Amazon.com

Fans of Lemony Snicket's wonderful Series of Unfortunate Events won't besurprised to find that in the sixth installment the three Baudelaire orphans'new home proves to be something of a mixed bag. As our ever sad but helpfulnarrator states, "Although 'a mixed bag' sometimes refers to a plastic bag thathas been stirred in a bowl, more often it is used to describe a situation thathas both good parts and bad parts. An afternoon at the movie theater, forinstance, would be a mixed bag if your favorite movie were showing, but if youhad to eat gravel instead of popcorn. A trip to the zoo would be a very mixedbag if the weather were beautiful, but all of the man-and woman-eating lionswere running around loose." And so it is for the bad-luck Baudelaires. Theirfancy new 71-bedroom home on 667 Dark Avenue is inhabited by Esmé GigiGeniveve Squalor (the city's sixth most important financial advisor), and herkindly husband, Jerome, who doesn't like to argue. Esmé is obsessed bythe trends du jour (orphans are "in"), and because elevators are "out," Sunny,Violet, and Klaus have to trudge up 66 flights of stairs to reach the Squalors'penthouse apartment. (Other unfortunate trends include pinstripe suits, aqueousmartinis--water with a faint olive-y taste--parsley soda, and oceandecorations.)

As the book begins, the Baudelaires are not only frightened in anticipation oftheir next (inevitable) encounter with the evil, moneygrubbing Count Olaf butthey are also mourning the disappearance of their dear new friends from The Austere Academy, theQuagmires. It doesn't take long for Olaf to show up in another of his horrificdisguises... but if he is on Dark Avenue, what has he done with the Quagmires?Once again, the resourceful orphans use their unique talents (Violet'sinventions, Klaus's research skills, and the infant Sunny's strong teeth) in afruitless attempt to escape from terrible tragedy. Is there a gleam of hope forthe orphans and their new friends? Most certainly not. The only thing we canreally count on are more gloriously gloomy adventures in the seventh book, The Vile Village. (Ages 9 andolder) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (97)

ups and downs
If you scare eaily,skip this book. The Ersatz Elevator is one of the books in a series of Unfortunate Events, Wich features count olaf as a villain.Count olaf is a really mean guy who does very nasty, mean things to the Baudelair orphans.
This book starts out with the three Baudelair orphans Violet, Klause and sonny in a penthouse at 667 Dark Ave, near where the baudelairs lived before there parents died. Many strange things happen during this story. There is a secret passage, a door man who helps Count Olaf, welding torches, an auction with unusual items, and an elevator shaft(but that's no surprise given the title of the book)
Despite the nasty, mean things that that count olaf does to the Baudelairs,there are some funny parts. For instance the penthouse is so large that when they went looking for Count Olaf they droped bread crums in each room so they new they had alredy been there.
Read this book to find out if Count Olaf will be caught and be put in jail, or get away again! There are loys of twists and turns and like the title, plenty of ups and downs.

The Elevator is Out
After "The Austere Academy", I wondered whether this series of books could get any better. They can and they did. In "The Ersatz Elevator", the sixth book in this series, the Baudelaire orphans move in with a non-relative in a penthouse apartment. While you might think that a penthouse apartment (which has something like 71 bedrooms) and kitchens, and sitting rooms, and on and on, would be a lovely place to live, you would be thinking wrong, because this is one of the books in "A Series of Unfortunate Events", and those of you that have read the previous books know that little good comes to pass concerning the Baudelaire orphans.

This time the problem is that Esme Squalor (the sixth most important financial advisor in the city) and her husband Jerome are way too hung up on what is "in". Esme must go to only the "in" restaurants; she must wear only "in" clothes, which includes the children, and on and on. Unfortunately, being "in" also means multiple compromises in terms of comfort. For example, the penthouse is on the top of a building with 66 stories, and elevators are "out". So the Squalors and the Baudelaires must walk up and down the 66 stories each time the go in to and out from the building. They certainly received sufficient exercise. Before I forget, orphans are also "in".

Of course, we know that Count Olaf must eventually show up, and he does. However, there is a mystery. We find that Count Olaf went up to the apartment and did not later leave the building. Therein lies the crux of the mystery for this story.

This story climaxes with the children running briefly into old friends, and then losing them again. They also nearly catch Count Olaf, again. In the end, the children are forced to find a new home once again. Unfortunately I am unable to tell you more, because Lemony Snicket, should he ever escape from his current predicament, would hunt me down and provide me with agony should I reveal the end of this Baudelaire tale. Suffice it to say that the Baudelaires have their best adventure yet, with even better to come.

This series has had its strong points and its weak points. In general this book is one of the better ones in the series, readily matching "The Austere Academy". In addition to the direct lessons provided in the book, the children once again are masters of their own fates, and are forced to get themselves out of their predicaments with minimal adult help. I also enjoyed the moral tale provided by Lemony Snicket regarding people that must always keep up with everyone else in style or fashion. For this last point alone the book is a must-read for every teenage child.

The violence in this story is a bit more muted than in some of the previous books, and I think that an 8 or 9 year old child should be able to handle the story well. Certainly Esme could generate a great deal of family discussion of status and whether status is sufficiently important to cause people pain or to break laws.

In keeping with the trend of the last book, this book continues to expose the children to new experiences and to challenge their abilities to take care of themselves. Once again, while there are certainly negative aspects to the story, the positive aspects outweigh the negatives. This book is easily a good successor to "The Austere Academy", and sets a standard for the next books in the series. I will tell you now that the next two books are just as good as or better than this book and "The Austere Academy", thus continuing the excellence of this unconventional children's series. 5 stars again!

The best book I ever read
This book is unlike any other book i've ever read.It is hard for me to say if I like Violet or Klaus more.Beacause they both really help geting away from danger (or Count Olaf).I recomend this book entirely.

book the sixth rules!
this book is the best yet.it has a new badie. some traped triplets.and v.f.d.

Perhaps my favorite of the entire series!
The sixth book of Unfortunate Events is probably the most enthralling of the lot because of the unbelievable creative and brilliant portrayal of its characters by Lemony Snicket.
Sunny is a real cutie and she is the greatest baby in the whole world as it's clearly portrayed in this book. My heart beat so hard when I was reading one of the fantastic encounters between the a villain and the 3 children. It was like reading a very fine mystery novel by the fireside-- only better! Wow! If you want to find out what it is I'm referring to, you'll have to read this book. It's undoubtably a rollercoaster of events here as you will find out. ... Read more

Book Description

All the sweetness of a daddy's special relationship with his little girl is captured in this charming picture book. With his signature wit and warmth, Garrison Keillor turns everyday events -- from diaper-changing and sharing favorite foods to a walk down the street -- into celebrations.

Lively illustrations bring to life the songs Keillor wrote for his own daughter. This delightful package also includes a four-song CD of the author's live performances. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cute Book
This is a very cute book!The sentiment is sweet, the wit is classic Garrison Keillor and the illustrations are wonderful. My 2.5 year old daughter loves to dance to the songs on the accompanying CD.You won't be disappointed.

Keillor is a national treasure!
I saw Mr. Keillor at a reading of this delightful new book in New York, and he's one of a kind! This book is funny, clever, and truly captures the spirit and depth of feeling that a father can have for his child. The illustrator captured the Upper West Side gorgeously - like Woody Allen makes you see the City with charm. The CD that comes with the book of Mr. Keillor singing these songs will have you singing and dancing along with with the text. I will be buying this book for Father's Day for my Dad and all the other great Dads I know to share with their daughters. ... Read more

Book Description

The 2003 Newbery Award Winner and New York Times Best-seller. "Avi's latest novel is superb combination of mystery, historical fiction, and a coming-of-age tale... Breathlessly paced, beautifully written, and filled with details of life in the Middle Ages, this compelling novel is one of Avi's finest."-Book Report ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Surviving in Medieval England: Crispin, The Cross of Lead
The book Crispin, The Cross of Lead can be defined as a "good book" due to the high literary merit used by Avi. In the book, Avi presents the developed theme of survival. A thirteen-year-old boy, who never knew his father, is alone in the world when his mother dies. All he really knew about himself and his past was that everyone called him Asta's son. He is proclaimed a "wolf's head" and must escape the place he's only ever known and find a way to endure. Before he leaves though, Asta's son discovers his real name is actually Crispin. Through his journey, he meets a man named Bear, and he must also learn to survive as his servant. Both the characters and setting are portrayed in such a way that is realistic for the time period they are representing. The vocabulary Avi utilizes describes how fourteenth century England really existed, especially with the social aspects of the period. Avi's pacing and style of the book is appropriate for the content also. Due to the fact that the book is set during Medieval England, most of the book seems to have a slow steady pace to it, especially when Crispin is walking through the forest. As the story grows with more action the pace quickens for the reader, especially where Crispin becomes stuck in some interesting situations, such as when Crispin is running away from his steward, John Aycliffe, in order to stay alive. Even the dialogue offers insight into the characters and their points of view. For example, Bear at the one point in the story gives Crispin the "freedom to choose" if he will join Bear or not on his journey. All Crispin can say is that he has no choice to decide because Bear is his master. Bear says, "Should not every man be master of himself?" Crispin responded with, "You made me call you master," and so Bear chose for him once again. As the plot thickens however, the reader is always wondering what the outcome will be and try to answer the two main dramatic questions of the story--Will Crispin survive in this harsh era? If so, will he ever find out about his past?

Crispin, The Cross of Lead is an excellent book for grades 4 through 7. Children who appreciate history, especially Medieval England, and value religion would find this book to be extremely enjoyable. Teachers who would like to use this book in their classroom should consider doing a thematic unit on Medieval England. One idea would be that the students could learn about the time period and make food and play games from the 1300's. Another thought would be that the teacher could incorporate math by teaching the students about a number line and have them make time line about Medieval England. The teacher could also teach the students about how the world was different back then in order to integrate science. For the summative assessment, the students could put together a Medieval fair in their classroom or for even the whole school and write an article for their school newspaper about the fair. Also, in a parochial school, teachers could incorporate this book into a theology lesson, especially because of the characters moral beliefs.

JD's Book Review
I loved this book, I couldn't put it down.I think that Avi outdid himself."Asta's son" is what he's been called all of his life, but the town's priest tells him that his name is Crispin.One of the most important things to Crispin is that his mother, that is deceased now, had a cross of lead that she gave to him.Well the book goes on to tell that Crispin has been declared a "wolf's head", so this steward named John Aycliffe and his men try to catch Crispin.But he escaped just to a village where he meets a man called Bear.Bear takes Crispin in as an aprentice.They were looking for a town named Great Wexly and they find it.They go to a place called Green Man's Tavern to stay for a while.But if you want to know more about you will have to read it.

crispin
The beginning started off slow and boring. Then little by little it got better and better. When Crispin finds out Cerdic lead him into the trap is when the book started to get better. Next Crispin starts is wandering away. Then Crispin finds Bear. Bear was scary in the beginning and nice, father like towards the rest of the book. it starts to get boring until Bear teaches Crispin to play the recorder and performs in the first town. The best part is when they enter Great Wexly. Read the book to find out the rest. The book over all has a good concept. p.s.- The boring parts don't last very long.

Crispin
The book Crispin is a great book! It is good because, it keeps you thinking what's going to happen next. Crispin is about a boy named Crispin who is on his own because his mom dies. Throughout the book Crispin tries to figure out who he is. He meets people who help him figure out who he is. One of their names is Bear . He is a big help to Crispin. The author Avi wanted to keep you reading. This book was a little slow in the beginning, but it got really good! I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and mystery.

Crispin crisping in the fire, by Mark Prior
Crispin could have possibly been the worst book and most boring book that I've ever read. Crispin, a wolf's head, runs away from his town to avoid being executed. He meets a man named Bear who teaches him an instrument so they'll work as a team to earn a few pennies. Then, when the book gets good, it gets boring again. As religious as this book is, God was certainly not with the author when he was writing this book. ... Read more

Book Description

All his life, Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother Sam.Sam's smart and brave -- and is now a part of the American Revolution.Not everyone in town wants to be a part of the rebellion.Most are supporters of the British -- including Tim and Sam's father. With the war soon raging, Tim know he'll have to make a choice -- between the Revolutionaries and the Redcoats . . . and between his brother and his father.
... Read more

Reviews (235)

Historical-fiction book
This book was an assigned as a 7th grade Knglish assignement. The teacher chose to read. Our class read this book in the fall of 1999. I read the most part of this book at home. I think this book is more of a kick back relax sort of book.

This book is an historical-fiction which takes place in the Revolutionary War. The story gives the point of view of a young boy whose brother goes off to fight in the war. The boy is faced with a challenge, in which he has to decide whether to be a Patriot like his brother or a loyalist like his father. This book has a political conflict, character conflict, and a personal conflict. This book is a good example of irony because what I was expecting didn't happen. With the way the book started I didn't expect this ending.

I liked this book because it kept you on the edge of you seat. It keeps the reader interested by throwing corners at you when you least expect it. It taught me about a historical period. It gave examples of how those people were living in those conditions. I thought it was good book because it told you everything you wanted to know about that period.

My Brother Sam Is Dead - A Cool Book
My Brother Sam Is Dead is a very realistic book. It gives the reader an idea of how bad war really is. It shows what can come of war: death and sadness. In the story war is breaking apart families. The main character is Tim Meeker. His brother, Sam, is fighting on the side of the patriots while his father supports the English king. Tim doesn't know what side to be on. He's split between his brother and his father. Most people are used to reading books about the Revolutionary War that based on the patriots' thoughts and ideas. This book gives you experiences from both sides, Patriot and British. I recommend that you read this book!

Stupendous Book- A Must Read
The book "My Brother Sam Is Dead" is a very heart-warming book. It is about family who is broken up by the Revolutionary War. The father is on the British side while his son, Sam, is fighting for the Patriots. It is very dramatic and has some older language. It is also gory and intense. This book is very descriptive in its war parts, which is awesome.

A good book.
My Brother Sam is dead was a good book. L liked the book becouse it took place in a setting was very discriptive. I liked the fact that a family in it fought for each other. Even when they disagrea on a lot of topics. The book has a good sence of humer for how seriose the topic of the story. Like when Sam was talking about stealing Old Bess (the gun) wile putting chicken eggs in a basket with holes in the bottom of it. The book is the third most favorite book I read this year. The book cept its carictors vary discriptive and interesting through the hole book. But the oldest sun Sam gets in trubble with the law. He gets exicuted. That was the only part of the story I was not interested in. Since the famaly was so close or becoase he was so nise he didn't even commit the crime.His father tries to help even though they don't always get along all the time.

I didnt want to read it, but i loved it.
I read, My Brother Sam Is Dead. I liked this book a lot. It is not the usual kind of books I read but I really enjoyed this book. It kept me just wanting to keep on reading it was so good. A lot of unexpected things happened in the story.

All Tim Meeker's life, Tim looked up to his brother, Sam. Sam is very smart and brave and always knows the right thing to do. In fact, everyone in Redding admired Sam Meeker... until now.
Now Sam is part of the American revolutionary army. He talks about defeating the British and becoming independent and free. However, not everyone in town wants to be a part of this new America. Most people are loyal supporters of the English King, especially Tim and Sam's father.
The war is raging and Tim knows he'll have to make a choice. However, how can he choose- when it means fighting his father on one side and fighting is brother on the other?

I would recommend this book to everyone. This is almost all the genres. Mystery, historical fiction, suspense and sad. It's a GREAT book. I hope you read... MY BROTHER SAM IS DEAD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Reptile Room begins where Lemony Snicket's The Bad Beginning ends... on the road with the three orphaned Baudelaire children as they are whisked away from the evil Count Olaf to face "an unknown fate with some unknown relative." But who is this Dr. Montgomery, their late father's cousin's wife's brother? "Would Dr. Montgomery be a kind person? they wondered. Would he at least be better than Count Olaf? Could he possibly be worse?" He certainly is not worse, and in fact when the Baudelaire children discover that he makes coconut cream cakes, circles the globe looking for snakes to study, and even plans to take them with him on his scientific expedition to Peru, the kids can't believe their luck. And, if you have read the first book in this Series of Unfortunate Events, you won't believe their luck either. Despite the misadventures that befall these interesting, intelligent, resourceful orphans, you can trust that the engaging narrator will make their story--suspenseful and alarming as it is--a true delight. The Wide Window is next, and more are on their way. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (153)

A Snake-ish Read
Book the Second of unlucky thirteen, Lemony Snicket presents to us the [continued] tragic story of the Baudelaire children as they move to another relative's home. In the first book of the series, "The Bad Beginning", we are introduced to the three Baudelaire children: Violet, a clever girl with a penchant for inventing things; Klaus, a lover of books; and Sunny, the youngest Baudelaire who loves to bite anything and everything. Their beloved parents had perished in a fire, and the orphans were sent to live with their relative, the dreadful Count Olaf. After thwarting Count Olaf's evil plans, however, they found themselves yet without a home and guardian.

"The Reptile Room" takes place in Lousy Lane, deemed one of the most horrible places in the world, and this is where our story begins. The Baudelaire orphans are being sent to live with their late father's cousin's wife, Dr. Montgomery Montgomery, a famed herpetologist (snake expert). At first it seems like things will be like life under Count Olaf's roof, but the children soon find themselves liking "Uncle Monty" (as he insists they calling him). Life has somewhat gotten back to normal, as the Beudelaire children and Uncle Monty began to make preparations for their expedition to Peru, when Stephano the hired assistant turns up at the door. Stephano...who could only be fiendish Count Olaf in disguise! What are the children to do?

"A Series of Unfortunate Events" is a cleverly written series for children written in a gothic style. Snicket delights in telling his readers that things are bound to get worse for the Beaudelaire children as the story progresses. This is not your typical run-of-the-mill children's book, as people get killed, threatened, and of course, the Beaudelaire children are constantly in danger of Count Olaf and his theatre troupe of henchmen.

One of the most interesting things that adults will find is that Snicket will pepper the storylines with allusions to literary figures, such as Mr. Poe, the caretaker of the Beaudelaire fortune. He also does a good job of explaining some vocabulary, and certain terminology, such as "dramatic irony." For more advanced readers, this may come off as an annoyance, but keep in mind that these are children's books and you'll be fine.

"The Reptile Room" is a dark and amusing tale to be enjoyed by all readers, child or adult, as we explore the situations that unveil and what the Beauledaire children plan to do to stop them.

The BEST in the series
After reading this whole series, I discovered that the reptile room is the most unique book out of all ten published so far!
The reason for this simply being, that Uncle Monty is the only guardian they like and that they enjoy being with.

This book is such an interesting read, some may call it 'unputdownable'. It begins with them travelling along a dreadfully smelly road, but soon their spirits lighten up once they see their uncle monty, the snakes in the reptile room and the fact they all had their own rooms !

Violet feels right at home designing and ttesting traps for the snakes the planned to catch on their expedition to Peru, Klaus certainly enjoyed all the reserching and the library, and Sunny became the best of friends with the deadly viper, which of course was a mis-nomer which when you read it you will understand.

Everything is fine until their life is ruined - AGAIN, by the treacherous Count Olaf, but no one can beat the baudlaire kids, so pick this book up and prepare for yet another great book by lemony Snicket and all in all enjoy reading about the mamba du mal to Count olafs unbelievable disguise.

So don't miss out on this fabulous book, you'll be glad you bought it!

The Reptile Room
I thought that The Reptile Room was one of the happiest ones in the series. They are sent to live with a herpetologist named Dr. Montgomery Montgomery. Count Olaof appeared, causing unhappiness in their lives and tried to get the Baudelaire fortune.

Hurray
The story continues with the three baudelaire orphans, as they are brought to their new home with their Uncle Monty. This book follows a very similar pattern to the previous book, but I must admit I still found it entreating, and of course hardly time consuming at all.

Lemony snicket really provides his readers with a fun filled story. I found it funny, extremely witty, and for you older people, such as I, he does tend to stick in small references that only we would catch. There were few things that I did not enjoy in the book, such as the recap on what happened in the previous tale, and some of the ruining gags, such as Sunny's speech patters, do tend to get a little repetitious at times. Still I can appreciate why the author uses these things in his books, and could see how someone of the proper age group would probably appreciate such things much more than myself. All in all a good book, and if you have kids for goodness sake, read it to them!

Another winner
Sequels frequently do not keep the promise of the first book, but it is not so here. The poor, poor orphans just can't find true happiness. It almost seems that everything will be okay, despite the many Cassandra warnings of the author, and then that dastardly villain, Count Olaf, re-appears and spoils everything.

From internal clues in the first two books, I would suggest that the setting is England or Canada. For example, there is a reference to royal gardens in book one. However, in the "Unauthorized Autobiography" the postcard has an American postage stamp: the Shakespeare commemorative from decades ago. I wish someone would comment on the setting.

The book feels British and as if it is actually directed toward adults, more so than in book one. It's difficult to pinpoint examples to demonstrate this--perhaps the definition of words is a bit more whimsical and funny.

Whatever the case, I eagerly anticipate book three. ... Read more

Book Description

When Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning, his brother, Arthur, is yelling.

A bulletin board fell on Stanley during the night, and now he is only half an inch thick!

Amazing things begin happening to him. Stanley gets rolled up, mailed, and flown like a kite. He even gets to help catch two dangerous art thieves. He may be flat, but he's a hero!

Reviews (40)

Thrilled recipient of a "Flat Stanley"
I am not a teacher so cannot of course address how well this book can be used in a classroom. But just three days ago I received a wonderfully flat package from my little niece in California (I am in Ohio) which contained a "Flat Erik" (guess they named their own little guys). I am to keep Flat Erik for two weeks and chronicle his activities then return Flat Erik, my journal and pictures to my niece. All returned Flat characters will be displayed in their classroom's open house next month.

I am thrilled to be hanging out with Flat Erik; he has already played in the snow, slept in his own little bed, gone to work and gone shopping. Just today we went to the bookstore (sorry Amazon :) and purchased a copy of Flat Stanley so that I knew what my niece had read. Of course as an adult I found the story less than entertaining but can see the attraction for kids and teachers.

I look forward to the coming two weeks with my Flat Erik.

Flat Stanley
One morning Stanley woke up, and he was flat because a heavy bulletin board falls on him. The rest of the book tells about his adventures, like being mailed to California in an envelope, and pretending to be a picture in a museum to catch sneak thieves. Eventually, Stanley gets tired of being flat, even though he is famous for catching the thieves. It is his brother Arthur who uses a bicycle pump to blow him up. Then life can get back to normal. Follow up activities:Children do a craft and writing assignment which I call "I'm Flat and That's That." First, I give them a small ball of play dough and they make themselves and flatten it out on a piece of writing paper. They trace it and draw in the details and then remove the play dough. They write a story about themselves being flat and how they got like that, what happened, etc. They love this book and activity!

This book touched me and I haven't even read it
Today I recieved a letter in the mail from my little brothers class in school. I live in California, so his class decided to send a little flat Stanley to me so I could take him on adventures and send back pictures of what we did together. This book touched me and I haven't even read it. Just that my brother and his class would want to involve me in this, that it was that good of a book to them, makes it a 5* for me as well.

Flat Stanley
Flat Stanley is a really great book and I think it was really intresting and funny when you read it you will feel like your in the book

I'm Hooked
I had heard of Flat Stlanley before and although I thought the concept was cute I had never used this book in my second grade. At least not until this year. I am using it with one of my flexible reading groups. I'm absolutely hooked and the children are as well. We have posted the pros and cons of being flat and have joined in with the Flat Stanley project. This is providing so many enriching extension activities! We are now "hosting" Flat Stanleys from Ontario, Thailand, and Australia. The learning that is taking place (writing, reading, speaking, creating, geography, world cultures) is astounding. My students are constructing their own Stanleys who will be traveling around the world to be hosted in other states and countries. I will be buying more copies of this book so I can do this with my entire class next year. I purchased Stanley in Space for my reading group to move on to next. I can't believe I was not aware of how wonderful this book could be. I have been able to integrate it throughout my curriculum. HIGHLY recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

Hiroshima-born Sadako is lively and athletic--the star of her school's running team. And then the dizzy spells start. Soon gravely ill with leukemia, the "atom bomb disease," Sadako faces her future with spirit and bravery. Recalling a Japanese legend, Sadako sets to work folding paper cranes. For the legend holds that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her healthy again. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the extraordinary courage that made one young woman a heroine in Japan.

Includes instructions on how to fold your own paper crane!

"An extraordinary book, one no reader will fail to find compelling and unforgettable." --Booklist

* A Puffin Novel
* Black-and-white illustrations
* 80 pages
* Ages 8-12

* An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
* A Child Study Children's Book Committee Children's Book of the Year ... Read more

Reviews (117)

Sadako and the thousand paper cranes
The book was interesting, because it had a good story line. I give this book three stars. This story was based on a little girl named Sadako. The book was about the past,on war. The story did not have much action in this book. It was a really good story. The cover of the book looked interesting and the name of it souned interesting. It was a sad story, it was about a radiation sickness an atom bomb droped on Sadako's home villiage. I recomend this book to evrey body!

Sadako's Life
I think that "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr is one of the greatest books anyone can read. Now Sadako is one of my favorite books. When I read the book I felt sadness in my heart. If you read this book I don't think you would ever forget it. Usually the books that I get are boring in the beginning but this book is exiting in every little detail. The story is about a little girl that named Sadako, and was two years old when the World War 2 had started. One of the bombs made her sick. Then she had to go to the hospital because of the sickness. I guarantee you that this book is great, aswome, and interesting. But in the end it's sad. So read this book if you want to find out more!!

Very important children's literature
I received this book free as a child when another one of my books (from a school book order) didn't arrive in time. Reading it really made a big impression on me and definitely gave me a perspective of the WWII that I would not have heard about in school. It is a short read, but really gets a lot of great information and emotion in that short space. To me this book is just as important reading as the Diary of Anne Frank.

A Wonderful Story
I read this book called "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" because it was so interesting and please buy this book!!! I thought it was sad and exciting. Sadako gets leukemia and she likes to run and make paper cranes. Sadako likes to celebrate Oban Day and go to Memorials. If you want to learn more about "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" buy it now!!!

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Sadako is a fine story and it shows how to do a paper crane in the end it is a very sad story to read and when Sadako almost made it to 1,000 paper crane and only made 644 paper cranes she was a great girl who lived in Japan and her friends helped her make 1,000 paper crane her sprit stilled lived.

By:
Eduardo ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 4.5 hours
3 cassettes

When Esperanza and Mama are forced to flee to the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico, to a Mexican farm labor camp in California, they must adjust to a life without fancy dresses adn servants they were accustomed to on Rancho de las Rosas.Now they must confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression.When Mama falls ill and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperana must relinquish her hold on the past learn to embrace a future ripe with the riches of family and community. ... Read more

Reviews (121)

A Story of Hope
Esperanza Rising is the story of a young girl who started out very rich, and though she lost everything she owned, such as her beautiful dresses, servants, and her family's estate, ended up even richer. It is ten years after the Mexican Revoloution, and Esperanza Ortega enjoys a life of luxury in El Rancho de la Rosa. When a horrible tradgedy strikes, Esperanza and her mother must flee to California and leave her grandmother, Abuelita, behind. Appalled at the living conditions and "dirty peasents" that she is forced to be in contact with, Esperanza becomes miserable in the labor camp. But when her mother contracts Valley Fever and becomes very ill, Esperanza needs to start working to earn money to keep her in the hospital and pay the medical bills. Esperanza eventually learns to adjust with the major lifestyle change, and learns a lot about maturity and compassion. No wonder Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish. Based on the life of Esperanza Ortega, Pam Munoz Ryan's (author) grandmother, I highly reccomend this book to anyone who likes a fast-paced, sometimes humorous and sometimes sad, novel.

A Pleasant Surprise
First of all, I would like to say that to read this book would not be my first choice. In fact, a book called Esperanza Rising with a picture of a girl floating in the air is probably not any middle-schooler's first choice of a book. But, fortunatly, I have a really cool reading teacher that knows that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

Esperanza Rising is a story about an 12-year-old girl who lives in Mexico. She is fairly rich, and she lives on a big ranch with her parents.

Then, her perfect life falls apart. Her father dies, her powerful uncle threatens her, and her house is burned down. Esperanza is forced to flee to the United States with her mother in poverty to work in a labor camp. It is the very life she has never known.

This book tells Esperanza's story (A true one!) and how she must adjust to her new life. It is no wonder that in Spanish, Esperanza means, "Hope".

Mexicano Tear-Jerker
This book is the true to life story of Esperanza Ortega by Pam Munoz Ryan. She is a very rich and happy girl until her dad is killed by bandits the day before her birthday. THen her uncle burns down their house because without her father, they're virtually nothing. Then he asks her mother to marry him. She pretends that she will but in the middle of the night before the wedding they pack their stuff and head for California with their servants. They have a very hard life their and her mother almost dies. They turn out ok though. Esperanza and the servant boy fall in love and eventually get married ( this part isn't in the story, but it's in the authors note after the book) Anyways every rich AND poor person should read his book it's great.
Bye

Esperanza rising
I like this book a lot because it has a lot of emotion like when her father died her mom got sick ect.,and most of all
it's a really realistic book/story because what happens to esperanza could happen for real.it's not a fairy tale.It is not fiction.That's why i like this book.At first you're not going to like Esperanza's charecter,but as her charecter changes you're going to like her more.

ESPERANZA RISING
THIS BOOK IS CALLED ESPERANZA RISING.THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK IS PAM MUNOZ RYAN.ESPERANZA IS GIRL SHE IS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD.ESPERANZA WAS BORN IN AGUASCALIENTES MEXICO.ESPERANZA LIVES IN EL RANCHO DE LAS ROSAS IN A BIG RANCH.ESPERANZA IS SPOLIED LITTLE GIRL WHATEVER SHE WANTS SHE GETS.ESPERANZA MOMS NAME IS RAMONA FORTANLY SHE HAS HER DAD TO. HORTENSA ALFONSO AND MIGGUEL ARE THE SERVANTS THAT WORK IN ESPERANZAS HOUSE.MIGUEL IS HTE SON OF THE HORTESNA AND ALFONSO.MIGUEL IS 16 YEARS OLD. TIO LUIS AND MARCOS ARE STEP BROTHERS OF ESPERANZAS DAD.ESPERANZAS DAD DIED A DAY BEFORE HER BIRTHDAY.RAMONA AND ESPERANZA WERE VERY HURT ESPERANZA DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD BIRTHDAY.AFTER HER FATHER DIED A WEEK OR 2RANCH WAS ON FIRE.LUIS IS STEP BRO OF ESPERANZAS DAD.LUIS ASKED RAMONA THE ONLY WAY SHE WON'T SUFFER OF HUNGER WOULD BE IF SHE MARRYS HIM.RAMONA HAD SAID YES BUT SHE HAD PLANED TO LIVE TO THE UNITED STATES.THEY WANTED TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES TO WORK AND TO BE AWAY FROM LUIS. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Lynne Thigpen
Approx. 8 hours
6 cassettes

Why is the land so important to Cassie's family?It takes the events of one turbulent year--the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she is black--to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family's lifeblood.It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride, for no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans possess something no one can take away. ... Read more

Reviews (338)

Roll Of Thunder is Amazing
Roll of Thunder,Hear My Cry
Written by Mildred .D. Taylor
Publisher: Puffin

The book I am choosing to write about is Called Roll of Thunder,Hear My Cry. The genre is realistic fiction. It is about a black family living in Mississippi during the 1930s. The family struggles through racism,deaths and trying to maintain their land that they live on during the height of the Great Depression. Many scary things happen to the family. Such as burnings, night riders,and other close encounters. All through the hard times the family managed to keep their courage, love, and pride. It is a wonderful novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a story of courage and hope.

The main characters are Cassie, who is the one telling the story a brave daughter of the Logan family. Stacey, Cassie's older brother considers himself the man of the family when the father is gone. David, who is the father, is often gone from home by working on the railroad. Mary and Big Ma are the mothers of the family. Mary is the mother and Big Ma is the grandmother. There are many other supporting characters

I personally love this book . I highly recommend it to anyone. Especially African American children. To learn how hard it was for their race during that time. It is good for people of all ages. It is a story of faith, courage , hope, love and family. The family in this book are very brave. It is one of the best books I have read in quite a while.

Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry
It was the late 30's and the logan familiy had been trying to pay their bills and support each other. David, their father, worked on the rail road and Mary, their mother, worked as a teacher in the local school for blacks. Their kids names were Cassie(the nararator), Stacy(the oldest brother), little man, and Christopher John. They had many struggles, keeping up the farm, paying the bills, and having money for food were very hard things to do while the whites were harrassing, teasing, and trying to kill them. On top of all that, David and Mary were both out of a job. David got hurt by the Wallaces and Mary got fired for not teaching the white version of history. The Wallaces, Simon, and Mr. Granger were watching them like hawks, so that at any moment they could take their land and their lives. T.J., Stacy's friend, was not so lucky after Stacy stopped being "friends" with him. This was a very good book. I like how most of the book was in dialogue. I think that made it easier to read and tell what was going on and it gave me more emotions which makes it more interesting. It was just right for my reading ability, The book showed me how unfair it was bakc them for blacks to be hated so much and people could tease or kill with little emotion.

It was okay...
I had to read this book for school, and it just made me bored out of my mind. It didn't really hold my attention, and the only reason I finished it was because I had to. It was a very well-written book, but just not the kind of book I enjoy to read in my spare time.

Excellent book!
I really love this book. It kept my attention through the whole thing. I loved the characters and I felt for them as they suffered. The characters were well formed and it helps show what it might be like to be a black family living in that era and what they had to put up with.

A View into a new perspective
This book was about a family living in the 1930s in the Deep South. They struggle with racism and segregation. This family tries to stay together and keep their land. You are given a good perspective on what life was like as an African American in that time period and how they were unfairly treated. This story was low on action but told a great story, however, your interest is never lost. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This timeless Dr. Seuss classic was first published in 1960, and has been delighting readers ever since. Sam-I-am is as persistent as a telemarketer, changing as many variables as possible in the hopes of convincing the nameless skeptic that green eggs and ham are a delicacy to be savored. He tries every manner of presentation with this "nouveau cuisine"--in a house, with a mouse, in a box, with a fox, with a goat, on a boat--to no avail. Then finally, finally the doubter caves under the tremendous pressure exerted by the tireless Sam-I-am. And guess what? Well, you probably know what happens, but even after reading Green Eggs and Ham the thousandth time, the climactic realization that green eggs and ham are "so good, so good, you see" is still a rush. As usual, kids will love Dr. Seuss's wacky rhymes and whimsical illustrations--and this time, they might even be so moved as to finally take a taste of their broccoli. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (136)

A great pre-reading tool
As a certified elementary school teacher and practicing preschool teacher (3-year-olds), I highly recommend this book! There isn't a day when I don't hear "Ms. Molly, read 'Sam-I-Am!'" My poor copy of "Green Eggs and Ham" is tattered, torn, missing pages and is in the process of losing its cover! When I read it, the children follow along and are able to recall the rhyming words when I intentionally skip them (a skill which usually surfaces at a later age.)

When we have free time in the classroom, there is a mad dash to the bookshelf to fetch "Green Eggs and Ham." I sit out of sight while the children quietly sit down with "Green Eggs and Ham" and watch them turn the pages and "read" the story. They know what lines belong to which page by "reading" the pictures. This is one of the earliest and most positive signs of reading readiness. Of course the children aren't "reading" the words, but they are becoming aware of letters as symbols for sounds. I often hear them mimicking my many interpretations of the book (some of which get quite enthusiastic!) and other children gather round the "reader" to hear the story, sometimes helping out! The benefits they are reaping from this story alone marks the beginning of an enjoyable journey through the many facets of language development (reading, comprehension, phonics, rhyming, speaking, listening, and interpretation.)

Not only is the book full of fun phrases, fantasic illustrations, lively characters and poignant messages, but also is a great tool for learning about the initial processes of reading and recognizing written language. In later years, "Green Eggs and Ham" and other books as endearing (whether the children will realize it or not) may lead to a love of books and reading which may help them succeed in school.

I have no doubt that my students will forget who "Ms. Molly" is in their teenage years and beyond, but they will ALWAYS hold in their hea! rts a special memory that is "Green Eggs and Ham."

Green Eggs And Ham
Green egg's and ham has been my favorite book of all time since i can remember, even after reading it 80,000 times, i still love it..Its about a silly old cat named Dr. Suess and he trys to get his friend sam, to try green eggs and ham. Sam kept avoiding and running away from dr. suess because he didnt like the idea of green eggs and ham..Dr. suess tried over and over, would you eat it on a plane?would you eat it on a train? Noo said sam, but in the end sam gives in, and realizes how good green eggs and ham are. I would reccomend this book to children and adults of ALL ages 1-99! great book! read it!

Green Eggs and Ham, 50 Word Vocabulary
This book is extraordinarily good. This is my number one favorite book. It is the ultimate Seuss experience. Dr. Seuss wrote the story using only 50 words. I recommend the Green Eggs and Ham board game and the videos or DVDs. I also recommend the Green Eggs and Ham CD ROM game by Living Books. I have been reading reviews by customers who like the book and I agree with all their favorable reviews.

Rene's Review
I like the book Green Eggs and Ham because it is an easy book to read.Since I don't really like to read this is an easy book to read. And what I like the most of the book is that it makes over a hundred words that rhyme. This book was written by one of the most famous authors ,Dr.Seuss.

Dr. Seuss explores the principle of "try it, you'll like it"
When Theodor "Ted" Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, died at the age of 87 on September 24, 1991, the best tribute of all to the beloved author and illustrator of children's books came four days later when the Rev. Jeese Jackson read "Green Eggs and Ham" during the Weekend Update segment of the season premier of "Saturday Night Live." That performance was so unexpectedly moving that it is impossible for me to read this classic tale for beginning readers and not hear Jackson's rhythm and cadences.

The protagonist of "Green Eggs and Ham" expresses the fact that he does not like Sam-I-am, so when Sam-I-am asks him if he likes green eggs and ham the response is also a negative. The equating of the green eggs and ham with Sam-I-am is extended through a logical progression of places (here or there), circumstances (in a house with a mouse or in a box with a fox), to hyperbolic proportions (in a car on a boat with a goat on a train in the rain). Despite the insistence of Sam-I-am that the protagonist might enjoy the green eggs and ham if only he were to try them, it is not a compromise position is worked out (trying the green eggs and ham in exchange for end to being pestered to death) that the story reaches its climax and resolution.

While I appreciate the importance of the idea that somebody should try something before they dismiss it (a principle that applies to not only food but theatrical releases and political candidates), I do want to point out that many years after my childhood, during which time the information would have been of prime importance, scientists established that different things do indeed taste differently to different people. So it is possible not to like green eggs and ham (or spinach, for example), and not be a repudiation of the life work of Dr. Seuss. But you do have to at least give strange food a chance before you take an absolute position against eating it under any and all conceivable circumstances. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As you might expect, nothing but woe befalls the unlucky Baudelaireorphans in the eighth grim tale in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Eventsthat began with The BadBeginning. Ever since the orphans' photographs were plastered across thefront page of The Daily Punctilio in an article falsely accusing them ofmurder, they have been on the run. Only when they disguise themselves ascheerful hospital volunteers (Volunteers Fighting Disease, to be exact), do theysee a possible refuge. Of course, this backfires hideously. Where is theirineffectual guardian, Mr. Poe, when they need him most? Will the evil, greedyCount Olaf be successful in giving poor Violet a cranioectomy at the HeimlichHospital? Is a heart-shaped balloon really better than water for a thirstypatient? Is no news really good news? As ever, Snicket refuses to comfort youngreaders with cozy answers and satisfying escapes. And, as ever, there are plentyof rusty blades and horrible plot twists to make us shudder andshameless-but-hilarious wordplay to make us grimace happily. Bring on the next one! (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (100)

The Hostile Hospital/ Series of Unfortunate Events.
In the eighth book of the Series of Unfortunate Events, what else can be expected but woe and mystery? Due to some extremely incorrect publishing in a newspaper, the whole world now believes that the Baudelaire orphans are dangerous murders. However, nothing could be further from the truth since Klaus, Violet and Sunny are no less murders than you or me.
Taking refuge in a hospital, the orphans are forced to disguise them selves as V.F.D's (Volunteers Fighting Disease)! Of course, wherever the orphans go, Count Olaf follows and this time he has devised another disastrous scheme.

As I thoroughly enjoyed all the other books in the Series of Unfortunate Events, I enjoyed this book just as much. All of Lemony Snicket's books seem to follow a certain format, orphans find a new home (and when Mr. Poe is there he hardly stays to say hello to the orphan's unfortunate guardian,) Count Olaf makes his stinking appearance, none of the adults can see through Count Olaf's stupid disguise and the Baudelaires are forced to get out of their dilemma on their own.
I hear this book contains ' misleading newspaper headlines, unnecessary surgery, an intercom system, anaesthesia, heart-shaped balloons, and some very startling news about such things, ' as Mr. Snicket so kindly put it.

As well as telling the woeful tale of the Baudelaire orphans, Lemony Snicket slowly is revealing his own life's tale. Such as how his dearly beloved Beatrice died, something horrible that still makes him cry at night about Count Olaf, and something I am dieing to know about, the mysterious Jacques Snicket who was killed in 'The Vile Village'. As well as the mysterious V.F.D, and whether the Baudelaire orphans will ever see the Quagmire triplets again! Perhaps the last book in the series will explain all these loose ends!

I congratulate Lemony Snicket on producing such an intriguing tale when his when life is filled with misery. I recommend this book for all ages- anyone who would find it interesting!

The not so Hospitable Hospital
In the 8th book,The Hostile Hospital is an extrodinary book that has lots of action and mystery. The only thing the Baudelaire children have left from their friends, the Quaqmires, is a notebook with a page that says V.F.D. What does it mean? When Violet gets into the greedy hands of Count Olaf what is Klaus and Sunny going to do? Is she going to be rescued or stay forever in Count Olafs hands. In this book, Lemony Snicket gives us more information about how the Baudelaire children became orphans. He also hints that they may not be orphans after all. Yet, do not start with this book if you have never read books one through seven first. Lemony Snicket continues to make each book more mysterious then the one before it. I would recommend this book because it gave me a lot of information about the kids but also left me wondering. When the children find a paper related to their family in the hospital records, I thought that they would get the chance to find more family but instead they find the papers gone except for one page (13). This starts them on a new quest but first they must survive Count Olaf who plans to kill Violet and Klaus. To do this they must also figure out the mystery of the fire that was supposed to have killed their parents.

The Hostile Hospital
The Hostile Hospital is a great and exciting book. It is about three children named Violet, Klaus, and Sunny who don't have parents anymore. Their parents died in a fire and now our living with relatives. These children also have a evil man after them named Count Olaf who is after their fortune. When ever they are with another person Count Olaf always shows up. The Hostile Hospital keeps you interested the whole time you read it.Can Violet, Klaus, and Sunny survive Count Olaf?

Suspenseful and unpleasant
This is the eighth in a series of stories about unfortunate events that happen to the Baudelaires, three siblings who live by themselves after their parents die. They encounter many different adventures and misfortunes. I particularly liked this story because the plot kept me really interested and enthusiastic about reading more! This is a great option for readers who have not read any of the stories in this series. In this story, "The Hostile Hospital," one of the Baudelaires is held hostage in a hospital while her siblings try to save her.

The Hostile Hospital
The Hostile Hospital
By:Lemony Snicket
Reviewed By: M. Diaz
Period: 6

LIke all the other books it all started when a fire had killed their parents. So their parent's fortune was sent to them. They were sent to Mr.Poe who, then sent were sent to a guy named Count Olaf. In this book there is a murder a guy got killed. Then Count Olaf frames it on the three children. The Children ran away they didn't bother telling anyone because they knew no one would believe them. As the police were chasing them in the middle of no where they come across a store called the last chance general store. Because it was really the only store left. So they went in and there were so much stuff. They asked the storeowner if they could send a telegram. The storeowner said yes, and said do you have money they said no it's an emergency so he said ok it's for free. They telegrammed Mr. Poe telling him what had happened. Then a newspaper called the Daily Poncho. The children knew that they were in the front page. So they ran for because they knew they wouldn't believe them. They were saved because a group called the V.F.D came and they went in the van. The V.F.D. is an organization the sings for sick people in the hospital. When the V.F.D notices them Violet says her name is Sally. But the leader of the group says we don't need names we just call it other brother and sister. They go to the hospital and they were looking for volunteers to work in the file room. You're going to have to read the book for the rest.
I loved the book so much. This is my favorite book out of the whole series. It always keeps you guessing until the end. Here is one of the quotes "Oh no they've captured Violet" that's were the book gets really interesting. Here's another quote "Sunny please open the alphabet soup", I know it sounds weird but here it gets really interesting. This book will make you be at the edge of your sit till the end. I love this book because it never gets dull. After each book you just want to read more.
My favorite part of the whole book is in the operating room. In that scene you don't know what, going to happen. Also you can't believe what's going to happen. That scene is just the start of it. That's why it's my favorite part. ... Read more

Book Description

Walter’s family is holding a yard sale, but there are few customers. Walter, fartingcontentedly near Father, wonders why. When a man offers ten dollars for Walter, Fatherreadily agrees. Walter wonders why. Walter is sad to leave his family behind, butrelieved to discover that his new owner is a clown. Walter figures he will help the clownbring joy to children on their birthdays. But the clown has a dastardly plot: he will useWalter’s gas to inflate balloons and then pop them to stun guards during bank robberies.Will Walter turn to the dark side? Of course not! He comes out a hero and is reunitedwith his family by doing what he does best. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

It is about FARTS!
To all of those reviewers who have panned or have been offended by this book, all I have to say is:

"I fart in your general direction"

The name of the book is Walter the Farting Dog.
If farts offend you, DON'T READ THE BOOK!
Did you think it was going to be about making cookies?!?!?

The book is strange, weird and silly.
The drawings are abstract and fun to look at.
The story is weird at best, but a story about a farting dog, come on, this ain't War and Peace.

If you like farts, buy the book. My kids LOVE it, and isn't that who the book is written for?

Craig

Loses the first book.s sweet spirit
From the moment Dad sells Walter at the garage sale without so much as a second thought, this book heads down the wrong path. It does not have the goofy sweet spirit of the first book. The kids I read it to were really upset that not only Dad sold the dog, but he lies without even a blink. Boo Hiss!

Walter, Canus Inflatus
I ran across the first two Walter books while I was at the mall waiting for my husband to finish looking at every single DVD in stock (there must have been thousands.) So I had plenty of time to read both books. I loved them!

I rarely have occasion to look at childrens' books, so I was a bit surprised at the title. It's a far cry from Wishbone and Clifford the Big Red Dog. But this is a very funny book. Yes, it's lowbrow and coarse. So are the Three Stooges and most children. And behind their sophisticated, mature exteriors, so are most adults. So relax and enjoy this well-written (by William Kotzwinkle, author of E.T.) story of a stray dog whose family loves him even with his one major flaw. Find out how Walter triumphs despite being sold at the family yard sale to an evil clown who uses Walter to inflate putrid balloons to use as weapons during a bank robbery.

And for those over-educated lowbrows among you, check out the Latin translation (really!), Walter, Canus Inflatus.

Kick Back and Laugh!
If you enjoyed the first "Walter the Farting Dog," you'll fall off your chair laughing at this second book in the series. William Kotzwinkle's imagination is one to admire to come up with such a creative and cute use of a bodily function that we all have to address at some point in our lives. If you're offended by farts, don't buy the book. But if you have grown up in an environment where you can joke about these acts of nature, you'll laugh you head off while reading this book! I say, "Laugh, and laugh out loud!"

a dog lover's special
If you don't have a sense of humor, don't buy this book. If you want to laugh outloud, buy it. If you're a dog person, you'll want to buy copies for your friends. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Have you ever dreamed of being locked in a departmentstore at night? The endearing story of Corduroy paints a pictureof the adventures that might unfold (for a teddy bear at least) insuch a situation. When all the shoppers have gone home for thenight, Corduroy climbs down from the shelf to look for his missingbutton. It's a brave new world! He accidentally gets on anelevator that he thinks must be a mountain and sees thefurniture section that he thinks must be a palace. He tries topull a button off the mattress, but he ends up falling off the bedand knocking over a lamp. The night watchman hears the crash,finds Corduroy, and puts him back on the shelf downstairs. Thenext morning, he finds that it's his lucky day! A little girl buyshim with money she saved in her piggy bank and takes him home toher room. Corduroy decides that this must be home and thatLisa must be his friend. Youngsters will never get tired of thistoy-comes-alive tale with a happy ending, so you may also want toseek out Dan Freeman's next creation, A Pocket forCorduroy. (Ages 3 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (45)

This is such a touching story
This story shows that it doesn't matter what you look like or what other people think of you, someone will always love you for who you are. After reading that book I always wanted a bear just like Corduroy with the missing button and all. I thought how it was so cute that the little girl came back with all her piggy bank money and bought the tiny bear that didn't even look new. Most kids will see things in the store and beg for it then forget about it once they are told no. There must of been something about Corduroy that you will have to read to find out.

Everyone should know this lovely book!
Cordoroy is the perfect children's book. It is a gentle, sweet tale of a little bear in cordoroy overalls waiting to be purchased in a department store. A real little girl sees him and falls in love with him, but her mother says she doesn't have money to buy him and he's missing a button. After the store closes, all the toys with faces close their eyes except Cordoroy. Instead, he travels the department store searching for a button because he didn't know he was not perfect. He does not solve his problem. Cordoroy is back on the toy shelf the next morning. The little girl, Lisa returns to buy him. She takes him home, sews on a button, and provides him with his own little bed right beside hers. "I've always wanted a friend!" he says. This beautifully illustrated book has a simple text and huge appeal to anyone with a heart.

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear
Children have been fascinated with the idea of dolls and toys that can talk and move, from the Newbery winning, "Hitty: Her First 100 Years" to the more contemporary (and better known) "Corduroy". This particular tale focuses on a bear, his small unassuming quest, and the girl that eventually becomes his friend. The book feels more like, "The Velveteen Rabbit" than "Toy Story", but kids will quickly come to enjoy (or at the very least, understand) Corduroy's wish for a child to love him.

Living in a department store with other toys and dolls, Corduroy is a stuffed teddy bear in overalls. One day a doe-eyed girl and her patient mama spot the bear and the child is instantly entranced. Unfortunately, her mother points out that the bear is a little worn down and is even missing one of the buttons on its overalls. Upon hearing this, the bear is distressed and resolves to, that night, locate the missing item. After taking an unexpected ride up the escalator, Corduroy finds himself in the store's bedding area. He tries (unsuccessfully) to prise a button off of a nearby mattress, but succeeds only in alerting the local night watchman to his presence. The next day, however, the girl returns with her own allowance money and quick as a wink purchases the bear, missing button and all. She even sews a new button back onto his overalls, and the two are fast friends.

The book, when you look at it closely, almost seems to resemble a series of woodcuts, painted with watercolors later. I don't know if this was the case, but if so the author/artist, Don Freedman, is certainly adept. I've never seen woodcut faces as well presented as the ones here. People are smooth and rounded, and Freedman apparently doesn't have any problems with round curves. Moreover, I was impressed that the little girl and her mother that view Corduroy are black. Originally published in 1968, this was a bit of a big deal back in the day.

Today, the story of the little bear who wanted a friend is as poignant and simplistic in its telling as it was when first it came out. Anyone who read (or had read to them) this book as a child will instantly remember the scene of Corduroy tugging and tugging the button on the mattress in an attempt to remove it for himself. It's a sweet story all in all. I think people feel a great deal of affection for "Corduroy" because they can identify with the little unwanted fuzzy guy. He's a cutie, there's no question.

Fun bear story
A brown teddy bear sits in a toy shop waiting to find a real home. He catches the eye of a little girl, but her mother says she can't take him home because he's missing a button on his overalls. Determined to find a home, the bear goes on a nighttime hunt through the store for his button. The hunt almost ends in disaster. But the next morning the little girl returns to the store and takes him home at last. The book is not scary. The human characters are shown to be African Americans. The book has about 250 words.

Sweet little tale about a bear
The Corduroy books are sweet, easy tales about a stuffed bear and his BIG adventures. Easy reading, nice pictures. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Grace of Picasso; The Sensibility of Chagall
I'm a big fan of author/illustrator Patricia Polacco, and this book is one of the best of her incredible catalogue: It contains all the essential ingredients that go into a "Polacco." She returns here to her Michigan childhood, and her loving memories of her grandmother "Babushka." Polacco's detailed reminiscence describes how Babushka helped her overcome a fear of thunderstorms.

We identify with the frightened young heroine partly because Polacco so convincingly describes the power and noise of a Midwest thunderstorm. Gradually, Polacco shows how Babushka's patient, strong doses of hugs, distraction, reassurance, and the promise of a special treat gave her the self-confidence to face and surmount her fear. Analyze this too deeply and you'll recognize some basic child-rearing techniques, but Polacco infuses these with so much warmth that they seem to spring, sui generis, from some old folk wisdom held by Babushkas everywhere. The result is a genuinely exciting and lovingly told story enlivened by the fact that it is true.

Polacco's illustrations are a treasure. She has a unique style that combines American influences (Rockwell, American primitives, early cartoons) with eastern European folk art, all drawn in her trademark loopy style. She paints brightly colored, organic looking objects, people, and animals that convey emotion and invite empathy. This is a visual equivalent of a great short story, it seems that every color and line adds to the value of the narrative; yet her achievement remains informal and friendly; it never feels studied or precious. Polacco's sense of fun and tradition, her celebration of family, loved ones, and reminiscence, and her bold imagination remind me of Chagall (though not nearly as abstract.) As usual, she includes her signature goat drawings, recalling as well Chagall's animal motifs.

There's a satisfying warm glow one gets after reading this book; her other books evoke similar feelings. Although praised by many for her outstanding talents, I still somehow feel that she deserves even more recognition as one of the best ever children's book writers/illustrators. Enthusiastically recommended!

The Sensibility of Chagall; the Grace of Picasso
I'm a big fan of author/illustrator Patricia Polacco, and this book is one of the best of her incredible catalogue: It contains all the essential ingredients that go into a "Polacco." She returns here to her Michigan childhood, and her loving memories of her grandmother "Babushka." Polacco's detailed reminiscence describes how Babushka helped her overcome a fear of thunderstorms.

We identify with the frightened young heroine partly because Polacco so convincingly describes the power and noise of a Midwest thunderstorm. Gradually, Polacco shows how Babushka's patient, strong doses of hugs, distraction, reassurance, and the promise of a special treat gave her the self-confidence to face and surmount her fear. Analyze this too deeply and you'll recognize some basic child-rearing techniques, but Polacco infuses these with so much warmth that they seem to spring, sui generis, from some old folk wisdom held by Babushkas everywhere. The result is a genuinely exciting and lovingly told story enlivened by the fact that it is true.

Polacco's illustrations are a treasure. She has a unique style that combines American influences (Rockwell, American primitives, early cartoons) with eastern European folk art, all drawn in her trademark loopy style. She paints brightly colored, organic looking objects, people, and animals that convey emotion and invite empathy. This is a visual equivalent of a great shor