Big Day on the River

by Sarah Elizabeth Wilson and Xio Axelrod

Book Overview

A little girl looks forward to her first solo raft ride on the river, but her well-meaning relatives don't want to leave her alone. At dawn, Willie danced her way to the river, joyful to be alone and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805067876
• ISBN13: 9780805067873
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.7" x 11.4"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

A Joyful Down-Home River Trip

Vivid acrylic gouache illustrations and sparkling prose highlight this funny, clever book about a "skinny-legs-tall girl's almost spoiled rafting trip down the "Wallawatchee." Just as she's celebrating her imminent launch from the dock, (along with two duck pals), Willie's extended (as in "large- extended") family prance down the dock bringing her provisions that threaten to overload her raft, and country dialect, similes, and metaphors for the reader's delight: Gramma Clementia brings a bag of apples: "It's a long-toed river out there. You'll be hungry as a hound by midmorning!" Gramma Emmaline brings a watermelon. "The watermelon was heavier than a full grown-raccoon in a washtub." Some of the men happen to bring smelly items--even the ducks hold their noses: An umbrella "as tall as a beanpole" which might have some dirty socks within it,and a horse blanket which may have some horse hair. The raft loads up more and more as Uncle Binderbus and Uncle Mumpford, respectively, bring a bicycle and a chair. Calamity ensues as the raft goes under ("fortunately the water was shoulder-high-shallow) and the givers focus on getting back their supplies. There's a very happy ending, and overall, a very lightly presented lesson for the overly solicitous. The narrative, dialogue, and pictures are just flat-out fun. (You may find yourself doing a little regional dialect yourself after reading this one.) It's great fun to read silently and especially to others. The large format illustrations and exaggerated portraits give the book a tall-tale feeling but within a familiar context. Sarah Wilson and Randy Cecil have concocted one of the most enjoyable books I've read all year; it's a very down-home yarn that's sure to please.

A completely delightful picture book story

Big Day On The River is a completely delightful picture book story about a young girl who sometimes feels a bit squeezed by her large family, and her determination to enjoy a river adventure. Playful color illustrations by Randy Cecil perfectly showcase the upbeat text by Sarah Wilson, -- and lots of splashing make for an upbeat and thoroughly fun-filled read for children ages 4 to 7!