Ramona the Pest (rpkg) (Ramona Quimby (Paperback))
by Beverly Cleary, Tracy Dockray
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 February, 1992)
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Editorial Review

The engaging tale of young Ramona Quimby's first days in kindergarten, Ramona the Pest takes a pint-sized perspective on the trials and delights of beginning school. Ramona can't wait to learn all the important things. But she's disappointed when her teacher can't fill in missing parts of story lines, such as how Mike Mulligan (of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel) went to the bathroom while digging the basement of the town hall. Nonetheless, Ramona loves her teacher, and loves going to school in spite of the torments--having to wear hand-me-down boots, for example, or having to (sometimes) suppress the urge to pull on another girl's "boing-boing" curls. Ramona's energetic take on life appeals to children who have passed through this stage, or who are dealing with a kindergarten-age sibling who is exhibiting Ramona-ish tendencies. (Ages 7 to 12) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Anyone can relate
Beverly Cleary has an amazing grasp of how youngsters perceive the world around them.She never fails to add those important details that kids pick up on.Her Beezus and Ramona books have been read and loved for decades.Ramona the Pest is one of my favorites.
Today is Ramona's first day of Kindergarten, and the biggest day of her life.She really likes her young teacher Miss Binney, and she already has a crush on a little boy named Davy.She is excited to learn about all of the important things her big sister Beezus already knows.So why is everyone always calling her a pest?Why is she always getting herself into so much trouble?
Reading about this imaginative little girl's antics will take adults back to their own youth, and young readers will love Ramona's simple but extraordinary life.

gde

Ramona Quimby IS a Pest
Ramona the Pest is simply about a 5-year-old kid being a pest, right? Well, it's more than that. The author does take us into the mind of a kindergartener, but Beezus (the oldest sister) has a reason for calling Ramona a pest. She is! First of all, Ramona is spoiled and thinks that everyone's against her, and anytime she wants something, she knows--if she cries--her mother will listen to her. Ramona Quimby is a brat and I'm glad to see she's grown-up, because Ramona Quimby is nothing but a whiner and spoiled brat! Consider this before handing it to your child. I'm 13...I know these things. My little sister agrees with me.
(Remember, this is just an opinion)

Sure to be a hit for Quimbyphiles
In the second book of the Ramona series, author Cleary clearly is still full to bursting with ideas about the details of a young girl's life, and she takes us through Ramona's early kindergarten experiences.

I'm really starting to see that Cleary's trademark in this series is the ability to put us inside the mind of a five year old girl, and even those of us who have forgotten what it's like to be a child can appreciate the powerful emotions at stake in things like Show and Tell, halloween costumes, and a first tooth falling out.

Ramona the Pest is a solid entry in this series, and will be an enjoyable read for children everywhere, who will relate to the nuances of life that Ramona experiences, and then be able to apply her experiences to their own lives.

Life in the Quimby household is still more like the Cleavers than the family next door, but children will still be able to benefit from a fresh look at interactions with one's peers and teachers.

Very well done.
... Read more

Isbn: 0380709546
Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Family - General    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Kindergarten    8. School stories    9. Social Situations - Adolescence    10. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Siblings    11. Reading Group Guide   

Stellaluna
by Janell Cannon
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (30 April, 1993)
list price: $16.00 -- our price: $11.20
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Editorial Review

Baby bat Stellaluna's life is flitting along right on schedule--untilan owl attacks her mother one night, knocking the bewildered batlet out of her mother's loving grasp. The tiny bat is lucky enough to land in a nest of baby birds, but her whole world has just turned upside down. Literally. Stellaluna's adoptive bird mom accepts her into her nest, but only on the condition that Stellaluna will act like a bird, not a bat. Soon Stellaluna has learned to behave like a good bird should--she quits hanging by her feet and starts eating bugs. But when she finally has an opportunity to show her bird siblings what life as a bat is like, all of them are confounded. "How can we be so different and feel so much alike?" one asks. "And how can we feel so different and be so much alike?" asks another. "I agree," Stellaluna responds. "But we're friends. And that's a fact." Anyone who has ever been asked to be someone they're not will understand the conflicts--and possibilities--Stellaluna faces. This gorgeously illustrated book is sure to be an all-time favorite with readers, whether they've left the nest or not. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustration from Stellaluna, © 1993 by Janell Cannon, reproducedby permission of Harcourt Brace & Company) (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Read This Book!
I liked this book.The part I liked the best was when Stellaluna started acting like a bird.She tried to sleep like a bird, she tried to look like a bird, she ate worms, insects.She tried to fly like a bird and in the end she finds her mother and she goes back home.
By: Edwin R.

Stellaluna ISBN 059048379X
A must have for all early childhood teachers. This is a heart warming story about a baby bat who falls from her mother's grasp after they were attacked by an owl. Stellaluna falls into a bird's nest and becomes friends with the baby birds in the nest. This story teaches children everything about bats. The way they live, what they eat, and how they see at night to name a few. The story also teaches the children why they should not be afraid of bats. Especially Stellaluna, she eats fruit!This story is a classic.
Maria Mahoney

School Book Review
Would you ever want to get lost from your mother when you are just a baby?I read a book about a baby bat that did.This book is called Stellaluna by Janell Cannon.Stellaluna's mother gets attacked by an owl and lets go of her baby, Stellaluna.Stellaluna lands in a birds nest and makes friends with the baby birds and mama bird.Stellaluna teaches the baby birds how to hang upside down.I think this book is funny because it has funny pictures.You sometimes might think you are actually there!This is a great book.I think the author was trying to tell us not to panic if anything wrong happens.Read this book to find out if Stellaluna will ever find her mother. ... Read more

Isbn: 0152802177
Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Animals - Birds    3. Animals - General    4. Bats    5. Birds    6. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    7. Children: Grades 1-2    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Matilda
by Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 1998)
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Editorial Review

Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Mrs. ("The") Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.

She warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her hapless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull. There is never any doubt that Matilda will carry the day. Even so, this wonderful story is far from predictable--the big surprise comes when Matilda discovers a new, mysterious facet of her mental dexterity. Roald Dahl, while keeping the plot moving imaginatively, also has an unerring ear for emotional truth. The reader cares about Matilda because in addition to all her other gifts, she has real feelings. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (290)

Matilda
In Matilda there were many problems. One of the problems are Matilda loves to read but her parents think it's a waste of time.Matilda's parents don't pay any attentionto her. Matilda's brother torchers her by throwing things at her. Matilda was also unhappy at home and felt out of place. So Matilda had to learn how to do things on her own. And she spend alot of time with Ms.Huney. Matilda and her and things in common and they had fun together. Another problem is the mean head misstressat her school her name is Ms.Trunchbull. She torchers all her students.Once Ms. Trunchbull spun a little girl by her pigtails and threw her out the window. Ms. Trunchbull locked Matilda in a wooden locker. They settled that problem by moving her to a new school. The setting was mostly was at school and at home.I think the resolution to the promblem came when matilda was able to live with Ms. Huney and thay were able the live together and be happy.

Alittle sad, a book that makes you wat to know more.
This is a great book by Roald Dahl.It is about an extraordinary little girl who loves reading. Her parents think reading is a waste of time. When Matilda starts school there is a mean headmisstress named Miss Trunchbull. She thinks Matilda is a menace.Can Miss Honey, Matilda's teacher,and Matilda with her cool powers change Miss Trunchbull around? I believe it is an excellent book because it keeps you guessing what will come next.

This book Rocks
It is a kids book but a very good one. Go Roald Dahl! It's about a girl who is overly intelligent for her age. ha HA ilove it. You really should read. Maybe your child wants it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0141301066
Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. School & Education    8. Schools    9. Teachers   

Chrysanthemum
by Kevin Henkes
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (20 September, 1996)
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Editorial Review

Until Chrysanthemum started kindergarten, she believed her parents when they said her namewas perfect. But on the first day of school, Chrysanthemum begins to suspect that her name is far less thanperfect, especially when her class dissolves into giggles upon hearing her name read aloud. That evening,Chrysanthemum's parents try to piece her self-esteem back together again with comfort food and a nightfilled "with hugs, kisses, and Parcheesi." But the next day Victoria, a particularly observant and mean-spirited classmate, announces that Chrysanthemum's name takes up 13 letters. "That's half the letters in thealphabet!" she adds. Chrysanthemum wilts. Pretty soon the girls are making playground threats to "pluck" Chrysanthemum and "smell her."

Kevin Henkes has great compassion for the victims of childhood teasing and cruelties--using fresh language,endearing pen-and-ink mouse characters, and realistic dialogue to portray real-life vulnerability. He also hasgreat compassion for parents, offering several adult-humor jokes for anxious mommies and daddies. On thesurface, the finale is overly tidy and the coincidences unbelievable. But in the end, what sustainsChrysanthemum, as well as this story, is the steadfast love and support of her family. And because of this,the closure is ultimately convincing and utterly comforting. ALA Notable Book, School LibraryJournal Best Book of the Year, Horn Book Fanfare Honor List. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (35)

AN ADORABLE BOOK WITH RICH LAYERS OF MEANING
This is a book my children want to hear "again! again!" and I don't mind reading it. Kevin Henkes has created a warm, endearing story that will reinforce a child's trust in the gift of family.

All parents can relate to how Chrysanthemum's parents feel about their daughter. "The day she was born was the happiest day in her parents' lives." They find her to be absolutely perfect and spend her early years lavishing love on her. As Chrysanthemum grows older, we can sense how good she feels about herself: her accomplishments of learning to crawl, walk, slide, ride a tricycle, read, and sing are recorded like snapshots on a single page. We imagine her parents behind a camera encouraging their little girl at every milestone.

Then she starts kindergarten, and her sense of self is shattered, which Henkes cleverly describes as her feeling "wilted." She's made fun of at school because her name is different; it's too long ("exactly half as many letters as there are in the entire alphabet!" shares Victoria). The taunts and jeers worsen, despite her parents' reassurance that she's still absolutely perfect in their eyes.

The outcome of Chrysanthemum's struggles lies in the hands of a caring teacher, who takes the time to notice this tiny drama in her classroom. Every child should be blessed to have an adult mentor as wonderful as Mrs. Twinkle, who thinks Chrysanthemum has an "absolutely perfect" name. Thankfully, with the help of Henkes' beautiful story, they do.

A perennial (ha ha!) classic
If you were to single out the one picture book author that most successfully puts their finger on the pulse of children's hopes and fears, the award for Greatest Long-Distance Therapist would go to none other than Kevin Henkes. I am a huge fan of "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" and I found a great deal of enjoyment in "Owen" (though I feel it's not his strongest work). Even "Wemberly Worried" covers a lot of ground by directly confronting the fears of worrywarts everywhere. With "Chrysanthemum", Henkes discusses originality and how being different (even if you're different in name alone) can single you out in both good and bad ways. As a Henkes fan, I consider this book to be amongst his strongest.

Chrysanthemum feels that her name is absolutely perfect. She likes how it looks and she likes how it sounds and she likes that it is her name alone. Everything's going great until Chrysanthemum starts school. Suddenly everyone's making fun of her name. She has a class full of Sams and Eves and Victorias. There doesn't seem to be a place for a girl with as wildly original a name as Chrysanthemum. One student in particular, Victoria, makes it her goal to continually ridicule poor little Chrysanthemum day in and day out. Talking about it with her parents helps a little, but the next day the same thing occurs. It seems that Chrysanthemum is doomed to be unhappy until she meets the music teacher Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. And suddenly everything in Chrysanthemum's life is a whole lot better.

I liked the moral of this lesson and the way in which Chrysanthemum learns that it's okay to be original. I also liked the epilogue in this tale wherein the leader of Chrysanthemum's tormentors abruptly forgets her lines in the school play and our little heroine is vindicated. Call me shallow, but I always enjoy it when the villains in a piece "get their's". This is probably indicative of a singular shallowness on my part. Just the same, the fact that the similarly tormented Molly of the children?s book, "Molly's Pilgrim" never receives any vindication has always bothered me. So kudos to Kevin Henkes for punishing the bad guys mildly! Hear hear!

There are other less personally petty things I like about this book too. I always love a good Henkesian drawing. I love that the parents in these tales are always caring, available, and attentive to their children's needs. In this book I was especially amused by Chrysanthemum's father running to child psychology texts (like "The Inner Mouse Vol. 1: Childhood Anxiety" and "A Rose By Any Other Name...Understanding Identity") to help his daughter. I loved the extraordinarily cool Mrs. Twinkle with her hugely pregnant stomach, ballet shoes, and tail that twists into a musical staff. I loved it all.

If you have a child being teased by fellow classmates for being a little off, this may not be THE best book to offer, but it's pretty darn good. Give it a shot and see what you think. If you love Henkes, you won't be disappointed.

not good for bibliotherapy
If you're looking for a cute, whimsical picture book to launch into a discussion with your child about respecting differences, this one has a major flaw. Love the pictures, love the whimsy, but when the little girl, Chrysanthemum, is teased for her name during naptime (the other girl snickers that chrysanthemums grow near worms and dirt, ugh), the teacher replies with sarcasm, "Thank you for sharing." Well, little kids don't get sarcasm--they take it literally. Why does the teacher not step in and say something straightforward about how that's an ugly statement? I don't want to teach my child that kids can get away with being nasty and teachers will look on in approval. True, a second teacher stands up for Chrysanthemum, but I think to let a teacher make a crack like that, without having some character call her on it, sends the message to kids that you can't trust teachers to do the right thing. At least the girl could've told her parents exactly what happened so they could say, "That teacher was wrong and we're going to talk to her" or something. ... Read more

Isbn: 0688147321
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Names, Personal    6. Personal names    7. School & Education    8. Schools    9. Social Situations - Friendship    10. Social Situations - New Experience    11. Social Situations - Peer Pressure    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

The Color of My Words
by Lynn Joseph
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (24 December, 2001)
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Editorial Review

What 12-year-old Ana Rosa Hèrnandez wants more than anything is anotepad of her very own. Writing is her passion, and words flow out of herpencil onto the paper bags that Papi brings his rum home in, onto napkins, ontogray shop paper. In the República Dominicana, however, only the Presidentcan write books. But as Mami sighs and says, "Ana Rosa, there always has to be afirst person to do something." These supportive words are difficult for hermother to muster, as everyone on the island knows too well that writers do nothave freedom of expression--and in their political climate "silence wasself-defense."

When the chilling news arrives that the government wants to buy all the land inthe village to build hotels and generate more tourism, people learn what itmeans to break their silence. Ana Rosa's handsome 19-year-old brother GuarioHèrnandez is appointed as official spokesperson for the villagers' cause,but when an out-and-out rebellion against the government erupts, he--andeveryone else--is endangered. As the bulldozers roll in, Ana Rosa and her familydiscover how utterly worthless words really are in the face of brute force.

Lynn Joseph paints a vibrant, colorful landscape of this Caribbean island wherelove, warmth of community, and abundant natural beauty soften the kind ofpoverty that makes paper--and sometimes doing what you think is right--a luxury.Ana Rosa's engaging, heartfelt poems--"Merengue Dream," "My Brother'sFriend"--begin every chapter, setting the tone of the events to follow, andreinforcing how words shape her life and how her life shapes her words. Youngreaders will be inspired by Ana Rosa's drive and talent, warmed by vivid storiesof her close-knit family, and moved by those who fight for what's right at thegreatest possible cost. This lovely, lyrical book dances the merengue, glimmerswith sunshine, and sways with island breezes. (Ages 10 and older) --KarinSnelson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

winnie the Pooh
The principal characters are Winnie The Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet ,Owl and Eeyore.The setting of this story is in a forest .The problem was that winnie went to visit rabbit and he went inside the house and when he wanted to come out was he could't because he was stuck in the hole.The problem was solved because christopher Robin told him not to eat for one week.The authors message is not to eat that much.I dont recommend this book it is litle boring.

Read this book!
Ana Rosawas a writer. She loved to write things,but her family couldn't buy her notebooks so she could write all of the things she wanted to or she could write poems. So her brother Guario, told her that every month hewas going to buy hera new notebook.
I think the authors message is that if you have money,don't be wastig money in things that you don't really need.Or if you have a lot of notebooks and you don't need them you could give them to people that want to study and don't have money yo buy notebooks. I dorecomend this bookbecause is very sad what happens to Guario trying to save Ana Rosa's life
written by:Mayra

Piercing...
I've never cried and laughed so much in the space of so few pages. Ms. Joseph has captured the heart of a writer in Ana Maria's lush, colorful words flung against the backdrop of the Dominican Republic. I have no critique or summary, only gratitude. This book wounded me sweetly. ... Read more

Isbn: 0064472043
Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Dominican Republic    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People & Places - United States    10. Social Situations - General    11. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Fish is Fish
by Leo Lionni
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (12 February, 1974)
list price: $5.99 -- our price: $5.39
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Reviews (5)

Self concensus at work
An email friend used the term "self consensus" to describe the process by which we start with a known person- ourselves- and move in small steps away from that to construct our image of another person we know via email. This book is a good illustration of that idea.

The story is about a minnow and a tadpole. They look alike, so they must be alike, right?The frog wakes up to having grown legs and the fish is astounded- this cannot be!They are both fish!Time goes on and the fish grows into a larger fish and the tadpole into a frog. Finally the frog is able to leave the pond, but eventually he returns to tell his old friend about the world.The fish pictures the birds as colorful fish with wings, the cow as a hilarious furry fish with horns and udders and the people as fish in clothing with hair. Of course the fish wants to see these amazing things so he jumps out, only to discover that he really needs to be in his cool, watery element to survive.

The illustrations are fairly simple colored pencil drawings- at least until we get to the creatures outside the pond. My children found the "birds" interesting, but the cow and the humans had them in stitches. They found those critters to be some of the funniest things they can imagine- and my 8 yo was able to understand and articulate that we base our assumptions on what we already know and understand.A pretty good lesson for kids to learn, IMO, as well as a sweet story of friendship between two very different creatures.

Fish is Fish as Epistemological Primer
Fish Is Fish (Lionni, 1970) describes a fish who is keenly interested in learning about what happens on land, but the fish cannot explore land because it can only breathe in water. It befriends a tadpole who grows into a frog and eventually goes out onto the land. The frog returns to the pond a few weeks later and reports on what he has seen. The frog describes all kinds of things like birds, cows, and people. The book shows pictures of the fish's representations of each of these descriptions: each is a fish-like form that is slightly adapted to accommodate the frog's descriptions--people are imagined to be fish who walk on their tailfins, birds are fish with wings, cows are fish with udders. This tale illustrates both the creative opportunities and dangers inherent in the fact that people construct new knowledge based on their current knowledge.

A Delightful Book
FISH IS FISH is a delightful book.It's fun for children, and a pleasure for adults to read out loud.The illustrations are beautiful.Two young "fish" are friends.One fish stays a fish; the other turns out to be a tadpole.The real fish refuses to believe that his friend is changing.How like real life!After tadpole goes up on land, he actually has more to add to their friendship - great stories about what he has seen on earth!When fish jumps onto land to explore, he almost dies.Tadpole saves him.In the end, both fish and tadpole are happy with their own unique worlds.Fish tells tadpole: "You were right ... Fish is fish."This story is so simply and wonderfully symbolic of how friends can remain friends, even when they change as they grow up. ... Read more

Isbn: 0394827996
Sales Rank: 34067
Subjects:  1. Animals - Fishes    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Classics    5. Social Situations - General    6. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance   

You Are Special
by Max Lucado, Sergio Martinez
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 1997)
list price: $15.99 -- our price: $10.87
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Reviews (135)

A Beautiful Story
One of the most moving stories I have ever read.I gave a copy to every niece and nephew with the hopes that it will move them to look to God the Father for love and approval and not other creatures.

Dots and Stars for Lucado
This book is a component. It doesn't focus on the Bible's message in its entirety, but only a portion of it: That portion being that The Creator made us and loves us unconditionally. I believe this to be a wonderfully timely message for children, adults and anyone who will hear it.How priceless is the message that it really doesn't matter what everyone else thinks of us? That the only opinion that does is God's? I could use this reminder and I'm 24 years old. To those of you who condemn this book and its author... that's okay! Because your gray dots fall right off of him!!! :)

There's no disguising that this is just GOOD!
Some people really miss the point. Max is not trying to disguise anything. This is a Christian story. It is about God (dare I say it). The author is a minister. Some stories just shouldn't be disguised. This is an absolutely wonderful story to share with all children. I like most of Max's books but these new ones have even better illustration, which keeps the children's interest even more. Many of the books sound the same but they are a welcome change to regular mix of childrens' stories. ... Read more

Isbn: 0891079319
Sales Rank: 6684
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Christian life    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Parables    7. Religious - Christian    8. Self-esteem    9. Social Situations - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    10. Toys   

The Whingdingdilly
by Bill Peet
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (26 April, 1982)
list price: $9.95 -- our price: $9.95
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Reviews (3)

It Struck a Chord With An Adopted Child
Bill Peet's THE WHINGDINGDILLY was our very "unbookish" oldest son's favorite book as a child.At age four he wanted my wife or me to read it to him over and over again. (And he enjoyed pronouncing the title of the book when he asked.) By age six or seven he was reading it to himself and his younger brother. To him there was something absolutely captivating about it.My theory is that, because our oldest son was adopted, from an early age he had unverbalized concerns about his identity. And THE WHINGDINGDILLY is about identity, and being happy with who you are.This child is now 31 and recently had the pleasure of introducing his older daughter to this great book (a present from her grandparents!).

Lovely and enchanting book
Created by classic former Disney artist Bill Peet, Whingdingdilly is a fun and beautiful book featuring an endearing hero, Scamp the dog.Scamp, unhappy with being a "plain" dog, wishes to be more interesting in order to attract attention and be more popular.A disastrous encounter with a witch turns Scamp into a fantastic creature known as a whingdingdilly, which has to be seen to be believed.During the course of his adventures, Scamp learns that popularity isn't all it's cracked up to be and that he is loved for just being himself. Filled with Bill Peet's wonderful artwork, this is an absolutely charming book that belongs in everyone's collection of books for young readers.

One of the best illustrated Children's book ever published
Bill Pete's Whingdingdilly has achieved the intellegint and odd writing of works by Dr. Seuss and combined them with the full and rich drawings of an accomplished artist. There is a warmness to this story in the friendship between an odd-looking beast and a curious boy that Dr. Seuss's work simply does not compare to. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395313813
Sales Rank: 166824
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Dogs    4. Fantasy    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1) (Harry Potter)
by J.K. Rowling
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (September, 1998)
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Editorial Review

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under thestairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand, and jellybeans that come in every flavor, including strawberry, curry, grass, and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In the nonmagic human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is famous as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, first published in England as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, continues to win major awards in England. So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave kids clamoring for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets andHarry Potter and thePrisoner of Azkaban. (Ages 8 to 13) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (5016)

Shame on you all.
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" It's from the bible. Does nobody remember this? I am appalled by all those who prais this supposed work of 'fantasy.' It's not fantasy!!! It's heresy. Read the bible. All of you. And shame. Shame.

The most and excellent fantasy world !
This book is an excellent book to read written by J.K. Rowling. This book is called Harry Potter And The Sorcerers stone.This book is about a kid name harry potter. Harry had been spending most of his life time with the dreadful family called the dursley family. Then one day Harry has receive a letter from Hogwarts the school of wich crafts and wizards. He was really confused when he met the big giant guy name hagrid. Hagrid told harry that he was a wizard. Harry was so confused but he had to accept it. Well i think im giving out too much of what is happening in this book so if you want to know what happens next read this the most and excellent fantasy world book! I Love this book. I have to tell ya all, that when i read this book the first time i never wanted to put the book down but instead i wanted to keep reading on until it was done. so read this book i gurantee that you will love it!

so
On some of my reviews i stated that the Harry Potter books were poorly written, but thats just because i have resad better fantasy books... Like books by Robert Jordan and Jrr Tolkien. The Harry Potter books are not as good as those books. I also said that the Dreaming Tree by C.J. Cherryh was better than than Harry Potter books, however, not all people may think so; but that is my opinion. Personally, I think The Wheel of Time and Lord of the Rings are better written. Other people may disagree, but, again, that is just my opinion. Read these if you want to and ,well, if you dont want to read the Wheel of Time and Lord of the Rings.{I am not saying the Harry Potter books are stupid or anything, but not all people have like them} ... Read more

Isbn: 0590353403
Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft    4. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Imaginary place)    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Magic    8. School & Education    9. Schools    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Wizards   

Daisy-Head Mayzie
by Dr. Seuss
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (11 January, 1995)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.20
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (10)

I love this book!!
I love this book because it is funny, and exciting.It is easy to read and it made me laugh.T.J. (4th Grader)

too hard for young children
What everyone is saying that this isn't Seuss's real work, I believe. Seuss uses language that is easy to understand for children, and they used rather big words in this. I do like this book but if I read it to a kid they would only understand some of it.

Dr. Seuss is rolling over...
Dr. Seuss left this book in a drawer when he died. He obviously didn't think enough of it himself to publish it, but now that he's dead I guess anything's fair game. The illustrations are designed to fool you into thinking he did them, but he didn't. Yet this book says "by Dr. Seuss" on the cover just like The Lorax or Cat in the Hat. Deceitful. ... Read more

Isbn: 0679867120
Sales Rank: 63610
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Humor / Jokes    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Daisies    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Readers - Beginner    7. Social Situations - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    8. Stories in rhyme    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General