HERE COME THE BRIDES
by Ellen Jackson & illustrated by Carol Heyer
PLB 0-8027-8469-0 It is hard not to get fussy and a bit sentimental when talking about wedding mores and customs, as is the case here. Jackson (The Book of Slime, 1997, etc.) is full of wonderful bits of wedding lore, from many different times and cultures, illustrated in exquisite detail by Heyer’s richly colored portraits. She explains that white wasn’t a traditional color for wedding dresses in the west until the 19th century (leaving out that it was because Queen Victoria wore white to her own wedding): Today, Norwegian brides may don green, and Arab brides red. Sharing food between bride and groom is nearly universal: Japanese couples eat from the same plate of rice, while other newlyweds bite into the same piece of candy. Rings, veils, attendants, and flowers are discussed, and the groom makes a mere cameo appearance. Gary Soto’s Snapshots From the Wedding (1997) is more fun, but this will fit the bill for those looking for a drier, fact-based approach. (bibliography) (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)