Book Description

The Quiltmaker's Gift celebrates the quilting tradition, the value of generosity, and the spirit of community in a beautiful and touching fable for our times. This richly illustrated picture book celebrates the joy of giving and gently emphasizes the age-old truth that material wealth does not necessarily buy happiness. The Quiltmaker's Gift is a heartwarming children's fable, a celebration of quilters and quilting, and a challenging adult parable all wrapped into one.

A wise and generous quiltmaker, with magic in her fingers and love for humanity in her heart, sews the most beautiful quilts in the world-and gives each one away for free to a needy recipient. A greedy king, his castle overflowing with riches and treasures, never smiles-and yearns for the one thing that will bring him laughter and happiness. As the story unfolds, the reader watches the king learn the most valuable lesson of his life. Under the quiltmaker's guidance, the king is transformed as he gives away his precious things all around the world. He learns the true meaning of happiness by bringing joy to the lives of others. He finally begins to smile.

This charming fable is brought to stunning visual life by the beautiful bursting illustrations, which leap off every page of the book. The artist's years working for the Peace Corps are richly reflected in her art work, showing characters and adventures in all the colors of the world-as rich and varied as the crazy quilts made by the quiltmaker. Each page also highlights a different traditional quilt block pattern , the name of whichrelates to the unfolding story. Hundreds of subtle messages and intriguing substories are embedded in the art, inviting new discoveries reading after reading.

The reverse side of the book jacket features a dramatic puzzle poster showing the king's amazing collection of stuff. Gail de Marcken has pictured 250 different quilt block names among the treasure trove. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Not Just for Children - A Gift for the Giver in Your Life
I'm not surprised to find this book listed as a Children's Book - who else is supposed to enjoy beautiful illustrated fables?

The answer, of course, is the grown-up who reads it aloud. The detailed illustrations in this book will fascinate the fortunate child who hears the tale. The fortunate adult reader and the child will enjoy following this story about an unhappy king, laden with "things" he thought would make him happy.

A classic consumer, he "gets" more and more - his closets and rooms are burdened with beautiful treasures that bring him little joy. He thinks the only thing he doesn't have - one of the quiltmaker's quilts - will bring him that elusive happiness. But she only gives to the poor - despite his threats and angry attempts to show her who has the power - she will not give him a quilt.

She tells him how he can get that quilt - the answer of course is simple, once he figures it out.

A wonderful gift for that person you know who always gives (s/he might like reading it to children or grandchildren) or the quilt-lover on your list. The colorful quilt patterns shown and named inside the front and back covers, and inside the dustjacket(! ) are fantastic.

Like "Old Turtle," this is a beautifully illustrated book with rich layers to be enjoyed by children and adults, year after year.

a valuable treasure
Though my children are grown, I still enjoy brousing the children's book section of the local bookstore. I was drawn to remove The Quiltmakers Gift from it's resting place on the shelf because of the beautifully rendered, inviting illustrations on it's cover. And what a pleasant surprise when I opened the book to find a wealth of the same along with a most touching and tenderly written story about a king living in unhappy greed amongst the finest of splendor. Yet this same greed allows his path to cross with that of a loving, giving soul who has the gift to help the king learn how to find his own happiness. It is apparent that both author and illustrator have a deep understanding of the gift of giving, and have given us a wonderful story to share with our loved ones. I found myself sitting in the bookstore wiping away the tears from my eyes and I knew this book was a must even though I may save it for years before having grandchildren to read it to.

Good Book for Old and Young Children
The illustrations are really good. For the younger children 2-4 years old, possible paraphrasing the story and looking closely at the illustrations would good. The older children will really benefit from the lesson about giving and consequences of greed, plus really enjoy the illustrations. Since I do not celebrate Christmas or Easter, I did not like the one page that made reference to these holidays. It's a very nice quality and colorful book with a great message. It's the type of book to pass on to generations.

A beautiful book, both in illustrations and in writing
What an addition this has made to my second grade library. The children love to look at the intoxicating illustrations, and I love to hear the story again as I read it to them each time. It is a beautifully told story with an important moral...don't let your child miss out on this lovely book!

Speechless (nearly!!)
This book is incredible. I love it. The artwork is almost intoxicating; every time I read it with my 3 year old son I see something I missed the first million times we read it!! My 4 month old likes to look at the paintings as well. The story is beautifully written also. This is one to leave on the coffee table. ... Read more

Book Description

CAN WOMAN EVER CONQUER MAN?

Queen Serpot rules the Land of Women, where the Amazon women live free, without men, and hunt and fight their own battles. But one day their peace is broken. An army of Egyptian soldiers is approaching their land, led by their prince, Pedikhons.

Pedikhons has heard stories of these warrior women. Now he has come to see them with his own eyes -- and to challenge them to combat. But the brave Serpot and her women are full of surprises. Can woman truly equal man in strength and courage?

This story of love and war is based on an actual Egyptian scroll from the Greco-Roman period. Hieroglyphic translations of key phrases, intricate paintings in the Egyptian and Assyrian styles, and extensive notes about both cultures enrich this fascinating, untold legend. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful and Edifying
Applause to Tamara Bower for bringing back to life a story heard by ancient ears.Her attention to artistic detail makes this book a visual feast.With all of the information included in this book it is interesting for children as well as for adults.
Thank you Tamara Bower for this treasure!

Beautifully told and illustrated
This story is an ancient tale with a modern sensibility. Two great leaders, a prince and a queen, who do not know much about each other at first, rise to battle each other, then learn to respect each other and join forces. It's a great story of adventure, empowerment and acceptance, beautifully told with Tamara Bower's rich, colorful, hieroglyphic style paintings. This is a great book for anyone who likes Egyptian art and classic storytelling. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Illus. in color. "An exquisite picture book. A little fish, the lone survivor of a school of fish swallowed by a tuna, devises a plan to camouflage himself and his new companions."--(starred) School Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Review of Swimmy
Who couldn't love the adorable fish that devises the perfect plan. At first this tiny little black fish is the only survivor of his large group of red fish. All alone he sets off to explore the ocean I love how Leo Lionni describes the sea animals Swimmy meets along the way. "The sea anemones, who look like pink palm trees swaying in the wind" and "an eel whose tail was almost too far away remember." Finally Swimmy meets up with another group of friends but they are afraid to explore the ocean like Swimmy does. So Swimmy devises a plan where all the fish group together in the shape of a large fish with Swimmy as the eye. All together they are safe from danger. This book teaches children do many great lessons. It shows them how when you work together you can do anything! This is an excellent book to use in classrooms with young children!

Swimmy is a fantastic, inspiring fish for all ages!
This book is a must for every child's library. There are so many topics of discussion that can be brought out with just this one book. Friendship, courage, cooperation, and the ocean life are just a few. If you are a teacher, or have young children, this book is a must.

Note to teachers: I use this during my ocean unit in kindergarten. We then make an ocean mural. Every child makes a red fish and I make a black fish, which is Swimmy. We then work together to make all of our fish look like one big fish. The children love it!

I didn't like how the fish are eaten at the beginning.
I bought this book because the author is famous and it is award-winning. I don't like it at all, however, because at the beginning of the book all the little fish (except Swimmy) are eaten by a big fish. Basically they are all killed, which I thought was heavy stuff for a kid's book.
I am not against the concept of death in a kid's book, but I think it should be handled very carefully. Swimmy is similar to the movie Little Nemo--the death scene is unnecessary and disturbing.
I wish I hadn't bought this book.

It's like Rainbow Fish. Only good.
Ah, Swimmy. You charming little guppy. This books wins the award for Subtlest-Book-About-Diversity for 1963. It is wholly and entirely charming. Swimmy is the only little fish amongst his brothers and sisters who was born black instead of red. A faster fish than all of them, Swimmy has the mixed blessing of being able to out swim a big fish that has come to devour his family. Poor Swimmy is left all alone in the world, but his sadness doesn't last for very long. The undersea world is full of wonders, including medusas made of rainbow jelly, a forest of seaweeds growing from sugar candy rocks, and sea anemones that look like, "pink palm trees swaying in the wind". When Swimmy stumbles across another group of small red fish, his quick thinking helps them to band together to fight the larger fish in the sea.

For any kid that loved "Finding Nemo", I think this book would be an excellent companion. The lesson is twofold. One is that when people band together they can fight the unnaturally large problems facing them. Another is that being different, like Swimmy, can be a wonderful thing. I'm sure you're going to read reviews from people decrying this book as Communist propaganda (after all, it's a bunch of red fish finding strength in numbers to defeat the more powerful members of society that were previously eating them), and that's fine. It could definitely be read that way, and there's nothing wrong with that. But for those of you who feel that the book was probably meant to be read as a story for children and that's that, you're undoubtedly more correct.

Leo Lionni is a magnificent artist, by the way. No one draws jellyfish with as much light and airy oomph as he does. The sea's wonders are all alight here, with little black Swimmy eyeing each and every one. There's a beauty to these watercolors that is difficult to find anywhere else. Even today, with our high tech picture book wizardry and computer generated images, nothing looks as pleasing to the eye as Lionni's tendrils of swaying anemones. Originally published in 1963, the book has not aged. Looking at it today, it never will.

Terrific for all ages
Here is the perfect primer for teaching young people about the importance of organizing! Grassroots politics at its best! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Good, but what happened to the old Ga'Hoole?!
This book's pretty good, like the other books in the Ga'Hoole series. The stories have a new main character, Nyroc, the son of Kludd and Nyra. Nyroc is destined to become the new leader of the Pure Ones, but his own strange gift, called the fire sight, reveals to him that the Pure Ones, and his mother, are just as evil as in previous books. He and his friend Phillip (remember Dustytuft from The Burning?) must choose to stay with the Pure Ones, or risk everything and leave.

The only bad things about this book are that it is a little duller than the other Ga'Hoole books, and, most importantly, there's hardly anything about Soren and the band! There's only a brief little thing about Otulissa, but you never find out what Soren and the gang are doing now! I missed hearing about the Ga'Hoole Tree, and I hope it's included in the next book, The Outcast.

Gaurdians of the Ga'hoole Series
This is the best series of books I've ever read. I never liked to read but ever since I started reading this series i couldn't stop. The first book set a amazing story, it made me want to keep reading. When ever i get board now i'll just go pick up one of the books and start reading. It's like I never want to put in down. Most of my class is reading it to. We are always waiting for a new one to come out. Right now we are waiting for the 7 book to hit the shelves. This book series is amazing i hope it nver ends. Kepp them coming my class will always be waiting for a new one to hit the shelves. ... Read more

Book Description

A Prince
and a Pauper

Jemmy, once a poor boy living on the streets, now lives in a castle. As the whipping boy, he bears the punishment when Prince Brat misbehaves, for it is forbidden to spank, thrash, or whack the heir to the throne. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like one another. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.

Reviews (101)

AWESOME BOOK -MUST READ IT !
This story is about a prince who is bored out of his mind and thinks he should run away from home. This is book is good for people who like funny and short books in grades 4 and up.
Some of the main characters are Hold Your Nose Billy, Jemmy, Prince Brat, Petunia, and Cutwater. Hold Your Nose Billy and Capiton Nips are really mean people who like garlic. They kidnapp Prince Brat and Jemmy. Prince Brat is a boy who you think has a perfect life but he does not think so. He thinks he has a boring life. Petunia is a bear who saves Jemmy and Prince Brats lives.
The main part of the story begins when Prince Brat and Jemmy run away from home and get kidnapped. It is set in a forest and in a palace in an imaginary time long ago.
I think the theme is never run away. Just stay home with your family. Sometimes you don't realize how good you have it. Also, learning to read is very important.

A book about two boys that eventually beome friends.
Hi!I read a book called "The Whipping Boy," by Sid Fleishchman.Do you like a book with humor and suspense,well than this is a book for you!This is a book for 3rd to 4th graders to read and enjoy.This book is about Prince Horace better known as Prince Brat and his own whipping boy named Jemmy.In this book they encounter close calls when they runaway from the castle.I can't tell you what happens at the end,so you will have to read the book to find out.I liked this book because it deals with some real problems and makes you think more about people who are poorer than you are.So the next time you want to read a good novel,go and get "The Whipping Boys!"

Whipping boy
Sid Fleischman's book, "The Whipping Boy" is about a king who will not punish his son so he has another child who gets whipped and punished instead of the prince. The prince deiced one day that he could not take getting in trouble and having the whipping boy get punished for his wrong doings. One night the prince deiced to run away with the whipping boy. On there journey they get captured by "Hold-Your-Nose-Billy," and Cutwater. The criminals deiced that they are going to keep them hostage. Jemmy did not like the prince to much because he had to take all of the punishment for all of those bad things that he did. Since they both got captured they had to become friends with each other, even though jimmy was from the lower class of people and the prince was from the upper class of people they had to get along. The whipping boy thinks of a plan, his plan is to escape to the sewers. The prince on the other hand does not think that it would be a good idea because he has never been in the sewers. The whipping boy has been in the sewers his life before becoming a whipping boy. Jemmy used to trap and sell rats that were in the sewer that does how he now all of the turns and different things. The prince and the whipping boy are trying to get along, become friends, and break though the barriers that are between them. The prince is finding out how Jemmy used to live, also the prince is coming immune to Jemmys life. The prince and the whipping boy are starting to take responsibility for there own actions. The prince does not like how Jemmy used to live. They find interest in each other. The prince is getting used to how Jemmy had to live.
They finally deiced that they have had enough of the kidnapper. Jemmy told the prince to follow me and they went though the tunnels. They finally get away though the tunnel because of how well Jemmy knew the tunnels. The prince did not want to go though the tunnels because he did not think that Jemmy did not know them until Jemmy showed him that he could get through them.
I thought that is was a very good idea for the prince and "The Whipping Boy" finally deiced to run away. I would have not liked being the whipping boy. I liked this book very much and I really do not like to read. I thought that it was easy for younger kids to understand to. I really liked this book.

The Whipping Boy
Sid Fleischman's book The Whipping Boy is a really good book. It is about a prince who got the nick name "Prince Brat" because he is a mischiouf maker because his pranks aren't funny. He has a whipping boy named Jemmy who is smart and clever. One day prince brat runs away and takes Jemmy with him. They don't get far before two cutthroats stop them. One of their names is hold-your-nose-Billy and the other is cutwater. They take Jemmy and "Prince Brat" into their cabin. Jemmy and "Prince Brat" must outwit the two and become friends, except prince brat keeps betraying Jemmy. The adventure will take them through alot of adventure. I recomend buying it.

Enjoyable while including major Social Issues
Sid Fleischman's book, "The Whipping Boy," is about a runaway prince and his whipping boy, who discover adventure on their journey, and surprisingly find friendship in one another. The boys' adventures include them being abducted by two criminals, "Hold-Your-Nose-Billy," and Cutwater. The criminals kidnap the boys and plan to hold them for ransom from the King.
"The Whipping Boy," focuses on the distinctions and differences of social classes throughout the book. These differences are vividly illustrated through Prince Brat (Horace) and Jemmy, the whipping boy. Prince Horace, who is from a high social class and is considered very important, is never whipped. However, Jemmy, who is from a lower class, serves as a, "whipping boy," and takes the punishments for Prince Brat.
However, "The Whipping Boy," also looks at the overcoming of these class barriers. At the beginning of the story, there was a definite difference between the upper class and the lower class. This difference is intensified in the description of the boys escape into the city's sewer. Jemmy, a member of the working class, is well-informed of the tunnels of the sewer because he has spent the early years of his life there, trapping rats and selling them for money. Jemmy seems at ease in the sewer, knowing what direction to take and where to hide. On the other hand, the Prince is very frightened in the tunnels below the city and clings desperately to Jemmy for security. The Prince has never been to the sewers. His life has always been spent in the luxury of the palace walls with everyone at his beck and call.
As the two boys spend more and more time together the Prince slowly begins to become a part of Jemmy's world. The same can be said for Jemmy's whose quick thinking while dealing with the two men helps the boys escape. When Jemmy is mistaken for the prince, he really takes over the role, and the two classes seemed meshed.
During their journey, Prince Horace and Jemmy both become responsible for their own actions. Jemmy, who has been away from his family and on his own for awhile, is prepared when he gets chased and tormented by the two men in the forest. The Prince, on the other hand, has to learn responsibility since he has never had to rely on himself before. At first, the Prince is stubborn and foolish in his actions, but, as time passes and he sees Jemmy for who he really is. It is when the Prince realizes this, that he learns a very important lesson, and the moral of the book. The Prince learns to break down the barriers that hold the two boys apart. The Prince shows a very big step in growth that even some adults have not taken yet. With his maturation, he is able to become true friends with Jemmy, and earn the name Prince Horace.

I really enjoyed how Fleischman is able to take a very serious and real topic, such as class discrimination, and simplify it for a young reader. The author does not make light of the topic, yet he addresses it in such a way that the reader understands and can relate the story to his/her own life. Children that would read or hear this book have most likely already read or heard fairytales that include royalty. However, I think it is rare that a child is given the opportunity to hear the story of the lower class. "The Whipping Boy," gives a vivid explanation and description of the class differences.
This main theme in this book is that friendship should be free of prejudices. "The Whipping Boy," would be an excellent choice in encouraging students to get along with one another no matter what their differences may be. It lays a very good framework for young students who have been or one day will be on the giving or receiving end of discrimination or prejudices without being preachy. The theme is a powerful one, yet the story includes enough adventure to keep the reader interested and engaged. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Is there a more delightful book than this?
Everyone should own this book - it is utterly irresistable! It has magical characters, magnificent finely drawn illustrations, and presents an overall philosophy of life that we could all learn lessons from. Please don't be fooled into thinking that it is just a children's book - it is a wonderful addition to any library.

It has a believable and detailed discussion of the food is are most loved by gnomes, how they raise their children, when they marry, where they live, what sorts of pets they have (cute mice in little baskets!) and how they tend to animals in the wild. The section which shows a cut away of their house is worth the purchase price alone - the imagination and thought that has gone into this book is amazing.

So if you want a little whimsy in your library, or on your coffee table, this is the book for you. If you want a book with magnificently detailed ilustrations, this is a book for you. Overall I think it is a book for everyone who is young at heart, or who likes a little magic in their everyday lives.

Don't stole it from your son!
This book will enrapt you! It's bucolic atmosphere, all the wonderful illustrations, the beautiful hardcover bookbinding, and those little fubsy folks! Great at all!
Perfectly convincing and consistent, this isn't a book made for children. Left your bias out and take a squint, you won't take too much pages to fall in love with 'Gnomes'.
And don't be surprised if after reading it, you catch yourself constantly looking for something in the floor...

For the young and old alike!
This is a fabulous book for all ages. It serves as a great bedtime story for the little ones because of the captivating illustrations and it is also a fun read for adults. Everything that you want to know about gnomes are within this book, and everything in this book that you didn't want to know are also here such as a look at half-naked drawings of gnome women. This book discusses the gnome lifestyle and culture from its very beginning. The likes/dislikes and the loves/fears of gnomes are all explained in this book. For those with an avid or even a passing interest in gnomes should get their hands on this book because it serves as a primary staple, or the "main course" of information on gnome life. Some areas might get a little slow and tiresome because of the immense detail in some of the descriptions, but these same details allow you to really know more about gnomehood. I recommend this book wholeheartedly - it is a timeless classic!

I LOVE this book
I absolutely love this book. I want every morsel of it to be fact, rather than fiction. I want it to be real. It's beautiful, well written... and makes a great story time for children. I really love this book!!

The life of the Gnome
This book is dedicated to the life of the gnome. I have to admit that gnomes are a little strange but they're so interesting. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the author of the award-winning legend of peace, Old Turtle, comes a soulful new tale about the wise old turtle who advocates listening to the "language of breezes...learning lessons from stones and animals and trees and stars." In this story, a truth falls from the stars, breaking in half when it lands. Crow, Fox, Coyote, and Raccoon, each pick up this piece of truth but discard it because of its rough edges and broken nature. But when a human being finds it, noting the words "You Are Loved" written on it, he and his people cherish it as their most important possession. Time passes, and jealousy, fear, and anger rise up in the people who hold this Great Truth, as well as in those who do not have it. The world begins to suffer. Finally, it's up to a little girl to seek understanding and a solution to the woes of the world.

Old Turtle and the Broken Truth's new age allegory is exquisitely wrought, in word and in picture. Douglas Wood's prose is the timeless language of fables, meshing perfectly with Jon Muth 's radiant watercolors for an experience anyone seven to one hundred and seven can appreciate. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Compelling Story + Elegant Watercolors:=Ageless Picture Book
I picked this book because I love turtles and I was intrigued about what on Earth (or anywhere, for that matter!) the Broken Truth might be....

Through Douglas Wood's narrative, I was taken to a land where every stone was a teacher and every breeze a language, where every lake was a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.....

And then in a brief moment, the sight of the Broken Truth falling to the ground in an especially poignant watercolor by illustrator Jon Muth.

I found the unfolding story to be told gently and with great care. As one other reader noted, it echoes so clearly many of the challenges which are inherent in humankind today.

And then, on the other hand, I am very familiar with this place where every stone is a teacher, every breeze a language, every lake a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.... Very worthy read... and very worthy of sharing with children and grown children everywhere.

Old Turtle returns with another bit of wisdom for the people
In this sequel to the beloved "Old Turtle," the people of the Earth are living in peace until they discover a powerful truth that gives them strength and happiness. The result is that the Earth is soon full of suffering and war until one little girl seeks out Old Turtle, who tells her that what the people do not realize is that the great "truth" is broken and incomplete. It is then up to the little girl to travel back to the world and pass on the precious piece of wisdom that will provide the people with the whole truth.

While I certainly like the idea of a "broken truth" as a metaphor for explaining why so much goes so terribly wrong in the world in which we live, I had to admit that I was rather disappointed by the revelation of what were the two halves of the broken truth. The completed message is certainly worthwhile, and an important one for everyone to appreciate and understand, but I am not sure why half of that truth (the first half in this case), would create a world of war and suffering. However, young readers will not be sidetracked by such practical concerns and should find the message of "Old Turtle and the Broken Truth" to be something that meets their expectations. Douglas Wood's story is complimented by watercolors by Jon J. Muth.

Beautiful Story
Having never heard of or read "Old Turtle", I am not sure WHY I was compelled to look at this book while at the book store today. Perhaps it was the awesome watercolor on the cover..? At any rate, I sat and read the entire book. I remember looking up twice to see if anyone noticed how choked up I was getting - NOT the reaction I was expecting out of myself, but then again, I wasn't expecting to sit down and read one of the most eloquent, beautiful stories I've ever read. I immediately purchased it for an environmentalist/animal rights activist friend of mine, a brilliant girl with so much passion and ability to change the world, who of course I was reminded of by the little girl in the story. This book so amazingly sums up so many of the problems in our world and collective conscience, and so brilliantly pulls them all together into one fundamental flaw in our thinking, whether it's our ignorant views towards animals, nature, or the middle-east, etc. And it offers hope. I can't wait to give it to my friend!

Insightful!
This simple story is actually quiet complex and compelling, revealing the consequences of self-righteousness and intolerance. Within the first few pages, the author quickly sets the stage for conflicts that Old Turtle can explain with his insight and understanding. This is a timely story, as we are often confronted today with accepting others' viewpoints and cultures.

Most children's books aren't just for children...
This story of a broken truth and the secret to peace and happiness is a remarkable tale for children and adults. Children may not grasp the full meaning of the story, but they may appreciate that it is a child who helps the world. Adults will find that the simple truth gives them chills. The watercolor illustrations are as beautiful as the tale.
I bought this book for my friend's birthday. Once you read it, you, too, will want to share it with those around you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every once in a while a book crosses our desks that makes us sit quietly delighted--except for a few squeaks of unmitigated joy--and this oversized, energized, stylized, highly prized book of fables is one of them. Jon Scieszka has a simple philosophy of the fable: "If you can't say something nice about someone, change the guy's name to Donkey or Squid." After all, the alleged Aesop did it. Squids Will Be Squids offers lessons such as "Everyone knows frogs can't skateboard, but it's kind of sad that they believe everything they see on TV." Sure, it's goofy, but it's also saying to kids, "Don't believe everything you see on TV." In "Duckbilled Platypus vs. Beefsnakstick," the bragging platypus and his beefy buddy teach us "Just because you have a lot of stuff, don't think you're so special." Of course, there is nothing heavy-handed here--morals such as "He who smelt it, dealt it" and "Elephants never forget, except sometimes" satirically prance amid the more heartfelt snippets of sagacity.

Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith are unparalleled in their eccentricity and unrelenting in their boyish, twisted-yet-innocent zeal. In co-creations from The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales to The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs to Math Curse, Scieszka's wacko sense of humor and Smith's quirky,always gorgeous artwork thrillingly congeal in Molly Leach's creative, exuberant design. We see many picture books that are better suited for adults than kids, but this fine specimen is truly meant for goofballs of all ages. (Click to seea samplespread. Illustration © 1998 Lane Smith, reproduced with permission of Viking, a division of Penguin Putnam.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Kids love this book....
I'm writing this on behalf of my granddaughters ages 6, 8, 10, and 12. I'm no expert on children's books, but rather read what parents, grandparents, and teachers report about the various books, and try to make purchases based on this information. I especially like the feedback from Amazon.com readers and wanted to pay back all the kind advice I've read.

My grandaughters report they love this book. When the Amazon.com box containing "Squids Will Be Squids..." arrived, I am told the girls squabbled over whose book it would be (I like to let them choose from oldest to youngest). My 10-year old grand-daughter Amelia has a wry sense of humor, and she especially appreciated the 'Fresh Morals' and recommends them.

Crosses all age bounderies
We have had this book for over a year and purchased it afterbeing lucky enough to hear a reading of it by the author before it wasreleased. I have six children ranging in age from 4 to 16 and each one of us loves this book for different reasons. I love it becuase it is one of a very few childrens' books which is really funny in a smart way. My four year old loves it for the stories and the great and intriguing illustrations, and my nine year old boy loves it for the nine year old boy appeal it obviously has. Everyone else loves it for their own reasons but it is read over and over again and our four year old can ALWAYS capture a family member to read it to her which is not always the case with other books.

Can't say something nice about someone? Make them a squid
Those of us who remember Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith as the author and illustrator of "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!" will know exactly what they are getting into when they pick up "Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals, Beastly Fables." The thesis here is that even before Aesop a legion of storytellers have told stories about annoying, weird, pain-in-the-neck people, turned them into animals, added a moral, and thereby changed rude gossip and bad jokes into fables. The idea here is present a collection of fables that Aesop might be telling if he was alive today. The moral, according to Sciezka and Smith, is that "If you can't say something nice about someone, change the guy's name to Donkey or Squid."

What young readers will find in these inventive fables are not lessons about necessity being the mother of invention or look before you leap, but more practical concerns for the modern world such as do not believe everything you see on TV, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and just because you have a lot of stuff do not think you are so special. Some of the fables you need to think about to get to the real point, such as the moral "Don't play with matches," which is really about something even worse than matches (i.e., people you are warned to stay away from). Throughout the book you will find a constant onslaught of wicked humor (the grasshopper's history assignment is priceless) and even if it over the heads of many young readers, they will understand the jokes down the road when they return to this book. After all, the morals of fables are supposed to be timeless, even if they were just made up for this 1998 book.

Most of the stories are told about animals, from frogs and squids to elephants and slugs, but there are also stories involving things like a tongue and a BeefSnakStik (complete with registered trademark). Smith's illustrations are creative and his wife, Molly Leach, provides the exotic design for the book, which will provide appropriate visual stimuli to go with all the morals. The end result is that "Squids Will Be Squids" tells contemporary fables in a contemporary way, and if you have a complaint about the use "squids" as the plural for "squid," then remember to read the fine print of this tongue-in-cheek volume (okay, in the fable about the hand, foot and tongue the tongue is obvious out of the cheek, but that is a different point entirely). Young readers will no doubt be inspired to come up with their own fables, and this book even includes solid advice on how to do that as well.

Silly, wacky fun!
Jon Scieszka has shifted from parodying Mother Goose to poking fun at Aesop and his fables. After an introduction to Aesop, Scieszka explains that this book contains fables that Aesop might have written "if he were alive today and sitting in the back of class daydreaming and goofing around instead of paying attention and correcting his homework like he was supposed to."

Lane Smith's illustrations add to the absurdity of the fables with wonderfully distorted facial expressions that turn animals and inanimate objects into oddly shaped humans. The characters in these fables are not the familiar hare, fox, lion, and mouse. Instead we meet new characters like elephant, ant, skunk, grasshopper, frog and of course, squid. The morals range from the obvious (Don't ever listen to a talking bug; Don't play with matches) to the familiar (He who smelt it dealt it; It takes one to know one) to the hilarious (You should always tell the truth, but if your mom is out having the hair taken off her lip, you might want to forget a few of the details). Not all of the fables work as well as they could, but there is enough humor in the rest of the fables to delight both children and adults.

I found this book hilariously funny. It's one of my personal favorites.

It Is What It Is
In children's literature, the main character usually is the cover subject and title such as "Charlotte's Web," "Froggy Plays Soccer," and even "Harry Potter," because the targeted audience is assumed not to be sophisticated enough to interpret indirect meanings.

Then there is the trio of Jon, Lane and Molly, who, like Maurice Sendak, love to thumb their noses at convention. "Squids Will Be Squids," (a play on "it is what it is," perhaps?) is not about the ocean life of squids - it is a collection of wacky stories with morals. Apparently young readers were sophisticated enough to figure that out using the cover art and cheeky tone as their guide.

The five and nine-year old I read this book with laughed with abandon even if they didn't always get the inside jokes behind the stories or the morals. Bathroom humor like "He who smelt it dealt it," was a big hit as was "It takes one to know one." I wasn't crazy about this work but I did love the title, and its exhuberant, devil-may-care attitude and the numerous double entendres. The layout and design are extraordinary. There's plenty in here to entertain little and big readers.

This is not a read alone book, though. The power in this work comes in sharing the experience. Otherwise I think it will fall flat. The moral to this review of "Squids will be Squids: Fresh Morals Beastly Fables" is "Never judge a book by its cover." ... Read more

Reviews (19)

A one of a kind book
Review by Tavia Weber

The book Beowuulf: A New Telling is a great book. I read it in my English class. I would recommend it to 6th graders and up. The book is a myth about a hero that doesn't think about himself as a great hero. He kills the retched monster, Grendel. Grendel kills people and eats them bones and everything. Beowulf hears about the horrid monster and goes and fights him. Beowulf doesn't use a sword. Beowulf grabs Grendel's arm and and doesn't let go. Grendel shakes and jerks his arm. Finaly Grendel's arm rips out of place. Grendels mother (whom is worse then Grendel) comes to avenge Grendels death. Beowulf speaks to her his ords so sharp they peirce her heart. Well I'm not going to spoil the story for any one who hasn't read it yet. Take it fome me it's a great book. In fact it's one of the best books I'v read in a long time.

Beowulf: Action Packed From the Start
Beowulf was an intresting new telling by Robert Nye. The advantage of the book was that it was shortened and the reader does not have to sit through 300 pages of idle and boring conversation. Nye does an excellent job in shortening the renowned tale, and still keeping the magic of it.

Grendel ,a beastly 'thing', is terrorizing the a king's court, and anyone who fights him using brute strength, is immediately gobbled up, but young and wise Beowulf comes to the kings court without a sword. The protagonist, Beowulf, believes that he can kill the monster by using his good. Everyone in the kings court is doubtful, and suggests that Beowulf should leave, but his determination, and confidence drives him to stay. In the night Grendel sneaks into the kingdom only to meet Beowulf face to face. Beowulf quickly grabs Grendel, and his good drains the beast of his powers, forcing him to retreat. Beowulf faces many more challenges, such as Grendel's mother, and a Fire Drake, but uses his seemingly invincible good power to kill them all.

The book is entertaining and I was able to finish it without taking my eyes off the novel, but the downside, the reason it was not a five star book, is that it became repetitive, when Beowulf received no real challenge, and always was able to use his good to vanquish any evil.

Do not be deceived!
Beowulf was NEVER a 'christian' story!!! It was written long before Europe was 'converted' at sword-point. I suppose that christians were also the firt to tell the tale of a great flood too??? (apologies to gilgamesh).

It is a rather weak retelling- but if it gets children interested in reading about real heros- that's stilll a goood thing.

Beowulf A New Telling
Beowulf: A New Telling is a book about a hero that defeats a number of mythical creatures. Beowulf is a young man that goes to Denmark to defeat a horrible, wretched creature known to eat men alive. When he gets there, he isn't welcomed by the "coastguard" and the coastguard tells him to turn back. Beowulf refuses and tells the man that he is there to fight the creature, "Grendel." The man finally accepts Beowulf's offer and takes him to the king who lives in the grand hall he built for himself. Hrothgar, the king, wonders why Beowulf thinks he can stand up to a monster with such power. Beowulf simply says, "I have something that those other men didn't have." Read the book to find out what happens!
I liked the book mostly because of the way the author described the gory deaths of all the men that faced Grendel. Other than that, the book was very boring and very repetetive. After Beowulf defeated Grendel, you thought the book would come to a closing, but it just kept on winding on with two other creatures that he defeats.
I liked the book mainly because of the descriptive deaths of the soldiers. "The hall was a confusion of swords and blood, the brave lords hurling themselves at Grendel, and the fiend snatching them up in his claws and snapping their backs as if they were no more than toys. Scary!
My favorite part of the book was when Beowulf used his cunning to kill the firedrake. My least favorite part of the book was when Beowulf killed Grendel; I expected it to come to an end soon but it just kept on going..
This is a good book for someone who likes gory, bloody, and frightening books.

Best book My daughter has ever read!!
My daughter was 11 years old when I bought this book. She was the most un-willing child to get into reading. My brother gave her this book and she has read it 3 times. I recommend this to anyone with a child who isn't interested in reading ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Important reference for dragon-spotters everywhere.
"The discovery of dragons" is an academic textwrittenby Rowland W. Greasebeam B.Sc., the author of such works as"Uncle Greasebeam's big book of scarey dragons" and"Hiss or myth?" (or possibly by Graeme Base). Despite thedefection of his one-time collegue Marty Fibblewitz, Mr Greasebeam haspublished facsimiles of letters written by three great dragondiscoverers, with explanatory notes.

The book features colourillustrations, the known world distrobution of the discovered dragons,and handy diagrams indicating size. For example, the Common GreenDraak can be recognised by it's stench, call: "DRAAAAAKDRAAAAAK," carnivorous nature, and the fact that it is abouttwice the size of an elephant, whereas the more dainty JapaneseButterfly Lizard can be quickly seen to be only about the size of amouse. (This could be very useful to Dragon Watchers, as one would notwant to confuse the two!)

As well as dragon afficionados, this bookwould appeal to readers of "Lady Cottington's Pressed FairyBook."

A lavishly illustrated adult story in storybook guise.
I stumbled upon this book when I was looking around in the Children's Section (yes, I do that), for the role-playing books. Terribly annoying that they put role-playing in that same category, but oh well, I'm not so prideful that I won't go there. And I found, much to my surprise, a similar outcast - Base's books are written with amusement and sophistication, and while they could be entertaining if read to a child, they are not children's books. This one is gorgeous, with the dragons fully rendered, amusing (and fictional) notes in reference to them from various explorers, tiny cartoons in the framing illustrating the stories involving the dragons, and maps of the world which show where the dragon comes from. Also, the dragons have a size comparison, from a man (who happens to be running away in the silhouette comparison), to an elephant. The only flaw? A jungle dragon described as a "massive beast" in the text and shown to be much larger than a man in the cartoon frame, is shown as the size of a cat on the size-comparison silhouettes. An impressive side note: Base did the artwork too! ...

a book that truley takes you soaring
this book truley takes you soaring from colorful beauty to ugly beasty hag!!! 5 stars to grame base!!!

Fabulous and whimsical
All of Graeme Base's books are wonderful, and this is no exception. It is visually spectacular (what else would you expect with such a topic!) and the narrative keeps you entertained as well.

This is a book which has universal appeal. It is fantastic enough to appeal to younger readers, and has enough impact as an "art" book to appeal to people who like great visual books on their coffee tables.

It is a lovely, witty and frivolous book. Just what everyone needs!

What an imagination!
Author/illustrator Graeme Base has created a wonderfully imaginative children's book. The book contains faux manuscripts from fictitious explorers or students of serpentology, encyclodpedic entries describing types of dragons, fantastic full-page illustrations, and scales demonstrating the size of the dragon under discussion in comparison to humans, housecats or elephants. My personal favorite is the Mongolian Screamer. My four-year-old likes the Green Draak. Both parents and children get a kick out of this fanciful "text" on dragons. ... Read more

Book Description

How did the camel get his hump? How did the leopard get his spots? How did the elephant get his trunk?

These are questions that children around the world have asked for centuries, but it took Nobel Prize winner Rudyard Kipling's lively, hilarious stories to give them answers. For one hundred years, these classic tales -- drawn from the oral storytelling traditions of India and Africa and filled with mischievously clever animals and people -- have entertained young and old alike.Intertwined within these delightful tales are little pearls of wisdom about the pitfalls of arrogance and pride and the importance of curiosity, imagination, and inventiveness. Kipling's rhythmic prose makes these tales perfect for sharing aloud with the whole family.

This deluxe edition contains all of Kiplin's unforgettable stories as well as ten stunning watercolors, along with numerous black-and-white drawings, from award-winning artist Barry Moser, bringing this timeless masterpiece brilliantly to life for a whole new generation of readers.

Reviews (20)

Elephant's child in particular
This book is the most valued in my family history. Now my children are asking after it to read to their children because of all of the beloved memories it brings back. The language is a delight. The way Kipling draws the reader and listener in to feel they are part of the story, it is story telling magic at its very best. I can't believe anyone who has this book in their home, once read, will ever be without it. As long as children and that child in all adults long for the gifted story teller's magic, this book is special.

Delightful Stories to Read Aloud
If you enjoy language and good story-telling this book belongs on your bookshelf. I've been reading the stories to my seven-year-old daughter who eats them up. Yes, the vocabulary is challenging - it isn't Berenstain Bears! But there is a time for "I Can Read" books and a time for "Read to Me" books. This will challenge kids and their imaginations, especially if they love animals like my kids do. And it's not just for kids - I love the stories too! Buy it!

Charming stories with a charming presentation.
I recently purchased this set on cd with a gift certificate for my young daughter. The price tag may have put me off at any other time, but since I was getting it with a certificate, I went for it. I read these stories cover to cover repeatedly as a little girl and took great delight in the hilarity of the answers to such questions as "how did the leopard get his spots?" or "how did the camel get his hump?" Kipling's stories are marvelously nonsensical - which makes them fit for a child's world. However, it was not until hearing them read aloud on this very set that I realized his rhyme and use of repetitive words or phrases is very similar to our modern master of children's literature: Dr. Seuss. It would not surprise me to find that Seuss took his inspiration from the works of Kipling. This is not striking to a reader, but as you listen to his words brought to life by the human voice it is hard to miss.

Geoffrey Palmer, of As Time Goes By, is one of my favorite actors. His voice and interpretation of these beautiful stories enhances the experience so much that I was laughing out loud listening to him in my car. His dry sense of humor is felt in his characterizations of the cast and the lulling of his voice lends a calming, gentle, and sophisticated quality to the text. I now can simply not imagine these stories being read by anybody else.

Finally, the classical musical selection is superb and adds an intelligent whimsiness to the piece. I would highly recommend this set as a lovely gift for any child you find "tenacious and full of segacity". What a delightful alternative to the screech of today's cartoons and children's "pop" albums full of Britney Spears remakes.

Just So Stories
The just so stories
By: Rudyard Kipling Published by: William Morrow and Company

This book O best beloved (meaning you, in the language that the author used) is a short story book that has many adventures to it and the one that I'm going to tell you about is the story called, The Beginning of the Armadillos. This plot takes us to the steamy jungles of the Amazon rain forest in South America in the Northern part of Brazil. Also in this plot there lives a painted jaguar, a stickly-prickly hedgehog, and slow and solid tortoise. Now O best beloved (meaning you) this particular jaguar isn't very bright so he goes to his mother for advice on how to eat the hedgehog and the tortoise. Well, as any mother would, she tells him ohhh, so many times graciously waving her tail, "Painted Jaguar to catch the hedgehog you must dip him the water so he will uncoil and you must scoop the tortoise out of it's shell with your paw, got it?!" So he goes to the river to find the hedgehog and the tortoise so he can eat them. The first time they barely got away by confusing him. The hedgehog and the tortoise confuse him by messing up what his mother told him. But the second time Painted Jaguar is confused just by looking at them. You'll have to read it to believe it.

As you know, in this particular story you are introduced to a hedgehog named Stickly-Prickly and a tortoise named Slow and Solid. As you might see these two unique animals are very close and have the same predators. In this story Stickly-Prickly hedgehog and Slow and Solid tortoise are being hunted by a creature named Painted Jaguar, as you know, who is not too smart and has spots. Now since Stickly-Prickly and Slow and Solid were able to fool the jaguar once they want to make him so confused that he won't know which is which just by looking at them. So day after day they teach one another how the other works, like Stickly-Prickly teaches Slow and Solid to curl up and Slow and Solid teaches Stickly-Prickly how to swim. After they have done that and are comfortable with their skills they wait for Painted Jaguar to come looking for them but they don't know that they will never be the same again. Stickly-Prickly hedgehog and Slow and Solid tortoise help this particular story because they are smart and they fool the jaguar and they surprise the reader with their cunning and hard work.

This book has been really fun in the fact that there is more than one story in the book and for me more than one story meant that it was a page turner. The story that I described in this book review was easy to concentrate on because I liked it so much. Some stories in this book were just plain old boring so it was harder to read them . The thing that caught my attention was the language that the author used in the book, I thought that the language was very unique and very funny. To tell the truth I thought that there weren't very many surprises at all, the only surprises would be all the purposes of the story that was being told, like how the camel got his hump or the beginning of the Armadillos. To me they make the language in the book fun, like Oh best beloved and stickly-prickly and slow and solid. The people who might like this book would have to have a sense of humor, so if they have that then the person reading this book will have a very fun time indeed.

Complete lack of worthy content
This book lacks substance and the qualities that make a read worth the while, especially since it's for children who may not read that much in the first place. You'd be MUCH better off with something like The Wind in the Willows, or the Berenstain Bear. ... Read more

Book Description

It has been 25 years since Brian Froud and Alan Lee created the delightful, imaginative, and surprising Faeries-a book that quickly became a massive international bestseller and went on to sell more than a million copies. Readers continue to offer praise:"This is the most influential book I have ever read." "This book is-where are the words to describe it? Magnificent / Fabulous / Beautiful / Moving / Terrifying / Fantastic. . . ."

In celebration of Faeries' 25th anniversary, Abrams is delighted to publish a special edition featuring eight new pages and 20 new pieces of art by Froud and Lee. The artists have also contributed new introductions. Since Faeries first appeared, both men have become tremendously successful and respected figures in the worlds of film, art, and publishing. But Faeries remains perhaps their most enduring work, a superb exploration of the myths, legends, folklore, and fantasy of the world of the faeries. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

"Faeries" one of the most influential books of my childhood
My mother gave my a copy of "Faeries" for Christmas 1980, when I was 11. I was instantly enchanted with the idea of faeries as real beings, and accepted much of the text as truth. I fantasized about spotting faeries in the woods and rocks surrounding my childhood home, and made many (sophomoric) attempts to copy Brian Froud's illustrations. As an adult I even had a flower faerie tattooed on my ankle in homage to his art

My origional copy of "Faeries" is tattered and dog-eared, most of the pages have fallen out, and are hopelessly out-of-sequence, but I can't bear to throw it away. I count "Faeries" as one of the most influential books I had as kid growing up, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any child (or adult) interested in faeries or mythology. The book is incredibly well-researched, and beautifully illustrated. The hand-written text can be difficult to read at times, but adds to the wonderful illusion of illicitly reading someone's journal

Bravo for reissuing this book, I am ordering my new hardcover copy today

I can't find the words to describe it...
If you thought you liked Lady C's Pressed Fairy Book (now out of print), then you'll LOVE this one!! It is the best faerie book i have ever seen, and read. It not only tells you the history of faeries, but it also gives you an idea where Faerie -the land of faeries- is, it gives you detailed information about all the wee folk! If you thought faeries were the pretty winged Tinkerbell likes, think again, and read this book! You'll get surprised on how many faerie types there is!!

The book is beautifully illustrated, and a must for every one interested in faeries, and art! This one should be in the bookshelf in every home! Buy it for yourself, for your mom, your kid and for your best friend!! It makes a great present!

Definately worth the money, i'd pay the double price if i had to, it's that great!

Beautiful and Inspiring
Faeries, like the creatures it tries to describe, is hard to classify. Pick it up - it's a large, solid, beautifully bound coffeetable book for coffeetables you've no intention on putting drinks on - and flip through it once and you'll see fantasy art that beautifully captures the otherworldly-yet-very-familiar nature of its subject matter. Perhaps some of it will look familiar, as the art from Faeries has been used in many places and set the trends that other fantasy artists now follow.

Pick it up later and you'll notice text. Words. Stories, in unobtrusive print that is big enough to be nicely readable but cunningly placed to make sure the art has gotten your full attention before you do any reading. The words retell key sections of faerie lore and elucidate faerie etiquette and the polymorphic nature of these beings.

The subject matter is not sugar-coated or Bowlderized as if for children, but treated with the reverence and respect due to stories that have survived numerous invasions, migrations, and changes in the dominant religion. These are hardy stories, hearty stories that have lived for longer than any of us and that will outlive us all. These are stories and works of art that can be nourishing, that can enrich and enliven like a thick hearty soup on a cold day and refresh like a crisp cool drink on a hot one.

After going through this mighty book a time or two, your attention might be drawn to the names on the cover. Brian Froud is one of them, and he went on after this book to help make movies ("The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth") and make more books (some with the help of Terry Jones, like "Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book" and "The Goblin Companion: A Field Guide to Goblins"). Alan Lee is the other, and he went on to do cover illustrations for "The Lord of the Rings" that wound up becoming the definitive art for the movies. You might smile when you see them, and know hat anyone who saw this book before seeing any of those other things was in on the great secret about what those two can do, and if you get the book, you'll be in on it too.

The best Faery book I've ever read!
"Faeries: 25th Anniversery edition" is a master peice! Brian Foud truley outdid himself this time! For all the Brian Froud fans and fairy lovers out there, this book is highly recommended. In this 25th anneversery addition Of "Faries", Brian Froud adds new artwork. The book is about different kinds of faeries and a lot of other mythological creatures! The book contains a lot of brilliant stories of and beautiful, detailed artwork. The only problem I saw in this book was the way some of the stories were written. They were written in a way that I could hardly read. Other than that, this book is fabulous!

great pictures and stories
Absolutely wonderful writing and incredible pictures. I like the format of this book in that its a mix of hand written pencil notes along with regular type font for the main text. The drwaings are fantastic - wonderful expressions, outfits, colors. There are legends and such to set the stage before talking about each of the different faeries and other characters. Each faery discussed has a page devoted with a short text and drawings. The writing enlightens the imagination. ... Read more

Book Description

Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help. In answer, another kind of man, Enkidu, is sent to earth to live among the animals and learn kindness from them. He falls in love with Shamhat, a singer from the temple, and he follows her back to Uruk. There, Enkidu, the “uncivilized” beast from the forest, shows the evil Gilgamesh through friendship what it means to be human. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful!
Gilgamesh the King, The Return of Ishtar, and The Last Quest of Gilgamesh are exceedingly well-written and show many different themes and life lessons. The themes of friendship, revenge, good vs. evil, ambition, and immortality. But I think the most essential, underlying message is about love. Enkidu shows love to Shamhat and Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh shows love to Enkidu and his city, Shamhat shows love to Enkidu, and the city shows love to Gilgamesh, Enkidu and Shamhat! Love is woven into the theme of eternal life. I think these stories would be fabulous for anybody but recommended for 5-12. I am in middle school and we are reading these stories in class. I enjoyed these stories tremendously. So if you want to teach your children about death or love or friendship, these would be the ultimate choice.

BUY all three books in this series, you gotta HAVE them all!
I received all three books in this series this afternoon and just finished reading them. Ludmila Zeman has done a wonderful job in retelling the Epic of Gilgamesh. This series is a great introduction into one of the oldest legends in the world. Children and adults will both loooove to read these books over and over. The artwork is first class and you will find yourself looking through this book just to soak up these beautiful images.
The words Ludmila Zeman used with each one of the pictures is rich but still to the point. So, don't wait any longer and buy buy buy all three! I am an elementary school teacher and I can't wait to share these stories with my students!

Beautifully written and illustrated!!
I bought this book for son and ended up reading all of Zeman's books to my 12th grade honors History seminar. They enjoyed it tremendously and drew comparisons between Gilgamesh and President Bush in their search for the destruction of the evil Humbaba ....after 9/11 it was appropiate for the circumstances....
The illustrations are rich and the text is ajoy to read to all age groups...we will keep these books for years to come.

Gilgamesh the King by Ludmila Zeman
This is a fantastic version of the Epic of Gilgamesh -- for children, ages 4 - 12. The illustrations are colorful and very similar to the Sumerian/Babylonian style of art. The recounting is easy for children to follow. I bought it for my 7 year old but my four year old was riveted. There are other more thorough versions around but this is a great one for a beginner. Make sure you buy all 3 books in the series to get the whole epic, the other two being The Revenge of Ishtar and The Last Quest of Gilgamesh.

Expuisite marriage of words and pictures
Many of the great children's illustrators working today should really get someone else to write the text. But Ludmilla Zeman retells the epic of Gilgamesh in a way that is delightful and accessible to the ears of both children and adults. The art is astoundingly good. As well as providing an introduction to the earliest Western cultures in the written record, her choice of focus in her retelling provides an opportunity to discuss social justice and the destructiveness of violence. And did I mention the tasty art? ... Read more

Book Description

Singing turtles, flying farmers and a dragon who cries—these are just some of the magical characters you’ll meet in this delightful collection of children’s stories. This beautifully illustrated book follows Tuttlke's classic and immensely popular Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories, bringing together a wonderful mix of well-loved, traditional folktales and contemporary favorites. With sparkling illustrations on almost every page and the promise that goodwill and kindness will always carry the day, readers are sure to find much to love in these stories.

Other titles in the Asian Children’s Favorite Stories series include Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories, Balinese Children’s Favorite Stories and Filipino Children’s Favorite Stories. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Beautiful illustrations and wonderful stories.
As a child I was enchanted by the tales of Little Peach Boy, Inchling, and the other characters whose stories are featured in this book. Each story has a positive theme such as politeness, helpfulness and sacrifice. The characters are as memorable as those of the Brothers Grimm and the stories are complemented by beautiful illustrations.

I still have my 25 year old copy of this book and am purchasing a copy for each of my children to have for themselves.

Interestingly Enchanting
This book, in my opinion, should get 4.5 stars because it is interesting but also a bit confusing. It was fun to read the first few times, but after awhile the stories se