Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, photos by Russell Munson
This is a very short book of a seagull who tries to fly very fast. He is rejected by other seagulls and hurts himself in some crashes. We wants to give up. After going to heaven, he helps teach another seagull to fly fast. Eventually the other can pass it down. This is a slightly trippy way of saying "follow your dreams regardless of what other people say."
Three gluttonous farmers are upset that the Fox is stealing their birds. They work to exterminate the fox with guns, tractors and other devices. They think they have finally trapped the fox underground and are ready to shoot him the instance he pops up. The fox's family is near starvation when he gets an idea. He tunnels and reaches under the chicken coop. He is able to sneak in and take some birds and bring them down to eat. He does similar activities to raid other farmers. Now the fox and his family and other tunnel animals can feast without risk of harm from the farmers. The farmers are still out there waiting to capture them. It is a great short work with Dahl's dark humour.
A bunch of hippos do things. Each has a different ending to hippos reflecting what they do. It get tedious - and hard to pronounce.
Mr. Brown can make sounds of various animals and other things of natures. This book is filled with "sounds" and verses describing the sounds. It is fun to read the book out loud. "Boom Boom Boom. Mr. Brown is a wonder! Boom Boom Boom. Mr. Brown makes thunder!" It lends itself to many fun read-aloud opportunities (such as having the kids read the "sounds")
A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban (Author), Lillian Hoban (Illustrator)
Frances is invited to a play tea party with her friend Thelma. Frances's mother reminds her to be careful because she often ends up on the bad end of thing when playing with Thelma. When there, Frances mentions to Thelma that she is saving to buy a real China tea set. Thelma claims that those are not made anymore and that the plastic one she has is better. She convinces Frances to use her money to buy the plastic one from her. Frances does, but then sees Thelma go to the store and use the money to buy the china tea set.
Frances hatches a plan to get the tea set back. She puts a penny in one of the pieces and tells Thelma there is money in it. Thema insists they swap tea sets. They do and Thelma finds it is just a penny. They decide to end the feud and be friends.
There is a somewhat confusing message that you should fight subterfuge with subterfuge. Kids do seem to like to book, even if it is a bit long.
The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
It is the summer the swans are out. A boy with mental deficiencies goes out to see the swans and gets lost. His sister and others go to find him. The sister grows in the process and becomes friends with others. They find the girl and everyone becomes closer.
Superficial looks and wealth also are more important. Beauty does fall in love with beast - but after that, he turns back into a prince. In Puss and Boots, through cunning, the cat helps his master to pass as a wealthy prince. However, in Princess and the Pea, a "real princess" has unique characteristics that allow her to be identified. Are royals different? Or are they just normal people that stumbled into a good condition in life?
These stories do come from many different sources. Perhaps some of the differences are a result of their different origins. Or perhaps they are all just sources of entertainment.
