I'm in Charge of Celebrations (Aladdin Picture Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Peter Parnall (Illustrator) "Sometimes people ask me, "Aren't you lonely out there with just desert around you?..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4 Another collaboration set in the desert from this author/artist team. The styles are consistent: typically twin columns of very short lines of prose set into double-page spreads of intense colors and large white spaces. This is a paean to the forces of nature active in the desert, and a young woman's love of her environment that motivates many private celebrations: Coyote Day, Dust Devil Day, The Time of Falling Stars. The words are personal descriptions of responses to events. The images, however, are much more universal, abstract visualizations. Again the black line helps define horizons, animals, and dust devils (whirlwinds), but it's the sweep of pure color shapes appearing almost stenciled in their sharp-edgedness that will grab children's attention. Parnall can make his audience see empty space as solid form, can juxtapose a red against a pale blue and set the page on fire. But he can also add travel poster cacti that destroy the mysticism of his suggestive abstractions. Still, the partnership thrives in this latest work. Kenneth Marantz, Art Education Department, Ohio State University, Columbus
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

From the highly acclaimed team of Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall comes the story of a girl who shares her love for desert life as she tells of treasured experiences like dancing in the wind on Dust Devil Day or sleeping outside on a hot summer night during The Time of the Falling Stars. Baylor's radiant prose-poem and Parnall's exquisite illustrations combine to create a joyous celebration of the human spirit.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689806205
• ISBN-13: 978-0689806209
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,346 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 5 Star Celebration of Literacy and Imagination, September 8, 2002

By	Wendy Power "readzitall" (Medford, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I use this book in the beginning of each school year with my fifth grade students. It always leads to great discussions about what is important to them and leads into interesting writer's notebook entries. The book is a great tool for inferencing, noticing details, and celebrating the little events in our lives that make us who we are. A good book to use when teaching about differences that make each of us unique and how we all have our own set of priorities.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book that reminds one to stop and smell the roses., February 10, 1999

By A Customer

This is a wonderfully written book about a Native American woman who goes out into the desert and observes the wonders and beauty of nature around her. She records what she finds fascinating and creates her OWN holidays or celebrations. One day she may observe a green cloud and call it Green Cloud Day. On another day, she may observe a shooting star and call it Star Day. She gets outside of herself and observes wonderous things that may only be seen once in a lifetime!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting like the desert with subtle humor and imagination, February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I'm in Charge of Celebrations (Hardcover)

My husband and I read to our grandchildren a lot and have appreciated the good literature by Byrd Baylor. This is the first of her books we bought and this one is our favorite. It demonstrates that we do not need to be entertained if we will only BE QUIET and see what is going on around us. The children are appreciating the joy and adventure of reading. Thanks Byrd Baylor.