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

Price: USD 17.27
65 used & new available from USD 0.11

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 Wind in the Willows (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
by Kenneth Grahame
ISBN: 0143039091

Price: USD 10.29
67 used & new available from USD 6.71

Mole, tired of spring cleaning, decides to leave his cozy little home and take a walk. His ramblings take him to The River, where he meets the Water Rat and the fun begins. Mole stays with Rat in his bank-side home and enjoys sharing the Rat’s love of boating. While staying there, Mole becomes friends with Otter, Mr. Badger, and Mr. Toad. Everything progresses nicely, until the Toad decides to try the wandering life of a gypsy and takes Mole and Rat along. In a highway accident, their lovely little cart is upset by a motorcar. The Mole and Rat are very annoyed, but Toad becomes infatuated with the speed and sound of motorcars and orders one of his own. Unfortunately, he disregards all rules. Badger, Rat, and Mole set out to help their friend over his dangerous driving habits, despite personal discomfort.

How to describe The Wind in the Willows? Sheer, wonderful bliss from beginning to end. There are so many adventures, so many thrills and joys. This is one of my favorite books. This is as good as it gets. (Unless you count Winnie-the-Pooh.) Don’t miss it! It’s perfect for children, young adults, and adults who are young or feel young. I have also enjoyed the audio book, read by Flo Gibson, on numerous occasions. I can close my eyes and hear whole parts of the book. A delightful story.

Charlotte’s Web (Trophy Newbery) (Paperback)
by E. B. White, Kate DiCamillo
ISBN: 0064400557

Price: USD 7.99
998 used & new available from USD 0.10

One morning Fern Arable, an eight year-old girl, learned her father was about to kill the runt of the new pig litter. She rushed to stop him and finally Mr. Arable agreed not to harm the pig. Mr. Arable gave the pig to Fern, and she eventually named him Wilbur. However, after a few weeks of happiness together, Mr. Arable told Fern that the pig would have to be sold. Wilbur was getting bigger, along with his appetite, and Mr. Arable wasn’t willing to feed the pig any longer. So Fern sorrowfully sold Wilbur to her Uncle Zuckerman’s farm nearby, where she could go and visit him. However, even with all Fern’s visits, Wilbur became lonely. But a spider named Charlotte was ready to be his friend and would also try to save him from being killed and made into bacon and ham.

A great book. For those who don’t like spiders, this book might help them feel a little more affectionate to the eight-legged insects. Maybe. No guarantees. And all readers should be prepared for a sad and perhaps unexpected part at the end. However, Templeton the rat is rather funny sometimes, and I really like the ending of this book.

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

Price: USD 6.50
170 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.

Journey to Freedom (Hardcover)
by Gilbert Morris
ISBN: 1581341911

Price: $0.01
50 used & new available from USD 0.10

Chip, the youngest in a family of white-feet, is told by Silver the prophet that he will be a great soldier. Eventually, Chip commands a part of soldiers called the Rag-Tags. The Rag-Tags are Ben, Singer, Budger, Trooper (a short-tailed shrew), Peedee and, of course, Chip. Join the white-feet as they fight against the brown rats and the Dread Deliverer, and as eventually most of them sail West.

This is a sort of allegory. I’d probably suggest it for 7 or 8 and up. Half of the Rag-Tags eventually die, but it’s still a pretty good book. This is the only book by Gilbert Morris I’ve read yet.

Freddy and Mr. Camphor (Freddy the Pig) (Hardcover)
by Walter R. Brooks
ISBN: 1585670278

Price: USD 23.95
50 used & new available from USD 1.01

Summer has arrived and it finds a very bored Freddy. So when Freddy finds a help-wanted job asking for the services of caretaker for a big summer mansion, he’s sure that he has found the perfect way to spend a peaceful summer. Far from it! Soon he learns that Simon and his rat gang are back to their old tricks, and Freddy must think of a way to get rid of them. And on top of that, Mr. Winch, the cook’s husband starts planting stolen property on Freddy, so when Mr. Camphor returns, he thinks Freddy has been stealing from him. Freddy ends up in a huge mess and must try to prove himself innocent.

As usual, Freddy manages to outsmart his adversaries with hilarious results. Elmo and Waldo are two very funny characters and Mr. Webb returns in an effort to form a bug’s cause in the war. This is another great Freddy book.

Lord Brocktree (Redwall, Book 13) (Mass Market Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441008720

Price: USD 7.99
275 used & new available from USD 0.10

Dorothea Duckfontein Dillworthy, or “Dotti,” as the hare maid prefers to be called, has had so many accidents that her family tells her to leave and go live at Salamandastron. On the way, she meets up with Lord Brocktree, the Badger Lord to be. Then an old hare from Salamandastron tells them that the current Badger Ruler, Lord Stonepaw is besieged by a gigantic hoard, led by a wildcat, Ungatt Trunn. Lord Brocktree, Dotti, Ruff the otter and a mole named Gurth set off to get help from King Bucko Bigbones.

This is another good one! All your favorite things about a Redwall book are here. Dotti is a hilarious character. You’ll love her antics! Great recovery from Legend of Luke. Going deep into the history of Salamandastron, Lord Brocktree is a definite winner.

Loamhedge (Redwall, Book 16) (Mass Market Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 044101190X

Price: USD 7.99
103 used & new available from USD 0.10

Martha is a young hare living at Redwall with her brother Horty. While Horty is a normal hare, who likes adventure and eating better than anything else, Martha is mild mannered and cannot walk. When one of the mice living at Redwall uncovers a book telling about a cure at the ancient abbey of Loamhedge that could make Martha walk, Horty and two of his friends, as well as two older warriors who left Redwall long ago set out for Loamhedge. Will they find the cure?

Brian Jacques’ sixteenth Redwall book is one of the better ones. The only thing I don’t completely like about this one is the only Badger Lord who uses a bow as his main weapon. I don’t think that a heroic Badger Lord should stand on the sidelines shooting arrows! Other than that, the rest of the book is great. This story answers several of the questions that are raised in Mattimeo. What happened to Loamhedge after it was destroyed? Was there only one wearat?

Outcast of Redwall (Redwall, Book 8) (Mass Market Paperback)
by Brian Jacques
ISBN: 0441004164

Price: $0.01
291 used & new available from USD 0.10

Sunflash, a young badger, is held captive by the evil ferret Swart Sixclaw. Then a kestrel named Skarlath helps him to escape. The two of them decide to stay together and help good beasts everywhere who need help. Then Sunflash is bitten by adders. While others care for him, he has a dream of Salamandastron, the mountain of the badger lords. Sunflash wakes up, knowing where he must go. Meanwhile, Swart has had a son, who is abandoned during a battle and found by the Redwall mice. All the creatures at Redwall think that the young ferret, who they have named Veil, will be evil, but one young mouse, Bryony, believes in him. Will Veil become like his father, or will he become a good beast?

Outcast of Redwall is one of the sadder books, yet there are funny parts. Enjoyable, but you may feel yourself figuring out the ending before you get to it. Don’t give up! You may be surprised.

Freddy and the Men from Mars (Freddy the Pig Series) (Hardcover)
by Walter R. Brooks
ISBN: 1585672696

Price: USD 23.95
45 used & new available from USD 9.02

Herb Garble, Mrs. Underdunk’s brother, is traveling with Boomschmidt’s circus, where he is exhibiting what he claims are live Martians. Freddy and the gang are sure something’s wrong, and while they are trying to figure out how to expose the Martians without hurting Mr. Boom’s reputation, the rats show up again. It’s packed full of fun, adventure, and plenty of the circus animals.

This is a pretty good Freddy book. Simon’s back, of course, and he’s not my favorite character. Although, since he’s the badguy, he’s not supposed to be your favorite character. Anyway, the rabbits’ club, The Horribles, is in this one, and eventually some real Martians come in their flying saucer. The Martians play a big part in Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars, and also Freddy and the Flying Saucer Plans.