Reviews

Shaker Lane by Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen

happylilkt's review against another edition

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4.0

This book is refreshing in that it is presented as a tableau, not a sermon—the authors do not preach politics or morality. As a result there is much more to reflect and consider. I'll be interested to see what my kids think of this one.

mat_tobin's review against another edition

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5.0

This is an excellent picturebook which celebrates so much about Americans living by simple means and living simple lives. Living on the land owned by a pair of elderly twin sisters who can no longer maintain the acres of farmland, Alice and Martin Provensen introduce us to a handful of residents who live there.
The words and the pictures say so much without saying anything explicitly and you feel that you are looking upon the rural lifestyles of real people. This alone could lead to a fruitful and rich discussion on comparative lifestyles. When the residents find out that their homes will be lost to a reservoir, they are forced to move yet we find that their spirit and adaptability shines a great hope on the future prospects. This is an America I have not seen in children's books and it's far richer than most.

floodfish's review

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4.0

Beautiful.

mat_tobin's review

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5.0

This is an excellent picturebook which celebrates so much about Americans living by simple means and living simple lives. Living on the land owned by a pair of elderly twin sisters who can no longer maintain the acres of farmland, Alice and Martin Provensen introduce us to a handful of residents who live there.
The words and the pictures say so much without saying anything explicitly and you feel that you are looking upon the rural lifestyles of real people. This alone could lead to a fruitful and rich discussion on comparative lifestyles. When the residents find out that their homes will be lost to a reservoir, they are forced to move yet we find that their spirit and adaptability shines a great hope on the future prospects. This is an America I have not seen in children's books and it's far richer than most.
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