The Cherry Tree Buck and Other Stories

Six tall tales feature a deer with a cherry tree growing between its antlers, a fish that walks on its fins, a rattlesnake proficient in Morse code, and other extraordinary creatures. By the author of When the Moon Is Full.

Grade 3-5?Moore, a professional storyteller, has set this nostalgic collection of tall tales in the mountains of central Pennsylvania where he grew up. The six stories recount the humorous adventures of a boy and his grandfather with the wild animals they encounter. As Grandfather says, the secret of telling a good story is to "start with the facts and go on from there." And so Moore does! Basic ingredients of each story are real, but in this author's hands, the results are larger than life...a stuffed bear comes alive, a trout learns to live on land, and, in the title story, a cherry tree complete with fruit grows from the forehead of a deer. A profound love and appreciation for nature shines through the silliness of the stories. The straightforward style, short sentences, and accessible large print will attract reluctant and younger readers. deKiefte's sketchy, expressive black-and-white drawings echo the outsized, tongue-in-cheek tone of the stories.?Ruth S. Vose, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 3^-6. Professional storyteller Moore relates six personal tales involving his childhood experiences with his grandfather in the outdoors. Each tall tale rewards respect for nature and features an animal that demonstrates otherworldly powers. Moore includes "The Diamondback Rattlesnake," about a snake that learns Morse code; "The Sawdust Bear," in which a bear returns to the wild after years as a stuffed trophy; and "The Groundhog War," in which Grandpa saves his vegetable garden when he learns to provide first for the groundhogs. The combination of animals, environmentalism, and the supernatural will be popular with middle-grade listeners, and the large print and short chapters add to the appeal of this humorous offering. Kay Weisman