No one knows the full story of Charlie Small. At least, not yet. His battered journal was found washed up on a remote, windswept shore. And at first we thought it an elaborate hoax. Surely no 8-year-old could have had so many wild adventures, witnessed so many extraordinary things, lived such an incredible life and still only be eight. And yet . . . there was something so vivid in the telling that we were persuaded to send the journal and some of its boggling content for analysis. And only one conclusion could be drawn. Everything in the journal of Charlie Small is true! In his first adventure, Gorilla City, Charlie wrestles a deadly river croc, rides a steam-powered rhino, and becomes tribal chief in a city of gorillas. From the Trade Paperback edition.
The author of the Newbery Honor Book "Tuck Everlasting" delivers a new adventure about a young man who started out to be a pirate, but just didn't seem to have the knack for it and seeks a new career.
The cast: an un-ordinary king, and an extraordinary princess, a couple of kooky giants, an overzealous magician, a loyal and helpful witch, and a host of evil and dangerous wizards.
The instruments: a broken-down magic carpet, a leaking magical sword, and a few buckets of soapy lemon water.
The problem: dragon-napping and magic-stealing.
And so the story begins, one fine day while King Mendanbar is taking a casual stroll through the Enchanted Forest. . . .
“A refreshing romp.”—Kirkus
“[A] story that will delight fantasy fans. ”—Booklist
The Deadly Dungeon
Dink's favorite mystery writer, Wallis Wallace, has invited Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose for a sleepover - in a haunted castle! But as soon as the young detectives arrive, they start hearing screams behind the walls. Will they discover who - or what - is haunting Moose Manor?
The Falcon's Feathers
F is for Falcon...When Josh discovers a nest of young falcons in the forest, he, Dink, and Ruth Rose start visiting every day. Until the morning they find it empty! Then the kids discover a wounded falcon with its wing feathers clipped, and they know someone's up to no good. Can they figure out what's going on before it's too late to save the falcons?
The Goose's Gold
Sun, sand--and sunken treasure? That's what Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose discover when they go on vacation to Florida. An old ship has been found off the coast, and it's full of gold! Two divers are collecting donations to bring up the loot. They're promising to share whatever they find, but is this too good to be true? It's up to Dink and his friends to get to the bottom of it!
The Empty Envelope
E is for Envelope...Dink keeps getting envelopes in the mail addressed to "D. Duncan." But the letters inside all start with "Dear Doris" and don't make any sense! Josh and Ruth Rose think someone's playing a trick on Dink. But Dink is sure there's more to it than that, especially after Doris herself shows up and demands her letters!
Here are more poems bursting to be listened to, chanted, laughed over, and remembered.
It would be hard to find a school-age kid who has not read or heard a Prelutsky poem and who does not want to hear another. He plays with the language and encourages listeners to revel in the game. Puns, jokes, wordplay and shape play, wit, silliness, slapstick, and joy abound. Some of the poems are about people, some are about animals. And some are about things that never were (and that one hopes never will be). Be warned: Listen to a poem once and you will love it. Listen to it several times and it will be part of you forever.
Have you ever encountered an underwater marching band, a pig in a bathing suit, a pet orangutan, or a witch in a hardware store? Have you ever sat with a skunk in a courtroom, shopped for a dinosaur, or conversed with a Bupple, a Wosstrus, a Violinnet, or a Celloon? You will have, once you've read this exuberant collaboration from Jack Prelutsky and his "partner in crime" James Stevenson.
The "reigning czars of silliness" have once again teamed up to bring readers an irresistible collection of poems that will have tongues twisting, imaginations soaring, and sides aching with laughter. The result is genius, indeed.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Jacqueline Wilson's favourite character, Tracy Beaker, who lives in a children's home. Ten-year-old Tracy is smart and full of energy but more than anything she wants love. In 'The Story of Tracy Beaker', Tracy doesn't know where her mum lives but that doesn't stop her having long imaginary conversations with her. She's had two foster families before which haven't worked out, but hopes a woman named Cam will be her next foster mum. In 'The Dare Game' Tracy is now living with Cam and starting a new school. Things seem to be looking up for Tracy - but then the trouble begins. She has a horrible teacher, the other kids laugh at her and things between her and Cam aren't going as well as expected. Tracy's friends, Alexander and Football, are having their own problems too. Then one day, out of the blue, who should appear but Tracy's long-lost mum. Starring Victoria O'Donnell as Tracy and Rebecca Front as Cam.
1973 erhielt Eugen Oker für seine Geschichten mit Maxl und dessen Babba den Astrid-Lindgren-Preis: 'Die Jury entschied sich für diese in Inhalt, Sprache und Erzählweise einmaligen, urkomischen und anregenden Geschichten, weil sie ein neues Element - etwas noch nie Dagewesenes - in die Kinderbuchlandschaft bringen: das Zusammenspiel des erzählenden Vaters mit dem zuhörenden und miterzählenden Sohn, jenes gemeinsame Fabulieren, das die Geschichten immer wieder zu überraschenden Wendungen führt und den Leser zum Mitdenken, Mitspielen und In-Frage-stellen animiert.'
Diese Beurteilung ist auch nach über 30 Jahren ohne Einschränkung gültig, wie (u. a) die Platzierung des Hörbuchs auf Platz 2 der hr2-Bestenliste für Kinder- und Jugend-Hörbücher im Oktober 2005 beweist. Die urbairischen Okerschen Babba/Maxl-Geschichten haben ihre Frische und ihren hintersinnig welthaltigen Witz bis heute ungeschmälert bewahrt.
Die sieben Geschichten auf dem Hörbuch werden von Gerd Burger pfiffig und unterhaltsam gelesen, die musikalische Begleitung steuert Heinz Grobmeier bei, dessen unverkennbare Klangteppiche aus Blas-, Tasten-, Schlaginstrumenten und allen möglichen Eigenbauten zu Okers Geschichten passen wie die Faust aufs Auge.
'Denke ich an meine Jugend zurück, so erinnere ich mich an eine große schöne Wiese und einen Teich mit klarem Wasser ...'
Black Beauty, ein wunderschöner Rappe mit einem weißen Fuß und einem weißen Stern auf der Stirn, erzählt seine Lebensgeschichte. Nach einer glücklichen Kindheit, wird er zum ersten Mal verkauft. Er findet neue Freunde, gerät in die Hände gewissenloser Menschen und aus dem feurigen Rappen wird ein gewöhnliches Droschkenpferd. Doch gerade hier trifft er auf Menschen, die es gut mit ihm meinen.
Die Originalvorlage von Anna Sewell ist ein leidenschaftlicher Appell für eine artgerechte und sanfte Tierhaltung. Bei dieser Hörbuchfassung handelt es sich um eine kinder- und jungendfreundliche Überarbeitung. Es wurden einige Schilderungen von tragischen Unfällen oder übermäßiger Brutalität entfernt oder umgeschrieben, jedoch ohne die Intension der Vorlage zu beeinträchtigen.
Die bekannte Schauspielerin und Sprecherin Barbara Stoll erzeugt mit ihrer warmen und wohligen Stimme eine ganz besondere Atmosphäre.
