Wild Woods [Paperback]

Simon James (Author)

Book Description

Grandad and Jess are walking together in the woods when a squirrel passes by them. Jess wants the squirrel to be her pet and to take it home with her, but Grandad says that you can't tame a squirrel. As Jess follows the squirrel deeper into the woods, she discovers more natural wonders and comes to understand that her grandfather is right and she mustn't take the squirrel home, for this is its proper home, in the wild woods.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Jess and her grandfather are walking through the woods when the child decides to follow a squirrel and take it home. Grandad's objections always elicit a quick solution from Jess, who navigates streams and climbs hills much faster than he can. Along the way, James gives readers woodland vistas to enjoy. On many spreads, the recto is devoted to a painting of the girl and the squirrel, while the verso includes the brief text beneath a small painting of Grandad trying to keep up with his granddaughter. In the end, Jess realizes the truth of his claim that squirrels really belong "in the wild." The watercolor illustrations are impressive simply as landscape, but they offer more on a second look. The interplay of the child and the elderly man's trek over the same terrain, for example, provides multiple views of the same scenes. One hopes these two characters will have further adventures to share with the picture-book crowd.
Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 3-6. Walking with her Grandad, Jess spies a squirrel and decides to keep him. Grandad has trouble just keeping up with them as Jess and the squirrel go deeper into the woods, using stepping stones and fallen trees to cross streams and mucking through muddy places in their path. Every time Grandad raises an objection to her animal adoption plan--"Where will he sleep?"--Jess has an answer, but when it comes down to the central issue, she cheerfully concedes that a squirrel really belongs in the wild. An innocent love of natural creatures, so apparent in James' endearing Mr. Blueberry (1991), is also what gives this picture book its universal appeal. The beautifully composed pen-and-ink illustrations with watercolor washes have a feeling of spontaneity and touches of humor. A terrific book to read aloud before the kindergarten class takes a nature hike or during practically any preschool story time. Writing and illustrating picture books that are simple without being simplistic, sensitive without being sentimental, James has the gift of pleasing adult readers and children listeners alike. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens Paperbacks (May 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0744598044
• ISBN-13: 978-0744598049
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,449,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wild Woods by Simon James, August 5, 2010

By 

Madison (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Wild Woods (Hardcover)

Another wonderful story by Simon James. The artwork is fun, the storyline full of imagination. Just right for the child in all of us!

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute book, January 9, 2007

By 

Joyce R. Wendelken (Milford, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wild Woods (Paperback)

A long-time favorite book of my daughter, especially because she has a close relationship with her Grandfather.