His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)

Amazon.com

In the epic trilogy His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman unlocks the door to worlds parallel to our own. Dæmons and winged creatures live side by side with humans, and a mysterious entity called Dust just might have the power to unite the universes--if it isn't destroyed first. The three books in Pullman's heroic fantasy series, published as mass-market paperbacks with new covers, are united here in one boxed set that includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. Join Lyra, Pantalaimon, Will, and the rest as they embark on the most breathtaking, heartbreaking adventure of their lives. The fate of the universe is in their hands. (Ages 13 and older)

Book Description

Now, for the first time, the HIS DARK MATERIALS Trilogy is available in a trade paperback edition. All three books in the His Dark Materials trilogy-- THE GOLDEN COMPASS, THE SUBTLE KNIFE, and THE AMBER SPYGLASS--are available in a new complete boxed set featuring the trade paperbacks. New material is available in all three books: The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife feature black-and-white chapter-opening art by Philip Pullman himself; The Amber Spyglass features chapter-opening quotes from the likes of Milton, Donne, Blake, Byron and the Bible, which did not appear in hardcover.

Customer Reviews:

Lickety Split.......2007-10-02

Ordered this product on a Saturday and it was delivered on Tuesday even with normal delivery.....very satisfied

One of my favorites..........2007-09-28

I first read His Dark Materials trilogy when I was in 7th grade and had to endure an entire year before the third one finally came out when I was in 8th grade. They have remained my absolute favorite books throughout the last ten years, and I can't wait to see the movie in December. :~)

Fantastic stuff.......2007-09-27

I ripped through these books so quickly I hardly knew what day it was when I was done. I loved these stories. Full of vivid, supernatural fun and excitement.

Preachy but fairly fun.......2007-09-27

I loved the world and the daemons and the visuals and the magic items. I was annoyed with the author's heavy-handed antireligiosity and preachiness thereof. I guess this is meant to counter pro-religious juvenile fantasies, like the works of C. S. Lewis? Well, consider this the opposite end of the philosophical teeter-totter, then: similarly magical and interesting, similarly whack-ya-over-the-head-with-message.

Characters were vapid, for the most part, and not entirely likable, except for their fascinating interactions with the daemons. Despite being able to imagine Lord Asriel's lines delivered by a scowling Daniel Craig (who will play Asriel in the movies), I never believed the character and he never developed. I think he was just a plot device.

Having said that, however, I have to mention how compelling the human/daemon interactions were overall. The Alamo scene with Lee and Hester was, I think, my favorite scene in the whole series, and Lyra's dramatic scenes with Pan were very moving.

The items were interesting enough that I didn't mind reading yet another go-find-the-magical-doodad fantasy. Details like cold-weather (and warm weather) preparation, finding food in strange worlds, and the subtle discussion of free will throughout were handled well, I thought.

Overall, I wouldn't necessarily recommend the series. The only fresh ground it breaks in the genre is its aforementioned antireligiosity, and even that isn't exactly fresh. I guess if you're looking for a run-of-the-mill fanatsy popcorn read, this is good fun.

Fantastic Book - As good as Harry!.......2007-09-21

Very good book. Very fast pace. Keeps you wanting to read more. I am reading Book 2 now. It is just as good.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

Average customer rating:

Heavenly
Excellent
Showing the Centrality of Christ in the Scriptures to Children
An asset to devotion time.
Wonderful Children's Bible!

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
Sally Lloyd-Jones
Manufacturer: ZonderKidz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0310708257

Book Description

Children ages 4 to 8 have a hard time grasping the concept of “God.” But it can be done through the person of Jesus. Told in a wonderfully inviting style, this Bible storybook shares many beloved Bible stories and reveals how the news and message of Jesus unfolds throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament all the way through the New Testament. Jesus in the Story helps readers love and appreciate Jesus and begin their own journey of faith. Beautiful 4-color artwork throughout.

Customer Reviews:

Heavenly.......2007-10-02

I ordered this book for my grandchildren after I heard a reading from the book on a radio program. My daughter loves the book--as do her children. She uses it for story time and devotional time. Clear presentation of the Gospel with each story.

Excellent.......2007-09-08

Instead of just stories this book brings out the "meaning" behind each, that it's all about Jesus.

Showing the Centrality of Christ in the Scriptures to Children.......2007-08-18

Is the Bible a book of stories? good morals? heroes? No, suggests Sally Lloyd-Jones. Influenced by New York pastor and author Timothy Keller, Lloyd-Jones takes the major movements in the Bible's plot line as well as the familiar Sunday School stories and shows children how the entire Bible points to one man, the God-Man: Jesus Christ.

This is an excellent resource for families in a biblically illiterate age. I highly recommend this book to you. Another outstanding resource is David Helm's The Big Picture Story Bible.

An asset to devotion time........2007-08-13

My daughter and I use this book probably twice a week. The stories are short, but not too short. They all leave the door wide open for a discussion about Jesus. My daughter enjoys the stories as do I. Plenty of well-drawn pictures too. An asset to our devotion time.

Wonderful Children's Bible!.......2007-08-09

This book is amazing - it is humorous and interesting and the kids listened with great interest to all of the stories. Every single story mentions Christ and how He is tied into the "big picture" of the Bible - from the Old Testament to the New. We love this book!

The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats (Picture Book)

Average customer rating:

For the researcher in you
The wonderful Dr. Suess

The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats (Picture Book)
Philip Nel
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375833692
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Book Description

How did Dr. Seuss come to write The Cat in the Hat?

How long did it take him to write The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat
Comes Back?

Were these books instantly successful, or did their popularity build?

The answers to these questions and more can be found in this fascinating illustrated study of two books that changed the way our children learn how to read.

According to Professor Nel, The Cat in the Hat and its sequel operate on many levels. The books teach reading, but they also teach about poetry, politics, ethics, comics, history, and even conartistry! Complete with the text of both books, photographs, draft material, and essays by Seuss, The Annotated Cat is like a DVD with all the extras. Cat lovers everywhere can gain a deeper understanding of two of the most popular children's books ever written, and the remarkable man behind them.

Customer Reviews:

For the researcher in you.......2007-03-22

The Annotated Cat in the Hat is an interesting read. One sees behind the fun and outlandish escapades of Seuss's most well-known character. A great deal of thought goes into writing and illustrating children's books and this book delves into and explains the process.

Someone who is curious about rhythmic cadences and the reasoning behind them will surely enjoy learning the hidden meanings of those in The Cat in the Hat.

The book is not for the casual reader. It must be read by someone who has a love of language, writing, and the creative process.

The wonderful Dr. Suess.......2007-01-27

With only 236 words, Dr. Seuss blasted onto the children's literature scene with his revolutionary reader The Cat in the Hat. In the days of the Dick and Jane primers, reading was not the most enjoyable pastime for children, but Dr. Seuss changed all that and is now an icon.

In The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats readers get not only the complete texts and art of The Cat in the Hat, and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, but also two original essays and a magazine story by Seuss, draft material and sketches, photographs and page-by-page annotations of the two classics, as well as an introduction to the man, Seuss and his work.

The Annotated Cat is an intriguing look into the mind of a children's book legend. Especially for those of us who strive to write for children, the insight put forth on Seuss' creations is mind-blowing in its detail. His quest for perfection (and near attainment of it) shows in the sketches and writes and re-writes of his books.

Philip Nel does an excellent job of analyzing the plethora of information available and commenting on the various aspects of Seuss creations.

Armchair Interviews says: A must-read for the Seuss lover or hopeful children's writer.

Average customer rating:

An excellent story driven by excellent values
Very happy
Great book for any kids to learn about friendship.
Love it!
A Children's Calssic

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Virginia Lee Burton
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0395169615

Amazon.com

Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne make quite a team. The inseparable duo digs the great canals for the big boats to travel through, cuts through the large mountains so trains can pass, and hollows out the deep cellars for the great skyscrapers in the city. But the introduction of gasoline, electric, and diesel shovels means big trouble for Mike and Mary Anne. No one wants an old-fashioned steam shovel like Mary Anne when a modern shovel can do the digging in half the time! Forced to travel far out of the city to look for work, Mike and Mary Anne find themselves in the little town of Popperville. Mike and Mary Anne make a bid to dig the cellar for the new town hall, promising the town that if they can't dig the cellar in just one day they'll accept no payment for the job. Will Mike and Mary Anne be able to complete the job? The whole town of Popperville turns out to watch. Virginia Lee Burton, author of such classic children's books as The Little House and Katy and the Big Snow, offers a touching portrait of love and dedication while commenting on the modernization that continuously shapes our lives. Hamilton's wonderful crayon drawings bring Mike and the indomitable Mary Anne to life. (Ages 3 to 6)

Book Description

A modern classic that no child should miss. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent story driven by excellent values.......2007-09-12

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is loved by both my seven-year-old daughter and my three-year old son, so it is a good family read. The illustrations are delightful, and the themes of zeitgeist, people acting from mixed motives, child-like hope, boasting and optimism, hard work, rejection of defeat, and courage in the face of change and adversity are all solid values. We all love this book.

Very happy.......2007-09-05

Good quality, quick delivery. Very happy. A childhood favourite I can now pass on to my own children.
Would have liked cheaper postage to Australia however.

Great book for any kids to learn about friendship........2007-08-28

This is a great bedtime story for any kid, and it will be reread over the years. This is one of the books that I read as a kid, and today as an adult, I still never forgot this heartwarming story between Mike and his Steam Shovel developing friendship while working together as a team. Once a door is closed, there's always another door open. That's how I always think of this book.

Love it!.......2007-08-25

We love this book at our house. It was one of Daddy's favorites when he was growing up too. Boys and girls will enjoy this one and grow to love mike and maryann. Burton's books are all wonderful and will become family treasures in your house as well!

A Children's Calssic.......2007-08-16

I wasn't aware of this book until some students I work with brought it to my attention when a project we were building for a science competition began to look/operate like a steam shovel. The students decided our creation had to be named Mary Anne - in honor of the "heroine" of the story. They were very familiar with Mike and his machine and were very enthused about their namesake. I to found the book interesting - and was surprised by the date of original publication. apparently the story "jumped" my childhood generation - but today's youngsters love the story.

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table (Puffin Classics)

Average customer rating:

Retold one time too many?
Best compilation
do you like a stories inside a greater story?
Everything you needed to know about King Arthur but were afraid to ask!
AWFUL ARTHUR!!!

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table (Puffin Classics)
Roger Lancelyn Green
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Classics | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140366709

Customer Reviews:

Retold one time too many?.......2007-08-28

I had to overcome having read one too many retellings of these tales in reading this book.
I think the major flaw is taking the late middle ages Christian approach.
On the plus side the author pretty much sticks to the classic story lines and even puts in the Tristam legend
(his undoing here as the Cornwall Kingdom is where Arthur's mother conceived him, not a a place out of time ).
He changes Vivian to Nimue and calls magic the deceptions of Merlin and Morgan le Fay making everything as the Christians of later times would have it.

Best compilation.......2007-03-26

I have read many versions of the Arthurian legends, and revisited them again in three different books recently. Of those, this version was the best. It was compiled from several different sources, and manages to flesh out some of the legends of the lesser knights and Merlin the Enchanter more than many versions.

Despite being a Puffin Classics edition, it does not condescend to the reader, nor read as a diluted telling, as is so often the case in educational publishing. If you are looking for a clean, coherent telling of the Arthurian tales that won't require wading through archaic language, this is the version for you.

The paperback pricing is nice too.

do you like a stories inside a greater story?.......2006-08-24

The story King Arthur, which was written by Roger Lancelyn Green, is a truly exhilarating adventure set in the middle ages, and it contained many fascinating characters such as King Arthur, who was the king of Logres and who was one of the most important characters in the story; another character is Lancelot who was one of the best Knights of the round table and went on many quests, bringing much honor to Logres, and was quite important through out the book; another character would be Queen Morgana le Fay, she was not only a witch, but also the sister and nemesis of King Arthur, she often tried to capture or kill him and his knights, but in the end she makes peace with him; last but not least is Merlin, he is one of the best know characters, he is a wizard who saves King Arthur life twice, and foretells the future many a time; eventually he is buried alive by Lady Nimue until he is needed once again.

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table was a collection different quest within one larger story, mainly telling the history or King Arthur and how the knights of the round table came to be, and there many legends; the majority of the book was sort of like the exposition, it was getting us accustomed to the characters and the vibe of the story so that the reader could get understand the end of the book when they searched for "The Quest of the Holy Grail" and the "Final Battle" which are the two main conflicts. This book is so good, because anyone can take something away from this book, R.L. Green's stories all have a theme to them whether it is about jealousy, integrity, kindness, forgiveness, or honor, the lesson of chivalry is always stressed, and there is always something for the reader to relate to making the book overall very satisfying.

Everything you needed to know about King Arthur but were afraid to ask!.......2006-07-07

This was the first King Arthur book I ever had. In more recent years I've read Le Morte D'Arthur, the Mabinogion, Bulfinch's Age of Chivalry, and a hundred other collections, some for children and some for adults. This is still the best-written, most comprehensive version I've found.

It tends to read a little like King Arthur's Greatest Hits--no bad thing, really. The story of Geraint and Enid is in there from the Mabinogion, Germanic legends are plundered to discover a bride for Sir Perceval, and Gawain fans will be pleased to know that his spotless character has been restored. He even gets to find the Grail!

There are many other children's collections out there, but none of them as comprehensive as this. As for the old classics, they can be hard to get and, like Mallory's , do unforgivable violence to favourite characters and then spend half the book on the story of Tristan and Iseult.

AWFUL ARTHUR!!!.......2006-04-19

This book was the worst!!! I usually enjoy reading books, but I didn't enjoy one little microscopic segment of this book!!! It was really hard to understand, and it felt like that all Roger Lancelyn Green cared about was death!! I mean really in one chapter I counted that 12 people died!!! In one single chapter!!!!!

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Has Everything A Great Story Should Have
Read it before you see the movie!!
Great book, crummy title
Oolon Coluphid's Blockbuster Trilogy Begins!
A new perspective

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
Philip Pullman
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0440418321
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, The Golden Compass, a story ostensibly for children but one perhaps even better appreciated by adults. The protagonist of this complex fantasy is young Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal dæmon, the manifestation of their soul in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied:

As for what experimental theology was, Lyra had no more idea than the urchins. She had formed the notion that it was concerned with magic, with the movements of the stars and planets, with tiny particles of matter, but that was guesswork, really. Probably the stars had dæmons just as humans did, and experimental theology involved talking to them.

Not that Lyra spends much time worrying about it; what she likes best is "clambering over the College roofs with Roger the kitchen boy who was her particular friend, to spit plum stones on the heads of passing Scholars or to hoot like owls outside a window where a tutorial was going on, or racing through the narrow streets, or stealing apples from the market, or waging war." But Lyra's carefree existence changes forever when she and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, first prevent an assassination attempt against her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust. Soon she and Pan are swept up in a dangerous game involving disappearing children, a beautiful woman with a golden monkey dæmon, a trip to the far north, and a set of allies ranging from "gyptians" to witches to an armor-clad polar bear.

In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn't speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end. Fortunately, its sequel, The Subtle Knife, will help put off that inevitability for a while longer. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

In a landmark epic of fantasy and storytelling, Philip Pullman invites readers into a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, or Redwall. Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.

Download Description

Pullman introduces readers to a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, of Redwall, wherein lives a half-wild, half-civilized girl named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars of Jordan College is about the shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors.

Customer Reviews:

Has Everything A Great Story Should Have.......2007-10-02

The Golden Compass is the beginning of a great series - but also a story of it's own. Enlisting science, mysticism, history, geography, and great themes of heroism, determination, willpower, tragedy and destiny - this book will hook you and keep you interested. Although the content seems a bit older than it's central character, Lyra - she's still up to the challenges presented to her. This series is a great way to escape into a different world. The audio versions of this book are performed brilliantly - and are a joy to listen to. Looking forward to the movie this year: if anything like the book - it'll be a smash hit.

Read it before you see the movie!!.......2007-09-28

Phillip Pullman's, The Golden Compass is an entertaining and imaginative fantasy yarn that starts off light and fluffy but takes the reader on an unpredictable and thought-provoking ride.

I was drawn to this book after seeing the movie trailer this summer, figuring that any fantasy/sci fi book with enough popularity to garner a Nicole Kidman movie must be worth a look. My early disappointment led to eventual satisfaction as the novel works on many levels. The story has numerous threads but mostly centers on a young girl on a journey to figure out the mysterious disappearance of other young children. It's really best to know nothing else of the plot, as the surprises are part of the fun. Needless to say the imaginative alternative world Pullman creates is one the reasons this book is so fun. The different inhabitants of the world including sentient polar bears and personal daemons make a complicated but well executed backdrop for the intricacies of the story. Pullman writes entertaining action sequences and can pull off the various emotions required of his main characters. Finally, the book works because it slowly ends up being a whole lot more then just a "quest" story and it exhibits many different tones within the prose. The Golden Compass is wondrous, foreboding, dark, philosophical, and biblical often at the same time.

The Golden Compass is the first of a trilogy but I haven't yet read the others so I can't comment on their quality. The movie comes out 12/07 and is produced by New Line Cinema (the same company that made the LOTR trilogy).

Bottom Line: A great read for fantasy fans but make sure you don't give up on it too early.

Great book, crummy title.......2007-09-27

I've had these books on my shelf for several years now and for some reason, haven't taken them down. I don't know why, when I was wasting my time reading the entertaining but inferior Harry Potter books. But now I'm a convert. Pullman is an powerful writer who doesn't patronize or pull punches. Characters in this book suffer sometimes and he lets them do so. The suffering is sometimes useful to help mature the character, and then it is sometimes senseless and tragic, just like in real life. As a teenager, that would have made me respect Pullman immensely, as it does now. His writing is in the tradition of Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm Brothers, before Disney got hold of them and fabricated ridiculous happy endings and grating little song-and-dance numbers. While I haven't read the last of the trilogy yet, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I bet everybody isn't brought back to life for a forced happy ending.

My one complaint, which is absolutely not the fault of the author, is that the same irritating editor at Knopf who "translated" the title of the first Harry Potter book committed the same crime against this book. The Brit title was Northern Lights. Why change that? Was the editor afraid that American children might not know what those were or, god forbid, might have to do a little research to find out? With the Potter book, the change was even more egregious because the original title, The Philosopher's Stone actually made reference to a historical myth, while The Sorcerer's Stone doesn't. Hello Knopf editor, if you want to change Brit spellings to American ones, fine. But please don't change content. It's gratuitous and insulting to the intelligence of American kids. Here is what Pullman had to say about it on his web site FAQ:

Q. Northern Lights was re-titled The Golden Compass for the American market. Why did this change come about? Do you have a title in mind when you start a story?

A. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. The editor who made that change was also responsible for changing "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", which made sense, into "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which didn't. At the time, I didn't have enough clout to resist.

Also, if you bought a first American edition, you should know that the beautiful little symbols Pullman drew for each chapter head and the quotes he selected were not included. Subsequent versions have them though.

Oolon Coluphid's Blockbuster Trilogy Begins!.......2007-09-25

Lyra is a ten-year old hellion "raised" at Jordan College, Oxford, in an Alternate Dimension England. In her world, spiritual phenomena take different form than they do in ours. There are such things as ghosts, and all humans have visible "souls" in the form of animal familiars called daemons. This has led to a blend of science and metaphysics called Experimental Theology, which is the field of both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter, two Northern explorers/scientists/rivals. Mrs. Coulter is an ally of the Theocracy ruling this world, while Asriel is a defiant freethinker.

As Lyra aspires to be like Coulter and Asriel, she might seem a perfect heroine for this sort of sci-fi/fantasy, which deals with the intersection of physics and theology as major parts of the plot. Unfortunately, as Lyra has no actual interest in physics or theology, one would think that it would be hard to make the story work. How can she be a meaningful heroine for metaphysical science fiction if she is too ignorant and incurious and "unimaginative" even to TRY to figure out what is going on?

Well, she can't be. Lyra -- for all her aggressive, "unladylike" behavior - is a mere damsel, a rambunctious pet carted around by a bunch of doting adult males who (inexplicably) adore her and want her to be their daughter. She is equally adored by some half-naked Witches who want to sleep with Lyra's father so they can have an equally "magnificent" daughter just like her. A Magic Compass tells Lyra exactly where to go and what to do -- and she obeys. But other than the power to understand this compass and make everyone she meets fawn all over her, Lyra has few REAL ten-year-old talents, and shows little of the initiative a real ten-year-old should be capable of.

For example, when her friend (or "devoted slave") Roger goes missing, she is "magnificent" enough to abuse the helpless servants about it - but never thinks to ask her powerful protectress for help. When she finds out some unsavory information about a Certain Person, her response is to take off into the night without a plan, clue, map, sandwich, or change of underwear. Then she wanders around aimlessly until she is 1) attacked by villains, 2) rescued by people who just happen to be going where she wants to go. Pullman (in his role as narrator) keeps telling us that Lyra's lack of imagination and planning are good things, because if you actually THINK about what you are trying to do, you might get discouraged and give up. (Seriously, that's what the narrator says.) So, boys and girls. Thinking? Bad. Wandering the docks alone at night aimlessly? Good.

Lyra superficially resembles the impulsive and tomboyish heroines of Joan Aiken (WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE, BLACK HEARTS IN BATTERSY, NIGHTBIRDS ON NANTUCKET). But Lyra does not benefit from the comparison. Aiken's recurring themes included friendships between stronger and (seemingly) weaker children, resulting in empowerment for the weak child. Aiken's boys, like her tomboys, were as gentle to the weak as they were courageous and clever. By contrast, Pullman's recurring themes are the matter-of-fact destruction of the weak, and the author-approved triumph of the brutal. Lyra may pityingly accept the "devoted slavery" of a mere beta male like Roger, but gives her true love to the ruthless and mighty. The shocking climax of Volume One deluded me into thinking she might grow out of this fault, but it actually gets worse.

In fact, GOLDEN COMPASS is by far the best in the trilogy. It starts out plodding, but picks up in the latter half. It has some stretches of lovely language and vividly horrific imagery. The improved second half gave me hope for good things. But HIS DARK MATERIALS, supposedly Pullman's best work, declines after Book One. His many vivid passages prove him a good writer and will make this series a natural fit for Hollywood, which excels at stringing together stirring set pieces, if nothing else. But despite his talent, Pullman has consistently let me down as a storyteller. He has no interest in fleshing out the potentially interesting World he creates, betrays an outright distaste for the humble task of fantasy storytelling, and is shockingly careless with good ideas deserving of better treatment. In Book 3, he springs on us his Agenda, which dominates and derails the series, and leads to one of the most memorably moronic conclusions in literary history.

The popularity of the series could stem from Pullman's refreshingly different fantasy setting, intriguing metaphysical concepts, and the lip-service paid to certain humanistic notions such as feminism, homosexuality, anti-authoritarianism, and scientific progress. But considering that the setting is so sketchily realized, the concepts so clumsily trashed, the humanist pretensions so completely undermined by the story, the "daring" conclusion such a copout, and the Enemy such a strawman, that a cynic might suspect that HDM's popularity in certain quarters really stems from its ultimate descent into a virulent hate screed. Readers who like the first book should be cautious about spending hard cash on the series until they have finished it.

The blurb on my copy recommends this to children as young as eight, but I recommend parents take this with a heavy dose of salt. Book One contains much to stimulate the imagination, and children will love those "daemons". But the best parts of the story are horrific scenes, usually involving the victimization of children, for which the later books no justice and no comfort. For children who are old enough for the horror, you might want to discuss with them the fact that in later books the heroes are mostly amoral, the author shows clear contempt for the homosexuals, women, and even the child victims he pretends to champion, and the series ultimately confuses nihilism with depth.

A new perspective.......2007-09-22

Well, I probably don't offer much of a new perspective, but I must disagree with the people toting an anti-God message. I read all of the reviews. And, while spiritual myself, and Catholic, I still read it because I wanted to see what all the hub-bub was about. Now that I've read the books, I want to say: How dare you "religious" people say you shouldn't read this to children. This is EXACTLY what you should read to children. I don't see the blasphemy. I see God working in mysterious ways, despite the fact that the author is allegedly an atheist. Does beliving in nothing alter the powerful moral messages in these books? If you think so, then shame on you! That's ashame that you can't trust your children to be more insightful than you and see the message of courage and love and bravery in spite of the evils of this world. Apparently, that's all negated because of the suggestion that people in the church could be there for personal gain and power rather than to help others. Shocking!! Like that's never happened before!!! hello people, open your eyes! God wants you to question yourselves, your church friends, your pastors, and even your God. He wants you to decide for yourself after hearing all of the evidence! And fortunately, with God there's more than one right answer. So stop hatin, please!

Best Loved Little Golden Books 6 Copy Boxed Set: I Can Fly/Mister Dog/Baby Farm Animals/Jolly Barnyard/Happy Man and His Dump Truck/Color Kittens

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Golden Book set

Best Loved Little Golden Books 6 Copy Boxed Set: I Can Fly/Mister Dog/Baby Farm Animals/Jolly Barnyard/Happy Man and His Dump Truck/Color Kittens
Golden Books
Manufacturer: Golden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Children's Boxed Sets | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Baby-3 | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Animals | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Literature | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375833943
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

Six treasured Little Golden Books are all in one beautiful box! These six titles, featuring adorable animals, are truly the pick of the litter: The Color Kittens; Mister Dog, I Can Fly; Baby Farm Animals; The Jolly Barnyard; and The Happy Man and His Dump Truck. A bonus blank Little Golden Book lets children create their own literary masterpieces!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-07-16

Was surprised to find the "Write your own story" book enclosed in this gift set. Would recommend to anyone.

Golden Book set.......2007-02-08

I bought this set for my grandson and am very pleased with it! It has five titles (The Color Kittens, Mister Dog, I Can Fly, Baby Farm Animals, The Jolly Barnyard, and The Happy Man and His Dump Truck) which are old favorites with some favorite author/illustrators, including Margaret Wise Brown and Garth Williams. The reason for buying the set AS a set, however, was the blank create-your-own Golden Book! I think this is a great idea and look forward to seeing my grandson's own story!

Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students (Teaching for Social Justice Series)

Average customer rating:

Great Book on Teaching
Holler for Michie
review
Holla' back!
...

Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students (Teaching for Social Justice Series)
Gregory Michie
Manufacturer: Teachers College Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Pedagogy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0807738883

Customer Reviews:

Great Book on Teaching.......2007-09-27

This book is written with passion. Its story is told not through the author, but through the anecdotes, vignettes, and interviews provided by his students. A reader can tell what an inspired and inspiring teacher Mr. Michie really is. I would recommend this book to any new teachers or anyone interested in the problems of social justice and education in the US.

Holler for Michie.......2006-05-11

Gregory Michie's series of vignettes weaves an interesting story of his life as a young, inexperienced teacher in a poor and violent public school system. Although the book's time line is scattered, the reader can easily get a feel for the struggles of both Michie and his students. Set in the 1990's in the "Back of the Yard" Mexican-American neighborhood in inner city Chicago, we are introduced briefly, yet intensely, to many of Michie's students who struggle to stay in school. The pages fly by because they are rich with dialogue and stories from Michie's colorful students. If you was looking for an insightful book with a passionate look into the mind of some diversely opinionated adolescents, this is a great book for you.
As a teacher, I found Michie's book inspiring. Although the time line, at points, is difficult to follow, I sincerely enjoyed the honest approach of the book. As a result of reading this text, I decided to spend more one on one time with some of my students. Michie, with the help if a reverend-like teacher, starts to look past the "gangster" in order to find the student inside. I thought that maybe I had been judging some of my most challenging students too quickly. Have I been subconsciously treating the students who I know to be involved in more trouble differently? Have I been ignoring kids because I think that "they don't care anyway"? I tried to put my feeling aside and at least talk to some of the students whom I found troublesome. Every day last week, I invited a new kid to eat lunch with me. Even if I could not be the extra-curricular, field trip-loving Michie, I could at least try something! With a few, I found immediate results. It seemed to me, that their classroom antics were a cry for my attention, and an individual conference was the perfect medicine. One child in particular, asked to have lunch with me again, and I complied. When he began misbehaving in class later on that afternoon, all it took was a sideways glance of disappointment, and he was back on track. This small simple strategy may seem obvious to many (and it was to me, I just never did it!), but it really worked. I do not think that I would have made an effort to spend quality time with my "problem" children if I had not read this book.

review.......2006-03-03

I read this for Education class and it was very interesting. Most books i read are very boring, this one i actually read the whole thing with no skimming. Based on a teachers' experience at a Chicago middle school.

Holla' back!.......2005-11-02

Greg Mitchie gives a very personal account about the compassion and hard work involved in teaching. There is a great balance between teacher and student reflections on school, in particular middle school, and life. It is a thoughtful and emotional insight into what being a teacher should be about - promoting student voice. Great read for anyone insterested in teaching at the secondary level, at the beginning of their teaching career or in an inner city.

..........2002-08-30

As I read this book I can't help but think that Gregory Michie believes to be the "Great White Hope" for minorities. He lacks insight and knowledge of the inner cities. he has chosen to only see one side of the coin. He is typical of all those that want to excuse us minorities for doing poor in school and society. For becoming gang bangers and killing our own kind. Let's blame the system, the government because in doing so we set ourselves for failure, for how can we change something as the "system" and "the government" if it is out of our reach, according to this book and the author. As I read this book I see the lack of character and will of this so called good teacher.
I have had the unique experience of working with Chicago inner city kids too, but not in the classroom, but in a one to one basis for over 17 years and the conclusions reached by Gregory Michie are as erronous as the title of his book. You don't need to Hollar to be Heard. Kids today, especially inner city kids don't need more excuses for why they do bad in the classroom and in society. They need to be taught that every action leads to another action and at the end we have to take responsibilities for our own actions, no matter the system or government we are under.
Also I put into question the credebility of this author. There are many instances were he contradicts himself, for example, when he first writes how the Mexican kids in class cursed in Spanish, yet, he knew no Spanish, but he supposedly remembers vividly the words said by the students in Spanish. Also, at the beggining of the book with his whole mock trial of the students putting the food question in trial. Unless this kids spent countless hours learning court rules and court procedures, there is no way that things went as this author states.
Thus, I believe the book lacks credibility and that the book is just one more excuse for us minorities to do bad and for this self appointed "Great White Hope" to come in and supposedly fix things by blaming the system and government that supposeldy is out of reach of these "poor and innoncent" gang bangers.
i don't recomend this book, only if you want to have a good laugh at fiction and see the lack of character and weakness of a teacher. Who ever heard of a male teacher wanting to cry infront of a classroom, only in this book.
good material for a night around a camp fire and when the leaves are all used up, might as well put in this garbage in and used it to feed the fire, because that is all it does, feed the fire of minority insecurity and try to fire up the idea that minorites, without help from the government and the system that is against them, will ever make it. When in fact I know that minorites can make it and are not stupid or the poor people that Gregory Michie makes them out to be in his...book.

Stories on Stage: Children's Plays for Reader's Theater (or Readers Theatre), With 15 Play Scripts From 15 Authors, Including Roald Dahl's The Twits and Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Average customer rating:

Theatre Teachers: This Is What You Need
A Great Resource
Clear and Helpful

Stories on Stage: Children's Plays for Reader's Theater (or Readers Theatre), With 15 Play Scripts From 15 Authors, Including Roald Dahl's The Twits and Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Aaron Shepard
Manufacturer: Shepard Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Children's | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Reading | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Readers | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

Reading Skills | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Children's Books | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0938497227

Book Description

Stories on Stage is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, and Roald Dahl. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, stories were selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. The scripts may be freely copied, shared, and performed for noncommercial purposes. With a focus on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a wide range of reading levels. The scripts in this collection are -- "Three Sideways Stories From Wayside School," by Louis Sachar -- "Mr. Twit's Revenge," by Roald Dahl -- "Millions of Cats," by Wanda Gag -- "Tapiwa's Uncle," by Nancy Farmer -- "How Tom Beat Captain Najork," by Russell Hoban -- "Harriet," by Florence Parry Heide -- "Mr. Bim's Bamboo," by Carol Farley -- "Talk," by Harold Courlander -- "The Jade Stone," by Caryn Yacowitz -- "The Bean Boy," by Monica Shannon -- "The Kid from the Commercial," by Stephen Manes -- "The Fools of Chelm," by Steve Sanfield -- "Mouse Woman and the Snails," by Christie Harris -- "Westwoods," by Eleanor Farjeon -- "The Legend of Lightning Larry," by Aaron Shepard.

Customer Reviews:

Theatre Teachers: This Is What You Need.......2006-11-10

This book is formatted so easily, it took me MUCH less time than I thought it would to prepare a unit on reader's theatre for my class. I used it for my high school theatre class so they wouldn't have to concentrate on large vocabularies, but rather to deliver the story in a simple, easy way. It was a HUGE success of a project and this book made it possible. It tells you how long each story is, what cast you'll need, and what reading level it is!! Yay!!!
The stories themselves are entertaining (even for high school!!!), compelling, and really fun to work with. I am SO grateful I ordered this!

A Great Resource.......2006-01-11

Aaron Shepard is a generous contributor to the field of Reader's Theatre. This book is no exception. It's well-laid out and chock-full of interesting scripts. I've recommended to several folks interested in RT.

Clear and Helpful.......2006-01-11

This book was written in clear language. It was helpful to me as a novice.

Little Bunny Follows His Nose (Scented Storybook)

Average customer rating:

A sweet trip down memory lane!
Beware!
Favorite Book
Almost the same as the original
Scratch and Sniif is great for toddlers

Little Bunny Follows His Nose (Scented Storybook)
Katherine Howard
Manufacturer: Golden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375826440
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Book Description

What’s a bunny to do on such a fine sunny day? Follow his nose! Down the hill, into the forest, and through a vegetable garden, Little Bunny does just that! Kids will love all the wonderful things there are to smell—pine, peach, roses and more—in this classic scratch-and-sniff book originally published in 1971.

Customer Reviews:

A sweet trip down memory lane!.......2007-09-15

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I was thrilled when my Mom bought it for my son. He is now 13 months old and loves to "read" it on his own, leaning over the sniff the smells. It is a sweet little tale of a little bunny sniffing his way around one afternoon, encountering his friends who introduce him to scents of a rose, pine needles, peach, pickle, strawberry jam and cookies. The writing is simplistic with the "hop, hop, hop" refrain adding a nice cadence. There is one draw back though: As another reviewer noted, the scents didn't last for very long!

Beware!.......2007-08-18

The integrity of this book is seriously compromised by the new, non-descript, circular stickers. They actually obscure the illustrations that they cover. It makes me sad that what used to be a childhood favorite is now seems so cheaply made. Also, the scents are faint. If you're buying the book for the story and illustrations it is still fun. But if the scratch-n-sniff aspect is an important component(why wouldn't it be?), you'll probably be disappointed.

Favorite Book .......2007-06-30

My favorite as a kid, and now I'm reading it to my kids. Highly recommended!

Almost the same as the original.......2007-06-08

I decided to get this newly released version to replace my older book where the scratch and sniff decals are worn out. Everything is the same except in the last few pages- Little bunny is now having chocolate chip cookies instead of the original chocolate mint cookies. Otherwise this is a fun book that I enjoyed as a kid, and know that many other kids will love as well.

Scratch and Sniif is great for toddlers.......2007-05-22

My daughter loves scratch and sniff books after being introduced to this one. The story is great on this one and she loves the interaction. I highly recommend for any baby/kid.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books