Great rhyming and beautiful illustrations. ( )

New Years
Stories in Rhyme

"Amanda Dade leads the parade" in this rhyming New Year's picture-book from author Harriet Ziefert and illustrator S.D. Schindler. Although many other community members also take part, from Officer Dowd clearing the crowd to Mayor McSnorse riding a horse, the narrative continually reiterates that Amanda Dade is out in front with her baton, leading the entire parade...

Originally published in 1999 as First Night, and then reprinted in paperback in 2001 as Amanda Dade's New Year's Parade, this picture-book features a rhyming text with a repetitive sing-song structure, and striking artwork created using colored pencil and magic markers on midnight blue paper. Although not destined to become a personal favorite—somehow, I just can't seem to find a Solar New Year picture-book that I truly love—this would make a good read-aloud for a New Year's story time, and it is for that purpose that I would recommend it. ( )

On a journey to lead her town into the new year, Amanda Dade is followed and watched by the whole town. With her marching stick in and she can do anything. And as it gets closer you can feel the book itself speed up in excitement. The illustrations help convey this night time feeling, it looks like it's down with colored pencils on black paper, which adds to each and every page. Just wait till you get to the fireworks page, it's absolutely beautiful. ( )

Good book to use to teach rhyming and poetry. Grades k-2 ( )