Adapted by John M. Feierabend
Illustrated by Jackie Roche
The Derby Ram is an adaption of a folksong believed to be originally sung in Derby, England. Different stories are associated with the folksong in England and now in the United States. It is said, by the text of the song, there was a ram that was so big the wool on his back reached into the sky. Because his back reached up so high, eagles built nests there.
This book is more appropriate for a music class or even perhaps a piano teacher, as the music score and lyrics are available in the back of the book. While the illustrations are pretty, they give an ethereal effect rather than engaging readers into the text. The suggested age is 4-8, again, this is not a book most parents would just sit down and read to a child. Especially the sing-song is a distraction for a simple reading. At the end of the book, Feierabend has included a wealth of information regarding “The Derby Ram” that is helpful in understanding why he choose to adapt this folksong. Finally, a free mp3 can be downloaded by following the directions in the book.
BIBLIO: 2010, GIA Publications, Inc., Ages 4-8, $16.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-1-57999-783-0
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 9-9-10
Showing posts with label adaption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adaption. Show all posts
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Streets of Gold
Rosemary Wells
Illustrated by Dan Andreasen
Twelve year old Mary Antin, along with her family, traveled from Russia hoping to being a better life in the United States. The year was 1894, and the Antins were Russian Jews who had escaped the hardships of religious persecution.
As a young child, Mary wrote a long letter to relative left behind in Russia, and shared details of their new life - the success, the struggles, the joys and the tears. Years later, Mary enlarged on that first long letter to write a book of her experience as a young Russian girl, living under the hardships imposed upon Jews in Russia, to a young immigrant building a life in Boston.
Her book, The Promised Land, serves as the basis for author Rosemary Wells’ book, Streets of Gold. Ms. Wells has taken Mary’s story and adapted it into a shorter version for today’s young readers. Streets of Gold is presented in an episode format, so each page represents snippets from Mary’s young life.
At the same time, words from Mary’s original book are included on each page so readers have the opportunity to read Ms. Wells’ adaptation while also reading Mary’s prose.
The illustrations, by Dan Andreasen, are warm and engaging and provide a pictorial journal of Mary’s life. Streets of Gold is a must read for anyone who wants to understand religious persecution and immigration through a child’s eyes.
BIBLIO: 1998, Scholastic, Ages 7 to 10, $16.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 0590374877
REVIEWED FOR: Christian Library Journal, Fall 2000, Print Version
Illustrated by Dan Andreasen
Twelve year old Mary Antin, along with her family, traveled from Russia hoping to being a better life in the United States. The year was 1894, and the Antins were Russian Jews who had escaped the hardships of religious persecution.
As a young child, Mary wrote a long letter to relative left behind in Russia, and shared details of their new life - the success, the struggles, the joys and the tears. Years later, Mary enlarged on that first long letter to write a book of her experience as a young Russian girl, living under the hardships imposed upon Jews in Russia, to a young immigrant building a life in Boston.
Her book, The Promised Land, serves as the basis for author Rosemary Wells’ book, Streets of Gold. Ms. Wells has taken Mary’s story and adapted it into a shorter version for today’s young readers. Streets of Gold is presented in an episode format, so each page represents snippets from Mary’s young life.
At the same time, words from Mary’s original book are included on each page so readers have the opportunity to read Ms. Wells’ adaptation while also reading Mary’s prose.
The illustrations, by Dan Andreasen, are warm and engaging and provide a pictorial journal of Mary’s life. Streets of Gold is a must read for anyone who wants to understand religious persecution and immigration through a child’s eyes.
BIBLIO: 1998, Scholastic, Ages 7 to 10, $16.95
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 0590374877
REVIEWED FOR: Christian Library Journal, Fall 2000, Print Version
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