The Over in the Meadow

This is a classic from my childhood that I am so happy to share with my children. Wonderful pictures and the rhyming keeps everyone in a trance.

We LOVE this book!! I actually sing the book to the them, instead of read it (the sheet music is at the end of the book). The pictures are beautifully illustrated and the theme of the book is so warm and uplifting. My 3 year old is actually starting to sing along with me, too... and usually wanting to sing it by herself! This is must-have for any child's book collection!

Rhyming text that repeats and is predictable introduces families of animals. It starts with one animal and builds to a family of 10 animals. Animals that live in a meadow are presented which includes: turtle, red fox, robin, chipmunk, honeybee, beaver, frog/pollywogs, owl, spiders and rabbits. At the end the musical score for singing this as a song and all the lyrics are printed. The illustrations are lovely and unique. Some are full colored and others are pencil-gray with a yellowish color. My children loved the singsong rhyming with the obvious cadence. The last illustration is of a scary predator-owl swooping down upon many of the animals, which are trying to run away! But that is all part of the life of the animals in the meadow!

This book proved to be the most cherised by my 3 children. It's easy for even the littlest ones to recognize after just a few readings. You'll find yourself imitating the characters and scenes, as did my children and I. Today, as adults, they remember every rhyme and the fun we had with our silly renditions. It'll definitely be the one they fondly share with their children and grandchildren.

You know how you can quote every page of "Spot's First Walk" ... three years later. This ones like that. The difference is that its such a nice book you don't start to dread bed times. I can quote this one now (I should be working, never mind) "Over in the meadow in the sand and the sun, lived an old mother turtle and her little turtle, one. Dig said the Mother, I dig said the one. So he dug all day in .." Oh all right, I'll stop. If you think you really know it, whats different about the Owl's page ? Buy it, I love it