Norman the Doorman (Picture Puffin) (Paperback)
by Don Freeman
ISBN: 0140502882

Price: USD 5.99
49 used & new available from USD 0.10

Norman, an artistically-minded mouse, loves to show his friends all the treasures hidden in the basement of the Majestic Museum of Art. One day Norman decides to make a sculpture out of the mousetraps that the sharp-eyed guard leaves. He enters the “mouse on the flying trapezee” into a sculpture contest the museum is having, and much to his surprise, wins first place!

I love this book. It ends so well, and Norman is such a decent little mouse—and his wire sculpture is really fun.

A Toad for Tuesday (Paperback)
by Russell E. Erickson
ISBN: 0688163254

Price: —
10 used & new available from USD 14.63

Warton and Morton are two toads that live underground together. One day in the middle of winter, Warton decides to take Morton’s wonderful beetle brittle to their aunt Toolia. Morton tries to talk his brother out of the idea. Warton insists, saying that he’ll wear several sweaters and will travel with skis. Finally, Warton sets out. Later that day, he meets a field mouse who says that an owl lives in the woods where Warton will be traveling. This owl hunts by day instead of by night. Since Warton still wants to deliver his beetle brittle, the mouse gives him a scarf and offers the help of several friends if Warton gets in trouble. Once in the woods, Warton is captured by the owl to be eaten on the owl’s birthday. Warton has only five days to plan an escape.

A Toad for Tuesday is the first book in a series about Warton and Morton. Part of the ending is hinted at during the story so it isn’t a complete surprise, but it still makes a good end to an imaginative story. The horde of skiing mice may generate a few chuckles. This book is longer and a bit more complicated than the traditional picture book, making it an enjoyable choice for younger readers in general or for older readers who want a good quick read.

Eulalia! (Redwall) (Hardcover)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0399242090

Price: USD 12.36
85 used & new available from USD 2.00

The Searat captain Vizka Longtooth captures a young badger, which he decides to tame. But Gorath (the badger) is angry at the rats for killing his grandparents, and he plans to escape as soon as he can. Meanwhile, badger lord Asheye has a dream, telling him that Salamandastron’s new badger ruler will be found defending Redwall Abbey. He sends out perilous hare Mad Maudie to find the badger and bring him back. If that wasn’t complicated enough, Redwall Abbey has also banished a young hedgehog thief, telling him not to come back for a whole season. The resulting tale does indeed end up making sense in true Redwall fashion.

Doing a review of a Redwall book is always a challenge. I have read all eighteen books before this one, and I already have a favorite picked out. That being said, Eulalia! certainly meets expectations. The characters are just as memorable as always, the story just as complicated, and the ending just as satisfying.

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (Paperback)
by Hugh Lofting
ISBN: 0440400023

Price: USD 6.99
148 used & new available from USD 0.10

This is the story of how Tommy Stubbins, the son of Jacob Stubbins, the shoemaker, first met the Doctor and became his assistant. Soon after Tommy begins to learn some animal language, a purple bird of paradise named Miranda arrives to tell Doctor Dolittle that Long Arrow, a great Indian naturalist, is missing. Doctor Dolittle decides to take a voyage, even though he won’t be able to meet Long Arrow. To decide where to go, they play a game called Blind Travel. They end up choosing the very spot that Long Arrow was last seen in, Spider Monkey Island. They set off at once with Bumpo, Crown Prince of the Jolliginki; Jip the dog; Polynesia the parrot and Chee-Chee the monkey and encounter some wonderful adventures.

There’s something about the Doctor Dolittle stories that I really like. They are so much fun. I left half the book out of the review, as it would take a really long review, not to mention give some of it away, if I told you all of the wonderful details. Some of the animals are great, and the Wiff-Waff is so funny, not to mention fun to say. “Wiff-Waff.” Anyway, I enjoyed this book a lot.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Yearling Book) (Paperback)
by Hugh Lofting
ISBN: 0440483077

Price: USD 6.50
142 used & new available from USD 0.10

Dr. Dolittle is the best doctor ever, but none of his patients will come because of his animal pets (think crocodiles!). Because of this, he can’t make any money. So his parrot teaches him how to speak to Jip, the dog. The doctor is eager to learn, and learns to talk to all his pets. All the animals hear about it, and come to him, and the house is crowded. Then a swallow comes with news of an epidemic among monkeys in Africa. Can Dr. Dolittle make it through storms, pirates and angry natives to help the monkeys?

Ah, Hugh Lofting has such a fun way of writing humorous, exciting stories. I didn’t even mention Gub-Gub, the food loving pig; Too-Too, the owl with a head for figures; or the cute little White Mouse who lives in the piano. Worth reading again and again.

Note: There has been a lot of controversy about Lofting’s books, because some people thought they were racist. Because of this, some newer editions don’t have portions that editors thought were offensive. I will say that I have read the originals, and found nothing wrong with them, merely a slight British patriotic spirit. If you want to read the originals, your library will be more likely to have them than the book store.

Tucker’s Countryside (Paperback)
by George Selden, Garth Williams
ISBN: 0440402484

Price: —
11 used & new available from USD 1.30

The Old Meadow is scheduled to be destroyed, and Chester Cricket has sent word to Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat in New York City. Tucker and Harry rush to Hedley, Connecticut. Chester wants Tucker to think of a plan to save the meadow, but what with Harry being adopted by a girl named Ellen, Tucker’s got his hands full.

I enjoyed Tucker’s Countryside a bit less than some of the others in this series, but it’s still very enjoyable and very fun.

The Great Redwall Feast (Redwall) (Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0698118766

Price: USD 6.99
59 used & new available from USD 1.93

“Oho!” you say. “Sarah finally gets to read Redwall books!” Not quite. This can serve as a hold-over picture book for younger readers who can’t read the Redwall Series yet. (Like me.) There’s another Redwall picture book called A Redwall Winter’s Tale. Older readers who can read the Redwall Series will probably enjoy these picture books, as well as younger readers. I didn’t have much trouble understanding the mole-talk. (Except once, and then I finally got it figured out.) And now, here is a delightful summary of The Great Redwall Feast!

The animals in Redwall are preparing a secret feast for the abbot. After the abbot wakes up from his nap, he goes with Constance, Foremole and Matthias on a Bobbatan Quest for a Weary Nod. Is the abbot turning old and silly?

Author: Dr. Seuss

Sam-I-Am has green eggs and ham, and he wants another person to try them. However, through all events and in all locations, he only replies that he doesn’t like green eggs and ham.

Well, if you’re looking for a book for your kids, you probably already know how Green Eggs and Ham turns out. However, for those who don’t, it contains a valuable lesson about not saying you dislike things you’ve never tried.

Freddy Rides Again (Hardcover)
by Walter R. Brooks
ISBN: 1585672688

Price: USD 18.68
49 used & new available from USD 4.95

Mr. Elihu Margarine and his family have just moved to the Beans’ neighborhood. Mr. Margarine likes to hunt foxes and he rides over everyone’s property, not caring what gets destroyed. And on top of that, a rattlesnake is threatening the lives of several animals. Freddy is determined to stop both menaces, but it’s not an easy task.

Like most of the Freddy series, this is a very funny book. Freddy’s Comanche Kid disguise adds to the humor. I very much recommend that you read this book. Enjoy!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder) (Paperback)
by L. Frank Baum
ISBN: 0688166776

Price: USD 7.99
66 used & new available from USD 2.01

Dorothy lives on a gray prairie in Kansas. When a cyclone hits, she and her little dog, Toto, are whirled into the air and eventually come down in the Land of Oz, where the good Witch of the North advises Dorothy to go the City of Emeralds and ask the great Wizard, Oz, to send her home again. On the dangerous journey there, Dorothy is joined by the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion.

I like this book a lot. The Wizard of Oz was made into a movie starring Judy Garland. It’s not very close to the book, but it’s still pretty good. It was nice going back and reading this book again.