Mary Had a Little Lamb

This is a wonderful book that I look forward to reading to my son day after day for its beautiful poem and detailed and unique artwork. My thirteenth-month old son absolutely loves the book, especially when I sing it to him. This book also teaches the wonderful bond that can be had between children, adults and animals through caring deeply for all creatures. This review refers to the Sarah Hale / Tomie de Paula book

That Mary had a little lamb is a known fact. That the lamb followed her everywhere, and even to school is common knowledge. Why, then, a book "Mary Had a Little Lamb?" As adults, we might think the story has been done to death. Children are new to it, and so begins the enjoyment. Sarah Josepha Hale wrote the original in 1830, with 24 lines. Most of us are only familiar with the first six. Included here is the entire poem, with illustrations by Tomie dePaola. As with any book for younger children, the pictures help tell the story. DePaola's illustrations have a woodcut, watercolor look to them. They have a flavor that tends to the way pictures were done years ago, before technology computerized children's illustrations. A few paragraphs before and after the story explain briefly the history and controversy of the poem. Its authorship was questioned, although Hale is generally considered the true writer. I fully recommend "Mary Had a Little Lamb" by Sarah Josepha Hale and Tomie dePaola. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com