Customer Reviews

The Bog Baby

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A little girl told her mother that she and her friend Chrissy were going over to their friend Annie's house for the day. They never really intended to go there and instead they went fishing in "a magic pond in Bluebell Wood." They were never, ever supposed to go fishing alone, but the dell just called to them. The crossed the footbridge near the big birch trees and sat close together and started fishing. They were trying to catch a newt, but instead they "caught something much better . . . a Bog Baby!" He was a funny looking critter about the "size of a frog, only round and blue.

He had "boggly eyes and a spiky tail." He was floating on his back sucking on his toes. She leaned down and plucked him out of the water. He was soft and cuddly and would make a great pet so they "took him home and hid him in the shed." He was a special Bog Baby. They loved and cuddled him and even took him to school, but she didn't dare tell her mother because they were supposed to go to Annie's. They made a home for him in a bucket and "fed him cake crumbs" and loved him, but one day he became sick. Mom found them all hiding in the shed . . . what was going to happen to their Bog Baby when she spotted him?

This is an adorable little story that most country parents can relate to. There always manages to be a bucket or an old aquarium that is filled with some creature that should have been left in the wild. I loved the way the author gently caught the conversation and the spirit of the little girls who did something wrong and knew it, but also didn't understand that keeping a wild creature was not. I enjoyed the artwork thought and the Bog Baby was very precious and unique. There is a page in the back for notes about any Bog Baby your youngster might come across and an address to send drawings. The company would like to know things like, "Does he croak, purr or tweet?" I'd like to know too!

What a fabulous story to help teach kids that wild things are best not kept as pets. I think kids will relate to the girls defying what their mom told them to do but being able to go to her for help in the end. Great illustrations, story and message.

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Bog babies do exist. They really do. If you've never seen one, you probably had a similar experience when you captured that baby toad or frog and thought you could be best friends forever. But toads, frogs and bog babies don't belong in pickle jars or pockets. This story really sends a fanciful yet practical message about all of the wonderful creatures who hop, run, skip and fly nearby and that's exactly how it should remain; let the bog babies stay where they belong as we observe their magic.

A delightful, sweet, and timeless story!
Not only does "The Bog Baby" have a wonderful message about believing in something, but it also has a wonderful message about "leaving wild things in the wild."
Yes, the "if you love it set it free" plot is nothing new, but I loved the approach Willis takes here.

In this story two little girls go fishing (even though their not supposed to go alone, which the book does make a point of noting is was not a good thing for them to do - definitely reminded me of those few times in childhood where you really knew you *shouldn't* do something but for whatever reason you did anyway...) but the two girls find a Bog Baby and decide to take it home and care for it. Of course, everything seems okay at first, but when the Bog Baby starts getting sick the girls have to decide what to do.

I love the illustrations and the author's note in the back, and I was happy that the Bog Baby did seem to love the little girls in return.

This is definitely a little bittersweet, so very sensitive readers/listeners might have a hard time with it, but I do think it's a good book for introducing these messages.

The Bog Baby is a terrific book for preschoolers and early elementary students. It is a wonderful story about finding something, loving it, and ultimately setting it free because it is the best thing to do. I really love the message of this story and the illustrations are beautiful. I have recommended The Bog Baby to many of my friends with preschoolers and they all love it.

The story is sweet but it's the illustrations that make the book so charming. They are gorgeous - colorful, naive, delicate and magical - and made the book a delight for me to read to my three year old daughter

So often environmental books are so buzy being politically correct they forget to include a story. This one was very sweet that taught both how keeping something from a parent can cause more trouble than the trouble they are avoiding and how wild things need to be free to be in the home they need. See other reviews if you need plot.

This book is sweet, unusual, and moving. The lesson is that wild things should remain wild, and not love in captivity on leashes, etc. However, this book is in no way preachy: it sends it message in a very engaging and thoughtful way that is entirely appropriate for children as young as three (the age of my child). I am grateful to have found this book and its author.

Love this book. My 5 year old boy loves this book. The illustrations are so whimsical and my child gets sucked right in to the story and the magic of finding and caring for the mythical creature. Highly recommended.

this was recommended by a web site . . . i did not think it (the story) was as cute and stupendous as described, but the artwork is delightful! book arrived in pristine condition.