A House for Hermit Crab (Stories to Go!)

Amazon.com

"Time to move," said Hermit Crab one day. "I've grown too big for this little shell." Much-loved master of cut-paper collage Eric Carle created A House for Hermit Crab to comfort any little ones (okay, and adults, too) who dread change--whether the new shell is a new home, a new school, or a new experience. In this soothing, upbeat story, Hermit Crab casts his eyestalks on a newer, bigger shell, but it seems plain and unwelcoming at first. When he meets some beautiful, swaying sea anemones, he asks if one of them will come to adorn the outside of his shell. In time a colorful sea star, some coral, an industrious sea snail, a fortress-protecting sea urchin, and an illuminating lantern fish all join forces with him, making his house a home. Much to his dismay, just when his dwelling and new family fit him to a T, he finds he's physically outgrown his shell yet again. Instead of bemoaning his fate, he eagerly spots a newer, bigger shell--to him a fresh, blank artist's canvas--and relishes the thought of all the undersea home-improvement possibilities: sponges, barnacles, clown fish, and more! Kids will love Carle's rich, affectionate portrayal of Hermit Crab's ocean odyssey, and the gentle story may help them see that giving up the old for the new is not a loss, but an opportunity. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Poor Hermit Crab! He's outgrown his snug little shell, so he finds himself a larger one -- and many new friends to decorate and protect his new house. But what will happen when he outgrows this shell and has to say good-bye to all the sea creatures who have made Hermit Crab's house a home?

Children facing change in their own lives will relate to Hermit Crab's story -- and learn a lot about the fascinating world of marine life along the way.

Customer Reviews:

A House for Hermit Crab Board Book.......2007-08-01

I enjoy reading this book not only to my 18 month old son but for myself.
At the moment he doesn't always sit for the whole book as it is a little long sometimes for a board book.
I feel this book shows how all things start out small and grow bigger.
It helps to have the months of the year in the story to show time passing!
I believe it is simple enough for a toddler to understand!

Great book!.......2007-06-27

This book is used in our Kindergarten literacy program at school. My daughter enjoyed the book there and wanted one for home.

Carle at his best.......2007-01-20

It is Carle at his best; it is pretty to look at, a sweet story about friendship and one that teaches about real sea creatures.

In this story a hermit crab must chose a new shell as he has out grown his old one. His new shell is rather boring so he decides to decorate it with other creatures and plants that live in the sea. Each month he finds a new friend to decorate his home. Of course by the end of the year when his home is perfect it is also too small! Now the hermit crab must learn about sharing and start decorating a new home.

Review Me.......2005-12-20

This book was very good to read. It talked about a crab who wanted to find friends to go along wiht his new home. He found so many friends and all of them was convient to his new house.

So many great lessons in this book!.......2005-07-11

My 3.5 year old son loves this book - we are typically reading it at least twice a day. I love that there is a since of time involved, as each page covers a month in the year. Great for a preschooler who is just learning to get a grip on the calendar. The hermit crab forms symbiotic relationships with other sea creatures; another great lesson. Also super fun to read out load with lots of opportunities to "do" the different voices. There is a glossary in back - perhaps a little advanced for a 3 yr old, but I enjoyed that the first time I read through the book - it will be good when my son is a little older. I like that, although our hermit crab has to eventually leave his friends behind in search of a new home, he is able to pass along his old home to a younger crab. All this with the style of illustrations that we have all come to love in eric Carle books, makes this one a big winner!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful book!
This is fantastic classic for nature lovers
I read this book several times as a child.
Still wonderful after all these years
Still holds up after 30 years....

Pagoo
Holling C. Holling
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0395539641

Book Description

An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful book!.......2007-06-02

I bought this book after reading other Holling C. Holling books. The book is wonderful! The pictures are good and the story is excellent. What I love about Mr. Holling's books is that they can be used multi-level. Even my 3yo was interested in learning about Pagoo the Hermit Crab.

This is fantastic classic for nature lovers.......2007-04-28

I first read this book when I was in graduate school. I was so excited about it that I gave it as a gift to several children and my biology professor. The story, the biology and the artwork all worked together to make this a sheer pleasure to read and share.

I read this book several times as a child........2002-09-30

I loved Pagoo as a child and have just read it to my two boys. It is a wonderful story of a little hermit crab and his adventures while growing up in a tide pool by the sea.The illustrations are beautiful. A must for any young reader interested in ocean life.

Still wonderful after all these years.......2002-09-13

I read this book in elementary school and went looking for it again last year as a gift for a niece. The story is wonderful and little Pagoo is a really lovable character. But there's also a lot of fascinating natural detail. And stunning illustrations. It's a children's book version of a top-notch Nature documentary. "Nova" in print, if you will. Also check out Holling Clancy Holling's other books. They're all great, even looking back at them after three decades.

Still holds up after 30 years...........2001-09-04

I remember my 4th grade teacher read this to a group of restless, bored kids, that is until we all (well, most of us) became enthralled by Pagoo. I suddenly remembered this title 30 years after being introduced to it by my teacher at Francis Scott Key Elementary School in San Francisco in 1972, Mrs. Marjorie Parkhurst. My 6-year old daughter is currently fascinated by sea creatures (as I was at her age), tide pools and such, and recently acquired a pet Hermit Crab after relentlessly hounding me for one. I'm sure she'll enjoy it as much as I did. If not, well, then I'll have to look up Mrs. Parkhurst and blame her for being a much better storyteller than I am! ;)

Hermy the Hermit Crab: The Adventure Begins

Average customer rating:

Hermy Does It Again!

Hermy the Hermit Crab: The Adventure Begins
Andrea Weathers
Manufacturer: Legacy Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0933101228

Book Description

Hermy the Hermit Crab is back!

In this prequel to Hermy the Hermit Crab Goes Shopping, Hermy sees the wonderful sights of historic Charleston while growing up in the Charleston harbor. He experiences many new things, like how to select his first shell and he even discovers the lost Hunley submarine. Hermy finds a great place to call home with other hermit crabs just like him. This beautifully illustrated children's book invites you to travel along with Hermy the Hermit Crab on his very first adventure!

Customer Reviews:

Hermy Does It Again!.......2005-09-09

Once again author Andrea Weathers and illustrator Bob Thames have teamed up to produce another engaging and beautifully illustrated story about a little hermit crab. In this prequel to their first book, Hermy the Hermit Crab Goes Shopping, we find Hermy in the waters off Folly Beach, SC at the time of his "birth". He once again travels to real-life Charleston SC Lowcountry destinations as he grows larger with each site he visits. By the end of the book Hermy finds himself where he started out in the first book. Ms. Weathers captures the essence of coastal living through the eyes of Hermy in a way that is educational and entertaining. Mr. Thames artwork is phenomenal with its colorful images and attention to detail. The innovative format also includes a map of Hermy's journey, and an informative "Hermy's Glossary". I have given the book to children of all ages. It makes a great lap book for children who are not reading yet, but who will be enchanted by the colorful and detailed pictures and fast moving storyline. Older school children will also enjoy the book for its educational value. I highly recommend the book and I can’t wait to see what Hermy will be up to in the next book!!

Average customer rating:

Wonderfully written, and great illustrations!
Bill Peet is a Winner
Fun, cute, and with a good message
Selfish shellfish finds satisfaction in doing for others
Is Bill Peet Dr. Suess' Brother?

Kermit the Hermit
Bill Peet
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0395296072

Book Description

A little boy saves Kermit from disaster, and the once cranky crab works hard to repay him.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully written, and great illustrations!.......2006-12-14

I am a big fan of Bill Peet! I didn't really discover him until I was a mom for a few years, but the first book I read was a great introduction to me, and I quickly checked out all the Bill Peet books in the local library. Our family has been collecting these little by little, and Kermit the Hermit is one of his best works. I have never read a Bill Peet book that was dissapointing. Kermit the Hermit shows genuine love and concern for all.

Bill Peet is a Winner.......2006-08-08

In addition to his marvelous children's stories, Bill Peet wrote an awesome autobiography--ideal for 8-12 year olds. I cannot imagine a young boy not being drawn into his story.

Fun, cute, and with a good message.......2004-01-27

I found this book remaindered, and picked it up just because it was set in Monterey Bay. I was delighted to find that it was a terrific story, and that my daughter (age 2-1/2) loved it.

My only criticism is that some of the poetry is a bit strained, but it doesn't detract from the overall excellence. Great pictures, good characters, and a fine message.

And, by the way, the pictures very accurately portray Monterey Bay, both above and below the water.

Selfish shellfish finds satisfaction in doing for others.......2003-07-18

Bill Peet is a wonderful children's book author and Kermit The Hermit is a great example of his work. It is a 1965 story about a Hermit Crab who starts out the story as a selfish shellfish. Through an act of human kindness, he learns the emptiness of a self-centered life. Kermit devotes himself to repaying the favor and finds satisfaction in doing for others.

The book is a long rhyming poem with delightful color illustrations surrounding the text. This is a story that children and those who read to them are sure to enjoy.

Is Bill Peet Dr. Suess' Brother?.......2000-09-01

This book feels like it is written by Dr. Suess, with the same cadence in the rhymes. The language is a tad more sophisticated, but both my son and I love the book! It is so much fun to read, I don't know who enjoys it more.

Average customer rating:

Just fine
Good read -
a good story again.
KERNEY CONTINUES TO COOK
excellent writing and plotting

Hermit's Peak (Kevin Kerney Novels)
Michael McGarrity
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671021478

Amazon.com

Kevin Kerney might just be the best cop currently working the mean streets of mystery fiction. As deputy chief of the New Mexico State Police, he is not tortured by the doubts, angst, alcoholism, or mixed motives that seem to overwhelm many of his fictional colleagues. His methods are rarely flashy or excessively macho, and he treats other cops of all ranks with a minimum of attitude. Author Michael McGarrity, who worked for Santa Fe's sheriff's department before retiring to write, has managed to make Kerney human without loading him with excess baggage.

As we've come to realize in three previous books--Mexican Hat, Serpent Gate, and Tularosa--Kerney works as a police officer to make the money he needs to buy a cattle ranch like the one he grew up on. In Hermit's Peak, that dream comes closer to reality when a woman painter leaves Kerney a large portion of her own property on a mesa northeast of Santa Fe. McGarrity describes this land with the keen simplicity of natural poetry. Reality (in the form of a huge inheritance tax bill) darkens the picture. But the discovery of a very rare cactus plant and the unexpected arrival of Sara Brannon (the career army officer with whom Kerney had a romance in an earlier book) let in a few rays of sunlight. Meanwhile, Kerney and a tough local cop have to deal with a rape and murder, plus enough everyday crimes to keep them seriously busy without busting the boundaries of believability. --Dick Adler

Book Description

When Kevin Kerney, deputy chief of the New Mexico State Police, inherits an unexpected windfall of 6,400 acres of high-county land, the last thing he wants to think about is work. But while visiting his new property, he comes across an ailing stray dog that leads him to the butchered bones of a murder victim near the rugged mountain of Hermit's Peak.

After assigning the case to his subordinates, Kerney returns to Santa Fe to spend time with a woman he cares about, Sara Brannon, a career army officer who is visiting him on holiday. But his time with Sara must wait, as he is called back to Hermit's Peak when another body is found at a remote cabin. Now, Kerney must unearth the shattering truth about his new land and follow a twisting trail of blood through the majestic landscape of the American Southwest.

Customer Reviews:

Just fine.......2007-03-10

I've just started reading McGarrity and really like him.

Pros.
1) He is a good writer, his books flow naturally and they are easy to read. (Not all best selling authors are good writers.)
2) His characters are likeable, fully fleshed and well written.
3) He's done more for New Mexico than any NM tourist commission could ever do. Before I read his books I thought NM was a desert both in geography and culturally. Now I see that NM has beauty in more ways than one.

Cons.
1) These books are not thrillers. You don't have to guess who did it because he tells you. They are more like dramas where you get to see both sides. I would have given the book a 5 if he had let us discover the nature of the crime with Kerney, but that's it's the same with all his books.

Nevertheless, very satisfying to read. I plan to get all his books.

Good read -.......2007-01-12

Firstly, I love the setting for these books. It's New Mexico off the beaten path (with occasional side trips to Albuquerque and Santa Fe), a part of the country I'm familiar with. It's very evocative of the area. And the mysteries are engaging, and pretty well written, too. Characters are drawn well, story moves along, dialog is good - what's not too like. I've read four of this series and liked them all.

a good story again........2006-05-27

i was quite sad about the lieut. lost his son in the end. kerney kept shinning thru the whole story. a man with priciples and plenty chips to deal with the harshness of the new mexico environment. his ranching dream seems to become tougher and more difficult to be realized. never thought ranching business would be so difficult today in america and that really sucks.

KERNEY CONTINUES TO COOK.......2004-04-16

Kevin Kerney, McGarrity's tough, sensitive cop, is back in a labyrinthine tale set once again in the wilds of New Mexico. Kerney has inherited land from a schoolmate of his late mother's, and he is ecstatic, even though he may not be able to pay the inheritance tax on it. While looking at his new land, he and his friend Dale Jennings, discover the bones of a female, and it looks like homicide. If that weren't enough, a local citizen, Carl Boaz, is found with a bullet in his forehead on a cabin on Kerney's property. These two crimes propel Kerney and his associates into a maelstrom of rape, murder, and burglary. And, Sara Brannon, Kerney's love from a previous book, returns to add romantic complications to his life. A side plot involves a fellow cop's plight with his son and the son's notoriously bad friend.
Again, the dialogue and settings are rich and authentic, and Kerney plows ahead in this excellent series.

excellent writing and plotting.......2004-02-02

I read a lot of mysteries and this is one of the best plotted, best written ones I've ever read. In my opinion, Michael McGarrity is one gifted writer.

Average customer rating:

5ht grade Teacher--My class loved it!
A great surviver story
Must-Read
cool book
The book that will change the way you think of survial.

The Iceberg Hermit (Point)
Arthur Roth
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0590441124

Customer Reviews:

5ht grade Teacher--My class loved it!.......2007-07-28

Excellent class novel. Full of adventure and appeals to all kids who love to imagine having a wild animal as a pet. This book is a jewel.

A great surviver story.......2002-11-14

One of the best books I have read in the past year has to be "The Ice burg Hermit, by Arthur Roth. It is a marvelous book about a man who finds a way to survive in the cold. One of the major reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that it is full of action . The ice berg hermit is trying to survive in the cold depths of the seas. Another reason I enjoy this book and found this book to be so wonderful but suspenseful. He fights polar bears and you never know when a polar bear comes to kill Allen. Of course my favorite reason for having this book is, that it is full of action. The best action part in the book is when he tries to swing to the iceberg to save his life and almost dies. As for as I am concerned Author Roth hit the nail on the head of this book

Must-Read.......2001-12-09

I had a very smart and very good teacher in grade school. We had to read a certain amount of books each year, and some we HAD to read as a class so we could discuss them. The Iceberg Hermit was one of them, and I have to say that it was one of my favorites of the must-read stories we had to pick from, right up there with Bridge to Terabithia, Tuck Everlasting, Mrs. Mike and Where the Red Fern Grows.

I had lost my copy years ago, but thought of it again recently. So I was pleasantly surprised that it was still in print. I remember how my imagination soared, trying to picture the main character stranded in the middle of nowhere. I was transported to another place and time, and 20 years after reading the book, I can still remember it vividly. If you are looking for some good reading material for your children, this will NOT disappoint.

cool book.......2001-09-25

I liked this book alot because in the most unthinkable ways Alan overcomes many ordeals and ends up surviving the arctic cold on an iceberg. In many cases Alan is almost killed and eaten by polar bears. I enjoyed the aurthers vivid discription of the land, and climate, and how the charehter feels in the story. In many ways I think this book is non-fiction because Alan keeps a pet polar bear. I recomend this book to all outher readers.

The book that will change the way you think of survial........2001-05-23

This book is the best survial book I've ever read. It's one of those books you never want to put down.From the beginning when the ship wrecks to the end there's nothing but excitment all the way though.This book will show you yhat no matter what happenes if you want to survive you will- no matter the odds. So take it from me,this an awesome book any day.

The Bald Headed Hermit and the Artichoke: An Erotic Thesaurus

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The Bald Headed Hermit and the Artichoke: An Erotic Thesaurus
A Must Read Plethora for Any Erotic Writer
Thorough Reference
get it before it's gone
OK, but not great.

The Bald Headed Hermit and the Artichoke: An Erotic Thesaurus
Allan D. Peterkin
Manufacturer: Arsenal Pulp Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 155152063X

Book Description

arsenalpulp.com :

What do the terms "Master of Ceremonies," "Husbandman of Nature," "Old Faithless," and "My Body's Captain" refer to? How about "Cully-Shangy," Hogmagundy," or "Horizontal Refreshment"? Synonyms for these and other phrases can be found in The Bald-Headed Hermit & the Artichoke, a unique guide to the lingo of sex. Extensive historical research conducted by Peterkin led to the compilation of lists of phrases and words referring to all aspects of human sexuality, from breasts and testicles, to fetishes and paraphernalia. In conducting his research, Peterkin discovered that erotic words and phrases in the English-speaking world number well into the thousands; "penis" alone has over 1,500 modern synonyms.

The terms in The Bald-Headed Hermit vary from the poetic and the medical to the macho, derogatory, and obscene; the lists offer varied and "imaginative" interpretations of human sexuality that are at times funny and shocking at others. They also provide unusual insight into how various societies view sexual pleasure.

In addition, the book shows how previously silent sexual communities, including gays & lesbians, the transgendered, and various fetishists and libertines, challenge attitudes towards sexuality and sexual expression, thereby changing the very language of sex.

The Bald-Headed Hermit includes fascinating explanations of sexual terms, as well as historical/archival line drawings illustrating various aspects of sexuality.

Customer Reviews:

The Bald Headed Hermit and the Artichoke: An Erotic Thesaurus.......2007-06-27

Very very crude. Useless to me. I was thinking erotic romance not porn. Was good for a few laughs though.

A Must Read Plethora for Any Erotic Writer.......2006-12-05

This book should be mandatory for any erotic writer to have in their library. This resource not only opened my mind up to new terminology but even more ideas for stories in which I could just expound upon the English language in rich erotic detail.

I highly recommend this book to anyone even thinking about writing an erotic or romance book!

Thorough Reference.......2005-04-24

This book includes the classy synonyms as well as the outdated, odd, eccentric, and tactless. Words and phrases are alphabetized in endless specific categories, so you're guaranteed to find just what you're looking for. Categories also include everything from references to genitalia and the sex act to the sex industry and sexual health and dysfunction.

The book is laced with vintage photographs, mostly erotic and some very tantalizing, which add to the character of the book itself and your browsing enjoyment. There's even some editorial comment inserting stories and histories of interest, but there generally isn't historical or origination information about the individual terms included.

It's an excellent resource for writers of erotica/porn: very thorough, easy to use, nice to look at, and with classy terms as well as the humorous ones.

get it before it's gone.......2001-08-12

using euphemisms for body parts does not sit well with many writers. I am one who loves this book and I must say it is very informative.it contains old photos and words i've never heard of, I like how the author put the book together, classic [terms] are used in this book, the book covers everything from anal sex to missionary position, i am impressed at mr.peterkin's work, I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of nicknames for body parts, whoever bought this book,your money is WELL spent!!!

OK, but not great........2001-01-26

This thesaurus was interesting but I thought there would be more creative words and phrases included. Alot of the words were more geared toward the obscene, "nasty" side of sexual terminology. I bought the book to find some clever alternatives that were in good taste and with class. There were a few, but not enough for my taste.

The Hermit of Eyton Forest: The Fourteenth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Average customer rating:

The fifteenth chronicle
A forest full of dangers, holy hermit or no
Another Pleasant Tale
Another excellent Cadfael
Always a pleasure!

The Hermit of Eyton Forest: The Fourteenth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
Ellis Peters
Manufacturer: Mysterious Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0445403470

Customer Reviews:

The fifteenth chronicle.......2006-03-19

In October of 1142, Empress Maud is still besieged in the town of Oxford, surrounded by the forces of King Stephen. She sends an emissary bearing jewels and money to her brother, begging him for help, but the man's horse is found with the leathers bloodstained and, of course, with no sign of the money or jewels. A local Lord and father of Richard, one of the young pupils at the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul dies and Brother Cadfael is charged with the duty of escorting the boy to his home to attend the funeral. The boy's grandmother, a harsh and grasping woman, wishes to force Richard into a marriage with an older girl, the daughter of a neighbour, so that the lands may be conjoined, but the 10 year old wants only to return with Cadfael to the Abbey and his friends. A minor, local landowner stays as a guest at the Abbey while mounting a search for his missing villein and enlists the reluctant help of Sheriff Hugh Beringar who agrees to help with the search, knowing that the man is a brutal master who treats his servants very badly. A series of events causes Richard to be kidnapped and forced into a marriage by his grandmother and Cuthred, a local hermit and holy man. Yet another stranger arrives at the Abbey with a slight wound and so is taken to be treated by Cadfael who makes his usual assessment of all the events and uses his insatiable curiosity to tie all the loose ends together for a very satisfactory conclusion.

A forest full of dangers, holy hermit or no.......2005-12-24

As with several other entries in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, at the center of this book stands one of the younger members of the community of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, and his relationship to the community versus his romantic relationships in the world outside. But this time the youngster isn't a novice who made a mistaken commitment to the cloister after a love affair gone wrong, nor even an embittered older man seeking solace after a disastrous marriage.

No, Richard Ludel (his father's namesake and only child) is ten years old, doesn't yet see any use for girls, and is happy enough to be one of the handful of students boarded at the monastery, well away from his formidable grandmother's plans to marry him off to the heiress of a neighbouring manor - "quite old", being past twenty, and a nuisance rather than a person from Richard's point of view. This makes an oblique, fairly subtle contrast to the events of the ongoing civil war between the empress and the king - the empress, like Richard's intended, is years older than her husband, tied to him in a marriage with little love lost, as demonstrated when Geoffrey of Anjou not only refuses to send so much as a single soldier to her aid while she is under siege in Oxford, but has lured away her half-brother and best general to help *him* with the battles for the Norman lands in contention in the struggle for the throne.

Upon the death of the elder Richard Ludel (still young, but never recovered from wounds suffered in the battle of Lincoln), Richard's elders plan to let matters proceed according to their settled routine - but there's a disagreement about what that routine is. Hugh Beringar as sheriff has no wish to antagonize the loyal Ludels by interfering with Richard's inheritance, despite his being a minor; his only concern is that the Ludels' steward should be competent and loyal. Abbot Radulfus (by charter the boy's guardian until he comes of age), intends for the boy to stay in school - as Radulfus objects to children being handed over as infant oblates into monastic vows before they can consent, he also objects to children being bound in marriage, without any designs on pressuring the boy into becoming a monk. But Dame Dionisia Ludel's idea of the status quo is to continue with her campaign to marry the boy off, beginning by playing on public sympathy for a poor bereaved widow, cruelly kept from bringing her grandson home for a visit (and backing it up with judicious threats of taking the abbey to law).

Even as Dame Dionisia piously installs the hermit Cuthred in a long-empty hermitage in Eyton forest - who unlike the brothers of Shrewsbury would be under vows to remain solitary and enclosed in his hermitage, with only a youngster acting as his errand boy for regular company - the lady at first seems piously resigned, though she sees no use in having him educated and a *lot* of use in getting the neighbouring manors of Wroxiter and Leighton joined with the Ludel's manor of Eaton. Curiously, events then seem to conspire against the brothers, as accidents become disturbingly frequent in the abbey lands near Eaton, and the hermit (through his errand boy, the mischievous Hyacinth) issues a public warning to the abbey that perhaps these signs of nature in revolt should be taken as a sign that Richard should not unnaturally be kept away from his only remaining blood kin.

Despite this, young Richard immediately takes to Hyacinth, after waylaying him upon Hyacinth's delivery of the message, and the much older Hyacinth is happy enough to give Richard all the information his elders have been withholding from him, in exchange for being put in the picture about Richard's own situation. So when Richard later overhears an abbey guest in pursuit of a runaway villein being informed that Hyacinth matches the runaway's description, he immediately sets out for the hermitage at Eyton to warn his friend, naturally leaving no word at the abbey that he's playing truant, let alone venturing into his grandmother's reach.

But Richard fails to return to the abbey (and as his fellow students cover up for him into the next day, his absence isn't discovered until many hours have passed). Well aware of Dame Dionisia's plans for the boy, the lands in her care are searched thoroughly - but with no trace of the boy, and as the manor folk are more loyal to the boy than to her, it's hard to see where he could've been hidden - or how he can be rescued before being browbeaten into saying vows and signing marriage settlements.

As always, I recommend the unabridged recording narrated by Stephen Thorne. And as usual in Cadfael novels, there *are* love stories amid the pair of loveless arranged marriages for joining lands and titles featured in the story of the civil war and the private war over Richard's future. My congratuations to the reader who manages to spot *all* the puzzles to be solved, and not to be distracted by the enjoyable drama and romance that accompany them. Not least, one of the most dramatic episodes of the war - King Stephen's siege of Oxford, with total victory almost within his grasp as the empress is trapped within the castle - is playing out as the people of Shropshire are concerned with events nearer home.

Drive-in totals:
- Three disappearances (counting the mystery of the missing villein, being hunted ruthlessly by his former masters).
- Three deaths (counting Richard's father).
- Three love stories (the most dramatic of which is played out entirely off-stage, but no less affecting for that).

Another Pleasant Tale.......2005-07-05

THE HERMIT OF EYTON FOREST is another installment in Ellis Peters' popular Brother Cadfael series. I've read most of them and fully intend to read the rest. Clearly, I'm something of a fan. Not because the mysteries are so riveting. They aren't. In fact, most of them are fairly transparent. The how and why might not always be so obvious, but the who isn't usually too hard to figure out. The suspicious characters are rarely difficult to identify.

Further, the picture Ellis paints of life in the eleventh century is sanitized for our enjoyment. Despite the violence of the civil war raging in the background, life in Shrewsbury is slow-paced, calm, and ordered. Filth, squalor, brutality, disease and the appallingly short life expectancy of the period rarely intrude here.

Despite this (or perhaps because of it), the stories are engaging, the characters charming, and Peters' idyllic vision of the time is very attractive. Her prose has an elegant, graceful quality that enhances the pleasure of the overall experience, making these books a delight to read. I never fail to enjoy them, and THE HERMIT OF EYTON FOREST is certainly no exception.

Another excellent Cadfael.......2002-12-01

I am a Brother Cadfael junkie. Ms. Peters depth of detail brings the period to life. The social structure and mores of both England in 1041 and the Benetictine order are a facinating contrast to today. If you have never enjoyed a Brother Cadfael, I do suggest that you start with the first "A Morbid Taste for Bones".

Always a pleasure!.......2000-03-03

The fourteenth Cadfael book I have read and it was as enjoyable as the first thirteen. I admit that some of the plots have been predictable, but this is easily overlooked because Peters does such an expert job at bringing the 12th century to life, and Cadfael is such an entertaining character.

Book Description

John Thomas, a boy who lives in the woods of Tennessee with his stern guardian Luke, leads a lonely, solitary life. One morning after a storm, he finds an injured bird and makes his pet. When another young boy steals White Bird, John Thomas sets out on his own to find his pet. A perfect first chapter book for fans of historical fiction.

Customer Reviews:

The White Bird.......2007-02-01

I will always remember not to give up on people.The book made me feel sad.
I think the book was exciting.My favorite part of the book was when he found the bird.

White Bird.......2005-12-18

White Bird is a book you'll want to read over and over again!

White Bird.......2001-12-05

I will always remember when Luke saw John in the cradle.
This book was very Exciting!
I think others should read this book because there are exciting things on every page!

White Bird.......2001-12-05

I will always remember... The ending. This book was... exciting!
I think others should read this book because I think others will relate to it.

white bird.......2001-12-05

I will always remember the ending.
This book was... excting,awesome, and sad!
I think others should read this book because it is fun to read! It made me feel sad,excited, happy, and glad!

Average customer rating:

Lovely
The ethnic artwork of Vo-Dinh Mai is a perfect complement

The Hermit and the Well
Thich Nhat Hanh
Manufacturer: Plum Blossom Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1888375310

Book Description

The Hermit and the Well is a story is based on an actual event in Thich Nhat Hanh's life.

As a young boy, amidst the suffering and destruction that the war had brought to Vietnam, Hanh had a profound transformative experience after seeing a reproduction of a Buddha statue on the cover of a magazine. Moved by the Buddha's serene expression and peaceful appearance, he decided to become a monk. Through his ensuing school years, his interest and commitment deepened and led to visits of temples and other places of worship including a class fieldtrip to a hermit living in the mountains.

Thich Nhat Hanh entered a Buddhist monastery at age 14.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely.......2005-12-22

This is a very lovely, charming book. Deceptively simple, yet ultimately quite deep. In that sense, it reminds me a bit of the famous serious of drawings of an ox and his master; this is the series that serve to remind us of the search for, and discovery of, ourselves -- wisdom -- whatever.

In this short book, a young boy and his school class learn that they are to visit a hermit -- the boy wanders away from the group, looking for the hermit. Whre he finally discovers the wise man is the point of the book. This is a very sweet book with excellent drawings. I highly recommend it.

The ethnic artwork of Vo-Dinh Mai is a perfect complement.......2004-05-19

In The Hermit And The Well, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, scholar, and human rights activist Thich Nhat Hanh has written a story of a young Vietnamese boy who climbs a mountain in the hope of meeting a famed hermit that lives there. What the boy finds is the secret of his own happiness. The ethnic artwork of Vo-Dinh Mai is a perfect complement to Hanh's marvelous tale showcasing the importance of slowing down and appreciating the beauty that is always around us -- if we would only see it.

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