Boat Ride with Lillian Two Blossom [Hardcover]

Patricia Polacco (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Mixing vibrant color with black-and-white pencil drawings, the author/illustrator explore the magic of myth in a fantastical boat ride that sweeps Will and Mabel into the sky.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Will is trying to fish, but his younger sister Mabel keeps scaring away the fish with her noisy questions, like, "What makes it rain?" and, "Where does the wind come from?" Out from the bushes comes Lillian Two Blossom, an old Indian woman who offers to take them for a boat ride to find the answers. Off they go, with Will rowing, until the boat is lifted out of the water and into the heavens, where Lillian is transformed into a young version of herself. She points out the caribou that carries the sun across the sky from east to west, the wolves whose howls make the voice of the wind and the fish whose thrashing in the heavens make the rain. Based in part on an incident in Polacco's family history, this lovely mix of myth and realism gives a lazy summer day a shot of fantasy. The pages are awash in colorful, vibrant images; this encounter with Lillian is well worth repeat readings. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- A quiet fishing trip turns into an adventure for William and Mabel when Lillian Two Blossom, "an old Indian lady who lived in the woods," suggests that the siblings row her out to the center of Kalaska Pond. Before they realize what is happening, the boat lifts up out of the water, and Lillian, suddenly young again, is guiding them through the heavens, answering questions that Mabel had idly posed earlier about the rain, the winds, the sun, the moon, and the night. Bright paintings surrounded with white space depict a quiet day in the country, with blue lake, green fields, and children dressed in the straw hats, suspenders, and pinafore of an earlier time. Once the boat takes off for the sky, the paintings begin to fill the pages completely, showing how a school of bright fish brings the rain, scampering raccoons bring the night, and the polar bear spirit carries the moon across the heavens. Then the boat ride is over, and Lillian and the children return to the pond. Nothing is changed, and yet everything feels different. Polacco uses line, color, and space as in her earlier picture books. The story has the folkloric feeling of Rechenka's Eggs (Philomel, 1988) in an American Indian setting, although there is no documentation of authenticity of the legends used given in the book (nor in the Standard Dictionary of Folklore). Even as fiction modeled on folklore, the brief story has a magical feeling, with a sudden surprise that will capture listeners, and pictures large and colorful enough to share with a group. --Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, Pa.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (May 4, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399214704
• ISBN-13: 978-0399214707
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,235,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to parents of Russian and Ukrainian descent on one side and Irish on the other, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. Her school year was spent in Oakland, California, and summers in her beloved Michigan. She describes her family members as marvelous storytellers. "My fondest memories are of sitting around a stove or open fire, eating apples and popping corn while listening to the old ones tell glorious stories about their homeland and the past. We are tenacious traditionalists and sentimentalists.... With each retelling our stories gain a little more Umph!"Studying in the United States and Australia, Patricia Polacco has earned an M.F.A. and a Ph. D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting, and iconographic history. She is a museum consultant on the restoration of icons. As a participant in many citizen exchange programs for writers and illustrators, Patricia Polacco has traveled extensively in Russia as well as other former Soviet republics. She continues to support programs that encourage Russo-American friendships and understanding. She is also deeply involved in inner-city projects here in the U.S. that promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and encourage art and literacy programs.The mother of a grown son and a daughter, Patricia Polacco currently resides in Michigan, where she has a glorious old farm that was built during the time of Lincoln.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Polacco book!, June 5, 2008

By 

M. Byrne - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boat Ride with Lillian Two Blossom (Hardcover)

A typical Patricia Polacco story. If you enjoy her other's you will surely enjoy this one as well.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars endearing story, April 28, 2001

By 

"phatphaerie" (Beaver Dam, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boat Ride with Lillian Two Blossom (Hardcover)

As a maker of cloth dolls, I am always on the lookout for books with wonderful illustrations. Imagine my delight when I also found a book with a sweet, simple story. The best kind for small children and the children's heart within adults. I will definitely buy more of her books to add to my collection.