Book Description

Six thousand years ago. Evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined.

In this page-turning, original, and spectacularly told adventure story, Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.

Reviews (8)

where we came from?
Rebeccasreads recommends WOLF BROTHER as an adventure back in time & place, before the world got so crowded, where the spirit world was just a blink away, & evil came in many shapes.

WOLF BROTHERS is not for the faint of heart, who want a dreamy, "noble, vegetarian savage" kind of tale for, after reading this tale, you will be able to survive in the North Woods should you ever find yourself alone & lost.

Yes, there's fantasy & fear, magic & mysticism, thrills & spills... & something else... a dependent child learning to survive, to honor the creatures who become prey, & the memories of the past.

Refreshing & enchanting. Already a smashing bestseller in the UK, WOLF BROTHER will leap into American youngsters' imagination with all the thrills we yearn for in an adventure.

Clan of the Cave Bear for Kids!
An excellent action and adventure book.Start now and begin your journey back in time.Back to the days of the clans.How do you survive in the great wilderness?Remember, all you have are your wits, a small wolf cub and the memories passed down by your father.Are you ready to fight the great beast that is not of this world?Will you win?

Very Pleased
I recently purchased this book for my 10 year old son, he hasen't read it yet but I have. I think the book was very detailed and interesting, it kept me from wanting to put it down, to see what would happen next. All the people with the bad reviews must keep in mind, this book was written for children, so if it wasen't intellectual enough for them, to bad, it wasen't supposed to be. And as for being realistic, who cares, everything doesn't have to be "true" to be tantalizing to young minds. In closing I would recommend this book to any child and I know my son will enjoy it just as much as I did.

INCREDABLE
This book was great, although on the short side it was a great read.It was a very detailed book, and its pretty straight through so you dont get lost and have to go back a few chapeters. I read this book in three days reading about 100 pages a day. I recommend this book to anyone who likes nature or can read.I read this book for a book report and i got a 105! I dont see how its stereotypical as some people say. All i am mad about is that the next book isnt out yet:).

Captivating Adventure
I picked up this book literally by accident and I hadn't heard any thing about it nor the hype. Having said that I finished the book in 3 days. The story is creative, funny and imaginative. When you finish this book you start dreaming of joining a Clan of your own! Well done Michelle Paver and I look forward to the second book Spirit Walker! ... Read more

Book Description

Near the end of the Stone Age, about 12,000 years ago, a young woman named Anooka lives with her family by a salmon-filled river. Although life with the Salmon Clan is comfortable, Anooka is restless. She discovers she has a talent for shaping the strange riverbank mud into small animal figures. Because her actions resemble carving, a practice prohibited to women, Anooka is forbidden to make her animals. Soon she begins to question the only traditions she has ever known. When a mysterious woman appears across the river, Anooka is faced with the most monumental decision of her life. Should she follow Raven Woman or stay with her clan? Although Anooka and her people led lives very different from our own, Marjorie Cowley shows us that there are enormous parallels between their world and ours. What connects us to Anooka's world across thousands of years are the qualities that make us human. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

We loved it!
I thought this book was great. I am 8 and read this for school with my mom and sister. Some parts were very sad but I did not want this book to end. ... Read more

Book Description

Kip the Cave Boy offers to share all his woolly rhino ribs if Paleowolf will use his keen nose, fine ears, and sharp eyes to keep Kip from being eaten up. When Paleowolf agrees with a bark and a wag of his tail, Kip names his new friend Dog. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Book
The First Dog is truely a wonderful book. I run a day care and this book is the favorite of all the children. We have all of Jan Brett's book yet this one remains the most requested. Thank you Jan Brett for bringing so much pleasure to so many children!

WOW! EXCELLENT STORY! WONDERFUL ART! GREAT GIFT OF ANY AGE!
To date this is my favorite of all of Jan's Bretts wonderful books! It's beautiful and it tells a heart warming story!

Brett's artwork (as usual) is tremondous! The action is so real you can't help but exclaim at the turn of every page (even if you're an adult)! In addition Brett's technique of putting clues as to what will happen next in the borders of each picture also helps build the suspense. My 5-year-old quickly spys a tusk on one page's border and shouts "Oh no! Look out Kip a Big Mammoth is coming! Hey wolf! Warn Kip that a Big Mammoth is coming!" My boy couldn't be more into the story if he is was Kip himself. The best part of the border art is that it is very thematic. For example on the saber-toothed tiger page there are carved figurines and cave art of saber-tooths based on actual archeological finds! I wish I could give 5 stars but saber-tooth cats didn't really climb trees...

I'm usually very critical of children's books & movies. In my opinion too many are either boring, plotless, or hopelessly inaccurate. Don't get me wrong, I love fantasy and other imaginitive works. But, for example elephants don't drink through their trunks like a straw! So why do we tell/show kids that they do?

Thankfully Brett would not make such an insulting mistake (saber-tooth in a tree is excuseable). This story is told so well, I assume that Brett actually did some serious research about Dog Domestication (she even uses the word Pleistocene!). The wolf befriends Kip the Cave Boy not just because it would make a cute story, but because Kip and the wolf have many things in common and while acting in each others self-interest they unite against common problems. AT LAST! Accurate Anthropology & Biology in a kid's book that KIDS ACTUALLY ENJOY!

P.S. looking for another excellent Kid's book on life in the Pleistocene? Try "Grunt the Primative Cave Boy" by Timothy Bush

Exquisite writing, beautiful pictures!
Join Kip the cave boy as he journeys to his home through a trecherous land filled with ferocious mammoths and gigantic grizzly bears. Paleowolf, his wolf friend, helps Kip on his trek. This book is filled with lovely drawings detailed with a careful hand; the illustrations will delight children and adults alike. Another great accompishment by Jan Brett; the perfect book to add to a child's collection! ... Read more

Book Description

Maroo, a girl of the Ice Age, must take charge after her father is killed and lead the rest of the family to the tribe's winter camp. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Life in Stone Age France
This book is similar to Malu's Wolf, another good book about life in Stone Age France. I suspect that France is a popular setting for books about Cro-Magnons because of the beautiful and famous cave paintings. In this story, a wild dog is adopted by a band of hunter-gatherers. It contains fairly good descriptions of daily life and the struggles and challenges of survival. Oddly, and unlike Malu's Wolf, this story barely mentions the cave paintings.

Maroo of the Winter Caves
The book Maroo of the Winter Caves is a very interesting book. It is about a young girl who must save her family before they all die. It all started when a Maroo and her family must migrate to another area because they needed more food since winter is about to begin. While they go they go through many adventures such as, when Maroo and her younger brother Otak find a puppy. Then they asked their Old Mother if they are allowed to keep it so that it can help them on their hunting, and she said yes. Along the way Tikek (their mother) was pregnant so that slowed them down and also Areg (their father) was killed on a hunting journey. They found out that he died by falling off a cliff. Then Old Mother said that there wasn't enough time for them to get to the area where they migrated to, and they didn't have enough time before the blizzards would hit so she thought that they should build a snow house to keep them safe. Since, they didn't have enough food to last them throughout the whole winter, she thought that Maroo and Otak should go alone to find help, but Tikek didn't like the idea but had to go along with it. One day while they were going, Maroo couldn't find Otak so she thought of her Old Mother's words, which said that if one of them died or got lost the other one, must leave them and find help. First, she left her younger brother to find help; second, she and the others rescued the others in the snow house; and third her brother returned. They found out that his ankle was broken, but since the dog was with him they survived until his ankle got better.
I liked this book Maroo of the Winter Caves because it told things about the early people of life. In a way, they were like cave people to me. It tells about their environment: where they lived, what they ate, and what they did in life. Maroo of the Winter Caves kept me to keep reading the book. But in the beginning the book was kind of boring. Then later on, when it told about their life situation it kept me to keep reading the book. Reading this book made me feel that living in a world full of technology is great! After reading it, it made me feel thankful of my dad (since he isn't dead like Areg).
"Later, they heard what had happened: how Otak, lost in the blizzard, had fallen and sprained his ankle. Unable to walk, he had sheltered a small cave with only the dog to keep him warm, shouting occasionally for help and hoping that Maroo would find him." This part of the book made me feel sorry for this kid. "Rivo! Rivo!" sobbed Maroo, patting the rough fur. "Where is Otak? And then she saw him." This part of the story was my favorite. It was my favorite because after reading it, it taught me to never lose hope. Even in a situation of life or death.
My favorite part of the book was when Otak and Rivo (their dog) returned to them. It told me that people should never lose hope in anything. Another favorite part of mine in the book was when they went in search of help. This is another favorite of mine because it tells the reader that these kids are really brave. They are very young, and they are going on this journey to help save their Old Mother, Tikek, and their newborn baby. I think that people should read this book because it is very interesting. You should also read it because you will experience an exciting book called Maroo of the Winter Caves!

Could Cro-Magnons really could talk as well as they do here?
I read this book two years ago and I liked it, but I thought I'd forget it soon. However, some of the simple but pure phrases and scenes have stayed with me since then. I don't know why, but I remember Maroo's making tea, her grandmother about to sacrifice herself for the community good, her trek over the cold mountains with the dog and her special fire. The more I think about this book, the more I remember how much I enjoyed it. Because it's not long and has simple language, you may think it's a quick read, but it's actually well-researched, interesting and stays with you.

Maroo of the Winter Caves
This book was great. The title seems boring but don't let it decieve you. The begining may seem boring at first.
Do you think surviving in the wilderness is easy? Not as easy as you think. Maroo, a girl living in the Ice Age can prove it.
Maroo, Otak(brother), Nimai(the little sister), Old Mother(the grandmother),Tikek(the Mom),Areg(the Dad),and Vorka(the Uncle, are all setting off to the Autumn Camp right after winter. During the journey they find Rivo, a puppy(he will become a important part of this book). They also visit the sea, which Maroo has never seen before. Throughout this, Tikek, who had been pregnant slows them down a bit. At the sea, she has a baby boy. They also meet up with Sovi's group, another group traveling along. Tikek begins recovering but still makes them trail behind. Then a terrible thing happens that makes them trail back even slower behind Sovi's group, losing sight of them completely, and engulfing them in winter. They begin to starve. Then Old Mother decides they have no choice. Maroo and Otak (and Rivo) must journey up the mountain themselves to seek help, past the mountain spirits that Maroo fears and through the many dangers the mountain holds. *dun dun duh*
This is a great historical fiction and I totally recomend it. Ann Turnbull makes the story clear and exciting. The people are drawn out to be just like you and me but just in a different time. The details are great and the whole idea is realistic to what I imagine it would be like in the Ice Age. A good book for all ages.

Pretty Good
Getting started it was boring but after a while it got interesting. The only good book I've read for summer book reports! The descriptions were good without going overboard, like most authers do. ... Read more

Book Description

It is two hundred thousand years ago. A small group of children are cut off from their Kin, the Moonhawks, when they are driven from their "Good Place" by violent strangers. While searching for a new Good Place, they face the parched desert, an active volcano, a canyon flood, man-eating lions, and other Kins they've never seen before. Told from four points of view, with tales of the Kins' creation interspersed throughout, this epic novel humanizes early man and illuminates the beginning of language, the development of skills, and the organization of society. It is a triumphant book from one of the genre's most revered authors. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Enchanting...
This book is probably one of the best books I have ever read. It is about a small group of children who become separated from their Kin, Moonhawk (the Kins are tribes, each named after an animal, for example the Monkey Kin.) They set out to find Good Places, where there is food and water. But a number of terrifying perils face them, including volcanoes, enchantments, and evil demon men. This book is also fascinating. Not a lot is known about this era, and Peter Dickinson has pieced together an enchanting four-part novel from fragments of evidence and his own wonderful imagination. ... Read more

Book Description

Less than 200 years ago, nobody knew that dinosaurs had ever existed. Now, scientists who study fossils know about many kinds of dinosaurs and where they lived. The hunt is on for new information about our favorite prehistoric reptiles! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The first rolling stone subscriber
I've just come to the painful and shocking discovery that I've never given Raymond Briggs much respect.To my credit, I never had any real reason to until now.The only Raymond Briggs creation with which I was familiar was his seemingly ubiquitous picture book entitled, "The Snowman".I'm sure you've seen it. Published the same year as my birth that doggone story always depressed me as a little kid.I never really saw the point of it all.Boy makes snowman. Snowman befriends boy.Snowman dies a horrible melty death at the end.Ugh.But hold that thought!"Ug" was just the storybook to rescue me from my unhealthy anti-Briggs mentality.With the discovery of "Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age", I've come to the slow realization that perhaps Mr. Briggs does not begin and end with "The Snowman".In this odd little book that seemingly draws on everything from Winsor McCay to the far more contemporary Chris Ware (there's more than a drop of "Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Boy On Earth" here) we meet a kid who yearns for nothing more than a comfy pair of trou.

Ug lives with his ma and pa (Dugs and Dug, respectively) in the Stone Age.Ug is a bit saddened by the fact that his pants are completely made out of stone.He keeps believing that there must be something better out there.Pants that are softer than sandstone.Food that doesn't have to be eaten raw.Homes that are not caves.The more Ug dreams, the more his mother attempts to squash his resolve.And when, at long last, he and his father seem to be on the right path, a lack of certain tools bars their final triumph.

The book is written more like a graphic novel than a picture book.Here we have voice bubbles and the occasional footnote.I've probably never seen a picture book that used the word, "anachronism" more often than this puppy.The book is undoubtedly odd, there's no question.Briggs has an odd off-kilter sense of humor that serves him quite nobly in this endeavor.It's certainly a book for older children, though.And it occurs to me that books such as this are just begging for squeamish adults to get angry about.The mom walks about without a shirt (it's really not that noticeable, but some people might object).The fam eats raw meat with bloody regularity.And then there's the rather depressing final picture in the tale.Kids yearning for a vindicated Ug to prove to the world that he's right will take no comfort in the image of our now adult hero cave painting above the graves of his parents.But then, Briggs has always sorta been a fan of the letdown ending."The Snowman" should've tipped me off that this book would end similarly.Only in this case, it doesn't mean you dislike the rest of the tale.It's just ... odd.

I doubt you've really seen a picture book like this before.It's incredibly wordy and more than a twinge depressing.Yet Ug's a likable enough fellow and spending a whole book with him is a pleasure.I wouldn't go handing this tale to anyone who you fear is stodgy or uptight.And kids will certainly dig the format, even if they don't understand all the words and references.Possibly the most amusing caveman picture book available to consumers in this day and age.

reluctant cave man
Poor Ug. He knows there's a better world but his mum fights him on it and his dad isn't much help. Illustrations are wonderful and sense of humor is black. I think a clever child would enjoy this book but not the average kid. A child and parent would greatly enjoy reading this book together, I think. Educational without being pedantic.

How can a boy genius survive among the primitives?
Ug just wants a better way to live his life, but the prehistoric boy genius can't figure out how. He invents the wheel but finds no purpose in it, he discovers fire can cook food - which other cave folk find a disgusting concept - and he longs for warm clothing. How can a boy genius survive among the primitives? A fun cartoon style lends to this zany tale and will invite even reluctant readers to learn. ... Read more

Book Description

In the beginning ...

There was the Serpent, there for Eve's awakening, and for all the days since. Teacher, mentor, companion, friend, and more. There was God. The Creator. Quick to anger. Dangerous. Majestic.

There was Adam: as God said, a joy to behold.

And there was Eve.

These four hold the future in their hands. And only Eve -- or perhaps the Serpent, too -- wonders what lies outside the Garden of Eden. Passionate, witty, beautifully drawn, and utterly unforgettable, The Garden, a debut novel, remakes and offers insights into a story that forms a cornerstone of our understanding.

Reviews (6)

Northern European Eve?
Ms. Aidinoff has apparently written a book about Eve and the Serpent in a vacuum--unaware of the existence of exegetical and literary sources which could have helped her immensely. One doubts she has even bothered to read "Adam, Eve and the Serpent" by Elaine Pagels. No, one suspects after reading this book that Ms. Aidinoff is a religious snob--content to appropriate the characters of the Judeo/Christian tradition but loathe to actually get her hands dirty.

There was one aspect of this book which went beyond mediocre: something that is truly shocking given the author's background. According to the author's biography, Aidinoff has spent many years working with poor and underprivileged people in Harlem, New York. If this is true, one wonders why she has (seemingly without a trace of irony) created an Eve with pink nipples, long flowing blonde hair, and even blonde pubic hair. Sadly, even after all those years in Harlem, Ms. Aidinoff cannot conceive of an archetypal woman that is anything other than the northern European ideal. All shoddy theology aside, for that reason alone I cannot recommend this book.

A Different Lens on the Garden
In the Afterword to this debut novel, author Aidinoff relates how the idea for it came to her in church. Specifically, she was studying one of the Old Testament creation stories - remember, there are two in the book of Genesis! -- and found herself unsatisfied with the cryptic telling of the story of Adam, Eve, and serpent. So she decided to embark on a retelling that lengthened and elucidated the text, as she saw it.

This process of retelling is a longstanding tradition in Bible study and teaching, made popular by Diamant's The Red Tent. Aidinoff's efforts are considerable. The fruits, though, are mixed to say the least.

The problem is a heavy-handed agenda. First on it is to paint God as an irredeemable corner and then hurl felonies at him. Aidinoff depicts God in her narrative specifically as she describes him in the Old Testament in her Afterword: choleric and impetuous. Within the text, Aidinoff does everything she can to underscore this characterization, even having God encourage Adam to rape the virgin Eve. This rape is Eve's first sexual experience. God, have you stopped telling your son to rape your daughter? Andrea Dworkin must be applauding, someplace.

Second, Aidinoff brings to the table a conception of the Almighty that matches how she sees the scientists at Los Alamos who developed the world's first operating nuclear weapon during the Second World War. That is, as she writes in her Afterword, "geniuses...that never considered the moral implication of the [atomic] bomb, or the suffering it would bring."

Put aside for a moment that the author apparently is not a nuclear scientist, was not part of the Manhattan Project, and therefore would have no idea about what scientists talked about in their living rooms or in church. The fact is that the writings and speeches of such scientists as Robert Oppenheimer make it clear that there was no dearth of moral struggle over the creation of the ultimate weapon. "I am become as death," Dr. Oppenheimer famously muttered, quoting the Bhagavad Gita phrase about the Hindu death god Shiva, while witnessing the May 1945 nuclear test at Alamagordo, New Mexico.

Third, Aidinoff is intrigued by the Snake in the Adam and Eve story, and wants to recast the serpent as hero instead of villain. The snake becomes Eve's tutor, teaching her an idealistic view of equality amongst the creatures of the world: "The Serpent says we're all equal, us and the creatures and the plants and the land. We all have the same right to live and use the things around us." Nice sentiments, yes. But this is the same sort of moral claptrap that leads kids to deadlock when asked: "A dog and a child are drowning. You can only save one. Which do you save?"

Some will certainly dismiss The Garden as blasphemy, causing others to rush to its defense on the grounds of artistic freedom. Yet God is hardly beyond reproach and I'd be the first to say there is sanctity in our God-given ability to create art -no subject too sacred. I laughed hard at George Burns in Oh, God! and Jim Carey in Bruce Almighty. I hardly think that Harry Potter promotes the worship of the devil. I thought The Red Tent was terrific and The Da Vinci Code a cracking good read. Blasphemy isn't the issue. Some of the world's greatest thinkers were supposedly blasphemers - the brilliant philosopher Spinoza was excommunicated for blasphemy.

My fear is that Aidinoff's audacity is going to turn this novel into the literary equivalent of the Andres Serrano "Piss Christ" furor at the Brooklyn Museum a few years back - a brouhaha over a work of art that isn't good enough to merit the hubbub. What matters more to me than blasphemy, and what's going to matter most to the young readers for whom this novel is purportedly intended, is that The Garden turns out to be a muddled mess of New Age pseudo-wisdom that is not fun to read; four hundred pages with little forward thrust toward what we will know will come near the end: the consumption of the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Even that climactic moment is undercut when you stop and think how many moral judgments Eve has made during the preceding ninety percent of the novel - a logical inconsistency from which the text never recovers.

Yes, it's good to be audacious. More writers should be audacious. But it's more audacious to be good.

a beautiful exploration of the problems of human existence
THE GARDEN is a retelling of the events in the Garden of Eden from Eve's point of view. Elsie V. Aidinoff's Eden will be recognizable to those who have read it in Genesis or heard the story retold elsewhere, but she adds some completely original twists. Adam and Eve are raised separately: Adam by a controlling, jealous and angry God who insists on total obedience, and Eve by the wise and gentle Serpent, who encourages her to ask questions and challenges her to think for herself.

It is no surprise that such drastically different characters come into conflict. Eve cannot understand a god who refuses to accept her questioning. Adam does not know how to disobey God who, in Aidinoff's Eden, is not always looking after the best interests of his creations. A quarter of the way into the book, this conflict leads to rape. The rest of the story deals with Eve's recovery from the violation, and how she comes to make her decision to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, a choice that Aidinoff equates with freeing humans from the hands of an angry god.

Aidinoff's ideas are compelling and poetic, but even in the hands of a clearly gifted writer there are unavoidable conflicts in the narrative. One of the largest narrative problems is the rape itself and the necessity for Eve to forgive her attacker who, after all, is the only man in all of creation.

Still, this book explores a number of interesting ideas and is an excellent place to begin asking many of the difficult questions that are a part of human existence: the problem of evil, science vs. mythology, the hierarchy of living beings and, ultimately, freewill. It is beautifully and lovingly written. The characters of Eve and the Serpent are especially well-realized. The Serpent is not equated with Evil or Satan, but with Justice and Wisdom. When Eve asks him who he is, the Serpent replies, "My role on this earth: to counterbalance the excesses of a jealous god."

One of the most interesting questions that THE GARDEN asks is how much Adam and Eve knew before they ate from the Tree of Knowledge. In this story, Eve has learned a great deal about the nature of good vs. evil, not to mention suffering and the soul, before she makes her choice. As part of her healing process, Eve and the Serpent travel outside the garden to see the rest of the world. Even before she has eaten from the Tree of Knowledge, Eve experiences the desert, the mountains, the ocean and the volcano, and learns the skills she will need to survive outside the garden.

Ultimately, Aidinoff's novel makes a powerful case for Eve's choice and for the idea that the introduction of knowledge, and the death that comes with it, is necessary for human development. "If there were no death," the Serpent tells Eve, "most beings would be very old. The ancient would rule, for they would have power. And they would believe they know best ... The Earth would be quickly overrun. You could not have a succession of beings progressing through life, each generation learning and growing and giving in its own way, rediscovering beauty, taking joy in the world around them. Death makes way for the young."

This is a powerful message for readers, some of whom will be experiencing these questions for the first time. THE GARDEN is an excellent place to begin their journey, and would also be a good choice for an intergenerational book club. There is likely to be controversy about Aidinoff's version of the Judeo-Christian creation myth, but this also makes for good discussion and reading.

--- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood

Richie's Picks: THE GARDEN
God has been bringing up Adam. Meanwhile, He has had the Serpent taking care of and teaching young Eve in a distant part of the Garden. Now, the Serpent has brought Eve to meet her Creator and Adam for the first time. The fun-loving, irresponsible Adam, who is off racing the gazelles or some such thing, has apparently spaced out on God's telling him that Eve was coming this morning, and so they are sitting around chatting and waiting for Adam's return:

" 'I'm glad you like it. It's linen, Eve, a piece of linen cloth.'
" 'How did you make it?' I asked.
" 'Oh, I just waved a finger.' God turned back to the Serpent. 'What a boy,' he said, raising both hands in the air. 'Not very bright, mind you, but that's not important. He's the first, you know, my first try, so he's not perfect. But he's beautiful--you must see him run--and he's a nice boy, kindhearted, and good with his hands. I have had fun with him; you can't imagine.
" 'I can,' said the Serpent, glancing at me. But I was watching God. God who was able to create cloth simply by waving a finger in the air; what power he must have! I shivered.
" 'But it's very tiring,' God went on. 'He takes a long time with his lessons and seems to have trouble remembering names, and he doesn't always pay attention. And for some reason I can't fix him by waving a finger.' The Serpent coughed. God frowned. 'What's the matter with you? You're always coughing. You never did that before.
" 'Just a little dust in my throat,' said the Serpent. 'Go on.'
" 'The boy can't sit still, either. He wiggles his toes and plays with his hair until it drives me crazy.'
" 'Mmph,' said the Serpent thoughtfully.
" 'And his balls,' said God.
" 'What?' said the Serpent.
" 'His balls. He plays with his balls.'
"The Serpent lifted the front of his body into the air. 'What does he do with them.'
" 'He play with them all the time. All the time. Bounces them about!'
"The Serpent raised its head farther and widened its eyes. 'That's quite a trick. How does he do it?'
" 'From hand to hand, back and forth, to and fro, while I'm trying to explain things like the solar system.'
" 'Well,' said the Serpent, blinking. 'He sounds like quite an accomplished and original young man.'
" 'Yes, he's good with his hands,' God repeated. 'Look at this woodwork!' God waved at the porch with its carved columns. 'And he loves to make those balls I told you about. I must admit it's difficult work, with his big hands. But he makes lots of them, small ones, large ones. He weaves reeds together for the cover and stuffs them with bits of wool or seeds. They are wonderful balls, and they bounce very well. He's fascinated by them. I only wish he'd put as much time and interest into learning.'
" 'Oh. Of course,' said the Serpent. It sank into its coils, coughing.
" 'There you go again, said God. 'You should take something for it; try honey. Anyway,' he continued, 'when I ask Adam questions, he acts as if he's never heard the subject before. "What?" he'll say. "A planet? Nine planets? What's a planet?" as if we hadn't been talking and eating and sleeping planets for days.'
" 'It must be very trying for you,' said the Serpent.' "

There certainly is humor in THE GARDEN, a tale of what happened in the Garden of Eden told from Eve's point of view. But there is so much more. The God we meet is loving, but also stubborn, and impatient, and prideful. He has a terrible time dealing with the notion that the creatures He made in his own image have taken on lives of their own.

" 'What are the important things?' I asked. It seemed to me that everything I had learned was important.
"God frowned. 'Eve, you must learn not to interrupt! Serpent, I'm surprised you allow it!'
" 'I find the interruptions are often the most productive moments,' said the Serpent.
"God hunched his shoulders as if he found the idea incomprehensible, and turned back to me. 'Eve, in the next few weeks I will teach you the correct view of the world and the correct view of me. You must learn to appreciate what it means, that I created the world and all the animals and the birds and the fish, all the insects, everything! God waved his hands at the landscape behind us, which Adam and I could not see. A wasp circled around his head, and he waved it away. 'I created you, both of you! Adam and Eve!'
" 'And the linen, I said.' "

God sets off the complex series of events when he orders Adam to force himself upon Eve, making the "first time" horribly traumatic for both Adam and Eve. Furious about God's lack of patience and understanding, the Serpent takes Eve home, insisting that God and Adam stay away from her for six moons. During that time the Serpent and Eve embark upon a series of secret explorations outside the safe confines of the Garden.

My ninth grader reads everything these days with an overly-critical eye. This was the first thing I've seen her truly passionate about in months. Her copy was passed on to an eighth grade fantasy reader, who devoured 200 pages overnight, and came into class yesterday smiling and exclaiming that, "They're going to have to put that author into the Witness Protection Program."

THE GARDEN is a both an enchanting story and a powerful, incredibly thought-provoking book. Ms. Aidinoff's characterizations of Adam and Eve will prompt great discussions concerning the roots of "maleness" and "femaleness." It will also instigate debates about parenting styles and about freewill.

THE GARDEN is sure to germinate fields full of thoughtful reader reaction. Be sure to let the sun shine in on this extraordinary story by adding it to your collection.

The Garden
I thought this book was ok. I'm a devoted Christian, and the depiction of God was disturbing at times. I thought that Eve was a very real character, with understandable emotions and feeings. I thought that the book dragged on in some respects, the description was vivid, but long and continuous. It took me about a week to finish this book, which is long for me. The characters had very few scenerios in which new changes occur. The dialogue was very philisophical, about the world and the Garden. Throughout the book, I was waiting for the Serpent to show some signs of the Devil, like he really was, and I often confused the Bible tale to this one. It was a wonderful, intriguing idea, but it fell flat in a way. I wish there were more characters and that Adam and Eve had more interesting conversations and a stronger realationship. God also was depicted in a very negative way, which, I know is fictional but still upsetting at times. The book felt overworked and overdone, missing that special real feeling that other books I have read have. ... Read more

Book Description

Miss Pym's class is in for a comic adventure beyond their wildest dreams. They've boarded the Rocky Mountain Unlimited, a mysterious train that's winding its way into the heart of prehistoric times. Join the class-and a horrified Miss Pym-as they scramble dinosaur egg for breakfast, go stegosaurus-back riding and pterodactyl gliding, and play soccer with their giant reptilian friends. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not for the 3-5 set
The story begins at a train station in New York city. A teacher and her class are going on a field trip to Utah. As they travel further and further from New York, they look out the window and see earlier and earlier periods of time. In Philadelphia, they see horse-drawn carriages and women in long skirts. In Pittsburgh Civil War Union soldiers board the train. By the time they reach Utah, they are in prehistoric times.

I checked this book out of the library after hearing about it on Reading Rainbow. After reading it to my 3 and 5 year olds, I realize that this was really not for their age-group. Too many conclusions must be drawn by looking at the pictures. It left them thinking, "I don't get it." Maybe I'll try again when they're older.

A wonderful story with beautiful illustrations
This is a very fun story with beautiful pictures. My 2.5 year old loves both trains and dinosaurs so I feel very lucky to have found this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Once upon a time, when the world was "new-and-all," Man turned to the animals for help--to the horse for carrying, the dog for fetching, the ox for plowing. But the camel refused to do a lick of work, haughtily replying "Humpf!" to all requests. The other animals complained of the inequity to the Djinn of all the Deserts, who used his powerful magic to punish the lazy camel.

Rudyard Kipling's beloved story of how the camel got his hump is a comical tale of justice delivered that's filled with fanciful wordplay and illustrated with wit and great charm by the incomparable Lisbeth Zwerger. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent story for both children and adults to enjoy.
This story has a great moral to it as well as being very entertaining and interesting to both children and adults. The plus side of the cassette is that Jack Nicholson tells it in such a way that everyone will enjoy listening to it over and over again. The illustrations are perfect to fit the story and are great at intriguing the children. We have had this story through both of our sons and they both STILL enjoy this book. Hopefully will pass it on to the grandchildren. Tell your friends and family about this one. ... Read more

Book Description

What does it mean if you die before you were born?

An eleven-year-old Texan girl finds out what it was like to live in the Ice Age in this action-packed time-travel adventure. As Esther participates in an archaeological dig in Texas, she is accidentally transported back in time. Living among the Clovis, the mammoth hunters, she learns of a very different childhood in which play is practice for survival and humans are prey for megafauna-scimitar cats, giant bears, and others. Will she ever get back to her own time?

Peni R. Griffin has delivered her greatest time-travel story yet, a thrill-a-page adventure that's also an affecting look at family and what makes a home. Kids will be riveted by this richly imagined vision of prehistoric North America from a writer whose work has been called "expertly plotted" (Kirkus Reviews) and "fascinating" (Booklist).

Discoveries of early American artifacts, clues to this little-known time, appear in the news frequently. The detailed bibliography in this book invites young readers toread and, like Esther, make discoveries of their own. AUTHOR BIO: Peni R. Griffin has written many award-winning novels for middle-grade and young-adult readers. The Switching Well was a finalist for the Golden Spur Award, and The Ghost Sitter was an Edgar finalist and a Golden Sower nominee. She lives in San Antonio, Texas. ... Read more

Book Description

Put on your warmest parka, grab your time-travel shoes, and get ready to explore the Ice Age! As you step back to a time beginning some 35,000 years ago, you'll not only unearth ancient artifacts and bones and discover incredible works of art, you'll come up with ideas about how our early ancestors might have lived during this fascinating -- and chilly -- period.

As you learn more about the Ice Agers' way of life, you may be surprised by how cleverly they solved their problems. They sewed snug clothing and hunted big game, surviving very well in the icy climate! They also played musical instruments and, most remarkably, invented art.

Unearth their bones, sift through their trash piles, uncover their tools and hearths, delve into the darkness of their caves, and enter the fascinating world of the Ice Age! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

DISCOVER AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK OF GREAT MERIT!!!
Margaret Cooper has quickened the pulse & deepened the understanding for all of us fascinated by the Ice Age & our earliest human ancestors. In this lush book we can each become Ice Age travelers & prowl the caves, art, tools, & lives of an earlier, more mysterious world. We feel a sense of kinship with our early ancestors & marvel at their endurance & artistic imaginations. This book is certainly an educational tour de force! We are proud to have this in our teaching materials, & appreciate teachers & childrens responses to this valuable book!

EXCEPTIONAL TOUR DE FORCE!!!
Margaret Cooper's latest book is an exceptional tour of the Ice Age, with all of its mysteries & exquisite examples of human art, survival, & spirituality. This is very thoroughly researched & understood! Beautifully written! Beautifully illustrated! This book brings each reader to a new, clearer understanding of how important the Ice Age periods truly were. What a great gift for young minds! I'm eager to see her next book! ... Read more

Book Description

The last thing Ginny wants is to be sent away....

But when her mother is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, she's packed off to England to stay with Hugh, the father she hardly knows. Hugh is part of a living history research project, which means he lives on an Iron Age farm without any modern conveniences. A summer without regular showers, TV, or the Internet could be a horror show, but Ginny manages to cope and even makes friends, including the handsome but mysterious Corey. Soon she's become a valued member of her Iron Age family. But is she strong enough to survive not knowing what is happening to her mother? And can Corey help her escape this prison of the past?

2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA) and Teacher's Choices for 2000 (IRA)

Reviews (4)

Stay 'A Time Apart' away from this book
A Time Apart by Diane Stanley was by far one of the worst books I have ever read. It about a girl named Ginny who goes to live with her dad in London because her mom, back in Houston is sick with cancer. Her dad is a part of this Iron Age project where a group of people came together and lived as they did in the Iron Age where there were small huts, clay pots and stone tools. Most of the book is about her every day life on the project grounds. It is interesting at first, but after describing every day in her life on the project, every day is exactly the same. I did not like this book because it was slow moving, and was a story that could have been told in 30 pages, instead of 272 pages.

Loved it
I just finished A Time Apart and I loved it. It's about a girl named Ginny who is sent to live with her father in England while her mother recovers from cancer treatment. When she gets there, she finds out that she and her father will be living on a farm modeled after Iron Age villiages with no electricity, modern tools, or contact with the outside world. The book shows how she is slowly adapting to her new life and finding a different side to her father from the one she knew. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it kids/teens ages 11-14.

I LOVE IT
This book is truly fascinating. I recommend all you to somehow read this book. It truly a GREAT book. Listen to me. It is a good book. I won't tell you any details so that You as readers will find out. Oh I hope I can find another book like this one it was a great good book. I really loved it. Now Listen to me you might think I'm lieing. But think again. I not! So read this spectacular book. I liked it so much I bought instead of just reading it from the library. It is a truly fascinating book. PLEASE read it.

One Girl's Life Is Turned Upside Down Overnight....
A Time Apart is a captivating story about 13 year old Ginny Dorris. When school lets out, Ginny is looking forward to a summer of relaxation and drama camp. Then, when Ginny finds out her mother has cancer, she is packed off to live with a father she barely knows who is conducting an Iron Age progect in England. Ginny finds herself living with a group of strangers in a replicated Iron Age farm, cut off from modern life. As Ginny struggles to keep her mind off her mother and get along with her father (not to mention the rest of the Iron Age community), she discovers that living in the Iron Age isn't as bad as she expected it to be, and even finds herself reluctant to leave. A Time Apart is a beautifully written book. The author describes Iron Age life vividly, so that you have a clear picture of the community in your head throughout the entire book. Unlike many other books, this one never has a dull moment; I often had trouble putting it down. The bottom line is, this book's a winner. Try as I might, I can't find any flaws with it. ... Read more

Book Description

What would you do if you found yourself back in the time of the dinosaurs?

While on a family camping trip, Jesse and his dog, Shadow, discover a mysterious bone. Jesse wonders if it might be a dinosaur bone before he settles down to sleep. Soon the bone begins to glow, and brave little Shadow watches in awe as the rocks and trees around her begin to transform themselves into gigantic dinosaurs.

Shadow finds herself transported into a fiery world beyond time, where dinosaurs rule the Earth. Will she ever be able to find her way back home to Jesse and safety?

Dennis Nolan's magnificent paintings will appeal to dinosaur fans everywhere as they find themselves captivated by this breathtaking picture-book adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Winner about a Weiner!!
This wonderful book has fantastic illustrations that compliment the creative story about a boy and his dachshund. It is the best book I have found for children that involves a dachshund. As a dachshund owner, I looked far and wide for a wonderful book for my grandson, and when I found this one, I was finally satisfied. He loves the story and all the illustrations since he is not only in love with my puppies, but also with dinosaurs which are featured in the story. A definite Winner about a Weiner! You won't be disappointed! Adults and Children will love the book!

A boy and his dog. . . and dinosaurs!
There are a lot of children's picture books about dinosaurs, but among them all "Shadow of the Dinosaurs," by Denis Nolan, is definitely something special. "Shadow" tells the story of Jesse, a young boy, and Shadow, his loyal dachshund. Shadow uncovers a bone. But the bone turns out to have paranormal powers, and soon the little dog is having a hair-raising encounter with a bunch of dinosaurs!

The paranormal element to the story is very well done, and gives the book a "Twilight Zone" meets "Jurassic Park" feel. The colorful illustrations blend realistic detail with memorably imaginative images. "Shadow" is also interesting in that the dog is really the main character of the book; Jesse is a supporting character. And the resourceful Shadow is quite an admirable heroine. Overall, this book is a fine blend of suspense, fantasy, and dinosaur science.

Wonderful, Imaginative Tale for Dinosauroholics
My two-year old daughter found this on our last trek to the bookstore, and fell in love with story of Shadow, a plucky dachshund, who finds a dinosaur bone in the woods, and later wakes to find that the bone has unleashed a return of the dinosaurs. Trees transform into sauropods, and boulders metamorphose into ferocious theropods. Soon the two factions of dinosaurs are at war, an enormous volcano erupts, and Shadow must find the dinosaur bone and bury it to put a stop to the destruction. The pictures are magnificent, and while the story is simple enough for a toddler, it is also rich enough to interest much older children (and adults). People think it is hilarious when my daughter recites the names of the various dinosaurs (brachiosaurus, allosaurus), and I'm thrilled that we may have a natural historian in the family. This is a terrific, entertaining and informative book for anyone who loves dinosaurs (and who in their right mind doesn't?). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Entirely Enchanting!!
Take off on a magical dream with a girl and her dinosaur. My daughter adores this book ... can't get enough of it. The story is magical and the illustrations are some of the best I've seen in a children's book. It is just captivating! This would make such a great birthday present, along with a little green stuffed dinosaur, just like the one the girl is holding in the book.

My daughter's favorite
When I first read this story to my almost-3-yr old daughter at the library, I saw a look in her eyes I had never seen before. She was already fond of dinosaurs, but this book clearly helped her discover a new way to use her imagination and she loved it. I love it for the way the dinosaur is presented--magically and whimsically, rather than ferociously. It's a beautiful book.

My Dinosaur
This is absolutly one of my favorite books to read to my boys! It's a great fantasy story with a very friendly dinosaur. It's very, very different than any other dinosaur books we read. I think girls would really love it also! ... Read more