The Story of the Root-Children

Rating:
Summary: Charming story of the cycle of seasons
Review: Originally published in 1906, The Story of the Root-Children is a tale of the seasons. Mother Earth (who looks a bit like Old Mother Hubbard) awakens the little "root children" beneath the dirt and helps them fashion colorful new clothes for the spring, an analogy for the spring flowers pushing through the ground. Also the hibernating insects are readied, all told in beautiful and detailed illustrations.

A favorite with Waldorf-minded families, but suitable for any child. The age recommendation is 4-8, but my 2-1/2 year old is engrossed by this story. She loves to point out the dragonflies, crickets, beetles, bees, butterflies and of course the flowers.

Useful as a sort of introduction to nature identification for toddlers (which flower is that? what type of bug is that?) and also a lesson in the order of the seasons. Only 9 short pages of text, so not too intimidating for the young child and it is all told as a story--not "here's a lesson for you about the flowers and the insects" sort of book.

Also a good gift for any older child or adult who loves beautiful illustrations or collects childrens' books.

Rating:
Summary: simple and innocent book for nature lovers especially!
Review: The general tone of this book is rare to find these days. The book was written almost one hundred years ago, so I guess this explains it! A sweet book full of happiness and simple pleasures. On the left side of the book, the page contains only text, and a good amount, about 12 detailed sentences, and the right side of the book is a full page illustration. An adorable story about these little root children who live and hibernate underground during the winter months and come above ground in the spring to play with the flowers and insects until winter approaches and they must return underground. The insects and the wind talk to the root children and guide them. Mother Earth is an old woman who takes care of them, puts them to sleep for the winter and wakes them up in the summer. A romantic tale that any child would love, a fantasy to think that little root children may be running about in the grasses and the forest under our feet! Illustrations are full of insects, butterflies, flowers, and various plants so the parent can talk to the child about them in addition to just reading the text. We need more books like this on the market! My only disappointment was that the book ended so soon--I wanted more, more more!

Rating:
Summary: a bit thin
Review: There's not much to this book considering what it's priced at. The illustrations are so-so and the story is quite simple and not written very well. As for my 3 year old: she liked the pictures but I felt the story didn't really capture her attention. There are better nature/seasonal stories out there that fall into the "classic" catagory.

Rating:
Summary: Who do you imagine Mother Earth to be?
Review: This book is very popular among other Waldorf schoolers due to it's depiction of the seasons and the cycles within nature...I was suprised to find that the format and illustrations are not lovely in their simplicity, as some illustrators are capable of acheiving.
Even more surprising was the authors depiction of Mother Earth! I have never thought of Mother Earth as a tired old woman and certainly do not wish for my children to see her in this light. Nature is vibrant and full of life, not shortsighted and foreboding as she appears here. I can't help feeling sorry for the little root children who are tasked by her in this story.
For a more aesthetically satisfying display of nature, see any of Elsa Beskow's books, particulary, Children of the Forest and Around the Year.