Adapted by John M Feierabend
Illustrated by Erik Plude
Based on a classic folksong, Father Grumble is a bearded old man, who challenged his wife that he could do more work in one day than she could in three. His wife accepted the challenge, and began doing Father Grumble’s chores one by one. First, she drove the plow and milked Tiny cow. It would be up to Father Grumble to feed the little pigs, watch the bracket hen so she didn’t lay her eggs where they couldn’t be found, and a reel of yarn must be wound. Father Grumble was expecting Tiny cow to cooperate, and when she did not, it just made his day longer, and harder. By the time his day was over, Father Grumble was more than happy to agree; his wife did more work in one day than he did in three.
This folksong is a reminder that things are not always, what they seem. The vivid illustrations bring the characters and animals to life. Beautifully painted, each page creates its own story. A fully notated version with all the words is included at the end of the book. This is a charming story for young readers who should relate to the chores that are completed at home.
BIBLIO: 2008, GIA Publications, Inc., Ages 3 - 6, $16.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book / Music Education
ISBN: 978-1-57999-756-4
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
Monday, November 9, 2009
My Aunt Came Back
Adapted by John M Feierabend
Illustrated by Melanie Champagne
This story is based on a classic folksong, “My Aunt Came Back”, written in 1704, with a new melody in 1751. The story begins with a group of ants at an anthill, and continues with an ant at different locations. Timbuktu shows a camel and a wooden shoe, and an ant carrying the wooden shoe. On the following page, the Aunt goes to Old Japan and then brings back a waving fan. Each page after an Aunt goes to a different location, and brings back a different item.
The illustrations are soft color, highly detailed, and enlarged to encompass the full page; also, showing how one ant can carry multiple times its own weight. Included within the book is a link to a free download of an mp3 recording of this folksong. It is Mr. Feierabend’s lifelong goal to preserve American musical heritage for future generations. A fully notated version with all the words is included at the end of the book. I respect Mr. Feierabend’s dedication to the preservation of American folksongs; however, I feel this is a very limited market.
BIBLIO: 2008, GIA Publications, Inc., Ages 3 - 6, $16.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book / Music Education
ISBN: 978-1-57999-680-2
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
Illustrated by Melanie Champagne
This story is based on a classic folksong, “My Aunt Came Back”, written in 1704, with a new melody in 1751. The story begins with a group of ants at an anthill, and continues with an ant at different locations. Timbuktu shows a camel and a wooden shoe, and an ant carrying the wooden shoe. On the following page, the Aunt goes to Old Japan and then brings back a waving fan. Each page after an Aunt goes to a different location, and brings back a different item.
The illustrations are soft color, highly detailed, and enlarged to encompass the full page; also, showing how one ant can carry multiple times its own weight. Included within the book is a link to a free download of an mp3 recording of this folksong. It is Mr. Feierabend’s lifelong goal to preserve American musical heritage for future generations. A fully notated version with all the words is included at the end of the book. I respect Mr. Feierabend’s dedication to the preservation of American folksongs; however, I feel this is a very limited market.
BIBLIO: 2008, GIA Publications, Inc., Ages 3 - 6, $16.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book / Music Education
ISBN: 978-1-57999-680-2
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
The Contest
Caroline Stellings
Rosy Taylor was almost twelve years old, and her favorite book ever was Anne of Green Gables. Her problem was she came from a poor family that did not have the money for books, so Rosy’s only copy was very used and missing a full 37 pages. There was a solution to her dilemma, however. There was soon going to be a contest, the Anne of Green Gables Look Alike Contest, and the first prize was a boxed set of all eight books in the Anne series by L.M. Montgomery and a sterling silver trophy. The contest would be a challenge for Rosy because her family did not have the resources to help with the required costume, nor a vehicle to get to the neighboring town where the contest was to be held. There was one other issue for Rosy; she was half Mohawk. Fortunately, for Rosy, she was a very determined young girl and she was not one to give up easily. Other obstacles did come her way; another young girl who was the spitting image of Anne of Green Gables was also competing in the contest, Rosy had a serious asthma attack that landed her in the hospital for a week just before the contest, and the vehicle taking Rosy and her family to the contest had a serious breakdown. Yet, Rosy was seriously determined. With an unbreakable spirit, Rosy persevered and was one of five girls standing on the stage, who would win, and what lessons would Rosy learn?
This is a great story of a young girl’s determination and spirit. The fact that Rosy was half Mohawk and came from a poor family should be an inspiration to any reader. I found this to be a fast read and should be in any library, personal, public or school.
BIBLIO: 2009, 7th Generation / Book Publishing Co., Ages 9 - 13, $9.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9779183-5-5
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
Rosy Taylor was almost twelve years old, and her favorite book ever was Anne of Green Gables. Her problem was she came from a poor family that did not have the money for books, so Rosy’s only copy was very used and missing a full 37 pages. There was a solution to her dilemma, however. There was soon going to be a contest, the Anne of Green Gables Look Alike Contest, and the first prize was a boxed set of all eight books in the Anne series by L.M. Montgomery and a sterling silver trophy. The contest would be a challenge for Rosy because her family did not have the resources to help with the required costume, nor a vehicle to get to the neighboring town where the contest was to be held. There was one other issue for Rosy; she was half Mohawk. Fortunately, for Rosy, she was a very determined young girl and she was not one to give up easily. Other obstacles did come her way; another young girl who was the spitting image of Anne of Green Gables was also competing in the contest, Rosy had a serious asthma attack that landed her in the hospital for a week just before the contest, and the vehicle taking Rosy and her family to the contest had a serious breakdown. Yet, Rosy was seriously determined. With an unbreakable spirit, Rosy persevered and was one of five girls standing on the stage, who would win, and what lessons would Rosy learn?
This is a great story of a young girl’s determination and spirit. The fact that Rosy was half Mohawk and came from a poor family should be an inspiration to any reader. I found this to be a fast read and should be in any library, personal, public or school.
BIBLIO: 2009, 7th Generation / Book Publishing Co., Ages 9 - 13, $9.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9779183-5-5
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
Gwen
Carolyn Pogue
London, England, 1895, Gwen Peters turned eleven years old. It was a difficult day for Gwen. Her dad had been very sick all day, until he finally passed away, leaving her an orphan. Before he died, he gave Gwen a book, White Wampum by Pauline Johnson, a Canadian Indian Princess. A neighbor, Mrs. Bostwick took control of the situation and called the doctor, and finally called Dr. Peters of the Girls Home. Since Gwen had no family to go to, the Girls Home was her best opportunity, and Gwen knew it. Within one day, her whole life had changed. The Girls Home was an organization, that after at least a year of training, young orphan girls go into service to gentlemen and ladies in England, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Gwen lived in a cottage with twenty other young girls; there were four bedrooms, and five girls to each bedroom. Their house matron believed, “the devil finds work for idle hands”, so between chores and lessons they were kept busy from 6.30 in the morning until after cleaning up from supper. A year later, girls were given the opportunity to volunteer to sail to Canada … Gwen was the first girl to raise her hand, and within minutes fifty girls had volunteered to change their lives forever. Gwen’s future was set, yet she had no idea of the adventures and hardships that were before her. Gwen’s life would come full circle, and know Canada was her future.
This story of Gwen is based on a true story. As a piece of historical fiction written for the young adult market, I found this novel very interesting. It covered a subject, Home Child, I was not familiar with, and therefore, was not only an engaging read, but educational.
BIBLIO: 2009, Sumach Press, Ages 10 +, $12.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Young Adult Novel / Historical Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-894549-80-6
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
London, England, 1895, Gwen Peters turned eleven years old. It was a difficult day for Gwen. Her dad had been very sick all day, until he finally passed away, leaving her an orphan. Before he died, he gave Gwen a book, White Wampum by Pauline Johnson, a Canadian Indian Princess. A neighbor, Mrs. Bostwick took control of the situation and called the doctor, and finally called Dr. Peters of the Girls Home. Since Gwen had no family to go to, the Girls Home was her best opportunity, and Gwen knew it. Within one day, her whole life had changed. The Girls Home was an organization, that after at least a year of training, young orphan girls go into service to gentlemen and ladies in England, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Gwen lived in a cottage with twenty other young girls; there were four bedrooms, and five girls to each bedroom. Their house matron believed, “the devil finds work for idle hands”, so between chores and lessons they were kept busy from 6.30 in the morning until after cleaning up from supper. A year later, girls were given the opportunity to volunteer to sail to Canada … Gwen was the first girl to raise her hand, and within minutes fifty girls had volunteered to change their lives forever. Gwen’s future was set, yet she had no idea of the adventures and hardships that were before her. Gwen’s life would come full circle, and know Canada was her future.
This story of Gwen is based on a true story. As a piece of historical fiction written for the young adult market, I found this novel very interesting. It covered a subject, Home Child, I was not familiar with, and therefore, was not only an engaging read, but educational.
BIBLIO: 2009, Sumach Press, Ages 10 +, $12.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Young Adult Novel / Historical Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-894549-80-6
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
The Knitting of Elizabeth Amelia
Patricia Lee Gauch
Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
Elizabeth Amelia’s mother wanted a baby to cuddle and love, and not having one, she went to the attic and found some special wool in a trunk and knitted a beautiful baby. She was so soft even the cat liked to sleep with Elizabeth Amelia at night. Her mother would hum to her, and bounce her, and when she took her out, others wanted to hold Elizabeth Amelia she was so soft and cuddly. Eventually she grew old enough to attend school and went to the dances. Because Elizabeth Amelia was so soft and had so much bounce, the boys at school would line up just to be able to dance with her. Then she met James Elmer, and they loved to dance together and take walks in the woodsy woods. The best part was James Elmer loved wool, and he loved Elizabeth Amelia. She created the woolliest home in town with wool rugs, lamps, and doors. The only thing missing was children and since Elizabeth Amelia loved wool, she searched for the perfect wool to knit a sweet baby. Using a loose strand from her own left foot, Elizabeth Amelia knitted a baby girl and named her True. Then she knitted a baby boy, and named him Bounce. Then she knitted a set of twins, January and February. All the wool came from her legs, so she could not leave her rocking chair. Her husband, James Elmer loved her so much; he had to find more wool so Elizabeth Amelia would be back to her bouncy self.
Painted in transparent watercolor, the illustrations are bright and very colorful, sure to catch the eye of young children. This is an imaginative story of how a mother’s longing for children was creatively solved. Young children should be entertained by the idea of a family of knitted children and the very colorful illustrations.
BIBLIO: 2009, Henry Holt and Co., Ages 4 - 8, $16.99
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-8050-6535-0
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
Elizabeth Amelia’s mother wanted a baby to cuddle and love, and not having one, she went to the attic and found some special wool in a trunk and knitted a beautiful baby. She was so soft even the cat liked to sleep with Elizabeth Amelia at night. Her mother would hum to her, and bounce her, and when she took her out, others wanted to hold Elizabeth Amelia she was so soft and cuddly. Eventually she grew old enough to attend school and went to the dances. Because Elizabeth Amelia was so soft and had so much bounce, the boys at school would line up just to be able to dance with her. Then she met James Elmer, and they loved to dance together and take walks in the woodsy woods. The best part was James Elmer loved wool, and he loved Elizabeth Amelia. She created the woolliest home in town with wool rugs, lamps, and doors. The only thing missing was children and since Elizabeth Amelia loved wool, she searched for the perfect wool to knit a sweet baby. Using a loose strand from her own left foot, Elizabeth Amelia knitted a baby girl and named her True. Then she knitted a baby boy, and named him Bounce. Then she knitted a set of twins, January and February. All the wool came from her legs, so she could not leave her rocking chair. Her husband, James Elmer loved her so much; he had to find more wool so Elizabeth Amelia would be back to her bouncy self.
Painted in transparent watercolor, the illustrations are bright and very colorful, sure to catch the eye of young children. This is an imaginative story of how a mother’s longing for children was creatively solved. Young children should be entertained by the idea of a family of knitted children and the very colorful illustrations.
BIBLIO: 2009, Henry Holt and Co., Ages 4 - 8, $16.99
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-8050-6535-0
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09
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