She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain (review)

In this playful interpretation of the familiar folk song, a guitar-playing cactus rocking on the front porch invites listeners to "Gather 'round now!" as he sings of the pending arrival of the titular she, in this case, a spunky mite of a girl in a ten-gallon hat, red cowboy boots, and ruffly pink pajamas. Emmett takes extensive creative liberty with the lyrics, adding details, new verses, and, most notably, a pair of rhymed lines in the middle of each verse that diverge from the first and last line (e.g., "She'll be driving six white horses when she comes, WHOA BACK!/ She'll be driving six white horses when she comes, WHOA BACK!/ They're called Misty, Moonbeam, Milkshake,/ Stardust, Silvermane, and Snowflake/ She'll be driving six white horses when she comes, WHOA BACK!"). The verses are chock full of silliness ("And you won't believe how nimbly/ She can boogie round the chimbly"), and each comes with a gesture, described in directions on the last two-page spread. Those preparing for a readaloud will want to have a trial run or two, as the metric scheme sometimes unexpectedly starts a half-beat early or late, but young listeners will likely forgive a slip-up in the name of rollicking good fun. There is a retro mid-century vintage look to the mixed-media illustrations, which incorporate acrylic, watercolor, pencil, and occasional collage, that is reminiscent of an old-fashioned reader. Multiple fonts and scattershot composition lessen the impact of the spreads, and the lack of visual focus undercuts the book's storytime potential. Still, the hybrid mix of familiar and original works to good effect, and the opportunities for participation and singing will make this popular for group use.