4,335 books
—
5,660 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Blueberries for Sal” as Want to Read:
Blueberries for Sal
by
Caldecott Honor Book
What happens when Sal and her mother meet a mother bear and her cub? A beloved classic is born!
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile Sal's mother is being followed by a sma ...more
What happens when Sal and her mother meet a mother bear and her cub? A beloved classic is born!
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile Sal's mother is being followed by a sma ...more
Hardcover, 56 pages
Published
September 17th 1948
by Viking Books for Young Readers
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Blueberries for Sal,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Matt Jivin
All ages, although 12+ may find it boring.
Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
I love the simple black and white illustrations in this book, and the subtle repetition of situations.
Sal and her mother go out to pick blueberries.
Unbeknowst to each other, Mother Bear has also taken her cub out to eat blueberries. And soon there is a mix up on the mountainside . . .
This is a delightful book to read aloud to children, over and over. The illustrations are very evocative of a time that is now past, and yet is always present.
Sal and her mother go out to pick blueberries.
Unbeknowst to each other, Mother Bear has also taken her cub out to eat blueberries. And soon there is a mix up on the mountainside . . .
This is a delightful book to read aloud to children, over and over. The illustrations are very evocative of a time that is now past, and yet is always present.
Jul 26, 2018
Calista
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
1930s-1940s,
award-caldecott,
bage-children,
classic,
genre-fantasy,
nature,
women,
z-robert-mccloskey
This mother has nerves of steel. She is missing her baby on a blueberry mountain and she meets a bear and walks around calmly looking for her baby. I guess that's the way to do it.
I think the art is nice - mostly black and white illustrations. The story is interesting and there is quite a bit of tension in it for kids. Two parties go up a hill to pick blueberries and the afternoon gets interesting. It's a solid story and I see it on many lists. I think I like this better than the Caldecott winne ...more
I think the art is nice - mostly black and white illustrations. The story is interesting and there is quite a bit of tension in it for kids. Two parties go up a hill to pick blueberries and the afternoon gets interesting. It's a solid story and I see it on many lists. I think I like this better than the Caldecott winne ...more
Mar 29, 2015
TL
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to TL by:
Itunes recommendation after downloading SnowQueen
Shelves:
favorites
The reason I picked this one? Partly for my niece and partly because of:
Our neighbors Helen and Mike (second grandparents really) had five blueberry bushes while we were growing up. Sometimes we would pick blueberries with them and sometimes we get a bowlful after Helen had given her family their share. To this day, they are still my favorite fruit :)
Story: four stars
Narrator: 5 stars
Actual rating 4.5 stars all around <3
A short book but a wonderful and cute story. The narrator does a great jo ...more
Our neighbors Helen and Mike (second grandparents really) had five blueberry bushes while we were growing up. Sometimes we would pick blueberries with them and sometimes we get a bowlful after Helen had given her family their share. To this day, they are still my favorite fruit :)
Story: four stars
Narrator: 5 stars
Actual rating 4.5 stars all around <3
A short book but a wonderful and cute story. The narrator does a great jo ...more
“Blueberries for Sal” is a Caldecott Honor Book by Robert McCloskey that is about how Little Sal and Little Bear wandered off from their mothers and ended up with the other’s mother during a day of blueberry picking. “Blueberries for Sal” is a wonderful book that many children will read for many years to come.
Robert McCloskey has done an amazing job at both writing and illustrating this book. Robert McCloskey makes this story extremely cute as it strongly relates to the typical child mix-up scen ...more
When Sal and her mother go blueberrying, they are both too busy picking (or in Sal's case, eating) to keep an eye on one another. Coincidentally, another mother-and-child duo has the same problem at the same time...
What a charming book! Written in 1948, Blueberries For Sal has received a Caldecott Honor.
I’m surprised I never read this book as a child or even noticed it at the library when my own children were young.
The story surrounds a young girl named Sal who goes blueberry picking with her mother. At the same time a mother bear and her young cub go blueberry eating to prepare for winter. Babies and mothers meet up unexpectedly.
The adventures of little Sal and the baby bear while hunting for blueberrie ...more
I’m surprised I never read this book as a child or even noticed it at the library when my own children were young.
The story surrounds a young girl named Sal who goes blueberry picking with her mother. At the same time a mother bear and her young cub go blueberry eating to prepare for winter. Babies and mothers meet up unexpectedly.
The adventures of little Sal and the baby bear while hunting for blueberrie ...more
Jul 22, 2007
Mary
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
people and animals who like berries
Shelves:
childrens,
readalouds
First of all, Sal looks like my most vivid memories of my sister when she was that age, so I love her.
Second of all, what's not to love about a story of mistaken identity set in a blueberry patch?
Third...Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk.
'nuff said.
Oh...a nice addition to my unit on using prior knowledge to make predictions and help yourself understand a story. "Boys and girls, what kinds of animals like to eat blueberries?"
Second of all, what's not to love about a story of mistaken identity set in a blueberry patch?
Third...Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk.
'nuff said.
Oh...a nice addition to my unit on using prior knowledge to make predictions and help yourself understand a story. "Boys and girls, what kinds of animals like to eat blueberries?"
Jan 05, 2017
Cathy aka The Attached Mama
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
children-s-books,
read-aloud-to-kids
My current three-year-old is always resistant to hearing this story read aloud to him, however, I talked him into hearing it when I told him there was a talking bear inside. He ended up enjoying the story, and I enjoyed reading it to him.
This is a fun story to read, with mirroring tales of the mamas and their babies. I like that it's illustrated in only black and white; the drawings are very vivid. And the story is fun, too, even though that situation in real life might end up being a sad story. Our girls enjoyed it too and it made me hungry for blueberries, yum!
Such a delightful story!
Confession. This is one of my favorite books EV-ER. Read this any time of year, but especially in late summer or early fall, before or after a berry-picking or berry-buying excursion. Anyone who has ever picked berries in the wild will relate to this little larger-than-life adventure.
I treasure all those drives up into the hills of the Targhee National Forest with my mom, aunts, sisters, and cousins where we hiked into the huckleberry patches and heard the ping-ping-ping of berries hitting the ...more
I treasure all those drives up into the hills of the Targhee National Forest with my mom, aunts, sisters, and cousins where we hiked into the huckleberry patches and heard the ping-ping-ping of berries hitting the ...more
Jul 07, 2012
Eyehavenofilter
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
toddlahs-no-tiaras,
kids-picture-books
I think I have read this book at least 30 times and I have bought 10 copies of it for friends out of state. It is a must for anyone who has ever, lived in, worked in, visited, had realatives who live here, have a summer home in, or want to retires to the state of Maine. I remember having this as a small child. I still have my original copy. It is now biegy-grey, well worn, loved, and tattered. I cannot part with it. If I could give it 10 stars I would.
It is Maine, it is blueberry picking, it is ...more
It is Maine, it is blueberry picking, it is ...more
I remember how I used to sit beside my mother while she would peel the peas out of the pea-pod and place them in a container for cooking and I would peel them off to eat the peas, contributing a few only when she gave me the look :P
Two things make this a great children book:
1) Using symmetry in prose
2) Showing how children are fearless unlike adults
So true! :)
Two things make this a great children book:
1) Using symmetry in prose
2) Showing how children are fearless unlike adults
So true! :)
We're mixing classics with the wonderful new books these days and this is another favorite of my sons that is also loved by my grandsons. Little Sal and Little Bear mix up their mothers on Blueberry Hill and we loved the plink, plank plunk of the blueberries into the pail.
Adorable illustrations, but the only thing I could think about while reading the book was that reality would have been a completely different story altogether!
"Kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk" as I was working on a unit study for Blueberries for Sal it stuck me that the words "kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk" all began with the letter K. Now wasn't there another book that had letter K words? Oh, yes, it was Klippity Klopby Ed Emberley
The letter K was used in each of these books I believe to highlight the fact that these words are not actually considered words but letter sounds that represent a sound heard. kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk are the sounds heard ...more
The letter K was used in each of these books I believe to highlight the fact that these words are not actually considered words but letter sounds that represent a sound heard. kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk are the sounds heard ...more
As a 1948 Caldecott Winner, this would be considered in the "classic category." The story, although old, holds the test of time as sweet and endearing. I spent a lot of time with this one as a young child. I believe my mom particularly enjoyed this one. The illustrations are beautifully done in black and white, and it tells a story of a mother and Sal (I say Sal instead of son/daughter because for this time, amazingly the gender is kept very neutral in this one - which I love!) going blueberry p
...more
First sentence: One day, Little Sal went with her mother to Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries.
Premise/plot: Little Sal and Little Bear both love, love, love to eat blueberries. Little Sal's mother is picking blueberries to can for winter; Little Bear's mother is eating blueberries--and encouraging Little Bear to eat blueberries--so they can save up lots of fat for hibernating that winter. Little Sal becomes tired, and ultimately becomes separated from her mother. Little Bear also becomes separa ...more
Premise/plot: Little Sal and Little Bear both love, love, love to eat blueberries. Little Sal's mother is picking blueberries to can for winter; Little Bear's mother is eating blueberries--and encouraging Little Bear to eat blueberries--so they can save up lots of fat for hibernating that winter. Little Sal becomes tired, and ultimately becomes separated from her mother. Little Bear also becomes separa ...more
I managed to make it through childhood without reading Blueberries for Sal, so I don't have any fond memories to make it seem delightful now. I think it probably is delightful, but Paul has an audio book version that he has been listening to on repeat and the voices make me crazy. They're just fingernails on my personal blackboard.
Plus it makes me kind of nuts that ALL the mother does is think about canning. How can you spend a whole day picking blueberries and never think about anything other t ...more
Plus it makes me kind of nuts that ALL the mother does is think about canning. How can you spend a whole day picking blueberries and never think about anything other t ...more
I loved this book when I was a kid and I think it holds up well today. I long ago lost my original copy, but liked the book enough to buy it again as an adult so that I'd have it in my collection.
Terrific book for either young reader (or old too) or to read to your children, as I did.
I thought it was funny and had some fabulous drawings. The obvious parallels between Little Sal and Little Bear were great hits with the kids.
Just perfect and charming, still and always.
This is just sweet. Yes, it is a bit old fashioned in some ways, but it made me and Alena smile.
Charles Wood
INFO 683 w/ Professor Morris
Resource Review #1
Robert McCloskey, Blueberries for Sal, The Penguin Group, 1948, 50 pages.
Recommended for ages 2 to 6.
The cover illustration for Blueberries for Sal is of a small child sitting in a meadow, eating blueberries. This inviting scene hints at the feelings of peace, serenity and happiness that this book will evoke. And the kids will love it too! What could be better than eating blueberries on a summer day?
This is a realistic, fictional story a ...more
INFO 683 w/ Professor Morris
Resource Review #1
Robert McCloskey, Blueberries for Sal, The Penguin Group, 1948, 50 pages.
Recommended for ages 2 to 6.
The cover illustration for Blueberries for Sal is of a small child sitting in a meadow, eating blueberries. This inviting scene hints at the feelings of peace, serenity and happiness that this book will evoke. And the kids will love it too! What could be better than eating blueberries on a summer day?
This is a realistic, fictional story a ...more
This review is required for Dr. Sykes' READ 3307 course at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. (Plot) In this story, a young girl (Sal) and her mother travel to Blueberry Hill to collect berries to can for the winter time. However, Sal and her mother are not the only animals collecting berries to get them through the winter. In fact, a mother bear and her cub are also searching for food, and when the two pairs meet up the real adventure begins. (Setting)From the Caldecott Honor-winning pictur
...more
Jul 02, 2018
Jeremy
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
animals,
children-ya,
family,
fiction,
nature,
read-to-kate,
read-to-olivia,
read-to-sophie,
classics
Fun.
I love, love, love children's books. Usually I go for the slightly older variety, but this one was so classic and sweet, I had to include it. I bought One Morning in Maine at the same time.
Set in the 50's, it's obviously one author's love story to his toddler daughter, Sally, who goes blueberry picking with her mother. I love the idea of author's/illustrators children being captured forever at these ages, a la Christopher Robin Milne in the Pooh stories.
My friend, Dawn, and I were looking at the ...more
Set in the 50's, it's obviously one author's love story to his toddler daughter, Sally, who goes blueberry picking with her mother. I love the idea of author's/illustrators children being captured forever at these ages, a la Christopher Robin Milne in the Pooh stories.
My friend, Dawn, and I were looking at the ...more
This is another story that I read/used for my literature unit project
This is a story of a little girl named Sal, and her mother as they go out into the country to pick blueberries to can for winter. It’s also a story about a little bear and his mother as they go out to eat berries to get full and fat for winter right on the same hill. Throughout the book, the two-mother/child pairs are intertwined with one another. As little Sal is eating blueberries along the way, she gets separated from her mo ...more
This is a story of a little girl named Sal, and her mother as they go out into the country to pick blueberries to can for winter. It’s also a story about a little bear and his mother as they go out to eat berries to get full and fat for winter right on the same hill. Throughout the book, the two-mother/child pairs are intertwined with one another. As little Sal is eating blueberries along the way, she gets separated from her mo ...more
Summary: Sal is a little girl who goes blueberry picking with her mother. Instead of picking berries for the winter like her mother, Sal is eating them. She plops down to eat them and rest, she encounters, another young friend who is doing the same. Soon they both realize they have been following the wrong mom. Both mothers soon realize their child is not behind them. At the end they reunite.
Evaluation: This was a sweet story about two very different children sharing their love for blue
...more| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1001 Children's B...: September 2015: Blueberries for Sal | 11 | 19 | Oct 30, 2015 01:09PM |
John Robert McCloskey (September 15, 1914 – June 30, 2003) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He both wrote and illustrated eight picture books and won two Caldecott Medals from the American Library Association recognizing the year's best-illustrated picture book. Four of those eight books were set in Maine: Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, Time of Wonder, and Bu
...more
More about Robert McCloskey
4 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
