Mary Had a Little Lamb [Paperback]

Sarah Josepha Buell Hale (Author), Salley Mavor (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000 | Age Level: 2 and up

What happens when Mary's lamb follows her to school one day? Children have delighted in the story of Mary and her pet lamb for more than 150 years. Now Salley Mavor brings this special friendship, time and place to life in the rich patterns, colors and textures of her distinctive fabric relief, creating a stunning picture book full of details and childlike whimsy.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mavor (The Way Home) presents the most polished example yet of her intricate fabric relief art in this endearing version of the familiar childhood song. Informative concluding notes explain the debate over the authorship of the 19th-century verse (at least some of which is generally credited to Hale), and mention the diverse techniques-among them applique, embroidery, wrapping, dyeing and soft sculpture-that comprise Mavor's extraordinary medium. Finely reproduced color transparencies capture the art's three-dimensional quality, which Mavor achieves by incorporating such materials as stuffed cardboard shapes, wrapped wire, beach stones and a wide variety of fabrics. The artist manages to make her human figures-Mary, her family, teacher and classmates-surprisingly lifelike, and she fills her outdoor and indoor settings with remarkable detail. Perhaps the clearest star of this pleasant book is one perky, woolly lamb (with fleece made of fine yarn tied into tiny French knots) which, whether gamboling after its mistress or peeking out from under her school desk, seemingly begs to be cuddled. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1?The familiar children's verse is given a new interpretation in this lovely book in which each double-page spread is truly a work of art. Mavor's art form is fabric relief, a technique including applique, embroidery, wrapping, dyeing, and soft sculpture to create appealing, tactile pictures that children will love to pore over. They capture the rural setting and period of the poem first published in 1830, with details overflowing onto the borders framed by strips of woven fabrics. The lamb itself is a charming character fashioned from hundreds of French knots in fine wool yarn. Helpful background information is given at the end for those interested in the origins of the poem and the controversy surrounding its authorship, as well a note on the production of Mavor's art. Two other versions of the poem are available, Bruce McMillan's photographic rendition set in the present (Scholastic, 1990) and Tomie dePaola's more historical presentation (Holiday, 1984). They each have their own virtues, but this one is enchanting.?Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books (NY) (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531071650
• ISBN-13: 978-0531071656
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,347,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visual new take on classic poem, September 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mary Had a Little Lamb (Hardcover)

Mavor is a genius in using scraps of whatever to create a textural world that is as comfortable as this classic story poem. Look at each page, and look again, there seems no end to details that embellish these sewn illustrations. Yummies for your eye, and if only we could touch!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Artistic Masterpiece, March 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mary Had a Little Lamb (Hardcover)

Our daughter keeps asking to read this classic poem/song again and again. Mayor's illustrations are a masterpiece of three-dimensional textile work, combining many different techniques. She has also captured many historical details of the era in which the poem was originally written. The result adds depth and detail to a simple story, which makes it a pleasure to read again and again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars mary had a litle lamb, September 26, 2005

By 

Margaret Urrutia "margie" (bay point calif) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary Had a Little Lamb (Board book)

the book was very colorful i loved the pictures easy for children to connect. i love sally mavor's work she is an excellent artist. i will continue to buy her books. and the shipment time was great