Awards
American Library Association, Notable Book 1986
Best Book Selection, New York Times 1986
Synopses & Reviews
In 1986 Kids Can Press published an edition of Robert Service's
The Cremation of Sam McGee illustrated by painter Ted Harrison, who used his signature broad brushstrokes and unconventional choice of colour to bring this gritty narrative poem to life. Evoking both the spare beauty and the mournful solitude of the Yukon landscape, Harrison's paintings proved the perfect match for Service's masterpiece about a doomed prospector adrift in a harsh land. Harrison's Illustrator's Notes on each page enhanced both poem and illustrations by adding valuable historical background.
Upon its original publication, many recognized the book as an innovative approach to illustrating poetry for children. For twenty years The Cremation of Sam McGee has stood out as a publishing landmark, losing none of its appeal both as a read-aloud and as a work of art. Kids Can Press proudly publishes this deluxe hardcover twentieth anniversary edition complete with a spot-varnished cover, new cover art and heavy coated stock of a book that remains as entrancing as a night sky alive with the vibrant glow of the Northern Lights.
Synopsis
The twentieth anniversary edition of this beautifully illustrated classic poem.
About the Author
Robert William Service was a poet born into a Scottish family while they were living in Preston, England. He became known for his work about the West and the Yukon gold miners. Such works as
The Shooting of Dan McGrew and
The Cremation of Sam McGee made him famous around the world.
Ted Harrison is an Canadian artist born in 1926 in Wingate, County Durham, England. One of his best loved creations is his illustration of the Robert Service poem The Cremation of Sam Mcgee.