Entries Categorized as 'Animals'

Giant John

Our rating:****

Picture Books Younger Readers

Giant John (Hardcover)
by Arnold Lobel
ISBN: 0805082956

Price: USD 11.53
1 used & new available from USD 11.53

Giant John and his mother have no food except two potato chips, so John goes off to get a job and make some money. What kind of job will he get? And what will happen when his friends the fairies want him to dance?

I was quite pleased to discover that Giant John is coming back into print. The story ends in a fun way that will leave everybody laughing at John’s attempts to help. Arnold Lobel’s pictures may be the best part, and I always get a kick out of the picture of John’s mother when he comes home at the end.

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Will’s Quill

Our rating:****

Picture Books Younger Readers

Will’s Quill (Hardcover)
by Don Freeman
ISBN: 0670036862

Price: USD 13.25
30 used & new available from USD 2.89

Willoughby Waddle is a goose who lives in old England. One day, tired of doing the same things all the time, he decides to go to London. After having several bad, sometimes frightening, experiences, Willowby meets up with a kind man. Later that night, Willoughby is able to repay the man for his kindness in a way only a goose could.

Will’s Quill is a great book to enjoy on your own or to read aloud to someone else. I think that my favorite part has to be when Willoughby tries to “rescue” his friend. The results are quite funny. If you enjoy Will’s Quill, you should check out some of Don Freeman’s other books, several of which are still in print.

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Men of Iron

Our rating:*****

Incredibook! Older Readers

Men of Iron (Timeless Classics) (Paperback)
by Howard Pyle
ISBN: 0486428419

Price: USD 9.95
35 used & new available from USD 5.24

This is the story of Myles Falworth, son of Lord Falworth, and how he rose from obscurity to high favor with the King. When Myles was eight years old, Lord Falworth gave aid to a knight who had been part of a plot to overthrow King Henry the IV. The King discovered this and confiscated Lord Falworth’s lands, reducing him to near-poverty, and, moreover, decreed him a traitor. Lord Falworth was forced to go into hiding, taking with him his wife and young son. The family found succor with a priest and remained in a small house in England. When Myles reached sixteen years old, his father decided to send him to Lord Mackworth (an old friend of Lord Falworth’s) with the request that he take Myles into his service as a squire. Lord Mackworth complied, at considerable danger to himself, and Myles came to live in Mackworth’s great castle. Years passed and Myles grew from a boy to a man and discovered that he was destined to play a high part in the politics of merry England. Soon King Henry himself knights Myles, and begins a chain of events that will effect many, many people.

Now, I put this in as older readers, but really it’s good for people as young as twelve. It’s written in the Old English style, which makes it a little difficult, but I love this book. There is so much action in it! My review sounds very dry and stuffy. From the first, Myles takes a stand for right and defends it with all his heart. Whether it’s challenging the right of a squire to order other squires about, or taking to the lists in a great tournament to redeem his father’s good name, you’re rooting for Myles all the way.

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Are You My Mother?

Our rating:*****

Incredibook! Picture Books Younger Readers

Are You My Mother? (Hardcover)
by P.D. Eastman
ISBN: 0394800184

Price: USD 8.99
600 used & new available from USD 0.10

When a mother bird leaves her egg to look for some food, the baby bird hatches and goes on a search to find his mother, even though he doesn’t know what she looks like. He meets a kitten, then a hen, a dog, a cow, a car, a boat, an airplane, and a big thing. But where is his mother?

This book is fun to read aloud but is also good for beginning readers. A five-star picture book.

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The Discovery of Dragons

Our rating:*****

All Ages Incredibook! Picture Books

The Discovery of Dragons: New Research Revealed (Hardcover)
by Graeme Base
ISBN: 0810959674

Price: USD 10.59
40 used & new available from USD 7.98

A collection of letters (with illustrations) from various, obscure explorers who are credited with discovering several of the major types of Dragons. The letters have been compiled and illustrated by a Professor Rowland W. Greasebeam, B.Sc (Serp.), F.R.Aud.

This book is absolutely hysterical! I found the Eleventh Anniversary Edition at the library just the other day. I had read the original several years ago, (enough years ago that I forgot the title) and finally rediscovered it! Much to my enjoyment, there was an extra chapter of dragons. If you read it, read everything in it. The acknowledgements, the disclaimers in the back, the introductions to each chapter, everything. It is sooooo funny! (See? I resorted to a typical extention of a two letter word to fully express my enthusiasm, e.g. I really like it.) It would be good for all ages, as the younger ones can enjoy the illustrations and the older (but young at heart) can laugh themselves silly at the humor.

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