Sleep Out [Paperback]

Carol Carrick (Author), Donald Carrick (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 1982 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Eager to try out his camping equipment, young Christopher sleeps out alone in the woods for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A deep sensitivity to the world of nature . . . is reflected in the harmony of story and pictures." Horn Book

"A deep sensitivity to the world of nature . . . is reflected in the harmony of story and pictures." Horn Book Guide

About the Author

Donald Carrick has illustrated many children's books. He lives in Edgartown, Massachusetts.

Carol Carrick has written more than twenty-five well-received books for Clarion, including PATRICK'S DINOSAURS, one of the many books illustrated by her late husband, Donald Carrick. She lives in West Tisbury, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (April 19, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899190839
• ISBN-13: 978-0899190839
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,999,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What sensible parents would allow this?, September 28, 2004

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sleep Out (Paperback)

I was not impressed with this book. Young Christopher gets a sleeping bag and other camping equipment for his birthday. He immediately wants to sleep out, but must wait until the family takes a trip to a cabin in the country. On the way there, he sees a spot by a brook and announces that that is the spot where he will spend the night. Once they arrive at the cabin, he takes his equipment and by himself, sets out for his selected campsite, which is some distance from the cabin. In the night, it starts to rain and he decides to move. As he walks, he hears noises and sets out for an old, empty farmhouse that he has been in before with his friends.

He enters the house and gets scared when he hears noises. Fortunately, his dog Bodger finds him and with this reassurance he falls asleep. In the morning, he goes back to the cabin and tells his father that it was great, but he got a little scared. His father then tells him that they will pitch a tent in the back yard that night.

What I disliked about the book is that this boy is clearly very young and yet his parents let him sleep outside some distance from their location and did not check on him when it started to rain. The suggestion that he enter an abandoned house alone is the wrong message to give children. Finally, after the first night when he was alone, his father then pitches a tent outside the cabin and they spend the next night together. The parents appear neglectful and I did not read this book to my children.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book, February 12, 2012

By 

V. Ferris "Mr Green" (Green Woods) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleep Out (Paperback)

My brother and I read and were read this book so many times when we were younger. It has beautiful illustrations inside, and a great simple story. I recently returned to this book and read it again, happily I wasn't disappointed. It's still awesome. I highly recommend this book.

1.0 out of 5 stars Not the best book for young children, July 16, 2011

By 

Nicole D. Sollman (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleep Out (Paperback)

This book is not an appropriate life lesson for a child. Christopher the main character sleeps outside in the woods on his own near water. Then sleeps in an abandoned house when he gets scared. It is abrupt in the flow of the story. Suddenly a scene would change from a previous build-up in the story line. I would not recommend this for children under twelve. And anyone older than twelve wouldn't be interested unfortunately.