Abel's Island: (Newbery Honor Book) (Newbery Award & Honor Books (Paperback))

I loved William Steig as a child and was eager to introduce his work to my daughter. She has read Amos and Borris, Dr. De Soto and Sylvester and The Magic Pebble and she recently finished Abel's Island and declared it was her second favorite book of all time! (Charlotte's Web is still in the lead.)The story is about a wealthy mouse named Abelard Hassam di Chirico Flint who lives quite a stylish and pampered lifestyle until the day he is swept away in a ferocious rainstorm while attempting to rescue his wife Amanda's scarf. He ends up stranded on an island where he is forced to ponder ways to survive. Having lived so luxuriously (purely relying on his mother's inheritance) Abel is unaccustomed to having to fend for himself but we soon discover he is an extremely tenacious little creature with a dogged, unflagging spirit. He is determined to survive and is quite an imaginative and resourceful rodent. When a voracious owl begins to hunt him he masterfully evades it. He scurries along in his torn, tattered clothes, eventually finding shelter in hollowed out log. He scavenges for seeds (as opposed to his normal repast of champagne, croissant and caviar) and attempts to build vessels and bridges to get back to civilization. He fails constantly, but perseveres. (A great lesson, of course, for any child.) As the months go by Abel realizes he may never return to his beloved Amanda or his security and opulence, however he also begins to question that sybaritic lifestyle and if he really desires it. He starts to make peace with his life on the island. He gains an appreciation of nature and discovers a courageousness he never knew he had. He is, ultimately, smarter and bolder and emotionally richer because of the entire experience.Abel's Island is a beautifully written book with divine illustrations. It's quite similar to Robinson Crusoe and my daughter was enchanted by it. She genuinely cared about Abel and was proud of how he persevered against the odds. She also readily absorbed the books major themes about survival and what constitutes a meaningful life.

This is a wonderful story. I used to read this aloud to my fourth grade students. It lends itself to interesting discussions and problem solving activities. It will also introduce readers to some unique and interesting vocabulary.

It's been a while since I read a contemplative book meant for all ages. Sad that I had to dig so far back, to one published in 1976. I wish more of this kind, not hung up on swift dialogue and never ending outrageous deeds. This is a mediation on inner-strength that is served as a tale of survival, but in a rather quiet way. {I deliberately used "rather," as the voice is refined and civilized in that elegant way we associate with old fashioned, and British, narration.}A lovely picnic turns wet and stormy, and a loving husband, who happens to be mouse, is separated from his beloved because he chases her scarf, blown off by the raging wind. It is unclear if his scarf retrieval is an act of chivalry, or obsessive possessiveness. Possibly both. This one grand gesture winds up marooning this husband for a year, on an island, as he longs to make his way back to his wife mouse.A re-telling of the Odyssey, it works with charm and none of the literary hang-ups of writers who worry about too much tell (it's mostly that) or lowering the vocabulary to kid-friendly words. The result is a small masterpiece.

Glad to have this in hard cover.I'm not a big book guy but this one means a lot to me. I remember reading this in 5th grade. Always drawing pictures in the style of this book and coming up with my own adventures for Abel in my head and on paper.

As a child, the first "book" I remember reading was Steig's "Dominic." When I re-found and re-read the book years later, I realized just how beautiful the story was and decided to buy more of his works. I picked Abel's Island randomly, knowing nothing about the story.It is perhaps even more beautiful than "Dominic" was. Good enough to make this reader cry a bit (in joy) at the end. The story is about Abel, a distinguished mouse, who gets swept away in a flood and marooned on an island while trying to fetch a scarf that flew off his beloved wife's neck. After a few failed attempts to escape the island, Abel is forced to rely on himself to survive until he can figure out how to get back to his family. He keeps his wife's scarf around his neck to give him strength.This is a story that will be equally enjoyed by a young child and the parent reading it to him or her; and the themes of love, beauty and strength of character are lessons that can be appreciated by someone of any age.

I'll never forget getting this book as a child the very year it first emerged. It was one of my immediate favorites due to Steig's graceful portrait of the posh city-mouse, Abelard, who discovers the depths of loneliness and the heights of bravery and grit as he struggles to survive being marooned on an island following a terrible storm. This book is one of those kid's tales that has a truly haunting, magical quality that endures long after the last page is read. Part of this is due to Steig's sensitive and clever prose, his insight into the childlike hope and fear that lives-on in every human mind, no matter how young or old we are. I think this work features some of his most exceptional illustrations, too. Just marvelous. If you value your kids' brains in this manic world of chaos and crap, buy them books like this and you'll give them a priceless gift that conveys a sense of spirit and soulfulness for a lifetime.

So much fun to read to my 3rd grade class!

I bought this book for our 8-year-old granddaughter. When our daughter was in school, she loved this book. Our daughter and son-in-law have a rule...one toy for birthdays, Christmas, et cetera. This exception does not apply to books. So that is what we buy our granddaughter.

Es una buena historia

Childhood memory right there

I was left cold after a few pages of skimming through this book but then I am not English and I am not a child.

Un libro con magia. La historia está narrada con fluidez y con un lenguaje escogido que te hace imaginarte cada escena. Precioso. No es un libro con edad, es para todo el mundo.

We read this together over the course of a week or so. At first I thought they weren't getting into it, but I soon realised their silence was concentration and them getting lost in their imaginations as they listened. A week later, walking in the Lake District, they kept talking about the book and trying to point out the island; it's obviously stuck with them. I enjoyed it too and am even bigger fan of William Steig after this book.