Both the book and the mouse were originally named Pip, but after discovering that another children's book existed about a mouse named Pip, he decided to rename the book and the character to Poppy. Ocax planned to eat, and the mouse eventually became the primary focus of the book. While developing the story, however, Avi's interest shifted towards the mouse that Mr. Avi found the book 'fascinating' and decided to write his own novel about an owl named Mr. At a university bookstore, he found a book written by a naturalist, who described his experience rescuing a baby owlet and nurturing it back to health and into the wild. BackgroundĪvi conceived the idea for Poppy while living in Corvallis, Oregon, when his wife was a visiting professor at Oregon State University. In 1996, Poppy received the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for fiction. The complete series is composed of Poppy, Poppy and Rye, Ragweed, Ereth's Birthday, Poppy's Return, and Poppy and Ereth. Within the narrative sequence of the series, it is the second book. Poppy is the first-published of Avi's Tales From Dimwood Forest series. The novel was first published by Orchard Books in 1995.

As for that annoying raccoon, he keeps getting in the way.Poppy is a children's novel written by Avi and illustrated by Brian Floca. The story of Ragweed comes to Poppy's aid, and how Poppy comes to his, is how their rousing and fateful friendship begins. When he asks the mouse’s name, she replies, “Poppy.” Following the sound of the voice, he finds a cage with a deer mouse trapped inside. Ragweed is now ready to strike off on his own, but it’s not long before he hears a cry for help.

Though Ragweed doesn’t really want to help the raccoon, by doing so he winds up in Dimwood Forest. On his journey, he meets Lotar, a young and bothersome raccoon who has lost his mother. How did Ragweed and Poppy meet and become friends? This book tells their hilarious story! Adventurous golden mouse Ragweed is on a freight train leaving the city of Amperville. Ragweed and Poppy is one of the '10 Top Middle-Grade Summer Reads,' according to Kirkus Reviews! The first new book about Poppy in more than ten years, from Newbery Medal-winning author Avi with illustrations throughout by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Brian Floca.

Ragweed book series