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A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1)

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 402 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A Tough Read 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Many reviewers have been irked by comparisons between this book and the Lord of the Rings. Having read both I can see that there are some similarities. Like Middle Earth, the world of Earthsea is intricate and detailed and feels authentic. There is a sense of mythology behind the mythology and history behind the history that is rare in modern works of fantasy. I would go so far as to say in many ways Earthsea is more realistic than Middle Earth. Unlike the latter it is gritty and dirty and gets under your fingernails.

Having said that, for me that is where the comparison ends. I found Wizard of Earthsea to be a difficult read. If I were to attempt to summarise the plot, the book is really about one person's journey from humble beginnings on an island to eventual eminence as a wizard. To me that journey is all too often pondering, repetitive and just plain boring. I couldn't help but feel that a brilliant, realistic world had been invented in which nothing very interesting actually happened. I also felt that the importance given to names started off interesting but palled badly towards the end. As a plot device I felt it was overused and often left me unsatisfied. The characters and dialogue also irked me. It felt as if everyone in the world was badly constipated. Just one light-hearted and perhaps even humerous character would have made all the difference, but there were none.

Overall, I'm glad I read this book, but I don't see myself ever reading it again, nor attempting any of the sequels. I give it three stars for the depth of the world that the author has created. I just wish she'd come up with a better story and better characters to go with it.

Editorial Review:

Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow  upon the world. This is the tale of his testing,  how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an  ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to  restore the balance.


From the Paperback edition.

The Night Before Christmas

Anita Lobel

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

The Night Before Christmas (Golden Storybooks) 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I'm now on a third edition of this poem and, to keep them straight, the ISBN of each edition is at the start of its review. The first, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (Candy Cane Books) began with a sentence I'm going to copy and paste here: While there's no question that the original poem by Clement Moore is a five star piece of work, there are so many versions of this poem in print that any review has to be of the entire book, with more weight on the illustrations, the only difference between them. I suggest potential customers pay attention to which reviews apply to which book, as there's quite a difference in quality.

The classic poem, wherein the narrator hears noise on the lawn on Christmas Eve and, responding to it, sees Santa in his sleigh land on the roof, come down the chimney, etc. The narrator, the father of the family, watches Santa place gifts under the tree and, when done, hop in his sleigh and fly away.

ISBN 0307637506 - (5 stars) Illustrator Cyndy Szekeres and Golden Books measure up to the standard set by Moore. Szekeres's family is one of mice, which always makes for some fun illustrations. The "wreath" on the family's door is one leaf and one holly berry; the parents' bed is a sardine can; Santa sits on a single die to review his list and the endtable is a thread spool while a large family photo has a locket for a frame. These little touches of whimsy are fun and cute. All ages love the poem, children in particular will love the mice and their adorable adapted furnishings.

ISBN 0307119564 - (3 stars) Illustrators Greg and Tim Hildebrandt did an okay job, just nothing special. The Santa on the cover looks a little bug-eyed, which makes him seem to be leering... which, in turn, makes it an unattractive cover. The inside illustrations are on the old-fashioned side, and they complement the poem well. The detail is nice and the decorated tree is one of the best images - although the decorations on the tree change from page to page. Not bad, just not the best.

- AnnaLovesBooks

Editorial Review:

Illustrated in full color. "On Dasher. On Dancer..."  Merriment comes in a miniature hardcover edition that can fit snugly in a Christmas stocking or be hung by its gilded thread upon a tree. Caldecott Honor Book artist Anita Lobel's stunning illustrations of Clement C. Moore's classic poem make this "the definitive city child's edition" (The New York Times Book Review).  

Perelandra (Space Trilogy)

C. S. Lewis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 91 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The best of the series 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy is easily one of the best series I've ever read, and while each volume is so strong that it's difficult to choose the best, Perelandra, the second book, builds well on the foundation laid by Out of the Silent Planet and, in the end, outshines the final book, That Hideous Strength.

The story begins as Lewis, writing himself into his own story, arrives in the English countryside to visit his old friend Dr. Ransom, with whom he has been corresponding about Ransom's strange journey to Mars, chronicled in the first book of the series. When Lewis arrives, Ransom reveals that the eldils--angelic creatures bound to different planets--of Mars have continuously visited him since his return to Earth, and that he is to leave on another journey that very night. Boxed up in an otherworldly, coffin-like capsule, Ransom is whisked away and doesn't return for over a year. When he does, he narrates his story through Lewis.

Perelandra is the actual name of what we call the planet Venus, and when Ransom crashes through the dense, cloudy atmosphere he finds himself in a world of nothing but ocean, where floating islands of matted plants drift along, providing a place for rest and sleep. There, he meets the Queen of Venus, a green-skinned, naked woman apparently innocent of all knowledge except that told directly to her by Maleldil, or God. She knows the animals and their names, that her husband, the King, is somewhere on the same planet, and that Maleldil has forbidden them both to spend the night on solid land.

Ransom decides that he has been brought to a new Eden, but for what purpose? His question is answered when a familiar-looking spaceship lands on Perelandra and Dr. Weston, the Nietzschean nemesis of Out of the Silent Planet, rows ashore. Weston soon plays host to a devilish tempter and Ransom's duty becomes clear--he must prevent this Eden's fall.

Perelandra is a tour de force for C.S. Lewis. All of his skills are on display and sharply focused--the beautifully-drawn world, the deep resonance of his message and theme, and even the wry, good-natured humor that underlies so much of his work. And the work is far deeper than most scientific or theological fiction--parallels to his own works, such as The Screwtape Letters, and works like Paradise Lost and The Divine Comedy abound. Those to Paradise Lost are perhaps the most pointed, as Lewis dethrones Milton's concept of a high, stately Satan and replaces it with the far more likely childish, vindictive devil that inhabits Weston.

The Space Trilogy is very loosely constructed, which means that any one of the books can be read as either part of the series or as stand-alone entertainment. It may not be necessary to read Out of the Silent Planet prior to this novel, but I'd recommend it and, if you choose not to, you'll want to once you've finished Perelandra. You won't be disappointed.

Highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

The second novel in Lewis's science fiction trilogy tells of Dr Ransom's voyage to the planet of Perelandra (Venus).

The Willoughbys

Lois Lowry

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

Clever, quick read 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Read this enjoyable little book this summer and knew I had to share it with my middle school class. We have enough time to read a couple of chapters every few days during our "silent" reading time and I love Lowry's tongue-in-cheek delivery. The vocabulary is great too and I branched out to show them more of the "old fashioned" stories the Willoughby's are obsessed with. Does my heart good when I see kids pick up Heidi or Pollyanna.

Editorial Review:

Abandoned by their ill-humored parents to the care of an odious nanny, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good oldfashioned children. Following the models set in lauded tales from A Christmas Carol to Mary Poppins, the four Willoughbys hope to attain their proscribed happy ending too, or at least a satisfyingly maudlin one. However, it is an unquestionably ruthless act that sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings for not only the four children, but their nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnate, and his long-lost son too. Replete with a tongue-in-cheek glossary and bibliography, this hilarious and decidedly old-fashioned parody pays playful homage to classic works of children's literature.

Pippi Longstocking (Puffin Modern Classics)

Astrid Lindgren

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 50 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good Fun 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My children and I loved the stories. Watch out for the last story however. The generous Pippi shares guns with her friends. I had to explain to my six year old that this is from a different time in a different country and that she should never ever touch a gun.

Kids shoudl love Pippi 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is excellent for young and old. It needs to be in everyone's library. Buy it for an 8 year old relative, but read it before you wrap it up!

Pippi Longstocking (not cut out for a 1st grader) 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The book is a classic and I love it but it definitely is not reading material for a 1st grader. I bought this for Christmas (although Amazon promised to get it here by then and it came December 27th) I will give it to my daugher for her 7yr b-day.

Good story but galling audiobook 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The story is good but perhaps a bit boring for children under 7 or 8 years of age. The narrator of the audiobook does a decent job but is not as lively as other narrators I have heard and unfortunately grossly mispronounces the name of one of the three main characters (which, given the number of times she is mentioned, becomes galling).

Editorial Review:

Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for the outrageous that seems to lead to one adventure after another!

Owl at Home (I Can Read Book 2)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

great memories 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I originally purchased this book when my children were young, and it was nearly worn out from the numerous readings. My children loved the "bumps" and I always used the "tear water tea" to remind my kids when everything seemed to be going wrong in their world. It is a great little book for children...and some of us adults as well.

Wonderful, Whimsical, Wise 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This Arnold Lobel classic should be a fixture on every child's bookshelf. Owl is a gentle soul with whom children can identify, even as they laugh at Owl's silly responses to mundane events in the world around him. Humor ensues when Owl goes too far in anthropomorphizing (tytomorphizing?) winter and the moon, and when he mistakes his own feet for scary bumps under the bed. These stories are a natural for bedtime on a cold winter night, cuddled up under the blankets just before drifting off to sleep.

Editorial Review:

Welcome to Owl's cozy home.Owl lives by himself in a warm little house. One evening he invites Winter to sit by the fire. Another time he finds strange bumps in his bedroom. And when Owl goes for a walk one night, he makes a friend that follows him all the way home.

Left Hand of Darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 186 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel of the Year

A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.

"As profuse and original in invention as The Lord of the Rings." --Michael Moorcock

"What got to me was the quality of the storytelling. She's taken the mythology, psychology--the entire creative surround--and woven it into a jewel of a story." --Frank Herbert

"Evocative." --The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

"An instant classic." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"[A] science fiction masterpiece." --Newsweek

Frog and Toad Are Friends

Arnold Lobel

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 47 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

needy public school teacher 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The books were in excellent condition and arrived earlier than expected. I had checked all local used bookstores. They were not available because of the high demand in our district. Similar books were the same price as Amazon's including shipment. I will not be going to used bookstores again. Amazon saved me time, money & gas!

Frog and Toad are Friends 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

'Frog and Toad Are Friends' by Arnold Lobel is a story is most appropriate for children ages 4-8. This is a great story of friendship between Frog and Toad. Toad tells stories to Frog when Frog is sick, Frog helps search for Toad's lost button, and Frog writes a letter to Toad because he never receives any mail. This book is full of tales of friendship and adventure. Read this book to see all that Toad and Frog do on their adventures.

Editorial Review:

One summer day Toad was unhappy. He had lost the white, fourholed, big, round, thick button from his jacket. Who helped him look for it? His best friend, Frog. Another day, Frog was unhappy. He was sick in bed and looking green. Who gave him some tea and told him a story? His best friend, Toad.

From the first enchanting story to the last, these five adventures of two best friends are packed with excitement, gaiety, and tender affection. Children will find this book delightful to read and beautiful to look at, either story by story, or from cover to cover.

Days with Frog and Toad

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

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

I've bought several of the Frog and Toad books for my grandson (who is now six) and we loved them all, this one included. They are delightful and refreshing. There is a lesson in every book, and my grandson never loses interest in hearing the stories. One of the characters is a pessimist, the other an optimist, and I think this causes children to really think about life, and consider looking at life as the glass being half FULL! Frog and Toad really rock!

a must-have for young readers! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The youthful adventures of the ever-sensible Frog and his seemingly naïve companion Toad demonstrate important qualities of lasting friendship. This dynamic duo cleans a house, flies a kite, shares ghost stories, celebrates a birthday gift, and even discovers benefits to being alone on occasion. In each of the five vignettes there is a unique balance between the elements of repetition and surprise. Also remarkable about this book is Lobel's one-of-a-kind illustrations. Each green and brown image brilliantly depicts action which serves as a cue for early readers. The simplicity of the drawings allows readers to focus on the text while enjoying the illustrations. In addition to the close match of images to words, the large print, short chapters, and overall themes of the book lend themselves to younger children ages five to eight. While Frog and Toad have many dissimilar characteristics, their differences do not get in the way of their close friendship and their love for each other. Lobel's masterpiece leaves children with several new lessons while remaining exceptionally entertaining.

Editorial Review:

Friends every dayGood friends like Frog and Toad enjoy spending their days together. They fly kites, celebrate Toad's birthday, and share the shivers when one of them tells a scary story. Here are five funny stories that celebrate friendship all day, every day.

How to Behave and Why

Munro Leaf

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

MY 6 YR OLD LOVES IT! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The pictures are entertaining and the speaker captures the attention. My daughter is one to please adults, though. If your child is unruly, I'm not sure this book would work very much. A good reinforcer and fodder(sp?) for discussion.

Editorial Review:

"No matter where you are or who you are, there are four main things that you have to do if you want to make good friends and keep them.

You have to be HONEST
You have to be FAIR
You have to be STRONG
and you have to be WISE
And there is no good in trying to fool yourself. All that isn't so easy."

In a time when all the rules for raising children have been redefined dozens of times, here is a book for bewildered parents from a simpler time when we all agreed on what was right and what was wrong. First published in 1946, Munro Leaf's How To Behave And Why gives touchingly sincere yet gently funny lessons in Honesty, Fairness, Strength, and Wisdom. Originally intended for the very young, but with meaning for us all, How To Behave and Why is a true classic, charmingly illustrated with childlike drawings, and with a timeless message. It is a sure guide for teaching children (and adults) how to behave.