I originaly read this poem in a book of collected childrens stories and poems (which I am still trying to find again; there in a series of red-bound books), and to see it resurface again, from both Loreena McKennitt's song to this book, is fantastic! A wonderfull poem that has so many sides to it. I am glad I found it again and I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

This book offered a wonderful protrail of the classic by alfred noyes. The pictures within 'the highwayman' are great, they have been wonderfuly drawn by Charles Keeping to portray the fantasic poem that has won the hearts of so many.

Interesting visual interpretation of a classic. I remember being introduced to this poem in junior high (over 20 years ago!) as an example of the "anti-hero". Readers may also be interested in Loreena McKennitt's musical version of this poem on her "Book of Secrets" CD.

This was my favorite book when I was ten years old (I'm now 38!). I recently dug it out of my cedar chest and pored over it with satisfaction -- it really was as lovely, compassionate, adventurous, and lively as I remembered. I am entirely delighted to see that it is available through Amazon. I intend to get copies for a few special kids in my life -- the contemplative and imaginative, the odd little loner who might identify with the young artist who is the main human character of the book, the frisky mischievous ones who will delight in the adventures of the squirrel characters. The story is about a young man, learning to oil paint, who is a little alienated from other youngsters. He likes to roam alone in nature, he understands the language of animals, and he meets the ghost of a Native American man who suffered a terrible sorrow in the colonial era. He makes friends with a family of squirrels taking up residence in an unused summer cottage, and sympathizes with their squirrel's-eye view of life. As the young man paints a beautiful piece of Maine coast island scenery and struggles to recover a rosary for the ghost, the squirrels face their own struggles in the form of skunks and weasels determined to destroy them. They enlist the help of a skunk-eating owl and soon all is well. The young man recovers the rosary and finds a friend in a kindly priest who recognizes his artistic talent and vision.

What appears to be a nature story at first glance, becomes a mystical look at the island's past involving Native-Americans and colonial settlers. This book, authored by Alfred Noyes, best know for his narrative poem, "The Highwayman," is on the Catholic Junior Great Books List for 5th grade.

This book has all the elements I enjoy in a story. There is suspense until the final pages, romance, believable characters and settings. You get involved in it and hope the ending is one that is satisfying. It was! A great book.

I highly recommend this book!