| Wild Times at the Bed & Biscuit (series #2) |
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What You Need to Know:
• Wild Times at the Bed & Biscuit is a terrific series that models diversity, friendship and family.
• The Bed & Biscuit, the animal boardinghouse at the heart of this series, is a warm and funny place with animal
characters.
• The series is perfect for a newly proficient reader. With lots of sophisticated vocabulary, it's best kept as a
read-aloud for a fledgling reader.
• This is the first paperback edition of Wild Times at the Bed & Biscuit and will be released on Tuesday,
September 27, 2011.
• This series does not have to be read in order. |
Sweet Series Background:
The Bed & Biscuit is a veterinary clinic run by Grampa Bender on his farm. The farm shelters all manner of animals, but the leading animals in this series are the indoor animals. The cast of characters is led by mini-pig Ernest along with mynah bird Gabby, Sir Walter, the Scottie puppy, and Milly the cat. The animals talk to each other and the author has cleverly allowed Gabby to communicate with humans through the bird's well-chosen repertoire. These books are well-written; they have well-developed storylines and characters and wonderful vocabulary. This is a truly terrific series for new readers. |
Sweet Book Summary:
Grampa Bender has decided to help out the local wildlife shelter. The shelter is building new pens for their patients, so Grampa is helping house and care for a Canada Goose, a muskrat and a pair of baby foxes. The inside animals always help Grampa with his patients, but these patients are so wild! The goose has an awful arrow through his neck, but even when Grampa gets it out, he is still grumpy because he misses his mate. The muskrat just wants to get back to his pond and the baby foxes are quite naughty.
The foxes are so naughty they even get Sir Walter to help them dig out of their pen and run away with them. This puts Grampa Bender and his animal family into a panic! Sir Walter is just a puppy and he can't survive in the wild. Ernest, the mini-pig, organizes a Bender family search party; Sir Walter is returned safely, and the foxes remain in the wild: where they belong!
The author, Joan Carris, has managed to create a warm, touching story about the meaning of family. The animals explain they are a "blended" family. The animals all ended up living with Grampa Bender because they were orphaned and Grampa Bender was recently widowed. They have created a wonderful, modern family that is a great model of diversity. Families come in all shapes and sizes!
The author has also created a suspenseful, very easy to read story that children, especially animal lovers, are sure to enjoy. The pencil drawings scattered throughout add to the charm of this story. The language is rich and sophisticated. |
Author: Joan Carris Illustrator: Noah Z. Jones Published: 2011, 128 pages
Themes: Extraordinary Language, Humor, Exquisite Illustrations, Animals, Adventure, Friendship |
Sweet Discussion Questions:
• What do you think of the animal's names? Do their names say anything about their personalities?
• What do you think of the indoor animals idea of family?
• What do you think of Grandpa Bender?
• Does Ernest take good care of the other animals? Why or why not?
• Who do you think is in charge of the other animals in Grampa Bender's absence?
• Are there are differences between wild animals and indoor (domesticated) animals? How are they different? How are
they the same? |
| This recommendation was written by: Melissa Y. |
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