The Animal Hedge
Written by: Paul Fleischman
Illustrated by: Lydia Dabcovich
Published by: E.P.Duncan, Inc. in NY in 1983 (newly illustrated edition in 2003)
Genre: Traditional Literature (animal folktale)
Ages: grades K-3
Summary: In this work, a farmer is forced to sell his farm and animals due to a drought. He misses his animals terribly at his new home, but notices one day that one of the hedges at his house resembles and cow. The farmer then gets the idea to recreate his favorite farm animals within his hedge. Furthermore, when his sons grow older and cannot decide what careers to embark upon, the farmer, who knows his sons very well, creates images of each son's future job within the hedge and all are pleased with the careers they begin. Because of the son's wonderful jobs, at the end of the story they are able to buy the farmer something he has missed for many years--farm animals.
Response: I though this book was remarkably creative. Amid one of the most difficult times in the farmer's life, he was able to find happiness in something other than living on a farm. I believe this sends a great message to students. When all of the doors one thought were open to them seem to close, there is always one door standing wide open and full of opportunities for those who simply take that leap of faith. The Animal Hedge would be a great book to read to or with students struggling with difficult events in their lives.
This theme of perseverance and survival seems to flow through many of Paul Fleischman's works. In Mind's Eye, a paralysed teenager learns to cope with her disability, in Lost, a young girl learns how to survive in the woods for several days, and in Finzel the Farsighted, Finzel learns that his weak eyesight does not hinder his ability to catch the man who robbed him. I believe that this survival theme is very important for children. If they learn at an early age to make the best of their situations and take everything "with a grain of salt" they will have much less stress in their lives and be much better able to handle life's difficult situations they are prone to encounter. In this way, the farmer in The Animal Hedge is a great role model for children.
The thin line pencil/pen illustrations in this book are quite unique in themselves. Other than black and white, the only color used is green. The illustrator uses green for the hedge and grass, of course, but also fro the farmer's stockings and shoes, bags, articles of clothing, and other small items throughout the book. Amazingly, this is not distracting to the reader because the color is used only to enhance the illustrations, not to make anything overtly look out of place. The backgrounds are all white, which makes the simple color jump off the page. Throughout the book, the illustrator uses single and double pages spreads equally to convey her message. I do like these illustrations, but am also interested to see what the new book's illustrations look like for The Animal Hedge.
Teaching Connections: As a response to this book, teachers can have students write about a struggle they have faced in their lives and how they dealt with it. They can assess whether their method was positive or negative and discuss how they feel about the farmer's reaction to losing his farm and livelihood.
Students could also think of the job they want in the future and illustrate that using pencil/pen, drawing this item in a hedge, and choosing only one color to add interest to their drawing.
Written by: Paul Fleischman
Illustrated by: Lydia Dabcovich
Published by: E.P.Duncan, Inc. in NY in 1983 (newly illustrated edition in 2003)
Genre: Traditional Literature (animal folktale)
Ages: grades K-3
Summary: In this work, a farmer is forced to sell his farm and animals due to a drought. He misses his animals terribly at his new home, but notices one day that one of the hedges at his house resembles and cow. The farmer then gets the idea to recreate his favorite farm animals within his hedge. Furthermore, when his sons grow older and cannot decide what careers to embark upon, the farmer, who knows his sons very well, creates images of each son's future job within the hedge and all are pleased with the careers they begin. Because of the son's wonderful jobs, at the end of the story they are able to buy the farmer something he has missed for many years--farm animals.
Response: I though this book was remarkably creative. Amid one of the most difficult times in the farmer's life, he was able to find happiness in something other than living on a farm. I believe this sends a great message to students. When all of the doors one thought were open to them seem to close, there is always one door standing wide open and full of opportunities for those who simply take that leap of faith. The Animal Hedge would be a great book to read to or with students struggling with difficult events in their lives.
This theme of perseverance and survival seems to flow through many of Paul Fleischman's works. In Mind's Eye, a paralysed teenager learns to cope with her disability, in Lost, a young girl learns how to survive in the woods for several days, and in Finzel the Farsighted, Finzel learns that his weak eyesight does not hinder his ability to catch the man who robbed him. I believe that this survival theme is very important for children. If they learn at an early age to make the best of their situations and take everything "with a grain of salt" they will have much less stress in their lives and be much better able to handle life's difficult situations they are prone to encounter. In this way, the farmer in The Animal Hedge is a great role model for children.
The thin line pencil/pen illustrations in this book are quite unique in themselves. Other than black and white, the only color used is green. The illustrator uses green for the hedge and grass, of course, but also fro the farmer's stockings and shoes, bags, articles of clothing, and other small items throughout the book. Amazingly, this is not distracting to the reader because the color is used only to enhance the illustrations, not to make anything overtly look out of place. The backgrounds are all white, which makes the simple color jump off the page. Throughout the book, the illustrator uses single and double pages spreads equally to convey her message. I do like these illustrations, but am also interested to see what the new book's illustrations look like for The Animal Hedge.
Teaching Connections: As a response to this book, teachers can have students write about a struggle they have faced in their lives and how they dealt with it. They can assess whether their method was positive or negative and discuss how they feel about the farmer's reaction to losing his farm and livelihood.
Students could also think of the job they want in the future and illustrate that using pencil/pen, drawing this item in a hedge, and choosing only one color to add interest to their drawing.
(Image retrieved from http://www.wiredforwords.com/COVERS/theanimalhedge.jpg on 19 April 2008)
1 comment:
Well written critique Erin. Have you read Fleischman's latest Cinderella retelling: Glass Sipper? IF you haven't, take a look at it! I think you will enjoy it!
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