Issues Books

I read this story, "The Monster at the end of this book" to my daughter 25 yrs. ago, and she loved it. She recently requested I find it, and get it for her little girl. I'm sure she will love it too! The book has thick pages and a glossy finish, better than 25 yrs. ago.

My two sons (ages 5 and 4) beg me to read this book several times a week. It is one of their favorite bedtime stories.

The first time I read this book they didn't care much for it. That's because I made several mistakes that are very important to making this book fun after repeated readings. Here's the secrets:

1. Imitate Grover's voice. The mistake is to make Grover sound too deep. He's more like Yoda with a panic attack. Vibrate the back of your tongue like you're trying to gargle and let your voice climb when Grover is shouting.

2. Don't forget the sound effects. There's bricks coming down, boards being hammered into place and Grover panting and screaming on every page.

3. Let your children turn the pages while you plead to them to "don't turn the page!"

4. Replace the words. After you read this book 5-6 times, you can spice it right back up by changing the words (e.g. "The Naked Gorilla at the End of this Book.")

5. Use different Sesame Street characters. My sons ask for "The Count" most often as either a stand-in for Grover or as a companion through the story. "Three, three pages left before the end of the book, AH AH AH AH AH!"

I have forgotten all about this book until someone mentioned it in a bookclub that I belong to. She reads it to her son every night. And I remember how much fun I had reading it to my nephew 13 years ago on vacation, so I scurried online and ordered a copy of it. My sons (even though they are probably too old for it) request it every night since it arrived. They think it is a hoot and a hollar. And they beg me to keep turning the pages (I must be raising some fearless boys!) and when they get to the end, they giggle with glee.

My advice is, don't wait to buy this book. Get it now and enjoy some reading time with your children. This book is just absolutely fun and I know that it will keep my sons interested in reading. At least they'll remember mom struggling to keep the pages closed ...

7/22/08

What can I say...it's a blue furry masterpiece. I read it so much as a kid that the cover of the book came off. I'm finding more and more people that count this book among their all-time favorites. An "interactive" book by old school standards. Order this book now.

Stephanie Moulton Sarkis PhD NCC LMHC
Author, Psychotherapist, and ADHD Expert

My son is not into Sesame Street at all, but he still loves this book. I bought it for him because I remember my mother reading it to me and my sisters when we were little. It's a classic that's still great for kids of all ages. My 1 year old loves the characters and my 3 year old loves the story. It's a great addition to our night time stories! I bought 2 so I could give one as a gift because I love it so much

This book compiles information that is a good beginning when trying to learn about vaccinations and whether or not they're right for you and your child. Not the difinitive guide though.

I must preface this review with the disclosure that I am personally in agreement with much of the information and views presented in the Sears' parenting library. I have been reading this book as I prepare to have my second child vaccinated. I will have my children vaccinated because we travel internationally to the developing world where diseases that are not common in the U.S. are still present, however, I am planning on a modified schedule due to information I am now aware of that contraindicates (in my opinion, based on my research) the CDC schedule. My first child, who is now four years old, was vaccinated using the schedule recommended by the CDC, which I have since come to be somewhat skeptical of. I appreciate the objectivity with with Dr. Sears presents information about the vaccination schedule. Perhaps more importantly I appreciate his objective assessment of the risks involved in vaccinating or not vaccinating for the different diseases. If you are also interested in knowing more about the pros and cons of the myriad vaccinations this is a good resource for your library. Based on additional research I have done on the subject Dr. Sear's book is a valuable resource for your library.

I appreciated Dr. Sears' balanced perspective toward vaccines as written in this book. It is thoroughly informative and really presents the various vaccine options clearly and concisely. The author's medical perspective does shine through, as he encourages various vaccinations for the good of the general populace, but it is clear that he is writing the book for individuals who are considering the good of their own children first, and I appreciate that.

I had already been set against vaccines before reading this book, but I carefully reconsidered each option in the reading of the book, and I feel that a person who doesn't know anything about vaccines could pick up this information and choose entirely for or against vaccines or land somewhere in the middle, just based on this book. For that reason and because it has made me feel much more confident in my own decisions, I would recommend this book to any parent or parent-to-be who is interested in getting facts, not propaganda. A lot of vaccines have changed their ingredients in the last ten years, and it is very helpful to have that updated information; mercury, for example, has been all but totally removed. For my own part, I feel that the levels of aluminum in the three shots that I considered are still way too high and not worth the risk when it comes to injecting them into an infant, but I like that someone else could read the book and come to a completely different conclusion.

I notice that of those people who rate this book poorly, the camp seems to be rather evenly divided between those who say Dr. Sears is too pro-vaccine and those who say he is too anti-vaccine. That seems to show that he has done a good job of presenting the case fairly.

It's a good read for parents who are concerned about the whole "Should I, Shouldn't I?" sitch with vaccines.

as a mom who opted out of vaccinations for her child, this book provided with me clear, UNbiased medical information about every vaccine the AAP recommends. though i chose the road less traveled, Dr. Sears does give good reasons for most vaccines, but the medical info provided did not happen to encourage me to shoot my kid up with monkey kidney cells, fetal cow serum and wayyyyyyyyyy too much aluminum. i recommend this book for all parents who care about the health and safety of their newborn.

I was given this book as an adult during the loss of a pet when words were of small consolation. Written and illustrated in childrens' format, it is both uplifting and comforting to both children and adults. I have now given it several times over to pet owners who say the same.

This book was very appropriate for my 4 year old, colorful pictures, easy to understand ideas about what dog heaven is like. Very positive, but mentions that the dog will miss you and you will miss him, but he is having fun and will always love the child. It had me in tears and it allowed my son to be able to ask more specific questions after reading the book so he was able to understand the loss better. It helped us explain a hard to understand event in a young child's life, thank you!

As an adult a bookstore clerk offered me this book when my dog died, it helped me so much I've often given it as a gift to friends who have lost their animals.

I bought this book to help my 4.5 year old grieve for our 17 year old lab who died a couple of weeks ago. The illustrations are beautiful and the tone is soothing; but, I found myself at an uncomfortable loss to explain where the angel children came from--my daughter wanted to know if they were there because they had died too. This is was much more than I thought needed to be explained at this point. Our family is spiritual but not religious and haven't had long discussions with our daughter about God, other than to explain the existence of different religions and the need for understanding and tolerance of all beliefs. Had I known that God was going to be such a centerpiece of the story, I probably would not have purchased the book. I think for the right family, it is a wonderful story. Unfortunately, it didn't work for us.

We also read Forever Dog which was recommended by my daughter's school and it was perfect for our needs.

I keep two copies of this book on hand at all times. It is the perfect gift for any dog lover when a favorite pet dies. It is appropriate for adults and children alike.

What a wonderful book! Well, I admit, mostly I like looking at the pictures. But even for someone who's completely grown out of pink and purple, I often read this book wishing I could have the self-confidence to dress just like Nancy. I've read things about this book saying that there is no deep message, but I think there are several. I love that Nancy's parents make room for her to be herself even though they don't act like she does. And I love that Nancy has the desire even at such a young age to see beauty and elegance in everything around her. Her parents don't let her do everything she wants (think of the time she goes to her grandparents' anniversary party) but they let her do enough to let her personality shine through. And as for being too dramatic - I believe that the only people who believe that over-the-top clothing and attitudes are wrong are the people who need to take a deep breath and figure out why they spend that much time thinking about stuff like that.
Keep being Fancy, Nancy!!

Fancy Nancy
By Jane O'connor
Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Fancy Nancy loves to be fancy, but her family is very plain. Nancy gets an idea. She will teach her family to be fancy. They all dress up in fancy clothes and go out to eat at a restaurant. Everyone turns to look at them as they enter. "Maybe they think we are movie stars," thought Nancy.

Nancy uses fancy words like: fuchsia, plume, stupendous, and accessories.
Any little girl who likes to play dress-up will enjoy Fancy Nancy.

Jill Ammon Vanderwood
Author: Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)

This story is so cute. Gave this to my niece for her birthday. Gave a different Fancy Nancy to a friend's daughter. Great series of books...even my 10-year old enjoys reading them!

I bought this book for my daughter's 3rd birthday. She absolutely loves this book! Great illustrations and a fun story. She will request this book to be read to her. I have to talk her into reading another book just so we aren't reading "Fancy Nancy" 7 days a week. This book is interactive in the sense that there is soooooo much detail to the illustrations that you can spend so much more time on the pictures than just the words. I would recommend this book to all little girls that have a good imagination or need to spark their imagination. I think this will be a good book for my daughter for years to come! I can't wait to see what other "Fancy Nancy" books are out there to add to our library!

I held a Fancy Nancy party for my granddaughter for her 6th birthday. We made a Fancy Nancy cake and the ultimate was when she opened all her Fancy Nancy books that she received as gifts. Just adorable writing and illustrations. Thanks.

John Marsden has done an excellent job creating a great and exciting story about friendship, war, and love. I have read all the books in this series and I was so mad when it ended. You feel so close to the charactors that when it's over, its heartbreaking. I wish I could meet every one of the charactors on the book. This series truly has changed my life. I've learned so much and it has changed the way I feel about a war. Now that I know first hand what people go through in a war, I'll never doubt the affects again.

I wouldn't have gone for this book if it was pitched to me: a group of teens laugh, fall in love, and grow up in the context of suddenly having to survive as guerrillas. Yeah, right.

But I think Marsden held this together surprisingly well - there are a few strengths to the book (I was about to continue this sentence along the lines of, `that explain the popularity of the series', but there are way too many examples of popularity not reflecting quality).

Ahoy - spoilers ahead.

I liked the very deliberate way Marsden gave us several chapters of these teenagers simply being recognisable Australian kids. Admittedly he did open with the teaser - the hint of something big and dark - rather than totally selling this as a teen romance/coming of age story before the shocking twist. I could have coped without the early promise of more, but tell me he wasn't consciously thinking he didn't want to lose some year nine boys before they got to the shooting (`Is this a kissing book?'). Actually, you don't have to tell me: he's totally open about consciously writing for this market in his preface. That being said, he does only hint, and then spends some time on getting his target audience of Oz juveniles to identify with the main characters. Hence the greater potency when their world is changed in a moment. It probably resonates far more with old folks like myself who already subscribe to this notion, but it would be great if even a few complacent Australians were woken up to the fact that wars don't happen to qualitatively different people - people that you somehow think, you know, them having their homes bombed and being refugees is the sort of thing they just take in their stride. Reminds me of Steely Dan's potent `Third World Man', where Fagan twists familiar suburban images into those of war, for example, "Johnny's playroom, is a bunker filled with sand," "I saw fireworks, I thought that I was dreaming, `til the neighbours came out screaming'" (OK, it works better with Larry Carlton's exquisite solo). So, sure, hats off to Marsden for putting more of a familiar human face in something usually seen as alien.

But once the invasion occurs our plucky kids don't suddenly morph into a crack military unit (well, they do a bit), nor does the book simply shrink into an ugly Tom Clancy/Chuck Norris jingoistic potboiler. Somehow he keeps the teen (dare I say, the `girly' teen) thing happening: introspection with occasional passable insights (eg. people don't really see things because they give them names - once something is named - such as the canyon `hell', they only perceive their projections in the misleading word; animals aren't so easily fooled), and classic - but realistic - boy/girl confusion over infatuation (save me from the appalling romance of just about any fantasy writer: McCaffrey, Kerr, Goodkind, Kay ... ugh. A legion of teenage readers swallowing supposedly profound relationships that haven't a hint of authenticity or beauty). Marsden doesn't play it for voyeurism, but you do get lines you might expect in Grey's Anatomy preceding a jet firing missiles. There's even time for a little historical detection with regard to the enigmatic hermit - who would have thought it? There's also a usable range of characters with far more depth and room for development than many purportedly adult novels. What? A Christian and a stoner that can't merely be summed up in those words. Blimey.

Realistic? Well, sure it's a bit of the old villain saying, "We could have succeeded in our evil plans if it wasn't for you pesky kids!", and that's attractive to some of his audience - it makes for a more enjoyable story than the naked realism of fly-ridden bloody corpses. But while he crosses the line here and there Marsden quite deliberately has the kids lower their expectations from movie ones, and will have a hero go into shock after a near miss rather than rip off their shirt and run unscathed through a hail of bullets slaying faceless hordes (this would also be problematic as some of the more central fighters are girls). This is refreshing. While he's also been careful not to demonise the enemy, I'd be interested to find out if the rest of the series goes as far as the leap to realising the `enemy' may actually have had as little choice as you about being in this dangerous situation.

The book is not a breathtaking achievement, but it is a solid one on a hazardous premise. A lot could have gone wrong that didn't, and there's a lot that goes right.

I really enjoyed this book and plan to buy the rest of the series. It has a good mix of adventure and romance so it will appeal to most of my high school students. The characters have distinct personalities and all of them show strengths in the story which could be a great jumping off point for a discussion on how we are all different and how our differences make society function better. Aside from thoughts about teaching, I simply couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next.

Tomorrow When the War Began is a great book for 8th grade through high school readers. It starts off with Elie and a group of friends that camp at a place that has never been searched. They have a great time and want to stay there longer because they now feel as if its their own place. When Elie and her friends arrive back at home something terribly different has happened and nobody is there.

This book tells about how Ellie and her friends survive and take leadership within each other. They also learn how to do things on thier own to survive. I think it is amazing how they work together and do what they have to do.

I think this book is one of my favorite books because it has the action and thriller that makes me want to keep reading it. It is also one of those books that is hard to predict what is going to happen so you always have to be ready. I thought for sure that I knew what was going to happen and then it took a different turn and suprised me. I thought this book was exciting and fun to read besides the first two chapters. I think the first two chapters are boring because it introduces everybody and starts off slow but im sure that any body else who read this book would agree with me. I also like the way the author words the text too. The author lets you know what the main character, Elie, is thinking through out the book which I think is cool.

Don't forget to read the rest of the series if you like this one like me.

Ellie is so articulate, bright, and caring that she makes what would have been an average story into an amazing and believable account of eight young adults out to save their families and ultimately their homeland.

Once I got used to the Australian vernacular, I read this book at an amazing pace because I simply couldn't put it down.

I can't wait to hunt down the rest of this series.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Volume 2 is an inspirational and enlightening book. Being a teenager myself I can relate to a lot of the stories told in this bestseller. The first time I read this book I was younger and didn't understand what the authors in the book were saying, but when I revisited it this year I actually understood it and connected more to the stories. This book has inspired me to write about my personal experiences and really look back at the good, bad, or in between as a way to learn from my mistakes. Instead of breaking down I decided to write. This book has taught me and helped me through some rough times. This book is great and I recommend it to anyone. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is not just for teenagers, I have even read some stories with my friends and family. This book has been a real joy and inspiration on all aspects of my life. Thanks Chicken Soul and I hope all readers out there will get a chance to read this delightful, motivating, and wonderful book.

This is a great book for every teenager. Every teen goes througha tough time at least once in their life and this book can really help. It has stories on things from teenage romance to suicide. This is a great book for everyone from teenagers to adults.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 2 is a great book for teens because it is something we can relate to. It is filled with short anecdotes written by teenagers or once-teenagers about their adolescent experiences. It is inspirational and teaches us about who we are, about people, and about life in general. I recommend this book for all teenagers.

I think that this book was a very good and fun book to read. Anyone who enjoys hearing about different teens telling their own stories would greatly enjoy this book. While I was reading it, there were times when i felt like laughing and other times when I felt like crying too. The things that teenagers go through are so hard and alot of adults do not understand this, that is why this book is so helpful. It is a very good book to read and I would recommend it to anyone, espically teens.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul ll is a great book written by teenagers and some adults about life. It teaches us about life and how to deal with it. It shows us that no matter where you came form, what you look like, or how you act, almost all teenagers are the same. This book is an inspiration to everyone.
This book influences me because it inspires me to become a better person. Before I read this book I thought, "Oh this book is just some boo full of made-up stories", but as I continued to read into it more, I thought" Wow this is a really great book". This book tells you that all teens go through the same stuff. It shows you that your not alone, and with faith and courage you can overcome most obstacles. This book is filled amazing stories of love depression, and hope. I encourage everyone to read this book.

I have to laugh that one of the tags for this book is atheist. Was he an atheist? I don't know. But I truly enjoyed this book, and it was a further shovel of dirt on religion in the ground for me. A number of things had led me to that point (taking a philosophy course way back when I was in college), but this book really gave religion in a frank light: nothing more than an explanation of the unknown for societies. The ones that took hold and didn't go away when science explained away are what we have today. But seriously, lets only go as far as agnostic, please.

Religion aside, this is truly a magnificent travel through space. I read it whilst camping that really assisted in its fine journey. A little outdated, but highly recommended nonetheless.

I have read many many books pertaining to astronomy and cosmology over the years, but until this book, I had never read anything written by Carl Sagan. What interested me enough to purchase this book was not only the topic it covered, but that the book was itself written by Carl Sagan.

I best remember Carl Sagan from those TV specials he narrated that were aired on public TV many years ago. I was always impressed with Mr. Sagan's knowledge and manner of presentation of the material. His enthusiasm to tell what he knew about the cosmos was never masked by a scripted TV presentation; his enthusiasm was very infectious. So recently, I thought I had to rectify my having never read a book written by Mr. Sagan and I purchased the book Cosmos. I was not disappointed; I felt as if I was watching one of those old TV specials narrated by Mr. Sagan. In my mind's eye, I could see everything I was reading and I did not want the book to end.

Despite that the book may be dated, and cosmology has moved on a bit since the publishing of this book, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in cosmology, astronomy, astrophysics and even history. I only wish Mr. Sagan was still alive to write something new. He is missed by me.

The best advice I can give, regarding this book, is to GIVE it to a young person interested in science or space. You will plant a seed that will grow forever. Sagan's masterpiece takes the mind on a wonderful journey through the stars as well as through other space centered events. Highest recommendation as a text for learning as well as a fine read for anyone interested in the subject.

Carl Sagan's book and TV series called Cosmos has opened the vast universe to millions and millions of people. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and watching the series.

It is not surprising that Cosmos is the best-selling science book ever published in the English language...and the series has been seen by half a billion people!

Carl Sagan was able to accomplish this feat by tapping into his psyche as a little boy who asked many questions about the universe. He then wrote and produced the series from the heart. His enthusiasm and fascination with the earth, planets, stars, galaxies, extraterrestrial life and more is contagious! He took an incredibly difficult subject and made it fun, exciting and educational for anyone from 8 to 80 who has looked up at the night skies...and wondered.

The book and series are not to be missed!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I first bumped into Carl Sagan when I saw his TV documentary series called "Cosmos" many years ago. It has only been recently that I have got off my rear and read the book. It has to be said that I had waited far too long to do this.

"Cosmos" (the book) is a great overall introduction to the universe about us and the history of its discovery by people. Mixing hitsory and astronomy, Sagan covers the major efforts that went into discovering different things out there and what thos discoveries meant. There is also a healthy level of how astronomers do what they do, such as light spectrum analysis, radar mapping and so on. Despite this, there is virtually no mathematics involved, which is a good thing for general readers.

The hardcover edition also has plenty of pictures, photos and diagrams relating to the text. This makes the book very interesting and quite amazing to read. I was very impressed with the quality of the photos and what they showed. They added a great deal to the text, especially for more visual people such as myself.

The only drawback with the book is its age. It was written over 20 years ago and references to future missions planned for 1986 highlight this aspect of the book. There may have been discoveries since the time of writing that would add more to the reader's knowledge. However, in spite of this drawback of age, the book is still valuable as a very readable introduction.

Carl Sagan writes with a very fluid and relaxing style. He doesn't overload the reader with specialised jargon, and when he does use it, he explains it very well. When the explanations are a bit heavy, I have noticed Sagan's tendency to supply diagrams. I was at no point confused or lost by Sagan's text.

Overall, the book makes a great starting point into the world of astronomy, the path people have taken to get us to where we are today and just what is out there. This is a very interesting book about a very interesting subject. I definitely recommend it, despite the age problems refered to above.

A mean, lazy kid with a bad attitude makes for a boring read. Don't waste your money.

Fifth-grader Greg Heffley chronicles his life in what he hastily explains is a journal and NOT a diary (his mom bought him a journal titled "diary," to his humiliation). Cartoons on every page enhance his laugh-out-loud quest to become more popular than his current standing, at around 52nd or 53rd. Even though he has always liked girls, his history doesn't seem to help him much. He tries to explain the whole popularity game to his clueless best friend Rowley, who Greg estimates is probably around the 150th most popular kid in their grade, but to no avail.

Greg has other concerns. He wants to avoid the terrible Cheese Touch, which occurs when someone touches the ancient, moldy cheese blob on the basketball court and passes it along to someone else. Since the only way to prevent contamination with the Cheese Touch is to cross your fingers, Greg tapes his fingers crossed --- which results in a D grade in penmanship. ("...but it was totally worth it.") The Cheese Touch plays a part in a heartwarming yet unsentimental thread relating to Greg's friendship with Rowley.

Another big goal for Greg is to become wealthy. To that end, at Halloween Greg and Rowley sell tickets to their own Haunted House. After their pack-o-lies advertising blitz (their posters promise live sharks), kids shell out to enter their Hall of Screams. However, Greg and Rowley unfortunately run out of time to prepare, so the Hall of Screams turns out to be just a bed for the youngsters to crawl under --- and yet, the first kid to enter is so terrified, he can't come out and must be rescued by Rowley's not-exactly-happy father.

When the coach introduces a wrestling unit during physical education class, Greg decides that he's going to bulk up. His parents refuse to buy him expensive weight-lifting equipment until he proves he'll stick with a fitness program, so he fashions a weight set out of milk jugs and broomsticks. However, his bodybuilding routine is disrupted when his mother forces him to try out for the school play, which is "The Wizard of Oz." Although Greg sings very, very quietly during tryouts, the teacher singles him out as "a lovely soprano," causing great hilarity among the girls. The humiliation is almost too much to bear, especially when Greg gets picked to be a tree. His part entails speaking just one word during the entire play, which makes him grumble...until the teacher decides that the trees should sing the lamest song ever written. It does not bode well for the actual performance, to say the least.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney perfectly nails the voice of a fifth-grade boy. Greg's (mis)adventures move along rapidly, with one hilarious scene after another, augmented with the equally hysterical comic illustrations. Since its release in April 2007, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID has proven itself to be a winner. This New York Times bestseller has appealed, and will continue to appeal, to middle-grade boys, including reluctant readers --- and is irresistible to adults as well.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

My son and I really enjoyed this book. The humor and design of the book were very original!

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid
By Jeff Kinney

Yes, this is a very funny book. Greg is the middle child and in middle school. He is also in the middle of everything. If there is a problem at home or at school, you can bet he has been there. What does it take to be popular with girls? It seems like the rules have changed. Even his dorky friend Rowley is more popular than Greg, and he's not even trying.

When Greg tries to be the class cartoonist, it backfires and all of his cartoons are edited by the teacher. When Rowley becomes the class cartoonist, he has taken the ideas that he worked on with Greg, and won't even give Greg any credit. When Greg decides to be the class clown, he knows he can pull it off on the day when they have a substitute. Wouldn't you know it; the substitute is none other than Greg's mom! Who turns out to be the class clown? Rowley, of course.

On the day he substitutes for Rowley on the safety patrol, he chases the kindergarteners with worms. Can Greg help it if Rowley gets kicked off the safety patrol, just because Greg was wearing Rowley's coat, and the neighbors thought it was Rowley who tormented the kindergarteners?

As the mother of a boy, I enjoyed the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This book brings back memories of those awkward years of middle school. This book looks like a diary, with simple drawings on every page. It is easy to read. Middle school boys will want to read and laugh along with Greg's antics.

Jill Ammon Vanderwood
author: Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)

If there was an "IT" book of 2008 in the school where I teach 5th grade, forget about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; it had to be Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Book orders could not send copies fast enough. Book stores could not restock their shelves quickly enough. Everywhere I turned I was met by a student with his or her nose buried in its pages. So naturally, I had to see what all the fuss was about.

Greg Heffley is your everyday, run-of-the-mill, middle school "wimp". Sure, someday he's going to amount to something big, but for now, he's "stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons." Greg's journal, not "diary", but "journal", takes us through the hilarious events that make up Greg's days in his first year of middle school. Lucky for us, whether it's avoiding his older brother Rodrick, or abusing his best friend Rowley, Greg's days are never short on laughs.

I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard when reading a book. There are laughs on every page, literally. Greg's mudslinging student council posters, Greg and Rowley's failed attempt at a haunted house, the students' wrestling unit in PE ("muscles are gross"), and Christmas time at the Heffley home. Situations like these that Greg finds himself in are comical enough, but it's his voice and commentary that sets this book apart. Jeff Kinney has cleverly captured the inner workings of a middle school student, and because of this book's popularity, it's obvious that students connect with Greg.

However, that's also what scares me about this book. I'm afraid that Kinney is too smart for his own good and without realizing it, has created a lovable character that advocates laziness and using your best friend for his family's money and his video games. Beneath all the laughs, Greg is a deceitful, selfish, jerk of a boy and the fact that students relate to him so easily doesn't sit well with me. I admit, I laughed hysterically at Kinney's tongue-in-cheek irony, but I'm an adult. I can tell the difference between Greg the character being serious and Jeff the author being sarcastic. I'm not so sure all the kids reading this will be able to.

I'm torn though. This book is funny and relevant and I guess if children are excited about reading it, then who am I to complain. Any time children WANT to read, it's a good thing, and I commend Kinney for this. He's discovered a great medium to tell his stories. The pictures only add to the humor and the journal format makes for an easy read. I think most of my students would be able to distinguish between Greg's selfish behavior and acceptable, respectful behavior, and if they don't, eh . . . kids will be kids. Either way, I have a feeling that Kinney is going to be around for a while. I may be better off enjoying the laughs.

This is a very good book for everyone.it is about a mare named Holly who gives birth to a sick little filly named Wonder.Ashleigh and Charlie,a grumpy old trainer,beleive in Wonder and work together to try and make her a success.Joanna Campbell is wonderful!

I started this series when I was really young and now being 20 have found the books again and i still find myself pouring over them like i'm a little kid again. This book and the rest of the series is excellent for any young horse lover.

To this day I can still remember opening the Christmas package from my Grandma that contained the box set of the first 4 Thoroughbred books. I was in 5th grade and the typical horse crazy girl, so you can imagine my excitment over this new series. I followed the series faithfully, recieving them for birthdays and Christmas for years, yet those first four still remain the best. Ashleigh and Wonder saw me through a rough couple of months at a new school where I was teased endlessly for reading on top of the jungle gym instead of racing around with my classmates. Occasionally I pick up this book out of nostalgia and it still manages to suck me into the story, even at the age of 22. Excellent book, though I recommend if you read the series, keep in mind that the orginal author leaves the series after #14, and the series certainly goes downhill after that.

I ordered this a month ago for my daughter's friend's birthday gift. We used 'super saver' shipping and we are still awaiting delivery!

This is the first book in the Thoroughbres series by Joanna Campbell. It is about a girl, Ashleigh Griffin, and her fight to save a sick foal, Wonder, from being sold. This is a great book! Try The Saddle Club, to, by Bonnie Bryant, and Inkheart and Inkspell, by Cornelia Funke, if you like adventure and magic.
-horse-crazy, doll-crazy, book-crazy, 11-year-old

I think this book was read to me in school many many years ago. I remembered it as an adult and purchased it for sentimental reasons. I think it reminded me of The Secret Garden in a way. The seashell cottage was the perfect hideaway that every little girl could dream of making her own. I loved the story of Mandy and found myself wistfully wishing that I had a place like that as a child. What a wonderful story that Julie Andrews has created. I will cherish it always and keep it to pass down to the young girls in my family.

I read and reread this book about 5 or so times as a child. I simply loved the adventure of it all about the protagonist discovering a home away from home that she could call her very own. This is a fascinating tale for children who love to live in their adventurous daydreams and who love secret hiding places of their own where they can just "be". Although this is a book I would reccomend to children, I wouldn't reccomend it to adults as the plot and drama is very minimal. Adults would be bored of this whereas most children, especially little girls, would be fascinated by the simplicity and beauty described within its pages.

Mandy is obviously the protagonist of this story. She is an orphaned child living in an orphanage with other children of the state. She has a friend that she bonds with over time and gets along farily well with eveyone else, as well as the staff, until the day that mandy climbs over the wall of the orpganage and discovers an abandon cottage! She decides from that moment thatthe cottage is hers and her secret hideaway. She begins to do things that are uncharacteristic of her such as lying about where she has been, stealing from the orphanage supplies to take and supply her new home with, and is suddenly secretive with everyone, even her best friend. Read on to find out about Mandy and what she goes through as a child trying to make a cottage into a home and keep her secret place just that... secret.

Although this book is aimed to appeal to girls approximately between the ages of 7-13, I was in college when Mandy was first released. Being a hugh fan of Julie Andrews, I of course bought the book and was amazed that I could not put it down! To me, a great book has the ability to transport the reader from their day-to-day life into another time and place. I was mesmerized by this charming story from beginning to end as I am sure every child who reads it will be. Mandy is not only a sweet, likeable orphan, but she is very positive role model for children, showing that if you try hard enough, you can make your dreams come true. I admire Mandy's spirit and courage to go after her dream of someday having a real family.
I had read that because Julie Andrews lost a bet to her teenage step-daughter Jenny, that her forfeit was to write her a story, which turned into this wonderful book! Lucky for us readers, the result of that bet gave us our first glimpse at yet another one of Julie Andrews' many talents.
It's been 30 years now since I first read Mandy and I still have my original version of this book in a prominant place on my bookshelf, along with a hardback copy of Mandy and each updated version that has been printed. All the young girls in my family have read this classic book and loved it as much as I do. I only hope someday a movie version of this beautiful story is produced.

I purchased this book with my own money when it first came out thirty-six years ago. I was eight years old. I still have it on my bookshelf and shared it with my own children. This is truly a classic and I hope that someday it will be adapted for the screen!

This book reminds me a lot of "The Secret Garden" without being quite as preachy and overly descriptive. My two daughters absolutely love this book and consider it one of their favorites.