David's Songs: His Psalms and Their Story
Grade 4-6-- Psalms has long been a cherished part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Images and phrases from the book permeate our deepest culture. Sadly, this treasure is known to fewer and fewer children. From its wealth, Eisler has selected the psalms he judges to ``share the same strong sound.'' (The subjective and unargued assertion that this sound signals David's authorship is one of several weaknesses in the introduction.) The excerpts are slightly ``retold,'' but the results are close to (and often better than) the New English Bible. The subtle use of alliteration, for example, recalls other archaic verse. Not as vulgarly ver nacular as some paraphrases, but more immediate and idiomatic than most translations, Eisner's versions should please all but the most rigid purists. And even they may be won over by Jerry Pinkney's remarkable watercolors. Airy and light-dappled, but bold and voluminous, these detailed, realistic pictures combine delicacy and strength. Portraits, animal studies, landscapes, action scenes, all are as varied, sensitive, and life-encompassing as the poetic riches found within the Psalms. --Patricia Dooley, Univ . of Washington, SeattleCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.