I haven't read this one on my own ever. I remember having it read to me when I was younger, so it was great to come back and revisit it! I was thrilleI haven't read this one on my own ever. I remember having it read to me when I was younger, so it was great to come back and revisit it! I was thrilled to find this edition at a local used book store. It's a beautiful cover to go in my library.
If you want the entire tale, not the Disney version, check out this one.
Somehow, this was my first time reading this. Even after watching Saving Mr. Banks, I had a renewed interest. Somehow it fell through the tracks, but Somehow, this was my first time reading this. Even after watching Saving Mr. Banks, I had a renewed interest. Somehow it fell through the tracks, but here I am, finally reading it!
I loved the zoo and the paintings the most.
I was most shocked by what a tyrant Mary Poppins was, having had my early view of her solidified by the Disney bubbly version. I never see the real version busting out into 'A Spoon Full of Sugar.'
OVerall, still enjoyable, especially for the fantasy element and I do intend to go on with the series at some point.
Wow, this was heavy from the beginning, especially for the younger audience. Perhaps that's why it is not as well known.
The book opens by talking aboWow, this was heavy from the beginning, especially for the younger audience. Perhaps that's why it is not as well known.
The book opens by talking about Artemisia the horse's miscarriage of a previous foul and goes into a bit of detail about this before talking about her new fear. Calling the rest of the herd's horses a harem is a strange way to describe this for a middle-grade group.
Maya has lost both of her parents and lives with her grandmother, who blames May's mother's love of horses for the death of Maya's father. All photos of the mother are cut or removed from the home. A new housecleaner is out to get Maya in trouble in order to stay in the grandmother's good graces.
While this book has a lot of beauty, it would have found a likelier audience in the Young Adult crowd that was more likely to cope with such a plethora of trauma in a single novel.
Of over 100 books read so far in 2023, this is by far my least favorite. My first 1 star of 2023 at book #118.
I do not recommend that book unless youOf over 100 books read so far in 2023, this is by far my least favorite. My first 1 star of 2023 at book #118.
I do not recommend that book unless you want to read bigoted and damaging racist views of Native Americans; it was hard to stomach it. I wanted to DNF so hard it made me sick to read.
It is one thing to make characters for readers to hate, I get that. I love Stephen King, he has some despicable characters, for sure.
However, this book is geared toward a middle-grade and teen audience, AND it won awards! Not only is its portrayal of Native Americans disgusting, but it's also not even well-written in terms of dialogue and story flow. Also, being written by a female author somehow makes it worse.
The main character is a self-righteous little jerk that finds himself lost and helped by Native Americans. Then he feels like they all OWE him something, and how dare he be bothered to teach the ignorant and unkept Natives how to read. Their speech is horrendous. How could they have any intelligence at all without a proper little white boy to teach them?
The American Indian characters in this book are portrayed as lazy, dirty, and intellectually lacking, almost to the point of mental handicap. This is further reinforced through the use of broken pigeon English in the majority of the dialogue, while the lost affluent white boy uses words well beyond his years.
I get that this was published in the 1980s, but wow, this portrayal was LAUDED! These are its accolades: Newbery Medal Nominee (1984), Scott O'Dell Award (1984), Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (1983), Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee (1985), Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis Nominee (1), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (1984), California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Intermediate (1987), Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education) (1983); meaning this was peak literature to give to CHILDREN!!! I was born 1 year after this was written, and I was NEVER taught to think like this about Native Americans; this would have been gross to my parents at the time as well, having been born in the 1960s.
The most positive thing I can say about this book is that thank goodness, so many people have learned from better literary portrayals and have continued to DO BETTER 30-40 years later.
I feel like I need to burn this book and cleanse myself of its taint. No child should read this unless it is an example of how literature and racist portrayals of characters can HARM an entire group of people, and show these feelings that we have grown as human beings at least in some ways.
1 star. Only because I can't give it negative stars....more
This was fun but definitely geared to a really young audience. My favorite thing about it was how much the deer in Christmastown looked like Zero :) WThis was fun but definitely geared to a really young audience. My favorite thing about it was how much the deer in Christmastown looked like Zero :) Worth a read for those obsessed with the Nightmare Before Christmas.
The art was the strongest part of this, and it definitely left off with Zero in serious peril.
I have such fond memories of the love I had for Laura, but reading it as a 36-year-old woman feels like I may have outgrown it.
I still find value in I have such fond memories of the love I had for Laura, but reading it as a 36-year-old woman feels like I may have outgrown it.
I still find value in this book, but some of the language and dialogue was painful to read this time around. Perhaps I can share this one with my 10-year-old son instead and come back to this series through his shared eyes.
3 Stars for me. But still something everyone should read as child....more
This is a delightful read. It is a book that is timeless.
Although geared toward a younger audience, it is thoroughly enjoyable for all ages.
Brian JaThis is a delightful read. It is a book that is timeless.
Although geared toward a younger audience, it is thoroughly enjoyable for all ages.
Brian Jacques was very clever in including his little puzzles and mysteries to work out with the characters. It has echoes of early Holmes mysteries and can be compared to Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.
I will return to this one in the near future and enjoy it with my son. Definitely worth experiencing at least once in life.
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this to enjoy with my son.
It was nice to pick up where the last book left off, but if someone were starting in at I was lucky enough to win a copy of this to enjoy with my son.
It was nice to pick up where the last book left off, but if someone were starting in at just this book, the beginning would feel like walking into the middle of a conversation.
Illustrations continue to impress and reach the targeted audience and the story remains unique ang engaging. Can't wait to see the full-color version
This one is weird and interesting, and incredibly creative. I love how unique L'Engle's mind is and that it was her children than pushed her to get itThis one is weird and interesting, and incredibly creative. I love how unique L'Engle's mind is and that it was her children than pushed her to get it published. However, no matter how many times I have read it over the years, I can't quite fall in love with it.
I recognize its value as a classic shaping of minds and in literacy in general.
It's funny that I only finished this book about a year ago, never having read the actual novel. I decided to revisit it when I saw it for free on Amazon and it was fitting for a challenge.
It is still as quirky and original as it will always be. L. Frank Baum had an interesting mind and I hope to one day read the complete stories of Oz, I feel the weirdness will only expound as they go on. He could have easily become another "fable" teller. 4 Stars...more
This book was a lot of fun—lots of great ideas and some great recipes are thrown in for how to make different kinds of chalk.
It had a lot of fun fontThis book was a lot of fun—lots of great ideas and some great recipes are thrown in for how to make different kinds of chalk.
It had a lot of fun fonts and photos and all kinds of great ways to run with the activities and make them your own. If you, your child, your artist friend, or anyone you know likes Chalk, this is an excellent book.
This one is fun and a nice silly book to read when you need relief. Count Olaf is, of course, despicable, but the author doesn't take himself too seriThis one is fun and a nice silly book to read when you need relief. Count Olaf is, of course, despicable, but the author doesn't take himself too seriously, and it shows.
The audio is a ton of fun with all kinds of great production and accompanying sound effects.
Fun for any age to read.
4-4.5 stars I will definitely continue the series when I need those times to take life less seriously....more
This is a great book for children learning to read. The illustrations are fun and pertinent to the story. My 5 year-old son enjoyed this book and readThis is a great book for children learning to read. The illustrations are fun and pertinent to the story. My 5 year-old son enjoyed this book and read it 3 times in a row. Great children's book....more
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