5 comments about The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites.

1. The children enjoy hearing their favorite Dr. Suess read by the familiar voices we all know.



2. My son listens to these over and over with or without the book. He enjoys the narrators and has almost memorized the books.



3. These stories are really well read! I play them in the car for my 4 and 3 year olds and I even enjoy listening along. I like that they don't have the page turn dings.



4. My kids love Dr. Seuss, I love not having to read to them in the car! Great for trips when you just can't take another row row row your boat. These are all read by actors that Mom and Dad know so it's great for us to hear them reading childrens books.



5. The cat in the hat on this CD, with perfect piano accompaniments at key moments, is just perfect. Could not do better.
   I don't like the other stories as much, but that one in itself is worth the purchase.

5 comments about The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat.

1. Hi I'm a Pima Community College student and, I read the book to a friend's daughter for homework. She loved the book because it was a cat doing and solving math. The book had a lot of short stories about Penrose doing math. Some of the topics she didn't get but, that was because, she was not to that level of math in school.



2. This book is a good resource for teachers! It is full of fun, interesting, and relatively simple activities that make abstract mathematical concepts come to life. Math is made less intimidating, because the mystery behind it is revealed by a curious cat with whom children can relate. The book takes mathematical concepts that might otherwise be too complex for children to grasp and simplifies them, making them more "kid friendly." Younger children, who are more likely to enjoy the cat's stories, may not fully appreciate the mathematical content. They will, however, benefit from the books pleasant introduction to mathematical concepts. Similarly, older children, who are more likely to fully appreciate the mathematical content, may not enjoy Penrose as much (or at least they might not admit that they do). However, learning with Penrose will still make the experience less intimidating. The book is clever and a great tool for teaching math, while easing and/or preventing math phobia. I will definitely use this book in my own classroom!



3. This book is a great resource for teachers! It is full of fun, interesting, and easy activities that really help its abstract mathematical concepts come to life. The book takes concepts that might otherwise be hard to grasp in their complexity and simplifies them, making them more "kid friendly." Learning from and with a cat, who is just as curious as they are, also helps make things less intimidating for children who are slightly math phobic. I will definitely be using this book in my own classroom!



4. My son really enjoyed this book for its interesting presentation of math.. he even named a cat puppet after Penrose.



5. This book is so much fun. It has mathematical concepts I had never even heard of. For someone who lost their love of math through public school, I thoroughly enjoy reading the fun ideas presented here. It makes higher math skills available to non-math people without being threatening or overwhelming. I love this book.

5 comments about The Darkest Hour (Warriors, Book 6).

1. "Today is a good day to die, but tomorrow is better. Unless, those doing the dying are six foot, mutated chipmunks with blaster rifles. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I should start at the beginning. If you ask me, the end makes a fine beginning. Things come together and things fall apart, and the fur flies a little easier with the help of a Rolling Thunderä shotgun, as long as that fur isn't mine, and I'm the one pulling the trigger. Yep, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, but I ain't Mr. Rogers."
   
   "But, I should introduce myself, you can call me Ishmael. Just kidding, bit of classical allusion there. Call me Hobo, warrior, poet, and one fine-looking feline, that's me. See, all cats are warriors, at least at heart, and that's why I'm the best one to introduce the series, Warriors."
   
   Warriors is a book series first published in 2003 by Kate Cary and Cherith Baldry, under the pen name Erin Hunter, and introduced to me by cat and book lover Billy Waltz. The second series was written under the title Warriors: The New Prophecy. The third series, The Power of Three, and two more books, Firestar's Quest and Secrets of the Clans, are coming in 2007.
   
   The series starts off with Into the Wild and a young "kitty pet"(house cat) name Rusty who yearns for adventure and has vivid dreams of the wilds. He meets a young feral cat, and this meeting leads to a chance to join a clan of wild cats called Thunderclan. He's renamed Firepaw and becomes an apprentice warrior. He finds himself in the middle of a tribal war with three other clans who coexist and compete for food and resources.
   
   Allegiances are constantly shifting among the clans of warrior cats that roam the forest. With tensions so delicately balanced, former friends can become enemies overnight, and some cats are willing to kill to get what they want. Our young protagonist quickly moves from apprentice to warrior, to second-in-command, to leader of his clan. He must learn wisdom, deal with betrayal, and ultimately save his clan and the forest way of life.
   
   The author has created an intriguing world with an intricate structure and mythology. There is intrigue, themes of loyalty, friendship and death, and an engaging young hero. The difficult life of a feral cat is described in some detail. (Oct. 16 is national feral cat day. Check out www.nationalferalcatday.org ) The cats, anthropomorphism aside, are true to their feline nature, which should delight cat and animal lovers alike. There is some violence. Some characters are killed through fighting and natural disasters, and there is treachery, betrayal and traitors, and even murder among the cats and clans, though it is crucial to the plot and not excessive.
   
   Overall, I believe readers will find a fun-to-read series of books. Though not as elegantly written as Brian Jacques' Redwall series. The superb storytelling drew me into a realm so vivid that it could almost be real and I really came to care about the characters I found myself staying up late, with the old flashlight under the cover trick, to finish the books, and that Sand Storm sounds like a babe. Wonder what she's doing Saturday night? Hey, this cat is a fighter and a lover....
   
   Author of "Hobo Finds A Home" editor "Of A Predatory Heart"



2. Pre-teen and early teen girls love the series. It has my 10 year olds attention. She is reading like never before.



3. The forest is in its darkest hour, and frightening new prophecies come up:
   "Four will become two.
   Lion and tiger will meet in battle,
   and blood will rule the forest."
   
   To find out if the Clans will survive this hardship, you have to read The Darkest Hour.
   This fantasy novel, part of the ever-growing Warriors series, takes place in a forest near a highway, some time in 21st century mainland ("modern times"). There are four Clans in the forest: ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan. Fireheart (later known as Firestar) is the new leader of ThunderClan. He is described as a `handsome ginger tom", and like his name implies, he is brave and will stand up for whatever he thinks is right. Tigerstar, the vicious leader of ShadowClan, is a tyrant and will stop at nothing to take over the forest.
   StarClan can be described as cat heaven or the cats living in cat heaven. When a cat becomes leader of his Clan, he receives nine lives from StarClan (get that: cats don't come with nine lives; they have to earn it): courage, justice, loyalty, tireless energy, protection, mentoring, compassion, love, and nobility, certainty, and faith. Of course, all this life receiving is very painful.
   Something bad is coming to the forest, something bad enough to have its own prophecy. Firestar is sure this has to do with Tigerstar, but he can't really be sure. When Tigerstar brings up the idea of joint Clans, Firestar is convinced. How could he even mention the idea? There`ve always been four clans in the forest, and it's the will of StarClan to be that way, right? But Tigerstar is definitely hiding something here...
   This fast-paced book was easier to read than maybe Brian Jacques' books but not so easy as Guardians of Ga'hoole. I think the theme would be courage. Yes. Stand up for what you believe in. The title is what it is because the Clans faced a looming crisis, bigger than even a forest fire. Erin Hunter uses lots of descriptive words to give you a good picture of what's going on in the novel, and keeps you reading until you're done. I think it showed some Christian perspective in one of StarClan's many visits to Firestar. Contrary to what the cats are taught, StarClan do not control everything; they give the Clans free will and don't force things onto them, kind of like God does.
   I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to middle-school-and-up people who enjoy reading fantasy things or likes to contemplate what their cat might be dreaming of.



4. The forest is in its darkest hour, and frightening new prophecies come up:
   "Four will become two.
   Lion and tiger will meet in battle,
   and blood will rule the forest."
   
   To find out if the Clans will survive this hardship, you have to read The Darkest Hour.
   This fantasy novel, part of the ever-growing Warriors series, takes place in a forest near a highway, some time in 21st century mainland ("modern times"). There are four Clans in the forest: ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan. Fireheart (later known as Firestar) is the new leader of ThunderClan. He is described as a `handsome ginger tom", and like his name implies, he is brave and will stand up for whatever he thinks is right. Tigerstar, the vicious leader of ShadowClan, is a tyrant and will stop at nothing to take over the forest.
   StarClan can be described as cat heaven or the cats living in cat heaven. When a cat becomes leader of his Clan, he receives nine lives from StarClan (get that: cats don't come with nine lives; they have to earn it): courage, justice, loyalty, tireless energy, protection, mentoring, compassion, love, and nobility, certainty, and faith. Of course, all this life receiving is very painful.
   Something bad is coming to the forest, something bad enough to have its own prophecy. Firestar is sure this has to do with Tigerstar, but he can't really be sure. When Tigerstar brings up the idea of joint Clans, Firestar is convinced. How could he even mention the idea? There`ve always been four clans in the forest, and it's the will of StarClan to be that way, right? But Tigerstar is definitely hiding something here...
   This fast-paced book was easier to read than maybe Brian Jacques' books but not so easy as Guardians of Ga'hoole. I think the theme would be courage. Yes. Stand up for what you believe in. The title is what it is because the Clans faced a looming crisis, bigger than even a forest fire. Erin Hunter uses lots of descriptive words to give you a good picture of what's going on in the novel, and keeps you reading until you're done. I think it showed some Christian perspective in one of StarClan's many visits to Firestar. Contrary to what the cats are taught, StarClan do not control everything; they give the Clans free will and don't force things onto them, kind of like God does.
   I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to middle-school-and-up people who enjoy reading fantasy things or likes to contemplate what their cat might be dreaming of.



5. All of the Erin Hunter books are great! I just love them and have read them many times over. I am not a reader, I hate to read!!! But give me a Warrior series book and leave me alone for a few days. They are the best. Thanks Erin for opening up a new world for me.

5 comments about Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?: Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing.

1. There's some useful info in there, like how to categorize your customers. But the writing style is poor, hard to understand, and boring. Seems like these authors are trying to become marketing legends by pushing some new "revolutionary" concept of theirs, but it's nothing special.



2. Nearly every business book has at least one or two good ideas. However, every so often you get a book that's really just a piece of what's often called Spiral Marketing. Sprial Marketing is a technique in which you use a book, pamphlet, website or other low-cost entry point to capture an initial group of customers. Although you make some profit on the initial entry point, the main goal of that entry is to get you to purchase the next level, usually a set of videos or seminar. There is profit built into this second level as well, but even that's just a front to capture the big fish into longer term consulting. This book contains a smattering of theories, concepts and ideas (most of which are lifted from other sources such as Maslow, MBTI and general advertisting), accompanied by some professional looking illustrations. You have to admire the way it is able to continually flirt with the answers while never quite giving them away - you'll have to commit to the $150 consulting fees for that. And if you are interested in the consulting, I'll save you some money on that as well. Judging from the almost immediate mentions of Yahoo keywords, the foreward from a Yahoo executive and the $50 credit towards the service I'm guessing Yahoo keywords is pretty much the heart of what they call "Persuasion Architecture."



3. In terms of selling "themselves" and why you might want to use their services, this book barks loud. In terms of persuasive customer techniques, this book is a bit light on real content.
   
   A good book on how to truly engage customers is Lois Kelly's "Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word of Mouth" marketing. She understands customers don't ignore marketing, rather they demand marketing that has meaning and engages them authentically. Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing



4. An astonishing feat, amazing accomplishment. Putting forth the vision of a structural framework in understandable terms. Concepts that can easily be envisioned by the small business or the Global 500.
   
   Stunning economy of scale. Presenting a coherent grid map to the future of marketing in under 250 pages.
   
   You don't need magic or voodoo or hyper intelligence. This is a map, a process - not simple - not quick, but a entire end to end process that when worked through and completed, filling in all the appropriate blanks beginning with 'Uncovery', will give you a measurable response to your challenge which can in itself be tweaked and refined through all iterations in your 'Marketing Cycle'.
   
   Pavlov used a dog. Would the same experiment have worked with a cat. Enticing a cat is only a little easier than herding cats. Mass Media is dead. You've heard by now of 'Longtail'. This is the road map for the next phase.
   
   The first half through Chapter 13 lays a ground work to support the vision with known concepts and practices and a quick run through of the history of commerce. Customer's perceptions and responses have changed and some of the subtleties are highlighted here. The 'what's in it for me' outlook of the new consumer is addressed.
   
   Yet this is only the beginning. These ideas have been in the heart of every marketer / sales person since time immemorial. Now they're presented in terms and visuals that can be presented to the newest greenest recruit in your team in a fashion that can be built upon through a lifetime career or avocation.
   
   The concept of a *(Magic, secret, special, hidden, lost) Framework that only needed the proper application of known and knowable facts and procedures to produce the 'Answer', has long been a goal of civilization - The Abacus, The Analytical Engine. As your minds eye begins to perceive the illumination thru chapters (14 - 23) you can see that the authors have articulated a vision in more ways than one, The 'Visual' of the 'Framework', 'the matrix'. 'The matrix' in multiple dimensions is priceless and will be remembered. The Authors recognize that their new concepts are just a beginning.
   
   This book shows you the tools to answer those three questions that should be asked throughout your operation.
   1. Who are we trying to persuade to take the action?
   2. What is the action we want someone to take?
   3. What does that person need in order to feel confident taking that action?
   
   Persuasion Architecture, Persona-lization, Uncovery, these are terms you will use for the rest of your life.
   
   This a 'Must Read' for every serious marketer.
   
   The book comes with a CD containing an 80 minute Q&A session with the authors, a PDF full text copy of the book, and a $50 credit on Yahoo! Sponsored Search (new users only).
   
   
   Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?: Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing



5. I thought this book was one of the most inspiring books I read in 2006. It doesn't present any groundbreaking news, but it does make you eager to get out there and improve your marketing. I put up quotes and drawings based on the book by my workplace -- to get the inspiration from the book to last longer.

5 comments about On This Earth: Photographs from East Africa.

1. This is one of the most beautiful 'coffee-table' books I have in my collection. The photos are outstanding, with clear, strong shots of the subject. The book is filled with full-page, high quality photography that will make you wish you'd bought 2 books...one to keep on the coffee table, and one to deconstruct and frame.



2. The day I got this book I spent almost an hour flipping through the pages and soaking in the beauty of these photos. It was then that I decided Nick Brandt was my new favorite photographers. He captures the African wildlife with so much power and natural beauty that it's almost unreal and his post-processing adds a whole other layer to the photos. I would suggest this book to any photo or animal enthusiast, it is quite simply one of the best photography books I have found.



3. Nick Brandt's collection of photography is absolutely stunning. His work is much more akin to portraits than traditional wildlife photography. There is an intimacy between Brandt and his animal subjects which resonates in each photo. Page after page, "On This Earth" shows us the humanity and soul of these animals. Brandt has made a brilliant case for why these creatures have the same right to live on this earth as we do.



4. This is a collection of beautiful photographs. The prints are warm, with good blacks. This made a great gift for our friends that had travelled in Africa.



5. Amazing BW pictures. Very nice and a good edition. Very interesting for all photo-africa lovers....

3 comments about On Beyond Bugs: All About Insects (Cat in the Hat's Lrning Libry).

1. I got this book for a 4 yr old daughter of a friend and she's now intrigued by the insect world. Personally I love how the bumble bee illustration has taught her about how bees communicate through the bumble bee "dance." On the whole, it's nicely educational on an introductory level -- general facts/concepts are taught through illustrations and rhyme. Great for the young ones. Another favorite of mine is the Dr. Seuss Great Big Flap Book.



2. I bought this book for my 4-year old son and he loves it! My husband and I love reading it to him and his baby sister who often also listens along. The book is educational yet great fun to read with its rhyming and fun verses. It teaches without being heavy-handed and even taught us, the parents, a thing or two we didn't know about the insect world! We all enjoy this book tremendously and love the other Cat in the Hat Learning series books as well.



3. This is not one of the best books in the series. While it is factual, the rhyming is sloppy--in one stanza a word is rhymed with itself and in another stanza, the word from the beginning of the next phrase is placed at the end of another phrase so that the stanza will rhyme. All in all, this type of sloppy rhyming is extremely disappointing coming from the "Cat in the Hat"!

3 comments about Help Me, Mr. Mutt!: Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems.

1. First of all, it shouldn't be Mr. Mutt; it should be DR. MUTT because what we have here is sound parenting advice for dogs stuck in a world of clueless humans and arrogant cats. Following the good Dr.'s advice, dogs of all breeds can make their lives infinitely more enjoyable. Here we learn about various means of "obtaining" people food which is much tastier than the bagged styrofoam that dogs are forced to consume. We also learn about the mulitple uses for the toilet--not only as a source of liquid refreshment but also as a dunk tank for kitties. Caution to cats: you don't want to look at this. I would suggest that you find your own book--you don't fare too well here.
   This will be one of the 10 funniest books I'll see this year (and it's only March). It's an absolute joy. 5 Stars each for the authors and 5 more for the book--that's 15 stars and they've earned every one of them.



2. It all starts with a weener dog on a forced diet; she's writing to Mr. Mutt to ask if she looks fat. Mr. Mutt's answer is, "Of course not!" He also recommends the doggie food pyramid which of course has no place in it for dry dog food. Because Mr. Mutt is a nationally known authority on interspecies understanding, he launches his canine counseling business as a way to help other dogs with people problems, writing out of his home in Dogwood, Delaware. He suggests ways small dogs using teamwork can obtain a wider diet option from atop the counters, and helpfully shares tips on how to encourage the baby to yield up extra treats. This book sounds like my dogs wrote it! The Cat (aka Her Majesty) interjects a note of her own after each reply from Mr. Mutt. Another dog seeks a way to fulfill his cravings for more Frisbee, less television from his people. A basset hound writes to complain about being dressed up by the kids, and Mr. Mutt advises three options (rip-and-run, play dead, grin and bear it) including how to get the kids to dress up the cat instead. Then a letter from a barker who is chastised for noisiness. Mr. Mutt's response includes illustrations of the human and dog brain (guess which is bigger) and other sound advice. A desperate note from a stinky cowdog, a few more repartees from the cat, and next thing you know Mr. Mutt is all tied up. Queenie the Cat takes over the advice column, and 101 woofers have to storm the house, come to Mr. Mutt's rescue, and get that pesky feline out of the picture. The Stevens team (mother-daughter) has captured the funniest expressions on the doggy faces, and insured that Mr. Mutt is destined for fame. Coincidentally , in the Salem Statesman Journal there is a weekly column written--allegedly--by a Rottie and a Poodle! This book would be a great start to a unit on advice columns and newspaper features for upper graders who could write their own Dear Abby and Dear Heloise columns from the dogged-point-of-view (imagine Walter the Farting Dog doing an etiquette column?) It would be fun to use with students in all grades because the various charts and graphs developed by Mr. Mutt lead students into basic math skills lessons; use it as a basis for a unit on letter writing, or nutrition, or geography (all the letters are postmarked). For the younger kids, the back cover includes a list of "hidden pictures" to find in the book, including tennis balls, actual dog hair, pink bunny years and lots and lots of dogs. What a fun book! This gets my WOOF WOOF WOOFER AWARD for funny, and is likely to be in high demand in every school and library family lucky enough to own it



3. This is an absolutely wonderful book!!!!
   
   A hilarious guide for dogs facing a host of common problems: humans who want them to go on doggy diets, humans who think dog costumes are a good idea, humans who think dogs should sleep on the floor, etc.!
   
   So funny, and so very beautifully illustrated! I really appreciate children's book illustration, and this book sets the very highest standard for art and humor.
   
   This would be a wonderful gift for any adult or child who loves a dog.
   
   Twenty thumbs up!!!

5 comments about The Rabbi's Cat.

1. I usually avoid graphic novels but I bought this book on a hunch. The first third of the story was really great, with amusing perspectives on Talmud, Jewish life, Algerian life, cat life, and an interesting drawing style. But the middle third and last third of the story were increasingly uninteresting. Not outright bad; but the story line stopped being as good, as if another author took over after the fun beginning third.
   
   And then all of a sudden: the F-Word, on one or two of the panels deep inside the story. Yes, that F word. I cannot understand why the author felt it was necessary to add profanity, when the rest of the book is otherwise kid-friendly and charming (if increasingly dull). It seemed gratuitous. So DO NOT let a child read this book.



2. I love this book! Very sweet story about family, for adults. His artwork is beautiful as well. I enjoyed the story of the cat and the story of the daughter's marriage. Joann Sfar got himself introduced to a wider audience of graphic novel readers through this book and he deserves to be well-known.



3. As someone who is interested in different cultures, I thought the book would be an interesting window into other people's thoughts. Instead, I open it to find a swearing cat (he uses the F word) denigrating religion and showing religious people as hypocrites, in a lame stereotypical way. Might be interesting to others, but its not interesting to me. Not only is it not suitable to children, but there are a lot of adults who would not want to be bothered with this kind of disrespect and vulgarity either. I wish I had been warned before I tried to read this book.



4. I love this series. It's the most magical comic book series I've read since Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" ended ten years ago. "The Rabbi's Cat" is like the best bits from "Sandman", Spiegeman's "Maus", Satrapi's "Persepolis" and Gilbert Hernandez "Palomar"-stories mixed into one stunning story. Truly wonderful. This volume contains the 3 first French albums. I've read vol. 4 and 5, and they're equeally wonderful. Hopefully they'll get translated into english too.



5. A delightfully funny story! A wonderful graphic novel that gives us a cat's-eye view of the Sephardic Jewish community in Algeria and then the Algerian community in Paris in the early 20th Century. It's a love story. Very funny and endearing. And the hero is a cat! This is a must for Joann Sfar fans.

5 comments about The Tenth Good Thing About Barney.

1. This is a great book by a great author! I highly recommend this book to comfort a child who experiences death of a pet or loved one. It's a children's book, but I have also given it to adults and they found it comforting.



2. I love this book even though the subject is difficult. I have sent many copies out to my friends who have lost their beloved animals.



3. This is the best book I have ever found for helping a child deal with the death of a pet. This book made me cry, but in a good way. I loved all of Judith Vorst's books. She writes for both children and adults and bases her stories on her own family and life experiences. My children grew up with her books, and we still quote from them 30 years later, because it's just true that "sometimes, even mamas make mistakes," and "some days are like that - even in Australia." I highly recommend all of her books.



4. When we lose a beloved animal, we can feel as if we have lost a part of ourselves. Nothing can truly express the grace that pets can bring to our lives: the unconditional love, the tenderness in their eyes, their complete acceptance of who we are. To have a book like this brings comfort and hope to children and adults. Through a searching and meaningful conversation, we learn the beautiful qualities of Barney, and we are able to think of the wonderful qualities of our own beloved pets. We also realize that our animals shall always keep on giving: that even though we have lost them in one sense, they are still "out there", helping. I recommend this book to anyone who has lost a beloved pet.
   
   Remember Beauty and Songs for a Blue Time, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: 20th Aniversary Edition, The Gift of a Memory: A Keepsake to Commemorate the Loss of a Loved One



5. This is a nice story about a boy grieving the loss of his cat. I was recommended this book by my daughters' pediatrician to talk about death to my young daughters. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that the idea of Heaven was questioned. It just didn't work for our family's beliefs.

5 comments about Whittington.

1. Purchased this book for the library at my school. A student who is a cat lover showed me the book review in a magazine. Pleased with book.



2. this book grabbed my attention and wouldent let go it was a cute book but it kinda was like charlets web but with a cat but it was preatty entertaining



3. This is an enjoyable and fascinating book. My 2 children (7 & 4) are reading this with me in school. Some of the language is a little mature for them, yet their interest and attention are still held. They like the dynamics between the animals and just like Charlotte's Web, they seem amused that the animals can talk.



4. Whittington by Alan Armstrong exemplifies everything that's wrong with the Newbery awards - it's a cute book about a cat, not much more. Don't get me wrong, I did like the story, but there's as much wrong with the story as there is right. It does, however, have all the ingredients of an award winner and stuff much older readers than the intended audience can get nostalgic over.
   
   Whittington is the story of a cat who comes to live in a barnyard full of down-and-out animals with Ben and Abby, a brother and sister who spend their time listening to a tale told by the cat. Ben suffers from dyslexia, which is embarrassing to him. Ben's struggles with dyslexia are mixed with Whittington's story. This is an interesting approach.
   
   However, there are several things wrong with the story. First, the story often reads more like a history and science lesson, with some of the exposition delivered as if from a text book. Second, it's hard to care about the characters as they are shallow and for the most part one dimensional. At times, Ben's struggles seem a footnote or after thought to make the book itself more interesting. As a father of a child with dyslexia, I know it is a serious problem, but it has become an overused plot device in many children's books.
   
   Overall, this one's okay, but I think comparisions to E.B. White are out of line. This is not E.B. White or anything close.



5. I enjoyed this story. I grew up with the pleasure of a family life of barnyard friends and I later learned to appreciate history. This story is the marriage of these two passions. I felt transplanted to a simplier time and found escape and pleasure in the book myself. I am not sure the age group marketed will get it but I did.