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The Wishing Chair Collection

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Enid Blyton

June 02, 2008

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Monstrous Regiment (Discworld)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Terry Pratchett

October 01, 2004
Loved it !! Typical Pratchett mixture of the ridiculous, sharp social commentary and pathos. Glad to read I was not the only one who fancied the vamp and wished she had stayed a he !!

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The Pencil

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Allan Ahlberg

September 01, 2008
Loved it !! Typical Pratchett mixture of the ridiculous, sharp social commentary and pathos. Glad to read I was not the only one who fancied the vamp and wished she had stayed a he !!

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The Original Peter Rabbit Baby Book: My First Year (Beatrix Potter)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Judy Taylor, Beatrix Potter

November 02, 2007
I am assuming that the review below, copied from the `Comments' area of this item, was the original review that the other two reviews refer to - so well done to all who got it deleted from the system.
I couldn't agree more with these two reviews on this item - this is a blank baby book for parents to fill in, with photos and text, as their baby develops over those precious first 12 months.
What does puzzle me is the fact that it got a positive vote in the first place - unless the author is also guilty of voting for his own reviews which is quite possible given how his `helpful' votes whizz up - you only need to look back at the review pages to see how obtuse the subjects are and how suspicious the voting is, especially on items that ... Read More:

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Michael Rosen's Sad Book

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Michael Rosen

February 04, 2008
A lovely book, recommended by a friend.
Those who have lost someone close, whoever it is should read this book. It tells it like it is. Have brought an extra copy for another friend.

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The Tiger in the Well (Sally Lockhart Quartet) (Sally Lockhart Quartet)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Philip Pullman

April 02, 2007
Be prepared for one of the most exciting page-turning reads you'll ever encounter. This book will grip you from the first page and not let you go until the end. It's the longest of the four Sally Lockhart books, but you won't notice the length as the plot just keeps going and thickening all the time.

As if that wasn't enough, in between the excitement there's also a wealth of incidental detail about social conditions in Victorian England, and especially about the rights (or lack thereof) of women.

Please note: the four Lockhart books should be read in order. This book gives away a number of significant plot developments in the first two (Ruby in the Smoke and Shadow in the North), so you should read those first. They're also ... Read More:

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Oi! Get Off Our Train (Red Fox picture books)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: John Burningham

October 17, 1991
I had this out of the Library for months, my son, barely a year at the time loved the pictures, above all. We bought this recently, apparently for 4 and above, my son, now 20 months has this book as a regular favorite for bed time. He loves the amazing illustrations of the train (I make train noises to go) and points to all the animals as we go through. I only have to say 'oi!, get off our train!' and he's found the book and demanding another read through.
As for political messages, John Burningham doesn't lay it on heavy but tells it how it is but in a way that kids can take it in without feeling they are somehow to blame. More and more material aimed at kids makes them aware of the state we are leaving the planet. As a child of the 70's I thought ... Read More:

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The Secret Island

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Enid Blyton

June 01, 2002
For children, this book is perfect; every child's dream. Escape, running away to the secret island, living their own lives, outwitting the grown-ups and surviving on their own wits through the summer and autumn and intobthe winter. And the ending fits nicely into the plot, helping to show that the four children could do and did do what they set out to do. The sort of plausable adventure anyone could aspire to.

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The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (Collins Voyager)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Alan Garner

August 05, 2002
I loved the Harry Potter books, Lord of the Rings, Susan Cooper etc, so i thought i would love this. But i didn't. I found the whole thing a little cold. The main charectors didn't come alive for me, meaning i couldn't empathise with them, instead finding the whole thing a bit murky and strange. Obvoiusly i'm in a minority, but for some reason i deally do NOT get on with Alan Garner.

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The Firework-maker's Daughter

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Authors and Illustrators
by: Philip Pullman

November 04, 2004
I bought this Pullman book thinking it might be suitable for my 10 yr old daughter. She is doing a project on China so I thought it might bring in an interesting aspect on Chinese culture, as the main character is a Chinese girl called Lila.- Not only did the prose not live up to it's review status, I was shocked to discover that the imagery and moral values are totally unsuitable for young children.(The book has been recommended for 8 year olds and up).
Pullman's main push in his book seemed to be to subtly yet profoundly introduce the philosophies of atheism and humanism - with no hint of this on the cover.
My main concerns as a parent are;
1) The book undermines a child's confidence in his parents;"Didn't your father tell you..." ... Read More: