Out and About with the Big Tree Gang

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

The five short stories in this collection, which feature Shawna (a
rabbit), Burt (a possum), and Keely and her brother Reg (skunk twins),
all take place in the autumn or winter and touch on a variety of themes.


In “The Compass,” Reg has just received his grandfather’s
compass. Anxious to show off his orienteering skills, Reg invites his
friends to go for a hike, and then carelessly manages to drop the
compass down a riverbank. Burt, with his problem-solving ability, saves
the day. “In the Spotlight” deals with bragging and stage fright.
“The Hunt” finds Keely bemoaning the fact that summer with all its
fun activities is nearly over and colder weather is on its way.
Persuaded to join in an autumn scavenger hunt, Keely soon discovers that
each season has its own special beauty. In “Jumps Schmumps” and
“Snow Day,” the joy of sharing and the value of friendship are
emphasized as the four friends race down snowy slopes and build snow
dragons together.

Each story is no more than eight pages long, with short sentences and
easily accessible vocabulary. The animal characters come to life thanks
to Dean Griffiths’s charming pencil drawings. Two or more full-page
illustrations are included in each chapter, with many smaller ones
interspersed throughout the text.

Out and About with the Big Tree Gang would be a fine choice for readers
who have just graduated to chapter books. Recommended.