GO IN AND OUT THE WINDOW: An Illustrated Songbook for Young People

by Claude Mark ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1987

A splendid collection of 61 traditional songs, copiously illustrated with reproductions of art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. The songs, in alphabetical order, range from the nursery repertoire to folk songs, from boisterous to lyrical; but each reflects the society from which it comes, as well as universal human pursuits such as harvests, games, and singing a child to sleep. The beautifully reproduced art comes from many eras, parts of the world, and traditions; even practiced museum-goers will find something new to surprise and delight, for along with the big names (Monet, Homer, Bierstadt, Grandma Moses, Bruegel, Fra Filippo Lippi) there are many less familiar. Inclusion of American art is particularly generous; a sprinkling of decorative arts and lovely images from the Orient and [he Third World give this [he scope of The Family of Man. Links between song and visual image are imaginative and thought-provoking; sometimes the indirect connections, as elaborated in Marks' notes, are the most interesting. The musical arrangements are very simple, printed large and clear, and include chords for guitar. The typographical problem of including a generous number of verses, the text, attributions for the illustrations--which are all sorts of sizes, shapes, and styles and often more than one to a page--was a difficult one that has not been completely solved. Still, a feast for the eye and the mind as well as a very satisfactory songbook.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 144

Publisher: Henry Holt

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S