A lyrical story told in the voice a young girl, Calpurnia, who searches for a river in which to fish so "hard times will be soft times" for the people of the forest. The rhythm, connection to nature, and intelligence remind me of Opal. There was no attempt to make the poems any better than a child could write, which should inspire young writers to try also. ( )

I feel like this was meant to be a short story instead of a picture book. ( )

A girl, whose father needs fish to sell in his market, sets out to find the magical secret river.
Short and sweet. Lovely illustrations. ( )

This is the edition I read when I was a child. I remembered it quite well when I read the new one, with illustrations by the Dillons, 4 decades later.  Mystical & moving.  I especially liked the idea that the wilderness itself can help you find success in your quest, if you simply trust, and follow your nose."" ( )

The Secret River?áis too long to read aloud to a toddler. And it's abridged slightly from the original, too, as noted in the illustrators' (?) (publishers ?) note. I'd say allow at least 15 minutes to read it to yourself.

The part I remembered from my childhood reading of the original chapter book was the 'follow your nose' quest itself. This edition focuses on the people, on hard times, on Calpurnia's courage. When I first read Weisgard's edition, I felt more of a focus on the Quest, and on the interactions with the mysteries of nature.?á

In any case, this is a beautiful book, and the Dillons have outdone themselves in the pictures for it.?á" ( )