Mountain Born (Paperback)

~ Elizabeth Yates (Author), Nora Spicer Unwin (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

There were boulders at the top and he picked his way carefully among them. Suddenly he stopped still, gripping a rock and flattening himself against it. Not ten paces from him was a gray wolf, and around her four well-grown cubs were playing--prettily, if anything that spelt such horror could be pretty. His hands felt like ice on the rock.

Wolves, weather, a black lamb, a trusty dog--all are part of Peter's life on a mountain farm. His best friend is Benj, a wise old shepherd, and Benj teaches him to care for the sprightly lamb that becomes his own special pet, his cosset. As Biddy grows into her place as leader of the flock, Peter grows too, learning the skills and joys of the shepherd's life.

About the Author

For Elizabeth Yates, the story of Peter and his little black cosset began long before she ever wrote it. In her early years the life on her father's large farm gave her a feeling for the land, for animals, and for the people who have both in their care. Many of her experiences found their way into the story, including the joy she felt when she could bury her nose in her own sweater, made of wool spun as it came from the sheep's back. Miss Yates drew inspiration from her hours spent with a New Hampshire shepherd, and, she observes, sheep shepherds, and their ways have not much changed from the days when David cared for his flock on a hillside in Judea. Her story could have taken place in any mountain pasture, in any alpine meadow around the world.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: JourneyForth (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890847061
• ISBN-13: 978-0890847060
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #302,402 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Words of Wisdom, February 3, 2000

By	P. Gardner "Penny Gardner" (American Fork, UT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although written for children, there are many words of wisdom in this lovely book. One of my favorites is: "A man must have a care to what he puts in his mind, for when he's alone on a hillside and draws it out he'll want treasures to be his company, not regrets."

Yates uses rich language and imagery in her writing that vividly remind one of the simple things in life. "She snapped out a man's shirt...fastening it with pins to the line."

This book treats, with sensitivity, the loss of one's beloved pet. It portrays strong family values and work ethic from a simpler time.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, April 25, 1998

By A Customer

A warm well written book about a shepherd boy and a speical lamb. I read it to my children and we all really enjoyed it. I'm glad to have it in our family library.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story!, October 14, 2005

By	K. Olgren (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book to my son. It started out a little slow; I wasn't sure he would enjoy it as much as some others we've read. But we really enjoyed it, probably more than many of those others. As I was wrapping it up, he asked about a sequel, which always means he REALLY loved the book. There is one called *A Place for Peter* that is also worth reading. It is such a sweet story. Definitely worth reading.