Clara and the Bookwagon (I Can Read Book 3) [Paperback]

Nancy Smiler Levinson (Author), Carolyn Croll (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 1991 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: I Can Read Book 3

Papa will not allow Clara to learn to read—he says that ‘Farm people like us do not have time to read." But when the traveling bookwagon, with persuasive Miss Mary at the reins, arrives at their farm, Papa realizes he must change his mind. Based on the true story of America’s first ‘bookmobile.’

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 Clara, a young farm girl growing up in rural Maryland at the turn of the century, dreams of being able to read and to learn, but her hard working, no-nonsense father says, ``Books are for rich people. Farm people like us do not have time to read.'' During the summer, Clara meets a woman driving a large wagon filled with books. The woman gives Clara a ride back to the farm where, after much persuading, Clara's father agrees to let Clara learn to read and to borrow books from America's first ``bookmobile.'' This is a simple, straightforward fictionalized account of the country's first bookmobile, a horse-drawn book-filled wagon that serviced the country areas around Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1905, and of its librarian, Mary Lemist Titcomb. The story is concise and well-written, a fine early chapter book that can be used in library classes and as a good example of historical fiction for the very young. Colorful illustrations, also unadorned and straightforward, reinforce and complement the mood of the text. The only flaw is that the time period is not in the story, causing children to read the entire story without knowing when it takes place. (It is explained in a brief historical note on the last page.) However, this should not stand in the way of purchasing this fine work. Hayden E. Atwood, Cape Elizabeth Middle School, Maine
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Nancy Smiler Levinson has written many popular books for young readers, including Magellan and the First Voyange Around the World and the I Can Read Books Clara and the Bookwagon, illustrated by Carolyn Croll, and Snowshoe Thompson, illustrated by Joan Sandin. She lives in Beverly Hills, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064441342
• ISBN-13: 978-0064441346
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent easy chapter book that promotes books & reading!, October 10, 2000

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Clara and the Bookwagon (I Can Read) (Library Binding)

This easy reader chapter book promotes books and reading with an appealing story set in 1905 Maryland. Inquisitive Clara desperately wants to learn to read, but there are no schools nearby, and her father says she's too busy with farmwork to waste her time on books.

Levinson makes historical fiction very appealing to younger readers, with a fine eye to the details of rural life, without getting bogged down in old-fashioned terms. While the story is simple, the characters and plot are realistic. In the process, the reader is introduced to the very first "bookmobile," a horse-drawn wagon, based on historical fact.

In our library, this title doesn't get checked out until it is read-aloud or otherwise introduced to the children. After that it gets a lot of use. Recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seven year old boy loves it, September 3, 2008

By 

maestrmuti (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clara and the Bookwagon (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

I have a seven year old boy who is an excellent reader. The problem is getting him to read. If it is not about lizards, he's not interested. This book was sent today as part of his K-12 curriculum. I told him to read the first 11 pages. He read 40 before putting it down. I've never seen him read a fiction book like that. I thought perhaps he was just skimming since he was reading it quickly, but I quizzed him and he actually read it! I'm very pleased.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great easy chapter books, April 22, 2010

By 

CaliforniaCarolinaMom - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Clara and the Bookwagon (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

The historical story is a great intro to past time periods, and my daughter has read this book over and over.