Entries Categorized as 'All Ages'

Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley

Our rating: ***

Molly Moore wants a horse more than anything in the world, so when her father takes her to a horse auction for her tenth birthday, she has dreams of a young sleek horse being her very own. But all the horses are too expensive except for one skinny old mare that her father thinks will be perfect for pulling carts and plowing fields. Lady Sue has a surprise for all of them, though, when she gives birth to a mule. Molly names him Brown Sunshine and begins his training. Her one dream is for Brown Sunshine to be King Mule on the next Mule Day celebration.

This one is much shorter than most of the other books by Marguerite Henry, but it’s still enjoyable, if slightly predictable. It’s a fun little story.

Freddy the Detective

Our rating: ****

In this third Freddy the Pig book, Freddy has decided to become a detective. In the resulting adventures, he uncovers some robbers, finds out who is stealing a dog’s dinner, and discovers a gang of rats that have moved into the barn. When Jinx the cat is accused of eating a crow, it’s up to Freddy to clear Jinx’s good name.

A humorous, side-splitting adventure.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Our rating: *****

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are four English children who are sent to live with an old professor during World War II. When Lucy finds a world called Narnia, where animals can talk, in a magic wardrobe, nobody believes her. Then all four children hide in the wardrobe from the house’s grumpy mistress and find that Narnia is real. Now they must join Aslan, the son of the Emperor-Over-The-Sea, to drive the White Witch from Narnia and put the rightful rulers on the throne.

This book is a favorite of mine. I like it as much when I read it now as I did when it was read to me. Narnia is something that never gets old, but as you get older you enjoy it even more. The characters and places are very real and well described. Once you read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, you will feel that you must read the rest of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Freddy and the Space Ship

Our rating: ***½

There’s trouble at the Bean farm! Mr. Bismuth and his family have moved in. They’re doing a lot of damage but the Beans can’t throw them out because Mrs. Bismuth is Mrs. Bean’s cousin! While that’s going on, Uncle Ben completes his space ship and, along with Freddy the pig, Georgie the dog, Jinx the cat, Charles the rooster, and Mrs. Peppercorn, they set out on a trip to Mars. Then, when Mrs. Peppercorn accidentally throws them off course, they’re knocked off to a strange planet inhabited by dangerous Martians!

Very enjoyable! Mrs. Peppercorn is also in other books, such as Freddy and the Dragon, and Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars.

Prince Caspian

Our rating: ****½

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are suddenly called back to Narnia, and they find that Narnia is suffering under the reign of the cruel King Miraz. The king’s nephew, (and son of the murdered rightful king) Caspian, has learned the truth about Old Narnia and has fled the palace. He discovers a group of Old Narnians in hiding who agree to help Caspian regain his rightful throne and save the remaining Old Narnians from certain death.

The Narnia series is one of my favorites. I think C. S. Lewis has a wonderful writing style that really makes the characters come alive.