Reviews (3)

Nancy Is Great Again!!
This book is amazing like all other Nancy Drew books.It has excitement,suspense,and very enjoyable.Buy your copy right now!

This is a great book
I think out of all the titles in the series this would be one of the best. I loved this when I was eight (now I can read it in half an hour). This is a great childrens book. I suggest it to young readers everywhere.

I loved this book!
I loved this book because it had lots of interesting characters. It was fun trying to solve the mystery and I had to think hard about who stole the locket. I would recommend this book to all girls who love mystery stories. ... Read more

Book Description

In a series of delightfully imaginary achievements, "nobody's mouse" transforms himself into the beloved hero of his mother, father, sister, and brand-new baby brother. In their very first collaboration, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Robert Kraus and Jose Aruego give charm and validity to one of childhood's more difficult experiences. Tender and catchy, Robert Kraus's rhyming text, combined with Jose Aruego's large, vibrantly clever illustrations, makes for a storytime classic. This happy picture book is brusting with wit, tenderness, and joyful ingenuity. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

My first and favorite book.
My parents read this book to me when I was young and when I was around three, I could reicte the whole thing from memory and then claimed that I could read it. It gave me the confidnce to really learn to read. It is an amazing book that every child should read. I'm seventeen now and it's still my favorite.

Made me thankful to be who and where I was
I can remember my mom reading this book to me when I was very young. I am 22 now, and I know that my Mom read many books to me when I was young, but this is one that I always remember. I can't even recall the exact subject matter, but I do remember that it made me seriously think about how I would feel if my parents and my sisters weren't with me every day. "Whose Mouse Are You?" made me consciously thankful to be a part of a loving family.

Precious memories
This was my daughters very very favorite book. She had all the words memorized by the time she was barely 3. I would ask the questions from the book and she would respond with the answers. I still ask her Whose Mouse Are You ? sometimes and her own baby will be born in October. By the way, until we find out the sex of the baby we are calling him/her mouse. Your kids will love this book too!

simple childhood favorite
A small grey mouse with enormous ears is asked by the narrator who he belongs to. Why, he's nobody's mouse!! Where's his mother? Inside the cat!! Where's his father?? Inside a trap!! What about his sister?? She's lost, far, far away... My goodness!! Well, what is he going to DO about it, then?? I'll let you read to find out his fun, creative answers to his life's problems!

Originally published in 1970, "Whose Mouse are You?" is as much fun for young children and beginning readers now as it was back then. The text is short and simple, it rhymes and repeats, so even very young children can get interested in the story and repeat it after a few tellings. The illustrations are wonderfully simple and uncluttered, drawn with only with black yellow and red (from which we can get pink, orange and grey, too!)

When I was a infant/toddler teacher in daycare, "Whose Mouse are You?" was one of the all time favorites. Children just learning how to speak would call out "mouse book!! Mouse book!" and then sit glued to the pages. I've even seen an elementary school art teacher use this book to show how one does NOT need a box of 2 bazillion crayons to make interesting and fun illustrations-"get creative with limited tools" she said, passing out only red, yellow and black markers to the class.

For lapsitting readers as well as beginning readers, "Whose Mouse..." is an excellent choice and a lot of fun!! Enjoy!!

What a Blessing to find this book!
When I was 7 years old living in LA(1976?) a sales man knocked on our door.He carried with him a huge box painted with three bold stripes in red,blue,and orange.The box was a free gift if you purchased a subscibtion to a "book of the month club"featuring childrens books.We wanted all the books he had with him that day and as luck would have it ,our parents found this to be a great deal.The first book that came in the mail was addressed to my brother and myself.We got mail!When we opened the brown package,the most wonderful book fell on to the floor.The book was so bright and the artwork was so beautiful;it transported my brother and I right into the very HEART of the book.I am a 31 year old women now,yet I can still remember EVERY line from that book.What a joy to know there are other people out there with the same feeling...This story is so wonderful and the ARTWORK is UNFORGETABLE! I hope anyone thinking of buying this book will.I also hope all of the special people who were 'lucky' enough to have this gift in there lives as children will pass it on! ... Read more

Book Description

When his family moves to a new neighborhood, Louie has to leave his friends behind. Playing alone, he creates a scene out of a shoebox. it has a magical effect, calling his imagination back to old friends, old times. Then the spell ends, and -- satisfyingly -- a real-life adventure begins as Louie joins some new friends for Halloween night.

Reviews (1)

The Trip
Any child who's had to move to a new neighborhood can sympathize with Louie, the main character of "The Trip". Feeling lonely on Halloween, the boy creates a city scene from construction paper and an old shoebox. As the title of the book suggests, Louie takes a night-time "trip" back to his old neighborhood by pretending to fly his toy plane there. As he wanders the familiar streets he encounters some strange individuals. He runs away, but they catch up with him. Luckily, a familiar feature on one of them clues Louie in on their identities. One of the things I enjoy most about Mr. Keats' books are his believable characters. Young readers can easily relate to them and the different situations they are placed in. What makes Keats' stories even more wonderful is that they are infused with charm and a hint of the imaginary, which are emphasized by his lovely paint and collage illustrations. Readers who liked Louie in "The Trip", can see him in "Louie" and "Regards to the Man in the Moon." ... Read more

Book Description

Dick King-Smith, beloved author of Babe: The Gallant Pig,returns with a

witty and touching tale about the different shapes and sizes a family can take.

When Archibald Peregrine Edmund Spring-Russell (Ape, for short) finds himself

living alone for the first time in his life, he's finally free to do exactly as

he pleases. And nothing pleases this wealthy old English gentleman with an

enormous estate and a Rolls-Royce more than buying twelve big, beautiful brown

hens to keep in the living room. But Ape doesn't stop there. Soon there are

rabbits and guinea pigs in the dining room, canaries in the music room, a noisy

talking parrot in the kitchen, and a puppy who seems to be everywhere! Just

when Ape's house is about to burst with little beasties, Joe and Jake--father

and son Gypsies--lend a helping hand. But it takes a household disaster for Ape

to realize he finally has the family he never had. With trademark Dick

King-Smith humor, short chapters, and large type, this easy-to-read story is

perfect for independent readers.




... Read more

Reviews (4)

Remarkable !!!
Mr. Ape is an eccentric man.His wife has left him and dismissed all his servants.Although most people would be sad that their wife would leave them after 30 years of marriage,Mr. Ape was delighted at the idea that his wife was leaving him as she was very bossy.Apparently,Mr. Ape is very fond of animals and bought 12 hens.Gypsies named Jake and his father Joe are living quite near his place.Jake's donkey was roaming near Mr. Ape's compound so Jake arrived at Mr. Ape's house.That's how they got acquainted.Later,Mr. Ape bought some rabbits and guinea pigs.Wow! That's a lot.I bet he's crazy.Then he gets even more crazy-rearing canaries,a puppy,a foal and lastly a talking parrot who is good at immitating voices.I like the parts that the parrot immitated Mr. Ape's voice as it will trick Jake and Joe.So humourus!! Mr. Ape's pets soon increases as they will breed.So,he decides to have a pet sale.A lot of letters keep pouring into his house.Soon,he has a few pets.But when Mr. Ape's house is accidentally burned,everyone accuses Jake and Joe.Luckily,the animals were saved.Now it's up to Mr. Ape-is he going to follow the gypsies,Jake and Joe or will he stay? Read this book and you'll find out.This is a truly amazing book.It really touched my heart.

A really good book
Mr Ape is a fab book. If you can get your hands on it, I'd read it. I haven't read many of Dick King-Smith's stories, but this is probably one of the best books I've ever read. I love animals. I have a rat of my own, and my sister has a cat. Anyone who loves animals, like me, READ IT!

Thisbookisareallyexciting.
Thisbookisrealisticfiction.Itisabouttwopeoplewhohelp eachother.Onascalefrom1to10Iwouldgive10.Ifyoulikehumoousstoriesyouwilllikethisbook.

King-Smith has done it again!
This book is soooooooooooo great! Dick King-Smith is my fave author. In this book Mr. Ape meets a family of gypsies and uses his giant house to keep many animals. When his house catches on fire everything he owns, hispets included, are in great danger. What will happen???Read this book tofind out the rest of this story. Karen ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Book Review: The Clue in the Jewel book
The Clue in the Jewel Box by Carolyn Keene was an exciting novel. It is part of the Nancy Drew series. It was a little slow getting into the mystery, but after the mystery part of the book got started, it got really good. It was definitely a cliffhanger. Nancy helps a former queen from Europe find her long lost grandson. Before long, Nancy finds the prince, or so she thinks. Nancy catches the prince taking small amounts of money from the queen, Mrs. Alexandria. Her grandson is also has very bad manners for a prince. What's going on with the prince? Read the book to find out! If you enjoy this suspenseful book, be sure to read the rest of the series!

Better Than I Thought It Would Be
This review concerns the original 1943 edition as well as the revised 1972 edition which is merely a shortened version of the original. Nancy meets an elderly lady, Mrs. Alexandra, who was formerly a queen in a European country. When a revolution erupted in the country, the woman's entire family perished except for her grandson who was brought to America by his nurse. When Mrs. Alexandra escaped to America, she was never able to find her grandson and hopes that Nancy could locate him for her. Also, pickpockets are at work in River Heights. To anyone that just read my summary of the book and thinks that it will be boring, don't let that stop you from reading this book; it is actually a fairly decent book. I liked the fact that through the course of the book, Nancy was fooled and used many times by the criminals to get away with their crimes, it made her seem more human and not like the SuperNancy we see in many of the books. However, in the end her intelligence and intuition won out over the criminals. I particularly thought that it was clever the way in which the pickpockets managed to fool Nancy. The book has a moderate amount of action, is written well and I found that for the most part it held my interest all the way through. I think that most Nancy Drew fans would enjoy reading it.

A jewel of a book
This book was pretty good and it was interesting to read it. There was some really exiting parts and some really boring parts, but overall it was a good book.

Great Book
This book was a great suspense/thriller book. Nancy helps an elderly woman named Mrs. Alexandra. Nancy befriends her and learns she is a queen from a distant country. Mrs. Alexandra tells her of a long lost grandson, which she is determined to find. Nancy is trying to solve that mystery, when she notices many pick-pocket thefts in her town of River Heights. Nancy then finds out the two mystery's are connected, and Nancy is determined to solve it. Nancy figures out the confusing burglury of wallets, and finds the long lost grandson of Mrs. Alexandra. This is a wonderful book, like all Nancy Drew's.

This Book Was Great
At first I thought this book might not be as exciting as the others, but I was wrong!! I was always in suspence. If you like this book, I know you will love all the others! The Nancy Drew Files are the best! ... Read more

Book Description

Having a dog in class is always a clue that it's going to be an interesting day, especially when the dog in question-and the one with all the answers-is the insatiable canine gourmand Pete, last seen munching everything from jellybeans to underwear on his way through the alphabet in What Pete Ate from A-Z.

Poppy Wise has mixed feelings about school and her teachers have mixed feelings about her dog, Pete. Pete wreaks havoc in math; causes chaos in science (Mrs. Magma has a meltdown when he swallows her microscope!); and is a star in art (Miss Crumple finds Pete colorful when he eats all the crayons). As Pete gets his fill of knowledge, he also serves as an impetus for learning rules are made to be broken and there is no end to learning. This new adventure is sure to be another "giggly meal for readers who relish ridiculousness, randomness, rambunctiousness and alliteration."-Time Out New York ... Read more

Book Description

Best friends Jeff and Wiley are nickname addicts.It's only when a spunky red-haired environmentalist named Cassandra enters their lives that they begin to doubt their nicknaming prowess. No name seems to say it all. On top of everything, some of the nicknames that Jeff and Wiley have invented are backfiring on them. Will the nicknamers be able to get it together before it's too late? ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Pretty Good Book-6th grade reviewer
The Sixth Grade Nickname Game is about two best friends, Jeff and Wiley who can't stop making nicknames for almost everybody in their school. When their 6th grade class gets a new substitute teacher things turn wild and crazy. Their new teacher is the assistant football coach at the high school but he can't seem to leave his "football" attitude on the field. Then when a new student, Cassandra comes to school things turn ugly between Jeff and Wiley as they try to earn Cassandra's invitation to the upcoming Sadie Hawkin's dance. This story is a combination of betrayal, friendship and laughs that you won't want to miss!

Awesome book for all ages!
The sixth grade nickname game is one of the funniest books I've ever read! The general idea of the book was great, and I would recomend it to anyone that can read. Anyone and everyone should read this book!

Good book
The book begins when room 6B gets a new substitute teacher. His name was Mr. Hughes. He acted like a football coach, which he was. Wiley and Jeff A.K.A "The Nicknamers", nicknamed him Mr. Huge. One day a new girl came to their classroom. Her name was Cassandra. They tried to think of a nickname for her, but they couldn't. They made a bet with another guy (Snoopy) to see if all their nicknames could stick. One day Snoopy heard that Mr. Hughes would get fired if they didn't pass the assessment test. So they had a meeting and decided to read and try to do well on the Assessment test. Once they got to know Cassandra, they started to like her. They began to fight over her. They wanted her to take one of them to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. If you want to know who she takes to the dance, who wins the bet with Snoopy, and if Mr. Hughes gets fired, then read this book !!!!!!!

The 6th Grade Nickname Game
This book is about two best friends called Jeff and Wiley that love to give nicknames to practically everyone they know. But one day a new girl in school arrives, called Cassandra. The boys want to give her a nickname but they don't know what to call her. Soon they start to like her and they want her to invite them to a dance. Jeff and Wiley, who never fought together, started to fight over her. If you want to know who Cassandra asks to the dance, what her nickname will be, and how Jeff and Wiley will solve their problem, then read this book!!!!

I think it was very surprising to find out who Cassandra invites to the dance!!! I tell you, it will be hard to guess!!

I think that this book was very interesting. Yes, it was funny, but not as funny as Gordon Korman's other books, like the Bruno and Boots books(those were really good).Actually, it was not as funny as I thought it would be. Anyways, I gave it four stars because the description was really good. The characters even

seemed like real kids their age. I recommend this book to everyone because it is appropriate for all ages.

You should read this BOOK!!
Wiley and Jeff made nicknames for everyone and their subsitute, Mr. Hughes, which is now their teacher. Charles Rossini, Snoopy, wnted another nickname so they had a bet. But, Cassandra, a new girl came and they couldn't find a nickname for her, so they spent more time getting to know her and they strted liking her and they shared their first broken-heart together and they gve her the nickname, Carrot-top. I agree with the author because this book is funny and I like to give nicknames to all my frieds and because this book is entertaining. Also, he treats all the characters right and he makes them seem real. I would recommend it to my friends because it is a cute, entertaining, and book and the kids in the book are the same age as us. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Cutest Child's Book of All Time!!!!!!!
I had this book for a very long time, and I loved it! It's a cute book that teaches children the alphabet and it's a cute game that I used to play when I was younger. I still have this book, and I have a reason to: When I become a mother and have kids of my own, I'll be able to read it to them! : )

children love this ryhming game
My 5 year old girl got this book out of the library and is now begging me to buy it. This book is a great sing-song version of the jump-rope game we played as a child. The different ryhmes are fun and a learning experience. ... Read more

Book Description

There is a mysterious new student at Fitzgerald High, Jake Garett-and he seems to have it all figured out. Looking like he just stepped off the cover of the J. Crew catalog, he is the greatest long snapper the football team has ever had, and best of all, he hosts the party to go to every Friday night.All the guys want to be like him and all the girls want to date him, but Jake only has eyes for Didi, the girlfriend of alpha male and quarterback, Todd Buckley. Through the eyes of Jake's friend, Rick, readers get to know Jake, first admiring him, then liking him, but eventually fearing for him as they learn Jake's secret. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

GRIPPING with a capital G!!!
Jake Reinvented is about a mysterious new boy at school known as Jake. The whole story is through his friend, Ricky's eyes. At first, everyone loves Jake, mostly for his Friday parties. But soon, secrets from his past start to slowly destroy the new identity he created for himself. Everyone starts to wonder why he is so different and why he really has all the crazy Friday night parties. All this leads to the end in which a huge disaster takes place, which also reveals his crazy obsession.

Jake Reinvented has quite a unique story which shows exactly how much some people do to become popular. Everything is described in an excellent way as well so you can visualize everything easily. Jake Reinvented is written very well and has a lot of amusing bits as well as some high action bits and some sad bits. It is gripping through out. Right in the beginning though, the story is a bit confusing. But all in all, this book is 213 pages of great, gripping writing!

Who is he really?
Jake seemed to come out of nowhere thats what Rick thought... So starts this novel. The story is told by Rick, who is friends with the quarterback and this new individual called Jake. Right away you sense something is not right. Jake begins to have a party every friday night at his house, before you know it he is the man to know. As others have said in their reviews this novel is very similar to The Great Gatsby. The school is even named Fitzgerald. In this version nobody gets killed but they are some serious issues that arise. To me the book comes alive with the way the author describes the emotions of the characters. It makes me begin to imagine how they look. To me this is a not just another typical teenager book about high school life but it actually has some morals and values to learn.

Definitely the most serious Gordan Korman book
Although this one had a lot of comic relief, I was surprised at the degree of seriousness at some points in this book. The plot has Jake, a high-school nerd, literally "re-invent" himself into a social success. He changes both schools and personality for the girl of his dreams. He almost pulls it of perfectly, but finds he can't cope with such a new lifestyle. Eventually his social prosperity shatters. What I found most intriging was Korman's ability to fullfill every unhappy teen's dream with the character of Jake and his ability to recreate himself. This is the only Gordan Korman book I've read that deals with some darker themes, such as assault, peer-pressure and teen drinking. The combination of humour and seriousness blend well into an interesting story. I'm quite used to Korman's comic writing so I found this a nice surprise. The only thing I found a little unbelievable was Jake's continual devotion to Didi. How could a guy who is obviously intelligent be so stupid?

Richie's Picks: JAKE REINVENTED
I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited--they went there. They got into automobiles which bore them out to Long Island, and somehow they ended up at Gatsby's door. Once there they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby, and after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with amusement parks. Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission."
--F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925

"Everybody was there--most of the football team, their girlfriends, the cheerleaders, and a bunch of their boyfriends and friends, the cooler people from student council, and a collection of athletes from basketball and track. I noticed some sophomore girls whose names I didn't know--they'd really filled out over the summer; and a few guys who played in their own rock band. It was the guest list that really made this bash what it was. If I could put together the party of my dreams--not that my parents ever left me alone in the house for more than five minutes--this was exactly the kind of crowd I'd want. I marveled at how a newcomer like Jake Garrett could waltz into town and instantly know all the right people to invite.
"I turned to Todd. 'Do you see him?'
"Todd shook his head. 'Must be upstairs.'
" 'Don't his parents notice there are fifty kids going nuts in their house?' I asked.
"Jake's dad's out of town five days a week,' Todd explained. 'His mother lives in Texas somewhere. He picked up a slice of pizza from the table that was loaded with the stuff, folded it expertly, and took a bite."
--Gordon Korman, 2003

In the same way that Will Shakespeare's immortal work has long benefited from West Side Story, Francis Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, THE GREAT GATSBY, will undoubtedly profit from the publication of JAKE, REINVENTED, an extremely well-crafted contemporary retelling by Gordon Korman. Korman, a master of smart-mouthed characters whose own twist on the Bard's star-crossed lovers--last year's SON OF THE MOB--was one of 2002's funniest YA books, has taken a slightly more serious turn with his latest story.

"Jake gave a nervous laugh, 'I guess you've figured out my little side job.' "

Frankly, it takes a little imagination to visualize swarms of teens of my grandfather's generation (no less this generation) taking GATSBY to heart as a cautionary tale. But transformed into a contemporary YA, it is quite easy to see how Rick's (think Nick's) narration of this story of obsession, acceptance, and popularity will have many teens thinking hard about the consequences of these characters' actions. It is said that teenagers reinvent themselves on a daily basis. This believable tale of metamorphosis will surely serve them well.

"I began to push my way through the clammy bodies.
"Marty Rapaport grabbed me and held back my progress. 'Hey, cross-bite, what's going on? What is this, the O.K. Corral?'
"I heard Jake's greeting to Todd. 'Glad you could make it, baby. What's up?'
"For a second there, I toyed with the possibility that he could brazen it through, that his sheer faith in who he'd become might do the job for him. This wasn't the old Jacob Garrett. This was Jake, reinvented. But as soon as Todd started talking, I knew the battle was lost."

In Korman's version, you still have the Gatsby figure creating everything for that girl from his past. You have the corresponding infidelities at the center of things. And while the ultimate outcome is toned down from car crashes and gunshots to cracked skulls and exiles, it feels no less tragic. Think about West Side Story. If anything, Maria's being left alive and alone at the end of the story, with her rage at the prejudice that caused Tony's death, is MORE powerful than Juliette's self-absorbed suicide.

"They began to close the distance between them, moving in that trancelike state that is so dramatic and all phony. It would have been a real romantic moment except for the three guys standing on their heads against the wall trying to chug upside down while a cheering section bellowed encouragement. I think they were betting on the outcome."

Hey, this is Gordon Korman after all. I didn't claim there was NO humor in the book!

Just as viewers of West Side Story or readers of SON OF THE MOB lose little of the entertainment value by not being familiar with the inspiration for those stories, readers of JAKE may lose many interesting contrasts, but don't lose the relevance of the story by never having heard of GATSBY. (Having myself read GATSBY during my first semester comp class, I can just hear some college freshman in a few years, complaining that GATSBY is a rip-off of that Korman story about the kid who made all that money in order to win the beautiful girl.) Sophisticated readers will move from JAKE to the original and benefit from getting the whole enchilada. (Less ambitious readers will at least rent the video, like I did last night, and still get a taste.)

" 'You were right the first time,' I told her. 'It's all about you.'
"I walked out, slamming the bathroom door behind me." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

What a Lot Of Fun!
I knew from the first sentence in this book that we (my 3 boys and I) were going to love it. It is a riot to read this a loud. A wonderful combination a reptile and truely creative writing. We are going to buy every Jimmy's Boa book we can find!

Jimmy's Boa and the Birthday Splash
This is a wonderful book for children and adults as well. The humor in the book was easily understood by the children. The book was easy enough to read but yet challenging. It was such a great hit in my class that we had to get another copy! ... Read more

Book Description

"Harry's parents and friends think he's crazy because he acts out the rich

fantasies of his 10-year-old imagination. And when his eccentric American uncle

dies and leaves Harry a parrot named Madison (Mad), they're convinced of it. A

believable, satisfying animal fantasy, with memorable characterizations and

playful humor...a sprightly read-aloud."--Publishers Weekly




... Read more

Reviews (11)

Madison
The book I am going to talk about is called Harry's Mad. It is an adventurous book. There are two main characters. The first character is Harry he is a blonde hair boy and he has black eyes. He is ten years old and has no brothers or sisters. He lives with his parents. The second character is an African parrot with gray and black eyes and has a dark gray beak.
They live in a famous city called London. The story takes place in November. Harry got a parrot from his uncle who passed away and whom he never met. Harry went out with his mom and a robber break in. The robber robs Mad and Harry couldn't find Mad. The parrot flew away from the robber. At last Harry and Mad meet again.
I recommend you read this book because it is incredibly, exciting, and interesting.

Is Harry Really Mad?
Harry's Mad, a breath taking animal fantasy, by a clever author, Dick King-smith is a tremendous tale. Harry is a young fun-loving boy who received an intelligent, gray, African parrot from his Great-Uncle George who passed away. Madison, or Mad for short, is a strange parrot that can talk and provide help like no other bird, but strangers can't hear this secret or Mad is in trouble. Harry, the owner of this amazing bird, worries when Mad is stolen and kidnapped by a burglar. Harry and his parents send out descriptions in the newspaper and try many things. Nobody knows what happened until...
This book takes place in a variety of places in London, Harry's house, White Hart Lane, and Trafalgar Square. I would definitely recommend this perfect parrot book any time. It is full of good descriptions and has funny and smart scenes.

My favorite children's book
I first read this book at age 14 and since then I have read it over and over! The first thing that made me interested in this book was Madison, an african grey parrot. I had a pair of Red Sided Eclectus parrots before and I thought this book would help me remember them in a way. While reading this book, I felt an enormous amount of joy, even my sister who has a "strange" sence of humor laughed once and a while when I told her sections of the book. Not only does this book begin and end with happiness, it also has a surprise twist. I'm not telling :)
Suspence is also brought in that would make younger ones literally asking for more and more as you read this book to them. This book is on my top 10 list along with some of my favorites from other authors, such as Charles Dicken's "Great Expectations". Great book, I give it 7 stars...oh wait I can only go up to 5. Darn!

an AWESOME book
I chose this book because in the past I read another book by the same author. This book takes place in Paris, France. There are four main characters. The characters are Mom, Dad, Madison, the African Gray Parrot. I like Madison the most because he can talk and play more games than the average parrot, and because madison is the center of the whole story. The story begins when Harry inherits an African Gray Parrot, named Madison, from his Great Uncle George. harry spends much time with the parrot, and becomes attached to him. One day, when no one was home, a burglar breaks in and steals Madison. While Madison is at the robber's house alone, he calls the police. The policeman could not believe what madison told him because Madison's stoy was unbelievable. Madison had even told the police man that he was 9 inches tall. Later in the story Madison manages to pry a hole in the chimney and get away. Going up the chimney he got covered in suit and could not fly. Then you should read the book to see what happens next. I thoght this was a great story. i would reccomend this book to you to read

Parrots!
Did you know that a parrot that can talk??
The main character is Harry is a British boy who has brown hair and likes to eat American brownies. Madison the parrot is his favorite pet. He is very active, imaginative, and likes to daydream a lot.
Madison is a main character too. He is an intelligent African Gray male parrot, raised up in America. Madison enjoys eating food taken by people. He not only mimics with human voice, he speaks with an American accent and is also able to use telephone. Madison favorite game is monopoly.
The setting of this bock is from London. When Harry received Mad (short form for Madison) from Great Uncle George's will, he thought he is just an ordinary bird. When Harry came to know that it could talk, He kept it a secret from his parents. Very often, Harry would go into fits of giggles, falling about clutching his stomach and howling with laughter. Both his parents thought sometimes that. Harry is very mad.
After a few weeks, Harry revealed his secret to his parents. From then on, it seemed to the whole family that they had never been a time without Madison even the cat and the dog thought so too. Madison is also a walking dictionary because he helps Mr. Holdworth to think about the puzzle sheet and amazingly, he eats together with the family-using spoon. He knows how to cook by giving Harry's mother some recipes, teaches Harry in his English homework, plays chess and even monopoly with the family.
One day, while Mrs. Holdswoth went shopping, Harry in school and his father is in work, a burglar broke into the house and took Madison away. Will our hero find his way back home or will he die or been sold to a faraway parrot shop?
I will recommend this book because without a talkative parrot is very boring. ... Read more

Book Description

Yankee Doodle went to town,
A-riding on a pony;
Stuck a feather in his hat,
And called it macaroni.

Press the button to hear this favorite patriotic tune. Open the book to read and sing along. These delightful illustrations will send you marching in your own parade!

Reviews (2)

Yankee Doodle by Public Domain (Author), Amanda Haley
The book is wonderful. My toddler enjoys the tune very much. We had a question, needed to know how the battery for the book could be changed.

Thanks,
Yogeeta

A delightful depiction of the familiar song
Our six-year-old son loved Yankee Doodle so much that he brought it home from the school library two weeks in a row.He was fascinated by the pictures, and he enjoyed telling us his own interpretation of the story. After reading (and singing) the book together for several nights in a row,his reading improved noticeably.Not surprisingly, he begged us to get himhis own copy. ... Read more

Book Description

What would you say about eye-brows? Miss Krauss and the many children who made suggestions, re-visions, additions (and subtractions) to this book say, "Eyebrows are to go over eyes." A face? "A face is something to have on the front of your head." Also, "a face is so you can make faces." Hands? Well, hands are to hold. And also "a hand is to hold up when you want your turn." "A party is to say how-do-you-do and shake hands" and also "a party is to make little children happy." Of course, a brother is to help you, a package is to look inside, arms are to hug with, and a book is to look at.

And children will take this book of words and pictures to their hearts.

Reviews (7)

A Hole Is To Dig
A friend of ours bought this book (among hundreds others) at a book sale that a library was having and let my family take it as she was moving and didn't have room to take five boxes of ex-library books with her.

When I first saw the book I thought, "Oh, cute and old-fashioned!"... then I read it and was like, "Ok, this is just....weird..."

This book is full of definitions. Some of them are pretty cute, like the opening one, "Mashed potatoes are for everyone to have enough," and there are several others, as well.
But some of the definitions are just plain confusing. They are worded in such a way as to leave you scratching your head and trying to figure out WHAT is wrong with the phrase.

The illustrations are cute, I gotta admit. And some of the phrases are pretty catchy. But overall, I don't like this book.

My (...) twin sisters love having it read to them but it's just a very different and poorly written book.

I'm really sorry to those of you who love this book, but...in my opinion, this book is just awful... I mean, I guess I can see how I would love it if it reminded me of when I was a little kid (because I'm really sentimental;)) but I wouldn't recommend purchasing "A Hole Is To Dig".

a "must-have" for the bookshelf
I stumbled on an old copy in a used book store and bought it for myself (I'm 43!). It made me smile out loud as I stood reading it in the aisle. The illustrations and text are sweet and engaging... an example of what every book written for a young child (or young-at-heart adult) should be. I'd give this book more stars if they were available...

Worst Book
My 2 1/2 year old loves to read. We have 2 bookshelves full of books from several authors. After reading this book, I can say without hesitation that it is the worst book on his shelf...strange...If you want a good book that is different, buy Sugarbush Spring. This was a complete waste of money.

An overlooked classic -- Early Sendak for kids and adults
This book is a terrific classic -- a listing of definitions, "laws" if you will, that are really almost self-evident in childhood. Each page contains a collection of drawings that illustrate the definition of something. The illustrations tend to show the early Sendak style, but in this book, there is essentially no overwhelming background -- each boy or girl or dog is illustrated in black and white (or beige). Each picture is self-contained, but there is some flow to the text on certain pages.

It's difficult to describe this book, but there is really a separate level for adults in these definitions that makes this an enjoyable read for parent and child. For the adult, this book evokes the simplest play of childhood and a return to certain basic principles that were probably totally accepted and later forgotten. I don't know why, but this is an overlooked classic. I can't think of another book like this.

A wonderful book that my kids want to hear over and over
Or maybe it's me that picks out the book over and over at bedtime. I was really touched the other day when my 5-year-old son helped my 3-year-old son zip his jacket, looked at me and said "a brother is to help." A great book that everyone should read. ... Read more

Book Description

Experience the magic of a Steven Kellogg Christmas!

Santa has never come to town with such pizzazz -- and with "elephants, boats, and kiddie cars, too!" Here is artwork so completely festive and comically inventive, you'll feel the inspired genius of Steven Kellogg singing through the pages. His bountiful vision of one of the all-time favorite Christmas songs celebrates the season with a merry jubilee!

Reviews (1)

santa sees you!! better be good!
The book Santa Claus is Comin' to town is a delightful version of a classic. It is remeniscent to the holiday song, with the exception of a few added lines here and there.



The illustrations are wonderful, warm, charming and delightful and bring a special meaning to the story.

This is a great book to read during the Christmas season.The book would make a great bedtime story for little ones to enjoy on Christmas Eve!

... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

An Exciting Fast-paced Mystery
This review concerns the original 1948 edition as well as the revised 1967 edition which is a shorter version of the original. A widow seeks Nancy's help after she is robbed of a fortune in jewels. It seems the woman's deceased husband's spirit instructed her to bury the jewels in the forest to prevent them from being stolen from her home. Nancy is certain that the woman is the victim of a clever group of swindlers. Her investigation puts her into contact with several young women who are being cheated out of their hard-earned paychecks and leads her to abandoned Blackwood Hall. There, Nancy encounters an eerie, glowing ghost that inhabits the mansion. This is definately one of the best Nancy Drew books. The mystery is interesting and the story is fast-paced and well-written with lots of action. I really enjoyed the middle chapters, particularly the first two times Nancy investigates Blackwood Hall and meets the ghost. The whole book is great and a must-read for fans of the series.

the most wonderful book that i have ever read!
Hey, if youre looking for something really cool and very thrilling,why not read Carolyn Keenes The Ghost Of Blackwood Hall with the super sleuth Nancy Drew. In the story, she was determined to solve a case of an old client involving some jewelry thievery and later on, it was complicated with a ghost playing on an organ in a dark,old mansion. She was also been assigned to study the cases of 3 working ladies for they are giving and donating money on a crook company. The very interesting part in the story is that when Nancy, with her friends George and Bess, first went to the old mansion. Come on, share the thrill and go on screaming when you read this wonderfull stuff. thanks!!!!!!

out of the ordinary
This is a rather unusual Nancy Drew mystery involving seances, hynoptism, and a journey to New Orleans for Nancy, George and Bess. Nancy is attempting to help Mrs. Putney, a woman recently widowed, who, while gullible in some matters, does not completely trust Nancy.

The action is non-stop and the plot moves breathlessly and will sweep you up. "The Ghost of Blackwood Hall" is a thriller, and highly recommended.

A Wonderful, Wonderful, Fun & Exciting Book.
I think the book was wonderful and interesting. It was myfavorite book out of all Nancy Drew books. It was fun to read. Icouldn't wait to see what would happen. The ending was extremely exciting. What a wonderful book!

Best of Carolyne Keene
This book is about swindlers who swindle innocent people by posing to be connected with the spirit world. They hold up seances, and hypnotize women into doing absolutely foolish things which often get their lives in danger.Nancy Drew picks up their trail but these people are far too much clever.But she doesn't lose hope and clears up the mystery at last. This book keeps changing with every chapter with new developments on the case. This book is the best of all the others I have read of this author. A perfectly thrilling mystery. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

so cool!
I love these Gordon Korman books. You are always guarenteed to laugh out loud. I think they are fantastic for kids, or just anyone who enjoys light hearted, well written entertainment - I am 25 and still reread my Gordon Korman books!! I think that these books would be especially great to read to kids who don't like to read, and to get those said kids started - I mean this is enjoyment, pure and simple!

I love Bruno and Boots!!
This is a MUST BUY book!! I still have my original copy from when I was eleven years old, what does it tell you that I have kept it through several moves and 20 years? I am now buying a 2nd copy of all the Bruno and Boots books just so I won't "love them to death".
Gordon Korman has written a series that really speaks to the adventurous child in all of us - Bruno is a great leader, inventive, fun and brave in the face of danger (from Headmaster Sturgeon, AKA The Fish). Boots is the kind of guy you always want on your team - loyal and always willing to climb out a window to share cafeteria leftovers at midnight.
The Bruno and Boots books share the stories of two boys at a Canadian boy's school, where they survive bad roomates and imminent danger from Miss Scrimmage, the headmistress at the nearby girls' school.The boys are always getting into trouble with The Fish and coming up with extravagent excuses for why the school is flying a flag from Maldovia, why Elmer's ants are suddenly swarming the school,and why panty raids at Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School for Young Ladies couldn't possibly have anything to do with them.
Anyone over the age of eight will love this book and this series.

This is the best Book I've ever read! In fact,

I thought at the beginning when I looked at the cover that it was stupid. Well, like they always say, you can't judge a book by it's cover =) It was read to me my a teacher in 7th grade and we did questions on it, etc. Here is my review:.

Two boys, Bruno and Melvin (Boots) are mischief makers at MacDonald Hall (a boarding school for boys). Mr Sturgeon (the fish) decides to seperteate them and he puts them it rooms with the gouliest boys in the hall, Elmer Drimsdale (the genius science-freak) and George Wexford-Smyth III (the richest and snobbiest boy in the school). Bruno and Boots need to try different plans to get back in the same room again, room 306 - Dormitory 3. Can they do it? Read to find out!

Other GREAT Books I've read from this series is "Beware the Fish" where MacDonald Hall is going broke and Elmer Drimsdale brodcasts fish across the country on a TV screen, and "Go Jump in the Pool!" where MacDonald Hall is ALWAYS loosing to York Academy in the swim team and need a pool - and save Boots from going to York Acedemy, like his parent's want. I really reccomend ALL of the MacDonald Hall books, and my favorite character is Elmer Drimsdale, who, takes a major role in "this can't be happening at macdonald hall", and "beware the fish". I think that he is by far, the funniest.

This books is pretty good.
The first time I heard about this book my fifth grade teacher read to us. I thought it was pretty good. It is funny.

Funny, smart, creative, original
This is a great book.The characters are all distinct in some waay, and they really bring the book to life.The situations the boys [Bruno and Boots] find themselves in are all hilarious.You can't help but like them.Read this book! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Everyone throws a shadow...
Konigsburg has written 5 short stories that each are designed to teach a lesson about life in a subtle manner. The stories are somewhat entertaining and beautifully written. While there is something that can be learned from life, none of these stories have large impacting moments; rather they are all lessons we learn from daily experiences with people. That was what I liked about it.

What I didn't like is that it was very slow moving and the stories were a bit lengthy with too much background information about characters we will not know for very long anyhow. Because of this I would not use the book as a read-aloud in a classroom environment, but some children may enjoy reading.

Why 4 stars?:
This is a beautifully written book that shows some lessons that we all learn in life through varied experiences. It doesn't suit well to read-alouds and the stories can get a bit long and bogged down with unimportant details. However, this may be just the right book for some child and if it keeps him reading then it is invaluable.

More great reading by Kongisburg
This is a collection of short stories by my favorite children's author. Although I have "out grown" her books, I will never feel that way. She is an amazing author, and although I am not Jewish, I feel like I have learned about the Jewish culture through the characters in her books. A must-have for Konigsburg fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com

That wily Wallace! Where has he gone this time? The funny littleorange-furred orangutan is always surrounded by friends at the zoo. But timeafter time Wallace's wanderlust drives him to escape from his comfortableday-to-day existence with his friend the zookeeper--to a department store, tothe circus, to a baseball game, to the beach. The zookeeper is not as disturbedas you might imagine by Wallace's repeated breakouts. In fact, one mightalmost think he plants the ideas in Wallace's head himself... After all,every time Wallace disappears, it's up to the zookeeper to find him, even ifthat means spending an hour or two at an amusement park or the nature museum.

For over 35 years, readers of all ages have gleefully searched these pages forthe mischievous ape. Hilary Knight, well-loved illustrator of the Eloise series,among many other picture books, created a classic with Where's Wallace?.Each of nine intricately detailed panoramic pictures is packed with lively,humorous activity, making the search for Wallace a delightful challenge. Forthose who pride themselves on having found the orange fellow on every spread,the book ups the ante. See if you can find the six additional charactersaccompanying Wallace on every adventure, including a cello player, a jogger, andan old woman who manages to keep knitting in the most unusual places! (Ages 4 to7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Better than "Where's Waldo", a shame it's out of print.
As the predecesor to "Where's Waldo", this book is fun, lively and just plain great to look at. The story of a little orangutan who wonders about life outside the zoo is a visual treat. Wallace loves his life in the zoo but takes every opportunity to visit places like the beach, a ballgame, a department store and other exciting places. In each picture, Wallace must be found; for those truly observant readers, a host of other characters appear in each picture as well. Would love to find this book for my children as I loved it as a child. A shame it's out of print, one can always hope.

What's better than pen and ink Hilary Knight? Full color
Being the big Hilary Knight fan, I was happy to see that this book has been reprinted for those of us who were not around the first time it came out. Yay! The artwork in this book is classic Knight, and the story is fun and engaging (and predates Where's Waldo by almost three decades.) I am thrileld to see Knight finally getting his due, and I sure wouldn't mind seeing a sequel to this book either.. hint hint. Wallace is actually more innocent and likable than Eloise, so not even the reader is too frustrated that he keeps escaping. After all, with the world that Knight has created, how could we not want to get out and explore as well?

The pictures alone are fun to look at. Kids will enjoy spending time looking at the pictures (well, I did too...)

I am thrilled to share this with my children
This was a favorite of mine as a child. I am so pleased to be able to get them their own copies.(mine is a bit tattered) They love finding Wallace and all of his friends over and over again. This book just stands up to the test of time. We read it every night.

Revisiting my childhood
One of my absolute favorite books from childhood, "Where's Wallace" still does not disappoint. Both youngsters and adults will find themselves glued to the pages as they attempt to identify the whereabouts of a multitude of characters which appear in various scenes throughout the book. Hilary Knight's illustrations are fabulously humorous and clever - a perpetual joy to read that never gets dull!

Will provide hours, days and years of entertainment!
This is my absolute favorite book from my childhood. I remember my parents reading it to me. I remember reading it myself, searching through the pages to find Wallace and all of the other characters. I am so glad that they have re-issued it, as it was out of print for a while. When I re-read this as an adult, I realized that the zookeeper was actually "letting" Wallace escape. There is so much humor that I missed as a child. Looking through the scenes to find the characters and following the evolution of their stories is fun for both child and adult. Even if your child can't read the words on her own, she can look at the pictures and try to find everyone. And if you do have to read it to her over and over, you will not be bored to tears. ... Read more