This book moved me in a very unexpected way. My family is from east Tennessee. I grew up in Hampton however, we spent every holiday and summer breaks in Tennessee with my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents. I had not thought about those experiences for quiet a while. Reading this book with my daughter Sarah gave me the opportunity to share some of my life experiences as well as the life experiences of her grandparents.
I was surprised by how many things in the book were familiar to my childhood. My grandmothers fried cornbread and "soup" beans, the country store down the road, the old wood burning stove and the evenings spent on the front porch "snapping" beans are all wonderful memories. I will never forget the summer that my grandfather killed a black snake by chopping off its' head with a shovel. My cousins and I watched in terror as the snake continued to wiggle around without a head. I was lucky enough that my grandparents had in door plumbing. However, my mother has shared many childhood memories of out houses and baths outside in the big wash tub. These are things that Sarah and Emily have not experienced.
The text of the book reads like a poem with each stanza beginning: "When I was young in the mountains.". As I have stated in earlier blogs, I love to read these books aloud. The illustrations blend well with the theme and style of the book. The artist paints in a folk art style and uses muted, earthy tones. Each illustration has irregular boarders and looks like a memory.
I love the sentiment, style and artistry of this book. It is not a part of my personal library now but it will be very soon. I will consider it part of my family heritage and will share it with my kids, my grandkids and my great grandkids.
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