Reviews (11)

Great Book!!!
I thought this book was one of the best Nancy Drew books I've ever read! It was so good with a whispering statue and all. I loved this book because you never know who did it until the end. Nancy Drew books like this one always have me tangled up in suspects until they reveal who it is!

A Rather Dull "Mystery"
This review concerns the original 1937 edition as well as the revised 1970 edition, which tells a story completely different from the original. In the original version, Nancy, Bess and George are going to the coastal town of Seacliff with Mr. Drew who has business there. Before leaving, Nancy meets a woman who tells her about a statue of a whispering woman which is on the grounds of an abandoned estate near Seacliff. The woman tells Nancy that Nancy resembles the statue. Also, on the train to Seacliff, Nancy meets a woman who she fears is going to be swindled by a man she just met on the train. Nancy tries to help the woman, but she basically tells Nancy to mind her own business. Nancy being Nancy, decides to try to help the woman anyway. As well, Nancy gets her stupid dog, Togo, who is a complete nuisance throughout the book. In the revised edition, Nancy is asked for help from a woman who suspects that she is being swindled by a man she commissioned to sell some rare old books for her. She believes that the man is only giving her a small fraction of what he is actually getting for the books. In order to investigate, Nancy, Bess and George travel to Waterford where Nancy uses the alias Debbie Lynbrook and gets a job in the bookstore of the suspected swindler. There is also a side mystery concerning a stolen whispering statue. Personally, I didn't find either version very good. The original edition is the better written of the two (no surprise there), but it didn't have much of a mystery and only the last few chapters were that interesting. I found the whole Debbie Lynbrook thing in the revised edition rather neat and different, but for whatever reason the mystery never really grabbed in this version. Neither book is really that bad, but they are not ones that I'd highly recommend.

Nancy Drew and You- Solving the Mystery
Nancy Drew has another mystery on her hands, and she needs your help. This mystery book is called The Whispering Statue by Caroline Keene. The book is very good. It is interesting and mysterious. When you are reading this book, you are solving the mystery too. When I read the book, Nancy thought of everything before me in the beginning of the book. However, later in the book, I caught on quicker than before and even found one clue before Nancy did. I really liked solving the mystery with Nancy and her friends. I liked it because I felt like I was in the book too. Finding the Whispering Statue was hard, but we did it, and so can you! All of the Nancy Drew books are mysteries, but this one is particularly mysterious. Nancy has a disguise, and Nancy and her friends must be very careful, so they are not caught. All sorts of things happen, but we make it through and find the Whispering Statue. I won't tell you how, but read The Whispering Statue, and you'll find out!

A Chore to Get Through...
This is true even of the 1936 version...This book simply couldint keep my attention! I had to force myself to finish it, or else I'd have felt I had wasted the [money} paid to get it! Only get it to complete youre collection of Applewoods...Don't put youreself through this "adventure"...

Supirior!
This book is good if you are looking for a good mystery to read! It has Nancy, Ned, George, and Bess, they all help solve a very baffling mystery! I own this book and like it very much! ... Read more

Book Description

When Peter takes Mikey, the class hamster, out of his cage to pet him, Mikey escapes. Peter and his friends search the classroom, but every time they come close, Mikey runs away again! How can they get Mikey back into his cage? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hamster chase
Oh to be a new reader! For those of you who learned to read with the Dick and Jane books, the latest New Reader books are a whole different class. One pleasing trend is the introduction of well-loved characters and stories to new readers. (One example is the _My first little house books_ series). Enter a new series called Peter's neighborhood, based on the beloved characters created by Ezra Jack Keats. The pictures are eye-catching, reminiscent, naturally, of Keats' style. The simple story is also pleasing with three friends working together to catch the escaped class hamster. Well worth a read. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Boring Book!!
This review concerns the original 1936 edition and the revised 1974 edition which is slightly different from the original but basically tells the same story. Nancy meets a young Indian boy (named Coya in the original, Rishi in the revised) who lives with a circus. The boy is being mistreated by a man named Rai who claims to be the boy's father, but Nancy doubts this claim. Nancy saves Rai from an elephant and to show his thanks he gives Nancy an ivory, elephant charm which he says can protect the wearer from harm. Coya/Rishi runs away from the circus and Rai and the Drews take him in. Later, Rai changes his mind and wants the charm back and he will do anything to get both the charm and Coya/Rishi. Also figuring into this "mystery" are a strange woman and a bizarre house out in the middle of the woods. The house, apparently, has no floor, but it does have a secret passage and a bunch of swings and trapezes hanging from the ceiling. This book was just plain awful!! The mystery, what there is of one, is stupid and boring. The house serves absolutely no purpose other than to use up pages and it makes no sense. Who would build a house like that out in the middle of nowhere? The strange woman in the book is more annoying than anything and comes off as too scatterbrained and weak-minded to be the great criminal mastermind that the plot requires her to be. The book has little in the way of action or suspence. This book is just bad, bad, bad! Take my advice and don't read it.

An exciting mystery!
In this book, Nancy Drew goes to see a circus and feels sorry for a little boy who appears to be abused by his master. Nancy is surprised when he shows up at her home. He wears a mysterious ivory charm in the shape of an elephant that is supposed to protect the wearer from harm. He gives it to Nancy. She will surely need protection soon after, because she must investigate a mysterious hideout and missing jewels. Could it be that the mystery of the room in the cave and the shady circus are related? read to find out! I would also recommed buying the applewood books fascimle edition of this story. It is priced higher but it is the original story from the 30's. Buy both versions for some flavor and to see how the story was changed. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Haunted Bridge Book Review
This story is about an 18-year old gorl, Nancy Drew, who finds herself in a mystery on a haunted bridge. She is qualifying to play in the golf tournament when a boy named Ned tells her about the bridge being haunted with a ghost guarding it. Her father tells her about a jewel thief that they are trying to locate. A man named Barty is suspected by nancy because of his various handwriting styles. Then she finds a Margaret Judson who she thinks is the jewel thief. Miss Drew finds many clues... I thought this book was very fun and enjoying. It was the first Nancy Drew book that I've ever read. I like to read mystery and suspense stories where you suspect one person and it turns out he was innocent all the time and it was someone else all along. I have read "The Boxcar Children" books before and also enjoyed them because of the mystery. My least favorite part is how in real life suspects are usually smart enough to escape, but in the two Nancy Drew books I've read, the culprit is never wise to get away from the officer. However, Nancy Drew always completes a mystery fairly making sure the right person is punished. When I first started it, I couldn't put it down.
My favorite part of the story was when Nancy's two best friends - Bess and George... They called the police and were proud of themselves for what they did... Overall, I enjoyed reading "The Haunted Bridge" and suggest for you to read it also. When you do, I hope you find it was good as I did.

Very Poorly Titled
This review concerns the original 1937 edition as well as the edited revised 1972 edition. Nancy, Bess, George and Mr. Drew are staying at Deer Mountain Hotel/Lodge because Mr. Drew is working on a case concerning jewel thieves. He asks Nancy's help to look for a woman suspected of being a member of the gang and who is supposed to be in the vicinity of the hotel. The only clue to her identity is that she carries an expensive jewel case with the picture of a child in it (really now, like people are going to notice her jewel case and that it has a child's picture, but not be able to give even the slightest bit of a physical description of the woman, like her hair color????). Nancy also hears a story about a haunted bridge in the woods near the hotel and she enters a golf tournament. Zzzzzzzzz. This has to be one of the most inappropriately titled books in the series. There is a "haunted" bridge, but Nancy discovers the truth behind it on page 42 (in the original edition)! The book isn't 1/4 over at that point. What does the bridge really have to do with the rest of the mystery? The whole golf tournament part is rather boring and unsuspenseful. I'm not giving away some big secret by telling you that Nancy wins. Nancy always wins or is the best at everything she does. Frankly, I find it rather annoying. Just once I'd like to see Nancy be just alright at doing something or have Bess or George be better than her at something. The book isn't a complete waste of time, the mystery concerning the jewel thieves isn't that bad and kept me somewhat interested. This wasn't one of my favorites, but it was worth reading; although, anyone who reads it expecting a story about ghosts is going to be let down.

The Best Book Jennifers Ever Read!!!!!
I thought this was a very good book. The book was about Nancy Drew, finding a lost treasure in a river! My favorite character was Nancy Drew because she is VERY brave and also she is very smart. My favorite part of the book was when they found a bridge "The Haunted Bridge" I would encourage anyone to read this book if you are into mystery stories.

2 1/2 stars
This review concerns the 1972 version: Nancy is off for a visit to the Deer Moutain hotel to test her skills on the links. Soon she encounters the pretensious young golfer Martin Bartescue. An arrogant golf stroke leads her into the woods rather to find her ball, she discovers a brass jewel case. Knowing her father is on the lookout of a ring of jewel thieves, Nancy is soon underway upon another adventure. The revision of this book, considering it was written in the 70's, which is to most fans known to be the era in which the worst books were written, wasn't all that bad. Although the internal art work is just TERRIBLE as in most Nancy's around this time, the writing is average. Although the original is ten times superior to the revision, I'd still reccomend it...

a great role model
If you can, get the old editions of Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew mysteries. I mean the old, old ones which refer to her "roadster" and her "chums" Bess and George, and the faithful housekeeper Hannah who always provided hot cocoa and comfort. In spite of an occasional unreconstructed, politically incorrect detail or two, these books are gems. Nancy's character was a wonderful role model for girls growing up in the 40s and 50s. Free and unfettered, supremely confident and clever, Nancy led her readers down a merry path of good times and entertaining adventures.

"The Haunted Bridge" is among the best of the series, although all of the earlier books are wonderfully written and capable of delighting young readers still. As for the later books, written by someone else to capitalize on the success of the tv show, I haven't read them so I can't offer opinions. I do know it would be hard to match the dozens of books written by Keene beginning in the l930s. ... Read more

Book Description

In this "warm fuzzy tale full of poignance, humor, and magic" (School Library Journal), eight-year-old Harriet Butler is astonished to meet a space alien who's vacationing in her dad's wheat field. "Children will be delighted by the charm, compassion, and wit of Harriet and Wiz . . . and find themselves completely drawn into their wonderful fantasy adventures."--Booklist starred review. Illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Magical !!!!!
At the first page of the book,I was excited and wanted to continue with it as long as I can.This story is about Harriet,a girl whose mother has passed away.She longs to see a talking hare and her wish comes true.A hare who is a Partian comes to Earth for a vacation.To the hare,Earthlings are like cave dwellers who are not developed at all.All the Partians there can change shape at any time.Wiz(that's what Harriet names the hare)and Harriet have a lot of fun together.Wiz can predict the future at any time.But it's a pity that Wiz has to go back to his planet when the full moon rises.Harriet really dreads the day that Wiz has to go.I also wished that he will stay.I will recommend this book to all children of all ages.

Cute story!
I enjoyed the story as a 7th grader, though it was way too easy for me. It was very cute. Dick King Smith has a great way of giving animals their very own personalities. Great story for the younger generation. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated in black-and-white. When her parents can't afford a new pet,

seven-year-old Janie invents one. Her new pretend dog is Henry, an invisible

Great Dane who eats invisible food bought with invisible money. Then some

mysterious events--and perhaps a touch of magic--bring the invisible Henry to

life. "King-Smith has created another irresistible yarn."--Booklist.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Great Dog
This book is about a girl named Janie who finds a collar that belonged to her Great Dane, Rupert, who died when she was younger.
She carries it with her down the street. Mrs. Garrow, one of her neighbors, sees her and makes believe that she is petting a dog and gives Janie compliments on it. So Janie names her invisible harlequin Great Dane, Henry. She takes him everywhere she goes except school.
When her birthday comes her parents surprise her and take her to a dog show. She hopes the Harlequin Great Dane will win.
Read the book to find out who wins the show, what Mrs. Garrow finds in the teacup and how Janie's dream of owning a Great Dane comes true.
If you enjoy books that you can't put down, you'll love this one. I really love books about dogs so that is why I would recommend it to others who love dog stories. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Old Classic
Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew dominate the search engines for most mystery stuff written for young adults. I suppose the reason may relate to their both being timeless classics. If you like these stories, you also have many more to choose from.

In this book, originally published around 1934, Nancy is faced with solving a mystery concerning a pair of adopted babies. As usual, Nancy sticks her nose into somebody else's business and comes out smelling like a rose. This is a good story, with dated dialogue, but a likable, wholesome character. I recommend this to any mystery lover aged 9-12, and perhaps beyond. I'm an adult, and still enjoy reading about her exploits.

My favorite Nancy Drew book
This was my favorite Nancy Drew book. It was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Nancy and her friends meed a girl there age and find out about her past from the Civil war. The find a mysterious boat with ghost on it. I don't want to tell you too much. This was my all time favorite book. ....

40 years later this is still my favorite!
My story is this - when I was 10 my Aunt Margaret gave me my first Nancy Drew book. It changed my life. REading became my passion. Now 40 years later I still think back on that experience. I read them all. (At least all judged by 1966 standards.) But the clue of the broken locket was the BEST! Happy endings to top all endings. KIDS KEEP ON READING.

Everyone should be crazy for Nancy Drew!!
The clue of the Broken Locket is a great book. With finding a strange "iron bird" to finding a half-locket in a rowboat, Nancy Drew is at it again! Solveing her scary cases, Nancy and her friends, Bess and George, are in for a dangerous case. I hope everyone who reads this book enjoys it. I LOVE,LOVE Nancy Drew Books. Caroyln Keene is a great author. Without Nancy, I would be lost. "The clue of the Broken Locket" is a very good book. No one could put it down!

The Revised Edition Is Better
This review concerns the original 1934 edition as well as the revised 1965 edition, which is a completely different story than the original. In the original edition, Nancy becomes concerned over the welfare of twin babies recently adopted by the Blairs, an actor and actress, who only adopted the twins to further their social standing. The babies are neglected by the Blairs as well as the nursemaid hired for them and Nancy becomes determined to find the twins mother, convinced that she did not willingly abandon the children. How Nancy finds the babies' mother and reunites another set of twins seperated for many years is an interesting; although, not very exciting story. This edition is very well-written, the characters are well-defined and the story is intruiging, but the book basically lacks a criminal (the Blairs aren't criminals, they're just not nice) and as such there was very little action and excitement. If you read Nancy Drew to be excited, don't read this book, but if you enjoy an interesting story, by all means give this one a try. In the revised edition, Nancy, George and Bess travel to Misty Lake and meet Cecily Curtis who provides the girls with two challenging mysteries. First, her fiance is a successful music artist who suspects that his record company is cheating him out of some of the royalties from his songs; however, the company swears that they are being honest with him. Second, Cecily is searching for a long-lost family treasure she believes is somewhere in the area; a broken half of a locket being her only clue. Also factoring into this story are the apparition of a launch which sank in Misty Lake many years ago and a frightened girl who closely resembles Celily, but continually runs away from Nancy and her friends. This is one of the few cases where I liked the revised edition of a book more than the original. The book is surprisingly well-written considering it was published after the late 1950s when the quality of writing in the series went grossly downhill. The mysteries are very intriguing and the book almost has a spooky quality about it. The original edition I would rate 2 stars, but the revised edition I would rate 3 1/2 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cute,Charming and readable
I'm in my 20's but I love children's books. This one is very touching and written from a different slant. I think parents would enjoy it too.

A "children's book" that's not really for kids...
Max in India has fantastic illustration art and offbeat textwith lots of play-on-words. Most kids (especially as young as the "4-8" range)will not be able to relate to this tale of a man/dog pondering the meaning of life while expecting his first offspring. It's more like a fun gift book for adults or maybe older kids/teens with an interest in India, art or philosophy. My six-year-old liked the pictures but didn't get anything out of the story.

Hilarious, clever "self-help" for your inner child = Max!
Max Stravinsky (poet, dreamer, dog) is back in full color in a charming romp through India's exotic locales and treasures. As he anxiously pursues the "meaning of life," Max encounters Kalman's usual eccentrically lovable characters and valid lessons. This book can be read BY youngsters or read TO them, but it is the inner child in the adult who benefits the most. Throw away those dime-store psychological self-help tomes...and let Kalman's magic combination of drawings and delicious vocabulary make you a Swami for life! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

One of my favorite books from the Nancy Drew series!
I have always loved the Nancy Drew series. Nancy Drew was always my favorite heroine. She always seemed to be in just the right place at the right time. Always was there to help someone in need. And always seemed to know everything. At least once in every book Nancy got herself into some kind of tight spot but somehow she always got herself out of it.
I really liked this particular book from the series because this is the book in which Nancy meets Ned.
Nancy and her chums, Bess and George, are taking a drive in the country. On their way they pass by a beautiful home. Then suddenly the house explodes into flames. Nancy, Bess and George, thinking some people might be inside the house, stop to see if they could save them. When they arrive, they soon find out that no one was there. But, while searching the grounds, Nancy discovers a diary.
Nancy doesn't know it then but that diary will bring an adventure both for her and all readers. I have read this book more than once and each time it always seemed like I was reading it for the first time. I love this book and all the Nancy Drew books. No one, either young or old, should go without reading this book.

The Writing Is The Only Good Thing About It
This review concerns the original 1932 edition and the revised edition published in the 1960's. Both books follow the same plot; although, the revised edition is slightly different from the original. While returning from a carnival, Nancy, George and Bess witness a large home suddenly burst into flames. Thinking that there may be someone trapped inside, the girls rush to the house to help. They are unable to enter the home because of the heat, but Nancy spots a man running away from the house and later finds a diary, written in Swedish, which contains numerous technical drawings. Did the man start the fire? Does the diary belong to him? And what became of Felix Raybolt, the owner if the home, who apparently has gone missing? Clues lead Nancy to suspect that the diary belongs to the husband of a poor woman that Nancy met at the carnival along with her little girl. Nancy becomes determined to prove that Joe Swenson didn't start the fire, but all of the clues she uncovers seem to suggest that he is guilty. Personally, I didn't find this book very good; there isn't much action, the mystery isn't very exciting and the book really lacks a true criminal. Thankfully, the writing style used in the book is rather enjoyable, so it keeps the book from being a complete waste of time. One thing to note about this book is that this is the volume where Nancy meets Ned Nickerson and oddly enough her first thought of him is that he is trying to steal her car! This book is worth reading for the writing, but its not likely that many fans of Nancy Drew will find this book to be one of their favorites.

Dated Classic
If you want to get started reading Nancy Drew, this book would be the place. Of all the ND series, I think I enjoyed this one the most. While Nancy and her friends' activities and dialogue seem a bit dated (don't forget most of these stories were written long before you were born) Nancy is a wholesome character who is constantly busy observing her environment and sticking her nose into places it may not belong. Of course, this kind of behavior is what makes a story interesting. This book deals with arson, stealing patents, and helping an innocence victim find justice.

Wild bill recommends this book for mystery lovers aged 9-12.

Great Book!
After I bought the starter set that included the first six, I had to buy this one, because I wanted to start my own colection. This was probably the best out of the first seven to be honest. It's more complex than the others and I just love a good mystery. Buy it today!

Have You read The Clue in the diary yet?
Titan blonde Nancy Drew has a real nak for getting involved in a mystery. When Foxy Felix's expensive estate explodes into a huge fire Nancy and her friends Bess and George naturally go and check out the burning house. When Nancy goes ahead around the other side of the burning estate looking for survivors she spots a strange and mysterious figure running away from the scene of the crime. She finds two clues at the scene one including a diary that is completely written in Sweedish. She gets in some real trouble and the only people who can help her are three friends and her dad.
I liked the Nancy Drew book The Clue in the Diary because it was a little slow in the begining but then got gradually into a real page turning book. I would stay up till 11:00 pm just reading this book it was so good. It really taught you the lesson what goes around comes around. I really reccomend this wonderful mystery to all! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (24)

A book of wonder
This was probably one of my most favorite books as a young child if not my favorite. The way Kipling shows the struggle of this young boy in the jungle is amazing. He fails to leave out any detail and throughout the whole story your totally caught up in it without one point of boredom. I recommend this to any parent looking for a good book to read to their children or to have their kids read. Kipling is a great author and after doing a report on him and reading some of his other works I recommend those as well, especially A White Man's Burden. If your looking for books by a author who mixes fiction with truth, action and adventure with tales that bring in more serious aspects Kipling is the author for you.

great stories for young and old
Since he wrote these stories during the several years he spent in Brattleboro, VT, we of the North Country have a particular affinity for Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Books. The most familiar are the Mowgli tales, basis for the very good Disney movie. Mowgli is an Indian infant who is lost in the jungle after Shere Khan (the tiger) kills his family. Bagheera (the black panther) places him with a wolf family that has a newborn litter. Mowgli's new "parents" and Bagheera and Baloo (the brown bear) sponsor him for membership in the Wolf Pack and, much to Shere Khan's chagrin, he is admitted. Mowgli is raised according to Jungle Law, but all the while Shere Khan is plotting his revenge and ingratiating himself with the younger wolves. Eventually, he leads a rebellion against Akela, the pack's aging leader and attacks Mowgli, who beats him away with a burning firebrand. In these and the several other Mowgli stories--there are some prequels--Kipling strikes a nice balance between anthropomorphizing the animals and understanding Mowgli's natural superiority.

Also appearing in this collection is a story I've loved since I first saw the Classic Cartoon version--Rikki Tikki Tavi. It tells the story of an intrepid young mongoose and his life or death battle to protect an Indian villa from a couple of particularly unpleasant cobras. Rikki Tikki Tavi has always seemed to me to be one of the great heroes in all of literature.

These are great stories for young and old. For folks who worry about Kipling's potentially imperialist, racist or racialist overtones (see review), rest assured, these tales are free of such themes. They offer an excellent opportunity to introduce kids to the work of a true master storyteller.

GRADE: A

Kipling's original masterpiece
I've been looking for the "Jungle Book" book since I watched both Disney films. Both are wonderful but I do understand what reviewer rockdoc28 meant by there being a watering down of Rudyard Kipling's work.
However, has anyone watched a Chuck Jones' cartoon?
Known as Charles Jones during the earlier cartoon age with Merry Melodies and Loony Tunes, when Jones took over directing the Tom & Jerry cartoons during the 60's, he took a well-gifted hand at directing animated films based on Kipling's stories. Namely "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" and even "The White Seal"(the latter I didn't know was within "The Jungle Book"). Chuck Jones really did these stories more justice than even Disney and he should have been given the right to redo the entire collection but, I digress... However, to rockdoc28,- and others- I found the comparison/contrast of original and adaptation helpful! So thanks! Also, to Jorge Frid and rockdoc28, the particualr edition I own I found when I attended Downtown Miami's annual Book Fair International.
It's called the Illustrated Junior Library by Grosset & Dunlap Publishers (c) 1950.
It is Kipling's original voice and style and it's simply magnificent.

I read this book just to compare
When I started this book I just didn't like it, but then I remembered the movie of Walt Disney and I kept reading just to compare the original story with the movie, I definitely stay with the movie.

WELL BEYOND DISNEY
The Jungle Book

When we say "The Jungle Book" most of us invariably think of Disney's films, both animated and live action, that have become the norm for Rudyard Kipling's immortal children's stories. While the Disney interpretation is fun and enchanting, it makes a dramatic departure from the actual stories and takes considerable creative license in telling just a part of the Kipling stories. Even what we get from Disney falls considerably short of the applicable parts of Kipling's original that Disney used. What? Kaa, the snake, as Mowgli's friend and powerful ally? What? A deeper story of Mowgli's experience as a wolf and his relationships with Mother wolf and Father wolf? Oh yes, much, much more.

Kipling's original masterpiece also includes several other wonderful chapters about the continuing adventures of Mowgli and also adds the marvelous tale of "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," the heroic mongoose whose battles with wicked cobras in an Indian garden easily matches Mowgli's showdowns with Shere Khan.

The book also includes the tale of "The White Seal." This short chapter of "The Jungle Book(s)" provides a wonderful commentary, in the form of animal parable, on human society, competition, male ego and human pride. Our hero, Kotick, the white seal, through his fearless explorations and his willingness to fight for a dream, changes the minds of his parents, his peers and his society for the better. The invitation to each of us is very clear to find and free the white seal that exists in all of us.

Don't get balled up in the notion that "The Jungle Book" is just for kids. A look beneath Kipling's wonderful prose reveals, like most great children's classics, that the author is using the unintimidating forum of children's literature to speak to kids of all ages with the hope that somehow we'll all finally get it.

Buy the book, read it, read it to the kids you know and learn the lesson.

Douglas McAllister ... Read more

Amazon.com

You would not believe the things this dog Pete puts in his stomach. Anaccordion, for starters. Then an eggbeater, a glue stick, Mrs. Parsley's pinkpocketbook, and cousin Rocky's underpants. ("Uggh!") Pete's faithful mistress,Poppy Wise, is at her wit's end. And yet, she can't help loving that dog.("Quite a lot.") So, from A to Z (in a loose, meandering way), Poppy inventoriesher insatiable pooch's intake, with loads of parenthetical asides, wittycommentary, and an unforgettable cast of characters. Maira Kalman, zany andtalented source of Next StopGrand Central, Ooh-la-la(Max in Love), and other exquisitely quirky picture books, uses thealphabet as a framework for what is truly an ode to a well-loved ifincorrigible--dog. Her spectacularly rich gouache paintings are just the thingto illustrate this linguistic playpen. Read this one aloud—-kids and adultsalike will sit enthralled. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What Pete Ate from A to Z
What Pete ate from A to Z was about little dog that liked to eat many things he shouldn't. Each time they tell you about a new thing he ate it starts with the next letter of the alphabet. Sometimes when they told you the thing he ate they would also tell you a little about what he was eating. Finally at the end of the book you find out the one thing Pete won't eat, but I'll let you find that out for yourselves. This book teaches kids about the Alphabet and also what things might be edible and what things are not edible, Morocco, the continent of Africa, what you do with money, and not to take other peoples things without asking them first. I recommend this book because it not only teaches you about the alphabet but about also about things that start with those letters. This book would be good for kids around the age of 3-5 yeas old.

AS GOOD AS ALL HER OTHERS - WHICH IS GREAT!
Maira Kalman does it again. She has written a book that I (as a godmother) love to read over and over to my god-daughter who loves to hear it again and again. Everytime we read it, we find something new to say about it and talk about. This writer is so original and charming and even, sophisticated. Her style is very conversational and really creative. She is a perfect companion to see the world with... New York's Grand Central Station, India, Paris and even Hollywood (from her Max series). The children that I read this book to respond to her curious and playful nature. She doesn't pander to kids but challenges them and invites them into her original and artistic world.

The Amazing, Alphabetical Pete....
Meet Poppy Wise and her dog Pete. When it comes to eating, Pete is far from discriminating. If fact, he'll eat just about anything. So Poppy begins at the beginning with the letter A and chronicles exactly what this ever-hungry canine has gotten into. Moving letter by letter this includes Cousin Rocky's Accordion...All of it, a Camera, an Eggbeater, a Fez, and her brother's magic Key. At the Lucky dog show he ate all the Leashes which Let Loose all the dogs. A bit later he ate Mrs Parlsey's Pink Pocketbook, a Stinky Sneaker, Cousin Rocky's Underpants (Uggh!), and a Yo-yo. And as Poppy finally tells us, the only thing Pete won't eat is Zug Zug Dog Grub..... Maira Kalman has written a charming and hilarious walk through the alphabet that's full of unforgettable characters, wordplay, irreverent commentary, and witty asides. Both kids and adults will smile, giggle and eventually laugh out loud at the antics of four legged eating machine. Her delightful and energetic text is told in an easy to read, conversational style, and complemented by bold, bright and busy child-like artwork. Youngsters will enjoy poring over the pictures and finding all the silly details on each page. Perfect for kids 4-8, What Pete Ate From A-Z is a special, joyous romp, that makes a terrific gift, and is a wonderful addition to all home bookshelves. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great adventure to the farm!
When a little girl gets home from school, her mother asks her how the class trip to the farm went. Her daughter tells her it was kind of boring.......until the cow started crying. And then.....a magnificantly absurd story is unleashed about Jimmy's boa constrictor. Children love the sequence that unfolds as the child-narrator answers her mother's questions about what happens next. Delightful illustrations bring this classic from 1980 to life. This story will live on from year to year, generation to generation. Great fun! Great sequencing!

A Comedic Book Everyone Will Like!
The day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash is a unruley fictional story about an exciting field trip to the farm, and the kid foolish enough to bring along his pet boa constrictor. The animals on the farm have an action packed time as the boa constrictor tries to eat them. Kellogg's illustrations can tell the story with without words, they are every color of the rainbow, and are full of details. This would a great book for elementary school kids. The book hooks you and pulls you in. Older children will have a better understanding of how the story is set up. It is also a great book for kids who like action and readers of all ages.

Think of it as "Memento" done as a picture book
Long ago, when I was young and innocent in the ways of the world, I first heard of "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash" on the popular PBS television show Reading Rainbow. After LeVar Burton introduced the child viewers to the nature of farms and farm life we listened to a reading of this book and I took a great deal of pleasure in its pictures and storytelling. Unfortunately, television was then (and remains today to be) incapable of displaying this book properly. Like all Kellogg illustrated creations, the story is filled to the brim with tiny delightful details that compete with one another for the viewer's attention. Reading this book on my own some twenty odd years later, I can finally settle down and enjoy this combination of delicate text and fantastic illustrations as I was menat to all those years ago.

A girl comes home to make herself a sandwich and chat with her mom after a long day on a class trip to the farm. The girl's story works backwards at the beginning. Slowly, tantalizingly, she leaks out the details of the trip. After all, it didn't really get exciting until the cow started crying. When asked, the girl admits that the cow was crying because the farmer hit a haystack on top of her. Why did he do that? Well, he was distracted by the pigs that had overrun the bus. And so it goes. Slowly the mother gets the full story of how fellow classmate Jimmy took his boa constrictor (a dew-eyed sweetie pie of a snake) to the farm and how all havok broke loose as a result. In the end, Jimmy left the boa there and adopted one of the pigs that never left the bus. The parting shot is of our narrator, suited up with Jimmy in silver racing outfits, barreling down a park path with the new pet pig in the back seat.

Kids reading this story get the double pleasure of watching chaos reigning in a farm setting and of reading a rollicking good story. Is there anything a kid likes more than to see a teacher covered in eggs? Or to view the cute animals that make up the farm? Kellogg has a way of drawing cats that I've never seen paralled. Who else could draw wide-eyed smiling felines as well as he does? Jimmy and the narrator apparently have a class of only eight children, so as the book progresses you can see how each person reacts to each and every situation. Kellogg isn't afraid of multiculturalism either, making the book a nice read-aloud for a variety of audiences. Originally published in 1980, you do have to contend with the clothing, an odd combination of 80s fashion and 70s hair, but that's the book's sole flaw (if it can even be called that).

If you have kids that enjoy reading about fiascos (and this is an especially brilliant higgledy-piggledy fiasco if ever there was one) then this book's a pip. From the flying eggs, to the screams of the farmer's wife, to the slow exhaustion of the school's bus driver, it reads brilliantly. Credit Trinka Hakes Noble's witty retelling in a format not usually found in children's literature. Altogether the combination of eloquent text and amusing pictures place this book in the higher echelons of picture books. A brilliant, fun, and rousing book.

What a fun and imaginitive story
This book is an engaging tale about a school field trip that went delightfully awry. The vivid illustrations add to the charm of the story, which is being retold to a mother by her little girl who seems completely unphased by the events that had taken place earlier in the day. I find that everytime I read this to a child, I cannot wait to turn the page to see what happens next. An exciting and comical story that is sure to be a favorite of all ages.

i liked this book
"the day jimmy's boa ate the wash" was very funny and it was a nice book. I think second graders woould like this book a lot. I like this book because the characters were funny and the girl who told the story was interesting. I had a great time reading this. ... Read more

Book Description

Generations of children have read, re-read, and loved Ezra Jack Keats's award-winning, classic stories about Peter and his neighborhood friends. Now, for the first time, Peter's Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles! are available in paperback exclusively from Puffin.
"A more charming or contemporary child than Peter...is hard to bring to mind." -- Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (4)

We Loved This Story!
This story is about Peter who has a new baby sister. He is very jealous and doesn't want to share his things. Peter finally gives her his old chair that is too small for him. We liked this story because Peter learns to be a good big brother. You should read this story because the pictures are really nice.

Wonderful book!
I have 2 boys in 1st grade with little sisters. This book reflects the struggle that they go through in sharing things with younger siblings.

not the author's best
I came to Ezra Jack Keats' _Peter's Chair_ with high expectations. My two-year old and I both love his other books, like Goggles, A Letter To Amy, and Whistle for Willie.

_Peter's Chair_ is something of a disappointment. Drawn in the same style as his other titles, it's the story of Peter, who becomes an older brother for the first time. He rebels when he finds out that all his baby things are being reassigned to the baby girl, and given a fresh coat of PINK paint. Eventually he comes to accept that he's got to share the spotlight, and all is well.

When a younger sibling is born, it's nearly always a struggle for the older child to learn to share the parental attention. This is a common issue dealt with in children's books. Sad to say, it isn't dealt with very well in this book. _Peter's Chair_ just isn't a very good story, and children of the 1990s and later, who can't see that PINK MUST EQUAL GIRL and BLUE MUST EQUAL BOY are going to be confused by this implication.

Please, go look at the author's other titles: Goggles, A Letter To Amy, and Whistle for Willie, among others. They are most wonderful books by Ezra Jack Keats. Sad to say, I can only give _Peter's Chair_ 3 stars.

ken32

Keisha's Love of Peter's Chair
I teach children ages3-5 and one day I went to the library to get some books for them PETER'S CHAIR was among the selection it also came with the tape so when I wasn't able to read to the children I would put hte tape on for them. The children requested the book everyday up until the day I had dto take it back,there was one child in particular who would come up to me and say Ms.Tracey could you read Peter's Chair to me so I would sit her on my lap and read it just to her and than one day she came to me and said can I read Peter's Chair to you Ms.Tracey, and so in her own words and with expression she read Peter's Chair it did my heart good that she (KEISHA)had started her love for books. Thanks to Ezra Jack Keats you've made a difference in a child's life. ... Read more

Book Description

The youngest expedition ever to attempt an Everest climb has begun. But the trouble starts long before they reach the summit.Competition is fierce. Conditions are harsh.And the trek from Base Camp proves a challenge that not all the contestants can meet... ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A 11 year old reader
This is an awesome book. It is by Gordon Korman who also writes a great series called Island. This series has 3 book; The Contest, The Climb, and The Summit. I think this author is very good at describing the people's personalities and also there is a variety of personalities. This book is about 20 kids that are all trying to be the youngest kid to climb Everest. There are 5 wild cards that are picked by something to do with collecting wrappers and bottle caps and they have to spell EVEREST. Cap Cicero, a very well-known and great veteran climber has to pick 4 out of the 20. I won't tell you who the 4 are but I will tell you the main characters. They are: Dominic, Chris, Tilt, Cap, Sammi, Bryn, and Perry. Thiss is being sponsored by Summit Athletic Quest in Colorado. All of the kids have to go through a month of boot camp and Cap Cicero is making the cuts during it, him watching everything you do. They start to climb EVEREST and then......... READ IT ITS AWESOME

The first book in a thrilling new trilogy by Gordon Korman.
Dominic Alexis's older brother Chris is one of the best young mountain climbers out there. He's sure to get to compete for a spot in the youngest expedition to ever climb Everest. But Dominic is just thirteen, and while he's a decent climber, he'd never get picked. At a "boot camp," a group of kids, mostly expert climbers, but a few that won a contest sponsored by an energy drink company, will test their endurance to prove themselves worthy of climbing Everest. Dominic determines to win the contest -- and he does, meaning he can go with Chris. He never even dares hope he could get to climb Everest, but he at least wants a chance to learn, compete, and have fun. At camp in the Colorado mountains, the teenagers are given tests of endurance and skill to determine which four of them will be selected for the expedition. But will the winners be prepared for what is ahead? I highly recommend this new series to readers who enjoyed Gordon Korman's previous adventure trilogy, Island.

The Climb Summary
Everest, Gordon's second adventure trilogy, continues in The Climb. Four of the youngest climbers ever attempting to scale the world's tallest mountain (chosen from among 20 of the best teen climbers in the world), have flown halfway around the world, prepared for their challenge. All are determined to succeed, but Everest is no walk in the park. Death is common for climbers attempting to scale to its incredible summit, and the challenge these young athletes face is one of the toughest on Earth. But the members of this team will have to face even more than the mountain, as Tilt is still sending nasty gossip to the tabloid the National Daily, the other climbers and even the Nepalese government are concerned that team member Dominic Alexis is too small and young for the journey, and Dominic, himself, is afflicted with HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), a dangerous lung condition which, while seldom fatal, is likely to end his chances to finish the climb ... at least on this trip. All in all, it is a very difficult challenge that faces the Summit Quest team, and we're only up to book two! Keep your eyes out for The Summit, book three, for the conclusion of the story!

I love EVEREST!!
This love this book. It is a great story and I learned alot about Mt. Everest. Gordon Korman sounds like a real climber.

Brianna
In one of the parts of the book the people have to execute people because of conflicts. For example, they took out Chris and put in Sleepy. The only reason they did that was because everyone would argue a lot. Some of the people in the book , for instance , Captain Joey took out a lot
of people , they also added people too.

Also in another part , I mean the whole book tells about the training to climb MT. Everest. The reason why they tell about training is because they don't really climb yet.
Joey is training his team to get ready to actually get ready to climb MT. Everest. I think that is very smart.

The last part I am going to tell you about the book is why they are going to climb MT. Everest. The reason is because they want to reclaim a dead body. This reason is
because they want to own the mountain. Millions of people tried to climb the mountain , but nobody was seen or heard from again.

I don't like this book because this is not what I am interested in. It is a good book , but I don't like it. My favorite part of the book is when people are trying to find the V for Everest. The books I am interested in are scary stories. ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, originally published in 1940, A trunk that Nancy receives from her father for a trip to Buenos Aires becomes the center of a mystery. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Almost Perfect
Of course, every detective needs a day off of sluething! So naturally, Nancy decides to go on a cruise with her fellow detectives, Goerge Fayne and Bess Marvin. While boarding the ship, Nancy notices a man on the pier spell out her name saying 'Beware of Nancy Drew and Ne' but did not see the rest. As she goes to her cabin, she finds Nelda Detwieler in the cabin too. At first, Nancy distrusts the native girl. Then Nelda tells Nancy of what happened to her, and mysterious things happen when a mysterious trunk is delivered to their cabin that is identicle to Nancy's but is not hers.
I think this book is very good and I highly recomend it so that if you go on a cruise and your trunk is not delivered but someone elses and a desparete girl with an amazing story is set in your cabin, you now what to do!

Not Much Mystery Here
This review concerns the original 1940 edition. The trunk which Nancy takes with her on a cruise to South America, along with a similar trunk owned by another passenger, appear to be at the center of a mystery. This book was alright, but I found that it really didn't have a mystery to it until the last few chapters. The first part of the book concentrates on the efforts of the mother of one passengers to keep Nancy from sailing. Ultimately, the mystery is somewhat dull and predictable and the book lacks much action. The book is probably worth reading, but I doubt that it will be one of many people's favorites.

One of the BEST Nancy Drews
This is one of the best Nancy Drews! the other one is the Tolling Bell. Anyway, in this one, Nancy meets Nelda Detwiler (N. D., same anishiles) and she has been acused of stealing a dimond braclet! A mysterieous trunk appears that LOOKS like Nancy's but is not. (They can't find Nancy's, so she has to use Bess, George and Nelda's close) Anyway, I can't tell you much more. Oh, and they are all on a cruse ship, so Nancy has to solve the mystery before it's over. BUY THIS BOOK OR GET IT SOMEHOW!!

AN INTERESTING BOOK
I have read many of Nancy Drew books and like this book. Although this is not in my top list but it still good. This book is worth to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Join young Jack as he climbs a giant beanstalk to a magic castle in the clouds. Meet a hen that lays golden eggs and a harp that sings by itself. And don't forget the ogre. A classic fairy tale with a vigorous look that will leave you chanting "Fee-fi-fo-fum!"

Reviews (5)

A classic tale
Jack and the Beanstalk is a classic tale that will never be forgotten. It has withstood countless attempts to be revised and rewritten. Tales such as "Little Red Riding Hood," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Cinderella" have evolved greatly since their first versions. "Jack and the Beanstalk" unlike these other tales has kept its' original message and is still able to be a fairy tale that children of all ages can read and enjoy. After reading this fairy tale the message that I got from it is that from poverty can come great wealth it just depends on how you get it. I believe that this story is a magical story not being impressed on the minds of young children. Most children read this tale as a unrealistic journey that Jack has with the beanstalk and the enormous land above it. To me it is very unikely that a child would think it is okay to steal from others or run away from their problems as Jack did. Personally I think that the childs actions from this story are a result of the parents direction. If a parent does not show the child how this is wrong then the child may think that it is okay.
"Jack and the Beanstalk" serves to portray an ideological perspective similar to that of a liberalist view. That is being more outspoken, and not taking into account that little children may be reading the story. In no way would a conservative story display the rhyme of "I'll crush his bones to make my bread". Or the idea that stealing is okay. Many critics point out how stories can have a lasting impression on the minds of young children. Jack steals the objects in the story, an activity which could be teaching children that it is okay to steal. Perhaps it is a good idea that Jacobson put the fairy at the top of the beanstalk to let children know that stealing is wrong. The story also tells children that it is okay to run from their problems the same way Jack ran away when he stole the giants' belongings. Running away is not the proper way to deal with problems. Rather one should face them and deal with them accordingly.
"Jack and the Beanstalk" definately displays an oppresive matriarichal view. In modern versions Jack is controlled by his mother who nurtures him and directs his every move. In the Giant's case he is also controlled by a woman, his wife. Both of the women fix the dinner and tell the men what to and what not to say. This is possibly a reflection of the time period that this version was written in. At that time women were oppressed and men were in control so it seemed to the eye. In actuality without the women the men would be lost and unable to deal with the common tasks of everyday life.

Good story, but a little too scarey for small children
I originally brought this version of Jack and the Beanstalk home from the library to see if my 4 year old grandson would like it--he loved it so much I purchased it. This version is similar to the one I remember growing up with, however, when I read it to him I eliminate/improvise over the sentences that I think are way too scarey for a small child (eating boys on toast for breakfast, broiling calves, etc.). Even tho I think the illustrations can be a little frightening for smaller children, he doesn't seem to be bothered by them. And, all children love "fee fi fo fum, etc." and like to be scared just a little bit.

Good version of this fairy tale
I thought this version of the fairy tale was very well written. This is probably my favorite version out of the ones I have read before. It has been my favorite fairy tale since I was just a young little boy. I always liked to hear my mother and school teacher read the story out loud. My favorite part used to be when the ogre said, "Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum!" I remember when my kindergarten teacher used to walk around like a monster when she read that part. The pictures in this version are also a couple of the better ones I've seen in other versions of the fairy tale. I thought the author of the book was one of the best because he was pretty good at telling the tale and he also used detailed pictures. The pictures would be enough to scare little ones and make them laugh at the same time. The pictures were probably some of the better ones you will see in other versions of this fairy tale.

A good version of a traditional fairy tale
I read this book to my Pre-K class and they ask for it over and over again. The illustrations are good, kind of comical and scary at the same time. I enjoy reading this version because it stays true to the original language of the story :"Fee Fi Fo Fum, etc." You don't find this in every version.

Deliciously scary read-aloud!
Kellogg's traditional tale interpretations are among the best. His illustrations take on the old-time feel of classic tales and seem to magically glow, as they do in all his books. I read this book to my Kindergarten class and they ask for it again and again. It is great to see them cover their eyes and ears at the scary moments--they are frightened, but smiling from ear to ear. ... Read more

Book Description

For the past one hundred years, Rudyard Kipling's classic tales of Mowgli, the lost boy raised by wolves in the jungles of India, have captivated children and adults alike.

Mowgli's days are filled with danger, wonder, and excitement. He learns the ways of the jungle from the wise old bear, Baloo, and the great black panther, Bagheera. He is befriended by the faithful wolf, Gray Brother, and is carried off by the crafty Monkey-People -- only to be rescued by the mighty python, Kaa. And through it all, Mowgli knows that he must someday face his sworn enemy: the ferocious man-hating tiger, Shere Khan.

Presented here in the author's preferred order are all of Kipling's thrilling Mowgli stories, as well as the beloved tale of the brave mongoose, Rikki-tikki-tavi. Brilliantly captured in eighteen lush watercolors by Caldecott Honor artist Jerry Pinkney, this handsome centenary edition will be treasured by readers of all ages.

Reviews (5)

All time favorite
The Jungle Book is now one of my all time favorite books. When you read the book it makes you feel like you're there too. I like the way Rudyard Kipling has the animals talk. The main character in the story is a boy named Mowgli. Mowgli was abandoned by his mother and father and raised by wolves. I think
Mowgli is the perfect character for the story because he is brave, smart, and kind.The part I disliked the most in the story is when they keep going to the council rock. I thought it was boring. I liked the excitement in the book and the cliff hangers. Once I picked up the book I couldn't set it down again. I definitely recommend this book to anybody who is in for a challenge!

Not as marred in adaptation as others
While I admire Disney's animation (and am looking forward to their Hamlet-ish The Lion King), I usually gripe about the changes they make in their movies from their source material. All one has to do is read the original Pinocchio, Peter Pan, or, supposedly, Bambi, to berate them for destroying classics. I probably should be bothered as well by their Jungle Book, except that I think that it was one of the cases where the marriage of animation, story and music achieves more than the original. Without the source material, it would be nothing, of course, but the wonderful songs (who can forget "Bare Necessities," "Trust in Me," or "I Wanna Be Like You"?) and the structure that turned Kipling's short tales into a two-hour movie create a gestalt that I'm not sure Kipling's tales do by themselves. This is probably sacrilege to the ears of the true Kipling fan, but I'm nothing if not opinionated.

The stories that make up the Jungle Book aren't solely about Mowgli, though, and it's the others, especially "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," that make this a definate must have.

I finally have my own copy
I grew up reading and re-reading theses stories. I never found a compilation of the Mowgli stories I liked though, at least not an affordable one.

This one gave me not only Mowgli but Rikki-tikki-tavi. All with excellent illustrations that add but do not intrude on the stories.

This is a classic that should be on every bookshelf.

well-worth the buy
For a more accurate appraisal of the book than that given by the reviewer above, read the Horn Book review- it says it all! The illustrations are gorgeous and the quality of the book itself does justice to Kipling's story.

Try it!
It depicted the culture and feelings of different animals standing on their sides. Also, it provides the view from them to forest and to human. It contains exciting stories of Mowgli growing up. A very good book for education. ... Read more

Book Description

Four kids are prepared to go into thin air in order to become the youngest person ever to climb Everest.But they are not prepared for the challenges that await them as they get closer to the summit.Supplies are low. Conditions are extreme. Once of the kids is trying to sabotage the others.And then the storm hits... ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Extream
Its 120 degreas below 0 on mount Everest and thats if your luky! This book is about a team of 4 Dominc, Tilt, Sammy and Perry. This book is the final of the triloligy and by far the best. The youngest person on the team at age 12! He gets held back beacuse the goverment will take Cap Cerrio climbing licence for climing everest! He ends up going with another team anyway though and is the youngest ever to climb it!
I love this book because your there youre not at youre house or anywhere eles your on everest climbing with them.
I started to cry at the end because someone dies on the face of everest they cant take him back etheir to heavy and mountin to steep. This is why you should read this book

An awesome story full of adventure and danger:
This is the best book I have read in a very long time. I couldn't put down these books if I tried. The adventurous tale of the 4 youngest Everst climbers ever to attempt the peak is filled with truimph, tragety, and humor. The author does a great job of drawing you into the adventure of the story.Meet Dominic Alexis, 13 and small but a tough climber, Tilt Crowly, a heavy 14 year old, ... talking kid, Perry Noonan, a terrified 15 year old redhead, and Sammi Moon, a slightly crazy 15 year old girl. Add that together with Cap Cicero, the legendary climber who will lead this expedion, and throw the world's highest mountain into it all, then you have an absoulty fantastic story!I can't tell you enough how adventurous this story is. I mean, each kid almost dies about four times each! I read and reread this story over and over, and after it's done you're disappointe