Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Eleanor Cameron, Good Read Aloud, Mushroom Planet
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With the disappearance of Tyco Bass, David and Chuck have started the society for young astronomers as Mr. Bass wished. They decide to have Dr. Frobisher as a speaker, but his secretary, Horatio Q. Peabody, is jealous and goes instead. Meanwhile, Mr. Theo Bass comes to visit David and Chuck, and he wants to go to Basidium. In the preparations, Horatio figures out their plans and stows away on the spaceship. David and Chuck’s nightmares come true, as a scientist is loose on the Mushroom Planet!
The second book is as good as the first. Lots of excitement, and it’s fun, too. Of course, everything comes out right in the end.
Posted by Becca
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Dogs, Good Read Aloud, Meindert DeJong, Out of Print
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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.
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.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Good Read Aloud, Long Read, Robert Louis Stevenson
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After the events in Kidnapped, David Balfour thinks his life will be easy. Far from it. Now he must go through all sorts of adventures and delays to testify at a trial that is important for the future of Scotland. And if that wasn’t bad enough, now he’s in love with a noble woman named Catriona who, through some mistakes, is left in a strange city with only David as guardian.
Stevenson is a master storyteller. His characters jump off the page, and his action is always exciting. I believe a lot of people could get a lot of nobility out of this book from David and Catriona (and a lot of advice about how not to run your courtship!). David Balfour was also published under the title of Catriona. Oh, and if you haven’t read Kidnapped and have to read David Balfour, don’t worry. Stevenson gives a rather lengthy summary of the previous book.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Birds, Dogs, Funny, Good Read Aloud, Hugh Lofting, Mice, Monkeys, Pigs, Rats, Seafaring
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Dr. Dolittle is the best doctor ever, but none of his patients will come because of his animal pets (think crocodiles!). Because of this, he can’t make any money. So his parrot teaches him how to speak to Jip, the dog. The doctor is eager to learn, and learns to talk to all his pets. All the animals hear about it, and come to him, and the house is crowded. Then a swallow comes with news of an epidemic among monkeys in Africa. Can Dr. Dolittle make it through storms, pirates and angry natives to help the monkeys?
Ah, Hugh Lofting has such a fun way of writing humorous, exciting stories. I didn’t even mention Gub-Gub, the food loving pig; Too-Too, the owl with a head for figures; or the cute little White Mouse who lives in the piano. Worth reading again and again.
Note: There has been a lot of controversy about Lofting’s books, because some people thought they were racist. Because of this, some newer editions don’t have portions that editors thought were offensive. I will say that I have read the originals, and found nothing wrong with them, merely a slight British patriotic spirit. If you want to read the originals, your library will be more likely to have them than the book store.
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