Entries Categorized as 'Review'
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Funny, Good Read Aloud, L. Frank Baum, Oz
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There is trouble in the land of Oz. Cayke the Cookie Cook’s magic gold dishpan, the Wizard’s black bag, Ozma’s magic picture and Glinda’s Great Book of Records have been stolen, and more than that, even Ozma herself has vanished. Cayke and the frogman set out to find the dishpan, and a large party from the Emerald City, including Dorothy, the Wizard, Trot, Button-Bright, the sawhorse, the cowardly lion, the patchwork girl and many others, begin their search to locate the person responsible for these thefts.
I would rank this as a pretty good Oz book. I don’t like it as much as Rinkitink in Oz, but I think that’s no reason for not reading it. As the Oz books have a style of their own, I would not recommend reading one of the Redwall books or Lord of Rings the day before you read an Oz book. The transition in style is rather abrupt!
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Incredibook!, Review
Tags:Animals, Funny, Good Read Aloud, L. Frank Baum, Oz
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When Trot, Cap’n Bill and Button Bright go for a ride on their magic umbrella, they accidentally end up on Sky Island where they are taken as slaves for Boolooroo, king of the Blueskins. They must escape, find the umbrella and the book of records to prove that the cruel Boolooroo has tricked his subjects by ruling for a longer time than he is allowed. They have reason to believe that the Pinkies inhabiting the other side of the island would aid them in overthrowing the king, but the island is separated by an impassable fog barrier.
Although this book has nothing to do with Oz, it’s written in the same manner that the well-beloved Oz books are. It has many hilarious word plays and makes a great read-aloud. I think this story proves that L. Frank Baum’s imagination truly has no limits. He’s created a Sky Island “somewhere over the rainbow” that readers of all ages can enjoy.
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Adventure, Fiction, Incredibook!, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Jules Verne, Seafaring
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On October 2nd 1872, Phileas Fogg, an English gentlemen who lives a life of clock-like regularity, makes a 20,000 pound bet with his friends at the reform club that it is possible to travel around the world in eighty days. Phileas leaves at once, barely giving Passepartout, his valet, time to pack their bags. Everything seems fine, but soon Phileas Fogg is followed by a detective named Fix, who has reason to believe that Fogg is a bank robber. Will Phileas Fogg be able to win his wager? And will he be arrested by Fix? This is a classic Jules Verne with a surprising ending.
Great book! Phileas is so irritatingly calm that you may find yourself panicking more than usual just to make up for it. I have seen the movie starring David Niven and there are quite a few differences from the book. But, it still is enjoyable. (Can you guess what I’m going to say next?) Close! First I’m going to say that the ending surprised me (in a good way). Okay, now I’ll say it: Read this book! It’s one of Jules Verne’s best.
Posted by Sarah
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Dogs, Marguerite Henry, Out of Print, Quick Read
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One day, Benjamin finds his dog, Whiskers, is a trick dog! When the Y.M.C.A. drive falls short of its quota, the boys of the neighborhood get together and put on a circus with Whiskers and Jazbo, Benjamin’s friend’s bulldog. After the show, a stranger offers Benjamin twenty-five dollars for Whiskers and says he’ll come back at five-thirty. The stranger doesn’t show up and the next morning, Whiskers is gone! Will Benjamin ever see Whiskers again?
A pretty good book. A couple bad words, though. This probably isn’t one of my favorite Marguerite Henry’s, but it’s still pretty good. Unfortunately, this book is out of print and is only available used from Amazon.
Posted by Sarah
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Funny, Roald Dahl
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Charlie Bucket lives in a small house with Grandpa George, Grandma Georgina, Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, and Mr. and Mrs. Bucket. Near their house is a big chocolate factory owned by Mr. Willy Wonka. The factory gates are always closed and nobody goes in or out of the building, yet the factory keeps making candy. Some people report mysterious little shadows inside. Then, Mr. Wonka hides five Golden Tickets in Wonka candy bars. The winners will tour the factory and go home with a life-time supply of candy. Charlie hopes to find a Golden Ticket, but as the family is very poor, it doesn’t seem likely.
There’s some stuff in this book I wish Roald Dahl had left out. Someone made Charlie and the Chocolate Factory into a movie, but I’ve heard it’s not very good.