Island of the Skog

Rating:
Summary: A Fairly Good Story
Review: A nice story with good illustrations suitble for 3-8 yrs. Several mice, wanting a new life free of opression, set out to sea to find a peaceful island. Upon their arrival, they discover footprints belonging to what they believe to be a large beast. They set out to remove the beast from the island, only to discover that all was not as it seemed to be. The story ends happily.

The story runs a bit long, with several mice characters exchanging dialogue--it can be hard for children to keep them straight--but story is positive, and pictures are funny to look at.

Rating:
Summary: A Fairly Good Story
Review: A nice story with good illustrations suitble for 3-8 yrs. Several mice, wanting a new life free of opression, set out to sea to find a peaceful island. Upon their arrival, they discover footprints belonging to what they believe to be a large beast. They set out to remove the beast from the island, only to discover that all was not as it seemed to be. The story ends happily.

The story runs a bit long, with several mice characters exchanging dialogue--it can be hard for children to keep them straight--but story is positive, and pictures are funny to look at.

Rating:
Summary: Mice get away
Review: A review by Jessica and Eric The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg.

Our favorite book is The Island of the Skog. Rodents wanted to sail to freedom, but they went the wrong way . When they landed they saw a giant footprint, and became very, very frightened!They planned to catch it. The plan worked; however they found the monster was tiny and friendly! We are third graders who would like you to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Mice get away
Review: A review by Jessica and Eric The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg.

Our favorite book is The Island of the Skog. Rodents wanted to sail to freedom, but they went the wrong way . When they landed they saw a giant footprint, and became very, very frightened!They planned to catch it. The plan worked; however they found the monster was tiny and friendly! We are third graders who would like you to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: A children's action-adventure to top them all
Review: I can't even remember how old I was when I first saw this book, but the illustrations are excellent, and the story just as exciting every time you read it again. The jist of the story is that a group of mice set sail in a model ship in search of freedom, and eventually reach the "Island of the Skog" which is the supposed territory of "one Skog." The lead mouse (named Bouncer, if I remember correctly) has an aggressive approach to the skog, and fires the model ship's cannonballs as a warning to the skog. The skog, in turn, reacts by disguising himself as a huge monster and menacing the new colony of mice. Eventually the mice devise an ingenious trap for the skog, and one night they decide to put it into effect. It works for a while, and then the mice discover who the skog really is. Besides the quality of the story here, there are some genuine lessons to be learned about human relations, respect, and kindness which make the book stand out within the category of children's literature.

Rating:
Summary: A highly entertaining story for all ages
Review: I first got a chance to read Island of the Skog in eighth grade. Mr. Kellogg was giving a speech on the book making process from writing to publishing and handed everyone a copy of his book as an example. Being in Junior High, we were older than the usual demographic for picture books and thought we were too sophisticated for them as well. That the adventures of the mice and Skog held us enthralled says a great deal for Mr. Kellogg's skill as a storyteller. This is a great book for children of all ages and if you don't have children, pick up a copy for yourself. I think you'll be surprised how much you'll enjoy your time with the Skog.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous! A life time favorite!
Review: I was introduced to this book 15 years ago, as a fifth grader, and it has always been my favorite. The courageous journey that Jenny and her friends endure is inspiring and uplifting. I find myself cheering these characters on every time I read it.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, thrilling tale
Review: My father read me this book when I was only about 5 years old, but the memory of it is with me still. I can still see in the back of my mind those freezing mice huddiling around their waffle iron, and the poor skog, crying in shame and fear. I can also see them dancing for joy with their new-found friend. I love this book, and pray that some day I will be able to share this wonderful tale with others.

Rating:
Summary: Where would I be without this book
Review: This was my very first book. I remember having it read to me many times over. I love the illustrations. They are so textured, all I have to do is look at the pictures to bring me back to when I was small. The story line is great, I love the little poem at the end. And I really can't say enough for the illustrations, they really made the book.

Rating:
Summary: Skog and mice
Review: Yet another beloved Steven Kellogg book from my fleeting youth. Published originally in 1973, the story tells the tale of a pack of mice that decide to leave the city life and become sea faring rodents instead. Together, the seven little creatures take a small antique ship (with working cannon) from the antique store in which they leave and set sail into the sea. When at long last they come across a tropical isle, they are shocked to discover that the land already has an inhabitant. According to their books, this is the island of the Skog. Not entirely certain what a Skog is, they bombard the land with cannon balls. That done, they set about inhabiting the isle but are shocked to discover giant footprints. After successfully unmasking the creature, they discover that perhaps jumping to conclusions is not the best policy when meeting people different from yourself for the first time.

I suppose the book is ostensibly about judging people before you get to know them. I prefer to think that this story is a cry against the whole, "Shoot first, ask questions later", method of diplomacy that a nation (who shall remain nameless) may employ from time to time. Or, more likely, I'm reading too much into an entirely pleasant picture book. This is a true Kellogg creation through and through. Filled to the brim with his tiny details and intricacies, a reader could pour over each page for a month so as to best locate all the delicate touches. As you go through the tale, each character has his or her own distinct personality. Jenny, the unofficial mouse in charge, and Bouncer the head of his bowling league are the two main characters, but they've a lively and involved supporting crew as well. Rereading the tale now, I was shocked to see how dated the three bowling team mice in their overlarge sports jerseys were. Why they're positively 1973! Otherwise, these pictures are somewhat timeless. The images in this tale stuck in my brain for years, so I can guarantee to you that any child that reads this book today will take it with them the rest of their lives. Though everyone has a favorite Kellogg creation of their own, one of my picks without a doubt is the inestimable "Island of the Skog". Take. Read. Savor.