Reviews (2)

an excellent read for any human being, regardless of age
Self esteem is absolutely essential in dealing with the challenges of life. Feeling good about yourself because of who you are rather than who your friends think you should be is what will help your child (and you) deal with peer pressure and making positive decisions. This book offers examples and suggestions that will help you develop a healthy and secure sense of yourself and your world. I bought it for my kids, but found it a great read for myself and a great resource for helping my children feel good about themselves and easing the pressure they often feel from their peers. It tells you not only how to take responsibility for your feelings, needs, and behaviors, it explains why that's important. A great find. Our whole family will benefit from this book.

Breakthrough in identifying my own ADULT feelings & needs!
I bought this for my 12-year old daughter, but once I glanced through it, I couldn't put it down! Especially helpful for women with stoic upbringings, martyre complexes, or rescue tendencies. This book actually lists, describes and illustrates the emotions and needs we all possess. Yet, being written for 9 to 12 year olds, can be quickly and easily read, understood and put into practice. ... Read more

Book Description

When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. This book helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one's death. Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, these books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The story lines are simple and direct--easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page. (Ages 4-7) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This IS the book for answering kids questions!!
This book covers much more than things live and then they die. It talks about how you feel and invites the child to tell how they are feeling. Besides talking about death it explains funerals and what the purpose is. The thing I liked best about this book was how it explained the after life. No matter what your religious beliefs their explanation of after life is perfect and doesn't limit it's self to any specific belief. It goes on to discuss this in terms a child can understand "sometimes it helps if you think of a soul as a single rain drop, joining a great big ocean". We got a few books to help us explain and answer our 4 ½ year olds questions but this one covers everything, it's the only one we would have needed.

GREAT!
I bought this book for my 5 year old when his grandmother died. My son was dealing with some serious grief. We were searching for any way that we could to help him. He loves this book. It has questions to go over with your child that really open up the communication and help children deal with the emotions that they are feeling. This book is a favorite in our house that we read every night and have great happy memories of our loved one. ... Read more

Book Description

Stimulating interest in children is key to potty training success. Positive reinforcement gives children pride and a sense of self-accomplishment. The third edition of this book has been completely revised with 126 glossy stickers to catch children’s attention.

Motivate and reward children using the 126 stickers. Stickers are circles of one inch in diameter and each sticker has an image of different potty related subjects - no repetition. You will find stickers with soap and towels (as reminders to wash hands), toilet rolls, a variety of potty chairs, cute motivational sayings like "You can do it!" and more. Many stickers even have toddler boys for children to imitate.

The yellow chart included opens up to hang like a calendar. After successful potty attempts, children are rewarded with a sticker to place on the chart provided. Also included are a few ideas on what a parent or childcare provider could discuss about each sticker, thus increasing communication between adult and child. Potty training works when it's fun! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Need a Potty Training Boost?
I found Tracy Foote's "My Potty Reward Stickers for Boys" to be an excellent visual tool to help motivate my son to want to go potty and feel good about himself and the whole process. We had watched various potty training videos, sat on the potty reading books, even used role-playing with a baby doll who wets and has her own potty when we started the training process. But not until we used this booklet, did we see results that took off quickly.

The booklet contains 126 stickers; at first I wasn't sure if it would be enough stickers, but by the end, my son was doing very well with peeing in the potty, and starting to poop in the potty as well. (With boys, pooping usually takes longer.) My son had fun choosing a reward sticker whenever he successfully went potty; there are enough pictures of the various potty training steps (e.g., sitting on the potty, wearing underwear, staying dry, washing hands, etc.) to praise a well-done job. After a while, to increase motivation, we would give our son an extra treat for completing an entire row or two (of 8-16 stickers); sometimes we'd use his favorite-M&M's, other times we'd pull out a new inexpensive toy or book. What worked well for my son was being able to visualize how many more blank circles he had to fill up with stickers in order to complete a row and then get his reward.

Could someone make their own chart with stickers? Sure, but for those of us who are pressed for time, this booklet lays it all out for you in a nice, neat, fun and easy to use format. It serves to stimulate, motivate, and provide positive reinforcement, all at your fingertips, which was worth the money in my opinion.

Another plus is that the author has customized the system for not only boys, but girls too. I had ordered the girls version to give as a present, and due to some mishaps, had a problem, which the author herself personally corrected immediately. Kudos to Tracy Foote for developing a product that helps ease the stress of potty training while providing both parent and child the confidence needed to get through this developmental milestone in a fun manner.

Fantastic Potty Training Tool!
This book was a lifesaver! Before recieving this book, I had tried everything imaginable, with NO success. My son loved the stickers and actually got excited about potty time! His chart is now filled in and he is doing great! Thanks Tracy!

Showing some interest :)
My son was so excited when this book arrived! He has gone from showing NO INTEREST in the potty, to getting exciting over it! He can't wait to "potty" so he can choose a sticker! I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with motivation to PT!

A Good Motivator
Please don't mistake this sticker book as a potty training manual and we think that's a good thing. Every child is different and the way they learn to use the potty is unique.

The beautiful thing about this book is that it can be used with any potty training method you use. Rewards are an excellent motivator. With Tracy Foote's book, the motivator is the sticker chart.

We've seen other sticker charts and they only have space for about 20 stickers or so. Although there are some children who are trained that quickly...most are not. This is a nice big chart that allows children time to develop their good bathroom habits.

Our son has enjoyed the "fireman" stickers and the other stickers with big boys to look up to. We're not at the end of our potty training journey yet, but before we got this sticker book...we had trouble getting our son motivated.

We're now at 5 poops and counting. Thank you Ms. Foote.

Potty Party Time!
These stickers in this book are great. While training my son, I decided to go the potty party route. Every time he used the potty, I would have a little party by clapping, being excited, and putting one of these stickers on the chart. It took my son about a month to be fully potty trained (he's 3) and he really loved the stickers. Although he didn't understand what the stickers said, he really liked putting them on the chart. Thanks. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Amazon.com

For sophomores John and Lorraine, the world feels meaningless; nothing is important. They certainly can never please their parents, and school is a chore. To pass the time, they play pranks on unsuspecting people. It's during one of these pranks that they meet the "Pigman"--a fat, balding old man with a zany smile plastered on his face. In spite of themselves, John and Lorraine soon find that they're caught up in Mr. Pignati's zest for life. In fact, they become so involved that they begin to destroy the only corner of the world that's ever mattered to them. Originally published in 1968, this novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Zindel still sings with sharp emotion as John and Lorraine come to realize that "Our life would be what we made of it--nothing more, nothing less." ... Read more

Reviews (304)

The Best Book I've Ever Read!
The Pigman is the best book I have ever read (along with The Pigman's Legacy and The Pigman And Me). John and Lorraine are best friends who are in highschool. John smokes and drinks, while Lorraine admits that she is a little paranoid. John and Lorraine switch back and forth from typing each chapter, and it really makes the reader get to, kind of know them.

While doing prank phone calling, Lorraine ends up calling Mr. Pignati. John and Lorraine first lie to him, saying that they are part of a charity company. At first, John just wants the Pigman's money, but after they get to know him, they start to really care about him.

The first few chapters are very funny, espcecially the ones that are told by John. The entire book is a great fiction story. I would suggest to anyone who reads The Pigman, and likes it, should read the sequal to it, The Pigman's Legacy. After that, I would also suggest to read The Pigman And Me. It's about Paul Zindel's teenage years, and what he based The Pigman on.

Pigman Great Book
For me The Pigman was by far one of the best books I have ever read.This book was assigned to me from my english class.At first I thought it was a little slow but once I read to chapter 4 I was hooked.I read the whole book in 4 days.This book is so interesting because it shows 2 perspectives.Lorraine is more conservative and a good girl while John is all out.John at first just wants Mr. Pignati's money but once they both spend time with the Pigman they are great friends.The book is sad at the end, but I think it is a great ending."Friends stick with friends"That is what the ending is saying.

I hope you read this book!

The Understanding of Teenagers
I believe this book was an excellent well spoken book. It is about to ordinary kids and is somewhat different in the ways they were brought up. These two kids like normal teens do decided to play some pranks on random people and see which of them can keep the random person on the phone the longest. This ends up to be a way to introduce/ bring in, a character called Mr. Piñata (The Pigman). As it turns out the kids make Mr. Pignati believe that they are calling him on behalf of a donation. The Pigman is a nice man so he believes the children and invites them over his house to give them there money. I won't give out the rest because I believe this will be a good book for you to read if you're a 14 year old or an adult. I believe people 13 and below would have a hard time understanding the books message. This book is a crazy adventure that you would enjoy with hilarious conversations and plots. I don't no if you'll actually life but you'll have a smile on your face. This book has two narrators, John and Lorraine. The switch being the narrator after each chapter and will talk about the scenes and how the felt in each one. You'll also catch a glimpse of the parents and like all Paul Zindel Books the parent have problems of there own. We'll I highly encourage you guys to read this book. Or maybe you have and just wanted some insight on how other people felt. That's why I read the reviews.

A pleasure to read the voices of these two teens
This is probably the first book that I ever read as a teenager (or thereabouts) that made me feel like I could really identify with the characters contained therein.

The Pigman is told in the words of John and Lorraine, two high school sophomores who have decided to write down the story of Mr. Pignati, an old man who they wind up befriending. John is a handsome, overly-confident prankster, while Lorraine is a shy, brainy girl. They both have family problems, and the book is really as much about them as it is about "the Pigman."

Teenaged readers will enjoy reading about kids who are somewhat like themselves, and reading the book in their own voices. The pranks that John pulls are really funny, even if they eventually get him into trouble, and seeing Mr. Pignati through their initially distrustful eyes makes us get to know him by degrees, and appreciate who he is.

Overall, this is a fun book that may spark an interest in reading. Zindel has a real knack for getting inside the heads of his young protagonists, and he has a very authoritative anti-authoritarian voice, if that makes any sense.

comunication's class review; by nick

Paul Zindel wrote a book called The Pigman; This is about two sixteen-year-olds that take advantage of an old man (with an interesting secret!); by asking him to give money to a nonexistent charity.
When they come to Mr. Pignati's house to collect his check, they find a lonely and slightly eccentric retiree who greets them warmly and with respect. A friendship grows, and John and Lorraine are trusted with their friend's house (alone!).
When this trust is betrayed, the teenagers must reflect the meaning of their actions and the effect their actions have on other people. My opinion of this book. It's a great book that really makes you think about what life has to offer you and maybe just think about what your actions do to others and how it makes them feel. Everyone should read this book it's received many awards.
I can relate to this because I used to go to my grandma's house and keep her company. She was always so excited to see me; just like Mr. Pignati she loved my company!
... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (8)

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

For anyone who ever doubted it, Todd Parr is here to tell us all thatit's okay to be different. With his signature artistic style, featuring brightlycolored, childlike figures outlined in heavy black, Parr shows readers over andover that just about anything goes. From the sensitive ("It's okay to beadopted"--the accompanying illustration shows a kangaroo with a puppy in herpouch) to the downright silly ("It's okay to eat macaroni and cheese in thebathtub"), kids of every shape, size, color, family makeup, and background willfeel included in this gentle, witty book. In this simple, playful celebration ofdiversity, Parr doesn't need to hammer readers over the head with his message.

Parr is well known for his funky feel-good titles, including Things That Make You Feel Good/ThingsThat Make You Feel Bad, Underwear Do's and Don'ts, andThis Is My Hair. (Ages 3to 6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (10)

I agree, It IS OKAY TO READ THIS BOOK! ..and to be you...
Maybe some people's kids like reading old stuff like aesops fables..stuff that doesn't relate to the REAL WORLD. BUT MOST kids in TODAY'S WORLD have issues. Issues like- why do I have freckles and why do I have curly hair and why do I wear glasses and why can't I be like her... or him ...or them! That's why this book is SO WONDERFUL..it teaches a wonderful lesson - IT'S OKAY..TO BE DIFFERENT, IT'S OKAY TO BE YOU! This is certainly an enriching book for any child - it builds self esteem, self confidence, and shows kids how everyone can be different, but that's what makes us special!...

Wonderful book about different types of diversity
This book has quickly been added to my story time collection. The illustrations are bright, colorful and charming for reading aloud or simply browsing. Children are reminded that it's okay to be different, no matter what their differences or similarities. While tolerance of others is one of the themes, self-acceptance is the most important message. This is a great book for showing that differences are perfectly fine and acceptable. The book does not reek of politically correct messages as much as it comforts us that being different is just fine. I, as an adult, liked myself a little better after I read it the first time. I think children will feel the same way.

A friend of mine took the book to read at her local children's hospital where it was a big hit with the patients who often feel very different. This is a must for any library, big or small.

A superficial idea of what it means to be
THIS IS A VERY BRIEF BOOK WRITTEN PRIMARILY FOR CHILDREN--UNHAPPY, DEPRESSED, "ABNORMAL" CHILDREN. THE GIST OF THE THING IS TO INSTILL IN THE KIDS THAT IT IS "OK" TO BE DIFFERENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY "ARE" DIFFERENT, BUT THAT'S "OK." OUR OUTWARD & INWARD DIFFERENCES ARE TO BE "CELEBRATED."
I AGREE, BUT...

DO YOU SEE ANYTHING WEIRD ABOUT THIS? IT'S SUCH A PARADOX, A CONUNDRUM OF THE BACK AGAINST THE WALL, WHAT CAN I DO TO FIT IN WITH THESE ADULTS AND OTHER CHILDREN VARIETY. I CAN'T GET MY MIND AROUND THIS CONCEPT (OR ACCEPT IT), SO HOW CAN ANYONE EXPECT "ABNORMAL CHILDREN" TO COMPREHEND WHAT IS BEING IMPLIED? THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LIFE EXPERIENCE!

THE INTELLIGENT CHILDREN (AND MOST "WEIRD" KIDS ARE INTELLIGENT FOR SOME REASON) ARE LEFT TO INFER THAT FEELING GOOD HAPPENS WHEN YOU BEHAVE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

THE BOOK DOES WORK ON ONE LEVEL AT LEAST; HOWEVER, AND THAT IS THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE HAPPY, IF FOR JUST A MINUTE OCCASSIONALLY, THIS WORKBOOK-TYPE TOME IS FULL OF FUN ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEIR "STRANGE, UNHAPPY" LITTLE MINDS OCCUPIED.

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Read to ANY Child, regardless of Chronological Age
I was at Storytime today and this book leaped off the shelf and into my hands begging to be read. The first thing I thought was, this is SUCH simple, pure, rock solid truth that everyone should have a copy regardless of their age.

Whether you are 4 years + 36 or 4 years + 52 or 4 years + 2, this book has a message for you.

It's okay to be you!
This is probably the best book in the whole world. Kids especially like "it's okay to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub." This is the best approach to diversity I've ever seen, and it's cute and funny as well as having a serious undertone. Buy it for someone unique! ... Read more

Reviews (43)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (123)

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

The Slippery Slope
The Slippery Slope
Written by: Lemony Snicket

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (1)

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

Book Description

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

Reviews (350)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (93)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Publisher - HarperCollins, 2002

Short Summary - A page-turner of a detective story, the book attempts to solve multiple mysteries, not the least of which could be, "Who is the author of this book, and can the author be trusted?" The reader becomes the spy, who follows clues found in various narrative threads. The result is a scrapbook-like top-secret file of artifacts for examination. As a fusion of genre, perplexing evidence crouches in familiar formats recognizable as pieces of letters, sheet music, theatrical scripts, photo-journalism, newspapers, secret codes, treasure maps, booklists, obituaries and revised diary manuscripts. In the end, the reader is left with unanswered questions, such as: "Is there anything a concerned citizen can do if he or she wants to help the Beaudelaires?" Both the hope of resolution and the burden of proof pass to the reader, upon joining this peculiar spy ring brotherhood. Initiates inherit a set of crucial tools of discovery and the passwords, "The world is quiet here." Join at your own risk. 212 pages

Brief Evaluation - "What can be hidden in a book?" Here's a book intended to stretch every reader's ability to find out. Junior High School-aged readers will be challenged, as a willingness to venture beyond oneself produces a much deeper sense of satisfaction in this reading experience. The results of any call for "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" on this book remains thoroughly dependent on the reader's level of literature appreciation. Recommendations using VOYA evaluation codes: 5 for Quality/ 2 for popularity. A superior book for younger readers with an interest in knowing more about literature and literary pursuits. An enjoyable, helpful book for readers learning to improve critical literacy skills.

Read Aloud Pages - ix - xvi, and discuss the reversible cover
Literary Principle - allusion

Titles of similar interest - For other interesting reading experiences, see:
The Complete Stories and Poems by Edgar Allen Poe; In Defense of Liberty by Russell Freedman; The Trials of Molly Sheldon by Julian F Thompson; The Tree of Life: A Book Depicting the Life of Charles Darwin: Naturalist, Geologist & Thinker by Peter Sis; Do You See What I See? The Art of Illusion (Adventures in Art) by Angela Wenzel; The Man Who Made Time Travel by Kathryn Lasky; Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger; The Last Place Safe Place on Earth by Richard Peck; The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick.

(...) ... Read more

Book Description

Paul Fisher¹s older brother has always been the football-playing hero of the family. But when the Fishers move to Tangerine, Florida, Paul enters a place where weird is normal. And suddenly the blind can see. TANGERINE as named a 1997 American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, an ALA Top-Ten Best Book, a Horn Book Fanfare Book, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and an Edgar Award Nominee. ... Read more

Reviews (311)

Tangerine
Peter Pan
Genre = Contemporary/Realistic Fiction
Tangerine
Edward Bloor
6th - 8th grade

Paul Fisher is a 12 year old boy who has just recently moved with his family from Houston, TX to Tangerine,FL. The town is smaller then Houston and the people seem all the same. Paul's older brother Erik, the star football player, finds himself right at home in Tangerine because of the extreme passion for football in the area. Paul feels that his parents pay more attention to Erik than they do to him and his soccer career. Paul attempts to play for his school soccer team but because of his visual impairment, supposedly involving an incident where Paul stared at an eclipse, he is not able to play. When Paul sees the oppurtunity to go to a new school he jumps at it. When he starts befriending people at his new school, a downward spiral of unspeakable events begins to unfold. If you want to find out what happens to Paul and his family, read Tangerine by Edward Bloor.

I would recommend this book very much to anyone looking for a good story full of rich imagery. This story shows people how it is to be visually impaired and tells a great story all the while. **** out of ***** stars. Also this book can be used in the classroom too. It is a good way to teach description and metaphor to your students. Because of the great character building, you can also do a character analysis activity with it.

Tangerine
Tangerine, by Edward Bloor, is a novel that is not like any book I'v ever read. It tells the story of Paul Fisher, a seventh-grader who has just moved form Houston to Tangerine County, Florida. Paul is legally blind- he has to wear "Coke-bottle" glasses so that he can see. His parents tell people that Paul's eyes were damaged because he didn't listen and stared at a solar eclipse too long. Paul has always been overshadowed by his older brother Erik, placekicker extrodinare. He plays a part in the "Erik Fisher Football Dream"- but just what his part is remains to be seen.

When Paul moves to Tangerine, everything is different. Lightning knows where to strike. Schools get sucked up by sinkholes. People get killed- and no one really does anything about it. With the help of some friends, Paul sees the truth in things that other people seem blind to. Can Paul finally shake off the shadow of his older brother? In Tangerine, anything is possible.

Edward Bloor's first novel is well written and the plot keeps moving, keeping you constantly interested. I would reccommend it to any young adult looking for a good read.

Let down by the touted Tangerine. WARNING: SPOILERS!
I finally read this after having many people recommend it to me. I was pretty disappointed in the book for several reasons. One, I did not find the writing that great. I felt it needed to be edited, probably by 100 pages or so. There are so many repetitive passages, such as Paul trying to remember over and over how he became legally blind as a small child. Also, the plot wanders at many times, with too many quirks. Mud fires, lightning, and sinkholes all occur in this small town much too frequently, leading the reader to wonder, *WHY* would anyone ever move there?!

The main reason I was disappointed in the book, though, was the plot line with the older brother, Eric Fisher, the football star. Erik is a star football kicker with many dark secrets. In the end, he is exposed, Paul's parents express their regret, and life is good.

Having grown up with a violent sibling, I know that the family dynamic is never "cured" so easily. A lot of times, parents are aware of what their children are up to, but simply feel helpless. The Fisher family are all characterized as one-dimensional, and therefore, any problems and resolutions simply feel like a nice little tale, not reality.

My advice, avoid this well-intended but disasterous book.

The best book since "Holes"
Here's a blow by blow of my experiences while reading, "Tangerine". After twenty pages I said to myself, "Hm! The man can really write!". After fifty pages I said, "Wow! This book is as good as 'Holes'!". After one hundred and fifty pages I was fully engrossed. After two hundred and fifty pages I was bodily grabbing people off of the street, forcing copies into their hands while chanting something along the lines of, "One of the greatest kid's books ever written!", or words to that extent. Now that I've finished the book and given myself a little time to reflect I can clearly decide whether or not this initial euphoria was short lived or not. Ladies and gentlemen, I am more than a little pleased to report that I was right all along. "Tangerine" is one of the greatest children's books to be written in the last ten years. It is brilliant, socially conscious, filled to the brim with sympathetic (and uniquely unsympathetic) characters, and funny to boot.

Paul Fisher is moving again. His father is a civil engineer by trade, so Paul's a little used to picking up and leaving for the next town. In this particular case, the family's moving to Florida to live in a gated community. Once there, each member will be able to start doing what they enjoy best. His brother, Erik, will continue to wow everyone with his football skills, his father will continue to worship those skills and spend all his time with his eldest, his mother will join the community's neighborhood association, and Paul will join his school's soccer team. Paul's a goalie by training, and despite his eye troubles (he has almost zero peripheral vision due to a mysterious accident in his youth) he's the best. Not like anyone notices, of course. The rest of the family is too caught up in what Paul has wryly dubbed the Erik Fisher Football Dream. The fact that Erik is a seriously disturbed individual seems to go entirely unseen by Paul's parents and it becomes clear that when his brother's activities go from threatening to criminal, Paul's the only one who can come out with the truth. Along the way he has to battle lightning storms, sinkholes, underground fires, flash frosts, and angry neighborhood associations.

That's the plot in its barest form. As I've copied it down here, I haven't even begun to delve into the fact that Paul transfers himself from his local hoity-toity school in the suburbs to a far more rough and tumble public facility. He makes friends with the kids in that school, faces racism on the part of his old school chums, and begins to understand a little more about white privilege. What other school age novel deals with racism, classism, social consciousness, and environmental concerns and so well at that? The precarious nature of Paul's new home becomes clearer and clearer when expensive koi fish are eaten by the native ospreys, muck fires spring up regularly in the backyard, and termites start eating the houses. The more the humans attempt to bend nature to their will, the funnier the situations become. This would not be a bad book to pair with the similarly Florida set story, "Hoot".

I was a little surprised at the psychopathic nature of Paul's brother. Having just finished reading Diana Wynne Jones's excellent, "Archer's Goon", which contains the most evil little sister in literature, I was amazed to find that my next book, "Tangerine", contains the world's worst elder brother. Erik and his brother have exactly one conversation in this entire novel. Beyond that, all we know of Erik comes from Paul's slowly clearing memories about the accident that damaged his sight and Erik's own actions. As Paul's parents strive to prove that they're a perfect family, things become worse and worse. I liked that Paul was as mature a kid as he was. Though he certainly says words and thoughts that are a little old for a seventh grader, you feel safe with him as your narrator. When he overreacts, you understand why. The same goes for when he doesn't react at all.

I'll skip telling you about the symbolism that also went into this tale. Needless to say, if you've a kid that needs to read a book that's rife with it, just pick this one out. I'm still amazed that this was Edward Bloor's first novel. The level of the writing is not only impressive, but also intense. This is the first book I've read (outside, I'll admit, of Harry Potter) that actually made me interested in sports. I loved reading about Paul's soccer games and how he compares them to football. Best of all are the characters in this tale. Even Paul's parents, horribly flawed but earnest, are at least trying to be good people. The book is, above all, honest. And I appreciated that.

The highest praise I can offer "Tangerine" is this: Long after I finished a chapter or two I would find myself puzzling over the multiple meanings and layers of the text. Whole sentences and ideas kept popping up to be reread and regurgitated. If you want a children's book that will make you think about a host of different ideas and points of view, read "Tangerine".

Tangerine
Sally Pickles
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Ficton
Title: Tangerine
Author: Edward Bloor
Publisher/ ISBN: Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 0-439-28603-4
Grade Level: grades 6th-8th
Gist: Paul is a twelve year old boy who has recently moved to Tangerine Florida. Paul lives wih his dad, mom , and older brother. Paul plays soccer and his brother Erik is a bug time football star. Paul enrolls in a new school and begins making new friends. Everthing seems to be going fine until a series of bad events begin to take place. If you want to know what happens to Paul and his family then read Tangerine. It is a great book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
I would recommend this book because it is very realistic. It shows that anything can happen that you least expect. It is also scary and keeps you on the tip of your seat. All together it is a great book and I hope you read it.
Classroom Uses: You ould do many activities with this book some of the thigns could be; a sinkhole activity where you find out how a sinkhole works. Also, you could do a character analysis activity. This would help you if you were a teacher. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Moving Day
It was about a bear family loving where they live including their friends and home. But the soil for growing vegetables was hard and rocky so they decided to move well papa and mama bear. When they found a place to move it needed a little bit of work but they managed what it would look like and they got new friends and a new home and a new place to grow vegetables. It was a very good book and I would read it again if I had to but its not something I would read again by choice. It teaches kids what ever you do something good will come of it eventually.ages 3-8

Not much help
This book is cute, but not much help for little ones to ease their move. It does show that all the boxes get packed and go to a new house which will be better. But it doesn't say that it will be better for the kids, just for the parents.

The Bear Family....Moving?
This book is set before the bear family has moved into the tree house. It tells about why they are mvoing and how sad brother is but how he does have even more fun when they get to their new house.

If you have read any of the story books in this series you know how great of books they are. I suggest this book for any kids who loves great book!

The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day
This was one of the best children's books I have read, and I recommend it for children that are getting ready to move. This book was written by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
Moving day is about a family of bears, they are Papa bear, Mama bear, and brother bear. Before they moved to the valley, they lived in a cave. Mama had a vegetable garden, and Papa cut down trees and made furniture. Brother kept busy playing with his many friends, which were animals. Then Papa bear said that they they needed to move because the trees were getting farther and farther away and Mama bear agreed that they needed to move because the soil was getting too hard for her vegetable garden. Brother bear was very sad about moving because he would miss his friends. Mama bear said that he could write his old friends and make new friends when they moved into their new house. They moved into a treehouse that needed alot of work. As they looked at it and imagined how it would look after it was fixed up, the neighbors came over to say "hi". Now the bears had new friends and after they fixed up the treehouse it was just perfect!

It is still Great
In 1981 we moved cross coutry with our three year old son. This book helped "develop" the pictures of the process for him. Now I am in the "mentor" position for other young mothers facing long distance moves. This is my first gift choice for them and their three or four year olds to make the process understandable and FUN. Patricia Smith, RNS, MS ... Read more

Amazon.com

The seventh book in Lemony Snicket's splendidly gloomy Series of Unfortunate Events shadowsthe three Baudelaire orphans as they plummet headlong into their next misadventure. Mr. Poe, theirineffective legal guardian, having exhausted all options for finding them a new home with relatives(including their 19th cousin), sadly entrusts his young charges' fate to a progressive guardian program formedwith the premise "It takes a village to raise a child." Before they know it, the Baudelaires are being whiskedoff on a bus to a village (vile) named "V.F.D." Snicket fans who read The Austere Academy and The Ersatz Elevator will jump to see these threeinitials, as they provide a clue to the tragic disappearance of the Baudelaires' friends, the beloved, equallyorphaned Quagmire triplets.

To the orphans' dismay, V.F.D. is covered in crows--so much so that the whole village is pitch-black andtrembling. "The crows weren't squawking or cawing, which is what crows often do, or playing the trumpet,which crows practically never do, but the town was far from silent. The air was filled with the sounds thecrows made as they moved around." Another disturbing element of the town is that the Council of Elders(who wear creepy crow hats) has thousands of rules, such as "don't hurt crows" and "don't build mechanicaldevices." Fortunately, the Baudelaires are taken in by a kindly handyman named Hector who cooks themdelicious Mexican food and secretly breaks rules. Still, neither Hector nor an entire village can protect theorphans from the clutches of the money-grubbing Count Olaf, who has relentlessly pursued them (actually,just their fortune) since The Bad Beginning.Fans won't want to miss any of this marvelously morbid series! (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (77)

My opinion of The Vile Village and other books by L.S.
I am an avid reader of almost 12 years. I stumbled across The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (I hate that pen name though) and I loved it. I read up to the 7th book and cannot wait for the 8th. These books were refreshingly short and entertaining. A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the long and sad epic, throughout many books, of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire whose parents have perished in a house fire and who are left alone with the evil Count Olaf. Each are well developed and unique characters whose abilities come in useful at every turn only to be squashed by the evil doings of Olaf and his troupe. The books get better and better as you go along and meet characters like:

~Isadora and Duncan Quagmire, two triplets who are also journalists and poets

~Esme Squalor, the fancy pinstriped financial advisor

~Vice Principal Nero, the self-proclaimed genius violinist

~Sir, whose head is invisible due to a constant cloud of smoke

~and many more!

Please, try this series out and you will love it. I thouroughly recommend any book in the series to readers of Harry Potter and other magical stories who want a short and simple laugh-out-loud adventure.

Misfortune follows the Baudelaires to their newest home.
Because none of their distant relatives will take them in out of fear of Count Olaf, the three Baudelaire orphans become part of a new program based on the saying "It takes a village to raise a child." Under this program, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny's newest guardians will be all the residents of an entire village. In the hopes of solving the mystery of "V.F.D.," the children choose a village by that name as their new home. But they are terribly disappointed. They are sent to live with a kind but timid man named Hector who loves to cook Mexican food and has a library of forbidden books. V.F.D. is run by the strict Council of Elders, who have made tens of thousands of ridiculous rules that the citizens of the village must follow or risk being burned at the stake. When the Baudelaires are falsely accused of murder and imprisoned, they must escape from the jail and find their friends the Quagmires, who are hidden somewhere in the village. This was another miserable, hilarious book in A Series of Unfortunate Events that is a must-read for all fans of the series.

The Vile Village
This book was very exciting,funny, and has many miserable characters.Atleast Violet, Klaus, and Sunny have someone who cares for them, even though that person is not much help.This is the best book I've ever read. I hope other people enjoy it, too.

Quoth the crows, "Squawk!"
This is the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events that I really wish I had heard on tape. Many parts of this tale should be heard spoken aloud to be truly appreciated. As it was, I was resigned to instead reading the book while working out on a particularly nasty elliptical runner all the time pondering the sad fate of the Baudelaire orphans and their friends. In "The Vile Village", the plot not only thickens but congeals. Here at last are more clues about the mysterious VFD. Here the name "Snicket" has arrived within the text of these pages rather than as merely its author and narrator. Here the clues add up and up.

Taking the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child", a little too seriously, the Baudelaire orphans have now been officially adopted by none other than an entire village. The orphans have chosen this particular location because of its fascinating name, VFD. As you might recall, these initials were part of the Quagmire triplets' last cryptic words to the Baudelaires before they were officially kidnapped by the loathsome Count Olaf. As it turns out, the town is actually named the Village of Fowl Devotees due to its enormous crow population. While there, the orphans are required to do the chores for all the townspeople and live with the kindly handyman, Hector. It isn't long before mysterious messages in the form of rhyming couplets start appearing, apparently from the Quagmires. It's up to the Baudelaires to find their friends and save their own skin before an angry mob torches them forthwith.

While the tension runs high in this particular Snicket outing, I found it strangely hopeful at the end. Obviously this was not the author's intention, but that's how I felt anyway. Though tensions run high in this tale, the angry mob is about as threatening as the witch hunters in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Personally I was delighted when I was able to figure out where the Quagmires were being hidden by page 143. Then I remembered that I am currently 26 years of age and this book was written, ostensibly, for kids. Still, I think I've also figured out what VFD stands for, and only time will show if I am right or wrong.

The story itself is just as you would like it to be. The orphans have a little more enjoyable down time here and (much to my relief) far better food than they've had in some time. One squiggle of a squabble I did have involved the crows perching continually in the Nevermore tree. Shouldn't they be ravens? Otherwise, I liked Count Olaf's latest disguise (hence my wish that I could hear the audio of this book) and I especially enjoyed the clues and mystery in the tale. The author has the difficult job of continually upping the ante, as it were, while keeping these stories invigorating and interesting. At the end of this book the Baudelaires are in the direst of straits, but I have little doubt that they'll eventually pull through. Call it a bolt of optimism from the blue, if you will.

Exciting and unfortunate!
This book held my attention from the beginning to the end. Once I finished a chapter I didn't want to stop there. I have read from the first through the ninth books in this series. I intend to read the rest as well. I hope Lemony Snicket, the author, never stops creating additions to this series. Everyone should at least start the "Unfortunate" series because I think once they do, they will enjoy all of them as much as I have. ... Read more