A Home for Harley


Children - Animals
26 Pages
Reviewed on 12/04/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Bruce Arrington for Readers' Favorite

A Home for Harley, by Debbie Tremel, is an illustrated book for kids from about 2nd or 3rd grade on up. Abbey wants to make an aquarium and raise a frog in it, similar to what they have in her school. Her interest in outdoors and wildlife fires her plans to make a suitable mini-ecosystem. But she finds the task harder than she initially thought. When she comes to the pond to collect a frog, it doesn’t seem willing to be a pet. She changes her strategies and learns how to move about the wild in ways that won’t so easily frighten away her target. Some of her methods are quite humorous, and her mom’s support makes the story feel very real.

This is absolutely a delightful book, filled with humor, charm, and good moral lessons. The watercolor artwork is professionally done, providing amazing colors and details. It’s obvious a lot of work went into each color-filled page. I appreciate the sensitivity of Tremel’s attitude toward wildlife, and how she portrays the needs of the critter that called the pond its home. This is a good lesson for children, helping them to realize that there are times that wildlife should be allowed to live where it occurs naturally. The way Abbey realized the value of the frog shows good character on her part. She is able to enjoy the environment along with the animals that live in the pond. A Home for Harley, by Debbie Tremel, is a book that children will love to read and appreciate. Highly recommended.

Joshua Soule

A Home for Harley, written by Debbie Tremel, is a delightful story about a young girl, Abbey, who finds an aquarium at a yard sale with her mom. Abbey is excited at the possibility of catching a frog from the pond near her home to keep in the aquarium as a pet. She goes out and collects soil, plants, and a snail to make the aquarium cozy. Day after day, however, Abbey finds that catching a frog is not such an easy task. She learns that if she wants to have any hope of catching this little pet, she must better understand nature, the pond, and the perspective of the frog. As time goes by, Abbey learns a lesson that she never thought she would, and builds a touching and heartfelt connection with her potential pet.

I found A Home for Harley to be a very beautiful children’s book containing a fun and suspenseful plot, with a well-founded protagonist and an outcome that is heart-warming. Author Debbie Tremel did an incredible job of creating a beautiful story that is both engaging and educational, with a vocabulary that is sure to help reading and comprehension growth. The illustrations, done by Mauro Lirussi, were detailed and vivid, truly bringing the story to life in a way that is colorful but not overpowering. A Home for Harley is an excellent book for youngsters as it is sure to help them grow and develop as children and as readers; a must-have for a home bookshelf or classroom. Well done.

Michelle Stanley

A Home for Harley is an animal story for children by Debbie Tremel. While scouting for bargains at a garage sale, Abbey is inspired to make her own amphibian habitat in an aquarium. She hurries to the pond after school and spots a frog basking in the sun. Her attempts to catch him prove futile since she makes too much noise, scaring him away. Realizing her mistake, Abbey cautiously watches the frog, that she names Harley, in its natural environment. She collects plants, pebbles and dirt to make the aquarium comfortable. The more she visits the pond, the friendlier Harley becomes. Abbey learns about amphibians and nature while playing with her new friend. But as she becomes more involved in her project, Abbey reflects on the importance of nature and wonders if she’s making the right decision.

Do you have a pet frog or are you thinking of getting one like Abbey? A Home for Harley by Debbie Tremel is a fun, informative story that will enlighten children about frogs and their habitats. The story is lively, amusing and educational. Abbey is a smart, caring young girl who adores animals. It’s interesting to note she learned about frogs in her class. One has to be patient to catch frogs. They move so quickly. The beautiful illustrations by Mauro Lirussi show how modern and cool Abbey and her mother are, and nature’s beauty. A Home for Harley is ideal for teaching children about amphibians, nature and caring for pets.