BOOK REVIEW: Kildee House

TITLE: Kildee House
AUTHOR: Rutherford Montgomery

ILLUSTRATOR: Barbara Cooney
PUBLISHER: Walker Books for Young Readers
DATE OF PUBLICATION: September 1, 1993 (first published 1971)
FORMAT: Paperback, 224 pages
GENRE: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 978-0802773883

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:

Newbery Honor Book, 1950 An early naturalist and philosopher escapes civilization by building his house among the giant redwoods.

MY REVIEW:

I read this book aloud with my daughters. It is a 1950 Newbery Honor Book.

Upon his retirement, Jerome Kildee builds a house under a giant redwood tree in the wilderness surrounded by 100 acres of woods and hillside. Although his intention was to remain reclusive, he opens both his home and his heart to his woodland friends which include raccoons, skunks, mice, rats, and even a deer. His home is between two feuding neighbours: the Eppys and the Cabots. When Jerome befriends Emma Lou Eppy it piques the curiosity of Donald Roger Cabot and both children often come to visit him. As the animals multiply and take over Jerome's little house, Emma Lou and Donald Roger work together to find a solution. Doing so, repairs the rift between the feuding families.

We loved this book! My children love animals, so we really enjoyed reading how Jerome lived his life with raccoons in his wood stove and skunks under his bed!

I have often daydreamed about what life would be like to live in the wilderness away from technology and surrounded by nature. I would think it would be a peaceful existence - a simpler time. As long as I had books to read, I could live without television and the internet!

This is a wonderful book to enjoy with your children!

MY RATING: 4.5 stars!

This book qualifies as:
#35 for my 2011 100+ Reading Challenge