Over the Rainbow (Book & Audio CD) (Book & CD) [Hardcover]

E.Y. Harburg (Author), Eric Puybaret (Illustrator), Judy Collins (Performer), Harold Arlen (Composer)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Book & CD

Take a magical journey OVER THE RAINBOW. When all the world is a hopeless jumbleand the raindrops tumble all around, Heaven opens a magic lane. When all the clouds darken up the skyway, there's a rainbow highway to be found, Leading from your window pane to a place behind the sun, just a step beyond the rain. You may not immediately recognize these words--but you definitely know and love the song to which they belong. This is the introductory verse to Over the Rainbow, sung with such memorable poignancy by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Although she actually recorded these opening lyrics, they were never used in the film. Now, this classic song has been transformed into a magnificent picture book and CD set. Breathtaking and magical artwork by Eric Puybaret will carry young readers from a little red farmhouse up over the rainbow, into the sky where bluebirds fly and castles rise high in the clouds, and beyond.The extraordinary soundtrack for this book is performed by Judy Collins, who has recorded what might be the very best version of Over the Rainbow ever sung. The winner of a Grammy Award, Collins's glorious voice is one of the most admired of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her version of this classic will delight and touch the heart of every parent and child who listens. As an added bonus, the enclosed CD also contains two delightful additional songs recorded by Judy Collins: White Choral Bells and I See the Moon.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–5—A musical classic inspires the creation of new images of sweeping horizons and fanciful creatures. The book includes a CD by singer Judy Collins. Her crystal-clear voice floats seamlessly through the lyrics, first as a solo, then joined by her piano accompaniment, broadening with succeeding lines and natural rhythmic interpretation of the words. Two additional songs interpreted by Collins make this brief CD a treasure—"I See the Moon" (with children's chorus) and "White Coral Bells." Readers are treated to deep jewel tones as Puybaret carefully pulls them from one image to another with a succession of dreamlike scenes—from a red barn and farmhouse to animated castles in the sky. Clouds and celestial objects float earthward to join a young girl on a journey beyond a rainbow into the upper atmosphere with dreams of impossibilities. The art is unique, delicate, and detailed. Raindrops fall with whisper-thin lines, elongated figures accentuate the hurried action and sweep of the wind, images appear in the clouds, a small child sleeps under the watchful eye of a parent amid musical notes along the path of the rainbow, and bluebirds become elongated creatures of grace. Reading this book with the CD requires awareness of traditionally repeated lines but adds to the shared experience.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX
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About the Author

ABOUT THE PERFORMER: Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide for nearly five decades with her magnificent voice and thoughtful interpretations. Many of Collins's albums have been certified platinum and her version of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her rendition of Stephen Sondheim's Send in the Clowns won Grammy's Song of the Year in 1975. Judy's film about Antonia Brico, co-directed by Jill Godmillow, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1974. Brico was Judy's classical piano teacher when she was young and was the first woman to conduct major symphonies around the world. In 2000, Judy founded her own record label, Wildflower Records. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Eric Puybaret is the best-selling illustrator of PUFF, THE MAGIC DRAGON and the upcoming TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS performed by Peter, Paul and Mary (IMAGINE 2010), as well as numerous books in his native France. His art has been called elegantly rendered, by the New York Times; graceful [and] whimsical, by Publishers Weekly; and 'lovely...and indeed magical' by Kirkus Reviews. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E.Y. Harburg were two of Broadway and Hollywood's most popular songwriters. They wrote the songs for the classic film The Wizard of Oz, for which they won an Academy Award.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 26 pages
• Publisher: Imagine/Peter Yarrow Books; Har/Com edition (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1936140004
• ISBN-13: 978-1936140008
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 11.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Music

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully produced book of dreamy paintings, February 22, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Over the Rainbow (Book & Audio CD) (Book & CD) (Hardcover)

"Over the Rainbow" is a beautifully produced book of dreamy paintings by Eric Puybaret who was the artist for the "Puff the Magic Dragon", flawlessly set to the beloved lyrics of "Over the Rainbow," music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E. Y. Harburg. Sung by internationally acclaimed vocalist Judy Collins, "Over the Rainbow" is a classic to bestow upon a whole new generation of fortunate, beloved children. "Over the Rainbow" is the perfect pre-naptime, pre-bedtime storybook, with all the elements of magic and imagination to inspire sleepy young dreamers. An added bonus is the inclusion of two other songs sung by Judy Collins on the enclosed CD, "White Choral Bells" and "I See the Moon."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect except..., June 16, 2010

By 

Elizabeth Duquette (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Over the Rainbow (Book & Audio CD) (Book & CD) (Hardcover)

The pictures in this book are beautiful. That is what keeps my child engaged. However, I also have the Puff the Magic Dragon book and it does a much better job at following the music. Even if a verse repeats itself the book will do the same. The Over the Rainbow book does not and could use a few more pages to match the words. I would buy it again though and do recommend it to people with young children.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for my daughter, January 18, 2011

By 

Patrick Wilson - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Over the Rainbow (Book & Audio CD) (Book & CD) (Hardcover)

My daughter loves this book. Great illustrations. My wife and I have sung this to her, and when she hears Judy Collins sing it on the included CD, she really digs it. It also knocked her out cold last night. Great for our 2-year old daughter.