When the Whippoorwill Calls

by Candice Ransom, Kimberly Bulcken Root (Illustrations)

"Young Polly describes how her family is removed from their land in the Blue Ridge Mountains when the government buys it to create Shenandoah National Park. They are given a modern house and land in exchange, but they miss the hills they have calledhome....Stunning."--School Library Journal.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is very similar to Letting Swift River Go. Both books concern young girls recalling the need to leave their beloved homes due to public works projects: in the former, a family had to relocate as their valley was being flooded for a reservoir; in this title, the narrator's family must leave their treasured Blue Ridge Mountain home when the government buys the land to preserve it as a national park. Both stories are touching, and unabashedly sentimental. I preferred Swift River because of Barbara Cooney's beautiful artwork, though this book engenders the same emotions. A good read for older children, and nostalgic adults.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad part of our country's history. I saw an episode of The Waltons that covered the same episode in our history.

[Anneke Michaline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, homey picture book, and a realistic picture of life back then.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Details what it would be like to live in a beautiful mountain place and have to resettle somewhere else when the land was sold. This area became the Shenandoah National Park.

[Dani Kappel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt a little text heavy, about people getting displaced to create a national park . It is good for vocabulary and is recommend it for ages 3-5.

[Carman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good.