Reviews (69)

Beautiful.
I've just finished reading this a second time, so that should be some evidence of how good this book is. Although, I think "Ring of Endless Light" was better, though not too much, and that's also saying something because I think AROEL is one of the best books I've ever read. Okay, okay, I'm biased because I'm a huge L'Engle fan.

But this is really a good book. It is a bit long, compared to other L'engle books and other YA books, but it's worth the length. I loved reading more about Vicky, and I really hope there'll be more books written about her. The other smaller characters are equally good, and I loved the new characters that were introduced almost as much as I loved seeing my old favorites again. Aunt Serena is awesome, and she seems to be exactly the kind of person who would be related to Adam. Ah yes, Adam. That's one wish I have; that we could've seen more of Adam. Maybe next book.

I loved the wonderful descriptions of Antarica, and even though I had no remote interest about the southern-most continent before, this book has sparked something.

One more thing I love about this book (or rather, all of L'Engle's work) is the way all her books are inter-connected in ways, sometimes such little things, but I noticed them at the second reading. For instance, the mention of "El Zarco" and the part Vespugia plays. (both from Swiftly Tilting Planet, which is, BTW, a great book) And, (this is a really minor thing) but I loved the mention that Esteban was descended from Welsh immigrants (remember all the welsh people in STP?) and that the Vespugian dictator is named Guedder. (remember gudder from STP?)

That wasn't even everything. But it just shows that this book is deep, much deeper than it first appears.

A nice sequel...
This summer I decided to read L'Engle's Time series so that Icould get my students enthused about reading them (I couldn't get intoWrinkle or Wind when I was in school) Then I decided to read the Austin series again. I'd read Meet the AUstins in junior high and Moon by Night and Ring of ENdless Light in high school or college. I'd never got around to reading Unicorns and hadn't heard of Troubling a Star. I read the first three in about two days. Then I started Endless Light (my favorite)around 9 o'clock one night and stayed up 'til 1 to finish it. The next day I started on Troubling a Star - and read for almost four hours straight until I had finished it. I enjoyed it almost as much as Endless Light, but as others commented, Vicky didn't seem to be as grown-up in Troubling a Star. But I loved the descriptions of Antartica - I've never thought much about that continent and the little bit about Adam that was included. I just kept wishing that Vicky would've called out to him, like she did in Endless Light, while she was stranded on the iceberg or that there had been some mention of the whole dolphin thing and Vicky and Adam's connection - that was my favorite line in Endless Light "I called you....and I came.

One of my Favorites
This book is one of my favorite L'Engle novels. I remember as a child loving L'Engle's books in the Time series. I am currently working on my PhD and realized several years ago that the most refreshing books to relax with (after reading hundreds of pages of expository text) were those classified as "young-adult" books. And L'Engle is one of my favorite "young-adult" authors!

This book is set in the school year immediately following the conclusion of "A Ring of Endless Light." And for those of you who loved that book as I did, you will be happy to know that in "Troubling a Star" you will get to see what happens to Vicky and Adam. Adam has the opportunity to go study in Antarctica and Vicky soon learns she has been given a gift of her very own study abroad trip. While the two don't travel together, their experiences and the dangers they both face tie their two trips together in a wonderful way. Buy this book to find out more...

GREAT BOOK!!!
This was a GREAT book!!It was everything I exspected and MORE! This is a book that you can not put down!! I read it in less then one day! It is like your fingers are glued to the pages! If you like penguins you will enjoy this book and if you do not like penguins you will enjoy this book. I think this is a book for the whole family to read!!

James@ RICHVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL
This book is a very good book for some people but not for me. Nobody liked Vicky because they were smuggling drugs and dumping toxic waste. They didn't want anyone to know about what they were doing. So I suggest that you read it's a good book. ... Read more

Book Description

This resource is directly related to its literature equivalent and filled with a variety of cross-curricular lessons to do before, during, and after reading the book. This reproducible book includes sample plans, author information, vocabulary building ideas, cross-curriculum activities, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests, and ideas for culminating and extending the novel. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Handy and Helpful
I am an elementary teacher, and find this book very useful when we read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a class. Many of the worksheets that this guide provides are introspective and help the reader focus on the internal motivations of the characters. My class also enjoys trying "Turkish Delight" from the recipe that this guide provides. It helps me answer the professor's question about logic, "What are they teaching in schools?" (paraphrased).

Back to the enchanting land...
Lucy, Susan, Edmond, and Peter while exploring there uncle's house discover a wardrobe that takes them to the magical enchanted land of Narnia. Lucy becomes the first one to go into Narnia from the four and later they all follow her. In this book you'll see how Edmond helped the terrible witch catch his brother and sisters, and the strange creatures they all met like Aslan, the centaurs, and the talking trees. You'll love this book like me and all my friends did! I recommend this book to anyway who love fiction stories of enchanted worlds. If you liked "the phantom tollbooth" all "Narnia" books "A wrinkle in time" and other stories similar to these, this is one book you'll always treasure!-------------Ahmed age 12

Wonderful fantasy book!
A must read. It's not boring at all. You will simply enjoy this book

fantastic book
I'm a 4th grade teacher and have been teaching this book for more than a decade. All of my students loved this book and go on to read the sequels. ... Read more

Book Description

Sonny's been an outsider all his life.

He has never fit into either world: the Moscondagas on the Reservation see him as white; whites see him as Indian. So far, Sonny's managed to harness his anger -- what he calls "the monster" -- in the boxing ring. But Sonny wants out of the Res. He's headed for New York City, where nobody can tell him what to do.

Sonny doesn't count on stepping into the middle of a drug war when he gets there -- or on tangling with a tough Harlem boxer-turned-cop named Alfred Brooks. Brooks seems to think that Sonny's got the talent to make it to the top -- to be a contender. But first Sonny's got to learn to be smart, take control of his life, and beat the monster. Only it isn't as easy as it sounds....

Reviews (10)

Native American Boy Learns about Life in New York
The Brave is a story about native American boy who wants to be a boxer. He also wants to find his mother. He goes to New York to do both, but gets distracted by two hustlers. I think it was a good story, but it left a lot of things unanswered. It had too many loose ends and never said what happened to a lot of characters. A good book ties everything up. I think a lot of people would like this story. It is a good book if you like to read about boxing, native Americans, or anything else.

The Book You Will Remeber for a lifetime November 09,2001
This book is awesome! I am the kind of person who hates to read. I usually stop reading books whenever I can, but I couldn't put this book down. I am almost tempted to go check out the book and read it again just for the heck of it. The title is not very catchy THE BRAVE. I mean come on who wants to read a book with that kind of a title, but dont let that discourage you. This book is about a boxer named Sonny Bear who lives on a reservation near Sparta.

Sonny somehow winds up in the middle of a big crack war in New York City. Then Sonny meets Brooks and Spoon which are his key to the heavyweight title. So if you want to see if Sonny becomes the heavyweight champ you will have to go read the book for yourself.

the best book
This book is superb this is better than any other book I have ever read. It is about a kid named sonny that loves to box he want to find his mother in the big city, once he is there he finds two hustlers that take his wallet then a undercover cop try's to get one but sonny nails him with a hook. So the hustlers get him a place to live then Sonny somehow winds up in the middle of a big crack war in New York City that is driving him crazy and all he wants to do is try to see his mother.

IF U DONT READ IT YOU WOULD REGET IT.

The Brave = Good Book!
The book that I chose to read was titled The Brave by Robert Lipsyte. This book

was really good and I enjoyed it. To be honest it was the best book I read in a

while. People that are into action, drama, a little comedy, etc, should really check it out.

You will get caught up in it and you will not wan't to stop reading. The Brave is very

good on giving descriptions and telling how it relates to reality. Especially when

racism is involved. The story revolves around Sunny, a half American, half Indian

struggling to stay alive in the world. This story shows just how Sunny stays alive and

how he searches for his mother on the way. The one good thing about Sunny is his

boxing skills. He doesn't like the enviroment that he is in while he was boxing, so he

moved away from the racist people to New York gainning more trouble there than he did

back home. This book has everything that someone could want in a story including

action,fighting, drama, etc. This is a very good written story and has very good details

within the story. Robert Lipsyte is a very talented author who has quite a bit of respect

from me now that I have read his work. Even though this is a great book there still are

some weaknesses within the plot. Sometimes the author changes the position of the story

so fast that it is hard to tell. An example is when Sunny and his friend Doll are in the pizza

place and then it says he is in the store that was across the street earlier on, and it made

me get somewhat confused and have to go back and re-read what had happend. The Brave

is a book that I can't stop talking about and I hope that every book fan goes and checks

this out.

Review of The Brave !
This book The Brave is awesome coming from having a boxing background myself,it's one of a kind .
I usually read this book in class whenever I get a chance, but I really couldn't put this book down after class, i sign a book out of the library for my dorm room to read went there nothing to do an i'm not tried.
I would like to read the brave again this book is great and reading it again for the heck of it would be a trill.
By looking at the title THE BRAVE i was skecptical i didn't know what to expect at first an amost look over it but i am glad i didn't i missed out on alot of good books in my day but this one found it's way to me.
I mean really who would wants to read a book with the brave as a title, hey don't let me discourage you Robert but i know he was a indian but if it was for the cover a would of though this was a war book.
This book is about a 17 year old boxer named Sonny Bear who live in a indian reservation near Sparta but go to New York to prosue a boxing career but also wants to find his mother trying to make his way of life better thought boxing, but as in life he take some wrong turns and some right one but you will have to read it to find out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nominated for a 1998 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War is Anita Lobel's gripping memoir of surviving the Holocaust. A Caldecott-winning illustrator of such delightful picture books as OnMarket Street, it is difficult to believe Lobel endured the horrific childhood she did. From age 5 to age 10, Lobel spent what are supposed to be carefree years hiding from the Nazis, protecting her younger brother, being captured and marched from camp to camp, and surviving completely dehumanizing conditions. A terrifying story by any measure, Lobel's memoir is all the more haunting as told from the first-person, child's-eye view. Her girlhood voice tells it like it is, without irony or even complete understanding, but with matter-of-fact honesty and astonishing attention to detail. She carves vivid, enduring images into readers' minds. On hiding in the attic of the ghetto: "We were always told to be very quiet. The whispers of the trapped grown-ups sounded like the noise of insects rubbing their legs together." On being discovered while hiding in a convent: "They lined us up facing the wall. I looked at the dark red bricks in front of me and waited for the shots. When the shouting continued and the shots didn't come, I noticed my breath hanging in thin puffs in the air." On trying not to draw the attention of the Nazis: "I wanted to shrink away. To fold into a small invisible thing that had no detectable smell. No breath. No flesh. No sound."

It is a miracle that Lobel and her brother survived on their own in this world that any adult would find unbearable. Indeed, and appropriately, there are no pretty pictures here, and adults choosing to share this story with younger readers should make themselves readily available for explanations and comforting words. (The camps are full of excrement and death, all faithfully recorded in direct, unsparing language.) But this is a story that must be told, from the shocking beginning when a young girl watches the Nazis march into Krakow, to the final words of Lobel's epilogue: "My life has been good. I want more." (Ages 10 to 16)--Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A Child's View of the Holocaust
When Anita Lobel wrote this memoir, she did not try to write in a sopisticated "literary" style. She didn't try to "doctor" the events with years of hindsight and thinking. Instead, she wrote "No Pretty Pictures" with the clarity and simplicity and paradoxical depth of a child's mind. Anita's story begins in Krakow, Poland, where she is born into a middle class home and the future looks to be filled with ease, pleasure, and a good education. However, the Nazis change all that. With their invasion of the city and eventually, all of Poland, Anita and her brother must flee. At first they manange to escape to the Polish countryside with their nanny, and when that fails, they go to the ghetto with Anita's mother. But the inevitable finally happens, and Anita and her brother find themselves confronted with the ultimate evil...a concentration camp. "No Pretty Pictures" doesn't end there, and goes even further to chronicle the challenges and differences of the war's aftermath. This book is a valuable addition to a Holocaust collection-memoirs really are the best books written about a subject, and Anita's is wonderful. The thing that makes this one stand out from the others is the way experiences are captured with a child's sense of fear and safety, comfort and pain, and good and evil.

The author's memoir of growing up during World War 2.
This book was very sad, but it is a book that needs to be read. The author, Anita Lobel, was barely five when the Nazis invaded her home in Poland. As a young Jewish girl, she grew up persecuted. As the Nazis created more regulations, Anita and her little brother went into hiding, posing as the children of their Catholic nanny. Yet they were caught and sent to a concentration camp. All the odds were against them, yet the two children - just ten and eight years old - managed to survive three concentrations camps and a forced march. Anita grew up to illustrate children's books. One would never guess she had such a horrifying childhood - until reading this book.

No Pretty Pictures, A child At War By Cassandra
No Pretty Pictures, A Child At War

No Pretty Pictures is about a young girl who has to find her way back to her religion while she tries to understand the meaning of life. She starts out as a normal girl but with one difference. She was a Jew at a wrong time. Her name is Hannah. She has a little brother, a mom, dad, and a nanny. (The nanny is Christian.) Her dad left her and her family when she was five to go and fight in Russia; that is when things go wrong.
People know about the holocaust but few of us have lived through it. Well, this story is about a girl that does. When she was five years old she had to leave to go to a concentration camp. She leaves with her brother, and soon realizes that her life will never be the same. Her mom has papers that say she is a Christian so she doesn't have to go to the camp, but Hannah and her brother don't.
She goes through many hard times, and wonders if she will ever see her parents again. She was in the camps and away from her family for about six years, but she was away from her father the longest. Her father left and was not heard of until six years later when Hannah was in the hospital because she and her brother were diagnosed with tuberculosis. She was put in a hospital for more than three years but she was able to go to a real city. There, she learned the true meaning of life with a little surprise.
I really enjoyed this book. Many books have been written about World War II, but I feel like this one gives a better understanding about what really happened during the holocaust. I think that this book did have its strengths and it weaknesses. One strength is that it gave a good look at what happens to the kids that were in the holocaust, let alone everyone else. It made me feel like I was actually in the book, and it gave great detail about what happened to them and how they felt about the Nazis. One weakness was that it didn't give a clear description about how her family was reacting to the holocaust. Also, her dad left, but then he shows up in the end, but we don't really know what happened to him.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes learning about a new religion, and for someone who enjoys getting into a good book. I would not recommend this book to someone who was younger than nine because it is a harder book to read. I had many "favorite" parts in the book. Most of my favorite parts were the action parts. Many times they would talk about how the Nazis would treat Jews, and it made me feel like I was in the book, and I was one of the Jews who were being tortured.
This book made me think of a lot of questions. Some of them were, how would she react to the new change? How does her mom feel about her family being in the camps, and not her? Did Hannah ever lose hope? How would her brother feel about the experience? And to my surprise, all of them were answered.
I would definitely read this book again because it was so good, and I would still be surprised at some parts. I think this is the best book I have ever read about the holocaust. I hope that the author will try to make a book as good as this one once again.

A great read!
Summary:
In 1939, when Anita Lobel was five, German soldiers marched into Krakow. Anita's father, the owner of a chocolate factory and a Jew, runs away in the middle of the night. As a child, Anita Lobel spent years hiding from the Nazis and trying to protect her little brother. The two children have to work through assumed identities, a dangerous stay in the Krakow ghetto, hiding in a convent, and much more! They were captured and marched from camp to camp. Finally, in 1945, they were reunited with their parents and they had to learn to live all over again.

My thoughts:
This book touches your heart in a way few books do. Told from a child's point of view, using a very child-like voice, the story leaps out of the pages and into your mind. This book is written by an illustrator of beautiful picture books like Potatoes, Potatoes, and On Market Street. The title, No Pretty Pictures, seems to reflect her drawing career. In one example, when she first was allowed to enter school after the war, she was sent to an art class. There, she was given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and a set of new watercolors. She painted a wonderful blue chair, to the delight of her art teacher and the other students. She hasn't stopped painting since.

One moral that simply explodes out of this book is to never give up. No matter what life throws at you - starvation, imprisonment, hiding, or whatever - you can persevere. Anita overcame all of the obstacles placed in front of her, either by herself or with the help of others, and has created a spectacular life for herself. If she can succeed despite such odds, so can everybody else.

I think children would love to read this book when they are old enough to get all the way through it. At almost 200 pages, it is not a quick book to read. But it is a gripping, page-turning story - one of those kind that you can't put down. I think children will be drawn to the child-like voice of the story, the innocence the author manages to use. Anita Lobel is one of those truly gifted authors that can tell a horrible story about a child, for a child, without sounding condescending or self-pitying.

I give No Pretty Pictures an A-
No Pretty Pictures is probably by far the best book I have ever read. It is filled with true life tragedies and it gave me such a feeling where I was happy to be alive at this day in time and in such a place as America. About 50 years ago, it was a horrible time where in which Anita Lobel was at the wrong place at the wrong time! Her autobiography uses such imagery and imaginative language, it's as if i were in that period of time walking side by side with her! At times it came to a point where she used too much detail to describe certain aspects of her life as a young Jewish and Polish girl. I feel this book should be read by someone who wants to learn a bit about history, someone is lost in their own lives or someone who just wants to read a good book and shed a tear or two. The reason I mostly enjoyed this book so much was because I come from Poland and it gave me a sense of what my people including my grandparetns and other relatives went through! ... Read more

Book Description

After the farmer's wife cleans up all of his good, soft mud, Small Pig decides to run away. He's sure to find a better pigpen in the city. But, once there, the puddle he thought was mud is not mud at all! And now this small pig has one BIG problem.

Reviews (8)

Small Pig
I thought this book was very funny but I still felt bad for the poor little pig who got stuck in the sidewalk, thinking it was mud. This book was very enjoyable and I recamend it for ages 6-9 year old children. This book teaches you that you shouldn't sit in wet concrete.

Small Pig is excellent
This book appeals to both kids and adults because, along with the great, whimsical illustrations and easy-to-read words, the book also has all the elements of a great story. The irony of the farmer's wife vacuuming up a pigpen and of a pig getting stuck in cement are precious; there's just enough tasty sarcasm to make you grin as you read. My favorite line is when the farmer pulls over to ask what's going on, and the man replies, "Oh, nothing. Just a pig stuck in the sidewalk." Classic. The small pig's expressions are priceless; Lobel has great character development. Superior book.

Small Pig
It's funny because the pig gets stuck in mud. The mom sucks the mud up with the vacuum cleaner. The pig runs away. The turtle bites the pig. The pig looks for mud.The pig is scared of the vacuum cleaner. The pig is cute because he has a bow on him. I like the book.

I love Small Pig!
My sister and I have been fighting over who gets to keep thisbook for years now. Our grandmother used to read it to us when we'dvisit on Sunday afternoons. We still know the whole story by heart!This book is great-I love when the pig "sits down, and sinks down into the good, soft, mud"!

A lifetime favorite, great story, even better illustrations
I first read Small Pig in 2nd grade... 25 years later, it's still my all-time favorite children's book. I've told friends about it and even though I haven't seen the book in years, I can still vividly remember the expression on the pig's face when he got stuck in the cement. As a learning disabled child (undiagnosed at the time, but I knew that reading was a chore nonetheless), I found the book not only easy to read, but I was in love with the expressive illustrations of the pig. An absolutely adorable character. It's a parable in many ways to the way a child feels when they don't get their way. The farmer and his wife loved this pig very much and it's obvious in the telling of the story. It's short enough to read as a bed-time story to your kids and even the "scary" parts are brief and even humorous. If more stars were available, I would add them. ... Read more

Book Description

Doctor John Dolittle, the veterinarian who can actually talk to animals, sets sail on the high seas for new adventures! Accompanied by his young friend Tommy Stubbins and the beloved animals of his household -- Polynesia the parrot, Jip the dog, and Chee-Chee the monkey -- the good doctor is off to forbidding Spider Monkey Island to examine the rare jabizri beetle. But the mysterious island holds another, darker secret: The famous Indian naturalist, Long Arrow, has mysteriously disappeared -- and Doctor Dolittle urgently needs to speak with him.

Doctor Dolittle and his friends brave a shipwreck, find the floating island, and meet the incredible Great Glass Sea Snail -- the keeper of the greatest mystery of all. This is the most popular of the twelve Doctor Dolittle novels. The next has been carefully edited for modern readers by renowned children's book authors Patricia and Fredrick McKissack. This new edition, featuring color illustrations by best-selling artist Michael Hague, is sure to bring a whole new generation under the spell of Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends.

Reviews (42)

An Imaginative Adventure Through Time
Doc Dollitle is a very good book it has a total adventure backlot. I love his animals this story goes beyond the movie to further great adventures like what happens after he goes into the pink gient snail. I loved this book and I'm sure you will too. I recamend it for children eight and older to read. I read it in the sixth grade. Check out other great books like the BFG and a seperate peace.

I liked this Book because it was all out exciting.
I liked "The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle."because it was exciting and well written.Told by nine year old Tommy Stubins the story was amazing how Doctor Dolittle could comunicate with animals and people. This book is so good I couldn't put it down. Each chapter has a new problem or mystery so that it keeps you reading.Its great for all ages If you can read & understand the diologue.The charecters are so Determid to solve the Problem or mystery.Some parts are serious ,Some are funny,and some are exciting.I recommend you read "The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle." You'll like it I guarantee it.

sanitised edition
I do agree that books containing racist positions should not be given to children without a strong and fully aware comment. But I simply cannot stand to buy a sanitised version of a book without being aware of it. This is called censorship, and it gives me the creeps. As a parent, I have had enough real life opportunities to prove racism wrong to my children. So to realise that somebody has been cheating on me, trying to do my job so that I did not have to explain how society has evolved, how difficult it has been for minorities to be recognised and respected is just a fraud. this review is about the Harper collins Edition , edited by Patricia C. and Frederick L. McKissak, illustrated by Michael Hague.

I would like to recomend this book.
I would like to deffinitly recommend this book to anyone with a good reading level because I found this book very interesting and I happen to love animals. Dr. Doolitle is a naturalist who talks to animals and keeps a private zoo in his garden and plays the flute. Tommy Stubbins longs to join someone on a ship and go sailing, so Dr. Doolitle takes him in as an assistant to help him. On their adventure they encounter several stowaways on the boat and the doctor has a bullfight without killing the bulls. I would definitely recommend this book and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This is a very good book
I would like to recommend this book to anyone with a good reading level because I found this book very interesting and I happen to love animals. Dr. Doolitle is a naturalist who talks to animals and keeps a private zoo in his garden and plays the flute. Tommy Stubbins longs to join someone on a ship and go sailing, so Dr. Doolitle takes him in as an assistant to help him. On their adventure they encounter several stowaways on the boat and the doctor has a bullfight without killing the bulls. I would definitely recommend this book and it keeps you on the ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My five year old loves this book!
My five year old daughter loves this book and asks me to read it over and over. It's too bad that it is out of print. My only fault with it (and the reason I didn't give it five stars) is that the color that is supposed to be red shows up in the book as pink. You would think that for a book in which colors are the main theme, the publisher would have gotten that right. Never the less, my daughter has accepted that fault and loves the book!

Color My World - The Great Blueness and Other Predicaments
The Great Blueness and Other Predicaments tells the story of a wizard who lived a long time ago, when there were no colors in the world. Everything in the world was black and white and gray. To amuse himself, the wizard mixes some things together and finds some interesting stuff in the bottom of his cauldron. When he names the stuff "blue" and paints his house with it, his neighbors want some. The rest of the story explains what happens after that.

I am familiar with this book from an old copy that was given by a friend, and think it should be back in print. The text has an air of gentleness, even while describing the problems that the wizard has to deal with. There are clever rhymes, reflecting details in the illustrations. Preschool children will enjoy this book being read to them, and older children will appreciate the humor and lessons embedded in the story. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in Dragonfly comes the tale of three colorful frogs. One finds a pebble.

Another declares it a chicken egg. But what happens when a baby alligator

hatches instead? "Kids will giggle at the frogs' repeated references to the

friendly newborn as `the chicken.' They'll be even more tickled when the frogs

chuckle at the `mother chicken' who, finally reunited with her offspring,

greets her `sweet little alligator'...In his 40th book, Lionni is in

typically fine form" (Publisher's Weekly).




... Read more

Reviews (4)

EGG-ACTLY WHAT CHILDREN ENJOY
It's that time of year again when many are looking forward to Easter and Easter Egg Hunts. But, what if someone found a really unusual egg, and to make it even more unique there's not a chicken inside but an alligator?

That's the proposition the irrepressible Leo Lionni puts forth in this delightful yarn about three frogs who find the surprise of their lives.

As always his illustrations capture the eye as his mind captures imaginations.

Hilarious and Touching
I always love to find a story that teaches important lessons with plenty of fun and humor. Jessica the frog and her friends are certain that the egg Jessica found one day is a chicken egg. One day, the egg hatches, and the "chicken" is born...a long, scaly green creature who crawls out searching for the water.

Despite the frogs' misinformation and their obvious differences, Jessica and the "chicken" become great friends. When they discover the chicken's mother at last, the frogs think it is the funniest thing in the world that she refers to her baby as an "alligator."

Both my 2 year old and 4 year old appreciate the humor in this story. I was worried that my 2-yr. old might become confused, but she just laughed and said, "Alligator, Mommy. No chicken!" This is a wonderful book for learning about friendship despite differences. It was also a nice introduction to alligators, including the fact that they hatch from eggs!

A great book!
My kids love this book. They are 3 and 5 years old. This book follow the adventures of Jessica the frog who finds an alligator egg. The other frogs tell her it is a chicken egg and they call the baby alligator a chicken throughout the book (the kids get a kick out of this - and try to correct me after they heard the story again and again). Things good for kids from this book: 1) nature 2) use your imagination 3)explore the world around you.

Just because we are all a little different!
This is a wonderfully illustrated story that teaches children that being different is ok and that our "differences" are what make us unique and special. Each person is special whether they look like those people in their surroundings or not and we must cherish our differences. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Policeman Small is on the job! This hard-working cop is up at the cracko' dawn to direct traffic and spread cheer with his friendly smile. In one busyday he guides schoolchildren across the street, reprimands a speeding sports cardriver, clears the street for an ambulance and a fire truck, writes tickets fordrivers involved in an accident, and leads a parade. Even so, this conscientiousofficer is never too busy to overlook a wayward puppy or hungry kitty. Duringher lifetime, Newbery Medal recipient Lois Lenski wrote and illustrated morethan 90 books for children. Her classic Mr. Small books were well loved bygenerations of children, and are now making their way back into print in fullcolor for a happy new batch of readers. For more adventures with the gentle Mr.Small, read The LittleAuto. (Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

All that and a song
Pure, as simple and direct as you'd expect from Lois Lenski with an added benefit, the Policeman Small song to sing along.

an animated look at a busy policeman
Lois Lenski's _Policeman Small_ illuminates the busy day of a traffic cop of the early twentieth century. Policeman Small directs traffic himself! He carries a sign to work which says STOP on one side, and GO on the other! Certain details of his work date the book as a whole, but my toddler son still loves _Policeman Small_.

Small visits the scene of an accident, and sorts things out. Small stops traffic so kittens don't get hit by cars. Small stops a young speeding driver, and cautions him to obey the speed limit.

All the various duties of Policeman Small can keep a curious young reader mesmerized. We are invited to watch Policeman Small as he performs all the various duties of the traffic cop; when he retires at the day's end, he is tired. Exhausted parents can sympathize. This is a good book to finish a bedtime storytime.

ken32 ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Another Amazing Book form Madeleine L'Engle
I have been a fan of the Time Quartet by Madleleine L'Engle (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, Many Waters, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet) for a long time, so I was of course very excited to delve into this world again.

It tells the story of Adam, a marine biology student who is offered a summer job on the island of Gaea, which is off the coast of Portugal. There, a scientist named Dr. O'Keefe is conducting revolutionary experminents concerning starfish. On his way to Gaea, Adam encounteres many strange people and events. He is caught between two groups of people, and he doesn't know who to trust.

I loved this book. The plots twists are very interesting, as are the characters. I fell in love with Joshua from the moment I met him. I wondered if Kali really was one of the bad guys. I joined Adam as he tried to figure out what to do, who to trust.

This book is not quite like the Time Quartet, but is wonderful nonetheless. It kept my attention constantly; I couldn't put it down. I recommend it to everyone!

A strange series of events
Adam is a young college student who has been chosen to assist the famous Doctor O'Keefe in his experiments off the coast of Portugal. En route, Adam meets the enigmatic Kali who warns him about the doctor. He's bewildered by this odd girl, and soon finds himself an unwitting pawn in a dangerous game. Adam has to figure things out for himself and place his loyalty wisely because of the sinister events in which he finds himself entangled. "The Arm of the Starfish" is a great thriller that gets especially compelling towards the end.

Can you say Teriffic?!
This book absolutely, catches your imagination. As Adam Eddington makes his way to the island Gaea he finds that he is caught inbetween a decision that could change his life forever.
Calvin O'Keefe (Dr.O'Keefe) who is introduced and plays a main role in A Wrinkle in Time and the time quartet is grown up and married to Meg. They have seven children and the oldest of all of them, Poly, befriends Adam. Adam has come to Gaea to work as a lab assistent for Dr.O'Keefe during the summer. But when his flight is postponed due to fog he meets Kali Cutter(a most unlikly relationship between the two of them starts) but Kali has her own reasons why Adam shouldn't go to Gaea. Throughout the story Adam finds that he needs to decide between Kali and Poly's sides. He chooses Poly once he finds that Kali's side wants the results of Dr.O'Keefe's tests only to make more money. In the middle of the story Adam has come closer to the O'keefe family and their friends. But by the end tears are brought to your eyes as you read through the sadest moments in the book. If you ask me, read the book and find out what i mean. Until next time.-Windrider3

quick, involving read
While at times I felt the urge to give Adam a smack, I suppose I'm even more irrational running on three days of no sleep. Actually, I'm just irrational, period. (Hurrah for dumb Americans!) Still, it's very obvious who the "good guys" are.

The book has its flaws, but I definitely found it to be interesting and fast-paced, and I did like Adam despite his occasional lapses (which were, for the most part, excusable). Joshua, however, is the character that really stood out to me. Him and Poly, and of course, Macrina. Unfortunately, that just made me horribly depressed at the end. -_- (I knew it was coming, too, thanks to "A Ring of Endless Light." Still depressing.)

fantastic-another excellent book by the excellent author
In the Arm Of The Starfish, so many unexpected things occur. This book, just like all the other Madeleine L'Engle books that i have read, is excellent, and I recommend it to all L'Engle fans. One of my favorite characters, Adam Eddington, meets a stunningly beautiful girl, Kali.

It's like a story about good against evil just like the Time Quartet, only it is in Chronos-ordinary, wrist-watch, alarm clock time. Ms. L'Engle has this special ability to make the reader travel along with Adam as if you are actually there, and to experience his fear, his joy, and his confusion. Adam has to decide whether to trust Kali or Dr. O'Keefe who is working on the regeneration of starfish. It is very important that what Dr. O'keefe discovered does not get into the wrong hands. It turns out that Kali and her father are the wrong hands. But unfortunately, Adam doesnt see that and he's uncertain...is she the simple, kind, beautiful girl that she appears to be or is there more to her than that?

It's really disappointing that Adam decides to trust Kali and that Josh is killed because of that decision. So many people, including Adam, were very hurt emotionally at Josh's death, and I think Adam had the hardest time because not only did his friend die, but he was responsible for his death. Although I was not happy that Adam was betrayed, I think it is an excellent plot that can lead the story onto A Ring of Endless Light, which is my all time favorite story, also by Ms. L'Engle. I definitely recommend this book, another masterpiece by a fantastic author. READ IT!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THIS is the edition to get
If you just want a copy of _The Call of the Wild_, to give to a friend, say, this is the one to get.

The elegant Library of America edition of "London: Novels and Stories" has three complete novels _The Call of the Wild_, _White Fang_, _The Sea-Wolf_, and a very well chosen selection of stories. It's great. Viking's _The Portable Jack London_, is cheap and excellent; it's edited by Earle Labor, has _The Call of the Wild_, and an excellent selection of short stories, nonfiction, and letters. If you want copies of _The Call of the Wild_ to give to LOTS of friends, the Dover Thrift Edition is just a buck.

But if you want _just_ The Call of the Wild, this edition is nice enough to give as a gift, is clear and legible, and has just the right amount of pictures and annotations. Not a scholarly work, but every time you get to one of those places where you have a question--where was Dyea? What was the "Chinese lottery?" Could a dog really pull a thousand pound sled? there's Dyer with the answer.

If you're interested in Jack London, take a look at the alt.books.jack-london Internet discussion group--see "about me" for details. ... Read more

Book Description

"Get your gun!" Sam's father said. "The British soldiers are coming this way!" Sam's father was a Minuteman. Sam was ready in a minute.

Father and son rushed to the village green. Other Minutemen were already there. Through the long night they waited and waited. Then, at dawn, the soldiers came!

In this exciting I Can Read Book, Nathaniel Benchly recreates what it must have been like for a young boy to fight in the Battle of Lexington. Arnold Lobel's vivid pictures give a poignant reality to the famous battle that marked the beginning of the American Revolution. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Excellent Historical Fiction
My kids loved this book. This book can be read by any reading level, because of its historical perspective. It appears to most adequately suit 1st graders. With my older children I used it as a tool, along with George the Drummer Boy, to teach perspective in writing and history. These two books in combination do an excellent job. Sam the Minuteman is told from the perspective of an American boy. George the Drummer Boy is told from a British boy's perspective. This book has 61 pages, about 1/4 of the pages are full page illustrations. Both books portray the same event in history - the beginning of the American Revolution.

Wonderful history for children
I have a 5-year-old son named Sam. I read him this book for many days--day after day after day. He even slept with the book. So obviously, I believe this is a good book for kids! I had to give it a high rating--he never slept with any other book. The book, I believe, is rated at about a 3rd grade reading level. It involves guns and redcoats and things that interest young folks.
Anyway, the book is about the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Sam's father takes him along when the British come to Lexington. At the battle, one of Sam's friends gets shot in the leg, so children know that war is not all fun and games, and carrying a gun involves responsibility. The author also says things like the British soldiers burned some houses, but "their heart wasn't in it." This leads to good questions about why that was so. The author follows the British as they make a run for it as the "farmers" shoot at them the whole way back. And when Sam gets home, his worry is about his friend who was shot. Nifty drawings, good length, history--this is a very good book for the age group.

early introduction to American history
This early reader features Sam, a boy who joins his father as a Minuteman, and takes place in Concord and Lexington on the day the American Revolution begins. At 62 pages, with simple vocabulary, this book does a nice job of capturing the uncertainty and excitement of these events for a young person, and would be a good selection for a young reader interested in history. The companion volume by the same author, 'George the Drummer Boy', tells the story of a boy on the side of the loyalists on the same day. Simple but nice illustrations.

My son says Sam the Minuteman is cooler than Darth Maul
"Sam the Minuteman" sparked my son's interest so much that the entire family is now infected with Revolution fever. As a direct result of reading the book, we've trekked to Lexington to see the actual places where the book's events take place, and from there to Boston, where the events in the companion book "George the Drummer Boy" took place. The revolution is spreading to the neighborhood as well, where my son is trying to convince his friends that Sam is cooler than Darth Maul

The Minuteman
We read Sam the Minutemen in class and we thought it was a good book.It is a good book because it talks about the Revolutionary War, and we talked about Revolutionary War stuff in class. During the Revolutionary War Sam's friend got shot by the Lobsterbacks. Sam was fighting so he could save his countrymen, and fighting for freeom. ... Read more

Book Description

Mr. Small is a high-flying pilot in this adventure! Pilot Small prepares for his flight, and then enjoys the bird’s-eye view from above. As fresh today as when it was first published, this fun and informative look at flying is perfect for airplane trips. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Prop Aeronautics Lesson 101
This little book is a basic lesson in how airplanes work and would be a great prologue if you're reading HATCHET by gary paulsen in which the kid learns to fly a prop plane the hard way. Introduces all the basic elements of fixed wing flight in non-cutesy language. Also would be a fine book for first-time flyers to reassure them that airplanes do indeed NOT fall out of the sky. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Inspired by the everyday trinkets and treasures in her apartment, a grandmother tells her curious granddaughter stories based on their Russian Jewish heritage. An old tin button box reminds Grandmother about the poor farmer who outwitted a Czar. While cutting up apples for a strudel, Grandmother recalls the tale of a very rich, very greedy merchant who learned a lesson at the table of King Solomon. Choosing among carnations, gladioli, and roses in Moshe’s flower shop makes Grandmother think of a garden of talking--and bickering--flowers.

This collection of 10 traditional Jewish folk tales, first published in 1990, is now gorgeously illustrated by Caldecott Honor Book recipient Anita Lobel (On Market Street). Author Adele Geras, who also penned the critically acclaimed young adult novel Troy, has captured the rhythm and cozy warmth of a loving grandmother’s storytelling. Readers of all ages will love to curl up with the granddaughter for an afternoon of magical, wondrous shared lore. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cooking Up Grandmother's Stories
Every story (each ties to a household object) includes many possibilities for cooking which delights ME (author of RECIPES FOR READING) and encourages young (and formerly young)readers to concoct recipes to amplify and fill out the stories. If every family had a collection of grandmotherly tales like this based on household things, there would be no hope for FootballOnTheTube as a holiday mainstay. ... Read more

Book Description

Mrs. Jane Tabby cannot explain why all four of her kittens were born with wings. But when life on the city streets becomes too dangerous, it is clear that her dream for her children might some day come true. They can fly away from the city slums of their birth. And one day, they do. But not even their mother could have foreseen the hazards of country living. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Catwings
Catwings
In the story Catwings Harriet, James, Thelma, Roger have to leave their home.
When they were trying to find their now home Roger got hurt by an owl.

I like Catwings because cats can fly. I like the story it's funny. One thing I learned was if cats have wings do not pull on them.

If you were a cat and kids were grabbing you and pulling on your wings and you can't fly anymore. this would be a big problem for a catwing.

This book is so good because cats can fly and the happy ending.

When Roger is better two kids come and find the cats , feed them and take care of them.

SEARCHING FOR KIND HANDS
This delightful tale of four winged felines is a read-in-one-sitting treat--great to read aloud as well. A sweet fantasy, CATWINGS relates the adventures of tabby siblings whose mother advised them to leave the city slums for their health--not to mention her second honeymoon... Whimsy and humor combine to create an enchanting piece, which reveals the similarities between two sympathetic (i.e. mutually dependent) species. Purrfect for kids under 10 and all cat lovers. Beats Puss in Boots paws down! It's the Cat's Whiskers--and now with Wings!

Catwings
This is about the book CATWINGS. There are four cats: James, Roger, Harriet, and Thelma. They all have wings. Their mom, Janet, has always wondered why her kittens have wings and she does not. This book is fantasy fiction.
The book has cats with wings I don't think it would be true.

In one part of the book Harriet was getting chased by a dog, but her wings got her out. During the book you never know what would happened like, when there was an owl just sitting there watching them, you can find out the rest.

I like this book because I love cats. I recommend this book to people who enjoy cats, or like fictional books.

cute story
I loved this book as a kid and still think it's a great, cute little story. The four winged kittens in this book grow up in the city but fly off in order to find some place better. The illustrations are lovely, and cat lovers will enjoy the story.

Great children's book about leaving home
This is a delightful children's book about cats that can fly. Born wild in the city, their wingless mother encourages them to fly away from the urban dangers in search of a different and better life. Of course, dangers in the country are not absent, only different. The tale of their adventures is one that kept my children entertained, and they insisted that it be purchased. After their high praise, I read the book and enjoyed it as much as they did. My children especially loved the happy ending. ... Read more

Amazon.com

To 11-year-old Minnie Swift, Christmas, 1932, is not going to be thetime of bounty she's used to. Instead, it has become the "Time of theDwindling." The Great Depression has changed everything: Minnie's father isworking fewer and fewer hours, her hungry family eats more and more aspic and"rumor of pork" (high up on the Vomitron, a zero-to-ten scale Minnie and herbrother have invented to determine the vileness of their meager dinners), and atiny orphan girl has joined their family from Heart's Bend, Texas. Minnie findsa worthy outlet in her daily journal, in which she records the sometimestroubling, sometimes exhilarating experiences of one winter month inIndianapolis during the depression. Nothing can subdue Minnie's lively spirit,although the disappearance of her father challenges her sorely.

Kathryn Lasky's latest addition to the Dear America series is chock-full ofperiod details: Greta Garbo's hairstyle, The Shadow radio program,Charlie Chan, Hooverville shantytowns, Buck Rogers, Amelia Earhart, and phraseslike yee gads and go-to-the-dickens. Minnie is an exuberant andwitty chronicler of her family life, as well as the world outside. Young readerswill come away from Christmas After All with a strong image of life inthe 1930s, and a sense of the resiliency and ingenuity of many Americans duringthat deeply troubled time. A historical note and photos follow the diary,providing background to help readers understand the era in which the fictionalMinnie lived. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Extra Extra Read All About It Great Christmas Story
You will love this book. If your down in the dumps then you should read this book. It will boost your spirit back where it needs to be. Christmas after all is very enjoyable! If you like reading like I do you should read this book! Christmas After All takes place during the Great Depression. Minnie the main character is not dissapointed that Christmas is going to be during the Great Depression. If you like mysterys like me then you will love this book. In the story Minnie's family can not affrod to buy Christmas gifts, so guess what Minnie and her cousin, Willie Faye do, they make their own presents out of chickin feathers. But something sad happens in the story. Her father goes MISSING!! If you live in Indianapolis then you live close to where this story takes place. Minnie lives in caramel on Meridian street at 450. My favorite part is when thier chicken gets it leg froze to the trash can and later on it turns black and falls off. Also when Lady (her sister)dies her hair orangatang red and has to shave it all off. Minnie's real name is Minerva. This book is the best Dear America book I have ever read! You will love this book about Christmas!

Christmas After All
Do you like books taking place in history with a fun story to it? If you do this would be a great book for you!This takes place in 1932 during the Great Depression in Indianapolis,Indiana.
This is about a family who gets a new member, their cousin, Willie Faye, from Texas. She is very different from all of the family, except for Minnie who is the same age. This book explains how many people loose thier jobs, and Minnies father was one of them. Suddenly something happened; someone was missing but you'll have to read the book to find out!
This book has a lot of surprises, and the characters are always coming up with exciting ideas. For example,Minnie and Willie Faye don't have any money, so they make their Christmas gifts. Now you'll never belive what they use to decorate the gifts, but chicken feathers from their very own live chickens! There are many more exciting events through out the book!
I think this author was trying to give the message that no matter how poor, or how rich you are you still have the love in your heart that somehow everyone will get a chance to live the life they deserve.

A Christmas You Will Never Forget
Have you ever read a book that touch your heart so much that it send chills up and down your spine? I have, and the book that sent me these emotions was, "Christmas After All".
The setting of "Christmas after All", is what really interested me to read this book. The setting of this book was in Indiana during the 1930s, and the reason why I was so interested in it was because I live in Indiana. I just love to hear about our history, and what life was like back then. The special part about this book that really touched me was that it was written about living through the depression. My grandma lived during the depression and she told me stories about how life was like back then, and I thought it was really neat to compare that to this story.
This book was amazing and so entertaining, that I couldn't put it down. I kept imagining myself there in that time period, and just trying to get by like they did. It just made my heart break, because I feel so lucky to have what I have now. If you ever want to learn about Indiana history, the depression, or if you are just looking for a quick read that is enjoyable. I highly recommend you read this fantastic book.

HURRAH FOR MINNIE, WILLIE FAYE AND CHIG !!
Is this the story of Minnie OR is it the story of Willie Faye enchanting the Swift family? She is their distant relative who comes from Heart's Bend, Texas, to live with them in Indianapolis in the Fall of 1932. Willie Faye captivates the four sisters and brother Ozzie, who are growing up just as the Great Depression intrudes on their comfortable life.

Minnie calls it "The Time of The Dwindling" and her diary holds all her thoughts from the month before Christmas. There are colorful colloquialisms scattered throughout, and clever hands working on such projects as Christmas gift hats decorated with guinea hen feathers. The grinding economies forced on the family by the Depression and Papa's loss of work is evident mostly in dress make-overs, and in the menus concocted to stretch some meat, or no meat at all. A description of aspics made this reader laugh out loud, knowing how most of our family hold wobbly gelatines in distain. Young Ozzie's inventions include a "vomitron" which measures the revulsion some recipes provoke!

Imagination and creativity thrived in those years, and favorite radio shows were an important part of family life. Movie-going was a popular pastime, too, although in hard-hit families only the boys with jobs could afford tickets, even at ten cents, or a quarter for a double feature. But for true entertainment nothing could match the starry-eyed magic of Willie Faye's Christmas Eve story. Author Kathryn Lasky makes converts of her readers!

While the Swift family takes a stiff upper lip attitude about difficult times, their lives are changed by the arrival of the orphan cousin, and even more by the disappearance of their papa. It turns out that Ozzie inspired his father to write a radio serial, "Ozzie, the Boy Wonder." It becomes so popular the family is catapulted right out of their personal Depression.

I wanted to reread Minnie's take on hard times after being charmed by the 2003 novel "CHIG and the Second Spread," which tells the story of a family living only fifty miles south of Minnie Swift. In the hill country Minerva (Chig) Kalpin (could Minnie's name also be 'Minerva'?)grew up in poor, rather than 'comfortable' circumstances. Her experience was different yet similar: both families pulled together to overcome hard times with ingenuity and integrity.

Does the Depression Era seem part of the realm of fantasy today? For young readers it must hold the attraction of the unknown. Today's computer-age children will learn much from befriending Minnie and Willie Faye, AND Chig.

Extra!! Extra!! Read Christmas After All
I like this book because, it gets really interesting. Christmas After All gets sad sometimes like when Minnie's father goes away. But actually he sells some scripts for Ozzie, the Boy Wonder. He got 600 dollars! Thats more than Minnie's family ever dreamed of. Another sad thing is that the guinea hen froze its leg to the trash can and after a while the leg turns black and falls off. When Minnie's family came home from delivering the food to a shantytown to their surprise, the house was decorated with holly and candles and their stockings were hung up too! It was Papa! He was home! This book is worth a million dollars! Minnie's family had Christmas after all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sam's big sister Anastasia (Anastasia Krupnik, Anastasia at Your Service) thinks he's, well, there's no other word for it, weird. Their parents say he's precocious. But Sam knows, even on the morning of his birth, when there are bright lights, and he's cold, and someone is messing around with his belly button, that he's just Sam. And as the younger brother of the original drama queen herself, Anastasia, Sam deserves a book all to himself. From those early moments at the hospital, to his first steps and words, to his lively days of nursery school, Sam escorts the reader through his mischief-filled life. His highly developed--and hilarious--verbal skills allow readers to get behind the fascinating logic of a toddler: Why won't it rain lipsticks and plastic pretzels if he flushes them down the toilet? And the King of Worms most certainly does deserve a prize at the pet show. Award-winning Lois Lowry has an uncanny ability to understand children of any age. Without ever patronizing, she manages to make their foibles wildly funny and unerringly true. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (14)

All About Sam by Lois Lowery
Have you ever wondered what your little brother or sister was thinking? Well, if you have, then All About Sam is a good book for you.
The book is about a family told from a baby's point of view. The baby's name is Sam. He has one big sister named Anastasia. His father's name is Myron and his mom's name is Katherine.
This book is very humorous. Sam is curious about everything. He takes a smoking pipe and lighter off his dad's desk and brings it to school for Show and Tell. He also goes into his mom and dad's bathroom and gives himself a punk haircut. He goes to his older sister's room and takes her pet fish Frank and flushes him down the toilet. He expects it to rain pet fish because his mom once told him that whatever is flushe