Book Description

Reviews (3)

My 4 year old girls love this "boys" book
My 4 year old twin girls love this book. They both want to read it again and again. They know it by heart and they still want to read it.

An excellent book for a bedtime story
This is a simple, enjoyable story involving toy cars, a cute villain, mud pies, and preschool children as the heroes--ideal for reading to a preschooler!

The writing is simple, lyrical, and easy to remember. After only a few reads, our two-year-old knew the story well enough to act it out with her toys. The plot teaches that things that might seem a little scary can be overcome, and that with teamwork, anything is possible.

My 2 year old's favorite book
My 28 month old son absolutely loves this book. After reading it a half a dozen times in one day, he'll ask to read it "one more time". And if you don't read it to him, he will turn page by page and tell the story aloud, well his version anyway, which is pretty close to the book itself. Although he knows the story, and the ending, he will sit still with anticipation until the very end of the book, which is a nearly impossible task for a 2 year old. He loves the repetition of his favorite vehicles in the book, and no matter how many times he hears it, he giggles with delight at the in depth description of the "sleepy, creepy, deeper-than-you'd-think mud puddle". This book is an absolute must for any little boy who likes trucks & cars & puddles, and what little boy doesn't? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Conservative champion of ethics William J. Bennett loves to writeprimers on character building. This hefty three-part treasury brings togetherthree of Bennett's previous primers aimed for young children: The Children'sBook of Virtues, The Children's Book of Heroes, and The Children'sBook of America. In his new introduction, Bennett explains why he believesstories are the key to raising morally sound children. "Even in an age ofcomputer games and electronic toys, you can't beat a good story--especially whenoffered by a caring adult--for capturing a child's attention," he writes."Legends, folk tales, biographies, and poems ... serve as reference points on amoral compass, giving children a clear sense of direction in matters of rightand wrong."

Even folks who don't agree with Bennett's politics often agree with theoverriding lessons in these age-old stories. Famous selections include, "St.George and the Dragon," "George Washington and the Cherry Tree," tributes toAbraham Lincoln and Jackie Robinson, and Martin Luther King's famous "I Have aDream" speech. Put this lavishly illustrated book by a child's bed so he or shecan revisit these stories before drifting off to sleep. After all, this is thestuff that great dreams are made of. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful fireside/bedtime book
If you are looking for a good set of stories to read to your children, look no further! This is a collection of 3 other titles edited by Bill Bennett, and illustrated by the phenomenal Michael Hague. The stories are a good length for reading to young squirrly children, and are well written. They are heroic and thoughtful. This edition would also make a welcome gift for a family you care about.

An excellent collection
I bought this book for my 5 and 3 years old children and we all enjoy this book very much. The stories, though mostly well known tales, are written well and can be read out loud nicely. They vary in lengths (from short poems to stories several pages long), and they also vary in their complexity suitable for children of various ages. Illustrations are on every page. All the stories end on a positive note. They teach children about perseverence, love, honor, and justice. This is a welcome addition to our huge collection of children's stories. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Best Book Ever
This is the best book I have ever read. I have read it 3 times so far, and I do not think I am finished. It's such a great story! Monica Hughes does an excellent job of grabbing the readers attention and not letting go until the book is over. If you have not read this book yet, read it today! This will probably always be a favorite of mine. It doesn't matter if your 10 or 100 years old, you're going to love this book! From the front cover to the back, there is never a dull moment! So sorry for the one person who gave it 2 stars. Yes, some of it is unrealistic, that's called FICTION! I wish I could give it 10 stars, it's just excellent, read itand you'll see what I mean!

Great Young Adult Novel
I am a college student with a major in elementary education and have taken many children's literature courses. For my Language Arts class, we had to read this novel. At first, I was not too excited about reading it, since I knew right away that it was a science fiction novel, which is a genre that I do not particularly like. However, this book changed my mind. Hughes is an excellent writer who keeps readers in suspense throughout the novel. I felt as if I was Lisse, the main character who was desperately trying to find answers to "the game." There are so many ways that this book can be taught. It can easily be taught with books like The Giver and Z for Zachariah, which are similar science fiction novels appropriate for junior high students. I would definitely recommend any teacher to use this in his/her class as well as strongly urge anyone to read it. I'm looking foward to reading other novels by Hughes.

How can anyone say this is good?
This is the worst book that I have ever read. The author uses very few feelings and images throughout the book. The book is very boring and so predictable. There are so many better books out there to read that don't have you falling asleep while reading them. If you want a good science fiction book read anything-but this book.

MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME
Oh my god! I don't think I can write enough about how great this book is! I was first introduced to it in the 4th grade, when a teacher recommended it as a good read. I fell in love with Monica Hughes due to this one book! It has got to be my all time favorite book, and I've read many many various book from various genres and authors!

Invitation To The Game
This is a great book. Star Wars fans and Gary Paulsen fans...this book is for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Doctor Dolittle--a 19th-century English physician--has never been one for worrying much. Even after his human patients desert him (when one too many sit on one of the doctor's unusual parlor pets), he manages to convert gracefully to animal medicine. Having mastered animal language along the way (with the help of his caustic yet amusing parrot, Polynesia), he has a good head start in his practice. Then, one cold, dark winter night, as the doctor and his pets sit around the fire, a message arrives, via sparrow, from Africa. A terrible epidemic has broken out among the monkeys, and Doctor Dolittle is the only one who can save them. The beneficent physician checks his money box--not a penny left. But the fate of Africa's ailing apes lays squarely on his shoulders.

And so begins the delightful, whimsical adventures that are still enthralling readers three quarters of a century after their original 1920 publication. Hugh Lofting, winner of the 1923 Newbery Medal for The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, has more than a knack for storytelling. His ability to imbue in his characters--human and animal--distinct, unique personalities is remarkable, and his respect for the rights of all who share the planet shines throughout. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Great read-aloud selection
I read this book to my two children, ages 7 and 3. Both children were completely mesmerized and could hardly wait for the next day's installment. A bit of editing was necessary while reading to tone down certain parts, especially those dealing with the pirates (who threatened to eat poor Gub-Gub the pig) and the leaving-behind of some of their favorite animal characters, Polynesia the parrot and Chee-Chee the monkey. The illustrations were especially well-received, and could easily be presented at the appropriate points in the story to illustrate exactly what was being read. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed this book and are looking forward to purchasing the sequel, which is the one I remember from my own childhood, _The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle_.

THE STORY OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
I bought this for my son for his eighth birthday, he loves it so much that he is reading it to himself. This is the first book that he has ever carried around with him, actually reading while he is walking around. This was the first chapter book that my older son read. We had barrowed a paperback edition from a friend. I am so glad that I bought this edition, it's a great story, and the illustrations are wonderful! My younger son got a bike, game cube,and game boy games, for his birthday. But, this book is favorite gift... I think that says it all!

The Best Doctor Ever
The book The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting is a non-fictional chapter book. It has adventure, excitement, and a guy who really likes animals. It has excitement of every sort. So read on to find out more about The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.

An amazing Doctor travels off to the far lands of Africa to cure the sick monkeys. Nobody else can figure out what is wrong, but the Doctor has learned the animal languages and can speak to the animals. If he cures the monkeys it will be up to you to find out. On his journey into the jungles and out of the jungles of Africa he will encounter many things that will hold him back. He will also say good-bye to some of his beloved animals.

I think this book is more aimed for children in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades but I am sure anybody would enjoy it. The book is not like the movie Doctor Dolittle, so you won't be reading something you already know about. So go and get The Story of Doctor Dolittle. I promise you will enjoy it.

THE BEST BOOK
I've read this book about a 100 times. The first time, my grandpa read it to me when I was about 5. My grandpa read it out of his book that he got when he was little. Now he past it down to me. I loved and love this book, all those grandpas out there read it to your grandkids.Girl or boy, young or old this is a really good for everyone.

The Adventures of Doctor Domuch
I would recommend this book to anyone who asked me for a book. It is action packed, funny,but most of all it is interesting. When I read it I felt like the narrator. The snail was my favorite character. The book is very long but when you get into it, you can't stop reading it. ... Read more

Book Description

Brilliant photographs present a world of possible opposites. "Beautiful, elegantly composed, nourishing to eye and mind."--Kirkus Reviews. "Another winner from an artist with a seemingly unlimited imagination."--Horn Book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Exactly the Opposite Is Exactly Right!
Tana Hoban's Exactly the Opposite is a wonderful book to use with young children who are learning the concept of "opposite". This wordless book allows readers to interpret the photographs as they understand them.A photograph shows two hands - one is open and the other closed. Two photographs show children on steps - in one picture they are going up and in the other they are coming down. In another photograph there are two shoes - one tied and one untied. Children can act out these opposites by opening and closing their hands, undoing a shoelace and so on. The photographs are large, clear, colorful and attention-grabbers for young children. Exactly the Opposite is exactly the right book to teach the concept of opposites to young children! ... Read more

Book Description

If you want to know the truth...
Sometimes I'm not sure who I am anymore."

Thirteen. It's an age of wonder...or dread. The best year of your life...or maybe the worst ever. You've just become an official teenager, even though you're not quite sure you feel like one, but you're no longer a kid, either. Here, from fourteen different points of view, are stories about that wonderful, terrible time. The big bar mitzvah that goes suddenly, wildly, hilariously out of control. A first kiss -- and a realization about one's sexual orientation. A crush on a girl that ends up putting the boy who likes her in the hospital. A pair of sneakers that a kid has to have, no matter what. Written by some of today's finest writers for young adults, these stories -- by turns funny and sad, wrenching and moving -- truly capture the agony and ecstasy of being thirteen. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Why Thirteen is Great!!
This is an awesome book that describes exquisitly what it is like to be thirteen. Every thirteen year old can probably relate to some small part of one of the stories (at least). When I read it, I knew some of the authors who had collaborated to write the short stories in this neat book, but I also did not know a few of the other authors. It was nice to read the works of familiar authors and at the same time be introduced to a variety of new ones!
Another wonderful aspect of this book are the essays at the end of each story that explain how the fictional tale is based on an experiance the author had at the age of thirteen!
"Thirteen" has a great store of emotion, too. Not just sad, happy, angry, but utterly miserable, ecstatic, irrate, hilarious. All the emotions that you experiance as a teen.
The writing styles are also great! Many stories are written in the first person, some are written in the third person, and one story is even written in the second person!
"Thirteen" is a totaly great book to read!

The agony, the ecstasy, and everything in between
"13: Thirteen Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen" is an engrossing, and often quite accurate, collection of short stories centering on different thirteen-year-olds. Although some stories focus less on actually being thirteen than they do on simply revolving around a 13-year-old character, it doesn't matter - it's still a wholly entertaining read. A few stories of note:

"What's The Worst That Could Happen" by Bruce Coville - a funny but mostly painful tale of embarrassment that is bound to make the reader squirm at least once or twice.

"Squid Girl" by Todd Strasser - a fascinating (and very funny) story about a girl who meets a boy while on vacation, told from an idiosyncratic second-person point of view.

"Noodle Soup for Nincompoops" by Ellen Wittlinger - the story of a shy sideline-sitter who is able to express herself for the first time in the kooky guise of an anonymous advice columnist for her school paper.

Other popular authors whose pieces are included in this compendium include Meg Cabot ("The Princess Diaries," "All-American Girl," etc.), Ann M. Martin ("The Baby-Sitters Club" series, etc.), and James Howe ("Bunnicula," etc.) who also served as editor for this collection. I personally think this book will be enjoyed by readers of all ages - those who have already been thirteen, those who are not thirteen yet, and those who are thirteen right now.

Being 13 aint no fun!
Being 13 aint no fun no one thinks your growed up yet. No one treats you like a teen. You might as well still be 12 leastwise thats how it is for me. I thought this book told it like it is. I liked it.

A Must for Middle-School kids (and those who know them)
This is a fine collection of stories that most 13 year olds would find enjoyable. All are contemporary realistic fiction, save the last (see below), and there is one poem. The first story, Bruce Coville's "What's the Worst that Could Happen" is very funny and worth the purchase price alone. That the protagonists are all teens fits the reading proclivities of many adolescents.

There are several stories that deal with teen romance/crushes, but always in appropriate and respectfull ways, and there is usually some other theme going on (friendship can be difficult, family isn't always what you want, etc.) A couple of the pieces have Gay-possitive elements.

The final story, Ann M. Martin and Laura Goodwin's "Tina the Teen Fairy" would be an excellent read-aloud for the first week of middle school, as it follows a fairy who must convince a girl that turning 13 is important. As a 7/8 grade teacher, I've already used a few of these pieces in class. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Conservative social critic and former Bush "drug czar" William J.Bennett collects here over 30 secular fables, prayers, Bible stories, and poems,all devoted to a central theme: "reinforcing the vital lessons all parents mustteach" about home and family life.

Some of the entries address intersibling relations (like "The Hill," adaptedfrom Laura Richards, and Aesop's classic "The Bundle of Sticks"), while othersfocus on the love of husbands and wives for their children ("What Bradley Owed,"adapted from Hugh T. Kerr) and for one another ("The Water of Youth," adaptedfrom Rudolph Baumbach). Poems and prayers from Alfred, Lord Tennyson ("What DoesLittle Birdie Say?") and Robert Louis Stevenson ("Prayer for Home and Family")help class up the book, complementing Michael Hague's '50s-style,quasi-Rockwellian illustrations.

While many of the lessons imparted here are inarguably "vital," parents shouldbeware that the book still carries some not-so-subtle political freight, whichyou might or might not buy into: As Bennett makes clear in his grownup books(The Broken Hearth: Reversing theMoral Collapse of the American Family, etc.), references to "husband andwife" mean that and only that. Likewise, don't be surprised by antiquated takeson gender roles (as in "The Husband Who Was to Mind the House") and that theonly black characters in the book have tribal names like Keen-Eyes, Sharp-Ears,and Strong-Arms. (The sole Hispanic family lucks out with some good Catholicnames, but Hague's proto-Israelites in a King Solomon story still look prettyconventionally European.) (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The nurturing qualities of home and family.
I've recommended this book to family and friends. It's filled with delightful stories, poems and quotations that celebrate the love of husband and wife, parents, grandparents and children. It contains some of the best from Robert Louis Stevenson, Louisa May Alcott, Lord Tennyson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the Old and New Testament. (A few illustrations merit 4 stars instead of 5.)

A very disappointing book.
A very disappointing book. Poorly presented. Uninteresting. Badly written. Morally unedifying. This is how my 10 year old summed up his present (this book) after a day long read. After perusing it myself I must agree. Buy Dr.Seuss's The Lorax instead. Do not buy unless as a gift for a child you do not like. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether playing ball in the park, feeding the ducks, or reading bedtimestories, Spot and his Daddy are great buddies. Perfect for Father'sDay, as well as all year long, this happy and heartwarming book isgreat for sharing. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Spot chases his ball around the circus
If your child likes Spot books I'm sure they'll enjoy this one.

Spot loses his ball and chases it all over the circus trying to catch it ... finally ended up being taught to balance it on his nose by a seal. A fun adventure your toddler will love!

my kid just loves it!!!!!!
A great book. your child will be addicted to it and learn as well.

Spot Goes to the Circus
Captured here is the tormented journey of a young puppy (Spot) who proceeds from page-to-page in search of his misdirected ball. Without regard to his own personal safety, Spot chases the bouncing orb through cages occupied by lions and tigers; around a bear who, herself is balancing on a ball (and wearing a tu-tu); and across a high-wire act where two monkeys make an unsuccessful attempt to catch the errant ball. Ultimately, the ball is located in the cage of a seal who teaches Spot how the balance the orb on his nose, much to the delight of the puppy's mother. All ends happily, as Spot announces that he has made a new friend. While I personally found the tale somewhat predictable -- for example, I never feared for Spot's safety and figured that, ultimately, his ball would be recovered -- my three year old delighted in the apparent risk and adventure undertaken by the pup and, no matter how many times she reads the book always "oohs," and "aahs" with each new progression through the pages. While is isn't the Cat-in-the-Hat, Spot Goes to the Circus is good clean family fun ... Read more

Book Description

Why had he come to her, with his dark secrets from a long-ago past? What was the purpose of their strange, haunting journeys back into her own childhood? Was it to help Dab, her retarded older brother, wracked with mysterious pain who sometimes took more care and love than Tree had to give? Was it for her mother, Vy, who loved them the best she knew how, but wasn't home enough to ease the terrible longing?

Whatever secrets his whispered message held, Tree knew she must follow. She must follow Brother Rush through the magic mirror, and find out the truth. About all of them.

Reviews (4)

Nakita At Richview Middle School
My book was about a girl and her brother. They lived alone in a house. The girl name was Tree. her brother name was Dab. It was a man will Tree thought it was. It was a ghost. She liked the ghost and she wanted to tell her brother but she did not know how. Dab was slow. He use to taik and get his words wrong. All the girls like him. tree use to see the ghost. It made her see her life that she have not done. a woman can to give them food to eat. They had a wonam who came to clean they house for them. The book was good. Tree had to go to school and look out for her brother. Tree was 15 and Dab was 17 years old. some people can relate to the book. So the book is good. Tre e sometimes came home before Dab. She thougth something had happen to him. Read the book it is good.

The Great Book Of Brother Rush
I thought that the book"Sweet Whispers Brother Rush" deserved 5 stars because it is a great love novel but at the same time you can't put it down. It is deffinetly one of the best books I ever read and more than a 1 time read.

Sweet--Not, Bitter--Yes
I just finished reading this great book. Why is it great? It would make a wonderful stage play and I'm surprised that no one has done it yet. Hamilton is a master at characterization. The mother and daughter along with their relationship are entirely believable and complicated. Hamilton captured that fine line between love and hate which teens experience with their parents. This book is much better than "Catcher In The Rye!" Buy this book. Read it. You'll be glad you did. And watch out for those fine lookin ghosts hang'n out at da Sevn Levn. See ya dude!

It is a great book for those who love the supernatural.
The book Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush was very likeable. I enjoyed it especially because of the supernatural in it. The ghost in it was described in such detail that it seemed as if you were standing there in the room viewing it. I also enjoyed the book because its main character was a teenage girl with many responsibilities. If you are a teenage girl, you are sure to be able to relate to this book. Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush was also a good book for anyone who is dealing with a death in their family, especially for someone who was really close. I could share the girl's pain in the book because I knew what it was like. The book doesn't bring you down, it just shows how things work out in the end. If you enjoy the supernatural, have experienced a death in your family, or you are a teenage girl with many responsibilities, then I strongly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Horses were in Annie Bronn's blood. For as long as she could remember, she had been fascinated by thespirited wild mustangs that roamed free throughout the West. So when greedy cattlemen started toround up the mustangs for slaughter, Annie knew it was up to her to save the breed.

The true story of Wild Horse Annie's crusade to save the mustangs is inspiring. Readers will cheerher on, all the way to the White House, in her struggle to preserve these beautiful creatures fromextinction. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Lovely, a memorable story
When I was in Elementary School, I read all of the books in the school library that had to do with horses. Of all of them, this was my favorite. I've remembered it until today when I decided to refresh my memory from 7 years ago. I think it's so neat that books like this can stay with you and impact your outlook after so many years. This is such a beautiful and inspiring story, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

" A Horse Story That You Would Want to Cherish."
Mustang:Wild Spirit of the West is a good story about a girl who loves horses all of her life. When she grows up, she tries to stop the killing of wild mustangs. It is a story that I'm sure you would enjoy.

A heartwarming story
I first read the book in sixth grade for a book report. One of my friends said I should read it because my name is Annie, too. The aspect I like most about it was the fact that it the hero was a woman, and she fought with courage and determination for something that she believed was right.

One of the best books i've ever read!
This story was so wonderful. I love horses, and it made me want to fight for the mustangs too! (Yes they still are rounded up and slaughtered "when their numbers get too great") I would recommend this book to anyone!

Touched my heart!
This book really touched me! It was excellent! I almost cried when i finished, and I never cry! It was great! ... Read more

Book Description

History, legend, and rumor surround the house, once a station on the Underground Railroad and the home of long-dead abolitionist Dies Drear.

Virginia Hamilton continues the Dies Drear chronicles of suspense through a series of dramatic events. We again meet Thomas Small and his family, loyal Mr. Pluto, clever Pesty Darrow, and her aloof brother Macky. And we are introduced to the unforgettable Mrs. Darrow, whose mind twists back on itself like an ancient tunnel of the Underground.

Professor Small, cataloging the priceless antiques of the vast, hidden treasure, must face the question -- to whom does the treasure belong? To Pluto, who guarded it and faithfully kept its secret in memory of Dies Drear? To the foundation that owns the property? The storehouse is in danger not only from thieving Darrow men, but also from the real peril of collapsing walls in the treasure cavern. The time for decision has come. In a brilliant move, Professor Small solves his dilemma. And Thomas and Macky are able to face squarely an old conflict between them.

Reviews (7)

The Mystery of Drear House: Reviewing it
I really thought that this book was good! It takes place in northern Ohio in the house of Dies Drear, who was a long-dead abolitionist. Thomas Small is the main character who is living with his family in the Drear house. Mattie Darrow is a minor character who is Mac and Pesty Darrow's mom. She is a very ill person. The two scariest parts of the story is when Thomas' twin brothers disappear and when someone sneaks into Mr.Pluto's cave to trick him into getting the teasure! I really liked reading this book. It is so suspenseful and mysterious.

Drear House is not Dreary
Book Review of "The Mystery of Drear House"

The book I read is a fiction story called, "The Mystery of Drear House". This is an

exciting sequel to "The House of Dies Drear". The author's name is Virginia Hamilton. She is

married to a poet by the name of Arnold Ardoff.

Virginia has written many African American books in the past years including, "Paul

Robeson: The Life and Times of a Free Black Man", and "The People Could Fly: American Black

Folktales".

"The Mystery of Drear House" was about a black family that just moved into an old

abolitionist's house. They find the house has lots of secret passage ways to tunnels leading to

many caves, plus their neighbor's mother's room. The only problem they have is where they're

going to put all the endless fortune of the old abolitionist Dies Drear's, which has been hidden for

hundreds of years in an old cavern..

This book really didn't have any weaknesses in my opinion. "The Mystery of Drear

House" didn't have any wrong turns, or boring places. It was very organized, and didn't stretch

the story line. The book held my interest until the very end. The ending sounded like it could

have a sequel.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I would recommend, "The Mystery of Drear House," to a

middle school student that likes mystery-fiction. First they should read, "The House of Dies

Drear," to get some background information. I would also recommend this to a person that likes

to read about the underground railroad, or that is interested in history.

Don't Miss This!
Drear House has dangerous secrets that have never been told. The house is anything but normal with sliding walls, secret passageways, and even gold treasure. Thomas has one secret. He needs to find out who is responsible for the weird things going on. Thomas needs to know fast, before he becomes a secret himself. Do you think the house is hauntd?

THE MYSTERY OF DREAR HOUSE is a thrilling, terrifying, nightmare come true. I am easily scared. Yet, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Since the descriptions were strong in detail, I was so distracted I was less nervous about the book. This is a book you don't want to miss!

The Best!
The House of Dies Drear is a great book. I loved the way the author left you hanging at the end of each chapter. I read it in class. It was really hard not to read to the next chapter. I loved it.

The Best Virginia Hamilton Book Ever!
Well, in the begining, Thomas and his family buy a house in Ohio, but it turns out to be more or less than they expected. But, well, you'll have to read it to find out all the exciting plot twists and turns, it kept me guessing throughout the book, and I had to smack myself on the forehead at the end, because it gave me the answer at the begining. A very good read. Buy it for anyone from 3 to 1,003. ... Read more

Book Description

In stories, songs, and poems, fairies have lived tantalizingly close to human folk for centuries. Unpredictable and elusive, they've brought luck and done harm, while people have longed for a glimpse of their magical world.

In his illustrations for this rich and varied collection, Michael Hague, one of America's most beloved painters of fantasy, creates a fabled world that belongs to the fairies. There is the lost flower fairy Thumbelina, the cruel and clever goblins of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market, and the invisible creatures of James Barrie's Lock-out Time. Readers will also meet a helpful brownie, a girl with an unlucky name, and two elves who act like playground bullies!

Readers will find themselves transported to fairyland as they read these delightful works and savor the mesmerizing full-color and black-and-white illustrations. Michael Hague's art has never been so enchanting. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

FUN
I bought this book for my 10 yr old niece who still can see the faery magic and I now plan to buy one for myself.
Wonderful stories and descriptions of different faery are surrounded buy enchanting artwork.
This book is appropriate for any age!

THESE PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL!!
VERY INTENSE. YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK , YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO GET MICHEAL HAGUE'S MAGICIAL WORLD OF UNICORNS. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED.

Art book or story book? You decide.
One could as easily buy this book for the illustrations as for the stories. Either one justifies the purchase price while the other makes this book a prize. While I was trying to read the book, my 12-year-old daughter kept taking it from my desk to read a story at bedtime, and my best friend, who is an artist, wanted to borrow it to study the drawings and paintings.

"The Book of Fairies" begins with an excerpt from "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens" by J. M. Barrie. "Lock-out Time" is a charming story which introduces readers to the fairy world. As Mr. Barrie says, "One of the great differences between the fairies and us is that they never do anything useful." He goes on to explain the origin of fairies, "When the first baby laughed for the first time, his laugh broke into a million pieces and they all went skipping about. That was the beginning of fairies." I had heard that saying before but never knew from where it came. This story is about the fairy ball that goes on in Kensington Gardens once the gates are locked. The story came alive for me because of its references to things one might find today in Kensington Gardens. One such reference is to "the boards which tell at what time the gardens are to close today." The story tells of how the fairies change the times written on the boards to confuse people. Some 15 or so years ago my husband was visiting London and took an afternoon off to read and sun himself in Kensington Gardens. He fell asleep (perhaps he was sprinkled with fairy dust) and missed lock-out time. When he awoke the gates were locked, and he, along with a few other enchanted ones, had to scramble over the fences. If only he had stayed for the ball.

The book includes stories the reader may know, such as the oft retold "Thumbelina" by Hans Christian Andersen and the eerily sensual "Goblin Market" by Chistina Rosetti. There are also less familiar ones such as "The Fairies" by William Allingham, which must have influenced the contemporary "Mogwogs on the March" by Olivier Dunrea, and "The Brownie o' Ferne-Den" retold by Virginia Haviland, whose premise may be recognizable by Girl Scouts. My daughter's favorite was "Fairer-than-a- Fairy" by Charlotte-Rose Caumont de la Force.

And then, there are the pictures. There are paintings with rich vibrant colors and details which are a feast for the eye and an inspiration for the imagination, and there are pen and ink drawings with both the detail and precision of fine etchings and the whimsy of fairy tales. Click on the link at "Look inside this book!" on the book's ... page to see a couple of the paintings, although bites and pixels don't do justice to the artist's paper work.

Michael Hague also selected and illustrated "The Book of Dragons". That book does for dragons what this book does for fairies. I strongly recommend it as well and for much the same reasons as I do "The Book of Fairies".

Linda Murphy
Children's Editor of the Writers Hood
...

A lovely looking book.
This is a lovely collection of classic fairy tales, made wonderful by Michael Hague's illustrations. Like all of his earlier books, the illustrations just leap off the page and make it hard to turn the pages. I literally marveled at these illustrations and bought it even though the stories were geared for a younger child than I was buying it for. It is hard to imagine anyone not loving this book. ... Read more

Book Description

When you are alone, you can do all sorts of things -- pretend you are tiny (or enormous), hear things other people can't hear, and see things they can't see. Being alone is fine -- sometimes.

Kevin Henke's first book makes it clear that he remembers his own childhood and respects that time in others. His remarkable paintings have a life and luminescense that are unforgettable.

Reviews (1)

Dreamy
This is a dreamy book about the magic of solitude. The author, depicted as a little boy, describes the wonderful things one can imagine when one is all alone. The book is short (about 130 words), and there are no scary parts. Good for bedtime reading. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

To look at yourself and make a wish...
As a young African-American teenager going through cancer surgery, this book was a such a gift that helped me to take my mind out of a semi-private room in a children's hospital, and to exercise my fantasy of being Geeder. Virginia Hamiliton's writing is simple, but powerful; the emotions very realistic and can be taken to heart. Most important, it speaks of differences among the "same"; the acceptance of the diversity.

A childhood favorite
I'm in my late 30's now, but this book still remains one of my favorites from childhood. As a preadolescent I read this book countless times, and found it only became more engaging with each reading. I valued its realness. I often wished I could enter the worlds my books revealed, but this was the most concrete of those worlds with which I wished to engage.

This is not an easy book. Hamilton challenges her readers. Still, for children who like to read, this book is terrific.

An exploration of identity, wishes, and family connection
When I first read this book, I was puzzled and a bit put off by the heroine. But I find, like Mike Johnson, that the more you read it, the more you find. Like Geeder I am mesmerized by Zeely, her beauty, serenity, and her mystery. I am also inspired by the book's emphasis on reality--not realism--that it's good to dream, but you shouldn't lose hold of reality--those pigs. I'm also inspired by the idea that we need to know the truth about our families and our history before we're ready to make up stories. The book is a reminder that we can all be queens if we do our work with dignity and grace.

Not my type.
I would give this book a star rating of two because it's a really boring book. The good points about this book are that Zeely came out better than the others in the town. This book was all about how Zeely was being teased and was talked about because of her color and how tall she was for her age. Zeely's parents both died, so Zeely has moved on to a farm with her uncle. Also Zeely turns out to look like an African American Queen.

Just finished teaching this book...again
I expect this book, like all great books, means different things to different people. A "different strokes" book - you think? Anyway, I just finished teaching a lesson to my sixth grade class from this book for about the zillionth time over a six year period. Each time, I see more in the book than before. I'm not sure where Mrs. Hamilton was going with this book, but I explained to the class that the more you read it and the more you grow, the more you will see. I never cease to be amazed at Zeely's serenity in the brutal scene of the hog drive (chapter 11) - her compassion and inner strength. In this scene, Mrs Hamilton shows us all something inside ourselves that we are seeking: inner peace in the maelstrom. Thanks for reminding us. ... Read more

Book Description

Water is the inspiration for the River of Words contest, an annual challenge that highlights the art and poetry created by children from all over the world.

River of Words: Images and Poetry in Praise of Water offers a powerful selection of the finest work from the contest’s first six years. With selections by children from places as diverse as Azerbaijan and the U.S., China and Ivory Coast, as well as Thailand and the Ukraine, it is colorful and passionate evidence of fertile minds creating fertile visions of the world. From the hearts and minds of children come expressions of pure joy and exultation, as well as sorrow and longing, all inspired by water.

River of Words is proof that children have the capacity to be intelligent, articulate, caring, creative, humorous, inventive and most of all, passionate. For many adults, busy in their day to day lives, how could we not feel a pang of envy for those heady times, when, as children, the natural world was what it has always been, a wonderful place full of discovery. ... Read more

Book Description

Perfect for gift-giving--a classic illustrated by Michael Hague, in a beautifully redesigned edition.

Thornton W. Burgess said that imagination was "the birthright of every child." His Old Mother West Wind stories, first published in 1910, have worked their magic on generations of children.
... Read more

Reviews (7)

Michael Hague AND Thornton W. Burgess...What a Treat!
"All the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were hurrying over the Green Meadows. Some flew this way and some ran that way and some danced the other way. You see, Jerry Muskrat had asked them to carry his invitations to a party at the Big Rock in the Smiling Pool." Originally published in 1910, the Old Mother West Wind Stories of Thornton W. Burgess are brimming with just this type of endearing and whimsical imagery. They are quaint but clever, sensitive and fun-filled. This lovely book contains sixteen stories featuring many charming woodland characters such as Tommy Trout, Mrs. Redwing, the Willful Little Breeze, Billy Mink, and Little Joe Otter. Burgess was a dedicated conservationist and these stories were intended to instill an abiding love of Nature and wildlife in small children. They do a wonderful job of it and Burgess would be delighted, as I am, in this edition's beautiful illustrations that are the work of the talented Michael Hague. The first illustration in the book, featuring Old Mother West Wind in her flowing grey and blue gown and her long flowing hooded cape, is worth the price of the entire book in and of itself. We have come to expect great things from Hague but he outdoes himself in this book. I'm glad to see these wonderful stories available to another generation of children. Their gentle pastoral nature really is timeless and the less our world sees of natural habitat and woodland creatures the more we need this book. Treat yourself and you children to it. It's one of my favorites.

Timeless tales your children will LOVE
"Old Mother West Wind", is the first of many stories by Burgess of his imagined world of The Green Forest, the Laughing Brook, and the Smiling Pond. Originally published in 1910, it is based upon a series of bedtime stories Burgess wrote for his son. The characters are inspired by the variety of wildlife Burgess was surrounded by as a child growing up in the yet-uncommercialized Cape Cod, Mass. His love of nature and his desire to instill that love in future generations is conveyed beautifully in these classic tales.

Old Mother West Wind comes down to the Green Meadows from her home in the Purple Hills daily to allow her children, the Merry Little Breezes, to frolic among the residents of the area. In "Old Mother West Wind", you are introduced to many of the characters upon which later books in this series are based. As the back of the book states, "[This book] combines gentle lessons about wildlife and the environment with the fun of a good story". In addition, most tales contain a basic moral lesson (ie. don't steal, don't lie, etc).

Any imaginative child will be captivated by this book. The chapters are short, with simple language that children will identify with, for the most part. Read aloud to pre-readers, or read by children themselves, this book will surely be a family favorite in no time.

This republication by Dover Children's Thrift Editions costs only a dollar. If you are looking to fill in your child's library a little whithout breaking the bank, I highly recommend starting here (and with the other Burgess books). You'll be glad you did.

Note: the next book in publication in this series is the Adventures of Johnny Chuck. While it is not necessary to read the books in order, I just wanted to add that info in case anyone wanted to know.

Ignore the Pompous Editorial Review
I read Burgess as a child and have loved him ever since. These wonderful stories inspire a love of animals and a love of nature, but not at the expense of good, old-fashioned American story-telling, and those who dismiss them as "sentimental" are displaying an unbecoming pomposity, in my view. Old Mother West Wind is beautiful classic, a book that escapes the pushy realism of so much contemporary storytelling aimed at children, which is really the choice of the parent, and not the child. Let kids imagine! It'll last them all their lives. What a gift, indeed!

Old stories never die--they just grow longer tales.
I read this book when I was in third grade. I have never lost my imaginative love of nature inspired by Old Mother West Wind and her Gentle Breezes. I was thrilled when I found that these books had been republished--and have bought them to read to my grandchildren one day. Now--if I could just get my children married. . . .

Old favorite, children's stories, girls 9-14 should love it.
This book, which my mother enjoyed as a child and passed on to me and my sister, held us in thrall. It's ideal for imaginative children; read it to younger ones, let the 9+ set read it themselves. ... Read more

School Library Journal, Starred Review

Christmas treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

More than a Christmas story.
Scaring sleeping uncles by popping balloons. Getting a hatchet by mistake. Snowballing cats. Dylan Thomas has captured the perfect Christmas. Without any moral, very little plot, and a concern only for the child's perspective, this little piece sticks in my mind better than any other Christmas story I've ever read. Between drunk Auntie Hannah singing in the backyard and the haunted house down the streets where a group of mischievous carollers get the living hell scared out of them, "A Child's Christmas in Wales" is everything Christmas should be: funny, happy, poignant, a little sad, and fattening. Keep a bowl of candy nearby when you read it.

Part of a Christmas tradition.
Every Christmas Eve, I set aside a few minutes to listen to my CD of Dylan reading "A Child's Christmas" in Wales, placing the special emphasis only he can on the frustrated Mr. Prothero trying to put out a fire in his house, the neighborhood St. Bernards who bellow "Excelsior!" over the town, and the churchgoers who, with taproom noses, go scooping over the ice. The older I get, the more I need this little piece. As friends and family are, for one reason or another, lost with the passing years, it gets harder and harder to laugh, even at Christmas, but Dylan Thomas gives me a good giggle every time.

The Best Christmas Book EVER.
I really cannot say enough wonderful things about this book and the audio tape of Dylan Thomas reading it. My Christmas seasons have been enriched beyond measure since a loved one gave me this book. It is the most evocative and beautiful Christmas tale I've ever read and reading it aloud on Christmas Eve has become a beloved tradition in our family. It even inspired my husband and me to spend Christmas 2 years ago in the Cotswolds (England, not Wales... I realize), but we yearned for a more traditional "old world" holiday season and found it in the countryside not far from Wales. If you love the spirit of Christmas, this book is truly essential....such beautiful words with amazing soul, you will be enchanted.

Best of all having it read aloud to oneself
Who hasn't read this short tale of magic about Christmas past in a village in Wales, Dylan Thomas' most beloved book? I've read it to myself perhaps 20 times; I've read it to my children and laughed over the pictures maybe 10 more times. But, till now, I've never experienced the joy of hearing the poet himself read it to me. Omigod, what a pure pleasure. Recorded in 1952, this new release is all cleaned up and is a real keeper. Thomas' cadences, inflections, emphasis, pauses, and his marvelous Welsh accent make a listener close her eyes and just get lost in the humor and love and reminiscences of a bygone era.
There are quite a few other selections in this collection - and they're good - but even if you buy it just for A Child's Christmas in Wales, it'll be money well spent.

Enchanting Poetic Dylan Thomas Classic
Dylan Thomas' 'A Child's Christmas in Wales' in it's second print for generations has become an enchanting, simple poetic tale captured in the eyes of a child. The language is delightfully entrancing and the poetry shines with a heavenly radiance. Thomas' style captures an adult's warm memory of a holiday-season that reflects presents, good things to eat, and when it was just right, white blanket of new snow with all it's wonder and the mischief of snowball battles and any exaggeration that moves that will spark the imagination of a child.

This second edition of Thomas' magical tale is lavishly illustration with old-fashioned, scratchboard-like engravings by Fritz Eichenberg. Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales in 1914. He began writing poetry at a very young age and published his first book, '18 Poems' at twenty. From 1943 until his death he broadcasted his own radio talk program on BBC. He read poetry selections, participated in table discussions, and read dramas and essays. His voice became familiar with Americans in the 1950s during his lecture tours at American universities. He had achieved an admirable audience for his poetry. Besides this book and his poetry his other most widely read works are 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog,' 'Quite Early One Morning' and his play, 'Under Milk Wood.'

'A Child's Christmas in Wales' is Thomas' most fine work of art-with it's human quality, touching sentiment, easily understood presentation and child-like wisdom that gives Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' a second glance at holiday tradition. After all we can all find a child in Christmas in all of us. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Virginia Hamilton, who previously won a Newbery Medal and a MacArthur Foundation grant, gives us 17 pugnacious and heroic female characters in a collection of tales that demonstrates the breadth of African-American cultural tradition. The characters in Her Stories, which won the 1996 Coretta Scott King Award, are strong, competent, and sometimes bigger than life, like the "coal black and tree tall" Annie Christmas. Drawn from a variety of sources, the tales in Her Stories have been crafted to blend together smoothly while remaining true to their original tone. Text and art are laid against a buff background in a stylish, oversize format, with a heavy binding built to stand up to the repeated use that's sure to come. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A beautiful compilation of African American folklore!
"Her Stories" is a delightful collection of nineteen stories from African American culture, retold by award-winning author Virginia Hamilton. The stories are divided into five categories: Her Animal Tales, Her Fairy Tales, Her Supernatural, Her Folkways and Legends, and Her True Tales. Each story focuses on a female, African American protagonist, and is about 3-4 pages in length. Hamilton's writing is vivid and colorful, yet remains simple enough that younger readers should have no trouble. The stories would also be great to read aloud. While Hamilton has translated the tales into contemporary language for easier understanding, she leaves a few conventions from Creole, Gullah, and other forms of speech that are best read aloud for full effect.

The book is also a great study in African American literary and oral tradition, and is suitable for adults as well as children. Each story is followed by commentary from the author, providing the history of the tale, how it reflects African American heritage, explanation of any unusual aspects of the story, and any additional points of interest. Some of the stories are based in history, and others are entirely ficitonal. Some bear likenesses to more familiar tales as well - "Catskinella" is an alternative form of the popular Cinderella story, and "Little Girl and Buh Rabby," comes from the tradition of Brer Rabbit stories.

"Her Stories" is also beautifully illustrated, bringing out the best in each tale. At the end of the book Hamilton has included some reflections on her own childhood, and how her mother influenced her decision to compile stories about strong African American women. This book is perfect for anyone, young or old and of any culture, interested in reading traditional folklore.

Wonderfully powerful book- a must read for all girls
In "Her Stories," African American women tell their tales of magic, supernatural and real life, while emphasizing their strength and imaginations. The Cleverness and determination of African American women is shown.

A wonderful collection for any girl OR boy
Here is another fantastic anthology from Virginia Hamilton, the award-winning author of "House of Dies Drear" and "The People Could Fly". This volume, also featuring the wonderful illustrations of Leo & Diane Dillon, is an eye-opener for those only familiar with European folktales.

Hamilton's book is divided into five sections: (1) Her Animal Tales, (2) Her Fairy Tales, (3) Her Supernatural, (4) Her Folkways and Legends, and (5) Her True Tales. Each section contains an average of four stories, accompanied by informative and entertaining background historical data.

Young readers will love the author's prose and the illustrators' beautiful paintings. Older readers and parents will gain a greater appreciation for a culture that has been too long ignored.

These stories are as valid and fanciful as any of their more familiar European counterparts.

The book ends with a list of valuable resources where one can find other examples of African-American folklore.

second cousins
I gave this book a five star because i thought it was a real good book it was about these two girls who meet their second cousins when they wher going to Cammy dads house cause Cammy dad said that she could come over any time so they left the siwmming pool to go over there when they got there Cammy showed her all the rooms in the house but saved the best for last when they got to that room Cammy said here's my room and opened the door and found two girls in the beds so Cammy asked what are you doing here but the two girls got smart.So Cammy asked them whats their names is they said GiGi and Fractal then one girl got up and start dancing around Cammy started to get mad so she said come on El and they left.When they got home their mom said your second cousins are coming over for dinner and Cammy knew who her mom was talking about after that they got real close to each other.Yes i would recommend this good book to people.

in memory of Virginia Hamilton
I had the pleasure of buying the book "Herstories" from the author herself.

It is a "Must Have" book if you've read any of her earlier books. Ms. Hamilton told me that many of the stories in this book came handed down to her.

As you may already know, Virginia Hamilton died on February 19, 2002. "Herstories" is the perfet gift for those who want to keep her memories alive.

The art work that Leo and Diane Dillon bring to the pages of "Herstories" is like nothing that you've ever seen in a childrens book - they make the stories come alive on the pages!

Readers note: Please note that spell-check was not avalible to me as I was writing this review! ... Read more

Book Description

When Violet goes camping with her friends, Arthur decides to brave the woods alone. But there’s nothing like swooping bats and hissing snakes to make even the most courageous chimp run for cover. ‘One of Hoban’s best Arthur tales.’—School Library Journal.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Arthur's Camp-Out
What a cute book! I think that most young children would enjoy this book even if they didn't like camping. It is adventurous and keeps you curious. I think that girls would especially like this book because it shows that girls can be campers too and that they don't have to be afraid of the animals or anything else for that matter! By reading this book I think that children would have less fear of camping. ... Read more