Book Review: Over In the Meadow

Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

Beautiful natural illustrations accompany this bouncy, classic nursery rhyme.

The beauty of nursery rhymes run aplenty. There’s a reason these stories have been passed down for generations. Kids love songs from before they can talk, and they keep loving them as they get older. Until they become us. 

And the thing is, everybody’s versions are different. Over In the Meadow is a rhyme I recognize but with different animal characters leading the way. This rhyme has lasted for 154 years. All we have is what we were sung as children and what our parents and grandparents were sung as children. 

This is a counting rhyme first and foremost. We go from one baby turtle to two baby goldfish to three owlets and beyond. In addition to being a catchy song, it introduces young readers to what sounds the animal makes, what they often do, and where they live. There’s a lot of information on natural creatures wrapped up in an attractive, sing-song package. 

Over In the Meadow is a fun counting song with a unique, fast-paced rhythm. Kids will love the beat and find themselves singing along to the energetic baby’s responses by their second or third re-read. I know my kid was when I read this to her.

“Dig!” said the mother.

“I dig!” said the one…

“Swim!” said the mother.

“We swim!” say the two.

The illustrations in this book are about as lovely as they come. Friendly faces doing fun and incredible things, like jumping high like frogs and running fast like deer. Many of the pages are filled with bright characters on white backgrounds, which means the times when the pages are splashed in full color and the characters are silhouetted, the pages pop and are a marvel to look at. The deer running through the woods and the goldfish’s majestic wavy tails are two highlights on full color pages, while the moths and foxes are equally beautiful on white canvas.

The rhyme is bookended by a meaningful Foreword from Celestia French about the book’s messages on motherhood, childhood, and the earth and, at the end, a glossary of the very specific animals included in the book. Not only are we counting in this catchy, educational song, but we’re diving into animal science, introducing us to Eastern Screech Owls, Yellow Garden Spiders, and my favorite, the Harnessed Tiger Moth. And after the information, there’s even a free page where readers are encouraged to write and draw their own version.

This is a slightly different song from the one I know, but it’s true that I did stumble a few times over the rhyme. It may take some time to get used to for parents so they’re not stumbling too much in their all-important first few times reading it. Counting also isn’t particularly easy since the pages move by so fast and the rhythm is kind of reliant on speed to achieve it. But also, if you’re reading this book and other counting books often, the numbers climbing to ten will begin to get ingrained in their thought process.

Chandler Strange’s Over In the Meadow is a wonderful addition to this song’s folk lore. If you’re going to redo a classic, do it well. And lucky for us, Strange does just that. Your kid will love having an excuse to sing this catchy song with you again and again. 

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