Children's Books > L Children's Books > W

Advantages: historically accurate, enaging, full of excitement
Disadvantages: many assume it is a girl's book, but it is exciting for both sexes

...of reality is there. Little House in the Big Woods is the first in the series of Little House books. In this book, it is the 1870's, and Laura is a small girl at this time, about 4 years old or so. Her family are living in the wilds of Wisconsin at this point in time. They live in a cabin in a heavily forested area, hence "Little House in the Big Woods". We learn about what it is to be a feisty young child with a "perfect" older sister, and the ...
...to be centred on a little girl. I make this distinction as it is all too readily put aside as a book for girls, but it would be a shame if boys were left out of the excitement as well. My husband tells me he read the books as a boy, and found them interesting as well, just to weigh in on the male opinion. As this book is part of a series, I will note that the vignette style of this book is not repeated in later books. The following books have a ... Read review

Advantages: All the extras on each page, entertaining story
Disadvantages: None

This is a story about a young girl called Katie, who is asked by her Aunt to be her bridesmaid. Katie decides to make a wedding album to write about everything in, and a flower basket so that she can practise being a bridesmaid. She then decides to have a wedding with her toys, with herself as the bride. The story continues with her getting everything ready for the pretend wedding - the cake, flowers and outfits. On each page of the book there is ...
...their own pretend wedding but the best loved items will be the long white veil and the two gold rings. The book is only available in hardcover format, and as it is quite bulky due to all the extra items in it, there is a small fastener on the cover to help keep the book shut. I brought this as a present for my young niece (aged 5) and she absolutely loved it. She set up a pretend wedding with all of her cuddly toys and had to be stopped from going ... Read review

Advantages: Lovely, sensuous, warm writing.
Disadvantages: I can't cook as well as Almanzo's mother!

...Almanzo likes food, you'll read Farmer Boy and weep. Almanzo is Almanzo Wilder – the Almanzo Wilder destined to marry Laura Ingalls of Little House fame. Before he went to the pioneer west and met and married Laura Ingalls, Almanzo spent his childhood on his parents farm in New York state. His life was rather different to Laura's in many ways; his family weren't pioneers, and the farm on which he lived was a prosperous one. But in comparison to ...
...later, Farmer Boy is a similar story to Ingalls Wilder's other books; one of school and hard physical work, one of making use of each last little thing - for us that is. For Almanzo it's the story of FOOD and of dreaming of horses. The book opens in winter time and at the start of the new school term. Everyone must go to school during the cold season, for there is less work to do on the farm. Almanzo, like many busy young children, doesn't like school ... Read review

Advantages: great book really captivating
Disadvantages: none

Justin Somper has made this book brilliant and inspiring. Anthony Horowitz described it as "Totally Original". This book is amazingly based around an old sea shanty about Vampirates. It is quoted below: "I'll tell you a tale of Vampirates, A tale as old as true. Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship, And it's mighty fearsome crew. Yea, I'll sing you a song of an ancient ship, That sails the oceans blue... That haunts the oceans blue. ...
...wings in flight. They say the captain, he wears a veil So as to curtail your fright At his death-pale skin And his lifeless eyes And his teeth as sharp as night. Oh, they say the captain, he wears a veil And his eyes never see the light. "You'd better be good, child - good as gold, As good as good can be. Else I'll turn you in to the Vampirates And wave you out to sea. Yes, you'd better be good, child - good as gold, Because - look! ... Read review

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...on the pavement outside of Laura's window. Laura rushes outside with her torch to take a closer look at the star. Laura is in awe of the stars beauty, but then notices that a point of the star has broken off. Laura gently carries the star back into her house and manages to stick the broken point of the star back on. Laura then takes the star into her bed and tells it her secrets. When she wakes up in the morning the star has disappeared. Laura ...
...lots of fun detail, like Laura's dragon mug and plate of cookies. Teddy peeps out from under the duvet. This is a lovely, touching story of friendship and putting the needs of others before your own needs. It can be read on many different levels. A very young child will love the illustrations and simple story. For an older child the story can help with a discussion about the needs of others and important friendships. My son and I discussed how important ... Read review