ET Books

This is a very nice volume. Hardback and only ten dollars used. There is a spiritual dimension to Pousette-Dart's artwork. A depth to his intention. This book has many quality illustrations.

I'm amazed to discover that after being in print for 10 years, this beautiful book has never yet been reviewed here.

A 1906 review of his series of children's books states, "The Genius of Randolph Caldecott will stand for all time. Caldecott is lord of the nursery. No one has ever approached him. He is supreme. Every nursery -- every child's bookshelf that does not contain his Picture Books is poor indeed."

This is as true today, a century later, as when it was written. Maurice Sendak has stated, "As in a song, where every shade and nuance of the poem is heightened and given greater meaning by the music, so Caldecott's pictures illuminate the rhymes. This is the REAL Mother Goose -- marvellously imagined improvisations that playfully and rhythmically bounce off and around the verses without ever incongruously straying. If any name deserves to be permanently joined with that of Mother Goose, it is that of Randolph Caldecott. His picture books should be among the first volumes given to every child."

Randolph Caldecott's name is celebrated in the Caldecott Medal, awarded each year since 1938 by the children's section of the American Library Association, for the most distinguished children's picture book. Ironically, though, his own work has been difficult to find for quite a long time.

In the last quarter of the 19th Century, Caldecott produced 16 profusely illustrated small "Picture Books" of traditional or well-known rhymes and poems for children. Originally published by George Routledge & Sons (London) in a 9" x 8" format, and later reprinted in the same format by Frederick Warne, these titles were, in sequence,
1) The House That Jack Built
2) The Diverting History of John Gilpin
3) Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog (by Oliver Goldsmith)
4) The Babes in the Wood
5) Sing a Song for Sixpence
6) The Three Jovial Huntsmen
7) The Farmer's Boy
8) The Queen of Hearts
9) The Milkmaid
10) Hey Diddle Diddle, & Bye, Baby Bunting
11) A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go
12) The Fox Jumps Over the Parson's Gate
13) Come Lasses and Lads
14) Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross, & A Farmer Went Trotting Upon His Grey Mare
15) An Elegy on the Glory of Her Sex, Mrs Mary Blaize (by Oliver Goldsmith)
16) The Great Panjandrum Himself

This present Alfred A Knopf/Borzoi/Everyman's Library/Children's Classic edition is sturdily bound with sewn sections that will not crack apart like so many books more cheaply constructed. It contains the full text and original illustrations of half of Caldecott's original series: #14 (presented separately as Ride a-Cock-Horse, and A Farmer Went Trotting), and #s 2, 1, 8, 5, 4, 16, and 3 -- each one a personal favorite of my own. Nearly every page has either charming line drawings or a full-page color illustration.

It's not possible for any child to not be intrigued and engrossed by these wonderful pictures, even when the delightful rhymes are not being read aloud. This is a book that should be under every child's Christmas tree, or in the library of anyone who appreciates fine illustration.

This lovely picture book does what most of us -- child or adult -- don't have the time or opportunity to do: watch the same river scene for a whole day just to see who shows up and what happens. With each turn of a page, we advance two hours and encounter a variety of creatures, from moose to dragonfly. The two-hour intervals begin at 6 a.m. and continue until the next morning at 6 a.m. Wadsworth's natural information is good, and Kratter's paintings combine well with the words to make it a unified presentation. His colorful illustrations have a watery, river-like look to them, which are just perfect for this book.

"River Discoveries" is great for reading aloud at story hour and for introducing children of any age to a river habitat. The helpful end-page glossary defines concepts that might be new to the youngest readers.

This is a book that young nature lovers will never outgrow. In fact, it's difficult to close the cover and put the book aside. When you finish it once, you find yourself turning right back to the beginning and reading through it again.

This is an excellent lower and upper elementary informational picture book. Rich language is combined with double-page realistic oil paintings as the story of a year in the life of an Alaskan river is told. The river is shown to be a constantly changing home and source of food to many ecologically connected living things.

It was the many and diverse river systems of North America that first enabled the exploration and settlement by European of what would become the United States of America. Even before the coming of the white man, it was the river systems that enabled the rise of Native American empires and commerce. It was these rivers that saw canoes and rafts evolve into flatboats and steamboats as first explorers and then settlers occupy the country. These rivers were also important culturally as reflected in the songs, poetry, legends, myths, and stories of the people. Now experienced river guides Peter and Connie Roop provide young readers ages 8 and older with an historical overview of how the rivers were utilized in the exploration and settlement of the country in "River Roads West". From the Hudson, the Ohio, the Mississippi, and the Missouri, to the Rio Grande, the Colorado, and the Columbia, the story of these rivers is enhanced with photographs, paintings, prints, and original maps. With a list of thematically appropriate websites and a selected bibliography for further readings, "River Roads West" is very strongly recommended for both school and community library American History collections.

"Katherine's artwork is breathtaking.
> There is so much going on in each picture, that I often catch my daughter
> sitting alone with the book and just staring at the pictures. Art needs to be
> exciting enough to engage. The colors are fabulous, and the detail is
> wonderful!"

The book includes great experiments along with data about rivers and is a great teacher resource. Although some of the activities were too advanced for third grade, we will be using this book each year for our big river unit. Now, could they write one for the rest of the world's rivers?

I used this book as one of my primary resources for a week long elementary age camp about rivers. We did many of the experiments shown in the book. I only wish there were instructions on how to make the fabulous professional looking models that are pictured.

Very well laid out book that is broken down into "investigations", "projects" and "doing more" sections. Includes a glossary, an index and resources for further information. This book will be widely used in our middle school environment. Contains excellent black and white illustrations. Recommended reading for the 7th through the 9th grade levels.

I haven't read the book, however, I know from attending his classes when in the USA that Robert Alexander knows his subject! I would recommend learning something from this guy - I did!
Cheers