Poems of Childhood (Scribner Classics) [Hardcover]

Eugene Field (Author), Maxfield Parrish (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Scribner Classics

A collection of poems celebrating the 150th anniversary of Scribner Books comes complete with several full-color illustrations by famed artist Maxfield Parrish. Reissue.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Scribner Illustrated Classics reissue of Eugene Field's 1904 Poems of Childhood is set in the original typeface with reproductions of eight full color drawings by Maxfield Parrish. The book is more of a time capsule than a treasure trove of enduring poetry-despite works like "Little Boy Blue" and "Wynken, Blynken and Nod," reading nearly 200 pages of late-Victorian sentiment gets wearisome: a typical poem begins, "When our babe he goeth walking in his garden/ Around his tinkling feet the sunbeams play."
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689807570
• ISBN-13: 978-0689807572
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,013,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Touching and memorable., March 19, 2002

By 

"kaia_espina" (Quezon City, Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poems of Childhood (Scribner Classics) (Hardcover)

Some of these poems are for children. Some are merely about children. Some are for grown ups who love children. Some are for children who have no idea how dear they are to the grown ups in their lives.

Despite having had my copy of Poems of Childhood for ten years, I know absolutely nothing about Eugene Field save what I can infer from the poems in this collection. From their recurring themes, and the order in which they appear, I can guess that Field lost a child who was very precious to him . . . was slowly healed of his grief by the love and presence of other children . . . and was given a second chance with the birth of a new baby.

There are about 15 poems that hint of that lost child and a handful that juxtapose sleep and death, making me wonder if the baby died in its sleep. Other sad poems are merely wistful about beloved children who have grown up. Thankfully, there are just as many happy poems as sad ones: cheery verses about toys, imaginary creatures, and playground games. Field also wrote several lullabies that are perfect for rocking children to sleep, whether or not they are put to music.

I dont know any other poet who has brought such dignity to "babytalk." Toddlers in his poems are called names like Pittypat, Tippytoe, Googly-Goo and Luddy-Dud. His imaginary fairies include Amberglee, Daisybright and Pilfercurds. Moreover, Im sure that no other collection of childrens poems has this many terms for "dreamland"--Blinkiwink garden, Shut-Eye town, and Hushaby street, to name a few.

Though Field could be accused of writing the same poems over and over again, most of his verses have such distinctive _personalities_ that this is not entirely true. What they _all_ have in common is his delicate touch--yes, even the ones in which his voice turns rustic and homey--that has endeared him to children and grown ups alike.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beloved classic, May 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Poems of Childhood (Scribner Classics) (Hardcover)

I received this book as a gift when I was about 8 or 10, and it was one of my favorite all time books. The poems are dear and the illustrations are simply magical. This volume had poems I had heard before, like "Winken, Blinken, and Nod", and many that were new to me. Over the years, when I had to memorize a poem for school, it was always one of these I chose -- "Jest 'Fore Christmas", "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat", and "the Dickey bird is singing in the Amphalula tree."

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful and classic book!, November 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Poems of Childhood (Scribner Classics) (Hardcover)

One of my very favorite books of my childhood. The copy I have was given to my mother in her childhood, and she read the poems to me. This book introduced me to not only some wonderful poetry, but also to the amazing artwork of Maxfield Parrish. I'm delighted that Scribner's has reissued the book in the original design.