A little blending of fact and fiction, this book introduced us to the Jubilee Singers and the story of their origins at Fisk University. I always like books that lead us down a rabbit hole of research and new information like this. Raul Colon's warm golden illustrations are like sepia photographs.
I can't think of a better pairing than Virginia Hamilton and Leo and Diane Dillon. Hamilton's collection of folktales are rich with dialect, clever animals, supernatural characters, exaggerated situations, and stories of freedom from slavery. I really appreciated her notes at the end of each one, explaining the historical significance or language or expounding on the story.
" Remember that these folktales were once a creative way for an oppressed people to express their fears and hopes to one another. They lend themselves well to being read out loud, as they were told out loud so long ago....These tales were created out of sorrow. But the hearts and minds of the black people who formed them, expanded them, and passed them on to us were full of love and hope. We must look at the tales as a celebration of the human spirit."
In Nancy White Carlstrom's poem snow speaks, "Here Here Here", "Cold Cold Cold", "Blow Blow Blow". And two children listen and watch waiting for other secrets they know the snow has in store.
I had to track down these vintage Ladybird Nature books on eBay (they came from England). They are such a satisfying small size and have rich full page illustrations. I appreciate that everything in the pictures is talked about in the text. It makes for a particularly nice pairing of information and art. There are two more versions for Spring and Autumn. I'm keeping my eye out!
Titled by those famous lines of Lewis Carroll's (anytime I start a sentence with "the time has come..." I have to say the following rhyme... to talk of many things, of shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings!), this vintage book is a real gem of information. A grandfather tells his grandchildren all about the origins of some every day, interesting things. Having a love of all things stationary/writing related I particularly liked the history of sealing wax (which I frequently use myself) and blotting paper. Published in 1928, the illustrations are just wonderful.
This author/illustrator is a favorite of a friend of mine. I can see why with this amazing book! I haven't always been as enthusiastic about her other work, but this one might be winning me over.
