Rufous Redtail

by Helen Garrett

This was my favorite book when I was a child. It's now out of print, but if by chance you should run across it at a rummage or used book sale, grab it. Maybe if enough people request it, Dover Books will republish it.

It is the enchanting story of Rufous, a redtail hawk. It begins with his hatching and follows him growing up, making friends with other birds, learning the lessons of hawk-life and migrating. It's kind of a Bambi story told by a redtail hawk.

I was excited to find a discarded library copy and is jealously guarded. All three of my boys are now great fans of the book.

158 pages

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Charlene]

This was my favorite book when I was a child. It's now out of print, but if by chance you should run across it at a rummage or used book sale, grab it. Maybe if enough people request it, Dover Books will republish it.

It is the enchanting story of Rufous, a redtail hawk. It begins with his hatching and follows him growing up, making friends with other birds, learning the lessons of hawk-life and migrating. It's kind of a Bambi story told by a redtail hawk.

I was excited to find a discarded library copy and is jealously guarded. All three of my boys are now great fans of the book.

[Monita · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second grade teacher read this book aloud to the class in the '60s, and I loved it. I have to admit it made me cry. I cared deeply what happened to this bird. I can't find this book anywhere except Amazon.com. They have one used copy for sale currently, at over $200.00, which I'm not willing to pay. I wish the current owner of the publishing rights would release it again. I know the current generation would love it as much as past generations did.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a significant book in my childhood and I rediscovered it recently. I reread it about four months ago and it still is quite educational to me; teaching me more about myself and the society arround me fifty years after my first read.

[Kafryn Lieder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I probably checked it out from the library 10 times a year! The illustrations were wonderful, too - simple black and white.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most endearing and beautiful moments of my childhood was gathering in the living room with my sister, mother, and father to listen to him read this book. My family wasn’t close, on an emotional or physical level at any point during my youth. We had our share of hardships, and in fact, I often felt as if I was a stranger in my own home, before I had the capacity to understand what estrangement was. But for a few weeks, in the evenings, right before bedtime, my father sat and read us this book.
I remember vividly the images of birds soaring through the air, wise mentors guiding young Rufous through his own youth. I could almost feel the smooth, cold wind against my cheeks, the rough branches under my feet. I felt as if I was watching from the nest as a young bird took flight for the first time and glided to the ground, not experienced enough to carry his own weight.
I don’t remember how old I was at the time. Certainly old enough to read it myself, but I wouldn’t have preferred to. I sat there, enamored by the way my father’s gentle, low voice carried the characters, the atmosphere of this beautiful story into the room. I saw, heard my father in a way I had never had the chance to before. He was almost a child again himself. I perhaps saw in him what he saw in himself when he looked in the mirror to shave his white beard. I only ever knew him as an old man. He never seemed young to me, but on these warm evenings, he became a friend to me.
I can only attribute these memories to a story so beautifully written, it carried you into the pages and had you imagine yourself as Rufous-no matter who you were, how old you were. I haven’t read it since then. I don’t remember much of it, just the way it made me feel. Now, I’m so grateful for these moments, because this book costs upward of $1000 anywhere you look. I may never have the chance to read it again. But despite it being years and years, despite not even having read it myself or ever laying my hands on the copy my father read aloud, it is one of the most impactful, memorable books I have ever experienced.

[Rebecca Seago · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandpa read this to every class he ever taught and I grew up hearing every redtail hawk we saw "Rufous" so I enjoyed finally getting to read this beautiful little children's novel. I have become a bird watcher as an adult so it was extra fun seeing birds I am already familiar with get mentioned as characters in Rufous's world throughout the story.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3rd or 4th grade teacher first read this book to my class. I would later buy a copy to read to my children when they were growing up.

[Joseph Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I read as a child and the reason I am a avid reader to this day!

[Margaret Holsinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a youngster and would love to read it again. This is a tale of a young redtail hawk who is impatient to grow up, and thinks he already knows everything. A well-written enjoyable read.

[Debbie Kobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book as a child and still love it!