In her second childrens book project, internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter captures the momentous night in 1910 when a father held his baby in his arms as Halleys Comet streaked across the Jackson skyline. Inspired by renowned author, Eudora Welty, and her stories of growing up in Mississippi, Ms. Carpenters words celebrate the special love shared between a father and a daughter and how lifes magical moments remain with us throughout our lives. Like an old tattered scrapbook overflowing with remembrances of days past, this touching story and Dan Andreasens stunning illustrations stand as a timeless tribute to the beauty of lifes memories and that night so long ago when Halleys comet soared through the sky. PreSchool-Grade 3-In 1990, Carpenter wrote and recorded a song about an incident that occurred in 1910. Eudora Welty's father took his infant daughter to the window to witness the comet Halley. Seventy-five years later, Welty stood on the front porch of the same house in Jackson, MS, to witness the comet's return. Andreasen's idealized paintings of small-town life add to the nostalgic tone of the lyrics, sure to tug at parents' heartstrings as they wish for happy futures for their children. The music on the accompanying cassette is pleasant. However, one must question the intended audience. Children don't know Eudora Welty's writing, and the picture-book set is unlikely to care much about the book's underlying theme. Adult fans of Carpenter's music might appreciate this visual interpretation of the song, but it fails as a children's book. Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ages 5^-7. Inspired by an incident in Eudora Welty's One Writer's Beginnings in which Welty's father shows his infant daughter Halley's comet, Carpenter's song "Halley Came to Jackson" serves as the text for this unusual picture book. Set in Jackson, Mississippi, the rhyming text begins, "Late one night / when the wind was still, / Daddy brought the baby / to the windowsill." He makes a wish, which comes true 80 years later, when an elderly lady stands on the porch of the same house and gazes at the same comet. Young children may not connect the baby with the lady, but many adults will be moved by this deft depiction of the passage of time. With the back cover cut out to create a temporary holder for the cassette tape, the book may be better suited to bookstores than to libraries. Still, an original addition to libraries with large collections of picture books or book/cassette kits. Carolyn Phelan In her second childrens book project, internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter captures the momentous night in 1910 when a father held his baby in his arms as Halleys Comet streaked across the Jackson skyline. Inspired by renowned author, Eudora Welty, and her stories of growing up in Mississippi, Ms. Carpenters words celebrate the special love shared between a father and a daughter and how lifes magical moments remain with us throughout our lives. Like an old tattered scrapbook overflowing with remembrances of days past, this touching story and Dan Andreasens stunning illustrations stand as a timeless tribute to the beauty of lifes memories and that night so long ago when Halleys comet soared through the sky. Mary Chapin Carpenters voice and songs have won her recognition around the world as a recording artist, performer, and songwriter. With Dreamland and Halley Came to Jackson, she extends her many talents to childrens books. Her numerous honors include five Grammy Awards and two CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards, and she has released consecutive multi-platinum albums. She has actively supported numerous social and environmental organizations, including the Care Foundation, the Wilderness Society, and the Country Music AIDS Awareness Campaign. Dan Andreasen is the illustrator of the Caroline Years series and the Rose Years series, both part of the Little House publishing program. He is also the illustrator of Pioneer Girl, the real-life story of Laura Ingalls Wilder. He lives in Medina, Ohio with his wife and two children. Dan Andreasen has illustrated many well-loved books for children, including River Boy: The Story of Mark Twain and Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder , both by William Anderson, as well as many titles in the Little House series. He lives with his family in Medina, Ohio.