The King's Chessboard (Picture Puffins)

Customer Reviews:

Juneau 2nd grader.......2007-03-23

This book is okay. It takes place in India. The wiseman tricks the king. He tricks the king by asking him for more rice than there is in the world, but the king doesn't realize it.
You might like this book if you like math.

Wonderful!.......2006-03-24

I facilitate a Game Theory and Multicultural Math workshop for ages 9-12 and used this book during our study of the Tower of Hanoi. This book offered a wonderful way to open the discussion of exponential possibility. The illustrations and story are capturing and make the concept of exponents easy to grasp. Further, it takes place in India which was perfect for the math around the world teme. Loved it!

"Rice Anyone?".......2005-06-20

Have you ever paid the price for being a little too nice? "The King's Chessboard" was about a proud king in Deccan, India who paid the price for rewarding a wise man that didn't want to be rewarded. The King asked the wise man what would his reward be. The wise man said serving the King was his reward, but the King insisted on rewarding the servant. So, the wise man asked for one grain of rice. Then, each day for 64 days the wise man would recieve twice as much than the day before for each square on his chessboard. Things soon got out of hand because they were now giving the wise man tons of rice. By the end of the period they would have given out 274,877,906,944 tons of rice. The King had to stop the wise man from recieving these huge amounts of rice. In the end, the king would learn how easy it is for pride to make a fool of someone, even a king.

Outstanding book.......2005-01-26

My 7 year old, mathematically gifted son loves this story. First of all, he loves chess; and secondly, he loves numbers (and the related concepts) even more. Thus this book has the best of both worlds for him.

The most important lesson here, IMHO, is the book teaches that pride can get in the way of good judgement.

The story also teaches the important concept of one-to-one relationships (ie, functions) with numbers. Any math teacher will tell you, it's not the numbers per se that are important, but the relationships and interactions that are important.

Lastly, the story illustrates the math concept of geometric progression, how after a few turns, little number 'explode' into big ones.

Overall, excellent story that teaches both social values and mathematical concepts.

Problem Solving with Children's Literature.......1997-10-01

This book is an excellent resource for elementary teachers to use with math problem solving. Students can use the chess board and rice to solve the problem in the book. Students can measure an ounce of rice and figure how much rice is in a pound. Using this literature in a math class will motivate and enhance learning. I highly recommend it for educators.

Average customer rating:

Perfect!
Amazing
Just what I was after...
Better than this...
Brilliant

LION KING, THE: PRIDE ROCK ON BROADWAY
Julie Taymor
Manufacturer: Disney Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786863420

Amazon.com

You saw the animated film, you bought the video, you couldn't get tickets to the stage show--here's the coffee-table book. But wait: what keeps The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway from being just another commercial Disney tie-in is the iconoclastic voice of director/designer Julie Taymor. She uses the text of this book as a diary for her personal struggle to merge her off-off-Broadway avant-garde sensibility with Disney's unabashedly bigtime commercial one. Her chronicle lends context to the already lush and abundant illustrations, photographs, and sketches of Taymor and her collaborators at work.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Perfect!.......2007-07-13

I came home from a production of The Lion King staged in Appleton, Wisconsin, and was so enthralled I immediately set out to find out "How did they do that?" This book met and exceeded by expectations. I am an amateur costumer and puppeteer and this just the stuff to bring a smile to my face. Before this book I was not aware of Julie Taymor by name (Sorry, from a small town, don't get out much) but I will be looking for her work from now on.

Amazing.......2006-02-22

I have seen the stage production of the Lion King twice--in Toronto and East Lansing, MI. Vendors offered a souvenir photo brochure for $20. For only a few dollars more, I purchased Julie Taymor's book from Amazon describing one of the most amazing creative achievements I have ever seen. Get the book! See the show!

Just what I was after..........2005-09-29

This book shows the "creation story" of the Lion King musical. Photos of the workshopping teams in their studio/s, sketches of early ideas, through to finished costuming displayed on the artists themselves.

A pity this book was not available in Australia, but thanks to Amazon I received it in about 3 weeks total.

Better than this..........2005-09-25

...is seeing the show live. From intellectual concept, to extensive and authentic research, to development with constant referral to the physical, metaphysical, intrinsic, to the workshop...to the stage. One will see that Julie Taymor was THE RIGHT visionary to not only help in the translating an animated film to live theater, but to also retain the human moral behavior and lessons that are paramount for the existence of all people.

Brilliant.......2004-09-27

The Lion King on broadway is by far the best most amzing show ever created. Whats so amazing is that the book is as good as the musical. Without Julie Taymor the lion king would not be such a huge success as it is and you find all about this in the book. Some of the pictures of the show itself and the costumes are just wonderful which makes the presentation of the book even more wonderful. I dont even read books but am findin it very hard to put this down and read it over and over again. If you require any info, or are just curious email me simba262626@yahoo.com to discuss this amazing book.

Pride of Lions (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)

Average customer rating:

History's lessons and a Son's pride
There's one thing...
These Lions Also Roar!
minority report
Great beginning, falls flat

Pride of Lions (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)
Morgan Llywelyn
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812536509

Book Description

Lion of Ireland was the breathtaking chronicle of Brian Boru, the Great King who led the bickering chiefs of Ireland to unity under his reign. He overthrew traditions, reformed society, and became the Irish Charlemagne. The Ireland of 1014 was a dream Brian Boru had dreamed and brought into being.Now, with all the fire and brilliance for which her writing is known, Morgan Llywelyn takes us there, to the battlefield where Brian died, and to Brian's fifteen-year-old son, Donough, whose mother is the voluptuous and treacherous Gormlaith, with her lust for life and power undiminished by age: Donough, the son who is determined to make the High Kingship of Brian Boru's Ireland his own."I know he's too young, but he's all we have left," says Fergal, and thus the boy takes his first command, on the bloody ground of Clontarf. From there he must move to establish his right to rule in Kincora and to make the kings of Ireland accept him as their High King.Yet Donough is torn--torn by his hatred for his mother and by his all-consuming passion for the beautiful pagan girl Cera, who remains beyond his reach, for the High King must have a Christian consort......

Customer Reviews:

History's lessons and a Son's pride.......2007-09-10

Pride of Lions, by Morgan Llywelyn, is the sequel to Lion of Ireland, a fictional account of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. Pride of Lions follows the children of Brian Boru as they struggle in the political and social chaos of Ireland after the Battle of Clontarf, which resulted in a victory of the Irish over Vikings but loss of Brian Boru and his heir. The story is from the point of view of Brian's youngest son Donnchad or Donough as he prefers to be called. Donnchad is the son of Brian and his 2nd wife Gormlaith.

Donough has struggles to learn politics as he tries to emulate his father in every way. He fights many fronts socially in his family as he is torn between supporting his one remaining half brother Teague, who is older and claims the Kingship of Munster. He is also driven by his Mother who is ever working her political schemes for gain and revenge. He finds love in a Druid woman yet struggles to make a marriage and political alliances through his sisters' husbands who includes the King of Dublin and King of Scots. His wife is tied with the Saxon and Dane families in England, and helps Brian lay a foundation for his ultimate goal of claiming his father's title of High King of Ireland.

He is frustrated and young and seems to struggle on every front. At times while reading this book I felt the same feelings. It is definitely a different story than Pride of Lions. I didn't like the path the book was taking and yet was saved in the final chapters. The ending wonderful and I truly loved Donough's final choices. He proves that one can be successful by not repeating history. Donough showed he can live up to his father's fame and learn from his mistakes. I love the path Morgan Llywelyn took and the message sent. Pride of Lions is a lesson in life, achievement and self-worth as well as a great book and wild ride.

There's one thing..........2006-05-05

There's one thing I love about Llywelyn. She writes this book in short chapters. I mean short. Seriously, if I ever become a novelist, this is how I will write. Andrew M. Greeley does the same thing and look at him. You pick up the book - right before bed - and you say, "oh, just a chapter before bed." Ten chapters later, 15 minutes later, you think, "Well that wasn't so bad.... ANOTHER CHAPTER THEN!!" It goes like that until you're bleary-eyed and exhausted, but the book is finished and you're headed off to the used book store to trade it, because everyone loves to read Llywelyn and you know they'll take it.

I know, I should be commenting on the plot, the depth, the scope, the RESEARCH. Honestly, I could care less. It was pretty interesting as a read, it didn't say much you don't already know (if you like reading about the Irish, which I do), and it went quickly. Great for a read while on the beach really. You just don't have to think too much about it, and you certainly don't have to read any paragraphs twice to get-the-deeper-meaning. After a long day at the office, that suits me just fine.

These Lions Also Roar!.......2005-02-15

I couldn't get enough of "Lion of Ireland", so "Pride of Lions" was a natural next-read. This book, like the first, was also virtually impossible to put down, although I have to admit may not be as good as the first. The ways that the different players scheme to align themselves to Brian Boru's crown is very enjoyable to follow, but the ending leaves something to be desired. I won't give it away, but the ending almost leaves the reader feeling as though the book was rushed and the ending had to be thrown together quickly. Other than that, the book is a very worthy to successor to the story of Brian Boru, and a very fascinating look at the dark and bloody past of the Irish.

minority report.......2004-02-20

I guess I am in the minority here since I didn't think this book was anywhere close to Lion of Ireland. While Pride of Lions proves to be very readable and somewhat interesting book, I thought it was pretty lightweight material and it really wasn't that exciting as Lion of Ireland. I supposed there were few good spots but overall, the book slogs through the story.

I think the weakness lies in the length. My paperback version got only 395 pages. This story needs more. But what this story really need was a character, interesting, heroic and true and to be honest, the lead character Donough really don't fit the mode.

While I enjoyed Lion of Ireland, this follow-up book falls short. This doesn't mean you shouldn't read it if you enjoyed the first book. Just be prepared that maybe it won't taste good as it smell.

Great beginning, falls flat.......2002-11-19

In her follow-up to the wonderful "Lion of Ireland," Morgan Llywelyn picks up where she left off, spinning the tale of Donough, Brian Boru's eldest surviving son. Her vivid style and talent with words continues the legend she brought back to life with her previous novel. The battle in which Donough, his troops battle-ravaged and starving, face their enemies as hundreds of CuChullains will bring chills to your spine as you read. However, although the novel starts off with the potential to live up to her previous triumph, the book comes to an all to quick and unsatisfying ending.

The Lion King: The Lion King/The Lion King II Simba's Pride/The Lion King the Brightest Star (Disney's Read Along Collection)

Average customer rating:

Just love them!
the kids love it!
Lion King Thrill

The Lion King: The Lion King/The Lion King II Simba's Pride/The Lion King the Brightest Star (Disney's Read Along Collection)

Manufacturer: Toybox Innovations
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0763411493

Book Description

Product Description: Share the magic of Disney while making storytelling more fun than ever. The Disney's The Lion King Read-Along Collection Box contains three beautifully illustrated 24-page books and a Read-Along CD with word-for-word narration of each story that encourages independent reading and helps develop vocabulary. Enjoy the classic Disney adventures of Simba and his pals in the Pride Lands. Perfect for quiet times, car and plane trips. The Disney Read-Along Collection Series is an ideal gift for family, friends, birthday parties and holidays. Character voices right from the movies, coupled with vivid sound effects, will keep children coming back to ?Read-Along? time after time.

Customer Reviews:

Just love them!.......2007-08-17

A real bargin, you get a greate product for a greate price, deffinaly worth the money!
My girl 5,5 years old just love these stories aboute the Lion king, she lissens to them in the car and on her cd-player in her room. We have put the Cd in a hard cd case and bought a plastic box for the books, the box they come in were not that sturdy, and the books could have been ruined if we did not put them somewere else, especially when she wants them in the car, and then out of the car in her room and so on...
We will definatly buy more books from this serie! highly recomend them, you will not get dissapointed.

the kids love it!.......2007-03-14

I am taking care of a three and a five year old boy. They both love to listen to the stories and the five year old enjoys "reading" along in the books and being able to turn the pages all by himself.
The kid's room turns amazingly quiet as soon as I put the CD in.
I'm very happy with this product!

Lion King Thrill.......2007-01-21

This is a good product. Perfect for short and long travel. Provokes reading interest in children.

Average customer rating:

A Nice Viewpoint
Very Good Story
Going through the motions
The Guardian of Mystic Britain Fight to Protect Her
Surely You Sing of No Little Thing by Oak & Ash & Thorn

Pride of Kings
Judith Tarr
Manufacturer: Roc Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451458478
Release Date: 2001-09-05

Book Description

"Tarr spins an entertaining and often enlightening tale." (The Washington Post)

A powerful epic of two kings, two realms, and two wars for England to win-or lose. One could weaken the mortal empire. The other could destroy the world...

Customer Reviews:

A Nice Viewpoint.......2005-09-06

Judith Tarr's Pride of Kings is a most interesting read. I found it intriguing. A story where John is not a power hungry king, who loves England, unlike his brother Richard. All the characters were very thought provoking. There was no reason this could not have happened. Why could Britain not have its own king and protectors. Yea! for Judith!

Very Good Story.......2004-02-23

Judith Tarr has taken fictional characters and woven them in with historical characters to make the story line plausible. The plot lines, primary and secondary, are strong and well written. The characters are well developed and believable, even with the knowledge many of the characters are fiction. This was a well told story and a well written book.

Going through the motions.......2003-08-08

Judith Tarr has written some great books, but this isn't one of them. Ms. Tarr seems to have cobbled together some notes and thrown out a half-baked novel. Her characters are usually brilliant, here they are muddy. Her world is often well realized, here it's slapped together.

Still, it's better than half the SF/Fantasy pumped out and spat at the market.

The Guardian of Mystic Britain Fight to Protect Her.......2002-04-01

I love seeing Judith Tarr writing fantasy again. Her grey mare's daughters series was ok, but she is at her best when describing the swirl of Wild Magic about Riders who have gone beyond the boundaries of the mundane world.

Henry is dead, Richard the Lionhearted is to be crowned King of the English, but there is another crown waiting for him, did he but accept it: the crown of the King of Britain, guardian of the mystical realm that is Britain, warded by four guardians who are more than human. However, Richard's eyes and heart are set on Jerusalem and his Crusade. He has no use for Pagan ceremonies and spurns the Crown of Britain. This sets in motion a magical chain of events that resonated in the real world.

In Anjou, Arslan, a young ... son of a dead lord waits with his two Seljuk servants. He had been born and raised in outremer, the son of a mortal lord and an Ifritah, a spirit of fire. In him the magic runs high. A Crusade is gathering and he intends to return to the East. However, he is given a prophetic dream, in which he is told that he must go to Britain, where he is needed. There comes riding into his brother's keep a company, one of whom is recognizable as William, a ... Plantagenet. The other, who seems less worthy is pushed aside while William is feted. The one who is pushed aside is John Lackland, the very legitimate son of Henry and Eleanor of Acquitaine. He is pleased to be amused by it and when he rides out, leaving a discomforted Lord of Anjou, he takes Arslan with him.

The mystical forces that protect Britain offer John a bargain. They offer him a chance to rule as overlord of the spirit of the place, but he is to pay a price. That price is that the world will see him as his brother's usurper and would not know of the service that he had performed to save Britain (and England) to, from the forces arrayed against it.

The book though focuses mainly on Arslan, on his love for one of the Guardians and how two people both blessed and cursed with magic come to an understanding. Arslan, the son of a spirit of fire, is beautiful and strong. His name means lion. The Lady Eschivra, the daughter of Morgana and a river god, is older than him in years, wiser than he in magic, but more tangled in her thoughts and emotions. Together they must face the forces of the Wild Magic, of Sorceries sent against them by enemies outside Britain, and the convolutions of their own too human hearts.

If you liked Ms Tarr's earlier fantasies, if you have a fondness for Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill and Reward and Fairies, if you just enjoy a good historical fantasy then grab a copy, curl up on the couch with a small dog or two (I recommend a Jack Russell terrier) and settle down to enjoy a rouse-- and touching-- fantasy.

(By the way, the title is a pun. It refers to both the feeling of pride, and a collective noun for all the young lions who make up the actors in this book.)

Surely You Sing of No Little Thing by Oak & Ash & Thorn.......2002-03-23

Oh, don't you tell the priest Our plight,
He will think it a sin.
We have been out in the woods all night
A-conjuring summer in;
Now we bring good news by word of mouth,
Good news for cattle and corn;
The sun today came up from the south
By Oak and Ash and Thorn.
--Rudyard Kipling

Henry is dead, Richard the Lionhearted is to be crowned King of the English, but there is another crown waiting for him, did he but accept it: the crown of the King of Britain, guardian of the mystical realm that is the spirit of Britain, warded by four guardians who are more than human. However, Richard's eyes and heart are set on Jerusalem and his Crusade. He has no use for Pagan ceremonies and spurns the Crown, breaking the Walls of Air that protect Britain and making it imperative that a new King be found. This sets in motion a magical chain of events that resonate in the real world.

In Anjou, Arslan, young bastard son of a dead lord waits with his two Seljuk servants. He had been born and raised in outremer, the son of a mortal lord and an Ifritah, a spirit of fire. In him the magic runs high. A Crusade is gathering and he intends to return to the East. However, he is given a prophetic dream, in which he is told that he must go to Britain, where he is needed. There comes riding into his brother's keep a company, one of whom is recognizable as William, a bastard Plantagenet. The other, who seems less worthy is pushed aside while William is feted. The one who is pushed aside is John Lackland, the very legitimate son of Henry and Eleanor of Acquitaine. He is pleased to be amused by it and when he rides out, leaving a discomforted Lord of Anjou, he takes Arslan with him.

Book Description

Explore the colorful world of the jungle with Simba's daughter Kiara. As she wanders, Kiara finds purple flowers, yellow ducks, and orange butterflies -- and makes a new friend along the way.

Average customer rating:

Lion King:Return to Pride Rock
Disney Csdisn 60639J , and Walt Disney Records
Manufacturer: Disney Pr (Adult)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0763404799

The Lion King: Far from the Pride Lands Read Along

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The Lion King: Far from the Pride Lands Read Along
Walt Disney Productions
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Records & Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

Average customer rating:

A wonderful feminist fairy tale
Good book!
Good book!
A cute story - a strong princess

The Knight Who Took All Day

Manufacturer: The Chicken House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439748291

Book Description

A dashing knight decides it's time to impress the golden-haired princess. All he needs is a dragon to show off his marvelous talents. One day, a huge dragon appears on the horizon, smoke pouring from his nostrils. Immediately, the knight orders his squire to fetch his armor. But will he get dressed in time--or is this knight more interested in appearances than action? After much waiting, the golden-haired princess decides to tame that fire-breathing beast herself!

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful feminist fairy tale.......2007-04-23

This is a very funny, clever book about a macho knight who wants to win the hand of a fair princess... Except that the princess is completely disinterested in him, or in his macho ways. When a dragon finally shows up and menaces the kingdom, the vain knight dithers about and wastes time trying to dress up fancy so he'll impress the Princess. So she takes matters into her own hands and he saves the day, taming the dragon instead of killing him (which is what the knight wanted to do...) It's an explicitly feminist fairy tale, and also pro-dragon, which is a nice change of pace. Lots of visual humor, too, long with the charming text. Recommended!

Good book!.......2007-04-10

My daughter and I really enjoyed this book. The message that working toward your goals rather than just trying to look good is a good one. It's too bad that the "prize" is a woman, although I guess you could say that it's also recognition for a job well done. But overall the book is fun and shows you that you don't have to be a knight or other high-ranking figure to go after and achieve what you want.

Good book!.......2007-03-21

Good book, my 5-year-old and 7-year-old children both liked it and asked for it several times. Great moral, too -- appearance isn't everything.

A cute story - a strong princess.......2006-11-10

This is a cute story about a vain knight trying to impress and "save" the princess. By the time he has all he needs to look good, the princess has handled the dragon herself and run off with the squire.

Simba's Pride: Disney's the Lion King II (A Golden Look-Look Book)

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Simba's Pride: Disney's the Lion King II (A Golden Look-Look Book)
Eric Suben
Manufacturer: Golden Books Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0307129640

Book Description

In an exciting sequel to the wildly popular Disney film, "Lion King," Simba rules over the vast and beautiful Pride Lands. The picture-book retelling of "Simba's Pride" narrates the suspenseful tale of Outsiders who threaten Simba's rule. Kiara, Simba's spirited young daughter, is the one who somehow uncovers the enemy's plot and helps her father restore the Circle of Life.

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