Jean Craighead George
In 1973 Jean Craighead George won a Newbery award for Julie of the Wolves, the story of a young Eskimo who runs away from an arranged marriage and survives on the tundra, for many months nurtured by a wolf-pack. The book ends with Julie's return to her father and home. In the sequel Julie, (1994, HarperCollins, Ages 11 and up, $15.00) her heroine faces conflicts not only with the natural world, but between man and wolves, white and Eskimo cultures, as well as struggles of young womanhood. " I'm a bit of a dramatist," George says, " and I know that kids love books that solve problems. I wanted to keep the story moving, but I also want to put in as much information as I could and these stories kept coming up. Conflict upon conflict is the rule of the Arctic. It's a constant force in a region where chances of mortality are high, if anyone makes a false move."
Julie of the Wolves went without sequel, despite pleas from hundreds of children, but when publishers asked George to write one, she said yes immediately. George "couldn't believe what a wonderful situation I'd left for myself as a writer." At the very end of Julie of the Wolves, Julie returns to find her father has built a successful village business by raising musk ox. There began the initial conflict. Musk oxen are wolves' favorite food, and the wolves that nurtured Julie were still on the home range. " I thought it's all there," remarks George, " we just have to resolve it."
Returning to the subject after two decades was also a real measure of Alaska's cultural changes. "As they [Eskimos] adapt, ...they [still] speak their own language and hold onto their own values. ...the Eskimos are very strong people." Twenty years has also seen a leap in scientific knowledge. Two decades ago, wolf research was just beginning and George was worried that reviewers would think she was making up stories about wolf-human communication. "Julie wrote easily because I had so much more knowledge. I went out on the tundra with scientists who were experts about owls, lemmings, the cycle of grasses and everything else you can imagine. They were very generous with me because they want to communicate, particularly with children, but can't write popular stuff. I love to go out in the field and so there I was, tagging after them and learning all I could."
To learn more about Jean Craighead George visit her site.
Reviews
Animals Who Have Won Our Hearts
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Christine Herman Merrill
Ten true stories showcase the wonder of some very famous animals who exhibited great courage, intelligence, loyalty or perseverance. The stories range in time from 1804 to the present day and they relay the exploits of animals such as Balto, the half-wolf, half-Malamute sled dog who delivered much needed medicine to snowbound people in Alaska, to Koko, the gorilla who learned sign language, to the orphaned and badly burned Smokey the Bear cub. Daring adventures reveal the true nature of these very special representatives of the animal world. Both full-color and black-and-white illustrations grace the pages of this worthwhile book, which also has a bibliography. 1994, HarperCollins, Ages 10 up, $15.00 and $14.89. Reviewer: Barbara B. Disckind
ISBN: 0-06-021543-7
ISBN: 0-06-021544-5
Arctic Son
Jean Craighead George
Paintings by Wendell Minor
Love of place is the focus of Jean Craighead George's Arctic Son. Born in the Arctic, baby Luke receives an Eskimo name, Kupaaq, as well as an English one and is introduced to the beauties of his stark home by Eskimo friends. Through the engaging narrative, which emphasizes respect for the natural world, young readers can learn about the northern lights, fishing traditions, snow caves and the ancient song that welcomes the sun after the dark winter. Wendell Minor's paintings capture the subtle color and details of this landscape where "things are very different." 1997, Hyperion, Ages All, $14.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-7868-0315-0
The Case of the Missing Cutthroats
Jean Craighead George
Thirteen year old Spinner Shafter, amateur fisherman, expert dancer, hated fishing and everything associated with it so when she caught the biggest fish on a trip with her family no one was more surprised than she. That is until everyone realized that the fish Spinner had hooked in the icy Snake River was not only huge, it was a cutthroat and was supposed to be extinct. Spinner's cousin and fishing competitor, Al, was especially intrigued by the appearance of the mysterious fish and decided that he and Spinner should find out where it came from and why it had suddenly been snagged by someone as inexperienced as his city mouse cousin. So began the intriguing adventure of The Case of the Missing Cutthroats. Jean Craighead George has created a riveting tale weaving magical yet realistic descriptions of nature together with the scientific data collected by the two main characters. The characters are extremely likable, intelligent, stubborn and ultimately very complementary. Each inevitably depends upon and learns from the other. This engrossing book offers its readers the opportunity to learn about a part of the world which many of them will never see or touch but which they may be inspired to preserve. It is an excellent read and would be a wonderful discussion piece for combined reading, writing, math and science lessons. "An Eco Mystery" series title. 1999 (orig. 1975), Harper Trophy, Ages 8 to 12, $4.95. Reviewer: Trina Heidt
ISBN: 0-06-440647-4
ISBN: 0-06-025465-3
ISBN: 0-06-025466-1
Dear Katie, The Volcano Is a Girl
Jean Craighead George
Illustrations by Daniel Powers
Katie and her grandmother are off to Hawaii to visit the Kilauea volcano. Grandmother provides a running commentary about the scientific principles that create volcanic eruptions while Katie relates the Hawaii mythology of the goddess Pele and her role in creating the islands and the Kilauea volcano. The play of facts and myth in both the text and the illustrations sets this story apart from the usual science lesson and should give kids an appreciation of the nonscientific explanations people create to explain natural phenomenon. 1998, Hyperion, Ages 5 to 9, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-7868-0314-2
Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Loretta Krupinski
In Dear Rebecca, Grandma sits at her breakfast table writing a letter to Rebecca. It is December 21, the winter solstice. Grandma explains that little hands of darkness start bringing winter during the summer, making each day shorter. Now that winter is here, the animals must adapt to the change. And then finally, winter yields to the lengthening days and summer arrives. Each page is nicely complemented by a painting suffused with the clarity of winter light. The allegory may be confusing to young children, but the book succeeds in conveying the rhythm of the seasons. 1993, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $15.00, $14.89, and $4.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen
ISBN: 0-06-021139-3
ISBN: 0-06-021140-7
ISBN: 0-06-443427-3
Elephant Walk
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Anna Vojtech
Silver Tusk, the matriarch, is pushing her herd hard. Poor Odon is confused and just a bit scared. Why doesn't his mother stop to nurse him-what is the reason for this urgency? They pull up grass and eat while steadily marching ahead. Finally after hours of travel, Silver Tusk stops. "She flapped her ears and held them out like barn doors. She rumbled so piercingly that Odon hid under her." A big surprise was in store. The final pages of the book are filled with elephant facts. It's an attractive and informative visit with one of the earth's largest animals. 1998, Disney Press, Ages 3 to 7, $13.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-7868-3163-4
Everglades
Jean Craighead George
Illustrations by Wendell Minor
In this evocative tale, five children travel through the Florida Everglades by canoe, listening to a well-informed guide describe the evolution of landscape around them. Illustrated with majestic, full-page paintings, this exquisite book celebrates the beauty of the Everglades before humans damaged the ecosystem and encourages readers to restore this endangered environment. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 6 to 9, $15.95, $15.89, and $5.95. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
ISBN: 0-06-021228-4
ISBN: 0-06-021229-2
ISBN: 0-06-446194-7
The First Thanksgiving
Jean Craighead George
Paintings by Thomas Locker
Artist Thomas Locker's oil paintings are the perfect accompaniment for Jean Craighead George's artful text. The story begins with the formation of Plymouth Rock and continues with Squanto's kidnapping by the English and his eventual return home. He is the hero of this story. Without him, the Pilgrims might not have survived that first winter. The suffering of that first year is vividly portrayed in the illustrations which describe the techniques for planting, hunting, and fishing that Squanto shared with the Pilgrims. A rich edition to our Thanksgiving literature. 1996 (orig. 1993), Philomel, Ages 7 to 10, $15.95 and $6.99. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-399-21991-9
ISBN: 0-698-11392-6
Frightful's Mountain
Jean Craighead George
When Sam Gribley learns that it is illegal for him to keep a Peregrine falcon, he releases Frightful to the wild. Since she was raised in captivity, she is even more vulnerable to the dangers of the environment. She faces threats from poachers and live wires. Just as her natural instincts for raising a family are beginning to appear, their lives are threatened by humans rebuilding a bridge. Sam is not alone is trying to save the falcons, and Jean Craighead George uses the names of real people who are working to make a safer environment for hawks. The reader will soar with Frightful as she flies around her Catskill Mountain region. George maintains her high standard of nature writing as she deftly weaves the natural and man-made dangers into the storyline. Her characterization of Frightful is so vivid, the reader truly cares for her. This, the third book in the trilogy that began with My Side of the Mountain, can be read independent of the other two. 1999, Dutton, Ages 9 to 12, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-525-46166-3
Gorilla Gang
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett
This information book delivers facts about gorilla behavior, especially verbal behavior. Yet the anthropomorphic approach and the story line of a jealous sibling who rescues the baby will detract from the book's value. Unfortunately the illustrations add to the overall disappointment. A plug for the large, well known, corporate publisher's animal park is the final straw. 1998, Disney Press, Ages 5 to 7, $14.99 and $14.49. Reviewer: Jacki Vawter
ISBN: 0-7868-3166-9
ISBN: 0-7868-5078-7
Incredible Animal Adventures
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Donna Diamond
This edition of "Animals Who Have Won Our Hearts" (1994 and now out of print), has been reissued with new drawings. Ten short vignettes explain the true-life stories behind Balto, Smokey Bear, and Punxatawney Phil, as well as of less well-known animal such as the fastest horse in the old West, the freeing of whales trapped in the ice, and Lewis and Clark's faithful dog Seaman. The stories will cause readers to marvel at the resourcefulness of animals and encourage respect for animal intelligence. George does not blunt her language for this age group, but the short format and the compelling truth of the stories make them suited for less-able older readers, small group reading in upper elementary classrooms, or anyone seeking a high-interest selection of stories about animals. 1999 (orig. 1994), HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 11, $4.25. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-06-442106-6
Julie
Jean Craighead George
This is the sequel to Julie of the Wolves. Returning to her father's home, Julie meets his pregnant wife, a white-American, and believes he has forsaken their Eskimo values. As she interacts with her new family, her attitude changes. She learns the power of love and respect. In Part 2, Julie returns to her wolves to lead them to safer hunting grounds. Vivid descriptions of the pack and Julie's method of accustoming them to her presence are riveting. She also meets a young man from Siberia and experiences the first stirrings of love, an indication that there may be another book. The author's knowledge of the terrain, Eskimo traditions, and wolf behavior are woven into a colorful tapestry that envelops readers in its brilliance and warmth. 1994, Harper, Ages 12 up, $15.00, $14.89, and $4.50 paper. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-06-023528-4
ISBN: 0-06-023529-2
ISBN: 0-06-440573-7
Julie of the Wolves
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by John Schoenherr
In this Newbery award winning book, George tells the story of a young Eskimo girl who runs away from an arranged marriage and survives on the tundra, for many months nurtured by a wolf-pack. The book ends with Julie's return to her father and home where she finds her father has built a successful village business raising musk oxen. Author George was worried that reviewers would think she was making up stories about wolf-human communication, because wolf research was just beginning when she wrote her book. But its continued popularity has put that fear to rest. 1974, HarperCollins, Ages 11 up, $15.00, $14.89, $3.95 and $2.25. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-06-021943-2
ISBN: 0-06-021944-0
ISBN: 0-06-023528-4
ISBN: 0-06-023529-2
ISBN: 0-06-440058-1
ISBN: 0-06-447146-2
Julie's Wolf Pack
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Wendell Minor
In Julie of the Wolves and its sequel Julie, George introduced readers to the fascinating life of Julie and her interaction with a pack of wolves on the Arctic tundra and in northern Alaska. In this fabulous continuation of the story, the story is no longer from Julie's perspective but rather from the wolves' point of view. Through the minds of the different members of the Julie's wolf pack, the story of their fight for survival unfurls. The young leader Kapu struggles to keep his position from internal opposition within the pack. The entire pack faces a strange illness along with a food shortage that endangers their lives along with the lives of their new pups. Following several years in the lives of these wolves is engaging reading. Julie, the protagonist in the other novels, appears as a strong human presence throughout the book, and helps the wolves whenever she can while going forward with her own plans for the future which may separate her from her beloved wolves. 1997, HarperCollins, Ages 10 up, $14.95 and $14.89. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph
ISBN: 0-06-027406-9
ISBN: 0-06-027407-7
Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Lucia Washburn
Newbery winner George is a writer who can take the whole of nature and offer up its wonders with enthusiasm and grace. In this book for younger readers, she presents a poetic look at exactly what a wolf pup is like-and is learning-from its day of birth till it is full grown. Part of the book's charm is relating events of nature in the far north to those here at home: pups are born in our more southerly dandelion season; they learn hunting skills when our blueberries are ripe. First-time illustrator Washburn is totally in tune with George's text; her images evoke a marvelous sense of both animals and the barren beauty of the far north. 1997, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 9, $14.95, and $14.89. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-06-023641-8
ISBN: 0-06-023640-X
The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo: An Ecological Mystery
Jean Craighead George
One of the first environmental writers for youngsters is still one of the best. Jean Craighead George mixes up some botany, ecology, biology and mystery. Here she lures readers with the mystery/adventure tale of Liza K., who lives with her mother in the Gumbo Limbo section of the Everglades. Liza feels a deep affinity toward her beautiful, natural surroundings. When an official tries to do away with Dajun, an enormous alligator, Liza K. must find the missing `gator with careful detective work and an ability to read environmental clues. 1991, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95 and $14.89. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-06-020396-X
ISBN: 0-06-020397-8
Morning, Noon, and Night
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Wendell Minor
The detailed, realistic paintings illustrating this book add greatly to the chronicling of a day begun as the rosy light of dawn turns night into day. The cardinal sings, "Good morning, the sun. Cheer, Cheer." Work begins. The oxen labor in the fields, the birds, toads and frogs search for food and the bees buzz, "Work, Work." The sun is high at noon and it is time for a siesta. The animals doze and birds are quiet. In the afternoon, as the work is done, the bison wanders over to the water while the prairie dog plays. At dusk, the nocturnal creatures begin to stir and as night falls, the bat flies and the owl sings, "Who, the night, Who, Who?" The earth turns and it is dawn once again and the bright red cardinal sings, "Cheer, cheer." A peaceful book which will provide a tranquil interval when read with a young child just before a nap or bedtime. 1999, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 0-06-023628-0
ISBN: 0-06-023629-9
My Side of the Mountain
Jean Craighead George
Illustrations by Jean Craighead George
Young Sam Gribley lives a comfortable life in New York City. But tired of urban living, he, with his parents' knowledge, runs away to the Catskills Mountains, determined to live on the site of his great-grandparents' old homestead. Leaving the city with few possessions, he sets off on the adventure of a lifetime. His initial nights on the mountain prove difficult as he struggles to stay warm and find food. Eventually, Sam adjusts, learns much about himself and becomes a true backwoodsman, eating off the land, making deerskin clothes, hollowing out the base of a large tree to live in and becoming part of the wilderness environment. He steals a baby peregrine falcon from its nest and adopts the bird he names Frightful. They become inseparable as Frightful helps his new 'parent' hunt for food. This is a richly detailed book, filled with tales about living off the land. Nonetheless, it requires much suspension of disbelief concerning Sam's impressive, albeit somewhat implausible, ability to survive alone in the wilderness and his parents' willingness to let him do so. Still, this award-winning book has much to appeal to young readers searching for literary adventures. 1991 (orig. 1959), Puffin Books/Penguin Books, Ages 10 to 14, $15.99 and $5.99. Reviewer: Bruce Adelson
ISBN: 0-525-44392-4
ISBN: 0-14-034810-7
On the Far Side of the Mountain
Jean Craighead George
Illustrations by Jean Craighead George
Sam Gribley has spent two years away from his parents' home in New York City, living the wilderness life in the Catskills Mountains. In this sequel to My Side of the Mountain, Sam is joined by his younger sister Alice as full-time backwoods residents. Sam's homestead is now quite developed, with a tree house for Alice, a mill and an irrigation system. Their idyllic life changes when Sam's pet falcon, an endangered species, is confiscated by the local conservation officer. Devastated by this loss, Sam is further discomfited when Alice goes off on her own adventure accompanied by a pig whom she has adopted. Worried about her welfare, Sam sets off to find Alice with his friend Bando, a college professor who met and befriended Sam in his first year on the mountain. They depart Sam's homestead and track Alice across unknown wilderness. This well-textured story with finely detailed characters takes the reader on new adventures. Upon finding Alice, Sam gains a new affection for her after learning the reason for her cross-mountain trek. He also learns about the preciousness of wildlife and endangered species, discovering that they are best appreciated and protected as wild animals not pets. 1991 (orig. 1990), Puffin Books/Penguin Books, Ages 8 to 12, $15.00 and $5.99. Reviewer: Bruce Adelson
ISBN: 0-525-44563-3
ISBN: 0-14-034248-6
One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Gary Allen
Dr. Rivero and a team of scientists come to the rain forest to rescue it from a tree cutting company. Tepui, an Indian boy from the Venezuelan forest, becomes Dr. Rivero's personal guide in the search for the one thing that will save this rain forest-an unnamed butterfly. The author is an ace when it comes to detail in this book. She creates suspense that will keep children turning the pages until they learn the fate of the rain forest. Also in the series are: One Day in the Alpine Tundra, One Day in the Desert, One Day in the Jungle, One Day in the Prairie, and One Day in the Woods. 1995, HarperTrophy, Ages 9 to 12, $14.95, $14.89, and $3.95. Reviewer: Glen Mayers
ISBN: 0-690-04767-3
ISBN: 0-690-04769-X
ISBN: 0-06-442016-7
One Day in the Woods
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Gary Allen
This book introduces Rebecca, who enters the northern deciduous woods near her New York home in search of the elusive ovenbird. During her day in the woods, she discovers the magic inherent in all creatures-birds, flying squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, and yes, even encounters the mysterious ovenbird. Author George fills the short chapters with details that will help younger reader easily envision life in the woods. Also in the series are: One Day in the Alpine Tundra, One Day in the desert, One Day in the Jungle, One Day in the Prairie, and One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest. 1995, HarperTrophy, Ages 9 to 12, $14.89 and $3.95. Reviewer: Glen Mayers
ISBN: 0-690-04724-X
ISBN: 0-06-442017-5
Snow Bear
Jean Craighead George
Illustrations by Wendell Minor
This is a tough book to swallow if you know anything at all about polar bears. When a little girl named Bessie Nivyek encounters a baby polar bear, the two romp and play happily. If the story were presented as a legend, the story might work because improbable and magical things happen in legends. But in real life, Bessie would be a hot meal for the mother polar bear. Wendell Minor's watercolor illustrations are lovely, but it's probably not a good idea to read this kind of thing to kids. Next thing you know, they'll be out trying to commune with the wild animals in their own neighborhood--and even a city squirrel can inflict a nasty wound on a child who's been hoodwinked into thinking that wild animals are his natural playmates. 1999, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Donna Freedman
ISBN: 0-7868-0456-4
The Tarantula in My Purse
Jean Craighead George
This book's subtitle "and 172 Other Wild Pets" may leave some people wondering about the contradiction it presents--if something is wild, then it's not a pet, and vice versa. To her credit, the author touches on this issue. Moreover, several of the stories in this book do not have happy endings. For instance, when George doesn't properly tether the kestrel and a crow comes to harass him, the kestrel flies away still attached to his leash. The beautiful bird is doomed if the author can't rescue him. Sadly, she does not find him. The cycle of love and loss introduced in this book may disturb some children. The first story is an especially difficult one because it also interjects a betrayal of trust between parent and child. The author promises the daughter that if she opens the window to let her beloved owl outside, he will come back; instead, the bird flies off into the night and never returns. The tale ends there; it may have been preferential to learn how trust was regained between mother and daughter, or if it wasn't lost, why. The book presents another obstacle for the younger members of its intended audience as it jumps back and forth in time, often without solid lead-ins; for instance, although the owl disappeared forever in the first story, he shows up in the next story without any explanation as to the time setting other than a vague "one spring." The book gets rolling when it introduces the family's crows, adding fun and interesting asides about other crows and information on their habits. The book is at its strongest when the author discusses the animals as beings that let us see another world through their eyes. 1996, HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95, $14.89 and $4.50. Reviewer: Sherri Byrand
ISBN: 0-06-023626-4
ISBN: 0-06-023627-2
ISBN: 0-06-446201-3
There's an Owl in the Shower
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Christine Herman Merrill
This is the story of a family that is struggling after father lost his logging job due to environmental concerns relating to the endangered spotted owl. When Borden finds a small owlet hurt in the forest, he brings the creature home. It becomes a part of the family, loved especially by the father who is horrified to discover it's a spotted owl. Love amid times of difficulty and the complexity of ecological issues are both poignantly described. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 11, $13.95, $13.89 and $3.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-06-024891-2
ISBN: 0-06-024892-0
ISBN: 0-06-440682-2
Added 1999
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