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Hiawatha's Childhood
The classic Longfellow poem, made fresh and vivid for today's young readers with beautiful full-color illustrations from acclaimed artist Errol LeCain.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1855
About the author
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
2,927 books739 followersExtremely popular works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet, in the United States in his lifetime, include
The Song of Hiawatha
in 1855 and a translation from 1865 to 1867 of
Divine Comedy
of Dante Alighieri.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow educated. His originally wrote the "Paul Revere's Ride" and "Evangeline." From New England, he first completed work of the fireside.
Bowdoin College graduated Longefellow, who served as a professor, afterward studied in Europe, and later moved at Harvard. After a miscarriage, Mary Potter Longfellow, his first wife, died in 1835. He first collected Voices of the Night (1839) and Ballads and Other Poems (1841).
From teaching, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow retired in 1854 to focus on his writing in the headquarters of of George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the Revolutionary War for the remainder.
Dress of Frances Appleton Longfellow, his second wife, caught fire; she then sustained burns and afterward died in 1861. After her death, Longfellow had difficulty writing and focused on from foreign languages.
Longfellow wrote musicality of many known lyrics and often presented stories of mythology and legend. He succeeded most overseas of his day. He imitated European styles and wrote too sentimentally for critics.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow educated. His originally wrote the "Paul Revere's Ride" and "Evangeline." From New England, he first completed work of the fireside.
Bowdoin College graduated Longefellow, who served as a professor, afterward studied in Europe, and later moved at Harvard. After a miscarriage, Mary Potter Longfellow, his first wife, died in 1835. He first collected Voices of the Night (1839) and Ballads and Other Poems (1841).
From teaching, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow retired in 1854 to focus on his writing in the headquarters of of George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the Revolutionary War for the remainder.
Dress of Frances Appleton Longfellow, his second wife, caught fire; she then sustained burns and afterward died in 1861. After her death, Longfellow had difficulty writing and focused on from foreign languages.
Longfellow wrote musicality of many known lyrics and often presented stories of mythology and legend. He succeeded most overseas of his day. He imitated European styles and wrote too sentimentally for critics.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 13, 2021
This rating is for the edition that was beautifully Illustrated by Errol Le Cain.
August 17, 2011
One of the most cogent criticisms of Longfellow's famous poem can be found in Monty Python's Famous First Drafts sketch. I present their argument here in its entirety:
By the shores of Gitche Gumee,Well, I don't know about you, but I can't help feeling they might have a point.
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,By the Iggy Piggy Booboo
Higgy Tiggy Riggy Poo
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,
Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.
April 19, 2010
I love the rhythm and cadence of this part of the poem. Wonderful illustrations!
October 14, 2017
Le Cain's illustrations are impressive, but they don't seem to be a good fit for this subject matter.
July 15, 2023
"Then the little Hiawatha
Learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets"
"Hiawatha’s Childhood" is the third part of the long poem, "The Song of Hiawatha", about the history of the fictional Ojiwbe people, somewhere in the Lake Superior region. This section is optimistic and more descriptive in nature. Nothing of too great importance happens, as Hiawatha does learn much of what shapes his worldview from his grandmother.
Learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets"
"Hiawatha’s Childhood" is the third part of the long poem, "The Song of Hiawatha", about the history of the fictional Ojiwbe people, somewhere in the Lake Superior region. This section is optimistic and more descriptive in nature. Nothing of too great importance happens, as Hiawatha does learn much of what shapes his worldview from his grandmother.
January 16, 2019
A poem about a grandmother who is raising her grandson and telling him about the world around them. As the boy grows older he learns about the all the animals in the forest, appreciating their beauty and their ways of life.
The style of writing is only augmented by the breathtaking illustration style, mirroring the complexity of the words and the facets of meaning behind the story.
The style of writing is only augmented by the breathtaking illustration style, mirroring the complexity of the words and the facets of meaning behind the story.
September 24, 2024
Hiawatha's Childhood, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Errol Le Cain (Illustrator)
Delightful. ***
"Then the little Hiawatha
Learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets"
Delightful. ***
"Then the little Hiawatha
Learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets"
April 13, 2018
Illustrations seem more 70s pop/ mod. Do schoolchildren still learn this poem? Is it considered sufficiently respectful of First People?
No author's note or anything.
No author's note or anything.
November 3, 2025
I can say "Gitche Gumee" with children all day long and never get tired of it. Reading the whole poem is not quite as much fun.
December 12, 2015
This is just so beautiful. Beautiful words, beautiful illustrations.
May 21, 2012
Kae Greenaway Award
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews