She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain [Hardcover]

Tom Birdseye (Author), Debbie Holsclaw Birdseye (Author), Andrew Glass (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1994 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Family members compose verses to the folk song "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" to describe an expected visitor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Birdseyes extend a popular song's context with an original story about a much-anticipated visit. As in Tom Birdseye's Airmail to the Moon, the characters are hillbilly folk; upon hearing that their dear friend Tootie will soon "be comin' round the mountain," they prepare the youngest members of the clan for her arrival. Prompted by such questions as "Will Tootie come by train?" Papa Sweet launches into a choral response: "She'll drive her old jalopy when she comes (Beep! Beep!)." As the song progresses, the vision of a kindred spirit to the mountain folk is conjured up: "She'll be wearing jeans and slop boots,"and "She'll bring her old pig Clovis"-nay, "She'll bring all of her farm critters when she comes." Most telling of all is the "Yahoo!" she'll yell when she arrives. But when a tall redhead pulls up in a sleek car and makes her entrance in heels and evening gloves, everyone wonders if this glamorous woman could really be Tootie-until she utters her signature salutation. Glass's jiggly, bony figures aptly project the rustic, rollicking hoopla of the song; on the other hand, readers should be prepared to expend a lot of energy plowing through the exhaustive, rowdy verses and the multiple yahoos. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Anticipating the arrival of their old friend Tootie, Oma and Opa Sweet use this old song to prepare the young twins for her visit. However, this rather rural Appalachian family is quite surprised to be met by a very modern Tootie dressed not in "jeans and slop boots," but in long silk gloves, but who nonetheless belts out a "Yahoo" as greeting. Glass's full-color cartoon illustrations and large format add just the right rusty twang to the Birdseyes' delightful homespun colloquialisms for a rip-roaring, "Lorda' mercy! Yahoo" group read/sing. Background information on the song is included in a preliminary authors' note, and the eight verses incorporated into the narrative are listed with the musical score at the back of the book.
Claudia Cooper, Ft. Stockton Independent School District, TX
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823410323
• ISBN-13: 978-0823410323
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #524,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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