Schools Books

Here's another book that I purchased because I loved the cover art. (I wish we had a poster with that illustration on it!) There is something very cheerful about the smiling Sun and a ring of happy animals celebrating it. This is a beautiful, "feel good" book inside and out, in both text and illustration, in message. I was surprised to discover that the back cover had a recipe for Sun Bread, which I am tempted to try--even with my limited cooking abilities! LOL I thought the recipe note was brilliant and ever so funny: "This bread, alas, won't make you fly. But it is heavenly--light and high!" Could happiness be as simple as a warm loaf of good bread? :D

I like the book's message on how one really should take responsibility for one's own happiness as the little baker does in this tale. This book is worth sharing and reading aloud.

I have become a huge fan of Elisa Kleven's work, and I recommend this book as a remedy for rain and / or wintry days, for family time, and for in-school story time. Another great story is "The Lion and the Little Red Bird."

This is just a charming book. the art is amazing, there is so much to see, so much to discover on each page. And the recipe on the back makes a WONDERFUL loaf of bread (or circle of bread really! LOL)

This is another book we origanlly borrowed from the library and HAD TO HAVE for our private collection!!
Elisa Kleven is wonderful!!

i got this book from our library for my 3 yr old daughter who absolutely loves to mix flour water salt yeast and sugar for her "bread". She loves the illustrations as there are always little things to find within the pages; but not so many things that the story becomes cluttered....just nicely detailed. She also loves the story; it has a good feeling about it and leaves her feeling happy when we are done reading it. the recipe on the back cover for sun bread is a great way for child/parent/teacher, etc... to make; just to round out the lesson being taught. Excellent book and a must for your child's library and/or classroom library.

This is absolutely the best piece of children's writing I've ever read. The rhyme and meter are strong and playful. Kleven teases us with internal rhymes and alliterations. My three year old and I read this all the time.

The basic story line is that, on a cloudy day, a canine baker whips up a magic sun bread recipe that brings out the sun and everyone's joy. The book does to the reader what the bread did to the characters.

My three-year-old daughter and I made the recipe on the back cover, and I have to say it's a disappointment: dry and heavy. I'd halve the butter and maybe beat the egg whites for a lighter texture, but the idea is still great. The mold for the bread is cool too, and it looks happy in the oven.

A definite must-read-to-your-kids.

I read the book called A Time Of Angels by Karen Hesse. This is a historical fiction book.
This book is about this girl named Hannah that gets separated from her parents and has to move to her Aunts house in West Boston. After she got there she started working in a store to help her Aunt with food & clothes.
Weeks later she got the flu and got real sick. The flu had killed ten thousand people so far. After she gets her energy back. Tanta Rose and her went to try to get her family together. After month of hard work she got her family together.
I didn't like this book because it was boring. It barley had any action. If you are boring and like boring things you should you should read this book.

I got this book at a school event where we could choose one book (for free) to take home. I chose this one because I thought it sounded interesting, and although that was over a year ago I still read it. The author has a beautiful way of writing the story so that you can imagine what you would feel like in Hannah's shoes.

With all of the recent events our country has been through I believe this book should be read in classrooms everywhere. Taking place during WW2 you are drawn into the difficult, poor and often painful life of a young girl. As she loses loved ones to the plague, she herself is spared and she believes she may have seen an angel. Circumstances lead this young jewish girl to live with an old German man who the town shuns, but she learns to love. I learned that every war has two sides, and tolerance is the key. The young girl ends up happy in the end through small bits of fate in her favor, but I believe there were many different endings that would have worked for the girl - just like us.

I truly enjoyed this book by Karen Hesse. As a future teacher I will add this to my list of historical fiction in teaching social studies and language arts. I had no idea so many people died of the flu in 1918 - nearl two and one half times the number that died during WWI! Karen Hesse does an excellent job of placing ourselves into the life of a young Jewish girl named Hannah. She and her two sisters must live with her two aunts in a crowded Boston apartment because their father is fighting in the war, and their mother is trapped in Russia. She must eventually leave Boston alone because the flu is ravishing the city and her loved ones. She gets lost and is also stricken with the deadly flu. She is nursed back to health by a German farmer and a beautiful friendship develops. She eventually returns to Boston with the help of an angel to find the fate of her family. This is a must read book!

I was frankly shocked to read reviews that found this book boring. I've read all of Karen Hesse's works, and find this to be far and away the best. I am a fifth grade teacher, and can usually count on my 14-year-old daughter to let me take her cast-off books to supply my classroom; this was one that she won't part with, even after several years. "A Time of Angels" is high on my list of books to recommend for my higher-level readers.

The story line, taking place during the influenza pandemic of 1917-18, is grippingly realistic -- entire neighborhoods are nearly wiped out by the dreaded disease, and panic-stricken residents don't really know how to deal with the enormous problem. Meanwhile, Hannah and her two younger sisters are left in Boston with an aunt, since her mother is trapped in WWI Russia caring for relatives and her father is off fighting in the war -- and neither have been heard from.

When influenza tears Hannah's family apart, circumstances take her far away where she ends up in the care of a gruff old farmer who has been isolated from other townsfolk because of his German heritage. The relationship that forms between the two of them is sweet and tender, and Hesse crafts it beautifully.

Truly, Hesse's characterizations and descriptions make this book nearly magical to read. She weaves in bits and pieces of Jewish culture, American history, and wonderful mystical interludes with an angel who saves Hannah's life more than once.

Boring? Don't believe it. This is a book you shouldn't miss!

This book is simple enough for two-year-olds, but complex enough for much older children, or even adults.

The trick is that the words (only a sentence or so per page, and mostly of the format "Boris was ADJECTIVE. All pirates are ADJECTIVE") only barely sketch out the story - the rest is in the illustrations, or else has to be guessed at.

At the end of the book, we find that when Boris' parrot died "He cried and cried. All pirates cry. And so do I", a line that echoes in the mind.

Don't pass this one by.

This picture book illustrates that tough pirates can be tough and yet cry as well. Boris is the epitome of a tough pirate; he is swashbuckling, fierce, and he even looks the part. All that stands, but we learn about a new side of Boris with his favorite friend, his parrot. I would recommend this book for younger students to read themselves, or it would be great for the pre-K set as a read aloud. It's short enough for a quick bedtime story!

This book is wonderful. It uses the very popular theme of pirates to explain that having feelings is normal and that there is no weekness in tears. My six year old reads it everyday.

This is a wonderfully surprising book. Simple predictable text makes this book and easy read aloud to young children and interesting illustrations that capture the imagination. This book also deals with pirates and treasure, but also the loss of a pet, which most children can relate to, but in a simple way. My three-year-old loves this book and can spend 20 minutes just flipping through the pages. I definately recommend this book for children 3 and up.

I fell in love with this story instantly. I've never seen empathy being presented so well. Plus the pictures tell their own story of adventure, death, friendship and woe. It's a simple book with few words for young readers, but the message is well delivered and I personally think it's a book that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

This gentle story, told in simple rhyme, shows animals in a stable getting ready for a special guest. The block-print art, rich in earth-tones, gives a humble and loving feel to the scene. Each animal does what it can to prepare the stable, and when Mary and Joseph arrive, the animals stand in hushed anticipation. The final page shows all the animals gathered around the new baby Jesus, saying, "Welcome, welcome to our house!" A perfect read-aloud for little ones.

My toddler class loved this book. They loved the repetition and every time I'd read the line "Who is coming to our house?" they'd yell Jesus!! It is a great story told from the animals' perspective and a wonderful addition to any preschooler's library!

A wonderful little board book for the little ones. Nice size for them to handle! The Christmas story from the viewpoint of the stable animals is special. The colors are eye catching. Highly recommended!

This book is a favorite for my two pre-school-aged children. We read it year-round.

The rhymes of the tale are engaging. (I love the oft repeated line: "Someone, someone," says Mouse.)

My only quibble with the book is the art work. It is not to my taste, though I think that that is more a matter of personal preference than anything else.

I am SO SICK of this book. I have to read it over and over and over again all day long. My daughter (17 months) will pull it from the bottom of a pile of books and bring it to me to read. On the final page she pats the baby's face and says "Baby. Baby." It's a very sweet little book and worth getting; your child will love it.

As I started to read this book, I began highlighting Dr. Taylor's statements, until it quickly became apparent that I would be highlighting the entire book.

I found myself saying, "Yes, I get it now!" as Dr. Taylor explained how even good media can teach bad habits. Parents will feel empowered after reading this book to take a stand in the war being waged against our families.

Your Children Are Under Attack takes a frighteningly honest look at one of today's most dangerous social diseases: popular culture's battle for control of our children's hearts and minds. Dr. Taylor exposes the ugly war of greed that marketers and the media have been waging on our young, and the spell it has also cast over parents. Step-by step, with the skill of a researcher, the compassion of a wizened therapist, and the heart of a principled human being, he examines each of these unhealthy forces and shows us how to protect our children from this assault and its subsequent ruinous effect on our values. Well-written, poignant, and forceful, Dr. Taylor's work stands as a call to action that comes not a moment too soon. The first step every responsible parent should take to win back control of their children is to read Dr. Taylor's book.

Dr. Taylor identifies the true enemy that is after your child - and gives solid, practical advice on how to protect them from it. In the ever broadening spectrum of pop culture, if you don't have a careful hand in raising your kids, the media will gladly do it for you. Empowering, insightful and straight to the point, Dr. Taylor puts parenting back in the hands of where it belongs.

It was 1960 on the stage of "Bye Bye Birdie" when actor Paul Lynde, playing Mr. Henry McAfee, shouted out to his audience saying, "Kids! I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!"
Toward the end of his barrage, he finally asked, "Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way? What's the matter with kids today?"
Dr. Jim Taylor, in his book "Your Children are Under Attack: How Popular Culture is Destroying Your Kids' Values, and How You Can Protect Them," addresses this age-old question with an answer: popular culture is devastating our lives.
Video games, too much TV, corporate fraud, materialism, the inundation of information from the Internet, the unreasonable emphasis on physical attractiveness, plus the lack of physical activity leading to childhood obesity -- these are endangering our children and our culture.
Throughout the book, Taylor's theme never waivers. "The messages that American popular culture communicate to children today are in direct conflict with what is best for them," he writes. "Popular culture is now a truly counterproductive force in families' lives...."
Taylor believes that those who in past generations were institutional partners with parents such as the government, corporate America and even our schools have themselves given in to the illusory promises of instant gratification and the almighty "bottom line."
Parents are left standing alone between their children and millions of images from TV, DVDs, XBoxes, etc.
Taylor believes modern pressures lead to lazy parenting - raising children "in the most convenient way" because adults are exhausted and overwhelmed by the pace and impact of everyday life.
The message is grim, but Taylor offers hope. Taylor explains how families can make their values clear, communicate them to one another, and live discriminating lives aware yet distanced from the dangers of pop culture.
For example, he gives straight-forward language parents can use to guide their children toward making safe, sound decisions.
He also gives parents permission to say no to pop culture and to band together with those of like minds to create safe, nurturing environments for their families -- places that do not focus on self-serving ends but that foster compassion, confidence, and kindness.

Dr. Jim Taylor has written a book that needs to be written. Parents, teachers and interested individuals need to be aware as to what our Ameican culture is doing to our children and the values that are being propogated. Dr. Taylor exposes what messages the " media " are sending. Dr. Taylor shows what values corporations in America are esposing. He knows that greed, corruption, materialism and just plain stupidity are out there on our television sets, magazines and what values permeate our culture. Taylor knows what a steady diet of The Osbournes, Friends and of course Paris Hilton will do. We all need to be aware of the messages that are sent to our children on a daily basis and how these messages influence our kids and our culture. Instead of integrity, cleavage is respected in American society. Instead of honor and truth, mascara and designer jeans are extolled as being important. More than ever, parents need to work at discussing values, things of importance and integrity with their children. Parents who do want to help raise their children should read this. Teachers who want to understand the values of their students should read this. And lastly greedy, money hungry corporate American leaders should read this and understand what their crass commercialism is doing to America.

TITLE: The Declaration of Independence
AUTHOR: Anne Mazer
MAIN CHARACTER: Her name is Abby Hayes. She is a fifth grader who loves soccer. Abby has a younger brother and two older sisters who are twins. She also has a mom and a dad whose names are Olivia and Paul Hayes. Abby is outgoing in a way, loves writing, and collects calendars. She is a normal fifth grade girl.
PLOT: Abby wants to go to the Halloween festival with her friends and not with her younger brother. So she has to prove to her parents she can be independent and responsible. Abby has to take on more chores that she is not asked to do like making breakfast and cleaning. Abby keeps messing up but she finds a way that she thinks will prove to her parents she can go to the festival alone.
SETTING: It takes place in present time in a little town in a big state. The writer makes the town sound beautiful.
THEME: Abby wants to prove she can be responsible to her parents to show she can go to the Halloween festival alone with her friends.

I like this story because it keeps the reader interested and you just want to keep reading. It also has a great exposition and climax!


By:
Madison

The book is called the amazing days of Abby hayes the declaration of independence it is about a girl named Abby Hayes she has blue eyes and red curly hair.She has a colection of calenders to.I love this book becaus it is a general fiction book and it is exiting!oh yea she also writs in the book!I am not going to tell you every thing abot the book exept she relly wants to go to the fall fest with her friends!

Abby Hayes, former soccer player wannabe, is now on another mission in which she must prove herself. This time, though, instead of proving that she is worthy of being a part of the Hayes family by becoming a soccer star, she is proving to her parents that she is mature enough to ride bikes to the fall festival at the high school with her friends, and hang out there without her little brother tagging along. But after doing countless chores and trying to act more adult-like (both seeming to be unimpressive to her parents) Abby is wondering if she's EVER going to be considered "mature". Will Abby be able to earn the freedom that she is positive she deserves...or will one mistake ruin everything?

This was a very good book! It's what I refer to as "not fantastic literature, but it requires little thinking and is enjoyable enough that I really like it". I have to say that this book was probably better than the first one. (And now I can't wait to get the third!) My only comment is that ten years old is pretty young to expect that much freedom! Whether Abby gets it or not, I'm not telling, though.

Overall, I say that if you're looking for a fun, light series to read before bedtime, while you're eating a snack, or while you're waiting in a doctor's office, then I recommend "The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes" to you! It's not complicated, and it's very entertaining. I actually waited in anticipation for moments of free time when I could read it!

This is a very good book. When you read it, it seems so real!

Every year, in high school, they had a Fall Festival. And this year's Festival will be the best ever. Abby wanted to go with her friends--NOT her little brother and her parents. But first, she had to prove how mature she is. So Abby planned alot of plans. Those were a great plan for independence...until disaster struck!

P.S. This'll be the book that were always in your hands.( When you get it! HA-ha-haaaaaaa! )

In the second book in the series about Abby Hayes, Abby declares her independence by refusing to take Alex to the Fall Festival, just like she does every year. Abby has to prove herself worthy by acting more mature. She agrees to babysit Alex, so they go to the park. But something terrible happens to Alex. Fortunately, Abby thinks quickly and everything turns out fine and Abby gets to go to the fair with her friends. Buy this great book and every one of them in the series.

He is large, ugly and not leaving their kitchen. He is a Wizard's Enforcer. He is Archer's Goon. But what is he doing in the Sykes' kitchen, claiming to be sent by Archer and demanding the "two thousand" promised by Howard's dad, Quentin, who had better come up with the payment--and quickly?

At first Howard is relieved to find the two thousand is only words, and that his writer father has already sent them. But he sent them to Mountjoy, the man with whom he usually deals. What does a man Quentin has never heard of want with them?

Howard is determined to find out, and before he knows it he is drawn into a bizarre plot that threatens not only his own family but the whole world.

Wickedly witty and full of Diana Wynne Jones's usual non-stop action and amazing plot twists (though the plot is not as convoluted as in many of her later books) Archer's Goon is a great read for both young and not-so-young.

(BTW, I find it extremely irritating that the BBC turned Archer's Goon into a TV serial but Television New Zealand never bothered to buy it. While it's probably available on DVD, DVDs from the BBC are horrendously and inexcusably expensive.)

This is my favorite of all her books that I've read (that being most of them). It's absolutely excellent, and the best example of her juxtapositions of mundane and esoteric reality there is. This trick of hers is something other authors try in vain to do - a very difficult trick indeed!

"A Goon is a being who melts into the foreground and sticks there."
"All power corrupts, but we need electricity."
"It pays to increase your word power."
- from the author's note

Although Jones seems to be classified as a "children's" author, I've found her a very fine fantasy writer with a sly sense of humor ever since I took amazon.com's advice and first read HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. While ARCHER'S GOON (a stand-alone work rather than a volume in any of Jones' series) has a young protagonist, but like Jones' other work can be enjoyed by any fantasy reader, since she doesn't talk down to her audience.

On the morning the story opens, Howard Sykes faces a typical day of school, avoiding violin practice, and the usual clashes with his little sister (nicknamed 'Awful', with a voice like an ambulance siren). Just an ordinary day in an ordinary little town, right?

Then the title character, a huge thug promptly nicknamed 'the Goon', shows up.

"What's Dad done?"
"Told her. Sykes got behind with his payment. Archer wants his two thousand. Here to collect it."
"Who *is* Archer?"
"Archer farms this part of town. Your dad pays, Archer doesn't make trouble."

In exchange for being let off his taxes - and maybe other things - Howard's father has been sending 2000 words in an envelope to City Hall every month for years. Sykes tries to laugh this off, saying it's a private joke he used to break his writer's block years ago - but now one sibling after another of the seven siblings running the town wants to get hold of the last batch of words and figure out what Archer's been up to all this time. Despite being adults, the siblings don't get on any better than Howard and Awful do; they've just got a truce by which they've divvied up the city. (One sister runs law enforcement while her twin handles crime, for example; Archer runs city power, Hathaway transportation. The brother who got last choice got waste management.) We eventually meet each sibling in turn; in some cases, the main characters must work out where that particular sibling's HQ must be, given their discipline.

The siblings settled into town about a decade before the story opens, planning to use it as a base for taking over the world - but they can't even get along with each other except for staying out of each other's way, and some seem to have changed their minds about running the world. But at least one appears to be interfering with all the others - all of them seem magically constrained to stay within the city limits, although they all deny knowing who did it, how, or why. The siblings have different personalities, and one or two really *are* efficient enough at organization to run the world if they can get free of the town.

Sitting down and asking myself why I like this book so much, I think it's basically the same reason I like some of GK Chesterton's grand conspiracy stories: on the surface we have an ordinary, apparently completely mundane and boring setting - but underneath that surface, even the most mundane activity may cover the activities of some agent of a colorful conspiracy. For instance, Hathaway doesn't get out much, which explains the town's disorganized road construction programs and why potholes don't get fixed properly. Archer has his secret lair in a bank vault and likes gadgets. The brother who runs entertainment travels with an entourage of disco dancers and the local cathedral choir when he wants to foil eavesdroppers.

The Goon himself *looks* very threatening, and refuses to leave without Archer's overdue batch of words, but he's easily bullied about little things like where he puts his feet, and can almost be overlooked like a large pet or easygoing protector - a dangerous assumption to make, perhaps.

This book was way fun to read, full of humor, magic and character. Amazing to think that when Diana Wynne Jones wrote this even SHE didn't know what was going to happen.

Howard Sykes comes home one day to find a goon- a huge dirty guy, anyway- sitting in his kitchen, saying that he comes from Archer, and refusing to move until he gets the 2000 words Howard's father owes him.

But the words got misplaced by Fifi, a college student who stays at the Sykes's house. So Fifi, Howard and Howard's little sister, Awful (who can live up to her name at times) go to find it.

Well, one thing leads to another and they soon find out that the whole town is run by 7 wizards (who are all related).

For me to give you a play by play here would take too long, but if you're thinking of reading this or just looking for a great book to read, I HIGHLY recommend this.

I'm not gonna lie to you. This book is about a Goon belonging to Archer. To be exact, it is about the repercussions of living with a Goon for an extended amount of time. I've slowly been devouring the collected works of Diana Wynne Jones and so far I haven't been disappointed by a single one of her titles. Each book is even odder and more bizarre than the last, often causing the reader to clasp his or her head from time to time and shout, "How does she think this stuff up?". "Arthur's Goon" is no exception to this rule. A brilliantly warped view of absolute power corrupting absolutely and the power plays that go on between siblings (no matter what their age), this book deserves to be remembered as one of the best children's novels out there today.

Walter comes home one day to discover a Goon sitting in his family's kitchen. Your typical hired heavy, the Goon has been sent by the mysterious Archer to collect from Walter's dad about 2000 words. It seems that for the last 13 years Walter's father (Howard) has been writing 2000 words a month and sending them off to a mysterious somebody. Now the words have become misplaced and the Goon has been sent to collect. As Howard steadfastly refuses to type any more, things start to go a little crazy. It isn't long before Walter and his family come to realize that their town is run by seven power mad sibling wizards. These wizards have been trapped in the town and each one runs a different part of it. For example, Dillian farms (that means runs) the police force while Shine farms crime. Now it's up to Walter to solve the mystery of the seven mysterious beings and to figure out who exactly is behind their entrapment within the town.

Author Jones is equally a master at engaging peculiar characters as she is creating complex multi-layered plots. You grow to love the Goon as he grows horribly lovesick for a young college student staying with Walter and his family. And who wouldn't identify with Walter when he has to deal with his appropriately nicknamed little sister Awful. I would venture to guess that she's the worst little sister character I have ever encountered in a kid's book, and that's saying a lot. Then there's the mystery to contend with. As Walter meets more and more of the seven the reader slowly is given clues to understand who's behind it all. Not since Raskin's, "The Westing Game" did I have this much fun with a mysterious kid's book. And to be honest, I never guessed the ending until I was told. The surprise twist this book carries is a doozy. If you figure out who's behind it all before they tell you then you're probably the kind of person who downs Agatha Christie novels like pop tarts.

Unfortunately, I have a bone to pick with this book. Sad to say, either I wasn't bright enough for some of the loose ends here or they were just too darn loose. The ending of this story is never fully explained and (to be frank) I don't believe we ever do find out EXACTLY how the seven brothers and sisters were trapped in the town at all. Some of these points are glossed over so beautifully that it takes a full three hours after putting the book down to realize what it is that you have missed. Now I'm 26 years of age and if I can't understand parts of this tale it's probably a fair guess that your average 10 year-old reader with have similar problems.

Still, that's my only quarrel. There's so much to love here that I feel a little dour making these kinds of comments. I mean, how can you dislike a book where a character like Awful is constantly asking the seven wizards where they come in order of birth so that she can better understand the pecking order in the family? It's a delightful tale about family fights and what it is that exactly makes up a family at all. And then of course there's the goon. Last of all I display for you the fabulous goon that starts this book rolling and, quite possibly, ends it. Here's to goons, ladies and gentlemen! May they grace the pages of more and more children's books in the future.

CJ Heck has really touched on the important issues that perplex and interest children from three to ninety-nine. Her concise but child-like style embodies much wisdom in her seemingly effortless story telling in the form of poetry. Her poems are geared to be understood by a child, yet the content reveals subjects that a child will wonder about, but not be able to be fully addressed by a child. The poem, Grandmother's Apron is especially pertinent. The poem is about death and explains the pain of losing someone close to you, but in such a reassuring way. Many of the other poems are whimsical and care-free like Barking Spiders, but addressing only the lighthearted things won't carry a child into adulthood. CJ Heck knew that, so she mixed all aspects of growing up into a wonderful blend of poems.

You cannot afford to pass this book by. It is well worth the cost and a must have in your child's library.

CJ Heck has published an incredibly creative and FUN book! My husband and I sat for hours sharing and laughing out loud... and then we shared it will our sons. All three, ages 5, 8 & 10, absolutely loved the great rhyming stories and silly illustrations. We can't wait for another book by CJ Heck!

Hi everyone! I'm CJ, the author of "Barking Spiders". I would like you to know, autographed books are available through me. I ship within two days and I include extra gifts with every order, too. Just click on the "New and Used Books" link to order. No extra fees, no waiting.

Thank you -- may you always see the world through the eyes of a child!
Hugs,
CJ

REVIEW FOR "BARKING SPIDERS,"

Once in awhile an author comes along with a truly delightful children's book. CJ Heck, author of "Barking Spiders and other such stuff" has been able to reach into the child within all of us. Her poems lead us through the inquisitive minds of children everywhere! The imagination in her poems is enlightening, witty, funny and sometimes sad. The wisdom through her work is woven together in a way that each poem tells a story that is both honest and clear.

This book captured my attention until the very last page, therefore telling me that it is a must for every household. What child wouldn't want to know what a "Barking Spider" is? What do they do? What adult wouldn't want to know either? I enjoy how CJ Heck is able to take a simple action such as a child brushing one's teeth and transpire it into a poem delivering a message of family, knowledge, and above all that ANY subject is worth noting! She has been able to go down to the level of a child without losing her adult perspective. Each poem has a simple message that tells a child that no question is silly.

What is really exciting about "Barking Spiders" is the way poems are introduced to children. What a wonderful teaching tool for any class! It is great to peak the interest of youngsters today and I would have to say "Barking Spiders" most certainly delivers.

Dorothy Krusky, Canada
Author of "The Christmas Cat" a children's Christmas story. 2005
"Life's Ride - A Journal of Poems 2007

CJ Heck touches on some things I don't remember reading in children's poems or stories. I like how, from a child's perspective, she articulates their thought processes which are not that much different than adults with the exception of conclusions drawn. I found the book funny, entertaining, and sweet. One of my favorites is "Just Like Me", a poem about identity, with a great humorous last line. "Waiting" is another one of my favorites and is so universal whether you are a child or adult. I thought "Monkey Me" was very funny and true. Overall, I'm glad I have the book and will read it to my friend's children and my own someday. It would be fun to get their reaction.

The book I read was A Bear called Paddington, and it was very good. The author of A bear called Paddington was Michael Bond who has been writing children's books since 1995. A Bear called Paddington is a fantasy story.

A bear called Paddington has 8 stories in the book. First story...Mr. and Mrs. Brown find a bear who had came to America from darkest Prue. The train Stations name was Paddington so they named him Paddington. Paddington has no family so the Browns takes the bear to there house. Second story... Mr. and Mrs. Brown have 2 children, Judy and Jonathon, they really like Paddington. Paddington always has his hat o which actually saves his life. When Paddington was in the bath and forgot how to swim so he poured the water on the floor out of his hat. Third story... Paddington, Mrs. Brown ad Judy go underground somewhere, and o the way there, they lost all there money so as soon as they get there they don't have ay money for tickets. So all 3 of them looked for the money for the tickets. Fourth story Paddington, Judy ad Mrs. Brown go shopping and Paddington have never been on an elevator so he wants to go on one. They got off the elevator and Paddington hates it so much. Fifth story... On day a grocery man tells Paddington how to get paint off stuff. After hearing that, Paddington wanted to try, so he found an old and tried to erase it but it makes an even bigger mess. Sixth story... The whole family went to the theater. Paddington loves it so much that now he wants to be in show business. So he creeps I the actor's dressing room to find the main person, Sir Sealy. Sir Sealy gives Paddington a special part in the play. Seventh story... the whole family go's to the sea and Judy, Paddington and Jonathon enter a sad castle contest and one of them wins. Eighth story... Paddington gets a magic kit for his birthday in the end he vanished 2 thing's and broke one thing.

This book was one of my favorites, it was so good. One bad thing is that it was very easy to understand. I would recommend this book to third or fourth graders.

Paddington is very funny when he does little mistakes. Paddington is a very interesting character that is lovable to everyone. Whenever I'm bored I read it, usually, even though we have already read it. You should mainly buy it for your kids, but you should read it to them because adults like it as much as the kids do. I like all the Paddington books, but my favorite one is the first one. Paddington is a wonderful character and he is my most favorite on earth.
by a 9 year- old (almost)girl from the USA

We LOVE this CD set! I bought it 2 years ago for my daughter to listen to for naps and bedtime, and now at age 5 she's STILL asking for it every night.

I like the fact that both CDs are over an hour long, she likes that there are several stories on each CD to keep her attention. The plots aren't too complicated for her to follow, but they do force her to pay attention and focus on the cd, which is key for naptime. :) Stephen Fry's voice is wonderfully soothing to listen to, and he does a great job of distinguishing between the various characters -- key for books on CD!

As she's gotten older Caroline has begun to appreciate some of the silliness that is Paddington, but the stories are nicely entertaining even without that element. We parents don't mind listening to Paddington in the car when we're on trips. All in all, I say this CD set is well worth this money, it's one that will really grow with you!!

This proved to be a wonderful purchase. The stories are entertaining for both parents and children and are perfect for long car trips. Excellent alternative when you don't want the kids in front of the television.

A classic! I loved Paddington as a child and I'm thrilled to have this in our CD collection. (I'd even listen without the kids!). Stephen Fry reads the stories very well.

Hands down this was my favorite book out of the entire series. There was action between all of the characters. Can Tom and Natasha get out of the Caymans alive? Will the injection end Heather's life? Will Gaia finally give into her urges to be with Ed? Will Tatiana go crazy without her mother? There's even action with Loki and his goons. If you got sucked into this series like I did... you must buy this book. I guess the main question in this book is this: Can Gaia actually have a normal life?

Oh how the excitement bubbles from me.

Heather is now blind.

Josh is dead.

Things are looking up for Gaia and Ed because she has finally told him the truth.

And Loki finally learns the truth about his relationship to Gaia.

This book was excellent. And the ending was a huge surprise! Hopefully though we will not end up being subjected to the same droning and wallowing from the last few books. Can't wait for Lost(Fearless #25)

I always thought the first six books in the series were the I'd risk my life to save from a raging fire type books. None of the following grabbed me quite like those six fast paced, wonderful books had.
Then #23 and #24 arrived at my door.
They are wonderful! Things are definetly getting more exciting in Gaia's world. #24 is a shining star of a book, and high above #13,14,ect (which I liked but did not love). Often the books would blend together because the conflict was drawn out to0 long and there was imo, no stand out story line. Not so in #24.
Heather has recovered from her brush with death after getting tangled up with a psychotic hottie who poisoned her with a drug that would make her fearless but also a loopy fruit loop. The damage has been done though and Heather now lives in a world of darkness. The change of her in this book is amazing. She went from self-centered prima donna to mother teresa type character who's found some amount of peace. That's the one word I would use to describe this book-peace. Each of the characters finds an amount of peace in this book. The struggles are over (for now). Gaia also has found a peacefullness now that Loki is no longer tearing her life apart like a human bulldozer and she and Ed relish the break from chaos and confusion by spending time with eachother.
But how long will this serenity last?
Hello! This is Gaia's world so we know it ain't going to last long!

This book was, oh it was just so, you can't imagine how... (Taking a second to regain composure.) This book left me utterly wordless. I mean it was just so good. Thats all I can think of right now. It left such a profound after taste that right after I finished it I had dreams about it all night. In this book, Gaia goes through the most world rocking adventure than any other in her past. She finds answers to some myeteries that have been taunting her. To make it more better, there is actually some her and Ed time in this book. Some parts in this book will leave you astonished, others will make you yelp for joy. Caution, while reading the end of this book, I advice you to not sit on anything that is more than 1 ft off the ground. Because what happens will surely just make you fall off and dance to the floor. Read this book, you will eat it right up!

This book was great. I couldn't wait to read it because of what happened at the end of #23. You'll love this book. Heather comes out fine and I really hope Tom is okay. What's with the ending. I really want to read #25. I can't wait! If you want to know if this book is worth your time it is!!!