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Town & Country
Elegant illustrations help demonstrate the delights of life in the United States, comparing the hustle and bustle of city streets to the buzz of animals and farm equipment in the country. Reissue.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published May 14, 1984
65 people want to read
About the author
Martin Provensen
65 books13 followersAlice Provensen (1918 August 14 - present) and Martin Provensen (1916 July 10 - 1987 March) were an American author-illustrator team who created children's books.
There was a remarkable similarity to the couple's early histories. Both were born in Chicago, Illinois, and both moved to California when they were twelve. Both received scholarships to the Art Institute of Chicago, and both attended the University of California, though at separate campuses. After college, Alice went to work with Walter Lantz Studio, the creators of Woody Woodpecker, and Martin took work with the rival Walt Disney Studio, where he collaborated on Dumbo, Fantasia, and Pinocchio.
The pair met in 1943 when Martin, working as a creator of training films for the American military, was assigned to the Walter Lantz Studio. They were married in 1944 and resettled in Washington, D.C., where they worked on war-related projects. Following the end of the war, they moved to New York City, where a friend assisted them in finding their first job, illustrating The Fireside Book of Folk Songs. In 1952, Tony the Tiger, designed by Martin, debuted as a Kellogg's mascot. Following that, they illustrated several Little Golden Books such as The Color Kittens, and in 1982, they received the Caldecott Honor Medal for their illustration of A Visit to William Blake's Inn, by Nancy Willard. They were further recognized just two years later, when they received the Caldecott Medal for A Glorious Flight, the story of aviator Louis Blériot, the first man to fly solo across the English Channel. The Provensens have been on the New York Times list of the Ten Best Illustrated Books eight times for such classics as Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm and An Owl and Three Pussycats.[1] In all, the couple wrote and illustrated more than 50 books.
from wikipedia.com
There was a remarkable similarity to the couple's early histories. Both were born in Chicago, Illinois, and both moved to California when they were twelve. Both received scholarships to the Art Institute of Chicago, and both attended the University of California, though at separate campuses. After college, Alice went to work with Walter Lantz Studio, the creators of Woody Woodpecker, and Martin took work with the rival Walt Disney Studio, where he collaborated on Dumbo, Fantasia, and Pinocchio.
The pair met in 1943 when Martin, working as a creator of training films for the American military, was assigned to the Walter Lantz Studio. They were married in 1944 and resettled in Washington, D.C., where they worked on war-related projects. Following the end of the war, they moved to New York City, where a friend assisted them in finding their first job, illustrating The Fireside Book of Folk Songs. In 1952, Tony the Tiger, designed by Martin, debuted as a Kellogg's mascot. Following that, they illustrated several Little Golden Books such as The Color Kittens, and in 1982, they received the Caldecott Honor Medal for their illustration of A Visit to William Blake's Inn, by Nancy Willard. They were further recognized just two years later, when they received the Caldecott Medal for A Glorious Flight, the story of aviator Louis Blériot, the first man to fly solo across the English Channel. The Provensens have been on the New York Times list of the Ten Best Illustrated Books eight times for such classics as Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm and An Owl and Three Pussycats.[1] In all, the couple wrote and illustrated more than 50 books.
from wikipedia.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 6, 2011
One of my 2 year old son's favorite books, and I love it too!
In children's book illustration there's a fine line between what I would call 'detailed' and 'busy'. This is detailed. My son is always finding something new to surprise him each time we read this book. The illustrations mirror the lives of the authors, commuting from their rural life in the country to the big city of New York. The book was first published in '78, but it appears it was illustrated to show an earlier time, maybe the mid 60's.
It's a real work of art, a neglected masterpiece of children's illustration. I'd compare the 'Town' section to Sasek's 'This is New York' showing the pep and excitement of the big city, and the 'Country' section to the work of Virginia Lee Burton, it has the same folk art style and friendly tone.
In children's book illustration there's a fine line between what I would call 'detailed' and 'busy'. This is detailed. My son is always finding something new to surprise him each time we read this book. The illustrations mirror the lives of the authors, commuting from their rural life in the country to the big city of New York. The book was first published in '78, but it appears it was illustrated to show an earlier time, maybe the mid 60's.
It's a real work of art, a neglected masterpiece of children's illustration. I'd compare the 'Town' section to Sasek's 'This is New York' showing the pep and excitement of the big city, and the 'Country' section to the work of Virginia Lee Burton, it has the same folk art style and friendly tone.
September 16, 2022
This book goes over what it is like to live in a town vs the country. One might live in a village, town, city, or the country. You may live in an apartment building or a house. You may hear construction sounds or the sounds of the cows. What one sees and does may be the same or different depending on where you live.
I enjoyed the big pictures throughout book. There's a lot to see and it's fun to spot out the details found in each picture.
I enjoyed the big pictures throughout book. There's a lot to see and it's fun to spot out the details found in each picture.
January 10, 2022
I quite enjoyed this read. A children's book about two of my favorite places: the country and the city. Also, the Provensens' illustration style is fantastic. An introduction, for me, to their style.
August 27, 2020
8/24/20 Read with Naomi and Julia
March 15, 2022
Lovely pictures and lots of detail about what it’s like to live in a big city vs the country.
October 11, 2023
Very long winded
November 24, 2024
A nice little ode to home. In the city or in the country, there are things to love about home. 🩵
October 23, 2013
The authors, Alice and Martin Provensen, are renowned for their beautiful illustrations and story telling. Town and Country weaves simplistic writing in with very richly detailed illustrations. The illustrations are high quality, deserving of a space on any person’s wall. The illustrator uses layers of detail to really capture the richness of both the city and country; making both places stand out, in its own unique way. The author does a great job adding to the illustration by using descriptive words to give the reader a better idea of what the two places are like, and how life might feel in either places.
As a literacy teacher, I might use this text to teach my students about using descriptive words to describe their environment. The author in this text uses words that are supported by the illustrations (ex. “Traffic signals change from red to green. Late buses stop or go. Doormen whistle. A taxi horn honks). This type of style will help students make a stronger connection in their reading by using the illustrations as a visual support. The images in the text teach children about diversity within community cultures, but not so much on race or ethnicities. Overall, I would say that this is a great book to incorporate into your lesson when teaching about differences in communities.
As a literacy teacher, I might use this text to teach my students about using descriptive words to describe their environment. The author in this text uses words that are supported by the illustrations (ex. “Traffic signals change from red to green. Late buses stop or go. Doormen whistle. A taxi horn honks). This type of style will help students make a stronger connection in their reading by using the illustrations as a visual support. The images in the text teach children about diversity within community cultures, but not so much on race or ethnicities. Overall, I would say that this is a great book to incorporate into your lesson when teaching about differences in communities.
October 6, 2016
Read this after Beatrix Potter's Johnny Town Mouse. Speaks well of both rural & urban living. Paired well with our memory work, esp the last stanza of Geography, by Eleanor Farjeon
"The very streets I live in, and the meadows where I play,
Are just as much Geography as countries far away,
Where yellow girls and coffee boys are learning about me
One little white-skinned stranger who is in Geography!"
"The very streets I live in, and the meadows where I play,
Are just as much Geography as countries far away,
Where yellow girls and coffee boys are learning about me
One little white-skinned stranger who is in Geography!"
January 7, 2013
I've been excited to read and see this book. I'm a Provensen fan. It does a good job of covering the upsides and downsides of the city and the country. Dare I say they seemed biased towards the country? But then again the city part seemed longer and more in depth, and more exciting! Beautiful illustrations. The only thing I found a little odd was that there was no real ending.
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October 4, 2011Nice writing, very descriptive. I would use this book a read aloud and discussion on the different places people live and what they see around them. What can the children find in the complex pictures?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews