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The Classic Fairy Tales Review

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(More customer reviews)I first read this book in 1983, and was amazed with it then. It's unique and extremely interesting. Iona and Peter Opie have the original tales as first printed in the English language. Added to that is the history and the actual gruesome origins of what we now consider children's stories! For example, Sleeping Beauty is not awakened by a kiss. Her Prince Charming violates her while she sleeps (and since she doesn't wake up, we can only imagine how mediocre he was...). She only awakens 9 months later, during the birth of twins! He eventually returns to her, and then the story gets more complicated with his ogre mother who wants to canibalize the children. The story of the Frog Prince is even stranger. Since these are the actual tales, we can see how we've changed the stories to fit in with our culture. This is not a book for young children. The history part was the most fascinating to me. In addition, litle details such as learning that Cinderella's slippers were originally made out of squirrel fur, not glass. Both words in French are spelled similarly (vaire, verre...I'm not sure of the spelling either)and the original printer had a typo that lives on til today.

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Everyone has at one time been inspired or enchanted by fairy tales, with their evil witches, pure princesses, heroic princes, and happy endings.Yet over the years, most of these popular tales have undergone many transformations, as editors and storytellers have shortened and sentimentalized them, as well as slanted them to suit the demands of the time. Now reissued, Iona and Peter Opie's magnificent The Classic Fairy Tales, presents twenty-four of the best-known fairy tales in their original written form.Drawing on years of expertise, the editors provide introductions to each fairy tale, tracing the development of each story and noting points of interest.We learn, for example, that in a 17th century version of "Sleeping Beauty", the prince actually raped the princess in her sleep.Goldilocks, it turns out, evolved from the little old woman of the original story into a young girl.Little Red Ridinghood was actually eaten by the wolf, and in an early version of the "Frog Prince," the princess had to sleep with the frog to free him from his spell.With classic tales from the likes of Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and Hans Christian Andersen, and the works of such famous illustrators as Gustav Dore, Kate Greenaway, and George Cruikshank, The Classic Fairy Tales brings to life the charm and beauty of these timeless favorites.

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Zia Review

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(More customer reviews)Sequels are almost always a let-down. I loved IotBD in grade school, and was thrilled to discover the sequel -- twenty-five years later, while in the library with kids of my own. I took it home and devoured it, but was left dissatisfied.
Not only does Zia's story pale in comparison to Karana's heroic survival, but several moments left me frowning with annoyance.
First of all, the plot inconsistencies drove me mad. Midway through the book, we are given to believe that all the young people at the mission have run away, leaving only Karana and some old Indians behind. (This is crucial to the plot, as she alone is blamed by the cruel captain as a suspected accomplice of the runaways.) But then we learn, out of the blue, that her brother has also remained behind -- but we're never told why. Later, when Karana comes to the mission and is given a bed in the girls' sleeping quarters, I thought this room would now be desolate -- but O'Dell tells us it's still crowded. With whom?
Sadly too, the character of Karana takes a beating in this book. In IotBD, she was a hero, larger than life. But seen through Zia's eyes, she is a mute and pitiable recluse lost in a foreign world, who takes childish delight in melons. This might be realistic, but it's a pathetic turn of events that I would rather not have read.
There is also a tragic irony that runs through the plot, to wit: Karana left her island to seek companionship at long last. But in the sequel, we learn that she ends up withdrawing to an isolated cave where she recreates a tinier, sadder version of her free life on the island, before finally dying of a broken heart. Zia, meanwhile, originally left her home village for the regimented life of the Mission solely in the hope of finding Karana -- but in the end, what she learns from Karana is that she'd be better off back home.
In other words, both characters would have been better off if Zia had never heard of Karana and Karana had died on her island. And I think I would have been better off had I not stumbled across this book.

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The Monster at the End of This Book (Sesame Street) (Big Bird's Favorites Board Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wandered into the room of my best friend's three-year-old son, preparing to read him a book before he went to bed. When I saw this book among the pile on his floor, I got nostalgic. Really nostalgic. My mom read me the same book when I was his age, and I love, LOVE this book.
Not only does it teach you that sometimes the answer to all of your questions is right in front of you, but it does so by giving you pages of Grover, one of the most hysterical, lovable Muppets. The rattling of Grover's nerves, and the actual building of suspense in a picture book, keep the reader turning the book's pages -- even though Grover BEGS you not to do so. The reader is actually included in the narrative, for the book involves only Grover talking to the reader. The book thus becomes involving very quickly and entertaining throughout it.
Plus, the final punchline is a great payoff.
If you have children, this is an absolute must. Unlike other books from children's shows, this one's intelligent, maintains proper values and isn't beat-me-over-the-head annoying.

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Lovable, furry old Grover is distressed to learn that there's a monster at the end of this book! He begs readers not to turn the pages, but of course kids feel they just have to see this monster for themselves. Grover is astonished--and kids are delighted--to discover who is really the monster at the end of the book!

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Hieroglyphs Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book for my 6 year old son after he expressed some interest in ancient Egypt. He can't read the text himself but enjoyed having it read to him and the text was straightforward and informative, with interesting illustrations that caught his attention and prompted questions. The really great thing about this book is that it contains a stencil so you can trace your own hieroglyphs. My son loves this. The first time he sat down with the book he probably spent 3 solid hours "writing" his name (and everyone else's name) in hieroglyphs - and this is a kid who rarely sits still.

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TerryGami, 15 Cloth Toy and Ornament Projects for Crafters, Teachers and Children Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a beautiful book with creative ideas for children. The crafts would make great party favors or would be a wonderful way to occupy kids with an interesting project at summer camps or after-school clubs.

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Dart and the Squirrels Review

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(More customer reviews)Nicole has written another charming book Dart and the Squirrels. Everyone will enjoy this book, but as a dog owner/lover myself, the book was especially enjoyable. Nicole has captured the frenetic, joyful nature of a dogs brain. It romps and plays throughout. Well done!
Dart and the Squirrels

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Name's Dart-short for d'Artagnan. You may not think much of a grizzled old German Shepherd with a torn ear and a nasty bite, but, trust me, when you've spent your whole life dogging it out in the pound, you learn appearances can be deceiving. I mean, just look at that squirrel. Nutty, crazy, you name it. If that sly squirrel isn't chewing up Banshee's homework and blaming me, she's stealing my food, following me around the house, stealing my food, biting my tail, and, did I mention the worst part, stealing my food! This is outrageous! A proud purebred-okay, semi-purebred-German Shepherd such as myself can't stand for this! I'll sit. Hey, since you're here, why don't you listen up to my complaints? All my doggy pals like them-and their reviews are a little 'ruff."

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Eyewitness: Book Review

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(More customer reviews)DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other nonfiction picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful photos of all things related to books, accompanied by informative captions and text.
Learn about the history of books and bookmaking, books in different cultures, and everything else related to books (augmented by beautiful museum-like photos).
If you know someone (young or old) who loves books, then you must introduce them to this book!

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Barnstormers: Game 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)In August 1899, Griffith, Ruby and Graham Payne and the Travelin' Nine leave behind their winning ways in Louisville, Kentucky, and take a train to Chicago, Illinois. The Travelin' Nine baseball team includes the children's mother, Elizabeth, and eight Spanish-American War veterans who fought side by side with the younsters' late father, Guy. The team is barnstorming across the United States, challenging local "ballists" to winner-take-all games in order to repay Guy's debt.
On the train ride from Louisville, Elizabeth confides in Griffith and Ruby, the two older kids, details about the substantial debt owed by their father and Uncle Owen. If the Paynes can't repay $10,000, Elizabeth fears she could lose her children. Griffith believes he knows who is behind their troubles. Yet his mother refuses to listen to talk about the evil Chancellor and his men, who followed the family in Louisville. Griffith suspects she knows more than she's admitting and can't shake the feeling that they're still being watched.
The movement of the train and his mother's talk upset Griffith. Unable to sleep, he takes a late-night stroll and bumps into one of the Chancellor's goons. The man grabs Griffith by the collar and tells him that the Chancellor wants what he has, adding that the Chancellor "always gets what he wants."
In Chicago, while passing out flyers in Jackson Park, Ruby runs into a stranger who says his name is Preacher Wil. Instead of being afraid of the dark-skinned man with wire-rimmed glasses and two different colored eyes, she feels safe. He calls her "Angel" and promises their paths will cross again.
At the ballpark, Graham does his best to be part of the team. Ruby tries to focus on the game but becomes distracted by events on the field and searching the crowd for Preacher Wil. Griffith also looks for him but with a feeling of dread because he fears he might see the Chancellor and his men.
On game day, "Chicagoland rooters" cheer from the stands, bizarre creatures appear on the field, a beloved member of the Travelin' Nine falls ill and the Payne children's magical baseball heats up the action. Game 3 is a must-win for the Travelin' Nine, but at what cost?
The short chapters, graceful illustrations, eye-appealing layout and fascinating historical tidbits about the game of baseball enhance this young-reader-friendly novel. The suspenseful third installment of the New York Times bestselling series has characters to root for and will enchant young readers who love America's favorite pastime.
--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

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PREGAME RECAP As the Travelin' Nine head to Chicago, the team is filled with hope and optimism. After a disappointing loss in Cincinnati at the start of their baseball tour, the heroes of the Spanish-American War bounced back in Louisville. Doc and Woody came through with timely fielding, Crazy Feet and Tales smacked clutch hits, and champion horses provided that extra kick, helping the barnstormers to their come-from-behind victory. By the end of the thrilling contest, there was no doubt in the minds of Griffith, Ruby, and Graham that the baseball their Uncle Owen had given to them on the night of their father's funeral was magical. Indeed, the mysteries surrounding their baseball, which their uncle had urged them to keep secret, were deepening. And as excited as they were by the barnstormers' win, the Payne siblings' fears and worries continued to grow. Uncle Owen's tattered, bloody letter had warned them about the Chancellor. What's more, they'd seen the Chancellor's men lurking at the Louisville game. Griffith and Ruby now realized that their adventure was about far more than raising money to pay off a family debt. But what exactly was it about? After the Louisville match, Griffith confronted his mother. She denied that the Chancellor could be involved, but she promised to answer all of Griffith's questions on the train to Chicago...

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The Big Book of Children's Reading Lists: 100 Great, Ready-to-Use Book Lists for Educators, Librarians, Parents, and Children Review

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(More customer reviews)You can pretty much tell what this book is about from its title. It is a book, broken down into three major parts that gives lists of recommended books for children. The three parts are: School Subjects, Character and Values, Genres and Themes. Each of thes parts is further broken down into the specific lists themselves. For instance under Genres and Themes, there are Genres and Themes. Under themes there are Angels, Cowboys, Holidays. Some of these, such as Holidays are further broken down into Chinese New Year, Easter, Christmas, etc. All in all there are 100 lists.
While not copyright free, permission is given to libraries to copy the lists, put them into a newsletter or other such uses. The lists themself are organized on pages by themselves so that a library logo, clipart, etc. can be put on top of the pages before they are reproduced. There are also a dozen bookmarks that can be reprinted for library use.
Therre is a wealth of information here that can be of great help in the right situation.

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Use these 100 handy reproducible book lists to instantly create hand-outs for teachers and parents (as well as for older readers), to add to your newsletter, or to post on your Web site or bulletin board. Based on the most common needs of educators and librarians who work with young readers, these lists focus on new titles, as well as classics that are still in print and readily available for purchase. Fiction and nonfiction titles for ages 5-14 are covered. Bibliographic information and a brief description are given for each title. A dozen bookmarks are also included. This is a great time-saving tool and a good source for finding extended reading lists and read-alikes!

Looking for folktales from China for elementary children? An informational children's book for a middle school science class? A list of books on the topic of compassion? A sampling of ABC books? These lists and more can be found in Nancy Keane's treasury of great reading lists for children. This versatile guide provides reproducible book lists based on the most common needs of educators and librarians who work with young readers. There are lists for standard curriculum areas (e.g., math, social studies, science), other areas of study such as character education and values, genres (e.g., pop-up, memoirs, ABC books), themes (e.g., animals, food, sports), and read-alikes (on bookmarks). You'll find 100 reproducible lists of fiction and nonfiction books for ages 5-14 (elementary/middle) that you can use to create hand-outs for teachers and parents (as well as for older readers), put in your newsletter, or post on your Web site or bulletin board. Focus is on new titles and classics that are still in print and readily available for purchase. On each list, titles are grouped according to grade level. Room to customize with your library logo or clipart is provided on each reproducible sheet. Bibliographic information and a brief description are given for each title. A dozen bookmarks are also included. This is a great time-saving tool and a good source for finding extended reading lists and read-alikes! Grades K-8.

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The Shattering (Guardians of Ga'hoole, Book 5) Review

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(More customer reviews)I really liked the book. Although it was about Eglantine, and less about everyone else in the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, it was a nice change. Soren is the main character and most readers forget many other owls in the tree have lives. Eglantine is quite mean to Primrose and realizes that something is terribly wrong with herself as she has a weird dream telling her to go to the Beaks and find her mum. Poor Primrose is replaced with a corny owl named Ginger. This book is different and well worth reading and we get some new perspectives. Oh, and they have the pictures of Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, Digger, Ruby, Ginger, Primrose and Barran in the back and front of the book! I love the pictures!!!

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In the fifth book in this series, the war between an evil group led by Soren's brother, Kludd, and the owls of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree rages on.

In the midst of war, Eglantine unwittingly becomes a spy for Kludd, leader of the Pure Ones (a group of evil owls). She is brainwashed by an owl sent by the Pure Ones to infiltrate the Great Ga'Hoole Tree. Her odd behavior eventually attracts attention, and Soren and his friends vow to find out what's wrong with Eglantine. They ultimately learn what happened and help her reverse the effects of the brainwashing.

Kludd continues to battle against the Guardians of Ga'Hoole for control of their tree. In the end, Kludd and his forces are defeated. But his conflict with Soren is not yet over.

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The Coming of Hoole (Guardians of Ga'hoole, Book 10) Review

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(More customer reviews)In this tenth installment of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series, Soren and Coryn, this time joined by the rest of the Band, open the second of the three Legends of Ga'Hoole and read on. The ancient volume, titled The Coming of Hoole, picks up where The First Collier left off: the hatching of that noble prince, Hoole.
Little Hoole starts out his life like any owlet: innocent, naive, and occasionally loud-mouthed. However, he knows nothing about his true identity, the heir of good King H'rath. Grank and Theo, his caretakers, know that the truth cannot be revealed to the young prince until it is safe to do so. For Hoole's protection, they continue to live in exile on an island in the Bitter Sea, far from owls that would kill the prince and end the kingly line.
Meanwhile, the hagsfiend Ygryk and her haggish mate, the Great Horned Owl Pleek, crave Hoole more than ever to be their own chick since they can't have one themselves. So when Ygryk finds Hoole and tries to lure him away, Grank and Theo (along with their new friend Phineas) take him to Beyond the Beyond.
Ultimately, Hoole will have to face off in battle against the hagsfiends and the traitorous Lord Arrin, and realize his destiny. Only then can he retrieve the Ember from the Sacred Volcanoes - and reclaim his father's throne.
If you're a series fan, you won't want to miss The Coming of Hoole!

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History Begins at Sumer: Thirty-Nine Firsts in Recorded History Review

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(More customer reviews)Although I've been known to grumble at Kramer's dullness, the present book, far from being dull, ought to be of real interest to many. Professor Samuel Noah Kramer was the world's leading Sumerologist, but in this book he seems to have risen above the dry academic persona we find in some of his other books and allowed his love and enthusiasm for things Sumerian to show.
Basically the book sets out to explain and describe, using extensive quotations from Sumerian Literature, what Kramer took to be thirty-nine civilizational firsts of the Sumerians. Many new archaeological discoveries have been made since the 3rd revised edition of 'History Begins at Sumer' was published in 1981, and current thinking seems to be leaning towards the view that, far from beginning in Sumer, civilization first arose further East in India.
But whether it first began in Sumer or in India, since the Indus script hasn't yet been deciphered, and the Indians didn't write on imperishable clay tablets anyway, we have as yet no thirty-nine Vedic Indian firsts, and perhaps should give Kramer the benefit of the doubt and enjoy his splendid book.
After a brief Introduction, the thirty-nine firsts follow. Mutterings have been heard about the 'pop' overtones of the term 'firsts,' but it seems to me an interesting way of treating Sumer's history, and the book, in my opinion, is far more successful at capturing and holding one's attention than Kramer's later and more conventional study, 'The Sumerians.'
Most of the chapters are centered on a Sumerian text, some quite brief and others fairly long, which Kramer envelopes with his full and interesting commentary. Often we are given a line drawing of the actual cuneiform tablet from which the text was taken, and these have a special fascination all of their own. Besides the 28 line drawings, the book is further enriched with 34 halftones - sculptures, cuneiform tablets, stelae, artefacts, archaeological sites - which greatly add to the interest of the book.
Among the firsts covered are such things as: The First Schools, The First Case of Juvenile Delinquency, The First "War of Nerves," The First Bicameral Congress, First Historian, The First Case of Tax Reduction, The First Legal Precedent, The First Pharmacopoeia, The First Moral Ideals, The First Animal Fables, The First Literary Debates, The First Love Song, The First Library Catalogue, The First "Sick" Society, The First Long-Distance Champion, The First Sex Symbolism, Labor's First Victory, and so on.
Many of these and other chapters are memorable, and once having read them you'll never forget them. You'll never forget them because, in fact, they are about yourself. What I mean is that one of the more important things we learn from Kramer's fascinating book is that, whether we realize it or not, we are all, in a sense, Sumerians.
The patterns that were perhaps first laid down in Sumer - urbanization, monumental architecture, kingship, writing system, distinct social classes, laws, lawyers, lawcourts, taxes, formal education, libraries, a regular army, organized warfare, labor disputes, etc. - are still very much with us today. We usually refer to the whole package as 'Civilization,' without realizing how indebted to the Sumerians we all are. But Sumer, sadly, after a relatively brief efflorescence, crashed in ruins. Here are a few lines from Kramer's 'Sumerian History, Culture and Literature' describing that crash:
"In the course of centuries Sumer became a "sick society" ... it yearned for peace and was constantly at war; it professed such ideals as justice, equity and compassion, but abounded in injustice, inequality and oppression; materialistic and shortsighted, it unbalanced the ecology essential to its economy.... And so Sumer came to a cruel, tragic end" (in Diane Wolkstein and S. N. Kramer, 'Inanna - Queen of Heaven and Earth,' page 126).
Why, after achieving such brilliance, did Sumer crash in ruins? And Egypt? And Athens? And Rome? And why does this pattern seem to be repeating itself today in the West? Is civilization inherently unworkable? Or is there another answer? Personally, I think there is another answer. But you won't find it in the works of Professor Samuel Noah Kramer.

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Which civilization had the first system of law? The first formal educational system? The first tax cut? The first love song? The answers were found in excavations of ancient Sumer, a society so developed, resourceful, and enterprising that it, in a sense, created history. The book presents a cross section of the Sumerian "firsts" in all the major fields of human endeavor, including government and politics, education and literature, philosophy and ethics, law and justice, agriculture and medicine, even love and family.History Begins at Sumer is the classic account of the achievements of the Sumerians, who lived in what is now southern Iraq during the third millennium B.C. They were the developers of the cuneiform system of writing, perhaps their greatest contribution to civilization, which allowed laws and literature to be recorded for the first time.

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Shakespeare's Spy (Shakespeare Stealer, Book 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was drawn in by the first Shakespeare book by Gary - "Shakespeare Stealer" and was pleased to read more about Widge and his continuing adventures in this 3rd book - "Shakespeare's Spy." Gary Blackwood is an extraordinary writer and amazingly brings Widge and the other characters to life in this non stop, what's going to happen next, who did it, tale!! This particular book has many plots: who is stealing from Mr. Shakespeare? Will Widge write his own play? Will Widge get the girl? and more importantly, does he really want the girl?? and what about that fortune teller? Must read to find out!!

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Septimus Heap, Book Three: Physik Review

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(More customer reviews)I've waited so long for Book 3 that you would think I was in the 9 to 12 age group - but I am not. I am a grandma. I've read all three books because I like to keep up with my grandchildren's reading - AND because Angie Sage is an excellent author. These are fairy tale books in the true sense of enjoyment. It is not a Harry Potter - which I thoroughly enjoyed - but it is a curl up on a windy, rainy day and get lost in another realm book. They are excellent for your children and fun for yourselves. I'd advise this as a wonderful birthday gift or a "surprize!!!" on a vacation gift. You should buy, read and enjoy.

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