2017 Summer Reads ~ Part 2

This is the second part to my summer book review series. Read Part 1 if you want more book reviews.

Books Read

 

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwell
The Story of Doctor Dolittle and Doctor Dolittle’s Circus by Hugh Lofting

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggins

The Summary

Danger at the Zoo by Kathleen Ernst

Kit lands a summer job writing a children's column for her local newspaper. She decides to look for story ideas at the Cincinnati Zoo, where her friend Stirling works as a guide and her old friend Will, the hobo, has a job cleaning cages. As Kit noses around the zoo, she stumbles into some strange doings in the monkey house. Her reporter's instincts tell her that she's onto something worth investigating--and she's determined to get the story.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Caddie Woodlawn is a real adventurer. She'd rather hunt than sew and plow than bake, and tries to beat her brother's dares every chance she gets. Caddie is friends with Indians, who scare most of the neighbors -- neighbors who, like her mother and sisters, don't understand her at all.

Caddie is brave, and her story is special because it's based on the life and memories of Carol Ryrie Brink's grandmother, the real Caddie Woodlawn. Her spirit and sense of fun have made this book a classic that readers have taken to their hearts for more than seventy years.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie is the third book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams.

Laura Ingalls and her family are heading to Kansas! Leaving behind their home in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, they travel by covered wagon until they find the perfect spot to build a little house on the prairie. Laura and her sister Mary love exploring the rolling hills around their new home, but the family must soon get to work, farming and hunting and gathering food for themselves and for their livestock. Just when the Ingalls family starts to settle into their new home, they find themselves caught in the middle of a conflict. Will they have to move again?

The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwell

A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations. "Here is a book to read aloud in groups of all ages. There is not an extra or misplaced word in the whole story."--The Horn Book. Newbery Honor Book.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

When a swallow arrives in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh with the news that the monkeys of Africa are ill and only the doctor who talks with animals can save them, Doctor Dolittle and such good friends as Jip, his loyal dog, and Dab-Dab, his housekeeper duck, face their greatest challenge. Together they must sail to Africa, battle a band of cutthroat pirates, flee across a gorge on a bridge made of acrobatic apes, and convince the king of the beasts that even he must help an animal in need.

Doctor Dolittle’s Circus by Hugh Lofting

In Doctor Dolittle's Circus the doctor needs money to pay off a voyage to Africa, so he joins a circus with the pushmi-pullyu as his attraction. He enlightens a circus owner who cares little for animals, fights against the practice of fox hunting and helps other creatures such as a circus seal and cart horses that is too old to work.

Hugh John Lofting was a British author who created the character of Doctor Dolittle - one of the classics of children's literature. His early education was at Mount St. Mary's College in Sheffield, after which he went to the United States, completing a degree in civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He enlisted in the Irish Guards to serve in World War I. Not wishing to write to his children of the brutality of the war, he wrote imaginative letters that were the foundation of the Doctor Dolittle novels.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggins

Eleven-year-old Rebecca Randall is quite a handful—and now she’s leaving her beloved Sunnybrook Farm to live with her well-to-do elderly aunts and get an education. But they were expecting Rebecca’s quiet, hard-working older sister instead. Can the bright-eyed and talkative girl win them over…especially her strict, rule-bound Aunt Miranda? Just as Rebecca’s “grand spirit” charms everyone in the story, it will captivate readers, too.

Things I Liked

Danger at the Zoo by Kathleen Ernst

This book is another great Kit Kittredge mystery from American Girl. It does follow a series so it is placed after Kit's two Beforever novels and it is the first mystery novel in her series. It is not grouped into an official series, but the books do follow a certain timeline.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

I loved this book and the portrayal of Caddie Woodlawn who is a tomboy. Although this book is centered on a female character, it is a very fun read considering the fact that Caddie gets into quite a few adventures and scrapes with her brothers.

I also love the fact that although she is a tomboy and likes hanging out with her brothers, she is still very much a feminine character. The author involves a balance of important character qualities including courage, compassion, loyalty, and friendship. This is a great book that displays the character of the American settlers.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is another American classic and tells a very informative story about life as a pioneer in 1800s. Although it is for children's reading level, it is filled with descriptions and will make a great family read.

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwell

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The stories and descriptions of the penguins interacting with the Popper family is not only hilarious but also extremely entertaining and interesting. On side note, don't watch the movie for this book because it is completely different.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle and Doctor Dolittle’s Circus by Hugh Lofting

I decided to combine these two books in this category. The concept of these novels are very interesting. The author does a great job with naming the animals as well as creating interesting stories and incidents for each of the characters.

Things I Disliked

Danger at the Zoo by Kathleen Ernst

The mystery for this book isn't in anyway deep or astoundingly logical because it is for girls ages 8-12. The story made this book a better book than the mystery did.

Doctor Dolittle’s Circus by Hugh Lofting

There is a whole section of the book where the animal's break a seal out of the zoo so she could be reunited with her husband in Alaska. It was a very weird and very long part of the book.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggins

This book is a collection of short stories about Rebecca and her life, but the short stories are not congruous in any way. I found myself confused at the randomness of the story topics and I didn't really get the point of the book.

Rating

Danger at the Zoo by Kathleen Ernst: R (Recommend)
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink: R (Recommend)
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder: R (Recommend)
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwell: R (Recommend)
The Story of Doctor Dolittle and Doctor Dolittle’s Circus by Hugh Lofting: PR (Partially Recommend)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggins: NR (Not Recommended)


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I hope you enjoyed the special articles of July, and I would definitely do something like this again in another month perhaps. Return on Monday for another historical article.