The Blue Hill Meadows [Paperback]

Cynthia Rylant (Author), Ellen Beier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Willie Meadow lives with his mother, father, and brother in Blue Hill, Virginia. It's peaceful there-a perfect place for growing up. For the Meadow family, each season of the year holds something special, like puppies born to their beloved dog one summer, a fishing trip on a crisp October day, or the thrill of a rare winter blizzard.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Four short chapters in a format between beginning-to-read and longer chapter books describe a family's existence through the seasons. A starred PW review said, "Every word is carefully chosen, and it is this precise rendering of each chapter's adventure that makes it special." Ages 7-10. (May)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5. In four short chapters, Rylant introduces the Meadows: Sullivan, Eva, and their two boys Ray and Willie. They live in Blue Hill, Virginia, where things move slowly and a family has time to "just be." As always, Rylant writes with grace. Her spare style effortlessly creates a sense of place, rich in homey, happy details. The watercolor and acrylic illustrations, done mostly in blues and lavenders, contribute to the gentle tone. Each chapter is set in a different season, creating a nice balance to the pacing and bringing the end back to the beginning. However, for all its loveliness, there is a detached quality to the narration that makes it read more like a sweet dream than a here-and-now story. Willie is the only character who ever develops a personality, which is a shame since the joy of adopting a stray pet, the excitement of a fishing trip, the worry about being stuck at a teacher's house during a blizzard, and agonizing over the perfect gift for Mom are all experiences that would appeal to children. Perhaps the biggest problem this book will face is finding an audience. It would be best appreciated by older readers, but it will be most attractive to the beginning chapter-book crowd, who may struggle with the language and pace. If this book is placed into the right hands, its readers will be treated to a lazy, gentle year with a really nice family.?Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152024670
• ISBN-13: 978-0152024673
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #802,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book that tells 4 wonderful family stories, December 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Blue Hill Meadows (Hardcover)

Cynthia Rylant can bring a family to life with just a few simple words. The Meadow family is warm and loving without being sugary-sweet. The stories in this book are delightful and Rylant's prose is wonderful. The watercolor illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. As a mother, I liked the Mother's Day story best, but all 4 of the stories, which correspond with the 4 seasons, had something special. This would be a perfect book to read aloud to children 4-6, or for children 7-9 to read to themselves. I'm a fan of all of Rylant's work. This is one of my favorites.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Four lovely stories, February 19, 2003

By 

The Queen of Creative Invective - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Blue Hill Meadows (Paperback)

Who doesn't love Cynthia Rylant? I've been a fan of Ms. Rylant's since I discovered her funny/sweet Henry & Mudge series. I borrowed this charmingly illustrated book from the library, and my six-year-old daughter loved it so much we had to order our own copy once the library' book had to be returned. The four short stories contained in this book are tenderly written odes to a family life well-lived in a little white house in the country, told from the perspective of the youngest boy, Willie Meadows. The stories are well-written and contain nothing objectionable. This is a book that will comfort children, and that is safe to read to even the most anxious child.

5.0 out of 5 stars A story about a year, January 21, 2009

By 

Anne (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Blue Hill Meadows (Paperback)

Young children have such a hard time understanding the span of a year and the seasons. This book is great because it follows a family through the year. I loved what one of the other reviewers said about it being okay for anxious children. I agree with that. There is one of the stories that I would even say is especially good to share with an anxious child--the one set in winter during a snow storm. My daughters also loved the first story about the dog who came to live with them. This is a wonderful book to read aloud to a kindergartener or first grader!