Book Description

Reviews (4)

The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Friends
This book is good for the age rage from 3-6 years, who are just making friends at school and in their neighboorhood.
Sister bear has Lizzy move in next door and they become friends, and learn that sometimes friends have fights, but that a friend is good to have despite their differences.
This book teaches kids that even when friends have differences and fights they need to overcome their differences and still be friends.

End of a friendship?
When Sister and Lizzy get into a fight what is Sister to do?

This book teachs kids that all friends have fights and that you sould always try to make-up in the end. It is a great book

The BerenstainBears Trouble with Freinds Review
I gave this book a 5 star review because it teaches children that arguing and fighting is not the way to solve your probleems you have to talk through them. This book also has a lot of pictures that kids would like.

Trouble with Friends Review
I gine this book a 5 star rateing because it is a good lesson teacher to all children of every age. These books always have a good outcome and they teach a lot. The berenstain Bears is a make believe family of bears. Sister bear gets in a fight with her friend Libby. In the long run the end up getting in a fight, but soon after they all make up and talk things out. It teaches kids to talk out problems and not to fight. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Worst Book Of The First Ten
This review concerns the original 1929 edition. An elderly lady seeks Fenton Hardy's assistence in locating her twin brother who disappeared shortly after an accident. Meanwhile, Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff travel up the coast to camp at some caves where mysterious things are occuring. This book is easily the worst of books 1-10. The writing (language used, descriptive scenes, etc.) is excellent, like in all of the early originals; however the writing is the only saving grace of this book and the only real reason to read it. The plot is weak and their is no real mystery. There is only one criminal in the book. He is captured on page 139 and the manner in which he is captured was the second most pathetic way that I have seen in all of the Hardy Boys books that I have read; the worst being the criminal in #76 "Game plan For Disaster" that the Hardy's find already tied up on a motel room floor. Unfortunately for Frank and joe they had to tie the guy up this time, but; otherwise, it was somewhat similar. The book contains too many ridiculous coincidences. The Hardys are supposed to be miles from Bayport, yet when they look for a passing motorist to take the criminal to the police station in Bayport, not only is the very first car they stop going to Bayport, the driver is someone the Hardy's know. If that wasn't enough, a similar situation happens later in the book. The reader is left to figure out the explanation of the strange happenings at the caves because it is never explained. This book is worth reading for the writing, but that's about it.

What Was The Author Thinking?
This review concerns the revised 1964 edition. A young girl asks Mr. Hardy, Frank and Joe to find her brother, a young university professor, who recently disappeared. A clue left by the professor leads Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff to the Honeycomb Caves, not far from Bayport, where the boys discover a connection to Mr Hardy's other case involving sabotage at a new radar station in Bayport. I don't know what the author of the revised edition was thinking; he/she took the original edition, that was already not very good, largely rewrote it, stripped away the only really good thing about the original (its rich language and descriptiveness) and made an already dull book even worse. This is a bad book with a boring mystery and not much action. If you're determined to read this title, read the original if you can, neither one is very good, but at least the original was well written.

The cave collapsed.
I think this book is the worst Hardy Boys book ever.This book is so poor I think it wasn't even made by Franklin W. Dixon.I would give it one star but I have to give it some credit.Listen to me and don't get this book.

My Hardy Boys #7 Review
I think this book is a great read for everybody, young and old.I especially liked the part where they meet the retired sea captain in the cave,and at first he is cool with Chet, Biff, Joe and Frank, then they return and he gets all aggressive with them.To sum it up, this book, The Secret Of The Caves is an awesome book.
Go read it!

Fine
This review refers to the original text. The book did not live up to its appealing title and is over rated. While it ranks as one of the best volumes in the set, it ranks among the worst of the early volumes. There is actually one criminal Carl Schaum, captured on page 59. Outside of the brothers going through the caves during the middle chapters the book was rather medicore. The revision (1964) was horrible. Still the book is a definite read as are all the early volumes. ... Read more

Book Description

Brother Bear gets into a box. Papa Bear turns the box upside down, takes it

outside, and puts it on a truck. The simple art and rhyming text make this a

perfect choice for teaching spatial concepts.




... Read more

Reviews (12)

OK book
"Inside, Outside, Upside Down," by Stan and Jan Berenstain

In this story, it tells about how a young bear cub goes into a box and the box is picked up upside down on a dolly. He is then taken outside and loaded onto a truck and the truck then starts to go up a hill to go into town. As the truck is going up the hill the box bounces off and he lands right side up...This book is an easy book to read for a little child to read during his or her free time, or they can read the book to you. This would be a good book to read to your child...

Inside Outside Upside Down
Inside Outside Upside Down was a very cute book. This story really has no moral; it's just a cute book to read. It talks about how the boy bear cub goes into a box and gets turned upside down on a truck and drives into town and comes back the very same way. I wouldn't recommend this book to any child if you are looking for something educational, it's just a fun book to read over and over again. But I would recommend it just for fun!

4 Years Old...
If you read this to your child enough times, s/he just might surprise you by picking it up one day and reading it to him/herself. That's what happened to my mother when I was but a wee 4 years old. This book will always hold a special place in my heart. I know that my daughter will enjoy it too, even if she's already reading "Hop on Pop" by herself. (And she's only 4 too.)

Inside Outside Upside Down
This book is a good book for children because it makes them think. It talks about him, going inside a box, then its turned upside down, then he goies outside, and it talks about all of the directions he goes while he is inside the box. Thats why it makes you think. You have to try to figure out the order and everything. So that is why i think this book is a good one for younger children. It makes them use their heads.

OK book
...In this story, it tells about how a young bear cub goes into a box and the box is picked up upside down on a dolly. He is then taken outside and loaded onto a truck and the truck then starts to go up a hill to go into town. As the truck is going up the hill the box bounces off and he lands right side up. He then gets out and runs home yelling to his mama about what just happened to him. This book is an easy book to read for a little child to read during his or her free time, or they can read the book to you. This would be a good book to read to your child. Please make sure to tell your kids not to climb into boxes or other containers for they might not be able to get back out without the needed help of others in the surrounding area of the container. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good book....
This is a good book.The cases are about a secret pitch,a balloon man accused of kidnapping,a cowboy that's ambushed,stolen gold,a hitchhiker who is a witness to a holdup gang,a boy poet who gets in a fight,a boy who gets shot by an air gun,a stolen penknife named Excalibur,a man who gts tricked out of his violin by a glass of ginger ale,and a stolen bike.

Mysteries and Puzzles
Encyclopedia Brown is a 5th grade boy who solves puzzles, crimes and mysteries as easily and as unconsciously as breathing.

Each book is a series of short mysteries (5-10 pages each) ending with a question - usually "how did Encyclopedia know that X was responsible for the crime". The answer to each mystery is at the back of the book. Solving the mystery takes no special knowledge, but it does require paying attention to detail. Don't turn to the answer too fast.

This book is the second in the series, but the books do not have to be read in order. I loved the Encyclopedia Brown books when I was growing up. I am reading them again before I give them to my nephew who I hope will enjoy them as I did.

Adults who like this series may also enjoy the Lateral Thinking Puzzles books.

This is a good book for kids.
You should read Encyclopdia Brown and the Case of the Seceret Pitch.It's exciting!! It's about a boy that solves mysteries.You should read it to find all the good funny mysteries in it.That's why I gave it five stars. Everybody should have one. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Tintin and friends prepare to take a spaceship to the Moon
"Destination Moon" ("Objectif Lune," 1953) gives a detailed account on the preparation and the launching of the expedition to the Moon from the Sprodj Atomic Research Center in Syldavaia using the rocket designed by Professor Calculus. However, be forewarned that this is the first half of the tale, which is continued in "Explorers on the Moon." So do not let the cliffhanger ending to this volume throw you for a loop. Just make a point of picking up both halves of the story and you can avoid any sleepless nights worrying about Tintin and his friends trapped in a spaceship that could well become their tomb.

This Tintin adventure has one of my favorite sequences in the entire series and it was not the cliffhanger ending with Tintin and the crew heading to the moon. It comes when Captain Haddock dismisses the preparations and accuses Calculus of "acting the goat." The normal placid professor goes off the deep end and drags the captain to show him the spaceship destined for the moon, demanding to know if that is what the good captain means by "acting the goat." The worm finally turning is one of those great moments you cherish in a series because it has been so long in coming.

"Destination Moon" is really the set up, for which "Explorers on the Moon" is the payoff. What is most impressive is the attention to detail that Herge shows in these books, in terms of both the technical preparation for a trip to the moon and the actual trip. There is some intrigue, with agents from Klow trying to thwart the mission, but the main thing here is the preparation for the epic journey. These two volumes stack up well against any 1950s science fiction movie about traveling to the moon and anticipate a lot of what we would read about and see when Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon in 1969. Together these volumes constitute Tintin's greatest adventure (how can you top being the first man on the moon?).

Futuristic Fantasy
First written in 1953, 15 years before the first real moon landing in 1969!
I like these books because of their nostalgia value, good old-fashioned values of heroism, adventure good vs. evil. . I first got hold of copies of 'Destination Moon ' and 'Explorers on the Moon' when I was ten, and I was fascinated by the world which they opened up.
Tintin and Captain Haddock fly to the uranium-rich Balkan State of Syldavia, to work with Professor Calculus on his project to send a rocket to the moon, using the mountains of Syldavia as a base. You learn a lot about the fantasyland of Syldavia, and about the unusual perception of the world of his time, by the author, Herge.

This work is amazing in its futuristic scope. The super-modern (for when it was written in1953) Sprodj Atomic Research Center, and the details of the rocket where quite an amazing concept when the book was first published, 16 years before the first real moon landing by Neil Armstrong in 1969.

It is full of adventure, such as when Tintin is wounded while surprising villains at the ventilator grid in the picturesque Syldavian Mountains; and much humour such as escapades with Captain
Haddock's pipe and Professor Calculus' hearing aid , and the famous scene of an enraged Professor Calculus 'acting the goat'.

It is a great adventure for all ages, a wonderful album to have.

Learn and have fun
Why I like Tintin?
Basically, I would say, because it is an icon of French culture. In the era of globalisation, I do believe there are several poles of culture dissemination: Hollywood is one of them, though not the only one.
Travel with Tintin, and you will learn as much as you have fun. I wouldn't draw a parallel with Mickey Mouse (though my brother once suggested that Johnny Quest is closer to what Tintin is) but I do know that Tintin is a beloved character with francophones all around the world.
Ironically, Tintin does not come from France, but from Belgium. But what does it matter? Canada's Celine Dion has also made it to the top charts in far away France...

Definitely one of the best Tintin books
This book comes alive with a delightful mix of action and adventure as tintin and his compatriots prepare for their trip to the moon. A must buy for tintin fans!

Tintin's lunar adventures mark Herge's finest hour.
Along with its sequel, Explorers on the Moon, Destination Moon is the most fully realised of Tintin's adventures. Published over a decade before the lunar landing of 1969, Herge's vision of space travel is a convincing one. Brilliantly illustrated with Herge's unique cinematic style and featuring some excellent villains, as well as hilarious antics from the Thompson Twins, Destination Moon is a must read. ... Read more

Book Description

Winnie-the-Pooh's youngest devotees will delight in these six board-book versions of their favorite Pooh adventures, gathered here in a storybook set as inviting as a box of chocolates.

Visible through acetate windows are unforgettable stories such as Pooh and Some Bees, Eeyore Has a Birthday, and Piglet's Rescue, each gently abridged to suit a preschooler's short attention span and accompanied by Ernest H. Shepard's illustrations in full color. As enduring as Pooh himself, these books are built to last with high-quality board stock, durable binding, and rounded edges-all sweetly housed in a sturdy die-cut tray that provides permanent storage and instant accessibility.

Illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Hot Day at Maisy's Place
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's workd.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

It's a hot summer day and Maisy pulls out her pool to cool off. But she runs into a few problems when she finds a leak in the pool and then has her friend Eddie the Elephant decide to sit in it. Will Maisy ever be able to cool off?

Perfect for one-year-olds!
I've read this book so many times to my 15-month-old, I can recite it from memory! He started going nuts for it around the time he turned one; that's when he wanted a little more of a story line. This book and the other three in the group (Maisy's Bedtime, Maisy Dresses Up, and Maisy Makes Gingerbread) are one step up from the one-picture-and-one-word per page kinds of books for babies, but not so high up that they start having way too much text per page. A typical page in this book is "Maisy and Talullah are feeling hot." Just one or two simple sentences and one wonderful bright Lucy Cousins illustration per page-spread; ten page-spreads total. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in color. Dr. Seuss's characters explore the zany world of feet. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

A must for every young child's library!
The Foot Book is terrific, but be sure that you buy the 32 page white-covered version, not one of the inferior board books.

My children have loved this book since 6 months. The story is very simple - it shows all different kinds of feet, from wet feet and dry feet to fuzzy fur feet. There aren't many words on each page, so there is lots of page turning to keep the youngest kids interest. Dr. Seuss used a sing-song rhyme, which reads quickly and is very soothing. We read it over and over again.

The artwork is classic Suess, with a focus on feet!

I credit The Foot Book with fostering my children's love of books. At just 12 months my daughter will bring the book to me and climb into my lap for a reading. (Fair warning - you will know this book by heart!)

My older child was bored with this book by about age 2, because it is so simple, but is now enjoying it again as I read it to her sister, and I think it will be a popular choice when she starts learning to read.

My recommendation is to get this book early and enjoy it often!

Dr. Seuss introduces young readers to the joy of adjectives
"The Foot Book" by Dr. Seuss is a Bright and Early Book for Beginning Readers, a series of books for the youngest of the young. The idea here is that the stories are brief and funny, the words are few and easy, and there is always a catchy sense of rhyme. Of course "The Foot Book" is about not only the foot (singular) but feet (plural). There are more references to feet (plural) than to feet (singular), if you happen to pay attention to such things (which, apparently, I did). But the key part of this book are all the adjectives that Dr. Seuss comes up with for all those feet.

This happens mostly in terms of oppositional pairs such as right and left, wet and dry, high and low, front and back, etc. Of course sometimes rhyme comes into play as well, such as when we go from small feet to big feet and then to pig feet. The illustrations all feature the strange hairy creatures that populate the imagination of Dr. Seuss, although you will see a pair of rather normal looking kids in the mix as well. Did you ever stop to think that Dr. Seuss is probably the most influential poet of his generation? He is certainly the most imitated, and behind all those silly rhymes was a deep desire to get kids to read. Once your beginning reader has read "The Foot Book," be sure to have them check out the sequel, "Fox in Sox."

A must have for all!
This is one of the first books my son fell in love with. He would laugh as I used different voices to go with the words and pictures. This book is also great to help with opposites. This is definately a library must have for all.

it was a funny book
this book is funny, just because it talks about feet.i read it twice. i recommend it, it was good.

Don't buy this version, get the original!
The original hardcover The Foot Book is absolutely awesome, but I had a lot of trouble finding it to buy on Amazon (it has a white cover, not green). For some reason the only versions that came up in my search were the board books. My daughterss have loved this book since they were 6 months old (one is now 12 months and the other is 3 1/2), and my copy is very tired.

Be aware that this version only has 12 pages and has stickers and flaps, which get torn and make a mess. If you're looking for the original version, click on "hardcover edition" on this page and you're all set.

I can't see any reason to purchase the shortened, board book version of this classic unless you're concerned with torn pages. There aren't many words on each page, and the rhymey, sing-song story is short enough to hold your child's attention for the entire book. We read this book together for storytime, and put the sturdier books into the crib for play.

The Foot Book belongs in every small child's library, but go with the real deal, not this dumbed-down version. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Who are Maisy's Favorites?
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

Maisy is visiting her favorite animals in this board book. Short but fun book for the preschool set. Care to guess who her favorite animals are? ... Read more

Book Description

One of the true classics of American literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over four generations. Originally published in 1900, it was the first truly American fairy tale, as Baum crafted a wonderful out of such familiar items as a cornfield scarecrow, a mechanical woodman, and a humbug wizard who used old-fashioned hokum to express that universal theme, "There's no place like home."

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, as their Kansas house is swept away by a cyclone and they find themselves in a strange land called Oz. Here she meets the Munchkins and joins the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City, where lives the all-powered Wizard of Oz.

This lavishly produced facsimile of the rare first edition contains all 24 of W. W. Denslow's original color plates, the colorful pictorial binding, and the 130 two-color illustrations that help make The Wonderful Wizard of Oz so special and enduring. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A Masterpiece! The book that started it all! I love Oz!
"The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum is the book that started all the Oz mania! I've read this book many times and I love it! Dorothy Gale and her little black dog, Toto are whisked from Kansas by a cyclone where she ends up in a magical fairy land called Oz. She meets some interesting friends along the way such as the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. They face many adventures and dangers in this wonderful book. You may think "why read the book? I've seen the movie!" Well it's my all time favorite movie too but the book's better! Once you read it I'm sure you'll be hooked on Oz!

We're Off to READ the Wizard!
Well what can I say about this incredible book. This story started it all. It was a huge success when it was published in 1900 and an even bigger success today. While reading this book, you're sure to notice more than a few changes and omissions compared to the wonderful 1939 movie classic. Baum weaves us into his magic spell of imagination, excitement, and adventure as we land in Munchkin Country, walk to the Emerald City, battle a Wicked Witch in Winkie Country, and finally make our way to Quadling Country. Never has an assembly of so many fantastical characters come together than in THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ. Hailed as the FIRST true American fairy tale, it will bring hope, joy, and magic into every person's life from ages 2 to 92. Don't miss out on the book that brought you the 1939 movie. You will feel as one with Dorothy and Toto and sympathize with the plights of the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion. Don't forget to read Baum's other Oz books....he wrote more than one ya know!

a book for all ages..........
Several years ago I was on a trip with my mother.....one day we happened to stop at a small town in St. George Utah (we were doing the SW national parks) and while she looked for something in a drugstore I found a small bookstore.....It was summer time and they had a stack of those cheap paperback classics. I picked up three.....One of them was THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ.....When I was younger my mother and my grandmother read to us, however we had never heard Frank Baum's tales of OZ.
That night I began to read it and simply could not believe how truly 'wonderful' Dorothy's adventures were in the 'Land of OZ'.....it brought back memories of many things from my childhood......but mainly the enchantment and inquisitiveness of it all.....
This is not only a charming and thoroughly enjoyable book for people of all ages.......but for all ages to come.

The ORIGINAL Wizard of Oz is Published
I don't own THIS particular Edition, but I will soon, and as soon as I saw it in Dymmocks, I looked through it and thought "I've really gotta get this book!" And this is why . . . .
I'm sure that there are those of you who have the annotated Wizard of Oz and/or the Dover editions of the Wonderful/Wizard of Oz (Dover has made different copies in publishing it in different ways). the Annotated Wizard of Oz may have the pictures in full-colour, but the colour plates are in 1 whole place, in the middle of the book, and that goes the same for the recent Dover Edition of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (where dorothy is wearing a pink dress, talking to her friends, all waering the Green glasses). The other Dover editions of this story have the pictures in black-and-white (sometimes all, other times, a few of them) with the colour-plates in their own chapter but in black-and-white.
THIS EDITION - the 100th Anniversary Edition - is one everybody should have. It has all the pictures in colour-and-black lined with the FULL-COLOUR-Plates in their OWN PROPER CHAPTER place, e.g. "She caught Toto by the ear" in THE CYCLONE, "I am the Witch of the North" in THE COUNCIL WITH THE MUNCHKINS, etc. It even has the picture of Dorothy and Toto back in Kansas on the very final page on the book in the backboard. And when you pull off this picture-cover (the one that you see now), the actual cardboard-leather-bound cover has the EXACT SAME ORIGINAL Cover Angela Lansbury shows in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic", where the Cowardly Lion is wearing the Green glasses on the Front cover, Toto is on the spine and the back has the faces of Dorothy, the Scarecrow and (Nick chopper) the Tin woodman in circles.
Hope you enjoyed my descriptive review. watch out for my other Oz and Digimon reviews (by Sam A. Milazzo).

The Wonderful Wizard - A Wonderful Classic & Must Have Book!
From the time I learned to read until my preteen years my favorite books were L. Frank Baum's Oz Books. I was an extremely avid reader but, for me, no other stories could compare with the magical world that Baum created. His characters and their adventures fueled my childhood fantasies like no others. In turn, these books became favorites of my daughter's. And this book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is the one that started it all.

As most folks know, an enormous cyclone suddenly hit young Dorothy Gale's home in Kansas, resulting in the extraordinary transportation of said home, girl and dog across time and space to the wondrous land of Oz. The house fell on a wicked witch and killed her, with dire future consequences for Dorothy and Company. Dorothy is directed to travel to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard of Oz to help her return to Kansas. On the way, she meets and befriends a Scarecrow (who desires brains), a Tin Woodman (who craves a heart), and a Lion (who wants to possess courage). And thus the famous adventures begin, which have been translated into many languages for children around the world. If there was ever a classic children's book - this is it.

Baum's narrative honors the ideals of home, heart, intellect, and courage. He introduces the reader to wizards, witches, winged monkeys, the Munchkins, and the beloved characters who have become cultural icons: Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. This edition features W. W. Denslow's illustrations, the original art that graced Baum's books, and my favorites.

This is a wonderful, non-abridged edition of one of the best stories ever told. Highest recommendations!
JANA ... Read more

Reviews (5)

what are these people talking about?
i was shocked to see the broken ear referred to as a "minor tintin" by one reviewer. i've read all the tintins atleast 50 times each over the last 20 years. in my opinion the broken ear is right at the top in the tintin canon! the mystery, the action, the adventure, the humour - it is simply superb. and this opinion is shared by a large number of my friends too. in the tintin canon the broken ear is rivaled only the blue lotus.

The Perils of Tintin continue, down South American way
"The Broken Ear" is an early adventure of Tintin where our hero and his faithful terrier companion Snowy go it alone through a series of perilous episodes (there are brief appearances by the Thompsons and Professor Calculus). The title defect belongs to an Arumbaya Fetish at the Museum of Ethnography which is stolen and then mysteriously returned. When Tintin notices the sacred tribal object now has two perfect ears and our hero is quickly in full Sherlock Holmes mode. However, Tintin is not the only one in search of the real fetish as his path starts crossing that of a pair of mysterious figures. After a series of incidents involving the search for a talking parrot, everyone finds themselves on a ship bound South American way for the Republic of San Theodoros, which happens to be where the Arumbaya tribe lives along the banks of the River Coliflor. There Tintin becomes involved in the political turmoil of San Theodoros and eventually gets around to traveling up the jungle river to find the Arumbayas. Meanwhile, poor Snowy finds that his tail becomes a sore point time and time again.

Overall in "The Broken Ear" the mystery takes something of a back seat to the repeated perils faced by Tintin. I went back and counted them up and on average Tintin faces death or severe physical harm once every three pages in this 64 page story. That might not be a record for our intrepid reporter, but, sheesh, it has to be close. This adventure of Tintin has engendered some criticism because of the way Herge draws a Negro in caricature and I certainly do not want to suggest that a white male European was not representative of the inherent racism of his culture, but I would point out that Herge, like Edgar Rice Burroughs, relied heavily on stereotypes for many of his characters and that you will find "good" and "bad" types for every race and ethnicity Tintin encounters. Certainly the South Americans Tintin encounters in San Theodoros, with their heavy accents, fiery tempers and tendency towards extreme violence, should be more central to any such critique. Herge also displays some sensitivity towards the native tribes of the area that is rather enlightened. If Tintin engaged in slurs or derogatory comments towards anyone, that would be something different, but our hero only thinks in terms of "good" and "bad," not "white" and "black". "The Broken Ear" is not a great Tintin Adventure, but you can see how the pieces are starting to come together with Herge's work.

Minor Tintin, but still great fun.
After the artistic, technical and emotional peak of 'The Blue Lotus', Herge wisely decided to take things down a gear, rather than attempt to somehow out-marvel that seminal book. So 'The Broken Ear' is Tintin in a minor key - the undeviating single narrative is shorn of sub-plots; the spaces of South America, compared to the intricate detail of Japan and China in 'Lotus', are comparitively broad.

A fetish originating with the Arumbaya tribe is stolen from the Museum of Ethnology, and replaced with a fake. Tintin knows it's bogus because the original had a broken ear, and discovers that two Spanish crooks are also interested in finding the thief. Heroes and villains end up in the small South American principality of San Theodoros where Tintin is set up and put in front of a firing squad. Saved by coup and counter-coup, Tintin is made Colonel and right-hand man of dictator General Alcazar, among whose officers appear those same two thieves.

'Ear' is full of typical Herge incident, from the comic pursuit of a splendidly abusive parakeet, to a suspenseful downriver kayak-trip in search of a mysterious, hostile tribe. Herge's satiric sense shows how the political instabilities of many South American countries, with their seemingly daily military coups, are fanned by greedy European and American arms manufacturers and oil companies. The European plunder of other civilisations, so memorably a feature of previous adventures, is once again shown to be disastrous, even fatal. There are some wondrous visual conceits, in particular the Arumbaya rainforest sequence, which, set against an abstract, gren backdrop, frames its physical movements (fights, chases etc.) into a mysterious Matissean dance. The representation of landscape and settlements, with the eye on revealing detail, is as resonant as ever.

All this is fine, but one can't help feeling the lack of density, the rather perfunctory nature of the whole.

Not my favorite, but I still love it
This is not one of the better Tintin books. The illustration makes it very apparent that this is one of the earlier books. I find the story line to be rather choppy. This book was also penned before the introduction of Captain Haddock or Professor Calculus; even the Thompson Twins do not have much depth to them. It is noteworthy that General Alcazar makes his first appearance in this adventure. This book should be read before Herge's final Tintin adventure, Tintin and the Picaros, which in some senses is a continuation of The Broken Ear.

When a wooden statue is stolen from the museum, Tintin is intent on tracking it down. His pursuit takes him through South America, from the fictional country of San Theodoros (in which Herge satirizes the fickleness of a dictatorship) through the jungles of the Amazon. Murder and mayhem accompany him every step of the way.

Despite this book's lackings, it is a Tintin book, a fact which makes it a worthy read in of itself. For collectors, it is a must have. For Tintin enthusiasts, it is an enjoyable tale. For anyone unfamiliar with Tintin, I must stress that the other books are even better.

A page turner from the beginning to the end!
Once you begin to read a Tintin book, you can't stop! I love how the author has so many ideas on how the plot can take twists and turns. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Better Than The Original Edition
This review concerns the revised 1967 edition. Mr. Hardy asks Frank and Joe to "break into" the house of a neighbour and retrieve a secret invention to prevent it from being stolen by a gang of thieves he is currently investigating. Later, at a party at Chet's home, Joe is kidnapped at the stroke of midnight. Frank, along with some friends, must find Joe and learn why he was kidnapped; as well, the Hardy's have to keep the gang from stealing the invention. Personally, I preferred this edition to the original. The original edition was better written; although, that is true in most cases. However, I found that revised edition had a more interesting mystery and it had a lot more action. I don't consider this book to be one of the best of the series, but it is far from being one of the worst.

An Average Book
This review concerns the original 1931 edition. At the stroke of midnight, Joe is kidnapped from a party at the Morton farm and Frank and his chums set out, not only to find Joe, but to discover why he was kidnapped. I'd more accurately give the book a rating of 3.5 stars. The writing, like with all previous volumes, is excellent and the mystery is alright, but the book doesn't quite live up to the intriguing title. Mr. Hardy does not make an appearance in the book as he is said to be on a case out West and, in my opinion, his omission only hurts the story. Most readers would probably not rate this book as one of their favorites in the set, but they probably wouldn't rate it as one of their least favorites either.

the amazing book
This book is about a secret invention that has to be taken good care of while Mr.Hardy and the inventor are out of town. While the hardy boys are protecting it throughout the book ,many things happen and happen to them. Then finally near the end they arest people of the smuggler/kidnapper gang and get a clue as they go along.Read it and find out what happens in the end.my opinion about the book is that it is very interesting and entertaining. I like it because as you go along it gives you a clue and makes you think like a investagator. Then in the end it all comes together and you get the whole meaning of everything.

The best Hardy Boys book I've ever read!
Okay, so I only read The Tower Treasure, Hunting for Hidden Gold, Tthe Mystery of Cabin Island and The Clue of the Broken Blade, bu this is the best book I have read so far! They must get into their neighbor's house to take an invetion before thieves get it, then they have to find Joe (one of the Hardys) that the theives captured! When Joe was kidnapped in the car, he heared one of the gang's name was Chris. They follow chris through NYC, then they meet up with Keith, the investigator. Frank plays the role of "Youngster", a fake name, by pretending he is part opf the gang, to visit Shorty, one of the gang memebers, and make him spill the beans! This a a great book! Here are my ratings for the hardy series I have read:

Best to Least...

What Happened at Midnight
The Clue of the Broken Blade
Hunting for Hidden Gold
The Tower Treasure
The Mystery of Cabin Island

You may also like Nancy Drew because Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew are extremely similar, with the "look" of the books, except different colors, of course. Too bad there isn't a Hardy Boys software game!

A Twisted and Awesome Book
In this book Frank & Joe Are told by thier father to break into a house and get something before a group of thieves steal it Unfortunately while the Hardys are trying to get the object the thieves come and the Hardys are forced to knock them one. They find more and more suspects until they find the head leader named Taffy Marr.In about the middle Joe gets kidnapped and is left in a cave across a body of water from Bayport. And to gather evidence they somehow always run into a suspect and shadow them. ... Read more

Book Description

While visiting his sister in town, Hank contracts a mysterious case of "soap hydrophobia"--and ends up in the dog pound!

USA Today calls the hilarious Hank the Cowdog series "...the best family entertainment in years."

Hank is a scruffy, smart-alecky supersleuth with a nose for danger and an eye for the ladies. And as Head of Ranch Security on a West Texas ranch, he's usually up to his ears in all kinds of amusing trouble. Whether he's called upon to bark up the sun, investigate suspicious goings-on, or defend the ranch against marauders, Hank's hilarious, hair-raising adventures will delight readers young and old alike.

"Rip-roaring fun...[a] marvelous situation comedy." --School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hank the cowdog is a great book
Hank The Cowdog it's a dogs life is a funny book. Drover
tells Hank it's the end of the world
but when Hank gets the calendar he finds
out that it's not the end of the world
it's really the end of the clearance sale
so he was tricked by a cat. I give
Hank the Cowdog five stars

Hank The Cowdog it's a dogs life is a funny book. Drover
tells Hank it's the end of the world
but when Hank gets the calendar he finds
out that it's not the end of the world
it's really the end of the clearance sale
so he was tricked by a cat. I give
Hank the Cowdog five stars

One of the best books
This is an interesting experience about how Hank (head of ranch security) leaves and goes to the town to visit his sister Maggie. She tricks him into eating an ivory bar of soap. Then he gets caught by the dog pound and they think he has hydrophobia. However, Hank manages to break out.

good book
This is the halarios story when Hank goes uptown to visit his siter Maggie. whiel teaching Maggie's pups,Spot Roscoe Barbra and April who to be a cowdog he ends up in the pound!!he also has interesting adventures such as" the ivory dog bar".

It's an awesome book!
I'ts a Dog's Life is an interestingbook about the end of the world and thigs that Hank messes up. Also about how along the way he enters ordeals with Pete the cat, who informs them of some very disturbing news. How he involves his sister and teaches his neices and nephews how to deal with cats. It's a funny and interesting book about well... a "Dog's Life" You can be sure that I would recomend this book and that people who have one of those ego's where they think they're better than that than oh well! Your loss!

Hank The cow dog is a funy book about a dog
This book is about a dog called Hank. He goes on these crazy missions. For example, he has this mission where he tries to get the steaks from the kitchen. ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, originally published in 1934, the search for a stolen boat leads the Hardy Boys to Mexico where they become involved with a band of Indians and a strange smuggling operation. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Mexican Adventure With The Hardy Boys
This review refers to the original 1934 version written by Leslie McFarlane.
The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe, along with their dad, Fenton, travel to Mexico to locate a missing witness in oil stock swindle.
Along the way, they rescue a kidnapped Mexican boy and get invited to his father's hacienda, where they meet a mysterious Yaqui Indian who aids them on their quest.
All the threads come together as the Boys and their father are captured by the murderous Vincenzo and his band of cut-throats.

There's plenty of action and adventure here as the Hardy Boys battle their way free and solve the case!

Danger South of the Border
Frank and Joe are out in their motor boat when they have a run in with a man in another boat driving recklessly. Searching for him again, they find the boat abandoned and spot what looks like a submarine. Meanwhile, there father has started a new case. A bookkeeper, the star witness in a stock [problem] case, has disappeared, and Mr. Hardy must find him. Soon, the trails lead the Hardys down to Mexico, where they must use all their skills to track the men into the wilderness. But what will they find when they get there?

I always wanted to read this book as a kid (something about the name attracted me), but never got around to it. Finally reading it as an adult, I enjoyed being back in the Hardys' presence. Frank and Joe are still able to entertain, although I must admit they couldn't quite mystify as much as they did when I was a kid. Still, their fans will love this adventure with plenty of danger, excitement, and close calls. Not to mention a wonderful escape scene near the end.

These books have captured the imagination of generations of boys for a reason - the adventure. This book will keep readers glued to the page to find out what happens next to their heroes.

Above Average
This review concerns the revised 1967 edition. The Hardys and Chet go to Mexico to search for a missing witness in a stock-fraud case on which Mr. Hardy is working. Their search takes them to the desert and mountain regions of Baja California; where they come upon a village terrorized by a mysterious symbol carved into the doors of peoples homes and a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Much of the beginning of this book is similar to the original; however, the ending has been completely rewritten. The book is rather good and I would actually give it 3 1/2 stars. There is a moderate amount of action and the plot is interesting. I found the book made good use its mexican setting and the writing was fairly descriptive. It was a good book that is definately worth reading.

An Entertaining Adventure
This review concerns the original 1934 edition. The search for a missing witness leads Frank, Joe and Mr. Hardy to Mexico. I'd more accurately give the book 3.5 stars. The book; although not quite as well written as earlier volumes, was loaded with action and adventure. Chapters 15-23 were very good; however the final two chapters were a major letdown, as the mystery was resolved much too soon. One thing that I did not like about the book was that after the first few of chapters, none of the Hardy's friends were included in the mystery. But still, it was a good book; definately worth reading.

A scary adventure!
Frank and Joe try to help stop the kidnapping in this mystery. Every time someone got kidnapped there was a strange mark on the door of there house. Then the Hardy Boys find out what the sign means and solves the mystery!I think you should buy this book if you like adveture, mystery, and a little vilonce. ... Read more

Book Description

Curious George and the man with the yellow hat visit the zoo. A hungry Curious George snatches a pail of bananas from the zoo keeper. Though he shouldn't have taken the bananas, George soon changes the zookeeper's shouts to praise with his clever, helpful ways. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is a great book for pre-schoolers and early readers!!!
This series by Margaret Rey is a wonderful introduction for preschoolers to stories with a simple plot line. In Curious George Visits the Zoo, George gets into mischief (which children can always relate to....) but redeems himself in the end by saving a young boy's balloon. In Curious George Visits the Fire Station, George is naughty when he rings the fire alarm, but again shows his better side when he rescues one of the firehouse puppies by climbing UP the firepole. In Curious George and the Pizza, he makes a mess trying his hand at tossing pizza dough into the air, but saves the day when he alone can make a crucial pizza delivery by climbing over a locked gate. Young children enjoy comparing the plots in this series. George is told not to get into trouble, he gets into trouble, then he exonerates himself. Parents, grandparents, teachers and child-care providers will all enjoy this series along with their youngsters!

I LIKE THE BOOK ALOT.
THE BOOK WAS A ABOUT GOERGE WHEN HE WENT TO THE ZOO AND THE MONKEY TOOK A BALOON FROM A LITTE BOY AND GEROGE GOT SOME BANANAS FROM A ZOO KEEPER. THEN HE GAVE THE BANANAS TO THE MONKEYS. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Call it fate, call it intuition, or just call it common sense, butsomehow young Alanna knows she isn't meant to become some proper lady cloisteredin a convent. Instead, she wants to be a great warrior maiden--a female knight.But in the land of Tortall, women aren't allowed to train as warriors. So Alannafinds a way to switch places with her twin, Thom, and take his place as a knightin training at the palace of King Roald. Disguising herself as a boy, Alannabegins her training as a page in the royal court. Soon, she is garnering theadmiration of all around her, including the crown prince, with her strong workethic and her thirst for knowledge. But all the while, she is haunted by therecurring vision of a black stone city that emanates evil... somehow she knowsit is her fate to purge that place of its wickedness. But how will she find it?And can she fulfill her destiny while keeping her gender a secret?

With Alanna: The First Adventure, veteran fantasy author Tamora Piercehas created a lively, engaging heroine who will charm middle-school readers withher tomboyish bravado and have them eagerly searching for the next book in theSong of the Lioness series. Like Brian Jacques's tales of Redwall, this popularquartet is an entertaining fantasy series for younger teens. (Ages 10 to 13)--Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (497)

One of my favorite Fantasy books
The first Tamora Pierce book that I ever read, this book grabs you and pulls you in. Alanna is a young girl of noble birth, who doesn't want to become a lady. What she wants is to be a knight of the realm, so she switches places with her twin brother Thom, and goes to the Corus, the capital of Tortall. She must dress, talk and act like a boy to avoid being found out. She must overcome many obstacles, her lacking swordmanship, her fear of her gift, and her changing body. She makes friends and enemies, saves lives and does many amazing things. Alanna is a wonderful heroine because she is so human, she has her flaws and her strengths, a temper, but she is fiery and determined all the way. This is a definite MUST READ!

A HELPFUL review!
Ambitious, brave, and bold. That is a pretty good description of Alanna of Trebond. Alanna, the heroine of Alanna, The First Adventure,is a ten year old girl with one huge goal: to become a knight of Tortall. There is also one huge problem: girls are not allowed to become knights. Alanna, however, has a plan. Since she is old enough, she is going to be sent to the convent to learn how to be a lady. Her twin brother, Thom, is going to be sent to the palace to be trained as a knight. Thom hates fighting and wants to be a sorcerer. Alanna loves fighting and is scared of magic. So the twins decide to switch places.

Alanna, The First Adventure is a very well written book. The characters are believable, and the book keeps your attention. One of the especially good things about Tamora Pierce's style is that she gives Alanna her weaknesses and fears like the rest of us. She doesn't just have to concentrate on becoming a knight, she also has to face (unlike some other authors' heros) all of the problems that "tweens" and teens have. Setting the scene is another one of Pierce's talents. I can easily picture the kingdom of Tortall ( the land where most of the book takes place). Pierce has created a whole different world that not many writers could create. The only exceptions I can think of are Patricia C. Wrede, Brian Jaques, C. S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling. Alanna, The First Adventure is not too long or short, (though I find The Realms of the Gods, another of Pierce's books in which Alanna appears, a bit tedious). Of all of Pierce's books that I have read, Alanna, The First Adventure is by far the best.

Pierce's book teaches us a lot of things. It really shows that you can accomplish almost anything if you put your mind to it, but that does not mean it's going to be easy. Actually achieving your goal will usually include hard work and challenges. Alanna is a good role model for pre-teen and teenage girls because of her bravery, ambition, and her "I can do it and I won't depend on others" attitude. Alanna, The First Adventure also makes a few good points, such as the fact that there is such thing as an "honorable thief". It shows that sometimes a few friendships can be better than many, most of the time those few people will be by your side no matter what secrets you posses.

My only complaint about Alanna, The First Adventure is that it seems a bit unlikely that Alanna could manage to keep her sex secret while she is a teen. But other then that, Alanna, The First Adventure is a wonderful fantasy book that I believe many people would benefit from reading.

3 reivews by three 5th grade girls
AC says: "Ok book. Too slow, too much detail. I like the story of the book but don't like how the author wrote it"

AM says: "great book. I like the details, they lead up to the excitement. Good story"

TG says: "very good book. Lots of action. Lots of drama and excitement."

Easy to read for a fifth graders. Might be inapporpriate for younger than a fifth grader.

Has magic, adventure, fighting, immortals, friendship, knights, and lots more.

Perfection
The Lioness Quartet is one of the best series of books I have ever read. It goes on my "special bookshelf" with Harry Potter, Gone With the Wind, and Pride and Prejudice. When I first got these books, I bought them in a series from Amazon, I was about eight or nine and I did not put them down until I was done. Since then I have read and re-read them what seems like a hundred times, and they have the marks to show for it (the second in the series is swollen from being dumped in the tub). For any young girl who loves fantasy this is simply a must-have.

The story follows Alanna of Trebond, a twin, and very much opposed to the sort of life a young noblewoman should have. When the story opens, she and her brother, Thom, are eleven and are being sent off to school by their indifferent father so that they may become a lady and a knight respectively. After a few moments of disgruntled reluctance, the two decide that they will switch places, allowing Alanna to disguise herself as a boy and become a knight in her brother's place, while Thom will head to the convent and train to be a sorcerer.

Thus, Alanna becomes Alan, and aided by an old family friend, the manservant Coram, she embarks upon a completely new journey at the palace in Tortall. At first bullied, or hazed, she soon becomes fast friends with the crown prince, Jonathan, and his close friends. While struggling to maintain her classes, which are made more for pushing the pages and squires to their breaking point, she also has to hide her secret from anyone. Fairly soon on in the book, she makes friends with the King of Thieves, George. As she grows up little by little she also meets the Duke Roger, Jonathan's older cousin and second in line for the throne, after Jon, for whom she has no pleasant feelings and distrusts heartily.

The books is filled with magic and intrigue, romance and history. It has good friends and bad ones, it develops every character beautifully and leaves noq uestions unanswered. And the best of it is that there are three more to read after this one, all as beautiful and clever as the first.

This book was so beautiful and good that simply writing about it makes me want to re-read it. Alanna's friends were so well portrayed they came to be my friends. I can see and smell the castle and fell her pain and understand her struggles. This book should be mandatory for any young girl reader.

Impressive at any age!
I first read this book when I was in 6th grade, and I re-read it several months ago, and it's just as good now as it was then! I'm still impressed with how well written it was. The plot was impressive, and the characters were great! The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that Alanna jumped right into bed with the prince. I understand why it was in the story, but it was a tad cliche. Although in the end, it did add to the story, and make it even better! So all in all, I loved this book, and recommend it to anyone and everyone! ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, originally published in 1940, A trunk that Nancy receives from her father for a trip to Buenos Aires becomes the center of a mystery. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Almost Perfect
Of course, every detective needs a day off of sluething! So naturally, Nancy decides to go on a cruise with her fellow detectives, Goerge Fayne and Bess Marvin. While boarding the ship, Nancy notices a man on the pier spell out her name saying 'Beware of Nancy Drew and Ne' but did not see the rest. As she goes to her cabin, she finds Nelda Detwieler in the cabin too. At first, Nancy distrusts the native girl. Then Nelda tells Nancy of what happened to her, and mysterious things happen when a mysterious trunk is delivered to their cabin that is identicle to Nancy's but is not hers.
I think this book is very good and I highly recomend it so that if you go on a cruise and your trunk is not delivered but someone elses and a desparete girl with an amazing story is set in your cabin, you now what to do!

Not Much Mystery Here
This review concerns the original 1940 edition. The trunk which Nancy takes with her on a cruise to South America, along with a similar trunk owned by another passenger, appear to be at the center of a mystery. This book was alright, but I found that it really didn't have a mystery to it until the last few chapters. The first part of the book concentrates on the efforts of the mother of one passengers to keep Nancy from sailing. Ultimately, the mystery is somewhat dull and predictable and the book lacks much action. The book is probably worth reading, but I doubt that it will be one of many people's favorites.

One of the BEST Nancy Drews
This is one of the best Nancy Drews! the other one is the Tolling Bell. Anyway, in this one, Nancy meets Nelda Detwiler (N. D., same anishiles) and she has been acused of stealing a dimond braclet! A mysterieous trunk appears that LOOKS like Nancy's but is not. (They can't find Nancy's, so she has to use Bess, George and Nelda's close) Anyway, I can't tell you much more. Oh, and they are all on a cruse ship, so Nancy has to solve the mystery before it's over. BUY THIS BOOK OR GET IT SOMEHOW!!

AN INTERESTING BOOK
I have read many of Nancy Drew books and like this book. Although this is not in my top list but it still good. This book is worth to read. ... Read more

Book Description

As the proud owner of a Priceless Corncob, Hank knows that being rich can change your life. But does it mean giving up his position as Head of Ranch Security?

USA Today calls the hilarious Hank the Cowdog series "...the best family entertainment in years."

Hank is a scruffy, smart-alecky supersleuth with a nose for danger and an eye for the ladies. And as Head of Ranch Security on a West Texas ranch, he's usually up to his ears in all kinds of amusing trouble. Whether he's called upon to bark up the sun, investigate suspicious goings-on, or defend the ranch against marauders, Hank's hilarious, hair-raising adventures will delight readers young and old alike.

"Rip-roaring fun...[a] marvelous situation comedy." --School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Heh heh, I can't help but love these Hank books...
I highly reccomend the Hank the Cowdog books if you're a dog lover, or if you just enjoy good, clean humor and fun! The books
are written in Hank's perspective, which, I think, makes them funnier than if they weren't written in his persppective. He tries to talk "intelligent," but really he is actually quite, um,
well, to be to-the-point... DUMB. And Hank's conversations with Drover are priceless. If you don't have this book, you really should get it.

Hilarious fun
I read this book about two years ago for the first time and have reread it since. I really enjoy John R. Ericson's writings and he has a good personality, too. If you or your child like Hank the Cowdog, this is probably one of the best of them all. Email me if you want at sgooch@anet-dfw.com and tell me if this review helped you. Love ya! ... Read more