[.uk] The Gnats of Knotty Pine (ISBN 0395366127)

Great book for children:
I am shocked at the nasty reviews of this book. Bill Peet is known for his environmentally friendly books and they're hardly "disguised", thinly or otherwise. Those who are looking for something else should seek out other authors (there are certainly a near limitless number of children's authors). I read this book when I was wee old and loved it as I loved his others (farewell to shady glade, whump world, etc.). I think Farewell to Shady Glade is the best, but this book is fun too. Do not overlook this book for fear of its "biased" view on hunting. The fact is, these hunters come to hunt the animals. In this book the animals have been anthropomorphosized (like many children's stories) and do not want to be killed. Let's face it, hunting, which is anyone's right within its legal bounds, is killing animals. Instead of passing judgement, be honest: some humans kill animals while hunting, for better or for worse. I'm sure most children, like myself now (and 20+ years ago as a child), eat dead animals, aka meat, and so can learn to appreciate how humans impact and interact with the world. I suppose the offended readers of this book would have preferred the animals to knowingly sacrifice some of themselves for the hunters' sport?! I don't know one child that would have read that plot line and not scratched their head. This book is a simple story about how knats, rejected by the animals for their annoying swarming, save the day, preventing the hunters from holding their hunt, by, ironically, swarming around the hunters. In the end the knats become the best friends of the animals because of how they helped the animals. That's it!

This book helped me understand hunters and animals.:
This was a really good book. I really enojoyed how heroic the Gnats were to protect the animals, even though the moose blew them away with his nose. It also gave me a sense of excitememnt when the hunters ran away from my hero the squirl.

Disappointed in Stereotypes:
"The Gnats of Knotty Pine," by Bill Peet, has quality illustrations and a competent story line. It is touted as a story that shows how "little people" can make a difference. In it, a group of animals meet to discuss the opening day of hunting season and figure out a plan to "save their own skins." The big animals disagree on what to do, when a swarm of gnats decide to join the meeting. They are chased off by the others as having no worth. When the hunters arrive the next day, the gnats are the only "animals" who are able to drive the hunters away. They save the day. This story is a thinly disguised animal rights tract masquerading under the "little guy wins out" plot. Some of the illustrations and text are so obviously stereotyped and simplistic, I'm surprised it has garnered so many good reviews. First, the illustrations that feature hunters show them as slack-jawed, evil-looking men. Some sport hats with brims tipped up "Gomer Pyle" style -- clearly reading "hick." When the hunters arrive they are all in "lower class" vehicles, the lead truck with a license plate reading "OGRES." Another troubling illustration shows a squirrel leveling a shotgun at two hunters begging for their lives -- a "turn-about is fair play" message that I find destructive to young minds. Some of the textual messages are also disturbing to young children. It asserts that hunters are only after "a prize buck with...antlers" or "anything on four legs" and even "anything that moves." While there may be hunters that are irresponsible, the people who make up hunting community run the gamut of our society, from doctors to union workers. They bring a variety of values and ethics to the activity. In addition, women happen to be the fastest growing segment of hunters. A thoughtful exploration of these issues without stereotypes and hateful exposition would be more appropriate for children. I would not recommend "The Gnats of Knotty Pine" as good reading for children -- nor does this hate belong in our schools. By Gail Blankenau, author of "Mountain Pirates" an outdoor adventure for children.

One dull book!:
I found this book to be wordy, uncreative and dull. As a mother of 5, I have read lots of children's books and usually enjoy a new one, but not this one. Very dull. I do not recomend this book and neither do my 6 and 3 year old.

Stop reading BETWEEN the lines:
This is cute and fun book. Some adults simply cannot comprehend that a four year old is not going to have this story read to them and then the first thing that pops into their head is "oh wow, a squirrel just pointed a gun at a man so i guess i can do it too, now where can i get a gun". Come on for goodness sake. They simply love the animals and the humor of the story. Now for the second thing. Some people or maybe hunters i should say are offended by Bill Peets portrayal of hunters. Well i have something to say to you. IT'S A KIDS BOOK. If your that easily offended i would hate to have a grown-up conversation with you for fear of my life. And just so you know I am a hunter also, so i certainly do not have a negetive oppinion about hunters. My point is that this is a good book as long as you can fight the urge to read between the lines and assume there are messages there that aren't. Read it to your kids, let them enjoy their innocence while it's there.