Carolyn Haywood (1898–1990)

A very gentle book. Almost timeless. Just a tiny bit sexist... no more than Walmart girls' and boys' departments are now. Funny, but with good lessons. I would have loved it when I was a young child in the 60s. A little younger and sweeter than Beverly Cleary's classics.

Oh dear. Not only is there that troublesome old set of 'Indian' stereotypes, but Betsy is such a fortunate child that it's like there were 13 good fairies at her christening.

She doesn't want the teacher who wears black for second grade, so on the first day of school she discovers that teacher is gone and her beloved first grade teacher has been promoted to second grade. She wants a baby sister for Christmas... and Star is born on Christmas morning (and not only that, but Betsy gets to name show more the baby!). Thumpy gets picked up by the dogcatcher, but Mr. Kilpatrick happens to be driving by and so he gives her a lift to the pound. Etc.

This child will never learn resilience... and I know that I, as a child, would have been furiously envious.

I recommend skipping this one with your family. I'm all for 'teachable moments' but I think it would be hard to explain why this is bad to small children. Let me know if I'm wrong, please. show less

So much fun. An idealistic old-fashioned summer of adventures and misadventures.

But did dogcatchers really used to be so aggressive, scooping runaways up right under the arms of children?

This is one of those old children's books that has been in my wife's family for a long time. It was a Christmas present to her brother in 1975, and here it is still on our library shelf fifty years later. Alas, it is not one of those books that is constantly re-read because it is so beloved, it is simply still around because it lucked into being possessed by book hoarders.

It was published in 1966 but feels like it is a media tie-in for a generic 1950s family sitcom. Eddie Wilson wanders his show more suburban neighborhood having gentle little adventures with his friends that are regularly punctuated with what are supposed to be comic developments.

Hoping to raise some cash over the summer, he goes into business with Annie Pat Wallace. She will create portraits of people's dogs and cut him in for a share of the profits if he drums up customers and holds the dogs still while she paints. Hijinks ensue as the dogs get loose, get dirty, and all come out looking orange in the final product. And then a young fellow with a camera shows up to open a rival service.

Apparently, this was popular for a while back in the 1960s. This particular book is the tenth in a series of sixteen about Eddie and his friends. And I suppose if you grew up watching Leave It to Beaver this would feel pretty comfortable.

Too bland for me.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter 1. Aunt Mabel's Cocker Spaniel -- Chapter 2. Eddie Goes to a Party -- Chapter 3. Painting Buster -- Chapter 4. Now It's a German Shepherd -- Chapter 5. Boodles' Birthday Present -- Chapter 6. A Yankee-Doodle Dog -- Chapter 7. Valuable Property -- Chapter 8. An Unexpected Caller -- Chapter 9. Back to School show less