Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan

Gooseberry Park #2

by Cynthia Rylant, Arthur Howard (Illustrator)

Stumpy the Squirrel and friends team up to save the day in this charming standalone companion to the beloved Gooseberry Park , from Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Arthur Howard.

There has been no rain for months, and all of the animals in Gooseberry Park are in danger. Can the gang of dear friends come up with a brilliant solution in time to save the day? Absolutely!

Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant’s first novel in more than a decade has all the wit and charm of the first adventure of the Gooseberry Park gang, which Kirkus Reviews called “sophisticated and funny…a tender tale delivered by a sure hand.”

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Friendship, Juvenile, Chapter Books, Family

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Christine Kallner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved both Gooseberry Park books so much that he SOBBED when this one was over and there were not any more left to read. Poor guy. Time to introduce him to the joys of re-reading your favorites, I guess. But really, Cynthia Rylant, more Gooseberry Park? Pretty please?

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just delightful. Cynthia Rylant can do no wrong.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fun book! The kindergartener really liked it too. So glad we looked for a second after reading the first one.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

MEh! I'd rate this book lower, but my 7 year old says she really liked it. (Though I had to push for us to finish it more than most books once we get going) It wasn't until I got on Goodreads to mark this book read that I realized it's the second Gooseberry park and not the first one in the series. That made so many things make more sense. My girls and I kept forgetting people's names, and which animal was who. I could tell they had a history, and it seemed like other times were referenced a lot in the book, and now I understand why that was.

Really, this book was kind of silly to me. While the master plan is this complex equation that brought a ton of unlikely animals together for the good of their neighborhood, when I took a step back and thought about it for a few seconds, the whole plan was just plain silly. Spoiler alert I can't stop myself!!!!

*** Breaking into a fire station, filling straws and capping them with gum and delivering them by 200 owls in a single night led by one bat with a glow in the dark watch is a wonderful feat I guess, but when many of the animals repeatedly break into or live in their owner's house, I just don't know why it couldn't have been more of a Robin Hood type method. Take a little water fill a straw or heck go for all 200, I'm pretty sure I use more than that in a single bath... and give it out to who needs it. (Except maybe that's not an interesting book and I am just crabby?)

All that to say, the cover shows a bunch of animals, but really the cat and the raccoon MIGHT have 2 speaking lines in the whole thing and it was just kinda silly. Add to it Gwendolyn the new age hermit crab and uncle Murray the meditating bat and it was just kinda weird on to of silly on top of boring for me.

But alas, it has a cat on the cover and my 7 year old says she liked it. So for that... I will give this one an "its okay" rating. It's a shame because I bet I would have liked book one a lot but i'm over it at this point since book 2 kinda relived that book as well.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had a strangely fascinating almost philosophical tone to it with characters quoting motivational speakers and using reiki to calm other characters down... kind of interesting for a children's book. I did appreciate the environmental message and how the animal characters were impacted by a draught/pollution. Many of the characters were really entertaining and it was fun to see how they worked together to solve the water problem. I think I wanted this to be a bit longer so that the characters were more fleshed out and I did find the almost new agey feel to be kind of odd. Also, it was great to see a shorter chapter book with bigger vocabulary, particularly as many of the larger words were defined. I probably will not purchase this one largely because I'm not sure if I have any students this would appeal to.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original book was one of the few non-field guides that my son loved. We read Gooseberry Park over and over. I still read it, it's that good. So is this sequel, almost. There's a little more transparent agenda here, but still- tender, warm, loving, hilarious- all the favorite characters from the first one with some delightful new faces. Murray has a brother! Yep, this is one for the permanent collection.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had not read the first book in the series but the initial chapter fills in readers with enough information to read this book. Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan starts a bit slow but it does pick up and has a happy ending for all of the characters who live in and around Gooseberry Park.

Themes: teamwork, collaboration, responsibility to community, friendship,

[Cadie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students and I both love this book!!! Its super funny.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stumpy the Squirrel and friends team up to save the day in this charming standalone companion to the beloved Gooseberry Park, from Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Arthur Howard.

There has been no rain for months, and all of the animals in Gooseberry Park are in danger. Can the gang of dear friends come up with a brilliant solution in time to save the day? Absolutely!

Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant’s first novel in more than a decade has all the wit and charm of the first adventure of the Gooseberry Park gang, which Kirkus Reviews called “sophisticated and funny…a tender tale delivered by a sure hand.”

[Kristiana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a disappointing follow up. I found myself not following along because I was so bored. Not engaging. And the cute characters that had been created in the first book seemed robotic in this one.

THEMES
- briefly mentions past lives, mystical, and the crab being “very spiritual”
- stealing: the bat (Murray) steals food from his friend’s human
- the other bat (Morton) “discovered that the answers were already within” at a Zen retreat. This is called divine wisdom.
- crab (Gwendolyn) does reiki on Murray and “reorganizes [his] energy”

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids loved it, I thought it was okay. Many references went way over my kids' heads and most of them felt distracting from the story, rather than contributory. Not the most engaging read aloud we've done, but the overarching themes of helping neighbors in times of need and what it means to belong were great discussion starters.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boy loved this one. We did not know it was the second in the series. A good chapter book, this story is very environment-friendly and teaches what great things teamwork can accomplish. Told from the point of view of the creatures who live in or near the park, it's a sweet tale, and a good one to read aloud. The boy gives it 5 stars and says he would read it a hundred times.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute middle grade but nowhere near as good as the first book. In this one, the friends (Stumpy, Kona, Gwendolyn, Murray, etc.) are trying to get water to all the babies and old animals in Gooseberry park because there is a drought going on. They come up with a crazy master plan and then execute it. Honestly this was just kind of boring.

[Gracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

We usually love Cynthia Rylant’s books, but this one was a miss. I loved the vocabulary and the girls had some laugh out loud moments, but I really did not like the New Age worldview that ran through the book (reiki, zen retreat, divine wisdom, “discovered that the answers were already within”)…used it as a “chew and spit” teaching moment with the girls, but we won’t be reading the third book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s great for a variety of elementary readers. Adventure builds nicely, I was eager to get to the ending. Characters are simple but lovely. Illustrations fit well with the text. Great word choice. Definitely a book to recommend!

[C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, did not live up to the first at all. The master plan, though complex and daring, made no sense. If they have access to the professor's sink, why do they need the master plan? Still, the preschoolers loved it and we read it in just a few sittings.

[Maureen Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author! She has such a cute style of writing that is clever, endearing and educational all at the same time. I enjoyed reading this to my 9 year old. 4/12 stars simply because I think we both liked the first book in this series slightly better.

[Alyssa Garrelts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to start kids listening to chapter books. Enough pictures help kids understand the text. A great story. I have ordered multiple copies to give as gifts at my kids' friends' birthday parties.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has been no rain in Gooseberry Park for a long time, and the infant and elderly animals are struggling. So Kona and friends come up with a plan to help. Very sweet story with wonderful illustrations.

[Linnae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kona, Stumpy, and the gang work together to save Gooseberry Park's animals from an awful drought.


There is a drought going on and all the animals in Gooseberry Park are suffering. Stumpy is worried about her babies--and all the other babies, too. If something doesn't happen soon to help, the weakest animals will not survive. What they need is a plan.

So the friends get together and come up with a bold plan. It's going to involve the firehouse dog, a cat, a possum, a couple hundred owls, drinking straws, chewing gum, and the big tank of water inside the fire truck (inside the fire station.) Many, many things could go wrong, but if they don't at least try, the animals of the park may not survive the summer. 

* * * * * *

A sequel to Gooseberry Park, though this one stands on its own. We enjoyed this one just as much as the first. It could start some great discussions on serving others, community involvement, friendship, and how to get an owl to help you. :) Murray the bat was our favorite character--he's so funny!

For more reviews, themed booklists, and beautiful flowers, come on over to my blog!
www.ofbooksandblooms.com

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- Cute, clever, sweet and charming, this will be a hit with young animal lovers. Adults will probably get a kick out of it, as well.

[Amy Varchetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an endearing read-aloud that will delight both adults and children. A full-of-heart story about true friendships and being your best self.

[Marlene Scholfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book for read aloud next school year.. wanting to read them before reading them aloud to my new first graders

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8-year-old really enjoyed this read aloud.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches you what can be accomplished when all work together. A delightful little book.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though we are doing this as a one school one book book, I am quite enjoying the corky plot of the story.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love Cynthia Rylant. Her writing is always enjoyable.

[✨Arline✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it even more than the original. So sweet and funny and gave rise to some serious conversations with my sons. Simplest wonderful!

[Luzenskets · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet story about diverse animals working together to help those that are at risk during a drought. We are using as a K-5 school read.

[Mary Beth Revesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gooseberry Park and all of its creatures so much!!!!!