Some from the Moon, Some from the Sun: Poems and Songs for Everyone [Hardcover]

Margot Zemach (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A charming book of children's rhymes by the Caldecott Medalist.

I'm the king of the castle,
Get down, you dirty rascal!

There she goes,
There she goes,

All dressed up in her Sunday clothes.

When I make a book for children, I draw it the same as I would for grownups. I draw for people of any age. —Margot Zemach

Margot Zemach was a visionary artist whose contribution to twentieth-century children's literature is one of the most significant and innovative ever. Farrar Straus Giroux is proud to be publishing her final book, a collection of timeless verses paired with Zemach's glorious watercolors. From the familiar "This Little Pig Went to Market" to the lesser-known "Brave News Is Come to Town" to the enduringly popular "Bingo," these twenty-seven rhymes and songs — many of them favorites from Zemach's youth — are lovingly presented for readers of all ages.

Completing the volume is a brief scrapbook of Zemach's childhood artwork, family photographs, and autobiographical writings and sketches, assembled by her daughter Kaethe Zemach-Bersin. It is a unique personal glimpse into Margot Zemach's life for those encountering her work for the first time, as well as for those who have long admired her.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Each detail of this posthumous collection of Zemach's work is rendered with care. From the book's cover, with its arches of sun, stars and earth, to the brief autobiography at its end, Zemach's versatility shines. Dazzling endpapers resemble sketchbook pages, chock-full of people and animals and the moon/sun theme carries through to the title page, which shows an intriguing crowing rooster wearing a midnight-black cape flecked with stars. The collection of rhymes plays up Zemach's wide range of moods and styles, perspective and subject matter. The tranquility of the deft watercolors illustrating a birch forest ("When a big tree falls and people aren't near,/ Does it really make a noise if no one can hear?") offers a distinct contrast to the humor of a black-outlined caricature of Hannah Bantry, gnawing at a mutton bone in the pantry, for instance. Similarly, the child-like watercolor of Bingo the dog differs in texture, line and complexity from Zemach's depiction on the succeeding page of the five little pigs that go to market. The variety of style coheres rather than distracts, and Zemach's consistent palette is enough to unify the book artistically. Zemach's own words at the book's conclusion, adorned with fascinating photographs and samples of artwork from her childhood, will inspire the creativity of nearly everyone, and may well send readers out in search of her other works (a complete list is provided). All ages.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 2-Warm, lively, funny watercolors illustrate nursery rhymes from "This Little Pig Went to Market" and "Bingo" to the less familiar "Baby and I Were Baked in a Pie" and "There Was a Lady Loved a Swine." The selections are accompanied by illustrations of varying sizes on a white page, with a couple of double-page spreads. The text is nicely laid out, with plenty of room for the eye, yet the design feels cozy. The energy and humor in the paintings are perfectly suited to the rhymes and will appeal to a young audience. As a bonus, the book closes with several pages of autobiographical comments from and photos of Zemach (1931-1989) and previously unpublished paintings and sketches that give wonderful insight into her personality. Whether young or old, long-time fans or newcomers to Zemach's work, readers will be intrigued by this slice of an artist's life. Librarians, especially, will appreciate the sketch entitled "Receiving News about Winning the Caldecott Medal" that accompanies a full bibliography of the artist's work on the final page. With just 27 selections, this is not a voluminous collection, but it will be well appreciated at the bedside, on the lap, or at storytime. As a tribute to an artist or simply a book for sharing, it's a top-notch selection.

Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (August 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374399603
• ISBN-13: 978-0374399603
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,816,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wonderful Margot Zemach....., April 29, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Some from the Moon, Some from the Sun: Poems and Songs for Everyone (Hardcover)

As Margot Zemach tells us in her creative autobiography spread at the end of this marvelous collection, full of photos and drawings from her too short life, "Children deserve detail, color, and excellence...the best an author and illustrator can do. The pictures have to be made "real." The food should be food you'd really want to eat and the bed should look so cozy that you'd want to climb in right away." This collection of 26 simple, engaging poems, some familiar...Bingo, This Little Pig Went To Market, Sleep Baby Sleep, Star Light, Star Bright... and some new, are brought to life on the page by Ms Zemach's charming and inviting illustrations. Her signature pen and watercolor artwork sparkles, is rich in expressive detail, and complements each verse with color, humor, emotion, and fun. These are unique and intriguing paintings to savor and explore each time the book is opened. Perfect for cuddling preschoolers on laps on a quiet afternoon, or lulling little ones to sleep at bedtime, Some From The Moon Some From The Sun introduces Margot Zemach to a whole new audience, and is a gentle, cozy little treasure to be shared with friends and family now, and with future generations in the years to come.