Halley Came to Jackson [Hardcover]

Mary Chapin Carpenter (Author), Dan Andreasen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 1998

In her second childrens book project, internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter captures the momentous night in 1910 when a father held his baby in his arms as Halleys Comet streaked across the Jackson skyline. Inspired by renowned author, Eudora Welty, and her stories of growing up in Mississippi, Ms. Carpenters words celebrate the special love shared between a father and a daughter and how lifes magical moments remain with us throughout our lives. Like an old tattered scrapbook overflowing with remembrances of days past, this touching story and Dan Andreasens stunning illustrations stand as a timeless tribute to the beauty of lifes memories and that night so long ago when Halleys comet soared through the sky.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As she did in Dreamland: A Lullaby, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Carpenter brings her image-rich lyrics to a picture-book audience, this time focusing on Halley's comet and the awe it evokes in the people of Jackson, Miss., as they sight it in 1910. Inspired by a family story told by Eudora Welty in One Writer's Beginnings, Carpenter's tale introduces a baby whose father holds her in his arms to see the great comet's tail "stretched out like a stardust streak"; it then fast-forwards to 1986, when the baby is now a white-haired woman, watching for the comet "from her daddy's porch" once again. Carpenter's words echo Welty's tone; they suggest a cherished story passed through the generations. In nostalgic, gently muted oil paintings, Andreasen recreates a time when neighbors gathered on porches and front yards to gaze at the night sky, and newspapers wrote about the astronomical event "every day for a week." His clouds and stars are a swirl of color and scratchy texture, and tender portraits of a chubby baby and a thoughtful old woman depict a life that has come full circle. As a bonus, an audiocassette recording of Carpenter's performance of this song is included. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-In 1990, Carpenter wrote and recorded a song about an incident that occurred in 1910. Eudora Welty's father took his infant daughter to the window to witness the comet Halley. Seventy-five years later, Welty stood on the front porch of the same house in Jackson, MS, to witness the comet's return. Andreasen's idealized paintings of small-town life add to the nostalgic tone of the lyrics, sure to tug at parents' heartstrings as they wish for happy futures for their children. The music on the accompanying cassette is pleasant. However, one must question the intended audience. Children don't know Eudora Welty's writing, and the picture-book set is unlikely to care much about the book's underlying theme. Adult fans of Carpenter's music might appreciate this visual interpretation of the song, but it fails as a children's book.
Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Har/Cas edition (October 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060254009
• ISBN-13: 978-0060254001
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #739,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still excellent after about the 100th time with my 4 kids, October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Halley Came to Jackson (Hardcover)

As a writer myself, with my brother being an illustrator, I wish we would have created this! My younger children follow the beautiful illustrations in the book, while my older ones are learning to read to it, as I am driving for the umpteenth time somewhere listening to the beautiful song! I sing it to my children when they go to bed. My kids are from 2-8, and I've passed it along to their schools. Its one of those great ones for the whole family to share and to give to others for gifts. Thanks Ms. Carpenter! Job well done!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully illustrated book,matching the lyrical imagery., October 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Halley Came to Jackson (Hardcover)

The book form of Mary Chapin's song, _Halley Came to Jackson_, is a beautifully illustrated work, which matches her exquisite imagery in her song, the basis for the book's words. Even the opening cover has musical instruments, denoting the book's tie to the musician's world of the author, Mary Chapin Carpenter. The colors and crispness of the illustrations, by Dan Andreasen, bring to life the story of the visitation of Halley's Comet to a small southern town, and the interest of the town's residents in the comet! Ms. Eudora Welty, the writer who inspired Mary Chapin's lyrics to her song, seems to be honored in one of the page's drawings, and Mary Chapin's beloved golden retrievers are pictured throughout the drawings, as honored "characters" in the story. An added bonus to the book is a cassette of Mary Chapin's version of the book, set to music. Although I may not be a "young child", this book is a gorgeous one to enjoy viewing and reading, for kids of all ages. This book is similar to Mary Chapin's previous children's book, _Dreamland_, also based on her musical song version of the same name;_Dreamland_ is a more generally illustrated book, without the specific storyline present in _Halley..._ and without specific characters depicted(Ms. Welty, the beloved retrievers, & the depiction of Jackson, MS and its residents). _Halley Came to Jackson_ is truly an exquisite book with a beautiful story and gorgeous illustrations-a must have for book lovers!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A perfect bedtime book, February 6, 2000

By 

JJ Bush (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Halley Came to Jackson (Hardcover)

I will admit that I love MC Carpenter's music but I had not heard the song until I bought the book for my 3 yr old. While it's true that he doesn't get the passage of time connection, he simply loves the sound of the words and the pictures. I love the sweet story. Soft and comforting are the adjectives that fit both the books illustrations and the song itself. My son plays the song over and over as he gets ready to go to bed. It's one of those books that will hold a special place for us as he grows older.