Fiction Books

Just great all around!!! This was one of my favorite childhood books. I will now give this one to my goddaughter to enjoy.

I am currently running a girls book club for 4th grade girls and I decided to use this book because of the positive attitude of the children in the book. I am trying to teach the girls in the book club how to analyze a book, discuss a book and to learn from a book. This book had everything I was looking for. The analysis leads to talking about attitude, taking responsibility and using your creativity!

This book is so good. It is where 12 year-old Mary, and her 10-year old sister, Jean are on a ship, and one day the ship starts to sink, and as quick as they can, the take all the babies that they had babysat while on the ship, and get into a lifeboat, but then, right before the boat sinks, their lifeboat gets accidentally thrown into the water, it is just them and 4 babies, all alone in a lifeboat with only a few odds and ends, like a tarp, jerky, canned milk, a jug of water, and some sfety pins. After 5 days of sailing in their little lifeboat, theese corageous little girls land on an island. They make shelter and look all over for food. There are ALOT more twists in the book............ but I don't want to spoil the surprises for you. you wil just have to buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did a book report on this book as a kid and really enjoyed the story. This will delight young babysitters and little girls with younger siblings! I have a sis five years younger and could relate to the hardships of these two girls who get stranded on an island with four babies. This book has a good balance of good and bad events and a great ending. The characters seem very realistic but parts of the plot are a little far-fetched and seem fictional. Either way, it's a very fun story with nothing too gross or scary. It also has a fair amount of cute, clean humor. I would say this is a good story for younger readers and those who like a lighthearted story.

Great fun!

As a young girl, I read this book over and over. Loved it! Magical. Shipwrecked on an Island with babies in their care - the girls in this story have an adventure. I was so jealous! I loved babies, still do! This book was dreamy fun.

The author, Carol R. Brink, also wrote "The Pink Motel," my other fav in the 5th grade. Have them both, and will treasure them forever. All my daughters read this, and liked it, as every little girl would.

Delightful! Buy it! thanks, Gramma Sally

"Beautiful Joe" is a wonderful story. It was given to me in the late 50's when I was about 10 years old, and I think I read it three times. It's always amazed me that so few others know of it. But it is a beautiful and enriching story especially suitable for a 9-12 year old child who loves dogs. It is very sad (and distrubing) in the beginning, however, so I would never recommend it for a young child.

I read this book countless times when I was a child in the 1950s; I was delighted to find it still in print and even more delighted to find that it is as moving and meaningful as ever. Today's children may find the language somewhat formal and will need to broaden their vocabularies, but they and their parents will find the small effort well worth it.

I love this book. Everyone should read it young or old. Beautiful Joe and the rest of the animals will touch your heart. I have never read this book without crying at the end.

I am not reviewing the edition but rather the book...and it is...of utmost excellence. Although written for its time period, it is something one can read now and enjoy...Beautiful Joe captures your heart, makes you share his opinions, memories and feelings...then leaves you wanting more.

Just thought I should say something. =)

I first read this story as a Whitman abridged edition when I was about eight years old. It was hard for me to believe that some people were so cruel to animals, but I loved the book's old-fashioned narration and of the adventures of and lessons learned by Miss Laura and her family in raising Joe. The moment I learned what the word "abridged" meant, I went looking for the complete story; it took me a long time to find this Applewood Books edition that included three of the farm chapters that were missing from the supposedly complete version I later purchased, and oddly, the Applewood edition is missing the chapter about the crow that is in some other editions. (I believe this is because the Applewood volume is a reprint of the original story and the chapter about the crow was added in a revised edition.) The story is full of memorable characters, both animal--Joe, Jim the spaniel, Billy the fox-terrier, Bella the parrot--and human--Miss Laura, Ned, Willie, Jack, and Cousin Harry. If you are tender of heart, you may find many scenes heart-rending, but it reminds us too that we have much to still work on in the area of animal cruelty.

The publicity director at Viking should be ashamed. If I had been skimming my BOMC catalogue with my usual nonchalance, I never would have noticed CITY OF THIEVES, and I would've missed one of the best books I've read this year. It should be at the top of the New York Times best-seller list.

CITY OF THIEVES starts out rather slow, with a deserter and "thief" being sent to find a dozen eggs for an NKVD colonel's daughter's wedding during the siege of Leningrad. Part of the appeal is the likeability of the two characters, seventeen-year-old chess wiz Lev Beniov and Kolya, a handsome young soldier who has been accused of deserting his army unit. They meet each other at the Crossing, a Leningrad prison.

It's the little things that make the book. Lev has a big nose and he's sensitive about it. Kolya is always writing in his journal. It's only later that we learn he's writing a novel entitled "The Courtyard Hound." He's also extremely funny. The third major character is a partisan sniper named Vika. She can shoot the eyes out of an ace of spades at a hundred meters. Of course, Lev falls in love with her almost immediately. Every good book needs a villain as well and CITY OF THIEVES is not lacking in that respect. In this instance it's Sturmbannfuhrer Abendroth who saws the feet off a prostitute who had tried to run away. He's not your one-dimensional villain either. He recognizes almost immediately that Vika is not a young boy, and that Lev, Kolya, and Vika are up to something.

Author David Benioff provides incredible detail. It's kind of hard to believe he knows this much about the siege of Leningrad. It's only in the acknowledgements that we learn he wrote the book with Harrison Salisbury's The 900 Days as his major source. Not only does Benioff know a lot about the siege of Leningrad, he also seems to be a chess expert. This is the first thriller I've read where chess plays an integral part in the climax.

I know nothing about chess and I still found the game involved to be riveting. I know one thing for sure. I'll be checking out Benioff's other novel, the 25th HOUR, which has been made into a Spike Lee movie.

Not often does a novel cover all the bases: wonderful storytelling, delicious language, well-drawn characters (both sympathetic and otherwise), and a history lesson thrown in. Difficult to watch this thoughtful tale come to an end because I was so enjoying the ride, although I actually might have preferred that the last chapter not be included--sometimes a little mystery is a good thing. On the other hand, if this really was based on the memories of the author's grandfather (as implied in the first portion of the novel), perhaps Mr. Beniov felt the rest of the story needed to be told.

Another excellent recent novel about the siege of Leningrad is "The Madonnas of Leningrad" by Debra Dean--these two will teach you more about this piece of history than you ever learned in school.

City of Thieves is a remarkable book. It is a pretty short book that has an impact beyond its page numbers.
Set in Russia during WWII during the Nazi invasion of Leningrad, the story follows a lovable Red Army soldier and a 17 year old boy who cross paths with Nazis to fulfill a strange quest. The story is by turns thoughtful as well as gruesome, heartbreaking as well as humorous.

Benioff is a gifted storyteller, with a straightforward writing style that lays it all out. The story is linear with no time jumping or other annoying literary props. The story just doesn't need them. The characters are revealed in their human imperfection with dialog that is realistic and at times very funny. The scenes are descriptive and intense. This may be a perfect novel.

Set aside some time for this book; you'll want to read it straight through to the end. A fast-moving adventure story with believable characters, it includes all of the elements that I love in a book: a backdrop of an actual time in history, excitement, danger, true friendship, love, a quest. It's a perfect book.

David Benioff's "City of Thieves" is something of a coming-of-age tale with a twist. The twist is the fact that the tale is set in the besieged city of Leningrad in January, 1941. It is a city at war surrounded by the German army. The city is under martial law but its people are starving and fighting for food and even cannibalism is the inevitable result. The two `heroes' of the story, Lev Beniov and Kolya Vlasov are each picked up by the Red Army for crimes against the state. Lev is caught looting (taking the knife from a dead German soldier). Kolya, already a soldier is picked up and accused of desertion. Both crimes are grounds for immediate execution but the two boys are thrown together and given a `secret mission' by a Red Army officer, Colonel Grechko, who agrees to release them on the condition that they steal two dozen eggs in time for his daughter's wedding. The two dozen eggs are essential to make her a wedding cake. If they fail, they will be hunted down and shot. And with that bizarre quest ringing in their ears they are let go and sent out to scour Leningrad and the surrounding countryside in a quest for enough eggs to save their lives.

I liked City of Thieves for a number of reasons. First, Benioff does an excellent job setting the story up. It begins as a narrative of his own life as a writer and then evolves into getting his grandfather Lev to tell him the story of his experience during the war. All the author knows is that "my grandfather, the knife fighter, killed two Germans before he was eighteen". The story unfolds as a narrative told to his grandson. Second, the characters of Lev and Kolya were well-drawn and engaging even if Lev and Kolya did play into a couple of stereotypes, Lev the shy, quiet, intelligent Russian of Jewish descent is scrawny, short, and horribly shy around girls and seems to be able to do no more than dream wistfully of some dreamlike romantic encounters when he gets older. Kolya is handsome, tall, athletic and an accomplished Romeo. He has, if even some of his stories are true, become quite accomplished in the art of seduction. Third, the plot is well designed and well thought out. This seemingly bizarre search for eggs takes them through the dangerous streets of Leningrad into German-occupied territory where they meet up with a local group of partisans. Each story unfolds as a self-contained vignette but each has its own climactic moment that propels the reader into the next chapter. Last, Benioff has done an excellent job in creating a historically accurate picture of Leningrad during its siege. I've read a lot of non-fiction accounts of life in Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Moscow during the early years of WWII and nothing in this novel strikes me as out of touch with life during the siege including the Colonel's request for two dozen eggs.

The outcome of the story may be thought of by some as predictable but I found the ending more than satisfying even if some of the `results' did not take me totally by surprise.

I think City of Thieves is an excellent story and well worth reading. L. Fleisig

Anyone who has ever thought about what would happen if a train and car collided will be rewarded by the compelling train-car confrontations in FAST TRACK. In addition, John DeDakis is an experienced journalist and shares his knowledge of the art as fledgling journalist Lark learns her trade. He has good lessons to share on interviewing techniques and journalistic integrity.

I received this book & decided to leave it in the car to read during carpool times. It didn't stay in the car longer than the first day. I immediately brought it in & could NOT put it down until I was finished. I can't wait to pass this on to a friend. I am most impressed with your gift of writing John! Looking forward to "Bluff"!

Fast Track by John DeDakis' seems too accomplished to be a first novel. The protagonist, Lark Chadwick, is convinced that the official ruling of suicide in her aunt's death is dead wrong. She is compelled to prove this, convincingly, by uncovering her nebulous past in a small Midwestern town. In the process, she alienates her fragile support system and antagonizes her editor and potential mentor. Her tenacity however, propels this mystery to a very satisfying conclusion. Refreshing to read and care about a deeply flawed victim--more gratifying is to champion a fearless young protagonist,warts and all. I especially enjoyed suspecting almost everyone right up to the last couple of chapters. Can't wait to read Mr. DeDakis' next project.

Captivating, interesting, and suspenseful, Fast Track is a page-turner with complex themes and detailed characters. There are so many surprises throughout the novel that I couldn't put it down. I was constantly engaged, questioning what would happen to the main protagonist, Lark Chadwick, next. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants a fun and suspenseful read combined with a very developed plot. This was a well written novel intertwined with journalistic morals and teachings. I can't wait for the next book by John DeDakis!

I am a big fan of mysteries but I usually figure out who the "bad guy" is pretty quickly. Fast Track kept me guessing on who the "bad guy" was until the very end. I was anxiously turning pages in suspense trying to figure it out. Lark, the main character, was someone you couldn't help but root for! I hope that she and Lionel, the tough "softie", reappear in future books!

This travel tale about a diminutive gal on a small wheeled folding bike in Cuba hits a home run. Lynette's brutally honest account of her feelings and course of action taken during this trek is wonderful reading. This story is something which I believe many people dream of yet few actually do. Myself included.

When I picked up this book I thought I'd get a quirky and fun read about a solo woman bike rider traveling and learning about Cuba. Well, it IS that, but it's so much more. It's about a unique woman riding a unique bicycle (Bike Friday), getting deep into the country through living with locals. At the same time, she lets the reader into her life journey, shattering expectations about what a successful Asian woman growing up in Australia should be doing with her life.

If you're adventurous, or if you've ever fantasized about getting on a bike to ride into the sunrise/sunset, or if you're simply looking for a book that you can't put down, this is the one. And guys, check it out. Her grueling bike rides--not to mention boat rides during severe storms--will impress even the toughest bikers.

I like bicycling books with a lot of bicycling in them, and there isn't all that much bicycling in this book. That notwithstanding, it's a really good book. This lady is observant and perceptive, not to mention brave and adventurous. She is also, at times, wickedly funny and doesn't spare herself when it comes to pointing out human foibles and follies. I thought I got a real flavor of Cuba from the book as well. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys real life adventure stories.

I recently rode my Bike Friday with Lynette and some 40 other "Friday" enthusiasts through the historic towns of Southern Arizona, so I was pleased to find that the personality that exudes from her every pore was clearly revealed in this entertaining, funny, bittersweet, educational account of her biking through Cuba. I can't think of a better way to spend a couple of hours (whether or not you like biking and travel) than to view Cuban everyday life through Lynette's perceptive and objective eyes. The only thing better would be to actually take a bike ride with Lynette.

In "The Handsomest Man in Cuba: An Escapade" Lynette Chiang wrote about her adventure biking in Cuba. Originally from Sydney, Lynette travelled light with a bicycle that can be folded, a tent, and a few other necessity items for travelling. It was a great way for Lynette to learn about the culture, food, and people in the country. Even though she was a foreigner with U.S. dollars, Lynette was determined not to travel the way Castro expected tourists to; paying exhorbitant amount of money for hotel or food. Most of the time, she stayed with families or friends that she people she met recommended or just if the rooms were cheap. She was able to learn a lot about Cuban families and their way of life in Cuba.

What I like most about the book is that the author was candid about her observation of Cuba, of the poverty and at the same time of the friendliness of the people. Unlike some foreigners, she did not romanticize Cuba. It was most fascinating to read about the characters she met along her journey, which I thought was definitely the highlight of her travelogue. However, I wish that the author shared more about her personal life, and what brought her to Central America in the first place. This would have made the book even more engaging than it already is. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Cuba and the Cuban people. A fantastic summer read.

read this when I was preteen, it's great and it bears re-reading as an adult. Scary, psychological drama. Lots of stuff for adults to chew on as well as kids, because of the dual (even triple) heroine structure: a child, a young woman, and a mature woman. Each character is fascinating, and so is the situation, the setting, the writing... what a great book. Now I want to read everything by Patricia Clapp.

I read this book as a child back in the 70's, and it's still one of my all-time favorites. The writing is mature enough to appeal to adults, but still on a level that an older child can easily follow.

Creepy without the gore, the slow build up of tension until the climactic ending is deftly handled and leaves you wishing you could read faster to reach the resolution.

My old copy of this book has been taped together numerous times, so I'm pleased that it has now been reissued. I plan to pass it along to my own daughter in a few years' time.

I first remember reading this book when I was eleven or twelve. I was so excited to see that it was reissued. I devoured this slim little book in an hour and it was an hour well spent, reliving the chills and thrills of this book. Patricia Clapp has a great ability to create a fabulous atmosphere that makes it easy for the visualize the story. What a wonderful book!

This book was a good as I remember! Plus, Witches Children was gripping. Also, there is a nice trubute written by Ms. Clapp's children about her. AND insight from Ms. Clapp herself of her inspirations for both of these stories and others.

I have loved this book ever since I first read it as a child. I am so happy to see it available again after so many years! I wanted it several years ago, and had to buy a used copy on eBay to get it. But now I want to buy this re-issue so I can also read Witches' Children! Since Jane-Emily is so good, anything else she wrote must also be great! I've been waiting since my childhood to see a studio make a movie-version of this story, and I can't believe that no one's ever thought of it! I'd love to see it done!

This book is really good, one of the best I have read. I recommend it along with reading the first two: The Thief and The Queen of Attolia first.

This is the first book of the series I have read. Despite the fact that it is the third one I had no trouble inserting myself into the plot. Megan Turner has done a fine job here. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an appreciation for a deep plot and well thought out and believable characters.

THE KING OF ATTOLIA marks the third book that follows Megan Whalen Turner's mischievous and dangerous hero, Eugenides, who is known to his friends as Gen. While returning readers may be disappointed that this installment is not narrated by the roguish master thief (the story is primarily told by a young guard named Costis), they will appreciate the returning cast of characters. Newcomers to the series shouldn't be too confused, though everyone should probably read this book twice to get all the political intrigue.

The book picks up with the former Thief of Eddis, Gen, now the newly crowned king of Attolia, except no one is taking him seriously, not even himself. The people of Attolia are furious with "the goat foot" who stole their beloved queen, and humiliating the king has become a national pastime. Poor Eugenides has found snakes in his bed, sand in his food, and has been attacked by the palace dogs, but isn't willing to enforce his authority. His court thinks he's an oaf and a pushover, and an unwilling king is a serious detriment as Attolia faces a war with the Mede Empire.

When Costis, a young idealistic member of the Queen's Guard, makes the mistake of showing his dislike for the king, he thinks he gets a fate worse than death; Eugenides promotes him to a lieutenant and makes him his personal guard. Though being the king's scapegoat is no easy trip, Costis soon realizes the difficulties Eugenides faces as a foreign sovereign in a hostile court. All the characters are tested in THE KING OF ATTOLIA as various forces vie for political power.

This book was a joy to read. Megan Whalen Turner gives the reader rich descriptions of both the sumptuous Attolian palace and its many inhabitants. The novel seems even more plot-based than her previous two books. It twists and turns around the topics of espionage, assassination, and diplomacy. While a reader can still make sense of the story without reading THE THIEF or THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA, this book is a special treat for returning fans. One of the surprising things for me was how the wonderfully charismatic and clever Gen is transformed into a clumsy idiot under the prejudiced eyes of Costis. Turner hints at the drawbacks of underestimating people without being moralistic. I have waited over six years to read this novel and I'm delighted that it leaves plenty of room for future stories.

Reviewed by: Natalie Tsang

This book is a modern classic to be treasured! It is fantasy, but seems almost to take place in Greece in an alternate world, which i believe is what the author intended. The characters are so rich and likable: Costis with his serious dedication to his country, Eugenides (known earlier as Gen) with his love for both making mischief and the queen, Attolia (also known as Irene) with her sharp tongue and clever hindsight, and too many others to mention. The relationships between the characters are also fascinating. In my opinion, it is the best of the three books, and while, however, it *could* stand alone, i tried reading it about three times without getting into it, but when i read The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, i immediately was absorbed into this book.

No one said marriage is easy. The one between Eugenides, the spy/thief of Eddis and his sworn enemy the queen of Attolia seemed doomed from the start, a marriage of political convenience, imposed on Attolia by its rival kingdom. For how could the thief possibly love the queen responsible for the loss of his hand?

But Eugenides is anything but predictable and has married the queen for love, even if by doing so he must leave his beloved Eddis behind.

As the third book in this excellent series starts, Eugenides is stranded in the Attolian palace. Ridiculed by the Attolian courtesans, despised by the Queen guards and his own attendants, he endures their daily pranks, pretending to be a guileless idiot while weaving a web of intrigue to gain his queen's heart and bring his enemies to their knees. If only he lives long enough.

Cleverly plotted and beautiful written, the story moves at a fast pace to a satisfying conclusion that answers many questions while posing new ones,

Is the Queen pregnant as her fainting may suggest?
Where is Sophos, the heir of Sounis? Would he marry the Queen of Eddis?
Would the political situation in a not distant future set Eugenides against his cousin, the queen of Eddis?

The only thing I know for sure is that I'm impatiently waiting for the King's return.

This book reminds us of how quickly our children grow and how soon they will soon be gone. As the mother of a 15 and a 11 year old, I was reminded of precious memories of days gone by and saddened by the glimpses of what is yet to come in my future as a mother. I was made aware of this book because it was given as a gift at a baby shower and after reading it, it is the perfect gift for new mammas. The book made such an impact that as soon as I got home from the baby shower I got online and ordered it. This comes highly recommended.

This book is a poem, which we originally found in one of Karen Kingsbury's novels. The mother in the story read the poem to her son, on the occasion of his wedding. While she recognizes all the "firsts" in his life, she also notes that there were many "lasts," such as the last bottle she fed him, the last time she tied his shoes, the last time she drove him to school...if she had known that it was the last time she rocked him to sleep, she would have "held him longer." When we learned that the poem had been published as a separate book, my wife gave it to our son for his graduation from high school. What a moving moment when they read it together. We have since started giving the book as baby shower gifts to friends, as a reminder to savor all the "lasts" in their little ones' lives.

Anything Karen Kingsbury writes is incredible. I recently gave this book to a mom whose son was graduating from high school. She loved it so much that she keeps it on her coffee table for everyone to read. I also gave it to a mom whose son just turned 5. She, too loved the message of treasuring your child's every moment--their firsts and their lasts. This book is more for moms rather than the children.

I got this book for myself last year before the birth of my second child. The story has more meaning to a second time mom. This time I got two copies for friends who are expecting their second babies.

If you're looking for a sentimental read, then this book is for you! I gave this book to a couple of my close friends for Mother's Day and everyone loved it and even admitted to crying while reading it. It's defintely a tearjerker. After reading it you will want to go and find your children and give them a hug and hold them close. I highly recommend it.

Never thought I'd find this book again. It's in wonderful condition, and a great addition to my classic book collection.

Yes, I too first saw this book in the school library! I was in the sixth grade....and the school was SO over-crowded that my class had its classroom IN the library! THE LOST QUEEN OF EGYPT is a truly magical book...from seeing the beckoning title, onwards!

The book has many illustrations....always welcome in any book, even one for adults....but especially one for teens and pre-teens, as is this book.
The colour front-plate of "Queen Anksenamon", on shiny paper, is from another book, "Great Ones of Ancient Egypt". It is a painting in the modern style, as if the queen were sitting for it today. In her ancient Egyptian robes and wig, the queen's portrait is three-dimensional, very realistic, charming, and totally regal. Yet, one can easily sense the real person beneath the royal robes. This queen has many problems, which are deliniated in this fictionalized (?) life-story.

Starting when Princess Anksenpaaten, second daughter of the fabled Pharaoh, Aknaton, is just a girl, the book tells of her childhood, her parents, her grandmother, Queen Ti, her cousin, Princess Baketaton, her 6 sisters, her cousins Samenkarah and Tutankaton, and various soldiers, (including the general Horemheb, later himself to become Pharaoh), the evil, and wily counsellor, Ay -- and Kenofer, a young artist from Crete. In delineating Ankenspaaton's story, which unfolds amidst a background of royal luxury, and a family that truly does love one another, a tale of palace intrigue and danger unfolds, filled with friendship, tragedy, terror, and suspense!

Helping the story along are the marvelously wonderful black and white line illustrations...all done in the manner of the ancient Egyptians...that is, showing people mostly in profile, and in stylized poses. But these poses are still realistic, and one is enchanted with their artistry and believability.......

All in all, this is an entrancing, involving, exciting book, filled with historic, true-to-life characters that come to life before the reader's eyes. Coming to life too is the historical setting and atmosphere. Gripping with its suspense, and breath-taking in it's tragedy and romance, this book is a true classic which, one hopes, will endure in the hearts of its readers, (and in successive printings!), for as many generations as Ancient Egypt itself did!

I can't believe there are so many of us who have read this book. I took fell in love with this book during my 6th grade year in 1987. I found it in my school library at the time and ever since I read it I have been facinated by anything Egyptian. I even wanted to be a history teacher for awhile because of it. Now with my own 11 yr old 6th grader, I too would love to get my hands on this book for her. Here's hoping I can find one...

Excellent, excellent book with the perfect amount of detail. Truly pulls you in and makes you "see" Ancient Egypt with the characters.

Loved it!

I can't believe it! There must be thousands of us who read this book as a kid and fell in love with ancient Egypt. I thought I was the only one. This book had such an impact on my life. Because of it I spent countless hours reading and researching the 18th dynasty of ancient Egypt. Most of my research papers in school were devoted to some aspect of Egyptian life of that time. I even wanted to be an archeologist when I grew up - until I realized that it involved dirt, heat, humidity and sweat! But this book started me on my love of history and ancient times. How I wish they would reissue the book so young people today could read it and so I could get a copy of it without spending $100!

I smiled as I read these reviews; I, too, searched for years for a copy of this book, and I, too, thought I was the only person smitten with this book 40 years ago. Like many before me, I was drawn to archaeology solely due to this book. Highly recommended for junior and high school girls--it truly makes history come alive!

As a children's book author it's always a daunting task to think like a child. 'Not a Box' is a take on the children's imagination. I think just about everyone played with boxes as a child. The pure imaginations could turn a simple box into anything they want it to be. I smiled reading this book reminiscing that there was a time when a box was not just a box. I remember when I was young; our family bought a new refrigerator that came in a gigantic box. That box was the greatest thing ever. It's also sad that as the life becomes complex a simple box becomes nothing more than a box.

It's hard to add anything else to these reviews, but let me just say that my daughter absolutely loved this book and reads it over and over and over again. She loves shouting, "It's not a box!" and calling out what it really is.

I bought four books for my four granddaughters, and reports are that this one is their favorite, even though the others are fine and one is a major prizewinner.
These are little girls aged 3-4 years. I think that a good kid-rating is worth a lot, so wanted to pass it on!

This is a fantastic book. My son loves it when we make sound effects and wants to read it over and over. I'm hoping it'll help teach him to play pretend. A must have.

I loved this book. I read it to four and five year-olds. Then let them play with a big box from a dishwasher. They play with that box all the time. A great way to jump start the imagination.