Donald F. Carrick (1929–1989)

A childhood classic - well, a classic of my childhood, certainly. The charming tales of a kind, philosophical moose living in the wilds of Minnesota, always on his way home (but never seeming to arrive there). Along his way, he helps his friends, does kind things, is treated kindly by others, makes moose-ic (sorry, can't resist a pun), and asks a Skunk to be his valentine. Jim Latimer's very short stories are sweet, warm, read-together tales, and comforting to me in the same way as a toasty warm comforter and a mug of noodle soup (more childhood classics). Donald Carrick's watercolor illustrations are suffused with an otherworldly light, capturing summer in the lily marsh and winter in the cow fields with astonishing precision. The illustrations alone make this a true work of art to savor, but paired with Latimer's text the entire book exudes warmth and dreaminess and a quiet sort of joy that anyone who loves nature and nature's creatures can identify with.

Even getting stuck in a snow drift and waiting for the county plow to come isn't so bad when there's a friend willing to pass the time with you.… (more)

I thought the book "Milk" by Donald Carrick was informative but somewhat bland and boring. I liked the very detailed illustrations of different steps along the path of producing milk for sale. I thought some of the text was unnecessary like explaining that the milk gets loaded on to trucks by drivers. Even explaining that the milk is delivered to stores seems a bit redundant. I think the authors main theme of explaing how milk is produced is achieved but the book could have had a little more life.… (more)