Through the Mickle Woods [Library Binding]

Valiska Gregory (Author), Barry Moser (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1992 | Age Level: 8 and up

To fulfill the dying wish of his queen, the king goes into the dark and mickle woods to find the mysterious bear who tells him three stories about the meaning of life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Queen is dead, and the King has been plunged into grief as bleak as the winter weather that swirls outside the palace. Michael, a young orphan, brings a letter, the Queen's last request: Into the dark and mickle woods go forth to find the bear. At the eave of the wise old bruin, the King comes to realize-through cryptic stories and Michael's love-that he must speak of his grief and remember his wife to allow the healing process to begin. Written in eloquent prose shot through with fresh metaphors, this modern folktale deals compassionately with the death of a loved one. A difficult subject for a children's book, yet Gregory succeeds for the most part, filling her text with light, hope and the cycles of nature to lighten the tone. However, the talewithin-a-tale structure may be a bit sophisticated for the intended audience. Also, Moser's artwork does not take full advantage of the story's dramatic opportunities. With impeccable technique, the illustrations reflect the King's gloominess in dark, still scenes, yet some appear a bit lifeless and foreed instead of flowing naturally from this pungent tale. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-- A page urges his mourning king to honor the queen's last wish and go with him into the winter night of the mickle woods to find the bear. Once in the cave, the impatient monarch is ready to turn back, but the wise bear has stories to tell and the boy wants to listen. After three healing parables, the grieving man can look forward to the new day. Moser's large, dramatic, ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations realize the telling. For each of the bear's stories, he frames a smaller picture against snow-dappled trees. The art is among the best of a master painter. Unfortunately, although Gregory's similes are apt, there are far too many, and they lack the power of metaphor or plain straight telling. She averages over two per page, weighing down the story, distracting readers, and breaking the pace. She is better than this; less ornate, her bear's fables sing, teach, and comfort. Overall, however, the tale is as rich as its artwork. Beyond its power as story, it could help those dealing with grief. --Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding: 1 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (Juv); 1st edition (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316327794
• ISBN-13: 978-0316327794
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #717,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Valiska Gregory is an award-winning poet and children's book author whose work has been translated into seven languages, received Parents' Choice Awards, been chosen for the American Booksellers' Pick of the Lists, and been featured on PBS and national television. Reference source Something About the Author calls her a "star in the children's literature scene."

According to reviewers, Ms. Gregory's work ranges from picture and chapter books full of "kid pleasing humor and plenty of action" to poignant books for all ages that are "told with a contagious sense of wonder." Her writing has been called "shining and magical" with "language and phrasing . . . as pleasing to the ear as the story is to the heart."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare treasure in a book, a story to help deal with grief, September 24, 2001

By 

Shanshad "shanachie_shadowfax" (Discworld) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Through the Mickle Woods (Library Binding)

There aren't too many picture books or stories for children that deal so well with the issues of grieving and healing and the questions about life after someone you love has died. This book gently tells, in story and fable, the healing words of how to carry on and what it is to live, and why we need to remember. Any parent or child old enough to understand death can take comfort and healing from this story. I wish I had a hundred copies of this to give to all of my friends who have lost someone. In the traditions of ANNIE AND THE OLD ONE, and THE TENTH GOOD THING ABOUT BARNEY this is another work that deals with death, life, and those who must deal with the questions that surround them.

4.0 out of 5 stars A story of grief and redemption for children, September 9, 2008

By 

Donna Lou Ritter (Portage, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Through the Mickle Woods (Library Binding)

This is a story in the best tradition of fairy tales. It deals with hard issues of life in a form that allows one to absorb what one needs and can manage at any given time. Then you can return for more later. Not a book to be given to children to read alone, but a book to be shared. An adult can help a child find the meaning. The message of loss, and grief, and memory, and continuing to live can be absorbed by adults as well as children

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Written and Drawn, December 7, 1999

By 

"padme_naberrie" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through the Mickle Woods (Library Binding)

I believe this book was incredibly well done. The story is great and the illustrations INCREDIBLE. Barry Moser did an incredible job with the illustrations. I really do recommend this book to everyone.