Children Books

I read this book to my daughter from the time she was one; she is now six. Now she gets a thrill out of reading it herself. My son is two years old; he is also eager for story time, and it is also one of his first picks. The kids love exploring the illustrations, and each time noticing something new. As a mother, I enjoyed reading this book to my children. It is wonderful, charming and memorable.

If you like Good Night Moon, you will love this as well. I told my husband that when are girls are too big for bedtime stories, I will want him to read me these two books at bedtime. They are so soothing. My girls both love looking at the details of the pictures. This is a classic.

Illustrates animals going to bed! I love books that show everyone is going to sleep!

What a wonderful story! The rhyming text is a pleasure to read, and the book progresses from day to night, making it a perfect bedtime story. I've read it so many times to my five year old twins that we now know it by heart. Get it!!!

My son loves to read books, but this one does not keep his attention. He likes Goodnight Moon, the Boyton Books, and others, but this doesn't keep his interest. I do like that it shows various animals and their noises.

I have read most of the books in this series and looking back on this one makes me mad. First, the story is terrible compaired to later books in the series. It didn't interest me and wasn't nessesary to the upcoming books. Also, she made Xanatos look like a not to bad villian, which he's not. I think that this book could be skipped and you could go to 3 immediatly where things start to get better.

Truly exciting and fast-paced, The Dark Rival is a fantastic read! This is Jude Watson's first try in the Jedi Apprentice series and what a marvelous job she's done! And finaly Obi-wan is made Qui-Gon padawan (anyway we all knew that).
Can't wait to read the next book.

I think this book is a good star wars book for 13 though 8.Qiun Gon Jim is having a stuind that wants to kill hem.But Obe One Kenobe is a stuind that Xanitos wants hem to be on the darkside. Later in the book there will be a light saber batlie that is asome.They will drive vicles be capture and met people they nafer seen before.Soon they will find a person and talk to Yoda.I hope you like this book.

I just loved this book! I don't know how anyone could NOT like this book! I can't wait to read the next book in the series: "The hidden past"!!! You just HAVE to read this book!!!

This was one of the first Jedi Apprentice books i read and i loved it! In this book Qui-Gon actually starts to realize that he's kept Obi-Wan in the dark and that he should have explained more about his old apprentice Xanatos. Also there's this part where Qui-Gon is going to rescue Obi-Wan and starts to notice how much Obi-Wan deserves to be a jedi. this book is very emotional and gratifying, i wish Jude Watson would write more!

When Purple House Press reprinted this book, I recalled it as one of the memorable reads of my childhood, but for the life of me I could not remember why. I remembered the basic outlines of the story, but they didn't seem to add up to something that would have stuck in my memory so. (Since I never owned it, I had never reread it.) However, trusting that there must have been SOME good reason, I went ahead and purchased it. Now at long last I finally know why it stuck in the back of my mind for all those years:

The Phoenix.

David is a nice enough boy, easy to identify with, but in the Phoenix Mr. Ormondroyd has given us one of the most memorable characters in all of children's literature. Wise and all-knowing, but not quite as wise and all-knowing as he thinks he is, he exudes an exquisite sense of pomp and dignity... right before he trips over a windowsill and pratfalls into the bushes below or traps himself in his own snare or nearly electrocutes himself demonstrating his (less than complete) knowledge of electricity. A true rock of courage, unless something frightens him, he can be counted on to fully concentrate on the problem at hand, unless he is distracted by something...

like cookies.

I would love to know the people in Mr. Ormondroyd's life who inspired this character!

A surprisingly evil Scientist rounds out the major characters in this story of a boy receiving an unconventional education that will remind the reader a bit of Harry Potter's early education and an unforgettable ending.

Not to be missed. I am now greatly looking forward to reading his Time at the Top.

A longtime favorite - I think I first read my birthday copy in 1980 - I finally bought a newer copy that wasn't falling apart - re-read it again - and passed it along to my sister & her kids. I have loved this book and re-read this book so many times over the years. The adult language - the mature but child-like relationship of David to the Phoenix. The slow but steady buildup of adventures, learning each other - and the final understanding that you have to love something/set it free - even if it hurts bad (and it does) - this book should remain a standard for children's reading.

I read this book as a child and wanted to share it with my grandchildren.

I loved this book when I was a junior high teen, and at 57 I find I love it still. I have chortled for 40+ years over the mental image of the Irish Wail (tied up in a cardboard box, sealed with a bit of wax)voraciously devouring cabbages and growing in size, volume, and, of course, degrees of harmony.

THIS BOOK IS AN A++++ WINNER. Buy it for your kids, and if you can pry it away from them, read it for your own pleasure. Your life will change--for the better--after you meet David and the Phoenix.

Hallelujah!!! This book was in desperate need of a reprint. I just bought it, again, and let my children read it. With the original artwork included, this is a must have. People say if you like Harry Potter, but that doesn't do the book justice. This is the Holy Grail here. You will laugh and cry and fear for the characters and fall in love with them too. And sadly, you won't want the book to end, but it will. When will we see David and the Phoenix again?

A surprisingly good read, for those interested in a teen romance set in an interesting location, with an unusual twist: some of the characters are aliens left behind when the spaceship crashed in Roswell. The book captures teen emotion well, especially as related to romantic interests and rivalries, and the bad guy sheriff provides enough threat and suspense to keep the reader interested to the end. While this book is just the beginning of the series that later became a hit TV show, it stands alone well enough to be enjoyed on its own. Of course it is not great literature, but it is imaginative and a fun and way to spend an afternoon or evening; very good for what it is designed to accomplish.

-Lynn Michelsohn, author of Roswell, Your Travel Guide to the UFO Capital of the World!

Rosewell high is any ordinary high school, but the only thing is that you don't know what's really happening.
There are 7 caracters theire names are Max, Liz, Maria, Alex, Michael, Kyle, Sherif Valenti, and Isabel.
Max, Liz, Maria, Isabel, Michael, sherif valenti are the main main caracters. Max always liked liz and when she was shoot in the stomach max healed her and she thought she was going to die and he told her to lie and she did and
after she went to his house and she asked him how and he told her he was an alien and she freaked out. So he thinks she hates him until later. Liz never liked him but wounce she found out she found this urge to just fall in love with him and do everything to save his life. Max, isabel, micheal, and maria are all aliens and hopes that liz dosent tell sherif valenti about theire discovery.I would really recommend this book to all ages.

This book is GREAT! Probaly the only book in the series that the TeleVision adaption kept completely - The outsider is a great piece of literature. Its cute, quick, daring, and intresting. ESPECIALLY if you keep reading the series, you'll notice how unique and great the customers are. A Definate Must-read. Esspecially for teens.

Wow! What a great read! I couldn't put it down. I wanted to read the book because I'm such a big fan of the TV show. It's soo much better!! The story is basically a modern Romeo and Juliet love story. Max is an alien from another planet who is in love with a human girl named Liz. When he saves her life, both their lives and everyone elses dramatically changes. This book focuses on Max and LIz's love story but there are also other interesting characters like the other 2 aliens, Micheal and Isabel, and Liz's 2 friends Alex and Maria who all have their own stories unfolding. The first book is by far my favorite out of the series, but you have to read them all. Just to warn some people: it is a story about ALIENS but it mostly centers on the characters relationships with each other. I would steer clear if your a BIg SF fan.

The pilot episode of Roswell was one of the better episodes of the series I've always thought, I got a copy of this book because it's the one the series is based on. While the writing style is probably aimed more at the teen market if you're older and liked the series this book won't be a bad item.
A few things are very different, Max is a blond and blue eyed senior, Liz is Liz Ortecho (whose dead older sister Rosa O'D on drugs)- instead of Parker, Michael Guerin is an A student (all three aliens are)and Isabel is the little sister- a junior in High School.
Liz's shooting is a little different than the series, Sheriff Valenti and son Kyle are meaner (and Valenti is a member of a secret government anti alien group). The incubation pods are mentioned, as is the cave, but in the book Michael came out of his pod days before the Evans (who shared a pod). A lot of things show similarity to the first season of Roswell, although not all were in the same episode- it seems obvious to me that the writers used this book as a sort of guide.
I don't know if I'll get the rest of the series but this one was a quick, fun little thing to read, and a lot more like what you saw on TV than most book to TV adaptations usually are.

'Totoro' was the first thought that entered my mind when I saw this book. The author must have had some influence from the animation and nothing wrong with that. It is a beautifully water colored book and the familiar stories that I've heard as a child.

"There's a bear outside" Yes Stillwater has arrived in the back yard with his large red umbrella. He is a kind, poite and gentle Panda. After the children have formally met Stillwater they each take turns visiting him, upon each visit Stillwater has a story to tell the children. Each story is a lesson in achieving zen. It's quite lovely, the pictures change from the beautiful watercolor of the world of Stillwater and the children to a different - simpler form of illustration when Stillwater tells a story - which was an extremely effective way to see that you were now inside Stillwater's stories.

The first story stillwater tells is about his Uncle Ry who catches a robber in his house and gives him what he has. The second story Stillwater tells is about luck, somethings that may seem like great luck at first could be bad luck, and bad luck could be good luck. The last story is the story of the monks, one physically carries a woman and the other is carrying a grudge about her.

All of the stories leave room for discussion if you want to go there, or you can simply read the book and let your children absorb what they will. This book left us in a very peaceful state.

The age recommendation is 4 to 8, I think this is appropriate. I think at 6 or above your children will be more prone to abosrb the stories of zen. However, the book is very charming and likeable for your [...].

As powerful for adults as well as children, Zen Shorts is a wonderful book that promotes deep critical thinking and discussion on topics such as family relationships, friendships, respect, disrespect, gratitude, greed, giving, taking, selfishness, selflessness, material attachments, material detachment, actions and consequences, luck, communication, anger, and togetherness. It is the kind of book that should be read and discussed in reading circles or at family time or bed time. For students who are beginning to study concepts in Eastern philosophy, this little book is approachable and the intended wisdom within one's grasp.

My favorite story portion of the book is "Uncle Ry and the Moon." My favorite illustration is the ones that depict the panda and Addy painting and eating.

This book is amazing...not only are the pictures great, the story is one that you will want to read to your kids over and over. Zen Shorts has touching stories within an already creative and heartfelt book.

Great book for your preschooler and for you. The beautiful pictures capture the imagination, and the concepts introduced in the stories are springboards for conversation with your child (and can be just the right message for you after a long day).

This was written at the beginning of the series (which I swear up and down was the best of it). This totally solidifies the terror of the main storyline for which the author was going. Awesome job, perfect for young readers.

I dislike the Animorphs and am reading through a few titles just because they're penny books that I have laying around and plan to throw away... so I was surprised to find myself really liking this one!

Jake's brother is a Yeerk Controller and, if there's anything good in that, it's got to be that Jake is able to get some information from him. That's how they figure out that the Yeerks have plans to take over the new hospital - now all they've got to do is stop them. When their plan goes wrong, Jake finds himself with a Yeerk in his head and his friends have to find a way to save him.

If every Animorphs story was as well told as this, I'd be a fan!

This one is one of my favorite animorph books so far.

All the Animorphs go and stumble into this portable yerk pool in the hospital. But Jake falls into the yerk pool, and a yerk crawls up his ear! Jake goes into like a coma while the yerk takes over him and get acustomed to his new headquarters ( get it? Head - quarters?). Jake acn't do anything and gets really frusterated. But meanwhile, Ax finds out that Jakes been infested. They have a plan, that involves starving the yerk of the kandrona waves. Will the yerk outsmart them? Will the yerk betray Jake and the rest of the animorphs? Or will the yerk fighting team eliminate the yerk? Find out by reading this excelant book!! Also, try to read the rest of the series, you won't regret it!

In this book, Jake falls into a portable Yeerk pool and Tom's old Yeerk infests him. But will the other Animorphs and Ax find out in time and starve the Yeerk? or will Temarash 114 go to Visser Three and make Ax and the other Animorphs Controllers.

Jake and the other Animorphs discover that the Yeerks plan to invade plenty of humans against their will at the town's hospital. To make things worse, the Yeerks want to invade the state's governor who is planning to run for president! When the Animorphs take a trip to the town's hospital to do some invesitgating, they stumble onto a Yeerk pool...and Jake accidentaley falls into the Yeerk pool.

Now, Jake has a Yeerk in his head and there's nothing he can do about it. The Yeerk knows all his secrets (including the names of the Animorphs) and Jake isn't able to tell his friends anything. Fortunately, the others have figured out Jake's been invaded, and they have a plan to destroy the Yeerk. Unless the Yeerk figures out a way to destroy them all first...

THE CAPTURE is an excellent novel. The beginning started out as one of your average Animorphs books, but then the middle was where the things got intense. It really had me page-turning, and I could've sworn that it would be the end for Jake. The very ending of this book might make you a little sad, but it's something to expect in a book by K.A. Applegate. All in all, this is a very good book to keep you entertained for a while

When Aidan Thomas and his family have to move halfway across the country to care for his aging grandfather, the disgruntled teenager knows that life will never be the same. What he doesn't know is exactly how different life will be. The discovery in the basement of mysterious scrolls with a fascinating but unfinished story leads Aidan to seek the Door Within and travel to a world of noble knights and fair maidens. In The Realm, he learns more of the story found in the scrolls and faces the choice that will define his life forever--follow King Eliam or Paragor the Usurper.

Some of the characters are rather broadly drawn so that they seem rather exaggerated and thus unrealistic, but they are delightful nonetheless. Captain Valithor, Sentinel of Alleble, employs hilarious adjectives as he urges those in his charge to work harder. One fun thing about the characthers is the way their build and temperaments tend to mirror their weapons. Archer brothers Nock and Bolt are slight and quick, while hammer-wielding Mallik is built like a rock.

In this adventurous tale full of truth and treachery, rambunctious and hilarious characters, Aidan learns what it means to never be alone. Though written for Junior High and early High Schoolers, the story contains enough depth to satisfy an older reader while remaining simple enough for children many years younger. "The Door Within" is sure to delight any reader of adventure and fantasy.

Mr. Batson takes quite a risk in this, his first novel -- he makes the hero unlikable for a considerable length of time. Aidan Thomas is very angry about moving to Colorado. He is angry at his parents for making him move and thus leave behind his one true friend, he is angry at his wheelchair-bound grandfather (Grampin) for making it necessary, and he is angry at the world in general because bad things happen. Now, he has his reasons and Mr. Batson is making an important point, but still even those of us who are similarly scarred (my family moved FIVE times during my childhood) will soon grow weary of his incessant whining and raging. It doesn't help that there isn't another likable character in the book for quite awhile. Aidan's parents are clueless and insensitive, and Grampin spends several chapters saying nothing or sleeping. All in all a very tough slog!

Nevertheless, with the premise in mind we know that things are going to change eventually. The Other begins to ooze into Aidan's world and (mercifully) begins to distract him from his own troubles. Then in chapter 7 Grampin surprises both Aidan and the reader, and at the end of chapter 8 Aidan FINALLY crosses over. Then it takes two MORE chapters of Aidan wandering around lost before the adventure truly begins in chapter 11! However, at THAT point, 79 pages in, events begin to move with that relentless "Batson pace" that readers of Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire are well familiar with, and what follows makes up for what Mr. Batson has put the reader through in the first ten chapters,...

well, for MOST of what he has put the reader through anyway.

Mr. Batson has created a fascinating world in the Realm, with similarities to but not quite like any other fantasy world I've ever seen, with Biblical references that are quite obvious to those who are looking for them but no stumbling block to those who are not. I bought this book at the same time as Isle of Swords as part of a promotional deal, but I never got around to reading it. Now I shall have to rush out and read the sequels: The Rise of the Wyrm Lord and The Final Storm.

Note: Other than a lower price the chief attraction of the paperback edition is the inclusion of the so-called "Lost Chapters", basically earlier draft versions of the first four chapters accompanied by author's commentary. They make for an interesting comparison. On the one hand the current shortened beginning is excruciating enough; on the other hand this longer opening humanizes several of the characters, making them less annoying! If you loved the hardback, you might love this additional material, too, but if you are purchasing your first copy, you night as well stick to the paperback.

This fantasy tale is amazing. I loved reading about Aidan's adventures in The Realm. The characters are realistic and the plot line creative. Instead of just swords, it's more of a spiritual battle for the hearts of people

This book was a great book. Anyone who likes fantasy would like The Door Within. Its a great start to the trilogy.

Upset with his family's sudden move across the country, Aidan Thomas is friendless and bored. He seeks out adventure by exploring his new home which takes him to the dark and creepy basement. He finds dusty boxes of old toys, stacks of newspapers from the 1950s, and an old radio. It all seems to be a typical basement until a blue light grows out of the darkness leaving three clay pots in its wake. Inside them, Aidan finds three ancient scrolls.

He takes his newfound treasure to his room and begins to read a story about a knight who betrayed his king. He also reads a poem that ends: Believe and enter. Achan tries to talk to his parents about his discovery, but they're too busy at first, then they don't believe him, assuring their son it is nothing but a story. But Aidan's grandfather believes and encourages Aidan to trust in his own heart. That night, Aidan reads the poem again, decides to believe, and enters The Door Within.

He is whisked into a medieval land of dragons, knights, and castles and discovers that the kingdom is in danger. A group of knights are getting ready to travel to Mitheguard, a city that has not yet taken a side in the battle for good and evil. They've only been waiting for the king to choose a twelfth knight, and Aidan is informed that the king has. Aidan.

The Door Within is a fun allegorical tale that takes a regular kid into a medieval world where good and evil are struggling to win the faith of a kingdom, one soul at a time. I enjoyed the way Wayne Thomas Batson connected the real world with The Realm inside the door. Very creative and fun. Two thumbs up. Recommended.

The Great Brain is one of the best all time books for boys ever written. In my humble opinion of course. The prose is engaging capturing the attention. The stories are exciting and compelling. The chapters are just the right length. And it has all the elements that young boys love from Cowboys and Indians to cops and robbers. What more could you ask for?

But of course, looking back on my childhood as I place this book on the shelf for my own little boy, I realize that the moral lessons this book taught so covertly were lessons that stayed with me: tolerance for other cultures and religions, compassion for those less fortunate, love of family. These are foundational values and the Great Brain teaches them. And the thing is, as a young person, you don't realize you're getting a lesson, you just know you like the story.

In the book The Great Brain written by John D. Fitzgerld was awesome! The book takes place in Adenville, Utah. There are some main characters this book, Tom (T.D) who is known as the great brain, Swyen (S, D) who is the eldest and acts mature, John (J, D) who is the youngest and is always up to something, Abie who is a store owner, and Mr. Standish who is the new school house teacher who everyone hates. Tom, John, and Swyen's father ordered a water closet, which is a bathroom, and they let people see it if they paid one cent. They made forty cents total. When Swyen got the measles, John was jells because he had never gotten sick first and then got to rub it in his brothers face. So one day John decided he wanted to get sick. John went over to his friend Howard who has had the mumps. So he decided to sneak into his house and started breathing in Howard's sick breath, and what do you know, John got sick. Abie had fainted once, twice, Abie died from malnutrition. They had a funeral for him that very day. Mr. Standish was the new school house teacher. Mr. Standish had paddled Tom for not being a tattletale, and Tom swore he would get back to Mr. Standish. So anways Swyen had gone to a Cathloic school in Salt Lake City so Swyen was gone and it was now just Tom and John. Andy their friend had stepped on a rusty nail and had not been able to return back to school. He ended up getting a prosthetic leg.

I learned that you should not lie for any purpose. Like when Tom found a way to get rid of Mr. Standish and when Tom's father asked if he had known anything to know about it and Tom never spoke a word intill his mamma made him tell. I also learned in this book that helping people is good. Like when Tom helped Basil get out of a fight, or when Tom helped Andy play baseball.

I recommend this book to someone who likes smart kids and funny stories. Like the time John wanted to get sick and he got the mumps. Why I think that the book is funny because it is all about fun and making life worth living.

The is a wonderfully, great, terrific book! They need to re-release the Great Brain movie from 1978 starring little Jimmy Osmond! Also, if I may suggest, try reading the Adventures With Boys book series-- Just as good!!!;)

I poured through these books continuously in my youth. I would beg for a trip to the library so I could find just one more I hadn't read.

I had all but forgotten about them until my oldest showed a keenness for reading. Now I'm ordering them for her for Christmas. I hope she gleans as much joy as I did from them! I used to love to pretend that Papa was handing out his sage advice directly to me.

This is such a wonderfully written series for young readers. You really can't go wrong with them, and hopefully my daughter will review this for you some time after Christmas!

This book is a wonderful protrait of 19th century rural America, but people should be aware that it was written at a time when there was much more freedom of speech than we have today. Topics in the book include suicide, religious intolerance and fear of immigrants. There is a scene where the boys go skinny dipping and also one story concerns John mating his dog, so this book probably should not be brought to a public elementary school for fear it might offend someone. Also there are no African-Americans in the book, and while the book does portray Jews, Moromons, Protestants and Catholics coexisting, there are no Muslims in this book, so it is not very politically correct. Also the "I" word is used casually and no mention is made of the plight of native Americans, except to say that they are the only non-immigrants in America. Women are displayed in subservient roles, always cooking, cleaning and taking care of the sick, although all the boys are portrayed as having chores. [...]

When my first child received "I Am A Bunny" nearly 25 years ago, I fell in love with it. The story is lovely to read, the pictures are rich in color and detail, and both of my kids found this to be a favorite to read with us or alone. It is the first book I buy for every new baby. As a board book, it is easy for children to manipulate and truly "own" the book. It is a classic, enriching book for all children.

This book is so innocent and unassuming. But inside its cover are so many things for your child to learn and wonder at. Illustrations are superb. I want to get out a flora and fauna encyclopedia so I can tell my son what each of these flowers, frogs and butterflies are. The detail is just astonishing. I wish to find more books like this. It can be read to a tiny baby or a 5 year old!

This book arrived very dry, which is good. Also, it doesn't smell bad like our other one did. Not that it smell good, mind you. I don't know if I'd say that it smells good, but it sure doesn't smell bad. Our last one smelled like cat pee and was wet. This one is way better. Besides, our boy loves this book.

this is a great book to teach aobut seasons and bring in new vocabulary and it is a great book because it is for toddlers but it is a board book so it can withstand younger siblings.

The storyline is very simple, a good complement to illustrations that are colorful and detailed enough to hold the attention of very young children. We got this when my first son was about 9 mos. old; within the next year he had it memorized and could "read" it to us. My son is now 22 (YEARS old) and my husband and I can still recite the book . . .

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris van Allsburg goes beyond the traditional children's tale in its ability to spark inspiration and creativity within every reader, young and old. The book begins with a fictitious introduction, informing the reader of the literary legacy, or lack thereof, of a Mr. Harris Burdick. After showing samples of his work to a children's book publisher, Burdick has been hired. However, before Burdick is able to bring the complete copies of his fourteen stories and related pictures, he goes missing. What the publisher is left with are single titles, captions, and images from Burdick's stories, or what also becomes known as the mysteries of Harris Burdick. The real story ensues as each following page presents the reader with a challenge: to create their own story based on Burdick's suggestions. The simple, albeit convincing, black and white illustrations depict such original and distinctive events such as a woman taking a knife to a gleaming pumpkin and a house lifting off into outer space. The thought-provoking captions in this book will invoke realms of imagination readers may never have known existed and encourage children to express their own artistic vision.

From the author and illustrator of Jumanji and The Polar Express, comes an innovative new way to read children's books. Chris Van Allsburg introduces Harris Burdick, in The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984), an artist who disappeared shortly after successful meeting with a children's book publisher. The fictional Burdick is said to have left behind his sketches, accompanying titles, and first lines of his future stories. The realistic illustrations are done beautifully in black and white. One page depicts a huge steamship squeezing between buildings through the canals of Venice. Each turn of the page brings a new illustration and text, but there is plenty of white space on the page for readers to write their own story. Allsburg fills his book with magical elements, like literate caterpillars, first lines that read, "He was warned her about the book. Now it was too late," and titles such as, "A Strange Day in July." Readers searching for a complete work may be disappointed, as Allsburg expects his readers to have great imaginations. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick may be best utilized as a creative writing tool in classrooms, but the book will also fit neatly into a house with a daydreaming child.

As a teacher, so many possibilities, as a mother, aunt, grandma, lots of great conversation. This has been done masterfully.

When I bought this book I thought how great it would be to write a story to go with each picture. Obviously, I'm not the only one to have this idea, as the other reviews here show. And Steven King has written a great story based on the "House on Maple Street" picture. A great book that has inspired, I hope, many future writers.

When I was in 6th grade a brilliant teacher who loved to write would occassionally pull out these gorgeously detailed black and white photos depicting the most bizzare scenes with a line or two about the picture. From that picture and the line we would write a story. Everyone's stories ended up being so different.

I searched high and low to find out what these pictures were and where they were from. They were from the Mysteries of Harris Burdick. They still intrigue and inspire me the way they did when I was a kid. Although now that I have the portfolio I see that there is a story about the mysteries of Harris Burdick, who he was and how he came to draw these pictures. This just added to the fun.

I love these illustrations, I plan to have them all framed and put in my writing room. But if you are perhaps a teacher or parent or mentor who encourages others to write these are extremely inspiring photographs they are approximately 16 inches X 12 inches. These are the original 14 illustrations with a "newly discovered" 15th, They are inside of a large papery-cardboard portfolio.

This was my first introduction to Chris Van Allsburg, and it wasn't until I saw (as an adult) the Polar Express sitting on a bookshelf in a library that I discovered this was the same author and illustrator. Since then I have purchased all have Mr. Van Allsburg's books. This series of illustrations was so meaningful to me I can not begin to describe it.