Customer Reviews

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am so glad to see that this book is in print again. When I was a child, I read and reread this book. I borrowed it from our local library and thought it was just wonderful. In fact, it was such a favorite in our family, that the refrain, "There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears, no bears at all." became a family saying. I looked and looked for this book when my 14 year old daughter was 7 or 8, but could not seem to find it. I happened upon it on at Amazon and immediately purchased a copy for my second daughter who is now 7. I think the element of suspense as to whether Jonathan would make it home safely was what I enjoyed most at that age. This is a great book for all children of the 7 - 9 age group. Very memorable!

My kids, in 1st and 2nd grade, read and loved this book. I think it is particularly satisfying to children because often when kids say they are afraid of something, perhaps of poisonous snakes in the woods or ghosts in the closet, adults will tell them "there's no poisonous snakes in these woods", or "there's no such thing as a ghost". In this book, however, young Jonathan's fears were VINDICATED! He was right and there WERE bears on Hemlock Moutain!

My kids also loved Jonathan's absentminded visit to his aunt, as they also sometimes forget tasks they are supposed to do. And they loved his creative solution when he came face to face with the bears!

The illustrations are charming, simple two-color drawings, and the book is written with a tongue-in-cheek tone that I really enjoyed and the kids didn't notice.

My children also read "Courage of Sarah Noble" by the same author, and were able to compare and contrast the books - we used a venn diagram. Then they both voted this book their favorite of the two.

I found this book to be very entertaining. It is great for kids because they are kept in suspense as to whether or not Johnathan will make it home safely. Kids are also exposed to the important concepts of staying on task and obeying their parents. Dalgliesh's talent for writing and Sewell's creative drawings make a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to become a part of a child's library.

This book was enjoyable because it's use of imagery and description bring the reader into the story's setting. All the events are plausible. Dialogue is clear and simple. It is easy to associate with this story because it includes a typical relationship between parent and child. Children can relate to the fear that Jonathan has, as well as the trial to overcome that fear. The progression this book follows is adequate - not too slow and not too fast. Overall, this book can be very enjoyable for the child reader.

I liked it when the animals were eating. I liked it when Jonathan's uncles came walking up. I also like dit when Jonathan was hiding. I would tell a friend to read this book because my friend might like bears and likes hiking mountains.

It was a great book. It took place in the winter on Hemlock Mountain. It is about some hunters and some bears. It was cool because I liked how it ended. I am eight years old.

I liked the book because there were bears there. I liked it when Jonathan's father came and I liked the squirrels. I would tell a friend to read this book because it has animals in it. It has bears in it.

This was one of our family's favorite books when I was a child. We didn't own it but we borrowed it from the library over and over. We all knew the line "There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears, no bears, no bears at all." (At least that's how I remember it - I was surprised when I got it from the library recently and reread it that the "no bears" wasn't repeated as many times as I remember it.) And when someone said something didn't exist, and we disagreed, we would chant that line.

I liked the spooky noises. I liked it when the bears came out. I liked Jonathan's stopping chant. I would tell a friend to read this book because it is exciting when the bears come. It is the most exciting when the bears are right by him.

We really like this book. It's easy to read in one sitting. It engages the entire family. And, it is implied that the bear gets shot and eaten for dinner in the end. It is a good ending because it's not too graphic, yet it is REAL. Not fearing the consequences of those who may not like the bear getting shot...if you know what I mean.

Jonathan is a 9 year old boy who is sent over the mountain on an errand. He dwadals longer than he should and is caught in the dark coming home. He is told the entire time, "There are no bears on hemlock mountain...." However, the brave little boy ends up running into bears and his dad and uncles are there to save him.

Perhaps the most charming aspect of this book is the details of Jonathan's home life and the wonder and innocents of a sweet little boy.