Reviews (10)

The Seven Chinese Brothers
Have you read the book called "The Seven Chinese Brothers"?
Seven Chinese Brothers
The book was really nice.It was very fun when the seventh brother got his tears out, and all of the armies went away.It was also very fun when the emperor was trying to hurt the brothers.But he didn't.That is all. M vd S

Begining Brave
The Seven Chinese Brothers is about seven brothers trying to help the people that are fixing the hole in the Great Wall of China. When the emperor hears about the man who fix the hole in one night the emperor wants him to die. At the beginning the seven brothers were happily picking corn. In the middle all six brothers switch places so they can help each other. At the end they have fish for dinner. My opinion of the book is I think it makes you feel like you have special powers. Well it is a story that may never end you might make the sequel of the seven Chinese brothers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. China    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Asian    6. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    7. Fairy tales    8. Folklore    9. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Collections by a Single Author   

Reviews (5)

Delightful!
This book is a fast favorite at our house.The verse itself is very similar to Dr. Seuss -- lots of license with words and a bouncy rhyme.The pictures are lovely.
Our family LOVES this book
My husband made up a song to go with the words - this is one of our family's favorites!A very sing-songy read with made up words and a short but sweet narrative.Get this book and try to make up a tune to go with the poetry.This is not a counting book.If you like imagination and poetry, you'll love this.

Quite boring.
This book is neither interesting for my kids or for me. I thought it would make counting fun. But it doesn't. This book is quite dull. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Jungle animals    6. Stories in rhyme    7. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (1)

An action-packed, humorous book for 4 yrs and up
Mrs. Oberon is not, by her actions, an ordinary grandmother.When her son, Scrimshaw, calls her in distress because his son Sweeny is teething, there's only one thing that could help: Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Grandmothers    6. Infants    7. Mahy, Margaret    8. Preschool Picture Story Books    9. Voyages and travels    10. Picture books   

Reviews (2)

childhood favorite
This was my favorite book as a child. It's a charming story about a boy who is virtually ignored by his wealthy parents. The ending is a lovely surprise.

Delightful Book
This is a wonderful book for reading aloud. It's short and sweet and very clever. My almost three-year-old loves it, as do his older friends. Five year olds think it's really funny, and like to talk about the pictures.The illustrations are half the fun; I notice something new each time.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Hippopotamus    7. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (2)

You never know what might turn up!
Really fun book for kids (and adults) to read..some far out things are recovered "in the chair"!! Outlandish, but truly interesting book!

A funny fantasy of a simple chair's riches
Kids ages 4-7 will welcome another Mahy presentation: here a read-aloud story about a father who's lost his car keys. A frantic search leads a child to suggest the back of the chair - from whence all wonderful and amazing lost items are found. A fun rhyming text blends with fine drawings in a funny fantasy of a simple chair's riches.
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Subjects:  1. Chairs    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lost and found possessions    10. Poor    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (4)

a good book for young lion lovers
My mum used to read this book to my brother and I when we were kids and I remember it being a firm favourite of his.This version has different illustrations to those in the one that we used to have but my own 3yo daughter (a lion lover) is as entranced with the story as my brother used to be.I think the new illustrations are great too and has a lovely message about the power of imagination.As for the "jarringly British dialogue", this book is actually from New Zealand not UK.However, I do agree that the text is a bit funny at times but it doesn't seem to bother my daughter at all (who can recite most of the dialogue off by heart after numerous readings of this book).

Imaginative with interesting illustrations
This book is a frequently-requested bedtime read for my 2-year old.Theillustrations have a lot going on so there is great opportunity forpointing out hens, trees, the teddy bear looking out the window, etc.Thestory is simply told yet imaginative.

Imaginative with interesting illustrations
This book is a frequently-requested bedtime read for my 2-year old.Theillustrations have a lot going on so there is great opportunity forpointing out hens, trees, the teddy bear looking out the window, etc.Thestory is simply told yet imaginative. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Preschool    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Imaginary playmates    6. Mahy, Margaret    7. Preschool Picture Story Books    8. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General    9. Modern fiction   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Greed    6. Juvenile Literature    7. Sharks    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

Great book - not too frightening, good moral
My son likes scary things, but gets frightened by most!He loves this book because it features a (not-too) scary shark and a (not-too) scary situation.Norvin, a boy who looks amazingly like a shark, learns the hard way not to 'cry wolf' -- or, in this case, 'cry shark'!Adult-ish humor included for those reading to the little ones -- I love this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Kindergarten    2. Fiction   

Reviews (5)

A different kind of doll story
Five paper-chain dolls - initially with only Alpha, the first, drawn in - have adventures, and eventually all five sister personalities emerge through the artistry of various people over the years.This is a magical tale, though some of the language is a bit off and reads like vocabulary builders - all the synonyms for "said," for example ("declared," "cried," "agreed") - which slows the fairy-tale momentum.But this is a different kind of doll story, full of adventure and imagination, and each of the five paper dolls has her own strong personality.I am one of four sisters close in age, and I do love a charming sister story!

The Five Sisters
Out of all the books I've read by Margaret Mahy this is my favorite, The Five Sisters. The story starts with Sally's nana cuting a row of five paper dolls. She picks up a pencil and draws the first face. But before she can finish the rest of the faces, the five sisters are of to their journey. Saved by winds, soaked by water, and almost burned by fire, they never stumbled in their search for a mysterious island on the edge of the sea. As you can see the five sisters is a magical fantasy. I assure you that while your reading this story you willl have laughter, wonder,and adventure in you. If you are looking for an enjoyable book, The Five Sisters is the one you should read.

MY REVIEW: I LOVE IT
It sis a wonderufl book. The pictures are really interesting and the wordds are very descriptive.I like the way the authour sends the five sisters into an adventure from evil pig magicians to mighty whirlwinds to burning fire and finally to the island where they finally stopped holding hands. I also liked the way the gave each sister a special characteristic. Alpha is adventurous, Cathabelle is literate, Elodie is represenatitive of sadness and joy, Icasia is very intelligent, and Zamira is the clown. I thik that this book is good for kids all ages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fiction    5. Ocean travel    6. Paper dolls    7. Readers - Chapter Books    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Sisters    10. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (3)

Excellent Adventure
My 5 year old son just loves this book, we have been reading it over and over again for the past year.Great fun for both kids and parents!

Mahy doing what Mahy does best
It's kind of sad that the lack of reviews here makes it look like no one has looked at this funny book on this site since 1998.It's very funny and just the kind of book a young boy would make any adult read to him over and over. And girls will like it too. An hilarious easy to follow story
This book was read to me by a teacher as a way to learn to write a story outline, and with this book I found it extremely easy. The Librarian and the Robbers was hilarious and easy to follow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children's stories, New Zealan    4. Children's stories, New Zealand    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Classics    7. Humorous Stories    8. Humorous fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Short Stories   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Dragons    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Mahy, Margaret    7. Preschool Story Books    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children's stories, New Zealan    4. Children's stories, New Zealand    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. General    7. Juvenile Literature    8. Mahy, Margaret    9. Short stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Short Stories   

Reviews (3)

Favourite Bedtime Book
We've read this book to our 1.5 year old twins since they were babies. It has become their favourite book, and if given a choice will be the book singled out. A BRIGHT AND BREEZY ROMP
. Capturing NZ summers as I remember them
Mum takes the kids and the dogs down the track to the beach, past the man mowing his lawns and the woman hanging out the washing, just as you would on a summery Saturday morning in NZ. I love the rhyming and the repetition,and so does my daughter (aged 4. I can see why this book won the NZ PostChildren's Book Award in 1999. The ultimate compliment comes from mydaughter, who chooses this book again and again, for her own "readingaloud sessions" to selected lucky toys; she can recite each page offby heart. Everyone knows it's the parent who does the reading who needs tobe won over since they're the one with the cash to buy books, and this onehas definitely warmed my heart. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Family - General    5. Fiction    6. Humorous stories    7. Stories in rhyme    8. Summer    9. Adventure stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (3)

An absolute gem
I read this book when I was knee high to a grasshopper, and the wonderful wordplay of the title always stuck with me.A decade or two later I tacked it onto an Amazon order to qualify for free shipping, and was pleasantly surprised.Yes, the Piratical Rumbustification is the best title ever, but it is the companion story, The Librarian and the Robbers which really wowed me.The plot is zanier than Cartoon Network could ever hope to be, and the language is exquisite.I have to admit, I read this story over and over.Quentin Blake's illustrations compliment the wackiness of the story, too.I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a good (and very quick) read.And hey, if you have kids, you can let them borrow it sometimes, too!

A must have for every librarian
Forget the stereotype of sensible shoes, here we have a charming story in which the librarian in smart, pretty and wins the day! Should be on the reading list for everyone who loves libraries.

wonderful mischief for all ages!
Margaret Mahy, who is apparently from New Zealand, has written a wonderful pair of tales (excellently illustrated with line drawings by the witty Brit Quentin Blake). The stories overflow with fine wordplay & fun, &give piracy and robbery a good name. One of the best reads I've had in awhile! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Librarians    6. Pirates   

Reviews (1)

Fun Rhyming Story
If you enjoy fast-paced, fun rhyme, you'll love this story.Appropriate for children up to age 8, it is a purely fanciful story with detailed paintings.The poetry is full of alliteration and clever rhymes which makes it great fun to read.It took me about 5 minutes to read the entire book and both my 3 year old and 6 year old thought the story was funny.This would be a great choice as a holiday read-aloud for a Kindergarten or first grade classroom. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Christmas    5. Christmas trees    6. Fiction    7. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    8. Stories in rhyme   

Reviews (6)

Whither wander you, spirit?
Some people say that the leap taken by adult authors to writing books for children (Elmore Leonard, Michael Chabon, and Salman Rushdie are all good examples of this) is a harsh and difficult one.I say a far more difficult leap is that from young adult author to children's.Oh it may not sound difficult at first.But where the adult-to-child author can fudge the ages of their readers, the young-adult-to-child author must be aware at all times of the specific mindset of their audience.This may result in beautiful writing or watered down material that's too old for the intended audience.Margaret Mahy is a premiere young adult author.If you've any sense, you'll rush out and buy her "Catalogue of the Universe" at once without blinking.What's most remarkable about Mahy though is her penchant for occasionally drifting into children's works as well.These might range from the beautiful picture book, "Ultra-Violet Catastrophe" (a favorite of mine) to the slightly older chapter book, "The Haunting".Like all her tales, "The Haunting" focuses on relationships between family members and the bond that ties us to our relatives.It has the familiar creepy quality of her other works, but is age appropriate and (to be frank) thrilling.
Get children this book.
This book is truly terrific. I love most of Margaret Mahy's books dearly, including this one, and this is the only one I've read that is clearly "Children's" and not "YA". Of wonderful magical Children's books such as the Green Knowe series, Grimbold's Other World, E. Nesbit's works, and The Ordinary Princess, this is one of the few set in a fairly recent time and ordinary (seemingly) family.It is not diminished as great kids' fantasy by a setting far less dated and remote than, say, that of the Dark is Rising series, or Alan Garner's books. After reading many of these works and growing up a bit, a young person could go on to read Aliens in the Family, The Changeover, and The Tricksters, these three in my opinion the best of her YA fantasies. Get your favorite youngun started now with this book or read it and get hooked yourself on Margaret Mahy!

Someone Was Coming For Him . . .
"Barnaby is dead! I'm going to be very lonely." When a ghost appears to young Barney and speaks these words he's terrified.Barney's always been a little different, but what can the eerie voice that haunts him want? It's up to Barney and his big sister, Tabitha to find out what's happening.Something, or someone is coming to fetch Barney--and its getting closer each day. Tabitha is about to discover that her ordinary family . . . is not so ordinary after all. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Extrasensory perception    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Supernatural    7. Non-Classifiable   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Preschool    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - General    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Kings, queens, rulers, etc    8. Kings, queens, rulers, etc.    9. Parades    10. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    11. Stories in rhyme   

Reviews (1)

Stop and Smell the Roses
I first encountered this enchanting book while taking a Children's Lit course in Australia.Although that was a year ago, I still remember this book as a favourite of all the books we studied.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Kindergarten    2. Fiction   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Asian    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Folk Tales / Mythology / Fables    8. Spanish: Grades 1-2    9. Spanish: Grades 2-3    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Aunts    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Stories in rhyme