Hoban, Russell

Average customer rating:

Mother and Father Badger handle another Frances crisis
Very cute book
Childhood favorite
It backfired for us!
A Cute Badger Who is a Picky Eater

Bread and Jam for Frances
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)
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ASIN: 0064430960

Book Description

Frances, one of children's best-loved characters for over 30 years, now springs to life even more in Bread and Jam for Frances,beautifully reillustrated in sparkling full color by Lillian Hoban. In this memorable story, Frances decides that bread and jam are all she wants to eat, and her understanding parents grant her wish'at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacktime. Can there ever be too much bread and jam?

Customer Reviews:

Mother and Father Badger handle another Frances crisis.......2006-07-18

The irrepressible badger Frances, now an older sister to baby Gloria, decides that she likes the predictability of her favorite meal, bread and jam, and refuses to eat anything else. In a gentle way, Mother Badger shows Frances just how boring life is when you always eat the same thing. For fans of Frances, it is as much of a treat as the other books. For example, Frances's thoughts on the drawbacks of eggs is laugh-out-loud funny. However, do be forewarned that the gender roles in this book are even more traditional than usual with Mother Badger whipping up every meal and Father Badger praising her for it. It actually doesn't bother me because at least the father is appreciative, but I thought readers should know what to expect.

Very cute book.......2006-04-06

My 4 year old daughter loves this book. She loves reading about all of the foods Frances' family and friend Albert try.

Childhood favorite.......2006-03-15

I remember this book from my childhood and thought I'd order it to indulge in a little nostalgia. It's such a great book for teaching children about variety and new experiences.

It backfired for us!.......2005-08-26

Someone gave this to our daughter, who is also named Frances. She absolutely loves the book, but now all she wants to eat is bread and jam. She used to eat at least PB&J, but now she skips the peanut butter. (Occasionally she'll refuse PB&J but agree to bread and jam with peanutbutter. Ha!) What do we do???

A Cute Badger Who is a Picky Eater.......2005-05-24

This wonderful book has quickly become one of my children's favorites, and they regularly ask to hear it at bedtime. Frances is a cute little badger who has a passion for bread and jam; so much so that she refuses to eat anything else.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner consist of the same thing; a slice of bread with some jam spread on top. Frances refuses to try the other meals her mother makes, such as veal cutlets or soft-boiled eggs. She just happily eats her bread and jam and skips rope. Eventually, her mother and father only fix her bread and jam, while they eat other types of food. Soon, Frances is asking why she is not getting such things as spaghetti and meatballs, while the other family members are. Finally, Frances agrees to try the other food, and much to her surprise, she enjoys it very much.

This is a wonderful book for young children, and it provides them with a valuable lesson; too much of a good thing can turn out to be bad. The pictures are fun to look at, and the story is very entertaining. I can remember hearing this story when I was a child, and my own children have grown to love it just as much as I did. I highly recommend this great book. Your childen will surely enjoy hearing about Frances and her picky eating, and how with a little love and encouragment from her parents, she learns to try new things.

Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)

Average customer rating:

My Two Year Old Demands This Story Before Bed
Francis is such an adorable character.
My favorite book!
I hate that spanking reference in the book
Introduces fear of the dark, procrastination methods and spanking, with nice pictures

Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Bread and Jam for Frances
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ASIN: 0064434516

Amazon.com

It's bedtime for young Frances--an adorable and irrepressible little badger--and everyone is ready but her. At 7:00 p.m. Frances is wide awake and bursting with youthful excitement. She tries every delay tactic she can muster--from demanding extra hugs and kisses to volleying a series of urgent last-minute questions ("May I sleep with my teddy bear?" "May I have my door open?"). She's almost positive there are spiders, giants, and tigers in her room.

Any parent will quickly identify with this phenomenon--how the last minutes of the day suddenly become the most action-packed. Garth Williams's illustrations complement Russell Hoban's sweet story perfectly, capturing the endless energy and overactive imagination of Frances, and the waning patience of her exhausted parents. Bedtime for Frances is the perfect goodnight story to tell your wide-eyed children. And never fear, like Frances, they too will eventually, contentedly, drift off to sleep. (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

Famed for her many adventures, Frances made her debut with this title over thirty years ago. In this first Frances book, the little badger adroitly delays her bedtime with requests for kisses and milk, and concerns over tigers and giants and things going bump in the night. Long a favorite for the gentle humor of its familiar going to bed ritual, Bedtime for Frances is at last available with the warmth of full color enriching Garth Williams's original nuanced and touching art. `Here is the coziest, most beguiling bedtime story in many a day.'—Kirkus Reviews (pointer).

Customer Reviews:

My Two Year Old Demands This Story Before Bed.......2007-01-24

My Dad used to read this story to me before bed and it was very special for me. I was thrilled when he dug it out of his basement and mailed it to me to read to my two year old. I laughed out loud when I noticed the spanking and smoking and told my husband (bc you know they would never dare to put that in a book now )and he inquired why I would read that to our daughter. He then read it upon my urging an agreed it is a wonderfully warm story. Yes, the father smokes a pipe and softly threatens a spanking at one point but he also takes the time all night long to address each of Frances'fears and sends her back to bed each time. Since introducing my daughter to this story she has requested it every night and runs to bed to hear it read. She used to tantrum about going to bed. Better yet, she does not get out of bed anymore once she goes in... not because we spank her or because she fears a spanking(we don't spank), but because she realized that the reason Frances might get spanked was because getting out of bed was against the rules. I think this book is great for helping a child to understand that there are rules they must live by and consequences for their actions. I wish more children would learn that lesson early in life. Another great lesson of this book is that the bedroom is a safe place, even if it looks a little scary in the dark.

Francis is such an adorable character........2006-12-11

I was raised on the Francis books and have started gathering as many as I can for my children one day. The imagination of little Francis knows no bounds. Her songs are adorable and her fears, in her mind, are well-founded. I know how exasperating it can be when your child won't go to bed and this book illustrates that. However, so many people and reviews are feeding the "controversy" surrounding this book. Brace yourself.....

Back in the day, people used to spank their kids! Oh my God, someone get the smelling salts. This was before the "time-out" that has been responsible for children running around supermarkets like unruly heathens. But I digress....

Francis is a cute character and I will collect these books and read them to my children. I highly recommend them if you enjoy a cute touch to your children's reading.

My favorite book!.......2006-11-11

I was read this book EVERY night when I was little. I actually learned to read from my parents reading this book every night. I identified with Frances because I was always the one who tried to find ways to stay awake, which I know kids are apt to do. I know some people are going to be turned off of this book from the monsters in the closet (or the spanking), but for me, this book is one of the fondest memories I have from my childhood.

I hate that spanking reference in the book.......2006-11-04

WTH? This book is not for today's children. I was horrified when I heard my sister in law reading this book to our children. Spanking a child to get them to go to sleep at night? YIKES!!!

Introduces fear of the dark, procrastination methods and spanking, with nice pictures .......2006-05-23

Frances is a sweet character, but this book is more likely to terrify than calm your child. We haven't had to deal with fear of mysterious shapes in the dark yet with our 3-year-old, so I'm certainly not going to introduce the concept, or suggest that cracks are scary because things with lots of legs might come out of them. The book also shows bedtime procrastination as normal and quite effective (would you give your child an extra piece of cake for getting out of bed?) And yes, spanking is bad. If you have an older child who already has all these fears, you have my sympathy and perhaps this book would be appropriate.

Average customer rating:

We love Frances!
Frances Audio Collection
Frances Audio Collection
Frances Rocks!!!!!!!!!
Not what I thought it would be...but it's still good!

Frances Audio Collection CD
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperChildrensAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 006085281X
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Book Description

This collection includes four endearing favorites, Bedtime for Frances; A Baby Sister for Frances; Bread and Jam for Frances; and A Birthday for Frances. Children will cheer for Frances as she cleverly avoids her bedtime, stubbornly refuses to eat anything but bread and jam, and struggles not to eat the tempting, chocolatey birthday present she has just bought for her younger sister, Gloria. These reassuring and funny stories are just right for those amazing days of childhood! </p>

Customer Reviews:

We love Frances!.......2007-01-12

My husband's family grew up on the recordings of the Frances stories, read by Glynis Johns (sp). Entertaining for children and adults alike!

Frances Audio Collection.......2007-01-09

I was delighted to see this offered for sale. My daughters loved the Frances stories when they were young and I bought the CDs before a vacation trip we all took. The girls and their children enjoyed the stories in the car and this led to some great discussions. We shared the CDs among the cars as we drove to the beach. They loved listening to the recording and still borrow the CDs to keep at their house to listen to while falling asleep. What a great collection. It was a big hit with the grandkids.

Frances Audio Collection.......2006-06-28

My 6 year old son loves the Francis stories, even though he is usually more attracted to stories like Henry Huggins, or Mouse Tales; etc. However, he was a bit put off by the change in narrators between the Francis audio collection and a different Francis tape and book. The audio collection employs an older English lady with a rather coarse voice for it's narration.
He wrinkled his nose and said "who's that"? when listening for the first time. I think he prefers the pleasant voice narration on "A Bargain for Francis", and some other Francis selections.

Frances Rocks!!!!!!!!!.......2006-04-27

My four year old has loved the Frances books since she was two; this CD is absolutely perfect and she asks for it at least once a week, and finally we have a sort-of tune for all of wonderful Frances' songs. PS if you are a real Frances fan as a parent, check out Mr. Hoban's "Riddley Walker" adult novel. Trust me, you will love it, and in 10 or 15 years, your current Frances fan will too.

Not what I thought it would be...but it's still good!.......2005-07-20

I was so thrilled to find this collection. As a little girl, I had the books along with the records. The records were great...especially when Frances would sing...and the background music and sound effects were magical. When I played this tape, I was disappointed. There is no music or sound effects...just a woman with an English accent that reads the story to you...and she reads very quickly. The songs are sung differently than they were on the records but the more and more I listen to this tape, the more I am just happy to have something that reminds me of my childhood. I am still searching for the original recordings though!

Average customer rating:

A wonderfully whimsical read, hilarious sub-text, great for kids
We love the book
TG Wright, Grandmother and Proud of It
Classic Frances!
Excellent ! !

A Birthday for Frances
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064430073

Book Description

s her little sister Gloria's birthday approaches, Frances wavers between being generous'and being jealous. `[Frances] is every youngster who chafes at being the un-birthday child.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderfully whimsical read, hilarious sub-text, great for kids.......2007-02-17

This is a wonderful story, I love Hoban's books as they work well on both the adult and the child levels. This is bascially the story of Frances, a badger who is struggling with the fact that her little sister Gloria is having a birthday. Frances does not say it out loud, but rather through her actions and her little rhymes we realise that she is unhappy about it, that her sister seems to have all the birthdays and she doesn't have as many. Something which almost all children struggle with at some stage or another.

The lovely hting about this book is that the parents are so lovely and patient, and the sub-text is really fun for adults reading it. What Frances does makes for great fun. She borrows two weeks pocket money from her mother to buy Gloria a present, but then she ends up 'accidentally eating half of it - and the other half looks distinctly threatened by her justification.

I will guarantee your family will enjoy this story, and the other Frances stories as well - they are highly recommended as great good fun.

We love the book.......2007-01-19

Our daughter is planning to be an elementary school teacher, so we are building her a children's book "library"

A Birthday for Frances by the Hobans is a magnificent addition to that collection!

TG Wright, Grandmother and Proud of It.......2007-01-10

Is there anyone who doesn't love Frances and all her antics? I have been reading Frances books to children for 35 years. Every time they delight me as much as the children listening. All Frances books are wonderful.

Classic Frances!.......2006-05-13

This is my daughter's favorite Frances book. It has some great Frances moments, such as the "spelling" of various words, the "riding" of her broom, Champ, and Frances's and Albert's discourse of the uselessness of younger sisters. It also captures with such truth the complicated feelings siblings have for one another, such as the moment where Frances announces that she is not getting her sister Gloria a birthday present and then dissolves into tears because she is the only one not getting Gloria a present. As always, Mother and Father Badger are gentle and wise in their handling of their imaginative and precocious offspring. It is no surprise that children have been continuously reading these books since they were published. As an aside, the portrayal of the simple, homemade birthday party is very refreshing in these days of elaborate, over-the-top children's parties.

Excellent ! !.......2005-09-21

This story brings back wonderful memories of when my mom read the Frances books to me. It's a great story with wonderful illustrations. If you've never read this story, you and your child will surely love it and if you have read it, it is sure to bring back fond memories.

Average customer rating:

Frances Rocks
Fun for any age reader
Wonderful book for older siblings
Classic
Memories

A Baby Sister for Frances
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064430065

Amazon.com

One quiet evening, Frances the badger is sitting under the kitchen sink, singing a little song, "Here are the buckets and brushes and me, / Plinketty, plinketty, plinketty, plee." When she stops singing to listen for parental coos of approval, she hears nothing. Frances is sure it's all her new baby sister's fault. It's why she has no raisins for her cereal, and it's why her new dress isn't ready for her to wear to school. She thinks she may run away after dinner. And she does! She takes her carefully packed knapsack and settles in under the dining-room table.

As she sits sulking and eating cookies, her mother and father, fully aware of her presence, begin talking about how much they miss her, and how much they love her little songs, and how a family is everybody all together, not just a baby. Frances can't stand it anymore. She calls them from her imaginary telephone and tells them she'll be home soon. Russell Hoban and illustrator Lillian Hoban succeed again with a tender, comical, heartwarming story that will make any big brother or sister feel better about a new sibling in the house. For more adventures of this endearing, enduring badger family, don't miss Bedtime for Frances (with illustrations by Garth Williams); Bread and Jam for Frances; Best Friends for Frances; A Birthday for Frances; and A Bargain for Frances. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

When a baby sister arrives, Frances the badger finds a charming way to prove her own importance.

Customer Reviews:

Frances Rocks.......2007-05-18

Who wouldn't love Frances. We still enjoy this book afer a break of 30 years.

Fun for any age reader.......2007-02-03

My son, now almost three, is finally able to listen along to books that are actually interesting. In the last couple of weeks, we have taken the next step in picture books into books that have paragraphs on each page instead of just a sentence or a word or two. And in celebration of that, I pulled out the Frances books by Russell and Lillian Hoban. These books are just a treat, full of subtle situational humor that any parent can relate to. I'm sure many people are already familiar with these books, but you might consider picking them up again if you'd like a smile.

Frances, a little badger who likes to make up her own songs, is so quintessentially child-like. She's clever and funny, but like with all children before a certain age (and what age is it? I'd like to know), it's really all about Frances. She has a little sister, Gloria, with whom she shares some natural sibling rivalry. And she has a lovely, patient, very understanding set of Badger parents, Mother and Father, who always seem to know what to say and do to support Frances but not encourage her natural, but more selfish urges.

In A Baby Sister for Frances, Gloria is just a tiny bundle. Frances's nose is clearly out of joint at all the attention newborn Gloria is getting:

"In the morning Frances got up and washed and began to dress for school.

'Is my blue dress ready for me to wear?' said Frances.

'Oh, dear,' said Mother, 'I was so busy with Gloria that I did not have time to iron it, so you'll have to wear the yellow one.' Mother buttoned Frances up the back. Then she brushed her hair and put a new ribbon in it and put her breakfast on the table.

'Why did you put sliced bananas in the oatmeal?' said Frances. 'Did you forget that I like raisins?'

'No, I did not forget,' said Mother, 'but you finished up the raisins yesterday and I have not been out shopping yet.'

'Well,' said Frances, 'things are not very good around her anymore. No clothes to wear. No raisins for the oatmeal. I think maybe I'll run away.'

'Finish your breakfast,' said Mother. 'It is almost time for the school bus.'

'What time will dinner be tonight?' said Frances.

'Half past six,' said Mother.

'Then I will have plenty of time to run away after dinner,' said Frances, and she kissed her mother good-bye and went to school."

The story goes on, Frances does run away to under the dining room table, and eventually Mother and Father have a loud conversation about how necessary Frances is to their family which, of course, Frances overhears. The whole book is just lovely - clever and funny, with some parental patterning snuck in for the adult reader to learn from. And, remarkably, no matter how many times I read these books, Frances's adventures continue to ring true and amuse. Two thumbs up from me.

Wonderful book for older siblings.......2007-01-14

Our boys loved this book, and we loved reading it to them, even though its protagonist is a girl (more or less).

Classic.......2007-01-04

This is a classic book, and series, that is always worth a tenth, eleventh, etc. read!

Memories.......2006-11-15

I loved all the Frances books. I'm an older sister and I recall reading the Frances books to my two younger sisters. I now have a niece and I thought of these books instantly. She has a new baby sister and I think this books is quite appropriate. She will love all the made up songs. To this day my younger sister and I recall that Frances was a badger!!!

Average customer rating:

A Wonderful Break from the "Real World'" of 2007
A unique apocalypse tale of both past and future
RIDDLEY WASTE OF TIME
If you don't "get" this book, you're not the only one
Not bad, not great

Riddley Walker
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Break from the "Real World'" of 2007.......2007-06-02

I've been researching quite a bit on a very dismal subject, so when I am about to scream and throw things regarding what I'm learning about this world in 2007 and what the people are in 2007 are capable of, I reached for my beloved Riddley Walker and am transported, like Gulliver.

I first read Hoban's masterpiece about three years ago, was blown away, instantly in love with this new yet fairly easily discernable language. I tried giving copies to one of my children, who happens to be a linguist (maybe that's why she rebelled against learning yet another accursed language, her life was very busy as it was, no time for the concentration the first reading requires.) I gave it to a young friend in her late 20's, she couldn't handle it, even after I went on the web and got her a crib sheet - she hated it. She would not allow herself the time to pick up the rhythm of the story and the language, instead concentrating on the difficulty of understanding passages, even when I was available to supply context for her. It was a very interesting experiment on how someone innately bright, a voracious reader, can reject something that strays too far from the ordinary. Maybe the problem is even a lack of concentration, a short attention span, too short for this book, too short for Riddley's language and story.

I love it, though, and that's all that matters to me. I'm finding the rereading is perhaps even better than the initial read. Hoban is a genius at his language, at his very sharp take on society in any time period and in the richness of his characters.

With my upsetting research in full gear, when I reach my mental limit, I reach for Riddley Walker. I am savoring the immediate change of pace, of language, of world. Granted, this is a post apocalyptic novel and should therefore be depressing, yet it is not. It is full of hope and full of grace, though set in a dark spot of the future. I'm reading it slowly, this time rolling the words around my tongue, rolling the language through my brain.

Thanks for the rescue from the misery of my 2007 project, Russell, and thank you for your warm, funny, sad and hopeful telling of a future in a language that is full of beauty and logic. I know that as with my beloved Heinleins, I'll visit Riddley again and again. Riddley's life may be very different from that of Woodrow Wilson Smith, far shorter and perhaps more brutish than that of Lazarus Long, yet these characters have earned a place in my heart. I think there can be no higher praise for an author, than when a character becomes familiar and beloved to the reader, a part of our inner lives, someone we will never forget.

A unique apocalypse tale of both past and future.......2007-02-21

I'm not going to make any outstanding notations or references to other classics in regards to 'Riddley Walker', I'll simply say that this is one of the most unique apocalypse books I've ever read, with a charm all it's own. For the average reader, the format is going to be difficult to get into. For me, it helped to read the Afterward, Notes, and Glossary before finishing the book, because the author's notes were quite helpful in understanding the "Riddley Speak". Author Hoban notes, "Technically it (the prose style) works well with the story because it slows the reader down to Riddley's rate of comprehension."

Long after the bombs have fallen and ruined the earth, people live clustered on small farms without electricity or technology, telling stories of the "1 Big 1" and how Mr. Clevver bombed the world. A traveling puppet show moves from farm to farm, telling the story of 'Eusa' and his involvement with the Shining Man (Addom) and Mr. Clevver.

Riddley loses his father in a digging accident, and is marked to take his father's place as the farm's "connection man", making connections to the stories told by the "Goodparley". Riddley becomes "dog friendly" and releases a blind man trapped in a hole ('The Lissener'), and winds out traveling from farm to farm wondering what his purpose and/or fate will be now that he's a man. He finds some 'Salt 4' (sulfur) in a man's pocket and discovers many folk are looking for this magical 'yellerstone', but doesn't understand their desire to have it. The story isn't about a dark as so much as a new age, belonging to both past and future at the same time.

The tale isn't one of beginnings and endings, its about Riddley's journey and discoveries and becoming a man. I recommend no distractions such as radio or TV when reading, it takes time to phonetically slide into the 'Riddley Speak'. The story takes a little time to unfold also, but definitely stick with it. Personally, I think it would have been a fine book even without the 'Riddley Speak'. I fear the prose may hold off a greater audience than it draws.

If you love apocalypse books, don't miss out on this unique and uniquely told tale. Enjoy!

RIDDLEY WASTE OF TIME.......2006-09-11

I'm very glad that the more literate types exult over this book. I was not impressed. Full disclosure: I've been reading all sorts of speculative fiction for over 45 years, and I've gotten pretty picky, and perhaps more than a little snobbish.

Riddley Walker, an uber-precocious 12-year old, wanders around southeastern England roughly 4400 A.D. In Riddley's world, they scorn A.D. as "all done," and have reached 2347 O.C. ("our count") after the nuclear war and the Bad Times. I can well imagine that Anthony Burgess enjoyed surfing on Riddley's broken English narration, some of which is quite amusing ("curse roads" for cross roads). If you read it out loud, Hoban's work is nowhere near as difficult as "A Clockwork Orange." The book reminds me more of Edgar Pangborn's "Davey," which was also a much-praised post-apocalypse novel, but in the course of which nothing much happened. It does bug me just a little bit that they don't know how to say "Canterbury" any more, but refer to the various "tracks" they travel by the common, modern highway numbers, like the A20.

Make no mistake: for the most part, Mr. Hoban imagines this world in breadth and in depth. If you're looking for that sort of atmosphere, you've come to the right place. If you're looking to build to a meaningful climax, though, you will perhaps be as disappointed as I was.

In the fullness of this story, two things of old are revived. Mr. Punch is reborn, though "Punch and Judy" is now "Punch and Pooty," Pooty being a lascivious pig. Despite some serious miscalculations, it also seems that gunpower is about to be rediscovered. On that score, I would refer anyone to H. Beam Piper's "Gunpowder God," aka "Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen."

I started this novel once, years ago, and threw it aside. This time I plowed through the whole thing, and wound up feeling I'd wasted my time. So, what's your opinion?

If you don't "get" this book, you're not the only one.......2006-02-13

I hate to be a contrarian, but add me to the relative few who didn't care for this novel. Other than the post-apocalyptic English, there's not much to sink your teeth into - the plot and ideas are unoriginal and and the characterizations are pretty standard. This book came to me highly recommended, and I really looked forward to reading it, but it was a slog to get through.

The idea of the English language changing and evolving after a cataclysm is good and true, but at least in book form I think it works better in theory than in practice. When you're watching Shakespeare, you usually get to the point where you forget the archaic phrasing and just begin to enjoy the beauty of the language; that did not happen for me here. Reading this seemed like a tedious intellectual exercise as I read and reread paragraphs trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

I read this from the point of view of someone who likes thoughtful and artfully done post-apocalyptic stories. Riddley Walker might have more appeal to someone who comes at it from a literary perspective especially if they've had limited exposure to the ideas in science fiction. But I suspect this book is of limited appeal to most genre fans.

Not bad, not great.......2006-01-04

After finally reading Riddley Walker 25 years since it came out, I found it a bit of a letdown. There just wasn't much a story once I adjusted my inner ear to the language. The ending is somewhat abrupt and the plot never gets going. The best feature of the novel is the multiple meanings and wordplay of Riddley's decayed version of English, powerfully evocative of the decay of civilization backwards to the Iron Age. Not a masterpiece, but a cut above mediocre.

Average customer rating:

Little Brute Family Fantastic!
One of my childhood favorites
Why are some kids at school just plain mean?
The best of my childhood
Brute Family

The Little Brute Family
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374444838

Book Description

They eat sand and gravel for breakfast and a stew of sticks and stones for dinner. No one says "please" or "thank you." Instead, they kick and yell and punch and shove. Then one day everything changes, when Baby Brute happens upon "a little wandering lost good feeling in a field of daisies." When he brings it home in his pocket, nothing is ever the same for the Little Brute Family.

Customer Reviews:

Little Brute Family Fantastic!.......2007-06-10

The Little Brute family lives a miserable existence...even has to eat sand and gravel porridge...but something wonderful happens and the family
undergoes a magical transformation...this book is so well written it will be a family favorite for years to come..Every mother can relate to Mama Brute who stays home to "bang the pots, thump the furniture, and scold the baby."

One of my childhood favorites.......2007-05-08

This book was one of my absolute favorites as a child so I just purchased it for my children who also love it. I'm hoping that it will be one of their favorites when they are adults remembering fond memories of reading books with Mom and Dad. A great message about manners and attitude! You have to love Russell Hoban's books.

Why are some kids at school just plain mean?.......2007-02-26

Every child wonders why certain peers are mean. This book paints the story of those unhappy families, with unhappy children, and offers the grand hope they may change! Among the Brute family, parents and children suffer a self-perpetuating attitude malignancy until a solitary "good feeling" enters the picture. When everyone gives "being nice" a try things change quickly and permanently for the better.

I WISH this book was required reading in EVERY school in America. The book shows that each and every child can be a catalyst for kindness. Fathers and Mothers aren't happy when they aren't providing for their children. Children aren't happy when their parents are miserable. Its a vicious circle. And, happy kids in every school will recognize the Brute families they encounter. However, the Hobans' message to TRY BEING NICE as a platform for uplifting and contagious change works for the Brutes, who stage a quick turn-around! One's living conditions are as much about one's attitude as about conditions.

I bet the Brutes (I mean the Nices) even planted a flower or two next to their doorstep ... together!

The best of my childhood.......2007-01-06

This is a book that I remember from my childhood. I started looking for it when my daughter was born and she will be seven in May. Much to my delight, it recently became available on Amazon. I ordered it to share with my two year old son. My son just loves it and so do I!

The story is about a family of Brutes who aren't very nice. It teaches children that you get back what you give. If you aren't nice to people, then they probably won't be very nice to you. It also teaches children that you can always change for the better. If you open your heart, you can make your own happiness

Brute Family.......2006-08-13

This is a delightful book to start out a new year of teaching. It sets a tone for a classroom and adds to creating a safe and caring atmosphere. I recommend it for a class collaboration discussion.

A Bargain for Frances (I Can Read Book 2)

Average customer rating:

The fine art of problem solving
Boys love Frances too!
Fabulous story for children
Finest I Can Read Book Ever
Rather enlightening!

A Bargain for Frances (I Can Read Book 2)
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 006444001X

Book Description

<h4>Frances and Thelma are friends -- most of the time</h4>

Thelma always seems to get Frances into trouble. When she tricks Frances into buying her tea set, it's the last straw. Can Frances show her that it's better to lose a bargain than lose a friend?</p>

Customer Reviews:

The fine art of problem solving.......2006-12-23

What does a child do when a friend plays a selfish trick against her (or him for that matter)?
What kind of role models do children have today for the kind of problem solving in this classic?
As timeless as a fable, this book was published in 1970. Frances takes a pro-active role to deal with a friend who trys to take advantage of her. In addition, they remain friends but on a more equal basis. The art work and humor add to the enjoyment of learning a valuable lesson.

I suggest reading this and discussing real experiences and successful or unsuccessful attempts at solutions. This 64 page book is also available in Spanish. ISBN: 0060887036

Boys love Frances too!.......2006-04-11

I can't help but notice all the reviews that say Frances is for girls. Boys enjoy this smart and spunky little badger, too! Her quirks and problems, as well as her creative solutions and her wise parents, are universally delightful for all children.

Fabulous story for children.......2005-05-23

This is an adorable story and Frances comes up with a clever way to solve the problem of being taken advantage of by a friend. The book was written in 1970 so the prices of tea sets and candy have gone up, but it's still fun. And $2.17 is still a whole lot of money to a little girl.

Finest I Can Read Book Ever.......2002-07-16

Despite its unlikely-looking cover, this is perhaps the finest I Can Read Book ever written. I had no idea it was a treasure when one of the kids grabbed it off the shelf at the local library. Written by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, it hilariously tells the story of a sweet and trusting little racoon who keeps getting the short end of the stick from a certain playmate.

When that playmate swindles her out of her savings, Frances doesn't go home and lick her wounds. No sir. She devises an ingenious plan to set matters straight and re-establishes the friendship on a more equitably basis.

Moms, if people tend to take advantage of your child (or someone else you know), this is a must-have book. Frances' resolution of the problem still thrills and inspires me every time I read it.

Rather enlightening!.......2002-01-27

I like this book, because it's written for a young child to read herself . My kids are able to read this one by the time they are 7, which is nice. It has a lot of pages, lots of story to it - which is hard to find in books that are written at the young reader's level.

What really surprised me about this book is that it addresses what happens when one has a friend that isn't very nice, and it really went into the situation in detail. The heroine of the story didn't become a martyr, and neither did she just turn her back on her friend altogether.

When my daughter first read this book, she'd had some bad experiences with a friend - who is remarkably like Thelma, Frances's friend. I thought it was a nice tool for us - we discussed how sometimes a friend might not be very nice, and what the options are in dealing with this type of situation.

Book Description

The irrepressible Frances teaches Albert, the badger next door, about friendship.

Customer Reviews:

Frances does it again!.......2006-05-26

Another great book from the Frances series by Russell Hoban. In this episode, Frances's friend Albert is not very interested in playing with her, especially because she is a girl, so Frances turns to her sister Gloria for a playmate. When Frances and Gloria plan a "best friends" outing complete with an enormous picnic lunch, Albert reconsiders the wisdom of not being friends with girls. I like this one both for the positive development of the sometimes-difficult relationship between Frances and her little sister Gloria, but also for the portrayal of girls who like to play baseball and catch frogs.

Our favorite Frances book.......2001-08-29

My family is fairly unanimous that this is our favorite Frances book (with "A Birthday For Frances" the likely runner up.) Frances both stands up to being excluded and learns not to do the same thing herself; her anger at Albert is realistic and her "revenge" funny but not cruel; and everyone resolves their conflicts in a friendly way. The wording of the exchanges between Frances and Albert is exquisitely well done, I think: Hoban expresses such nuances in language that gets through to even small children. And last but not least, Frances's little songs are always hilarious and this book has some of the best ones of all, which my 2-year-old daughter has learned by heart.

Big sister Frances.......2000-05-03

Frances doesn't think she can be friends with her littlesister, but learns her lesson when the two actually become bestfriends.

Sweet story about not excluding one's little brother andsister, the Frances books are just great.

A delightful book........1999-07-17

My children, ages 4 and 5, enjoyed hearing the Frances stories. She is very funny and a delightful, precocious character.

As a child, the "Frances" books were my absolute favorites........1999-01-23

As a child, the "Frances" books were my absolute favorites. My sister would read them to me when I was too little to read for myself. The humerous stories of home life and the gentle illustrations still evoke feelings of great comfort. Now I am buying the series for the children of friends. Many thanks to the Hobans for all of the fond memories they have given me!

Average customer rating:

A thoughtful, entertaining, heartwarming book (spoiler warning)
The last visible dog review
Quite entertaining but not the movie
Pushing Tin
I wish I could rate it ZERO

The Mouse And His Child
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: Arthur A. Levine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Riddley Walker

ASIN: 0439098262

Amazon.com

Like so many exceptional children's books, Russell Hoban's The Mouse and His Child clearly wasn't intended only for kid consumption. It certainly qualifies as a fantastic story for children: the characters are entertaining and memorable, the images powerful, the pacing tight, and the message unique and lasting. But this sweet, melancholy fable about a wind-up pair of tin mice--a dancing father and son joined at the hands--explores so many different themes of hope, perseverance, transformation, and the nature of existence (while still managing to be quite funny at times) that it's the sort of book that demands to be kept around for a lifetime of rereading.

The father and son's redemptive quest to become "self-winding" takes them through all sorts of trials, from the toy store to the dump to the swamp and back again, and all along the way the pair runs afoul of Hoban's well-realized and often menacing menagerie of characters, including the slave-driver Manny Rat, the distracted thinker Muskrat, and Crow and Mrs. Crow and their Caws of Art Experimental Theatre Group. (These last provide some of the best scenes in the book, getting a surprising amount of philosophical meat out of a play called The Last Visible Dog: "What doesn't it mean! There's no end to it--it just goes on and on until it means anything and everything, depending on who you are and what your last visible dog is.")

If you're only familiar with Russell Hoban from his Frances books (Bread and Jam for Frances), this gripping, sometimes disturbing, occasionally even violent novel might come as something of a surprise. But if you've read any of Hoban's later work, like Pilgermann or The Moment Under the Moment, then you know what this sophisticated and extraordinarily graceful writer is capable of, and why The Mouse and His Child deserves praise as one of the more profound children's works ever written. (Ages 9 to adult) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Russell Hoban is probably best known and loved for his charming series of books about Frances the Badger. However, in 1967 he wrote a novel that many consider to be one of the great works of children¹s literature of the twentieth century, THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD. Available again in an updated format with stunning new illustrations by David Small, this masterpiece will thrill and entertain the next generation of readers.

Customer Reviews:

A thoughtful, entertaining, heartwarming book (spoiler warning).......2007-06-14

I teach middle-schoolers who are gifted in language (once a week), and when deciding what book to have my seventh-graders read that none of them, sadly, had probably read before, this won, hands down. I'm not sure when I first read the story, but it has stayed in my mind ever since. I will say that I was surprised to find they had replaced the fondly-remembered illustrations, and I would warn people that the new ones are considerably darker than the old ones. They most difficult thing for my students is to read only one chapter each week. I insist on this because there is so much to discuss in each chapter.
What do we talk about? Architecture, Fagin and other thief lords, divination, territory, shrews both in Redwall and in nature, kinds of theatre, the Muses, logic, beavers, Doozers (in Fraggle Rock), equations, literary abbreviations, dragonfly nymphs, snapping turtles, Latin nomenclature, exponents and the book Powers of Ten, weaving, the Fates, dung beetles, sexton beetles, the characters in a common Agatha Christie mystery (or Clue), dowagers, debutantes, painted-lady Victorians, phoenixes, the notion of family, the fact that the father and the child are actually the same age but are given roles, Sirius Black's name, and deus ex machina -- to name but a few.
I was glad to see someone else compare the tramp to God, because we are in a public school, yet can not help but spend a little time discussing that the tramp and his dog (Bonzo) might just be God and his little pet, Infinity.

The last visible dog review.......2007-05-11

As an adult who has read a lot of books to kids I can't rate this one in the top list. It was a gift to my kids so we read it but, even on all those "deep", "stuck in the mud" stuff that's in this book as an adult, I get it, the kids didn't. Instead they weren't too thrilled following the misery of their lives nor the redemption in the end. But we've read worse. So on that vein, it's a 3 star not a 2 star.

Reading this book is like listening to a story by a very old grumpy guy telling it. You can't quite peel away but you aren't really all that interested, and then, it gets interesting and then your thoughts wander off...

On the manufacture of the book, the paper is wonderful stuff. The dust jacket nicely done. I liked the illustrations, I thought they went well with the story. The type is easy to read. It feels nice in the hand. Would all book publishers take this care.

Quite entertaining but not the movie.......2007-01-05

I'd only known the movie version of The Mouse and His Child, so when I'd found out there was an actual book, I had to get it. I was rather surprised at some of the things going on in the book. There were times when I actually had to ask myself if it was indeed a children's book. There were some rather disturbing deaths that, while not exactly graphic, were still fairly detailed. The story flowed smoothly, in my opinion and I felt the characters were more fleshed out than they ever were in the movie. The Father and his son feared Manny the Rat and you knew it! I think my favorite part was the ending where you saw what happened to all of the characters. I also felt that while in the movie, the mouse and his child become "self-winding" in that they can move on their own, in the book they become "self-winding" in that a motor inside of them just keeps them going. They can't stop and they can't move when they want to either. The "self-winding" concept was better in the book. There were also some rather cute sketches throughout the story that helped keep the idea of it being a children's book in mind. As a whole, I think this is a very cute story but if you're looking for a book version of the movie, it will fall kind of short.

Pushing Tin.......2006-04-07

Every copy of "The Mouse and His Child" should come with the following warning label: "ATTENTION - The contents of this book are deeper, more metaphorical, and far too clever for the immature adult. Should you find this book in the hands of such an individual, redirect it immediately to that of a mature child instead". And while that probably wouldn't cut down on the number of complaints you receive, it may well give adult reviewers and readers a taste of what's to come. I picked up "The Mouse and His Child" for three distinct reasons. One - Because a friend of mine is perhaps the greatest fan of Russell Hoban this side of the Atlantic. Two - Because it is considered a children's literary classic and I very much wanted to jump on the bandwagon. Three - I just finished reading, "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo and was told by a reliable source to read this book before reviewing the former. The classic toys-on-their-own-in-a-cruel-world has been a popular theme since day one. In fact all living toy stories have one element in common: The happy ending is entirely reliant on the toy heroes finding a child to love them in the end. "The Velveteen Rabbit" is obviously the exception to this rule, but even then his transformation is inextricably linked to being loved by a kid. "The Mouse and His Child" is different. In it you have two heroes bound together and incapable of physically extricating themselves from dire situations without aid. Yet without children anywhere to be seen and increasingly frightful situations at hand, these heroes succeed because they have brains and will. All that plus the book beats all others hands down when it comes to the most satisfying happy ending I have EVER encountered in a novel for kids. Ever.

There was once a toy shop in which a tin wind-up toy of a mouse father spinning his child around and around resided. The mouse child wanted a family but the other tin animals in the shop couldn't understand this wish. One day the toy was sold to a family and, in the course of things, was damaged by the family cat. The mouse and his child were thrown out, forever attached by the hands, until they were rescued by a passing tramp and fixed so that now the mouse father would walk ahead and his son backwards. In this way, they set out to face the wide world. In this book they are kidnapped by a malicious rat fiend, befriended by a jack-of-all-trades frog, aid a muskrat, join a theater troupe, find themselves at the bottom of a pond, and in the end find exactly what the mouse child was looking for all along. It's an odd little book but a lovely one and should be required reading for anyone interested in children's literature.

About the time the heroes came across the fortune telling frog I became worried about this book. I've read plenty of deeply depressing fables that fail to earn their slapped on happy endings (see: the aforementioned "Tulane"). When the frog makes it clear that there is more hardship in store of the mice, I grimaced. Great. What fun. Miserable mice for pages and pages and pages. It wasn't like that, though. Sure, our heroes are put through their paces. They face unconscionable acts and are forced to remain in awful locations without the ability to leave. But in time this becomes less and less important. Sure they seem a little miserable before they take charge of the situation, but their misery is no worse than anything you'd find in a chapter of, "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Moreover, once the story starts delving into the metaphysical implications of infinity and where a person (or a mouse) fits into the grander scheme of things... well you start to realize that this is no ordinary children's books.

It's been a long time since I read a book that screamed its publication year quite as loudly as "The Mouse and His Child" does. The book came out in 1967 and you can practically smell the year emanating off the pages. For example, at one point the mice take up with a theatrical troupe. The troupe, run by a crow, has recently renamed itself, "The Caws of Art Experimental Theatre Group". They tend to perform plays with a hint of Beckett and a smidgen of Joyce to them. You end up with characters saying things like, "A manyness of dogs. A moreness of dogs. A too-muchness of dogs. Also a jiggling and a wiggling". Then the troupe sees the mouse and child toys fall over into the dirt and they love the significance of the action. Plus the utopian situation the creatures find themselves in at the end resembles nothing so much as a miniature Greenwich Village, run by tin animals.

I have not seen "The Mouse and His Child" in its original form with its original illustrations. As such, I cannot comment on whether or not illustrator David Small exceeds his predecessor with this new 2001 publication. What I can say is that the book is a stunner. When the endpapers of a story make you tear up even before you read a single word, that's usually a good sign. Small's mice are the perfect heroes. There's a dignity to them that transcends their surroundings and dingy condition. Small had the unenviable job of drawing picture after picture of our hero mice without making the illustrations ever seem repetitive or dull. He succeeds brilliantly at avoiding pitfalls. It helps that the expressions of the mice and their eyes move around a little bit even if they themselves cannot. Drawing in both graphite and pen and inks, Small is able to convey mood and tone with an array of different washes and styles. His pictures never trail off into the silly exuberance sometimes found in his less personal books. Here he keeps his instincts strictly in check and the result is a series of deeply moving and beautiful pictures that deftly complement Hoban's tale.

I was recently in the unenviable position of having to review a children's book (which shall remain nameless) for a professional resource that relied on cute woodland creatures perishing left and right without a smidgen of pity. There was a drop of that emotion in "The Mouse and His Child". At one point the Caws of Art is attacked by an angry audience and it leaves a rabbit (who didn't have any lines anyway) dead. Hoban doesn't dwell on this death, but at the same time he isn't saying that the rabbit wasn't important. It's a blatant act but you never fear that beloved characters will die unexpectedly themselves (though there are a few close shaves). The best way to describe "The Mouse and His Child" is to quote this little passage. At once point two tadpoles are swallowed by a snake. " `It looks bad,' said one of the tadpoles as they disappeared down the snake's throat. `You never know,' said the other. `If we can just get through this, maybe everything will be all right'." That's a bit dour, but it gives you a feel for the intelligent hand behind everything that works in this book. I haven't talked much about the truly spectacular ending of this novel, or even whether or not children would like this title. I don't know myself. It's just an interesting tale, with a feel for the repercussions that come from even the smallest of acts. You may not love it, but you can't deny that this book is a true work of art.

I wish I could rate it ZERO.......2005-07-22

I cannot for the life of me figure out why people give this book such rave reviews. This has got to be the absolute, rock-bottom WORST piece of waste paper I have ever read. I can't think of ONE good thing to say about it. It is poorly written, badly planned, uninspiring... just BAD. And I don't just mean bad for children... JUST PLAIN GODAWFUL BAD.

I read this because it was recommended by a friend, and that's the ONLY reason I finished it. I had to absolutely FORCE myself. UGH! What utter, reeking awfulness! The edition I read included Lillian Hoban's original art, and IT WAS BAD TOO! Just ugly as all heck!

I've been informed that Hoban is also the author of "A Bargain for Frances," which is one of my early childhood favorites. What a shame! What happened here???

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