Hammill, Elizabeth. Over the Hills and Far Away.

Hammill, Elizabeth.  Over the Hills and Far Away.     Random/Candlewick Press  2014 160p  $21.99  ISBN 978-0-7636-7729-9  all ages  Fairy tales  E     

Fairy-tale nursery rhymes have a universality about them that comforts children regardless of their nationality.  Their rhythms, repetitions, and rhymes have a uniqueness that allows them to outlast the more current forms of oral communication.  In the author’s own words, you are invited “to travel on an adventure in language, image, and imagination.  Along the way, you will find new sounds, new sights, new ways with words, new horizons, and a new delight in poetry and art. Share and enjoy.”

This is beautifully compiled collection of unique rhymes that are artfully depicted by a wide variety of illustrators.  The collection touches on various nations around the world and is accompanied by illustrations that reflect the intrinsic nature of the culture.

An index, sources listing, and short biography of each artist is found at the back of the book.

Summary: “A treasury of nursery rhymes collected by Elizabeth Hammill and illustrated by more than seventy celebrated artists.”        

Picture books, Nursery rhymes                               --Linda McNeil

Bunting, Eve Hey Diddle Diddle

Bunting, Eve      Hey Diddle Diddle.

 Boyd's Mills      2011  unp   16.95 978-1-59078-768-7 

 elem              VG-BNe       

A variation on the old nursery rhyme presents an entire animal band, incased in a music box for a child’s enjoyment.

      This delightful variation  on the old nursery rhyme begins in the usual

fashion, but the presents new animals playing different musical instruments. 

The child-like nonsense rhymes, such as “Hey diddle dumpet, the camel plays

trumpet,” just add to the fun.  Each page presents a new animal and a new

instrument, until the dog conductor beings them all together as an orchestra. 

The perspective completely changes when a child comes in to wind the music box

and look inside at the animal band.  The ending is clever, the soft

illustrations are just right to be shared as a family. 

Although no notes are included at the end, the story could be used as a

springboard for a language activity, with children creating their own rhymes for new instruments and animals.  This story can lend itself to many activities, artistic and linguistic.  A truly attractive and humorous addition to any elementary collection.

            Naismith, Pat