Review by Booklist Review
Way up in the North / Where the reindeer run / A big mommy elf / Called her little elfie one. After a conversation in their kitchen, the scene shifts to a father mouse and his little mousies two in their cozy home behind the baseboard, followed by a gingerbread daddy and his little gingies three leaping off the decorated tree. The action continues outdoors, with carolers singing, polar bears swimming, snowmen shivering, and stars winking. As Santa's sleigh rises into the sky, he calls down to the elfie family that he will be back for some Merry Christmas fun! In recent years, many picture books have used the structure, rhythm, and cadence of the old counting rhyme beginning Over in the meadow, but few writers have come up with a version that works as well as this cheerful text, or one that ties up so well in the end. Capturing the upbeat tone of Jane's verse, Manning's lovely watercolor illustrations are brimming with warmth, spontaneity, and joy. A magical visit to Santa's home base on Christmas Eve.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The creators of Little Goblins Ten jump from Halloween to Christmas in this polar riff on "Over in the Meadow." Counting up from an elf's single son to a cat's 10 kittens, Jane's catchy, alliterative verse introduces an array of parents and offspring, with some amusing monikers for the little ones. A gingerbread man and his "little gingies three" jump down from a Christmas tree where they have been hung as ornaments, and a mother polar bear dives into icy water with her "little polies five." Santa's eight elves and nine reindeer bring the tale to a cheery close on Christmas Eve. Manning's dappled watercolors treat readers to comically exaggerated images-there's almost a hint of mischief lurking in the narrowed eyes of her characters, be they human, elf, or animal-and deliver ample Christmas spirit. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Molly Jaffa, Folio Literary Management. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This variation on the popular and catchy classic children's rhyme "Over in the Meadow" changes the location to "way up in the North" and attempts to inspire the holiday spirit using many characters frequently associated with Christmas (elves, carolers, gingerbread men, etc.) and some who don't have a direct tie-in (mice, polar bears, cats). It's easy to get caught up in the sing-song rhythm, but some of the vocabulary gives it an odd ring. The gingerbread daddy has "little gingies three" and "old mommy polar" has "little polies five." Manning's watercolors are brimming with energy and humor in a seemingly slapdash style reminiscent of David Catrow. Without exception, the characters are alive and engaged in their own antics. VERDICT A lighthearted, nonreligious read-aloud for the younger set.--Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Way up in the North / Came a knock upon the door. / Surprise! A mother caroler / And her little carolers four!" This Christmas version of "Over in the Meadow" stretches the limits of both the rhyme scheme and the holiday content: Santa, reindeer, elves, and tree ornaments make sense; not so much mice and kittens. The watercolor illustrations are warm and jolly. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The classic children's song "Over in the Meadow" moves to the North Pole in this Christmas-themed interpretation. The story begins with a "big mommy elf" who lives in a house at the North Pole with her "little elfie one." Each verse introduces a new set of parent-and-child characters, increasing by one child each time. A father mouse encourages his "little mousies two" to nibble, a mother polar bear tells her "little polies five" to swim, and Father Santa calls for his "little helpers eight" to hurry and his "little reindeer nine" to fly. The story circles back around to the mother elf and her little one as they wave goodbye to Santa on Christmas Eve. The story works well when read as rhyming text, but it also can be sung to the old folk tune of "Over in the Meadow" for a musical Christmas treat. The parental characters are evenly divided between mothers and fathers, and the activities and names for the children are cleverly inventive, such as "gingies" for the little gingerbread children. Soft-focus watercolor illustrations use glowing light and mysterious shadows to create a suspenseful mood with a magical radiance. Manning's illustrations are simply irresistible, with appealing characters and strong compositions on each spread. Unfortunately, all the humanoid characters appear to be Caucasian. This special story will be read or sung over in the library, over in the classroom, and over in the family room, next to the Christmas tree. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
