When The Root Children Wake Up (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Ned Bittinger (Illustrator) "Old Grandfather Winter slowly walks across the land..." (more)
Key Phrases: Foot Children

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers familiar with the original 1906 classic by Sybille von Olfers, which featured delicate art nouveau style illustrations, may find this new version overblown. Wood's retelling of the story finds Young Robin Redbreast awakening Mother Earth's brood in early spring and follows the Root Children through their annual "masquerade" a frolic through the seasons with Aunt Spring, Cousin Summer and Uncle Fall until it's time for them to return once again to their home beneath the ground "for their long winter's nap." The tale's timeless themes of renewal and rebirth have lost none of their resonance, but the narrative bogs down somewhat in old-fashioned cadences that may be a nod to the source but come off as slightly forced ("May love and happiness follow wherever you may bloom"). Bittinger's hazy, soft-focus oil paintings suffer the same fate. Technically skillful (his animals are exquisite), with delicate brushwork and a comely use of light and shadow, the portraits of the multicultural cast of cherubs, decked out in butterfly wings and floral garlands, falter when the brushwork drifts into the kind of calculated lushness found in Thomas Kinkade paintings. It's a laudable effort, but one that's ultimately less than the sum of its parts. Ages 5-10.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-According to the author's note, this story was originally written and illustrated in 1906 in Germany by Sibylle von Olfers. Wood's retelling of it is both economic and graceful. The tale itself is a gentle but joyous romp through the seasons. After Grandfather Winter returns to his palace of ice, Mother Earth wakes up her Root children, helps them dress in blossom clothing, and sends them up into the world. They frolic first with kind Aunt Spring and then with jolly Cousin Summer. The arrival of studious Uncle Fall signals a quieter time, and at last Mother Earth calls them back to their underground home and sings them a lullaby, while Grandfather Winter listens outside. The story itself is so evocative that it could be told without benefit of illustration, but in this case the pictures are so beautifully rendered that the words are almost superfluous. Bittinger's oil-on-linen paintings are nothing short of gorgeous. They are rich in texture, vibrant of hue, and rendered with such care and elegance that one is reluctant to leave one page for the next. This is a truly lovely offering from a talented pair.
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059042517X
• ISBN-13: 978-0590425179
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #216,546 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I like it!, April 17, 2002

By	Grace K. Sheehan "thesilverpennydotcom" (Cape Elizabeth, ME United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being very familiar and in love with the 1902 version of this book, I didn't know what to make of this new version, at first. But it grows on you! I especially like the way Mother Earth is portrayed, not as a Grandmotherly figure, but a beautiful woman maybe in her early thirties - an image of fertility and fruitfulness. The illustrations are lush and a bit overdone in places, but they represent the bounty of the seasons well. The introduction of Aunt Spring, Cousin Summer, Uncle Fall and Old Man Winter is different than the original, but not offensive or upsetting even to a die-hard fan, like me. The text is shorter and, for that reason, may appeal to younger children who can't sit through Sibylle von Olfers' word-ier original story. Overall, when I compare the two, the 1902 original has a certain charm that is hard to deny. Von Olfers' illustrations are simple and the text is straightforward, although a bit wordy. This new remake is beautifully done and has a different feel altogether: it's lush, full of life, color and movement. Audrey Wood has taken a risk to remake such a beloved classic, but I believe she made a good effort and successfully made it her own. I can't say it's better than the original, but I like it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploring the Four Seasons, March 21, 2002

By	Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This elegantly crafted book is a pure delight! The light-hearted text and the beautiful evocative oil paintings that illustrate the story lead us on a whimsical journey through the changing seasons. We are re-introduced to delightful characters from an old German story about birth and rebirth and treated to the colorful adventures of the Root Children as they awaken in Spring and begin painting the bugs and making lovely flower costumes. We also meet Old Grandfather Winter, Mother Earth, Kind Aunt Spring, Jolly Cousin Summer, and Studious Uncle Fall. The joyous adventures of the Root Children as they meet their older relatives and a host of woodland creatures out in the world are brimming with color and fun. The multi-racial children sport colorful butterfly wings and flower garlands as they frisk about the abundant earth revelling in Nature. The expressions and body language of real children are reflected in these lovely illustrations. The double page spreads draw one in to the festivities and are complimented by a beautiful, uncharacteristic font style for added ambiance. The dust jacket is a smooth silvery paper with a glossy full color picture of the Root Children and a lovely tangle of budding trees. The endpapers are a silvery blue with the same lovely trees and the covers of the book itself are a simulated embossed soft brown leather with a picture of a little Root Child girl holding a lighted candle, oak leaves in her hair. No detail was spared in this lovely book and it is sure to become a beloved treasure.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Earth Spirituality Delight!, November 26, 2004

By	Mahina - See all my reviews

This is a rare find for those with Earth based spirituality/religion. The illustrations are lush and detailed, and the story is a perfect introduction for children to the Wheel of the Year.