I have loved this book since I was a child. Astrid Lindgren always had strong, female characters that I could readily identify with and cheer and Meg is no exception.

Bright and spirited, Meg is never at a loss for concocting well intentioned mischief. She fashions a parachute out of an umbrella and jumps off the roof. She suffers from a concussion and has to endure the gloating of her bratty little sister and the foolish housekeeper who gloatingly insist that it is not Meg who gets into trouble; rather, it is the mythical imp, "Sebastian Loki." The pair taunt poor Meg into a frenzy with their Sebastian stories, which I thought was mean.

Meg rebounds and is back with a BANG! In fact, she cuts her own bangs, defaces a picture of the Queen in one of her history books and blames her recent spate of mischief on a classmate named "Richard." As you have already guessed by now, there was no Richard. Meg was just being..well, bright, irreprisible, high spirited MEG! I love her!

I also loved the cultural enrichment this book provided. The description of the Swedish Christmas was a bonus treat.

This is the kind of book that binds generations. It is timeless.

This is a delightful children's book. I remembered it fondly from my childhood, and my daughter was equally enchanted when I read it to her. Months after reading the book together, we still laugh at some of the unforgetable misadventures of Meg. The beautiful description of a Scandinavian Christmas, seen through a child's eyes, is also memorable. I have never understood how this treasure by the author of "Pippi Longstocking" could have been so overlooked.

This is a wonderful book that I read as a child and bought as an adult. If you were mischievous yourself and remember what it was like, get this book for your child or yourself. Great fun.

Of all the stories my father read to me as a child, this was my favorite. Its endearing story of self-discovery is timeless, and not to mention quite humorous for a six year old boy. It reminds me of a time far less complicated and will thus always hold a special place of affection for me. This was the Catcher in the Rye of my Elementary years. I would highly recommend this to anyone with children looking for quite simply a flat out good story to read them that they will enjoy.

The Breman Town Musicians is a simple story that involves setting goals and team work. It has two things that children love, music and animals. What a combination!

As a 17 year childcare veteran, I highly recommmend this book. Kids today can use all the inspiration they can get. A great way to learn is to read. I read this book to my daughter when she was a child. Now I am getting a new copy for my grand daughter.

This book provides recipes that are all wonderful, traditional, and simple. It provides a wonderful set of menus for holidays and other meals that bring me back to being a kid in Poland. No matter how many different foods I try and love, I always come back to wanting Polish foods that were prepared for me as a child by my mother, aunts, and grandmother.

So sorry this book is no longer available -- we recently gave our family's copy to some cousins, unaware that it was o-o-p!

The charming line drawings sweetly enhance this ongoing story of an Old World Jewish Lithuanian family. The book follows the Hebrew calendar as it focuses on the effect that a pet goat has on each of the members of the family. Could the goat really be Elijah the Prophet ?

A great family book -- it went straight to our hearts.

A short children's book which speculates what would happen if all the trees were one tree and if all the seas were one sea. It was a 1972 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a children's book. Its approach can get children to speculate and think for themselves and they can come up with wild ideas sometimes.

What a pleasure to see a children's book WITHOUT mass produced Disney characters, computer generated images, or a television show to promote. 'If All the Seas Were One Sea,' a Newbury Honor book first published in 1971, still looks great over 30 years later. With simple, yet imaginative images, Janina Domanska creates a world of speculation and wonder in which to encase this nursery rhyme. For a children's book, 'If All the Seas' asks many philosophical questions. Even if only for a few minutes, the book will force children to stop and think about its implications. It might cause a few adults to do the same. And that can't be a bad thing.

Ages 3-7
30 pages

This book won the 1929 Newbery Medal for best contribution to American literature for children. It is the story of a boy living in Krakow, Poland, in 1461 who becomes the trumpeter and night watch at the famous Church of Our Lady Mary. Back in 1241, a young trumpeter who held this same position felt it was his duty to continue sounding his trumpet at the appointed times even as the city was being overrun by Tartars. In the middle of the tune, he was killed by an arrow. Ever since then, all of the succeeding trumpeters stop playng the tune at that same point in memory and honor of that earlier trumpeter. The young lad in this novel has to continue this tradition, yet has to vary the tradition in order to warn others of a crime. Children love to read this story of medieval Europe and of a young man with a duty to do what is right.

First Lady Bush Gets History Lesson in Poland
(Excerpts from Reuters story by Katarzyna Mala)

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) - As President George Bush was mapping out future ties between the United States and Europe in Poland on Saturday, wife Laura received a history lesson in the former seat of Polish kings.

The first lady marveled at the splendor of the Renaissance Wawel castle in Krakow -- the southern city founded 13 centuries ago, which was the capital of this east European country between 11th and 17th centuries.

The women spent over an hour touring the Wawel, turned into a military barracks in the 19th century when Poland was divided between its three neighboring states. Wawel was also the seat of Nazi German authorities during World War II.

Mrs. Bush surprised her host by presenting her with "The Trumpeter of Krakow," a children's novel set in medieval Krakow about a young patriot whose family guards a mysterious jewel of great value.

"I read this book many years ago. It's a children's book from the 19th century," the former school librarian said. The book won the Newbery award in 1929.

"I did not know the book existed," said Kwasniewska, kissing her counterpart on the cheek.

A historical novel, Eric P. Kelly's TRUMPETER OF KRAKOW --- The Great Tarnov Crystal and Pan Andrew Charnetski's VOW -- A scholar alchemist and Elzbietka Kreutz his NIECE -- Listened to the Heynal as Joseph played his special PIECE -- From the Street of the Pigeons to the King's COURT -- returning the crystal after troubles of all SORT! This is a wonderful book packed full of emotions, action and a beautifully told historical story. Kathryn in New York Cit

This book has a wonderful message about being kind to others no matter how small or insignificant we might think they are. The animals do what is necessary to secure food. Their country is in a famine, and one tortoise helps provide for the key necessary to eat from the only tree providing food. They forget who helped them get the food, and selfishly try to eat only to come to their own ruin in the process. The pictures are unique in their African geometrical designs, and add to the overall folklore of the story.

At first, the book seems very child-friendly, however, as the story progresses, the plot becomes complicated. I do not like that the stick beats the innkeepers and Palmiero states,"The beating will not stop until you tell me where they (the jewels)are." This seems to encourage violence and I do not think it is very appropriate for a children's picture book geared towards very young children.