The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon

The powerhouse illustrator pair of Leo and Diane Dillon re-imagine the only story Pulitzer Prize winner Rawlings ("The Yearling") ever wrote for children. Calpurnia discovers a secret river in a Florida forest, where she catches enough fresh fish to feed her hungry neighbors. Full color. There are no fish left in the rivers and streams; hard times have come to the forest, and everyone is poor and hungry. Calpurnia is determined to find fish for her father to sell in his shop. Mother Albirtha, the wisewoman, advises her to follow her nose to a secret river teeming with fish. She finds this amazing river and politely asks the fishes' permission to catch some of them. On her long journey home she shares her catch with several animals and, of course, Mother Albirtha. Father sells the fish for promises of payment, which are all fulfilled, and soft times come to the entire community. In this reworking of a classic tale, Rawlings' voice is warm and tender, employing lilting syntax and descrip