Reviews (4)

Meet the smartest and bravest little girl in children's lit.
Flossie Finley, the smart and feisty heroine of this book is one of my favorite characters in all of childrenÕs literature. The story is an African American variation on Little Red Riding Hood, but Flossie is no wide-eyed innocent who has to be saved in the end by the big, brave woodcutter. She can save herself, thank you very much. The way she tricks the fox who wants to devour her basket of eggs is delightful. Every little girl (and probably every boy as well) ought to be introduced to this brave and resourceful child.

And Flossie is not the only great thing about this book. Patricia McKissack based it on a story her grandfather told her and she tried to reproduce the way he told it, in "the rich and colorful dialect of the rural south." The language is lovely, musical and poetic Ð a joy to read aloud. And the illustrations are equally gorgeous. The pictures of sun-dappled wood remind me of Impressionist paintings.

Great story, great writing, great pictures, great character Ð this is one of the best childrenÕs books IÕve ever read.

Flossie and THe Fox, a winner with the children
Flossie And The Fox is a story that is absolutly loved by my children, one you will be asked to read again and agian. When flosie is asked to run an errand for her grandmother, the curios girl runs into a fox on her way, yet not the typical fox. In order to keep her eggs from being eaten she must keep the fox's mind of those eggs. Through her journey in the woods she is able to use her qaint childlike cleverness to entertain the foxes ego. Great story! Brilliant plot! Should be made into a movie! Exellent anti bias story as well, flossie speaks as a young african american girl would growing up in the country in Tennese, The fox uses proper Engish, and the narrator uses the language of the day. Highly recomended!

Beautiful Story
This has become my favorite children's book! I bought it for my "almost" three yr old son and he was captivated by the story and the beautiful pictures. Flossie is so innocently sly! She will not be out-witted by some ol' fox! The idea that this regal creature is being insulted by a mere child is absurd to him, yet he can't get past his own ego to see he is being out-foxed! I adored everything about this book.

Flossie and the Fox is enchanting and delightful.
As an elementary special education teacher, I loved reading "Flossie and the Fox" to my students. It was every bit as delightful an experience for me as it was for them. Flossie is a very clever little girl, and the manuscript is practically a vocal symphony! The illustrations are as refreshing and fun as the book. Give you and your child a real treat by sitting down together to read the book, and then discuss it! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

A pop-up book very popular with 20-30 month children
Clearly drawn and cleverly constructed pop-ups are the heart of this simple tale. Our 24 month child loved it from the outset (he first saw it at 20 months), and subsequent gifts of this book to the childern of our friends suggest that our experience is far from unique. For a good two months this was book of choice, but then went out of favour. Older children who have seen this book have appreciated the story more - so we expect our's will come back to it at about 30 months when he will understand it more. Strongly recommended

an exceptional lift-the-flap book with a sweet story
Kipper is looking for his teddy bear. Is it in the apple tree? No! Birds come flying out instead. Thus begins our odyssey into Kipper's world -- populated with mice, pigs and moon people (among others). Pop-ups are activated by lifting flaps and manipulating tabs. The latter may be difficult for young children, but they will most likely enjoy the action anyway.

The little surprise at the end is charming and sure to bring a smile to your little one's face.

Exceptionally well done.

Caveats: A few of the flaps are flimsy, so be careful if your child is rough on them. Kipper's usual friends (Pig, Arnold and Tiger) do not show up in the story.

What a Charmer!
Okay, I'm a sucker for pop-up books and a sucker for cute pups, so this one really couldn't miss for me. But this is a really cute pop-up and with the little light shining at the end....well, I can't imagine a child not falling for this book. Of course, if the battery burns out, a lot of the book's attraction fails...but that should be some time down the road.

A really sweet book, even if you don't watch the show
The pop-ups are beautifully done, and really appeal to my 16 mo old son, and he just loves the little flashlight revealed at the end of the story -- one to add to the list of classics on the bookshelf which have fun effects, like Eric Carle's work. To describe Kipper -- he is the most adorable, laid-back dog. Lifes events are taken in stride with great good humor, and lessons aren't IN your face like in Barney type shows. Kipper's A to Z is another wonderful alphabet book, and is one of his favorites too!. He has learned to say bee, bzz like a bee, duck, quack, and strangely enough -- the word Happy from that book! He likes to keep saying moon and doggie to this one :-) Enjoy it!

As an update, he is now 3 1/2 and took this book to show and tell one day. The flaps and pull outs still work so its a sturdy, simple, engaging book. The theme of being able to go to sleep even without your favorite item that you are obsessing about is also reassuring. (Kipper falls asleep, and we find teddy was reading a book at his feet under the covers with a flashlight) You know that Kipper will wake up in the morning and find his teddy.

This book is fun
My 2 year old loves this book. I don't let him look at it by himself as I fear it would not last, but he wants it read to him several times a week (and he has about 100 books)! I let him operate many of the flaps now that it is a little broken in and he thinks they are hillarious. The little flashlight at the end of the book keeps him guessing. We always turn out the light and he puts his finger over the flashlight to make his finger light up. It is a lot of fun to read, especially if you like the kipper cartoon series. Nice and gentle bed time reading too, not too stimulating. One of the very best of the kipper book series. ... Read more

Book Description

Annika is happy living in the servants' quarters of a house ownedby three eccentric professors. She adores Ellie and Sigrid, the cook andhousemaid who found her as a baby, abandoned on a church doorstep. In the elevenyears since, they have taught her how to bake and clean to perfection. Then oneday a glamorous stranger arrives, claiming to be Annika's mother.Annika is noservant, she learns, but an aristocrat whose true home is an ancient castle. Butat crumbling Spittal, Annika discovers that all is not as it seems in the livesof her newfound family. . . ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A funfilled andventure to the river sea
I have to say, Journey to the river sea was the best book I've ever read in my live. Maia, the heroine of the story, has gone with her new governess, Miss Minton to the amazon because there, her only relations are living. Because when she was little, her parents tragicly died.
In the amazon, they meet an actor, an heir to a great estate and put their lives in danger to help their frinds.
This is a brilliant story of friendship, love and loss.

Journey to the River Sea Book Review
Journey to the River Sea
By: Ibbotson, Eva
Reviewed by: J. Lee
Period:1

Journey to the River Sea is a great book! Maia is a girl who lives in a boarding school unfortunately because her parents died in Egypt. She has no other live relatives, and is forced to go to boarding school. One day later, her lawyer tells her they have found some relatives, living in Brazil. They arranged for Maia to live with the Carters, her relatives. Maia thought she would find adventure exploring and a loving and kind family who would show her the Amazon. But instead she learns the Carters are definitely afraid of bugs and animals and won't step outside into the "wild". Maia doesn't really like anything about her "new" life, except her governess, Miss Minton. When one of her friends, Clovis, needs to get back to England, she makes a plan to get him out. In the story, Finn, her other friend, is a part of her plan for Clovis. This book has amazing adventures and much more than I expected. It also tells a lot about the Amazon and what the life was like. Even though the author did not use magic, as she had done so in her other books, she has made another spectacular book!

I like this book because it told of a great adventure that a little girl had. She had to make a lot of plans to get away from the twins and the Carters. Minty, Miss Minton, tries to help Maia escape the treacherous Carters and hide Finn and Clovis from them. This book was like going to a jungle and having fun.

" Maia? Where's Maia?" this quote was significant in the book because Maia was thought to have die in the Carter's burning house but she escaped. Miss Minton found Maia and was able to run away from the Carters. "Would you like to be our governess?" Miss Minton was offered a job as the governess for Sergi. But she refused for she only wanted to be the governess for Maia.

My favorite part of the book is when Maia and Miss Minton first arrive in the Amazon. The author of this book describes the Amazon very clearly. She tells you how the fruits look and how the people lived their lives by selling animals. This was like a movie but you get to watch it for free and you see the real deal. (no altering in the story)

What a book! Journey to the River Sea.
This book was warm and touching even though there were some hard words and the first few pages were tough as I could not fully get into the plot. Then it suddenly grabbed me and I could not put the book down and the plot of the story got better and better! The story was of a girl (Maia), an orphan, who is told that her uncle has been found, and lives in the Amazon which she is thoroughly pleased about. Even though the remarks from the girls in her class could put you off thinking of going, let alone going through with the thought! So Maia sets off with her governess for her new life. There was only one bad thing about this book which is I haven't found a book so far which matches its high standard.

loved this book
if you like adventure,humour and mystery all rolled in one this is the book for you. i really enjoyed maia's journey. while soem conclusions wre obvious-the book was good fun to read.

competent but not brilliant
Maia is a well-off orphan in 1910 London sent up the Amazon to live with distant relatives. Accompanied by a stern, but ultimately Cool, governess she is caught in the conflit between the natural world and European civilization. Compelling characters, easy to follow, I saw every plot twist coming a mile away. A fine book for 4th or 5th grade, but nothing to get overly excited about. The way the omniscient pov was handled felt clumsy. ages 10+ ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kipper and his little friend Arnold are on an alphabet search. It allstarts when the young pig Arnold finds an ant. "Aa is for ant. And Arnold."Well, to be perfectly honest, it starts a little earlier, before the book evenofficially begins, when Kipper the pudgy brown dog tells a zebra, "We won't needyou till much, much later." Throughout, as Kipper and Arnold find (and sometimeslose) a buzzing bumblebee, a caterpillar (actually, the caterpillar finds them),a duck, and a menagerie of other alphabetized critters, the earnestly eagerzebra appears, ever hopeful that his day in the sun has arrived. "Nn is for No,not now!" Kipper tells him. After "Juice...And a bit of jam, too," "Splish!Splosh! Splash! And six squishy slugs," and V, which is "very, very hard" (whenthey can't find a volcano, they make a picture of one instead), the zebra asksone last time. "Is it my turn? Is it? Is it?" Kipper is happy to report, "Yy isfor Yes!" The zebra stands proudly in the middle of the page, and everyone says,"Zz is for Zebra!"

Mick Inkpen's enchanting Kipper stories can be found on TV's Nick Jr. andin his many picture books (Kipper, Kipper's Birthday, Kipper's Snowy Day, and lotsmore). This Alphabet Adventure, with its adorable details and wittysubplots, is sure to win hordes of new fans. (Ages 2 to 5) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A fun alphabet adventure
We discovered Kipper at the library, having never seen it on tv. Now every time we go to the library, my 3 year old HAS to find a new Kipper book to borrow! This is definitely one of the best we have read, so far. Lots of fun!

kreimuller
Ages 3-6 and older children with spatial/visual deficits. Kipper, a sweet little brown dog, and his pink pig friend, Arnold, wander from A to Z finding creatures and things to represent each letter of the alphabet and its sound. Starting with ant, buzzing bumblebee and crawly caterpillar, the pair amuses themselves by seeking out objects for each letter in sequence. The large book format gives enough space for the simple watercolor figures to be silhouetted on a white background along with big, black text with the letter at issue in even bigger, bolder black. Children, even as young as 3 or those with spatial and visual learning deficits, will be hard pushed to miss the letter and its representative, and the sound of each letter is often repeated in descriptive words highlighting it to listening ears. Not only does the book teach the letters and their sounds, but many humorous touches make it multileveled for older children and fun for adults. Such as when Kipper and Arnold cannot find an item for the letter k, older readers will shout out proudly,[KIPPER!] Or, the reappearing zebra who continually wonders when it?s his turn, will bring giggles because everyone knows zebra always comes last at Z. A gentle, sometimes silly wander through the alphabet.

GREAT ALPHABET BOOK TO HAVE
I bought this book for my two year old daughter because she has shown an intrest in learning the alphabet. We don't watch Nickaloden so I am not all that familiar with Kipper but you don't have to know anything about him to enjoy this book. Kipper and his friend Arnold the pig are adorable. They guide the reader through the book as each letter of the alphabet is introduced. Periodically a zebra pops up asking if it is his turn yet. It is a clever story and a great learning tool. We read it every day after the all time best alphabet book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I don't want to push my daughter into learning the alphabet and these two books have allowed me to present it to her in a fun way.

Kipper Alphabet Book is a Hit with 2-1/2 year olds
My 2-1/2 year old twins adore Kipper from the Nick Jr. channel. We've bought all the tapes (more please!) and they beg for Kipper every night. We got a few Kipper books and they like those too. This one is the very best however. Mick Inkpen does a fabulous job with the alphabet in a fresh and fun way that is uniquely "Kipper." If you follow the show, it's really "very Kipper." Pig, Arnold, ducks, Tiger, Jake all make their appearance. Luckily no space bleepers appear. (Mick, please knock off the weird aliens and scary episodes -- my toddlers have declared them "Too scar-wy Mama!" and it really detracts from your core competency.) Buy this one with confidence.

Wonderful book!
This book is great! It creatively and humorously takes you through the alphabet with adorable illustrations and fun topics. Kipper and Arnold start at A and meet their Zebra friend at Z, encountering many creatures along the way. Not your typical "A is for apple book," These hosts introduce words like volcano and "No, Not now!" This book can and should definitely be used for children younger than five...a great way to start introducing reading to toddlers! Mick Inkpen has done it again with this wonderful book! ... Read more

Book Description

Three-time Caldecott Honor artist Jerry Pinkney brings new relevance to the classic Hans Christian Andersen story

The wintry streets of an American city are thronged with shoppers, in preparation for New Year's Eve. But no one is interested in buying the matches and artificial flowers offered by one little girl. Wishing to avoid the cold welcome awaiting her at home, she lights her matches for what little heat they can provide. The visions that she sees in their flickering glow warm her spirit, even as the brutal cold of night destroys her body.

Three-time Caldecott Honor winner Jerry Pinkney's interpretation of this famous Hans Christian Andersen tale transforms the little Danish girl into a child drawn straight out of the American melting pot--a child who is of no easily identifiable culture, and so is of them all. The poignancy and immediacy of Pinkney's art draw the reader into the early twentieth-century streets, to witness how the poor can be invisible in the midst of the wealthy--a condition Andersen would instantly recognize. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

THE SADDEST CHRISTMAS STORY IN CREATION
This is a story that has made me misty eyed since I was 5. I first read this story my 5th Christmas. It appeared in a Christmas magazine and to this very day it always makes me more than just a little misty eyed.

An unnamed girl is sent into the cold, cruel city to sell matches by her equally cold, cruel father. She turns her income over to him and he beats her when he feels she has not sold enough matches.

One night the girl, frozen to the bone, lights a match. A glorious Christmas tree appears, bright and blazing. That vision vanishes along with the match when it burns out.

The second match she lights shows a splendid holiday feast -- a Feast of Illusions. This, too, fades away when the match burns out.

The final match she lights reveals her beloved, deceased grandmother. The girl runs to her, never to return to the cold city streets.

The next morning, she is found, frozen to death in the street. This story gets to me every single time. I would never be able to read it aloud because it is just too sad.

Very touching story
This story is about a little girl who tries to sell matches to people in the streets in order to make money for her family. One day her father was furious for the lack of funds his daughter was bringing home. He ordered her to stay out on the streets and not return home unless she had sold her matches. After walking around in the freezing cold and snow she was scared to go home and be beaten when she had not sold the required amount of matches to return home. She tucked herself into a corner and rested. After feeling the bitter cold and snow the little girl decided to light matches in an effort to stay warm. With each match she lit a magical vision appeared. With each match the little girl saw warm loving Christmas scenes. Some of the scenes were a feast, a fireplace and finally a warm memory of her grandmother. With this memory and loving scene the little match girl was brave and comforted. Soon the warm comfort of her grandmother allowed her to be comfortable and whisked her away to heaven.
The author wanted everyone to believe in happy memories and warm thoughts no matter what emotional state you are in, or whatever social class or size. This is a wonderful story with beautiful pictures that just help the authors' words in describing the warm feelings. You actually can feel the warmth of the little girls visions through the matches.
I love this story. It gets me choked up when I read it. But the little girl was so peaceful when she left to be in heaven with her loving grandmother. Everyone's wish is to be loved no matter where you are in life, simply to be loved and filled with warmth.

My Favorite Book
This book is very sad, but it has beautiful pictures. It can make young children cry at some times. This girl had to sell matches, and if she didn't she couldn't go home because her father would beat her. It took place at Christmas time, so it was very, very cold. The little girl sat between two houses and lit a match. The first match lit up a big iron stove. The next match revealed a beautiful Christmas dinner. The last one revealed a beautiful Christmas tree. This story is one of my favorite stories because it has beautiful drawings and it teaches you a lesson. The lesson is that some people don't have it as good as you so you should always help them.

Touching story by one of the Masters.
It is a good story told by none other than the storyteller,Hans Christian Anderson. This book is nicely illustrated too. But, I hope the reviewers don't reveal all the plot for those who have not read it yet.

Good enough. Worth having
This review pertains to the book with artwork by Rachel Isadora only. ISBN: 0-399-21336-8. For some reason, Amazon continues to publish this review under the wrong book, one that does not feature artwork by Rachel Isadora, even though I pointed this out to them.

This book is a verbatim retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale. The story is not embellished or changed in any way. The tale is illustrated with "luminous paintings, capturing the mood of a snowy Victorian winter..." (from the book jacket blurb).

Since the tale is only one and a half pages long, that makes for a slim book. The odd pages feature a paragraph of text , about three sentences, while the even pages feature a painting illustrating the text. About 13 paintings.

The book is hardcovered with two additional paintings, and you get a paper book cover mirroring those two paintings and the bonus blurb.

I can't see reading this story to a child. It's just too dismal. You can't read it without crying. It's an adult topic and an adult treatment. The powerful story is designed to make an adult think and reexamine his behaviour.

I rated the paintings with only three stars because they're good enough, but did not blow me away. The cover painting that you see here on the web site is a good example of the quality and style of the paintings. ... Read more

Book Description

A hilarious fantasy for fans of Carroll, Nesbit, and Barrie! In the British tradition of comic fantasies, here is a wildly witty caper that would make Lewis Carroll laugh and E. Nesbit snicker. A forgotten door on an abandoned railway platform is the entrance to a magical kingdom--an island where humans live happily with feys, mermaids, ogres, and other wonderful creatures. Carefully hidden from the world, the Island is only accessible when the door opens for nine days every nine years. A lot can go wrong in nine days. When the beastly Mrs. Trottle kidnaps the prince of the Island, it's up to a strange band of rescuers to save him. But can an ogre, a hag, a wizard, and a fey really troop around London unnoticed?In a plot thick with mayhem, mix-ups, and magic, there is something to please all. Fantasy lovers in particular will not want to miss this peek through the door of Platform 13 into the imagination of a deliciously clever writer. ... Read more

Reviews (88)

A must for Harry Potter fans
An enjoyable English fantasy romp, "Platform" is far more mature than the goofy, fun "Which Witch?" It employs things that are eerily similar to Harry Potter plot devices, such as the sensitive giant, enchanted train platform, and spoiled boy vs. abused hero. However, don't compare the two books-they are totally dissimilar and Platform came first. Okay?

Nine years ago, the "gump" (sort of a dimensional portal) was open into London from the Island, a magical, beautiful place. Three nurses took the little baby Prince to London-but a desperate rich woman stole him. Nine years have passed. Now, an oddball expedition is setting out to find him composed of a dizzy fey, a fairly pretty hag, a sensitive giant, and a crotchety wizard.

Unfortunately, nine years of luxurious living with the Trottles have turned young Raymond into... well, someone not fit to be prince. The oddball four teams up with a compassionate servant boy named Ben to bring Raymond to the gump and return him. Time is running out for them to return, before the gump seals itself for another nine years.

And was I the only one getting chills about the lady with the stiletto knitting needles?

The main characters are not all there is-there's a hefty addition of many magical creatures living in and around London, including merrows, water nymphs, banshees, mistmakers, ogres, harpies, flower fairies, and so on. Ibbotson has a charming, very English style of writing without being condescending, and this tale has a great deal of magic hovering around it like a mistmaker's mist. If you're a fantasy buff, this book is a must-have!

An absolute delight, a "must read".
There is life afer Harry Potter. I didn't think I would find anything to delight me in the same way, but thankfully I was wrong. This is clever and funny and quite magical. As an adult who unashamedly loves fantasy and magic for all ages, Platform 13 turned out to be one of the best of all times. Give yourself, your children and your fantasy loving friends a real treat. Buy them this book! The characters are delightfully funny, the story has great charm,and I had the pleasure of laughing out loud and being enchanted all at the same time. Bless the English for being so very good at children's story telling.

Amazing Fantasy Story for Middle Readers
In one of the busiest train stations in London, under Platform 13, is a forgotten old doorway covered with various peeling posters. Behind this door is an entrance to a secret island where humans, mistmakers, mermaids, ogres, and more, live together in harmony. However, the door between the world of human beings, and the island only opens every nine years, for exactly nine days. In the year 1983, tragedy struck the island, for in the last moments before the door was closed, an evil, rich woman named Mrs. Trottle stole the young prince of the island from his three nannies. Every since that fateful day, the king and queen of the island have planned his rescue. And now, nine years later, as the door is about to open once again, four magical creatures of the island have been chosen as the rescue team. Gurkie, an agricultural fairy (fey); Odge, a determined young hag; Hans, a one-eyed giant; and Cor, an old wizard. It is now up to these four islanders to find the prince, and get him back to the island before the nine days have passed, otherwise, it will be another long nine-years before an attempt to save the prince can be made.

THE SECRET OF PLATFORM 13 is an exciting, magical journey through two separate lands. One where humans live among other humans, and one where humans live among magical beings and creatures. The characters are intriguing, while at the same time enjoyable and entertaining, and the plot is well-crafted. Readers will enjoy the descriptions of various magical creatures, and find themselves searching for more mention of the very seal-inspired magical mistmakers, who emit fog from their mouths when they hear soothing music. Overall this is a wonderful effort from Eva Ibbotson that will be loved by children young and old.

Erika Sorocco

Good enough
_The Secret of Platform 13_ was a hit with the 6-year-old bookaholic in our house; I can't say (speaking as the person who read it aloud to her) that it did all that much for me, though. The basic plot is simple enough. Through the nefariousness of a rich but childless woman named Mrs Trottle, a baby is abducted--who is, unbeknownst to her, the prince of a faraway magic island. The "gump", a magic hole that joins Platform 13 of King's Cross Station in London with the island, only opens for nine days every nine years; though Ibbotson states that the island is simply on a remote part of the Earth (not on a different world entirely), the King & Queen seem inexplicably to think it necessary to wait nine years till the next opening of the gump before they can rescue the child. So: jump ahead nine years, & a bunch of rescuers make the journey to London: an old wizard named Cor, a "fay" named Gerkintrude, a giant named Hans (rendered invisible with fernseed), & a young hag named Odge. There they encounter an incredibly nice, helpful boy named Ben at Trottle Towers, whom they initially assume is the Prince, but they then discover he's only in a quasi-menial position there, & that the son of Mrs Trottle is really the odious Raymond. Ibbotson hints heavily from the start that Ben is the real Prince & that Raymond is indeed pure Trottle--suffice it to say even my 6-year-old daughter already had it figured out after a few chapters--so the main suspense (aside from the increasingly elaborate plans to kidnap the disgusting Raymond from his possessive mommy) is exactly when & how the rescuers will figure out the switch.

Like other reviewers I find it hard not to compare this book to the Harry Potter series (which of course postdates Ibbotson's book). Imagine a Harry Potter book if Dudley Dursley became a central figure, & you begin to see the problem with _The Secret of Platform 13_. Furthermore, there's a big difference: the Dursleys are fools & subjected to an endless series of humiliations, but they are basically figures of fun. But Ibbotson's visceral loathing of Raymond Trottle & his mother pushes beyond Rowlingesque slapstick into genuine hatred, & occasionally into borderline prurience (the fascination with Mrs Trottle's personal hygiene, her appalling perfume called "Maneater", her interest in attracting the attentions of a male bass player when she's away from her husband [her plan is to place a rose in her cleavage]). -- Ben himself is pure goody-two-shoes: he knows (& pointedly tells the other characters on occasion) that you shouldn't tell lies, that you must always keep a promise, &c &c. I guess I could take this seriously if he actually had much personality but he's basically there to be a paragon of niceness. Animals like him, too, & in general he's just too good for this world, so it's just as well there's another world to be going to.

Ibbotson's habitual themes turn up in the book, as one expects: I've yet to read a book of hers, for instance, that didn't have an unsubtle plug for vegetarianism in it (here, the fay Gerkintrude can virtually hear the bits of meat calling out in pain when she has to go into a fancy restaurant). The incredibly disgusted portrait of the harpies (their reek & lack of hygiene is described in the most hyperbolic terms) is clearly meant as a dig at Margaret Thatcher--Ibbotson equips each harpy with a handbag, to cement the resemblance. & there's other bits of editorializing here, like the flat assertion at one point that bad parenting is to blame if a kid turns out no good. Well, fine, I'm hardly asking that kid's books be bland & lacking in strongly held ideas; for that matter the kinds of disgust & hatred on display here are emotions that kids can certainly relate to--witness Roald Dahl's books (though Dahl is far better at transmuting these emotions into knockabout comedy, removing their sting). But looking at this book with an adult's eye I can't really enjoy it too much: it's simply too pushy & tetchy. I'll give this 3 stars for my daughter's enjoyment, but it's not I think all that good nonetheless. Like Philip Pullman, whose recommendation emblazons my edition of _The Secret of Platform 13_, Ibbotson rather lacks a light touch. This book isn't nearly as funny as it _could_ have been.

A Very Enjoyable book, but not a great one
The Secret of Platform 13 is an enjoyable book that separates two worlds by a "gump" in a railroad station. The "gump" only opens up every nine years, during one of these openings the infant prince of another world is kidnapped in our world. The rest of the book involves the rescue of the prince nine years later.
This book has been compared to Harry Potter many times, which I feel is, unfair they are two different books. This one is clearly written for younger children.
(Interestingly, there is a parody of Harry Potter where the main character is named "Trotter" the arch villain in Platform 13 is named Trottle, I wondered if the parody was trying to point that out?)
While I did enjoy the book there were things that I found disappointing, for instance, the Ibbotson goes to the trouble of creating another world and yet the majority of the plot is set in London, that's too bad as it would have been far more interesting to tell us about the other world.
Where other books in this genre leave the world as we know it, Ibbotson can't seem to get herself to do it.
Ibbotson tells us that "And in 1983- the year the Americans put a woman in space-..." I kept wondering what was going to happen that made 1983 important, as it turned out the date had no significance to the story at all, no other years were mentioned. The Americans and the woman in space were simply thrown in for a PC statement. Throughout the book she never lets you leave this world. Even when she travels to the other world, she keeps reminding you of this one.
There are the "Harpies" which she describes as horrible vulture type creatures that smell horribly. She describes their leader "Mrs. Smith" having a face of a "bossy lady politician." This and the following description was an obvious dig a Margaret Thatcher. The illustrator left no doubt here that is what she meant.
Later we also are told that Raymond's dad is a banker, which gives Ibbotson another opportunity to express a political opinion.
In spite of all this, the book is fun to read, however it could have been better. ... Read more

Book Description

When the kindly old aunts decide that they need help caring for creatures who live on their hidden island, they know that adults can't be trusted. What they need are a few special children who can keep a secret-a secret as big as a magical island. And what better way to get children who can keep really big secrets, than to kidnap them! (After all, some children just plain need to be kidnapped.) Don't miss this wildly inventive and funny read from master storyteller Eva Ibbotson.

"Readers will not be able to put [Island of the Aunts] down! A fine choice for fantasy lovers." (School Library Journal, starred review)

"Eva Ibbotson does magic, humor, and fantasy for ages 8 to 88+, and you'll wish her books were never-ending, so enchanting are her characters and fiendishly funny her plots!" (Book Sense) ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Loved It!
Island Of The Aunts is a great book, I loved it. It is about 3 elderly aunts Myrtle, Etta, and Coral who decide soon they will die and someone will need to look after the Island. The Island is filled with magical creatures like mermaids, selkies, and even boobrie's. So the aunts head off to kidnap children to run the Island when they are to old to do the work. They kidnap Fabio and Minette who soon learn to love the Island and the aunts. But Myrtle kidnaps a boy named Lambert Sprott who hates the Island and has temper tantrums all the time. The children(except Lambert) love looking after the strange creatures on the Island. The Island is a forgotten place. It is not on any maps and no one knows about it.But when Lambert finds his mobile telephone and manages to reach his father Mr. Sprott sets out on his own boat to find Lambert. He goes through a nudist colony, a island full of sheep, and finally they reach the island. Mr. Sprott is a mean man who wants the Island for himself. He captures all of the creatures on the Island plus the aunts and Fabio and Minette. Will the creatures be safe and will Fabio and Minette make it through this hardship to live and save the Island? Or is this the end of it all? Read Island Of The Aunts to find out if Fabio, Minette, the creatures and the aunts can get away from Mr. Sprott.

I love this book!
If you enjoyed The Secret of Platform 13 and Dial-A-Ghost, then you'll really like Island of the Aunts.

It's about three women, Etta, Coral, and Myrtle, who live on a tiny island in the middle of the sea. On this island they take care of the most strange and exotic animals ever! These women, who really are aunts themsleves, decide that they must find some children to help them with their work and to take care of the island when they are gone. So, they travel to London to "choose" some children to go back with them. They pose as aunts, but not the kind that are one of your parents' sisters, the kind that take you places because your parents are too busy. After the children are "chosen" and taken back to the island, one aunt tells the others that she brought back a child who never should have come to the island. This story goes on, but you'll have to read the book to see what happens!

The book is full of humor, primarily British. I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did!

My Favorite Book Of All Time!
This is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read! No matter what kind of mood I'm in it never fails to make me laugh! It has just the right mixture of seriousness and silliness so that it's not too much of either one. All in all I'd give it a million stars if I could! Some have complained that it has a nudist colony in one part, but really you'd have to be INSANE and have NO SENSE OF HUMOR at all to find that offensive, because it's not as if it's (...) good lord people LIGHTEN UP!!! You would have to be a huge idiot and have no imagination at all not to love this book! I have recommended this book to all of my friends and they have all LOVED it. (...) Buy it! You won't be disappointed.

Great book!
When three aunts go out to chose kids to help out with the work for the animals on the island, two of them were successes one was a failure. The two successes were Fabio and Minette. They hated their life and wanted to go to a third place, a better place. The disaster (Lambert) was a spoiled brat. When the aunts took the children back to the island, drugged, they awoke to a stunning view. Fabio and Minette worked their share of work and were introduced to mermaids, large worms, selkies, a bird the size of an elephant and ghosts. Meanwhile Lambert sat in his room trying to reach his dad on his cell phone. Will he get a hold of his father and will the island's secret be lost forever?

I liked this book because it shows that there is a better place than going between your parents houses or being turned into someone you don't want to be. I also like it because it shows bonds between families and friends alike.
I don't have a certain favorite part so I'll tell some of my favorites. One scene is when the baby kraken hums his first hum it's a hum of distress. He calls on his father for help. Another scene I like is when . . . you'll have to read it.
I would recommend this book to animal lovers.

Sam from Richview Middle Shcool
Aunt Etta, Aunt Coral, and Aunt Myrtle were three aunts who looked after an island that their father bought a while back. This isn't any ordinary island though. This island has some very strange creatures on it such as a bird the size of an African elephant. Aunt Etta is a very skinny and tall woman with a pointed nose. Aunt Coral was a rather large woman with a fat nose and huge lips. Aunt Myrtle is between her sisters. They are getting very old an need help when they die for some one to look after the island. They decided to kidnap some children and put them to work but its not really kidnapping becausee there's no ransom. The father of one of the children comes to rescue him but he sees all the special creatures. He finally gets talked in to thinking they aren't real. When the children go to trial the aunts are found not guilty. I liked the book because it was filled with adventure and its one of those kinds of books that you want ot find out what's going to happen next and you keep reading and reading to find out. It has a twist to it. The unusual creatures are cool. I think if your commited to reading it would be an interesting book for some one. ... Read more

Book Description

Grab the best seats for a homerun combination of practical information and pure fun.The championship game is coming up soon, and Nick can't wait to pitch for his team, the Rockets. Come watch Nick practice with the team and learn about equipment, drills, and positions. Listen to Coach Brian's tips and his advice on good sportsmanship and being a team player.Then, watch the championship game, with an easy-to-understand narration of how Nick's line drive helps bring teammate Mady home to win the game! Chock full of all the information kids need, this will score a big hit with beginning players or kids who just love the game. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for all ages!
This is finally a baseball book that even a parent can learn from and enjoy. My son, age 5, loved this book. It is an interesting story as well as educational. You will learn all about baseball from "choking up on the bat" to running the bases. It is very informative and fun!! I highly recommend!!! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Ghoulish fun
Eva Ibbotson writes stories about funny and not too scary ghosts. A recurring theme is displaced or homeless ghosts.
The Haunting of Granite Falls, 2004 is the story of a millionaire who purchases an ancient Scottish castle from 12-year-old orphan Alex MacBuff, and moves it to Texas. Every castle has ghosts; this one has five of them and they are the only family Alex has every had.

Her writing always makes me grin. There is just the right touch of ghoulish humor. It occurs to me that her "Granite Falls" could be modeled on Marble Falls, Texas where Granite Mountain is a huge dome of pink and red granite. This granite was used for the construction of the Texas Capitol. A fun connection for Texas readers.

Awesome Read!!!!
This book was one of Eva Ibboton's top books!!!

The story has a boy, a girl, and of course ghosts. The ghosts are a Viking, a governess with Water Madness, an old man in a wheel chair who was once a vampire, a little girl who is a polterguist, and a hellhound dogg that is the size of four dachsands end to end. The boy, Alex, has lived in the Scottish mansion, Carra, with his ghost "parents" his whole life. When money starts to run low, he decides to sell it. A man from America wants to buy it but on one condition, it has to be ghost free. This shocks the ghost and starts the whole adventure.

It is as exciting as Harry Potter but much less scary in my opinion. When I was younger, I started reading Eva's books and couldn't stop reading it. I had to put down the second Harry Potter by chapter eight because it was too scary. This is the newest book so far by Eva and I have read all her other books. I am her #1 fan!!!!!!! I have even researched her and made sure I didn't miss a book. Other books by her are Dial-a-Ghost, Which Witch, The Secret of Platform 13, Island of the Aunts, and Not Just a Witch. Enjoy!!!

Good fun for parents too
Having discovered Ibbotson's imagination and humour in The Secret of Platform 13, our family has listened to or read aloud her other books with equal enjoyment. Car trips are a treat as we all listen to the adventures of plucky kids who form friendly alliances with ghosts, other 'imaginary' creatures, and caring grown-ups as they all combat a couple of villains.
In The Haunting of Hiram, a young boy is separated from the ghosts who raised him. The ghosts have some wild adventures (we know where JK Rowland found some inspiration) and meet an unusual new friend. They are reunited with the boy, and a girl who has become *his* new friend, just in time to help the kids escape some nasty kidnappers. I'd recommend this for ages 8 and up.

Yet another good book from Eva Ibbotson
A young scottish boy, the Laird of Carra, Errenrig and Sethsay, named Alex Mcbuff, has to sell his beloved castle to a rich multi-millionare from America. But there is a deal, he will only buy the castle if Alex can assure him that the castle is completely ghost-free. What can Alex do, he knows that there surely are ghosts in his castle, and they are very close to him. How can he send his beloved ghost-friends away? Surely there must be a way out, but if he doesn't shoo (unwillingly) the ghosts away, which he can never think of doing, and if he doesn't sell the castle to the multi-millionare, he and his Aunt will face poverty, and that, he also doesn't want to happen, no matter how much his love was for the ghosts. He had to sell the castle.
This book is exciting and magical in both feelings and the writing, all the way through the book. Eva Ibbotson entertains us, putting magic into each page. A fab story, for the whole family.

One Haunted Castle
Poor Alex MacBuff! He's being forced to send away his only friends from his castle in Scotland. But his friends are all extraordinary. A Viking, a Victorian governess with webbed feet, a retired vampire, a poltergeist, and a hellhound-all of which are ghosts! They are harmless, but when Alex and his new found friend, Helen, are caught in an evil plot, the spirits reveal some hidden powers! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

kipper the corgie
my son loves kipper's show and his books, we read every day.

btw, kipper is an english corgie.

all Kipper books are great!
my grandchildren love Kipper....my only question is what kind of dog do the readers think he is?? I can't seem to even find the answer on the internet.

Cool, cute and original
Okay, so a book that shows the numbers one through ten is nothing to get really excited about. Still, I really loved this one. Kipper is very cute and he gets to count neat things. Most books count fire engines or dots. Boring. Kipper plays with snails, hedgehogs, and moles! Great illustrations. Fun! ... Read more

Book Description

Kipper's favorite ball is missing--and he needs your help to find it!
... Read more

Reviews (3)

For the ballet lover
Just adored this book and felt compelled to let everyone know how great it is. I think Isadora's illustrations and text were right on. I love ballet and used to dance when I was younger. I even performed so can identify with all aspects of this book. I will purchase it for any ballet dancers I know and hope it has a high profile amongst ballet lovers wherever they are!

This Is The Real Thing
I am a ballet teacher and a student gave me this book for an end of the year present. I was so enthralled by the reality of the images and words that I bought this book for my students to read in our lounge area. Everyone loves it and can identify with the settings and happenings. I think this book not only shows some real goings on in the ballet world, which is actually difficult to find, especially for children, but is delightful for all ages to look at.....over and over again. I highly recommend this book for all blooming dancers and ballet lovers as well. Thank you, Ms. Montane

No more tutus
So I'm in a bookstore, picking up yet another copy of 'Wheels on the Bus' for my toddler, when my six year old asks for a book too. I agree and she finds this one. I'm thinking that this is just a little girl ballerina book, so I buy it without, unfortunately, READING it first.

I sat down with my daughter to read it when we got home, and the farther I read, the more horrified I became. An excerpt:

"She is thin
And she is tall
And she is pretty
They've got it all

I know I'm short
I know that I'm round
But I want to dance
So I stand my ground"

*If that isn't the prelude to encouraging an eating disorder, I'll eat my hat.

Here's more:

"If you fight backstage
Go far away
The audience hears
Whatever you say"

or

"It doesn't matter
If you're the best in the room
If you don't fit
Into the costume"

*This book is for five and up?

About 25 years ago, I was in a regional ballet company. As a result, I have many concerns about very young children doing ballet on this level. This book isn't about dolly dinkle dance recitals or dreaming of tutus which is what I thought would be in this book.

No, I don't think that the woman who wrote this book meant any harm, but then again, she hasn't a clue about parental concerns and dance or she wouldn't have written the book this way. I'm sure those who 'love dance' will love this book. I used to love dance until I saw what it did to the bodies and minds of young people. There is a serious difference between enjoying dance class and this stuff. And considering that this book is for very young girls, I think that it's inappropriate fare. I think it's a bad set up for the future if they take it to heart. This isn't something that I want to normalize for my kid. However, it's a real taste of the dance world. And it reminded me as to why I'm so careful as to what sort of activities that I allow my child to get into. JMO, but if your kid is six and it isn't merely fun, they shouldn't be doing it. And no tiny tot should be in pointe shoes...

The irony is, by the time the child would be old enough to handle this stuff on a real level, they wouldn't be reading children's books.

The book is being returned. I would have given it NO stars, but that wasn't an option. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Everyone Hide!!
My daughter simply loves this book. She loves Wibbly and all the other characters, especially Big Pig, who for some reason she always smacks. I never get tired of reading it to her and she never gets tired of having it read to her, she loves it.

Loves lift the flaps!
My daughter loves this book because of the lift the flaps! She absolutely loves all lift the flap books.

Great fun for mother and child, just simply fantastic!
My kids, twins aged 18 months, scream "Wibbly Pig" everytime I try to sneak the book into the room. Their little faces light up. Indeed, "Wibbly Pig" was the among the first words spoken by both of them. Simply a marvelous treat for me and them, every time.

Our daughter cries when we put it away!!!
We love this book and so does our daughter. She loves the flaps to find all of the pigs. She has loved it from the first time she saw it (6 months old). The illustrations are great and it is a good length to keep her interested,(though we usually have to read it three times before we can put it away).

My three-year-old loves Wibbly!
It was the best b'day present she received this year. The pictures are CUTE - easy on the preschool eye. Finding Wibbly's buddies is fun, teaching playfulness, memory, and question ansering skills. He's on our must-read before bed. He even sleeps under her pillow. When are the stuffed Wibbly's coming?! ... Read more

Book Description

Twilight in Johannesburg, South Africa, finds the bustle of the city beginning to subside. Work is over, and it is time for rest. But in Kruger National Park the setting sun beckons the animals and their young from the bush. On the darkened plain it is time to hunt, to graze, and to cool off in the night air. Rachel Isadora's portrayals of South Africa that delighted her readers in At the Crossroads and Over the Green Hills continue in this breathtakingly beautiful picture book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What a lovely book!
I just bought this book for my grandchild and was so happy that he enjoyed it as much as myself. I am from South Africa, and was glad to find a book that showed the joy and sweetness of that country. People around the world forget that there are little children that go to sleep everynight all over S.A. and just live simple lives. The pictures were realistic and lovely and made me homesick! I think this gives my grandchild a wonderful view of an incredible country and they have brought back memories for me. Thank You ... Read more

Book Description

Washington Irving's story of a man who sleeps for twenty years in the Catskill Mountains and awakens to find a changed world has been a classic of American Literature.This deluxe gift edition carefully reproduces thity-four of Arthir Rackham's enchanting and exquisuute paintings. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is a wonderfully illustrated book!
This book has wonderful pictures that really engage children. I especially enjoy the picture for the color "white". Kipper is surrounded in a cloud of flour....my kids (2 1/2 and 5 years old) thought that it was very funny! The book teaches colors in a simple and fun way!

First book my younger son really fell in love with
This whole little series of books (opposites, weather, colors and numbers) is really well done, but this one is special to me as it's the first book my younger son (age 2) has really fallen in love with. He took it into his nap with him today! He loves best the page about orange, where Kipper is drinking what looks like orange soda with a very long crazy straw. I like the teddy bear page for brown, with all shapes of cute teddy bears! I'm glad the TV show led us to Kipper books! ... Read more

Book Description

A toddler plays a game of peekaboo, and you're invited to play too. First there's Mommy to find, with Daddy not far behind. Then Puppy comes peeking around the corner, and a favorite toy train brings the toddler to Grandma and Grandpa. Isadora's brilliant, joyful pastel illustrations capture the familiar and cozy people, toys and animals that will delight babies.

Join this sweet toddler in the morning fun, sharing words your baby can repeat and pictures your baby will recognize. Then find out what this toddler sees next. It could be you! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Unique Gift Idea
Need a new baby (or 1st birthday) gift? Are you tired of buying blankets, booties, and bunny sleepers? Then here's a gift I love to give that is guaranteed to unwrap a smile!

"Peekaboo! I see..." wee readers instantly drawn into this heartwarming story based on the popular children's game. It features an adorable African-American toddler sporting an inquisitive nature and naturally textured hair. I couldn't tell if the child is male or female, which makes it appealing to everyone.

"Peekaboo! I see..." eager little readers searching soft pastel drawings for clues. What DOES the child see? The tip of a tail. The top of a hat. Turn the page to discover a playful puppy or laughing grandma. Award-winner Rachel Isadora uses only 53 words, printed in large, easy-to-read type, to keep you guessing.

"Peekaboo! I see..." pleased young readers requesting this book again and again. The first evening my youngest daughter spent with a baby sitter, she cried when she realized Mama and Daddy were gone. Thankfully a warm lap, soothing voice, and repeats of Peekaboo Morning comforted her until we returned.

For another heartwarming book by Isadora featuring simple text with large, easy-to-read print, and captivating illustrations, read In the Beginning.

Peekaboo Morning
Very cute book!! My almost 2 year old loves the pictures in this book. The art work is fantastic. The words are very simple and very appropriate. You will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description

Introducing a new interactive format--a puzzle and a book all in one! Kipper's youngest fans will love to press out each sturdy cardboard shape and then look for its matching space in the book. Simple questions and illustrations provide clues to help toddlers identify missing objects as they move through familiar times of the day: bathtime, playtime, snacktime, and bedtime. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Cute Book, Bad Format
As usual, the story & illustrations are great but the "puzzle" pieces actually detract from this book. They are difficult for little hands to put back in properly (think inexpensive cardboard puzzles from the five & dime store) and after a bit fall out easily and get lost. It's a nice idea in theory but needs some work.... I'd stick with the basic books instead.

BEDTIME FUN
THIS IS A LITTLE STURDY BOARD BOOK APPX 6 INCHES BY 6 INCHES. IT CONTAINS 5 STORY PAGES & 5 PAGES TO MATCH THE PUZZLE TO THE STORY. WHEN YOU OPEN THE BOOK THE FIRST & SECOND PAGES CONTAIN THE 5 PUZZLE PIECES TO GO ALONG WITH THE FOLLOWING STORY. WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS BOARD BOOK PUZZLE CONCEPT UPON ORDERING BUT WERE HAPPILY SURPRISED, AS OUR 2 YR OLD BOY HELD THE PIECES AND ON THE SECOND READ KNEW TO MATCH UP EACH PIECE TO THE CORRECT PAGE. KIPPER & HIS BEDTIME PALS ARE COLORFUL & ADORABLE AND WE HAVE ALREADY ORDERED THE MATCHING BATHTIME-PLAYTIME & SNACKTIME. THE MOON PUZZLE PIECE HAS TO BE TURNED TO JUST THE RIGHT PLACE TO GET IN ITS PLACE -SUGGESTION THE MOON PIECE IS A CIRCLE AND THE PICTURE IN IT IS A HALF MOON IT FITS PERFECT WHEN THE YELLOW CRESENT IS ON THE LEFT HANGING AS IT WOULD IN THE SKY.

Manufacturer's need to make the pieces easier to insert
I bought this book for my 18 mo. old, not because of Kipper (he hardly watches TV so he doesn't even know who Kipper is) but because I like the concept of the puzzle pieces. He loves the book, but we always have a hard time fitting the pieces back into their spots. The moon doesn't even fit back into its spot, so it's usually missing from the book because it keeps falling out. Pretty annoying.

A Puzzle and book in one!
My toddler loves Kipper, so this book was a must have. Though it features few photos and not much text, the book does include several punch out puzzle pieces that can be fit into the appropriate spaces in the pages that follow.

Matching such shapes as a moon and a toothbrush into their proper places proves fun for little readers. Beware, however -- once the pieces are removed from the book and bent ever so slightly, they have a hard time remaining in their respective slots. We have several titles in this series, and I am forever finding the puzzle pieces lying around the house, away from their books! ... Read more

Book Description

Who loves to play in the rain with Kipper? Frogs in the pond? Pigs on the farm? The cat in the tree? Lift the flaps to see!
... Read more