About the Author

Richard Rodgers (composer 1902-1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (librettist/lyricist, 1895-1960) joined forces in 1943 to create the most successful partnership in American musical theater. Their first musical, Oklahoma!, was also the first of a new genre, the musical play, blending Rodgers' sophisticated style of musical comedy with Hammerstein's innovations in opera. Oklahoma! was followed by Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music, among others. Collectively the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals earned thirty-four Tony Awards, fifteen Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy Award. Renee Graef received her bachelor's degree in art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is the illustrator of numerous titles in the Little House publishing program, as well as Rodgers and Hammerstein's My Favorite Things and E.T.A Hoffman's The Nutcracker, adapted by Janet Schulman. She lives in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

The lyrics from The Sound of Music's My Favorite Things by Richard Rodgers gets a picture book treatment with paintings by Ren?e Graef, featuring a warm-hearted family playing with sleighbells and catching snowflakes. Oscar Hammerstein's music is also included. (June) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

PreS-Gr 3-Graef's charming illustrations bring the reassuring images of Hammerstein's lyrics to life with softness and warmth. The settings are old-fashioned with nary a television, car, or computer to be seen. Spreads show two children enjoying their favorite things such as "Silver white winters that melt into springs." Their mother is there to comfort "When the dog bites,/When the bee stings." The piano music and words are included. This pleasant book could brighten up a preschool storyhour or help a child drift off to sleep at bedtime.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.