The Dune Storybook . . . or as I like to call it: Gateway to Dune. My sister loved Dune (book and movie, and still does) , but I was too young to read...moreThe Dune Storybook . . . or as I like to call it: Gateway to Dune. My sister loved Dune (book and movie, and still does) , but I was too young to read the book or see the movie when it first came out. But my mom got this from the library, and I devoured it. I was obsessed with the pictures, I had a crush on Kyle MacLachlan, I was totally into the culture of Arrakis. I think I was about 9 or 10 at the time. This lead me to seeing the movie when I was 11, and reading the actual book when I was barely 12. Changed my life. Years later my husband found me a copy of this at Powell's in Portland, and I was delighted to find that it had been written by Joan Vinge, whose Cat books (PSION, CATSPAW) had been my favorites as a teen!(less)
Robert Lawson won a Newbery for RABBIT HILL, a fine book. He won accolades for BEN AND ME (which became a charming Disney cartoon) and for MR. REVERE...moreRobert Lawson won a Newbery for RABBIT HILL, a fine book. He won accolades for BEN AND ME (which became a charming Disney cartoon) and for MR. REVERE AND I, another childhood favorite of mine. But the out-of-printness and lack of appreciation for MR. WILMER will baffle me to the end of my days. This, in my opinion, is Lawson's best book. The story of a lonely, painfully shy young man who discovers the ability to talk to animals on his birthday is hilarious and tender by turns. I find it no coincidence that the cover picture looks like Danny Kaye, I wish that they would have made a movie of this starring Kaye. The book has a very "Secret Life of Walter Mitty" feel. The book is dated . . . but in a good way. I just read it aloud to my kids, and they loved it. They were interested in comparing Mr. Wilmer's weekly wage ($32 at the start of the book!) with my husband's, there are references to the fact that it's the Depression and work is hard to find, Mr. Wilmer lives in a boarding house and uses an adding machine at his office. Altogether, a fabulous read, illustrated by Lawson, and a treasure to cherish if you can find a copy!(less)
Great start out to the Further Adventures of Belgarion, as I always thought of it. Actually, kinda loved the Mallorean more than the Belgariad, mainly...moreGreat start out to the Further Adventures of Belgarion, as I always thought of it. Actually, kinda loved the Mallorean more than the Belgariad, mainly because Garion is less of a wide-eyed farm boy. Loved Ce'Nedra's pregnancy and the birth of the baby, too.(less)
Loved this book as a kid. So much fun, imagining how the Borrowers could get around a human house, and seeing how they used different things they had...moreLoved this book as a kid. So much fun, imagining how the Borrowers could get around a human house, and seeing how they used different things they had borrowed, like thimbles and safety pins and buttons!(less)
I loved this book as a teen, LOVED IT. A ghost story, a story of first love, and a story of life in England during WWII, this book had a bit of everyt...moreI loved this book as a teen, LOVED IT. A ghost story, a story of first love, and a story of life in England during WWII, this book had a bit of everything. It also had a very likable main character in Bob, the narrator. I had quite a crush on him myself. I loved the accents and the little details about clothes and food and the class struggle. Such a great book!(less)
This is a beautiful look at life under Nazi rule for a Jewish girl. First the hardships of the ghetto, making do with little food and clothing, then t...moreThis is a beautiful look at life under Nazi rule for a Jewish girl. First the hardships of the ghetto, making do with little food and clothing, then the greater tragedy of the concentration camps, and through it all Riva keeps her hope and writes delicate poems. I used to reread this book as a teen and sob and sob, somehow seeing the war from this perspective was more real for me.(less)
The classic stories really do stand the test of time. I've read these aloud to my children over and over. Even my 7 year old boy loves them. They love...moreThe classic stories really do stand the test of time. I've read these aloud to my children over and over. Even my 7 year old boy loves them. They love the pictures, and the stories are fun and easy to follow for all ages. I've always loved THE TALE OF TWO BAD MICE best, but my son tells me that THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY BUNNIES is best, because they're so lazy and sleepy they almost get eaten.(less)
Had forgotten how much I loved this book until my son read it aloud to me last month. The simple ingenuity with which the children build a life for th...moreHad forgotten how much I loved this book until my son read it aloud to me last month. The simple ingenuity with which the children build a life for themselves in the boxcar is fascinating, and as a child, thrilling. You think, I could make myself a house, a swimming pool, plates and cups! I loved it!
But you have to love this cover, with the kids in totally '80's clothes, even though the silhouette-style illustrations show them in pre-WWI garb!(less)
I read this book repeatedly in grade school. Aviva and her trusty dog, Mop, were so real to me. My parents were, and still are, happily married, so it...moreI read this book repeatedly in grade school. Aviva and her trusty dog, Mop, were so real to me. My parents were, and still are, happily married, so it wasn't that I was looking to it for comfort or answers. No, it's just a well-written story about a girl my age (at the time, anyway) and how she struggled to resolve the changes in her life.(less)
I was totally obsessed with this book in junior high! Never have I seen such a complete and detailed look into the life of a nun! This book discusses...moreI was totally obsessed with this book in junior high! Never have I seen such a complete and detailed look into the life of a nun! This book discusses everything in detail, from the daily schedule right down to their underwear. As you follow Sister Luke from her last night outside the convent through her novitiate and into her medical training and then her life of service, you are absolutely gripped by her story. The dedication that she had to serving her fellow man, even when she disagreed with church policy, the strange rules that she must follow, the times she makes the decision to break them, and unusual twists that her life takes . . . totally mesmerizing! This is also an interesting look at life in both the Congo, and Belgium during World War II. (Yep, nuns have some adventures!)
I think that her time in the Congo was my favorite thing, from the sexy doctor who liked to taunt the nuns to her treehouse (complete with monkey companion), was just sheer reading candy.(less)
This was my favorite of all Streatfeild's books! A beloved British TV star says he envies his viewers hearing the patter of little feet coming down th...moreThis was my favorite of all Streatfeild's books! A beloved British TV star says he envies his viewers hearing the patter of little feet coming down the stairs on Christmas morning, and wakes the next day (Christmas morning, in fact) to find not one, but FOUR babies on his doorstep. He decides to keep them, mostly as a publicity move, and the children spend most of their days in the top floor nursery of his posh house. Of course, being famous, they are much in demand for commercials and tv guest spots. But as the children get older, their different looks and personalities start to take them in different directions. That's what I've always loved about Streatfeild's books: she always starts out with a family all together, taking tennis lessons, or a pair of friends bonding over figure skating, but then her characters start to find out who they really are, and explore what they really want in life. I just truly adore this book, and I can't think of how many times I've read it!(less)
I have never had an interest in tennis, yet with Streatfeild's delightful writing, I was hooked. Again, I not only loved the characters, but also the...moreI have never had an interest in tennis, yet with Streatfeild's delightful writing, I was hooked. Again, I not only loved the characters, but also the descriptions that have stayed with me to this day!(less)
Graceful Saundra is an accomplished dancer about to audition for a famed dance company. Her little sister Lily is just taking ballet for the first tim...moreGraceful Saundra is an accomplished dancer about to audition for a famed dance company. Her little sister Lily is just taking ballet for the first time . . . the two sisters could not be more different, and yet through dance they finally begin to understand and support each other. I loved the descriptions in this book, of dance classes, of wearing leotards and legwarmers. It all felt so very real. I will confess: I started wearing my old leotards from jazz dance classes under jeans and sweatshirts like Lily does . . . (less)
In high school I discovered this series and was literally OBSESSED with this book. I wanted to marry one of the elves so freakin' bad! I would say the...moreIn high school I discovered this series and was literally OBSESSED with this book. I wanted to marry one of the elves so freakin' bad! I would say their names over and over in my head, they were so beautiful and lyrical, and I wanted to have a mercenary's dagger, too. I loved everything about this book: the names, the characters, the storyline. I read it over and over, and I was thrilled with it every time! The series is excellent as a whole, but this first book will always be my favorite!(less)
I grew up with the movie of this, and then realized that it was a book when I was in junior high. As crazy as I was about that strange cartoon (Alan A...moreI grew up with the movie of this, and then realized that it was a book when I was in junior high. As crazy as I was about that strange cartoon (Alan Alda as Schmendrick!), the book was on a whole 'nother level. Gorgeously written, some of the imagery is still with me today. This is a magnificent work, and a must read for any fantasy fan.(less)
I read this book, like so many of Konigsburg's, over and over as a kid. I was probably the only fifth grader at my school who not only knew who Eleano...moreI read this book, like so many of Konigsburg's, over and over as a kid. I was probably the only fifth grader at my school who not only knew who Eleanor of Aquitaine was, but could rattle off details of her life as easily as talking about an old friend. The wonderful, personal way that this book is written makes it easy to read and remember the details of Eleanor's life, and I am pretty much still waiting for Konigsburg or another author to do the same thing for other historical figures.(less)
My fourth grade teacher read this aloud to us in class, and I laughed so hard that I snorted at some of the scenes, like Fudge's birthday party. I rem...moreMy fourth grade teacher read this aloud to us in class, and I laughed so hard that I snorted at some of the scenes, like Fudge's birthday party. I remember it was a big deal that she was reading us a Judy Blume book, at least in my house, because my mother was very anti-Blume, because of Deenie and Forever. I don't think she had even heard of this book before, and I remember that my teacher actually had to assure her that it was appropriate for nine-year-olds and for reading aloud. Can't wait until my kids hit fourth grade, and I can share this with them!(less)
I loved this book when I was twelve/thirteen. Morgan is the rather neglected child of wealthy parents, who have parked her a posh boarding school whil...moreI loved this book when I was twelve/thirteen. Morgan is the rather neglected child of wealthy parents, who have parked her a posh boarding school while they travel the world. When they die suddenly, she is sent to live with her eccentric uncle. She makes new, bohemian friends, wanders the streets of New York, and she and her uncle come to understand one another and forge a new family. A real treat, it's a pity it's not still in print!(less)
The consensus? This book is as charming as I remember. Edie and her rather exuberant siblings take up residenc...moreReading this new edition, October 2010.
The consensus? This book is as charming as I remember. Edie and her rather exuberant siblings take up residence in their aunt's seaside house for the summer, and all sort of adventures ensue. Some of the language (mostly sailing terms) is a bit old-fashioned or may go a bit above the heads of younger children, but otherwise Edie is just a regular ten-year-old and this book will still delight modern children.(less)
Drusilla has grown up in her mother's family's huge old house, wearing old-fashioned dresses passed down from aunts and cousins, surrounded by antique...moreDrusilla has grown up in her mother's family's huge old house, wearing old-fashioned dresses passed down from aunts and cousins, surrounded by antique furniture like horsehair sofas and tables decorated with human hair wreaths. But when her father gets a job in the city, and they move to the suburbs, suddenly they realize how out of place they are. Trying to make a little extra money for the family, Drusilla gets an antiques catalogue, and tries to sell some of their furniture. At first her mother is shocked, but she soon gets into it: selling EVERYTHING and replacing it with modern furniture, modern clothes . . . but is it all too modern? And is modern really better?
I adored this book when I was younger. The descriptive contrasts between the hard, scratchy horsehair sofa and the hard, slick new foam sofa, the clothes, I read it over and over! The message of the book is balance: the balance between old and new, which I "got" even as a kid and still like as an adult because it was well done, not preachy or heavy-handed. This book is out of print, and well worth finding a copy!(less)
Bizarrely, this is the only one of the series that I read. I bought it through the Scholastic book order, and reread it several times. A young witch w...moreBizarrely, this is the only one of the series that I read. I bought it through the Scholastic book order, and reread it several times. A young witch wishes herself back in the era of "Gone With the Wind", and finds herself and her best friend transported to a Southern plantation. They discover that being young ladies in corsets is not as fun as it looks, and attend a ball, which is a highlight. But can they get back to their own time?
I read this book in sixth grade- TWICE! I don't know what it was about it . . . it just appealed to me in some way. Basically, popular Jen decides to...moreI read this book in sixth grade- TWICE! I don't know what it was about it . . . it just appealed to me in some way. Basically, popular Jen decides to make over fashion-challenged Maude as a project for her and her friends to make their senior year special. As they get to know Maude during her makeover, they learn that her mother died when she was little, and that she has helped her father raise her younger brothers, which is why she has no idea how to dress or wear makeup. They all become very real friends, and Maude becomes quite popular (of course). Things spiral out of control (of course), and mistakes are made (of course). What makes this book a bit different is that all the characters are likeable. Jen is not bitchy, once she gets to know Maude she really wants to be friends. Jen's friends who are helping with the project are all boys, and when Maude falls for one of them, he likes her back. This is what makes the ending, when secrets are revealed and things get out of hand, all the more poignant. You care about these characters, and their relationship to one another. I particularly love the ending of the book, and think it's well worth reading if you can find a copy. It was also, apparently, an After School Special called The Great Love Experiment, starring Tracy Pollan, Jennifer Grey, and Esai Morales. I just watched the first few minutes on YouTube, and it looks terrible! Still, if you like girls in high-waisted Jordache jeans . . . (less)
This book is hilarious, and I'm so glad I was able to find out the title, lost to my memory for many years, although the details of the book itself we...moreThis book is hilarious, and I'm so glad I was able to find out the title, lost to my memory for many years, although the details of the book itself were not!
Mrs. Purdy has eighteen children. Some of them were born the usual way, some of them hatched from pods that grew on a vine in the backyard. Every year the Roanoke plant produces one of these pods, and out pops a little redheaded baby, just like Mrs. Purdy's own redheaded babies. Mrs. Purdy works long hours to support the children, since Mr. Purdy disappeared in the Klondike years before, and the kids take care of each other. Scandal erupts, however, when the town votes Mrs. Purdy the Mother of the Year . . . and then realizes how many of her children arrived after her husband left!
This is a thoroughly charming book, with a fun combination of a realistic big, loving, family and the strangeness of the Roanoke plant. There are illustrations by Steven Kellogg,and the book is out of print but worth finding!(less)
Grace Jones is a tomboy. She wears her father's sailor middy over her dresses every day, and she loves to climb trees. But when her family moves to a...moreGrace Jones is a tomboy. She wears her father's sailor middy over her dresses every day, and she loves to climb trees. But when her family moves to a new town, she becomes friends with the neighbor girl, who is extremely feminine, and develops a crush on the school music teacher. What will Grace do? Stay a tomboy, or become a young lady?
I loved this book when I was younger. The writing was so clear and vivid. It's set during the Depression, in the thirties, and the images of cheap cashmere sweaters shedding fluff as you walk through the room, setting your hair in pin curls, and going to see Gone With The Wind for the first time are just lovely. Grace takes piano lessons from a teacher who also teaches some of the richest children in town, and when one wealthy mother, having seen Grace wearing her ripped middy every week, gives her a box of old clothes, Grace's mother is mortified. Even at a young age, I remember reading this and understanding the mother's feeling of embarrassment and wounded bride. Langton is a superb writer (her books about the Hall family, like The Fragile Flag and The Fledgeling, are other favorites of mine), and her books are always worth seeking out.(less)
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