Wild Child

Mother Earth & Father Time

by Lynn Plourde, Greg Couch (Illustrator)

"Time for bed," Mother Earth said.

"Not for a while,"

said her wild child.

"A song, first. to play in my head

before going to bed."

So Mother Earth

gave her child a song...."

But then this wild child wants a snack and PJs and a kiss....

Lynn Plourde's text snaps and crackles like the leaves of fall as Mother Earth gently gets her daughter ready for bed. And Greg Couch's extraordinary illustrations take readers from the soft greens of late summer through the fiery oranges of a fall sunset to the peaceful blues of early winter's eve. Wild children and their parents will revel in this scrumptious, loving tribute to the wonders of nature and of family.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Kids, Poetry, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

I write kids' books--talk about a FUN job! I worked for 21 years as a speech-language therapist in Maine schools. When I got married, I got 3 & 4-year-old stepsons as part of my ready-made family. I read the boys picture books at bedtime. They fell asleep after 2 or 3 books, but I kept reading stacks and stacks of picture books and started to dream . . . maybe I could write picture books. I was already writing educational books (listening & speaking ideas for the classroom), but PICTURE BOOKS--that was different!

Different, and sloooooow! I had 13 years of rejections before getting my first book published, Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud, and I still get more rejections than acceptances--even after having more than 40 books published. So I'm still an author-in-training--learning to be a better author all the time.

I LOVE writing, the whole creative process. I also LOVE sharing my books with kids at schools: doing interactive readings, turning one of my books into a play, and teaching students how to plan and write different kinds of stories (i.e. problem stories, character stories, graphic novel scenes, fables) modeled after my books.

I love to try new kinds of writing such as poetic stories, a biography, a graphic novel, and more. Writing new kinds of stories is a challenge, but it makes writing fun and keeps me interested in the process.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother Earth tries to put her wild child Autumn to bed in this lovely seasonal picture-book, but that willful offspring isn't ready to subside into peaceful slumber at first. First Autumn needs a song, then a snack, then PJs (pajamas), and finally a kiss. Mother Earth provides all of these - the snap of leaves and the patter of chipmunks for a song, the pleasure of pumpkins and the crunch of chestnuts for a snack, the blazing beauty of the fall foliage for PJs, and a freezing, blustery embrace for a kiss - and finally this wild child is ready to settle down. Just in time for one of Mother Earth's other children, Winter, to grow restless and awaken...

A wonderfully appealing and alliterative text from author Lynn Plourde is paired with gorgeously colorful artwork from illustrator Greg Couch in Wild Child, the first of four seasonal picture-books exploring Mother Earth and Father Time and their four children. I enjoyed this one quite a bit, appreciating both the text and the story idea, and loving the visuals. Autumn is my favorite season, and Plourde and Couch adeptly capture its restless energy and blazing beauty. There is sometimes something melancholy about the fall of the year, but here there is a feeling of cycles that is reassuring. Highly recommended to any picture-book reader seeking autumn stories. For my part, I intend to also track down Winter Waits , Spring's Sprung and Summer's Vacation , to see if they are just as magical as this one.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

I really, really enjoyed this book! It's such an interesting, fun concept Mother Earth tries to put her "wild child" Autumn to bed--but Autumn makes several demands first, getting to taste, wear and hear the beauty of the season. I would love to read the rest in the series! A beautiful seasonal read and/or bedtime story and especially suitable for when autumn turns into winter.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful surprise this was! Both the writing and illustrations are whimsical, warm, and imaginative. The beautiful colors that Greg Couch used in his illustrations are vibrant and create a peaceful feeling throughout the book.

The story of having a child try everything to keep from going to bed is not a new one, but it is charming and sweet. I loved that Mother Earth and Autumn have been personified. The illustrations really play up the sense that the earth and the seasons could really be people (of sorts). I also really loved how when Autumn goes to sleep, Winter wakes up and is ready to play. All over, just a beautiful book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original story-line illustrated with a beautiful color palette and style. The verse was interesting but never attained enough lyrical flow to enhance the pictorial fantasy.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun picture book with beautiful illustrations, in which the season of autumn is personified as a young child who isn't quite ready to go to bed, and so gets a snack (apples, pumpkins), PJs (bright-colored leaves), etc. before going to bed (and ushering in winter). When it comes to illustrations I apparently favor cooler tones, because there seem to be a lot of blues in my favorite covers/books, but this is one case where the warmth of reds and oranges is very well presented.

This is also a great example of a metaphor for younger children -- my son kept asking about the child and why her mother (Mother Earth) was made of rocks, etc., so it was a nice opportunity to attempt explaining how one thing can be used to represent something else.

[Destiny Dawn Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another instance where I love love love the illustrations, I like the story, but I wasn't all that enamored of the actual text. I think I just got tired of the repeated lists of items, always with three modifiers.

But the illustrations--oh, they are gorgeous. Really captures the magic of fall.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

C loved this book. He was intrigued by the idea, and studied the pictures for several nights.
I thought the pictures were beautiful and the idea interesting, but the text itself did not flow well and was cumbersome to read. 5 stars because of how much C liked it. I would've given it fewer myself because of the text.

[Lori Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful celebration of autumn, Mother earth and motherly love, the end of fall and coming of winter, and all our wild, nature-caked, bedtime-resistant children. Gorgeous illustrations to accompany the poetic text.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the text is a little cutesy, the incredible, mind blowing illustrations and plot of the simple and sweet story won me over. My five year old finds it to be comforting and, bonus, it lead to in depth autumn and nature related questions. This is a cannot miss children's book!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow's current favorite book and I've lost track of how many times we've read it! Willow reads it to me every night (sometimes twice). Thank you, Jen & Tyler!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when illustrators explain what techniques they used to make the pictures in their books. This was a wonderful, sweet bedtime book for my kids.

[Vanessa Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Child is a book about Mother Earth trying to put Wild Child to bed. This story has beautiful illustrations and is centered around the fall season. I love that there was a song as well in the book which I believe that songs add to stories whether that is read in song lyric form or the form of a poem both are still very beautiful. This is a wonderful read aloud and it can also get students talking about fall since the book has lots of descriptive words related to fall it can also get students talking about routines whether that is their bedtime routine or just a daily routine. Overall I loved this book!
Author: Lynn Plourde
Illustrator: Greg Couch
Publisher: Aladdin September 1, 2003

[MotherofReaders · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a nature based fantasy story in a series of books about mother earth and her children (the seasons). At first, I was skeptical but by the end, the rhythm of the story has won me over. We will likely check it out again.

[Andrea Bragdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds me of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie". This book reminds me of my son. He always wants me to rub his back and sing him a song before I leave his room at night. (I always do this whether he asks or not). My son is a WILD CHILD.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what I was going to think about this one, but I actually really liked it. The kids started realizing that the child represented a different seasons on earth, and that was super fun to watch the realization set in. A whimsical story with whimsical illustrations.

[Dannaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this one for our fall story time. I love this book so much. The illustrations are gorgeous. In the story, Mother Earth puts her Wild Child to bed, answering requests for a snack and a drink and some pj's. It's all told in a beautifully rhythmic ode to fall.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josie x 2
Use for seasons in storytime

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother earth gets her child ready for bed. At the end, you find out the child is autumn. Much rhyming/alliteration. Would be good for older children, a fall/winter storytime. Very pretty.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t love this book more. Gorgeous message as well as illustrations. Looking forward to acquiring and reading the other seasons to Fi.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are WOW!

[Sydney Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

It used a poetic format and a lot of bigger words. It would be great for grades 3 and up but I feel children younger than that would have a harder time focusing and staying engaged.

[Hailey Licata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a musical feeling, with great imagery and illustrations. It talks about how energetic and crazy life can be, but also how routines can be great!
Awesome to teach about fall as well)

[Molly Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful start to the seasonal series for your little one

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little story that personifies Mother Nature and her Children of the seasons, acting as both a lullaby and a visualization of the elements of Autumn. Hinting at Winter in the end.

[Karin Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

poetry

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Child caught my eye on display at the library. The cover is a catching, warm illustration of a girl clothed in leaves being raised in the air. All the illustrations throughout the book were luscious and added so much to the story. Rolling hills became the hips of Mother Earth, her hair is a waterfall. The integration of Mother Earth and WIld Child into the natural background was what made me fall in love with this picture book. The spectacular use of color and texture certainly added to it. The story itself was sweet - a child not wanting to go to bed - and the rhyme and rhythm of the words was very pleasant.

[Sam Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a read-aloud book. It's got brilliant and beautiful illustrations that are perfectly suited to the words.

The story is about the Wild Child who needs all sorts of things before going to bed for the night, and it really really does its job of evoking Autumn. Like when Mother Earth gives her Wild Child a kiss, it's
A whooshy, whirlishy, windswept snuggle.
And when Mother Earth gives her Wild Child PJs, it's
A fiery, flaming, reddish nightgown.

Anyway, I like it a lot. 4.5 stars just because I am stingy with my stars.

[Julie Pfeiffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely stunning picture book illustrated by Greg Couch. The storyline consists of Mother Earth trying to put away her child, "Autumn." The child keeps giving excuses not to go to bed - wanting something to eat, a song, pj's. Mother Earth is very calm and comforting to the child as she accommodates her child's needs. Right after she gets her wild child, Autumn to bed, up jumps Winter! As I mentioned, very beautiful illustrations, originally created on msueum board; a verythick, smooth watercolor paper.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother Nature is trying to put her wild child to bed. The child won't go. She needs a song. So she hears the songs of chipmunk chatter and the crinkle of falling leaves. Wild child is still not ready for bed. A snack is needed. Mother Earth feeds her child chestnuts and pumpkins, apples and cranberries. However the wild child needs pajamas. Mother Earth covers her in flaming falling leaves. Eventually the wild child is ready for bed. And as she falls asleep, Mother Nature notices that her Winter child can't sleep.

Amazing illustrations!

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Child is one of a four part picture book set describing the changing of the seasons in a beautiful and unique way. These very earthy illustrations are absolutely stunning, depicting “autumn time” as child reluctant to end her fun and go to bed. Prolonging her time by asking her mother, Mother Earth, for just one more something before finally agreeing to sleep and allow Winter to begin his time.

Out of the four books in the series this one is my favorite. :)