Category: Children

Children’s literature

Posted on

Amber The Story Of A Red Fox by Shirley Woods

Amber, The Story of a Red Fox, is a fascinating early chapter book that follows a red fox, from her birth to adulthood.

We are introduced to the parents, the playful young kits and their lives in the country as they dodge eagles, dogs, and learn lessons about porcupines and skunks.

By fall, Amber’s parents have left, and her brothers have gradually gone their separate ways. Amber still has much to learn. Driven by hunger and fear, she will use every instinct and intelligence she possesses to feed herself and stay safe.

She survives encounters with armed farmers, wolves, foothold traps, and one of the more lethal menaces, winter. But we rejoice when she finally pairs up with another fox that becomes her hunting partner and mate.

Pros:

  • Shirley Woods educates us about foxes, without distracting the reader from her story. The facts happen naturally around the actions of the foxes, so we are happily immersed into their world.
  • The story does not candy-coat nature. Animals die so others can eat and live. It is neither cruel nor sad, it just happens and life moves on.
  • The main character, Amber, is a spunky little fox that learns quickly, and is a sure heroine for young readers.
  • I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations and felt that the style was very appropriate for the story.

Cons:

  • The book is written in the third person omniscient POV, and I would rather have heard the story from Amber’s point of view only. I wasn’t a fan of the ‘head-hopping’ and would have felt closer to Amber if the story was from her perspective.
  • With all the dangers that she encounters, Amber succeeds in never getting injured. Not even a little. I find that a bit hard to believe, and it belittles the threats she constantly faces. At the risk of sounding mean, I feel that if she suffered a bit more, the reader would sympathize with her more, and fear for her future.

My Personal Opinion:

I was drawn to this early chapter book as an illustrator, a writer for middle grade, and a lover of animals. It was a pretty easy sell, however, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing and the obvious research involved, and illustrations. Kids will love this story, as it seems there is danger around every corner, as there is in nature.

Questions For Discussion:

  1. What is the difference between a fox and a dog? (Hint-look at chapter 2)
  2. What were some of the lessons the kits (baby foxes) learned before they left their parents?
  3. What did Amber learn about surviving after she left her parents?
  4. How is the survival of foxes increased by having a partner?

 

 

Posted on

Ed’s Egg, by David Bedford and Karen Sapp: A Picture Book Worth Reading Over and Over

While Scriblerians focus almost exclusively on middle grade and YA fiction, the occasional picture book review adds some extra fun, especially if a personal story is attached.

I’ve been on “Baby Watch” for all of February. Three little granddaughters are waiting for their baby brother’s arrival. In the middle of the month, I received The Call.

“She’s had contractions all day,” my son informed me. “You’d better start driving.”

Since I live five hours away, this has worked well for the three previous births. However, once I arrived, the latest news was disappointing. Everything had stopped. No more labor. Baby Samaritoni was not interested in joining the rest of the family. Not yet. His decision  left ample time to play with his sisters. Ample, as in days, not hours.

I decided to ask my granddaughters to name their favorite books, and I would do my next two posts on their choices. The oldest is a voracious reader. She couldn’t decide what her favorite story was, but her sister next in line immediately handed me her choice.

Ed’s Egg by David Bedford and Karen Sapp. What a delightful picture book.

Ed is a little chick who doesn’t want to hatch. (Can you see the connection with my own family drama?) He’s gotten too big for his egg, so it cracks in more and more places, but he still won’t leave the shell until it finally leaves him.

Once Ed is forced to walk around without his egg, he discovers it’s more fun to play with his brothers and sisters than to stay squashed inside an egg. And when he gets tired, the best place of all is to be tucked safe and warm under his mother.

Of course, small children love the aura of mother love and family fun, and the illustrations contain detailed textures vibrating with color, sure to capture a toddler’s attention.

For older children, the author provides several discussion questions which utilize language skills, science, expressing feelings, and art. Explaining  how a mother hen must incubate her eggs. Asking for children’s reactions when they feel shy and want to hide.

The author question we’ve been asking in our family: why do you think Ed didn’t want to come out of his egg?

Ed’s Egg has a happy ending, and our story does, too. Baby brother was born on February 22nd, healthy and heavy–and just like Ed, his happiest place to be is tucked close against his mommy.