Newly illustrated by Giselle Potter, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod is a classic children's poem by Eugene W. Field. Though I don't specifically recall this one from my own childhood, I showed the book to my mother. She not only knew about Wynken, Blynken, and Nod but she began to list off other poems by Eugene W. Field. And as if that wasn't enough, she then began to sing some of his poems. So it's all a matter of context I suppose.
You can read the poem in its entirety here. Though I thought I'd share the first verse,
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe---
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!"
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the poem. (I don't dislike it. But I don't love it either.) But I can say that I enjoyed the illustrations by Giselle Potter. Some of them were just amazing. They were simply beautiful. And they drew you into the story.
Other reviews (from folks that love the poem and the illustrations both) include: A Well Read Child, Jen Robinson's Book Page, A Patchwork of Books, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.
5 comments:
In the middle of this slideshow is a photo of a sculpture in a fountain in our town that is based on the Wynken, Blynken and Nod poem, which like you, isn't one of my favorites. (Sorry, you have to look through lots and lots of books before that...which I know you will hate, Becky, since you really don't like books. ;)
My blog is at http://justareadingfool.wordpress.com. Sorry, but I'm not on Blogger.
What a great slideshow. Thanks for sharing. I love bookstores :)
And I've added your blog to my blog reader! :)
I love the music of that poem. I've read it aloud so many times it just rolls off my tongue. I think it's very clever and I always enjoy new illustrations for it.
My grandmother used to quote that poem to us when we were little. I don't ever remember seeing it in print, but we heard it often enough that I feel I know it well.
Get yourself a copy of the Seaseme Street "In Harmony" album. There's a great version of this as a song, which has made it a favorite of mine since I was little. (Because I have that album on vinyl...)
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