It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday, and what with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I wanted to share this wonderful book by Linda Ashman because the song it’s based on always makes me think of going to my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving when I was a kid! (Although we went by car, unfortunately, not by horse-drawn sleigh! 😊)
Title: Over The River And Through The Wood: A Holiday Adventure
Written By: Linda Ashman
Illustrated By: Kim Smith
Sterling Children’s Books, October 2015, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-8
Themes/Topics: family, holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas), travel
Opening: “Pack up the pooches and load the van.
We need to leave by eight!
There’s so much to bring.
Do we have everything?
Come on, we can’t be late!“
Brief Synopsis: Grandma and Grandpa have sent invitations to all the family: Come to our house for the holidays and bring your favorite pie! So all the families pack up and head out… but travel turns out to be trickier than expected!
Links To Resources: Who do you visit for the holidays? Make a photo collage of a family holiday get-together; If you travel on holidays, how do go? Draw a picture or make a model of your transportation – plane? train? bus? car? boat? Make up your own version of “Over the river” and sing who you go to visit and how you get there; Thanksgiving Turkey Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe)
Why I Like This Book: This wonderful story feels new and familiar at the same time; familiar because we all know the song upon which it is based, new because the travel troubles are fresh and fun (and anyone who has ever traveled for the holidays can relate!) The story is written in Linda Ashman’s trademark fabulous rhyme which is so fun to read aloud. And the art is delightful – a perfect complement to the story – and filled with fun little details… like what happens to the pies along the way 😊 And I love that even in this day and age of planes and trains and automobiles, the whole family ends up arriving by horse-drawn sleigh! 😊
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
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Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
I love this book. The meal scene is so beautiful, though also a bit sad (this year). Makes look forward to a new year and the potential to get together with families – not via the internet!
I know, Maria. It’s one of the things I like about this book right now – the reminder that those family times will come again!
I too grew up with this song and always thought of it at Thanksgiving. I have memories of traveling to spend the holiday with Aunts, Uncles and cousins. They were special times.
I know what you mean, Sarah. And boy does this song get stuck in my head! I’ve been singing it for days 😊
Love this book!
Wishing you and yours a happy holiday Susanna.
You too, Cathy! Thank you so much!
I loved the song as a child and imagined traveling in a sleigh on Thanksgiving — but there was never any snow. This a more relevant story that children will relate to. Love the table scene. It would be fun to teach kids the song,
I always longed to go somewhere, anywhere!, in a horse drawn sleigh with jingle bells, Pat! 😊
I love, Over The River and Through the Woods. It reminds me of family dinners with my Popop and Great Aunt Kay.
That sounds so nice, Janet!
I love this song! My mom used to sing it all the time, and I confess to tearing up when I read your review. This book looks like one I need to have on my shelf to remind me of my family who are so far away, and some of them no longer of this earth. Thanks for a trip down memory lane, Susanna! Have a great holiday with your family!
I felt the same way, Jilanne. So tough this year that we can’t all be together with family. I recommend the book… but I’m biased because I love everything Linda writes! 😊 Have a great holiday too!
Sounds like a really fun read-aloud! I miss those days!
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie! 😊
Thank you, Susanna! I’m putting this one on my list!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope you like it! I love it (but I confess to loving all Linda’s books 😊)