The woods that Honey Bunch goes to see in her First Trip to the Big Woods are certainly big. She sees the Redwood Forest and Yosemite.

However, the book opens with Honey Bunch losing the big old maple tree in the front yard because it's dead. Two men come to cut it down. One of them, Al Harper, tells her about the giant trees in California, where he's from. The dead tree winds up being cut into logs. I liked what was done with those logs, despite what almost happened because of one boy who wouldn't have been able make mischief if Norman hadn't wanted him invited.

We get some background information on Edith Morton this book -- she owns a cabin in the Redwood Forest that the government wants to buy. She lived in California for awhile. A cousin of hers and her twins have moved to San Francisco. Honey Bunch is hoping to see the redwoods and meet some more cousins. Norman is hoping to be able to go with the Mortons. Judy and Jerry, the twins, are hoping both kids can visit.

Meanwhile, Honey Bunch meets Carol, the daughter of owner of the new pet store in Barham. Carol is a great-great-great granddaughter of the Sequoyah, the Cherokee who created a written language for his people, and for whom the sequoia redwoods were named. (Like myself, Carol is only part Cherokee.) It's at Carol's father's store that Honey Bunch gets a puppy. Lady Clare, her cat, is not pleased.

There's a party before the family leaves. As usual, I like the party games that appear in this series.

The scenes in California and Yosemite are nice. I feel sorry for Mrs. Morton because she doesn't want to sell her cabin. She decides to sell most of its furnishings. The kids have fun being auctioneers.

They meet a tame bear and a wild squirrel. I thought that Snippy might really be a chipmunk, but it turns out there are striped squirrels. Bruin may be more impressive, but Snippy turns out to be more helpful.

They also meet an elderly man who carves animals out of redwood. They sound nice.

I remember reading about the redwood with a tunnel in it that Honey Bunch wants to see. What a shame that it fell over in 1969.

Edith Morton's cousin Martha gives the children jumping jack lollipops. I wonder if they were really available back then.

This may not be the most memorable of the Honey Bunch books I have, but it's not bad.

Sorry I can't give a description of the spine of my copy. It may be the same as other 1950s printings of Honey Bunch books that I have but it's an ex-library copy with white mending tape completely covering the spine. ( )