Curiosity [Paperback]

Gerald Allen Wunsch (Author)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: 1st Book Library (May 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410736997
• ISBN-13: 978-1410736994
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,861,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars CURIOSITY: A LEARNING ADVENTURE, November 11, 2003

By 

Juanita Reynolds, reviewer for Betsie's Liter... (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Curiosity (Paperback)

A familiar element of many children's books involves placing children into a new environment, showing they aren't exactly thrilled to be there, and then watching them find the value of their new surroundings. In Curiosity, Ginger and Irene are sent to Ginger's grandparents, George and Abby, for a month in southern Indiana while Ginger's parents are away on an extended vacation. George and Abby live out in the country along with Laird, their wire fox terrier. The young girls are looking for adventure in a place where there seems to be nothing much to do, but adventure is exactly what they find during their month in the country.

George takes the girls to visit the home of his friends, the Browns. Their house holds many hidden surprises. Mrs. Brown talks to the girls about the Civil War and the history of the Underground Railroad. She then shows them the secret hiding places in the house which were used by the slaves on their quest for freedom via the Underground Railroad. The girls imagine how the slaves must have felt when they were hiding, awaiting their journey to the North and to freedom.

Several days after this visit, the girls are bored, trying to find something interesting to do. When Laird disappears, they find that he has fallen into a hole. After Laird is rescued, it is discovered that the hole leads to an underground storage cellar. The girls are curious about what they might find in the cellar. What they find leads to their own adventure, which ties in, once again, to the Underground Railroad. Their exciting discovery lands the girls on the front page of the local newspaper.

This is a book that teaches children about an important part of our history in an interesting way. After each chapter are questions which are answered in the Learning More section at the end of the book. This section provides information, photographs and drawings which expand upon the story. I felt this was a nice touch since the author provides answers to questions that might be cropping up as inquiring young minds read this book . The illustrations throughout the book are well done and add to the story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HAVE FUN LEARNING, August 6, 2003

By 

"grama266" (Fountain Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Curiosity (Paperback)

THIS BOOK GIVES INFORMATION ON NEW SUBJECTS IN A FUN STORY FOR CHILDREN. THE STORY INVOLVES A MYSTERY WHICH TWO INQUISITIVE GIRLS INVESTIGATE WITH THE HELP OF A LIVELY WIRE FOX TERRIER. THE AUTHOR GIVES US GLIMPSES OF HIS LIFE & PASSIONS WHILE TELLING A STORY CHILDREN WILL LOVE. I BELIEVE MY FOUR GRANDSONS WILL ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DID!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two Girls and a little dog, July 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Curiosity (Paperback)

Don't you just love to read? I do, especially when wire fox terriers are involved. I am filled with anticipation, wondering what is going to happen. Wires can be so unpredictable! I, myself, possess one of a wire's greatest traits: curiosity. So when I was offered the opportunity to read and review Curiosity, by Gerald Allen Wunsch (you may recognize that last name - Martha's husband!), I could hardly wait to dig into this charming children's book. My qualifications for being a reviewer stem largely from the fact that I, too, am a published children's author. I heard early on that Jerry was writing this book, and am excited to see it in print at last.

Curiosity is a children's novel about a summertime adventure. Abby and George Wanamaker live in rural southern Indiana with their wire fox terrier, Laird. Their granddaughter, Ginger, and her friend, Irene Fong, are spending a month with them while the girls' parents are traveling in Europe. But the parents aren't the only ones who are having exciting adventures. With the help of the curious Laird, some late-night escapades, and the discovery of an unusual old coin, the girls discover that the Wanamaker's 150 year-old house is an important part of American history.

Curiosity is full of delightful illustrations by Irene Joslin. She captures the attitude and expressiveness of a wire fox terrier well. Jerry has a special section at the end of his book that gives more information on wire fox terriers, complete with pictures of his real-life inspiration, Laird. It gives a well-rounded picture of the breed, including history, temperament, and grooming information.

I do hope you'll pick up a copy of Curiosity. You will smile with recognition at Laird's antics and the fun he contributes to the story. I wouldn't at all be surprised to read more of his adventures sometime in the future. After all, where there is curiosity, there is bound to be adventure!