Opening Day

by Susan Bartlett, Luanne Wrenn (Illustrator)

Overview

Sam’s best friend Eric loves to hunt. Eric’s whole family hunts—even his grandma!—but Sam’s family doesn’t.

Sam wants to make up his own mind, and with his parents’ support he works hard to get his hunting license. Sam feels great to be with Eric and his dad at the opening-day breakfast, but once he sees a deer in the woods, he wonders if hunting is not for him. But if he decides it isn’t, will Eric still be his friend?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780884482888
Publisher:	Tilbury House Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2007
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Susan Bartlett has edited books for both children and adults and taught Writing Books for Children for many years at the University of Vermont. She is the author of Seal Island School and The Seal Island Seven, both published by Viking.

Luanne Wrenn is an arts educator who enjoys painting in oil and watercolor and is a commissioned portrait and mural artist, as well as an illustrator. Luanne's friends and neighbors in Wilton, Maine, posed for OPENING DAY illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

"One of the few quality children’s books featuring an evenhanded portrayal of a contemporary young hunter."

Book Links

Evenhanded, straightforward and filled with information, this thoughtful tale will doubtless be welcomed by educators and parents, particularly since little else is available on the topic of deer hunting. Sixth-grader Sam eagerly anticipates his first excursion with his friend Eric and Eric's father. They head out into the snowy woods early and settle down to wait. They spot several deer, a hawk, a woodpecker and some squirrels, but head home empty-handed. Although he enjoys the camaraderie and the chance to be outdoors, Sam isn't sorry that the trip is unsuccessful. In fact, he decides that he prefers target practice to hunting-at least for now. Wrenn's oil paintings do a good job of setting the scene and conveying the quiet beauty of the natural world. Unfortunately, her depiction of the characters is less successful. Whether young readers will warm to this introspective story is unclear. Here's hoping the answer is yes, since the very worthwhile message, that opposing viewpoints need not lead inevitably to hostility, is delivered clearly and concisely. (Picture book. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews