This is a lovely, lovely book that I hope you will not miss. Before the first page is even turned, this book has a couple of things going for it. It was selected as A Charlotte Zolotow Book and is in fact dedicated to that beloved and talented children's author. It was written by the Newbery Medal winning author of the beloved and moving Sara, Plain and Tall. Three Names is the name of a dog who wanders into the life of the author's great grandfather in his youth out on the prairie. They become the best of friends and the book traces their day to day, seasonal adventures out among the fields of prairie grass and wheat, paintbrush and bluegrass. The lyrical text transports us back to those days and we are given a clear window on the world of prairie life of a bygone era. Three Names goes to school with great-grandfather every day and in recounting the daily lives of the two friends this book paints a sunfilled picture of simple friendship that makes life all the more enjoyable. Alexander Pertzoff's beautiful watercolors are my favorite part of this wonderful book. Whether he has painted a dark and menacing tornado or the inside of a one room school house festooned with colorful paper chains for Christmas, he captures the ambiance and mood perfectly and transports us there. Three Names, a simple mixed-breed, plain brown dog with two white feet is painted so realistically, his joyful canine spirit captured so faithfully that you have to take a second look to make sure you didn't actually see his expressive tail wagging. Whether you choose it for a nostalgic slice of Americana or for a heart-warming dog story, I think you'll be well pleased.

But I won't tell you *why* the dog should actually be called Four Names! This is a peaceful story about a boy's grandfather and his life on the prairie around the turn of the century or earlier with his golden dog Three Names. Going to school in a one-room schoolhouse is described. Illustrated with lovely watercolors--nice technique, almost impressionist-looking. The illustrations are perfect for a picture book. Wholesome. The content seems very different from other books by MacLachlan.

Jane Duer illustrates Patricia MacLachlan's The Sick Day, a simple story of a young girl who has a sick day - her stomach aches and her throat feels sore. Good reading skills will lend to this easy story of a girl who involves her father in her day off, turning a sick day into something special after all.

When I was in 5th grade, my cronies and I discovered this book in our school library and quickly found the 'kissing scene.' The book became instantly popular to all the girls in our class after word got out. Aside from that, I have read this book many times since then and found it to be very well written, and worthy of its award as Notable Book. I have been making a list of favourite books I read as a little girl, and this is one of the first on the list. And Since I was a complete tomboy at age 10, this book isn't just for sissies...it has humour, and a few suspenseful scenes (one resulting in physical injury...what more can you ask for?)

The first time I ever picked up this book I was totally captivated by the story and enthralled by the paintings. When it came to the words "my sister is born" I got so choked up I couldn't read the words. Even when I read it now My children always ask Mommy why are you crying? Someday they'll know This book describes our own family all of our children were born at home. We also have a Sylvie and an Eli. It is a keep sake we will treasure always. We have given it as gifts to our midwives and they treasure it too.

THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE GIFT BOOK TO GIVE TO A FAMILY WHEN A SECOND CHILD IS BORN. I AM A BUYER FOR A SPECIALTY TOY STORE WITH A LARGE CHILDRENS BOOK DEPARTMENT. I HAVE INSISTED MY ENTIRE STAFF READ THIS BOOK. EVERY TIME A PERSON COMES TO SHOP FOR A BABY GIFT FOR A FAMILY WHO ALREADY HAS OTHER CHILDREN WE SELL THEM THIS BOOK. EVERY PERSON BUYS IT ONCE THEY READ IT. IT IS SO LOVING AND TOUCHING

My 5 year-old daughter has hundreds of books, but only a select few sit on the "special shelf" in her room, and this is one of them. I bought it for her a couple of years ago, and it has been my favorite ever since. Everything about this book is beautiful.... the illustrations, the story, and the message. I simply cannot read through this book without crying...........the second to the last page does me in every time!! This book is a lovely reminder to enjoy and appreciate the simple things that surround all of us. If you are looking for a special book that your children will love and you will treasure, this is the one.........BUY THIS BOOK! If I had to pick only one of my daughter's books to save forever, this would be it.

Larkin and her family return home one day to find a baby sitting on their porch. The baby had a note with her that said:"This is Sophie. She is almost a year old and she is good...I will come back for her someday. I love her." They take Sophie into their home and treat her like she was theirs, knowing all the time that her mother will come back for her. My favorite part of this story was when Sophie wore her red boots all the time.

If you understand poetry and enjoy emotional books then I wold definitely recommend Baby to you. If you like Sarah, Plain and Tall you will also enjoy Baby.

The story the Baby is a very hartwarming story. the story is about a girl named Larkin that came home one day and found a baby in a basket on the driveway. The baby's basket had a note on it that said,"This is Sophoie." The note reads. "She is almost a year old and is very good...I will come back for her one day. I love her." Larkin her mother,father and Grandmother welcome Sophie in to their family as one of their own. As Sophie getts older she learns how to walk and talk. Sooner or later Sophie's mother will be back to take her away and Larkin's family has become very attached to Sophie and thinks of her as their daughter. To find out more about this fantastic book go out and buy the book Baby by Patricia MacLanchlan.

Sarah Maclachlan`s book "Baby" is a wonderful book about a mourning family who fin a abandoned baby outside their home. There is a note with her that says her name is Sophie. They take Sophie in and love her. The main character is Larkin who tells this story wonderfully. A must read

Arthur is being sent to Aunt Elda and Uncle's Wrisby's house for the summer because his parents are having an argument. Arthur sees and does some strange things. Arthur is staying for his summer time at aunt and uncles house. At their house when he needs to run outside to help a animal from being trampled. I recommend this book beacause it is funny plus there are crazy characters.

Arthur For the Very First Time is about a boy who had to go tohis aunt and uncles house.They have a big house and Arthur had to findhis own room.Also they have a chicken they speak French to.She will only listen to french or she will peck you till you are sore.He has a friend named Moria that eats weird things. Moria eats strawberry and sugar sandwiches,but Arthur shivers when he eats them.I recommend this book because it is funny.

This reveiw is about Arthur For the Vary First time. In Arthur For the Very First Time Arthur's mom is having a baby and she is fighting and so is the dad and so they are sending him to his aunt and uncle's house. And there is a chicken named Paulline and a pig name Bernadette and otherfarm animles. They go to someones house to get a goose. I loved this book . There are many problems and they meet many people. Every chapter is great!

This short book (only 87 pages) is the perfect sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall. Sarah, once a mail-order bride from Maine, now is almost integrated into family life on the harsh prairie. But prolonged drought and other natural conditions deteriorate to the extent that she takes her instant children, Anna and Caleb, on a nostalgic (for her at least) trip back East, to share her roots with them.

This story is narrated in the first person by Anna, daughter of farmer Jacob. But how to blend love of the ocean with love for the prairie--two opposing causes for nostalgia and homesickness? Sarah needs to learn to stop being a lark who merely hovers above the land, She must let her husband's love for her help her to grow into the kind of person who can write her name on the land as well. A thoughtful read for more mature readers. Companion volumes to complete the mail-order marriage. Read as a pair!

This book is one of my favourite books.Even the first chapter was interesting.Some parts really touch my heart.They make me feel that I am over there feeling their pain and sorrow.This story is the sequel to "Sarah,Plain and Tall".The drought had wiped out every drop of water on the prairie.Sarah had married Caleb's father,Jacob.Their neighbours were slowly leaving the prairie.Caleb didn't want to leave Sarah and the prairie.He wanted rain to fall.When I read this part,I was so worried that I wished that I could read it the whole day.When Caleb's papa said that they have their names written in the prairie,Caleb didn't want Sarah to leave so he really wrote "SARA" in the land.But in the end,they still had to leave the prairie and went to stay with Sarah's aunts in Maine for a while until it rained in the prairie.In Maine,it was totally different.There were the sea and flowers blooming.Do you think the children will ever see the prairie and their father again? Read this moving story and find out.

Patricia MacLachlan has such a wonderous way of writing and an economy with words. Despite the fact that I am not "musical" in any way I could understand and learn quite a bit about the world of concerts and stringed instruments. The author's flowing style of writing made it easier to synthesize. The characters are great. You can feel that teenage angst all over again, however painful it may be! I wanted to read this whole story. As a fifth grade teacher, we read a portion of this tale in the Scholastic series. The students really seem to respond to Minna's troubles, so it inspired me to go out and purchase the book to read the entire story. I could not put the book down once I sat down to read the whole story! It is a most enjoyable book for students of pre-teen age to read and relate to! As an adult, I enjoyed it as well.

_Minna_ is not your typical children's book. It has all of the elements that make up a good novel for its age group--a good plot and characters and emotions children can identify with--but it is much more. This is one of those books I term an "in-between book"; it is excellent for children who have graduated beyond reading simply for plot, but are not yet ready for adult books. This book is an excellent blending of good plot and character/thematical development. I don't limit my reccommendation to just children, however; I think it is an excellent story for anyone of any age to read and enjoy.

I first read this book in 6th grade and I loved it then because it was sort of the image of who I wanted to be. I have read it so many times since then and I still love it. I am a violist and I hope to become professional after college, so this book means a lot to me. I also have a stand partner is Symphony who reminds me a lot of Lucas (only he talks a lot less). The only thing I didn't like about this book is that when you learn vibrato, you can't do it all of a sudden; you have to practice about a year before you get it.

If you are looking for a book filled with heart warming and touching adventure _Sarah, Plain and Tall_ is the book for you! This book is about a widowed man, and his two lonesome children. Jacob, lost his wife when Caleb (his son), was born. The mother used to sing beautiful, country, melodies to Anna when she was just a small infant. Jacob, Mama, and, Anna at dusk used to sing on the porch before Caleb was born. Now, Papa dosn't sing anymore, and he is looking for a wife and a mother. He put a ad in a local paper, and he recieved a response from a lady in Maine named Sarah. Later, she came to visit, the whole entire famly loved her. She brought seashells and gave some of them to Anna and Calab. Calab loved how he could "hear the ocean" in the shells. Soon, Papa began to sing again, and fell in love with Sarah. Jacob finally had a new loving wife and caring mother for his children.

MacLachlan's book takes us back to a time when a man could put an ad in the newspaper and order himself a bride.

Papa, a farmer in the western plains, has been widowed since the birth of his second child, Caleb. He advertises for a wife and gets Sarah, plain and tall (and smart and fun). She agrees to stay and take care of Papa, Caleb, and Anna, although she misses the Maine coast where she grew up.

The plot, like life on a 19th century farm, moves slowly and simply along. I was suprised and touched to learn how eager the children were to make Sarah happy and comfortable in her new life.

The story was very short and easy to read, and would be of interest to children in elementary school.

As I began to read Patricia McLachlan's Sarah, Plain and Tall Iwas instantly thrust into a time machine that took me back to asimpler time and place. A time of farms and wagons pulled byhorses. A time where there were no such things as computers, the Internet or any of the other distractions that we have today. This is how the Witting family lives their lives. Jacob is the father, Anna the older sister and Caleb, the youngest child. Anna and Caleb's mother died the day after she had Caleb and their father hasn't been the same since. Jacob puts an ad in the paper to find a wife and gets a response from Sarah from Maine. This book is a history lesson in disguise. I realize that all historical fiction is has an underlying history lesson, but this book in and its characters are very convincing. The lessons that the reader will learn are valuable and well taught. Sarah Plain and Tall takes place in 1910 and anyone who reads this book will learn about how people lived their life during this time. The book has many pieces of historical information. For example, it talks about how Sarah was wore very plain clothes, made by herself. It talked about how they had to use a plow pulled by a donkey to turn the fields. In one scene, a devastating storm blows through, and the Wittings must go into the barn to keep safe, but they also have to keep the animals safe. This depicts what a large role farm animals played in the livelihood of families during the early 1900's. The book also talks of how the children had to do real chores around the farm to keep it running smoothly. For example, they have to get up and help milk the cows, feed the animals and sometimes house maintenance. All of these are accurate depictions of life on a farm. Jan Susina's article, "American Girls Collection: Barbies with a Sense of History", argues that this series of books uses a nine-year-old girl to teach other girls about American history. Sarah, Plain and Tall is done in the same style of the books in the American Girl's Collection. It gives children a lesson in history, but it is hidden among an interesting story with adventure, drama and comedy. I think that this fact adds to the value of both of the books. If authors can make books that interest children and teach them something about their history, then they are truly effective authors. I think the audience intended for this book needs to be a little more mature than most of the other books we've looked at this semester. This book allows the children to use their imagination. They can imagine what Sarah looks like, how plain she really is. They can see the plows and the farm animals. Being able to see things in their head is a valuable skill for a child to have. I think that this book definitely gives children a glimpse into the past, like stepping onto a time machine. It definitely had more mature subject matter such as death of a parent, finding a new mate for the father figure and children's feelings of abandonment. Whatever the case, Sarah, Plain and Tall is a story for the ages which will be read for years to come.

I'm not impressed with this book.

Sarah Plain and Tall is a near perfect novel in it's simplicity and depth but it is evident that MacLachlan spent neither the time nor the care to develop this story. I felt jipped with the cliches and predictable unfolding. This is definitely not her best writing.

Plus, the way the father Jacob is portrayed (an angry unforgiving man) takes away from his character in the first book .. shy, strong, deep and wise.

This book is a classic example of an author monopolizing on something good (Sarah Plain and Tall) knowing her fans will buy it. In the book "Caleb's Story" MacLachlan leaves herself plenty of loopholes so we know there will be more books.

I'm disappointed and kinda disgusted.

Caleb's Story picks up where Skylark and Sarah, Plain and Tall leave off. For the countless readers who fell in love with Sarah as she learned to be a mother to Anna and Caleb, and a helpmeet for Jacob, this book is a wonderful addition. For the reader who lacks "Sarah background," Sarah comes from Maine to a prairie farm after responding to an ad placed by Jacob, who is looking for a woman to replace his recently deceased wife. While he is not necessarily looking for romance, Sarah and Jacob ultimately fall in love, and their next years as a family is chronicled in the sequel, Skylark.

In Caleb's Story, Anna leaves for town to help with victims of the influenza epidemic of 1918. A stranger is discovered in the barn, which turns out to be Jacob's estranged father, John. John wishes reconciliation with Jacob, who stubbornly continues to deny him the forgiveness he desires.

Journaling is a major theme in this book, making it a perfect companion to teaching the importance of recording events and feelings. Caleb picks up journaling for the family, a job which Anna had done until her departure. In trying to encourage Grandpa John to learn about the family he knew little of, Caleb offers the journals to him. Ultimately, in an extremely touching scene, Caleb presents Grandpa John his own journal, whereupon he learns that John never learned how to write.

What a touching story this is! A perfect read-aloud for the classroom (if the teacher can harden the heart enough not to cry!), students do not need to have a lot of background of the previous parts of the story. This reviewer found the characters believable; their reactions that John's arrival caused the family were extremely believable. MacLachlan's ability to convey emotions in an easy-to-understand way for intermediate readers makes this the perfect addition to any school or family library.

As a third grade teacher, I am always on the lookout for good literature for student reading or teacher read alouds. My class and I read together the first two books in this trilogy and I used Caleb's Story as a read aloud which I shared with my principal. We loved this poignant story from its opening pages to its final pages. The old characters come to life once again while the surprising introduction of some new characters give great insight into family life. Everyone could relate to one or more of the characters, they are realistic. Lessons on cause and effect, character traits and goals, predicting, and problem solving were ongoing. Class discussions were wonderful as this tale presents much to talk about. The fact that this book is told in a different voice from the first two, is an interesting change. Caleb, who didn't want to take his sister's place as the family historian, eventually continues the saga in his own journal. My class is writing to the author requesting that she continue the stories using Jacob and the new characters to tie some pieces together. Many of my students are reading it again. It is a beautiful chapter book and appropriate to read when studying the early prairie years of our country.