Reviews (2)

A parable about sharing and being yourself
I've been reading books to children for almost two decades, and Leo Lionni's books have always been among my favorites. They're simple in the same way that the parables of Jesus are simple - the meaning of the stories is immediately clear, yet they are deep and wise, and the stories stay with you forever.

Tico and the Golden Wings is not one of Lionni's best known books (Swimmy and Frederick probably fill that category - and both of them are terrific), but it's one of my favorites. It's about a bird born without wings, who cannot fly like his friends. The friends are kind to him, but he feels left out because he cannot do the things they do. Wishing for wings, he gets his wish, but the wings are made of gold. As Tico flies around the world, he encounters people with great needs and tries to help them by giving each of them one of the gold feathers from his wings. His reward for this generosity is to grow a real feather for every golden one he gives away.

In the end, Tico returns to his friends, who are thrilled to see him with wings just like theirs. They think he is now just like them, but Tico nurtures an understanding that his thoughts and experiences are not like those of his friends, that inside he is still different.

The message is simple: you can care about others and still nurture your own indivuality. What is special about this book, though, is not just the lovely and wise message, but the fact that it remains lovely, and not the least bit cloying or preachy, after hundreds of readings. You can read this book to any three or four year old who has enough experience with books to sit still for a quiet story, and continue reading it to him or her for years, knowing the child will get more out of it each time he or she hears it.

Wonderful story
A lovely story. Thoughtful. Sometimes having what we wish for is not nearly as important as giving. Our value comes from within. A story I look forward to sharing with my nephews and grandchildren. ... Read more

Book Description

"Alligator Pie, alligator pie,
If I don't get some I think I'm gonna die.
Give away the green grass, give away the sky,
But don't give away my alligator pie!"

You savored it as a child. You served it every night to your children. Now it's back-the tasty, delicious nonsense of Alligator Pie, in a collector's edition complete with the original artwork from the classic 1974 edition.

Dennis Lee's wonderfully playful rhymes, along with Frank Newfield's memorable illustrations, have enchanted two generations of young readers. What better way could there be to discover the magic of books? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

my favourite book, and I'm 25
I would recommend this book to anyone. It is fun and fantastic, the illustrations are terrific, and the poems resonate well with children and adults.

My Childhood Favorite
The Alligator Pie series filled my childhood with fun and whimsy. I'm pregnant now and I want to buy a whole new collection so that my child will remember "Peter was a pilot, who flew a jumbo jet, who crashed in Lake Ontario and got his bottom wet." Silly and fun.

Must-have kids book with nonsense, geography & lots of fun.
This classic Canadian kid's book crosses the continent with fun poems and stories from north of the border. There are a number of nonsense rhymes, and many others which follow a typical child's line of thought to those surprise and imaginative conclusions that make children such a delight! Once in a while, a good map of Canada will add an extra dimension of enjoyment, introducing the young audience/reader to another country and to the world of maps. It is, however, the whimsical and imaginative poems which will hold the attention of both child and adult. Soon, the whole family will be chanting, "Alligator pie, alligator pie, if I don't get some......"

Wonderful (and wonderfully gross) poems for kids
This is a book your children will remember to adulthood and will be eager to read to their own children. The poems are energetic and can be accompanied by lots of drama. Also, Dennis Lee, the author, encourages readers to play with the poems and make changes as they like. There are a lot of Canadian references Americans may not get but the poems are too fun for that to be a problem and besides, you can use those references to get your children interested in their neighbors to the north. We are interesting.8) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A little heavy handed
I wanted to like this book, I really did. The design is exquisite, the illustrations compelling with lush, gorgeous colors. The story is a fascinating one and the idea of turning it into a picture book for younger children was fantastic. It has many important themes such as the struggle for women's sufferage and the idea of empowerment, working for a cause you believe in, and the elements of successful political action, all told in a way that young children can understand. However, I found the text just a little too preachy for my taste, and I am very sympathetic to the cause. I don't think environmental causes are helped by looking down on those who view things differently, instead I would like to read books that help children to understand why there are differences of opinion and have empathy for those who are different. I found the words like "silly" "disgusting" "revolting" "nauseating" "ghastly" used to describe feather-wearers to be unconstructive, uncompassionate and not particularly admirable.

This is an awesome book!
I am in first grade and I am six years old. I really like this book. The pictures are funny. I like the dodo bird and the heath hen, and the spoonbill escaping from the picture. I learned about the Audubon Society, it saves birds. I also learned that Harriet and Minna were cousins and real people. This book is great for ages six and up!

The Founding of the Audobon Society Takes Flight!
"She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head" is an absolutely wonderful book to illustrate how we need to be kind to our feathered friends! Great when read with "voices" to match the pinch-faced, conservation minded women who star in the book! Hurray to Kathryn Lasky for writing a this child-eye opener and to David Catrow for bringing it to life!

Great book for girls!
This is a wonderful story for girls. Two women see a problem and set out to solve it! They are energetic and resourceful and end up making a difference. I enjoyed it as much as my daughter. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Chronicles Of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles Of Narnia carry you off into a new, magical world full of interesting characters, enthralling storylines and fantastic places. Although they are recommended for children, anyone with a vivid imagination who loves fantasy will probably like these. One must wonder about the genius of Lewis - to create a whole world is unusual, to say the least. Narnia is a brand new world at the beginning of the first book, The Magician's Nephew. In the course of the chronicles the country is saved numerous times by a group of children from our world - England from about 1900 to 1950 to be precise. Lewis' writing is subtly witty and at times profoundly moving (especially in the first and last two books). Well worth a read - or several. The one bad thing about these books is that they instill a sense of wistful nostalgia in anyone who believes in the ability of people to destroy our world.

An Excellent Look Beyond
I received this book as a gift in elementary school and at the time found it much to deep even though I thoroughly enjoyed the books. However re-reading it several years later it gave me a lot of insight into the Narnia series and made me enjoy them more as I got older. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves the books.

A good book that explains the Narnia Series!
The Land of Narnia is a good book that tells about C.S. Lewis' life and how he came to write the Chronicles of Narnia. This book tells who Aslan and the Witches are and tells what gave C.S. Lewis the idea for Reepicheep, the warrior mouse. This book contains summaries for the seven books as well. This is an excellent book to read if you have just finished reading the Chronicles of Narnia. It helps you to understand the books and the characters a little better if you don't know what they mean. You also learn about C.S. Lewis' childhood and how this was a major factor in creating the Narnia books. Reviewed by Joshua Bixler *****stars ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I don't get it.
I hadn't met a book by Leo Lionni I didn't like until now. A country mouse turns into a "strange creature dressed in black" and the reader is left to wonder why. I have a college degree and I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, but I could not figure out why the mouse changed and what the change had to do with the rest of the story. This was a very disconnected story, and I just didn't get it. Maybe I'm not as bright as I thought. Fortunately, I didn't buy it. Check it out first, and if you figure it out, please write about it. ... Read more

Book Description

Deep underground, a web of evil magic holds a prince in captivity.

Narnia ... where owls speak, where evil weaves a spell ... where sorcery enslaves the land.

Narnia is in peril, and only Eustace and Jill can help. Along with Puddleglum, a gloomy but valiant Marsh-wiggle, they are sent by the mighty lion Aslan to find Prince Rilian, heir to the throne. Their quest leads them past hungry people-eating Giants, and deep into the dark underground. But the true test for this noble band of friends comes when they face an evil witch and her deadly enchantments.

Performed by Jeremy Northam

Reviews (64)

One of my favorite books in the Narnia series!!!
One of the great things about the Narnia series is how each individual book stands alone! I mean, while it may be necessary to read them in order to better understand what's going on, each book has a certain charm unique in itself. And while I may like ALL of the volumes, I believe the BEST books are those in the middle, particularly "The Horse and his Boy", "The Magician's Nephew", and "THE SILVER CHAIR". These are the books in which C.S. Lewis really shines!

In this particular volume involving cousin Eustace and his classmate Jill Pole, Lewis hits hard at the British school system (I dread to think how he'd view America's public school system today!) The bullying that Eustace & Jill face is what launches their adventure into Narnia, and what an exciting adventure it turns out to be! Puddleglum is an excellently crafted character who accompanies them on their journey into the wild north, where they encounter a beautiful witch and a dangerous race of intelligent giants. It's a well-done piece of storytelling, worth reading a second time!

More of the same from Narnia - which is not a bad thing
Another installment in the classic children's series The Narnia Chronicles, "The Silver Chair" continues the pattern of presenting stand-alone stories that work within a grander story arc. Also like previous installments, "The Silver Chair" brings back familiar characters while also introducing new cast members, lending the story an air of familiarity while still remaining fresh.

In this installment Eustace, the ill-mannered lad who learned the error of his ways in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," along with his schoolmate, Jill, pair up for adventure. While fleeing bullies at their school - a progressive and modern (for its time) institution that Lewis openly and repeatedly scorns - Eustace and Jill find themselves thrown into the world of Narnia. Once there, Aslan gives Jill a series of vague instructions to follow during their adventure.

Eustace and Jill find themselves on a quest to find the lost Prince Rillian, the son of King Caspian (who in this tale makes two brief cameos as an old man). They team up with Puddleglum, a gloomy a creature called a Marsh-Wiggle who always sees the down side of things. Together, the three go in search of the Prince.

The setup tells the reader right off what sort of story it will be: a traveling adventure in which the group works through a series of dangerous situations and visits new and strange lands. The story takes a few chapters to get moving properly, shortening the main quest; there are only three or so key locations. Still, those locations are a mix of classic genre archetypes and fantastic settings. For an important segment of the story - a castle of giants - genre archetypes rule the day.

"Silver Chair," though it visits places in Narnia not previously seen, feels less epic than previous installments. However, a glimpse of a greater and more wondrous world near the end helps alleviate that failing.

The character of Jill undergoes almost the same transformation that Eustace did in "Voyage," while Eustace himself plays the role that Edmund, Peter and the gang did in earlier books. That's not altogether bad, but it's not altogether good, either, especially if you are reading the whole series straight through. because Jill's transformation immediately follows Eustace's.

All in all, "The Silver Chair" is not as engaging as others in the series, with a loose plot tied together largely by a "you must trust Aslan" theme, but does not fall nearly as flat as "Caspian." For a good stretch the story moves along at a brisk pace and offers a playful series of adventures, delivering just the sort of engaging story that makes the Narnia Chronicles such a beloved series. Sure it suffers from too slow a start and too slow a finish, both which drag the story down, but at its core it's more of the same from Narnia. And that's not a bad thing at all.

A classic story and a spiritual allegory
If you have not read any of CS Lewis classic book series about Narnia, please do so. The stories are wonderfully written and will engage you like few other works. Part spiritual allegory and part fantasy and adventure, these stories are timeless.

My personal favorite of the 7 stories is this one: The Silver Chair. Starting with the unexpected trip into Narnia, the story involves the search for a missing prince and a dangerous and exciting journey to find him. While the plot is quickly engaging and always enjoyable, even after dozens of readings, in this story Lewis uses some of the most powerful of Christian allegories to depict faith, deception, and courage. Choices made along the way are often disastrous and are the result of convenience and comfort over faith. Truly a sound statement into our own journeys, and a spiritual struggle depicted accurately.

I will not spoil the plot, but if you have not enjoyed this series, pick up any of the seven books, or better yet get them all at once. The story starts either with "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" which was the first published, or "The Magician's Nephew" which is chronologically the first. Either way, you won't be disappointed. Next to "The Silver Chair", I also found "The Horse and His Boy" and "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" to be absolute classics.

Buy this series, and enjoy one of the true treasures in literature from a fabulous writer, the world renowned CS Lewis.

Prince Rilian, Lost Forever or Found
The book The Silver Chair, by C. S. Luis is a great adventure story that is part of a seven-book series. The story has two main characters; Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole. Eustace Scrubb is a schoolboy who goes to school at the Experiment House with Jill. He has actually been in Narnia before with his cousins; Lucy and Edmund. Jill Pole gets bullied around a lot at school, and didn't believe Eustace at first when he was trying to tell her about Narnia.
The book starts off at the Experiment House with Jill hiding behind a curtain crying because the bullies won't leave her alone. Eustace finds her and tells her about Narnia and how they might be able to get back there. At first Jill didn't believe him. Then bullies came in the room looking for her, so the made a dash for a door that isn't usually open but they tried it anyway because it was their only way of escape. To their surprise, the door was open, but not leading outside the school, but instead to Narnia.
Before I start telling you about Narnia and what happened there; I must give you some background information. The was a queen of Narnia (she was married to King Caspian the 10th) and she had a son named Prince Rilian. One day the queen and prince were out on a walk with some others. The queen was tired and decided to go asleep on the grass. The prince, not wanting to wake her, went off just a little way (so he could still see her) to play. After a little while they saw a green worm crawl out from the wood and bite her. The prince ran after the worm, but it got away. After a few minutes the queen was dead. After that the prince devoted his life to finding the worm and avenging it. After months of looking one of a lord suggested he stop looking for the worm. Prince Rilian told him for the past couple of weeks he no longer searched for the worm, but visited a lady in secret. The lord came with him one day and to his surprise, the lady was in the same spot where his mom died. She was a beautiful woman dressed all in green. The lord decided not to tell anyone because he thought there was no harm in it. The next day, the prince never returned from his journey.
They stepped into Narnia and found they were on the edge of a cliff. Eustace was afraid of heights and just stood there in shock. When he got away from the edge, Jill walked up even closer to the edge, trying to show off, and found she couldn't move and almost fell of the edge but Eustace saved her, and while doing so fell off the edge himself! The next thing Jill knew she was lying down in the same spot with a huge lion (Aslan, the 'Jesus' of Narnia) next to her blowing at something. Then she was Eustace floating, getting higher and farther away from her. She was terrified and very thirsty. Aslan soon left and she found her strength again to lift her-self up to go find some water. She finally found a stream, but Aslan was lying next to it. He said to her, "If you are thirsty, come and drink." She was to petrified to move, but eventually found her courage to go get a drink. He told her he needed her help. She was to, along with Eustace, find the lost Prince Rilian. He gave her signs and directions to recognize the prince; "First; as soon as the Boy Eustace sets foot in Narnia, he will meet an old and dear friend. He must greet that friend at once; if he does, you will both have good help. Second; You must journey out of Narnia to the north till you come to a ruined city of ancient giants. Third; you will find writing on a stone in that ruined city, and you must do what the writing tells you. Fourth; You will know the lost prince (if you find him) by this, that he will be the first person you have met in your travels who will ask you to do something in my name, in the name of Aslan."
Aslan soon blew her to where Eustace landed, and shortly afterwards, and owl came to them and told Trumpkin, the dwarf in charge, that they were there. He gave them good beds, food, ands baths. Jill was just about to go to bed when the same owl (Glimfeather) came tapping on her window and told her he would help them as much as the owls could, then went to tell Eustace the same. Glimfeather flew them both to the owls' meeting spot and got help from another owl to fly them to a Puddleglum's house.
Puddleglum is a marsh-wiggle, which is kind of like a very gloomy person, who always looks at the downside of things. He travels with them their whole journey. They started their journey north the next day. After a couple days of walking they came across what at first looked like boulders, then Jill noticed how they might look kind of like giants at night, then one moved. After a while they came to a bridge and decided to cross it. While they were crossing it they met a beautiful woman dressed in green riding along with a knight. She recommended the gentle giants' city near by to lodge in. After some arguing, they decided to take her advice.
When they arrived they were welcomed and treated nicely. Puddlegum tried to stay on the look out, but he got a little drunk and barely even knew who he was. It turned out the giants actually wanted to eat them, and kept them there for the Autumn Feast coming up. Will they ever escape? If they do, will they find Prince Rilian? To find out read the book The Silver Chair.

Even Better
The acting keeps on getting better with every movie in this series. What a pity that the next 3 books weren't also done! The child playing Jill is an amazingly good child actress. The man playing Puddleglum is absolutely dismal- which is exactly what you want for that character. The land of the Marshwiggles is depressing and dreary, and excellently depicted. The special effects are now very realistic, with the size of the giants well-created. It helps that there is far less in the realm of effects demanded in this book than in the previous three. Those of the Underworld could use some work in how they look, and it was unfortunate that there was no mention of their true home or what they are really like. In the book, we get more of a sense of them as people who are controlled by the witch. But Aslan is very well done, as a believably incredibly large lion, and there is real depth of emotion in the children and the enchanted prince. Ironic, in what is arguably the least well written of the series, we have the best movie adaptation to date. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (9)

What I think the title means
If you are going to read one book by Ursula Le guin, make it this one. I read this book in school and still retain a fond memory of it though I don't remember the names of the guy and the girl anymore. I think Le Guin's genius lies in the way the story unfolds and the way in which it ends. She has been able to portray a very lifelike description of two teenagers growing up in America. At the end of the story the status of the relationship between the two characters is very tentative. They are not exactly 'boyfriend-girlfriend' but are not 'just friends' either. In other words, their relationship is very far away from any of the conventional tags one could put on a relationship. So in that sense the relationship and the lives of the two chracters, are in fact VERY FAR AWAY FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.

Why is this out of print?
I have never been able to answer people who say, "You read a lot. So, what's your favorite book?" But if I had to answer, I think I would choose "Very Far Away from Anywhere Else." I found this book when I was a sophomore in high school, and I could not believe how well I understood Owen and Natalie, and how similar their lives were to mine. I still can't believe Le Guin fit so much into such a short book -- my paperback edition has only 87 pages.

The story unfolds like life, following the course of Owen and Natalie's friendship, in their senior year of high school. Owen narrates, at the end of the year, trying to figure out exactly what the year, and Natalie's friendship, meant to him.

But the story itself is not that important. Owen and Natalie themselves are the heart of the book, and are two of the most human characters I have ever encountered. Owen has never fit in with people, wants to be a scientist, and has trouble telling anyone what he really wants from life. Half of his trouble may be that he isn't quite sure what he wants. Natalie is a musician, who performs and teaches, but she is really a composer. Unlike Owen, she knows what she wants from life, and is following a careful plan to reach her goals. Of course, neither is really that simple; no real person can be summed up in two sentences, and neither can Owen and Natalie.

"Very Far Away from Anywhere Else" is a book which is easier to read than to explain, and any summary will lose the parts of the book that make it really worthwhile. If I could sum up the book for you, I doubt I would love it enough to reread it at least once a year. Let me close, then, by telling you how much I love this book. I own hundreds of books, and love at least half of them. Of all those books, this is the only one I brought to college this year. This is the one I take on all my trips. This is the one I read whenever I start to feel my life is pointless. This is the one that is dangerously close to falling apart, just because I read it so much.

Buy this. Read it. Trust me.

The Drink for a Thirsty Soul
.... Two young teenagers searching for themselves and trying to find a path to the future revel in their friendship. It's a beautiful work. Each character gives an aspect of themselves to the reader and they draw you in so that the final conclusion is not as bitter as it seems. A quick read but one that never finishes. I've read it countless times, every time i need to search through my soul, i read this book. A must read!!!

Succinct, insightful, moving
This short novel speaks volumes to anyone who has ever felt different, not quite fitting in, but afraid to truly break away from the herd. Owen's doubts, fears and deep longing to be his own person are all too familiar and honest; his struggle toward real manhood, as opposed to the shallow, self-absorbed macho model of his peers, is even more relevant today. Natalie's determination to create and follow her own path is inspiring, never denying the hard work and sacrifice required, but never denying its joys, either. Together, theirs is a genuine relationship, rich, rewarding, transforming. Well worth reading at any age, the sooner this wonderful book is reprinted the better!

This book keep my Russian heart it's already sixteen years
It are unique in Le Guin works. Two teenagers, the boy and his (maybe!)girlfriend looking for the own future. Such interest to observe for the feelings to give birth to Love. The Real peoples. The Real life. Rising and sinking of Love. And a hard choice of two high school outsiders...

A many quotations that are stored in my small notebook. I was to look like Owen in one's time, but I'm a Russian. I sure that my little son should be glad to read Very Far Away some time. ... Read more

Book Description

Buck is a dog born to luxury, but his life changes dramatically when he is sold to be a sled dog in the Yukon Terrority. First published in 1903, this masterpiece of adventure and survival continues to enthrall readers almost a century later. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Call of the Wild
Buck, a half St. Bernard, half german sheperd dog, was stolen from his Californian home and taken to the Klondike. At his Californian home, Buck sees himself as the King. He could do whatever he wants. The Klondike is a whole new world for him. He has to get accustomed to the harsh weather, the other dogs, and the rules. Buck learns it all very fast.

Before taken to his new owners he had to be 'broken in'. He was put in a cage with a man in a red sweater, that is holding a club. When Buck sees this man, he immediately trys to attack him. Every jump that Buck takes at the man, he is knocked back by the club. Later, when he is just put with his new owners, a friendly dog named Curly walks up to one of the owners' Huskies, and the Husky attacks her right away. All the other dogs seem to circle the fight. When Curly is knocked to the ground, all of the Huskies attack her. When the dog owners clear the mess, all that is left of Curly is pieces in the snow. Jack London calls these the Laws of Club and Fang.

The Call of the Wild is a very good book. The first chapter hooks you to the story right away. With lots of action and adventure, this is a good book for anyone who can read it.

A Classic!
This tale is so beautiful and poignant it brought tears to my eyes, and I rarely cry over books or films. London displays a true understanding of the deeper reaches of nature. A parable of the civilized dog brought back to to his wild roots. Don't miss it!

The Call of the Wild...A great book that couldn't be better
The Call of the Wild is a very intense and noble book. Buck is a very good and loyal companion to any one human. It is very addicting. It is hard to put it down after you have started. The many furosious elements that Buck had to travel through and their descriptions make it more addicting. You just start to grow a love for Buck for all of the things that he went through through out his life. It is one of the best books ever published.

¡ÚThe Call of the Wild¡Ú
In the novel The Call of the Wild, Jack London describes snow-sledding dogs on a white snowfield. This novel talks about the dog, Buck, who lived in warm California and had an easy life but was sold by a gardener¡¯s helper to an auctioneer from Alaska. Buck suffered from hunger, was forced to do severe work, and poorly treated by most owners. After keen competition, Buck became the lead-dog of the snow-sledding team. At this time, we can not find the words to describe how moving the duel with Spitz was. After the duel, he met his new master, John Thornton, who saved Buck from danger, and Buck respected the master and loved him. Then the master was killed by Indians, and Buck got his wild instincts and his animalistic mind back. Buck wanted to go back to nature; therefore, he went back to the wilderness for the rest of his life.
Jack London expresses the agony and sorrow of human life into Buck¡¯s weary canine life. On the other hand, Jack London describes his own life by using the dog in this story. Through this novel, The Call of the Wild, readers can emotionally feel a sense of the author¡¯s life and trace his past. As we read the book, we can look at our own lives and feel emotions like guilt and sorrow. Consequently, I suggest reading The Call of the Wild because it is one of the most successful stories ever written.

Loyalty Goes a Long Way
I really enjoyed The Call of the Wild because although it was not a book I could relate to, London kept the plot running smoothly and lively. The book rarely became boring. London used so many metaphors in his writing I got a real feel for the scene. He made it very possible to see the characters almost beyond the third point of view. London's use of detail helped the scene come to life. He used such descriptive words that I could almost get into the scene alongside Buck. London seemed to be showing the different levels of loyalty of both men and dogs through his book. He showed the absolute extreme circumstances loyalty goes. I really enjoyed learning about the Alaskan culture. This book depicted a perfect image of what it would be like to be out on a trail on a sled with a team of dogs leading the way. It was very enriching and enlightening. ... Read more

Book Description

They had been standing around the lamp, looking at Emily holding it in her strong fingers, rubbing it. Certainly none of them, not even Rob, expected to hear a sepulchral voice behind them.

"You called me?"

They swung around. . .
... Read more

Reviews (20)

A fabulous book containing universal truths
A Wrinkle in Time has always been my favorite book, and I was hesistant to read L'Engle's other stories because I had grown so attatched to the Murrays/O'Keefe's. This book was my final Austin family novel, and I must say, if by far my favorite.

This novel, while having the classic L'Engle good-triumphing ending, was full of the darker side of life. Like Arm of the Starfish, this book made me very aware that there is evil in the world. At yet, at the same time, this evil can be combatted through love and trust. It's an incredibly powerful story, with amazing twists and characters you won't soon forget.

Another reason I simply adore this book is because it is very clear that Chronos and Kairos are crossing here. Canon Tallis, Mr. Theo, Emily, Dave . . . they all reappear (or have appeared) in other books. It's wonderful to have that kind of connection with a character.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for themselves in a world where black and white are sometimes purple.

Interesting Mystery
In "The Young Unicorns", we meet up with the Austin family, who are now living in New York City, as Dr. Austin is working on a research project. We also meet 2 new L'Engle characters. Dave, who used to be in a gang called the Alphabats, and Emily, a blind girl who at times stays with the Austins. Dave now reads Emily her homework, as she can't read it herself. When bizarre things begin happening to the Austin family, and a bishop begins acting strangely, the Austin children begin to worry, and decide, with the help of Dave and Emily, to solve the mystery. But what they don't realize at the time, is that getting involved may cost them their lives.

We all know that L'Engle writes amazing coming-of-age novels, but, after reading "The Young Unicorns", I now know that she also writes amazing mystery/suspense/sci-fi novels. This was an amazingly interesting book, and readers, whether previous L'Engle fans or not, will relish in her character descriptions, and adventure. A must have book.

Erika Sorocco

A great modern classic
I found the book to be a marvelous read with real gripping drama, and characters it's easy to care about. Part coming of age story, part mystery/adventure, this is a profound piece that makes you think as it entertains and thrills. I recommend any and every book by this writer.

An Austin sci-fi mystery
New York City in the 1960s. It's a place where the sure sign of gang membership is a black leather jacket, where the worst drugs adolescents may encounter are "pot" and "acid," and where laser surgery is still the stuff of science fiction - although just barely. To the Austin family from Thornhill, Connecticut, it's simultaneously Sin City and a place where they have settled in to make a temporary home. Small Rob has ventured for the first time into a world of boys and men, by opting for a nearby cathedral's parochial school instead of going with his older sisters Suzy and Vicky. The family has taken two waifs into its bosom: Emily Gregory, their landlord's blind and motherless daughter; and Josiah "Dave" Davidson, a former gang member who reads Emily her lessons.

How are Emily, Dave, Dave's father who works in the cathedral's maintenance department, the cathedral's dean, and a visiting Anglican canon connected to the research that the Austin children's father is mysteriously conducting during this year off from his country medical practice? That's the key to a mystery which Rob, Suzy, and Vicky all realize - at different times and in different ways - is threatening their family, too.

L'Engle's two previous Austin books, and the one following this in the series, have Vicky as first-person narrator. I found myself missing her voice as I read, but I quickly realized why the author chose to tell this story in the third person. That approach enables us to follow the story from many different viewpoints. Having it unfold through Vicky's eyes alone would not, for this young adult thriller, produce a tale even half as satisfying.

This is the first L'Engle book that I've read as an adult and found it dated. However, the story still works well on each of its various levels. I figured the mystery out before I should have, but can't say how well I might have done with it as a young teen.

my favorite Austin book
While not as well known as 'A Ring of Endless Light', 'The Young Unicorns' is just as good as its sequel. Madeleine L'Engle not only manages to write about family and the universe (as she always does so wonderfully), but also creates an interesting mystery that will keep you in suspense until the last chapter. As always, L'Engle's writing is fantastic--simple but eloquent.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed was the introduction of characters such as Emily, the blind pianist whom the Austins care for while her father is away, Dave, an ex-gang member trying to find his place in life, and Mr. Theo, Emily's lion-esque piano teacher. They, among others, each added a new twist to the Austin family dynamic. Don't get me wrong; I love the Austin family and seeing them relate to each other. However, these new characters gave an interesting addition to a familiar situation. Also, many of these characters appear/have appeared in other L'Engle novels, which provides a fun connection for fans of her work.
Whether you're interested in philosophy, mystery, or a story of family, 'The Young Unicorns' will more than satisfy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Delicious, child-friendly recipes
We checked this book out from the library again and again. We loved it. There are seven very 'American' children in our family, and we ate or drank every recipe we tried from this cookbook.
The illustrations and descriptions were delightful. The recipes were tasty and appealing to all literary-minded children who have been permitted or encouraged from babyhood to have adventurous palates.
Several recipes have been oft requested birthday favorites.

Yummy. Wish it were still in print.

Delicious Food, Wonderful Fantasy
I LOVE the Chronicles of Narnia, even as a "grown-up".So I jumped at the chance to learn how to make foods described in the books.

The book is supposedly aimed at kids. I will say though, that the taste of the foods is really more adult (or English). They taste great, don't get me wrong, but kids (unless they are really excited about the recipies being Narnian) will likely think them wierd. I made the Tea Cakes with Lemon Curd Filling for a friend's kid's Communion Party, and all the adults raved--but the kids wouldn't even go near them. (Incidentally, the Tea Cakes are DELICIOUS. A wonderful treat).

A note of advice, you will need stuff like double boilers and parchment paper for some of the recipies. Plus you will have to make some trips to specialty food stores. However, most of the stuff is middling easy to make.

Overall, this is a wonderful book. I am so glad I have it. The recipies are very tasty, and the book itself provides a wonderful cornicopia of foods and ideas that Americans are not very familiar with.

Transport your family to Narnia
Having a 7-year old boy who loves The Chronicles of Narnia, this book really caught my eye. He has pored over it, and we have already made two of the recipes: Lucy's Roast Apples and Marmalade Roll. They both turned out very well, and were quite popular with the whole family.

This book has approximately 68 recipes divided into categories such as Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Dessert, and Drinks.

In my opinion, the mark of a good cookbook is the percentage of recipes that one would actually make. In this cookbook, there is a high percentage of the recipes that I would try.

Each recipe has a bit of commentary from Douglas Gresham, Lewis' stepson, and a quote from one of the books that lists the dish the recipe is for. The commentary is interesting and informative. There is also a foreward written by Gresham. At the end of the book are some menu ideas so that you can have a Narnian dinner party with your friends. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Love this book/CD-rom
This is a work of art. The book itself is quite simple, but the CD-ROM is absolutely charming - a combination of simple yet sophisticated animations, incredible music and narration. This isn't just for kids - this is something someone of any age can enjoy. It truly brings out the "story" inherent in Lear's charming drawings.

Not just for Lear Fans!

Delightful cd renderings as well
The book itself has three sections: Absurd ABC, Crazy Colors (all limericks include a reference to color), and Funny Faces (primarily noses). All vintage Lear.

The advantage of this particular volume is the cd which contains a reading of all the material in the book with a delightful musical accompaniment and a visual extension of drawings for the computer with similar musical accompaniment - it includes whimsical plants, a series of cats etc.

An excellent edition of a small portion of Lear's work. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The last word in Nonsense - a timeless classic for children
The Complete Book of Nonsense by Lear is a broad compilation of Limericks, Poems, Ballads and other forms which celebrates the fantasy world of the child. Lear creates simple visions of exaggeration with a man's beard so large as to have birds nesting in it, or some one who's legs were so long as to leap from Turkey to France in one prance. Included also are a number of love stories or stories of devotion such as the exquisite "The Owl and the Pussycat" who went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat.

It is a book which does not make any attempt to cram a moral into a child's mind or teach facts. It makes it's appeal directly to the child's curiosity and fantasy world, illustrated with a unique and charmingly naive yet sophisticated pen and ink drawing style, it delivers enchantment and will fascinate. He speaks their language. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Four classic Leo Lionni mouse fables are collected in one handsome box set, just the right size for small hands. Lionni’s familiar torn-paper collages with their gorgeous earthy colors will become immediate favorites for a whole new generation of readers. Caldecott Honor book Frederick, about a contemplative mouse who dreams away the summer while others harvest food for the winter, joins three lesser known but equally wonderful stories. Each features a protagonist who follows her or his heart, in spite of the scoffing and opposition of others. In Matthew’s Dream, a mouse discovers his passion for art after a trip to a museum. Tillie in Tillie and the Wall fantasizes about what is on the other side of the wall alongside her meadow home, and eventually overcomes her community’s resistance to venture forth and find out. Geraldine (Geraldine the Music Mouse) nibbles away at a hunk of cheese to create a sculpture of a flute-playing mouse, which then, magically, begins to play music.

This splendid collection of quiet, thought-provoking tales is enjoyable on many levels, for readers of all ages. Lovely! (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Book Description

Generations of children have been captivated by the hair-raising adventures and misadventures of Brer Rabbit. Come along as he sneaks into Mr. Man's garden, persuades Brer Wolf to be burned in a hollow log, and kicks Brer Fox's Tar Baby. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A classic reworked for our times
Julies Lester and Jerry Pinkney are forever finding new ways of retelling classic African American tales while removing the stigma once attached to their early presentation. Their other works include a whole new version of the old L'il Black Sambo story. Far more daringly is this collection; a retelling of the classic Uncle Remus stories. There is much to admire in this collection and a little to criticize. Admirable are the ways in which the stories are made interesting for kids today. The character of Uncle Remus has been made omnipresent. No longer are there pictures of little white children crouching at his feet. Instead, his narration encompasses everything that happens, and his humor infuses each and every story. Less admirable are some of the the more modern twinges placed here and there. Sometimes the narrator will mention a shopping mall or a pair of expensive running shoes. These "updates" seem to date an otherwise modern story. The violence found in these tales often seem straight out of a Grimm fairy tale. They are a bit similar in the methods of killing (boiling with water, burning alive, etc.). It is difficult in this day and age to find such tireless reworkings of classic American stories. Stories that should never be forgotten because they represent a part of our American past. If you have any interest at all, or nostalgia for, these tales then read this book immediately and do not dilly dally.

Lifetime Memories
I was raised on these tales of the wiley rabbit. My mother read me to sleep with The Songs of The South. Being from the heart of Dixie I have a very personal feeling for these wonderful colorful and enlightning tales of old. My middle age has allowed me to pass these tales on to my children and I am now reading them to my Grandchildren. In fact they are in demand from my kids wanting to read them to their children them selves when not convenient to do so by me.

Uncle Remus spins a whimsicle yarn and uses old time forgotten vinacular that titilates the imagination to heights that brings a giggle to the staunches personality.

The are truly an endless means of allowing imaginations paint colorful pictures and creating cool summer breezes under an old sycimore tree decked out with lazy spanish moss.

Highly recommended and truly a milestone in our Southern Heritage and culture of The Old South. Song of The South will endure and hold on like a Mississippi snapping turtle.

This book one is one of my all-time childhood favorites!
I personally haven't read the book in years, but my Grandmother (Mama Toler, we called her) bought that book for me when I was very young. Actually, if memory serves, it was a collection of stories with Uncle Remus telling the tales, and included several stories about the adventures of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Wolf, and the Doogang. Oh, I can't forget to mention "Tar Baby" either! Even before I was old enough to read on my own, Mama Toler would hold me in her lap and read all about the Adventures of Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch. I loved it when she would mimick Uncle Remus' laugh because her belly would jiggle and make me wiggle and giggle (can you tell the little child in me has been awakened?). This book is one is one of my all-time favorites and, although I haven't seen it in years, I'm thinking that this would be the perfect time for me to buy a copy for my four-year old granddaughter (and ME!) since she spends every other weekend with us and loves for "Nanna" to read to her. Thanks for rekindling some happy memories. Happy Reading to you all, too! Diane ... Read more

Book Description

Emma has taken care of the Butler children since Sarah and Frances's mother, Fanny, left. Emma wants to raise the girls to have good hearts, as a rift in morals has ripped the Butler household apart: Sarah and their mother oppose the inhumanity of slavery, while Frances and their father, Pierce, believe in the Southern lifestyle and treatment of blacks.

Now, to pay off mounting gambling debts, Pierce decides to cash in his "assets." He hosts the biggest slave auction in American history, at the price of his humanity. During these two days, the skies weep on the proceedings below, for although Butler promises Emma's parents not to sell her: money, desperation, and greed enable him to justify his any misdeed. Through flashbacks and flash-forwards, and shifting first-person points of view, readers will travel with Emma and others through time and place, and come to understand that every decision has its consequences, and final judgment is passed down not by man, but by his maker. ... Read more

Book Description

Narnia ... where anything can happen (and most often does) ... and where the adventure begins.

The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his first voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne. The journey takes Edmund, Lucy, their cousin Eustace, and Caspian to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea, toward Aslan's country at the End of the World.

Performed by Derek Jacobi

Reviews (2)

Wonderful---historical fiction about cave painting
Our family enjoyed this book, which is an imaginative story about the first cave painting. A tribe is starving and suffering with a lack of food and enduring a drought. The tribe's shaman has died and she passed the job onto her adolescent daughter named Mishoo. Fearing this responsibility, she has chosen not to "catch dreams" which is apparently the cause of both the drought and the lack of hunting success. Finally Mishoo follows the commands given by her mother and grandmother in her dreams...she goes to a sacred cave. Once in the cave she builds a fire and sees how the rock walls seem to come alive with shapes of animals. She uses her gathered clays to paint the walls.

The writing is poetic and eerie. The illustrations are gorgeous and set the mood perfectly.

When Mishoo returns to her tribe after three days of painting, it has just begun to rain. The rain will stimulate growth of the grasses, which will lure the animals back to the land. It ends by saying their hunting was successful and the tribe is thriving again.

Both the writing and the artwork drew us in and made us feel a part of the story. This is the first fiction historical book for children that I have found. It is the perfect addition to our homeschool curriculum for learning about early man and cave paintings.

Both my 3 and 5 year old boys enjoyed this story, although I needed to explain some of the passages such as what "moon of the singing grass" and "dream catcher" meant. I loved the way the author captured an artist's imagination and ability to imagine and "see" the finished piece before even starting work on it, how the rock walls seemed to speak to her and how she then created what she already saw in her mind's eye. This type of explanation is seldom seen in children's literature; I appreciated that.

A list of suggested related readings and background information about cave paintings are included at the end of the book.

We read this after borrowing it from the public library and we loved it so much, we must own a copy for our home library!

One Word--WOW!
FIRST PAINTER literally took my breath away. It is a truly powerful and beautiful picture book--the words, the illustrations, and the design. I've read it three times in a row and I love it more with each rereading. FIRST PAINTER is Lasky's fictional story about what she imagines could have been the first cave painter. The story is told from the perspective of Mishoo, a young girl who is the shaman for her prehistoric tribe. There is a severe drought and their tribe is dying ("My younger sister, Erloo, is so thin her wrists are like twigs."). Mishoo must visit the cave of the she-tiger in one last attempt to bring water to her people. There, in the cave, the walls seem to come alive to Mishoo with their shadows and indents. She uses a fire stick and the colors from her spirit bundle to draw horses and bison and the she-tiger. She gathers energy from her paintings and finally emerges days later to clouds--"immense and woolly against the horizon." Rain has arrived, and so too has Mishoo's passion to paint again and again!

I've enjoyed Lasky's books for many years, but she has outdone herself this time. This book is brilliant--the words are simple, yet poetic and powerful. The first-person telling pulls me into the story (as close as I can come to being there in prehistoric times). The whole idea for the book is thought-provoking and should encourage many children's discussions and imaginings about not only who painted the first picture, but who started the first language (with words or gestures?), who made the first fire (by accident or on purpose?). Is the "need" for artistic expression solely a human need? On and on.

This is my first experience with Rocco Baviera's illustrations, but they won't be my last--what a master! He used bear grease, animal fur, raw earth pigments, and more to create his primitive and powerful images. They are achingly, hauntingly beautiful; and they perfectly capture the spirit of the first paintings and the first painter.

I expect to see this book on many award lists. Thank you, Kathryn Lasky, Rocco Baviera, Melanie Kroupa, & Chris Hammill Paul (DK Ink)--what a gift you have given the world! ... Read more

Book Description

After her dramatic release from quarantine and reunion with her family, Sofia moves to the North End of Boston, where the Monaris start their new lives in their new country. While her parents struggle to make ends meet, Sofia must adjust to her American school, friends and job. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sofia's story continues.
Nine-year-old Sofia has finally been reunited with her family after a month in quarantine on Ellis Island, and now they have traveled to Boston to build their new life in America. Sofia's father finds a job in a grocery store, and Sofia begins attending school. She enjoys learning English and making new friends, although she misses her best friend from quarantine, Maureen, whose family has settled in New York City. Sofia describes in her diary her life over seven months as her family adjusts to their new lives in America and sees their dreams begin to come true. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the My America series and have read Hope in My Heart, Sofia's first diary. ... Read more