdog Bess is nowhere to be found.  Distraught, Sam gets ready for bed; side-by-side illustrations show Sam bathing and putting on his pajamas as Bess searches for and finds a missing ewe.  A power outage, a raging stream, a downed tree, and Bess’s courage and tenacity combine to bring about a happy ending. 

[Pynteya Bate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice picture book is about the boy who is worried about his sheepdog who got lost in the snowy and stormy night. I really like the way the story and pictures show the boy’s concern about his dog which demonstrates his attachment. Even thought, a lot is happening in the story later, it has a good ending. I have read this book to my students, but I had to stretch the story for two days.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute winter story. Like the side story told with pictures too.

[Trisan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good side story. We enjoyed this book.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this book to my young students every winter. Courage, loyalty, determination. Great themes, great illustrations, great story.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parallel story of a boy going to bed during a snow storm and his dog who is bringing home a lost sheep.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. cute story.