I love collecting different versions of stories and books that we already own. This story is "suggested" by Longfellow's famous poem and features sweet vintage illustrations. Sometimes I get these books so cheap at the thrift store or flea market with the intent of cutting up the pages to use in collages or other arts and crafts. But I liked this one too much and decided to keep it in one piece.
I loved the book "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. That led me down a path of picking up her other writing, including short stories, and folk tales. This book colorfully illustrated by Loveis Wise is one such story adapted by Ibram X. Kendi for kids. In the author's note at the end Kendi writes, "The earlier we expose our children to our literary treasures- to our literary legends like Hurston- the better." I couldn't agree more!
The story starts with Brook asking Mighty River to tell a story of people in love. It's a story not only of young Magnolia and John but of freedom and nature.
Here's a story I didn't know at all! How Sequoyah made up a system of writing for his Cherokee people in the early 1800's. It's a fascinating story that James Rumford encourages further exploration into. Anna Sixkiller Huckaby provides the Cherokee translations on each page and a syllabary at the end. I love these fascinating parts of history that have such impact but are often overlooked or forgotten. More books like this, please!
Beatrice Darwin's prints accompany this story about a "Algonkian" girl named Pipsa who not only saves her little brother from a snake, but also brings sunflowers to her village. While Pipsa works hard taking care of her baby brother and helping her mother, her father doesn't seem to notice her. It's not until she kills a dangerous snake that her father comes to see what has happened and notices the incredible field of sunflowers she has been planting and tending. Not only does her father tell her he's proud of her, but the whole village praises her for bringing a "new plant and new ideas to her people."
Another version of Hiawatha told in story form and with gorgeous 1950's illustrations by Armstrong Sperry. The pictures remind me a little of Holling Clancy Holling's Paddle to the Sea.
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem (commonly memorized by school children in years past) gets a gorgeous retelling with Errol Le Cain's pictures. Each full page spread is just beautiful. This is a nice version for little ones because as you read Longfellow's lyrical words there's plenty for them to look at in Le Cain's art.
