Basket Moon, a picture book set principally in Hudson, was written by Mary Lyn Ray, a Fellow at Winterthur Museum, who started writing the story when she was editing a history of Taghkanic basket making entitled
Legend of the Bushwhacker Basket. The book was illustrated by Barbara Cooney, two-time Caldecott Medalist and creator of the beloved
Miss Rumphius, who died in March 2000, just six months after
Basket Moon was published. The book tells the story of a boy's first experience accompanying his father, a Taghkanic basket maker, on a monthly selling trip to the "big city"--that is, Hudson.
The illustrations are a treat for Hudsonians since it's obvious that Cooney used actual Hudson artifacts as models for some of them.
Basket Moon, published by Little, Brown, is still in print. I recommend it--for the children in your life or just to grace your coffee table.
Great to here about the book. I have a Taghkanic Basket. The woman woman who made them was named Pulver I believe. My basket is used for ironing so it completely safe from
ReplyDeleteharm(or ironing).
A reader called me today to say that Basket Moon was no longer available. She's right, and I was wrong to say that it was still in print. Since it popped up on the websites of both Amazon and Barnes and Noble, I assumed it was still in print without paying closer attention. (It was getting late, and I was rushing.)
ReplyDeleteBut all is not lost. There are still some booksellers in the world with copies--both new and gently used--and you can locate them on either of the previously mentioned websites.
Hello Carole-
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean it to sound like that about Basket Moon. . . you are RIGHT that it is available for sale and I was able to buy two copies on line for Easter gifts. One is for a long time Taghkanic basket collector who knew Lizzie Proper personally and was able to buy baskets from her directly, so this book will be a big thrill.
Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Happy Easter.
SLT