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Farewell to Shady Glade
Farewell to Shady Glade
1 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
4 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Bill Peet
53 books235 followersBill Peet was an American children's book illustrator and a story writer for Disney Studios. He joined Disney in 1937 and worked on The Jungle Book, Song of the South, Cinderella, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, Goliath II, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Fantasia, The Three Caballeros, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and other stories.
After successes developing short stories for Disney, Peet had his first book published, Hubert's Hair Raising Adventure.
After successes developing short stories for Disney, Peet had his first book published, Hubert's Hair Raising Adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 21, 2019
I love the artwork of Bill Peet. I almost feel like I’m watching the cartoon of this. Every thing in the picture feels like it has a personality. He had a real gift for bringing objects to life on paper. I think this is my 3rd book of Bill’s and I have to say this didn’t seem to be quite as special. It’s a solid story, but I didn’t feel there was anything new here either. It’s a good story.
A neighborhood of animals lives in a beautiful shady groove close to the city. They love their home. One day, they hear all these rumbling noises and the old raccoon is very troubled by this. The birds all leave. He sees huge human machines coming their way in the name of “progress” and they will have to leave. The old raccoon is smart. He has them leap from the tree onto a passing train and they go across country until they find a new lovely spot to live.
So now, my nephew wants to ride a train on top of the cars like the animals do. Oh brother. He gets ideas in his head so easily sometimes. I just said, that’s great and moved on. No use arguing over that one. He loved all the animals in this story, but he thought it was a slow story. There wasn’t a whole lot of action until they got on top of the train. He gave this 2 stars. The niece didn’t read this one either.
A neighborhood of animals lives in a beautiful shady groove close to the city. They love their home. One day, they hear all these rumbling noises and the old raccoon is very troubled by this. The birds all leave. He sees huge human machines coming their way in the name of “progress” and they will have to leave. The old raccoon is smart. He has them leap from the tree onto a passing train and they go across country until they find a new lovely spot to live.
So now, my nephew wants to ride a train on top of the cars like the animals do. Oh brother. He gets ideas in his head so easily sometimes. I just said, that’s great and moved on. No use arguing over that one. He loved all the animals in this story, but he thought it was a slow story. There wasn’t a whole lot of action until they got on top of the train. He gave this 2 stars. The niece didn’t read this one either.
October 8, 2016
“Farewell to Shady Glade” is another classic book from Bill Peet and it is about how a group of animals have to move away from Shady Glade in order to find a safer place to live when bulldozers came to tear down Shady Glade. “Farewell to Shady Glade” is a brilliant book about the trials of moving to a new place that children will surely love.
Bill Peet’s story about how a group of animals try to find a new place to live is truly touching as the animals try to believe in the hope of finding a new home and children will easily relate to the animals’ struggles of finding a new home as many children have experienced an experience where they have to move to a new home and how they have to adjust to the different atmosphere of their new home and how sometimes moving can be a scary experience for many children. Bill Peet’s illustrations are beautiful and cute especially of the images of the animals themselves as they are fat and furry and look so small compared to the outside world that they are thrown into as they move away from their home. The image that stood out the most was the image of the old raccoon looking like he is the biggest and wisest of all the animals as he has a look of wisdom on his face.
“Farewell to Shady Glade” is a heartwarming story about having a moving experience that many children will easily relate to for many years. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the length of this book might bore some smaller children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
October 23, 2020
When bulldozers show up to demolish their idyllic home, some forest critters strike out for new territory hobo-style, by hopping a train. Their brief stopover in the big city proves that their instincts were right - pollution is rampant, and there's not a green, growing thing to be found. So, it's on to greener pastures . . . but how will they manage to get off a moving train?
As I share Peet's concern for the environment, I really enjoyed this one. This is a crisis facing wildlife all over the world. Peet's artwork is always a delight, and his possums are adorable.
As I share Peet's concern for the environment, I really enjoyed this one. This is a crisis facing wildlife all over the world. Peet's artwork is always a delight, and his possums are adorable.
February 14, 2018
A green Bill Peet story that explores what it is like to be a an animal inhabitant that is facing informal eviction due to destructive approach of mankind's ways. As a way the story allows adults and children to have an introductory stepping stone for green-focused talks and what we can do to our own yards and/or lands to help them seem more friendly to those animals who are looking for a home.
Although the topic presented above seems dreadfully dark and a bit boring, Peet was able to put some charming and cute faces on his own little disturbed animals. Also since of his way to help humanize his animal characters, he has also given them as a nice and supporting community for each other thus helping the youngest of readers to understand that it no matter what the change is nor how scary as long as we have those loving friends and/or family with us then we can also fix.
Like other Bill Peet books, this one has its own charming and beautifully colored illustrations. The animals keep a nice medium of looking and acting like animals but at the same time the emotional human faces that makes them easier to relate to. At the same time all of Peet's illustration elements seems to be on point here whether it is the nice soothing country, the dirty polluted city or the lengthy ride of the train on the tracks.
All in all a good introductory green read to help children understand the negative affects that humans can sometimes have unknowingly on their animal neighbors.
Although the topic presented above seems dreadfully dark and a bit boring, Peet was able to put some charming and cute faces on his own little disturbed animals. Also since of his way to help humanize his animal characters, he has also given them as a nice and supporting community for each other thus helping the youngest of readers to understand that it no matter what the change is nor how scary as long as we have those loving friends and/or family with us then we can also fix.
Like other Bill Peet books, this one has its own charming and beautifully colored illustrations. The animals keep a nice medium of looking and acting like animals but at the same time the emotional human faces that makes them easier to relate to. At the same time all of Peet's illustration elements seems to be on point here whether it is the nice soothing country, the dirty polluted city or the lengthy ride of the train on the tracks.
All in all a good introductory green read to help children understand the negative affects that humans can sometimes have unknowingly on their animal neighbors.
August 4, 2014
My grandson loves this story. And 25 years ago, my 3 children loved this story. I love this story.
Bill Peet started working for Disney in 1937, so by 1966 when this book was published, he was a complete master at personifying animals. This may be his greatest, of many good books. It is vintage Bill Peet: endearingly rendered animals, several trains (a Bill Peet specialty), ugly industrialization and polluted waterways (another recurring Bill Peet theme), and a satisfying story. It’s so touching — courageous and sad — to see the rabbit try to bite the tire of a giant earth-moving tractor. It’s scary and cozy — both at the same time — to see animals curled up, sleeping on the roof of a train as it barrels through the countryside at night. It’s a happy ending to see the animals find a new home — and yet it makes you queasy, the more you think about it. And at least some kids will think about it. If those animals move to new territory, they will displace the animals who already live there. Wilderness is finite. And the bulldozers keep coming. The story doesn’t end with a permanent solution, only a temporary fix. Which is exactly right. It’s a story that keeps gnawing at you, even when it’s over. Genius.
Bill Peet started working for Disney in 1937, so by 1966 when this book was published, he was a complete master at personifying animals. This may be his greatest, of many good books. It is vintage Bill Peet: endearingly rendered animals, several trains (a Bill Peet specialty), ugly industrialization and polluted waterways (another recurring Bill Peet theme), and a satisfying story. It’s so touching — courageous and sad — to see the rabbit try to bite the tire of a giant earth-moving tractor. It’s scary and cozy — both at the same time — to see animals curled up, sleeping on the roof of a train as it barrels through the countryside at night. It’s a happy ending to see the animals find a new home — and yet it makes you queasy, the more you think about it. And at least some kids will think about it. If those animals move to new territory, they will displace the animals who already live there. Wilderness is finite. And the bulldozers keep coming. The story doesn’t end with a permanent solution, only a temporary fix. Which is exactly right. It’s a story that keeps gnawing at you, even when it’s over. Genius.
September 21, 2019
Back on November 12, 1988, I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Peet. I was attending a children's book convention in San Diego, California. Bill signed my copy of FAREWELL TO SHADY GLADE: "To my friends in Mr. Bohnert's class with best wishes."
I love the illustrations and the ecology theme of this book. Of the thousands of books in my classroom library, this is the only book that I kept.
I love the illustrations and the ecology theme of this book. Of the thousands of books in my classroom library, this is the only book that I kept.
October 4, 2014
When their home is threatened by development, animal friends hop a train and ride until they find a new, unspoiled place to live.
Not as preachy as I had feared.
Not as preachy as I had feared.
November 7, 2018
Good book to introduce children into looking at preserving their environments and protecting the wildlife, accompanied with great illustrations by the author.
November 28, 2025
The dedication reads:
“To Rachel Carson
With the hope that the new generation will carry on her all-important work toward preserving what is left of our natural world.”
Loved this book as a child and adore it still. Reread the copy I just bought for my niece and am charmed by Bill Peet’s illustrations. As a kid raised on environmental fables born of Carson’s work, it’s tragic how urgent her plea remains.
“To Rachel Carson
With the hope that the new generation will carry on her all-important work toward preserving what is left of our natural world.”
Loved this book as a child and adore it still. Reread the copy I just bought for my niece and am charmed by Bill Peet’s illustrations. As a kid raised on environmental fables born of Carson’s work, it’s tragic how urgent her plea remains.
December 31, 2020
Read the Finnish translation. Oh, the nostalgia.
January 28, 2016
A group of animals have their little habitat destroyed by an expanding city, so they hop a train to find a new place to live. Not near as engaging or imaginative as The Wump World by Bill Peet.
Illustrations are okay.
Illustrations are okay.
March 20, 2020
Ages: 4 - 8
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**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 determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
April 26, 2011
A beautifully written and illustrated children’s book about the problems encountered by wildlife as our cities and towns keep expanding into their territory. It’s a problem I know only too well as we trap possum under our 100+ year old house and transport them up the Mt. Baker highway to the Nooksack River. It’s a trip we make frequently every year. Not too long ago I had just gotten home and pulled my car into the driveway when I looked up to see a mule deer trotting down the sidewalk. These animals have learned to live with us, and I observe them with a mixture of wonder and sadness. I love the solution Peet comes up with in his book, as the raccoon leads his forest friends to a new home by hopping a diesel locomotive.
July 23, 2011
This is my favorite book of all time.
A group of animals have to move when their home is about to bulldozed for development. Led by an old raccoon, the animals hop a train in search of a new home. After the train travels through the polluted city, the animals finally find a suitable location, and hop off the train. Upper elementary school children can read this alone, or it could be read aloud to younger kids—pre-school and elementary. Peet is great at personifying animals in pictures. The environmental message of the story will stick with kids. Use in Environmental and Earth Day themed storytimes.
A group of animals have to move when their home is about to bulldozed for development. Led by an old raccoon, the animals hop a train in search of a new home. After the train travels through the polluted city, the animals finally find a suitable location, and hop off the train. Upper elementary school children can read this alone, or it could be read aloud to younger kids—pre-school and elementary. Peet is great at personifying animals in pictures. The environmental message of the story will stick with kids. Use in Environmental and Earth Day themed storytimes.
January 26, 2013
The ultimate in "development is bad and displaces wildlife" books (whether this inspired or merely supported the lifelong hatred I've had for the sight of bulldozers remains unknown). Not a great deal of action, but I've always loved the clever leader raccoon and the imagery of the little herbivores trying to attack the machines at night before giving up and hitching a ride to new territory atop a train.
September 28, 2009
A book version of the story found in the film "Over the Hedge". Development is encroaching on Shady Glade and the animals are not sure what to do. Instead of being lead on an insurrection however these animals end up leaving their beloved home to find a new place where they can live.
February 4, 2010
Cute but sad story. The animals of Shady Glade are forced to leave their home when bulldozers and "mechanical monsters" from the city start destroying their land. They hop on a train and travel far away to a new home that's just like Shady Glade, and where "everything is perfectly right."
April 11, 2012
As a general rule Bill Peet is always, ALWAYS good. Happy times when year 2 teacher would read his catalogue to class.
Environmentalist propaganda, but hey, at least it doesn't come via commercial Disney powerhouse. Bill Peet was green before it was profitable.
Environmentalist propaganda, but hey, at least it doesn't come via commercial Disney powerhouse. Bill Peet was green before it was profitable.
August 31, 2012
It was incredible. So cute and very inspirational. I felt like no matter what life handed me, I could fight back, but it also made me feel like sometimes the best thing to do in some situations is walk away.
March 2, 2009
Another family favorite.
January 29, 2010
A sadder Bill Peet book, but nice nonetheless.
August 11, 2011
Simply love everything Bill Peet ever did. This one is my favorite.
December 24, 2012
I very nearly consider this book "lame." It wasn't awesome to me. It wasn't even really all that good. The train scene saved it from the ignominy of a 1 from me.
December 3, 2014
I read this to my class and they were riveted. Is it the animals? Is it the fabulously crafted story? Is it the beautiful illustrations? I don't know...but this one is a marvelous read aloud.
October 18, 2017
Farewell boring kid's books! This is so funny that you may actually enjoy reading to the little kids in your life!
March 19, 2019
Cute! A The Little House for the animal kingdom.
March 22, 2019
AR 5.2
October 12, 2019
A beautiful picture book about the animals and the environment.
December 6, 2019
This was one of my brother's favorite books growing up, and thus one of mine too.
December 10, 2019
An accessible book for students to realize that all human activity affects others. Good story and makes a good point without being too over the top with it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews