I bought this book for my nephew but decided to wait to give it to him for several reasons. The main one being that I absolutely LOVE the book myself! LOL! However, while the story is good and I know he'll enjoy it, he's still a bit young (not even 2); it seems more appropiate for 4 years old or older.

In the story, Young Kate uses her wits to save her family and her village with an ending I never saw coming -- not your typical 'Fairy Tale Ending' but an excellent one nonetheless especially for our modern times. I fell in love with the illustration's ton of detail that kept me looking at each page long after the reading was over.

My one complaint is that, while the book itself is good sized so you can see the pictures, the paperback edition seems a bit flimsy. If this story is to be loved (and thus read) as much as I think it will then I may have to order another copy or two to last through the years. Perhaps the school binding edition is more sturdy?

Both girls and boys will enjoy this story and I think you grown ups will, too.

The Irish have long memories, and even longer tales to reflect that. This book is a wonderful way to get children caught up in the excitement and tension of a classical tale, while also giving them a resourceful and modern heroine to admire. The book is everything a children's story should be: it's funny, the languish reads well and beautifully, and the illustrations are well done. This is a must-have.

"O'Sullivan Stew" is a rollicking book with a truly heroic female protagonist. The pictures are both lovely and funny--if you pay special attention to facial expressions I guarantee you'll be laughing out loud. Kate, the heroine, spins yarns with a skill beyond her years, painting pictures with her inventive tales. Her speech is like music--you can practically hear her brogue while you're reading. And if her storytelling doesn't convince you that she's painting pictures with her words, then the illustrations will. They vary from dreamy pastels to muted and murky to bold and bright depending on the nature of the tale she's telling. And when she stops, the world turns black and white.

Not only does this book contain excellent illustrations, a strong, believable heroine, and a captivating story line, but there are several surprises and an unexpected ending. I hope you'll read it... it would be a shame to miss out on such a marvelously fun book!

This was an amazing story, the book had awesome pictures! I really like the book it was just cool. I thought Alex Winters had an amazing adventure, well I read this whole book and it was a great book (diary). This was about a boy who was in sixth grade, his parents and father is a scientist and Alex wanted to be one too.Well, he was on a plane sitting next to the pilot and he was writing in his diary that his grandpa gave him. He was going to the Amazon jungle and it was Christmas! The plane crashed but Alex was alright but the pilot was out cold. He was still breathing! The Yanomami and Alex found each other and brought the pilot to their village and when they got there, there was some big guy ordering them to put him in the hut to lay down. Alex thought he was a chief! I just have to say Alex Winters had an incredible adventure and he did, did a good job on his diary!!

Author Hudson Talbott presented a fascinating talk for families at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County detailing his and co-author Mark Greenberg's journey into the Amazon. His description of their trip, plus the engrossing video of the experience helped explain why Alex Winter's fictional experiences rang so true. Mr. Talbott's respect for the Yanomamis and their world is very evident, both in his presentation and in the book Amazon Diary. All in all, a delightful presentation and a terrific book!- Nancy Fox, Education Division, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

I recently had the pleasure of hosting both Hudson Talbott and Mark Greenberg at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History where they presented a multi-media lecture for children based on their book "Amazon Diary". I was immensely impressed by the book before their visit because of its smooth integration of photographs, drawings and text into an exciting adventure story. Hearing first hand how their real-life adventures in the Amazon were incorporated into the book makes me admire the authors even more. - Jonathan Wilhelm, Director of Family Programming at CMNH

Although the language is a little advanced for early readers, the story is very tellable. There are many threads to this story that come to life through the illustrations. The story is told in an interesting, dynamic way that gives pause for wonder, such as the conversation between Sir Ector and his son Sir Kay. Their personalities come through and we can appreciate the types of men they are. Another moment is when Merlin plans the timing for Arthur to draw the sword from the stone. When, asks Arthur. "After all have tried and failed, whenever that may be," replies Merlin.

A dynamic painting of a tournament with thundering hooves, flying pennants, and lances at the ready illustrates perfectly our idea of a medieval joust. The illustrations seem cinematic in that they always shift the viewpoint. Now we see the action from street level; in the next picture we view a crowd scene from above. We are comfortable with such shifts from movies and TV.

The illustrations evoke "chivalrous" ideas. The son, grieving that he has to leave his father's house, rises bravely to Merlin's bidding in a sequence that culminates in the "Youth Triumphant" painting, when the young Arthur raises the sword over his head. The idea of "chivalry", respect for one's elders, telling the truth, and being brave is well interwoven and are excellent topics to discuss with children.

The final picture, the crowned Arthur dressed in white and gold, holding the sword in his hands under the white blossoms of a tree, is such an archetype of the young, white hero that it verges on the comical. But I have to remember that this is a children's book, and mine will get enough of my cynical views when he's ready for it, later.

I recommend this book for 6 and up. The young ones will love to be read to, and the older ones will enjoy reading it.

This is a great book based on the original Arthurian legend. If i could, I'd give it more than 5 stars. Arthur is given to Merlin by Uther Pendragon and is raised by Sir Kay. When his "brother" forgets to bring his sword, Arthur...if I said anymore, it'd get carried away and I'd give away the ending.

This Book is a great innovative book that is a 12 1/2 year old's fictious journal of his African Safari. There is action, adventure, humor and factual information about african animals, Swahili words, Massai people and wildlife preserves in Africa.

It's the most innovative children's book I've seen in a long time and will appeal to any child between the ages of 6 and 15. DON'T HESITATE -- BUY THIS BOOK! (you won't regret it!)

This book was sent to me by a friend who knows I collect children's books. I had never heard of Hudson Talbott before, nor had I heard of this book.

It's fabulous! Safari Journal will appeal to both girls and boys ages 7 to 15, as well some adults. My 5 year old daughter asked me to read it the day it arrived, and she sat through the whole story, although it was quite a long story for a 5 year old! (I'm not so sure this would be typical, though.)

I love the photographs, the innovative way factual information is interwoven within a funny, adventureous story and the feeling that you are reading the actual journal of this 12 1/2 year old.

Side note: If you've ever been to Disney World's Animal Kingdom Lodge and liked it, you'll LOVE this book. It highlights the same animals you'll see there and the same people that are showcased in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

In 1993 We're Back was in theaters. It is my favorite book also , my favorite movie. It was funny and I laughed ,when I read it. It was just great ,everyone should read it. I like the part when all the Dinasaurs screamed, cause they didn't want to get in trouble.

My five year old son loves this book and I've read it to him many times. It's about a group of dinosaurs transported to modern New York and their adventures in the city.

What I especially like about the book is that the humor makes an adult smile and I don't mind reading it repeatedly.

We purchased this audio book for our daughter to listen to in the car. Since then she has requested to hear it at home also, so she can follow along in the regular book. The story is very compelling for her to listen to. I even enjoy the story as we are going down the road. This is an excellent story for young children. We have practically worn out the tape we have.

Into the Woods...How can you forget the name and all of its characters if you've seen it before, and if you have not, then it includes such timeless fairy tale names as: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Little Red Riding Hood, and many others. James Lapine's brilliant script and Stephen Sondheim's astounding score are all in this book! Don't miss out on reading this fantastic book with your kids or for pleasure! This book is great for pleasure reading or if you are looking for an amazing musical to put on. Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down! And if you liked the book...you won't hesitate to buy the video of the original Broadway cast and the CD or cassette! Having all 3 mentioned items and watching, listening, and reading over and over still isn't enough! You will love it too.

This is a wonderful play to introduce students to music, theater, Sondheim, and fairy tales. In my class we read many of the original Grimm Fairy Tales (Dover Ed.) and the Perrault Fairy Tales (Dover) discussing the tales, but also color symbolism, different forms of magic, totems, threshold creatures, etc. Pretty heady stuff for sixth graders, but they LOVE it! Finally we read this wonderful interconnection of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Baker and His Wife, Little Red Riding Hood, and more while they are on a quest tale to get things to undo spells. Everyone takes parts and it is AWESOME!! The book is certainly not just for kids, there are very dark themes underlying all of the "fun". These can be discussed and its great to see kids find more to a story than its literal meaning. The VHS tape is then shown, which can be ordered here. This is a taping of the Broadway stage production and is mesmerising. Students think it's awesome. (I do suggest previewing, though. The wolf certainly is "untamed nature" and his coat stops just above what probably should be hidden in a mixed group of sixth graders. :) We just fast forward those three minutes.) This is a great unit. If you would like more info, please contact me via e-mail. This is wonderful stuff, though certainly not Disney!!

This book is great to have before seeing the show or listening to the soundtrack... you'll completely understand what's happening in the story. I should also say, just in general.... Into the Woods is back on Broadway now, and I just saw it yesterday on its opening day with front row seats in the orchestra. I was worried the new production might not surpass the original, and that I would be disappointed since I love love Bernadette Peters and all... but it really blew my mind! The set and costumes were so much more appropriate, more fairytale-esque. There were lyric and staging changes, a little more dancing around, and Milky-White was alive this time which made her like another character. The musical has a lot of catchy tunes but also a good storyline, and though there is a lot of symbolism that if seen literally might not be appropriate for kids, they usually are too young to notice or understand it at all. So anyone can see it, and everyone finds it funny, everyone likes it. And the current production is better than you could have dreamed.

I liked Forging Freedom even though it was sad at times. It was an easy to understand telling of the events of the the Holocaust. Our class was fortunate enough to meet the author and the man who the main character was based on. I was astonished to learn of the poor and terrible way that the Jews were treated. The main character was brave enough to aid his Jewish friends in gaining freedom. My favorite part of the story was when Jaap successfully snuck passed the guards. It was very suspenseful and I felt like cheering and was happy for him. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Holocaust stories. I have also read Number the Stars and Snow Treasure which were on the same topic. I enjoyed both of them as well. They helped me to understand the details of the Holocaust.

I read forging freedom during the war unit in my eighth grade english class. i thought it was a great book, and a great amount of infomation of how the jews were treated during halocost. after reading it i was amazed of how brave Jaab was and how clever he was. when my teacher told me that Jaab and Hudson were coming to my school, I was amazed. they were great guys, and having jaab talk to us about it in person was amazing. i also found out that jaab lived in the same town as me, all those times i had a brave man in my backyard and had no idea. this book was great and should be read by all ages so they can learn that brave people do exist and that the halocost was a very dangerous time and also a cruel time.

When my 10 year old found this at the library, I also had an interest and we read it together. What a wonderful story of how the dream of a famous artist on the other side of the world impacted artists here in the U.S. It is a story that everyone should know.
Yes, I had to provide details of Leonardo's accomplishments that the book did not focus on. Yet,I did not mind doing this. It helped my daughter to understand why his brilliant mind set him up so he was not able to accomplish all of his dreams.
The story and illustrations were captivating. This is a book I will be recommending to many people.
A wonderful gift book!

This is a unique format for a book. The art work is exquisite! The story is very touching. Leonardo had never finished a bronze statue of a horse; it bothered him the rest of his life. Centuries later an American almost finished it, but he died. Another American did and it was given to the Italian people as a gift to Leonardo.

In Grand Rapids, MIchigan we have Da Vinci's horse (the only one to be made from the molds used to cast the original in Milan Italy). It is breathtaking. I was excited to find a children's book describing the men who dreamed it and the woman who completed the sculpture. As a story about Leonardo Da Vinci it may fall short, but it is an epic story linking different times, men, and countries in a triumphant project.