The Old Meadow (Chester Cricket and His Friends) - Softcover

Selden, George

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0374456054 ISBN 13: 9780374456054

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2000

Synopsis

When Mr. Budd and his dog, Dubber, are threatened with eviction, Chester Cricket and the meadow folk, including newcomer Ashley Mockingbird, come to his rescue.

About this title

About the Author:

George Selden (1929-89) wrote many highly acclaimed children's books, including The Cricket in Times Square, a Newbery Honor Book.

Garth Williams (1912-96) illustrated all seven of the Chester Cricket books and many other distinguished works, including Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 3-6 Chester Cricket returns in another tale about his meadow home in Connecticut. Alhough this follows Chester Cricket's New Home (1983), it has more in common with the earlier Tucker's Countryside (1969, both Farrar). In that story the meadow creatures managed, with the help of the city-wise cat and mouse team, to save their land from developers. Now they must, on their own, save an old curmudgeon, the only human inhabitant of the Old Meadow. Abner Budd and his dilapidated home are considered an eyesore, and since the meadow is the historical center of Hedley, the Town Council wants him gone. All of the meadow creatures from the previous books have returned, with the addition of Ashley Mockingbird and Dubber, Abner's dog, the epitome of slavish devotion even when ignored or supplanted in his owner's affections. There is a lot crammed into this story, and some of the subplots get in the way. But there are also some wonderful, highly-charged scenes, including the climax, in which Abner's importance to the Meadow is fully demonstrated. As always, Williams' illustrations become inseparable from the story. A sure-fire hit with fans of the series. Susan M. Harding, Mesquite Public Library, Tex.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0374456054
• ISBN 13: 9780374456054
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 202
• Illustrator: Williams Garth