Charlie the Tramp, a classic story about Charlie, the beaver that wanted to a tramp instead of a beaver, was originally published in 1966 and is STILL an enjoyable book for you and your kids to enjoy together. Have you heard of it? I had not and I do not know how I missed it. I gotta say — it is a wonderful book that all my kids enjoyed and I loved the storyline. What a great character book.
Intended for about ages 5-8, Charlie the Tramp really is a book for all ages. The book, written by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, is easy to read but not TOO easy. The illustrations are beautiful – simple but tells the story. The kids loved the illustrations and they were very pertinent to the story. This special 50th anniversary edition of Charlie the Tramp is in hardback and a treasure to have.
THE STORY
The story is simple really — Charlie wants to be a tramp because, well, tramps don’t have to work hard, they just “tramp around all day.” So, after much discussion with mother, father, and grandfather, he sets off to start practicing to be a tramp. Though his family is less than happy with his decision, they feel it is important for him to learn for himself about life as a tramp.
So Charlie sets out with his fig newtons and Good-n-Plenties (which I found quite entertaining). Charlie returns home for each meal, asking his mother or father if there is a little job he can do for his meal. He bails hay and stacks winter saplings and helps his dad fix a broken plank in the boat landing. He does his little jobs, eats his meal and then just tramps around all day whistling and enjoying the singing birds and loving being a “tramp.”
Each night Charlie slept in a hollow tree and heard a sound that he loved but didn’t know what it was. One night Charlie decided to figure out what the beautiful sound was – it was the water. He loved the sound so much that he wanted to contain it so he began building a dam to allow the sound of the water to be better to him. He built his dam all night long until he had a very nice pond. Then he went to sleep in his hollow tree.
His family was worried when he didn’t show up for breakfast so they went looking for him and were surprised to see a new pond they had not noticed before. They were discussing the beautiful, well-built pond, wondering aloud who built it, when Charlie emerged from his tree and pronounced that the pond was his. His grandfather asked Charlie why he built a pond because tramps don’t build ponds. Charlie said sometimes they do. Charlie’s father said:
“Any tramp that can make a pond like that is going to be some beaver one of these days.”
Charlie was very happy with his accomplishments and so were his mother, father and grandfather. The story is sweet and simple but a great life-lesson story. The kids really enjoyed it. My son liked it and thought the fact that he built the dam and got to sleep outside was cool! My 11 year old daughter thought it was a great story and enjoyed reading it to her siblings. I love a good book she can read to them and they all enjoy!
It really is a lovely book. So be sure to check it out and see if someone in your family might love a copy.
And — if they would, how about entering my giveaway to win your own copy of Charlie the Tramp? Just comment below if you and your kids love reading together and maybe your favorite family read aloud and you’ll be entered in a giveaway to win your own copy of Charlie the Tramp’s 50th anniversary hardcover edition!
WHERE TO PURCHASE AND THE GIVEAWAY!!
Check out Charlie the Tramp on the official book website and purchase on Amazon.
ENTER TO WIN A COPY of Charlie the Tramp by commenting on your favorite read aloud below.
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification and must be residents of the United States.
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