At the Crossroads [Paperback]

Rachel Isadora (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The children of a South African village eagerly gather at the crossroads to welcome their fathers, who have been away for months working in the mines. The children wait, but the men don't come. So the children keep waiting. And waiting. They wait all through the night, until the dawn brings both the day and the longed-for loved ones.A "lively portrayal of young children in a South African village eagerly awaiting their fathers' homecoming after ten months of working in the mines....A unique glimpse...and one that deserves a place in all collections."--School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- All over the world, children look forward to their parents' return from work. The perspective of this universal anticipation is expanded in this lively portrayal of young children in a South African village eagerly awaiting their fathers' homecoming after ten months of working in the mines. The celebration begins early in the morning, builds throughout the day, and is subdued but sustained until the following dawn when the men finally arrive at the village crossroads. The lifestyle and the setting are observed honestly and sensitively, without romanticism or sensationalism, as adults go about their daily routines and children fashion homemade musical instruments from salvaged scraps. The rhythm and repetition of the simple text evoke the jubilation and expectant mood of the children and reinforce their enthusiasm. Set against finely detailed depictions of village structures and striking landscapes, the expressive, impressionistic portraits of children and adults are best viewed at a distance, but blend beautifully in the perfectly composed watercolor illustrations. A unique glimpse of a familiar situation that is transformed into an extraordinary event through its foreign context, and one that deserves a place in all collections. --Starr LaTronica, North Berkeley Library, CA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

After ten months away in the South African mines, ``our fathers are coming home!'' to a shanty town set on an almost treeless plain. But the focus here is on joy and celebration: telling the other children at school, contriving instruments for a band to be joined by the whole neighborhood, singing and dancing at the crossroads. But it's a long journey home from the mines: the sun goes down, people drift away, and only the original handful of children waits until--at dawn--their fathers finally come. The understated drama of Isadora's quiet, carefully fashioned text blossoms in her freely rendered watercolors, where she conveys the beauty to be found in this shabby town: the rich colors of earth, sky and the surrounding hills; the patterns of fabrics and corrugated metal; the children's eager faces, vibrant with universal feelings. A beautiful, bridge-building book. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1st Mulberry ed edition (February 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688131034
• ISBN-13: 978-0688131036
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Africa

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "At the Crossroads", July 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: At the Crossroads (School & Library Binding)

A wonderful book telling of the warmth and love, not only in a family, but in a whole community. Eagerly awaiting the return of their fathers the children prepare a joyous welcome. Filled with rich, beautiful colors "At the Crossroads" tells a story of the love children have for their fathers, even though they may seldom see them. I felt that this really spoke of how those still at home kept the fathers 'alive' for the children. This is a wonderful book for children to see how other children live and how happy they can be with, what we would consider, so little. I use this book every year with our unit on Families.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I just found this book, April 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: At the Crossroads (Paperback)

Wow! My family is from South Africa and we were thrilled when we found this book at our local bookstore. It is sooo true to life and so uplifting. It brought back all the memories we have of our home and even the colors brought back memories. I am sorry we had to leave S. Africa and I am happy that Rachel Isadora could bring back the sights, sounds and smells. I hope that by understanding the terrible situation of apartheid the country will become a better place and all the people can live together. I hope my children will understand all this someday! Thank you for such a wonderful book.....

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story of longing, happiness and joy, March 8, 2004

By 

"acerrito" - See all my reviews

This review is from: At the Crossroads (Hardcover)

This book is beautiful touching story of childhood longing.

Six children wait for their fathers to come home after ten months away working in the mines.

We start their day with them as they wake in anxious anticipation. We follow them through their day with descriptive prose and amazing illustrations as they dress, go to school, make music and celebrate and wait and wait and wait.

They will not go home until their fathers arrive. The wait is longer than expected but the excitement remains high throughout this book until the beautiful end.