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Old Yeller (1956)

by Fred Gipson

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Coates Family (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
7,8781111,059 (3.89)97
Classic Literature. Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Western. HTML:

A timeless American classic and one of the most beloved children's books ever written, Old Yeller is a Newbery Honor Book that explores the poignant and unforgettable bond between a boy and the stray dog who becomes his loyal friend.

When his father sets out on a cattle drive toward Kansas for the summer, fourteen-year-old Travis Coates is left to take care of his family and their farm. Living in Texas Hill Country during the 1860s, Travis comes to face new, unanticipated, and often perilous responsibilities in the frontier wilderness.

A particular nuisance is a stray yellow dog that shows up one day and steals food from the family. But the big canine who Travis calls "Old Yeller" proves his worth by defending the family from danger. And Travis ultimately finds help and comfort in the courage and unwavering love of the dog who comes to be his very best friend.

Fred Gipson's novel is an eloquently simple story that is both exciting and deeply moving. It stands alongside works like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Where The Red Fern Grows, and Shiloh as a beloved and enduring classic of literature. Originally published in 1956 to instant acclaim, Old Yeller later inspired a hit film from Walt Disney. Just as Old Yeller inevitably makes his way into the Coates family's hearts, this book will find its own special place in readers' hearts.

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» See also 97 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 111 (next | show all)
Old Yeller is yet another children's classic I'd never read before now. I don't think I've watched the movie either, but of course I knew how it ends. However, I didn't expect the entire book to basically be just about getting to that ending. It's even stated on the first page that the narrator, Travis, would end up having to kill this stray. For me, that definitely dampened the enjoyment of the story of Travis and Old Yeller becoming good friends. What bothered me the most, though, was Travis's little brother Arliss. Oh my goodness, that kid is annoying! Every time he gets upset about something, he gets violent, even with his own mother. And it basically goes unchecked. It just all seems extreme and unnecessary. And in the end, I was left wondering what the author's intention was in writing this book. And would it have been such a classic if it weren't for the tragic ending? Take that away, and you just have the story of a boy and his dog, which has been done. ( )
  Kristi_D | Sep 22, 2023 |
Published in the 1950's, Old Yeller has been a household book that families have enjoyed for decades, and I'm sure it will be a classic for many more years to come in the future. The main character in this book is Travis Coates a 14 year old boy who has been given a request by his dad to take care of the family while he is gone from the family farm. Travis slowly learns what love, responsibility, and loyalty are all about. Will he do everything at his young age to be considered a man in his father and mother's eyes. Only the pages will reveal the answers.
  frank.williams | Feb 23, 2023 |
Great story about a boy and his courageous dog. Sad ending. ( )
  kslade | Dec 8, 2022 |
A great American classic for coming of age children. One of the key lessons children experience is how the written word and their imagination can illicit the same emotional response as if they were in the story themselves. Unfortunately, like Gambles mother being shot, it appears we teach a fundamental of reading through the repetitive references to death and loss. ( )
  Huba.Library | Aug 21, 2022 |
A boy, before he really grows up, is pretty much like a wild animal. He can get the wits scared clear out of him today and by tomorrow have forgotten all about it.

Of course, everyone my age knows this story. The Wonderful World of Disney, introduced by Mr. Disney himself, fed a whole generation with delights of this sort; just put on the TV at 7:00 on Sunday night and watch something wonderful, but don’t forget because there is no DVR, so if you miss it, you are waiting for summer reruns.

Because I knew the story and what to expect, I thought I might not have a really emotional reaction to the end, but alas the two boxes of tissues I bought came in handy. Some of the tears were for the story and the characters and Yeller, of course, but some of them were for that little girl who sat frozen to a flickering TV screen in the living room of a four room house, with her three sisters and her precious mother and father, making a memory that would last all her life.
( )
  mattorsara | Aug 11, 2022 |
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» Add other authors (23 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Fred Gipsonprimary authorall editionscalculated
Buhler, CherylIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Burger, CarlIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Burger, CarolIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Corbin, BarryNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dietz, NormanNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dreany, E. JosephIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gibbs, FrancisEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
James, Peter FrancisNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jenkins, KarlAuthorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Meyers, RobertIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Polson, StevenIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Schmidt, EdwinIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Schongut, EmanuelCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Scott, Steve M.Cover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Original title
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Epigraph
Dedication
For my father and mother, Beck and Emma Gipson, whose memorable tales of frontier dogs supplied me with incident and background for this story.
First words
We called him Old Yeller. The name had a sort of double meaning. One part meant that his short hair was a dingy yellow, a color that we called "yeller" in those days. The other meant that when he opened his head, the sound he let out came closer to being a yell than a bark.
Quotations
I reloaded my gun and called Old Yeller back from the house. I stuck the muzzle of the gun against his head and pulled the trigger.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Wikipedia in English

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Classic Literature. Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Western. HTML:

A timeless American classic and one of the most beloved children's books ever written, Old Yeller is a Newbery Honor Book that explores the poignant and unforgettable bond between a boy and the stray dog who becomes his loyal friend.

When his father sets out on a cattle drive toward Kansas for the summer, fourteen-year-old Travis Coates is left to take care of his family and their farm. Living in Texas Hill Country during the 1860s, Travis comes to face new, unanticipated, and often perilous responsibilities in the frontier wilderness.

A particular nuisance is a stray yellow dog that shows up one day and steals food from the family. But the big canine who Travis calls "Old Yeller" proves his worth by defending the family from danger. And Travis ultimately finds help and comfort in the courage and unwavering love of the dog who comes to be his very best friend.

Fred Gipson's novel is an eloquently simple story that is both exciting and deeply moving. It stands alongside works like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Where The Red Fern Grows, and Shiloh as a beloved and enduring classic of literature. Originally published in 1956 to instant acclaim, Old Yeller later inspired a hit film from Walt Disney. Just as Old Yeller inevitably makes his way into the Coates family's hearts, this book will find its own special place in readers' hearts.

.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
It was lucky that old yellow-haired dog came along. Travis couldn't have managed without him. When his dad goes off on a cattle drive, 14-year-old Travis is left in charge. First a bear attacks his kid brother...then he hears about a terrifying disease that turns animals and humans into mad creatures! Before his dad returns, that 'Old Yellow' dog has become the best-loved friend a boy could ever want.

Available online at The Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/search.php?query=t...
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Average: (3.89)
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