Book Description

The fun and easy way to write a children’s book that will impress any publishing house

The children’s book market can be difficult to crack for first-time authors. This friendly guide shows would-be J. K. Rowlings how to maximize their chances of success, offering practical, proven tips on developing a book idea, writing a winning proposal, finding an agent, submitting to the right publisher, and working with an editor. It describes the differences between various types of children’s books and explains exactly what it takes to make the grade with each, including savvy advice on honing voice, descriptions, characters, plot, and pacing.

Lisa Rojany Buccieri (West Lake Village, CA), a former publisher at Golden Books, is the award-winning author or ghostwriter of more than 100 children’s books. Peter Economy (La Jolla, CA) is a veteran For Dummies author. ... Read more

Book Description

In a book that is sure to delight Harry Potter fans and spiritual seekers alike, author and Potter enthusiast Connie Neal dives into the Harry Potter series looking for the Christian Gospel. Does she find it? Yes! In this, her exploration of J.K. Rowling’s created world of magic and mystery, Neal enumerates more than fifty "Potteran" themes that can be seen as glimmers of the Gospel.

With an arsenal of charming allusions and parallels, Neal persuasively demonstrates that Harry Potter need not be rejected as a threat to the Christian faith, as some have claimed.Rather, she finds, the lessons in Harry Potter not only echo many of the stories in the Bible but also reinforce the central messages of Christianity. Written accessibly in short three- to four-page chapters, Neal’s The Gospel According to Harry Potter is both a much-needed stroke of interpretive genius and a fascinating reflection on our time’s most popular literary series.This is a must-read for everyone intrigued by the Harry Potter phenomenon! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Interesting read, not strong for group study
Our Sunday School class tried to use this book as a basis for a weekly class. While the book itself is engaging and interesting, you really have to be a die-hard Harry Potter fan to come back to it week after week. The book does not work well for group study -- it is mainly a series of snippets from the novel combined with a Biblical application of that snippet. Each is short -- 2 to 3 pages -- and we found that the application information was highly repetitive. That said, I enjoyed reading the book myself, and would recommend it especially for anyone who's trying to relate the cultural context of Harry Potter to their religious convictions. The author does an outstanding job of pointing out the good in the books.

The Gosple and Harry Potter
This book is wonderful! It is really helpful.
I started reading the Harry Potter books after the second movie came out and I loved them! The only problem was that all my friends hated them and said they were evil, satanistic, etc. When ever I tried to bring the subject up they would change it immediatly. As a last straw I bought this book and read it. It was truely amazing. It makes so many connections between my two fave books. So one day at school I gave this to my best friend and told her to read it. Well, she didn't at first but I finally persuaded her to. After she did, she told me that she may have been wrong about HP and was sorry for judging it before even reading them. About a week later during lunch she came up to me and told me that she had actually watched the movie! While she's not as big of a fanatic as me, she still enjoys them.

This book is a great way to show your friends that Harry Potter is not at all what the christian critics make it out to be. I highly recommend this book!

Neal Brings Good News to Potter Fans in Intriguing "Gospel"
Evangelical and other devout Christians distrust popular culture and at times see it with outright hostility. This has been true in theater, on radio (Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman's wailing "Why should the devil have all the good music?") at toy stores and bookstands. J.K. Rowling's wildly successful Harry Potter book series is notable here, its themes of supernatural powers, combined with huge sales to pre-teens, inspiring criticism and even misguided protests such as library lawsuits and book burnings.

Recently, however, many conservative Christians have come to respect the Potter books for sophisticated portrayals of good and evil. Connie Neal addresses her Potter interpretation "The Gospel According to Harry Potter" to these Christians plus the few left who remain hostile toward a book series many of them never read.

Ms. Neal traverses through the first four Potter books, summing overlaying themes of each. She selects episodes (standing on the 9 ¾ platform, the shrinking door keys mystery, Ginny Weasley's rescue), character profiles (false faces of Professor Quirrell and Mad-Eye Moody, consistent citing of Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore as a God-like figure) and character quotes. She then relates this at length to a Biblical story or theme, constantly focusing on the panoramic, constant battle between good and evil and subtleties within it. (Neal states on its front cover no one involved with the Potter series proper has authorized this book. Perhaps this is reason Neal provides a teaspoon of Potter followed by two cups of Bible.)

Ms. Neal, perhaps for Christian unity or not wanting to put Christian words into Harry's lightning-scarred head, fails somewhat to directly contradict anti-Potter views or any of the series' darker themes. (In personal asides, she recalls criticism received in radio and TV interviews and dealing with fallout from a satirical story on the Onion Web site relating Potter to Satanism.)

A librarian at a Micigan Christian school and webmaster of one of the larger Harry Potter sites recently said of Rowling,"She is writing extremely moral books that show that evil is real and you have to take a stand against it, even at great cost to yourself." Connie Neal effectively relates that bedrock Biblical truth to Harry's spiritual quest. She also compares friends, enemies, mentors, and wolves dressed as sheep Harry encounters to Jesus' own ministry, while retaining Jesus' divinity and Harry's mortality.

To that end, the "Gospel According to Harry Potter" is useful to homilists and Sunday school teachers wanting to relate today's most popular action-adventure story with the first and truest. This book allows non-Potter readers to effectively discuss the series with those who've read them. It is recommended to Scripture readers intrigued by "the boy who lived", essential for Potter readers intrigued by the One who lives.

A great peice of literary interptation
I love this book! The way Neal ties the Harry Potter books to the Bible is really cool. The book itself is well-writen, and overall it's a great example of literary interptation. I enthusiastically recommend this book to any Harry Potter fan.

A great book for Christians and Harry Potter fans
The second I saw this book I knew I must have it. Being a Christian and a Harry Potter fan, it is difficult to hear all of the negative comments made about the books. Connie Neal makes it easy to defend my attraction to Harry Potter. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent resource book
This is an excellent resource book for those working with young adults. It's worth the price.

...
It's certainly a fabulous resource book for interesting, innovative reading that is well organized and informative,...

A Remarkable Book: Deanna's World Review
Radical Change is the product of insight and intuition about today's young adults and their involvement with literature. It presents a new way of looking at literature and understanding books that differ sharply from traditional expectations. Eliza T. Dresang clearly spent a lot of time and hard work to make this document as informative as possible. One of the main ideas of the book, I believe, is that it is possible to teach about (and learn about) literature without utilizing customs. Not only does Dresang approach many aspects of literature, but she also takes a look at the Internet and technology. As stated in the pre-publication comments, "This book is a comprehensive guide to the finest technology-related literature for youth- for anyone who is involved with the new digital era." ... Read more

Book Description

In Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, J.M. Barrie first created Peter Pan as a baby, living a wild and secret life with birds and fairies in the middle of London.Later Barrie let this remarkable child grow a little older and he became the boy-hero of Neverland, making his first appearance, with Wendy, Captain Hook, and the Lost Boys, in Peter and Wendy.The Peter Pan stories were Barrie's only works for children but, as their persistent popularity shows, their themes of imaginative escape continue to charm even those who long ago left Neverland.This is the first edition to include both texts in one volume and the first to a present an extensively annotated text for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Great Book!
This book is very imaginative and well written. James Barrie tells the history side of Peter Pan that most people do not know about. Each chapter tells a different story about Peter Pan's life in the garden. There are stories about Peter Pan living in the trees with the birds, to stories about how the fairies trick the humans who come to visit Kensington Gardens. This book is both funny and sad at parts, and will make you wonder if you were actually owned by a bird at sometime!

More creative than his later, popular stories of Peter.
If you buy this book, definately get an illistrated edition! The fairy images are gorgeous and worth treasuring. The story itself is beautiful: How Peter fell out of his tram, was taught by the birds to fly and finally returned home to find the window locked to him. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the 1997 release of J.K. Rowling's first novel--HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE--no series of children's books has been more incredibly popular or widely influential.How do we explain the enormous appeal of these stories to children?Should parents welcome this new interest in reading among their kids or worry, along with the critics, that the books encourage either moral complacency or a perverse interest in witchcraft and the occult?

In this original interpretation of the Harry Potter sensation, Edmund M. Kern argues that the attraction of these stories to children comes not only from the fantastical elements embedded in the plots, but also from their underlying moral messages.Children genuinely desire to follow Harry as he confronts a host of challenges in an uncertain world, because of his desire to do the right thing.Harry's coherent yet flexible approach to dealing with evil reflects an updated form of Stoicism, says Kern.He argues that Rowling's great accomplishment in these books is to have combined imaginative fun with moral seriousness.

Kern's comprehensive evaluation of the Harry Potter stories in terms of ethical questions reveals the importance of uncertainty and ambiguity in Rowling's imaginative world and highlightrs her call to meet them with virtues such as constancy, endurance, perseverance, self-discipline, reason, solidarity, empathy, and sacrifice.Chidren comprehend that growing up entails some perplexity and pain, that they cannot entirely avoid problems, and that they can remain constant in circumstances beyond their control.In essence, Harry shows them how to work through their problems, rather than seek ways around them.Despite the fantastical settings and events of Harry's adventures, children are quick to realize that they are just a fictional reflection of the confusing and disturbing circumstances found in the real world.

Kern also shows adults how much they can gain by discussing with children the moral conundrums faced by Harry and other characters.The author outlines the central morals of each book; considers the common critiques of the books; discusses Rowling's skillful blend of history, legend, and myth; and raises important questions for guiding children through Harry's adventures.

This fresh, instructive, and upbeat guide to Harry Potter gives parents a wealth of useful and educational information for discussing the moral implications of this continuously popular series of books with their children. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A brilliant work
This is a wonderful work, well researched and fascinating...

An Excellent Resource
This book is the most carefully studied, in-depth look at Harry Potter that I've found. It not only discusses the books' morality, but relates it to Rowling's use of history, legend and myth. It is a must for Harry Potter fanatics, but if you haven't read them yet and still want to, save this one for last.
I would recommend it to anyone who prefers to read books with substance and without platitude. It's clear, concise style would make it a useful tool for any teacher whose students are reading the Harry Potter books. "The Wisdom of Harry Potter" has a wonderful way of showing how philosophy can be interwoven with literature.
Any parents who've had doubts about their children reading Harry Potter will find this an excellent resource. And I would go so far as to challenge any of those people who want to ban these books from their children's libraries to find fault with the logic of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

BOOKS THAT WILL MAKE BOYS WANT TO READ!

Parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians--we need a tool that guides us to the books that will inspire boys to read and keep them coming back for more. Now Kathleen Odean, a former member of the Caldecott and Newbery Award committees and author of the groundbreaking bestseller Great Books for Girls has compiled and annotated a unique collection of more than six hundred books--picture books, novels, mysteries, biographies, sports books, and more--that will fascinate and educate boys. Here are classic characters such as Frog and Toad, Bilbo Baggins, and Encyclopedia Brown; new favorites such as Bingo Brown, Martin the Warrior, and Harry the Dirty Dog; and real-life inspirations such as the Wright brothers, Jackie Robinson, and Jacques Cousteau.

The boys who discover reading from the books in this invaluable volume will witness a wide range of role models--and embark upon an adventure that will fuel their dreams for the rest of their lives. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Some good suggstions, but not boy-centered
Some good recommendations, but I was hoping for more books that would provide great role models for my son. Instead I found many books that seemed to be aimed at teaching diversity - a worthy goal, but surely not the only goal for our sons. I was also disappointed by the number of books about boys with absent or downright rotten fathers.

It's easy today to find poor male role models - they seem to get media coverage at every turn. Ms Odean is right that boys face special challenges; one is being allowed to feel good about being boys and eventually being men. Our sons deserve better...

Real boys READ!
According to essay writer Bruce Brooks, he believes that society makes it hard for boys who like to read, especially as they get older. His interpretation is that if boys are reading, they are questioned as to why? and coaxed to engage in other things instead of reading. He doesn't see society treating girls this way when they are reading.

He also states that boys see athletic excellence as widely admired while the love of reading is not. The message to boys is that "real boys don't read."

The boys' manhood!
Along with her companion book "Great Books for Girls", author Kathleen Odean has compiled an impressive list of suggested reading for boys ages 2 to 14. Odean also feels that as young boys get older they lose their ability to express a wide range of emotions.

Take Heed Here
She says that "just the way girls are expanding into realms reserved for males, boys need to become competent in long undervalued realms such as creating a warm home, nurturing children and taking responsibility for relationships." Now, I like that statement!

I like the quote she uses from popular writer, educator and author Zinssner. "No other writing lodges itself so deeply in our memory echoing there for the rest of our lives as the books we met in our childhood." . ...MzRizz.

Outstanding Guide
As a parent and school librarian, I consider this a great guide for boys (and girls). It has the books my son knew and loves--Hatchet, Redwall, Frindle, Matt Christopher--but, best of all, ones he didn't know--Weasel, Dog Friday, Dealing with Dragons, Confess-o-rama. I have to disagree with the review below. You can tell the author of Great Books for Boys is a librarian; her age ranges are right on target, and she gives useful, fairly long descriptions. There's nothing else like this available, so I'm glad this is so good, although I hope she'll bring out a new edition soon like Great Books for Girls has.

Disappointing
Odean doesn't seem to be abreast of the literature for boys -- many of my sons' favorites (and school librarian's picks) were notably absent. In addition, Odean seems to consistently mis-evaluate the reading level of the books she covers. In all, a disappointing resource for parents. I'd like to see a more consistent, researched effort.

Misleading
First, I found the book to be valuable and it lists books that boys would benefit from by reading.

But the title "Great Books for Boys" is misleading. Even the introduction, which states that the criteria for selecting books was the books cover "topics that particularly appeal to boys" or they "capture the complexity of boys' lives," is misleading

I was expecting a book analogous to the author's "Great Books for Girls" which included a good number of books where the main character was a female role model. Unfortunately the present book includes relatively few books where the main character was a male role model.

Instead it lists books that would be appropriate for teaching both boys and girls about diversity. (There is also a heavy dose of books covering boys' feeling.) A more accurate title would be "Great Books for Boys and Girls to Learn about Diversity in our World." ... Read more

Book Description

This anthology provides—in a convenient, readable and economical format—the most celebrated and enduring children's literary works in the English-speaking tradition. Its unique approach presents novels, stories, fairy tales, nursery rhymes and poems in their entirety.The authors' objective is to make readily available to all students the full texts of genuine literary milestones—works that demonstrate the dignity, vitality, and durability of children's classics. These include Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, London's The Call of the Wild, and more in a gender-balanced, well-edited, well-introduced assortment of the most profoundly imaginative, highly significant, and genuinely classic works in children's literature.For those interested in literature, children's literature, the history of children's literature, or library science. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Classics of Children's Lilterature
This is an amazing collection of stories. All the classics are in one book. Well put together. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Children's Literature for Adults
This book offers indepth information about a variety of topics concerning childrens literature. In the first chapters it focuses on the development of children and their perceptions of literature at different ages. It then informs the reader about the historical development of children's literature. The biggest part of the book, however, is about the different genres of literature available. What I liked about this book was that it offered many examples and reading samples. It also included several essays from children book authors who wrote about their profession. The teaching aids and the recommended reading at the end of each chapter proved helpful. However, some areas of this book, such as this one, are only helpful to people interested in child education as a profession. ... Read more

Book Description

Get Your Child Hooked on Books!
Reading can become a favorite part of any child's life—even children who think they hate to read. And, with the help of this unique book, it's easy to put your reluctant reader on the path to becoming an enthusiastic reader. Inside are 125 books that are certain to ignite your child's interest in reading. You'll find a variety of titles with real kid appeal—the best of the best for children of all reading levels. These books will captivate your child's interest and create a passion you never thought possible. So, for the love of reading and your child, come inside, explore all 125 books, and discover:
·Complete descriptions and synopses
·The appeal of each book to reluctant readers
·Suggested audience and reading levels
·Recommended readings if your child enjoys a particular book
·And much, much more!
By developing a love of reading and an emotional connection to books and ideas, your child can develop and maintain a high level of interest in reading—and get a head start on life.
"An excellent resource for parents and educators interested in promoting literacy among children, with practical tips on how to make reading a fun, educational, and rewarding experience for children of all ages." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I Don't Hate to Read, But this Book Rocks!!
When I first saw this book, I just knew I would love it. I am a HUGE reader, and there's no way I hate to read. But I liked this book anyway. You will find 125 books in here, which will appeal to reluctant readers. I've read several of the books featured in this book, and I've thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. There are several parts to the book: books for 5-8 years old, books for 7-10 years old, books for 8-12 years old, and books for ages 10 and up. Each book featured has a picture, an exerpt from the book, a summery of the book, reasons why the book would appeal to reluctant readers, who might like it, types of illustrations, and so much more. There are even more reccomended books in the back. This is truly a fantastic resource, whethere you hate to read or not. ... Read more

Book Description

The Harry Potter books have become ubiquitous early texts for children, and are also a popular choice for many adults. Potter-mania has expanded to become a significant cultural phenomenon complete with a feature film and a wide range of paraphernalia. However, there has been little critical attention devoted to these books and the cultural phenomenon surrounding them. Containing powerful, thought-provoking literary themes as well as portrayals of social and cultural normalcy, the Potter books cumulatively serve as a powerful form of social text and deserve serious critical attention. Elizabeth Heilman brings together scholars from various disciplines to provide literary, cultural, sociological, and psychological examinations of the Harry Potter books as both cultural product and social text.
Covering many facets of the Harry Potter series and Potter-mania, this collection begins with a cultural analysis of marketing hype and product spin-offs. Literary and interpretive perspectives consider Harry as a romantic hero and review the books for their capacity to contain elements of every genre. Critical and sociological theorists explore how the Potter books present gender, race, class, school, family and citizenship. By providing numerous perspectives on the Harry Potter series, the contributors provide teachers, administrators, critical theorists and those interested in cultural studies with a variety of ways to read these popular texts. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

But it's just a book for children...
That was often the comment I received when I wrote my senior thesis last fall about the Harry Potter series. Specifically, I wrote a feminist criticism of the series exploring the ways in which Hermione resists and reaffirms gender stereotypes--"Miss Smarty Pants," "The Damsel in Distress," etc. Although I am a huge fan of this series (even my dog's name is Muggle), I couldn't believe that I was the only adult concerned about issues of gender, class, and so forth in the books. So imagine my delight upon finding this book...until I realized it wouldn't be published until January 2003, and I was presenting my thesis on December 13, 2002. Not only is this a well-presented and organized collection of essays from a variety of perspectives, but it is also edited by the outstanding & very generous Dr. Heilman. I wrote personally to her about my paper (and dilemma), and she provided to me the working & yet unpublished copy of her essay dealing with gender issues. Luckily, the book was released ahead of schedule so I was able to cite from her published version. My own experience with this book aside, I highly recommend it to Harry fans who would enjoy thoughtful academic discourse on the series.

Good resource for academics
I joined the Harry Potter phenomenon late in the game. Book four had already been in circulation for over two years and at 25, I considered myself well above the normal reader age. However, once I picked up the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I was (no pun intended), spellbound. I spent the rest of that long summer weekend reading the remaining books. Since then, I have read each book in the series at least 20 times apiece. Somewhere in the middle of all the reading, I began to jot down notes, questions and observations I made- little items that I wanted to ponder afterwards. Questions such as: Why did Professor Dumbledore so prize the individual merits of courage and "sheer nerve"? Did Hermione and other female students ever experience gender discrimination at Hogwarts? What defined the social structure of the wizard world (surely one exists as is evident by the influence of the well-to-do Malfoy family)? What is it about the Harry Potter books that have such universal appeal? And most importantly, what lessons can be learned?

Shortly after Pottermania began, several books appeared on the market dedicated to analyzing the phenomenon. Some addressed broad themes, while others disseminated every detail of the book, trying to decipher each and every meaning of every word of J.K. Rowling's works. Among these is Harry Potter's World: Multidisciplinary Critical Perspectives, a collection of essays written by professors and graduate students.

Harry Potter's World: Multidisciplinary Critical Perspectives is by far the most comprehensive book of this genre. Edited by Michigan State University professor Elizabeth Heilman, the book is comprised of numerous essays separated into four perspectives: Cultural Studies Perspectives, Reader Response and Interpretive Perspectives, Literary Perspectives: The Hero, Myth and Genre and Critical and Sociological Perspectives.

As a graduate student pursuing a MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction, this book has been a wonderful guide for me and enriched my understanding of the many facets of curriculum study. Not only does it provide unique interpretations of the series, but it also stimulates critical reflection and offers deep analyses of the boy wizard the world has grown to love.

While it is appropriate for college and graduate-level classes, anyone interested in exploring the cultural phenomenon of Harry Potter should read and will benefit from this. You will never look at Harry Potter the same way again.

A must-read
"This book is a must-read for everyone interested not only in 'Harry Potter' the phenomenon, but culture as the pedagogical force par excellence of the new millennium."
Henry Giroux.

"Harry Potter's World is a fascinating attempt not only to take on the kaleidoscopic intellectual ramifications of the Harry Potter books, but to make them accessible to a wide audience." Peter Hunt, Editor, Routledge International Companion Encyclopedia of Children's Literature

"These analyses are well grounded, articulate, and conceptually wide-ranging. This book gives all of us Seekers a chance to catch Snitches of insight into our own world as well as Harry Potter's."
Betsy Hearne, author of Choosing Books for Children: A Commonsense Guide

"Reading Harry Potter's World is like having a triple-shot latté-a pleasant eye-opener. There is imagination here, intellectual engagement, surprising insights, and fresh angles of regard. All of it provides an antidote to the iconic Harry, the authoritative Harry, the stable, properly policed, and clichéd Harry." Bill Ayers, Distinguished Professor of Education, University of Illinois at Chicago ... Read more

Book Description

Quite simply, Creative Storytelling is one of the best and most comprehensive books on telling stories.This newly expanded, beautifully illustrated, step-by-step guide tells readers about sources and types of stories; how to gear stories toward children of different ages and interests; techniques for remembering and adapting stories; and how to use personal experiences to create new stories.One chapter takes a story through the complete storytelling process, with specific tips on tone, pacing, and atmosphere.A special section examines how storytelling leads to a wide range of other creative activities.This edition also features a new section on storytelling and environmentalism, with information on creating stories that foster environmental awareness. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful book for those who work with children.
Children NEED to hear stories, and not just from books. They especially need their parents to spend time with them, and storytelling is a wonderful way to do this.

This book is full of good information, including some of the history of storytelling. Among others, there is a chapter on learning stories to tell, and another to help with creating your own stories. There is also an 'afterward' that addresses storytelling in relation to environmentalism.

Creative Storytelling is a book intended for parents, teachers, day care providers and librarians. It would also be a worthy read for camp counselors. I would recommend it to people in any of these positions.

Excellent source book for anyone interested in storytelling
As a resource for families, teachers, and librarians, this book is readable and reliable. The stories and suggestions about how to tell stories are especially useful. I have used the book for over 8 years in my work as a storyteller in the classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

A perennially popular collection of short stories, poems, legends, and myths from great works of literature that are especially appropriate for parents to read aloud to their children aged five to twelve. Line drawings. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awesome book! Highly recommended!
This is a keeper! Your kids will love to have you read aloud from this book. It is a compilation of stories arranged according to age-appropriate listening levels. All are well-known stories from well-known authors. Many stories, particularly the longer ones, are only excerpts; the editor has deliberately done this to whet the listeners' appetite.

If you like this book, you will like its companions: More Classics to Read Aloud to Your Children, and Classic Myths to Read Aloud.

Wonderful book for grandparents to give to grandchildren!
My father gave this book to me to read aloud while we traveled in the car. I have 4 children -with different attention spans -from teenagers to a Kindergartener- they all listened!! I loved that at the beginning of the books it would give us words thay might not understand and definitions. I loved the idea of knowing how long it would take to read a particular story. Classics that I have not read in years and classics that I have never read were included. If you are going on a car trip this book is a must! Great idea for grandparents to give or have around to read when grandchildren come to visit. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on exhaustive research, interviews with those who know her and a penetrating evaluation of the novels, this is the first full-length biography of one of the most important writers in the world today.She is the creator of probably the best-known and certainly the best-loved character in contemporary fiction; she is also the author of her own escape from an existance on the brink of poverty, with no job and few prospects.On the one hand there is J.K. Rowling, who wrote and continues to write, the Harry Potter novels, a literary phenomenon of both the last millenium, and the new one.On the other, there is Joanne Rowling, a quiet, dreamy, rather shy woman whose brilliance in translating her dreams into prose transformed her own life.The author examines the experiences that not only helped to shape J.K. Rowling, but that led in the end, as in all the best fairy tales, to fame and fortune. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Full of interesting facts....
I always wondered why someone would use a name that started with initials. This and other interesting facts are explained in this book by Sean Smith about the life of JK Rowling. If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series this book would be an enjoyable read.

Very good for book reports!
I read this book for a book report, and found that it was extremely interesting. While a bit dry at times, it got very interesting around the time at which she was getting the book published. I highly recommend this book for Harry Potter fans, and for teenagers needing to read biographies for book reports.

A must for Harry fans!
I found this book very entertaining. JK Rowling's life has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride but the downs like her messy marriage and her mother's long term illness made me want to turn the pages all the more to see how it all turned out for her. It's an unpretentious read packed with facts about the author that I had no idea about. You can't always believe what you read in the newspapers! It's fun joining the author in trying to find Harry Potter references in her own life story and this book doesn't take itself too seriously. JK Rowling is a good writer but her own story is a great one. Thoroughly recommended.

An exercise in conjecture
If I could give this half a star, I would. The only redeeming value of this book are the statistical citations (i.e. where she was born, where she went to school, etc.). The author is clearly trying to cash in on J.K. Rowling's success by writing a piece of drivel that is reminiscent of the desperation in final essay time in college; lots of padding little substance.

Smith makes giant leaps of logic in trying to detect inspiration from Rowling's life in her novels. These leaps are transparent and many of them seem more unlikely than possible.

I truly hope that either J.K. Rowling writes and autobiography or that she allows an accomplished biographer of some quality to interview her and access some of her old letters and so on. That would be worth a read. This was a waste of my time. Don't waste your money.

Less random nonsense, more biographical info please
...

High on padding, low on truly insightful detail, this is a sad attempt at a biography by a man who seems to have only grasped the superficial aspects of the Harry Potter books anyway.

I look forward to the autobiography that I'm sure Joanne Rowling will be encouraged to write sometime in 2006 when the whole series is finally out. I do not recommend this book as being a particularly good substitute, but it's the best we'll get till then, I suppose. ... Read more

Book Description

Combining in a single volume a wealth of information that until now was scattered in different sources, this treasury highlights the books that have been awarded the most prestigious annual prize for children's literature in the United States-the Newbery. Arranged chronologically from 1922 to 1996, entries expand on the brief plot outlines usually given, update data to the present, suggest how the books can be introduced to young readers, and list an author's other titles. Detailed plot summaries describe the themes and subjects of the books, cite incidents for booktalking, recommend related titles, and provide background information about the books and authors that includes sources for additional information. Honor books (the runner-ups) are described in brief plot summaries (some reprinted from R.R. Bowker's Juniorplots series). A history of the award and a discussion of the award process are also included in this invaluable work. ... Read more

Book Description

In this sumptuous volume, eight of Kipling's playful, inventive tales are brought to life by eight of today's most celebrated illustrators, from Peter Sis's elegantly graphic cetacean in "How the Whale Got His Throat" to Satoshi Kitamura's amusingly expressive characters in "The Cat That Walked by Himself."This collection of pourquoi tales is sure to please and delight curious children everywhere who wonder, "Why won't cats come when they're called?" and "How did the rhinoceros get his wrinkly skin?"First told aloud to his owndaughter, Rudyard Kipling's inspired answers to these and other burning questions draw from the fables he heard as a child in India and the folktales he gathered from around the world.

"How the Whale Got His Throat"

Illustrated by Peter Sis

"How the Camel Got His Hump"

Illustrated by Clare Melinsky

"How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin"

Illustrated by Christopher Corr

"How the Leopard Got His Spots"

Illustrated by Cathy Felstead

"The Elephant's Child"

Illustrated by Louise Voce

"The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo"

Illustrated by Jeff Fisher

"The Beginning of the Armadillos"

Illustrated by Jane Ray

"The Cat That Walked by Himself"

Illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura ... Read more

Book Description

While there is much discussion about multicultural children's literature, there are conflicting views on what it is and how it should be taught. This book examines many of the issues presently surrounding the place of multicultural children's literature in the curriculum. The first part of the book addresses the conceptualization of multicultural literature for children; the second, the creation and critique of multicultural writings; and the third, the use of this literature in education. Included are discussions of such topics as who can write multicultural literature, how multicultural literature should be selected for use with children, and what function it should serve in a student's overall education. ... Read more

Book Description

Bring science to life through 24 popular children's books at the primary and intermediate levels! Cross-curricular activities for each book provide theme-based units. Correlation charts are included. Grades 4-6 ... Read more