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Index Interviews: Mariah Stewart A Giant Leap for Auslan Storytelling Perseverance: The Key to the Doors of Success, Part I Parenting Your Book Return to This Issue's Index Return to Homepage Subscribe
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Children's Book ReviewsPage Two of ThreeA Hat Full of Sky by Terry PratchettHarperCollins, May, 2004Hardcover, 288 pages ISBN: 0060586605 Ages 9 and up Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
Now eleven years old, Tiffany Aching knows that it is time
to apprentice herself to a real witch, in order to realize her
full potential. Clearly she has talent, after saving the world
from the evil Queen of the Elves (with only a frying pan as a weapon)
(See, The Wee Free Men), but
she knows she has much to learn. So Tiffany leaves her
farm to apprentice herself for a year to Miss Level, a witch with
two bodies and a poltergeist housekeeper. Tiffany finds
that being a witch isn't at all glamorous or exciting -- she
spends most of her time doing charitable works for the local farmers,
which she finds most unappealing. Tiffany has another problem, though.
She is being stalked by an hiver, a formless entity which takes over the
minds of powerful witches. But the tiny, blue, whiskey-loving,
contentious, cursing little men known as the Nac Mac Freegle
love Tiffany like a sister and immediately set out to rescue her. Now if only they can
resist going near any pubs on the way to the rescue, they
might just have a chance at saving their beloved Tiffany.
Tiffany Aching, the precocious protagonist from The Wee Free Men is back in a second adventure set in the English chalk country. The enigmatic Mistress Weatherwax and Death, two of Pratchett's most interesting characters, make appearances in this very funny tale. Tiffany has to grow up quite a bit in this adventure. She learns some hard truths about recognizing the worst parts of one's personality in order to find one's true self, and she begins to understand the nature and responsibility of real power. Terry Pratchett is one of our most skilled societal commentators and satirists. But, perhaps more importantly, he is a compelling storyteller whose books will appeal to both children and adults. --Claire E. White Moses: The Long Road to Freedom by Ann Keay Beneduce, Illustrations by Gennady SpirinOrchard Books, February, 2004Picture Book, 32 pages ISBN: 0439352258 Ages 4-8 Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
The story of Exodus is retold in this abbreviated version
for children, which is enhanced by its stunning illustrations
by Gennady Spirin. The beauty and richness of the
Egyptian royal court is richly portrayed by Mr. Spirin's
dramatic watercolors. The plague of locusts shows
hordes of locusts devouring everything in sight, and the
horror is accentuated by the fact that the locusts crawl right
out of the page margins seemingly onto the reader's lap.
The Pharoah is portrayed as a stubborn and
cruel man, while Moses looks kindly, but stern. The
Egyptian women and the Israelites who are dancing with joy
at the end of the story are full of life and energy. This
book is a perfect introduction to the powerful story of the Hebrew
slave who gave up the life of an Egyptian prince to
lead his people to freedom. Parents will find the book
a joy to share with their children, as they learn about the
Old Testament.
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