Over the River and Through the Wood/Book and Study Guide (A Reading Rainbow Big Book)

From Publishers Weekly "Like a Mad magazine satire in both its illustration style and intent," said PW, "this urban take on Child's pastoral ditty pokes fun at tradition." Ages 4-7. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 4-Recalling a simpler time, this book captures the poem's sense of excitement and celebration. Readers who join the family en route to Grandfather's house will observe many details about life in the 19th century. As the sleigh traverses river and woods, parents and son greet fellow New England villagers who, bundled against the cold, are at work and at play. The toe-stinging, nose-biting chill of the trip is finally broken when they arrive at the grandparents' warm house and seat themselves at the overflowing table. For those who tend to hum the words after the first two lines, all six verses, as well as the score, are printed on the endpapers. A brief note describes the poem's origin. Manson's woodcuts, painted in the colors of a snowy evening, lovingly depict the wintry countryside. In contrast, the indoor scenes are diffused with the warm shades of the season. The mood of this edition far outshines recent efforts (Normand Chartier's version [S&S, 1990] features a greeting-card family of anthropomorphized bunnies). Like the poem itself, this title promises to have wide and ageless appeal.