The Secret River

The story is not especially gripping, but the Dillons did a superb job on parts of the story. The owl with patterned feathering and each page with fish are particularly excellent.

The secret river is a story about hard times. Calpurnia decides to help her father by fishing in a secret river that only exists in her imagination. This book has a bit of magic since she caught enough catfish to help her father and others overcome tough times.

I didn't realize this was a re-issue till I read the flaps. The illustrations are lovely, dreamy but realistic. The story is simple, with fantastical elements, but it feels very true to place- one of Rawlings' hallmarks. I'd never heard of this before, and am happy to have discovered it in a shiny

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new edition.

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This Newbery-winning story orignially published in 1955 is re-released with new, stunning illustrations by the incomparable Leo and Diane Dillon.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. This is an updated version of a story by Rawlings published in 1956. The story tells of hard times in a forest and a girl who wishes to make it better. Quite long for the group I normally read-aloud to, but would work well for school-age children.

Beautiful illustrations! I wasn't even that interested in reading the story, but the artwork was so intriguing, I had to read it. Then the story captured me which led me back to the images. What more could you ask for in a picture book? My first favorite book of 2011!

Newbery Honor in 1956. Because of Calpurnia's determination and generosity, the people of her Florida forest go from "hard times to soft times". Beautiful illustrations by Caldecott winners Leo and Diane Dillon.

This is the edition I read when I was a child. I remembered it quite well when I read the new one, with illustrations by the Dillons, 4 decades later.  Mystical & moving.  I especially liked the idea that the wilderness itself can help you find success in your quest, if you simply trust, and

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follow your nose.""

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A girl, whose father needs fish to sell in his market, sets out to find the magical secret river.
Short and sweet. Lovely illustrations.

A lyrical story told in the voice a young girl, Calpurnia, who searches for a river in which to fish so "hard times will be soft times" for the people of the forest. The rhythm, connection to nature, and intelligence remind me of Opal. There was no attempt to make the poems any better than a child

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could write, which should inspire young writers to try also.

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I have mixed feelings about this reprint. My family has enjoyed the 1955 version until the pages became tattered and we were forced to get a new copy.

1) Text: It's missing a lot of text!!! I suppose since Rawlings didn't publish it in her lifetime any editor would feel justified in saying the edits

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were necessary. Now the story is missing some of the interactions of the wildlife, which might be fine for city folk, but not for people who are actually observant (and reliant on such observations) of the natural world. I guess the publisher wanted to limit the number of pages, but it could have been done better by having less white space on the pages.

2) Illustrations: The colorful illustrations with a wide variety of patterns is engaging. I love the way tree bark looks like faces, and how Calpurnia's head is filled with the birds bees or flowers she is imagining. Calpurnia is more obviously a person of color. But. The original illustrations (monochromatic) more accurately portrayed an impoverished community. New version: Calpurnia is wearing shoes (except for when she is stepping in the river)!?! That looks so fake. Anyone who enjoys wandering the woods would also love being barefoot. Did the artist have problems drawing toes? And the scene in the fish market of shoppers "who haven't had anything to eat for weeks" shows an assortment that might be found in a large city store, complete with hats and high heels. I do love the interpretation of Mother Albirtha as an herbalist/palm reader.

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