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River Friendly, River Wild

Illustrated by Neil Brennan

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About The Book

On TV we watch our city where people navigate the river-streets in any way they can....

"Look." Max points. "it's Sarah's house."

All I see is roof.


In searing personal poems, Jane Kurtz explores what it's like to struggle through a flood and pull your life together afterward. Inspired by Kurtz's own flood experience, this tale is realistic and unforgettable. Not just a moving story of one girl's courage, River Friendly, River Wild is a tribute to everyone who's ever faced great loss.

About The Author

Photo courtesy of the author

Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents decided to move to Ethiopia, where she spent most of her childhood. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferences—in all but eleven of the United States, so far, and such places as Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, France, Germany, Romania, England, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Japan. She helped start Ethiopia Reads (EthiopiaReads.org), a nonprofit that has opened the first libraries for children in Ethiopia. She is the author of many books for children, including What Do They Do with All that Poo? illustrated by Allison Black, Do Kangaroos Wear Seat Belts? illustrated by Jane Manning, Anna Was Here, and the American Girl book Lanie.  

About The Illustrator

Product Details

  • Publisher: Aladdin (March 6, 2007)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781416934875
  • Grades: P - 3
  • Ages: 4 - 8
  • Lexile ® AD630L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

"The illustrations are glowing. Portrayals of the family and the neighborhood emphasize closeness and working together, underlining the message of community and cooperation."
-- School Library Journal

"A book about the nature of home, community, and picking up the pieces."
-- Booklist

"Offer[s] a clear sense of what it's like to live through a flood"
-- Horn Book

"Powerful...an evocative look at recovery from personal loss."
-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Awards and Honors

  • CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book

Resources and Downloads

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More books from this author: Jane Kurtz