The Lonely Scarecrow [Hardcover]

Tim Preston (Author), Maggie Kneen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

In this ornately embossed gift book, a group of animals learns the true meaning of friendship and acceptance

When winter descends upon the cornfield, the first snowfall brings about an amazing transformation: a lonely scarecrow, ignored and feared by everyone because of his flapping coat and jagged metal mouth, is covered by a thick blanket of snow. Before long, he is transformed into a jolly snowman and is welcomed for the first time into the animals' games. But what will the scarecrow's newfound friends think when the snow melts and he returns--jagged teeth and all?

Lavish embossing on every page gently illuminates the turning of the seasons--from coppery autumn foliage to sparkling snowscapes. Readers will be enchanted by the fondly rendered creatures, which include bright-eyed birds and field mice, a family of furry rabbits, and a wise old owl, as well as the poetic text printed in elegant calligraphy. This ornate gift book is a treat for nature lovers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Winter snow transforms a scarecrow into a friendly-looking snowman, no longer frightening to the local animals, in this warm-spirited story with dainty, embossed artwork. Preston, a newcomer to children's books, describes the scarecrow's emotions as inextricable from the changes in the seasons: "The happy song of the lark [was] drowned out by the whispering of the wheat. Marooned in his golden sea, the scarecrow lost hope of ever making friends." Fortunately, when the snow thaws, the animal friends he makes as a snowman still recognize him in his scary springtime guise. The book owes much of its strength to Kneen's (Milly's Wedding) delicate renderings of farmyard creatures and nearly lifelike views of the scarecrow bursting from square framed seasonal vistas. The pleasingly plump animals look as snuggly as plush toys, and the scarecrow's emotions seem palpable. A lavish use of embossing defines snowflakes in wintry landscapes and adds texture to the many poppies, autumn leaves and animal tracks. This invitation to readers to touch the book's pages complements the story's tender theme of intimacy. All ages. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-A kindly scarecrow wants to be friends with the birds and animals that play at the edge of his wheat field, but they are afraid of him because of his clothing and "his beady eyes, his crooked nose, and his jagged metal mouth." Many animals watch him, but none dare to approach him. As winter arrives, the creatures run home to their burrows and nests. Then one night, snow falls and turns the scarecrow into a jolly snowman, and the animals play with him. Though he is happy now, he worries that when the snow melts, he will be alone again. But his fears are unfounded; the animals are surprised to learn his true identity, but they love him just the same. The story is trite and corny and has been told many times before. The excellent, delicate, realistic illustrations show many details of the fields and surrounding wildlife. Unfortunately, the quality of the art cannot compensate for the poor story.
Anne Parker, Milton Public Library, MA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1St Edition edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525460802
• ISBN-13: 978-0525460800
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,204,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lonely Scarecrow, January 17, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (N. Ogden, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lonely Scarecrow (Hardcover)

Outstanding! The story is wonderful and the illustrations are beautiful. It is truly one of the nicest books we have in our extensive collection of childrens books. It is really appropriate for a much wider range of ages than what was recommended.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lonely Scarecrow (Hardcover)

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. The embossed, double thickness pages make it more "handable" for my toddler whose prone to destroying his sister's books. My 4 year old loved story and I loved the lesson it teaches!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DELIGHTFUL IN EVERY WAY., November 2, 2006

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lonely Scarecrow (Hardcover)

I love this little book. It has a wonderful message of friendship, teaching that not is always as it seems and to give people a chance. It is a wonderful story of loneliness and how it is overcome. I also love the illustrations in this book. The art work along is worth the price of the book several times over. The text is simple and quite lyrical. This is a joy to read to the kids in class as well as to the grand children and children at home. This one has been around for a couple of years and I am quite glad to see it still in print. This is one of those you will want to buy and keep. Recommend this one highly.