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Summary: A Story With A Unique Perspective For Daily Life
Review: 3 to 8 yrs. Some may find this book objectionable in that they may believe that its underlying message for children is 'work is bad.' But that doesn't seem to be the author's intent. It seems to be more observational then as a teaching tool.Based on a passage from Henry David Thoreau's Walden, the story is about Henry--the main animal character (bear?) in the story--and his friend, who decide to go to Fitchburg. Henry chooses to walk the 30 miles, while his friend plans to work, so that he can earn enough money to ride the train. We then bounce from character to character to witness what they are experiencing in their quest to get to Fitchburg. Good illustrations, and interesting story providing ample discussion material for parents and children, about the different meanings this story possess.
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Summary: Fabulous bk.-great for kids of all ages & a great baby gift!
Review: Aside from the local historical references (towns en route to Fitchburg & famous local historical figures incuding the Emersons & Alcotts), this bk. is a charmer. Lovely illustrations, sweet life lessons about taking time to enjoy the journey rather than trying to hurry it along just to 'get there faster', & the understated moral of the story as stated by Henry at the end. I'd recommend this to anyone-baby through adult-so pleasing to the eyes and to the soul!
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Summary: A must read, must have book for all ages!!
Review: Henry and his friend (two nice looking bears) are going to Fitchburg, thirty miles away, to see the country. Henry decides to walk, while his friend decides to work and earn money for a train ticket. "Let's see who gets there first", his friend challenges. Off Henry goes on his adventure. He picks flowers to save and press into books, his friend cleans out Mrs Thoreau's chicken house. He walks along a stone wall and climbs trees, his friend moves Mr Emerson's bookcases. Henry makes a raft and paddles up a river, finds a bird nest and a honey tree, his friend pulls Mr Hawthorne's weeds. At the end of the day, Henry's friend buys his ticket and travels on a crowded train to Fitchburg where they meet up. "The train was faster", he says. "I know, I stopped for blackberries", says Henry..... Inspired by a passage from Walden, Donald Johnson has written and illustrated a clever, charming and very visual story about two different approaches to life. As your youngsters turn pages and watch how these two friends spend their day, they can decide who's trip to Fitchburg is more fun, interesting and worthwhile...Henry who savors the journey or his friend who just wants to get there as quickly as possible. The author includes a note at the end about Henry David Thoreau and his friends (Emerson and Hawthorne) and the passage from Walden that was the basis for this wonderful book. This is a special story, perfect for kids 4-8, that your kids will want to read again and again and should lead to many interesting family discussions.
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Summary: A little lesson in taking time to smell the roses!
Review: I read this book based on Javagirl 23's reveiew, and I must give her kudos. Great pick! Henry (a bear) and his friend decide to visit Fitchburg. Henry plans to walk, but his friend decides to work enough to afford train fare, since walking will take forever. While Henry's friend slaves away at different jobs (pick up on the last names of the employers!), Henry leisurely strolls towards Fitchburg, collecting flowers to press, berries, and enjoying himself thouroughly. Henry's friend finally gets his train fare, and they both end up in Fitchburg at the same time. "The train was a lot faster!", says his friend. Henry merely replies, "Yes...but I got us some berries to eat". What's the lesson? Sometimes the fastest way isn't necessarily the best way...take time to stop and smell the roses...or any other cliche you prefer. This is a great lesson for adults- stop rushing around so much and take the slower way of doing something; there may be more enjoyment along the way if you do.
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Summary: Marching to different drummers
Review: There's a lot to love in this book by D. B. Johnson. There is the priceless story-lesson concerning two bears traveling to the same destination by widely divergent paths, one enjoying the pleasures of nature along the way while the other works to earn fare to travel by more modern means. There are the beautifully memorable illustrations, one after another, of the bears as they make their way to Fitchburg. And there is the message, to stop and smell the roses, take in a little nature, just walk. Or maybe just sit in the woods and read Thoreau.
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Summary: One of the best picture books ever
Review: This book is a joy to read, to look at, and to think about. Watch for the illustrated parallels between Henry and his friend's experiences: my favorite is the difference between the tangle of people on the train and the tangled blackberry branches in the field. My children love to find the cows drinking from the Sudbury River, drawn opposite the cows on the town green, whose water Henry's friend brings to them in a bucket.
I can't say enough good things about this amazing book.
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Summary: Great place to start
Review: This book is an introduction for young children to the philosophy of simplicity. Johnson has adapted the true story of Henry Thoreau's hike to Fitchburg into a children's tale that kids can understand and cherish. As the book begins, Henry is talking to a friend, and they decide to go to Fitchburg. The friend thinks it would be faster to take the train, but contrary old Henry says it would be faster to walk. Rather than argue their points, the two friends each set off to Fitchburg in their own by their own method. Of course, the friend has to earn money to pay the train fare, so he spends all day doing various odd jobs before taking the night train. Henry, on the other hand, sets off walking, and enjoys the beautiful scenery along the way. They both eventually get to Fitchburg, but they had very different experiences in meeting their goal. The format of the book, with one side of each page devoted to Henry and the other to his friend, gets children to focus on a constant comparison between the experiences of the two characters. By the end of the book, the children see that there are many ways to reach a goal, and contrary to common practice, sometimes those methods that don't cost money may be preferable- -it all depends on what you value in life. This book would be a great starting point for conversations with children about the choices that they or their families are making. And the pictures are wonderful, too!
Rating:
Summary: Great place to start
Review: This book is an introduction for young children to the philosophy of simplicity. Johnson has adapted the true story of Henry Thoreau's hike to Fitchburg into a children's tale that kids can understand and cherish. As the book begins, Henry is talking to a friend, and they decide to go to Fitchburg. The friend thinks it would be faster to take the train, but contrary old Henry says it would be faster to walk. Rather than argue their points, the two friends each set off to Fitchburg in their own by their own method. Of course, the friend has to earn money to pay the train fare, so he spends all day doing various odd jobs before taking the night train. Henry, on the other hand, sets off walking, and enjoys the beautiful scenery along the way. They both eventually get to Fitchburg, but they had very different experiences in meeting their goal. The format of the book, with one side of each page devoted to Henry and the other to his friend, gets children to focus on a constant comparison between the experiences of the two characters. By the end of the book, the children see that there are many ways to reach a goal, and contrary to common practice, sometimes those methods that don't cost money may be preferable- -it all depends on what you value in life. This book would be a great starting point for conversations with children about the choices that they or their families are making. And the pictures are wonderful, too!
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Summary: Charming
Review: This book is very well written and illustrated. In this day and age, children should be reminded that there's more to life than constantly striving for material possessions, that taking time to enjoy the great outdoors (as well as using that time to think and reflect on life in general) is important, and always has been, and always will be. This book does a superb job of instilling that appreciation of nature and the benefits of time spent in solitude. I read this book to a 7 year old, and I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it more than he did. It's simple, yet speaks volumes in its simplicity. Enjoyable on many levels, this is a wonderful gift for a child, and his parents will thank you.
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Summary: Great book!
Review: This is a wonderful picture book about two bears who both want to reach Fitchburg, a town thirty miles away. Henry decides to walk, and his friend decides to do odd jobs around town in order to earn money for the train fare. The reader can decide with the turn of every page which bear is enjoying the journey more. A great book about how the journey is as important as reaching the destination. Also a note on the the origin of the story and Henry David Thoreau. Great illustrations as well.
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