Book Description

For thousands of years, the legendary dragon has inspired awe and wonder in cultures the world over. Fearsome in strength, ferocious in appetite, yet majestic in bearing, this fabulous beast has long been a favorite subject of artists and storytellers.

Now Michael Hague, one of America's most belovedparnters of fantasy, boldly captures seventeen classic dragon tales, armed only with the magic of his paintbrush. Here beside the heroics of Perseus, St. George, and Sigurd are the adventures of the girl who slew a dragon and became queen of China, as well as the dazzling comic twists of Kenneth Grahame's "The Reluctant Dragon" and E. Nesbies "The Dragon Tamers." Here too are such magical authors as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Italo Calvino.

The mythical dragon will be very real indeed for all who read these enchanting tales and pore over the twenty fullcolor and sixteen black-and-white illustrations. Michael Hague's art has never breathed more fire.

Reviews (9)

Cool Book!
I think this book has cool pictures. They have cool knights. It has different kinds of dragons. I like the stories.

Two claws up!
My boys love this book, which we got for them for Christmas. Some stories are too hard for them (they're six and four), but even the younger one loves looking at the pictures. "Why's this dragon happy? Because he like to eat some people?" "Look at this funny dancing dragon!" "Daddy, this dwagon's cwying. Why?" My older son can read some of the stories, a bit. . . But it might take a few more years to grow into all of them. I enjoy them maybe just as much. The authors are all first rate, and each story seems better than the last, and than the one after it, if that makes sense. All in all, this book is a great idea, well-executed. I should add that I myself am a dragon, and find that the book's square, flat shape makes it a good fire-stop.

A wonderful collection of stories with great illustrations..
This book is perfect for any young person, or person young at heart, who loves dragons. It features many of the marvelous illustrations by that master of fantasy, Michael Hague, accompanying 17 classic tales of dragons and their prey.

The tales range in place setting from China to England, Scandinavia to Narnia. The dragons themselves range from fearsome to foolish, rage-filled to reluctant, and everything in-between. If you or your child love dragons and their stories, don't hesitate to buy this book!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaa for dragons!
This is a beautifully illustrated book with many beautiful tales. I sometimes wonder why the dragons are usually the enemies, while the book is titled "The Book of Dragons." My favorite story is "The Dragon and the Enchanted Filly." I like it because the hairs of the filly are magical!

The Book of Dragons
I bought this book for my 6 year old. He loves Dragons. This book has been wonderful. The pictures are great. Some of the stories are a little over his head but he has enjoyed having the other stories read to him. We are enjoying this book specifically devoted to dragons! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The clinical name is transitional object, but for young children, a beloved blanket is more likea lifeline. And that's exactly how Owen feels about his baby blanket, fondly named Fuzzy. The Owen-Fuzzyrelationship is cruising along smoothly until a nosy neighbor, Mrs. Tweezers, leans over the fence and askshis parents, "Isn't he getting a little old to be carrying that thing around?" With kindergarten just around thecorner, Owen's parents wonder if he should in fact relinquish his prized Fuzzy. Kevin Henkes uses hissignature mouse characters and jewel-tone watercolors to explore the antics and foils of one mouse-boy, onerag-blanket, and two parents wondering how to help their son kick the habit. This is what Henkes does best--playfully bringing childhood fears and feelings to the surface while portraying real-life parent-childtensions. Mrs. Tweezers, a real sourpuss, is no help at all. She offers terrible over-the-fence advice, such asdipping Fuzzy in vinegar (as if to cure a nail-biting habit) or stealing the blanket in the night.

It is not until the eve of Owen's first day of kindergarten that his mother hatches the perfect solution.Ultimately, she finds a way that Owen can hang on to his first true love while also taking the next step intomiddle childhood--a solution that suits everyone, including Mrs. Tweezers. Caldecott Honor Book, HornBook Fanfare Honor List, ALA Notable Book, Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, ALA Booklist Children's Editors' Choice.(Ages 3 and older) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Blanket Coverage of Staying Connected with Security Objects!
Almost all children have a favorite blanket or stuffed toy that makes any situation more comfortable. Children vary a lot in how long and how extensively they rely on these friendly objects. Social pressures to relinquish the objects often make the child even more insecure. In this worthy story, your child can learn how to keep this warm connection while reducing social embarrassment.

"Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket . . . . He loved it with all his heart."

"Fuzzy goes where I go."

"Fuzzy likes what I like."

"He carried it.

And wore it.

And dragged it.

He sucked it.

And hugged it.

And twisted it."

You can see the close connection from these quotes.

The crisis is brought on when Owen announces, "I have to bring Fuzzy [no longer literally so] to school." What to do?

If you are a first-time parent, this book will suggest a solution that almost all parents rely on (or a variant thereof). As such, it is a great gift to parents and children.

The book was honored by Caldecott for its illustrations which rely on bright watercolor paints and black pen outlines. Owen and the other characters in the book are mice, and they have a visual sweetness that helps take the anxiety out of the book's subject. If the characters were humans, the book could feel threatening to the child who isn't ready to give up the blanket or other security object.

I suggest that you also ask your child what you can do to help make new situations feel more comfortable. The process of becoming more separate from home and parents is a difficult one. Although almost everyone will make it, there's no reason why the transition has to be a harsh and unpleasant one.

Provide an inner sense of security in all the loving ways you know!

What to do about Owen and his beloved fuzzy yellow blanket?
For every parent who tried to get their child to give up their favorite blanket, and who had no response to the observation that Linus never gave up HIS blanket, there is the story of "Owen." Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, Owen is a young mouse who has a fuzzy yellow blanket he has had ever since he was a baby and which he loves with all his heart. Mrs. Tweezers lives next door and she thinks Owen is too old to be dragging a blanket around. Owen's parents are forced to agree and so Mrs. Tweezers has a series of suggestions on how to get Owen to give up his fuzzy yellow blanket. However, Owen REALLY loves that blanket. Still, school will be starting soon and Owen cannot bring the blanket to school. Fortunately, Owen's mother is a lot smarter than either Owen or even Mrs. Tweezers know. What makes "Owen" a great story for families trying to deal with separation anxiety because of a beloved but well worn object is that in the end, everybody wins, and if Owen thinks the solution is mother comes up with is a great one then maybe your child will have a similar reaction to YOUR great solution.

But unless we are talking about a blanket, you are probably going to have to come up with an idea all on your own. After all, there is no Blanket Fairy and "Owen" is one of those books that a wise parent might have to choose for their child.

What A Great Children's Book
This is MY favorite children's book. What a wonderful story. I am proud to say that it is a part of my book collection !!

Blankie book
Owen (a mouse) has a wonderful blanket named Fuzzy. He takes it everywhere and Fuzzy enjoys everything Owen does, like peanut butter and bath times. A pesky lady who lives next door shares some ideas with Owen's parents about how to separate Owen from Fuzzy, but none of them work, and Owen and Fuzzy get to stay together. The story is rather fun, with a little tension, but no scary bits. The book has about 550 words.

Funny Stuff
'Owen' is a very humorous, well-written story that makes for a good before-bed out-loud read. Be prepared to have to read it twice. (It's not long.)
It's true the author, Kevin Henkes, is depicting matter-of-fact blankie situations a lot of parents and children can relate to. But more importantly, in my opinion, it's very entertaining. These are the most down-to-earth mice you'll ever want to meet.
This is my favorite children's story, next to 'The Bernstein Bears and the Messy Room'. ... Read more

Book Description

Nobody could capture the Phantom. She was the wildest mare on Assateague Island. They said she was likethe wind, that the white "map" on her shoulders was her mark of freedom.

Paul and Maureen Beebe had their hearts set on owning her. They were itching to buy and tame her; andworked hard to earn the money she would cost. But the roundup men had tried to capture her and for twoyears she had escaped them....

Pony Penning Day holds a surprise for everyone, for Paul not only brings in the Phantom, but hernewborn colt as well. Can Paul and Maureen possibly earn enough to buy them both? ... Read more

Reviews (48)

Misty of Chincoteague/bunny
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry was published in 1947. The main characters are Pual, Maureen,a hose named The Phantom, and Phantom's colt Misty.Paul and Maureen buy Misty and her mother at Pony Penning Day ,when men from Chincoteague go up and try to get wild ponies Assateague Island. Pual and Maureen raise Misty and the Phantom on their own. Their grandpa didn't think that they could raise both of the horses on their own because they were just kids.They proved him wrong by giving a lot of their time to train them.They had to work hard on the Phantom because she was wild.Tthe two kids learned that hard work pays off.Both Pual and Maureen changed in the story.In the end the kids are more resposible and work harder.I like this book because it shows that can do things that grown-ups usuay do. I rate this book five out of five stars.

A basic for the horse-lover's library
If you have a child that loves horses, you've probably already seen this book.......either brought home from the library... or in their own collection. This is one of the staples of any horse-lover's collection.

The story of Misty, a wild pony from Assateague Island off the coast of Virginia who is captured as a foal and adopted by Paul and Maureen Beebe. True story of a truly wonderful foal and her family. This story sparked three sequels that still sell millions of copies around the world.

Misty of Chincoteague
Misty of Chincoteague is a wonderful book for all ages. The Phantom is the wildest horse on the Island of Assateague. The "map" of the United States on her whithers and the fact that she ran like the wind made the lead mare of the Pied Piper's herd the most desirable horse on the entire island. Paul and Maureen Beebe want the Phantom, and work hard to earn the hundred dollars to buy her if she is caught. But no one can catch the Phantom, right?
Surprises are in store for the young reader, and old friends will enjoy coming back time and time again to this book for all, Misty of Chincoteague.

ANIMAL lovers this is the book
Misty of the Chincoteague is about the Phantom, a horse that is wild and free. Little does the Phantom know that there is a dream of a little girl and boy? The boy's name is Paul and the girl's name is Maureen they are brother and sister that have the same dream to buy the Phantom. Their grandpa owns a horse farm where a whole bunch of people go out and capture horses to sell them. So Paul and Maureen start working because they want that horse so bad. They're going to do anything to get the Phantom. Does Paul and Maureen's dream come true?
Misty was one of the best stories I have ever read! If you are a horse lover then this book is for you! This is all thumbs up. An animal lover out there if you are looking for a magnificent irresistible wonderful book to read this book is for you!

Great book for pony lovers!
This is one of our daughter's favorite pony books and a classic story. As a publisher of another children's pony book, "Mint's Christmas Message" we think "Misty" is the standard against which other children's pony books should be measured. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Seven decades after Babar was born, the world is still very much in lovewith the noble elephant. Before his untimely death at age 37, Jean de Brunhoffwrote and illustrated six stories about Babar and his friends and family. Inthis exquisite gift edition, every one of these stories is included, with not aword or picture left out. From The Story of Babar--in which the elephantis born, loses his mother, runs off to Paris, and returns to be crownedking--through The Travels of Babar, Babar the King, Babar andZephir, Babar and His Children, and Babar and FatherChristmas, the beloved pachyderm's incredible life adventures are chronicledfor our reading pleasure. In his introduction, picture book author-illustratorKevin Henkes writes, "Where else could one find a balloon accident, a deadlypoison mushroom, a runaway carriage, an extraordinary flying machine, a snakeattack, fire, war, death, birth? These books are full of adventure and fantasy,but they also deal with the stuff of real life. And I'm convinced children longto see both the dark and the light sides of human experience reflected in theirbooks just as much as adults do, perhaps more." Adults who truly wish to sharethe joys of the classics with the children in their lives could do no betterthan to present them with this grand collection. (Ages 4 and older) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great fun for the whole family
My husband and I grew up on Babar. So when we saw this book we bought for our 4 month old son. He loves to hear our voices as we read to him and he also loves the bright colored pictures. We enjoy the memories that the stories bring back to us. A great addition to anyones collection.

TIP: We take the dust cover of any of his books that have dust covers and put them in plastic sleeves for later when we are sure he will not rip them up. That way when he is older the book looks like new even though it really is old.

"Original" art? Ha!
I was so thrilled to get this book as a gift, especially since it includes the long out-of-print "Babar and Zephir." When I began to leaf through it, being very familiar with the older editions, I grew sicker with every page. Jean de Brunhoff's stunning artwork has been absolutely destroyed.

Do you know how you feel when watching an old black-and-white movie that you have long loved which has been "colorized"? Yes, your favorite golden age actress now has pink skin, fucshia lips too big for her face and what color are her eyes supposed to be, exactly? The Babar art has been colorized in the most grotesque and garish sense of the word--which is really horrid when you consider that most of Brunhoff's original illustrations were already in color to begin with. Random House has decided, apparently, that Brunhoff's colors are not bright enough. Where Brunhoff shaded, Random House has plastered one uniform cartoonish shade from line to line. Babar's green suit ranges from merely loud green to splitting-headache green. The suit which he wears while playing trumpet in the circus defies description. Suffice it to say it is very blue and very red.

The beautiful scene in which the Celesteville residents bring gifts to infants Pom, Flora, and Alexander has lost its pastoral sweetness and is positively grotesque. The babies lie in their pram, which looks as though my kindergartener re-outlined it in black magic marker, under glaring green palms and flowers with a turquoise blanket scarcely dimmer than the book's cover (see above), while royal blue butterflies flit nearby. Babar is standing in a suit that is (if possible) even greener than the greenery directly behind him. A uniformly orange cow and dromedary are in the reception line. Think Fisher Price.

Does your child really need to know that the mermaid Eleanore's sisters are peeking out of the water when Zephir captures Eleanore? Due to the paint job the sea has suffered, you may need to point this out, as Brunhoff's few lines are no longer recognizable as the tops of mermaid heads. Somebody overdid the brown on the faces of General Huc and Colonel Aristobald, these brave and clever monkeys no longer have visible eyes, mouths, or hairlines.

The subtlety, the grace, the old-world patina of the gorgeous Babar art is gone. In its place, we have. . .well, they do say that bright colors are good for babies' development.

I want to cry.

A GREAT CHILDREN'S BOOK!
We have a 3 year old and a 2 year old and they both really love Babar and the gang. They love the book and Babar videos. We've had this book for over a year, and our children continue to ask us to read it to them. This book is wonderfully illustrated and humorous. Enjoyable even for adults.

an elephant's intro to middle class life
One of the delights of being a parent is to return to the books you loved as a child with your own children. For the last 4 years, I have read and re-read these classic tales with my daughter, who loves them as much as I did. At 6, she is only beginning to yearn for more complicated sotries and characters.

While the stories at times appear a bit dated - they offer a curious mix of colonialism and advice on how to run a pluralistic animal kingdom - they offer wonderful lessons on how to get along with others. The characters are caring and many of them are somewhat flawed, as they try to puruse principled lives in the jungle. My daughter mentions them to me all the time when we talk about issues, offering us a common vocabulary and easy way to exlain things.

They also are simply very good stories, with adventure, humor, and plenty of good intentions. Warmly recommended.

Something different
Though Babar isn't one of the classic American children's storybook series, it definitely is worth introducing to your loved ones. This set of books is refreshing and cute, allowing for a different way of describing the world to children. I grew up with European parents who read Babar stories to me in French all the time. Compared to typically "American" stories, Babar is a curious yet wonderfully charming character who encounters just as many interesting adventures as any other. I definitely recommend this if you're searching for something different. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The last three adventures of Tintin, Snowy, and the gang
I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that none of the three tales collected in Volume 7, the final set of "The Adventures of Tintin," constitute classic examples of Hergé's beloved comic book stories. But that seems a minor concern when you consider the epic scope of Hergé's body of work. It is not that these are bad stories, especially compared to the ones collected in Volume 1 of this series, but rather that Hergé so often provided classic tales, with Tintin traveling to the Moon or diving beneath the sea, that these final three adventures do not measure up.

"The Castafiore Emerald" begins with Tintin and Captain Haddock out for a walk and discovering a band of gypsies camped near the rubbish dump. This offends the good captain, who offers the gypsies the use of a large meadow near his hall. However, no good deed goes unpunished and he receives a telegram announcing the imminent arrival of Biana Castafiore, the Milanese Nightingale. Meanwhile, the broken step on the front staircase earns Haddock a badly sprained ankle and the opportunity to roll around the adventure in a wheelchair. The diva and her entourage then descend upon the hall, literally adding insult to injury by giving the captain the gift of a parrot. But as Castafiore repeatedly points out, she has brought along her jewels, including an emerald given the signora by the Maharajah of Gopal. The gypsy fortuneteller had already predicted the theft of the jewels and we expect her prophecy to come true, even though Castafiore is constantly yelling about her jewels missing. "The Castafiore Emerald" derives its comedy from the clash of characters with Tintin staying out of the way for the most part. Of course, by this time in the series Hergé is completely comfortable with his cast of characters, which shows in the interplay, Hergé also does a delightful take on that new fangled invention, the television.

"Flight 714" is sort of the generic Adventure of Tintin, with a little bit of everything that . A Qantas Boeing 707, Flight 714 from London touches down at Kemajoran Airport in Djakarta, java, last stop before Sydney, Australia. Disembarking is our hero, Snowy, Captain Haddock, and Professor Calculus. As they stretch their legs the good Captain spots a forlorn figure and slips a $5 bill into the man's hat. Once again no good deed of Haddock's goes unpunished and it turns out the old man is Mr. Carreidas, "The millionaire who never laughs." Well, Professor Calculus quickly takes care of that and Carreidas insists on flying Tintin and his friends to Australia on his special jet. Haddock is looking forward to a pleasure trip, an ordinary flight and no adventures, but fate has something else in mind, to wit: a hijacking, a cutting edge prototype means of transportation, an exotic island in the middle of nowhere, an evil scientist with truth serum, a gigantic stone head pagan idol, a threatening lava flow, the return of an old familiar villain, a space ship, and Tintin running around a lot with a gun. Pretty much all of these elements have popped up in the previous twenty Adventures of Tintin that Hergé had told over the previous decades. For that reason this particular adventure strikes me as more of a curtain call for Tintin and his friends than anything else, even though this is the penultimate tale and the Thom(p)sons are no place to be seen.

"Tintin and the Picaros" is the final adventure of Tintin, although there is not any sense of this being the end of the road (except for the surprising discover that suddenly Captain Haddock can no longer stand the taste of alcohol). As the story begins the Captain and Tintin are discussing the state of affairs in San Theodoros, when General Tapioca's dictatorship continues to rule in place of their old friend Alcazar. Then news comes that prima donna Bianca Castafiore has been arrested by Tapioca as part of a conspiracy to over throw the government. But when Tapioca charges Haddock, Tintin, and Professor Calculus as being part of the conspiracy a series of charges and countercharges, as well as outright insults, fly back in the forth in the headlines between Haddock and Tapioca. Finally the Captain agrees to accept Tapioca's "invitation" to come to San Theodoros to discuss the matter. Haddock is pretty much trapped into agreeing, and Calculus insists on going to Madame Castafiore's rescue, but Tintin refuses to go, knowing this has to be a trap. The title of the book refers to the Picaros, which is the name of the rebels in the mountains who want to take back the government of San Theodoros and return Alcazar to power. In this final Adventure of Tintin we are back on familiar ground for the most part, both in terms of the geography and the characters. We know, of course, that Tintin has not abandoned his friends and eagerly anticipate some clever way of arriving upon the scene at a most opportune moment. However, this turns out not to be the case, and when Tintin does arrive on the scene you know that Hergé is providing a standard adventure for his hero and his friends, and not something special.

But while "Tintin and the Picaros" and the other two tales found here are average adventure at best, there can be no doubt that taken together these 21 stories (23 if you count the two earlier "flawed" adventures) are a major accomplishment in the field of comic books. I only wish I had made a point of reading these classics two or three decades earlier, because with "The Adventures of Tintin" Hergé created one of the landmark comic book series since Cortes discovered pre-Columbian picture manuscripts in 1519. In terms of owning these stories your choice is between these smaller, hardbound books collecting three stories each, or the larger softcovered versions. I admit I first read most of them in the larger format but have the smaller hardback versions for the comic book section of my library.

Herge's a master!
Herge never ceased to amaze me, as a kid and even now. I'm 18 and the Tintin books are as exciting to me now as they were when I was eight. This volume is no exception. it features the last three Tintin books in the series, "The Castafiore Emerald", "Flight 714", and "Tintin and the picaros".

In "Castafiore", the famous opera singer Bianca Castafiore decides to drop in unexpectedly for a while at Captain haddock's Marlinspike Hall, much to the captain's displeasure. This is not the usual Tintin crime solving comic, yet it is extremely funny. "Flight 714" is full of action as Tintin and co. are hi-jacked on a flight to Sydney.

"Tintin and the Picaros" (1976)is Herge's last completed Tintin book, where Tintin and friends head to the south American republic of San Theodoros to help Castafiore and the Thompsons, who was arrested after being accused of plotting against the government, but in the mix-up get involved with guerillas aiming to overthrow the government. This is one of my favorite Tintin books as there are some major changes in the characters. Tintin finally hangs up his dated golf trousers in favor of bellbottoms and also carries the CND sign on his helmet (real hippy style). This book is also great as it brings back many familiar faces in the Tintin series....a truly great finale to one of the greatest ....if not THE greatest comic series ever.

Tintin brings the child in me
I read all the Tintin adventures that were available in the school library, I missed some that they did not have. Now 20 years later, I thought that I should have all the Tintin adventures. The 3 book series is a great way to collect and its also economical, but does not really bring the real flavor like individual 12 x 9.

Anyway, I got started with this one since Flight 714 was one of the best, besides the land of the black gold. I must say that most of the adventures that were dominated by Calculus were not very interesting, even though I have enjoyed Calculus' parts in all the adventures. Also, all the adventures that were space related were extremely boring. The rest are just terrific, the cigars of pharos, fligh 714, land of black gold, picaros, are one of the best work by Herge, who died a few years back.

delightful, imaginative, adventure of teenager a spunky dog!
The Tintin books are a delight to kids and adults alike. A mixture of science fiction, history, archaelogy, and mystery spread out in an elaborate, comic book form. These books will encourage kids to turn off the TV and dive into the world where a teenager and his dog can go to the moon, hunt buried treasure, pilot submarines, explore secret passages and be back in time for dinner. Perhaps an inspiration for Johnny Quest, these books have delighted readers for generations. ... Read more

Book Description

The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting--if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful--until she claims him for her own. "Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child's fragile self-esteem....Lilly is a superb and timely heroine."--Publishers Weekly. " ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Sweet Baby Julius
DO NOT be scared of the previous reviewers silly fears about "bad words" in this book. You don't have to be a genius to see that this is a positive book, with an extremely positive message about babies. Plus, it is Kevin Henkes, and he writes books that kids love, I know, I'm a teacher and if you want your kids to love books, buy them books like this. It's great, and the illustrations are adorable.

When my son was born, we recited parts of this book to him..
...in the NICU. "But his parents loved him. They kissed his wet pink nose, they admired his small black eyes, and they stroked his sweet white fur." Our four-year-old nephew wanted us to name the baby Julius (and we have tee-shirts personalized with Julius, though his name is Jake). We love this book SOOOOO much, and we give it often as a gift. It's a pleasure to read over and over again. "Kiss! Admire! Stroke!"

Julius, the Baby of the World
Lilly, an active mouse, stars in Julius, the Baby of the World, by Kevin Henkes.

It stars Lilly who loves Julius. But when he is born she hates him. She hates how her parents kiss his wet pink nose and how they stroke his soft white fur and admire his small black eyes. Lilly has to share her room. They want Julius to grow up big and strong like Lilly. But when her parents aren't looking, Lilly has her own ideas. Lilly's parents are doubtful about leaving them together alone. Lilly scares him and ignores him. Lilly spends more time in the uncooperative chair. Lilly hates him, but her parents love him. She warns her friends about him and other people.

My opinion is if you like a nice humored book with good pictures, this is your book. I love the way the colors work together. So go...get Julius, the Baby of the World.

I wouldn't have bought this if I'd read it first
Maybe this book would be a good thing for an older child who could understand that the behavior described in the book might be meant as something funny and not be OK to try, but I don't plan to read it to my 2 1/2 year old. It features a big sister who is having a tough adjustment to a new little brother (so far so good), but it goes into descriptions of a degree of negativity and acting out that I am not really looking to introduce my child to or read about over and over. The new big sister is pictured leaning over the baby's crib saying: "I hate you. You're ugly." In our family, we just don't talk to each other like that. The girl makes up a story for her brother in which she says he is a germ, a zero, like dust under the bed, like dirt...If my child had come up with doing this sort of thing on her own, I'd have to think hard about whether reading a story like this would be helpful. Since she hasn't come up with this kind of behavior, I don't really want to plant the seeds by reading this together. I thought Susan Winter's A Baby Just Like Me was much better, and my daughter loves that book. I also liked Geraldine's Baby Brother.

Hilarious, charming and a little educational thrown in
One of only a very few children's books that is laugh-out-loud funny for adults. For the kids, the pictures are colorful and charming (as are all Kevin Henkes illustrations) and the lesson in sibling jealously is a good one. I buy this book for all my little friends who are expecting their first younger brother or sister. A gem among the wonderful collection of Kevin Henkes books. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Deja Vu, And As Good as the First Time!
Two of the three adventures here have their genesis in earlier Tintin adventures. Red Sea Sharks takes Capt Haddock back to a ship, and this time we see his metamorphosis from the drunkard in Tintin and the Golden Crab to a responsible and almost noble person who tries his best (in his inimitable manner) to prevent Africans from being sold in slavery. 'Tintin in Tibet' sees Tintin off to Tibet (obviously), with a short stop in Delhi, to rescue his friend who he first met in 'The Blue Lotus'. We meet the yeti, see the captain's attempts at whistling, Snowy's bravery (unintended, as in The Black Island).

I read these adventures as a kid, and some twenty years later I still find myself enjoying these as much. I also enjoy HTML and CSS books now, but some things are too good to grow out of :)

A word of warning - try and buy the bigger versions of these adventures. The 3-in-1 format is convenient to be sure, but the big print of the indivudal comics is that much more satisfying!

A great value!
For reasons unknown, at almost 43 years old, I suddenly had this strange desire to read some of the Tintin stories I read when I was about 12. As a kid I spent countless hours reading Herge's books over and over. If memory serves, I only had 5 or 6 titles, and they were big books with hard covers.

This book is a great value since it contains 3 stories. Oh what memories they bring back. If you ever read Tintin as a kid, get some of these books. The only caveat is that the text is hard to read as these collections are smaller in size and both the drawings and text have been shrunk proportionately.

And yet another "warning." You may start buying the bigger individual stories once you read one of these. I should know. I am now hooked again and "collecting" all 23 volumes.

Thank you, Herge. We miss you.

Tintin is awesome
I love the Red Sea Sharks and Tintin in Tibet. Calculus Affair is full of coincidences and looks amateurish. But hey, when you read Tintin, you cant be too old or critical!

Bordurian agents are after Professor Calculus and his device
If traveling to the moon represents the genius of Professor Calculus going too far in a good way, then the ultrasonic machine that is behind the international machinations in "The Calculus Affair" ("L'affaire Tourensol") clearly represents the good professor going too far in a bad way. Once again Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock have to travel across the continent to rescue the absent-minded professor from Bordurian agents, narrowly miss death on numerous occasions, and, most importantly, reunite Calculus and his precious umbrella. Meanwhile, the Thompsons show up in what they think are Swiss disguises, Captain Haddock has a memorable encounter with a piece of sticking plaster, and our hero and his friends have to contend with both Jolyon Wagg and Signora Castafiore (actually, the diva turns out to be surprisingly helpful in this adventure). This 1956 Tintin Adventure certainly reflects the height of the Cold War as Herge deals with the question of how scientific inventions can serve humanity without being coveted by military powers. The answer, unfortunately, is that they cannot and that is why rescuing Calculus from the bad guys is so important. Fortunately, the resolution proves the Herge is still one step ahead of us in the faux world he has created for his hero's adventures. "The Calculus Affair" is one of the better Tintin adventures, although, as always, you are reminded to read these in order.

Herge at the Height of his Powers
This book is one of the great masterpieces of the cartoonists art. I've read it many times since I was 14 (I'm now 29) but the sheer athleticism and virtuosity of both the draughtmanship and the narrative remained undiminished. It really is an astonishing display and is perhaps only second to 'Flight 714' and 'The Castafoire Emerald' in Herge's ouevre. Buy it and read it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cute book!
I thought this book was the best when I was a kid, and I still love it! It is one of the cutest books I have ever read! I am now in the 8th grade, and I used this book for a speech competition with my friend. We got a superior (not to brag or anything). This book is probabally for kids from ages 5-8.

Beautiful illustrations
This is a great book for primary grade students. The illustrations are large and wonderful to look at. The text captures the devotion of a dog and the aloofness of a cat to perfection! I loved it!

A Perfect Depiction of Dogs and Cats
I Am the Dog I Am the Cat doesn't tell a story - instead it tells about the characters of a cat and a dog. Anyone who has ever owned either will recognize the essence of the animals in Hall's excellent verse, while Moser's elegant illustrations capture the dog and the cat beautifully.

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever had a pet or ever hopes to have one. Excellent for reading aloud, but be prepared for some rather urgent requests for a dog (or a cat) when the book is done. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great books, great service
I love TinTin and snowy. Herge created wonderful books for us, kids and adults. The size of book is just right, the hard cover can last long time. ...

Tintin and Snowy are great!
I love Tintin books and this one is no exception. I like the size of the book, the hardcover has a good binding so that it doesn't come apart and with three adventures in one you are getting a great deal.

A very neat presentation
This standard hardback sized 3 in 1 is just the thing. Most adults find Tintin an excellent toilet book and the single adventure large versions just aren't right. This neat set of three: The Broken Ear, The Black Island and King Ottokar's Sceptre (the best 'early' Tintin, by the way - i.e. no Captain Haddock or Calculus ; though the Thompson twins are not in their first adventure) fits nicely into the bathroom alongside the other volumes. I'm not sure why they stopped at three - or, at least, I can't find volume 4, but it was high time a decent-sized version of Tintin appeared and this does the trick nicely.

Wonderful stories, but don't get the 3-in-1 books
The print and pictures are TINY in this edition. Definitely get the bigger books. But my 3 kids LOVE all these stories -- they're 8, 6, and 5.

A great book!
... I LOVE this book!The Broken Ear, The Black Island,and King Ottokar's Sceptre are the best Tintin books ever written! I reccomend this book highly! It's great for all ages! ... Read more

Book Description

Millions of children have been lulled to sleep by this classic bedtime tale. Now paired with a cuddly plush bunny, it is the perfect way to say "goodnight."

Reviews (24)

Recreates an Illuminated Manuscript to Tell about St. George
This book was a Caldecott Medal winner as the best illustrated children's book in 1987. You will never see a finer set of modern simulations of a Middle Ages illuminated manuscript. The full range of the rainbow is vividly and brilliantly worked into almost every illustration. On text pages, the illuminations surround the words while on illustrated pages, they fill across the whole page -- border and all.

Unlike most children's stories, this one captures the full richness of the original tale as told by Spenser in the Faerie Queen. Without all the background of that story, some references here are not clear, so you'll want to explain them to your child.

The book features a ferocious three day battle between St. George and the dragon. For sensitive children, that battle in this book could encourage nightmares. I suggest that you either not share the book with children who might be frightened, or read it to them early in the day.

When a dragon terrorizes her father's kingdom, Princess Una escapes from the family castle to seek help. After an arduous journey, she finds the Red Cross Knight and calls upon him for assistance. He follows her back toward the castle. Along the way, he glimpses aspects of his future life.

Upon the plain surrounding the castle, a terrible and aggressive dragon waits to attack. The knight bravely attacks, but his weapon is no match for the dragon. He is gravely wounded and falls to the earth. It looks like the battle is over. Miraculously, the knight is restored to full strength the next day. The battle recommences, and the knight is again devastated by the dragon. But the knight has injured the dragon a little. Once again, the knight revives and the third day provides the titanic battle in which the knight slays the dragon.

The king and queen come out to welcome the knight, and offer him many riches. The knight modestly declines and pleads that the riches be given to the poor, instead. The king offers Princess Una's hand in marriage and his kingdom. The knight protests that he must serve the Fairy Queen for 6 more years. The king says that is all right, and the two are married. The knight comes and goes to serve his duty.

In time, he becomes known as St. George, the patron saint of England.

The story contains many worthwhile moral lessons such as being steadfast in one's duty, overcoming adversity through persistance and courage, and preferring to help others rather than seeking rewards for oneself. As such, the book is much more inspiring and heroic than most modern children's literature, and will become a favorite of those who like to take the challenges of the hard path.

After you and your child finish reading this story, on some occasions you should talk about what challenges face modern people. How can we serve others? How can we be modest in our pursuit? How can our lives provide lessons for others?

Pursue to the limits of potential and imagination!

I love dragons
Hyman won a Caldecott Medal for this book and there is no questioning why. The wonderful drawings tell the story with splendid detail. Bordering the text are more drawings that help to establish the setting and mood of the story. The text is even more exciting than the illustrations. A brave knight is summoned by a beautiful princess to slay the dragon that has been tormenting the land of the fairy queen. After several battles and assistance from magical entities, the knight defeats his foe and is granted the princess as a prize. There can be quite a lot of text on a single page causing it to be overwhelming in its lack of white space. The narrative is fast-paced enough that the reader will stay interested though. This book should be on an independent level for high second graders. Younger children will enjoy hearing it and seeing the pictures though.

Why 5 stars?:
I simply love the mythical magic of dragons. The illustrations included in this version are gorgeous. The story can be understood and enjoyed by children of all ages. Second graders should be able to read this book with just some slight assistance.

Best Introduction to the Genre
Adapted from Spenser's Faerie Queene, this is a highly literate children's tale. We meet the Red Cross Knight as he is heading into his first adventure. Princess Una has sought him as champion for her parents in fighting the usual terrorizing dragon. The plot is the usual one: boy meets girl, girl tells boy how royal parents are being terrorized by a dragon. Boy slays dragon, marries princess. Though this story does not stray from the formula, it is realized in a very fine fashion and richly illustrated. Each of some dozen pairs of facing pages has fantastic illustrations on one side with a few paragraphs of text on the other. The illustrations are among the best I've seen, they rank together with Child of Faerie Child of Earth and Fairy Wings. Each illustrated page is nicely framed and usually filled with thematic marginal drawings, which is a very nice touch.

I think this is probably the most literate children's book I've read. The first line of most pages always includes some brief alliteration, beginning with the opening lines.

>In the days when monsters and giants and fairy folk lifvind in England, a noble knight was riding across a plain.

>The dreadful dragon was the cause of her sorrow.

>After many days the path became thorny and led up to a steep hillside, where a good old hermit lived in a little house by himself.

>It is time for me to tell you that you were not born of fairy folk, but of English earth.

>Then they heard a hideous roaring that filled the air with terror and seemed to shake the ground.

>The knight brandished his bright blade, and it seemed sharper than ever, his hands even stronger.

There is just enough to create the effect without going overboard. Sometimes, at key points, the alliteration is stepped up to alert the reader to pay attention.

>In his tail's end, two sharp stings were fixed. But sharper still were his cruel claws. Whatever he touched or drew within those claws was in deadly danger. His head was more hideous than tongue can tell, for his deep jaws gaped wide, showing three rows of iron teeth read to devour his prey.

There are also instances of anaphora

>Once more the Red Cross Knight mounted and attacked the dragon. Once more in vain.

internal rhyme

>Yet the beast had never before felt such a mighty stroke from the hand of any man, and he was furious for revenge.

and Homeric similes.

>Like a sailor long at sea, under stormy winds and fierce sun, who begins to whistle merrily when he sees land, so Una was thankful.

These are all tropes I would have pointed out when I was teaching Medieval and Renaissance Lit. and are spread thinly enough not to be over done. They are in fact very appropriate to the material, being standard Anglo-Saxon techniques. The surrounding prose is also extremely well written. There were only three alliterations which I felt were overdone, but-hey-that's also true for equivalent portions of Beowulf!

I can't think of a better introduction to the dragonslayer genre.

Best Children's Book Ever
This is perhaps the first book I ever truly loved. At sixteen, it seems almost strange that I should find myself writing a review of a children's book, but it was just that good, that memorable, and that much a part of my childhood. As probably the only person to comment on this after having read it as a child, I think that this book is one of those children's books that is so very memorable; I would even compare this book to the famous "Goodnight Moon". The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the story is enchanting and enthralling. It is in essence the perfect children's book, and practically made me fall in love with reading.

Best Kid's Book I Know!
Now in tatters, its about time for me to replace this one. My kids and I first discovered it about 5 years ago. There is no other book that I have enjoyed reading with them so much. It has the best artwork of any storybook out there. It is a fun and exciting story that I also recognized as the story of the Red Cross Knight, from Spenser's "Faerie Queen." It is great that the language in this child's version is also very engaging, rhythmic, and dramatic. I recommend this book for everyone! ... Read more

Book Description

Frances, one of children's best-loved characters for over 30 years, now springs to life even more in Bread and Jam for Frances,beautifully reillustrated in sparkling full color by Lillian Hoban. In this memorable story, Frances decides that bread and jam are all she wants to eat, and her understanding parents grant her wish'at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacktime.Can there ever be too much bread and jam?

Reviews (11)

Everyone's favorite badger
In 1964 Russell Hoban wrote, and his wife Lillian illustrated, a charming little book entitled "Bread and Jam For Frances". Already an established character in such books as "Bedtime For Frances" and "A Baby Sister For Frances", this next story observes Frances as she stubbornly believes that she would like to eat only bread and jam, rather than any other food. Her parents oblige her willingly, and Frances comes to learn that a person should expand their tastes once in a while. The book is charming and dated only in the slightest of ways. Yes, Frances only wears skirts and dresses. Yes, Mother is the only one making the meals. But this is such a light happy little tale that these flaws are easily overcome. Lillian Hoban's illustrations are as cute as can be. The story itself is amusing (Frances often singing little songs to the food she dislikes out of earshot of her parents). Sometimes you just want to read your kids something that doesn't involve huge battles, gross out jokes, or didactic morals. If that's you, then allow me to introduce the perfect solution.... a little number I like to call "Bread and Jam For Frances".

A timeless book for all ages
I remember falling in love with "Bread and Jam for Frances" when I was a child and I was eager to see if my 3 year-old daughter would be equally fond of it. It's one of her favorites. We've read this book before bedtime almost every night for the past month.

When fussy eater Frances refuses to try anything new to eat, her mom and dad teach her a loving lesson in how you can have too much of a good thing. My daughter likes pointing out all the different food that's represented in Lillian Hoban's wonderful illustration and she's memorized all of Frances's charming little songs about jam and food. The love, humor and gentle nature of this book make it a good one to pass down from generation to generation.

A Wonderful Book for All Ages
The Frances books are great. Children and adults can share books for once and both enjoy them. Bread and Jam for Frances is about when Frances has become a very picky eater and only likes to eat bread and jam! A great tale for picky eaters.
The illustrations are very nice and colorful, and you have to love the how all the characters are badgers in the book.
If you enjoy this book, try out the other books in the Frances series. ...

a cute classic story about a picky eater!
This is a cute and captivating tale of Frances, the picky eater who only wants to eat bread and jam. Her parents handle her food refusal by indulging her with bread and jam at every meal and snack. She soon tires of it and wants to eat what everyone else is eating: a well-rounded meal.

This is a cute tale with little rhymes that Frances sings to herself with her food musings. The illustrations are adorable, they are not a visual assault as some other children's books have. This book was first published in the 1960s and as with other picture books of that time, has nice long prose, a good length of a story.

Both parents and children who deal with fussy eaters will appreciate this funny tale. It is a classic that is sure to be a favorite!

A Favorite
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, with illustrations done by Lillian Hoban is one of my favorite books. This book teaches a very important lesson to any child who has a favorite food. In the story Frances eats only bread and jam, even though her mother prepares other foods for her. Eventually, Frances' mom stops preparing other foods for Frances and gives her only bread and jam, just as she likes. Frances is happy with this at first, but then grows sick of eating the same food for every meal while her friends and family are able to eat other foods. In the end Frances' mother gives her different foods for her lunch at school and Frances is happy again. I believe this story to be one that any elementary school aged child could relate to. The story tells children of the importance and enjoyment of eating a variety of foods. The pictures and text directly complement each other. The text is needed to tell the complete story, but the pictures enhance the story. Bread and Jam for Frances is a simple story that is easily followed by children. Children can read this story and relate to the realistic situation. This book captures the child's attention and finishes the story within the short attention span of a child. The illustrations of this book contributed to my choosing it as a favorite. Frances' facial expressions in the illustrations help children easily identify her feelings throughout the story. In the beginning Frances is very happy, but as she gets tired of eating bread and jam a frown appears on her face. When Frances becomes very upset that she can only eat bread and jam, she cries. At the end when Frances' mother offers Frances other foods Frances is very happy again. The pictures are very soft and friendly. The colors are engaging and follow the story directly. The style of the illustrator follows the style of the author. Neither the text or the pictures overpower the other; there is a complementary style between the two. I believe this book to be very appealing and appropriate for an elementary age child. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Watch out - Small Size
Watch out, this 3-in-one comes in a smaller size than the regular single adventures. Makes it harder to read and harder to enjoy the graphics.

I am not a Stranger here!
Tintin has lived within me for a long while now, in my fond memories of childhood it has a special place. I can remember days spent under an apple tree reading longingly from the black and white pages of my trade paperback edition of Tintin classics like Red Rackham's Treasure, Cigars of the Pharaoh and the Seven Crystal Balls, which is my favorite Tintin adventure, bar none. In the community of Tintin afficionados, i know it is a large community, nobody I think would be more full of joy returning to Tintin again after so many years in exile.

These editions of Tintin give me a great pleasure not only because I am a Tintin-afficionado, or TA, but also because of their compact size and comprehensive format. I read them sometimes on the subway, at school, at work and home, savoring every reality-infused slide of creation, delighting in the allure of those places like the deserts of Africa, wild jungles of the South Seas, Latin America and France that come out of every Tintin page.

And why not? Intricacy of its creation comes from a mind as complex as Borges and nearly as adventurous as the blind sage. Herge is a universal mind: he is one of few artists who could blend a penchant for fun and adventure with complex characterization and some very cherished stereotypes--Haddock, Professor Monocle and many more which made these stories worthwhile. His main character, Tintin, almost pales against these characters but Tintin will endure because he is the centerpiece of all the action, all the adventure, all the utopian fantasy of various characters that revolves in a web to encompass our entire world.

VERY HARD TO READ
The print was very small and not black...I think it was light red, maybe? My son is 9 and he wouldn't even try to read it. He found the type so confusing that I returned the book. I see that alot of kids liked the book but they seem older than my son. Consider the age of your child and the size of the print that your child usually reads from before buying this book. The type size is very small...very close together...and light in color. It was confusing to my child.

Why's Tintin so unique in the world of comic books ?
Of course we've all grown up with so many fiction characters from DC/Marvel comics, Disney, Archie's`etc., each of them with its own appeal and flavour ...

What sets Tintin apart from all the rest, I feel, the brilliant quality of the artwork. The level of detail, right from the wheels of flight 714 about to land on that tiny island (flight 714), to the shadow effects of walking in a hidden passage to the Inca empire (prisoners of the sun), to the shape of the waves on which Tintin in a coffin is floating (cigars of the pharaoh), or the jaguar in which Tintin chases the gangsters (the calculus affair), the details are just fantastic and the right amount, without creating too much noise and distraction - as is the case with many of the DC comics - iron man, the incredible hulk, etc.

The stories range from contemporary to looking ahead in the future - swing wing planes, rockets to the moon, hidden cameras/espionage. The subject matter is political, and in my opinion slightly controversial at times. Especially the way Herge stereotypes native people in India (Cigars of the Pharaoh, Tintin in Tibet), or in the jungles of Amazon (The Broken Ear). But even here, Herge is way above the shady and simplistic plots of the like of Phantom and Flash Gordon.

The collection is more readable towards the later comics, some of the earlier ones contains situations which are too improbable and rely far too much on luck for Tintin to get himself out of danger.

the Funniest!! :)
in my opinion among the Funniest Tintins, are these three. Captain Haddock is in inimitable style, and Prof. Cuthbert Calculus, is as deeply unfathomable as his subjects! :) Funny, and Fun if you enjoy the adventures of Tintin and Snowy you'll not stop grinning with these three! awesomely illustrated and penned..really nice. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A favorite story en Francais!
This is the French version of the popular "Goodnight Moon." Iwas looking all over for some simple French storybooks to read to my baby (now 12 months) and was delighted to find this book we are already familiar with. I haven't used my French much since college, but I would like for my baby to learn the language at a young age. I have purchased other French children's books on-line but found they were for older children (those who won't be flipping the pages every 5 words) and required a French dictionary nearby for my limited vocabulary. Since I have pretty much memorized the English-version "Goodnight Moon" and so has he, this is a good one for us to start out with. ... Read more

Book Description

Fascimile Edition of Tintin's Travel to America. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Tintin in America
The first well known Tintin book "Tintin in America" begins where reporter Tintin and his trusty canine companion Snowy get off of a train in Chicago in order to solve a mystery. They come to investigate the doings of the largest gang in Chicago. On their way the gang finds out they're being investigated and try to stop Tintin. Tintin has many close calls and chases, and on top of that some very good luck. I reccomend this book to anyone who loves mystery, suspense, and a great comic.

Good Tintin, though not the best by far....
one of the "OK"s. the TinTin image is not yet complete. the absence of some the major later characters is a little disappointing but the magic is there.

Tintin comes to America, home of gangsters and Indians
I read "Tintin in America" relatively late in my journey through the Adventures of Tintin, which might not be fair since this early work by Herge certainly pales in comparison to some of our beloved heroes later and greatest adventures (e.g., "Land of Black Gold" or "Explorers on the Moon"). From that perspective you notice that the art is a bit more cartoonish than what comes later but the most important difference is that this is basically Tintin and Snowy on their own. The wonderful cast of colorful supporting characters that end up populating the Tintin universe are not to be seen at this point, which might explain why Snowy "talks" a lot more in this early Tintin adventure than is his habit in later volumes.

While this is not a great Tintin adventure, "Tintin in America" is certainly an interesting one because of the way Herge presents America to his readers. In a manner that reminds me of Babe's fanciful vision of the big city in "Babe: Pig in the City," Herge presents the U.S. as half Chicago gangsters and half Wild Wild West cowboys and Indians. Tintin arrives in Chicago to clean up the city ruled by gangster bosses and Al Capone is not happy to see the world famous reporter. Tintin survives so many attempted gangland hits that you lose count of them, and it is a toss up whether there are more last second escapes or scenes where Tintin pulls a gun on a gangster. The perils of Tintin continue even when our hero and his faithful terrier companion make their way out West and become involved with some of the quaint customs of the local natives.

The final word would be that if you have heard people raving about Herge and Tintin, and then you start at the "beginning" (in terms of what is readily available of the Adventures of Tintin) you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Do not fear. "Tintin in America" represents the early days when Herge was still finding his way and learning his craft. The best is yet to come after this one and the best is pretty good. Get with the program and stick to it.

Satire and serial thrills as our heroes race through the USA
Although it begins with a precise date (1931) and location (Chicago) and features a real historical figure (Al Capone), 'Tintin In America' is Herge's tribute to the mythical America of dime novels and silent serials (especially gangster stories and Westerns). There's a real 'Perils Of Pauline' quality to Tintin's misadventures, which see the young reporter and his faithful terrier Snowy attempt to clean Chicago of gangsters, and which includes trapdoors, underground passages, falls from cliffs broken by handy branches, tetherings to railway lines etc. On their arrival, the pair are plunged into a hectic series of mishaps - they are kidnapped by a mob stooge in a steel-shuttered limousine; sawing their way out, they are met by police, and give chase; just as the nabbed hood is about to squeal, he is knocked out by a boomerang, whose owner they pursue in a gun-stuttering chase which ends in the first of many vehicular accidents. Throughout, Tintin will be gassed, dumped into Lake Michigan, shot at by a professional sniper, captured by Red Indians, have his brakeless train dynamited, and be thrown into a mincer. Welcome to America!

The simple-minded pleasures of these melodrama cliches are supplemented by a sophisticated and often quite savage critique on modern America (having tackled Bolshevik Russia in the previous adventure), an America on the brink of globalising superpowerdom, a critique that invokes the past to indict the present. The Red Indian sequence at first seems in dubious taste, with the warriors easily manipulated by a gang leader into mutilating Tintin - their knee-jerk savagery and comical rituals are the sad cliches of many a Western. But in the book's most perturbing sequence, Tintin accidentally hits oil on their land; they are speedily thrown off the reservation, and oil wells, banks and a new city erected in its place; a brilliant, shocking encapsulation of the long and terrible history that underlies bright modern America. The gangster epidemic is linked to police and presidential corruption, while the tendency of famed American democracy and justice to degenerate into mob rule and lynching is unflinchingly pinpointed, as are the ecological crimes of big business. In fact, Herge sees American capitalism as a form of cannibalism - a sausage-grinding plant is a front for disposing of gangland enemies, their flesh mingled with animal meat for sale (the leader of the gang is a dead ringer for Foucault!). Conversely, Tintin is at one point rescued by a labor strike! One frame must have registered on the young Jean-Luc Godard, in which Tintin passes a landscape of car-wreckage overlooked by advertising hoardings. The irony of the story is that America, once so new, innocent, a beacon of hope where the world's oppressed could find refuge, has become as corrupt as the Old World, to which Tintin must return ito protect HIS innocence.

Herge's satirical instinct does not preclude a great love for the LOOK of America, with its precisionist skyscraperscapes, and vast prairie spaces. Herge deliberately streamlines his animation, drawing in bold, uncluttered strokes and strong, bright colours, giving some indication of the size and modernity of America, as well as its anonymity, conformity and assembly line mentality. The nocturnal scenes, in which the overall brightness becomes deeply mysterious, are particularly beautiful. I dare anyone who views the flabbergasting scene of Tintin clambering across an endless skyscrapter not to feel dizzy. Within his frames, Herge creates an extraordinary dynamism of movement. I particularly love it when characters walk on the border of the frame, as if getting ready to leap from it.

Tintin in America
I am a big fan of the Tintin series. But in my mind, this is one of the worst. The drawing is not as good as some of the other books, and the storyline isn't as good. I found that in this book, Tintin narrowly escapes death and gets out of tough situations a few times too many. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's bedtime for young Frances--an adorable and irrepressible little badger--and everyone is ready but her. At 7:00 p.m. Frances is wide awake and bursting with youthful excitement. She tries every delay tactic she can muster--from demanding extra hugs and kisses to volleying a series of urgent last-minute questions ("May I sleep with my teddy bear?" "May I have my door open?"). She's almost positive there are spiders, giants, and tigers in her room.

Any parent will quickly identify with this phenomenon--how the last minutes of the day suddenly become the most action-packed. Garth Williams's illustrations complement Russell Hoban's sweet story perfectly, capturing the endless energy and overactive imagination of Frances, and the waning patience of her exhausted parents. Bedtime for Frances is the perfect goodnight story to tell your wide-eyed children. And never fear, like Frances, they too will eventually, contentedly, drift off to sleep. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (32)

getting quite a bad rap without much cause.
I'm quite suprised so many people take issue with this book. It was one that I loved as a child, and although I had the sort of fears that children often do, my parents were always really good about reminding me that the things in your room when the lights are off are the same things there when the lights are are on. Perhaps that's the reason this book never inspired the terror in me it seems to present to many reviewers' children.

As for the spanking issue -- I was hardly from an abusive home, but the issue of punishment was something I was always familiar with. I hardly think the book is suggesting that Frances is going to be physically abused by her parents, so much as it's showing fed-up adults convincing their child to just get some sleep.

This book might not be for the terribly young, but it's a pretty cute story about conniving for extra time before bed. I would recommend it to anyone who is up front with their children about things like 'spankings', even if they don't practice them.

A spanking good book
Okay, the title of this review is a joke. The threat of spanking, mentioned by 13 (if I counted correctly) of 31 customer reviews, is offset for the following reasons. 1) The book is a classic--a great old book that has become a multi-generational tradition in many families, including many (like mine) that do not spank th