A Photographic Fantasy (Nature) - Stranger in the Woods

Absolutely beautiful photography! Great for any age. I've bought this book many times for children but I've also bought a copy for myself. The pictures tell the whole story without having to read a word.

This book was our Christmas book choice in 2001. My daughter-in-law and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sams that year at an arts and crafts fair at Michigan State University. We were impressed with his cheerful nature and his enthusiasm for his and his wife's hard work. We bought copies of the book that day.

A Stranger in the Woods is about the frenzy of woodland animals upon realizing that a stranger is among them in their part of the woods following a winter snowstorm. The stranger is a snowman, of course. The animals find him quite harmless and a rather pleasant fellow (in a quiet way) once they find him. The photographs are spectacular and, as Mr. Sams explained, took hours and much patient waiting to get. The snowman was rebuilt several times and you may notice that the snowman is wearing several different pairs of gloves during the course of the story. This is an indicator of the passage of time and lost and/or misplaced gloves at the time of the next photo opportunity. The text is simple, just enough to convey the story. Our grandchildren still thoroughly enjoy looking at the photographs in this book and telling/reading the story, often in their own words.

This book's cover is so delightful to gaze upon that it makes a great addition to setting the scene for the holidays! A copy of Stranger in the Woods sits among the winter display on our fireplace hearth.

Note: The authors/photographers have another book out (June, 2004) entitled, "Lost in the Woods," about a young fawn who is separated, temporarily, from his mother. It's a book about the arrival of spring and the photographs are equally spectacular as those in "Stranger in the Woods." A video is being developed for "Lost in the Woods," as well.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

I just read this book to a kindergarten class and as expected, they did not get the text at all but they were totally entranced by the pictures.
Since we are discussing animals in winter, this is a perfect book to show them not only which animals are indeed out in the wintertime, but what they may be doing. (A porcupine chewing on an antler?)
I will probably just show the pictures in the future and let the kids write their own story which at their age they don't care.
The only little quibble that came up was the fact that the gloves change. In some pictures they are brown, in other red. Leave it to a 5-year old to notice something like that. Of course it also gives me something for them to look for in the future and to tell them to look for a change and see how many catch it.
The reviewer who said there was no message--I beg to differ. At least one message that my class walked away with was that wild animals need to be taken care of in the winter time and I thought this was a lovely way to do it.

Noted wildlife photographers and authors Carl Sams and his wife, Jean Stoick have combined their talents to offer a wonderful children's book that sets a new and higher standard for all children's books to follow.
Instead of the typical cartoon characters, Stranger in the Woods displays actual photographs and heartfelt words that offer an enlightening message on two levels. The photography is awesome...they set up their camera in a clearing of the woods near a snowman. The snowman was complete with hat, gloves and a carrot nose.
The bluejays, owls, chickadees, squirrels, porcupines, rabbits, field mice, cardinals...and, yes, children are all captured on film...checking out this marvelous snowman. But the most endearing creatures are the deer, who came to investigate, and eat the carrot nose.
The photos and text teach appreciation of nature and integrity of all beings. Most of all, Stranger in the Woods instills and encourages a message of love and compassion for our children to learn early in life. It is no wonder that Stranger in the Woods won the prestigious Ben Franklin Award as the best children's picture book of 2000.
In this reviewer's opinion, Stranger in the Woods should be read by adults as well. You see, Carl Sams and Jean Stoick deliver the message that there is more to living than greed and power. And that is, we share our planet with others, and the others don't always walk on two feet!

My goodness! While this seems to be, overall, a very popular book, and rightfully so, it is absolutely fascinating trying to figure out just what folks want. Some of the negative reviews here whine about the quality of photography. Some grouse about the quality of the text. Some seem to have their noses bent out of shape that photographs were used rather than paintings. This just goes to show that you cannot please everyone in every way. Anyway......

I felt Stranger in the Woods was excellent! I am one of those that found this work to be absolutely delightful. I note that this book has received around 19 awards so far, and while awards are not the beginning and the end of a good book, they do give some indication that someone, somewhere likes the work. Yes, this work is made up of actual photographs of wild life. The primary feature is deer but we also have a wonderful owl, doves, muskrat, squirrel, porcupine, rabbits, chickadees, mice and a cardinal featured. There are also some of other furry and feathered critters here and there, but they seem to be "extras."

One morning the animals discover a stranger in their woods. As word goes out amongst the animals, they begin to gather and investigate. A snowman, with a carrot nose, nut eyes and seeds stashed here and there make this new stranger quite popular very quickly. I personally found the text to be quite nice, very crisp and fit perfectly with the wonderful photographs of the wildlife inhabiting this particular area of the woods.

This is a great read along for children and a wonderful picture book for them to just gaze at. I liked the way the authors have given us excellent and cute instructions on how to build one of these eatable snow men and point out what a great project this is for the little one.

I suppose a book like this is a matter of natural taste and that as parents or care givers, you should know what your children will and won't like. Personally, I liked the book and have read it to quite a number of the little crowd. I have yet to have a child that did not like the work and when all is said and done, that is what counts. I did not have one child complain about the quality of the techniques used in the photograph, nor, I might add, point out where the syntax could have been improved if this or that was done. Go figure.

I recently read Sams newest book, First Snow in the Woods and thought it to be an amazing combination of prose and photography. Unfortunately, this book does not live up to the same quality.

The prose is stilting--doesn't flow well--and the photography quality is lacking. In many places it looks very much like pieces were pasted in. The blending is poor. In other photos, the light and shadow is not well done.

It's a cute concept to use a snowman covered in nuts and seeds to feed the animals, but this book did not deliver on quality as I hoped it would.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Captivating nature book for young children with charm and innocence and spectacular photography. The story is suspenseful and has a most satisfying conclusion. The aspect that most amazes me is that the essential "character" of each animal is captured in a few memorable words. The bold little chickadee is "there, there, there" before the big brave animals. The cardinal is, above all, "red"! The doe is shy and sweet. The raucous blue jay calls out the first warning. Absolutely right on! So, the tale is not only appealing but also true to nature. I love this book. I love it so much, in fact, that I'd have to have a copy even if I did not have grandchildren who also love it. I think any adult who loves nature and especially the birds would appreciate it almost as much as the kids it was meant for.

MY HUSBAND READS A BOOK EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE TO OUR 8 AND THEIR CHILDREN. WE MAIL THEM TO THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE NEAR US SO THE DADDY CAN READ THEM. WE ALWAYS GIVE SOMETHING FOR THE MANGER FOR EACH..AND GAVE 39 TINY SNOWMEN TO EACH, FOR THEM TO PUT IN THEIR MANGER SCENE.. IT WAS WONDERFUL AS THEY SO LOVED THE STORY..

WE HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN ITEMS WITH THE STORY... AND THIS TIME HE THOUGHT OF THIS AND I WAS OVERJOYED...
HE MADE A TALL SNOWMAN OF PLYWOOD FOR "STRANGERS IN THE WOODS"FOR EACH OF OUR CHILDREN(8)
I GLUED HALF WALNUTS FOR THE MOUTH MOUTH ,AND MY GENE SHAPED WOOD LIKE A CARROT AND PAINTED THEM ORANGE.. HE SCREWED THEM ON.. WE PUT THE RED HAT ON AND I MADE A FELT RED SCARF FOR EACH..

I ONLY WISH YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THE ADULTS FACES ,AS WELL AS THE CHILDREN, AS MY GENE PULLED BACK THE DRAPES TO OUR PATIO..

THIS YEAR HE IS MAKING ONE FOR A LITTLE NEIGHBOR GIRL WHO LIVES BEHIND US, AS SHE LOVES OURS, AND THE STORY.
WE GAVE HER THE BOOK AND STUFFED SNOWMAN TOY LAST YEAR.

NEEDLESS TO SAY A SNOWMAN IS RARE IN FLORIDA!!! :)

In His Quiet Joy, nana IT IS A WONDERFUL BOOK AND SO ARE THE PICTURES

.

My husband and I ran across this book at Christmas time, in a music store! It was not what we went there for (a gift for a musician), but we both loved it so much...we bought it without thinking about it! My husband, as a photographer, and I, as a deaf person, loved the gorgeous pictures. As grandparents who are trying to teach the value and beauty of the natural world to our grandchildren, we felt this is a unique addition to our 'coffee table books'. We refuse to buy books that merely sit there, and are not enjoyed...this particular book provides hours of enjoyment all year round for both us and our grandchildren.
As always we enjoy anything with a sense of humor. The photograph of the deer eating the carrot nose of the snowman, really was the clinching selling point for this incredible book.
Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh

Authors Sams and Stoick have put together a winner of a book. It combines their excellent photography and narrative skills into an engrossing story about a stranger who appears suddenly in the woods. Animals are used as the narrators and they wonder who this stranger is. His red hat and carrot nose and the food he has on his person soon make the animals comfortable with his presence. He provides them with needed food, which isn't all that available during the winter. I have donated this book and others by these same authors to school libraries. The entire series is well-written and worth getting for those little ones in your family, but adults will enjoy it as well.

Children do seem to like this book!!! Even if, I , personally, do not find poetry or anything interesting in the text, the children sure seem to enjoy this book! (it is , er, not , my personal favorite....)... Text such as the owl asks "Who-who-who is it?" (who is the stranger in the woods?) and the Chick-a-dee-dee-dee...

I really appreciate the work of local Michigan artists sold in a small home town bookstore. I am pleased with this fact. Years ago, I paid a rather high price for this book (I believe it is the first edition). I plan to purchase the other 2 suggested books plus videos as well. My child seems to enjoy it. We could discuss lots of interesting wintertime habits of local wildlife.

Personally, I find the text to be average! kind of boring, really! Just my opinion!

I'd rather read Dr. Suess, Shel Silverstein, and a Children's Garden of Verse by Robert Louis Stevenson. (I found a soft cover book for a mere $1 from Penguin Press! no frills, not much illustration, but good while breastfeeding to deliver poems to my child instead of TV or radio) I found more elaborate vintage years (with beautiful full color photos) to entertain my child in my local bookstore.

A sweet book of special photographs telling the story of the woodland animals who find a stranger in their woods and what the stranger has to offer.

Written and photographed by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick.

If you've never heard of "The Benjamin Franklin Award", then you are missing out on wonderful books put out by the truly innovative writers/illustrators/photographers that create books independently of the major publishers.

The major publishers strive to publish books that match what 'everyone wants' or that they perceive 'will sell' - the next Stephen King, or the yet another copy of a successful book.

It takes something like "Stranger in the Woods" to push the boundaries of what is 'good' in the publishing world. NOW that it is successful, we'll get a lot of major publisher copycat versions.

This is beautifully photographed and doesn't even need to be read to be enjoyed. I'd recommend that if you like this book, you check out other Benjamin Franklin Award winners! PMA (Publisher's Marketing Association) picks out the 'best of the independent publishers' so you KNOW you are going to get a great book when you find the Benjamin Franklin Award on it.

A couple of books I've read recently that are Benjamin Franklin Winners would include "The Blacksmith's Gift" by Dan T. Davis/Matthew Armstrong and the illustrated books by Christopher Canyon ("The Tree in the Ancient Forest", "Sunshine on My Shoulders").

But that's just a start! Get "Stranger in the Woods", the books above, and I think you'll agree that buying "Benjamin Franklin Award Winners" will be a wonderful experience in book exploration!

I read this book to an active Kindergarten class and they were completely engaged! We were celebrating the first day of winter so it tied in nicely with the snow, sledding, and snowman theme. The photographs are beautiful but, what the children enjoyed most was the animals voices in the story. Each animal "talks like it sounds" in nature. For example the mourning dove's "Coo-coo-could that be him?"

This book is an instant wintertime classic (you may also appreciate the subtle undertones of conservation and care of our forest friends). The hardcover edition would make a terrific gift for any young child.

"Stranger in the Woods" and their other book "Lost in the Woods" are the most beautiful children's books I've ever seen! Children will delight in these photographs, and love the little story as will their parents. I am dishearted by one reviewer's comments below. It's a children's book, not the "great american novel". This book is simply magical. A treasure beyond any book I've seen recently. Don't hesitate. This book is wonderful and well worth your money as you will keep it forever for it's photographic beauty and enchanting prose.

I had bought this book originally for my two young nephews who live in Florida because I wanted them to see what winter animals were like in the North. Well, my husband liked the book so much (the pictures are incredible) that I had to buy an extra one for us to keep on our shelf! If you love wildlife,deer in particular, you will love this book. Since then I have bought two others and have given them for gifts.

... Stranger in the Woods! Stranger in the Woods!"
In this poetic tale, beautifully illustrated entirely with wildlife photographs, the animals of the deep woods awake, after a winter storm, to the news of a stranger lurking in their midst. The deer, muskrat, mouse, rabbit, cardinal, porcupine, and many others sing a song of excitement about this strange, yet friendly creature with the carrot nose. And after the animals discover the feast this wondrous snowman has to offer, the children who built him vow to replenish their snowman's facial features until winter has long faded away.

The photographs are truly beautiful, i.e. bird wings frozen in a flutter, a deer taking the snowman's carrot nose, but the text is disappointing and the text layout on the photos is distracting. I would have preferred to just enjoy the photos and make up my own story. My children always loved making up stories to books with only pictures and no text like "The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher" which unfortunately is probably out of print now. Reprint the book with just photos!

If you enjoyed the "magic" of winter when you were a child, don't miss this book. The photographs are just beautiful and match the equally compelling and magical story. The reader peers through a child's eyes at the wonderment and majesty of nature, it's creatures and the beauty of a still winter day. Share this with a friend while sipping a cup of cocoa and return to your childhood once again.

This is an imaginative, lyrical, simply wonderful story using beautiful nature photographs and art to tell the story of a mysterious stranger who suddenly appears in the woods.
I read this story with several children, and they were instantly enchanted by the spell woven by the authors. Their parents were equally charmed.
I hope the authors plan to do more books in the future. I certainly want to collect their work!

We just recently took our children to see snow for the first time. It was fasinating watching them play and delight in the wonders of snow. This book was a great follow-up to our trip. The pictures are superb and the way the children respect the privacy of the forest animals touches your heart.

A winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award (nope, I never heard of it either) from the Publishers Marketing Association as well as garnering an International Reading Association Award, "Stranger In the Woods" is a picture book told in nature photographs and prose. The amount of picture books told solely in photos today is slim at best. No photographic picture book has ever won the coveted Caldecott Award. No photographic picture book has even so much as made itself into its own specific genre. Much as photographs are given short shrift in art galleries (there are those that claim its very mechanics keep it from attaining the status of "true art"), photos are also fairly ignored as a medium through which to tell tales to children. Working to remedy this problem, photographers Carl R. Sams II and his wife Jean Stoick have captured a series of winter pictures taken in the wilds of either Canada or the upper Midwest. Yet while these photographs are stunning as a whole, the text fails to live up to its potential.

The book begins like so: "The snowflakes were resting after their twisting twirling dance through the crisp night air". The reader is privy to a beautifully white clad snowscape, every tree and bush covered in a thick coat of winter snow. As we watch, animals call to one another with a warning. There is a stranger in the woods. The birds are the first to announce this unprecedented event. A blue jay perched on a branch gives hew and cry. An owl (sadly, the book does not say what kind of owl it is) asks a myriad of different questions about the stranger. After the birds have had their say, the mammals chime in. Neither muskrat nor deer has seen the stranger pass, but a squirrel is quick to spot the red hatted one. Ever so slowly the animals approach, soon fighting over who should be the first to reach the stranger. A chickadee takes the lead, perching on the stranger's fine carrot nose. After it announces that this odd white creature is covered in tasty treats, everyone wants to come close. It has nuts for eyes, and a hat full of seeds. Even the timid doe is bold enough to snatch the creature's nose. Unseen, two children crouch behind some oddly computer manipulated greenery, replenishing their snowman's hat, eyes, and nose so that the animals will have more to eat another day.
As I've said, the pictures are lovely. This is winter at its brightest and bleakest. The sky is a permanent grey with cheery trees and grounds of white. Children reading this book will be delighted at the prospect that kids like themselves could come so close to the variety of different animals and birds that live in snowy woods in wintertime. Many of the photographs are digitally manipulated, but the manipulation (with the exception of the aforementioned weirdo trees the kids hide behind) for the most part is not jarring to the eye. Unfortunately, when photographers decide to write children's books, they should consider hiring a writer as well. While the story the book tells is inviting, the text is sadly stilted. Some of the book rhymes, but it can't seem to make up its mind whether to rhyme all the time, or only in sections. Therefore, a section reading "Wow! A carrot! Do I have to share it?" is followed by "What is this? questioned the fawn as he passed a curious object in the snow". Beyond the obvious objections such as these, the book reads without much in the way of flair or verve. Textually it's like every other mediocre picture book out there. The only difference is that its matched with beautifully staged photographs.
Author/photographers Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick would have done well to consult similar picture books about different animals interacting with humans in the winter months. Sadly this book does not live up to the standards set by such lush winter fantasies as "The Big Snow", a Caldecott winning book written and illustrated by another husband and wife team, Berta and Elmer Hader. If you'd like a wintery tale that is well drawn as well as well written, seek that book out ASAP. If, on the other hand, you don't mind reading something that's a little dull but pretty to the eye, by all means go to "Stranger In the Woods". It's inoffensive enough, but when you can consider all the wonderful picture books available to kids today I can't really recommend the title wholeheartedly. It's a nice book. Just don't expect to be blown away.