Reviews (25)

Another Great Little House Book
I didn't get into this book as quickly as the others, but it is still a great part of Laura Ingall's life!

ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK
IT IS VERY GOOD. I LIKED IT BECAUSE THEY SURVIVE OFF ALMOST NOTHING. THEY TRAP AND KILL THEIR MEAT.

Book Review
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they move from their house by Plum Creek to the wilderness of the unsettled Dakota Territory. Aunt Docia visits the family to offer Pa a job working for the Chicago and North Western Railroad who are laying tracks throughout South Dakota. Grasshoppers destroyed all their crops and hunting was scarce.Also the family had been stricken with scarlet fever, and also caused Laura's sister, Mary, to go blind. Mary does not complain about being blind and she is very brave. Many times Laura tells her details about their new life out in the wilderness and on the train rides. The Ingalls's bulldog Jack died of old age. He was a great companion to the family and is terribly missed.
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Subjects:  1. 1867-1957    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Classics    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Frontier and pioneer life    9. Historical - United States - 19th Century    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    12. Wilder, Laura Ingalls,    13. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (5)

Simple LIfe Pleasures
This is a fabulous example of the simple life of times past.What joy was found in just being together as a family with the added fun of "going to town".

All First Little House Books are Excellent!
I just love this series of First Little House books.My own two girl have delighted in them and a fequently give them to 3-6 year olds as birthday or Christmas gifts.
Perfect Introduction to the Little House Series...
Adapted deftly from the Little House series made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this gorgeous picture book tells of Laura's first day trip with her family from the Big Woods to the nearby town of Pepin Wisconsin. The writing is charming and warm, the typeface perfect for reading aloud or independently. The illustrations, inspired by Garth Williams' originals, are extraordinary...absolutely beautiful! I would not consider this adaptation to be a "dumbed down" version of the originals, nor it is too juvenile for older readers. Rather it is a perfect transition piece which lends itself to wonderful cuddling and conversation, both of which are important for developing strong readers no matter how old they may be.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Children: Preschool    4. Family - General    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. Frontier and pioneer life    8. Historical - United States - 19th Century    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    11. Wisconsin    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 19th Century    13. Picture books   

Reviews (5)

LOVE this series
My 16 month old daughter, Sophie, was introduced to the Little People Lift-the-flap series with the Farm book when she was 9 months old. She loved that book so much that for easter I purchased school bus and the cars & trains one, just today I bought the newest ones (busy town and the zoo). She gets so exicted after saying "book" when I pick her up and put her in my lap and begin reading the pages (that i now have memorized). She also enjoys lifting the flaps herself. Through these books she has learned a lot of differnt animals including what sounds they make. I would give these books ten stars if I could and plan to begin giving them as gifts to other children.NO REGRETS

Excellent book for toddlers.
My 16 month son LOVES this book. He carries it throughout the house and will sit for long periods of time each day looking at the pictures. Overall the book is quite sturdy, has numerousflaps(at least 9 per scene) and bright illustrations that are captivating to the eye. All of the Fisher Price Lift the Flap books are very sturdy in comparison to other flap books on the market. They are worth the money.

Daughter not Impressed
The items found under the flaps didn't impress my daughter as much as I thought it would.She does enjoy the graphics and enjoyed identifing the characters and things in the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business, Careers, Occupations    2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    3. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    4. Children: Preschool    5. City and town life    6. Concepts - Colors    7. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    11. Lifestyles - City Life    12. Specimens    13. Stories in rhyme    14. Toy and movable books    15. Juvenile Fiction / Business, Careers, Occupations   

Reviews (2)

Powerful
This book is awesome. I read it in one night. Everything started with a motorbike. Joe Penderson figured his parents would give it to him for his birthday. Instead,they gave him a job. Planting cabbage,picking strawberries,weeding and hoeing with a crew of Mexicans. Joe thinks it is a lousy way to spend a summer. At the end of the summer,however,he thinks differently. He realizes that no matter how people look,think and act,we are ALL under the same sky.

See How the Rest of the World Lives
I thought this was a great book. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. The characters are well-drawn, especially Joe and Luisa. The ending is quite suspenseful. The situations are thought-provoking. This is one of the best multicultural books I have ever read. I recommend it highly, especially for every American kid who feels deprived because they don't have enough. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/All Ages    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Family - General    4. Family - Parents    5. Farm life    6. Fiction    7. Historical - United States - 21st Century    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    10. Mexicans    11. Migrant labor    12. New York (State)    13. People & Places - United States    14. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    15. Social Situations - Prejudice & Racism    16. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Prejudice & Racism   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Demonology    5. Fiction    6. Horror & Ghost Stories    7. Horror stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Supernatural    12. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (7)

Homer Price is back...
Centerburg Tales is the second book to hold stories about Homer Price and friends.The first four stories are tales from Grandpa Hercules, an old man known for his tall tales.All of the stories, including the three not told by Hercules, are fun to read, even outloud!Giant ragweeds, 'Eversomuch More-So' (which makes everything better) and a song you just can't stop singing!Good, old fashion, drug free, rocket-ship free, non-violent FUN for most of the family. Homer Price redux
This is a great sequel to the original "Homer Price".Homer and his friends are off on more wacky adventures, each one funnier than the last.The final story, in which Homer and his fellow citizens are literally dancing all over town, is one of the most hilarious children's tales ever written.McCloskey had magic in his writing pen and his drawing pencil; it's hard to say which are better, the stories or the illustrations.Suffice to say that they all add up to a wonderful book for young folks.Highly recommended.

Tall Tales that Stick with you
The Adventures of Homer Price in the quaint town of Centerburg are flat out hilarious.Homer's uncle Hercules quickly sets the tone of disbelief by spinning some yarns that have just enough "truth" to them to be plausible.This is a truly a story of the American Scene in a time when people entertained themselves by gabbing with one another and singing songs together instead of hiding in the basement watching videos.Good old timey values like hucksterism, lying, and cheating face the good natured community of Centerburg and sometimes turn it upside down.Strange things happen in Centerburg, and the curious Homer Price is going to get to the bottom of it.Robert McClosky is also one of our finest illustrators and his lively drawings add texture and background to the story.Highly Recommeded. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. General    4. Humorous stories    5. Short stories    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction / Lifestyles / City Life   

Reviews (2)

Bittersweet look at family relationships!
Part of Me is a celebration of family and reading. Spanning four generations, this book tells the story of important events that happened when the main character was thirteen years old.
Your children and your children's children
Librarians of the world, rejoice! Have I got a children's book for you. Because Kimberly Willis Holt is a sweetheart, I know that her book, "Part of Me", must have come out of a very special place in her heart. Inspired in part by, "Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky" alongside seven generations of Holt's own family that have lived in Louisiana, this book has its roots in a variety of different places. That said, I've never read a children's book that was so clearly bound to be adored by a single profession as this l'il puppy. If you know a librarian and you want to make them happy, good news. Your gift-giving qualms may be safely put to rest.
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Subjects:  1. Books & Libraries    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - General    5. Family - Multigenerational    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - Country Life    10. Louisiana    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Values   

Reviews (1)

A Hidden Treasure
My seven-year-old daughter and I read together almost every night.In the past two years, no book (besides the Old Testament) has been her selection more than When the Whippoorwill Calls.The Blue Ridge family it depictsfinds out the federal government is buying up their mountain to make wayfor the Blue Ridge Parkway.In the process, the seven-year-old protagonistlearns a lesson of hope from the example of her father, who struggles with,but in the end adapts to, their move to the flatlands.The beauty of thestory, though, is in its language.Like the mountain people she writesabout, Ms. Ransom has a gift for expressing complicated sentiment in simpleand concrete ways.After a number of readings, it dawned on me that I wasreading good poetry.I should mention that the lllustrations are lovelyand the layout of the pages is attractive and interesting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blue Ridge Mountains    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Lifestyles - Country Life    6. Mountain life    7. Moving, Household    8. People & Places - United States    9. Shenandoah National Park (Va.)    10. Virginia   

Editorial Review

One sunny day on Merryhill Farm, all the trucks are busily toiling,including Trundle the Tractor and Bee-Bee the Backhoe. All, that is, except forone rusty old forgotten fellow: Dumpy the Dump Truck. Relegated to the weedsbehind the barn, Dumpy has been gathering dust and mouse nests for a long time.And it looks like the end is near when Farmer Barnes decides it's time for theold barn to come down, and Dumpy to be, well, dumped. "But I love Dumpy," saysCharlie, the farmer's son. "It's so sad to get rid of something you love just tomake room for something new." His grandfather, Pop-Up, agrees, and before theyknow it, the two are up to their ears in grease, paint, and tools. But can theyfinish sprucing up Dumpy before the barn has to come down?Read more

Reviews (7)

Perfect!!
Thank you Ms Andrews for such a great little series. My 2 grandsons love Dumpy and are overjoyed when a new Dumpy book comes out. Ms Andrews, you sure know children. Thank you for the gift you have given my two grandsons.

Perfect!!
Ms Andrews has done a great job in this and all her Dumpy Books. My grandsons love the story of Dumpy and everytime I say,"boys another Dumpy book is here", they smile from ear to ear and want me to read it immediately. Great books for PreSchoolers Ms Andrews, you know children very well...Thanks

I have grown to HATE this book!!!
I have read this book at least once a day for the past year.I HATE IT!My son loves it.He is 2.5 now, but dumpy was one of his first vocab words.This is not a modern book, but a slow paced family oriented view of life as it was/ought to be.Be prepared to be animated and read with lots of noises.The whole collection is full of them. Thanks to these books, my son can tell the difference between a backhoe and a bulldozer and a rooster and a chicken. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Dump trucks    5. Farm life    6. Fiction    7. Grandfathers    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    10. Transportation - Cars/Trucks    11. Transportation - General    12. Trucks    13. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

Reviews (4)

--Well done and charming story--
A library search of quilting information produced this book.I was actually looking for a quilt instruction book. and didn't realize that it was an actual story until after I requested the title from the library.I was initially disappointed because it was not what I was expecting. but since I was intrigued by the title, I read the little book.
This is an excellent book about how families change.
Ten-year old Ariel's best friend is her grandmother.After her grandmother suffers a stroke, Ariel is afraid of this woman who has lost the will to live.With her help, her grandmother begins to walk and talkagain, and Ariel gains a new understanding of the 'knowledge' that ispassed on through the generations.

Ariel and her sick grandma make a quilt for a baby.
I loved it because her grandma made her a quilt just for her.The quilt helped Ariel feel better about the coming baby.This reminds me of my life because when my sister was born I didn't get that much attention. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artists    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Family - New Baby    6. Fiction    7. Grandmothers    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    10. Quilts    11. Fiction dealing with family issues    12. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational    13. Parents' new baby   

Reviews (6)

all of a kind family uptown
I think all of a kind familyis a wonderful story with a bit of everything. Happy times,sad times and even times of love.

The family moves to the Bronx
Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, Gertie, and baby Charlie move with their parents from New York's lower East Side to the Bronx in this wonderful sequel.In this story, Ella's beau joins the army to fight for the causein WWI.You briefly learn about how the city was coping with the war overseas and about more Jewish traditions.This story is an educationaldelight for all ages and should be reprinted for the next generation ofreaders.

A great children's book - why is it out of print?
...I loved the entire series as a child, and this book was noexception.This book is also an excellent learning tool for children,Jewish or non-Jewish looking to learn more about Jewish culture in the earlier part of this century. The author writes with such a genuine affection for her subjects (her own family, apparently), the reader can't help but be drawn into the world of the story...END ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Family    4. Family - General    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Jews in New York (City)    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    10. Fiction dealing with family issues   

Reviews (2)

lovely book and character training
This is a lovely story set in a town in Ohio during the '40s.Lentil learns to play a harmonica and there are sweet scenes of small town life as well as a marching band.My 3.5 year old son loves this book, along with all of McCloskey's books.What has been wonderful for us about this book is the character of "Old Sneep", who grumbles and does mean things.This has really hit home with my son regarding our teaching of having a joyful heart and not complaining.Great literature at its best.

Excellent book for a musically inclined child.
This is an excellent book for the musically inclined child whose singing voice is a little less than melodious. In the book, the vocally challenged Lentil finds his mantra through the harmonica and ends up saving the day with it. My father gave me this book along with a harmonica when I was seven years old in response to my wobbly warbling, and I've been playing harmonica and many other instruments ever since. I just can't 'harp' enough on how great of inspiration this book was to me and could be for other vocally vexed children. -stephen ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Harmonica    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    8. Performing Arts - Music    9. English literature: essays, letters & other non-fiction prose works    10. English literature: literary criticism    11. Juvenile Fiction / Lifestyles / City Life   

Reviews (50)

Over to soon
This was over all a good book. I thought it was over to soon and not all in a good way. The climax of the story happens to quickly and after there is a hasty conclusion like SE Hinton was in a hurry to finish it. The story was good though and I still enjoyed the book.
Taming the Star Runner- By S.E. Hinton
Book Review By Sam K.
Michael's review
The main character's name is Travis, a city boy who drinks, smokes, and gets into a lot of trouble.He is sent to live on a horse ranch with his uncle because he beat his stepfather with a fire poker.He meets a girl named Casey who is trying to train a horse named Star Runner.He is sixteen, a writer, and is having a book published.He has a hard time getting used to living in the country and learning how to train a horse.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Horses    2. Authorship    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fiction    6. Horses    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Lifestyles - Country Life    9. Social Issues - General    10. Social Situations - General    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (3)

Daughter's Favorite
This was my daughter's favorite book from the time she was about 3-8 years old.I bought it as a introduction to the original Little House books and continued to collect the entire set of these "First Books".Bright, cheery with excellent artwork showing strong family relationships.

An Old Fashioned Winter
"Winter Days" is one of my favorite books in the "My First Little House Books" series, and one of my favorite books about autumn. The Ingalls family prepares for winter with time for the harvest and food storage. Mary and Laura participate in daily chores and entertain themselves with their rag dolls, paper dolls,and by using a thimble to draw on the frosted window. Beautiful illustrations bring Laura's log cabin world to life, and are an excellent starting point for discussing how life is different then it used to be, and how some things never change.

A wonderful introduction to "Little House"!
My almost-four-year old insisted I read it three times in a row the first time we read it! It is a well-written abridged version that manages to retain a feel of the original. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Children: Preschool    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Frontier and pioneer life    7. Historical - General    8. Historical - United States - 19th Century    9. Historical - United States - General    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    12. Wisconsin    13. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 19th Century   

Reviews (2)

A story of family and friends
Although this is the 4th book of the series, it actually takes place between All-of-a-Kind Family and More All-of-a-Kind Family.This story is part of the continuing tale of a Jewish family living in New York's lowerEast Side in the early 1900's.Although they are poor, they are rich intheir love of each other and their friends.Now there is a new baby in thehouse and talented Ella, mischevious Henny, studious Sarah, dreamyCharlotte, and little Gertie help Mama with the baby and find friends alongthe way. In this book, we meet Guido, a poor Italian boy who is trying tocare for his sick mother and Miss Carey, a nurse who works at theSettlement House.Through the eyes of these characters, we understand whatit must have been like growing up in the lower East Side before World WarI.We learn about their sorrows and their joy over the little things inlife.A highly recommended book.

So real I thought I was there.
I have read All-of-a-Kind Family.It's about five little girls.Their names are Ella, Henny, Sara, Charlotte, and Gertie.This book has so much detail it feels real.One time Sara lost her library bok .She was so upset when she had to tell the library lady about it.The library lady was so nice that she said she could take out more books, but she still had to pay for the book she lost.I thought I was Sara.At the end of the book, their mother has a baby.Its name is Charley.Everyone was expecting a girl, but it was a boy.Gertie used to be the baby and did not want to be abig sister.When she sees the baby she bounces up and down because of him.Everyone was happy,Now that's an all-of-a-kind family!I Like this book a lot. It has lots of adventures.Read one page and you can't stop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - General    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Jews    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    11. Lifestyles - City Life    12. New York (N.Y.)    13. Fiction dealing with family issues   

Reviews (1)

La telarana de Carlota
Yo le recomiendo este libro a todos que quieren regresar a su infancia. Yo estoy muy encantada con este libro. La historia de Carlota es mejor. También intentar Los Reinos Y Los Elfos De Las Quimeras.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Classics    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    7. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    8. Spanish: Grades 3-4    9. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino   

Editorial Review

Eloise has always had a rather festive air about her, but when Christmastime rolls around, well, it's "Fa la la la fa la la la lolly ting tingledy here and there," of course. The bunchy-bloused, spindly-legged scamp is speaking in rhyme this time, and in typical Eloise fashion, the verse simply Read more

Reviews (18)

This Book Would Make Almost Anyone Happy
Celebrate Christmas (no, not "holiday" folks, CHRISTMAS) year-round with New York's favorite poor litle rich girl, Eloise! Inside this book we not only get to re-visit the ball of energy that is Eloise, but we're treated to an always more-insightful-than-it-seems view of life and society, circa 1950, as the Plaza Hotel girds itself top to bottom for that most festive of celebratory occasions. Eloise is in high form here, and so is Nanny. The usual cast of characters is back and it's a rawthur cheerful read that has made me smile since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.

Christmas at the Plaza
Now that the Plaza Hotel has closed for renovations and will never be quite the same again, is all the more reason to buy this book about a little girl named Eloise who lived at the Plaza in its glory days.Eloise makes friends of the hotel staff and in spite of her dear nanny who is supposed to be in charge, Eloise manages to have many adventures within the Plaza during the festive Christmas season. The surprise ending is delightful. A book for all ages, but especially nice for someone who grew up in the 1950's.
Not a read out loud book. Good for a child that can read.
At the risk of having millions of Eloise fans hate me I'm giving this book one star. At my request myRead more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Christmas    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    6. Hotels and motels    7. Hotels, motels, etc    8. Hotels, motels, etc.    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    11. Stories in rhyme    12. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Christmas    13. Picture books   

Reviews (9)

my favorite book in the whole world!!!!!!!!!!!
ever since my mommybought this book for me i have been diving in to it taking it on trips and reading it at home. this book isfull of stories about six cheerfull and mischievous kids (three boys and three girls) who live in three swidish farm houses.even if your favorite kind of stories are adventures you will love this beacause it is a huge adventure inits own way.

Charming, delightful story.
This is a wonderful book depicting the simple joys of growing up in a small Scandinavian village in the early 20th century.The Children of Noisy Village get into mischief, celebrate birthdays and holidays and enjoy hayrides and picnics together. It's the kind of childhood we all wish we could have experienced.It's a beautifully written book and not sentimental.A great read aloud for the 5-8 set.Lots of fun.

Excellent, old style, fun
I read the Polish version of "Children from Bullerbyn". Answer for one of the reviewers: the names of the children were Lasse, Bosse, Olle, Britta, Anna, and Lisa.
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Subjects:  1. Children    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Classics    5. Country life    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Sweden    9. Juvenile Fiction / Lifestyles / City Life   

Reviews (1)

. . . A Wonderfully Illustrated Tour of San Francisco
I purchased this book, a beautifully illustrated treasure, as a souvenir on one of my trips to San Francisco.The illustrations are so incredible--bright, cheerful, detailed and full of life.Each illustration (i.e. Golden Gate Bridge, The Cable Cars and Lombard Street) is accompaniedby a brief history and interesting facts. Other sections include anOverview of the city's history, "Fun Facts" about San Franciscoand an "Explorer's Guide".The book is both absolutely beautifuland filled with relevant information about exploring San Franciscoincluding telephone numbers for various attractions.I highly recommendthis book both for children and adults. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Sociology    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Description and travel    5. General    6. Guidebooks    7. Guides    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    11. Lifestyles - City Life    12. People & Places - United States    13. San Francisco (Calif.)    14. Social Studies - General    15. Early learning / early learning concepts    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Lifestyles / City Life   

Editorial Review

Uri Shulevitz won a CaldecottMedal for his illustrated edition of Arthur Ransome's Read more

Reviews (8)

Wonderful illustrations!
Everything goes together in this book.The illustrations are simple and evocative, the text is minimal, you need to read it with weight to convey the mood; the gray, unremarkable city populated with gray, unremarkable adults is uninspiring.A little boy sees one snowflake (yes, it's there, look hard) and gets excited.Not so the adults: 'grandfather with beard', 'man with hat', and 'woman with umbrella' brush him off.The city is still gray.WE are gray, but the boy believes and indeed the snowflakes keep coming until they begin to build up on the street and buildings.The boy and his Mother Goose companions get happier and the illustrations get brighter.The dour adults are driven indoors, the boy dances with delight.Imagination, enthusiasm, and hope have triumphed.
A snowy day
By and large, the general rule guiding picture books and the Caldecott awards they garner is that no children's author/illustrator ever wins the Caldecott Award for their best work.This rule generally applies to all awards, I suppose in some way.Oscar winning actors, actresses, and directors never seem to win for their best films either.But the case seems to be even more extreme when it comes to picture books.Let's take author/illustrator extraordinaire Uri Shulevitz as our example.Now review your Caldecott knowledge and tell me what book earned Shulevitz a Caldecott.If you said, "The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship", you are correct.Now, tell me which book Shulevitz both wrote and illustrated which DESERVED the Caldecott Award (not Honor).If you said, "Snow" then you are once more right right right.I recently discovered this charming and thoroughly pleasing little book all on my own and I can tell you here and now that aside from the great "Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, there is no other book that so skillfully pinpoints the elation a child feels at the first real snowfall of the year.
The Simplicity of Snow
The children's book, Snow, by Uri Shulevitz is about a young boy who anticipates snow with only seeing just one snowflake.His grandfather and other people around town do not pay much attention to his words and just brush him off.More snowflakes begin to fall and make the town white.Finally, there is snow. This book is very bluntly written.There are no proper names, no possessives, and no descriptions.With the exception of the pictures, Snow is quite bland.The minimal title of Snow does somewhat suggest the simplicity of the story in the book.Perhaps Shulevitz's whole purpose of writing the book is to show the purity and incomplexity of snow itself. The sentences within the book are not long or complex in any way.Most of them consist of a simple subject and a simple predicate and four to six small words.For example, the first page says, "The skies are gray.The rooftops are gray.The whole city is gray."The next sentence is three words but is not really an actual sentence.However, the sentences do begin to grow in length and number of words as more snow begins to fall through out the story.During the climax of the book when the snow really begins to fall hard, there is a sentence with many words that runs for four pages. Another way in which the narration is very dull is that there are not any descriptions.The story does not say anything like, "the short boy with brown hair" or "the fat man carrying the briefcase."The boy, who is the main character of the story is just called "boy with dog" through out the entire book until the last page when he is "the boy."Also, the boy comes into contact with three nameless people: "grandfather with beard," "man with hat," and "woman with umbrella."Although none of the characters have names, they still fit into the story as well as the boy.Another item that is missing from the narration is the article "the." The boy or the people he meets would not sound so uninteresting if they were called "the woman" or "the man." Overall, this is a good story to read.If not for the excitement that many children have over seeing snow, Shulevitz would not have been able to be so basic with his telling of the story.However, the two parts of the story-the stirring idea of snow and the unexciting storyline fit perfectly to make the book balance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Preschool    3. City and town life    4. City life    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    9. Nature & the Natural World - General    10. Snow    11. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World