Product Description

Nigel Chipmunk lives in a cozy little cottage on Thimbleberry Lane, and he has wonderful neighbors who are always up for a visit or an adventure. With heartwarming illustrations and old-fashioned charm, this oh-so-gentle storybook is perfect for a snuggly read-aloud and to be shared with the dearest of friends!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #395373 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Four cozy stories lovingly chronicle the domestic adventures of Nigel Chipmunk and his friends, all of whom live on or around Thimbleberry Lane. Without heavy-handed moralizing, Rylant's (The Blue Hill Meadows) characters, all with their own appealing quirks and idiosyncrasies, accept and enjoy one another's differences. Nigel, an energetic housecleaner, breakfasts on dandelion scones with lavender tea; Copper, a butterfly, wears ornaments on her antennae; Claudius, a lazy garter snake, prefers paper plates to china; and Mudpuppy, a salamander, drinks health tonics. The characters appreciate their diversity. As Dipper, a hummingbird, says: "Oh, I've been living in poppy gardens too long. I've forgotten not all the world is hummingbirds. That is why I moved to Thimbleberry Lane: variety." Kneen's (Milly and Tilly: The Story of a Town Mouse and a Country Mouse) warm, cheerful illustrations complement the text with quaint settings reminiscent of Beatrix Potter's idyllic villages. For each story a different border runs along the top of the page: e.g., knickknacks for "Little Owl Redecorates" and lily pads for "Mudpuppy's Picnic." At times, both stories and pictures border on the cute and sentimental but fortunately, not enough to occlude the overall effect. Ages 5-8. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-Rylant introduces delightful animal characters living in a small-town environment. Reminiscent of the work of Beatrix Potter and A. A. Milne, the stories imbue the animals with idiosyncratic behavior: Nigel Chipmunk is a homebody, Little Owl is a fussbudget, Copper the butterfly is flamboyant, Claudius the garter snake is indolent, and Mudpuppy the salamander is a perfectionist. Their behavior is very British; readers will find a great deal of tea drinking and tart eating on these pages. The stories themselves are sweet and contain messages on the meaning of friendship. The advanced vocabulary makes them better suited for sharing or storytimes than for beginning readers. Kneen's lovely, detailed soft-pastel illustrations emphasize the rural setting. Each chapter contains one lovely double-page spread and two half or full-page illustrations as well as delicate borders atop pages of solid text. A tasty treat.
Barbara Buckley, Rockville Centre Public Library, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
This beautifully illustrated volume of four short stories describes life on peaceful Thimbleberry Lane, where the gentlemanly Nigel Chipmunk lives in a cozy little cottage. In the first story, Nigel meets his new neighbor, a hummingbird named Dipper, who moves so fast he makes Nigel dizzy. Next Nigel offers decorating advice to Little Owl. In the third story, Nigel inspires his friend Claudius, a garter snake, to start a strawberry patch. And in the final segment, Nigel goes on a boating picnic with salamander friend Mudpuppy, who is an excellent boatman but a terrible cook. Thimbleberry Lane may not be the most exciting place, but the characters are superbly developed, and Kneen's intricately detailed watercolors will help children see Nigel's point when he says that Thimbleberry Lane is "quite the most beautiful place in the world." Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Thimble"boring" Stories
I rated this book with 4 stars because the illustrations are completely engaging, filled with rustic charm, cute little animals, thatched roof cottages, pretty flowers like foxgloves and climbing roses. Maggie Kneen brings the little critters who live along Thimbleberry Lane to life with vivid colors and nostalgic sensitivity. That's certainly worth every point of the four stars! The reason I withheld the fifth star is that Nigel Chipmunk and his friends the owl, the hummingbird, the snake, the butterfly and the mudpuppy while adorable and friendly sorts are way too tame to attract any real interest from children (or adults who love childrens' literature.) They help each other with tasks and have meals together and in general are very neighborly which is certainly a virtue, but unfortunately they are a bit boring. A little mischief would go a long way on Thimbleberry Lane.

So Pretty, Pretty!
I LOVE pretty stories with sweet pictures, and vice versa! This is a sweet little chapter book with adorable little pictures. I can't wait to give this to my Godchildren for Christmas. Makes life look like what we all wish it could be...simple, sweet, precious!

Good Manners Subtly Taught
Enjoy this lovely book over leisurely cups of tea and hot cocoa with a youngster. Ms. Rylant paints a vivid picture of a community where the animals are very different from each other, but they accept and appreciate those differences. Although the book is not preachy or pushy, here are some lessons a young reader/listener might pick up: Nigel welcomes a newcomer, though the hummingbird's flashy style makes him dizzy; Nigel patiently helps a worried little perfectionist owl "redecorate" his home -- back to the way it was in the first place; Nigel encourages a garter snake to plant a garden, aware that his lazy friend will not see it through. And finally (this is a lesson most children need to hear) Nigel politely accepts lunch with a salamander, knowing his friend serves only terrible-tasting health food. His graciousness is rewarded in the end. The painted illustrations are as delightful as the stories and characters themselves. This book is remniscent of Jan Karon's good-natured Mitford series for adults.