Entries Categorized as 'Younger Readers'

The Sleeping Giant and Other Stories

Our rating: ****

Three fun stories in one book by Eleanor Estes. The first story is about the Sleeping Giant (three hills) and how it leaves and lies down in the ocean on the International Date Line. The next story is about a girl who lost her shadow. There’s a part in that one that I don’t appreciate, though. And the last story is about a giraffe named Gloria who, unknown to everyone but the occupants’ little girl, lives in a living room after escaping from the zoo.

The Sleeping Giant story is rather fun, because when he lays across the International Date Line, half of him is in today and half of him is in yesterday. So the people living on him move back to yesterday if they wish to avoid something like a dentist appointment.

Always Reddy

Our rating: *****

Mr. Hoops’s dog Reddy, one of the best bird dogs, has another litter of puppies. But Mrs. Hoops invites their mother to live with them, and their mother is allergic to dog hairs. So Mr. Hoops sold all the puppies but one. Now he must find a place to house Reddy and the puppy.

This is a great book! (Thus five stars.) You may have to go through Inter-library Loans to get it, but you may find it worth the effort! Please read this book! I definitely recommend it!

One Hungry Monster

Our rating: ****

An increasing number of hungry monsters create general chaos at a boy’s house as they look for something to eat.

Everything here is in rhyme. For the first ten pages or so, the monsters ask to be fed. For the next ten, the boy brings out food. To finish the book, the monsters play with their food until the boy gets fed up with them (no pun intended).

The Riflemen of the Ohio

Our rating: *****

This book begins when a fleet of boats comes from New Orleans carrying supplies to settlers in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the Indians are rallying together to drive all settlers from their land. The Indians attack the fleet while it is in the narrow areas on the Ohio River. The fleet has to force their way through to help a settlement in time, after being told by Henry Ware that it was in danger.

I liked this book for two reasons. Because I like books with adventure in them, and this book is the sequel to Kentucky Frontiersmen.

The Magic Hill

Our rating: *****

The king and queen have lots of boys, and the king wishes they had a girl. At first he had been happy to have a son, but there were so many, — well, he’d like to have a girl. One day, the queen gives birth to a girl, and she is named Daffodil. The good fairy Mumruffin casts a spell over her so that wherever the princess walks, flowers shall grow. By the time Daffodil has learned to walk, everyone has forgotten about the spell. But the king remembers when he finds his favorite courtyard dotted with flowers. Daffodil is no longer allowed to walk on paths. She must either ride or walk on the grass. But when the doctor orders that she be given exercise, what will the royal family do?

This is a good book. Please read it! This book is by the same author as the Winnie the Pooh Series… A. A. Milne! And no, no characters from Winnie the Pooh make surprise appearances in the story of The Magic Hill.