Reviews (4)

Book list and summaries of many book topics
This book was written as a listing of books for children, of many topics. I want to make it clear that this is not just a book list of children's fiction. There are different books on the market that list only works of fiction. This book includes lists of books for these subjects: animals, art and architecture, bible/spiritual teaching, biography, crafts, hobbies, domestic arts, dance, drama, geography, history, horticulture, humor, language, literature (in several reading levels), poetry, rhymes, math, misc. music, outdoor activities other than group games, physical education, reference, science, technology, and special days and seasons.

This book was written by a homeschooler who is using the Charlotte Mason method. The Charlotte Mason method uses real books also known as living books, (not textbooks or boxed curriculum). This method allows the individual to use many different books written by people who are passionate about the subject to learn about a particular topic or unit of study. Living books are great books, books that capture the attention or imagination of the reader. Living books are not boring or uninspiring. I appreciate having this reference guide available to me, a pre-sorted list written by a user of the Charlotte Mason method, someone on the lookout for quality and inspiring books. It helps sift out the exceptional books from the unremarkable.

OK so this was published in 1987 and any book list that is written poses the risk of immediately containing out of print books. The fact that this book is 14 years old (at the time I of this writing) adds to the possibility that some of these books will be out of print. I see that other reviewers don't like book lists that contain out of print books. I appreciate a listing that contains out of print books, because besides shopping for new books, I also shop at local used book stores, online used book store and online out of print book stores. It is helpful to know about a great book and be on the lookout for that at a used bookstore (or by simply doing an online search for that title). As a homeschooling parent, our family library is growing and I do appreciate the ability to buy used books for sometimes as low as one or two dollars, and end up with better quality book than some currently-in-print, more expensive, new book. Let's not also forget that our public libraries are full of out-of-print books, and that library used book sales are another source of finding great books that are out-of-print. In defense of the author, to further complicate matters books come in and out of print...one never knows when a previously out of print book will go back into circulation.

If you are looking for a book of children's fiction lists that deletes out of print books, see "The Read Aloud Handbook"-with each revision the author deletes the out of print books and only includes the in print books (at the time of the printing, of course).

I appreciate the detailed index, which allows easy scanning by title or author, something that not all book list-books include.

I found this interesting reading and went right through it, cover to cover, with pencil in hand to circle those that I thought our family would like to read. I also found that this book inspired me to think about introducing different topics to my children that I would not have thought about, such as studying the life of colonial American children or learning about what pioneer Americans ate for food.

A great reference book at a low cost!

out of date
Yes, I often see homeschoolers and private schoolers come to my library with lists of "wholesome books" that are also "out of print books". I don't mean any offense to those who home school nor to those who go to private schools. I appaud them for trying to give their children wholesome literature. The problem is that often people equate "old" with "wholesome". True, a book published 40 to 50 years ago (and older) will not have the language and situations that you find in newer titles. But "old" does not always mean "good".

Dated material a problem
I ordered this book to help me select books for our church library. When I first received this book, I was thrilled. The categories are helpful and the descriptions are accurate. I could hardly wait to get some of these gems on the shelves. Therein lies the problem. Many,many of these books are out of print and no longer available. Of the twelve biographies I tried to order, ten of them were out of print. Some of them were available used, but most were not. It was most disappointing!

A wonderful source to the best in wholesome children's books
This book is arranged by subject and reading level. There is a good variety of choices, and the books listed have all been evaluated to be wholesome and reinforce proper priorities, human relationships and good attitudes. There are wonderful classic books and newer books also. My child has enjoyed every title we have read from the booklists. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mary Leonhardt, longtime English teacher, reading specialist, andauthor of the terrific Parents WhoLoveReading, Kids Who Don't has put her almost 30 years of teachingexperience toward providing 99 specific tips to turn your child into an avid reader. From number 1 ("Resolve that a love of reading will be your most important educational goal for your children") to number 99 ("Keep a perspective. Top reading skills should be your most important educational goal for your children but not your most important life goal for your child"), Leonhardt's suggestions are wide-ranging, specific, and highly effective. Leonhardt is an advocate of providing kids with reading material they like (go for the comic books and leave the classics for later). Whether your children are early readers or teenagers, 99 Ways to Get Kids to Love Reading will help you inspire and support your child's lifelong reading habit. --Ericka Lutz ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Truly a public service! For more detail read Parents
I'm a tiny disappointed, tho. It's mostly the same info as Parents Who Love Reading (great!) in a faster format. I bought 99 to get an update. For example, where can you still get comic books? I can't find any. What has replaced them? I loved Richie Rich, et.al., too but the format has disappeared except as collectables. Help! My kid needs something comparable for EASY, FUN, AVID, ADDICTIVE recreational reading! ... Read more

Book Description

This revised edition of an award-winning resource celebrates the lives and works of 35 Latina and Latino authors who write for today's young readers. Expanded to include 12 additional authors, updated information on the original 23 authors profiled, and 135 new titles, this comprehensive reference tool helps teachers, librarians, and parents stay current on one of the most dynamic areas of contemporary literature. ... Read more

Book Description

A sumptuous new edition of the great American novel.

"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn," Ernest Hemingway once declared. First published in 1885, the book has delighted millions of readers, while simultaneously riling contemporary sensibilities, and is still banned in many schools and libraries. Now, Michael Patrick Hearn, author of the best-selling The Annotated Wizard of Oz, thoroughly reexamines the 116-year heritage of that archetypal American boy, Huck Finn, and follows his adventures along every bend of the mighty Mississippi River. Hearn's copious annotations draw on primary sources including the original manuscript, Twain's revisions and letters, and period accounts. Reproducing the original E. W. Kemble illustrations from the first edition, as well as countless archival photographs and drawings, some of them previously unpublished, The Annotated Huckleberry Finn is a book no family's library can do without; it may well prove to be the classic edition of the great American novel. 274 illustrations, two-color throughout. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Wonderful insight into an American classic
I purchased this book for my son, a high school student who was assigned HUCKLEBERRY FINN in an American Studies class, and promptly fell in love with it. The commentary is delightful, and the many illustrations (many taken from the original edition,) photographs, prints, cartoons, and maps give a real sense of time and place. Homey details that might not be familiar to the modern reader are explained in some detail, as are customs of the time. The author includes material from Twain's notes and details about his life, always in a manner that illuminates the passage.

HUCKLEBERRY FINN frequently turns up on lists of banned books, and it's interesting to read of the controversy that dogged this story from the beginning. The particulars of readers' outraged sensibilities might change, but the response this book has always engendered suggests the timelessness of Twain's targets: ignorance, cruelty, hypocracy, racism. The story is a clear-eyed yet subversive look at a society in transition, and a relentless skewering of treasured myths concerning childhood. These themes remain as troubling today as they were in the 1840s, the supposed setting of the novel.

This book is an excellent resource for students and teachers, as well as for those of us who love Mark Twain's stories. The book itself is beautiful, with high quality paper and binding. A worthy addition to every library!

Add this one to Your Library
Mark Twain at his best...great pictures and annotation...that are first rate. Due to time restraints, I have only skimmed the book. What I have read is great. It is a Norton book...always-great editions. If weight means anything, then this is a heavy-duty book. I look forward to reading the entire book after graduation in the spring. In addition, it even looks good on the shelf....

"When I couldn't stand it no longer, I lit out."
The greatest American novel, still. The country it sees is still in front of our eyes. The Americans it shows, we still are, though we live nearer to highways now than rivers. Twain's tale can be read both intellectually (yuck) as symbolic of the American quest for masterlessness (see Studies in Classic American Literature by D.H. Lawrence) and as a kid-on-a-raft-let's-see-what-happens story. Art and fun. Not an easy achievement to tie those two rascals together with one rope. Master of structure and flinger of fun though he be, the most exciting reason to read Twain is the language. The book is a hundred and sixteen years old, the writing ain't --"Steamboat captains is always rich, and get sixty dollars a month, and they don't care a cent what a thing costs, you know, long as they want it. Stick a candle in your pocket; I can't rest, Jim, till we give her a rummaging. Do you reckon Tom Sawyer would ever go by this thing? Not for pie, he wouldn't. He'd call it an adventure-that's what he'd call it; and he'd land on that wreck if it was his last act. And wouldn't he throw style into it?" --One caveat: Be careful the illustrations don't mess up the pictures the author can put in your head with his sentences.

Indispensable
This is an American literature teacher's dreambook. Exhaustively researched. Amazing. Thumbs up, way up. Look high and look long, you will not find more information about Twain's novel anywhere. Extremely valuable; the book became an instant cornerstone to my teaching of the novel. You will wonder how you got along without it.

THE Edition of the Great American Novel
Bravo! Michael Patrick Hearn has done it again! He has done the same great honor to HUCKLEBERRY FINN as he did last year to THE WIZARD OF OZ. Here is an exquisite, sumptuous edition of the Great American Novel supplemented with a lengthy and informative introduction and countless notes on all the autobiographical, literary, and historical allusions in the story. This commentary has greatly enlightened my reading of the novel and is a treasure trove of Southwestern and Twainian lore. Is there anything about Mark Twain that Hearn has not read? He even quotes from many previously unpublished sources. He meticulously traces the book's long and often controversial history from from being "the veriest trash" to the cornerstone of American literature. I had no idea so much mud has been thrown at poor Huck Finn! All of the original E. W. Kemble illustrations from the first edition are included as well as several drawn later for other purposes and numerous rare contemporary prints, photographs, maps, and other pictures. Hearn takes into consideration the various revisions Twain made in the text over the years and reprints the recently discovered suppressed "Jim and the Dead Man" episode. And Hearn is not afraid to answer the charge of racism head on. The book will be a great help in the classroom and to anyone else interested in American literature. A superb job all around. I look forward to when my grandchildren are old enough so I can share it with them. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THE Pinocchio Study Has Arrived!
Finally - a comprehensive analysis and history of one of the most important children's books! If you think you know Pinocchio, think again. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is THE exhaustive study of the great literary puppet. From Carlo Collodi's (pen name for Carlo Lorenzini) original late 19th century tale to its many 20th and 21st century spin-offs, from the original's illustrations to its inspired copies, to Disney's version and beyond, Pinocchio Goes Postmodern enlightens with its expansive chronicling of the fabled Pinocchio story in its myriad manifestations.

Wunderlich and Morrissey are, in my estimation, the world's preeminent Pinocchio scholars. (Hollywood and Global Cinema take note: If you are going to tackle a celluloid rendition of this tale - animated or otherwise - you need this team aboard as consultants.) The former is a professor of sociology at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, the latter, a professor of English at SUNY Plattsburgh. Wunderlich had already written a Pinocchio Bibliography before tackling this endeavor. Morrissey has written at least one Pinocchio-inspired play. Both have written many articles and given many talks on the subject for over twenty years. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern benefits from these scholars, not only because of their seemingly exhaustive knowledge about Collodi, Pinocchio and their literary children but because they are able to approach the material from both sociological and literary vantage points.

The text provides an overview of creator Collodi's life and work prior to Pinocchio, as well as a publication history of the original. Later chapters expand on the publication history of Pinocchio and trace the manner in which Collodi's story has been re-told, appropriated, outright stolen, bastardized, rescued and recovered by a plethora of storytellers. The best of these amalgamations capture the true spirit of the original tale and continue to make it both a learning experience in the context of amusing storytelling. The best of the Pinocchio spin-offs also continue to focus on the growth of the "I-ness" (to borrow Robert Coover's terminology from his adult sequel, Pinocchio In Venice) within the principal character. In spite of its detractors and countless rip-off artists, Collodi's original Pinocchio tale is a beautiful children's bildungsroman that does not shirk from strong lessons. The novel emphasizes that the so-called "real world" can be a cruel and dangerous place. You can get lost in it but it. And it can change you for better or worse. How we cope in the midst of harsh lessons and times of peril often speaks loads about us because these are often the moments that transform us into stronger human beings and give us a better understanding of ourselves. Indeed, Collodi's Pinocchio remains, in its own way, one of the most important of existentialist tracts.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Wunderlich and Morrissey's text, however, is not its incredible thoroughness regarding its core subject matter, but its attempt to rescue the original story from obscurity and reacquaint contemporary readers to the power and messages imbedded there. Disney probably did the most damage in terms of turning Pinocchio into a cutesy children's tale. (Moreover, the sociological and moral lessons imbedded in the Disney version are skewed. For example, nobody is economically destitute in the Disney (World) view and if you disobey your parents and guardian angels - even if they look like crickets - you're going to wind up a demon-like, gambling, heathen. Period.) Although Collodi probably kept adults in mind as he was penning his book, his text is unquestionably first and foremost a children's story. The author made sure his story remained focused on depicting sincere versions of the tough trails - and trials - children must travel on their journey to adulthood. Why there have been countless watered down retellings of the story may best be summed up by an overview of our postmodern culture: our obsession with keeping things light and easy, our manic infatuation with consumerism, our attempt to turn life into one long visit to Pleasure Island. Most damaging of all, perhaps, is a turning away from the importance of cultivating an intimate knowledge and ongoing study of the self. Self-study is not narcissistic behavior, but necessary in order to gain authenticity in a largely inauthentic and superficial world.

Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is not only a fun book to read, it's a tremendous reference tool that belongs in the library (public and private) of anyone concerned with the history of great children's literature and great texts in general. Wunderlich and Morrissey present their material in an accessible, friendly style. Their knowledge of and enthusiasm for their subject matter will make you want to keep turning the pages as quickly as you can read them - and then race to go re-read Collodi's original Pinocchio and re-discovery its joys and wonders.

The Authentic Pinocchio and The Imposter
Because of the dumbing down of the Pinocchio story in the U.S. since the late 1930's, augmented by the continuing dominance of the Disney version, modern American readers, child and adult, are missing out on an important reading experience popularly enjoyed during the first four decades of the 20th century. The Wunderlich/Morrisey book describes and analyzes the former richness and ubiquity, and the subsequent adulteration, of the original Pinocchio version in America.

This book belongs in the library of every academic institution where literary and cultural studies are important. It should also be accessible in public libraries to enable parents and teachers to discover, or rediscover, a rollicking and many-layered story to share with children. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is a compilation of the best critical essays on this enduring classic. Selections focus on the many perspectives from which "Anne of Green Gables "is viewed. Is it children's literature, or does it fit a different area of literary scholarship? Each of the articles breaks new ground in the literary criticism of Montgomery's book. Also included is a comprehensive bibliographic guide to the research and criticism of Anne, from the earliest reviews to the most recent essays. Contributors: Temma R. Berg, Susan Drain, Carol Gay, Nancy Huse, Susan Jackson, Eve Kornfeld, T.D. MacLulich, Perry Nodelman, Mavis Reimer, Catherine Ross, Mary Rubio, Marilyn Solt, Gillian Thomas, Janet Weiss-Townsend, and Muriel Whitaker. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent guide for educators,parents& librarians.
Before reading this book the benign racist occlusions present in childhood favorites was just not a concern.Afterward, it was apparent that the opinions expressed in supposed innocent children's books lead towards prejudicial attitudes in the traditions these books perpetuate. ie.Babar,the elephant(colonialism; Afican elephant civilized in the custodial care of the French caregiver in the wake of the murder of his mother by the "hunter" in which he in turn civilizes his jungle kingdom and has a rival that is bestial and favors Egyptian (read;Arab,Coptic)culture. This book identifies prevaling opinions and attitudes about Afro/African Culture through the eyes of traditional opinions of non-Blacks which lead to a disrespect of contributions made by non-Whites unintentionally by well meaning people of all groups. ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone knows how important it is to read with children.But how can you continue your child's learning experience and enjoyment of a story once youclose the book?

In her engaging new book, Peggy Kaye shows parents and teachers how to play learning games based onclassic children's books. Games with Books features 14 picture books, from Harold and the Purple Crayon to Bluesberries for Sal and 14chapter books, from Winnie the Pooh to Charlotte's Web. For each book, Kaye provides a summary and then offers three to four games that will keep kids entertained while they are practicing valuable reading, writing and math skills. The games require few materials and can easily be played both in home and at school. They cover a wide skill and age range.In addition to her creative and fun approach to learning, Kaye offers a wonderfulbonus in her new book: a selective list of great children's books that no reader -- young or old -- will want to miss.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

A unique way to expand a child's imagination!
Most of the time when I read my daughter a book, we end up discussing little things relating to what's happening in the book. It could be something that she was reminded of, or something I want to share with her at that time. Books are not only for reading...they're for helping expand minds and imagination. There is no end to what a book can accomplish for its reader.

In the book, "Games with Books," the author takes 28 wonderful children's books and shows parents how to do more with those books than just reading the stories. Instead of just listening, children can now become involved in what they're reading. Playing games and doing projects helps grow a child's imagination, and allows them to do anything or be anyone they choose.

MyParenTime.com highly recommends the book, "Games with Books" - the author gives so many wonderful ideas that parents will find themselves creating games to play with other books they read with their children. There is no limit to a child's or a parents' creativity. This special book is sure to lead to some wonderfully creative ideas, and a lot of fun family times!

A Gift
This book is a series of games for parents (aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and other interested parties) to teach children the myriad skills necessary to read, write, and imagine. Each game is based on a classic of children's fiction. And for each game, the author, Peggy Kaye, tells the story of playing the game with one of her students. One of the great charms of this book is that it is so full of vivid characters. First, there are all the characters from the Pantheon of children's fiction--Stuart Little, Curious George, Pippi Longstocking--who fairly leap from the page in Peggy Kaye's shrewd and engaging recounting of each of these 28 classic tales. Peggy Kaye's students--Molly, Mathias, Sara, to name but a few--also come alive page after page with their individual enthusiams, frustrations, trepidations, and accomplishments. Finally, there's Peggy Kaye herself. It's no mystery why her student Bonnie wanted to make Friendship Necklaces with her. She comes through as charmed, empathic, and committed, with a flair for acting. By the end of the book, you'll understand why Peggy Kaye keeps a box of Teaching Treasures and why it's full.
As a book-lover, I've never wanted to read children's books so much as I do now after reading her descriptions of AND TO THINK I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET, THE SOMETHING, THE BORROWERS, of Kaye's best beloved Stuart Little, of tall-tale-telling Wanda Petronski, of the Clocks making off with furnishings for their hodge-podge house; the grinning trees, the smiling flowers, the chuckling cars in the world of Katy-No-Pocket. As a new father, I can't wait to share these stories and play these games with my daughter. This books is a gift--to book lovers, to children who want to learn, and to the adults who want to help them do it. Get this book for yourself, get it for your kids, get it for their friends, and get it for your friends, too.

Scrumptious Ideas to Celebrate Children and Books They Love
In her introduction, Peggy Kaye indicates that games played with books should be "carefully chosen." One doesn't want to debase the wonder of a classic book with sleazy peripherals that distract a child's appreciation of the book.

Kaye's books are carefully chosen. So are her activities. They help children acquire and strengthen necessary skills, and they do it in a way that is fun for both the child and the parent. A gentle, respectful spirit pervades this book. There's respect for children, respect for literature, and respect for the time parents spend with their children. And besides this, it builds skills!

This is a wonderful wonderful book. Kaye says, "Pleasure is the guiding principle here." She delivers on her principles. Pleasure abounds. ... Read more

Book Description

The tale of Bluebeard's Wife--the story of a young woman who discovers that her mysterious blue-bearded husband has murdered his former spouses--no longer squares with what most parents consider good bedtime reading for their children. But the story has remained alive for adults, allowing it to lead a rich subterranean existence in novels ranging from Jane Eyre to Lolita and in films as diverse as Hitchcock's Notorious and Jane Campion's The Piano.

In this fascinating work, Maria Tatar analyzes the many forms the tale of Bluebeard's Wife has taken over time, particularly in Anglo-European popular culture. It documents the fortunes of Bluebeard, his wife, and their marriage in folklore, fiction, film, and opera, showing how others took the Bluebeard theme and revived it with their own signature twists.

In some tales the wife is a deceiver; in others she is a clever investigator. Earlier ages denounced Bluebeard's wife for her "reckless curiosity" and for her "uncontrolled appetite"; our own times have turned her into something of a heroine, a woman who rescues herself--and often her marriage--through her detective work and psychological finesse. And as for Bluebeard? Once considered a one-dimensional brute, he has found renewed cultural energy both as a master criminal who kills in order to create a higher moral order and as an artist figure who must shield himself against intimacy to foster his creative powers. A brilliant account of how one classic fairy tale has been continually reincarnated, Secrets beyond the Door will appeal to both literary scholars and general readers.

... 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 K-3 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hooked on Library Skills
This book might have worked fine 10 years ago but now it is outdated.Hooked on Library Skills pays no attention to the electronic age and meets few of the standards required for information technology.Many lessons teach children about card catalogues rather than how to access electronic resources. There were few lessons I could use in this book to teach K - 5. ... Read more

Book Description

How can you create that spark in the hearts and minds of children to become truly literate?This dictionary is packed with definitions of all of the concepts and principles that give meaning to children's and young adult literature and each term is clearly illustrated by examples from contemporary and classic books and tales.Every definition also includes ideas for programming activities that will bring these concepts-the building blocks of stories-alive to young readers.Finally, all in one place, librarians, teachers, reviewers, parents, and storytellers have a practical reference guide with entertaining explanations, examples, and activities for engaging young people in the completely informed reading experience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Chances are, your baby shower showered you with copies of Goodnight Moon, andyou, if not your little one, are ready to move on. KathleenOdean--former children's librarian, chair of the 2002 Newbery Awardcommittee, and author of Great Books forGirlsand other excellent children's literature guides--hascompiled 500 book recommendations for babies and toddlers. The time tobegin sharing books with children is during babyhood. As theintroduction states, "Reading to young children sets them on the pathof emergent literacy, a term that sums up all the ways children becomeat home with language, reading, and writing well before they candecipher or print a recognizable word." In addition to bookrecommendations, Odean offers plenty of insight into early childdevelopment, tips on reading aloud, and careful listings of additionalprint and online resources for information about children's literature.

Odean's friendly, accessible guide recommends books in two primarycategories: "Nursery Rhymes, Fingerplays, and Songs" and "Picture-StoryBooks for the Very Young." Each thoughtful, decidedly "un-canned" reviewdemonstrates how a book can be used with a child and describes itsdistinctive characteristics--the basic content, the look and feel of theillustrations, and the sound of the language. Information such asauthor, illustrator, publisher, age range, and which editions arecurrently in print is also provided. You'll find wonderful new castingsof tried-and-true Mother Goose rhymes and favorite classics along withpicture-book discoveries from Jules Feiffer's Bark, George toPeggy Rathmann's board-book edition of 10 Minutes TillBedtime . Odean is not only knowledgeable, she has great taste,to boot. This could be the most valuable baby-shower gift you ever give,but if you have any interest in children's literature at all you'll wantto keep a copy for yourself.--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Helped this new father...
I used this book to build a 100+ library of books for my 17-month old daughter. There are so many children's books available that a guide like this is indispensible for distinguishing between them. This guide pointed me towards some fantastic books and authors that I would not have encountered by simply browsing my local library or bookstore. Some examples of fantastic authors that my daughter and I love whose books were recommended by this guide include Frank Asch, Pat Hutchins, Eve Rice, and Patricia Hubbell.

Eh, not so hot.
I was left vaguely unimpressed by this volume. I found equally good tips on how to read to babies and young children in the Chinaberry book catalog (quite a resource in itself), and the books' annotations are not always as complete and well-researched as other reviewers have claimed--often the author failed to mention sequels or related works. This book might be a good purchase for a new parent or children's librarian, but for an under-threes early childhood teacher, I would recommend _Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos_ by Shirley Raines et al.

Wow, what a resource!
If you have ever wondered whether all books for babies and toddlers are created equal, then wonder no more. Kathleen Odean has done all of the footwork for parents of young children and for youth services librarians responsible for collection development in this area, with this well-researched and annotated guide to the best of the best. Also included are tips on reading aloud, activities with books, books in Spanish and so much more, all to ensure that the maximum benefits are derived from the recommended literature. This is certainly an acquisition that leaves no room for regret. ... Read more

Book Description

This broad introduction to early childhood literature focuses on literacy analysis and on specific techniques and methods of effective literature-based education. Updates references of children's books that readers can use as examples of quality literature. Strengthens coverage of several areas including nonfiction, multicultural/international literature, and the use of literature in integrated teaching for the primary grades. For educators and school administrators. ... Read more

Book Description

What you need to know about The Hidden Key to Harry Potter:

1) It is the first critical study to unlock the inner meaning of Harry Potter by treating the series seriously as literature along the lines of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.

2) It is the first exposé to identify Joanne Rowling as a Christian who consciously writes Christian Fantasy in the tradition of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.

3) It is the first full-fledged effort to predict Potter’s future course in detail – an audacious and thought-provoking adventure offered to fellow enthusiasts.

4) It is the first Muggle textbook suitable for use at Hogwarts – bringing humor, fun, and WOW! excitement to the "serious" business of Pottermania.

Low Road critics have panned the bestselling Harry Potter novels as "the literary equivalent of fast food" and as a gateway to the occult. But no one has explained the worldwide popularity of Ms. Rowling’s fiction or read it as one would read Tolkien, Hemingway, or Shakespeare. The Hidden Key takes the High Road to understanding Harry Potter’s success, through an exploration of the series’ structure, themes, and symbolism.

The astonishing conclusion of this investigation is that Ms. Rowling, demonized by some Christian critics because of the magical setting of her books, is ironically writing the most charming and challenging Christian fiction for children since Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. The Hidden Key demonstrates that all the Potter books teach Christian doctrines - sometimes with subtlety, often baldly - in their plot, imagery, and character development. Lambasted by critics who have not read her books closely or are unfamiliar with traditional Christian literature, Ms. Rowling’s genius has been overlooked despite her books’ success.

A lover and teacher of the Great Books – including the great children’s books he reads his seven children – Mr. Granger applies his knowledge of classical philosophy and Christian traditions to reveal the secret message that explains the magic power of Harry Potter.

Find out these secrets inside:

* What is the hidden key to Harry Potter?
* Is Harry’s magic dangerous – or quite the opposite?
* What is the evidence that Rowling is a Christian novelist?
* Is the author an "Inkling"? How have we been so bamboozled?
* Who is the real-world model for Gilderoy Lockhart?
* Who is Harry, really? Why does Lord Voldemort want him dead?
* Will Wormtail kill Voldemort as Wormtongue killed Saruman?
* What may happen in the upcoming Potter books?
* How does it all end? – an UNAUTHORIZED prediction. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Harry Potter for adults
If you are one of the many adult fans of J.K. Rowling's books I am sure that you would find The Hidden Key to be a fascinating read.

I would also highly recommend this book to you if you have no intention whatever of reading the Harry Potter series but are interesting in understanding what all the fuss is about. It is the best attempt I have seen to account for the unprecedented worldwide phenomenon that the books have become.

Granger takes the Harry Potter books seriously as literature, and the depth of analysis is remarkable. However it is done with such enthusiasm and humour that it is also a very enjoyable read.

I'd always suspected that there was more to these books than met the eye, and Hidden Key puts the complex weave of plot, symbolism and allusion under the microscope to reveal its intricate structure. As well as a detailed analysis of the four books so far published there is also some intriguing speculation about where the next three might go.

This book gives us the chance to be informed about and involved in a remarkable literary event as it unfolds, don't miss the opportunity!

"Hidden Key" a great guide!
John Granger's easily accessible style breaks down the hidden meanings behind everything from names to major recurring themes for anyone willing to read into the series beyond plot twists. For Christians who are looking to validate themselves for reading the novels so misjudged by some, look no further! After reading this book I was able to convice my strict father to see the good in the Harry potter books, somtimes ignored in light of the magic which Rowling uses as a backdrop. For non-Christians, this book will give you an interesting and fully-argued view into the series that may change your perspective on Rowling's novels. After reading this book, I enjoyed reading "Order of the Phoenix" so much more than I would have by catching some things I would not have recognized as meaningful.

Current review for a pre Order of the Phoenix item.
Firstly The hidden key to Harry Potter is a good book to buy, for understanding of the whole series. Unfortunately, the book was published before Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published, and since that book is about to be re-published in paperback it goes that much of the information in John Granger's book could be updated. And of course, Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince, the 6th volume of the series of seven books, has already been started.

The book is dotted with tables that illustrate eloquently what the author is talking about, but while I was re-reading the book recently, it was all I could do (like not having a biro handy at the time) to stop myself adding another column or row to these tables for relevance to OOTP. I felt like drawing over the book with my opinions of how relevant each remark was to the 5th book of the series.

To do the book justice, I think many of the observations about the whole series are spot-on. John Granger makes some very astute observations. He foresees, for example, Percy Weasley's estrangement from his family in book 5, and much else besides. But it would be unreasonable to expect the author to upgrade the book to a second edition on the strength of the accuracy of observations about the contents of the already published and read Order of the Phoenix. There is another in the series imminent which would leave even the completed 2nd edition out of date.

Therefore I suggest that people who buy the book for all the value it represents in analysis, should not expect to keep the book unused on the bookshelf for later donation to a library. Instead, buy the book in the full knowledge that the buyer will write over it, add to anything not included, adjust to the buyer's readings of later books, rewrite the book on the buyer's own terms, and generally have fun with it.

Good luck.

Disappointing
This book was a huge disappointment. First, the author does not use correct spellings (i.e. Flu powder instead of Floo powder). He then goes on to mislabel the town where Harry and his parents lived before they were killed (Godric's Place instead of Godric's Hollow). I know this seems like nitpicking, but if you are going to write a book like this, all the small details should be correct. As far as the predictions go...well, you would be much better off reading The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter by Galadriel Walters. I was thoroughly under whelmed by this entire book.

Solid analysis coupled with a very personal interpretation
Granger provides some excellent insight and delivers it with a good sense of humor. He is to be commended for focusing on the books themselves (books 1 - 4) rather than on prediction making or the over-documented "Harry Potter Social Phenomenon." His 'Harry Potter 101' chapter and his analysis of the themes of Death and of Choice are excellent.

Unfortunately, his very personal and emphatic religious interpretation of the series does limit the universality of his analysis. If you find daily living to be rife with Christian symbol you'll probably enjoy this book as much as many other Amazon reviewers have. If not, you may be frustrated by its limitations.

Much of the symbolic interpretation and character name derivations are simply unsupportable and there's a marked tendency to view the Potterverse in shades of pure black and white. A deep connection between J.K. Rowling and the Inkling authors is assumed rather than successfully argued. Confusion between Shakespeare's Hal and Hotspur is a particular embarrassment.

Rigid point of view not withstanding Granger has invested some very serious thought in this Harry Potter review. For the non-Christian reader some parts will be a slog but the open-minded reader of any faith (or none) will come away with some valuable insight. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Now or Neverland
In "Now or Neverland," Ann Yeoman invites her readers to explore the complex world of the archetype of the eternal boy (puer aeternus) through her lively psychological analysis of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. Yeoman's book is an outstanding example of interdisciplinary scholarship. She intelligently integrates the work done in such seemingly diverse fields as Mythological Studies (Eliade, Campbell, Kerenyi), Literary Criticism (Frye, Calvino, Armitt), and Analytical Psychology (Jung, Hillman, von Franz). Her use of literature, both poetry (Coleridge, Auden, Keats, Wordsworth, Shelley) and fiction (Dostoyevsky, Joyce, Melville), to illuminate various dimensions of puer psychology is outstanding and speaks highly of her as a literary scholar. Her cultural contextualization of Peter Pan in history (Edwardian England, the current Information Revolution, the British public school system) presents a provocative analysis of the collective psychology of the times. Finally, her reinterpretation and elaboration of earlier (1970s) studies of puer psychology and psychopathology by analytical (Jungian) psychologists, makes her one of the foremost authorities on the psychology of what popular culture has called the "Peter Pan Syndrome". There is little doubt that Now or Neverland will become a classic and take its place alongside Hillman's "Puer Papers" and von Franz's "The Problem of Puer Aeternus."

A New Persective on the Peter Pan Myth
Peter Pan was always a childhood favorite of mine. Now, having read Ann Yeoman's "Now and Neverland. Peter Pan on the Myth of Eternal Youth", I will approach the story and its characters with a new and, dare I say it, "grown-up" (sorry Peter) perspective.

Ms. Yeoman's writing style is clear and a pleasure to read. She presents unique and interesting insight into the hero, Peter Pan in an easy to follow manner and hence facilitates an "deeper" understanding of the myth and how it relates to us all.

I highly recommend it!

Now or Neverland : Peter Pan, Enigmatic Messenger
I've just finished reading Ann Yeoman's stunning Jungian book, Now or Neverland Inner City Books, 1998, ISBN 0-919123-83-X. 191 pp.) I'm going to read it again quite soon, as it is so packed with new information and living ideas a single reading can't do it justice. I picked it up because I'm interested in the Divine Child and the Puer Aeternus archetypes, which I believe are very closely related, and I thought Peter Pan might have something to say on the matter. He does, but it's backward -- he is a strangely subversive and disruptive figure, refusing to settle into any one role -- hovering at the window of Barrie's England (its stuffy ideals still very much a part of our own social history and psyche), but equally uncomfortable in the Neverland to which he always escapes, no matter how much he crows and manipulates an enthralled Wendy, her brothers and the Lost Boys and the rest of Neverland. He is, this Peter Pan, an enigmatic, often dark figure, related to gods like Mercurius, Pan, Dionysus, and an astonishing lot of others (Icarus, Prometheus, Lucifer and Narcissus are mentioned, I think quite correctly).

I shall certainly never read PETER PAN the same way again -- forget Mary Martin or that Disney fraud. Forget Robin Williams too.

I wanted to read this book because Ann Yeoman is combining a career at New College, University of Toronto, where she is Dean of Students with teaching Jung and literature courses and a small practice as a Jungian analyst. What I hadn't expected was her brilliant concluding chapter, in which she compares Neverland and the Internet. She is certainly the first Jungian analyst I've found who is addressing the kinds of problems that have been concerning me for the past five years. So we may find out something about Peter Pan's dilemma from cyberspace -- I have certainly met lost boys (and lost girls) floating around, scarcely remembering where home is, and heard more than one ticking crocodile. There's more to come from this Peter Pan -- we have not heard the last word from him or from Ann Yeoman.

From the concluding chapter - "Peter Pan provides a metaphor for the unknown new - rootless consciousness is the dis-ease of contemporary society as it faces an uncertain future. The radical uncertainty of our future finds its own metaphor in our rapidly evolving electronic technology. In many ways, the elusive promise embodied in Peter Pan is the promise also of cyberspace. The new electronic era invites us to enter an indeterminate virtual realm where, it seems, everything and anything is possible, where we may create ourselves as we desire, where freedom and creativity know no bounds. Yet the very metaphors we use to describe this virtual zone are ambiguous. Netscape, Web, Internet, Windows, Paths -- images of boundless potential, but also metaphors for entrapment and delusion. On the one hand, Internet users access a seemingly unlimited network of information; on the other, the value and structure of that same information must be questioned, if one is not to run the risk of having one's mind made up for one, as an unwitting adherent of, to quote Derrick de Kerckhove, a 'collective, techno-cultural morality' which generates an 'average and averaging psychology.' Who are we when flying in the Neverland of cyberspace?" (pp. 175-6)

Sir James Barrie (who gave us both play and novel) and his creation Peter Pan are both a bit uncanny, unsettling. What message do they bring us today, as we fly toward the sill of the new Millennium? ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

A memorable and inspiring testimony to the wonder of books
Francis Spufford, winner of the 1997 Somerset Maugham and Writers' Guild awards, has ably written The Child That Books Built: A Life In Reading, a tribute to the enduring message and power of children's books and how they shaped his life from his early years onward. Fondly reflecting on such classics as "The Wind in the Willows", "The Little House on the Prairie", and the Narnia chronicles, The Child That Books Built is a memorable and inspiring testimony to the wonder of books and the many universes they unlock for the wondering mind of a literate child.

A well-written, well thought out review of childhood reading
For me, a 34 year old British guy, one of the most interesting parts was seeing just how my childhood reading overlapped with Francis Spufford's. His re-reading has spurred me on to do the same and I'm enjoying taking a fresh look at my old favorites.

This is not a light-hearted read, though. This is a fairly academic exercise, picking the books he read as a child and really analyzing them as to how they affected his development. Do not expect a romp through the books, expect a detailed, studied analysis.

The writing, though, is beautiful. Francis knows how to read well and how to write better! Mingling a little bit of autobiography, Francis breaks the books down into various categories. Some, like the Narnia chronicles, get full chapters to themselves. Some, like the Swallows & Amazons tales, get mentioned in passing.

If you are at all interested in how childhood books affect our adulthood, read this book. At the very least, it might inspire you to embark of the same odyssey.

one of the best books about reading as a child I've read
This is a book I wish I'd written myself, and anyone who loves children's fiction or who wants their child to read should buy it. Spufford's loves - Narnia, The Little House on the Prairie, Ursula le Guin etc will be shared by many, but few will describe so beautifully the feeling of learning to read The Hobbit, or of the way books act as "mood altering substances". The essays on individual authors are excellent, but his evocation of a chilhood sheltered by books while his sister was slowly dying of kidney illness, and how his reading changed as he grew up and out of paradise is one that will strike a chord with many. ... Read more