To Every Thing There Is A Season [Hardcover]

Leo Dillon (Author), Diane Dillon (Author), Leo & Diane Dillon (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

The famous verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes are accompanied by exquisite illustrations, each rendered in the style of a different world culture...An ecumenical, artistic, and cultural experience, rich in beauty and expansive in its appreciation of ethnic variety." - School Library Journal, starred review. "Readers will be awed by the breadth and depth of the artwork...[and] the seriousness and thought the Dillons have put into the book.... [A] book that can be examined and thought about by generations of young readers." - Booklist, starred review

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Leo and Diane Dillon have collaborated on 40 illustrated books and won a shelfful of major awards for their artistic work, including two Caldecott Medals. No surprise, then, that this book is a feast for the eyes--but it's remarkable even by their exalted standards. The text, printed in large, clear capitals along the bottom of the pages, consists simply of the famous verses from Ecclesiastes: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die...." Each phrase is illustrated by one of 16 panels, and each panel stems from the artistic style of a different culture, from Egyptian tomb friezes, to Japanese harvest scenes, to Aboriginal bark paintings, to Greek vase paintings. The rich, sophisticated illustrations may appeal more to parents than to their children--and verses like "a time to kill" may be too much for the very young--but there could be no more beautiful vehicle for the old wisdom that we have to know, expect, and live with both the good and the bad that life will inevitably bring us. At the end of the book the authors provide interesting information on the style and the art history behind each illustration. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustrations copyright © 1998 by Leo & Diane Dillon. Permission from The Blue Sky Press, Scholastic, Inc.) (Ages 5 and older) --Richard Farr

From Publishers Weekly

The poetic words of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes have been read, sung and whispered in countless books, songs and prayers. But in this picture-book tour de force, the two-time Caldecott Medalists celebrate the universality of the time-honored verse, depicting its relevance throughout history, spanning all cultures and religions. At first glance, readers will recognize in the jacket art a painting possessing many of the signature hallmarks of the Dillons' work: dramatic, intriguing human figures and subtle, earthy tones. Once inside, however, readers witness the artists giving over their own recognizable approach to immerse themselves in the style and media of several different world cultures. The opening painting, inspired by illuminated manuscripts and the Book of Kells, suggests the great things to come. The intricately rendered pattern consists of carefully arranged circles that contain symbols of nature and the seasons; they nearly swirl on the page, creating a larger visual circle that suggests the cycle of life. The subsequent spreads each contain a single line of text in a crisp font, and an expansive double-panel painting which incorporates cultural motifs and the palette and tone of a particular era and region of the world. To illustrate "A time to weep,/ and a time to laugh," for example, the artists show a young man in 16th-century India leaving his sorrowful family during a time of drought; on the juxtaposing page he joyfully returns to a lush landscape, opulently dressed and bearing riches. Other destinations in the book include ancient Egypt (featuring a sarcophagus and the god of mummification, Anubis), medieval Europe (in which villagers mourn a loved one and dance at a wedding) and 18th-century Japan (woodblock prints of people working in the rice paddies). Many readers will liken the experience of viewing this astonishing array of art styles and media to walking through a brilliantly curated exhibition in a museum. The ample detail in costume, geography and symbolism allows each work to tell its own grand story. And the wealth of emotion on the faces of the players here further personalizes their histories. In addition, the Dillons explain the historical background of and the inspiration for each illustration in a succinct and thoroughly researched afterword. All told, this enlightening volume exudes a quiet elegance readers will not soon forget. All ages.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Blue Sky Press; 1ST edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590478877
• ISBN-13: 978-0590478878
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book for All Ages, December 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: To Every Thing There Is A Season (Hardcover)

This book is a treasure of representative illustrations of artistic styles from a wide variety of cultures. Although the text comes from a specific time and culture, it demonstrates that its message is applicable to all members of the human family. I have made this a standard gift for friends and family with new children. The colorful pictures are stimulating and captivating for the very young who have not yet learned to read, while the timeless text provides a new level for children to experience the book as they get older. As an adult, I find this book to be something I enjoy over and over for myself and to give as a gift.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traditional Verse in an Exceptionally Beautiful Style, October 1, 2004

By 

Juliana LHeureux "Maine Writer" (Topsham, Maine United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Every Thing There Is A Season (Hardcover)

There's an enjoyable specialness to this beautiful rendition of "To Every thing There is a Season" by Leo and Diane Dillon. Author and artist raise the sensory awareness of traditional Biblical text. They transpose exquisite simple Ecclesiastes prose from the traditional to the modern. They take the well-known and breathe new life into verse by adding cultural diversity and the beauty of artistic interpretation. I keep at least two copies of this beautiful book in my house at all times because, although it might be perceived as a stunning children's book, I actually use this book as a bereavement gift for families experiencing the loss of a loved one, regardless of age. Start a tradition in your family by giving this book to those you love who are experiencing personal losses of any kind. This is a high brow children's rendition of Biblical text worthy of an adult's attention.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A absolute treasure to own and to give!, October 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: To Every Thing There Is A Season (Hardcover)

Ecclesiastes comes to life in the stunning multi-cultural illustrations of the verses. It should be on your gift-giving list for young AND old alike. The cultural portrayals are so pure students will enjoy naming them as the pictures are shared. The information about the illustrations in the back adds a special touch.