With a Whoop and a Holler - Hardcover

Nancy Van Laan has written many books perfect for reading aloud, including So Say the Little Monkeys; Little Fish, Lost; With a Whoop and a Holler, an American Library Association Notable Book; and the 1990 Parents' Choice Award winner, Possum Come a-Knockin'. She lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

K Up?Librarians should "whoop and holler" with delight at the publication of this book! Collections of Southern lore and folktales, with the exception of Br'er Rabbit stories, are difficult to find, especially those that are well documented, true to their locale and speech peculiarities, plus entertaining to read aloud and tell. Van Laan and Cook have produced a gem, covering the Bayous (Louisiana), the Deep South, and the Appalachian Mountains. Each of the three sections includes superstitions and rhymes as well as stories and is preceded by a lively and informative introduction to the region. Van Laan includes authentic speech in her appealing retellings of the 13 tales selected. Each piece is carefully documented and, combined with the page of "Other Useful Sources," the notes provide a good compendium of original scholarly sources for Southern folktales. The illustrations are marvelous. They're filled with humor and action as animals and people dance across the pages in warm tones of red-oranges, peaches, greens, and blues, having an absolutely wonderful time...an experience that awaits anyone who reads this book. There's also a map of the U.S. that shows which states are considered part of the South, and the origin of each story. A collection no library should be without.?Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
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