Book Description

The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie off to the mountains of Africa. There they run into a huge mountain gorilla! At first they don’t know whether they should shake hands or turn tail. But the ominous-looking creature turns out to be surprisingly gentle. Not only that, the gorilla may be able to help them learn their next bit of magic, which Morgan has challenged them to do. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I love this book
Good Morning Gorillas is one of my favorite Magic Tree House books. I love it. I love the book because it has lots of words and it's long. I always love long books. My favorite part of the book is when Jack & Annie get a twig from a Mountain Gorilla as their gift.

I love the Magic Treehouse books!
We read this book in our second grade class and really liked it. I am 8 years old and this is the kind of book I want to read. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

With one magic word!
"Shazam Archives Vol. 3" continues the fine tradition of the DC Archives collection. The Shazam Archives do not reprint any particular series in chronological order, but rather collects excellent examples of the character and writing from several comic series.

This volume collects the story "Ghosts of the Deep" from "America's Greatest Comics #1," "Captain Marvel Adventures #2," "Captain Marvel Adventures #3," "Whiz Comics #21," with the first appearance of the Lt. Marvels, "Whiz Comics #22," "Whiz Comics #23," "Whiz Comics #24," and the covers of "Captain Marvel Thrillbook #1" and "X-Mas Comics #1."

Most of the stories highlight CC Beck's work, although George Tuska contributes a few stories. They are all fine examples of the Good Captain, showing his charm and appeal. The printing quality is excellent, and the stories have never looked better.

Keep 'em coming DC! A great book, and I am looking forward to "Shazam Archives vol. 4." ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (9)

Some 1st book mistakes but still worth the read
Some pacing and continuity errors kept me guessing as to weather or not I felt the book was worth finishing but let it not be said that Stuart Hill isn't talented. I've found that the lower points of this book usually balance out due to some very witty descriptions and remarks. Thirrin, the main character, becomes loveable enough throughout the story. All in all this is an above average book. If you were disapointed by Garth Nix's Aborshen series you'll find this book much more readable.

WOW! What a book....
Some of my friends told me about this book. With all the talk about a warrior queen, I thought it might be more for girls. I was so wrong. This is a fantastic war story and a moving personal one, too. The young queen has a warlock companion throughout the book who is one of the most unusual male characters I've come across. The villain is strong and the tribes that Thirin must bring into her army are werewolves, vampires and giant leopards. How cool is that? You've got to read this!

The Cry Of The Icemark
This is a wonderfully written epic adventure with something in it for kids of all ages - It's extremely visual and no surprise to me that 2oth Century Fox wants to make a movie out of it - Can't wait to see it!!

One of the best books I've ever read
Books of this size are sometimes difficult to finish. This book just flew by -- and when I had finished, I was so sorry there wasn't more of it! I sure do hope that Stuart Hill is writing another one. I have to know what will happen in the future to Thirrin. I'm 15 years old and if you had told me that I would love this book, I probably would not have believed you. This is a fantastic story about a young princess who must go to war to defend her kingdom. She joins forces with the neighboring countries whose citizens are werewolves, vampires and snow leopards. What's amazing is that this author makes all of this feel incredibly real and believable. This is one fabulous book! Please read it.

A Good, Solid Fantasy Novel
It took me a little while to really get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked. For a book targetted at young adults (10+) it has some rather epic battles and a good intermingling of humour and friendship. There are a few rather more gruesome parts however, especially towards the end. I also believe that there is a strong sense of the metaphoric in the story, as well as it being not entirely disimilar to the history of our own world. In some ways at least!

Shortly after her fourteenth birthday, Thirin Freer Strong-In-The-Arm Lindenshield becomes the Queen of Icemark, a tiny kingdom caught between dangerous neighbours and currently about to face the biggest invasion it has ever known. Polypontus, the terrible and immense "civilisation" to the south is about to descend on them - with armies that have never been defeated and the greatest General ever known.

To stand against them, Thirrin, with the help of Oskan Witch's Son, must journey into the unknown and make allies of the most unlikely sort - werewolves, vampires and the most dangerous and beautiful of all - the immense Snow Leopards at the hub of the world. Only then, might she and her people be able to stand a chance against their treacherous enemy.
... Read more

Reviews (22)

Mysteries and Puzzles
Encyclopedia Brown is a 5th grade boy who solves puzzles, crimes and mysteries as easily and as unconsciously as breathing.

Each book is a series of short mysteries (5-10 pages each) ending with a question - usually "how did Encyclopedia know that X was responsible for the crime". The answer to each mystery is at the back of the book. Solving the mystery takes no special knowledge, but it does require paying attention to detail. Don't turn to the answer too fast.

This book is the first in the series, but the books do not have to be read in order. I loved the Encyclopedia Brown books when I was growing up. I am reading them again before I give them to my nephew who I hope will enjoy them as I did.

Adults who like this series may also enjoy the Lateral Thinking Puzzles books.

The Boy Sherlock Holmes
"Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective" is a wonderful book for kids from about six years to about 12 or so. Published in 1963, it has a sweet tone reminiscent of 1950's TV shows. The fun, though, lies in tracing and anticipating young Brown's using logic, a little science, and keen observation to solve minor crimes and mysteries. Sometimes, he's helping his police chief father; other times kids bring the mysteries directly to him.

Your child may successfully solve the mystery on his or her own (each of the 10 cases ends with a question, e.g., "HOW DID ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN KNOW THIS?," or, after trying to find the culprit, they can turn to the back for the brief answers. There's no tricks, though at least one story assumes a little more knowledge than might be expected from the average grade schooler. For example, one hint is that "Bull Run" was the Northern name for the Civil War battle, not the Southern name (although this solution has an easier clue as well).

A wonderful, captivating series of vignettes (ten cases covering 78 pages, not including solutions), I recommend this very highly. It's also a great book for readers from about grades two through about six.

Average
It's an okay book. It's more puzzle book than story book. Each chapter is a short mystery with the who done it left to the reader to figure out. Any reader familiar with logic puzzles shouldn't be baffled by them at all.

Extremely Challenging Puzzles!
My Mom gave me Encyclopedia Brown as a reading assignment.

Leroy Brown lives in the town of Idaville. He helps his dad solve police mysteries. No one in Idaville ever gets away with a crime when Encyclopedia is around!

I admire how Leroy stands up to the bully, Bugs Meany.
I really enjoyed trying to solve the mysteries. I think Leroy (Encyclopedia) Brown is the smartest person in the state!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys solving a challenge. I have read a few others in the series and enjoyed those as well.

Encyclopedia Brown Does It Again
I remember listening to a camp counselor read me Encyclopedia Brown mysteries years ago and being captivated by the short, though tricky cases. This summer, I became the counselor, and though my campers were reluctant to have me read to them at first, these books had an incredible impact on them. They quieted down and listened intently for as long as I would read and after each mystery would excitedly participate in a discussion about the solution. It also inspired several of them to start reading their own books or to ask me to borrow some of mine. These are very fun stories, well written, and have tremendous appeal for kids. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to read good books to kids or any kids who would like to provide themselves with hours of entertainment. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (30)

Worth the wait
Note: this review refers to the recently released Ultimates TPB entitled Homeland Security. After managing to take down the Hulk, the government sponsored superhero team called the Ultimates have run into some problems. A shape changing alien race, which are responsible for some of humanity's worst moments (Captain America fought them in World War II) are once again rearing their ugly heads with a plan to wipe out the human race. Sad part is, the Ultimates are in shambles with Janet Pym AKA Wasp severely injured by her husband Hank AKA Giant Man, who himself goes on the run with Captain America in pursuit to teach him how to properly treat a lady. New members Hawkeye, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver are introduced as well as the team unites to defend the planet. The issues contained in Homeland Security is where the Ultimates really shines, improving on the first few issues by far. Mark Millar has cleverly crafted a modern day version of the Avengers while staying true to their original roots, while Bryan Hitch's artwork is better than ever. All this leads up to the upcoming (hopefully, many single issues of the series were loaded with shipping delays and would not reach shelves for months at a time) Ultimates Vol. 2 monthly series which Millar has hinted at will change everything you think about this modern day Avengers team. All in all, out of all of Marvel's Ultimate line (the new Ultimate Fantastic Four is impressive as well), the Ultimates is something really special.

Humanizing the Superhuman
Not particularly fond of Marvel's Ultimate line, I usually approach any of Marvel's 'Ultimate' series with hesitation. However, I was never that big into the Avengers, so I figured I would give The Ultimates a shot, and I was very pleased with the results.

Once again re-imagining and re-telling the story of one of their most famous super groups, Marvel captures a whole new dimension of story-telling with the Ultimates. Making them seem like real, ordinary people with real problems is probably one of the best parts of the entire story. Of course, there is plenty of action and fighting to go around too. Alot of the character's origins and general appearences have been changed too. For example, instead of Tony Stark having a terminal heart condition, he know his an inoperable brain tumor. Nick Fury is probably the most dramatic change, in that instead of being a grizzled, cigar chomping World War II veteran, he's a blatant Samuel L. Jackson look-alike with attitude and spunk. An interesting reworking of Fury, but I could've done without it, despite how it fits with the story. Hank Pym and his wife Jan Pym, Giant Man and Wasp respectively, have marital problems, with Hank being an abusive, chronic alcoholic. The entire comic seems to revolve around the telling of everyone's personal lives, which gives all the characters alot of depth. Finally, Thor is the son of Odin from Asgard who has spent more than his fair share of time in a mental institution, and is now a peace-loving pacifist...until it comes time to defend the world.

From Tony Stark's pompous, rich jerk attitude to Captain America's good old American spirit, The Ultimates is definitely worth the read. The interesting spin on the Hulk and other story elements make this one of the best Marvel re-tellings yet. The only thing that bothered me was that the comic got a bit too political at times. I appreciate seeing the inclusion of real-world problems into the comic, making it that much more realistic and adult, but sometimes it got just a wee bit critical and outspoken. But all in all, The Ultimates was a fantastic read that I just couldn't put down. When I got to the end I was thirsting for more, and The Ultimates: Volume 2 definitely delivers after this great introduction. Great job from Marvel.

Homeland Security
The Ultimates are America's team. They are funded by the government to fight nasty villains, terrorists, and any other badguy Mark Millar can come up with. The members of the Ultimates have a very real feel to them, and they are profoundly more realistic and human than, say, Ultimate Spider-Man.
Now that that's out of the way, on to the actual comic itself! The Ultimates, having recently taken down the Hulk(a.k.a. Bruce Banner), they now realize that the Wasp, wife of Giant Man, has been brutally injured by her husband. Also, Giant Man has run away, and he is nowhere to be found.
On top of all this, The Ultimates uncover that an alien race, dubbed the Chitauri by the Aficans, have reamerged, and that, by the end of the first issue, Captain America has gone to find Hank Pym(Giant Man).
With his team rapidly disentigrating, Nick Fury has to call for the aid of Black Widow, Hawkeye, and, most surprisingly of all, Magneto's children.
When Black Widow and Hawkeye take down an alien cell in two office buildings, the Ultimates realize that they have a problem on thier hands. They are the only ones who can stop them, and Cap is still nowhere to be found.
Finally, they find oiut that Cap has had a huge fight with Hank Pym, and that he broke his jaw, thus putting him out of action. It is only after Cap returns that they finally head for a secret base of operatons for the aliens. Once there, thaey too late realize that it's a trap, and by the time they do, it's (almost) too late. The island explodes, and the Ultimates are nowhere to be found.
Too find out what happens after this point, you'll have to buy it for yourself. Needless to say, though, the volume escalates until you you the last two ussues, which are basically just a collossal war btween the surviving Ultimates and the entire Chitauri fleeet, plus an old "friend" from Captain ASmerica's past.
The main good things about this are that
1.The art by Bryan Hitch is SUPERB.
2.The writing by Mark Millar is FANTASTIC.
3.The volume is STUFFED with both action and development.
4.Hey, it's the Ultimates. What's there not to like?
Unfortunately, nothing is perfect. The Ultimates' main flaw is that it takes forever and a day to ship. (The issues say that it ships monthly. Don't believe them-it's a lie) In other words, unless you are a VERY patient person, wait until the volume comes out to buy this, because takes forever.
Luckily, the Ultimates is well worth the wait.

ONE OF THE BEST COMIC BOOKS OF OUR TIME
The Ultimates, as most of you may already know, is Mark Millar's new take and new look on the Avengers. Millar's story, combined with Bryan Hitch's awesome artwork, makes The Ultimates is one of the best comic books of our time.

The Ultimates is an almost totally new look at the Avengers. The story is set at the present timeline(2002) and this time, the Avengers now works as a military group. The Ultimates is a super-hero team built to protect America from super-human attacks and acts of super terrorism that can no longer be handled by the military. The team is headed by Nick Fury, who is still the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Among its members are Steve Rogers (Captain America), who is the team leader, Tony Stark (Iron Man), Hank Pym (Giant Man), his wife Janet Pym (The Wasp), Bruce Banner (Hulk) and Thor. New recruits such as Black Widow, Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are also added later on in the book.

Readers will also get to see the Avengers in a dimmer, darker and more mature storyline this time. Its story is much more interesting and intruiging this time. Millar did a good job of making The Ultimates fun and full of action, while still keeping the storyline dim. Hitch's pencils and Currie's inks also raised the darkness and maturity level of this comic book.
Mark Millar really outdone himself in this book. The story is very creative, it manages to be deep, intruiging, and would you believe, even realistic at the same time. Almost all of the characters in this comic book have been retold and remade. For example, Thor is now a hippie who drinks booze and protests for human rights and stuff like that, but is still the all-powerful, hammer-wielding Norse God that we love, only without the accent. Hank Pym, also known as Giant-Man, is now a hunky scientist who is witty and funny, but at the same time has an ego and an inferiority complex that could tear apart everything he loves, and he proved it by almost killing his wife Janet after an argument. Nick Fury is now a black man. Need I say more???

In other words, THIS IS AS HUMAN AND AS REALISTIC AS THE AVENGERS ARE EVER GONNA BE. I've never seen such realism in comic books in my life. The characters are heroes, yeah, but at the same time almost all of them have negative traits or dark secrets that could destroy the team. Emotions, egos and personal agendas now play a big part in the story and characters, which makes them more vulnerable not only to their enemies, but to each other as well. (It was jealousy that started the Hulk rampage and Giant Man's almost fatal assault to his wife.)

However, the Ultimates still managed to stay true to each member's roots, even for a little bit. Cap is still the responsible and patriotic fighting machine that he always was (although much more gritty and emotional this time), Hulk is still the strongest there is, Thor is still the all-powerful Norse God (although much more human this time), Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are still Magneto's offsprings and Tony Stark is still a billionaire playboy.

The way Millar built the characters is also amazing. Millar made sure that each member of the team is built up well. Millar made sure that readers will be able to know the roots of each Ultimate. And unlike in other team comic book titles where some characters gets more presentation and time than others, The Ultimates gives each character his/her fair share of exposure. No one gets overexposed and no one gets forgotten.

The action "scenes" are also unbelievable. You can almost feel everything that is happening in the book. Although I admit that it took a while for the Ultimates to get some action, it was well worth the wait. Chapter 5:The Hulk Does Manhattan gave me one of the best fight scenes that I have ever seen. Every fight/battle scene is detailed to the nth degree. Just read Chapters 1, 5, 8 and 12 and you'll know what I mean.

Next up is the artwork. Bryan Hitch, is without a doubt the best penciller I have ever seen. You might think Im overrating him, well maybe I am, but so far, I haven't encountered a review that says otherwise. Every character is detailed to the bone, and his new designs on Captain America, Thor and the Iron Man armor is fantastic. The backgrounds are unbelievable, certainly the best background in a comic book that I have ever seen. Without Hitch, The Ultimates won't be this good. HITCH'S ARTWORK IS PERFECTION. Trust me on this.

Of course, there are also some negatives about this title as well. First of all, some of Millar's lines are a bit cheesy and dull. Also, I'm not really sure about Giant-Man's outfit, and I don't think The Hulk's "horny" attitude is right for him. But probably the biggest flaw of this comic is not in the comic itself. For me, its biggest flaw is its shipment. It usually takes 2 months or more for the next issue to come out! I feel irritated whenever I finish a chapter, knowing that I have to wait patiently for another 2 months or so to find out what happens next. And its irritating because I'm telling you, The Ultimates WILL leave you hanging at the edge of your seat, and it WILL leave you craving for more.

OVERALL, A COMIC BOOK MASTERPIECE. I know that some people will not agree with me on this, and a lot of people will think that I am overrating this comic book, but I don't care. Traditionalists probably won't agree with me because of the major changes that was done to the Avengers and their enemies, but I personally believe that these changes improved the Avengers a lot. Personally, I believe that this comic book is sheer genius. Millar, Hitch and Currie did a heck of a job. This is the best comic book Marvel has produced in a long time. For me, simply one of the best, if not the best, comic books that I've ever read.

Wonderfully Illustrated, but falls short of the mark.
I was intrigued when I heard about the Ultimates, which is in essence a reformation of the original Avengers. Although the illustrations were very well done, the story was so slow and badly put together that by the end of the story, I both wanted more, and much less.

The plot was both frantically paced and embarrasingly slow at the same time. Nothing was happening, but the story seemed in such a hurry to get there that I felt like I was missing something (perhaps I was). Millar does a pretty good job giving some background on Captain America, but none of the other characters get more than a passing nod from a standpoint of character development. Perhaps this is just as well, as seeing Thor as a tree-hugging raver (ala Woodstock '99) and seeing Dr. Bruce Banner as a pathetic weakling with more fears than brains struck me as uninventive and even a little lazy.

A particularly galling development in this "retelling" is the position of the Ultimates as a branch of the US miliary. Keeping aside the idiocy of having a Norse God in the US military, of all the Avengers, only Captain America has the type of character to follow orders and obey. Iron Man and the two scientists (Giant Man and Banner) would probably be somewhat suspicious of this dubious "honor" to serve one's country. My thought is political correctness in the post 9-11 world won't allow for rogue groups operating outside of the vast government's auspices.

Lastly, what's with all the celebrity worship? A full two pages are spent discussing who's going to play whom in the upcoming movie (Nick Fury's character appears to be drawn with Samuel L. Jackson in mind). Dinner with Freddie Prinze Jr.? Marketing meetings and PR sessions? What's with this garbage? All of these efforts serve to elevate the possible saviors of the world to the status of N*Sync or VH-1 Divas.

If you're into the Avengers, go back and read your old issues. There's nothing to see here. ... Read more

Book Description

Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way.

Book Description

You probably know that Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa. Didyou know that he also invented an early version of a helicopter and a tank, andthat he planned to execute the Time Warp Trio for spying on his inventions?Sam's bright idea to look for the inventor of the Book takes the guys to 15thcentury Italy to meet up with Leonardo. But it's going to take at least threemore bright ideas, two magic tricks, and one great invention to get them out oftrouble and safely back home. If not, it could be a lifetime of Italian armytoilet-cleaning detail for Joe, Sam, and Fred. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Judy and Peter find a board game in the park, they take it home, hoping to alleviate their boredom. One live lion, an erupting volcano, and a dozen destructive monkeys later, the children are no longer bored. Their jungle adventure game has come to life! Chris Van Allsburg is a master at walking the line between fantasy and reality. His unusually sculptured drawings (familiar to the many devoted fans of the Caldecott-winning The Polar Express and The Garden of Abdul Gasazi) convey the magical transition of a normal house to an exotic jungle. Readers will tremble along with Judy and Peter, urging them to roll the dice that will plunge them from one perilous predicament into another. Jumanji, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and winner of the 1982 Caldecott Medal, is sure to amaze and thrill even the most jaded young reader. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Jumanji
Have there ever been monkeys jumping around in your kitchen, or a lion destroying your bedroom, with a huge volcano irrupting in your house? Was there ever a large stampede of rhinos running crazy in your living room? Well that is what happens to Judy and Peter in the sensational book, Jamanji. When they were both left home alone, Judy and Peter got really bored. They decide to take a stroll in the park. On their way to the park, they discover a game named "Jamanji" sitting under a tree. They take it home and immediately start to play. All of the sudden, the creatures from the game came to life, in their very own house! How will Peter and Judy get this jungle cleaned up before their parents come home? Will they clean up in time? This book is a great mystery for kids' ages 4 to12. It has a great plot and brings wonderful excitement to the reader. Each topic makes you eager to read more and find out the result of the mystery.

LIONS, MONKEYS, AND, RHINOS, OH MY!
In Jumangi, Chris Van Allsburg details the story of Peter and Judy's afternoon. Through his words and pictures, he describes their eventful afternoon. On a boring afternoon, these two siblings are left alone. Before their parents leave, the two children are warned not to disorganize the house. However, once the children find an interesting board game, their once boring and uneventful afternoon becomes full of action and a bit of chaos. In this picture book, the author, who is also the illustrator uses black and white illustrations that are full of depth. Through his descriptive words and pictures, one can clearly witness the children's afternoon. The simple, yet detailed illustrations add to the characters, sets the setting, and mood. Jumanji's award winning illustrations are unique and add to the concept of fantasy in the book. Many children will enjoy this story or anyone who has experienced a boring afternoon or played an imaginative board game. The book may be slightly scary for younger children, but will encompass the attention of older readers. This book takes the reader along with the children on a wonderful adventure. JUMANJI!

Jungle fever
Chris Van Allsburg used to be my favorite picture book artist, and in many ways he remains so to this day. And it's books like, "Jumanji" that remind me why I love his work as strongly as I do. For some reason, Van Allsburg's picture books are so popular and so evocative that they are continually adapted into full screen motion pictures. "Polar Express" has just been turned into a computer animated extravaganza, and "Jumanji" was a Robin Williams vehicle once. Just the same, nothing compares to the original tale. Using his uber-realistic illustrations to highlight how incredibly bizarre the storyline is, this book is fully worthy of the 1982 Caldecott Medal it was awarded.

Peter and Judy have been left home alone by their opera going parents and boy are they boredy bored bored. After playing with their toys and making a mess they decide to take a run to the park. Once there, they discover an abandoned board game called Jumanji sitting beneath a tree. On a note taped to the bottom of the box read the words, "Free game, fun for some but not for all. P.S. Read instructions carefully". The kids don't know what to expect but they take the game with them anyway. After reading the instructions they find that once a person begins Jumanji they cannot stop until someone has won the game. The first roll of the die leads to a space that reads, "Lion attacks, move back two spaces". Suddenly there's a real live lion in the room, and it's regarding Peter hungrily. The kids realize, to their horror, that whatever happens on the board happens in real life. If they want to finish the game (and remain alive) they're going to have to continue.

The book really plays on the old idea of "when the parents are out the kids will get up to all kinds of unwitting mischief". There's a lot in this story that's similar to "The Cat in the Hat". Two bored kids. The magical entity that destroys their home but (undeniably) occupies their time. Getting everything cleaned up before mom and dad walk in the door. You get the idea. The story is surreal and skirts the edges of the disturbing. With illustrations created with Conte dust and Conte pencils, Van Allsburg makes the pictures especially realistic. You can make out every strand on Peter's head or observe the rubber bands holding together Judy's braids. As a child, I was always fascinated with realistic images of fantastical situations. Van Allsburg fits this bill perfectly.

"Jumanji" was later given a sequel of sorts entitled, "Zathura". I haven't read it myself, but I think my loyalties will always lie with the original. There's something about Van Allsburg's clean lines and startled expressions that really chill the reader to the bone. If you have a child that likes to be ever so slightly freaked out from time to time, I can't think of any picture book artist that does a better job of this than the master of the pencil drawing: Chris Van Allsburg. And "Jumanji" is his masterpiece.

Scary
I am a Van Allsburg fan but this book, though very good, is not one of my favorites. Some young children may be frightened by the illustrations. It is a good was to expose children to the fantasy genre if you feel they will not be upset by the illustrations or plot. (...)

Jumanji
I am a student of West Virginia State College, currently taking a class on Children's Literature. Mr. Samples (A Wonderful Teacher) has instructed us to review a Caldecott winner and write our thoughts on it. I read this book after seeing the movie and, of course, it is quite different. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of the differences and its speedy nature. I believe that children of various ages would enjoy this book because of the quick adventure and excellent illustrations. I would recommend this book to anyone for a classic family reading time, classroom reading, or bedtime story! ... Read more

Reviews (191)

The NeverEnding Favorite
My first interest in The NeverEnding Story was after I saw the movie. I picked up the book one evening, and didn't put it down until three in the morning. It's been one of my favorites ever since. I'm not a big fan of science-fiction and adventure novels, but The NeverEnding Story appeals to most audiences. That's probably because the focus is not on the adventure of the story, but on how it has an impact on our hero, and how it changes his character and life. Bastian Balthizar Bux is your average misfit. He's short, fat, dumb, and everyone at school makes his life miserable. To make it worse, his mother has just passed away, and he can't talk to his father. One day, in an attempt to escape from some bullies, he stumbles upon an intriguing book with a curious emblem on the cover. Bastian discovers a land of magic, mystery and adventure inside the cover of The NeverEnding Story. The Nothing is taking over Fantastica, the Childlike Empress is ill, and Atreyu is searching for a savior. He discovers him beyond the boundary of Fantastica. Bastian realizes that it is him, that he himself is part of the neverending story. He must bring the cure to the Childlike Empress, and to all of Fantastica. He must find the courage within to be the hero he has the potential to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading. It's one of my personal favorites because it does more than keep you turning pages. It's about more than one boy growing up. There's something in there for everyone. It leaves you with a satisfied feeling, and you put it down knowing that it's had an impact on your life.

A Fantastic Book for all Ages
Join Bastian Balthazar Bux as he experiences The Neverending Story. After finding himself in Mr. Koreander's bookshop, Bastian "borrows" a book that caught his eye as soon as he went inside the shop, "The Neverending Story." When he begins reading the book, he finds himself becoming part of the story, until finally he enters the world of Phantasien (Fantastica in the translation) where it is his responsibility to save the world of imagination from destruction. Follow him as he visits places like the Silver City, the Seeing Hand, the Cave of Dreams, the Changing House, the Ivory Tower, and so many more amazing places.

Ende's The Neverending Story is a book full of fantasy, magic and hope. It is a marvelous read for people of all ages. I have never read the English translation, but the original German just has so much power! The message of this book is very poignant. If you liked the movies, you will absolutely love the book! The first movie follows the first part of the book almost exactly. The other two movies (which I was very disappointed with) deviate tremendously from the book. If your exposure to The Neverending Story has only been through the three movies, you must read this book. Find out what you missed in the second two movies.

This book is full of many amazing characters that you will remember for the rest of your life. You will want to read this book over and over again just to meet all the unique characters again. This will be a book that you treasure for life. Recently, I lost my copy of the book, and I am just devastated. I don't know where I will find another copy of it in German because it is out of print. Hold onto your copy of the book, English or German (but especially German)! You'll love it!

More Meaningful Than the Average Fantasy Novel
Most Americans' familiarity with the book will come from the three American movies, despite the fact that the book was a bestseller in Germany for three years.

The first two movies are based on the first and second halves of the book, respectively (fortunately, the events of the third one were never written about). Bastian, rather than being a cute, slim, wide-eyed little boy, is a chubby recluse who withdraws into his own imagination as a replacement for friends, even more so since the death of his mother.

While not amazingly well-written by any stretch of the imagination, The Neverending Story makes up fully for that by being such a gripping adventure. Ende can write an enthralling drama, as equally light-hearted as it can be dark.

The story, however, goes deeper than providing a high fantasy tale. It is, at its heart, when all is said and done, a story about learning to love oneself. Bastian's metamorphosis from a selfish schoolboy to a worshipped, egotistical weilder of Auryn in Fantastica to, finally, a humble, appreciative son is as magical as the rest of the novel.

Fantastia is Fantastic!!!
ok I admit i didn't think its was gonna be verry good. I mean I loved he movie but i wasn't in to books or that kind of thing when i got but once i started reading it I couldn't stop. It filled my heart with every thing a book should. Now i can barly watch the movie cause all i think of is thats not how it was in the book. But I loved the book and i think if you like a good story or you love the Lord Of The Rings books you should pic this one up.

(...)

book of greatness
This book is full of adventure. Much better than the movie. A must read for kids. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

British boy with catchy name and unusual powers, check. Wild hair, check. Students at boarding school, check. Owls and funny street names, check. Mysterious shape-shifting enemies out to get the affable boy protagonist, check. Jenny Nimmo's"Children of the Red King" series (starring Charlie Bone) has so many ofthe same trappings as the Harry Potter series that, unfortunately, comparison is unavoidable. Rowling's books clearly trump these simpler fantasies for younger readers--but the Charlie Bone books are finding their audience in those who need a boy-wizard fix and need it now.

Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy, the third book in the author's planned quintet, begins when the magically "endowed" Charlie and his friend Emma discover a mostly invisible, strawberry jam-loving boy named Ollie Sparks imprisoned in the attic of the Hogwartsian Bloor's Academy. Ollie's plight is part of a seemingly amorphous Larger Evil Plot involving school authorities, a blue boa, and Charlie's three horrible great aunts. Charlie Bone and his friends are eager to fight wrongdoing with their combination of special powers, but obstacles in all shapes and sizes abound. Can the children rescue Ollie, Charlie's uncle, Ollie's older brother, and the other hapless victims...or are the enemies too plentiful and powerful? Despite the likeable Charlie and a plethora of magical happenings (raining frogs, sorcerers who escape paintings, etc.), reading this 408-page fantasy feels like a bit like running a marathon where the finish line feels farther away with every step.Thankfully, the ending is a happy one. (Ages 10 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Children of the Red King is the best book series despite hp
Ok, im going to star by saying The Invisible Boy is the best installment yet in the children of the red king series. first of all, don't even look at the summary of the book that amazon.com provided, none of it is true. NONE ZERO ZIP ZILCH! None of it so dont bother reading it. i mean, how could the yewbeam sisters try to marry amy bone unless they're lesbians? overall, this book is an amazing piece of work by jenny nimmo; if she was at bloors, she'd be in the drama department no question. However if you haven't read the first 2 books get reading because there is a slim chance you will understand the third book without reading the first two books. THIS BOOK ROX

The best so far!
In the third installment of the Children of the Red King series, a considerable amount of depth is assed, and Ms. Nimmo stakes out her own territory fiercely. This book was the best yet. Any doubt that additional depth was on its way should have been put to rest upon viewing the genealogical table (which, disappointingly, gave away a few endowments that I wasn't aware of, but it didn't affect the story).

The book is, in its basest form, about a boy who was made invisible by - who else - that wretched disaster of a magician, Ezekiel Bloor, and the efforts of Charlie and his faithful band of do-gooders to rescue him. But there is much more than an invisible boy for Charlie to worry about.

His best friend Benjamin has gone with his parents to Hong Kong, so Charlie has to find a way to keep Runner Bean occupied without Grandma Bone finding out about him. He is introduced to a new girl, Belle, who will be attending the academy, but not through the usual way - that is, not at the academy on the first day of classes. He is introduced to this girl, who is the most beautiful girl in the world and whose eyes constantly change color, at his own home by his horrific aunts and Grandma Bone. The manner of their introduction isn't lost on Charlie, and he is wary of her from the beginning.

His Uncle Patton leaves, mysteriously, speaking of "someone dangerous" that must be stopped from arriving, and Charlie finds himself without the comforting presence of his uncle, who has begun to serve as a very effective buffer between Charlie and the Yewbeams. When his Uncle finally returns, the manner of his return is such that Charlie feels compelled to revisit the painting of Skarpo the Sorcerer in the hopes that Skarpo can help his Uncle, but Charlie succeeds in doing two things: 1) adding mystery to the white wand he "stole" in book 2; and 2) unleashing a very unpleasant series of circumstances not only on Bloor's Academy but also on the people who live in the surrounding town.

As we are finding out, there is more to everything than meets the eye - even if some of it is rather obvious. And the universe is expanding, most satisfactorily. We can see possibilities for more books, and indeed it has been stated in at least one place that this is a projected series of five books.

I have only a few issues with the series in general, and the main one is: why does every book have to be centered around someone that the Bloors and/or Yewbeams are hiding or don't want to be found? And why does it make such little sense (to me at least - it's entirely possible that my tiny brain is missing something rather obvious) that the Bloors and/or Yewbeams don't want these kids found? Especially since this last book was action packed from beginning to end, and between Skarpo, Belle, Uncle Patton, and other minor subplots there was plenty around which to write a book. I hope that the next two books will use a more clever contrivance around which to center the story.

Last, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO THINK THESE BOOKS ARE POTTER RETREADS, I had an issue with what happened to Charlie at the end regarding a certain wand and a genealogical table (not the one in the beginning of the book).. I won't describe anything more, because I don't want to give the ending anyway. Anyway, this event seemed to be the most glaring Potter similarity yet, and I admit to actually gasping out loud when I read it. I assumed that Ms. Nimmo, as she is no stranger to children's entertainment, *must* have read Potter, and therefore I was dumbfounded, wondering why in the world she would do something like this. However, I wrote to Ms. Nimmo, and she confirmed that she has never read the Potter works, except when her publisher tells her to take a peek at certain parts. Given that she's never read the books, then, all of the Potter similarities are entirely accidental. This was an answer that pleased me greatly, for I have absolutely loved these books.

NEw Charlie BOne
THe Newest Charlie BOne was great like all the others, except for the fact that the editorial review is completely wrong, there is no tree girl and the invisible boy is not Emma's Brother!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps we can look for the tree girl in THe Blue Boa which may be another name for the invisible boy, who knows??? Anyway a great site for finding new books (...)at amazon.

A Great Book!
the third book in the Children Of The Red King series is much better than #1 or #2. if you like jenny nimmo, i suggest reading Griffin's Castle, one of her older books. it is equally great!

Stellar!!
The third in the Children of the Red King series... Truly outdoes the first two... Charlie Bone faces many new challenges including helping an invisible boy.. coping with a very deceptive "young and pretty girl"... and being endowed with his strange power. This is the best one yet, I highly recomend it to all Harry Potter fans and any fans of magical tales. Two Thumbs Up! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Attention all serious book collectors and fans ofPhilip Pullman'sHis Dark Materials. This undoubtedly beautiful package--cloth-bound in a classy red and adorned by numerous illustrations by master engraver and illustrator John Lawrence--is a must-purchase. A pint-sized pocket volume, Lyra's Oxford packages together a short story set in the same universe as his famous trilogy, a fold-out map of the alternate-reality city of Oxford, a short brochure for a cruise to The Levant aboard the S.S. Zenobia, and a postcard from the inventor of the amber spyglass, Mary Malone. Pullman, in his introduction, suggests that the peripheral items within "might be connected with the story, or they might not; they might be connected to stories that haven’t appeared yet. It's difficult to tell."

A very sumptuous and lovingly crafted but tantalizingly brief book ,Lyra's Oxford begins when Lyra and Pantalaimon spot a witch's daemon called Ragi being pursued over the rooftops of Oxford by a frenzied pack of birds. The daemon heads straight for Lyra (the creature was given Lyra’s name as somebody who might help) and is given shelter. Together Lyra and Pan try to guide the daemon to the home of Sebastian Makepeace—an alchemist living in a part of Oxford known as Jericho--but it is a journey fraught with more danger than they had at first anticipated.(Age 10 and over) --John McLay ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Know what you gonna read. Lovely!
First of all, this not a His Dark Materials-style book. Just a short story about Lyra and Pantalaimon, two years after the events of HDM. If you have read HDM, sure you felt quite sad about the ending, and you gonna feel relieved with Lyra's Oxford, as you see her keep going with her life. Don't expect a long story about something completely new, because it en't near HDM in any way. Just a 64 page book about a short story happening to Lyra. I loved it, as I loved HDM since the first chapter. And you gonna love Lyra's Oxford too.

A Taste of Things to Come
Lyra's Oxford is an enjoyable read for fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy, and whets the appetite for the upcoming 'Book of Dust'. The story is entertaining (though maybe too short for the price) but only if you have already read the main trilogy.. it simply won't make sense if you don't already know who these people are, as this is a book definitely for the fans. The extra tidbits were interesting to read through, though I thought the map was disappointing, and none of it met with the publisher's claim that it would look like it had "fallen through from another world". But I won't fault Pullman's storytelling because of that. If you enjoyed HDM and want to go deeper into Pullman's world, buy Lyra's Oxford.

[...]

A tightly woven fable
Taking his fan base completely by surprise (those members of his fan base that aren't ardent followers anyway) Philip Pullman has added a new chapter to the "His Dark Materials" saga. The series that catapulted Pullman from a minor children's literature existence to magnificent and overwhelming kiddie lit super-stardom has a new book to its name. Entitled "Lyra's Oxford", the book is consists of the following: A quote, an introduction, a story, and ephemera. This book is merely a small link to the further adventures to follow, it seems. As such, it stands as a perfect little entity within its own right.

The plot found in this book is nothing so much as a short story. Some 43 pages long it tells the tale of Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon. A quick note: If you haven't read any of the other "His Dark Materials Books" you could probably slog through this novella, though I wouldn't recommend it. Exposition isn't dwelt on here. The tale begins when Lyra and Pan spot a wayward daemon of a witch being attacked by a flock of starlings. After rescuing the much maligned creature the daemon bird tells them that he is frantically searching for a man named Makepeace. Lyra and Pan are charged to find this man and help the daemon save his mistress from death. Stirring stuff and a nice little story in its own right. Here we finally get a glimpse into Lyra's daily life. Jordan College has been fleshed out a little more and we meet various professors and students as Lyra searches for information about Makepeace. By the end of the tale, more questions have been raised than answered but barring the unfortunate death of the author (not likely) we'll have further Lyra goings on to look forward to soon.

If I've any problems with the book they probably stem from a single moment. Not to give anything away, Lyra is faced at some point with almost certain danger and/or death. In summoning her courage the girl thinks to herself, "Will-Will-be like Will-". Huh? This is the first moment our spunky heroine has EVER pretended to be anyone else in order to face her fears. This suggests that we are dealing with a softer gentler Lyra, a thought confirmed when Pullman writes that for Lyra, "the slightest thing had the power to move her to pity and distress". I miss the old headstrong Lyra. The strong independent Lyra. There are glimpses of her here, but not enough to fully put my mind at rest. I can only hope that the future books will remember that old Lyra better than this book does.

Now the story I was describing was actually entitled "Lyra and the Birds". "Lyra's Oxford" is the name of the book itself and it is a great deal more interesting. Here we can find maps of Oxford, postcards (one from Mary Malone herself!), photographs, advertisements, pages from old books, and a variety of other odds and ends. The effect is nothing so much as a childlike version of the "Griffin and Sabine" books, once so popular. In his introduction to the book, Pullman reflects that these little bits and pieces of ourselves that are sometimes the most telling. While their importance may remain hidden to us for now, readers are advised to hold onto this book tightly for future reference. It is obviously awash in clues that will become clearer in time. I myself was particularly interested in one of the advertisements for a book entitled, "The Bronze Clocks of Benin". Its author, Marisa Coulter, may stir a couple memories here and there. And there and here.

Altogether, I'd say the book's a delicate and successful composition. Its back cover advertises it as "beguiling" and I am inclined to agree. Some people may complain that for its price it is relatively small. Others will pore for hours over the various countries in Lyra's world (advertised by the "Globetrotter") and possible cruise destinations. If you're a fan of a book that will allow you to pick apart thousands of ideas and clues, I think you'll find "Lyra's Oxford" charming.

Could this little book be leading to something more???
As an avid lover of the Dark Materials, I was excited to see this book on the shelf. I picked it up immediatley.
I have to admit, yes the book is short, containing a story of approx. 49 pages. It is a quick read and not to the depth of the Dark Materials trilogy... HOWEVER, upon reading the introduction this leads me to believe there is something more on the horizon (or at least I'm hoping so). I believe that anyone who is a fan of the Dark Materials will enjoy this little tid bit for what it is. It takes place after the trilogy and shows how life has gone on for Lyra and Pan. It leads me to the conclusion that more is to come...
Pullman is a delightful writer. His words are wonderful and picturesque. I highly recommend this to any fan of The Dark Materials.

Lyra's tiny book
Much too short. (...) I suggest not buying it. The story is so abbrieviated that not much happens. The best thing about this book is its interesting size and colour. The binding is so thick its gunna last for ages. (...) ... Read more

Book Description

ThunderClan's darkest hour is upon them, as Tigerstar's quest for power plunges all the Clans into the most terrible danger any cat has ever faced. In order to save his Clan and his friends, Fireheart must uncover the meaning of an ominous proclamation from StarClan:

"Four will become two. Lion and tiger will meet in battle, and blood will rule the forest."

The time has come for prophecies to unfold, and for heroes to rise ...

Book Description

Welcome to Echo Falls.Home of a thousand secrets, where Ingrid Levin-Hill, super sleuth, never knows what will happen next.

Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. Getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation rivaling those solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes, and Ingrid has enough on her plate with club soccer, school, and the plum role of Alice in the Echo Falls production of Alice in Wonderland. But much as in Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole, things in Ingrid's small town keep getting curiouser and curiouser. Her favorite director has a serious accident onstage (but is it an accident?), and the police chief is on Ingrid's tail, grilling her about everything from bike-helmet law to the color of her cleats. Echo Falls has turned into a nightmare, and Ingrid is determined to wake up. Edgar Award–nominated novelist Peter Abrahams builds suspense as a smart young girl finds that her small town isn't nearly as safe as it seems.

Reviews (3)

Really Good!
I just loved the book Down The Rabbit Hole! It really fit into a childrens mystery. I couldn't put it down for a second because there was so much suspense! Every page i read i just wanted to keep reading so i could find out what happened next. I really recommend this to anyone who loves mysteries and suspense!

Harriet the Spy meets Sherlock Holmes
In Echo Falls, thirteen -year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill idolizes Sherlock Holmes for his ability to see the obvious, which mostly people miss, but is proud of being named as Alice in a local production of Wonderland.

However, Ingrid has a new role as life imitates art when someone murders "Cracked-Up Katie" just after the unfortunate victim was visited by the teen sleuth as she rushed from her orthodontist to soccer practice.When the newspaper report the murder, Ingrid worries that the cops will pin the rap on her since she left her soccer cleats at the crime scene.She decides to sneak into the house to reclaim her sneakers.Meanwhile, the police chief wants to interrogate Ingrid on her soccer cleats even as she is beginning to like her adversary's son.Still Ingrid realizes she has to be better than Holmes if she is to get the top cop and a killer off her back.

Sort of like of Harriet the Spy meets Sherlock Holmes; DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE is a terrific young adult amateur sleuth tale.The story line is fast-paced and loaded with action and plenty of twists as Ingrid tries to solve the case out of fear of lock up.The support cast either enhances her sleuthing, her personality, or her hometown.Though her older much bigger brother got away with sibling violence sending the wrong message to the youthful audience, readers of all ages will appreciate Ingrid Levin Hill, teen detective.

Harriet Klausner

Abrahams amazing again!
If you pick up this book make sure you have time to finish it in one sitting because you won't be able to put it down.
Like Harry Potter, this is an all-ages work. Abrahams is an amazing talent whose work thrills me every time and now he's writing for a younger audience which means more people can appreciate his books. If I can't convince you, read the jacket comments from Stephen King. Reviews like that aren't just handed out . . . read the book!
... Read more

Reviews (6)

pretty good
in case you were wondering, this collection includes 10 issues:

Uncanny X-Men 210-213
X-Factor 9-11
New Mutants 46
Thor 373-374
Power Pack 27

technically an issue of daredevil also tied into this crossover, but it's not included here.

crossovers are always fun, but as another reviewer mentioned they tend to meander. the writers didn't seem overly concerned about keeping the crossover self-contained, so a lot of the comics bring up events that don't get resolved until after the events in the books contained here. most of the backstories are explained enough that newbie readers shouldn't be too clueless, although if you're new to the x-men you should start off w/ the essential x-men series.

highlights: great fight w/ psylocke, wolvie, and sabretooth; apocalypse assembling his four horsemen; angel getting overwhelmed by the marauders.

minor gripe: WHY does thor not have a beard on the cover when he does at the time of these comics??

Really complete
If you want complete stories, then you are not going to do much better. If you want to see the X-Men in a state of war, then this is a far better storyline than the X-Tinction Agenda. Lots of mutants, lots of fights, and lots of poignant moments, from the injuries that led to the creation of Excalibur and Archangel, to Psylocke joining the X-men, to the death of so many Morlocks. The inclusion of Thor and Power Pack was well-handled. This novel can not be more highly recommended.

Mutants aplenty
Excellant graphic novel. One of the better X-men novels. Allstar cast includes X-men, X-factor, New Mutants, Power Pack, Morlocks, Marauders, Apocalypse and the beginings of his four horseman, and the Mighty Thor. Only dissapointment was not seeing Thor pummel the overrated sabertooth like the insignificant flea that he is, who comments that he would have torn Thor to shreads. All in all I highly reccomend this.

Good Story With Too Many Extras
I'm a comics fan and like most people I got my comics start with Marvel. I eventually bought more than Transformers and G.I. Joe and I got into X-Men. I think this graphic novel epitomizes my feelings about Marvel in general and the mutant comics (X-Men, X-Factor, etc.) in particular. The story here is a compilation of all comics from the storyline. The story is straight forward, a group of mutants has set out to kill all other mutants but in the process the story has to conveniently cross-over into Thor, Power Pack and more. Marvel does this to increase their readership on other titles. Since this is a trade paperback you get everything in order for one price. When reading the story in this fashion I began to see how annying this was since the story meandered due to the cross-vers that were barely related but I also felt sorry for those who bout the cross-overs off the shelf since they spent a ton more than they probably intended to.

The story itself is good but reads more like it's for the die hard fans, not really for comics and graphic novel fans looking for something more to read.

Good story, lots of action, & Sabretooth vs. Wolverine!!!
A good story with good art, featuring the first appearence of the Marauders, the foundation for Excalibur, the loss of Angel's wings, and the deaths of most of the Morlocks! There are two Wolvie vs. Sabretooth battles and some sub plots featuring X-Factor, Power Pack, Thor, and the New Mutants. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Deliciously madcap mayhem and out-of-this-world fantasy--this is whatyou'll find within the casing of this boxed set of two of Roald Dahl's mostbrilliant creations: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie andthe Great Glass Elevator.

For decades, delighted readers of all ages have explored Willy Wonka's fabulouschocolate factory, met the Oompa Loompas, and sampled the chocolate river alongwith Augustus Gloop. And later, they have zoomed off into the stratosphere inthe most remarkable elevator ever created. Now, a new generation of readersbarely needs to pause between the first and the second of Roald Dahl's masterfulvolumes. Hardcover editions of each title, illustrated of course by theincomparable Quentin Blake, are tucked in a handy cardboard sleeve, ready forthe next set of hungry eyes. Sadly, the convenience of the set iscounterbalanced by the poor quality of the paper used for the books. Classicslike these deserve thick, creamy, opaque pages; not the flimsy, rough,semitransparent sheets used here. (Ages 7 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sweeeeeee-eeet!
When I received my box set --my eyes nearly burst from the sockets. These books are absolutely PERFECT!

A must have for Roald Dahl fans -for sure. You have not experienced the Chocolate Factory until you have READ the book. For those that seem to thrive off the movie (and I love the movie, don't get me wrong) but the book -ahh, now you are going to get into the sinister mind of Dahl through these pages of delights. The character and their punishments are just a little more .....well, you be the judge and read the book!

Let's just say, Dahl is quite brutal but poetically just.

Charlie and the Glass Elevator is a bonus in this set!!

I highly encourage book lovers and Dahl fans alike to get this set --you will only find yourself as a child again enjoying the mystery and magic of Charlie's sweet adventure. These scrumptious delights will entertain even adults.

If you haven't read "Matilda" (which I classify Dahl's best work) you have truly deprived yourself. "The Witches" another of Dahl's handwork. These are only the icing on the cake of his works!

(the books are TOP quality and well worth the price -and then some)

Still love this set<