Sing of the Earth and Sky - Hardcover

Fisher, Aileen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1563978024 ISBN 13: 9781563978029

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2001

Synopsis

Boyds Mills Press publishes a wide range of high-quality fiction and nonfiction picture books, chapter books, novels, and nonfiction

About this title

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 3-It's a shame this book isn't better. Both the author, a prolific and well-regarded children's poet, and the illustrator are obviously talented. This shows in the freshness of some of the poetry; in "Star Prints," a snowy lawn in the morning is described as having "-such a twinkly glare/it seems a million shiny stars/have left their footprints there." It shows in the atmosphere of some of the pen-and-ink drawings; the illustration for "Until We Built a Cabin" gives a good feel for remote areas where the stars really show themselves in the black night sky. Overall, though, the quality of the writing is not sustained, and there is some repetition of ideas. Some of the diction is inflated ("The moon is very, very old-") and there are too few surprises, too little concrete imagery. What's more, the book really cries out for some color and a strong visual presence is noticeably lacking. Myra Cohn Livingston's Sky Songs (1984) and Space Songs (1988, both Holiday; o.p.), both illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher, are for a slightly older audience, but are examples of superb collaborations that evoke the kind of wonder the subjects deserve.

Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 2-4. Fisher presents a collection of short poems divided into thematic sections on earth, sun, moon, and stars. Although not every verse is equally good, she sets a high standard with poems such as "Day and Night": "When the sky begins changing / her dress for the night, / she does it so slowly / you can't see it quite. / But when she removes / from her velvety pocket / the silvery moon / that she wears for a locket, / And bright little sequins / of stars sparkle out, / you know Day is over / and Night is about." Karmen Thompson's ink drawings provide an attractive visual accompaniment, though the deep blues and purples of the evocative jacket illustration may leave readers wishing for colorful artwork within. Written in simple language and from a child's point of view, the rhyming verses are reflective rather than scientific. Still, they would be effective for introducing astronomy units as well as good reading for young poetry lovers. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1563978024
• ISBN 13: 9781563978029
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32