On The Morn Of Mayfest [Board book]

Erica Silverman (Author), Marla Frazee (Illustrator)

Book Description

There once was a lass/with hair like a nest/who walked out in her sleep/on the morn of Mayfest. And what happens to this lass? She is pursued by a dove, and then a huntsman who fixes on the dove, a mouse who frightens the huntsman, a cat who chases the mouse, and so on -- until an entire village is caught up in a spontaneous Mayday parade! Written in a delightfully catchy rhyme, this story is a treat to read aloud. Onlookers will love following the merry band of unforgettable characters that grows larger and more ridiculous with every turn of the page.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"This is the lass / with hair like a nest / who walked in her sleep / on the morn of Mayfest." So begins the playful cumulative rhyme that propels this jaunty picture book to its celebratory conclusion--a spontaneous Mayfest parade! The dove flies after the lass (with hair like a nest), a huntsman fixes on the dove, a mouse frightens the huntsman, a cat chases the mouse... and so on. As the chain of events grows increasingly chaotic, so do Marla Frazee's splendid, detail-rich illustrations. At one point, with children and monkeys and jugglers and laundresses and sheepdogs and cats and mice, the page virtually explodes with life and color. At last, the sleepwalking lass awakes to announce that she is the Queen of May and invites the crowd to dance, frolic, play, make merry, and jest. From "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" to "The House that Jack Built," children revel in the rhythm and repetition of cumulative rhymes, and Frazee's wonderful illustrations make Erica Silverman's silly, snowballing story fun and easy to follow. On the Morn of Mayfest is best read aloud, as kids will love tracking the girl and the dove through their madcap May Day romp. (Ages 5 and older) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Silverman (Mrs. Peachtree's Bicycle) revisits "The House that Jack Built" and makes of it a foundation for a merry olde English rite of spring. "This is the lass/ with hair like a nest/ who walked in her sleep/ on the morn of Mayfest," she begins. Over country roads the waiflike girl, barefoot and in a white nightgown, trails toward the village on the hill, and in her wake collects such amusing characters as a sheepdog ("in mad pursuit") who gooses the voluminous laundress ("who shouted, 'You brute!' "), three jesters ("juggling fruit") and a monkey ("in tunic and boots"). It all culminates in a parade of kisses through the cobblestone streets of the town, where the sleeping girl finally awakens to announce herself Queen of the May. Frazee's (The Seven Silly Eaters) finely wrought acrylic ink drawings cover the right-hand page; they are lightly handled with slyly endearing details (the jesters wear dark glasses; the monkey swings by its tail from a lamppost). Decorated initials dress up most text pages in the pleasing book design. Silverman and Frazee form a happy, uncomplicated collaboration with a festive hint of history. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Board book: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689806744
• ISBN-13: 978-0689806742
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,124,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My child loved this book and I did too!, January 25, 2002

By 

Angela R. Bourgeau "tranquiltherapy" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On The Morn Of Mayfest (Board book)

We borrowed this from the library and came to Amazon.com to buy it. My daughter (4) loved this book! She is in the early stages of learning to read, and has memorized the series of rhyme, puts words to the pictures and loves the story. The pictures are great and it is a fun book for parents to share with their children. I love this book almost as much as she does and I don't tire of reading it over and over.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hurray for Mayday!, November 3, 1998

By 

Shawn Thrasher "Senior Librarian - Youth Serv... (Monrovia, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On The Morn Of Mayfest (Board book)

This was a delightful Mayday romp, with bright pictures and a lilting add-on story-rhyme. After I was done, I wanted Mayday to be today!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So much fun!, March 7, 2003

By 

M. Santos "Michelle Skye" (Bridgewater, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On The Morn Of Mayfest (Board book)

This book is a joy to read. The text is light and airy and has a melodic sing-song quality. The pictures are so silly and fun, yet very detailed and beautiful. I love how the little girl wakes up and I love all the animals and people who join her on her impromptu May Day parade. This is a great spring-time or any-time book and I recommend it highly!