THE YEARLING - M.K. RAWLING (PICTURES BY N.C. WYETH)

"The Yearling" tells the story of Jody Baxter, a young boy who lives with his family in the Florida wilderness. Jody longs for a pet of his own, and one day, he adopts an orphaned fawn and names him Flag. Together, Jody and Flag share many adventures, and Flag becomes Jody's beloved companion.

However, as Flag grows older, he begins to cause trouble by eating crops and destroying the family's livelihood. Jody's father insists that Flag must be killed to protect their farm, but Jody struggles with the decision to let go of his dear friend.

Throughout the story, Jody learns important lessons about responsibility, sacrifice, and the cycle of life and death. He comes to understand that growing up means making difficult choices and accepting the consequences of those choices.

In the end, Jody must say goodbye to Flag, but he carries the lessons he learned from their time together in his heart forever.

"The Yearling" is a timeless tale of friendship, love, and the bonds between humans and animals, perfect for young readers who enjoy stories about adventure and the wonders of the natural world.