Charlie and Tess / Sheepdog in the Snow [Paperback]

Martin Hall (Author), Catherine Walters (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Charlie is just a tiny little lamb when the farmer finds him in a snowstorm and brings him home. Tess is the farmer's sheepdog, and she takes charge of raising Charlie, teaching him to play fetch and even sharing her doghouse.

Sometimes Charlie acts so much like a dog that the farmer and his family wonder if he knows he's a sheep. Eventually, Charlie shows them he can be a little of both.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Orphaned in a snowstorm during lambing season, a lamb is taken in by a farmer's family. The family names the newcomer Charlie and feeds him from a bottle; but their sheepdog, Tess, assumes the primary roles of caretaker and best friend. As Charlie grows under Tess's tutelage, the farmer's wife casually wonders if he is "turning into a dog." In town, he wears a collar and leash while carrying a newspaper with his teeth; in the field, he persists in herding the other sheep. And, indeed, when winter strikes with an early storm, it is Charlie who saves the flock-racing back and forth, baaing, butting the sheep and "pulling at their woolly coats with his teeth." First-time author Hall's homey text rolls out evenly and swiftly, while Walters's (The Dog Who Found Christmas) plays up the similarities between Tess and Charlie by casting the dog as a border collie, black and white just like the lamb. Her tidy and sentimental illustrations gather readers into a contented romance of countryside. Children who liked Babe will find this a quiet, soothing book for wintertime sharing. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2. Charlie, a motherless lamb, is taken into the farmer's home during a snowstorm. He is treated as a pet, raised by the family sheep dog, Tess, and taught many of the skills of herding. When he grows too large for the house, Charlie must join the rest of the flock. During a snowstorm, his herding skills enable him to save the sheep from disaster. This simple story is not adequately developed. Charlie and Tess are not well-realized characters and the humans are flat and wooden. The farmer and the farmer's wife are not even named. The illustrations are pleasant and colorful, but lack vitality and style. Pass on Charlie and Tess.?Jean Pollock, King Country Library System, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little Tiger Pr; 1 edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888444061
• ISBN-13: 978-1888444063
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,931,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars worth buying, May 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Charlie and Tess / Sheepdog in the Snow (Paperback)

The book is about a lamb who's adopted by the farmer and the farmer's sheepdog and ends up picking up the sheepdog's shepherding habits. My young kids (2.5 and 4.5) love it. They love to hear it over and over again and we've had our copy for a year now--they're still dragging it out. I almost have it memorized, but not quite, so I have to get a hardcover version since our softcover copy is now worn out. I recommend it to anyone with young kids. The illustrations are very nice also.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, May 19, 2010

By 

Sue Weaver - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charlie and Tess / Sheepdog in the Snow (Paperback)

If you love children's books illustrated by Steven Kellogg or Jan Brett, you won't want to miss this wonderful book. The illustrations are fantastic and the story so sweet. This is one of my favorite sheepy story books--ever!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely excellent children's book, May 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Charlie and Tess / Sheepdog in the Snow (Paperback)

I bought this book for my friend's children, and they loved it. They read it over and over at bedtime. I would recommend it to anyone.