From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3?In this version of the classic tale, Rip Van Winkle escapes to the hills to avoid work, meets little men with long beards, parties until he falls asleep, and awakens 20 years later. All of this is told in a controlled vocabulary suitable for beginning readers. However, this retelling is so watered-down that most of the story's flavor and nuances are lost. Rip goes to the woods to hunt, but in Bergen's tale he goes fishing. In the original, Rip and the little men get drunk on liquor; here, he drinks cider. Cook's watercolor and gouache illustrations are lovely, but his talent is wasted here. Introducing children to the classics is a good idea, but not at the expense of the literature. Rip Van Winkle (Little, Brown, 1988), retold and illustrated by John Howe, or Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle (Puffin, 1994), retold and illustrated by Thomas Locker, are suitable for this audience while retaining the integrity of the original story.?Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Kindergarten-Grade 5 Irving's complete text, with unsurpassed pictures by N. C. Wyeth, is still in print (Morrow, 1987). Although Howe's abridgement makes the story available to younger readers, it is debatable whether too much of the mystery and historythe sense of the passing of time and of political changehas been sacrificed in the shortening. Irving's plot has been respected, and although little of his style remains, the narrative line is clear and (except for several pages of uninterrupted text near the end) well-paced to the pictures. Howe works in the ``classic'' Brandywine/Rackham vein, but the pictures skip around seasonally, even though Irving specifies an autumn setting. His interests lie in portraiture and period detail, and while the latter may be lost on a young audience, the wonderful faces of the Half Moon crew, featured on the cover, will grab browsers. If there is a profound side to the tale of Rip's 20-year escapist nap (RIP?), it isn't apparent in this humorous retelling or in the luminous paintings. Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this --School Library Journal
Howe, working in a style that is just as realistic as Locker's (see above), highlights the comic gifts of Irving's story: his Rip waves jauntily to a scarecrow, sneaks away from the house unaware that a stern Dame Van Winkle looks on and, in one frame, is seen scrambling out the door away from the shrewish, pointing finger of his wife (the rest of her is offstage). Henry Hudson's crew are a wild-eyed, caricatured bunch; Rip, upon awakening, has ivy and brambles clinging to his hat and pants, and his beard sails down past his knees. He returns to his village and is mistaken for a soldier of the American revolution; but soon settles into a serene life with his daughter and is lastly shown carving from wood the figures of the small men from his "night" on the mountain. This is a vivid piece of storytelling, which takes full advantage of the atmospheric Catskill setting. Howe good-spiritedly taps the elements of the tale that make it an American favorite. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. --Publisher's Weekly
Thomas Locker's illustrations of this particular story look like art gallery material. He really does an amazing job making this classic children's story live. Locker is a true artist who excels at his craft and I am excited to re-read this old favorite of mine while having the opportunity to pour over mini masterpieces all the way through. If you loved this story growing up and have any intention of introducing it to your own offspring, I heartily recommend this particular edition for its artful grace. I'm so glad for the opportunity to share it with my own little brood. Perhaps we'll save it for a bedtime story so that they too can be freaked out at the possibility that they won't wake up for twenty years! --5 Minutes for Books on July 18, 2009
From the Inside Flap
The wonderful story of Rip Van Winkle, which is today considered a classic in American literature, was written in 1820 by Washington Irving. About one hundred years later, N.C. Wyeth, one of the United States' greatest illustrators, created for Irving's story the marvelous paintings and drawings that appear in this book.
Now come along and meet Rip, his neighbors, and his children?and those mysterious men who play ninepins up in the mountains.
About the Author
Thomas Locker has illustrated more than 30 books, many of which he has written, including Skytree, Walking with Henry, John Muir, Hudson: The Story of a River, and Rembrandt and Titus. His books have received many awards, including the Christopher Award, the Knickerbocker Lifetime Achievement Award, the John Burroughs Award, and The New York Times Award for best illustration.
