Customer Reviews

One Grain of Sand: A Lullaby

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is a lovely book--the illustrations are rich with color and swirling detail, and the books shows scenes of families (human and animal) all over the world. Gorgeous, really.

The song is also lovely, but if you're like me and have a hard time reading music (Seeger includes it), then you'll want to search out the melody online. Do an online search for the following words: Smithsonian Seeger One grain of sand. You should find the Smithsonian Global Sound site with a sample of Pete Seeger himself singing the melody of his song. It's a very gentle, haunting lullaby.

Of course, we're not blessed with Seeger's voice, so we simplify it a little. Still, I'm glad to know what it sounds like when he sings it--being able to sing in a tone that matches the lovely illustrations has made this a favorite book in our house. Our 18 month old requests this one again and again, calling it the "sand" book.

Enjoy, and thank you Pete Seeger!

My 3-yr old daughter just received this book as a gift, and she loves hearing it over and over - she's not bored by it at all. In fact, she loves the illustrations and the rhythm of the words. Highly recommended.

I am a fan of Pete Seeger but the story is so-so. I gave it as a gift. I am afraid this is one for the shelf rather than being read again and again

It may be beautiful poetry with stunning pictures, but kids are bored by the book. I read the book once to my children and they have refused to ever listen to it again. They like fun stories, not sappy stuff.