Check Out Anansi The Spider for $1.92

Anansi The Spider Review

ANANSI THE SPIDER is a retelling of a story from the Ashanti people by Gerald McDermott. Though one doesn't realize it at the onset, the story is actually an origins tale about a very important piece of our universe. The story revolves around a father spider named Anansi and his six sons. Each of his sons has an unique gift and on a particular day each of the sons is called upon to use their gifts as their father finds himself in lots of trouble. The book has a map of Africa at the beginning that displays where the country of Ghana, the place where the Ashanti people live. The beginning also includes a prologue by the author explaining the importance of folklore, mythology, and legends and where the story comes from and what makes Anansi such a beloved character. The story is told in a type of broken English and is accompanied by some very bright and colorful, very geometric illustrations. It was a winner of the 1973 Caldecott Honor because of the very memorable illustrations.

Anansi The Spider Overview

In trying to determine which of his six sons to reward for saving his life, Anansi the Spider is responsible for placing the moon in the sky.

Anansi The Spider Specifications

Anansi the Spider is a wise, funny, mischievous, and loveable folk hero who pops up in traditional Ashanti tales from Ghana, in West Africa. This story, retold and illustrated by Gerald McDermott, relates the tale of father Anansi and his six spider sons. When Anansi sets out on a dangerous journey and gets into all sorts of trouble, each son does one thing to help, and all their efforts together save their father. He finds a mysterious, beautiful globe of light in the forest, and decides to make it a gift of thanks. But which son should receive the prize? Even with the help of Nyame, the God of All Things, he can't decide, so Nyame takes the great globe up into the sky, and that's where it has stayed ever since--the moon, for all to see. This profound story reaches children of many ages; younger ones see it as an exciting rescue story, but older children are intrigued by the larger themes of cooperation and "the whole being more than its parts."

Anansi the Spider, McDermott's first book, received immediate acclaim and was named a Caldecott Honor Book. McDermott has retold and illustrated many other folktales and myths during his long career, including Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale, which received the Caldecott Medal, Musicians of the Sun, and a series of trickster folktales from around the world. He has a rare combination of skills, being both a gifted writer and a talented artist. His distinctive graphic style using bold shapes and brilliant colors is always striking, but is especially well suited to the story of Anansi, with traditional African motifs skillfully integrated throughout the art. This is a story that can be read over and over again! (Ages 4 to 9) --Marcie Bovetz

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Customer Reviews

Anansi The Spider - Steven C. Thedford - Atlanta
The story is from the Ashanti people of West Africa. Anansi is folk hero, well known to the people of Ghana, and a trickster. The story is about Anansi's six sons,- See Trouble, Second son, Thirty son, Next son, Another son, and Cushion. During the tale, Anansi gets himself into trouble- what else is new. Yet, each son uses his gifts to help save their father. The story can teach children that they all have unique talents.



A must have for pre-k! - Julia M. Heaney - Bergen County, NJ
For whatever reason, this is my students' very favorite story! They love the characters, and role play being 'road builder,' 'stone thrower' and the rest quite often! I highly recommend it for preschool teachers- great for discussions about working together.



I do not recommend this book - Kurt A. Johnson - North-Central Illinois, USA
This is the story of Kwaku Anansi, a spider, who had six sons. And one day, when Anansi disappeared, his sons used their special abilities to see him some safely. But, when the adventure is over and Anansi wants to reward his most worthy son, he must find a special solution.

This book won the 1973 Caldecott Honor, but I must say that I strongly disagree with that. The author, Gerald McDermott of Detroit, Michigan, used a rather stunted English for the story, pretty much eschewing the use of definite articles. For example, on one page he writes, "And last of sons was Cushion." Is the book suggesting that African people by their nature use a pidgin English? I must say that I found the book to be condescending and downright insulting.

As an attempt to bring African folklore to the common reader, I think that the book is wonderful. But, for its actual execution, I think that the book leaves much to be desired. I do not recommend this book.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 22:06:05

Check Out Abarat for $24.99

Abarat Review

The only criticism this book deserves is that it really leaves you hanging. It's a wonderful book, but you better buy both at once, because it'll be almost impossible for you to wait.
"Abarat" is a very rich, engaging fantasy, written for children but easily enjoyed by most. The protaganist is downtrodden but spunky, smart but not brilliant, curious but not reckless, introspective but interesting, and--this is the best--she's believable. Her reactions to the Abarat are realistic. Ccandy Quackenbush is an excellent leading lady, complex but not confusing. Barker made his heroine well.
The book does start off, not rockily, but ambiguously; if you're not at least a little patient, this book will drive you crazy, especially when it starts jumping between the two major groups of characters--who basically haven't even met each other yet. While "Abarat" ties together marvelously, you can't believe that it will at times.
As well, the writing at the beginning is a little static. While this is to emphasize the drudgery of Candy's life, Barker did it a little too well; however much we like Candy, neither she nor her situation is interesting. Luckily that changes fast--Barker gets the book off the ground as quickly as he can--it's easy to think you aren't really going to like it. Don't let it fool you, though. It might start with a little too much mystery, and a little too much--how shall we say--boringness, and it might end jumping around with not nearly enough resolution as one may like, but these are relatively minor problems. "Abarat" is a good fantasy, and is definitely worth the read.

Abarat Overview

A dazzling fantasy adventure for all ages, the first of a quartet. Abarat: an archipelago of amazement and wonder. A land made up of twenty-five islands, each one representing one hour of the day, each one a unique place of adventure and danger (and one mysterious place out of time), all ruled over by the evil Christopher Carrion, Lord of Midnight, and his monstrous grandmother, Mater Motley. Candy Quackenbush, a 16-year old from Chickentown, Minnesota, crosses by accident from our world into Abarat, and discovers she has been there many, many times before. She has friends there and she has enemies. As Candy makes her journey between all the islands of the archipelago, she will discover a plot by Christopher Carrion to block out the Sun, Moon and stars to achieve a condition of Permanent Midnight. In order to prevent this disaster, Candy must find the courage to confront the Lord of Midnight; and in doing so come to know who she really is: a revelation which will transform her own understanding of her place in the epic events. The first book of Abarat is a spellbinding adventure for all ages, combining the heartstopping tension of a thriller with the powerful charm of the most enduring fable. And beneath all, it possesses the quicksilver imagination of one of the finest writers at work today. The four books of Abarat have been rightly called Clive Barker's Narnia, his Wonderland. A sumptuous treat that will capture the imaginations of adults and children alike.

Abarat Specifications

In Abarat, accomplished novelist and artist Clive Barker turns his considerable talents to creating a rich fantasy world for young adults.

Candy Quackenbush is growing up in Chickentown, Minnesota, yearning for more--which she finds, quite unexpectedly, when a man with eight heads appears from nowhere in the middle of the prairie, being chased by something really monstrous. And so begins Candy's epic adventure to the islands of the Abarat. Peopled by all manner of creatures, cultures, and customs, the islands should prove a fertile setting for the series that Barker is calling The Books of Abarat. Candy is an intelligent and likable heroine, and the many supporting characters are deftly drawn, both in words and in the full-color interior art that Barker has produced to give the story an extra dimension.

Abarat delivers the rich and imaginative storytelling that Barker is known for, with less overt horror or violence than one of his adult novels might include. However, Candy's path isn't an easy one, and young adult readers should appreciate the hard choices she must make along the way. --Roz Genessee

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Customer Reviews

AMAZING PAGE TURNER - The ClosetNERD -
This book is amazing clive barker creativity and imagination is one of a kind this book makes want to keep turning the pages this book also touches the heart i highly recommend this book.



Trippy in a good way - J. Ball - Seattle, WA
Abarat was a pretty legit fantasy book. I mean it would be hard to get any more fantastical than this. The world described was a feast for the imagination that actually made my brain hurt a couple of times. As much as I thought the illustrations were very clever and well-done, I almost wish they hadn't been there so my imagination could have run even more freely. Beyond that, it did seem disjointed at times, but maybe that can be attributed to the fact that I have only read this, book 1. The main girl, Candy Quackenbush, is about as boring as the town she comes from, which makes the story a bit irritating because, of course, I find myself only wanting to read about the more interesting characters (like Christopher Carrion). Near the end of the book, there was no more suspense for me because I was so bored with Candy I didn't really care if she lived or died. But some of the other characters are very interesting and much make up for it.
Overall, slightly crazy but enjoyable.



One of my favorite books! - C. Carow - Seattle, WA
I originally heard this book on CD, and it hooked me immediately. I've read a lot of books in my short life, but this is one that I absolutely LOVE! In fact, it is one of my most favorite books that I have ever read. Though there may be a few minor flaws, the imagination that went into this book and its sequel blew me away. The plot was unique, which may have been what caught my attention. When you've read as much teen fantasy as I have, you start to see the same ideas over and over. This however was completely new. Though I missed the illustrations when I first "read" the book, they greatly add to the story. I would definitely recommend this book, though not everyone may love it as much as I do.




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 16:27:04

Check Out The House with the Clock in Its Walls

The House with the Clock in Its Walls Review

One wonders what terrific novels would've emerged from John Bellairs' fertile mind had he been allowed to make a living writing adult fiction. If one goes by his quite awesome adult fantasy novel The Face in the Frost, then I'm thinking the world has really missed out. THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS was originally intended to be grown-up reading, but no publishing house was biting. Bellairs was instead advised to rewrite the thing as a children's novel, and this pretty much cemented Bellairs's career as a children's writer.

As a kid I read this book and its sequels The Figure In the Shadows (Lewis Barnavelt) and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring over and over to the point that I wore out the pages. As an adult I still find these stories gripping and suspenseful and fraught with gothic overtones. Still, after tearing thru THE FACE IN THE FROST, I bemoan Bellairs' turning away from writing more adult fantasies. John Bellairs created two other series, respectively featuring Anthony Monday and Johnny Dixon. But in no way do they resonate as strongly as the Lewis Barnavelt trilogy. And I have to say this, while I laud THE FACE IN THE FROST to bits, I do count THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS as my favorite John Bellairs book. It had that much of an impact on me when I was a child.

It's 1948 and shy and chubby 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt, newly orphaned, has just moved to Michigan, to the quaint little community of New Zebedee and into his very strange Uncle Jonathan's sprawling mansion at 100 High Street. Lewis instantly feels at home in this grand old house, with its many unexplored rooms and secret passages. He vey quickly grows fond of his uncle, whose peculiar ways are matched by his lavish kindness, and of their friendly next door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann. But here's the thing: each night at midnight, Lewis hears his uncle patrolling the grounds, venturing into each room and randomly tapping on the walls. And Lewis's bump of curiosity perks up. Maybe it has to do with that incessant ticking noise seeming to originate from every wall in the house. Maybe it has to do with Lewis's uncle being a wizard.

Uncle Jonathan isn't a powerful wizard (Mrs. Zimmermann, it turns out, is a more powerful witch, and with a collegiate degree in magic at that), but Jonathan definitely knows more than just sleight-of-hand tricks. He can even eclipse the moon. And yet, even though Uncle Jonathan tries to hide it, he's clearly nervous about the ticking, which in the next few months seems to progressively get louder and louder. Lewis learns that before Uncle Jonathan came to live in it, the malevolent warlock Isaac Izard and his wife witch Selenna used to inhabit the mansion, and who knows what dark enchantments were worked during their stay?

For Lewis, times at school are horrible as ever. Squeamish and plump, it's hard for him to make friends, and when he does end up making one, he goes above and beyond in his attempts to keep the friendship going. Lewis, trying to impress his friend, ends up at the graveyard dabbling in black magic. And then the spell goes horribly, horribly wrong (or horribly right, since it actually worked). It was only supposed to be an innocent attempt at resurrection. What are the odds that Lewis would inadvertently perform the spell in front of the tomb of Selenna Izard? It wouldn't be too long from that moment that Lewis Barnavelt, his Uncle Jonathan, and the benevolent Mrs. Zimmermann would be facing peril and pursuit and a desperate search for the clock in the walls inexorably ticking down the end of the world.

Concerning children's literature, I stand John Bellairs up with the greats and most definitely with the more contemporary likes of R.L. Stine, Diana Wynne Jones and J.K. Rowling. Bellairs demonstrated this knack for seamlessly weaving in the ordinary with the occult. He introduced elements of warmth and whimsy, most felt in Lewis's relationships with his uncle and with Mrs. Zimmermann. I remember the big smile on my mug when reading passages of these comfy-homey practitioners of magic, indulging in their craft to amuse each other and Lewis. I was thinking when I first read this book: Man, Lewis has it so good, with a wizard for an uncle who fills his days with wonder and shows him Historical Illusions and plays poker with him. And Lewis has it so good, living in a mysterious house in which he runs into cool things like the mechanical Fuse Box Dwarf and the magic coat rack which allows one peeks into exotic places (although sometimes it'll just give out Dow-Jones averages and livestock reports).

That sense of charming affability works to sucker you in, though, because, at the same time, Bellairs is also building and building on that ominous suspense, starting you off with that uneasy tingle, gradually rising to a palpable tension, culminating in a crescendo of chilling supernatural terror. Bellairs does this very well. In the end, after an assortment of genuinely creepy moments, it falls to the meek but likeable young protagonist to save the day.

For a while now, author Brad Strickland has taken over the writing of the Lewis Barnavelt series, beginning in 1993 with The Ghost in the Mirror (Lewis Barnavelt), which had been an unfinished work of Bellairs. Strickland has kept the stories pretty faithful to Bellairs's sensibilities. And, frankly, I'm just grateful that there are stories still being told about Lewis, Rose Rita, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmermann. I hung out with them as a child, and even nowadays I don't mind at all catching up with these weird, wonderful folks from New Zebedee. But it starts with THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS. For young readers seeking to experience a new set of the willies, the heebie-jeebies, or the creepy crawlies, this book will most definitely do.

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Customer Reviews

If you like gothic horror, then you will love this book! - Kurt A. Johnson - North-Central Illinois, USA
It is 1948, and with the death of his parents, Lewis Barnavelt now has to move in with his Uncle Jonathan. But, there are some strange things going on in his uncle's house. His uncle seems to be looking for something in the house, checking each and every wall. It seems that the house once belonged to an old warlock, and that Uncle dabbles in magic as well. The old man, Isaac Izard, had placed a magical clock in the house, and if you listened at the walls you could hear it ticking. Just what was the clock for? It's a mystery that will not wait, and becomes more pressing with every passing page!

Well, I must say that I am a huge fan of John Bellairs' excellent book, The Face in the Frost. I finally broke down, and got myself his second most well-known book, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, and I must say that I am most impressed! The book is excellent, having that same feeling of gothic horror. I enjoyed the characters, and interesting mystery.

So, if you like gothic horror, then you will love this book. There's a reason why it's considered a classic of young-adult fantasy - read it and find out for yourself!




My FAVORITE book EVER! - Chloe Valentine - Central Pennsylvania
I remember reading this book as a kid and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT! I even remember an "after school movie special" of this book. It is my all-time favorite book EVER!!! And NO ONE beats Gorey's illustrations!



If you like gothic horror, then you will love this book! - Kurt A. Johnson - North-Central Illinois, USA
It is 1948, and with the death of his parents, Lewis Barnavelt now has to move in with his Uncle Jonathan. But, there are some strange things going on in his uncle's house. His uncle seems to be looking for something in the house, checking each and every wall. It seems that the house once belonged to an old warlock, and that Uncle dabbles in magic as well. The old man, Isaac Izard, had placed a magical clock in the house, and if you listened at the walls you could hear it ticking. Just what was the clock for? It's a mystery that will not wait, and becomes more pressing with every passing page!

Well, I must say that I am a huge fan of John Bellairs' excellent book, The Face in the Frost. I finally broke down, and got myself his second most well-known book, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, and I must say that I am most impressed! The book is excellent, having that same feeling of gothic horror. I enjoyed the characters, and interesting mystery.

So, if you like gothic horror, then you will love this book. There's a reason why it's considered a classic of young-adult fantasy - read it and find out for yourself!




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 11:30:06

Great Price for $0.09

Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon Review

Amber Brown is not a crayon, nor is she ready to give up her best friend. Justin Daniels and Amber have been best friends since preschool. They help each other out in school, have races, made a used bubble gum ball together along with a lot of memories. Now Justin's house is up for sale and his family is moving far away. They try to pretend it is never going to happen, until the two come home to a sold sticker over the for sale sign. Yikes, this is not going to be fun. The two friends need to learn how to accept the move and stay friends forever.

Paula Danziger does a great job getting into the mind of a third grader as she writes the stories of Amber Brown. The stories are written for early readers (7-9 years old) or a bit younger if they get some help reading. I think kids can all relate to the idea of not wanting change to occur in their lives or how hard it can be to change. I recommend the Amber Brown books for your young readers - boys or girls can equally enjoy this one!

By Kerri J. Busteed
Author of Will's First Hunt [...]

Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon Overview

When Justin Daniels learns that he is moving away, he and his best friend, Amber Brown, have a terrible fight and stop speaking to one another, and Amber is afraid that Justin will leave before they can make up and say goodbye. Reprint. AB. K. PW.

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Customer Reviews

Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon - Cha -
My daughter and I loved the book. We laughed while we were reading. She needed the book for summer reading and I am extremely satisfied that my daughter chose Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon.






Amber Brown - Shel Julian Kessel - Columbus, Oh
Danziger, P. (1994). Amber Brown is Not a Crayon. New York: Puffin Books.

0142406198

Third grader, Amber Brown has fun in class on a pretend trip to China with her best friend, Justin. But as Justin and his family prepare to move to another state, Amber begins to worry. Making matters worse, Justin refuses to talk about his approaching departure. She, Amber Brown is also dealing with the underlying tension of her parents' recent divorce.

Amber's voice feels authentic. Although her character is in the third grade in this book, the story could be shared with a younger reader who is slowly transitioning to longer chapter novels.

And if a student loves it, there's a whole series they can enjoy.


Activities to do with the book:

This is a good series to help transition young readers to chapter books. If a student liked Junie B. Jones (reviewed previously here), this would be a good follow up for slightly older readers since this series has fewer pictures and Amber is a little older. Although, this book would be great for first and second graders. From there, a student could graduate to Ramona Quimby and on.

A teacher could base lessons off of the way Amber's teacher conducts his lessons. A teacher could have pretend trips to other countries to introduce lessons.


Favorite Quotes:

"In just ten minutes, our entire class is getting on a plane for our flight to China.
I, Amber Brown, am one very excited third grader" (p. 5).

"When my parents got a divorce, my dad moved far away, to another country, so I never get to see him and he hardly ever calls" (p. 17).

"Fractions are not my favorite thing.
In fact, they are one of my least favorite things. The only things I hate more are 1) Brussels sprouts, 2) watching kids pick their noses and eat the snot and 3) having people I love leave" (p. 47).



One of the best books I've ever read!!!!! Kris-age 8 - -
I love "Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon" She is really funny, spunky, and fun! I love the way she is always up for it. There are some gloomy parts but it all works out in the end. However you have to read to find out exactly what happens. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 07:05:06

Check Out King of the Playground

King of the Playground Review

I hear what R. D. is saying. As R. D. reminds us, there are indeed bullies who really can hurt us. But most of the bullies we meet intimidate us through words rather than fist.

Stop and think for a moment of all the bullies you have met. Hasn't that been true in your sample?

As I look back, I feel somewhat foolish when I think of all the people who have won my emotional dependence by pretending to be wiser and more intelligent than they really were. If only I realized that they were putting on a false front, I could have been spared most of that misery.

I am thinking especially of my academic counsellor in college. Her self-confident image fooled me into thinking that she was little short of a prophet, and that her condemnation of me was little short of a condemnation from God.

Out of curiosity, I recently looked her name up on the Internet. I found that she died of cancer a few years ago, but had written two books. I ordered those two books from Amazon, read them, and found them to be incredibly stupid. I only wish that she were alive to read the reviews which I submitted.

Although the main character in this book asserted his rights, he was more forgiving than I am.

King of the Playground Overview

With his dad's help, Kevin overcomes his fear of the "King of the Playground" who has threatened to tie him to the slide, put him in a deep hole, or put him in a cage with bears.

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Customer Reviews

Not Appropriate for Traumatized Children - R.D. - Boston, MA United States
In the course of this story, the author and illustrator graphically depict a series of terrible acts of violence that the bully is threatening to carry out against his victim. Given the high numbers of child victims of violence in schools today, this book serves as more of a trauma trigger about past acts of violence than as an aide to learning.

If we were teaching teens in a dating violence prevention program, would we demonstrate the steps involved in acts of assault? Obviously not. This is not an appropriate strategy to use in teaching young children about bullying either.

I strongly question the developmental appropriateness of this book for any children of elementary school age or younger, and it is especially inappropriate for child victims of violence. Given the statistics on child witnesses to violence, let alone victims of abuse/neglect, in the U.S., this book is completely inappropriate to be used in school settings.

Instead of this book, I would highly recommend the following anti-bullying books: My Secret Bully, Just Kidding, Sorry!, Simon's Hook; A Story About Teases and Put-downs, Our Friendship Rules, Say Something.




Helps kids understand - Hanna K. Bernard - South Lake Tahoe, CA USA
Good to read with school kids to help them understand avoid and/or handle difficult situations.



King of the Playground - M. Sheets - Santa Clara, CA United States
My son loves this book - he is 6. Gives a good portrayal of a bully and relatable humorous solutions to dealing with them.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 00:57:05

Great Price for $11.52

The Berenstain Bears And The Bad Habit (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Berenstain Bears First Time Chapter Books (Prebound)) Review

My daughter had been chewing on her hair for several weeks. I had read up on it and decided to purchase this book. As we read it I would add hair chewing to the list of bad habits that the cubs had in sisters class. It worked! In just a few days she stopped chewing on her hair. That has been a few weeks ago and she still has not chewed on her hair since then. It helped her learn about both bad and good habits. She often picks this book to read even now. I highly recommend this book!

The Berenstain Bears And The Bad Habit (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Berenstain Bears First Time Chapter Books (Prebound)) Overview

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Stories about this funny family and the everyday adventures they encounter.

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Customer Reviews

nail biting help - nanny M -
I love the Bernstein Bears books. My 2 year old had an extreme bad habit of biting her nails so I thought this book may help her. The story is cute but not intended for the very young. Mama and Papa bear try to come up with ways to help Sister Bear stop her bad habit, nail biting. With the suggestion of Grandma Bear they found that giving her 10 pennies at the beginning of the day and taking one penny away every time she bit a nail worked for her. If you like the Bernstein Bears books and like this reward system for bad habits, you should like this book.



Love this book - JB - Colorado
The Berenstain bears are a family favorite, and this book is no exception. Sister has a bad habit of biting her nails, and when the first attempt to help her stop by rewarding her for not chewing fails, they think outside the box and come up with a more helpful solution.



Great book for kids with a "Bad Habit" - Courtney K. Scholl - Farmington, MN United States
We got this book to help us teach our 2 1/2 year old that it was a "bad habit" to suck on her fingers. We started with the book for a week, then moved on to Mavala STOP nail polish. It worked! She was a SERIOUS finger sucker, and after 3 days of the Mavala and the support of the book, she no longer sucks on her fingers. She even states, "It's a bad habit." She loved the book and I am ordering some of the other titles that my family can relate to.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 30, 2010 20:12:05

Check Out Now One Foot, Now the Other

Now One Foot, Now the Other Review

Bobby has grown into mastery of basic motor skills under the loving supervision of his grandfather, affectionately named Bob. But one day he is terrified when Bob suffers a stroke and is fully paralyzed. Everyone thinks Bob is unable to understand what is happening around him, but Bobby insists that his grandfather is responding to him. Slowly and persistently, he helps Bob regain motor control, leading him through all the same exercises that Bob used to help him gain coordination as a young child until he is able to communicate and get around under his own power.

The story is simply, carefully told so that young children can understand it, but all readers will grasp the profound implications of Bob's disability. Bobby (who is not a perfect child) models what it means to take care of others -- even those who may have always taken the helping role toward him. While sometimes frightening, the story's drama may help young children come to terms with the limitations of people in their lives and teaches them that they can have an important helping role. In the midst of fear and weakness, this picture of tender intergenerational love is very beautiful.

Now One Foot, Now the Other Overview

Bobby is named after his grandfather, Bob. Bob helps Bobby learn to walk, teaches him to build a block tower, and tells him stories. One day Bobby comes home and his grandfather isn’t there. Bobby’s parents tell him that his grandfather is sick and he doesn’t remember who anyone is. At first Bobby is scared, but when he builds a block tower for Bob the way they used to do together, he knows that his grandfather remembers him. Slowly Bob starts to get better, and then it’s Bobby’s turn to teach his grandfather something important. . . . Readers of all ages will relish in this classic, now in beautifully rich full color.

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Customer Reviews

great message - Annita Walter - Michigan USA
What a wonderful story. Such a nice read to help young childre deal with aging grandparents or other loved ones. It shows the power of love and strong relationships.



awsesome!!!! - Jeremy Moss -
the delivery was really quick and the product is in the condition it was promised. i'm so happy i bought from this seller!



Great Book! - Teacher23 -
This a great book. The relationship it shows between a grandfather and his grandson is terrific. This book is definitely for all ages and I will be sure to keep in my home library.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 30, 2010 15:50:05

Great Price for $0.75

The High King Review

Lloyd Alexander, The High King (Henry Holt, 1968)

And so we come to the end of the saga of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his companions. I was a little too young for these, back in the day; when I was in grade school, it was that time between the original release of the books and the books being declared classics. I saw them on the library shelves back in first and second grade and meant to get round to reading them. I finally have, thirty-odd years later. I find myself wondering if I'd have loved them as much as I did this time around if I'd read them when I was six or seven (I'm finding that the blush seems to be off the lily where Narnia is concerned this time around...).

As we open, Taran and Gurgi have finally made it from the Free Commots back to Caer Dallben. The welcoming is cut short, however, when Fflewdur Fflam struggles into camp carrying a grievously wounded Gwydion. It is soon established that Arawn Death-Lord has left Annuvin in order to steal Dyrnwyn, Gwydion's sword, and succeeded in doing so. Thus, there's no time to rest. Taran and the companions, with the new additions of Coll and Rhun, head off to retrieve the sword. But nothing can ever be easy, and before the companions reach Annuvin, they will have to face many trials.

Lloyd Alexander's Prydain books are a treat for readers of all ages; if you never quite got round to reading them back in the day, it's well worth doing so now as an adult. Alexander's understanding of pacing is more advanced than that of many writers of adult fantasy, and his characters are likable, if sometimes irritating. (That just makes them more lifelike, of course.) A fantastic series I was sad to see end. I do, at least, have the book of related tales to look forward to. ****

The High King Overview

In this fifth and final chronicle of Prydain the forces of good and evil meet in ultimate confrontation.

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Customer Reviews

Of Noble Worth - Miz Ellen - Bovine Universe
Taran, a nameless orphan who once had great hopes but who learned to live with disappointment in the previous book TARAN WANDERER, is on his way home. He reaches it only to find a great disaster has befallen. Prince Gwydion has been attacked and the magical sword he carried stolen from him by Death Lord Arawn. Taran and all his friends set out in a desperate effort to retake the sword and save the land from falling under the spells of the Death Lord.

THE HIGH KING is the capstone of one of the finest fantasy series ever written. Whether you call it children's literature, young adult fiction or just 'great literature' may depend on your age. This is one of those timeless classics that can be read while young and then carried with you on your life's journey. Within these magical pages is romance and friendship, battle and adventure and a message that is not sugar-coated but only stated in simple words.

The author does not pull punches. Characters that are greatly beloved from previous books are lost. The ending is sublime, bittersweet -- one of the finest in all fantasy. The theme of responsibility and sacrifice to attain a noble goal is perhaps more poignant for adults. I don't want to say more for fear of spoiling the fun for any readers who have not yet had the good fortune to read this for themselves. Despite the epic scope of this work, the author continues his tradition of putting in many humorous touches. His characters are not stiff and noble waxworks, but amusing people with funny mannerisms who do and say funny things even while battling evil. Don't miss this book and don't fail to read the whole Prydain Chronicles Series.






A fitting end - Christopher M. Fulton - Streator, IL United States
This is a fitting end to a great series. All that is meant to happen in these characters lives do happen. Our characters have come, in their own ways, full circle. They all play their parts in this story, and they all fulfill their missions and duties and become the adults they are supposed to be. Sure, we all learned about life and death along the way, but that is how it is in "the real world" is it not? We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we need. And we cannot always hang onto that which we used to. We must all grow up, we must all carry multiple torches during our lives. That, I feel, is what this overarcing story is all about. That, and the adage "we can never go home again." These five books are a great tale, both as just a story and how to treat others. We also learn fortitude to stick to what we believe in the face of adversity. Sit back and enjoy this wonderful series.



Great books - Jeffrey A. Hensley - Harrisonburg, VA
I read the Prydain Chronicles as a child and still find them enjoyable today. I look forward to one day sharing these tales with my children.

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My father's dragon Review

Elmer Elevator, the narrator's father, is nine years old when he meets a talking alley cat, who tells him about his journey to a Wild Island where a baby dragon is held captive, forced to ferry animals across the river that divides the island. Elmer, annoyed with his mother for being rude to the cat, packs twenty-five peanut butter sandwiches, six apples, and assorted gear and stows away on a ship bound for the nearby Tangerina, then crosses a bridge of rocks to explore the island. There he outwits a succession of fierce animals bound on devouring him and frees the dragon.

This story is masterfully written, in very short chapters that each pack a punch and end with a cliffhanger. The plot points are simple enough that young children will be able to follow them, but clever enough that adults will enjoy the author's absurd sense of humor. It's perfect for children transitioning out of picture books. Published in 1947, it reflects mainly wholesome values of kindness, courage, and generosity, with a naivete that will appeal to children who enjoy this kind of playful fantasy.

Some concerns that parents ought to consider when deciding about this book are that (as in many fantasies of this type) Elmer does disobey his mother by feeding the alley cat and sneaking out for walks with him. He also runs away, and during his travels he lies to some animals in order to protect himself. His mother does relent about the cat, and Elmer never lies outright to his parents, who in a later book welcome him home with glad relief. These moral elements can be dealt with through discussion, but the power of the story is far greater than a conversation. I believe that the warm family relationships, and other positive values in the story outweigh the effect Elmer's rebellion and lying.

All told, this is a positive, funny and lighthearted fantasy with a potentially problematic plot device of lying and running away.

My father's dragon Overview

When Elmer Elevator hears about the plight of an overworked and underappreciated baby flying dragon, he stows away on a ship and travels to Wild Island to rescue the dragon.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

My father's dragon Specifications

My Father's Dragon--a favorite of young readers since the 1940s and a Newbery honor book--captures the nonsensical logic of childhood in an amusingly deadpan fashion. The story begins when Elmer Elevator (the narrator's father as a boy) runs away with an old alley cat to rescue a flying baby dragon being exploited on a faraway island. With the help of two dozen pink lollipops, rubber bands, chewing gum, and a fine-toothed comb, Elmer disarms the fiercest of beasts on Wild Island. The quirky, comical adventure ends with a heroic denouement: the freeing of the dragon. Abundant black-and-white lithographs by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (the author's stepmother) add an evocative, lighthearted mood to an already enchanting story. Author Ruth Stiles Gannett 's stand-alone sequel, Elmer and the Dragon, and her third volume, The Dragons of Blueland both received starred reviews in School Library Journal and are as fresh and original as her first. (Ages 4 to 8)

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Customer Reviews

Great Introduction for First Novel - E. Harris -
I read this to my 4 and 6 year olds and they loved it. Captured their imagination and with just enough pictures to assist while still introducing them to a good story without a drawing.




I remember this book and this cover - C. Ruetenik - Los Angeles
This book had a deep effect on me as a young boy of 5 or 6 years of age. I am 57 now, and I still remember my father reading this book to me at least 50 times. This story and the Homer Price stories were my favorites. I highly recommend this story for all young boys, ages 5 to 8.






A wonderful early adventure story - Susan -
We have read the three books in this series to our 4 yr old daughter several times, and each time she has been so riveted that we read all three straight through in one sitting, which adds up to over a hundred pages. These stories find the perfect balance for this age group of language that is delightful yet easily comprehensible and a plot which is riveting yet simple to follow.

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I Want to Be an Astronaut Review

This book is great for kids who want to learn about space or astronauts. The book is short and awesome for kids who have a short attention span!

I Want to Be an Astronaut Overview

Blast-off!Up into the shy goes the space shuttle.Into orbit, the astronauts get a taste of ready-to-eat food, experience zero gravity, go for space walks, and even fix a satellite.It's fun to fly aboard the shuttle...and then come back to earth.‘A young girl declares her longing to ‘fly on the shuttle into outer space.’The familiar acts of eating, sleeping, and working become intense and special as she and the rest of the crew go about their business.The illustrations positively glow in this simple, lyrical picture book that will have nearly everyone off and flying.’ —SLJ.

Notable Children's Book of 1988 (ALA)
1988 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1988 (NYT)
Oustanding Science Trade Books for Children 1988 (NSTA/CBC)

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Customer Reviews

I Want to Be an Astronaut - M. Rinaldo - PA
Not what I expected at all. The pictures are awful and the story itself takes me back to "See Spot Run". I was embarassed to give it to my 4 year old nephew who has just showed quite an interest in outer space.



Great Beginning Reader - D. K. Buck - Reedsville, OH United States
My grandson, the six-year-old future astronaut, loved this book he could read himself. Good pictures and simple words.



Simple pictures and simple text for 2-3 year olds - mrgrinch09 - Louisville, KY
This book is a perfect introduction to space for a 2-3 year old child. Simple pictures and simple text make it great for this age group.

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The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle (Red Fox Older Fiction) Review

Some brief words about the Kindle edition (the {BestCustomerReview}.00 one taken from an etext in the public domain).

First off, no illustrations. My five year old does not seem to mind even though we started this book on a library edition with great color plates (that we had to return because of a hold!) Unlike some other classics, though, the illustrations were never the main event with the Hugh Lofting books.

Secondly, in terms of the objectionable language, with respect to racist terms we try to avoid using with our kids in the 21st century. The "N" words have been excised from this one, but the contexts are still racist, with a lot of referrals to Dolittle as White in contrast to somebody else's implicitly inferior otherness. It's quaint and difficult to read without context, so I find myself reading ahead as we read aloud to make on-the-fly changes to keep the really odd stuff out. While I feel for the people who decry censorship of classics, this is a kid's book, and without the context of reading, say, Tom Sawyer, or even Rudyard Kipling, there's no way younger readers aren't going to get a little taste of vinegar if they read an unexpurgated version. The Kindle edition is perfectly adequate on this front, if not optimal.

Finally, typos: there's about one every sixth or seventh page, more or less. I don't know whether this was the original etext, original edition, or the kindle-ized version, but they're moderately annoying. However, I am not complaining based on what I paid for this version!

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Customer Reviews

Sailing with the Doctor - Gary Powell - Hawaii
Among the titles following The Story of Doctor Dolittle, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, is one of the the most exciting. This one is about his travels with the interesting animals who are his friends and companions. Hugh Lofting has managed to capture the human characteristics we sometimes see in animals and turn them into memorable figures. Dr. Dolittle's mode of travel is intriguing; the places he visits are fun and funny and exciting.

Continue to read this series. The many attempts at cinematic shortcuts to the stories fall short when compared with the real work. The charm of his adventures can be captured in no other way than a good read.



Wonderful, imaginative book - CJA - Frisco, Texas
I loved the Dr. Dolitle series as a child and am glad to see some of it is still available. This edition isn't edited and reflects the time period, ie could be read as sexist and racist. But if you don't mind some frank discussion about cultural norms with your child, it's a great and enjoyable read.



My Friend the Doctor - J. Smales - Rome, New York
An interesting read--and very much of its own time. This is the source and root of the musical you loved as a child. Be forewarned that the racist views of Colonial England are well in tact, so read ahead before putting your little ones to bed with this otherwise charming book.




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Harry Potter y la cámara secreta (Spanish Edition) Review

A la verdad que esta autora tiene una imaginacion increible!!!! Me gusto mucho, porque es muy divertida y no llega al nivel de Narnia y el senor de los anillos, pero seguire leyendo la serie! Compralo no te arrepentiras.

Dicen que la serie se enfoca mucho en la brujeria pero no es cierto. Primero que nada, la hechiceria es diabolica, y ellos hacen magia con una varita, por Dios a eso le llamas diabolico!! Por favor, Pues entonces las personas que hacen trucos de magia con varitas o que hacen ilusiones son malos tambien! La gente es bien envidiosa y si no les gusta la serie pues que no la lean.

Harry Potter y la cámara secreta (Spanish Edition) Overview

THIS EDITION IS INTENDED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. When the Chamber of Secrets is opened again at the Hogswarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, second-year student Harry Potter finds himself in danger from a dark power that has once more

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Customer Reviews

excelente literatura - catburglar -
J.K. Rowling es un autor magnífico. Me gustaría recomendar esta serie de libros a los lectores del género de la fantasía de todas las edades.



Caleb Garvin - Brenda K. Southwick - Hailey, Idaho
Fue un cumpleaños horrible para Harry Potter y para hacer cosas más mal un elfo aparece en la habitación de los Dursleys. El elfo da una advertencia de una amenaza mortal en Hogwarts (una escuela por magos y magas), y Harry no puedes ir a la escuela.

Harry no escuchando escapo de la casa de los Dursleys con la ayuda su amigo más mejor Ron. Cuando Harry y Ron llegaste al Hogwarts la cámara secreta fue abierta. Con más y más persona
Eso es uno de los libros que yo no puedes parar de leer. Con un cuento muy imaginativo e interesante. Yo recomendar a cada alguien quien lo amas un bueno cuento que entretener la leedor todo la cuentto. Yo piensa que es J.K Rowlings libro más mejor.






Great service - D. Benson -
I was very pleased with both the timing and the condition of the book when I recieved it. It was as stated on the site. Thank you.



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Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator: The Further Adventures of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, Chocolate-Maker Extraordinary Review

Barbecued like beefsteak. Cracked as a crawfish. Crazy as a crumpet. Dotty as a dingbat. This is what the Grandmas, Josephine and Georgina, shriek at Mr. Wonka in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Let us tell you about one of our favorite books because we want you to enjoy it, too. Mr. Wonka, Charlie, and Charlie's family have an amazing outer space adventure. Once back on earth, Grandma Georgina, Grandma Josephine, and Grandpa George are all persuaded to try Wonka-Vites because Mr. Wonka convinced them that they would feel younger. Unfortunately, Grandpa George and Grandma Josephine turned into babies, and Grandma Georgina visted Minusland. Everything turned out all right and these eight wondrous astronauts are invited to spend a couple of nights at the White House as guests of the President. This book is recommended for adventurers older than eight, who are not afraid of enormous slimy space worms (you'll find out about them).

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator: The Further Adventures of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, Chocolate-Maker Extraordinary Overview

Charlie has won Mr. Wonka's chocolate factory, but in order to reach it he must take a Great Glass Elevator - which has gone wrong, whisking Charlie and his family (and Mr. Wonka) into orbit.

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator: The Further Adventures of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, Chocolate-Maker Extraordinary Specifications

Picking right up where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory left off, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator continues the adventures of Charlie Bucket, his family, and Willy Wonka, the eccentric candy maker. As the book begins, our heroes are shooting into the sky in a glass elevator, headed for destinations unknown. What follows is exactly the kind of high-spirited magical madness and mayhem we've all come to expect from Willy Wonka and his creator Roald Dahl. The American space race gets a send-up, as does the President, and Charlie's family gets a second chance at childhood. Throw in the Vermicious Knids, Gnoolies, and Minusland and we once again witness pure genius. (Ages 9 to 12)

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Customer Reviews

Cruel and offensive - Alaina S. Wilson -
We recently finished "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" as a readaloud to our five year old daughter. What a cruel disappointment to read this book. By chapter three, we were all bored. And as a parent, I thought the characters were unusually mean as they spoke to each other. By chapter four, the "President" was racially stereotyping other cultures. As the parent of a Chinese child, I couldn't even bring myself to read aloud the Chinese Prime Minister's dialogue (for example: "Gleetings, honorable Mr. Plesident" and "Excuse pleese, Mr. Plesident. You make big mistake."

Needless to say, we didn't finish chapter four, and we won't be finishing the book.



it's good - Katecali - Ohio
Here's what my 4 and 6yr old have to say about it. We just finished it after reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which they loved. They liked this one less than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but they still looked forward to reading it every night. It's true that it got boring when the characters floated around in space for so long, but they liked the part when the grandparents ate the pills--it led to a lot of mathematical calculations about how old their parents would be depending on how many pills we ate (each one makes you 20 yrs younger). Recommended!



This is an exciting gleeful story for children and adults - Kurt Conner - South Hadley, MA USA
I read this twenty years ago, and about all I remembered was that I loved the Vermicious Knids ("Scram!"). When I picked it up again a year ago, I realized that as a child, I missed the glorious absurdity, the joyful gibberish, and the over-the-top satire of U.S. politics (the Vice-President is the President's former nanny, and she basically babysits him and won't let him have too much candy, and his cat Mrs. Taubsypuss is a more important character than just about anyone else in the cabinet). Dahl writes this fast-paced little story with an irresistible mischievous glee, and his excitement is infectious. The story itself is not that weighty (basically, the family and Mr. Wonka go into space, have a quick adventure, come back, have a quick adventure, then it's over), but the style and enthusiasm are the real selling points. I heartily recommend this book to both children and grown-ups.




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Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball Review

This book will appeal to children interested in baseball or mysteries. Cam Jansen is a fifth grader with a photographic memory and she is at a hobby show with her friend Eric Shelton. An elderly man with a baseball exhibit shows them a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth and Cam demonstrates her ability to memorize a scene.
The baseball turns up missing and Cam and Eric are on the case, Cam recalls the images of the events and they track down the culprit. There is no hint of danger to the children and the clue to the solution is clearly presented. This is a simple story that young baseball fans with enjoy, even if they are not ordinarily fond of mysteries. Fans of mysteries will enjoy it even if they have no interest in baseball.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball Overview

When a prized baseball, autographed by Babe Ruth, is stolen from the community craft show, Cam's memory is put to the test. Can Cam and Eric cover all the bases to catch the thief?

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Customer Reviews

Baseball has never seen the likes of her memory before! - llumynia - The Sunshine State
You have to love Cam Jansen. When you're a kid, you read all of these stories about magic powers, mystery, and adventure. But everyone tells you magic can't exist. Cam Jansen manages to solve every case without the use of magic... she's a real girl. That's what makes her special and what makes you want to read more and more. Cam Jansen is a real kid superhero, and the thought that a person like her could actually exist... makes her the best kid detective ever! Our family loves Cam Jansen!



The Baseball Mystery - -
Hi tI am an 8-year old boy and I am writing this for the people. What I is going to do is try to convince you to buy this book . Now I will tell you what I want to say. I think this was a great and wonderful book. David A. Alder is a kids books kind of person. The illustrations are great and pretty. I recommend anyone to read and buy this book Because it is a great and wonderful book, full of surprises and mysteries of all sorts that is only eight chapters long. Thank you and goodbye.




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Outside Over There (Caldecott Collection) Review

Parents need to remember, this book came out in the 80s. In the days of Looney Tunes, Transformers and He-man. When parents didn't baby their children to the point where they only let them watch mind-numbing 'non-violent' cartoons. Media was dark and sometimes a little scary, but it always worked out well in the end. Remember Peter Pan? Did anyone complain about how violent it was when Captian Hook was going to feed the indian princess to the crocodile and drown her? Of course not, because Peter Pan saved her and everything was fine in the end. Yes, this book probably too dark for today's spongebob watching, molly-coddled children. But it is a children's book and a wonderful one. It was just written for a generation of far more mature children that could handle it when everything wasn't sunshine and rainbows.

Outside Over There (Caldecott Collection) Feature

• ISBN13: 9780060255237
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Outside Over There (Caldecott Collection) Overview

With Papa off to sea and Mama despondent, Ida must go outside over there to rescue her baby sister from goblins who steal her to be a goblin's bride.

1982 Caldecott Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1981 (ALA)
1982 American Book Award
1981 Boston Globe'Horn Book Award for Illustration
Best Books of Spring 1981 (SLJ)
Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1981 (NYT)

Children's Books of 1981 (Library of Congress)
1981 Children's Books (NY Public Library)

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Customer Reviews

Childhood favorite - J. Zink - Colorado
I remember this book from my own childhood. I loved it and sought it out by theme to give to my children. This book is a true example of young childrens literature. Wonderful.



Captivating for children - A. Dell - Alaska
Sendak writes books for children, not adults. Topics that we might find dark or frightening, are captivating to kids. My son (33 months) absolutely adores this book, he calls it the "spooky goblin book". It is always the first one he grabs off of the bookshelf when we sit down to read stories, and he often asks to read it several times in a row, stopping to comment on his favorite parts. The illustrations are beautiful and the story itself is very restrained and poetic.






A new tradition in my home. - Meddy's Mind - Kansas City, MO
Reading Maurice Sendak's books has become a new tradition in this grandma's home. I'm embarrassed to say I had never heard of "Where the Wild Things Are" until the 35-year-old attorney I work with mentioned it. I asked my son if he'd heard of it since I had never read it to him as a child, and he too was horrified to learn that it was one book not in the thousands of books catalogued in my memory. Needless to say, I own it now, and it is one of my 3-year-old granddaughter's favorites. That led me to do a little research on Mr. Sendak's other books. Being a huge fan of the movie "Labyrinth," this book was an obvious choice. It too is a huge success with my little one, especially since she has a baby sister and can personalize the story. I highly recommend it.

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Pants on Fire Review

This is the first Meg Cabot book that I read and it gave me so much fun. Meg was well-known for her sense of humor and this story was definitely a great proof. I was really surprised how she cracked me up simply with some words.

Katie's character was really interesting. I disliked her at first; she seemed too pretentious, boy-crazed and silly to me. Besides, the fact that Katie was a two-timer was sort of shocking (maybe because it came right after very few first chapters). She also hid a secret about our male lead, which I was certain wasn't a nice thing either. But then the story progressed and Katie started to grow on me. It turned out that she was just a normal teenager who was trying to be with the right guy, to follow her dreams of becoming a photographer, and to fit in a town where Quahogs - whom she hated - ruled. Katie was too scared to be herself because it might change her life and how people looked at her.

I think it's somehow relatable to us teenagers. I bet you have at least once hid your real self just because you don't want to be an outcast for thinking or acting different, just like Katie. On the other hand, there are still a lot of Tommy Sullivan out there who stood up for what he believed. I adored Tommy alot, not only was he charming and caring, he was really brave as well. He did the right thing for justice even though the consequence was his going away from hometown.

Let me tell you what I like the most of this story: Katie and Tommy's strong bond. Even though Katie herself knew she betrayed her best friend, she did take his side for once, in a strange but sweet way. And Tommy, instead of coming back to take revenge on Katie, helped her reveal to the world the Katie only he saw. And realized who she was truly in love with.

I'm sure you'll go back and forth between "hahaha" and "awww" on reading this book.

Pants on Fire Feature

• ISBN13: 9780060880170
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Pants on Fire Overview

But she can't exactly tell the truth, either—not when she's juggling two boyfriends, secretly hating the high school football team everyone else worships, and trying to have the best summer ever. At least Katie has it all under control (sort of). Her biggest secret, what really happened the night Tommy Sullivan is a freak was spray-painted on the junior high gymnasium wall, is safe.

That is, until Tommy comes back to town. Katie is sure he's going to ruin all her plans, and she'll do anything to hang on to her perfect existence. Even if it means telling more lies. Even if, now that Tommy's around, she's actually—truthfully—having the time of her life.

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Customer Reviews

Other reviewer spot on......Tommy is her most memorable males!... - Teresa Pedersen - South Dakota-USA
I loved the story, absolutely "sighed" when Tommy makes his beach entrance, melted in my chair when he kissed her in the parking lot and totally cringed when she finally comes clean with her own deceit.

Yep, exactly what Meg wanted us readers to experience.....we did! I liked Tommy's character so much I re-checked the book for my daughter to read!

keep up the good work Meg



A Bit of an Iffy Start - -
I honestly was intrigued by Cabot's ability to describe everything about the setting in the first few pages. Whether it was the fast-paced descriptions, or the ditzy main character, I felt like I had been dropped off in the middle of the plot. However, I came to enjoy the book due to the mystery behind what really happened in the time before freshman year, and I also loved the fact that there really was a choice to be made, because every one of the male options acted like a prick at one point or another.
I do believe that Cabot has done an iffy job with choosing the traits of the main character, but I did realize that the reason I did not like her so much was because I had not heard the reasoning behind the situation. But once I heard her side of the story, I ended up enjoying the book a lot more.



love it - Tiffany J. Taylor - Greendale, Indiana, USA
if you love meg cabot you will deff love this book, i laughed, i cried, i almost wet myself



$lopier (a little) - -
Kate is finally popular she has the most popular boy in her school as her boyfriend. And when he is not there to kiss she can always make out with Eric the drama club hottie. She knows she should not but realy your boyfriend is boring... Not to say that she is saving up for a camra behind her parents back just becuase she does not want to say the camra she got for x mas was not good enough... So you get it she lives in a tangle of lies. So then when Tommy comes back the first thing she does is drop her phone in the toliet. Oh she is also running for quanhog princess.
As things get more twisted and compilcated Kate starts to like Tommy so pretty much she kisses him. But she cannot help feing guilthy after all she was the one who wrote is was a freak...
But then when making her speech she fixes everything and blah blah blah no one hatees her and she starts to go out with Tommy.
This book was predictable and kissing in almost all the sences but I liked it. The beginning was really interesting and you could really feel how Kate was feeling. You grew to be her friend wishing you couuld advice her with her probblems.
On the down side some parts were boring it was predictable /except for Jenna and Seth/ and just a lot of kissing. ICK

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 28, 2010 09:52:05

Check Out What Happened at Midnight? (Hardy Boys, Book 10) for $11.44

What Happened at Midnight? (Hardy Boys, Book 10) Review

The Hardy Boys find themselves in an unusual situation. Their father asked them to break into someone's home to retrieve a mysterious package. The boys find a way into the house, but almost as quickly as they have entered the house they see car headlights. Soon another set of thieves enter the house. After a tussle with the thieves the Hardy Boys are able to locate the mysterious package in a secret hiding place.

Soon the Hardy Boys are in the midst of one of their most dangerous cases. One of the boys is kidnapped. The boys tail a criminal to New York City and are nearly run down in a subway. Later the boys are in a plane that develops serious engine trouble, threatening the boys with death! Even with all the danger the boys face, there is yet more to come when the boys learn what is in the mysterious package and why the crooks want the package.

The author seems to be hooked on caves. The caves that appeared in "The Shore Road Mystery" appear prominently in this book. I think that once crooks find a good set of caves they must pass the location on to their friends.

I noticed a couple of rough spots where it appeared the more recent authors who revised the story may have eliminated some prose and struggled to smooth out transitions. I also thought the description of the electronics was a bit weak. Why were the electronics so valuable? Of course, today we expect electronics to be inexpensive. In another update perhaps the author will describe the electronics as the only prototype of a new video game in existence, or something similar.

This story moved along briskly, with a lot of action. This story is reasonably well written and held my attention from beginning to end. I think this story is one of the better stories in the series.

Though the Hardy Boys series is written in a relatively archaic fashion, as reading material for an increasingly younger audience they are excellent. The stories were once recommended for children ages 10 to 14. As children are exposed to more violence and seem to require greater levels of stimulation, the recommended age range has move to 9 to 12. I think any child capable of reading some of the challenging words in these books will enjoy them, regardless of how tame most of the action may be. Once a child has reached age 12 or so the stories may be of less interest, but given the combination of mystery and action, these books remain good safe choices for parents who want to know what their children are reading.

What Happened at Midnight? (Hardy Boys, Book 10) Overview

When their detective father asks them to play burglar in order to protect a client's valuable invention from thieves, the Hardy boys find themselves involved in a large and dangerous conspiracy.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

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• Footprints Under the Window (Hardy Boys, Book 12)

Customer Reviews

My Hat's Off To... - John P Bernat - Kingsport, TN USA
R.W. Finnan and his spotlight review above. After I read it, I knew I could not hope to top it, and I agree 100%.

Keep them coming, R.W.!!



What Happened at midnight - -
What happened at midnight is a hardy boys mystery. It is about the two hardy bothers, Frank and Joe. They are trying to catch some smugglers. The smugglers are trying to get a secret inventiion that a man named Malcolm Wright made. The hardy boys realize that the smugglers are rough and mean. They are not as easy to catch as the other thieves they have caught before. Frank and Joe have many adventures and prolems. Joe gets kidnapped and Frank almost gets hit in the head by an anchor.

This book is really good because its full of adventure and mystery. This is one of the best books in the hardy boys series



What Happened at midnight - -
What happened at midnight is a hardy boys mystery. It is about the two hardy bothers, Frank and Joe. They are trying to catch some smugglers. The smugglers are trying to get a secret inventiion that a man named Malcolm Wright made. The hardy boys realize that the smugglers are rough and mean. They are not as easy to catch as the other thieves they have caught before. Frank and Joe have many adventures and prolems. Joe gets kidnapped and Frank almost gets hit in the head by an anchor.

This book is really good because its full of adventure and mystery. This is one of the best books in the hardy boys series




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 28, 2010 02:12:08

Check Out LASSIE COME-HOME

LASSIE COME-HOME Review

While this is an abriged version of the original, the wonderful art-work is a great consolation. Get both if you can. However, be clear that often "children's" books are really juvenile books. I would rate this one as ages 12 and up, not for ages 8-10 if that's what you're thinking, but a classic, nonetheless.

If you love dogs or pets and charm of the UK and the feel of yesteryear, this is the book for you. It's difficult to read this story and not think of Lassie as a fully sentient being. She is the ideal companion to a young boy and a family. When you finish the book, watch the movie to help really cement the images in your mind. There is just simply a type of enchantment that practically casts a spell on you as you escape into this book.

When I wrote,"Jack: The Christmas Collie" (based on a true story) I tried to re-capture that lost, child-like enchantment of the Collie stories of old. Lassie Come-Home is truly a classic that should be required reading in all middle-schools since Lassie has held such a prominent place in our pop-culture for the past seven decades!

I strongly recommend you pick up a copy for yourself, your children or as a gift.

Enjoy!

Kevin Brett
Author: "Jack: The Christmas Collie"

Jack: The Christmas Collie

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Customer Reviews

Terrific story and beautifully written - syoozi -
I read this with my 10 year old daughter. we used maps and a globe to see lassie's progress home. it was beatifully written. I recommend this book to both kids and adults. it is perfect and interesting for anyone.



From Lad to Lassie - Gary Powell - Hawaii
Lassie - Come Home - even the title starts you worrying. You finish reading Lad and now his mate, Lassie steps grandly into the picture and your world will never be the same. In fact, even if Lad did not send you out to buy a collie, Lassie will make it almost impossible to pass by that basket of collie pups wearings without saying aloud - "come home".

This book is filled with wonderful adventures, some amusing, some heartbreaking, some exciting. Set in New England you live, laugh and love the life of Lassie. This should be required reading.




a classic must read - P. Pasda - usa
Lassie come home illustrates not only the loyalty of the collie, but the loyalty of every dog who is treated with dignity and love. it will help children understand the connection between a dog and their chosen human, and help people of all ages integrate dogs into their lives as part of the family.Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 27, 2010 21:34:05

Great Price for

King of the Playground Review

I hear what R. D. is saying. As R. D. reminds us, there are indeed bullies who really can hurt us. But most of the bullies we meet intimidate us through words rather than fist.

Stop and think for a moment of all the bullies you have met. Hasn't that been true in your sample?

As I look back, I feel somewhat foolish when I think of all the people who have won my emotional dependence by pretending to be wiser and more intelligent than they really were. If only I realized that they were putting on a false front, I could have been spared most of that misery.

I am thinking especially of my academic counsellor in college. Her self-confident image fooled me into thinking that she was little short of a prophet, and that her condemnation of me was little short of a condemnation from God.

Out of curiosity, I recently looked her name up on the Internet. I found that she died of cancer a few years ago, but had written two books. I ordered those two books from Amazon, read them, and found them to be incredibly stupid. I only wish that she were alive to read the reviews which I submitted.

Although the main character in this book asserted his rights, he was more forgiving than I am.

King of the Playground Overview

With his dad's help, Kevin overcomes his fear of the "King of the Playground" who has threatened to tie him to the slide, put him in a deep hole, or put him in a cage with bears.

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Customer Reviews

Not Appropriate for Traumatized Children - R.D. - Boston, MA United States
In the course of this story, the author and illustrator graphically depict a series of terrible acts of violence that the bully is threatening to carry out against his victim. Given the high numbers of child victims of violence in schools today, this book serves as more of a trauma trigger about past acts of violence than as an aide to learning.

If we were teaching teens in a dating violence prevention program, would we demonstrate the steps involved in acts of assault? Obviously not. This is not an appropriate strategy to use in teaching young children about bullying either.

I strongly question the developmental appropriateness of this book for any children of elementary school age or younger, and it is especially inappropriate for child victims of violence. Given the statistics on child witnesses to violence, let alone victims of abuse/neglect, in the U.S., this book is completely inappropriate to be used in school settings.

Instead of this book, I would highly recommend the following anti-bullying books: My Secret Bully, Just Kidding, Sorry!, Simon's Hook; A Story About Teases and Put-downs, Our Friendship Rules, Say Something.




Helps kids understand - Hanna K. Bernard - South Lake Tahoe, CA USA
Good to read with school kids to help them understand avoid and/or handle difficult situations.



King of the Playground - M. Sheets - Santa Clara, CA United States
My son loves this book - he is 6. Gives a good portrayal of a bully and relatable humorous solutions to dealing with them.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 27, 2010 16:59:05

Check Out Phantasmagoria and Other Poems

Phantasmagoria and Other Poems Review

This book has woodcuts by Arthur B. Frost that capture the humor of Carroll's poem perfectly. Martin Gardner has provided a short introduction with letters from Carroll to Frost regarding the art and to a friend with regards to para-psychological phenomena. He also provides notes for obscure words or puns. Frost and Gardner are what makes this the version of Carroll's Phantasmagoria you should read.

The poem itself is a conversation between a man of 42 and a less than adept ghost. Among the things learned are the 5 rules of behavior for a ghost, the housing requirements for a ghost etc. Carroll's vintage humor is expressed in a narrative poem of seven cantos using verses of five rhymed lines. The poetry is well written - the rhymes are not forced but natural, the humor relatively subtle.

This book justifies its being in the series "Literary Classics".

Phantasmagoria and Other Poems Overview

Mathematician and author Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) has delighted millions with his most widely regarded book, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Known for pointing out the absurdities of life in his fiction and poetry, Carroll (a pseudonym for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) took paranormal belief to the extreme in the satirical poem "Phantasmagoria", the humorous story of an annoying ghost that is assigned to haunt a new house. While the owner wishes the ghost would simply leave, the ghost politely informs the man of the many types of spectres and their duties, which include scaring people, making them ill, and causing mysterious disturbances. This beautifully illustrated volume is the only edition of "Phantasmagoria" in print outside of Carroll anthologies.

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Customer Reviews

I'm Not Educated Enough To Understand It - Scott - Texas
I love Lewis Carroll's work, but sometimes I just have no freaking clue what he's talking about. I experienced this sensation of vagueness a few times during my reading of the Sylvie and Bruno books, but I felt it most while reading some of the poems in Phantasmagoria.

But what I could understand I really enjoyed. I really loved Hiawatha's Photographing, Melancholetta, Size and Tears, and The Lang Coortin', although some of these poems have strangely inconclusive endings. It's interesting to see Carroll's last poem in this book, Fame's Penny Trumpet, where he's really, really mad at academic big-wigs.

Make sure you read Alice before even attempting to read this.






We're talking the best of Carrol here. - -
This poem, writen in five line verses, ranks right up there with Alice in Wonderland. The poetry of Homer with the wit of Dr. Suess. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes poetry in any form.



GREAT STUFF!! - -
This is great verse if you like Lewis Carroll. It sounds great as beat poetry, too!!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 27, 2010 08:56:05