Product Description
Playaway is the easiest way to listen to a book on the go. An all-in-one format, the player and content are combined in one 2 ounce unit and it comes with everything you need to start listening immediately. No separate player needed, no CDs, no downloadsjust press play!

Marley, a lovable Labrador retriever, is always getting himself into trouble. Some may say he is the world's worst dog. But those who know and love Marley understand that nothing can stop his loyalty, exuberance, and passion -- not even the Grogans' screen door! How this big, rambunctious dog becomes the heart of the Grogan family is the story of Marley. ... Read more

Product Description
Jon Robin Baitz has been praised as one of America's foremost playwrights on themes of conscience. Now from the author of The Substance of Fire comes an absorbing new play about power and money and the ruinous effects it can have on friendship, love, marriage, and ultimately oneself. In this modern tragedy set in urban New York City, Wall Street powerhouse Sandy Sonenberg finds his personal and professional life threatened by the unraveling secrets of his past. After burying his true sexual identity, a lethal affair with a young male associate forces Sonenberg to confront a lifetime of unrequited love and betrayal. ... Read more

Product Description
In this lyrically written, hauntingly seductive novel, Bret Lott brings to life the beauty and flavor of the mist-covered swamps and backlands of South Carolina's Lowcountry in a story that is both mystery and rite of passage.

At fifteen, Huger ("you say it YOU-gee") Dillard already knows a great deal about the ways of the world--or so he thinks. He may not have a father, but with the guidance of his blind "Unc," Leland, and weekends spent at the Hunt Club--a tract of woods and swamp belonging to his family--Huger knows all about the land and the habits of its wildlife, from deer to the pompous Charleston doctors and lawyers who come to hunt them. But nothing can prepare him for the dark events that begin to unfold when he and Unc stumble upon the body of a well-to-do Charleston regular on their land.

Who wanted him dead? And why is the Hunt Club suddenly at the heart of a dark secret worth killing for? Caught in a treacherous labyrinth that stretches deep into the past, Huger and everyone he loves are about to discover painful truths that will irrevocably change them; truths that will shatter a young boy's innocence and test him as a man.Amazon.com Review
"It started with a body, the head of it pretty much gone,the hands skinned." This eerie introduction to Bret Lott's TheHunt Club sets the tone for this novel of murder, violence, andsinister secrets. The settings are dark and sultry: ramshackletrailers, forgotten burial grounds, and the seedy Hunt Club itself,built on "trash land." Events are witnessed through the eyesof 15-year-old Huger Dillard, smart, precocious, and always at theforefront of some crisis or criminal activity. Huger is also the eyesfor his uncle, the owner of the Hunt Club who was left blind from a fire thatkilled his wife. Huger and "Unc" are unwittingly entangledin a web of murder and deceit, and they must solve this classicwhodunit. Assisted by a local cook and her young, deaf daughter, thisis a fresh and innovative detective team. The Hunt Club is athrill ride all the way, a mix of gloriously grotesque characters,forbidding landscapes, and rotten crimes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Just Awful
Lott is one of the lazy mystery/thriller writers who, instead of unraveling the plot - and exposing the villain - slowly and intricately throughout the book, just has the villains detail all their crimes (and the reasons for them) to the heroes. Fiction dosn't get any lazier than that. The book is dull, not suspenseful, and by the end, you couldn't care less who the villain is or what the motive is. Awful. Just plain awful.

GREAT
Obviously, those who are saying this books is boring knows nothing about writing, mystery, or a good book. My eyes were glued to every single page. I couldn't put the book down. I found out about the book via Oprah's book club - and I couldn't thank her enough. Lott did a fabulous job with this book, and I would reccomend it to anyone who is looking for an excellent book.

Cure for sleeplessness
Absolutely boring.Although 240 pages is not a long book, I continued to fall asleep while trying to read it.Filthy language, unbelieveable plot, & had it not been part of my book club, I would have not finished it.I would not recommend this book to ANYONE!!!

Makes you forget that "page-turner" is a cliche
I usually don't go for novels about murder, unless they come highly, highly recommended by someone with reading tastes not unlike my own. So when my sister recommended this book, I sat up and took notice.

Huger (a French name, which is pronounced YOU-gee) Dillard is the 15-year-old who narrates this story of murder, betrayal, and family secrets. Despite things he doesn't understand, Huger's heart is intertwined with the life and fate of "Unc," Uncle Leland, made blind by a household accident. The accident was all the more dreadful because Unc lost something dear to him in the fire. But that's only the beginning of the dark secrets and tragedies that unravel slowwwly in this book.

Slowly, because you feel every breath the characters take--but also quickly, because you'll read like a speed reader just to find out whether the main characters survive what is happening to them . . . not only in body, but in heart and spirit.

Great novel.Highly recommend.
I loved this book.I thought the book was exceptionally well-written with a lyrical quality about it.I could visualize the scenes in my mind as I was turning the pages.I found it difficult to put the book down and finished it in two nights. I hope there's a sequel in the works. ... Read more

Product Description
Approx. 4.5 hours,3 cassettes

An ALA Best Books for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
The Horn Book Fanfare List

Desperate, driven, harassed to the breaking point, Slake decides to go underground--into the sheltering depths of the New York City Subway where he ends up staying for one hundred and twenty-one days.This is the story about survival, and about a 13-year-old misfit's attempts to find footing in a hostile and threatening world.





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Customer Reviews (57)

slakes limbo
slakes limbo was an awesome boook and was very detailed and had realistic problems such as bullying which and tragic events i really liked this when i was in six grade

Erin's Book Review

In school, we read as a group, Slake's Limbo (by Felice Holman), a great book, but I did not realize it until the end. Slake's Limbo is about a boy stuck between living in the subway and his real home where he really belongs.

Then main character, Aremis Slake lives in New York City. Slake is a 13-year-old boy, who became an orphan at 13 years old. Bullies picked on Slake because of the fact that Slake was small, even when they did not have a reason. Slake just wanted there to be a year, when the leaves stayed on the trees. While Slake was walking through a neighborhood he never saw before, he walked into Central Park. Then Slake grabbed a bunch of long dried grass and started tying leaves to the maple tree. Then a park attendant shouted at Slake. Slake was so scared that he ran into the subway at Columbus Circle.

Aremis Slake, instead of staying in the subway until things cooled down, he stayed for 121 days. During those 121 days Slake met new faces, rats, waitresses, and people who cared for him. Slake always thought of the negative; he never thought that something good could happen in his life. He never really cared about anyone; he never thought anyone cared about him; a few of the 121 days while in the subway, the waitress started to give Slake larger amounts of food for the same amount of money everyday that he ordered food.

When Slake found a "home", a hole in the wall, he daily started collecting useful objects: glass things, paper things, metal things, art things, clothes, and everything else to decorate a home that suits his personality. If Slake did not live in the hole in the wall he would have to sleep/rest on the subway trains all day long.

The thoughts and opinions I had were focused on what I agreed with, disagreed with, and how things could have been changed. I agreed with a lot. Even though I couldn't really understand what Felice Holman meant sometimes, I knew she was trying to explain Slake's tough life. I liked Slake, he was a good character and he was an interesting character, and he met new faces while he lived in the subway. Slake did not talk to anyone hardly - he really only talked when he ordered his meal of the day. I first thought he was shy, but I realized he was just scared. I enjoyed the setting because it was different then any other setting in a book. I think the book went a little fast, the book ended too soon. And I thought the book wasn't that great until the end of the book, which was because the book was not exciting or interesting to me until the end because the book did not make sense until the two stories tied together. I hope you find it a great book before I did.

Slake's Limbo relates to Phoenix Rising (by Karen Hesse).It is the book Nyle read to Ezra. Ezra was one of the two evacuees living with Nyle and her grandmother. Nyle is a farm girl that lives with her grandmother in Vermont. If you read Phoenix Rising then Slake's limbo is a good book to read. Ezra was afraid of going outside, almost the same as Slake, but Slake was afraid to go above ground. Slake changed and did not always think about the negative. Ezra overcame his fear, he went outside, and he tried to do things like everyday people.If you think about it, Slake's Limbo could be called Phoenix Rising because Slake changed like Ezra.Both of them overcame their fears.

I would definitely recommend Slake's Limbo to pretty much anyone who read Phoenix Rising and enjoyed it. I also recommend this book to people planning on reading Phoenix Rising, or people looking for an interesting book, a book that talks about people approaching their fear.

Adam's awsome review
Slake's Limbo by Felice Holman is one of the best books I've read. I think it teaches you to never let fear hold you back. It takes place in New York City. It's about a 13-year-old boy named Aremis Slake and a motorman named Willis Joe Whinny.

Slake got chased for almost his entire life. One day when he was being chased for no reason by bullies, he went down in the subway and got on a train. But instead of getting off at a transfer point, he got off at a place he'd never been and went to Central Park.

One of Slake's dreams was that "The leaves will stay on the trees this year," so Slake took pieces of grass and started to tie leaves back on the trees. But soon a man saw him and called the cops and Slake ran down in the Subway without a token and got on a train again.

Soon Slake got off at Grand Central Station and got chased again, so he went back down in the Subway without a token again. But instead of going on the train, he jumped on the tracks and found a hole in the wall and lived there for one hundred twenty-one days.

Willis Joe was a man who dreamed of being a sheepherder in Australia. It all started when he and his friends went to see a movie about it. But one day Willis Joe's father broke his hip and Willis Joe had to do all of the heavy work. Soon he got a job at a car garage. Later his father told him to be a motorman so he'd get paid more. He figured that he would need to save up for his trip to Australia. Years later, he started to see people in the Subway as sheep because he thought that their souls were blurred.

When Slake was down in the subway, he accidentally got a job selling newspapers and sweeping up a diner. He started to sell papers when he took some off a train and a man saw him with them. The man paid 15 cents for it. He got the job in the diner when the manager saw him there every day. I think that living in the subway changed Slake's life by teaching him to face his fears and not let it hold him back.

But one day when Slake was riding a train on the lower tracks, a train on the upper tracks was hit by fallen cement close to Slake's cave. When he went to the diner to work, the waitress said they were going to close up all of the holes in the wall, including Slake's! Slake went for about two and-a-half days without food or water because of fear of loss of his home and depression. On his third day, he heard hammering. The workers were coming! Or so he thought. Before Slake went out on the tracks, he took a piece of cardboard, spray painted a four letter word on it, and went out.

The hammering sound was really Willis Joe fixing a door on the train. When Willis Joe started the train, he saw Slake with a sign. It said: STOP. So Willis Joe stopped the train and brought Slake to the hospital.

When Slake woke up, he was in an air tent. A few weeks later, he left the hospital before he was supposed to and headed to the subway. But he remembered that his cave was gone and stopped. He didn't know were he was going, but the general direction was up.

The part I liked most was when Willis Joe saved Slake's life because that's the nicest thing you could do for anyone. I felt sorry for Slake when his best-and -only friend Joseph got hit by a truck, because after Slake had nobody. I liked how Felice Holman wrote two stories that had nothing to do with each other in the beginning, but linked together in the end. I noticed that above ground after Joseph died, no one cared for Slake, not even his aunt, but in the subway, he was cared for by some people. I would think that family would care for you more than complete strangers. On a scale of one to ten, I rate this book a ten. I hope you go ahead and try the book.

billy's book review
Slake, a teenage boy, lived with his aunt, who didn't care very much about him; he has very low self-esteem and his only friend Joseph, a mentally challenged boy, wandered into a street and got hit by a truck.

One day Slake runs into a pack of bullies walking through an alley taking a shortcut home. He walks back trying to get away. That's when they started to chase him. He ran as fast as he could to a nearby subway. Slake dashed down the stairs and ran through the turnstile before the security guard could say anything; he darted onto a train and took off before the guards or the bullies got to him. Slake was unaware of his future decision to live in the subway until he builds enough courage and trust in himself to come out, 121 days later.

Slake found a nice little cave in the subway and decided to live there. He found a lot of stuff like metal coat hangers that he bent into things that he can use.

He finds newspapers on benches in the subway and sells them. Over time, he finds daily customers and gets to know them a little. I think it was very important that Slake interacted with people that wouldn't pick on him like all the kids, because it showed him that not everyone in the world is bad.

He uses money from selling papers to pay for his food at a nearby restaurant. The waitress in the restaurant always gave Slake a little bit more food than he ordered. I think she kind of understood Slake's position. She showed a lot of empathy by helping Slake even though her boss definitely wouldn't approve of it.

I think Slake is stupid; I would never make the decision he did.I think he should've dealt with life and stood up for himself instead of running away. He should have worked hard in school and made some friends.

I think Slake's Limbo was a good book, because Slake ended up coming out of the subway and started to live life like a normal kid. I would give it a seven out of ten. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but I enjoyed reading it.

I think the message of the story was never give up. I think Slake gave up and ran into the subway. He could've stayed above ground and dealt with his problems. I liked the way Felice Holman sort of wrote two stories: the Willis Joe story and the Slake story, and had them tie together at the end.

mikey's review
In the book Slake's Limbo the main characters are Aremis Slake and Willis Joe Whinny. Slake is a thirteen-year-old boy who wakes up every day with fear inside of him. He is small so people beat him up. Slake was so small people hunted him and hounded him for the fun. Slake has had one friend. His name was Joseph, but a couple months after they became friends Joseph got hit by a bus. Slake felt like he was alone in the world because he had no friends and he wasn't very social with other people. Slake was also an orphan because his parents were poor and couldn't afford to keep him.
Willis Joe wanted to be a sheepherder (in the beginning of the book). Willis Joe does not want to go home to his wife and children so he stays in the subway as much as he can. What are the odds of Slake and Willis meeting and helping each other's lives? Could Slake change Willis's life forever (and vice versa)?

The setting takes place mostly in the subway. In the subway Slake finds a hole in the wall and he decorates it with mobiles and he hangs things on the wall. He also finds pop cans and fills them up with water in the boy's bathroom. Slake makes money by selling old newspapers, then he buys food at a restaurant and he takes sugar cubes to eat for a snack later. Slake also gets a job at the restaurant so he works to get food. Slake stays in the subway for 121 DAYS and doesn't come out! Slake gets new clothes by selling newspapers to an old lady and she gives him clothes to wear so he doesn't look too bad.After almost all the time he spent in the subway he realized that he had a place to call home and he never had a place to call home before.

In the beginning of the book Slake is afraid of everything. By the end he realizes that if you're not in fear, your life is more fun and not always "watch out for this and that." You are also not running away from people that are trying to chase you if you're not afraid of them.
Toward the end of the book, Slake is in the hospital and he leaves to go outside. Slake starts to go down into the subway but he stops midway and comes back up because he realizes that he isn't afraid of everything anymore. He also realizes that he doesn't need the protection of the subway anymore and that the sky is blue instead of gray there are also birds on the rooftops. Slake also realizes that he is happy for the first time in a long, long time. I thought this was a very good ending to this book because in the book Slake was never happy before and now he is. He also was not worrying at all. My opinion on this book is that it was pretty good but not the best I have read. In other words, I liked it but didn't love it.

I liked this book because it is very exciting and on the edge. On a scale of one to ten I would give this book a 7 ½. I think this book is pretty tough to read and has lots of really hard to understand language that you wouldn't use a lot today (but it is much easier if you read with other people). It is also easier if you talk about it with other people that have read the book and will understand what you're talking about. I hope you take my advice and READ THIS BOOK!


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Product Description

John Grogan wrote this adaptation of his #1 New York Times bestselling Marley & Me just for kids. In his own words, here is the heartwarming and unforgettable story of how this big, rambunctious dog becomes the heart of the Grogan family.

Customer Reviews (35)

I give it 5 paws!
If you are ever complaining about how bad your dog is, Marley is the worst!Even though Marley is bad, his book is not.Once I started reading, I could not put the book down.I could relate to every character in many different ways.The book really slows down and describes Marley's funny actions.

Within the story, there are many different problems for Marley and his family.In the book, Marley auditions for a movie and makes the cast.He was onscreen for less than 2 minutes, but he was sure the laugh!At the beginning, the family describes how annoying the puppy is, how much he eats (which is too much), and the damage he causes.They start to think about returning him, but John the owner saves Marley by finding solutions for his problems.

I highly recommend this book for both kids and adults.It's one of the top books I've ever read.If you want humor, happiness, and a little bit of sadness, Marley and Me is the book for you!

Kollin's review for school
I really liked this book.I think it was somewhat like the movie but some parts are different.This book got me thinking what would happen next.The book also had a better ending to it. I think this book is interesting because Marley did really funny things.One thing he did funny was "Marley went into full skid, his rear end spinning out in front of him.He dropped down on his side briefly before bouncing upright again, just in time to somersault down the front porch steps and dive head first into the snow drift".Another funny quote from the story is when Marley and his owner John are going down the hill on the toboggan."We went snow flying, Marley plastered on top of me.Licking me all over the place as we headed down the slope."I would recommend this book to a friend if you like dogs and funny things that happen with Marley and the family that owns him.

Would be a good gift for adult dog and pet lovers
I listened to the audio book, which was read by the author. I wasn't crazy about the narration itself but the story was good. I haven't seen the movie but I was able to visualize Marley's antics through the author's depictions, so that was well done. The style was simplistic and it wasn't earth-shattering but for what it was, it was entertaining and sentimental. In the end, I liked it. I would recommend it for any dog lover or pet lover.

A Wonderful Story
This book is full of surprise allbecause of one dog, Marley. Marley was a Labrador retriever, that gets in a LOT of trouble from getting kicked out of obedience school and eating anything he can find. He wasn't scared when John did the scare test to choose the dog. At first, the Grogans thought this puppy was cute and precious, but when they brought it home it wrecked EVERYTHING from the yard to concrete walls. This family went through a lot with Marley and they had a special bond that no one can relate to.John and his wife and writers for a newpaper company and Marley is a great story to read about. This book is great for you, if you want a book to make you laugh ,but also make you cry at one point or another.

MarleyA Dog Like No Other
Loved the book, love dogs, made me laugh, made me happy, made me cry.

It's a great book and if you love pets and animals, read this book and read Dewey The Library Cat, too. ... Read more

Product Description
The first everchildren's book fromthe NEW YORK TIMESbestselling master of contemporary fiction

Buddy's an aging movie star.Antwan's a rough-and-tumble loner.And Miss Betty, the show girl, is a princess.

Different in nearly every way, they share one thing: they're all dogs...at heart.

Though Antwan's the leader of his pack and loves hanging in the hills, feasting from Hollywood's chicest garbage cans, he's too curious a coyote to turn down his new friend Buddy's invitation to see how the other half lives. Convincing his new human family he's a mysterious pooch named Timmy, Antwan quickly becomes part of the brood.

But as Antwan's star rises, Buddy's spirits fall. Past his prime to humans, Buddy wants to chuck the luxury and live in the wild -- if Antwan will show him how. To cheer up their pal, Antwan and Miss Betty concoct a daring plan, setting off a chain of uproarious adventures that will teach them all a few new tricks about friendship, family, and life.

Filled with the spot-on dialogue and clever plotting that have made Elmore Leonard top dog among writers of every breed, A COYOTE'S IN THE HOUSE reveals the inner life of canines -- wild and domesticated -- in a fresh, funny tale for the young and the young at heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

3 stars
This book is nicely written but I think the ending was a little unsatisfying. There really was no climax, which was disappointing too. It used to be my favorite book when I was in 4th grade and I've re-read it yesterday and found that my standards were much lower when I was younger.

Leonard for Kids. . .
Elmore Leonard is, of course, renowned for his realistic adult crime books, in which his amazing dialogue conveys the seamy side of the criminal caper genre.When I saw he had written a book for kids, I knew it would be perfect for my 12-year old son,who craves the dark humor and lack of sachrine that typify Leonard.

We listened to this book together on tape.It is not a crime caper at all, but we were not disappointed.The book is considerably less dark than his work for adults (a change I frankly enjoyed), but the lean Leonard writing, the skill at avoiding undue sentiment and the dark humor all carried over.We couldn't put it down, so to speak.A clear winner.

There was one matter, though, that disconcerted me.The book is concerned with two worlds:the domestic, behave-yourself world of Dogs, and the dangerous, do-what-you-want world of Coyotes.For some reason, Leonard injected race into this characterization--the Coyotes seem African-American.They have black names (Antwan,Cletus) and use black vernacular -- words like "homes" and "crew" for friend and gang, sister for female Coyote and so on. This Coyotes-as-African-Americans is reenforced in the book-on-tape version by the vocalization of Neil Patrick Harris.The Coyotes are not portrayed negatively in the book---ultimately their freedom and independence is given the highest value, and the Coyote hero is consistently cool and able.But there is a stereotyped aspect to the cultural characterization, and I found it unsettling---not quite sure what to make of it or why Leonard put it in there.There's some subtle racial image being portrayed here that parents may at least want to be aware of.

A Coote's in the House
I was surprised at how well the book looked.I often get paperback books through Amazon, but this on was hard cover and in excellent condition.My nephew loved the fact that he had "A book like the ones in the Library" (his words) made him very happy, and me the favorite Aunt.

The Coyote Has Left the Book and Entered My Thoughts!
I was going to buy this book for my friend for her birthday. But after I bought it and started reading it, I couldn't let go of it! So I ended up buying 2 copies. One for my friend, and one for me.

This book is so funny and I love how, for a change, the book tells the story from an animal's point of view. It really got you thinking about how a coyote's life is compared to a pet dog's. This book is great for reading when you're bored. You'll start off planning to read for only a few minutes but then you get addicted and end up reading for hours!

....................................
I really liked this book. I don't usually like books with talking animals, but as I read on, I found it's not really about dogs, it could relate to people, us, as well. I liked this book, and hope you like it too. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

sends message"If I'm bad, my parents may get rid of me"
I got this book out of the library for my 2 year old son.I didn't have time to read it carefully while at the library or I would never have checked it out.This book has a terrible message.It is about a puppy that constantly gets into trouble.The entire family is constantly yelling "Bad Dog Marely" at him.After he tears the family's couch to shreds, they put an add in the paper to get rid of him. The baby of the family climbs on top of the refrigerator trying to get cookies.The dog stops him from falling and they decide to keep the dog after all.

The character in the book that a small child will relate to the most is the dog.This book sends the message to a child that if he does something wrong he is bad.It doesn't send the message that the behavior is bad, but that the child himself is bad when he misbehaves.It also tells a child that if he misbehaves, his parents may choose to get rid of him and that he has to be "good" in order to deserve a parents love.That is definitely not what I want to teach my children.

I did "read" this book to my son.I changed all of the "Bad Dog Marely's" to "No Marley"I also completely skipped the part where they try to get rid of the dog, and end the book by having the family say to the dog "Your not perfect, and sometimes get into trouble, but we will always love you no matter what".

Adorable book for the kids
Both my 12 year old son and I love the book Marley an Me. When I found this book I knew I needed to get it for my 5 year old daughter so she could laugh with us at some of the dog stories. We are a dog loving family and even the adults enjoyed reading this book.

Pre K graduation
This was a gift for my 4 year old grandson who graduated from Pre-K.He loves Marley and I thought the book would be good to give him along with the DVD.The book will be easy to read and the illustrations are fabulous.

LOVE IT
I had never read anything by John Grogan, but I'm ready to start.My daughter and I read this in an actual book store shortly after Thanksgiving.I was sooooo impressed, I immediately logged onto Amazon and added it to my wish list.It is such a good-hearted book.I HIGHLY recommend it.

TOO BAD HE'S MAKING SO MUCH MONEY OFF MISTREATING HIS DOG
It's a shame this guy is making so much money off of his total mishandling of his responsibilies in raising his dog. And then blaming the dog for being a dog. And then going on vacation while his dog was dying. ... Read more

Product Description

Henry Huggins can't wait until he turns eleven years old, so he can have a paper route like his friend Scooter McCarthy. Henry wants to prove to the route manager that he is responsible enough to handle the job right now. First he thinks of giving away free kittens with newspaper subscriptions, and then his advertising scheme helps his class win the newspaper drive. But he still doesn't have a paper route. Will Ramona Quimby, making a real pest of herself, help Henry get the job he wants so much?

Customer Reviews (9)

I Enjoyed These Books As a Child, My Son Enjoys Them Too
This book series is excellent reading for youngsters. Good story lines, overall a good buy.

Beverly Cleary GETS boys
Oh, thank heavens for this series of books.Beverly Cleary seems to LIKE boys!It's such a nice change from all these "girls rule - boys are dumb" attitudes.

I like Henry's goal orientation.I like the way he relates to the other characters -- kind, honest, hopeful, straightforward, clever.I especially like how he treats the neighborhood pest, Ramona, a 4-year-old girl.He tries to shush her sometimes, but in the end, the story concludes with him finding a way to engage her curiosity and inventiveness.

I like how the chapters build on one another and lead to the goal.They are nice chapters -- each one tells its own story, but they do build to the conclusion.

Its a Pretty Good Book
This book is about Henry who wants to get a job delivering papers. A funny part of the book is when is goes to apply for the paper route. On the way, he stops at a rummage sale where there is a box with four kittens for sale for 5 cents each. He buys them all and tries to hide them in his shirt when he applies for the paper route. When he knocks on the door of the man who hires people for the job, a dog is at the door. The dog growls at Henry and one of the kittens pops out of his shirt. He pushes the kitten down, and it scratches him. The whole thing is a fiasco and he is told to come back in a year or two when he is older. It you want to know more about other funny things that happen to Henry or if he gets the paper route, I recommend you read this book.

Timelessly Entertaining!
As with the previous books, Henry and the Paper Route is written in chapter book style where each chapter is almost a short story in-and-of-itself and which all wind their way toward the ultimate goal (each book Henry has that ONE thing he's got to get or do) which makes for interesting reading, wondering how each part will ultimately work out with the end goal.It's clear from the title that this volume in the Henry Huggins series is all about Henry and his desire to get a paper route all his own and as the chapters go on, we see how he goes about proving he's ready to do that! With this book we also get to read more about Beezus and Ramona, Scooter, Ribsy and more!

Henry and the Paper Route is six chapters of boyishly good adventure geared toward Henry obtaining the paper route of his dreams!We start out with Henry in hot water over bringing home four kittens...this chapter is all about him making an interesting first impression with Mr. Capper (the newspaper guy).The second chapter is about his tireless search to find good homes for those kittens.Chapter three Henry engineers a clever plan to help his class get ahead in the school paper drive and in chapter four we find out if his plan was successful or not!Chapter five Henry meets Murph, boy genius and finds that Murph has transferred into the paper route he's had his eye on!Oh, no...in chapter six will Henry finally get that route or is he destined to only fill in and help Scooter out?Your young reader will love finding out!

I give this book five stars...though the Henry Huggins series was written in the 1940's and 50's and have a bit of a Leave It to Beaver feel with regards to the traditional family roles and quaint feel of the daily life of the kids in them...they are also rather timeless.Putting aside the money issues (yea, everything cost WAY less in these books than they do today), Henry Huggins is a clean cut typical boy looking for a bit of fun...but he's also honest, hard working, and clever in thinking of ways to get what he wants (the advertising thing for the paper drive for example)...and he's always respectful even when he's trying to scheme to get what he wants!Henry and the Paper Route (and all the other books in this series) are well worth reading...these are kids classics for a reason, because they are timelessly entertaining!

Monkey Business
I am 8 years old. I like all of the Beverly Cleary books. This book is funny. I especially liked the part when Ramona pinned a jump rope to her overalls and pretended she was a monkey. She went to the store with her family, and some people joked around and thought she was a new species for sale. Then she thought they were not joking and she ran away from the store. Ramona is four in this book, and she is my favorite character in the Beverly Cleary books. ... Read more

Product Description

Genuinely funny books for children are few and far between. So, when a story like Henry Huggins comes along, it comes to stay. Children everywhere see themselves in this irresistible boy's adventures.

During an unforgettable year that begins when Henry discovers a lost, hungry dog he calls Ribsy, listeners will have a grand time. Before the suspenseful conclusion, they'll meet Henry's friends on Klickitat Street, including Beezus and her little sister, Ramona, and enjoy lots of hilarious happenings. No wonder this continuously engaging and heartwarming story is a classic!

Beverly Cleary's lively, award-winning books virtually shout "good,old-fashioned fun!" Since 1950, Henry and his friends (found in Beezus and Ramona andNewbery Honor Book Ramona and HerFather, among others) have displayed all the mixed-up emotionsand tricky jams kids everywhere seem to experience. Henry'saction-packed days are captured in droll line drawings by LouisDarling. Luckily for young readers, there are dozens of Cleary booksto explore as soon as this one is devoured. (Ages 8 to 12) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Beware of Manufacturing Error! Adult material on first disc!
I ordered this Henry Huggins CD for a long car ride with my children. If you did, too, make sure you preview the first disc! The copy I received was appropriately labeled "Henry Huggins," but the material on disc one was NOT FOR CHILDREN. I listened to enough of it to research the source. It begins with the chapter titled "That's Amore" from the book "When You Are Engulfed by Flames" by David Sedaris.The themes and language in this book are adult.Amazon kindly exchanged my defective CD set with a new one .... AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM!Buyer beware.

Your mind is so much better than a movie!
Looking back into the world of my own childhood I realize that the children of today are lacking sadly in the delight and creativity that only their own minds can create.No movie can do justice to the antics of Henry and Ribsy, a duo with amazing talent for mischief, mayhem and madness!

Almost from the moment you crack the paqes in this great work you are swept into the unpredictable world of Beverly Cleary.This author manages to convey lessons in life without overburdening them with importance.She uses her tale to leave us laughing and wishing we could look up and see tat funny do and Henry Huggins fast behind him trying to fix whatever craziness he has started.

If there are any kids in your life, or if you want to slip away and hide in your own childhood for a little while - pick up Henry Huggins and settle in for some serious fun.

Wonderful introduction to Cleary's world
Cleary's first novel introduces her most popular boy protagonist and his mischievous pet dog, Ribsy. Immediately after adopting the lovable mutt, Henry experiences a variety of adventures: bedlam on a bus ride; mass guppy breeding and the consequences thereof; nocturnal worm collecting as a means to replace a friend's lost football; the messy resolution of an unwanted role in a school operetta; disastrous participation in a local dog show. In the book's final chapter, Ribsy's former owner comes calling for him, and what ensues is enough to make even the youngest readers cheer for Henry.

Even after six decades, the ingenuity of Cleary's scenarios and the enthusiasm of her characters still impart an enduring freshness to the proceedings in spite of the novel's dated attributes and vernacular. Louis Darling's illustrations are notably cruder than those of subsequent Cleary books, but they're no less charming or evocative of their innocent age for being so much less detailed.

Great Book
My 4 and 2 year old sons listen to Henry Huggins all the time.They love the story and pretend to be Henry from time to time.The CD format is perfect for my kids.You can't go wrong with any Beverly Cleary book.

Henry Huggins, great children's book!!
In Beverly Cleary's book, Henry Huggins, she tells a story about the life of a little boy. This book is definitely an adventure book. Henry Huggins is a seven year old 3rd grader. He lives on Klickitat Street, which is Beverly Cleary's childhood street in Portland, Oregon. The story is set in the 1950s and Henry lives in a small, peaceful town in the suburbs.

Henry Huggins is the main character. The book takes the reader through Henry's everyday excitement as a curious, adventurous young boy. He is a very likable boy and has a big heart. As a reader, it is easy to get into the book and try to figure out what Henry will do next. Ribsy is Henry's dog that he finds at the local drug store one day. He names him Ribsy due to the fact that he is really skinny, therefore making it very easy to see his ribs. The book also briefly mentions a few of Henry's classmates, including Robert, Beezus, and Mary Jane and a fifth grader named Scooter.

This chapter book has several different storylines. It contains six chapters that are unrelated to each other. In the first chapter, Henry finds Ribsy and begs his parents to let him keep him. The adventure is trying to figure out exactly how Henry will get Ribsy home. The second chapter is about Henry wanting guppies but then a few guppies' turns into a hundred guppies. The third chapter deals with Henry wanting to save money for a nice football like the one his friend Scooter has. But certain events lead him to have to spend his money on a football for Scooter. The fourth chapter deals with Henry having to perform in a school Christmas play. The fifth chapter is about Henry entering Ribsy in a dog show. The last chapter is about Ribsy's former owner trying to take Ribsy back. Does he get him back or will Henry be able to keep his beloved dog?

Beverly Cleary does a good job of showing the action of the book. She uses sound words such as, "Thump, thump, thump" and "Crackle, crackle, crackle" to describe the actions of the characters. I think this is a great book for younger kids. It tells them about adventures of little kids around their own age that they can relate to.

... Read more

Product Description

For Henry Huggins and his friends Robert and Murph, a clubhouse is a place where they can do as they please, without being bothered by girls. The sign that says NO GIRLS ALLOWED -- THIS MEANS YOU especially means Ramona Quimby. Lately Ramona has been following Henry on his newspaper route, embarrassing him in front of Henry's customers. The day Ramona follows Henry to the clubhouse, she wants to teach him girls aren't so bad, but she almost puts an end to his newspaper career forever.

Customer Reviews (16)

Henry and the club house
I really think that this a great book because first Henry starts of selfish but later he turns out nice.
from an eight year old :-)

An Incredible Book
This book was very inspirational and I want to keep on reading Beverly Cleary's books. I liked this one and Ribsy and sort of Ramona's World the best. These books are great.

the capstone of the Henry books
I'm glad we saved this one for last.It is so wonderful to see Henry grow more thoughtful and responsible in this series.He still has some madcap adventures and funny scrapes, but he is becoming such a nice gentlemanly kid.And that little Ramona is right on.What a wonderful series of books.

Definite children's classic
I remember reading all of the Beverly Cleary books as a child, and now I've bought these to read to my children.All of Cleary's books are literary gems, easy to read, and keep kids entertained with plots that they can relate to.

I clearly recall the 1950's style illustrations by Louis Darling in the books I used to read, which have since been replaced in these modern editions.At first I was dubious about the change because the Darling illustrations were so charming, but upon seeing these new illustrations and relating them to the content (which has NOT changed), it's clear that the new illustrator made a real effort to stay close to the original drawings.Additionally, Cleary's words in relation to the new, 'modern' illustrations, suprisingly still apply very well (aside from the 1950's prices and brand names).Regardless, it's easy to envision Henry, Beezus, and Ramona as children living in 2008 or 1950.What does that tell me about Beverly Cleary's books?They're absolutely timeless, and I hope that future generations continue to read and enjoy them as I have.

Another Beverly Cleary classic
This is the second-to-last book in the "Henry Huggins" series (if you count "Ribsy," the solo story of his dog, and set aside the Ramona and Beezus books...)

In this volume, once again Henry shows his determination and pluck as he sets a goal and works hard, very hard, to attain it.Actually, he pursues two goals: to save enough money from his new paper route so that he can buy a sleeping bag, and to build a clubhouse with his friends Robert and Murph. Henry learns to balance work and play, and wins the respect of the adults in his world.He also has to contend with the ever-annoying Ramona, as well as her sister Beezus (whose feelings he hurts when he agrees to make the clubhouse a "no girls allowed" zone).

Once again, Beverly Cleary gives a glimpse into the world of children that is both entertaining and emotionally honest.The innocent, white-picket fence world of the Kennedy-era early '60s may be a far cry from what life is like now, but these stories are still fun to read and pleasantly free of a lot of the violence and other baggage that define more modern kid's fiction. Wholesome and all-American, also funny and human, these are timeless stories that can help open the world of literature to inquiring young minds. (ReadThatAgain children's book reviews) ... Read more

Product Description

A purr-fectly hilarious portrait of life with a baby from a cat's point of view

Socks is one happy cat. He lives with a nice young couple called the Brickers who play with him, pet him, feed him treats, and always have a warm lap for him to sit in. Then a new baby joins the family. Suddenly, the Brickers are sharing their laps and love with Charles William, and Socks is getting into all sorts of trouble. He runs from a phantom dog, wrestles with Nana's best wig, and fights Old Taylor the tomcat for territory. But as Charles William grows, Socks discovers that he has a new best friend and a new way to be part of the family.

Unabridged on audio, performed by Neil Patrick Harris ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

A cool and creative book


SPOILER ALERT

This book is cool because it shows a cat's point of view.There's a new baby in the house and it makes it harder for Socks to get the Bricker's attention.When Socks bites Mrs. Bricker's leg, he wasn't trying to hurt her but Mr. Bricker threw him out the front door. You feel bad for Socks because you know he only wanted someone to feed him.When Mrs. Risley comes over she gives him lots of attention and lets him on her lap.Finally, Socks sleeps with the baby in his playpen and he is happy.

Cat takes back seat to baby in this short, simple tale
Mr. and Mrs. Bricker, a young, childless couple, choose to add a kitten, which they name Socks, to their family. With plenty of food and affection, the cat thrives. But then something terrible happens, Marilyn Bricker gives birth to a baby boy named Charles William. When baby makes four, all seems swell with the Cleaver-like family, but the kitty feels neglected. Charles William hogs his mother's lap and love, leaving the furry feline in the lurch. The only reprieve he gets is a visit from a cat-loving babysitter. But his mischievous nature lands him outdoors after some bad behavior involving Nana's wig. He gains back his place in everyone's hearts (and the house) after a bad experience with a local cat. Eventually, the two newest members of the Bricker family learn to live together in harmony. All's well that ends well, I suppose, in this simple story. But it's dated, as is obvious in the repeated use of "Mr. Bricker" and "Mrs. Bricker" to refer to the man and woman of the house. Cleary's Ralph and the Motorcycle books are better. Tales with good pet characters: Bad Kitty by Nic Bruel, Coraline by Neil Gaiman, and Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell.

Reflects the times
This charming book tells the story of a new baby in the family from a cat's point of view. I remembered it fondly from my own childhood, and thought it would be helpful to read to my oldest daughter from a sibling-rivalry perspective.

Sadly, the book is a reflection of the times in which it was written, and the baby in it is exclusively formula-fed. Why Cleary got so much flak for mentioning spaying pets to prevent overpopulation, and none at all in this day and age for setting formula feeding on par with human milk, and presenting that to her young target audience as a harmless choice, I'll never understand.

socks
emily kocian says that she really love the book and that she likes the auters othetr books

socksby beverly cleary
Excellent book for your child's library.My son has read this over and over...Happy reading ... Read more

Product Description

Henry Huggins' dog, Ribsy, is hopelessly lost in a huge shopping mall parking lot. It's raining hard, the pavement is slick, horns are honking, and drivers are shouting. When Ribsy thinks he has found the Hugginses' new station wagon at last, he jumps in the open tailgate window and falls asleep, exhausted. When he wakes up to find himself in the wrong car, lots of little girls pet him and make plans to give him a bath. All Ribsy wants to do is go home to Henry. Instead, he's about to begin the liveliest adventure of his life.

Customer Reviews (26)

Wuf!
Fourteen years after introducing the lovable canine companion of her star character Henry Huggins, Beverly Cleary decided that the affable mutt deserved an adventure of his own. In creating one, she demonstrated a comprehension of the dog's mind as astute as her famously insightful depictions of children. Separated from his young master through a series of chaotic events, playful, inquisitive Ribsy finds himself briefly adopted by an overwhelmingly friendly bunch of young siblings, a lonely, elderly widow, a class of second-grade students and an opportunistic boy, all of whom find something to admire in the talented pooch. While exploring strange houses, a school, a football field and a tenement building, Ribsy's innocent observations and impressions are entirely plausible, especially to anyone who's ever owned a dog! These misadventures are usually pleasant, sometimes troublesome and occasionally embarrassing for the canid protagonist, whose genial demeanor helps him to overcome more than a few difficulties and discomforts. Several of the book's many amusing incidents are depicted in simple, vivid illustrations again sketched by Louis Darling, Cleary's first and best artistic collaborator. For Cleary fans and avid readers of any age who just love dogs, this couldn't be more heartily recommended.

great
My daughter needed to read this before she started 3rd grade and it was unavailable at the public library.So glad I could count on amazon for it at a great price!

Sienna from Lake Tapps says "Awesome Book!"
Attention Animal Lovers...
By: Sienna Compton

Do you like great stories about animals? If so, you should read "Ribsy" by Beverly Cleary.It's a great adventure about a dog that gets lost, and travels on his own back home.When you read this book, you will feel like you're there, watching everything happen.
The story begins when Henry Huggins's family and their dog Ribsy head to the shopping center in their new station wagon.They get out to go shopping and leave Ribsy in the car.He accidently pushes the button that rolls down the window with his paw.The next thing Ribsy knew, he was getting out of the car looking for Henry Huggins. Ribsy, who was an old and colorblind dog, saw a brand new-looking station wagon that seemed the same color as the Huggins's car.He got in.When the wrong family opened the car doors and piled in, he was very confused.As soon as the family was home, they had decided to keep the dog so they were going to give him a bath.Ribsy decided to escape, and quick. Ribsy also met a women living on the side of the highway as he was traveling along.She took care of him until she made him do tricks and wear funny looking clothes around her friends. Ribsy was off to another home.Ribsy had gone to school to play with children, but this did not work because he just ended up chasing some kid's squirrel.He also tried sneaking home with a young boy after going to a football game but again he just ran away on a search for Henry Huggins.If you would like to find out the ending, you will have to read this book.
My favorite part of the story is the beginning when Henry, his family, and Ribsy are going to the shopping center.When they get there, Henry and his family go and shop and leave Ribsy behind in the car.Ribsy accidently pushed the button that rolls down the window with his paw.Ribsy hopped out of the car on a search for Henry Huggins.After Ribsy had gotten tired of looking for Henry and also barking and sniffing other dogs, Ribsy decided to look for his family's car. I learned from reading this book that having a dog, even a silly mutt like Ribsy, is a great honor.I know since I have a dog that dogs aren't just silly pets that you have to feed but they can be your friends too.
I would give this book 41/2 stars.
I hope you decide to read this wonderful book! (:

Ribsy by author Beverly Cleary
I bought this book for my son to write a report on from Amazon, and WOW!They stated the condition of the book was good.I say it was great! Not a tear on any page or a crinkled cover.The pages were a little brown from normal aging; but other then that. Great condition.Thank you Amazon for your excellent time in the delivery and condition of the product.
Sincerely,
Mary from Florida

It was FANTASTIC!
I have read a lot of books by Beverly Cleary. Mostly about Ramona but never about Henry. I thought it was great. After reading that book now I want to get a dog like Ribsy. ... Read more