Lassie Come-Home
Grade 2-4?In this lushly illustrated adaptation of Eric Knight's 1938 novel, Wells and Jeffers have combined their talents to produce a book irresistible to lovers of animal stories. Most children are familiar with the tale of how the loyal collie travels over 1,000 miles from northern Scotland to Yorkshire to return to her young friend, Joe. Lassie, having been sold to the wealthy Duke of Rudling because Joe's father is out of work, runs away and braves starvation and treacherous conditions to follow the pull of her heart toward the family who loves her. Jeffers's watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations sensitively depict both the brightness and high spirits of Joe and Lassie as they play together, and the dark despair that overshadows the lonely dog as she makes her way through forlorn landscapes on her journey home. These rich pictures, combined with Wells's well-turned words, create a story that young readers will find moving, as they see the animal turn from a healthy, impeccably groomed pet into a pitifully thin dog too weak to continue homeward. Readers can trace her journey using the helpful map of Britain that shows all the towns mentioned in the story. A wonderful addition to any collection.?Christina Linz, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FLCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.