What do you think?
Last Song
Beautiful watercolor paintings add rich layers of mood and feeling to an old Scottish poem, depicting a squirrel family spending the day together—waking, playing, and nestling down to sleep under the eye of watchful parent. An eye-catching die-cut cover and a size perfect for small hands make an irresistible gift for mothers, fathers, and families on any occasion.
28 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 3, 2022
A short, sweet, bedtime book that simply wishes "A fond goodnight" to all.
What a lovely end to a perfect day!
What a lovely end to a perfect day!
December 18, 2010
This is a very difficult book to review. When I review a picture book, you see, I need a “hook”. I need to latch onto some aspect of the product that strikes me as askew, or odd, or out of sorts. It sort of throws me off entirely when I have to deal with something . . . well . . . okay. There’s no other word for this. When I have to deal with something . . . touching. And not in a sickly sweet, big-eyelash, rainbows and unicorns kind of way either. Honestly sweet books, the ones that actually hit you here *thumps chest* are the bane of the average children’s book reviewer. And Last Song is one such book. Cute without being cloying, adorable without pandering, it’s a bedtime book that isn’t afraid to embrace its sweetness. Makes my job darned hard, I can tell you.
Just eleven lines of an old Scottish lullaby make up the text of this little book. In it a small squirrel family wakes up and the two kids go out to play. By the end of a long day they go back to the tree and watch the stars come out before tucking back into bed once more. Finishes the poem that makes up the text, “A fond goodnight / Wherever you are.”
The bedtime book is a respected institution. Wasn’t always that way, of course. When Goodnight Moon was first released it was only a moderate hit and wouldn’t hit its full stride until decades down the road. These days it’s just taken for granted that certain books are meant for tucking in small children. That is, in a sense, their purpose in this world. When Rohmann found this poem lo these many years ago, I don’t know that it would have occurred to him at first to make it into a bedtime book. For that matter, I don’t know that it occurred to him to make it a bedtime book while he was working on it. Maybe it just turned out that way. Whatever the case, the words are definitely lullaby lyrics. “Away / To the milk-white / Silk-white / Lily-white star.” Sleepifying. In a good way.
And you can’t help but respect the sheer flexibility of the picture book format. Here we have a stellar example of why picture books will never entirely leave the print format. Last Song is picture book minimalism at its best. First of all, this perfectly square title doesn’t have a book jacket. The cover itself contains a cutaway to the title page so that the leaves of the cover surround the interior sleeping squirrels (notice that one of the leaves covers one of the eyes of the squirrels so that when you open the cover it looks like one of them is just waking up). The title appears on the spine but not on the cover. Inside there isn’t the clutter of a publication page. Just the title page. The rest of the book is just Rohmann’s watercolors and the occasional line from Mr. Guthrie. I’ve seen books do this kind of aesthetic simplicity before (When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary comes immediately to mind) but it only works if it fits the text. In this case, it most certainly does. Any kid can open this book and instantly find themselves inside the tale. From the cover onwards, it’s pure story.
Artsy talk time. Rohmann’s going with watercolors this time around, which is a bit of a switch from oils or the woodblock technique he used in books like My Friend Rabbit and A Kitten Tale. Since he’s dealing with an eleven-line poem in a 24-page book format, he had to figure out what to make wordless in his story. Heck, even before that he had to figure out what the story should even be. Setting it over the course of a single day makes sense, though of course the poem itself is entirely twilight and nighttime-based. With that in mind Rohmann made sure that the wordless sequences covered two-page daytime spreads. The result is that almost half the book takes place in the daytime with the other half at night, and even though most of the words are in the second half, you don’t get a sense of the book feeling lopsided. No small feat.
I’m sometimes accused of reading too much into the picture books I review. Well, I’m gonna do it again so back up. It’s a great book, absolutely, but you know what else this is? A tale of single-parenthood! Seriously, check it out. You’ve the parent squirrel in the tree and the kid squirrels down below. Give ‘em all a good count, though, because I’m seeing only three here. Children’s librarians are sometimes solicited for advice on topics like this. You might have a parent come up and say, “I’d like a picture book for a friend’s kid that has a single parent in it, but I don’t want the book to be ABOUT single parents or anything.” Honestly, that’s one of the hardest requests to answer. I’d be out to sea half the time, but if I can conjure up books like Last Song that’ll last me for a little while, at least.
A good lullaby, like a good bedtime book, gives you words that simultaneously sooth and give the subconscious something to play with in your dreams. By taking this old Scottish poem and giving it just the right form and format, Rohmann offers folks a bedtime book just right for kids both young and old. A beautiful little package and a very pretty, very sweet, very honest little book.
For ages 4-8.
Just eleven lines of an old Scottish lullaby make up the text of this little book. In it a small squirrel family wakes up and the two kids go out to play. By the end of a long day they go back to the tree and watch the stars come out before tucking back into bed once more. Finishes the poem that makes up the text, “A fond goodnight / Wherever you are.”
The bedtime book is a respected institution. Wasn’t always that way, of course. When Goodnight Moon was first released it was only a moderate hit and wouldn’t hit its full stride until decades down the road. These days it’s just taken for granted that certain books are meant for tucking in small children. That is, in a sense, their purpose in this world. When Rohmann found this poem lo these many years ago, I don’t know that it would have occurred to him at first to make it into a bedtime book. For that matter, I don’t know that it occurred to him to make it a bedtime book while he was working on it. Maybe it just turned out that way. Whatever the case, the words are definitely lullaby lyrics. “Away / To the milk-white / Silk-white / Lily-white star.” Sleepifying. In a good way.
And you can’t help but respect the sheer flexibility of the picture book format. Here we have a stellar example of why picture books will never entirely leave the print format. Last Song is picture book minimalism at its best. First of all, this perfectly square title doesn’t have a book jacket. The cover itself contains a cutaway to the title page so that the leaves of the cover surround the interior sleeping squirrels (notice that one of the leaves covers one of the eyes of the squirrels so that when you open the cover it looks like one of them is just waking up). The title appears on the spine but not on the cover. Inside there isn’t the clutter of a publication page. Just the title page. The rest of the book is just Rohmann’s watercolors and the occasional line from Mr. Guthrie. I’ve seen books do this kind of aesthetic simplicity before (When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary comes immediately to mind) but it only works if it fits the text. In this case, it most certainly does. Any kid can open this book and instantly find themselves inside the tale. From the cover onwards, it’s pure story.
Artsy talk time. Rohmann’s going with watercolors this time around, which is a bit of a switch from oils or the woodblock technique he used in books like My Friend Rabbit and A Kitten Tale. Since he’s dealing with an eleven-line poem in a 24-page book format, he had to figure out what to make wordless in his story. Heck, even before that he had to figure out what the story should even be. Setting it over the course of a single day makes sense, though of course the poem itself is entirely twilight and nighttime-based. With that in mind Rohmann made sure that the wordless sequences covered two-page daytime spreads. The result is that almost half the book takes place in the daytime with the other half at night, and even though most of the words are in the second half, you don’t get a sense of the book feeling lopsided. No small feat.
I’m sometimes accused of reading too much into the picture books I review. Well, I’m gonna do it again so back up. It’s a great book, absolutely, but you know what else this is? A tale of single-parenthood! Seriously, check it out. You’ve the parent squirrel in the tree and the kid squirrels down below. Give ‘em all a good count, though, because I’m seeing only three here. Children’s librarians are sometimes solicited for advice on topics like this. You might have a parent come up and say, “I’d like a picture book for a friend’s kid that has a single parent in it, but I don’t want the book to be ABOUT single parents or anything.” Honestly, that’s one of the hardest requests to answer. I’d be out to sea half the time, but if I can conjure up books like Last Song that’ll last me for a little while, at least.
A good lullaby, like a good bedtime book, gives you words that simultaneously sooth and give the subconscious something to play with in your dreams. By taking this old Scottish poem and giving it just the right form and format, Rohmann offers folks a bedtime book just right for kids both young and old. A beautiful little package and a very pretty, very sweet, very honest little book.
For ages 4-8.
June 22, 2018
Great illustrations. Lovely poem. However them didn’t fit together in my opinion.
February 2, 2019
The illustrations are certainly lovely, but there's not much to this one.
June 5, 2019
Perfect for babies
October 6, 2021
Beauty illustrations, but this poem is too short.
July 19, 2023
The poem was very simple, but the illustrations did a great job depicting frolicking squirrels!
November 23, 2013
Last Song is a picture book illustrated by Eric Rohmann. To make his illustrations, Eric used a water color based media that adds rich layers of mood and feeling to the story. This along with his ability to play with both lines and facial expressions help to create the feelings of warmth, playfulness, and comfort that is being with family. In this book Eric also does an amazing job of applying the element of color, playing with different hues, saturations, and values which contribute not only to the mood of the story but the setting and time of day.
The poetic flow of the text, as well as its small size make it the perfect bed time story. Taking young readers through the day in the life of a squirrel family, readers watch as the squirrels wake up, play, and go to sleep. Another really cool feature that I really liked from this book is the die-cut cover that portrays the squirrels sleeping in their nest, but once you open the cover you discover that one little squirrel is awake.
Uses in the Classroom:
This would be a great story to teach young children about the differences between night and day. Using the story we can have readers compare and contrast how different the two times of day look, as well as and compare the differences in activity (awake vs. sleep).
The poetic flow of the text, as well as its small size make it the perfect bed time story. Taking young readers through the day in the life of a squirrel family, readers watch as the squirrels wake up, play, and go to sleep. Another really cool feature that I really liked from this book is the die-cut cover that portrays the squirrels sleeping in their nest, but once you open the cover you discover that one little squirrel is awake.
Uses in the Classroom:
This would be a great story to teach young children about the differences between night and day. Using the story we can have readers compare and contrast how different the two times of day look, as well as and compare the differences in activity (awake vs. sleep).
December 3, 2013
“Last Song” is a simple tale of a family of squirrels. From dawn to dark, they frolic and play in the soft grass by the tree that they call home. Containing few words, the watercolor illustrations truly tell the story. The bright, rich hues of the pictures enhance the forest setting and the squirrels’ sweet humanlike expressions are enduring for children and adults alike.
This would a great book to use to teach young children about the difference between night and day. Using the story, the children can observe the activities that the squirrels are doing during the day versus what they are doing at night. We can also talk about how when it is day time, the sun is out and we cannot see the stars and moon, just like in the story. On the other hand, we can also talk about how when the sun goes down, you can see the moon and stars and can no longer see the sun. We could take this a step further and explain how the Earth rotates and revolves around the sun, which causes day and night.
This would a great book to use to teach young children about the difference between night and day. Using the story, the children can observe the activities that the squirrels are doing during the day versus what they are doing at night. We can also talk about how when it is day time, the sun is out and we cannot see the stars and moon, just like in the story. On the other hand, we can also talk about how when the sun goes down, you can see the moon and stars and can no longer see the sun. We could take this a step further and explain how the Earth rotates and revolves around the sun, which causes day and night.
November 2, 2010
Title: Last Song By James Guthrie; Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Summary: Goodnight poem for sun, stars and squirrels.
Rating: Yes
Age: 0-100
Pros:
The poem is very short and exceedingly lovely. It presents a perfect story to share with babies, with toddlers and preschoolers for a quick goodnight or even as a short title to end a pajama story time. (The book is even charming enough to make a nice gift for an adult, maybe paired with a package of sleepy time tea or a lavender scented seep mask.)
Physically, the book is small and square making it easy for toddlers and small children to handle.
Cons:
The poem is quite sparse and this may turn off some readers
The small size of the book makes it difficult to use for a larger story time.
The book’s cover does not feature the title or author; readers must flip to the title page for this information, this will bother some.
Summary: Goodnight poem for sun, stars and squirrels.
Rating: Yes
Age: 0-100
Pros:
The poem is very short and exceedingly lovely. It presents a perfect story to share with babies, with toddlers and preschoolers for a quick goodnight or even as a short title to end a pajama story time. (The book is even charming enough to make a nice gift for an adult, maybe paired with a package of sleepy time tea or a lavender scented seep mask.)
Physically, the book is small and square making it easy for toddlers and small children to handle.
Cons:
The poem is quite sparse and this may turn off some readers
The small size of the book makes it difficult to use for a larger story time.
The book’s cover does not feature the title or author; readers must flip to the title page for this information, this will bother some.
February 25, 2011
This is a skillful and soothing bedtime book. Caldecott medalist, Eric Rohmann’s watercolors’ soft rounded edges and close values are restfully sweet. In a charming conceit the die-cut cover frames a nest of sleeping squirrels. Opening it reveals one of the pups is awake. A squirrel parent and two pups bound through their day and back up their tree as the light fades and the pictures darken. Their antics illustrate an old Scottish poem that is a paean to the sun, moon and stars and their passage through a day. The illustrations proceed in a symmetrical and predictable way enhancing the stories simple charm. The poem is equally skillful in using rhyme, rhythm and repetition to encourages a soporific state, ending with “to the milk-white, silk-white, lily-white star, a fond goodnight. The seven by seven scale of this book, its’ sturdy, dust-jacketless cover and mix of worded and wordless pages make this a perfect bedtime book for babies through kindergarteners.
December 29, 2012
Judging from the cover and title, I wasn't sure what this book was going to be about. When I saw squirrels dancing across the pages and the simple unadorned text, I was a little confused. Then I saw on the back cover it was an old scottish lullaby and everything made a lot more sense. The book was sweet and the illustrations were soothing and gentle. I hadn't heard of this poem before. It's also good right before bed - it definitely has a sleepy feel to it. It's not something I'd deliberately go out and seek. I might recommend.
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
March 22, 2013
To the sun
Who has shone
All day,
To the moon
Who has gone
Away,
To the milk-white
Silk-white
Lily-white star,
A fond goodnight
Wherever you are.
Well, you've just read the book! I haven't used this with a class yet, but when I do, I plan to type out the poem as I did above and put it on the big screen for all to see as I read it aloud. What do you think of this poem, I will ask. After we discuss it a bit...Who do you think wrote this? Who do they intend as the audience?...THEN I'll reread and show the pictures as I do. I think it will be interesting to see how the students react to the poem both before they see the illustrations and after.
Who has shone
All day,
To the moon
Who has gone
Away,
To the milk-white
Silk-white
Lily-white star,
A fond goodnight
Wherever you are.
Well, you've just read the book! I haven't used this with a class yet, but when I do, I plan to type out the poem as I did above and put it on the big screen for all to see as I read it aloud. What do you think of this poem, I will ask. After we discuss it a bit...Who do you think wrote this? Who do they intend as the audience?...THEN I'll reread and show the pictures as I do. I think it will be interesting to see how the students react to the poem both before they see the illustrations and after.
January 2, 2011
A mere wisp of a book that manages to convey an entire day in only a few lines. A family of squirrels wakes up and plays in the sun, until the night arrives and it's time to go to bed again. Based on a Scottish lullaby, artist Eric Rohmann turns this story into a coherent whole, and puts in his own little touches just for spice. Beautiful and cheery, this is a classic little title for the ages. - B
to-order
October 20, 2010I went to a presentation where the author/illustrator talked about this book, it was very interesting to see the process and makes me want to see the final product!
December 11, 2010
Short and sweet, beautifully illustrated!
January 12, 2011
Cute, but not something I see the need to reread. Gift book, but not sure if it is worth owning since I didn't see a need to reread.
August 24, 2011
As usual, beautiful artwork. The squirrels are just lovely--full of energy and life. Perfect setting for this lullaby.
April 10, 2012
Nicely illustrated family of squirrels, with some wordless pages interspersed with pages that have short lines from the poem.
April 15, 2013
Really simple. I liked the illustrations. The poem, though short, was well written. I enjoyed the product as a whole.
June 9, 2014
A sweet little poem with lovely illustrations. The cover is seriously cute!
June 28, 2014
A simply stated poem that has been turned into a picture book. The characters acting out the poem are squirrels. It all works.
June 12, 2016
It's okay in my opinion. Illustrations were cute.
October 3, 2010
Sweet, gentle illustrations
October 8, 2010
gorgeous
September 15, 2011
Beautiful illustrations accompany this lovely poem.
October 24, 2014
Peaceful and beautiful, a perfect choice for the last book before sleep.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews