Buffalo Thunder [Hardcover]

Patricia Wittmann (Author), Bert Dodson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

When young Karl Isaac heads west with his family in a prairie schooner, he experiences many things but longs to see buffalo.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Young Karl Isaac describes his family's cross-country journey west by covered wagon. A dangerous river crossing, days of intense rain, a brief encounter with Indians demanding food, dry wind, and heat test their endurance. The rigors of the trek are barely relieved by the occasional socializing around the wagon-train campfires in the evening. But for Karl Isaac, the greatest event of the long journey is seeing the thunderous run of a vast herd of buffalo rushing around and past them like a raging river. Dodson's double-page watercolors competently illustrate the changing weather, the daily life of the wagon train, and the seemingly endless space of the prairie, but they are rather flat. The events of the great westward migration are described in word and picture, but there is no story line to hold the attention of young readers. This is an informational picture book disguised as fiction, most useful in showing scenes of the frontier, the Conestoga wagons, and the buffalo.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An exciting read about a westward journey and the incredible sight of a buffalo stampede." -- Teaching K-8, January 1998

"Light-filled watercolors extend the narrative with expressive detail....Children will respond to the boy's account of the journey west, the interminable empty prairie, and then the thrilling, pounding adventure." -- Booklist, September 1997

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb; 1st edition (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761450017
• ISBN-13: 978-0761450016
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,391,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Illustrator Patricia Wittmann is both an artist and writer. Her books include "Go Ask Giorgio" and "Scrabble Creek". Her illustrations also appeared in "Clever Gretchen" by John Warren Stewig and were described by reviewers as "soft-edged, sunny watercolors full of winsome detail" (Kirkus Reviews). Ms. Wittmann lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wild Wild West, October 18, 2000

By 

Michael S Roberts - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buffalo Thunder (Hardcover)

the author and illustrator have done a very nice job showing what a young boy is looking for compared to the rest of his family as they head west in a covered wagon. This picture book would be a terrifc way to invite students into the experience of the wild wild west. I would imagine that each student might be able to relate to one of the characters in the story and continue with a story of their own.