Jam and Jelly by Holly and Nellie (Individual Titles) [Hardcover]

Gloria Whelan (Author), Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Individual Titles

Times are hard and winter is very cold in northern Michigan. Without a warm coat, Holly might not be able to start school. Can Mama figure out a solution before the spring flowers turn to winter snows? National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan's lyrical prose is beautifully matched by detailed paintings from Michigan artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The rewards of hard work and a worthy goal is the theme of Whelan's (Homeless Bird) appealingly sweet story set in northern Michigan, "where the winter wind lays hold of you and the snow falls until everything is like a sheet of white paper." Though it is still summer as the tale opens, Mama knows that Holly will need a warm coat and boots when she starts school in the fall. Papa replies that Holly will have to stay home when the weather gets bad ("You can't expect money from carrots that grow in sand or cabbages that have to push away rocks on their way up"). But Mama is determined: "When I was Holly's age I missed school half the winter. Ever since, my learning's got big holes in it." Although van Frankenhuyzen's (Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot) close-up portraits can be stilted, he excels at lush, luminous paintings of mother and daughter picking five varieties of berries as each comes into season. A summertime spread of a blue heron and mother duck followed by a quintet of ducklings, a trout barely visible under the river's surface, provides convincing evidence of why the family would be willing to weather the harsh winters. The yield from the berry pickers (with some promotional help from Papa) clinches a mother-daughter triumph, as the closing image of the smiling, cherubic child standing in the swirling snow, snug in a fur-lined, hooded red coat, attests. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A sweet story with undertones of strength. Nellie is determined to buy her daughter a good winter coat and boots in order to get to school throughout the northern Michigan winter. She is adamant about coming up with the money because she often had to stay home as a child and feels that her "learning's got big holes in it" as a result. Nellie is nevertheless a wonderful teacher, showing Holly not only the importance of an education, but also teaching her about the various woodland animals and birds they encounter as they gather berries for jams to sell. Holly's father shows his love and support by building a roadside stand to display their wares. The full-page oil paintings emphasize how rich this family really is-in love and in their life at the edge of the forest. Van Frankenhuyzen's paintings are luminous and play up the passing seasons. When Holly finally gets her winter clothing, her face is priceless, proud and glowing. Most importantly, she has learned the joy of achieving a goal. The lining pages offer recipes for all of the jams so readers may become inspired to do some berry picking of their own.
Susan Marie Pitard, formerly at Weezie Library for Children, Nantucket Atheneum, MA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1 edition (October 31, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585361097
• ISBN-13: 978-1585361090
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons in patience,persistence, and the summer season all in a sweet story., June 1, 2006

By 

sally reader "sal" (IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jam and Jelly by Holly and Nellie (Individual Titles) (Hardcover)

This book has lovely pictures as well as a captivating story. It chronicles a mother and young daughter's summer of picking and canning wild berries to save money to buy a much needed coat for the little girl. It heralds education and hard work as something important, worth striving after. The pictures are very true to nature and it includes the names of plants, birds, and wildlife in the story. The metaphors are beautiful. Your children will learn about nature, grammar, and character while reading a fun story.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity is a treasure!, January 3, 2003

By 

Maxine Klan (DeWitt, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jam and Jelly by Holly and Nellie (Individual Titles) (Hardcover)

My granddaughter (a city girl) and I snuggled
on the couch to read Jam and Jelly ... it was
a precious time to see the beautiful illustrations
and read the story of a family working together
well. Their hard work was more like an adventure
than a chore, and encouraged exploration and
respect. My granddaughter and I will use this
book for years to come as part of our bonding
and love for God's beauty in creation. The
hype in today's world seemed to fade away as Trisha
and I shared some precious time together exploring
with the author (Gloria Whelan) and illustrator
(Gijsbert van Frankenhuysen).

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous pictures, memorable story, December 7, 2010

By 

PK - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jam and Jelly by Holly and Nellie (Individual Titles) (Hardcover)

I collect children's books and this is one of my favorites. It is my 10 year old daughter's very favorite. It is not too long, so you can really enjoy the amazing artwork with your child as you read. The story is relates the importance of hard work and the joy of a well-earned reward. I still get misty-eyed at the end sometimes. I originally bought it because of the illustrator and then fell in love with the story. Beautiful gift, especially for girls.