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Kate DiCamillo, author of the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, spins a tidy tale of mice and men where she explores the "powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous" nature of love, hope, and forgiveness. Her old-fashioned, somewhat dark story, narrated "DearReader"-style, begins "within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse." Despereaux Tilling, the new baby mouse, is different from all other mice. Sadly, the romantic, unmouselike spirit that leads the unusually tiny, large-eared mouse to the foot of the human king and the beautiful Princess Pea ultimately causes him to be banished by his own father to the foul, rat-filled dungeon.

The first book of four tells Despereaux's sad story, where he fallsdeeply in love with Princess Pea and meets his cruel fate. The secondbook introduces another creature who differs from hispeers--Chiaroscuro, a rat who instead of loving the darkness of his homein the dungeon, loves the light so much he ends up in the castle& in thequeen's soup. The third book describes young Miggery Sow, a girl who hasbeen "clouted" so many times that she has cauliflower ears. Still, allthe slow-witted, hard-of-hearing Mig dreams of is wearing the crown ofPrincess Pea. The fourth book returns to the dungeon-bound Despereauxand connects the lives of mouse, rat, girl, and princess in a dramaticdenouement.

Children whose hopes and dreams burn secretly within their hearts willrelate to this cast of outsiders who desire what is said to be out oftheir reach and dare to break "never-to-be-broken rules of conduct."Timothy Basil Ering's pencil illustrations are stunning, reflectingDiCamillo's extensive light and darkness imagery as well as the sweet,fragile nature of the tiny mouse hero who lives happily ever after.(Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Enchanting Fable
A few months ago, I read a little blurb about this novel, and I couldn't wait to read it. Then, it won the Newberry Award, and I finally got hold of a copy. It didn't disappoint. The Tale of Despereaux is one of the most enchanting little stories I've ever read, and I have a feeling it's going to go down as a true children's classic.

The story is so entrancing. It centers around a mouse named Despereaux who just doesn't fit in with the other mice. He is born with his eyes opened. He sees a beautiful world that the others are blind to, and he is shunned because of it. He is able to hear music, and he is able to love creatures of other races. For instance, this tiny mouse falls in love with the human Princess Pea, and that begins quite a chain of events.

Of course, not everything in the story is happy. There is also a dark world that the novel doesn't hide from. There are characters who have had little chance in life and have been harmed because of it. There are characters here who have lead dark lives and are trying to destroy Princess Pea and Despereaux. But, ultimately, this isn't a dark novel but one proclaiming a message about love and hope and the possibility of redemption. It is a beautiful little novel about having the courage to bring some light into the world. The Tale of Despereaux is an amazing novel for people of every age which will be read for an oftly long time.

A Magical New Classic
I have read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, and liked it much better than her Newbery Honor book, Because of Winn-Dixie. This fairy-tale adventure about a mouse, a rat, a princess, and a servant girl is told in a measured, mannered voice that's a departure for DiCamillo's usual casual style. There are frequent appeals to the "dear reader," which work for me as they do in so few other books.

Despereaux is the youngest mouse in his family. He is runty, with huge ears, and prefers reading books to eating them. We're given glimpses of his family -- his faithless father, his very proper sister, his loutish brother whose favorite word is "Cripes!," and his French mother, whose English is slightly stiff and very amusing. Before long, Despereaux's non-mousely behavior gets him banished to the dungeon, where the castle rats will presumably eat him.

He escapes, of course, only to cross paths with a vengeful rat who has taken a slow-witted palace maid into service, to help him carry out his plan to punish Princess Pea, the object of his hatred and Despereaux's devotion.

Forgiveness, second chances, embracing the light, being who you are, the importance of stories, and the restorative properties of a hot bowl of soup all come into play to create a delicate, magical book that I suspect may have more longevity than the celebrated but ultimately somewhat ordinary Because of Winn-Dixie.

awful, reader, just plain awful
Please do not read this book, reader!!! Reader, I had just finished reading Because of Winn-Dixie, and I found it to be a wonderful book and story. But, reader, Tale of Despereaux did not come anywhere close to what I expected a good, or worthy of reading children's book, should be. I also, reader, feel that anyone who has to tell a child what is going on without letting them think for themselves or create their own meanings should not bebale to get their books published. I have always felt the point of getting children to read is to, get them to read! Then the stories and meanings can be discussed later. Children always bring something new the table, and this book ruins a childs creative and imaginative mind.

Teachers, here is your book!
You can get the storyline from the excellent reviews on this page. If you are looking for a terrific read-aloud or book study or novel for your literature circles, this is it. Are you teaching literary elements? This book has it all, character, plot, setting, theme, motivation, point-of-view, genre, voice, elaboration, foreshadowing, word choice...

The wonderful thing is your students will just think you are reading them the BEST story ever. I read chapters 1-3 aloud and then stopped. The kids sent up a chorus of "Nooo, Don't Stop!!!"

We sold so many hard cover copies of the book at our school book fair that we had to reorder several times. Parent were remarking, "He has never begged me for a book before..."

Dust off your French accent and have fun. You will enjoy reading this book aloud as much as your students will enjoy listening to it.

Awesome
A very good book, to say the least. I was recomended this by my librarian and read it, along with Olive's Ocean (another good read, check it out). It deserved the award it got, definitly. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Motivational author Spencer Johnson (The One Minute Manager, Who Moved my Cheese? for Teens) may have finally found the perfect format for his popular parable on the importance of anticipating and adapting to life changes.

Critics of Johnson's best-selling Who Moved my Cheese? for grownups complained about its oversimplification and lack of substance (and the fact that glad-handed managers sometimes gave the book to employees fearing for their jobs didn't help). But in a kids' book, that simplicity doesn't grate as much, and Johnson's cartoonish characters--sneaker-wearing mice Sniff and Scurry, and the tentative Hem and Haw, ever in search of "cheese" in the "maze"--look right at home alongside the rest of Steve Pileggi's crude illustrations.

Of course, Johnson's homily might seem even less applicable to kids than it is to adults, and some of Haw's "Handwriting on the Wall" (again, lifted directly from the grownup version) will likely prove too abstract (like "Smell the cheese often so you know when it's getting old"). But then again, kids face more changes than most adults, and they often have fewer tools to deal with them. If nothing else, Johnson's message on "How to deal with change--and win!" is at least a slight improvement on the more time-honored "Shut up and deal." (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (3)

On their level - and ours too!
I am a fan of the adult version of this book, so when I saw it came out in a children's version, I had to have it. We're a military family, so change is one constant in our lives. We're about to make a move which will be the first one my 5 year old daughter is really aware of. I introduced this book to her, and even though she doesn't quite understand the real meaning of the story, I'm hoping it will be a way to remind her that change is a good thing. She'll already have the lessons tucked away in her mind, so hopefully when she's in the midst of a change, it will mean something to her. The pictures are wonderful, as is the story. My kids love it and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is dealing with change. It's an optimistic view of whatever changes come into our lives.

The right audience
At last, "Who Moved My Cheese?" has found its target audience--children.

It is a simple parable that illustrates the natural tendency to resist change. The uncertainty that generally accompanies change provides a level of discomfort that some try to escape. Rather than take the necessary steps for change, some people cling to old notions and actions that produce little or no results.

These are good concepts to learn at an early age, as long as it is undertood that reducing such a simple little concept into practice is the hard part. Knowing that we need to "search around the maze for new cheese" doesn't help much, without guidelines for determining when we are "moving around the maze" or simply "sitting at the cheese station."

Hopefully, parents can provide some insight where the book doesn't.

About dealing with change and brand new opportunities
Impressively enhanced with the cartoon style artwork of Steve Pileggi, Who Moved My Cheese? For Kids is a thoroughly entertaining story by Spencer Johnson about dealing with change and brand new opportunities. Four little friends who live in a maze live off of seemingly never-ending magical cheese; one morning the cheese is gone and the four must work together to explore, search, and help each other cope in this involving tale. ... Read more

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Who would ever suspect that a tiny little mouse could wear out anenergetic young boy? Well, if you're going to go around giving an exuberantly bossy rodent a cookie, you'd best be prepared to do one or two more favors for it before your day is through. For example, he'll certainly need a glass of milk to wash down that cookie, won't he? And you can't expect him to drink the milk without a straw, can you? By the time our hero is finished granting all the mouse's very urgent requests--and cleaning up after him--it's no wonder his head is becoming a bit heavy. Laura Joffe Numeroff's tale of warped logic is a sure-fire winner in the giggle-generator category. But concerned parents can rest assured, there's even a little education thrown in for good measure: underneath the folly rest valuable lessons about cause and effect. Felicia Bond's hilarious pictures are full of subtle, fun details. Fans will be happy to know that this dynamic author-illustrator pair teamed up again for If You Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake. (Great read aloud, ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (76)

She wants it read again and again!
Simply put, this is a wonderful book. Our 19 month old daughter has enjoyed this book since she received it on her first birthday. The story is simple and easy to follow and the pictures are big and bright and wonderfully drawn. There aren't alot of words on every page so if you have a younger child that likes to turn the pages frequently, this makes it easy to keep the story going. Although the story is whimsical and involved enough for an older child to enjoy as well. We have read this book so many times that my daughter has memorized some of the words on every page and pretends to "read" it herself. Personally, I feel this is the best of the "If you give a ....." book series (we have them all). I think the only improvement this book could use is if it came in a board book version as the paper pages in our hardback version are quickly becoming worn from all the frequent reading and toting around! A true classic that I feel any parent with a young child can't go wrong with.

If You Give Your Child This Book --- You'll Read It Alot!
Felicia Bond has a book that works for kids in the 2-5 age set. This is a nice story that leads from one object to another ("if you give the mouse a cookie, he's going to want some milk. If you give him some milk, he's going to want a napkin" etc., etc.)

The art is well drawn and holds my kid's attention well. The story is whimsical and teaches about twenty objects (milk, cookie, crayon, tape, pillow, etc.) to young kids. They memorize the lines fairly quickly and the book can help with sight reading for the pre-school set.

If you give this book to your child, he's probably going to want you to read it over and over again.

Cookie cookie cookie starts with C
"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" really has been the "It" book for some time. Parents love this story, and their children really get into it as well. On and off, I'd heard various things about it, but nothing that so sparked my interest that I ran to my nearest library to peruse its pages. Now, however, I've grown old and wise in the ways of kiddie lit. and I found myself wanting to know what all the fuss was about. Was this book really as overwhelmingly fantastic as everyone said? Was I doomed to fall desperately in love with it like 98% of the population of known Western Civilization? The answer is a resounding yes yes yes. I had counted on finding some mild enjoyment with a fun story. Was I got was extreme enjoyment from a sly, understated, exceedingly clever story.

As we open, a small mouse treks down a hill on its own as a boy contentedly reads his comic book, munching on a bag of delicious chocolate chip cookies. After the boy offers the mouse a cookie (not knowing what such an action has wrought) the mouse asks for milk. Milk leads to a napkin. A napkin leads to a mirror (to check for a milk mustache, of course). A mirror leads to a hasty haircut. A haircut leads to sweeping up. And so on. All the while the boy gamely follows his rodent friend over, around, and through the different parts of the house, ever supplying the guest with whatsoever it may require. By the end, the house is in shambles, the boy exhausted on the floor (parents will relish this picture above all) and the mouse has just started in on a second cookie.

Some books expertly place kids in the position of their parents. In the picture book, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus", kids are allowed to finally tell someone (the someone in that instance being a naughty pigeon) no. In this book, the kids are now the patient parents, forever cleaning up and amusing the endlessly enthusiastic and hepped-up mousey. The pictures are deceptively simple, drawn with pure pen and ink. Just the same, millions of tiny details are apparent in every shot. The boy's refrigerator displays (oddly) a newspaper clipping of a car crash. The mouse's drawing of his family displays some pretty original dresses on his mother and sister. And I'll leave up to your imagination the variety of odds n' ends surrounding the depleted boy at the end of the story. Suffice to say, ladies and gentlemen, this book has it all. And it's a delightful story to boot.

I know this book by heart now...
My seventeen-month old son will search through his vast library to find this book (and the others in this series), protesting when I try to compromise with another selection. He loves the story, knows when to turn the page (which is no longer necessary, as I can recite them all from memory) and will accept no subsitute. I even tried burying the books away so that I could read something new to him, but he dug them out, carried them down the stairs and insisted I drop everything to recall what are apparently his favorite stories.

Great Book
This is a great book about a greedy type mouse who wants one thing after another jsut like a kid.....this book has the mouse acting jsut like kids when we are little its great..one of hte best chirldrens books out next to green eggs and ham. adults will love this book just as much as kids will... ... Read more

Amazon.com

The irrepressible mouse heroine of Chester's Way and Julius, the Baby of the World returns for another true-to-life and very funny episode. Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger--until he takes away her musical purse because she can't stop playing with it in class. Lilly decides to get revenge with a nasty drawing of "Big Fat Mean Mr. Stealing Teacher!" but when she finds the kind note he put in her purse, she's filled with remorse and has to find a way to make things right again. Children will sympathize with Lilly's impulsive mistake and laugh uproariously at the witty and expressive pictures of the very human mice. In a starred review, Publisher's Weekly called this book "sympathetic and wise." (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (36)

HOORAY FOR LILLY!!!
This is a book that adults will appreciate as much as children. Pay close attention to all that's happening in the illustrations. You can't help but love Lilly, she means well but like any of us she finds herself in trouble. Mr. Slinger, Lilly's teacher is a hero. This is a must read for all kids. Makes a great gift, look for a purple plastic purse and movie star sunglasses to go a long with it! After reading this book you'll find yourself looking for and falling in love with all of Kevin Henkes' books! Wow! That is all I can say. Wow!

Aesop would be proud, multi-level morals and fun
Kevin Henkes spins a wonderful tale that appeals to many age groups with the fun story of Lilly and her new purse. Lilly loves her teacher and school, but her normally attentive nature is put to the test when she brings her new purse and accessories to class one day. Woven with lessons about the importance of patience, listening, and responsibility, the story is accompanied by colorful and simple illustrations depicting the young mouse Lilly and other characters in ordinary classroom situations every child can relate to. Your children will love reading this with you; you'll have to read every delightful caption. Something in the story will make adults laugh every time they read it too. Very well rounded and enjoyable work.

Fashionista rodentia
It is my understanding that "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" is the book that really launched Kevin Henkes from mere picture book drudgery to children's book stardom. Though he'd been churning out stories that spoke to kids and their qualms ("Owen", "Chrysanthemum", etc.) Lilly grabbed the world's spotlight and focused it squarely on her cute little shoulders. Though she'd already appeared in two previous Henkesian creations ("Chester's Way" and "Julius, the Baby of the World"), this was Lilly's first foray as a protagonist with her name in the title. As such, the book has been turned into a stage play, been read by millions of small children, and gives spunky kids someone they can identify with and look up to. In short, she's a pip.

Lilly is mightily pleased with her life at the moment. She loves school and she adores her teacher Mr. Slinger. Mr. Slinger (undoubtedly a relation of Miss Twinkle from "Chrysanthemum") is the coolest prof in the world. He wears crazy colored ties, refers to his students as "rodents", provides yummy tasty snacks, and has a penchant for patterned shirts. Lilly is determined to someday be a teacher all thanks to Mr. Slinger. Unfortunately, Lilly's Slinger-love takes a downturn when she brings her new purple plastic purse to class. Noisily displaying it at an inappropriate time, Slinger confiscates the item until the end of the day. In anger, Lilly draws a mean portrait of her teacher and hides it in his book bag. But when the young girl opens her returned purse outside of school, she finds a note reading, "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better", and some yummy snacks are included. Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly decides to make up with her teacher and by the end the two have reconciled joyfully.

Now I was lucky enough to see the Minneapolis Children Theater's production of this particular book (combined with some of Lilly's other adventures to pad it out). And though I'm not a weepy gal by nature, I found myself tearing up during the reading of Mr. Slinger's note to Lilly (i.e. "Tomorrow will be better") as well as when I read the picture book. I don't tear up during children's stage productions and I CERTAINLY don't tear up when reading picture books. Yet here I was, all of 26 years of age, and bawling over the succinct sweetness of Slinger's comforting note. How many books have done this for you recently? How many picture books?

The tale is filled to the brim with the Henkes touches a person expects from his work (be sure to notice the Krazy Kat reference in Lilly's dining room). As per usual there is the comfortable family containing loving parents. And best of all, that wonderful way Henkes has of bringing a happy child to life on the page. No adult reading this book would want to be anyone BUT Mr. Slinger and no child reading it wouldn't want to know him. As for Lilly, she walks the fine line between precocious and precious. And wins. If you're a Henkes fan you won't want to miss this delightful star-making turn. If you're not a Henkes fan, do what you can to cure yourself of this ailment and then immediately read and enjoy this book. It's worth the effort.

The Book Cracks me Up!
I babysit all of the time so I am always looking for great books to read to the kids. This book I read to myself. It is so funny and I love how Lilly is so ostentatious with her purse. She is exactly like I was at that age and I love the message of not impulsively taking revenge on someone before simmering down. I recommend this book to everyone and I promise you will love it! I even named my Hamster after Lilly.

Great lesson in restraint, but hard to read...
I found this book to be very difficult to read aloud again and again. When I taught Kindergarten and preschool before that, I read this book to large and small groups of children and found it tedious and too wordy. For example, why have a line like "Lilly even wanted her own set of deluxe picture encyclopedias." Perhaps some of you may love the dozens of new vocabulary words, but I would rather not have to explain for the umpteenth time what "deluxe," or "diva" means, when the story already has many other new words that are more developmentally appropriate for this target group of readers (i.e., unique, jaunty, considerate, uncooperative...). Anyway, perhaps it is just me being picky, but I didn't care for this story much as a read a-loud. There are many books that I find much more worthwhile. If you have a child who could use a lesson about self-restraint, however, this book may be better than nothing. ... Read more

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"Pb-pb-b-b-b. Pb-pb-b-b-b." With these magic vocables, Ralph the mouserevs up a dream come true--his very own motorcycle. Living in a knothole in a hotel room, young Ralph has seen plenty of families come and go, some more generous with their crumbs than others. But when young Keith and his parents check in to the hotel, Ralph gets his first chance to check out. He has always fantasized about venturing beyond the second floor, maybe even outside. Curiosity overcomes caution, and Ralph must have a go at Keith's toy motorcycle. Soon, the headstrong mouse finds himself in a pickle, when all he wanted was to ride a motorcycle. Lucky for him, the boy understands how it is. When he discovers Ralph in his thwarted attempt to abscond with the toy bike, Keith generously encourages the rodent to ride. He even teaches him the simple trick of starting the motorcycle: "You have to make a noise... pb-pb-b-b-b." The subsequent situations Ralph motors into require quick thinking and grownup-sized courage. The team of Beverly Cleary and Louis Darling has been a great favorite for decades, introducing young chapter readers to Ramona, Beezus, Henry, and of course Ralph the mouse. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (45)

The funniest adventure ever
The theme in The Mouse and the Motorcycle is responsiblity.In the book Ralph,a mouse, earns friendship with a boy {Keith} who moves into room 215. Ralph rides Keith's mini-toy sized motorcycle and looses it.Will anything esle happen?If you want to learn anything else about Ralph and his friends, read this book and all the series of Ralph S.Mouse.I think and feel that Ralph should ride all of Keith's sport-cars because each time it would be funny to imagine a mouse riding in whatever Keith's sport-cars were.It makes me wonder about things in this book.If a little mouse can ride a motorcycle...what esle could happen!Also I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because its very, very funny and adventurous.

Join Ralph for the ride of his life!
Beverly Cleary's books have entertained kids for nearly 50 years, and this wonderful introduction to Ralph S. Mouse is no exception. Ralph is a young mouse living between the walls of the Mountain View Inn. He and his family always depend on the crumps of food that are dropped by the vacationers who stay at the Inn. It is critical that they remain hidden from human eyes lest the hotel sprays the Inn. One summer day, Ralph hears a boy making the sounds that all young children make when playing with toy motorcycles, so Ralph stealthily investigates the cycle when it's owner, Keith, is out of the room. When Keith discovers Ralph on the motorcycle, he makes a new friend by showing Ralph how to get the contraption to "go." "Pb-pb-b-b-b," goes Ralph, and away he goes on the "motorized" motorcycle, finding the freedom he has always yearned for in his young life. Now Ralph has endless opportunities for adventure, sometimes fun, sometimes scary, but always exciting. This is a special book. Kids adore it, and adults frequently love this journey back into childhood fantasy. I know I do!

A Mouse on a Motorcycle!! WOW!!!
The Mouse and the Motorcycle is about a boy mouse named Ralph, who lives in a mouse hole in room # 215. He finds this motorcycle which belongs to a boy named Keith. Keith teaches Ralph how to ride the motorcycle. I enjoyed reading this amazing book. I think it should be 4/5 stars, because it was about a great adventure.

Wonderful!! A classic book for all ages.
There are probably over 900 zillion books out there, and of all of them, this is my favorite. I love the cute sketches, witty little humor, and imaginative storyline. "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" follows the "tail" of Ralph the mouse, who's dream is to just spend those wonderful hours riding down the hallway on a red motorcycle, and keeping the bond between him and Keith (the boy) alive. I've already read the book over 20 times, and still don't get tired of it. Defenitely a treasure of all of Beverly Cleary's stories.

The mouse and the motorcycle
I llllllllllllllllllllllloved the book because it felt so realistic!
I felt like I was in the book,
and it was funny too.
I can tell it's the right book for me.

Ralph the mouse is very independent. ... Read more

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As the inhabitants of Redwall Abbey bask in the glorious Summerof the Late Rose, all is quiet and peaceful. But things are not as theyseem. Cluny the Scourge, the evil one-eyed rat warlord, is hell-bent ondestroying the tranquility as he prepares to fight a bloody battle forthe ownership of Redwall. This dazzling story in the Redwall series ispacked with all the wit, wisdom, humor, and blood-curdling adventure ofthe other books in the collection, but has the added bonus of takingthe reader right back to the heart and soul of Redwall Abbey and thecharacters who live there.

Magical, mystical, and the stuff of legends, this stunning tale of goodbattling with--and ultimately triumphing over--evil takes the reader ona roller-coaster adventure that barely draws breath from the first pageto the very last. Brian Jacques is a true master of his craft.--Susan Harrison ... Read more

Reviews (623)

Redwall is a joy to read at any age

Redwall is one of the finest examples of children's literature I've ever read. The detail that Brian Jacques puts into his books makes them a joy for children to read...and for adults to read aloud, or to themselves.

In Jacques' books, each species of animal speaks with a different dialect, mostly different British dialects. The descriptions of the foods and feasts of Redwall Abbey make one want to go out and try some of the moles "Deeper 'n' ever pie;" and what I wouldn't give to be able to taste one of the Abbott's cakes frosted with buttercup cream!

Brian Jacques has given the world a book that children and adults alike can enjoy. He begins with a wonderful description of the tales' villian...Cluney the Scourge...and holds the reader spellbound through the mysteries, adventures and romances that follow.

I first read this book about four years ago. Then, while I was pregnant with our only child, I then proceeded to read it a second time, aloud, so that my daughter, Madison, would develop a love of literature at a very young age. I even recorded the story so that Madison would be able to listen to it in the future.

Many times we are tempted to "wait for the movie," especially when it comes to children's literature. But this book is made for reading. Jacques unique dialects and "turns of the phrase" are wonderful for the preteen set to read by themselves (at 400 or so pages, they can feel like they are finally reading a real novel) or for an adult to read aloud to a younger group.

Once you have read this first in Jacques' Redwall series, you will find yourself eagerly awaiting the next installment (just like I do).

As I stated before, it has been over four years since I read this book, so please forgive any misspellings of the villian's name.

By the way, for those of you who are interested, Madison, who just turned two, already brings me stacks upon stacks of books every night to read before we go to be. I fear I have created a monster!

A Brilliant and Captivating tale...
"Redwall" is a thrilling piece of storytelling that has captured the hearts of fans around the world with its heart-pounding adventure, lovable characters and "hare"-breadth escapes. The amazing descriptive elements help bring the written word to life.

Fantasy has rarely had the warm, inviting feel of the Redwall series, especially this fabulous first enstallment. Its mystery,intrigue, and conundrums to unravel, as well as its twists of fate, assure that it will go down as a classic.

Matthias is a young novice mouse of the Redwall order, a rather clumsy creature, who has left every mouse in the Abbey wondering what his destiny will be. After the celebration of their Abbot's Golden Jubilee, a large horde of rats is discovered roaming the land in a horse-cart, lead by an usually large rat with one eye...

The characters in Redwall are all animals, such as those native to England (rats, mice, badgers, squirrels, foxes, and so on). The distinction between the protagonists and antagonists, and the differences in each creature's "personality" (not to mention their differences in accents and dialects!) add to the enjoyment. "Redwall" is uniquely fullfilling. This is the beginning of a long journey enjoyed by people of all ages. Redwall has grown to be one of my personal favorites, as have all the Redwall books, and will surely become a favorite of any enthusiastic reader.

great book!
I read this book based on an enthusiastic recommendation. And I am so glad I did. I'm now a happy fan of Brian Jacques and the entire Redwall series.

The story moves along very nicely, with good editing and excellent characters. I found myself reading late into the night just to see what happens to them and how it ends. The only warning I have is to be prepared to be hungry! The feasts are described in wonderful detail with great imagery and colorful conversations. It's very reminiscent of holiday gatherings and family dinners from childhood.

This book impressed me. I know it was written for children, but it absolutely does not read like one. I can see why younger readers would enjoy it, but adults will love it too. It would be a great book to read aloud or just keep it to yourself.

Enjoy!

A DELIGHTFULLY ENCHANTING MOUSE TALE!!!
I'ts been a long while since a book has given me such absolute pleasure as this remarkable little adventure (ah-hem) tale about a novice mouse hoping to become a brother of the Redwall Abbey in Mossflower woods. Instead he becomes the Abbey champion when he leads the fight against Cluny The Scourge: a particularly foul, one-eyed rat that threatens the peace and safety of Redwall and the surrounding countryside. This is a classic fantasy novel in the tradition of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis with a host of unforgettable characters (and loads of violent confrontations that could scare younger children). Jacques' prose is delicious to devour and highly recommended to anyone who doesn't enjoy reading: a fact that whets one's appetite for the next entry in the series. HARSH LANGUAGE: about 6 words, VIOLENCE: about 40 scenes, SEXUAL REFERENCES: none.

The Guerilla Union of Shrews! (Read the book to figure out)
Fans of Watership Down and heroic tales of battles and quests will be intrigued with the unique world of personified animals that Brian Jacques has created. Bizarre but equally entrancing, Redwall will captivate readers and keep them prisoner until the very end. The book opens with a description of Redwall Abbey which is owned by an order of monk-like mice and an introduction to Matthias, a clumsy, awkward, "brother-in-training." Matthias, Father Abbot, and the other brothers have lived in relative peace for many long years, providing shelter and care to local woodland residents and all those in need. This humble but satisfying way of life is threatened one summer night when Matthias first lays eyes upon the legendary warlord, Cluny the Scourge, and his horde of rats ready to plunder and pillage. Where these villainous rats have come from is unknown but it is quite clear that Cluny has his one eye set upon claiming Redwall as his stronghold. All that stands between the death and destruction of the entire Mossflower region is the monastery brothers and sisters. Now these practitioners of mercy, healing, and love must become skilled defenders of their home.

Young Matthias experiences a tremendous transformation from an orphaned immature mouse to a natural born leader and developing warrior. To save Redwall from its invaders he embarks on a quest to find the lost sword of Martin the Warrior, a founder of their abbey. During his search he discovers his past and destiny, learning valuable lessons of life, honor, and what truly lies in a warrior's heart along the way. Join the mice and their companions as they encounter new friends and enemies during their struggle with the terrible Cluny the Scourge. Redwall is a strangely imaginative and enchanting story that will change your views on furry rodents forever. ... Read more

Book Description

A paperback edition of E.B. White's classic novel about one small mouse on a very big adventure! With black and white illustrations.

Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.

Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend?

Reviews (88)

Stuart Little
Stuart Little by E.B. White is a classic story.I never knew what was going to happen to this courageous little mouse.In the book it is like you are reading through the eyes of a mouse as you go through some of his adventures.
This book follows the life of a city family called the Littles.They adopt a son and name him Stuart, but the catch is Stuart is a mouse! So why would you want to read a story about a mouse?You would want to read this book because it is packed with adventure! You never know what is going to happen next! The story goes from Stuart befriending a bird named Margolo, to sailing a sailboat,to trying to drive his own car!Oh, and did I mention the CATS? It was interesting to imagine in my mind what the world looked like through a mouse's eyes.
Any person who likes adventure and little animals will love this book. It also doesn't take very long to read. I read it in two days because I liked it so much! I can't wait to read more of E.B. White's books and stories.

Stuart Little: still as much fun as ever
I re-read this story a few months ago after about an 11 year gap. What a delightful experience! It`s a great book for kids, but reading it as an adult is fun, too, and you understand a lot more of the author`s tongue-in-cheek wit and his lyrical descriptions. Child readers will be entranced by Stuart`s clever adaptions to a world that is always bigger than he is: details like his matchbox bed, paper clip skates, and toy sailboat that he commandeers quite well are very original. I do recall thinking as a kid that it was weird that he was born looking so much like a mouse and everyone just takes it for granted, but you tend to forget about that as you get absorbed in the adventures. Stuart is also born with an enormous capacity for wit and a novel take on life- witness his verbal sparring with Snowbell the cat and his hilarious turn as a substitute teacher. Others have noted that the primary reason he appeals so much to kids is because they, too, have to cope each day with a huge, often bewildering adult world. I agree with this, while also offering the idea that another reason he`s easy to like is because he is a true individual who likes to do things in his own special manner. He does`nt mind if big people and animals find his custom-built car or tiny clothing and suitcase strange! By the end of the story, you`re really rooting for him to find his lovely little bird friend, Margalo, and you`re also quite disappointed that the tale ends so abruptly! If only White had written a Stuart sequel. I can`t say enough good things about Stuart, and re-discovering him has inspired me to both rent the movie and look for a copy of White`s essays.

Dull family classic
The second son of the Little family turns out to be a mouse, whom they nevertheless name Stuart and raise as their own. I was somewhat underwhelmed by this family classic. Stuart's "adventures," such as riding on a toy boat and going down a drain, are related briefly and dully, without developing much tension or excitement. The characters are unfailingly stiff and polite with each other; even the interaction between family members often comes off like conversations between strangers at a cocktail party. The Little family's treatment of Stuart seems quite neglectful as well. Mr. Little, in particular, seems to think nothing of sending his little son into potentially dangerous situations, such as down a drainpipe to fetch a ring. At one point, the book describes how it becomes Stuart's job to go inside the piano while it is being played and hold on to a key that sticks, even though doing so subjects him to loud noises that affect his hearing for hours afterward.

Cute but strange ending
This was a cute book about litle Stuart the mouse in NYC. I listened to it in my car a week ago. Its a great book for kids, but I kept thinking how bizarre some of the events were. The voice of the cat in the book is agravating, like fingernails on a blackboard. The book kind of trails of in the end when Stuart starts looking for his lover, the little bird Margolo. Then it ends. Odd. But a great book to read to kids at bedtime. .

Stuart Little
This book was about a family with the last name Little. One day the parents go out to adopt a brother for their son. When they arrive, a mouse starts speaking to them. They are so confused thinking of what kid they can take home with them. The mouse starts speaking to them of how much he would love to have a family. He would have loved to have a family like them.So afterall they adopt him. when they take him home the real son of theirs does not believe them that the rat is their brother. He also gets very dissapointed. One of the mouse's fears was that, big mean white sharped nailed, cat Snowball. Many times Snowbell tried eating him. Later on in this story he and Snowbell make good friends. Snowbell starts protecting Stuart from all of the street cats. Stuart sleeps in a match box. It's very hard for him to get around the city because he is so small and anyone may step on him. There is a movie and a book mad of him. The both brothers are put on a soccer team. ... Read more

Book Description

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service. ... Read more

Reviews (182)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH-- a report by 8th grader
Mrs. Frisby is a widowed, lady mouse caring for four small children. She faces a dilemma, that is that spring is creeping up on them and she needs to move to her summer home immediately before the plow comes to tear up the garden she and her family live in. They must move straight away or face almost certain death. What makes this so difficult is that her youngest son, Timothy, lies dreadfully ill with pneumonia, and he will not be well in time to make the long journey through the woods, to the stream. Fortunately, she is, after many exciting encounters with other wild animals, able to find a solution to her problem. She seeks help from the rats of NIMH and learns a great deal of their history throughout the book.

This book was quite enjoyable; , it is a winner of the John Newbery Medal. Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH was full of adventure, sadness, and cheerfulness. But most of all, The Rats of NIMH had a wonderful, intriguing storyline. As you read, you wonder, how could someone think up such a creative, charming, and pleasant, plot? Another thing I enjoyed was how each of the characters was so individual, that you can't help but love each and every one of them.

There was not much to dislike about this novel, except for maybe one thing. That factor being, that mostly the whole book is in dialogue, except for the beginning and the end. This meaning, that during most of the book, it is not extraordinarily descriptive. One more thing that is more of a disappointment then a dislike is that, in the end, the author leaves you hanging, you never find out something that is very important. It is meant to make you crave to know the answer, but you can't have it. I think that that is actually just fine because you then get to make up your own ending.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was one of the absolute greatest books i have ever read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and is looking for an exciting book to read. I certainly enjoyed this novel immensely and I hope that I have encouraged you to read it.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
The book I read was "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH". The main charecter is Mrs. Frisby, she has four children. There are two boys and two girls. The two boys are Martin and Timothy, and the two girls are Cynthia and Teresa. Timothy has pneumonia, and in five days it is going to be moving day. Mrs. frisby goes on quest to get the house moved and to get Timothy better.
I liked this book because it was emotional as well as a exciting book. The charecters go on adventures and meet all kinds of talking animals. If you saw the movie, you should still read the book because the movie is so much different then the book. The type of people who would like this bookwould be people who like science fiction,and people that like fun easy reading.
I would give this book **** four star because it is a good book and I have no complants about it. It is more of a fairytale put in 12 year old words. It is all in all a good book and you should read it.

An Interesting Adventure (written by sixth grader)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a great book. It is interesting, adventurous,and fits my age group. I was assigned this book as a Novel Study project and therefore thought that it would be boring. As I read on I found out that I was very wrong. This book had a lot of adventure, and was very interesting. But this book also has a lot of descriptive detail and sometimes became boring. I do like a bit of detail because it helps me understand the book more. Some people do like a lot of detail, but that is not my style. Therefore I gave the book 4 stars. Though I like animals, this is not why I liked this book, because I am terrified of rats and mice, though some people call them cute. I liked this book because the author used a device call personification on the characters (the animals) which made it interesting because they now posessed human qualities. I like this device because it means the we can relate to the characters though they are animals. I recommend this book to everyone. Try the book out. It may be boring at first but keep reading, it has a lot of adventure. It turns about to be very exciting.

Mrs.Frisby and The Rats of NIMH
This is a a great book for medium size kids. My favorite character is Martin because he is very brave talking at the end.
This is a good book because it keeps you wanting to read more and more. I

had a hard time not going ahead of the schedule.

My Thoughts On Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
This was a very good book about a widowed mother mouse with a child,Timothy who is sick with pnemonia and gets overcomes many problems and fears because of Timothy. First,Mrs. Frisby runs through the cold and darkness to find some doctor(Mr. Ages)to give advise or medicine needless to say Mr. Ages gives her medicine and now another problem occurs it's the end of the winter and it's moving day I think you'll enjoy finding out what comes of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This rhythmic read-aloud par excellence follows a clever mouse on a walk through the deep dark wood, where he encounters several hungry inhabitants who want to make him their main course. Lacking size or strength as defenses, quick-witted Mouse instead taps the powers of his imagination to create the gruffalo, a "terrible creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in his terrible jaws." But will Mouse's frightful description be enough to ruin the appetites of his determined foes? After all, there's no such thing as a gruffalo. Oh, no?? ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Gruffalo
This is a wonderful and engaging book to have in a classroom library. You can teach various writing and reading concepts such as: inferences, dialogue, patterns, punctuation and rhyme. Kids simply love it and are eager to participate in the reading.

Good for confidence-building
My 3 year old daughter loves this book. Within a week she knew most of the words and she now 'reads' it to herself while looking at the pictures. The rhymes are well written with plenty of repetition, making them easy for a child to learn. We read it together most days. It ranks with the Dr Seuss books for popularity on her bookshelf.

The message of the book is that size doesnt matter, that it is more important to use your wits. I particularly like the chorus 'silly old fox (snake/owl), doesnt he know, there's no such thing as a gruffalo', as it makes the reader feel that they are outwitting the fox/snake/owl, and finally even the Gruffalo itself.

Outstanding Book
Wonderful story of an imaginative mouse who while taking a walk through the woods makes up a story about a animal he calls a Gruffalo , he makes up this animal to protect himself from the various predators (fox, owl, snake ) that want to eat him .He succeeds in frightening away the animals ,but than he meets the animal of his imagination a Gruffalo. Now he has a bigger problem the Gruffalo wants to eat him, so he tells the Gruffalo to walk behind him through the wooods and see how afraid the animals are of him (the mouse that is ). The Gruffalo of course doesn't believe that the animals could possibly be afraid of a mouse so he walks behind the mouse , and when the animals of the woods see the Gruffalo behind the mouse they runaway in fright and the Gruffalo believes that the mouse was telling the truth and runs away from the mouse himself. Very enjoyable for both parent and child. Wonderfully illustrated, I highly recommend the Gruffalo

Amazing!
This was a gift to my daughter a few months ago. She recently turned two and asks me to read this book at least three times a day. She loves all the characters in the book and even identifies the mushrooms, pinecones, woodpecker... and she now says "Amazing!" and "Astounding!" She can also describe the gruffalo in great detail, just like the book does. I plan to give this as a present to all her cousins!

My 3-year old's favorite book
When my daughter was 3, she could literally "read" this book to us from memory. The story is that catching, the illustrations great fun. It was her favorite, favorite book! Highly recommend. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Maisy the mouse and her friends Cyril, Charley, and Tallulah have a busyday of gardening, painting pictures, cleaning the playroom, and romping at theplayground. Young readers can lift the flaps--all 36 of 'em--to learn aboutnumbers, colors, shapes, and opposites as the pals go about their day. Whatobjects in the playroom match the shapes on the flaps? What color completes thepictures of carrots, whales, and grasshoppers? The oh-so-cute Maisy is a hugefavorite with children, who watch her on TV and read about her in Where Does Maisy Live?, Maisy Goes to Bed, Count with Maisy, and many moretitles by award-winning artist Lucy Cousins. Vibrant colors and bold blackoutlines set the tone for this cheery, interactive book about everyone'sfavorite mouse. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (8)

16 month old Ayla and Maisy books
My grand child, Ayla, also enjoys this lift the flaps book. She is still discovering flaps she hasn't noticed as yet. I will difinitely order more of the Maisy books as they are a hit with her.

Awesome book
I got this book for my 16 month old 1 week ago and she has hardly put it down since. It has bright captivating illustrations, robust flaps that are hard to tear, and a different theme on each page. The themes are ones from real life (counting bugs in the garden, colouring different objects, putting different shaped toys away in the playroom, and doing opposites in the playground) and the way the flaps teach the concepts is ingenious. My baby is particularly crazy about the opposites page since when you flip the flaps Maisy goes up and down the slide, Cyril swings high and and low on the swing and Charley dumps a bucket of sand into a truck, all activities she's crazy about herself. Flipping the flaps and seeing the results has her mesmerized. I can't say enough good things about this book!

my 3 year old loves this...has enjoyed this book for months
Cute book. Really big. Lots of little flaps to open. Lots of fun things to talk about (if child is speech delayed and you are looking to teach vocabulary interactively)...Concepts up/down and wet/dry are shown very effectively with flaps...Lots of good chances to say "where is....?" and open flaps to find. If your 2-3 year old likes Maisy, this is a good book ...

Lots of Flaps and Learning!
This book has so many flaps! My daughter loves them! But, there are so many, and some are small, that it's almost too much for her at nine months. This is definitely a book she'll grow into, though.

The characters are cute and she likes to hunt for them under flaps. The book itself is colorful and oversized, making reading it a lot of fun for both of us. Plus, different pages explore counting and colors and other topics that will make it easy to give your child a little "lesson" while reading.

Maisey's Big Flap Book
My 15 month old son loves all of the Maisey books. The lift-the-flap books allow him to participate. He can't wait to see what is under the next flap. I would recommend these books to any toddler. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ah, mice. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Laura Numeroff andillustrator Felicia Bond, creators of the bestselling picture books If You Give a Mouse a Cookieand If You Take a Mouse to theMovies, are back with If You Take a Mouse to School. As you mightimagine, there are great risks in bringing your mouse to school. For starters,he'll ask you for your lunchbox. And then a sandwich. And a snack for later.Still not satisfied, he'll want to participate in everything from math tosoccer. Children and adults alike will revel in the hilarious, very cuteillustrations of the mouse in the classroom: hanging from the top corner of theblackboard to spell (aptly enough) "precocious" and "adrenaline," writing"'Goodnight Mouse' by Mouse," sitting inside the boy's open backpack playingwith a yo-yo, etc. This book is more episodic in nature than the trulycause-and-effect formula of the previous books: "If you give a pig a pancake,she'll want some syrup to go with it." Nonetheless, kids who know and love thisrollicking read-aloud series will laugh and play to see a mouse at school. (Ages4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Not my favorite, but my 2+ year old loves it
This newest book in the "series" does not seem to have the same flow of events as the others, however, it is still a fun book to read and my daughter loves it. The illustrations are fun and the story is cute. If you don't own any of the books in the series, I'd purchase this one last. "If you give a moose a muffin," and "If you give a pig a pancake" are the best.

If you take a Mouse to School
My four year old son really likes mouse...Mouse is just as precocius as he. He has bonded with the mouse character they are kindred in spirit. I am excited about it all! In this book the mouse does things that my son thinks about doing or does. It is fun for him to learn that others share the same thoughts, and actions. These series of books have definitly touched his heart and I believe they will be stories that he will one day pass along to his children.

Ok, but then what?
OK, bottom line, my daughter loves this book. Loves the story and loves the pictures. So I have to give it an overall positive review because the primary purpose of a kid's book is to entertain the kids.

But I do have a little complaint, and I know how silly it will sound. This book is a follow-up to "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" and others in the series, such as another of my daughter's favorites, "If you Give A Moose A Muffin." What is clever about these stories is that they develop a circular sequence of events that ultimately lead back to the beginning for what could be another in an infinite series of rotations through the steps. This book does not end so neatly. The mouse must return to the school to retrieve his lunchbox, hence you are taking a mouse to school again, but it is at the end of the school day, not the beginning. If there were one more page it would say, "Umm, then you'd go home."

I know, again I'm being too knit-picky for a kid's book. But parents will feel more enthusiastic to read a kids book where the gimmick is successfully carried out, not one that seems forced, as if the writer had a deadline. Or a nap to take.

Still, thumbs and tails up. I gave it four stars figuring I'd give five to Felicia Bond, the illustrator, and three to the author, Laura Numeroff.

I know this book by heart...
My seventeen-month old son will search through his vast library to find this book (and the others in this series), protesting when I try to compromise with another selection. He loves the story, knows when to turn the page (which is no longer necessary, as I can recite them all from memory) and will accept no subsitute. I even tried burying the books away so that I could read something new to him, but he dug them out, carried them down the stairs and insisted I drop everything to recall what are apparently his favorite stories.

he will ask you
This is a nice book to read to young kids. This is mostly like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. It is about when you take a mouse to school. He will ask for all school supplies.(like a lunch box) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Yum! This delicious counting book offers much more than the numbers one to ten. Each page is a feast of sweet, sugary treats--coconut kisses, peanut-butter cookies, Linzer hearts, and more are carefully concocted and counted by mouse chefs. The tempting desserts are made all the more delectable by Robert Sabuda's brilliant pop-up constructions that leap from the pages, practically into your salivating mouth. Aesthetes will swoon at the magical beauty of this exquisite book, and the engineers in the crowd will wonder, "How did he do that?" Sabuda's astounding creations may be too delicate for excessive youthful probing, but the sing-song rhyme, counting exercises, and joyous paper explosions of confectionery delights make this a wondrous read-aloud for the sweet-toothed of all ages. (Ages 3 and up) ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Wow!
This is an amazing pop-up! It isn't for little fingers though. Lots of tantalizing papers to pull! However, seated on your lap, your child will adore the book. Mr. Sabuda has fabulous books, they are fantastic to look at. I have his butterly book also, and it is just as engaging.
You will love to count cookies with your little one!

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
This is a wonderful book for children of all ages. The pop-ups are fun and fanciful and will make you ooh and aah. I dare any adult to look at it and not be thrilled. The paper engineering is remarkable and you will stay awake at nights wondering how the artist could make such wonders. This is in full color as opposed to Sabuda's other works mainly done in white. I would make sure small hands are not allowed to get too friendly with this book so as to keep it functional.

disappointed
This book is a let down. The pop-ups are not pretty at all. Everything seems to be the same color.

Excellent Pop Up Book
Toddler's love pop-up books so you cannot really go wrong with this book. Sometimes, however, the theatrics detract from a book's goal -- in this case to teach little guys and gals to count. Two other excellent books that I'd also like to recommend are "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" by Dr. Seuss and "One, Two, Three: This Book's for Me" by Stuart Samuel.

Amazing pop-up
We got this book as a Christmas gift last year. This pop-up book is like no other that I have seen. The children learn to count as they watch the paper come alive. The rhymes are easy to learn and my 3 year old daughter loves to say them as she turns the pages. Note: She is a very careful child, many children would tear the book as it is kind of delicate. She also counts the cookies and the hiding mice on each page. The colors are explosive and even I like reading this book over and over. I cannot even imagine how he gets paper to do the things that they do... cookies rotate, pinwheels rise out of the page and twirl, and a life sized gingerbread house magically climbs out of the book. I would highly recommend this book as long as they will not handle the book roughly. Better yet, read it with them and teach them to be gentle. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Welcome to the hilariously hypothetical world of Laura Numeroff andFelicia Bond. Everything has an impact on everything else in this world, so ifyou take a mouse to the movies, don't be surprised if you find yourself beingrun ragged by the exuberant little fellow's increasingly grand appetites. Whenwe first met him in Numeroff and Bond's tremendously popular If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,he had more energy than a 2-year-old on lollipops. Now, in the excitement ofthe Christmas season, he's unstoppable. Going from movie theater to Christmastree lot to the neighbor's yard for snowmouse-building, he's a very demandingmouse indeed--in only the best way, of course.

The freshness of the If You Give a... series is diminished only slightly as thesequels pile up. The dazed and earnest look on the face of the mouse'slong-suffering friend makes a marvelous foil for the mouse's high-spiritedexpressions. Adult readers will chuckle as they recognize the ephemeral passionsof a child, while children will simply love the unfolding chain of events. Aperfect Christmas read-aloud for the impetuous youngster on your list. (Ages 4to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Wonderful Book for Christmas Holidays
'If You Take A Mouse To The Movies' by Laura Numeroff, with Illustrations by Felicia Bond, A Laura Geringer Book, 2000.

This is an excellent continuation of the collaboration of Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond on children's books based upon fanciful 'IF/THEN' statements. If you take a Mouse to the movies, then he will want popcorn; THEN, this results in his stringing the popcorn to decorate the Christmas Tree (which is the central theme of this beautiful book), and then, and so on. Each improbable 'THEN' is the joy of this book. For example, the little Mouse is given just the right clothes for the wintry weather, including a cute red woolen cap, with holes for his large ears. Finally, after making snowmen, decorating a Christmas Tree, you will come full circle, and, after giving the Mouse another batch of popcorn, again, ''he'll want you to take him to the moves'.

I enjoyed reading this book to my grandchildren. The younger boys (twins) were captivated by the richness of details in Felicia. Bond's illustrations, while the older grandchildren (especially the girl) rolled their eyes at the 'silliness' of each new IF/THEN situation 'for example, a Mouse making a 'snowman' and (!) with snowy white mouse ears! The Christmas theme makes this an ideal gift for the impending holidays.

Little Mouse is Back...
If you take a mouse to the movies, he'll ask for popcorn. When you bring him some, it will remind him of Christmas and he'll want to string it...then he'll demand a tree to hang it from...seeing the snow on the ground will make him want to build a snowmouse, then a snow fort, a snow fort fight...and on and on. This little mouse is as busy and demanding as ever in this fourth book of the series. Laura Numeroff's simple, funny text, captures the essence of the pre-school mind as her mouse jumps from one idea to the next, in his logical little mind, until finally coming full circle, back to the popcorn. Felicia Bond's colorful, busy and expressive illustrations compliment the story perfectly and your youngsters will love finding all the special little details, hidden in the pictures. Children of all ages will be amused and delighted as they enjoy the chaos this little mouse wreaks on his human friend. This is a wonderful holiday book the whole family will enjoy.

I know this book by heart...
My seventeen-month old son will search through his vast library to find this book (and the others in this series), protesting when I try to compromise with another selection. He loves the story, knows when to turn the page (which is no longer necessary, as I can recite them all from memory) and will accept no subsitute. I even tried burying the books away so that I could read something new to him, but he dug them out, carried them down the stairs and insisted I drop everything to recall what are apparently his favorite stories.

special
This is a funny book, nice pictures, great book by Laura Numeroff. Follow, the holiday fun and irresistable tale about taking a mouse to the movies. Colorful artwork by illustrator Felicia Bond.

Not About the Movies.
I picked this book up because I thought it was going to be a story about watching movies with a mouse. However, it's not. Instead it's about what happens when a young boy takes a mouse to the movies and how he gets sidetracked on the way home into doing all sorts of things assorted with Christmas: from getting a Christmas tree, to building a snowman, to building a snowfort. The illustrations are quite nice and children love hearing this story read over and over. Even though, I used to teach at a preschool, I didn't know this book was written by the same lady who wrote IF YOU GIVE A MOOSE A MUFFIN. That book is much more interesting and the zany connections made are more humorous for all ages. Nevertheless, IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO THE MOVIES is a decent book and makes for some fun holiday reading with youngsters--read the book, then do some of the activities described together. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Pendragon: The Merchant of Death, D.J. MacHale, the creator ofseveral popular television series and Afterschool Specials, transplants thePendragon name from Arthurian legend to modern-day junior high school. Fourteen- year-old Bobby Pendragon has it all; he's smart, popular, and a star basketballplayer in quiet Stony Brook, Connecticut. But a visit from Uncle Press soontopples all of that as Bobby learns that he is a Traveler, someone who can ride"flumes" through time and space. Bobby lands in Denduron, a medieval world wherethe gentle Milago are enslaved by the Bedoowan, and it's Bobby's job to freethem. He reluctantly teams up with Loor--a girl his age from thewarrior-territory of Zadaa--and other Travelers, recounting his adventures injournals that are magically transported back to his friends Mark and Courtney inStony Brook. These first-person journals at times feel contrived--they'reriddled with terms like "coolio" and "bizarro" and gnarly descriptions of vilesights and smells--but the book's thumping story soon scrubs away all suchconcern. The Merchant of Death keeps the pages flipping with steadyaction and near-constant mortal peril for its heroes, promising that both thisand future volumes in the Pendragon series should be eagerly devoured. (Ages 10and older) --D.J. Morel ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Exciting New Series for Science Fiction / Fantasy Fans
Fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon has always thought that he had a normal life. He has a great family, great friends, was lucky enought to have kissed the most perfect girl, has a perfect dog, Marley, and has a super-cool Uncle. But there's something that Bobby never knew about himself, and is about to find out. He's destined to save the world. No, not in ten years from now, but at this very instant. And no, not on this Earth, because life on this Earth is different than Bobby ever thought it could be. Bobby will be saving the world on an alternate dimension called Denduron, a territory inhabited by many strange beings, that is plagued by a dangerous revolution, and ruled by a magical tyrant. Now Bobby is forced to accept his role as savior to the people of Denduron, or else he won't ever see his family again. Besides, Denduron is only the beginning.

D.J. MacHale is a fantastic author who has created an interesting, and out-of-this-world dimension that will pull readers in from the very first page. Bobby is a fun character, who, even though he has to save the world, and is in an alternate dimension, uses teenage lingo of today (i.e. cool, awesome, etc.), that readers will be able to relate to and understand quite well. PENDRAGON: THE MERCHANT OF DEATH is told in alternating chapters between Bobby's journals, and his friends (Mark and Courtney) quest to find Bobby and save him from untimely death, which gives the reader the chance to read both sides of the story. This is an interesting and exciting addition to the science fiction / fantasy genre. A must read.

Erika Sorocco

A must for anyone who likes fantasy/sci-fi books
Okay, to tell you the truth, I picked up this book by absolute chance. I was in the public library and decided to randomly pull a book off the shelves. I picked Pendragon: The Merchant of Death. Being a fan of fantasy books (and because I thought the cover looked interesting) I decided to check it out. I liked it immediately.

The characters are actually realistic and have depth to them. With characters like Bobby, Courtney, and Mark, you get completely normal kids you can relate to. With Uncle Press you are given an enigma, who always seems to know more than you and so on. You also get the traditional bad guy in Saint Dane. I can compare him to Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter, except for the fact that he doesn't have a huge group of followers.
Actually, you can compare most of the Pendragon characters to those of Harry Potter Bobby to Harry, Mark to Ron, and Press to Dumbledore, etc.

The thing that I thought really set these books apart were the settings which were all original, strange and exciting. I also thought that the concept of different territories in the universe and one impossible-to-catch man trying to send them all into chaos interesting.

I was also able to appreciate these books because Bobby isn't one of those hero's who know what they're doing, he seems just as confused as the rest of