Call number
E H
Collection
Genres
Publication
Plough Publishing House (2018), Edition: Reprint, 42 pages
Description
Harvey thinks his big sister, Mildred, is mean and rotten and she thinks he is stupid and no-good, so they both spend some lonely hours refusing to play together.
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member JosieLynn
Harvey's Hideout is the first book I remember holding in my hand as a very small, pre-preschool aged child.
It is the charming story of two muskrat siblings, Harvey and Mildred, who are having some "issues" getting along. Harvey is the "stupid, no-good" little brother who annoys his older sister
Not that my older sister was never quite as mean to me as Mildred was nor was I ever quite as bratty or annoying as Harvey. Still, the colorful illustrations depicting the idyllic family life of a muskrat family charmed me and provided ample fodder for my imagination. I wanted a party dress like Mildred's and fantasized that when I ran away from home, I'd carry my belonging in a bindle (bag on a stick) like Harvey.
I found this book several years ago at a second-hand book store and reading it as an adult, I was happy to see that it hasn't lost its charm. I still love the colorful illustrations which probably endeared muskrats to generations of readers, which was a feat in itself. I mean, I've seen muskrats in person, and they are not this adorable. But, I must say, this time around, I appreciated the book's very realistic portrayal of sibling interactions.
Then there was the joy of finding all of the things that went over my head as a child (which were probably snuck in just to give parents a chuckle) for instance the part where the muskrat children list all the children in the neighborhood and the reasons they may or may not be suitable playmates...(they are not allowed to get mixed up with the weasels).
Hilarious.
Reading this as an adult reminded me what a gift siblings can be. At the end of the day, all you really have is each other and that's a lot. What a nice lesson to find in a children's book.
I wonder if this book is the real reason my sisters and I always got along so well.
It is the charming story of two muskrat siblings, Harvey and Mildred, who are having some "issues" getting along. Harvey is the "stupid, no-good" little brother who annoys his older sister
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Mildred, who in turn is "mean and rotten." In truth (and as their muskrat father wisely points out) neither is really stupid, no-good, mean or rotten. They just seem that way to each other. Ah...memories of childhood. Not that my older sister was never quite as mean to me as Mildred was nor was I ever quite as bratty or annoying as Harvey. Still, the colorful illustrations depicting the idyllic family life of a muskrat family charmed me and provided ample fodder for my imagination. I wanted a party dress like Mildred's and fantasized that when I ran away from home, I'd carry my belonging in a bindle (bag on a stick) like Harvey.
I found this book several years ago at a second-hand book store and reading it as an adult, I was happy to see that it hasn't lost its charm. I still love the colorful illustrations which probably endeared muskrats to generations of readers, which was a feat in itself. I mean, I've seen muskrats in person, and they are not this adorable. But, I must say, this time around, I appreciated the book's very realistic portrayal of sibling interactions.
Then there was the joy of finding all of the things that went over my head as a child (which were probably snuck in just to give parents a chuckle) for instance the part where the muskrat children list all the children in the neighborhood and the reasons they may or may not be suitable playmates...(they are not allowed to get mixed up with the weasels).
Hilarious.
Reading this as an adult reminded me what a gift siblings can be. At the end of the day, all you really have is each other and that's a lot. What a nice lesson to find in a children's book.
I wonder if this book is the real reason my sisters and I always got along so well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
I have two children who did not get along very well when they were younger. Just like Harvey and Mildred, they had their own friends and did not want the other hanging around. You can tell this is a reissue from an earlier published book (1980) based on the writing of lines as a punishment. I
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didn't like some of the mean things they said to one another, but at the end they realize that they have each other and need to make concessions for behaviours. I did really like the illustrations, they were bright watercolour type of drawing with a lot of detail. I am not sure if I would read this book to my grandchildren or not. I have mixed feelings about it. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. Show Less
LibraryThing member villemezbrown
A cute and humorous look at sibling rivalry and bickering. Harvey Muskrat and his older sister, Mildred, try to one-up each other with the exciting things they are doing this summer, like a party or secret club, to which the other isn't invited.
I like the minimal but amusing impact of the parents
I like the minimal but amusing impact of the parents
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on a story that is truly about the kids working things out for themselves. Show Less
Pages
42
ISBN
0874861381 / 9780874861389