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In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., authorDoreen Rappaport combines her spare, lyrical text with King's own words for aneffective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the world's greatest civil rightsleaders. From King's youth, when he looked up to his preacher father and vowedone day to "get big words, too," to his death at a garbage workers' strike ("Onhis second day there, he was shot. He died."), Rappaport imbues the story withreverence.

Acclaimed artist Bryan Collier depicts his subject with stunning watercolor andcollage illustrations, balancing glorious recreations of stained glass windowswith some of the more somber images of peace marchers and the famous bus thatpitched Rosa Parks into the civil rights movement. A brief chronology andbibliography provide additional resources for readers. Here is an exquisitetribute to a world hero. (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Simply amazing!
I bought this book, not really knowing much about it. Once I opened it up, saw the beautiful artwork and imagery and read the story, I was amazed. This book gives an excellent, truthful, beautiful portrayal of a restless time in our history. The final page with the picture of Martin in the stained glass windows, overlooking four candles which represent the four little girls who died in the Birmingham church bombing was beautiful. Yes, it's true: some of this history might be frightening for small children. But the theme is important: Dr. King taught people to use their voices, not their fists. As long as a parent is engaged enough to talk about this with their child, the child should have no problem hearing, reading and loving this book.

Now I want to buy a copy for every kid (and adult) I know.

Big, Powerful, Strong Words.....
Martin Luther King was a man of BIG words. When others said "hate", Martin said "love." When others said "separate", he said "together." And when he heard others say "war", Martin said "peace." "Sooner or later, all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together." Martin always went where he was needed in the struggle for equality. He shared his dreams and filled people with hope. "He walked with them and talked with them and sang with them and prayed with them." Doreen Rappaport has written a simple and inspirational picture-book biography that combines her quiet, yet powerful prose, with Dr King's own "big words." Her text emphasises his courage and strong committment to non-violence, equal rights, and the civil rights movement. "White ministers told them to stop. Mayors and governors and police chiefs and judges ordered them to stop. But they kept on marching." Bryan Collier's watercolor and cut paper collage illustrations are stunning and evocative, and together word and art create a passionate and powerful tribute to a great man of peace. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Martin's Big Words is an engaging and elegant introduction to a man who stood up and struggled to change America and the world, and includes a marvelous timeline of important dates and additional books and web sites to explore. "His big words are alive for us today."

Great Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book Martin's BIG Words by Doreen Rappaport is excellent for children between the ages of 4-8. It depicts the life of Martin Luther King and the struggles he had to endure his entire life. I like that on each page you were given a quote by Dr. King himself. I also thought that having a list of his important dates at the end of the book was great for the children to see. This is an excellent book to share with your child or classroom.

1st time reader
...I was very impressed with how the book was written. I was able to learn something myself that I didn't know. I think the pictures bring out the picture of Martin standing tall as an activist in those days. i enjoyd reading things that Martin said himself, things that was quoted in the book.

Marvelous
A mavelous book. Well written and beautiful art work. With simple words and simple style, will bring you to tears by the end. A wonderful way to introduce teachings of peace, justice, and a belief in God that leads to change to children. We read this book every year on MLK Day and my young sons talk about MLK all the time. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A SOLDIER'S STORY
The journal of Scott pendleton Collins,is about a World WarII solider that goes to Normandy, France in 1944.The book begins with "He could see Omah Beach through the smoke and haze as his assult boat rocked in the choppy waters".I'm only 10 and I liked this book because it is about a real person in a real war and I like to read war stories.People should read this story because it is about history. The main character is Scott.The action parts in this book are the war parts and the scarry parts.

The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, by Walter Dean Myers, is a great book about a World War 2 soldier, stuck in the middle of D-Day. He lands on Omaha Beach, and has to run for his life. He watches his friends die, but with a few lucky breaks, he survives the horror. Scott then must continue marching, to capture the German headquarters of St. Lo, and Vire. I deeply enjoyed the book because as it teaches you of the war, in particular D-Day, and of the horrors that the young soldiers had to go through. They had to survive through the death of friends, the death of family, 'Dear John' letters from their girlfriends, and the constant sound of death and explosions around them. They also lived like savages, without sanitation, or good food. The author of The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, Walter Dean Myers, is a well known historical-fiction writer. He has another book out about the Vietnam War, entitled Fallen Angles. Fallen Angels is a book similar in style, also focusing on the hardships that the G.I.'s had to persevere through. I strongly recommend either of these books to anyone with an interest in war and/or historical-fiction. The are great books that can teach you many important things!

Very good--But Sad Read
This book is very good but it ends in such a sad way!
However, this was the first book I read by walter dean myers. I really enjoyed the jokes he put in and the way he described the characters was well done. I really enjoyed Scott, the main character. He was really good and very much so realistic.
I really liked this book and even though it IS Dear America, I think that only 13 & up should read it.

The journal of Scott P Collins
The main charater is ScotT P Collins.He is a ninteen year old boy who is eager to go fight the Germans in Eroupe.Ithought this book was good but it does take patience to read.It starts out very slow.The book takes on the outskiris of the front line during the Americans part of Operation Over Lord [D-Day] .The main conflict in this book is the Germans invasion of Poland,France,Russia and north Africa.
The authers style of writing is journal entries each chapter is a new entriy.This book is part of a large series of books called the Dear America.My recommendation for tis book is for some one with a lot of time on his or her hands.This book is historical fiction so it tought me a lot about World War Two.

The Journal Of Scott Pendleton Collins
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins is a historical novel, a day by day journal about a young man, fresh out of high school, who joins the army during World War II. His nickname is Smoothie because he still does not have to shave yet. At his going away party, his uncle gave him a journal. The first entry in the journal is May 25, l944, from England.

This book is so well written that when he described the landing on Omaha Beach I can almost hear the sights and sounds of Private Ryan's landing on the beach like in the movie, Saving Private Ryan. I can almost feel all his feelings. He is saddened by the wounded and dead that he sees, but he is glad that he is still alive. He wants to be brave but he is scared and is ashamed of being scared. He is sick to the point where he vomits. He doesn't want to cry but he cries. He feels sure he is going to be killed.

He knows that he should not be keeping this journal as he is told to destroy all letters from home after they are read. He feels that it is the only thing he has to leave behind if something should happen to him. He has a message in the journal that if anyone should find it to please send it to his family and he gives the address. He often writes about being afraid of dying. This always seems to be on his mind.

This book was so well written that I almost feel as if I lived his war experience with him. The book also includes a lot of historical notes and also some pictures of the war. This author knows a lot about World War II. With this book he has given me a day to day feeling (2 months worth) of the horrors of war.

My great-grandfather McCormick (there was a McCormack in this book) served in the Army during World War II and my grandfather was in the army as a Military Policeman. In this book, Scotty's great-grandfather fought in the Civil War and his father in World War I and Scotty always wanted his picture on the wall with their pictures. Maybe some day my picture will be on my family's wall with my great-grandfather and my grandfather. I am certainly not the best of readers and don't feel qualified to review a writer's work but I can say that I really liked this book. It was a fast read, I almost didn't want to put it down, and it really held my interest.

This book really inspired me. The quality of the writing is great, the subject matter is great and I would definitely put it in the "great books" category. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Book I Will Read Again
My mother handed me this book--I thought "Oh no another school book." When I started I discovered how incredible a 17th century mathematician can be.This book is especially good if you try to work out the mathematical equations it contains.This is a very good book.Though it would not make much sense to people younger than 13.READ THIS BOOK. I am going to read it again. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

Wilma Unlimited
Wilma Rudolph was never expected to live past her first birthday, but she did. That wouldn't be the only thing she would have to overcome in her challenging life. Wilma was always a sickly child growing up. Her brothers and sisters would get sick, but she would get it twice as bad. By the time Wilma was five, her family found out that she had polio. The doctors had her wear a special steel brace, and told her that she would never walk again. Growing up she would watch children playing basketball, and wished she could some day play as well. One day she decided she was going to learn to walk without her brace. So, she did just that. Her and her mother worked and worked at strengthening her leg. Finally she was able to play with the other children. She helped lead her high school basketball team to the state championship, in which they lost. She caught the eye of the Tennessee State track coach. He couldn't believe how fast she was. Wilma ended up being the first person in her family to attend and finish college. Later on, Wilma went on to win an astonishing three gold metals in the Summer Olympics of 1960. I found this book to be very rewarding. I think it would help kids that have a lot of tough challenges in life. It would also help inspire anyone that would happen to read it. I had always heard of Wilma Rudolph when I was growing up, but I never knew how inpirational her life really was, until now!

An inspiring story of the woman who surprised the world.
This is a wonderful true story of one woman's accomplishments. Wilma Rudolph was a bouncy child who ran everywhere as soon as she could walk. When she contracted polio and scarlet fever at the same time, the doctor said she would never walk again. But Wilma had a mother who rode the bus with her 50 miles each way twice a week, to the nearest hospital that would treat black patients. She had 21 brothers and sisters to help her exercise and practice until she could walk, first with a brace, then (finally) all on her own. Wilma had watched the other children play for years, and she wanted to play basketball as soon as she could. Wilma's long legs, strength, and determination helped her to lead her high school basketball team to the state championships, where she caught the attention of a track and field coach who offered her a college scholarship. In 1960, Wilma made the US Olympic track and field team. She wasn't expected to win any events, but it was an honor for her just to compete. And then Wilma amazed everyone. She won her first gold medal when she flew past everyone in the 100 meter race -- and then won another in the 200 -- and then she won another gold when she anchored the 4 by 100 meter relay. Wilma Rudolph did what no one else had done before, and she earned the richly deserved title of fastest woman in the world. Her story is proof that strength can overcome almost any disadvantages

Running just as fast as she can
Inspirational stories fill hundreds of picture books every year. Most are simply awful. They either tell tales that are loose plots barely supported by facts or they paste together a slapdash concoction of truth and fiction with as little thought as possible. The truly beautiful bio-picture books out there are as rare as hummingbirds in autumn. So it was with great joy that I located "Wilma Unlimited" and found it to be not only inspirational but also a darned good read. Written by Kathleen Krull (the woman who could make long dead musicians fascinating in "Lives of the Musicians" and bring Cesar Chavez to life in the recent "Harvesting Hope") and illustrated by David Diaz the book is the best possible way to introduce kids to one of the world's greatest athletes.

Born in 1940 to a family of twenty-one people (nineteen siblings, no less), Wilma Rudolph was initially a sickly child. Though she was energetic enough, she often caught every disease imaginable. At the age of five, Wilma's left leg twisted inward and it was clear that she'd come down with polio. Still, Wilma was a determined child and she consistently exercised her unruly leg to get stronger. After continual practice, she was finally able to walk free of the leg brace that had weighed her down. At twelve the brace was put away for good and Wilma started participating in sports. She led her high school basketball team to the finals, catching the eye of a college coach. Before you knew it, Wilma was recruited into the Tennessee State University's track-and-field team on a full ride scholarship. In 1960 she competed in the Olympic Games in Rome. The book sets this part up beautifully. Wilma arrived with a twisted ankle into a place filled with television cameras (the first time they ever filmed the Olympics), the place "shimmering heat", and her competition consisting of runners who had run faster races than she ever had. Then Wilma proceeds to win one... two... three gold medals! The last medal is especially dramatic, hinging on the moment when Wilma drops her baton and STILL beats the other runners in the 400-meter relay. The last double page spread in this book shows Wilma standing, "tall and still, like a queen", earning the last of her three medals. It's a truly proud moment for all who have the privilege to experience it once again in picture book form.

Krull has a way with words. I'm not saying that Wilma Rudolph's life is dull. Far from it. But in the hands of a lesser author this story could easily have been bogged down in all the wrong moments. This author knows which moments should be given full glory. The moment when Wilma removes her brace and walks proudly into church will banish from your mind that similar pseudo-inspirational moment in "Forrest Gump". Wilma's struggle at the Olympics through pain and skepticism puts the reader through the same strains. You yearn for this woman to beat them and beat 'em she does. Then, best of all, come the illustrations of David Diaz. This is my first Diaz experience, though I suspect that I'll read many more of his books as the days go on. Diaz has accompanied his illustrations in this tale with sepia toned photographs. The book's endpapers display the outlines of footprints in the dirt. The title page is an evocative view of ivy climbing a raw wooden fence. Behind his colorful illustrations, each background photograph refers to the corresponding scene obliquely. When Wilma and her mother take the bus to the hospital, the photograph is a close-up of a wheel. When she packs away her leg brace, it's shredded packing paper. A great relief it is indeed that the colored illustrations are worthy of their sepia compatriots. Though these pictures may appear blunt at first, they are filled with the most delicate of designs. I loved watching the character of Wilma as she aged. As she grows in confidence, her posture improves and back stiffens until, by the last shot, she is standing taller than all the women around her. Than all the women in the world.

"Wilma Unlimited" should be known to everyone living in American today. This is inspirational without being either annoying or faux-patriotic. It's an actual honest-to-goodness amazing story. The book is beautiful and its story is worthy of its packaging. I challenge you to read it and not shake your head at least once in amazement. It's just that good.

such a fantastic book!
i am a reading specialist in Washington, DC and chose this book b/c i love David Diaz and because, like wilma, my children have many obstacles in their lives. i simply can not finish this book without nearly crying in front of my class. i've read it so many times, but the suspenseful writing and triumphant ending never get tiring. it is a truly wonderful story and wonderfully told and illustrated by this duo.

An inspirational story
This is a biography about Wilma Rudolph. Wilma was not expected to live past the age of five. Wilma was always sick growing up. Her brothers and sisters would get sick, but she would get it twice as bad. By the time Wilma was five, her family found out that she had polio. The doctors had her wear a special steel brace, and told her that she would never walk again. Growing up she would watch children playing basketball, and wished she could some day play as well. One day Wilma was determined to walk without her brace and she walked into church with everyone watching her. Finally she was able to play with the other children. She helped lead her high school basketball team to the state championship, in which they lost. She caught the eye of the Tennessee State track coach. Later on, Wilma went on to win three gold metals in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
I really enjoyed this book because of the inspiration in the story. I think that a child reading this book would get a lot out of it. The illustrations for this book are very unique and beautiful. They flow very well with the story and really help to bring the emotion out in the book.
This is a perfect example of a book where the author is telling the reader that they can do anything they out their minds to. It is a book that I am sure will inspire many children and help them to believe in themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

Though born without great beauty, wealth, or title, Anne Boleyn blossomed into a captivating woman. She used her wiles to win the heart of England's most powerful man, King Henry VIII, and persuade him to defy everyone--including his own wife--to make her his new queen. But Anne's ambition was her fatal flaw. This is the true story of the girl everyone loved to hate.
Carolyn Meyer's engrossing third novel in the award-winning Young Royals series tells Anne's fascinating story in her own voice--from her life as an awkward girl to the dramatic moments before her death.
... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great Book!
This book unfolds the life of Anne Boleyn, a ill-favored girl that lived under the shadow of her sister throughout her childhood. Anne's sister, Mary Boleyn, was the prominent type beauty during the 16th century in England. Mary had been the mistress of King Henry VIII. However, as young Anne came to England from the French court as a stylish graceful lady, she soon caught the eye of King Henry. Anne Boleyn played her "games" upon the men in the English court and did all she could to win the heart of King Henry, the most powerful man in the nation. Anne's ambitions and strong will guided her through her struggling to be queen, the every peril in her life, and her uncertain path to power. Anne Boleyn was a mysterious yet prominent female figure of the Tudor family and her only daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, became on of the most prominent rulers in history. Though Anne Boleyn was executed when King Henry lost his interest in her, Anne's wits and determination led her to the fullfillment of her words to Mary, "One day, I shall be queen and you will kneel before me!"

Oh, beware, Mistress Anne...
"Wait and see - someday I shall be queen of England, and you will kneel at my feet!" declares thirteen-year-old Anne Boleyn haughtily and angrily to her show-off of an older sister, Mary. A mole on her neck, a sixth finger, dark-haired, thin-framed, and pale - how could such an "ill-favored child" amount to anything, her parents wonder. Don't underestimate her, Boleyn family. She inherited her ambitious nature from you, and she'll do anything to prove herself. She'll win the heart of hot-blooded Henry VIII one way or another.
Oh, beware, Mistress Anne. You don't know what you're getting yourself into. Henry cast aside one wife for failing to get him a legitimate male heir. What makes you so sure you won't fail, as well? Keep prodding and tantalizing, and you will get yourself in deep trouble...
I highly recommend this one. The Tudor family has always fascinated me, especially Anne Boleyn and her daughter Elizabeth, and I love a good historical fiction romance! You'll love it, too!

Wonderful but hard to understand
This was a very good book. I love history and Henry the
VIII so this was perfect. It was a little hard to understand. But other than that I loved it!!!

...
This book like the others in the young royal collection was very well written but I thought it lacked some of the qualities that made it great. I (as a Henry VIII buff) loved how she protrayed Mary in Mary, Bloody Mary and I thought she was fair to her character and didnt look over her faults. I dont believe she did this in Doomed Queen Anne. Anne Boylen had her faults and if you look at history I believe it is evident that she very power hungry, and in many intaces very cruel. I believe the author glossed over that part of her character to make her appear more likeable.

I loved every page of this book!
I loved this book, from beginning to end. It was so cool to see all these events in history from Queen Anne's own viewpoint. I learned a lot about her and about her interesting life. I have read all the other books in the Young Royals Series and Carolyn Meyer is now my favorite author. I would recommend the whole series to everyone, but this book was my favorite in this series. It was so well-written. I just couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I also didn't want the book to end. I'd give this book more than 5 five stars! ... Read more

Book Description

From the time she was a girl, Jane Goodall dreamed of a life spent working with animals. Finally she had her wish. When she was twenty-six years old, she ventured into the forests of Africa to observe chimpanzees in the wild. On her expeditions she braved the dangers with leopards and lions in the African bush. And she got to know an amazing group of wild chimpanzees -- intelligent animals whose lives, in work and play and family relationships, bear a surprising resemblance to our own. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent autobiography for young people as well as adults.
My 8 year old was assigned to do her monthly book report on a biography. She wanted to read about Abraham Lincoln... until she found out she had to dress up as the book's subject! Regrouping with a week to go and a driving vacation looming, I rushed to ...to find a children's biography available in audio download... and stumbled upon this gem. We all listened to the (abridged) audio version on the trip, and I do think that hearing it read by the author added a great deal. My daughter read the unabridged book with fascination when we got home, though I suspect she might have had more difficulty relating to the book had she not heard Jane Goodall speak her own words first. At any rate, the report (outfitted with khakis, a notebook, and a velcro-handed stuffed chimp) was a great success, and my daughter has met a role model of determination, compassion, and wisdom.

A Heart-warming Adventure
An excellent book! Reading about the extraordinary life Jane Goodall has led is fascinating in itself. Add to it the personalities of the chimps you get to know as you read the book and the adventures Jane Goodall has experienced, and you have a fascinating read. Other reviews recommend this book to children, I recommend it for adults as well. I am thirty-something years young and cried when I read parts of this. Dr. Goodall's love for these animals really comes through.

Boring!
This book was so broing I couldn't even get through the whole thing. She was putting me to sleep!

never forgotten!
This is a beautiful book, grasping your atention and holding your hand thru a fantastic journey into Africa, and into the chimpanzes of the Gombe. You will get to meet all of them, and even see how they are like, observing the individual diferences of their behaviour. Parents: please purchase it for your kids! Kids: get your parents to buy it for you! Inspiring! I am now 22, but I must have been 10 when I first read this book (not this edition of course!). I still purchase Jane Goodall's books...and I'm following the dream she helped inspire: to go to a place no one can pronounce to study an animal few people care about...

Captivating read for children
My daughter is 6 and we have read a lengthy excerpt every day since she received this book for Christmas. She is enthralled. Ms. Goodall is a wonderful, true-life role model for young girls. ... Read more

Book Description

The accolades speak for themselves:

"Fritz draws the readers into scenes from her youth in the turbulent China of the mid-twenties. One comes to appreciate the generous affection of her nurse/companion Lin Nai-Nai, the isolating distance in her mother's grief over losing a second child, the dynamics of a suffering population venting its hostility on foreigners, and most of all, the loneliness of a child's exile from a homeland she has imagined constantly but never seen....A remarkable blend of truth and storytelling." --Booklist, starred review

"An insightful memory's-eye-view of her childhood...Young Jean is a strong character, and many of her reactions to people and events are timeless and universal."--School Library Journal, starred review

"Told with an abundance of humor--sometimes wry, sometimes mischievous and irreverent--the story is vibrant with atmosphere, personalities, and a palpable sense of place." --The Horn Book

"Every now and then a book comes along that makes me want to send a valentine to its author. Homesick is such a book....Pungent and delicious." --Katherine Paterson, The Washington Post ... Read more

Reviews (21)

In Relation
Jean Fritz was born an American girl in China. Growing up she wanted to know about her American life. Throughout her earlier years she can only see her American life in letters from her grandma (lives in america). Finally, after waiting many years her family decides to go back. When she gets to America she questions whether or not she will fit in, after living on the opposite side of the world.

During the coarse of the book, I liked the story's reality to everyday issues. They are the same no matter where you live. Whether it being teased and not wanting to go to school or begging mother for that special something for christmas. There are so many cultures and different beliefs, that when it comes to basic standards of living it is all the same.

I did not dislike anything in Homesick. Although, I did learn about the separation of Chinese and Americans. Not in a bad way. The Americans had a small park blocked off to Chinese in order to have a place in comparison to America. Therefore, by finishing the book I give it a thumbs up and can relate to being homesick.

A Journey with Fritz
This engaging story gives you a view of how Jean fritz felt and lived in China during the war.Her move to the USA was exciting for her as she encounted many 'mishaps and troubles' along the way.You should reallly read this book, if you are interested in biographies and foreign countries, such as China.I give this book 5 stars as she describes well in detail about her life and inner thoughts during the early 1920's.I am reading this book as an literature assignment and felt that this book was the one.Jean Fritz is a great author!

There's no place.
A really remarkable book. Jean Fritz is author of many an exciting children's biography. If you've read "Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?" or "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" then you know her works already. Turning her talents towards a slightly more recent history, Fritz takes a good long look at her own life. Having grown up in China in the early 1920s, this is a story of a child trying to discover where she fits in.

First of all, you have to admire Fritz's candor. The very first thing she does is state in the Forward that she considers this a fiction. Though the facts are true here and there, the author has taken some liberties with time and memory. She obviously cannot remember everything that happened perfectly, so she has filled in the gaps as best as possible. Though, she points out, "it does not feel like fiction to me. It is my story, told as truly as I can tell it". THANK YOU, Jean Fritz. How many books do we read where the author claims that everything within the book is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, while taking wild leaps in narrative and interpretation? Finally, we have an author that admits that much of this book may be considered fiction, though she herself remembers it as fact. Such honesty is admirable, and exceedingly rare in non-fiction writers.

As for the story itself, Fritz is very good at what she does. The writing here is superb. Living in a very sketchy time in China's history, little Jean was in the unfortunate position of living in a country where foreigners were finally not being tolerated with much kindness any longer. Often times Chinese peasants rail against Jean for being the kind of "foreign devil" that is a bane to their country. Fritz never condemns these people, and even makes note at the back of this book the reasons behind their dislike and distrust. China was a country that was continually being divided into smaller and smaller pieces by the invading colonists. Neither does the character of Jean ever forget that the servants who work for her are human beings as well. Her parents often do fall into the master-servant manner of thinking, a fact that Jean objects to. They do not learn much about the world in which they live. They instead attempt to recreate their own American lives in a foreign land. But Jean knows that there are aspects of Chinese life that she vastly prefers to the life of her parents. The fact that she recognizes this is impressive. The fact that she can relay it years after the fact in this book, is astounding.

If I have any objections to this book at all they are directed not at the author, but at the illustrator. Margot Tomes has her points. She is not necessarily a bad illustrator. But in this particular book her pictures are superfluous and unnecessary. Sometimes they even touch upon the offensive without really going there. While Fritz never condemns the native Chinese for their opinions, Tomes draws them looking sneaky or sordid at inappropriate times. One such example is in a scene where Jean's servants feed her cat outside, not knowing she's around. The scene in the book is rather touching. Until this time, Jean was half afraid her cook was trying to poison the family. Knowing him to be a person capable of caring for her cat (as he says, "A cat is a cat. There are no foreign cats, no Chinese cats, no capitalist cats, no Communist cats. Just cats") she no longer fears his food. Yet the picture accompanying this text shows a shifty eyed servant peering suspiciously over his shoulder as the cats eats. Unnecessary. Somewhat offensive.

Fritz ends this book with a series of photographs displaying her family, friends, and where she lived in China. Combined with the book, these serve as an excellent document about a time little recorded in either adult or children's fiction. Using a unique perspective culled from her own life, Jean Fritz has written one of the most interesting books about the Chinese/American experience existing today. It is an honorable and impressive piece of work.

Proud to be an American
Imagine being the only American student in a British school. Then imagine being homesick for a country you never lived in.
In this graceful blend of autobiography and fiction, Jean Fritz provides readers with insight into the maturation of--not only a girl--but also a patriot. Her steadfast private dream is to live in the land of the free. Set in China during the 1920's
while the Communist Revolution is gathering momentum, HOMESICK shares a girl's observations on the upheaval of the only Society she has ever known. She endures the zealous violence which is especially directed towards all "foreign devils," as well as
suffering the private heartaches of her own family life.

Jean's father works for the Y: the Fritzs' only motivation is to improve the lot of the Chinese people, but national events dramatically disrupt most lives. Resentful at being stuck on the wrong side of the globe, Jean yearns for her relatives in Pennsylvania, for she has been denied a Yankee childhood. Nor is she indifferent to the plight of her neighbors; in particular she loves and feels great compassion for her faithful Chinese nanny, Lin Nai-Nai. The brutality of war is related through a young girl's eyes, while her imagination is trapped bewteen two worlds. Will she become so ensnared in the insidious trap of Revolution that she has to reliquish her dream of living as a true American? If she does escape, will she ever return to that
land of wise-eyed junks?

Jean Fritz has done it this time-for sure
I read this book this year, when my mom sent me a box of books to camp over the summer. All the rest were Dear Americas so this was the first one I picked up. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I read during softball and got hit on the head. I read during dinner and stained my favortie shirt. I tried to read dujring instructional swim but my counselor took the book away from me. I read under the covers and I got into trouble when my division head came in. I finished it in under eight hours. It's the best non-Dear America book I've ever read. It tells a very interesting story, full of humor and wit. Jean Fritz is an incredibly talented writer, who managed to cover two years time in an average-sized book. Each chapter is a story all its own and also funny. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a really good historical fiction/nonfiction story. ... Read more

Product Description

Story of the Governor of New York, vice-president, and our 26th President. Follow Teddy across the United States, through South America, and through a war in Cuba. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Where have you gone, Teddy Roosevelt, our nation turns...
Jean Fritz is perhaps best known for her short picture book biographies of Revolutionary War Heroes. I was anxious to read this particular book, and to my great surprise found it to be much longe than her usual fare. Just the same, the book carries the same spirit and adept interesting writing Fritz has employed on her other ventures. I had some disappointments with this book, it's true, but all in all I think it's a fine biography and the best one out there for any kid interested (or required) in reading about our odd twenty-sixth President.

We begin with a small sickly boy. Young Teddy (a name he accepted but disliked) was asthmatic and, as a result, of poor constitution. Pressed by his adored father to make something of himself, Ted set about exercising and pushing himself so as to become strong and tough. This man was truly an embodiment of all that was masculine. As he grew he was continually obsessed with nature, and it was assumed that he would someday go into the field of naturalism. As it happened, Teddy got waylaid and after taking some law went into politics. What was to follow was a madcap series of election losses, faithful Republican supporters, and, in time, a war.

Now it is around the time that Fritz starts describing Teddy's involvement in the Spanish-American War that she loses me. What separates Fritz from James Giblin or Russell Freedman (two excellent historical biographers for children in their own right) is that she refuses to blame Teddy for anything. As a writer she obviously admires her subject, and you can see why. There was much to admire about the man. At the same time, however, this was a fairly war-hungry fella. Unlike Giblin, who has written such wonderful biographies as "Charles Lindbergh: A Human Hero", Fritz doesn't show the problems that came with Teddy's choices. There is little doubt to my mind that Teddy saw the Spanish-American War as a "just" war. There is also little doubt that it most certainly was NOT a just war. Even when it becomes clear that the American public was misled in its thinking that war was the only answer ("Remember the Maine" anyone?) and that Teddy was a part of that misinformation, Fritz ignores such controversial topics. And what of the muckrakers? Where's Teddy's famous dismissal of hard-hitting journalism? Too much is left unsaid or avoided in this book to allow it to be considered one of the great children's biographies out there. Additionally, one does have to take issue with Fritz's portrayal of the Native Americans. As a previous reviewer has pointed out, Fritz's facts (though she includes a lovely bibliography of sources) seem sketchy.

Which isn't to say there isn't a lot to love here. There are Fritz's thrilling tales of Mr. Roosevelt's life. As an author, she has packed a great deal of info into this book. Everything from ponies in the White House to the origin of the teddy bear is included here. Accompanying Fritz's narration are some great illustrations by Mike Wimmer. My objection to them might be that even when we are viewing a young 20-some year-old Teddy, the illustrations are clearly of an older man. How hard would it have been to erase the waddle on the twenty-three year old Ted? Even shots of our protagonist as a boy show him with his head almost completely turned away from the viewer. It would have been nice if Mr. Wimmer had had a little more confidence in his own artistic abilities.

On the whole, it's a nice book. I know I've talked it down and pointed out its inconsistencies, but in spite of my own personal feeling, Teddy Roosevelt is a subject well worthy of a biography. This, after all, was the pro-environment president. The president who fought against huge corporations and went head-to-head with J.P. Morgan. The times in which we live today could use another Theodore R. When big business is just as large as ever and the national parks Teddy created are threatened by drilling, we should look back at heroes like the one found in this book and remember that sometimes a single man can accomplish a lot in his day.

An Excellent Read!
This was such a joy to read. I just couldn't put the book down. I had no idea that Teddy Roosevelt had an affliction that he overcame, thanks in part to his ambitious father.

Until I read this book, I had no idea that Teddy Roosevelt thrived on adventure or that he collected specimens of animals. It's amazing that he managed to survive all of his adventures like he did being as sick as he was. Everything the man did was to test his endurance if not make history as well.

Now I understand his push for conserving the nation's natural resources. By the time he became president, there weren't many wild animals left or trees for that matter. At any rate, this book was fun to read, especially when Teddy Roosevelt climbed to the top of Mount Marcy before the death of McKinley.

It really amazed me how much energy the man had. Probably from all those treks out west when he was a boy to hunt or whatever. The gym his father built was nothing like what he faced on his many sojourns out west and to Africa. It made me dizzy to read about all those campaign stops and speeches.

At first, I thought this book a little slow when I read about his early life, but then it picked up when Teddy begin serving on various Civil Service jobs and eventually gaining the Vice-Presidency under McKinney and being elected to a second term as President afterward.

I highly recommend this book.

Bully for you, theodore roosevelt!
An excellent chidren's biography of theodore roosevelt, which will be enjoyed by people of all ages.My only criticism is that the books title should be 'Bully for you, theodore roosevelt,' instead of 'Bully for you, teddy roosevelt,' a name which to him was anathema.

Unacceptable historical errors
Although Jean Fritz is an award winning author of history books, she makes some serious errors in this book making it unacceptable for school libraries. I love her writing style and the way she relates many humorous stories of Teddy Roosevelt's childhood, but when she relates his western adventures her historical research is seriously lacking. She refers to how the Sioux Indians killed 10,000 buffalo a feat which would have been impossible since the tribe was totally defeated, low in numbers, and relegated to reservations in the time period she described, the late 1880s. White buffalo hunters, not Native Americans slaughtered buffalo for their tongues and left their carcasses to rot. The Sioux had a tremendous respect for nature and only hunted a few buffalo at a time, just enough to feed their tribal group.

These egregious fallacies make this book totally unacceptable. Children should be given historical sources that are accurate, not ones that perpetuate myths. It is unfortunate since the rest of the book is wonderful and with some judicious editing, this would be one of the best children's biographies of Roosevelt. ... Read more

Book Description

Step back in time and experience all the wonders of Laura and her pioneer life. At the heart of this book are chapters revolving around Laura’s nine Little House books, each exploring in detail the stories, houses, landscapes, journeys, foods, activities, and crafts of her pioneer life. Meticulously researched, lovingly written and beautifully illustrated, The World of Little House is for anyone who has ever read and loved the Little House books.

Included in this glorious volume are
*floorplans of Laura's little houses
*a timeline showing events in Laura’s life and the United States
*a biography illustrated with historic photographs
*a family tree showing four generations of the Ingalls and Wilder families
*a guide to all the Little House sites and museums
*a selected bibliography of books about Laura and Little House
*reproductions of Garth Williams’ original covers
*over 150 full-color illustrations
*over 20 Little House recipes, crafts and activities
*embroidered satin ribbon marker

... Read more

Reviews (8)

Charming Book
This charming book is a must for Little House addicts. The partial family tree is interesting (though did Grandpa Ingalls really give two of his children the same first name? That struck me as odd). The book contains lots of recipes and activities, and a nice summary of the Ingall's family travels.
A few minor caveats, however:
Except for a brief introduction and the timeline at the end, the book follows the LH books, NOT Laura's actual life. So it isn't all factually accurate.
WHile a few of the "Little Houses" still exist, most are long gone. So the author's floor plans are imaginary, and they don't always follow the descriptions in the books. (For example, when Pa added the bedrooms onto the claim shanty at the beginning of "Little Town on the Prairie", Laura describes it as "building the other half of the house," meaning, to my mind, that the rooms should have been side by side; the same size as the original shanty room. THe author here shows them as being one behind the other, and taking up only half the legnth of the shanty.)
The recipes, while interesting, seem less historically accurate than the ones in the "Little House Cookbook." (Almanzo's "Long Winter" pancakes probably wouldn't have had eggs in them.)
And there are a few other minor factual errors, both in relation to Laura's real life and to her life as portrayed in the books.

Still a very worthwhile purchase for anyone interested in the book series.

Nice Companion to the Little House Series
This is a nice companion book to the Little House series. The book is filled with diagrams of what the houses that Laura and her family lived in may have looked like, simple activities suitable for children, recipes for foods that are described in the Little House books, and other background information about the books and Laura's life. Each chapter revolves around one of the nine books in the Little House series and the book contains an introduction about Laura Ingalls Wilder. The back of the book contains a time line of different world events that were going on during Laura's lifetime. This is a nice book to read after you have read the Little House series.

The World of Little House
The World of Little House is an excellent book about the history of the "Pioneer Girl", Laura Ingalls Wilder. Deborah Maze and Garth Williams did a wonderful job of illustrating the book with beautiful pictures. This book includes "How to Make Projects" such as Laura and Mary's Nine-Patch Quilt Squares along with "How to Make Recipes" such as Molasses-on-Snow Candy. Besides telling about Laura's life, the book includes interesting topics of what it was like to live in the 1860's through the 1940's. Such topics include information on general stores, prairie schools, covered wagons, medicine and housekeeping on the prairie. If you like Laura Ingalls Wilder, you must buy this book. It will be money well spent!

It deserves 10 stars!
You MUST have this book if you like Little House even a little bit! It's great! I couldn't put it down either. I looked at every page and was amazed. I found out things I never knew. You must have this book!

a true treasure
This is one of the most most lovel books my mother and I have shared together. It brought back such great memories of my childhood reading the little house books. The illustrations complement the simple activities and delicious recipes beautifully. It brings a spoonful of peace and tranquility to the hectic world many live in today ... Read more

Book Description

In this classic frontier adventure, Lois Lenski reconstructs the real life story of Mary Jemison, who was captured in a raid as young girl and raised amongst the Seneca Indians. Meticulously researched and illustrated with many detailed drawings, this novel offers an exceptionally vivid and personal portrait of Native American life and customs.

1942 Newbery Honor book ... Read more

Reviews (41)

A Closer Look
I have read this book at least six times, and it still captivates me that the author kept such a close feel on the character, Mary. Ms.Lenski took her imagination to the extreem. I believe that she took into herself the emotions and the heart of Mary and used it to her advantage. The whole setting of the book and especially the other characters in it make it a wonderful experience and it sends a feeling inside me that nastalgia seems too small a word to speak. It reminds me of where I lived as a child, and the person, Mary, sounds so much like I was. She talked like she knew much more than her age should alow her to. She spoke with clarvoyance and dignity that many other characters did not have. She learned the language of the Indians quickly and learned their culture with no complaint. I only wish Ms. Lenski would write more about Mary Jemison. I want to know what happened to the girl who did not return to her people when she had the chance. This book has changed my outlook on books. I read it for the first time in the fifth grade, and it touched me in such a way I cannot describe. I love how Ms. Lenski put her descriptions into words. I can never seem to do it exactly how I plan. I am currently writing two books, neither of which would, or could compare to Indian Captive. I only hope that my books will get published and appreciated like this one. I am sorry that I made this so long, but like I said, I can never really quite put into words exactly what I want to say. Thank you for listening to my opinion.

It was truly touching and a wonderful book to read
INDIAN CAPTIVE is a wonderful book for children of all ages. I recommend it to everyone. Mary has to face all kinds of problem and I don't know about you but I was bewildered to see how she handled them so wonderfully. I'm only 13 and I could understand this book very well so I'm sure kids younger than me will have no problem. Please pick up this book and read about the Indians and the way that they act, if you thought they were bad you will be totally swayed after reading this book.

How Indian Captive Inspired Me
The book Indian Captive, to me, was very captivating! What inspired me to read it was my Aunt, who's part Indian and is into the culture. I started reading the book expecting something like a history lecture, and finihsed it off feeling enlightened not regretting a thing!! I know what piece of Indian culture I took in is nothing compareed to the real thing, but it is so amazing to learn of how these poeple lived, and how benign and simple to life their culture is. What kept me even more interested was to learn how the little girl that got captured by them took it. She was the all-american-colonial girl, unwilling to new ideas, and came out a wise and educated, further than any college degree can teake you -woman. Experiencing each step of her journey along the way, and recognizing her growth next to mine, her journey can be compared to the analogy of a little child going out into the "big world" in his/her own. She is a survivor, and I hope her story lives on forever through her writing.

Lisa and Jenna's Review
This was a great book telling how an indian girls life is! It made me laugh, it made me cry, it moved me. I will never be the same as i was when i started this Phoneminal Life of a courageous indian girl! This book is one you will never forget my friend! Thankyou for reading our review, ya'll come back now ya hear?

Indian Captive
I thought this book was really good. In the beginning it was very confusing for me but now i understand it. It is a very easy book to use for a book project. You would like this book if you enjoy learning about histoy with Native Americans. The book has to do with a yound girl named Mary and her life with her new Senaca Tribe "family." ... Read more

Book Description

Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife to two kings, mother to two others, has been waiting in Heaven a long time -- eight centuries, more or less -- to be reunited with her second husband, Henry II of England. Finally, the day has come when Henry will be judged for admission. While Eleanor, never a patient woman in life or afterlife, waits, three people, each of whom was close to Eleanor during a time of her life, join her. Their reminiscences do far more than help distract Eleanor -- they also paint a rich portrait of an extraordinary woman who was front and center in a remarkable period in history and whose accomplishments have had an important influence on society through the ages. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Magnificent intro to one of history's most powerful women
I first read this book at least 15 years ago and have never forgotten it. This book and The Daughter of Time launched my ongoing love affair with British history. After reading this book, I was so inspired that I dressed as Eleanor of Aquitaine for Halloween; I was shocked and astonished to discover that she was far from a household name and I spent my entire evening of trick-or-treating explaining my costume. If more books for children were as historically accurate and entertaining as is Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver, I think more people would have recognized and appreciated my costume. E.L. Konigsburg writes some of the best children's books I've ever read and they stand the test of time- I enjoy reading them now as much as I did then. By writing about an often ignored yet fascinating woman, Konisburg opened my eyes to a range of historical characters usually excluded in traditional history books. I highly recommend this book for any child, but especially for young girls who are looking for more female characters to shape their understanding of world history.

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver
"...Louis was too thickheaded to use this valuable tool, this queen, this restless beauty, this Eleanor." So begins the wonderful saga of the spirited Eleanor of Aquitaine, her husbands, sons and daughters. From her marriage with Louis of France to that of King Henry II of England, Eleanor shows through wit and compassion, abruptness and anger, readers learn the unforgettable story of this heroine, and exactly why she has earned her place in history. Told from the view points of Abbot Suger of St. Denis, the Matilda Empress, and King Henry's most faithful knight, William the Marshall, A Proud Taste for Charlotte and Miniver is not a book to be forgotten

Fantastic book about a prominent figure
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver is a wonderful book about the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. This book shows all stages of her life: her childhood in France, her first marriage to Louis VII, her second marriage to Henry II, every important stage of Eleanor's life.

Eleanor and her fellow story-tellers Abbot Suger, Matilda-Empress, and William the Marshal are well-portrayed, as are the people who made an impact on Eleanor's life. Everything that happened to her is drawn in deftly to the story; you barely realise that you are actually waiting for Henry's judgement.

This is a great introduction to an important figure in French and English history. If you're looking for a light read or a brief glance into the time period Eleanor lived in, this is the perfect book. It is great for the youngest children to the most interested historian. This is a definitely something to check out as soon as you can!

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver
In 'A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver', a teen named Eleanor of Aquitaine is married to Prince Louis of France. They live happily until the crusade, where she disobeys her husband, now King, and is very unpleasant after that. So Eleanor leaves that marriage behind, and marries King Henry. She feels that she has never met a person so devious and sharp-witted like herself, and becomes very pleasurable around him. She gives birth to three sons and one daughter, but they all disagree with each other. And to make it worse, King Henry is becoming more and more angry at both his sons and Eleanor. SO she lives in Aquitaine. But what will he do to Eleanor? Read this book!

Im not sure that I liked this book, because it was pretty hard to follow. It was an interesting read, and I would reccomend it to people that like medieval tales, but NOT anything like science fiction, like me. Only if you like fantasy and are willing to cope with a broken-up story, from several characters' points of view. Read something else instead.

Amazing book
I love Eleanor very much. She was beautiful both inside and outside. She loved poetry, music, and art. She was strong and always fought bravely. She was a pioneer feminist.
I love the beautiful illustrations by E.L.Konigsburg, too. Great! ... Read more

Book Description

Boom! Bang! Guns fire! Cannons roar! George Washington is fighting in the American Revolution. He
sees a dog lost on the battlefield. Whose dog is it? How will it find its master? Early readers will be surprised to find out what happens in this little-known true story about America’s first president. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Great Read Aloud for President's Day!
This easy reader is a delightful story to share with all students. The information gained about President Washington is unforgettable. Children will love that George named his dog "Sweetlips" and they won't forget that he was super kind and honest to one of his enemies! This book will be a staple in classrooms across the country and this true story of George may replace his "Cherry Tree" tale. ... Read more

Book Description

If you could see with your eyes closed, how would you use your power? That’s what Henry has to decide in "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,"one of the seven stories in this extra-ordinary collection. In addition to imaginative and magical tales, this book also contains the true story of how Roald Dahl became a writer, as well as a copy of the very first nonfiction story he wrote for The Saturday Evening Post. Packed with wit and adventure, the collection is a clever mix of fantasy and reality — and a stunning showcase of Dahl’s prose. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Marvelous tales from a master
A recent discussion with several friends left me fending off accusations that the only material I read or watch pertains to the horror genre. I had some difficulty convincing these misguided souls that I do indeed like to read literature and watch films that don't contain a masked maniac. Exhibit A in my defense is Roald Dahl's "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More," a book I adored as a child and one that fully deserves to sit alongside the author's better known "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "James and the Giant Peach." Dahl the man had an interesting life; he worked in the oil business in Africa before joining the RAF during World War II to fight the Luftwaffe. Injuries incurred from a plane crash briefly sidetracked Dahl's military career, but eventually gave the world something to sing about because it directly led to the beginning of his writing career. You get all of this information from one of the stories in the book, but Dahl's fiction deservedly receives the most attention. Fortunately, we get a lot of that here too. Roald Dahl died in 1990.

The non-fiction pieces here are wonderful. His first story, "A Piece of Cake," is here, along with an account of how Dahl became a writer. Entitled "Lucky Break," this story is really a short autobiography of the writer from his early school days through his war experiences. The sections outlining his years at one of England's public schools should be read by anyone who thinks American places of learning are terrible. English public schools, Dahl writes, are actually very private academies devoted to the total education of their pupils. During the writer's childhood, this meant harsh, rigid discipline of a type usually seen in the military. The brutality exhibited by teachers and elder classmates at the school is shocking: the older students routinely whipped younger pupils with switches, an activity mirrored by the teachers whenever students misbehaved. There are great, tension filled descriptions of the beatings endured by Dahl at the hands of these tormentors. The author advises that wearing thick pajamas and undergarments will protect one's posterior from the brunt of a switching administered by a fellow classmate, but nothing will save you from the headmaster's canes. Yikes! And to think the worst thing that happened to me in school involved losing my locker combination. School wasn't a total loss for the young author, however, as it was the place where he learned to love literature.

The centerpiece story, "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar," is one of the best in the book. It's really two stories in one, about a wealthy but frivolous soul named Henry Sugar and his discovery of an unusual book in a friend's library. The book tells the story about a man in India who has learned to see through objects without the use of his eyes. Sugar gets the sudden inspiration to attain this ability and soon discovers that he is a natural at it, one of the rare people with the amazing gift to learn this art in just a few years. Henry's motivations are highly suspect at first: he wishes to use this newfound talent to cheat at the casino, thereby earning himself a fortune. But something rather odd occurs during his training process when Sugar soon discovers that he has little interest in accumulating money for selfish ends. He decides instead to use his gift to fund orphanages for the world's poor, and over the next several decades bilks casino after casino out of millions of dollars. Sugar soon becomes so well known to the owners of these gambling houses that he must assume disguises to keep the game going. Dahl writes the story in such a way that the reader becomes convinced Henry Sugar was a real, breathing person.

"The Swan" is another gem about a precocious child named Peter Watson who runs into two local tormentors, Ernie and Raymond, while out bird watching. The two goons march Watson around at the point of a gun for no other reason then alleviating their boredom on a weekend. They first tie Peter to the railroad tracks and trick him into believing he will be hit by a train. The final indignity occurs when Raymond and Ernie shoot a beautiful swan, tie its wings to Peter's arms, and force him to climb a tree so they can see him "fly." No spoilers here, but there is something magical and memorable about what happens next as Peter learns that he is one of those precious souls which all the bullies in the world will never triumph over. Along with "The Swan," you get "The Hitchhiker" and the less interesting "The Boy Who Talked With Animals."

"The Mildenhall Treasure" is an incredible story about an amazing discovery. On a cold winter morning, a farmer plowing another man's land stumbled upon the greatest cache of Roman silver ever found in Britain. Regrettably, Gordon Butcher didn't know what he had found because the silver had tarnished during its years in the ground. His boss did know what it was and took the stuff home where hid it for a few years before the authorities discovered it. The crux of the story centers on a British law that says the person who FINDS any treasure receives compensation for the full market value of the items. The Mildenhall plates, bowls, and spoons would have netted Butcher nearly a million pounds. By allowing his boss to walk off with the silver, Butcher received only one thousand pounds. In a way, this book is similar to the Mildenhall Treasure: a great find even if you have little idea of it at first glance. Roald Dahl's works are genius and everyone should read a few of them.

Delightful Stories by the Exciting Author Roald Dahl
Contains: THE BOY WHO TALKED WITH ANIMALS A wierd tale about a boy who decides to run away on a giant sea turtle. I gave away the end, but you'll have to read the well-written middle. THE HITCHHIKER The short tale of a fingersmith ( talented pickpocket ). THE SWAN A dramatic story of an intelligent, unconquerable young boy and the child thugs who terrorize him. THE MILDENHALL TREASURE From the back of the book:"A true tale of a fortune found and an opportunity lost." THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR Tells of the deep, Indian ( that is, from India ) secret: how to activate the senses without their instrument functioning ( i.e., to see without eyes, smell without the nose, hear without the ears, etc. ), and of the two people, Imhrat Khan and Henry Sugar, who dared to use it improperly. LUCKY BREAK-HOW I BECAME A WRITER Exactly what the title says. Includes some interesting characters we didn't see from "BOY" and some other great moments. PIECE OF CAKE FIRST STORY-1942 A poorly written story about the author's accident as a RAF fighter that changed his life. Then again, it was his first story, so I shouldn't be so critical.

Simply the best
As far as I'm concerned, this book should be reachable on every child's bookshelf (and by the way - every child should have a bookshelf). I read it years ago and can still recall the way the book made me feel - truly wonderful. I still remember the story of the hitchhiker so many years after I read it. Dahl is one of the best storytellers of our time.

a piece of cake
this is the only story i have read from the book so far, having just read it this last saturday to my 7 year old cousing before he drifted off to sleep. I'm seventeen and have read a fair share of literature. I enjoy Vonnegut, Lewis, steve Martin, Camus etc..., and I must say that this was one of the most captivating stories I have ever read, taking into account its short length of course. It wasn't epic, but I was driving and caustic. I loved it, and I will buy the book, even that one story would be all that was worth reading, which I highly doubt. I'm just rebuffing the last reviewers oppinion on the "Piece of Cake" story, so that someone might be given a second oppinion. Fusion is awesome, chech out billy cobham, I'm a Christian but I won't be voting for Bush when my first valid election comes around, I play the drums but I don't care for metal or rock n roll, stocks to watch are eag, emrg, almi, orch, and adzr, I'm single as might be assumed, and yes, I have a physics test tommorrow.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More
This is a great book. There are seven stories each one as fun and interesting as the next.

In the first book entiled the The Boy Who Talked to Animals a man goes to Jamaica and as he was sitting on his balcony several fisherman bring up a turtle. Now you may be thinking so they bring in a turtle so what. Well heres what. This was no ordinary turtle. It was atleast five ft. long and four ft. across and a big crowd of hotel guests had come to stare at this magnificent creature. In this crowed of people was a certain very special boy, the boy who talked with animals. He begs everyone to let the turtle go as here kneels down and hugs it. What happens after that is for you to find out.

In the next story entitled The Hitchhiker a man pickes up a hitchhiker who turned out to be a fingersmith (also known as pickpocket). The man drives too fast and is pulled over what happens next is for you to find out.

The next story is The Mildenhall Treasure which is a true story - in fact one of the only true stories that Roald Dahl has ever written. He wrote this story because it was so interesting that he just had to. This true tale takes place in 1946. This story is about a treasure found and a man who lost a great oppertunity. Read this story and you wont be dissapointed.

The Swan is a story about two child thugs Ernie and Raymond who go hunting and find bird wathcing Peter Watson. The two boys tourture Peter and kill a swan while their at it. Does Peter get shot? Does he live or die? find out in Roald Dahls The Swan.

After this is a story about a man named Henry Suger. In this story Henry reads a story about a indian man who learned to see without his eyes. Henry learned to do this in order to make millions off casinos but in the years it took he seemed to have a change of heart and though still making millions, he finds a way to bring joy to orphans and fear to casino owners around the world. Read to find out more.

In Lucky Break Roald Dahl explains the amazing way he became a writer.

And lastly in the true story A Piece of Cake Roald Dahl has the story that led him to his lucky break. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Ella enchanted
You open this book and the endpapers swirl and glow like black painted silk. They're the first indication you receive that this book is something special. Something different. Something apart from the rest. Using the narrating character of one Scat Cat Monroe, an actual well-dressed feline, the story follows Ella from child to lady of the stage. As we watch, Ella moves to Harlem thinking she's gonna make it big through dancing. Once there, however, she switches her focus and unleashes her fabulous voice. She pairs up with the Chick Webb Orchestra and Al Feldman. She then bebops with Dizzy Gillespie and earns herself the name "The Queen of Scat". It's a fabulous upbeat tale that takes the spirit of Ella Fitzgerald and lets her shine. The best possible tribute to her name.

The text of the story is especially amusing. Sometimes a book will attempt to speak in a jiving slangy sort of way and simply come off as annoying. Other times, the author sounds as if he/she is trying too hard. Fortunately, Andrea Davis Pinkney has everything under control so that when the book says something like, "She won the contest straight up, kicked her dance dreams to the curb, and pinned all her hopes on being a singer", you know it's true. There's a poetry