Crows: An Old Rhyme (Paperback)

by Heidi Holder (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A series of 12 oracular rhymes, each depicted in a full-page tableau, forms the basis of this elegant, sophisticated work. PW 's comment: "Opening this ripe melon-colored book is like peering through a door at an opulent play." All ages.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3 Using an old counting rhyme as inspiration, Holder has fashioned a book of richness, beauty, and charm. The text, ``One is for bad news, Two is for mirth,'' refers to the crows of the title. It appears on the left-hand pages with the appropriate number of birds inside a decorated frame. Below, two hares mime a light-hearted romance with a supporting cast of woodland ani mals. On the right, in full - page ornately framed spreads, Millie the Mink and Willie the Weasel enact the main melo drama. Costumed in the sumptuous dress of a bygone era, these unlikely animals meet and marry, living a life of splendor. Then, misfortune strikes. A chase, sudden death, and imprisonment follow, but the faithful mink and swash buckling weasel are reunited at the end. The rhyme connects only loosely with the pictured story, but readers should be able to speculate about what really happens. Working in a style reminis cent of the old masters, Holder has filled her illustrations with symbols culled from literature and folklore. For instance, ``Six is a thief'' shows a full moon to indicate turmoil; the clocks in the corners hint that time is the biggest thief of all. Several pages at the end provide information on the habits of crows, weasels, and minks; acknowl edge the artist's varied sources; and give a key to the symbols. A special volume which would work best in a one-on-one setting where child and adult could explore together its many- layered meanings. Ellen D. Warwick, Robbins Junior Lib . , Arlington, Mass.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Baby-Preschool
  
• Paperback
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux (February 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374416109
• ISBN-13: 978-0374416102
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,589,951 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts on "Crows: An Old Rhyme", by Heidi Holder, June 13, 2001

By	"millerlife" (Orangevale, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I loved this book. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful, which is why I bought the book, but I've also read the story over and over. The excerpt about crows in the back is delightful. I'm so taken with the beauty of the illustrations that I plan to paint a select few on my granddaughter's nursery wall.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Counting Rhyme Full Of Magic Illustrations !, October 12, 1998

By A Customer

CROWS combines masterful pictures with a clever counting poem that will delight children and adults alike - a wonderful gift for parents or as a coffee table book! I have one my nephew gave me and it sits on my living room table in Autumn! The kids know only very special books go there and this is one of my favorites!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Striking Work of Art for All Ages, March 10, 2007

By	Emily D. (Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews

As a lover of crows, I was given this book as a gift several years ago. I was a college student at the time and not prone to reading children's literature, so I believed that the real value of this book was the fact that my friend had thoughtfully recalled my fascination with crows.

Over the years, I have come to cherish this book for countless other reasons. Ms. Holder has created a vivid, compelling, multi-layered world full of animals, plants, and action. Readers, young and old, will discover something new with each visit. There are symbolic mysteries throughout the book with a key to deciphering them on the last pages.

The design and execution of this book must have been a Herculean task. I have often wondered if Ms. Holder was directly influenced by medieval manuscript illuminations. Her work here certainly reflects those rich, allegorical works where beauty is more than the gorgeous pictures on the page. Bravo!

Oh! And, on top of all of that, the little ones (3-6yrs.) in my life enjoy searching the pictures for new details. And while the counting rhyme began to lose its novelty for the older children, they have never tired of speculating about and creating *new* stories for the characters. Imagination abounds.