Lucy's Journey to the Wild West [Hardcover]

Charlotte Piepmeier (Author), Sally Blakemore (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

"From the moment we drove into Santa Fe, I knew it was a doggie town," says Lucy, the chocolate Lab who must move from North Carolina to New Mexico. Lucy's Journey is filled with humorous observations about what she sees on their cross country drive.

Includes a recipe for biscochitos.

Would be useful for home schoolers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Lucy, a lovable chocolate Labrador retriever, moves from Wilmington, NC, to Santa Fe, NM, writing a journal of her trip. While the pup may well appreciate her journal in her doggie dotage, and those whose lives she has touched may be charmed, random readers won't have an easy connect unless they have taken the same trip or have a journal assignment. A clever idea runs amok as Lucy doggedly records the places her owners visit while she stays in the car or with friends. Twice she gets out and becomes lost but is found or returned. At last she is happy in her new home. It would be a rare child who could enjoy Lucy's musing over "Elvis's hound dog" chewing "his Blue Suede Shoes" at Graceland. Blakemore valiantly attempts to cover nine states, multiple tourist attractions, and myriad factoids. Her use of color is commendable, but the layout is way too busy for ease in reading. There are a couple of lovely, realistic renderings of Lucy, and the colorful maps are clear, but there are many better-crafted books about moving, dogs, and journaling.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. With engaging doggy enthusiasm, Lucy, the author's chocolate Labrador, delivers a back-seat travelogue as she travels from North Carolina to Santa Fe with her human keepers. After a meandering journey that passes through Washington D.C., Memphis ("I wonder if Elvis's hound dog chewed his blue suede shoes"), Oklahoma City, Cadillac Ranch in Texas, and other places, Lucy gets temporarily lost in the wide open country around her new home, but ultimately settles in and discovers the pleasures of chasing lizards and jackrabbits with some new canine friends. Most of Blakemore's small, broadly brushed insets feature Lucy either posing at various roadside attractions or sacked out on her back, but her journey is also traced on maps. Occasional glimpses of cowboys or covered wagons add even more atmosphere to her commentary. Children will learn a bit about Santa Fe and the westward expansion, and those who are faced with relocation may derive some comfort from seeing how Lucy's initial apprehension about leaving her old life turns into happy acceptance of something new. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Azro Pr (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929115075
• ISBN-13: 978-1929115075
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,068,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucy's Journey to the Wild West, August 11, 2008

By 

K. Scottwhite - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lucy's Journey to the Wild West (Hardcover)

This is a delightful book. The story line is about a cross country trip as seen through he eyes of a dog. The illustrations are excellent. I bought this for a my grandchildren. They loved learning about the places Lucy saw on her trip west.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great title for young readers, March 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lucy's Journey to the Wild West (Hardcover)

Lucy's Journey to the Wild West is a delightful look at the sadness and joy of leaving a home you love. Not only does it comfort children who are having to move from a favorite house or neighborhood, it shows them the adventure of moving and the excitement of meeting new friends and experiencing new places. Great for learning geography!
The illustrations are so much fun and for dog lovers, a dog's point of view is always the best!

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, February 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lucy's Journey to the Wild West (Hardcover)

Anyone with a love for dogs will enjoy this book. Lucy travels throughout the USA and has many adventures. Cute and educational!