Review by Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 2. The irony of a tender story about a huge, powerful buffalo will escape young children, but most listeners will relate to a young creature's bonding with an older one. Grandfather Buffalo is getting very old. Each time the herd moves, he falls further behind. Also left behind is a pregnant female, and it's her calf that revives Grandfather's spirit; the old buffalo nudges the calf along and protects it during a dust storm. When the dust clears, the bull finds a quiet spot to sleep, only to be awakened by something pressing against his ribs--the calf napping by his side. Arnosky's signature artwork, which beautifully evokes the western landscape, is especially effective showing the buffalo close-up, and the writer-artist's respect for nature is clearly reflected in the simple, poignant story. --Julie Cummins Copyright 2006 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-This is the story of an older buffalo that is no longer able to keep up with the rest of the herd. While the idea that the once-powerful old bull is growing older and unable to keep pace is sad, he is filled with serenity. In his travels behind the herd, he comes across a buffalo cow about to give birth. He stays with her throughout her labor and protects and cares for the calf, saving it during a dust storm. The book portrays the circle of life in a beautiful way, but it also shows the protective bond between young and old, as well as the important role Grandfather Buffalo continues to play in the herd dynamic. This book is a perfect interplay of poetic text and strong art that is full of love and empathy. Arnosky gives the impression of the harshness of the prairie environment without overdramatizing. Each spread features the majestic expanse of the tall grass and the other creatures that inhabit it. This is Arnosky at his excellent best.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This simple, heartwarming tale describes an old buffalo finding a new place within his herd by helping a young cow and her newborn calf. Arnosky's watercolor paintings convey the humbleness and dignity of Grandfather Buffalo and the beauty and vastness of the plains, especially the sprawling sky. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An old buffalo finds himself slowing down, but he still maintains a place within the herd in this gentle nature story. Grandfather Buffalo trails behind as the herd moves on and thus is the only bull present to protect another lagging buffalo, this one a pregnant cow, whose calf also comes under his protection when it is born. Arnosky depicts a gorgeously rolling prairie, the buffalo sharing the page with antelope, rattlesnakes, whooping cranes and regal fritillaries. As in his other picture books, the hazards encountered--separation from the herd, a dust storm--are just scary enough for his audience, and the inevitable reunions are sweetly reassuring. While the attachment between Grandfather Buffalo and the newborn calf may be zoologically suspect, this is unlikely to bother young readers, who will instead find the intergenerational bond pleasingly recognizable. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
