We were enjoying this, but Christmas got busy and we didn't finish. Maybe next year. We were enjoying this, but Christmas got busy and we didn't finish. Maybe next year. ...more
As always, wonderful illustrations. Logan loves looking at all the details. We didn't laugh as much as we have with other Church Mice books though. As always, wonderful illustrations. Logan loves looking at all the details. We didn't laugh as much as we have with other Church Mice books though. ...more
We've read this every Christmas for years. Such a sweet story of good friends. This year, we've found some more Melrose and Croc books besides this onWe've read this every Christmas for years. Such a sweet story of good friends. This year, we've found some more Melrose and Croc books besides this one. ...more
This was definitely the best of the series so far. Or maybe it's partly that it was fun that the kids were doing something so completely different. ThThis was definitely the best of the series so far. Or maybe it's partly that it was fun that the kids were doing something so completely different. The ice sailing was great! And we liked the addition of Dick and Dorothea. ...more
I wasn't sure if Logan would find his boring, but his love for cute animals overcame the overtly educational tone. Most of the book is one spread afteI wasn't sure if Logan would find his boring, but his love for cute animals overcame the overtly educational tone. Most of the book is one spread after another covering what every woodland creature is doing to prepare for winter. The Caldecott-winning illustrations are lovely and accurate. Then the last bit is about how an extra big snow comes and the animals are hungry. Enter an elderly couple who put out food for them all and save the day. I don't think we'd re-read it, but Logan exclaimed over the animals throughout and proclaimed it a fun story at the at the end....more
We normally like Funke, but this story was fairly boring that the terrible reading by the author didn't help. I liked hearing her musical German accenWe normally like Funke, but this story was fairly boring that the terrible reading by the author didn't help. I liked hearing her musical German accent at first, but her voice went up and down from a whisper that trailed off at the end to the shrill and loud voices of other characters. I kept turning the volume up and down, but it was tiresome after a while. Into the second CD, my son lost interest. ...more
We listened to Patrick Stewart reading this and it was excellent! I don't think Logan would have liked it nearly so well if I'd read it aloud. StewartWe listened to Patrick Stewart reading this and it was excellent! I don't think Logan would have liked it nearly so well if I'd read it aloud. Stewart's accents and theatrical presentation were spot on. L liked it so well, we listened to it twice in a row. It is abridged, but I was willing to cope with that for the amazing voice of Stewart, who also played Scrooge in a one-man stage production and in a full-cast movie. I'm not sure if L is ready for the movie. It's one thing to hear a description of a ghost but another thing to see it. But when he is, I'm definitely going to choose the one with Patrick Stewart in the leading role. ...more
Now that Logan knows there's no jolly, fat, Coca-Cola-style Santa, he is interested in how the myth of Santa came about. I can't say that I liked thisNow that Logan knows there's no jolly, fat, Coca-Cola-style Santa, he is interested in how the myth of Santa came about. I can't say that I liked this version and L wasn't taken by the medieval-style illustrations, which were mostly small, underwhelming, and not the quality I expected from Demi. It presents the life of Saint Nicholas (who was a real-life Bishop during the middle ages) as though the mythology that sprung up around him (that at one day old he stood and prayed to god; that he refused to nurse and prayed all day; that he brought the dead back to life) were true and it mixes those events with real events (his parents died during a plague, he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he was the youngest man ever to become bishop) without distinguishing them from the myths. Still, once I pointed out which things were likely true and which were myths, he found the story mildly interesting and it did the job. I think we may look for more interesting and clearer versions. Personally, I prefer the story of King Wenceslas to this. ...more
Logan was too high-energy to look too carefully at the pretty illustrations. He might have liked it more if he had. It felt awkward to go back and forLogan was too high-energy to look too carefully at the pretty illustrations. He might have liked it more if he had. It felt awkward to go back and forth between prose and rhyme. I was careful to read the rhymes in a non-rhythmic voice because these kind of super-rhymie poetry bores him. He did like the idea of the Badger bringing winter and the snow starting out as white hares and turns into flakes. Apparently, this introduces the themes of Redwall, although we haven't read those books yet. ...more
It was okay. We read about 4 stories. I wanted to read him the Christian story of Easter as a cultural reference, but what they had in here was the KiIt was okay. We read about 4 stories. I wanted to read him the Christian story of Easter as a cultural reference, but what they had in here was the King James version and taken out of context, it made little sense. We enjoyed some of the less religious stories and of course Hague's illustrations are always great. ...more
We like Fletcher, but this one wasn't as fun as the Autumn and Christmas ones. It didn't have as much detail and it was more repetitive. Still cute, bWe like Fletcher, but this one wasn't as fun as the Autumn and Christmas ones. It didn't have as much detail and it was more repetitive. Still cute, but not our favorite. ...more
This Native American tale from the Plains Indians illustrates how important it is to respect and share with others, for "all nature is one." Heetunka This Native American tale from the Plains Indians illustrates how important it is to respect and share with others, for "all nature is one." Heetunka is a Bean Mouse who works hard all autumn to gather beans and store them in her burrow in the grasses. Traditionally, the Dakota women would come and take some of the beans, but were careful to leave payment in the form of green corn or suet. In this way, the Bean Mice and the women shared their winter stores with one another and each had more variety. But one woman decides that she doesn't need to leave any form of payment and she takes all of Heetunka's beans. Even when she hears Heetunka crying, wondering how her children will survive the winter, she isn't moved. A spirit comes to the woman in a dream, scolding her, but still she persists: "Why should I care about what those mice have for the winter?" Ultimately, she is punished and finally comes to understand why what she did was wrong. Logan is a boy how loves both justice and mice and he simply could not understand why it took so much for the woman to come to her senses. He liked the illustrations of Heetunka and has talked about the mouse for a couple days now. I think he harbors hopes that we can get a Bean Mouse at the animal shelter! ...more
I love Brett's illustrations and Logan really likes poring over the details in them. This isn't one of our favorites though in terms of the story. TeeI love Brett's illustrations and Logan really likes poring over the details in them. This isn't one of our favorites though in terms of the story. Teeka, one of Santa's elves, is scheduled to be the one to re-tame the reindeer this year after they've spent all year running wild. The thing is, she has no idea how to treat animals. She decided to be "firm," which means she spends the majority of the book yelling at them, tugging the around, combing them too hard, and not paying any attention to their needs. Finally, she figures out that she needs to watch their behavior, pair them up according to their comfort-level (like dogs, they have a hierarchy and relationships with one another), and treat them gently. Logan already knows all this as I work with dogs and he knows what good training looks like. I wish the book had spent more time on the positive part and less on all the yelling and elvish frustration. ...more
Who doesn't love this book? Logan has been very confused lately about my getting all verklempt when I read certain stories. As I was choking up readinWho doesn't love this book? Logan has been very confused lately about my getting all verklempt when I read certain stories. As I was choking up reading the last page to him on Christmas Eve, he leaned in to examine my face and said, "But mama, it's not sad. You don't have to cry." ...more
When the trees start losing their leaves, Fletcher (a very kind fox) is worried they are sick. He tries everything he can think of to help the trees, When the trees start losing their leaves, Fletcher (a very kind fox) is worried they are sick. He tries everything he can think of to help the trees, but he eventually understands that it's okay; it's just the seasons. Cute pictures in and a nice message, with a bonus of a glittered tree at the end....more
Such a sweet story. A family is surprised by lots of early snow, leaving them with neither potatoes nor apples for Hanukkah latkes. Nevermind, they stSuch a sweet story. A family is surprised by lots of early snow, leaving them with neither potatoes nor apples for Hanukkah latkes. Nevermind, they still have each other and their health. But as the nights wear on and there is less and less food, they begin to worry. One night, a kitten arrives and though they are barely feeding themselves, they decide to rescue and keep it. The next night, a skinny puppy shows up. Oh, Logan really loved this story! Warm, soft illustrations and gentle lessons about love and giving. The only picky little thing that bothered me was that the illustrations show them lighting all the candles every night. I wonder how that got by the editors? ...more
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