Based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Our poem for the month of December is "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In preparation for our study, I discovered this picture book based on Longfellow's poem "The Birds of Killingworth", originally published in his Tales of a Wayside Inn.
Almira Case's father, Squire Case, is determined to save the village's crops. Birds are destroying them. Almira, however, loves their songs and is equally determined to stop her father. She and the schoolteacher, Master Arden, attempt to deter Squire Case and the village people from killing the birds but are not successful. The villagers soon realize their mistake as insects destroy their crops more than the birds ever had. Will birds ever return to the village?
A sweet romance is depicted. Although the author followed Longfellow's poem closely, he illuminated the tension between Almira and her father and also the romance between Almira and Master Arden. He also created a explanation of the birds' rescuers.
The poem is based on an actual contest in the town Killingworth, CT in Colonial times.
The illustrations are exquisite. The borders are detailed and beautiful and enhance the plot. In fact, I liked them so much, I requested more books illustrated by Ms. Root.
Warning: sensitive readers may be upset about the villagers shooting the birds.
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.
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