Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet [Hardcover]

Betsy Bowen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Fiction

In this companion to Gathering: A Northwoods Counting Book Betsy Bowen again captures the vibrant magic in each northwoods day through effortless prose and colorful woodcuts. While the canoe waits beneath the heavy snow and the river freezes over, bears turn in for long winter naps and people spend time reading by the fire or bundled up in layers. But when spring comes, it’s time for kayaking, fishing, and listening to the quiet pond sounds of the new season. All of this and more is celebrated in Bowen’s warm and unusual alphabet book that introduces children to the cyclical rhythms of life in our country’s northern states.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From Antler to Zero (degrees, that is), the seasons of the Minnesota woods come to life in Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year by Betsy Bowen. When it was first published in 1991, PW praised the memorable, unusually fine woodcuts and lyrical text. (Aug.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Betsy Bowen is the author-illustrator of several books for children. Reviewers have described her distinctive woodcuts as bold, rich and handsome. The mother of three sons, she has lived with her family on the rugged north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota for more than thirty years.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; None edition (August 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061820864X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618208647
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new twist on the ABC's, October 16, 2002

By 

Hedy Holmberg (Minneapolis, MN (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book for children of all ages. Each letter of the alphabet is explained using an item, memory or happening from life in the north woods; for example, the letter N stands for Northern Lights. As the book progresses from A to Z so do the seasons of the year- they too progress from winter to spring to summer to fall and back to winter. The illustrations are taken from original woodcuts and are beautiful in their own right. This has always been one of our favorite books to both read and give as gifts.

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully enjoyable, September 28, 2008

By 

Akira Touya (Berlin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet (Hardcover)

this book is illustrated beautifully and reads with a smooth flow. good for a bedtime story or any time.

5.0 out of 5 stars read it again, December 13, 2007

By 

Bearberry (Idaho) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet (Hardcover)

I first discovered Betsy Bowen's art in her woodblock illustrations for The Troll with No Heart in His Body and was really impressed with her work. This is a beautiful book, the illustrations truly give the feeling of time and place. I love the idea of moving through the seasons along with the alphabet. When you get to the end you just naturally want to go around again!

Living in the north woods of Idaho, we have many of the same experiences in the course of the year as told about in Antler, Bear, Canoe. I'm giving this book as a gift to a friend's little girl to help her remember life in the woods (she's a city girl now) and look forward to visits to her family's cabin, where she still just might find antlers, bears and canoes . . .