Eric Sloane

In preparing this unusual book of American weather sayings and beliefs, Eric Sloane has made a painstaking effort to separate the true from the false, investigating the origins and separating the many truly valuable pieces of weather lore from superstition, or what he calls "jackass jingles." As Mr. Sloane makes clear, folklore can be a very loose term used to cover a lack of knowledge of the very thing that folklore means: many things are passed off as folklore that are plain mistakes or inventions. Following general introductory remarks, Mr. Sloane has arranged his findings in an alphabetical folklore dictionary, enabling the reader to find readily the signs involving stars, wind, dew, rain, or whatever else he wishes. After each entry is a symbol indicating whether it is true (T), false (F), or possible (P). Thirty-five drawings by the author clarify and enhance the text of this entertaining and informative book by America's favorite weather expert. A former resident of Connecticut, Eric Sloane was one of the top weather experts in the country. He had prepared weather models for the U.S. Navy and designed the Hall of Atmosphere for the American Museum of Natural History. Equally noted as a painter, Mr. Sloane had exhibited in many galleries. Feeling that the sky was a subject generally ignored by most artists, he has done many paintings of skies and clouds, and has tried to fill the gap in technical books on painting with his book "Skies and the Artist." Mr. Sloane has written and illustrated many articles on sailing and flying as well as on weather. His books for Duell, Sloan and Pearce include "Look at the Sky!," "The Book of Storms," "Eric Sloane's Almanac and Weather Forecaster," and "Eric Sloane's Weather Book."

This refreshing and delightfully written book underscores the important role that wood has played in the development of American life and culture. Charmingly illustrated with author Eric Sloane's own sketches, the text illuminates with rare insight the enormously varied and useful qualities of wood. Covering such topics as the aesthetics of wood, wooden implements, and carpentry, Sloane remarks expansively and with affection on the resourcefulness of early Americans in their use of this precious commodity. From cradle to coffin, the pioneer was surrounded by wood. It was used to make tools, fence the land, and build barns. People sat at wooden tables on wooden chairs and ate from wooden dishes. Charcoal, one of the many by-products of wood, was used to preserve meat, remove offensive odors, and produce ink. The bark of various trees was processed to make medicine. An entertaining, factual, and historically accurate book, A Reverence for Wood will delight woodcrafters and lovers of Americana. It is "one of Eric Sloane's best books." *(Library Journal)*—Dover

Pencil sketches accompany descriptions of early American objects from the almanack and johnny-cake to the niddy noddy and zig-zag fence. Briefly discusses the use of the alphabet in early America.

An illustrated catalogue of the activities dictated by the four seasons that farmers and others living in rural areas would follow in early America.