The House in the Meadow
PreSchool-Grade 3-A clever idea inspired by Olive A. Wadsworth's classic counting poem, "Over in the Meadow." This version begins with a springtime wedding attended by 10 best friends and counts down as the community comes together "when spring came again" to build the couple a home in a meadow. The poetry is awkward when read aloud-"Over in the meadow, beside forms strong and straight,/Peter mixed concrete with his messy masons 8./`Pour!' said Peter. `We pour,' said the 8./So they poured the concrete into forms strong and straight." Attractive spreads of cut-paper collage carefully detail the process through the seasons, indoors and out, and end with a sunny scene, a picnic, to celebrate the completion of the home and birth of the couple's son. Many ethnicities are represented, and men and women of various ages work together side by side. Women own businesses-painting, plumbing, and moving-and the electricians are "John Bright & Daughters." An additional purchase, with much stronger art than text.Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.