Bigmama's

by Donald Crews, Donald Crews (Illustrator)

Overview

Donald Crews, the Caldecott Honor artist and award-winning creator of Freight Train, Truck, and many other classic picture books for young children, writes of his own childhood experiences visiting his grandparents in Florida. Share this book at home or in the classroom. Everyone will enjoy the memories of a perfect day in the country, exploring and playing, and the connections among family members across generations.

Four children travel with their mother, and when the train arrives in Cottondale, Florida, the summer at Bigmama's house begins! Donald Crews brilliantly evokes the sights, sounds, and emotions of a memorable childhood experience.

Beautifully and richly illustrated, this is a wonderful choice for family reading and classroom sharing. "A very special book by a superb artist and storyteller."—The Horn Book

A fun read-aloud, it also helps children ages 3 to 6 learn about how to share details of place in storytelling. Celebrate the bonds of family over generations with Donald Crews's evocative picture books Bigmama's and its companion, Shortcut.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780688158422
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/21/1998
Series:	One World Friends and Neighbors Series
Edition description:	REPRINT
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	240,761
Product dimensions:	9.89(w) x 7.92(h) x 0.09(d)
Lexile:	550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Donald Crews is the renowned creator of many celebrated children's books, including the Caldecott Honor Books Freight Train and Truck. He and his wife, Ann Jonas, live in New York's Hudson River Valley.

Donald Crews is the renowned creator of many celebrated children's books, including the Caldecott Honor Books Freight Train and Truck. He and his wife, Ann Jonas, live in New York's Hudson River Valley.

Editorial Reviews

A rich sensory experience.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A loving tribute to memories that defy the passage of time.” — Booklist (starred review)

“For millions of kids, summertime means visits with grandparents. They’ll relate to this autobiographical book, in which the author recalls his annual stays at his grandparents’ farm in Cottondale, Fla., in the 1940s and ‘50s.” (in the article “6 Standout Picture Books About Kids and Their Grandparents”) — Brightly

From the Publisher

A loving tribute to memories that defy the passage of time.

Booklist (starred review)

For millions of kids, summertime means visits with grandparents. They’ll relate to this autobiographical book, in which the author recalls his annual stays at his grandparents’ farm in Cottondale, Fla., in the 1940s and ‘50s.” (in the article “6 Standout Picture Books About Kids and Their Grandparents”)

Brightly

For millions of kids, summertime means visits with grandparents. They’ll relate to this autobiographical book, in which the author recalls his annual stays at his grandparents’ farm in Cottondale, Fla., in the 1940s and ‘50s.” (in the article “6 Standout Picture Books About Kids and Their Grandparents”)

Brightly.com

Crews's first book in five years is a departure for this gifted author/artist, and a truly joyous celebration. In his dynamic tale of family togetherness, an African American man recalls boyhood summers spent at his grandmother's rural home in Florida. Each year the vacation began with an adventurous three-day train ride to Bigmama's (``Not that she was big, but she was Mama's mama'') in Cottondale. The hot, hazy months that followed were filled with relatives, fishing and good times. A backyard coop ``where Sunday dinner's chicken spent its last days,'' the barn and pond all begged to be explored by rambunctious visitors. Even the stars shone brighter in the night sky at this wondrous place. Like the title character so lovingly depicted within, the book's jacket is warm and enticing--vibrant, boldly outlined letters draw readers into a fragrant slice of Americana. Crews's rich earth tones perfectly portray the rustic life of this bygone era, while the lanky, barefoot children embody the relaxed--and utterly relaxing--freedom of summer. In the manner of exemplary works for children, Bigmama's works splendidly on more than one level. The evocative text provides plenty of action to interest younger readers and--for their parents--the nostalgic tone cannot fail to lovingly recall carefree days long past. Reality, in the form of a present-day metropolis viewed through a window, brings the story to an appropriate close, as the narrator, older and bearded, ``even now'' longs to recapture the essence of enchantment that was found at Bigmama's. Ages 4-up. (Oct.) .

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 1-4-- In this very appealing picture-book reminiscence, Crews invites readers to journey back to his childhood. Four African-American children and their mother travel by train to visit grandparents in a rural town. When the family reaches its destination, the children inspect each room of the house. Outside, they investigate the yard, the toolshed, the barn, the stable, and, finally, the pond. To their everlasting delight and satisfaction, they see that everything is ``still the same.'' Crews departs from the graphic style employed so memorably in Freight Train (1978) and Parade (1983, both Greenwillow). His watercolor and goache illustrations are an attractive blend of simplicity and sophistication. His expertise is evident throughout. Characters are placed in their setting with utmost consideration, and are dressed in colors that create a sort of ``warm rainbow'' scattered about the farm and the happy household. This offering is intended for a somewhat older audience than Crews's earlier works, and will work well in classrooms. It is similar in mood and content to James Stevenson's When I Was Nine (Greenwillow, 1986) and Cynthia Rylant's When I Was Young in the Mountains (Dutton, 1982). A wonderful selection for family story times. --Eve Larkin, Chicago Public Library

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