Customer Reviews

Family Reunion

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I love the joy of discovering new authors and sharing them with my children, both of whom love to read as much as I do. One of my new favorites, although she's been writing for years, is Mary Quattlebaum, author of the beautifully illustrated Family Reunion (Erdman's, February 2004, hardcover, 32 pages) and the wonderful Jackson Jones chapter book series. A classic storyteller, Quattlebaum takes a little "poetic license" in the beautifully illustrated Family Reunion. Through the eyes of one young girl, the story of a family's reunion at the shore unfolds in fifteen uniquely styled poems. Watercolor illustrations by Andrea Shine combine with Quattlebaum's artful verse to make this a book your family will treasure together.

Family Reunion is a book that will make poetry live and breathe for you and your kids. Both my daughters enjoy this jolly book immensely (and neither is otherwise a poetry fan). And I've given it as a gift to several different members of our extended family-- all to rave reviews. Mary Quattlebaum writes about fun and accessible topics, but her gift for rollicking word play is what will make you read this book again and again.

Here's the first stanza of one of our family's favorites, "Watermelon":

Melon, melon, green and round,
fat with fruit, all red and sweet,
Thump! We make a ripe, drum sound....

I won't give away the ending! Suffice it to say, I love this book!