Posted by Jordan
Categories: Mysteries, Older Readers, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Animals, Chickens, Daniel Manus Pinkwater, Lizards, Scary
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Victor’s parents leave him at home with his sister, who quickly leaves with a bunch of her friends for a camping trip. He’s alone in the house and can do anything he wants: eat anchovy pizza, watch TV all night and build model planes on the dinner table. Victor meets a strange black man, who takes his pet chicken everywhere and goes under several names, with Charlie being the most prominent. Then, long after the TV stations stop broadcasting for the night, lizards take over the station and put on their own shows. Afterwards, Victor notices lizard music records, posters and advertisements all over his town. Victor thinks this is strangely connected to a movie he sees about Pod People from another planet who take over people one by one. He knows that Charlie holds the key to the whole mystery, but can Victor convince Charlie to tell him?
Lizard Music is probably one of Daniel Pinkwater’s weirdest books. Every little thing fits together and points to giant lizards. You may not want to read this if you’re not on good terms with reptiles. Otherwise, it’s pretty good, although I question Victor’s activities at home by himself. A thrilling story with many unusual twists and turns. Just don’t read it at night!
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Chickens, Funny, Good Read Aloud, L. Frank Baum, Oz
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When Dorothy brings Uncle Henry and Aunt Em to the Emerald City of Oz, they begin a tour of the surrounding cities and people, encountering the Cuttenclips, the Fuddles, the inhabitants of Utensia, the Flutterbudgets, and many more. Meanwhile, the Nome King is furious over the loss of his magic belt, and begins gathering an army to dig an underground tunnel to the Emerald City and capture the entire population.
This isn’t my favorite Oz book, but the hilarious wordplays and puns are thicker than ever. Especially in Utensia. I think this one was intended to be the last Oz book, but L. Frank Baum was forced to write more by popular demand.
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Chickens, Funny, Good Read Aloud, L. Frank Baum, Oz
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A storm at sea blows Dorothy Gale and a hen named Bill off into another magical adventure in the lands surrounding Oz. After changing the hen’s name to Billina, Dorothy and Billina set off into the unknown. They’re chased by Wheelers and rescued by Tik-Tok the Clock-work man, they meet Princess Langwidere, who is very conceited, and finally meet up with Ozma and many of Dorothy’s old friends. Ozma is on a mission of rescue, with the intent to free the ten children of the former King of Ev, and their mother, the Queen. The Nome King has the children and their mother and is holding them captive. As Ozma and her friends march against the Nome King, they meet many dangers, including an iron giant with a hammer! In the final encounter, the Nome King reveals that he has transformed the royal family of Ev into pieces of bric-a-brac and ornaments. He gives each person eleven guesses, and if they guess them wrong they will become ornaments themselves. Can Ozma and her friends defeat the Nome King?
Of course they can. But there are some interesting twists to the plot along the way, so be forewarned! This is one of the funnest Oz books. Almost everybody’s in it! The Lunch-box and Dinner-pail trees are fun to think about. Have fun!