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Circle of Magic: Sandry's Book (Circle of Magic, Book 1) (UNABRIDGED)

Tamora Pierce

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 197 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Ahmazing. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

About four years ago, I got this book for my birthday. And at that time, I had no interest in fantasy, so I swear it sat on my nightstand for weeks--no, MONTHS before I even opened the thing. Eventually, I opened it. And I read a couple sentences, put the book down and started on homework. Then the calling came, my mind started edging towards ideas of what would happen to Sandry. Why was she in a cell, what did she do with the thread? I ended up crawling onto my bed and reading it. I couldn't stop. I fell in love with Sandry and Briar, Tris and Daja. I loved how everybody seemed to clash and then smooth over. That is when I fell in love with fantasy, with Tamora Pierce.

I reccommend this book for anybody who wants a good fantasy. Just give it a try.

Editorial Review:

When four strange, and strangely talented, youngsters are brought to Winding Circle by master mage Niko they find themselves drawn together in a Circle of Magic—a circle that binds them despite their differences.Tamora Pierce, America’s most popular writer of young adult fantasy novels, weaves her own special magic in the opening volume of her wildly popular Circle of Magic quartet. Tammy herself narrates this recording, supported by a cast of nearly thirty actors, including Bruce Coville appearing as Niko. The rich web of voices bring this intricate story to life in a way that listeners will never forget.

Puss in Boots (Sunburst Book)

Charles Perrault

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Should have won the gold! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Facial expressions are everything in Fred Marcellino's illustrations of Puss in Boots, the famous folk tale by Charles Perrault. This book won the Caldecott Honor Medal in 1991.

As a children's librarian, I always ask my audience where the story begins. Their assumption is on page one until I show them that sometimes the story begins on the cover. Children's illustrators are nothing if not creative. Look at the dust jacket--there he is, Puss looking regal in royal clothes. Now turn to the title page: Puss is seeking food on a ship in the form of unsuspecting mice. Where is this story going with two discrepant images? Page two of the double spread--Puss is going to be eaten. Look at that feline face? Eaten? Say whaaaa?

Now Puss gets boots and begins to show his new master his guiles, all the while gifting the king with the largesse of his own lands, which Puss passes off as gifts from the Marquis of Carabas, a name Puss invents for his poor master. This elaborate ruse is continued until Puss manages a marriage between the king's daughter and his Marquis, all without a hitch. Well, of course, this is a fairy tale, if you consider Puss as a kind of fairy. That is the simple straight-away of the story.

Now consider the artwork, the finest version of any I have ever seen for Puss. The poor peasant/Marquis is handsome, Puss is handsome, the princess is beautiful, the castle is gorgeous, clothing is awesome, the ogre is ugly. Look again. The artwork is reminiscent of paintings from the Renaissance when perspective was "invented" and all artwork was perfect and detailed. Is Marcellino saying that Puss was placed in a perfect setting to display his perfect skills of ledgerdemaine, so to speak?

Notice also the location of "viewer," another aspect of perspective. The viewer is always part of the action, looking up or down or around or through or under, sometimes in a humorous view or scary or bold, but always right there, almost as part of the action.

If those qualities of his artwork aren't enough, what really stands out are the facial expressions Marcellino gives his characters, especially Puss. Two standouts are the picture of Puss shouting orders to the hay cutters and his totally relaxed pose at the end when his master has married the princess and confirmed a rosy future for the two of them. Puss has de-booted, or disarmed, himself for a fully deserved rest.

Marcellino should have won the gold for this book! (David Macauley won for Black and White. OK, tough call. As much as I love Puss in Boots, I have to go with Black and White. However, my sentence stands because it makes a catchy ending.)

Editorial Review:

A Caldecott Honor Book in a deluxe softcover edition.

An ALA Notable Book

Pink and Say

Patricia Polacco

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Pink and Say 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonderfully written book. I have always enjoyed Patricia Polacco books and the sneak peek into her life that she gives us. As a second grade teacher I will use this book next year to give my students a better understanding of what happened in our country not so long ago. This book should give them a better understanding of how the color of your skin affected how others treated you.

Moving 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

For a Civil War unit, this picture book has mature pictures, which are beautiful. A black teen Union soldier saves a white soldier, they hide, then are found and taken away. The Confederates hanged Pinkus (the Black teen) and imprisoned the White teen. The White teen survived, and the book is a true story passed down through oral history of his family. A teacher may want to use this powerful and moving story for any age students.

Editorial Review:

In a true story, Pinkus Aylee, a black Union soldier, finds Sheldon Curtis left for dead and carries him home to be tended by his mother, but when the two boys attempt to rejoin the Union troops, they are captured and sent to Andersonville Prison.

Cold Fire (Circle Opens)

Tamora Pierce

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

an excellent piece of writing by Tamora Pierce 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

In my opinion, Cold Fire is more interesting than Magic Steps and Street Magic, simply because it introduces new concepts and themes into Tamora Pierce's writing. One such is traitorism. You know it's going to happen, but you dread it all the same. There is also more fear and suspense and less repetition than in the other books. It is a more complex novel. It may seem that Daja is an unfeeling character in the beginning because it is mostly written in denotation with no point of view behind her observation, but later in the novel, you'll find that this is not so. Daja shares memories of her past, and hints towards the future are apparant. The twins are amusing and Frostpine down to earth. There is a satisfying plot. It's great!

Editorial Review:

The Circle Opens-the young mages from the Circle of Magic series are growing in power. Daja has travelled with her teacher, Frostpine, to the icebound city of Kugisko in Namorn. Daja is eager to learn more from Kugisko's smiths-but she finds herself teaching instead, as she discovers that her host's twin daughters are both mages, unbeknownst to the girls or their family. Kugisko is a wooden city, desperately vulnerable to fires-so when Daja meets Ben Ladradun, a man heroically committed to fighting fires that devastate his city, she is eager to help him. But is Ben really the hero he seems.?

The Caboose Who Got Loose (Book and CD)

Bill Peet

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Author Bill Peet Always the best 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Author Bill Peet has the gift to spark the imagination of all children. His stories are amazing. There are over 30 kids books by him and I recommend them all!The Caboose Who Got Loose (Sandpiper Books)

A Favorite from Bill Peet 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great artwork combined with a good story makes this an all time favorite and makes Katy a hero. All of my kids (especially my boys) loved this book. There are always big smiles when I finish reading how "Katy did."

Editorial Review:

Katy caboose doesn't like her life at the back of the train. Stuck with clouds of billowing smoke from the engine and a bumpy, jolting ride, she longs for some peace and quiet. When her rusty bolts bust loose, Katy finally gets the life she wants in a way she never expected! This Read-Along Book and CD Favorite includes a paperback edition of the book and a compact disc in a newly designed reusable package. Perfect for car trips, classrooms, and bedtime listening, these recordings feature lively sound effects and original music. The CD includes one reading with page-turn signals as well as an uninterrupted reading.

Kermit the Hermit

Bill Peet

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Selfish shellfish finds satisfaction in doing for others 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Bill Peet is a wonderful children's book author and Kermit The Hermit is a great example of his work. It is a 1965 story about a Hermit Crab who starts out the story as a selfish shellfish. Through an act of human kindness, he learns the emptiness of a self-centered life. Kermit devotes himself to repaying the favor and finds satisfaction in doing for others.

The book is a long rhyming poem with delightful color illustrations surrounding the text. This is a story that children and those who read to them are sure to enjoy.

Is Bill Peet Dr. Suess' Brother? 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book feels like it is written by Dr. Suess, with the same cadence in the rhymes. The language is a tad more sophisticated, but both my son and I love the book! It is so much fun to read, I don't know who enjoys it more.

Fun, cute, and with a good message 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I found this book remaindered, and picked it up just because it was set in Monterey Bay. I was delighted to find that it was a terrific story, and that my daughter (age 2-1/2) loved it.

My only criticism is that some of the poetry is a bit strained, but it doesn't detract from the overall excellence. Great pictures, good characters, and a fine message.

And, by the way, the pictures very accurately portray Monterey Bay, both above and below the water.

Editorial Review:

A little boy saves Kermit from disaster, and the once cranky crab works hard to repay him.

Where's My Cow?

Terry Pratchett

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 48 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Discworld fans, untie! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My daughters introduced me to the wonderful world of Terry Pratchett, and I've bought a copy of this for each of them by way of thanks. I have no idea if it would mean anything to a person who doesn't know Discworld, but for me it's just lovely.

Great book for all ages 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Terry Pratchett -- ably assisted by artist Melvyn Grant -- has written another great book. This one can be enjoyed even if you're not familiar with the Discworld series.

Not quite the book I thought it was 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I kind of thought this book would be more like the fictional book "Where's my Cow?" described in "Nightwatch", instead it is a mix of that and the book Sam Vimes thought it should be.

The difference is that the first would be enjoyed by the child, the other would be more enjoyed by a fan of Terry pratchett who is reading to a child.

Excellent Illustrated Discworld Romp 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Though generally found in the children's picture books, this is actually an illustrated book for adult fans of the Discworld--particularly those familiar with Thud! "Where's My Cow" starts out as the picture book Sam Vimes reads to young Sam in Thud! and Pratchett has, with his usual genius, taken it and given it the ol' Discworld flavor and turned it into a hilarious romp through Ankh-Morpork. Grant's illustrations are wonderful, capturing some of the characters perfectly (Vetinari, in particular) and his fanciful book within a book drawings add a wonderful other-world feel. While not recommended as a children's picture book in general, this is wonderful addition for Discworld fans.

Editorial Review:

This is a book about reading a book, which turns into a different book. But it all ends happily!

Paperboy

Dav Pilkey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Deliverance 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

It's a bad sign when a book published in 1996 already conjures up feelings of nostalgia. Remember paperboys? How kids could earn a little extra money by getting that crack-of-dawn delivery job that put a few more coffers in their pockets? Nowadays, many paperboys have been replaced with adults. Adults with cars, no less. Looking back at Dav "Captain Underpants" Pilkey's Caldecott Honor title, "The Paperboy", the reader is transported to those ethereal moments that exist for some kids even today just before the sun rises. It's a story about a boy, his dog, his job, and that's about it. No grand statements or surprising moments. Just a lovely look at a once common suburban ideal.

On the title page we see a dull gray truck leaving the loading dock of the Morning Star Gazette in (what most of us would call) the dead of night. It makes its delivery of a stack of newspapers at one of the many houses in a particular suburb. The first sentence sets the mood perfectly. "The mornings of the paperboy are still dark and they are always cold even in the summer". A boy forces himself out of his warm bed and makes some breakfast for himself and his corgi dog. After bundling the papers up, the kid and his faithful companion make the familiar route and think their private thoughts. Just as the sun is rising, boy and dog have finished their job and they return home just as everyone else in the family is waking up. The paperboy and his pet, however, climb back into the bed, "which is still warm" and dream of soaring through the night sky.

The book records each small action that the paperboy accomplishes with a small unassuming note of triumph. Sentences like, "It's hard to ride a bike when you are loaded down with newspapers. But the paperboy has learned how to do this, and he is good at it". Also, getting out of a warm bed to do a job is exceedingly difficult to accomplish sometimes, "but they do". Kids don't have to ford rivers or climb mountains to be brave. Just making yourself to do something uncomfortable or unpleasant can be heroism enough. Pilkey recognizes this and celebrates it with understated aplomb.

I loved the fact that the dog in this book was a corgi, by the way. There just aren't enough corgis in children's literature, gol durn it! Aside from Tasha Tudor's books ("A Time To Keep" comes to mind), corgis are the most ignored picture book dogs out there. This is hard to figure when you consider just how cute and cuddly they are. They're the world's only permanent puppies! So if you happen to be a children's illustrator and you feel you have a certain amount of clout in the publishing world (ho ho!), get the word out: We Need More Corgis.

The obvious companion to this book, right off the top of my head, is "The Adventures of Sparrowboy", by Brian Pinkney. In fact, if Mr. Pinkney weren't such an original author in his own right, I'd be mighty suspicious regarding all the similarities between these two books. "Sparrowboy" follows an unassuming paperboy who acquires the power of flight. "The Paperboy" follows an unassuming paperboy who at the end of the book dreams of flight. Both are African-American young men who live in suburban neighborhoods. If you're more interested in doing a full-on paperboy storytime, also consider Don Brown's, "Kid Blink Beats the World". That's a kind of paperboy heroism the likes of which we'll probably never seen again. "Sparrowboy" and "Kid Blink" would be obvious pairings, but the tone of "The Paperboy" has far more in common with Jane Yolen's well-regarded, "Owl Moon". Both books revel in the feeling children have when they are out in the mysterious night and no one else is awake. If you're thinking about having a storytime that considers the natural mysteries that come when the sun is gone, these two are obvious companions. Read alone, however, "The Paperboy" will still extend its quiet bravery to the children that read it. Even if they've never seen a paperboy before, they'll understand how great it can sometimes be to have a job of one's very own

Editorial Review:

On a peaceful Saturday morning, before the rest of the world is awake, a young paperboy makes his way along his route, thinking about all kinds of things along the way. By the author of When Cats Dream.

Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake (Junie B. Jones, No. 5)

Barbara Park

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I love Junie B. Jones books 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I like this book because it is very funny. Especially the part when Junie B. practices for the carnival. She practices and practices and the day of the carnival she loses all the games except she won one prize and that was a stupid, dumb comb. That was the worst night of her life.

What is the appeal of this crap? 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 7 people found this review helpful.

My wife and I started reading to our daughter before she was born, and continue to read to her every day. She's four now, and her language skills are excellent. I am hopeful that continuing to read to her will help her grow. But it won't be with this crap. I cannot understand how child-like grammar, which is worse than the actual grammar used by my four year old daughter, can possibly be a positive influence. Moreover, the behavior of this character is exactly the behavior we are trying to help our daughter grow out of, so why would I encourage it by reading this? There are plenty of silly and fun books to be had, but the Junie B. Jones line is a disservice to children.

Editorial Review:

"I'm the bestest winner in the world!"

It's Carnival Night, and Lucille has already won a box of fluffy cupcakes with sprinkles on them. But when Junie B. wins the Cake Walk, she chooses the bestest cake of all -- the one wrapped in sparkly aluminum foil. How was she to know it was a lethal weapon?  

Do's and Don'ts

Todd Parr

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Todd Parr likes to keep things simple. In his world, there isn'tmuch gray area between good and bad... and in his small, square books, blazing with primary colors and positive "it's okay to be you" reinforcement, there is no gray at all! Do's and Don'ts could be called an etiquette primer--sort of. "Do change your socks every day," he tells us. "Don't make anyone smell them," he adds. "Do have lunch with a monkey," but "don't eat his bananas." "Do brush your teeth after every meal," but "don't brush with peanut butter." You get the idea. With all of the titles in this series--Things That Make You Feel Good, Things That Make You Feel Bad, This Is My Hair, and The Okay Book--young children will no doubt giggle at Parr's childlike, funny illustrations of various slapstick scenarios as well as his references to smelly feet, food in the hair, chocolate-covered bugs, worm stew, and the like. Sometimes all you need is a little silliness, and these bold, colorful books fit the bill. (Baby to preschool)