River Story (Read and Discover) - Softcover

Meredith Hooper

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1406325937 ISBN 13: 9781406325935

Publisher: Walker Childrens Paperbacks, 2010

Synopsis

This is one of a new series of books, "Read and Discover", designed to encourage children to learn about the world as they learn to read. Follow the twists and turns of the river's story - downhill, through fields and into the city. Where will it end? Non-fiction readers with boy and reluctant reader appeal. It includes text and illustrations, which support children learning to read. It features extra fact sections at the back of the books as well as author and illustrator biographies and index.

About this title

About the Author:

A lecturer, historian, Antarctic expert and full-time writer of non-fiction and fiction for children, Meredith was born in Australia and has been living in the UK since taking up a scholarship at Oxford to do post-graduate research. Bee Willey has illustrated over 20 childrens books with co-editions in USA, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Korea. As well as being shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway prize for Bob Robber and Dancing Jane, she recently worked on the packaging for Mattel's Fairytopia Barbie range.

From Publishers Weekly:

A luscious blend of cool blues and verdant greens lights up the pages of this poetic picture book, which traces the course of a river from its source in the mountains to the sea. Hooper's (The Pebble in My Pocket) lyrical use of language emulates the rhythms of the river. Beginning with the languid, soothing sounds of alliteration ("a small shining stream slipping over pebbles"), the narrative picks up the pace as the river gains momentum at a waterfall ("snowfalls of water,/ springfuls of water,/ streamfuls of water"), then quiets down as it leaves the mountains ("It winds between meadows, long strands of waterweed streaking its surface") before its final arrival where "waves wash sand, and fresh water meets salt water." Willey (The Golden Hoard) adds a good measure of child appeal. For a spread that allows readers to peek beneath the water's surface, "little fish darting, bottles dropped, treasures lost," she shows a beloved toy airplane beached on the river bottom. Her palette and line seem especially suited for these riverside views, from the slender reeds of a cattail to a sandpiper's beak to the water itself, as it gushes and crashes, ripples and flows downriver. Ages 5-8. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Childrens Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1406325937
• ISBN 13: 9781406325935
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Bee Willey