Schools Books

this book is a great heartfelt story about a teebage girl who feels like she is less than what the world hopes for. Jess, the main character of this novel, is theaverage girl who has always felt like she isnt enough. she is best friends with the prettiest girl in school and has a crush on her seemingly perfect match. This story brings to life the precarious uncertainty of teenagerhood end the decisions made inthat time. it is a wonderfuk book and expresses the trial and error that lfe is.

The book Girl 15, Charming But Insane is an amazing book about the life of an 15 year old girl going through many problems teens do today. Jess(the main character) is faced with many problems, such as boy problems, family problems, and friend problems. Next to her best friend Flora; "the goddess" as Jess calls her, Jess obsesses over finding many things wrong with herself. When things could not get any worse, Jess' grandmother comes to move in with her. Jess still tries to focus on trying to get her "eye candy" Ben Jones and trying to start a new band.

What i liked about the book is that it was easy to relate to and gives great advice. Also, before every chapter started, it gave a funny horoscope for the sign virgo. One of them is "You will realize that the laundry basket is possessed by the devil". I think these were fun to read. This book is manly targeted toward 14-15 year old girls, but anyone can enjoy and relate to Jess' decisions and problems she faces everyday.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it until 4:00 a.m.

Think of it more as a comic book (well, it's not) rather than a piece of literature. You will laugh through it and certainly enjoy it a lot.

That's excatly how the book was. A great read, and very real. I had a great time reading this book, and at one part, was nearly dying of laughter! (The part where Jess goes to the band's rehearsal). A Fabulous book recommended for everyone.

This is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. It's full of laugh-out-loud humour...yes, I was actually laughing out loud!

The story is about Jess, a budding comedienne who has been trying without success to gain the affection of her long-time crush, Ben. Unfortunately, she is constantly being overshadowed by her "perfect" friend Flora. As a result, she'll go to any lengths to get his attention, including stuffing her bra with minestrone soup-filled bags! The result is a whole lot of craziness and laughs.

This book is definitely insane and charming. While some of the events seem a little too crazy to be real, you will definitely get a kick out of reading about them.

When Sabrina catches a twenty-four hour virus called Spellfluenza, her powers transfer to the nearest mortal - Libby, Westbridge High's richest and snobbiest person! When Libby realizes her magical powers, she wants nothing less than global domination. Therefore, she makes a plan to steal the powers of Drell, head of the Witches' Council. Once done, Sabrina, her aunts, Salem, and a now mortal Drell must pass three tests or the universe will become one big shopping mall dedicated to Libby!

***** I was enchanted immediately! I found myself giggling aloud at some points and committing unladylike LOUD laughter at others! Don't miss out on this one! ****

I read this book two times, cause it was so good! Sabrina gets a serious case of spellfluenza, and she sneezes her powers into Libby! Well, Libby also gets Drell's powers, and now Sabrina, Hilda, Zelda, Salem and Drell have to complete three tasks in Libby's infinite shopping mall (In the Other Realm) to get to meet her and get her powers back! I recomend this book for everyone! IT'S GREAT!

Sabrina's got spellfluenza, a nasty little witch virus. Every time she sneezes her powers pop out of her and into the next person. Another sneeze & they're back again-whew! It's not bad at first-Sabrina only sneezes in pairs. But then Libby Chessler gets in the way of a solitary achoo and...uh-oh.

It doesn't take Libby long to figure out she's picked up some powerful magic. Now there's just one thing she wants...more! After all, world domination isn't out of the question!

Sabrina's challenge is clear: follow Libby on her search for bigger & better powers and stop her. But can she do it as a mere mortal?

When Sabrina catches a twenty-four hour virus called Spellfluenza, her powers transfer to the nearest mortal - Libby, Westbridge High's richest and snobbiest person! When Libby realizes her magical powers, she wants nothing less than global domination. Therefore, she makes a plan to steal the powers of Drell, head of the Witches' Council. Once done, Sabrina, her aunts, Salem, and a now mortal Drell must pass three tests or the universe will become one big shopping mall dedicated to Libby!

[5 stars]I was enchanted immediately! I found myself giggling aloud at some points and committing unladylike LOUD laughter at others! Don't miss out on this one!

Sabrina has a comen cold for witches. it makes her powers go from her to someone in the room with her until she sneezes in his presence. (No fake sneezes or with pepper) the docter say to stay home from school but Sabrina does not want to miss the try-outs! so she going to school-and gives her powers to Libby!! OH NO!!

I loved this book so much, I read it over like 3 times. It's so unexpecting...you think that it's just the same like the other informational books turned into cartoon like words, but it's actually FUNNY! It's totally different style of Greek mythology! I even got my friends to read it...and they loved it. We all read the series, and learned some facts and...had fun while reading it. GET THIS BOOK...IT'S THE BEST...(along with the series...of course).

I borrowed this book from my friend and I really loved it!! If you want to read a funny, interesting book, I will definately suggest this book!! I also read the all of the other books and I most definately cant wait for the next one!! My mom and sister loved this book as well so I could tell you that this book is suitable for all ages!! (Warning: If you read this book you wont be able to resist reading the next book and the next and....)

I enjoyed this book so much!! It was really funny when Hades first meets his uncle! I'm 8 3/4. I really recommend this book!:-)

I teach 7th grade, and my reading class studies Greek mythology for 9 weeks. I have all 8 books in this series in my room, and I am always reading one of them aloud to my class. The rest are NEVER available on my shelf; they're always checked out! There's usually a waiting list for them and sometimes the kids even hound each other to hurry and get them done so they can read them. These books are a hit with both girls and boys (a rarity), and even my reluctant readers will check these books out! I wish Kate McMullan would write more of them!!

Not too long ago Hades--that's His Royal Lowness, Lord of the Dead, King Hades to you--picked up a book on Greek mythology and discovered that his younger brother Zeus had tampered with the Greek myths in order to make himself look good (braggart and liar that Zeus tends to be). In order to set the record straight Hades set to work at once writing his own account of what really happened way back when. Have a Hot Time, Hades! is the first book to result from his labors, the initial installment in his Myth-o-Mania series, which is published pseudonymously, curiously enough, under the name of Kate McMullan.

Hades, as it turns out, can write pretty well. Have a Hot Time, Hades! is a charming, irreverent recasting of Greek myth as told from Hades' perspective, from his childhood spent dodging the refuse in his father's stomach (Cronus swallowed all but one of his children in their infancy) to his decision to adopt the Underworld as his realm. In the book we learn of the difficulties the Olympians (i.e., Hades and his siblings) had wresting power from the previous generation of gods. There are battles--well, very violent kickstones matches--with the Titans, some trouble with the monster Typhon, a talking-to from their grandmother Gaia. Nor are the Olympians themselves without their own petty squabbles, mostly arising from Zeus' habit of stealing credit from his siblings and begetting offspring with mortals.

Kate McMullan obviously takes liberties with her presentation of the Greek myths in Have a Hot Time, Hades!, but she does a tremendous service in introducing young readers in a highly entertaining way to the major figures in Greek mythology, their familial relationships, and their various areas of interest. (A handy family tree and glossary are included in the book.) The series is off to a great start. Next up is Phone Home, Persephone!, in which Hades will regale us with the true story of his marriage to Persephone.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

Once you get past the strange layout (described in other sections), this is a great edition of Henry V. It is easy and fun to read and offers valuable insights (not just for students either). Well worth a flutter.

This play is best known for the St. Crispian's Day "Band of Brothers" speech given by King Henry just before the battle at Agincourt. It is a powerful speech that rallies people at all times and everywhere. Sir Lawrence Olivier made a film version in 1944 during WWII and Kenneth Branagh made another as recently as 1989. You can count on there being more versions. Epecially so when computers can help them make spectacular battle scenes (that aren't really in the play) with less expense.

Audiences love this play and they should. There is a lot to like and enjoy. I think upon repeated readings Henry becomes a more equivocal character than he seems at first. And readers of the King Henry IV plays will know him before he became King Henry and know something deeper about his personality.

And of course there is the whole bit about the drive to France being sponsored by the Church to avoid confiscation of property by the Crown. Moreover, there is the slaughtering of the French prisoners, and his treatment of Falstaff (who dies offstage in this play). This isn't revisionist stuff, it is right there in the play, but it is easy to miss the first time you are trying to take in the play.

In any case, this Arden edition is the one to buy and read from. Why? Because it has the most authoritative text, but that is only the beginning. It also shows variants between the early sources. The notes at the bottom of each page of the play are simply fabulous. The editor includes not only helpful notes explaining what might be obscure in the text of the play, he provides sources Shakespeare probably used such as Holinshed and makes for some very interesting study. There are also some helpful notes on how various scenes have been performed over time.

And to make this sound more like an infomercial, you get more! The introduction provides great background material on the play, its sources, and how it has been performed throughout history. After the play, there is a photo reproduction of the first Quarto from 1600 and it is fairly readable. There are also a couple of maps showing the path of the English Army from Harfleur through other towns on its way to Calais and makes clear how they had to pass through Agincourt.

There is also a helpful genealogical table so you can see the confusing claims used by Henry and the French nobility to make their claims. And there is a doubling chart so you can see how theater companies can perform all the roles with fewer actors.

This is a great edition as are all the plays published by the Arden Shakespeare. The amount of work collected in these volumes is stunning and they will enrich your experience of the plays tremendously. I can't recommend them enough.

This play more than any others in the histories glorifies Englishmen and England. His characters in this one are larger than life, but each has their own limitations and flaws. The play covers the time of the Battle of Agincourt when the French King Charles was so sure of victory that he sent a messenger to Henry to ask him to give up and to pay a ransom before the battle. On the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, the English were outnumbered five to one, Henry's troops were on foreign soil and riddled with disease. The scenes where Henry dons a disguise and goes out amongst his troops to bolster their confidence are great. The English managed to triumph in this battle where all was stacked against them mostly because of Henry's leadership. This is such a sweeping story that it is hard to condense in a few words, the plot of the play, but it is a wonderful example of Shakespeare's skills as a writer.

'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.' What more need I say? Henry V is an imortal classic of western literature. And this edition is complete and accurate. See the film if you want, but be sure to read the words at least once. They are inspiring.

"Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the King that led them to it."

Particularly poignant poetry in these times of pompous presidential sabre rattling and wars based on questionable facts.

"How to Be a Friend" is amazing. It could not be better. Not only is it great for children having difficulties with social skills due to Autism -- it is amazing for every child. It should be on the MUST READ to your child list of every parent.

This book has been great for an initial read to discuss with my children what a friend is. It continues to be a great reference tool for situations that come up. We pull out the book and read it with our children to remind them what a friend is and how a friend should treat them.

How to be a friend is such a nice book. It is like an instruction manual for kids who have difficulties making friends. It shows what is acceptable and what others find attractive in a friend. It tells directly what is annoying or inappropriate. I read this to my entire class, which consists of general education students and children on the autism spectrum (Asberger). I used it early in the year. It opened to door to much discussion and questions. We used it in therapy sessions, as well. I recommend it..

This has been great not only for my child with Autism, but the one without as well. Nice, simple format. Short phrases to go along with the pictures. I highly recommend this one!

This was a great book for my son! He is a first grader who is just learning the "rules" of friendship. He enjoyed the fun charecters and witty text so much that he didn't realize he was learning. Nonetheless, he incorporated the lessons the next day and told me of his success on the playground. He was proud of himself and I am proud of him. I am very glad I got this book. I can also readily use it with the children I treat in the schools and highly recommend it whether your child is "typically developing" or not!

My son was given this book as a baby. I used to read it to him all the time and he loved it!! Now he is 9 years old and reads it to me!!

Our daughter was given this book before we left to moved to our new duty station. She loves it so much and so do I. Our friends wrote on the inside that no matter were we are in the world they will alway promise to find her. This book shows the love a mother or father would do to find their missing child.

I bought this book for my four year old son when he was only two, because the artwork was captivating, and the storyline was sweet and easy for him to follow. He got to know it by heart and for a while insisted on touting it everywhere we went, and would "read" it to himself. I lost count of how many times we've read it together. He's four now and it's still a favorite among others. I'll have to replace it soon, because it's so worn out... and that's when you know you've got a great book.

I purchased this book for my little sister in 1998. I wrote an inscription in the front promising her that, no matter where she goes, I promise I'll find her. I'd since forgotten about the book until my sister passed away a few weeks ago and her teacher told me that she had just read the book to her the day before, including my note to her. I now have the book in my possession and it will forever be special to me knowing that, although I'd since moved out and didn't go home to visit nearly enough, she was still reminded in my absence how much I loved her.

For me, the most touching stanza of the book is:
And if I had no other way,
I'd walk or crawl or run,
I'd search to the very ends of the earth,
For you my precious one.

This is a great gift for anyone with whom you'll always share a special bond.

I really liked the fiction book I Promise I'll Find You. It had beautiful pictures, and on each page there's a little doggy and a kid for you to find in the picture. It's a very touching and comforting book. I hope to see more books like it in the future.
By Emily, age 8

My daughter had been looking for this book for some time after seeing it on Reading Rainbow TV show. The book is fun for her (5 yrs old). Great buy at a great price.

I have an autographed copy of this book, and from the moment I read of a little girl with antlers, I was hooked. Years later, this story still captured me, enough that when my husband asked me what we would name our new little kitten, I piped up with "Imogene!". It fits, believe it or not, some of the time! This book I talk about with all the childhood wonder and love, and reverence due to it. Its the most wonderful book to read to a child, and the ending is just as fun! Too bad David Small hasn't written another book to follow up! I'd buy it in a heartbeat!! I treasure this book and I CANNOT wait to read it to my children!

This is a darling book! David Small has created such a lively story and pictures that my children have loved. We raised 4 kids who are now teenagers who fully enjoyed this book; they first saw it on Reading Rainbow. Now, we're starting over with a new baby who will undoubtedly wear out her copy of this book. As a former English teacher, I can say with authority that this is a childrens' classic and a must-have.

Our Daughter loves this book!!! Her Daddy is a deer hunter so seeing a little girl grow antlers is really funny to her!!

This book has received great reveiws far and wide. I hate to admit it, but I just don't see why. The protagonist, Imogene, wakes up with a set of antlers on her head. To many of us, this would be a big problem. But, Imogene doesn't seem to mind all that much. Her family, however, hates the whole idea. Now, in most children's story books, the protagonist is faced with a certain conflict and at the end of the story he/she has solved it and has grown somehow from the experience. In this story, Imogene isn't bothered by her problem and does nothing at all to solve it. In fact, the problem solves itself. She wakes up and voila, no more antlers. Instead, she had grown a new problem. (Another that she doesn't seem to mind.) In no way do I see that either Imogene or her family has grown or changed in any way. I admit, some of the situations are comical and in their own way pull the book along. But again, there is no solution to the problem and I have issue with that.

My girls love this book. The 5-year old has it almost memorized. We love Tasha Tudor.

perfect gift for a little girl (or not so little girl). A very elegant book that harkens back to another age. Will bring a little refinement to any library and I can't think of anyone who wouldn't find it charming!

What a lovely and sweetly-worded book with charming illustrations! This is high on my list as a beautiful book for granddaughters and daughters to be cherished for decades to come. Nothing surpasses this book's illustrations.

Ever since she was born, I couldn't wait to buy this for my niece, Annabelle! We gave it to her for her first birthday. It is just exactly the way that I remember! The adorable alphabet introduced me to the necessities of this Victorian doll. Now I will share it with her.

I picked up a very tired copy of this book at a thrift store and fell in love with it - so did my sister! The illustrations are exquisite and the book is easy to read. Some words are not unfamiliar to children, and their parents should explain them. I would recommend this more for a female. My 8-year old son liked the pictures, but not as well as my 10-year old daughter

This is a great book for ages 5-15. I read it a long while ago, when I was at the elder end of this age group (the older version of it!) and I absloutely loved it. It brings all the factors of growing up into a purely fun and adventure-like childrens novel. I adore this book for kids!

The book is interesting and funny. It's all about four children, two of whom must go to their cousin's house because it is close to the hospital where their dad will be treated. Suddenly, one the children's toys comes to life and starts talking. He tells them about a magic world and offers them a wish. They want their father to be well, but for that to happen, they have to earn the wish by living in the toy's world - in the time of Robin Hood!
As the children play in the world, they end up messing up history. They even play baseball with the Saxons.
This was a funny book. There were so many funny parts, that I don't have a favorite

Four children and a magical toy castle, what could happen? Everything! When Ann and Roger visit their cousins in Baltimore, Roger is given a toy castle, with toy figures from Ivanhoe and other legends. But the tables turn when they find they can become part of the world that Robin Hood, Rebecca, and Maurice De Bracey inhabited. Can the children solve the problems that they cause as they change the plots of these famous stories? If you like history, and fantasy this book is a definite read. I absolutely adored it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've read all books by Eager from the Magic Box set, and I would rate them in this order (from best to worst):
1)Half-Magic
2)The Time Garden
3)Magic by the Lake
4)Knight's Castle

Knight's Castle was confusing and not as funny as it tried to be. It is about 4 children that live in the story of Ivanhoe and Robin Hood at night. However, there were some good moments between Roger and his sister Ann.
If I were a child between 9-12, I think I would have loved all of them. However, Eager's books are not as modern as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, and won't be enjoyed as much by adults.

...This is a simple little tale of a group of children who discover a little bit of magic in an old toy soldier. In Eager's work, magic has fairly strict rules (in _Half-Magic_, the charm granted any wish--but only in halves), and here the rules work as a kind of companion to the idea that magic can only work if you continue to believe in it (that is, if you start to think of the creatures you are interacting with simply as dolls, they revert to being dolls again). The plot achieves its urgency through a possible problem in the family, but, with a little help, everything can be solved. A little more moralistic and straight-forward than some of his others, but well worth reading--especially if you've never tried Eager before.

As soon as I finished Forests of Silence I plunged into Lake of Tears. This book kept me going with the series until the next one.

The Shadow Lord has taken over the land of Deltora and it is up to Lief, a young boy, Barda, an ex-palace guard and Jasmine, a wild girl who they met in the Forests of Silence to find all the jewels to the magic belt of Deltora to overthrow the Shadow. They already have the topaz but now they must find the next jewel in the deadly Lake of Tears.

Filled with new friends like Manus, and absolutely teeming with villains like Thaegan the witch and two of her children whom I will not name, Grey Guards, the Shadow Lord's evil servents and the treacherous Soldeen, I will treasure this book forever.

Lief and his friends have to find seven gems to put in a belt called the belt of Deltora. This belt has special powers that is the only thing that can stop the Shadow Lord from his evil rule. I loved how Lief would stick with his friends even in the most perilest positions. I think it's great that they could do anything if they put there minds to it.

Deltora Dead or Alive?


In the fantasy novel The Lake of Tears by Emily Rodda , Lief, the son of the King, Barda, a place guard, and Jasmine, a gypsy of the Forest of Silence, are the only ones that stand in the way of Thaegon, a sorceress of the Ruby territory, and the Shadow Lord's evil rule over Deltora. Deltora is a magical land.
Over 14 years ago Lief's father, mother, and his fathers friend met and decided that if the Belt of Deltora, a mystic belt made by the first king of Deltora to protect its people, was to be kept safe it should be worn at all times by the current King. But the Shadow Lord was quick, he sent big black birds called Ak-baba to steal the seven gems of the belt and hide them all over Deltora. The kids now quest to find all 7 gems; Topaz, Ruby, Opal, Emerald, Diamond, Amethyst, and Lapis lazuli of Deltora, the kids have made it through The Forests of Silence, defeated the guardian of the Topaz gem and placed the Topaz on the belt of Deltora. There is one down and six to go. They now must quest to find the mysterious Lake of Tears. The gossip about this place races around like wild fire. Most have never returned from this journey into the lake to retrieve the next stone of the belt. Lief hopes that he and his friends will return from this trip to the lake as it had worked out at in The Forests of Silence, a previous book.
This book has a lot of interesting riddles and messages. Emily Rodda scans pictures and diagrams into the book that makes all the mystery and riddles even crazier to decode. Emily also has written many other series like Dragons of Deltora. The stories of Deltora Quest, Deltora Dragons, and Deltora Shadowlands are interrelated as past and future. I would recommend this book to readers 9 years and up and all who have a strong stomach

This was a very good book, I like everything (the characters, story, magic...) but the bad dude.

The Lake of Tears is the second to the Deltora Quest series. In this book the trio of Lief, Barda, and Jasmine are off to the Lake of Tears to get the second gem to the Belt of Deltora. The gem was the Ruby, which they had to defeat the evil Thaegan to get. In the first book of the series, Lief found out from his father, Jarred, that he was the one who was meant to save Deltora by finding the Seven Gems of the Belt of Deltora. By defeating Thaegan they shall have two of the gems and be on there way to saving their home from the evil Shadowlord.
Emily Rodda used tons of details in this new addition to her fantasy series filled with mischief and mysteries. This book was probably the best fantasy book I have ever read and I recommend it to any fantasy, dragon, and magic lovers. I recommend this book to both boys and girl who are okay with some frightening events occurring throughout the book.