Reviews (1)

Full fathom five thy father lies
I suppose that there must be some people in world for whom the name "David Wiesner" means nothing. I can't fathom what this kind of an existence must be like. I suppose it would be the literary equivalent of not knowing what chocolate was. Or snow. The minute the new Wiesner book comes out I, like hundreds of thousands of others like me, rush out to purchase it for friends, relatives, and passing acquaintances I met once in the grocery store. Little wonder that the man has won two Caldecott Medals AND two Caldecott Honors. Now one of those numbers is about to change since Wiesner has produced his most ambitious creation to date. Wordless (as always) and more intense than his light-hearted "Tuesday" and "Sector 7" ever were, this is a book overflowing in deep-water mysteries and delights.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Marine Life    2. Beaches    3. Cameras    4. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - Science Fiction    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Nature & the Natural World - General    10. Preschool Wordless Picture Books    11. Science & Technology    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Stories without words    14. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

Once upon a time three pigs built three houses, out of straw, sticks,and bricks. Along came a wolf, who huffed and puffed... So, you think you knowthe rest? Think again. With David Wiesner at the helm, it's never safe to assumetoo much. When the wolf approaches the first house, for example, and blows itin, he somehow manages to blow the pig right out of the story frame. The textcontinues on schedule--"...and ate the pig up"--but the perplexed expression onthe wolf's face as he looks in vain for his ham dinner is priceless. One by one,the pigs exit the fairy tale's border and set off on an adventure of their own.Folding a page of their own story into a paper airplane, the pigs fly off tovisit other storybooks, rescuing about-to-be-slain dragons and luring the catand the fiddle out of their nursery rhyme.Read more

Reviews (48)

Great book
The Three Little Pigs is a clever spin on the classic nursery tale.The three pigs manage to walk straight out of the pages they were encapsulated in, and wonder in and out of other classic tales, freeing other creatures as they go.They ultimately bring a dragon home with them to the brick house, just in time to scare away the wolf.
A "Hog Wild" Experience
Review on the children's book "The Three Pigs" by David Wiesner
You want a "correct" nursery rhyme? Go elsewhere!
I don't have John or Yoko in my family tree, and I certainly don't think of myself as particularly cutting-edge, nor is my 4-and-a-half-year-old daughter. But she practically rolled off the bed, she was laughing so hard the first time we read this book together. Yes, I think you have to have some curiosity, some questioning-of-authority, a well-developed sense of humor, and be able to do a certain amount of play-acting along with the book as you read it, so for those tired parents who just want to whip through a few old standards as quickly as possible, without actually thinking about what they're reading, this is probably not the book. But oh, the peals of laughter from my daughter! They were priceless! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Pigs    2. Characters and characteristics    3. Characters in literature    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Children: Preschool    7. Fairy Tales & Folklore - General    8. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Humorous Retelling    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Pigs    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Pigs   

Editorial Review

"Tuesday evening, around eight"--a deceptively mundane beginning for what proves to be a thrilling, miraculous, and surreal amphibian journey. Slowly and quietly on this particular Tuesday, a few fat frogs begin hovering over a swamp, riding lily pads like magic carpets. Clearly satisfied and comfortable, the floating frogs are as serene as little green buddhas. Gradually, the flying fleet grows in momentum and number, sailing over the countryside and into an unsuspecting town. These frogs know how to have fun--startling the occasional bird, waving webbed feet at late-night snack-eaters, and even changing the channels on a sleeping granny's television. As day breaks, the frogs lose their lily pads, head back to the pond, and wait impatiently for their next scheduled departure.Read more

Reviews (57)

Good for adults and kids
Flying frogs having fun.We all enjoy it.Hardly any words, but the incredible art jump starts imagination and sparks long conversations with my boys about what is happening on each page. For ages 3 on up.

Charming and utterly deightful
David Wiesner's brilliant children's book Tuesday has long been one of my favorites illustrated books.Who else could bring such fantastic whimsy and realism to this genre.What makes the complexity of Wiesner's story all the more amazing is that he tells the tale only through images.As in some of his other works, there is no text...and yet the story is sweet, funny and joyous.I highly recommend this and his other book for folks who love art and imagination...He's right up there with Sendak and Van Allsburg!

Great book for pre-readers, frog-lovers, and more
We love this little book.My 3-year-old can "read" it to herself now that we've read it together several times.We go through it and talk about all the pictures and she just giggles and giggles as I explain what is going on in them.I also get her perspectives on what the frogs' expressions might indicate and what is happening in the story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - Frogs & Toads    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Frogs    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile Literature    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Frogs & Toads    11. Picture books   

Reviews (5)

Creative thought
Have your children investigate every page carefully- this bookencourages self-awareness and promotes the exploration of the subconscious

Picture Book Review
Free Fall By: David Wiesner David Wiesner sends the reader on a magical journey through a young boy's dream to a far off land in his creative picture book titled, Free Fall. He does this by using only detailed pictures.Free Fall is an Caldecott honor award winningbook for its excellent use of the imagination.Free Fall begins with a young boy fast asleep with a storybook lying open on his chest. The boy begins to dream while the pages of the book start to fly and take life. He becomes a character in the book as the chess pieces begin to talk with him. He then goes through many exciting adventures during the course of the book. He protects the town from a frightening dragon, becomes an oversized boy towering above all, and even becomes so small that he can fly on a single leaf. He flies right next to the swans just above the waters, and then he...wakes to the daylight shining through his window. He sits up, looks at his fish bowl beside his bed, and admires the seagulls at his windowpane with a smile on his face. David Wiesner uses fantasy and adventure to give a child an unlimited imagination in his book, Free Fall. The title page automatically sets the reader up for a fulfilled magical ride. The title page looks like a map made out of the boy's bed sheet to give the reader a sense of where the story will take us. The first page of the book lets the reader know that the boy fell asleep while reading a book. Then the reader turns the page, and night suddenly turns into day from one page to the next. The boy's room starts to disappear into rolling open fields with mountains towering in the background through clouds. The boy becomes as small as a chess piece, and starts to have conversations with the other pieces. On the next page, the chess pieces turn into a beautiful life-size castle, and the people have shrunk to a smaller size. Then, a dragon appears, and the boy is left to protect the people using only a sword and shield. As the reader turns the page, the pages of the young boy's storybook begin to turn also, while characters in his book suddenly jump into his dream. The reader can see the people coming out of the pages. The boy then grows vast, soaring over all. He takes adventures though the mountains, as well as takes flight though the air. He flies along with the swans until the waters subtly turns back into his bed sheets. A foggy haze once again appears, and the boy is awakened by the light of the morning. Wiesner takes the reader, the child, on an adventure though another child's dream. The colors of the pictures are subtle and dull, so that it reflects that of a hazy dream-like state. The picture book is put together very well as the pages slowly drift into the next scene of the boy's thoughts. For example, the boy's bed sheets blend into rolling hills, the hills fade into a chessboard, and the pieces convert into the towers of a castle. The pages of the book turn gradually into steps, and then transform into sides of buildings. The mountains then turn into bread as the boy's bed sheet reappears as a tablecloth. The tablecloth suddenly transforms into rough waters, as the food breaks into pieces forming into fish. As daylight breaks through, the waters turn into the boy's bed sheets once again. The transformation of the bed sheet into so many different items may relate to what a child can imagine a bed sheet to become. The uses of objects, such as the boy's bed sheet, for more then one purpose is a great way to express an exploring, creative mind, such as the young boy's in the book Wiesner's Free Fall, creates an adventure for the child through the great usage of imagination. This allows the child to not only enjoy the book, but also relate to the book. The child learns that bedtime, an often unpopular time, can open up a world of excitement for them.

A visual and imaginitive journey
Free Fall is a series of wonderful illustrations of apparently unrelated imaginary worlds seamlessly stitched together by familiar textures.As with other books by David Wiesner, the closer you look the more you will appreciate his work.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Preschool    3. Dreams    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Stories without words    7. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (4)

An interesting read...
The Rainbow People by Laurence Yep is a very interesting collection of Chinese myths. People who short stories over novels will enjoy this book.
The Rainbow People

Great Source of Chinese and Chinese American Tales
Yep for the most part retells and combines stories collected by Jon Lee in a 1930's WPA project in Oakland's Chinatown from Chinese who would trace their ancestry to Kwangtung, China. (xi) Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. China    4. Folklore    5. People & Places - General    6. Tales    7. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Asian American   

Editorial Review

In another wondrous, wordless picture book by Caldecott Medal winner David Wiesner (Read more

Reviews (23)

Would you like to swing on a cloud?
David Wiesner is best described as a light-hearted Chris Van Allsburg.In his books there tends to be a very real and deep fascination with both the sky and breaking away from convention.For example, his book "Tuesday" examines the repercussions of frogs flying at night."The Three Pigs", by contrast, takes a familiar story and loosens it up considerably.With "Sector 7", a wordless tale of a boy and his cloud, Wiesner tells a tale of changing the status quo.It's sometimes very difficult to find noteworthy wordless picture books out there but Wiesner appears to have an excellent grasp on this rarely appreciated genre.
Wiesner's Best
I love how this book can be used by a large variety of ages.the story is so creative and fun, but can be made complicated for older kids.Because it's a picture book, it can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be.Kids really have fun helping tell the story without feeling like the have to read.

Fantastic book
This is an absolutely beautiful book, with a wonderful message about non-conformity and the power of imagination.The illustrations are wonderful, too.The whole book has a very dreamy, magical quality, but at the same time, also a very clear and interesting story line.I pick up new details in the characters' expressions every time I read it.I think I will be buying this book as a gift for children and adults for many years to come.I recently went away to visit relatives in a foreign country, and this book, with a magnificent story but no words (no need for words), was an excellent gift idea for the kids.I've taken out a few of Wiesner's other books from the library and so far, this is my favourite by far.I have already bought three copies to give as gifts.I never manage to keep one for myself, because I always find someone I want to give one to.Within a few years, I think everyone I know will have a copy!I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Clouds    4. Empire State Building (New Yor    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Nature & the Natural World - Weather    9. Photo Essays    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Stories without words    12. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Editorial Review

If you liked David Wiesner's surrealistic 1992 Caldecott MedalistRead more

Reviews (9)

great book
I have read this book to my son, who is 4 years old, several times. He loved it. The cover of the book was not very appealing for him at first. But, the story was very interesting and he loved the pictures inside the book. I would definetely recommend it to everyone. It is an imaginative and fun book...

Giant veggies!Aaah!
This is a great idea for a story that worked quite well.The pictures are lovely to look at too.I loved the ending.There are so many children's books out there of varying quality, so I was pleased to come across this little gem.

Artichokes Advance on Anchorage.....
It all started in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey on May 11, 1999.Holly Evans launched her science experiment, flats of vegetable seedlings carried up into the ionosphere by weather balloons, to study "the effects of extra-terrestrial conditions on vegetable growth and development."Fast forward to June 29.All over the country, enormous vegetables are seen floating to earth."Cucumbers circle Kalamazoo.Lima bearns loom over Levittown.Artichokes advance on Anchorage.Parsnips pass by Providence.And broccoli lands with a big bounce in Holly Evans's backyard."But when "arugula covers Ashtabula" , Holly begins to wonder about this veggie phenomenon.Arugula was not a part of her experiment.....David Wiesner's makes June 29th an unforgettable day in his entertaining classic, and imaginations will soar with each delightful page turn.His minimal text, with its witty, dead-pan delivery, is filled with clever wordplay and alliteration.But it's Mr Wiesner's marvelous illustrations that really make this book stand out and sparkle, and youngsters will enjoy lingering over each outrageously detailed and humorous picture.With an inventive twist at the end to bring the whole story to its logical, though fantastic, conclusion, June 29, 1999 is a masterpiece you and your family don't want to miss. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Experiments    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science    9. Science & Technology    10. Science fiction    11. Vegetables    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (2)

Kat's Kind Review
The book Hurricane by David Wiesner was an excellent book. It teaches children that you don't have to always have the new hi-tech toys to have fun. All you need is your imagination. I would recommend this book to all ages. It was about 2 brothers who are waiting for a large hurricane to arrive in their town. When the storm finally hits both of the boys get really scared. After the hurricane lets up and is over the boys notice that there is a large tree that fell down right next to their house. It wasn't their tree it was the neighbors but they decided to play on it one day because they were extremely bored. They played on the tree so much that it became their little adventure world. They would spend as much time as they could with that tree. They felt safe and protected when they would play. But one morning the boys awoke to the sound of chainsaws and axes hacking away at what sounded like... A TREE!!! Could it have been their tree???

Hurricane
Excellent book about two great boys who lived through a terrible hurricane and almost fell in love with a tree.It had a little sadness and happiness.Great illustrations!One of the best children's books I have ever read!The two boys showed a bunch of love for the tree, unfortunately, it would go in the end.Overall, an excellent book for all ages!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers    2. Brothers and sisters    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Family - Siblings    6. Fiction    7. Hurricanes    8. Imagination    9. Imagination & Play    10. Nature & the Natural World - Weather    11. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Siblings   

Reviews (4)

Don't Wear Your Sunglasses at Night
Eve Bunting is not only one of the most prolific children's authors writing, she is also one of the best.Her poetic tale of NIGHT OF THE GARGOYLES is a darkly comical look at what happens at night when the sun goes down.Taking a cue from THE NUTCRACKER, THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, and other famous "come to life" stories, Bunting weaves a poetic homage to the stone guardians about when and how they come to life and what they do when no one is looking.David Wiesner's magnificent black, white, and grey illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the text. The youngest and most easily scared of readers may find the story too scary.However, older children and even adults can be entertained by and enjoy the "foolish" (mischievous) escapades of these ancient stone warriors.

Not Just for Kids!
I checked out this book from my local library for my four-year-old daughter who wanted a "scary" book, and the first thing that caught my eye was the excellent art work.It's absolutely stunning.Each page is a work of art unto itself, with blacks, whites, and grays that add immeasurably to this gothic little poem about mischievous gargoyle statues that come alive at night to frolic and play jokes on human beings.I can see how the book might be a little too scary for some children, but my daughter seems to find it "just right," as do I.Yes, the gargoyles look a little menacing and the overall tone of the book is a little dark, but it's also fun in the same way that Halloween is fun.Furthermore, I as an adult get a kick out of reading the book, the text of which is not necessary so simple that only young children will appreciate it; both kids and adults will enjoy it, in my opinion.I plan to buy a copy from Amazon for my own library, in fact.

Review from a regular mom:
Bought this book for my 5 year old son who is interested in gargoyles.The book has beautiful black and white illustrations.The story uses poetic descriptions too difficult for younger children.You won't get through the book without stopping at least 5 times to answer questions. For ages 4-8?I don't think so! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. Gargoyles    5. General    6. Horror    7. Horror & Ghost Stories    8. Horror stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Horror & ghost stories, chillers    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (3)

DISAPPOINTING ADAPTATION OF A GREAT STORY
"Gonna Roll the Bones" by Fritz Leiber is one of my favorites stories and when I learned that David Wiesner was adapting it into a picture book I had high expectations.After all, the idea was loaded with promise:Wiesner, winner of a Caldecott Honor Medal, is an extremely talented illustrator who has conjured up beautiful books with his precise, whimsical watercolors and seemed to be well suited to illuminating the dark magic and dense imagery found in this story.
halloween reading!
spooky, but not scary, this atmospheric picture book by david wiesner based onthe well-known fritz leiber novella is a trick of the eye and a treat!

Who is this book intended for?
A man tired of his house and his family foes out to play craps at a place callee the boneyard in this dark fable.lThe illustrations progress from forboding to downright scarey.There is a lot of text for a picture book, and while the story is interesting and exciting, I am puzzled by the "Caldecott Medal" marketing. This book is not appropriate for young children because of the scarey pictures and long story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Craps (Game)    4. Devil    5. Fiction    6. Gambling    7. Horror & Ghost Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Horror & Ghost Stories   

Reviews (6)

Endearing, Inquisitive 2 Yr Old..But This One's No Caldecott
Owly is two years old and he wants to know how high, how deep, how far, how much about EVERYTHING!His mother patiently helps him to discover the answers to his numerous questions by seeking the facts himself. He goes off to count exactly how many waves there are in the ocean and finds there are so many he can't count them all. Similar experiments yield similar fruit. The endearing story eventually reaffirms his mother's deep love for him as well.I think this book's message is very sweet and comforting and I think this is a good story.However, I'm not as excited about the illustrations.David Wiesner is one of my very favorite illustrators of children's literature and well deserving of the Caldecott Award he recieved for his book called Tuesday. The pictures in this book while sweet are very much on the dull side. Look at the cover picture and that is essentally all you will see for the rest of the book's 16 illustrations. All of the illustrations are very, very similar. We see baby Owly and his mother (cute brown owls) sitting on a black tree branch with a round white moon and round white stars, or yellowish streaks indicating sunrise, or pale greenish blue indicating daylight. We see Owly take flight in two pictures. We see him sitting on the shore in one. We see the two owls cuddling. The colors are all pale washes in the yellow-blue range. Wiesner has given the two owls cute expressions. I would never say that this fine artist has created bad illustrations. Never! But these are dull and take the book from the realm of 5 stars to that of 3. You will never find that this book creates anything but positive memories...but that is only IF it creates a memory at all.

GREAT BOOK
MY BOYS ARE NOW 19 AND 15 AND I USED TO READ THEM THIS BOOK WHEN THEY WERE SMALL. ONE IS NOW IN AWAY IN COLLEGE, THE OTHER IS, WELL, 15. BUT WHENEVER WE SAY GOODNIGHT OR SO LONG WE WOULD SAY I LOVE YOU-----AS MANY STARS AS THERE ARE IN THE SKY, ETC. I AM NOW PREPARING FOR ANOTHER BABY AND I WANT TO SHARE THE SAME JOY THAT WE GET NOW. IT IS AN EXCELLENT BOOKS. HOLD ON TO THESE STORIES AND TREASURE YOUR CHILDREN.ENJOY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

A beautiful work of art.
This is a great book. I would recomend it to anyone young or old ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 1-2    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Mystery & Detective - General    7. Owls    8. Parent and child    9. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Parents   

Reviews (3)

Not the Same...
The original 1987 release of this book is worth 5 stars, make no mistake. The artwork is still worth 5 stars.
A traditional English fairy tale revolving around dragons, wicked stepmothers, a prince and evil enchantment
Take a traditional English fairy tale revolving around dragons, wicked stepmothers, a prince and evil enchantment, add gorgeous paintings by David Wiesner, and retell the package for young readers with rudimentary skills and you have all the elements of a favorite book in The Loathsome Dragon. The story has the same basic structure but is more accessible to the younger audiences, here.
Not Loathsome at all!
I was so pleased to see this book back in print!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Dragons    5. England    6. Fairy Tales & Folklore - European    7. Fairy Tales & Folklore - General    8. Fairy tales    9. Folklore    10. General    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    13. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Chinese Americans    4. Folklore    5. Folklore & Mythology    6. General    7. Tales    8. United States   

Reviews (74)

Grate adventure!
I began this series in the wrong order as I read the dark is rising first. I then formed a theory which I was anxious to see fulfilled. So I began over sea under stone.
Wonderful classic of children's fantasy literature
It doesn't matter that this book was written 30 years ago, it easily withstands the test of time. It's actually superior to so much of the children's literature that's being put out these days. A compelling start to the series
By one of those strange coincidences, I read this book shortly after the new "Ulysses Moore - The Door to Time", and a comparison of the two will reveal many similarities.This story was copyrighted by Susan Cooper in 1965, and tells the tale of three children who discover an old map in the house where they are vacationing. Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Cornwall (England : County)    5. England    6. Fantasy    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Large type books    11. Magic    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (4)

Action Book!
Man from the sky A review of Man From the Sky
Mrs. Davis' 5th grade class at the Hamilton School found these events tobe the most exciting in the book. By parachuting from a plane, Ed Goddardwas trying to escape with money he had stolen. Unable to remove theparachute he was dragged and injured and lost the briefcase with the money.Jamie saw him parachuting from the plane while studying the clouds. Jamieis dyslexic and struggles to read but can see images in the clouds. Jamie's friend Gillian Lurie found the lost briefcase and was kidnapped byEd Goddard. She left a clue for Jamie to follow and send help. She used astick to point in the direction she was being taken. There was somediscussion about the chapters changing from one character to another makingthe book confusing. The class decided that Avi wrote the book this way togive the reader a "split screen" of the same events from thepoint of view of different characters. Man from the Sky is interesting and suspenseful!
Book Review of Avi's Man from the SkyRead more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fiction    5. Robbers and outlaws    6. Social Situations - Special Needs   

Reviews (1)

Neptune Rising... A Wonderful Tale of the Sea
Neptune Rising is one of those fabulous books that fascinates not only children, but adults as well. The stories themselves weave throughout your head until you too want to become one with the sea and swim with the characters. Jane Yolen transcends most authors' stories of the sea, with both new and old fables in this powerful book. I remember as a child being enthralled with her books, sitting on the floor of my public library for hours. As an adult with my own collection of her works, I escape into that same dreamworld whenever I read Neptune Rising again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's stories, American    2. Juvenile fiction    3. Juvenile poetry    4. Mermaids    5. Mermen   

Reviews (2)

This book is GREAT!
I loved this book! This superb sequel to "The Dark Green Tunnel" takes place a month after the first book in our time, and about 750 years after the first in Mesmerian time! The twins Lara and Barnaby return to thebeautiful kingdom of Twilandia only to find it in tatters and the goodwitch Mag Nammoder gone! Upon meeting the dwarf Quill, they discover thatMesmeria is once again under oppresion; but this time, an evil wizard holdsthe throne. To save Mag Nammoder and free all Mesmeria, the twins mustinvoke spells from the hidden "Secret Volumes of Warp" with thehelp of the extremely powerful Wand. But in order to do this, the twinsmust first invade the heavily guarded Black Castle. And if they succeed,Lara has an inportant decision to make...

This book is GREAT!
I loved this book! This superb sequel to "The Dark Green Tunnel" takes place a month after the first book in our tim, and about 750 years after the first in Mesmerian time! The twins Lara and Barnaby return to thebeautiful kingdom of Twilandia only to find it in tatters and the goodwitch Mag Nammoder gone! Upon meeting the dwarf Quill, they discover thatMesmeria is once again under oppresion; but this time, an evil wizard holdsthe throne. To save Mag Nammoder and free all Mesmeria, the twins mustinvoke spells from the hidden "Secret Volumes of Warp" with thehelp of the extremely powerful wand. But in order to do this, the twinsmust first invade the heavily guarded Black Castle. And if they succeed,Lara has an inportant decision to make... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. Fantasy   

Reviews (4)

Fantastic read
Nearly 20 years ago my 5th grade teacher read this book to my class and it still remains one of my favorite books of all time.I looked for this book for years and am so happy that it was finally reprinted.This is a book that you can read with your children and thoroughly enjoy.I also recommend the Redwall series...another fantastic set of books for children and adults alike.Forget about Harry Potter, which tends to be a little frightening for children.This book and the Redwall series are some of the greatest children books of all time!!!

Happily re-released
I first encountered this book about 15 years ago.After much searching in the past 5 I was overjoyed at it's re-release.The book is a wistful journey, fraught with the type of characters which abound in the Chronicles of Narnia, but without as many religious undertones.The creatures created by Eckert are reminiscent of the fantasy epics "Labyrinth" and "The Never Ending Story."The book is as fantastical now as it was waaaaaay back in grade school.My only regret is that it took so long to be re-published.

I LOVED this book!
This book was wonderful! It is the story of the twins Lara and Barnaby and their cousin William (I think that's what his name was, I haven't read the book for a while) who go into the world of Mesmeria one day by following anowl through the Everglades, only to find that they're destined to save thisland.This book is an incredible fantasy (take it from a fanatic bookworm)that I completely loved, and the sequel "The Wand: Return toMesmeria" is just as good... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Babies & Toddlers    3. Fantasy    4. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Pigs    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Humorous Retelling    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Spanish: Grades 1-2   

Reviews (1)