Under a Prairie Sky [Hardcover]

Grade 1-3-A Canadian boy plans to be a Mountie someday. When he has to find his younger brother before a fierce storm arrives, he has a glimpse of what this life might entail. On his trusty horse, he rides through the fields and valleys until he finds Will catching frogs in a muddy stream. Together they race the storm until they are safely back home. The future Mountie has performed his duty well and, as the day ends, he brushes Bess and checks on his soundly sleeping little brother one more time. Beautiful watercolor illustrations fill the pages as they capture the golden hues of the prairie and the ferocious darkness of the storm. They illuminate the action and provide insight into the lives of the characters in details such as the oil lamps, the water basin for washing, and the tin drinking cup. Some wildlife is also represented, including a prairie dog, a coyote, and a heron. The text has a poetic ring but may be a bit daunting to many young readers and listeners as they try to determine the meanings of stook, coulee, and slough. This is a gentle story, set against a dramatic and interesting backdrop, about an older boy's sense of responsibility and his affection for his younger sibling.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4-8. With a thunderstorm coming to the Canadian prairie, a boy and his father discover that the boy's younger brother has wandered away. The older boy, who dreams of joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, dons a red coat, Stetson hat, blue breeches, and shiny boots and rides off to find his sibling. After much searching, he finally finds the child catching frogs in the slough. The boys race home, pursued by thunder, lightning, and hail. Carter's brief, lyrical text brings the sights and sounds of the Prairie Provinces to life in a way that will help children see the prairie as more than just grass. The attractive watercolors also illuminate the setting--warm, earthy colors for the sunny scenes; violet and navy hues for the storm. The book will be a good choice for reading aloud, especially to youngsters studying Canada or the prairie, and children doing creative writing will appreciate the details and descriptions of the setting. See also Jane Kurtz's Water Hole Waiting (p.1601) for a tale set in the African grassland. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

"Told in poetic prose with magical illustrations . . . this is a delightful candidate for reading aloud." (CITY Parent 20020920)

"While the story is rivetting on its own, the carefully researched text and illustrations provide the young reader with a rich and fascinating historical and geographical resource." "Highly Recommended." (CM Magazine 20020601)

"This is a gentle story, set against a dramatic and interesting backdrop." (School Library Journal 20020515)

"Carter's brief, lyrical text brings the sights and sounds of the Prairie Provinces to life in a way that will help children see the prairie as more than just grass." (Booklist 20020901)

"The illustrations are full of gold, red, pink and yellow and capture the prairie landscape and the expressions of the characters perfectly." (Resource Links ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Mr. Christie Book Award 2003 Book of the Year nomination 2003 Resource Links' Year's Best 2002 Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award nominee 2003 CCBC Our Choice 2003 Shining Willow Award nominee 2003-04

Anne Laurel Carter is a multi-award-winning author of books for children, including Under the Prairie Sky (Orca 2004). When she's not writing, she's reading. Anne lives in Toronto, Ontario, where she works full-time as a teacher-librarian.