Peter Parnall

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Common Knowledge

Birthdate: 1936-05-23
Gender: male
Nationality: USA
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, USA
Places of residence: Willow Springs, California, USA
Waldoboro, Maine, USA
Education: Cornell University
Pratt Institute
Occupations: art director
advertising
illustrator

Members

Reviews

Spaces by Peter Parnall

Parnall doesn't write quite as well as his collaborator from the desert SW, [a:Byrd Baylor|36067|Byrd Baylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1417897855p2/36067.jpg], but this work of art, this homage to the freeing power of imagination, is still very effective. I'm delighted to know a certain young family to whom I can give this, and sorry to see that it seems undiscovered by most libraries. If you have access to it, I do recommend it, for all ages!

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Cheryl_in_CC_NV | 1 other review | Oct 18, 2024 |

A Dog's Book of Birds by Peter Parnall

As usual, Parnall's line drawings charm. He's an artist who chooses to illustrate. The educational value of this makes it a worthy read on its own, too. (How have I never learned how red-wing blackbirds make their nests?) It could be better, with notes, or maps of birds' ranges, but there are other books for that stuff. I like this. And I am glad to know a certain young family to whom I can I pass it on.

(You can read it on openlibrary.org.)

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Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Oct 18, 2024 |

The Rock by Peter Parnall

The pictures are, of course, stunning. It's wonderful to see another Parnall book that looks like one of his collaborations w/ Baylor, but not set in the Desert SW. But I found the text awkward and long. Maybe if I had a particular interest in, and little knowledge of, forest animals, or maybe if I read it aloud, it would have worked better for me. 3.5 stars rounded up because I do want to encourage all of you to check it out and let me know what you think.

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Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Oct 18, 2024 |

Alfalfa Hill. by Peter Parnall

An early Parnall. It pains me to give him only three stars, but the pictures are mostly just 'nice' (especially compared to his collaborations w/ [author:Byrd Baylor|36067]) and the 'story' is basically a recitation; a science lesson for little ones I guess. And, for most of us, a habitat of mice, foxes, deer, etc. is old hat - Parnall's work really shines when he draws the more 'exotic' south-western desert.

I did like:
"When the sun's first rays struck Alfalfa Hill
The creatures were wondering...
They did not stir.
No more rocky hedgerows wandering through the woods,
No more masses of tangled vines.
No green spruces reaching for the sky.
Now giant white mushrooms met the eye."

But then the next line is "Ghosts, and marshmallows." Um, hello, critters are not familiar with either of those things, and so that line is dissonant nonsense. Sorry.

Still and all, I'm glad I had a chance to see the book. I do love his work.… (more)

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Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Oct 18, 2024 |

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