Book Description Review “Clear-eyed and unsentimental, this is a story told with heart, honesty, and understanding. It sits on my bookshelf alongside The Incredible Journey, The Black Stallion, The Yearling, and The Call of the Wild.” —Andrew Clements, author of Frindle “There are a million stories about boys and their dogs, but I doubt any others have the depth and heart of Big Red. I couldn’t put it down.” —Dan Gutman, author of the My Weird School series “Action, adventure and the love of a loyal dog. Such stories never get old. I love it!” —Barbara O’Connor, author of How to Steal a Dog “Big Red embodies everything I loved about animal stories and adventure tales when I was a kid. A noble dog, a resourceful kid, life in the wilderness, and the exhilaration of being transported to another era.” —Ann Martin, author of The Baby-Sitters Club series “Powerful storytelling, vivid writing, and a good dog make for a timeless classic. I’m delighted to see this beautiful new edition being made available to today’s readers.” —Pete Hautman, winner of the National Book Award “Sure-fire combination of boy and dog. When they meet, it is love at first sight, and so it will be for all who read the story.”—Library Journal “A moving and exciting story of a boy’s love for a dog. The feeling of the woods and the outdoors comes through with complete reality.”—Chicago Sun-Times “(A) tale which paints the stern life of the wilderness in strong, clear strokes.”—New York Times “A really good dog story written with power and discernment. Anyone who loves dogs…will be enthusiastic about Big Red.”—Elementary English “It is obviously based upon observation and experience. The background is vivid, the human and animal relationships clear cut and convincing.”—Saturday Review “No one can write a better animal tale than Jim Kjelgaard”—May Hill Arbuthnot Read more About the Author Born in 1910, Jim Kjelgaard grew up in the Black Forest region of Pennsylvania, which became the setting for many of his books (he called it “the Wintapi region”), including Big Red. In the 1940s and 50s he authored more than 40 books for middle grade readers, making him one of the most influential children’s authors of the era. He died in 1959. Read more Customers Review: I am an 11 year old boy and recently read Big Red. Big Red is a book about a boy named Danny and his dog. Danny is 17 years old and lives on his neighbor, Mr. Haggin’s, property with his father. Danny really likes Mr. Haggin’s dog, so Mr. Haggin allows Danny to take care of the dog. Danny calls the dog “Red” and he is an Irish Setter. Because Red is a fancy show dog, Danny gets paid $50 a month to take care of him. Danny loves Red because he is very smart, loving, and beautiful. Danny trains the dog to hunt and Red is a very good hunter. Red and Danny have many adventures together. In one adventure they trap and escaped prisoner in the woods. This was one of my favorite parts of the books. It was really exciting! Also Red fights a bear in the forest. No one wins, but the bear is afraid of Red. No other dogs would go near the bear. Red is very brave. At the end of the book Danny kills the bear with Red’s help. The bear bit Red’s leg, but he recovers. I liked all the adventures of this story. I wish there were one main plot. Instead there were many different adventures. I would recommend this book to people who like adventures and dogs.
I first read this book in 1974 when I was in 4th grade. It changed my life and has stuck with me since. I probably read it twice that year and not since, until I bought it here on Amazon last month. I recommend it for everyone, although it is definitely written for a tweenage audience. It still holds up, though. If you think you like dogs, or know you love dogs, it is a must read. As described as a timeless classic, which of course was made into a classic film from that era, it is beautiful, and still made this 50 year-old tough guy cry in the end – even though I already knew what was coming.
I bought this book for my grandson. My husband loved it as a boy and wanted his grandson to read it. We now have a quiet reading time at my house, my husband is rereading his favorite childhood books along with his grandson.My husband told me the books in this series is great for any kid that loves dogs and or hunting. If the kids love the things they are reading about they will read the books and want to read more of them. This is what is happening with out grandson. Before I had to threaten him to read books for his AR points for school, he knows now there are books about subjects he likes.
This is a wonderful book about a boy and his dog. I read everyone of this authors books in grade school. I was moved by the emotional connection the characters had. Having grown up with dogs, I immediately felt a deeper connection to the animals around me who couldn’t communicate with words.
I wish there were more quality written books for boys like Jim Kjelgard’s series. They were a favorite of my dad’s, my brother, my husband, and have now become a favorite of three of our boys. Three generations and counting…Wonderful stories! Highly recommend.
Jim Kjelgaard is a really great writer of dog stories set in the outdoors. “Big Red” is the first of three Irish Setter books. If you like “Big Red” the second book is “Irish Red” and the third one is “Outlaw Red”. Danny lives with his father in a shack back in the mountains. They run a trap line and harvest wild honey for money. They are squatters on the land of a rich man, Mr. Haggin. Danny’s mother died a long time ago. Danny and his father make a little money on the side by doing work for Mr. Haggin. Mr. Haggin has a beautiful Irish Setter he calls Boy. When Danny sees him, it’s love at first sight. But when Danny asks Mr. Haggin how much a dog like Boy would cost, Mr. Haggin says he paid $7000 for him. Danny knows a trapper could never afford a dog like that. Mr. Haggin takes an interest in Danny. It is clear that Danny is different from his father, he has some kind of quality he inherited from his mother, tempered by the ruggedness and independence he learned from living in the wilderness. Mr. Haggin gives Danny a job taking care of Boy, who Danny calls Red. Like Danny, Red shows special quality. But he has never done for himself. He’s a show dog. Mr. Haggin sends Danny to New York with Red when he’s in a dog show. Then when they go back to Mr. Haggin’s ranch, Danny is allowed to take Red out in the wilderness. Red learns from Danny how to be a brave and rugged dog. Red and Mr. Haggin give Danny a chance to move into the civilized world, and Danny gives Red a chance to reach his potential as a real dog in the outdoor world. An earlier reviewer made a great point that applies to all of Mr. Kjelgaard’s books I have read: the dog doesn’t have to be killed in his books. Most great dog stories are very sad. Examples would be “Sounder”, “Where the Red Fern Grows”, and “Old Yeller”. I don’t really like to watch most dog movies, because the dog always dies. The worst that happens to the dogs in Mr. Kjelgaard’s books is a broken leg, or a bad wound that heals. No kleenex needed, no broken hearts here.
I read this book decades ago when I was in school and loved it and the entire Big Red series , so far my son has enjoyed reading a chapter or two before bed each night.
My 3rd grader saw the movie with his grandma and wanted to read the book. Loves it. |
88 reviews