Book cover: "Snowed Up"

• Title: Snowed Up
• Author: Rosalie K. Fry (1911-1992)
• Fry's most famous work: Her 1957 novel Children of the Western Isles was republished in 1959 as The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry. The book served as the basis for the well-received 1994 children's film The Secret of Roan Inish.
• Illustrator: Robin Jacques!!!
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux (An Ariel Book, Weekly Reader Children's Book Club Presents)
• Year: 1970
• Pages: 124
• Format: Hardcover 
• First sentence: The first small snowflake wavered uncertainly past the window, followed by a little burst of larger flakes.
• Last sentence: As he spoke, the candle quietly guttered out, bringing their little Christmas to an end.
• Excerpt #1: "Oh, you lucky dab!" exploded Verity enviously.
• Excerpt #2: "I don't know whether these things are swedes or turnips or even mangel-wurzels," she said uncertainly. "But, whichever they are, I'm sure they're all right for humans to eat. So that will at least give us a change of food."
• Mangel-wut now? (1) Swedes are rutabagas. (2) Mangelwurzel (aka mangold wurzel, mangold, mangel beet, field beet, fodder beet or root of scarcity) is another root vegetable. It is primarily considered a fodder crop for livestock.
• Rating on Goodreads: 4.11 stars (out of 5)
• Goodreads reviewer description of the plot: In 2018, Hilary wrote: "This was such a good old fashioned children's adventure, you could tell what was coming but that made it all the more fun. Four children are staying with their aunt and uncle in Wales, when disaster strikes the three younger children are sent home in a snowstorm and you can just imagine what happens next!"
• Goodreads review excerpt: In 2012, Kathryn wrote: "Aside from one dreamy Christmas-inspired moment towards the end, the magical quotient in the book isn’t quite as high as that found in [The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry]. And for all the danger the Snowed Up children face, the basic tenor of the book is as bright as the sun sparkling on the snow that reaches all the way up to the second floor windows of Pen Mynydd."
• Rating on Amazon: 5 stars (out of 5)
• Amazon review excerpt: In 2012, "Panda" from the UK wrote: "This book might seem a little dated to todays children (no mobile phones!!!) - however it is a great short adventure and the children are remarkably resourceful in a very tricky situation. A delightful read."

Bonus: Interior illustration by Jacques...