Over on a Mountain

March 2, 2015
As she has done in Over in a River, Over in the Ocean, and other titles, Berkes adapts the song “Over in the Meadow,” for an animal-centric counting book, this time introducing 20 animals that live in mountainous regions throughout of the world. Ten—including panda, ibex, and wombat families—are the focus of her stanzas, while 10 more are hidden in the images for readers to locate. While Berkes’s phrasings can be convoluted (“Over on a mountain/ With his mate, a female ‘hen,’/ Lived a father emperor penguin/ And his little chicks ten”), those familiar with the song shouldn’t have trouble following along. Dubin’s richly textured torn-paper collages provide ample visual interest, and substantial appended resources about the animals and their habitats’ offer additional avenues for children to engage. Ages 3–8.

April 1, 2015

PreS-Following the rhyme scheme and pattern of "Over in the Meadow," this story introduces animals from all over the world and the mountains where they reside. Each creature is shown in its natural habitat, accompanied by a picture of the continent where it can be found, labeled with the mountain range where it lives. For example, for the llama, readers will find a brief rhyme ("Over on a mountain/Grazing in the morning sun, /Lived a wooly mother llama/And her little cria one./'Roll, ' said the mother./'I roll, ' said the one./So they rolled in the dirt/Grazing in the morning sun."), a cutout of South America, with the Andes indicated. The collage illustrations are beautiful and layered with exquisite details. Readers will enjoy looking for hidden animals found on each spread; further material on the concealed creatures is appended. There is also a "Fact or Fiction" section that discusses the creative liberties the author has taken and clears up some questions that kids may have. Other sections include more information on the animals and on mountains. VERDICT A solid addition to most nature collections.-Melisa Bailey, Harford County Library System, MD

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