She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain Review

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(More customer reviews)This book resembles the old western train ride at Disneyland before they transformed it into "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad." The opening pages have the same desert canyon terrain and hues of tan, umber, gold, yellow, orange, and purple. Illustrator Ashley Wolff places mountain goats in strategic locations (e.g., on top of boulders and natural terraces), an armadillo and a chipmunk read on top of a cactus, and pigs fish off a bridge. You almost expect one of the animals to jump off the page, slowly turned its head at you, and talk in an electronic voice. This is not a criticism, however; the relaxed tone and elements of fantasy tell you not to take it too seriously.
A cowboy-hatted, banjo-playing frog starts singing "She'll be comin' `round the mountain when she comes," and we see a red and white camper truck slowly approaching over wooden bridges and through cement tunnels. As we view the frog in the foreground, and the almost mythic John Ford-like western landscape in the background, we can also look "down" at the old town nestled at the bottom of these mountains. Illustrator Wolff`s pictures capture a perspective as wide and long as the canyon itself.
The story slowly unfolds through the frog's modified song lyrics, the activities in the old town, and the tension built through the approaching truck. We learn gradually that the animals are preparing for a big reception in the town center and cleaning up the best room in town to get ready when the mysterious "she" comes. Food is very, very important too: The skunks, foxes, and other animals are getting the salsa, rice, candy and other food ready:
"We'll cook her favorite taco while she's here.
We'll mash an avocado while she's here.
We'll make an enchilada and a lovely ensalada,
Then we'll all drink fruitilada while she's here."
In a wild scene again reminiscent of Disneyland, the critters are shown singing, dancing, and generally whooping it up on an adobe house decorated with red chilies--just as the camper truck is on the home stretch to town. Finally, we're at the climax. Everybody is singing and eating, dancing and snuggling, roasting marshmallows and even reading when the big truck rolls into late night "Reederville." Finally, we're about to find the answer to the big question: Just who have they been waiting and preparing and celebrating for, what is that truck, and who is driving it?
In a truly great surprise ending, we find out the driver is a pig, and the truck in a bookmobile named the "Six White Horses." The animals wait in line as the brightly dressed pig hands out books, and the bookmobile is decorated with bumper stickers such as, "If You Can Read This, Thank a Teacher!" Twenty-eight colorful and rollicking pages, with an afterward that tells the origin of the song. One of 2004's best books; you'll have lots of fun reading this enchanting story aloud or to yourself.

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