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357th out of 370 books
—
193 voters
Arabel's Raven (Arabel and Mortimer #1)
The first story about Arabel and her pet raven Mortimer. In Arabel's Raven, Mr Jones, while driving his taxi, notices something bedraggled in the road. He stops and discovers an injured raven. He takes it home and his four-year-old daughter Arabel falls in love at first sight. 'His name is Mortimer,' she announces and Mortimer has found a home. A series of thefts and a rob...more
Paperback, 76 pages
Published
2001
by Barn Owl Books
(first published 1972)
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This book is quite funny! We really enjoyed listening to it, and Daughter can croak out "Nevermore!" just like the reader. However, it is INTENSELY British, and the seven-year old American didn't really catch most of those references. I found myself continuously interpreting (biscuits=cookies, lift=elevator) both words and cultural references (tea time, unions, attitudes and manner-expectations)
An aside: I was fascinated to have this book reveal to me just how different the language of English i...more
An aside: I was fascinated to have this book reveal to me just how different the language of English i...more
This another great series from my childhood. Joan Aiken combines thoughtful storytelling to a Roald Dahl-type comedic story. There never is really any theme expressed, other than that no one is smarter than this raven (who, consequently, never says more than one word throughout the series). Though simpler writing fits it for more of a younger teen audience, the series can still be appreciated for its witty slapstick humor.
A number of years ago, I wrote to my elemetary school librarian at Coudersport Elem. School (PA) telling her how much I remembered loving this book. She actually pulled it from the shelves and sent it to me - and it still has the checkout card in the back with my name on it, dated 9/29/76, Jenny, Room 47. It even smells the way I remember it smelling. Haha.
We like absurdity 'round our house, so this book made a fantastic bedtime read, although our 7 year old frequently burst out laughing as we read to him, so it didn't always get people in a sleepy mood. The illustrations by Quentin Blake are a perfect compliment to the madness that Mortimer effortlessly creates.
I apparently missed this book when I was a kid, but I'm looking forward to making sure my kids don't have the same misfortune. Extremely silly and funny! The reader for the audiobook also did an excellent job.
I have discovered I love Joan Aiken's whimsical style, reminds me of Roald Dahl. Mortimer, the raven, is a great mischeivous yet lovable character.
Take an unusual family, add an unusually intelligent and all too usually mischievous raven, and chaos ensues! Fun, quick read.
This was a cute book about a little girl and her pet Raven who keeps eating or pecking at everything. Very British.
Fun and pleasantly quirky, but dragged on rather--I was ready for it to end quite a while before it did (though my six-year-old wasn't! he thought the whole thing was freaking hilarious). Mortimer the raven and little human Arabel are likeable, and Arabel seems like a real and interesting child rather than being annoyingly perfect or stereotypical.
Bonus points for having a competent and fun male babysitter: I imagine if this book were written today, Chris would be a "she"! Anyway, it's nice to s...more
Bonus points for having a competent and fun male babysitter: I imagine if this book were written today, Chris would be a "she"! Anyway, it's nice to s...more
Loved this for Kylin, enjoyed it for me, too! Am off to see what else I can find by this author...
This book was total nonsense. At times the story was slow, but mostly a delightful read.
I loved Mortimer when I was young! Wonder if it will still be funny to me.
Cute stories. I can see how a younger child would find them hilarious.
One of my all time favorites!
I just love Joan Aiken
I just love Joan Aiken
This is one of my favorite children's books ever!
Man, I totally wanted a raven to name Mortimer!
This is one of my favorite books.
The kids liked this one as well.
NEVERMORE!
Cute.
Loved this book as a kid, decided to pick it up again for fun. Still love it. My only disappointment is that the Kindle edition I picked up had replaced all the British with American. For example, I remember that what Arabel and Chris were looking for in the last story was paraffin, not kerosene. Little details like that were disappointing, but all in all it was the same collection of stories I loved as a child.
Feb 16, 2013
Nicole
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ages-8-12,
family-fiction
A wonderful read-aloud and the illustrations will bring out the laughs.
Nice book.
May 23, 2011
Lorna
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grade,
audiobook
We enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook, which was lovely with the British accent. Looking forward to getting the next Raven book to read--quite funny.
I read this a long time ago when I was a kid... but I'd really like to read it again and remind myself.
a delight, a remant. 'To think I'll never see him digging for diamonds in the coal-scuttle any more!'
Another Aiken book that I loved when I was 8 or 9. I remember this as being very funny.
Would make a GREAT read-aloud to any kid!
Children's -
Too young for HS
Too young for HS
Meh. More mediocre children's lit.
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Joan Delano Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. Her most famous classic, THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE,has been celebrating its 50th Anniversary with the publication of three brand new editions of the book and a new AUDIO recorded by her daughter Lizza.
Read NEWS & NEW PUBLICATIONS at
https://www.facebook.com/JoanAikenOff...
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More about Joan Aiken...
Read NEWS & NEW PUBLICATIONS at
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