Over the Hills and Far Away Author:Alan Marks A wonderful selection of 60 old favorites, with beautiful paintings and striking silhouettes. — The poet Dylan Thomas remembered that he loved Mother Goose rhymes long before he understood any of that "Ride a cockhorse to Banbury Cross" kind of stuff. It's the sound of the lines that enchant kids, the rhyme and the beat, and the immediacy of the ... more »nonsense. Marks' illustrations pick up the slapstick of the stories, the strangeness of the characters, and the music of the words that stay with you forever. Open this beautifully designed book to any page, and there's a traditional verse made fresh and dancing. Gorgeous watercolors and striking silhouettes illustrate 60 of the old-fashioned rhymes, from "Old Mother Hubbard" and "London Bridge" to "There Was a Little Girl" and "The House That Jack Built." Marks has given us the longer versions of the folk rhymes, with large, clear type, thick quality paper, and lots of space. His glorious palette is reminiscent of Brian Wildsmith's, but these drawings are less definite, flowing into one another, extending the farce, making you sing and chant and turn the page for more.« less