Over in the Hollow

by Rebecca Dickinson, S. Britt (Illustrator)

Overview

Over in the hollow, where the cobwebs are spun,
Live a giant mother spider and her little spidey one.

Who else lives over in the hollow? A papa mummy and his little mummies two, a mama owl and her little owlets three...and more! And they all have something to say, whether it's to hoot, to howl, to hiss, or to yowl. Inspired by Olive A. Wadsworth's classic counting rhyme, "Over in the Meadow," Over in the Hollow is a spooky take on the popular Appalachian poem. A wonderful read-aloud, the playful rhyme and repetition will delight readers of all ages who enjoy a fun—not scary—approach to the world of ghosts, werewolves, and the like.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452104638
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	02/25/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	36
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Dickinson is the author of 5 books. She lives near Seattle.
S. Britt's illustrations have been featured in magazines, newspapers, advertisements, books, greeting cards, posters, and CD covers. He is the illustrator of School Years: A Family Keepsake of School Memories. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-K—A Halloween-themed counting book inspired by "Over in the Meadow." Mummies, owls, bats, and more help readers count to 13. "Over in the hollow,/wrapped in old sheets and glue,/live an old, moldy mummy/and his little mummies two./'LURCH!' moans the mummy./'WE LURCH!' moan the two./And they lurch into the mist,/wrapped in old sheets and glue." The rhyme and rhythm flow well, making this a good choice for reading aloud. The mixed-media illustrations have a retro cartoon feel and are spooky, but not scary—just like the text. The large pictures make it easy to count along, and kids will enjoy the funny details. This should be a hit at Halloween storytimes.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

School Library Journal

04/27/2015
Dickinson (The 13 Nights of Halloween) reprises an earlier theme, recasting "Over in the Meadow" with enough ghoulish creatures to satisfy even the most diehard Halloween fans. Britt, a commercial artist turned illustrator, contributes retro spreads that cross Golden Books with zombie art; he excels in particular at conveying relationships between characters with animated facial expressions. Sixties typography and matte pages carry the nostalgia still further. Dickinson doesn't have to stretch too far to come up with variants on the song; her rhymes are sturdy and appealing: "Over in the hollow/ in a coffin on the floor,/ live a pale grandpa vampire/ and his little vampires four. ‘Bite!' groans the grandpa./ ‘We bite!' groan the four...." Britt smuggles in several jokes, placing a sunscreen called Bonetone (SPF 500) on the grandpa vampire's nightstand and a "Visit Transylvania" poster on the wall of their cellar. The Frankensteins stomp, the werewolves howl, and the skeletons boogie with an 11-piece band. Thirteen verses might even be a little too much Halloween—but it's only once a year. Ages 3—7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION
This is an enjoyable, but not scary addition to a Halloween collection.

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION
This is an enjoyable, but not scary addition to a Halloween collection.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"...enough ghoulish creatures to satisfy even the most diehard Halloween fans."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"...enough ghoulish creatures to satisfy even the most diehard Halloween fans."

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
"Author Rebecca Dickinson clearly had fun giving the classic children's song Over in the Meadow a Halloween makeover, while S. Britt's illustrations burst with wild action and color."

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
"Author Rebecca Dickinson clearly had fun giving the classic children's song Over in the Meadow a Halloween makeover, while S. Britt's illustrations burst with wild action and color."

From the Publisher