Amazon.com

"This is not the life I imagined I would have." So laments PrudenceEmerson, an inquisitive, distinctly non-prudent 13-year-old girl fromMassachusetts who wants to be cheerful but who must, along with her Toryfamily, live in fear of her Patriot neighbors in the months leading upto the American Revolution. Like the other books in the Dear Americaseries, Ann Turner's Love Thy Neighbor is recounted in diaryform--a fictional diary that reveals the innermost thoughts of a youngwoman while painting a vivid picture of the times in which she lived.The innate complexities of the conflicts between Tories and Patriots areclearly presented, and readers will certainly gain a new understandingof the challenges of overthrowing foreign rule and beginning a democracyfrom the rarely explored perspective of a family "on the wrong side" ofthe war. Readers will also learn about daily colonial life--when baconcame from the pigs one owned, where ink was made from ink powder ormaple bark, where girls were expected to embroider, wear corsets, scrubfloors, go to church on Sundays, and generally mind their manners. Pruis a strong, spirited heroine whom readers will cheer on as she enduresalienation from her Patriot friends, the sickness of her little sister,rising hostility, and ultimately, being uprooted from the home she lovesto flee the danger of war.

A note in the back further illuminates life in the Colonies, as dohistorical illustrations and a note from the author about her own familyconnection to this turbulent time. Two other fictional diaries setduring the Revolutionary War are Kristiana Gregory's Dear America bookThe Winter of Red Snow:The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart and BarryDenenberg's My Name is America book The Journal of WilliamThomas Emerson: A Revolutionary War Patriot. (Ages 9 to 14)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Interesting and different book that shows the other side...
This book is very different. It explains the mostly
untold side of Tory life during the American Revolution.
It centers around Pru, a young girl living in New England.
She leads a middle class life with her family. Because she
lives in a tiny town, she knows almost everyone. Then, the
Revolution starts. Not only does she lose most of her Patriot
friends, but her family is a target for threats. What will become of her and her family? You'll only know by reading. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.

I enjoyed this book because it showed us that some Tories were
just like us. All they wanted was what was best for their children. I recommend this to EVERYONE! Please buy it. You wont
be disappointed.

Great!
Throughout books based on American history, we have seen numerous Young Adult books about the Patriot side. Finally, Ann Turner has written a book about what it was like to be a Tory. Love Thy Neighbor catches you from page one. Centering around Prudence Emerson, a teenager living in Massachusetts, this fictional diary talks about daily life and the problems of being a Tory. Not only is she perscuted by Patriot neighbors, but forced out of her home with her family. Read as you learn about the Revolutionary War and the "other side". Great! Dont forget to read other Dear Americas and Royal Diaries.

My Love Thy Neighbor Review
This book was not great. It was not bad. But it was more towards the bad side than the good side. But I would not say it was so bad. But I've read much better books. Especially in the Dear America series. I reccommend-do not read this book it was not good.

Hard To Relate
This book was very well-written and shocking, but I couldn't really relate to people with a Tory perspective. I cannot really understand why people like the Emersons remained loyal to the king. Weren't the Tories being unfairly taxed too?

Love Thy Neighbor
This book is excellent. All through my life, I have pictured the Revolutionary War from one side of the tale, the American side. This book let me think of it from the side of someone who was living in America, but supported England. I am in the 6th grade, but read a post high school level, and I found it to be an amazing book. Normally, all of us never even think about this other side of the war, but this book will make you. Everyone has a different opinion, but we rarely hear everyone's side. This book shows us what it would be like to go agianst the majority, to see your friends become enemies, and to live in a place, where everyone purely despised what you believed. We always think of the Revelutionary War (or at least I used to) as a fight for Independence from the unfair British, but what we really don't often think about, is that the British were people too. And they also got hurt for their beliefs, just like we did, and they also died in the war. Read this book, because when you do, you'll see the Revelutionary War from the rarely heard prospective, the prospective of a Tory. ... Read more

Amazon.com

My Father's Dragon--a favorite of young readers since the 1940s and a Newbery honor book--captures the nonsensical logic of childhood in an amusingly deadpan fashion. The story begins when Elmer Elevator (the narrator's father as a boy) runs away with an old alley cat to rescue a flying baby dragon being exploited on a faraway island. With the help of two dozen pink lollipops, rubber bands, chewing gum, and a fine-toothed comb, Elmer disarms the fiercest of beasts on Wild Island. The quirky, comical adventure ends with a heroic denouement: the freeing of the dragon. Abundant black-and-white lithographs by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (the author's stepmother) add an evocative, lighthearted mood to an already enchanting story. Author Ruth Stiles Gannett 's stand-alone sequel, Elmer and the Dragon, and her third volume, The Dragons of Blueland both received starred reviews in School Library Journal and are as fresh and original as her first. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (35)

My Father's Dragon
My Fathers Dragon is the first book out of a series of three. It is a fiction story about a kid named Elmer, who loves to go on adventures. One of his adventures is rescuing a baby dragon that has been captured by animals, and taken to Wild Island to be used as a way to get across the river there. Elmer hears this news from a stray ally cat that he finds one day, and decides he's going to run away and go to Wild Island to free this dragon. Elmer has to outsmart a bunch of animals to get to the dragon, but it's easy for him because he's really clever. I thought the book was very exciting and fun to read. It's the kind of book you don't want to put down and want to read it over and over again. I gave this book such a good rating because it was fun; I never got tired of it. It was a great book!!!! I would recommend it to anyone that likes thrilling and adventurous books. I liked this book because it was easy to understand, it's funny, and exciting. It's a fun book to read to your self, or to a little brother or sister. No matter how old you are you will always enjoy it. This book is ten chapters long with about 5 to 6 pages each chapter and the chapters are very easy to read. This book would be good for kids that are starting to read chapter books because the words in it are easy to understand and it has pictures in it and they are very detailed. Also in every book there is a detailed map showing where things are and where Elmer went and it's really fun to look at them. I had a great time reading the book.

an unexpected new favorite
I've been expecting my seven year old son to become, like the rest of the world, an addict of the Harry Potter books, but no dice.

Instead, he came home from his multi-age class rhapsodizing about a book I had never heard of...My Father's Dragon. And although I haven't read it (yet), I can tell you for sure what happens in the first five chapters, because my son tells us all with such verve and enthusiasim about the adventures that take place there! How the narrator's father gets out of the tigers, and builds a bridge with the crocodiles are two of his favorite parts, and the words "Bome Cack! Bome Cack!! have entered our vocabularies probably forever.

I think the three books in this series will be entering our household at Christmas time, and I can't wait to read them myself!

My Father goes on....
This book is about a boy named Elmer Elevator. The story is told by his child, his daughter, we think. He goes on a big adventure, trying to rescue a baby dragon. We think it is fiction, because dragons are not really real and animals can not talk. A cat told Elmer about Wild Island and Tangerina, and the dragon who was there that was tied up in a rope. But he also told the father, Elmer Elevator, that there was ferocious animals on the island. Elmer Elevator frees the dragon because he was a very smart boy.
We liked this story because it is a really good story about a dragon and a father when he was a nine year old boy. It was a LITTLE funny and it was a really BIG adventure.

Dragon Rescue
This book is by Ruth Stiles Gannet. It is fiction because a dragon is in it and animals talk in it. Ruth Stiles Gannet wrote My Father's Dragon a couple years after finishing college in 1944. This book was a great success and won a Newberry award.

The main character is a boy named Elmer. Elmer wishes he could fly. He finds a stray cat that knows a dragon that can take him on a flying ride. Before he can do that, Elmer has to free the dragon from Wild Island that has an extremely thick forest. The dragon is a slave of the animals in the jungle and is used to fly them across the river on the island. To free the dragon, Elmer has to get by vicious animals that want to eat him.

My Father's Dragon makes me feel that I'm in a jungle getting chased by ferocious animals. I loved reading this book because Elmer goes on a gigantic adventure. I recommend this book for people who like reading adventurous stories. Also, it won the Newberry award.

My Father's Dragon
My Father's Dragon, a Newbery Honor Book, has been a favorite among young readers since it was written in 1948. This book, first in a series of three, engages a child's imagination in a story that is complete make-believe. The story begins when Elmer Elevator (the narrator's father as a boy) runs away with an old alley cat to help rescue a flying baby dragon that is being mistreated on faraway Wild Island. While at Wild Island, he encounters tigers, a rhinoceros, lions, gorillas, and monkeys. Elmer uses the things he carries in his backpack to fight off all of the wild animals on his way to save the dragon. A few of the items that he uses are pink lollipops, rubber bands, chewing gum, and a fine-toothed comb. It is through these crazy adventures that Elmer eventually rescues the dragon from its torment. My Father's Dragon is a hilarious tale that will keep children laughing and will induce creativity. This book allows the children's imaginations to run wild. The author, Ruth Stiles Gannett, continued this style of writing in the last two of the trilogy, Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

book #8
I love this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

This wonderful Ramona Box Set, by Beverly Cleary, contains four books: Ramona the Brave, Ramona the Pest, Beezus and Ramona, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

Beezus tries very hard to be patient with her little sister, but four-your-old Ramona has a habit of doing the most unpredictable, annoying, embarrassing things in the world. Sometimes Beezus doesn't like Ramona much, and that makes her feel guilty. Sisters are supposed to love each other, but pesky little Ramona doesn't seem very lovable to Beezus right now.

Ramona is off to kindergarten, and it is the greatest day of her life. She loves her teacher, Miss Binney, and she likes a little boy named Davy so much she wants to kiss him. So why does Ramona get in so much trouble? And how does Ramona manage to disrupt the whole class during rest time? Anyone who knows Ramona knows that she never tries to be a pest.

Now that she's six and entering the first grade, Ramona is determined to be brave, but it's not always easy, with a scary new all-by-herself bedroom, her mother's new job, and a new teacher who just doesn't understand how hard Ramona is trying to grow up.

Ramona feels quite grown up taking the bus by herself, helping big sister Beezus make dinner, and trying hard to be nice to pesky Willa Jean after school. Turning eight years old and entering the third grade can do that to a girl. So how can her teacher call her a nuisance? Being a member of the Quimby family in the third grade is harder than Ramona expected.

Reviews (20)

**** Stars!
My mom gave me my first Ramona books when I was a young child and they fueled my desire to read and to continue reading. To this day I am obsessed with books. : ) Thanks to the wonderful Ramona series which got me started reading. I recommend this to young children and to the parents of young children who wish to encourage their children to read and love books.

Beverly Cleary, An author that caught my attention
I am 20 years old now, but I have read almost all of Beverly Cleary's books and enjoyed them all. The first one that I read was Dear Mr. Henshaw and it was read aloud to the class when I was in 3rd grade. I was hooked. I recommend her books to all ages. I have read all the Ramona and Mouse on a Motorcycle series as well as Henry Huggins.

One Small Caution
Excellent books. But be warned: you may have to translate some of the awkward phrases and expressions that seem to pop up throughout Cleary's books. I thought she might be European, until I read her bio today. Expressions like "Gay" (meaning happy) and "Crayoning" (which perplexed my daughter until I explained that in America we call it "Coloring.")Things like that.

Ageless
I read and reread these books to my daughters, and I am delighted to be able to read them to my granddaughters! It is so much fun to snuggle in bed and read Ramona books! Ageless and priceless...

Still a favorite
I read these books as a child, and loved them. Ramona deals with childhood tribulations (fear of going to the principal's office, worrying about her family when her father loses his job, having to play with her friend's little sister whom she detests) that most children experience in some variation, and so a child can identify with her as they read and feel reassured by the fact that they are not the only one who has gone through these things. Also, many of her mischevious adventures are so entertaining and wonderful (for instance, when she makes a "toothpaste cake" in the bathroom sink using the entire tube of toothpaste). Even as an adult, I still find myself reaching for these sometimes to be reassured by an old friend and to re-live a childhood comfort. ... Read more

Book Description

The Fellowship of the Ring, part one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic masterpiece, fist reached these shores on October 21, 1954, arriving, as C. S. Lewis proclaimed, "like lightning from a clear sky." Fifty years and nearly one hundred million American readers later comes a beautiful new one-volume collector’s edition befitting the stature of this crown jewel of our list.With a text fully corrected under the supervision of Christopher Tolkien to meet the author’s exacting wishes, two large-format fold-out maps, a ribbon placemarker, gilded page edges, a color insert depicting Tolkien's own paintings of the Book of Mazarbul and exceptionally elegant and sturdy overall packaging housed within an attractive slipcase, this edition is the finest we’ve ever produced. ... Read more

Book Description

Laura Ingalls's story begins in 1871 in a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Four-year-old Laura lives in the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their trusty dog, Jack.

Pioneer life is sometimes hard, since the family must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But it is also exciting as Laura and her folks celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. And every night they are safe and warm in their little house, with the happy sound of Pa's fiddle sending Laura and her sisters off to sleep.

And so begins Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and her family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier past and a heartwarming, unforgettable story.

Reviews (70)

If you love warm, family stories, this book is a good read
Little House in the Big Woods, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, was fascinating. I think one of the reasons I liked it so much was because the Ingalls family was so close. One word that comes to mind is cozy. Maybe it's because they lived in a little house in the big woods. Or maybe it's becuase Pa used to play his fiddle by the fireside some evenings for Mary, Laura and Carrie. I remember when I read this book I was interested in the fact that they were pioneers. They might have moved from place to place but they always were positive about it. I loved reading about the three girls dancing at their Grandmother and Grandfather's house and having such a fun time. I remember Laura had a rag doll made out of a corncob that she loved so dearly. And it seemed as though the Ingalls family had such wonderful Christmases. In this book, there was nothing but simplicity. It didn't matter how much they moved or how they lived, as long as the family had each other.

Good book - but not as good as the ones that follow.
I'm a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and fondly remember reading the Little House books when I was a child. I've just started reading the series to my 7-year-old daughter, though, and while she loved Little House on the Prairie, she was far less fond of this one. In fact, although she's usually a good listener, I found her attention constantly wandering as we read this book.

And in all honesty, I could understand why. Laura Ingalls Wilder is without a doubt one of the best children's writers who ever lived, but I think she had barely begun to show her enormous talent when she wrote this book. Although there are wonderful little snippets of family life, and a few hints of the conflicts between the feisty Laura and her more reserved and perfect sister Mary, the truth is, there isn't much of a plot here. And Mrs. Wilder goes on for page after page describing how bullets were made, or butter churned. There are probably children who find that fascinating, God bless them, but my daughter was just bored by it.

I don't think this is a BAD book, but Little House on the Prairie is so much better, so much more interesting that I think if you want to read the series to a young child, that's the place to start, even though this is the first book in the series. This is a book for children who have already fallen in love with Laura and her wonderful family.

Wondeful series for Adults to read (or read again) too
I read these as a youngster and I am re-reading them after a trip near Independence, Kansas where we saw a house where Laura's family once setteld. They are great books! I am seeing the whole experience from a new perspective now that I am 35 (relating more with Ma I think) and I am enjoying the stories completely. It's also nice because the books can be read in a single afternoon or just a few hours. A wonderful look at the pioneer life with details about cheese making, maple suger harvests, and cabin building (in the later novels). I highly recommend these books but suggest reading them in order to keep the story of Laura's adventures straight.

Best of the series
I am an 8 year old girl who loves the Little House series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Why I liked it is because it's so happy and because I liked the little girls. My favourite part is when they go to a dance at Grandma's house and Laura danced with her uncle. I would recommend this book for people who like to read happy books.

Makes you go back in Time!!!
This book shows what it was like back in the 1800's. It tells when they had to travel by wagons and you couldn't go to town everyday. This is a GREAT book and I hope that everybody reads it. I recommend this especially to the people that lives in the cities because you see what the backwoods are like and how it is kind of today!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"There are dragons in the twins' vegetable garden," announces six-year-old Charles Wallace Murry in the opening sentence of The Wind in the Door. His older sister, Meg, doubts it. She figures he's seen something strange, but dragons--a "dollop of dragons," a "drove of dragons," even a "drive of dragons"--seem highly unlikely. As it turns out, Charles Wallace is right about the dragons--though the sea of eyes (merry eyes, wise eyes, ferocious eyes, kitten eyes, dragon eyes, opening and closing) and wings (in constant motion) is actually a benevolent cherubim (of a singularly plural sort) named Proginoskes who has come to help save Charles Wallace from a serious illness.

In her usual masterful way, Madeleine L'Engle jumps seamlessly from a child's world of liverwurst and cream cheese sandwiches to deeply sinister, cosmic battles between good and evil. Children will revel in the delectably chilling details--including hideous scenes in which a school principal named Mr. Jenkins is impersonated by the Echthroi (the evil forces that tear skies, snuff out light, and darken planets). When it becomes clear that the Echthroi are putting Charles Wallace in danger, the only logical course of action is for Meg and her dear friend Calvin O'Keefe to become small enough to go inside Charles Wallace's body--into one of his mitochondria--to see what's going wrong with his farandolae. In an illuminating flash on the interconnectedness of all things and the relativity of size, we realize that the tiniest problem can have mammoth, even intergalactic ramifications. Can this intrepid group voyage through time and space and muster all their strength of character to save Charles Wallace? It's an exhilarating, enlightening, suspenseful journey that no child should miss.

The other books of the Time quartet, continuing the adventures of the Murry family, are A Wrinkle in Time; A Swiftly Tilting Planet, which won the American Book Award; and Many Waters. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Another gem in L'Engle's collection
It seems that as I am expecting wee ones, I've been reading more and more of my childhood favorites ~~ and this book is one of them. I just love L'Engle's writing style and how she gets the reader to think about things that may seem so far out ... but is it? She is a talented author that I admire deeply ~~ and my children will be read her books while still young.

Meg Murry worries when her little brother Charles Wallace announces that there are dragons in the twins' garden. She is already worried about him ... he's so bright and intelligent and having trouble at school. And he is strangely ill ... so Meg and Calvin are on another adventure ~~ this time to battle Charles Wallace's illness. Along the way, Meg learns about patience and love while battling the forces of evil that is trying to take over the universe.

While lots of people scoff at these books because of the fanasty they're written in ~~ I find that it's a classic book between good and evil. L'Engle always write with a moral ~~ and she writes in such a fun way, you can't but help apply the lessons to your life. It doesn't matter how old you are ... you are never too old to read these books! And I highly recommend this one to everyone ~~ whether or not they have children in their lives. It's just a good read with well-written story plot. And Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace stay with you for a long time.

1-23-02

A Wrinkle In Time is still without equal.
Madeleine L'Engle's award winning "A Wrinkle In Time" stands head and shoulders above this sequel, the second entry in the "Time Quintet" series. Unlike the journey to distant galaxies of the first novel, in "A Wind in the Door" Meg Murray and her friend Calvin O'Keefe's main adventure involves a journey into the minute particles of her brother Charles Wallace, who is deathly ill. Meg's parents, a brilliant physicist and biologist, have discovered that human cells are made up of mitochondria, and these in turn are composed of farandolae. A dark power is at work among the farandolae, causing the illness of Charles Wallace, and more seriously threatening to tear up the entire galaxy. Only by entering one of Charles' mitochondria can Meg save Charles...and the galaxy.

In the end, all this talk about mitochondria and farandolae gets a bit much, and the idea of travelling inside someone's body just doesn't have the same magic as travelling to distant galaxies. The concept of kything (being able to communicate with thoughts, like ESP) had a somewhat new-age flavour that I was not entirely comfortable with. The idea of Naming (The first of three quests that faces Meg is to Name the school principal Mr. Jenkins) is never entirely fully developed or explained. The need for a farandola called Sporos to "Deepen" simply lacked charm. And the plot is rather complex and weighed down by scientific techno-babble, which many children may find rather frustrating. As such, this book doesn't come close to matching the fantasy and power of the first novel.

But those weaknesses aside, there is also much to commend this book. There are profound thoughts about the significance of everything having a name, and that the Creator "knows them all by name." "The stars don't need to be counted. They need to be Named." In this context, one's size doesn't detract from one's significance, because the tiny elements of the universe such as farandolae are just as important. The hostile forces are described as echthroi who want to X (annihilate) creation, and L'Engle uses them to picture a cosmic conflict between fallen angels (echthroi) and good angels (such as the dragon-like cherubim Proginoskes). The implied connection, however, between schizophrenia and demon possession (p123) will always be a controversial one. There are also several profound observations about life and faith. Memorable quotations that stand out in my mind include these: "Love isn't how you feel. It's what you do." (p116) "You have simply been faced with several things outside your current sphere of experience. That does not mean that they - we - do not exist." (p122). And the description of immature pleasure-seekers: "When we seek our own pleasure as the ultimate good we place ourselves as the center of the universe. A fara or a man or a star has his place in the universe, but nothing created is the center." (p172). And in the middle of all this seriousness, there are also moments of subtle humour, such as one instance where L'Engle pokes fun at Charles Darwin's theory of evolution: "What I really need are lessons in adaptation. I've been reading Darwin, but he hasn't helped me much." (p71) This book might not be the best in the series and might not be as captivating as "A Wrinkle in Time", but it's still a fantastic adventure worth travelling.

Not My Type of Literature
(...)BR>What I could get out of the book was that the star charcater Charles Wallace was sick, badly ill, and his sister, Meg, is really worried for him, and makes it clear she would do anything to help him get better. Then, the one thing I liked most of this book, the plot immediatley comes to play as Charles takes Meg out into a field near their home and tells her there are 'a drive of dragons' somewhere. But at first Meg doesn't see anything. But later on she actually sees this 'drive of dragons' is truly a creature named Progo(well the name's longer than that but this is what Meg calls him throughout the story.) He's a science-fiction masterpiece with many wings and eyes. This creature sparks a journey that involves Meg, her supposed boyfriend named Calvin, and Progo itself as they are assigned to help save Charles from fatally evil beings called the Echthroi, who want to destroy Charles, as well as the world itself.
This book just wasn't my type of literature, but I didn't hate it. I just wasn't into the novel; I didn't feel any sort of connection like you should in a book.

A Wind in the Door by Madelline L'Engle
A Wind in the Door, by Madeline L'Engle, is an extremely moving and exciting book. In this sequel to A Wrinkle in Time, Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace team up with snakes, teachers, mitochondria, and a Cherubum called Progo. It all starts one blustery day when Charles Wallace claims to have seen a drove of dragons in the twin's vegetable garden. Meg and Calvin then learn that Charles Wallace could have an extremely deadly condition: his mitochondria are dying. Charles Wallace is in danger of being X-ed.
This book sucks you in and won't let go until you have felt all of the emotion running rampant throughout. The story teaches the fact that amount doesn't matter, everything has a name, and it also teaches true, unconditional love.

Fabulous!
At the beginning there were two long and boring chapters, and I thought the book would not be that great after all. Then at Chapter 3, I began to sense that the book would be better. I loved the test to find the real Mr. Jenkins at Chapters 5-6, and the last few chapters were a little scary but they were the best.
"Her voice issued from her lips almost without volition, cold, calm, emotionless. 'Mr. Jenkins Three---'
He stepped forward, smiling triumphantly.
'No. You're not the real Mr. Jenkins. You're much too powerful. You'd never have to be taken away from a regional school you couldn't control and made principal of a grade school you couldn't control, either.' She looked at Mr. Jenkins One and Two.'
I absolutely loved this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Have you got your wits about you?

JK Rowling challenged her fans to use their wits, and now her fans have responded. She's dribbled clues through her interviews, website, and of course the books. Where are the hints and how should we interpret them?

If you're tired of chewing on your quill alone, pondering the possibilities, then join 53 fans from 10 countries, as they investigate cauldronfuls of sly clues, shedding new light on the mysteries hiding within JK Rowling’s pages. Her bubbling brew of characters is becoming thick with suspects:

* What's up with Aunt Petunia?
* Is Gilderoy permanently disabled?
* Is Percy really a git?
* Where is Gran Longbottom’s allegiance?
* How does time travel work?
* Is there still something odd with Mad-Eye?
* Whose side is Snape on?

Through the magic of the Internet community, our authors have been brought together from the Mighty MuggleNet "Chamber of Secrets" and "New Clues" forums to discuss the clues and hints in the Harry Potter septology. Transfigured from Internet posters to new authors, they have written The Plot Thickens...Harry Potter Investigated by Fans for Fans brimming with new thoughts and theories on what may be one of the best-loved literary epics of all time. Just like Wizarding World Press's Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter this new book can be a great starting point for those fans who wish to examine the series in depth.

As the plot begins to truly thicken, these author-sleuths have conjured a collection of discussions, character analyses, and theories that will hook up your fireplace flue to the busiest Brain Room outside of the Department of Mysteries. Read fascinating scrolls that delve below the surface of over 60 topics, and peer ahead to what is yet to come. Share in the bouts of speculation. Investigate with your fellow fans as they weave together the threads of this mystery...worry with them over what tragedies still await our beloved Harry.

Wizarding World Press invites you to come, join our discussion, as from one fan to another we respond to JK Rowling's challenge by using our wits to decipher this great mystery. Here is a unique, fun book, and a unique opportunity to experience the magic.

Note: Major spoilers included! Do not read this unless you have read all five Harry Potter books. The Plot Thickens...Harry Potter Investigated by Fans for Fans is a collection of articles by international authors--it is not the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Book 5. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

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

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

Book Description

The Williams sisters have captured the attention of the tennis crowd like no one has in recent years. Taken alone, each is a force to be reckoned with on the court. Each has the skills, the determination, and the strength to make it to the very top of her sport. Yet through all the competition-even times when they face each other on opposite sides of the net-they remain true to each other.

Serena has just won the Wimbledon 2002 singles title by defeating her sister and is currently ranked #1 in the world.Playing as partners, Venus and Serena won the Wimbledon 2002 doubles championship as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Story of Babar--the early adventures of the enduring, endearing elephant--was written in 1931 by French writer Jean de Brunhoff (1899-1937). Since then, it has been translated into at least 12 languages. It's amazing how much can happen to one little elephant in the course of one little book: Babar loses his mother to a hunter, wanders into the city, gets a new wardrobe, becomes the hit of high society, marries his cousin Céleste (totally acceptable in contemporary Elephantine society), and is crowned King of the Elephants.

The Story of Babar is essentially the tale of a country boy who comes to the city and, while there, comes of age. In the end, he returns home to share his knowledge and experiences with family and friends. The beautiful, delightfully detailed illustrations--de Brunhoff was a painter by trade--never fail to amuse. (Although none of the characters seem to notice, the sight of Babar in a suit leaning against the mantel while he regales his audience with tales of the jungle is plainly hilarious.) All of the Babar books are notable for their ability to tell larger stories with simplicity and style, and The Story of Babar is no exception. Potentially troubling moments--the death of Babar's mother, for example--are handled with taste, emphasizing Babar's unique gift for uncovering a silver lining in the most persistent of clouds. (Ages 4 to 8, though the cursive writing makes it best for reading aloud.) ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Interesting Classic
I had a beach Babar book as a child, so I bought this to share with my daughter. It is kind of bizarre, so keep in mind that it was written in the 1930's. First, Babar's mother is killed, as was the fate of most classic animal stories. Then, he decides to become more like men, HOW ODD! He wears clothes and walks on his back legs. Any time any of the elephants in this book wear clothes, they gain the instant ability to walk on their hind legs. When he returns to the elephants, he is crowned king, which is unlikely since elephants are matriarchal (they are led by females and grown males are banned from the group except during mating times). Then he marries his cousin, and they live happily ever after. In the spirit of Curious George, who was kidnapped from his home and forced to conform to human ways, this is a charming but very out-dated tale.

A childhood's classic.
Some children's books can be read over and over again, and Jean De Brunhoff's book about Babar, the little elephant is among them.
The copy we have in our house were purchasted in 1988 and has survived 4 kids. Out Marta is the forth one, and at age 6 she still loves to cuddle up with a smile on her face listening to the story of Babar. The very sad part for a six year old is the beginning where Babar's mother dies and Babar runs away. But Babar is lucky and meets an old lady who takes care of him. And the joy is always big in the end when Babar meets his childhood friends and cousins again in the end of the books. And even becomes a king and marries his cousin Celeste.
The book was written in 1939, but is still well worth reading for any child, and should be part of every lucky child's book collection. It will still be read again and again here in Norway, though the pages in the copy we have almost fall apart now (they can always be glued together again though)

Britt Arnhild Lindland

If I were king of the foreeeeest
Thank God for the French speakers of the world. Were it not for them, Babar might not have ever been created and we would have to live in a wretched Babar-less world. As it is, however, we are blessed to have this delightful story at our fingertips at any time. The story of Babar was originally published in 1933, and it has stood the test of time with dignity and flair.

The story of Babar is simple. After his mother is shot by a cruel hunter, the little elephant runs away to a metropolitan city. Once there, he is taken under the wing of a kindly older lady. Babar then proceeds to become the greatest dandy of children's literature today. Here is the section I love the most:

"Babar then buys himself: A shirt with a collar and tie, a suit of a becoming shade of green, then a handsome derby hat, and also shoes with spats".

Contrary to popular thought, an elephant in spats is the most dignified thing in the world. With these purchases Babar has transformed himself from rural rube to the original metrosexual. He becomes cultured, learning the rudimentary aspects of human civilization while regaling party guests with his tales of the forest (note his pin-striped pants and casual dinner jacket). Eventually Babar is lured back to his jungle home and is swiftly crowned King of the elephants.

The 1933 setting in which Babar acclimatizes himself has grown more charming over the years. And most remarkably? Most older picture books contain at least one racial stereotype somewhere in the midst of a picture. Not so our darling "Babar". I feel safe in saying that you might search through any future adventure of the winsome elephant and not stumble across a single picture or piece of writing that causes you a twenty-first century gasp of disgust. This isn't to say that there aren't some rather peculiar dated aspects to the book. I read this book as a child and had a vivid visceral memory return to me when I saw the sickly state of the former King of the elephants who passed away after eating a bad mushroom. That is a grotesquerie unknown to the kiddies today. But all in all, "Babar" is without fault. Certainly he's the essence of capitalism. One might believe the elephants crown him king as much for his pretty red convertible as for his brains. But Babar is still a unique and moving tale that will continue to entertain the masses of children for years and years to come.

A Classic
From the beautiful illustrations, to the charming characters, everything about Babar reminds you of a time when we took the intelligence of our children seriously. The first thing anyone who grew-up on more modern fare will notice is the delightful and literate prose. The reason children could speak latin by 5th grade 80 years ago, was that they weren't condescended-to; and Babar doesn't either. You won't get the modern "barney-speak" here, this generation had more confidence in your children, believe me. Although the prose may be too difficult for the average 5 or 6 yr-old to read on their own, they will have no difficulty at all in understanding it perfectly when read to them. Now my 5 yr-old daughter knows what a "perambulator" is, you won't get that from the Wiggles. As far as the complaints in regard to "scariness", all I can say is, if this is scary because Babar's mother is killed by a hunter, then you'd better take Bambi, The Lion King and close to all of the fairy tales off of the reading list as well. The subject is handled compassionately and tastefully. Of course I want to sheild my child from horrific content, but if we refuse to gently ease them in to life's realities, such as the loss of loved-ones, then their entertainment turns from safe into vacuous pretty quickly. I won't even waste bandwidth on the silly, leftist nonsense regarding imperialism. There is no political content here, subtle or otherwise. If you really want the kind of western culture "self-flagellation" that these aging hippies seem to thrive on, try Disney's Pocahontas, or a Cartoon version of The Life of Che Guevara. Assume the best of your kids and try the Babar series, particularly the older ones.

imperialist propaganda for the kiddies
I don't know why this book is a classic. Foreigners come to Babar's home and kill his mother. He goes to the land of the foreigners to learn to be just like them because the are so swell and all. He then takes their ways back home with him. marries his cousin and gets everyone to wear clothes like the foreigners. This is a nightmare, not a children's book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was one of the titans of 20th century American children's literature--a legacy that shows no sign of diminishing in the 21st. But such epochal fare as The Cat in the Hat and enduring, whimsical characters as Horton, The Grinch and Sam-I-Am represent but one corner of the late writer/artist's vast artistic universe. Other Geisel biographies have detailed his remarkable life and vibrant art, but Massachusetts dentist/Seussiana collector nonpareil Richard D. Cohen serves up a "visual biography" that's part lovingly illustrated coffee table book and part insightful analysis of a creative mind and the various historical and cultural forces that shaped it. Cohen richly illustrates his compelling tribute with key, telling artifacts from his own massive collection. No corner of the author/artist's life has escaped Cohen's obsessive collector's eye, including: turn-of the-century bottles of the Geisel family brewery, Geisel's teenage writings and illustrations, later work that spans careers in cartooning advertising (successful campaigns for Esso, Flit and others), wartime propaganda (including uncredited work on the Oscar-winning Hitler Lives!) and Hollywood (The 5000 Finger of Dr. T). Indeed, in Cohen's thoughtful, lavishly illustrated analysis, Geisel's latter-day incarnation as children's author supreme was but the logical distillation of a lifetime devoted to wit, wordplay and whimsical art.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Yes I Love It, Sam-I-Am!
As we celebrate the centennial of Ted Geisel's birth, material is appearing that looks at the influence of Dr. Seuss on generations of American readers. Dr. Cohen brings us what is obviously a labor of love. Drawing inspiration on his extensive collection of Seussiana, he has produced one of the most lavishly illustrated and broadly scoped book on the life and works of the good doctor.

Cohen reaches back to Geisel's school days and illustrates the development of the artist's style and humor. Continually he will point out how pieces done at various points in Geisel's life can be traced as part of the development of what would become some of his trademark images and beloved characters, including the Grinch. Instead of focusing heavily on Seuss's books, he draws attention to the vast collection of other artwork that was drawn, mostly before the books even came into being. Seuss's work as a humorist, advertising artist, sculptor, and cartoonist (political and otherwise) are shown here as he continued to improve and hone his craft. The end results are the books that are so beloved to multitudes of people who were lucky enough to grow up with Seuss in the house.

The book would be worth it for the pictures alone, but the accompanying text helps get below the surface of many of the pieces, and to tie them together into a artist's whole output. Even if you only look at the pictures and read the captions to the pictures, you will get a whole new appreciation of Dr. Seuss's work over the years. If I any complaint, it is that in some ways the books almost get shorted too much in this narrative, and too often the captions for the illustrations are repetitive to the text. But these are minor quibbles that in no way detract from the glorious whole.

For the Seuss lover, and for the casual reader, this book brings the reader a whole new appreciation of a beloved illustrator's work and the genius that was Dr. Seuss.

The many facets of Dr. Seuss
Since 2004 is the Seussentennial, or the hundredth anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birth, this is a great time to get to know more about one of America's most popular icons of children's literature. Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was far more than an author and illustrator of children's books and movies. His career includes humorist, journalist, advertising genius, magazine and political cartoonist, creator of wartime training and propaganda films, president of a publishing company, and spokesman for children's education.

Author Charles Cohen, a dentist and avid collector of Seussiana, is well qualified to write this visual biography of Ted Geisel. Through lavish illustrations, many from his own collection, Cohen shows the many facets of Geisel's art and imagination. The reader is treated to Geisel's earliest works from long before his first published children's book. These include examples of his college newspaper cartoons and his many successful advertising campaigns that blended humor and salesmanship. These creations are juxtaposed with his later children's books to provide the reader a deeper understanding of how culture and history shaped the evolution of his ideas and whimsical bestiary, and to point out the same themes cropping up over and over again in his works.

Although this book provides a fascinating view into many unusual perspectives of Dr. Seuss the artist and innovator, there is little here about Ted Geisel the man. In the introduction, Cohen says that he neither met Geisel nor interviewed anyone who knew him. Instead he delved into Geisel's works to discover what made him tick. As a result, there are many facts missing about Geisel's personal life and friendships. The few personal facts that were thrown in, mostly towards the end of the book, came from out of nowhere and made me crave more details. It is for this reason, especially since this book is called a "visual biography," that I rated it four stars instead of five. It is more a visual exploration of Geisel's works than a biography. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a creatively obsessed man that you never realized existed. It will also rekindle your fond memories of the Dr. Seuss books you read as a child. Perhaps it will even shed a bit of light on why you loved those books so much.

Eileen Rieback

A Grown-up Biography of a Children's Hero
With the awful, distorted, contrived pile of wasted film, conjured up in the form of Mike Myers' take on the "Cat in the Hat," it would be nice to know why, in the beginning of it all, Dr. Seuss was ever popular at all. He was a great writer and cartoonist before his famous cat's striped hat became chic fashion among post-grunge era teenagers.

In "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel" by Charles Cohen, we are shown the greatness of Seuss -- of Theodor Geisel, through drawings, paintings and text. We get to learn about his early days at Dartmouth, as he toyed with hybridic animals, wit and satire.

Not every idea worked. Seuss, an experimenter, evolved from being a talented but rustic styler of odd creatures into a sophisticated artist of odd, if not bizarre beasts that had genuine identity.

Before he write and drew books about green eggs, grinches, and elephants named Horton, he was an editorial cartoonist. His language in many of the cartoons was far from being politically correct, but his social commentary decrying racism was right on. He hard-handed racist thought with no evidence of his sweet children's characters kindness.

Cohen has produced an array of research. Samples of Seuss' art grace most pages. We also get a look at the vast merchandising, parodies, and unlicensed knock-offs.

This is not a children's book. Don't be fooled by the name of the publisher. It is for someone interested in reading a serious look at the history of one of America's beloved cartoonists.

I fully recommend "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel." by Charles D. Cohen.

Anthony Trendl

Fabulous!
This book is not all about reiterating the Seuss stories we've already read, but instead an objective well researched pictoral and written account of the man so many love. Cohen does a great job researching the possible meanings of Geisel's cartoons and later texts. There are many, many Judge magazine and other political cartoons that are absolutely hilarious, and absolutely adult in nature (similar to alot of his "childrens" stories).

I highly recommend this book to anyone what likes to drop into a chapter then skip to another at an opposite end of the book because they are somewhat independent although chronological, it is easy to skip around to the parts you feel like reading for that day.

Also, at 400 pages full color, who can pass up the bargain?

f.y.i. This biography seems to coincide a lot with *In Search of Dr. Seuss* the movie that just came out in dvd

Gorgeous book
Kudos to Dr. Cohen. The writing is insightful, the illustrations and pictures are outstanding, the sheer volume of content is overwhelming and of course, the dedication is tear-jerking. A must have for any Seuss fan. Read the inside jacket-I'm guessing someday there will be a Poem Repair Shop. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A cautionary Cold War tale (first told by Dr. Seuss back in 1984), The Butter Battle Book still has a lot to teach about intolerance and how tit-for-tat violence can quickly get out of hand. Explaining the very serious differences between the Zooks and the Yooks, a Zook grandpa tells his grandchild the unspeakable truth: "It's high time that you knew of the terribly horrible thing that Zooks do. In every Zook house and every Zook town every Zook eats his bread with the butter side down!" He then recalls his days with the Zook-Watching Border Patrol, as he gave any Zook who dared come close "a twitch with my tough-tufted prickley Snick-Berry Switch." But when the Zooks fought back, the switches gave way to Triple-Sling Jiggers, then Jigger-Rock Snatchems--even a Kick-a-Poo Kid that was "loaded with powerful Poo-a-Doo Powder and ants' eggs and bees' legs and dried-fried clam chowder."

With lots of fun and more-than-fair digs at the runaway spending and one-upmanship of U.S.-Soviet days, The Butter Battle Book makes a chuckle-filled read whether you're old enough to get the historical references or not. (And with all the Bitsy Big-Boy Boomeroos still in service, this book's message is far from obsolete.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Butter Battle Book Review
The Butter Battle Book, written by Dr. Seuss is an exellent display of his own thoughts on the nuclear war. This book helps inform young audiences about our nation's history in a way that they can understand. Although this is a childen's book, it is great reading for all agaes, and really hits home for those who have memories of the Cold War. The disagreement between the Yooks and the Zooks expresses how they both think bread should be buttered. One "butter-side up" and the other "butter-side down." The controversey, turning into a battle shows Dr. Seuss' dislike for generic disputes. The Yooks and the Zooks hurry to develop more powerful weapons, until; both groups take it to an extreme. The underlying theme to the book is the absuridity of battle. Dr. Seuss tries to convey that people must overcome their pride to live in peace. Memories of the Cold War like the wall dividing the Yooks and Zooks add to the realistic element to The Butter Battle Book.

The Real Slim Seuss
Dr. Seuss is a fantastic author; he has imagination, story-telling abilities, and a wonderful and clever sense of political activism. I was telling my history teacher about all the not-so-hidden political messages in all of his works and this work is the perfect example of Dr. Seuss's writing style. The Butter Battle Book has many different levels for what is so often called a children's book from an acclaimed so-called children's author. The battle between Yooks and Zooks over which way butter goes on bread gives children a good, simple, but true story about dealing with petty differences in a constructive way. Otherwise, bad things can happen, like war. That meaning is very good for children to learn and this is a great book to teach kids with. However, adults reading this book can see the obvious historical parallels and the deeper implications of the story line. The pettiness behind the conflict of the Cold War is Dr. Seuss's vehicle for conveying the astounding destructive potential behind a war where the enemies lose sight of their true goals and meaninglessly try to 'out do' each other. The war ends up getting fought for the wrong reasons and something that we will forever regret and can never take back may happen. This is a very real danger and the prejudice attached to battles like the one in this book eat away at our morals, our societies, and our motives. Dr. Seuss has done the world a wonderful lesson by showing this to children and adults alike.

Something to think about
Before I get into my review, let me start by saying I missed the Cold War, except for in school history books. That being said, this is an excellent and thought-provoking book for 'kids' of all ages.

This book is about 2 groups, the Yooks and the Zooks, who live separated only by a wall, and are very similar except for the way they butter their bread. This leads to a battle involving constantly bigger weapons, until they come up with the 'big-boy boomeroo', capable of destroying each other's lands. Of course, the book ends before the story does, leaving you guessing on exactly what would happen.

I went through a few stages with this book, making it even better to think about. The first time I heard it, I was about 5, and upset that there was no 'ending'. After a few more times, I decided to use my imagination to create my own ending, which is what many children will do if encouraged by a parent reading with them. As I got older, I realized there was no ending because if it was real, you really wouldn't know how it ended until it happened. This book also made me think about how small differences in people can cause such big problems if you are not open minded. (That was after a few years - in the beginning I wondered why the Zooks didn't just turn their bread upside down and everyone would be the same).

The Butter Battle Book is a wonderful lesson, written in a way that even a child could understand the concept of war, see how differences in people can cause foolish problems, and use their imaginations. I would recommend it to anyone.

Trivializes a serious matter
While I love Dr. Seuss, I cannot believe that he trivializes the Cold War in the way that he does with this book. The much hated "arms race" was a race to protect ourselves and was a race that we not only won, but a race that also brought down the Soviet Union. Ironically, we won it because we outspent the Soviets. We outspent the Soviets because capitalism creates wealth. The fight between capitalism, which allows freedom, and the crushing weight of communism, which ideology has systematically killed more humans than any other in the last century, is not boiled down to something as simple as butter on bread. Buy one of his other books-the non-political type.

Dr. Suess: Political Visionary?
When I first read this book to my 3 year old nephew, I ended up staying on the couch, completely engrossed, while he went off in sheer boredom. This book, in at least one way, changed my perspective on the tragedy of a world we've singlehandedly created( or destroyed, whatever your opinion be). Geisel accurately portrays the futility of hostile exchanges(in this severe degree)in a symbolic war over buttered bread. This book is, in my opinion, a must-read for all ages. Younger children will enjoy his rhyming "lyrics," and older generations will take note of the significant importance of Yook's and Zook's struggle for supremacy. But don't be mistaken, Suess's use of a "butter battle" is not "dumbed-down" or superficial; on the contrary, it is the perfect example, and conveys an even stronger message, than that of, say, a textbook or straight explanation. The only reason I can think of not to read this yourself, or to your children, is that you prefer to live in the dark, your perceptions shrouded by the influence of the common right or left-wing conservative, and not live by your own opinions. I'm no communist, but I believe owning your own place in the world can be further obtained by reading and reflecting on this miraculous work of "art". ... Read more

Book Description

The adventure begins

Narnia ... where Talking Beasts walk ... where a witch waits ... where a new world is about to be born.

On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan's song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible ...

Reviews (113)

An exciting book for all ages!
The Magician's Nephew takes place in London, a very long ago. During that time lives a girl named Polly Plumber. She lives in row housing, and one day when she is in the garden, a grubby faced boy peers over the fence next door. Polly could tell that the boy had been crying which explains his dirty face. The boy tells her his name is Digory Kirke, and Polly laughed and made a few jokes, and he tells her that he is from a high-class area and he is required to come to this rotten place. He told Polly that his dad is in India, his mother is sick, and his uncle is mad. Digory explains that his Uncle Andrew is very odd, talks of strange things, and hears strange noises coming from his secret room at night. Very soon they begin to build a friendship. From then on, they went on several adventures because his crazy Uncle Andrew and his powerful rings, one including to Narnia. They meet several characters in each place they visit. In Narnia they they meet the Lion, and from him they learn many lessons about life, and they build a very strong relationship with eachother. I would recommend this book for anyone, any age, who likes adventure and fantasy. This book is very detailed, and creative. The characters are very real, especally Polly. Polly is very adventurous, like me. She never backs down on anything. Polly seems like a great person, and like any other child in that time period this book took place. If you like this book, than I deffinitly recommend reading the next book #2 in The Chronicels of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. You'll love both!!

Excellent Read!!
The first book in the series of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew is an excellent fantasy that pulls the reader in from the first word! Lewis weaves a fantastic tale that weaves fantasy and reality splendidly. The reader is drawn into Lewis' world of fiction with an amazing ease. Part of the seven book series, The Magician's Nephew is an excellent beginning to what will certainly become a fascinating, enthralling series.

Digory is a young boy who is upset because his mother is dying. When he meets Polly (his next door neighbor), he tells her about his mother and that he is staying next door with his spinster aunt and his bachelor Uncle Andrew so that they can take care of his mother. Polly and Digory soon become good friends and they discover a secret passageway that connects all of the attics in the houses on their row (in London). They stumble into the attic of Digory's Uncle Andrew and he tricks Polly into becoming part of an experiment for him. She puts on a yellow ring and travels to another world. Digory has no choice but to follow her when his Uncle Andrew tells him the secret of how to come back. Digory and Polly end up in the "Wood Between the Worlds," a type of portal to other places and times. Although Polly immediately wants to turn back, Digory convinces her to visit one of the other places first. They choose a pool of water that takes them to the deserted city of Charn, where they awaken Queen Jadis, an evil queen that is bent on leaving her own dead kingdom and conquering London. She attaches herself to Digory while they are trying to escape and they accidentally bring her back to London. Once there, she wreaks havoc on everyone and everything even though her magic powers are not as strong in this new world. Polly and Digory decide that they must return her to her world, so they travel back to the "Woods between the Worlds." Thinking that they have chosen the pool that leads to the city of Charn, they jump in only to find that they are in a new land and they experience the birth of the Land of Narnia. They experience everything to the birth of the sun and stars to the blessing of the first king and queen of Narnia. Digory is sent on a mission to retrieve the fruit of a special tree so that it may be planted in the center of Narnia to protect it from the Witch of Charn, who has hidden herself in the recesses of this new land. After being tempted to eat or [take] the fruit for himself, Digory brings the fruit to Aslan, the creator of Narnia, and he casts out the fruit so that it can grow into a tree. Aslan thanks Digory and tells him to take an apple from the tree and give it to his sick mother so that she might be saved. Polly and Andrew leave Narnia and Digory gives the fruit to his mother, who is healed. ...