Kids Books - Language

My Side of the Mountain

My Side of the Mountain

By Jean George

This book is about a boy named Sam Gribley he ran away from his parents to a forest where his great grandfather had a farm. Sam thought that his great grandfather was still alive and that is part of the reason why he ran away. The other reason is that he did not like it in the city because it was too noisy. He hollowed out a tree and and started to live there, he got a little lonely so he stole a hawk from it's mother and started to live with it. I recommend this book for ages 9-15 because it is a little too violent for people who are younger.

Gulliver's Travels

Gulliver's Travels

By Jonathan Swift

Gulliver's Travels gives an account of an Englishman (Gulliver, of course) who goes on voyages but is very unlucky. He meets (famously) Liliputians, the small people; Brobdinagians (the big people); Laputans and Balinarbians; and Hounyhnms, the virtuous talking horses. Through these travels, Jonathan Swift, the Irish writer of satire, weaves in criticisms of the world during the 18th century, criticizing the following: Whigs, Hanoverians, people from the Netherlands, and Europeans. It is interesting to read all the brilliant sarcastic ways things are allegorized in this book. The sheer absurdity of some events was diverting too. For example, LIliput battles its rival, Blefuscu based solely on the "correct" method of cracking eggs, and Gulliver urinates on the place in a noble attempt to put out a fire, and is promptly sentenced to blinding and slow starvation. Of course, you will have to read the book to realize all of its brilliance. But as this book does not have dialogue, only long monologues without even quotation marks, and because the sentences are long, and semicolons put in at strange places, this is not so quick to read. This, I know, will detract from the reading experience of some. But if you are prepared, you should read these pages and bask in its deep glory, irony, and wit. I especially recommend it to people who like reading classics or are prepared to think while they are reading. Lastly, I recommend that you read it with some footnotes to understand political references, such as the Sterling Edition, which also has good printing and large font.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

By Alvin Schwartz

This book is sooooo creepy! It's a great book for a sleepover party. It has such descriptive language that it would easily give you nightmares! It also has ideas to make up fun and creepy games! There are lots of different stories of murder's, animals, and VERY creepy people! ;)

Black Beauty (100 Copy Limited Edition)

Black Beauty (100 Copy Limited Edition)

By Anna Sewell

The story about Black Beauty had been started when he was just a foal. He was described as a horse with black coat, along with the black mane. But once when he got older, he got sold to many different hands (people who works with horses) such like; Squire and Lady Gordon, Miss W--, Miss Anna, etc. Beauty also friends with other horses; Merrylegs, Ginger, and Captain. Even though this book is fictional but the way the author, Anna Sewell wrote about Black Beauty has just felt so real. I had really enjoyed this book and this book would be perfect for any horses-lovers. - Happy Reading!

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

By RINEHART AND WINSTON HOLT

Natalie Babbitt, the author of Tuck Everlasting, sweeps readers along on the thought-stirring journey of Winnie Foster when she meets the eternally unaging Tuck family. The well-crafted characters included eleven-year-old Winnie Foster, a young girl who yearns to escape the confines of her yard and to be free of proper, beautiful clothing--and finally gets her wish. The Tuck family includes Mae Tuck, the caring, mentally old mother of the family, Angus Tuck, the weary father who wishes the Tucks could someday age and die to allow them back into the “wheel of life”, Miles, the oldest of two brothers whose wife left him under the belief he had sold his soul to the devil to say young, and Jesse, the eternally seventeen-year-old boy. There is also the eternally living horse, the yellow-suited man, and the somewhat dim constable. The book is set in the fictional town of Treegap, where there is a wood. In the middle of the wood, there is a pleasant touch-me-not cabin, in which the young Winnie foster lives with her parents and grandmother. The young girl escapes into the wood one day, and finds a spring, as which a boy, Jesse, is resting. When she sees the boy, she asks to drink from the spring, being dreadfully thirsty, but Jesse panically tries to stop her, and eventually Mae and Miles arrive, halting Winnie from drinking the water which would bless--or curse--her with eternal life. What follows is a story that can change how readers think forever. Personally, I admire Natalie's writing style and admire her ability to tell the story of the Tucks so creatively. She made me think a lot about what it might be like to live forever--is it really a good thing to never grow old? She also makes it easy to envision the wood and treegap in my mind’s eye; the amber and emerald light filtering through green leaves to the forest floor, the eternal ash tree, the animals, and the way she explains how things connect together. Samples of her writing style: “His tall body moved continuously; a foot tapped, a shoulder twitched. And it moved in angles, rather jerkily. But at the same time he had a kind of grace, like a well-handled marionette. Indeed, he seemed almost to hang suspended there in the twilight. But Winnie, though she was half charmed, was suddenly reminded of the stiff black ribbons they had hung on the door of the cottage for her grandfather's funeral.” “Into it all came Winnie, eyes wide, and very much amazed. It was a whole new idea to her that people could live in such disarray, but at the same time she was charmed. It was… comfortable. Climbing behind Mae up the stairs to see the loft, she thought to herself: ‘Maybe it's because they think they have forever to clean it up.’ And this was followed by another thought, far more revolutionary: ‘Maybe they just don't care!’” “There was a clearing directly in front of her, at the center of which an enormous tree thrust up, its thick roots rumpling the ground ten feet around in every direction. Sitting relaxed with his back against the trunk was a boy, almost a man. And he seemed so glorious to Winnie that she lost her heart at once.” “She rocked, gazing out at the twilight, and the soothing feeling came reliably into her bones. That feeling—it tied her to them, to her mother, her father, her grandmother, with strong threads too ancient and precious to be broken. But there were new threads now, tugging and insistent, which tied her just as firmly to the Tucks.” This book, despite being slightly short, really makes you think, and I love it--I plan on re-reading it until my eyes burn out. It makes the reader think and consider what it would be like to live forever, and it really makes you second-guess your first thoughts of immortality. It’s most certainly a must-read for anyone! -Dakota Corr.

Charlotte's Web (50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition)

Charlotte's Web (50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition)

By E. B. White

Fern has saved Wilbur’s life. He was smaller than the other pigs, and Fern’s father was going to turn him into bacon, but Fern took him as her pet. Now, after Fern has cared for him a while, they have sold him to Fern’s uncle; Mr. Homer Zuckerman. Fern goes to her uncle’s farm every day to see Wilbur, and talk to the animals. But then, the sheep brings them to the attention that the Zuckermans are going to turn Wilbur into bacon and ham at Christmas! Charlotte, a new spider friend of Wilbur’s, promises to help save him, and weaves words that are “a miracle”. Wilbur soon becomes famous, and people from all over come to see the words in Charlotte’s web. In a story of true friendship and helping others, E.B. White writes another classic that will never be forgotten. My thoughts: I love E.B. White! I was introduced to that author when I read Stuart Little with my mom as a youngster. I thought that was a great story, and when my mom told me to read Charlotte’s Web, I did not decline. I am pretty positive I have seen this movie, but I do not remember it. I really enjoyed reading this book; I love the bond between Fern and the other animals. Her mother is always saying “Animals don’t talk. Stop making things up.”, but Fern has a really deep connection withWilbur. Animals are a big part in our lives, whether we realize it or not. Also, the illustrations complemented the text very well, and I like how Rosemary Wells spruced them up by adding some color to them. So, a great book for fans of Stuart Little and E.B. White. Overall: 8.5 out of 10 Stars

Anne of Avonlea (Second Book in the Anne of Green Gables Series.)

Anne of Avonlea (Second Book in the Anne of Green Gables Series.)

By L M Montgomery

This book... This book is such a beloved classic for such good reason. It was so full of imagery and brilliant plot that I was sad to reach the end. One thing I will say though, is that Avonlea seems just a little too perfect. Aside from the one disaster and some minor scrapes, everything happens so that life flows idylly. Other than that, the book was written splendidly with lots of care. Even though this book is suitable for readers of all ages, there are many profound quotes and little gems that may not be picked up by a younger crowd. It just refreshes and makes me happy every time I read an "Anne of" book because they're so wholesome and gracefully written. The author, L.M. Montgomery is a literary genius. I can't wait to follow Anne along on her journey.

The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind: An Aesop's Fable (Rise and Shine)

The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind: An Aesop's Fable (Rise and Shine)

By Heather Forest

This "Aesop Fable" is really good because I like the illustrations and the part when the sun gets happy.This book has many colors and a lesson. I recommend, this book for people and kids who like fables.

Shiloh (The Shiloh Quartet)

Shiloh (The Shiloh Quartet)

By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Wierd101

I give this books five stars. I really love this books because it is about a kid nameed Marty and he is trying to protect a dog named Shiloh from his neighbor named Judd Travers and is trying to make Shiloh his. There are also some sad parts to like when the giant German Shepard was attacking Shiloh and they didn't know if Shiloh was going to live or not and there are happy parts to like when they heard thet Shiloh was alive so this book is very very awesome and really really heart warming so you should read it.

The Halfmen of O

The Halfmen of O

By Maurice Gee

A page turner that keeps you wanting more. This author always delivers intriguing characters and plot twists. A great book to read aloud to the class.

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