Chil­dren’s

Day Is Done

Peter Yarrow; Melis­sa Sweet, illus.
  • Review
By – October 31, 2011

The lyrics of Day Is Done, the well-known song by folk singer Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary) are beau­ti­ful­ly paired with stun­ning water­col­or and mixed media illus­tra­tions by Calde­cott Hon­or win­ner Melis­sa Sweet. The gen­tle words lend them­selves to a bed­time rit­u­al read aloud. The illus­tra­tions con­vey a warmth and sense of belong­ing, with lov­ing rep­re­sen­ta­tions of ani­mals in parent/​child inter­ac­tions against a back­drop of a mag­i­cal for­est-like set­ting. Includ­ed with the book is a CD of Peter Yarrow, accom­pa­nied by Bethany Yarrow. The three musi­cal selec­tions are sub­lime, offer­ing chil­dren a love­ly intro­duc­tion to tra­di­tion­al folk music. Adults will also find com­fort in the famil­iar cadence of Yarrow voice. The CD is per­fect for bed­time, qui­et time, or sooth­ing back­ground music for play­time. The book does not have Jew­ish con­tent, but the third track on the CD is a beau­ti­ful ren­di­tion of Dona, Dona, Dona”. Although Yarrow has cre­at­ed his own lyrics, the melody main­tains the essence of the orig­i­nal composition. 

Day Is Done is appro­pri­ate for fam­i­lies and schools. The com­bi­na­tion book/​CD would also be a beau­ti­ful gift. For ages 2 and up.

Bar­bara Bietz is a free­lance writer and children’s book review­er. She is cur­rent­ly a mem­ber of the Syd­ney Tay­lor Book Award Com­mit­tee. Bar­bara is the author of the mid­dle grade book, Like a Mac­cabee. She has a blog ded­i­cat­ed to Jew­ish books for chil­dren at www​.Bar​baraB​Book​Blog​.Blogspot​.com.

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