Crows: An Old Rhyme

by Heidi Holder

Crows--the most intelligent of birds--are the inspiration for a prophetic rhyme Heidi Holder first heard from her grandmother. She expands this rhyme to 12 omens and uses a weasel and a mink to interpret them. Full-color pictures throughout.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Animals, Childrens, Poetry, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[allyson nordick]

Reading aloud the kids collection before packing them all up 🥹 phenomenal illustrations, very simple text but probably good for learning to count? Can’t emphasis how sick these pictures are tho

[Amanda]

I found a first edition at work and read through it, and I love the charming old rhyme, the gorgeous art, the list of signs and symbols in the back with accompanying herbs, all of it. What an absolutely gorgeous offering.

I thought briefly someone may get cranky seeing a favorite childhood book listed under both children's and occult/witchcraft, but if crows as divination signs accompanied by herbs didn't tell you where this rhyme came from, I'm not the person to try to convince you.

[Laura Bone]

The artwork is lovely in this children's book. I love children's books with great art.

[Jennifer Kendall]

So rich in illustration and symbolism- a truly lovely book about the superstition and belief about crows set in an old rhyme.

[Alex]

Crows is a favorite book from my childhood and has much to do with the gorgeous pictures inside. Each page is so detailed and beautiful.

[Taina Litwak]

Such beautiful illustrations!

[Vicki Wellspring]

One of the most beautiful picture books ever!

[Linda]

This is a marvelous older picture book titled Crows, in which Heidi Holder illustrates an old rhyme. The pages range from one crow to twelve, include a framed picture of the crows themselves with beautiful illumination and rhyming couplets. Below that picture is an illustration of the content with rabbits. In the opposite "full" page is a similar scene, but with a female mink and a swashbuckling weasel She also shares that the rhyme comes handed down from her grandfather, but only seven parts (maybe for the days of the week?). And she found different versions of it in her research. Heidi adds in an author's note that birds more than any other creature are known to be prophetic. In my own research, I've seen this termed an "oracular" rhyme, meaning "prophetic". In other words, if one sees one crow, it portends "bad news". It is helpful that Holly has included additional pages of information, one of which is a key to the symbols in her illustrations. For example, in the page for "one crow", she's included meadow rue, which means "regret" and forget-me-nots, which mean "true love". It's a fascinating book that pleases me to imagine someone telling this rhyme as foretelling fun, or would it be foretelling truth?

[Beckyt]

The illustrations are gorgeous!

[The Brothers]

The simple old rhyme about the meaning behind the number of crows one sees.

Absolutely stunning illustrations to go along with.

[Linda]

A simple old rhyme, with gorgeously awesome illustrations.

[Tandava Graham]

Really lovely illustrations to a great classic rhyme. There's even a glossary of symbolism at the end.

[Paula]

Fascinating look at an old rhyme. Heidi Holder is one of my favorite
artist/storyteller.