Staff Favorites Books - Page 4

Out Of The Dust (Newbery Medal Book)

Karen Hesse

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 839 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Out of the Dust 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read this book for the first time this year and wondered why I didn't have to read it in when I was in school. The main character Billi Jo has to over come a lot and does a wonderful job of it. This could teach so much to young readers. I strongly believe that this book be in the schools as a required read.

One of my favorites. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The first time I read this book was in fourth grade, and it has been a favorite ever since. Like previously stated, it is not the most uplifting of stories, but you can't expect everything to be pleasant and delightful all the time. I honestly would reccommend this to someone of any age to read atleast once.

Excellent book for young readers 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is well written, and the only book my 9 year old has ever asked for.

Exaggeratingly Sad book 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The book is written in nice,figurative language, but it is far too sad. The book starts out like not such a bad story, but then suddenly it hits this spot with terrible sadness and frustration. Yet, it gives far too many details of how terribly some of the people in the story die. Basically what happens in this story in the sad part is when 2 people accidentally make dangerous, careless mistakes, which lead to the killing of 2 other people. When I got to that part, I felt like not reading this book anymore. I can't believe this book received about ten awards.

Editorial Review:

In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.

Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery

Deborah Howe, James Howe

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 106 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

THIS book is written by Harold. His full time occupation is dog. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. X (here called Monroe) and their sons Toby and Pete. Also sharing the home are a cat named Chester and a rabbit named Bunnicula. It is because of Bunnicula that Harold turned to writing. Someone had to tell the full story of what happened in the Monroe household after the rabbit arrived.

It all began when the Monroes went to see the movie Dracula At the theater Toby found something on his seatÑa baby rabbit that he took home and named Bunnicula. It proved to be an apt name, at least as far as Chester was concerned. A well-read and observant cat, he soon decided that there was something odd about the newcomer. For one thing he seemed to have fangs. And the odd markings on his back looked a little like a cape. Furthermore, Bunnicula slept from sunup to sundown. He was awake only at night.

When the family started funding white vegetables, drained dry, with two fang marks in them, Chester was sure Bunnicula was a vampire. But what to do about it. None of the family seemed to grasp the trouble, and Chester's hilarious hints were totally misunderstood.

Was Bunnicula really a vampire? Only Bunnicula knows for sure. But the story of Chester's suspicions and their consequences makes uproarious reading.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Patricia MacLachlan

Amazon Price: $5.99 List Price: $5.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS - Model: HC-0064402053 Amazon Marketplace: 321 new & used starting at $0.01

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Features:

• CHILDRENS BOOKS & MUSIC
• Childrens Books
• Language Arts

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 169 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"Did Mama sing every day?" Caleb asks his sister Anna. "Every-single-day," she answers. "Papa sang, too."

Their mother died after Caleb was born. Their house on the prairie is quiet now, and Papa doesn't sing anymore. Then Papa puts an ad in the paper, asking for a wife, and he receives a letter from one Sara Elisabeth Wheaton, of Maine. Papa, Ana, and Caleb write back. Caleb asks if she sings.

Sarah desides to come for a month. She writes Papa: I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall, and Tell them I sing. Anna and Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she like them? Will she stay?

 

Winner, 1986 Newbery Medal
1986 Christopher Award
1986 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1986 Golden Kite Award for Fiction (SCBW)
Notable Children's Book of 1985 (ALA)
1985 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Best Books of 1985 (SLJ)
Children's Choices for 1986 (IRA/CBC)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1985 (N.Y. Times Book Review)
International Board of Books for Young People Honor List for Writing, 1988
1986 Notable Trade Book in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1986 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1985 Books for Children (Library of Congress)
1988 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey)
1988 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Arkansas)
100 Favorite Paperbacks 1989 (IRA/CBC)
Best of the 80's (BL)
1986 Christopher Award
1986 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1986 Golden Kite Award for Fiction (SCBW)
Notable Children's Books of 1985 (ALA)
1985 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Best Books of 1985 (SLJ)
Children's Choices for 1986 (IRA/CBC)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1985 (NYTBR)
1986 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1985 Children's Books (Library of Congress)
1988 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey Library Association)
1988 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Arkansas)
100 Favorite Paperbacks of 1989 (IRA/CBC)
Best of the '80s (BL)
1986 Notable Children's Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1988 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)
1988 International Borad of Books for Young People Honor List for Writing
1986 Jefferson Cup Award (Virginia Library Association)

The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking

Astrid Lindgren, Michael Chesworth

Amazon Price: $18.71 List Price: $30.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Viking Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 58 new & used starting at $10.98

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 31 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I love this book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I found this book, when I started looking for the Pippi books I remembered from my childhood. Pippi is still as fun and entertaining as ever. I enjoyed reading the stories as an adult as much as I enjoyed them as a child. The book is beautiful with wonderful drawings. This is one of the rare books, where the illustrations bring to life what I imagined. I will enjoy it for many years to come!

Editorial Review:

An enticing, newly illustrated collection of the enduringly popular Pippi stories. Since Pippi Longstocking was first published in 1950, the escapades of the incomparable Pippi,the girl with upside-down braids and no parents to tell her what to do, have delighted boys and girls alike. Now, for the first time, Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Goes on Board, and Pippi in the South Seas are all together in one bumper volume, with new illustrations in full-color and black-and-white. The collection is an ideal introduction for anyone discovering Pippi for the first time, while confirmed fans will enjoy revisiting their favorite episodes and recalling some they've forgotten. Her admirers will also find fascinating new biographical information about author Astrid Lindgren and the origin of the Pippi stories. Astrid Lindgren was awarded the 1958 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her contribution to international children's literature.

The Borrowers

Mary Norton, Beth Krush, Joe Krush

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Borrowers by M. Norton 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Whoosh! You see a hat pin sail across the room, much like a javelin, and pin onto the lace curtain. Then, a small man no more than six inches tall scurries across the room.

Welcome to the world of the Borrowers; Pod, Homily, and Arrietty Clock. They live under the floorboards and borrow anything from potatoes to blotting paper. The tiny people live in an old country house, inhabited by `human beans'.
All goes well for the small family until Arrietty is `seen' by a boy. The Borrowers think that `human beans' are always vicious and bad, but this boy turns out to be friendly.
The boy befriends the Clocks and even helps them borrow.
Then, Pod makes the mistake of borrowing precious knick-knacks from the mistress.
Mrs. Driver, the housekeeper, is getting suspicious. Who could be stealing these things?
She sprouts a plan to trap the thieves.
Will the Clocks be caught? Will they have to emigrate?

I thought this book was funny. The Borrowers have limited knowledge on the outside world making the way they act and think seem silly. The book is entertaining, and it is not action packed all the way. It gives you time to think about what you just read, and doesn't zoom through everything. This book is good for all ages. Mary Norton did a great job writing this book.

Editorial Review:

The Borrowers live in the secret places of quiet old houses; behind the mantelpiece, inside the harpsichord, under the kitchen clock. They own nothing, borrow everything, and think that human beings were invented just to do the dirty work. Arrietty's father, Pod, was an expert Borrower. He could scale curtains using a hatpin, and bring back a doll's teacup without breaking it. Girls weren't supposed to go borrowing but as Arrietty was an only child her father broke the rule, and then something happened which changed their lives. She made friends with the human boy living in the house...

All-of-a-kind Family

Sydney Taylor, Helen John

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 91 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Author's Daughter 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

All-of-a-Kind Family was a turning point in the history of Judaic children's literature - the first mainstream book with Jewish characters! In memory of author Sydney Taylor, the Association of Jewish Libraries gives out the Sydney Taylor Book Award each year to the best in Judaic children's literature. See lists of winners at www.sydneytaylorbookaward.org.

Also, you can hear an interview with Jo Taylor Marshall, the daughter of Sydney Taylor, on The Book of Life podcast's October 2007 episode "Catch Me a Classic!" Jo shares memories of the real people who became the characters in the series. Tune in at www.bookoflifepodcast.com!

All Of A Kind Family 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is just as entertaining as it was when I read it as a child! The book arrived quickly, in fantastic condition. Thanks!

Editorial Review:

A heartwarming story of five little girls living with their parents in New York City at the turn of the century. They have simple but happy times as they share adventures, holidays and surprises. When Mama tells them her big news, it's the most wonderful surprise of all!

Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library)

Louisa May Alcott

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 271 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

It's Only the First Half of the Book 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book as a gift to impress the receiver. To my shock, the receiver told me the book was very nice indeed but it contained only the first half of the book. I did not see anywhere where we are told about this being only half of the book unless you include the Library Journal description.

This is my favorite book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have loved this book ever since I was in grade school! I bought this copy because I wanted a nice, hardbound version and I liked the illustrations.

Little Women -- Centennial Edition 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

CENTENNIAL EDITION LITTLE WOMEN OR MEG, JO, BETH, AND AMY A wonderful book I remember from my childhood and plan to read again. The illustrations by Jessie Smith are outstanding. Also, the story is set in a period of our history which is so fascinating.

lovely 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I am a librarian and purchased this for our library after reading several of the other books in the 'Whole Story' series. This is a lovely book. It feels good in the hand, has great sidebar photos and info and will draw in old and new fans of the classics--especially Little Women.

Editorial Review:

Chronicles the humorous and sentimental fortunes of the four March sisters as they grow into young ladies in nineteenth-century New England. First published in 1869.

Lincoln: A Photobiography

Russell Freedman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Deserving of the Newbery 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This biography on Abraham Lincoln is balanced perfectly, a great blend of basic information and detailed facts, without ever becoming irrelevant or too deep. Photographs enhance this effect, including a page that shows the effects of age on Lincoln's face throughout his presidency, and historical artifacts like posters and handwriting samples. This is the perfect Lincoln primer for someone just starting research, or for a middle school student with an assignment.

Rating applies to binding only 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My one star rating applies only to the condition of the book and not its content. I would rate the content 5 stars! I highly recommend the book but I ordered a hardback copy two different times and the binding was falling apart on first opening. I had to return one and am in the process of returning the second. Amazon replied immediately to my concerns and pulled the hardback edition until the problem could be solved.

Editorial Review:

A description of the boyhood, marriage, and young professional life of Abraham Lincoln includes his presidential years and also reflects on the latest scholarly thoughts about our Civil War president. A Newberry Medal Book.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

Bette Bao Lord

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

An Outstanding Tale of Immigrant Life! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonderful story of a young Chinese girl who immigrates to the US with her mother in 1947.

The story is just great - it is rich with historical detail, and the main character is completely lovable. The reader gets a very realistic picture of what life was like for a young immigrant at that time.

The book is also hilarious - the author is a gifted story teller who has a brilliant sense of humor.

Cautious parents may want to know that there is one scene in the book [in the chapter "Secrets"] where the main character is coerced by a friend into keeping a secret from her parents. While, in the end, the "secret" turns out to be something relatively harmless [and ridiculous], parents may want to discuss with their children why it is never a good idea to keep a secret from the adults who care for them.

Over all, this is a fantastic book, a joy to read, and was fun for our whole family.

Editorial Review:

Shirley Temple Wong sails from China to America with a heart full of dreams. Her new home is Brooklyn, New York. America is indeed a land full of wonders, but Shirley doesn't know any English, so it's hard to make friends. Then a miracle-baseball-happens. It is 1947, and Jackie Robinson, star of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is everyone's hero. Jackie Robinson is proving that a black man, the grandson of a slave, can make a difference in America and for Shirley as well, on the ball field and off, America becomes the land of opportunity.

Notable Children's Books of 1984 (ALA)
Best Books of 1984 (SLJ)
Notable 1984 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Children's Books of 1984 (Library of Congress)
1984 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
1985 Jefferson Cup Award (Virginia Library Association)

The Whipping Boy (A Troll Book) (Newbery Medal Winner)

Sid Fleischman

List Price: $4.95 By: Troll Communications Amazon Marketplace: 396 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 137 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Whipping Boy 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This title was on a Summer Reading List. It was a great, quick read for my son. He is in 6th grade. It kept his interest, he understood it, and he didn't get bored away from reading it. Boys his age were characters in the story.

A really good book 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book certainly deserved the Newberry Medal. Its a good and interesting story. One that is harsh at first but has a moral in the end.

Excellent Book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This was purchased for my son. He says that it is a great book, and he enjoys it alot!

Whipping never was so pleasant 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Sometimes I have a couple of minutes that I have nothing to do. This happens rarely. Usually it's because I'm waiting on something else, or I have something to do but it would take more time than I have at that moment. Last week, I had one of those moments where, for a couple of minutes, I had nothing to do. I sure hate to waste those moments, so I saw a book that my wife and I had picked up at a community center for free, and I started to peruse it. The book, as you might imagine, was The Whipping Boy, and the effect was that, after picking it up, I had to search very hard for more free moments so that I could finish the book. I don't know that I would call the book a page turner, but I can say that I was very impressed by it. The Whipping Boy is a young adult novel, but it is written cleverly and uniquely, and while it resembles a lot of good literature, it is a style and a story all its own. Several times in the story I thought I knew what to expect, and in the end, it does turn out that way, but Fleischman does a good job of taking a non-traditional path to get there. He also shows a good understanding for the language and culture of the setting he presents, but he knows how to not bog down the reader into those things either (essential, I think, for a young adult novel). All in all, the story holds up well on its own, fills up the pages nicely, and wraps up appropriately. Maybe I should find another Fleischman story to carry with me in case I stumble across another couple minutes where I have nothing to do.

Editorial Review:

A bratty prince and his whipping boy inadvertently change places after becoming involved with dangerous outlaws. The award-winning author of The Midnight Horse blends the comic with the compassionate in this highly memorable novel. 1987 Newbery Award Book.