Climbing Kansas Mountains

From Publishers Weekly
When Sam's father suggests that they "climb a Kansas mountain," skeptical Sam says, "Sure . . . and watch pigs fly," but he changes his mind after his father drives him to the grain elevators where they climb "as high as eight houses stacked like blocks." Sam thinks the land looks like their tablecloth, "but with ribbons of road instead of red," and his house seems to be "hiding under trees like a sneaky cat." With homespun imagery and a laconic style, Shannon's ( Dancing the Breeze ) text emphasizes Sam's pleasure in "sharing time" alone with his father: "just me--no brothers--in the big front seat." Allen's ( In Coal Country ; Going West ) pastel illustrations are among his best and are particularly well suited to the text: the green patchwork countryside fairly shimmers in the hazy sunlight, while the heat at the dusty, small-town intersection is nearly palpable. Ages 4-7. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-Both the story and the pictures carry a beautifully understated glow in this tale of a boy whose father takes him on an outing. Their trip together-to the grain elevator where the father works-is both a time for closeness ("Just me-no brothers-in the big front seat.") and a chance for the child to experience his surroundings in a fresh way. Shannon's writing style is simple yet graceful, with well-chosen details. The softly colored illustrations done in charcoal, pastel, and colored pencils have a textured look that works well with the nostalgic tone of the story. Allen's handling of color and light, his strategically designed compositions, and his imaginative sense of scale are all marks of his artistic skill. This appealing picture book evokes a spirit of wonder, peace, and expansiveness while also describing the love and security of being with a parent.Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, ILCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Card catalog description
A young boy and his father share the magic of climbing the "Kansas mountains."


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On a hot summer afternoon when there's nothing to do, Sam's father says, "Sam, time you and I went to climb a Kansas mountain." When they climb to the top of one of the grain elevators full of wheat, they see the patchwork of beautiful fields that is the Midwest's beauty. School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Full color.


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