A PEACEABLE KINGDOM: The Shaker Abecedarius

by Alice & Martin--Illus. Provensen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 11, 1978

ALLIGATOR, Beetle, Porcupine, Whale,/ BOBOLINK, Panther, Dragonfly, Snail. . . ."" A 26-line alphabet rhyme, once used to teach Shaker children their letters, has been stretched over 35 pages and provided with a strip of pictures illustrating the animals named and some everyday Shaker doings. The result is a tasteful, decorative frieze that, however, goes on too long to hold the interest of children in the absence of significant visual incident--and given the impossibility, while looking at the pictures, of saying the rhyme fast enough to have real fun with it. An Afterword, directed to adults, summarizes Shaker history, beliefs, and way of life--without noting, though, that they didn't believe in figurative depiction. A minor cavil, probably, in that this will remind most people of the ""Pennsylvania Dutch"" anyhow--and it's altogether too inconsequential to make an issue of authenticity.

Pub Date: Sept. 11, 1978

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1978

Categories: CHILDREN'S