Bingo's Big Adventure (Mom's Choice Awards Winner 2011) [Hardcover]

Julia King (Author, Illustrator), Jenny Bixby (Editor), Karen Scarvie (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2010

This book is about Bingo, the newest cat on the farm. Bingo s Big Adventure tells the story of his first outing into the world around his home.

Bingo is a kitty adventurer and spends a day exploring the new sights and smells of the great outdoors. He meets another cat who lives on his farm and runs into a pesky rooster. He sniffs, watches, and learns about his new world in this story.

The story of Bingo's adventures is told from his point of view, and the text is accompanied by vibrant photos showing this curious kitty in action. His encounters with the other animals on the farm are illustrated through full color prints which beautifully portray his new life and adventures.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Bingo's Big Adventure is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. The Mom's Choice Awards honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. Parents and educators look for the Mom s Choice Awards seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book/product has been honored by this distinguished award. --

--Mom's Choice Awards

Bingo's Big Adventure is an engaging and exquisitely photographed children's book which offers readers a playful peek into the natural world from the perspective and voice of an inquisitive cat named Bingo. Julia King's endearing photographs and amusing text capture the curiosity of a newly adopted cat named Bingo. This delightful, easy to read story follows Bingo on his explorations of the farm on which he now lives. Whether touching the dangerous wheels of a farm truck, sniffing out friendship in the family's other cat, Jimmy, climbing trees for a better view, chasing roosters, or scampering across the gravel road; Bingo discovers the excitement and wonder of his new environment. This story has a quiet message about observation that urges children to notice the little things around them that, with a little imagination, could become big adventures. When your children fall in love with Bingo (and they will) you can continue the fun online with Bingo's Journal an adorable photo diary available on the website. This story is a great fit for children ages 3-8. Homeschoolers can use the story as a starting point to launch into further discussions of the natural world, a study on cats or even use the text to casually introduce young children to the five senses. This story is a joy for all children (and cat-loving adults). Though it could be easily extended for further educational value, it is not exclusive to homeschoolers or any one group, but appeals to all children. I was very impressed by the friendly text that captures the personality and spirit of a curious country cat. The pictures are lively and have a natural flow with the story. I especially love that the author took such care at the end of the story and on her website to introduce young children to the idea that even older cats have a fun and playful nature that makes them ideal pets. King's mission to promote the adoption of older cats that may otherwise be overlooked is genuine and commendable. I think it's pure genius to continue the adventure through her online journal and creating a world for Bingo that makes the children feel that they've made a friend. With such familiarity and connection with this little kitty, they are sure to be drawn to each new Bingo book as they are released. Bingo's Big Adventure is $15.99 which is a fairly common price for children's books of this caliber and quality. I think King's photographic skill and her well-designed website add to the value of this great book. My children and I really enjoyed Bingo's Big Adventure and I am pleased to recommend it to other parents. --Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Many a study has shown that reading to your child, at any age, is one of the best ways to help them along in their journey to being a life-long learner. Mother, botanist and author, Julia King has found a way to inspire not only small minds but those on the cusp of developing their idea of self, or - What I want to be when I grow up; ~the tween~ Her newly released book titled; Bingo's Big Adventure weaves the tale of, Bingo, a cat new to farm life and all the adventures found there. Though this book may sound like it is geared to smaller children, the underlying life lesson and beautiful imagery are sure to inform and entertain even your tween. Julia lends Bingo a unique voice that translates age, helps to build vocabulary skills and sparks the imagination. --Lara DiPaola - DC Examiner

About the Author

Author, Julia King, a botanist turned children s book writer, has years of experience chasing toddlers around while naming plants by their Latin names. Also, by working as an environmental consultant for the past 15 years, Julia has honed her ability to tell stories about the physical world through her photographs and text.

Julia is an avid proponent of reading to children when they are tiny tots. Through her stories, she hopes to foster a love of books and a love of animals by helping children understand the natural world around them.

In Bingo s Big Adventure, Julia has translated cat thoughts into human language through her almost telepathic-like abilities, interpreting Bingo s first experiences outside on her farm into easy-to-read text. Children perceive the world through a kitten s eyes, leading to a new understanding of how animals behave and why they do the crazy things they do. In Bingo s world, life is a big adventure - one that children will want to join.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: King Publishing; 1st edition (May 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615345859
• ISBN-13: 978-0615345857
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,657,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julia King is a botanist turned children's book author with years of experience chasing toddlers around while naming plants by their Latin names. She is an avid proponent of reading to children when they are tiny tots and wants to foster a passionate love of books and a love of animals in kids, so they learn to read well and understand the natural world around them.

With 15 years of experience in the field of environmental consulting Julia has honed her ability to tell stories about the physical world through her photographs and accompanying text. She has been a passionate writer since her youth and has taken her photography to the next level through detail in composition and subject matter.

In Bingo's Big Adventure, Julia's first book, she has translated cat thoughts into human language through her almost telepathic-like abilities, interpreting what Bingo experiences in his first outing on their property into easy to read text.

When not translating "cat" into English, Julia teaches her kids how to shovel horse manure, play in the mud, identify weedy plant species, and build Lego towers. Then in her spare time she writes environmental documents and finds time to sneak out of the house when the kids are sleeping to play volleyball with a bunch of moms like herself.

To sum it up Julia describes herself as: Mom, equestrian, house wife, botanist, wetland scientist, children's book author, nurse, gardener, chicken wrangler, amateur veterinarian, laundry hanger, taxi driver, cleaning wench, short order cook, friend, etc...

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cat's day out July 17, 2010

By Amanda Richards HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

A day in the life of a teen cat (and Bingo is his name-o) adopted from "Town Cats", a no-kill rescue shelter in California. This full color picture book translates his feline feelings on his first day in the countryside, exploring new territory.

Trucks and trees provide an initial thrill, and after some trepidation, a bigger cat proves to be less terrible than he looks. However, when Bingo decides to take on a formidable fowl, he has to make his biggest decision yet.

The photos of this photogenic little fellow are the outstanding feature of the book, both for the natural settings and the wonderful subject composition, perfectly focused and beautifully lit.

Love it for the photographs, and then read it aloud to a kid near you - purr-fect.

Amanda Richards, July 17, 2010

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully made with full color-glossy heavy pages, and real photos, great story July 27, 2010

By Chandler #1 HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This children's book stood out for my nieces because they are so used to the ones with drawings and cartoons that they just "ate up" a REAL cat REALLY living the story on every page and the first time I read it we had to read it again TWICE and study the pictures twice as long to see Bingo really do these things!

Very cute.

The story is of Bingo, who was just adopted but longs to explore the farm he sees going on outside from inside his new home. The day the people he adopted let him explore, we get to follow along on the journey. Visuals are relayed fully such as how the stringy fibers of aged grass feel on his tongue as he tastes them but even further explored by the picture of the real Bingo munching happily on the grass.

The start of his story made us giggle. It says:

But wait! There is a world before me I
have never seen until today.

Because I am a cat, I want to explore it!
Let me pause and think about the situation.
My instincts tell me I need an adventure.

I am Bingo, the Mighty Adventurer!

Open land is before me, no dogs. Hmmm...

I think my life is going to be fun.

From there, kids get to engage with Bingo in both how objects feel, smell and taste from the eyes not of a person...but from the cat's point of view. A cat who wants to explore all he should and those he learns he should not, such as the funny rooster.

(we especially loved these colorful photos of the cat mingling with the chickens because we just adopted 3 chicks and have a Bingo next door we are having to keep an eye on when they get to go out and play too!)

Fortunately, Bingo is kind to all other animals he meets, even the rooster and the stray cat who wanders in to say hello.

The colors of all the pages are vivid with amazing photography and close-ups of all adventures...even funny ones like the rooster in the yard with Bingo peeking over the fence to see him. Really great shots that add more than a drawing ever could.

Obviously, this book really is about a cat that is "all cat". On the page where he finds the chickens they strut on a fence while his paws are wrapped around a tree and he relays how Mighty he is as a tree climber.

As an artist myself, the photos were stunning to me, as an aunt, the story was perfect for kids...but what I liked most is that becuase these weren't "kiddy drawings" but real photos of the adventure, it will grow up with the child and be equally enjoyable.

In the end? The adventures wear out the mighty adventurer Bingo and he admits things like the rooster chasing him are a bit scary though they seemed exciting initially, and he can admit that and still be mighty...and still want to be inside, on his favorite blanket, with the humans for security in the end.

and that's a good lesson for any kid to remember anyway!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story November 10, 2010

By Todd Borg

Format:Hardcover

I discovered this delightful book when I met the author Julia King. While I have no children, I have crystal-clear memories of the countless hours I spent absorbed in picture books as a child. Further, I spent many hours reading to younger siblings when I was young and quite a few hours reading to nieces when I was not so young. Thus I believe I am qualified to judge Bingo's Big Adventure - A Cat's Tale, and I think it is a winner.

This book is a standout in several ways.

First, Bingo's Big Adventure is a compelling story about a cat that gets her (or his) first opportunity to venture out into a world she's only seen through a window. Bingo tells the story in the first person and, to my recollection, Bingo doesn't reveal gender, making it easy for kids to identify with Bingo whether they are girls or boys.

Second, one of the cool things about the book is that the pictures are actual photos of Bingo-the-Cat. They perfectly dovetail with the story. I don't believe any young child will fail to be captivated by these images of a young cat meeting another cat for the first time, climbing a tree, and grappling with a rooster.

As Bingo takes on the adventure of the title, she makes friends, explores exotic new places, develops special skills, and learns how to avoid dangerous risks. The metaphors for young children are numerous and handled well. Further, one of the background messages of the story is the pure joy of being outdoors in a world where we increasingly find our attentions monopolized by indoor, video-related distractions. As a person whose formative years were spent almost entirely outside, I find it a gift to discover a book that motivates children to explore the out-of-doors.

If you are looking for the perfect picture book for a child, I believe this book will satisfy and delight.