Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1836255 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .37" h x 9.30" w x 9.30" l, .71 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1 pages

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-O'Brien's watercolor-and-ink illustrations do not depict the traditional circle game, but imagine the circumstances of the song itself and visually settle the question of "So, what's a 'dell' anyway?" As bright-eyed characters try to pull a hapless farmer out of a hollow, the cheese indeed stands alone in his initial refusal to cooperate in the rescue. The cheese, depicted as a wedge with stick limbs and an attitude, finally relents, and the farmer is pulled free. As the cat fiddles, the rescuers and the rescued celebrate with abandon until the farmer dances right off the edge, and once again it's "the farmer in the dell-." Fresh, funny, and great fun.
Sue Sherif, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AK
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 4-6. O'Brien's hilarious illustrations give the lyrics of a familiar rhyme new life. A farmer, faithful dog traipsing behind him, sets off down the path, and promptly falls into a large dell, "a secluded hollow or small den," as helpfully defined in the picture. When he can't climb out, the dog brings a whole cast of characters to help: the farmer's wife, the nurse, the child, and so on. Only the cheese, a wedge of Swiss with beanpole legs and arms, "stands alone," refusing to lend a hand. The rat convinces the cheese to join the chain, and with one good tug, the farmer is out--but not for long. As everyone dances in celebration, the goofy farmer falls right back over the edge. Page after page of expressive characters and animated watercolor scenes, defined with expertly rendered ink lines, will draw children through the familiar rhyme, which, thanks to O'Brien, becomes a rollicking new adventure. Lauren Peterson
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