two books about rivers

Three Days On A River In A Red Canoe

Many of Vera Williams books have as their base a positive  relationship between family members.  In this book two sisters, Aunt Rosie and Mom, and their two children, Sam - Rosie's son, and the narrator, Mom's daughter, go on a canoe trip.  The account of the canoe trip starts off with "I was the first one to notice the red canoe for sale in a yard on the way home from school.  My mom and my aunt Rosie and my cousin Sam and I put our money together  and bought it."  The story goes on with many details about getting ready for the trip as well as the trip itself.   Illustrated in diary form with detailed drawings of the trip, including recipes, supplies, and how to tie knots, the trip is one I would have loved to have taken with a child and as a child.   There is some adventure, everything isn't perfect, but what is perfect is the depiction of a real canoe trip complete with unexpected happenings.


   Abel's Island by William Steig 
Like many of William Steig's books, the vocabulary is delightful.  As I started reading the beginning of this book to remind myself of how it started, I was immediately caught up and remembered how much I enjoyed reading the story to my children.   Abel, a mouse, learns how to survive in the wild after a misadventure.  He tries to rescue his new wife's scarf and is instead blown into a river and then washed on to an island.  It takes him a while to realize that he must fend for himself until he can figure out how rescue himself and leave the island. 
128 pages long for 6 and up.

The Trolley Car Family

The Trolley Car Family by Eleanor Clymer 



Written in 1947, this story is dated and at the same time timeless.  When I read the story  to my children, it made me feel safe and that nothing is impossible.   Mr. Parker has lost his job as the driver of a trolley car.  Buses are replacing the trolleys.  All the Parkers - mom, dad and four children - have a meeting to decide what they will do.  The trolley car company offered Mr. Parker the trolley that he drove for many years.  The Parkers decide to take the trolley and park it at the end of the track and live in it.    They work together to create their new home from the trolley.  They also plant a garden.  Lots of fascinating and satisfying detail about their move and their subsequent living arrangements make this book an engaging read aloud book.  I loved the innocence and good humour in the book.

If you're looking for a family story about cooperation and working together, has kittens, and a grumpy neighbor turned helpful neighbor, this is the book to read.  I've read it three or more times outloud and  enjoyed it every single time time.  In fact writing about it makes me reach for it to read it to myself.             For ages 4 and up.  216 pages.

Marty

An old favourite - The King of the Copper Mountains

King of the Copper Mountains by Paul Biegel

If you can find a copy of this book, buy it or borrow it and read it to your children.  First printed in Dutch, this story entranced our children.   The King has ruled the Copper Mountains for a thousand years and is now weak and old.  Hare, his one remaining servant, sends for the Wonder Doctor.  The Wonder Doctor knows of a cure, but it will take time for him to get the leaves of the Golden Speedwell and the king may die in the meantime.  The Wonder Doctor suggests that the king should listen to a story every night before bed.  The Wonder Doctor promises to tell all of the animals he meets on his journey about how important the stories will be.  He promises to ask each animal to go to the King and tell him a story to keep his heart beating strong.  The book is a collection of the animals' stories.  Ages 5 and up 157 pages

I was so surprised to find a facebook page about this book with links to numerous blog posts about the author and a link to his official page.   I'd forgotten how much I'd enjoyed this book until I started writing about it.  My husband and I used to sell children's books.  We sold books through a mail order catalog as well as through school book fairs.  This was one of the books we sold years ago before online book ordering.  I hope it goes back into print.