Children's Space Books Books

I found this book every enjoyable, It's in two parts, which comes in the one book. It's differnet to the Disney movie in regards to the adventure, but the rest is more or less the same, the bed and her falling of the broom.
If you read any other of Mary Norton's books, she wrote 'The Borrowers' then you will love this.

this is the worst book i've ever read it should be burned

Those witchy types can certainly come in handy when you are a kid. Although a flying bed has a bit of a problem with the cool factor, I suppose. However, if you are using it to travel to remote places, islands, or even to go back in time, then style is not foremost in your considerations.

An entertaining kids adventure.

as you know, i am a BIG Disney fan, BUT this book is so much better than the movie - can't tell you, you must read it! the wonder and excitement and the MAGIC. oh how i loved those innocent days of youth, i used to read books like this for hours, lost in imagination. great book, and when reading try not to think of Angela Landsbury...

Once I saw the Bedknobs and Broomsticks movie I wanted to read the book. At once I fell in love that Ms. Price, prim and proper, is a witch. I recommend this book to anyone who likes witches, magic, adventure and flying beds.

This book is great. I loved it. It's about a boy who gets a radio in his teeth and he recives radio tranmisions from space!!!! Read this book to find out what happends to the boy. I recomend this book to anyone who likes children books.

Shortly after discovering such classics as Alan Mendelsohn: Boy From Mars and Lizard Music, I read Fat Men From Space. When I first picked it up, I was a bit disappointed, it seeming to be a book aimed toward children younger than me (I was twelve at the time). But I LOVED it! At several times I was laughing out loud! A short summary: a young boy, William, somehow gets radio transmissions in his tooth filling! He hears about space men coming, and no one is prepared when it actually happens....

Pinkwater's humor is out of this world! I have read this to my younger sister, my mom, and the kids I baby-sit for, and they all LOVE it! This is recommended to ANYONE who needs a good laugh!

This book was really boring and childish. It was a real disappontment to me because I know Mr.Pinkwater can do a much much better job writing than he did in this book. I wouldn't really recommend this to readers, unless they are younng and really love corny books like this one.

When William went to the dentist for a filling, he had no idea that it would be able to pick up radio broadcasts!! Wow! A radio tooth! You can imagine the fun tricks William could play on his family, friends and teacher with a radio in his tooth (sorry, you’ll have to read the book to find out what those tricks ARE!)

However, one day, when William tries to use a chain link fence as an antenna, he gets a shock which “changes the channel” on his radio tooth, and he discovers that he can tune in radio transmissions from space!! Soon, he’s abducted by large men in bad suits and terrible ties who plan to invade earth!! What’s a boy to do??

Mr. Pinkwater has been a very popular children’s author with many of his books from the 1970’s still in print today. One of my childhood favorites was “The Big Orange Splot”. While other authors from that time period have had their books slowly fade away, Mr. Pinkwater’s are still around and attracting new readers. Perhaps one of the main reasons is because his books are genuinely funny and witty. There’s plenty of silly humor for the young, beginning reader, and also plenty of subtle plays on words that will amuse the more advanced reader (or the parent reading with their child!!).

Generally I love Mr. Pinkwater’s stories, but “Fat Men from Space” isn’t one of his best. It starts off fine and laugh-out-loud funny, but about halfway through the book the plot goes into high gear and the reader starts to feel a bit gypped: events that you would assume would take a few days to happen are over and done with in about 3 or 4 paragraphs. Descriptions loose their tangy zingers of absurdity and it feels like Mr. Pinkwater was in a rush to finish the book before a deadline or something. The ending is also a bit weak, making the book feel like it was left open-ended for a sequel that never came.

If you’re a diehard Pinkwater fan, then read the book by all means!! If you have a beginning-to-intermediate reader who is looking for an easy-to-read book that will keep ‘em laughing, this is a good choice. The language is easy to read and the pace is fast enough that even a beginning reader can probably finish it in one or two sittings. This will encourage them to read more and show that reading doesn’t have to be dry and booooring.

However, for the more intermediate to advanced reader, “Fat Men…” may be disappointing *because* of it’s fast pace. For them, I would recommend “Lizard Music” by Mr. Pinkwater.

Not bad, still a lot of fun, but I would have expected just a bit more from Mr. P.

I've been a reader of Daniel Pinkwater's books since grade school, and even enjoy reading them today. Along with `The Magic Moscow', this particular tale is one of the most memorable for me. Like just about all of the author's kiddie tomes, `Fat Men From Space' has no shortage of strange & bizarre yet lighthearted and gently humorous characters & situations.

What makes this particular story interesting is that there's no actual hero or heroes who save the day in the end. The main character, a boy whose new tooth filling picks up the aliens' radio transmissions, is merely a helpless witness to all of the unfortunate (yet strangely silly) goings-on. Fortunately, outside events play a part in the rotund ETs prematurely concluding their invasion, and the story ends on an upbeat & slightly sappy note.

Unfortunately, some folks might nowadays see this book's titular antagonists as being somewhat un-PC. You know, that whole `FAT Men..." thing and such. Well, all I can say about it is this: if you've ever seen a picture of the author, you might be a little less squeamish about his use of the word "fat", `cause he's a fairly hefty guy himself. The way I see it: if he can deal with it, so can the reader.

One more thing: `Fat Men From Space' is followed up by `Slaves of Spiegel', which I also recommend you take a look at. It too has plenty of the Pinkwater trademarks of silly situations and lighthearted & whimsical humor.

`Late

Narrator John McDonough
When you hear John McDonough's deep, growly voice, it seems immediately familiar.
Listeners are drawn to the rich, warm tones of this veteran actor and singer.
From Broadway to television and film, and from voice-overs to opera, McDonough's career encompasses the full gamut of acting experience.
He has appeared with the Hartford Symphony and with the Glimmerglass Opera Company, and he is the Fox Family Channel's The All New Captain Kangaroo.
As a narrator for Recorded Books, he has received wonderful reviews.
Kliatt says,
"MCDONOUGH'S NARRATION IS RICH AND FULL OF FEELING FOR THE CHARACTERS."

[from the back cover of case]

While the Freddy series on the whole is fantastic, this one was disappointing. None of the out-loud laughs you get from a title like FREDDY GOES TO FLORIDA. Definitely don't start with this one if you're new to Freddy, or you might not try another. This plot felt thrown together. Not representative of the fine quality of this author's other work.

Freddy gets invited to go on a space ship to mars. The ship land in the big woods but Freddy and the others don't know. She how they treat the "other planet" HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

While not the best of the stories about Freddy the Pig, this novel is one of the better ones, coming at the end of the middle cycle. The first few books, while entertaining, were before Brooks really reached his stride as a writer, and shortly after this book he was coming down from his peak. Besides exploring outer space with several friends, Freddy must also help save the Bean family from inlaws who make a plague of locusts look like fun. Even Brooks'least Freddy book is head and shoulders above most other children's books, and most can be enjoyed by adults as well.

As a preteen I read every "Freddy the Pig" book except "The Clockwork Twins" and that only because my library couldn't find a copy of it. Reading these in order was one of the highlights of my trips to the local library. I'm delighted to see them being re-released in mass market editions. They are absolutely timeless and priceless additions to any child's collection.

A beautifully written novel by a talented new writer. I highly recommend it....especially for those who like a little mysticism
mixed into their storytelling.

This debut by Ira Sher was like nothing I've read before. It took me several pages to get into the groove of the author's writing style - he demands a close reading, choosing to pack in a sentence, say, what other writers take a paragraph or two to convey. But, the prose is gorgeous, the imagery beautiful and haunting. The book is about a boy's father who is chosen to be the first "non-astronaut" to walk on the moon. When his father goes "missing," the reaction is not exactly what you'd envision. The novel captures the lost innocence of a previous era, where America held wide-eyed wonder at man's accomplishments, yet it also foretells the squander of the crass and shallow emotionalism and misguided intentions of today's frenzied media exploitations. The novel is not for everyone: I would definitely classify it as "post-modern", for the ending is anything but tidy, but that is, perhaps, exactly what the author intended.

It's a taunting mystery. It's an ode to disillusionment. It's a heart-breaking story of a father lost and a son discovered. It's a thinking man's history of a country stretched to its limits with the exploration of space and the exploitation of the soul. It's an intense, poetic deconstruction of the spirituality of humankind.

Is it challenging? Yes.

Is it worth the effort? Beyond a doubt.

This book will forever change your inner voice, and inspire you to live a smarter, more thoughtful existence.

I bought this book looking for a whimsical journey. That's not what I found. It's a good idea, even a great idea. A boy's father is chosen to represent `the common man' on a trip to the moon. As a teacher turned astronaut, he goes from being a drab middle-aged man to a national hero who inspires hundreds to camp out on his front lawn for a glimpse of him or his family. But then the shattering news comes that the father is lost on the moon. Is he lost, though, or has he escaped a scandle that surely awaits him at home?
Great idea? Yes. Sure!
But the book is wildly overwritten. I love lyrical prose but this was too much. Sher loses the reader (OK, at least he lost me on many an occasion) by drifting off into some unnecessary wordplay. I'm reminded of those long, boring drum solos at concerts -- you know, the ones that are only entertaining to the guy doing the drumming and not to the people who have to listen to it.
The story becomes too thick. I felt like Sher lost control of the story. And the ending is an unraveled mess. It doesn't leave me anywhere. Oh, but he's sure to leave you with some wordplay... that left me holding onto nothing at all.

What a great surprise it was to pick up Ira Sher's book - after reading a great review in Time Out - to find a novelist with such wisdom and compassion and instinct for storytelling. The way he recreates the mood and mindset of a surburban family in the 70s is so impressive. There is a great narrative kick toward the end of the book that calls everything you've read into question and - though it will surely confuse some - if read carefully it illuminates great meaning as well as a the mind of a great novelist. Can't wait to read what he does next.

This is a wonderfully illustrated book with truly artful and exciting pictures. And the story, though silly on the surface, is a subtle statement towards the importance of taking care of our world. My son first found this book at the library and refused to let me return it. After several renewals, we finally purchased the book. Jan Brett's book is a treasure.

At first reading, I thought this story was very awkward and did not make much sense. My daughter, however, loves it so much that we've read it every night for almost 3 weeks. We've poured over the pictures and Planet Mikkop is now a favorite place in her imaginary world. I recommend this book, even with it's clumsiness, simply because it has captured my daughter's attention like few books have - and we read a lot!

Is anyone better than Jan Brett? No. Jan Brett is awesome. Her illustrations are over-the-top great. Unmatched. Superb. In this book, Hedgie (of _Hedgie's Surprise_) returns to go on an outer space adventure. The story isn't exactly Moby Dick, friends, but who cares? The hedgehog gets to go to space and everyone learns a fine lesson about not throwing things in fountains. My favorite thing about the illustrations in this one is how all the scientists are dogs, all the reporters are birds... and how these species take on their roles without anyone mentioning it or noticing it. I just love that -- it reminds me of her _Comet's Nine Lives_ which I really liked. This book is very cute. The kids love it.

I was delighted to find a Jan Brett book for my nieces that I had not seen before. I am a big fan of her illustrations and love it when her sidebar illustrations tell a mini story that even the youngest reader can follow. They are so much fun to read to children.

I am also a lover of hedgehogs and collect her books that feature them just for the illustrations. I hate to give her a rating of less than 5.

However, this story was very poorly thought out. It didn't seem to make a lot of sense. The five-year old I was reading to, who is normally quite engaged in books, sat there with her eyes glazed over and her three-year-old sister actually ran off. Their mother and I were almost embarassed to be presenting this story to them. Next time we'll just make up a story to go with the pictures. If there is a next time...

I love Jan Brett, but she should stick to what she does best and get some help with the writing!

Hedgie Blasts off is a cute book about Hedgie the hedgehog, whose greatest dream is becoming an Astronaut. Currently Hediei works on the clean-up crew for Star Lab (run by a dog Professor who is in charge of Outer Space no less). As we join the story The Professor is telling Hedgie to call in all the scientists, they've got a problem with the Big Sparkler and they MUST do something about it right away! The scientist work and work and build a Rescue Robot to send out to fix the problem...but come the day of the launch Rescue Robot seems to have probed too soon (winding up in the storage closet). It's up to Hedgie to save the day and travel out to the Big Sparkler and assess the problem. Will he be able to determine what's happened to make the Big Sparkler stop working? You'll have to read to find out!

Overall, this is a charming little story about never giving up on your dreams because they may come true in unexpected and unusual ways! This cute little tale is enhanced greatly by the vivid and colorful artwork that will give kids something extra to do...as it's so rich and full of detail that readers will want to pause and really get a good look at all the detail before moving on to the next page! I give it five stars, this is an excellent story book for young readers and would make a fine read aloud for ages 0-4 and an excellent beginner book for your budding reader (ages 4-6). Kids over age 6 will probably be enthralled by the art, but the story will probably not be of much interest to them.

My 17 month old likes to focus on the interesting pictures in this book. He is are also learning to identify the colors when I point to the color circles, but right now, my son is most interesting in staring at the pictures. I was surprised to learn that the book has no story---but we get creative with making our own stories to match the pictures. Nice book.

and they're luscious! This is the book that first awakened my daughter (at 19 months old) to speaking about color. But regardless of color concepts, I would have wanted to share these photographs, which make me love things like a broken umbrella in a trash can. It's art for toddlers: She was absorbed.

Any book of color photographs runs a very great risk of being dated. Color photographs fade so easily, and styles change so quickly that this book could easily be shunted into the realm of forgotten children's literature. But take a look at it, even once, and your perceptions will change instantly. This book is about color. And its photographs fairly throb with life and vitality, the like of which you'll have great difficulty finding in any kids books published today.

The book begins with a key. Red, yellow, blue, orange, green, and purple are arranged next to corresponding circles of the same color. As you flip through the book, these circles appear at the bottom of the page, indicating what colors can be found in each individual picture. As the kids go through the book, they can flip back to the key at the front to determine what the name of each color is. As they use this book, they will learn their colors, and eventually be able to use the text without constant flipping backwards and forwards.

And the photographs? As an artist who has shown her works in the MOMA, Toban's photos are best described on the back of the book as, "an artistic statement as well as an introduction to reality". The shots are of city scenes, brimming with color and action. The children caught in these pictures are multi-ethnic, playing and running and posing. Regardless of where a child lives, this book will inspire any kid who has ever wanted a look at a beautiful multi-colored America. You could do worse than to buy this book for your kids. And you could certainly do no better.

I would not highly recommend this book, has colors but not enough pages, not worth the price.

See other review on book with Fruit, Alphabet and Color - that is a better book.

I've used this book in my early childhood art classes. The children love to find the items in the photographs that match the colored circles on the bottom of each page. With few words and many visual surprises, this book, as with so many of this author's works, helps us to become more visually aware of our surroundings. I highly recommend Tana Hoban's concept books to parents, early childhood educators, and all who delight in re-discovering the familiar. Her photography skills, powers of observation, and visual wit help us to see the world anew!

I was not very sure about ANOTHER Star Wars comic series, so I started off buying individual issues, but after 3 or 4, I knew I had to get the TPB collection.

The art in this series is top notch. Sometimes only the main characters are given lots of detail, but here you won't find a better drawn Vader or clones in battle. The ships are very intricately drawn, and we are introduced to a wide variety of characters.

The plot suffers a little at the end...it almost seemed rushed, but in a way that's good. I was beginning to wonder how long they could run after Bomo's family. The plot, however, is just a means to an end to develop Jennir's character and move him through difficult choices. I think the choice he makes at the end is a noble one, when terms like "sacrifice" are applied.

I cannot wait until the next collection comes out! I HAD to pick up Issue #6 if only for the cover...Master K'Kruhk in action!

This graphic is way better than that book which was written about Vader "sith lord whatever." The focus is mostly on Dass and Bono, but the couple of scenes with Palpatine and Vader are very insightful. But overall you will find this book depressing and maybe in need of some lexapro afterwords.

While this is a good story and all, I just felt that it could have been a lot better. I've got a lot of hope for the series, but this story arc was just a little too depressing for me. Also, I'm not the hugest fan of the art.

However, it's a decent read and worth taking a glance at. I recommend it.

The idea for this series is exceptional: chronicle the adventures of one of the last remaining Jedi during one of the darkest times in the Star Wars universe. Add in well-known personalities like Darth Vader, force the characters to make tough moral choices, and mix in a few interesting aliens - the results of this recipe, one would assume, would be spectacular.

The Path to Nowhere, however, is significantly lacking. Poor dialogue, stereotypical characters, an almost complete lack of backgrounds, and implausible decisions/outcomes turn what could have been an impressive story into a one-dimensional tale. The conversations seem like they were written by a ten year old, and include lines that could easily have been plagiarized from an old B-movie. The clichés become painful after a few pages, and the villains seem motivated only by the story's need to have antagonists rather than any sort of realistic backstory (one of the villains LITERALLY says that his motivation for his evil deeds is "Because I COULD.").

The Path to Nowhere does have its fine points - the primary one being the artwork. Artist Douglas H. Wheatley and colorist Ronda Pattison do an amazing job turning a poorly-written story into something brilliant to behold. To use a cliché, they bring the Star Wars universe to life. Numerous sections of the book have cinematic qualities worthy of the movies, and make this graphic novel worth experiencing.

In short: The Path to Nowhere is a flawed Star Wars graphic novel. I'd recommend those new to the Star Wars comic experience start with another book (such as one from the Legacy series); veterans looking for a fix, however, may be able to find it here.

Note: Dark Times - Path to Nowhere contains issues one through five of the Dark Times comic book series. The series began its run in October of 2006.

The Dark Horse line of Star Wars comics seems, at times, glutted with new ideas. Some are very good, and some -- for reasons of concept, execution or, in a few cases, both -- really should have been left on the reject pile.

The latest series, Dark Times, falls solidly in the "win" column. The first volume, The Path to Nowhere, sets readers up for a fascinating storyline at an era only slightly explored in existing Star Wars fiction.

Anakin Skywalker has fallen to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader -- but the Rebellion described in the original trilogy of films is still many years in his future. Now, for all his brooding menace and power, Vader is still an unsure apprentice learning the ways of his master, Emperor Palpatine. And, with fragments of Skywalker's conscience still struggling in his mind, Vader is not sure his master always acts with the best interests of the Empire at heart.

The Path to Nowhere is bold storytelling that doesn't flinch from taking a dark turn in its plot. Some of Vader's secret thoughts may surprise readers; some of Jannir's actions certainly will. With a strong story supported by Douglas Wheatley's excellent artwork, Dark Times can consider me hooked.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(net) editor

Voices after Midnight was the first Richard Peck book I read and out of the ones I have read so far it is the best. I read this first as a kid then again as an adult and I never stopped liking it. The different characters weave in and out of time till they get to the right time and accomplish what they need to do. Also if you like this book I think you might also like Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn.

This book is about to Brothers. They move to NY and their family rents a town house in New york. Once there he hears voices- late at night, after midnight in this stange house thats at least one hundred years old. As they explore the house, the begin to slip in and out of their own time, back to the winter of 1888...............

I would recoment this book this book for young kids at the ages of 11-14 i think it is a good book because it is adventurous and exciting to read

I think that is a good book to read because it is about adventure and science fiction.
It keeps you interested because you don't know what is going to happen until the end. I would
recommend that people read this book because if they like science fiction they will like this
book.

This book was one of the worst books I ever read! But the thing I don't like about it is that it's a girl book thing. What this book is about is there are two brothers (Chad, Luke) and an older sister (Heidi). They and their family decide to have a vacation in NY. When they get to NY, they rent a 100 year old townhouse. Chad and Luke hear voices when it is time to go to bed. Soon the two brothers find out that they are hearing sounds of people that are dead. Then one day they find some old clothes, put them on and they can go or see into the past. Then they save these two people named Tyler and Emily who died in 1888 because of a blizzard. Then the kids help Tyler and Emily survive the blizzard from the past. All the stuff about dance, balls, and weddings is sooo girl!

In "Voices After Midnight" Chad,Luke,their older sister Heidi,parents and family dog Al take a vaction from California to New York City. When they arrive there Chad and Luke are hearing voices late into the night-after midnight.This house is a least one hundred years old, are they hearing voices from the past? Heidi is acting stranger by the second, is it becuase of her mom's friends daughter Jocelyn? Or something else? Now everytime Chad and Luke open doors slowly they go back to the past-to 1888, or 1929 or just a couple weeks ago. Soon they start to see the Dunlaps people that lived there over one hundred years ago. Chad is starting to think his brother is right, mabey they do have a gift or better yet a mission. Can Chad and Luke change the past to save the Dunlaps from the bizzard of 1888? When they go to a New Year's Eve party at a very rich family's manor they find their sister-Heidi waltzing with non other than Tyler Dunlap. Then they find out that she is also living in his old bedroom. Tyler can't seem to take his eyes off of her-but he's also asking questions she can't answer. Heidi makes the owners of the house daughter VERY angery at Tyler for waltzing with someone other than her. Luke and Chad are very suprised that Heidi of all people has the gift to travle in time. They're soon to find out that if you're wearing clothes from the past you're visible. Tyler has a younger sister the same age as Chad -Emily, and Chad has a little crush himself. Can Chad,Luke,and Heidi save Emily,and Tyler from freezing in the blizzard of 1888?

The version I have is also called The Doll. My ten-year-old daughter and I both thought it was wonderful. My daughter spent one day of her summer vacation to read it beginning to end. It gives a beautiful picture of history while also dealing with family issues and the importance of family. I would recommend it to anyone.

I first read this book when i was in gradeschool, now i am 26 and still want to read it now and again with my children. Kids will love it especially young girls.

My book is called The Doll,not Yesterdays Doll,but it is the same book.At first it draws you in,but soon it drags and is sooo boring.I can imagine many kids groaning and putting it aside and saying this is boring.Meg has a magical doll that sends her into the past as someone else.Like it said,it gets very dragging.

Yesterdays Doll was a very good book. It was about a girl who is sick at a relative's house and goes to sleep with a old doll in her arms. She wakes up to be in the past. It had a sad ending, but was very interesting.

I read it when I was in fourth grade and it was wonderful. What apity the school library threw it away. I know this because two years ago I looked for it and it was gone. I say bring it back into print!

My grandson is 8 and really enjoys me reading these stories to him at bedtime. I can read the same story over and over and it is different each time. He just drifts off to sleep as I read to him. I also bought a set of these books for his class at school and the teachers and boys in the class love them. He is in a class of 6 boys of different grade levels, from 2nd through 5th grade. Each on of them enjoys these books.

I first bought one of the Choose your own adventure books over 20 years ago for my oldest son. Through the years, I have found these to be a book that makes your boys decide they like to read. I bought these latest sets for my grandson and my nephew and they love them. I would highly recommend these books. The kids find themselves wanting to go
back and choose different endings and it becomes a whole new book!

If you are new to choose your own adventure, I recommend starting with
these 4. They are the first in the new series, and are all individual
books. I am pretty sure they are all reprints, and the art is definitely
new, but they are a great place to start as they cover a wide range of
topics. The bottom line is kids will eat these books up, not just because
they are about great topics, with fun art and very well written but
because they get to choose. They get to pick where they go, what they do,
and all they while they are reading. A warning though, buy this box set
and you might have to by the next.

Choose Your Own Adventure collections have always been a part of the series, and carrying on that tradition is this collection of the first four books in the newly republished series.

If this is your first trip into CYOA, or are a long time fan coming back, this is collection has a lot to offer. The first four are a nice mix of adventure, mystery, and sci-fi and you get a good feel for the writing of author R.A. Montgomery. The stories have been updated for the times, which is to say the "You" character now has cell phones, GPS and the like. The art has also been redone, but continues to be of excellent quality and pertinent to the choices. Those choices, however, are still the same. They are yours.

There are also collection of 5-8 and 8-12. Six book collections are available as well, but if you are looking to get a started in choosing your own adventure, this collection is a great way to start.

Finally, on a personal note, its great to see the series back!

Don't buy this set expecting a reprinting of the original 1978-1982 Choose Your Own Adventure books. The text has been revised, though the revisions are serviceable enough; but what's worse is that all of the illustrations have been replaced with hideously bad cartoons. Words cannot even express how amateurish and badly drawn these cartoons are, with no sense of proportion, anatomy, lighting, or composition; some appear smudged or to have eraser marks on them, and others have no relevance to the text they are accompanying. And since they're on nearly every page, it's impossible to ignore them.

The exception is The Abominable Snowman, where the pictures are of much better quality (though still not exactly compelling--it seems that the illustrators only read the first two sentences of each page before illustrating it, so that an ending in which the protagonist is killed by a tiger is illustrated by a picture of him slapping mosquitos, for example, because that's what he was doing in the first sentence of the passage.)

Buy used copies of the original books, or choose something else to read. "The Abominable Snowman" is the only one of the set I intend to keep.