Synopses & Reviews
Rebecca Rowena Randall first won the hearts of readers in 1903, when Houghton MiVlin published Kate Douglas Wiggins novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. An outspoken and precocious ten-year-old, Rebecca is one of those rare characters who have truly become a fixture in the canon of classic childrens literature. Rebeccas good nature and generous, passionate spirit have made her a treasured heroine for more than a hundred years. Now, to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the novels original publication, Houghton MiVlin is proud to reissue Rebeccas story in this new and unabridged edition with a special introduction by Newbery Honorwinning author, Patricia Reilly Giff and luminous illustrations by award-winning artist Barbara McClintock.
Review
"Evocative and at the same time marvelously real, this is as much about expectation and the warmth to be found in family and friends as it is about cold ice . . . Everyone will find this a small gem."
—Booklist, starred review
"Irresistible."
—Kirkus, starred review
"This is a celebration of play, of winter, and of imagination . . . in an icy collection whose overarching quality is warmth."
—Horn Book
"Like a souvenir from a bygone era . . . Today's readers will marvel at the old-fashioned amusements, chronicled with folksy charm."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
- A Junior Library Guild Selection
- A Winter 2012-13 Kids' Indie Next List Pick
- Kirkus Best Children's Books of 2012
- Booklist's Editors' Choice list for 2012
- NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2012
and#8220;[A] perfect snowflake of a book. . . this is a book about a young womanand#8217;s deep connection to nature and her family, but also the thrilling reward of pitching in together to create something magicaland#8221;
and#8212;New York Times Book Review
and#8220;Snug and elegant, evocative and fun, Ellen Bryan Obed's memoir from her childhood winters in Maine skates along in an aesthetic pas de deux, as you might say, with Barbara McClintock's graceful black-and-white drawings.and#8221;
and#8212;The Wall Street Journal
"Evocative and at the same time marvelously real, this is as much about expectation and the warmth to be found in family and friends as it is about cold ice . . . Everyone will find this a small gem."
and#8212;Booklist, starred review
"Irresistible."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
"This is a celebration of play, of winter, and of imagination . . . in an icy collection whose overarching quality is warmth."
and#8212;Horn Book
"Like a souvenir from a bygone era . . . Today's readers will marvel at the old-fashioned amusements, chronicled with folksy charm."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Delicate pen-and-ink illustrations enhance the action, emotions, and humor of each short description of ice and frost goings-on. . . . [A] brief but unforgettable volume."
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"The rituals and humor connected with a timeless childhood experience unspool seemingly without effort from author and artist in this intimate volume."
and#8212;Shelf Awareness, starred review
and#8220;This is a joyful, spirited gem of a book, as bracing and glorious as a perfect stretch of ice.and#8221;
and#8212;Newbery Honor author Joyce Sidman
"A book like this one doesnand#8217;t come along every day. Would that they did.and#8221;
and#8212;Betsy Bird, Fuse#8 blogger
"Obed's prose is crystalline: clear, pure, and entrancing. But the real subject of the book is not ice, but happiness; a happiness so contagious that readers of all ages will close the book with a sigh."
and#8212;Laura Amy Schlitz, Newbery Medal winner of Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village
"Ellen Bryan Obed's prose transported me to my own childhood of all kinds of ice-some very dirty and bad, others grand and ethereal-nevertheless, all full of adventure, reminding me, too, of the great joy of winter. The beauty of Obed's prose is matched perfectly by McClintock's art. Who else could make a chilly subject look so warm? It is a marvelous book."
and#8212;Chris Raschka, Caldecott Medal Winner of The Hello, Goodbye Window
"Twelve Kinds of Ice is a wonderful book. Ellen Bryan Obed's storytelling voice is magical, and with Barbara McClintock's delightful and evocative art the book creates an atmosphere as sharp and fresh as the winters of childhood and as satisfying as our happiest memories."
and#8212;Reeve Lindbergh, author of Our Nest
Review
Fun, love and respect permeate this volume, a reminder of the riches implicit in simpler holiday joys.
Publishers Weekly, Starred
Azarian's beautifully composed and carefully researched illustrations draw the reader into Helen's era, into a quieter time of candlelight, sleigh bells, and family stories shared around the woodstove.
Kirkus Reviews, Starred
Best suited for reading aloud, this gorgeous book might inspire grown-ups to share their own family stories with the children in their care.
School Library Journal
The language is lovely, and Azarian's trademark woodcuts, hand-tinted with color, are as endearing as ever. Warm and welcoming.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
Review
"Hunterand#8217;s painterly watercolor and ink illustrations depict the various featured animalsand#151;black-capped chickadees, white-tailed deer, monarch butterflies, etc.and#151;against an ever-present grove of fir trees in the background. The final pages show a happy family taking a tree home in December. End matter includes additional information on the ecology of a Christmas tree farm."--The Horn Bookand#160;
"Month by month, animal by animal, from aphids to wild turkeys, the whole year of a Christmas treeand#8217;s prolific usefulness is revealed. The book remains story-like enough for the very young and meaty enough for the older reader (and for the adult reader, who will learn much)."--Bookpage
"Cross-hatched ink and watercolor drawings create lovely, varied scenes of this special habitat in all seasons, while the text gives voice to the creatures sharing it with the fir trees. An original read-aloud choice for the Christmas season."--Booklist
"Though presented as a Christmas book, this informative introduction to the different animals inhabiting a Maine tree plantation can be enjoyed year round."--School Library Journal
"A patterned text using the titular question for each month is the structure for this ecologically themed Christmas story...The coinciding pages give the common and scientific names for each animal with notes from the Christmas-tree farmer who served as an advisor for the book. A fine Christmas gift for a budding scientist".--Kirkus
and#160;
Review
"The illustrations impart a cozy, familiar feel to a long-ago world, and reveal a lively, generous spirit in the heroine who leaves her home to live with her two elderly aunts." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Sensitive, intuitive, restrained . . . will take its place with the books that endure."--Saturday Review
"Written with rare intuition and pictured with warm sympathy and charm."--The Horn Book
"No young person . . . will ever forget it."--Book Week
Review
- A Junior Library Guild Selection
- A Winter 2012-13 Kidsand#39; Indie Next List Pick
- Kirkus Best Childrenand#39;s Books of 2012
- Booklistand#39;s Editorsand#39; Choice list for 2012
- NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2012
andldquo;[A] perfect snowflake of a book. . . this is a book about a young womanandrsquo;s deep connection to nature and her family, but also the thrilling reward of pitching in together to create something magicalandrdquo;
andmdash;New York Times Book Review
andldquo;Snug and elegant, evocative and fun, Ellen Bryan Obedand#39;s memoir from her childhood winters in Maine skates along in an aesthetic pas de deux, as you might say, with Barbara McClintockand#39;s graceful black-and-white drawings.andrdquo;
andmdash;The Wall Street Journal
andquot;Evocative and at the same time marvelously real, this is as much about expectation and the warmth to be found in family and friends as it is about cold ice . . . Everyone will find this a small gem.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist, starred review
andquot;Irresistible.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus, starred review
andquot;This is a celebration of play, of winter, and of imagination . . . in an icy collection whose overarching quality is warmth.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book
andquot;Like a souvenir from a bygone era . . . Todayand#39;s readers will marvel at the old-fashioned amusements, chronicled with folksy charm.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
andquot;Delicate pen-and-ink illustrations enhance the action, emotions, and humor of each short description of ice and frost goings-on. . . . [A] brief but unforgettable volume.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;The rituals and humor connected with a timeless childhood experience unspool seemingly without effort from author and artist in this intimate volume.andquot;
andmdash;Shelf Awareness, starred review
andldquo;This is a joyful, spirited gem of a book, as bracing and glorious as a perfect stretch of ice.andrdquo; andmdash;Joyce Sidman, Newbery Honor author
and#160;
Synopsis
Award-winning illustrator Barbara McClintock renders Ellen Obedand#8217;s timeless text in a wintery scape for young readers. Warm icy hands on this fine winter read.
Synopsis
With the first ice—a skim so thin, it breaks when touched—one familys winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass, and then ice too thick to crush with the heels of boots. Then suddenly, ice that is ready for skating! Twelve Kinds of Ice takes a literary skate over field ice and streambed, winter lake and icy pasture, on frozen garden, through sleeping orchard, and beyond. The first ice, the second ice, the third ice . . . perfect ice . . . counting ice . . . the last ice . . . Twelve kinds of ice are carved into twenty vignettes by award-winning illustrator Barbara McClintock, each exulting the beauty of ice and ice skating that comes year after year.
Synopsis
With the first iceandmdash;a skim on a sheep pail so thin, it breaks when touchedandmdash;one familyandrsquo;s winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass. And eventually, skating ice! Take a literary skate over field ice and streams, through sleeping orchards and beyond. The first ice, the second ice, the third ice . . . perfect ice . . . the last ice . . . Twelve kinds of ice are carved into twenty nostalgic vignettes, illustrated in elegantly scratched detail by the award-winning Barbara McClintock.
Synopsis
At Helenand#8217;s home, there are no telephones or electric lights. Cars have not yet been invented, so she and her sister and brothers must walk a mile to school, even in freezing weather. Without refrigeration, they must harvest ice from the pond.
But at night she and her family gather around the woodstove to hear stories of castles and princes in hiding. They take horse-drawn sleigh rides, snug under buffalo robes and wool blankets; skate in the moonlight; and on Christmas morning have real maple syrup for breakfast.
With absorbing details of country life and elegant, hand-colored woodcuts, this book captures the strength of family, the magic of Christmas, and the love of place all year long.
Synopsis
Who would like a Christmas tree?
That all depends on when you ask.
In January, in February, in March, in April . . .
the black-capped chickadees, the field mice, the white-tailed deer, and the woodcock, come to claim the tree.
They want it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for shelter and protection, for a place to start a new family.
Can a Christmas tree be all that?
Yes, and even more . . .
The year has just begun!
Synopsis
Wanda Petronski, a little Polish girl in an American school, is laughed at because she always wears a faded blue dress, until her classmates learn a lesson.
Synopsis
Eleanor Estesand#8217;s The Hundred Dresses won a Newbery Honor in 1945 and has never been out of print since. At the heart of the story is Wanda Petronski, a Polish girl in a Connecticut school who is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress every day. Wanda claims she has one hundred dresses at home, but everyone knows she doesnand#8217;t and bullies her mercilessly. The class feels terrible when Wanda is pulled out of the school, but by that time itand#8217;s too late for apologies. Maddie, one of Wandaand#8217;s classmates, ultimately decides that she is "never going to stand by and say nothing again."
About the Author
Ellen Bryan Obed grew up on a six-acre farm in Waterville, Maine, where she and her siblings waited for the first ice as most children wait for summer or Christmas or a birthday.andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Ellen now lives with her husband in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. There they experience many kinds of ice coming each winter to area streams, lakes, and ponds, and to the nearby Piscataquis River.
Award-winning illustrator Barbara McClintock's art has enhanced many children's stories with fanciful costumes and incredible charming details. She is the author and illustrator of several books for children, including The Fantastic Drawings of Danielle, The Battle of Luke and Longnose, and Dahlia. She lives in Connecticut.