Katia Novet Saint-Lot, Amadi's Snowman, 글을 배우고 싶어하게 한 눈사람

일러스트레이터가 그린 그림이 아프리카 사람과 풍경을 따뜻하게 표현해 내었다. 아마디는 여느 형들처럼 돈을 벌고 싶어했는데, 우연히 서점에서 만난 친구가 읽던 눈사람 그림책에 마음을 뺏기고 글자를 배우기로 마음을 먹는다. 집으로 돌아온 아마디는 치코딜리 선생님이 사다 놓으신 바로 그 책을 보고서 너무 기뻐 어쩔줄을 몰라한다. 가장 감동적인 장면이다. 아마디가 글을 배우고 싶어할 때까지 마음과 정황을 잘 묘사해 놓은 것이 인상적이다. 

"I'm an Igbo man of Nigeria," Amadi replied. "I'll be a trader. I don't need to read to do business." 

Down the road, he went slowly past a few older boys washing a car. HE watched as the car drove away and the boys counted their earnings. How he longed to be like them! 

Chima turned the pates, and Amadi started at the pictures in the book, trying to make sense of what he saw. What was that big white animal-made-of-snow for?

But she couldn't! She mustn't! He wanted to run and grab it from her, but it was too late. Mrs. Chikodili gave money to the merchant and walked away. 

The sweet smell of plantains frying in palm oil drifted from the pan on the wood fire, and his stomach grumbled. 

 

"Mrs. Chikodili just left," continued his mother. "She brought you something." Amdi's eyes widened. "Where is it?" he asked, forgetting his hunger. "On the bench inside," answered his mother. 

Amadi ran in, his heart beating hard in his chest. It was the book with the boy and the snowman! His book! 

... Amadi went outside. "You can tell Mrs. Chikodili I'll learn how to read," he declared. And he ran down the dirt path, his heart filled with joy. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=venuVqxYZNI