Reviews (136)

Okay stories
Good book about growing up and some of the great stories you're expect from your grandfather. Could have used less information on the beatings headmasters used to give students.

Some are funny. Some are painful. Some are unpleaseant. Perhaps this is why I have remembered them so vividly. All are true.
So says Roald Dahl in the introduction to his autobiogrophy,BOY. The book is a collection of his childhood memories, from the magical summers in Norway to the dreary days at St.Peters boarding school. As in all of Dahl's works the characters are quirky and memorable,but more fascinating here because they really existed. The auther recounts the adventures of his childhood with tenderness and dry humor.
delightful melodrama
I'm a Dahl fan, a writerfor both adults and children. I think the key to his success as writer for children is that he doesn't think children are stupid or don't understand what they see. From my own experience, and now as a father, I know that children see, hear, think and make conclusions with their experiences.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, English    3. Biographical - European    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    6. Boys / Men    7. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    8. Children: Grades 4-6    9. Dahl, Roald    10. General    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Fiction    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General    15. Men & boys   

Reviews (47)

My Life in Dog Years
This is an autobiography about Gary Paulsen. He talks about nine different dogs in this book. He talks about them, because they have helped him threw hard times when he was kid and still now as an adult. He picks them up off the street and from the pounds. He is an animal lover because of his younger experiences with animals.
Wonderful!
I read this book as a diversion from my usual reading, and consumed it in one sitting at a Starbucks. This was a great book about the life of a man and his friends. Paulsen love for dogs and animals seems to be rooted in his isolation as a young boy, as he moved from place to place, not fitting in new communities, and living with highly dysfunctional, neglectful parents. As a child and teen, he bonded with the dogs that became a part of his life and his friends. As an adult his affection for his childhood friends never left him and he seeks to befriend those that befriended him in his early life. My Life in Dog Years will make you laugh and cry, and remind you that friendships can be made and found in the most unlikely times and places. Read and enjoy! Excellent job, Mr. Paulsen.

Could not put the book down til I finished it!
I burst out in laughter at times with this book!I have owned many pets in my life too, I can relate to some of the stories rather well.I'm 39 years old and loved every bit of the book.My daughter will enjoy it too.Thank you for a great book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Anecdotes    3. Animals - Dogs    4. Animals - Pets    5. Authors, American    6. Biography    7. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    8. Children's 9-12 - Animals/Pets    9. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    10. Children: Grades 4-6    11. Dog owners    12. Dogs    13. Juvenile Nonfiction    14. Juvenile literature    15. United States    16. Juvenile Fiction / Biographical / United States   

Reviews (8)

An Outstanding Scrapbooki of Laura Wilder's Life!
Looking for new ideas for my grandmother's scrapbook, I wanted to see how this unique author has been represented in scrapbook form.It is interesting to see this outstanding format and along with the story, pictures and mememotos from her life!I like the way the narrative was presented to match the photos and other notes and articles about Laura's life.Shown were the rara ambrotypes of the Civil War era.I also have the similar ambrotypes but did not know what they were named!

lauras rememberance
it was a good book to read learned stuff i did not know about her.

A new look at Laura
This book told me many facts about the Ingalls family and Laura which were new to me. I enjoyed seeing copies of the correspondence between Laura and her family. Mary's letter to a friend was fascinating, not so much for the content as for how she wrote it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1867-1957    2. 20th century    3. Authors, American    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    6. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children: Grades 4-6    9. Frontier and pioneer life    10. History - United States/19th Century    11. Juvenile literature    12. Pictorial works    13. United States    14. Wilder, Laura Ingalls,    15. American English    16. American history: c 1500 to c 1900    17. Fiction    18. Historical figures    19. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Literary    20. USA    21. Wilder, Laura Ingalls   

Reviews (14)

Life of a Japanese American during Relocation
I found this book intriguing. Uchida vividly explains her childhood as a Japanese American and illustrates the need to conform, like any other young child. As she ages, she realizes that her heritage can never be erased, and she is soon penalized for this, a thing she cannot help.
Not so invisible any more, thank goodness
In addition to her writings about the Japanese and Japanese-American culture, Yoshiko Uchida wrote several fiction books that drew from her experiences as a Japanese American during World War II. The Invisible Thread, written for young adults, is an autobiography that tells of her life before, during her family's internment in a camp in Utah.
Amazingly Addicting!
I'm only 12, so if you do not wish to read my review, I understand. However, I still wish to express my feelings of this book. I, normally, am not the type of person who reads autobiograpies or biographies, so I wasn't very excited when I discovered we would be starting a unit on them in school. However, the further I read in this book, the less "dull" it seemed. Though I didn't find the beginning very interesting, I quite enjoyed he book as I read on. I soon felt what I think the author did at that time. I was ashamed to discover what the United States Government did to the poor Japanese-Americans. I found that this book was hard to put down, even at 1:00 A.M. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    6. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Japanese Americans    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. People & Places - United States - Asian American    12. Social life and customs    13. Uchida, Yoshiko   

Reviews (5)

Their journey on bicycles with their children's book manuscripts among their few possessions is recounted here with pictures
Curious George is beloved and known by adults and kids around the world - but few have heard of the history of his creators, Hans and Margret Rey, who had to flee their Paris home as the Germans invaded. Their journey on bicycles with their children's book manuscripts among their few possessions is recounted here with pictures, flare and drama. Borden uses primary resources, including Rey's own pocket diaries, to tell their tale in The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape Of Margret And H.A. Rey, with Allan Drummond's drawings and vintage black and white photos throughout enhancing the biography and action.
A Book for All Ages
Voila! It was there! A book that I had been waiting to read. On my desk I found The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey by Louise Borden, illustrated by Allan Drummond. Oooh, it was a nice looking book!
How Curious George Came to America
I gave this children's biography to my husband who collects Curious George memorabilia, but everyone in the family has taken time to read it, because three generations of us have loved the work of Margret and Hans Rey. This is the interesting story of their escape from Paris on bikes just as the Nazis began to occupy the city. It's a perfect choice for a fourth or fifth grader who is learning about World War II or one who really loved Curious George as a preschooler. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Hans Augusto),    2. 1898-    3. 20th century    4. Authors, American    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    9. Children: Grades 3-4    10. Jewish authors    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Refugees, Jewish    14. Rey, H. A    15. Rey, Margret    16. United States    17. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (3)

A Little Boy, A Big World
I read Gary Soto's "A Summer Life" while I was writing my first book in order to educate myself in the creation of vibrant, evocative scenes that come out of ordinary, every day experiences. For example, in Soto's essay, "The Shirt," he shows how the tragic, post-Korean War existence of Uncle Shorty seemed magical and special to a young Soto who covets his uncle's shirt: "I used to slip it on when he was asleep, and at the age of five I knew the smell of a man who went and came back from war....It was the shape of muscle, the anger of a tattoo panther hiding behind cotton, the hair in the collar, the small hole where a bullet could have entered and exited without his dying." Or, with the simple first line of "The Weather," Soto can set the stage for the mysteries of climate: "January doesn't show its true face until you can scratch a cold window with a finger."This little book will make you smile (and sometimes wince) as it brings back your own personal memories of growing up. This is a wonderful collection that offers everyone, including new writers, a chance to enjoy and learn from beautifully crafted essays.

A Summer Life por Gary Soto
A Summer Life explores a young boys life as he grows up in Fresno, California.In a three partbook, broken into thirteen short chapters in each part, Gary Soto covers everything from "TheColors", to "The Chicks", to "The Computer Date". (names of chapters). Mischeivness wasdefinitely a part of this boys life, just as it is for most young boys.In just the first chapter, "TheBuddha", the boy killed ants with his Buddha toy, and ran underneath a moving semi-truck.The boy would do such silly things as taking old bicycle handle bars and imagining that they would slow him down and keep him from reaching a high, uncontrollable speed.He would also put bottle caps on the bottom of his shoes, then he would kick the cement to make an "engine of sparks" come from beneath his feet. Throughout the story the boy has a few problems with his siblings.When his sister chewed Bazooka bubble gum and saved the proof of purchases to send in and get a locket, he wanted her to get the binoculars instead. As the boy has these experiences with his family and his surrounding, he matures from age five to seventeen, and is confronted with events that teach him lessons about life.Gary Soto definitely shows his poet style of writing in A Summer Life.There is rarely a detail missed. This was truly a great book and I recommend it to readers who enjoy real life situations, a sly sense of humor, and a realist style of writing.I would give "A Summer Life" three thumbs up if I had another hand! -RmP

Amazing!
This book was first read to me when I was in fifth grade.Years later I can still remember being in California with the characters in the book -smelling, seeing, touching everything that they smelled, saw and touched. Wow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Social Issues - General    6. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (50)

sounds very catchy
now the question to my title- is :
Bad Boy
Walter and his family live in Harlem New York.They think Harlem is a very unique place because of the people and the music going on in Harlem.Walter likes all sports and school but has a tendency to get into trouble.Growing up in Harlem witha poor family made Walter realize the racial and class struggles that surround him during his life.When I read the book I liked how the author could relate the situations in the book to the real life problems that are happening around us in 2006.I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading about history but also having fun reading it.This book does not have a very hard reading level and word-choice so it would be good for ages 8 to 12.I think some equally good books are River thunder and when Zachary beaver comes to town.

A Motivating Memior !!!!!!!!
Bad Boy is a motivating memoir in many ways. wriiten by Walter Dean myers, this book has positive values and an interesting story.i really loved it because the book had situations which i could relate to easily.for instance "Walter, go directly to the principals office!" go to the principals office was a very familuar statement to me when i was young.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. African American authors    3. Authors, American    4. Authorship    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    7. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    8. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    9. Boys & Men    10. Children's 12-Up - Biography / Autobiography    11. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    12. Children's stories    13. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    14. Juvenile Nonfiction    15. Juvenile literature    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (28)

Going Solo Review
Going Solo is the great story that Roald Dahl adventured throughout his young life. Roald Dahl accomplished many things once he was able to do things on his own. Mainly the book is about himself traveling all over Europe and Africa just trying to experience as much as he could. He travels all over the bottom of Europe and works way down and around Africa staying at many non civilized villages and getting to know many natives. At the time he is working for the Shell Oil Company until he finally quits. In East Africa he also is endangered with a near fatal death with a Green Mamba , one of the most deadly snakes. Roald also has a passion for the air force, and ends up joining the RAF. Going Solo is one of the most adventurous books that I have ever read, with the nonstop climax's and so many near death experiences. This is a very descriptive book with so many heroic twist that can keep anyone's attention. Roald Dahl is very famous for most of his work such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but this book is amazing because this all actually happened to writer in real life. The greatest part about the Roald Dahl in Going Solo is that he never gave up, even after a plane crash that he should not have been able to live after.He was told that he would be blind for the rest of his life, but about a month later he started to gain his sight back. I feel that this book is a miracle.

Going Solo By Roald Dahl
I read the fantastic book named Going Solo by Roald Dahl. This book was an autobiography of Roald Dahl's life prior to and during World War II. The book explained many of his encounters with the enemy as a pilot for the Royal Air Force in Roald Dahl's personal view. There are an uncountable number of fascinating events that occur when he is a pilot. Some of them include when he receives a life threatening injury, going into a hardcore battle with no experience at fighting enemies, and getting out of a long-lasting dogfight where he was outnumbered 200 to 12. The other half of the book explained his thrilling adventures prior to the war when he worked for the Shell Company. Some of his experiences while working for the Shell Company included chasing a lion, saving a man from a deadly Black Mamba, and sighting a deadly Green Mamba enter his friends house.Every page of the book was full of plot and adventure, and I could not put this book down.
Unbelievable and Amazing Stories!
WOW! Going Solo, by Roald Dahl is an amazing and heart capturing book. Read this book if you love war stories. These stories are serious, funny, and keep you wanting more. I found the book almost impossible to believe during some points in the amazing novel.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, English    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Dahl, Roald    8. History - Military & Wars    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Personal narratives, British    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. Fiction    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Military & Wars   

Reviews (1)

Funny, warm, poignant author memoir
In 35 short chapters, Ralph Fletcher shares stories of his childhood neighborhood, family, and friends.Covering topics that include a description of his neighborhood, his feelings and memories of the important people in his life, games he played, school days, pets, and childhood illnesses, this story kept me entranced from start to finish.I loved the author's simple yet moving revelation of his own feelings, especially the poignant chapter about his father, "Last Kiss."
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Boys & Men    6. Childhood and youth    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children: Grades 4-6    9. Family - General    10. Fletcher, Ralph J    11. Fletcher, Ralph J.    12. Homes and haunts    13. Juvenile Nonfiction    14. Juvenile literature    15. Marshfield    16. Massachusetts    17. Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / General   

Reviews (12)

Laura
I love all the little house books.I am buying these so I can read them again and also to build up a library for my grandchildren.

Much More Than a Collection of Letters
In addition to Laura's detailed letters to Almanzo describing her adventure, this book includes over thirty photographs featuring Laura, Rose, the Pacific Ocean (ships, beachgoers, etc.), San Francisco, and many scenes of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition including an air show and night-lit festivities.Though in black and white, this pictorial insight into what was behind the letters is wonderful.
Interesting
This is a very sweet and interesting book. Laura is visiting Rose in San Francisco for a few months and writes letters to Manly to fill him in on all she is doing and seeing.Read more

Subjects:  1. (1915 :    2. 1867-1957    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Correspondence    8. Panama-Pacific International Exposition    9. San Francisco, Calif.)    10. Social Issues - New Experience    11. Wilder, Almanzo    12. Wilder, Laura Ingalls,    13. Classic fiction    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (20)

Fun, very enjoyable.
My son was sick for a few days while the rest of the class was reading this book at school, and we needed to have this book to help keep him up on class and understand what was going on in the story.The book wasn't available anywhere locally, so we ordered from Amazon, and it got here QUICKLY!We were able to get him caught up on his work, and we could also explain the story in a better one-on-one setting than any classroom could do, and he did well.
first biography
In reading this book to my first grade class, Tomie always left them wantingto know more about his life. This first book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series takes Tomie from the summer before kindergarten through his first year at his brothers "big" school. The story focuses on experiences dealing with moving in to a new house and neighborhood, having his teacher mispronounce his name, starting tap dancing lessons and many other events that shape his beginnings at his new life at 26 Fairmount Avenue. My students enjoyed every page of this new series, cover to cover and ended up checking out the book at the library all year! We continued to read the next four books throughout the year and continue to discuss them when we see each other around school. This new beginning biography series is a must have for every primary grade classroom.

Swim Over Here And Read This Book
26 Fairmount AvenueRead more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Illustrators    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Readers - Beginner    11. Readers - Chapter Books    12. Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Theodor Seuss Geisel, Read more

Reviews (5)

Yes I Love It, Sam-I-Am!
As we celebrate the centennial of Ted Geisel's birth, material is appearing that looks at the influence of Dr. Seuss on generations of American readers.Dr. Cohen brings us what is obviously a labor of love. Drawing inspiration on his extensive collection of Seussiana, he has produced one of the most lavishly illustrated and broadly scoped book on the life and works of the good doctor. The many facets of Dr. Seuss
Since 2004 is the Seussentennial, or the hundredth anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birth, this is a great time to get to know more about one of America's most popular icons of children's literature. Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was far more than an author and illustrator of children's books and movies. His career includes humorist, journalist, advertising genius, magazine and political cartoonist, creator of wartime training and propaganda films, president of a publishing company, and spokesman for children's education. A Grown-up Biography of a Children's Hero
With the awful, distorted, contrived pile of wasted film, conjured up in the form of Mike Myers' take on the "Cat in the Hat," it would be nice to know why, in the beginning of it all, Dr. Seuss was ever popular at all. He was a great writer and cartoonist before his famous cat's striped hat became chic fashion among post-grunge era teenagers.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Artists    3. Artists, Architects, Photographers    4. Authors, American    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Biography And Autobiography    9. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    10. Illustration of books    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Literary    13. Seuss,    14. United States    15. Biography: general    16. English    17. Illustration    18. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Art    19. Novels, other prose & writers: from c 1900 -    20. USA   

Reviews (1)

This is a must-read for every student who struggles in schoo
This enchanting book must be read to every class of learning disabled students, and should be in every elementary classroom as well.Ms. Lester shows, with amusement and the touching words of a small child, that writingcan be fun-for anyone!Even if writing is a struggle, it can be enjoyed. This book will make students with problems know it's okay to be different,and that they can still go on to a productive, happy life.That is soimportant, as so many adults are scarred by the unhappy times they spent inschools, attempting to learn what was for them, almost impossible.I feelalmost all students would enjoy this book.Thank you to Mrs. Lester forsaying what so many needed to hear. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Authorship    4. Biographical - General    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    8. Children's stories    9. Children: Grades 2-3    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Learning disabled    13. Fiction    14. Juvenile Fiction / Biographical / General   

Reviews (20)

The voice
If you have read A Child's Christmas in Wales, you know that it has to be a classic. But you can't fully appreciate it until you have heard Dylan Thomas read it. What a deep, expressive, poetic voice. For years, I have listened to the recording on a Caedman record. It is wonderful to have it on a CD.

a treasure
For me, "A Child's Christmas in Wales" is the single most beautiful piece of Christmas literature in the English language.
It does not go gentle into that good night.
Like so many other children's books, Amazon.com takes a perverse pleasure in lumping together all version's of Dylan Thomas's, "A Child's Christmas In Wales".So if a reviewer, like myself, wants to review the book that was illustrated in 2004 by Chris Raschka, I'd better make it as clear as possible right from the start.So here it goes.Ahem.Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it gives me the greatest of pleasure to announce that I will now be reviewing "A Child's Christmas In Wales", penned by the great Dylan Thomas and illustrated with grace, aplomb, and ahint of frenzy by accomplished children's book illustrator Chris Raschka.Thank you.
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Subjects:  1. 1914-1953    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Childhood Memoir    7. Childhood and youth    8. Children: Grades 1-2    9. Christmas    10. General    11. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    12. Homes and haunts    13. Juvenile Nonfiction    14. Literary    15. People & Places - Europe    16. Poets, Welsh    17. Thomas, Dylan,    18. Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953    19. Wales    20. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (22)

I didn't want it to end
I ordered Beverly Cleary's two autobiographies on Amazon, and recieved them last week.The first of the two is called, "A Girl From Yamhill" and the second is, "My Own Two Feet".Both are excellently written.The first is of her childhood until she goes off to college and the second is her college days and a few years beyond.She has a style of writing that makes you feel as though you have known her your whole life and are the dearest of friends. What amazed me the most about these books is how timeless they are.Even though she grew up during the depression and went to college before the advent of computers and the technology boom, it was eye opening to see that the human condition and experiences don't really change all that much.She is an excellent storyteller, and the words on the page lept into my mind's eye and I could see it unfold before as if I were watching it on a movie screen.I was sad to see the first book end, but glad that I had ordered the second book as well.Then when I finished the second book I found myself wishing that she had written another book to tell more of her life's stories.I finished reading them both within a couple of days and found myself doing something I have never done before.I immediately began to read them again ( I am currently half way through the first book).If you grew up loving her children's books as I did, then these are a must have.

Sweet and Simple
When I was in grade school I read every Beverly Cleary book I could. I have never forgotten Ramona or Henrie! This Memoir was simply written. Really not much happens here. There isn't a lot of depth to Ms. Cleary's writting but I will admit I enjoyed this book very much. I am planning on reading the sequel next!

In a word: Charming
As an avid reader of contemporary fiction, it was a pleasant and surprising change of pace to read this autobiography of Beverly Cleary's early years.Her life on the Yamhill is depicted with such immediacy and heartfelt affection that it made me wish I had brought my children up on a farm.It seems that the farm years (only until 1st grade) set her up for life.The rest of Beverly's life in Portland was marked by arguments with her strict and difficult mother, the poverty of the depression, and her father's sadness at being away from the farm he loved.Somehow Beverly always retains her sense of self and makes her life sound downright enviable.The tales of her struggles with school, her mother, money, and an over-ardent boyfriend are told with humor and equanimity.The reader can't help but love Beverly.She makes you yearn for a simpler time.I know that she turned 89 last week.I hope she is well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Cleary, Beverly    9. Juvenile literature    10. Lifestyles - Farm & Ranch Life    11. Social Situations - Abuse    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Adolescence   

Reviews (4)

The Best Autobiography by Far! by Sammy K. 4th Grade
I am Jewish, and I learned a lot from this book. I learned about life in Warsaw, and about the time period around World War I. It shows how that time compares to this, and how much more we have now than back then. Lots of people take electric lights for granted. This book shows what it was like to live through freezing weather, hunger, and stress about war.
The childhood of a master story- teller
Singer just has it. These vignettes of his childhood do not have the emotional power of his greatest stories but they are rich with life, insight and humor. And somehow he tells stories even when he is making simple descriptions of his early life. This work too tells the pain and poverty of his childhood and the difficulty of his parents' lives. It is too a tribute to a world - gone .
I read this for a 6th grade book report and loved it!
This book is a very good read for anyone and everyone that likes to read about foreign culture-- or even if you don't!I usually detest biographies and book reports, but reading this book made it FUN! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1904-    2. 1904-1991    3. Authors, Yiddish    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    7. Childhood and youth    8. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    9. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    10. Homes and haunts    11. Jews    12. Poland    13. Religion - Judaism    14. Singer, Isaac Bashevis,    15. Warsaw    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Science / Customs, Traditions, Anthropology   

Reviews (3)

A Delight for All Ages
I'm a paper artist who also happens to be a Hans Christian Andersen fan.I bought the book for myself, although it would be a terrific selection for a child who likes to use scissors and glue or who might be interested in the person behind some of their favorite fairy tales.It's hard to find many printed examples outside of Denmark of Hans Christian Andersen's cut paper work.Beth Wagner Brust is a paper cutter herself and brings this enthusiasm to her book. She has performed a great service for Andersen fans and paper cutters of all ages.

This Book Is A Real Treasure
Like so many Americans, I had no idea HC Andersen was a paper-cutting genius, until reading the series of articles by Ms. Brust in the LA Times.Not to mention that he cut these "amazing" intricate pieces while telling one of his stories to a roomful of listeners at the same time.
Great
Not only is the author great (I know her!) but this book explores an interesting topic. Those paper cuttings are unreal! I mean they are real, but they are so amazing! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Hans Christian),    2. 1805-1875    3. Andersen, H. C    4. Authors as artists    5. Biography & Autobiography - Art    6. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Children: Grades 2-3    9. Denmark    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Literary    13. Paper work    14. Silhouettes    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (18)

Marvelous Book
Knots in my yo-yo string is a great book.This novel is about the one and only Jerry Spinelli and his childhood.The most interesting chapter to me was, When I Was King.The reason that chapter was interesting to me was that,it fun to hear about a great author being elected for class president.I give this book 4 stars out of 5 because, first when i was reading the book, i didn't like it.But as i kept reading the book, i started to like it more when i got to the middle of the book. I recormmend this book to children and adults who likes to biographies.This is a great book about a childhood of the marvelous Jerry Spinelli.

Excellent Recollection of a Writer's Life
Knots in My Yo-Yo String is an autobiography of the childhood of the writer Jerry Spinnelli.It was an excellent book.He did not hold anything back as this book showed the ups, downs, hopes, and sadness as a kid.It goes through his childhood and his many houses to his high school graduation.I have enjoyed it very much and I would recommend it to any child or child at heart.

Knots in My Yo-yo String
Jerry Spinelli's autobiography is interesting and funny. He takes the reader back to the magical days of his childhood. He was a runner and a sports player. He was the perfectionist who