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Books (914)

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- Contract with America (2)
- By Republican National Committee
- Reading since Jul 27, 2007
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The Wide Window
- The Wide Window (2)
- Reading since Jun 1, 2007
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- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (5424)
- (Book 4)
- By J. K. Rowling
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Have begun this once or twice (I recall fetching this @ midnight while on vacation in Florida when it first came out.). Would like to complete the series prior to book seven being released this summer.

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— Mar 24, 2007 | Add your feedback
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (45)
- By Kate Dicamillo
- Finished on Jul 27, 2007
  
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

This is a modern-day Velveteen Rabbit story.
Poor Edward. He was loved by so many, but had trouble loving in return . . . at least until it was too late.
Love hurts, as the china rabbit learns so well.
While the ending was telegraphed, it was so good.
A quick easy fun read. ... (continue)

This is a modern-day Velveteen Rabbit story.
Poor Edward. He was loved by so many, but had trouble loving in return . . . at least until it was too late.
Love hurts, as the china rabbit learns so well.
While the ending was telegraphed, it was so good.
A quick easy fun read. DiCamillo is adept at creating characters one cares for.

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— Jul 28, 2007 | Add your feedback
- Because of Winn-Dixie (65)
- (Because of Winn-Dixie)
- By Kate Dicamillo
- Finished on Jul 27, 2007
  
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Because of Winn-Dixie

Kate DiCamillo has a storyteller's writing style, one in which she is able to describe her characters fully.
You just know this is going to be a tear-jerker . . .
And it was. Holy smokes! I haven't cried like that since I was a boy. Sincerely.
The party of misfits is really touc ... (continue)

Kate DiCamillo has a storyteller's writing style, one in which she is able to describe her characters fully.
You just know this is going to be a tear-jerker . . .
And it was. Holy smokes! I haven't cried like that since I was a boy. Sincerely.
The party of misfits is really touching, but it is Opal's relationships with her dog, her friends, and her father that make this book.
DiCamillo is excellent setting a scene. It isn't that so much occurs in the book, it's that Opal, like her tree, takes root.
I highly recommend this book!

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— Jul 27, 2007 | Add your feedback

- Governor's Race (1)
- A TV Reporter's Chronicle of the 1993 Florio/Whitman Campaign
- By Michael Aron
- Finished on Jul 26, 2007
  
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Governor's Race

This is Michael Aron's (NJN statehouse correspondent) account/diary of the 1993 New Jersey gubernatorial campaign.
Aron is adroit in explaining the jockeying for position in the race.
This is a must-read for all New Jerseyans.

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— Jul 24, 2007 | Add your feedback
- The Tale of Despereaux (95)
- Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread (Thorndike Press Large Prin…
- By Kate Dicamillo
- Finished on Jul 26, 2007
  
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The Tale of Despereaux

I went to a meeting today and two of my colleagues mentioned how good this book is. I checked it out soon after.
Supposedly in January 2008 a movie version of this book will be released. It has been suggested to use this as a read-aloud to my class.
The book started out great. It lost ... (continue)

I went to a meeting today and two of my colleagues mentioned how good this book is. I checked it out soon after.
Supposedly in January 2008 a movie version of this book will be released. It has been suggested to use this as a read-aloud to my class.
The book started out great. It lost a bit of its luster around page 70. The story was fun and I think it would make for a good read aloud.
The ending seemed rushed and not quite believable, despite the genre.

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— Jul 12, 2007 | Add your feedback
- Elmo Loves You (6)
- (Big Bird's Favorites Brd Bks)
- By Sarah Albee
- Finished on Jul 23, 2007
  
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Elmo Loves You

My three-year old daughter enjoys this book.

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— Jul 27, 2007 | Add your feedback
- Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs! (13)
- (Boynton on Board)
- By Sandra Boynton
- Finished on Jul 22, 2007
  
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Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!

This book of antonyms is fun to read.

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— Jul 27, 2007 | Add your feedback
- Things I See at Baptism (1)
- By Julie Stiegemeyer
- Finished on Jul 1, 2007
  
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Things I See at Baptism

This was a gift to Fritz from his godmother on the day of his christening.

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— Jul 29, 2007 | Add your feedback

- Harriet the Spy (38)
- By Louise Fitzhugh
- Finished on Jun 11, 2007
  
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Harriet the Spy

Nice book and well-written. There are references that need to be explained to children as movies, dumbwaiters, etc. are discussed.
I was a bit disappointed in the ending. It felt rushed and not everything was tied up as thoroughly as I expected it might be.

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— Jun 16, 2007 | Add your feedback
- The Bad Beginning (378)
- A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1
- By Lemony Snicket
- Finished on May 17, 2007
  
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The Bad Beginning

2 people find this helpful

Through a weird set of circumstances, I came to read The Reptile Room with a group of students. This, as many know, is the second book in the A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. This is a series I have wanted to read, but frankly, with such a lengthy list of unread books, I have not ta ... (continue)

Through a weird set of circumstances, I came to read The Reptile Room with a group of students. This, as many know, is the second book in the A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. This is a series I have wanted to read, but frankly, with such a lengthy list of unread books, I have not tackled. As I read The Reptile Room, my OCD kicked in. I just had to read the first book in the series.
For the past week I had been wanting to stop off at the used bookstore in town to pick up a copy. It didn’t happen. But yesterday Beetle remained home with her mother, which freed my trip home from work. I stopped in and found two copies of the first book (The Bad Beginning): one hardcover and one paperback, both priced the same. :( I selected the hardcover.
Upon opening the book, the nameplate was signed with a familiar name; the boy who lives across the street had owned this book. I took this as a good omen. :)
The Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny) do indeed have a series of unfortunate events. First their parents die in a house fire. Then they are shepherded off to Count Olaf, their closest (in distance) relative. The Count, a drunkard, actor, and otherwise miserable brute devises a plan to take control of the vast Baudelaire fortune.
Ah yes, dear reader, upon Violet turning of age (she is 14 now) she will inherit a great fortune. Until then, Violet and her siblings are bounced about among the seedy.
While the fortunate remains safe for the time being, there is no happy ending, as Lemony Snicket is fond of highlighting. Life is miserable for the Baudelaires.
Lemony Snicket’s writing is a breath of fresh air. The author frequently takes time out to explain terms and events to the reader. These read much like movies/television shows where the actors break out of character and address the camera. What great fun! The Bad Beginning is classic English humor that, much in the spirit of the late Roald Dahl, captures the reader immediately.
Follett states the reading level of this book sixth grade (ages 11-12). Much like Rowling’s Harry Potter series, A Series of Unfortunate Events has captured young readers. Many of my fourth graders are reading the series and an even larger group of fifth graders are too. Interesting, well-written prose will always find an audience and this book is just that.
It looks like I will be visiting the bookstore again real soon . . .

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— Jun 5, 2007 | Add your feedback
- The Reptile Room - Book 2 of A Series of Unfortunate Events (240)
- By Lemony Snicket
- Finished on May 17, 2007
  
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The Reptile Room - Book 2 of A Series of Unfortunate Events

Too much of everything is just enough.
Barlow & Weir
On the heels of completing A Bad Beginning earlier today, I finished The Reptile Room this afternoon. The Reptile Room is the second book in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
The Bauderlaire children continue their misfortune in th ... (continue)

Too much of everything is just enough.
Barlow & Weir
On the heels of completing A Bad Beginning earlier today, I finished The Reptile Room this afternoon. The Reptile Room is the second book in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
The Bauderlaire children continue their misfortune in this exciting tale that has them combating Count Olaf once again.
Despite never having a happy ending, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny begin this book with happy times. After escaping Count Olaf's plot to marry Violet and take control of the vast family fortune, the children are rushed off to Uncle Monty's (Montgomery Montgomery) home.
Uncle Monty is a herpetologist and has a vast collection of reptiles including the Incredibly Deadly Viper, which he discovered and was set to present to the Herpetological Society. The Bauderlaire children were quite comfortable at Uncle Monty's for a time, until his new assistant showed up.
Disguised as Stephano, Count Olaf enters the story once again with the help of the hook-handed man. The Bauderlaire fortune is still the target of Olaf's affection and he will seemingly stop at nothing to get it.
Murder, snakes, and ingenious exploits make for a most interesting tale and one that keeps the reader engaged throughout.

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— May 18, 2007 | Add your feedback
- Eeyore, Be Happy (4)
- (Little Golden Book)
- By Don Ferguson
- Finished on May 17, 2007
  
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Eeyore, Be Happy

Beetle's bedtime selection this evening. We like Eeyore.
Spoiler: Eeyore doesn't like to be happy.

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— May 18, 2007 | Add your feedback
- Big Bird's Copycat Day (7)
- (Big Bird's Favorites Brd Bks)
- Finished on May 16, 2007
  
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Big Bird's Copycat Day

Beetle selected this favorite off the bookshelf tonight for her bedtime story. We have read it often.

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— May 18, 2007 | Add your feedback