Product Description

Although made of straw and borrowed clothes, a scarecrow appreciates his peaceful, gentle life and the privilege of watching nature at work.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78003 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780152010843
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
According to PW, "Newbery Medalist Rylant lyrically imagines the scarecrow as a grateful `witness to life,' while the acrylic paintings evoke a warm, even nostalgic sense of plenty." Ages 6-9.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2?More meditation than story, this picture book examines what one might call the essence of the scarecrow. It's an appreciation of silence, of patience, and of the beauty and changeable quality of the natural world. Rylant uses casual, conversational language with simple elegance and pleasing rhythms: "His hat is borrowed, his suit is borrowed, his hands are borrowed, even his head is borrowed. And his eyes probably came out of someone's drawer." An occasional tendency toward vagueness is evident as well; e.g., "It takes a certain peace, hanging around a garden" is followed some pages later by, "There is a certain wonder going on around him." Stringer's acrylic paintings are magnificent, with color and light as beautiful as those found in the type of bucolic world depicted here. The scarecrow is seen from above, behind, below, and every which way. These dynamic perspectives make an interesting contrast to his unwavering, peaceful expression. Overall, this is a lovely, gentle book that may appeal more to sentimental adults than to children.?Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5^-8. Scarecrows are erected in fields to keep away pesky birds, but Rylant reveals that those truly soulful characters actually like birds: "It takes a certain peace, hanging around a garden all day. It takes a love of silence and air. A liking for long slow thoughts. A friendliness toward birds." The lilting text, coupled with large acrylic paintings, captures the serenity of the countryside and the peacefulness of a scarecrow's life, a life with which the scarecrow is completely content. Rylant keeps the pace slow, enabling children to see the world the way the scarecrow does, and she speaks with a humanity and a gentleness that reach out to all things, even a seemingly inanimate object. Children will have the greatest respect for the next scarecrow they see after meeting Rylant's gentle being, who spends his day appreciating the earth and conversing with birds, rabbits, and bugs. Helen Rosenberg

Customer Reviews

Children love it
From an adult viewpoint, I thought the book was "very nice", but my child fell in love with this book. I am rating it as he would rate it. After all, the book is intended for children. He came home from school one day to describe a wonderful story that their teacher had read to them. He said it was so special because the words were soft and pleasing. This is a first! He also loved the pictures. So,I couldn't resist getting him a copy for Christmas.

scarecrow
Title: Scarecrow
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Favorite Characters: scarecrow, birds

This story tells about a scarecrows life from a scarecrow's point of view. It begins with the scarecrow being made in the spring and the garden is being planted. The birds love to hang around on his arms and talk all day. He goes through summer, fall, and all he knows is that plants are growing up all around him.
This book shows how a scarecrow's life is peaceful and relaxing. It also shows the seasons and what happens during those seasons. It's not ever day you get to read about a scarecrow and it's life, so I recommend you read this book.

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A beautifully illustrated book!
Although I usually love Ms. Ryland's work (this is the 5th book by the author I have) and the illustrations are warm, colorful, and inspiring, I felt the story to be not very easy for children to understand and not as particularly uplifting as some of her other works. I was a little disappointed but will continue to read it to my children as they age and see if they catch on.