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40 pp.
| Philomel
| September, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-16399-9$17.99
(3)
PS
Music arranged by Cheryl Eissing. Children will enjoy the sly humor and the chantable repetition of this twist on the classic cumulative folk song, "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea." In Long's bold, full-spread illustrations in deep, mossy greens, a turtle and a little snail provide additional visual comedy. Sing-aloud musical notation and lyrics are appended.
40 pp.
| Chronicle
| March, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4521-6505-9$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Eda Kaban.
In this charming follow-up to Old MacDonald Had a Truck, the farm's mister and missus use an electric saw ("With a BUZZ BUZZ here and a BUZZ BUZZ there"), a hammer ("BANG BANG"), and more to spruce up an old boat and build a ramp for the book's grand finale. The art teems with farm animals, many of them unexpectedly handy--and dexterous on water skis.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Donald Saaf.
Music Notation by Claudia Eliaza and Billy Buss. This collection of sixty-four songs--including traditional shanties, hymns, folk songs, and original tunes by Zane--targets music-savvy educators and caregivers. The songs, from many cultures and languages, shine amid Zane's lengthy, sentimental notes about song origins, musicians, and instruments. The childlike folk art features children with a diversity of skin tones. Musical notation includes chords and melody line; guitar and ukulele chord charts also provided. Ind.
48 pp.
| Houghton
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-547-38946-2$8.99 Reissue (1985, Clarion)
(3)
K-3
Folk Tale Classic series.
In this inexpensive paper-over-board reissue, Galdone straightforwardly adapts the lyrics to the classic folk song with unassuming pictures that provide just enough embellishment. Plenty of white space gives the story all the room it needs.
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Ben Whitehouse.
Brightly colored dinosaurs raise a ruckus on Old MacDino's farm. Just when it looks like things have settled down--dinos commingling peacefully with contemporary farm animals--Tyrannosaurus rex arrives ("With a Roar! Roar! here, and a Roar! Roar! there... / E-I-E-I-RUN!"). The varied typefaces, slanting lines of text, and boisterous illustrations lend energy to this lively variation of "Old MacDonald."
40 pp.
| Scholastic/Orchard
| October, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-338-11243-6$17.99
(4)
PS
This version of the well-known song follows Old MacDonald as he frenetically ricochets around his farm checking on animals; in a surprise ending, he discovers a bear in the barn: "E-I-E-I...UH-OH!" The super-stylized, borderline-creepy aesthetic of Grimly's watercolors feels mismatched to the pastoral setting, but this MacDonald's frazzled expressions may get a few laughs. An endnote describes Grimly's farming roots; musical notation included.
(3)
PS
This amusing rhyming tale starts out like the traditional song but soon takes a different track, as Old MacDonald discovers escaped zoo animals wreaking havoc on his farm. With its genial illustrations, singable "E-I-E-I-O" refrain, and concluding visual jokes (à la Peggy Rathmann's Good Night, Gorilla), this would make a good storytime choice. Musical notation is appended.
40 pp.
| Viking
| November, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-451-47377-6$18.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Becca Stadtlander.
Contemporary artist Xu's own invented code, "Square Word Calligraphy," looks like Chinese calligraphy but is really composed of English letters. Seventeen folk-song refrains from the U.S. and China are written in this "secret code," ready for deciphering. American readers should recognize clues to songs such as "Skip to My Lou" in the elegant folk art–style paintings. Calligraphy how-to and answer key appended.
40 pp.
| Chronicle
| March, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4521-3260-0$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Eda Kapan.
In this version, Old MacDonald has an excavator ("With a DIG DIG here and a DIG DIG there"), a front loader ("SCOOOP SCOOP"), and more. Accompanying the song reboot are clean, critter-filled illustrations that supply a narrative: various farm animals operate the featured trucks, which collaboratively build an outdoor arena for a truck show spotlighting a driver who may well be Mrs. MacDonald.
32 pp.
| Lee/Children's
| September, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-89239-292-6$17.95
(3)
K-3
Translated by Adriana Domínguez.
Illustrated by
David Diaz.
When Maya Morales is little, her grandmother makes her a blanket, a "special manta" that morphs into different (progressively smaller) things as Maya grows up. Based on the Yiddish folk song "I Had a Little Coat" (and inspired by her Jewish and Latina heritage), Brown creates a contemporary story, in English and Spanish, with a timeless-folktale feel. Diaz's mixed-media illustrations are warm and joyful. Glos.
40 pp.
| Random
| August, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-385-39080-4$16.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-97355-0$19.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-385-39081-1
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Ben Mantle.
Patterned after "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," these whimsical verses describe a dragon who--not satisfied with the knight--gulps down everything from the squire to the castle moat before having second thoughts. "Maybe I've been a tad impolite. / Perchance I should only have swallowed the knight." Jaunty illustrations complement the absurdity of the rhyme.
(2)
PS
Illustrated by
Steve Gray.
"There was an old mummy... / who swallowed a spider." Anyone familiar with the original folksong can guess what happens next in this twisted twist: the mummy's belly (or what used to be his belly) is soon full of things that go bump in the night. Glowing with Halloween anticipation, cartoonish digital illustrations use lots of wide, fearful eyes and luminous backgrounds.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2015
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Dave Horowitz.
This jaunty picture-book treatment captures the homespun energy of Guthrie's lively ditty. Horowitz's mixed-media art features a curly-haired, barefoot, guitar-playing boy who tells listeners about his family's holiday traditions, including "latkes and goody things" from Bubbie's kitchen, gifts, and music-making. An illustrator's note considers the genesis of Guthrie's Jewish songs. The Klezmatics perform a rousing rendition on the accompanying CD.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2014
32 pp.
| Whitman
| March, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8075-7850-6$16.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Will Terry.
This cumulative story, told in nonsensical verse, parodies the classic song "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." The narrative is populated with western animals, including a roadrunner, lizard, snake, "'dillo," longhorn, and horse. Young children will enjoy the comical art and the repetitive, singsongy rhymes, but they will undoubtedly be puzzled as to how the cowpoke swallows himself.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Kate Endle.
"On a high-rise here, / in a backyard there-- / climbing up, hanging down, / spreading green all over town." Peppy verses set to the tune of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" (sheet music included) describe how gardens are thriving today in each of several cities. The clean-lined, vegetation-filled illustrations are as sumptuous-looking as fresh produce. Further information about urban agriculture is appended. Websites.
24 pp.
| North-South
| August, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7358-4183-3$17.95
(3)
K-3
The familiar song is illustrated with Rashin's richly colored, thickly textured paintings. This old lady swallows the cat just as it suggests "Eat the dog!," and off she goes chasing each animal across the wide double-page spreads. Rashin has thrown much silliness into her version (e.g., look for a small bottle of antacids).
48 pp.
| Doubleday
| September, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-0-385-37616-7$17.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-97207-2$20.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-307-98283-4 New ed. (1961)
(2)
K-3
Half of the illustrations for this Caldecott Honor Book, first published in 1961 and in print ever since, were in black and white. Spier has added color by hand, matching the palette of the original's cozy autumnal New England scenes. Musical notation for the folksong on which the story is based is included; an appended artist's note engagingly describes the colorization process.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
December, 1961;
May, 2015
32 pp.
| Dawn
| September, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-58469-334-5$16.95
|
PaperISBN 978-1-58469-335-2$8.95
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Laura J. Bryant.
Jo and her grandfather visit the woods, where they hear and see a variety of creatures. Patterned after the song "Old MacDonald," the parallel to a noisy barnyard doesn't quite work in Quattlebaum's text--could even an astute naturalist hear a turtle? ("everywhere a shuffle-shuffle")--but pleasant art and informative back matter on forest ecology may engage young hikers.
56 pp.
| Groundwood
| September, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55498-153-3$24.95
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Matt James.
Rogers's 1981 song commemorates the oft-doomed quests to find a water route across the Canadian Arctic, especially those of John Franklin, who died in 1847 during his third failed attempt. The book loosely follows Franklin's voyage in expressionistic and vigorous ink and acrylic paintings, paralleling it with a depiction of the singer's own Canadian road trip; the sweep of James's paintings is spectacular. Reading list.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2013
(4)
PS
The lyrics to folk-music trio Peter, Paul, and Mary's title song (CD included), which features a blend of nursery-rhyme snippets and a hide-and-seek motif, serve as text. Davenier's ingenious illustrations show rain-detained kids playing the game in a house in which a grandfather ("the old man") is stuck in bed ("bumped his head"). Too bad the text doesn't quite work without musical accompaniment.