Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

What an excellent book. Both the story and the illustrations are superb. From the concept of the young girl out on her own, with just a small nesting doll her late grandmother bequeathed to her, to the magic the nesting doll contains to help Katya release a spell brought upon by a nasty vizier, to the fairy tale ending with her saving the prince, the story delivers. I have never seen a child's book with such exquisite illustrations. My five year old loves this book and we have re-read it many times; she has also recommended it on her own to friends and teachers. This is a wonderful tale told in an old style, that will endear itself to children, parents and grandparents.

I was looking for an uncommon story for my granddaughter and this book delivered. Lovely graphics and story.

I am delighted with this book, as I have just been to Russia on a cruise and the nesting dolls are what I brought back for everyone! Thank you for making this little book available! Malissa Baugh

I love the illustrations in this, they are sure to fascinate many detail oriented children, they are very much like the art that is painted onto the little nesting dolls. The story is a wonderful sort of reverse Sleeping Beauty, but told from the rescuer's point of view, Katya is a sweet but strong and determined heroine who rides a wolf, a bear and a firebird to save her sleeping prince.

A great gift for a child (or inner child) who loves fairytales.

This is the most exquisitely illustrated and delightfully magical book for children I have ever read. My daughter just gazes at the pictures, and she'll never let me read "just a few pages". We always have to read the entire book, and each and every time she is as enchanted as the first time we read it together. This is the kind of story I wish my mother could have read to me as a child. And I'm hoping someday I'll be able to read it to my grandchildren. I intend to keep this book forever. I cannot say enough about the beautiful illustrations...they are more exquisite than any real place on earth could ever be. As a result, they're sure to capture your child's heart and imagination. The facial expressions are haunting and I find myself wishing we could just leap into the page and spend a little time in this world. I am only wondering if Laurel Long has prints available? I would so love to hang one on my daughter's wall in her bedroom. Please read this book. It's just fabulous.

Beautifully made book and absolutely wonderfully written!
Lots of food for your imagination and satisfaction to the eye!

Even if you have never thought of yourself
as being blessed with rich imagination,
this book will open that door for you,
and you will see a fragile architecture of a castle
in a snail's shell...
or even
hear a sound of a tamed piano
found in a lost land of baobabs...

COLLECT YOUR OWN MARVELS, STARTING WITH THIS BOOK!

a beautifully creative book,fit for a goddess! great for creative inspiration, open to any page and enjoy. the story is beautiful while the illustrations are sublime.

The paper it is printed on is heavy stock ecru, like a fine art paper. The illustrations are nothing short of magical and accompany the story beautifully. I won't say any more so as not to spoil any part, except to comment that it is full of whimsy.

This would make a great gift for any artist or illustrator, or any book loving friend.

The only negative was the dust-jacket of the book, which I actually removed for gift giving. Not well designed, it is incongruent with the nature of the book and makes it seem "less."

So begins this wonderful book which certainly tempted me! The magnificent Merchant of Marvels takes readers on a journey through a charming story, enhanced by various fairy tales, myths, etc. and adorned with Clement's lovely and original illustrations. This is a book that I was not content just to peruse--I HAD to buy it. A unique and beautiful acquisition for book lovers! I'm not sure if this is considered a children's book, but it seems to be one of those rare tomes that children and adults alike adore--share it with your child or your parent or your spouse or your hairdresser. Perhaps, too, it might be a good book for those who are reluctant to read (if you're a parent--this may apply to your child--particularly children interested in art, fairy tales, etc.--this book might "tempt" them!). Also, I think this is a good book to give to one you love as a romantic gesture.

What a wonderful flight for the imagination. One can just hope M. Clement continues to push us into our own worlds of make- believe. We're all children at heart if allowed to explore our whimseys, although this is not strictly a childrens book. It's a great read for bolstering the spirit of the young-at-hearts and for the young-at-heart wannabe's. A worthy gift for those one really cares about.

I agree with Omni. When I first started reading I was determined to make it thought although the beginning seemed poorly written and confusing. By the time I got to book III, it was difficult to put the compendium down. The authors did an excellent job of referencing canon works in small ways here and there and they also do a very good job of making sure that the conversation is typical of the characters (for the most part). Aside from the occasional religious tirade by a random cast member and portraying the Captain as a slightly apprehensive leader (as opposed to his all-out persona in the show), it was one of the better Star Trek books I have read.

THIS BOOK IS THE BEST I HAVE READ IN A WHILE. I THINK I LIKE STAR TREK DS9 THE BEST. THE CHARACTERS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED MORE THAN ANY OTHER STAR TREK SHOW CHARACTERS. THE BOOK HAS A LOT OF GOOD DETAILS SUCH AS THE VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE "UNFINISH INTERIOR" OF THE PHOENIX. THE STORY IS ONE OF A KIND. THE CONTINUAL JUMPS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DIFFERENT TIMES BEFORE THE CARDASSIAN WITHDRAWL AND THEN JUMPING TO DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE TIME AFTER THE CARDASSIAN WITHDRAWL.

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN A WHILE. I AM A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAD EVER READ. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANY STAR TREK FAN OF ANY OTHER PERSON WHO WANTS TO READ A GOOD BOOK

This book is definatley worth reading. I read it 2 years ago, and I'm thinking of reading it again. I don't like multiple books bound into one...its just too bulky... so I'd suggest buying the 3 books seperatley, but this is the best DS9 book series, and best 3 Star Trek DS9 books, I've read to date. Unbelivable, it draws you in and won't let go, hard to put down. Definaltey worth reading if you're a Trek fan.

If you are a fan of any Trek series, this book is for you. If you especially like DS9, there is no frinxing (I hated the way Quark used that swear-word) way you should miss this trilogy.

To date, this trilogy combined in one book is my favorite Trek (not just DS9) novel! Time-travel, religion/philosophy/science, alternative timelines, the War of all Wars, the End of the Universe, the destruction of DS9, False and True Emissaries, THE Sisko... there is simply soo much to this book that it is amazing the authors didn't lose focus. In fact, all the plots are handled well and very few plot holes emerge.

The novel starts off investigating a simple murder and quite simply takes off from there. Once the Red Orbs are discovered I found I literally could not put down the books. I read the whole trilogy in just over a week, making this my fastest read trilogy ever (faster than the Lord of the Rings, which admittedly is slightly longer).

The characterizations in this book are spot on perfect. There is subtle foreshawdowing to events that occur in season 7 of DS9 and the last episode of Season 6. The events in this book take place after Sisko et al try to save the dying woman Captain from the planet but before the season 6 finale... which means we get to see Jadzia Dax in action! Some of the subtle hints to her death are quite sad, yet never do they or other allusions become overdone.

Also, Admiral Picard makes an important appearance in this trilogy... Yes, he is finally an admiral, with QUITE an important mission! Other characters, notably Voyager ones, make short appearances. In the alternate timeline we also get to hear what has happened to most of our beloved characters like Riker. And hey why not bring back Thomas Riker for some fun? Vic himself plays quite an important role and his philosophical inquiries are intriguing.

The authors know much about Trekdom and share that knowledge well, though they limit it so as not to make the book ridiculous like some other Trek books. They are also experts in nonlinear time and time travel. Real explanations for why I can or cannot kill my grandfather are given, something I immensely enjoyed.

How can a book that sees the return of Vash and Garak confronting himself (literally two Garaks!) fail to grab a reader's attention? It had mine continuously.

If you'd like to know what I thought about each individual book, please look to my individual reviews for books 1-3. It is best to read every book in this series, although the authors try to make it so one can pick up book 2 or 3 without having read the previous one(s). I strongly recommend reading all 3 because you'll get a more full and rich understanding not only of DS9 and the books, but of your own life.

Trilogy definitely deserves a hardcover release.

I have read all in this series and they keep getting better and more meaningful. This is truly beautiful, but not much about fairies. It's more about a girl making a tough decision. Her friends struggle with the decision too, after the fact because she keeps it secret from them until it's all over.

This touched my soul and my heart. Most people know someone who has died of lung cancer. While I was reading this I felt an ache for the loss of friends and loved ones who have passed on from that horrible disease.

This is a beautiful fairy tale. I love the way it made me feel. Mimosa has a good heart and finds a way to make a big difference in the world. I liked learning in the end what happens to Alexandra in the future. We get a small preview of some of the events in her life after she gives up her fairy spirit. I think this would be a great book for any child to read. It will let them know they are important to the world and it might help them make good life decisions.

I knew this book was going to have a serious theme. (Along with the fairy mission to save the nymph and the River of Wisdom, Mimosa wants to help her mother quit smoking.)
I thought this was going to be an anti-smoking book but it is not. It is not judgmental of smokers. The writer of this book makes it very clear that Mimosa's mother wants to quit smoking very badly and would probably avail herself of a magical solution if she knew one was available. I am pleased with the tone of this book is not judgmental, but it might have been a good thing for a stronger anti-smoking message to be placed into this book. This is just my opinon.

This book has a lot to say. I don't think it's a simple fairy tale, not that many fairy tales are, but this definitely takes on a serious subject -- that of smoking. The title character takes on a challenge -- that of figuring out what she can do to help her mother quit smoking. Most people would probably agree Mimosa's mother should figure this out on her own. I think kids often feel helpless when they see adults struggle with problems like this. This book doesn't say that kids can solve their parent's problems. I think it more says that they can help in ways they might not have imagined and that they do have a say-so in things like this and that they can and should get involved. I applaud Mimosa for getting involved. Though we can't employ her solution to the problem of smoking addiction, there might be other ways we can help people who struggle with this if we are creative and willing to get involved.

Mimosa's real name is Alexandra Hastings. Her spirit is from a mimosa tree blossom and she smells like peaches. She carries a feather from an emu for her wand and her fairy gift has to do with caring and sensitivity. However...we discover that she has a few human gifts that come into play as the story progresses.

Madam Toad, leader of the fairies, makes two kinds of appearances in this story. When Mimosa breaks the fairy rules, Madam Toad meets with Alexandra in regular woman form to counsel her on the rules and consequences. Later in the book, Madam Toad chooses Mimosa to lead the mission to the River of Wisdom to rescue a nymph from the evil Spirit of Ignorance. After the fairy mission, Mimosa makes a fairy move to put a plan into action that will change her life, and her mother's, forever.

This touching story is beautifully written and is a clever mix of real-life and fantasy events. I think this proves there is magic everywhere in the world, even in everyday events and the actions of others, whether we notice these things or not. My kids and I loved this book and will be sharing it with others.

The illustrations in this book are very colorful and are full of exquisite detail. This is appealing to all readers, not just young children.

I know a lot of people who home school in the Houston area, and some of them are using the books of this series. They are good as learning tools because of the nature information in the back and the positive messages about recycling and helping others. They are also good to use as incentives because the books are so much fun to read and contain exciting activities like recipes and patterns for friendship bracelets.

It's always good to see a differant take on the beginnings of the pokemon phenomenon, and this manga is no exection. It more closely follows the game rather than the anime, and somehow, this improves it. Although it is rather un-nerving to see an intelligent 'Ash'... Definately add to your cart!

This is a very nicely done book. It's not like the original Pokémon adventure. This one follows more closely to the Red and American Blue game. Instead of Ash and Gary, Ash is called Red and Gary is called Blue. There is also a girl named Green but she comes in a later book. There is also no Jessie and James, only the Team Rocket members you see in the game. Red is also a more mature and advanced trainer than Ash and Blue is wiser than Gary. Aside all this, there are only some other slight changes and basically has the same goal as the original story and is a great book.

Pokemon is the best book I ever read in my how entire life! Because I like the creatures.

The Pokemon Adventures series is a little bit different than the original, but still is excellent. A new character (Instead of Ash) is in the book. The storyline is very good and would definitely recommend to a colleague. An overall 5 stars. Definitely worth getting!

Pokemon Adventures is probably the best vision of the concept that's sponsored by Nintendo. For the record, I recommend buying these in the graphic novel format.

This is a great series. It's a more mature story that isn't exclusively aimed at kids like the cartoon or the other comic. There are elements in these stories that will appeal to all ages. Red and Blue, instead of being a couple of abrasive children, are more like rivals should be -- with a healthy respect for one another. They work together, even help each other along at times when they know there's more at stake than their own pride.

The story takes some turns that are far darker than anything the show would ever touch, and most of the characters from the show who appear here are, such as the Gym Leaders, are, instead of silly characitures of how people behave, real characters with a passion for what they do. Misty and Brock, incidentally, kick ass. Both Red and Blue are serious about what they do, and there's a clear reason that they win as many fights as they do, not just the "Ash is the main character, so of course he wins" mentality the show has.

Even better, as the series progresses, there is real character growth. Over the course of the story, Red goes from being a Pokemon lover with a heart of gold to a brilliant tactician who can use his Pokemon's abilities in ways nobody can imagine.

I recommend this for anyone with a passion for good storytelling, anyone who has played the game, and anybody who thinks the Pokemon concept is interesting, regardless of whether you like the cartoon. This is the best handling of the material you will find.

I'm very picky with buying manga I'm not familiar with, and I haven't seen the entire series so I was skeptical about picking this up. But this is not a purchase that will be regretted. This excels the show in some areas. It takes its time to focus closely on the characters and their development, it stretches out few episodes to go into great deatail. Along with the terrific storytelling is the art. The art in here is superb, definetely one of the best in manga. At the end, it also has articles about evangelion from various people. The two aspects of manga, art and storytelling, are the highlights of this book, so it should defeintely be picked up.

SO far, I've read Evangelion books 1-3 and loved them all. The story is just great, action sequneeces are just so suspense full, I literally couldn't put the book down. Besides that, the art work is great. I didn't thing they couuld fit huge mechs into a comic book, but they did a great job of it. This is one of the best Manga epics I've ever read. I suggest all the books to everybody.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is far most the best manga/anime i have ever seen and read. The plot of the story gives it real life and deals with very much sci-fi and mecha. It also revolves around a world where our world could probably end up being. The characters are very vivid and interesting and my knowledge of Eva is far more than what i am writing here. If anyone would like to email feel free to!

out of all the neon genisis mangas, I like the third the best but you can't get to the third without the second. this was a realy cool book though. there was fewer battle scenes than in the first book but they were still great. shinji is more rebelius in this one, he refuses to follow misatos orders and fights the angel to the end. some cool new weponds and charactors await you as shinji takes on another dreaded angel and an angry misato afterwards. the art is incredibale and the characters are still great in NEON GENESIS EVANGELION vol.2 (p.s. the only reason I gave it 4 stars is beacause they don't have a 4 and a half star rating.)

How to do justice to Neon Genesis Evangelion? I'm not entirely sure it's possible to describe this book with words. Yes, it's a comic book--but not in the sense most Westerners will think of them, or even the style of most manga.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Japanese "Shinseki Ebangerion") was one of the most controversial manga in Japan for the very reason it's so enjoyable. Unlike most comics, which are focused on action and little else, Evangelion involves heavy character development. The story centers around the introverted, socially inept 15-year-old Shinji Ikari. He works (so to speak) for NERV, a government agency devoted to repelling the attacks of the Angels--mechanical beasts seemingly bent on destroying humanity.

With Shinji is the First Child Rei Ayanami. Together, they pilot huge robots known as Evas (short for Artificial Human Evangelion). Close to Shinji is Misato Katsuragi, his 20-something commanding officer, whom he also lives with, not having anywhere else to stay.

Do not be fooled, Evangelion doesn't skimp on the action. But where this story really shines is the characters--per traditional manga, each one has deep character flaws. But they interact somehow much more naturally than most characters in such stories seem to. Each has his or her own set of confounding problems to deal with.

This volume in particular deals with Shinji's conflicting concepts of who he is and who he is told to be, and his more outward battles both with the Angels and with schoolyard bully Toji Suzuhara. The entire feel of Evangelion is enrapturing: the world is a dark reflection of our own situation, and despite the abnormal circumstances under which Shinji exists he still manages to come across as a very human character, something which can at times be almost frightening.

I reiterate, it is difficult to put in words how compelling this manga is. Whether or not you normally look at comics, Evangelion is more than worth the time and money.

~Kei

GO to the page with the bucket full of Phallic imagery, I mean rainbows.....

I came across this book over 10 years ago and have been continually looking for it until I found it at Amazon tonight. I haven't read it since then but still I remember the playful artwork and the touching story about being happy with who you are. It's a wonderful book for children of all ages. Too bad that it is out of print. :-(

I bought this book in San Francisco and read it to my children for years. I wanted to purchase a new book as a gift for a friend's grandchild and am disappointed that it is not available new. It is such a great story about accepting yourself, a must read for parents and children.

I am sorry to see that Jasper Tomkins does not have any books to purchase, I hope they print another edition soon.

I can remembering meeting the author at a Young Authors convention 15 years ago and being impressed with books like Nimby and the Catalog.

I hope that we see more of his books in print soon.

I agree that the publisher needs to get the presses rolling again. I am 52 years old and I still love this book. I was crushed when I came to buy a copy for a friend's child and I could not get one.

I completely loved this story and did the first time I read it when it was originally published. The quality of the book sent to me was as good as if I'd bought it as a new release in a book store. Tanya Huff is an author that draws you into the world she's created with well written characters and a storyline with a completely fleshed background including religious dogma and a belief system that is believable.

I didn't think it was possible for Tanya Huff to write a book better than Fifth Quarter. Boy, was I wrong. This book was outstanding. End of story. Buy it, read it, enjoy it, read it again! The thing I like best about this book and Tanya Huff's style in general is that her characters are always well developed and very believable. And they all grow. Vree and Gyhard's relationship really develops in this book and by the end you are very satisfied. Don't, of course, read No Quarter until you've read Fifth Quarter, which is equally compelling.

Loved it, loved it, loved it. My favorite out of the Shkoder series - and the rest of the series is equally good. My only complaint - what's with the cover art? Vree looks like Pat Benetar on one of her early album covers. Normally I love this particular artist, but . . . blech.

I love the character development and the changing relationships between the characters. Tanya Huff gives us a lot of action, suspense, and different forms of love: romantic, sibling-love, friendship, and love twisted by madness & bitterness. The writing is deep without being overtly philosophical. No Quarter is a fast-paced, edgy story about Gyhard, a man without a body of his own, sharing the flesh of Vree, the woman he loves. Vree is a former assassin, pursued by her brother, who wishes them to return to the army--and who wishes to kill Gyhard. And in the middle of this turmoil, an ancient, insane murderer walks, raising the dead around him. The old man still loves Gyhard, but the only way he could get Gyhard to stay with him would be to kill Gyhard and Sing his living kigh back into his dead body...

A truly excellent read.

This book picks up almost where it's predecessor ("Fifth Quarter") left off. Vree and Gyhard have left the Empire and traveled to Shkoder in the hopes that a young and promising healer named Magda can find Gyhard a body without killing someone to claim it. If Gyhard ever kills again he will immediately come up under charges and be executed. Our initial conflict comes with with a jealous and emotionally wounded Bannon who will go through any length to steal back the life he and Vree shared up until Gov. Aralt's appearance.

"No Quarter" finally intermingles the plot lines of the characters from "Sing the Four Quarters" and those of "Fifth Quarter" as we meet a grown up Gerek and his little sister, Magda who are charged of taking care of a homesick Vree and a nervous Gyhard. Gerek has grown up to be a dashing romantic, while Magda inherited an iron will and streak of independence not uncommon in her family.

While the bards of Shkoder are marveling over Vree and Gyhard's "two kigh in one body" news comes in that points toward a reemergence of the walking dead, and therefore of Kars. Vree/Gyhard and Magda go off to finally put a stop to him, but they're not alone as Bannon and Gerek are quickly sent off to retrieve them.

All in all this book was so much fun to read! It may have used a well-worn plot line (oops we didn't kill *insert problem character here* the first time, but we'll get 'em now!), but the bits and pieces that Huff added to it to make it her own completely distance it from anything approaching banality. Huff's story is lively and engaging. I found Bannon's immature reactions in "Fifth Quarter" annoying at best, and downright painful to read at others. Luckily Vree/Gyhard are the main characters in this story, and Bannon gets to grow up a little towards the end. Huff chose wisely when she made the semi-romantic couple the lead characters for this book as they both have interesting backstories to deal with and plenty of room and need to grow as people.

The ending is a bit contrived, but the feeling of resolution it gives makes that small fact easy to overlook. I highly recommend this book as a lively, character driven fantasy novel to enjoy during a weekend read. It's best in one long sitting rather than multiple shorter ones as the sense of urgency is dimmed when you pick it up and put it down over and over.

Olivia Kidney is a first-rate kid in a first-rate book. Everyone feels lonely from time to time but Olivia's got it bad. Her father's job is working as a superintendent for apartment buildings. The problem is he's not very good at fixing things. So they're always moving. And since her mom left, things are especially hard.

Now they've moved to another new place. At her new school, Olivia hasn't made any friends AND she has to go see the school psychiatrist. It couldn't get worse, right? Wrong? When Olivia comes home, she can't find her key. Luckily a neighbor lets her into the building. But she still can't get into her apartment and that's when all the trouble really starts.

The author, Ellen Potter has done an excellent job in creating a wild ride through Olivia's adventure. The characters are fun, funny and bit freaky too. At first, I was a bit trepidacious as Olivia started adventuring from apartment to apartment. But she always landed on her feet, so I felt more comfortable as I suspended belief while Olivia met one character odder than the next. Finally all is well as - with a splash and a buzz - the story is brought full circle with a thoroughly wonderful and satisfying ending.

Olivia Kidney is an exciting book that I would recommend to kids of all ages.
Olivia Kidney is a girl that is constantly moving from apartment to apartment
because of her dad's job as a superintendent at the apartment. She meets this
woman in her apartment that has glass floors and walls, and she can see through
above, beside and below into the other rooms. Then Olivia goes to Master Clive
and he tells her a story. The story is about these ships hearing a beautiful sound.
They follow it and it turns out that its really a trap that lizards set up to kill the
people on the ship and steal all of there money. Olivia, ends up on the island of
lizards and finds the shell. Do the lizards kill her or not?
The setting in this book are very interesting. There are a lot of different
places she goes to. The first one is her new apartment. It has twenty-three floors
and she lives on the fourteenth floor. Everyone is annoyed with her because she is
too loud. The second place is Master Clive's house. She lives in a wooden, kind of
tree house thing. Its really dirty. Last but not least she ends up on the Beach. The
lizards are in charge of the beach.
This is for sure one of the funnest books I have ever read.

I thought this book was really cool and interesting because of all the scenes and problems she had faced. I thought the glass apartment was awesome i even read this book for my book repost for school and made a diarama of the glass apartment.!!! i recommened this book to any adventure lover.

Olivia Kidney


If you lost your apartment keys would you search all over for them? You probably would.
Well it all started one day when this girl named Olivia kidney lost her apartment keys at school. She had just moved into a new apartment and a new school, so as you would expect she didn't know her way around. As she was looking for her keys she ran into many strange things such as talking lizards, a rainforest apartment, ghosts that only she could see, and even an apartment made entirely of glass!!
Olivia Kidney is a shy and open girl, she is ready for anything coming her way as she is looking for her apartment keys she has to face almost death. My favorite character in this book is Olivia. She is an intelligent little girl who is on a mission and nothing can get in the way.
I would defiantly recommend this book to girls. I would also recommend this book to someone who likes adventurous, dramatic, and funny books.

Olivia Kidney is a great book about a girl that needs a friend. She has a good imagination and is a very good listener. She is able in just an ordinary everyday apartment house to use her skills and find herself in her own amazing adventures. She is like a good friend I would have if I knew her in real life! Check it out!

Maya, age 8

Many, many years ago I read this book to my former husband as a bedtime story. The book occasioned one of the few instances in which I laughed so hard I cried. Now I have a new husband and a new copy of the book. Who says you can't go back.

Okay, before you read too far into this review, keep in mind that I am only 13, and haven't read as many books as some of the other reviewers on this page, but I have read enough to know that I love this book. It's a fantasy lover's book. If you like E. Nesbit, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other books by A. A. Milne, you will certainly enjoy this book as well. With a exciting plot, and humerous but loveable characters, this book is a must have.

Okay, before you read too far into this review, keep in mind that I am only 13, and haven't read as many books as some of the other reviewers on this page, but I have read enough to know that I love this book. It's a fantasy lover's book. If you like E. Nesbit, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other books by A. A. Milne, you will certainly enjoy this book as well. With a exciting plot, and humerous but loveable characters, this book is a must have.

A.A.Milne wrote this fairytale after being in the army during WWI. the story is basically about how easy it is to get into war (and over very stupid reasons), and how no one REALLY wants to hurt every one, but they just want to look out for their own interests. The charecters are not your typical bad-vs-good and each one can be lovable in his or her own way, and there are also wonderful little stories inside the major plot line. one of the BEST books I have ever read.

This book is a wonderful story about a king, princess and an "evil" countess. The king, King Merriwig of Euralia, is in love with the Countess Belvane. Belvane has her sights set on becoming queen of Euralia. However, Princess Hyacinth is suspicious of how the countess acts. So the Princess enlists the help of Prince Udo from Araby. When Belvane finds out, she wishes for something humorous to happen to the prince on his journey - and it does! Now, Hyacinth must stop Belvane, help the prince all while keeping him from falling in love with the countess!

A. A. Milne has done it again with this story of pure fantasy. He did not write this book for children, as he states in his introduction, yet it is fun and exciting for all ages. If you need a great bedtime story, check this book out. Would you care for some light reading? "Once On A Time" is the book for you. I recommend this book with a happy heart and hope you will feel the same way too!