Festivals Books

there are a lot of "good" children's books out there. this is one of the handful of "great" ones.

it's extremely humane writing with quiet humor far removed from the "snark" common in many contemporary children's books.

it's also mercifully free of any ham-fisted "lesson".

while it doesn't really remind me of "The Wind in the Willows", that's the only other children's book i can think of offhand that stayed with me like this one did.

Although it is a long book for a 2 year old, my 28 month old son will listen to the entire book and he loves the illustrations. It is a great bedtime book for him. He doesn't ask to read it like he does the other books, but he listens very intently to this one. The book is lovely - I highly recommend it.

A wonderful story with beautiful pictures. If it doesn't warm your heart, you're not human! It is so good, I've bought a stack of copies to send out as Christmas gifts.

This is an extraordinary book. Antonia Barber has produced a superb story, based on the legend of the Cornish village of Mousehole. Tom is an old fisherman who lives with Mowzer, his cat, who is also aging gracefully. Their lives--organized around fish, firesides, milk, and scratching of ears--fill the first few pages, and then the Great Storm-Cat arrives, howling around the harbor and bottling up the fishing fleet. Food in the village starts to run low. Finally, the day before Christmas, Tom and Mowzer go out to fish together in the teeth of the storm, so that the children of the village should not be hungry on Christmas Day.

The text is powerful--remarkably so for a children's book. But Nicola Bayley's paintings are, if possible, even more astonishing. There is a gorgeous picture of the Great Storm-Cat and Mowzer at sea; fine, characterful pictures of Tom, Mowzer and the village of Mousehole; and among other treasures, one picture that always moves me to tears. Another reviewer said the book made them weep: I know the page they were talking about. It's where Tom and Mowzer sail back to the village, to discover that the villagers have realized they are gone, and are waiting for them.

Enough. It's a beautiful picture. Buy the book, even if you don't have kids, though you'll get far more pleasure from reading this to a child. The language is a little complex for a child under five, but you can simplify as you read. And you'll read it again and again.

When my children were young, this was one of the bedtime stories they loved best. It's particularly good for cat lovers! The illustrations are gorgeous, and the story moves through suspense to a beautiful resolution -- a feast at the end of a storm-tossed fishing trip.

Excellent book for around the holidays. I know it is a kids book, but it is an all around family book.

This book is a wonderful keepsake. I feel it should be made a "classic". I want all my family to have it. I have started getting it for everyone special in my family as a keepsake for their children. It is a beautifully illustrated story about creation and will be loved by all ages. We display it in our home every year during the Christmas season. A must have for new babies!!!

I found my way to this book by accident in the form of a box of Christmas cards. I was shopping one Christmas season in a Christian bookstore I believe and came upon the most beautiful Christmas card I had ever seen in my life. The illustration was done by Richard Jesse Watson, and it happened to be of a shepherd boy bathed in the moonlight gazing at the sky. (entitled "O Holy Night") The detail was so realistic that it seemed as if I could reach out feel the roughness of his woven garments or pet the little lambs gathered around his bare feet. I felt as if I was there with him and all I had to do was look over my shoulder to actually see what he was looking at. It to this day takes my breath away. I bought the box with the intention of giving them to only the most special people in my life and saving a couple just to look at every Christmas.

After purchasing the cards and getting ready to send them out I noticed the caption on it saying that it was an illustration from this very book. I immediately headed back out the door to find it. I'm not sure what I expected the storyline to be of (not that it made a difference) because the cover art was so different from the card I'd bought, but once I saw it was written by Ruth Graham I knew I couldn't pass it up. The story about a boy who ended up having to stay at an elderly lady's home after getting stranded by a blizzard was sweet and endearing and I read most of it there in the store. The book, which depicts stories from the bible, meshes with the lush illustrations to turn out this highly acclaimed, award winning book.

I ended up purchasing at least 4 of them to give as Christmas gifts with strict orders to open immediately once the house is decorated for the season. All of the nativity (along with the other) illustrations make this book a pure slice of heaven. The richness and striking mood of every single picture is wondrous and fills me with more Christmas spirit than my heart can hold sometimes. I guess that's why I bought so many copies of it so I can share it with everyone I care about. Almost every Christmas I scan some of the illustrations to create my own Christmas cards for my friends making sure I tell them where the artwork comes from so they can pass this Christmas treasure on as well to their loved ones.

This is a great Christmas read that gives an overview of the gospel, from creation to Christ's resurrection. A boy is injured and must seek refuge with an older widow during a snowstorm. As he recuperates and waits for the storm to settle down, she tells him the story of man's fall and redemption through Christ Jesus.

This book does a good job of sticking to the true facts of the Bible without a lot of added fluff. I've read this aloud to my children a couple of times. It takes us a few sittings as it is fairly lengthy but it keeps them engaged.

The best part of the book is the illustrations. They are gorgeous! These are some of the most believable Biblical portrayals I have seen - not the stylized Italian sort or the comical characters which abound in Christian books for children. For instance, Adam and Eve are not lily white but look as if they could truly be the father and mother of us all. The portrait of Goliath is my favorite as he looks like a giant warrior might. His thighs are massive! And David is a young man, not a child, as Scripture would suppport.

I would only take issue with the picture of the angel guarding the garden of Eden. First, according to Genesis, there are angels (plural) placed at the gate. Secondly, although the American Indian woman is lovely, angels are only described as men and never as women in the Bible. Moreover, they always seem to invite dread (first words from angels are typically, "Don't be afraid") so I think a pretty angel lady is somewhat unlikely.

I highly recommend this book as a lavish picture book to be read at Christmas, or any time of the year. It helps children understand why the birth of Christ matters to them.

This charming Christmas story will warm your heart -- Ruth Bell Graham teams with Richard Jesse Watson to tell the story of a young boy away from home at Christmas. I love this book.

"Refuge" has become one of my all-time favorite books. The story has remained with me long after reading the book. Jackson weaves a very poetic and heartbreaking tale of forbidden love and family prejudice. Yet "Refuge" is far more than just a love story; it is also a family saga, historical fiction, and mystery all rolled into one. And it is based on a true story from the author's own family history. Jackson evokes the beauty and isolation of the mountain setting so well that you feel transported there. Her characters are well-drawn, believable, and in some cases, larger than life. Their dialogue is authentic throughout. This is southern fiction at it's finest. I purchased my copy after I had already read the book from my library, but I loved it so much that I wanted to own it.

I have not read the book yet, but my husband and I had a little girl back in Sept. that passed away. While I was pregnant we called her Dot. So, we legally named her Dot Jackson, unknown to us at the time that there is an author with the same name!!! I'm going to get the book. I'm so excited. I was just messing around and googled my baby girl's name and up pops a book by a lady named Dot Jackson.

RefugeI sent this book, likewise from Amazon, to my closest cousin. I told her several of our long-gone relatives appear in the pages -- not literally, of course, but in spirit. I was hard put to finish reading it ... enjoying the visit. I finally forced myself to read the last chapter. My cousin's first response was the exact same. She, too, had delayed the ending not wanting it to be over. Masterful character creation drives this solid story. Faithful to our fading mountain vernacular won me over. At times I laughed out loud; other times I ached with empathetic loss. Dot Jackson is a treasure; not every author has that ability.

Once in a while you come across writing that resonates so clearly within your soul that you read and re-read passages just to savor the language. Dot Jackson's REFUGE is filled with that kind of luminous vernacular, pitch-perfect and insightful, carried along by a dark undercurrent of disquietude revealed through the voice of protagonist Mary Seneca Steele.

Like fellow Southern Appalachian author Charles Frazier, Jackson knows that storytelling should be unhurried, that for ultimate enjoyment the reader should experience the intertwined nuances of character and plot and language in smooth and satisfying sips, and she supplies that lingering enjoyment in spades.

All is not wisteria and mint juleps in Caney Fork, though, or poke sallet and white likker either. Whether in bustling Charleston or the secluded mountain cove where she seeks refuge, Mary Seneca knows that searching for her rightful place in the world is all a feeling person can do. Such an odyssey is her destiny, even if it leads to tragedy for herself and for the people she loves.

Mary Seneca is willing to pay the price, any price, to learn her family's hidden secrets and to find salvation and redemption for her own self. Throughout her long and eventful life, she learns that family matters, that blood runs true, and that a place to belong is at the heart of living and loving.

REFUGE is a wonderful, beautiful story. Highly recommended.

Most of the action in this book takes place one county over from the county in South Carolina where I grew up, so it really resonated with me. The dialect is flawless, the portrait of life on an desolate mountain estate utterly convincing. I am a half-generation behind Dot Jackson, old enough to rejoice in her accuracy, but too young to dream of writing something like that myself, in its early 20th century setting. The beauty, tragedy, emotion and masterful writing make me want to share this book with everyone. Oprah?

This is a wonderful Halloween holiday book and my 4 yr old daughter loves it. She even picked out her costume based on this book. The runaway pumpkin rolls though a farm and through a series of events becomes the jack-o-lantern for the holiday dinner table. I really like the family tone to the book as well.

This is a fun, rhythmic, rhyming story about a big pumpkin on the loose. "'Round and 'round across the ground makin' a thumpin' bumpin' sound came that thumpety, bumpety, thumpin' bumpin' round and roll-y RUNAWAY PUMPKIN!"

My two year olds like it for the rhythm and funny pictures. It's a good book to have them practice predicting what might happen next in the story.

I get a kick out of this tasty Halloween treat. The three Baxter children happen upon a huge pumpkin and the boy Baxters promptly try to remove the pumpkin from its perch.

The pumpkin rolls down a hill and right through town.

Round and 'round across the ground
Makin a thumpin' bumpin' sound
Came that thumpety bumpety thumpin' bumpin'
Round and Rolly Runaway Pumpkin

The pumpkin knocks over Momma Baxter and Grandpa Baxter. It is just about to mow down Poppa Baxter when Dad comes up with an idea to make a pumpkin bed and cleverly catches the pumpkin.

Throughout the story, each Baxter family member has designs on things they would like to do or make with a pumpkin (pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup). In the end, Grandma Baxter makes all of the family members favorite pumpkin recipe and the centerpiece contains the rest of the huge pumpkin, nicely carved into a jack-o-lantern.

I have an infant son that is now 11 months old and we read to him every day. This is the only book of his that I don't get tired of reading. It has a great flow, wonderful illustrations and he smiles every time we get to the tongue twister "chorus" of the book. I will definitely buy more of this author's books!

We purchased this book a couple of year ago in paperback. I drag it out every October and read it to my girls. It has been a much loved book, so much that we are replacing the well used paperback with a hardcover and ordered an additional one for our friends two little girls. We hope they enjoy this book as much as we have. We are looking forward to another "thumpin, bumpin" October.

Short novella about Mia's 16th birthday, her grandmere's attempts to film it for MTV, her best friend's craziness, and issues with her boyfriend. Just another day for Mia. Short, sweet, fluff book that reminds me why this series continues to be a guilty pleasure. Grade: B+

This is a very short story about Mia's 16th birthday. It is very cute and filled with lots of moments between Michael and Mia that make you feel warm and fuzzy. Very Cute!!

I'm not going to go over the plot with you,I'm just here to tell you what I like and dislike. What I like? That's easy. Meg Cabot has once again outdone herself with this novel. Like I said, I'm not going to go over the plot, so you will have to read it or wonder for the rest of your life(okay, exaggeration). Dislikes: Just one. IT IS NINETY-SIX PAGES! I know, I know. Book 4 1/2 was fifty pages. What is the problem here? I'll tell you: This isn't a in-between book. It is supposed to be equivalent to 150 page novels previously written by Meg Cabot. Not to mention the fact that 4 1/2 had pretty much NO plot, whereas this one has a real setting, story, and more than ten characters.
That is all I have to say. Oh, yeah, one more thing:
READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was great! Meg Cabot really outdid herself. However, I wish it were longer. There is certainly enough plot, but only 96 pages? Really.
All in all, I would say it is a great book. You would be best getting it at a public library, because for $9, you only get 96 pages[hardcover].

I won't delve into the plot, since many other reviewers have already done so. Instead, I'll say that Mia is progressively coming into her own, as this installment proves. She may be nervous addressing parents and school officials, but finally she has learned to emphatically lay down the law with her friends, something she certainly had trouble with at the beginning of this series. However, I found it frustrating that the book was over so quickly, especially at full cover price. I highly suggest you purchase a used copy if you don't have lots of money to burn.

SPOILER!
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I also wonder if this book is setting up a possible future romance between Mia and another guy...

I first stumbled onto McGuirk's Quirks on the internet (www.tuckerdog.com) and have since fallen in love with each Tucker offering. The joy comes each time I share Tucker with my Grandaughter.

I bought this book for my great nephew. After reading it I have decided to buy the entire set for both of us. What a wonderful book!!!

Another wonderful book in the series. I own them all. The children I purchase for read them over and over. They are captivated by Tucker's adventures and the colourful illustrations. A must have for any child or adult. Check out the entire series.

Another wonderful adventure in the Tucker series! My daughter was enraptured! Congrats on another book well done!

We love littl Tucker and his unique and wimsical personality.
Leslie McGuirk's books are written in a voice that young
children can truly connect with. Tucker's Spooky Halloween
is another delighful addition to our collection.

What a delightful work for the very young. A Mom Duck is searching for her one "lost" duckling and searches the pond, asking the other creatures "have you seen my duckling?" Of course the duckling is not actually lost, and if you and your child look close, the duckling can be found here and there, hidden (as little ducks should be) in various locations. The kids get quite a kick out of this one as it is interactive an they must search for the little "lost" duck. The art work in this one is great and quite appearling. The simple text is repetitive and fun for the child. This is simply a fun read for the small child and a fun read for the adult reader as they help the child find the duckling. Highly recommend.

My boys LOVE animals, especially ducks, so this is a big hit. If you like "Silly Little Goose" by the same author, this one's sure to be popular in your house.

At first I thought this book was going to bomb with my 13 month old. I thought the pictures were complicated and there was not much text. But I was wrong. She loves it. She has memorized where the lost duckling is on every page and she really can't get enough of it. So, surprisingly, I highly recommend this one!

I like Wheres my Duckling, it wass a great book.Children that are just learning to read will really enjo this book. They will be able to tell what is going on in the story by just looking at the pictures.The pictures in the story are very well illustrated. I would recommend this book to early childhood teachers.

This book is filled with lovely pictures of a mother duck as she searches for her baby who wandered off.

The pictures are wonderful. The few repetitive words there are encourage my child to 'read' the book. He also loves finding the duck on every page.

I wish I could find more books like this one- simple, gorgeous pictures, a nice story with a happy ending, a lot of opportunity for other activities while you read. We find the missing duck, count the ducklings, look at the pretty colors, look for other animals and more.

Book was just as expected - delivered in timely manner - very pleased with purchase - thanks!

I bought candles and copies of the book for all my office mates as well as for my children. This Christmas eve, we opened stockings to lighted candles and read the book aloud. My three adult daughters and husbands were a little wary, but soon the story took over. In many ways, it is another version of a Christmas Carol. But the story's power and images enforce the message again, that we are all one family, sharing in the light of the special Christmas candle. The experience shared with my children will create a tradition for us...next year, they will all receive carved boxes, and we will read The Christmas Box, together.

Beautiful cover. Am saving the book for Christmas when we read a number of Christmas stories. Look forwrd to it with anticipation.

This is an excellent book. It has a wonderful message all of us, old and young alike, can use for our everyday lives. A great moral!! I recommend this for any age group.

I bought this book to read to my class as a Christmas story. This is an excellent book, but it is deep. It is a great story for upper elementary (4th or 5th grade) or even middle school. It would be an excellent book for upper elementary/middle school Sunday school class. Not to sound too much like a teacher-but it has a lot of symbolism. The pictures are extraordinary-the eyes of the people in the illustrations are penetrating and touch you down to the soul.

squirt,jessi,becca,and aunt Ceclia are all involved in a car crash. Squirt gets hurt and jessi predicts it will be the worst Kwanzaa and Christmas ever. Buy the book if your into drama and love towards your family.

It's the Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa time, (AGAIN,) for the BSC and Jessi decides to educate the BSC's sitting charges about Kwanzaa by putting on a play based on the old African legend Malindy Meets the Devil, (or something like that.) But then tragedy strikes. While Jessi is riding in the car with her Aunt, younger sister Becca and her baby brother Sqwirt, they get involved in a car crash, resulting in young Sqwirts head injury. Jessi starts to think that her Holidays are ruined, but are they?

In Happy Holidays Jessi, Jessi wants to have the kids in the neighborhood celebrate Kwanzaa. But then when Jessi, her sister, Aunt Cecelia, and Squirt get in a car accident, Squirt gets hurt. Will the Kwanzaa celebration happen? Or is it history?

Jessi is filled with holiday excitement. She loves Christmas, and she can't wait for Kwanzaa, when her whole family- including out-of-town relatives-will celebrate together.
But then a terrible accident occurs. Squirt hurst his head in a car crash and is rushed to the hospital.
Everyone is relieved to find out that Squirt will be okay. But meanwhile, the stress of the accident has taken it's toll on the family.
If holidays are supposed to be being together, then why is Jessi's family being pulled far apart?

I really liked this installment. Jessi, the narrator describes Kwanzaa, the African holiday and the history and traditions about Kwanzaa.

Jessi's redoubtable Aunt Cecilia is just as overly punitive as ever, until her father intervenes and reminds her that as long as she is living in HIS house, she will have to abide by HIS rules and not try to enforce her own. He defends his children and reminds his sister yet again that Jessi and her 8-year-old sister are still children and to cut them some slack. Chastened, the girls' aunt vows to do an about face and once again takes them Christmas shopping. Instead of chewing them out for being hungry or clowing around, the aunt bites her tongue. The only thing I had trouble with was her allowing the girls' baby brother to ride outside of his car seat when he becomes restless and fussy.

Unfortunately, they are involved in an accident and Squirt (John, Jr.) has to be hospitalized. Distraught over the baby's injuries, the parents chew the aunt out for her sheer irresponsibility (why would any ADULT allow a baby to ride in a car without being properly harnessed)? The Kwanzaa gatherings with other members of Jessi's family are strained and everybody is up in arms over the harm done to poor Squirt.

The subplot is excellent. Ann Martin has a real gift for creating dialog and scenes. The other members of the BSC plan a Kwanzaa skit and the BSCers and charges alike all get into the spirit of Kwanzaa and actually learn a few things. I laughed at the hilarious story of Malindy's Soul, the story the group put on. It was a delightful farce and really quite well woven into the story.

Fortunately, Squirt recovers and everybody has a wonderful holiday. Instead of Santa, everybody follows the Kwanzaa celebration. This book is really good.

I love this book. I use to read this book to my children when they were little. Now my children have children, and I wanted them to also enjoy this fun book. To me, this represents all my childhood memories of Halloween. I love the illustrations! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Halloween.

Great poems for Halloween. Fun to read aloud with one child or a group of children. I used it in my classroom for many years. I bought this copy to donate to the library at my church.

my mom enjoys telling this story:

when i was about four, she checked "it's halloween" out at our local small-town library and brought it home. i made her read it every night, memorizing every word, and if she tried to skip a page, i'd call her on it.

when it came time to return the book, she couldn't find it and had to pay for a new copy for the library. some time later, she was cleaning my room and discovered where i'd stashed my copy under my bed.

greatest halloween book, and among the greatest children's books in general, ever.

I still have the copy my mother gave to me in 1978!! It is my favorite children's book, and it should be a part of every home library. The illustrations are great, and the little poems are so catchy.

It is the best Halloween book ever. It has just the right amount of creepiness to get kids really excited about Halloween. A fun book with simple rhyme schemes and memorable illustrations, it will keep kids interested. I'm 27 and I still love it.