Amazon.com

Fans of Jean Craighead George's My Side of the Mountain (a Newbery Honor Book) and On the Far Side of the Mountain will be delighted to return to upstate New York's Catskill Mountains for the conclusion of her trilogy, which appears 40 years after the first title's publication in 1959. Written because a young fan asked, "What happened to Frightful?" this volume tells how Sam Gribley's peregrine falcon--that's Frightful--has to make her own way in the world after Sam is forced to release her. Although told in the third person, the story is developed entirely from the bird's point of view. George's narrative follows the falcon through a series of dangerous adventures (involving DDT, electricity lines, and unscrupulous bird traders, to name a few) as she learns to depend on her own instincts. The environmental message is slightly heavy-handed, but it's wrapped in an enjoyable story from a much loved and astoundingly prolific author. You don't need to have read the earlier books to make sense of this one, though it may help. (Ages 9 and older) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Great book!
Frightful's Mountain is the sequel to My Side of the Mountain, and On the Far Side of the Mountain. It is about a boy named Sam Gribley. In this book Sam is worried that his falcon, Frightful is so attached him she won't be able to mate, or migrate. Will she be able to live on her own? To find out you must read the book.

Frightful's mountain
In the book Frightful's Mountain Sam's sister Alice frees Frightful from some mean people, but then Frightful gets lost trying to find Sam. While Frightful is hunting for food all of a sudden a male Falcon named Chup shows up and starts to show off by swooping upside down, Frightful mates with Chup and has three babies, Lady, Duchess, and Drum. Lady, Duchess, and Drum grow and learn to hunt by practicing on Frightful and Chup. Later in the story it's migrating season so all the birds go South to a hotter place but Frightful didn't migrate because she has survived through winter wit Sam before. Frightful has no food so she goes to find her hunting partner Mole the dog, when Frightful got there, Mole wasn't there and neither was the owner, So Frightful flies to a nearby house and sees Mole limping and bleeding and Mole had food! Usually Mole shares food with Frightful but this time Mole just snarled at her, Then two men with a net came out of the house and caught Frightful, they took Frightful inside and Frightful wiggled around until she was free at last, Frightful flew out of the house and saw a nearby telephone wire and went to land on it, the telephone wire shocked and burned her, Frightful fell to the ground, a nice man was walking near by and went to pick Frightful up, her feathers were burnt and she was shocked, she was almost dead but that's not the end so you'll have to read it to find out what happens. Peace out ya'll, Sayonara, Bye,Bye.

A Book For When You're Bored
I had to read this book for a project at school and I thought My Side of the Mountain was boring. Then I read On the Far Side of the Mountain and I thought that was better than the first. Then finally I read Frightful's Flight and I learned so much. I learned a lot about falcons and how to take care if them. I enjoyed this book and I thought it was a lot better than the first two. But I still think that this book is better to read when you're really bored.

Frightful's Mountain
" Frightful's Mountain" is a mouthful of adventure. It tells how a falcon tries to survive in the wild. This book is unforgettable. I give great thanks to Jean Craighead George; she did a wonderful job. She did so well you would not be able to stop reading. "Frightful's Mountain" gives a message that tell you that everything happens for a reason and that little animal can do a lot of things. At least I think so. I recommend this book to everyone for all ages, and I give this book a well deserved four stars.

Frightful's Mountain: A Great Book
Frightful's Mountain is about a peregrine falcon that is seraching for her previous owner. She must find out the one tree and the one mountain where he lives. She meets everything from dogs to poachers to other peregine falcons that come in her way. She finally gets back to him, but is then set free to live the life of a wild peregrine.
The reason I liked this book is because of its style. It was very much like the first book of the trilogy, except that it was from the falcon's point of view. I love adventure stories, so it is not a surprise that I believe this is exceptional literature, but this one puts you in the situation and sucks you into the text. I coundn't stop reading!
One other reason I believed this was one of the greatest books of all time is because it was so detailed. Descriptions lurked around every corner. I could almost see what was going on when I was reading! It was also very emotional and i wanted to get a tissue amnd cry into it. It was very impactful.
My favorite part was when Sam, Frightful's master, was trying to save two of her chicks that were stolen by poachers. His dog had crawled under the cabin's foundation and was met by a skunk's spray. The smell seeped through the floorboards and the poachers ran out of the building. Sam snuck in through the back door and collected the eyases in his hands. One of the poachers had run back in to get his gun and saw Sam. The conservation officers had come in just in time and had him at gunpoint. ... Read more

Book Description

Resourceful young reporters challenge authority to expose a school scandal in this funny, inspiring debut novel set behind the scenes of their student newspaper, The Slash. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WILL RELATE TO THIS !

Wonder how many young listeners have heard a teacher speaking to them in a stern voice, saying "I'd like a word with you."Whether they have or not they'll surely relate to Adam Canfield who seems to spend a lot of his time in hot water.

Voice performer Patrick G. Lawlor gives energetic voice to Adam as our hero muddles his way through school, and learns a few things on the way.Being the coeditor of a school paper, in this case, the Slash, is never easy.Somehow, his sidekick, Jennifer, knows much more about people pleasing, and a persistent third grade reporter turns out to have an advanced-for-her-age nose for news.

The trio face a dilemma when their run-ins with Principal Harris appear to becoming out and out warfare.Question is whether or not the kids can face down this powerful who has broken more than a few rules.

Highly recommended for upper elementary and middle schoolers.

- Gail Cooke

STOP THE PRESSES -- And Put This Book On Page One
Mike Winerip may single-handedly save American journalism with this hilarious, suspenseful, deeply-satisfying story of elementary/middle school students discovering the joys -- and terrors -- of investigative reporting. Kids will adore this book and clamor for the sequel; some will be inspired to become real reporters (corrupt principals and corporate-TV toadies beware!) But it should also be irresistible to any grown-up who ever worked for a newspaper, laughed at "The Paper," or rooted for Woodward and Bernstein in "All the President's Men."

Chasing the Truth
Michael Winerip's wonderful and exciting story about a middle school-age reporter who is learning about his school, his friends, his town and himself is fun, smart, full of energy and thrills but without pretension or predicability. There are scenes that are laugh out loud funny, some hilarious characters who ring all too true, and issues about right and wrong, good and bad, that are really important. Just as good: even the bad guys have real personalities. Subtle social differences dictated by education, money, race and personal history unfold at an unforced pace. Among other things, readers will understand, reading "Adam Canfiled of the Slash," just why it is that a free press, when it is free, is so exciting, why it can make a great a positive difference in society, and why a true democracy needs it. Even better, readers will see that even kids can make a difference. Fortunately, Winerip never lets his large themes overwhelm or distract from his story, which is fun, engrossing and very satisfying. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

For hummingbird lovers of all ages
As a reading specialist I regularly review new children's books. As soon as I saw this one, I thought of my mom. She's a sharp-minded 87-year-old who loves poetry, art and hummingbirds. She gives the artistry, both words and watercolors, of this book an easy five stars.

Educators Recommend
One warm, February morning a tiny hummingbird began building a nest in a ficus tree on the patio of George's home in Claremont , California . For the next two months George kept a "hummingbird journal" of the daily happenings. "I still marvel," she writes, "over the surprising range of emotions one small bird and her family evoked: awe, worry about possible dangers, and laughter when the baby birds teetered on the edge of the nest for their daily flight practice."

George has expertly taken those emotions and woven them into this delightful collection of poems. In "Visitor" we are introduced to the small mother. She is nothing more than a "spark, a glint, / a glimpse of pixie tidbit." In the next poem, however, we see her bravado and determination in action. She becomes a "feathered missile streaking by," ordering the humans off her patio, out of her territory.

Soon two eggs are visible in the "cobweb ship" of a nest. Once hatched, the nestlings, "raisin black / an wrinkled," settle in. In "Flight Practice," George does a superb job at allowing the reader to visualize the drama taking place: "Four curled up feet grip / the top of the nest. / Two tiny motors / rev up for the wing test."

Moser is in top form here. His realistic, incredibly detailed watercolor paintings are small jewels in themselves.

The poems and illustrations combine wonderfully to allow readers the opportunity to vicariously witness nature up-close.

Highly Recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff ... Read more

Book Description

Go Wild in New York City is the brainchild of author Brad Matsen and philanthropist Ted Kheel. Its mission is to open kids' eyes to the hidden natural wonders of the urban environment-in this case, New York City. This book will help children understand and celebrate city life, while also sparking interest in science topics and promoting ways of caring for the earth. This book seeks to answer children's most basic questions such as, "Where does water come from?" or "Why is the sky blue?"It also serves up page after page of fascinating trivia and fun facts about the Big Apple.For instance:" New York City's hottest day ever?(July 9, 1936 when the thermometer climbed to 115 degrees Fahrenheit!)" The amount of sewage generated in an average day? (1.4 billion gallons)" Did you know that at the end of the 19th Century, Manhattan alone had 150,000 horses living in it? (And no public street-cleaning works?)" Oh, and about those alligators in the sewer system� Chapters include:1. Water City -water, sewage 2. NYC Rocks! -rocks, earth, and ice age of NYC3. Take a Deep Breath - weather, atmosphere, and climate4. Hey, Nice Plants!- plants, air, flowers, pollution5. Rulers of New York - bugs, bugs, bugs!6. Fur, Fins, Fangs, & Feathers- everything that walks, crawls, slithers, or flies in NYC7. Food In, Garbage Out - the incredible story of NYC's garbage, peee-youuu!All chapters discuss pollution issues and environmental concerns. Each chapter features activities for the reader, as well as websites to go to for further research. The back matter includes resources, an index, additional information and websites, a complete map of New York City, and information on the missions of the organizations involved.Go Wild is supported by the non-profit organization Nurture New York's Nature (NNYN) headed by a legendary mediator in the labor industry and the extremely philanthropic Ted Kheel. NNYN's mission is to bring attention to the need for sustainable development in urban environments. Mr. Kheel's passion for his work has initiated an assortment of projects supporting resource-friendly development and awareness throughout New York City. By inspiring this book, Mr. Kheel hopes to reach out to the children of the city and incite their environmental awareness at an early age.Mr. Kheel's extensive personal connections, including the likes of Oscar de la Renta and Mikhail Baryshnikov, will certainly help to promote this book and make it a sales success. Mr. Kheel's Go Wild "team" will be working in and out of the City to get the word out. Mr. Kheel is very committed to this project and appears to have an endless supply of resources, both socially and monetarily, to help support the project. To find out more about NNYN and their extensive list of other projects, go to http://www.nnyn.org/about.html. For a biography on Ted Kheel, take a look at www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/kheel/generalInfo/tedKheelBio.html. This book is also tied to the extraordinary art exhibition that is slated to begin in the city in February 2005-The Gates Project for Central Park. This project, supported by NNYN and paid for by the artists themselves, will feature the artwork of famed artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. This exhibition, which has already been receiving an enormous amount of attention in NYC, marks the first time these artists are granting full license to anyone to use their intellectual property. All proceeds from this will be used to create awareness of the importance of nurturing New York's nature to the health and well being of the City's inhabitants, and to support the Arts for their power to advance that goal.

Book Description

What makes a shell like a house?

A house is a home for you, a nest is a home for a bird, and a cave is a home for a bear. But for some animals a shell is a home. Snails and turtles and crabs and clams all have shells that act as their homes and protect them from harm. In this book you'll learn all about these and other crustaceous creatures, for whom a shell is just the right sort of home.

Book Description

A Day at the Beach. A seaside counting book from one to ten., is a delightful book for parents, grandparents, teachers and friends to share with their children. You will travel from page to page adding objects that describe the numerals shown. In the case of "2, Two girls playing in the sand," the numeral 2, words two and girls, are all colored dark blue while the rest of the text is colored green. This sends a subliminal message to your child that the 2, two and girls are related. This system helps teach youngsters the relationship code needed to read. Your child will discover and count seagulls, dolphins, seagulls, octopus legs, sailboats and seashells. The brilliantly colored objects will delight everyone who explores this Day at the Beach adventure. ... Read more

Book Description

Volcanoes don't always look like mountains; they aren't always full of fire. Some are holes in the ground; some form under the sea. And despite their reputation for destruction, volcanoes produce new mountains, new islands, and new soil. Visit some of the world's most remarkable volcanoes along with one of the most outstanding science writers in children's books. It's an extraordinary--and unforgettable--trip.

Book Description

Free-verse text describes the transition from day to night and from night to day, revealing the magic in these everyday moments. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Twilight Comes Twice
I recommend this book for 5-10 year oids because I think people who like poetry should read this book. I liked ho a girl made dawn and night sound beautiful I thik this book is great and you might like it to.

twilght comes twice
This book puts a lot of descriptive writing in it. It doesn't really have a problem. I love the way the author says "slowly dusk pours the syrup of darkness into the forest". In the pictures, they always put the girl's dog with the girl. I think you would like thiss book if you are 9 and up to 12. I loved this book. Giuliana G.

Gentle and calming beautiful illustrations with poetic prose
A story set in a suburban neighborhood with a girl and her dog doing various activities as the sun rises or sets. The first part of the book is about dusk and the second part is about dawn. The text is poetic and beautiful. The text is on one page and the illustrations are on the other page; this is a larger sized hardcover book. The illustrations are beautiful paintings, all with the special hues of dusk or dawn. Some of the scenes are: the girl and dog playing in a sprinkler while bats fly overhead and fireflies fly at their feet, two fisherman on the shore of a lake, and the girl and dog taking a walk through the woods at dawn. The poetic nature of the text is rarely found in modern children's books and is a joy to read. "When the sky is full and singing with stars you know that twilight has given way to true night." This is a gentle and calming book to read.

Captivating and picturesque
This book was introduced to me in a Teaching Language Arts class in college and I have since fallen in love with it. Ralph Fletcher's vivid descriptions bring his words to life and puts the reader right within his story. Through his use of words, readers can easily paint the picture of twighlight and experience it first hand. This book is excellent for teaching children about descriptive writing and the use of vivid images within their writing. A must have book that is enjoyable for all ages! ... Read more

Book Description

Crawling through the dirt, worms are hard at work, helping plants to grow. Worms help the fruit and vegetables we eat by loosening the soil and feeding the plants. Read and find out about these wiggling wonders!

Amazon.com

The smells of the great outdoors are captured in DK's small, sturdyboard book Scratch and Sniff Garden. "What can you smell in the garden? Is the scent of the rose sweet?" the book begins. When you scratch the lovely yellow rose, it does indeed smell quite realistically roselike. Kids can also experience the pungent smells of lavender, a log, a newly mowed lawn, and a bunch of mint. This is a great way to introduce your kids to the aromatic wonders of the plant kingdom. And, DK's Scratch and Sniff Food is fun, too. (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My son likes it (still)
I bought this book out of curiosity, and I am glad that I did, because my son liked it at first sight, and he still likes it even after a year. The book is really well made - sturdy, not heavy, safe, and of course smells nice. I was worried about the smell being a little bit toxic for a small child, but it did not bother my little one (he was 9 months old). He doesn;t particularly use the book for its smell, but he loves opening each page (I don't know why). The book is so well made that it must be fun for him to try to open and flip the pages. But I only bought this particular one, and I don't plan to buy any other ones... since my son doesn't seem interested in smelling the book.

Full of garden scents
DK scratch and sniff books won't disappoint you. They are by far the best scratch and sniff books around (not that there is a huge market of them). The scents last a long long time and the photos and text are very clear. My 3 year old follows along with the words and then tries to read the story himself after we are done.

smells as good as rose
My 17-month-old found much to like immediately--each page was enthusiastically checked out. The scents are realistic and long-lasting, and the photos help tie everything together. A rose, mint, lavendar, cedar log, and freshly mown lawn put you out-of-doors no matter what time of year. Very stimulating.

A lovely book to share with your young garden lover
Another quality series of books from DK. Good sturdy pages for little hands, wonderful clear and bright photography (no illustrations) and easy to read vocabularly. A wonderful learning tool for your baby and toddler. YOu can read to them, point things out and get to smell something as well. We've been enjoying this series of books for over two years and after lots of "scratching" we are still enjoying lots of "sniffing".

Very nice
This is a great idea. The only disapointment is that it is too short (in content). The photos and scents are lovely and my daughter loves it. They could easily add more content that would allow for disscussion with one's child and more pictures. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A very fun book to read with one's children
I bought this book over two years ago, when my daughter was around 14 months and was just starting to visibly enjoy being read to. Two years later she still pulls it off the shelf sometimes and asks me to read it (usually around bedtime).

The plot is appropriately simple: Mama Owl goes out hunting for the night, and the three owl babies get progressively more worried and scared. When they have almost sunk into despair, mom comes home.

The illustrations are beautiful. Benson does an excellent job of evoking the fear of the wee owlets as they wait, and their exuberant joy upon mama's return. They are a perfect companion to Waddell's writing.

Waddell makes good use of parallelism. After a couple of readings, if you're child is verbal, expect her to be wailing "I want my mommy!" right along with you and baby Bill. Also, despite the brevity and simple vocabulary, one gets a real sense of the different personalities of the owl babies. As children's literature goes, this is a masterpiece.

Concurring with several other reviewers, I would agree that this is a great book to share with your kids if any of them suffer from separation anxiety.

Touching,tender story of a mother's return to her babies!
This is one of those "special" books that you won't mind reading to your little one over and over again. I find that a great children's book is a lot like a great children's movie; both the parent and the child enjoy it yet at different levels. Such a tender story of a little one's fear that their parent won't come home. However, the beautiful and touching illustrations almost steal the show! You can see the worry in the little owl's eyes and hear little Bill's anxious "I want my Mommy!" My two year old daughter loves the part when it's "dark" outside because the artwork truly conveys the dark; but not in a scary way! I loved when the oldest owl, Sarah, suggests that they all sit on her limb together. My favorite illustration is when the mother owl returns and the 3 little fluffy baby owls are jumping up and down. You'll snuggle a little closer to your child when you read this one together. Just the sweetest little book you and your special one will ever read!

Terrified Owl Babies
The beautiful artwork in this book doesn't mask a storyline that is way too upsetting for a young child. From the perspective of a 3-year old, mama owl disappears on page 1 and doesn't return until the last page. The pages inbetween show 3 gorgeously drawn little birds in the throes of anxiety over the loss of their mama. As an adult, I found it unsettling as well. Too bad the talented artist got hooked up with a hold-over author from Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Perfect for a two year old
We started reading to our daughter very young, which she always enjoyed, but this was the first book we read where she clearly followed the narrative. She was in visible suspense when the mother owl was gone and very relieved when she came back. An amazing moment! It was a favorite that we read many times thereafter. She was around 2 years old at the time and I highly recommend this book as a gift for a child that age.

Calm fears - and a cute little brother
Our three kids love this book. Particularly hearing the fear in the littlest owl's wishing for his Mama's return, and his joy at her arrival. ... Read more

Book Description

From the highly acclaimed team of Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall comes the story of a girl who shares her love for desert life as she tells of treasured experiences like dancing in the wind on Dust Devil Day or sleeping outside on a hot summer night during The Time of the Falling Stars. Baylor's radiant prose-poem and Parnall's exquisite illustrations combine to create a joyous celebration of the human spirit. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A 5 Star Celebration of Literacy and Imagination
I use this book in the beginning of each school year with my fifth grade students. It always leads to great discussions about what is important to them and leads into interesting writer's notebook entries. The book is a great tool for inferencing, noticing details, and celebrating the little events in our lives that make us who we are. A good book to use when teaching about differences that make each of us unique and how we all have our own set of priorities.

An amazing book
I stumbled upon this book recently and, as an avid reader of children's literature, believe it is one of the most amazing books I have seen -- for readers of all ages. It is lyrical, humorous and quiet. The illustrations are spare--and that's all that's needed. Life in the desert is depicted beautifully. I felt like the book was speaking me, calling me to a more mindful way of life. I plan to buy it as gifts for all my friends this year, no matter their age.

This is a book that reminds one to stop and smell the roses.
This is a wonderfully written book about a Native American woman who goes out into the desert and observes the wonders and beauty of nature around her. She records what she finds fascinating and creates her OWN holidays or celebrations. One day she may observe a green cloud and call it Green Cloud Day. On another day, she may observe a shooting star and call it Star Day. She gets outside of herself and observes wonderous things that may only be seen once in a lifetime!

Enchanting like the desert with subtle humor and imagination
My husband and I read to our grandchildren a lot and have appreciated the good literature by Byrd Baylor. This is the first of her books we bought and this one is our favorite. It demonstrates that we do not need to be entertained if we will only BE QUIET and see what is going on around us. The children are appreciating the joy and adventure of reading. Thanks Byrd Baylor.

"A book with a deep message"
This book was read to us in a class. I found it to be an excellent book. The author sends a deep message to children and adults as well. The message that I perceived, was that you create your own happiness, find something especial in everything you see or touch, make your own celebrations and you will never feel lonely. ... Read more

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Book Description

Reviews (4)

Life in a Pond.
Using strong alliteration and assonance and colorful paintings, this book introduces children to the lively environment of a pond. Children are often surprised to discover that in the still waters of a pond everything from frogs, geese, dragonflys, swallows, turtles, heron, fish, bugs, and even a racoon live in and around the water. Fleming won a Caldecott Honor in 1994 for the lively illustrations in this book.

Nice book
The story was great, the pictures were great. My toddler likes it alot. It's fun reading all the rhyming words to her and great for her short attention span. My only problem with it is that the book itself fell apart after about the third reading. I've had to tape half the pages back together.

Life in a pond.
This short children's book about animal life in a small pond was a 1994 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a children's book. It is a good introduction to the natural world for pre-schoolers.

A dovetail of Movie, Book, and Imagination
Children, including mine, love the movie "The Lion King,"a movie about 'the circle of life' of lions on the Pridelands. Being very popular with children, they emulate, or like to think of themselves as Mufasa, or Nala, or Timone...and that includes my children. Now we have a book,"In the Small, Small, Pond" by Denise Fleming that takes a frog through 'the circle of life'. With simple and easy rhymes, children can explore this water world. My children, 3 and 2 years of age, as Mufasa and Nala, love to go, with Angie and daddy as leaders, down to the waterhole-a real scene in the Lion King movie-to see the frog, birds, fish, and friends. I highly recommend this book for its ability to hold the reader and the audience. ... Read more

Book Description

Borden's father, Leon, was a logger in the old-growth forests of California. That is, until the spotted-owl lovers interfered. One day, frustrated by his father's unemployment, Borden sets out on a mission of revenge against the spotted owl but returns home with a half-starved owlet instead.
The family soon discovers that the owlet, whom Borden names Bardy, loves to take showers and watch late-night TV. Only after the whole family has fallen in love with Bardy do they realize that the conflict between nature and human industry is not so easily resolved.
Award-winning nature writer jean Craighead George tells a heartwarming story about a family and their love affair with a special little owl.

Reviews (35)

This is a light story about a serious issue.
Our book group read Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead George. We think this book is appropriate for grades 3-5. This book's genre is fiction based on the real world issue of spotted owls. It's tone is a light story about a serious issue. The stroy takes place on the Pacific Coast of Northern California. The story's main charactar is Borden,the kid who found an owl and named it Bardy. He found the owl when he was hunting spotted owls. Bardy is a young spotted owlet that Borden mistakes as a Barred Owl because he doesn't have his spots yet. Leon is Borden's dad. He is a logger who lost his job because the government made them stop because the spotted owls are at the edge of extinction. He used to hate spotted owls but Bardy imprinted on him. We liked this because it taught us many facts about owls. We also liked it because it talks about a friendship between Leon and Bardy. We recommend this to people who like owls. We give it 3 and a half stars because it is a little slow and steady.

It's people vs. Owls!
Borden Watson's father finds out the rare owl they've been chasing is in the house. He's very mad. All day they searched and searched but couldn't find the owl. The next morning Borden goes to take a shower but guess who's in there? Yep you got it! The owl. the little boy screamed and the dad went and got his gun. Does he kill the poor litte owl? You'll just have to read this great book.

One of the best books I've ever read!
This book is awesome!I read the first chapter in the book store and I just had to take it home with me!If I could I would rate it 10 stars.

Owl lovers vs. loggers
It's owl lovers vs. loggers who hate the spotted owl for putting them out of job. It's an amazing book by an amazing author about a boy whos father was a logger and he took in an owlet that was on the ground. You won't want to miss this!

Lessons from our feathered friends
I came across this book while hunting for books suited to the educational needs of my nine-year-old cousin. This book explores the age-old conflict between economic progress and environmental concerns. The argument for both sides is presented in a manner easily understood by children of grade-school age, and although the book heavily and undisguisedly favors conservation, the humans in this story are warm, believable and not portrayed as selfish destroyers of old growth forests.
The protagonist of this story is young Borden, whose father, a lumberjack, loses his job following a government directive to preserve old growth forests in order that the habitat of the Spotted Owl may be saved. Borden's family is understandably angry, as it appears to them that the government cares more about owls than about people. Here we get the usual argument from the loggers' point of view that logging puts food on the table, that logging has always formed a substantial part of the economy, that the legislators have forgotten the role of the loggers in nation building (i.e. by providing timber for construction), that the extinction of the Spotted Owl would be no great loss to the human population and that the government should strive to protect the interests of people rather than of birds.
Borden enters the woods with the intention of killing the spotted owls that took his father's job. He finds, instead, an owlet that has fallen out of its nest. Assuming that it is a Barred Owl, Borden takes the owl home and names it Bardy. His out-of-work father develops affection for the owl and observes every stage of its growth. When Borden's father receives a summons for assault and public disorder after hitting an ecologist, he decides to bring the owlet to court with him to win over the sympathy of the judge and to convince the public that loggers are not enemies of owls. Soon, true love for the young owl wins him over and he decides to free the owl and pay the fine rather than capitalize on the owl for his own selfish motives. The family learns the consequences of forest loss when a family friend loses his job as a fisherman because the river is too polluted. Borden's father decides to retrain himself for other, more sustainable professions after he understands that change is inevitable and the welfare of the Planet is in his hands as well as the ecologists'.
The environmentalists' side of the story is that the destruction of wildlife habitats and the decrease in the number of Spotted Owls are indications that people are not managing the forests right. Indeed, the exploitation of natural resources does not mean that humans will be able to live better - it might mean that it will help people (poachers, loggers, wildlife traders etc) put food on the table for the time being, but natural resources would be dissipated quickly and human health would suffer more than if measures had been taken to sustainably manage rather than exploit resources. Every action has a consequence, this book teaches us, and if there are no more spotted owls, the rodent population would increase. If there are fewer trees then it won't be long before the loggers are truly out of work as there will be no trees left for them to cut. The loss of trees would cause the loss of vital watershed areas. There will be less fresh water for people, less freshwater fish and less clean air. People have to learn that their quality of life is intertwined with the fate of the Planet. More toys and gadgets and bigger homes do not make for a better life if the air, water and soil are polluted.
There is much to learn in this book about animal behavior. The title of this book comes from a stage in the transformation of the owlet into an adult owl. Owlets bathe shortly before they are prepared to learn to fly.
Far from being moralizing, this book is absorbing and teaches reverence for all beings, from people to owls and trees. A recommended read for children, parents and teachers. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

scarecrow
Title: Scarecrow
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Favorite Characters: scarecrow, birds

This story tells about a scarecrows life from a scarecrow's point of view. It begins with the scarecrow being made in the spring and the garden is being planted. The birds love to hang around on his arms and talk all day. He goes through summer, fall, and all he knows is that plants are growing up all around him.
This book shows how a scarecrow's life is peaceful and relaxing. It also shows the seasons and what happens during those seasons. It's not ever day you get to read about a scarecrow and it's life, so I recommend you read this book.

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A beautifully illustrated book!
Although I usually love Ms. Ryland's work (this is the 5th book by the author I have) and the illustrations are warm, colorful, and inspiring, I felt the story to be not very easy for children to understand and not as particularly uplifting as some of her other works. I was a little disappointed but will continue to read it to my children as they age and see if they catch on.

Children love it
From an adult viewpoint, I thought the book was "very nice", but my child fell in love with this book. I am rating it as he would rate it. After all, the book is intended for children. He came home from school one day to describe a wonderful story that their teacher had read to them. He said it was so special because the words were soft and pleasing. This is a first! He also loved the pictures. So,I couldn't resist getting him a copy for Christmas. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Great Blizzard
Do you think non-fiction books can't be good? Well your wrong. Blizzard is a really good non-fiction book. It is about the blizzard of 1888. The storm caught most people by surprise because it was unusually warm on March 10, 1888. There was a storm system coming from the North and one coming from the South. The one in the North went along the Canadian border then started to swooped down. The one coming from the South went along the Gulf of Mexico,and then went South some then started to go North. People were in panic. They lost alot of people March 11, 1888. For example, people looking for the subway would get lost and not be able to be found. If they were found they had already died of freezing, being burried, or starving. Two little boys heading out to find their grandmas house got lost then were found not long after burried but still alive. And another example is two tugboats crashed into each other. Most of the people in that accident lived but some died. This is a good book for all age levels.

An insightful, lively account of another "perfect" storm.
Acclaimed historian Murphy shows how a devastating 1888 blizzard not only shut down our northeastern states for days, but radically altered the way Americans live; its repercussions are being felt even today. He illustrates how political corruption, ineptitude, and contemporary social attitudes exacerbated the storm's fallout. Using carefully chosen excerpts from survivors' personal accounts, he also gives us a vivid feel for what life was like then for immigrants, women moving into the workplace, and others who had to struggle to survive everyday. He employs an interesting mix of graphics to further illustrate his story. Junior high school students who believe history is boring may think differently after reading this; it should also appeal to readers interested in natural disasters, and in social histories. Here's another winner from the author whose "The Great Fire" brought Chicago's infamous conflagration so brilliantly to life. ... Read more