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maidmarianlib's review
4.0
The pictures in this book are gorgeous, the Dillon's are always outstanding. I loved the story until the end when it was implied that it was all in her imagination.
triscuit807's review
3.0
3-3.5 stars.The edition that I read was the shortened 2011 re-issue with new illustrations that depict a black family. The Dillons' illiustrations are what really make this story; the actual story isn't without charm, but the text really doesn't convey the magic evident in the illustrations. The actual race of the characters is left vague; Rawlings deliberately wrote it without dialect (unlike her most famous book "The Yearling"). This is also her last work, published posthumously, so it's really unknown what her final intentions were. The story is somewhat dreamlike as it follows Calpurnia, a child poet; upon hearing that its's hard times (set Depression era) because her father can't find fish to sell, she sets off with dog Buggy-Horse (he has a sway back) to find the fish. Following the advice of Mother Albirtha she seeks out the secret river. This is where the story goes off into the realm of magical realism. The original edition was printed on beige paper that would convey the color of the characters without being explicit; I would like very much to read that original edition. I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge (52 Wks "author's last name begins with same initial" - R) and my Newbery Challenge (Honor 1956).
libscote's review
3.0
The illustrations in this book are beautiful. This is an updated version of a story by Rawlings published in 1956. The story tells of hard times in a forest and a girl who wishes to make it better. Quite long for the group I normally read-aloud to, but would work well for school-age children.
amandaquotidianbooks's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the magic of this forest and the characterization. The plot morphed into folk tale, which I quite enjoyed. It was great to see how the community relied on each other.
scaifea's review
3.0
A girl, whose father needs fish to sell in his market, sets out to find the magical secret river.
Short and sweet. Lovely illustrations.
Short and sweet. Lovely illustrations.
tashrow's review
5.0
Luminously illustrated by the Dillons, this new version of a classic children’s book truly shines. The only children’s book written by the author of The Yearling, this story is about Calpurnia, a young girl who is a poet. She woke up one gorgeous morning and found that she had a journey ahead of her. Her father told the family that he had no fish to sell in his fish market. So Calpurnia decided to catch some fish herself. She made roses out of crepe paper for bait and then headed to get advice from Mother Albirtha, the wisest person in the forest. When Calpurnia asked Mother Albirtha where she could catch big fish, Mother Albirtha told her of the secret river that was full of fish and advised Calpurnia to follow her nose. So off Calpurnia went with her dog at her side to find the river. Eventually, Calpurnia found the river and caught some large fish to help her father. But that was just the start of her adventures in the forest, because she had to get back home.
Rawlings’ writing is filled with such depth here. While the story is written for children, it will ask them to stretch, to imagine and to dream. The writing is filled with small touches, turns of phrase that add such beauty to the text. Rawlings also had a poet for a main character, so Calpurnia’s poems are throughout the book. One of my favorite passages happens early in the book where Calpurnia creates a poem and after her mother criticizes one of the phrases turns right around and creates a new poem that focuses on that phrase. Just that one piece is a testament to writing and creativity, as is the entire book.
Dillons’ illustrations take the book to an even higher level. They are illustrations that are celebrate the beauty of light on skin, the depth of dark in a forest, the shine of wisdom on a face, and the blackness of animal fur. The illustrations vary in size, ranging from full page images to smaller illustrations in the margins of the text. There are illustrations so lovely here that one lingers on the page long after the words have been read, just absorbing the image. It is simply beautiful.
This is a treat of a new version of a classic. It is a perfect marriage of illustration and writing that celebrates both. Appropriate for ages 6-8.
Rawlings’ writing is filled with such depth here. While the story is written for children, it will ask them to stretch, to imagine and to dream. The writing is filled with small touches, turns of phrase that add such beauty to the text. Rawlings also had a poet for a main character, so Calpurnia’s poems are throughout the book. One of my favorite passages happens early in the book where Calpurnia creates a poem and after her mother criticizes one of the phrases turns right around and creates a new poem that focuses on that phrase. Just that one piece is a testament to writing and creativity, as is the entire book.
Dillons’ illustrations take the book to an even higher level. They are illustrations that are celebrate the beauty of light on skin, the depth of dark in a forest, the shine of wisdom on a face, and the blackness of animal fur. The illustrations vary in size, ranging from full page images to smaller illustrations in the margins of the text. There are illustrations so lovely here that one lingers on the page long after the words have been read, just absorbing the image. It is simply beautiful.
This is a treat of a new version of a classic. It is a perfect marriage of illustration and writing that celebrates both. Appropriate for ages 6-8.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Calpurnia’s family is having hard times. Her father is not catching any fish. Calpurnia speaks to a friend, a fortune-teller and she tells Calpurnia about a secret river that is filled with fish. Calpurnia goes to the secret river and returns home with so many fish she can hardly carry them. On the way home, she encounters several predators who each accept a fish before walking away. Bringing the fish home ends the hard times for the family and their neighbors.
“Mother Albirtha rocked back and forth.
She said, ‘Child, I have not breathed this to a living soul, but I will tell you. There are big fish in the secret river. Oh my, the fish! Catfish, perch, bream, mudfish, and garfish. Especially catfish.”
“Mother Albirtha rocked back and forth.
She said, ‘Child, I have not breathed this to a living soul, but I will tell you. There are big fish in the secret river. Oh my, the fish! Catfish, perch, bream, mudfish, and garfish. Especially catfish.”
satyridae's review
4.0
I didn't realize this was a re-issue till I read the flaps. The illustrations are lovely, dreamy but realistic. The story is simple, with fantastical elements, but it feels very true to place- one of Rawlings' hallmarks. I'd never heard of this before, and am happy to have discovered it in a shiny new edition.
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