A Picnic with the Barleys: A Little Story About Courage and Forgiveness
by Karen Hunt
Published by Harvest House Publishers
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Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
The adventures of Eustace and Prunella Rumpole continue in A Picnic with the Barleys. In this adventure the Rumpole family leave the cozy and luxurious Rumpole Mansion to attend a picnic by the river with their country friends, the Barleys, McAcorns, Oatleys and the Wheatkins.
The Rumpoles were a bit shy with their new friends but soon they were having fun playing games. Prunella brought her pink birthday parasol and all the mice wanted to hold it. One of the mice was a bit grabby. She wore a tattered lavender pinafore. Well, Prunella decided she was not going to let this pushy mouse touch her parasol.
While the mice played, Prunella noticed that her parasol was gone, and so was the bold and grabby mouse in the lavender pinafore. Eustace saw a bit of pink disappear into the trees of the dark bog. He followed, remembering in time that the dangerous weasels lived in the bog.
When a cry of help rings through the woods, a drama unfolds that is exciting and terrifying. The conclusion of the story teaches a lesson about courage and forgiveness.
Karen Hunt’s Rumpole and Barley books are delightful. The message is strong and positive and yet will keep a child’s attention. The illustrations are beautiful. No, they’re simply scrumptious!
The only issue I have with this story is that it seemed (to me) to jump from one scene to another and lacked an important transition. It was noticeable enough to be distracting and I found myself turning between two pages just to make sure I wasn’t or was missing something.
Armchair Interviews says: Karen Hunt’s Rumpole and Barley books are keepers.
Author’s Web site: http://www.KarenAlaineHunt.com