Book Description

Disney and Pixar’s most beloved characters come to life in this charming CD storybook!Your child will love hearing Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Sulley, Flik, and more in these fantastic stories and funny rhymes.The engaging set features four favorite stories, eight rhymes, character voices, and over an hour of listening enjoyment—all packaged together in one collectable edition.

Stories include:

- A Bug’s Life
- Monsters, Inc.
- Toy Story
- Toy Story 2

With full-color illustrations and an accompanying full-length CD, it’s a certain smash hit! ... Read more

Book Description

The animals are having a carnival, and the guests are arriving. There's the majestic lion, the braying mules, the dancing elephant, and the bouncy kangaroos. Even the fossils join in with a fast and rattly dance. Everyone is invited!

Nearly 150 years ago, the composer Camille Saint-Saëns was asked by his pupils to write a musical joke for them. He wrote the Carnival of the Animals, a piece people enjoyed so much that it has now become one of Saint-Saëns's most famous works.

This accessible commentary, in a picture-book format, helps children follow each section of Saint-Saëns's classic piece while they listen to the CD. Whimsical illustrations, a simple text, and evocative melodies create an ideal introduction for young children to the world of classical music.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good classical music book w/CD for youngsters
Completely enjoyed by our 2 year old and his parents. Pictures are absolutely beautiful. Having the CD is useful. Each of the 14 tracks has a beautifully illustrated 2 page spread, which makes it easy to follow the music - the book and music work very well together. The text, which is written in a perfectly simple and direct and short manner so as to render it very useful, helps the listener focus on different aspects of the music and appreciate the music by putting it in terms we could understand more easily (e.g. for the Lion's March - "the strings are playing the lion's marching tune as he walks...Sometimes he roars loudly. Can you hear the pianos playing the lion's roar?") Our toddler loves classical music but this is a great choice for any child or adult. The entire package - the CD, the format of the book, the pictures and the text - really make this a great way of experiencing the music and just a plain good old story.

MUST HAVE FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS!!
Of any age... this is such a treat! You will love it. Wonderful way to bring music in through language arts.

Great Musical Experience for Any Kid!
"Carnival of Animals" is a great book and CD set to use to introduce children to this fun classical work by Camille St Saens. The book is informative, fun and is filled with bright, playful pictures which help to bring the songs to life. It's fun for adults as well.

One of the best
This is one of the best books I have seen on Saint Saëns' Carnival of the Animals. The pictures are bright and colourful, descriptions of the instruments very clear and the explanation of the correlation between the instruments and the animals very easy and fun to follow. It is an extra bonus to have the CD included and each animal track numbered. I would highly recommend this to any elementary teacher, even with little or no of music experience.

Simply a delight
This one makes my heart soar: a perfect duo of book and CD to introduce little ones into the world of both. As a "Grammie" I can hold the phone to my granddaughter, age 2 1/2 and play listening games with her while she looks at the book, which I have sent her. Bravo Henry Holt for having come up with this. I'm hoping you have more in store. ... Read more

Book Description

9 complete stories at a great price!

Featuring:

The Cat in the Hat read by Kelsey Grammer
Horton Hears a Who read by Dustin Hoffman
How the Grinch Stole Christmas read by Walter Matthau
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? read by John Cleese
The Lorax read by Ted Danson
Yertle the Turtle, Gertrude McFuzz, and The Big Brag read by John Lithgow
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose read by Mercedes McCambridge
Horton Hatches the Egg read by Billy Crystal
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back read by Kelsey Grammer ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolutely Wonderful Readings!
As a homeschooling Mom of 2 small girls, we do A LOT of reading together. What a treat to have someone else do the reading for me every once in a while! Kelsey Grammer, John Lithgow, Walter Matthau, Ted Danson, Billy Crystal and other famous voices certainly do an OUTSTANDING job! The stories are unabridged, which makes it easy to follow along with your own Dr Seuss library. Between the talented author and the unquestionably talented actors, you just can't go wrong...what a great gift to any child or Dr. Seuss fan of any age! My daughters love this CD, and are always asking for one more story or the other disc. SO...we purchased the Green Eggs and Ham CD set today, and are very eager to see how it compares to this fun compilation! ... Read more

Book Description

Dear Listener,

I am sorry to say that the lives of the Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.

If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this audio will probably fill you with despair.

I also shouldn't mention the interactive features of the CD, which include:

• A perplexing word game
• Photos from The Lemony Snicket Archives
• Art from The Brett Helquist gallery

I will continue to record these tragic tales for that is what I do. You should decide for yourself if you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Reviews (126)

Got a whale of a tale to tell ya lads
Guardians of the unfortunate Baudelaire orphans can be easily separated into three categories. They are malicious (Count Olaf), benign (Uncle Monty), or useless (Aunt Josephine). In this particular book we meet the ineffectual Aunt Josephine, the third of the Baudelaire's guardians and, perhaps, the most useless of them all. I mean, certainly it is unfortunate that Count Olaf was their first, and continually follows them from home to home, always wearing disguises. But he was not useless. In fact, he moves the plots along quite nicely.

In "The Wide Window", the unfortunate three have landed on the shores of Lake Lachrymose (lachrymose here meaning, "given to tears or weeping", as I am sure the children were feeling at that moment). They have been placed in the care of Aunt Josephine, a woman afraid of everything. Still, this new home is not too too bleak. The children have a large library to go through (albeit a library full of grammar books) and things appear to be going fairly smoothly until they run across their nemesis Count Olaf yet again. This time, he is disguised as Captain Sham (love the name) and his new plans to get his hands on the orphans is just as devious as ever.

For vocabulary reasons alone these books are a wonder. Any parent reading them to their children would do well to explain all the little in-jokes that appear along the way (always assuming that the adults themselves GET the jokes in the first place). This book also is one of the first Baudelaire sagas in which the orphans actually see their guardian dispatched before their very eyes. Of course, you can't feel too badly about Aunt Josephine's death. She did attempt to sacrifice the orphans' lives for her own, in an act of cowardice that doomed her to death by (ugh) leeches. All in all, a wonderful continuation of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Connor Gives This Book 5Stars
This book is the third book of the series and like all of them, they have an unpleasant ending. I liked this book because it had an interesting plot and because of the characters. My favorite character was Klaus because he loves books and so do I. Violet and Sunny were also good. Like all the stories in this series, Count Olaf tries to steal the Baudelaire's fortune but so far is not successful. In this book he tries to steal it by faking Aunt Josephine death and making her write a note saying that she wants Captain Sham (Count Olaf) to be the orphans' caretaker.

This book is about three unlucky orphans whose parents died in a fire. They move to Aunt Josephine house. When they were at the market one-day, they see a guy that looks like Count Olaf. He really is Count Olaf but he is in disguise as Captain Sham. The next day they find a letter on the library door saying that Aunt Josephine committed suicide. They find out that it was a secret message that ended up saying Curled Cave. They travel there and find her there. On the way back to the dock, leeches attack them. Captain Sham rescues them but he throws Aunt Josephine over board. And the leeches kill her. Mr. Poe find out that Captain Sham was really Count Olaf in disguise. He runs from them and locks the orphans and him behind a metal gate.

This book is good for people who like to read adventure and a little mystery. This book is good for children and young adults. People who read the first three books in this series should read this book for sure. I thought this book was good but not as good as The Reptile Room.

The Wide Window
I thought that the book was boring. Its good and all, but it is slow. They are sent to live with Aunt Josephine, a woman who is afraid of every thing, even the doorknob. Count Olaf appears and tries to steal the fortune.

The Third Book
This books picks up from the previous book as the orphans are now carted off to live with there aunt Josephine, ok so she's not actually their aunt but some odd fourth cousin twelve times removed or something. After reading two of the previous books in the series I am sure the reader can now guess that the children will have to deal with the horrid count Olaf again in some odd disguise that he has thought up. Still I did find this book enjoyable, but highly predictable by now. The author doses not change the style in which he writes and in fact the stories are of a very similar plot line. This is not to say that I will not read all thirteen books when they are published in their entirety. So hopefully all will enjoy this third installment of the orphan's grisly tale.

World Wide Window
This is the 3rd 'Unfortunate Events' book I have read, and call me slow, but are these books all just the same thing? Every book I have read so far has the poor orphans (a phrase meaning they lost their parents, not poor as in they have no money) being shipped off to some new location in the care of some well-meaning but dim person with a tenuous family connection, as the nefarious Count Olaf slips on a disguise and manages to fool everyone. Of course the children immediately know it is Count Olaf - the adults are dumb and stupid, and do not.

I guess that's what happens in every book of the series. Hmm. Anyway, this book finds the orphans heading off to visit their aunt, blahdeeblah, Count Olaf arrives dressed as a sea captain, blingbloo, Count Olaf almost inherits the orphans, so on, so forth, etc., etc. Adults die, threats of physical violence are made towards children...I think if I were a young child reading this book I'd be a bit frightened! I don't know who these books are targeted towards. ... Read more

Book Description

Already a proven home-study program, the Language for Children series is making noise with this updated, integrated book-plus-audio edition. Along with its charming visuals and lively activities, the series now provides in CD format the stimulating sounds of language to entice preschoolers through primary graders into learning a second language. Cute, catchy songs and the humorous, serial adventures of SuperCat are sure to captivate the imagination and foster language acquisition. Each set in the series contains an 80-page full-color activity book coordinated with two 60-minute CDs as well as a Parent/Instructor CD packed with helpful tips.

Together children and parents can master basic language skills, including making introductions, counting from 1 to 20, and describing objects. The perfect package for parents and teachers who want to familiarize three- to nine-year olds with foreign languages and cultures.

Reviews (2)

Learn Italian!
I have been searching for an easy way to teach my daughter, age 4 who has grown up only speaking english, my native Italian. I have tried various computer programs, books and tapes, and other teaching methods. All were rather boring and unhelpful, my daughter soon lost interest. This system is wonderful! The lessons are interesting and fun. They are blended wonderfully with songs and activities that keep a child's attention. I highly recommend this program. I do recommend that someone in the family practice with the child and participate with them while they listen. This is by far the best children's language packet I've seen.

An engaging and informative program for learning Italian.
My son and I enjoyed the music, activities and games provided in this learning program. The use of children's voices for the cassette was very effective. A great starting point for both children and adults alike.

It would be great to have this program on video.

's ... Read more

Book Description

As Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire travel along Lousy Lane toward their new home, they fear the worst.

It's true that Violet Baudelaire has escaped some close calls before. For a fourteen-year-old, she has an extraordinary talent for inventing things. And her brother, Klaus, is also well equipped for emergencies. He has read a great deal and possesses just the sort of knowledge that can get them out of a tight spot. Their younger sister, Sunny, is also helpful in a jam. Though she is only an infant, she has four very sharp teeth, and she likes to bite things.

Still, even though the Baudelaires have great talent among them, they can't help but worry about what sort of guardian their strange Uncle Montgomery Montgomery will be. After all, these siblings are extremely unlucky and they had best be on their guard. Certainly, they will need all of their abilities if they should find themselves faced with a dreadful series of unfortunate events.

Reviews (153)

A Snake-ish Read
Book the Second of unlucky thirteen, Lemony Snicket presents to us the [continued] tragic story of the Baudelaire children as they move to another relative's home. In the first book of the series, "The Bad Beginning", we are introduced to the three Baudelaire children: Violet, a clever girl with a penchant for inventing things; Klaus, a lover of books; and Sunny, the youngest Baudelaire who loves to bite anything and everything. Their beloved parents had perished in a fire, and the orphans were sent to live with their relative, the dreadful Count Olaf. After thwarting Count Olaf's evil plans, however, they found themselves yet without a home and guardian.

"The Reptile Room" takes place in Lousy Lane, deemed one of the most horrible places in the world, and this is where our story begins. The Baudelaire orphans are being sent to live with their late father's cousin's wife, Dr. Montgomery Montgomery, a famed herpetologist (snake expert). At first it seems like things will be like life under Count Olaf's roof, but the children soon find themselves liking "Uncle Monty" (as he insists they calling him). Life has somewhat gotten back to normal, as the Beudelaire children and Uncle Monty began to make preparations for their expedition to Peru, when Stephano the hired assistant turns up at the door. Stephano...who could only be fiendish Count Olaf in disguise! What are the children to do?

"A Series of Unfortunate Events" is a cleverly written series for children written in a gothic style. Snicket delights in telling his readers that things are bound to get worse for the Beaudelaire children as the story progresses. This is not your typical run-of-the-mill children's book, as people get killed, threatened, and of course, the Beaudelaire children are constantly in danger of Count Olaf and his theatre troupe of henchmen.

One of the most interesting things that adults will find is that Snicket will pepper the storylines with allusions to literary figures, such as Mr. Poe, the caretaker of the Beaudelaire fortune. He also does a good job of explaining some vocabulary, and certain terminology, such as "dramatic irony." For more advanced readers, this may come off as an annoyance, but keep in mind that these are children's books and you'll be fine.

"The Reptile Room" is a dark and amusing tale to be enjoyed by all readers, child or adult, as we explore the situations that unveil and what the Beauledaire children plan to do to stop them.

The BEST in the series
After reading this whole series, I discovered that the reptile room is the most unique book out of all ten published so far!
The reason for this simply being, that Uncle Monty is the only guardian they like and that they enjoy being with.

This book is such an interesting read, some may call it 'unputdownable'. It begins with them travelling along a dreadfully smelly road, but soon their spirits lighten up once they see their uncle monty, the snakes in the reptile room and the fact they all had their own rooms !

Violet feels right at home designing and ttesting traps for the snakes the planned to catch on their expedition to Peru, Klaus certainly enjoyed all the reserching and the library, and Sunny became the best of friends with the deadly viper, which of course was a mis-nomer which when you read it you will understand.

Everything is fine until their life is ruined - AGAIN, by the treacherous Count Olaf, but no one can beat the baudlaire kids, so pick this book up and prepare for yet another great book by lemony Snicket and all in all enjoy reading about the mamba du mal to Count olafs unbelievable disguise.

So don't miss out on this fabulous book, you'll be glad you bought it!

The Reptile Room
I thought that The Reptile Room was one of the happiest ones in the series. They are sent to live with a herpetologist named Dr. Montgomery Montgomery. Count Olaof appeared, causing unhappiness in their lives and tried to get the Baudelaire fortune.

Hurray
The story continues with the three baudelaire orphans, as they are brought to their new home with their Uncle Monty. This book follows a very similar pattern to the previous book, but I must admit I still found it entreating, and of course hardly time consuming at all.

Lemony snicket really provides his readers with a fun filled story. I found it funny, extremely witty, and for you older people, such as I, he does tend to stick in small references that only we would catch. There were few things that I did not enjoy in the book, such as the recap on what happened in the previous tale, and some of the ruining gags, such as Sunny's speech patters, do tend to get a little repetitious at times. Still I can appreciate why the author uses these things in his books, and could see how someone of the proper age group would probably appreciate such things much more than myself. All in all a good book, and if you have kids for goodness sake, read it to them!

Another winner
Sequels frequently do not keep the promise of the first book, but it is not so here. The poor, poor orphans just can't find true happiness. It almost seems that everything will be okay, despite the many Cassandra warnings of the author, and then that dastardly villain, Count Olaf, re-appears and spoils everything.

From internal clues in the first two books, I would suggest that the setting is England or Canada. For example, there is a reference to royal gardens in book one. However, in the "Unauthorized Autobiography" the postcard has an American postage stamp: the Shakespeare commemorative from decades ago. I wish someone would comment on the setting.

The book feels British and as if it is actually directed toward adults, more so than in book one. It's difficult to pinpoint examples to demonstrate this--perhaps the definition of words is a bit more whimsical and funny.

Whatever the case, I eagerly anticipate book three. ... Read more

Download Description

"The team of Koko, the brilliant Siamese cat, and Qwilleran, the reporter with the perceptive moustache, is back in action--with an adorable female Siamese, Yum Yum, added to the household.When Qwilleran decides to do a feature story on Junktown, he gets more than he bargained for. Not the dope den he anticipated, Junktown is a haven for antique dealers and collectors--as strange a lot as the crafty reporter has ever encountered. When a mysterious fall ends the career--and the life--of one of Junktown's leading citizens, Qwilleran is convinced it was no accident. But, as usual, it takes Koko to prove he's right." ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Another great book from Lilian Jackson Braun!
This is the third of "The Cat Who ..." series. Really a good read. I like the character development, the clues, and the way everything comes together at the end. Koko and Yum Yum are both great cats (even though only Koko seems to be a good detective) and if you read the books in order you find Jim (Qwill) becoming a better person for his friendship with the cats.

In Which Qwilleran, Koko, and Yum Yum. . .
. . .move to "Junktown" in order to do a series of articles on the subject of antiques -- yet another topic on which Qwill knows nothing!

This book is especially nice in that it introduces us to Mrs. Cobb, a character who will make an appearance in several other books -- as will her famous cooking!

As this is a murder mystery, there is, of course, the obligatory murders -- but the plot is tightly written and the characters are interesting. In the end, of course, Qwill, Koko, and Yum Yum save the day -- and help Junktown to a new burst of popularity and prosperity.

3rd in the cat who...series
Another cute murder mystery with Qwilleran, the middle-aged news writer for the Daily Fluxion and his Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum. The setting takes place in Junktown, a decaying town known for its unusual junk (antique) shops and seedy living. Captivated by the unusual way-of-life, Qwilleran decides to move into town and starts writing stories for the Christmas feature. He becomes friendly with many of the shop-owners especially "the Dragon" and "the 3 Weird Sisters". He soon discovers that Andy's death was not accidental. With the help of his two mischievous cats, Qwilleran solves the mystery in Junktown.

if you are a Cat Who fan if you are not then 3 or 4
Jim Qwilleran, Qwill to his friends, has decided to ease his cash flow problem by winning the prize offered by The Daily Fluxion for the best story of the year. Qwill is a feature writer for the paper but his doubts that anything on his usual beat of interior design will achieve this goal so he pitches the idea of a heart touching story about Christmas in Junktown. His editor agrees and then Qwill finds out that the junk in Junktown is not narcotics but instead refers to the low end of the antique trade.

There is no option for Qwill but to try and make the best of the situation. He soon becomes immersed in the characters of Junktown even locating a new apartment there for himself and his two Siamese cats. Qwill keeps hearing of a tragic death that occured in the community a few weeks before, a death that seems odd to him but that everyone around him keeps insisting must have been accidental. As more tragic accidents and odd occurences that place Qwill becomes more convinced that Junktown is no as crime free as his neighbors would like to believe. As always Qwill, with the help of his cats, solve the mysteries.

This, the third entry into the Cat Who series, was orginally published in 1968 which becomes evident whenever prices are mentioned. Other than that the story holds up well and could be enjoyed even by some one who is not familiar with the series. For fans of the series please note that it is not set in the familiar Moose County of the later books but is instead located in a "large Mid-western city'. As is common for this series some old familiar characters make repeat appearances if only in passing.

Boringgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg............
This book was the worst one ever written. If you thought that the person was posed with cats you'll hate this person even more. She should get a life and not spend her time writting kiddie books about cats. ... Read more

Book Description

Already a proven home-study program, the Language for Children series is making noise with this updated, integrated book-plus-audio edition. Along with its charming visuals and lively activities, the series now provides in CD format the stimulating sounds of language to entice preschoolers through primary graders into learning a second language. Cute, catchy songs and the humorous, serial adventures of SuperCat are sure to captivate the imagination and foster language acquisition. Each set in the series contains an 80-page full-color activity book coordinated with two 60-minute CDs as well as a Parent/Instructor CD packed with helpful tips.

Together children and parents can master basic language skills, including making introductions, counting from 1 to 20, and describing objects. The perfect package for parents and teachers who want to familiarize three- to nine-year olds with foreign languages and cultures.

Reviews (4)

Best foreign language program for YOUNG children I've seen.
I teach preschool children French in my home and have not seen an easier method for children who do not yet read. Though designed for beginning readers it is easily adapted to non-readers. Parents who do not speak the language can learn along with their child. The program comes with an activity book children can draw, color and cut in, along with 3 cassettes. Two cassettes are the lesson plans (1-10), and the third is an instructional guide for parents.

My only disappointment is that there is not another level after the child completes the book.

We also have the German for Children(it comes in several languages). We spend time in the evening doing the program with our 4 year old son. I soon realised that my 2 year old knew all of the songs and was responding to questions directed at his older brother in German. They love the Super Cat cartoon.

Note: A young child can not do the lessons without help from an adult.

Slightly disappointing
I was surprised to find out that this book doesn't really come with a cassette for the kids to listen to. I talked with some customer service people and found that there may be quite a few different versions of this book, and unfortunatly not all of these versions are currently available. But other than that this book is still a pretty good french instructor for young children.

One of the best I've seen.
Our family has a small library of French materials for children and this is the one my children enjoy using the most. The songs are catchy and understandable (many we have are hard for me to understand what they are singing and I have had 6 years of French language). There is a good mix of activities and games that reinforce what they are learning.

An excellent program to introduce children to French.
This program is a wonderful balance between written and spoken French, with cute songs and games which entertain children as they learn. Most notable is that the program is presented by a native French speaker, not a speaker of French as a second language. I highly recommend this program, especially for (but not limited to) children who can read. ... Read more

Book Description

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

Performed by John McDonough.

Reviews (572)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow. . . .
I had alreay read Maguire's CONFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER when I read WICKED (very contrary to my otherwise anal, everything-must-go-in-order personality), and I was greatly looking forward to it. Maguire again takes a relatively familiar storyline and turns it on its ear--and the readers along with it! We oftentimes think we know who and what is evil and sometimes even why. Maguire tampers with the "why" moreso than the who/what, really challenging the idea of the stereotypes and preconceived notions we all have. The "Wicked Witch of the West" from THE WIZARD OF OZ seems hardly the same girl, Elphaba, that we encounter in Maguire's book. In fact, she is the same, but our preconceived notions have clouded Maguire's "reality." I found the whole geographic aspects fascinating. How can she be the WW of the West, when she is really from the East? How can Glinda be the Good Witch of the North, when she is really from the East, too? Why does the Witch want those foolish shoes anyway? Why has Glinda given them to Dorothy? Where is Dorothy? Maguire doesn't even bring her into the story until it is very nearly over. Dorothy is more of an afterthought than the pivotal role she plays in the movie, and Maguire doesn't paint her kindly. . . . Maguire has invented a whole new world with his Oz, complete with detailed map, political strife and corruption, family histories, and fantastic elements. I can't wait to see THE WIZARD OF OZ now and watch it from Maguire's alternative perspective. It must be even better than Pink Floyd's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON experiment!

The only times he lost me at all were when he stayed in that fantasy realm too long. I struggled momentarily with the lack of human beings and "reality" (whatever that is), unlike UGLY STEPSISTER, which has real people and real places throughout. That is hardly his fault, but that's why I gave UGLY STEPSISTER five stars and WICKED only four. Maguire is Tolkein meets C. S. Lewis meets L'Engle meets Jakob Grimm meets Ray Bradbury. . . . I don't know if he can continue this torrid pace of writing specatacularly creative, inventive, challenging, unique, and heady books, but I can't wait to find out!! (New one's out!!)

A Wicked Treat...
This novel presents a disturbing and provocative view of Oz from the Wicked Witch of the West's perspective. Finally deemed worthy of a name, readers follow the life of Elphaba as she grows from a neglected infant to a much misunderstood woman murdered by a cold mercenary from Kansas. Author Gregory Maguire paints a bleak, cynical picture of Oz filled with secret police, racism, oppression, sadism and more. This isn't the fairy tale from your childhood...

Overall the book is thought-provoking and extremely rich in language and imagery. It's a treat to read. The exploration of morality is compelling and the conflict between good versus evil is reduced almost to a debate between semantics. In some ways it's possible to compare Wicked to Lolita in the way the evil of the central character is humanized.

Not so much bound together by a story, the book explores a darker side of Oz by outlining its history. Expect the book to offer a wealth of ideas and images rather than a page-turning plot. In many ways, the novel is poetic in nature.

I enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend it. Oz is less enjoyable now that I am an adult and the debate Maguire raises in Wicked is more compelling, in some ways, than the black-and-white morally clear world Baum painted for my childhood.

Wicked?
The title of this wonderful book should probably include a question mark--Wicked? Because that's the question we're meant to ask ourselves as we read this chronicle of the life of the Wicked Witch of the West. Was she really wicked? Or did we just catch her at her worst, last moment in The Wizard of Oz?

Beyond being compulsively readable, filled with moments of recognition as the Witch moves steadily toward an end we've already seen on film, this book tackles serious issues on many levels. The Witch's father is a preacher, fighting to protect "unionism" from the new "pleasure faith" while also balancing it with the pagan tendencies and folklore of Oz culture. The presence of talking animals in Oz-remember the Cowardly Lion?-gives Maguire the makings of a civil rights struggle dedicated to fair treatment of these high-functioning beasts, as well as raising questions about the proper dividing line between man and animals and whether either has a soul. Maguire's Oz is filled with political intrigue and romantic tensions, re-imagining the Yellow Brick Road as a tool in the Wizard's assault on the freedoms of Munchkinland and the Good Witch of the North as a spoiled noblewoman, wooed by many, who started out as the Wicked Witch's college roommate. The magical shoes, the flying monkeys, and even the Witch's green skin all have fascinating explanations.

It is a measure of the book's success that I want to watch the movie again with all this back story in mind. Maguire has used one classic to create another, and in doing so, he has amplified both.

A welcome bridge between the fanciful and the poignant
You know, I wanted to hate this book. I had seen self proclaimed literary buffs reading it, and really the concept (The Wizard of Oz from the Wicked Witch's standpoint) seemed really pretentious. Nothing aside from being delayed at the Houston airport with nothing else in the bookstore to buy could have prompted me to read this book. That being said, I read it before I got back to the Houston airport on my return flight.

From reading the back of the book, you would think that within lie the answers to all sorts of nasty little questions pertaining to the nature of evil and the tole society has in forming the individual. It does not. What it does is give you an excuse to become personally aware of your own prejudices through Elphie, the Wicked Witch. At times you will hate her, and at times you will sympathize with her, and all the while the reader gets to see the rest of Oz keep on trucking; I'd be willing to bet the reason McGuire made so much happen around Elphie is to make it difficult to focus specifcally on her. Read the book, you'll see what I mean.

The bottom line: This book is terrificl. If you are afraid to like a character who does things you think you shouldn't, don't buy it. If you like admitting to yourself that you have characteristics you won' fess up to in public, buy this book. It is amazing. It is also amazingly easy to read. Seriously, buy it now. Stop reading reviews and buy it.

one of the best
Despite the topic the novel discusses, this is not a book for children, or even teenagers. This is a book for adults, plain and simple. I enjoyed every word, concept and literary device found in this book. I found it to be clever and moving. Yes, the book can be raunchy, but if we look beyond that we see evidence of the Witch being greatly impacted by the actions of her parents and peers. Her mother detested her, her father used her as an example; it is no wonder that she grew up bitter and angry. But, despite this bitterness, she strives to help others who are in the same situation she is in- being judged based upon appearence and not heart and mind, and soul. The Witch was misunderstood; she wanted to be loved and to love, she wanted to be what her parents had hoped she would be before her birth. It is a great story about the struggles of those who do not fit in, and who are trying to make themselves into something useful. The Witch's major fault was not her green skin, it was her obsessive need to be good enough for her parents, and not quite making it. I loved this book, I have been recommending it to all my friends. ... Read more

Book Description

America's Original Pioneer Girl

Pa Ingalls decides to sell the little log house, and the family sets out for Indian country! They travel from Wisconsin to Kansas, and there, finally, Pa builds their little house on the prairie. Sometimes farm life is difficult, even dangerous, but Laura and her family are kept busy and happy with the promise of their new life on the prairie.

Little House on the Prairie is the second book in the Laura Years series.

Performed by Cherry Jones.

Reviews (53)

real history
This is the story of one year in the life of a family long ago in America. They were happy in their "Little House in the Big Woods". Ma, Pa, Mary, Laura, baby Carrie and dog Jack decide to move west so Pa would have more room to hunt. Pa is a hunter extraordinaire and earns an excellent living for the family. But the woods where they live get more crowded every year so there are less animals to go around. They pack up and move away from their dear home to a new, unknown land.

Their covered wagon makes a great camping vehicle and they enjoy a nice camping trip on their way. They would stop driving for the day, Pa would go out hunting, Ma and the girls would set up camp, and Pa would come back with the evening's supper. They cooked it over a fire, ate the leftovers for breakfast, packed up, and were back on the road for the day.

When they arrived at what Pa said was "home", it was nothing but a big space of grass. Where would they live? No problem.
Pa knows how to build a house with logs, make furniture, dig a well, and build a stable for the horses. That Pa can do anything! The land is free, the hunting is free, building the house and digging the well is free. By the time they plant the garden, I guess they would have no need of money.

But they do get money. Why? Because Pa is a hunter, remember? And a good one. He sells the furs, and the hunting is so plentiful in this area that he has no trouble at all.

The neat thing about this book is that it describes how to do many things: How to build the house, How to make a rocking chair, How to cook over the fire, and describes a clever way to protect your home from a prairie fire that really works! Many popular songs are also included as Pa plays the fiddle in the evening. Some we remember and some we wish we knew.

Because of these things and because of the indians, this was a book that my boys enjoyed right along with my daughter. My husband, the couch potato, even became interested and rented some "Little House" videos.

This is the best kind of history. It's like talking to your grandma and hearing the real story of what things were really like for real people. If you like history, you will love this book.

Laura Ingalls Wilder is an American treasure.
I've recently started reading the Little House books to my seven-year-old daughter and I'm thrilled to discover that I love them just as much now as I did when I was her age. There are a lot of reasons for that. Laura Ingalls Wilder was a wonderful writer. She's simple and always crystal clear, but at the same time, she uses so much detail and has such a great sense of the rhythm of language that her writing is beautifully poetic and always a joy to read aloud. And the characters, of course, are among the most beautifully drawn characters in literature: the feisty Laura who has such a hard time doing what she's supposed to do, her frustratingly perfect sister Mary, her strict but kind parents. Even the animals in the book come across as interesting characters. No matter how tired I am in the evening, I always look forward to getting out Little House and reading a chapter or two.

Those were the things I loved about it as a child, and still love now. But as an adult I've also come to appreciate how quintessentially American this book is. It's the kind of book that makes you think about our heritage, and makes you proud to be American. In these books, Laura and her family keep facing hardships and meeting them head on. When necessary, they pick themselves up and move on to a new place, starting from scratch. They don't expect anything from anybody, and yet they care about their community and their neighbors. You often hear the words "pioneer spirit" used to describe America's best values, but after you read Little House that's not an empty phrase. You, and the child you read it to, understand it in your heart.

Great for Adults too!
Laura's family once setteld. They are great books! I am seeing the whole experience from a new perspective now that I am 35 (relating more with Ma I think) and I am enjoying the stories completely. It's also nice because the books can be read in a single afternoon or just a few hours. A wonderful look at the pioneer life with details on cabin building and settling a piece of land. I highly recommend these books but suggest reading them in order to keep the story of Laura's adventures straight.

Life on the Frontier
Pa Ingalls is tired of how crowded the big woods are getting. So he decides to sell the house and move west with his family. Just before the ice breaks, the family loads up their wagon and heads out. They cross the Mississippi River and then head south, settling two days away from Independence, Missouri. Now they have to build a new house and survive the wilderness. Meanwhile, Laura is anxious to see a papoose. And with all the Indians in the area, she may get her chance.

This is a charming book. It's almost a collection of short stories with many chapters being a self-contained event. Still, through these pages, we get a good picture of life on the American frontier 130 years ago. The book gives plenty of detail about their everyday life without getting bogged down. And it is interesting. Frankly, some of the chapters are so harrowing I felt my pulse quicken. Often I found myself shaking my head in awe at what the Ingalls dealt with on a daily basis. This is a good way to make anyone appreciate just what we have today.

These books are still popular 70 years after they were first written for good reason. They are an entertaining and enlightening look at a bygone era.

Michelle from Richview Middle School
This story begins in the big woods of Wisconsin. A family lived there that consisted of a a dog Jack, a baby Carrie, the oldest daugter Mary and the yourner daughter Laura. The parents are known in this story as Ma and Pa. Ma and Pa are somewhat strict whils Mary is somewhat conservitive and Laura is very adventorous. They left the big woods and went to a new place out west. They traveled along the Mississippi and stopped in amny differnt places to rest. When they finally got there they met their new neighbor, Mr. Edwards. When Pa and Mr. Edwards met Pa asked if they wanted to help each other build their houses. For the next several weeks they helped each other build their houses. When they were finished with the houses Pa asked Mr. Edwards if he would help him build his stable in turn for food. He accepted and they built a sturdy nice looking stable. One night Pa and Laura were sitting in the doorstep and they heard something that sounded very close. It was cowboys! The cowboys were coming to ask Pa if he would help them keep the cattle out of the ravine in turn for fresh meat. He accepted and was back in no time. The next day they decided to go search for an indian camp. They found one eventually but there was no one there. They found some beads and took them home and then they made a necklace for baby Carrie. She loved it. The next few weeks the girls were'nt feeling well. They were very sicka dn needed someone to take care of them luckily htye had a good neighbor who came to just check up on them. It was Mrs. Scott. She took care of them until they became well. Now it was Christmas time. Pa went down to town and bought the girls Christmas presents. They didnt know it but Mr. Scott was on his way over there and he was also bringing him presents for Christmas. They loved all the presents they got and they were very thankful for them.
A week later Pa heard a loud screech from the Scott's house. Pa thought it was something awful like someone was hurt but it was just a panther and Pa ended up killing it anyways. About three weeks later there was a prairie fire. It burned about everything so they decided to leave the prairie. They were going to head West to Plum Creek. That's where the next story of this series begins. ... Read more

Book Description

Bedtime Stories Clarissa Pinkola Estes As a child growing up in a family of cantadoras (keepers of the old stories), Clarissa Pinkola Estés learned first-hand how a story told at bedtime can soothe away the troubles of the day, and prepare the way for another night’s dreams to follow.Now a beloved cantadora herself, Estés shares this treasured family tradition with you on Bedtime Stories, her own special collection oftales to relax and ease you into sleep. Join this world-renowned Jungian analyst and bestselling author as she explores: How to use stories as healing companions that open an "aperture" into the divine world of our dreams; the meaning of archetypal figures like Mother Night and the Sandman, and themes such as renewal, enchantment, and transformation; original tellings by Dr. Estés of her bedside favorites, including Sleeping Beauty, the Mouse and the Lion, and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author and a full cast
10 hours, 49 minutes
9 CDs

When Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon decide to spy on a presentation her uncle, the commanding Lord Asriel, is making to the elders of Jordan College they have no idea that they will become witnesses to an attempted murder—and even less that they are taking the first steps in a journey that will lead them into danger and adventure unlike anything Lyra's unfettered imagination has conjured up.

Though she has been reised at the college in an atmosphere of benign neglect that has allowed her to become a half-wild child of the streets, Lyra soon finds herself apprenticed to the elegant Mrs. Coulter—and in possession of a strange device called the alethiometer, a "golden compass" that reads not true worth, but truth itself.

But truth is a precious commodity, and before long Lyra and Pan are running for their lives, the object of an obsessive hunt by mysterious forces who have been stealing children for dark purposes that no one understands.Lyra will need all her street-learned wiles if she and Pan are to survive.

An international sensation from the moment it was published, The Golden Compass comes to spectacular new life in this unabridged recording, narrated by Philip Pullman himself, with the support of some of the finest actors of the London stage. ... Read more

Reviews (1079)

One of the best books ever written...
Ok, so one day I was at the book store looking through the fantasy section. I just happened to see The Golden Compass. It looked interesting, so I bought it and brought it home. I began reading it at about 6pm. I had finished it the next day at about 7 pm. I never left the couch. It is by far one of the best books I have ever read. Philip Pullman is a very gifted author with a very complex imagination. I recommend this book for anyone.

Lyra has lived in Jordan College her whole life, unsupervised, free to tear around the streets whenever she wanted. But one day, she sneaks into the Retiring Room and her entire life changes. Before she knows what is happening, her best friend Roger is kidnapped and she is living with Mrs. Coulter, a nice woman who promises to take her north. From there, Lyra is hurtled into a race against time to save hundreds of children from an unspeakable fate. Included in this book are armored bears, demon flies, and a bunch of other cool stuff. READ IT!

Will Goodness and Truth Triumph over Evil and Deception?
Lyra Belacqua's idyllic existence at Jordan College, where she is being raised by the Scholars, is thrown into chaos when the Gobblers kidnap her best friend, Roger, the kitchen boy. Rumor has it that the missing children are being taken north to Bolvangar and subjected to hideous experiments. Lyra and her irrepressible daemon, Pantamalion, vow to rescue Roger and the other children with the help of an eclectic group of mercenaries. Fraught with mystical references to a mysterious substance called "dust", and allusions to an alternate universe, Philip Pullman has woven a tale of terror, triumph, and a young girl's quest for the truth about her past. I was slowly drawn into this book one page at a time, until I became thoroughly captured by its unusual setting, uncommon characters, and unexpected plot twists. An excellent read!

And now for something different
If you're tired of the fantasy novels that don't seem to be able to leave Tolken behind, then brace yourself. This book is the start of something wonderfully different in the fantasy genre. This epic story has it all, magic, evil, goodness, innocence, and action. I was astounded at the intricate plot, wonderful imagery, and completely unique style. Hold on as you race through this one, because once you start you won't be able to put it down until you've read all three.

Truly one of the worst "children's" books ever written...
...unless, that is, you like to read stories in which parents are portrayed as child-torturers and murderers, the "Church" is a mysterious, fascist agency that promotes the child-murdering program (among other wholesome activities), children speak with odd, stilted grammar, and several of the main characters just...disappear in the middle of the story without further explanation. Nice stuff to read to your kids. Oh, did I mention that this book has possibly one of the most inept and unsatisfying endings ever to make it into print?

For the life of me, I can't figure out how this book is getting such rave reviews--perhaps readers like various individual action scenes, some of which are admittedly quite good; but the lousy destination is definitely not worth the occasionally fun ride in the journey. Maybe all the loose ends will be tied up in the second or third book? Possibly. But why waste another 400 or more pages to find out?

Don't squander your kids' precious childhood on this poorly written, disturbing and amoral dross. There's so much other better action-oriented stuff out there. Rosemary Sutcliff, C.S. Lewis and Brian Jacques come most immediately to mind.

Quite pleasant.
This is the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy (before The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass).

Set at the turn of the twentieth century in an alternate Europe where everyone is inseparable from their animal daemons, shape-changers that only settle at puberty, this is the story of Lyra Belacqua (and her daemon Pantalaimon), a teenage orphan girl living in Oxford College in charge of her powerful uncle, Lord Asriel.

Being a curious little girl, Lyra hears lots of gossip in the old halls. Some, about Dust, as well as pictures of a mysterious floating city in the aurora, make her dream of travelling North on one of her uncle's expeditions. But soon she also hears rumours of children, mainly from Gyptian families, who have started to mysteriously disappear, lured and captured by what people call the "Gobblers".

And when her playmate Roger the kitchen boy is kidnapped, she's desperate. But at the same time arrives Mrs. Coulter, an elegant and fascinatingly intelligent woman, who wants to take Lyra to her school in London. Believing that she'll learn more about Dust and maybe travel North with her, she soon becomes Mrs. Coulter's protégée. Until she realizes that the woman is none other than the head of the General Oblation Board of London, in other words the "Gobblers", and runs away.

The rest of the story tells how Lyra finally travels to Lapland, setting out in search of Roger and the other missing children with the help of the Gyptians, with whom she first takes refuge, of Panserborne (armoured bears) and witch-queens, and of the alethiometer, a strange compass-like device that reveals the truth to anyone who can read it, which the Master of Oxford College secretly gave her just before she left. Little by little, she'll become caught up in the adults' intricate powerplay.

I liked Northern Lights (US title: The Golden Compass), and found it quite pleasant to read, but I wasn't overly captivated by it. I was moved by Lyra's friendship with Iorek Byrnison, an exiled Panserborne, and deeply shocked, appalled, when I discovered what the "Gobblers" do to the snatched children, but that's about it. Lyra's a tad too temerarious and quick-witted, and in the end, I found her hardly believable. I'm very fond of Pantalaimon though. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A book about biographies, especially one's own
This book is as much about the search for character and calling as it is an elucidation of Hillman's neo-Jungian/neo-Platonist theory of psychology, termed the 'acron' theory. It is a very readable book, with a lot of biographical anecdotes from the lives of such a broad spectrum of famous personages as Churchill, Josephine Baker, and Yehudi Manheim. Because of this it is a joy to read, and succeeds in invoking a sense of one's own life story as an unfolding drama. One, moreover, that is seperate from the individual ego, and demands its outward manifestation at all costs. This is a well crafted book, and although sometimes quite theoretical, it never loses touch with the beauty of the biographical stories it invokes, and, in a larger sense, the drama of the individual soul desperate to bring its given talent into fruition. If you've never read Hillman this is a very good place to start. You won't be disappointed.

a refreshing antidote to reductionist, mainstream psychology
I am on my second reading of this book, having read it once a couple of years ago and let the ideas percolate in the back of my mind. It is one of the most liberating books I have ever read. As an adult survivor of child abuse, I was in therapy for over 16 years and never felt that mainstream psychologists have any idea of just how powerful our soul's nature is. A system of healing which leaves out our spiritual energies-- and our ability to transform our realities into the stuff of myth--is an impotent system, at least if you are someone whose roots run very deep. I made little progress in my own healing until I began working on the spiritual and soul aspects of my life. Hillman writes that we are not as shaped by the horrors of our early upbringing as we are told by psychotherapists. What an inspiration for transcending the past! Unlike authors such as Carolyn Myss, he offers this teaching in a way that does not blame people for their anger about the past. He simply offers a way beyond the anger and other self-imposed limits, cheerfully and graciously. The detractors of this book state that it is not scientific enough. Of course it is not scientific--it's about bringing the energies of the invisible into your life. You don't have to do reductionist studies of the principles involved to have them change your way of thinking about yourself... I recommend this book to anyone who is tired of the dry, sterile approach to healing offered by professional counselors who have not themselves explored the "realms beyond" and therefore cannot teach us how to experience them for our benefit.

This is a superb Book!
If your searching for something, looking for some direction, feel lost or depressed, this is a great book to read. It really provides a context from which to view you life from and COULD be all you need to get you back in the groove.

A REFRESHING ANTIDOTE TO CURRENT PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTICE
One does not have to agree with everything James Hillman covers in this study of character as vocation. I found the chapter on "The Bad Seed" particularly iffy; it seems as if imaginal psychology has not yet found a way to explain creatures like Hitler, to whom the epithet "human" hardly applies, or the fatal attraction they exert on others (read Elias Cannetti's "Crowds and Power" for that). However, I have always found his books challenging in that they shake one's most profound beliefs and prejudices about the nature of the psyche. And, given the current prevalence of "victim theory," it is absolutely necessary to have someone remind us that we have a free will, that the soul is sovereign, and that we cannot go around blaming fate, God, the devil or society for the negative aspects of our lives. I found that message in the Seth books by Jane Roberts many years ago. All in all, an important book for those who have left Freudian and Lacanian systems of thought, and have accepted imagination as the soul's predominant mode of knowledge.

Good ideas, bad execution
I was ready to like what Hillman had to say. The idea that we each have a calling -- some marriage of talent, interest and drive toward a specific destiny -- appeals to me. In fact, I liked many of Hillman's concepts (importance of beauty, the parental fallacy, over-medication of our youth, abandoning the 'invisibles,' having a vision for your children).

However, the execution was attrocious. Whenever I knew anything about the studies that Hillman was quoting, I found them to be twisted out of context. I showed the section on beauty to a friend who is writing a dissertation on aesthetics, and he (my friend) pointed out a number of mistakes. (For instance, Hillman quotes Thomas Aquinas saying that beauty arrests motion. What Aquinas actually says is that it is impossible to see true beauty in the world. He says that pure beauty is only present in God, the unmoved mover. So, while to see God would be to see a lack of motion, Hillman is really stretching Aquinas's words to use this philosphy to say that taking time for beautiful things would slow down our fast-paced lives and bring us inner peace.)

Also, I wanted more detail for some of his ideas. He never really tells us how to grow down or "feed" our individual daimon. In the final analysis, I would have liked better research, more focus on how to implement his principles, and perhaps less sarcasm about any other theory that doesn't agree with his. ... Read more

Book Description

Dear Reader,

If you have just picked up this audio, then it is not too late to put it back down. Like the previous books in A Series of Unfortunate Events, there is nothing to be found in these pages but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to read.

Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to read something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Reviews (97)

ups and downs
If you scare eaily,skip this book. The Ersatz Elevator is one of the books in a series of Unfortunate Events, Wich features count olaf as a villain.Count olaf is a really mean guy who does very nasty, mean things to the Baudelair orphans.
This book starts out with the three Baudelair orphans Violet, Klause and sonny in a penthouse at 667 Dark Ave, near where the baudelairs lived before there parents died. Many strange things happen during this story. There is a secret passage, a door man who helps Count Olaf, welding torches, an auction with unusual items, and an elevator shaft(but that's no surprise given the title of the book)
Despite the nasty, mean things that that count olaf does to the Baudelairs,there are some funny parts. For instance the penthouse is so large that when they went looking for Count Olaf they droped bread crums in each room so they new they had alredy been there.
Read this book to find out if Count Olaf will be caught and be put in jail, or get away again! There are loys of twists and turns and like the title, plenty of ups and downs.

The Elevator is Out
After "The Austere Academy", I wondered whether this series of books could get any better. They can and they did. In "The Ersatz Elevator", the sixth book in this series, the Baudelaire orphans move in with a non-relative in a penthouse apartment. While you might think that a penthouse apartment (which has something like 71 bedrooms) and kitchens, and sitting rooms, and on and on, would be a lovely place to live, you would be thinking wrong, because this is one of the books in "A Series of Unfortunate Events", and those of you that have read the previous books know that little good comes to pass concerning the Baudelaire orphans.

This time the problem is that Esme Squalor (the sixth most important financial advisor in the city) and her husband Jerome are way too hung up on what is "in". Esme must go to only the "in" restaurants; she must wear only "in" clothes, which includes the children, and on and on. Unfortunately, being "in" also means multiple compromises in terms of comfort. For example, the penthouse is on the top of a building with 66 stories, and elevators are "out". So the Squalors and the Baudelaires must walk up and down the 66 stories each time the go in to and out from the building. They certainly received sufficient exercise. Before I forget, orphans are also "in".

Of course, we know that Count Olaf must eventually show up, and he does. However, there is a mystery. We find that Count Olaf went up to the apartment and did not later leave the building. Therein lies the crux of the mystery for this story.

This story climaxes with the children running briefly into old friends, and then losing them again. They also nearly catch Count Olaf, again. In the end, the children are forced to find a new home once again. Unfortunately I am unable to tell you more, because Lemony Snicket, should he ever escape from his current predicament, would hunt me down and provide me with agony should I reveal the end of this Baudelaire tale. Suffice it to say that the Baudelaires have their best adventure yet, with even better to come.

This series has had its strong points and its weak points. In general this book is one of the better ones in the series, readily matching "The Austere Academy". In addition to the direct lessons provided in the book, the children once again are masters of their own fates, and are forced to get themselves out of their predicaments with minimal adult help. I also enjoyed the moral tale provided by Lemony Snicket regarding people that must always keep up with everyone else in style or fashion. For this last point alone the book is a must-read for every teenage child.

The violence in this story is a bit more muted than in some of the previous books, and I think that an 8 or 9 year old child should be able to handle the story well. Certainly Esme could generate a great deal of family discussion of status and whether status is sufficiently important to cause people pain or to break laws.

In keeping with the trend of the last book, this book continues to expose the children to new experiences and to challenge their abilities to take care of themselves. Once again, while there are certainly negative aspects to the story, the positive aspects outweigh the negatives. This book is easily a good successor to "The Austere Academy", and sets a standard for the next books in the series. I will tell you now that the next two books are just as good as or better than this book and "The Austere Academy", thus continuing the excellence of this unconventional children's series. 5 stars again!

The best book I ever read
This book is unlike any other book i've ever read.It is hard for me to say if I like Violet or Klaus more.Beacause they both really help geting away from danger (or Count Olaf).I recomend this book entirely.

book the sixth rules!
this book is the best yet.it has a new badie. some traped triplets.and v.f.d.

Perhaps my favorite of the entire series!
The sixth book of Unfortunate Events is probably the most enthralling of the lot because of the unbelievable creative and brilliant portrayal of its characters by Lemony Snicket.
Sunny is a real cutie and she is the greatest baby in the whole world as it's clearly portrayed in this book. My heart beat so hard when I was reading one of the fantastic encounters between the a villain and the 3 children. It was like reading a very fine mystery novel by the fireside-- only better! Wow! If you want to find out what it is I'm referring to, you'll have to read this book. It's undoubtably a rollercoaster of events here as you will find out. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mamma Mia! What a great way to introduce Italian
I can't say enough great things about this method. The combination of Italian conversation and easy to follow songs is fabulous. The songs exclusively in Italian are catchy and easy to pick up and the use of typical american songs in half english and half Italian is a great learning tool for kids to understand what the words mean. My 3 1/2 year old has mastered the alphabet, the days of the week and the numbers as well as all of the songs in an amazingly short period of time....My only regret is that there is no volume 2!!

Enjoyable nursery rhyme style story and songbook
This was the perfect introduction to Italian for my one year old. With a simple story of one girls day, numbers 1 - 10, the days of the week, and other basic vocabulary are introduced in a format that is completely entertaining. Childrens songs are sung in both English and Italian with a companion coloring book. At 18 months of age this was my son's favorite cassette to listen to in the morning. ... Read more

Book Descriptio