Book Description

A kingdom beset by monsters...
A disease that weakens and destroys...
An epic poem and a hero of long ago...
A story of danger and desperation.

The Two Princesses of Bamarre couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy. Her deepest wish is for safety. Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Her deepest wish is to save the kingdom of Bamarre. They are sisters, and they mean the world to each other.

Then disaster strikes, and Addie -- terrified and unprepared -- sets out on a perilous quest. In her path are monsters of Bamarre: ogres, specters, gryphons, and dragons. Addie must battle them, but time is running out, and the sister's lives -- and Barmarre's fate -- hang in the balance.

Gail Carson Levine left her mark on fantasy with her well-loved 1998 Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted. Now she has created another shimmering and tapestried landscape of fantasy and fairies. Bamarre and the journeys of its two princesses will burn themselves into the minds of readers, and all will relish this moving saga about two sisters groping their way toward heroism.

Reviews (142)

Way to go, Gail Carson Levine!
After being enchanted by "Ella Enchanted", I knew I had to pick up Gail Carson Levin's "The Two Princesses of Bamarre". And I must say that I found this fairy tale to be quite a fascinating read!

Princess Medryl can't wait to be grown up so she can leave the castle, why? So she can have all sorts of adventures fighting off the evil monsters which roam the land of Bamarre. On the other hand though, her sister Princess Adelina, called Addie, is afraid just of the thought of adventures. She's afraid of spiders and rats, how can she face down dragons, specters, gryphons, or ogres? More than anything though, she is afraid to lose her sister to whom she depends on for courage and strength. But in the year Addie turns sixteen, Merlyn is stricken by the fatal Gray Death. It's up to Princess Addie to save her sister and find a cure. But the quest will be dangerous and she will have to face her deepest fears. Will Addie be able to fidn the cure before time runs out for both her and her sister?

For a Young Adult fairy-tale, this story cotains it tall: an exciting plot, fun characters lots of daring adventures, magic, monsters in the forms of dragons and other creatures, and a sweet romance. Totally worth the read!

Levine's characters as usual are lovable and fun to read about. Especially the main characters Addie who is sweet and charming. In the typcal writing style of Levine, we are given a first-person view of Addie's character. And typical for Levine, this view does not get boring not even once because of Levine's sense of humor which keeps her characters lively and interesting.

Mostly for young girls 10 and up, this book can still be read by older teens (I'm sixteen and I still enjoy these books for fun!). So if you have a chance, pick up "The Two Princesses of Bamarre". Here are two other books by Gail Carson Levine I also recommend:
*ELLA ENCHANTED* ~ If I were to choose between this book and "The Two Princesses...", I might veer towards liking this book more. A Cinderella like story with a fun twist, this book is a Newberry honor award. 5 stars easily!
*THE WISH* ~ The story of a girl who wishes for popularity and learns an important lesson about what true popularity is. Not really up to par with "Ella Enchanted" and "The Two Princesses..." (not many books are), but still is a cute story to read.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this book. Meryl and Addie are two princesses in the kingdom of Bamarre, a magical land full of dragons, spectors, ogres, sorcerers, and more. Meryl, the braver of the two sisters, has a dream to fight the evil creatures that are attacking Bamarreans until the land is safe. Addie, however,just wants to stay as far away from spiders as possible. That is, until Meryl gets the grey death. Nobody who has gotten the gray death has lived, and nobody will unless "cowards find courage and rain falls all over Bammare". Unfourtunately, Addie's cowardly father isn't much help, and it doesn't look like rain. So, while her sister is fighting the horrible grey death, Addie leaves the castle alone to find the cure for grey death. While on this great adventure, she conquers and ogre, fights gryphons, and gets past a dragon to save her sister. Time is running out, the grey death has left Meryl with only a few days left to live. With the help of a sorcerer names Rhys, some villagers, and a few fairies, this book has an amazing twist at the end. Everything about this book is perfect. (except maybe the binding on mine, but thats only because I read it so often and keep it with me on trips.) I love this book, and I know anybody in their right mind will too!

Tale of bravery and honour
Step follows step, hope follows courage ... The Two Princesses of Bamarre is an unusual tale of bravery and honour. The transformation and self discovery of Addie and the twist in the ending really left a mark in my heart.

Very encouraging story and may the tale of The Two Princesses live for ever.

i read every 3 months
there are only 2 books ive read more than once, and theyre both by gail carson levine. this is my fav, but i also read ella enchanted. this is the best book ever written. when i get it from the library, i read it at least twice, all the way through, before returning it. if you see this and dont buy it, WHY! why miss the chance of a lifetime, youll love it forever, whether your a romantic, or a comic book type, this is for all!

A great fantasy novel
"The Two Princesses of Bamarre" was an awesome fantasy novel. It covered many specific genre's including: fantasy, action/adventure, friendship, romance....etc. Gail Carson Levine's descriptions can put you right into the story and make it come alive. I've read the book three times, and it was still fantastic each time I read it. I would suggest it to anyone. ... Read more

Book Description

Jumanji, the Caldecott Award-winning jungle adventure book by Chris Van Allsburg, is now available in a handsome book-and-cassette gift package. Sit back and listen as Robin Williams, the star of the major motion picture based on Van Allsburg's book, transports you to the fantasy world of Jumanji. Breathtaking jungle sound effects and an exciting musical score enhance Williams's unique rendering of this fabulous tale. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Jumanji
Have there ever been monkeys jumping around in your kitchen, or a lion destroying your bedroom, with a huge volcano irrupting in your house? Was there ever a large stampede of rhinos running crazy in your living room? Well that is what happens to Judy and Peter in the sensational book, Jamanji. When they were both left home alone, Judy and Peter got really bored. They decide to take a stroll in the park. On their way to the park, they discover a game named "Jamanji" sitting under a tree. They take it home and immediately start to play. All of the sudden, the creatures from the game came to life, in their very own house! How will Peter and Judy get this jungle cleaned up before their parents come home? Will they clean up in time? This book is a great mystery for kids' ages 4 to12. It has a great plot and brings wonderful excitement to the reader. Each topic makes you eager to read more and find out the result of the mystery.

LIONS, MONKEYS, AND, RHINOS, OH MY!
In Jumangi, Chris Van Allsburg details the story of Peter and Judy's afternoon. Through his words and pictures, he describes their eventful afternoon. On a boring afternoon, these two siblings are left alone. Before their parents leave, the two children are warned not to disorganize the house. However, once the children find an interesting board game, their once boring and uneventful afternoon becomes full of action and a bit of chaos. In this picture book, the author, who is also the illustrator uses black and white illustrations that are full of depth. Through his descriptive words and pictures, one can clearly witness the children's afternoon. The simple, yet detailed illustrations add to the characters, sets the setting, and mood. Jumanji's award winning illustrations are unique and add to the concept of fantasy in the book. Many children will enjoy this story or anyone who has experienced a boring afternoon or played an imaginative board game. The book may be slightly scary for younger children, but will encompass the attention of older readers. This book takes the reader along with the children on a wonderful adventure. JUMANJI!

Jungle fever
Chris Van Allsburg used to be my favorite picture book artist, and in many ways he remains so to this day. And it's books like, "Jumanji" that remind me why I love his work as strongly as I do. For some reason, Van Allsburg's picture books are so popular and so evocative that they are continually adapted into full screen motion pictures. "Polar Express" has just been turned into a computer animated extravaganza, and "Jumanji" was a Robin Williams vehicle once. Just the same, nothing compares to the original tale. Using his uber-realistic illustrations to highlight how incredibly bizarre the storyline is, this book is fully worthy of the 1982 Caldecott Medal it was awarded.

Peter and Judy have been left home alone by their opera going parents and boy are they boredy bored bored. After playing with their toys and making a mess they decide to take a run to the park. Once there, they discover an abandoned board game called Jumanji sitting beneath a tree. On a note taped to the bottom of the box read the words, "Free game, fun for some but not for all. P.S. Read instructions carefully". The kids don't know what to expect but they take the game with them anyway. After reading the instructions they find that once a person begins Jumanji they cannot stop until someone has won the game. The first roll of the die leads to a space that reads, "Lion attacks, move back two spaces". Suddenly there's a real live lion in the room, and it's regarding Peter hungrily. The kids realize, to their horror, that whatever happens on the board happens in real life. If they want to finish the game (and remain alive) they're going to have to continue.

The book really plays on the old idea of "when the parents are out the kids will get up to all kinds of unwitting mischief". There's a lot in this story that's similar to "The Cat in the Hat". Two bored kids. The magical entity that destroys their home but (undeniably) occupies their time. Getting everything cleaned up before mom and dad walk in the door. You get the idea. The story is surreal and skirts the edges of the disturbing. With illustrations created with Conte dust and Conte pencils, Van Allsburg makes the pictures especially realistic. You can make out every strand on Peter's head or observe the rubber bands holding together Judy's braids. As a child, I was always fascinated with realistic images of fantastical situations. Van Allsburg fits this bill perfectly.

"Jumanji" was later given a sequel of sorts entitled, "Zathura". I haven't read it myself, but I think my loyalties will always lie with the original. There's something about Van Allsburg's clean lines and startled expressions that really chill the reader to the bone. If you have a child that likes to be ever so slightly freaked out from time to time, I can't think of any picture book artist that does a better job of this than the master of the pencil drawing: Chris Van Allsburg. And "Jumanji" is his masterpiece.

Scary
I am a Van Allsburg fan but this book, though very good, is not one of my favorites. Some young children may be frightened by the illustrations. It is a good was to expose children to the fantasy genre if you feel they will not be upset by the illustrations or plot. (...)

Jumanji
I am a student of West Virginia State College, currently taking a class on Children's Literature. Mr. Samples (A Wonderful Teacher) has instructed us to review a Caldecott winner and write our thoughts on it. I read this book after seeing the movie and, of course, it is quite different. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of the differences and its speedy nature. I believe that children of various ages would enjoy this book because of the quick adventure and excellent illustrations. I would recommend this book to anyone for a classic family reading time, classroom reading, or bedtime story! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The BBC Radio production of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a delightful two-hour sail on the most fabulous ship in Narnia. Lucy and Edmund, with their dreadful cousin Eustace, get magically pulled into a painting of a ship at sea. That ship is the Dawn Treader, and on board is Caspian, King of Narnia. He and his companions, including Reepicheep, the valiant warrior mouse, are searching for seven lost lords of Narnia, and their voyage will take them to the edge of the world. Their adventures include being captured by slave traders, a much-too-close encounter with a dragon, and visits to many enchanted islands, including the place where dreams come true. The adaptation is faithful to its source, C.S. Lewis's series of Narnia books, which have provided exciting and uplifting tales for generations of children. BBC Radio does wonders with sound effects--the ship creaks in the wind, the sorrowful dragon roars lugubriously--and musical cues and interludes that keep the pacing dynamic. There's also a splendid cast of plummy British voices, making this far more than a book read onto cassette--it's an audio drama, as enjoyable as a trip to the theater. Grownups who buy this tape for their children will want to borrow it for themselves. (Running time: two hours, two cassettes) --Blaise Selby ... Read more

Reviews (62)

questing after the Kingdom
I have put off reviewing "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" for a long time. There is no other book I have so longed to recommend to others, but I have felt (and still feel) totally inadequate when it comes to expressing what a wonderful story this is. I could go on for days about all the wonderful things contained here. That said, I will try and focus on only a few aspects of this book and then plead with you to read it.

First, I must note that I feel this story should be read in the context of the entire Narnian series. It stands on its own nicely enough, but the deep background of the previous tales adds richness and texture to the tale.

Secondly, I must note that this book is highly enjoyable because it works on two levels. The tale as a whole is the story of a journey into unknown lands. With each new place they visit, the whole is broken into wonderful episodes. My favorite episode (with the exception of the ending) is the island where dreams come true...its not what one would expect.

The character of Eustace is my favorite of all the humans in the Narnian books. This story is partly a tale of his transformation. This seems to be a universal human desire; but Eustace, like all who truly seek transformation must, finds impossible to reform himself. This is an especially timely lesson for our "self-help" culture at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

This brings me to what I like best of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Let me preface what I say here by making it clear that no one hates heavy-handed use of allegory as much as I do. However, the allegory that is "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is one of the greatest things of beauty I have ever encountered.

In one form or another we are all questing after an unseen kingdom. Be it the kingdom of God, Materialism, or simply of the Self--we are all, like Caspian and his pals, on a quest. I don't wish to give away any endings, but let me just say that the greatest truth Lewis expresses in his book is that no one can reach the True Kingdom on their own.

I urge you to read this book. If I could only have a handful of books, this one would definitely be among them. I give "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" my highest recommendation.

An "Odyssey" for Children
After reading the very first line, "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it," I realized that I had made a huge mistake beginning "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" half an hour before bedtime. More exciting and adventure-packed than the two preceeding books (in the original ordering, of course), "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Prince Caspian", it is hard to put down.

The main characters that readers will recognize are King Caspian, Edmund, Lucy, and Reepicheep. Sadly, Peter and Susan have since become too old to reenter Narnia; but the story does amazingly well even without them. Here, Eustace, who will reappear in "The Silver Chair", is introduced for the first time. They are an interesting bunch, all providing something essential to the story, especially Reepicheep (whose character and personal history are developed further) and Eustace (who experiences a wonderful kind of redemption).

The Dawn Treader is a ship King Caspian built in order to fulfil an oath made on his coronation day to find the seven lords and friends of his father that his uncle Miraz had sent to explore the Eastern Seas. Every two chapters or so, the Dawn Treader stops at an island, where its crew and passengers have a small adventure-within-the-larger-adventure, discover the fate of each of the seven lords, and learn good moral lessons. For instance, one island, called the Dark Island, is a place where dreams come true. It may sound wonderful, until you realize that the dreams that come true are not the pleasant daydreams, but the nightmares. After the last island, the passengers even reach, or very nearly reach, the End of the World.

Though I compared this book to Homer's "Odyssey" in the title of this review, I must add that it can also be likened to John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress". This voyage is not guided by fate and devoid of reason, but is blessed by Aslan (who symbolizes Jesus) and is full of meaning and purpose. It does not merely represent the passage through life, but the passage through life _as a Christian_. That may be why one reviewer complained that this novel is overly preachy. Yet we readers are human, after all, and in need of being preached to now and then. Another thing that may surprise readers is the chivalry with which Lucy, the only girl on the ship, is treated by the men. Though it not "politically correct," as Eustace himself points out at the beginning, it has a certain rightness to it.

Remembering how the March girls in Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" played at being good in imitation of the character Christian in "The Pilgrim's Progress", only to realize that their game was really a way of life, I can say that it would be wonderful if children today could apply the allegories in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" in the same way. Parents, take note: it is easier to ask a child, "What would Edmund tell you about forgiving someone who has done wrong, like Eustace?" than to launch into a weary sermon about forgiveness that they may not remember anyway. There are more archetypes in this book, and in all stories about Narnia, than C.S. Lewis himself must have realized: and children can only benefit from knowing them as they grow up.

I never wanted it to end....
I agree with others here that this was the best out of all the Narnia Chronicles. What a book! I am reading all these books as an adult and I can only imagine how more wonderful these would seem as a child. I do like the Christianity thrown in (Aslan being the Messiah). Some others I have spoken to do not like this in your face message of Adam and Eve and the Aslan's Kingdom. This book clearly states (SPOILER) at the end of the Kingdom (Heaven) being both in Narnia and in our world. It's a great book for an adventurer or someone who would like to explain how beautiful the boundaries of Heaven can be. This is the best book (haven't read the last one yet though) and I already want to read it again...absolutely enchanting.

Among the series' best
The immediate follow-up to "Prince Caspian," "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is one of C.S. Lewis' classic Narnia series, and contains all the magic, wonder and adventure of the others in the series. Maybe more.

Like most of the Narnia books, "Voyage" takes little time to get moving. Edmund and Lucy are staying with their mean and arrogant little cousin Eustace (Peter and Susan are excised from the story for being too old), when the three children are pulled into the world of Narnia. Edmund and Lucy are delighted to have arrived, but Eustace is bitter at the situation. He is made even more bitter because of where they appear: In the middle of the ocean, where they are picked up by King Caspian on his ship, the Dawn Treader.

Caspian is in the midst of a grand journey in which he is trying to sail to the end of the world. Tossed into the mix is his quest to find seven companions of his father, who fled Narnia when the bad folks from "Prince Caspian" took over. The entire plot is little more than an excuse to sail to lands unknown and explore the most fantastic sights Narnia has to offer. The story does not fail in that endeavor.

While it begins as Another Narnia Adventure, "Voyage" quickly becomes an exploration adventure of the most classic kind, an archetype of a tale in which every action drives the characters towards the next episode and the next land of wonder. Like other timeless tales of this type, the device is remarkably effective in keeping the reader's interest and repeatedly engage one's sense of awe.

Naturally, there are Lessons thrown in for good measure. Lewis can occasionally grate with moralizing, but "Voyage's" moral tales are not grating in the least. Most are tales that have been told time and again throughout mankind's history. Each island has its own little moral message, but they are subtle, fit with the story well, serve the sense of wonder the reader feels, and never intrude on the tale. That's a welcome thing.

In the end, no terrible bad guy is vanquished. No kingdom is won. Nobody turns out to secretly be royalty. None of that. It simply ends when the quest is done. And that end satisfies.

"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" may be the very best of the Narnia books and a journey for the ages. Here, Lewis crafts a classic tale of a fantastic journey, and he does so with a finely balanced sense of pacing. "Voyage" never fails to be engaging and will surely delight readers both young and old.

A Voyage of the Best Kind
Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis is in my opinion, the best out of all seven of the Chronicles of Narnia.
It is like a cruise- in a book- you get a taste of various make-believe cultures. You even meet a Star and experience a vast endless sea adventure with good and evil, right and wrong.

Explore the shallows of the sweet waters where there are fierce yet valiant sea people. Search for the eight lords banished from Narnia by the evil 'king' Miraz. See Aslans country and look for the many biblical parallels hidden within that only make it more exciting with its familiarity yet different adventurous ways of portraying the prophesies.

This book is good for people of all ages, and is a good place to start with the fantasy genre. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This was wonderful!
My kids and I really like the GreatHall Productions audiotapes. Jim Weiss is a great narrator. The sound effects and pacing really bring the stories together. ... Read more

Book Description

All three pigs set out to seek their fortune, but two of them come to a sorry end. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great For Trips!
I always loved this story as a child, so it is one that I have inflicted on my daughter (almost 4) in hopes that she would love it as well. We were planning a trip, so I purchased the audio version so she could listen to the story while we were driving. While it is not the PC version where the first and second little pigs get away and run to the home of their brother with the brick home (they are actually eaten as each of their homes is huffed and puffed to the ground)--it is still a great story and provided hours of entertainment. We are constantly finding the value of books with tapes for car travel and it helps a lot when the books are well written and illustrated. This one is all of that and more.

A "back to basics" retelling of the classic story
When my older son became fascinated with the Three Little Pigs after seeing a version of it on Sesame Street, I did some research on this site to decide the best version to buy him in book form, and decided on this one. I was glad I did---as he really enjoyed many readings of this version until he moved onto new interests! It's not for the faint hearted, as the first two pigs do get eaten, and the pictures of the houses falling show sticks all over and pigs flying away, but that's life in fairy tales! The text is straightforward, the pictures are clear and well done. Consider this version!

Awesome!
This version of the Three Little Pigs is excellent. The original tale with the actual eating of the pigs and wolf. My tot is the sweetest kid in the world, and he loves this book. Definitely his favorite for a few weeks. I don't have the audio cassette version, but I recently bought the audio version of Rumplestiltskin, and it's great too. I'm actually on here now to buy more audio cassette books, as many Paul Galdone books as I can find.

My Two Year Old Laughs Until His Sides Hurt
My child loves this book/cassette combo. He loves it more than the so-called 'friendlier', non-pig eatin' versions that currently on the market. This, of course, surprised me...but I guess it shouldn't. This version is richer in conflict; and in turn, more thought-provoking than the other versions. If you think your child would enjoy this type of story line, like mine has; then by all means, purchase this combo for him/her! Only you know what is/is not suitable for your child.

My child fell in love with this combo when we checked it out at our public library. So much, in fact, that I had to find a way to purchase it.

Back to Tradition
This is a wonderful presentation of the original story without the moralisms of Disney's adaptation. There is bad and good luck, cunning, bravery and dealing with tough situations without whining. This leaves room for children to respond to the story and interpret it. My two year old grandson loved it, even if he didn't know what a churn was. The drawings are stylish. I recommend it as an addition to your basic library of classic children's tales. ... Read more

Book Description

If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is the record of such a journey and such a traveler. In following the path of this adventurer you will learn much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, for Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons, conversed with the dragon Smaug the Magnificent, and was present, rather unwittingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable since he was a hobbit. ... Read more

Reviews (1341)

The best book ever written published in a beautiful format
Tolkien's Hobbit takes the imagination on a wonderful flight of fantasy. I read this book on a yearly basis and each year I am delighted and captivated by the world of Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo is a reluctant member of an adventure that will forever change his life and the lives of those around him. He accompanies 13 dwarves on a mission to reclaim the gold and mountain kingdom of their ancestors from the dragon, Smaug. They have many adventures and mishaps on their journey to the lonely mountain including the climactic battle of five armies. Bilbo finds a magic ring along the way which leads, not only to a rise in his stature, but also to a new adventure for his friends in "The Lord of the Rings." Tolkien is a master storyteller and the depth of his skill is best seen in this tale. In the following trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings" the story is continued, but the sheer delight of "The Hobbit" is never fully recaptured. This collector's edition is beautifully bound. Even more enjoyable are the illustrations and paintings by the author himself.

Read it at least once per year!
Tolkien's Hobbit takes the imagination on a wonderful flight of fantasy. I read this book on a yearly basis and each year I am delighted and captivated by the world of Bilbo Baggins.

Bilbo is a reluctant member of an adventure that will forever change his life and the lives of those around him. He accompanies 13 dwarves on a mission to reclaim the gold and mountain kingdom of their ancestors from the dragon, Smaug. They have many adventures and mishaps on their journey to the lonely mountain including the climactic battle of five armies. Bilbo finds a magic ring along the way which leads, not only to a rise in his stature, but also to a new adventure for his friends in "The Lord of the Rings."

Tolkien is a master storyteller and the depth of his skill is best seen in this tale. In the following trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings" the story is continued, but the sheer delight of "The Hobbit" is never fully recaptured. This collector's edition is beautifully bound. Even more enjoyable are the illustrations and paintings by the author himself.

Very Pleased!
I knew when I ordered the book that it was hard back, but when I opened the box and there was this beautiful green box with a very beautiful green book inside with a picture and the gold writing around the edge I was very pleased. It was much more than I was expecting. There are pictures inside that are illistrated by the author. This book has most definatly lived up to "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" legacy. It is truly a beautiful book!

The Hobbit
This is one of the best books ever written! Prof. Tolkein is one of the most brilliant writers this wold has ever seen! Now a lot more people now about his works!! Thank You Peter Jackson!!!!!

Boys aren't the only ones who like LOTR!!!!! Some girls like it too!!!!

The Hobbit (Leatherette Collector's Edition)
Another masterpiece of Tolkien! A Classic that i would ask my children to read... Nothing compares to what Tolkien has accomplished.. Even in death he speaks to us through the pages of his work... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cajun Folk Tales
This book is full of tales to please even the hard-nosed, gonna find something wrong with it Cajun's like myself! Nothing annoys me quicker than to buy a 'Cajun' book and find it obviously written by someone who isn't. Ms. Reneaux always does a great job of depicting the truth as we see it, and recording our oral history in a way that even we (Cajuns) can recognize as our own! This book will teach you some about Cajun humor. If you want to learn more about our roots, this is a great place to start! ... Read more

Book Description

It begins in the most boring place in the world: Chickentown, U.S.A. There lives Candy Quackenbush, her heart bursting for some clue as to what her future might hold. When the answer comes, it's not one she expects. Out of nowhere comes a wave, and Candy, led by a man called John Mischief (whose brothers live on the horns on his head), leaps into the surging waters and is carried away.

Where? To the ABARAT: a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day, from The Great Head that sits in the mysterious twilight waters of Eight in the Evening, to the sunlit wonders of Three in the Afternoon, where dragons roam, to the dark terrors of Gorgossium, the island of Midnight, ruled over by the Prince of Midnight himself, Christopher Carrion.

Candy has a place in this extraordinary world: she is here to help save the Abarat from the dark forces that are stirring at its heart. Forces older than Time itself, and more evil than anything Candy has ever encountered.

Performed by Richard Ferrone

Reviews (115)

Candy Everbody Wants
ABARAT is Clive Barker's best and most consistent book in quite some time. As with Barker's previous children's book, THE THIEF OF ALWAYS (which he wrote long before the Harry Potter craze), there's a simple purity about ABARAT that makes for a truly riveting and satisfying reading experience.

The first in a planned quartet of self-illustrated children's books, Clive Barker's ABARAT tells the story of Candy Quackenbush, a young girl from a conservative Midwestern town who finds herself drawn through an oceanic portal into an alternative world called the Abarat. The Abarat is actually an archipelago of twenty five islands (one for each hour of the day, and another existing outside of time). As she travels from island to island, the precociously independent Candy makes many strange humanoid and not-so-humanoid friends and not a few horrible enemies. Chief among her foes is Christopher Carrion, the Lord of the isle of Midnight, whose powers include the ability to make nightmares real.

This lavishly illustrated volumes is beautiful to look at and is also a pleasure to read. Barker's imagination is in top fertile form. There are no missed steps or idle meanderings as there have been in some of Barker's recent efforts. This is a great book for all ages, and for all kinds of readers. A great celebration of the imagination.

A unique vision.
Clive Barker, known as a master of fantastical horror stories, has ventured again into children's literature. Yet, his new novel ABARAT, is quite different from his earlier children's work THE THIEF OF ALWAYS, which was a simple and spooky tale. ABARAT is a vast and colorful fantasy in the tradition of the Oz and Narnia stories. The world of Abarat grew out of a series of paintings the multi-talented Barker created. Inspired by his own imagination, he wrote the story of the paintings and the characters and places they portray. The book itself (the first in a projected 4-part series) is full of these vivid paintings helping to transport the reader to the new universe Barker has created.

The journey to Abarat is undertaken by the unassuming Candy Quakenbush, a 16-year-old girl from Chickentown, Minnesota. Driven to boredom, anger and frustration by her cruel teacher, alcoholic father and distracted mother, she becomes intrigued by the mysterious story of Henry Murkitt while writing a paper about the history of Chickentown (previously named Murkitt) for school. Henry died in a room of the Comfort Tree Hotel and left behind his sextant, used to navigate the seas. When her mean-spirited teacher rejects her school report, Candy flees the classroom and finds herself in a field outside of town mesmerized by a cloud and in front of a dilapidated lighthouse. Before she can solve the mystery of what a lighthouse is doing in the middle of Minnesota, she finds herself face to faces with a seven headed man. He/they tell her the lighthouse, amazingly, once sat on the coast of the sea of Izabella, a sea Candy, with some help from her new friends (yes, each head is a distinct personality) is able to summon after a dramatic battle with another monstrous creature. This sea carries Candy far from her home, her school, and all that is familiar. Yet, it draws her closer to Henry Murkitt.

And so begins Candy's journey to Abarat, a land of 25 islands; one for each hour of the day and one for the time in-between time. The isles of Abarat are as diverse as their populations. Candy is enthralled by Abarat and its citizens, but those she meets think she, as a visitor from the Hereafter, as our world is known, is most exotic. But Candy hardly has time to take in the wondrous sites around her. Her presence is immediately known by several sinister men who realize the threat she poses to their evil plans for domination. It seems Candy was destined to make this journey (ah! now the prologue is beginning to make sense) and besides that she is a scrappy fighter! Soon she is teamed up with a gentle character named Malingo whom she has freed from slavery and together the flee the dark and powerful forces around them. This duo is surely destined for great things, narrow escapes and amazing adventures!

What usually makes a fantasy novel successful is enough of the familiar to make the New World easier to visualize and understand, to make it somehow more plausible. This element of familiarity is what has made other Barker novels, most notably WEAVEWORLD so wonderful and engaging. With ABARAT he discards this formula and presents many new creatures inhabiting a truly original landscape. While in many ways this works, it is a bit overwhelming and distracting. It is unbelievable that Candy would not be paralyzed with shock at the spectacular newness she encounters: she seems to so seamlessly make the transition between worlds. And, I can only hope that Barker comes back to sew up all the loose ends he has left dangling in this first installment.

However, Barker has succeeded in bringing a unique vision to his readers. Perhaps the pace of ABARAT is so frantic is because it is so clear in Barkers mind: it is obvious he has a whole new mythology he would like to share and he can't get it onto the page fast enough. As a novel, ABARAT is dense, detailed and sometimes confusing. As a landscape and fairy tale it is enticing, dark and beautiful. Most likely the young readers this book is intended for will not be critical of the occasional sloppiness in the text and most likely their attention will not be lost through the mental and physical obstacle course Candy finds herself in when she journeys to Abarat.

--- (...)

This book is Fantastic
Once you start reading this book you cant turn it down, literally!
It has gone where no book has gone before, and Clive Barkers imagination must be amazing for him to write a story as good as this,
It starts out in Chickentown and takes you to the amazing world of the Abarat, where Candy is swept up in the adventure of her life.

this book is so good that I have read it 6 times. If you do not like this book you must be seriously messed up.

FANTASTIC!
Just wanted to clear something (...)-- there is no gay/lesbian innuendo in this book. It's very clean and it's a FANTASTIC read! Very refreshing. Thank heaven we have Clive Barker around.

Werid is Good
This book is very strange but you will understand it after a bit. This is now one of my favorite books. I reccomend you to read it. ... Read more

Book Description

Unabridged, multi-voiced recording. A journey of 159,000lights years begins with—a bar of soap? Fasten your zero gravityrestraints for Robert Heinlein’s novel of intergalactic adventure, astory that carries teenager Clifford "Kip" Russell from his jobas soda jerk to spacesuit winner to alien abductee! Along the way Kipis joined by a pint-sized genius named PeeWee and an empathetic aliencreature known as "the Mother Thing." The story of how thisstrange trio battles alien gangsters only to end up on trial in anintergalactic court trillions of miles from Earth features all thewicked humor, brilliant detail, and g-force drama that made RobertHeinlein the world’s favorite science fiction writer. First publishedin 1958 as one of Heinlein’s "boy’s books", Have Spacesuit,Will Travel soon found an adult audience as well, and has become oneof the most beloved of all his novels. Now listeners can experienceit as never before as the Full Cast Family of readers bring thecharacters to vivid new life in this scintillating recording. ... Read more

Reviews (75)

Relatively Well-Balanced
Robert A. Heinlein (author of "Starship Troopers," etc.) wrote this sci-fi novel that can be best be described as, well, well-balanced. Under its hood, the tale is basically a space opera, though it wears a hood of strong scientific reasoning. It does keep the reader hooked with its innocence and a strange sense of humor I've come to respect.

The main character is a high-school student named Clifford 'Kip' Russell, whose whimsical (read the first two pages, probably the most humorous in the book, and you'll see what I mean) and quite odd father has pushed him through his awkward education. (Footnote: The time period is strange, including obvious 50's elements -- Kip works as a soda jerk in a drug store -- but with technologically advanced portions, like moon tours and an evolved UN.) Ready to go to college, Kip instead yearns to see the moon. Entering in a soap contest, he devotes a large portion of his life to advertising Skyway Soap and receives a spacesuit. This suit leads to his kidnapping by an insidious space pirate. And so the adventure begins..

Accompanied by a bratty girl genius and a motherly Vegan (see "Barlowe's Guide to the Extraterrestrials"), the unlikely hero trudges 40 miles across the moon, gets drugged, spends a week in a dungeon, almost freezes to death and sees Vega and the place where the region's life began. I found a great deal of the story fascinating, from the lifestyle of the Vegans to the 1958 description of the moon and Pluto. The adventure comes to a close with a page-turning trial in which Kip must determine the fate of mankind and the ending is extremely weird.

The story may sound like a space fairy-tale, but plenty of science is packed in here (cosmology, mathematics, Roman history, and more about spacesuits than I'm sure you'll ever care to know -- during the Moon trek) but the way it's written (there is an unusual proliferance of the phrase, "I shut up," for example) will compel you back most of the time. One bad flaw: some pieces of the plot are never explained. How did the pirates take Tombaugh Station? Or, what exactly were the pirates' motives? Overall, though, you'll probably like this novel.

Quick and Fun Science Fiction
This is the first book I've ever read by Heinlein, and I suspect that this will not be the last. Any book/author that encourages youngsters to learn more about science and the applications of math, enhances the imagination about the far reaches of space and what it holds, and makes it fun and entertaining will, of course, be highly recommended by me.

This is the story of Kip Russell who's biggest desire is to make it to the moon. This story not only takes us to the moon but also to the edge of our solar system and beyond.

There were two things that I really liked about this story. The first was the desire by Kip's father that Kip obtain a REAL education, not just the simplistic and spoon-fed "education" of our public high schools. I was also very impressed that this book shows the applications of math in science, though now-a-days a computer or a good calculator would be used instead of a slide-ruler.

There were some things that bothered me about this book, though. First, the dialog was a little bit surreal and watered down. The two "geniuses" seemed to be spending WAY too much time explaining to each other what was going on. The other was the trial of the human species at the end of the book. Actually, it was a trial of two different home worlds and it struck me that while there was very little difference between the two races, they received two very different sentences. Those who stood up to support the human race did nothing to support the "worm faces," and the result of the trial didn't amount to very much anyways.

However, I would highly recommend this book to anybody who enjoys science fiction and I'm looking forward to picking up more works by this author.

A stellar novel
Have Space Suit - Will Travel, is an excellent example of Heinlein's juvenile works in his early career. The plot is deceptively simple. Clifford 'Kip' Russel is an average (but fairly bright) teenager who wins a second hand space suit in a contest. Through the influences of his father, and his own desire to visit the moon he educates himself and brings his dump-ready space suit up to operational readiness. Of course he becomes enmeshed in an interstellar plot filled with exotic life forms and intergalactic politics.
Like so many of Heinlein's novels this one draws you in with its adventure and accessible characters. As always, the plot is built upon a foundation of solid science and technology. It is a wonderful way to press knowledge on young people in a palatable format. I know it worked on me as a youngster.
One of the things I love about this book is its datedness. While it is nominally science fiction it provides a fascinating view of the life and culture of the 1950's. As is so often the case with science fiction they make drastically unrealistic leaps with their visions of the future, while society and its moral and political structures remain fixed as they were when the novel was written.
Despite its having been aimed for a pubescent audience, I find myself digging this one out to read at least once a year. I would highly recommend it to you as well.

Dated SF that still works well.
Capsule Summary: Kip wants to go to the moon, but tickets are far too expensive. He enters a contest, and ALMOST wins the trip... but, instead, gets a spacesuit. His decision to keep the spacesuit and refurbish it is the catalyst that sends him on a literally Galaxy-spanning series of adventures, starting with an alien invasion and ending with the fate of the entire Earth resting in the balance!

Review: This, like Citizen of the Galaxy, is one of RAH's best "juvenile" novels. Unlike the latter, however, Have Spacesuit... retains the flavor of the era in which it was written; overall, Heinlein did not extrapolate much on the civilization of Kip's time and it is -- especially where Kip lives -- still a mirror of the 1950s, right down to the way in which television programs were promoted. This isn't really a failing of the book, as it's a useful sort of mirror to look at the past in, and other than that it isn't dated much. The prose reads smoothly, the characters are fun, and like so many other RAH juvenile heroes Kip has to THINK his way out of his problems.

This book also emphasizes one of Heinlein's favorite themes, which was that it was important for a man to get a broad AND deep education. Kip starts the book out drifting along through school -- bright as hell, but the schools he goes to aren't interested in pushing him. When he becomes obsessed with space, however, his father points out just how much he's going to have to know in order to get into any college that might possibly get him a spacegoing job, and Kip starts learning on his own. As it turns out, the wide-ranging subjects he learns -- ranging from pharmacy to Latin to orbital mechanics -- have essential application in his adventures across the Galaxy.

Why HAVE SPACE SUIT-WILL TRAVEL is Good...
I read the book HAVE SPACE SUIT-WILL TRAVEL by Robert A. Heinlein. The book is about a boy named Kip who is in his college years. Kip wins a contest that he is so excited about. He loves outer space and all of that stuff, but this time he got a real souvenir-a real working space suit!

Later on in the book, more amazing things happen that are out of this world! One exciting thing after another happens to Kip!

I liked this book and recommend it to people who like books with action and a lot of stuff going on. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great!
This legend is a great way to start talking to students about the Mayan people of long ago.The illustrations are bright and interesting.The pictures could start a discussion!The message about a jealous uncle and a kings passing could be compared to the Lion King if you are comparing legends.

A great story for older kids
I bought this book for my Guatemalan born son and can't wait until he's old enough to read it to him. The illustrations are quite beautiful. It troubles me a bit that the story is violent with the evil uncle plotting against his nephew - but at the same time it's the same plot as the Lion King, only with a different ending. Nevertheless I would say this is a story for five-year olds and above.

The Hummingbird King:A Guatemalan Legend
This is a great book if you teach native american history and culture.Especially if you teach about native american tribes that existed in Mexico and Central America.The book does a great job of portraying Maya life/culture.It tells the story a Mayan prince who receives a visit froma sacred bird when he is born.The sacred bird leaves a feather as apresent for this newborn prince.From this day on the prince carries thefeather with him forgood luck and fortune.The feather protects him ofall evil or from being hurt, he is basically invincible.His people lovethis prince because he protects them.But there is a Mayan warrior who isjealous of the prince.His envy makes him steal this feather from theprince, the prince then dies in a battle.But the Mayan people stillbelieve that this prince protects over them in a mysterious way. ... Read more

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

Amazon.com

Ah, the ancient mysteries of life. Why are the popular people popular? What's different about them--what makes them special? In The Wish, award-winning author Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted, Dave at Night) explores the age-old question with a simple premise: a girl who is granted one wish by an old lady on the subway wishes to be "the most popular kid at Claverford." As is the fate of many who are granted only one wish, Wilma doesn't think through her wish carefully enough. While she is now adored by boys and girls alike, she is a mere three weeks away from graduating from Claverford. At Elliott, her next school, she'll be back to her lowly, oft-ridiculed self. Tension builds for Wilma until her graduation-night dance, the night before her popularity--and maybe even her relationship with her wonderful new boyfriend--will invariably come to a screeching halt. This fun, witty, insightful novel thoroughly examines the nature of "popularity," and what it means to be true to yourself. It's not just because of the old woman's spell that Wilma ponders, "'To thine own self be true.' But who was mine own self? That's what I wanted to know." Wilma is a funny, smart, no-more-awkward-than-most character with whom young readers of all social echelons will identify completely. When her popularity runs out (and the spell does end), her true friendships remain, and she's left standing on her feet. (Ages 9 to 12) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (108)

BAD
The book talks about how this girl has no friends and then an old lady grants her wish.It mainly talks about what it's like to be in highschool, middleschool and popularity.

I give((*****)) to this book

In The Wish, the author Gail Carson Levine shows her story interesting and attractive by telling a story that everyone once dreams of. She uses first person narratives showing what is happening to the character, and what the character is thinking. There is a climax part where it makes the readers focus on the book. Her partly used simile in the book.

Levine chose her main character as an unpopular girl who doesn't have friends and who isnot noticeable in school, but showing how her wish is granted and her life changes in one day.Everybody would have connections to this, because everyone dreams once in their lives and acted once when they were young. I liked this book because it was really awsome, when the character was once ignored never noticed, but one day, this old lady grants her wish: to be popular in Claverford, her middle school. Kids start being nice to her the next day,everybody start passing notes to Wilma, and she got to be popular. She is 3 weeks away from graduating her middle school, and she is worried that she will be unpopular again. She gets a lot of fun during the 3 weeks, and she gets a date with guy named Jared. Even though he is not popular, he teaches her that being popular isn't everything. They have fun their own way, and like each other more than anyone. So I recommend this to girls who once dreamedto be popular, and have a lot of friends.

Girl vs.Popularity

Have you ever thought that an old woman would grant you the wish of popularity? Well, Wilma Sturz certainly didn't!! Wilma Sturz was an ordinary city girl who was an 8th grader in Claverford Middle School. Wilma was perfectly normal, but she was very unpopular. So when she gave an old lady her seat on the subway, she found out that the old lady was magical, and she granted Wilma the gift of popularity. Once the wish had been bestowed on her, everybody at her school loved her. That's when the problems started.

The first day she became popular, everybody started passing notes to her. Being the honor student she was, Wilma tried to ignore the notes, but she couldn't help taking a peek. Most of the notes were "Hi" or "I like your shirt", but some of them were boys asking her to the Claverford Night Dance. That was a problem because it's not like she could go to the dance with ten different boys!! Eventually, she picked out one boy named Jared Fein. The only problem was that he was unpopular, but luckily since Wilma's popular everyone will think he's cool. In the end, Wilma realized that popularity isn't everything.

Throughout this book, I could tell that the author's message is, that popularity isn't everything, its friends that matter. I give this book five stars for true feeling and happiness.

bad
this book is verfy boring.It is about this girls wish and she thinks it will never come true but it does.THE END.there is no point to this book and no lesson is learned after reading it.I read it in my 10th grade class and 1 out of 45 students liked it.There isn'y many characters and the whole book takes place in a house or a forest.This book is horrible and i definitely do not reccomend you read it or you will fall asleep

The Wish Of Any Girl
" You have done me a good turn, and you know what they say about good turns." Wilma Sturtz is your average teenage girl who gets to middle school and wants to be part of the "in crowd." One day when Wilma meets an old lady on a subway and offers her a seat, the old lady grants Wilma one wish. Wilma wishes to be the most popular girl at Claverford Middle School.

The next day at school, Wilma notices a change. Everyone knows her name and she doesn't feel so alone anymore. Wilma, for once, feels she is the center of attention, especially when she becomes the best friends of the three most popular girls in school, Nina, BeeBee, and Suzanne. Wilma enjoys her popularity until she realizes that graduation is in three weeks and she will leave Claverford Middle School forever. Wilma spends her last three weeks of popularity like her life is about to end. On her last night of popularity, Wilma is at the Claverford Graduation Night Dance with her friends, hoping they will still see her as one of them. Will Wilma's friends still accept her after her wish vanishes?

I liked Gail Carson Levine's book so much because I wish for a wish like Wilma's. I can relate to Wilma's feelings because in my school, I am one of those girls who wants to be popular and noticed. Levine really knows how to express a teenage girl's feelings about life in middle school. I recommend this book to young teenage girls who know how it feels to be judged by popularity, not personality, and to girls who are interested in fairy tale novels about friendships, wishes, and popularity.
Who would have known that giving up your seat on the subway is the door to your lifetime wish!

Raquel M.
Des Plaines, IL ... Read more

Book Description

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

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

Performed by Derek Jacobi

Reviews (2)

Exploring Louisiana Through A Famliar Old Tale
A version of Little Red Ridding Hood that you will not be able to forget. Sheila Hebert Collins has done a wonderful job of giving Little Red Ridding Hood a cajun twist. The reader of this book is able to "play" with some french words, which children will love. This book hits a homerun with this reader!

Excellent Cajun Fairy Tale that is educational and fun.
Petite Rouge is the Cajun version of Little Red Riding Hood. It is filled with Cajun French words and expressions with sound spellings and definitions on each page. It is story that can be enjoyed by first grade on up. It is especially appreciated by displaced Cajuns very lonesome for their Louisiana home and all the Louisiana maw maws and paw paws eager to share their heritage and culture. It follows the Little Red Riding Hood Story but ofcourse is adapted to the Louisiana bayous and swamps. Ofcourse, it has a happy ending, but not for that gator, who ends up in a sauce piquante. The book ends with a Cajun recipe for alligator sauce piquante. This is a enjoyable book for the whole family. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

PEACH BOY
This book is the English version of the famous Japanese Fairytale "momotaro". It is easy to read and there are many illustrations.

I recommend this book to children and adults interested in Japan and itsculture. ... Read more

Book Description

Molly Moon has spent her entire life in a miserable orphanage run by the hairy, snaggletoothed Miss Adderson. But when she finds a mysterious book, Molly discovers an extraordinary talent -- she can hypnotize anyone! Accompanied by Petula the pug, Molly hypnotizes her way to New York and Broadway stardom. But hot on her trail is the sinister professor, who is determined to use Molly to stage the crime of the century…

Reviews (39)

Good as the "Moon"
Georgia Byng's debut novel, "Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism," is sure to delight the young and old alike.

Molly Moon is part Eloise, part Little Orphan Annie. She lives at an orphanage in Great Britain under the watchful gaze of a cold woman who does not particularly like children. Then Molly discovers a book on hypnotism at the library, and her world goes from dull to wow. She has an amazing knack for hypnotizing people and animals like, winning over the heart of audiences and the loveable pup Petunia the pug. When Molly's best friend Rocky is adopted and taken to the USA, she goes halfway around the world to find him, and these adventures continue when her hypnotic powers catch the eye of a crook.

This novel is fast-paced and travels from the United Kingdom to the United States and back again. The book has plenty of in-jokes and cool slang from both countries, not to mention a dog-napping, a dastardly villain, a bank robbery, a Broadway show and more! If you enjoyed this book, pick up the sequel "Molly Moon Stops the World" for even more adventures with Molly and her friends.

Fun adventures with Molly Moon
I picked up this book after seeing it on a couple of recommended reading lists. People always say not to judge a book by its cover, but when I saw the cover on this book, I had to have it (you'll see what I mean...the holographic swirl patterns are pretty cool). I'm glad I grabbed it.

If you're read any of the other reviews for this book, you already know some basic facts. Molly is an orphan (we read a lot of orphan books, don't we?) who is not the smartest, prettiest, or most popular. In fact, most of the kids at the orphanage make fun of her, except for her good friend, Rocky.

When Molly finds an old book on hypnotism at the library and hears an ugly man screaming at the librarian about it, she knows this book must be special, so she takes it. Back at the orphanage, Molly reads the book and works on her hypnotism skills, eventually using them to leave the orphanage and have a grand adventure, which lands her in America.

Full of twists and turns, readers young and old alike will enjoy Molly's adventures, as she uses her hypnotism on all sorts of unsuspecting people. I enjoyed the book, although I did find a couple of parts to be rather predictable. Please don't compare this book to Harry Potter. Sure, it has the whole orphan-thing going for it, but the same can be said about the Lemony Snickett books. This book stands by itself and is actually a pretty good (and quick) read.

Nice story, not a good Read Aloud book.
I enjoyed the story of Molly Moon, engaging premise, extremely imaginative. I felt it bogged down somewhat in the middle/towards the end, but my child loved it. I read this aloud, and therein lies my greatest complaint. While it's a good story, it is a difficult book to read aloud. The language, though descriptive, does not flow the way a good read aloud story needs to. I also felt it was a little complicated to follow in that format. While I am interested in knowing what happens in the sequel, the next Molly Moon she will read to herself.

Best Book you Could Ever Read
What really intrigued me to this book was the cover. The dog and the hypnotic spirals got me interested to read it. I'm glad I did because this is probably one of the best books I've ever read! I'm really glad she has written a sequal and I can't wait to read it!

verry good book
this book is exiting for all ages it is a book that you can't put it down. It is very gripping and a book to remember. It has a verry good and exiting story which ,by being about hypnotism also is quite mysterious.
Molly is an orphan who lives in Beversvile orphanage. She and her best freind rocky found themselves learning hypnoism from an old book that molly found in beversvile libr