Thursday, March 13, 2008

This is the day! Adapted by Phillis Gershator, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman - review



This is the day! Adapted by Phillis Gershator, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman.
I don't always go for Marjorie Priceman's sort of Chagall-y work: I know it's meant to be gestural, but it often falls over the edge into slapdash for me.

But boy do her willowy women and 1950's wirework furniture work in this book, an adaptation of an old song that goes "Monday's the day we give babies away with half a pound of tea. Here comes a lady who wants a baby. 'I'll take this one,' says she..." It's an irresistible song, light-hearted and with an adoption theme, and the illustrations are sunny and swingy and the whole book just really works.

Besides the fact that a different song with the same title is one of my favorite songs of all time. ALL TIME. THE THE ROCKS, PEOPLE. (And oh my, wasn't Matt Johnson cute back when he had hair!)

1 comment:

Phillis Gershator said...

Thanks for the lovely review.
Brand new CD features the whole song, "This Is the Day," sung Julie Andrews style, and eleven more picture book related songs. Title: THIS IS THE DAY! STORYSONGS & SINGALONGS.
Happy reading and singing--
Phillis Gershator