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Red Sled
Excellent Book
Hardcover
First published November 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
November 29, 2018
Fun, simple and nearly wordless, while I have in many ways adored Lita Judge's Red Sled, and absolutely love the joyful (and at times also horrified) expressions on the animals' faces as they proceed to toboggan down the hill with the little girl's sled (and the few choice onomatopoeic accompanying words are indeed priceless and totally laugh out loud funny) I do nevertheless kind of wish that the little girl had right from the beginning been part of the animals' sledding party (as while I do appreciate that after the bear returns the borrowed red sled, the final illustration clearly shows both the animals and the little girl tobogganing together, I guess I would definitely have preferred the little girl to have been part of the animals' fun and mayhem right from the onset, right from the start of Red Sled). Still, for what it is (a simple, straight forward and for the most part completely wordless picture book), Red Sled not only does what it is supposed to do (simply and sweetly relate a fun and engaging tale of winter animals enjoying sledding and romping in the snow) I also think that for the intended audience, for young children (from about the age of two to four), Red Sled would probably be (should likely be) a total and entertainingly fun and engaging reading (or rather mostly viewing) experience (and indeed, therefore also absolutely hitting the proverbial sweet spot so to speak).
April 27, 2012
This is a very simple book, so simple that once a child has it read to them, they should be able to read it to themselves, even if they don’t know their ABCs.
The story is told almost 100% through the pictures; the only words used are onomatopoeic ones. I love the artwork and how it manages to convey the story so well.
The story is fun and very funny too, especially when the sled is full, when the porcupine joins the other riders, and when the bear and then the child find the sled.
In the author bio section on the inside back cover, there is a photo of the author when young, looking quite a bit like the child in the story, and a blurb about her childhood that reveals her inspiration for this story.
The story is very charming and the expressiveness of the animals and its imaginativeness make it really special.
4 ½ stars
The story is told almost 100% through the pictures; the only words used are onomatopoeic ones. I love the artwork and how it manages to convey the story so well.
The story is fun and very funny too, especially when the sled is full, when the porcupine joins the other riders, and when the bear and then the child find the sled.
In the author bio section on the inside back cover, there is a photo of the author when young, looking quite a bit like the child in the story, and a blurb about her childhood that reveals her inspiration for this story.
The story is very charming and the expressiveness of the animals and its imaginativeness make it really special.
4 ½ stars
January 3, 2019
When a young child leaves her beautiful red sled propped up against the side of her house one evening, she has no way of knowing that it will provide just as much fun for the local wildlife, as for herself. Commandeered by a bear, who takes it for a wild downhill ride, it soon hosts a slew of animals, who join the bear, one by one, on his night-time adventure. When the girl goes to use her sled the next day, she is surprised to see the bear tracks leading away from it...
Told entirely through onomatopoeia and appealing pencil and watercolor artwork, Lita Judge's Red Sled is a charming homage to winter fun, and an engaging fantasy that many young children will recognize. The idea that our toys, be they dolls or sleds, have a secret "life" just beyond our sight - at night, when we're not in the room - is one that I have often seen explored in children's books. Add in the fun animal crew here, and the adorable artwork, with its beautiful use of color, and expressive faces, and you have a picture-book winner! Recommended to young winter lovers, and to anyone who enjoys wordless, or mostly wordless, picture-books.
Told entirely through onomatopoeia and appealing pencil and watercolor artwork, Lita Judge's Red Sled is a charming homage to winter fun, and an engaging fantasy that many young children will recognize. The idea that our toys, be they dolls or sleds, have a secret "life" just beyond our sight - at night, when we're not in the room - is one that I have often seen explored in children's books. Add in the fun animal crew here, and the adorable artwork, with its beautiful use of color, and expressive faces, and you have a picture-book winner! Recommended to young winter lovers, and to anyone who enjoys wordless, or mostly wordless, picture-books.
December 11, 2011
With no true narrative, colorful, moonlit illustrations and lots and lots of onomatopoeia, this is a great book for parents and children to "read" together. Our girls helped to narrate the tale in their own words and we all took turns making the fun sounds - "Scrinch scrunch" and "Gadung" were our favorites to say over and over again. This is a humorous tale and we enjoyed reading it together.
December 7, 2018
What happens when a little child leaves the red sled outside the cabin one night and some curious creatures find it? A very fun adventure, and a great picture book, that's what! :->
This book is sooo cute! I just loved it. Great fun, and wonderful onomatopoeia.
This book is sooo cute! I just loved it. Great fun, and wonderful onomatopoeia.
December 1, 2011
Richie's Picks: RED SLED by Lita Judge, Atheneum, November 2011, 36p., ISBN: 978-1-4424-2007-6
I learned a new word today: "Gadung."
Listen to the sound as you speak it aloud, like this: Ga-DUNG.
Now say it four times in a row: Ga-DUNG. Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG.
Come on! Do it again.
Ga-DUNG. Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG.
I can just feel the gentle jarring in my bottom and up my rickety old back as I read aloud the two-page spread in RED SLED that says "Gadung Gadung Gadung Gadung" while we view the moose who, at this particular moment, is dog-sitting on the gently bouncing sled with the rabbit sitting between his front hooves, and the bear (who'd originally "borrowed" the red sled leaning against the child's house) lying atop the moose's antlers, front legs splayed and mouth open in delight.
Delight is the word. When we are young, we delight in learning the thrill of having our bodies move through space...and sometimes gently tumble down. I am, at this moment, wracking my brain to recall another children's book that so perfectly captures and portrays the feeling of delight that this one does.
Okay. Here's another one to try: "eeeeeeeeeee...fluoomp......ft"
The visual aftermath of the animal sledders "fluoomping" into the snow is hysterical. The bear is belly-flopped with a look of utter bliss on his face. He is on top of the opossum and the pair of raccoons, the rabbit is perched on his head, and the mouse is near by. The wide-eyed moose IS UPSIDE DOWN peering out at us from the top of the page...with the porcupine hanging down like a Christmas ornament as he holds one-handed onto one of the antler points.
Having had their fun for the night, all the animal participants watch from a safe distance as the bear quietly returns the red sled to where he found it -- outside of the child's little snow-covered house:
"Scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch"
And what would you do if you were that child and you saw those big paw prints leading to and from your beloved sled?
"Hmmm?"
RED SLED is pure magic.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderatorhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
I learned a new word today: "Gadung."
Listen to the sound as you speak it aloud, like this: Ga-DUNG.
Now say it four times in a row: Ga-DUNG. Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG.
Come on! Do it again.
Ga-DUNG. Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG, Ga-DUNG.
I can just feel the gentle jarring in my bottom and up my rickety old back as I read aloud the two-page spread in RED SLED that says "Gadung Gadung Gadung Gadung" while we view the moose who, at this particular moment, is dog-sitting on the gently bouncing sled with the rabbit sitting between his front hooves, and the bear (who'd originally "borrowed" the red sled leaning against the child's house) lying atop the moose's antlers, front legs splayed and mouth open in delight.
Delight is the word. When we are young, we delight in learning the thrill of having our bodies move through space...and sometimes gently tumble down. I am, at this moment, wracking my brain to recall another children's book that so perfectly captures and portrays the feeling of delight that this one does.
Okay. Here's another one to try: "eeeeeeeeeee...fluoomp......ft"
The visual aftermath of the animal sledders "fluoomping" into the snow is hysterical. The bear is belly-flopped with a look of utter bliss on his face. He is on top of the opossum and the pair of raccoons, the rabbit is perched on his head, and the mouse is near by. The wide-eyed moose IS UPSIDE DOWN peering out at us from the top of the page...with the porcupine hanging down like a Christmas ornament as he holds one-handed onto one of the antler points.
Having had their fun for the night, all the animal participants watch from a safe distance as the bear quietly returns the red sled to where he found it -- outside of the child's little snow-covered house:
"Scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch"
And what would you do if you were that child and you saw those big paw prints leading to and from your beloved sled?
"Hmmm?"
RED SLED is pure magic.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderatorhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
December 12, 2011
Since my first daughter was born two and a half years ago, I've found myself (surprise!) reading a LOT of picture books. I don't even remember the vast majority of them - but every once in a while, you read a book that really stands out. And sometimes, the kid seems to really like it, too. Red Sled is one of those books - one of those books you not only want to own for your own kids, but look forward to reading to the grandkids one day.
Judge's drawings are bright, eye-catching, and dynamic, and her use of onomatopoeia - whether it's the bear scrinch-scrunching his way up to the cabin, or the animals "gadung-gadung-gadung"-ing over a quick series of bumps-- is pitch-perfect.
Immediately after finishing the book, my daughter asked me to read it again - a true sign of her approval.
This book is sweet, simple, and fun - and let me be the hundredth person to say, destined to become a classic.
Judge's drawings are bright, eye-catching, and dynamic, and her use of onomatopoeia - whether it's the bear scrinch-scrunching his way up to the cabin, or the animals "gadung-gadung-gadung"-ing over a quick series of bumps-- is pitch-perfect.
Immediately after finishing the book, my daughter asked me to read it again - a true sign of her approval.
This book is sweet, simple, and fun - and let me be the hundredth person to say, destined to become a classic.
January 6, 2020
Art and just a few words tell the story of a red sled left leaning by the front door. A bear comes and uses the sled to ride down the hill. Soon he is joined by a rabbit, a moose, a raccoon, a mouse, and a porcupine. The animals have fun all night and the bear returns the sled at the end of the evening. When the boy sees the bear's footprints he takes his sled back out and joins the animals in one last ride across the snow.
November 24, 2018
So cute, and creative, and humorous. I can see it being a big hit in some families... and among teachers who love poetry and language as it's told just through the sound effects. 3.5 stars and I will consider more by the author.
November 8, 2011
This book is packed full of joie de vivre. RED SLED is the visual equivalent of a haiku, with perfectly chosen and formed paintings that tell a simple story that will only grow in retellings. I love the facial expressions, both human and animal, that convey so much emotion. The excitement, thrill, pure terror, and sense of accomplishment in a sled ride; the sense of belonging and community in shared experiences; the possibility of MORE than meets the eye. Judge's work is Caldecott material, but more importantly, RED SLED will be a children's favorite for years to come, great fun to read aloud with a grownup, but just as easy to reread alone with the pictures clearly telling the plot.
November 16, 2011
I've read a million picture books, and I LOVE IT when one can make me laugh out loud.
Lots of open space on these pages, lovely blues for the night time sky, flat-out awesome expressions on the animals' faces, super noises, solid composition on the page, just the right amount of variation and repetition, and a good ending.
Love the next-to-last page with the red sled leaning in one direction and the point of the girls' cap leaning in the other.
Lots of open space on these pages, lovely blues for the night time sky, flat-out awesome expressions on the animals' faces, super noises, solid composition on the page, just the right amount of variation and repetition, and a good ending.
Love the next-to-last page with the red sled leaning in one direction and the point of the girls' cap leaning in the other.
January 25, 2012
When a red sled is left outside, leaning against the house, it provides a wintry invitation for the animals to go on the ride of their lives. Delightful illustrations, RED SLED is a mentor text for onomatopoeia for its delightful depictions of walking across snow and coming to an abrupt landing at the bottom of a hill. Maddie (9) my own One Book Four Hands go-to gal, laughed out loud at this one.
November 16, 2011
Pure fun! You can not read this without smiling. I love that the text is completely sound effects, it makes the book function as a wordless book and a story. Great looking animals without being to cute. I can picture these animals hanging out with the woodland creatures from Waiting for Winter.
January 7, 2017
Perfection.
November 22, 2011
Super book to use to teach using sound effects in writing.
December 16, 2019
My fabulous sister gave me this lovely picture book by the phenomenal Lita Judge (who wrote and illustrated the incredible Mary's Monster) and it's darling and lovely and so fun with a blend of fantasy and whimsy and childhood delight. I love it!
March 8, 2018
Fun wordless story.
April 24, 2025
Bottled joy.
Read
March 17, 2017The best thing about this book is that though it is the size of a regular story book, it only like twenty words.
"Why, yes, my children, we CAN read another book. How generous of me to permit it."
"Why, yes, my children, we CAN read another book. How generous of me to permit it."
August 9, 2017
Red Sled is a mostly-wordless picture book about the animals who make use of a red sled left outside overnight. The only words in the story are onomatopoetic expressions of sledding sounds. The bear who stumbles upon the sled makes "scrunch scrinch" noises in the snow with his paws. When he and a rabbit upend the sled, they make an "alley-oop" noise. Finally, later, when a moose, a mouse, a possum, a hedgehog and two raccoons have also climbed aboard, we hear "whoa" just before they all go down a steep hill. In the morning, all that remains of the woodland creatures' sled adventure are their tracks in the snow, which are found by the child who owns the sled. That night, the child knows to watch for the animals so she, too, can join in the fun.
What I like so much about this book is how the silence reflects what nature sounds like at night. Even when the animals are noisily riding the sled, there is an air of calm surrounding every page, which is emphasized by the contrast between the deep blue of the sky and silvery white of the snow-covered hills. The animals are very expressive, showing their curiosity, fear, and excitement about the sled, and though the scenery doesn't change much from page to page, the action within that scenery does a wonderful job of keeping the flow of the story moving, even without the benefit of text. Illustrator Lita Judge uses interesting perspectives to focus our attention to the most important aspect of each page, and keeps the reader laughing all the way through to the end of the story.
I don't use wordless picture books in story time very often because my audiences tend to include younger children who are not yet verbal enough to discuss the pictures with me. I'm considering trying to incorporate them more into my story times for older children, however, and this would be a really fun one to start with. One of my favorite picture books of 2011!
What I like so much about this book is how the silence reflects what nature sounds like at night. Even when the animals are noisily riding the sled, there is an air of calm surrounding every page, which is emphasized by the contrast between the deep blue of the sky and silvery white of the snow-covered hills. The animals are very expressive, showing their curiosity, fear, and excitement about the sled, and though the scenery doesn't change much from page to page, the action within that scenery does a wonderful job of keeping the flow of the story moving, even without the benefit of text. Illustrator Lita Judge uses interesting perspectives to focus our attention to the most important aspect of each page, and keeps the reader laughing all the way through to the end of the story.
I don't use wordless picture books in story time very often because my audiences tend to include younger children who are not yet verbal enough to discuss the pictures with me. I'm considering trying to incorporate them more into my story times for older children, however, and this would be a really fun one to start with. One of my favorite picture books of 2011!
December 22, 2011
This almost wordless book sparkles with the joy of sledding. A little child leaves their sled leaning up outside their house. When night falls, a bear walks by and spots the red sled. With a “scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch” he walks away with the sled under his arm. Then he and a rabbit ride the sled down the hill, hooting with glee. They head down the hill in different positions and then are by a moose, and eventually raccoons, an opossum, a porcupine and a mouse. When morning light starts to show, the bear returns the sled with a “scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch.” The little child notices the paw prints around the sled, and the ending will have everyone smiling.
Read the rest of my review at my blog, Waking Brain Cells.
Read the rest of my review at my blog, Waking Brain Cells.
December 2, 2013
Title / Author / Publication Date: Red Sled/Lita Judge/2011
Genre: Picturebook, Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Plot summary: This book is beyond cute! A smashup of the artwork design from The Snowy Day and the animals galore that comes from Jan Brett's books, Red Sled is a great, almost wordless picturebook about the adventures of a sled on a winters day. Click on the link to see a shortened animated version of the book created by the author: http://wpblog.litajudge.com/2012/01/0...
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: N/A
Review citation: RED SLED. (2011). Kirkus Reviews, 79(19), 1832.
Estrin, H. (2011). Red Sled. School Library Journal, 57(10), 110.
Section source used to find the material: Children's Core Collection - Most Highly Recommended, Monroe County Public Library, Novelist Plus
Recommended age: 0 and up
Genre: Picturebook, Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Plot summary: This book is beyond cute! A smashup of the artwork design from The Snowy Day and the animals galore that comes from Jan Brett's books, Red Sled is a great, almost wordless picturebook about the adventures of a sled on a winters day. Click on the link to see a shortened animated version of the book created by the author: http://wpblog.litajudge.com/2012/01/0...
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory: N/A
Review citation: RED SLED. (2011). Kirkus Reviews, 79(19), 1832.
Estrin, H. (2011). Red Sled. School Library Journal, 57(10), 110.
Section source used to find the material: Children's Core Collection - Most Highly Recommended, Monroe County Public Library, Novelist Plus
Recommended age: 0 and up
November 26, 2011
This nearly wordless book involves a young child, a red sled and some animals who discover just how much fun sledding can be! A bear finds the sled propped up against a cabin, just where the child left it. The bear soon finds himself gathering speed and company as he careens down a hill. The sled is returned to the cabin wall, but the child notices the bear's footprints and quickly puts two and two together. Soon child and animals alike are sledding together! The author uses "scrunch, scrinch" for footsteps in the snow, what a perfect sound! The illustrations are wonderful and the author made sure that red didn't have too much competition.
January 10, 2020
This was a huge hit with my story time and outreach. The sounds and story are a perfect match. 1/23/12
I used this for my winter Saturday Reading Time today. When the older kids went back to the ELC, I went with the nearly wordless stories for the younger children left. 2/15/14
Chosen by a boy and went over well.
Chosen by a girl at PJ and she really enjoyed it.
My young story time crowd enjoyed the animals and sounds too. 2/1/16
Read at Baby/Toddler in celebration of first snow of the year earlier in the week.
I used this for my winter Saturday Reading Time today. When the older kids went back to the ELC, I went with the nearly wordless stories for the younger children left. 2/15/14
Chosen by a boy and went over well.
Chosen by a girl at PJ and she really enjoyed it.
My young story time crowd enjoyed the animals and sounds too. 2/1/16
Read at Baby/Toddler in celebration of first snow of the year earlier in the week.
November 1, 2011
Red Sled may be almost wordless, but it's full of heart and soul. This is a new kind of book for Judge, who is well known for her picture book biographies and nonfiction science. And it seems to be the book she was born to create. The joyous exuberance of the animals is impossible to deny as they whiz through a winter wonderland on a borrowed red sled. Perfect for sharing with your favorite child and a steaming cup of cocoa, this book is bound to become a classic.
November 29, 2018
One can almost hear the sounds coming from this book, as the bear scrinch, scrunches off with the red sled. The animals are obviously enjoying their tobogganing, as they gadung and sssssffft down the slopes. And I liked how the child was able to join in on the fun on the last page, with a hearty wheeeeeeeeee! I loved how these watercolor and pencil illustrations were large enough to share with a group; and how they perfectly captured all the action.
December 29, 2013
A wonderful winter tale! A little boy's red sled is used by a band of forest animals for a late-night adventure in the snowy woods. I love the illustrations and the whimsy.
This would facilitate so many lessons for K-3 grade. Because of the sparse words, it lends itself to a writing activity for the students to fill in dialogue, etc. It is also perfect for teaching onomatopoeia.
This would facilitate so many lessons for K-3 grade. Because of the sparse words, it lends itself to a writing activity for the students to fill in dialogue, etc. It is also perfect for teaching onomatopoeia.
August 5, 2011
My new favorite snow book, it's so simple with minimal text just fun sound effects and beautiful art. A bear borrows a sled and all of his forest friends join in the fun. Such a sweet and wonderful picturebook, Lita Judge does a great job translating the joy of a good sled ride.
November 10, 2011
Adorable!!! This would be such a fun book to share with preschoolers and primary grade students, especially if you could encourage them to make the noises with you.
December 1, 2011
Mostly wordless picture book about good times had with a borrowed red sled. All the words are sledding sounds and makes you feel like you're along for the ride. Cute animals and funny idea!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews