Friday November 21, 2008
Children's Books: Obsessions
Displayed below are the top selling items for today, Friday November 21, 2008 along with the review customers have voted "most useful".
To find top selling items in for a specific category, use the menu on the left or click here to see all categories.
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition : Poems and Drawings
- Untitled Paolini : Inheritance, Book III (Inheritance) by Christopher Paolini
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book by Eric Carle
- Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6) by J.K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) by J. K. Rowling
- Harry, A History : The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli
-
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
(based on 365 customer reviews)
-
(Hardcover)
Edition: 25th Anniversary
Author: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Harper Collins
Price: $12.21
You save: $5.74 (32%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
147 out of 162 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 7/14/00
Another Classic to Pass Along...get the HARDCOVER!
This book, written in 1963, has been in our family for near to 30 years in its original hardcover edition!It's been passed down, from my oldest at 32 to my youngest, now 8. Each child had their own reasons for loving it, and my tattered (but still good enough for grandkids) copy carries scribbles and memories from each of my sons.
Max is so mad at his mother one evening, when she puts him in his room, he sails off for a year, venturing out where the wild things are - huge, strange looking creatures with terrible eyes and terrible claws, who dance by the light of the moon.
Max handles them all, shouting "BE STILL" until they are so frightened, they agree he's the most wild thing of all.
He goes home in time to eat the supper (the cause of his anger), which is still warm.
The illustrations, colored sketches by Maurice Sendak, invite the imagination of children who might just like a good tale.
For kids who are beginning to express their anger (from 2 to 5), this book is a safe expression of just how *mad* a child can get, and how they can control those wild feelings!
The words are few, and some pages are filled with nothing but Max and the Wild Things, after "the wild rumpus begins."
If you like this book, get it in hardcover. It will be read so many times, you'll be glad you did!
Click here to see more reviews for: Where the Wild Things Are
-
Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition
Poems and Drawings
(based on 74 customer reviews)
-
(Hardcover)
Edition: 30 Anv
Publisher: HarperCollins
Price: $12.91
You save: $6.08 (32%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
25 out of 34 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 4/10/06
How about a peanut butter sandwich?
When Dr. Seuss died in the early 90s, it seemed as if the entire country went into mourning. I had fond memories of Dr. Seuss too, and I WANTED to be as broken up as everyone else was. But honestly, I wasn't.
Then, in 1998 or 1999, I got an email saying that Shel Silverstein died and it hit home. I realized what all those Seussers had gone thru. I think I know why I felt as I did:
Seuss was Cat In The Hat, was the Grinch frustrated by the happy townspeople who need neither feasts nor possessions, but only love to be joyous. That's swell, and admirable, but to me those books were almost boring.
Uncle Shelby's world was dark and exciting. One could fly or not take a bath for months or be stupidly stubborn enough to eat nothing but PB sandwiches. In Silverstein's world, monsters not only existed, but would EAT YOU if you weren't careful. It was full of the things that my dreams were made of, full of giddiness and dread, full of dark things that glittered expectantly in the moonlight, like diamonds...or like fangs.
Perhaps you have to be the right kind of person. Like how some people who worship Looney Tunes look down in realistic, anarchic contempt at the saccharine world created by Walter Disney.
It's an aesthetic, an aggressive hope, an adventurous fear. A world the enchanted don't want to grow out of.
Click here to see more reviews for: Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition
-
Untitled Paolini
Inheritance, Book III (Inheritance)
by Christopher Paolini
(based on 386 customer reviews)
-
(Hardcover)
Author: Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Price: $16.50
You save: $11.00 (40%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
238 out of 279 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 9/21/08
A satisfying fantasy adventure tale
I enjoyed the first two books of this series, and was eager to read the third. I won't outline the plot, because you can find that elsewhere. I will just tell you what I think about this book.
It is an enjoyable read, and a worthy third installment to the series. I thought that Eragon was a very good story, and Eldest not quite as good, although Paolini's writing had improved. Brisingr is the best of the three. I fell back into the story right away, and I found myself caring about the characters, even worrying about their safety. This is what I look for in fiction: it made me want to pick up the book every chance I got. If it interferes with the rest of my life, it is a very good book. Brisingr is one of those books. I am thankful to my son that he recommended this series to me.
Some reviewers of Eldest were very critical of the fact that the plot is derivative of other epics, like The Lord Of The Rings or Star Wars. I didn't mind this in the least. It is the tale of a hero's journey, complete with absence, devestation and return. It is one of the oldest tales in storytelling. We already know the story, but it is the storytelling that makes it good or bad. Paolini is a good writer. Not as great as Tolkein or LeGuin, but good nevertheless. I was able to suspend my inner critic, and enjoy the read. I recommend that you do the same.
Click here to see more reviews for: Untitled Paolini
-
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
by Dr. Seuss (based on 93 customer reviews)
-
(Hardcover)
Author: Dr. Seuss
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Price: $11.20
You save: $2.80 (20%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
13 out of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 11/2/00
The Real Grinch
My 9 year old took a look at the face of Jim Carey, as the movie Grinch, and said, "That's not the real Grinch!"He's right, of course. It's hard when a book you've been reading faithfully every year is made into a movie, and you see who Hollywood gives the lead part to. (Then again, who else would anyone cast in this rubber-faced role?)
This is the original story, with the real face of the scowling, mean-spirited Grinch. That face changes from bad to worse, and then to tender when he finally "gets" the meaning of Christmas.
But before he does, children and adults will read (and reread) in delight and shock as the Grinch disguises himself as Santa. The innocent townspeople of Whoville never seem to catch on as the Grinch forces his poor dog Max to help him steal all the toys and ornaments. He's so sure that once he's done away with the material goodies, the Christmas spirit will be gone.
A wonderful story with a message we can't hear enough. Add this to a child's Christmas bookshelf, or give it to that grumpy coworker who's ba-humbuging around.
This book is the classic (accept no substitutes)!
Click here to see more reviews for: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
-
The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book
by Eric Carle (based on 326 customer reviews)
-
(Board book)
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Philomel
Price: $8.61
You save: $2.38 (22%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
224 out of 224 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 11/28/07
Lovely
Eric Carle is the favorite author for me and my sister. His illustrations are lovely and just perfect for the stories. We enjoy reading his books again and again. It is a real joy for us.
This is very simple reading about a caterpillar who eats throughout the whole week. We love the brightly colored pictures on each page and repetitive phrases in this book. This book belongs to each household. We also like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Why Some Cats are Rascals ( Book 3)
Click here to see more reviews for: The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book
-
Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6)
by J.K. Rowling (based on 272 customer reviews)
-
(Paperback)
Edition: 1
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Price: $35.87
You save: $21.07 (37%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
37 out of 47 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 4/18/07
PCE student review
The Harry Potter series is a great series because the author explains the characters so well. The plot is full of adventure. I like the 1st book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone because it is when Harry finds out he is a wizard, he first goes to Hogwarts, he meets friends, and gets foes.
I like the 2nd book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets because Dobby comes and tells him not to go back to Hogwarts, he goes to school anyway, and a lot of weird things happen (I can not tell you though).
I like the third book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban because he goes on the night bus and has a crazy ride, Aunt Marge starts saying bad things about him, he gets mad, and he finds out that Sirius Black got away from Azkaban.
I like the 4th book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because there is a tournament between 3 schools that Harry some how gets entered in to and he has to do the things in the tournament.
I like the 5th book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix because they make an order to fight dark wizards, Harry and Cho get into a relationship, and he has a court trial for using under-aged magic.
I like the 6th book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince because Harry gets picked up early by Dumbledore and helps him make an old teacher come back.
My favorite book in the series is the 5th book. My favorite character is Harry Potter.
The series themes are life as a wizard and good versus evil. I recommend this series for all ages. I think this is the best series ever!
Click here to see more reviews for: Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6)
-
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
by J. K. Rowling (based on 3236 customer reviews)
-
(Hardcover)
Edition: 1st Edition, Book Seven (7)
Author: J. K. Rowling
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Price: $20.99
You save: $14.00 (40%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
535 out of 660 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 7/21/07
A perfect ending to a glorious series
Before the release of the seventh and last book of the Harry Potter series, I re-read all the preceding volumes. Throughout, I followed how the author developed her grand theme of Right vs Wrong, the strong vs the weak and the evils of the misuse of power. How was Rowling to end this series? Obviously, the Apocalypse was at hand, and the heroic struggle between Harry Potter and the evil Voldemort would be the climax of the series. While we waited for the last book, rumors abounded. Fake spoilers floated over the internet like the soul-sucking Dementors, threatening to extinguish the enjoyment people would get from this final volume. So, no spoilers from this reviewer. All I will say is that "Deathly Hallows" lived up to my expectations and in fact, ended pretty much as I imagined it would. Rowling keeps true to her theme right to the end and to her artistic vision as well. There is plenty of action right from the get-go. This is by far the most exciting of the seven books, with duels, battles, fights, daring escapes and amazing twists of fortune. There are plenty of surprises and also many reasons to weep. The action sometimes is non-stop, but from time to time, there are welcome respites in the action, times for moments of tenderness or friendship between surprising pairings of characters. The sub-theme of the redeptive power of Love is evident in these idylls. J. K. Rowling is a master writer who has created an amazing work of art with the Harry Potter series and just as any master craftsman, she has chosen the perfect finish for a fine series of books. I look forward to new series with entire new worlds or...perhaps this is really the end. Some authors do write themselves out when they've said their say. I don't know. But I do know this author is one I enjoy reading and I hope we have many more new adventures to discover from her pen. Bravo! Joanna Daneman
Click here to see more reviews for: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
-
Harry, A History
The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon
by Melissa Anelli (based on 20 customer reviews)
-
(Paperback)
Author: Melissa Anelli
Publisher: Pocket
Price: $10.88
You save: $5.12 (32%) off the list price!
click for more info
Most useful review as voted by customers:
36 out of 43 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/23/08
Your ESSENTIAL ringside seat to the Harry Potter phenomenon written by an insider, Melissa Anelli.
Though there have been many dozens of books attempting to chronicle the particulars of Harry Potter fandom in all its dimensions -- the fan fiction, the Wizard Rock, the websites, the conventions, et al. -- all have fallen short because of the inherent difficulty in condensing its breadth and scope to manageable size; but this one admirably compacts ten, detailed years of Harry Potter history in its 356 pages, and covers the subject thoroughly.
It's a given that, if you know of Melissa's Leaky Cauldron website, you'll find this book to be an extension of the website, and delightfully so; but the real surprise for me was that it not only is for the die-hard fans but the rest of the world who are wondering, "What's all the excitement about?" This book answers that question.
In its pages, Melissa Anelli thoroughly covers Harry Potter fandom in a way that could only be done by an insider, by someone who has had access to virtually everyone of note in the Harry Potter community, fan and pro, and also what she calls "Team Potter" -- Rowling's publishers, agents, lawyers -- the professional team who rarely give access or interviews to their inner workings, and, most significantly, Rowling herself, a "first" for any book written about her. That "Team Potter" allowed Melissa access speaks volumes about their professional respect for her, which is why The Leaky Cauldron (a reference to a beloved inn and favorite watering hole in Rowling's wizarding world) is considered the best, most reliable source of news in Harry Potter fandom. (This year, especially, has been trying and divisive for fans, because of the trial between RDR Books and Rowling. During that sordid episode, it was The Leaky Cauldron that was the voice of reason.)
In reading Melissa's first-hand account of what's happened in Harry Potter fandom and the book/movie worlds drawn from the seven Harry Potter novels, it's as if you're right there with her, being caught up in all the excitement: from public events to behind-the-scenes closed-door sessions, Melissa shares it all; and with its sense of immediacy, I found reading this book to be an intimate reading experience. The writing tone is in keeping with the infectious enthusiasm that characterizes most of Harry Potter fandom, and why fans are still, more than ever, pumped up about a boy named Harry. (And Severus Snape. And Professor Dumbledore. And the rest of the colorful characters in the wizarding world.)
A journalist with real-world credentials (she was a reporter for a New York newspaper), Melissa properly starts, and ends, the book with a discussion about the last Harry Potter novel, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. In coming full circle, there's a sense of closure, of course, and rightly so; but as 2008 has shown, Rowling has not retired, so there's more, much more, that is grist for the mill for a future edition: the publication of BEEDLE THE BARD, for one, and it's eye-popping, record-setting price realized at auction for one of seven hand-written copies; and, of course, the Rowling/Warner Bros. vs. RDR Books trial, which was the subject of some of the looniest mainstream reportage I've ever read. (Like many others, I relied on The Leaky Cauldron for fair and balanced coverage.)
A bonus: There's also an eight-page photo insert (black-and-white photos), with some fascinating pictures: candid shots at Harry Potter fan events, photos of Rowling, and some photos of the author with some guy named Daniel Radcliffe, and Rowling herself + her PI (personal assistant), Fiddy Henderson.
At $16, the retail price, the book is a good buy, but at the discounted price on Amazon, it's a GREAT buy, and deserves a place in the library of anyone who has enjoyed the Harry Potter novels and wants a book that accurately puts the Harry Potter phenomenon in context. And if a hardback is subsequently published, so long as it has sewn signatures (i.e., a sturdy binding), I'll be happy to buy a second copy.
Bottom line: This book is WELL worth your time and money.
Click here to see more reviews for: Harry, A History
Books
(display all categories)
Adjust text size.