Fall just happens to be one of my favorite times of year, so when I saw the book In November in my school libraray, while I was looking for Cynthia Rylant books, I just had to read this. The book is basically about the month of November. The seasons are changing, the world is growing colder, and wildlife is settling in for the long winter months ahead.
The illustrator of this book is Jill Kastner. The pictures draw the reader in, almost like going to an art gallary and wanting to gaze at the painting to find every little detail. The colors are warm hues of oranges, reds, browns, yellows, and golds. This adds to the warmth of the book as the reader goes through the pages. It actually begins outside on a snowy page with a little mouse looking for shelter. I was reminded of days when the summer had long been over done and this part of the country seemed to be anticipating snow and colder days in which we could snuggle by a fire with hot chocolate in our hands. The animals are beginning to burrow and hibernate for the colder season and families are getting together for Thanksgiving dinner.
The author talks of the smells of the month being like squash and pumpkins and that everything tasts like cinnamon. I feel like I am there, smelling the harvest smell and preparing a peacan pie for Thanksgiving.
The text is simple, only about on sentence per page. The entire story seems to be leading up to something, with all the animals snuggling away and all the food preparations in the homes. The author writes that the "stars are brittle" and "the world has tucked her children in, with a kiss on their heads, till spring". That imagery in the words, paired with the soft colors of the pictures makes me want to put on comfy pajamas, get in a big, fluffy bed and go to sleep! Good night!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I'm glad you enjoyed this book! I read it and enjoyed it as well. I made the same comments about how the pictures and text really draw you into the book. When I was reading it I felt like I could actually taste and feel exactly what was going on. This would be a great book to use to teach a class about what happens during the fall.
Sounds like a good one, Beth!
I like how you describe all the detail in the book--the warmth, smells, sounds, etc. You mentioned it was short-how long do you think it would take to read aloud?
I am just so amazed at how many different styles of writing Cynthia Rylant does!
It's amazing how powerful words can be when there are only a few. When I hear a description like "the stars are brittle," I feel like I can reach out and touch them, feel them, maybe even break them. This kind of physical description is great for the imagination! On a side note, I kept thinking about Jan Brett's stories, with the animals in the snow. It's February and still no snow here - I wonder how the animals feel?
Post a Comment