Customer Reviews

Hiawatha (Picture Puffins)

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I have this poem memorized because my father recited it to me so many times as a child. This illustrated version has beautiful pictures that capture the fact that this is the story of child and embody the lyric quality of Longfellows poem.

Susan Jeffers' drawings exemplify the clarity and imagination of Longfellow's epic poem to a tee. A must have for every child's library, hopefully to be read over and over again.

"Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, with drawings by Susan Jeffers brings us a great poem with nice pictures.

"By the shores of Gitche Gumee," begins Longfellow's famous poem, "Song of Hiawatha."

Presented here, stanza-by-stanza, we read the delicious language of Hiawatha's story, from birth to teenage years. It is not the legend of an American Indian that makes it so inviting, or even Longfellow's excellent use of simple English. It is the story of a young boy who happens to be an American Indian. Any boy or girl, especially those growing up where winter nights are frosty, where pine trees whisper, and owls and owlets hoot and laugh, will enjoy the prosaic poem.

It is like reading a walk through the woods.

Longfellow's work is not the only strength on this edition. Susan Jeffers' drawings bring in artistic realism.

Ultimately, the poem will be the lasting value, but it is available anywhere. It is public domain. It is the mix of art and poetry.

I fully recommend "Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Hiawatha is a beautiful, richly detailed poem of Native Americans before the treahery of the white man overwhelmed their way of life. Susan Jeffers took each verse and created a breathtaking, artist's view of the young Hiawatha. Each verse becomes vibrantly alive with her delicate rendiions."By the shores of ..." and Nokomis fill the readers souls with new images because of the renderings made by the talented Susan Jeffers.

This is a nice book on so many levels. It features beautiful artwork and the rythmic poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; and tells the story of Hiawatha's childhood with his wise grandmother Nokomis and all the plants and animals of the forest. It's a bedtime favorite of my little boy and me. It's also a good way to spark interest in the Native American culture and the beauty of nature.

This is a beautiful book. I bought it for a 5-yer-old boy. His native culture is East Indian and he has been interested in North America's "Indian" culture. He loved the book and it has encouraged his interest in other cultures. It was exciting for him to learn that he too lives on the shores of Giche Gumee.