Phil Stong (1899–1957)

Adorable. Funny, and light, lots of pictures, with just a little satire as it pokes fun at the adults who don't know what to do with this hungry moose that wandered into town. Fortunately the boys (no girls, sorry) have enough common sense and compassion to help everything work out for everyone. I would have thought it a bit too light for the Newbery committee, but I suppose it qualified for an Honor because it gives us a bit of culture and history, of the Finn immigrants of the Iron Range show more of Northern Minnesota.

Mostly the lessons are subtle, but the author does come out and say: 'Teaching people a lesson' usually means teaching them what a bad temper you have." Would that more people had learned that!" show less

A humorous book about a moose who decides a town is a good place to live. It's based on a true story, and while the syntax is a bit daunting for a young reader, it makes a good read aloud. The illustrations are lovely. I just asked my children (ages 7, 6, and 4) about the book, and all three said, "Oh, I love Honk the Moose."

Delightfully written. So sad it's been lost to an unappreciative world.

Thias is a 1955 novel, and is very light and borders on fantasy. You might think a blizzard might be a dire event but this account of three days during a blizzard on an Iowa farm descends into farce and has very unlikely people doing incredible things. I did not think the account of farm things was realistic, even though the auhor was born in a small town near Keosauqua, Iowa, and apparenlty maintained a connection with his roots since while he died in his home in Connecticut he is buried in show more Iowa. I would say the book is hardly worth reading although since I nearly always finish the books I start to read I did become curious as to how it would turn out, so I was perfectly willing to read it to its conclusion show less