7 Books in 1: The Railway Children, Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, The Story of the Amulet, The Story of the Treasure-Seekers, The Would-Be-Goods, and The Enchanted Castle

Average customer rating:

Great reference book, not a kids book

Buy the hardback, makes a good gift

Don't listen to the nay-sayers

I'm reviewing the book, not the contents

Good Christmas present

7 Books in 1: The Railway Children, Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, The Story of the Amulet, The Story of the Treasure-Seekers, The Would-Be-Goods, and The Enchanted Castle
E Nesbit
Manufacturer: Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Tales of Magic Boxed Set (Edward Eager Tales of Magic)

The Book of Dragons (Dover Storybooks for Children)

The Magic City

The Well-Wishers

Seven-Day Magic (Books for Young Readers)

ASIN: 0954840127

Book Description

J K Rowling, Edinburgh International Book Festival, August 15, 2004: "I love E Nesbit - I think she is great and I identify with the way that she writes." Classic stories by much-loved children's author E. Nesbit. This book contains seven full-length novels. Set in an England of steam-trains and magic, generations of children have thrilled to these exciting adventures. When the children in these stories aren't preventing a train crash, you'll find them flying on a magic carpet, travelling through time with an enchanted Egyptian amulet, hatching the egg of the mythical phoenix, or using their magical ring to explore an enchanted castle This '7 books in 1' edition is an ideal gift for any child who loves reading, or any adult who wants to bring some magic into their life! The Railway Children 'The train wouldn't care. It would go rushing by them and tear round the corner and go crashing into that awful mound. And everyone would be killed. Her hands grew very cold and trembled so that she could hardly hold the flag. And then came the distant rumble and hum of the metals, and a puff of white steam showed far away along the stretch of line.' Five Children and It The Psammead is a small, furry animal from thousands of years ago that has eyes on long horns like a snail's eves, ears like a bat's ears, and a tubby body shaped like a spider's and covered with thick soft fur; its arms and legs are furry too, and it has hands and feet like a monkey's. But the best thing about the Psammead is that it can grant wishes. The Phoenix and The Carpet (also known as 'The Phoenix and The Wishing Carpet') When the children from "Five Children and It" accidentally hatch the egg of the mythical Phoenix, it shows them how to use their magic carpet to travel anywhere they want... and a whole new round of adventures begins! The Story of The Amulet The children's mother is very ill, and their father has been sent abroad on business. With both their parents away, they discover their old friend the Psammead - captured and put up for sale! If only they could get wishes from the Psammead, they could wish their mother well again, and wish their father home. But the Psammead can't give them any more wishes. Luckily it knows where they can find an ancient Egyptian amulet that could give them their 'heart's desire' - if only it was in one piece! The Story of the Treasure Seekers "'I'll tell you what, we must go and seek for treasure: it is always what you do to restore the fallen fortunes of your House.'" When the Bastable family runs short of money, the children decide it's up to them to find a way to restore their family fortunes. Will they succeed in rescuing their father from the visits of policeman and debt collectors? The Would-Be-Goods The Bastable children behave so badly that their father sends them away to live in the countryside. Determined to be good in the future, they form a society, the 'Wouldbegoods', for being good in. But things don't go exactly as they plan... The Enchanted Castle Sent to live in the countryside for the summer, Jerry, Jimmy and Cathleen discover a secret castle containing a sleeping princess - and (although he's worried that she might slap him for it) one of the boys kisses her, and she wakes up. But shouldn't a real princess be taller? Is the castle really enchanted - or was the 'princess' just pretending?

Customer Reviews:

Great reference book, not a kids book.......2007-02-03

Love the stories, but there are far better productions of them elsewhere. Hardback or soft, this book was produced cheaply and looks much more like a text book than a book of stories for kids. As has already been described, tiny font, no illustrations, thin papers. I bought one for my family, and one for my 9 year old niece. I'll keep ours, as a reference book, just in case I can't find a better version of any of these stories in the future. But I can't give such an uninviting book to my niece. I'll find her proper versions of these books. I'd rather give her a nice used copy of an out of print production, than this book.

Buy the hardback, makes a good gift.......2006-03-20

I saw that people on here were moaning about the paperback, so I looked at book books in 'search inside the book' and got the hardback. Glad I did as the recipient really enjoyed it!

Don't listen to the nay-sayers.......2006-01-14

I bought this book as a Christmas present for my niece, and she loves it. They're great stories, and this book made a much better present than just buying one of them.

I can't understand what the reviewer below is talking about: if he wanted a hardcover, why did he buy the paperback? And with 7 books inside it, if the text wasn't fairly small then the whole thing would be really big and heavy!

So here's my recommendations:
- click on the book image and look 'inside-the-book' before you buy it, so you know what you're getting.
- if you want the hardcover edition, don't buy the paperback (duh!)

I'm reviewing the book, not the contents.......2006-01-10

These are some of the most delightful books for children ever written. Better than Lewis. Better than Milne. Better than Ransome. Long out of copyright, even by today's standards. Gather up her best in one book. Wonderful idea. Oh! Yes this is a great bargain. Unless.

This is a paperback, not a hardback. And the type is very small. Very! But the two columns per page alleviates that somewhat. Only somewhat. But no illustrations. Just page after page of type; so, not as bad as a 1900 newspaper, but unappealing and unfriendly. I think the versions I read long ago had illustrations by Ernest Shepherd. Ohhhh, that is a loss....

Think about this. Two small-print columns per page, no illustrations, a floppy paperback printed on what appears to be cheap paper. This is not for a child to read.

I wish I had had a chance to see this in advance. Seek elsewhere for these treasures.

Good Christmas present.......2006-01-03

Great stories about some different groups of children and their adventures. I would recommend it as a Christmas or birthday present for any kid! I thought the size of the print was fine.

Maeve on the Red Carpet (Beacon Street Girls) (Beacon Street Girls)

Average customer rating:

Sure to be a hit with tweens and film junkies.

Maeve on the Red Carpet (Beacon Street Girls) (Beacon Street Girls)
Annie Bryant
Manufacturer: Beacon Street Girls
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1933566086
Release Date: 2007-04-15

Customer Reviews:

Sure to be a hit with tweens and film junkies........2007-06-28

The Beacon Street Girls series is part of a brand designed to empower "tweens", and help them with the transition from "toys and boys." The books feature five middle school age best friends, all from diverse backgrounds, and with distinct interests. They go to school on Beacon Street in Brookline, MA.

The books are (according to the publisher) "shaped by leading experts in adolescent development and current research on how to positively impact girls' self-esteem." Although I'm generally a bit leery of books that try explicitly to get across a particular message, I like the Beacon Street Girls books. The characters are well-drawn and realistic. They make mistakes, and learn from them. They suffer from pesky younger brothers, difficulty with math, and divorcing parents, among other ordinary tribulations. Despite their differences, they are loyal to each other. And their stories are fun!

This installment, part of a series of "adventure" titles that each feature only one of the five Beacon Street Girls, sends Maeve to movie camp. It reminds me a tiny bit of Noel Streatfeild's books (Theater Shoes, Ballet Shoes, etc., though with quite a bit more privilege). Near the start of what promises to be a boring school vacation week, with all of her friends away, Maeve learns that her father has arranged to host a New York Film Academy film camp in the family's theater. A wealthy sponsor has offered to pay for improvements to the theater, and a famous Hollywood director will be leading the camp. Maeve is over the ceiling thrilled, despite that fact that her annoying younger brother, Sam, will also be attending the camp.

When camp begins, Maeve learns a lot, works hard, and is a bit star-struck by the pampered daughter of the wealthy sponsor (who, in an amusing throwaway joke, knows the famous "Venice Doubletree"). The other kids are more down-to-earth, though the Director's son turns out to have real acting experience. Through her interactions with the other campers, and their parents, Maeve learns some hard lessons about trust, friendship, and betrayal. I must admit that I saw the betrayal coming a mile off, and I think that many readers will, too. But the point isn't so much the betrayal itself, but the way that Maeve reacts to it, and eventually bounces back.

I also enjoyed Maeve's relationship with her little brother. He follows her around with a movie camera and drives her crazy, but also stands by her in unexpected ways. Here's one of my favorite exchanges:

""Good," Sam answered. "Because I think you're the best actress in the whole world!"

I looked at Mom, who just shrugged. Sometimes little brothers could surprise you by saying the nicest thing and make you feel totally guilty for ever thinking of them as an annoying pest. Then other times...

"Last one to the theater's a rotten egg! Haha, that's you, Maeve," Sam suddenly cried."

I think that fans of the BSG books will enjoy this installment. It's nice to have a chance to focus on just one of the girls, and get to know Maeve and her family a bit better. And Maeve is fun to spend time with. She's overly dramatic, and annoyingly obsessed with her appearance, but she's not afraid to work hard or to admit her mistakes. And her genuine enthusiasm for movies is irresistible. The details about how a movie is made are interesting, too, and should be a hit with kids who are film junkies. I give Maeve on the Red Carpet four stars!

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on June 25, 2007.

Asterix and the Magic Carpet (Uderzo. Asterix Adventure, 28.)

Average customer rating:

One of Uderzo's better solo efforts.
Asterix and Obelix sans Romans in India
One of the worst asterix comics
Cacafonix/Troubadix, saves India.
Cacofonix To The Rescue!

Asterix and the Magic Carpet (Uderzo. Asterix Adventure, 28.)
Albert Uderzo
Manufacturer: Orion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0752847767

Book Description

The wonderful village where Asterix and Obelix live has only one drawback: its bard is the worst musician in the ancient world. Whenever Cacofonix strikes up a tune, the sun hides behind the clouds and the rain begins to fall. But, then a fakir flies in on a magic carpet asking for help in ending a terrible drought in his kingdom. Otherwise, his daughter Orinjade will be sacrificed to the gods. Suddenly, Cacofonix’s talents come in mighty handy.

Customer Reviews:

One of Uderzo's better solo efforts........2007-07-10

Albert Uderzo, Asterix and the Magic Carpet (Dargaud, 1987)

This is one of the three Asterix books I know I've already read during this marathon, but can't find any evidence I ever actually reviewed. Oops. In any case, a fakir has heard of Cacofonix's newfound ability to make rain fall with his singing, and heads off to the indomitable Gaulish village to seek his assistance. Along with Asterix and Obelix, Cacofonix accompanies the fair, Whatsisnehm, to India, passing a number of sites of their earlier exploits along the way. This is one to read after you've read the previous books in the series, otherwise there are a number of panels that won't make any sense. In any case, it's a pretty good entry in the series (and "pretty good" got more and more rare as Uderzo continued on, which makes this one something special). ***

Asterix and Obelix sans Romans in India.......2006-07-19

You just have to like Asterix and Obelix! These guys could conquer the world in their sleep, but as long as their village is safe, there is no need to!

In Asterix and the Magic Carpet, an Indian fakir seeks out their bard, Cacofonix, to return with him to to the Ganges and jump start the monsoon season. They agree, and the adventures begin.

I didn't realize how much I enjoy the banter and interactions of the Gauls and the Romans. This is what defines the daily lives of Asterix and company, and is absent from this book. Asterix and Obelix with no Romans to harass? Say it ain't so!

One of the worst asterix comics.......2005-12-18

I am a great fan of Asterix & Co. But this is one of the worst among the 30 odd Asterix books. This book was both written and illustrated by Uderzo. May be if Goscinny was there it might have turned out better. The drawings are drab and the jokes more stereo-typed than funny. It starts well, but after few pages the author doesn't know how to proceed. I am surprised that the author didn't do the usual research about the theme, here about India. Remember how the Asterix and Cleopatra turned out to be a master piece. Total lack of knowledge about India and its environments and relying solely on stereo-type based jokes ruined the storey.

Cacafonix/Troubadix, saves India........2003-12-09

As a child, I read all of the "classic" Asterix books in Swedish. As an adult living in the U.S., I am reading them again to my children, but this time in English. In addtion, this time I am also reading the new ones, like this one, and I am still enjoying it.

I like this one because Cacofonix is the hero this time (his Swedish name is Troubadix). He was also the hero in Asterix and the Normans (Vikings). Cacafonix is beaten up so often in these books that this is needed. I have read this one to my kids several times already.

I find that children the age 5-13 usually really enjoy these books, not just mine. These comic books are a great way to teach children ancient history. Naturally, the adult needs to help out with the differentiation between fiction and history. From these books, my kids have learned about the Roman Empire, the ancient Greeks, the Vikings, the Goths, the Phoenicians, ancient Gaul, ancient Egypt, and the ancient Mediterranean world in general.

Cacofonix To The Rescue!.......2003-02-07

This is one of the later Asterix adventures, and though not in the same league as the earlier ones, this still packs a punch. Cacofonix sings, it rains. Not very good. Though this time his singing, er... raining skills are in demand. And that too in India. Otherwise a princess will be sacrificed by an evil vizier (are there any other kind :).
This is not the first adventure where Cacofonix saves the day - remember 'Mansion of the Gods'?
Well worth a read. I def recommend it.

The Unicorn Treasury: Stories, Poems, and Unicorn Lore (Magic Carpet Books)

Average customer rating:

The Best of the Beast
Fantastic
Lovely Treasury of Unicorn Stories/Poems

The Unicorn Treasury: Stories, Poems, and Unicorn Lore (Magic Carpet Books)
Bruce Coville
Manufacturer: Magic Carpet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 015205216X

Book Description

Filled with the most popular legends about the mythical unicorn and including original poems and stories, this collection brings together the singular talents of Bruce Coville, Madeleine L'Engle, Jane Yolen, C. S. Lewis, Myra Cohn Livingston, and many others. A perfect companion to Coville's own bestselling Unicorn Chronicles and an ideal gift for the child who has always wondered about these glorious beasts, The Unicorn Treasury is sure to find a large and enduring audience.

Customer Reviews:

The Best of the Beast.......2006-05-30

I am a unicorn nut, and when I was young someone gave me a copy of this book (back then it was hardcover and had a very different picture on the cover). The stories in this volume have been with me ever since. There is such a variety of wonderful, magical unicorn tales in this book, and each one is a treasure. I can't recommend this book enough. Buy two, one to keep and one to love, because the paperback won't last like my hardcover copy has.

Fantastic.......2006-03-01

These stories about what are possibly the world's most illusive and mysterious creatures were intense and powerful. Full of the magic implicit the the word unicorn, they swept me up and carried me to a different land.

Lovely Treasury of Unicorn Stories/Poems.......2004-09-15

Filled with stories and poems by some of the leading fantasy/science fiction writers, THE UNICORN TREASURY is an absolute gem. Within the pages you will find the following: Bruce Coville (The Lore of the Unicorn, Homeward Bound - both short stories/essays), Megan Lindholm (The Unicorn in the Maze - short story/essay), William Jay Smith (Unicorn - poem), Margaret Greaves (A Net to Catch the Wind - short story/essay), Myra Cohn Livingston (Riddle - poem), Madeleine L'Engle (The Valley of the Unicorns - excerpt from A Swiftly Tilting Planet), Beatrice Farrington (Ragged John - poem), E.V. Rieu (The Paint Box - poem), Jane Yolen (The Transfigured Hart - excerpt from The Transfigured Hart, and The Boy Who Drew Unicorns - short story/essay), Ella Young (The Unicorn - poem), Ardath Mayhar (The Snow White Pony - short story/essay), C.S. Lewis (What News the Eagle Brought - excerpt from The Last Battle), Nicholas Stuart Gray (Unicorn - poem), Patricia C. Wrede (The Princess, the Cat, and the Unicorn - short story/essay), Shirley Rousseau Murphy (Starhorn - poem), Jennifer Roberson (The Court of the Summer King - short story/essay), and Audrey Alexandra Brown (The Strangers - poem).

THE UNICORN TREASURY is a book that will be cherished by readers of all ages, young or old, for years to come. Each story/poem is filled with enchanting magic, and wonderful characters, who you will be able to relate to in one way or another. The descriptions are lovely, and make for a wonderful read the whole way through. Make sure you're comfortable when you begin reading this wonderful treasury, for you won't want to put it down until you're completely through with it.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Average customer rating:

What a surprise!
Wonderful insightful look at a culture
A very enjoyable and nostalgic read
A fresh and bold first attempt that does not muster literary verve.
Outstanding

The Red Carpet: Bangalore Stories
Lavanya Sankaran
Manufacturer: The Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385338171
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

Wry humor and a delicious grasp of the friction between generations in Bangalore are the hallmarks of Lavanya Sankaran’s fresh, deeply nuanced debut collection. “A potpourri of beggars and billionaires and determinedly laid-back ways,” Bangalore, India’s own Silicon Valley, is a crucible for prosperity, and at the chaotic crossroads between past and present. Here, American-trained professionals like Tara return to their old-fashioned families with heads full of Quentin Tarantino dialogue; a successful entrepreneur is shaken when his partner suddenly reneges on their plan to return to America; a traditional Indian mother slyly circumvents her Western-educated daughter’s resistance to marriage; a neighborhood gossip is determined to discover what goes on behind the closed curtains of the hip young couple across the street; a chauffeur must reconcile his more orthodox credos with his employer’s miniskirt lifestyle.

Witty, affectionate, and wonderfully wise, Lavanya Sankaran’s first collection attests to her remarkable literary talent.

Customer Reviews:

What a surprise! .......2006-10-30

What a surprise! I chose this book hoping to find something that would help me better understand the other half of my IT team that resides in Bangalore. I got much more than I had hoped for. In addition to providing insight into Bangalore life I found a series of stories that had me laughing out loud at one moment and moved to tears in the next. If your intrest is in short stories, not just Bangalore or India, you might enjoy "The Hotel Eden" by Ron Carlson.

Wonderful insightful look at a culture.......2006-03-04

A friend from India gave me this book to read. She had purchased it on her last trip home. I read it quite quickly and thoroughly enjoyed each story. I really don't know much about the real India, today's India and the book is fascinating. You get wonderful insights into this culture, the juxtaposition of old and new, traditional and modern, and not only that, the writing is beautiful. Highly recommended!

A very enjoyable and nostalgic read.......2005-12-27

As an Indian who was raised in india and spent time in bangalore and now lives in the US, this book was a walk down memory lane for me. The characters and events portrayed were so real and the issues dealt with are so current...the clash of cultures, the bizarre blend of western lifestyles and indian society, the clash of new money and old values, the depiction of iyer brahmins etc....

I made a recent visit to Bangalore and read this book after my return and I was shocked at how closely these stories mirrored the lives and choices of many of my contemporaries back "home".

some of the writing was a little cliched and verbose but overall I enjoyed it so much that i re-read some of the stories. I honestly felt homesick when I read her stories.

Highly recommended!

A fresh and bold first attempt that does not muster literary verve........2005-09-20

Having read the book, as well as the other 9 reviews posted here, I am compelled to submit a detailed opinion because I feel the others have either misjudged the book, or lack an understanding of what counts towards literary merit.

First the good: I liked the book for its "reminiscence factor" - the nostalgia it evoked in my mind - having spent a good 6+ years of my college and post-graduate life in Bangalore's emerging tech scene. The stories, the setting and its characters are perceptively real and accurate. In particular I liked The Red Carpet, Birdie Num-Num and Two Four Six Eight (in order). And most of all, I liked these stories because Sankaran has picked up very fresh settings for the classic themes she uses in her stories.

Now the critical, and sorry to disappoint you, the not-up-to-the-mark part. On numerous occasions the writer reveals a proclivity to overuse her skill, against the needs of the short story. At times the stories appear rushed; events occur almost on cue - as if the writer makes the character ask just the right question (see Priva's questions towards the latter part of Alphabet Soup); details not material to the singular purpose of the short story are included etc. Where she is unable to reveal character by either action or dialogue, she just tells you (in Apple Pie, One By Two the seemingly unfathomable distance between Swamy's intellectual capabilities as a software developer v/s his peers is quite literally stated as-is, after numerous occasions and attempts to describe it in other ways)!

For example, in Closed Curtains we learn of the prestige of "plantation jobs" during Mr. D'Costa youth. In this, and many such situations, Sankaran goes out of her way to include vivid but irrelevant details into her stories. The vividness with which she may remember the times she writes about do not have a necessary bearing on the developments the themes of her stories demand. (This is a short story, not a novel!) Murthy, the thief who steals the show - in Bombay This - is necessarily left undisturbed so he can be sprung-up in the end. Clichés also abound: the shallow, materialistic character in Apple Pie, One By Two is named Rahul - a decidedly north-Indian name (so is the modern couple in Closed Curtains). The orthodox Iyer in Alphabet Soup must live in Malleswaram. In Bombay This, the use of uncertainty as an effect works against the story: it is self defeating. The weights of the choices present to Ramu - for and against Ashwini - are not equally well developed. Instead Ramu's conflict becomes more and more internalized and in the end the reader and writer are working against one another, trying to outguess the other in what he might choose.

In the end I was left feeling that several parts of some stories read more like movie scene plots, while other stories, for example Alphabet Soup and Apple Pie One By Two, try to tackle topics in a manner more suitable for a novel or novella. Perhaps the weight of the topics is too much for the short story to bear; perhaps the story ought to be much longer. Either way, the result is well below literary merit. Essentially, the stories fail on one central principle: various parts in them fail to contribute towards a singular and unique effect that the story aims for.

Outstanding.......2005-08-10

This book is a fantastic read! A glimpse into a modern, changing India by a writer with a keen Austen-esque eye for social manners and mores. The characters are drawn with great delicacy and intimacy, the writing is witty and controlled, yet compassionate - I found myself tearing up at times. Outstanding!

Average customer rating:

Bring this one out of mothballs!
got it fast
Colorful

The RED CARPET
Parkin
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689716788

Customer Reviews:

Bring this one out of mothballs!.......2005-12-15

One of the joys of having a child is rediscovering long-since-forgotten books from my own childhood. When I pulled this one off the shelf at the library a few months ago, I recognized it immediately, and it felt like finding an old friend. It's still as fresh and fun as ever, and now a real favorite of my son's. Unlike another reviewer, I didn't find the plot predictable: I thought it was rather clever and unexpected. The drawings are great (and hip in a retro sort of way), and it's very fun to read the rhymed couplets. How this classic has fallen out of print is beyond me. Try to find a used copy if you can!

got it fast.......2005-09-29

This was the first of our Five in A Row curriculum purchases for a used book. I have bought most new so far. It was fun waiting for our hard to find book and we were pleased with the condition it was in and how fast it arrived.

Colorful.......2001-12-06

This classic 1948 children's poem is another "he-went-that-away." This time readers follow no insects, animals or children--but as the title suggests, a red carpet.

The occasion for this silliness is the expected arrival of the Duke of Sultana at the Hotel Bellevue. The doorknobs were shined, the floors were swept and the carpet was set out. But when the doorman, Jim West, unrolled the carpet with his toe, it kept on rolling.

Down the corridor floor, through the lobby, out through the door, over the sidewalk "where people were strolling," dodging buses and hacks, over trolley car tracks, and so on.

The carpet rolled through town, turned left at Pearl Street, down Main, and at Plum Street turned left again. The Mayor Mr. Potts called the police and Officer Mike O'Shea took up the chase. Squad cars, cycles, motors, and sirens ran up hills and down dales, through orchards and meadows, past workmen and down to the ferry.

The plot is very predictable. But children love this bright red carpet, trailing its way through amusing verse and quaint illustrations.

Book Description

It's bad enough that Deanna has to waste her summer in France and her only friend is a mangy black cat, but now she's staring hopelessly into a well, trying to figure out what in the world to wish for.

Before she can make a wish, the cat scratches her, her watch falls into the well, and then . . . so has she! Except that now she's in medieval France, the cat is a handsome young man, and her watch has the power to completely change history.

Maybe a quiet summer would have been nice?

Customer Reviews:

Finally a likable cat character.......2007-10-12

I don't particularly like cats in real life, but I've noticed recently that they are generally a lot more appealing in fiction. A Well-Timed Enchantment by Vivian Vande Velde has a cat that's cool like that.

The story starts when Deanna, a fifteen-year-old spending the summer with her mom in France, drops her Mickey Mouse watch down a well. Turns out the well isn't your average well: it's magic. To make matters worse, Deanna didn't drop her watch into the well, she dropped it into medieval France. Now she has to get the watch back before things get really out of hand. Deanna gets some help in the form of Oliver, the black cat she befriended back in modern France. Except now Oliver is a human.

I first read this book when I was sixteen. I loved it so much I read it twice back to back. A Well-Timed Enchantment is one of those books that never get old. You can read it again and again and the story is still just as good as the first time.

Vande Velde's narrative style here is similar to her other "fairy tale" books (like The Rumpelstiltskin Problem or Heir Apparent) with a blend of traditional story telling and her inimitably modern sensibility. The novel is written with a third person narration that follows Deanna's perspective.

This novel combines a lot of different elements to great effect. One of the best characters (in any of) Vande Velde's work is Oliver. Turns out cats don't see things the same way humans do. I don't know how convincingly anyone can write in the voice of a cat-turned-human but Vande Velde seems to do a good job of it.

The story is quick and fairly simple. There are a lot of things that older readers can enjoy and comment on, but the story is straight-forward enough that younger readers can also keep up. I might even go as far as to say it's a great feminist-oriented book for children (some might call it "anti-princess") because Deanna plays a significant role in fixing things (getting back the watch) even though Oliver does help quite a bit.

My only issue with A Well-Timed Enchantment is the ending. Some readers will tell you they like a good, open-ended finish. It's more realistic, it encourages readers to use their imagination, etc. There is a time and place for open-endedness. This book does not happen to be the best place for it. Vande Velde acknowledges this in her dedication (it's dedicated to a girl even though she hated the ending). Over the years the ending has rankled less because, having given the matter more thought, I've been forced to conclude that there might not be a better way to end things. But it still left me frustrated after my first reading.

Despite the somewhat irritating ending, this book is amazing. The characters are endearing, the story is fun, Oliver is awesome. Vande Velde is as creative and fun here as ever.

Very good for the young reader.......2007-09-09

A very cute story with a good mix of magic and adventure.
Meant for the younger reader but enjoyable to all.

Memories.......2005-12-27

It's been a long time since I read this book, so I can't vouch for its quality, but I do remember that I was completely engrossed in it, particularly with the character of Oliver. However, I was apparently rather traumatized by the ending since I still remember it about 15 years later. I was so upset by its ambiguity that I remember writing out an extra five pages to satisfy myself. I think if I read it again, I would have to dig out my scribblings, so that Oliver could get the ending he deserved.

Ennchanting.......2005-06-11

A Well-Timed Enchantment is a great tale consisting of thrill, love, and magic. When Deanna drops her watch in a magic well she suddenley goes back in time. This was definately not her idea of a good vacation in France! She was sent back in time to medevil France with her friend Oliver, a cat, who gets turned into a handsom boy. Deanna must find her watch before anybody in medevil France does ot her worl as she knows it will be destroyed. Vivian Veene creates a great picture in the readers mind. It is like watching a movie. Next time you feel like a little excitement and fun i strongly suggest you read this fantastic book! The twist at the end shoud surely interest you and set your mind to wondering! It did for me. I deffinately recomend this book to all readers, the girls will especially like it.

Enchanting.......2005-03-11

This book was very interesting, enjoyable and funny! If you're looking for a quickly moving, interesting and funny fantasy novel full of quirky characters, you should definitely read this book. I loved the character of Oliver, who is a cat turned into a human. I have never read a book with a such a fascinating character like him before. The only part I didn't like so much was the part when the elves or "Fair folk" come in. They're a little too...far out and weird. But other than that, a great read!

Rugs And Posts: The Story Of Navajo Weaving And The Role Of The Indian Trader (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

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Rugs And Posts: The Story Of Navajo Weaving And The Role Of The Indian Trader (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
H. L. James
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764322087

Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird (Magic Carpet Books)

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Positively Warped...and Wonderful!
Tales From the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird
Fun fractured fairy tales
Wonderfully twisted tales!
Fun Fractured Fairy-Tales!

Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird (Magic Carpet Books)
Vivian Vande Velde
Manufacturer: Magic Carpet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 015205572X

Book Description

Welcome to the fairy-tale world where Hansel and Gretel are horrible children who deserve to be baked and where Beauty is dismayed when her beloved Beast turns human. In the realm of the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird, when the sky really does fall, Chicken Little becomes the leader of a religious movement, gets her own TV show, collects millions of dollars to build a theme park, and then makes off with the money.

These tongue-in-cheek interpretations of more than a dozen favorite fairy tales will have readers in stitches.

Customer Reviews:

Positively Warped...and Wonderful! .......2006-10-06

I do believe that I may wind up with a shelf full of Vivian Vande Velde books! This is our second from this author and we are positively smitten! I love this just as much as the Girl does! They are clever, sly, and just the right amount of twisted to honor the originals but provide the reader with something entirely different in the end (and just as satisfying)! As one reviewer noted, Vande Velde really does challenge our notion of how the character's are, turning good into bad and ugly into beautiful and more, you get little snippets (like ads and commercials built in, so that nearly every classic children's tale is addressed here in come fashion...and each with the Vande Velde twist). The best stories in the bunch are the Rumplestiltskin retelling (the best in the book) and the Jack and the Bean Stalk one! I enjoyed the truly hideous (and clearly sociopath) Hansel and Gretel retelling...nicely done!! I'll be adding this to my growing collection! I give it a B+, it's good, twisted reading...but some of the stories felt more like first drafts than full fledged retellings, but still well worth the read despite this! Kids 8-12 will LOVE this book!

Tales From the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird.......2005-11-01

This book is full of variations of many famous fairy tales. I was particually interested in the varition of Rumpelstiltskin. Velde also wrote a book called the Rumpelstiltskin problem which includes one of these stories which creativly shows the different twists of the story! Very interesting.

Fun fractured fairy tales.......2000-01-12

Vivian Vande Velde neatly skewers some traditional fairy tales in this collection of stories; most are moderately good-- entertaining, but not terribly deep. This anthology would have joined the ranks of the mediocre if not for one absolutely clever and wonderful retelling of Rumpelstiltskin called "Straw into Gold." This one story makes the whole book worth getting. The others are good, but "Straw into Gold" outshines them by far.

There are many fairy tale retellings; those of Robin McKinley (Beauty, Rose Daughter), Donna Jo Napoli (Spinners, Zel, The Magic Circle) Mercedes Lackey (The Fire Rose, The Firebird) and Patricia Wrede (Snow White and Rose Red) are particularly worth checking out.

Wonderfully twisted tales!.......1999-04-08

This was a wonderful book! I especially liked STRAW INTO GOLD. It was really good with a bit of a surprise ending. It had just enough magic, not too much like other fairy tales.

Fun Fractured Fairy-Tales!.......1998-11-05

How do you fracture a fairy tale? The dust cover of my edition of the book says there are four different ways: make the villain a hero, make the hero a villain, tell what really happened, or all of the above. A fifth way might be added: let the tale ferment in the mind of Vivian Vande Velde for a while until you get a heady wine of gruesomeness, fun, and hilarity. The best of the best in this group of short stories would have to be "Staw into Gold," a new twist on the Rumpelstiltskin tale that has a perfect ending for children of seperated, divorced, or remarried parents and "Frog" a re-telling of the classic Frog Prince with a lesson about keeping promises.

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The Carpet Boy's Gift
Pegi Deitz Shea
Manufacturer: Tilbury House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0884482480

Book Description

Leadership comes easily for Nadeem, the biggest and oldest boy in a rug factory in Pakistan. But how can he lead the other child laborers to freedom after he's been shamed and beaten for his first attempt?

Nadeem and his fellow workers are bonded laborers, children who work day and night to pay off loans their families have accepted from a factory owner. While Nadeem and his cousin Amina take pride in helping their poor families, they feel trapped. They yearn to go to school and to have time to play.

One day a former carpet boy named Iqbal Masih leads a parade in the village. New laws have abolished bonded labor! Iqbal urges Nadeem to fight for freedom and to lead the children to a new school in town. Can Nadeem summon the courage to try again?

This fictional story honors the legacy of Iqbal Masih, a real boy who had escaped from a factory. Protected and educated, he worked to liberate child workers like Nadeem by the thousands. His work won him the Reebok Youth in Action award and special recognition at the International Labor Conference. When he returned to Pakistan after his trip, he was fatally shot while riding his bicycle. He was only twelve, but he had already made a difference in children's lives all over the world. Resources at the end of the story lead to more information about child labor issues and encourage children to support companies that work to make the world a better place for all.

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