具体描述
内容简介
Fox and Crow can agree on two things: their love of cheese and loathing of each other. These cagey animals will do whatever they can to outwit their sworn enemy and claim sole possession of the prized cheese they keep finding. But they are too caught up in their plotting and planning to realize they've picked the wrong house to steal from—since the mother of the house is one fed up Mama Bear who knows exactly how to contend with freeloaders.
作者简介
MELISSA WILEY is the author of The Martha Years and The Charlotte Years books about Laura Ingalls Wilder's ancestors. She writes about children's books, family, and home education on her blog "Here in the Bonny Glen."
内页插图
精彩书评
"The familiar fable about Fox and Crow, retold for new readers. Youngsters will quickly understand the word 'outfoxed' after reading these tales of flattery, greed and cheese, told as three connected short stories...Humorous watercolor illustrations are punctuated by thought bubbles showing the animal's plans...Funny chapter titles will amuse adults, and subtle visual details make this a fable book that new readers will return to."-- Kirkus Reviews
The Adventures of Barnaby the Brave Badger: A Tale of Courage and Discovery Book Details: Title: The Adventures of Barnaby the Brave Badger Series: Forest Friends Early Readers (Level 2) Format: Paperback Age Range: 4-7 years old --- Synopsis: Welcome to the Whispering Woods, a place brimming with mossy logs, babbling brooks, and the cheerful hustle of woodland creatures. This is the home of Barnaby, a young badger whose stripes are perhaps a bit wobbly, but whose heart is undeniably the stoutest in the entire forest. The Adventures of Barnaby the Brave Badger is a charming, engaging story designed to build reading confidence in young explorers, focusing on themes of curiosity, problem-solving, and the true meaning of friendship. Barnaby isn't like the other badger cubs who are content digging in the familiar, soft earth near their sett. Barnaby is driven by an insatiable curiosity about the world beyond the thicket of brambles that marks the edge of his known territory. He often gazes longingly toward the ancient, shadowed oak tree on the highest hill—a place his mother always warned was "too far for little paws." The adventure begins on a particularly bright, dew-kissed morning. Barnaby wakes to discover that his favorite, smooth river stone—the one he uses to balance his morning dew-drop collection—is missing! Panic quickly turns to determination. Barnaby recalls seeing a fleeting shadow near the stone just as the sun was setting the previous evening. He suspects it might have been Reginald the Raccoon, known throughout the woods for his habit of collecting shiny things, though perhaps not always returning them. This simple loss sets Barnaby on his first grand quest. Armed with nothing but his keen sense of smell and an optimistic wiggle of his nose, Barnaby sets off toward the Great Oak on the hill, the path Reginald is known to frequent. Chapter Highlights & Reading Milestones: Part One: The Trail of Twigs Barnaby leaves the comforting scent of his home burrow. The language here is simple, employing high-frequency words alongside gentle repetition perfect for Level 2 readers mastering CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) patterns and basic sight words. He first encounters Penelope the Pine Marten, who is diligently practicing her climbing knots. Penelope, known for being swift but easily distracted, offers Barnaby a vague clue: "I saw a flash of grey heading toward the Whispering Stream, Barnaby. Maybe Reginald was looking for berries!" Barnaby learns his first lesson in navigation: sometimes clues are helpful, sometimes they lead you slightly astray. He tracks the stream, recognizing the distinct, slightly musky scent that sometimes follows Reginald. Part Two: The Stream Crossing Challenge The Whispering Stream is wider and faster than Barnaby remembered. This section introduces simple narrative conflict resolved through observation. Barnaby must use his surroundings to cross safely. He spots a series of flat, mossy stones—stepping stones! He counts them carefully: one, two, three… ensuring he places his feet firmly. This reinforces basic number recognition within a functional context. On the other side, the trail gets colder. He finds a single, unusually large, dark feather. This doesn't smell like Reginald. Barnaby pauses, breathing deeply, recalling his lessons about tracking. The scent isn't Reginald’s; it's closer to Oliver the Owl, who occasionally drops in on his nocturnal ramblings. Did Oliver see something? Part Three: An Unexpected Ally Barnaby must now venture closer to the base of the Great Oak, where the shadows are deep and the sounds are unfamiliar. Here, he meets Florence the Field Mouse. Florence is small, quiet, and generally overlooked by the larger animals. Florence admits she saw Reginald, but Reginald wasn't stealing—he was returning something! Florence explains that Reginald had found the stone near the old bird bath, but before he could give it back, he saw a very worried sight: Pip the Robin was trying desperately to build a nest for his new clutch of eggs, but the wind kept blowing away his softest lining material. Reginald, deciding the stone was too heavy for Pip’s nest, took it to use as an anchor for a pile of fluffy thistle-down near the base of the Oak. Part Four: The Wisdom of Sharing Barnaby realizes his assumption about Reginald was unfair. He approaches the base of the Oak where Reginald is indeed securing a soft pile of down with his river stone. Reginald is apologetic. "I saw it near the water and thought it would be perfect to keep Pip’s babies warm and safe," he explains, handing the stone back to a relieved Barnaby. Barnaby looks at the stone, now slightly damp from the stream, and then at the carefully anchored nest. He realizes the stone serves a much better purpose right where it is. This is Barnaby’s biggest moment of courage and empathy. He tells Reginald, "Keep it, Reginald. Pip needs it more than my collection." Conclusion: The True Treasure Barnaby returns home as the sun begins to dip, casting long, orange shadows. He has no river stone, but he feels taller. His mother greets him with a warm hug. He recounts his entire day—the stream crossing, the feather, the conversation with Florence, and the decision he made at the Oak. His mother smiles. "Barnaby," she says, "a stone is just a stone. But bravery, listening to others, and knowing when to share—those are treasures that never fade." Barnaby falls asleep, dreaming not of shiny pebbles, but of the wide, exciting woods waiting for his next adventure, secure in the knowledge that being brave means doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. --- Educational Focus (For Parents and Educators): Vocabulary Expansion: Introduces words like insatiable, determined, musky, anchor, empathy, fluffy, clutch. Sight Word Mastery: Strong reinforcement of foundational words (the, is, a, saw, went, he, she, was). Phonics Practice: Features numerous examples of short vowel sounds and digraphs (sh, th, ch) in context-rich sentences. Comprehension Focus: Encourages sequencing, character motivation recognition (Why did Reginald take the stone?), and drawing conclusions based on evidence (the feather, the scent). Social-Emotional Learning: Highlights key virtues: curiosity, perseverance, overcoming assumptions, and selfless generosity. The narrative gently guides the young reader through the complex, yet rewarding, experience of choosing kindness over personal attachment.