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11th out of 396 books
—
945 voters
The Incredible Journey
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 Siamese set out through the Canadian wilderness. Separately, they would soon have died. But, together, the three house pets faced starvation, exposure, and wild forest animals to make their way home to the family they love. The Inc...more
Paperback, 145 pages
Published
December 18th 1995
by Laurel Leaf
(first published 1960)
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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 because it's just a heart-wa...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 because it's just a heart-wa...more
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!
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.
Three household pets...more
Three household pets...more
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey was my favorite movie growing up. To this day it’s still my fondest childhood film. I loved it so much that I would wake up in the morning humming the theme song, and my dog Jessie and cat Luke would inadvertently become my stand-ins for Shadow and Sassy. So I found an old book in my closet titled, The Incredible Journey, by Sheila Burnford, and I had to read it. The book was penned during the early 60s, and like Born Free, it is almost like reading a book...more
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 are...more
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 with the Crea...more
For parents who wish to cultivate a biblical view of humans stewarding the environment in line with the Crea...more
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...more
It was amazing. I learned that love will lead you home!
1 like · like · see review
May 27, 2012
Megan
added it
Okay now I know most of you may think I'm crazy when I say this, but I liked the movie better. It may be that, since I watched it so much when I was little and it is still one of my favorite movies, or just that the altered version in the movie was more intriguing to me, but I still find the movie to be much better. Since I have controversy in my head since I was disappointed by the lack of excitement in the book, yet it tells a story that the movie told which I have always loved, I am going to...more
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 avoiding al...more
As minuets turned into hours, hours into days, and days into week, the trio walked avoiding al...more
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's slow, beca...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's slow, beca...more
1 like · like · see review
Oh *sniff* My *choke* Goodness!*sob*
Please excuse me while I go find some Kleenex!
*blows nose, wipes tears, regains composure*
How can I not give this book anything other than my own 5-stars of LOVE!
*blows nose again, swallows hard*
I was a child of the 70's, so I knew of this story from clips of it I saw on The Wonderful World of Disney, which my sister and I watched every Sunday night. I don't think I ever saw the whole, original, 1960's Disney movie based on this book (and I never saw the 1980'...more
Please excuse me while I go find some Kleenex!
*blows nose, wipes tears, regains composure*
How can I not give this book anything other than my own 5-stars of LOVE!
*blows nose again, swallows hard*
I was a child of the 70's, so I knew of this story from clips of it I saw on The Wonderful World of Disney, which my sister and I watched every Sunday night. I don't think I ever saw the whole, original, 1960's Disney movie based on this book (and I never saw the 1980'...more
3 likes · like · see review
Review originally published in a post entitled "Great Children's Books for Ages 7-11 and Up" at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
Two dogs and a cat, left with a friend while their family is in Britain for 6 months, escape and traverse hundreds of miles of Canadian wilderness, surviving floods and encounters with bears, wildcats, and angry farmers in their quest to reach their home. The pets are not anthropomorphized but do have distinct personalities and emotions. Their adventures are thrilling and their ev...more
Two dogs and a cat, left with a friend while their family is in Britain for 6 months, escape and traverse hundreds of miles of Canadian wilderness, surviving floods and encounters with bears, wildcats, and angry farmers in their quest to reach their home. The pets are not anthropomorphized but do have distinct personalities and emotions. Their adventures are thrilling and their ev...more
I love this book and I can't believe that I haven't watched the Disney movie.
Two dogs, Luath and Bodger, and a Siamese cat, Tao began a 480 km journey homeward, lead by the young Labrador Retriever Luath. After being taken care of by their master's friend for a few months, they started their journey as soon as he left for a trip in the lake. It seemed that they couldn't wait any longer to reunite with their master, who was abroad and would've been back in a few weeks. The parts of the story when...more
Two dogs, Luath and Bodger, and a Siamese cat, Tao began a 480 km journey homeward, lead by the young Labrador Retriever Luath. After being taken care of by their master's friend for a few months, they started their journey as soon as he left for a trip in the lake. It seemed that they couldn't wait any longer to reunite with their master, who was abroad and would've been back in a few weeks. The parts of the story when...more
Fabulous book. I love the multi-faceted tale of survival. Each animal in the trio faces the same conditions yet they each have different trials and triumphs. The wilderness they travel through feels like a real, tactile place. At times very dangerous, and at times very peaceful and lovely.
If you're looking for the fun and comedic tone of the 1993 movie, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, you won't find it here. The movie is great and one of my favorites but the differences between it and th...more
If you're looking for the fun and comedic tone of the 1993 movie, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, you won't find it here. The movie is great and one of my favorites but the differences between it and th...more
May 11, 2013
Indah Threez Lestari
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children,
indonesian
326 - 2013
Sebagai penggemar film Homeward Bound, pas membaca buku sumbernya ini boleh dibilang aku merasa... kecewa. Mengapa? Meskipun alur ceritanya tetap sama, novel ini bukan cerita fabel seperti filmnya. Tidak ada dialog atau percakapan yang kocak atau mengharukan antara para tokoh utamanya, para binatang peliharaan yang berusaha pulang ke rumah pemilik mereka. Padahal faktor utama yang membuatku suka filmnya adalah pengisi suara Chance, si buldog, yang sekaligus menjadi narator sepanjang fi...more
Sebagai penggemar film Homeward Bound, pas membaca buku sumbernya ini boleh dibilang aku merasa... kecewa. Mengapa? Meskipun alur ceritanya tetap sama, novel ini bukan cerita fabel seperti filmnya. Tidak ada dialog atau percakapan yang kocak atau mengharukan antara para tokoh utamanya, para binatang peliharaan yang berusaha pulang ke rumah pemilik mereka. Padahal faktor utama yang membuatku suka filmnya adalah pengisi suara Chance, si buldog, yang sekaligus menjadi narator sepanjang fi...more
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 and...more
Aug 14, 2010
Mary
added it
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 good modern day ada...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 good modern day ada...more
I also read the Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford. The animals aren't personalized until the end, which I thought was interesting. In the wild, it doesn't matter what your name it. There's the old bulldog, who isn't likely to survive, but makes it with the help of his loyal companions, the independent and tireless cat, and the young, loyal Labrador. They struggle through the Canadian wilderness, facing rivers, porcupines, separation, and hunger. But they make it home. There is the movie adap...more
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 though. Eve...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 though. Eve...more
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...more
Jan 27, 2013
Jack-jack
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
my-favorites,
animal-stories
This was an amazing book! I loved the characters especially the cat.
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 together and hel...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 together and hel...more
The Incredible Journey is the story of two dogs and a cat that travel 250 miles across Canada to find their beloved owners. They experience starving, other wild animals, and near death, but they keep each other alive and keep trying to make it home.
I watched the movie millions of times as a kid and I love it. The book was just as great. It was a little different of course (the animals don't actually talk to each other in the book though they do in the movie), but it was just as heart-warming and...more
I watched the movie millions of times as a kid and I love it. The book was just as great. It was a little different of course (the animals don't actually talk to each other in the book though they do in the movie), but it was just as heart-warming and...more
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 enamored with cats, but...more
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1 like · like · see review
Saw this in my library's eBook catalog and decided to re-read it. Back when I was 10, this book, along with The Trumpet of the Swan and My Side of the Mountain, were my favorites, and I pictured for myself a life in a cabin in the wilderness. Still not there...but I do still love these books. By the way, while this is a children's book, it is one in the way that The Hobbit is a children's book: the child needs to be an an enthusiastic reader, because this is a children's story written at an adul...more
Nothing feels better than to read an old childhood classic read. Plus I was able to include it in my Around the World in 52 Books Challenge. It's been many years since my Daddy read me this (Hey I may be 21 but Daddy is the only thing I've ever called my father) story. I loved it then and I really loved reading it now that I'm older.
The story of the young lab, old bull terrier and the Siamese cat is one that is timeless and one that appeals to both the young and old as well as new readers and th...more
The story of the young lab, old bull terrier and the Siamese cat is one that is timeless and one that appeals to both the young and old as well as new readers and th...more
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...more
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" after misunderstand...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" after misunderstand...more
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Sheila Philip Cochrane Burnford, née Every, (11 May 1918 – 20 April 1984) was an English novelist.
Born in Scotland but brought up in various parts of the United Kingdom, she attended St. George's School, Edinburgh and Harrogate Ladies College. In 1941 she married Doctor David Burnford, with whom she had three children. During World War II she worked as a volunteer ambulance driver. In 1951 she emi...more
More about Sheila Burnford...
Born in Scotland but brought up in various parts of the United Kingdom, she attended St. George's School, Edinburgh and Harrogate Ladies College. In 1941 she married Doctor David Burnford, with whom she had three children. During World War II she worked as a volunteer ambulance driver. In 1951 she emi...more
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