Product Description
"Four Tales" brings together "Clockwork", "The Firework-Maker's Daughter", "I was a Rat" and "The Scarecrow and His Servant"; four stories that showcase Philip Pullman's unique imaginative talent. Drawing on the rich tradition of fairytales, the collection will amuse, engage, thrill and delight readers from 8 to 80, whether they are new to his writing or diehard fans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Golden Compass
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Golden Compass is a great fantasy book for 4-8thgraders because it
has a little bit ofviolence and a hard reading level. This is one of my
favorite books because of the detail and a great adventure inside. This book is about Lyra who is from Oxford at an orphanage and Roger, who is Lyra's best friend. Together Lyra and Roger try to find out about Gobblers, until Roger is missing and Lyra has to find him. During this breathtaking mission there are some things that are in Lyra's way: evil people that kidnap her, dæmons and bears. While Lyra is trying to find Roger, she meets a friend Iorek Byrnison, a bear that will help her but has a job of his own. He must overthrow the evil King Iofur Raknison and become the new bear King. In this book there is something that most humans have: a dæmon that will do everything in their power to protect the owner of them. While Lyra is looking for Roger, she gets captured by evil people that are working for her mom and have stolen many other children. Now she must escape so she can continue her mission to rescue Roger. To find out more about this mystery, read it!


1 of the reasons I enjoyed this book is because of all of the action. In
this book there is never a moment were there is not death, war or mystery
which is why I am recommending this. Another reason I enjoyed this book
is because the author has written this amazing fantasy as a trilogy so that the second and third book are available if you finish this. These books are: The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

By Lorenzo

Envigorating read
This book is an invigorating read. It has action from beginning to end. I donot find it to be counter to my faith as a Christian at all. If I believed my faith to be one that hemmed me in and one that was binding, it would be contrary to my faith. However, I find Christianity to be liberating and the key to an abundant life, and I find nothing like this prohibited or attacked in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
His Dark Materials is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman comprising Northern Lights (1995, published as The Golden Compass in North America), The Subtle Knife (1997), and The Amber Spyglass (2000). It follows the coming-of-age of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, as they wander through a series of parallel universes against a backdrop of epic events. The three novels have won various awards, most notably The Amber Spyglass, the 2002 Whitbread Book of the Year prize, while the trilogy as a whole took third place in the BBC's Big Read poll in 2003. ... Read more

Product Description
Here's what the old miller left his sons when he died: To his oldest son, the mill. To his middle son, the donkey. To his youngest son, Jacques,the cat. A fine cat, indeed, but still, just a cat.
Luckily, as Jacques discovers, Puss is no ordinary kitty. He's smart. He can talk. And he is quite a snappy dresser. He's also planned an exciting future for Jacques-one that involves a princess and a very large fortune.
Master storyteller Philip Pullman and prizewinning illustrator Ian Beck team up in this witty retelling, which sparkles with humor and adventure.
Amazon.com Review
Oh, what's a poor miller's son to do? Bequeathed nothing but a cat when his father dies, Jacques is baffled. "'The cat?' said Jacques. 'Father's left me the cat?' He was a fine cat, but not much use when it came to earning a living." Of course, this is before Jacques realizes that what he has is a "most enterprising" cat that will bring him fame, fortune, and a princess.

Philip Pullman, Carnegie Medal-winning author of many remarkable children's books, including I Was a Rat!, Count Karlstein, and the His Dark Materials trilogy, turns his pen to a fairy tale retelling with great comic success. Puss has a dry, sneaky wit, which balances nicely with Jacques's trusting nature and the Ogre's mean-spirited, spoiled-kid manner. Ian Beck's big, funny, crosshatch ink and watercolor illustrations tell their own story, with wry asides from the characters in cartoon bubbles over their heads. This is a laugh-out-loud classic that loses absolutely nothing--perhaps even gains a little--in the retelling. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Old Fairy Tale, Made Better.....
You know the old story. The old Miller dies leaving his oldest son, the mill, his middle son, the donkey and his youngest son, the cat. His youngest son, Jacques, isn't too happy with his bequest. He likes the cat. It's a very nice cat. But what will a cat do for him when it comes to the future. And that's when Puss surprises the young man and begins to talk. He has big plans. He's smart and crafty and as he tells his new owner: "I've got the wit, if you'll supply the courage." With that, the two are off to find fame and fortune and maybe a princess..... Phillip Pullman has taken this well known fairy tale and given it new life. He's added a few new entertaining characters, an ogre, a hermit and two ghouls and enhanced the story by broadening the plot line and making it more imaginative and interesting. His witty and irreverent text is beautifully complemented by Ian Beck's bold and colorful charming illustrations, full of busy action and special details, including cartoon-like thought bubbles with amusing asides that will keep older kids laughing out loud. Perfect for youngsters 5-9, this version of Puss In Boots has a much better ending that ties up all the loose ends and takes readers on a hilarious adventure that shouldn't be missed.

A surprise delight!
I loved this book.Yes, it is a retelling of the "Puss in Boots" story, and yes, there are probably 50 "Puss in Boots" books out there, but this one has an original spark to it.

In all of his books of his that I've read, Philip Pullman imbues a smart type of wit that is still acceptable for children, but makes his books all the more interesting for more advanced readers.For example, in this book, there is a scene depicting the princess and Jacques falling in love.To illustrate the problem of it, both of them are standing on opposite edges of the page, looking away from each other, wondering (with cartoon bubbles) when "the question" is going to pop up.(I don't want to say specifically what they said, because it wouldn't sound the same here.)I burst out laughing at this scene, first because it is so comic, but also because it strikes a chord in real life as well.

All the characters are funny, in their own type of way, without being overdone.Puss is confident, Jacques shy, the princess lovestruck, the ogre evil (and unedjucated!).These characters really make the story happen, probably as they were supposed to in the first place!

Even if you don't like fairy-tales, give this book a chance! ... Read more

Product Description
A Transylvanian spoof by the author of "Spring-heeled Jack". It consists of a melodramatic adventure tale in words, cartoons and jokes, about Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman. He terrorizes the villagers of Karlstein, and is offered the evil Count Karlstein's two young nieces as part of a bargain.Amazon.com Review
"I might have occupied my mind usefully with ImprovingThoughts, but the only improvement I could imagine then was a pair ofwings, to enable me to fly to freedom. And, of course, a Head forHeights. I cleaned the dust from the window and peered out hopefully,but there was nothing but a Horrid Precipice, with jagged cragsseveral thousands of feet below." Such are the woes of youngCharlotte, locked in a tower room of her uncle's gloomy CastleKarlstein in 19th-century Switzerland. Escaping this predicament seemsthe least of her worries: in a solemn blood pact, her evil uncle,Count Karlstein, has promised to sacrifice his two orphaned nieces,Lucy and Charlotte, to Zamiel the Demon Huntsman--on midnight of AllSouls' Eve--in return for his current riches.

First, however, the heartless Count and his "lip-licking,moist-handed, creeping, smarming" secretary, Herr ArturoSnivelwurst, will have to catch Lucy, too--and it is no small taskwith the headstrong, 14-year-old Hildi Kelmar; her 18-year-old,handsome-in-a-scowling-sort-of-way brother, Peter; and the intrepidEnglish teacher Miss Augusta Davenport on the girls' side. As MissDavenport herself points out, "an English gentlewoman can riseabove any circumstances, given intelligence and a loaded pistol."The events in this delightful gothic farce unfold quickly in a varietyof narrative voices, artfully building in suspense to a powerful,terrifying, deeply satisfying stand-off between the Count and theDemon Huntsman of Impenetrable Darkness himself. Subplots and looseends are gracefully, happily, justly tied up in the light of day,finally allowing readers to exhale.

British novelist Philip Pullman, masterful storyteller and creator ofthe bestselling adventures The Golden Compassand The SubtleKnife, mesmerizes us again with his playful,suspenseful thriller Count Karlstein, released in the UnitedStates 16 years after its appearance in the United Kingdom. Readersyoung and old will revel in every angle, twist, and turn of thisbreathlessly paced, very funny page-turner. (Ages 11 and older)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

LAUGHS AND SHIVERS ABOUND
Philip Pullman has a string of popular stories to his credit and well knows of what he writes.This time out he offers middle readers just what he knows they'll enjoy - frights (rattling chains, howling hounds, and thundering hooves of invisible horses abound) plus liberal doses of laughter.

A creepy tale of a greedy count and his evil scheme is presented.The question is:what will prevail good or evil?

On All Soul's Eve two innocents are pursued by the Demon Huntsman.Will they escape?

Pretty good.
This was a pretty good book. Nothing on my top shelf list or anything. It was kind of slow in some parts and with my ADHD it was hard to keep my attention at times. :p Overall on a 1-10 scale I would give it a 6 meaning above average. Not as good as "His Dark Materials" but worth getting if you have a road trip to take and need something to keep you occupied during the drive.

Chad.

Great!A true classic!
We enjoyed this story on a five hour car ride - three kids under 14 and one adult.We thoroughly enjoyed it!

Count Karlstein is a classic fairytale with hints of Faust, Hansel and Gretel (The Brothers Grimm), and Charles Dickens.The story has a lively combination of characters both straight and comic.The audio version is clear and well portrayed with a cast of 8 actors.

Count Karlstein is a villain who is the sole remaining relative of a pair of orphan girls.These girls, though young, are thoughful and resourceful.But some evil plan is underfoot.How do the maid, her impetuous brother, the lawyer, the magician, the constable, the Englsih teacher, the silly lovers, and the deamon work to thwart each others efforts?Read or listen on!

This was a good audio book
This book was funny because there were a lot of characters who had silly names like Roliopolio and Snivelwurst.

I liked when Charlotte found a wooden head that she named Herr Woodenkopf and carried it around everywhere. It tricked people into thinking it was someone's head and that was funny.

I really liked Charlotte and Max and Eliza. They were the good guys. I did not like Zamiel the Huntsman, he was the bad guy and so was Count Karlstein.

I liked that everyone in the audio book has different voices so it is kind of like listening to a real show.

Count Karlstein
I liked this book because all the different characters had their own voices.I liked Charlotte best because she was smart. And I also liked when Lucy was the princess in Dr. Cadaverezzi's show. It was funny when Max's girlfriend Eliza kept calling his coach horn a trombone. And then he made his coach horn shoot a pea and he shot it through the mayor's hat by accident. There were a lot of silly parts in the book because some of the grownups weren't so smart. Charlotte, Lucy and Hildi, who were the kids, were the smartest people in the book I think.

I would recommend this book to other kids. It was funny and a little scary but everyone is OK at the end except for the bad guy. ... Read more

Product Description
Puss helps his master, Jacques, to find happiness and fortune. This re-telling of a classic tale is based on Philip Pullman's script for a production at the Polka Children's Theatre in Wimbledon. Philip Pullman is one of the most highly acclaimed children's authors of the decade. Illustrated with humour and aplomb by Ian Beck. Ages 9-12. ... Read more

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A boxed set comprising three parts of this award-winning story of fantasy, terror and grandiose follies. ... Read more

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Introducing a lively, attractive, and comprehensive guide to children’s books translated into English.
The children’s book industry produces some of the most groundbreaking, popular, and influential books in the market. Outside In takes an in-depth look at classic and contemporary titles, and the pleasures and insights they can offer to young readers. A timely and engaging guide for anyone interested in the rich traditions of children’s literature from
around the world, Outside In is sure to delight a broad range of readers. ... Read more

Product Description
A revived version of this well-known story, which has been written especially for today's children. It is one of a number of stories, within a series, that have been rewritten and re-illustrated by a selection of award-winning authors and illustrators to celebrate the 1998 National Year of Reading. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Questioning war
This Hesperus Press collection of articles, speeches, letters, and play excerpts gives Bernard Shaw's opinions on war. Shaw adeptly highlights the absurdities of war. The writings display Shaw's wit and irony as he expresses his views of the Boer War, both World Wars, the dropping of the atomic bomb, and other conflicts. Shaw foresaw the consequences of the harsh treaty terms imposed on Germany after World War I. The later rise of Hitler and Mussolini bore out Shaw's predictions. The reader may be surprised to read some of Shaw's views of the German dictator.

It is interesting to read Shaw's views on war. The real value of the book, though, is that it forces you, the reader, to examine your own views of war. Whether or not you agree with Shaw's opinions, reading his writings will prompt you to examine your beliefs about war. Reading this book prompts many questions for the reader. Why do we fight? Why is peace so difficult to maintain? What is the justification for war? What is war's attraction? Have we learned anything from the history of war? Is peace a possibility? Reading this book can help you clarify your stand on war. ... Read more

Product Description
Paradise Lost is the great epic poem of the English language, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of innocence pitted against corruption, in which God and Satan fight a bitter battle for control of mankind's destiny. The struggle ranges across heaven, hell, and earth, as Satan and his band of rebel angels conspire against God.At the center of the conflict are Adam and Eve, motivated by all too human temptations, but whose ultimate downfall is unyielding love.
This marvelous edition boasts an introduction by one of Milton's most famous modern admirers, the best-selling novelist Philip Pullman. Indeed, Pullman not only provides a general introduction, but also introduces each of the twelve books of the poem.In these commentaries, Pullman illuminates the power of the poem and its achievement as a story, suggests how we should read it today, and describes its influence on him and his acclaimed trilogy His Dark Materials, which takes its title from a line in the poem. His observations offer a tribute that is both personal and insightful, and his enthusiasm for Milton's language, skill, and supreme gifts as a storyteller is infectious. He encourages readers above all to experience the poem for themselves, and surrender to its enchantment.
Pullman's tremendous admiration and passion for Paradise Lost will attract a whole new generation of readers to this classic of English literature. An ideal gift, the book is beautifully produced, printed in two colors throughout, illustrated with the twelve engravings from the first illustrated edition published in 1688, with ribbon marker. ... Read more

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Tercera y ultima novela de la trilogia LA MATERIA OSCURA. La terrible guerra que predijeron las brujas es ya inminente. Will es el portador de la Daga el arma mas poderosa de todos los mundos que debe entregar a Lord Astriel. Pero este peligroso viaje debe emprenderlo sin ayuda porque Lyra ha desaparecido... ... Read more

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Lyra's quest leads her to Svalbard, where further dangers await her - and abetrayal. ... Read more