Earthdance - Hardcover

Ryder, Joanne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805026789 ISBN 13: 9780805026788

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 1996

Synopsis

In dynamic words and dramatic pictures, Earthdance invites young readers to become not just part of the earth, but Earth itself.

About this title

About the Author:

Joanne Ryder has written more than forty books for young readers. Ms. Ryder lives with her husband in San Francisco, California.

Norman Gorbaty lives in New York City with his wife, Joy.

From Publishers Weekly:

"Stretch your arms out wide and slowly spin around," encourages the narrator of Ryder's (The Snail's Spell) somewhat uneven environmental ode, in which the reader imagines him or herself as Earth. Certain passages resonate with poetic imagery ("You are twirling so gracefully, carefully, not even the sand moves as you spin"). Others stumble along ("Up your hills/ and down your rivers,/ cars and ships/ carry people/ from one place/ to another,/ all places on you"). The powerful illustrations, however, solidify the book's appeal. Gorbaty's (God's Gift) conceptual, stencil compositions-most featuring a horizon-like arc-convey movement, as if the scenes of crowds, volcanoes and footprints in the snow are revolving on a globe before the viewer. Often he needs only a few bold strokes and scratches of color against a deep black background to capture a world charged with energy and drama, one in which majestic icebergs crack and waterfalls tumble. Most readers should catch on to the book's novel, albeit abstract approach. Its case for actually inspiring a sense of connection and responsibility to the planet is less certain, though given its visual strengths, it stands a good chance. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0805026789
• ISBN 13: 9780805026788
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Gorbaty Norman