What is the "near libel" which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it?

When it snows in Maycomb, Jem and Scout decide to build a snowman in the front yard. They begin to build it, and then decide to model the snowman after Mr. Avery, their quirky neighbor. When Atticus sees their snowman, he can immediately tell it is supposed to be Mr. Avery. He tells Jem that he has "perpetrated a near libel here in the front yard" (Chapter 8). He lightheartedly implores his son to change...

When it snows in Maycomb, Jem and Scout decide to build a snowman in the front yard. They begin to build it, and then decide to model the snowman after Mr. Avery, their quirky neighbor. When Atticus sees their snowman, he can immediately tell it is supposed to be Mr. Avery. He tells Jem that he has "perpetrated a near libel here in the front yard" (Chapter 8). He lightheartedly implores his son to change the snowman's appearance to make him look less like Mr. Avery. Atticus suggests that Mr. Avery may be unhappy if he sees the snowman.

Jem has the idea to change the snowman into a snow woman. He runs over to Miss Maudie's house. He borrows her hat and hedge trimmers and puts them on the snowman. Miss Maudie sees what Jem has done, and scolds him with a smile on her face.