Siblings Books

We absolutely love this book along with every other Charlie and Lola book and movie!!! ABSOLUTELY!

Christmas gift for my 9-year old niece...Easy order process and quick delivery!

Thanks!

My son who is 3 1/2 loves Charlie and Lola. Perfect content for this age.

My 2 and a half year old LOVES this book!!!!! Charlie and Lola are favorites of hers and this episode always brings giggles galore! Now that she has the book at least once a day she "reads" it herself. It has traveled with us everywhere and I am going to have to get a spare just in case something happens to the one that she has... it is a keeper!!!!

I enjoyed reading about the adventures of those weasel brothers. It reminded me of things we did as kids. It also reminded me of some of lifes lessons, and how they are learned. I think that children can relate to some of the confusion that they face and how they resolve it,with of course the encouragement of the weasel moms and dads of the burrough. Hey, can weasels wag their tails,(the ones thath have them) I thought I saw a weasel wink at me. I hope that this is not the last adventure the weasel brothers get up to.

The book was excellent mainly for two very good reasons. One, it reminded me of my youth and all the crazy, but innocent things siblings do to eachother. It also sparks the idea that deep down we still do crazy things or at least we should. It is also a reminder that we as adults need to play more. Secondly, as I read the book to my five year old neice she just giggled and giggled. The sound of a childs giggle is good medicine for both of us. In one sitting I had to read it to her three times and got the same result each time! The book created a pleasant memory for her, two weeks time had passed since reading the book and she still commented and laughed about it without rereading it. Spending quality time with children is very important, this book holds the interest of the child, thus it is an excellent tool for we adults, who at times, lack the creativity to hold their attention on our own!

The book is amusing for both children and adults alike. The context is pure, honest and simple. For we adults it awakens our childhood memories and inspires us to share our own stories with our children. The story is real life stuff and allows us to find humor in the things, that at the moment may not have been so amusing, like coating your brother or sister with syrup. As children we secretly laughed about those times and as adults we openly talk about them. The book brings out into the open, those little mischeivous secrets that we all have, child and adult alike. I enjoy reading books to my neice and this book in particular has left a lasting impression. My five year old niece and I laugh about it's context everytime we see eachother, we discuss parts of the book in detail. It has helped create yet another special bond between us, child and adult, a gift more precious than anything.

My family thoroughly enjoys reading the book, One Too Many Weasels. I like the lesson it teaches about accepting new people by appreciating their differences. This lesson is valuable in growing families and children's first experiences at school. My children like the descriptions of situations familiar to them; riding bikes, "spooky closets", hanging from trees, and wrestling with Dad, to mention a few. All of us enjoy the beautiful illustrations! The pictures are both an amusing and colorful supplement to the story. I'm sure you and your little weasels will enjoy this wonderful story too.

I already have books one and two in the Hyperlinkz series, so I was excited about getting book three. It's really good! Since I like computers, I like it because it involves a laptop. I think it's really cool that the kids can travel through the Internet that way. I'm looking forward to book four.

A little bit of history, a lot of fun. Ashley and Austin are up to the challenge of weaving through the musical web sites and resolving more than out of time and place issues. Again Robert Elmer brings us to a satisfactory conclusion and yet, whets our appetites for another crazy adventure.

From Fanny Crosby to a Macedonian Prison to the Ft. McHenry and our National Anthem, Ashley and Austin Webster take the reader on a musical adventure; and in the process, learn amazing facts. Robert Elmer's responsible enthusiasm for surfing ignites interest in learning through the use of imaginative fiction. In this Hyperlinkz series, time travel meets the Internet. A must read for all ages.

The HyperLinkz Series' "Web Jam" book (3rd in the series) is a delight! Clever, clever story line with an appeal to today's kids will challenge and entertain both boys and girls. The internet adventures of Austin and Ashley Webster catch the reader in a "don't want to put it down" mode as you whirl through the World Wide Web. Don't miss this one!

The White Horse Talisman By Andrea Spalding is a great fantasy book. It is about Chantel and her brother Adam who go to Britain from Canada to their cousins Owen and Holly. Chantel, Adam, Owen and Holly have to help the White Horse, Equus, find his mate the red horse and foal. Equus is one of the wise ones. He can talk to Chantal in her mind since Chantal believes in horse magic.
Adam gets jealous of Chantel thanks to the honey-tongued dragon Worm. My favorite character is Equus because he�s a good character and he�s magical. He runs on the wind and can go through time. I wish I could do those things.
My least favourite character is Worm. He is evil and tricks people with his words that sound kind but are evil like Adam. Worm tells Adam, �That�s good, let your anger fuel my dragon magic. Watch the light.� Worm gets Adam to do his bad deeds by talking to him and making him angry and also using spells.
My favourite scene is when Equus and Worm fight. They move very fast, fire blazing, hooves flashing, claws slashing and tails lashing. The dragon flies up and Equus races after him, collides and it ended.
If you want to find out who wins in the battle between Equus and Worm and if Equus finds his mate and foal, you should read The White Horse Talisman.

The White Horse Talisman By Andrea Spalding is a great fantasy book. It is about Chantel and her brother Adam who go to Britain from Canada to their cousins Owen and Holly. Chantel, Adam, Owen and Holly have to help the White Horse, Equus, find his mate the red horse and foal. Equus is one of the wise ones. He can talk to Chantal in her mind since Chantal believes in horse magic.
Adam gets jealous of Chantel thanks to the honey-tongued dragon Worm. My favorite character is Equus because he's a good character and he's magical. He runs on the wind and can go through time. I wish I could do those things.
My least favourite character is Worm. He is evil and tricks people with his words that sound kind but are evil like Adam. Worm tells Adam, `That's good, let your anger fuel my dragon magic. Watch the light.' Worm gets Adam to do his bad deeds by talking to him and making him angry and also using spells.
My favourite scene is when Equus and Worm fight. They move very fast, fire blazing, hooves flashing, claws slashing and tails lashing. The dragon flies up and Equus races after him, collides and it ended.
If you want to find out who wins in the battle between Equus and Worm and if Equus finds his mate and foal, you should read The White Horse Talisman.

To disagree with the editorial reviews, I LOVED 'The White Horse Talisman', especially the way the characters seemed so real and the setting so inviting. I read a lot of fantasy, and this book was a great example of a wonderful fantasy story. Ms. Spalding put a lot of thought and research into her book, making it very interesting and an unforgettable adventure. If you liked THE DARK IS RISING you will LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!

The White Horse Talisman By Andrea Spalding is a great fantasy book. It is about Chantel and her brother Adam who go to Britain from Canada to their cousins Owen and Holly. Chantel, Adam, Owen and Holly have to help the White Horse, Equus, find his mate the red horse and foal. Equus is one of the wise ones. He can talk to Chantal in her mind since Chantal believes in horse magic.
Adam gets jealous of Chantel thanks to the honey-tongued dragon Worm. My favorite character is Equus because he’s a good character and he’s magical. He runs on the wind and can go through time. I wish I could do those things.
My least favourite character is Worm. He is evil and tricks people with his words that sound kind but are evil like Adam. Worm tells Adam, ‘That’s good, let your anger fuel my dragon magic. Watch the light.’ Worm gets Adam to do his bad deeds by talking to him and making him angry and also using spells.
My favourite scene is when Equus and Worm fight. They move very fast, fire blazing, hooves flashing, claws slashing and tails lashing. The dragon flies up and Equus races after him, collides and it ended.
If you want to find out who wins in the battle between Equus and Worm and if Equus finds his mate and foal, you should read The White Horse Talisman.

I just love this book. The storytelling is wonderful and the art is fantastic!!!

I borrowed this book from the library when I was a little girl and was mesmerised by the beautiful illustrations. Buy this for a little girl (or boy) in your life, they'll love you for it!

In the mid-1800s, Andersen wrote many original fairy tales. He has many common themes however to the stories that had been passed down for generations. This story is of a young girl sent away by her evil stepmother. She then must rescue her eleven brothers from the spell that has been placed upon them. In a dream, a fairy came to her and gave her the answer. So after, a king falls in love with her at first sight. This tale is a bit lengthy and has a few passages of irrelevant information, but because the reader feels an emotional attachment to the girl so quickly, attention never waivers. The watercolor illustrations help to support the text, but at times do not have very much contrast, giving them a murky feel. Second graders would be able to read the text; however it may take until fourth grade for children to be able to do it in one sitting.

Why 4 stars?:
Some passages in the story can get a bit lengthy. Although the text is written on a second grade level, it may take a while before students can read this in one sitting. However, they will definitely listen to it, as the characters are very captivating. The illustrations are a little muddy though.

I have owned this book since I was a yong child and has always been one of my favorites. It has all of the trimmings, a wickid step mother and all!

Edith Ashby, energetic former-politician, visits her world-traveled but now semi-reclusive photographer brother, Alfred, at their rural family home in the dead of winter. Amongst the icy roads, wildlife and old friends and acquaintances, one of whom is Edith's first ex-husband, old memories are stirred up in both Edith and Alfred. For the most part, their reminiscing is done within themselves. There's very little dialog or action in this book. Long stretches of descriptive prose sometimes makes for tedious reading.

Anyone who has ever questioned whether less is more in terms of writing excellence will find the question answered completely in this impeccable, precise novel. With a care for the exact word which one usually finds only in short stories, Colegate's Winter Journey tells of a brother and sister in the winter of their lives, rejoining each other at the family farm in rural England, and finding that the memories which surface lead each on a personal journey toward new understandings.

Every word counts here, and as the lives of Edith and Alfred unfold and their relationships with past lovers, acquaintances, and each other become clear, a picture of their completely different lifestyles and attitudes emerges.

This is not an action novel, in terms of plot. Most of the excitement here is generated by the unfolding of events from the past, the revelations of which Colegate delays through carefully dropped "hints" and prolongs, tantalizingly, throughout the novel. A couple of subplots involving present efforts to change the farm and affect its future, provide a context for these revelations and an impetus for the interior journeys of Edith and Alfred.

Those who think that great writing needs long, lush, descriptive passages, complicated syntax, and convoluted dialogue will find Colegate a refreshing change. Her scenes and images are of such startling clarity and simplicity that she creates whole worlds in just two hundred pages here. With her jewel-like precision, she speaks directly to the heart and makes Edith and Alfred live. Mary Whipple

Edith Ashby, twice divorced, has led a busy and productive life in London. Her brother Alfred lives in the country, in the house that he and Edith grew up in. When she goes to visit him there, memories of her childhood and youth rise up to meet her; likewise, her presence triggers recollections - some of them deeply painful - for Alfred. The life experiences of these two siblings merge gently yet inevitably with the history of their native land. Colegate's descriptions are evocative and poignant, her observations astute and wise. This is a masterpiece of meticulous novel writing, and the perfect book for readers like myself who cherish the works of Anita Brookner and Penelope Fitzgerald.

Alfred, 60, lives quietly in the English countryside. His sister Edith, 62, comes from London to visit him and to actively take charge of Alfred's life, of his neighbors and his property. The story circles around past husbands, wives and lovers, each shown in sharply etched profile. How do they interact with each other? Fairly well on the surface, being ever so polite and forgiving to each other. The fight goes on underground.

The author does a marvellous job of language and description. The landscape is absolutely still, frozen in winter. The people glide along effortless. But then they step on a landmine and quickly their stories blow up in their faces - just to remind us that there are deep secrets in dark corners.

I read The Worry Week with my 8 year old. We loved it so much. It was easy for her to relate to the main character and was fun to see what would happen next. It was also a good lesson in what is really involved in surviving and taking care of others.

A great book that explores a childhood fantasy of being on your own and getting by in the wilderness - no parents allowed! I recently reread this book that I enjoyed as a kid and it is still pretty great. It would make a fun movie.

Anne Lindbergh shines! A great book

This is a great book to read when you're on vacation or at the beach. It's the story of 3 sisters Alice, Allegra, and Edith (aka Minnow) who are reluctant to leave their summer house when their parents vacation plans are suddenly changed. Rather than spend a week with their boring and strict aunt, they concoct a plan which will allow them to stay behind without their parents. As Allegra puts it "We'll be on the island and we won't have a worry in the world!" But their plan goes awry and they find themselves facing dilemma after dilemma: sprained ankles, sunburns, murdering thieves (not really) and NO food. Some parents may worry about the ideas sent by of three young girls living for a week without adult supervision. Not to mention there's a lot of skinny dipping. But if you're going to oppose the book on those grounds, you may as well tell people to burn copies of "Pippi Longstocking". The book is well written with a definitively humorous tone. The characters are very real and well portrayed. Overall the story is charming and witty and exciting. If you like it you may want to read Lindbergh's 'Pinapple Place' books, though I think this book outshines them.

There are plenty of books about twins for adult readers; this appeals to young picturebook readers with a photo-filled account of twins and their differences and similarities. This much-needed book is a 'must' for any collection seeking family-oriented books: it helps siblings understand the different possibilities and personalities of twins.

I have given this book to both the preschool and kindergarten classes of my twin boys on their birthdays. Their teachers appreciate this book with great photos and captions. Many schools suggest sharing books rather than treats on special days. This book helps classmates look at twins as individuals and not a matched set, answers common questions, and opens discussions of single vs twins, and siblings vs twins.

It is a charming book with beautiful photo illustrations. It carries a very simple but important message that even very young children can enjoy. It is my very favorite picture book about twins.

Phoebe Stone's hauntingly beautiful ALL THE BLUE MOONS AT THE WALLACE HOTEL stirs the heart and imprints the mind. Award-winning author and illustrator of WHEN THE WIND BEARS GO DANCING, this is Stone's first foray into the land of intermediate to middle school readers and she arrives radiant and appealing. Emotionally, her novel reads as if drawn from deep personal experience. Artistically, the story is vivid with the kind of imagery only an author with a tap root into art itself could manage. The book is a coming-of-age tale cast with luminous characters, hauntingly lovely descriptions and a poignant resolution that is both uplifting and plausible. I especially urge school librarians to purchase ALL THE BLUE MOONS and give book talks that include dialgue segments, interior monologues and scenic descriptions. Sensitive children will be drawn into the world of Fiona Hopper, her iconoclastic family and their responses to a world that first shuns then draws them to its breast. Burgess Needle, Librarian, Safford Magnet Middle School, Tucson Unified School District

comes a book this wonderful! This book made me laugh and cry and think. I loved the characters, particularly Wallace. Phoebe Stone uses language so beautifully and weaves a great story with surprising and gratifying twists. I strongly recommend this book to all girls who love ballet, or who have a sister, or who have a best friend...in fact, all girls!

I started reading this book one evening and was hard pressed to put it down! This is a great 'stay in when the weather is bad and read' kind of story. And it's not just a children's story either; I am a mature adult with no children of my own. I recommend this book to anyone with a passion to achieve a dream and an obstacle to overcome in accomplishing it!

The story and its characters is simply captivating! It only took a few pages before I found myself attached to the three main characters: Fiona, Wallace, and Kip. Their personalities take on real dimensions very quickly; I felt as if I actually knew them...they were so believably real! They most certainly could be young people any of us may have met in this present day.

Each of the children has an endearing uniqueness: Wallace - a precocious, unconventional, idealistic, and sensitive child - unaware of her desire for value until it is 'given' to her. One is immediately drawn to her character because she is so easy to like, even love...it was as much for her I wanted to read this book as it was for anyone or anything else in the story! Kyp provides all the boldness, daring, eagerness and self-assuredness oft equated with a youthful spirit. With his genuine honesty and acceptance, he is the balm that adds balance to the triangular relationship of these three children. Finally, Fiona's narration of this tale allows us to connect with her observations, her memories, her feelings, her desires, her hopes, her longings. She has been created with vividness and vulnerability! I think every child with an overriding dream in their heart can relate to her character...as can many adults. I know I did!

There are several things you should know about Alvin Ho. The first is that he is afraid of everything. He fears elevators, the dark, heights, scary movies, and, most of all, school. The second thing is that Alvin is so afraid of school that he can't even talk when he's there. He can talk fine everywhere else, but school is too much.

To help him survive, Alvin carries a PDK - a Personal Disaster Kit - which is full of equipment. The most important part of the PDK, though, are the emergency plans, which include plans for meeting your teacher, getting through show-and-tell, and how to make friends.

Alvin spends the start of his second grade year trying to survive, figuring out ways to get out of school, and learning how to make friends, all with humorous and sometimes disastrous results.

Perfect for readers making the jump to chapter books, this is a fun, laugh-out-loud read. Author Lenore Look and Illustrator LeUyen Pham make a great team. The illustrations add to the emotion of the story and help bring Alvin to life.

If you're looking for a younger version of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, look no further than ALVIN HO: ALLERGIC TO GIRLS, SCHOOL, AND OTHER SCARY THINGS. A great read for all ages, I hope there's more to come about Alvin Ho!

Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen

Lenore Look's ALVIN HO: ALLERGIC TO GIRLS, SCHOOL, AND OTHER SCARY THINGS tells of one Alvin, who is afraid of everything: trains, bridges, teachers, girls and even school. But he loves superheroes and dreams he's actually Firecracker man in disguise. Elementary to early middle school grade readers will find Alvin Ho's adventures compelling in this involving story.

Some people follow sports teams. Others follow the rise and fall of various celebrities. Children's librarians, in contrast, are fans of children's book authors and illustrators. If trading cards were acceptable amongst grown adults I'm sure we'd be swapping Louis Sachars and Linda Sue Parks for a rare Beatrix Potter or A.A. Milne. Part of this particular branch of fandom concerns itself with the pairing of various authors with illustrators. This is where editors come in useful. It takes a smart publishing house to create just the right magic found in a Scieszka/Lane team, for example. Credit where credit is due then to Schwartz & Wade. When I heard that Lenore Look, author extraordinaire who introduced the world to Ruby Lu, had been paired with LeUyen Pham my little heart danced a tarantella. I've been fighting for more Pham appreciation for years. To see her complementing Look's particular brand of smart humor in, best of all, an early chapter book is like Christmas coming early. Together I am certain that these two women are going to create books that remain memorable long after their contemporaries have faded from the popular memory.

What do you do with a kid who doesn't talk in school? Well, if you are that kid and your name is Alvin Ho then there are a number of things you can do. You can prepare for the second grade a PDK (or Personal Disaster Kit) in the event of an emergency. You can ask your older brother how to make friends, only not with that weird girl with the cool eye patch. You can visit a therapist to try to talk out your fears (but only if you talk). But Alvin's got more on his mind than whether or not he's able to say something in class. Between "borrowing" his father's favorite toy, joining a relatively benign gang, and finding a new friend there's a lot to that kid Alvin Ho. He's an original, no doubt about it.

This is going to sound a little odd, I know, but early chapter books starring boys are not quite as common as they might be. Sure, you've got your Marvin Redpost, Martin Bridge, Horrible Harry, and Julian but for every one of those blokes there are two Clementines, three Junie B. Jones, and a couple Ivy and Beans for good measure. And boys of any ethnicity other than white? There's the aforementioned Julian and maybe the kid from The Toothpaste Millionaire, and that's about it. Of course, if Lenore Look were dancing about singing, "Look! A boy of Asian descent!" that wouldn't be her style at all. Just as she did with "Ruby Lu", Look just writes great kids. Case closed.

Look's style is wrapped up entirely in her ability to keep the sentences coming. For "Alvin Ho" she's opted to go all first person on us. So not only has she written about a boy but she has also inserted herself into the kid's very brain. It works, though. In some unfathomable way Look gets the subtlety of being a second grade boy. The seemingly incongruent combination of loving explosions and cooking shows is what makes Alvin so real to the reader. Somehow Look has tapped into the boy brain and gone deeper into their insecurities, hopes, and fears than most other authors for this age range. Mind you, there is the "Ruby Lu drives a car" moment in this book that will set some parental teeth on edge. At one point Alvin is left hanging from a tree while his family bakes some cookies. He's only missed when his mother notices his empty plate at dinner. It's vaguely traumatic, but not all that unbelievable within the context of the tale.

I can also see some people getting a little squirrely when it comes to Alvin's dialogue, though. You could make the argument that no boy in the history of the world would say, "My dad is not superhero material," or "The fourth thing you should know about me is that I love Plastic Man, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern, Concrete Man, Aquaman, King Henry V and all the superheroes in the world." You could SAY that but can I point out that Alvin never actually speaks these sentences? They're just explaining his state of mind. And if a sentence says, "The scary thing about girls is that they are not boys" then can't you argue that the author is clarifying what Alvin is feeling even if he wouldn't use those exact words at that exact time? In a sense, Look is translating Alvin's thoughts and emotions into coherent, remarkable little sentences that every second grader feels but is incapable of putting into words. There's the acknowledgment that "crying is really great" alongside the almost poignant "I am not good at anything ever since I started school." Alvin isn't precocious. He just happens to have an author capable of bringing him into crisp, clear relief.

And for that matter the book itself is just a well-done little number. I liked that when Alvin's older brother gave advice it still sounded like it was advice coming from a kid. I liked that Alvin's seatmate Flea is taking a kind of kickboxing and karate class called "Aggression for Girls". I like that every time Alvin mentions Massachusetts he says it's hard to spell (though that might just be the author showing her hand too). I like that there's a character named Jules and that Alvin is unclear on Jules's gender. I know kids like that. I like that Alvin's father's car only turns to the right now, that Alvin's baseball has a Daisuke Matsuzaka autograph, that the glossary credits Tenzing Norgay as the first to climb to the top of Mount Everest, and that by the end of the book there are still issues and problems to be resolved. Look could have wrapped Alvin's life up in a neat little bow, but of all his problems the only one she solves here is his need for a friend. And frankly, kids are probably going to understand that need better than Alvin's ability to speak in school.

All right. Enough praise of Ms. Look. Let's take a gander at Ms. LeUyen Pham's pictures now. Ms. Pham has a range of different styles she employs at strategic moments, but her most recognizable is cute kids. Big heads, teeny tiny hands and feet, that kind of thing. I say "cute" but I don't mean Bambi cute or "Love Is" cute. I mean that she has an ability to capture the joy and dread of humanity in miniature. Alvin, for example, is rendered perfectly here. Whether he's cowering in dread or bursting onto the scene as a superhero, this protagonist is impossible to imagine as anything but as Ms. Pham's version. I particularly enjoyed the picture of the boys in Alvin's class discovering that they've all gotten chicken pox as he smiles out at the reader, his happiness undulating off of him invisibly.

As I read this book do you know what title it kept reminded me of? I can't really explain why but I kept thinking about The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Maybe that's not as odd as it sounds, though. Both books have that early chapter book style. Both mix in a brand of humor particular to their respective authors. And both, I am convinced, will remain firmly implanted in the brains of their readers for years and years to come. I'd love to wave a magic wand, bonk "Alvin Ho" over the head, and declare this book a contemporary classic. If I'm any judge, however, I figure this is just the first in many "Alvin Ho" books to come. Though it stands entirely on its own, Look has left plenty of room for future installments in the series. Alvin Ho turns out to be a guy definitely worth knowing. Help a kid to meet him.