Keeper of the Swamp

My sons and I enjoyed reading this book aloud together. It has a lot of the elements in it that make a good story. It tugs at ones heartstrings(the grandfather part), and creates suspense. I also appreciated how the author encouraged persevering, even when something seems diffcult. He listened to the grandfathers instruction once again, and conquered his own fears, and was successfull. It shows caring for animals, and the excitement that can come from that. In the end, the boy promises to be the future keeper of the swamp, as his grandfather may not be around much longer to do so. A great read.

As an educator, I'm always exposed to books that interest children to varying degrees. "Keeper of the Swamp" tells such a new story in such an entertaining way, that my students were captivated by it. Our class has always loved the natural surroundings around our school and now they are fascinated with all of the wildlife it holds. The illustrations are lush and colorful. The story helps convey the importance of how a simple ritual, even a frightening one, can pass on and solidify a child's understanding and respect for nature. This book is a "Must Buy". You'll know when you see it.

A suspenseful coming of age story; a beautifully illustrated and written relationship between a boy, his grandfather, and the lush, but sometimes dangerous surroundings which are so much a part of their lives. This book will help kids cope with the things of which they are afraid, and help adults open lines of communication about fear, responsibility, and self-esteem. All in a fascinating, readable, vivid story.

Few things inspire me enough to take action, but after thoroughly enjoying this book with my son, Christian, I had to express my praises. Two-year- old Christian is completely enthralled with alligators, so we decided to take a chance on Ms. Garrett's book. I feared that as with some of his books, he would eventually outgrow it, but I was pleasantly surprised when the book arrived. The illustrations are strikingly vibrant with color and depth; they are beautifully done. But the best part is the story. I know that Christian and I will be able to share this book together for years to come because the story has DEPTH! How refreshing for a children's book to be as interesting to the adult as it is to the child! As Christian is ready, this book introduces concepts of tradition, responsibility, environmental concerns, and even the heavier issues of terminal illness and death. I'm sorry this is sounding like a commercial, so I'll just end with saying that I'm glad we bought the book, and we look forward to Ann Garrett's next adventure! Sincerely, Wendell and Christian Walton