The Little Scarecrow Boy

by Margaret Wise Brown

Book Overview

The celebrated author of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny joins forces with the Caldecott Medalist of Smoky Night to tell this tender story about loving and enduring family relationships. With words by the renowned Margaret Wise Brown and illustrations by David Diaz, this treasured picture book tells the tale of a little scarecrow boy and the lessons he learns from his scarecrow father about the world--until he decides to test his knowledge and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060262842
• ISBN13: 9780060262846
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.3" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Great book!

My 5 year old daughter loved this book so much I had to read it twice in a row. Knowing it was from the library, she twice said we needed to buy a copy.

Simple and cute

This book helps children realize that they sometimes must wait to be old enough or big enough to do certain things. It presents the opportunity to discuss why adults sometimes say children cannot do whatever they want to do. It also teaches that they must keep trying. I like the illustrations--so colorful! Simple to understand and cute.

A gentle tale of the value of perseverence

This gentle tale of the value of perseverence is in the best Margaret Wise Brown tradition. Without talking down to young children, she manages to convey the importance of stick-to-itiveness and the great love a young scarecrow boy has for his father. Trying the best he can to live up to his father's work ethic and talents, the little scarecrow boy tries and tries to scare the crows away. Although he fails over and over again, he does eventually succeed and sees that not only is his father proud of him--he is proud of HIMSELF. This is a great lesson quietly told--it's not preachy or high-handed in any way.Brown's charming tale is greatly bolstered by the color-saturated illustrations of David Diaz. These have a lovely, soft 1930s look that reminds me very much of the illustrations in the original Raggedy Ann and Andy books. I especially like the way Diaz pulls back his perspective on the last page so that you really see why the little scarecrow boy feels, happily, that all is right with the world.

great!

I just read this book to my first grade class and they loved it. It's a great book to introduce the idea of never giving up and feeling proud after a job well done.

The Faces We Make

Margaret Wise Brown has, through this book, shared with parents how to accept and assist children wanting to take risks and explore life. This is also a wonderful book to use as a way of explaining adult jobs to children. It is a way of aleviating children's fear of separating from parents when they go off to school. The author has shared her humor, creativity and I suspect her experiences. This picture book is also considered a predictable book, because there is one verse that is repeated. Enjoy this delightful lighthearted story and see if you can relate to it or to other books that you have read.