Scarecrow Pete

My first introduction to Mark Moulton's books. Great introduction to children on the loving to read and where it can take you. Artwork is beautiful.

I read Scarecrow Pete by Mark Kimball Moulton. I liked it and I would recommend this book because the boy didn't find the scarecrow and that part was funny. In the book I read when the scarecrow said to come to him to meet him then the boy found the scarecrow and started to talk to him. This helped convince me that it was a good book.

I picked this up on a whim at our local bookstore as something to read to my 8 year old son to kill some time in the store. What a surprise! It starts out a little slow, but it is rhymy and the illlustrations are full color, full page, so we kept going. Boy, was I glad we did! It turns out that the scarecrow encourages the boy to read a bunch of classic children's literature over one summer. The message of the book is that books can take you anywhere you want to go - a great advocate for literacy in our sound-byte, instant gratification, video game world. My son decided he wanted to buy and read a classic!! (ironically not one mentioned in the book, but still a classic) The books recommended by Scarecrow Pete include (now these are only a few that I can remember off the top of my head) Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Moby Dick, and more. The rhyming nature and illustrations would appeal to a child younger than one able to read those level of books independently, so I think this is one book that would last several years. A good investment, in my opinion.

As always, Mark Kimball Moulton has produced an excellent book! His books are lengthy, yet interesting and beautifully illustrated. My four year old loves Pete and will sit for the glorious 15 minutes of storytime EVERY night. Excellent, excellent, excellent! It encourages kids to read and explore their imaginations. What more could a parent ask for?!