From Organization / 国外机构评价: |
| Kindergarten-Grade 4–Floy, nicknamed Squirrel, lives in the Yosemite Valley with her parents who own and operate a hotel. Her father hires John Muir as a handyman, and his knowledge of the animals, plants, and geology of the region captivates the feisty girl. He spends hours outdoors with her, showing her how to examine insects under a magnifying glass and to recognize glacier trails. But his naive, good humor and rugged, good looks also capture the attention of visitors. A rift develops between John and his boss, so the naturalist decides to move on. Squirrel is devastated but somewhat mollified when he shows her his special mountainside perch, where he assures her she will have her "best thoughts." The afterword explains how this fictionalized retelling of an actual relationship reveals much about the compelling founder of the Sierra Club. Both his gentle personality and steely determination to see his beliefs recognized by his peers come through clearly. On the other hand, Squirrel seems persistently petulant and often downright rude; the abrupt conclusion leaves readers wondering about this rather unlikable heroine. McCully's sure watercolors capture the stunning natural beauty of the area and provide a majestic backdrop for the small figure of Squirrel. This offering is best used to introduce Muir to budding naturalists or to supplement geology and conservation units. |
Foreign Customer Review / 国外客户评价: |
| All of characters peopling this work actually existed as was and still are the geographical locations. The author has taken this information, the different personalities and traits of each individual character and blended them together into a story that might have been.
This tale is mainly about Floy Hutchings, whose nick name was Squirrel due to her Tom Boy ways, rebellious nature and general free spirit and her encounter with America's most famous Naturalist, John Muir. Around 1868 the Hutchings family owned a hotel and what we would now call a "dude ranch" in the Yosemite valley where Floy pretty well ran wild, causing trouble for not only her family, but also rather annoying the tourist who came to visit. "A very strange little girl," it was noted by more than one visitor! The Hutchings family needed help in constructing some buildings and when John Muir showed up at the front door seeking work he fit the bill, as he was rather skillful in constructing, inventing and handy with tools.
Muir had come to the area to observed, gather facts, write and publish his theories that the region was originally formed my glaciers; a fact which was not accepted in the scientific world at that time.
This entire book is the story of the possible relationship between this wild and rebellious young lady and John Muir who passed his love of nature, the land and his philosophy on to young Floy. Muir was about 30 years old at the time and had not come into his own and was not internationally known as he later become. This story is a sweet one, well told emphasizing the love, wonder, delight and tenderness Muir had toward nature and his ability to pass it on to the next generation.
We have a very well written text here that tells us a story that while probably not absolutely historically accurate, certainly passes along the true spirit and nature of the individuals involved. It is a story that not only might have been, but really should have been.
The art work, in the form of double page water colors is an absolute marvel to examine and relish. The artist, who is also the author, has captured the grandeur of the area perfectly while not neglecting small details while at the same time perfectly portraying Muir, Squirrel and the other characters. Visually this book is a true treat.
The author has provided the reader with a good afterward letting us know, briefly, what became of both Muir and Floy, which I found to be quite interesting.
Now please take note. We have some very nice reviews posted here, but a couple of points must be made. First, Floy (or Squirrel) was NOT Muir's daughter! Secondly, Floy Hutchings did not live to become a famous guide in the park, but was rather killed at the age of 16 in a tragic accident. This in no way should be construed as criticism of these reviews, only a bit of friendly adjusting just to keep the reader straight.
This is a great book to help children become interested in the natural world around them and to introduce them to one of the greatest men in our history. It is a great read along book and a wonderful picture book to just leaf through and enjoy. It belongs in ever library, and indeed, in ever child's private library. This is a work that is a joy to read to the little ones and it leave the reader plenty of room to add more information as the book progresses...I like that.
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