( D ) Books - Page 12

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

Roald Dahl

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Apes & Monkeys -> Fiction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Marvelous Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company catches a robber! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me is both funny and serious at the same time. The Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company consists of a giraffe as the ladder, a pellican as the water bucket, a monkey doing the washing, and a kid named Billy as their manager. While they cleaning the Duke of Hampshire, they help catch a robber. This is Roald Dahl's 3rd best book!

Amazing Dahl 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

All of Mr. Dahl's books are great! Wished we could meet him in person. Write more Mr. Dahl.

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

The book is extremely light reading, and is just pure fun. Your children will love it.

great book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

haven't run into one of his children's books I didn't like...creative, engaging text, fun to read to children

Editorial Review:

When Billy joins the Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company, he gets a lot more than a new job. First he makes three new friends, then it's time to get to work cleaning all 677 windows of the Duke of Hampshire's house. The Duke is not only the most wealthy man in the country, he's also the most generous. Can he make Billy's lifelong dream come true? "A captivating story and a wonderful read-aloud."-- The Horn Book

Petunia

Roger Duvoisin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Appealing and quirky goose 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Petunia is a goose, she finds a book and suddenly realises that she must be very intelligent. So she carries the book around under her arm. Other animals in the farm come to her for advice which she dispenses, but usually without good results. Then she comes across a box, she thinks she knows what to do - unfotunately her advice is not good for dealing with a box of fireworks.

There is disaster and Petunia has enough sense to realise that she has not gained any knowledge from simply carrying a book around but must read what is within the pages.

An appealing and quirky book. Also try out Petunia's Christmas. Very good child appealing parables.

Editorial Review:

When Roger Duvoisin first introduced children to his proud and silly goose, Petunia, in 1950, it was love at first sight. Those children have grown up, but Petunia is every bit as fresh and funny and muddled as the day she was born.
In this, the first of the series of classic books featuring the silly goose, Petunia finds a book--and, deciding that if she owns a book she must be wise, dispenses hilariously mistaken advice to the other animals in the farmyard.
With its gentle lesson and the kind of humor that kids love best, this new edition of a picture book classic will delight and inspire a whole new generation of readers.

Killing Mr. Griffin

Lois Duncan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 228 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not one for the classroom 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I would advise one to not read the book Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan. I had to read this book for school and didn't find it appealing. I disliked this book because it was unrealistic and inadequately written. Killing Mr. Griffin is also impractical and somewhat offensive. Most teenagers would not go to the point of killing their teacher because of strict rules and unfair teaching; because of this one never really believes what is going on. Lois Duncan isn't really making the reader believe what is happening. The characters are all very disappointing and unlike real teenagers. They are mostly chaotic and unintelligent. I was frustrated when the female lead, who was supposed to be a smart sensible girl, made a foolish choice because of a boy. Another example of an unrealistic part is when a character drugs his grandmother just to get out of the house. The characters were also underdeveloped. The plot in this book is truly predictable. Killing Mr. Griffin had barely any surprises and no suspenseful parts. Although the theme was true, it was presented in an undesirable and dull way. I was let down by this book and unless sifting through a predictable distasteful book is enjoyable to you, do not read it. Killing Mr. Griffin was also a book that dragged on for large amounts of time. There was major action in the book but it was presented in a way of tedious and confusing text. The dialogue was unrealistic and was not how teenagers talk to each other or to other people. I also thought that Lois Duncan could have found a title that did not give away what was going to happen. The plot was unlikely to happen and very random. Killing Mr. Griffin is not an enjoyable book to read and I highly recommend anyone to avoid using this book as classroom requirements.

Editorial Review:

A group of students kidnap their teacher to "teach him a lesson," but their plans go awry when he dies, leaving them in a morass of lies and guilt.

The Gremlins

Roald Dahl, Artists and Writers Guild, The Disney Studios

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Published in 1943 and long unavailable, Dark Horse Books is proud to present this landmark book from the author of such beloved tales as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda. Digitally restored, this remarkable presentation of Dahl's classic story, lavishly illustrated by the artists of the Walt Disney Studios, will delight readers of all ages! The Gremlins is the story of Gus, a British World War II fighter pilot, who during the Battle of Britain turned to look out on the wing of his plane only to see an amazing sight: a little man, no more than six inches tall with horns growing from his head, drilling a hole in the plane's wing. Gus was the first man to ever see a Gremlin, and what happened after that would change the war, and the world, forever. Bought by Walt Disney to be produced as an animated motion picture (and considered to be the first story featuring the mythical airplane sabotaging creatures known as Gremlins), the project was ultimately shelved and is reprinted here for the first time in over 60 years.

Locked in Time

Lois Duncan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 149 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Immortality 3 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Nore immediately thinks there is something creepy going on when she returns to a new home from boarding school and meets her recently widowed father's new wife. This woman, Lisette, is beautiful and young and has two perfect teenage children of her own. They are living with Nore's father in a beautiful old mansion in New Orleans, and he seems happy. But Nore still thinks something is wrong.

Lisette is very protective of her children. She sees her son, Gabriel, falling for Nore and immediately tries to keep them apart. She often hushes her daughter, Josie, stopping her from speaking. Nore keeps feeling like she should be noticing something strange, but at first she doesn't catch on. Then she listens carefully to the things her stepfamily is saying. Josie refers to being present at a disaster that took place forty years ago. She and Gabe both talk about time passing them by, and being stuck where they are. Soon Nore begins to suspect that her stepfamily is not aging at all, that they may have found some way to remain youthful forever. Now that she knows, Nore fears that her own life may be in danger. But how will she convince her lovestruck father that something terrifying is going on with his new family?

The characters in this story are really vivid and nicely described. I liked the ending and felt like it fit well with the rest of the story. I found it rather unbelievable, though, that if such a method for staying young existed, more people wouldn't have figured it out and used it.

Editorial Review:

It doesn't occur to Nore to take the dream-warning seriously. Her new stepmother and stepbrother seem nice. But why does Nore feel so uneasy around them?



Maybe she should have listened . . .

The Mark on the Door (Hardy Boys, Book 13)

Franklin W. Dixon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Missing Cargo 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Title: The Mark on the Door
Published By: Simon and Schuster
Date Released: 1995
Length: 175 pages
ISBN: 0-448-08913-0
Author: Franklin W. Dixon
Price $2.00


"Frank spotted the tapered metal mast to starboard, generating a tiny wave as it moved through the water. `I see it now, Joe!' `Let's take a closer look!' His brother cried. Frank turned the wheel and advanced the throttle as they sped toward the periscope, but suddenly it sank beneath the waves." Have you ever read any of the Hardy Boys Books? If you haven't you don't know what you're missing. They are the best books ever published. They are a mysterious type of book. They put you right in the middle of the action.

My strongest reason for reading this book is because it has a problem that needs a solution. Every good book has a problem. In this case they need to find out what happened to the missing cargo. Did someone steal the cargo, or is it just been miss placed? You have to continue to read to see what really happens.

Another good reason for reading this book is because it has an interesting plot. Most good books have an Interesting plot. This book is about four young men investigating to find out what came about with the missing cargo. They go to Mazatlan, Mexico to speak with people who they think might have some information about the missing people and cargo. Part of what makes this book so interesting is not only the main problem, but the twists and turns along the way. It keeps you on your toes to keep reading.

In a similar fashion this was a good book because it has real life characters. You can picture these characters walking down a sidewalk talking in Downtown, Somerset. They are like normal people. We can relate to these characters.

You can relate to this book. These characters experience crime just as we do in our society today. The Hardy Boys are brave enough to go after the bad guys and try to solve the mystery just as our local law enforcement and detectives do today.

I would recommend this book to students in Middle School, male students because it is written for that age level and the main characters are boys. It would be too advance for Elementary students and not challenging enough for high schoolers. I think it is a great book because when you read it you feel like you are right in the middle of the action wondering what's going to happen next. I have read numerous Hardy Boy books and this is one of the best ones yet.

If you have not read any of the Hardy Boys books this is an excellent choice to start with, especially if you like mysteries. If you have read some of the series and you haven't read this particular one, I suggest you read it next. Why are you waiting? Read this book to find out just what happened to the missing cargo.

Editorial Review:

In this book, originally published in 1934, the search for a stolen boat leads the Hardy Boys to Mexico where they become involved with a band of Indians and a strange smuggling operation.

Babar's Yoga for Elephants

Laurent de Brunhoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

A thoroughly charming book 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Written in good humor for adults and children. I got it for my grandchildren and they like it. Babar talks to people as though they were visitors from another country, who need to be told about the wonderful things in his world. Yoga is one of those wonderful things.

Editorial Review:

Well before yoga became fashionable via Sting and Madonna, the beloved elephant king Babar and all the residents of Celesteville were finding peace and tranquillity through yoga. And now elephants everywhere can join them! Through easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations, Babar's Yoga for Elephants presents 15 positions and stretches as well as helpful breathing exercises. The book also provides useful advice on what to do with your trunk while in position, a dilemma that human yoga books often ignore.

Written by Babar himself, the book explains how yoga was introduced to Celesteville and how he and Queen Celeste keep fit doing yoga on their many travels. Including a pull-out poster showing Babar in yoga poses, Babar's Yoga for Elephants is sure to become a classic for elephants as well as their human friends.

The Secret of the Lost Tunnel (Hardy Boys, Book 29)

Franklin W. Dixon

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

Civil War Treasure 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The teaser for this book says "The arduous search is full of surprises that will thrill all fans of the Hardy boys." This book fulfills the promise of the teaser as the Hardy boys encounter some of the most callous and dangerous criminals they have ever faced.

This mystery begins with a visit by a General Smith. Moments before General Smith arrives, a man identifying himself as Dr. Bush warns the boys to beware of General Smith. Shortly thereafter a woman calls to warn the boys about Dr. Bush. While the boys are discussing the phone calls a person calling himself General Smith shows up at the Hardy home. The boys are concerned about General Smith's animated behavior and act strangely themselves. The boys' behavior becomes more bizarre when Dr. Bush calls again and Joe Hardy and Chet Morton rush off to see if they can intercept Dr. Bush. After Joe and Chet return, the tension between the boys and General Smith threatens to erupt when Fenton Hardy arrives and greets General Smith as an old friend.

Frank and Joe Hardy and Chet Morton have become involved in a Smith family mystery that dates back to the Civil War. Beauregard Smith, a cousin of General Smith's great-grandfather, promised to bury his gold and the local bank's gold if enemy troops got too close. Three generations of Smiths have unsuccessfully attempted to discover the hiding place of the gold. General Smith asks Fenton Hardy to take on the case. However, Fenton has other commitments and sends Frank, Joe and Chet to begin the investigation.

The boys and General Smith follow a series of clues, hoping that the clues will eventually lead them to the treasure. The boys soon encounter mysterious Professor Randolph and other suspicious characters, including Junior, Hank and Smiley, who may also be searching for the treasure. As the search for the treasure progresses the danger increases. Frank and Joe are kidnapped, Chet is ambushed and someone shoots at the boys in one of the most exciting and interesting Hardy Boys books to this point in the series.

The first 29 Hardy Boys books have been a bumpy ride in quality. However, this book fulfills the promise of the teaser and is a thrilling book that even many teens might enjoy.

The Hardy Boys series is recommended for ages 8 to 12 because the series is relatively tame for the previous target audience of ages 10 to 14. However, this book in the series contains many interesting moments and will keep most readers guessing the answers to the mysteries until the author reveals the final solution.

The Cloud Book

Tomie dePaola

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Cloud Book 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

The Cloud Book is a great book for the curious little scientists or meterologists in your home. To tell you the truth, I thought that this book would be boring. Who wants to read a book about clouds out of science class? But, this book came a surprise to me. It explained clouds in a fun way, making you want to learn about them. The illustrations and metaphors help you understand, while teaching you about them at the same time. The illustrations help you relate everyday objects to those confusing scientific words. Only Tomie de Paola could compare the cumulus clouds with a cauliflower or the cirrus cloud with mare's tails. He also tells folk tales and legends that go along with the clouds. This book is a must on the bookshelf of any future meterologist!

Informative, yet funny 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful.

The Cloud Book is an informative book about clouds, which can be used to integrate reading and science. In this book, the author uses funny illustrations to introduce types of clouds, along with their specific characteristics. The book also includes an index, so that the reader can look for a particular cloud. Also included are different culture's views on clouds and their meanings.
The facts presented correspond with information that is deemed scientifically correct, but the author does not cite a source. The information is up-to-date, and the illustrations do not look dated. There is a clear distinction between scientific fact and the theories of different people groups.
The information is structured well. The book explains how clouds are formed, then examines each cloud type and its characteristics. Each cloud type is compared to objects that are easily identifiable. The index, which lists the cloud types in alphabetical order, is very helpful.
The illustrations, along with the text, intertwine fact with humor. The cartoon style lends itself to exaggeration. The style of the text is also comical. It is clearly for younger children, but an adult reader would also enjoy reading this aloud. The author also illustrates idioms about fog and clouds, painting a humorous view of the English language. The book is concluded with a "Very Silly Cloud Story," which is nonsensical.
Classroom Activity: After completing the story, the students will make cloud journals, in which they will chart clouds for an entire week. Students will write about cloud types, cloud shapes, questions about clouds and other observations.

Age Group: This book can be read aloud to 2nd through 3rd graders, with independent reading recommended for 4th graders.

Editorial Review:

Introduces the ten most common types of clouds, the myths that have been inspired by their shapes, and what they can tell about coming weather changes.

December

Eve Bunting

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Angel in the Alley 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

December is a remarkable book -- it manages to connect homelessness to the realm of miracles and the mystery of Christmas. As a reading teacher, I've had the pleasure of meeting Eve Bunting and sharing her stories with hundreds of children. The younger set don't always understand the implications of the old lady who visits on Christmas Eve, but they are deeply touched by the generosity of a mother and child who are willing to share a cookie, a precious coat and the box over their head. The story has something of the aura of O'Henry's Gift of the Magi. December is a pleasure to read and a treasure to share.

Editorial Review:

Simon and his mom don't have much--the cardboard house they built for themselves, a tiny Christmas tree, and a picture of an angel pinned to one wall. On Christmas Eve they take in a frail stranger who needs a place to keep warm, and the next morning Simon wakes early to find that the woman has vanished. Instead, he sees December, the angel from the picture, with her wings fanned out over their cardboard house. Could she be real?