Anna's Pet (Kids of Canada) [Hardcover]

Margaret Atwood (Author), Joyce Barkhouse (Author), Ann Blades (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Kids of Canada

This volume in the Kids of Canada series follows a young city girl's exploration of the countryside, showing what she finds there.

Anna searches for a pet on her grandparent's farm: will it be a toad? A Worm? A Snake? Each choice she makes teaches her about these creatures and the world they inhabit and, ultimately, about herself.

In a charming and playful manner, Atwood and Barkhouse evoke the relationship between a child and the natural world. (20111007)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Full page watercolour illustrations appear on every second page of this easy reader...will remind readers of the scenery in ." (Tanya Boudreau Resource Links )

Originally published in 1979 and 1980 as part of the "Kids of Canada" series, Six Darn Cows and Anna's Pet have both been long out of print. Now these two Canadian classics have been repackaged for a new generation of beginning readers....these two titles are perfect for children almost ready for chapter books. They also have nostalgic appeal for many parents as well. Highly Recommended. Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, ON. (Linda Ludke CM: Canadian Review of Materials )

About the Author

MARGARET ATWOOD, poet, novelist, critic and winner of the Governor-General's Award, published her first children's story, Up in the Tree, in 1978. JOYCE BARKHOUSE is the author of many short stories and books for children including Anna's Pet (written with Margaret Atwood) which was made into a puppet play and toured internationally, and The Witch of Port Lajoie which has been translated in four languages. She received the Order of Nova Scotia and was made a Member of the Order of Canada for her children's books and work in literacy. ANN BLADES, internationally-known Canadian children's author and illustrator, won the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians Book of the Year Award in 1972 for Mary of Mile 18. In 1978 she was the winner of the Canada Council Award for Children's Literature, for A Salmon for Simon. (20111001)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lorimer (January 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888629419
• ISBN-13: 978-0888629418
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,426,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

MARGARET ATWOOD, whose work has been published in over thirty-five countries, is the author of more than forty books of fiction, poetry, and critical essays. In addition to The Handmaid's Tale, her novels include Cat's Eye, shortlisted for the Booker Prize; Alias Grace, which won the Giller Prize in Canada and the Premio Mondello in Italy; The Blind Assassin, winner of the 2000 Booker Prize; and her most recent, Oryx and Crake, shortlisted for the 2003 Booker Prize. She lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre Selection for Beginner Chapter Book, September 30, 2011

By 

Suzanne Buza-Snead - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anna's Pet (Kids of Canada) (Hardcover)

Atwood, Margaret & Joyce Barkhouse.
Anna's Pet. 978-1-55277-718-3

Laurence, Margaret.
Six Darn Cows. 978-1-55277-719-0
Blades, Ann. 2011. 32 pp. ea. 414.95 ea.hc. Lorimer. Grades 2-3.

Anna, a young city girl visits her grandparents who live on a farm in the country and decides she wants a pet. She explores her surroundings and discovers there are many creatures that might serve as good pets, everything from toads and worms, to snakes and tadpoles. With each creature encounter she learns a little about its habitat and, with the help of her grandparents, draws conclusions as to why they would not make good pets. Anna is about to give up when her grandmother suggests a tadpole. Much to Anna's dismay, grandmother tells her that it's not the fish Anna believes it to be; instead, that it will grow and change into something brand new. The story concludes with Anna finally being content with her new pet and, although disappointed, understanding that when it becomes a frog she will have to release it back into the wild where it belongs. Her grandmother reminds her that it's hard to keep hold of anything forever, wise advice for anyone.

Although the writing style and story line is appropriate for the fiction genre, the interest level and reading level do not match the beginning reader category for which it is intended. The illustrations are lackluster and "not kid appealing" as per the first and second grade students surveyed.