One Grain of Sand: A Lullaby [Hardcover]

Pete Seeger (Author), Linda Wingerter (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

hen asked which of his songs he would most like to be sung 100 years from now, Pete Seeger replied, 'One Grain of Sand.' To bring this song to life on the page, artist Linda Wingerter painted rich, luminous scenes of families waking and sleeping all over the world-from a beach in Thailand, to a snowy pond in Scandanavia, to a high-rise apartment building in New York. The result is a gorgeous gift book for babies and families that celebrates the world's precious places and people, reflecting Seeger's lifelong commitment to social and environmental harmony.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-A simple and gentle lullaby becomes a trip around the world that starts and ends on a small tropical island. The sun comes up as the oft-repeated phrase "One grain of sand" begins the first page of this ode to parental love. Viewed from high above, a mother observes her two children greet the sun, watching it rise from behind the mountains. The trip continues over the sea and through seaside towns and big cities, as the grain of sand is compared to a drop of water in the sea, a snowflake in a storm, or a raindrop splashed in an eye. From the cold climes of snow-covered countries to India and back to horses galloping across the American plains, the beautiful illustrations, with a palette of blues and earth tones predominating, depict various pairs of parents and children. Giraffes on the African plain, polar bears on an Arctic ice floe, and a cat and her kittens on a city rooftop all display their love before readers are returned to the original mother and children, back inside their tropical-island home now that the sun has set. In an opening note, Seeger explains that verses were added to his original lullaby over the years and includes a couple of lines of melody, explaining that the nature of this freewheeling song is that no two verses are exactly alike. Although no recording is included, the words sing as they are read aloud. A lovely choice for bedtime reading.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 1. A lullaby written by folksinger Pete Seeger for his daughter in the 1950s is the text for this charming picture book that takes children on a journey from the African plains to the city. Gentle, lyrical verses enfold young listeners in a wide, wonderful world, united by love and family. The concept is echoed and enhanced by Wingerter's luminescent, realistic art; the artist's use of texture and color, from cool blues to sunny golds, adds warmth to intimate close-ups, such as a family lovingly watching its new baby, and also to stunning panoramas. The simple language and repetitive words and phrases provide comfort and reassurance to little ones, quietly drawing them toward the close of the book, which shows the children pictured on the first pages now asleep in their mother's arms. Included are sample musical notation, an introductory note discussing the song's origins and performance history, and an invitation for creative adaptation. Among the growing number of books that use song lyrics as text, this clearly stands out as a lovely mesh of art and language that celebrates the beauty and diversity of the world--and family ties. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; 1 edition (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316781401
• ISBN-13: 978-0316781404
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,184,265 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 Especially for Pete Seeger fans with children of their own, August 11, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Grain of Sand: A Lullaby (Hardcover)

Folksong singer, storyteller, and composer Pete Seeger wrote a lullaby in 1956 for his daughter Tynia. Now that song, "One Grain of Sand", has been brought to life in a picture book for children with the superb and luminous artwork of Linda Wingerter. One Grain Of Sand: A Lullaby is enthusiastically recommended reading -- especially for Pete Seeger fans with children of their own. Indeed, if a school or community library's acquisition budget can only afford the addition a single picture book this season, then they could do no better than to make it One Grain Of Sand.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I RATHER LIKED THIS ONE, March 4, 2007

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D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Grain of Sand : A Lullaby (Hardcover)

I suspect that Pete Seeger fans will enjoy this one more that others, but I liked it and found the children I read it to also like it. This is one of those works that need to be read a few times to really understand what Seeger is trying to say and it is a wonderful book to open up discussion with the child with. The illustrations are quite nice and if fact, beautiful. I found the book to be low keyed and rather refreshing after reading hundreds of the new type "whiz-bang" books that are filling our shelves. Some might find the words to the lullaby a bit sentimental (dare of use the word sappy), but that is okay. I have no problems exposing the kids to this type of thought and literature...actually, most of the kids I know could use a bit more of it. Recommend this one highly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile, October 13, 2006

By 

Emma (Milltown, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Grain of Sand: A Lullaby (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful picture book with a sweet message. Perfect as a gift for a new baby sibling if the the siblings are one boy and one girl as in the song and book. It may seem long to little ones the first time around but they'll ask for it again.