Amazon.com

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry first published The Little Prince in 1943, only a year before his Lockheed P-38 vanished over the Mediterranean during a reconnaissance mission. More than a half century later, this fable of love and loneliness has lost none of its power. The narrator is a downed pilot in the Sahara Desert, frantically trying to repair his wrecked plane. His efforts are interrupted one day by the apparition of a little, well, prince, who asks him to draw a sheep. "In the face of an overpowering mystery, you don't dare disobey," the narrator recalls. "Absurd as it seemed, a thousand miles from all inhabited regions and in danger of death, I took a scrap of paper and a pen out of my pocket." And so begins their dialogue, which stretches the narrator's imagination in all sorts of surprising, childlike directions.

The Little Prince describes his journey from planet to planet, each tiny world populated by a single adult. It's a wonderfully inventive sequence, which evokes not only the great fairy tales but also such monuments of postmodern whimsy as Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities. And despite his tone of gentle bemusement, Saint-Exupéry pulls off some fine satiric touches, too. There's the king, for example, who commands the Little Prince to function as a one-man (or one-boy) judiciary:

I have good reason to believe that there is an old rat living somewhere on my planet. I hear him at night. You could judge that old rat. From time to time you will condemn him to death. That way his life will depend on your justice. But you'll pardon him each time for economy's sake. There's only one rat.

Reviews (335)

Magical, mystical, majestical
This review refers to the T.V.F Cuiffe translation which I was unable to find on Amazon. I don't know anything about the Howard translation.

This amazing book was written supposedly for children and it reads like a children's story. It's also beautifully illustrated. However, it meant much more to me when I reread it as an adult than as a child. I could say the book is an alegory and that it contains much symbolic value but it would debase it's melancholy beauty to attach academic terms to it.

The story is about the narrator, a pilot just like the author, being stuck in the Sahara waiting to repair his plane. He meets the little prince who hails from a tiny planet that's not much bigger than him. The book relates his solitary existence at his home, his travels through the other asteroids, inhabited by single individuals such as the Geographer (which can be seen as archetypes) to his arrival on earth culminating in the relationship with the pilot.

Again, saying that the book is about life, loneliness, love, friendship and finding one's true nature would be missing the point (one which the book beautifully mentions through the mouth of a fox) that the most important things are not said in words. The book has no "themes" as such but it's a fully integrated work. The pictures are as important as the text and contain so much kindness, humour and irony (as does the work itself) that this work is an absolute must.

If you tame me...
Something confuses me about "The Little Prince". Here we have a small simple tale that takes about half an hour to read. It is quiet and philosophical. The plot, such as it is, follows a the Little Prince and his petite adventures. The Little Prince loves a rose very much, but he must travel about the planets to better understand this love. The book is so lyrical in its simplicity that it's no wonder that it's often given to graduating students each and every year. More so than "Winnie-the-Pooh" or "Oh the Places You'll Go", this book encapsulates the world with pinpoint precision.

My confusion? Why has this book been repeatedly ruined for kids? Am I the only one who remembers that catastrophe that was, "The Little Prince", an anima television show that played on Nickelodeon in the 1980s? How about the movie, starring Bob Fosse as the snake and Gene Wilder as the fox? How does a book this perfect become so exploited? I can only liken it to other books of its caliber. Like "Alice In Wonderland", the absurd plot elements make the story poignant. And like "Alice" (or the aforementioned Pooh) the book's simple writing is easily "improved" by the adults of the world.

I don't think "The Little Prince" is ideal children's literature, mind you. Kids may humor their parents by listening to it, but when you sit right down and read the book, it is not gripping stuff. The patronizing tone taken about "grown-ups", the Peter Pan-like elements, etc. all combine to make this a book that is ideally for children without actually saying anything to them directly. This is a book for adults but ostensibly for kids. Few children are going to be fooled by this. They'd rather sink their fangs into something a little more along the lines of "Harry Potter" or Lemony Snicket. But it is a piece of children's literature that will last beyond all our lives. This is a classic for the 20th century, and "The Little Prince" fully deserves to take his place amongst the other classic kid characters encompassed in the cannon. It is an outstanding tale of simply loving small.

nothing is lost with time.
One of my absolute favorites.

This book is something you read as a child; it was magical and it held you in ways you could not understand. And there were so many things in it that seemed above your young head. But you think you get them at the time.

You read it again when you're older....

and it's all the more magical.

You understand - completely.

Everyone should read this book at least twice.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER!!!!!
I read this book in my 5th grade class last year, and I loved it!!! It was so wonderful and really made you think about life, death, and that the things that are really impoortant are invisable! I REALLY SUGGEST YOU READ THIS BOOK!!! It brings you to thinking about imaginary things that everyone dreams about (that are extremely real in this book). So live your biggest dream and READ THIS BOOK!

The Little Prince...I Don't really like it.
This books is just not my type of book. I did not really get anything from this book because I have to go over the metaphors before I can understand it. Anyways, this book tells the grown ups all over the world that they can still use their imaginations even though they have matured and have a job. This is some connections I heard from Einstein. Einstein said that Imaginations are more important than knowledge because Imagination creates knowledge. This book made me read it even though I wasn't very interested to it because it makes me think deeply of some words that are hard to understand and while I read the book, it reminded me of my childhood because I use to use my imaginations, ofcourse, probably all the kids use their imaginations. Now that I have grown, I forgot about imagining because I've grown up a lot. Just like in the book, when the little prince was growing up, he is losing his imaginations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kate DiCamillo, author of the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, spins a tidy tale of mice and men where she explores the "powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous" nature of love, hope, and forgiveness. Her old-fashioned, somewhat dark story, narrated "DearReader"-style, begins "within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse." Despereaux Tilling, the new baby mouse, is different from all other mice. Sadly, the romantic, unmouselike spirit that leads the unusually tiny, large-eared mouse to the foot of the human king and the beautiful Princess Pea ultimately causes him to be banished by his own father to the foul, rat-filled dungeon.

The first book of four tells Despereaux's sad story, where he fallsdeeply in love with Princess Pea and meets his cruel fate. The secondbook introduces another creature who differs from hispeers--Chiaroscuro, a rat who instead of loving the darkness of his homein the dungeon, loves the light so much he ends up in the castle& in thequeen's soup. The third book describes young Miggery Sow, a girl who hasbeen "clouted" so many times that she has cauliflower ears. Still, allthe slow-witted, hard-of-hearing Mig dreams of is wearing the crown ofPrincess Pea. The fourth book returns to the dungeon-bound Despereauxand connects the lives of mouse, rat, girl, and princess in a dramaticdenouement.

Children whose hopes and dreams burn secretly within their hearts willrelate to this cast of outsiders who desire what is said to be out oftheir reach and dare to break "never-to-be-broken rules of conduct."Timothy Basil Ering's pencil illustrations are stunning, reflectingDiCamillo's extensive light and darkness imagery as well as the sweet,fragile nature of the tiny mouse hero who lives happily ever after.(Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Enchanting Fable
A few months ago, I read a little blurb about this novel, and I couldn't wait to read it. Then, it won the Newberry Award, and I finally got hold of a copy. It didn't disappoint. The Tale of Despereaux is one of the most enchanting little stories I've ever read, and I have a feeling it's going to go down as a true children's classic.

The story is so entrancing. It centers around a mouse named Despereaux who just doesn't fit in with the other mice. He is born with his eyes opened. He sees a beautiful world that the others are blind to, and he is shunned because of it. He is able to hear music, and he is able to love creatures of other races. For instance, this tiny mouse falls in love with the human Princess Pea, and that begins quite a chain of events.

Of course, not everything in the story is happy. There is also a dark world that the novel doesn't hide from. There are characters who have had little chance in life and have been harmed because of it. There are characters here who have lead dark lives and are trying to destroy Princess Pea and Despereaux. But, ultimately, this isn't a dark novel but one proclaiming a message about love and hope and the possibility of redemption. It is a beautiful little novel about having the courage to bring some light into the world. The Tale of Despereaux is an amazing novel for people of every age which will be read for an oftly long time.

A Magical New Classic
I have read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, and liked it much better than her Newbery Honor book, Because of Winn-Dixie. This fairy-tale adventure about a mouse, a rat, a princess, and a servant girl is told in a measured, mannered voice that's a departure for DiCamillo's usual casual style. There are frequent appeals to the "dear reader," which work for me as they do in so few other books.

Despereaux is the youngest mouse in his family. He is runty, with huge ears, and prefers reading books to eating them. We're given glimpses of his family -- his faithless father, his very proper sister, his loutish brother whose favorite word is "Cripes!," and his French mother, whose English is slightly stiff and very amusing. Before long, Despereaux's non-mousely behavior gets him banished to the dungeon, where the castle rats will presumably eat him.

He escapes, of course, only to cross paths with a vengeful rat who has taken a slow-witted palace maid into service, to help him carry out his plan to punish Princess Pea, the object of his hatred and Despereaux's devotion.

Forgiveness, second chances, embracing the light, being who you are, the importance of stories, and the restorative properties of a hot bowl of soup all come into play to create a delicate, magical book that I suspect may have more longevity than the celebrated but ultimately somewhat ordinary Because of Winn-Dixie.

awful, reader, just plain awful
Please do not read this book, reader!!! Reader, I had just finished reading Because of Winn-Dixie, and I found it to be a wonderful book and story. But, reader, Tale of Despereaux did not come anywhere close to what I expected a good, or worthy of reading children's book, should be. I also, reader, feel that anyone who has to tell a child what is going on without letting them think for themselves or create their own meanings should not bebale to get their books published. I have always felt the point of getting children to read is to, get them to read! Then the stories and meanings can be discussed later. Children always bring something new the table, and this book ruins a childs creative and imaginative mind.

Teachers, here is your book!
You can get the storyline from the excellent reviews on this page. If you are looking for a terrific read-aloud or book study or novel for your literature circles, this is it. Are you teaching literary elements? This book has it all, character, plot, setting, theme, motivation, point-of-view, genre, voice, elaboration, foreshadowing, word choice...

The wonderful thing is your students will just think you are reading them the BEST story ever. I read chapters 1-3 aloud and then stopped. The kids sent up a chorus of "Nooo, Don't Stop!!!"

We sold so many hard cover copies of the book at our school book fair that we had to reorder several times. Parent were remarking, "He has never begged me for a book before..."

Dust off your French accent and have fun. You will enjoy reading this book aloud as much as your students will enjoy listening to it.

Awesome
A very good book, to say the least. I was recomended this by my librarian and read it, along with Olive's Ocean (another good read, check it out). It deserved the award it got, definitly. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (98)

One of my favorite childhood books
There are some memories from childhood that I can never quite place specifically. Things that linger in memory, but are so faint that they are like a sniff of fresh apple pie from down the street that you can't determine which house it is coming from. I recall reading some "magic" children books--at one time, I thought they were Andre Norton, who had several young adult novels with the word magic in the title, but I was never able to find the exact one. Until I ran across this book in the store, and realized a chapter into it that I was eating apple pie.

I love this book, but it may be because I remember it so fondly. I've been trying to catch up on children's fantasy the last couple of years--reading E. Nesbit, Norton Juster, P.L. Travers, E.L. Konigsburg--and, of them all, Eager is my favorite. In Half Magic, fantasy is rolled with some of the logic of science fiction, in that the wishes that the magic coin gives the children only occurs in halves, and they must figure out how to use it. As children, they are quite believable--maybe not as realistic as Nesbit, but not the Bobsey Twins either.

I should note that Eager was himself a fan of Nesbit's, and his stories do resemble her's in some ways. His affinity for her is clearly laid out here, where the children visit the library and one of their favorite books is The Enchanted Castle.

A jumping-off point for years of fantasy enjoyment
I first read this book at the age of 10. I am now 45 and have not changed my opinion that it is one of the most delightful books for children ever written. It involves four fatherless children and a magic charm, which brings many forms of magic to enrich and improve their lives. The story is written with humor and enormous imagination. I couldn't wait to get back to the library to read all the other Edward Eager books it had. Noting that Mr. Eager always gave credit to Edith Nesbit as his inspiration, I also read all the Edith Nesbit books available. I have continued to re-read them throughout my life; I have read them to my kids, and intend to read them to my grandkids. The Bodecker drawings carry the stories beautifully. I now work at a public library and recommend Half Magic to any child who wants stories about real children and magic, because this book opened such a magical dimension to my own reading life.

MAGICALY ENCHANTED
Half Magic
This novel, is about 4 children looking for an adventure. One day the oldest of the children jane finds what she thinks is a nickel. It turns out to be a magical coin. this takes them on the adventure they have been looking for. It takes them to visit sir lancelot, a desert, and turns the littlest one into a ghost. Their mother feels like she is having a nervous breakdown and is becoming mentally ill. Will they get through all these adventures without getting killed by three knights and a half statue, half dog? I give this book 2 thumbs up. It is a marvelous book for children.

Magic divided by two= A Great Fantasy
Half Magic

Half Magic is a magical fantasy by Edward Eager. Edward Eager has written several books about magical adventures.
Half Magic begins when four children find an interesting looking coin in a crack in the ground. Soon they find out that if you wish something while holding the coin it comes half true. The children go on many magical adventures by wishing everything twice. After awhile the magic starts wearing down. The children decide to give the coin to another child so the magic can go on forever and ever.
I liked this story because it has lots of different settings. If you don't like fantasy very much you could enjoy this book because it travels into history and takes you through some historical events. I would recommend this book to a third grader up to a sixth grader who likes magic and adventures.

A Magical Book
A Magical Book
Half Magic
By: Edward Eager

Half Magic is about 4 children, Jane, Mark, Martha, and Katharine who get a magical coin that only works by halves. Jane the oldest always seems to be different from her siblings. Because she doesn't appear to agree with them much. Mark the only boy and is the second oldest child, doesn't mind much about being the only man around the house and doesn't become annoyed with his sisters much theat often although he wishes to have a dad. Martha the middle child is always ignored by her family. But she is let to say her opinions and ideas very often in necessary times. And Katharine the youngest does mostly annoying things to her siblings that might explain for being shoved under a movie theater seat! But Katherine doesn't mind she just choose to sleep through it.
So these creative children's adventure takes time long ago when movies didn't have any sound and had to be written down. The 4 children's adventures include many things put back in history into Camelot and in the desert. There are man more places that journeys have been taken. Now the old charms to only be worked by halves. The children at first had the coin and coincidently made a wish. But they had not known that the coin had given there wish but only half of it. Then one day when there mother had the coin, she thought it was a nickel and made a wish that she would be home, and only got half of it. She than found herself in the road halfway from home. And there she found a very nice gentleman who gave her a lift there home . Then the children got suspicious and knew what it was now. They had also find out theat you had to wish more than its value to get what you really want. Like " I wish I was twice as far from here.
They had many more adventures then that besides being half invisible . The nice gentleman got to know the family even more on this incredible journey. I believe the theme is " never make a wish without making it worth twice more than what you really want". As my opinion this book is one of the best book I 've picked up on the library's shelf not even knowing what great things were in the book. ... Read more

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Another Great Quiltmaker Story
Jeff Brumbeau has another potential award winner with The Quiltmaker's Journey.A great story about how the Quiltmaker came to be, he continues the theme of the original book that giving of oneself and caring for others illuminates our lives with love.Gail de Marken's illustrations are, again, timeless and her familiarity with the art of quilting lends authenticity to the quilt blocks dotting the pages of this wonderfult story.The Quiltmaker's Journey will win the hearts of young and old alike and if you happen to be a quilter, too, that just sweetens the deal. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you haven't already read Tikki Tikki Tembo, you've probably heard at least someone recite the deliriously long name of its protagonist: Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, by now a famous refrain in most nursery schools. In this beautiful edition--complete with line and wash illustrations by artist Blair Lent--Arlene Mosel retells an old Chinese folktale about how the people of China came to give their children short names after traditionally giving their "first and honored" sons grand, long names. Tikki tikki tembo (which means "the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world") and his brother Chang (which means "little or nothing")get into trouble with a well, are saved by the Old Man with the Ladder, and change history while they're at it. Tikki Tikki Tembo is a perfect book to read aloud, but don't be surprised if you find yourself joining the ranks of its chanting followers. (Picture book) ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Not to be confused with Rikki tikki tavi
If you, like my pretty self, grew up reading (or being read) the tale of Tikki Tikki Tembo, then you already know exactly the correct cadences and tones to use when pronouncing his name. Come on, everybody! Say it along with me... Tikki Tikki Tembo-No Sa Rembo-Chari Bari Ruchi-Pip Peri Pembo. Whew! It's a mouthful, which is of course the point. In this book (originally published, I kid you not, in 1968) we learn about the dangers of over-monikering one's own offspring.

Two boys live with their mother near an old well. The eldest is considered the more important of the two, and his is the extraordinarily long name. His younger brother is named Chang. Chang and Tikki love one another, and when Chang falls into the well his brother rushes off to save him. Tikki fetches the old man with the ladder, who rescues the sodden boy. Later (not the same day, thankfully) the boys play around the well again and this time it's Tikki who has fallen in. When Chang attempts to tell his mother what has happened, it's all he can do to spout out that enormous mouthful of a name. When his mother finally understands, he too is sent to the old man with the ladder and a very similar scene occurs. In the end Tikki is rescued, though his prolonged well-exposure leaves him sick for a little while. Hence (according to this tale and, yes yes, not historically accurate in the least), "the Chinese have always thought it wise to give all their children little, short names instead of great long names".

When I was read this book as a kid I remember disliking small sections of it (whilst enjoying the entire thing as a whole). I felt bad for Chang, a boy whose name translated roughly to "little or nothing". Yet Chang and Tikki don't engage in any sibling rivalry or bad feelings. They play together as happily as can be. And though their mother does refer to Tikki with such names as "my first and honored son, heir of all I possess", the final shot of the book is Chang seated snugly on his mother's lap as they speak with the bed-ridden Tikki. So is the book racist? I dunno. Not to my eyes, though I've already admitted that having been read this book while a child, I'm biased towards it. I really don't think there's anything in here to seriously offend someone, unless becoming offended is their goal. Yes, we can all agree that the clothing is Japanese while the characters are Chinese. Confusing, certainly. And the last line in the story is a bit odd, but personally I don't feel it will turn your children into raving-mad racists. It's just an amusing story told with a great deal of zip and verve. Author Arlene Mosel has told it in such a way that the reader really enjoys repeated passages that say things like, "He pumped the water out of him and pushed the air into him, and pumped the water out of him and pushed the air into him". Blair Lent's illustrations are just as amusing and fun. Though a book of limited colors, it almost seems to the reader as if there are millions of subtle variations on the blues and greens shown throughout the story.

The fact of the matter is, this is just a great book. Top drawer. If you've an ability to tell a tale well, then it is a crime and shame that you are not reading this book to a little one right now. For as long as children enjoy hearing rhymes and syncopated rhythms, this book will remain a popular item.

Good book for a read aloud and discussion
This is a retelling of an old Chinese folk tale about unnecessary and overly grandiose events. The initial premise is that the firstborn son is given a grand name, in this case Tikki Tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, which means "the most wonderful thing in the world." However, all subsequent sons are given short names, so the second son is called Chang, which means "little or nothing."
The tale begins with Chang falling into a well. Tikki Tikki Tembo runs for help and has no difficulty in telling the adults what happened. An old man uses a ladder to rescue Chang and after some brief treatment, he recovers. Later in the story, Tikki Tikki Tembo falls into the well and Chang runs for help. However, because of the length of the name, he has difficulty explaining what is wrong and help is delayed. While Tikki Tikki Tembo is rescued, it takes him a long time to recover. As a consequence of this event, the Chinese change their custom so that now all of their children are given short names.
The artwork of this book is excellent and the moral of the story a good one for children. I strongly recommend it for read-aloud sessions that end in a discussion.

Wonderful
I haven't read this book in...ten years or so, but as soon as I read the title 'TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO, I LOVE THAT BOOK'. That pretty much covers it. It's wonderful, I wish the kids I am around would be patient enough to listen to it. :) WONDERFUL WONDERFUL BOOK!

Fun, but inaccurate
Tikki Tikki Tembo has a beautiful and fun name to say. However, that is where my praise of the book ends. The illustrations are lacking, not to mention inaccurate. A seemingly uncaring mother obviously favoring one son over the other is the main thing that stands out in my mind after having read this book. Perhaps my biggest problem with this text is the sweeping generalization it ends with, "from that day to this, the Chinese have always thought it wise to give their children little, short names, instead of great long names." I believe it is important to eduate and expose children to cultures outside of their own. However, we must do so in a way that promotes their curiousity and an accurate understanding. Multicultural literature can be a wonderful tool in the classroom as well as the home, when used properly; Tikki Tikki Tembo will be left out of my toolbox.

A name that'll stick in your mind for years
I don't understand why people are looking at this book like it's some sort of historical text. I doubt many 5-year-olds are going to read this book and say, "Well, it was OK, but it was full of historical inaccuracies and perpetuated stereotypes harmful to the Chinese community." It's a story, nothing more. It's not meant to teach any life-changing moral. Stop searching for offensive material and enjoy the book the way a child would.

A child will enjoy this, by the way. I know I did, when I first read it perhaps 25 years ago. It may not (as I said above) provide profound revelations, but it does encourage children to do the right thing whether people treat them with respect or not.

Lighten up, enjoy the rhythm of the name, watch kids try to say it all in one breath, and years from now you'll still remember Tikki Tikki Tembo and his helpful brother. ... Read more

Book Description

Treasure Trove is a fairy tale about real treasure for parents and children of all ages. The book is fully illustrated. This Fairy Tale takes place in a Great Forest and tells a sweet (and sometimes sad) story about friendship and greed, Good Fairies and Evil Fairies and how love is greater than fear. Also, concealed in the pages of this story, are the clues to twelve very real and very valuable treasures that are hidden around the continental United States for you to find and keep ...treasures similar to the jeweled Forest Creatures in the Fairy Tale. The treasures are not hidden in remote locations but rather in places accessible to everyone. You might even find one by accident, as you walk across a field or down a street. But none are on private property, and none are buried. Nothing needs to be lifted or moved for you to find them. But they are hidden well. The simple clues do not need any special knowledge to find or decipher. Anyone who can read can discover the exact location of each treasure --just the way one of the characters does in the story. This book is more than a treasure hunt. Enjoy reading it and take time to read it to a child. It will remind you and the child that we have to take care of each other, and take care of the earth. Oh yes --and not to be afraid of the dark. So, as you read and look carefully at the illustrations, if you believe in Fairies, you may find the clues that will lead you to the treasure.

... Read more

Reviews (22)

FUN
The previous reviewer has it all wrong.The misspellings are part of the clues.They alert readers to the use of code and anarams.Sorry you missed that, buddy...you'll never find the treasure!!!As for the drawings, they contain the code too...distortions are intentional and even the "blockishness" is part of the puzzle (didn't you read about the 5x5 box?).
I don't understand people who rush to criticise something that is supposed to be FUN!!!

misses cult classic status
Personally I find the story lacking depth or interest. However, for the idea of creating a book whose purpose is to go on a treasure hunt it is excellent. So it does deserve points for originality. The illustrations are well thought out, as obvious much more time went into them than some people believe. Most amateur artists cannot draw a comprehensive picture and incorporate clues and hints. It's worth reading once, and perhaps seeking out the treasure, but it falls short of a cult classic and beyond the end of the comptetition probably has no staying power.

STOP THE BASHING!
I know all the "publishing professionals" out there who give this book negative feedback say that the plot line is shallow, the characters lack depth, and the illustrations are high school like.But I got some news for everybody, the people who buy this book ARE NOT publishers and can appreciate and enjoy the book for what it is worth.It is a story parents and children can enjoy TOGETHER.It is a story that is bringing people across the country together.For example two huge online forums(12gems and Tweleve)have been created for the sole purpose of finding the treasures.
For all of those people that say the clues are too hard for a child to find.Well I have a hunch that if the clues were made so easy that a child could solve them, it would take an adult maybe a few days to solve the clues.What kind of treasure hunt lasts a few days?And yes there are easy clues that lead to no exact locations(maybe if you put all those easy clues together you might understand it more though......).But those clues are there to keep the kids interested in the treasure hunt, but other clues are hard enough that adults have trouble with them.That is the beauty of this book.An adult and child can work on the clues together and each see things that the other may not.Either way people are going to complain, "oh the clues are too hard"well if the treasure was found in a matter of days those people would be saying "the clues were too easy."
The purpose of this book was not shock and impress the literary world.It was not written to win awards.It was not written to achieve fame(although it may have happened).It was not written for the literary world.It was written for families and everyday people who can see past the grammatical flaws(did you ever think the flaws may just be clues???), see past the "high school" illustrations, and see what is really important in life.Spending quality time with your family and friends. It is something that can not happen enough in anyone's lifetime.So thank you Michael Stadther for providing everybody a story and treasure hunt that will impact families nation wide and give a child and parent a memory that will never be forgotten.

A fun fantasy
I am a grandmother who purchesed 2 of these for grandsons. When I read it I got so into the fantasy that I completely forgot to look for the clues!

It's a Treasure!
My grandaughter read this book to me and it was a great story with a beautiful premise.We looked for some clues, but couldn't find any new ones, so we'll just keep looking! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

How can you pass this up?
There is no way I can pass this book up everytime I'm in the bookstore. And I own two different copies of this fantastic tale. Yet, I still pick the book up and flip through the first few pages, smiling ear to ear at the wonderment that makes up Peter Pan.

Peter is a boy that refuses to grow up. He lives in Neverland with his fairy, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys. He visits the nursery of Wendy, Michael, and John Darling to hear Wendy's marvelous stories, and one night loses that pesky shadow. When he comes back to get it and tries to stick it back on, Wendy discovers this new boy in their nursery and soon learns about his amazing lifestyle. Entranced by thoughts of pirates, mermaids, and fairies, Wendy, Michael, and John embark on an amazing adventure into a world so unlike ours.

It's bittersweet, it's insightful, it's magical, it's everything and more a child or an adult could ask for in a story. You won't want to leave Neverland, and some days, you may find yourself staring out the window, looking for that hint of light that is Tinkerbell or the boy effortlessly flying between trees and buildings.

Without a doubt the greatest children's story of all time, one that we've all heard, whether it was through a movie or a stage production. Experience the real magic though, and read Barrie's brilliant novel about the boy who won't grow up. ... Read more

Book Description

In this best-selling collaboration between author (and performer) Jon Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith, with music by noted composer Kurt Hoffman, you will hear Alexander T. Wolf tell the story from his point of view. Side one features narration and music, while side two has music alone, so that you can read it out loud by yourself. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

What Really Happened
We all know the story of the 3 little pigs but is it the true story? In the original story the 3 little pigs were the protaganists and the wolf was the villian. But now we hear the story from the wolf's point of veiw in "The True Story Of The 3 Little Pigs!" written by Jon Scieszka.It seems The Big Bad Wolf,with a Big Bad Cold, only wanted to bake a cake for his dear old granny. When he went to his neighbors for a cup of sugar, he sneezed their houses down and he coudn't leave good meat to spoil. So when the media saw the incident they thought it was too boring. So they spiced it up with "The Big Bad Wolf," and he was locked away.

This book is a great read for kids as well as adults. The pictures in this book are very amusing to look at and is good for bedtime stories. Parents your kids will love this book and kids your parents will love it too!

GREAT book for not only kids but ADULTS..trust me!!
I'm STILL chuckling after buying this book and reading it before gifting it to my nephew Greg, 11, and Kayla, 7. And,. as with other books by Jon Scieszka, the huge problem is: I want this book for MYSELF.

The bottom line is that in his version, wonderfully illstrated by Lane Smith, the Three Little Pigs is the ultimate story of SPIN CONTROL. This time, unlike in a zillion other versions, the wolf is telling HIS side of the story -- what REALLY happened. And to hear him tell his story (with all of the familiar elements and a delicious economy of words) it's all a terrible mistunderstanding about his allergy, his desire not to waste food, and distortions by the press.

None of this gives any of this away, since the genius of this is not only in the conception, but in the TELLING of the story. Don't consider this just a book for kids. You can EASILY gift it to friends, relatives, favorite (and unfavorite) politicians and members of the media. It's the perfect late 20th-early-21st century retelling of the story, with the wolf as the poor misunderstood victim (of the police, the media, and his health etc). Just like the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, this works on two levels so the adults will be as delighted as the kids by this story -- which could easily have run as one of Mad Magazine's better pieces.

Get it for the kids, read it for yourself...and get ready to realize what a great gift this would be for adults of any political persuasions. LOVED IT so much...I hate to give this to the kids! Kids of ALL ages will love this story, whether you read it to them or they read it themselves (so will the kids under 40 years old).

It wasn't my fault!
Did you know that the wolf is really innocent? He just had a cold. This book can be a good introduction to the concept of two sides to every story. It's creative and enjoyable to read.

Max's Book Review
I read the book, "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka. This is a fantastic childrens' book based on the original story of the three little pigs. I really enjoyed the creative, detailed illustrations and the interesting plot. According to this version of "The Three Little Pigs", the wolf is completely innocent. I also liked the fluent writing style of the book. Reading this book, you gain the understanding of the wolf's side of the story, which is not often read. I would recommend "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" to someone who enjoys humorous books. I think that this book is one that both parents and children can enjoy reading together! I really enjoyed this book and i think you will to!

An Amazingly Funny Book
I loved reading The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. It was very entertaining and fun to read. Not only for children, but for teens and adults as well. It shows that every criminal should get their chance to prove their side of the story. It gave the wolf's perspective of the story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. This book was interesting because the wolf came up with such a hilarious story for what really happened. He said that he was going to their houses to get a cup of sugar for a cake he was making! The wolf also said that he just sneezed when the pig's houses fell down, he didn't really mean to knock them down. (They should have been built better anyways!) He said that the media just jazzed up the trial to make it seem more interesting! This book had comical illustrations to interpret what was happening in the story. The illustrations like almost like a collage. I think this is a great book, and that every child that had heard the story of The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf should definitely read this humorous book. ... Read more

Book Description

"If you're having trouble talking to your children about sex--knowing what to say and when to say it--then here is the book for you.The talented team who created the acclaimed Dino Life Guides for Families is ready to help. With characteristic sensitivity, they present answers to tough questions.Here is an introduction to sex along with the ways girls and boys differ...and are the same.What's the Big Secret is the beginning of one of the most important conversations you and your child will have." ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good balance
I read this book to 2 10-year olds who were pretty naive. They "got it", without being too embarrassed. It handles all topics appropriately, and gives both reader and listener a few moments for laughter to break up the big news.

Great book but not really for kids under 7....
Last summer I read this book to my then just turned 7 & just turned 4 yr old and the youngest was completely clueless as to what I trying to get across. The oldest understood somewhat, wasn't all that interested, but still managed to let a few giggles out. She took the book and read it herself. When I later asked her if she had any questions for me, she had none but commented that it was "embarrassing". The book was put away to age a little longer....
Earlier this week I re-read the book to both of them, now almost 5 and almost 8. The 5 yr old is still clueless and bored with all of it. The 8 yr old seemed a bit more interested and less embarrassed. She took the book and again read it to herself and asked a few "why" questions but nothing I couldn't handle.
In my opinion, this book is great for 7 - 10 yr olds (1st - 3rd grade), not the pre-school - grade 3 that it is catagorized. Enough for 7 - 10 yr olds to comprehend and enough for this age to know. Not overwhelming in technical terms or detail nor is it written in baby terms. I agree with a previous reviewer. When the teen years arrive, more information, terms & detail will need to be divulged but for this pre-teen age. For pre-teens, this book is perfect.

Not for attachment parents!
While this book is colorful and covers many common questions, it is not for attachment parents - or any parent who wants to teach her child a more natural parenting approach.

It does have one breastfeeding picture, but it also includes pictures of baby bottles and a baby bottle-feeding, newborns in a hospital nursery, a hospital birth with the mom lying on her back (which is very difficult and can lead to unnecessary Caesareans), and a newborn crying (which is not really natural, and rarely happens in a waterbirth), and a bit of rudeness (a child calling another child "silly").

The book also states that puberty can start at "ten or twelve or fourteen" but many children are starting earlier these days (possibly from the growth hormones in cow's milk, a good reason to switch to organic milk), and they may feel worried if they read that statement.

Two better books are Welcome With Love by Jenni Overend and A Child Is Born by Lennart Nilsson.

GREAT for my young step-daughter
I bought this book for my 6 year old step-daughter. She's started asking questions about what a boy looks like and why I won't be having a baby with her daddy (she thinks it just happens because you get married). The pictures in this book are just right for a 6 year old, and there isn't too much information. It certainly settled her "need to know" crisis, and The "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" incident on the playground that I had a nightmare about.

Very good
I read this with my 8 year old daughter. She loved the book, and understood the information without being embarrassed. I really liked how it explained the differences between good, loving touches; and bad, uncomfortable touches. I would say this book is best for children over the age of 6. It may be too advanced for the younger ones. ... Read more

Amazon.com

At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery, trying to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you've ever read.

Gail Carson Levine's examination of traditional female roles in fairy tales takes some satisfying twists and deviations from the original. Ella is bound by obedience against her will, and takes matters in her own hands with ambition and verve. Her relationship with the prince is balanced and based on humor and mutual respect; in fact, it is she who ultimately rescues him. Ella Enchanted has won many well-deserved awards, including a Newbery Honor. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (893)

Logic or Love?
Based on the classic cinderella story, Ella Enchanted is a fantastic book. At birth Ella is 'blessed' by a fairy with the 'gift of obedience' which forces her to do whatever is given to her as an order. If Ella were told to she would have to kill herself or a loved one.
Ella grew up with her mother and her cook, Mandy, her fairy godmother. While in her teens her mother dies, and her funeral Ella meets Char, a prince. Her father is drawn into marriage because of financial problems and she is sent off to Finishing School with her two step-sisters. Ella and Char wrote to eachother the whole while she was away. She soon learned to do everything right because she had to because of her curse. Later she ran away in hopes of meeting the fairy sho gave her her curse, but when she does finally meet her the fairy refuses to lift the curse and flees off. Ella then goes back to live with her father, step-mother, step-sisters, and Mandy. Her father leaves on a business trip and while he is away she is treated poorly by her step-family; the only person she can relate to is Mandy.
Her and Char fall in love but she wont allow herself to marry him because the kingdom's enemies would easily be able to use her curse to their advantage. When he orders her to marry him, unknowing of the curse, she must battel with herself to come to a conclusion.
This is a very interesting and captivating book through and through. I have read it numerous times and i love it more and more each time. Especially if you enjoy the classics, particularly the tale of Cinderella, I would highly recomend Ella Enchanted.

A interesting, and fun fairy tale.
Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine, is a fascinating fairytale about a fifteen-year-old girl. This Newbery Honor Book is a wonderful book for all ages, and is easy reading. It is one of those books that you never want to put down. Many features of this book resemble the story of Cinderella. Ella, the main character, has to overcome many challenges in her young life. One of those challenges being that she has to obey any order that is given to her. A powerful fairy gave this challenge to her. If she doesn't obey this curse, she will get a terrible headache, or start feeling very ill. So, obliviously, she has to be very careful not to tell anyone about this weakness because they could easily take advantage of her. This book revolves around how she lives her life, and the effects of the curse. I think others would enjoy this book because it is fun, and enjoyable to read. Isn't that what reading is all about?

BEST BOOK EVER
I first read this book when I was in 5th grade and I am now in 11th grade and I still read this book. I have read it so many times that I lost count. Ella Enchanted is a story of a girl who is given the curse of obedience and struggles to overcome the spell that dictates everything she does. She must do every thing that anyone asks. It is a lot like Cinderella but at the same time so different and so much better. This book is so wonderful and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good adventure story with a dash of romance.

My Favorite Book!
Okay, one thing here: I like literature. I'm an avid reader, and believe me, I've read quite a number of books. From the gigantic (Decameron, Gormenghast series) to the tiny (Heart of Darkness, the fabulous Catcher in the Rye), I try to keep an open mind and appreciate the meaning in each story, regardless if I love or loathe it. Ella Enchanted is the only book to this date (maybe with the exception of the Princess Bride, and Wuthering Heights if I'm in a heavy mood ^^) I can endure for a fourth, fifth; a sixth read. I could see younger fans liking it, but even at eighteen, the wit and substance still astounds me, as I'm sure it's the same for older fans too; I made my mom read the first chapter, and she was highly amused. The prince is no longer a 'light at the end of the tunnel' figure for all her hard work, but he's there all through the tale, charming as his name suggests (Prince Char) because he's real: the things he says and does, his honesty and good nature make the reader realize that it's not always the villains who have personality, it's just that the good ones rarely get to show their side. Ella's stepfamily is probably the main comic relief, with one sister being a naive dunce (with abhorrent spelling skills), one petty and jealous in a way that seems to make you feel you know someone like her, and a stepmother dripping in pomp and luxury. All three you love to hate almost as much as you love to laugh at. Ella, finally, is a heroine worthy of basing such a book on. At fifteen she's wise, witty, clever, and not above biting back when she can get a bit of revenge here and there. She doesn't feel sorry for herself; she only focuses on things important to her through any turmoil she may have, and even when she has the classic girlhood dream in the palm of her hands, she knows what's for the best (and no, I'm not giving away anything here :). I rarely connect with the main characters in things, but Ella is a special exception. How we should all be a bit like her. Through her enigmatic personality you can't help--like some in the book--to fall straight in love. I suspect Ella Enchanted will always make me laugh when I need it, and because this book will keep me young and smiling, it's my favorite. Highly, highly highly recommended.

One of the Wittiest Books Ever!
In this children's classic, Ella has the gift,or curse, to be obedient. Always. If she were told to cut her head off with an axe she would have to obey. Though very much based on Cinderella (hint: Wicked Stepmother and Stepsisters, Prince Char, Kinda like Charming, and obviosly Ella, though her name is Eleanor)

This book is hilarious and sometimes suspensful. It is very much beyond me why Out Of The Dust beat this for the Newbery. :~( ... Read more

Book Description

When it comes time for the three little wolves to go out into the world and build themselves a house, their mother warns them to beware the big bad pig. But the little wolves' increasingly sturdy dwellings are no match for the persistent porker, who has more up his sleeve than huffing and puffing. It takes a chance encounter with a flamingo pushing a wheelbarrow full of flowers to provide a surprising and satisfying solution to the little wolves' housing crisis.

Eugene Trivizas's hilarious text and Helen Oxenbury's enchanting watercolors have made this delightfully skewed version of the traditional tale a contemporary classic. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

The Three Little Wolves and The Big Bad Pig
I thought that this book was most interesting out of all of the childrens books that I have read. I liked this book because it is funny, especially with the switching of the wolves and pigs. The story takes dangerous animals and turns them into meek little animals. Then it takes an ordinary barn yard pig and makes him into the bad guy. so the whole story has been turned around.

It is neat how the big bad pig takes the power tools and knocks down the houses instead of using his breath by huffing and puffing and blowing the houses down.

The wolves use their friends the beaver, kangaroo, rhinoceros, and the flamingo as there suppliers for the materials to build their houses. They do not have to pay for the supplies, they just ask for the materials and their friends give them what they need.

The rhinoceros was more than happy to give the needed supplies along with other supplies that they did not even ask for, to his friends because he was feeling generous and kind hearted.

The Kangaroo gave them some bricks that were yellow and red so their house would be strong. But that failed because the pig was able to smash the house down with his sledge hammer.

The beaver gave the wolves concrete so they could build a stronger house. But the Big Bad pig used his pneumatic drill and knocked the house down.

hysterical new twist on an old theme
I was looking at this book in our school library when a fellow teacher leaned over my shoulder, read the title, and said, "Oh, no! I bet this one is hysterical!"

She was right.

The obvious role-reversal of Wolf and Pig in the retelling of this old classic is sure to make any child giggle even before the book is opened. Once you DO start reading it, stand back! Three cuddly little wolves are sent by their mother out into the world to make their way (mom is painting her nails black and has curlers in her hair and tail--a very nice touch!). The three wolves, in a departure from the original tale, borrow some bricks from a passing kangaroo and build a sturdy brick house.

All goes well and they're out in the garden playing croquet when the Big, Bad Pig comes sauntering along. The wolves hid inside, won't let him in, and the Big Bad Pig tries to blow the house down.

He cant, of course. The house is brick! But, "the pig wasn't called big and bad for nothing. He went and fetched his sledgehammer and knocked the house down." The illustrations by Ms. Oxenbury of the pig smashing the walls with a hammer while the wolves flee through a window is worth the cost of the book alone. But, wait! There's MORE!

They build a succession of stronger houses, each which is demolished by the pig (he uses a pneumatic hammer and dynamite). Only when they try to change their tactics and make a house of FLOWERS does the pig change his ways and see how destructive and obnoxious he was.

This is a marvelous book, and no mistake. There are probably a good 200 versions of the Three Little Pigs, many of which end with the grisly death of the wolf. In the Three Little Wolves, not only is the reader immediately hooked on the role reversal of wolf and pig, but the text and illustrations are simply hysterical and the peaceful ending make it far more enjoyable than the original fable. This is a book that should be in everyone's library!!

A wolf-friendly revision!
As a kid, I loved wolves and hated the Three Little Pigs. So this funny, wolf-friendly revision of the creepy old classic really tickles me! It begins with Mama Wolf sending her doting pups off into the wide world with the warning: "Beware of the Big Bad Pig!" Keeping Mama's message in mind, the trio decides to build a strong house for protection from the boorish boar. The three fluffy, friendly, refined little wolves are never named, but I like to call them Frasier, Niles, and Daphne. The pig, a burly bully of a construction-worker, could be named Brutus. Safe in the yard of their new brick home, the little wolves play a spirited game of squash. Suddenly the swaggering swine shows up! In a reversal of the original tale, the Big Bad Pig pounds on the wolves' door and demands to come in, while they quaver, "Not by the hair on our chinny-chin-chins!" Then, using his construction hardware, the pig destroys the brick house, and the wolves flee with their fluffy tails between their legs! As the three little wolves build progressively massive fortresses, the big bad pig employs heavy ground-breaking and demolitions equipment to smash them to rubble. At last, the little wolves have no materials left with which to build, except -- ah, but I'm not going to give away the surprise! Let's just say, the ending is a lot sweeter than the original. No one gets boiled alive or devoured, and the the classic adversaries even become friends. Kids and parents will love the beautiful artwork and the silliness of the story, although the ending might seem just a bit too saccharine after all the destruction and mayhem.

entertaining revisionist fairy tale
Kids and adults will enjoy this comic retelling of the classic story of a bully and the three hapless siblings he has targeted -- yes, you guessed it -- the three sweet little wolves and that big bad pig. The illustrations and text are very funny as the pig uses increasingly hefty items to tear down the brick, metal and armored houses built by the wolves, until at last an unexpected material proves that even bullies have their limits. A fun read.

Two Words - Rush Job!
For a children's story this book is pretty average and boring. For a parodied fairy tale it's also below average. There are far higher quality both children's and adult fiction retelling of or in fairy tale format books out there. Gary Larson's, There's a Hair in my Dirt! Would be my pick for the best fairy tale style children's book (adult's will love it too) and Once Upon a Crime would be my pick for the adult fiction readers.

I really didn't like this book. I think the author came up with a good idea of reversing the wolf and pig roles but obviously couldn't develop it further. The artwork in the book is pretty average as well.

Obvious situations don't happen in this book and aren't explained. Why the wolves don't stand up for themselves or just call the police for one. Why are other animals carrying around bricks, cement and other heavy building equipment while walking if they have no intention of using it themselves is another. Becasue you know I often carry around building materials when I go for a walk.

The ending is terrible (don't worry I won't give it away) and very unrealistic. Kids could be taught through the story how to deal with bullies or crime and other messages in this book if it was written properly. Give this a miss.

A great sequel to the original Three Little Pigs tale is the children's book Porkenstein. In this tale the surviving pig from the house of bricks is a mad scientist and decides to make himself a friend. Buy it instead. ... Read more

Book Description

A wondrous journey through the realms of magic

They call him Lump. Ugly, misshapen -- more goblin than human child -- abandoned as an infant and taken in by a witch, he is nursed by a bear, tutored by a djinn; his only playmates are the creatures of the forest, whose language he learns to speak.

But when Lump inevitably stumbles into the human world, his innocence is no match for the depths of people's cruelty, which turns his heart to stone, and fuels a vengeance that places him and his witch mother in deadly peril. Yet these disasters also send Lump on a journey of self-discovery, to realms deep within the earth and far beyond mortal imagination.

In this stunning fantasy debut, Michael Gruber has created a world that is at once deceptively familiar and stunningly original, a world of cruelty, beauty, legend, truth, and above all, wonder. Readers will delight in the author's ingenious retelling of classic fairy tales and will marvel at the stunning new tale of a boy raised by a witch, a cat, a bear, and a demon.

Reviews (1)

A haunting tale of magic, mystery, growth, and love
One lovely spring morning, a witch ventures out to collect her daily herbs. Much to her surprise, she finds a baby in a basket outside her door. But this is no ordinary baby; it is the ugliest child anyone has ever seen, and tied to its basket is a note: "the devil's child for the devil's wife." The witch is taken aback: "Witches are supposed to eat babies, not feed them," she says. But she surprises herself by feeling an odd fondness for the ugly child, who she names Lump, and she assembles a sort of family to help her care for the boy: a she-bear, a malevolent demon, and her familiar, a cat named Falance.

As Lump grows, he struggles to find his own magical powers and his relationship to the other humans nearby. In the meantime, his foster mother has the same problems as working mothers everywhere: how to balance her time between tending the Midsummer fires and caring for her child. The witch, who is more powerful than Lump understands, is mystified by motherhood. She thinks, "I have always known what to do; I see the Pattern clear as my own hand, and I follow it and am content. But there is no guide here, and every path I can see leads to some pain. Perhaps this is part of having a child; the Pattern is of no use, and there is this aching in my heart."

Soon enough, disaster strikes, and Lump, the witch, and Falance hit the road. Robbed of her powers when she makes the ultimate sacrifice for her child, the witch must find a new life for herself: "It is the case that I cannot be both a mother and a witch, or not the sort of witch I was." In the meantime, Lump grows more distant, demanding, and hard to love. Fashioning themselves as The Faeryland Outcasts, the three perform magic and meet dozens of characters who will be vaguely familiar to readers from other fairy tales.

THE WITCH'S BOY, though, is far more than a fractured fairy tale. Although many of the characters, settings, and situations are borrowed from folklore, the complexities of plot and theme go far beyond simple fairy stories. The conflicted relationship between mother and son, the psychological pain inflicted on the boy Lump, the ways all the characters must step out of themselves to find friendship and love, the unexpected places where magic is found --- all these elements elevate THE WITCH'S BOY from a simple fairy story to a haunting, fully developed tale of magic, mystery, growth, and love.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl ... Read more

Book Description

"There was a girl in the village who loved horses... She led the horses to drink at the river. She spoke softly and they followed. People noticed that she understood horses in a special way."

And so begins the story of a young Native American girl devoted to the care of her tribe's horses. With simple text and brilliant illustrations. Paul Goble tells how she eventually becomes one of them to forever run free. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A horse is a horse, of course of course
The ultimate girl/horse story. There are plenty of tales in which a young girl bonds with a very special horse. This is the rare book in which the girl not only bonds with a horse but, in the end, becomes one herself (as well as that horse's mate). Paul Goble made quite a career out of telling Native American folktales in picture book form. In this particular story, a girl's love for four-legged beasts is taken to its logical extreme.

In this book, a girl once cared for her tribe's horses during the day. She would water them and find them places to feed. One day, a storm rose while the girl slept and the horses grazed. In a panic, the animals began to stampede away, and it was only by her skill that the girl was able to climb aboard one. When at last they stopped, the girl met the leader of all the wild horses, a beautiful spotted stallion. The girl continued to live with the creatures until one day she was successfully captured by members of her own tribe. She was happy to see her parents once more, but begged to return to the horses. The tribe agreed and each year she would return briefly to give the people a new colt. When she didn't return one year, riders swore that they saw a black mare that greatly resembled the girl, now the mate of the spotted stallion. The book ends with a Navaho's song about his horse and Black Elk (an Oglala Sioux)'s dream about a stallion's song.

I was a little shocked that this tale never identified the tribe to which the girl belonged. Since, however, this is an original story and not a retelling of a classic Native American tale (or so the book would lead you to believe) I wasn't too perturbed by the omission. After all, when people tell stories about themselves, they rarely identify their nationality or allegiance. In this book, the girl's tribe is referred to simply as "the people". If you've ever seen a Paul Goble book before, you know what to expect when you read this. His characters are fairly featureless, though as an artist he spends a significant bit of time detailing their clothing, hair, weapons, homes, etc. He expresses a great love of color in all his pictures, and it's quite enjoyable to flip through the shots of multicolored horses. In its construction, this book is incredibly lovely. But the question that came to my mind while reading it was, how interesting will children find this tale? For those kids obsessed by horses, I think this book will go over like gangbusters. After all, as horse-love goes, this girl is an extreme example. In other ways, the book is a bit dull. When you illustrate a tale in which emotions are not visible on the characters, you're going to lose those readers that like seeing happy and sad expressions. It's a style choice on the part of the author/illustrator and while I respect it I cannot wholly recommend it.

Just the same, it's a lovely book to flip through. Just know that it is an original Native American tale and not a retelling. For every child that has imagined running away and joining a band of wild animals, this is the perfect story to read. A lovely lively concoction.

Wild Horses actually do drag this young girl away
"The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses" is a straightforward tale of the Plains Indians, retold and illustrated by Paul Goble, unlike those that he has told about the trickster, Iktomi. This myth does not folllow any one story exactly but is put together from a great number of stories belonging to the peoples who lived on the Great Plains that Goble had read or listened to over the years. This story is premised on the importance of horses to these peoples. The title character is a girl in the village would loved horses so much that she would led them to drink at the river and when she spoke softly to them they would follow her. Her people recognized that she understood horses in a special way, which explains why this story ends the way that it does.

Every day after doing her chores the young girl would run off to be with the horses. One day there is a great lightning storm that drives the horses, carrying the young girl, over the horizon to a land she had never seen before. There she finds a beautiful spotted stallion, stronger and prouder and more handsome than any horse she had ever dreamed of. He is the leader of all the wild horses who roamed the hills and he welcome her to live with them. But a year later two hunters from her people discover her in the hills where the wild horses lived and they will try to bring the girl back to her parents. The question is whether the girl can be happy back with her people now that she has lived with the wild horses.

Goble's distinctive artwork, which recalls the art of the Plains Indians of the 19th century, is particularly well suited to this simple tale. As was the case in one of his earlier books, "The Gift of the Sacred Dog," which told how the first horses came into the lives of the people, you can tell that Goble likes to draw horses. In "The Girl Who Loves Wild Horses" he has ample opportunity to draw dozens of them, as well as the young girl decked out in her colorful garb, and I particularly liked the plant life he draws this time around. No wonder this book was the winner of the Caldecott Medal.

Beautiful art.
Paul Goble transcends perfection. Any artist, or anyone who loves art, will want to look at this book again and again...

Simon & Schuster recommends the book for ages 5 to 8, but any child approaching or in his or her early teens would be enchanted by the simplicity of the artwork and the way it so powerfully conveys the story the words tell. Even adults will enjoy this poetic picture book.

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses is about a young girl who struggles to find a friend in her tribe but finds herself to be very close with the wild horses that graze near her tribe. One day a thunderstorm comes and scares the wild horses off and she feels lost. The leader of the wild horses comes to her one night and asks if she wants to be one of them and she excitedly answers yes leaving her home and family behind her. Many children can relate to this book if they feel as though they have no one to confide in but there pets or different animals. Kids that are socially impaired would benefit from reading this book along with any child who has an interest in reading a good book.

Wonderful Book!
My daughter and I just love this book. The illustrations are simply beautiful and the story is enchanting. This was one of the first books my daughter read by herself. We have read almost all of his wonderful books. ... Read more

Book Description

Strega Nona -- "Grandma Witch" -- is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results.

In this retelling of an old tale, author-illustrator Tomie dePaola (whose middle names is Anthony) combines humor in the writing and warmth in the paintings as he builds the story to its hilarious climax. ...