Children Books

I first saw this book at an airport bookstore. After reading the summary I instantly purchased this book to read on the plane. The moment I start reading it kept me moving to the next page, next page, next page.
The story is moving! Great book. Another suggestion is The Dream - a self-made entreprenur who made millions during his teenage life. Very inspiring! Refreshing to mind too.

Enjoy reading.

Sarala
email: sarala1jan@yahoo.com

As another reviewer said, this is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. If you are in a job that is not that fulfilling, but you're afraid of making the leap, Wood's journey from Microsoft to the non-profit sector will be educational. If you are happy with your job, but just want to make your job inspiring, Wood's lessons from Microsoft that he applied to Room To Read will show you ways to do that, too. Thank you, John, for writing such a heartfelt memoir of your emotional journey.

This book is a must have, I have recommended to all my friends and family. Kudos to the Author for publishing such a wonderful book.

Namaste John. Kasto Cha??

You have made all Nepalese indebted with your incomparable deeds. You are true hero in our hearts. Yes, we salute you from the core of our heart.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. John Wood does what all of us dreamers out there imagine we could do: quits his excellent job at Microsoft to do his part in saving the world. Wood's style of writing is so smooth and easy to read, he never bores you. If you're at all familiar with the inside workings of the Microsoft company (my boyfriend interned there, so I am), you'll get a good laugh here and there when he talks about someone like Steve Ballmer and some other inside jokes. I highly recommend you read this book if you have any interests at all in poverty alleviation and humanitarian aid.

Despite the fact that his books feature anthropomorphic mice, Kevin Henkes' characters are always strikingly realistic. Lilly is no exception.

When she gets a COOL PURSE from her grandma, she has a predictably hard time waiting until Show-and-tell... so hard a time that she doesn't wait. And it's confiscated.

Then she - predictably - is upset at her teacher instead of herself. So she writes him a nasty letter... which she repents from when she realizes he doesn't totally hate her after all.

The descriptions of her feelings are just right, and she settles her problem in just the way I'd suggest to a kid in her situation.

I bought this book for my two year old granddaughter and she loves it. It is well made with wonderful pictures.

This story is about a girl who got a brand new purse. She really wants to show it to her classmates, but her teacher Mr. Slinger wants her to wait at an appropriate time.
I love this book because Lilly is very precious and for giving. I think this book is good for k-2nd grade. So they can have reading.
I think this is a wonderful story. Lilly loves her purse. Plus she's very anxious to show it off, that's why like this book.

This is a great book, especially if you have an independent, free-thinking, stong-willed little person to share this with. Lilly is a spunky little mouse that exhibits typical traits of every 4, 5 and 6 year old. This is one book that I don't mind reading over and over again.

A very fun and whimsical story that illustrates Lilly's emotional experience and how she deals with her emotions. I highly recommend. My 3 year old son loves it, and is a common birthday gift, especially for girls.

it took 3 weeks to have books. I have been buying things form Amazon. This is first time. No explanation.

This second book is a real charmer. With a little bit of everything, D.J. Machale reaches inside the readers emotionaly. He makes fantasies come to life inside these wondrous pages.

I won't be able to put an in-depth review since I read the book a while back and am on book 7 right now so my head is swimming with information from all the books.

The second book in the Pendragon series throws the reader back into the territories of Halla. As we last read, Bobby had gotten back to Second Earth to realize that his life there was over. When Loor and Press come to drive him away back to another territory, he once again leaves behind Courtney Chetwynde and Mark Dimond, the two who he had been sending the journals to.

This book has an even more enthralling storyline as you meet yet another traveler, Spader, a young guy from a territory completely underwater. You grow to like him and his "people-person" attitude.

This book continues to show Saint Dane's power, and just what happens in the beginning (I don't want to spoil anything, but it has to do with two floating cities) has a very eerie feeling to it.

This is a must have, as it connects the characters further along in the book and helps make way for book three.

I love this book for multiple reasons.
The first, I think, is because of one of the side characters, Spader. He's so dreamy!!! I love him soooo much!
The second is because the plot is just so fascinating. The idea that a world could exist that is completely on water is just so cool.
The third is because of Saint Dane, the evil dude trying to take over Halla(all existence, all times, all places, and all creatures, great or small). He's such an evil person I just could hit him. ARRGGG!
The fourth reason is because of Bobby. I think he's one of the funniest characters I've ever read about(yes, I'm saying he even tops Ron Weasley in Harry Potter!).
I love this second installment so much!
You should definitely surrender to your craving!! Way to go DJ!

I loved this book, it is fun and creative. I didn't want to put it down. This series is fun for all ages.

This was my favorite book when I was a child so I bought it to share with my children. They love the repitition and simple concepts.

As a 6 year old, I received this book from my 9 year old sister as a present a birthday party. When I told every how much I "hated books and hated to read" she burst into tears. I spent the next year reading Mr. Pine's Purple house every day to prove to her how much I loved it...and I did. I recently purchase it for her 50th birthday and we all had a good laugh (and of course I read it again!) I love Mr. Pine and his thoughtful attempts to be different.

I was speechless when I learned that Mr. Pine's Purple House was reprinted. The old copy from 30 years ago has been lost for at least the last 20 years. I have searched before and couldn't find it. This book is a wonderful easy to read book perfect for parents to read to children and for emerging readers to learn to read. How special it is to spend time cuddling with my daughter reading it like I did with my parents sooo many years ago. I'm thrilled to be reviving the tradition.

This is one of the best children's books ever written. While the drawings were created using a minimal number of colors, (purple, black and white) they are more than adequate to demonstrate what is happening in the story. This is in fact a plus, because the purpose of the book is to encourage reading and elaborate illustrations will distract from that goal.
Mr. Pine lives on a street where all the houses look alike, so he wants his to be distinctive. His first and second attempts are to plant a pine tree and bush respectively. However, the neighbors are so impressed with his improvements that they do the same things, so all the houses once again look alike. After some deep thought, Mr. Pine decides to paint his house purple. After a couple of mishaps involving an errant baseball and an even more errant dog and a cat, he manages to finish the job.
The result raises the eyebrows of the neighbors, (Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. White and Mr. Gold) and they decide to paint their houses as well. Mr. Pine is distraught, thinking that they will all also paint their houses purple. Fortunately, each of them has decided to paint their house a non-purple color that is different from their name. At the end, Mr. Pine still has the only purple house on the street.
A delightful tale about being the value of being distinctive, the lessons of life and learning how to read are ones that all children should learn.

We have had this book for our children and now are buying it for our grandchildren.....it is a keeper.....

Descriptions were so detail and vivid that I felt like I had witnessed the whole event.

This book is touching beyond any words we can summon. She lets it out there and puts it all on the table for all to see. Courageous as it gets.

-Jane Stevens
Tao Cycle Therapy: Natural Happiness via Self Directed Cure for Chronic Anxiety & Depression

Lori Schiller has written a riveting account of her descent into schizophrenia, her many years of suffering and her courageous breakthrough. It's an amazing true story that is sure to touch you in many ways.

In this riveting memoir, Ms. Schilling recounts in detail her spiraling descent into mental illness, which began in adolescence, at camp, when she first heard the voices that she would fight for the rest of her life. Her heartbreaking narrative about this debilitating disease, schizophrenia, gives us all a compassion for these victims that we may not have had before. Her poignant tale reminds all of us who have our mental health intact just how lucky we really are.

The subject is explored from many angles. Her roommate helplessly stands by, knowing something is wrong but not knowing what to do. Her distraught parents are tortured by the worry that they may have caused this. Her distressed brother worries that the disease may strike him next. The story is told through chapters in the first person written by all those touched by Lori's illness, including hospital notes and a long chapter by Dr. Dollar, one of the two doctors who finally broke through to Lori with extensive therapy and the help of a new experimental medication.

Her courageous battle gives hope to all of us, those who have a battle of their own to wage, as well as those in the life of someone who does. I cried when Doctor Fischer left, and I cried when Lori finally put the hospitals behind her to start a new life on her own, a successful life filled with the love of family and friends.

"At last, my life is my own."

This book helps see into the confused world of mental illness like no other. Wonderful & hopeful!

This book was recommended by my child's school librarian. All three of my kids, ages 5-10, girls and boy, loved the book. The illustrations were vibrant and the story captivated everyone.

I've been known to buy several copies of this book and give it to people whom I think need to get the message. I LOVE this book. I love to read it aloud~ even to adults. Breathed is so clever and the text is magnificient. The illustrations are vivid.
The story is about a boy in depression days so it may be better to give it this year than ever before. I've never given it as a gift and not had a great reaction.
This book may help even the most cynical believe in Santa Claus again.
I think I'll go read it right now in preparation for reading it to a group in a couple of weeks.

This is an AWESOME story for kids and grown-ups alike--for all the right reasons! Berkeley Breathed weaves such a rich and colorful tapestry with his words and the illustrations will make you "fall on the floor laughing!" It is a delightful Christmas story about the human experience and one of enlightment without any deep religious undertones. It's old-fashioned in the respect that it has a "moral." It's tickles one's fancy because the story is based on an actual "thing" that can be visited with wonder and intrigue. I know because my family had to make a "pilgramage" years ago to see it with our own eyes!!

As a Realtor in the Portland, Oregon, area I make it a habit to give this book to clients every Christmas...whether they have kids or not! You certainly won't be sorry for the purchase and I truly believe you're getting an excellent value for the cost. Enjoy!

Leslie Newberry
Cell: 503-349-2727

This is my favorite Christmas story, hands down. I cannot read it without getting choked up and teary... and it's NOT a sappy story! This tells of a young boy who has a run-in with an old man who may or may not be Santa Claus; the boy has little and believes in even less, though his encounter changes that. Don't think you know how this ends though - the boy is not easily won, and he does more for the old man than the other way around. The final image will give you chills... (in a good way)
DON'T SKIP TO THE END! IT IS BEST AS A SURPRISE.

The Red Ranger Came Calling has overtaken every other book, even my now #2 pick How The Grinch Stole Christmas, as my "must-tell" Christmas story. I am not able to read it aloud without tearing up at some point, curiously not always at the SAME point in the story.
This is a tall tale, more accurately the re-telling of a tall tale, and it's poignant message to remember to "look up" when seeking answers. The beautiful story for all ages is matched in brilliance with the artwork of Breathed. I have yet to find a child or adult who doesn't "get" the story and its beautiful moral. One need not be an Opus fan to love this book and appreciate the artistry inside.

Dear reader of this review, you might be wondering why Shel Silverstein titled his book Runny Babbit. It's Bunny Rabbit with the first letter switched around. So it's Runny Babbit. In this book a bunny rabbit lives in a town and everybody speaks in a weird way. Just to let you know all the pages are poems of how the rabbit lives.
A reminder while you're reading this book, you might notice something funny, or I mean runny, about the words. You should read Runny Babbit. I would read this book a million times if I could. If I could give this book stars, it would be a million stars!
RAPPY HEADING!!!

Great book, great author, great illustrations. Everyone should have this book and share it with children.

This book had my son rolling on the floor with laughter. There's one poem in particular that we have to read every time we open the book. It never fails to get his funny bone. I would recommend this for children who are reading. Younger children will probably not get the humor intended.

In a wave of nosthalgia, I bought this Shel Silvertein book. As a little kid I loved "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and the other works. This has to be the best, though.

While obviously it is a children's book, adults love it, too. It tickles the tongue and the spirit. When I took it to the office we took turns reading from it and laughed silly. It really lightened the atmosphere.

Also a warning: You will me tompelled, no cempted to wange you chords after beading this rook.

First, I want to be clear that this review pertains to the CD that comes with Runny Babbit. My 7-year-old son checked the Runny Babbit book from the library, and we read it and loved it. We'd pause to figure out what the words "should be." When he received money for his birthday, he wanted to buy a copy of the book. I made the mistake of suggesting he purchase the book that comes with the CD. THE CD IS AWFUL!!! The narrator sounds like he has a head cold and should have called in a sick day, but showed up at the studio anyway. There are only 12 poems on the CD, and it only runs about 10 minutes. (I know, that's like the joke about the restaurant that served lousy food, and such small servings!!! But it adds to the feeling of being completely ripped off by the CD.) It is not worth buying!!! Just buy the book without the CD and either read it to your child aloud or have your child read it; the experience will be much more worthwhile.

I can't believe I missed out on this one as a child... but it's just as good coming to it as an adult. The perfect lazy Sunday afternoon book to read. Adults can also escape to the wilds of Lake Windemere (Lake District), to sail up the Amazon, do battle with pirates and search for buried treasure on Cormorant Island.

The year is 1929 and story is about four children - John, Susan, Titty and Roger (in age order) - who are holidaying on the shores of Lake Windemere with their mum and baby sister, Vicky. The children are an adventurous lot and love sailing in their boat, the Swallow. Towards the end of their holiday they persuade their mum to allow them on an adventure for a week. They're allowed to sail across to the island not far away and make camp there by themselves.

This is a great adventure for these intrepid explorers. They discover a retired pirate, camp, bathe in the lake, fish and cook for themselves, and are threatened by a rival group of bandits, the Amazons (otherwise known as Nancy and Peggy). All in all a great week of fun and adventure is had by all - brilliant to read about, although there are very few children who'd be allowed to do this now! Inspired by the author's own childhood holidays at the south end of Coniston in the Lake District.

This wonderful book was written about 75 years ago, but is still extremely popular today. It is ageless. I first read it as a nine or ten year old and have read it several times since then. The last time I read it I was in my late 50s or early 60s. Every young person should enjoy it immensely as a fictional story. But there are many moral and ethical issues that are slyly inserted into this novel. The biography of the author and how he came to write this book, which was the first in a series of 9 or 10 novels, is a fascinating story in itself.

The Swallows and Amazons series was one of my favorites when I was a child. The story, set in the Lake District of England where Wordsworth and other great poets grew up, is a gentle adventure tale about children camping out on an island and rigging a little sailboat. It is slower paced than children are used to today. But I think a sensitive boy or girl would find it reassuring that the children solve their own problems of navigation etc.

While it didn't bother me as a child that the language was distinctly British, as I'd been prepared by the Winnie the Pooh stories, and Wind in the Willows, I would recommend Swallows and Amazons as a bedtime story to be read aloud by an adult reader. The reader could then explain the language. A map of the UK would help too, as the story is set in the Lake District.

An adult storyteller might be interested in a biography of the series author, Arthur Ransome, who led an adventurous life - including work in the Soviet Union and marriage to a Russian woman.

Enchanting
It's hard to explain what makes this book so charming: The writing, the way the children and their relationships with each other are shown so clearly and believably, the very real adventures they have, the sense of place....but listing those traits doesn't do the book justice. It's also really funny in places! Ransome creates a world that is clearer and lighter and more enchanting than the one most of us live in -- but he's also written a realistic book. The Lake District DOES look the way he describes it, and there could be children like the Swallows and their friends the Amazon pirates.

The books are for all ages, and I think they are also inspiring and a good influence! They make me want to have adventures -- and they encourage parents by example to let their children have them. The parents in the books are responsible, teach their children well -- and allow them to adventure on their own. They can do that because they've taught the children to have good judgment and be responsible.

Arthur Ransome's own favorite in the series was WINTER HOLIDAY, which I also loved. Once the original characters leave the series, it loses its interest (for me, anyway) -- children who enjoyed the first books will also probably like Blow Out the Moon by Libby Koponen and all the E.Nesbit books.

About 60 years ago I read as many books from this series that I could find in my local public library. I had passed through a phase of devouring the Dr. Doolittle fantasy series (so damaged by the motion pictures using that title - how could they cast tall lanky Rex Harrison in the role of a short cuddly grandfather-like figure?) Another series in which, as an American boy fascinated by warplanes during the Worl War II era - I went on to become an aerospace engineer - I was enthralled, was "A Yank in the RAF", which I don't think would translate to the 21st Century very well. But the series that made the most impact on me was Ransome's Swallow family. As with Hugh Lofting's Doolittle, the author's drawings enhanced the books.

I have not visited there yet but I plan on touring Britain's Lake District (I don't think I was cognizant of where the tales took place, except I knew the children were British. They liked to drink ginger beer; in the US we had a ginger ale drink, but not ginger beer and I was curious to have some.) I have long wanted to live somewhere that would allow me to experience the thrill of mastering the small sailing boats of the story. The closest I came was living near the Pacific in California and near the Potomac River. But the boats in those regions were larger and not terribly accessible. I did go sailing with friends and tried to sail on my own in a marina with a rented boat (a too narrow and crowded venue for a novice just learning to tack and unfamiliar with how to dump wind from the sail when being carried in the wrong direction.) I have gotten to taste ginger beer. I have also used the children's means of including coded messages in their letters in the form of dancing stick figures around the page's margin (the secret was to ignore other parts of the figures and concentrate on the positions of the arms, which were standard semaphore code.) I introduced the code to one of my daughters when we were in the "Indian Princesses" organization. (Is the name and programs of that organization offensive to American Indians? I'm sure its founders weren't sensitive to the fact that American Indians still existed.)

I will introduce this series to my precocius 6 year old grand daughter when I think she is ready.

Love the whole series. I am reading them to my kids (9,7,5) because I loved them as a kid. My kids are definitely enjoying them and the color pictures are great.

I love the Laura books, I can remember my mother reading them to me when I was young. Since then, I've read then again and it never ceases to delight me.
My only complaint though, is that the illistrations are pathetic. They don't even look real, so I had a hard time seeing Laura as a real person. For me, when I see lifelike drawings, it really makes get in touch with their character. The drawer, Garth Williams, is someone I wouldn't want to be doing my book! I like the illistrations for The Caroline Years. Oh well...still love the books.

I usually buy CD's but this time got the tape version, the first tape didn't even work. I ended up buying it again on CD. Stay away from tapes.

Now fifteen-years-old, Laura Ingalls can't help but crave getting a job in order to help her family. Ever since her first taste of earning her own money, she is determined to find another position that complements her skills. Besides, with Mary away at college, as much as Laura misses the companionship of her beloved sister, she can't help but feel compelled to assist her family in keeping Mary in a place where she is learning, and happier than ever. To do that, however, she'll have to do what she can to find the perfect job. Now that she has her teaching certificate, she'll be able to do just that.

It seems like only yesterday that Laura Ingalls was racing around the schoolyard with the boys, playing ball and sharing secrets with her friends; now she is basically all grown up, and beginning her career as a schoolteacher. But being a teacher isn't as easy as Laura hoped it would be - especially when many of the students are older than she is. And, to add insult to injury, she's forced to contend with boarding with a couple who spends the late nights hurling insults at one another, and living in miserable conditions. The only consolation is that Almanzo Wilder drives in to town each and ever Friday, to pick her up and bring her to her folks house for the weekend, before she must start another grueling week. It is during these long rides that Laura begins to spend more and more time with the older man. But it also makes her question why he is so willing to drive the twelve miles to her aid each week. Laura is unsure of his motives. She is also too tired and busy to spend much time thinking about them. Instead, she thinks of the paycheck that will soon come her way; and the beauty and splendor of the items she can buy for her family as time goes by.

With each and every book in the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE series, I have seen Laura get older and older. I have also grown to love her as much as an old friend. Laura is such a responsible, mature individual - quite different from the little rascal she was during her younger years. She seems so caring, and eager to assist her family, and see that her sister gets the education she has always craved. It is so refreshing to see a character who puts others ahead of herself. Like in LITTLE TOWN ON THE PRAIRIE, the reader has the opportunity to learn more about Almanzo Wilder; however, the more you learn, the more you see just how much older he is than Laura, and how strangely the relationship between the two of them develops. Another winner from Ms. Ingalls-Wilder!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I love most of the Little House on the Prairie books, as well as the stories of Laura's great-grandmother, Martha, her grandmother, Charlotte, her mother, Caroline, and her daughter, Rose. I've read every one I can get my hands on. My all-time favorite of the all the series is These Happy Golden Years. This tells of Laura and Almanzo's courtship, and it is so chaste and sweet.

This book definitely belongs on my 10 favorite children's books.

When most people think of Yu-Gi-Oh, they think of the children's cartoon series. They see weirdo characters battling with monsters sported from the trading card that's all the rage among children and a select few teenagers. They wouldn't begin to suspect seeing the iconic Yami Yuugi (whom those have normally seen trying to rescue his grandpa or just generically "saving the world" time and time again) making a life-threatening bet with an escaped convict, whom ends up incinerating himself with his own cigarette--or driving other corrupted delinquents to madness while twisting their own distorted flaws to ironic pain and suffering.

No, this isn't something made for kids, and perhaps not even suitable for someone under thirteen. If I am not mistaken, this particular volume shows implications of murder, domestic violence, death, corporate misdemeanor, attempted rape, among other suggestive material that would have parents of children who watch the American adaptation of Yu-Gi-Oh confused beyond all doubt.

The story begins with Yuugi Mutou, an self-doubting high-school freshman who usually finds himself alone in a corner playing games. Being unpopular and subject-able to teasing and peer harassment, Yuugi wishes more than anything to have friends whom he can cherish and relate to. In possession of the Millennium Puzzle, a cursed relic that when put together, can grant its holder one wish, Yuugi is determined to assemble it in order to make his wish come true. What he doesn't realize, however, is the fact that the puzzle contains the soul of a three thousand year blood-thirsty gambler, whom later possesses Yuugi once he completes it. With that, every person who assaults or threatens Yuugi, later finds himself competing with the ancient spirit in a duel that usually results with death, injury or insanity.

Despite this however, the story within this graphic novel series conveys themes of friendship, loyalty and trust. Through Yuugi's pain, he finds connections with some of the most unlikely people, including Jounouchi Katsuya, a former offender whom Yuugi defended from a greater common enemy, Honda Hiroto, who defended by Yuugi from an inflexible and dogmatic instructor, and Mazaki Anzu--his childhood friend whom he rescued from a hostage crisis in a fast-food restaurant.

This particular graphic novel is packed with seven suspenseful teen-based stories, each one with distorted outcomes that will have your mind spinning yet begging for more. Among the shonen-genre, this is among perhaps one of the more over-rated franchises--but is still very, very good and well told.

Among manga readers, this one is a good buy, though I find it silly if you already have the paperback. Unless you are dying for a better chance at preserving your comics and wishing to see the first five pages in color--than what the heck, go nuts!

I bet there is a few people who are thinking about buying this for a younger relitive, thinking it's like the 4kids anime....you better back away unless you want your 7-10 year old pulling the perverted prank "panty tank". Yu-Gi-Oh! was originally intended for teens until 4kids messed it up so if your looking for some Yu-Gi-Oh! for your kids try "the pyrimid of light" ani-manga (its colored and has the same dialoge as the movie its self)

The first 7 volumes of the manga is pretty much what happened in the series that wasn't shown in the US. I recommend this to manga readers 11+ but be warned, there is violence and a lot of swears in this manga. I am 13 years old

Many American children, especially those in the 7-12 age bracket, watch Yu-Gi-Oh regularly. Kids love the action and strategy. Parents love the 'appropriate' factor. Teens, however, hate the kiddiness, and anime purists abhor the editing.

Guess what? It's a lucky day for teens and anime fans.

Threats, fist-fights, and disturbing games (with disturbing conclusions) run rampant in this first volume of Yu-Gi-Oh, and although most people will love it, parents need to be warned--this is not for children under the age of 12.

Also, you won't find the card game 'Duel Monsters' anywhere in this first volume--in fact, it doesn't become the main part of the story until later on in the Yu-Gi-Oh anthology. Instead, however, you'll find out the origins of Yugi and his friends (with their original, un-Americanized names). And while all of this was originally created for a Japanese TV show, when 4Kids brought YGO over to the US, they skipped over the first few story arcs, and got right to the card battles.

Also, it's important to note that as this is a manga (Japanese comics, for the uninitiated) graphic novel, it reads from right to left, in traditional Japanese fashion. Of course, this means that you read the panels and text bubbles from right side to left side, but the translated text is written from left to right. It's ok if you don't understand--VIZ (the publishing company) provides a key in the graphic novel to help you learn how to read it. After 30 or 40 pages, reading like this will become second nature, so don't fret about that.

VIZ translates the sound effects, which is nice. The artwork is very nice (though not amazing), consistent, and easy to look at. The translation is very well done, with footnotes explaining any Japanese pop-culture references you might miss.

Overall, I'd highly reccomend it--to anyone over 12, and especially to older Yu-Gi-Oh fans who want to see a little bit darker take on the story.

Try, for a moment, to put aside all you think you know about Yu-Gi-Oh! and imagine something completely unexpected. Forget about the children's TV series. Don't give the card games another thought. And try to get past the tons of merchandise featuring Yugi's image. Let's begin to reconceptualize the character of Yugi.

That is, essentially, all that is needed in order to more fully enjoy Kazuki Tanahashi's creation, Yu-Gi-Oh! In the Manga, Yugi isn't the tough-talking little Goth boy you might expect. Instead, Yugi seems to be the polar opposite of this characterization - and deliberately so. A comparatively small teen with awkwardly-proportioned hands and feet, the slightly-effeminate Yugi struggles daily with schoolyard bullies, cruel adults, and even the doldrums which epitomize teenage life. While everything seems stacked against him from the get-go, Yugi finds himself optimistic, enjoying life whereas other similarly-affected kids would be beaten down by these oppressive forces.

And this is because he has a mind which is constantly stimulated by the games his grandfather provides him with. You see, Yugi loves puzzles more than anything, and can make a game out of anything. This is the quality that both alienates him from his peers, and gives him limitless courage to face each trial of the schoolyard. In this sense, there's some degree of all of us - after all, who doesn't love a good game? Who among us hasn't daydreamed about getting lost in some fancy labyrinth, or of solving a particularly challenging mind game?

As a result of his passion for puzzles, Yugi becomes someone different from time to time - a personality over which he has no conscious recollection or knowledge. This Yugi is a sadist, one who has no qualms over hurting those who tread upon the weak as a means of poetic justice. This Yugi plays games of a different sort, ones which torture the players unfortunate enough to lose ("Penalty Games," dished out to those who seemingly deserve such extreme punishments - blindness, insanity, death by fire, etc.), but only those who have manipulated others and exploited their helplessness. This Yugi later becomes known as "Yama Yugi" (or, "Dark Yugi").

In creating this series, creator Mr. Tanahashi explains that he had no concept of how popular his little character would become in the marketplace and in the media. Having met with no prior success, Mr. Tanahashi had no way of anticipating what would become of his little "strange story... that centered around 'The Mysterious' in everyday life." The first appearance of the ubiquitous card game based on the Manga does not even make an appearance in this first volume (a 7-issue series which spins off into Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist and nearly concurrently, Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium World, and today's hot property Yu-Gi-Oh! GX).

While this book is - as one might expect - very popular with the kids, it certainly isn't the average American-written "kids' book." Inside these pages are tales of abuse, murder, torture... and, sometimes, even some bawdy humour ("Never play basketball in a skirt," says Anzu, the book's female protagnist). Certainly, it is filled with goofy stories light on the plot and occasionally, heavy on the characterizations - so it's a nice, light read. It's a children's title by way of Suzuki Koji, much the same way Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro was almost a grown-up movie disguised as kids' fare.

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a fun ride, packed with calculated fear and excitement, and endowed heavily with humanizing imagery (especially poignant is the image of Yugi reaching into a box, having nearly completed the 3-D puzzle he had kept with him for eight years, his clumsy hand searching for the final puzzle piece... only to discover it was missing, for all his pains. After watching him get beaten and extorted by a much larger classmate, knowing that the puzzle was what gave poor Yugi the most enjoyment out of life... This painful little scene is almost too much for dry eyes to absorb). It may not be the best of the genre, but it does deserve the attention it has received.

It also deserves a little more respect as well, but with marketing ever the ceaseless beast, this probably isn't too likely.