The centerpieces of this are, of course, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, both of which stand the test of time as well as any seasonal tales I’ve read. I go back to these every year and have read them aloud to my children more than once. Disney’s animated Ichabod and Mr. Toad does a pretty respectable job of bringing Sleepy Hollow to life; in my view it’s probably the best adaptation of the tale, complete with Bing Crosby crooning and narrating his way through.

The entire Sketch-book is quite worth reading; it includes some great Christmas tales, as well, and some ghost stories, essays, and tales of a trip to England, all told by the good humored, erudite narrator, Mr. Diedrich Knickerbocker.

Rip Van Winkle is such an amusing story, and I am particularly struck by how poor hen-pecked Rip doesn’t miss a beat, or his wife, when returning from his two decadeslumber in the Kaatskills, though he is surprised to learn there has been a revolution. Diedrich states humorously: “Rip, in fact, was no politician; the changes of states and empires made but little impression on him; but there was one species of despotism under which he had long groaned, and that was–petticoat government. Happily, that was at an end; he had got his neck out of the yoke of matrimony, and could go in and out whenever he pleased, without dreading the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle.” He happily returns to a life of idleness and lives with his now grown daughter.

Sleepy Hollow has become such a part of American culture that it would feel wrong to not read it every fall, at some point. Several years ago, I made a pilgrimage to Sunnyside, Irving’s home near the town, which I highly recommend. Irving was one of America’s first professional authors, and well-known in his lifetime as such. It is fun to visit his estate in the fall. There are some great guided tours and events each weekend for children. The nearby cemetery, where he was laid to rest, is also worth a visit.

What strikes me most about reading this tale is the humor of it, and the tongue in cheek manner Irving uses. It’s a lively tale that feels modern; to me its no wonder Irving found such a ready audience for his writing. I highly recommend reading it and the rest of the Sketch-book this fall.