Dear Readers, I think this book is a very good book. Some of the stories are similar to some of Terry Jones' other books. Part of The reason I read this book was because I liked another book "Nicobobinus" so much. "Fantastic Stories" was very nicely written and Terry Jones' humor comes out often in this, along with his wildly spread and unusual imagination. Micheal Foreman's illustrations were excellent. I believe Terry Jones and Micheal Foreman make a good team. Together, the two individuals have created a very interesting and wonderful book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves fairy tales, especially those with a twist. sincerely, Michelle Barbara O'Loughlin

As a chiled my father read me this story and it scaired the s*** out of me. my bed was under a sky light so I thought I was easy prey, because nobody could resist the call of the fly by night I thought. I had the biggest scaire one night when I woke up to a neabors BLACK CAT walking accross my window!! If you havent read this story or anny other terry jones faerie tales, log off and make you're way to the library. or just order them, all of them! and I doesent matter how old you are, Adults can apreciate the stories as much as children, maybe more. these stories are fresh and alive. I cherish my coppy of Fairy Tales ( the colection fly by night came from), It shaires a place in my heart with my OLD coppyes of grim and anderson fairy tales (the good ones with unhappyness, death and loss of limbs),narnia and the terrible horrible no good verry bad day. If you like fairy tales/ the fly by night check out: the curse of the vampire socks fantastic stories other terry jones books. If you like kids poems like Where the sidewalk ends you will definetly enjoy The curse of the vampire socks. I could go on forever about kids books, if you want to talk e-mail me

This sweet story is about a young reindeer who is accidentally left behind and the little boy who takes care of him for a year. The caring, unselfish friendship between the child and the animal is a wonderful expression of the spirit of Christmas. The snowy North Pole scenes, the colorful elves, and the magical citiscape viewed from the rooftop of the boy's high-rise are beautiful. My kids instantly loved this tale of friendship and adventure. We have read it dozens of times. It will surely be a favorite for years.

I first learned of the Battle of Dunkirk when I read 'The Snow Goose' at the age of 11. I am sick of Harry Potter and its ilk and want my grandson to learn about stories that last. I realized he neither knows nor cares about history, nor is he so a precocious reader as I was at his age (pre-television). I decided this would have to be a gradual process, and that he will have to know about one of the great heroic events in our history before 'The Snow Goose' would be meaningful to him.

To this end, I discovered 'The Little Ships' and found myself with tears in my eyes over the beauty of the writing. For example, when the little girl is relating what she sees in the water (broken planks, army coats and boots) as she and her father are ferrying the soldiers, she sums it up by ' . . . and everything soldiers leave behind when they can take only themselves.'

The 'Snow Goose' will have to wait - although I certainly enjoyed reading it again. He's simply not old enough, but he's ready for 'The Little Ships.' The beauty of the writing and the wonderful illustrations will capture him. Best of all, the basic story is true. I'm buying two more copies - one for my library and one for the grade school. Children should know that, while we humans are capable of hideous acts, we are also capable of breathtaking acts of bravery, and they should be moved as they read about them.

I PURCHASED THIS BOOK TO SHARE WITH MY FATHER WHO SERVED WITH THE ARMY AIR CORP IN ENGLAND DURING THE 2ND WORLD WAR AND FOR MY 10 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AS I WISH HER TO KNOW ABOUT THIS TIME IN OUR HISTORY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THE LIFE OF HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER.
THE BOOK IS BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED FROM THE NUMBERED AND SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR BOOK PLATE IN THE FRONT TO THE BINDING AND THE PAPER COVER. THE ART WORK IS DELICATE AND YET REALISTIC.
THE BOOK IS WRITTEN ON A LEVEL THAT CAN BE WELL UNDERSTOOD BY A YOUNG CHILD AND YET WITH THE DIRECTNESS AND HONESTY OF A CHILD TRULY BRINGS HOME THE DEVESTATION OF THIS WAR IN A COMPLETELY NON-VIOLENT WAY.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE WAR, TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS WAR. MY FATHER FOUND IT A WONDERFUL WAY TO OPEN A DISCUSSION OF HIS EXPERIENCES DURING THE WAR WITH HIS GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER WHO QUICKLY BECAME ENTRANCED BOTH BY HIS STORY AND THE BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS VOLUME.

This book was purchased for my 3 year old son. It has since grown as a traditional reading for the anual childrens party and displayed in the livingroom for all who visit. This book captures the childrens imagiations, with it's detailed 3-D illustrations, and wonderfully written poetry. This combination holds everyones attention; Both young and old come together for it's reading. The only draw back is that it ends too soon and you may find yourself reading it over and over again to a captive audiance.

Micheael Foreman's pop-up version of the classic counting rhyme has been a favorite of both our kids. This is participatory reading at its finest. Our son is still frightened by the flopping fish tail but in a delighted squeal sort of way. Regretably, this book has been put through its paces so many times, that most of the pop-up architecture has long since stopped popping. That hasn't stopped our kids from picking it off the shelf for "old" time's sake.

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Children's books, which push a strong message, can sometimes go over the top and be less than convincing. This story however, is told well without being strident and lecturing.

"Peter's Place" gives us an unashamedly powerful environmental message. Oil tankers that run aground can cause serious harm to the marine environment.

The power of Michael Foreman's illustrations, as in all good children's picture books, delivers at least fifty percent of the value. They portray the spectacular wild beauty of the Cornish (?) coastline.

The atmospherics are intense, focussing on the power of the sea. That line between the ocean and the land is a fragile interface. It is where the activities of man can have the most impact. The shipwreck of a tanker is the key event.

Young Peter loves his coast and the wildlife that lives there. His rescue of the oil-covered eider ducks is the most touching moment in the book.

The coast recovers and life goes on. The duck brings his family along to meet Peter. The survival instincts of nature triumph. Thankfully, doom-laden catastrophe scenarios, often portrayed by proselytizing eco-warriors, haven't overly influenced this book.

The most important message in the book is not the evils of oil tankers, but the tenacity of life. The last words in the book are powerful "... this ruthless land's end is full of life".

This attractive book will appeal to all children

No one should be put off by the title of this collection of poems. Kids many years beyond "9" will find much wonderful stuff here. And so will grown ups. Kit Wright, who's had the wisdom to include some of his own--and someof the book's best--poems, has provided a superb selection of poems that kids will love, and that parents will simply HAVE to read to them. There are lots of big names here (and maybe a surprise or two--who'd think of Mervyn Peake as having written stuff for children?) like Frost, cummings, Lear, for example. But some voices perhaps not so well known to North American ears--Spike Milligan, James Reeves, Gareth Owen,Kit Wright, for example. The poems are good poems in their own right. They know about the sounds that make kids laugh. They are intelligent because they know what children look at and think about. And there are one or two poems--like Gareth Owen's "Salford Road" that can remind a Mum or a Dad about the sweet sadness of remembering the child they used to be. This is a can't fail book for kids who like to read and for parents who like to read to them.

There is one book above all I remember reading to my now 26 year old daughter, and of all the books she had, I think she loved this one best.