Pagoo

Pagoo is one of my favorite children/science books. Holling Clancy Holling is a wonderful author and created a series of great books for children, as well as adults, you will both learn so much! All of his books take you on a journey or life story of the main character, in this case Pagoo(abbreviated from the correct biological name) is the life story of a hermit crab. I used to read one page a night to my boys, and one page alone is filled with so much information and illustrations you'll see why. I swear both my boys, now young men, have a tremendous sensitivity to the earth and all its creatures and I believe some of this was because of the wonderful perspective Holling Clancy Holling gave them. We read all of his books, but Pagoo, Minn of the Mississippi(a female snapping turtle's tale) and the most famous Paddle to the Sea(the journey of a small wooden Indian in a canoe) were our favorites!

This was my favourite book over 30 years ago, and I'm glad to see I wasn't alone. The book does a masterful job of combining science education with an engaging fictional storyline.

It has been too long since I first read Pagoo, but when I found it again I felt the same wonder, and eagerness to know more of Pagoo, and his life. I have read Pagoo to each of my children, and own a small hermit crab because of it. It is a wonderful book, full of detail, and excitement that makes you want to read on.

In our family it has been a tradition of long standing that each child receives at least one picture book for Christmas. I received "Pagoo" way back in the fifties when it was brand new. It quickly became, and remains, my favorite children's picture book. It may have led to a career interest in marine biology. When we recently found it covered in mildew and rotting away in a place we had hoped would keep it safe for a grandchild I was heartbroken. I was delighted to be able to find it still in print. It will lie under the Christmas tree again this year.

When I was a young child I enjoyed this book immensely. I read and re-read this book, and then re-read it again. I recently found my dog-eared, falling apart copy of this book. It brought up a lot of nostalgia, and just for grins I read it again. It is still just as good as when I first read it. I was given a small collection of Holling books as a child, but Pagoo was my favorite. It instilled in me a love for sea life, which I followed through exploring the beaches of the Pacific NW, my practically life-long home. This book is wonderful, and I am buying several new copies to pass on to all of my young friends.