Children's Books > T Children's Books > B

Advantages: easy to read
Disadvantages: sad, historical inaccuracies

...that it was worth all the hype surrounding it. The book, which is set during World War II, tells the story of Bruno, a 9 year old German boy, who is dismayed when he has to leave his home in Berlin to move to 'Out-With', where his father has been given a job by the 'Fury'. Bruno does not understand why there is a huge fence at Out-With, behind which 100s of people in striped pyjamas live, who he is not allowed to associate with. However, Bruno ...
...only end in disaster. The book is told from the point of view of Bruno, so it is easy for adults to see past his naive views of the world, and sense impending doom, where Bruno is unable to see it. One thing that did bother me about the writing was that Bruno's mis-understanding and mis-pronouncing of words such as Out-With and the Fury, would not actually in the language in which Bruno would be speaking, i.e., German; they work in English only, ... Read review

Advantages: magic and love combined with nature
Disadvantages: some hard words restricts the minimum reading age

...ago. I must admit that the fantasy of this book stirred a passion in me for the divine time before either of the world wars. For those of you that do not know me, I have always been fascinated by England shortly after the Industrial Revolution. With transport newly available to those that could afford, the rich still living on old estates in the middle of nothing but green surroundings and with plenty of employees to serve the estate, this sound ...
...fascinates me are tales of the lower classes, surviving on little and battling through all the same. This is exactly what, "The Secret Garden," is about. When spoilt Mary Lennox is suddenly orphaned in India she makes the trip over to England to live with her Uncle, the owner of Misselthwaite Manor. Having being used to servants in India, of being dressed, played with, read to and cleaned up after, Mary Lennox is shocked upon entering the old house. ... Read review

Advantages: Easy reading, enhances imagination
Disadvantages: none!

Join in the adventures of Dick, Bessie and Jo when they move to a new house with an enchanted wood at the bottom of their garden!! As they explore though the trees that whisper "wisha-wisha-wisha", they come across an incredibly tall tree in the middle of the wood which houses all sorts of unlikely fairy folk and has different fruits they higher you climb! Main characters include Moonface, Silky the fairy and the Saucepan Man who clatters wherever ...
...into a different land that stays for a few days or even a week. Will it be The Land of Spells? Or The Land of Parties? Or...*shudder*...The Land of Witches? And will they always get back to the ladder in time before the land moves on? A fantastic read! ... Read review

Advantages: A wonderful Children's Story; excellent narrative and captivating pictures.
Disadvantages: None at all....except I didn't want it to end!

...had been at storytime in the Library. I'd forgotten just how lovely it was ~ a charming story with stunning illustrations! What is this marvellous children's book? ~ The Mousehole Cat written by Antonia Barber and illustrated by Nicola Bayley of course! ~~~THE AWARDS. It's not just me and my friend's class who loved this book! It was written in 1990 and went on to win the British Book Award in the Illustrated Children's Book of the Year category. ...
...the British Design Production Awards. It has been shortlisted for the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award and the Kate Greenaway medal too. ~~~THE STORY. The Mousehole (pronounced Mowzel) Cat is the re-telling of and old Cornish legend ~ the story of Tom Bowcock and his beloved old cat Mowzer. The village of Mousehole (so called because the harbour mouth resembles the hole a mouse lives in) relies on fishing for its survival; without fishing ... Read review

Advantages: well written, engaging story
Disadvantages: Difficult for younger children to read on their own

...she has become one of the most prolific children’s fiction authors around. Her work is easily distinguishable by the way she makes the child the centre of the story in a believable way. Her outlook is childlike and this makes her stories very engaging especially for younger readers. Her books seem to comprise all the essential ingredients for successful child fiction. The heroes are often children that are slightly marginalized in their own lives ...
...is also a familiarity about the settings, average households, average schools in average towns but inevitably these ‘ordinary’ children find a way to have extraordinary magical adventures. THE DREAM MASTER We are told the story of Cy an ordinary boy living in an ordinary town. When Cy sleeps like millions of other small boys, he dreams of exciting adventures in far away places. One day he wakes from a dream about ancient Egypt with the feeling ... Read review