Give Her the River: A Father's Wish for His Daughter [Hardcover]

Michael Dennis Browne (Author), Wendell Minor (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2004

What do you give
someone to show them
just how much you
love them?

A father decides a river best captures his feelings for his little girl. A gift of life and changing beauty, a river encompasses so much more than meets the eye. It is the swan gliding upon its surface in the morning, the craggy stone steps leading down to its bank, the puppy trotting alongside a jogger on the path beside it, the drifting sailboat, and the hammock, perfect for reading stories in, beneath the willows that drape overhead. A river is a gift of possibility and challenges, a gift that expresses all things for which there are no words.

Give Her the River is a lyrical reflection of a father's love for his young daughter, and is sure to resonate with any father besotted with his little girl, and any little girl with a besotted daddy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Browne's picture-book debut romanticizes a river and a father's love for his daughter. "If I could give her anything," he writes, he would "give her the river," the "way the willows lean," the "swallows/that flicker flicker flicker," and the "fresh shiny leaves/of the oaks and elms." The sentiments expressed in the poem may be heartfelt, but they are also impossibly grand and emptily extravagant, and therein lies the book's weakness. Minor's unremarkable watercolor illustrations frequently miss the mark as an accompaniment to the text. When Browne describes a line of geese that "think they're pulling that boat behind them," readers see no boat, and when he mentions a jogger who "grin[s]" while passing by, there is no jogger in the picture. This book's excessively precious sentimentality leaves it ringing less than true.–Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
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About the Author

Michael Dennis Browne is a poet and librettist who has twice won the Minnesota Book Award for his collections of poetry for adults. His work has appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and his latest collection is entitled Things I Can't Tell You. Born in England, Mr. Browne now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a professor of English at the University of Minnesota. This is his picture book debut.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (April 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689843267
• ISBN-13: 978-0689843266
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #999,227 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars The river is a fitting gift, May 23, 2005

By 

Lissa Johnston - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Give Her the River: A Father's Wish for His Daughter (Hardcover)

If it were within our power, we would give our children the sky, the stars, and yes, the rivers. Michael Dennis Browne's Give Her The River expresses beautifully the powerful emotions parents feel for their children. Browne's skillful poetry is a welcome addition to the picture book genre. In addition to the peaceful and sometimes humorous imagery, the words themselves are carefully chosen and arranged to provide just the right rhythm and pace. The combination of words and illustrations make it perfect for cuddling up with your little ones.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written with precious paintings., September 13, 2006

By 

Cady Hayden "Children's Book Author" (Bergenfield, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Give Her the River: A Father's Wish for His Daughter (Hardcover)

Browne is poetic in a refreshing manner. Soft colorful nature paintings depicting love, truth and emotion. The story and illustrations remind me of a lazy peaceful day in Alaska or Maine when you take the time to stop and listen to life. Any parent would enjoy reading this with their child. Shows appreciation for things we normally take for granted.