My daughter (5) enjoyed the book several times when we first received it, but it was not one she asked for again. I appreciated the history of the book itself and was glad to share it with her, and especially appreciated that it is about the journey to figure out what matters and who you are. It is a journey of discovery, one in which our children can be accompanied by some furry friends along the way. ( )

When Charlie the Beaver's grandfather asks him what he wants to be when he grows up the answer is to become a tramp instead of working as a beaver so that he can live an easy life of wandering around and having no responsibilities. It doesn't take Charlie long though to realize that perhaps working as a beaver isn't all that bad!

A story that provides a few valuable lessons such as work ethic and family. I loved how Charlie's parents decided to let Charlie try out the tramp lifestyle. The family feel of this book is wonderful and the illustrations which look like pencil drawings really bring the story to life. While this is a charming little story I think that parts of the storyline might be a bit dated, such as mom running off to cook for the men, I got the feeling that men worked and women stayed home and cooked, but that is to be expected because it was originally released fifty years ago. Overall it is a cute little read with a few valuable lessons woven in.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review. ( )

Charlie the Tramp was originally published in 1966. This reprint tells the story of a young beaver named Charlie who decides he wants to be a tramp instead of a beaver and barter his work for food and shelter. While much of the story is entertaining, it does display dated gender stereotypes. ( )

Charlie the Tramp, a classic by Author Russell Hoben is back in print in a 50th Anniversary edition. This is a sweet story about Charlie the Beaver who wants to be a tramp when he grows up. He likes the idea of freedom and not having to learn how to build dams and chop down trees. Mom, Dad, and Grandfather all talk to him about making life choices, but let him have some freedom. He tied a handkerchief to a stick and took off. He learned many lessons during his adventure – which included chopping trees and building dams. It ends with a talk between Charlie and his dad.

Some of the terms are a bit outdated, so you may have to explain that years ago tramps worked when they had to and traveled the rest of the time. Other than that, it is a nice family story that will make a good early reader. ( )

At first I was really excited to get this book. The art was really fun and I think I like anything with a Charlie character in it for some reason. I particularly liked the construction of the book. I know the temptation can be to skimp on the quality of the cover and the pages but this book is NOT an example of that. It feels good in your hands and will last for years.

Now about the story - I had no idea this book was so old, it ages well. I was not sure how I felt about the tramp theme but I stuck with it a few pages and realized it was just fun and not terribly random. Charlie wanted to be free without any obligations! I loved the commentary by his parents and grandpa. I really liked how the water called to him and the language that is used to describe that scene. It draws you in to what he is experiencing and makes you feel like you are living the story rather than just reading it. I know that is high talk for a children's book, but I think good children's books have that kind of a natural feel to them. The ending seemed rushed and a bit out of place, but no big deal. Overall, this is one that I will read several times to the kids. My daughter was not interested at all at first, but she ended up listening despite that lack of interest. ( )