Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Animals, Dogs, Mark Twain, Quick Read
1 Comment »
Our rating: 
Here, Aileen Mavourneen tells the story of her life. She led a pleasant existence until one day when she was sleeping in the nursery, she woke up to find the baby’s crib in flames. She dragged the baby out of the crib and into the hall, where the master found her and kicked her, thinking she was hurting the baby. Upset by the reprimand, Aileen went upstairs and hid in the garret until the owners realized what she was really doing and apologized. The very sad part of the story was when the master performed an experiment on Aileen’s puppy, which blinded it and eventually caused its death.
I know it sounds rather gloomy, and the end is gloomy, but there are funny parts in it, too. Particularly Aileen’s mother’s habit of using long words. The whole story is told in Mark Twain’s cynically humorous style.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Dogs, Funny, Good Read Aloud, Henry Reed, Keith Robertson, Rabbits
Add a comment »
Our rating:
Henry Reed’s father is an American diplomat to Italy, so Henry hasn’t ever seen the USA. This year, his Uncle Al and Aunt Mabel invite him to stay in Grover’s Corner, New Jersey, for his summer vacation. Being an industrious young man, Henry and the neighbor girl, Midge, start a research firm, Henry Reed, Inc. But Midge isn’t a full partner until she can catch the rabbit she promised to the firm. Henry thinks catching it will be easy, but this bunny has a mind of its own!
Henry Reed, Inc. is a hilarious string of events, some resulting from the pursuit of the rabbit. Henry and Midge also have to battle the grumpy Apples, the next door neighbors to the firm, making for even more fun. The silliness continues in four more books about Henry’s attempts to make money during the summer.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Anne of Green Gables, Cats, Dogs, Funny, L. M. Montgomery
1 Comment »
Our rating: 
Anne is now a mother of five, soon to be six. This book chronicles a few years of the Blythe family’s life, from Aunt Mary Maria’s visit that goes on, and on, and on, through the many escapades of the usually well-meaning children.
This book doesn’t really have a definite on-going plot. Each of the children have their own little “adventures” of various sorts, and Anne herself is not very predominant until the very end, which does happen rather abruptly. I didn’t find it to be a highlight in the series, but it is worth reading if you have enjoyed the other Anne books.
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Award Winner, Birds, Doctor Dolittle, Dogs, Fish, Funny, Hugh Lofting, Mice, Monkeys, Pigs
Add a comment »
Our rating:
This is the story of how Tommy Stubbins, the son of Jacob Stubbins, the shoemaker, first met the Doctor and became his assistant. Soon after Tommy begins to learn some animal language, a purple bird of paradise named Miranda arrives to tell Doctor Dolittle that Long Arrow, a great Indian naturalist, is missing. Doctor Dolittle decides to take a voyage, even though he won’t be able to meet Long Arrow. To decide where to go, they play a game called Blind Travel. They end up choosing the very spot that Long Arrow was last seen in, Spider Monkey Island. They set off at once with Bumpo, Crown Prince of the Jolliginki; Jip the dog; Polynesia the parrot and Chee-Chee the monkey and encounter some wonderful adventures.
There’s something about the Doctor Dolittle stories that I really like. They are so much fun. I left half the book out of the review, as it would take a really long review, not to mention give some of it away, if I told you all of the wonderful details. Some of the animals are great, and the Wiff-Waff is so funny, not to mention fun to say. “Wiff-Waff.” Anyway, I enjoyed this book a lot.
Posted by Becca
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Dogs, Good Read Aloud, Meindert DeJong, Out of Print
Add a comment »
Our rating:
Siebren is tired of baby-sitting his younger brother, Knillis. So when Siebren’s grandpa starts out on a short journey to visit a sick aunt, Siebren is very happy to be able to go along also. On the way, he buys a rather helpful ball from an ex-dike inspector, has an adventure in a scary marsh, and meets a very delightful deaf-and-dumb uncle.
A wonderful story! I really like DeJong’s style of writing. The book is written through Siebren’s eyes, but is still in the third person. The plot is simple, yet enjoyable to older readers. I strongly suggest that you read this book.
content rss
