Rating: 
Summary: An Memorable Book For All Ages
Review: This book, "The Relatives Came" by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Stephen Gammell, was a delight to read. I found myself smiling as I read the words that made the artwork come alive. Likewise, I found myself recollecting over the memories of the past when my relatives would come to visit. And, I felt as if I, too, were a part of this book. Having experienced growing up in a small town where you don`t see that many people, I believe that when relatives come to visit, it almost seems like Christmas. As a result, when the book expressed the joy, laughter, and celebration of family, it stirred up these memories of the past. Unquestionably, almost anyone, from children to adults, could find themselves reminiscing and longing for the fun they had when their relatives come to visit.
Rating:
Summary: Bambi's Fragrant Forset
Review: Bambi's Fragrant Forest is based on the original story by Felix Salten.
Children will enjoy this story, because it is about a deer getting immune to its habitat and adjusting to everything. This book will be very interesting, and will keep your child reading.
Children can learn about adjusting to new things, and getting to like them.
This story is about a baby deer, and its mother in the forest. The baby deer's name is Bambi, and he goes around in the woods looking for new friends, but this experience is new to him, so he is very nervous.
Rating:
Summary: Great Family Fun!
Review: Cynthia Rylant is an award winning author who writes from her heart and childhood experiences. This book is not only great reading, but the illustrations appeal to both children and the child in you. Each page is filled with a great story told through words and pictures. A must have for everyone!
Rating: 
Summary: Happy Hugging, Eating and Breathing of a Close Family!
Review: Do you remember being told as a child that some relatives (whom you didn't really recall) were coming to visit? If so, this book will evoke all of the trepidition and excitement of those days . . . not to mention the scattered inconveniences you experienced, that were quickly forgotten in oceans of warm acceptance.The strength of the book is in its illustrations, which warmly capture emotional closeness, like being tucked into bed by your Mom after a wonderful but tiring day. For those illustrations, The Relatives Came won a Caldecott Honor Award in 1986 that is well deserved. The images are very happy, soft and fuzzy all at the same time. The illustrations look as though they were produced with pastel pencils using very fine points, constantly sharpened. With rounded faces and bodies, everyone seems very open and comfortable in hospitable surroundings. I have rarely seen a book that sets a better illustrated tone for a friendly family gathering. It caused me to recall my favorite family reunions. The story is not as strong as the illustrations, but is more than adequate. One part of the family lives in Virginia and is leaving before the grapes are ready to be picked. They get up at 4 a.m. and drive straight through in a food and luggage packed station wagon. They leave the same way, weeks later, after having spent a happy summer camping inside the relative's house they visit. The initial nervousness and homesickness give way to missing their relatives, based on the happy times they share together that summer. The solution? Do it again next summer! The story is designed to pick up on the physical aspects of closeness, and use those to convey a connection to emotional closeness. For people who are kinesthetically oriented, this story will be gripping and realistic. For people who are visual, the story's illustrations will provide happy connections and experiences. For those who are auditory, the sound of breathing is described to extend the senses in that direction. The story's strength is in drawing on happy memories of having been in the middle of such family visits. For children without such experiences, the book will seem abstract and disconnected. I suggest telling a story about experiences in your family that are like the one here. That will help your child make the connection to the themes expressed here. Perhaps the best way to enjoy the story is to act out the physical actions and sounds with your child. You can take turns being one or the other part of the family. Does your family have opportunities for extended closeness with relataives? If you don't, hopefully this book will cause you to consider making that happen. That will be one of the finest inheritances you can provide your children, a connection to deep wells of extended family love and acceptance. Hug your family whenever you can!
Rating:
Summary: Reminds me.....
Review: I and my family are from Virginia. This is just the way we are when we visit family in other states...we sleep on the floor, eat lots of food, everything! I am going to purchase this book to send to my niece. I hope that she remembers when her family comes from Virginia to do all the things in the book. When she misses us, she can read the story and think about us.
Rating:
Summary: Reminds me.....
Review: I and my family are from Virginia. This is just the way we are when we visit family in other states...we sleep on the floor, eat lots of food, everything! I am going to purchase this book to send to my niece. I hope that she remembers when her family comes from Virginia to do all the things in the book. When she misses us, she can read the story and think about us.
Rating:
Summary: The Relatives Came
Review: I gave The Relatives Came a five star rating because it is a good book for five and up. It is about relatives visiting other
relatives and when they got there they had a good time together.
I recommend ages five and up. If you want to find out what happens, read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: My daughter (3 yrs old) and I love this book. Great character. Great artwork - really down to earth. Earthy. Homey. Country.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Part
Review: My favorite part of the story in The Relatives Came is when they were hugging for hours and hours. It made me think of my granddaddy visiting me on the weekend. We all hugged him for hours. My other favorite part in the story is when they were laughing and having a good time. This makes me think of when my granddaddy gave us candy. Then we all tried to pick him up. We laughed and laughed. We had a lot of fun.
Rating:
Summary: I Like the Book
Review: My favorite part of the story is when they traveled and they saw strange houses and bigger mountains. This part reminds me of when I was traveling to my cousin's house. I saw a baseball field and townhouse. It was beautiful too.
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