The Cremation of Sam McGee
- Publisher
- Kids Can Press
- Initial publish date
- Jul 2006
- Category
- General
- Recommended Grade
- 4
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781554530922
- Publish Date
- Jul 2006
- List Price
- $19.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
In 1986 Kids Can Press published an edition of Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee" illustrated by painter Ted Harrison, who used his signature broad brushstrokes and unconventional choice of color to bring this gritty narrative poem to life. Evoking both the spare beauty and the mournful solitude of the Yukon landscape, Harrison's paintings proved the perfect match for Service's masterpiece about a doomed prospector adrift in a harsh land. Harrison's Illustrator's Notes on each page enhanced both poem and illustrations by adding valuable historical background. Upon its original publication, many recognized the book as an innovative approach to illustrating poetry for children. For years The Cremation of Sam McGee has stood out as a publishing landmark, losing none of its appeal both as a read-aloud and as a work of art. Kids Can Press proudly publishes this deluxe hardcover twentieth anniversary edition -- complete with a spot-varnished cover, new cover art and heavy coated stock -- of a book that remains as entrancing as a night sky alive with the vibrant glow of the Northern Lights.
About the authors
Robert W. Service (1874-1958) was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, and came to Canada in 1895, eventually ending up in Yukon Territory in 1904, five years after the Klondike Gold Rush. His many books include the poetry collection The Songs of a Sourdough, the novel The Trail of '98, and the autobiography Ploughman of the Moon. Service later moved to France, where he died.
Ted Harrison is an internationally acclaimed artist best known for his vibrant interpretations of the Canadian North. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.
Awards
- Winner, Notable Book, American Library Association,
- Winner, Best Book Selection, The New York Times
Editorial Reviews
No poem that I can think of, especially a comic one, was ever rendered so electrifyingly in paint
[G]orgeously illustrated — [A] wonderful new edition ... Harrison’s pictures are startling and memorable
No poem that I can think of, especially a comic one, was ever rendered so electrifyingly in paint
There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for books; The Arctic trails have their secret tales that could give you second looks, The Northern Lights have seen their sights But the wisest they ever did see Was the day in’06, complete with great pix They reissued Sam McGee.
There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for books; The Arctic trails have their secret tales that could give you second looks, The Northern Lights have seen their sights But the wisest they ever did see Was the day in’06, complete with great pix They reissued Sam McGee.
[G]orgeously illustrated — [A] wonderful new edition ... Harrison’s pictures are startling and memorable
Librarian Reviews
The Cremation of Sam McGee: 20th Anniversary Edition
Originally published in 1986 by Kids Can Press (Our Choice 1987/1988).Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Canadian Children’s Book News. 2007.
