This book, and others in the Paddy series, are perfect for the pre-reader. The ideas are fresh and well handled. The physical production of the book, including drawings, color, etc. etc. are all of the highest quality. My grandchildren (and I) enjoy them all. E.S.

In "The Story of a Castle" John S. Goodall traces the life of a typical English castle from the 1170s, when it was built by the Norman, up to the 1970s, when it is opened to the public, all through a series of precise and radiant watercolor paintings. This is a wordless, cut-page book where a half page inserted in between each two page spread allows children to flip back and forth and see two different scenes of the same location: the preparation of a meal turns into a feast while a croquet party turns into a wedding. All the while English history is played out as the castle is stormed during the English Civil War and becomes a military outpost during the two World Wars. Goodall has done similar books, such as "An Edwardian Summer," which shows the changes in an English village. In this book he goes well beyond the heyday of the castle, presenting pictures of what happens not only in the interior of the castle but in the surrounding landscape. Even without words, Goodall creates a visual narrative that will have children filling in the details and becoming curious about the history being recounted. To help not only children but their parents, who usually do not know as much about such things as their children, there is a list of what each painting represents.

Miss Read is a wonderful author who brings bits of English country life alive. Her stories are charming, her characters utterly wonderful...having just taken a trip to the English Cotswolds, where most of her stories are based, we experienced first-hand the small village life she depicts so aptly in all her books. She's a great choice for a rainy afternoon, curled by the fire

This is a wonderful compilation of Miss Read stories and information, full of photographs of the areas she writes about in her charming novels about Thrush Green, Caxley and Fairacre. If you are a Miss Read fan, this book will provide hours of fun.

It's hard to believe that over the past 35 years Miss Read has written 30 books about Thrush Green. While this isn't my favorite of the series, I have read it more than once and it definitely deserves considerable merit. Her characterization is well thought out and pays great attention to detail. I would recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who is looking for some light yet fulfilling reading.

I could not agree more with the reader from New Hampshire. Itoo was thrilled to think here was a Miss Read I missed. Imagine mydisappointment when I realized I already had the two volumes...

I was thrilled to believe that I had found a Thrush Green book that I hadn't read--or so I thought. When the book arrived, I was disappointed to discover that this is an omnibus reprint of two previously published Thrush Green books: _News from Thrush Green_ and _The School at Thrush Green_. The fact that Amazon did not disclose this information is disconcerting. I might have saved some money.

This captivating, suspenseful, wordless story is a thrill to read. Our children sit on the "edge of their seats" as the kitten family encounters one surprise after another. They love to turn the "half" pages and participate in the telling of the story. An enchanting and fun adventure.

this picture story book has not one written word but it is a tale of a wonderful victorian picnic. beautifully illustrated with little short pages which change the scene. This is a rare and wonderfully done book. Exciting adventurous and with a happy ending. this is a five star book

What a cute idea!

A medieval mouse couple find an adventure, and your child gets to imagine the dialogue and create the narration as she goes along.

The story is told without words, using half-pages that show action (each page has a little page you turn to see what is happening - for instance, the mice approach a drawbridge... flip the tiny page, and you see them crossing the drawbridge.)

It's a small book, but nicely illustrated. We like it!

My niece made me "read" this to her over and over and over again. It has no words, so you can tell the story to suit the interests of the listener (for a one and a half year old, focusing on the mice climbing UP the stairs or saying "Bye-bye" to the frog boatman). It is indeed a cute book, although for an adult one or two times through it would suffice. . . .

My son LOVED the John Goodall books.....they have no words, but have wonderful illustrations that tell the story. My son would make up the story in his own words as we went through the book. Creepy Castle was his favorite and he never tired of it and neither did I! Can't wait for my future grandbabies to "read" this one to their Grandma some day!

While I am not someone who is particularly seeking adventure and longing to live on the wild side, I'm afraid my own life story would frighten the main character to a dead faint on the spot. That is as plain true a description can be made for a novel in desperately desirous need of a little spice and sizzle. This unnapealing and even toned dud is so unwelcomed in it's old-fashioned attitude, so noticeably out of date, that is it tooth grinding to get through. In all it's faults, perhaps worse off is how the author completely fails in both capturing the essence of humanity and a timeless, lasting appeal.

I even found the book's description to be so frivolous in it's worries, (is that really all there is to this simple book?), so much that it comes across as really funny, which certainly wasn't the author's intent. No, that couldn't be true because in fact even though the book has little humor, the main character's sense of fun is worse being so commonly plain throughout, that one has to think and then upon comprehension, a first response is to dismiss it quickly having found it horribly anti-social. A good recommendation really is that one could and should in fact read a screenplay to the 'Waltons' before picking up this tiresome, out of touch, babbling and boring story which is comparable only to an old ladies' private medical journal. The questions that I ask are, how did author Miss Read get this ratty thing published? And has the world really changed this much in only 15 years, since the time of it's publishing?

I will say that Miss Read has a nice vocabulary which she incorporates flowingly into her writing style, and so the vocabulary is its saving grace, yet good writing is to be expected from an adult novel. Without that between the lines, I imagine the plot would be so utterly simple and contain character dialogue so grittingly uninteresting, that it would have no distinction from a girl's young adult oh-so-pleasant fictional published in the 1950's era.

All in all, the strong points make this book a worthwhile read, yet it still purrs one 'P' too many in pppppleasant to consider it a good, substantial read. Expect it to be found only in flea markets or antique shops come 10-15 years down the road.

I highly recommend Miss Read books to everyone who enjoys reading stories about small towns with characters who have English wit and humor. It is wonderful that these books are being reprinted.

This particular year in the English village of Fairacre has seen a cold snowy winter. On the first day of spring, the grounds are still filled with snow. Custodial worker Mrs. Pringle is not just her usual sourpuss self. She claims her leg has not flared up as it has on numerous occasions due to the mistakes of the schoolmistress Miss Read. This time Miss Read learns that Mrs. Pringle's niece with the low IQ caused the noticeable limp. However, unlike the many "bad leg" moments in the past, to the schoolmistress' shock, Mrs. Pringle quits.

Everyone looks forward to the warmth of summer. For the school employees including Miss Read and most villagers, the highlight of the summer is the wedding of teacher Miss Briggs. As Spring slowly turns to Summer and the wedding nears, Miss Read's friend Amy begins to act strange and ultimately vanishes. Miss Read wonders if Amy is okay, what else will happen before school starts anew, and who will become the new custodian?

SUMMER AT FAIRACRE is a leisurely cozy look at a small English village. The story line is fun for those readers who want to kick back and follow a relaxing tale filled with friendly charcaters (and one not so friendly individual). Anyone who wants to observe life in a small village during the latter half of the twentieth century, this novel and the entire series provides an unhurried but insightful look.

Harriet Klausner

As always, Miss Read excels in taking us "home". Pour a cup of tea, relax and make some new friends

I bought this version of the popular fairy tale as a gift for my niece. After I received it, I was horrified to read in detail about how the huntsman cut open the wolf's stomach to look for the grandmother. It then goes on to read, ". . . after a few more slashes a little girl jumped out.." This was not at all what I had envisioned as a gift for a young girl. I wish I had been warned to buy the story from a different author.

As a teacher, I would not recommend reading this version of Little Red Riding Hood to younger children because I don't think it's suitable for a preschooler, kindergarten, or for a first grader to be listening to the ending: The hunter "raised his gun to shoot but then wondered... so he took out his knife and quickly killed the wolf while he lay sleeping. Then he carefully cut open the wolf's stomach. At the first cut, he saw the red velvet cloak, and after a few more slashes a little girl jumped out."
Also the way this author mentions the deaths: "He ran straight to the bed, and without even saying a good-morning, he ate up the poor old grandmother in one gulp.

"As the wolf said this, he sprang out of bed and ate up poor Little Red Riding Hood!"
I believe the book may be a little more suitable for older kids and it has excellent illustrations. I do recommend reading "Little Red Riding Hood" by Della Rowland. This book has two tales in one. The second tale is called "The Wolf's Tale", where the wolf tells his version of how Little Red Riding Hood actually occured. Della makes the story humorous and also allows you to give children a different perspective of the wolf being a much nicer and funnier character.

The illustrations in this book are very similar to those of Jan Brett but darker tones used. There is always something hidden w/in the pictures for children to look for and the illustrations help enhance the tale.

I also recommend Lon Po Po.