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A supplement to two earlier volumes on American children's fiction from 1859 to 1984, this new dictionary, the first of a projected series of five-year updates, covers 134 award-winning books published from 1985 to 1989 with detailed factual material and insightful critical appraisal. Included in the more than 400 entries are book title entries, which provide plot summary and literary analysis; author entries, which stress significant biographical facts and major contributions to children's literature; character entries, and miscellaneous entries for settings and other items needing additional explanation. An appendix classifies the books under major awards, and an extensive index accesses specific terms while also identifying broad themes and subjects relating to genres and narrative and stylistic elements. ... Read more

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The life of a knight in 14th century England was not always a happy one, especially when you didn't see eye to eye with your neighbour! ... Read more

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A mystery novel about two teenagers investigating an old railway disaster. Age group young adult. ... Read more

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Matthew and Jessica's competitiveness gets them into trouble when a magic trick goes disastrously wrong.They realize they can only undo the spell by working together. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

FOR THE KIDS
MY KIDS LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH AND RENTED IT MANY TIMES FROM THE LOCAL LIBRARY, SO I BOUGHT IT FOR THEM. IT HAS GREAT ILLUSTRATIONS AND IS EASY FOR LITTLE ONES TO READ. NOT MY FAVORITE BUT THEY LIKE IT. ... Read more

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So begins the story of a tin father and son who dance under a Christmas tree until they break the ancient clockwork rules and are themselves broken. Thrown away, then rescued from a dustbin and repaired by a tramp, they set out on a dangerous quest for a family and a place of their own. ... Read more

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The Mouse and His Child
This book is very good. Once you start you will want to read more. It is a well written story. Make sure you read it when you have a lot of time because once you start reading, you will not want to put it down. ... Read more

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Cole Richards has been training in karate for four years. He's on the brink of advancing to his next belt level, but as he prepares for his test, new challenges come his way. First, his dojo announces a "create-your-own kata" contest to take place the same day as his belt test. Now he's torn between practicing for the test and making up a series of moves that will knock his sensei's socks off. But before he even begins with either challenge, he lands in trouble with a group of local teens -- and then with his best friends, too! How will Cole handle the mounting pressure?



With themes of jealousy, competition, and bullying, Matt Christopher brings together important life lessons and the thrill of karate. ... Read more

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In her reappraisal of canonical works such as "Black Beauty", "Beautiful Joe", "Wind in the Willows", and "Peter Rabbit", Tess Cosslett traces how nineteenth-century debates about the human and animal intersected with, or left their mark on, the venerable genre of the animal story written for children. Effortlessly applying a range of critical approaches, from Bakhtinian ideas of the carnivalesque to feminist, postcolonial, and ecocritical theory, she raises important questions about the construction of the child reader, the qualifications of the implied author, and the possibilities of children's literature compared with literature written for adults. Perhaps most crucially, Cosslett examines how the issues of animal speech and animal subjectivity were managed, at a time when the possession of language and consciousness had become a vital sign of the difference between humans and animals.Topics of great contemporary concern, such as the relation of the human and the natural, masculine and feminine, child and adult, are investigated within their nineteenth-century contexts, making this an important book for nineteenth-century scholars, children's literature specialists, and historians of science and childhood. ... Read more

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The Elves are gathering at Santa's castle to help prepare for another Christmas.Santa, who is already fretting over the millions of expensive computers and video games topping the lists in this year's mailbags, gets one too many 'Give me, give me, give me.' letters:"No 'Dear Santa', no 'Please'."...Just GIVE ME!"I think this will be my last year...Christmas just isn't what it was."In the Nick (Ho-Ho) of time, Chief Helper Elf brings Santa the letter which will give Christmas back its true meaning:"Dear Santa, Please don't come this year..."

These children have been wondering:"Why doesn't Santa visit the children who don't write him?", the ones who lack food and water, medical care or education, the animals who can't ask for help or protection."George and the Gang" want to help by giving Santa some time to help the children who have the greatest need.

Santa decides to leave the simple work of Christmas and giving presents, to the parents and relatives of the children who wrote to him.He spends almost a year working among people who have life-threatening needs.He's back at his castle shortly before the next Christmas, tired but cheerful, asserting the important message which is the purpose of this book as he tells Chief:"...I can't wait to start again!Helping others is fun!The greatest gift is yourself!"He writes his first thank-you letter...to George and the Gang. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What Santa does the rest of the year - a beautiful book with a wonderful message!
The copy of my book is simply called Dear Santa and is a beautiful story about what Santa does during the year. He's not on vacation sitting in the sun and surfing, or even at his workshop supervising the elfs and the toys. He still visits children all over the world and helps by giving book to childrenwho don't have any. He brings medicine to children who needs them to keep them healthy, brings peace to areas that are in throws of war and he also is helping to dig wells to provide villages much needed water. Where ever Santa goes it's Christmas in the sence of spreading the joy of Christmas though out the year and that giving is the best gift of all

Santa arrives at his village and his elfs Christmas Eve and looks at the toys and praises his top elf G Willikers. Santa knows each child and never gets them confused. He even reads some of the letters and answers them back like the letter Kayla sent him.

This is such a beautiful book simply in the message of making every day Christmas by spreading joy by helping! This needs to be a book that already have at home and know about. It would be a wonderful book to read each Christmas eve and even though out the year. ... Read more

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Uplifting and Fun
I first read this book when I was a youngster, back in the 70s.I now have my own son and looked for these books both in the US and in the UK only to find them out of print.The original stories from Beresford are heartwarming and fun for younger readers.I really wish someone would consider re-printing them!They are just as applicable today as 25 years ago.The newer versions of Womble stories are meant for the younger readers and do not have near the depth of the older books. ... Read more

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Patrick Marrow feels sorry for himself because he thinks he has the worst family in the world.In the first chapters, we are inclined to agree!His baby sister is a slobbering noise-pollution machine who takes up all of her mother's time and attention.His father is "Mr. ILIVE FOR MY JOB", hidden behind his Financial Times except to pop up now and then with such encouraging words as:"I'm far too busy to waste time with a nauseating little pimple like you!" or "Can't you keep this place tidy, instead of sitting on your bottom all day doing nothing?"Ooooh - Dem's fightin' words!Patrick's mother is the long-suffering slave to her husband's every tyrannical demand.She is kind to her son but her unhappiness is a constant source of his own.Even his dog, Bouncer, the scruffy accident-looking-for-a-place-to-happen, is an embarrassment to Patrick.I think we get the picture.

Then Patrick happens upon - TA-DA!! - DR.TAPIOCA'S INCREDIBLE REVERSING PEPPERMINTS !...And he gives one to each member of his family and they become perfect and all live happily ever after, right?BZZZT!!Wrong!Just as in real life, nothing is ever that simple.What happens when people (and dogs) take these peppermints provides several hilarious anecdotes and some invaluable lessons for Patrick and all readers to learn!Go ahead - take one... ... Read more

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Excellent book for children
Set in England, the story starts with Patrick not really enjoying homelifeor his school teacher. He would like his family, his teacher, even his dogto change. He meets an oriental gentleman who invented the reversingpeppermint.

The book is very well written, like most good books, withhumour for adults to enjoy as well as the children. I have read the storyto a class room of 4th Grade children who have sat listening intently - notthe norm! ... Read more

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When Ohkwa'ri overhears a group of older boys planning a raid on a neighboring village, he immediately tells his Mohawk elders. He has done the right thing--but he has also made enemies. Grabber and his friends will do anything they can to hurt him, especially during the village-wide game of Tekwaarathon (lacrosse). Ohkwa'ri believes in the path of peace, but can peaceful ways work against Grabber's wrath?An exciting story that also offers an in-depth look at Native American life centuries ago. -- Kirkus ReviewsJoseph Bruchac is an award-winning storyteller, writer, and editor, and the author of The First Strawberries and Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back. He lives in Greenfield Center, New York. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

good LAX book
My son really enjoyed this book.As a lacrosse player, he was excited to see how the game was played centuries ago.

"Children of the Longhouse"- An Excellent Teaching Tool
I read "Children of the Longhouse" aloud to my fourth grade classes each year as a wonderful springboard to teach NYS Native American history in alignment with NYS Social Study Standards. The story-line holds the interest of the students and is packed with historical information and Native American customs and culture that the children are interested in and retain. It also peaks the students interest to investigatepresent Native American issues. Reading this book is a pleasant way to learn about a valuable topic.

An awesome book
Children of the Longhouse is a thrilling book about a Native American boy named Ohkwa're and his twin sister Otsi:stia.Ohkwa'ri overhears some boys planning to start a battle with the Anen:taks, a neighboring tribe.He told on them and saved his village from a war.Wanting revenge, the boysbully him and soon put his life in danger.You should read this bookbecause it's exciting and I couldn't put it down when I started reading it. Also, I learned about the daily lives of the Mohawks.It was interestinghow they played sports, how they used plants to make medicine and how theycelebrated holidays.The end was suspenseful and I would recommend thisbook for kids to read.

Children of the Longhouse is a great historical fic book.
The Children of the Longhouse is a great historical fiction book byJoseph Bruchac. The Children of the Long house is abouttwins. The main two characters are the to twins they are boy girl twins. The boy loves loveTekwaarathon also known as lacrose. Even thuogh I;m only ten yearsold, my mom and I read children of the Longhouse together. my mom and Iloved the book so I gave it 5 stars.

Children of the longhouse is a great book
The book Children of the longhouse is a great historical fiction book by joseph Bruchac. Even though i'm only eleven years old it is a greatbook for all children, even adults. My mom read the book with me and thought it wasa great book too! Well the Children of the Longhouse is about a boy andgirl twins, like me. Other Native Americans and the boy love Tekwaarathon(Day-ghaah-la-lot), also known as lacrosse.I gave Children of the longhousefour stars because it was not the best book of all but it was the best bookI ever read! ... Read more