Jeffers, Susan Books

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Why make a poem with mature themes into a children's book? 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 8 people found this review helpful.

The poem "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" is certainly open to any person's individual interpreation. However, by illustrating it and turning it into a children's book, one is imposing a rather 'childish' interpretation on a poem which can have a deeper meaning. Perhaps there is some literature that should be left for kids to explore when they are older instead of trying to "dumb down" everything and hence lose its impact and meaning.

Editorial Review:

Robert Frost's well-known poem takes on new life in its first picture-book adaptation. The poem--long appreciated for its strong rhythm and evocative images--leaves readers wondering, "Where was the man going on the darkest night of the year?" and "Why on earth did he stop by the woods in a snowstorm?" Artist Susan Jeffers answers these questions visually--the kindly older gentleman who narrates the poem stops his sleigh to feed the forest birds and creatures. He stops once more to visit his daughter and grandchildren, then is off again through a blizzard, with many miles to go before he can sleep. The silent beauty of a snowy night shines through Jeffers's artwork; the man's clothing and blanket are the only bright touches of color in the white and wintry world of the woods. This quiet yet powerful book has a magic all its own. (Ages 4 to 7)

The Nutcracker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The ballet was not the "original" Nutcracker story 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I confess I haven't yet read this version of the book. I just wanted to respond to readers who criticized this book for not following the "original". The original story, which I have read, was written by E.T.A. Hoffman. The ballet was based on his story, which had a heroine named Marie and a mouse king with multiple heads (seven I think). I suspect that that costume would have been unnecessarily complicated for the costumers and dancers.

Beautiful Children's book 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is - by far - the best children's Nutcracker book. Beautiful pictures, easy for young children to stay involved in (totally immersed). The magic the book relays is wonderful. I wish the pictures included a page or two that showcased all of the 'Sweets' dances, My daughter misses them. Also, to keep with current West Coast changes, we call the little girl Clara instead of Marie.

Editorial Review:

New York Times bestselling artist Susan Jeffers has created a Nutcracker unlike any that has gone before, with a lovely spare text based on the ballet.

This is the perfect gift to share with children before they see The Nutcracker. Everyone who has seen the ballet will cherish it—as will anyone who enjoys stories where love triumphs.

Come, take a front-row seat. The world's most beloved holiday fairy tale is about to begin.

My Pony

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

My Pony book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is a very special book about a girl who wants her own pony. My daughter loved this book, because she could relate to the story so well. She too wishes for a pony, but we don't have one. Very special book. Love it!

Great purchase process 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My book arrived quickly and just as I had ordered it. It was packaged safely and securely. You will be happy with this seller.

A beautiful story! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The illustrations are breath-taking--make you want to run your fingers across the page. Thousands of little girls can identify with the heroine, who is clearly the author herself( read the author's note first).

My Pony 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book not only for children but for all ages. Anyone who loves horses and grew up always wanting to own one will relate to the character in this story. It is a wonderful story that I would highly recommend.

Editorial Review:

I want a pony.

My Chincoteague Pony

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

My Chincoteaque Pony 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The story is charming and the illustrations are glorious.A great book for horse lovers.

Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Julie has dreamed of owning a pony for years. When she was old enough, Julie started to do extra chores on the family's dairy farm in order to save money for buying a pony at the annual auction in Chincoteague Island. At the auction, she spotted a black and white filly that seemed to call out to Julie. But alas, the filly and all the other ponies were auctioned off to other bidders with more money than her. Julie would have returned home without her dream horse were it not for a stroke of fate that re-opened the bidding and the generosity of the strangers sitting around her.

Mixed into the main story are some important lessons in economics about saving money and the use of auctions. Adding to the appeal is an interesting account of Chincoteague Island's annual round-up of wild ponies on neighboring Assateague Island in order to manage the size of the herd and to prevent over-grazing. The eye-catching watercolor paintings and the substantive content will surely draw a readership that goes far beyond horse lovers.

Editorial Review:

On the farm where Julie lives there are cows and chickens, but no ponies. With her whole heart, Julie longs for a pony of her own. And she has a plan.

McDuff's Christmas

Rosemary Wells

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Same Story - Different Title 1 out of 5 stars.
28 of 28 people found this review helpful.

What a disappointment! Nowhere did I see that this was a reprint of "McDuff's New Friend" when I ordered it...and to make matters worse it was done in the same cheap looking format as the most recent new release, "McDuff's Wild Romp". Gone are the wonderful glossy pages with the beautifully detailed artwork; gone are the dustjackets. How sad. Take a pass on this one and buy new copies of the original "McDuff" stories instead.

True to Westie form 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

My sister and her family had a lovable Westie that graced our lives for over 16 years. The pictures in this McDuff book reminded me of the many Christmases that "Bubba" was part of our lives.

One of my 2 3/4 year old's favorites this Christmas 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is the only McDuff book we own, so it wasn't a duplicate for us. My son, who loves books (we must have over a hundred, easily), but who usually prefers books about vehicles, really enjoyed this one. He loves to say "McDuff says WOOF!" and probably prefers this and Hondo and Fabian as his two most-loved dog stories.

McDuff books 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book not knowing that it was the same as one I already had, with only the title changed. Big disappointment, but the book itself, in its previous incarnation, was lovely.

McDuff and the Baby (new design)

Rosemary Wells

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

You have got to be kidding me. 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Maybe the other reviews were written by people with dogs rather than children, but here is the moral of this story for older siblings who resent a new baby: "Quit eating, and everything will go back to the way it was before the baby was born."

I suppose it's good if you want to raise passive-aggressive children.

4 1/2 Every Dog Has His Day 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The McDuff series is famous for both its lovable dogdy hero, and its uncanny re-creation of late 1940's America. From architecture to fashion to cultural mores, author Rosemary Wells' books are superb period pieces. With the irrepressible McDuff at the center, the series has something for adults as well as youngsters.

Unfortunately, many of the original books have been replaced by "new design" versions: The illustrations have fewer details, and the books don't evoke place (small town America--perhaps New England) and time as well. However, this particular "new design" book comes closer to the original versions than some others (e.g., "McDuff's Wild Romp"). One sees more shading and detail in McDuff's fur, for example, and the pictoorial style and color selection do justice to the series.

In "McDuff and the Baby," the comfortably ensconced dog is challenged by the arrival of Fred and Lucy's new baby girl. (When I read those names, I often wonder if Desi and Ethel can be far behind, testimony, perhaps, to the book's nostalgic tone.) Like most babies, this one requires a great deal of attention, and McDuff soon finds that his usual routines must make way for the new addition. No more walks in the animal-scented woods (the stroller cannot negotiate it), no more late evening family radio time (the baby is crying for something), not even Fred--a la Fiorella LaGuardia--reading the comics to him at breakfast. The baby just laughs and McDuff's growls, and, to add injury to insult, she pulls on his beard!

McDuff is so upset that he doesn't eat. He doesn't decide not to eat, he's not manipulative, he's just vey upset. (One reviewer here believes that McDuff' serves as a bad role model for kids trying to deal with sibling rivalry.) In any event, Fred and Lucy realize (finally) that McDuff's loss of appetite might be due to all the changes. They decide to get him back into the woods, read the comics, take the entire family outside to listen to the radio (a wonderful example of compromise and adaptation), and even treat McDuff to "his favorite treat of vanilla rice pudding with sausage slice." Things smooth over very nicely, and there's a very brief but funny exchange that closes the story:

"'Woof,' said McDuff.
`Woof,' said the baby."

This is an excellent book whether your little one is dealing with new sibs or not. While this is the "new design" version, I think illustrator Jeffers equals (or comes very close to) her earlier work, and the narrative flows easily, with style and humor.

(Note: For an example of what you're missing with the 2006 new design, go to "Look Inside" above, click on "Copyright" and you'll see a beautiful overview of the town, not included in this 2006 version.)

Editorial Review:

When Fred and Lucy bring home a new baby, McDuff is worried! It’s been just the three of them ever since McDuff moved in! Is there really room for one more in their family?

The Wild Swans

Amy Ehrlich

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This book is a wonderful & unique story!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have owned this book since I was a yong child and has always been one of my favorites. It has all of the trimmings, a wickid step mother and all!

Wild Swans 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

In the mid-1800s, Andersen wrote many original fairy tales. He has many common themes however to the stories that had been passed down for generations. This story is of a young girl sent away by her evil stepmother. She then must rescue her eleven brothers from the spell that has been placed upon them. In a dream, a fairy came to her and gave her the answer. So after, a king falls in love with her at first sight. This tale is a bit lengthy and has a few passages of irrelevant information, but because the reader feels an emotional attachment to the girl so quickly, attention never waivers. The watercolor illustrations help to support the text, but at times do not have very much contrast, giving them a murky feel. Second graders would be able to read the text; however it may take until fourth grade for children to be able to do it in one sitting.

Why 4 stars?:
Some passages in the story can get a bit lengthy. Although the text is written on a second grade level, it may take a while before students can read this in one sitting. However, they will definitely listen to it, as the characters are very captivating. The illustrations are a little muddy though.

Editorial Review:

When her eleven brothers are turned into mute swans by their evil stepmother, brave Eliza endures great suffering to break the spell and rescue them. A story of loyalty, deceit, and the healing power of love, this classic fairy tale is exquisitely illustrated by Susan Jeffers. Luminous new jacket art, newly rendered interior art, and gold foil throughout enhance the wonderment of this glorious, largeformat reissue.

The Snow Queen

Amy Ehrlich

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Our Favorite Fairy Tale, Beautiful Version 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I have two small children, and this has fast become our favorite read-aloud fairy tale. This version is very lyrical and well-told. The illustrations are very detailed and beautiful. The snowy scenes are anything but stark due to good use of color, and we actually get chilled and need to snuggle under the covers when looking at them because they are so full of life. This is a beautiful and treasured book in our household.

Great film version of The Snow Queen:
The Snow Queen
Our favorite new fairy tale series:
Periwinkle and the Cave of Courage (The Fairy Chronicles)
Great classic fairy tale book:
Rapunzel (Caldecott Medal Book)

Editorial Review:

When the coldhearted Snow Queen abducts a young boy, Gerda begins a magical and perilous journey to find him and release him from the Snow Queen’s treacherous spell. Follow Gerda in this sparkling retelling of the classic fairy tale, as she sets out on her dangerous quest to the frozen north.

Sparkling new jacket art, recolored and newly rendered interior art, and silver foil borders all add to the beauty of this glorious, large-format reissue.

McDuff Comes Home (new design)

Rosemary Wells

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Ashley LOVED this Rosemary Wells book! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

My name is Ashley. My class has been reading a lot of books by Rosemary Wells and McDUFF COMES HOME is my favorite book. I loved the part in the book when McDuff went over the fence and saw a rabbit. It was so cute!

A Dog's Dog! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

(Note: This review refers to the 1997 hardcover edition written by Ms. Wells and illustrated by Ms. Jeffers.)

The McDuff series lovingly recreates a small New England town of the late 1940''s or early `50's. The frontispiece shows a neighborhood of gables two and three-story house, some with curved roofs, masonry, and picket fences, all with tall chimneys nearly touching the treetops. It's immediately welcoming.

When we meet a cute (!), big-eyed, white terrier-like dog, our hearts are completely won over. McDuff is a dog's dog: He's got a nose for food, a watchful eye, and he's full of terrier energy. However, when the kitchen window is closed one day, he discovers he can't bask on his Adirondack chair and savor the usual "snappy scent of Fred's frying sausages, the velvety smell of Lucy's vanilla rice pudding." (In a book set in the post-war era, I wonder if this is a thinly veiled reference to Fred Mertz and Lucille Ricardo...).

On a day without those distractions, McDuff notices a large brown rabbit, and he chases it, losing his collar, and finally collapsing in a cozy vegetable patch--just the spot for a snooze. The garden owner heads for the police station with the lost dog in her motorcycle sidecar--another wonderful touch--but McDuff's "woofs" guide them back to his home instead. Here, Fred and Lucy serve a lavish 1950's lunch: Period dishes piled high with apple pie, perhaps a dozen thick sandwiches, an entire ham, and various cheeses and dessert. McDuff, looking very content, sits in his Adirondack, about to eat a favorite treat, "a small dish of vanilla rice pudding with a sausage slice on top." Veteran writer Rosemary Wells (the "Max and Ruby" series) keeps things moving, and the story is neither too dense nor too blandly simple. Some writers seem to slap on contrived "funny" endings but Welles blends an unforced comic twist with an integrated, reassuring conclusion.

Caldecott Honor winner Susan Jeffries' great sense of period style adds to the series' appeal. The colors are smooth and saturated, the contours rounded and inviting. The book exudes welcoming, friendly warmth. At one point, Jeffries takes chances with her youngest audience in a 2-page spread that shows a curving trail of repeated Cuffs and the rabbit meant to show the zigzagging trail of their chase. This may confuse some small fry, but it's a delightfully energetic scene, enjoyable on its own (and somewhat older kids will have little difficulty understanding an adult's explanation). This is a terrific book, with a masterful blend of active and soothing scenes to delight child and adult, both day and night.

Editorial Review:

After chasing a fat rabbit all over the neighborhood, McDuff realizes that he doesn’t know the way home! It’ll take a keen nose—and a new friend—to help him find his way back to Fred and Lucy.

McDuff's Wild Romp (new design)

Rosemary Wells

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

4 1/2 Great Story--"New Design" Illustrations Somewhat Disappointing 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Once again, Rosemary Wells and illustrator Susan Jeffers take us back to a lovingly recreated New England town of the late 1940's or early 50's. The men wear argyle, bow-ties, and suspenders (no, it's not the go-go 1990's), and the women wear lace, big white collars, and flowered print dresses. They drive big automobiles past neatly shuttered second-story windows, sit on rolled-arm sofas, and have niceties like candy dishes.

The book begins with the adorable canine McDuff finding a Turkey Tidbit under the baby's swing. It's a somewhat confusing opening, as the context is not clear. On the next page, however, the plots unfolds: Fred and Lucy are taking McDuff and the baby to Aunt Frieda's house for Sunday dinner (!). When the baby drops a second Turkey Tidbit under the dinner table (a result of a chain reaction begun when Aunt Frieda's cat, Purlina, hisses at McDuff), McDuff and his inhospitable feline host begin a slow, secretive race to the Tidbit.

"They slunk toward the Turkey Tidbit while the family ate their crab cakes... Just as the family was finishing the salad, McDuff and Purlina reached the Turkey Tidbit...There was a hullaballoo right under the dining room table. Fred jumped to his feet and knocked over the chair..."

As the two animals wrestle for the turkey, lamps, vases, tables, and even the curtains are knocked over! Despite all the work, the dream family of the era pretty much takes it in stride: "'Whatever could have happened to make a quiet, gentle dog and cat behave like wild tigers and bears?' asked Uncle Nate". While the adults appear somewhat naive, the baby isn't. In a clever last scene, the baby "took the last of the Turkey Tidbits and threw it on the floor.." She looks down on McDuff and Purlina eying the treat, and says with a smile: "Again!"

The knock against the newer McDuff books is that the illlustrations are less detailed, and perhaps not as rich-looking. I agree, especially in the pictures of the two animals. In earlier books, you felt like you could practically touch the detailed, textured fur. These newer books have a flatter, more modern feeling that's seems incompatible with the 1940's-50's touches, and is simply not as engaging. Still, there's still enough traditional authenticity in words and pictures for adult readers, and kids will love the action and humor.

I'd still recommend these newer books, but the earlier books realize more completely the enormous appeal of McDuff.

Editorial Review:

Uh-oh-it's time for Sunday dinner at Aunt Frieda's. That means one thing-an evening with mean old cat Purlina. But the pets' tussle over a Turkey Tidbit leads to a wild romp through the house no one will soon forget!