Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe: A Heartwarming Picture Book for Kids (Ages 4-8) About Family Camping (Reading Rainbow Books)

In first grade my daughter's school had a "Blue Book Bag" program: each week the students brought home a different book and a journal in a blue book bag. This was my favorite book of the year (I am a kindergarten teacher and was an English major, if that holds any weight). There is something charming and dreamy about Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe, which is a child's journal of a canoe trip. It was so easy to slip into the joyous adventure of the journey--feeling the heat of the afternoon, the beauty of the jumping fish, the quiet damp of the mist. The relationships between the adults and children implied a long history of love and confidence in each other. In addition, the book has text in unexpected places, so it is visually fun. There are a couple of recipes as part of the narrative and directions on how to tie a Two-Half Hitch knot, so you if you and your children really love the book, you can extend the experience. In the Accelerated Reader program, this book is third grade level, but my preschool daughter also liked it very much, so it can appeal to a wide range of ages (maybe 4-9?) Mother's Day is this Sunday, and I have told my girls that for Mother's Day I want a red canoe--or at least a hardback copy of this book.

At the age of 63, I'm expecting my first grandchild (a girl!) to arrive in less than a month. When my son and daughter-in-law had their baby shower, they asked for children's' books instead of cards. This was at the top of my list to send. My son remembers it to this day and I share happy memories of reading it with him at bedtime when he was still my "little boy". The story is relatable and the illustrations are beautiful. A peaceful, fun, adventurous, story for all genders. I highly recommend!!

One of my all time favorites. Evokes vivid memories of watching Reading Rainbow when I was a kid and then going to our local library to find the show's books. This story is timeless. My kids (boys and girls) love it as much as I do. It is a sweet story, with just the right amount of detail and drama/excitement. Inspires me to hit the river!

I love Vera Williams and bought this for a friend's son who has really been into "adventure." Fabulous book! Amazing, map-based illustrations, very linear, easy for a small person to follow, relate to and imagine along with.

I was psyched to see this on the CA reading list. I like the illustrations and the story is nice. My son enjoyed it as well. It was nice to share something from my childhood with him.

My parents read this to me as a child and I was excited to read it to my daughter, too. She's only 2-and-a-half, but she loves to look at the pictures and hear about the camping trip. I grew up canoe-camping, and hope to take my daughter someday, so this is a very special book to me. It reminds me of lots of our family trips!

This is such a great book. My parents read it to me as a child and it was my favorite book. I purchased a copy to read to my kids. Someday I would like to take them on a river trip just like in the book.

I bought it for purely nostalgic purposes and I love it as much as I did when I was little. Cannot recommend enough.