Swan Harbor: A Nature Counting Book

By Laura Rankin

Book Overview

Rankin's own Maine countryside provided the inspiration and research for this beautiful fictional harbor. At once a nature guide, a counting book, and a puzzle, Swan Harbor is first and foremost an exquisite work of art. Full color.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803725612
• ISBN13: 9780803725614
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Dial Books
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Incredible!

Breath-taking! Glorious! Magnificent! "Swan Harbor: A Nature Counting Book" is a must-have for children six and under and for all children's libraries. Parents and teachers, this is a book you want in your children's hands for the sheer beauty of nature as rendered by the artist Laura Rankin. Set in her home state of Maine, Swan Harbor is the safe harbor of swans in winter. Rankin states in her introduction that she once counted sixty-three swans there. In the back of the book the artist lists twenty animals or plants depicted with brief information about each. Here we learn that swans mate for life. The title page shows a pair of swans, that life pair, and a tugboat heading back to sea. The artwork is not hyper detailed (photorealism), but suggestively detailed, especially close-up objects. Each illustration is quite amazing for its vividness and true-to-life depictions. In addition to the lovely artwork is the clever introduction of the next item to be counted. The first picture shows one robin bringing a worm to the next item--two sleeping robins. In their picture they are fully awake and engaged in food begging with part of a squirrel showing behind the tree. With three squirrels perched in the tree, the viewer can see a rabbit in the grass. And so on. It's a clever technique. Children will quickly catch on and look for that next item, whether animal or plant. The last two pages with twenty swans are beautiful. This is a beautiful book. Your child must have this book. Really! Dedicated to the memory of Linda's mother

Janet Townsend, A Librarian

This counting book, illustrated from spring to winter, is absolutely charming! Each page depicts an animal or plant that thrives along the coast of Maine, such as squirrels, irises, dragonflies, and of course, swans, among others. Each page is beautifully illustrated with gorgeous bright colors rich with detail. Contained in the back of the book are interesting facts about twenty plants and animals illustrated throughout the book. Makes you want to pack your bags and head to the coast of Maine in any season!