General Books - Page 7

The Screwtape Letters: Marvel Comics

C. S. Lewis

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Religions -> Christianity -> Series -> The Chronicles of Narnia

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 373 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A thought-provoking peek into the mind of a senior demon 5 out of 5 stars.
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This book consists of a series of thirty-one letters written by a senior demon, Screwtape, to his young demon nephew, Wormwood. Wormword has been charged with securing the damnation of a man's soul, but he does not yet know enough about humans to carry out his task successfully.

In his letters, Screwtape gives his nephew advice on the specific problems involved in this one particular case assigned to him, and while doing so he educates Wormwood more generally on a variety of human subjects.

In these letters, you will read about human nature, behavior and psychology, true and false religion, society, history, earthly war and politics, and even the demons' own war against Heaven itself - and always from Screwtape's very practical point of view.

And even though this book was written over sixty years ago, you will recognize our world (and maybe something of yourself) in Screwtape's letters. This book is both serious and entertaining, a cautionary must-read for Christians.

Editorial Review:

Now available unabridged on cassette and CD--C.S. Lewis’ classic Screwtape Letters--the engaging correspondence between two devils. Read by Joss Ackland.

The Prophet of Yonwood (Books of Ember)

Jeanne Duprau

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 81 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

It’s 50 years before the settlement of the city of Ember, and the world is in crisis. War looms on the horizon as 11-year-old Nickie and her aunt travel to the small town of Yonwood, North Carolina. There, one of the town’s respected citizens has had a terrible vision of fire and destruction. Her garbled words are taken as prophetic instruction on how to avoid the coming disaster. If only they can be interpreted correctly. . . .

As the people of Yonwood scramble to make sense of the woman’s mysterious utterances, Nickie explores the oddities she finds around town—her great-grandfather’s peculiar journals and papers, a reclusive neighbor who studies the heavens, a strange boy who is fascinated with snakes—all while keeping an eye out for ways to help the world. Is this vision her chance? Or is it already too late to avoid a devastating war?

In this prequel to the acclaimed The City of Ember and The People of Sparks, Jeanne DuPrau investigates how, in a world that seems out of control, hope and comfort can be found in the strangest of places.


From the Hardcover edition.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Kate Dicamillo

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs & Squirrels -> Nonfiction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 231 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wonderful Read 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I used to dislike books about talking animals. Kate DiCamillo has totally changed my opinion. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was such a touching story that I could absolutely not put it down. I read this one immediately after finishing Ann M. Martin's A Dog's Life and I think I must have gone through a whole box of Kleenex between the two books. The people that Edward meets as he is passed from one person to another are so well-defined. Even though he is with everyone a short time, the reader really connects with everyone and wondering when Edward will finally arrive "home."

I must admit that the ending was a little cliche. ***SPOILER ALERT****


The possibility of the little girl who lost Edward in the beginning stumbling across him with her own daughter is wonderful, but the probability just isn't there. Considering how far he traveled it is amazing they connected again and no stars were lost because as a children's story this was the ending that just had to be there.

Editorial Review:

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost. . . .

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. Along the way, we are shown a miracle -- that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

Number the Stars

Lois Lowry

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> History & Historical Fiction -> Fiction -> Holocaust

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 717 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not Moving 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Although my favorite genre is historical fiction, this book just didn't do it for me. I wasn't greatly moved and I didn't feel really sad or compassionate. This novel is short and sweet, informative, not boring, and well put together. The only thing is that it doesn't make you feel the way the characters do, or change your perspective on things. I reccomend to anyone who enjoys reading about the holocaust. I did enjoy reading it, but it wasn't fanominal. The plot was almost unbelievable. It is a little juvenile for older kids, who can move on to more sophisticated Holocaust books. I read it just befor going to the Holocaust museum in Washington, DC and found that having background knowledge is very useful when going there. Overall, good and informative; not breath taking.

Editorial Review:

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated". Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life. An ALA Notable Book. A "School Library Journal" Best Book of the Year. Teacher's Guide. BDD Online-Teacher's Resource Center.

The City of Ember (Books of Ember)

Jeanne Duprau

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 429 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A great city to explore 3 out of 5 stars.
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I may not have heard about this book had it not picked up a movie deal. And yet, now that I've read it, I'm torn as to whether or not I want to see the movie. Not because it's a bad book/story...quite the contrary. I'm worried that it could get ruined. I bought a copy for my brother for his birthday and the new edition includes pix from the movie. One picture included captures Bill Murray as the mayor during one of the opening scenes. Seeing that picture redeemed my hope...I think he could probably do a good job pulling off the pretentious and condescending demeanor required for the role. Hopefully the rest of the cast does well and hopefully the departures from the text are for the best. The book itself was very simplistic and obviously a children's book (8-10 is target age I believe), and yet it explores deeper themes and presents the characters intriguing and mature conflicts.

Characters, Setting, etc
The central character in the story is Lina, a young girl living in a city of darkness and dreaming of a city of light. Her character is interesting and powerful. She's not overly audacious, but she does have an adventurous spirit and once actions really start unfolding, her courage shines through and she is willing to make the tough decisions to move forward.

The other main protagonist, Doon, is a more presumptuous character. It's not so much that he has more audacity than Lina, it's just that his is unbridled while hers is restrained. He is impetuous and quick to rush in while she is thoughtful and meticulous.

I think the two protagonists serve as a good counterpoint to one another and the author does a good job of using them to help show children the need to take risks and be brave while also being judicious and thoughtful before taking wild risks.

Most of the secondary characters get very little fleshing out. Even the mayor is kept at a distance, though we get good insight into his actions and thoughts, enough so we can establish him as a counteragent to our protagonists despite his authoritative stance and his claims of doing what's best for the people.

Having seen the preview for the movie, I was able to deduce the state of the City of Ember. Trying to block that out, I enjoyed the portrayal of the city and its existence. The descriptions of the layout of the city and the darkness beyond was well done. I loved the detail used to explain many of the simple things we take for granted in our world.

Plot, Pacing, etc
The plot itself wasn't anything revolutionary, but the details and the execution were intriguing. We have a city surrounded by darkness. Its only light is provided by a river water run generator pumping electricity into the city, but since nobody in the city really understands electricity or how the generator works, the city is in peril since the generator is obviously breaking down.

The quick paced style and simple language helped the story move along quickly and I see how it could definitely hold the attention of a younger reader. As an adult, I think I would have liked some more twists and turns in the adventure but since the audience is children, I think the overall complexity is good. (This is my main point of worry for the movie...because the plot itself is relatively simple, I'm worried that the movie makers may ruin things by adding unnecessary complexity to appease adults)

I thought an interesting thematic element was making vocabulary and language be part of the obstacle Lina and Doon face. As Lina initially begins trying to understand the instructions she's found, she has difficulty plugging in the right words just because she may not have the same vocabulary as the adult that originally wrote it. Audience is always very key when selecting the language used in writing. Once Lina and Doon progress on their journey, they find new objects they don't understand. Even though the objects are labeled, these common objects are foreign to the children and they find themselves confused as to their intent. I applaud the author's insight to incorporate this subtle narrative on the evolution of knowledge and language in her story.

Overall
As I mentioned, I think the pacing was great and would do a good job of keeping a younger reader interested and engaged to the end. As I saw the pages fall out from underneath me, I began to be VERY worried as I neared the end of the novel that there would not be a good stopping point. In fact, the last 10-20 pages of the book flew by and tied up a lot of the material nicely while at the same time leaving many questions left unanswered and ready for a sequel. In fact, I'm glad I read this book years after its release because I desperately want to know what happens next and I'm glad I could just go grab the sequel now rather than waiting for it to be written.

I think this story is intriguing and wholesome and provides a good mental playground for child readers. I think the characters are accessible and the adventure is fun. The themes of the story are subtle but it provides good messages about teamwork, planning, and working things through. It's definitely not an anti-adult novel, but it does provide children a method of escaping to a world where the children are the heroes and they know and do better than the adults, perhaps due to their youthful exuberance, curiosity and passion.

I'm looking forward to continuing with the series and seeing the movie.

3 solid stars
***

Editorial Review:

NOW A MAJOR motion picture starring Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau, Saoirse Ronan, and Harry Treadaway! This tie-in edition of The City of Ember features a movie-art cover and an 8-page photo insert. Jeanne DuPrau’s instant classic tells the story of the great, underground city of Ember, designed as a last refuge for the human race. But when the storerooms run out of food and the lights begin to fail, it’s up to two teens, Lina and Doon, to decipher the fragments of an ancient parchment and find a way out of Ember.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

Sally Lloyd-Jones

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 107 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Children's Bible 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This Bible is written in a way that makes the Scriptures come to LIFE for children. I cannot help but getting teary when I read it as well. The words do not deviate from the Truth of the Bible, but only enhance it. There are so many things that are articulated so clearly the way God had intended them to be understood in this book. Kids love it, it's full of great pictures and words.

Read it from beginning to end!

Editorial Review:

"The Jesus Storybook Bible" tells the story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David - every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle - the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, "The Jesus Storybook Bible" invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation - and at the center of their story too.

50 States Quarters Platinum

Scholastic

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

coin 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This will make a wonderful gift for my niece was is in the elementary school. This book comes with a history, so it will be educational as well.

state quarters folio 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I purchased these for my grandchildren. They are convenient, easy to fill, and the quarters stay in but can be removed easily for inspection. It is the best product I've found for this purpose!

50 state quarter cover 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I purchased five of these books based on reviews of other customers. It is sturdy,well designed, and holds the quarters securely. I like the booklet on the inside cover that describes the history of each state. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Stephanie Rousso

Exactly what I was looking for 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I was looking for a state quarters map for my 2 kids to start collecting their quarters. I found this one and was pleased with the product. It is from Scholastic which is a name you can trust. This is a nice tri-fold hardcover map with relevant state information as you open the front. Each quarter fits in a nice slot. The shipping was timely and the map is now almost filled. This is a great gift of learning.

Little House 9 Book Box Set

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z -> ( W ) -> Wilder, Laura Ingalls

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 155 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A fabulous family reading experience. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read some of these books as a child and bought the set for my own daughter and started reading it to her, and my son, when she was five and he was four. Both children loved them! I'd like to say they loved them all, but the truth is, they really loved the first two books, when Laura was closer to their own age; enjoyed Farmer Boy; and from there, my daughter continued to enjoy the books, but not as much, and my son lost interest.

I thought the long descriptions of how to roast a pig or build a log cabin would be too much for them, but they didn't mind. Soon after we started, I heard them re-creating scenes from the book while playing the back yard. Suddenly, my son was talking about Pa having a "gum" (gun) for killing bad animals. Not exactly the effect I intended, but it didn't turn him into a gun nut.

I will say, the Long Winter was really, really long. We almost dropped the series. My own interest flagged, and we ended up taking a bit of a break before picking up the book again.

I was so into the series that I went to the library and checked out Laura's diary about moving to Missouri (On the Way Home, The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894) and her and her description of visiting Rose in San Francisco (West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder). My daughter said she was interested in those, too, but she really wasn't.

Still, we loved the Little House series - and my daughter still listens to the early books on CD. Highly, highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

The original nine Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, featuring their fresh new photographic look, are available together in an attractive box set, just in time for the 75th Anniversary!

The Chronicles of Narnia Movie Tie-in Box Set Prince Caspian (rack)

C. S. Lewis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Go through the wardrobe 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 18 people found this review helpful.

In the first half of the twentieth century, two drinking buddies wrote vastly different fantasy series -- one a rich fantasy epic, the other a pleasant, sometimes bittersweet children's story.

Obviously, the former was the classic "Lord of the Rings," and the latter was the "Narnia" series. A close pal of J.R.R. Tolkien's and a fellow "Inkling," C.S. Lewis was one of the first widely-read fantasy writers, and "The Chronicles of Narnia" -- despite a few flaws -- is a charming, classic read.

"The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" opens as four children (Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter) are being shipped to the English countryside at the beginning of World War II. While exploring the vast house where they are staying, Lucy accidently ventures into a winter-locked world called Narnia, which is ruled over by the evil White Witch. The king Aslan is about to return -- but the Witch quickly gets a hold on Edmund's soul.

"Prince Caspian" takes place long after the events of "Lion" (though in our world, only a short time has passed). Young Prince Caspian escapes his uncle's castle when his life is threatened, and he finds refuge with the hidden races of Narnia -- dwarves, talking animals, dryads, centaurs and many others. And to help Caspian regain the throne, the two kings and two queens of Narnia are called back...

"Voyage of the Dawn Treader" begins when Edmund, Lucy and their obnoxious cousin Eustace are sucked through a painting into Narnia, where their pal Caspian is now king of Narnia (and an adult to boot). Caspian is heading toward the end of the world to find several knights who were banished, and vanished into the perilous islands along the sea.

"The Silver Chair" heads into slightly darker territory when Eustace returns to boarding school. He and outcast girl Jill Pole are drawn into Narnia, where Jill must perform a task to redeem herself for a stupid act. She must find the dying Caspian's son Rilian, who vanished many years before. The search will send the two children across Narnia with the pessimistic Puddleglum, to carnivorous Giants, creepy underground creatures, and an enemy worse than they could have imagined...

"Horse and His Boy" shoots back in time to the middle of "Lion." Shasta lives with the man he thinks to be his father in a hovel by the sea, but when a Calormene warrior purchases him, he escapes with the man's talking horse, Bree. He meets the escaping noblewoman Aravis (who also has a talking horse), and the two are planning to escape to Narnia and freedom. But in the capital city, there is a conspiracy brewing against the visiting Narnian kings and queens...

"Magician's Nephew" clears up many of the questions about Narnia, Aslan and the White Witch. Digory and Polly end up in very serious trouble when they encounter Digory's weird, slightly nutty uncle, a magician who has created magical rings that send the user to other worlds. The two kids end up in the "wood between the worlds," and venture into a dying land where they set loose the evil Queen Jadis -- who follows them to the newborn world of Narnia.

"The Last Battle" is definitely the end of the series, where Narnia decays slowly into the final battle between good and evil. Humans are destroying the trees and killing the dryads, and a false Aslan is appearing to mislead the inhabitants of Narnia. Old and new friends will band together as the true Aslan prepares to lead them to a new land.

If you don't like allegory (religious or otherwise), then steer clear of the Chronicles. While Lewis's beliefs are presented in a more complicated and subtle manner in his other fictional works, here the parallels to basic Christian beliefs are very obvious. Reportedly even Tolkien, one of Lewis's best pals, found the allegory annoying.

But if you can get past the slightly ham-handed treatment, it's a fantastic read. Lewis reshapes typical mythical elements like dwarves, nymphs, talking animals, centaurs and wicked witches into shape in his invented world. And Narnia is an inviting place -- it isn't always fun or pleasant, but there is always the feeling that the good guys will ultimately -- if not immediately -- come out on top.

Lewis's writing can become a bit precious at times, in the tradition of many British authors writing for children. But he puts plenty of detail and mystery in his stories, sprinkling them with little mysteries and questions that are explained as the story goes on. Where did the lamppost come from, for example? How did humans come to Narnia? And what is the deal with the White Witch?

There's a pretty broad range of characters, from British schoolchildren to talking animals, fishing foundlings to prepubescent kings of Narnia. But Lewis does a solid job with almost all of them (Susan is a bit of a copout -- but contrary to rumor, she does not go to hell). In fact, the entirely made-up kids are the most fascinating -- fiery Aravis Tarkeena and the young Professor are among the best he wrote.

While not quite as well known as his pal Tolkien's work, C.S. Lewis's Narnia series still a fun and dramatic fantasy story. For a bit more insight into the origins of fantasy as we know it, check out "The Chronicles of Narnia."

Editorial Review:

This rack edition box set will feature movie stills from the PRINCE CASPIAN film on the box. All seven rack books inside have cover artwork by Cliff Nielsen and black-and-white interior illustrations by Pauline Baynes.

Free to Be...You and Me (The 35th Anniversary Edition, Hardcover)

Marlo Thomas and Friends

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

This is the book we all know and love by Marlo Thomas and her friends—brought to new life with brand new illustrations to captivate and inspire a new generation of readers on a journey of the heart. Whether you are opening Free to Be . . . You and Me for the first time or the one hundredth time you will be engaged and transformed by this newly beautifully illustrated compilation of inspirational stories, songs, and poems. The sentiments of thirty-five years ago are as relevant today as when this book was published. Celebrating individuality and challenging stereotypes empowers both children and adults with the freedom to be who they want to be and to have compassion and empathy for others who may be different. Working closely with Marlo and co-creator Carole Hart, Peter H. Reynolds, the New York Times Best Selling Children’s Book Author/Illustrator, conjured his whimsical drawings throughout the book bringing a new sense of unity and warmth to the pages. You will find yourself marveling at the illustrations, nodding in agreement with the stories and poems, and singing the words to all the classic songs! It is wonderful that the thoughts, ideas, and emotions the creators envisioned so many years ago can still have a magical effect on children today.