I rated this book with 4 stars because the illustrations are completely engaging, filled with rustic charm, cute little animals, thatched roof cottages, pretty flowers like foxgloves and climbing roses. Maggie Kneen brings the little critters who live along Thimbleberry Lane to life with vivid colors and nostalgic sensitivity. That's certainly worth every point of the four stars! The reason I withheld the fifth star is that Nigel Chipmunk and his friends the owl, the hummingbird, the snake, the butterfly and the mudpuppy while adorable and friendly sorts are way too tame to attract any real interest from children (or adults who love childrens' literature.) They help each other with tasks and have meals together and in general are very neighborly which is certainly a virtue, but unfortunately they are a bit boring. A little mischief would go a long way on Thimbleberry Lane.

I LOVE pretty stories with sweet pictures, and vice versa! This is a sweet little chapter book with adorable little pictures. I can't wait to give this to my Godchildren for Christmas. Makes life look like what we all wish it could be...simple, sweet, precious!

Enjoy this lovely book over leisurely cups of tea and hot cocoa with a youngster. Ms. Rylant paints a vivid picture of a community where the animals are very different from each other, but they accept and appreciate those differences. Although the book is not preachy or pushy, here are some lessons a young reader/listener might pick up: Nigel welcomes a newcomer, though the hummingbird's flashy style makes him dizzy; Nigel patiently helps a worried little perfectionist owl "redecorate" his home -- back to the way it was in the first place; Nigel encourages a garter snake to plant a garden, aware that his lazy friend will not see it through. And finally (this is a lesson most children need to hear) Nigel politely accepts lunch with a salamander, knowing his friend serves only terrible-tasting health food. His graciousness is rewarded in the end. The painted illustrations are as delightful as the stories and characters themselves. This book is remniscent of Jan Karon's good-natured Mitford series for adults.

"If we observe the behavior of an animal we can only describe it from the outside. In a book on zoology you can read that bees build their cells in a certain way, their queen behaves in such and such a way, and so on. The physical activity of the insect or animal is described, but if we presume that such behavior is meaningful for the bees, then we have projected something onto them. We can only say that this is the way they appear to behave, and so far, we have no means of seeing how the thing looks from the point of view of the animal. We do not know what kind of emotion the queen bee has when producing her eggs. We can assume a great deal, but we cannot scientifically observe it." One of the most fortunate and unfortunate experiences of this magical living of a human life is that in that this same phenomenon comes into play in our many and varied interactions with fellow members of our species. It may seem to us in the realm of the physical that this or that person is reacting to this or that stimulus in this or that manner, usually based on our own personal experience with that particular stimulus. We assume that the people around us, most particularly the people we love, are experiencing the situation we are experiencing in the same or a similar manner. Not so, Oh friends. I am continually taken aback by the astonishing fact that what I see is not what you see. Usually this shock comes to me with all the pleasantness of those cups of ice-cold water my father used to toss over the shower curtain on me in the middle of my lengthy morning ablutions during my teen-age years. Cynthia Rylant, thankfully, has a lighter touch. With her characteristic grace, she reveals the fortunate aspect of disparate perceptions existing withing the same sphere. (Ah la, You say tuh-may-ato, I say tuh-mah-to..) Reading this one always makes me feel like I'm sitting in a warm quiet spot of sun. A fine job all 'round.

When we first found this book at the library; the beautiful cover illustration first caught three-year-old Matthew's eye. Once home, it became his favorite book among the 20 or so that we had borrowed that week. I am not sure, nor can he verbally elaborate for me the draw of this book for him, but I will offer my own opinion. The tender, loving approach of the painter to the shy young boy, Charlie, is quite appealing. That the painter is male is all the more special as he becomes a wonderful role model for young boys bombarded by so many conflicting messages in the popular media. Matthew seemed to identify with the child in the story and began walking around with a pencil behind his ear, just the way Charlie and the painter do in the book. He also wanted to "get my paints, Mama" after reading the book. Lastly, the awakening of the affective and expressive side of this boy is a lovely process to observe and is elaborated beautifully by the watercolor illustrations throughout. I am confident that these too led Matthew to love this sweet, gentle book.

Who doesn't love Cynthia Rylant? I've been a fan of Ms. Rylant's since I discovered her funny/sweet Henry & Mudge series. I borrowed this charmingly illustrated book from the library, and my six-year-old daughter loved it so much we had to order our own copy once the library' book had to be returned. The four short stories contained in this book are tenderly written odes to a family life well-lived in a little white house in the country, told from the perspective of the youngest boy, Willie Meadows. The stories are well-written and contain nothing objectionable. This is a book that will comfort children, and that is safe to read to even the most anxious child.

Cynthia Rylant can bring a family to life with just a few simple words. The Meadow family is warm and loving without being sugary-sweet. The stories in this book are delightful and Rylant's prose is wonderful. The watercolor illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. As a mother, I liked the Mother's Day story best, but all 4 of the stories, which correspond with the 4 seasons, had something special. This would be a perfect book to read aloud to children 4-6, or for children 7-9 to read to themselves. I'm a fan of all of Rylant's work. This is one of my favorites.

"Bunny Bungalow" isn't so much a story as a celebration of cosy domestic life. In well-turned verse couplets, it explains how the bunny family (Mom, Dad, three kids and baby) set up house in a bungalow and "made it all their own" by decorating it (including a carrot weathervane) and living in it (baths, picnics, playing, bedtime, etc.) All of this is skillfully illustrated with simple strokes and appropriate washes of color. This is a quiet, cheerful book with no conflict in it, and will make a soothing singsong read-aloud for preschoolers.

Both my toddler and I really enjoy this book about how a bunny family sets up its new home - all members working and playing together in the process. The pictures give quite a bit of detail while maintaining a cozy feel. Accompanying the visual are sing-song rhymes(about 4 lines per page). It's a very nice book to wind down.

It was a very good book. I like the characters because they are pretty and it is fun to hear their thoughts. The characters have good ideas. I also like books with pictures, they help me figure out what is going on in the story and this book has several pictures. I really liked the Junie B. Jones books and was looking for other books to read. I finally found the Cobble Street Cousins series and really enjoy them.

I like this book because I like its' newspaper. It showed me how Lily Rosie and Tess put a newspaper together. It's a lot like the newsletter than Morgan and Julia and I write.

My class of first graders loved this story and they found the illustations adorable. The children fell as in love with Mr. Griggs as he was with his work. The illustrations helped the children invision Mr. Griggs' great love for his work, but also showed the humor in the story. This is a great story to use during a study of Cynthia Rylant in a primary classroom.

This is a very cute story about a postal worker who loves his job. He gets sick and has to miss a day of work and is very worried about his post office. He is so filled with joy upon his return to work that I just had to smile! It is refreshing to read about someone who loves the work that he does.

Mr. Griggs Work:

Mr. Griggs' Work, by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Julie Downing, is an example of "true literature." Within this story there are "ideas that go beyond the plot of a...picture-book story...but they are presented subtly and gently; good books do not preach; their ideas are wound into the substance of the book and are clearly a part of the life of the book itself" (Norton 111). Rylant gives a portrait of a man who finds so much passion and love in his work as a postman, that it becomes all he can think of, even if he's sick or is on his day off. Her story "provides the child with a visual experience...[and is] a collective unity of story-line, theme, or concept, developed through a series of pictures" (Caldecott). The combination of Rylant's storyline and Downing's pictures, creates this unity and takes children into the life of Mr. Griggs, where they realize his passion and love for his work.

Norton tells us that "children want a book to have a good plot: enough action, excitement, suspense, and conflict to develop interest" (113). In Mr. Griggs' Work, children are given a plot where excitement is created out of what seems a non-exciting profession. Rylant does this through her use of characterization. Mr. Griggs is describes as someone who "loves his job...[and who thinks] about it almost all the time" (Rylant 4). Downing's pictures draw us towards this man and we fall in love with his rosy cheeks and classic blue overalls. "Characterization is one of the most powerful of the literary elements...an author can achieve...a three dimensional character by describing their characters physical appearance, recording the conversations of the character, revealing the characters thoughts, revealing the perceptions of other characters and showing the character in action" (Norton 121). We see the warm reception of Mr. Griggs after his sick day, we hear his thoughts as he remises about times at work, we are shown his curly hair on his balding head and his sweet smile, and we watch him at work giving all he can to his profession as a postman. Rylant and Downing collaborate to do all of this, in order to create a character, which defines the plot, which makes the story that we fall in love with.

The setting of this picture book "create[s] moods that add credibility to characters and plot" (Norton 123). Its themes are interlaced with this setting and tie "the plot, characters, and setting together into a meaningful whole" (Norton 127). More importantly children can understand and relate to these themes. More so than adults, children have passion, passion to play, passion to love, and passion to live. Mr. Griggs has all of these things, and because of that, allows children to relate to him. For a child to see such respect and passion given to a profession leads them to what they love. Children may view jobs like being a postman as less than desirable. However, when authors like Cynthia Rylant put a face to the profession, children will be itching to do not what makes the most money or sounds the best, but instead what makes them happy. These kinds of life lessons, which are hidden underneath the story of a postman, are essential for all children to learn.

Mr. Griggs Work is written with the knowledge that "children are [its] potential audience" (Caldecott). Its writing is simplistic while its drawings are in-depth. The writing of Rylant leads us into the pictures of Downing, which span across the page and tell the story inside of the story. We see every detail in the post office where Mr. Griggs works. From his scale, to his cushy green chair, we are given the atmosphere which we grow to love as much as Mr. Griggs does. Norton reminds us that books must be accessible for all children to read them. With this accessibility they can "gain knowledge of their heritage, recognize and appreciate good literature, and understand themselves and others through literature" (Norton 133). This accessibility is not simply reached by providing a child with a book, but instead, providing them with a book that they can read without struggling, understand without searching, and enjoy without reservation. Mr. Griggs' Work accomplishes all of this and more with its vivid illustrations and fitting text.

It is said that "children are the ultimate critics of what they read" (Norton 137). The Caldecott Award steps away from that ideal and sets up criteria for adults to judge children's books by. However, it reminds those who judge that the children are the audience, and that for a book to be considered for such a prestigious award, it must "display respect for children's understanding, abilities, and appreciations" (Caldecott). Mr. Griggs' Work shows that respect and gives a story that children can not only understand but also learn from. Reading is only worthwhile if it teaches, in some cases it teaches us how to write, in others, how to read; in the case of Mr. Griggs it teaches us passion and love of profession.

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.

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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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.

I liked this book because it's about camping and I like camping. The fish had a great picture. Henry's mother was setting up the camp and the really funny part was when Mudge unpacked a ham sandwich and it looked like a bunch of leaves. His dad brought his guitar and a smile on his face because he was happy to be camping. It was funny when Henry and Mudge thought that there were bears so they were hugging each other. I thought it was a good book because in the end Mudge does something really funny but you have to read the book to find out what it is.

In their 17th adventure together Henry & Mudge go camping with Henry's parent. Out at Big Bear Lake they take A Good Smelly Hike & have some sweet Green Dreams. While Henry's mother organizes the trip because she's been a Camp Fire Girl & Henry's dad brings along his guitar & a willing back, Henry and Mudge imagine what they'll see on their camping trip. Ah, here comes summer - let's go camping together! Great early reader. ()

We have every one of the Henry and Mudge books and have been reading them to our daughter since she was two. She is four now and she still loves them. We would reccommend these books for both boys and girls. There is a Henry and Mudge book for every occassion. Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night is perfect to prepare for a camping trip. The feeling of a campout comes through loud and clear and the story is delightful.

I liked this book because it's a good and funny book. The way Mr. Putter keeps on saying, "Are you sure? Are you sure? Are you very, very, sure? " is funny. It's it a little easy to read. It reminded me of Poppleton. Most kids would like this book. (age 8)

In this book, Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry try to bring their pets, Tabby (the cat) and Zeke (the dog) on the train. When they find out that they can't, Mr. Putter comes up with a scheme to bring the pets on the ride.

This story helps kids realize that Mr. Putter can come up with a good plan and can be kind of "naughty" in a good way.

This is definitely a book to get for the pictures. Warm and whimsical drawings make up the bulk of this oversized picture book. Kids can follow a brother and sister through the different rooms of a rather busy household--there are different times of day, different seasons of the year, different family members present, and definitely a lot of THINGS (some of them quite wacky) scattered everywhere. Among them are a couple of stuffed animals that follow the kids everywhere they go (one is a winged donkey?!!?). It's almost like a "Where's Waldo?" as you search for them each time you turn the page. The illustrations definitely portray a well-lived-in house that is a ton of fun to explore.

On the down side, the text is nothing to go crazy over. To me it sounds like someone talking off the top of their head--not well-crafted prose, but momentary thoughts. It's almost as if the book was not meant to have words--the adult is just supposed to make up their own story as the kid looks at the pictures--but they included words just in case the adult couldn't think of anything to say. Sometimes the words don't even match the pictures--for the life of me I can't find the dinosaur-shaped sponge anywhere in the bathroom!

That aside, this is a really fun picture book on a unique subject --perfect for some quiet one-on-one exploration with your child.

"There are many kinds of houses in the world, from little cottages to big mansions, from farmhouses to bungalows. But no matter the kind of house, it is the living inside that makes it wonderful, what happens in each room that makes it marvelous. It is what the house means to those who live there. Let's walk through. Let's see the wonderful things about a house." And with an invitation like that, who could resist. Join author, Cynthia Rylant, and illustrator, Wendy Anderson Halperin, as they take the reader on a room by room tour of their house. From the front porch to the attic, and all the rooms in between, this dynamic duo investigates each room, detailing all the special things that belong there, and all the wonderful things you might do. Ms Rylant's gentle, lyrical prose is rich in imagery and magic. But it's Ms Halperin's colorful, busy, and expressive artwork that really makes this picture book stand out and sparkle, and she spares no detail in each fun-filled, joyous, cluttered picture. Young and old, alike, will linger over each two page spread, always finding something new and clever every time they open the book and explore a room. Perfect for preschoolers, Let's Go Home is a cozy and engaging read-aloud that's sure to open interesting discussions about your own home and what makes it unique and special. "Happy living."