The Call of the Wild / Jack London / 172 pgs.

The Call of the Wild is a classic I had never read until now, making it a perfect answer to one of the book challenges I am currently doing. It was a very quick read. I was able to finish it in a day with no problem. Having spent some time in Alaska back in 2013, I really enjoyed reading about Skagway (spelt Skaguay in the book) and some other place I had the chance to visit.


The story is of Buck, a half German Shepherd, half Saint Bernard mix. He resides in southern California until he is stolen and sent up to Seattle where he is trained to be a sled dog. Buck must learn how to work with the other sled dogs, and with humans. He is passed from master to master while pulling sleds from the Yukon to Alaska and back. Buck's spirit and ability to survive in the harshest conditions is a really neat story and I would highly recommend it. However, fair warning, there is some gruesome animal violence in various places in the book that may shock some readers.

Animal Farm / George Orwell / 113 pages

Animal Farm is a political satire, but comparisons to others are hard to make.  Orwell is even more critical of human nature than Jonathan Swift in Gulliver's Travels, where the weary Gulliver comes home to find he much prefers the company of horses to that of people.  While the work was originally meant to criticize Stalinism, lessons can be applied to almost any human civilization.  Foremost is the pigs' use of "the enemy" to strengthen their status as leaders of the farm.  While a short book, it has many deeper themes that take time to digest.  This is a book meant to challenge the way a person sees the world and it is successful if you are not already cynical about government.

Dark Horse / Rumer Godden 115 p.

Dark Invader was a washout on the racecourse so his owner sold him to a businessman in India.  In Calcutta, he thrived.  He was set to win a big race when a brutal jockey causes him to bolt.  To the nuns, where he takes shelter, he is a gift from God which the wiley mother superior uses to support her work among the very poor.

Halic / Ewan Clarkson 59 p.

Ewan Clarkson relates the life of Halic, a gray seal, living in the coastal waters of Wales, filled with great nature information.

Cat Who Saw Stars / Lilian Jackson Braun 73 p.

Report Jim Quilleran looks forward to a peaceful vacation with his two felines, Koko and Yum Yum; where Koko, especially, and Yum Yum  leave clues about the local mystery--a missing unidentified backpacker, while Jim inhales the local culture and characters.

Young Fredle / Cynthia Voigt 224 p.

What a fun listen. Wendy Carter is delightful as narrator. With Sadie the dog, you could just see just how energetic and excited Sadie is. Young Fredle, a house mouse, has spent his entire life in the cosy nest in the house. There are kitchen mice, basement mice, field mice, each with their own separate foraging areas and cultures. Fredle knows about mouse traps and Patches the cat. When he finds himself outside he's in a new world. He copes as he finds new food sources. He learns about the out-of-doors. Imagine never seeing flowers, the moon, and colors. And those wet missiles falling from the sky...what are those. He makes friends with a field mouse and with Sadie. Being trucked back to a racoon den in an ice cream carton almost cost him his life. He learns all kinds of things like ramps are good to eat. Even with all this, he wants to go home. There he questions the rules and the loss of freedom.

2012 Notable Children's Recordings

Donkey's Gift / Thomas M. Coffey 89 p.

Asinus plans to run away. After all he has been mistreated by humans all his life. In the hills of Galilee a donkey can be free. But he is purchased by Joseph, a carpenter , who needs to get his pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem. Asinus finds himself in the role of protector. He learns of burglary attempts through conversations with fellow donkey travelors. Along the way, he learns that Joseph and Mary are one of many humans that are caring individuals. A fun Christmas tale.

Flyaway / Lucy Christopher 328 p.

Thirteen year old Isla and her father have a deep bond with wild swans that migrate from Iceland each year. On the trip to see them returning, her father collapses with a heart attack. Isla is plunged into dealing with her father's health crisis, his estranged crusty grandfather, and social isolation when her best friend moves away. At the hospital she finds solace in a friendship with an optimistic leukemia victim of her own age. Helping her develop swan wings for a school art project so engages her grandfather that she sees an entirely different side of him. She vows to help her father, Harry, and a lone swan. Christopher wonderfully weaves this story about nature, coming of age, family in crisis, and friendship.

2012 Notable Children's Books