This is a great book that not only children will enjoy, but adults as well. It tells the story of a sea turtle's "interrupted journey" and how the animal is eventually returned to the sea. It was interesting and informative. I learned some sea turtle facts I didn't know before. I highly recommend it. It's a good book for the whole family to read together.

Remember when you tried to get into your snowsuit as a child? You sweated and cried because you just couldn't get that thing on correctly! You were so tired that by the time you were ready, you didn't want to go out! Lucille's Snowsuit is the perfect snowy afternoon tale to read with your children and will be enjoyed by adults who recall a time when the only thing that mattered was to effortlessly get dressed for play. Oh, how we wished we could graduate to parkas! You will totally identify with Lucille's frustrations... and so will your kids!

Does for New Age mumbo-jumbo religious stuff the way 'Bimbos of the Death Sun' did for sci-fi fervour. Like the latter, it's a mystery that is told with intelligence and wit. Shows up fake cults and New-Agism for the phonies they are.

Pageant was on of the first books I read when I moved from children's books to (gasp) the juvenile fiction section in the library. It was full of raw opinions and controversial teenage issues, seen through the eyes of a Jewish teenager. This is by far one of the better books I have read, seing as I have read it more than twenty times! Pageant is humorous and easy to relate to, as well as thought provoking. I would recommend it to anyone over the age of twelve, and then I would recommend that they keep the book somewhere close by for the second, third, and fourth time he or she wants to read it.

Kathryn Lasky has written a story to demonstrate that children of all ages can use higher level thinking skills to meet their goals. With the increase popularity of Science Fairs, this book is one that would be useful as a kick-off to thinking and developing using the scientific process in achieving a project that is student produced. Thank yo to the author for sharing a wonderful look at the excitment that a Science Fair project can promote.

This is a truly lovely story about a woman who discovers a passion late in life for swimming--in the ocean no less. Lasky has created a Grandma I would like to have (the character's relationship with her grandchildren is wonderful) who serves as a terrific example of a smart, thoughtful, life-loving older adult--someone not often seen in modern literature of any kind. It's a shame that it's out of print.

I read this book about eight times, i think. It is one of the best I have ever read. The two pairs of Starbuck twins, who communicate by mental telepathy, go to New Mexico for thier father's job. Little do they know what is in store for them. They meet an ancient ghost who was once an indian maiden. She tells them of secrets long past, ones that might help them in the present. Will they collect the pieces of an ancient piece of pottery before they go into the wrong hands? I'd recommend this to middle school students. Or anyone who likes to read.

At first I wasn't too crazy about this book, but by the time I finished it I realized that it had grown on me. It tells the story of an "invisbile princess", Elizabeth I. She is 3rd in the line of succession, after her beloved little brother Prince Edward and her seemingly pious, insane older sister Princess Mary. She is the victim of her father Henry VIII's capricious love and Mary's cruelty. The royal court stays in different palaces throughout the story. (which at times could be confusing) Sometimes Elizabeth was even exiled. She had many worries, such as her father's health, fear that Mary might be Queen someday, and struggles with the fact that her father willingly executed or divorced many of his wives. (he even had her mother beheaded when Elizabeth was just a toddler) There are also people in foreign countries and even in the royal court who plot against the royal family. In spite of this, she still manages to have fun with her friends. Some of their antics are amusing, such as when Elizabeth and her brother try to teach their pet monkeys to play tennis. Others are more serious, such as when she and her friend Robin help save the life of one of her family members.

Overall the book was very interesting and informative, and I learned a lot about medieval life and traditions. The diary format helps the reader imagine what the early life of this very famous monarch was like. The epilogue and photos at the end give more background information on the royal family and England. Plus, the book itself is beautifully hard bound and has gold-edged pages. There are very few things I didn't like about this book, although one of them was that the language was a bit too contemporary. (but this did help make it easier to read and the language wasn't too anachronistic) I reccomend this book to history buffs who want to learn about royalty. It was at least as equally good as the Cleopatra book in the Royal Diaries series, maybe better.

Elizabeth I is a young girl, often misunderstood and ignored, especially by her father, King Henry VIII. Life isn't easy for this princess; her mother was beheaded and her sister Mary often tries to embarass and frustrate her. Travelling from castle to castle, as well as from adoptive mother to mother, her friend Robin and her brother Edward are the only ones who seem to care about Elizabeth. Kat, her governess, seems obsessed with baths, inspecting all of Elizabeth's chambres from fear of poisoning. What with rumours about an attack from the French and trying to save her "new" mother and teacher, Catherine Parr, life has reserved many surprises for Elizabeth I, the soon-to-be Queen.

Historical dates and facts are also present in this book, just like they were in Cleopatra: Daughter of the Nile. Mary's cruel character is especially interesting, and after having read the historical notes about her, it is no wonder to me that she has been nicknamed "Bloody Mary". Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor is a marvellous book that leaves a lasting impression due to the sometimes gory re-telling of the death of King Henry's wives.

While still being faithful to the story, one can easily relate to the atmosphere between Elizabeth and her sister. The feasts and banquets often held at the many palaces make the readers wish they lived in medieval times. However, Lasky also portrays the draw-backs of living in what was considered a romantic time: the public executions and talk of witchcraft and adultery, as well as the fear of being poisonned is always present throughout the diary entries. This book is informative, but still is a light and relaxing read, especially for those who wish to learn more about the Queens of the 1500-1600s'.

This book is about Queen Elizabeth 1st of England. Kathryn Lansky, who wrote this book, Elizabeth 1st, Red Rose of the House of Tudor, chose to write it about the time when Elizabeth was a girl in England, in the years 1544-1547.

I like the way the author wrote this book in diary form. Each new day had its own date and year (except for a few dates in which the printers messed up). I also enjoyed the pictures in the back of the book that show Elizabeth and her family. It helps you get a view of how fat King Henry the Eighth really was. I also thought the gold color at the edges of the pages was very beautiful.

This book tells about the way of life when Elizabeth was 10 to 13 years old. It tells how she lived, what she wore, and what she did, in a very interesting and exciting way. It really gives you a great idea of what her daily life was like.

This book also tells of the sad times and hardships that Elizabeth suffered, like the time she was banished from her father's court for doing nothing wrong. That really hurt her feelings. What I think would have hurt her feelings the most was knowing that her father had beheaded her own mother, Anne Boleyn. Kathryn Lansky really captured the feelings that Princess Elizabeth must have felt with all these hardships.

She also described the happy times in Elizabeth's life, like the time her father would kiss and pinch her on her cheek. That made her very happy. Another time, on Elizabeth's birthday her half brother Edward gave her a monkey to play with and train. She liked that a lot!

It was really neat to learn about Princess Elizabeth, and discover more about daily life back then. I enjoyed this book a lot, and I know you will too!

This book is interesting and an important addition to the Royal Diaries series, for it's about a somewhat obscure princess from India. The author is to be commended for choosing this subject, but as in all historical fiction, accuracy with facts is paramount.

'The Snake' mentioned in the book as Nur Mahal, is called Nur Jahan, a name Jahanara would surely be familiar with by the time she writes the diary. Also, Nur Jahan was Jahanara's mother's aunt (hence her grand aunt, sister to Jahanara's grandfather). Jahanara does not seem to realize this relationship in the story at all; and Nur Jahan was, by 1628, confined to Lahore in semi-exile, so could not have traveled to Kashmir with the royal party.

Khurram's mother, and Jahangir's wife was NOT Sher Afghan, but a Hindu princess. (Both Jahangir and Khurram were born of Hindu princessess). Sher Afghan was Nur Jahan's first HUSBAND, not Jahangir's wife.

On the whole this is a well written book, and except for a few historical hiccups, the author has done her research into the time period.

I'm a big fan of the "Royal Diaries" series. This one about the Indian princess Jahanara was good, but not as good as some of the other ones. It lacks a plot, though, but it's a diary, not a perfect story after all!

Jahanara is a fourteen-year-old princess who has palaces, servants, jewels, pets, and everything her heart desires. She should be happy, right? Wrong! Jahanara is actually a prisoner along with the rest of her family by her evil step grandmother Nur Mahal, who Jahanara refers to as "the Snake". This book allows you to see what it was like to be royalty but be a prisoner. There were many exiting events in here, and the book had a historical section with pictures and a historical note. This was a pretty good Royal Diary, but there are better ones. I reccomend reading "Elizabeth I", or "Cleopatra VI"

This was an excellent book! It talks about Jahanara, an Indian Princess. A must read for any Kathryn Lasky fan.

The book takes place in India ,1627, a time in which Emperor Shah Jahan (Jahanara's father) gained much wealth and power. She was always spoiled, being born to her fathers favirote wife, and was given many jewels, fine cloths, exotic foods, and much more. With all that she had, she still lacked one thing, her freedom. Being hidden behind a veil, hidden from sight, retained her of the freedom which most girls her age should enjoy.

This is an excellent book, which speaks of Jahanara's many triumphs, failures, and just everyday life experiences. You won't be able to put it down!

A Journey to a New World makes you feel as though you are on a difficult journey across the Atlantic Ocean yourself! In the diary of Remember Patience Whipple, you will find sadness, excitment, and joy as they take a long trip across the sea. In this story, Remember experiences sickness in her family, a new baby brother, and a few horrible deaths when she lands in America. She encounters Indians and is surprised on their little clothing! She befriends them and likes them so much! This book is really good, but I only rated it a four because there are already so many books about pilgrams and the journey on the Mayflower out there already, so it wasn't all that original. But as it was the very first book in the Dear America Series, I think it was a good start for this now blooming series.

A Journey to the New World by Kathryn Lasky is a fictional diary of Remember Patience Whipple based on records from the Mayflower in 1620. Remember Patience Whipple is a 12 year old girl who is opinionated, but can only confide in her precious diary she calls Imp.  Times were very different back then, especially for young girls, as illustrated in her story.  For example, she had to wear three petty coats, could not speak her mind, and was expected to behave like an adult everyday.  Life on the Mayflower was rough and tedious.  Sleeping quarters were cramped, there was limited amounts of sea worthy food, people got motion sickness often, and you did the same thing everyday; wake up, eat, help around the ship, go to sleep.
   This book can be easily enjoyed for it has an interesting yet historical story line, and is told through a quiet, strong minded young lady who a lot of girls can relate to.  It has simple vocabulary, yet is very insightful. This book is great because Remember Patience Whipple sees and meets new beings which is educating for the reader because it differs from our modern world.  For example she meets the authentic Native -American named Squanto to whom she gives pudding and foods in exchange of his tribe's foods, and helpful hints for hunting in the rugged North America and living in their new Plimouth Settlement. Although A Journey to the New World is educating and captivating, this book would be for ages eight to thirteen years old, (though
some grown ups have found it enjoyable), because it is not a very challenging book to read, yet is great at keeping the reader wanting to learn more about Remember and daily life in the 1620's.

Remember Patience Whipple, called Mem, is a bit frightened at the thought of the New World her family is sailing to on the Mayflower. She hears tales of strange "feathered people" who will attack the settlers. But she has more immediate concerns - the dreadful Billington boys, who mercilessly tease Mem and her friend Hummy, the ever present seasickness, and the daily boredom during the long, tedious sea voyage. But once she arrives in the New World, things become even worse. During the long, cold first winter at Plymouth, many settlers become sick and die. Mem is frightened that her family might be next. When spring comes, she thinks they are safe - until her mother falls ill and dies. Can Mem find the strength and courage to go on without her mother? And can she come to accept her future stepmother, quiet, sad Mistress Potts? What I liked best about this book is that it told what a young girl who sailed on the Mayflower and lived at Plymouth Colony might have thought and done. In making the main character a young girl, the author brought the history to life, and I really like the fictional diary format used in this series - it makes you feel really close to the characters.