Archer’s vibrant, mixed-media illustrations combine acrylics, ink, and textured papers created with origami, tissue paper, and homemade stamps. Framing her reminiscences around a single summer day, she notes the orange sunrise the smells of cattle, bluegrass, and wild roses the taste of cool drinks from the filling station the sight of birds, rushing streams, and nearby mountains horseback rides trips to the granary swimming in farm ponds shopping at the general store playing kick-the-can and reading by flashlight under quilts and a yellow moon. Archer's illustrations lean into the text's idolized depiction of time and place (surely not all the farm smells were sweet, for instance), offering spread after spread of breathtakingly gorgeous scenes.In sparse, lyrical prose, Newbery medalist MacLachlan extols the prairies of eastern Wyoming (circa the 1940s), where she was born. 'In this nostalgic idyll set on the American prairie.a young girl describes summertime farm life as she and the other children ride horses, take a trip into town for penny candy, swim in a pond, and play kick-the-can until adults call them back inside at bedtime. The human figures are tiny and found nestled into the scenes on most pages, fitting for a story that places them in contrast to the majesty of a beautiful prairie landscape.' - School Library Journal 'With short, descriptive phrases MacLachlan remembers the beauty of farm life, and the offset portions of text bring rhythm to the words.the paper collage illustrations add intricate texture and detail to the deceptive simplicity of the prairie landscape. Childhoods as free as this one are not as common as they once were borrowing MacLachlan’s is the next best thing.' - Publishers Weekly, starred review Together, words and pictures create a sense of endless space and ample time. * ' Elaborate sun-filled spreads by Archer (Daniel’s Good Day) illuminate Newbery Medalist MacLachlan’s farm-life memories in this dazzling picture book. Nostalgic, yet filled with timeless experiences.' - Booklist

Archer's vibrant, mixed-media illustrations combine acrylics, ink, and textured papers created with origami, tissue paper, and homemade stamps.many spreads employ a wide-angle perspective that furthers the sense of the prairie's vastness. 'In sparse, lyrical prose, Newbery medalist MacLachlan extols the prairies of eastern Wyoming (circa the 1940s), where she was born. A deeply nostalgic look at once-upon-a-time Midwest farm life.' - Kirkus Reviews Readers may see something new with each look.

They are richly colored and detailed these are spreads to linger over. 'Archer's vivid, textured mixed-media illustrations include tissue papers and homemade stamps.

Prairie Days by Patricia MacLachlan