Over in the Meadow

by Barefoot Books, JIll McDonald (Illustrator), Susan Reed (Performed by)

Overview

“Meet the 10 animal families of the meadow in this board book version of the beloved English counting song . . . Perfect for read-alouds” – The School Library Journal

Susan Reed's catchy adaptation of this traditional English song explores all kinds of creatures who live over in the meadow. With notes on meadows and the furry mice, bumpy toads and other wildlife in the story. Includes QR code access to audio singalong and video animation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798888594766
Publisher:	Barefoot Books
Publication date:	03/04/2025
Series:	Barefoot Baby-Proof
Pages:	20
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 6.70(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jill McDonald has worked as an illustrator and textile designer since graduating from Rhode Island School of Design in 1998. She has her own studio and brand, illustrating children's books as well as designing textiles, gifts and puzzles inspired by bright patterns and beautiful textures. Jill lives in Missouri, USA with her husband and son.

Susan Reed is a musician, storyteller and writer. She believes that music and story broaden our understanding of the world. Susan's books and CDs have won many awards. She lives in Massachusetts, USA with her husband and three children.

Editorial Reviews

McDonald's buoyant mixed-media artwork creates a cheerful meadow of colors, textures, and animals in this version of the traditional nursery rhyme. Patchwork sheep "bah!" with their mother, music notes swirl out of the beaks of young robins, and a family of nine lizards basks "by the old mossy gate." Bright colors, swooping shapes, and smiling animals make this an especially friendly vision of the great outdoors. Musical notation is included, as are light details about each animal (and meadows in general) and a CD with music performed by Susan Reed. Ages 3–6. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Meet the 10 animal families of the meadow in this board book version of the beloved English counting song . . . Perfect for read-alouds” – The School Library Journal

"Visually stunning" — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

The animals, counting theme and catchy tune make this song a perennial favorite with readers and creators alike, but the illustrations are what make any version stand out from the crowd—and this one does. By changing a few animals and key words, McDonald encourages readers not just to count her menagerie but to experience their textures, as well, both in the words she uses and in her paper collages. "Over in the meadow in the reeds on the shore, / Lived a spiky mother muskrat / And her little muskrats four." The mother muskrat is pictured leaping into the water, her individual paper spikes poking out from her body. Similarly treated are her bumpy toad, wooly sheep, smooth robin, fuzzy bee, furry mouse and hairy spider. Using painted papers in digital collage, the illustrator creates a quiltlike textured world for her animals, and many pages come complete with "stitches." Unfortunately, however, a few of her textures fail to make the leap from the page—the crow is not really shiny, the lizard's scales are painted on and "slippery" is a very difficult adjective to portray with paper. Backmatter includes a CD of the song (not heard), the sheet music for one verse, some facts about meadows and a short paragraph about each featured animal. Visually stunning if not always totally successful. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews