Editorial Review

Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, Read more

Features

• Unabridged
• Unabridged

Reviews (1264)

There are maybe... no, wait, I'm wrong.
There is nothing better than this, my all time favorite book. With great characters, and a wonderful plot, there is very little more a good reader could want. It has emotion, action, and still maintains great writing. You have a main character who is easy to fall in love with, for all her faults, and her other half, the other main character, who you also come to love with all your heart. The story keeps moving, and doesn't get boring for a second, because even in the less interesting parts, it's not boring, just less interesting than the brilliant other parts. The story itself is great and amazing, and every other synonym.
Interesting storyline
Fantasy not being my favorite, I found this one very good.I listened to it on audio CD, and it is read by a whole cast, not just one person doing different voices.A young girl is thrust into a harrowing adventure that she never expected.She lives in a world where each human has a demon, and civilization seems to be run by the "church".This story is very tense and exciting, going from one unexpected incident to the next with a very flowing narrative.

This's been my favorite book for 8 years
If you're an easily offended religious fanatic who's always looking for the vaguest insult or contradiction to your beliefs... I guess you shouldn't read this. (Actually, you could probably read this one and just skip the sequels.)
Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Fiction/Religious    2. Action & Adventure    3. Action & Adventure - General    4. Audio: Juvenile    5. Children's Audio - 9-12    6. Children's audiobooks    7. Classics    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Kidnapping    11. Missing persons    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Fifteen years and one Caldecott Medal after its publication, Chris VanAllsburg's Read more

Reviews (199)

Great Book
I thought this book was great - it was really colorful. The overall feel reminded me of the book "Now I Know the Ten Commandments". I recommend it to anyone.

I like this book...and I think you will too!
This book is about a little boy who finds a train in front of his house. He has a chance to go on a great journey...does he get on the train? I think you will like this book. This book makes me feel happy. Your kids might like it too!

S, Bartkus Review
This beautifully written 1986 Caldecott Award winning book captivates readers young and old to love this Christmas classic.The story is told from a young boy's point of view of waiting for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve, only to find a train waiting outside his bedroom window ready to go to the North Pole.Van Allsburg immediately draws the reader into the story by capturing the young boy leaning outside his window leading the reader to turn the page and see what the boy sees. The storyline follows the journey of a boy on the Polar Express train to see Santa in the North Pole and receive the first gift of Christmas.It teaches a strong lesson for those who believe and is appropriate for children while bringing back the warm eager memories of waiting for Santa.Van Allsburg's award winning illustrations are so realistic and fill the pages to capture the emotions and spirit of the children.His use of shading to create shadows on each page capture the essence of the Christmas Eve night.The lights in the background seem to pop out in the background as if one turned on a light switch.The detailed realistic drawings capture the emotion of the young boy especially when he lost the bell that Santa had given him.We see him on the train and empathize with him along with the other children as if we were riding right there in the train with him.Although the illustrations gained the main recognition of the story, his use of rich descriptive language also strengthen the story.Van Allsburg's use of similes to compare, give vivid details and appeal to the senses of the reader.For example, one line describes the chocolate cocoa as " melted chocolate bars."The popularity of this book was made into a blockbuster movie and Van Allsburg's talent of lasting artisitic impression and rich language was not lost.This book will continue to touch readers of all ages and capture the warm spirit of Christmas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Children's audiobooks    3. Christmas    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Santa Claus    8. Unabridged Audio - Fiction/General   

Features

• Unabridged
• Unabridged

Reviews (4)

So much fun in a book!
Junie B. Jones books are so funny! Barbara Park has a real talent in being able to write as if she is really a little girl... Some parents might complain about Junie B.'s "bad grammar", but the fact is that she is only a kid trying to immitate the way adults act and speak around her. Read them and laugh out loud, they're so good---for kids and for adults with a sense of humour!

Will Keep Kids Happy in the Car for Hours!
These books are terrific for kids in a wide range of ages--mine are 3, 5, and 8, and they all love them (they are over the head of the 3-year-old, but he's still mesmerized). Amazingly, the audiobooks are even better than the print versions. Lana Quintal, whose child-like voice seems a little grating at first, stands up incredibly well to repeat (and repeat and repeat) listening. She gets the tone just right. My kids are happy listening to these tapes in the car even on those long journeys that are usually occasion for hours of complaining. Worth gold! Check out the collection of books 9-12 too; if anything, it's even better than this one.

My Daughter Loves Junie B!
My daughter, just entering kindergarten this year, adores the Junie B. Jones books!While I admit, that I'm not overly fond of the grammatical mistakes (I tend to edit while reading aloud), the books are great fun for adults as well as kids.These books have helped my daughter deal with everything from a new sibling, to the start of kindergarten.I recommend them highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Audiobooks    4. Children's Audio - 4-8    5. Children's audiobooks    6. General    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Readers - Beginner    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

The year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of hisyounger brother Kenny's existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing oranother, from straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezinghis lips to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his familytoo far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cut school or stealchange one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threat to sendhim to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother.Soon the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive from Flint,Michigan, straight into one of the most chilling moments in America's history:the burning of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with four little girlsinside.Read more

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (557)

Ali
The Watsons Go To Birmingham was a story about real life things. In the beginning, Byron and Kenny are outside scraping ice off of the Brown Bomber a.k.a. the Watsons car. Then Kenny hears a noise coming from the other side of the car where Byron is. He doesn't go over there because he thinks Byron will trick him, because a few days before Byron and Buphead (Byron's best friend) played a trick on Kenny and hit him in the face with snowballs. When Kenny goes to the other side finally he sees Byron's lips stuck to the mirror. He then ran in to get the family. Daniel (their dad) started laughing because he had never seen anything like that. Daniel and Wilona (their mom) were trying to think of a way to get Byron's lips off of the mirror. Daniel decided to get water so he could pore it on Byron's lips but it just made it. Wilona tells the family to go inside then. When they were all inside Wilona pulled on Byron's lips until they came off. When Kenny was in school he got picked on by Larry Dunn because he had a lazy eye and he was a good reader. One day a new kid named Rufus came to school at Clark. Rufus started getting picked on more than Kenny because Rufus talked different (he had lived in Arkansas) and Rufus didn't have a lot of clothes. Kenny and Rufus became good friends but one day somebody said something about Rufus and Kenny laughed. Since Kenny laughed at him Rufus stopped hanging out with Kenny. They ended up fixing the problem and became friends again. When winter came, Kenny shared his gloves with Rufus for awhile but then decided to act like he had lost them so his mom gave him his other pair of leather gloves and Rufus got the old pair. Then one day, Kenny's gloves went missing and Larry Dunn had gotten a pair of leather gloves instead of cheap plastic ones. Kenny found out that Larry had stolen his gloves so Byron and Buphead beat Larry up. Kenny then got his gloves back. When Byron kept lighting matches in the house Wilona got mad at him and said if he would do it one more time she would do something to him. Then one day, Kenny saw that Byron went into the bathroom and locked the door so he went and looked through the key hole. He saw Byron in there making Kleenex's into parachutes and then lighting matches and burning the parachutes to where they would fall into the toilet. When Wilona came upstairs she smelled smoke and saw Kenny looking through the keyhole so she got Byron out of there and took him downstairs. Then Joey started crying because Mama had gotten out matches and Vaseline. She knew that Mama was going to burn some part of Byron. Joey then got scared and kept getting in front of Byron so Mama couldn't burn him. When she got Joey away she lit a match but Joey ran over and blew out every match that Mama lit. So Byron never got burned. Since their dad only paid for groceries at one time Byron and Kenny thought they were on welfare but then found out they weren't. A few days later Kenny found Byron in a tree behind the grocery store with a full bag and an empty bag of Swedish cream cookies. When Kenny realized what Byron had done it was too late because he couldn't tell on him since he had eaten some of the cookies. A few days later, Byron came home with his hair straightened and permanent red gunk in his hair. Wilona was in shock because she and Daniel had told Byron not to put that stuff in his hair. Wilona knew he had gotten the stuff from Buphead because he was the only other kid with hair like that. Daniel then shaved all Byron's hair off! A few weeks later the Watsons started packing for Birmingham. They were going to Alabama to see Wilona's family. They decided that Byron would stay with Grandma Sands for the whole summer and maybe the school year. The family drove straight through all the way to Alabama. While they were down south the kids went swimming and Kenny almost got pulled under but Byron saved him. Joey went to Sunday school with some friends she had made. Then there was a loud boom. A bomb had gone off at the church. Joey ended up being safe because she had followed Kenny home. Wilona and Daniel decided not to leave Byron in Alabama. When they went home Kenny decided to give his dinosaurs to Rufus and Cody (Rufus's little brother). The Watsons lived there lives like they had before they went to Birmingham. The bombs going off at church made them rethink about there lives and feel good that they had everyone still in their family. I thought that this book was really a good book and I would reccomend it to anyone.

The greatest book in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book Watsons go to Birmingham 1963 is the coolest book ever.I don`t know anyone who dosen`t like this book.I love this book,it`s soooo funny,except the true part that was sooo sad.My favorite charactor is Byron he`s very funny.I love the part when Byron got his lips stuck on the window of the brown bomber.And dad was making fun of him.When I get a chance I`ll buy the book becauce it is awesome.

The greatest book in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book Watsons go to Birmingham 1963 is the coolest book ever.I don`t know anyone who dosen`t like this book.I love this book,it`s soooo funny,except the true part that was sooo sad.My favorite charactor is Byron he`s very funny.I love the part when Byron got his lips stuck on the window of the brown bomber.And dad was making fun of him.When I get a chance I`ll buy the book becauce it is awesome. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Audio - Children's    3. Audio: Juvenile    4. Children's Audio - 9-12    5. Children's audiobooks    6. Classics    7. Family - General    8. Family - Multigenerational    9. Family life    10. Fiction    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. People & Places - United States - African-American    13. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    14. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Features

• Unabridged
• Unabridged

Reviews (985)

Hatchet is my Favorite Book
Hatchet is my favorite book, this is a book where a boy whos parents are divorced and goes to visit his father and takes a single engine plane and and plane crashed into a river. The pilot suffers a heart attack and dies, the Boy, Brian survives and manages to live in the middle of no where for about a year, The boys mother, gave him a hatchet for his birthday and the hatchet represents life for without it the boy would not have been able to survive. The boy eventully gets rescued and flys back.

Hatchet
Hatchet
Hatchet
HATCHET
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Audio: Juvenile    4. Children's Audio - 9-12    5. Children's audiobooks    6. Classics    7. Divorce    8. Family - Marriage & Divorce    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Survival    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Subtitled Read more

Features

• Audiobook
• Large Print

Reviews (47)

simple and fun
Caps for Sale is a delightful tale that is simple but with the right amount of absurdity that kids love.The repetition of words and the copycat element (when the monkeys imitate the peddler's actions)is entertaining for very young children.

Funner than I even remembered!
In searching reviews to find great books, I struggled to remember if I liked this one as a kid!I remembered the cover, but not the story!When it came, I was delighted to find that I loved the story, and my son has a NEW favorite book!He grins ear to ear as soon as the peddler wakes up from his nap and discovers only one hat left on his head.My 20 month olddoesn't sit still from that point on in the story.He crouches so as to make monkey gestures and sounds.He wags his finger and says "tsk tsk tsk" just like the monkeys!He stomps his feet and waves his arms just like the monkeys!The monkeys are so mischievous, and I think my son relates! LOL!All in all, the little copycat monkeys throw their hats down to the peddler when he gets angry enough at their taunting to throw his hat down on the ground!It is very cute.There isn't variety in the illustrations as the same vintage colors are used on every page, but the story is so strong that I have to give this one 5 stars!Enjoy!I still do!

Caps for Sale.........Caps for Sales......Caps for 50 cents!
"Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina is a marvelous children's book. An ingenious plot that I remember from my childhood. Now I am enjoying it again with my children. I was always fascinated by how he balanced those hats. The illustrations are quite simple but intriguing. Just looking at Pezzo with all those hats piled one on top of another is more interesting than many of the high tech special effects I have seen in today's movies. Sometimes the simple way is the best.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Children's Audio - 4-8    4. Children's audiobooks    5. Classics    6. Fiction    7. Hats    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Peddlers and peddling    10. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (2)

My daughters love these tapes
My daughters, ages 9 and 5, frequently listen to these books on tape as they go to sleep.The Junie B. stories are very amusingly told from the 5/6 year old perspective.My girls have heard all of these tapes multiple times and it has spurred my older daughter to reread the books.The narrator's voice may be grating to an adult ear, but that seems appropriate for the Junie B. character.

Junie B. Jones Collection: Books 17-20
I gave this only one star as I didn't actually read it. I thought I was ordering books for my grand-daughter, but it turned out to be audio tapes. I paid over $12. for it, but was only refunded $7. Extra fees were added that weren't there when I purchased.I wrote to Amazon about not wanting a refund, but wanting the actual books, I got NO RESPONSE. I will never order from Amazon again, I am very disappointed with the way this was handled. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Audiobooks    3. Children's Audio - 4-8    4. Children's audiobooks    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Features

• Audiobook
• Illustrated
• Large Print

Reviews (6)

Perfect!
What a refreshing change to hear Pooh in his native tongue!I am a great fan of Disney movies but Pooh is something special in this wonderful audio version of the timeless stories.My 5 year old listens to this tape all the time!

Fantastic production of classic tales!
My 3 1/2 year-old son and I absolutely love this cassette on a number of levels!The acting is great: lively without being over-the-top, convincing without being melodramatic.The cast brings out the humor of Milne's writing beautifully.I have to admit that I was not a Milne fan before purchasing this; I just didn't 'get' it.After listening to this cassette, I realized why: Winnie the Pooh is marketed here in the U.S. as an early childhood character/series.But it's not.The stories, the humor, the characters, and the language all are aimed at children about the age of Christoper Robin, who must be atleast 5, *and* at their parents.Ie there are elements that a child would never get, but I do, and so both my preschooler and I understand at our levels.Other fantastic aspects: great sound quality, sound effects, choice of stories.One point: Because of the British accents and idioms, this products works best for a patient and interested child.Also, for the preschooler (such as mine), it required that I listen with him the first few times until he understood the storyline well enough to follow without me.But don't let this discourage you.From the start, my child enjoyed the different voices (especially piglet) and sound effects.The subtlety only means that he doesn't get bored with it -- after even the 30th time.

Say "Ho" for the wonderful Pooh!
This amazing dramatization of the Pooh books is performed by a marvelously talented group of British entertainers who truly bring the Pooh characters gently and lovingly to life. As for this tape, I finally got this figured out. This is part of a four-tape program that represents the complete two-book Winnie-the-Pooh story collection, except the stories are out of order (probably so that they would fit equally on the tapes). Book 1, "Winnie-the-Pooh," is represented by "Pooh Goes Visiting" (stories in order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10) and "Piglet Meets a Heffalump" (stories: 5, 6, 7, 8). Book 2, "The House at Pooh Corner," is dramatized by "Tigger Comes to the Forest" (stories in order: 1 2, 4, 3, 9, 10) and "Pooh Invents a New Game" (stories 5, 6, 7, 8). When stories that depend on previous information are out of order, it gets confusing. My suggestion: Get the "Winnnie-the-Pooh" / "The House at Pooh Corner" gift pack, which is also four tapes (the same recordings), but in the proper order. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Audio adaptations    4. Audio: Juvenile    5. Children's Audio - 9-12    6. Children's audiobooks    7. Classics    8. General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets    11. BEARS_FICTION    12. CHILDREN'S FICTION    13. Character books    14. Classic fiction    15. FRIENDSHIP_FICTION    16. Fiction anthologies & collections    17. Juvenile Fiction / Toys, Dolls, Puppets    18. LITERATURE AND FICTION_JUVENILE    19. TOYS_FICTION    20. WINNIE-THE-POOH (FICTITIOUS CHARACTER)_FICTION   

Features

• Audiobook

Reviews (3)

I wouldn't give this to ANYONE!!
I remember when my Dad read this to me when I was 5 I guess, and I got soooo scared by that "Suzie the Cat" story, I had constant nightmares EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!! I still remember it to this day! I was sooo scared I tell u! I didn't like the book after my Dad read it, I couldn't even walk past it! Don't buy this for ANYONE no matter what! I'm serious! Don't buy this! If you want to have a child that cries and screams from nightmares all night, then buy it.

Cool book
Ghosts Great for the child who likes a little scare
When my son read this book it was the first time ever that he read past his required 20 minutes and actually finished the book!He loved the scary tone, but not too scary for a child. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Children's Audio - 4-8    3. Children's audiobooks    4. Ghost stories    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Readers - Beginner    7. Tales    8. Juvenile Fiction / Horror & Ghost Stories   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (5)

A wonderful tale narrated by the best voice actor in the business
First, the tale: Dickens' story hasn't aged at all. On the first page, there's this wry joke about how Marley was "dead as a door-nail," then goes on to speculate about why door-nails are more dead than, say, coffin-nails. This sets the tone for a powerful tale of redemption and change laced with both humor and a bit of fear (all these ghosts!). At the end of it all, Dickens inspires us to be better with this old story; he really captures a "spirit of Christmas" (and I listened to the story in March).
As Magnificent as the Ghost of Christmas Present!
Charles Dickens is a legend, and Jim Dale should be.I was thrilled to find out that Mr. Dale had recorded "A Christmas Carol" because I've listened to many many hours (and more voices than hours!) of Mr. Dale.
Lead on spirit...lead on!!
Mr. Dale provides his usual vocal magic to bring Dickens' immortal holiday classic to life.Excellent narration, sprightly character voices and the reader's sense of good fun make this recording my personal favorite of 'A Christmas Carol'.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio - Fiction (Unabridged)    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Audiobooks    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Classics    6. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Unabridged Audio - Fiction/General    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

There's something to be said for a book that makes you wish you'd been part of a poor immigrant family living in New York's upper east side on the eve of World War I. Sydney Taylor's time-honored classic does just that. Life is rich for the five mischievous girls in the family. They find adventure in visiting the library, going to market with Mama, even dusting the front room. Young readers who have never shared a bedroom with four siblings, with no television in sight, will vicariously experience the simple, old-fashioned pleasures of talk, make-believe, and pilfered penny candy.The family's Jewish faith strengthens their ties to each other, while providing still more excitement and opportunity for mischief. Readers unfamiliar with Judaism will learn with the girls during each beautifully depicted holiday. This lively family, subject of four more "all-of-a- kind" books, is full of unique characters, all deftly illustrated by Helen John. Taylor based the stories on her own childhood family, and the true-life quality of her writing gives this classic its page-turning appeal. Read more

Features

• Unabridged

Reviews (74)

Sweet story for girls into historical fiction
My daughter just received this book and just loved it.I read it as well.The general plot has been well outlined by other posters, but what I wanted to add was that it's a great read for girls who are interested in historical fiction.For intance, my daughter has loved all the American Girl stories. This story takes place at the turn of the century, about when the American Girl "Samantha" story takes place.Samantha and the All-of-a-kind Family girls live at the same time in the same city, they just come from very opposite socio-economic backgrounds, which makes for an interesting and educational read.I liked that my daughter could read about different religious traditions than our own in simple terms that explain holidays and customs in age appropriate ways.Even though the family is poor and has no money for luxuries we don't get the feeling that anyone is going without food or proper care.The family may be poor, but the mother is portrayed as a strong proud woman nevertheless.I'm sure to look for the other books in this series.

A respite for girls
I had heard good things about this book and since we're going to the Lower Eastside later this week, I thought my daughter might enjoy it.I picked it up at the library and worried, when I saw it, that she might not be terrifically interested in it:the cover art is old fashioned and I was afraid she might think it was too "young" for her.We read the first couple of chapters together and then, on her own, she devoured the rest of it and asked me to find all of the sequels.It's a beautiful book: simple and affecting and a fascinating source of information about Jewish life and culture, although not in any way preachy or didactic.I was so grateful for this book, such a nice break in the long line of books written for 9-12 year olds these days--good, well-written novels--that seem to focus chiefly on loss:a dying mother, a missing father, a loss of a childhood friend...I think the book was deeply comforting for my girl and I recommend it highly.

Family Values Of Yesteryear
I ordered this book so that my children and grandchildren could have the same experience I had as a little girl in Mississippi in the 1950's reading about a close family of young Jewish girls in New York.This book (and the series related to it) has lost none of its charm and pull to the heartstrings!Thanks, Ms Taylor and Amazon for helping me find a lost part of my childhood! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Children's Audio - 9-12    3. Children's audiobooks    4. Classics    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Jews    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. New York    11. New York (State)    12. People & Places - United States - Other   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (287)

All American Girl
All American Girl Book Review
One of Meg Cabot's Best
Samantha Madison is just a regular girl.She's fifteen years old, a sophmore in high school, and doesn't pay attention in Deutsch class.But then she saves the president's life, and her world turns upside down. First she's appointed Teen Ambassador to the U.N.Then she thinks that the president's son, David, might like her.But she's totally in love with her sister's boyfriend.So what's this weird frission thing with David?Sam is a believable heroine, and she's easy to empathize with.

The first son has personality
All-American Girl is a story of self-discovery for our underdog heroine, Samantha Madison.She is an artist and a wanna-be rebel who is in love with her sister's boyfriend Jack, a 7-11 obsessed, self-proclaimed intellectual.Samantha first uses her artistic abilities to sell celebrity drawings to her snotty classmates until her parents sign her up for art lessons as a way to channel her talent without operating a side-business or failing her German class. It is at her art class where Samantha meets the president's son for the first time.From there, the story progresses.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Children's Audio - 9-12    3. Children's audiobooks    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Heroes    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Love & Romance    10. Presidents    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

A deer in his canoe, a bear attack, a leg stabbed with anarrowhead--it's just another week in the life of 16-year-old Brian Robeson. In his opinion, this beats a date at Mackey's Pizza Den, a fight with a bully, and a video game at the mall any day. After having survived a plane crash and 54 days in the Canadian wilderness several years earlier, Brian can't seem to fit into "civilization." The world of high school and family life makes no sense anymore. So Brian begins to plan. It's time to return to the woods. This time, though, he makes no plans to come back home. Read more

Features

• Unabridged
• Unabridged

Reviews (72)

Brian winter
Brian Return
Brian's Return
I think Brian's return is one of the better books I've read because it relates to nature.The reason why I like nature so much is because I live out in the country so I'm out in the woods alot just like Brian. My favorite part in the book was when he scared the bear away. I liked that part because it was really suspenseful. If I would have to go up against a bear with a bow. I wouldn't wait until it got sloser to me if it was already tring to corner me like it did to Brian.

Brian's Return
I think Brian's return is one of the better books I've read because it relates to nature.The reason why I like nature so much is because I live out in the country so I'm out in the woods alot just like Brian. My favorite part in the book was when he scared the bear away. I liked that part because it was really suspenseful. If I would have to go up against a bear with a bow. I wouldn't wait until it got sloser to me if it was already tring to corner me like it did to Brian. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Children's Audio - Young Adult    4. Children's audiobooks    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Nature & the Natural World - General    8. Self-reliance    9. Wilderness areas    10. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Editorial Review

It's a fantasy, it's long, and it's got dragons in it. Read more

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (172)

UNSPEAKABLE GOOD!
My daughter is 5 and we've just finished reading this book together.I love this book on so many levels that I have trouble putting words down.Funke (or Funke's translator, not sure which) delivers a page-turning, compelling story about adventure, friendship, loyalty and doing the right thing.She does all of this amid perfect sentence structure, flawless grammar, strong character development, larger than life imagery and unparalleled story telling.I have not a single complaint about this book other than it's not long enough!Oh how we both long for more!I read this book to my daughter for an hour each night at bedtime (remember, she's only 5) and usually an hour each day.There were many wonderful opportunities for discussion about lessons in the book and new vocabulary for my daughter.There are no truly "bad guys" in this book (aside from Nettlebrand whose life is borrowed anyway) and those who made some poor decisions are given opportunities to redeem themselves in the end.The characters are so strong and lovable!I can't say enough about this book.I do hope someone will take on the task of putting it to the big screen.It will be a veritable feast for the eyes.

Best Book Ever!!!!!
Wow!! This is the best book I've ever read. Sorrel, "Mr. Grumpy", is hilarious !Ben is a decent character.Firedrake is a good character and sleepy head.Twigleg is a great character.He's best when he tricks his first master.Nettlebrand the crazy, demanding, dumb, gold "dragon" is a weird enemy.He hunts dragons for no reason at all.I hope you like this as I do, but if you don't .... oh well oh well.Plus lots of Accelerated Reader Points at school!!!Aced it!

captivating!
This book is a wonderful read. I couldn't put it down till I finished it, and I literally locked myself in my bedroom with my misic blaring so that nobody could interrupt me. The wonderful characters and captivating storyline is very addicting. I would reccomend it to anyone looking for a slightly humerous fantasy story. I thought the manunculus was soooo cute! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio - Children's    2. Children's Audio - 9-12    3. Children's audiobooks    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Dragons    6. Fantasy    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

"Monster" is what the prosecutor called 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But was Steve really the lookout who gave the "all clear" to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this innovative novel by Walter Dean Myers, the reader becomes both juror and witness during the trial of Steve's life. To calm his nerves as he sits in the courtroom, aspiring filmmaker Steve chronicles the proceedings in movie script format.Interspersed throughout his screenplay are journal writings that provide insight into Steve's life before the murder and his feelings about being held in prison during the trial. "They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment."Read more

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (606)

Monster is scary, not in a great way
I found that the story was too fast paced for something as dramatic as a 16 year old boy on trial for murder.The settings changed too quickly at the beginning, and I found the plot kind of confusing.The plot though, was believable and realistic, and there was very little profanity, if any.The language was not coated with heavy accents, the closest it got was gangsta talk. The point of view was from Steve Harmon, and there was a fair share of the plot jumping around. The characters were very real, and you could really picture it in your mind.Sadly, I could not say this for much of this book.
Is He Truly A Monster?
I'm not going to say much about the text in the book except that it was well written and well thought out. The format of the book was nicely put, because it is easy to read when the words aren't crammed together on a small page, and I liked how it was written in a script format.
Amazon book review by Karen
Monster by Walter Dean Myers was an excellent book.This book was about Steve Harmon.He was accused of being part of a robbery during which Mr. Nesbit was murdered.The book really puts the reader inside Steve's mind and emotions; the reader really hopes that Steve gets off trial and is let go without any charges.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio - Children's - Young Adult    2. Audio: Juvenile    3. Boys / Men    4. Children's Audio - Young Adult    5. Children's audiobooks    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Law & Crime    9. Prisons    10. Social Issues - Peer Pressure    11. Social Situations - Peer Pressure    12. Trials (Murder)    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Features

• Unabridged
• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (5)

Great for travel
I even enjoyed listening to the funny antics of Junie B.She will never bore me or my kids.

The Best of a Great Lot
These books are terrific for kids in a wide range of ages--mine are 3, 5, and 8, and they all love them (they are over the head of the 3-year-old, but he's still mesmerized). Amazingly, the audiobooks are even better than the print versions. Lana Quintal, whose child-like voice seems a little grating at first, stands up incredibly well to repeat (and repeat and repeat) listening. She gets the tone just right. My kids are happy listening to these tapes in the car even on those long journeys that are usually occasion for hours of complaining. Worth gold! We have a few of the cassette collections, and although they are all great, this one is probably the best.

junie b jones collection:Books 9-12 audio cassette tapes
My Son is in the 2nd Grade and is a good reader. They introduced Junie B. Jones in his reading class and he really thought the stories were funny. I bought some books and on a whim bought the audio cassettes, I let the boys listen to it at bedtime and it is so great to hear the laughter coming from their room. They have listened to the tapes about a hundred times and I highly recommend them for parents. I was pleased to see my 3 year old enjoys them as well. I am going to buy the whole collection. It does encourage them to read because I see them following along with the books they have from school. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Audiobooks    3. Children's Audio - 4-8    4. Children's audiobooks    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Readers - Beginner    8. School & Education    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

It's tough when the things that stand between you and your desired sugar bowl are a host of deadly mushrooms and an uncomfortable diving suit. The unlucky Baudelaire orphans find themselves in deep (once again) in this eleventh book in Lemony Snicket's odd-and-full-of-woe-but-quite-funny Series of Unfortunate Events. In