Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening [Hardcover]

Robert Frost (Author), Susan Jeffers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 1978 | Age Level: 7 and up

In this first picture book version of Robert Frost's classic poem, Susan Jeffers adds exactly the right visual dimension with the exquisite details and sweeping backgrounds of her frosty New England scenes. Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Eveningis truly a picture book to share with the whole family. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Robert Frost's well-known poem takes on new life in its first picture-book adaptation. The poem--long appreciated for its strong rhythm and evocative images--leaves readers wondering, "Where was the man going on the darkest night of the year?" and "Why on earth did he stop by the woods in a snowstorm?" Artist Susan Jeffers answers these questions visually--the kindly older gentleman who narrates the poem stops his sleigh to feed the forest birds and creatures. He stops once more to visit his daughter and grandchildren, then is off again through a blizzard, with many miles to go before he can sleep. The silent beauty of a snowy night shines through Jeffers's artwork; the man's clothing and blanket are the only bright touches of color in the white and wintry world of the woods. This quiet yet powerful book has a magic all its own. (Ages 4 to 7)

From Publishers Weekly

Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening with Susan Jeffers's 1978 illustrations plays up a festive family atmosphere. Jeffers warms the snowy b&w scenes by accenting coats, blankets and birds with muted colors. A frosty vellum cover evokes a wintry feel.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (October 26, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525401156
• ISBN-13: 978-0525401155
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,087,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars New Edition is SMALLER Format, October 1, 2001

By 

Carol Scott Zimmerman "Scottie" (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening (Hardcover)

The poem is great, as always. However, I'm disappointed in the changes to the Susan Jeffers illustrations. In the original version of the book, 8.5 x 11" (approx),the illustrations are finer, more deilicate. In the new, smaller format (7 x 8.5"), the lines are cruder, fuzzier, and someone has added a lot more color. It detracts from the lovely, icy, wind-blown quality of the original art. In my local bookstore, they are not even able to order a copy in the original format. It's a shame. I don't know why the publisher has decided to mangle a beautiful book. I've bought and given as gifts numerous copies of the original version. I won't buy the "new" version.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gift of Poetry & Beauty, July 20, 2002

By 

booknblueslady (Woodland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening (Hardcover)

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening is Susan Jeffers' illustrated book of the Robert Frost poem. It is a beautifully illustrated book which can be enjoyed by the parent as a child sits snugly on their lap.

I think it is a book that shows a great deal of respect. It respects the intelligence of the child by introducing beautiful "adult" poetry to the young. Simultaneously it is respectful of the adult reader allowing them to read something which is jointly appealing. This is ideally how an illustrated book should be. It should have appeal to both the reader and the listener and this book is a perfect example of that.

Susan Jeffers illustrations are exquisite. She captures the quiet beauty of the woods on a snowy evening. Animals peak from behind trees and bushes watching the man and his sleigh. There is plenty to be observed by child and parent while reading this book . It will be a thrill to find and name the animals while reading the book. Every page is a work of art.

The illustrations also work to tell a story within a story providing possible explanations for why the man is in the woods on that particular evening. Children will have some fun seeing the kinds of this this old gentleman does when no one is watching.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening is a wonderful wintertime book, but will make an excellent read in any season. What a wonderful gift for an adult to make for a child, a gift of poetry and beauty.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Way to Treat Your Children to Robert Frost, December 7, 2001

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening (Hardcover)

Please read the poem to your children out loud if they're old enough to follow it. Allow them the intense pleasure of visualizing the scene on their own before sharing another person's visualization with them. By all means, share this book, a beautiful, atmospheric slice of winter with them. Susan Jeffers has done such a splendid job on the illustrations. They are a hushed, crunchy-cold excursion into the dark solstice night in the deep woods. The only bits of color come from the living beings, the colorful man and his grandchildren and the shy forest animals he comes to feed. The stark, snow covered tree branches are illuminated to perfection and the big feathery snowflakes float down about you as you read. My favorite picture is the second to last one but I won't spoil it by telling you about it, except to say, see if it doesn't perfectly capture the reality you remember. This is a lovely book in and of itself, regardless of others that may have come before. Enjoy!