In a secluded Dutch settlement in New York, two men vie for the hand of a wealthy farmer's daughter. Ichabod Crane, the superstitious schoolmaster is one of those men. One night, when walking home from the farmer's house, Ichabod is chased by the Headless Horseman, who "rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head".
Irving's short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of the earliest examples of American literature still read today.
September 1, 1987
Mystery, suspense, legend, romance and humor can all be found in Wolkstein's fine retelling of Washington Irving's classic folktale. Through the gluttonous Ichabod Crane and the devilish prankster Bron Bones, children are transported into a foul nightmare: being chased by a headless horseman who's searching a shadowy forest for his lost head. Wolkstein weaves reality and imagination with simple, eloquent sentences. Alley's graphic watercolors skillfully portray both the humorous Icabod with his pointed nose and long feet, and the gothic underworld of the haunted forest where even the horses become demonic. Ages 6-9.
September 2, 1996
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW Washington Irving, illus. by Michael Garland. Boyds Mills, $8.95 ISBN 1-56397-605-6. Full-page oil paintings illustrate this unabridged edition of the classic spine-tingler. All ages.
August 16, 1999
"Paintings by Grandma Moses's great-grandson make a striking match for the classic story," said PW. Ages 5-up.