The Secret World of Og [Paperback]

Pierre Berton (Author), Patsy Berton (Illustrator)

Book Description

The Canadian Classic, written by Pierre Berton and illustrated by his daughter, Patsy is now a 26 episode animated children’s series on CBC television beginning Saturday, September 9, 2006. Berton often cited The Secret World of Og as his favourite of his forty-seven books. It has sold more than 200,000 copies in four editions.

The series follows the five Berton children, Penny, Pamela, Peter, Patsy, and baby Paul (better-known as “The Pollywog”) as they discover and explore a vast,mysterious world of caverns and rivers hidden beneath a trapdoor in the floor of their clubhouse. In their subterranean adventures, they befriend the little green inhabitants called Ogs, share their worldly knowledge with them, and, at the same time, gain a little wisdom themselves.

The series is directed by Paul Schibli who also directed the long-running CBC series The Raccoons.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Canadian classic, written by Pierre Berton and illustrated by his daughter, Patsy, has sold more than 200,000 copies in four editions. A favourite of young readers and their parents alike, The Secret World of Og is available once again, for a new generation of children.

In this fantasy adventure, four children ? Penny, the leader; Pamela, her common-sense sister; Peter, whose life?s ambition is to become a garbageman; and Patsy, who collects frogs in her pockets ? set out in search of their baby brother, Paul, better known as ?The Pollywog,? who has vanished mysteriously from their playhouse. Accompanied by their fearless pets, the children descend through a secret trapdoor into a strange underground world of mushrooms, whose green inhabitants know only one word: ?OG!?

Of his forty-seven books, this is Pierre Berton?s personal favourite, partly because the characters were inspired by his own children. The Secret World of Og brings Berton more fan mail than anything else he?s written ? at least a dozen letters a week from children across the country.

About the Author

Pierre Berton was one of Canada’s most popular and prolific authors. From narrative histories and popular culture, to picture and coffee table books to anthologies, to stories for children to readable, historical works for youth, many of his fifty books are now Canadian classics.

Born in 1920 and raised in the Yukon, Pierre Berton worked in Klondike mining camps during his university years. He spent four years in the army, rising from private to captain/instructor at the Royal Military College in Kingston. He spent his early newspaper career in Vancouver, where at 21 he was the youngest city editor on any Canadian daily. He wrote columns for and was editor of Maclean’s magazine, appeared on CBC’s public affairs program “Close-Up” and was a permanent fixture on “Front Page Challenge” for 39 years. He was a columnist and editor for the Toronto Star and was a writer and host of a series of CBC programs.

Pierre Berton received over 30 literary awards including the Governor-General’s Award for Creative Non-Fiction (three times), the Stephen Leacock Medal of Humour, and the Gabrielle Leger National Heritage Award. He received two Nellies for his work in broadcasting, two National Newspaper awards, and the National History Society’s first award for “distinguished achievement in popularizing Canadian history.” For his immense contribution to Canadian literature and history, he was awarded more than a dozen honourary degrees, is a member of the Newsman’s Hall of Fame, and is a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Pierre Berton passed away in Toronto on November 30, 2004.

Product Details

• Paperback: 60 pages
• Publisher: McClelland & Stewart; Revised edition (September 29, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 077101399X
• ISBN-13: 978-0771013997
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,294,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, August 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Secret World of Og (Paperback)

I remember when I was in grade five and six my teacher read this book to my class at the end of the year for fun, (because obviously there wasn't much left to do). And like many of the other reviewers I remember it and have been looking for it for a very long time. I think its a wonderful book for children of any age. There is an adventurous nature mixed in with the fantasy, which makes it light and humorous if you are an adult, enthralling if you are a young child, and quite intriguing and conversation provoking when you are in or around your teens. Definitely a must have book for people of any age!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best children's books ever, December 2, 2006

By 

Leslie Danihel "divebud" (Carson City, NV United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret World of Og (Paperback)

This book was read as a class project when I was 10 years old by one of my favorate teachers. Three years later, my sister had the same teacher and the same project. This became our favorate book, but we never saw a copy outside the classroom. We talked about it on occasion over the years and (we were now in our forties) my sister ran across it on Amazon and ordered copies for each of us. I received mine on Christmas morning (best present that year). We were able to enjoy reading it once again and pass it on to our children and hopefully our grandchildren when it's time. Highly recommended - it's a book you don't forget and those are rare indeed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic!, March 17, 2004

By 

J. Leong (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret World of Og (Paperback)

I read this story back in grade 4, and I never forgot how magical it was. Now, at the age of 19, I finally received it as a Christmas present from my sister. This story is by far one of the most magical stories I have ever read. It was fantastic, and completely unforgettable.