Europe & Russia Books

Brava, Strega Nona!: A Heartwarming Pop-Up Book

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Brava Indeed!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Brava, Strega Nona! is a magnificent work of art. The pop-ups and the story work perfectly together to exalt the simple things that are Strega Nona's "magic recipe" for the good life. My immediate urge is to buy one for everyone I know! BRAVO! to Tomie dePaola, Robert Sabuda, and Matthew Reinhart, whose collaboration on this book is truly magical. Each page is full of their artistry, and simply awe-inspiring. I wish I could give it TEN stars!!!!

Editorial Review:

Tomie dePaola’s Strega Nona has been loved by generations of children’s book readers, but they’ve never seen her like this!

In six spreads of pop-up magnificence, paper engineered by the renowned #1 New York Times bestselling team of Sabuda and Reinhart, Strega Nona shares her words of wisdom for leading a magical life, all rendered in Tomie dePaola’s classic style.

With doors to open, tabs to pull, and a host of other interactive features, readers will be drawn into Strega Nona’s world in a way they’ve never been before. Brava, Strega Nona! is a glorious celebration of important values that will introduce a whole new generation of readers to this lovable character.

Madeline and the Cats of Rome (Madeline)

John Bemelmans Marciano

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

More enchantment from Madeline 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The charm and energy of the illustrations in the Madeline books never fails to disappoint. John Marciano has carried on the tradition with a sure hand, and while his images honor the tone of his grandfather's marvelous works, they have a light spirit about them which remains contemporary.

We Love Madeline! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We were excited to see a new Madeline book in the series. We have enjoyed reading it. Although I must admit I enjoy it a little more than my 26 month old daughter. I think she will quickly grow to love Madeline just as I have always loved her.

Editorial Review:

The Paris skies are gray, so Miss Clavel and the twelve little girls are leaving for brighter weather— spring in Rome. Rome has wonderful sights to see and delicious things to eat, but Madeline also finds an unexpected adventure, involving a thief, a chase, and many, many cats. The first all-new Madeline book in close to fifty years combines a lively story with luminous gouache and watercolor illustrations. Beloved Madeline returns, as brave and irrepressible as ever!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

John Boyne

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: David Fickling Books Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $7.50

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Total reviews: 104 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Book Description

This work was set in Berlin, 1942. When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance. But, Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than what meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is now a major motion picture (releasing in November 2008). Enjoy these images from the film, and click the thumbnails to see a larger image in a new browser window.

Bog Child

Siobhan Dowd

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: David Fickling Books Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $3.47

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

The work of an author at the peak of her powers 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

One wouldn't think that an Iron Age maiden, an archaeological discovery and Northern Ireland's infamous "Troubles" could be combined into a successful, even riveting, work of fiction. But talented author Siobhan Dowd does just that in BOG CHILD, a captivating novel that intertwines two eras of history in the story of one young man's coming of age.

Eighteen-year-old Fergus McCann is having a rough go of it. His older brother Joe, the "soldier" of the family, is incarcerated as a political prisoner because of his involvement with the Provisional Irish Republican Army. His parents are sick with worry, especially when Joe, inspired by the martyrdom of other high-profile prisoners, begins a hunger strike protest in jail. His younger sisters don't understand why everyone is so worried, or why Joe just can't get better and come home. As for Fergus, he has the dual worries of preparing for his driver's exam and his A levels. If he does well enough on his college prep exams, he'll be able to get into a pre-med program in Scotland --- and escape the violent Troubles in Northern Ireland once and for all.

The year is 1981, and IRA activity is at a peak. Fergus and his family live right on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, so close that he can cross the border into Ireland when he goes for a long run or (as they do at the novel's opening) when he and his uncle go to poach peat to sell for use as heating fuel.

That's when Fergus makes a discovery that will change everything. Peat moss has an uncanny ability to preserve whatever falls into it. So when Fergus finds a young girl's body, he is at first convinced that it's another IRA murder victim dumped in the bog. But when an Irish archaeologist (accompanied by her fetching daughter) confirms that the body instead belongs to a girl from the year AD 80, Fergus's dreams grow haunted by the girl, nicknamed Mel, whose story is so different from --- and yet startlingly similar to --- his own.

Many young American readers will find not only Mel's story but also Fergus's an eye-opening account of history. Dowd does a commendable job of explaining the Troubles to her audience without ever dumbing down the narrative for them. In fact, the writing throughout is lyrical and complex enough to satisfy any reader, whatever their age.

Fergus is a thoughtful, intelligent boy who takes issues of right and wrong seriously. His primary moral crisis --- which culminates in two surprising twists (one humorous, one tragic) --- is not an easy one; nor is the difficult decision that faces the McCann family near the end of the novel and threatens to tear them apart. BOG CHILD handles the big questions --- about personal responsibility, sacrifice, political action, love and borders --- with appropriate gravity, respect and thoughtfulness. And, as Fergus balances counting up the days of Joe's life-threatening hunger strike with his own eagerness to embrace his future, it also manages to sustain suspense from the very first page to the last.

BOG CHILD, which has been short-listed for the Guardian Prize, is the work of an author at the peak of her powers. I read, and loved, Dowd's LONDON EYE MYSTERY last year; with her current book, Dowd shows the true extent of her talent. I was saddened to hear that this promising author died last summer after a long battle with breast cancer. Literature for young people has lost such a gifted writer; those who have been fortunate enough to discover her work can be grateful that, in BOG CHILD and one additional novel to be published next year, her voice lives on.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Editorial Review:

DIGGING FOR PEAT in the mountain with his Uncle Tally, Fergus finds the body of a child, and it looks like she’s been murdered. As Fergus tries to make sense of the mad world around him—his brother on hunger-strike in prison, his growing feelings for Cora, his parents arguing over the Troubles, and him in it up to the neck, blackmailed into acting as courier to God knows what—a little voice comes to him in his dreams, and the mystery of the bog child unfurls.

Bog Child is an astonishing novel exploring the sacrifices made in the name of peace, and the unflinching strength of the human spirit.

The Story of Ferdinand (Puffin Storytime)

Munro Leaf

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 78 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

What else can be said about the fabulous Ferdinand? Published more than 50 years ago (and one of the bestselling children's books of all time), this simple story of peace and contentment has withstood the test of many generations. Ferdinand is a little bull who much prefers sitting quietly under a cork tree-- just smelling the flowers--to jumping around, snorting, and butting heads with other bulls. This cow is no coward--he simply has his pacifist priorities clear. As Ferdinand grows big and strong, his temperament remains mellow, until the day he meets with the wrong end of a bee. In a show of bovine irony, the one day Ferdinand is most definitely not sitting quietly under the cork tree (due to a frightful sting), is the selfsame day that five men come to choose the "biggest, fastest, roughest bull" for the bullfights in Madrid.

Ferdinand's day in the arena gives readers not only an education in the historical tradition of bullfighting, but also a lesson in nonviolent tranquility. Robert Lawson's black-and-white drawings are evocative and detailed, with especially sweet renditions of Ferdinand, the serene bull hero. The Story of Ferdinand closes with one of the happiest endings in the history of happy endings--readers of all ages will drift off to a peaceful sleep, dreaming of sweet-smelling flowers and contented cows.

Tintin in the Land of the Soviets (The Adventures of Tintin)

Herge

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Not at all great but a must-have for a collector 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

this was herge's first tintin. it's in b&w and very crude. the story is only so-so and expresses extreme bias against the soviets at that time, so if you're looking for a good read don't buy this book. it's a far far cry from his later works in everything from style to storyline. i'm keeping this just for my collection.

Soviets, adventure, cromic 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age10) for Reader Views (1/08)

"Tintin in the Land of the Soviets" by Hergé is the comic adventure of Tintin and his loyal dog Snowy in Soviet Russia. Tintin, reporter for "Le Petit Vingtième," is sent to Soviet Russia to write about the situation there, but he is continually thwarted by Soviet agents. Will Tintin return alive with the truth about Soviet Russia?

In his efforts to penetrate Russia and observe the goings on, Tintin is bombed, shot at, chased, captured, stuck in sewage, encrusted in ice, and his vehicles are sabotaged. The Soviet secret police, who don't want Tintin to let the rest of the world knows what is going on in Russia, capture him and send him to the torture chamber. Snowy saves Tintin from the red hot poker, and Tintin saves Snowy from a wicked-looking sword. Hilariously, in the end, it is the torturer who is tortured. Tintin and Snowy repeatedly rely on their wit, resourcefulness and luck to outwit the evil agents.

This story first appeared in 1929 as a comic strip in a Belgian newspaper to alert people to the injustices occurring in Soviet Russia. In the story, Tintin discovers that the Soviet's "efficient" factories are really fakes. They are burning straw to make smoke and banging on pieces of metal to make it sound like there is operating machinery. Tintin also witnesses hungry orphans standing in a bread line. They have to state support for the communists or else they get kicked and get no bread. I am sure glad that I didn't live in Soviet Russia during this time period.

If you have ever read another Tintin book, you will be very surprised when you first get your hands on this book. The drawings are in black and white and are less detailed. The drawings are bigger and there are only six frames per page rather than the usual twelve. The book is longer, however, which more than makes up for less content per page. The story and humor are just as good as ever. This was Hergé's first book, so it is interesting to see how his characters changed.

I would highly recommend "Tintin in the Land of the Soviets" to my friends because it is very funny and adventurous, and you can even learn a little bit about the history of Soviet Russia. This book was so good that I read it three times the day I got it!

Editorial Review:

Little, Brown is celebrating 100 years of Hergé with 3 titles never before published in the U.S. Join traveling reporter Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy, along with well-known friends such as Captain Haddock, as they embark on extraordinary adventures spanning historical and political events, fantasy and science-fiction adventures and thrilling mysteries. These full-color graphic novels broke new ground when they were first released and became the inspiration for countless modern-day comic artists.

Viking Ships At Sunrise (Magic Tree House 15, paper)

Mary Pope Osborne

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Viking at sunrise 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I think you should buy this book because Mary Pope Osborne has great illustrations in this book.The book is about Jack and Annie.The story is set to Ireland a long time ago and they gt in truble with some vikings.You have to read the book to find out what happens.

Very Good Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read The Magic Treehouse # 15: Viking Ships at Sunrise. This book is very good. Whenever Jack and Annie want to visit a place, they point to a picture and say, "I wish to go there." Morgan sent Jack and Annie to Ireland to solve a mystery. They had many adventures. The most exciting part of the book was when the serpent rose out of the water.

I learned some interesting facts when I read this book. Ireland is a country in Europe. Each day there is a dark hour in Ireland. Vikings were very dangerous.

I would recommend this book for three reasons. It teaches you interesting things about Ireland and its history. The characters were realistic, and you can relate to them. This book was very funny. The Magic Treehouse #15: Viking Ships at Sunrise is a great book.

Editorial Review:

Jack and Annie are off in search of another story in jeopardy, this time at a monastery in ancient Ireland. Trouble arrives when Vikings land, and Jack and Annie must find a way to escape!  

13 Little Blue Envelopes

Maureen Johnson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 50 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Could have been better 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

It was a good story, but it had some problems. First of all, none of the characters were really likeable.

On top of all that, I found Maureen's writing to be pretty bland. I mean, Ginny is on this crazy adventure around Europe, but the whole thing lacked any excitement. She could have been describing her math homework, for all the enthusiasm the girl had.

It wasn't terrible though, and if nothing else it made me really want to go back to Europe and just bum around for a few months, just to remind myself that it is actually a pretty exciting thing to do.

Editorial Review:

Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.

In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.

The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.

Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke–about–town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous–though utterly romantic–results. But will she ever see him again?

Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it's all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.

Ages 12+

A Day On Skates

Hilda van Stockum

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

A Skating Holiday in Old-Time Holland (Newbery Runner-Up) 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This beautiful new edition of Hilda Van Stockum's picture-book masterpiece was warmly welcomed by my family. You see, until now we owned an old copy from eBay with cracked and brittle pages. But it was still a favorite.

A Day on Skates is a simple story of a Dutch brother and sister who go on a skating picnic with their teacher and classmates for a whole day. For modern children, the setting and events open up the imagination to far away times and places. There are humorous episodes and simple lessons in humanity present in the story. The writing is lovely and engaging. The pen-and-ink illustrations and occasional full-page color paintings are a perfect complement to the story.

A particular strength of the author's writing is her sympathetic view of the human condition. Here is a perfect example from the story:

"Every Dutch boy and girl loves to skate, and every Dutch man and woman, too. And no wonder. Holland with its canals and streams has many miles of ice when the cold at last arrives. Both Evert and Afke had learned to skate when they were very small. Indeed, Afke had been only three when she first tottered on pigmy skates, carefully held up by her father. By now she had become quite an expert, and Evert was even better. He had won several prizes in his school's skating tournaments. One of the prizes had been a beautiful book called Robinson Crusoe, which he had read so often that the cover had come off. Another time he won a silver pencil, which he gave to Afke, and the last time it had been a book entitled Good Henry, the story of a boy who was always good. This he had promptly traded for a penknife."

We bring this book out again and again, particularly on chilly winter days. Although the text is a bit longer than your average picture book, it's broken up into short chapters. We tend to read a chapter at a time spread out throughout a day.

This would make a lovely gift for children of all ages.

Madeline's Christmas (Puffin Storytime)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring because of a nasty, contagious illness--even the mouse is in bed with a miserable cold. Only brave Madeline is up and about ... competently running the household until she hears a knock at the door--a visitor whom she suspects might be Santa Claus. Instead it is a magical-rug merchant, with 12 red carpets that Madeline thinks would be perfect for the 12 girls and "For our ice-cold in the morning feet." She procures a few francs from Miss Clavel and pays the merchant. Without his rugs, however, he is very chilly, and he feels quite silly for having sold them. He returns to the old house (still covered in vines), where Madeline helps him thaw out, and he works a little Christmas magic--sending the girls on cross-country carpet rides to surprise their parents. Of course, Miss Clavel's bell breaks the spell and they're all back in time to celebrate the New Year. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson