By Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrated by Micha Archer
Margaret K McElderry Books, 2020
Picture Book, 40 Pages, Ages 2 – 6
Patricia MacLachlan nostalgically writes of the farm where she grew up on the prairie of Eastern Wyoming, where the sky and the land were vast, the life was idyllic, vibrant, simple, and free.
Told from the narrators perspective, we follow the life of a child on a farm, with slow days, warmth, comfort and many daily adventures. They swim in the farm pond, play kick the can on the road in the evening, ride horses, haul grain and getting it stuck in the cuffs of their pants, herd sheep, the occasional trip into town, and watching the moon rise at night.
Where I was born, there was a sky so big, there was no end of it.
What’s unique to this author is her lyrical verse, short and simple. You feel yourself slowing down as you read the text. It’s peaceful and whimsical, set in a time long ago where the clock didn’t much matter.
The mixed-media illustrations are completely captivating with layer upon layer of detail, bright, warm, yet as restful as the text. There is so much to see on each page without being busy, you’ll find something new each and every time you read it. This is a terrific bedtime story, one to read slowly, perused carefully, and enjoy thoroughly.
Wyoming still has places just like this. As I read this book I could see exactly what she was describing as I lived in Eastern Wyoming for many years. She caught the vastness and beauty exactly just so, as did the artist Micha Archer.
Patricia Maclachlan has written many well known books such as Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; Fly Away, Snow Horses, and many others. It’s easy to see why both adults and children read her books over and over again.
Prairie Days by Patricia MacLachlan receives 5 stars from this reviewer.