Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Barbara (spacekitty) - Reviews

1 to 7 of 7
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Books of Wonder)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Books of Wonder)
Author: Mark Twain
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.7/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 3/2/2014


My favorite of Mark Twain's many wonderful contributions to literature! Our dear hero, the Connecticut Yankee, finds himself lost in the backwards Arthurian society, where his ingenuity and wit make him special enough to wreak havoc on the world of medieval chivalry. Twain's tongue-in-cheek portrayal of our beloved King Arthur and the day-to-day lives of his court is just hilarious. And I always cry a little bit at the end.
Also I must mention that this particular edition boasts truly excellent illustrations and decorations by Trina Schart Hyman - my favorite!


Cross Country Cat
Cross Country Cat
Author: Mary Calhoun, Erick Ingraham
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 2/16/2012


The classic story of Henry, the no-need-to-be-modest Siamese cat, has been one of my favorites for years. I am so glad to own a copy to read to my children!
Henry and his family (the Man, the Woman, and the Kid) are on vacation in the mountains when Henry is accidentally left behind. His creative and skillful endeavors to cross-country ski out of the wilderness make an engaging and playful story.
Look for his further adventures in "Hot Air Henry", "High-Wire Henry", "Blue Ribbon Henry", "Henry the Sailor Cat", and "Henry the Christmas Cat". I highly recommend Mary Calhoun's and Erick Ingraham's books!


Forty Weeks From Monday
Forty Weeks From Monday
Author: Patricia Hetticher
Book Type: Perfect Paperback
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 8/24/2010


I just finished reading "Forty Weeks From Monday" and was entirely engrossed in the lives of Kaitlyn and her friends. I confess to even shedding a few tears near the end - Kaitlyn made some hard choices to do the right thing, and I couldn't help feeling proud of her! I look forward to reading more from Patricia Hetticher! :-)


I Want My Hat Back
I Want My Hat Back
Author: Jon Klassen
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
 6
Review Date: 2/17/2013
Helpful Score: 3


My two preschoolers absolutely love this book - and can quote pretty much the whole thing verbatim. Every once in a while (about twice a day!) they say something in normal conversation that sparks a hilarious recollection of their favorite "bear book". Usually this culminates in something being referred to as "red...and pointy..." Highly recommended library book, and we plan to purchase our own copy!


Merlin Dreams
Merlin Dreams
Author: Peter Dickinson, Alan Lee
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 2/18/2014
Helpful Score: 1


This book has stuck with me. It has been YEARS (possibly decades - gasp!) since I have read it, and every time I think about Merlin or dragons or Arthurian legends, this collection of stories comes to mind. Exceedingly well-written, Peter Dickinson's storytelling brings us to the time when Merlin is imprisoned asleep beneath the hawthorn tree... And the strange visions he experiences. Dickinson and his wife Robin McKinley are two of my favorite fantasy writers, and this book is an excellent addition to any collection. Also - it makes for some great bedtime stories!


Triple Trouble for Rupert
Triple Trouble for Rupert
Author: Ethelyn M. Parkinson
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 6/26/2011


I enjoy Ethelyn Parkinson's stories about Rupert Piper and his boyhood capers. The first book I had read was "Rupert Piper and the Dear, Dear Birds" which perhaps led me to believe all of the Rupert books were excellent chapter-books with an overall storyline. "Triple Trouble for Rupert" and "Double Trouble for Rupert" are instead constructed as a series of short stories, amazing for reading out loud to young kids! This book reminded me somewhat of the "Homer Price" books by Robert Lawson. Rupert Piper manages to get into and out of many exciting small-town escapades with his middle-school friends, and I enjoyed reading about their adventures!


Young Warriors: Stories of Strength
Young Warriors: Stories of Strength
Author: Tamora Pierce (Editor), Josepha Sherman (Editor)
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 7
Review Date: 6/29/2011


I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories, and was pleased to recognize characters in some of them that I have met before! The young princess Helen in Esther Friesner's contribution is later fleshed out in her excellent "Nobody's Princess" and "Nobody's Prize". Reading Tamora Pierce's story, I kept waiting for someone I recognized - and I was not disappointed! In fact, I enjoyed re-reading all of these stories a couple of weeks later. I highly recommend this book!


1 to 7 of 7