Book Description

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

"Goodnight stars, Goodnight air, Goodnight noises everywhere." This all-time classic goodnight story is bound to enchant every child who hears it. With gently rendered illustrations and lulling words, this is sure to become as much of a bedtime ritual as a kiss goodnight.

Reviews (13)

very calming
My son is a very active 9 month old. There is only one other thing that maintains his attention. THE WIGGLES! God bless them! I read him this book every night to ease him into bed. He loves it! The rythmns of the spanish language work perfectly in this story. It never fails to calm him down. He loves the colors and the images in the book as well.

Wonderful in Spanish, too!
Although I can't figure out exactly why, my boys love this book! This book is just as appealing to children in Spanish as in English. The illustrations are simple but my boys love them! They also really like the repetition. When we read it, I always add a "Buenas noches" to other items on the page. This has really helped expand thier vocabulary. It is one of my boys favorites, as it is for most children.

Soft and Gentle Words
Remarkable tranlation of the original. My children adore "Goodnight Moon," and have me read it to them every night before they go to sleep. When they aweken, they read to each other the bilingual (Spanish/English) book, "Drum, Chavi, Drum! Toca, Chavi, Toca!" These two books are my children's favorites. One makes them fall asleep, the other has them singing and tapping the tumbadora sounds... I think my children will either become sleep therapists or musicians!

A wonderful bedtime book
As American of Cuban descent, it is very important to me that my son learn Spanish. Teresa Mlawer did an excellent job with the translation. She was able to keep the spirit and flow of the original text, although she had to change a couple of things here and there and lose some of the rhyming, which is to be expected. It still has the same soothing musicality of the original, which makes it a great book to read aloud. I love reading this to my 8 month old son as part of our bedtime ritual. And no matter how fussy he's been before I start, he always settles down when he hears the first line.

Excellent for small children
This was designed to read when you put to sleep a small child. The child says good night to all the things in a room. Plus while reading it, you can add features of the child's room to it. If your child is in that stage that wants you to repeate the same story over and over again. This is the book he or she will like. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent prose but illustrations make this book
There is something in Kyle Stone's style that takes one aback at first. It is like looking at a picture you might've drawn once, when you were a child, or dreamed about drawing anyway, before you put your crayon to the paper and finished yet another square house with smoke coming from the chimney.
Stone's illustrations are like that; they come directly, seemingly unvarnished, from the mind of a child, and like the best of childhood they are wild and not altogether safe and just a little bit magical. The fact that Stone could find that place within himself and recover these images is a worthy feat. That he could then execute on these images with such perfect technique is remarkable. There is mastery here; not perhaps fully realized, but certainly in development.
J. Patrick Lewis must be delighted. With Stone's illustrations his words take on a depth and resonance he could hardly have imagined possible.
But in the end it comes down to the children, and after all a child will know instantly if you've got it right. If the children of my acquaintance are any indication, this is a special book. My highest recommendation.

Must-have for your classroom!
With regard to Please Bury Me in the Library, the consensus among the teachers here at the Oasis is: This is one of our top ten all-time-favorite books. After reading it, each of us immediately went to the bookstore to buy a copy for her or his classroom.

What is so wonderful, you ask? Everything! The poems are gems, full of witty word-play and humor and an occasional serious moment.

As you might imagine from the title, the poems are about books and reading and words. In "The Big-Word Girl" we meet Elaine who "could not unglue her eyes/ From Webster's Dictionary" (even though she is sits at a horror show-Godzilla Meets Tooth Fairy-with a green monster at her side).

In "Flea-ting Fame" we meet Otto the flea, a "fly-by-night," who is writing by firefly light his "Ottobiography."

Although this is a picture book, it offers something for word lovers of all ages. In "Three Haiku," for example, we read:

Epitaph for a
Devoted Lifelong Reader-
Thank you for the plot

and

Late at night, reading
Frankenstein . . . and suddenly
a pain in the neck.

Kyle M. Stone was the perfect choice as illustrator. The acrylic paintings and mixed media illustrations are as clever and beguiling as the poems they accompany. "What if Books Had Different Names," for example, sits next to a painting of an endearing thin bodied, lobster-bibbed lamb waiting to tuck into a plate of green eggs and spam.

Classroom Uses: Suitable for read-alouds, independent reading, and even middle school classrooms. You may access a teacher's guide from the publisher here.

We took the book into an eighth-grade language arts classroom where it was extremely popular. The students were especially enamored with the illustrations. After reading the poem "Necessary Gardens" (an acrostic spelling out the word "Language'), we had the students write an acrostic about their favorite person, place, or thing and then illustrate their poem.

Highly recommended. Suitable for district-wide purchase.
... Read more

Book Description

This deluxe collector's edition of Tolkien's modern classic is boxed and bound in green leatherette with gold and red foil rune stamping on the spine and cover. The text pages are printed in black with green accents. It includes five full page illustrations in full color and many more in two color in addition to Thror's map -- all prepared by the author. J.R.R. Tolkien's own description for the original edition: "If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western 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 a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) -- if you do not already know all about these things -- much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period. For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to excitement. But this account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather rare. They do not like noise." ... 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

Book Description

When her teacher assigns the class a task of creating "Me" collages, it puts Judy and her friends in a cut-and-paste mood.

Description in Spanish: Judy Moody cambia de humor muy fácilmente, y ¡en un día puede pasar por todos! Un interesante proyecto que les asigna el maestro el primer día de clases pone a Judy y a sus compañeros de humor para cortar y pegar... ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Read All-About-Judy Moody!
Judy Moody is a wonderful book - thought provoking, adventurous... and funny! Not only will readers have fun learning about Judy and her moods, but they'll also learn how Judy deals with her moods. Luckily Judy is quite a creative thinker, which helps her turn some of the "worst things ever" into some of the best things ever. The illustrations are absolutely fabulous - very whimsical and playful... a perfect fit for the story!

As a guidance counselor, I can already see many ways to use Judy Moody with kids in my work - from discussing "moods", problem solving, and friendships, to self-awareness through the "All-About-Me" project. This book will appeal to both boys and girls alike - a must for every library, classroom, and family bookshelf!

Read It Silently, Read It Aloud, Just Read It
Every parent and teacher of third grade children should read this book to themselves then with the kids! What a fresh perspective of childhood from a grown-up. This is the way eight year olds talk, think, and act. I see it daily in the halls at school. Judy Moody sees and tells about life in a way that makes the reader laugh out loud, moan over toads, and remember all of the joys of being eight. Friendships gained, little brothers tolerated and mysterious parents all combine to make this book a must for every home and school library. The faculty and staff of our school love it so much that our copy of Judy Moody, which arrived last week, is already showing signs of wear and tear.

Starring Judy Moody
This book stars JUDY, a third grader with lots of pizzazz and ideas and frustrations galore. Somehow she manages to weather all her storms and figure out the silver linings. Of course, first she must sulk a litte and smirk alot. Gotta read this to understand! My daughter has picked this for our first mother/daughter book group. The girls plan to create collages to help explain their own moods and selfs. I think this is a good pick!

Will put you in a good mood
I recently read this book with my 8 year old son for the bookclub we are in through his school library, and we loved it. He was intent on not reading it at first because he thought it was a "girls book", but when we finished it the other day he was actually disappointed. I found it to be heartwarming and funny. Especially her turnaround in feelings about the "eats paste" kid and the TP club. He seemed to enjoy it a lot, you will too.

Put me in a mood...
a mood of mirth! I loved this book! For those who have read Ramona and Junie B. Jones but needed to keep searching - try Judy moody. Judy is in a bad mood on her first day of third grade with a scowl and when she is forced to sit next the boy who eats paste things get worse. Her know-it-all little brother, Stink, gets to meet the president, a toad pees on her, her Venus flytrap is eating hamburger...it's no wonder that Judy is in a mood.

Judy has good moods, too. Like when she and her best friend Rocky start the T.P. Club or when playing tricks on Stink. Through the book, she learns that sometimes things are not as bad as they first appear and that sometimes good can come out of a situation that would seem bad.

Why 5 Stars?:
As a third grade teacher I plan to read this book to my class for many years to come ~ in fact, I even plan to use the "Me Collage" next year. It shows them how to be comfortable with emotions, and that good can come from anything. This book is also on an appropriate reading level and interest level for third graders. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a love song devoted to that special relationship between grandparents and grandchild. The kitchen window at Nanna and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway. Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. Told in her voice, her story is both a voyage of discovery and a celebration of the commonplace wonders that define childhood, expressed as a joyful fusion of text with evocative and exuberant illustrations.The world for this little girl will soon grow larger and more complex, but never more enchanting or deeply felt. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

When it comes time to tell the class what she did on her vacation,Olivia isn't at all nervous. In fact, she remembers it quite clearly--she wentto the circus, you see. "But when we got there, all the circus people were outsick with ear infections." What are the odds? But the show must go on!Fortunately, Olivia jumps right in to help out--riding elephants, posing as theTattooed Lady (she draws on the pictures with a marker), taming lions, walkingtightropes, juggling, clowning around, and more. In a marvelous fold-out,four-panel spread, our porcine heroine even reigns supreme as the Queen of theTrampoline. "And that's how I saved the circus. And now I am famous." Olivialooks proud. Her teacher looks mad. Ian Falconer shines in this dryly hilarioussequel to his 2001 Caldecott Honor Book Olivia. The charcoal andgouache illustrations perfectly capture Olivia's earnest expressions. Beprepared to be charmed anew! (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Olivia...You've Gotta Love Her.....
It's Olivia's turn to tell the class about her vacation, and she can't wait. "Olivia always blossoms in front of an audience." And so our feisty little pig begins the story about her day at the circus. Of course, all the performers were out sick with ear infections, but "luckily I knew how to do everything." She tames lions and walks tightropes, performs on stilts, juggles, and even rides a unicycle. Then she clowns, swings high on the trapeze, and is Queen of the Trampoline. Finally, she ends her show as Madame Olivia and her trained dogs. "And that's how I saved the circus. And now I am famous." Olivia is very proud. Her teacher is exasperated. "True?", she asks again and again. "Yes, to the best of my recollection", answers Olivia..... Ian Falconer has bettered last year's, Olivia, debut, and fans won't be able to get enough of this adorable and precocious little pig with her queen-size imagination. His witty, yet simple text is kept to a minimum and really captures the preschool mind. But it's his charming and clever charcoal artwork, with just a creative splash of color here and there to highlight his scenes, that really makes this book stand out. Both children and adults will laugh out loud at the antics of this delightful little heroine. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Olivia Saves the Circus is a must for home libraries and a picture book kids will beg to read again and again. Olivia is back and better than ever!

Call me a fuddy duddy, but...
Yes, okay, we parents can appreciate the humor, and yes, the drawings are pretty adorable and the pig is cute and it's a smart, snappy tale - but - but -
BUT
Has anyone bothered to notice that Olivia is basically miserable? That she is sarcastic and lonely? That her relationship with her mother is disconnected at best? (My wife, when reading the part where Olivia comes home from school and answers her mother's clearly rote question of how was school with the rote answer 'fine,' invariably adds, for the sake of our 2 and a half year old - 'but of course we don't do that, we tell Mommy all about our day, whatever happened, good or bad.' or words to that effect....)
I'm all for stories about sad people (or pigs), but it would help if we knew they were sad, not just given a lot of pop cultural whip-smarts and irony and cleverness and told that that is happiness. It isn't. If you read this book to your child, please: make it clear to them how isolated Olivia is. If you don't, you're liable to create your own miserable little clown - amusing now, but there will be hell to pay in later years....

Lying is okay?
The book is funny, but it advocates lying. It makes lying 'cute' and does not explain the consequences of lying. I will not want my daughter to read it and think that lying done right is acceptable.

Original is MUCH better
This book teaches lying. It is not as good as the first.

We will keep it because we like Olivia in general. But, like another reviewer, I feel as though I need to explain many of Olivia's behaviors to my child. ("Right now Olivia is pretending", "She should have told the teacher the truth" and "Olivia and her Mommy need to spend some time together talking") I wish Mr.Falconer had been able to make these explinations for me...

We are still holding out hope for the Olivia and Missing Toy.

There are better spunky imaginative kid stories
On a first, not-so-critical read, the story was enjoyable. The pictures, in black and white accessorized with red (see cover for example), are charming, serene and elegant. The poster of Eleanor Roosevelt in Olivia's bedroom can actually make it worth reading and is definitely a five star detail. The spotlighting of a different circus act on each page was great for my 2 1/2 year old who loves the circus. Olivia is a spunky and imaginative child. She is also spoiled and obnoxious with a badly stereotyped mother (passive) and female teacher (presumably anti-imagination and -fun). There is definitely a need for positive assertive and independent creative female protaginists in children's stories but there is no need to assume that the only alternatives are passive or killjoy older females. The pejorative portrayl of the teacher is enough to make this book a definite do not read. Given the problems with education and the images that children already receive, the last thing we need to do is unnecessarily make it worse by propogating more negative stereotypes about school. Olivia's attitude in responding to her teacher and her mother is unfortunately too realistic - there's no need to assume that such obnoxious behavior is admirable as long as one can be clever and individualistic. Adults need to take responsibility for the character traits that we are willing to validate as admirable and provide "people" in books and other media that we want children to emulate. For truly more admirable spunky and creative girls, try Pippi Longstocking, Amelia Bedelia, Pirate Pink, or Treva ("Trouble with Trolls"). The Caldecott Award is given to honor artists/illustrators, which also happens to be a key component to books for very young children. And this book is beautifully and uniquely illustrated. But given the nature of our society and the problems that parents and children must face, we need to be more diligent in what we expose our children to and that means being willing to take a stand and say no to books that don't remove the pejorative stereotypes and negative values. There are literally 1000s of books out there for young children. It's actually very easy to find really good stories-- with beautiful illustrations - so there's no need to have to settle for this story. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

How can you pass this up?
There is no way I can pass this book up everytime I'm in the bookstore. And I own two different copies of this fantastic tale. Yet, I still pick the book up and flip through the first few pages, smiling ear to ear at the wonderment that makes up Peter Pan.

Peter is a boy that refuses to grow up. He lives in Neverland with his fairy, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys. He visits the nursery of Wendy, Michael, and John Darling to hear Wendy's marvelous stories, and one night loses that pesky shadow. When he comes back to get it and tries to stick it back on, Wendy discovers this new boy in their nursery and soon learns about his amazing lifestyle. Entranced by thoughts of pirates, mermaids, and fairies, Wendy, Michael, and John embark on an amazing adventure into a world so unlike ours.

It's bittersweet, it's insightful, it's magical, it's everything and more a child or an adult could ask for in a story. You won't want to leave Neverland, and some days, you may find yourself staring out the window, looking for that hint of light that is Tinkerbell or the boy effortlessly flying between trees and buildings.

Without a doubt the greatest children's story of all time, one that we've all heard, whether it was through a movie or a stage production. Experience the real magic though, and read Barrie's brilliant novel about the boy who won't grow up. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A cup, a compass, a key: the magic tree house has brought siblings Annieand Jack to Camelot, where they embark on a mysterious mission to find theseenigmatic gifts. In this special hardcover addition to the bestselling MagicTree House series, the young adventurers must travel to the Otherworld, an"ancient, enchanted land beyond the edge of the Earth, the place where all magicbegan" to save Camelot from dark wizard Mordred's evil spell. If they fail,Camelot will be forgotten forever. Fans of the beloved, highly readable seriesby Mary Pope Osborne will rise to the challenge of this longer, more complexcompanion to her other titles, which include Earthquake in the Early Morningand Twister on Tuesday.As in every story in the sequence, Jack and Annie bravely plunge into theirquest, learning about a culture and time very far removed from their own, andprove once again that children can make a difference. (Ages 6 to 9)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Christmas in Camelot was Great!
I thought Christmas in Camelot was great because it took place around Christmas time and I read the book around Christmas time. It was also the longest book I ever read in my life and my favorite book in my life (so far). It taught me about Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table and I thought it was really good.

If You Like Winter, Read This Five Star Book!
Do you want to know what Jack and Annie do in The Magic Tree House In Christmas? This maybe their last adventure! This book is about two kids named Jack and Annie who go to a magic tree house to live an adventure in a book. And the pictures are really good but they only have a few pictures. I give it two thumbs up! If you want to see what adventure they have, read Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne.

Best Book Ever!!!
I liked this book a lot because it was interesting and it was an absoloute page turner!I recommend this book to people who like adventure books and a little bit of magic!

GREAT BOOK!!!
I LOVE to read but this book has open my reading up even more I am a A+ in reading I love this book!!!!I really do!!...Thanks

Would you have christmas at Camelot
This book is about Christmas in Camelot. There are two kids name Jack an Annie. They see this dove flying so they follow it and see the Tree House and go in they find this that said come to Camelot and Annie said, "I wish we could go there". They go around and around and they see Morgan and an evil knight who puts a spell on them. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Mai Nou's Review
Wow! I think The Boxcar Children is the best book I ever read. It was about four chldren that run away from their grandfather. They think that their grandfather is mean. Henry the oldest works for a doctor in town. Jessie the third loves to cook. Violet the second oldest loves to sew. Benny the youngest loves to make stuff.They tell about the characters and why they are homeless. I'm in love with Jessie's foods. I like when they create their own things. I recommend this book to fourth and fifth graders. I would love to read the next book. I give this book 5 stars.

The BoxCar Children
Wow! This fantastic book changed my whole life in reading.This book was about 4 wonderful orphans who are runaways. Their mother and father had died.They had a grandfather. They thought he was as mean as a tiger biting people's arms off that was why they wouldn't go live with him. They found a boxcar. Henry, the oldest child, went to find work in town and that was how they got their money.There was a wonderful race and it's up to you to find out who wins and gets the great prize. Also, you get to find out if their grandfather is mean or nice.I like this book because it is a mystery and a suspenseful book. I would recommened this book to people who like these kinds of books. I would give this book 5 stars because it is cool and rocks.

Give your child a love for reading
I read these books in 3rd grade. I'm 25 now. I still think fondly about the times when I read the Boxcar Children series. I still remember the vivid explaination by Gertrude Chandler Warner of the treasures the children find including a cup with a chip in it that they use to survive while living in the boxcar.

This is one of the many books that helped me develop a great love for reading. As an educator, I can now say that this is one of the literary gems out there that is timeless for students (and adults) of all ages to enjoy.

My review of The Boxcar Children
I liked this book. It's because it's not a boring book, it's an interesting book. You can solve the mystery along with them. They are mostly mysteries.

The Boxcar Children; An outdated series; By a 6th grader
The Boxcar Children: I wouldn't recommend this book to the suggested age group; which is from ages 9 - 12. It is unrealistic to conclude that 4th - 6th graders would be the right age group. I would say 1st - 3rd grade. Perhaps the reading level is that of some 9 - 12 years olds, but the plot isn't advanced enough. I used to read these in second grade; after reading about nine of these (I didn't catch on too fast); I realized "wow, these are all the same". The plots are often fine and mystery filled...but the characters are almost impossible to relate to, not to mention the fact that all of the mysteries/crimes they encounter can be stomped out by a group of elementary-schoolers in around sixteen chapters. The characters seem strangely prefabricated and unrealistic. The dialogue is the same way. It doesn't seem like people are talking. I am quoting another review, but no-matter what these children go through, guess what, they never complain, they are always smiling. These siblings are almost impossible to relate to. They have seemingly cute habits, but in the end, they turn out fairly annoying such as the reference to a cup that the youngest sibling from the time spent in the boxcar...Let's face it; children's literature has certainly advanced since the 1950's. Really: 2.5 stars. There are certain things that I've mentioned in this review which may not matter as much to younger readers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What would you do if you found yourself trapped in a runaway caravan hurtling down a precipitous mountain slope? Fourteen-year-old Violet, the oldest orphan of the three Baudelaires, decides to try to slow the velocity of the caravan with a drag-chute invention involving a viscous combination of blackstrap molasses, maple syrup, maraschino liqueur, peanut butter, etc. If plummeting to their death weren't scary enough, Violet and her brother Klaus have been separated from Sunny, their baby sister who is in a car headed in the opposite direction up the mountain with the "facinorous" Count Olaf, his "villainous and stylish" girlfriend Esmé Squalor, and their creepy sidekicks. Do Violet and Klaus find Sunny on the mountain? How will they survive the treacherous, snow-covered peaks with not much more than a ukulele and a bread knife, especially in the face of the "organized, ill-tempered" snow gnats? Will they finally unearth the mystery of the V.F.D.?Will they find out if one of their parents is alive after all? The suspense! As ever, the Baudelaires' unfolding tale of woe is sprinkled with Lemony Snicket's ridiculous, hilarious observations such as "Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like." The tenth book in The Series of Unfortunate Events takes readers through the Mortmain Mountains to the churning waters of the Stricken Stream with all the coexistent horror and silliness a Snicket fan could hope for along the way. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (123)

MiSs.OoOo!
The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket is a nice adition to the series of Unfortunate Events. In this book, the Baudelaires are seperated in the beginning. Using Violet's superb, mechanical mind and Klaus's amazing knowledge of books and words, they get through many problems. Only this time that had alittle help from Quigley Quagmire- the triplet everyone thought was dead. Quigley had amazing information on V.F.D that he picked up traveling in the footsteps of the Baudelaires. My favorite part in the book was when they escaped from the clutches of Count Olaf and his evil crew when Carmelita Spatz attempted to push them off the mountain. Although there was a tragic ending (as always) that i won't reveal, I know we'll be hearing more about the adventurous yet sad life of the Baudelaires. Lemony Snicket is an extremely talented author who makes it easy to understand what's going on in his stories by using situations that relate to us. His books have opened my mind and made me think about what he is trying to communicate to us. It's amazing how everything he writes fits in so well and all makes sense. I really enjoy reading Lemony Snicket and I encourage you to read all of his books!

The Slippery Slope
The Slippery Slope
Written by: Lemony Snicket

This is the tenth book in "A Series of Unfortunate Events". The main characters include the Baudelaire children, Count Olaf, and Esme Squalor. Sunny is the youngest of the three Baudelaire orphans. She is only two years old but is courageous and demands independence from her siblings. Sunny has sharp teeth, a very limited vocabulary, and a strong will. Klaus is the middle child. He is 12 years old, loves to read, and is very intelligent. Violet is the eldest of the siblings and is 15 years old. She is imaginative and loves to invent things. Violet's inventions are well known among her admirers. Count Olaf is a wicked old villain who is out to get the Baudelaire's fortune. Esme is the evil girlfriend of Count Olaf. She is the "in and out girl". This means if it is in-style she'll embrace it, but if it is out she'll despise it.
The plot of the book is about the adventures of the Baudelaire children as they try to find out if one of their parents is still alive and try to find their kidnapped sister, Sunny. They encounter many obstacles and disappointments in their journey.
The setting takes place on the slippery slope of Mortmain Mountains. The mountains are freezing and are infested with evil insects called snow gnats. These insects will sting anything and everyone. It is a miserable place to be.
The theme of the book is about realistic trials and their outcomes. Unlike many stories this story does not have a happy ending.
I liked this book because it has unpredictable twists and turns. The author has a very unique style of writing! It will most definitely capture your attention.

slippery slope
the slippery slope has an exciting twist of happiness and sadness. i enjoyed this book because it kept me asking for more and so i wanted to keep reading. this book gives you chills in one chapter and the feeling of relief in another. i enjoyed this book along with the rest of the series.

The Best ASOUE Book Yet!
It was humorous at many parts what Sunny said (such as Busheney, which means an evil heartless man with no care for others, does that sound like a mixing of our president and vice president's names? Looks like another politician ^-^). Anyways, there are many surprises, and, of course, disatrous events anyone will love. READ IT NOW! If you haven't read the others, do so!

Great Book!
If you haven't bought this book yet, I suggest you buy it. It is the longest book yet (over 300 pages), but in this case, bigger is better. In this tenth sequel to one of the most popular book series out there, the Baudelaire kids reunite with old friends, and are seperated from Sunny by Count Olaf. Violet, Klaus, and their two friends have to find Sunny in the wilderness. Meanwhile, COunt Olaf and his troupe forces Sunny to commit to chores an average baby cannot do. And you might be quite surprise at what Sunny SAYS.

As usual, Snicket keeps you guessing at the end of every chapter. And even more suspensful, the note to the editor is even harder to read than past books, which you may or may not like. The book is a little slow-moving, but is well worth your money. Go out and buy this book that keeps you guessing from page 1 right now! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Joined by destiny, the lives of the Drew children, Will Stanton, and aboy named Bran weave together in an exquisite, sometimes terrifying tapestry ofmystery and quests. In the five-title series of novels known as The Dark IsRising Sequence, these children pit the power of good against the evil forces ofDark in a timeless and dangerous battle that includes crystal swords, goldengrails, and a silver-eyed dog that can see the wind. Susan Cooper's highlyacclaimed fantasy novels, steeped in Celtic and Welsh legends, have won numerousawards, including the Newbery Medal and the Newbery Honor. Now all fivepaperback volumes have been collected in one smart boxed set. These classicfantasies, complex and multifaceted, should not be missed, by child or adult.The set includes Over Sea, UnderStone, The Dark IsRising, Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree. (Ages 9 andolder) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (163)

An excellent fantasy series that is HIGHLY underrated
I first stumbled upon Susan Cooper's THE DARK IS RISING sequence when I was in sixth grade. I was required to read a Newberry Award-winning book and do a report, and the cover of THE GREY KING looked kind of cool, so I gave it a shot. Fifteen years later I still can't believe I haven't heard more about this series.

C.S. Lewis set the standard for children's fantasy literature with THE NARNIA CHRONICLES, and Susan Cooper has equaled Lewis' accomplishment in these books. In some ways, the stories are much better because Cooper's target audience is a bit older, wiser, and more mature. Evil characters are not always obvious in Cooper's world, nor are they always super-intelligent. Cooper weaves elements of Arthurian legend and Welsh mythology into modern day England in a way that tends to swallow the reader whole. Even as an adult I find these books rich and enjoyable; it is easy to forget that one is reading 'children's literature'.

Fans of THE NARNIA CHRONICLES or HARRY POTTER will find that THE DARK IS RISING is another series readers will enjoy no matter what their age may be. My one caveat would be to parents of young children: there are scenes in these stories that may not be appropriate for children under the age of 10 or so. As always, be aware of what your children are reading. Once your children have reached an appropriate age, however, I would highly recommend THE DARK IS RISING for both you and your children!

Strong series
I re-read this series recently, wondering if it would still seem as good as it did when I was a child. And the answer is, it doesn't. But it still has a great deal to offer.
The five books are set in Britain, not tied particularly closely to any decade within the twentieth century. They are all quest stories, with the child heroes seeking various magical artefacts to help the Light in its struggle against the Dark.
"Over Sea, Under Stone" introduces Simon, Jane and Barney Drew, following a mysterious manuscript in search of a golden grail. This adventure takes place during the summer holidays in Cornwall, and introduces their enigmatic Great-Uncle Merriman.
"The Dark is Rising" is the story of Will Stanton, who comes into his power as an Old One, a champion of the Light, on his eleventh birthday. Assisted by Merriman, he is destined to find the Six Signs.
"Greenwitch" unites the Drews, Will and Merriman in Cornwall as they hunt for a second manuscript, lost in the hunt for the grail. But can they win out over the power of the Greenwitch?
"The Grey King" sends Will to Wales in search of the golden harp that is needed to wake the Sleepers, warriors of the Light. He meets Bran, a lonely and troubled boy, who proves to be surprisingly important in his search and the struggle against the Dark.
"Silver on the Tree" reunites all the characters as they search for the crystal sword, the last necessary artefact, and travel to the final confrontation with the Dark.
There's a great deal to like in these books. Cooper pitches the writing at a suitably adult level so that, while not too difficult for children, they never feel twee or condescending. They are suitably atmospheric, with the settings brought alive by good descriptive writing and a healthy injection of Celtic mythology. Many of the characters are interesting and likeable; Will is the stand-out in this regard. The two "Will" books, "The Dark is Rising" and "The Grey King" are the best of the series. There is more action and a greater sense of risk and tension in these books.
So why has my regard for this series dropped over the years? There are two reasons. The first is that, reading as an adult, I don't find the books all that well-grounded in their mythological territory. Tolkien wrote stories set in a world that feels real. Cooper's ideas of magic, Light and Dark, heroes and villains, are very thin by comparison. As a consequence, to me there is little sense of what is truly at stake in what is supposed to be an all-time epic struggle, little sense of real risk; and all too often there are deus ex machina solutions as the magical heroes suddenly "know", without explanation, just what they need to do to win out.
The second reason is "Silver on the Tree". I found this a weak end to the saga, with too many deus ex machina solutions and too many vitally important plot points coming out of nowhere (Mrs Rowlands being one, Bran's love for his human father another). Much of the book seemed pointless filler. The final confrontation lacked power (both with regard to Cooper's writing and in plot terms) and seemed all too easy.
However, these caveats are things that may seem far less important to younger readers - I know they didn't bother me the first time I read this series. And the series as a whole is certainly well-crafted, exciting and enjoyable.

Still one of the Best
It's great to start to see Susan Cooper around the place again. With all of the Potter hype and the renewed interest in the wonderful Diana Wynne Jones, Susan Cooper deserves some time in the limelight for the outstanding Dark is Rising sequence. She's steeped in anglo-saxon mythology in much the same way as Alan Garner, but has created a much warmer and more accessible world than Garner.

The first book in the sequence was clearly originally written as a stand-alone book, but I would guess it planted seeds of ideas which took a decade to germinate when she picked up the story again. After the long gap, the next four books came quite thick and fast (coinciding with my childhood) and the writing of them is dynamic and exciting. The characters are fantastic, with the Merlin figure Merry being one of the most endearing attempts to create that arch-sorcerer. They are great fun from start to finish and are as intelligent, fresh and fantastic as when I first read them nearly thirty years ago (ouch!).

The Dark is Rising Sequence
For all fans of Harry Potter the Dark is Rising books would also be a great book sequence. It includes magic, fantasy, and many other things. I cannot stop thinking about them! Susan Cooper uses such good descriptions that you actually feel as if you were there. This is a great sequence I can't get Merriaman, Lyon, Will Stanton, Jane, Simon, and Barney Drew, the lady, the Grey King, and all the others out of my head. You would reaaly enjoy these books. They are great books. (...)

The Dark Is Rising
The Dark is rising sequence - I first discovered this book in sixth grade in a friend's house. It was the hardcover edition and the pictures were interesting so I read it. Later on, I bought these books right here.
The books are about the Light and the Dark. One of the main reasons I thought this book was excellent was that they weren't just for young people. The characters were highly understandable and the language wasn't just one of those easy-to-read ones. Personally, I like 'The Dark Is Rising,' 'The Grey King,' and 'Silver On the Tree' better than others. Books taking place in Cornwall was kind of vague and not adventurous.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

After Chester lands, in the Times Square subway station, he makes himself comfortable in a nearby newsstand. There, he has the good fortune to make three new friends: Mario, a little boy whose parents run the falling newsstand, Tucker, a fast-talking Broadway mouse, and Tucker's sidekick, Harry the Cat. The escapades of these four friends in bustling New York City makes for lively listening and humorous entertainment. And somehow, they manage to bring a taste of success to the nearly bankrupt newsstand.

... Read more

Reviews (73)

The Cricket in Times Square
I read The Cricket in Times Square and thought it was a fantastic book. I enjoyed the book because the author, George Selden, used good vocabulary words to describe his characters and settings. The story was easy to follow and fun to read.

The Cricket in Times Square is about a cricket named Chester. Chester lived in Connecticut. One day he smelled some food from a picnic and went over to investigate the smell. While sniffing, he got caught in a bag with sandwiches. The family eating the sandwiches got on a train to New York City. When he got to New York City, one of the main characters, Mario Bellini, found Chester outside. Chester was next to Mario's parent's newsstand so Mario picked him up and put him in a matchbox. While at the newsstand, Mario asked his mom if he could keep the cricket. After a few days Mario took Chester to buy a cage at a Chinese store. The cage was shaped like a Chinese building.

At the newsstand Chester met a mouse named Tucker and a cat named Harry. Chester became good friends with them. Chester became a very famous cricket and played his beautiful music at 8:00AM and 4:30PM for all the people at the newsstand.

If you want more details about Chester's exciting adventures, read this book or other books by George Selden! I hope this review makes you want to read The Cricket in Times Square, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

A Review On The Cricket In Time Square
It all started when Mario found his new best friend in a pile of dirt. He met Chester, Chester the cricket. Mario lives with mama and poppa, but they don't have a lot of money. They own a newsstand in Grand Central Station. Chester meets two other friends besides Mario. He meets Tucker, a mouse and Harry, a cat. Quickly these four learn a lot about each other and become best friends. The four friends work hard to bring success to Mario's newsstand. I think this book is great. When I was reading I couldn't put the book down because you never know what's going to happen next so you have to read on. I think many other people should read this book too. It so detailed so you can see every little part in the book happening in your head. This book is one of my favorite books I have every read in my whole entire life. There's nothing good missing in this book, it's great. I would most certainly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. The four friends work hard to bring success to Mario's newsstand. Read the book to find out what happens in the end of this great, Newberry award winning book.

By:Jake Soffer

The Cricket in Times Square
Can you guess what book I read; well if you guessed The Cricket in Time Square you were right. George Seldne really gets you interested in the book. I didn't want to put the book down.
Mario owns a cricket named Chester. He picked him up by the family owned newsstand in New York.
The mother of Mario doesn't want the cricket in the house or in the newsstand, but Mario makes a little deal with her so he can keep the cricket as a pet.
This book reminds me of The Todd and Frog because in both books they develop good friendships. Chester is an outrageous friend that helps out this family by chirping famous songs. He also helps out these two friends in New York.
If you're a person that likes fantasy, where animals tell the story, then you should really enjoy reading this book.

By Tara Curry

Emily's Review of The Cricket in Times Square
I really liked The Cricket in Times Square because there are lots of funny and unusual characters! It is about a small boy named Mario who finds a very unusual pet - a cricket! The cricket, Chester, ends up takinga subway to New York, and meets two other friends, Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat.
This was a hilarious book as Chester tries to manage in the city,which is unlike his Conneticut home.
This book is realistic fiction which means that everything in the book didn't happen, but it could happen. The author created many interesting characters at very unsual times. I like the way George Selden made the characters come to life. He described every character, so that I could visualize them in my mind, even without the pictures.

I would recommend this book to people who like adventure stories.Younger kids,and most adults would like The Cricket in Times Square.

The Crickets in Times Square
This is a fiction book.I read ths book in the summer.I would recmmend this book to others because its really fun and exciting.I could read this book all the time.If you like funny,exciting,and clever you should read ths book.at the end does chester go back to his home town,Kansas if you want to Know this great seceret?Does he live with his owner?Unravel this great seceret and pickup the adventures of the Cricket in Times Squares. ... Read more

Book Description

Kenny and Kathy Bear and their Busytown friends introduce new andfamiliar names for objects grouped by subject, theme, and setting, in the cityand on the farm, at the dentist and at the grocer's, in the kitchen and at thecircus and all the places they frequent. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Don't miss it!
I owned many Richard Scarry books as a ltitle girl, so I was thrilled when we received several as a gift for my daughter. I introduced this book to her at about 12 months of age, and much to my surprise she immediately became obsessed with the book, the alphabet page in particular. I was so surpised by this, as she normally only has the attention span for interactive/lift-the-flap books, but her attention span regarding this book is a testament to how fabulous it is! In the last 2 months, she has come to like all of the pages, and it is a book she brings me everyday to read to her, turning around and plopping herself down in my lap for a good long read! I myself remember the cozy illustrations, especially the pages of little things and food. The book is loaded with words, opportunities for elaborating and describing in great detail, and in my opinion I think the title suits it well: it is the best word book ever! Don't miss out on this book, especially if you are looking for something to hold your child's attention for longer than 5 minutes!

Oldie, but a goodie!
My son is in love with this book. My 2 year old is actually using my copy of the book (26th printing, 1979) but this book really stands the test of time. He has learned so many words with the aid of Richard Scarry, his most recent being 'fire truck'. Colorful pictures capture and hold his interest and the array of subject matter in the book is incredible: At the supermarket, various seasons and holidays, shapes and sizes, in the flower garden, clean-up time and so much more. Childhood would not be the same without Richard Scarry. No child should be without this book.

Helps your child learn to read.
My son, who is now 40 years old, had this book when he was about 2 years old. I used to read some of it every day to him, and we would laugh and talk about all of the pictures, and the words under each item. Soon, he could look at all the pages and "read" the words. I truly believe this book was the inspiration for his lifelong love of reading. Now, I buy this book for the grandchildren!

The Best Childhood Book
I remember this book as a favorite during childhood...over 30 years ago. Is the best for starting a infant on learning vocabulary. The pictures are wonderful and will grab any child's imagination.

If you don't have this book- buy it now!!!
I just can't recommend this book highly enough. It has page after page of interesting scenes, animals, objects, vehicles and more to look at and talk about with your child.
There are many opportunities for teaching words. I name objects for my daughter and she also points to objects that I name for her. She has learned many new words from this book.
It is truly a must have for parents!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Idea
The idea is great of having father and daughter tales but to many of these stories focus on the evil step-mother and the young woman rescued by a wealthy man, who takes her away. I was hoping for stronger stories of the relationship between a father and daughter. I was also hoping for stronger female characters. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete guide to teaching The Cay. Includes an author biography, background information, summaries, thought-provoking discussion questions, as well as creative, cross-curricular activities and reproducibles that motivate students. ... Read more

Reviews (350)

The Cay (A witty title proves nothing.)
The Cay, have I read this book before? Yes. Every single lost at sea adventure book I have ever read. The book is dull and leaves the reader wanting more excitement. This book ruins the lost at sea adventure reputation.

Could the plot of The Cay be any more predictable? Of course not, a boat sinks, people lost at sea, find an island. It's the same old cliché that leaves the reader hoping it will suddenly change but never does. Timothy, Phillep and stew cat are on the island then what happens... they build a hut for a long stay. Duh! Foreshadowing in the cay was in all the wrong spots and the event s that should be suspenseful turned out to be boring and ongoing because I always knew what was going to happen. Timothy is very old and is teaching Phillip to live on the island by himself maybe because Timothy is going to die? The only difference with this book and the other lost at sea adventures is that Phillip is blind and it's interesting to hear how he manages on the island. The plot should be survival and should keep the reader on edge but the lack of detail and bad foreshadowing make it impossible. Theodore Taylor tried his best to have unexpected turns but the foreshadowing before hand made it so the reader knew what was going to happen. Reading the book was plain awful and dull, however the overall meaning intrigued me.

The moral of the story was to not judge a book by its cover. In this case the book was Timothy and the judge is society's opinion, which was pressed upon Phillip's mind prior to his meeting timothy. When Phillep woke up from the wreck he was stranded on a boat with and I quote "An ugly black man". Phillep never crossed paths with a person of color in a friendly way. To Phillep Timothy was a person of ignorance and of less importance, so says the way he was raised. When Phillep became blind he started to see things for what they are and not for what they seem to be. Phillep forgot about Timothy's color and started to become a first-class friend. Phillep now realizes that Timothy did everything he could to help him including giving his life. Even though the plot was terrible the moral is still there and I would recommend the book simply for that.

Wrapping up my review to say the least people who love adventure and suspense don't get this book. But people who like a good moral and a deeper meaning then go get this book. It ruins the lost at sea reputation by the lack of details, but once again if you can manage a dull and boring story just for a good insight then get this book

A Memorable Classic
This is an award-winning novel for good reason, and will always remain a classic. This novel touches on serveral important topics such as prejudice, love, and survival.

This novel takes place during the years of World War II. 11-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his parents on the island of Curaçao. When the war becomes too close for comfort, his mother decides to travel with him back to Virginia in hopes of finding safety. It is on the journey to Virginia that their boat is torpedoed. Phillip is one of only a few known survivors, and is blinded during the sinking of his ship. He soon finds himself adrift on a life raft with an old black man named Timothy and a cat. They eventually land on a deserted scarap of land much too small to be called an island (hence the name Cay).

Phillip is suspicious of Timothy, but as they suffer through the hardships they must face he soon grows to trust and to later love Timothy.

This is a truly remarkable book, and leaves small wonder as to why it is now required reading for school children. I find it benificial to all ages myself, and would recommend it to anyone.

The Cay
The Cay, by Theodore Taylor, is a really good book. It is about a boy named Phillip who has to survive on a small island with an old man named Timothy. Will they survive or will a strong hurricane harm them. You will find out in The Cay. Anyone who enjoyed Hatchet will like this book. It is eventful and beautifully written.

The Cay Review
This is the BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!!! When people ask the usual question of "what is your all time favorite book", I don't reply with a Hemmingway or a "best seller"...I always say THE CAY. Please read this book, you will not be let down. The memories of this story will stay with you forever!

briliant!!!!!!!!
this story is about a boy around 12 years old who lives with his mom in a foreign country were there is a war going on. Now the mom wants out of it so she and her son go on a trip two the U.S on a boat. But what they dont no is there about to go on an adventure there regret. While there on this ship they get torpedoed down by a war sumarine were only the boy and a black man survive. Now they have to work together to live on this strange island in the middle of nowhere. But at firsty they dont get along with eachother but there friendship grows stronger and stronger as time goes on but they are going threw some tuff times with food and water and then something really bad happends to the blind man and the boy is out of ideas. And now times get harder as he trys to care for him and his friend then the unexpected happens and everything gets really bad. What will he do? Find out by reading the book. This story is a real adventure to read and is a great suspense novel. I recomend this book 2 ages 13 and up. The Cay is also an exiting book filled with lots of ideas and a great kid book to read.It also shows how very different people can get so close to eachother in such a different way. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography is bizarre,abstruse ("a word which here means 'cryptic'"), and truly entertaining. Wouldyou expect anything less from the mystery man behind A Series of UnfortunateEvents (The BadBeginning, The ErsatzElevator, etc.)? Virtually every detail of the volume has Snicket'sindelible mark, from the book jacket (reversible to help readers disguise this"extremely dangerous" and "objectionable" autobiography) to the copyright pagetext to the intentionally blurry and bewildering black-and-white photographsappearing throughout. An apparently false obituary for Lemony Snicket sets thestage for what turns into a series of mind-boggling bundles of coded informationpassed from hand to hand, gleaned from newspapers blowing through streets, pagesfrom a journal addressed to "Dear Dairy," blueprints of ships, minutes fromsecret meetings, and a lot of edited and disputed commentary. The question is,do we finally discover the meaning of VFD? You know you're not going to get astraight answer. But any fan of Snicket will have a lot of fun trying. (Ages 9and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (93)

One of my All-Time Favorite Books
How can you describe "The Unauthorized Autobiography of Lemony Snicket"? I know a lot of people don't like this book. I know they think it is dumb, boring, or just doesn't give them enough information about anything.
Let me tell you something. This book is probably anything but that. First, read the Series of Unfortunate Events up to #8 (Which is what I'm up to, I hope to get 9 soon!). If you don't read any of them, or even just skip one, YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THIS BOOK.
Second, read this book as many times as you need to, and don't skip anything! Even read the index! I have so far read this book 3 times, and still want to read it again. Every time I find more and more interesting things- such as Daniel Handler is shown in the book!
Who is Daniel Handler? He's "Lemony Snicket's Representative". Even though Lemony Snicket is fictional, the best thing to do while reading this book is to pretend he's real. If you don't, you may find yourself getting disinterested.

I was somewhat disappointed the first time that I didn't find anything out about who Beatrice is (ahh! stupid page 211!) but after looking through it again, I learned a lot! Hint: Mozart's Fourteenth Symphony. I myself can only hum Ode To Joy, Beethoven's 9th Symphony...but anyway, back to the book!!
If you buy this, I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope I won't offend anyone with this, but you have to have a "logical" mind that can pierce things together. If you don't, don't bother reading this book- you'll be lost completely.
I hope I've helped you decide whether or not to read this book! I enjoyed it a lot. I wish I could join VFD! And what is VFD, anyway? A Very Funky Disco! Wait... A Vascular Funnel Digest! Wait....Oh, well, I don't know what VFD is...well, actually I don't know what the initials are! I just know what it is, a few places it used to be, and how to join it...If you excuse me now, I think I just heard a page turning outside...

A look into the (fictional) world of Lemony Snicket
As many of you probably know, this book is fiction. It focuses on the Series of Unfortunate Events, and gives you some insider information. Made up of letters, diary entries, photographs, clippings, and more, this book features hints to answers concerned with the Baudelaires, like "Where are the Quagmire triplets now?", or "Why is there a secret passage between the Baudelaire mansion and 667 Dark Avenue?", and "What is VFD?" You won't get complete answers to these questions, but if you read carefully, you'll discover that all of the strange features of this book are pieces of a puzzle that is waiting for the reader to solve it. In addition, this book had tons of humor, as do all of Lemony Snicket's books, and, if you've read the series, you'll hear about and see a lot of familiar characters, places, and names. Read and re-read this book after you finish each book in the series- it will help you have a clear picture of all the secrets concerned with A Series of Unfortunate Events.

The secrets to all the other books
I really liked the Unauthorized Autobiography because
the Unauthorized Autobiography makes the average person bored but the kind of person who looks over something will discover hidden secrets.

Mr. Snicket's Biography
I don't think that there has ever been a book quite as... interactive... as this one. I love it- the pictures, the dustjacket (flippable! flippable!) and even how HEAVY the thing is (very, very SURPRISINGLY heavy).

And this isn't exactly a story... or a biography. And, come to think of it, you would expect the biography of a fictional character to be different, wouldn't you?

The coolest part of the entire book are the totally WEIRD parts- the things that are TOTALLY unexpected. I mean, the quotes taken about the man in the ratty clothes...

And, kiddoes, seriously... if you can, get the hardcover edition. The binding is great, and, like I said, the dustjacket is amazing.

Not for persnickety readers who want everything the easy way
Author - Daniel Handler. Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography.

Publisher - HarperCollins, 2002

Short Summary - A page-turner of a detective story, the