Book Description

He's smart.
He's swift.
He's small.
The heroic George is back!

William Joyce, the creator and many best-selling and award-winning picture books, including Dinosaur Bob, Santa Calls, and Rolie Polie Olie, presents a new deluxe edition of George shrinks. Now an animated Saturday-morning program on PBS, the classic picture book that started it all will charm readers of all sizes.

Best Books of 1985 (SLJ)
A Reading Rainbow Selection
100 Favorite Paperbacks of 1989 (IRA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Wonderful Book!
"George Shrinks" is one of my favorite children's books of all time. It is the first book that William Joyce both wrote and illustrated--and what a grand debut!

A boy named George wakes up one morning to find that he is only three inches tall. He also finds a note from his parents with a list of chores he must do (which becomes Joyce's unique way of telling the story--the parent's note is the actual text of the book). The story follows George as he heroically navigates through the now gigantic house, evades the hungry house cat, and completes all his chores in very creative ways.

The illustrations, done in watercolors (though not pale and washy), are a mixture of highly realistic details (the house and surroundings), and a comic style (the characters). Included are several wordless full-page spreads of George flying a toy airplane which on their own are worth the price of the book.

If you can, buy the new large format of the book (November 2000 edition). The illustrations are much larger and the colors are more brilliant. The illustrations were probably rephotographed since the original edition is back from 1987 or so. (...) The newest version has a brand new cover illustration recently done by William Joyce.

Well, enjoy this book and happy shrinking!

Wonderful Book!
"George Shrinks" is one of my favorite children's books of all time. It is the first book that William Joyce both wrote and illustrated--and what a grand debut!

A boy named George wakes up one morning to find that he is only three inches tall. He also finds a note from his parents with a list of chores he must do (which becomes Joyce's unique way of telling the story--the parent's note is the actual text of the book). The story follows George as he heroically navigates through the now gigantic house, evades the hungry house cat, and completes all his chores in very creative ways.

The illustrations, done in watercolors (though not pale and washy), are a mixture of highly realistic details (the house and surroundings), and a comic style (the characters). Included are several wordless full-page spreads of George flying a toy airplane which on their own are worth the price of the book.

If you can, buy the new large format of the book (November 2000 edition). The illustrations are much larger and the colors are more brilliant. The illustrations were probably rephotographed since the original edition is back from 1987 or so.
Well, enjoy this book and happy shrinking!

terrific illustrations with sparse text
"One day, while his mother and father were out, George dreampt he was small, and when he woke up he found it was true."

So begins this delightful book written and illustrated by William Joyce. George then begins to tackle the "To Do" list his parents have left him, though the chores are now monumentally more difficult since he is only a few inches tall!

The text is spare, being primarily the parents' list of things to do. What makes the book special are the accompanying color illustrations that show George tackling each of the (usually trivial) tasks. Kids will love seeing the challenges of being really small.

Lots of fun.

great for kids and parents
"One day, while his mother and father were out, George dreamt he was small, and when he woke up he found it was true." So begins this delightful picture book by
William Joyce, who will be most familiar to folks as the creator of Disney Channel's Rolie Polie Olie. George too has his own series now, on PBS, and a spanking new
reprint of his original adventure.

The story here is fairly basic : George, suddenly three inches small, follows the instructions his parents left behind in a note, to clean up the house and watch his little
brother (now a BIG little brother). Along the way he avoids an ornery house cat and rides in a toy plane. Our kids favorite page features George scrubbing dirty
dishes by skiing down them on a sponge.

As with Rolie Polie Olie though, the story is secondary to Mr. Joyce's remarkable artwork. In Olie he manages to combine Art Deco with Futurism; here it's all
throwback. George Shrinks looks like a really hip version of the Dick and Jane books. A story with a miniature hero kids can relate to and illustration interesting
enough to hold adult attention--what more can you ask?

GRADE : A

George Shrinks
I can't say enough about the illustrations by William Joyce. Somehow he has captured the simplicity and innocence of a child. It is a fun book because even though the character has awakened one morning only 3 inches tall, he still goes about doing his chores and having fun. Every chore is an adventure. His illustrations are soothing and not an onslaught to your eyes and the story is imaginative. ... Read more

Book Description

Proclaimed "the most adorable of dinos" by The New York Times, Bob is grander and greener than ever in a definitive new edition of modern picture book classic. This deluxe volume features seven new illustrations, an additional adventure, and a song ("The Ballad of Dinosaur Bob"), with easy-to-play arrangements.

1988 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
A Reading Rainbow Featured Selection
1989 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing (NY Public Library)
Winner, 1996 Recognition of Merit Award (George C. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont, CA) ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Dinosaur Bob
I can't say enough good about WIlliam Joyce. He's one of my two or three favorite illustraters. His drawings are so detailed that you can almost see individual leaves in his plants and bushes. Besides, his unbelievable technical ability, he also is extremely inventive. On one page in this book, the dinosaur and his friends aren't shown except in their shadows and like in all his books, the colors seem almost too bright to be real.

Wacky Adventure
...Dinosaur Bob is one of those children's books you just read over and over to your kids. It is funny from start to finish, with Bob the Dino and his family the Lazardos. My boys loved it as kids and will pass it down to theirs.

10 stars for this book!
The story's great, the illustrations are wonderful. Adults will enjoy this as much or more than kids.

We are decorating our home in Dinosaur Bob
We love this story and read it often. We brought it to our designer, and are working with the colors and style. We call our living room the "dinosaur Bob" room. Bravo!

A wonderful story of a really big family pet
The Lazardos are not your typical family. So it follows that they require no typical pet. Enter Bob. They find him on safari in Africa and decide that he needs a good home. I love this story of a baseball playing dinosaur and the free-spirited family who take him in. By the writer of George Shrinks. The families are very similar in spirit. Such a great book! ... Read more

Book Description

Harold needs a picture for his bedroom wall. So he takes his purple crayon and begins to create a whole new world around him. But then he notices he has gotten very small-half the size of a daisy! Only a very clever artist can find his way home now.

Reviews (1)

THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK TO READ OUT LOUD
I adored this book when I was a kid (some 30 years ago) and since then I have read it out loud to lots of kids -- including groups in hospitals and at libraries. They always love it -- expecially the age 3 to 5 crowd. The illustrations are very simple, but really appealing to kids. It's also a terrific book for beginning readers since the vocabulary is pretty simple. ... Read more

Book Description

Cinderella's transformation from poor girl to princess never failsto captivate young ones, and this stellar retelling, exquisitely illustrated bySusan Jeffers, is a must for every library.When the original version of thisbook was published in 1985, Publishers Weekly called it "a treasure for all ages," and The New York Times declared, "Fairy-tale aficionados will be mesmerized." For this hardcover reissue, Susan Jeffers retouched her pen-and- ink and dye illustrations, making them even richer. Her brilliant artwork isshowcased in a new interior design featuring a fifth-color gold border. Embossedgold foil type on the jacket of this large-format picture book trumpets thearrival of the girl who went from rags to riches. ... Read more

Book Description

The brave good bugs march off to save the garden . . .

First, they must fight the evil Spider Queen . . .

Before summoning the Leaf Men to save the day . . .

But what about the mystery of the Long-Lost Toy?

Here is ancient elfin magic, epic adventure, and a bugle salute to the power of memory, loyalty and love as resounding as Robin Hood's call to his Merry Men!

Reviews (7)

Tiny of body, but brave of heart........
As a child, did you ever look for hidden treasures in your backyard? Well, this is a story about the magic of backyards and gardens. Two words describe this book--magical and mystical. My son loves this book because it combines his love of insects and superheroes. This is a wonderful story to read aloud to children and seems to really spark their imaginations. The illustrations are imaginative and unique. It is a favorite book at our house!

It works upon the mind as the great myths
Nevermind reading this to children: *I* read it. Here is a tale of mytheopic properties -- the Long-Lost Toy, the treasured rosebush grown sickly, the old woman, wound about, and bound to these treasured things of her youth, a precarious lifeline; and here too, those brave little bugs, the Doodle Guild, full of virtue and honour, who would give their very lives for a woman, and think nothing of it; and alas! too, the wicked Spider Queen, "enclosed in her own fat," who would devour her prey, and think not of it, and hath not mercy, nor kindness; and, when all is hopeless: the storm is stilled, the air is grown quiet, and lo! the Leaf Men of old, them whom Memory would forget.

This tale is at once set upon the mind, and there it will stay for quite some time after the book is set down. I highly recomend it.

When you want a fairy tale but are sick of fairy tales
This is a quirky book, but a fun one. It's a mystical fairy tale with a garden setting (the main characters are bugs) and an Art Deco aesthetic. An old lady falls ill. Her garden falls ill, too, as there is no one to care for it. The garden's bugs rally together. They've heard stories of the magical, mystical Leaf Men who will come to a garden's aid if properly summoned. A proper summons requires a dangerous journey to the tree tops on a moonlit night. The brave doodle bugs go for it. The evil Spider Queen and her goblins try to thwart them. It's good stuff. There is also a sweet, sentimental subplot with an old toy. The book is recommended for the 4-8 year-old crowd, but my 2 1/2 year-old loves it. I had to edit some of the text at first, however, as it is on the long side for toddlers. I also edit the gruesome death of the Spider Queen. The story covers a lot of territory in a short amount of time, so the characters are rather one-dimensional and the story ends up with a few holes. Nevertheless, the story is told so stylishly and the illustrations are so unusual and dramatic that you forgive the short-comings. It's a great book to read when you want a fairy tale but are sick of fairy tales.

The Leaf Men
I am 45 yrs old and have been reading this and many other Willam Joyce titles to my children. The illustrations are facinating to children and adults alike. This is my favorite Willam Joyce book. I still read it and laugh and cry. Oh those doodle bugs are so brave. There is so much to ponder while reading this book, it will open your imagination to a whole new look at the garden, ageing, and being the smallest one in the class. It will make you feel.

A treasure of a book.
We got this book when my son's Grandma was undergoing chemotherapy, because the old woman in the book got better after her illness. He loves the book for a completely different reason, he loves the 'brave good bugs'. Because of this book, he now understands the concept of bravery at the young age of three. All & all, a truly wonderful book. ... Read more

Book Description

This touch-and-feel book starring the beloved Westie is packed with tactile fun for tots. McDuff has soft white fur, a red leather collar, and a knobbly bone to chew! He also has a squeaky toy raccoon, a cozy bed, and cuddly friends! Toddlers will be tickled to discover, pet, listen to, and look at the unique elements that make up McDuff's world. ... Read more

Book Description

Suki’s favorite possession is her blue cotton kimono. A gift from her oba¯chan, it holds special memories of her grandmother’s visit last summer. And Suki is going to wear it on her first day back to school — no matter what anyone says.

When it’s Suki’s turn to share with her classmates what she did during the summer, she tells them about the street festival she attended with her oba¯chan and the circle dance that they took part in. In fact, she gets so carried away reminiscing that she’s soon humming the music and dancing away, much to the delight of her entire class!

Filled with gentle enthusiasm and a touch of whimsy, Suki’s Kimono is the joyful story of a little girl whose spirit leads her to march — and dance — to her own drumbeat. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An exuberant story
Suki's Kimono is the heartwarming picture book story by Chieri Uegaki of Suki, a young girl determined to wear her favorite blue cotton kimono to school because it is a cherished gift from her beloved grandmother. Suki's friend warns her that it seems weird, but young Suki is determined to follow her own heart. A delightful tale Suki's Kimono is an exuberant story which is wonderfully enhanced for young readers with the brightly colored illustrations of Stephane Jorisch.

Go, Suki!
This charming story is one that every child should read (or have read to them!). Not only does it have an encouraging message and introduce aspects of Japanese culture; it's also VERY beautifully illustrated, and Chieri Uegaki's writing is a pleasure to read. I love the way she phrases things, like when Suki sits close to the taiko drummers and feels "like she'd swallowed a ball of thunder and her whole insides quaked and quivered." Buy this book -- you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (9)

Misfits and yearning
I'm writing this review in early 2004, and this wonderful book is back in print in America; congradulations to the publisher. I always wondered why others in the fine "Moomin" series (originally from Finland, and translated in England) were available while this one was not; but now it is, and I couldn't be more glad. Fans of Tove Jansson's writing will know that she has a fondness for quirky creatures, seasonal moods, and an almost effortless ability to strike profound chords in the reader's inner world through faint suggestions and an economy of words. All this from a writer who is known as a children's author, but these novels could appeal to anyone in grade four on up to adults, so long as the reader is of a quiet, thoughtful turn of mind. In this particular story, the Moomin family (rounded, fuzzy little "trolls") is absent from Moominvalley (see the book "Moominpappa at Sea" to find out where they went). In their absence, an unlikely group of misfits comes looking for them and ends up sharing a month at their house together. All are seeking for something or other, though they do not yet know that the something is within themselves. Moomintroll's practical, taciturn friend Snufkin (well-known from other books) is onhand to help them sort themselves out, and in the end all are transformed by the shared experience. If this sounds like the plot of an inner world rather than an outer one, it is; yet it is amazingly well done through a very down-to-earth, everyday narration, filled with subtle comic touches and good cheer. Jansson's inimitable, cartoony illustrations of her own books add much to the tale while still leaving some to our imaginations. As you may gather, I have a hard time describing this unique book properly; all I can do is to heartily recommend it to any child (or adult) who is a little offbeat and likes some peace and quiet to be alone with their thoughts.

This Book Digs Deeper Than It Would Appear
This is a somewhat ethereal read; I would place the reading level at upper elementary, but I agree with the reviewer who said it is defintiely not a children-only read. It is indeed a very quiet, contemplative reading experience, and not every child will appreciate that; but the type of child who likes stories that make him/her think, will enjoy this book.

Can't wait!
As the book is not published yet, I can't give a fair rating but having read all the other books I'm sure it's great! I understand that the English translation of this book was published in the 60's or 70's and then it went out of print. Having read all her other books, I am trembling with anticipation! There are used copies available of the first publishing but they are expensive, ... I'll just have to wait. Thank you whoever decided to publish it again!

Moominvalley in November: A Multi-level tale
I have yet to find anyone under the age of 25 who has read the Moomin series, unless they were introduced to Jansson's superlative works by an "adult." Where were these books when I was eleven? The texture of this particular book in the series is delightfully multi-layered, and only gets better with repeated reading. 5, or 105, you'll always find something pleasant, thoughtful, perhaps even hauntingly provoking in all of Jansson's works--and Moominvalley in November is Jansson at her best!

Fantastic!
Deep, funny, wonderful and fantastic. Definitly NOT a children's only book. Read it! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Magical Book
All of the books in this series are fantastic. They are poignant sweet and fascinating. I love the characters and the interactions between the characters. I read these first 26 years ago and have made sure they are easy to find every time I move. I still read them often.

I wish I were a boy again...
Moominpappa's Memoirs is the the most imaginative book of the series, although all of them are marvellous. This volume gives you a perspective on the history of Moominland. Snip: (...)

a wonderful, magical book everyone should grow up on
This is without doubt one of the most enjoyable childrens books ever written. I started reading the 'moomin' books when I was about ten,and they still have me reading them again and again every night (literaly!) .They're equal(or better) to the famed 'Oz',Harry Potter, and Roald Dahl books. This particular one gives the background history to Moominpappas capers as a 'young moomin' and the finding of the moomin family treasurs, such as the meerschaum tram. The dialouge every othr chapter between Moominpappa and his family and friends bring the story back to'present day' and gives it an loving quality. This is a wonderful,timless book, not to be passed up by older kids just because it is classified as a '9-12 age range' book. Tove Jansson's simple, flowing writing will set these books as classics.

Great book for the youngsters and adults.
The Moomin family is a classic. I recommend any Moomin story book for children and adults.

Not a good introduction, but still among one of the best!
After Moominsummer madness, Tove Jannson slipped into a more subtle and even philosophical vein (that is, more philosophical then the first three books), however, Memoirs (formerly Exploits of Moominpapa) returns to the more slapstick antics of her early book. Although I am a fan of all of these books, Memoirs was a welcome return to that earlier style, though it in itself is a unique entry in the series. In Memoirs, Moominpapa is both a wonderfully adorable character as well as a characture or himself, filled with pride, egotism, and prejudice--making him all the more human. The story itself is almost a parody of the big rolling adventure tales, full of various fantastic happenings, and culminating in Moominpapa's dilemma: to following his adventuring instinct, or another instinct that drives him to build moominhouses with moomin verandahs, etc etc... The end is as happy as finn family moomintroll, maybe even happier--completely over the top. Although this shouldn't be the first moominbook to read (since knowledge of the characters is pretty central to the humor here) it is nonetheless one of the most uplifting books in the series and I can't recommend it more!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Young readers who have watched their older siblings devour the Redwallseries by Brian Jacques will be overjoyed to find a Redwall tale just theirpace. Along with The GreatRedwall Feast, Jacques and illustrator Christopher Denise's A RedwallWinter's Tale brings the saga of the lively badger, mole, squirrel, andmouse denizens of Redwall Abbey to a younger audience. In this cozy, happystory, Bungo the mole-babe and his friend Tubspike the hedgehog maid are besidethemselves with excitement as they await some very special guests on the lastday of autumn. Little do they know there's another, even more special guest onhis way.

Verse interspersed with prose makes this cheerful, pleasing tale a perfectread-aloud--perhaps in small doses, though. Denise's depictions of the manybeasts feasting, celebrating, playing, and sleeping are adorable without beingtoo precious. Here is a terrific introduction to the more advanced tales ofdanger and adventure in the well-loved Redwall series. (Ages 5 to 8) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A delightful representation of the world of Redwall
This short tale is illustrated by Christopher Denise, who also illustrated The Great Redwall Feast. Denise does a wonderful job of capturing the characters and mood of the Redwall
world. In this tale, traveling players visit the abbey and perform at a feast marking the last day of autumn. The dibbuns hear a bedtime tale of the Snow Badger, the lord of winter. Later the Snow Badger visits the abbey grounds with his army of snow hares to bring the first winter's snow. This is a "winter's tale," the kind of tale that might be told around a fireplace on a cold winter's night, and it includes an example of a winter's tale, the tale of the Snow Badger. A winter's tale typically involves some supernatural elements (See Shakespeare's Winter's Tale for another variation on this genre or Isak Dinesen's 7 Gothic Tales.)

Charming illustrations and wonderful writing
Illustrator Christopher Denise does a superb job of bringing a visual feast of animal characters to life in Brian Jacques' "A Redwall Winter's Tale." Amazingly talented artist.

A great introduction to the world of Redwall
A traveling group of entertainers arrives at the Redwall Abbey on the last day of Autumn. The travellers put on a big show, and the Redwallers provide a huge feast. When it is time to put the Dibbuns (youngsters) to bed, Mighty Bulbrock Badger tells a bedtime story. Who brings the wintertime snows? Why, the Snow Badger, of course! But is the Snow Badger real, or just a fairy tale told to the Dibbuns? You'll have to read the book to find out. The pictures are wonderful, perfectly complementing the story. Like Brian Jacques' previous picture book The Great Redwall Feast, also illustrated by Christopher Denise, this is a perfect introduction to the Redwall series for younger readers and a great book for all ages.

Very cute story with WONDERFUL pictures!
I got this book during the christmas season thinking it would be a regular chapter book. This is not a Chapter Book!!!! This only has a few words per page but the illustrations make up for everything. Don't get me wrong though, the story is written very well, very poetically in fact. This is great read, especially for younger people who may have a hard time reading some of Jacques other longer books. Definitely worth it!

Recommended by SPECTRUM Home & School Magazine

Brian Jacques is perhaps England's second-best-known young adult writer after J. K. Rowling. His thirteen Redwall novels have a large and loyal following. While the novels are for readers nine-and-up, this volume begs to be shared by the entire family. The rich illustrations bring to mind classics like "Peter Rabbit" and "Wind in the Willows."On Autumn's Final Day, the animals of Redwall Abbey gather together to celebrate the coming of winter. There is great excitement in the community because on this special night they will feast and be entertained by the famous "Traveling Thistledown Troup." This is a tale of community, friendship, and belief that will no doubt become a family holiday tradition. ... Read more

Book Description

Want to create your own web site? Not sure where to begin? Afraid it might be expensive? Dave's book shows how to get free web design software, free internet access, free web server space, and a free web-based e-mail address. Dave takes you step-by-step through the web site creation process. Begin with a simple page. Add links, color, images, a background, sound, animation, and a message banner. Create a professional layout using tables. Convert your simple page to a multi-page web site. Add an image map, a visitor counter, a guest book, and a password-protected area. Convert to a free easy-to-remember web site address. Then register your web site with the key search engines. Dave shares his personal tips and tricks for avoiding pitfalls. Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages is used by North American educators from fifth grade through college. Great for small business owners too. Practical. Simple. "Quick 'n' Easy." ... Read more

Reviews (6)

HTML Simplified
When I agreed(okay, well, volunteered)to recreate a section of my employer's website I was, perhaps, a bit too confident in my skills. I am by no means computer illiterate, but I had very little experience with HTML and all else that is needed to design a webpage.

I was to be working with a well known web development program and tried as best I could to learn through the tutorials and such. Ha. Let's just say that didn't work out so well. And this program is suppose to make things easy. One of those, "even idiots can use this because this and that are already done for you" type things. But I guess I like doing things the hard way.

And that's where *Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages* came in. It details in very simple terms HTML coding, showing you what the page would look like in code and also what it would look like in a browser. Things like hyperlinks and how to insert become far less daunting with the instructions in this book.

I don't think that it matters that it was written by a very young man or that the publisher has seen fit to classify it as a young adult text. I found it infinitely more useful and usable than a good deal of the other books I picked up for help.

Wrong approach. Focuses solely on HTML.
I got this book, and was disappointed. It starts out teaching HTML, the language web pages are used for. HTML programming is the wrong way to start learning web page design. Tools like FrontPage and even MS Word will do ALL the HTML programming for you. After starting to read this book with my 8 year old daughter, we went down to the computer, started Microsoft Word, and made a couple web pages. That was a visual way to program, and it lets the tools handle the details. This book is the wrong way to learn web page development and design.

A simple, highly practical guide for web designers
Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages: An Introductory Guide To Creating Web Sites is a simple, highly practical guide for web designers ranging from beginning to intermediate experience and skill. Individual chapters address hyperlinks, animated images, sound, tables, additional features like counters and message boards, and much more in this superb, "user friendly", compact primer that can teach anyone to get a basic web page up and running in almost no time at all!

Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages
Although this is listed as a "kid's" book, it is a clear step by step procedural manual for anyone new to HTML and wanting to set up their own website. Dave takes us from a simple text-filled page through adding numbered lists, bulleted lists, colors for text and background, adding tables, adding images, creating hyperlinks with text or images, and creating an image map (an image that has "hot spots" to be clicked as links). He also has listed many websites for downloading free programs, clip art, backgrounds, etc. He shows how to set up, save, and then upload website pages onto the Internet. The procedures are easy to follow if the reader carefully recreates what Dave has written.

Definitely a good book for anyone new to creating personal webpages.

Quick is the Operative Word
Up until recently, web pages held a certain mystique for me. Not any more. One of the reasons for that is this little 116 page book.

Rather than load you up with a bunch of theory and technical jargon, Dave Lindsay gives you just what you need to get started. By the end of the first chapter (which is only nine pages), he has you creating your own basic web page. This all with the most basic of word processors (like Simpletext in MAC or Notepad for your PC)!

With information conveniently contained in the back of the book, he even shows you how to obtain software to upload this basic web page, a server to host your site, and how to upload your page -- all for free.

From there, the author guides you through more advanced techniques like adding sound, message banners and even animated images. This is really a lot more than I expected from a "basic" book, especially one that is just over 100 pages.

For web design "newbies" that just want to get their feet wet, this is a great place to start. It's all written in plain English with the bare minimum of technical codes. As you go through the book and each new technique, they are illustrated to demonstrate how it changes your site.

DAVE'S QUICK 'N' EASY is great for the person intimidated by technology or someone that just wants to dive right in, but doesn't know a lot about HTML (the language used to build web pages). For the complete novice or beginner, this book is like running a 100 meter dash. It gets you designing a web page in no time flat. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (13)

Magical Moominstory
This is the most sweet and gentle Moominbook. Moominpappa takes the family to a lonely island where it is sometimes dark and scary but also there are beautiful dancing sea horses and secret places in the woods. Little My is the funnest person who never gets bothered about anything even red ants. My favorite part is Moomintroll meeting the Groke at night. The Groke seems very scary but maybe there is a soft spot inside where she is lonely and wants the Moomins to like her. Moominmamma tries to plant roses in the seaweed. You should read this book if you like to go to the beach or have daydreams.

Magical Moomins
The good news is you don't have to be a child to be enchanted by the Moomins. The bad news (for me) is missing out on these delightful stories when a child. I always try to begin the Moomin tales in the middle of the day because I know I won't stop until the end of the story.

Moominpappa decides they all need an adventure, and he is most desirous of "taking care" of everyone so Moominmamma can rest and all can be safe and protected. They set sail on an evening in late August to a small island in the Gulf of Finland planning to live in a wonderful lighthouse. The island is strange, bleak and barren. The lighthouse appears abandoned and is locked. The Moomin family consisting of Mamma, Papa, little son Troll, and Little My all go about practical tasks of settling in, first a search to locate a key. The living quarters in the lighthouse are at the very top only to be reached by a rickety spiral staircase. Much to Pappa's dismay, the light is out, and he cannot make it work. The fall storms begin (Pappa never explains why he didn't begin his adventure in the spring) and the life on the island becomes terrifying as well as bleak.

Though the Moomins get angry at one another, they are unfailingly polite and cooperative with the exception of Little My who is a cheerful, cynical pragmatist. Mamma & Pappa are very permissive parents, but always interested in what Troll and Little My are thinking and doing. The author very gently shows how perhaps there is a downside to sleeping and eating when you want, sleeping where your fancy takes you, and going on any adventure that occurs to you. There is delightful comedy where the Moomins throw a birthday party for The Fisherman, and he discovers all his "presents" belonged to him in the first place.

Come, enter the world of the Moomins! You might want to stay!

Tove Jansson's guide to the family
I first discovered this book at the age of about 12 or 13, already older than the average moomin reader, but having read most of the others. It was obvious that this was no ordinary moomin book, and neither was it strictly a children's book. In fact it is a masterly observation of family dynamics, mid life crises and the human condition, but mixed with a mysterious and fantastic magic that leads to spine tingling excitement and making one question how we know what is real.

Every psychology student has something to analyse in every character, and anyone who ever had a moment of doubt about the meaning of their life has something to ponder. What father with a teenage family would not relate to Moominpappa's melancholy, feeling that his life is without purpose now his family appear to be independent, his urge to be needed, to be able to protect them? What homesick traveller could not understand Moominmamma's longing for her garden, (and its magical transformation which you will have to read for yourselves). The description of her homesickness brings tears to the eyes. And what put-upon mother could not identify with her delight in being able to disappear from her family just long enough to stop them taking her for granted? The glimpses of the fond, but no longer passionate relationship between Moominmamma and Moominpappa, and Moominmamma's endless patience for Pappa's foibles, their need for their own roles, and his inability to understand her own needs says more about the maried state than plenty of far more learned texts. We will all be able to identify the same dynamics in our own families and relationships.

Meanwhile Moomintroll's adolescent emotional awakening must bring nostalgic memories of first love to we adult readers, but must surely mystify the average 8 year old. Younger children do not usually have a developed enough sense of other people's individuality to understand the complexities of what is driving the Moomin family to their peculiar dispersal.

The allegory of the frozen Groke could represent so much - I feel a thesis coming on - but I think represents how people get into a vicious cycle;cut off emotionally because no one interacts with them, and becoming ever more reclusive and antisocialin a vicious cycle. She makes us think about how we subconciously excuse ourselves for avoiding the lonely, scared, mentally ill, etc among us, for fear we may be "tainted" them.

Although I'm sure children will enjoy it at one level I recommend it highly to everyone, particularly if you are in a life crisis. I have lent it to nearly all my close friends and no one has yet not enjoyed it thoroughly.

Anyone who enjoyed this book should also enjoy Moominvalley in November with a similar selection of odd characters who we will all recognize among our own aquaintance.

One of My Favourite Childhood Books
My parents used to read the Moominbooks when to us when we were young, and they made a lasting impression on me. For me, Moominpappa at Sea was probably my favourite, along with Comet in Moominland.

Given that the books were originally written in Finnish the translator has done a fantastic job to make the stories incredibly readable and finely nuanced in English. It's possible that the books appealed to us kids so much because they come out of a European culture quite distinctly different from most of the English and American stories we were used to.

The chapters are the right length to read aloud one at a time to kids. (Good for bedtime stories in the summer holidays, I seem to recall!)

I was fortunate enough a couple of years ago to take a ferry across the Gulf of Finland from Stockholm in Sweden to Turku in Finland, and the little rocky islands in the Gulf are almost exactly as I imagined them from the book...

Sometimes the Quest is the Quest
Recently I had a conversation about books which affected us as children. I had the idea of returning to many of them to see if they still had value to an adult. My co-conspirator was European, and couldn't say enough about Tove Jansson, who, for many years, wrote the Moomin series. These are charming tales about a curious family of creatures. They entertain and teach at a deeper level than the cautionary tales that were often part of our experience as American children. Intrigued, I found a couple of volumes and set about reading them. The first of these is "Moominpappa at Sea."

The Moomin family is led by Moominpappa and Moominmamma. Following up behind are Moomintroll, the boy of the tale, and youngest is Little My, whose personality is best described as a bit thorny and imperturbable. The story starts with the Moomins living in a pleasant house near the Gulf of Finland. One is gradually drawn into the cadences of their conversation and little events that make up their lives. In addition, we meet the Groke, who is attracted to lamplight and freezes the ground where she stands. No sooner are we settled when, coming to the decision almost whimsically, the family determines to move to a small island across the sea where they will run a lighthouse. They load up their boat and sail off, with the Groke not far behind them.

The island has a gigantic lighthouse at one end, and its only inhabitant, a fisherman at the other. In short order Moominpappa is building furniture and trying to start up the lighthouse lamp, while Moominmamma works at making their new home livable. Moomintroll wanders the island investigating, finding a perfect place to hide, mermaids, and, eventually, the Groke, who will only stand and stare at the lamp he holds. Eventually Moominpappa realizes he doesn't understand how to start the lamp and, goes on to try other enthusiasms. Moominmamma struggles with trying to feel at home. Moomintroll finds himself entranced by the seahorses and perplexed by the Groke. Of course, Little My observes and remarks on everyone's activity. There is a general sense of discomfort, and the island, as time goes on, seems to become increasingly dark and hostile.

How the Moomins deal with this strange island, the Groke, and the other mysteries about them is by virtue of a nature which is both natural and miraculous. They do not work magic, but they themselves are the stuff of magic. The story is about how each of them finds themselves, and as they do, the world about them changes as well. In the course of time, the lighthouse turns and the Groke becomes warm. All this happens by subtle degrees. There is an almost Zen-like quality to the pace of the book, which is told in a narrative style that begs to be read aloud. This is not a book for one who wants everything laid out crystal clear. Rather it speaks to those who want to be engaged, mystified, and, finally, enchanted. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

fun and worthwhile Redwall paraphernalia
Build Your own Redwall Abbey arrives as a 9 by 12 folder which, when opened, contains in the left pocket a cardboard sheet of 16 punch-out characters and miscellaneous objects, and a nice 16-page pamphlet that tells the story of The Redwall Warrior's Code featuring Cornflower and Matthias. I think the style and the content are consistent with the author's Redwall novels. In the right-hand pocket are an instruction booklet; a foldout sheet that depicts the abbey grounds and opens to about 1-1/2 by 2 feet; 19 pieces which are clearly labelled and fold-out, tuck in and eventually become a rather impressive tabletop abbey, including the great hall (complete with the tapestry hanging over the mantle), the Redwall stairs, a storeroom, bedrooms, the kitchen, gatehouse and outer walls. The gatehouse and walls are particularly satisfying, going up easily and looking great. The material is thin cardboard and the manipulations are more interesting than just simple folds. No cutting or gluing is required though a little bit of tape helps stabilize the model. I think this is a good quality accessory for fans. Assembly takes about an hour and when complete the abbey is fun to look at. There are lots of cool details like candlesticks and birds in the beams and "Redwall" written near the stairs, though I did miss the dishevelled tomes of the gatehouse.

One thing I like about the Redwall universe *is* the availability of interesting supplemental material -- the quiz book, books for younger readers, this abbey. Personally, I would love to see Mr. Jacques publish a Redwall cookbook -- the dishes at the feasts always sound so delectable.

Though this is a bit expensive for older kids and is not sturdy enough for young children or older kids who want to use it as an action figure hangout, I would recommend this fun set-up for ages 8 and up. Because the instructions are clearly written and supplemented with lots of illustrations, this would be an excellent and rewarding intermediate level model for children ready to graduate to a project requiring written insruction, and would be a fun project for parents and children working together. Enthusiastic adult Redwall fans will like it, kids will adore it.

Disappointed
I was disappointed in this book. I bought it for my 8 year old. He loves the Redwall videos, but this model was difficult to put together (even with my help) because the directions weren't clear and it didn't stay together after we did find which "tabs" went together. Also, it is not sturdy enough for child's play. I wish I had read more of the negative reviews to that I wouldn't have bought it.

Cardboard?
Donate your money to the charity of your choice. It will give you more satisfaction and enjoyment. The "cardboard" in this model is more like paper than the paper dolls in days of old.

Good
THis model is very detailed but does take tape and much time and patience to assemble.

Fun For The Younger Audience (But Not Too Young).
This is for a pre-teen kid. 6-11 or so. Though fun for older kids as well, it is too easy and more fun for the younger audience. Really little kids will break it too easily, and this model is a bit pricy just to be destroyed. It makes a good display piece for any Redwall fan.

You younger kids can get a pile of rocks and build Salamandostron hehe! ... Read more

Book Description

The story of Snow White is told here with simplicity and charm. After her wicked stepmother--jealous of Snow White's extraordinary beauty--expels her from the castle, Snow White encounters seven dwarfs, a poisoned apple, and finally a handsome prince! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Powerful and Compellingly illustrated Snow White
This book was one of my favorite's at our school's library when I was younger. This is far from Disney's version. The illustrations are breath-taking and moody at times, yet they embrace the simple essence of the story. The text is perfect for reading aloud but the pictures deserve many glances. The details in the illustrations are something to behold. Children will enjoy this version but also anyone on the college level interested in fantasy literature and illustration. Bottom Line: A simple yet elegant edition worthy of having a place on your bookshelf. A+

The Power of Illustrations
The reviewer who said this book wasn't for her 5-year old is right. It's not the Disney we all grew up with but rather more grim. It would be for older children. And adults. Read on.

The real treasure in this book is the incredible illustrations. Nancy Burkert has given her pictures a strong mediaeval feel, the detail in each one being extensive. You won't find Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, et al. here but rather dwarfs: short men with normal-sized heads. For example, the scene in which they are depicted mourning Snow White is truly amazing. You can feel their grief as you see them standing 'round the glass coffin.

This book is interesting for the story-line but absolutely worth owning if you enjoy and appreciate exquisite illustration.

Stories of the unconscious
Parents - read these stories to your kids. No, the Brothers Grimm are not Disney. They are not a contrived fantasy world that teaches your children little fairies will come and save them from their troubles when something goes wrong. Disney is good for sing-a-longs. Parents, if you want to teach your children *life lessons* about growing up, about facing their fears, and about not being ashamed of who they are, read the Grimm tales to them. Then, after you're done, explain to them what these books entail. Teach your child about *life.* Allow their minds to function, because a nonfunctioning mind is clinically dead. .....stories of the unconscious.....

too graphic for little people
I did not think this was an appropriate book for my 5 year old son. It talked in some detail about eating the liver and lung of Snow White. It ends with a description of the demise of the Queen, "But they had already put iron slippers over a fire of coals, and they brought them in with tongs and set them before her. Then she had to put on the red hot slippers and dance till she dropped down dead." Need I say more? This is not for small children! The pictures are beautiful giving the book a few stars, but there are only pictures on every other spread. My son continued to try to turn the page while I was reading the pages with only words while I am trying to anticipate what to skip over.

A fresh translation of this famous tale.
Jarrell translated this famous folk tale of the Grimm Brothers (Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm, 1785 1863, and Wilhelm Carl Grimm, 1786-1859) of the princess who is forced to hide from her evil stepmother. Jarrell retains the grim ending to the Grimm brothers tale. This issue was illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkett and it was a 1973 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a children's book. It is a book that should be on the shelves of all serious students of children literature. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantasic Alphabet Book for Children
This book quite cleverly introduces the alphabet A to Z. Each letter is introduced in order and appears as part of the picture associated with it. Descriptive words use the letter, usually starting with it. Text leading to the next page (and next letter) suggests the next letter by using it at the beginning of some words, too. Very cleverly written. I grew up with "Harold and the Purple Crayon", which I like very much. I've enjoyed, as an adult other Harold books by Crockett Johnson. "Harold's ABCs" is an equal with the original. ... Read more

Book Description

Purple crayon in hand, Harold draws a tightrope and falls into a circus [where he has many adventures]. As in the previous books, the dauntless Harold is resourceful and loveable." SLJ.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

dated but comforting
First published in 1959, this Harold book describes Harold's adventures as he draws his way through a circus. The style is minimalist and the activities are dated, but the story is also simple and active -- and very interesting to toddlers and young children. In this very fast world, this book helps kids (and parents) slow down a bit.

No batteries required.

Best Childrens Book
This is a great book easy for children to read and know what they are reading. i sujest you get all of the harolds books starting with this one and the going to harold and the pruple crayon.. these books take a kids imagination and make them become life like... the author of these books knows how to hold a childs mind to keep them to want to keep reading til they get to the end.. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky gets 5 stars from me!
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky is a great book about a human being's place on the earth. Kids will also have fun looking for pictures of The Ancestors of Native Americans in the illistrations. I think it's nice for kids to learn about our nations history, and this is a great way for them to do it.

There are sources to back up the content!
I wrote my review before reading other reviews here on Amazon. After reading reviews questioning the authenticity of the content of this book, I did an Internet search for factual information. A source at the National Archives and Records Association of the USA shows an article by Jerry Clark, which contains information to support the text of this picture book by Susan Jeffers. That article is footnoted with references to source material. There is apparently a huge debate over the authenticity of what Chief Seattle did or did not say. Because I found information to support the content of this book, I will go ahead and do a review and grant it 5 stars for the eloquent text and beautiful illustrations.

Text is based on an adaptation of a speech made by Native American Chief Seattle to the new Commissioner of Indian Affairs, during negotiations between the white settlers and the Suquamish and Duwanish tribes in the 1850s. The speech tells of the views held by the ancient peoples, such as humans cannot own land or air or water. The sacredness of the earth and all of its' inhabitants is explained. The connectedness of the human Native Americans to the Earth is eloquently described. This speech is a plea that if they sell the land to the white men, that the land and animals not be ruined. This message is thought to be the first plea and a forewarning of ecology, as Chief Seattle pleas that the land be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

The first and last pages (an unlabeled introduction and an unlabeled afterward) are factual and historical explanations to explain the body of the text. The text itself is a wonderful and poetically written explanation of the views of the Native Americans. If one wishes to explain these beliefs to a child without getting into the historical elements, simply skip the introduction and the afterward, which may be recommended for reading to the very young who are not yet ready to grasp historical facts and concepts. (My three year old was enthralled with this book, and I think even a two year old would be interested in the main text.)

The illustrations are stunning and detailed and are difficult to describe. Very high quality writing and gorgeous illustrations, not to be missed!

Teaching lies to children
Everything you will find in this book is [fiction]. While the artistic quality of the illustrations is remarkable, the content has no connection with historical reality. Chief Seattle never left the Puget Sound in his entire life. He never saw a living buffalo, much less the slaughter of buffalo herds. And, most importantly, he never said anything remotely resembling the message in this book. In fact, he was nothing like the gentle environmentalist depicted by Jeffers:...he never made the famous speech upon which this book is based. The actual speech was written in the 1970s by an environmental apologist, originally for a screen play. It is incredible that anyone would pass this off on their children. No matter how strongly you feel about the need to protect the environment, you have a duty to your children to communicate such ideas without resorting to this form of [rewriting history].

Chief Seattle never made this speech!
If you do some research you'll learn that this speech was actually written for a 1972 movie. Chief Seattle never wrote this speech. Though beautiful, who would want to teach their childen the speech by screenwriter Ted Perry? This book is known as a joke, but the joke will be on you if you buy it!

You don't have to take my word for it. Do you own research on Chief Seattle and urban legends to learn more.

Save a brain - RECYCLE THIS BOOK
This is the biggest load of feelgood propaganda I've come across since Stuart Smalley arrived on the set of Saturday Night Live - of course, that was a satire; this unfortunately is for real. Yes, fairy tales are integral parts of literature, and are as important as any other genre. But, fairy tales should be just that - fairy tales...based upon fantastical lands far far away not factual events that merit accurate stories. Regretfully, Ms. Jeffers fails to realize this important point. The result? Many children (and even some adults) will believe the cowdung disseminated in this book. The only reason this book warrants a "One Star" rating is because of its quotes of Chief Seattle and because zero stars was not an option. Want a good fairytale? Check out Robinhood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, or the now-popular Harry Potter series. Want to find accurate, historical portrayals of American Indians? (...) peruse titles under the subject headings of "History" and "Anthropology". ... Read more

Book Description

The new Castaways novel comes alive-Redwall fashion-with a magnificent romp on the sea, and another in the robber-filled mountains of Spain! Ben and Ned, the boy and dog who were sent on an angel's errand in Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, find themselves on board a Frenchman's pirate ship, pursued by not one but two ships-an English privateer and a Spanish buccaneer. They finally escape into the Pyrenees, only to stumble into an even more challenging adventure that takes them into very heart of the mountains, where they-and their new companions, a painter and a gypsy girl-must face the most evil robber of them all: the legendary Maguda Razan.

This is Jacques at his swashbuckling best. His editor says: This is as good as it gets-as good as Redwall! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Good, but not excellent
My younger sister introduced me to this series about a week ago. The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman was great-it had everything. But when I picked up this book, I was a little bit disappointed. I really liked the first story in this book (extreme action, nautical setting, Ben's past coming back to haunt him...)but the second...

What I didn't like was that the book lacked one important thing that all Redwall books, and this book's prequel have- a riddle. One of the reason that I love the Redwall books is because there is a riddle that the main characters have to solve.

On the positive side, this book has really deep characters that have real personality. The setting and the plot are believable enough (until you meet the Razan's- then it's too far-out for me) and you can relate to (and sympathize with) the characters.

Not as great as the first book, but if you really love the first book and are craving for more, go ahead and read it!

More of Ben and Ned
Better than the first Flying Dutchman book, Ben and Ned meet more charecter's you'll love (and some you'll hate) as they are forced to go back to the sea in the first part of the book. After their adventures on the wide ocean, they go inland so face their hardest challeneges yet.
Whether you are a younger Redall fan looking for more Brian Jacques or on older person (or Redwall fan) looking for a good story told by a master storyteller, "The Angel's Command" fits the bill. It is necessary, though, to read the first in the series ("Castaways of the Flying Dutchman") first.

Jacques pleases yet again
I am a great fan of all of Brian Jacques' works, and this book lived up to his legacy.

You could pick up this novel and understand the story line without reading the first Dutchman book, which is always a sign of a good story. The plot flowed very fluently, and the rhythm kept me on my toes throughout the book.

The characters were strong and well-formed, in fact, they were beautifully realistic. The flaws and gifts counterbalanced each other wonderfully, making me laugh and cry at the antics and heartbreak.

Overall, I'd say that this is a book for anyone who loves books, regardless of age. Ignore the recommended reading levels, and just enjoy a great read.

Second Book in a great series
This is a great book, which's why I gave it five stars. However, I didn't really like the ending. It's the second book in The Flying Dutchman series, and the two main characters, Ben and Ned, are still immortal. This book takes place in the years between the Flying Dutchman book. There is a lot of action, suspense, and drama. The first half of the book was mostly action, adventure, with a little horror mixed in. While the second half of the book is filled with adventure, suspense, and drama. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a long story, with several genres, and many characters.

This book starts out in a small city in Columbia, Cartengena, in the year 1628. A boy named Ben and his dog, Ned, are hungry, after wandering around. They go into a tavern, called the Rhum Tigre. Two pirates, a Spaniard, Rocco Madrid, and Raphael Thuron, a Frenchman, are playing an old game, where you mix shells, and under one is a pea. Captain Thuron loses another round, and passes a stack of gold coins to Madrid. One coin falls on the floor. Ned is on it like a hawk. He gives it to Captain Thuron, who gives it to Ben. Ben is then told to get meat, wine, and to keep the extra change, to buy Ned and himself something.

Ned discovers that the Spaniard is cheating. He tells Ben about it, because they can telepathically communicate. Ben watches the next round closely, and sees that the Spaniard slips the pea into his lap. He whispers it to Captain Thuron, who tells his crew. After that round, the Frenchman says to Madrid, "There's a dagger either side of you and a loaded musket pointed at your belly from my side. I'm betting there's no pea under any of those three shells..." Thuron then takes all his gold back, and he, his crew, and Ben and Ned dash to his ship to make a getaway.

There are two big adventures in this book, as opposed to the three in its prequel. I liked this book a little better than the Flying Dutchman, because it doesn't skip over whole centuries. It's all during the same year. This is just the first part of a huge adventure! Sail with scalawags, and battle buccaneers! Read this awesome book to find out more!

Its good.
I found this book good. It kept me up late at night. But i think it didn't reach the quality of the original Castaway of the flying dutchman. In that book, Ben and Ned seemed better then Angel's Command. In Angel's command, they seem too ..... heavenly and good to be counted as real. Often times when i read it, i felt i was reading a good ole fairy tale with flat characters. The story also didn't have Brian's trademark of puzzles and strange maps ( like in Castaway and all the Redwall books). It almost see a straight forward adventure.

Overall i thought this was a good book, but most of the characters act too heavenly and good for me. ... Read more