Book Description

Ian Fleming, best known for his James Bond novels, wrote only one children’s book—and it is a classic! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the name of the flying, floating, driving-by-itself automobile that takes the Pott family on a riotous series of adventures as they try to capture a notorious gang of robbers. This is a story filled with humor, adventure, and gadgetry that only a genius like Fleming could create.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A fine and entertaining audiobook pick
Andrew Sachs provides the unabridged reading of Fleming's classic story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, about a car that floats, flies, and can steer itself, bringing to life the tale and using his extensive roles in TV, film and radio to add drama to the original classic story. New generations of young listeners will find Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to be a fine and entertaining audiobook pick.

Charming and delightful
This is the story of Commander Caractacus Pott, a highly eccentric inventor, and his family. When they acquire a broken-down old automobile, Commander Pott goes to work on it, and seemingly with the help of the automobile itself, he rebuilds it into a car that is more than a little bit magic. Due to the sound it makes when it starts up, the Pott children name the car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! However, a trip in this car is like nothing you can imagine, anything can happen, and something fantastic invariably will! And so it's off to adventure and danger!

This is a charming and delightful children's story, one that you could hardly imagine was written by Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond books! My kids love this whimsical story and yours will too. My family highly recommends this book to yours. 5 stars.

Great read aloud book.
This was one of my favorites as a kid and I just read it to my son (aged 4 1/2). The story moves at a fast pace and was one of the first full length books we read. He loved it. The illustrations are wonderful and helped to hold his interest ... but not so many that he couldn't use his imagination to follow the story. I wish Ian Fleming had written more chldrens books.

Wish I had such a car
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was my favorite movie during early childhood. I was pleasantly surprised that the book tells a different story than the movie, although it conveys the same sense of adventure. Ian Fleming wrote "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" in a different style than more current children's literature, something that may bring a change of pace to a young audience. I don't think the crude illustrations by Burningham would be received in the same manner.

THe best children's book ever
This is my favorite children's book ever! I have read it at least 10 times--gets better every time!! Read this book to your children. ... Read more

Book Description

Paul and Maureen have their hearts set on owning and taming the wild mare Phantom and her newborn colt.But can a wild mare with a white mark of freedom be tamed?Read by actress Daisy Eagan, the thrilling adventures in this Newbery Honor book are brought to life for a new generation of young listeners.

... Read more

Reviews (48)

Misty of Chincoteague/bunny
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry was published in 1947. The main characters are Pual, Maureen,a hose named The Phantom, and Phantom's colt Misty.Paul and Maureen buy Misty and her mother at Pony Penning Day ,when men from Chincoteague go up and try to get wild ponies Assateague Island. Pual and Maureen raise Misty and the Phantom on their own. Their grandpa didn't think that they could raise both of the horses on their own because they were just kids.They proved him wrong by giving a lot of their time to train them.They had to work hard on the Phantom because she was wild.Tthe two kids learned that hard work pays off.Both Pual and Maureen changed in the story.In the end the kids are more resposible and work harder.I like this book because it shows that can do things that grown-ups usuay do. I rate this book five out of five stars.

A basic for the horse-lover's library
If you have a child that loves horses, you've probably already seen this book.......either brought home from the library... or in their own collection. This is one of the staples of any horse-lover's collection.

The story of Misty, a wild pony from Assateague Island off the coast of Virginia who is captured as a foal and adopted by Paul and Maureen Beebe. True story of a truly wonderful foal and her family. This story sparked three sequels that still sell millions of copies around the world.

Misty of Chincoteague
Misty of Chincoteague is a wonderful book for all ages. The Phantom is the wildest horse on the Island of Assateague. The "map" of the United States on her whithers and the fact that she ran like the wind made the lead mare of the Pied Piper's herd the most desirable horse on the entire island. Paul and Maureen Beebe want the Phantom, and work hard to earn the hundred dollars to buy her if she is caught. But no one can catch the Phantom, right?
Surprises are in store for the young reader, and old friends will enjoy coming back time and time again to this book for all, Misty of Chincoteague.

ANIMAL lovers this is the book
Misty of the Chincoteague is about the Phantom, a horse that is wild and free. Little does the Phantom know that there is a dream of a little girl and boy? The boy's name is Paul and the girl's name is Maureen they are brother and sister that have the same dream to buy the Phantom. Their grandpa owns a horse farm where a whole bunch of people go out and capture horses to sell them. So Paul and Maureen start working because they want that horse so bad. They're going to do anything to get the Phantom. Does Paul and Maureen's dream come true?
Misty was one of the best stories I have ever read! If you are a horse lover then this book is for you! This is all thumbs up. An animal lover out there if you are looking for a magnificent irresistible wonderful book to read this book is for you!

Great book for pony lovers!
This is one of our daughter's favorite pony books and a classic story. As a publisher of another children's pony book, "Mint's Christmas Message" we think "Misty" is the standard against which other children's pony books should be measured. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

My favorite book as a child - a beautiful visual treat
Time of Wonder was my absolute favorite book as a child. I hope children today can still be fascinated by the glorious watercolors and beautifully written story, what with Nintendo and the seizure-inducing cartoons that have polluted their culture. Do I sound old-fashioned? I am 24 years old and am having my daily cigarette and glass of wine as I write. Unpolluted I am not, but I truly hope that today's progeny not be denied the joy of books, especially McCloskey's Time of Wonder, the story of two girls waiting out a gently blustering Maine hurricane. The short plot, to this steamy southern girl, was exotic and intriguing, and I can still close my eyes and visualize the soft watercolors of the patchwork quilt the girls used to huddle before the fire, and the brilliant blue of the post-storm ocean. Robert McCloskey will always be a classic children's author. I only hope that today's parents are aware of this, and will allow him to weave his memorable magic for their children.

Of Hummingbirds and Hurricanes
Time of Wonder is Robert McCloskey's lyrical tribute to the joys of being young in the summertime. The setting is his beloved Maine coast, on Penobscot Bay. The story builds around the approach of the rain, the cycle of the summer, the transition from morning to dark in a single day, and a hurricane. As wonderful as the story is, the illustrations are the highlight of this delightful book. They capture stunning panoramas, wind-swept moments, and gay times in the sun equally well in free flowing watercolors that are as fluid as the wind or the ocean. This book was awarded the Caldecott Medal for the outstanding quality of its illustrations in 1958.

Two unnamed girls are overlooking Penobscot Bay, watching the rain form in the distance . . . until they themselves are drenched!

Next, a full day evolves from the typical summer fog with sidelights about porpoises, lobstering, gulls, cormorants, the forest and its trees and fiddle-head ferns. Finally, the fog burns off and the scene shifts to bees, hummingbirds, other birds singing, sail boats, fishing boats, seals, the beach, rocks and children playing. Then, as dusk settles in, an owl, a heron, eider ducks, fishhawks, a crab, a rowboat, a flashlight and the stars frame the experience. At each moment, nature holds great adventures and mysteries for the girls to explore and exult in.

A seaplane symbolizes the coming and going from the area. The bulk of the people and animals are summer visitors.

Suddenly, everyone realizes a big storm is coming.

"We're going to have some weather.

It's a-coming!

She's gonna blow.

With the next shift of the tide."

There are boats to get ready. Windows need to be secured. People have to go inside. Once there, the rain and wind can still blow their way in. Eventually, the storm ends and the full moon reigns. The next day, the girls inspect the damage and find an old Indian shell heap that probably predates the first European visitors.

Then the girls have to help prepare for the next year. They get seaweed to put on as fertilizer for their garden. They pack up.

As they leave, they are

"A little bit sad

about the place you are leaving,

a little bit glad

about the place your are going."

One last thought hits them. "Where do hummingbirds go in a hurricane?"

This story does a marvelous job of helping children understand their connection to nature and to the powerful forces around them. Whether they are watching the wind, using it to push their sailboat, or riding out a hurricane, they know that they are a small part of a great scheme. If your child has yet to see many of these animals or scenes, you can use the illustrations to explain them. You will smile when you see the porpoises playing in the wake of the girls' sailboat.

A good application of this book is to think of a place where you and your child can go on a regular basis to observe and enjoy nature. It may be a near-by park. It may be a family vacation home. It may be a public beach. Take your child there. Take her by the hand, and show her the easy-to-miss wonders all around. And remember to visit in the fog, rain, and winds, as well as on sunny days. You can take pictures, draw sketches of what you see, and make a scrapbook that contains your thoughts and observations.

See beauty and harmony in the balance around you.

Boring!? I think not
The reviewer who found this book "boring" must not have much in the way of imagination. This was one of my favorite books as a child and I still remember it fondly (I'm 38). It doesn't matter if you haven't had experiences exactly like those of the children in the book. The writing and the illustrations make you feel as if you are there. You can practically smell the sea, hear the wind and rain, and the laughter of the kids at the beach. While drawing a vivid picture of a concrete time and place, the book also invokes a sense of timelessness, as well as of "deep time" and the ancient rythyms of nature. I think my favorite moment is when one of the girls stands in a forested area on a misty morning, her eyes closed, and listens to nature awakening around her.

This is a book about taking a break from the fast-paced modern world and connecting with nature (and appreciating its power), with the past, and rediscovering your sense of wonder. Written in the mid-50's, it was ahead of its time in some ways and is definitely as relevant today as it was then, if not more so.

Time keeps on slipping
(...)
The story, such as it is, follows a family in their summer home on an island in the ocean. Mostly following the children, the story reflects on the wonders of nature itself. The kids walk out into the mist on warm summery mornings. They leap from high ocean rocks, and sun themselves as the rocks grow warm. They sail a boat at night (they've fairly trusting parents, I'd wager) to spy on deep water crabs. Eventually, a hurricane comes to batter the family in their sturdy little home. In the end, the family must return to their real house/life/school and wait to return to the island another year. As they leave, the narrator opines that such moments as these make living a real time of wonder. A time for pondering things like, "I wonder where hummingbirds go in a hurricane".

Working in a medium unlike his usual pencils and inks, McCloskey seemed to draw the images in this book from a very private source. Though you may never have been in a summer home such as this or experienced moments like the ones the children go through, you feel the nostalgia embedded in this story. I may not have ever summered in places where I could make forts out of huge sea stones, but after reading this book I know what it would be like. People may say books such as this don't move quickly enough for kids today. Don't believe it. Kids are kids and good books are good books. The child that appreciates Elmo's World is still going to feel a sense of (for lack of a better word) wonder when they stare at the picture of the hurricane blowing the house's inhabitants in all directions. Kids interested in technical ship jargon and the process of buying supplies before a big storm will be fascinated by this tale as well. Some stories do not age. Others, age in such a way that they become deep and full-bodied like a good fine wine. "A Time of Wonder" falls into the latter category. Take a moment to enjoy it fully.

Robert McCloskey examines a summer in Maine
Robert McCloskey's "Time of Wonder" is just that--an examination of a wondrous summer spent in Maine. He follows two sisters (and nominally, their parents and friends) as they spend their days sailing, swimming, battening down for a big storm, and so on. Nothing of great import happens, but McCloskey has a lovely, calming way of relating their story so that we feel the sisters' closeness, their connection to their environment, and their childlike ability to find beauty and interest in nearly everything.

McCloskey's book was first published in 1957, and the illustrations show this--no life vests in a lot of the boating pictures, children swimming without being watched over by a lifeguard or adult, and so on. Still, that's not a bad thing--it shows the protective, exclusionary nature of childhood and the risks children take without even being fully aware that they ARE taking risks.

The illustrations are lovely. These paintings depict Maine as being beautiful without neglecting to show the dangerous side of coastal life as well (witness the storm scenes towards the end of the book). There is a caressing, rhythmic feel to the text which subtly imitates the tidal pull of the ocean. What a perfect gift for anyone who vacations in Maine--or wants to. ... Read more

Book Description

Living Adventures From American History Album #II - stories include: 1. Androcles & the Lion, 2.The Ugly Duckling, 3. The Mad Tea Party, 4. The Dutch Boy and the Dike. Eye in the Ear's creative storytelling narratives bring classic children's stories to life with entertaining and educational audio books that are fun for the entire family. The "Books on tape" format allows children to develop their imaginations by visualizing images of historical events along with timeless fairy tales, fables and folklore. ... Read more

Book Description

Set at a boys' boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world.

A bestseller for more than thirty years, A Separate Peace is John Knowles's crowning achievement and an undisputed American classic. ... Read more

Reviews (647)

personally I did not enjoy this book
A Seperate Peace is supposed to be a story about friendship, betrayal, and conflict. The Story is written with a sense of irony and sadness in the tone. I personally found the book depressing and pointless. The story really shows a dark side of human nature that most people don't like to see or even acknowledge. The story is about boys in a private New England school at the time of World War 2. Gene, the protagonist seems life-like and well-defined, but in a way that makes hima whining idiot. He is impossible to sympathize with, and the only thing that keeps the other characters from being the same is that they have no sense of realism at all. Conflict develops in many different times, and different levels throughout the novel. The conflicts are mostly well-defined, but since the story has no plot, it is hard to see their connection or point. I found the authors tone harsh and cold. The author probably could have defined the other characters better. The book also presents many conflicting views that are darn near impossible to figure out and relate to the story. If you do read this book (and for most students it is mandatory), I certainly hope that you enjoy it and get a lot out of it.

The loss of innocense - the dawn of war
John Knowles captures the loss of innocense in his "A Separate Peace." Set on the eve of a larger conflict overseas in World War II, the book is a stream of consciousness writing, as the narrator reflects after the war the incidents at Devon that were a sort of rites of passage for him into adulthood.

But 'A Separate Peace' also reveals the deep twists of an unusual friendship between a scholar and an athlete. Their bond and the betrayal that follows. It is a moving drama on a human scale, the climax and conclusion being most unexpected, but reminicent of the tragedy of war, not the resoluution of Peace.

For looking at the youth that will fight the war, rather than the war itself, the author details the peace found between friends that will have to recreated on the battlefield. An agonizing book, it will live in your heart long after you have read the last page.

a separate peace
This book is a good book. in the beggining it starts slow but then it picks up the pace, it starts getting personal with the characters, and all the action happens after the introduction of the characters, when Finny and Gene become real good friends.
i like this book, and i think you will enjoy it too. and also watch the movie, but they act kind of gay but they are not, so dont take it the wrong way.
1love

This book is not good
It is BOORING and i will not recomend it to anyone. The vocabulary is very difficult too!!

even lisa simpson thinks this book is lame
i don't understand why they still make high school kids read this. ... Read more

Book Description

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

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

Performed by Derek Jacobi

Book Description

The horrible Herdmans are the meanest kids around. They lie, steal, cuss, and smoke cigars---even the girls. The last place anyone expected to see them is in church. So when the Herdmans storm Sunday school and take over the annual Christmas pageant, everyone braces for the worst. But no one is prepared for what really happens when the rottenest kids in the world take over the greatest story ever told. It's a pageant full of surprises for everyone--including the Herdmans themselves.

Reviews (66)

The Best Christmas Book Ever
Here's a simple, enchanting tale. It's warm and funny and thoroughly unpredictable. It's published in a short and skinny book in large type and, assuming you can tear yourself away from the story, it can be read in small spurts.

The Herdmans are absolutely and without question the worst kids "in the entire history of the world." They are guilty of evey unmentionable childhood crime and have thought of more than a few original ones. When they take over the church Christmas pageant (although none of them has ever attended church, much less heard the Christmas story before), the first Christmas becomes new and real in some pretty surprising ways.

Nevermind that the publishers call this a children's story. It isn't. The vision it has to offer is hilarious yet deeply touching in a profound yet innocent way.

Stock up on copies for Christmas gifts to teachers and friends. I'd give one to the friend who wails that Christmas has become too commercial or to the harried mother of a lively brood or to someone who dreads the holiday. And keep one for yourself because it's almost as much fun each time you read it.

Merry Christmas!

A great Story for the whole family
I first read this story when I was in gradeschool. Actually the teacher read it to us. Over 10 years later when I saw it at a used book store, I instantly picked up a copy and I don't have any kids. I re-read it myself and will read it every Christmas Season. It's about the Herdmans and the Christmas Pageant. The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world and they end up as part of the pageant.

The pageant is about the Birth of Jesus which the Herdmans know nothing about. It's a very funny story throughout and a very touching story at the end. You don't really have to be Christian to enjoy this little story. I'm not and I love the story. I definitely recommend it to almost every family as a story to be read year after year. As your kids grow, perhaps they can read it to you.

Great family fun.
This book is one of the most hysterically funny, heartwarming tales you can read. Our family (all adults now) reads it every Christmas eve. It's great fun for both kids and adults. I can't reccommend it more highly!

Best Christmas Book Ever!
My son and I read this book every year at Christmas, and every year I start to cry in the very same spot--which is pretty much the same spot where my high school English teacher started crying when he read it to us and I heard the story for the first time. The idea of grace--that the "glad tidings of great joy that shall be to all people" included the likes of the awfuller-than-awful Herdmans--is humorously and poignantly conveyed by the narrator, a classmate of one of the older Herdmans. If you have never read this book, you are missing out on a real treat. You will never look at the Christmas story again in the same way. "Hey! Unto you a child is born!"

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD BOOOOOOOOOOK
Okay, people, what we have here is a GOOOOOOD book. I'm in 3rd grade Mr. Boen's class in McKinley school. He read the book to us, watched the movie, AND FINALY, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON AT A CENTER FOR THE ARTS!!!! in Fergus Falls,MN if you live here, you will see a good show!!!!!! I am narrator 1, 10, 24, 25, and 50A(sorry if Mrs. Armstrong is to high). I'm also in the choir. That's why I love it SOOOOOO much!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

While visiting the museum with Jimmy's class, Curious George can't resist climbing onto one of the exhibits. The director of the museum isn't very happy about that, but George sure knows how to make a field trip interesting! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not the message you want to give your kids
This is just not up to the caliber of the original books....The behavior and comments of the children in the story convey themessage that learning is unpleasant and museums are boring - - not themessage I want to give to my children. In addition, George climbs adinosaur fossil and the museum director states that this activity isok, because now the children are not bored by having to be at thedull, old museum. This book was a gift which we have removed from ourbookshelf.

Not bad, but not the same
This book is " adapted from the Curious George film series". The illustrations are different from the original, and even from the "Illustrated in the style of H.A. REY" both of which I feel are much better.

The story is about CG who goes to a museum and gets into "trouble". It is a very short episode that doesn't really teach anything. Maybe its because I didn't even know there was a film series.

I recommend the 3 book miniature set of originals, and "CG goes to a chocolate factory". ... Read more

Book Description

No child should be without these classic tales of Winnie-the-Pooh and his forest friends. In this charming performance by Alan Bennett, originally conceived for BBC broadcast and produced by the world's foremost creators of radio entertainment, Winnie-the-Pooh and his endearing friends come wondrously alive to enthrall and delight even the littlest of listeners.

Winnie-the-Pooh

For Winnie-the-Pooh, Pooh for short, every day is an adventure. Whether he's tracking a wild Woozle with Piglet, finding a tail for Eeyore, or sailing off in Christopher Robin's umbrella, Pooh is always ready to lend a paw to his friends -- and always able to turn an ordinary day into an exciting event with his marvelously humorous powers of reason.

The House at Pooh Corner

The House at Pooh Corner continues the adventures of Pooh and his friends, as Pooh Bear and Piglet endeavor to surprise Eeyore with a new house, Tigger tries out a smorgasbord of breakfasts, Pooh and Piglet hunt down a Heffalump, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

How good this story is.
This is a great story. There are great voices on the tape so if your not sure whether to buy it because of they voies don't worry. In this tape you will experince Pooh geeting honey with a balloon, Eyore having a birthday party, Piglet meeting a heffulump, and MUCH MUCH more! ... Read more

Book Description

A house full of mystery awaits orphaned Mary Lennox when she comes to live with her uncle on the Yorkshire moors. At night she hears a distant crying that no one will explain, and her uncle is strangely unhappy. But when she meets Dickon, a magical boy who charms both birds and animals, and discovers a walled, locked garden, the secrets of Misselthwaite Manor begin to unfold.

When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets. At night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Outside, she meets Dickon, a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals. Then, one day, with the help of a friendly robin, Mary discovers the most mysterious wonder of all--a secret garden, walled and locked, which has been completely forgotten for years and years. Is everything in the graden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?

Reviews (51)

A timeless classic
I have to say that besides the acting on the kids part in this version of the secret garden, everything was great. The children could've done better in expression, but they were still good. The scenes were beautiful, and vibrant, just as they should have been. The music, Nocturne by Chopin, was beautiful, just wonderful for the movie. It gave it that dramatic feeling.

Mary Lennox,(Gennie James) is a spoiled brat, who lives in India with her neglectful parents. When they die in a sudden plague, Mary is sent to live with a distant family friend by the name of Mr. Archibald Craven (Derek Jacobi) in a castle he owns called Misselthwait Manor. It's mysterious enough place, considering that there's a garden that's been locked up ever since Mr. Cravens wife died, but Mary keeps hearing someone crying at all hours at night in despair. Mary, soon after coming to the Manor, finds the key to the garden, and see's that it is in need of desperate help of coming back to life. It also turns out the voice in peril is Colin (Jadrien Steele), the bedridden son of Mr. Craven. With a little help from Mary, and a magical boy named Dickon (Barret Oliver), they can bring the life back to the garden, and the spirit within Colin all by themselves.

The acting on the adults part was excellent. Especially Mrs. Medlock, who was played by Billie Whitelaw. In most other versions, they overdo Mrs. Medlocks mean side, but in this version, it shows she has a good side too. Dickon wasn't nearly as good a character in this version as he should've been. They turned him into a wise old man instead of a likeable animal charmer, not even following the book. Hey, no ones perfect. Be that as it may, this movie is still probably the most acurate one following the book and my favorite version. I have to say it is probably the most dramatic out of all of the versions. Hallmark really did a good job on this one. I warn, it is not for small children. They will be easily bored. For small children, try the 1993 version with Kate Maberly. Both are extremely good though. Don't think twice about buying it though, it's a great addition to your video library.

Disappointing Turn/Otherwise Good Production
Although Hallmark makes outstanding movies, and I know this movie won an award, I cannot embrace this version because of the liberties the producers took with the storyline. One of the most integral parts of the story, the fact that Colin & Mary are cousins, was changed so that they could have Colin propose to Mary at the end of the movie. I also didn't like what they did with the Dickon character in this "future" scene. I think most of us always imagined that Dickon & Mary would get together eventually based on the words that Burnett wrote. Dickon & Mary were kindred spirits, but Colin & Mary were like siblings in the real story. I gave this movie away at a yard sale because I was so unhappy with the way the story was handled.

The Secret Garden has always been one of my favourite stories and I have an extensive collection of movie presentations. My two favourite ones are the classic MGM version with Margaret O'Brien & Dean Stockwell, and the 1984 BBC production (the most true to the novel) with Sarah Hollis Andrews & David Patterson. The 1993 Warner Brothers production also takes liberties, but is preferable to this Hallmark version in my opinion. It's too bad the producers did decide to change this detail in the Hallmark version, making the purists like myself unhappy, because otherwise they did a good job of it.

A magnificent array of hope!
An excellent story made especially for those of you who dream. This version may differ a bit from the book, but it is still a must see. You will not be dissapointed!

A Wonderful Childhood Memory
This movie (granted, not on dvd) was not only the first Secret Garden movie I ever saw, but my first exposure to The Secret Garden, period. It wasn't until later that I read the book.

I don't know how fairly I can review this, because just thinking about I find myself thinking about a million other parts of my childhood. This movie was so important to me that it means childhood, and it takes a good movie to do that.

I love the cast. The actress who plays Mary is a bit stiff, but it fits well with her character. Derek Jacobi is wonderful, tragic, and when necessary, frightening as Archibald. The soundtrack is haunting, and I occasionally find myself humming it, even though I haven't seen the movie in at least a year and a half.

The movie follows the tone of the book, even with the occasional added scene. I don't know what devotees of the book would think of the frame with Mary as an adult, but since I knew the movie long before I ever read the book I love it. It doesn't take away from what the book has, and I think it contributes something to it. Plus it has Colin Firth in it, and who can argue with that?

The best version-keeps in character with the book
I have now seen two other versions of The Secret Garden, and this one (the first I ever saw) Remains my favorite. The reason is I have a couple problems with the other versions
In the old 1949 Edition, Mary wasn't portrayed correctly. She's supposed to be (at the beginning) a girl with an attitude (for lack of a better way to put it.) She's supposed to be completely emotionally unnafected by her parent's death (according to the book)as they had never attempted to spend time with her. In the old 1949 version, Mary has an emotional outburst upon learning of her parent's death. That is out of charachter. In this version, she's more concerned about the doll she dropped when she was told. Her attitude in this 1987 version seems more in charachter.
In the 1993 version I do not like the way they took the concept of "magic" and twisted it into a seance in the garden. That is extremely out of charachter with the book. When the book speaks of "Magic" it almost hints at miricles/the hand of God. This 1987 movie kept in charachter with that.
Basically, I think this version is truer to the mysterious (in a good way) tone of the book. the manor is beautiful! and the whole scenery is in charachter with the book. The only thing they contradicted the book in was having Mary and Colin not related. In the book they're cousins. But in this version they're unrelated, which is obviously because they have Mary and Colin getting married. The only thing I would change is the actors that played the two boys, Colin and Dicken. They were pretty good actors, but both were too old. Dickon should have been someone more Mary's age, and the actor that played Colin (although he has a sufficient baby face) reveals his real age at the end when he can stand up and walk. Way too tall. Look at the scene with him and his father walking together in the garden. Colin's way to tall to be 10 (his supposed age). Other than that, this is a superb version of the movie, which any Secret Garden fan should own. Hallmark has quality! (insert gold crown here) ... Read more

Book Description

Though reared as a Lenni Lenape Indian, fifteen-year-old True Son, once called John Camera Butler, was ordered back to the white man. It was impossible for True Son to believe that his people were white and not Indian. He had learned to hate the white man. And now he learned to hate his new father, his new house, his new family. He hated the name John Butler. Where did he belong now--and where could he go?
... Read more

Reviews (142)

A Great Read for a History Buff
'The Light in The Forest' is a book about a young White boy from 18th century America who was born as a "frontier child" but was then stolen by Indians when very young and brought up as an Indian for ten years. His Indian name is True Son, and his white name is John Butler. When he is about 15 years old, he is forced to go back and live with his real White family. He is devastated because he was brought up to hate the Whites, and now he is being forced to live with them and to practice their culture. At first True Son refuses to comply at all with the Whites and tries to escape. After a while, and after spending much time with the Whites though, it seems that True Son is beginning to accept and become used to their culture, and is starting to lose his Indian ways. It looks as if all of the Indian in him has been run over and destroyed, when one night, he finds his old Indian friend / cousin and escapes with him from the Whites to a long journey back home to his old Indian town. It seems now that all the Indian he left behind has been renewed to him and most of what the whites forced into his head is gone when, with little warning, True Son must make a life-altering decision that will decide his fate, and that will decide what culture he is to live with.

I really enjoyed this book; it showed the conflict between whites and Indians in 18th century America very well. It was filled with action and adventure, and although short, it still developed the characters and the plot so that you had a broad understanding of what kind of decisions this young man had to make, how it must have been like being bounced from culture to culture (especially in that day), and how hard things must have been in general. This understanding of the character is what keeps you reading and keeps you itching to find out where fate will put John Butler/ True Son. I would recommend this book because of these reasons, and because of the way the author attacked the overlying conflict between Whites and Indians: he spoke of it from both the White's and the Indian's sides. Because of this the reader can understand the conflict from both sides, and can not easily pick a side to support, which made things interesting. Lastly, in my opinion, this book is quite unpredictable, and you can't tell how it will complete itself until the very end, which made the book more fun to read. If you enjoy history, and adventure you will probably enjoy this book.

Book Review of A Light in the Forest for Social Studies
A Light In The Forest centers around a fifteen-year-old boy named True Son, who lived with the Lenni Lenape for eleven years, ever since the Indians had captured him during an attack on a farm. He was adopted by Cuyloga and Quaquenga, a family of the Lenni Lenape, and became one of them.
One day, his village learns that all white prisoners must be returned to their birth families, and his father takes him to the camp of soldiers that will take True Son to Pennsylvania. True Son's experiences in an English town and his desire to return to his village are the storyline of the book. This book is appropriate for eight graders, though the author, Conrad Richter, portrays some scenes almost too vividly. Children who have been in a divorce situation can relate to True Son and his feelings of abandonment. The book does an excellent job of informing readers of how the English and the Indians viewed each other, and gives the reader the unique viewpoint of True Son. For entertainment, the book falls a little short, occasionally losing your attention by attempting to summarize events without going into any detail. Overall, the book is not a bad read, and would be especially enjoyable if you like historic novels from this period.

Good
This is a good book. True Son, originally John Butler, faces many difficult challenges as he is forced out of his beloved Native American lifestyle into the strange world of the whites.

The third-person point-of-view is just perfect, and the awesome conclusion is leaves you something important to think about.

Light in the Forest opens up your eyes, and makes you more aware of the ancient struggle back then between the conflicting Indians and settlers.

great book if you love to hate
I give the book 2 stars for being well written, but that's it. If you want to read something that encourages the sterotype that all white people are awful and the worst of the lot are white Christians than this is your book.

The Light In The Forest
The Light In the Forest is a story writen by the author Conrad Richter. "The Light In The Forest" represents a white boy living amongst the forest with the Indians. His white name is John Butler, but his Indian name is True son. He was left in the forest by accident by his real father and was adopted by the Indians, and he learned how to libe by their ways. That the white men were the enemy's. As he got older around the age of 15, he returned to the white people. This story is about him having to deal with returning to the white people, and how he react to it and in the end, and where he goes. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the best-loved stories of all time, The Secret Garden is presented in high-quality and entertaining Radio Theatre drama. This classic tale, enriched with Biblical values, reflects themes such as helping others and believing in people. Mary, a young orphaned girl, meets her bedridden cousin, Colin. She discovers an enchanting secret place, separate from the outside world. It is in this place that Colin and Mary learn lessons about overcoming obstacles. By putting their faith in God and others, their lives are forever altered. This story will captivate audiences of all ages.

2 cassettes ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must Hear
This rendition of the beloved book "The Secret Garden" is a wonderful production that is sure to keep you glued to your stereo. I read this book as a child a few times and watched the Hallmark version of the movie, but I always favor the imagination over the cinematic portrayals of characters in books who become your friends.
My daughter is six and received this for Christmas. I didn't know if she was ready for the involved plot of "The Secret Garden", but I thought we'd try the audio version anyway. She fell in love with it and had to listen to it all in one sitting-it's over an hour long-and as soon as she finished it she wanted to begin it all over again. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it as well, and my 3 year old followed along too. We then read the book and found the book to be a bit lengthier and wordy. The abridged version of the audio is great. The accents are marvelous and there is much "scope for the imagination!" ... Read more

Book Description

Among Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet is considered by many his masterpiece. Among actors, the role of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is considered the jewel in the crown of a triumphant theatrical career. Now Kenneth Branagh plays the leading role and co-directs a brillant ensemble performance. Three generations of legendary leading actors, many of whom first assembled for the Oscar-winning film Henry V, gather here to perform the rarely heard complete version of the play. This clear, subtly nuanced, stunning dramatization, presented by The Renaissance Theatre Company in association with Bbc Broadcasting, features such luminaries as Sir John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson and Christopher Ravenscroft. It combines a full cast with stirring music and sound effects to bring this magnificent Shakespearen classic vividly to life. Revealing new riches with each listening, this production of Hamlet is an invaluable aid for students, teachers and all true lovers of Shakespeare -- a recording to be treasured for decades to come. ... Read more

Reviews (142)

!!!FLASH-FLOW!!!
what fire-spells lie in hamlet's mind!here is not some two-dimensional action figure whose only purpose is to enflame the audience with wonder with his sword-slash and his martial agility.here is not some cheap revenge drama where the hero eventually magno-triumphs in glory and thus satiates the spec-tators rage-lust for justice.asymmetrical!here is a man spider-entangled with enigma, here is man truly bewildered by life's perplexo.here is a man who fails to overcome his own interior twists and banish the fog that grips him in paraly-scourge.this drama causes us to ponder life's rattle of chaotica more acutely, it compels us into the prison of inquiry, baffles us and leaves perhaps wiser than before.for what intrigues we humans most is mystery, the unknown, the irresolvable and thus this scholar of wittenberg, armed with a formidible array of proofs, evidences, theories and conjectures, nevertheless, despite all his bookish wisdom, finds himself helplessly at the mercy of rage-orcs when he is challenged to confront the world's unjustice, become a man of action and right his uncle's wrongs!are we all not hamlet?do we all not shrink in the face of tyranno-blight?do we all not at some time or another complacently let injustice govern us, rule us, oppress us?do we all not occasionally become enwebbed by reality's night-shadows and cannot for the life of us rouse the tank-courage needed to banish the vipers?this is a man of emotion!this is a man who thinks!this is a man who contemplates the conundrums harrowing our sleep in constanto!he cannot help but arouse our sympathy and draw us into his sphere, cheering for him, rooting for him, praying for his eventual conquest of lechers for we all at one time or another have experienced similar ideas floating in our cosmos.and yet when he fails life's omnipresent hazard strikes us in greater prepondera thus causing us think more deeply on our existence.

kyle foley, author of Lorelei Pursued, Wrestles with God

Hamlet, glossed.
I hated Shakespeare in high school, partly because I could only understand about one word out of every three.Recently -- that is, thirty years post-high-school -- I forced myself to read it again, in the Signet edition, and was dumbfounded at how different my response was.All the difficult terms were explained at the bottom of each page in footnotes.I learned the difference between the two terms of address, "Sir" and "Sirrah," and a lot of other things as well.As an adolescent I asked myself why the hero didn't just kill Claudius right of the bat and have done with it.The reason, it seemed to me, is that there wouldn't have been any play.Hamlet refuses to use his sword on his uncle for the same reason the Indians don't shoot the horses when they're chasing the stagecoach.What a change time has wrought.I guess when you're a kid you don't know the meaning of the term "moral doubt" because so many things seem black and white.It takes a certain degree of maturation to realize that murdering a king because some ghost told you to is a bit morally -- well, fuzzy.For instance, can you be absolutely certain that you're doing it to avenge your father instead of being jealous about your mother's affections?Questions like that, which a thoughtful adult might ask himself, are enough to give anyone pause.It's a fascinating tragedy.Probably the best film about it is still Olivier's from 1947 or 1948, which won an Academy Award if that still means anything.The signet edition is extremely helpful too in providing brief critical essays that review the play from differing perspectives, the Freudian, the feminist, and so on.

Madness in great ones must not unwatched go
The reading of Hamlet and Lear in high- school helped me understand my father. Or rather my father helped me understand them. All the hesitation and delay and indecision, all the great outpourings of feeling in soliloquy , all the great sense of life as tormenting and impossible and yet somehow great and sublime, all this echoed and reflected from my own childhood family life world back and forth to Hamlet. The great language reaching out to metaphor no ordinary mind could find. This too.
Of the plot and the story of the father murdered and the son who needed to revenge and delayed and the mother who betrayed and enticed, this was far far from me. More I loved the language the great speeches even when we were taught that they were ironic and self- condemning (To thine own self be true as triteness not truth) I loved and memorized much of Hamlet's solitary crying , " Oh that this too too solid flesh would melt thaw and resolve itself into a dew" and felt in the pain of Hamlet my father 's pain and poetry. I know for most this is the greatest play ever played, and I know too how down the generations critics have given their own long theories explaining why Hamlet delayed and what the ultimate meaning of the play is. But what each of us is given in his own way is another story. And if I have here said a few private words it certainly will not harm or change very much that vast sea of readings which have accumulated around this work, and which will grow still larger and larger in time. One of the great works unquestionably, one mankind will go on reading and rereading as long as mankind keeps reading. And for me a hint that my father's life and suffering somehow related to a higher world called Literature where it might have its echo, and who knows one day truly find its meaningful expression.

Looking for Hamlet
The sheer magnitude and dramatic measure of Shakespeare is never to be missed -- but it can be a challenge tackling the linguistics of sixteenth century English, especially text from the original Folio published by Applause.

For those (like me) who need a leg up, the Durband (Editor) additions of Shakespeare's work are an invaluable help. For the ambitious reader, an additional resource in cracking the code of 16th century grammar comes in the form of Adamson, Hunter, Magnusson, Thomposon, & Wales's "Reading Shakespeare's Dramatic Language, A guide."Finally, an invaluable guild to understanding not only Shakespeare but also any dramatic structure comes from David Ball's "Backwards and Forwards, A Technical Manual for Reading Plays."With all these resources firmly in hand, I chased Shakespeare, and managed, in some sense, to tackle "Hamlet," the first Shakespeare play I had ever read . . .

So what's the play about -- other than ~3-4 hours of live performance? This question actually decomposes (like Polonius: "if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby", 4.3 (Act 4, Scene 3) into 3 questions: what's does the play "mean," what's its "theme," and what's the play "about?"

I've actually no idea what it means, and I'm not sure I understand what is meant by 'what does it mean?' so I'll let that go . . .
What are it's themes? That's easy: revenge, parental fealty, trust. Most helpful is the last question: what's the play about? I've read that constraints on the answer to this question are: it should be short, 1-2 sentences, and if you were telling it to someone who knows little about the play, it should 'draw the person in: make them want to know more,' so here goes:

Hamlet is a play about a son who pretends to lose his mind while attempting to avenge the perfect murder of his father, and he loses his own life in the process.

This isn't particularly poetic, but it does capture the basic main plot line, and it's underscores the tragic nature of Hamlet. The murder of Hamlet's father is perfect: it's takes a supernatural event to uncover the murder, i.e., the ghost of his father has to come back and tell Hamlet what happened. These are the two main events that drive the plot: the murder is perfect, and Hamlet chooses to take up the task of avenging his father with absolutely not one shred, not one bit, of evidence that Claudius killed King Hamlet.

And this is just how the play reads, how it looks to the audience: If you didn't know the story, the earliest point you might believe that the ghost really was telling the truth is Claudius' line #59, 3.1: "How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!" And what exactly is he feeling so guilty about anyway? It is unclear, not explicitly stated (e.g., it could be guilt for marrying Hamlet's mother so quickly, which is what Hamlet is initially bummed out and angry about, and justifying the quick marriage is in part what Claudius' initial speech is all about in 1.2.) And up until 3.2, Hamlet's not even sure about the veracity of the ghost -- so he sets a 'mouse trap' ("the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king"). Up until 3.2 (at the earliest), the audience doesn't really know if Claudius murdered the king, and they only know this with certainty during Claudius's confession of the murder in 3.3.

And if the audience (and Hamlet) are not absolutely sure about Claudius until Act 3, Scene 3, what about the other characters in the play? They never know. All the way through the play, to them, Hamlet looks just like the guy he's pretending to be: someone who's coming unglued. Take out Claudius's confession in 3.3, and I don't think the audience would believe Hamlet or the ghost. To them, Hamlet would be seen as he is seen through the eyes of all the characters (except Horatio): they'd think Hamlet is crazy, and to his mother (3.4), he's ranting and raving about a murder, and yes, there is a murder, but not of King Hamlet -- it's of Polonius, and yes, there is a murderer, but not Claudius -- it's Hamlet! Killing Polonius was a BIG mistake: Claudius sends Hamlet away to England, to be killed. Hamlet, far from being a man incapable of action, is "acting" every moment, struggling with one (huge) obstacle after another . . .

Hamlet's a brilliant play, a masterpiece, though I'm not convinced it's Shakespeare's best, plot-wise -- but certainty character-wise: as Bloom so aptly puts it: it is "The Invention of the Human." Shakespeare dramatizes a man that's *almost* (not totally) paralyzed with fear and uncertainty until most of the way through Act 4 (these are his first obstacles), and one main action he takes up to the end of act 4 is trying to satisfy for himself that Claudius really did kill his father, and avoid detection that that's what he's trying to do -- by acting crazy. A great play, and a full measure of the genius of Shakespeare.

Brilliant Performance.....
This review refers to the Caedmon Audio/Full Cast Recording edition(HarperCollins) of "Hamlet"....

The first thing I need to clarify is exactly which audio edition this is. If you are on the product page with a light purple box pictured, this is the 1963, full cast recording, complete play in 5 acts, starring Paul Scofield as "Hamlet.It is not, as the audio file editorial states the one with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. And if the Scofield performance is what you'd like to hear, you are in for a real treat.(You can enlarge the product picture to see a better view of the box)

The entire cast including Diana Wynyard as Gertrude,Roland Culver as Claudius, Donald Houston as Laertes and Zena Walker as Ophelia turn in powerful performances and will captivate your imagination no matter how many versions of this brilliant play you have heard, or seen. Paul Scofield("A Man For All Seasons") is masterful as the complex Hamlet, wanting revenge for his father's death, yet torn by his own conscience.

There are so many different versions of Shakespeare's "Hamlet", and on this taped set you will find a performance worthy of his genius.It is one you will want to listen to many times and well worth the price. After listening to it at home, I now bring it with me in my car to keep me company in traffic and on long trips.

This three tape set(6 sides) has the entire play, Ronsencrantz and Guildenstern included,in five acts. The entire play runs about 3 1/2 hours, each side of the tapes running between 30 to 45 minutes. The scenes are nicely seperated by music and the sound quality remastered(1995) in Dolby B is excellent.Although the tapes are not enclosed in their own cassette cases, there are individual cardboard holders inside the box for each.

A brilliant performance that you will remember, and one we are fortunate to have on these fabulous recordings.

Enjoy...Laurie ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gableswith a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy.We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can'timagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not forthe original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne"confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes ofbeing allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hatedcarrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, nohouse that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be,either. This adapted version of the classic, Anne of Green Gables,introduces younger readers to the irrepressible heroine of L.M. Montgomery'smany stories. Adapter M.C. Helldorfer includes only a few of Anne's mirthful andpoignant adventures, yet manages to capture the freshness of one of children'sliterature's spunkiest, most beloved characters. There's just enough to makebeginning readers want more--luckily, there's a lot more in the originals!Illustrator Ellen Beier creates vibrant pictures to portray the beauty of theland around Green Gables and the spirited nature of Anne herself. (Ages 5 to 8)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (265)

Okay...well not really
This book was really geared for Girls rather than Boys, I sort of liked the book because it was exciting and L.M.Montgomery really paints a picture with her words, but the book it's self isn't very good.

It's about a girl who is sent from an orphanage but the family that was to adopt a boy to help on the farm. Will she stay or will she go?

A classic for all children (and their parents)
Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother and sister living in Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, are getting old and have decided to get some additional help to maintain their farmland.They send word that they'll accept a boy from the orphanage into their home.But when Matthew goes to the train station to pick him up, all he finds is a lonely little 11 year old girl waiting for him.There's obviously been some mistake, but he can't very well leave her there, so he brings her back to their home, known locally as Green Gables.On the way he quickly takes a liking to this homely but very talkative little red-haired girl who seems so full of dreams, and he convinces Marilla to keep her.But Anne is so different from proper and sensible Marilla, and her occasional mistakes make them both wonder if she should stay at Green Gables.

My 6 year old daughter and I read this book together and we both agree that it was a lot of fun to read.Although the flowery language and Anne's usually lengthy monologues were often difficult to follow, we both felt that Anne was so charming that we don't blame Matthew and Marilla for falling in love with her.This is a book we can very much recommend, to both young and old readers.

Attention Mothers: Buy this Book for your Daughters!
Anne is an enduring and beloved heroine for so many reasons. I also think she's a great role model for girls.For a variety of reasons.First of all, even though she lived and was created in Victorian times, Anne was a rarity: a girl who was not afraid to openly demonstrate her intelligence, to let everyone know she had a backbone, to compete with boys for academic awards, and to have ambitions and to want her independence.

But Anne embodies other qualities that are so important to encourage in children: her love of books and all things literary, her vivid imagination, her sense of humor, her vast ability to love others, and her willingness to openly express affection to those who matter to her.

Girls who read this book will also be touched by Anne's vulnerability and the social prejudice she experienced as an orphan.Her generosity of heart and kindness, as well as her love and gratitude toward Marilla and Matthew and her utter sincerity will never become old-fashioned.Her devotion to Diana will remind all girls of the precious friendships that are so important and dramatic during our childhood.

Gilbert Blythe's interest in Anne-based on her intelligence and sense of humor rather than her adorable appearance or the beautiful red hair she's always so sensitive about-will teach girls that there are men who will love them for being themselves-even if it means being fiercely independent, willful and high-achieving like Anne.You will fall in love with Anne like everyone else in the story did, and with Prince Edward Island (the most beautiful place in the world).

As long as there are little girls with a lot of imagination, spunk, and enthusiasm for life there will be people who love Anne.

Anee of Green Gables School Review
Anne of Green Gables Review


Anne of Green Gables is a story about a little orphan girl who is mistakenly sent instead of a boy orphan to a new home with her stepmother, Marilla and her stepfather, Matthew in the beautiful place of Green Gables where after a while they decide to keep her. Green Gables is a beautiful place with forests and lakes all around; Anne is awed by its glory. Anne is a redheaded dreamer who is always imagining thing and forgetting what she’s supposed to do. She wanted to be a teacher so she works hard at school. She has one friend, Dianna that lives very close to her. After a while she goes to school and does extremely well and is sent to Queens for evaluation where she wins a scholarship, but then something saddening happens and Anne stays home with her stepmother and teaches at her old school instead. This book has a very differing storyline creating plots and twists. If you like different you should read this book, otherwise you should stay away.

I love this classic...
I read this book just after I saw the movie in 1986.I was 8 at the time and fell instanly in love.It was so innocent and pure.I picked up the books, priding myself on my good reading skills, and almost drown in its difficulty.It was then I realized that my reading skills were poor by comparisom with those from other countries.I have always hoped that the school system would pick up these books and offer it as extra credit reading.I think it would be inspiring and encouraging to get through such a difficult book (it might not have the same appeal as Harry Potter but it will endure longer).This book has a strong Christian theme that runs throughout.Very feminine and quite a healthy dose of morals and values.I still read the Anne books at the age of 27.Anytime I get tired of the news and the negative life around me I can immerse myself in this quaint fantasy land and feel at peace.The texture of the language is exquisit.If you are taking a creative writing class this book will give great pointers in a different way of describing things.Very "rose-tinted".I love this book so much I own at least 7 copies.Most are battered and the glue on the binding is giving out but I still can't bare to toss them.This book will be a classic long after Harry Potter is deemed passe.If you enjoy this book you might also enjoy the Narnia series by C. S. Lewis.Who cares if these are considered childrens books.I'm still going to read them.Again and again and again.I hope you enjoy the wonders of Anne. ... Read more

Book Description

Sendak fans won't want to miss this audio extravaganza of award-winning and favorite stories by the legendary children's book author and illustrator. Performed by Tammy Grimes and the Broadway cast of Really Rosie, this collection features music by the popular Carole King as well as classic pieces by Mozart. Included in this 4-tape collection is the entire Broadway production of Really Rosie, Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and much more.

Repackage
Running time: Approx. 3 hours
Unabridged with music.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Maurice Sendak Audio Tapes
Bought this originally for my child when it was first released and it's one of his most favorite memories. He is so fond of these stories (as am I) that today I'm ordering it for his 30th birthday present. Since these stories we've said "EXP-1212!" to convey the ultimate adventure, described certain people/situations as "Pierre," and in other ways incorporated Jenny, Rosie and the Nutshell Kids into our lives. Only regret is that they're not available on CD.

Great for long trips
My family never tires of this collection. Whenever a car trip is going to last over 30 minutes or we need a distraction so Mom and Dad can fix dinner these are the tapes of choice for us. Even after 3 years of constant listening these stories make us laugh - especially the escapades of Rosie and her friends ... Read more