Updated for 1999 with something new in most every chapter

My 6 yr old son and 8 year old daughter paid close attention and enjoyed this book. My daughter enjoyed reading the bubble conversation; I read the text part. Nice illustrations - neither they nor the story was too dark as is sometimes a problem with historical fiction for this age. Sort of a Magic School Bus feel to it, with travel back in time.

From the moment you begin this book, you will want to read it aloud and get caught up in the rhythm of the language..."Mrs. Sump doesn't much like seein' the orphans restin' or havin' any fun, so she puts 'em to scrubbin' the floor with toothbrushes. Even the ittiest, bittiest orphan, little Sweetness. So one day, Sweetness hit the road." Children appreciate the humor in the sheriff's attempts to rescue Sweetness from the perils in the desert.The illustrations are an interesting blend of mediums.This book is just plain, good ole fun.

This is the best of the California Young Reader nominees in it's catagory this year. I thought it was a real hoot, and I am adding it to our school library. It is funny and has a good message about adoption. I really think the children are going to have fun with this one.

Saving Sweetness is a very entertaining read-aloud. Children love the characters and are delighted with the humor. Some childrens comments have been: "I like the way that Mrs. Sump starts to say something about the orphans and then changes her mind and says it in a nicer way." " I think its funny that the sheriff thinks he is saving sweetness." The Illustrations are an extremely integral part of the story. In fact, the pictures add a dimension by presenting an aditional point of view.

The Sweetness of the title is a plucky little orphan who looks a lot like Tatum O'Neal in "Paper Moon," without the cigar.

She and seven other orphans have been adopted by the kind, but addlebrained, sheriff of Possum Trot. He had rescued them from Mrs. Sump, the evil (naturally) head of the orphanage, in Stanley's previous book, "Saving Sweetness."

In this funny sequel, the Sheriff takes to housekeeping like a fish takes to a pile of sawdust; that is, he is sorely lacking in the home arts. He serves tuna fish soup and pickle and banana pie and washes the windows with butter. The orphans, with Sweetness at the fore, decide to domesticate him. First, they need to learn to read so they can decipher a letter from the Sheriff's long-lost love, Lucy Locket, and then find a way to get them hitched.

The twangy Texas lingo is snappy without being laid on too thick, helping rather than hindering when the book is read aloud. The mixed media illustrations, combining scribbly colored pencil drawings with collages of wallpaper, cut paper and masking tape, perfectly match the warm absurdity of the text. A heart warming and hilarious story.

My daughter found this book at her school library. My daughter is in first grade and enjoys a healthy sense of humor. She and I found this story to be hysterical. Laugh out loud funny. You can't help but fall in love with entire cast of characters. We enjoyed it so much we had to buy "Saving Sweetness". Now our only disappointment is that we can't find anymore books in this series.

This sequel to Saving Sweetness is a chance to romp in Possom Trot one more time. Stanley's adoptive father may be inept but he's a hoot, and Sweetness(his ever resourceful adopted daughter) is the perfect heroine. If you teach K-6 your students will love the colorful language and silly idioms, especially when read aloud.

i thought this book was really good. its a biography about the life of charles dickens. it would be great for younger kids to read.

Good drawings and great story especially if your a little kid

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. And as an avid fantasy reader,I felt that the author did really badly with the charecters,the plot,and everything else as well. Mixing history and fantasy would have been allright for another fantasy author, such as Patrica Wrede or Lloyd Alexander, but it just did not work for Berthe Amoss.I'm never reading someting by her again.

Ceridwen the main character is a waif who gets her name from Gallena,a wise woman who knows of the healing arts.When Ceridwen saves Lord Robert with her herbs she becomes known as Wise Woman of Bevedre. Elinor, Lord robert's only daughter becomes Ceridwen's companion and loves her. after the death of Elinor's mother, Dame Bewick starts accusing Ceridwen for witchcraft. Ceridwen takes Elinor into the forest to save her from the Plague. Elinor gets caught by the Plague but dies when she drinks Ceridwen's 3 magical bouncing drops. The fairies come into her and she becomes a changeling. Ceridwen is accused of Witchcraft and will be burnt. Right when she is about to be burnt Ceridwen finds her hidden inner powers and seets Elinor free from the fairies, making her a child again. Ceridwen changes her self into a stork and flies away. This is an excellent novel which must be read for the details.

Lost Magic gives you a nice feeling when your read it, Berthe makes you just slip into a fantacy world when you cant get out until its finished.