Book Description

Vince Luca is just like any other high school guy.His best friend, Alex, is trying to score vicariously through him; his brother is a giant pain; and his father keeps bugging him to get motivated.There is just one thing that really sets him apart for other kidsæhis father happens to be the head of a powerful crime organization. Needless to say, while Vince's family's connections can be handy for certain things-like when teachers are afraid to give him a bad grade as they can put a serious crimp in his dating life.How is he supposed to explain to a girl what his father does for a living?But when Vince finally meets one who seems to be worth the trouble, her family turns out to be the biggest problem of all.Because her father is an FBI agent-the one who wants to put his father away for good. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Son of the mob
The son of the mob is about a 17 year old boy named Vince whose dad works in a vending machine business, but Vince wants nothing to do with it. Vince with his best friend Alex does everything together. Vince is doing a great job until on a date on night his brother put something in the business named Jimmy the Rat in his trunk. Even when he was trying to play football his dad's life got in the way because of a boy with big mouth. Weeks later Vince meets the love of his life named Kendra at a party that him and Alex went to together. While at the party Vince and Kendra end up making out. Vince finds out something about Kendra's father what he wishes he didn't know. Vince's life gets very complexed when his life and the vending machine crash into each other. The next thing Vince knows is that he is learning about his brother, his dad and even his mom.
This books had many strengths such as good detail, you feel like you are in the book. It also does a good job describing things so you know what's going on and it looks like. In my eyes this book has know weaknesses.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction.

Son of the Mob - keeper
Vince Luca is a 17 year-old student who just wants to live the common high school life. Chasing girls, playing football, and other "normal" things are what he aspires to. However, Vince is in a rather precarious situation. His father is a mob boss and Vince wants to have nothing to do with it. His entire family with the exception of his mother, believes that one day he will come around and accept his position. Vince suffers the classic struggle of a protagonist trying to escape his family's reputation and image. However, Vince ends up right where he didn't want to be, posed by the F.B.I. as a loan-shark for his father's business.

The book "Son Of The Mob" is the perfect blend of something which, is very serious (mob-affiliation), and applying it to highschool life, something almost all teens can relate to. It is comedic excellence and had me yelling, gripped, and shaking my head at the misfortune and unexpected turns that Vince Luca takes. At every moment, Gordon Korman throws in another piece of the plot to thicken and enrich the book. Not deep by any standards, this book does have an amazing correlation to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Vince and Kendra, being the "star-crossed lovers," and their families of completely opposite backgrounds makes the book suspenseful and comical.

mards review
I recommend this book Son of the Mob to any one 10 years of age and up. This book is funny and at the same time can draw you in with its seriousness. When he is playing football no one wants to tackle him because they are scared of what his father might do. "I can't explain it right now coach but you have to bench me" says Vince. Yet the book can also be serious, like when Vince and his father are arguing about the problem with Jimmy and Ed "You know who's ripping off Jimmy and Ed so they never got the money to pay you, you are." You can read this book at any time it is a book that you read for fun and to enjoy.

Great!!! awsome read!
I just finished reading this book, and all though the writing is a little bit ackward in some areas, the story line is fantastic. Vince's family is in the "vending maching" buisness, but Vince wants no part of "the Life". Instead he makes an honest attempt to stay sane and in good terms with the law. This all changes when he meet's his new girlfriend who's father is an FBI agent, who just happens to be bugging their house!! Vince has to find out some way to hide this from his parents, and never let her dad find out he's the son of "Honest Abe Luca"

"This an't no Goddfather..."
I have never lived a life in Organized Crime, and I'm glad. I read Son of the Mob, by Gordon Korman. He showed me the life of a 17 year old boy in Manhatten, 2002. The boys name is Vince Luca.
Vince wants no part in the family business, "Vending Machines." But it gradruly seeps in to his personal life. Starts with a suprias in Vince's car trunk and ends up with an insder in the family.A girl comes around and Vince likes her, but her father is the FBI! The same agent after his Father!
Korman puts you in the passenger seat of an exotic Love/Mob story. This book was great, I mean aweaweaweawessommmeee!!!!Theres no horse heads in the bed, no blazing gun fights, but everything else makes up for it. Its your turn in the passenger seat, buckel-up! ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Rollerblading Dogcatchers and Wallace Wallace
This book is creative, funny, and well-written.
I have read this book several times, and it never got boring. There is never a dull moment with NO MORE DEAD DOGS in your hands.
Wallace Wallace, the star football player that isn't any good, is in detention for writing a bad but truthful book report. He refuses to write one that praises the book ( Old Shep, My Pal), because it isn't truthful. There is a play about the book, but it's being sabatoged. Is Wallace Wallace getting revenge, or is he being framed?
From rollerblading dogcatchers to cherry bombs in stuffed animals, from cover to cover, NO MORE DEAD DOGS is nothing but laughs. Recommended for anyone ages 6-104 that likes a good laugh and a great book.

No More Dull Plotlines in this book
In the book No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman, the main character (Wallace Wallace) is stuck in detention for writing a truthful book review. He's dragged away from football practice (and games) to the gym, where he stays after school. During his detention, his teacher is also directing a play based on the book that landed Wallace in detention! After the scenery is vandalized with spray paint, the cast believes that Wallace is responsible...just as he starts to get into drama himself! Is Wallace innocent? Or is he just trying to create an alibi? This book has it all- humor, intrigue, and a romance you'll never believe! I enjoyed this book for the suspense and amusement value, but I would recommend it to anyone between the ages of 10-18 who is interested in a good book to read...for an hour or two.

Confused!
Each chapter is from a differnt persons point of view... It makes no since during parts...

No More Dead Dogs
The ending of No More Dead Dogs is surprising because I never thought Wallace and Trudie would become a couple. Wallace is so different that no one likes him because he is a jock and he thinks he knows it all. Trudie is the quiet type. She only talks when someone talks to her. They are so different that sometimes they argue over stupid stuff. First they started to argue about parts of the play. They both wanted the same part, but Wallace got it. Another time they argued was when they fought over the end of the play and how they wanted it to end. Wallace wanted the dog not to die because he loves animals; Trudie wanted the dog to die at the end of the play because she doesn't like animals. In this argument, Trudie wins. They talked more after the play. Finally, they become friends and they start doing stuff together. My opinion is that I really liked the book because it has a very good ending. I would recommend it to people who like animals. It was such a great book..

Not a classic, but worth a read
This is a snappy, personable read; the characters are interesting (although some are a bit one-dimensional) and the author moves the plot along briskly by maintaining the humor and casual speech that keeps the book grounded even as he sifts the focus from one character to another. The plot has been summarized elsewhere quite nicely, so I'd like to discuss some of the larger ideas the book explores. Having been a "drama nerd," I liked the way the author portrays their earnestness-- they may be a little out of it, but they are well-intentioned and ultimately likeable. I also liked the unrelenting honesty of Wallace Wallace, and the way he deals with the hero worship that he feels is unearned-- worship that serves only to trip him up at every turn. Finally, I enjoyed the portrayal of friendships, both "fair-weather" and true-- any adolescent can instantly connect with both the injustice of the former and the value of the latter, and the concluding affirmation of honesty leaves the reader feeling good about the story as a whole. Not to detract from the lessons to be learned from dead dogs, but it's nice to see characters learn from positive experiences too! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Here is the thrilling story of Rikki, a fearless young mongoose who finds himself locked in a life-and-death struggle to protect a boy and his parents from Nag and Nagaina, the two enormous cobras who stalk the gardens outside the familys home in India. Nobel Prize winner Rudyard Kiplings timeless masterpiece has been lovingly passed from one generation of readers to the next. Triumphantly brought to life in stunning watercolors from Caldecott Honor artist Jerry Pinkney, this is a tale that will win the hearts of young and old alike ... Read more

Reviews (14)

One of the best children's stories ever
Everyone will love Rikki Tikki Tavi. He is cute and furry, he has been rescued from certain death by his humans, and best of all he fights snakes in a land where they are an everyday part of life - and death.

This is not just a story for children. The writing is sophisitcated enough to appeal to adults and is very funny in parts, and very touching in others. But it is a great story to share with children - it touches on all the things we want for our kids - strong and loyal friends, a protective and supportive family, and the ability to know when its time to stand up for yourself, and take risks if you need to.

It is a really wonderful story (as are all of Mr Kipling's - to be fair) but this is quite a masterpiece. Share it with a special child and enjoy it all the more.

A beautiful story
A young mongoose got swept away from his family by a flood and ended up with a person family. They took very good care of him and he loved them. Cobras who were called Nag and Nagaina lived in the garden. Rikki Tikki Tavi protected the family from them. There were birds, too, who were friends of the mongoose. One of their babies fell out of the nest and Nag ate it. My brother and I loved this book. Hannah, aged 7

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
In the story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a mongoose. When a flood washed him away from his home, he is adopted by Teddy and his family. While exploring the garden, he meets Nag and Nagaina, two deadly cobras. Later that night, he overhears the cobras' plot to enter Teddy's house and kill his family. When Nag and Nagaina get inside, Rikki attacks and kills Nag in Teddy's bathroom. The next day, Rikki finds Nagaina's eggs on the ground and begins crushing all of the eggs except for one. When Nagaina threatens to kill Teddy, Rikki distracts her by threatening to destroy her last egg. Then, Rikki chased Nagaina into her hole in the garden and kills her. From then on, Teddy's family hailed Rikki-Tikki-Tavi as a hero for saving them from the two deadly cobras.

A wondeful book by a not so wonderful author
Dear readers,
a few weeks ago I read a book called Rikki Tikki Tavi. It's a kind of weird story about a mongoose who is washed from his home and into an Indian family's garden. This where a small boy named Teddy picked the mongoose, a.k.a. Rikki Tikki, up and kept him as a pet and a guardian. After this Rikki Tikki decides to explore the land outside of the house. This is where he meets Nag and Nagina(both are cobras). This is also where he begins his war aginst the snakes. So as you can see this a very interesting story with a great moral,"Never let your guard down"'.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
I bought this book for my child who was at the time 5 years old. It has become his favorite book and he always chooses it when he's asked to bring in a favorite book. The illustrations are beautiful and it serves the classic story very well. Though it is a bit lengthy for a bedtime story, it is one book that I never mind reading to him. I would recommend this book for any child who has an adventurous side. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Who was the largest baby ever born in the state of Maine? Who dug the Great Lakes? Who gouged out the Grand Canyon? Why, Paul Bunyan, of course, America's finest, fastest, funniest lumberman and favorite tall-tale hero. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jeff's Book Review
This book is very funny and entertaining.It was funny to see how Paul Bunyan, who was gigantic as both a baby and an adult, delt with all of the people and monsters who were much smaller than him. This book has great pictures and will make you laugh.

Wonderfully Illustrated!
This is a very enjoyable story retold with the most captivating illustrations. The vocabulary telling this story is wonderful and is a great book to read to the young and an excellent book for the early reader. Children will enjoy this enhanced version! This is not a book to miss.

fun with tall tales
Students are sure to enjoy this hilarious account of how many of our nation's wonders were created. This tall tale has been "spruced up" with a rich and colorful vocubulary, and is combined with illustrations that will keep the reader coming back for discovery time and time again. Steven Kellog's series of tall tales are invaluable in the classroom as students experience various literary elements such as: genre, author/illustrators, and theme related impressions. ... Read more

Book Description

Leo isn’t reading, or writing, or drawing, or even speaking, and his father is concerned. But Leo’s mother isn’t. She knows her son will do all those things, and more, when he’s ready. ‘Reassuring for other late bloomers, this book is illustrated with beguiling pictures.’—Saturday Review.

... Read more

Reviews (16)

A pleasing look at how children can develop differently.
What better way to explain to a child that it's OK to be different? Leo the Late Bloomer is a classic of American children's stories with brilliant illustrations that bring the tale to life. Leo the young tiger doesn't lead a "normal" child's life and his Father is constantly worried that something is wrong with his son. Leo experiences many of the childhood frustrations that we are all too familiar with such as being unathletic, unartistic or ostracized by your peers. Over time Leo absorbs what the others have been doing and eventually blossoms with a newfound love for life. This book brilliantly conveys the revelation of a child discovering his or her place in the giant world. Leo the Late Bloomer is a timeless classic with a relevant social message and is an enjoyable read for any age child

Use This Book to Boost Your Child's Self Esteem
This is a great book that I like to read to my first graders on the morning of the first day of school. The illustrations are colorful and leave room for the reader to ask comprehension questions while reading. It's a terrific read-aloud, especially on the first day of school when students are nervous about starting the new year.

I value this book most of all because it allows students to understand that it's okay if they can't do everything that their classmates do. We grow in our own good time, but sometimes a five or six year old can't understand why they can't do what the girl across the room does regularly. This book can help alleviate those concerns, leading to greater self esteem on the part of the child. As a teacher, in my opinion this is the best aspect of the book. If you teach kindergarten or first grade, or if you have children of your own at that level, this is a great book to boost their self esteem.

However, I caution you that this is not a book that you should rely on if you are the parent of a special needs child. This is a wonderful read-aloud children's book, especially for special needs children, but it is not a resource guide for parents and should not be viewed as such.

We Really Liked This Book!
This story is about Leo who isn't good at a lot of things. One day he can do the things he couldn't do before. He needed time to be good at differnt things. We liked this story because Leo didn't think he was good at anything, but he felt really proud of himself in the end.

Can't do anything right?
The book begins by saying Leo couldn't do anything right. What child can't identify with the frustrations of not being able to accomplish what someone else accomplishes? Many children generalize and say they can't do anything right when they met with failures. This book is encouraging for any child, regular or special education. Another book to use with this one is Little Lemon - Activities for Developing Motivation and Memory Skills by Betsy B. Lee. It has a story, song, discussion questions, and lessons to help develop learning strategies by giving specific techniques. Leo, the Late Bloomer does not give this kind of instruction but it is very encouraging and a big help.

Tiger tiger burning bright
Since 1971 the delightful story of Leo the tiger, and proverbial late bloomer, has been charming children and adults. The story of Leo is the story of many a child. He does not speak, or eat nicely. He does not draw or do anything particularly well. This comes as a bit of a concern to Leo's pop, but him mother reassures him that in time Leo will "bloom". The story in and of itself could be made or broken by the illustrations. Put into the wrong hands, this story could easily have been drawn in a syrupy ooey-gooey mentality. There is a definite danger of cutesiness. Illustrator Jose Aruego, however, never allows this to happen. You've not seen such a sad little tiger cub as Leo. In beautiful scenes of subtlety and oomph, Leo's environment, friends, and parents are rendered in interesting and unique ways. The colors are lovely and evocative. And the emotions of the characters are perfect. Every stripe on Leo's body is an undulating shade of purple. Aruego has advanced watercolor to the next level, creating a book that is (no doubt about it) art. If you like art, or watercolors, or cute tiger cubs, then you won't want to miss out on this sweet little number, "Leo the Late Bloomer". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Story
Dive,The Deep is about 4 divers at a dive intern for the summer and find out about a sunkin ships treasure and are searching for it at night so no one will know. Mean while the so called "teacher" is digging for some gold himself... ... Read more

Book Description

Four kids are on a marine expedition for the summer, diving to explore an underwater habitat that's just been altered by a seismic event.What they find, though, is much more than fish - it's sunken treasure.Can they salvage it without anyone else getting to it first?Will the prospect of wealth set them against one another?And what about those sharks . . . .DIVE is another action-packed trilogy from Gordon Korman.The narrative will shift between an account of two kids caught in the shipwreck and the story of the four kids fighting over and desperately trying to get the treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Dive; book one : Discovery
The deep, mysterious ocean holds more value than to the human eye. Something more valuable than ever. What seemed like an opportunity of a lifetime has unraveled into something more, than the four kids can handle, and something so great has finally revealed itself.
Kaz, Dante, Adriana and Star, are invited to a summer internship to scuba dive. They know the organization doesn't seem to be what they look like, and they are going to prove it. Especially because the kids found sunken treasue and they are not the only ones who want it. The only thing stopping them is the bad guys and the sharks, especialy the eighteen foot tiger shark, Clarence. Each step that the kids take to getting the treasure the danger unfolds more.
I really enjoyed this book a lot because there was so much excitement and I had a lot of fun reading it, because it compares to teenagers all around and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a great book that stays in your imagination forever.

Dive
(...) The book I recently read was Dive book one: The Discovery. Written by Gordon Korman.
This book is about 4 kids spending their summer scuba diving. The kids think that something is up with the organization who set the program up. the kids are diving into danger-filled waters.
I liked this because it is full of suspense. If you like water, danger, and suspense, you were meant to read this book, it is a gold mine. I bet my money you will like this book!!!

a suspenceful read
Gordan Korman's new book series, Dive is about Bobby Kazinski , Dante Lewis , Star Lee ,and Andrea Goldsmith's adventures under the sea.From this series, I learned many interesting facts about diveing.Although ,it took a long time for the plot to develope,but the book was quite good.Some details were unesesary, but they became clear when I got further into the series.I enjoyed this book.

Dive, the best book i've EVER read
Dive is about 4 kids diving for an institute for the summer. They soon find out that the dive instructers are keeping them occupied mean while the instructors are looking for something...

I give Dive 5 stars because it's exciting and it kept my interest. I guarentee you'll be saticfied whith this book.

SO READ IT!

Great Book
This book is a little slow to start, but then, it is the first in a series, you need to get to know the characters.

It starts with a group of four kids, all of which like to dive as a hobby. They are on an internship to learn about diving. The people in charge are always aloof and not paying attention to them.

Soon they relieze that thay aren't really on an internship to learn, but as an excuse for their sponserors to search for some buried treaure, which they found on an dive.

If you want to know what happens, read the book yourself. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

THE BEST BOOK OF THE SERIES!
I own the entire set of the Applewood re-releases, and this was the best of the lot.

Inexplicably the writing of this book was far superior to the rest of the novels in this series (and they were all very good!) Several other readers that I have spoken with agreed that "The Sign of the Twisted Candles" was their fave!

I wonder if a different "ghost writer" worked on this particular novel? Hmmmm... I guess that will remain a mystery!

An Excellent Story
This review concerns both the original 1933 edition and the revised 1968 edition, which is the one with which most younger readers would be familiar. Both books have a similar story; except the revised edition is shorter, some characters names were changed and some events were either eliminated or altered. During a storm, Nancy, Bess and George seek shelter at an old tea room. While there, they meet a one hundred year old man named Asa Sidney, as well as an orphaned girl and her dishonest guardians. This launches Nancy into the middle of an old family feud between Asa Sidney's relatives and the relatives of his deceased wife, who happens to have been the sister of Bess and George's great-grandfather. Nancy's involvement in the feud ultimately costs her her friendship with Bess and George. Nancy has a lot of work to do as she tries to end the long-standing feud, repair her friendship with Bess and George, discover the parentage of the orphaned girl and prevent the girl's guardians from stealing the fortune that Asa Sidney has amassed. There really isn't much of a mystery to this book; however, the story more than makes up for that. Like all of the other books in the series, it features unscrupulous people up to something dishonest and Nancy usual desire to help someone in need, but this time she is affected personally because of the loss of her friends. I found the book to be very interesting and the writing was very descriptive (at least in the original version). I recommend reading the original version over the revised edition, if possible, but either way this book should not be missed if you are a fan of Nancy Drew. In my opinion it is one of the 5 best books of the series.

Masterful!
This is definately a great Nancy Drew mystery. I read a lot of them often, and this one is definately extremely descriptive and you can just be there with Nancy through thick and thin. I was right there the whole time. Certainly a must for readers!

One of the best books in the Nancy Drew series!
This book is one of the finest in the Nancy Drew series. It is classic Nancy Drew. The Applewood facsimile books, "As you remember them!" are the only way to enjoy Nancy Drew in my opinion. I love the old fashioned clothing, sayings and settings much more than the yellow spine books of today that are so condensed they read all the same. The old style books are written with quality in mind and evoke a different period in our American history.

Great!
In attempt to help a one hundred year old man, Nancy meets a girl being harmed by cruel guardians. While trying to solve the mystery of the Twisted Candles Inn, Nancy almost loses the friendship of her two closest "chums" - Bess and George. Nancy discovers that friendship is more important than a case or two; (of course she solves the mystery as well, after patching things up with her chums!) Read the book to see how Nancy saves the day once again. A great read for mystery fans, young or old. ... Read more

Book Description

When Whistle for Willie was first published in 1964, The New York Times wrote Mr. Keats' illustrations boldly, colorfully capture the child, his city world. and the shimmering heat of a summer's day.Now the story of Peter, who longs to whistle for his dog, is accessible to even the youngest child in a durable board book edition, with reinforced pages, a handy trim size, and safe, rounded corners.Ezra Jack Keats, who died in 1983, was the award-winning author of such children's favorites as The Snowy Day, which won the Caldecott Medal, and Goggles, a Caldecott Honor Book. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

You do know how to whistle, don't you?
Fans of Ezra Jack Keats's fabulous (and better known) 1962 book, "The Snowy Day" should be pleased to discover this other piece of Keatsian lore. Published originally in 1964, "Whistle for Willie" is a sequel of sorts. Starring Peter, that lovable kid whom we first saw tromping about in his red snowsuit, the focus shifts from cold snowed in city streets to warmer days in a kid-friendly metropolis.

Peter would like to whistle. He would like it very much, but try as he might he just cannot figure out how to do it. Though Peter sees other kids whistling for their dogs, when Peter whistles for his dauchund Willie he finds he hasn't the skill. We observe Peter as he goes about his day, trying to whistle between spinning, hiding in boxes, coloring with chalk, pretending to be his father, and walking the cracks in the sidewalk. At long last, after many failed attempts, Peter successfully whistles for Willie. Delighted, he shows his parents and after being sent to the grocery store he whistles all the way there and all the way back.

First of all, this is the book to present to those people that believe that children's short attention spans are a new occurrence. Observe, if you will, the multitude of activities and games Peter partakes in, usually leading back to his attempts to pucker up his lips and blow. This is one active (though not necessarily hyper) kid. You have to like Peter, just as you have to like the story in which he has been placed. It's a nice one, with realistic dialog and funny moments for kids to enjoy. When Peter puts on his dad's hat and pretends to be him, his mom plays right along. There's a real sense of trust to this book as well. Undoubtedly some kids living in big cities might read this and wonder why their own moms don't let them run in the streets alone or walk to the store to get some groceries. Prepare to unleash the dreaded phrase, "It was a simpler time" in such events. As for Keats's illustrations, they are as rambunctious and amusing as ever. I was particularly taken with a scene in which Peter spins himself around and around then suddenly stops. As we watch, the whole world tilts back and forth, the stoplight's lights floating out of their base and Peter swinging his arms to stay upright. As always, the textures, background prints, and clors in this book are fabulous. And in an improvement on "Snowy Day", Peter and his dog are allowed facial expressions where once Peter had none.

From the subtle endpapers to the beautiful and bizarre artistic graffiti on the walls, this book is a big city hit. Anyone who has ever wanted to experience the metropolitan districts with a small child as their guide would do well to snatch and grab the admirable, "Whistle for Willie". It's a sure-fire crowd pleaser and a hit.

willie is a dog
This book is funny. Ezra Jack Keats writes about a boy
and his dog ad the neighborhood that they live in. He makes colorful pictures. You should read the book it is great.

Whistle for Willie
The book " Whistle for Willie " isn't the best book I have ever read. Although it was a pretty good one. This book is about a little boy named Peter and his dog Willie. One day Peter sees another boy whistling and playing with his dog. Peter decides it would be really cool if he could whistle for Willie. So he tries to, but he doesn't know how to. He tryed like five times, but still he couldn't get a noise to come out. Finally he gets it to work and he gets all happy and plays with his dog.
Now this book kind of shows that if you wanted something bad enough you shouldn't give up. You should keep going for whatever you want untill you get it, as long as what you want is resonable. This book does remind me of me in a way. Ever since I was about four years old I have wanted a Corvette. And I am hoping that one day if I stick to what I want that I will get it. And by the book, it looks like I just might.

He tried and tried . . . .
but NOTHING came out! Whistle for Willie, oh what a JOY! This was one of the very first books that I read to my boys when they were in the high chair! What fun we had trying to whistle, just like Peter, blowing and blowing, but NOTHING CAME OUT! You see, my son's name is Peter, just like the little boy in the story, and so I started to collect books with little boys named Peter. Besides appealing to HIM, however, this book has inter-generational appeal. The rhythm and cadence appealed to my son, but the family's warmth and genuine love for each other appealed to me.

A little boy goes about his daily routine, all the while trying to learn how to whistle. "Oh, how Peter wished he could whistle!" We enjoy tracing a chalk line with him, trying on Daddy's hat, and walking to the store. And when he finally whistles, well, don't we ALL just feel proud? Yep!

Colorful collages illustrate this Ezra Jack Keats classic, and I am sure you will "Whistle for Willie" again and again, because this is a story that BEGS to be read over and over!

Peter's Quest
I grew up in the 60's and fondly remember the school librarian reading Ezra Jack Keats "The Snowy Day" to us as snow fell outside. We were glued to every page and every word. Keats' books stir the imagination. "Whistle for Willie" is another timeless classic from the award winning author. My 3-year-old son could not get enough of this book from the time he was old enough to pull it from the bookcase. The pictures are fun and imaginative, and the text puts you right in Peter's meandering, carefree world. Almost every boy wishes for a dog like Willie, and can relate to Peter's quest..."Oh, how Peter wished he could whistle..."! ... Read more

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Why is Eloise, 6-year-old resident of the Plaza Hotel in New York City, going to Paris? She and Nanny were summoned by a cablegram from Eloise's mother, and, as we all know, "If you are going to Paris France / you have to turn into French and absolutely go wild / and put adhesive tape on you / and fall down a lot and sklathe the window / and stretch into the curtain and..." Ahh, the deliciously mad logic of Eloise. She promptly gets on the phone to tell everyone--including room service--that she is Paris bound. There's so much to do--shots, passport pictures, packing ("Here's what else you have to take / Everything"), and of course the endless good-byes. Fortunately, "Sabena is the only airline / that will allow you to travel with a turtle" so Skipperdee comes along for the ride. At last, ils arrivent!

Hilary Knight captures familiar Parisian sights in his delicately hewn pen-and-ink illustrations of everything from the Arc de Triomphe to the Seine to the Champs Élysées to outdoor cafés. Children will studyevery detail of each rawther extraordinaire illustration, from Weenie's snout (such as it is) peeking out from under the hotel bed to the bandy-legged, bunchy-shirted Eloise with her necklace of champagne corks. Even if children don't understand half of the quirks and language directed toward precocious grownups ("Langoustines make very good fingernails"), they'll find more than enough to delight them down to their very toes. Adults, of course, will also revel in this fascinatingly eccentric romp. And if you know anyone who loves (or will love) Paris, this book is the perfect bon voyage gift. Eloise in Paris was first published in 1957, the sequel to the original Eloise, and is every bit as wondrous. If you're in search of more Eloise (and who isn't really?), don't miss The Absolutely Essential Eloise, the original Eloise book with an additional scrapbook that tells the whole story of this impish character and her devoted creators. (Click to see a sample spread.Copyright 1957 by Kay Thompson. Reproduced with permission of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.) (Ages 5 to 105) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Eloise from 5 to 32!!!
I'm 32 years old and I LOVE Eloise - she is an absolutely delightful character! I have bought several of the Eloise books for my 5 year old daughter and she just loves Eloise as well. How fun and inspiring is it for a little girl to read about a character as whimsical and independent as Eloise?

The illustrations in this book are fantastic and really bring Paris to life for children. I have read this book at least 100 times to my daughter, and each time I enjoy it more. My daughter now wants a champagne cork necklace just like Eloise...thanks Kay Thompson for laughs you have allowed my daughter and me to share!

I love this book!!
I read Eloise (at the Plaza) and Eloise in Paris - all 'very much' Kay. I loved that woman - a very good friend of my mom's. I worked with/for her when (as a teenager) I did her musical arrangements and orchestrations for her fabulous act with The Williams Brothers - which opened in Vegas and played all over the world.

She was one of a kind (you can see her in Funny Face) brilliant musical/vocal arranger herself, world traveler, racounter, incredible lady. I've bumper into her in Rome, Paris, London, New York, LA and was terribly saddened by her death (even though she was painfully painfully thin her whole life). She was one of the great women in the history of show biz. The Eloise books are thrilling to say the least and I continually laugh every time I pick one up even after I've gone through them 100 times. I'm ordering them once again as I left mine in London and MUST have them once again. Buddy Bregman

ElOISE IN PARIS: []
Eloise's First trip to Paris, is unforgetable.
With her Nanny (Nanny), Turtle (Skiperdee), and her Dog (Weenie)...It's a Treasure. It's a keeper. It's great. A+

Eloise Is At It Again
Eloise is at it again, only this time she's in Paris. She'll miss the Plaza, but she does so love visiting new places. The 6 year old is sent for by her mother, and is flown off to Paris with her Nanny, turtle (Skipperdee), and her dog who looks like a cat (Weenie). While in Paris Eloise hangs out with Koki, one of her best friends and chaueffer and gets into all types of trouble. From sneaking around the hotel at night to losing Skipperdee and Weenie at the museum.

This is an excellent book for all Eloise fans, so pick up a copy of this book, and charge it please.

Cest moi, Eloise!
This is my favorite Eloise book. As an Eloise fan and a dedicated Travel-buff, this book is a perreniel favorite.

My sister and I had a battered copy that had belonged to my mom. Little did we know that it was a first edition. Unfortunately, with the cover missing and many of the pages creased and loose, it certainly didn't look like much.

That didn't matter to us, all the pages were still there, and we read that book, along with Eloise and Eloise in Moscow, over and over again. How happy I was to see that these books have been re-printed. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Exciting Adventure
This review concerns the original 1935 edition and the revised 1972 edition which is completely different from the original. In the original, Nancy wins a piece of land in northern Canada in a radio contest and almost immediately people are trying to buy the land from her. Could it be valuable? Determined to see the land for herself, Nancy, along with her friends Bess and George, set out for the remote wilderness of northern Canada. Along the way the three girls meet an authoress who tells them a sad story of how she was kept apart from her first love many years ago. Upon arriving at her land, Nancy finds that a ruthless group of swindlers is trying to steal her land from her. How Nancy reunites the authoress with her first love and outsmarts the group of swindlers makes for a rather interesting story. This really isn't a mystery story, it's more of an adventure; however, it is quite an exciting book. The story grabs your attention very quickly and there is plenty of action. The northern Canadian setting is used very effectively. The end of the book was very good, as it displays two of Nancy's best qualities, her courage and her willingness to sacrifice something that is hers to help someone else. Unfortunately, this edition is not the one found in new book stores; however, if you ever find it at a used book store, buy it, you won't be disappointed with it. In the revised edition, Nancy goes to the Ohio River area of Illinois to search for a hollow oak. Legend has it, that in the 1600s a French missionary hid a treasure in a hollow oak but was killed before he could reveal its location. This version isn't bad. The book kept me interested throughout but it never had me so engrossed that I couldn't put it down. I would recommend reading this book, but I enjoyed the original version so much more.

Mysteries, Mysteries, Mysteries!
Nancy Drew in The Message in the Hollow Oak is very interesting and was fun to read about. I thought it was very interesting to see in her point of view on how to solve her mysteries. She has a very creative mind.
I thought that Nancy was interesting because she always knows what to do when everyone else is stuck. She tends to always find a way to solve her mystery and help other people that are also part of it. Nancy and her friends may at some times get in a little mischief, but always, no matter how bad the situation, find different ways to get out of it. It also occurs to me that in this book, they never have gotten in any illegal problems, but had to phone the police a couple of times to keep Nancy safe. One thing that I also like is that she thinks of things that I would have never thought of before and it helps me just in case I might need something to solve, but not as intense.
The Message in the Hollow Oak is a great book for young and older readers. They're not scary, and not too boring. it's just the right thing. It was a great book to me and will be to you if you read it.

Read this book
I think you should read this book. Carolyn Keene has made this book exciting with a little bit of history along with it. This is a great book!

A really good read
This book is about Nancy going to Illinois and trying to solve the mystery of Pere Francois and his treasure. She stays at a dig site with Ned's cousin Julie Ann and is terrorized by a man with many identities named Kit Kadle. He will stop at nothing to find the message Pere Francois left and ultimately find the treasure. Will Nancy find it....... READ THE BOOK!

The Message in Hollow Oak was exciting .
The Message in Hollow Oak is a tale everyone should read. It is an exciting tale with an twist of history. Some of the most beloved Nancy Drew characters come alive once again to bring another mystery filled with suspense and danger. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Anansi the trickster strikes again!
That Anansi is such a scoundral!!

After boring into one of Elephants melons, he eats himself too big to get out!! So, Anansi waits to get thing again...Only, he's bored! So he decides to amuse himself at Elephant's expense... and Hippo's...and Warthog's...Well, you get the idea.

This is a cute story about a trickster spider. Janet Stevens' illustrations are, as always, excellent. Anansi is not just a regular spider. Stevens gives him expressions and a personality. You wind up laughing with Anansi's pranks. Very well done!

I would definitly recommend this book. I read it to a group of young school age kids - 5-9. They could kinda tell where the story was going, but were more than willing to sit for the ride.

Great for preschool/kindergarten agers
My 5 year old son LOVED the mischief Anansi got into and understood the lessons that were being taught. It is written in a way that younger kids can understand and the illustrations are great!

Trickery at its best!!
Anansi the spider bores his way into one of Elephant's melons and thus begins the great trickery of some of the greatest animals in the Animal Kingdom. I used this book with the second grade class and we loved the human characteristics of the animals and all the funny things Anansi says while he is in the melon. It is a great book to act out in the puppet theater and we had great fun taking on the roles of the elephant, monkey, spider and other surprised and astonished animals. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fabulous book!!!!!
My daughter, who is 6, sometimes has a hard time keeping her attention focused on chapter books. She loved this one so much we plowed through 9 of the 12 chapters in one night and she was begging to finish it the next night. Thanks, Mr. King-Smith!!!!

A new kind of house pet!
Reminiscent of Lester, the pig in the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series, Lollipop is a homely pig chosen as a present by the spoiled Princess Penelope for her 8th birthday. Her owner, Johnny, has trained this pig to obey commands much as a dog would, and comes to live at the palace with the pig. The King secretly engages the boy to train his daughter as well, as she is getting out of hand. This predictable story teaches a couple of lessons to the readers--the problem of selfishness and not judging by appearances--without beating the reader with those messages. The illustrations complement the text, which is roughly a 3rd grade level. ... Read more

Book Description

This book reveals how big a bowl would be needed to hold a million goldfish, or how many years it would take to count to a million. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One in a Million
This picture book is a great pairing of engaging children's literature, detailed illustrations and a deep math concept. I love the way that Schwartz and Kellogg bring this book to life!
I love Kellogg's illustrating! I would just love to jump right into the pages and be a part of all the action. His characters are drawn with such unique faces. And each page is filled with numerous details and endless nooks and cranies. Each page begs to be explored over and over.
If you have never enjoyed a book illustrated by Steven Kellogg now is the time!
The writing in this particular book is also very well done. The little facts about the number 1 million are really interesting. For instance it would take a fish bowl the size of a city harbor to hold a million goldfish!
This book really helps kids and adults understand a very abstract concept. How many of us really have a good grasp on how much a million really is? This book definitely puts it in perspective!
Read it once and you'll have to read it again and again!

How Much Is A Million?
Our class liked this book. We thought it was hilarious and gave a wonderful picture of how much a million really is. The kid tower was very imaginative and was an excellent example of a million, billion, and trillion. David M. Schwartz has a fantastic imagination. This book is great for little kids, because it shows there are numbers greater than a hundred. It's language is easy for kids to understand, and it contains many amazing facts.
However, older students dislike it, because it was too fictional. We felt it didn't explain these concepts well enough for us. Overall, we wouldn't recommend it for grades higher than fourth grade.

How Much is a Million By David M. Schwartz
I really enjoyed this book and I like the way David M. Schwartz used kids as an example of measurement. I thought the story was cute and I think young kids will really enjoy this. This is a story that I read a lot when I was in elementary. The story shows a very creative out look on counting and makes a million look like a humongous number. I think kids can really learn from that and even makes it kind of fun to learn. Sometimes I even like to read this book over because it really is a fun book to read. The illustrations are also very good and I think they definitely add to the creativity of this book. I really enjoyed looking at them.

Helped spark a lifetime love of math
I'm currently a college student, majoring in Mathematics.

I clearly remember this book, and the sequel by the same author, as huge parts of my childhood love for the subject. Its clear and innovative style helped spark in me a deep love of mathematics. I still imagine big numbers as fields of stars and lines of kids holding fishbowls.

This is perfect for any child, it gives potentially abstract and boring numbers a proper sense of wonder. I can't reccomend it enough.

A fantastic book (for teaching more than you might think)
I have used this book countless times for teaching new speakers of English our big numbers. It is also wonderful for young gifted children who are able to grasp these concepts perhaps sooner than their age-mates. The most creative use I've heard of came from a teacher who had borrowed my copy but then asked to keep it a little longer because she wanted to be able to give her middle-school students an idea of the enormity of the Holocaust. ... Read more

Book Description

Reader t.b.a.
approx. 3 hours
2 cassettes

Nance Drew's keen mind is tested when she searches for a missing will. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

The Secret Of The Old Clock
This book is great! It is about Nancy Drew and how she has to find a will that a man named Josiah Crowley may have made. But Ada and Isabel, the people who would get the will if no one found a later one,are no help! They hope there isnt a later will. Ada and Isabel are rich, and the people the later will is going to go to are poor. Nancy Drew has to find out the mystery. She has to find a blue notebook which tells of where the will is! Josiah Crowley is a very smart man and has great hiding places! The time is running out! The will is going to go to the mean twin sisters who dont even need it, Ada and Isabel! If you read this great story, you will find out if she finds it!!

The Secret Of the Old Clock Book Review
The Secret of the Old Clock is the first Nancy Drew mystery story by Carolyn Keene. Unlike most mysteries I couldn't figure out what was going to happen from the beginning. In matter of fact not tell the end I knew what was going to happen, which I liked. It seems like in the book that the author wrote this book for kids to enjoy and have a great book in their hands to read. There are over sixty-five books in the series, which also might mean that she enjoys writing these mysteries. The Secret of the Old Clock is about a very wealthy man who has dies recently. For the past two years that he was alive, he was under the care of a very wealthy family but not so nice. The only reason that they took care of him was so that they could get all of his money when he died. There were three other families that were in bad need of money for various reasons. When he dies he made his will out to the very wealthy family, but he told the three other families that he made a large portion out to them. Nancy is trying to figure out if the wealthy man who died had made a later will. Do you think that Nancy will solve the mystery? The setting in The Secret of the Old Clock is very realistic. The story is based in a suburb. The houses are not right next to each other like in a city, but there not like the country far apart. They have green grass, trees, paved road, hills, and a lot of bridges with creeks following under them. About twenty minutes away from the town are farms with wide open fields. On the fields they have big red barns. Then about an hour away from the town are forests with lakes surrounding the woods. There are many cabins on the lake including a coupe of camps. All the roads are dirt. When I was reading the book I could easily imagine the setting when I closed my eyes because she gave many details. There are many characters in The Secret of the Old Clock. Carolyn Keene made me believe in them as people because they live in houses, played ball, eat food, drive cars ect. I liked all the characters except burglars and the wealthy family who took care of the man who died. The burglars took peoples prized passions. The wealthy families' girls, Isabel and Ada, were snobs and they took advantage of the wealthy man. Without the burglars and the wealthy family the book would not be possible. Nancy was my favorite because she will do all she can to help people. For example, a little girl fell off a bridge and Nancy rescues the girl, after somebody got robbed Nancy said, "I'm afraid I'm exceeding the speed limit," she thought. "But I almost wish a trooper would stop me. Then I could tell him what happened to the poor Turner sisters." Nancy almost killed herself by stopping another robbery. Mary Turner and her sister Edna take care of a little girl named Judy because her parents died. They manage a small income. Mary said, "To tell you the truth, Nancy, at the time Judy's parents were killed, Edna and I wondered whether we would be able to take care of Judy properly. But we decided to try it now we wouldn't part with her for anything in the world. She's won our hearts completely."
Isabel and her sister Ada are the wealthy snobs. They were waiting in the dress shop and Ada said, "Do you realized that my father owns considerable stock in Taylor's? If we report your conduct to him, he could have you discharged."
At the beginning of the book Nancy Drew was in her car and a little girl, Judy, ran out into the street and fell off the rode into the creek. Nancy saves the girl and when she brings her back inside Judy's aunts tell her about there issue with the money and Joseph Crowley was supposed to leave them money in his will when he died, but the money went to a very wealthy family. Nancy said she will try to find if Joseph made a later will. The two aunts tell Nancy to go to this family's house to try to find more information. There are two girls, Allison and Grace, in the next family that was also supposed to get money from the will. There parents dies and did not leave money to them. Joseph also said to them that they would get money from the will. Then there is an elderly woman, Abby, who can not pay for nursing. Abby can not remember many things and Joseph mention something to Abby about a will but she can not remember. Do you think that the later will will be discovered? To find out what happens you should read the book! The Secret of the Old Clock was one of those books were you can not put down. In some books the beginning to the book is really slow and you have to read about forty pages till the good part comes in. Well, In The Secret of the Old Clock the good part came in at the very start of the book. I thought that it was a extravagant. Also in most mysteries you can tell what is going to happen form the first few chapters and guess right. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good book in their hands and a excellent book .

A good Nancy Drew mystery...
I read both the 1930 and 1959 versions of this book. Both are just as entertaining, only the original version is better written. Unfortunately, the 1930 version also contains some of the worst Black stereo-typing of the series, but otherwise, it's a good book.

A lover of Carolyn Keene
Would you be surprised if someone made a secand will? Nancy Drew had that experience. Nancy's adventure begins after saving a little girl from walking into the road. After saving her life, one of the little girls aunts tell Nancy that there have been rumors that a man named Josiah Crowley had made a second will right before he died.She tells her that many robbers wanted to find the will and take away his money.Nancy agrees to help and find the missing will and begins searching for people who knew Crowley in her town of River Hights. Nancy finds some strange clues and soon finds the will in an unexpected place.

My Review
Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock
By: Keene, Carolyn
Reviewed by: Gandhi, Rujuta
Period: P.1
In the beginning, Nancy witnesses a girl almost getting hit by a truck. Fortunately, the young child crosses the road in time, however, she falls over a bridge. Nancy quickly runs and picks up this five year old child. Nancy finds everything is all right and then the child's aunt rushes outside. The child awakens at her house where her and her aunt live. Nancy slowly gets involved in her first mystery ever! She learns that Judy and her aunts, Allison and Grace, are very poor and trying to get a will that was left behind by Allison and Grace's uncle. Nancy also learns that the money is in a secret clock that was stolen by movers. One of the mover's name was Josiah Crowley. The mover was riding in the truck that almost hit Judy. In general, Nancy solves the mystery when she finds a key to the movers truck. The key was next to one of the tires. Therefore, the clock is given back to the owners, Allison and Grace. In the clock is a big stash of money that their small family needs.
I liked this book because it was descriptive. It also kept you guessing. For instance,"An instant later she gasped in horror." This sentence doesn't say much, but it makes you want to read on to see what was wrong. Since I read the books out of order it told me something was going to go wrong. This quotation doesn't simply keep you reading on, it gives some description. The author could have wrote,"Nancy gasped." Instead, she decided to give you a hint of what was going to happen. I like this in a story.
Similar to all the other Nancy Drew books, it was hard to find a point where it got a bit tedious. This time it was the part when Nancy and the police were trying to find the movers. It took quite a few pages to present this. However, I was still interested because of the high amount of description. For example,"Then, unexpectedly, she caught a glimpse of a red taillight on the road far ahead." It was hard to find a tedious part. I would say this book was almost PERFECT!
My favorite part of the book was the beginning. It was very descriptive. In the beginning, a girl, Judy, was nearly run over by the movers. Then Nancy saw and went to go rescue the girl when the young girl fell over the bridge. It was also dramatic. I really enjoyed this book, especially, the beginning! ... Read more

Book Description

Let me introduce myself. I'm Nancy Drew. Some call me a girl detective. Others call me "that girl who cooked my goose." But everyone calls me sharp -- especially when it comes to crime. And since mystery and I follow each other everywhere, I'm pretty busy. Take a look inside at some of my favorite cases, and you'll see what I mean!

#1 Without a Trace

#2 A Race Against Time

#3 False Notes

#4 High Risk