Wow, Irene really is brave. Irene lives up over a mountain with her mother who is a dress maker. She has completed a dress for the duchess who's partyWow, Irene really is brave. Irene lives up over a mountain with her mother who is a dress maker. She has completed a dress for the duchess who's party is tonight, the night of a vicious snow storm. Irene's mother takes ill and can't take the dress. Irene puts her mother to bed, wraps up in warm clothes and take the dress through a blizzard and the wilderness to the duchess. It's so windy that it blows the box away. Irene keeps going so she can tell the duchess what happened.
William Steig does some amazing artwork for this story. It feels like he really cares about Irene. It takes a third of the pages to show all the trials that Irene goes through. This is one of my favorite books by William. Irene has courage and pure of heart. She struggles and her struggles do pay off. She doesn't give up or in to despair. Irene is like a new little hero to me.
Nephew was into this story. He was gripped by the tension William sets up and he wanted Irene to make it. When he saw the dress on the tree he let out a big yes. He did ask why she didn't drive over there or at least walk on a road. He can't think of a life without all the modern trappings. He gave this 3 stars. ...more
This is a great little story about stage fright and being in a school play. The kids are putting on Grizzlystiltskin, I love that. Sister Bear, BrotheThis is a great little story about stage fright and being in a school play. The kids are putting on Grizzlystiltskin, I love that. Sister Bear, Brother Bear and Cousin Bear, first time I've seen the cousin and other family, all have parts in the play. Sister is very nervous so she practices her lines over and over and talks to her parents while brother knows his lines and doesn't worry about it. Sister Bear did wonderful and Brother Bear freezes on stage, but it all works out in the end. It's good theatre.
I love actors and the theatre, but as a kid I had an embarrassing performance in front of our church and it got in my way of being on stage until I was an adult. I still get extremely nervous in front of people. I suppose I am not meant to be actor this life, maybe the next one. I still love being around people who are good at the stage. It was a traumatic experience for me at the time so I understand how intense stage freight can be.
Both my niece and nephew would make better actors than me. They are outgoing and tougher than me. The nephew thought this was a good story. He's funny and he wants to be on stage. We went to see his older cousin perform in a play and after the play was over he went up on stage and wanted everyone to listen to him sing a song. He said he wouldn't get stage freight if it was him. He gave this 4 stars. ...more
It's Sister bears birthday and so there is a big party with all the games and such. One thing I learned from the story was there is an old saying withIt's Sister bears birthday and so there is a big party with all the games and such. One thing I learned from the story was there is an old saying with blowing out birthday candles that the amount you blow out in one blow is how many children you'll have. Strange aye.
It's a cute enough story about stuff to learn about birthdays. Another good Berenstain Bears story.
Apparently, this was a Charlie Brown special Cartoon released. I don't think I've seen this one.
It reads like a comic with several picture on the pagApparently, this was a Charlie Brown special Cartoon released. I don't think I've seen this one.
It reads like a comic with several picture on the page and a little dialogue for each one. Snoopy is engaged and he sends a letter to his brother Spike in CA to come to his wedding to a pretty poodle. The whole gang get into putting on this wedding: music, food, parties, all of it.
The poodle does not go through with it and Snoopy is left at the alter. Poor Snoopy.
The story is cute enough. It's not the best Charlie Brown. I know people love Snoopy, so I see why they made this. ...more
The classic epic poem of 700 verses about Hindu theology.
Like most text, this is giving ways to live a better, healthier life and to find a way to beThe classic epic poem of 700 verses about Hindu theology.
Like most text, this is giving ways to live a better, healthier life and to find a way to be at peace in this life. This is a conversation between Arjuna and Lord Krishna and Arjuna asks questions while Krishna gives the answers.
I read about a teaching a day and tried to take my time, but it's something to contemplate more than simply read. I should spend some more time with this. I did appreciate what it had to say...more
This is a Chris van Allsburg’s story completely in color. It’s a beautiful book. His color illustrations can be amazing. Another odd thing about this This is a Chris van Allsburg’s story completely in color. It’s a beautiful book. His color illustrations can be amazing. Another odd thing about this story is that Chris’s name is not on the front of the book.
A farmer is driving home one day and he hits something in the road that turns out to be a man. They take the man home and help him. He has mild amnesia and can’t remember who he is. He is so pleasant to have around the family loves him being there. After 2 weeks and seeing the trees that are green and the lines of trees North that are now orange and yellow, he remembers who he is. He leaves and all the trees turn orange and brilliant yellow.
I love this story. It’s pretty wonderful. The nephew needed me to spell it out a bit for him. He thought the idea was interesting. The story could have used more action for the Nephew. He gave this 3 stars....more
Most pages had 4 lines of 4 pictures with dialogue above it. Much of the story was told through the media and news, which is a boring devWhat a mess!
Most pages had 4 lines of 4 pictures with dialogue above it. Much of the story was told through the media and news, which is a boring device when used this much. There was some great art, but so much of it was tiny and we did not get landscapes.
I also thought the story thread was choppy and things were slopped together. What was Superman doing in this. Dots are not connected and some things don't make sense. Batman is also old here. Robin is around, but not the Robin we know, but a girl. Batman is like an old grizzled grumpy man, which I liked that choice, it's unusual, but it got old toward the end.
I had this on my list to read because it's a classic and people love it. I love a darker Batman, he is supposed to be dark, in my opinion, but I thought this story was sloppy, messy and it was not enjoyable to read at all. There were new things here, but I just didn't care. I see I'm in the minority, but I did not like this. It is not for me, simple as that. I'm glad others appreciate this, but I can't join in on that opinion. ...more
I was charmed by this story. It’s no secret that I love Cranberryport books and I think this is the last major holiday I had left to read in the serieI was charmed by this story. It’s no secret that I love Cranberryport books and I think this is the last major holiday I had left to read in the series. This is not the usual Valentine story. This had humor, mystery and outrage. haha. It’s not all pink hearts and love fest. The Devlin’s just have something special in their stories, in my opinion. There is also a recipe at the end for Cranberry Upside down cake.
Mr. Whiskers has never gotten a Valentine. Maggie decides to change that. This was in the day, I suppose, when you made lacy valentines to send to people. The next day he gets a lacy valentine in the mail smellin’ all nice and he is outraged. He calls it revolting. (It makes me laugh). Maggie tells him she thinks a woman in a green coat sent it. Mr. Whiskers is so mad. At the store, he meets the women in green and she just wants him to rebuild her chimney. He’s so relieved that he skips all the way to Maggies house with a box of chocolates.
The kids and I were laughing our heads off seeing Mr. Whiskers skip. It was marvelous. It tickled all of us. He gets to the house and we learn who sent the cards.
What a fun story. I loved it. The nephew had fun reading this with me too. He loved seeing Mr. Whiskers skip and his reaction to the valentines was funny as well. Everything was out of the ordinary for a valentine story. He gave this 4 stars. The niece thought it was funny in places and weird in others. She read this with us after I used nostalgia against her. She gave this 3 stars.
In the jacket bio, we learn that Wende and Harry had 7 children. Good night, that would have been one busy household. I only wish there were more books to read in this series....more
Everyone is busy for the Christmas season. Big Anthony is complaining of all the work needed to be done for the feast Strega Nona throws each year. HeEveryone is busy for the Christmas season. Big Anthony is complaining of all the work needed to be done for the feast Strega Nona throws each year. He then hatches a plan. Strega Nona has a strict policy of no magic at Christmas as Christmas has its own magic. Big Anthony surprises Strega Nona with throwing the feast himself so she doesn’t have to do all the work.
It’s a nice story, but I didn’t think it was all that great. The best part was the thought that Christmas has its own magic. I do like how the characters are drawn - they look like a village in Italy.
The nephew was not crazy about this story. There wasn’t magic and nothing much else was going on. I think it’s fair to say that my nephew does not care for stories about relationships at this point in his life. He likes action. He gave this 2 stars. He also didn’t think it was very Christmasy....more
I find Amelia Bedelia so funny. In some ways she is literal and other ways she isn’t. It depends on if it is funny or not. Stuff the stocking - she maI find Amelia Bedelia so funny. In some ways she is literal and other ways she isn’t. It depends on if it is funny or not. Stuff the stocking - she makes stuffing to eat and stuffs the stockings. Trim the tree, she trims the tree with sheers. Hang colored balls on the tree, she gets sports balls like basketballs and hangs them on the tree. It’s like she is from another country with no understanding of any of our rituals, but it does make for funny reading.
The nephew giggled at Amelia and said she wasn’t very smart. She doesn’t know how to do anything. That tickled him. He gave this 4 stars....more
Our story takes place on the plains of Africa. An Ostrich was born late and his family had fled lions and he was all alone. A heard of Zebra runs by aOur story takes place on the plains of Africa. An Ostrich was born late and his family had fled lions and he was all alone. A heard of Zebra runs by and a young Zebra stops to help out our newborn. Zella adopts the Ostrich and calls him Zack and teaches him how to survive. Zack grows and soon towers over the herd. Eventually, Zella has her own baby and Zodiac is born with giant hooves that get in his way. One day, Zodiac is in trouble and a lion is about to eat him when Zack saves the little fella and runs away, repaying Zella for all her care.
I have become a fan of Bill’s. He is a great story teller and his artwork has so much motion in it. This actually doesn’t look like a Disney cartoon. His style evolved and this looks different. It’s a good story and I would love to have seen Disney make a short of this. They still could. It would make a cute story.
The nephew thought this book was ok. He was rather quiet during the reading. He was surprised how big the Ostrich got. He was glad that the Lion didn’t catch the baby Zebra. He gave this book 3 stars. He thought the Ostrich hanging with the Zebra’s was rather funny....more
This is a great scary story for young kids. It’s about facing your fears and realizing it’s not as scary as you thought it was. The little old lady keThis is a great scary story for young kids. It’s about facing your fears and realizing it’s not as scary as you thought it was. The little old lady keeps running into items of clothing. Some gent is missing a lot of garments out there. Shoes, pants, shirt, and gloves, all moving on their own. A pumpkin head tries to scare her, but she figures out what to do with them.
It’s a simple story that builds suspense for the younger ones. I like how the little old lady says ‘I’m not afraid of you, get out of my way’ to each thing that happens to her. We know she is a little scared as she is walking faster, but she keeps going.
The nephew said that he wasn’t scared at all. It’s interesting how these simple suspenses work on the mind. The nephew thought it was a fun story overall and he gave this 3 stars....more
Arthur finds out that his teacher is a real person. Mr. Ratburn’s house has burned down and Arthur’s family lets him stay at their house. The nephew lArthur finds out that his teacher is a real person. Mr. Ratburn’s house has burned down and Arthur’s family lets him stay at their house. The nephew loved D.W. as she kept calling Mr. Ratburn funny things like Mr. Ratbite or Mr. Ragworm. The nephew cracked up at that each time.
Arthur tries to look really smart and he brings home smart looking books and posters. Mr. Ratburn is cool and he teaches Arthur some magic tricks. The problem happens at school when the kids think Arthur is the teacher’s pet. It’s rough on Arthur.
The nephew wouldn’t want his teacher living with him, but if she did, he wouldn’t pretend to be smart like Arthur. He said he would play tricks on her. haha, he probably would try, but maybe that’s just talk. He loved DW and the names for Mr. Ratburn. He thought this was funny and he gave this 4 stars. We are still Arthur fans here. ...more
I loved this great tale. It is set among the Cameroon people and I had a cousin who did a peace corps assignment in the country of Cameroon. I feel liI loved this great tale. It is set among the Cameroon people and I had a cousin who did a peace corps assignment in the country of Cameroon. I feel like I have some stories to go with the country. I got to see pictures of her village, but I did not notice or remember that her village had round and square houses, so this could just be this village in particular and not the one she stayed in.
In this village the woman and children live in the round houses and the men live in the square houses. The men come and visit in the round house. Each enjoy the company they keep and they are happy with this arrangement. We later find out that this was done after the volcano went off one night long ago. Only two houses were left standing - a round and a square. So everything started from there and the village grew.
I thought this was a fabulous book. I enjoyed it. The artwork is fantastic and the story was engaging. This is a little gem.
The niece and nephew both thought it funny that couples don’t live together. I told them that would be a whole different mentality of living. They thought it was weird. Still, they thought it was a good story too. They both gave this 3 stars. ...more
Have you ever looked at a cover and you groan because it looks like a book you don’t want to read? Then, you read the book and it’s confirmed what youHave you ever looked at a cover and you groan because it looks like a book you don’t want to read? Then, you read the book and it’s confirmed what you felt from the cover. I know we aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover, but there are times that cover shows perfectly who that book is. This is one of those books. I saw the cover and it was just what the book was.
The author takes a letter per full page spread and then has 4 boxes she shows that letter changing into the noun on the other side of the page. I guess it’s a cute concept, but this book simply wasn’t for me, I guess. It’s creative and a little like, why. I also want to know why this won a Caldecott. Was there not something better out there that year. I don’t believe this represents the best of 1986. I’m not buying it.
This is a beginning alphabet book. Nothing new here. It’s basically wordless. There is the word of the thing per page. The artwork did show imagination to some extent, but it was a little confusing in that it turned n upside down for nest, which looked like u, and it turned u upside down for umbrella, which in turn looked like n. The nephew doesn’t need this to be confused in his head any more than it can be.
The niece was not impressed. She gave this 1 star for being so young and she was not interested in reading it in the first place. The nephew enjoyed some of the animals, but generally he was above this book too. He has finally learned his letters. He gave this 2 stars.
Mostly, I have loved the books I’m exposed to reading the Caldecott list, but there have been a small handful that have been really terrible. It is only a few....more
I love all the birds in this book. This was an unexpected story. A Janitor and his dog live in a very small 1 room apartment. Tiny. They are looking tI love all the birds in this book. This was an unexpected story. A Janitor and his dog live in a very small 1 room apartment. Tiny. They are looking to upgrade when a huge bird sticks its head in the window and offers to take them to a new and better place.
That page, the kids were like, wow, that’s a big bird. “Are there birds that big?” “No” Anyway,
The man is taken to an island in the sky which the kids thought was very cool. It was like a bird paradise. This book was a complete surprise to me and I won’t spoil it here so go and read it. It’s a short and quick book to read.
The kids loved the surprise on the island and the conclusion. The nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave it 4 stars. They couldn’t figure out if the birds were evil or good and I said that maybe they are just birds and not evil or good. Anyway. This was fun and our house enjoyed it. ...more
Here Jan is developing her style and she has all the side panel windows working for her. It really is a beautiful book. On each page we see Merry ChriHere Jan is developing her style and she has all the side panel windows working for her. It really is a beautiful book. On each page we see Merry Christmas in a different language like cyrillic or Spanish or so on. There is a couple in the panels and eventually they grow up and have a family. It is a very sweet book.
There is also a little historical note at the end about the tune and the fact this was one of the few Christmas songs speaking about giving gifts until recently. It was also pagan based. It is a very old poem. It was fascinating.
I think my favorite picture was the 3 French Hens while the nephew enjoyed the 12 Lords a Leaping and my niece liked the 9 ladies dancing best. Of course, we sang through this story as is our want. It was fun and Nice to see Jan Brett’s work again. We gave it 4 stars all around. ...more
I did think this was going to be an original Curious George book, but the original was written in 1939, so 60 years later they will not still be writiI did think this was going to be an original Curious George book, but the original was written in 1939, so 60 years later they will not still be writing. This is written by Martha Weston in their style. It does fit in with the original books very well.
The story is simple, George and the Man in the Yellow hat go to a Costume party with no costumes and the lady of the house let’s George borrow a costume. George gets into a mess and causes a stir at the party that is pretty exciting. Then Happy Halloween.
It was a cute little story and the kids really enjoyed George sliding down the banister. They laughed. They gave this 4 stars, so the story still works for children. ...more
A beginner book for young kids told in rhyme. It’s told from someone’s point of view about the dangers of going out on Halloween with all the ‘monsterA beginner book for young kids told in rhyme. It’s told from someone’s point of view about the dangers of going out on Halloween with all the ‘monsters’. We see kids dressed up as different ghouls. The end is revealed who is speaking. It’s a nice surprise who it is.
I saw Jan Brett’s name as the illustrator and that is why I chose to read this. I have to say, I was a little disappointed by the art. It didn’t seem to be her full style yet. It’s not that it was bad, it didn’t have that Jan Brett book quality I expect.
The nephew gave it 4 stars while my niece (this was not too scary for her) gave this 2. (She grades harsh. Either it’s 5 stars or 1 or 2. She doles out 1 and 2s easily nowadays with glee.) ...more
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