Archive for the ‘Dragons and/or mythological beasts’ Category

Book review: Island of the Aunts

Monday, March 13th, 2006

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Author:Eva Ibbotson
Reading Level (Conceptual):Children 8 and up
Reading Level (Vocabulary):Children 8 and up
Genre:fiction, magic
Year of publication:2000

Much less cutesy than Which Witch. In-depth descriptions of the care and feeding of many interesting mythological creatures.
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Book review: Song of the Gargoyle

Monday, March 13th, 2006

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Author:Zilpha Keatly Snyder
Reading Level (Conceptual):Children 8 and up
Reading Level (Vocabulary):Children 8 and up
Genre:fiction
Year of publication:1991

Working class fairy tale

Boy in trouble meets gifted gargoyle and together they quest to find the boy's heritage, father, and place in the world.
As with other books by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, it's hard to differentiate between magic and reality here.
This book contrasts interestingly with Adam of the Road, in which the quest is just as desperate, but the boy must make his way on his own.

-- Emily Berk

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Book review: The Sword in the Stone

Monday, March 13th, 2006

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Author:T.H. White
Illustrator:Dennis Nolan
Reading Level (Conceptual):Children 12 and up
Reading Level (Vocabulary):Children 8 and up
Genre:fiction, King Arthur
Year of publication:1938

Lovely anachronism-rich story of the childhood of King Arthur.

My daughter recommends this version because of the gorgeous illustrations by Dennis Nolan
After the first appearance of an anachronism -- is it the mention of "Red Indians" near page 5?, my daughter leapt upon other chronological inconsistencies. And, well, those last words -- daughter just roared with amusement. Any version of this book is recommended, but if you can, try to find this one and take a look at page 96, "'I could be a hawk in Hob's mews,' said the Wart stoutly." Soooo cute
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Book review: Tale of Despereaux — Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

Tuesday, June 1st, 2004

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Author:Kate Dicamillo
Reading Level (Conceptual):Learning to read
Reading Level (Vocabulary):Learning to read
Genre:Fairy tale
Year of publication:2003
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Book review: Peter Pan

Monday, May 18th, 1998

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Full review by Miriam Devlin, age 11