Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost ~ Susan Jeffers ~ E.P. Dutton, 1978
I mean who doesn't like this poem? Probably more than any other, it has moved elementary school children to love the written word. Jeffers (beloved in my house as the illustrator of the McDuff series) does a fine job of bringing us into the mystery of the poem without giving too much of the secret away. On one read I thought the old man might be Santa. On another, just a kind old stranger making sure the woodland animals are comforted in the snow. Then again, I thought maybe he had a secret wife and family he kept tucked away in the woods.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I seem to be on this black and white with a little color kick, but something about this kind artistic of rendering just makes the magic of the book so clear. And in this case you can picture the cold, cold day, with the only warmth coming from the cozy little man and his blanket and sleigh.
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I just found you via design mom...I have a thing for vintage children's books, too and started a little collection before baby was a twinkle in my eye. Coincidentally I was just this week putting together a list for a future post on my own blog! I think this particular book would be a great addition to a collection of Christmas Children's books...like mine!
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my eye out for that post... it amazes me how the well of awesome books is bottomless!
ReplyDeleteMy eldest daughter grew up in Sunny Florida but went off to college in the snowy Midwest. It's great to watch her experience the magic that can be in Winter when it snows. I posted a couple of photos she took from previous Winters off at school.
ReplyDeleteRod
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
What a great mix! Susan Jeffers is absolutely one of my favorite illustrators! And Robert Frost - one of my favorite poets! We just moved to New England last month and I really must say that Robert Frost is the inspiration for my love affair....I search for Robert Frost's New England everywhere I go....
ReplyDeleteI agree with your attraction to 'black and white with a little colour kick', but I'm curious to know what your son thinks of it.
ReplyDeleteI've read that children don't understand rough, 'incomplete' drawings, but they're very observant an will notice little details we don't (like that Unicorn you spotted by Tomi!)
I assume most respond better to bold colour and clear outlines, but I hope that's not the case!
Cheers, and great blog :)
Jade