I bought these books on the recommendation of our book store. My second grader is a 'somewhat' reluctant reader yet she wanted to read chapter books. Many of the chapter book series were too difficult for her abilities but these books about Sophie are great!! And, my daughter especially enjoys reading them because they involve animals in the stories. I would like to see more chapter books like these available for young readers who are not quite up to the challenge of more difficult reading.

Highly recommend these books for any young reader!

One character in this book is the Swoose. A swoose is half goose and half swan (except the swoose's name is "Fitzherbert.") Fitzherbert is the color white. The swoose wanted to visit the queen and see her father who is a swan. I like Fitzherbert and want her to be my friend. She also met a water-vole on her way to see the Queen and her father. You should read this book. I like it.

John Eastwood provides the engaging illustrations for Titus Rules!, a story of a Queen's favorite dog, and Titus' bravery in keeping on the alert. Warm characterization blends with whimsical humor with a peppering of black and white drawings in this warm story of a brave royal pet.

'River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt' by Wilbur Smith is an exciting book of adventure, love and war. Having never read any ancient Egyptian stories before I found 'River God' to be a refreshing experience. I cannot vouch for the historical accuracy used in the story but I find that to be of lesser importance than the over-all plot. Remember this is FICTION. As a matter of fact, it's pretty good fiction.

Smith paints a picture of an ancient society that is fascinating. The reader can visualize the Nile flowing in ancient Egypt and see the importance of their deities and customs. Furthermore, justice is carried out swiftly in ancient Egypt and the punishment is usually not pretty. People are routinely executed for misdeeds. As the reader is drawn into Smith's world you feel that you were part of the scenery. This is where Smith excels. This is my first book by Smith but it will not be my last.

The story's main character and narrator is the eunuch slave Taita. I will not give away the whole story'but in nut shell Taita helps his mistress the fair Lady Lostris maintain an illicit love affair with Tanus, a General in the Pharaohs army. During the course of the story Taita is beaten, starved and nearly killed by a host of enemies. Taita's old owner the evil and twisted Lord Intef (the Pharaoh's Grand Vizier), desires to rule the empire. It becomes Taita's job to foil his old boss and struggle to remain alive.

Only a few times did the story lose itself. Taita is truly a Renaissance man (or person), in the book he invents a toilet, concocts a home pregnancy kit and creates penicillin-like drugs. He is a virtuoso singer, painter and writes books. He is an accomplished spy-master and maintains his own informer network. Additionally, he was awarded the 'Gold of Praise' which is highest award given to any Egyptian citizen (even though he is a slave.) I can go on and on but you can get the picture. He was so perfect that while I was reading the story I sometimes I pitied his enemies. However, this is a minor complaint to an otherwise great story and fun read.

I don't typically read historical novels, finding them to be rambling, overly lengthy works of stylized prose by "accomplished" novelists with little entertainment or educational value.

"River God," however, proved me wrong. It's 500+ pages are as riveting and fast-paced as any book I've read in any genre. Never mind the inaccuracies resulting from Smith's blending of fact with fiction in his historical account of Egypt's Middle Kingdom; this is still fiction. Never mind that Taita the Slave, as the novel's main protagonist, can humble even the great Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci; protagonists are by nature larger-than-life. And never mind all the other shortcomings in style or substance this book may have had; Smith is after all still human. These can all be easily overlooked given the book's final result: it's ability to engross and entertain us throughout.

I don't think it's a stretch to call "River God" a masterpiece of contemporary fiction. True, it may be manipulative in its sometimes shameless attempts to elicit the range of human emotions, but it is still a sweeping and powerful epic. Though I strongly disapprove of certain social mores portrayed in the story, such as the wanton fornication during the annual Festival of Osiris, I did find the ancient battle scenes against the "Shrikes" and the Hyksos immensely enjoyable. If you're looking for a good summer escape, this book has my full endorsement.

David S.

So some people may quibble that the historical facts are inacurate, but when the book is as stirring and as emotional as this who cares! It centres around three characters Taita; the eunuch slave with a notourious reputation and a heart of gold, Tanus; the mighty warrior hero and Lostris the Princes and, what you could call the "star" of the novel. Smith takes us on a journey through Egypt; which are depicted with such astonishing detail that after a while the setting almost surrounds you and thus are able to feel every heat wave and hear every chariot or dessert bird that flows from the fictional surroundings. From here Taita narrates you through his life and makes you feel for everything he describes about. Never has there been such a monumental character invented; you feel and breath for him, you eventually will feel as you have known him all of his life...which you have!

It would take an eternity for me to say to you how magnificent each sentance and paragraph is, so I'll just say this: You will end up knowing the characters so well that you'll feel everything they do. You get to know the land so well that you will be emersed in the atmosphere. And because of this, you will be taken on an emotional rollercoaster of Godzilla like proportians.

It has one of the most emotional scenes I have ever read. But if it wasn't as well written or as brilliantly portrayed as this IS than you would never feel such kind of emotion. So I have to say a massive thumbs up to Wilbur Smith for such an awe inspireing novel and two thumbs up for anyone who has the sense to take the time out to read one of the best books ever written!

The book is a bit slow, but such can be overlooked if you're a Chicago Bear and/or Dick Butkus fan. I would have liked more detailed info on what Butkus is doing now, his involvement with the Bears and more pro football "war stories". I enjoyed reading his book. I'd rate it a "7" of 10.

Dick Butkus played a no frills, in your face style of football that entrenched him as the greatest linebacker to ever play the game. Much like his play, this book is a no-frills look into the psyche and environment that produced a dedicated and ferocious player. It was refreshing to read about a player and an era where athletes played more for the love of the game than for the dollar signs at the bottom of a contract. A must read for football fans everywhere, and especially Bears/Butkus fans.

Dick Butkus shows that his talents are not only limited to the football field in this excellent autobiography. This book is a must for any football fan of any age.

Sophie's Snail, one of several "Sophie" books by Dick King-Smith of Babe fame is back in print after an American hiatus. Sophie, a non-traditional British girl wants to grow up to be a lady farmer. The rough and tumble Sophie who's hair looks like "went through a hedgerow backwards" is a girl who knows her own mind. Sophie's antics are wholesome and humorous. She loves mud, jeans, farm animals and following closely in her older brothers' footsteps. She abhors pretense, dolls and personal hygeine. The presence of a kindred spirited elderly aunt gives the limited series a delightful continuing story line filled with British wit and ultimately a poignant sense of growing up. I also found the series to be a great early chapter book series for the reader that has gone beyond picture books and likes the satisfaction of reading a well read shorter chapter book.

This was a very charming book about a young girl who aspires to be a farmer. She keeps herds of insects as practice and is saving to buy a cow named blossom, two hens named April and May, a pony named Shorty and a pig named Measels. I think that this was a wonderful book about a determined child with a large imagination, and you should buy it for the determined child with a large imagination in your life.

An excellent book for a younger but talented reader. My 6 year old daughter loves the "Sophie books". She is an advanced reader and it is good to find a book of the right level that also has subject material of interest to her. Fun for adults to read at bedtime too.

Frank is one very unusual chick. He longs to swim with the ducks in the pond, but he just isn't made for it! What to do? Jemima Tabb, the farmer's daughter, notices the little chick's plight and with the help of her uncle and mother design Frank his very own swimming suit. But as he gets older, he realizes he just wants to be a chicken, not some duckish freak...Okay, but the story was lacking strongly in the plot and character department. And there didn't seem to be much of a point to the story, either. Stick with Dick's other works - Babe, When Pigs Fly and Martin's Mice are favorites of mine. :)