February 2003 Children's Books Reviews

The Dragon Chronicles
by Malcolm Sanders

Running Press Book Publishers

ISBN# 0-7624-1418-9
Suggested Retail Price: $19.95 or as low as $11.91 from Amazon.com!

This is a beautifully bound book which looks to be a delicious story from ancient days. Dragons have never lost their popularity with us mere mortals who always enjoy myths and tales about this unusual and even sometimes friendly creature. Hollywood has been revising the legends for us with new movies about the fire-breathers and the wizards that are part of the fairy tale lore of our youth.

The publisher tells us that this is a faithful reproduction of the lost journal of a great mystic whose mission was to slay four feral dragons. The book is filled with tales of this great adventure. The wizard himself made the illustration, and he included many artifacts that he found along the way.

It doesn't matter if you are young or an adult. If you have an active imagination, this is a great find for you.

Imagine You're a Fairy (Imagine This! Series)
by Meg Clibbon, Lucy Clibbon

Annick Press

ISBN# 1-55037-742-6
Suggested Retail Price: $7.95 or as low as $4.72 from Amazon.com!

This is a little book that is filled with fairies of all shapes and size. They are very clever and very magical, we are informed. You can also get this charming little book in hardcover so it will last for many generations(ISBN #1-55037-743-4).

The book is crammed with colorful pictures of the fairies and the kind of clothes that they can wear. There is a large display of jewlery and a couple of very magical spells. You can learn how to make fairy dust.

This is a series and another of the titles is called "Imagine You're A Pirate!" It is another book filled with wonderful lore about the swashbucklers that roamed the Seven Seas. Pirates, we are told, spend a lot of time looking for treasure, which might be buried deep in the ocean where there are monsters. You get mermaids, pirates and adventure with this book in the series. Look for the rest.

The Sulky Vulture
by Sally Grindley, Michael Terry

Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

ISBN# 1-58234-794-8
Suggested Retail Price: $15.95 or as low as $4.95 from Amazon.com!

Here is an unusual creature to meet and love. Vultures are generally given a bad rap. In this story we meet Boris who is a vulture and he is having a rotten day, so he is upset; sulky even. He has been outrun and outwitted by any number of animals who live in his part of the jungle. Boris' mom sympathizes as he talks about his difficult day. Then she tells Boris to go to bed, and "Tomorrow is another day." Boris declares that he doesn't like bed any better than he liked any of the animals that beat him up today.

This is an average story that is very well illustrated. Michael Terry's vulture will delight young readers aged 4 to 8.

Billywise
by Judith Nicholls, Jason Cockcroft

Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

ISBN# 1-5823-4778-6
Suggested Retail Price: $16.95 or as low as $3.94 from Amazon.com!

Billywise is a great little owl to know. Just like "The Sulky Vulture," this one is also for the 4 to 8 year-old crowd. Billywise the owl is born deep in the heart of the woods ferns. Billywise is very afraid of this new world, but with the help of everyone around him, he is going to grow and learn. Someday when Billywise gets a bit older he will be able to fly as high as he wants to without being afraid. This is a fun children's book story of growing up.

Abe Lincoln : The Boy Who Loved Books
by Kay Winters, Nancy Carpenter

Simon & Schuster Children's Publ

ISBN# 0-6898-2554-4
Suggested Retail Price: $16.95 or as low as $8.00 from Amazon.com!

What we have here is a simple tale about a boy who loved to read. When he grew up he was smart enough to change the world, and so he did. The story is told in poetry and the lovely illustrations follow Abe the infant, the boy, and the man with bright and warm pictures of the revered President.

The Dog Chapel: Welcome All Creeds, All Breeds. No Dogmas Allowe
by Stephen Huneck

Harry N Abrams

ISBN# 0-8109-3488-4
Suggested Retail Price: $19.95 or as low as $5.99 from Amazon.com!

I think children will enjoy this story and the idea of all kinds of dogs being welcomed into this church. The church in this story welcomes all creeds and all breeds. There is a sign that announces right off that no dogmas are allowed. If you are uneasy about introducing a religious story to young children, don't worry a bit. This is about the wonder of dogs and their many great qualities. All ages might enjoy looking at this peek into a dog heaven.

Author Huneck tells us about the serious illness he had experienced. He says that during a coma he thought saw a great statue of a man with dog's head. When he regained his health, he could not forget the image. He wrote this loving book for adults, but this is truly for all ages. The book begins with color photographs of the chapel that Stephen built for his dogs. It is complete with stained glass windows. In fact, it is very attractive. The chapel is real, located in Vermont where it draws many visitors.

The rest of the book reveals many of the good qualities that dogs are especially noted for. Being a good friend and loving to play, for example. Many other good qualities are shown and dog lovers will recognize them right away. The last page has a picture frame printed so that you can put a picture of your own dog in it.

It's a clever idea, and less a story of religion than just plain good doggy love.