Children's Book Reviews

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The Castaway by James Stevenson
HarperCollins, April, 2002
Picture Book, 32 pages
ISBN: 0688169651
Ages: 5 and up
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

The Castaway
by James Stevenson

Hubie the mouse has been the subject of three previous books by James Stevenson. Because we already know Hubie, we can relax and enjoy this adventure for all its wild, imaginative events and unlikely happenings. Somehow, in the end it all seems to make sense, if you know Hubie, of course.

Hubie, for those who have not met him, is the youngest in a family of upper middle class mice who enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle set in the 1930s. The story begins with the family going to a movie at the big, beautiful movie house. Father thinks that the movie the family has come to see just might be too grownup for Hubie. Hubie, of course must defend the fact that he loves grownup movies. Unfortunately, the movie upsets Hubie a great deal because it is about an island, a volcano with lava and a gigantic tidal wave. Hubie maintains that he really wasn't scared, but he just does not like islands. The family is unconvinced.

Hubie's great adventure begins when his family decides to go on a vacation to the Barabooda Island. They decide get to the island by flying in a huge dirigible. Of course, Hubie gets lost below decks and actually ends up falling out a door and landing on an island inhabited by a castaway named Leo. Leo shows Hubie all the joys of his Robinson Crusoe-type existence on the island. Hubie actually begins to enjoy the island for a while until a ride on a bicycle with no brakes ends up with a fall into a river and a fall over a waterfall. Somehow Hubie and Leo fall onto the dirigible and end up on the vacation island with Hubie's family. Everyone has a wonderful time and finally they return home only to begin planning their next vacation.

Young readers will especially enjoy the cartoon style of James Stevenson. Witty dialogue combined with droll sketches of the characters are bound to entertain young readers. The Castaway is a wonderful and ridiculous adventure, and it is sure to entertain all who read it.

--Sarah Reaves White

Laura Numeroff's 10-Step Guide to Living With Your Monster by Laura Numeroff, Illustrated by Nate Evans
HarperCollins, March, 2002
Picture Book, 32 pages
ISBN: 0066238226
Ages Baby - Preschool
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Books that have turned the irrational childhood fears of monsters into friendly relationships with such creatures are beloved by all children. Authors that write such books are among everyone's favorites. Laura Numeroff, who gave us the much-acclaimed If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, has come up with the fanciful and inspired 10-Step Guide to Living with your Monster. Nate Evans, who claims to have seen his first monster in the backyard of his home, has provided large drawings of fanciful monsters with benign smiles and a propensity for getting into ridiculous situations.

This handy guide chronicles all of the problems and some of the pleasures of owning a monster. Step one admonishes the young person not to choose the monster who grabs you and tries to eat your shirt. The future monster owner will do much better if he chooses a monster who is partially trained, such as one who can tie his own shoes and play the banjo. Since monsters eat a great deal, it is suggested that it would be easier for the family to move next door to the pet store. One of the most helpful suggestions is that one should not play fetch with a monster and the illustration shows us why. The monster is fetching an uprooted tree, a trick which will not endear one with the grownup world. This helpful guide will prove invaluable to the first time monster owner and his family, or if one is merely contemplating owning a monster it will help with the selection and proper care of one's new pet.

Written in Ms. Numeroff's trademark witty and charming style, this 10-Step Guide to Living with your Monster is sure to become a family favorite. Highly recommended.

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Children's Book Reviews

The Castaway by James Stevenson

Laura Numeroff's 10-Step Guide to Living With Your Monster by Laura Numeroff, Illustrated by Nate Evans