Gooseberry Park

This "impeccably paced fantasy"* from Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant is a don't-miss classic animal adventure.

Told from the perspective of four animal friends and filled with charming black-and-white illustrations, Gooseberry Park works well both as a read-aloud and as a fun independent book for second through fourth graders.

Stumpy Squirrel has just settled into a new nest in a magnificent pin oak in Gooseberry Park. It’s the perfect spot for her babies to be born! When they arrive healthy and strong, Stumpy’s three good friends—a Labrador retriever, a wise hermit crab, and a bat—are thrilled.

But after a terrible ice storm destroys the pin oak, Stumpy disappears. It takes a special combination of courage, humor, and tenacity for Stumpy’s friends to rescue her babies and bring her home again.

Plus the adventures continue in Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan and the third book in the series, A Kitten in Gooseberry Park.

*starred Publishers Weekly review

Cynthia Rylant is a Newbery Medalist and the author of many acclaimed books for young people. She’s well known for her popular characters for early readers, including Mr. Putter & Tabby and Henry & Mudge. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. cynthiarylant.com

Arthur Howard created the lively illustrations for all the Mr. Putter & Tabby books and has written and illustrated several picture books of his own. He lives in New York City.