Amazon.com

It's hard to be good. Especially if you don't really know what "beinggood" means. Munro Leaf, beloved author of The Story of Ferdinand, decidedto try his hand at defining good behavior in his 1946 classic How to Behaveand Why. The two biggest questions to ask ourselves in life, he says, are"Are most of the people I know glad that I am here?" and "Am I glad that I amhere, myself?" If you want to make good friends and keep them, he says, "Youhave to be HONEST. You have to be FAIR. You have to be STRONG and You have to beWISE." This strangely charming life primer, illustrated with endearing stickfigures, goes on to explain why you have to be honest--how handy it is to betrusted, for instance, when you need to borrow money. And if you lie too much,"We can't believe ourselves or anyone else, because we don't really know whatthe truth is any more than a penguin and that is a stupid way to live." Specificreasons for not being a "lazy lump" or a liar or a cheat are outlinedmatter-of-factly, as are basic lessons in how to be well and strong. Originallypublished for the very young (it has an early-reader format with big type andpictures), Leaf's how-to-be-good guidebook will probably be shared among adultsas a back-to-basics inspirational book with the same crossover appeal as SandolStoddard Warburg's I LikeYou. A satisfying reflection of a time when what was right and wrongseemed more black and white. (All ages) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

cuts to the bone
This book is exactly what the title says, How to Behave and Why.
Good advice on character, which, after all, is more important than anything else. The section on Honesty is so true and so concise, no one can argue with it. Mr. Leaf lays out exactly what happens to those who are not honest, fair, strong or wise. No matter what your age, this book gives clarity on the most important aspects of life. I love it. I wish Mr. Leaf's other gem, Manners Can Be Fun, would come back into print asap.

Great book for kids of all ages!
An excellent resource for teaching children how to treat others and reasonings why. The word usage of "stupid" and "dope" may bother some people, but the political correctness was not a consideration for this book written in the 1940's. I think it may be too complex for babies, but my kindergartener is very receptive to it.

Nothing Beats This-- It Stands Alone
The impact that HOW TO BEHAVE AND WHY had on me is on-going. From my earliest reading memory, My copy--lost along the way-- is a possession I have missed over and over again since it was first published in 1946. Many many regular book searches through the years repeatedly met with no success. So many times I literally pined for this little red book for my children-- especially, even their teen, college, and career years. It's universality is timeless. It's simple truths and stick figures bring impeccablke clarity to the paramount keys to living well in our civilized world. I am so elated to have "searched" this week and FOUND IT RE-PRINTED AT LAST!! Thank you, thank you, for bringing this title back to life. For starters, I just bought 5 copies. Now it's your turn. You will not be disappointed.

Bring Back This Book!
I was raised with this book as a young child's guide to good manners in any and all situations. It Works! 55 years later I wish I could give this book to my college students. Amazingly, considering its age, this book is still appropriate to the diverse, multicultural 21st Century.
If you have children, are a teacher, or just want to polish your own manners, take a look at a book that got it right in the 1950s. Highly recommended.

Buried Treasure
While some educational 'progressives' would pooh-pooh Munro Leaf's charming series of books, those of us who actually raise our own children would do well to find and employ as many of his works as possible. In "How To Behave And Why", Leaf gives simple and fun lessons in Honesty, Fairness, Strength and Wisdom; qualities that seem to have waned with the advent of our New Age.

Using stick figures and easy to understand language, Leaf simply tells it like it is - or should be - in ways that kids can easily grasp. Monitions against laziness, frowning, whining, selfishness and avarice, just to name a few, are worked in so well that most kids won't realize they're being given advice. For instance (and consider this was written in 1946) in the section about being Wise:

"Other people have thoughts, ways to do things, ways to work, ways to play, ways they think of God and their country and their race. Their way can be just as right as your way. Remember that, and be glad you have a chance to choose the best of all ways."

Stick some screwball political motive onto that and take God out and you have Political Correctness; how much more simple and true the original sounds.

Parents and courageous educators would do well to begin to hunt for Munro Leaf. Sadly, he's been out of print since before The Great Society, and thus he may be hard to locate. Amazon.com found this one for me, and I was able to locate another title in a local 'very used' book store. Nontheless, his ageless wisdom and whimsical style can and should be used as weapons against the value-neutral and culturally relativistic nightmares that modern education has become. And remember: everybody share - don't take them all for yourself. ... Read more

Book Description

The adventure begins

Narnia ... where Talking Beasts walk ... where a witch waits ... where a new world is about to be born.

On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan's song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible ...

Reviews (113)

An exciting book for all ages!
The Magician's Nephew takes place in London, a very long ago. During that time lives a girl named Polly Plumber. She lives in row housing, and one day when she is in the garden, a grubby faced boy peers over the fence next door. Polly could tell that the boy had been crying which explains his dirty face. The boy tells her his name is Digory Kirke, and Polly laughed and made a few jokes, and he tells her that he is from a high-class area and he is required to come to this rotten place. He told Polly that his dad is in India, his mother is sick, and his uncle is mad. Digory explains that his Uncle Andrew is very odd, talks of strange things, and hears strange noises coming from his secret room at night. Very soon they begin to build a friendship. From then on, they went on several adventures because his crazy Uncle Andrew and his powerful rings, one including to Narnia. They meet several characters in each place they visit. In Narnia they they meet the Lion, and from him they learn many lessons about life, and they build a very strong relationship with eachother. I would recommend this book for anyone, any age, who likes adventure and fantasy. This book is very detailed, and creative. The characters are very real, especally Polly. Polly is very adventurous, like me. She never backs down on anything. Polly seems like a great person, and like any other child in that time period this book took place. If you like this book, than I deffinitly recommend reading the next book #2 in The Chronicels of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. You'll love both!!

Excellent Read!!
The first book in the series of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew is an excellent fantasy that pulls the reader in from the first word! Lewis weaves a fantastic tale that weaves fantasy and reality splendidly. The reader is drawn into Lewis' world of fiction with an amazing ease. Part of the seven book series, The Magician's Nephew is an excellent beginning to what will certainly become a fascinating, enthralling series.

Digory is a young boy who is upset because his mother is dying. When he meets Polly (his next door neighbor), he tells her about his mother and that he is staying next door with his spinster aunt and his bachelor Uncle Andrew so that they can take care of his mother. Polly and Digory soon become good friends and they discover a secret passageway that connects all of the attics in the houses on their row (in London). They stumble into the attic of Digory's Uncle Andrew and he tricks Polly into becoming part of an experiment for him. She puts on a yellow ring and travels to another world. Digory has no choice but to follow her when his Uncle Andrew tells him the secret of how to come back. Digory and Polly end up in the "Wood Between the Worlds," a type of portal to other places and times. Although Polly immediately wants to turn back, Digory convinces her to visit one of the other places first. They choose a pool of water that takes them to the deserted city of Charn, where they awaken Queen Jadis, an evil queen that is bent on leaving her own dead kingdom and conquering London. She attaches herself to Digory while they are trying to escape and they accidentally bring her back to London. Once there, she wreaks havoc on everyone and everything even though her magic powers are not as strong in this new world. Polly and Digory decide that they must return her to her world, so they travel back to the "Woods between the Worlds." Thinking that they have chosen the pool that leads to the city of Charn, they jump in only to find that they are in a new land and they experience the birth of the Land of Narnia. They experience everything to the birth of the sun and stars to the blessing of the first king and queen of Narnia. Digory is sent on a mission to retrieve the fruit of a special tree so that it may be planted in the center of Narnia to protect it from the Witch of Charn, who has hidden herself in the recesses of this new land. After being tempted to eat or [take] the fruit for himself, Digory brings the fruit to Aslan, the creator of Narnia, and he casts out the fruit so that it can grow into a tree. Aslan thanks Digory and tells him to take an apple from the tree and give it to his sick mother so that she might be saved. Polly and Andrew leave Narnia and Digory gives the fruit to his mother, who is healed. ...

O.k at times but goes noware
This book goes noware but down.The begging is good and then in the middle goes down ward.It's o.k. at times but fore die hard fantasy fans like Harry Potter stay away.

What a great book!
This book was great! I thought it would take me a long time to read, but it only took me two days. I loved it so much. The Narnia books are great, all of them. This one was the first book and it's about a boy named Digory who has an uncle. His uncle has these magic rings. Polly, Digory's friend, touched a ring and then she entered the world of Narnia. Digory and Polly go through lots of adventures - good ones and bad ones - in the world that they had just discovered.

The best book in the entire series
This story chronicles the beginning of all the other stories.
The writing style for this book and wording makes this novel enjoyable even to young adults. ... Read more

Book Description

‘Short, original fables with fresh, unexpected morals poke subtle fun at human foibles through the antics of animals. . . . The droll illustrations, with tones blended to luminescent shading, are complete and humorous themselves.’ —Association of Library Service to Children, ALA.

Winner, 1981 Caldecott Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1980 (ALA)
1981 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1980 (NYT)
Children's Books of 1980 (Library of Congress) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fables and animalia
I'm on an Arnold Lobel kick these days. Having breezed through the sweet, "A Treeful of Pigs", stopped to admire his treasury of nursery rhymes (two thumbs way way up on that one), and genuflected in the face of the eternally classic tales of Frog and Toad I'm actually getting around to reading his 1981 Caldecott winning picture book, "Fables". Lobel deserves every inch of praise he received for this admirable work. Imagine how difficult it must have been to create not one, not two, but twenty absolutely new fables filled to the brim with wit and wisdom! Not an easy task. Still, Lobel not only faced up to the challenge but also accomplished it in a manner best befitting the gentleman he truly was. These are fabulous fables.

Each tale contained in this book is acted out by a variety of different animals. No two stories contain the same kind of animals (with the possible exception of one fable centering on a hen and another on a rooster). The stories are short and easy for youngsters to understand. They are usually followed up with little moral lessons along the lines of "At times, a change of routine can be most healthful" or "When the need is strong, there are those who will believe anything". Admittedly, these are half a step away from becoming fortune cookie messages. Still, there's no denying that each and every one is true. Sometimes they become particularly poignant. I am thinking of the story about a young mischievous kangaroo that would throw spitballs in school and put tacks on chairs. When his teacher went to his home to inform his parents of their son's terrible behavior, he found them throwing spitballs at one another and doing just the kinds of things the little one had done in school. Moral: "A child's conduct will reflect the ways of his parents". Truer than most would think.

Accompanying these droll adventures are Lobel's very particular illustrations. As an artist, Lobel has given an entirely new level of sophistication to his creations. Though undeniably Lobellian (is that a word?) they're far more detailed than anything much his work before or since. In the story where a pig dreams of candies all night, the image on the opposite page displays a subtley shaded porcine character flying next to a gorgeous moon, a mélange of greens and yellows. Other delightful pictures include the one accompanying the story of two elephants. The pompous father elephant reads his paper, oblivious to the fact that his left slipper has caught fire from his pipe. Standing in front of him, eyes at half-mast (a look of singular disinterest on his face) a younger elephant gazes at the blaze serenely. Children familiar with Lobel's "Frog and Toad" books might be ever so slightly disturbed by the story in which three frogs run to find the treasures at the end of the rainbow. Not only do the jacketed amphibian get eaten by a snake, but they all look a heckuva lot like Frog from the aforementioned popular series. Things to consider.

The tales told here are as well written and presented as an ancient Aesopian collection. I would greatly encourage you to pair this book with, "Anno's Aesop: A Book of Fables by Aesop and Mr. Fox". The books compliment one another and lead to similar sillinesses. If you've ever thought that you loved Lobel, think again. Until you've read this picture book you'll find you were completely in the dark regarding his real talents. A stunning accomplishment.

Fables
Fables is a collection of fables that the author made up himself. They aren't the traditional fables of the world, but they still all contain a moral lesson. Each story is about animal characters, which makes the stories very enchanting.
Each story is very short and is contained within the borders of one page each. This is a good quality for a short story book because a story can be told in a very short amount of time. The whole book does not have to be read in order for the reader to benefit from it. The meaning of every story is stated at the bottom of every page. This is an advantage to the reader because they do not have to read the entire story to figure out if they want to read that particular fable.
Each fable is accompanied by its own colorful illustration. The illustrations are large and cover the entire page opposite the fable that it belongs to. Some of the illustrations are rather humorous and get the reader's attention before they even begin reading the story.
This would be a good book to have in a younger aged classroom. The stories are short so the reader is not bogged down by a long drawn out story. They are also humorous and are sure to get a laugh out of any youngster.

Good- but not for preschool
Amazon.com has this graded as for Baby-Preschool. No way. These are fables with morals, and the vocabulary is at least second grade. I teach Third Grade and this book accompanies my reading series.
There are some stories I like better than others for both content and message. (some I don't use) I'd recommend it for Second to Fifth graders.

Tongue in Cheek Animal Fables with Beautiful Illustrations
This book won the Caldecott Medal for the best illustrated children's book of 1981. The book contains twenty one-page fables, facing a one page illustration of the key moment in each fable. The illustrations bring the morals of these tales to life in ways that will keep your children laughing. That will make the lessons more memorable, as well as more entertaining.

The fables are uneven in the relevance and importance of their messages. I graded the book down one star for the several fables that are more irreverent than relevant. You can obtain more benefit for your child if you selectively read the fables to emphasize the more important ones.

For an example of a weaker one consider The Pelican and the Crane. This is a story about a crane who invites a pelican to tea. The pelican is horribly uncouth and messy. The pelican complains that "no one ever calls me." The moral is stated as "when one is a social failure, the reasons are as clear as day." The narrower moral is about being inconsiderate, but that is never quite spelled out. So even the weaker fables can be tightened up with a little parental explanation.

I thought that the following stories were comparable in quality to Aesop's Fables:

The Crocodile in the Bedroom ("Without a doubt, there is such a thing as too much order."; The Ducks and the Fox ("At times, a change of routine can be most healthful."); King Lion and the Beetle ("It is the high and mighty who have the longest distance to fall."); The Lobster and the Crab ("Even the taking of small risks will add excitement to life."); The Hen and the Apple Tree ("It is always difficult to pose as something one is not."); The Baboon's Umbrella ("Advice from friends is like the weather. Some of it is good; some of it is bad."); The Frogs at the Rainbow's End ("The biggest hopes may lead to the greatest disappointments."); The Camel Dancer ("Satisfaction will come to those who please themselves."); Madame Rhinoceros and Her Dress ("Nothing is harder to resist than a bit of flattery."); The Pig at the Candy Store ("A locked door is very likely to discourage temptation."); and The Mouse at the Seashore ("All the miles of hard road are worth a moment of true happiness.").

In most cases, other lessons can be drawn from the same fables. I suggest that you and your child discuss what else you noticed in the stories. You can then add experiences that each of you have had during the day, and discuss the meaning of each.

Remember that only those who wish to experience the most misery and injury themselves prefer to learn only from their own mistakes.

Remember to look on the funny side of life's hard lessons!

Original fables that children will love.
This children's book consists of twenty original fables containing animal characters (just as in Aesop's fables) with a moral at the end of each: for example, "Knowledge will not always take the place of simple observation." The book won the 1981 Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a book for children. ... Read more

Book Description

From the moment Gooney Bird Greene arrives at Watertower Elementary School, her fellow second-graders are intrigued by her unique sense of style and her unusual lunches. So when story time arrives, the choice is unanimous: they want to hear about Gooney Bird Greene. And that suits her just fine, because, as it turns out, Gooney
Bird has quite a few interesting and "absolutely true" stories to tell.
Through Gooney Bird and her tales, acclaimed author Lois Lowry introduces young readers to the concepts and elements of storytelling. By demonstrating some of the simple techniques that reveal the extraordinary in everyday events, this book will encourage the storyteller in everyone. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A great teaching tool!
I teach fifth and sixth grade language arts and have used this book for the past three years as an introduction to our writing lessons.The kids love it and they never forget what Gooney Bird teaches them about writing...always have a good beginning, middle, and end ... tell absolutely TRUE stories with interest-catching titles... and the main character is always "right smack in the middle of things"!Gooney Bird has been a great help also when the kids in my class, just like Gooney's classmates, start to get off track and everyone insists on telling a "dog or cat" story.I simply remind the class that it's beginning to sound like a "Gooney Bird" moment!They all know exactly what I mean and we are quickly back on track!Thanks, Gooney, for being such an important "member" of my language arts classes!We love you!(Can't wait to get the sequel...Gooney Bird and the Room Mother!)

The best book I have ever read!
I bought this book for my second grader because it looked cute.She read it for a book report she was doing at school.After she was done she came to me and told me that I should read it because it was so good.I read it last night and it nearly brought me to tears!I loved it.It was so loving, and sweet, and educational in a completely fun way.Gooney Bird Greene, and the children in her class are how we all hope our children to be; individual, loving, curious, kind, respectful, etc..Gooney Birds teacher is what every child's teacher should be; patient, loving, and not afraid to let a 2nd grader be smarter then herself!This is a must read for parents and children alike!!!

How Ramseelbird fell under the spell of Gooney Bird Greene
Author Lois Lowry is perhaps best known for her controversial, award winning, and often very interesting children's books.These books, on the whole tend to be written with the older child reader in mind.Swiveling her head a full 90 degrees to the left, Lowry has now decided to write a book with the younger child readers in mind.Hence, the creation and subsequent publication of the adorable, "Gooney Bird Greene".Tis a tale of one girl, her stories, and her awe-stricken/hand-raising/wide-eyed classmates.

When Gooney Bird Greene arrives in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class unannounced, nobody knows quite what to make of her.Decked out in pajamas and cowboy boots, and holding her lunch with a dictionary, she immediately becomes the class's star pupil.For you see, Gooney Bird Greene was blessed with the gift of storytelling.By sheer coincidence, Mrs. Pidgeon is attempting to teach the class all about the different parts of a story.As the book progresses and Gooney Bird tells her "absolutely true" tales, the book carefully examines what it is that makes a story either good or bad.By the end, Gooney Bird has influenced all the students (and even Mrs. Pidgeon) to tell their own stories just as she has.

The book's top notch, really.Both children and their parents reading this book will be entranced by the notion of how Gooney Bird's outrageously titled tales really do turn out to be true in the end. The tale entitled, "How Gooney Bird Came from China on a Flying Carpet" turns out to be about how Gooney Bird and her family moved from their small town of China in their car, and how GB accidentally flew out of the car while in the center of the family's old rolled up carpet.The tale, "Why Gooney Bird Was Late for School Because She Was Directing a Symphony Orchestra" is about how she directed a bus full of musicians to the local town hall where they were to play.You get the idea.The only tale GB tells that strains at its wording is, "Beloved Catman Is Consumed by a Cow", though you'll have to read it yourself to see if you agree with me or not.

When I first read the description of this book, I was greatly afraid that this would be a younger person's version of Jerry Spinelli's "Stargirl".I thought (and was completely wrong) that the book was about a girl who's completely different from her classmates, they they all initially love her but then eventually despise her, and that she would befriend the trouble making kid and the shy and quiet kid in the course of her adventures.Wrong.Wrongdy wrong wrong.This book is, in fact, about a girl and the great awe inspiring talent of spinning a good yarn.Accompanying Ms. Lowry's adept words and motifs are the illustrations of Middy Thomas.These help to drill home the fact to kids of how very cool Gooney Bird really is.I highly recommend, by the way, that all you adults out there read the back inner flap of the book for the author/illustrator description.It's very amusing.

How rare to read a book that is intended for such a young audience but is still so well written.If you've a child that tells stories all the time and is the right age for this book (it's an early chapter book, so you can decide how well it fits them yourself) then I highly recommend that you go out and get this item immediately.Similarly, if you've any interest in all in teaching the kiddies about the parts and features of a good story, go and get yourself some "Gooney Bird Greene".I guarantee you that it exceeds and surpasses all expectations.And then some.

You will love this story
Gooney Bird Greene draws the reader into her world as readily as she draws her classmates into her stories.Gooney Bird dresses in amazing outfits and tells amazing "absolutely true" stories. The author plays with words in a charming way that younger readers will accept that older readers will appreciate. Middy Thomas adds charming illustrations that will make you want to turn the page to see what Gooney Bird is wearing NOW.

This book feels good in the hands and has an appealing look to it. If you have younger children to read to, this book will hold their attention and allows nice breaks for short attention spans.

Gooney Bird Greene
Gooney Bird Greene, by Lois Lowery, is an excellent book that will have students laughing out loud!This book is great for bringing out the quiet students in any class.Gooney Bird Greene is a new student in Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade class at Watertown Elementary School.She began very quickly to liven up the room with her fun-loving personality and outrageous choicde of clothing.The class is learning how to write stories and Gooney Bird Greene has a story to tell everyday.With her "true stories" she tells, the kids learn probably more about writing ideas than they would from the teacher alone.Gooney Bird Greene is an inspiration to all the students in the class, even the ones who would never speak up or tended to shy away from the rest of the class.I really enjoyed reading this book and you will to. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

I Wish I Could Find this Book!
I remembers this book as a child, when my mother bought it for me at the Book Fair. At the time, I didn't like it, for I didn't appreciate the funny cartoons and splendid way of managing manners and being nice, but now that I have a scroungy little 6 yr. old, I wish I could find it and give it to my son, I think he'd think it was hilarious, which it is. If you find this book, grab it!

Excellent and poignant look at how kids can learn manners.
Mr. Leaf's book was one of the cornerstones of our household, and my brother and I were constantly instructed to "sit down and read the manner's book." This book is very easy for children to comprehend, and it is an excelent way for parents to get their kids to a more "civil" state. I still love this book!

The only antidote to psychobabble
Lost in a sea of new-age mumblings, half-congealed PC semi-truths and "value-neutral" nonsense? Then, if you never do anything else for your kids, find a copy of this and Leaf's other gems and use them as often as you use the TV's remote control. They're full of the no-nonsense, boiled down "rules to live by" that so well defined the simpler ages gone by. To agree with another reviewer, this and the others probably would be banned today. But, when you consider who it is that bans books along with what's acceptable and what isn't by today's standards, it might be time to resurrect ol' Munro and let him have another go at our kids. Until somebody with the wisdom and resource to do that comes along and does, a well-used copy suits me just fine, thank you.

One of my creepiest childhood memories!
This is a book I had as a child and destroyed as a child. Perhaps that is the most accurate review one could ask for. Rife with creepy images of etiquette outlaws such as The Winey (has a permanent lump in his throat) and the kid who ran with a lollipop in his mouth, this book would be banned if published today. I recommend it for adults recovering from an overly-punitive upbringing, to be read in conjunction with Al Franken's 'I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me' for a good, well rounded laugh at parenting of the past. ... Read more

Book Description

Friends all year.

Reviews (13)

Amphibians for all seasons
Along with Seuss, Lobel is perhaps the most beloved writer and illustrator of beginning readers. In this effort he turns in another winning series of five short tales, each one in plain language but highly entertaining, enlivened by Lobel's superb two-tone illustrations. Frog and Toad are distinct and likeable characters, comically foolish in their own ways but buoyed by their genuine friendship. This book features the added appeal of stories from all the year round, from winter (how funny they look in big winter coats!) to spring rain (a genuinely sweet tale) to summer ice cream (what a mess!) to fall leaf raking (in gift-of-the-magi form, each rakes the other's yard in secret) and Christmas Eve, perhaps the most pleasant story of all - nothing sloppy or sentimental, just goodhearted. Readers of these domestic adventures will also enjoy Lobel's "Owl at Home."

By now, you're hooked...
If you've read the first two books in the Frog and Toad series, by now you and your child are hooked!

This book, published in 1976, is the third of four books about Frog and Toad, written by Arnold Lobel. This book has five stories, starting and ending with Winter tales.

As usual, Toad is a bit negative and nervous, while Frog is calm, positive and dedicated to being a very good friend to Toad.

In "Down the Hill", Frog gets Toad to come outside and try sledding down a hill with him. Toad goes reluctantly along, and for a moment enjoys the ride. Frog gets bumped off the sled, and Toad still enjoys the adventure until he realizes he's alone. He decides Winter is best spent inside.

The next story is about a story told from Frog to Toad, one rainy day when they are wishing Spring was here. Frog promises that Spring is just around "The Corner."

"Ice Cream" is a funny story about what happens when Toad buys ice cream cones for himself and Frog, and carries them a long way on a very hot day.

"The Surprise" is a story about what happens when two friends try to do something special for a friend, in secret.

The last story, "Christmas Eve", has a worried Toad frantically searching for his best friend, sure that something terrible has happened. It has a happy ending, of course!

The stories are short, sweet and about friendship, but in a simple manner. Drawings of Frog and Toad are on almost every page, and are detailed enough to warrant a lengthy view and some comments from young readers. The words are understandable and readable enough for very young readers, yet they manage to tell a story with an amusing message.

Wonderful!
I loved Frog and Toad as a child and now I'm buying them for my own daughter. What I like best about them is that Frog and Toad never do anything cruel or spiteful or rude as you see so many other characters in children's books. They are always polite and helpful to each other, and whatever they do is done out of friendship. Not just this, but all of the Frog and Toad books are full of good stories and good examples for young readers.

Great for adults too! Heartwarming...wonderful...read it!
I read this book as a child and loved it. Now I am going to be an English teacher soon...and I am constantly on the lookout for great books! A couple years ago I came across this book while looking through some old things. I read it again was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It made me smile, laugh, and cry.

I am very close to my older sister (who is taller and thinner and I am shorter and fatter). I gave her the book as a gift, and she loved it as well. Now she's working overseas and I don't see her very often, but when I read this book I think of her...

This is a very special book...read it and see for yourself. It will touch your heart. In a world where people are taught to be selfish, Frog and Toad All Year shows us that we need to put others first. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have and still do! ^_^

charming tales of friendship for early readers
Young children who are beginning to read longer stories will enjoy these five tales of friends Frog and Toad through the seasons. The stories are: Down the Hill, wherein Frog coaxes Toad out of his warm home for some winter fun; The Corner, in which Frog tells Toad a story on a rainy day; Ice Cream, about a long walk with large ice cream cones; The Surprise, concerning the friends' giving each other a secret good turn a la O. Henry; and Christmas Eve, in which Toad worries about Frog's arrival on a snowy night.

Sweet, soothing stories for your little reader. ... Read more

Book Description

Years before, they had escaped together from the sinister Tombs of Atuan -- she, an isolated young priestess, he, a powerful wizard. Now she is a farmer's widow, having chosen for herself the simple pleasures of an ordinary life. And he is a broken old man, mourning the powers lost to him not by choice.

A lifetime ago, they helped each other at a time of darkness and danger. Now they must join forces again, to help another -- the physically and emotionally scarred child whose own destiny remains to be revealed.

With millions of copies sold, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle has earned a treasured place on the shelves of fantasy lovers everywhere. Complex, innovative, and deeply moral, this quintessential fantasy sequence has been compared with the work of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and has helped make Le Guin one of the most distinguished fantasy and science fiction writers of all time. She lives in Portland, Oregon. ... Read more

Reviews (111)

Women's Magic
For two decades, Ursula Le Guin's landmark EARTHSEA cycle was considered a trilogy. The surprise publication of a fourth novel in 1990, TEHANU, generated expansive critical acclaim and represents Le Guin's courageous and brilliant feminist deconstruction of her own fantasy masterwork.

Tenar of the Ring, priestess-heroine of THE TOMBS OF ATUAN, has become a middle-aged farmer's widow, who abandoned both wordly fame and the promise of esoteric power for 'a man, children, life'. Those children grown, she adopts an abused girl, Therru, and later the responsibility of caring for the archmage Ged. Ged, having defeated a great evil which threatened all Earthsea, has returned from the lands of death, as related in THE FARTHEST SHORE, but has lost his magecraft and potentially his will to live. The course of the story reveals a shining destiny for burned Therru and the tender budding of a relationship between Tenar and Ged.

While direct statements in TEHANU of the feminist agenda are a little heavyhanded, the gentle unfolding of the world of feminine experience through Tenar's activities is moving and perceptive: the ceaseless 'women's work', the harmony of feminine companionship, the joys and fears of motherhood and the bitter acknowledgement that women must always be conscious of 'doors locked' against the violence of men.

The consummation of Tenar and Ged's relationship was for me the climax of the novel, and as powerful a landmark in Ged's journey towards self-knowledge as naming his own shadow in THE WIZARD OF EARTHSEA. The wizardly denial of sexuality, and of the worth of women, must end for Ged with the loss of his power, and he makes a halting progress to Tenar's side and to reclaiming the selfhood and masculine identity he believed poured away with his power. The 'Song of Ea' proclaims: 'In silence, the word...in death, life'. Le Guin adds now that only through acceptance of woman can man be found - and vice versa.

Le Guin has always been a writer who challenges, who believes implicitly that one of fantasy's most vital functions is precisely that - to challenge. 'Tehanu' is the name of a star which Tenar, claiming the power of Naming hoarded by men throughout the earlier Earthsea novels, discovers to be also Therru's True Name. TEHANU is a bright beacon for modern fantastists prompting them to re-examine their motives for reading and writing fantasy - do we search out fantasy to liberate ourselves, to reveal truths about our real world, or is it a reactive, conservative, destructive urge all too often valorising patriarchal ethics system which exclude women and women's magic?

TEHANU's conclusion is a little abrupt and unsatisfying, raising more questions than it answers: why do men fear women, why must power for one must be gained through disempowering others, would breaking the hegemony of mages be good for Earthsea, can two natures can exist in one body? Thankfully, THE OTHER WIND, the latest Earthsea novel, continues the mighty task Le Guin has set herself and begins answering some of those questions.

The best book in the series
This is the fourth and final volume in the Earthsea quartet (following A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore).

In this book, Ursula K. LeGuin goes back to Tenar, now a middle-aged farm woman, to tell us the story of her life after the events of The Tombs of Atuan. Only recently a widow, she decides to take the child Therru under her wing, a little girl who has been cruelly raped and terrifyingly burnt and maimed by her parents who, fearing her, wanted to get rid of her.

The story goes on to describe their life on the farm on the island of Gont, Therru growing up, and their perpetual flight from the child's family who want to "finish the job".

Tehanu was written some fifteen years after the original Earthsea trilogy, and the evolution in Ursula K. LeGuin's style, as well as the maturation of the whole Earthsea world are quite noticeable.

This is a stunning conclusion to the series, that got me hooked right from the beginning. And what a pleasure to meet again with all the main characters of Earthsea!

A disappointing entry that lacks direction
Award-winning writer Ursula K. Le Guin finished the Earthsea 'trilogy' in 1972 with the tremendous novel "The Farthest Shore," simply one of the best fantasies ever penned. (The other two books are "A Wizard of Earthsea" and "The Tombs of Atuan.") Eighteen years later, in 1990, Le Guin decided to extend the trilogy to another book, "Tehanu," and has since written two additional books, "Tales from Earthsea" and "The Other Wind." In "Tehanu," she sought to balance out the story of Earthsea by re-visiting Tenar, the girl from "The Tombs of Atuan" and viewing the world through her eyes as an adult coming to terms with the way her life has gone and her relationship to Ged, the hero of the previous three books.

Sadly, "Tehanu" is a major disappointment and the poorest of the Earthsea books. The idea sounds interesting: exploring Earthsea from the point of view of a non-sorcerer woman. But Le Guin fails to create an even remotely interesting story around Tenar -- actually, there is hardly any story at all. Tenar stays on the farm, makes a few trips, and takes care of herself and Therru, the strange girl she adopted after Therru was abused and badly burnt. Ged returns abruptly, his magic gone, and the king's men are searching for him. It appears possible that a narrative line will develop from this, but none does. The book plods through unconnected scenes and talky dialogue until it abruptly ends.

I'm at a loss to explain Le Guin's narrative failure here. Perhaps, in feeling that she was achieving a great character study, she felt the book would carry itself without a spine of a story, but it doesn't. The problem doesn't lay in what the author says or how she says it -- I'm fine with the female slant to the book -- but how she chooses to frame it. The reader must have a reason to continually turn the page, must want to know how the characters will struggle to overcome their problems and why they must be overcome. Without such a structure, the reader will have a difficult time investing him or herself in what happens, and that is exactly the case here. For an example of Le Guin doing this correctly, read her brilliant novel "The Left Hand of Darkness." She set out to explore an issue of sexuality, and achieved it through the device of adventure and political turmoil. "Tehanu" lacks any cohesive device like that; the book merely 'continues' until it is done.

Le Guin's writing style and sense of her characters do keep "Tehanu" from being completely unreadable, but it is slow going. People who have read the first three books should definitely read this because of what it reveals about Tenar and Ged, but they shouldn't go into it expecting the epic grandeur and sweeping power of the first three novels. "Tehanu" remains frustratingly earthbound and static.

A disappointing entry to a classic series
With 'Tehanu,' Ursula Le Guin makes the puzzling decision to extend the classic Earthsea trilogy into a quadrology (now since extended even further), crafting a book that is quite enjoyable, but wholly apart from the careful fabric of the original stories.

'Tehanu' is not a bad book - not by any means - but when placed alongside the originals, it simply does not feel right. Whereas the original novels were built upon layers of magic and wonder and a vast, epic feel, this novel is smaller, more human, telling a more internal story. It is the story of our beloved Tenar, from 'Tombs,' and of her struggles with motherhood, age, and with being a woman.

As always, the prose is outstanding, flowing like poetry throughout. Tenar herself is far more flesh and blood than she was in her first appearance, and Ged (who plays a support role only) is altogether another person, torn by his battles in the realm of the dead. Still, the magic is missing, the sweep and scope is missing, ultimately sapping the life from what could have been an extraordinary book.

Had this not been Earthsea part 4, I would have rated it higher. Being among such lofty companions, however, expectations are high. It simply ends up being a very good book, and little more.

Disappointing
After finishing The Farthest Shore and absolutely loving it, I was greatly excited to read Tehanu...and then disappointed. It is thoroughly disjointed from the overall "feel" of the first three books, no doubt due in part to the length of time between the years they were written.

I found the writing typical (and lacking the passion that I found in the first three novels), the plot tedious, and the underlying themes completely in-your-face obvious. I read entirely through to the end within a few hours, waiting for something to happen...and nothing did, until the end, when the plot diverged into two different ones, and then abruptly stopped. Honestly, there was a lot of unnecessary plot that could have been left out.

It is helpful, however, to remember that there was another sequel written taking place shortly after Tehanu, which ties up a lot of loose ends. But as much as I love the Earthsea books, this was almost a pain to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Pippi always does things her own way. When she cleans her kitchen, she ties scrub brushes to her feet. When she has a picnic, she serves pancakes. One thing is for sure-there's never a dull moment when Pippi is around!

"Pippi Longstocking . . . has inspired generations of children with her spunk and power."
-Kirkus Reviews ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (289)

The Call of the Wild is a wonderful novel despite some of th
I found that The Call of the Wild by Jack London is a very odd but unique classic liked and disliked by many. Personally I found the beginning drab and it did not seize my interests. Around the time when Francois and Perrault bought Buck is when the action started to rise and grasp my attention. The overall plot of this story was found unlikeable but I really liked the theme that was expressed. "And not only did he learn by experience, but instincts long dead became alive again." (London p.14) In this passage London symbolizes the digression from civility and the progression into the primitive by displaying how Buck's ancestorial behavior was awakened when he adapted to a new environment. There were many passages I enjoyed because they were filled with description. This quote is a wonderful example of descriptive writing: "Something wriggled under his feet. He sprang back, bristling and snarling, fearful of the unseen and unknkown...a whiff of warm air ascended to his nostrils..." (London p.11) I found the dogs' personalities were believable however, London lacked realism in the people- especially Mercedes, Hal, and Charles. I have come to the conclusion that The Call of the Wild is a wonderful novel despite some of the weak points. I would recommend this to anyone.

Call of the Wild - an Exciting Book
The exciting book, "Call of the Wild" by Jack London, is a call worth answering. This book is about a loveable dog named Buck who has to learn suddenly to defend himself in the wild. The different characters will undeniably delight you for hours. Buck has an interesting life and you will surely want to find out about it.

From the beginning, the narrator starts the story with Buck's happy life in California. Unfortunately, Buck the Husky is stolen and taken to Alaska, where he is sold! As a result of his change, he has to gain the respect from other dogs and becomes happy again. Buck is sold to many masters and has as unusual a life as a dog has ever had. Lives that you will have to read about in this fascinating book.

Truly, Mr. London has captured the essence of the hard and unusual life of the wild. The characters are all different; therefore; this book is for everyone. For instance, Buck the dog is loyal and tough, but one of his masters is ignorant and weak. There are many places in this book, so everyone will learn something. The main places are California and Alaska, which are as different as night and day. All in all, this book will take you on a wonderful adventure.

To sum it all up, "The Call of the Wild" is one of the best known and loved books. In this book, we see the incredible challenges that Buck faces. This book tops some of Mr. London's other great books such as: "White Fang" and "The Star Rover". More importantly, this book will teach everyone that with perseverance and a little courage, you can do anything.

Call of wild
This is really one of the finest books on the market. The Call of the Wild is about Buck, a German Sheperd, who is dagnapped from his home when word comes of a Goldrush up in the Canadian wilderness. From then on, Buck experiences adventure, companionship, and tragic, tragic losses. This all, however, is character-building to Buck, and he becomes one of the best sled-dogs ever, except for the fact that this is fiction.

That is the overall premise of this book. In case you didn't know, this book was written in the early 1900's by the world-reknowned author, Jack London. Jack London wrote many other books based around canine-human interaction, but none were as masterfully done as this one. The whole adventure that Buck has in this book is both tragic and woderful at the same time.

One of the things that makes this book so wonderful is the way that it is written. The description, the emotion, all of the writing is done is such a great fahion to the point that that this book is amazing on a grand scale. In short, the writing is really good.

Another great thing about this book is that it deals mostly with what is going on in Buck's head, and dialogue is kept to a minimum. This book is just so great in ss many ways, that I am entitled to give it a five out of five stars.

Call of the Wild
The title of this book, "Call of the Wild," by Jack London, shows how Buck straddles between two worlds, one as a domestic dog with the ability to be loved and trained, and the other as a primordial beast constantly having the instinct to return to his primitive ways. His journey takes him from being a pampered household pet to running with the wolf pack and surviving in a savage environment. Along the way he learns to fear some humans, to survive among savage dogs, and to love a master.

No words to describe
In this spell binding, compelling, truly amazing book, London grabs you and never lets you go. It follows the story of Buck, and dog who is yanked out of his lazy life by a cruel gardener and forced to travel to the Yukon to aid men (and women) in search of gold. He experiences intolerable cruelty; he gets beaten and whipped almost to death, he is almost starved by a set of owners, and he learns the basic rule of thumb; kill or be killed. He often fights with the other lead dog until he finally knocks him off. It isn't until he is taken care of and showed what real love means by John Thornton that he finally warms up to humans again. But his love is cut short when a group of Yee-hats kill his entire team; Thornton, the other dogs of the team, and Thornton's friends. He then becomes full of rage; he spies the Yee-hats some distance away and knocks off almost the entire pack. He wanders around, not quite conscious of what has happened until a wolf pack come along...then he finally recieves "the call"; hence "The Call of the Wild"
This is one of the best books I have ever read, but also the saddest I've ever read. It had a huge impact on me; I wasn't quite sure of it until I almost burst into tears when talking about it. It hits you on a highly personal level...so if you are the type of person who gets affected by things easily, I would make sure you can handle it before you read it. But I guess that's what makes a great author; one that can touch you so deeply that you remember it for the rest of your life. ... Read more

Book Description

Alfred Brooks is scared. He's a highschool dropout and his grocery store job is leading nowhere. His best friend is sinking further and further into drug addiction. Some street kids are after him for something he didn't even do. So Alfred begins going to Donatelli's Gym, a boxing club in Harlem that has trained champions. There he learns it's the effort, not the win, that makes the man -- that last desperate struggle to get back on your feet when you thought you were down for the count.

Reviews (258)

The Contender
First thing I want to say: Excellent book! I think Lipsyte did a wondrous job portraying a young, scared boy growing into a determined, mature man.
Alfred Brooks is scared. He is a high school dropout with a job at a grocery store that is going nowhere, and fast. His best friend is sinking more and more into drugs. The neighborhood thugs want him, to either beat him up or to join them. After one of these beatings, Alfred decides to start going to Donatelli's Gym, a boxing club in Harlem that is notorious for champions. While training, he learns from Donatelli that it's the effort, not the win, that makes the man. It's if you can be hit and hurt, but still struggle to stand on your feet when everyone thought you were done. I loved the book. I think it would make an excellent movie and should be done so soon.
While reading this book I was inspired to start working out and feel better about myself. After reading this book I understood the importance of determination, discipline, and dedication when trying for your goals. I learned that if you have what it takes to become a contender, then you can do anything you want to.

The Contender
This book is about Alfred Brooks. He is a high school dropout and doesn't know what to do with his life. His mom died and he is living with his Aunt Pearl. He works at Epstein's Grocery Store which is owned by 3 Epstein brothers. Alfred hangs out with people that want to break into the store. Alfred doesn't tell them that there is a silent alarm in the store. His best friend James gets caught and the others don't trust him anymore. He goes to Donatelli's gym to workout and he goes there every chance he can. He finds out that Lou Epstein used to be a great boxer. Alfred learns how to box and gets a chance to fight. Will Alfred win the fight? Will he continue boxing? What will happen next? Find out by reading The Contender.
I liked this book because the good descriptions made it easy to imagine the people. You could also tell how Alfred felt at every point in the book. For example before he was going to fight in a match his stomach felt like an "ice ball". The sounds you could imagine too. "When Alfred was hitting the peanut bag it sounded like a machine gun". The one thing I didn't like about it is the way the city was described. There wasn't enough detail to imagine it. All I knew was that it took place in Harlem. I don't think that the author should just assume that people know what Harlem looks like. I read other books that took place in Harlem and the author described it much better.

Alfred and His Problems
I read the book THE CONTENDER by Robert Lipsyte. I really enjoyed the book because it's not really long nor hard to understand. The book is really action packed and keeps you wanting to read it more and more. The main character is Alfred. Alfred's conflict is that his best friend James want's him to go to the store he works at and help him break in so they can steal. The place Alfred works is at the supermarket that James wants to rob. Alfred gets jumped on the way home from the supermarket one night by one of James' friends who wanted help to rob the store.After Alfred gets jumped he decides that he wants to take boxing lessons. Alfred goes to the gym to see what it was like and tries to walk out but Mr.Donatellie stops him. Alfred decides to give boxing lessons a try and doesn't realize how much work it would really be. If you want to know more I recommend that you read the book THE CONTENDER.

THE CONTENDER
The Contender
The contender is a great book explaining some of the problems people have in the ghetto with great detail. I especially like the way in which the author works around the problem which Alfred (main character) getting beat up, bullied and having racists always on his back. Alfred tells his friend about his job and how sometimes that the store he works at is empty on Sundays. His friends decide to break in and steal money from the store but Alfred doesn't go and forgets to tell them about the new alarm in which goes off and cops come and arrest his friends. Alfred hides, but all of his friends who didn't get caught want to kill him, so he must learn how to fight. He actually becomes a Boxer. I think this book greatly describes the thinking of teenagers today and gives meaning of what teenagers face everyday. Also on pages 8 and 9 in chapter one it describes a place where he can be himself and can hide and get away from the world, which is a secret place. Overall I think Contender is a must read!

a knockout of a book
the contender was an exellent book that I would recomend for others. you read along a young man's path from a school dropout to an in shape boxer.through boxing, alfred brooks, is able to find himself. I thought this book was good because it deals with real life problems such as drugs, education, and violence. this is a very good book for a teenaged boy. it teaches good ethics like never give up, never lose faith, and always keep punching. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

So Good!!!!
Remember Patience Whipple is a 12 year-old girl who is sailing on the Mayflower with her family, headed for the New World. Even a young girl has her trials to deal with; one of the least is staying out of the way of snooty Mary Chilton, and coping with a younger sister. But as I said, those are the least of her troubles.
And they only escalate once they reach land. Winter is approaching, and they only have a crude cabin to serve as a house. Terrible sickness has set in, and Remember is afraid that one of her family (or even her!) will become ill also.
But Remember survives her first season at Plymouth Harbor, and learns a lot along the way.

This has got to be one of my favorite books. Everything was so realistic, for a long time I actually thought that it was a real diary, until I read the little thing at the end of the book-'Remember Patience Whipple is a fictional character and her diary is fictional.' What a disappointment! But as long as you're aware of this when you start reading, you shouldn't have any problem with it like I did.
This book is a must for any Dear America fans. READ IT!

Remember Remember Patience Whipple!
A Journey to a New World makes you feel as though you are on a difficult journey across the Atlantic Ocean yourself! In the diary of Remember Patience Whipple, you will find sadness, excitment, and joy as they take a long trip across the sea. In this story, Remember experiences sickness in her family, a new baby brother, and a few horrible deaths when she lands in America. She encounters Indians and is surprised on their little clothing! She befriends them and likes them so much! This book is really good, but I only rated it a four because there are already so many books about pilgrams and the journey on the Mayflower out there already, so it wasn't all that original. But as it was the very first book in the Dear America Series, I think it was a good start for this now blooming series.

Wowie Kazowie!
This book is really great. Read it!

Great for those with an imagination!!!!!!
Kathryn Lasky has a great way of expressing the treacherous journey on the Mayflower to the destined settlement of Plymouth. In A Journey to the New World, a diary of Remember Patience Whipple, it describes that an escape from religious persecution would not be easy. It was quite the contrary, the Mayflower, which was a cargo ship used to carry barrels of wine and cloth transported all the Puritans wishing to come to the New World. In the years before 1620, puritans and others wishing for freedom from political persecution, faced the strong power of King James I. If someone disobeyed him, they would face persecution in many ways. Once these pilgrims reached Plymouth, they lived some what happy lives away from persecution and prejudice. The Whipple family felt that the church is in your heart and not in a building. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages who have imagination and an understanding of life and its sacrifices. This book showed me that what we have in life should not be taken for granted but it should be well treasured and respected.

A Journey to the New World
If you enjoy reading Dear America books then this book is for you. It shows you how it was like for children to make the long journey to America in 1620. Not only did her family need to make it to America alive, but winter was approaching. With barely enough time to build a home, the threat of an Indian attack arose. With many struggles will the pilgrims of the Plymouth colony make it? Read A Journey to the New World to find out. ... Read more

Book Description

Published in 1906 by MacMillan. This sequel to the Call of the Wild is in good condition and in the original cloth binding. There is light fading and wear to the cover, and the interior hinges are weak. This is the second issue with the title page on stub. ... Read more

Reviews (91)

"Whole Story" Makes a Good Book Better
White Fang is a cross between a wolf & a dog, and the story begins near the beginning of his life, when he is still living in a cave and has yet to experience the out of doors. His father, the wolf, dies when WF is still cave-bound.
Much description is written about WF's feelings for his mother (intense devotion) and the world around him as he begins to explore it. Along the way, by trial and error, he becomes a wily hunter & survivor.

He and his mother Kiche are eventually taken in by a group of
Indians and Gray Beaver becomes his master/god. He trains
WF to be one of his sled dogs and a hunter. The way he trains
him is with ferocious beatings any time WF disobeys or slacks off
or does anything wrong. WF sees him as a god. Not one that he
loves, but one he must obey to avoid beatings and to receive
food.

Gray Beaver eventually sells him to another god, Beauty Smith,
who is truly evil. Beauty is training WF to be a fighter dog,
and his beatings are even more ferocious. WF is pitted against
other dogs on a daily basis, while his master takes bets. WF
never looses. Then one day, WF is pitted against a bull dog.
The fight is like none he had ever experienced before, and it
is one that almost cost him his life.

It is through the fight with the bull dog that WF comes to know
his newest and last master/god, Weedon Scott. And it is
through Weedon that WF learns how to love his god. And in the
end, love is rewarded on both sides.

It is a book that would be most appealing to the intermediate
reader and young adult, especially adventuring types, and animal
lovers. The edition I read was from the Whole Story Series
and their additions to each of the books they publish are very
noteworthy. Besides the complete text of the original book
they also include many photos, illustrations, and enlightening
notes about the history, culture, etc. of the place & era. Even if a person is not crazy about the story (& WF in not my "type" of story,) the information in the margin alone is worth the reading.

Unmatched
This is one of my favorite books. The only other book that might be better is The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, but Jack London has definitely outdone himself this time. It is the story about an animal who is three quarters wolf and a one quarter dog who goes from life as an indian sled dog to a fighting dog owned by a cruel man, to a loving owner who trys to show this maddened savage creature the meaning of love and kindness. What is really unique about White Fang is that it tells of what might be going on in such a creature's head. It tells of what it is like living in a den out in the wild, tells of how White Fang first comprehends the wild and what he learns aboout the law of life. It explains what his first impression of humans, and of the harsh enviorment of all the other puppies and dogs in the camp. It is beautifully written and I would suggest it to anyone who likes long, thought provoking stories about dogs and wolves and the northlands.

White Fang
This was a really good book. The beginning was pretty unexpected. Mainly because the whole book just changed views. It was very detailed and you could really get into it. I loved the part about when he was just born and how curious he was. I also felt bad for him towards the middle but I won't say for the sake of those who haven't read it yet. I will definatly be reading more of Jack London's books though.

To Love or not to Love "Tawney-H.R Etiwanda"White Fang
Since he was a pup white fang knew he was a killer. Because he lived in the wild, where the law was kill or be killed, White Fang had to be a killer. White Fang is torn between his instincts and the laws of "the gods." Readers have to ask themselves, "with so many masters, will White Fang ever understand love and true human companionship?"

I thought that this book rocked! And I would totally want people to read it. White Fang is kind of like the book "Balto." Balto went to save a dog that he did not like to help bring medicine back to a town that did not like him. It is basically about trying to find your place in life and who you are. That is why I loved the book.

White Fang Review
Just like a lot of other Jack London books this book is about wolves and dogs. The beginning the book is pretty exciting but after that it kind of gets boring for awhile after White Fang gets captured by humans.
This is a good book for people who like reading about animals and adventure stories. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace Murry, whom readers first met in A Wrinkle in Time, has a little task he must accomplish. In 24 hours, a mad dictator will destroy the universe by declaring nuclear war--unless Charles Wallace can go back in time to change one of the many Might-Have-Beens in history. In an intricately layered and suspenseful journey through time, this extraordinary young man psychically enters four different people from other eras. As he perceives through their eyes "what might have been," he begins to comprehend the cosmic significance and consequences of every living creature's actions. As he witnesses first-hand the transformation of civilization from peaceful to warring times, his very existence is threatened, but the alternative is far worse.

The Murry family, also appearing in A Wind in the Door and Many Waters, acts as a carrier of Madeleine L'Engle's unique message about human responsibility for the world. Themes of good versus evil, time and space travel, and the invincibility of the human spirit predominate. Even while she entertains, L'Engle kindles the intellect, inspiring young people to ask questions of the world, and learn by challenging. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (97)

This is probably my favorite of all the Time Trilogy books!
After reading A Wrinkle In Time and A Wind In the Door, (both of which are also fantastic) I had to read this one. I was blown away reading this! This IS a complicated book-many times while I was reading I turned back to some of the other parts to understand a bit better. But that was the delightful and interesting part about it! I loved the whole "mad dog" name thing and the way each of the people Charles visited were connected, and yet very different.

I disagree with people who talk about how it's bad that Meg is only a pregnant housewife and Calvin is a famous scientist. It says in the later books about Poly (Meg's oldest daughter) that Meg works with mathematics, numbers and all that.

I reccomend this to L'Engle or fantasy fans, especially those who've read the first Time Trilogy books. But if you can't handle complicated plots, numerous characters and different settings, wait a few more years to read this so that you can fully appreciate this book!

A Suspenseful Fantasy of Time Travel
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle combines the threats of nuclear war in today's society with the more complicated science of time travel. Mad Dog Branzillo, a South American Dictator, frightens the whole world with possibilities of dropping a nuclear bomb on America. It is up to Charles Wallace, a 15-year-old genius, his sister, Meg, and a mysterious rune to save the world from destruction. Charles' mission is to travel back in time with a unicorn named Gaudior to alter the past. In order to do this incredibly difficult and dangerous task, he must venture inside of people's souls to live with them and change the course of their lives so that Mad Dog Branzillo will not be born as a nemesis. Guided by this almighty rune, calling on all heaven with its power, and kything, or sending messages through the mind, with Meg, he fights to triumph over evil and to seek peace.

This book delighted me because of the great mystery of the time travel. I would recommend this book to anyone else who enjoys time travel and good fiction. I would not suggest this book to a person who does not enjoy fantasy or other books of the sort. A Swiftly Tilting Planet is fun to read and I would suggest that everybody read it and the others in the series.

My absolute favorite
Out of the Time Quarter, this is my favorite, although I still haven't read Many Waters, yet.

In A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Charles Wallace must go through time and "inhabit" the bodies of various men, might-have-beens, to somehow alter the course of the present and prevent nuclear war.

I loved the concept on how everything is connected and how each of the people Charles Wallace inhabitted through each time period were all interrelated. The story ties each person in to the next, crossing thousands of years and showing how one decision from each person can change the future of the world.

It was fascinating to go back in time and experience what it was like during the Salem witch trials, the civil war, the early 20th century. It was like I was going through someone's attic and finding all this history or like I was going on an archeological dig, finding out about the past centuries.

I felt like I was actually with Charles Wallace, as if I was actually Meg, Charles's sister, watching him travel through time to save the planet. After reading A Wrinkle in Time, and then this one, I must say that there is a marked improvement in Madeline L'Engle's writing and this book captures you and takes you away to the world of the Murray's to the point that you lose all track of time in the real world.

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