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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 ...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 ...more
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Hardcover, 56 pages
Published
September 17th 1948
by Viking Books for Young Readers
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Matt Jivin
All ages, although 12+ may find it boring.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Blueberries for Sal
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:
classic,
bage-children,
genre-fantasy,
women,
award-caldecott,
nature,
z-robert-mccloskey,
1940s
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 ...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 ...more
A lovely simple tale of a mother and daughter going to pick fruit to preserve for the winter. They are not the only fruit pickers about but it all ends well!
This story certainly struck a chord with me, we always pick as many blackberries as we can for jam and freezing and when my daughter was small, just like Sal, she would eat all she could pick and start on what I had gathered.
This story has wonderful pictures and is a lovely glimpse of a traditional, seasonal, mother and child activity.
...more
This story certainly struck a chord with me, we always pick as many blackberries as we can for jam and freezing and when my daughter was small, just like Sal, she would eat all she could pick and start on what I had gathered.
This story has wonderful pictures and is a lovely glimpse of a traditional, seasonal, mother and child activity.
...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 ...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 ...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 others 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 scenario ...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...
I would probably recommend this book only with a caveat: I don't think it's suitable for kids who live in areas where there are actual bears; it could easily give them the wrong idea.
This classic book is about a little girl who goes picking blueberries with her mother. On Blueberry Hill, there's a bit of a mix-up, and Sal ends up following a mama bear while the little bear ends up following Sal's mother! In the book, there's no bloodshed (of course), and the resolution is cute, though somewhat ...more
This classic book is about a little girl who goes picking blueberries with her mother. On Blueberry Hill, there's a bit of a mix-up, and Sal ends up following a mama bear while the little bear ends up following Sal's mother! In the book, there's no bloodshed (of course), and the resolution is cute, though somewhat ...more
What a charming book! Written in 1948, Blueberries For Sal has received a Caldecott Honor.
Im 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 blueberries ...more
Im 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 blueberries ...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?"
The illustrations in this book, from the detailed kitchen scene to the wide open hillside scenes, are beautiful. The author points out similarities between humans and animals when it comes to the behavior of mothers and children.
Caldecott Honor: 1949
Precious. This story brings back childhood memories for me. I grew up on a small farm that had a large blueberry patch that grew bountiful crops of berries each year. I can still hear that kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk from dropping those juicy berries into my pail. I will admit; I did eat a lot of berries like Sal, too.
Precious. This story brings back childhood memories for me. I grew up on a small farm that had a large blueberry patch that grew bountiful crops of berries each year. I can still hear that kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk from dropping those juicy berries into my pail. I will admit; I did eat a lot of berries like Sal, too.
Nov 20, 2018
Karen
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
originally-read-pre-goodreads
3.5! cute as heck
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!
Read this one to my children many times as we had three large and very productive blueberry bushes and would go out in the morning and pick berries for our cereal.
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! :)
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.
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!
Full disclosure, I needed a twentieth book. But Johnny wants a tattoo of these beautiful illustrations, and we are up in Bridgton in his home as we cross into 2020. I am warm here in the snow. All of us here pass time together.
This mom is straight gangster. Turns around to see what she thought was a child was in fact a bear... doesnt bat an eye. Finds child. Finishes her blueberry picking like the badass she is.
...more
One of my favorites as a child.
"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
I think Robert McCloskey is my new favorite author for early childhood books! His images are delightful and his simple stories end up having a fun twist that keeps adults entertained too!
Ages 3+
Cleanliness: a mother says, "My Goodness."
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can ...more
Ages 3+
Cleanliness: a mother says, "My Goodness."
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can ...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
...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 ...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 ...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 ...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 ...more
Sep 16, 2007
Lisa Vegan
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
fiction,
reviewed,
picture-books,
childrens,
readbooks-male-author-or-illust,
z1959,
zz-5star
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.
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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
...more
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