Advantages: sweet rattle
Disadvantages: none

...Zebras, I've noticed play a fairly big part in little boys clothing. Before Scarlett was born we didn't know her gender so we brought some gender neutral clothes and some reduced blue sleep suits and vests, which featured zebras in various designs. Little girls are bunnies whilst little boys are zebras. Whilst looking round for Christmas presents for our little one we found this cute little zebra rattle. The zebra has blue and light blue stripes, small children must get a strange idea about animals! It has a smiley face and a playgro logo on the middle of it. It has a velvety, soft texture to it. Attached to the main body of the zebra is a clear plastic ring, with half of the ring showing and the other half in the zebra body. In the ring are six fairly large balls of the following colours, green,purple. Red, blue, orange and yellow... Read review

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Advantages: A good story with no horrors
Disadvantages: Cannot put it down

...This is one of the best books in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series as far as I am concerned. There are more detailed episodes with the charming mechanic Mr JLB Matekoni, including his accidentally successful attempt at being a detective. There is also the worrying episode about the fidelity of Mma Ramotswe. The apprentices are, as usual, causing grief - especially Charlie who leaves his apprenticeship to become a taxi driver - but does he succeed? Talking of this, there is the fraught episoce where Mma Makutsi (97% at the Botswana Secretarial College) resigns. Will she stay at home until her planned wedding to the improbably named Phuti Radiphuti? Alongside this is the possibility that the agency will become involved with murder in the Mochudo hospital. A thoroughly good read that has me eager to go and buy the next... Read review

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Advantages: funny, heartwarming, fantastic characters
Disadvantages: a little "scrappy" in places

...I'm already a fan of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, so it's no surprise that I like the 8th addition to the family - The Good Husband of Zebra Drive. As usual, there are superb characters with a decent narrative holding them together and a lot of humour; pretty much what I've come to expect from Alexander McCall Smith. In fact, the only criticism I have is that the narrative isn't quite as good as some of the other books in the series and it's a bit "scrappy" in places, not flowing quite as well as it should. This isn't my favourite novel in the series, but it's certainly an entertaining and worthwhile read. Alexander McCall Smith also writes the 44 Scotland Street series (incidentally, my favourite of his works) and a series featuring philosopher Isabel Dalhousie, among others. He is a Scottish author and those two series... Read review

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Advantages: Nice!
Disadvantages: Too nice for some

...Life is treating Precious Ramotswe well. Business at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is booming, and marriage to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, with which the agency shares its premises, is turning out to be very satisfying indeed. Their modest home in Zebra Drive, shared with their two adopted children, is a happy one, but sadly, not everybody is currently sharing Mma Ramotswe's contentment and peace of mind. Over at Tlokweng Road, there are signs of restlessness: aspirations are mounting, ambitions are being stirred, and feet are becoming decidedly itchy. Mma Makutsi, buoyed by her engagement to furniture shop proprietor Mr. Phuti Radiphuti, and the resultant improvement in her financial circumstances, wonders whether a woman in her position really needs to continue to work, when her time could... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Absorbing, Easy to Read, An Original, Page Turner
Disadvantages: Character and Thematic Depth a little shallow

...Some people may read this novel and find it boring as it does not have the intensity of modern day novels, however, i really enjoyed this book simply for that reason, that it is not like modern day novels. it does not focus on the hype, the violence and the sex that alot of novels do. Sure, sometimes these aspects are great when incorporated well into modern day novels, however, author Alistair MacLean manages to depict a taut thriller which entertains, mystifies and keeps the reader guessing till the very end. Ice Station Zebra refers to a British meteorological outpost which is located near the edge of the polar ice cap. In the middle of winter a fire breaks out at the station and the only hopes the scientists have rest with an american nuclear submarine called dolphin as it is the only thing capable of reaching them. What they do... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent readability; humourous to the young child
Disadvantages: Your child will insist on hearing the story AGAIN!

...Jacob has loved looking at books ever since he could turn a page. As a baby, he didn’t care if the book was upside down or back to front, he would spend ages just looking at books. Thankfully, at almost 2 and a half, this enthusiasm has yet to die and he loves his bedtime story. And being 2 and a half, certain bedtime stories are becoming more and more popular with him and he insists on us reading them EVERY night. Luckily for us, our library has always been well stocked with all Mick Inkpen stories, including the Kipper series, and over the last year or so Kipper stories have become a firm favourite. There are quite a few in the series now including the original Kipper, Kipper’s Toybox, Kipper’s Birthday, Kipper’s Snowy Day and Kipper’s Christmas Eve. Then there are the “educational” Kipper books – the books of counting, colours... Read review

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Advantages: BEST COMEDY SERIES EVER
Disadvantages: ITS NOW FINISHED

...Chandler. Joey’s favourite catchphrase is “How You Doing” and he has a lot of love to give especially to his chick and his duck. MONICA – Monica is the super clean freak younger sister of Ross. In high school she was Rachel’s fat best friend, however over the years she lost the weight and now is a top notch chef. Monica has had her share of up’s and downs from being second best to her parents and being sacked from job’s and having to take jobs singing on work counters in a 50’s dinner. Monica thought she found the love of her life with Richard however they broke up after he said that he didn’t want any children. She then stumbled upon Chandler at her brothers wedding and they have been together ever since they have had they’re share of ups and downs one being they cant have children however in the last series they adopt a set of twins... Read review

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Advantages: Too many to mention
Disadvantages: You'll think I'm really sad!

...Michael Glaser  Ken "Hutch" - David Soul  Captain Harold Dobey - Bernie Hamilton  Huggy Bear - Antonio Fargas  Zebra 3 - Ford Torino In conclusion, this box set lived up to expectation for me, I loved it as much as I enjoyed the TV series years ago. But then again, you've probably figured out by now that I am quite sad! So in the interest of a balanced review, I asked my 14 year old son, who doesn't have the positive predisposition I have, what he though of it. His answer: "It's well cool, mum!" My advice is, if you are as sad as I am, buy it. If you're just nostalgic or curious, rent one DVD to see if you like it.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: massive running length, 2 series, loads of episodes
Disadvantages: n/a

...The complete Auf Wiedersehen Pet series 1 and 2 DVD boxset is full of entertaining episodes from both series 1 and 2 of the hit comedy series. The boxset includes 4 DVD's, which includes the complete series 1 and another 4 DVD's which includes the complete series 2. SERIES 1 Series 1 boasts an impressive 13 episodes, which follows the day to day antics of 7 workers in Dusseldorf, Germany. In series one, we meet, the "Magnificent Seven", composed of Barry (Timothy Spall),Dennis ( Tim Healy), Neville ( Kevin Whately) , Oz( Jimmy Nail),Wayne( Gary Holton), Bomber ( Pat Roach ) and Moxey (Christopher Fairbank) . Series 1, Episode 1 If I were a Carpenter - Oz,Dennis and Neville make their way to Dusseldorf, only problem is , they are all brickies, yet they are only looking for 2 brikies. This results in them lying about... Read review

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Advantages: Great performances from Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber
Disadvantages: Is quite dated now

...Just months after the release of the first series of this classic 1980's crime action-drama series on DVD, season 2 has thankfully followed hot on its trail. Series 2 of Dempsey And Makepeace went to air on ITV in a prime time slot in late 1985, several months after it had been initially filmed ( the second series was being shot during the time that the first series was being aired in early 1985). Series 2 infinitely holds more depth than series 1 (which is not too neccecarily say is any better but at least is certainly just as good) with more structure to the development of the two main characters, the brash, thuggish James Dempsey and aristocratic Harriet Makepeace (who wouldn't have looked out of place in a James Bond film). The super annunated and fairly ludicrous plots are still in full swing but every episode... Read review

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