Customer Reviews

The Maggie B

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a scrupulous picture book reviewer. A person can't go around giving EVERY good picture book five stars just because it's enjoyable. When I review a book for younger children I like to point out its unique qualities. It's artistic originality. It's simple but brilliant storytelling. And then you read something like "The Maggie B." and it all goes flying out the window. "The Maggie B." is not particularly original. Its art, while charming, will not bowl you over with its fantastical use of line and color. It's story is told well, but simple. And yet I would be a hard-hearted grinch if I gave this book anything less than the five stars it so richly deserves.

The plot of this story is summed up by the Library of Congress like so: "A little girl's wish to sail for a day on a boat named for her `with someone nice for company' comes true". Maggie's little brother is that "someone nice" and the two of them spend the day on their little boat living the sea life. The boat is fully equipped with an apple, peach and orange tree bearing fruit (and a beautiful toucan). There is an abundance of fresh eggs and milk to be had from various chickens and the goat. Maggie herself fishes and serves up sumptuous meals of lobster and peaches with cinnamon and honey for dessert. The day is simple and homey, the only real source of concern a thunderstorm that crashes and booms towards the end of the day. Even then, Maggie thoughtfully battens down the hatches and plays her fiddle to her brother, tucked snugly in his bed.

There are only a few books that convey "comfort" well. Tasha Tudor's books do to some degree, as does the occasional Steven Kellogg. But this book tops them all. Author/illustrator Irene Haas has developed a small lovely little tale of two children on the nicest ship in the world. Any little boy or girl who has played house with a younger sibling will gravitate fully to this enchanting little tale. It will not shock you. It will not excite you. But it will wrap you up in a big warm towel just as Maggie does her little brother after taking a splashy bath in the sink. You will not want to leave the ship again.

At the vast age of 25, I still have several of my childhood books. This is one of them, and it would be the last one that I would give up. The Maggie B taught me the art of imagination and the power it has in life. I have taken it with me everywhere, even to the college dorms, so that I could read it when I needed to get away. It teaches responibility and the need for self-reliance. I love this book.

It has been at least 20 years since I read this book...And in my memory has remained my most favorite childhood book. I must have read it over one hundred times...it truly captivated me... I dreamed of being Maggie and having her responsibilities- they seemed so adult yet so much fun! My one and only disappointment with this book is that in the paperback I have, every other page is in black and white. And Irene Haas' beautiful water colors are the main reason I returned to The Maggie B. over and over again. I'm wondering if the hardcover is different or newer copies are different...I'm expecting my first child, and if it's a girl I will definately be reading this to her!!!

Lately I've been dreaming of getting away, finding magic, drinking tea and playing house - outside of my daily responsibilities. I realized that this fantasy was first instilled in me by the Maggie B. I've never seen it on my nieces' shelves and I wondered if it was even in print. Clicking onto Amazon and seeing the color illustration of the cover brought the whole book back to me, especially of Maggie, cooking for James aboard their floating home. And that is where I long to be. That is my fantasy.

While I've always loved Irene Haas's beautiful illustrations (I saw them in person at a children's book workshop when the book orginally came out-they were even better in real life), I don't think the production values on this book have been held over the years. If you get a good copy of an early printing, it may still have the clear colors it should have. But I recently bought one from the tenth printing and, sadly, the interior colors were muddy while the jacket was overly forced into brightness on a strange stock.

I still love the story-not too scary and has a gentle, soothing ending which is perfect for bedtime. If you're not a picky person in book production, like me, it will still be one of your favorites.

I'm now 24 years old and can still remember the dream. My mother would read this book to me almost every night.

So much is done for kids these days. The toys talk to them, even some books do. They lead very passive lives. This book is about a child and her imagination and the sea voyage she dreams of one evening. It is a great story complimented well by great illustrations and is sure to enccourage your child to dream "in color." Also, with the songs, it makes an excellent read aloud book.

I have wanted to buy this book as a keepsake for both of my children, since I read it to them when they were very small. I worked for the State Library of Florida, and had the most special opportunity to read this when I was asked by the Children's Consultant, to give my opinion, by taking it home to read to my son and daughter. The imagination of Irene Haas, along with her beautiful illustrations, captured all of our hearts and minds. We believed we were on the boat with Margarent Barnstable, and her brother James. The little songs, gave me further enjoyment with my chidren. Now that both of them are married, and in the future, hopefully having children, I wanted them to be able to share this truly "enchanting" book with them.

My children, now in their twenties, loved this book when they were little and we love sharing it with the children in our lives today. The story of brave and loving Maggie in a sometimes stormy world reminds us that we can create warmth and safety for ourselves and others. The artwork makes us all want our own 'Maggie B.'

I am now 34 and expecting my first child (a Girl) and I have already started to read to her this, the first book I ever loved and cherished. Of all the books that I was exposed to as a child, I never bothered to retain any of them except for this one. I have always loved the story and the illustrations! I adore her loving relationship with her brother and her self-reliance and independence. This is a must have book for all children (and adults).