I Wonder as I Wander

by Gwenyth Swain, Ronald Himler (Illustrator)

Annie Morgan wonders about a lot of things. She wonders why her mother had to die. She wonders how she and her wandering preacher father will pay for gas and food when they're just as poor as everybody else. Finally she finds a way to express all her wonderings in a haunting song sung to a small crowd on the courthouse steps. This charming story, beautifully illustrated by Ronald Himler, tells how the beloved Appalachian Christmas carol I Wonder As I Wander may have come to be written.

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2003

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collected by noted folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles in 1933, the Appalachian Christmas carol I Wonder As I Wander was originally performed by a young girl named Annie Morgan, about whom very little is known. This lovely picture-book from author Gwenyth Swain and illustrator Ronald Himler presents a fictional account of Annie's life, imagining her as the daughter of a wandering preacher, driven onto the road by grief over the recent death of his wife (and Annie's mother). Finding themselves in Murphy, North Carolina one day, the father-daughter duo are involved in some preaching on the courthouse steps, until the sheriff arrives to move them along. It is then that Annie, who has silently imbibed many of her father's ideas about Jesus, and who has some of her musical mother's talents, steps forward with her beautiful song:

"I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
How Jesus, the Savior, did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I -
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
...
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King."

A poignant picture-book that touches upon issues of family and loss, of faith and calling, and of tough times - the Great Depression is felt throughout the story, in the poverty of the communities through which Annie and her father travel - I Wonder As I Wander is a beautiful exploration of the meaning of this (now) well-known Christmas song. Teasing out some of the ideas in the song lyrics, and incorporating them into her story - Annie and her father do indeed wander, traveling amongst the ordinary people of Appalachia; and Annie wonders about Jesus, and why he made the sacrifice he did, when he could have had anything he wanted - Gwenyth Swain presents a powerful story through her text. Ronald Himler, whose evocative watercolor artwork can also be seen in such picture-books as The Wall and Fly Away Home , beautifully captures the emotional pitch of Swain's story in his illustrations. The sadness of Annie and her father, after the death of mother and wife; the huddled want of so many of the impoverished people they meet along their journey; the snowy cold of the courthouse steps upon which Annie's father preached, and next to which Annie sang - these can all be felt through the images, in this lovely book!

Recommended to young readers looking for stories set during the Great Depression, or in Appalachia, as well as to those interested in the song I Wonder As I Wander.

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story built around the creation of the song is alright, but not very compelling to me. I might just not have enough background knowledge or context to give it more meaning though. To me, this is more of an art book. I think the watercolour illustrations are what made the book. A lot of emotions are carried in them.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional in the rendition of what might have happened in the development of this haunting folk song, heard frequently during Christmas time, the author also wove actual events as a backdrop in telling the tale.

In truth, in Appalachian North Carolina, while attending a revival event of traveling evangelists who basically were rounded up by police and forced to leave town, folklorist John Jacob Niles was in awe as he witnessed a young scraggly, scruffy, dirty and raggedy girl stand up and sing one line of a beautifully haunting song.

Fascinated, Niles asked Annie Morgan to continue to sing over and over again, each time giving her .25.

Niles then expanded upon the song and it remains a beloved Christmas carol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67uTQX...

The author weaves a tale of Annie Morgan who lost her mother and dirt poor, she travels with her father who preaches along the back roads of rural Appalacia.

Giving away most of what he receives for his efforts, Annie frets about how they can pay for gas and food. She wonders why her mother died in the spring when everything is bursting with life.

Highly recommended.

[Aroman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Wonder as I Wander is a book that takes place during the Great Depression. It's about a girl named Annie Morgan. One spring her mother dies and her father and her traveled from town to town since her father is a preacher. Annie wonders how are they going to pay for food since the small amount of money her father collects from preaching, he gives it to people more poor than them. One day Annie Morgan sings a song titled, "I Wonder as I Wander." Then, a man has her repeat the song over and over until he is able to repeat the song withour help. Each time Annie repeated the song she got paid twenty-five cents. Back then twenty-five cents was a fair amount of money.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little story with a great voice.