Over the Hills and Far Away
Collected by Elizabeth Hammill
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
This large volume is most definitely a feast for the ears and the eyes. Containing one hundred and fifty nursery rhymes from all over the world, it ranges as far afield as India, the Caribbean, Ghana, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the four countries of the United Kingdom. Among the voices represented are those from the Inuit, Maori, Native American, Latino and African cultures. The rhymes have been selected by Elizabeth Hammill, one of the co-founders of Seven Stories, the UK National Centre for Children’s Books: www.sevenstories.org.uk
Seventy seven artists have contributed, most often a double spread illustrating one or several rhymes, some of which are well known, others may be new discoveries for you as they were for me. The majority of the artists too, are well known names in the picture book world, but again there are some, such as Laurie Stansfield who are new to me. Her illustration of one tune wonder Tom, ‘he was a piper’s son’ playing atop a windy hill beautifully catches the feeling of a blowy day and the boy’s pleasure in making music.

 Another – to me – new name is Allison Francisco, a young native American Tohono O’odham artist whose two illustrations for spirit songs are sheer magic.

It is impossible to choose  favourite spreads but among mine are Niamh Sharkey’s depictions of Jumping Joan and Janey Mac,

Pamela Zararnski’s dreamily gorgeous scene ‘Bed is too small for my tiredness’

and Holly Sterling’s tender depiction of father and daughter as he sings her two lullabies, one African American, the other Maori

 

and, how marvellous to see John Lawrence’s wonderful London woodcuts.

Really though I could go through the whole book enthusing, for almost every turn of the page is both visual delight and music to the ear.
Truly a fantastic way to introduce young children to the magic of the spoken word and the riches of artists and illustrators from near and far. It would make a wonderful present for any family with young (or not so young) children and I suggest at least one copy for every primary school library and early years setting. If our government really wants to encourage children’s language and literacy development then what better way to start than by giving every new mother this treasure trove of words and pictures. That, and order a daily dose of this book, rather than phonics for every child from four to seven.

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