Product Description
The enigmatic origins of the stranger that Farmer Bailey hits with his truck and brings home to recuperate seem to have a mysterious relation to the weather. Could he be Jack Frost?

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 41 reviews)

Great teaching book

I used this book with my 5th graders to make inferences. It's a great teaching tool.
December 20, 2008

Great Autumn Read - a review of "The Stranger"

The Stranger is a marvelous read. It has a smart story, engaging artwork, and a strong element of mystery that ought to appeal to both children and adults.

The story begins when Farmer Bailey hears a thud and discovers that he has accidentally struck a man with his truck. He takes the man home and calls the doctor who concludes that the stranger is all right except for a loss of memory. He settles in for a stay that's a bit longer than anyone planned. Days pass, and then weeks, and the stranger never does say who is his or where he is going. In fact, he never speaks at all. But that doesn't keep the Bailey family from coming to love the stranger's quiet, friendly presence.

When the stranger does eventually recover his memory, he moves on leaving a legacy out doubt and questions as to who he is. I won't say more except that he leaves a message every fall to the Bailey family written in frost.

The Accelerated Reading (ATOS) designation for this book is 3.7 which means that the "average" 3rd Grader in the 7th month of school should be able to read it without becoming too frustrated by words they don't know.

The "official" Interest Level is supposed to be 1st thru 4th Grade.

Most younger children are going to need help to figure out and appreciate this mystery -- or to even know that there is one. But once they get the idea they are going to want to read this book again and again so they can see the clues stack up and the mystery resolve.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksforKids-Reviews. com
October 19, 2008

Interesting book.

Let me note that it is a wordy book and that the symbolism is going to go right over the heads of your younger children. This is *definitely* a book for the older end of the 4-8 crowd, and maybe older still.

The answer as to "who is the stranger" is never clearly given, but it's clear, reading through the lines, that he's someone akin to Old Man Winter.

I really suggest you read this book, and possibly buy it.
August 25, 2008

Great pictures

This book has great pictures. The story is deep. I think little kids will like this book as well as adults.
December 10, 2007

The Stranger

This book is about a man who suddenly appeared on a road. He was invited by a family. They lived on a quiet farm. He was so awkward.
I don't think this book is a very good book. Wild animals came to him and they didn't care what he did to them. When I read this book, I thought he was an unknown alien. In autumn, the pumpkins grew very huge!
One day, when he climbed the highest hill on the Bailey farm, he looked to the north. The trees there were yellow and orange. But the Baileys' trees were green.
This book made me feel confused. He couldn't talk, or dress himself. He is one weird person.
If you think you like this book, read it, I rather say don't. Read this book if you think it is good. This book is easy to read. It might have difficult words in it. I would say that anybody can read this.

March 07, 2007

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