( A ) Books - Page 6

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (The Wolves Chronicles)

Joan Aiken, Pat Marriott

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 64 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An old favorite 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I thought that I had never read this book, until I remembered details of gooseboy Simon's pressing a key into clay to aid the girls escape from a cruel boarding school. How I loved that passage! I remembered nearly nothing of the rest of the book, so I'm glad I (re)read it. Sylvia and Bonnie are left on their own in England as their vile governess plots to make off with all their money! The wolves are scarier and more omnipresent than I remembered. In many ways, this is a book about fasting and feasting, as the girls have food taken away as punishment, but later enjoy heaps of nutritious, filling fare provided by kind strangers. A great story and one I'll have to remember to recommend to Lemony Snicket aficionados.

Beginner Gothic 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This was a read aloud to my kids and they loved hearing the story of Sylvia and Bonnie in this misty, cold, wolf filled land in England.

A gothic sort of tale, it is full of impending danger. When news arrives that Bonnie's parents have died at sea, wicked Miss Slighcarp sends the girls off to a squalid orphanage where they are starved and ill treated. Miss Slighcarp with the help of Mr. Grimshaw is determined to take over the estate, Willoughby Chase and removes all the faithful servants.

My children loved to hate the villains and shuddered at the cold, snowy nights filled with howling wolves.
A great read aloud with lots of great characters and suspense.

Editorial Review:

Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia are left in the care of a cruel governess when Bonnie's parents go on a sea voyage. Besieged by wolves without and the terrible Miss Slighcarp within, how are they to reclaim Willoughby Chase?.

Fly High, Fly Guy!

Tedd Arnold

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Awesome !!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Even though our 9 year old son loves to read our 7 year old Daughter does not, Until She found the Fly guy series of books !!!!! Now She is reading other books !!!!!! Thanks for the Fly Guy books they jump started her Reading & We also Thank Amazon because alot of Book Stores in our area do not have them !!!!!!

Editorial Review:

Mom and Dad won't let Fly Guy go along on the family road trip. They're afraid he'll get lost. But when Dad accidentally shuts him in the trunk, Fly Guy goes along for the ride!

First, Fly Guy gets lost at the picnic site--but he shows up in the garbage can. Then he gets lost at the art museum, but he shows up as part of a modern painting. At the beach, he turns up in a shell, and at he amusement park, on Buzz's hot dog (yuck!).

Zany illustrations and easy-to-read text make this a fun reading adventure for the beginner. The first book in the Fly Guy series is a Theodor Geisel honor book.

Praise for FLY GUY #1: HI, FLY GUY!

Readers drawn by the flashy foil cover will stick around to applaud this unusually capable critter. --Publisher's Weekly

Praise for FLY GUY #3: SHOO, FLY GUY!

Simple sentences with repetition reinforce reading skills in a humorous way. This delightful book is guaranteed to fly off library shelves. --School Library Journal

Skellig

David Almond

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 166 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A gently powerful book 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I have read this book to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. As the reviews from children indicate, this book might be best as a read-to for they miss the subtlety in language and image: exactly where the book shines.

Almond is a master at exploring teen angst, perhaps his background as a Special Needs teacher helped here. The protagonist is a bundle of angst and he has no clue of how to deal with it. Almond puts his characters into a twilight realm, a world of half-closed eyes. Is it fantasy or imagination? Real or not? It is there the characters wind their way to a resolution.

The language is beautiful. The prose reminds me of Ray Bradbury's but on a more visceral level--an emotionality that speaks of the rawness and magic of youth.

The story abounds with wonderful symbolism (chicks, birds, flying, grounded, etc.) and sharp characterizations (Doctor Death, Skellig himself--a discarded, disused, dusty person(?)who, when in the sunlight, is beautiful) that make this book a supreme read-to for a class or parent. It is a treasure chest layered with mystery, the pain of longing, and the beauty of hoping. Of course children would miss it all on their own. This is a book through which a child needs to be led, like Alice through Wonderland, and it's a great joy to do so.

Editorial Review:

Michael was looking forward to moving into a new house. But now his baby sister is ill, his parents are frantic, and Doctor Death has come to call. Michael feels helpless. Then he steps into the crumbling garage and encounters a strange being who changes his world forever.

Billy And Blaze: A Boy And His Horse

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Hoofs and Wheels 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 18 people found this review helpful.

While women generally ride for pleasure to feel the wind and the movement of the horse beneath, a boys ride is different in that it is the power and speed of the ride that are most dear to him in these chariots of fire, the roar of the engine, the hoofs and the noise of the wheels that inspire their thrill. Boys tend to drive either their horses or their cars to see the height of their power, and whether the beauty of black or the silver shine of white, the joy of the command lies in the skill of the rider and the knowledge of his horse, or his engine, a sight that most can appreciate, understand, and admire.

Editorial Review:

Billy was a little boy who "loved horses more than anything else in the world." Imagine how happy he was when he got his very own pony for his birthday! From that day on, Billy was seldom seen without his new friend, Blaze.

Riding through fields and woods, Billy and Blaze learned to trust and understand one another -- and to jump over fences and fallen trees with ease. They were a great team, but were they good enough to win the gleaming silver cup at the Mason Horse Show?

This is the first book in the classic Billy and Blaze series. Sensitive drawings and easy-to-read words capture the warmth and gentle understanding between a boy and his horse.

Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones (Cam Jansen)

David A. Adler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Dinosaurs and a mystery, another adventure for Cam! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

You have to love Cam Jansen. When you're a kid, you read all of these stories about magic powers, mystery, and adventure. But everyone tells you magic can't exist. Cam Jansen manages to solve every case without the use of magic... she's a real girl. That's what makes her special and what makes you want to read more and more. She lives her life and has friends just like everyone else. Cam Jansen is a real kid superhero, and the thought that a person like her could actually exist... makes her the best kid detective ever! Kids can really associate themselves with Cam and her friends. Our family loves Cam Jansen!

Editorial Review:

The Cam Jansen books are perfect for young readers who are making the transition to chapter books, and Cam is a spunky young heroine whom readers have loved for over two decades. Now the first ten books in the series have updated covers that bring new life to these perennial best-sellers. Old fans and new readers will love Cam's cool, modern look!

Wyvernhail: The Kiesha'ra: Volume Five

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

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

strong ending to the Kiesha'Ra young adult fantasy 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Being a half breed, Hai knows her blood lines are considered impure by her paternal serpentine family and by her aviary maternal kin. Neither side recognizes her beyond being a mongrel even with cobra blood flowing inside her. Even more painful proof of being a lowlife outsider is her broken falcon wings that occurred when she lived on Ahnmik Island and envisioned her beloved Nicias with a full blooded flacon female at his side. However, residing at the Wyvern's Court has not proved much better though albeit a bit safer as she is unaccepted by anyone and everyone fears her out of control magic causing havoc.

When Hai's half cousin Oliza Shardae Cobriana abdicates the Wyvern's Court throne, the kingdom is thrown into chaos. Hai has visions of the terrible destruction of her new home. It is ablaze and she also sees serpent King Salem dying while Nicias the Falcon guard is unable to save the children or himself. She knows she must do what she can to save the people especially the children, but she feats what it will cost her.

Volume five is a strong ending to the Kiesha'Ra young adult fantasy thrillers that has been a deep coming of age saga. Hai is terrific as she feels a responsibly to save the court especially the children although most of the adults have treated her with bias and disdain because of her mongrel status. Readers of all ages will enjoy the finish, but it behooves the audience to peruse the previous four tales as this is a fine series.

Harriet Klausner

Editorial Review:

HAI HAS ALWAYS been an outsider. With a falcon mother and a deceased cobra father, she is considered a mongrel by most, an ally by some, and a friend by few. Hai's broken falcon wings are a painful reminder of the life she once led on the island of Ahnmik. And here in Wyvern's Court, the avian and serpiente royal family keep their distance, refusing to acknowledge her cobra bloodline. They know that Hai's magic is so volatile, she can barely control it, and images of the past and future threaten to overwhelm her.

When Hai's cousin, Oliza Shardae Cobriana, abdicates the throne of Wyvern's Court, Hai has visions only of destruction: the serpiente king Salem, dying in her arms; the dutiful guard, Nicias, unable to save a generation of children; and Wyvern's Court engulfed in flames.

Now Hai will do anything to protect her new home - even if it means betraying the very people who need her most.


From the Hardcover edition.

Happy Birthday, Moon (Moonbear)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

One thing that went wrong 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

(on behalf of my 6 year old son). I like this book because nothing went wrong except one thing, and it was when bear said, "Hello" but it echoed. I recommend this book because it is a pretty good beginner book.

Brings Back Memories!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is the best book ever... My mother used to read this book to me at bedtime every night and I loved it so much. It was also one of the first books I learned to read on my own. It is great that I could find it on here. I gave the one I had when I was little to my nephew. I am going to purchase this one for myself and for the friends of mine who already have children...This will definitely be on my childrens' shelves when I plan to start a family. A Great and simple read that teaches children to appreciate the little things..
Thanks for reading...

Happy Birthday Moon 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Pretty cute book for 18months and up. Our 18 month old is obsessed with moons so he loves it.

Happy Birthday Moon 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This one of my all time favorite books. It is well written and very creative. My son would always ask for this book. He now reads it to his little brother. Great book.

Editorial Review:

A poetic fantasy, "Happy Birthday, Moon" has delighted fans for years as a simple yet reassuring celebration of love and friendship.

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus (Trophy Picture Books)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

great introduction for any age 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonderful book - geared for children but enjoyable for any age. The book uses straightforward language, so that the reader and listener will not get overwhelmed by complex or archaic terminology. The artwork is just beautiful and will keep the young audience engaged while listening. The book is quite systematic, starting with Gaea and showing the lineages of the Gods, the Titans, etc. By the end of the book, you can look at the last page and identify the 12 Gods who sat on Olympus and a few others to boot. Even adults who have some knowledge of Greek Mythology will appreciate its orderly presentation and the book will help you understand the relationships between the Gods. My only criticism is that pronunciation keys were not provided. This would really help a novice like me (and most children) so as not to butcher their beautiful greek names. Otherwise, I have no criticism at all.

Editorial Review:

Long, long ago in ancient Greece, people began telling wonderful stories to explain the mysteries of life. These myths featured gods and goddesses, mighty beings who look human but have amazing powers and live forever. Now you can meet these extraordinary characters and hear their legends, brought to life again by Aliki in this splendid, panoramic look at the amazing stories and characters of Greek legend. "[Will meet the] demand for basic information on the gods and goddesses at the primary level."—BL. "Aliki's fans will welcome her introduction to these famous Greeks."—SLJ.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)

Rose in Bloom

Louisa May Alcott

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 31 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

It Only Gets Better 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

If Eight Couisins was great, Rose In Bloom is classic! I left the child-hood friends in great anticipation of meeting them again as adults. At the same time, however, I felt an ominous sense of foreboding. . . Would Charlie and Mac ruin their friendship in vieing for their sweet cousin's hand? I could not imagine Mac striving with anyone over anything. So . . . what then? Would the romantic and debonair Charlie simply sweep Rose off her feet, while Mac stands in the background and sighs with dissapiontment? No. That didn't seem to fit, either. As it turned out, the good and noble Mac did win Rose's heart over his hansome and undiciplined cousin. I - like Rose - first fell in love with "the Prince". And like her, I came to see, through tragic circumstances, what true love really means. . . finding someone you can look up to, instead of lift up.

Editorial Review:

After two years travelling around the world, Rose Campbell has a lot of strong opinions. Before thoughts of marriage, she would like to be independent. However, even her closest friend seems to be acting differently. The author has also written "Little Women".

Jo's Boys

Louisa May Alcott

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Jo's Boys: Not the Best, but Still Good 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Well, it certainly can't compare with Little Women or Little Men, but it is still a good read. But it has a lot of morals, even more so than the other 2. There are several slow points. But if you've read Little Men, and want to know what happens to the originlal Little Women, as well as to Demi, Daisy, Nan, Nat and the rest, this is the book you need.

Half entertaining, half irritating. 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have to agree with the reviewer who complained about the sermons. This book is even more littered with preaching than Little Men and Little Women, and that's saying something. Probably a good 20% of this book is skip-worthy for that reason.

Alcott was always prone to littering her works with literary and artistic references (calling Amy "Raphael," and whatnot), but she seems to have gone dramatically overboard in this book, with references to almost all of Goethe's various fictional characters, George Eliot, Charlotte Bronte, Florence Nightingale, "Miss Cobbe" and "Miss Phelps" [?], and more, and more, and more. There are a lot of currently-understandable Shakespearean references, but a lot of the references are to obscure or long-forgotten people. It seems more like active name-dropping or literary snobbery [i.e., "Look how many literary references I can pack into my books!"] than actually adding to the story.

Otherwise, the followups are good; it's interesting to learn about how she perceived her characters at ten years older...though Teddy, and his cousin Jo (Baby Josie in "Little Men"), have turned out to be clones of the original Jo, practically. Overall, this book is not really a worthy effort. But read it if you need continuity and closure.

Editorial Review:

Recounts the further adventures, successes, and failures of the numerous young men of Plumfield school. Sequel to "Little Men."