Editorial Review

Perhaps the greatest book by one of our greatest historians, Read more

Reviews (68)

One of the most important and fascinating books i have ever read & read again
I first read this book many years ago and have re-read it more than once since then. This book is one of the most engaging I ever read and is also a volume that includes a wealth and variety of knowledge that makes me want to read it again now. Few books have left me feeling such conflict at finishing it. Part of me is exultant at the pure pleasure of the learning experience, part sad because the glorious experience is ended. No person who considers themselves educated - truly educated - can fail to read this powerful volume.

Informative Read
The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin gave a great background to the technological and geographical improvements over the past 4000 years.
Discover the Discoverers
Discoverers is a stand-out for both its scope and detail (more on detail in a moment), but what makes it truly remarkable is its subject matter, its illumination of ideas and bits of knowledge so basic to our everyday thinking that we scarcely, if ever, pause to think about them: our concepts of time, location (geography), physiology, culture, among others.The book is eye-opening, as it shows through historical exploration that for most of human existence most people have lived without using our concept of a year, our idea of a week, and much less our calibrations of twenty-four hours to a day, 60 minutes to the hour and 60 seconds to the minute.Similarly, the notions people have had about where they were on the planet, what the planet was, where it was in the universe, etcetera, were all equally vague (although everyone, everywhere, seems to have been fairly comfortable in the "knowledge" that their particular city was the center of the world and the world the center of the universe).Once Boorstin has laid bare the arduous path the human mind has had to trail-blaze to arrive at our modern ideas of time and space, he turns to the human body, showing that our modern knowledge of its constitution and function, too, is the result of hard-won, centuries-long, intellectual battles.
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Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Discoveries (in geography)    3. Discoveries in geography    4. Discovery And Exploration (General)    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History Of Science    8. History: American    9. Science    10. World - General    11. History / General    12. World history   

Reviews (99)

Absolutely captivating and brilliant!
When I first heard about the book, it was because a friend recomended it. She said it was one of the best books she ever read, and after reading it myself I completely agree. It is about a girl growing up in the Chinese Cultural Revolution and facing the challenge of growing up in a family with a bad reputation according to the government. I liked this book because it really made me think about how kids are living. Also, because I like books about people with a realistic life, not a fairytale. I would reccomend it to any of my friends!

Stinks
Don't like it at all. Don't even waste your time reading it. i was forced to read it!!! Two thumbs DOWN :-(!!!

The Depth of Mankind...
This is not the first and probably not the last 'Cultural Revolution Memoir' that I have read.I must admit feeling a bit numb to the stories and account of this tragic point in Chinese history.It has been over a year since that last 'memoir' that I have read, and a friend passed the book on for me to check out.It was time to be reminded of the pain that so many around me have faced in their lives.What is remarkable about Ji Li Jiang's story is not the uniqueness, but rather the commonness of her experience among millions of others.This in no way should negate her or others struggles, yet rather serve to deepen compassion for the many who have experienced destruction at the hands fellow humans.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    2. Biography & Autobiography - Political    3. Children's 12-Up - Biography / Autobiography    4. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. China    7. Cultural Revolution, 1966-1969    8. History    9. History - Asia    10. Jiang, Ji-li    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. People & Places - Asia    14. Personal narratives    15. Human geography / peoples of the world    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Political    17. Politics & government   

Reviews (10)

Excellent service.
The book arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition as promised.Thank you.

Things to do with children
A nice book full of pictures and stories about the various festivals.There are craft items to make and food to cook.A good idea for those who are trying to incorporate chinese culture into their family life.

Easy Multiculturism
Very pretty book for those of us visual learners.Concrete and abstract examples of Chinese culture, good for children of different ages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. China    4. Family - General    5. Festivals    6. Holidays    7. Holidays & Celebrations - General    8. Holidays & Celebrations - Other, Nonreligious    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. People & Places - Asia    12. People & Places - United States - Asian American    13. Tales    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Holidays & Festivals / Other, Non-Religious   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Cooking    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Cookery, International    5. Cooking & Food    6. Juvenile Multicultural Studies    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. People & Places - General    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Cooking   

Editorial Review

A cup, a compass, a key: the magic tree house has brought siblings Annieand Jack to Camelot, where they embark on a mysterious mission to find theseenigmatic gifts. In this special hardcover addition to the bestselling MagicTree House series, the young adventurers must travel to the Otherworld, an"ancient, enchanted land beyond the edge of the Earth, the place where all magicbegan" to save Camelot from dark wizard Mordred's evil spell. If they fail,Camelot will be forgotten forever. Fans of the beloved, highly readable seriesby Mary Pope Osborne will rise to the challenge of this longer, more complexcompanion to her other titles, which include Read more

Reviews (17)

Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne kids review
I liked this book because it had a lot of action. They had wolves that chased them and they also had winter storms. In this book they find two friends that help them. I would recommend this book for all boys and girls.

Christmas in Camelot(Magic Tree House)
I loved this book because it was about Camelot! I have been dreaming to atcually go there for years. I wish I could. It is a mith though. I liked the white stag in the book. I can't believe they got to ride on it! They must have had fun!!

Anne Green
This is the best book ! It is about a boy and girl that go onan adventure and go to a magic place. They go there to save Camelot! This book is for both boys and girls! YAY!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Camelot (Legendary place)    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Christmas    6. Fiction    7. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Legends, Myths, & Fables - Arthurian    10. Magic    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Time travel    13. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / General   

Reviews (4)

A Fight for Freedom
This book has a very powerful message to it.This made me think about all the things that I take for granted.With Amari beingfifteen, I can relate to her.Usually you can not find books like this now a days. This book makes me think more about how lucky I am and how there are kids in the world that aren't as fortunate as I am.Sharon knows how to grab the readers attention. My friends and I are not big readers and we thought this book was good, and it is one of the very few books that we can stand to read.Drapers knows how to catch your wondering eye because whenIsaw this book on the amazon website I wanted to read it and I was not really interested in reading any other books.
VEEEEEEEEEEERY Good!
Copper Sun was an exceptional book.I completely fell in love with it.The characters were well developed, the plot wasn't very predictable, and it gave me a sense of awe and wonder when I finished it. The book is under the genre of historical fiction and is about a 15 year old slave girl who was captured and sold into slavery from her native home in Africa.However, this isn't your typical fly-away-to-freedom slavery book.Amari, the maincharacter, was raped and brutally beaten before she escaped to freedom with her white friend and a young boy.Sharon Draper offers two perspectives-that of Amari and of her white comrad Polly.Ironically instead of escaping to the North, they escape to the South where a non-discriminatory fort exists.There all are free and equal which is extremely uncommon during the year 1738.I won't tell anymore-you have to read it for yourself!

Sharon Draper's Newest Won't Disappoint
I bought this book because
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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's Books - Young Adult    3. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Historical - United States - Colonial    9. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    10. History    11. Indentured servants    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. People & Places - General    14. People & Places - United States - Asian American    15. Slavery    16. Social Issues - Friendship    17. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    18. South Carolina    19. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / General   

Editorial Review

In all Mildred D. Taylor's unforgettable novels she recounts "not onlythe joy of growing up in a large and supportive family, but my own feelings ofbeing faced with segregation and bigotry." Her Newbery Medal-winning Read more

Reviews (432)

Confusion
I never quite understood why everyone seemed to love this book so much. I read it, along with my entire grade, in seventh grade, and found the book to be annoying. I was especially annoyed by flawed characters, and a not very impressive writing style.
Very disappointed...
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor was a very disappointing book. There is no particular story; the book starts rising action here and there and down again here and there. There is no specific climax. Basically, it's like there's no story. What I also hated about this book was the ending and the fact that there was no moral in the story. The book was full of cliches from every chaper by chaper. Each chapter was too long( this is not a dumb complaint). Instead of just starting a new chapter, Taylor just skips a line to basically start a new chapter. I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense to you.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Searching for a book to read that Beautifully Infiltrates...Gracefully Relates...Lovingly Displays...Proudly Annunciates...then Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the answer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Race relations    8. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    9. Southern States    10. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / United States   

Reviews (14)

Fascinating for children of all ages
My son got this book when he was barely 3. He loved it from the first day, even though it is written for a much older child. Now almost 5, he still loves this book---he will spend a full hour with it, examining every page, peering at the details, noting each child's way of life. In a small way, it has exposed him to ways of life he'd never otherwise know at his age.

It's a big world!
Beautiful book that helps to understand how kids from other places live and what their lives are like.The pictures are stunning and the text is interesting.

Should be on every kid's bookshelf
In a world where we're all struggling to be a little bit more compassionate towards each other, this book is a must-have.My daughter got it when she was 3 and stared in fascination at the wonderful, clear pictures of children from all over the world.(One bonus is that this is a book that kids can "read" themselves.)Now that she's 4 she looks at the pictures and connects them to places on the globe with glee. She seems to delight in feeling a real connection to children from all over the world.Sharing this book with my child is always a wonderful experience - we discover something new each time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children    2. Children's 9-12 - Sociology    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 People & Places    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Geography    6. Juvenile literature    7. People & Places - General    8. Pictorial works    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / People & Places / General   

Reviews (1)

Nice Introduction to Diwali!
I really am pleased how it approaches its subject matter.Most children's books about international holidays are too technical and long to be used as a read aloud.This book can be useful and provide useful information.If a student wants more they can read a more complex book later.It also helps include an ESOL child's holiday in class, even young kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Celebrations - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Divali    5. Holidays & Celebrations - General    6. Holidays & Celebrations - Other, Religious    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. People & Places - General    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Holidays & Festivals / Other, Religious   

Editorial Review

The year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of hisyounger brother Kenny's existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing oranother, from straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezinghis lips to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his familytoo far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cut school or stealchange one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threat to sendhim to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother.Soon the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive from Flint,Michigan, straight into one of the most chilling moments in America's history:the burning of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with four little girlsinside.Read more

Reviews (557)

Ali
The Watsons Go To Birmingham was a story about real life things. In the beginning, Byron and Kenny are outside scraping ice off of the Brown Bomber a.k.a. the Watsons car. Then Kenny hears a noise coming from the other side of the car where Byron is. He doesn't go over there because he thinks Byron will trick him, because a few days before Byron and Buphead (Byron's best friend) played a trick on Kenny and hit him in the face with snowballs. When Kenny goes to the other side finally he sees Byron's lips stuck to the mirror. He then ran in to get the family. Daniel (their dad) started laughing because he had never seen anything like that. Daniel and Wilona (their mom) were trying to think of a way to get Byron's lips off of the mirror. Daniel decided to get water so he could pore it on Byron's lips but it just made it. Wilona tells the family to go inside then. When they were all inside Wilona pulled on Byron's lips until they came off. When Kenny was in school he got picked on by Larry Dunn because he had a lazy eye and he was a good reader. One day a new kid named Rufus came to school at Clark. Rufus started getting picked on more than Kenny because Rufus talked different (he had lived in Arkansas) and Rufus didn't have a lot of clothes. Kenny and Rufus became good friends but one day somebody said something about Rufus and Kenny laughed. Since Kenny laughed at him Rufus stopped hanging out with Kenny. They ended up fixing the problem and became friends again. When winter came, Kenny shared his gloves with Rufus for awhile but then decided to act like he had lost them so his mom gave him his other pair of leather gloves and Rufus got the old pair. Then one day, Kenny's gloves went missing and Larry Dunn had gotten a pair of leather gloves instead of cheap plastic ones. Kenny found out that Larry had stolen his gloves so Byron and Buphead beat Larry up. Kenny then got his gloves back. When Byron kept lighting matches in the house Wilona got mad at him and said if he would do it one more time she would do something to him. Then one day, Kenny saw that Byron went into the bathroom and locked the door so he went and looked through the key hole. He saw Byron in there making Kleenex's into parachutes and then lighting matches and burning the parachutes to where they would fall into the toilet. When Wilona came upstairs she smelled smoke and saw Kenny looking through the keyhole so she got Byron out of there and took him downstairs. Then Joey started crying because Mama had gotten out matches and Vaseline. She knew that Mama was going to burn some part of Byron. Joey then got scared and kept getting in front of Byron so Mama couldn't burn him. When she got Joey away she lit a match but Joey ran over and blew out every match that Mama lit. So Byron never got burned. Since their dad only paid for groceries at one time Byron and Kenny thought they were on welfare but then found out they weren't. A few days later Kenny found Byron in a tree behind the grocery store with a full bag and an empty bag of Swedish cream cookies. When Kenny realized what Byron had done it was too late because he couldn't tell on him since he had eaten some of the cookies. A few days later, Byron came home with his hair straightened and permanent red gunk in his hair. Wilona was in shock because she and Daniel had told Byron not to put that stuff in his hair. Wilona knew he had gotten the stuff from Buphead because he was the only other kid with hair like that. Daniel then shaved all Byron's hair off! A few weeks later the Watsons started packing for Birmingham. They were going to Alabama to see Wilona's family. They decided that Byron would stay with Grandma Sands for the whole summer and maybe the school year. The family drove straight through all the way to Alabama. While they were down south the kids went swimming and Kenny almost got pulled under but Byron saved him. Joey went to Sunday school with some friends she had made. Then there was a loud boom. A bomb had gone off at the church. Joey ended up being safe because she had followed Kenny home. Wilona and Daniel decided not to leave Byron in Alabama. When they went home Kenny decided to give his dinosaurs to Rufus and Cody (Rufus's little brother). The Watsons lived there lives like they had before they went to Birmingham. The bombs going off at church made them rethink about there lives and feel good that they had everyone still in their family. I thought that this book was really a good book and I would reccomend it to anyone.

The greatest book in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book Watsons go to Birmingham 1963 is the coolest book ever.I don`t know anyone who dosen`t like this book.I love this book,it`s soooo funny,except the true part that was sooo sad.My favorite charactor is Byron he`s very funny.I love the part when Byron got his lips stuck on the window of the brown bomber.And dad was making fun of him.When I get a chance I`ll buy the book becauce it is awesome.

The greatest book in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book Watsons go to Birmingham 1963 is the coolest book ever.I don`t know anyone who dosen`t like this book.I love this book,it`s soooo funny,except the true part that was sooo sad.My favorite charactor is Byron he`s very funny.I love the part when Byron got his lips stuck on the window of the brown bomber.And dad was making fun of him.When I get a chance I`ll buy the book becauce it is awesome. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Family - General    6. Family - Multigenerational    7. Family life    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. People & Places - United States - African-American    11. Prejudices    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. Fiction dealing with multiculturalism    14. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American    15. Multiculturalism   

Editorial Review

Mistress Mary is quite contrary until she helps her garden grow. Along the way, she manages to cure her sickly cousin Colin, who is every bit as imperious as she. These two are sullen little peas in a pod, closed up in a gloomy old manor on the Yorkshire moors of England, until a locked-up garden captures their imaginations and puts the blush of a wild rose in their cheeks; "It was the sweetest, most mysterious-looking place any one could imagine. The high walls which shut it in were covered with the leafless stems of roses which were so thick, that they matted together.... 'No wonder it is still,' Mary whispered. 'I am the first person who has spoken here for ten years.'" As new life sprouts from the earth, Mary and Colin's sour natures begin to sweeten. For anyone who has ever felt afraid to live and love, Read more

Reviews (225)

All Time Favorite
The Secret Garden, along with A Little Princess, also by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is one of my favorite books from childhood. I still enjoy reading this book as an adult and reliving the fairy tale of two young children who "bloom" and grow, along with the garden. The metaphor is simple, but the charm and beauty of this tale make it a classic. I can't wait until my two daughters are old enough to enjoy it. Highly recommended.

The Secret Garden
When the little, frail, ugly looking girl from India came to the manor she looked so sad.I watched her at first from a distance, as she was so cold to everyone she came into contact with.I heard one of the gardeners say that her parents had died and she now had to live here, in the Misselthwaite Manor.The Manor has miles of nothing but moor.I think it is heaven with nothing but open land to fly through.It is beautiful, but not all see it like this, especially little miss Mary.
The Secret Garden
Mary Lennox ia a very dull child in the beginning but when she get sent to Misslthwaite Manor she learns about respect and there's more to life than just laying around and being lazy. She also learns about her uncle and her family's intrest's. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    5. Fiction    6. Gardens    7. Historical - Europe    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Orphans    10. People & Places - Europe    11. Physically handicapped    12. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Editorial Review

This award-winning novel remains a powerful classic of prejudice,love,and survival. In 1942, 11-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his parents on the Dutch island of Curaçao, but when the war moves too close forcomfort, his mother decides to travel with him back to the safety of Virginia. When their boat is torpedoed, however, Phillip is blinded and finds himself adrift on a life raft with an old black man and a cat. They eventually land on a deserted island.Phillip is suspicious of "the large Negro," but soon grows to trust--and ultimately love--the patient and generous Timothy. Dedicated to "Dr. King's Dream," Read more

Reviews (521)

Solid, well-done fiction -a teacher's review
'The Cay' is a wonderful little bit of fiction. It has action, is well-written and contains such themes as overcoming racism, sacrifice and resourcefulness. Its quick-moving plot and easy to read style should make it accessible to almost anyone.
Why this book inspired me
This book inspired me by perservering.The young boy on the island never gave up after he became blind.For example, he asked the elderly man to show him how to survive on the island.This helped me in school because even though something might happen to me I shouldn't give up.

An Excellent Book
The Cay, by Theodore Taylor is an extremely exciting book, which could be read by ages 10 and up because it does not have very hard vocabulary, and it is easy to understand. This book takes place on the island of Curacao in the Caribbean, during World War Two. Philip, who is a preteen lives on Curacao is from Virginia, and lives on the island with his mother, and father. German submarines have surrounded the island and were destroying boats that were trying to get off the island. When Philips mother gets scared that the Germans will attack the island, she wants to get back to the United States with Philip. When their boat leaves, the Germans do not torpedo them...yet. Philip ends up on a raft with an old colored deckhand from the boat. He is old, and is named Timothy, who is from the U.S. Virgin Islands. They keep drifting for around a week and then end up on a, small remote island that is in an area called the "Devils Mouth." Timothy has excellent survival skills. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes, suspenseful exciting books. I think both boys and girls would like this book. Overall a great book that many people would like. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Prejudices    8. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    9. Social Issues - Special Needs    10. Survival    11. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / Other   

Editorial Review

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, 11-year-old Parvana has rarely been outdoors. Barred from attending school, shopping at the market, or even playing in the streets of Kabul, the heroine of Deborah Ellis's engrossing children's novel Read more

Reviews (55)

Good book about real life
This book is a very good book that puts you inside of 11 year old Parvana's shoes. It depicts the horrors of life under the taliban rule well. While it is grusome, the auther shows the horrors without too much detail, so it is safe for younger readers, though i wound not recemend it to anyone younger than 10. You see life in this war torn land from the eyes of a girl worring about her father in jail, while forced to hide her true identity so her family can survive.
Best educational book ever
this book was my chosen summer reading book.I thought that it was going to be realy bad but it wasn't it ended up realy good.I read it in three days it was sogood.The book is about Parvana the 2nd eldest in a family of 6.Her Parents are educated very wellHer mother is an author and her father taught history in a high school.But that was before the Taliban took over Afghanistan and now women are not allowed to go out of their house,So parvana's Father writes and reads letters for the family to make moeny however because of her fathers bad leg she has to go walk with him.until he gets arested.then Parvana has to dress up like a boy and cntinue her father's work until he gets out of prison.Then she meets an old school mate who is a girl and is doing the same thing she is.So they decide to go into buesiness together.The her sister got a letter saying that an old neighbor would like to marryher but the family would have to travel.Parvana has to stay back with a friend.

A Story With A Lot Of Feelings
This book is a really good that it could make you feel something. It made me feel sad and some parts ade me cry.One reason you should buy this book because this book is something ture and something that really happen. Also you should buy this book because it gives you complete information. - A.T. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Disguise    5. Fiction    6. Girls & Women    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. People & Places - Asia    9. Sex role    10. Social Issues - Violence    11. Social Situations - Violence    12. Women's rights    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship    14. Juvenile Fiction / Girls & Women   

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Girls & Women    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. People & Places - United States    7. Social Issues - Adolescence    8. Juvenile Fiction / Girls & Women   

Reviews (10)

The Magic Tree house
The story startes out when Jack and his little sister Annie are on their way to a place called Plymouth. At first they had no idea where they were until Jack was hung after he accidently steped into a trap; they finally found out where they were.
do jack and annie ruinthe firstthanksgiving
Do jack and annnie ruin the first thanksgivingfind out in thanksgiving on thursday.I gave this story 5 stars beacause you feel likeyou are in the place and time.

Catherine Z. 's Review
This book is about Jack and Annie's adventure in 1602 (The day of the first Thanksgiving.). In their adventure, they met Squanto and helped prepare the food for the first Thanksgiving. I'd reccomend this book because it helps kids learn about the first Thanksgiving and it helps kids learn about it in a fun way. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Fiction    5. History    6. Holidays & Celebrations - Thanksgiving    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile Historical Fiction    9. Osborne, Mary Pope    10. Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony)    11. Plymouth (Mass.)    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Thanksgiving Day    14. Time travel    15. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 People & Places    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Concepts - Alphabet    5. History    6. History - United States/General    7. History - United States/State & Local    8. History, Local    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. People & Places - United States    12. U.S. states    13. United States    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / People & Places / United States   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. Juvenile Nonfiction    3. People & Places - General    4. Civilization    5. Geography   

Reviews (10)

Could have been Better for Those in the Know
For those in the know, the book suffers for want of careful editing. It is flawed, for example, by illustrator David Diaz' arrogance in placing his own designs on Quezada's pottery. Had this book been about van Gogh, Picasso or any other well-known artist, it is unlikely he would have portrayed their art with no concern for what it looked like in reality. This puts down Juan Quezada. Diaz also carelessly depicts Quezada building a pot by the continuous-coil method of the Indians of the American Southwest rather than by the distinctive method that he innovated and for which he is known. Better editing would have caught these problems with the illustrations as well as a multitude of minor inaccuracies that occur in the text, nearly one to a page. For example, in speaking of using a bean to burnish pottery, the author comments, "Of course dried beans can be found in any kitchen in the village." The bean in question is an inedible wild bean, the chilicote-not the kind that would normally be found in anyone's kitchen. Such editorial problems do not, however, detract from this production as a children's book. They are the sort that only one in the know would see.

My kid is obsessed with this book
The absorbing subject matter of this book, presented through catchy rhymes and alliteration and strong, colorful illustrations, has completely captured the imagination of my four-year-old.For three days now, he's been "Juan" almost exclusively, following ants to a vein of "the very best clay, all squishy and white," pretending to make vessels for every conceivable purpose, and peppering me with questions about Mexico, pottery-making, and Juan himself.I've had to draw the line at cutting my hair for paintbrushes and gathering the "dried cow manure" left by the neighborhood dogs."The Pot That Juan Built" appeals to pre-schoolers' burgeoning interest in rhyme and other aspects of language; making things out of simple materials; and the world around them generally.I give it my highest recommendation!

Excellent, Beautiful Book!
I'm appalled at the lack of love for this book!I am a teacher of a 3rd grade classroom in California where my children are learing about how humans use the world around them to create their life and build their culture.This book is a perfect tie-in to this concept.The illustrations are beautiful and I found the rhymes to be intelligent and descriptive.Two thumbs up from me, and 48 thumbs up from my class!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - General    2. Art - History    3. Biography & Autobiography - Art    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Juvenile Fine Arts    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. People & Places - Mexico    10. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    11. Potters    12. Pottery    13. Quezada, Juan    14. Technique    15. Ceramic arts, pottery, glass    16. Fiction dealing with multiculturalism    17. Mexico    18. Multiculturalism    19. Picture books   

Reviews (25)

Jack & Annie in China
When Jack and Annie found out that they were going to China, they went straight to the treehouse. They met Morgan there, and she told them that they had to save a library in China. The dragon king was going to burn all the books, because he didn't like them. Jack and Annie saw a huge map of the castle where the emporer lived and they used it to help them find the library. In the end, Jack and Annie saved the library and were heroes again.
the burning ofthe books
I hate the way the Dragen King wanted to burn all the books in China.But I am glad that Jack and Annie saved one.They escaped eveything.

The Trip to China
This story take place on China in the 1970, the boy and the girl were ready to go to China and they go in to get the bamboo book that is on the city, and they find two Chinese people. They take them to the city and they see people selling fish, the boy told them if they can take them to the library to find the bamboo book that has all the secrets ofChina.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. China    5. Fiction    6. Han dynasty, 202 B.C.-220 A.D    7. Historical - Ancient Civilizations    8. History    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Magic    11. Osborne, Mary Pope    12. People & Places - Asia    13. Time travel    14. Tree houses    15. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Ancient Civilizations   

Reviews (218)

Hardship, determination and a strong will enable this young woman to develop into a noble woman
Shabanu enjoys the pleasures of her childhood with her playmate and camel, Gulaband.Shabanu draws alot of strength and encouragement from her Auntie Sharma, a single-parent, when it becomes a matter of survival for the family and the adults begin making decisions of major consequence.
Shabanu: great read for some.
My son is 12 and had to read the book for a 7th grade project on diversity. He loved the book. It truly depends on the child, and his/her reading abilities if it is going to be a great experience or a boring one. I think it is a appropriate book for a middle school reading list.

Jillian's review
Shabanu is the story of a girl named Shabanu and her sister Phulan, who lived in India. Both girls will be promised to marry a man when they are of age whether they like it or not. Shabanu was to marry Murad and Phulan was to marry Hamir, and both were happy. That's the end, right? Wrong! When tragedy strikes, Shabanu is forced to marry a 53 year old man named Rahim-Sahbib, who she does not want to marry. If she refuses to marry him, Nazir Mohammed, Rahim-Sahbib's brother,will make Shabanu and Phulan's lives miserable. Will Shabanu go against her families beliefs and follow her heart, or will she do what she is told? Read it to find out! I liked Shabanu a lot, because it has a great message. Also, I really liked the character of Shabanu, because she was a strong character and I like how she wanted to be herself. I would recommend this book to [...] and up, because of some hard to understand language and inappropriate content. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Cholistan Desert (Pakistan)    4. Family - General    5. Family - Multigenerational    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Pakistan    9. People & Places - Africa    10. People & Places - Asia    11. Sex role    12. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    13. Juvenile Fiction / General    14. Reading Group Guide