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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This is the same author who did "Blueberries for Sal" and "Make Way for Ducklings"... unfortunately, he doesn't do as great a job with a chapter book. It was a tad boring. Each chapter was a new short story with an overarching theme of Homer being a good, quick-witted boy... except for the last story, which was really just weird and kind of trippy.
I think I read this as a child because it was vaguely familiar. Definitely not one that I read over and over and most likely I was pretty young. I loved the middle chapters of this book. I don't know if I needed to get warmed up but the first chapter struck me as so ridiculous.
Why was there such a lackadaisical attitude about catching these thieves? Homer first sees them in the woods and doesn't alert anyone because he guesses the police will figure it out. When the thieves show up at his parents tourist camp he alerts the sheriff but the sheriff wants to finish getting a haircut and, ostensibly, shooting the breeze with his friends at the barbershop. What?!?!? Then Homer makes several bad decisions, manages to live through it all (these are some seriously "thick" theives- the original meaning of "thick as thieves" takes on new meaning in this book). When Homer marches the thieves into town the sheriff is STILL getting a haircut.
The last chapter was fine, it was just full of my personal pet peeves which I don't need to get into here. When looking at the 2 chapters that bugged me I'd have to say the 1st chapter was better because, in the end, this is a children's book. A child is not going to care about how silly that first chapter was. However, the last chapter is going to be slow for children and annoying to many adults who feel about pre-fab cookie cutter housing as I do. I think the most kids would take from this chapter is how silly and confusing it is for everyone's house to look exactly the same.
Each chapter is it's own little story and, as I said, mostly delightful. I have been a long time fan of Robert McCloskey and even with the ridiculousness of that first chapter he won me over quickly.
Why was there such a lackadaisical attitude about catching these thieves? Homer first sees them in the woods and doesn't alert anyone because he guesses the police will figure it out. When the thieves show up at his parents tourist camp he alerts the sheriff but the sheriff wants to finish getting a haircut and, ostensibly, shooting the breeze with his friends at the barbershop. What?!?!? Then Homer makes several bad decisions, manages to live through it all (these are some seriously "thick" theives- the original meaning of "thick as thieves" takes on new meaning in this book). When Homer marches the thieves into town the sheriff is STILL getting a haircut.
The last chapter was fine, it was just full of my personal pet peeves which I don't need to get into here. When looking at the 2 chapters that bugged me I'd have to say the 1st chapter was better because, in the end, this is a children's book. A child is not going to care about how silly that first chapter was. However, the last chapter is going to be slow for children and annoying to many adults who feel about pre-fab cookie cutter housing as I do. I think the most kids would take from this chapter is how silly and confusing it is for everyone's house to look exactly the same.
Each chapter is it's own little story and, as I said, mostly delightful. I have been a long time fan of Robert McCloskey and even with the ridiculousness of that first chapter he won me over quickly.
This is a fine book FOR CHILDREN OF THE NINETEEN FORTIES!!!
Too much to explain to kids today. The Sheriff and Uncle Telemachus fighting over Miss Terwilliger's hand in marriage because she makes the best fried chicken. For real?
And we wonder why kids hate to read when we hand them titles like this one for literature circles?
I'm a bit horrified at the 4.07 average rating. I don't give bonus stars for nostalgia.
Too much to explain to kids today. The Sheriff and Uncle Telemachus fighting over Miss Terwilliger's hand in marriage because she makes the best fried chicken. For real?
And we wonder why kids hate to read when we hand them titles like this one for literature circles?
I'm a bit horrified at the 4.07 average rating. I don't give bonus stars for nostalgia.
This book was a charming read to my four year old. It is 5 short stories involving Homer and his home of Centerburg and has a strong 1950's vibe. Some of the stories were exciting and funny, some were a little boring or had little current cultural capital and failed to translate well. We enjoyed it and would recommend it four a read aloud.
lighthearted
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wish I had grown up on these... I would have been nostalgically attached to the stories.
fast-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really enjoyed reading this one to my 8-year-old. She enjoyed it as well. Just a sweet childhood story of a bygone era that included some very unusual events and the main character (child) saving the day.