Customer Reviews

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy (Nature)

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The husband and wife team of Carl R Sams and Jean Stoick were at a winter Ann Arbor art fair. They are PHOTOGRAPHERS. The fact that they wrote a story to go with some of their photos is just a bonus. Their wildlife photography is just lovely, and has a unique charm and, often, humor. I purchased a large framed photo as a gift for my wildlife loving brother, when I noticed the books being sold in addition to the portraits. Seeing this as a cheaper way to own more photographs, and as a lovely way to show my three year old twins pictures of real animals (as opposed to animated or drawn ones) I bought it and gave it to them for Christmas. They love it. The story is well done. Especially considering the couple are not primarily authors. But it is really the pictures which are enthralling. My children are fascinated by the animals. I am very impressed overall, and am grateful the authors found a medium with which to show their photos to a wider audience.

Noted wildlife photographers and authors Carl Sams and his wife, Jean Stoick have combined their talents to offer a wonderful children's book that sets a new and higher standard for all children's books to follow.

Instead of the typical cartoon characters, Stranger in the Woods displays actual photographs and heartfelt words that offer an enlightening message on two levels. The photography is awesome...they set up their camera in a clearing of the woods near a snowman. The snowman was complete with hat, gloves and a carrot nose.

The bluejays, owls, chickadees, squirrels, porcupines, rabbits, field mice, cardinals...and, yes, children are all captured on film...checking out this marvelous snowman. But the most endearing creatures are the deer, who came to investigate, and eat the carrot nose.

The photos and text teach appreciation of nature and integrity of all beings. Most of all, Stranger in the Woods instills and encourages a message of love and compassion for our children to learn early in life. It is no wonder that Stranger in the Woods won the prestigious Ben Franklin Award as the best children's picture book of 2000.

In this reviewer's opinion, Stranger in the Woods should be read by adults as well. You see, Carl Sams and Jean Stoick deliver the message that there is more to living than greed and power. And that is, we share our planet with others, and the others don't always walk on two feet!

"Stranger in the Woods" is a great book. It has wonderful pictures and a funny story about animals that find a stranger in the woods who is a snowman. There are two children who build the snowman and put out food for the animals including a carrot nose on the snowman and bird seed. The animals think that the snowman is a nice stranger. The authors, who are photographers, take pictures of the animals as they get closer to the stranger. My mom, a native Michigander, bought me this book because it reminded her of home. She also bought one for my elementary school in Georgia. The pictures are taken in Michigan. I think any one who loves wildlife will love this book!!!

Noted wildlife photographers and authors Carl Sams and his wife, Jean Stoick have combined their talents to offer a wonderful children's book that sets a new a higher standard for all children's books to follow. Instead of the typical cartoon characters, Stranger in the Woods displays actual photographs and heartfelt words that offer an enlightening message on two levels. The photography is awesome...they set their camera in a clearing of the woods near a snowman. The snowman was complete with hat, gloves and a carrot nose. The bluejays, owls, chickadees, squirrels, porcupines, rabbits, field mice, cardinals and, yes, children are all captured on film ...checking out this marvelous snowman. But the most endearing creatures are the deer, who came to investigate, and eat the carrot nose. In this reviewer's opinion, Stranger in the Woods should be read by adults as well. You see, Carl Sams and Jean Stoick deliver the message that there is more to living than greed and power. And that is, we share our planet with others, and the others don't always walk on two feet! Richard Fuller Metaphysical Reviews

... Stranger in the Woods! Stranger in the Woods!"

In this poetic tale, beautifully illustrated entirely with wildlife photographs, the animals of the deep woods awake, after a winter storm, to the news of a stranger lurking in their midst. The deer, muskrat, mouse, rabbit, cardinal, porcupine, and many others sing a song of excitement about this strange, yet friendly creature with the carrot nose. And after the animals discover the feast this wondrous snowman has to offer, the children who built him vow to replenish their snowman's facial features until winter has long faded away.

I read this book to an active Kindergarten class and they were completely engaged! We were celebrating the first day of winter so it tied in nicely with the snow, sledding, and snowman theme. The photographs are beautiful but, what the children enjoyed most was the animals voices in the story. Each animal "talks like it sounds" in nature. For example the mourning dove's "Coo-coo-could that be him?"
This book is an instant wintertime classic (you may also appreciate the subtle undertones of conservation and care of our forest friends). The hardcover edition would make a terrific gift for any young child.

If you've never heard of "The Benjamin Franklin Award", then you are missing out on wonderful books put out by the truly innovative writers/illustrators/photographers that create books independently of the major publishers.

The major publishers strive to publish books that match what 'everyone wants' or that they perceive 'will sell' - the next Stephen King, or the yet another copy of a successful book.

It takes something like "Stranger in the Woods" to push the boundaries of what is 'good' in the publishing world. NOW that it is successful, we'll get a lot of major publisher copycat versions.

This is beautifully photographed and doesn't even need to be read to be enjoyed. I'd recommend that if you like this book, you check out other Benjamin Franklin Award winners! PMA (Publisher's Marketing Association) picks out the 'best of the independent publishers' so you KNOW you are going to get a great book when you find the Benjamin Franklin Award on it.

A couple of books I've read recently that are Benjamin Franklin Winners would include "The Blacksmith's Gift" by Dan T. Davis/Matthew Armstrong and the illustrated books by Christopher Canyon ("The Tree in the Ancient Forest", "Sunshine on My Shoulders").

But that's just a start! Get "Stranger in the Woods", the books above, and I think you'll agree that buying "Benjamin Franklin Award Winners" will be a wonderful experience in book exploration!

"Stranger in the Woods" and their other book "Lost in the Woods" are the most beautiful children's books I've ever seen! Children will delight in these photographs, and love the little story as will their parents. I am dishearted by one reviewer's comments below. It's a children's book, not the "great american novel". This book is simply magical. A treasure beyond any book I've seen recently. Don't hesitate. This book is wonderful and well worth your money as you will keep it forever for it's photographic beauty and enchanting prose.

This is a magical book for people of all ages. The photography of Carl Sams II captures some beautiful moments as the animals of the forest discover the 'stranger' that children have built as a kind of Christmas present. The words that Jean Stoick wrote beautifully express the ideas found in each photograph, that such special places are shared and not owned. For me, it is the appreciation of nature, for all of the creature that live in wilderness areas, that makes this story so appealing. These days, with all of the threats from humans that deer and forest areas are under, it is good to see a story where such places ' they might be in our backyards ' are appreciated as a special place. It reminds me of special wooded places that no longer exist due to development. There was a suggestion that the deer photographed for this book were overpopulating their area of wilderness but, happily, it was proven to be untrue.

Stranger in the Woods has received many awards, and it is wonderful that a book that so simply teaches an appreciation of nature should receive so much attention. This book belongs on the shelf of all households.

You don't have to be a child to enjoy this book. The photos are breath-taking. I put the book on my coffee table for my guests- children and adults to enjoy. What a conversational piece!