Blue Bowl Down: An Appalachian Rhyme

By C.M. Millen

This collage book is about the simple pleasures in family rituals. The sun is about to set, it's almost time for bed and for the family in this cosy farmhouse, it's the perfect time to start making bread. In the morning it's time to enjoy a warm, delicious breakfast and a new day.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763618179
• ISBN13: 9780763618179
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.1" x 11.5"
• Age Range: 2 to 5 years

Customer Reviews

Lovely, Lovely Book

Both text and illustrations give a feel for a different time and place. I have never been to Appalachians, but I feel as though I would know the place and the people through this little book. My grandchild also loves to have this read to her. It seems particularly comforting to her. I don't understand the School Library Journal Review. However, I have noticed in the past that sometimes they take on a crankiness that just simply is not justified. I think that this is one of those times.

Changed my mind about this one

When I first read this book to our 2-year-old, I wasn't optimistic that she would ever like it and didn't care much for it, myself. However, after a few months we read it again and it is now her favorite book. We read it every night. The illustrations are soft yet sophisticated, and the repetition of the lines is soothing to her, I think. Anyway if our daughter is the judge (and she is), this one merits the top score.

My kids and I love this book!

I was disappointed to read the review by the School Library Journal. This book passes down timeless traditions: baking bread, mothers teaching and caring for their children, bedtime rituals. The lilting lullaby narration is not to be taken literally. The mother in the story, like many of us, talks to her young son as she works. She sings of lighting the lantern, little baby, and stoking the fire, little baby. Your pre-schooler may not learn how to bake bread by reading this book, but it opens the door for conversation about why we sift flour and how yeast works. I think it's a great book. I read to my 3-yr-old and 10-month-old day and night, and this is a favorite!

Beautiful book - a family favorite.

My 22-month old daughter has enjoyed this book for months and we are constantly checking it out of the library. We are finally buying our own copy! The illustrations are lovely and the writing is very lyrical. There are plenty of objects to point to (and have your child identify) to build his/her vocabulary and the active features of the text encourage acting out various facets of the story such as "walking" the water, patting the bread, finding the kittens and baby's belly button, etc. I highly recommend this book!

making bread book

A wonderful story, lilting and comforting, about taking the blue bowl down to make bread. An Appalachian rhyme.....read it to my grandson and he loves it. Old fashioned, comforting book.