When the Frost Is on the Punkin [Hardcover]

James Whitcomb Riley (Author), Glenna Lang (Illustrator)

Book Description

One of the most widely recited verses of the last century, Riley's poem brings to life the rustle and russet of the harvest season, its richness and its promise. Lang has beautifully interpreted this gentle bard from Indiana's poem in her own distinctive style. The rich, smooth colors are a delight to the eye and the text bounces with life. A classic read-aloud that any young child will enjoy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This poem celebrates autumn and its changes in the rural landscape from a young farm child's point of view. Riley (1849-1916), the "Hoosier Poet" and author of another once widely learned and recited work, "Little Orphan Annie," is most often remembered as a "dialect" poet. Contemporary children will need this helpful background--included in a brief afterword--in order to better comprehend his idiomatic verse here--words such as "medder" for meadow, "hosses" for horses and "furries" for furrows, though mellifluous, need explanation. Further, few children in today's increasingly urban landscape will understand the repeating phrase "the fodder's in the shock." Employing her trademark soft shapes, Lang's handsome paintings adroitly evoke the season's richness with economical detailing and blocks of deep autumnal colors. They feature a contemporary child and/or her playful cat on each page and, while not providing a word-by-word reflection of the text, their interpretation will be an aid to understanding. Ages 4-6.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-- A respectful treatment of the poet's homage to autumn. Riley's words may seem affected to modern children ("The stubble in the furries--/kindo' lonesome-like, but still/ A-preachin' sermuns to us/ of the barns they growed to fill"), but Lang's bright, clean, graphic-style paintings capture the poetry of an autumn day in the country. Providing an unpredictable counterpoint to the narrative, she depicts a young girl as she awakens, does her chores, selects a pumpkin, and carves it. A helpful note on Riley's creative use of language and love of dialect is appended. Little Orphant Annie (Putnam, 1983; o.p.), illustrated by Diane Stanley, offers a more accessible introduction to Riley for children, but When the Frost Is on the Punkin , thanks to the joyous illustrations, is also worth meeting. --Kathleen Whalin, formerly at Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County, OH
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: David R Godine (September 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879239123
• ISBN-13: 978-0879239121
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,010,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where is the fourth verse?, November 16, 2010

By 

Jim Markle - See all my reviews

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This review is from: When the Frost Is on the Punkin (Paperback)

As a native, but transplanted, Hoosier I bought this book to introduce my two grandchildren to rural American Midwest culture and dialect from a bygone time. The Glenna Lang illustrations are delightful. However, I was shocked and disappointed to find that Riley's final(fourth)verse was not included. I hope the omission is not due to the publisher's deeming the final verse politically incorrect. That would be Orwellian. But I can think of no other reason. Were it not for the omission of the final verse I would have given this book five stars.

The complete poem, including the fourth verse, is easily accessible on the Web and I encourage readers to take a look.

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for the home library, December 9, 2011

By 

K. Noll (Midwest Mom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: When the Frost Is on the Punkin (Hardcover)

Anyone who enjoys Robert Frost will cherish this book. I read it to my mother and the wonderful prose brought tears to her eyes as it so aptly sets the scene of days passed. It will be a book that is read and re-read, plus I'll always recall the pleasure it brought to Mother. This one is a must for lovers of simple, but unsurpassed poetry. (The book also is an added feature to any autumn display.)

4.0 out of 5 stars 4th verse, November 1, 2011

By 

Robinson - See all my reviews

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This review is from: When the Frost Is on the Punkin (Paperback)

Ooops....

Then your apples all is gethered...................oh wait was not there!!

All jokes aside this was a nice pictured work and the poem is fun and historical, the star is taken off because as much as I wanted to I could not give 5 starts for an omission like that!

Nice poem though!