Instinct told them that the way home lay to the west. And so the doughty young Labrador retriever, the roguish bull terrier and the indomitable Sia...
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Feb 06, 2008
Wicked Incognito Now
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Many of you probably saw the movie, but I would have to say (of course) that the book is better.
At first my kids were disappointed that there actually is NOT any dialogue between the pets as they travel. However, I was happy for them to experience a different sort of story. Often their own stories are filled with too much dialogue or too much description, and is rather short on story. This book should give them an idea about how things can be written.
I love this book b More...
At first my kids were disappointed that there actually is NOT any dialogue between the pets as they travel. However, I was happy for them to experience a different sort of story. Often their own stories are filled with too much dialogue or too much description, and is rather short on story. This book should give them an idea about how things can be written.
I love this book b More...
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Jan 19, 2008
Katie
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I read this book probably 20 times when I was growing up...definitely one of my top all-time favorites. I loved animals, and for a long time wanted to be a veterinarian. I think I loved this book because of the combination of seeing from the animal's point of view, and the excitement of the adventure, and how realistic the writing was. A recommended read to anyone! And much better than the Disney adapted movie!
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Jan 27, 2011
Laura
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I was reThe Incredible Journeyminded of this little treasure when a patron asked me to help identify a movie that she had seen a child. Since she was a little younger than me, I was the most likely candidate to solve the mystery. The movie turned out to be "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey." It turns out that this cute movie was actually based on the book The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnsford which was originally written in 1960. The book was based on a true story.
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Aug 11, 2010
Charlotte
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This book was also enjoyed with my grandson. It is the story of two dogs and a Siamese cat who make a stressful 300 mile journey across the wilderness of northwest Ontario. The animals belong to the Hunter family who leave for a year in England where the father, Jim spends a year doing university lectures. The dogs are left with family friend John Longmont, godfather of the Hunter's daughter Elizabeth. Near the end of the year, John Longmont goes on a two week duck hunting trip, and the dogs
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Aug 05, 2010
Sheila Burnford's story of three beloved family pets (a Labrador retriever, bull terrier and Siamese cat) who make a cross-country trek across Canadian wilderness to reach their home has an undeniable appeal for animal lovers. The book is written in a realistic style without anthropomorphic overtones, and each animal's personality is developed in line with the characteristics of its breed.
For parents who wish to cultivate a biblical view of humans stewarding the environment in line More...
For parents who wish to cultivate a biblical view of humans stewarding the environment in line More...
Aug 18, 2011
Erin
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The Incredible Journey is a book about a cat and two dogs working together to go home. In this book they become closer to each other by facing hard obstacles and dangerous challenges. I didn't like the beginning of this book because it started off slow until they started to reach the challenges. I think this book is called the Incredible Journey because in the adventures these animals are going on it is incredible, especially with the bear, the humans and other encounters. My favorite part was w
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Sep 15, 2010
Sedera
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As instinct lead them west after their family who’s house over three hundred miles away, but after the last family member had to leave for a few weeks. The animals took it upon themselves to find their way home. After a few miles the trio comes across an Indian tribe, the old dog and the cat approached the Indian and was given a good meal and attention, while the Labrador head back weary of the humans.
As minuets turned into hours, hours into days, and days into week, the trio walked avoid More...
As minuets turned into hours, hours into days, and days into week, the trio walked avoid More...
Feb 20, 2010
Megan
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I was six years old when the remake of The Incredible Journey, Homeward Bound, came out. I loved it, even if the portrayal of Shadow always managed to make me sad. (So old and devoted and wise... I still remember the end, when he comes home, and... okay, okay, I'll stop...)
This book is very different from the movie. There's still two dogs and a cat, but their personalities are different and the reason for their journey has also changed. This book is very calmly paced. I won't say it' More...
This book is very different from the movie. There's still two dogs and a cat, but their personalities are different and the reason for their journey has also changed. This book is very calmly paced. I won't say it' More...
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Jun 12, 2011
Jack-jack
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This was an amazing bokk! I loved the characters espesually the cat.
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Jan 26, 2012
Liz
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We just finished listening to this audiobook in the car today. Em didn't get to listen to most of the book, but she did express that she thought that the book was much better than the movie. The little ones don't remember the movie so we will be trying to get a copy of it to compare with the book. Overall, it was a touching story with a good deal of action once the journey began. Since I saw the movie first before the book, I had some difficulties in mixing up what the characters looked like
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Aug 14, 2010
What a great story of devotion -- amongst pets, pets for people.
What a story of kindness -- most people you meet are good and kind as shown through most of the characters the animals encounter.
I read this when I was in junior high and enjoyed it then as well as now. I even remember seeing the movie -- possibly on the Wonderful World of Disney. I remembered it being narrated and when I looked it up, it sure was, --once the animals took center stage that is.
Homeward Bound is a More...
What a story of kindness -- most people you meet are good and kind as shown through most of the characters the animals encounter.
I read this when I was in junior high and enjoyed it then as well as now. I even remember seeing the movie -- possibly on the Wonderful World of Disney. I remembered it being narrated and when I looked it up, it sure was, --once the animals took center stage that is.
Homeward Bound is a More...
Sep 20, 2011
Myles
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Luath the young Labrador, Bodger the old English bull terrier and Tao the Siamese cat set out on a long 300 mile trek home through the Canadian wilderness.
This book was a real treat. I've only ever seen Homeword Bound: The Incredible Journey, the remake of the original adaption with talking animals, but the basic plot and encounters were essentially the same. The movie was just a touch more melodramatic. Just a touch. This book blows that beloved-by-little-me classic out of the water More...
This book was a real treat. I've only ever seen Homeword Bound: The Incredible Journey, the remake of the original adaption with talking animals, but the basic plot and encounters were essentially the same. The movie was just a touch more melodramatic. Just a touch. This book blows that beloved-by-little-me classic out of the water More...
Apr 02, 2009
Ellenkristi
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The story paces slowly, something I felt I couldn't bear at first. But as more chapters are read, the better it gets. Sheila Burnford successfully creates the logic of an incredible story, how a Siamese cat can befriend an old terrier and a young Labrador so much that they are inseparable companions in such a long journey. For the soft-hearted it can make your eyes teary to read the closing chapter, but I found that I'm not that soft :-) Oh, but I learn quite some things about Siamese cat, terri
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Apr 29, 2011
Amy
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I first saw this movie on Disney when I was about 9. Recently, over 20 years later, I was in Half Price Books and spotted the book so I bought it. I was intending to give it to my 10-year-old niece, but then I started reading it. I had tears in my eyes. It was so inspiring.
This book is very symbolic of the Christian walk--through the wilderness, into the "Promised Land". We all need each other--nobody is an island. We cannot go it alone. Like the animals in this book. They stay More...
This book is very symbolic of the Christian walk--through the wilderness, into the "Promised Land". We all need each other--nobody is an island. We cannot go it alone. Like the animals in this book. They stay More...
Mar 07, 2011
Jeana
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Right up there with Where the Red Fern Grows and the other "dog" books of our youth, The Incredible Journey is really a sweet, tender story about the relationships between animals with each other and with their humans. I'm trying to get my 9-yr-old to read this (I know she'll love it) but she doesn't like to take advice from me. I think I'll rent the movie, pull out some popcorn and tell her it's an "Incredible Journey" party she can attend after she reads it. I'm already
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Jan 19, 2011
Lindsay
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Sep 17, 2011
Matthew
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I have to preface this review by saying that I read this book somewhere between third and fifth grade and was incredibly enthralled at the time. And then, as tends to happen, a couple decades went by and I forgot all about the story. I still love it, but now, as I try to recollect what I liked about it, the story mingles with the movie series that was based on the book and a few other stories with copycat plots and I can't remember what I loved about it. I know it's a great book, even without th
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Sep 23, 2011
Corinne
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The last time I read this story was also the first time I read it - when I was 8 years old. I was a bit obsessed with Homeward Bound (hah, as if anything has changed!) and remember being surprised and disappointed to discover that the book doesn't have dialogue. I liked the story back then, but I love it now.
Three pets - Tao the Siamese cat, Bodger the old English bull terrier, and Luath the strapping young Labrador - embark on an (excuse the obviousness) "incredible journey" More...
Three pets - Tao the Siamese cat, Bodger the old English bull terrier, and Luath the strapping young Labrador - embark on an (excuse the obviousness) "incredible journey" More...
May 22, 2011
ηicolε
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Sheila Burnford is a Scottish-Canadian author that wrote the popular children’s story, The Incredible Journey, which I finally decided to pick and read. The plot circles around three lost animals; Luath, Bodger, and Tao. Or as the narrative calls them, the young dog, the old dog, and the cat. After being left at home from their family, all three animals venture out and attempt to find their owners miles away from where they started, far through the province of Ontario (the fact that this family’
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Jun 10, 2010
Jonathan
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The incredible Journey actually fits its title. The book is all about these 3 animals that go on a journey to find something. I won't give it away but what happens is that because they all go on this journey they become closer to each other. Having to climb over obstacles and being in very rough conditions. This book is a good book if your an animal lover and or someone who likes a book where a journey is happening because as i said before when you read this book you will be experiencing an Incr
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Aug 02, 2010
Drew
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This is one of The Wife's favorites from her youth, and of course I saw the film adaptation when I was a kid, so I decided to read this book. Of course the movie deviates in style and tone from the source material, most notably changing the names and relationships between the three main characters. Bodger the old English Bull Terrier, Luath the young Labrador, and Tao the Siamese cat, hardly resemble their perky, anthropomorphized Disney counterparts of Shadow, Chance and Sassy (complete with
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Aug 30, 2010
Suzanne
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The cat and two dogs in this story ARE incredible. Their journey proves this. After several close calls and a long dangerous trek through Canadian wilderness, these beloved pets find their way home. The bond between the animals and their owners is the strength that sees them through. This book is a page-turner and kept me involved to the end.
I did feel a little sad for Helvi, the girl who rescued Tao from drowning. She loved the cat dearly and was so excited when her parents a More...
I did feel a little sad for Helvi, the girl who rescued Tao from drowning. She loved the cat dearly and was so excited when her parents a More...
Apr 23, 2010
Elhara
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Gee, now I am questioning my memory. Was it "The Wonderful World of Disney" that I first saw the Incredible Journey? I'm sure, like many others, I share the memory: Mid 1960's, Sunday evening, 6 o'clock, Mr. Disney himself did the introductions. "When you wish upon a star.. makes no difference who you are...." Looking back I was so thrilled to watch Walt Disney when it was an animal story. I was never a fan of Mickey Mouse or anything animated. Wherever I initially saw this p
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Jan 26, 2011
Eric
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The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford was the first book without pictures that I read. I’d tried others but they didn’t engage me like this one. The book had a great story and was well paced with just enough suspense. Our family adopted our first pet; a dog, at the time that I was reading this book. Having a dog in the house gave me a deeper connection to the animals which were at the heart of this book. Finishing the book gave me a great feeling of accomplishment.
Oct 31, 2011
Lindsey
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I didn't like this book very much. There were so many characters and I kept losing track of who was who. Also, the pets didn't have names until the very end, and it was confusing without names. The book didn't stay on topic because it kept talking about the people instead of the animals. It's a Tale of Three Animals, so I thought it should be more about the three animals. This book just isn't my favorite type of writing. -J.H. age 9
Jan 30, 2012
Tracy
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I was just reminded of the movie made from this story, "Homeward Bound" and that led me to recall I'd read this *quite* a while back. Probably around 1993 when the movie came out. XD
The only thing I recall not liking about the book was that the animals don't "talk" like they do in the movie—there are no human voices to carry them along, only the narrator. But I remember enjoying it. (I think I read it for a school book report.)
The only thing I recall not liking about the book was that the animals don't "talk" like they do in the movie—there are no human voices to carry them along, only the narrator. But I remember enjoying it. (I think I read it for a school book report.)
Apr 14, 2011
This book was about 3 lost pets who try to find their way back to their masters. in the story, they encounter many animals who attack them such as bears, and other dogs. I think this book is very violent since all the fights end up in lots of blood and even deaths. this was a great book and I also think that it proved that you can't judge a book by its cover because most people thought it would be a childrens chapter book.
Dec 27, 2010
Peggy
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I was probably 13 or 14 when I first read this book. I loved it then, and I love it now. I read it again every few years and have given a copy to my grandson in hopes that he'll love it as much as I do. You don't have to be a pet owner or an animal lover to appreciate this tale of love and loyalty that overcomes hardship and multiple obstacles in reuniting these pets with their owner. It's a permanent fixture on my bookshelf.
Jun 07, 2009
Susan
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The Incredible Journey is the captivating story of three family pets and their dangerous journey home through the Canadian wilderness. This was really an emotional story for me. I am a born animal lover, and the trials that this intrepid trio suffered, along with their intense bravery and devotion to their owners, brought tears to my eyes more than once.
The Incredible Journey is a wonderfully entertaining story of love, loyalty, and perseverance. Full of adventure and excitement, it More...
The Incredible Journey is a wonderfully entertaining story of love, loyalty, and perseverance. Full of adventure and excitement, it More...
