Posted by Rebekah
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Award Winner, Birds, Doctor Dolittle, Dogs, Fish, Funny, Hugh Lofting, Mice, Monkeys, Pigs
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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 Jordan
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Animals, Edward Eager, Funny, Quick Read, Time Travel
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Roger and Ann’s father writes a play and must go to England for the premier. So, once again, Roger and Ann get to stay with their cousins, Jack and Eliza. Only, Jack and Eliza’s parents are going to England too, so all the children go to stay in an old house in Connecticut. Magic awaits them in the garden of thyme, in the form of a Natterjack (a British toad-like creature), who tells them of the magical properties of the thyme. Of course, the magic is through time travel (har har).
Quite interesting, with funny adventures, but not nearly as fun as Half Magic. The ending is satisfying, although a bit predictable. The Time Garden is worth reading, but I found the puns to be a little much.
Posted by Rebekah
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Review
Tags:Edward Eager, Funny
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When Roger and his sister Ann learn that they must stay with their cousins Jack and Eliza while Roger and Ann’s father has an operation, they are less than thrilled. Roger packs up all his toy soldiers in preparation for the stay with his bossy cousins Eliza and Jack, who loves photography. On the train ride, one of Roger’s knights comes to life for a little while during the night. Roger wants the knight to cure his father, but the knight says that wishes must be earned. Once Roger and Ann are at their cousins’s house, a series of three magical adventures keep them busy with characters from Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, and whatever else may come along.
This is a fun book. The whole concept behind the magic adventures and the way it works is interesting. A funny take on modern meets medieval.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Mysteries, Review
Tags:Animals, Elephants, Funny, Mark Twain, Quick Read
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When the King of Siam decides to send the Queen of England a white elephant, a man in the Indian civil service is chosen to convey this present. However, not long after arriving in New York harbor, the white elephant is stolen! The man (who appears to have no name, by the way, this being written in first person) immediately goes to the police and enlists their help. Inspector Blunt takes charge and the hunt for the elephant begins.
This short story is written in typical, humorous Mark Twain style. The Inspector is very thorough and takes down all the details of the elephant’s description so that his detectives will be sure to recognize the elephant upon sighting it! I went ahead and marked this as “All Ages,” but I think older readers may enjoy it more.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Fantasy, Fiction, Review, Younger Readers
Tags:Animals, Award Winner, Dragons, Easy Read, Funny, Good Read Aloud, My Father's Dragon, Quick Read, Ruth Stiles Gannett
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Elmer always wanted a dragon, so he’s overjoyed when an alley cat tells him about a dragon imprisoned on Jungle Island. Elmer goes to the rescue, but he has to overcome the animals who live there – with very funny results!
This one is fun, but not too difficult to read. The story continues in two more books about Elmer and his dragon friend.
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