The Incredible Journey facts for kids
The Incredible Journey (1961) is a famous children's book by Scottish author Sheila Burnford. It was first published by Hodder & Stoughton. The story is about three amazing pets who travel about 300 miles (480 km) through the wild Canadian countryside. They are trying to find their beloved owners. The book shows how brave and loyal these three animals are, even when their journey is very tough. The story takes place in the northwestern part of Ontario, Canada. This area has many lakes, rivers, and small farms and towns spread far apart.
Even though it's usually seen as a children's book, Sheila Burnford said she didn't write it just for kids. The book became very well-known after 1963. That's when Walt Disney made a movie called The Incredible Journey, which was based loosely on the book. Disney later remade the movie in 1993 as Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.
Sheila Burnford got the idea for the story from her own pets when she lived in Canada. She had a Bull Terrier from England, a Siamese cat, and a young Labrador Retriever. She said her cat and terrier were closer than any other cat and dog she had ever seen. The Labrador also became very close to the older dog.
Contents
What Happens in the Story?
The story begins with the Hunter family, who own the three pets. They have to go to England for several months because the father, Jim, has to give some university talks. They leave their pets with a family friend, John Longridge, who is also their daughter Elizabeth's godfather.
One day, John Longridge goes on a two-week duck hunting trip. The animals miss their human friends and decide to find their owners, the Hunters. Mrs. Oakes, who is looking after Longridge's house, doesn't find the animals. She thinks John must have taken them with him. The pets follow their instincts and head west, towards their home, which is 300 miles (480 km) away through the Canadian wilderness. They face many challenges, like crossing rivers and meeting grumpy people. But they bravely keep going until they finally reach home.
Meet the Main Characters
- Luath: Luath is a young Labrador Retriever. He has red-gold fur and brown eyes, and he is very strong. He is the newest pet in the Hunter family. Luath is the most determined of the three to keep moving forward and reach home to the Hunters. He usually walks on Bodger's left side.
- Bodger: Bodger (whose full name is Champion Boroughcastle Brigadier of Doune) is an old English Bull Terrier. His fur is white with a slight pink color. Bodger's left eye is almost blind. This dog was born to be tough and brave. Even though he is eleven years old and gets tired easily, he is a very brave, loyal, and strong friend. He loves people, especially children. When they meet humans on their journey, he tries to be charming to get affection and snacks. He really dislikes other cats, except for Tao. Tao earned his respect by standing up to him when Tao was a tiny kitten and first joined the Hunter family. Bodger and Tao have a very special bond. Bodger was the first pet to join the Hunter family. Even with his age and poor eyesight, Bodger is still a great fighter. At one point, he saves Luath from a Border Collie that a grumpy farmer set on them.
- Tao: Tao is a slim, seal-point, old-style Siamese cat with beautiful sapphire blue eyes. He has a royal white body with dark black fur on his face, feet, and tail. It's funny because Tao, like Bodger, dislikes other cats. They used to have many adventures together, scaring other cats in their neighborhood. When they meet other cats on their journey, Tao often fights them and wins. Tao can open most doors, which helps the dogs in several situations. He is a tireless, bold, and loyal animal. Tao is probably the best at surviving in the wild. He has no trouble finding food when he is separated from the two dogs. But he spends all his time trying to find them again, which shows how strong their bond is. Tao is an independent and natural hunter, catching small birds for the group. When Tao is separated from them, the dogs struggle more without him than he does without them. This means Tao is very important for the dogs' survival.
Other Important People and Animals
- John Longridge: John Longridge is Elizabeth Hunter's godfather. He lives in a stone house in a small village about 300 miles (480 km) from where the Hunters live. Mr. Longridge is a writer and has written several history books. He is a bachelor, meaning he is not married.
- The Hunter Family: The Hunter Family includes the father Jim, the mother, and their two children: 11-year-old Peter and nine-year-old Elizabeth. Jim owns Luath, Elizabeth owns Tao, and Peter owns Bodger.
- Mrs. Oakes: Mrs. Oakes is the person who is supposed to be looking after the three animals while John Longridge is away on his trip.
- The Nurmi Family: The Nurmi family are immigrants from Finland. Ten-year-old Helvi finds Tao unconscious in the river near her house. He had been swept away by wood and debris from a broken beaver dam while trying to swim across the river with the dogs upstream. Helvi rescues Tao and helps him get better.
- The Mackenzies: James and Nell Mackenzie are an elderly farming couple who live alone. Their eight children have grown up and moved away. They help the dogs survive. Bodger charms his way into their home and their food pantry. Luath appears soon after, and his instincts lead him to fetch ducks for James while he is hunting. James removes sharp porcupine quills from Luath's nose, which helps the dog recover and continue his journey. Tao is also at the farm while his friends rest, and he helps free the dogs from the barn, but the Mackenzies don't see him.
- The Lynx: A wild cat called a Lynx tried to attack and eat Tao. But a hunter killed the Lynx without knowing Tao was hiding in a rabbit's den that the Lynx was digging into.
- Farm Dog: This was a mean sheepdog who attacked Luath. But Bodger jumped in and fought him off.
- Bear Cub: A young bear cub thought Bodger was a toy and poked him with its sharp claws. Tao stepped in and tried to protect Bodger.
- Mother Bear: The Mother Bear tried to protect her cub when Tao attacked it, but Luath chased her away.
Awards the Book Won
- 1963 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award winner
- 1963 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award winner
- 1963 American Library Association Aurianne Award winner
- 1964 International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) honour
