Book Description

The fascinating story of Roald Dahl's life continues in Going Solo, a marvelous evocation of the author's wartime exploits. As a pilot in World War II, Roald Dahl had some wonderfully exciting— and frighteningly near-death— experiences including encounters with the enemy, battles with deadly snakes, and incredible dogfights. Told with the same irresistible appeal that has made Dahl one of the world's best-loved writers, Going Solo brings you directly into the action and into the mind of this brilliant man. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Roald Dahl Review "going solo"
In the book "Going Solo" Roald Dahl describes every fun and depressing part of his experience as a teenager to adulthood. Its in his hilarious style where no word is boring, and the language is easy to read, lots of photographs took by Roald Dahl himself, and the ending is satisfying.
Everyone dislikes going on wars but Roald Dahl enjoyed it. He thought that it was a free travel and it was interesting. The story is about Roald Dahl's first career in Africa (Sudan) working for the Shell Oil company. When the second world war broke up he joined the royal airforce throughout middle east and the coast of Greece. some of the things he gets himself into and out of are incredible...like when he captures the war's first prisoners, or crash-lands in the desert, or flys in the Battle of Athens...the list goes on and on.
Throughout the book you follow a period of his life, experiencing both the positives and negatives sides of his adventure. You also get to find out how he begins to build ideas, and these ideas become great children books that are so memorable today.
Best parts: all the flying missions, of which Dahl writes so enthusiastically, by a 6'6" pilot crammed into the tiny cockpit of a Hurricane.
Worst: I cannot believe how the RAF could send so many practically untrained flyers into combat in aircraft they had never even flown before

Going Solo was, like all of Dahl's books, wonderful. I only wish he'd have written a third about his later adulthood. unfortunately he died before he could do that.

This is so much better than watching it on Biography!
If you want to show your kid or student that an biography is fun to read, well, in "Going Solo" Roald Dahl describes every fun and depression of his experience as a teenager to adulthood. It is just as fun reading "Matilda" and "The Witches". The language is easy to read, lots of photographs took by Roald Dahl himself, and the ending is satisfying.
The story is about Roald Dahl's first career in Africa (Sudan) working for the Shell Oil company. When the second world war broke up he joined the royal airforce throughout middle east and the coast of Greece.
Throughout the book you follow a period of his life, experiencing both the positives and negatives of his adventure. You also get to find out how he begins to build ideas, and these ideas become great children books that are unforgettable to this day.
This is not just a great read for the Roald Dahl fans, but everyone who loves for adventures and wild creativities. Go get it and start reading!

Great
Great read, moves along very well, good adventure and reflections on author's time in Africa and WWII.

This may be even better than Harry Potter!
Going Solo talkings about Roald Dahl being from an tennager to an adult. In the book, Roald Dahl talks about his experience in Africa working for the Shell company
He also talks about WWII as a raf fighter pilot
His biograph isn't boring like most but very exciting!
I would reccommend this book to most readers who have finished reading the first part of Roald Dahl's biograph, which is called Boy Tales of Childhood
If you haven't read that yet, I suggest that you don't read Going Solo.

gOING sOLO IS GREAT!!!!
tHIS BOOK IS GREAT!!!
Roald dahls bio is actually like a story!
Instead of writing boring stuff about life, Roald Dahl will make u very intrest and will make want to read more
You would n't put the book down until you finish it
And even after finishing, you would dream of it and want to read it again
Another book reccomende is Boy, tales of childhood ... Read more

Book Description

Ms. Frizzle¹s class has been studying the senses. But they¹re in for a real lesson when assistant principle Mr. Wilde ends up behind the wheel of the magic School Bus. He and the kids take an amazing ride into the eye of a passing policeman, the ear of a child, and the nose of a dog! On the way they learn facts about sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. But how will they get back to school with the Friz? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Parental guidance required
My science-loving eight-year-old son really enjoys reading books from the Magic School Bus series, and the topic and plot line of this one engaged him as well. But early into the book, he was asking me about nearly every other word. When I looked more carefully, I realized the reading level was higher than other books he had read in the series and many of the facts were things I had learned in junior high. I decided to take over, reading the book to him and explaining many of the topics in more detail. Don't get me wrong -- he really enjoyed the book and learned some "cool" new things about the senses. It just wouldn't have made much sense without my involvement.

Science
This book is based on the television show the magic school bus, with Mrs. Frizzle. The book contains great factual illustrations for the reader. The students of Mrs. Frizzle's class are learning about the senses so they get into their magic school bus and shrink down, and go into a students nose and from there they continue to the other sensory organs. I like the format of this book because it is very active instead of reading from a textbook the children can get the same information but have fun while they are learning. I also like hands on activities and this is as close as hands on with a book as you can get. It also gives small science experiments and reports that the class has written for the child to read. The author has such great imagination and brings the fun back into learning science.

Good science explanations but overwhelming for youngsters.
The Magic School Bus brings another cute story into print this year with Exploring the Senses. The story is somewhat predictable - the bus shrinks and children pop in-and-out of various parts of the body. But the basic explanations of the senses is good. Children ages 8 and older will learn about hair cells, smell cells, taste cells and rods and cones. The topics are a bit broad and children may need to read it several times to understand the science concepts. No experiments are included (unless you have a magic bus!). However, children will learn that we have many sensory cells and that each of these cells sends nerve signals to the big decoder - the brain. (From The Science Spiders(TM) Newsletter). ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (13)

The BEST Carl book of all!
This is, by far, the best Carl book (in fact, one of the best of any picture books). My just-turned-two girls have had this book for months, and it is their favorite. Not only is the artwork fantastic, but the book is actually quite clever (I love the scene with the artists painting Carl and the baby in abstract, impressionist and modern art styles). It is filled with spectacular images that grab a toddler's attention, and the detail is enough to keep adults interested, too. Even after reading the book many times, I still find things I hadn't noticed before. The book includes a carousel, flower garden, balloons, ice cream, train, petting zoo (with seals???), slide and much more ... plenty to show and teach your children! [As a side note, apart from this book and "Good Dog, Carl", the other Carl books fall short of our expectations]

The favorite book of both our toddlers!!!
We have a few "Carl" books at our house and "Carl's Afternoon in the Park" is the runaway favorite. Both our children get very excited and run to me when I pick up this book. We often find them paging through it on their own as well. They love the balloons, train, park, children's zoo animals and swing -- not to mention the great Carl! This book has been a wonderful addition to our collection.

You can always add your own story
Carl is such a great dog, and the pictures are just beautiful.

There is "no" story line with words so you can talk all about what Carl does or you can say as little as you like to.

Great series books!

Wonderful for the imagination
I justed picked this book up at the library. I think it's great to have the majority of the book with no words, just gorgeous, colorful pictures. The more detail in the pictures, the better, as my almost-two year old loves to "find things" in them. With no words, he and I can make up our own story, it lets him decide whats happening. I plan to buy a few of the series to have around all the time.

response to "wayn3 of Warsaw NY"
"Wayn3 of Warsaw NY" needs to LIGHTEN UP and GET A LIFE re: Good Dog Carl review! If you had any slight amount of intellect and insight, you would figure out that children's books are about fantasy, imagination and FUN! It's not about social services, CPS and child abandonment! I'll bet you're a real bore about your children reading/watching Lord of The Rings and/or Harry Potter if this is the case. Good Dog Carl books are some of the best displayed relationships shared between children and their dogs and how they are loyal to one another. I happen to own a Rottweiler and he is one the most gentle dogs in the family w/ all the children and they love him. Get a grip!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Strega Nona's magic lessons wrtten by Tomie de Paola
The three main characters in this book are Bambolona, Strega Nona, Bid Anthony, and Antonia. The story starts off with Bambolona having to work at her father's bakery. She always had to wake up before the sun rise and was sick and tired of it. She told her father that she had too much to do and that she could use some help. Her father just told her to get up earlier. Bambolona has enough with working athe the bakery, so she decides that she is going to go see Strega Nona, so she can learn how to do magic.
Strega Nona is overjoyed to have Bambolona learn magic. Big Anthony, who works around the yard outside and around the house, wanted to learn magic too. Strega Nona says no to him. Big anthony gets upset and decides to go work at the bakery. the baker fires him because he eats the food and doesn't do what he is told. he decides to go back to Strega Nona's house.
When Strega Nona answers the door, a girl is standing there and is named Antonia. Strega Nona is happy that she is there and will teach her magic too. Bambolona does a great job and Antonia doesn't do anything right. Strega Nona thinks that Bambolona is ready for harder magic. Antonia thinks she is too, eventhough Strega Nona says no.
Antonia decides to steal Bambolona's book of hard spells. The next day, she tries to turn an iron kettle into gold. She ends up turning Strega Nona into a toad. She didn't know what to do, so she decides to ask Bambolona for help. She says she can't help her.
Will Strega Nona ever become human again, or will she stay a toad forever? Read the book to find out. I enjoyed this book because my parents use to read it to me all the time when I was younger.

Good witch!
As a wiccan, it's important to me to show my daughter positive examples of witches in stories and through my own actions...her auntie sends her Strega Nona books for every special occasion and she LOVES them! She's still too young to understand much of what goes on, but she loves it when my husband or I change voices to give life to certain characters (she loves my husband's Big Anthony voice) and at 1 year knows already which one in the pictures in front of her is Big Anthony, which one is Strega Nona and now which one is Bambolona! BIG Bravo to Tomie de Paola for showing folks out there that witches can be good and wise...and fun!

You'll be spellbound
Poor Big Anthony! He tries so hard, but he just hasn't quite learned that his talent lies in other areas. You and your child will love this tale told by Tomie de Paolo (the master!). The artwork is colorful and the story is full of grins and giggles. Girls will like this book because the girl in the story can do things better than Big Anthony. Boys will like this book because it shows that you can make mistakes and learn from them. I loved it, and so will you.

My second graders loved the surprise in this story!
My second grade class has been doing an author study on Tomy De Paola. They just heard "Strega Nona's Magic Lessons" and loved it. Every child laughed at the part where Big Anthony dressed up as a girl. As a language arts lesson they wrote a sentence about the beginning, middle, and end of the book with illustrations. If you visit our web site and make sure to see Alex's and Kevin's page. They drew pictures of Big Anthony that are simply adorable. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. A host of inventive creatures help beginning readers recognize many common "household" words. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Seussian imagination unleashed!
Dr. Seuss' best books tend to have a touch of fantasy (or light-hearted science fiction) to them, and "There's a Wocket in My Pocket!" falls into that category. In this book of simple rhymes, the narrator introduces the reader to the gallery of weird creatures that share his home. There's no plot, but there are Seussian creatures galore.

Beginning with the Wocket of the cover, each creature favors a habitat that conveniently rhymes with its name. Example: "And that Zelf up on that shelf! / I have talked to him myself." The creatures include the pink-and-yellow striped Zlock, the cantankerous Yottle, the creepy Vug, the gravity-defying Geeling, and many others. As always, Seuss' colorful artwork is rich in whimsical details.

The narrator loves his home and its weird inhabitants. The book thus seems to have the message that it's OK to be different, or to come from a home that others might find odd. And that's a lesson I like! So enjoy the book, and don't be surprised if you find a "Ghair" under your chair.

Wocket in My Pocket
"Did you ever have the feeling there's a WASKET in your BASKET?" Well this little boy did. This wonderful story is about a little boy and all the things he discovers in his house. There are tons of different creatures made up in the mind of Dr. Seuss. This books crazy rhyming patterns will have your child's full attention. There's just something about rhyming stories that children love.
I would recommend this story to anyone but mainly children from ages 3-9. I am almost positive they would love it. How do I know this? I know this because this has been one of my favorite books ever since I was a little tike. Any adult would love this story also. It's a fun book to read to little ones, I know because I read it to my cousins and they love it!! I would highly recommend you purchase this book or rent from the library. Although it would be smarter to buy it, because "it's a keeper!"

Is there a Wokect in your pocket?
This is probably one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books because I love how he makes up new creatures. In this book a little boy takes us around his house showing us "all those Nupboards in the cupboards" and telling us "they're good fun to have about."

As is expected with Dr. Seuss books it rhymes, most of the time that is. Often the comments made about the animals don't rhyme, but this doesn't impede the flow of words. The book still flows wonderfully.

I always am pleased to see how wonderfully the drawings are done. To come up with all those creatures and yet be able to have each of them look special and different is amazing. All the illustrations are bright, bold and colorful, like one would expect to find in a Dr. Seuss book. All in all, another great Dr. Seuss book.

Loggie-log-log-log

Theres a wocket in my pocket!!
The book there's a wocket in my pocket is about a young boy who belives to find things in all sorts of places in his house such as things in the shower, the cellar, the steps, the chimney. The young boy has a wide imagination and seems to like his house full of things. In this boys house there seems to be a different thing everywhere somethings he likes there others he dosnt.

There's a Wocket in my Pocket
There's a Wocket in my Pocket is a great book for kids. Its a book about a boy who finds all kinds of different Wockets all over his house, in his pocket, in his trash baket, in his bureau, in his closet, in his curtains, behind his clock, up on a shelf, in the sink, in the lamp, in the pots and pans, in a bottle, in and in his chair, they are everywhere. This book is a great book if you like to rhyme words, some a tongue twisting, and some are funny. In the end the boy talked about how he likes where he lives because of all the Wockets there. The reason I liked this book is because it was tongue twisting and it rhymed. ... Read more

Book Description

When Ms. Frizzle's class takes a field trip to the local weather station, they end up in a hurricane. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The magic school bus inside a hurricane
I liked this book because it is a good way of showing what a hurricane looks like, how they work, what i can/can not do. It talls you how they are formed and where you can go to be safe from a hurricane.

Aw, heck. What's not to like?
For those familiar with the "Magic Schoolbus" series, Mrs. Frizzle's adventures with her class all have a similar plotline. Mrs. Frizzle explains some scientific topic, whether it's the solar system, the dinosaurs, etc. and then lures her children onto her special schoolbus for an adventure. During the adventure the only child that is regularly singled out as the perpetual schlamatzel is Arnold, a boy who doesn't care much for adventures, thank you. In the end, the class is safe and has learned quite a lot, despite themselves. Even Arnold. Then there is a "letters" section in the back where readers wishing to complain about scientific inaccuracies (in this case, how dangerous it would be to be caught in a hurricane) are one-upped by already existing letters. The particular plotline in this hurricane obsessed book was not too dissimilar from the others, and was a lot of fun. I used to read these books to kids that I babysat back in my high school years, and certain types of children love them. The pages are always busy with text, speech bubbles, experiments that kids can do at home, and various factoids sprinkled hither and yon. I do wonder how long these series will last before it is regarded as hopelessly dated by the young. Please note that the review previous to my own was last written in 1997. Currently the show is doing well as a tv series, voiced by Lily Tomlin. Just the same, it would be very difficult to read this book to a group of kids. The books are relatively small and crammed with so much extra text that children will want to handle them one on one, rather than with a large group. Each book would pair well with a companion non-fiction book on the same topic.

This imaginative book has the creativity to keep kids alive.
I'm a kid and watch the Magic School Bus on TV. The books are even better! When Arnold gets lost in a hurricane on one of Ms.Frizzle's wacky field trips, the kids need to know the parts of a hurricane to find him. I thought it was creative and funny to include a radio that knew everything and could dance. By the time Ms.Frizzle's class goes on the real field trip, they have become experts on hurricanes. The weather team is amazed at the intelligence of the students. This book is great because it's not like those other books that lag on and on about one subject without any excitment. The Magic School Bus books make subjects like hurricanes, fun to learn about . I liked how the kids knew more than the weather team. I give this book two thumbs up!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

9 complete stories at a great price!

Featuring:

Green Eggs and Ham read by Jason Alexander
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish read by David Hyde Pierce
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! read by Michael McKean
I'm Not Going to Get Up Today read by Jason Alexander
Oh Say Can You Say? read by Michael McKean
Fox in Socks read by David Hype Pierce
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut read by Michael McKean
Hop on Pop read by David Hype Pierce
Dr. Seuss's ABC read by Jason Alexander ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Must for Parents and Seuss Collectors!
This is a terrific audio CD of our Dr. Seuss favorites. My sons love to read along in the car and at home. The celebrity readings are great to listen to. Even my husband and I listen in the car, long after the kids have dozed off. Don't miss out on this collection. Well worth it!

Seuss without the Tang-Tonguelers
If you've wearied of Green Eggs and Ham and Sam-I-Am, and would rather not Hop on Pop, you'll be grateful for this CD set with lively readings of the kid-favorites by familiar voices like Jason Alexander, David Hyde Pierce, and Michael McKean. For young readers, pair them up with the books to follow along and VOILA! Instant Readers! this year is Dr. Seuss's 100th birthday! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Feeling hungry? How about some Snozzcumbers for a snack, or a Fresh Mudburger for dinner? Or perhaps you're in the mood for Stink Bugs' Eggs. Fans of Roald Dahl will recognize his peculiar culinary inventions from his many books--now, these dubious delights are collected all together in Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes, a compendium of dishes that sound worse than they really are. Stink Bug Eggs, for example, are really deviled eggs with some food coloring and a special, added ingredient (parmesan cheese or asafetida) to make them particularly aromatic. Mr. Twit's Beard Food consists of mashed potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, and cocktail franks cunningly arranged. Each recipe is simple to make, many are delightfully disgusting to contemplate, but all are easy on the palate. Roald Dahl himself would have been delighted to eat these ravishingly revolting recipes. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Scrumdiddlyumptious
A total blast. My friends loved the candy coated pencils best. Great for sucking during class. A fun book. With easy to follow instructions. Even my 9 year old sister loves it. YUMMY!

Willy Wonka never had it this good !
Roald Dahl, the famous story teller. Who hasn't read his all time classic: "Charlie and the Choclate Factory" and its follow up "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" and drool over the many different types of candy featured in these books? From Hot Ice Cream You Can Eat On Cold Days, Candy Pencils You Can Eat In Class and Marshmallow Pillows, this book features all the wonderful treats that were described in Roald Dahl's books.

Over fifteen different recipes, this books teaches you how to make these wonderful dishes. Step by step, making these treats couldn't be easier !

Illustrated by Quentin Blake with his lively pictures, once you have made the foodstuff, sit back, relax and enjoy the treats with your favourite Roald Dahl book.

The best foods ever
This is a great cookbook with foods that are so good, and allare from stories by Roald Dahl. It has peach juice, from James and theGiant Peach, a whole bunch of great candys from Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Lots of others, definately a must buy for children. The best cookbook ever!

This book has the besy recipes EVER!
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would! I love all the things in here and they all taste very good, especially the stickjaw for talkative parents!

Great Recipes!
Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes is a great book. And, the best thing about it is, the recipes aren't revolting! If you get this book, I would recommend the recipes you try first are Frogscottle or Hot Frogs. I guaruntee there are recipes that everyone will like in this book. Also, all of the recipes come from books that Roald Dahl has written. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Funny Book
"Amber Brown is Not a Crayon" is one of the funniest books I have ever read and maybe it could be for you too. In the book, Justin and Amber were best friends. All of a sudden, Justin is moving away and they get in a fight. They figure out that getting in a fight over a silly little move is very silly indeed.

Like Friendship? Read This Book!
How would you enjoy getting into a fight with your friend? In Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger, Amber Brown got into a fight with her friend, Justin. Unfortunately, Justin is moving away. I really like this book because it reminds me to get along with my friends.

Student from G.P.

My Favorite Amber Brown
I gave this book five stars because it was humorous, happy, and a really good book.It was about a girl named Amber Brown that gets teased in school because of her name, and about her being a crayon.My favorite part was when Amber and her friend Jason become best friends.

A Fun, Light Read!
I love these Amber Brown books. I'm thirteen, so these books are a fun, light read. The books follow third grader Amber Brown, who, in this book, is coping with the fact that her best friend, Justin, is moving. She must learn to deal with her feelings with Justin. It's funny and sincere and you'll definatly like it!

Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon
This is a very cute story. In fact, instead of waiting for bedtime, my 8 year old daughter took it upon herself to read it during summer vacation. It is a story she could relate to and enjoyed ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What King George III thought about the American Revolution
King George III of England was a tyrant. Thomas Jefferson said so when he wrote the Declaration of Independence and that was why we had the American Revolution and the rest was history. Except that most elementary school American History textbooks have very little to saw about King George III, a defect that Jean Fritz seeks to correct in this comic but historical view of the famous tyrant. Young readers will learn that King George III collected clocks and ate sauerkraut (the house of Hanover hailed from Germany after all), became a king when he was only twenty-two, married Princess Charlotte and had sixteen children, and tried to be a frugal monarch when it came to managing the money of his country (they are some very interesting examples of how he did this). Consequently, Fritz gives his readers an entirely different view of the taxation (without representation) that was a key catalyst for American independence.

"Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" is one of a series of books by Fritz that teach young students about the major figures and events of the American Revolution (e.g., "Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?", "Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?). There are historical facts and easy humor in equal measure in this volume, but I think that the most important aspect of the book remains that it gives us the British perspective on the American war for independence. There is also a footnote about the King's problems with porphyria, which will be important if young readers are interested enough in the life of this kill to check out the film version of "The Madness of King George," the only film to feature George III in a prominent role. This book has pictures by Tomie De Paola in keeping with the tone of the book, which shows that even if George III was a tyrant, that did not mean he was a bad person. After all, this was a king who made buttons.

it's fun to read and you learn a lot from it
I learned all kinds of things about King George, Queen Charlotte and others. It really helped me with my research on the Revolutionary war. In this book you get to learn the funny things about King George and things that happened during his time.

Historically funny and accurate
Jean Fritz has created many fabulous books for children. "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" is one of my favorites. It shows the beginning of the American Revolution from the eyes of King George. The book is humerous and historically correct. Kids and adults will enjoy reading it together! ... Read more

Book Description

‘A vividly realistic story of China during the early days of the Japanese invasion [which tells of young Tien Pao’s journey to find his family].’ —C. ‘Valuable as enrichment literature for elementary students involved in Chinese studies.’ —Scholastic Teacher.

1957 Newbery Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1956 (ALA)
1956 Children's Book Award (Child Study Association) ... Read more

Reviews (8)

House of Sixty Fathers
I read this book aloud to my sixth grade reading class. They loved it, and always wanted to hear more. Its also a great way to introduce students to some of the history of China, Japan and US involvement in the war there.

My 3rd grade son loved this book!
Boys can be picky readers, so I always take notes if they actually love a book. My 8 year old carried this book everywhere and told be about it every night for a week. Besides Redwall or Harry Potter, this is the first book he has raved about.

Brought back memories...
I told my young son about what a good book this was when I read it growing up, encouraging him to read it as well. He too enjoyed it, and I read it again in my fifties. Excellent book, would certainly encourage children to read it. Now in his teens, we still use a memorable quote from the book, "the heart understands without words".

Great
It's a nice exciting book. You can't really stop reading it. The pictures are great. It is a book that you have to read before you grow up to much. I didn't like that book for one reason- it was really sad. Sad books are okay, but not that great unless it is very exciting but this was an exciting book. So let's aplaud for Meindert DeJong

Remembering 5th Grade!
I remember reading this book in 5th grade. The imagery and the writing was beautiful, not to mention the story. I recommend this book to all kids! It has a great sense of history and culture. In a time when video games and tv are taking over, it's a good book to sit with your kids to talk about the importance of family. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Conversation piece
In this nearly wordless book, Carl "doggie" (as we called him in our house) takes the baby for a jaunt through a department store while Mother leaves him for a few minutes to go shopping.

The baby immediately climbs out of her stroller and onto Carl's back, up the elevators to the toy department. There, Carl deposits her into a toy truck, which collides gently with a stack of stuffed animals.

Next stop is the book department, where the baby finds (appropriately) a picture book on Rottweilers. Visits to the hat, television, carpet and fine foods departments ensue. Of course the story would not be complete without a stop in the pet deparment, where delightful mischief transpires.

I won't spoil the ending, but parents willing to laugh with their children will find this and Alexandra Day's other Carl books a delightful way to introduce them to words. Talking with a child over these stories starts a lifetime of book-loving. Alyssa A. Lappen

Must have some of these
The Carl series of books is beyaon description wonderful. The artwork will suck you in for great leangths of time. The lack of text leaves room for creative play and language building with your child(ren). The first time he "reads" a Carl book to you, it becomes very evident how well worth the cost these books are. We have several in the series, Board books for everyday play, and some large hardcover traditional paper books for more special occaisions (Birthday, Christmas). I highly reccomend all of the books in the series. I give them as that extra little shower gift and the new parents are always delighted.

Charming Carl the Babysitting Rotty
Good dog Rottweiler, Carl,is left beside the escalator in charge of the baby and pram, while Mother shops. Carl and Baby decide to have an adventure. With Baby riding carl like a horse, they tour the department store trying things on and genarally creating havoc until Carl senses it is time to get back to the pram. Mother arrives back at the pram totally unaware the sleeping baby has been out and about and getting into mischief with Carl.....as always Carl will never tell.

If you have a Rottweiler in your life you will be especially predisposed to admire the Carl series by Alexandra Day. Her artwork is extraordinary and worthy of framing and you really do not need any text at all because the pages are so self explanatory and well done. I like the way the pictures evoke a simpler time and remind us of the 1930's or 40's. The stories are charming and sweet and Carl the Dog is a loveable lummox who deftly manages baby and keeps them both out of trouble. Unfortunately, Rottweilers get a bad rap when they are in truth, the most loyal and attentive family dogs. Rottweilers are wonderful with children and will always protect a child.

I am giving my son and his wife the entire series as gifts because they presented me with a Rottweiler GrandDog 6 years ago. These adorable books are tomorrow's collectibles you can buy, keep and read.

Not Carl's best effort!
We fell in love with Carl after reading "Good Dog, Carl!" We were amazed when we picked up "Carl's Afternoon in the Park." We were disappointed with this book, however. The story does not flow very easily (why do they spend so much time waiting by the elevators ... is this supposed to be a reality book???). This makes it difficult for a parent to maintain the child's interest in the book. The artwork isn't as detailed as the aforementioned books. Our two-year-old girls quickly dump this book for another. I would suggest previewing any Carl books before buying, to make sure they meet your expectations.

a book for all ages
The series of Carl the Rottie books are a treat for young and not so young. Humor, great art work and tight story line makes for fun beauty and excitement (at a pleasant level), Buy for your own pleasure, If someone else enjoys your find then that is icing for the cake. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Fun, entertaining, and teaches you a lesson.
The author "Roald Dahl" added lots of details in this story so that I felt like I was in the story. For example the author wrote using the five senses. "The Gregg family felt the wind blowing." This book is not true, but this book does teach a lesson. It teaches not to shoot at any animals or other creatures, because shooting an animal is the same as shooting a person. Humans are animals too. You will learn lessons from the bad things that you do. I like this story book. What I like about this story book is that a little girl gets to turn people into animals and animals to be just like people. I didn't like it when the sixteen ducks got shot and died. Only four ducks were still alive. Can you belive only four ducks out of twenty ducks lived? I don't think that kids under five years old should read this book because there are animals that are dying. Thinking of animals, sometimes I ask myself why do birds eat worms? I think they would taste bad by the looks of them. I would want to tell you more of this story, but I won't so that you can read it and enjoy it for yourself and family.

Crazy Happening in The Magic Finger
How would you like it, if you woke up and had wings? That's what happened to the Gregg family, when a girl with the magic finger got mad at them. This girl gets very angry at people and the magic in her finger happens to change their lives in funny ways. This is a great book for kids, because the magic that her finger makes creates some shocking situations. Read The Magic Finger, by Roald Dahl, because it is funny, surprising, and you'll never want to put it down.

Master Storyteller!
Roald Dahl knows how children think. He knows that children's fantasies are often playfully violent, and he taps into those fantasies to create this other world where anything can happen and usually does. Kids love his books, and this is a great place to jump into his weird world. Your kids will love it. Before long they'll be reading it to themselves.

This is the worst R.D book I've ever read!
This book is bad
rEALLY SHORT AND BORING
oTHER R.D BOOKS ARE BETTER THATN THIS
i HATE THIS BOOK

the magic finger
The girl in this book has a magic fingershe had it all her life. she uses it when she is angry to teach the people that she is angry at a lesson. If you want to find out what happens then you have to read this book.

I liked this book because it teaches you to be kind to animals.

I'd recommend this book to all that like magic. ... Read more

Book Description

When Billy joins the Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company, he gets a lot more than a new job. First he makes three new friends, then it's time to get to work cleaning all 677 windows of the Duke of Hampshire's house. The Duke is not only the most wealthy man in the country, he's also the most generous. Can he make Billy's lifelong dream come true? "A captivating story and a wonderful read-aloud."-- The Horn Book ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A totally cool window cleaning company!!!
It's about a very special window cleaning company who doesn't use ladders. The girrafe is the ladder ,the pelly is the bucket, and the monkey cleans the windows.It's a very funny book!!!

It's a Great Book!
The Giraffe, the Pelly, and Me is a great book because it's funny and exciting. Especially since there are animals in it. I read it in two days because it's an eye-sticking book. (meaning you can't keep your eyes off it) It starts off dull, but it keeps getting more exciting as the book goes on. By the time you're done, you will be glad you read it. The story starts off as a boy wanting to go inside an old FOR SALE candy store and always dreams of buying it. To find out if he ever gets inside it, you have to read the book. I also recommened reading it at school. I'm sure you'll love it.

Pure Delight!
I have been a Ronald Dahl fan since I was a kid. As a child, I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its sequel. I recently discovered The Giraffe, The Pelly and Me.

It is pure delight! The characters, and plot are fun and unexpected. It is full of humor and surprises. Good and silly to the very last page. My children loved it.

As a mom, I love that Ronald Dahl does not 'talk down' to children in his books. The vocabulary is rich and flows beautifully.

Fun for any age, I recommend it especially for a family read aloud.

The Book is Great
The book" The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me" was an exciting one. In my opinion it was funny and it had a lot of things going on in it.
The story is about a young boy who wants to own an old grubber shop, which is another word for candy store. The grubber shop was sold to The Ladderless Window Cleaning Company, which are a giraffe, a pelican, and a monkey. The boy made friends with The Ladderless Window cleaning Company group and was invited to join the compnay as their business manager. The company gets a job washing the Duke's palace windows. While cleaning the windows they see a robber with a pistol on the third floor. They stop him from stealing some jewels and had him arrested. The Duke gave each of them a rich reward of the one thing each had always wanted.
I would recommend this book to other fourth graders and younger readers too' because it makes you feel nice. The author gives good details and has a magical feel.

Not typical Dahl, but that's not a bad thing
Bizarrely, for a Dahl story, there are no grisly deaths, no giant bugs and no magic. A giraffe, a pelican and a monkey open a ladderless window cleaning company, and eventually a young boy gets to open his own candy store. A great big oversized book (mine is, the new one's not), full of terrific drawings and much fun. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Story, But Gives Rise To Concerns For Chet
The original edition of this book was a great teen mystery story involving a holiday outing and a stolen stamp collection. However this (and several other of the Hardy series) give rise to concern for Chet Morton's health. Repeatedly described as "plump," Chet had great affection for "good food and plenty of it." Chet avoided exercise (unlike boxer Biff Hooper), and this and his propensity to consume were the formula for serious health problems. During the era in which this story was set (and this is also true of the 1956 edition, which wasn't as good as the original), health consciousness was not robust in the Barmet Bay and other areas. Fat and sugar consumption were high, with liberal use of butter and rich fatty sauces. The meals Chet (who appointed himself cook, on the Cabin Island holiday outing) prepared were loaded with cholesterol, as it appears the Hardys and their friends only ate for taste, pleasure and convenience -- not for health. It's sad to contemplate how Chet ended up in later life, given the atrocious eating and dietary habits he exhibited throughout the Hardy series. Let's hope he woke up before it was too late, and he had advanced into irreparable heart disease from his eating. And Iola too.

One Of The Better Revisions
This review concerns the revised 1966 edition. Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff receive permission from Elroy Jefferson to spend their Christmas holiday at his cabin on Cabin Island. Mr. Jefferson also asks for the boys' help in finding his missing grandson. While staying at the cabin, the boys find clues which lead them to believe that a valuable medal collection, stolen from Mr. Jefferson two years ago, is located somewhere on the island. However, before they can find the medals, they must deal with an unscrupulous criminal intent on finding the collection himself and a strange ghost inhabiting the island. This is probably one of the better revisions (I'd give it 3 1/2 stars, if they gave half star ratings); the story closely follows that of the original volume and, while the excellent writing of the original is gone, the book still wasn't written badly. The mystery isn't bad; although, the whole ghost part wasn't very interesting and could have been easily left out. I would recommend reading the original, if possible, but the revision wasn't bad either.

Perhaps The Best Written Of The Books
This review concerns the original 1929 edition. While spending the Christmas holiday on Cabin Island with their chums, Chet and Biff, Frank and Joe Hardy stumble upon a mystery surrounding the disappearance of a valuable stamp collection. The mystery related in this book, though interesting, is average. It is the writing that makes this book a joy to read. The scenes are so well described that one could almost picture oneself there at that time and the language used hasn't been dumbed down like in many of the recent volumes. The action is well-paced and it didn't feel as though the mystery was solved too quickly. This was a great book, definately worth reading.

Mystery Of Cabin Island
This was my 3rd book and my best. I like the plot, and it's hard to tell the outcome of the ending, even though I found out. I got this book from Boise's library, and it was dirty, old, but terrific. No wonder so many people liked it if the book's the way it is now. The ghost part is the least exciting, I'd have to say. But there are so many good parts it's hard to choose which one is the best!!! So if you want a good mystery and action book, this beats all other mystery and action stuff, guaranteed!!!

One of the best Hardy Boys stories
It's Christmas time in Bayport and the Boys and their chums are enjoying themselves iceboating out on Barmet Bay. They decide to explore lonely s Cabin Island but are chased away by a surly stranger (Hanliegh). On the way back, they nearly come to ruin in an accident with another iceboat manned by Tad Carson and Ike Nash, a pair of obnoxious bullies.

Heading home from this near disaster, they find a message from Elroy Jefferson (who's car they recovered in The Shore Road Mystery). They head over to Jefferson's posh digs to collect a reward and obtain permission to camp out on Jefferson's Cabin Island retreat over the Christmas school holiday.

The Boys along with Chet and Biff head out to the island on their iceboats and have an unpleasant encounter with Ike and Tad, who are in cahoots with Hanliegh. They chase Hanliegh off the island and settle in for some rousing winter adventures. Soon, they find their supplies stolen and head to the nearest town to get more from elderly storekeeper, Amos Grice, and, incidentally, discover from him that Jefferson had a valuable stamp collection stolen many years ago.

Back at the island, they have more adventures, discover a notebook dropped by Hanliegh indicating that the stolen stamps are hidden in the chimney of the cabin. They make a search and, surprise, find nothing.

Later, during a howling blizzard, they are forced to rescue Hanliegh who has come to grief in an iceboat accident. The storm increases in intensity, finally blowing down the chimney of the old cabin. Searching through the rubble, the Boys discover the stamp collection which miraculously has escaped any damage whatsoever despite being walled into a chimney over a huge fireplace for more than twenty years. They return the stamps to Jefferson and pick up yet another reward and Jefferson's offer to let them use his Cabin Island retreat any time they want.

Comments: This tale appears on almost everyone's list of favorite Hardy Boys stories and with good reason. The story is well written and paced and the prose is charmingly evocative and descriptive. One can almost picture oneself ice-boating and camping along with the Boys and their chums.

The mystery is, as usual, solved pretty much by dumb luck (aided by the infamous foul weather that seems to plague Bayport) but this doesn't take away from the excitement and mystery presented here.

The action is not too far removed from that which a teenage detective could accomplish. The villians are bad but not too bad and the mystery not too difficult to solve.

As in a few other of the earlier stories, the Boys arm themselves in this book (this time with rifles) and, although they threaten to use them, no shootings take place (except for a hapless fox who meets his demise in a totally extraneous sequence.)

Apparently the accident with the iceboat shook up Frank more than he cared to admit because the suggestion to go camping had to be made twice to him! When the suggestion was made the second time, Frank acts like he never heard of such a thing before - oh well!

I'm glad to note that, for once, the Boys' chums got a share of the reward but sadly there was no lip-smacking feast to cap off the Boys triumph in this case!

The revised version of this story by Andrew Svenson sticks close to the plot of the original and although the charm of McFarlane's prose is completely lost, it still ranks among the best of the revisions. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"It's awfully awfully awful / when you can't make up your mind!"For one poor boy, this indecision takes the form of dozens of Seussian Hunches--a Sour Hunch, a Very Odd Hunch, the Homework Hunch, a Four-Way Hunch, the Nowhere Hunch--all with elaborate finger-pointing hats and strong opinions of their own. Pretty soon the boy's head is "frightfully ga-fluppted" and "murky-mooshy:"

By now my mind was so mixed up
I really didn't know
if I wanted to go to the barber shop
or to Boise, Idaho.

After much arguing and "barg-uing" and shoving and yelling, a decision is made and our hero follows a Munch Hunch to lunch. The nonsense and cleverly crafted message in Hunches in Bunches is right up to par with Dr. Seuss's many other classic picture books. It's easy to become overwhelmed by advice when you have a mind--but can't make it up.Sometimes the best plan is to trust your own hunches, and disregard the vocal bunch of Hunches clamoring for attention. This makes a great gift for well-meaning flakes and ditherers of all ages. (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

If you have ADD, this is a fun way to look at it!
This is definitely one of my favorites! It is a book that is different than most and is very enjoyable. Allows kids (and multi-tasking parents) to see the importance of staying on task.

one of my least favorite suess books
I ADORE Dr. Seuss. In fact, I'm pretty sure that his work is the source of a sizeable chunk of my love for language in general, and for poetry. In fact, I think my love for Shakespeare started as a child, with Dr. Suess. This stuff was really profound for me.

But I have to say, if Geisel really did write this one, he was NOT in top form. The music of his language is missing - some of the verses are downright clunky, and the usual depth is lost in horrific lines like "... together we'll trot to some real cool spot and play a few video games."

Maybe he was trying to be contemporary. And some of the illustrations here really ARE wonderful, but I have to say, this Seuss lover (who now spends as much as an hour and a half a day reading the stuff to his own daughter, who love it) finds this one way off the mark.

Taking Charge of Internal Debates
Children usually do not realize that the internal dialogue in the mind is a source of confusion and distraction for almost everyone. The great strength of this book is to make that psychological reality tangible and to address ways to deal with it. You also give the parent a chance to share her or his perspective on internal voices. The book's key point is that you should consider all the perspectives that occur to you, compare them, and choose a good one to pursue.

"Do you ever sit and fidget

when you don't know what to do . . . ?"

"My trouble was I had a mind.

But I couldn't make it up."

"Oh, you get so many hunches . . . ."

In the story, the hunches include one to do homework, another to go play video games, yet another to fix the rusting bicycle, while another suggests a bathroom break. As the hunches build, the decision gets harder. Thinking about it just adds more hunches.

The key point is:

"Make your mind up! . . .

Only you can make your mind up!"

The suggested method is to split yourself into several people and to decide what to do by letting each one represent a hunch. To me, that's a variation on the Benjamin Franklin method of putting each choice down on a piece of paper with a list of the pros and cons for each. Then compare the lists.

If everyone learned that method at a young age, it would be wonderful! A lot of adults still need to learn this lesson, so don't limit your gift giving of this book to youngsters!

After you finish this book, I suggest that you encourage your child to verbalize his or her urges. Then talk to her or him about how he or she is sorting it all out.

Take the best choice, rather than the most impulsive one!

Hunches in Bunches
This book is great for children. It was my little sister'sfavorite for years. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Short and not-so-sweet
Roald Dahl once said the secret to writing a good kid's book is to conspire with the children against adults, and this book is a perfect example of that.

This is for the child (and adult) who feels the bears in the Goldilocks were victims of a breaking-and-entering little vandal, who really would like to see a more self-empowered red riding hood, and who thinks that third little pig was a smug git who'd probably taste good on rye with a bit of mustard.

The only flaw with the book is its brevity. You can read the whole book aloud in about a half-hour. One is really left wanting more. (Thurber wrote some good fables in a similar vein, but they're less for children and more dated.)

Creative and Funny
Some reviewers are "revolted" by the gruesomeness of this little book, whilst others complained it was too short. I have niether of the two compaliants. I loved it! and so did the seven year old little girl, for whom the book was given to as a christmas present. I think Dahl was specially creative in this little book twisting and turning classical children tales into salacious, hilariously funny rhythms that you can read over and over again and still manage a chuckle here and there. And thinking this is too "mature" for younger readers is underestimating the intelligence and imagination of children. Yes, there are some play on words that you have to explain to your little one, but you know what? they'll ask you anyway. As for the size of this book, It's just right. Dahl took the basic popular children stories that everyone knows and i think it's just the right dose and besides, you can take this book anywhere, like the sevenyear and read it to your friends, cousins, neighbors and anyone who she suspects of having a sense of humour. It teaches us about having a boundless imagination and exploring the what ifs of stories. It's another favourite.

Hilarious!
If your kids like Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss and the Brothers Grim, they will absolutely devour these rhyming stories that twist traditional fairy tales into hilarious parody. My daughter used to enjoy reading them aloud to anyone who would listen. She thought it was a work of genius that everyone should be intimately familiar with. You'll love it too!

warning...not for the young
We bought this book because my daughter loves all of Roald Dahl's books. Fortunately, her teacher and I read it first because we came across the word "slut." I decided to shelve this book until my daughter is old enough to know what a "slut" is. I am extremely careful about what my kids are exposed to. I have placed blocks on the television channels that they are not allowed to watch, I read all their books first and censor their music. If you are like me, you'll want to skip this book.

Discombobulated Nursery Rhymes -- a review by Chris(...)
Really revolting rhymes! Roald Dahl takes your normal nursery rhymes, mixes them up a bit, adds a touch of his magic, and voila -- you have a hilarious bunch of rhymes. For example, Goldilocks joins up with and helps the three little pigs, and Cinderella gets a bit gory because the prince gets mad ... and he has an axe!

This is another hilarious classic by Roald Dahl for ages 5 to 103. For those of you who like those stories, a word of caution -- these poems are funny and a bit of an insult to those stories. The book is packed with sidesplitting jokes and poems. It adds laugh-out-loud humor to dull nursery rhymes, making them a lot more fun for kids who have grown out of nursery rhymes. With this once-in-a-lifetime book you will enjoy nearly endless laughter with a friend or by yourself! With a Roald Dahl classic in your hands you can trust it will be a good book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Marco is in a pickle. His father has instructed him to keep his eyes peeled for interesting sights on the way to and from school, but all Marco has seen is a boring old horse and wagon. Imagine if he had something more to report, say, a zebra pulling the wagon. Or better yet, the zebra could be pulling a blue and gold chariot. No, wait! Maybe it should be a reindeer in that harness. Marco's story grows ever more elaborate as he reasons that a reindeer would be happier pulling a sled, then that a really unusual sight would be an elephant with a ruby-bedecked rajah enthroned on top. "Say! That makes a story that no one can beat, / When I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street."Time and again, Marco tops himself until he is positively wound up with excitement and bursts into his home to tell his dad what he saw on Mulberry Street.

Pulitzer-prize winning Dr. Seuss needs no introduction. His ode to the imagination of a child is as fresh and exquisitely outlandish today as it was when first published in 1937. This is a classic that will never fade with age. (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (12)

An uneven jaunt along Mulberry Street
First published in 1937, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" is, I believe, the earliest of Dr. Seuss' many children's books. While it is an entertaining book with humorous illustrations, on the whole I find "Mulberry Street" to be oddly unsatisfying.

The story concerns young Marco, who has been asked by his father to tell him what he sees on the walk home from school. Seeing nothing but a horse and wagon, Marco lets his imagination run wild, until the horse and wagon are transformed into an elephant and brass band, accompanied by numerous other people and animals.

Without giving away the ending, I will say that the book seems to deliver a curiously conflicted message regarding storytelling and imagination. Although "Mulberry Street" is not at the level of Seuss' greatest classics, it is still an important landmark in children's literature, and would make a good addition to any family or school library.

Leslie and Lisa's Review
My favorite book out of the ten I read is And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss. I liked this book because after you read it your imagination is running wild. It is a book about a young boy's imagination when you can't stop it from running like an Energizer battery. After the story was over I couldn't stop thinking about more things to add to the young boy's story to make it even better. It is a great book for this project because you are really tapping into your childhood and your young imagination. I think everyone should read this book to see the magic of being a child. If you like Dr. Seuss books this is one you will really enjoy. It is fast pace and it rhymes to help the story be more fun.
My stepmom thought that this book was very creative because it was full of imagination. This book made her laugh because all of Marco's ideas were very silly and fun. She thought that it read at a very fast pace. She also loved the pictures and drawings because they kept changing as the boy's thoughts kept elaborating. The words rhymed from line to line keeping her interest throughout the book. Lastly, she shared that Dr. Seuss is one of her favorite authors of all time.

Mulberry Street
The main character in this book is named Marco, and he has a slight problem with an over-active imagination. Every morning when Marco leaves home to walk to school, 'Dad always says to me, "Marco, keep your eyelids up and see what you can see."' We meet Marco when he is on the way back from school and all he's noticed 'was a horse and a wagon on Mulberry Street.' Marco isn't too proud of this observation, "That can't be my story. That's only a start. I'll say that a ZEBRA was pulling that cart!"

Slowly and surely the story changes, now the zebra is pulling a chariot, now it's a reindeer, next it's pulling a sled and before you know it, he's got two giraffes and an elephant pulling a big brass band with a trailer attached on behind going through town escorted by the police. Marco gets so excited about this 'story that no one could beat! And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street!' But when Dad asks him what he sees he replies '"Nothing" I said, growing red as a beat, "but a plain horse and wagon on Mulberry street."'

The story is told in rhyme, as you might be able to see from some of the quotes I used. The story flows wonderfully, just like all of Dr. Seuss' works. The pictures are wonderful as well. The way all the animals are smiling and see