Little person who lives in the freezer

December 15, 2008 9:32 PM

Please help me help a friend find a children's book. It involves a little person who lives in the freezer compartment in the supermarket.

I don't know this book personally, but my friend has been trying in vain to track it down for ages. When the protagonist goes with her mother to the supermarket, she discovers a tiny little girl who lives in the freezer compartment. They become friends, and every time she goes to the supermarket, she takes the little girl something, like a bed made out of a matchbox, or a little blanket she knitted. At one point in the book (my friend thinks this is what she remembers vaguely) they play tennis with a pea and a couple of icecream sticks.

Ring any bells?

posted by snarfois to media & arts (6 comments total)

i have read this book! I don't remember the title, but will email my Mum and ask.
posted by crabintheocean at 9:54 PM on December 15, 2008

The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll by Aingelda and Edward Ardizzone?
posted by 26.2 at 10:07 PM on December 15, 2008

Chilly Billy?
posted by evil_esto at 12:22 AM on December 16, 2008

I agree with 26.2. I recognize the cover art. I'm sure it's that book, I remember the tennis match and the little gifts.

My Mum (who is in Britain if that matters) says; "the book is The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll by Edward and Aingelda Ardizzone the Edward of which also wrote the Tom All Alone books and something about a girl who finds a rhino and keep it as a pet. lovely stuff! i have your copy at home."
posted by crabintheocean at 12:31 AM on December 16, 2008

Thank you very much! That is indeed the one.

The difficult part now will be to locate a copy of the Afrikaans translation my friend grew up with. Scouring libraries and second-hand book stores. But at least now she knows what she's looking for.
posted by snarfois at 12:44 PM on December 16, 2008

p.s. I'm very interested to find it's by Edward Ardizzone. I've always loved his books, a great many of which were translated into Afrikaans. But I never knew this one.
posted by snarfois at 12:45 PM on December 16, 2008