Come a Tide

by George Ella Lyon, Stephen Gammell

A girl provides a lighthearted account of the spring floods at her rural home.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

George Ella Lyon is a Kentucky author who has published in many genres, including picture books, poetry, juvenile novels, and articles.

Reviews

[Lindsay Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Ella Lyon, a Lexington, KY native, does an excellent job bringing KY culture across through the themes and events of this story. This book tells of a family and their neighbors as they try to escape from a flood, up the hill to Grandma's house. This would be a good story to use with a lesson on key details and main idea, or dialect, and would also be good to use with sequencing. The illustrator, Stephen Gammell did an excellent job creating the pictures to match the setting and culture of rural Kentucky. I love this book and it's connection with Kentucky culture and would recommend this and all of George Ella Lyon's books to any teacher or student.

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story by the author of Mama is a Miner. The tone and illustrations belie the terror of a flood washing away "pigs and chickens on Martins Fork / and a whole front porch on Poor Fork". The illustrations are in full color, people smiling, and pigs laughing as they splash down the creeks. The neighbors who stop to help others echo the creeks rushing down to the river "like kinfolks coming home", conveying the secret of poor mountain people's resiliency.

[Gena Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I read to my children.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to handle a flood!

[Nivedita]

Ok

[Kelle Treadwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kentucky

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come a Tide was illustrated beautifully and went along with the story perfectly. They were bright, and you could imagine yourself standing in the rain with them. If I read this as a child, I would have loved it and been able to relate because it reminds me of my grandma, she was always right and could somehow smell the rain, even now I loved reading it because it reminded me of her! Children who haven’t been in the mountains are exposed to problems that others have to deal with, and if they live in the mountains they could relate to the flooding that happens in this story. Also, I would be able to relate to going to grandmas house and getting treated with coffee and biscuits (my favorite place and food), as I'm sure many children could also relate to!

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful story of making the best of a bad situation that is totally out of your control. When it rains and rains and then rains some more, wise sage grandma knows that this does not bode well and that "It'll come a Tide."

And, it did come a tide, a tide of heavy streams of running water that clears everything in its path. As the pigs swirl in the current, and the furniture rides the water to another location, the good people of Clover, Martins and Poor Fork must ride out the tide and start all over again.

Lovely illustrations and a matter of fact story make this a likeable read.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a little girls’ account of the spring floods in her rural home. Although it is never stated, the reader gets the impression that the story takes place in the Appalachia area. I used this book as an extension to a reading/science unit about weather. The kids made wonderful connections regarding the flood in this story to the flood in the Rigby series book The Bell in the Well. The rich vocabulary and beautiful watercolor painting make this story wonderful to use as a read aloud!

[Rachael Vanderhoof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come A Tide is a a book about a young girl who experiences the flooding of her home alongside her family and neighbors. Her grandma warned that "It'll come a tide". Grandma proves to be right, in this creatively illustrated book. The way in which the illustrator depicts the rain and water is amazing. It looks as if actual rain is pouring down on the pages, and that you can feel it splashing down on you. The illustrations are captivating and bring the book to life. I would recommend this book for grades 1-2.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars This is an interesting story about a flood in Harlan County Kentucky (year unknown). When I picked the book I thought it was about 'a tide' such as something in the ocean. "Last March it snowed and then it rained for four days and nights. 'I'll come a tide" my grandma said. I don't even know what that means. Is that Kentucky speech for "Baton Down the hatchets a storms a brewin'"

Not over impressed but I did get a clear picture of rain and all of the destruction this story cause the people of Harlan County, Kentucky!

[Taylor Wyndham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come a Tide really shows the life of people of the mountains and the struggles that they have to endure during the elements of weather. The story is beautifully illustrated which really helps to show the dramatic effects of the viscious storm. the story also shows that you can always rely on family to be there for you even in the bad and tough times, also that you need to sometimes just dig your way out of things

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh boy, this book most definitely activated my prior knowledge with its hillibilly dialogue and its life-like illustrations. A flood is coming and this family is leaving. Is anyone else coming?

I would use this book as a read aloud for all elementary ages. I could use any of the different strategies along with this book such as sketch to stretch.

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It rained for 4 days and nights and flooded the river. The people didn't think it would reach their houses, but it soon did. A girl and her family head to her Grandma's for shelter, asking their neighbors to come with. They have things to gather, so the family goes alone. The next day dawns clear and families go back to uncover their flooded houses and continue on with life

[Shelbi Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

After days of rain, the flood is rising and a home is in danger. The family is leaving.

You could use this book to compare what could happen in this area (The Ohio River).

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love George Ella Lyon!!! This book is Kentucky through and through!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way to talk about a region of the country, flooding, and literary concepts like details in writing.

[Buxmont Uu]

CMMW 34

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A flood happens in the mountains and everyone is helping to clean out from the flood. With illustrations by Steven Gammell whose appearance make me think I am reading a Cynthia Rylant book.

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the language of this story. It reminds me of good times with friends and family. But the illustrations are what keeps me coming back to this for reading to my granddaughter.

[Deb Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about a family that lives near a river that rises and their adventures when it does. I enjoyed the illustrations.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustrations by Stephen Gammell. Great book.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book, short and perfectly presented. I was vastly impressed. Wonderful.

[Lana krinberg]

so funny