April 2015 Review: I'm reading this one with Henry right now and it's kind of killing me a little bit. HE thinks it's fun, and likes the kids and the dog. But I'm like, "Why have they never met their grandfather? Why does no one explain why they assume he's a bad guy?" And then when you do meet the grandfather he's setting off all my 2015 creeper flags with all this, "I like to watch boys run," and "Will you sit on my lap, Benny?" Maybe THAT'S why your parents never introduced you to this guy, kids . . .


April 2011 Review: I loved this book when I was little, and I grabbed the audio version to listen to in the car. I notice now that they use the word "good" a lot. "This is a good place." "He is a good dog." "This is a good boxcar." I realize this is just a reading level thing (in a very old book), but it is maybe driving me slightly insane. I will be loyal and keep loving it, though.

Warner definitely understood the need to get the grown-ups out of the way so the good stuff can begin. As a kid I loved this, as an adult I wonder 1) Why didn't their supposedly kind & loving grandpa ever come visit them while their parents were alive, and 2)Aren't they at least a LITTLE BIT sad about their poor dead mom and dad?