Ecclesiastes: To Everything There Is a Season

by Cynthia Rylant, Cynthia Rylant (Illustrator)

Overview

In the spirit of her acclaimed Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven, Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant illustrates verses from the King James Bible chapter of Ecclesiastes in a simple yet powerful folk art style.

Cynthia Rylant takes the familiar text of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, as told in the King James Bible, and lovingly illustrates it in her simple but bold style that has been called “stunning” by School Library Journal. As she did with the creation story, Rylant has created a sublime take on a classic story that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481476553
Publisher:	Beach Lane Books
Publication date:	09/18/2018
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	3 Months to 8 Years

About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, Motor Mouse, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novel Missing May received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Editorial Reviews

11/19/2018
In a companion to Creation and Nativity, Rylant offers a stirring picture book rendering of Ecclesiastes. Each portrait-oriented spread includes a single phrase from the paean, presented with spare, brightly colored acrylics in a naïf style. One image shows a child figure reaching into a planter box (“a time to plant”), then bringing flowers to an elderly woman: “and a time to pluck up that/ which has been planted.” Elsewhere, family members wave goodbye to one another, a broad distance already seeming to expand between them (“a time to weep”). In the following spread, they reunite: “and a time to laugh.” Through her childlike images, Rylant conveys the emotional rawness of the cherished verse. Ages up to 8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 2018-06-25
Newbery Medalist Rylant continues her series of simplified Bible verse interpretations with this illustrated version of the familiar "to everything there is a season" text, adapted from the King James version of the book of Ecclesiastes. Rylant's illustrations are bold and minimalist, with an understated simplicity and a naïve, folk-art sensibility. The striking cover shows a cozy, white house against a lavender background, with a huge sunflower sprouting up almost to the roofline. The acrylic paintings use broad brushstrokes for grass and skies, with a green-budding tree symbolizing "a time to be born" and falling autumn leaves for "a time to die." A fair-skinned child is shown working in a raised garden bed for "a time to plant" and then delivering flowers to an older white woman with gray hair on the following spread. The illustration for "a time to weep" shows a dark-skinned mother and daughter waving farewell to a departing father; "a time to laugh" depicts the joyous reunion of father and child. That pair of illustrations conveys its own little story that even very young children will immediately recognize. War is conveyed by two bucks battling with locked antlers, and peace is a cow grazing contentedly. Each pair of illustrations is thoughtfully designed and composed, with just enough visual information to convey each concept.A lovely, quiet interpretation of some of the most famous verses from the Old Testament, one that will last through many seasons. (Picture book/religion. 2-7)

Kirkus Reviews