Boys Books

Timely story about a courageous prince in ancient Iraq, an unprovoked war, and a ruler that needed help ending the war. Someone should send this book to President Bush, although he probably wouldn't get the meaning of it. Beautiful illustrations and wonderful story for kids and adults.

The ancient story of a young boy named Lugalbanda, is told in this beautiful book. Taken from Sumerian cuneiform tablets just translated in the 1970's, Lugalbanda's epic adventure from 5000 years ago takes place in what is now southern Iraq. War, a giant bird with shark-like teeth, sickness, and triumph make this an exciting story for readers and listeners alike. Jane Ray enhances the work with her watercolor, ink and collage illustrations. Excellent notes before and after the story are included.

The oldest written story in the world. Name it. I'm talking older than the Bible, older than the Koran, and older than the Torah. I hear someone mentioning, "The Epic of Gilgamesh". You're very close. Now just go a mere three hundred years older than that. Did you get it? If you said, "Lugalbanda", then you are correct! Discovered a mere 150 years ago on ancient Sumerian tablets, author Kathy Henderson has pieced together this book out of the poems "Lugalbanda" and "Lugalbanda In the Mountain Cave". The result? An incredibly readable and beautiful book that tells the story of a war in ancient Iraq. Timely, no? The mere fact that Henderson has been able to piece an infinitely interesting tale out of academic line-by-line translations (with some help as well from oral storyteller Fran Hazelton) and combine such a story with the breathtaking art of Jane Ray is reason enough to take a gander at this title. And as the book itself says, "So here, for the first time ever in our days of paper and print, is the story of Lugalbanda told for a new generation".

There once was a boy named Lugalbanda who lived with his seven brothers in the great city of Uruk. Uruk was ruled by King Enmerkar who had built it in honor of the goddess of love and war, Inana. One day, Enmerkar noticed that the faraway city of Aratta had far more impressive treasures and works of art than Uruk. Without further ado then, Enmerkar declared war on Aratta and set off to plunder its booty with his men. Amongst his men came the seven brothers and Lugalbanda. While en route to war, however, Lugalbanda became deathly ill and his brothers were forced to leave him with plenty of good food and drink in a warm cave, praying for his survival. After two days, Lugalbanda awoke and by appealing to the Sun God, the goddess Inana, and the Moon God, the boy was made strong enough to follow his brothers. The tale then recounts Lugalbanda's encounter with the great and terrible Anzu bird, how he got some pretty cool pre-biblical super powers, and the course Enmerkar's war eventually takes. In the end, Lugalbanda is king and his son becomes the great Gilgamesh of lore.

You might ask yourself how interesting a 5,000 year old story (that wasn't even translated until the 1970s) would be to kids today. In this way, Candlewick has been incredibly clever. The book is written with words of a rather large font and then filled to brimming with lush illustrations by Jane Ray. Themes of magic, war, and a boy befriending a great and terrible sky monster... well you might as well be describing the latest, "Chronicles of Droon" adventure. The difference is in the importance of the tale itself. Henderson's care in rendering this tale as accurately and interestingly as possible is to be commended. In the original text it isn't exactly clear if Lugalbanda is the son of King Enmerkar or is just referred to as a prince for another reason. There are lots of questions like that, all handled in an exceedingly deft manner. And as Henderson says of this tale in her "Notes On This Story" at the end of the book, "This was much too important to be left to the world of adults".

Don't go thinking that it was just Kathy Henderson who did all the research on this book, though. Artist Jane Ray studied up on her Sumerian artifacts with visits to the British Museum. This shows in the art. Done in watercolor, ink, and collage, the pictures in this book both reflect the art of the time period while also looking fresh and colorful enough to engage kids today. I was especially impressed with Ray's attention to close details. The baby Anzu bird that Lugalbanda feeds and decorates is spotted with a multitude of tiny flowers and you can make out every barb, calamus, and rachis on the bird's feathered body. It's nice to hold a book in your hands once in a while that can honestly be called beautiful.

Kudos, by the way, to the Sumerians who had the brains to come up with a goddess who was in charge of love AND war. That they could see the connection so directly makes me smile. The story told here about a war fought for the sake of plunder (though in an odd twist, the goddess won't let Enmerkar win until he promises only to take the art and artists and not destroy the town) is slightly odd. Especially when you consider that the hero is on the side of the aggressor. But the struggle for power in the Middle East is an ancient story and here we find the oldest telling of it yet. If you should wish to give this as a gift to a child, I suggest that you talk up the superpowers, battle scenes, and cool monsters as you hand it to them. Children aren't going to find the whole oldest-written-story thing all that cool. But a rainbow colored bird giant with, "the teeth of a shark"? Far better. A surprisingly great read and a wonderfully researched tale. A necessary purchase for all libraries everywhere.

this one's good. very informative study of an area not yet touched upon by authors, modern or classical.

Throughout history, boys have always been more aggressive and prone to misbehavior than girls. At least that is the common perception. According to Kenneth B. Kidd in his new book Making American Boys, the scouting/camping movement that began in the early 20th Century was geared towards harnessing male adolescent aggressiveness in constructive directions. This movement was so successful that our contemporary ideas about boys and how to raise them came from the Boy Scouts.

This is an amazing and informative book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kenneth Kidd's publication. "Making American Boys" delves into a variety of influences upon the typical American boy. It was rather comprehensive in surveying the past 150 years and brought all elements together nicely. I especially enjoyed the exploration of feral tales. I would recommend this book to those studying aspects of adolescent males, as well as anyone simply interested in the psychology behind boys! Two thumbs up!

Mama's Boy tells the story of a cop's worst nightmare: His family are the victims and his only witness is mute, on top of it all the killer is a CIA agent gone haywire, able to see the traps set for him, and avoid capture at all odds. A well rounded read, Mama's Boy sits up there with the best.

Charles King has the ability to keep one turning page after page no matter how horrifying the previous scene was. An accomplishment worthy of praise especially when the reader mostly reads historical romance which is a far cry from intricate murder mysteries that keep one on the edge of one's seat!

I read this a long time ago and have always remembered it. I read a LOT of thrillers and this one was one of the best. Very obscure but worth the look.

This book is excellent and my girls love it. It allows them to dive into romance, love, relationships and excel by using this book. The emphasis on the detail enable one to create the most adorable characters. So many ideas of figures, moods, expressions, clothing & accessories make the task a lot easier and possible. Quite a few action scenes as well as finishing techniques make this book complete. Hours of learn and fun for the summer.

Chris Hart has written another masterpiece! If you want to learn how to or better master Manga drawing then you have to buy this book. It's written so well and the step by step instructions make it very easy to make the drawings look real.

This is an enjoyable, informative instructional book from Chris Hart that my family and I have had a great deal of fun with. My two daughters found special enjoyment in drawing the shojo girls andm yes, the bishie boys! There are great sections on costumes, close-ups, group shots - ideas that you would be hard pressed to find any place other than a Chris Hart book.

out of all the comics i've read this would have to be my most favorite.all of the books before this one kept me in suspense at the ending wanting me to buy more and more and thats what i did!

When i first picked up this book I was so excited because the last three marmalade books left no dissapointment except that i didnt have more... i storongly reccomend this book.. my fave manga used to be sailor moon hands down but since ive read this book its hard to decide and im a hard core sailor moon fan..so its hard to admitt to a better book...

i love this book it's my favorite series.It's filled with comedy romance and helps you with drawing!!!!!I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

This is quite possibly my favourite book out of the Marmalade Boy series. What everyone was waiting for has finally happened, Miki and Yuu have become an official couple. But just as soon as this happens a cute (and sneaky) model threatens to ruin their new relationship. The art, plot and characters are all great. I highly recommend this book!

This is a GREAT/CLASSIC story. I have 1-8 in the original Japanese formats & can only say this story if very unique. Although this story line can be seen in a LOT of other shoujo (girl) comics, Wataru Yoshizumi took the concept and turned it in to something new and wonderful.

I picked up 1-4 a couple months ago and got hooked into the story right away. I couldn't wait for 5 to come out and it definitly doesn't dissapoint. There are 2 new characters who add to the mix of Yuu and Miki's relationship. I can't wait to find out what happens in 6.
If your looking for more great reads try Ceres, Card Captor Sakura, and Sailor Moon.

This book is a collection of personal memoirs from Ralph Fletcher's youth. I love the fact that each of these chapters can stand alone as a story or the book could be read in its entirety. Each story is easy for kids and adults alike to connect to and enjoy. As a teacher, I think the chapters could easily be used as short shared or mentor texts for reading and writing workshop. As an adult reader, I truly loved the stories and found myself revisiting childhood adventures and challenges.

As a teacher, I find Fletcher's collection of small moments to be a great teaching resource. Each short story is carefully crafted with great detail. I use this book to model writing small moments. The children in my class ask me to read a story before writing or when they "get stuck." Marshfield Dreams is a must have for teaching small moments or memoirs.

In 35 short chapters, Ralph Fletcher shares stories of his childhood neighborhood, family, and friends. Covering topics that include a description of his neighborhood, his feelings and memories of the important people in his life, games he played, school days, pets, and childhood illnesses, this story kept me entranced from start to finish. I loved the author's simple yet moving revelation of his own feelings, especially the poignant chapter about his father, "Last Kiss."

Publisher information sets reader age at grades 5 to 8, but the kid-friendly layout of this book will appeal to readers in grades 2-4, particularly if read aloud. Teens working on author reports or personal essays will find the book interesting as well. Teachers will find this memoir a handy tool in writing workshops, if used in conjunction with specific writing topics such as description, characterization, or dialogue. Fletcher's use of details brings his stories to life. Student writers can learn much about turning ordinary life events and feelings into effective stories.

As an adult reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's got a little something for every reader. I can't recommend this book enough for teachers. If you assign journal writing for young writers, this book will provide infinite topic inspiration.

You'd expect -- particularly if you read much Dickens -- that this short, personal history would be dim and depressing.

It is anything but that!

While Christy Kenneally may have lived in great poverty of life-style, he didn't life in poverty of love, laughter and joy.

Antics, adventures and affection show through every page, every character and every story.

I loved it!

This book is a heartwarming account of Christy Kenneallys Cork childhood and the tragedy of his mothers death. I would especially recommend this book to any Cork people away from home.

This book is a heartwarming account of Christy Kenneallys Cork childhood and the tragedy of his mothers death. I would especially recommend this book to any Cork people away from home.

An inspirational, must read for children of all ages. This beautifully illustrated, delightful story teaches important life lessons. My wife and I have both read it and would highly recommend it.

This well-written story is ideal for families who read together. It is a heart-warming story that offers an opportunity for parents and grandparents to talk with their children about what is (and is not) important in life. The illustrations are colorful and charming and will keep the attention of younger children.

This book is a must-read for families, animal lovers and anyone with a heart. It is a beautiful story of kindness and compassion. Children will love the illustrations, but this is definitely a book for adults as well. I know several of my loved ones will find "Michael and Mr. B" under their Christmas trees this year!

For those of us born in the late '30s and early '40s, Larance has magically rekindled a time that while not free from complication and struggle, certainly was more secure in many aspects. It centered around family, work and church, and an often unspoken but universally applied set of values -- love, charity, honesty and integrity.

This cocoon of safety provides a perfect foil for the natural curiosity of the young boys looking for adventure as a part of their initiation into manhood, and Larance captures this environment with warmth, humor, and generosity toward the characters described.

The social tensions of racial relations in Arkansas and elsewhere had yet to erupt, and Larance treats them fairly from the eyes of a child, alluding to both the coming storm and his bewilderment.

The setting may be Arkansas, but Larance aptly described my childhood in a western suburb of Chicago. In it, and perhaps characteristic of communities nationwide during that era, neighborhoods reigned and everyone was your parent, doors were left unlocked, people shared their bounty, money was tight but poverty was negligible.

It would be a shame to characterize Miss Myrtle's Boy as only a regional memoir. In truth, in addition to heartwarming episodes of a child's coming of age, in a larger sense, and without preaching or nostalgia for an age gone by, Larance instructs young and old alike on the values that are the great promise of America -- perhaps somewhat out of focus now, but worthy of redemption.

Stylistically, Larance speaks to us directly, clearly, intelligently, with charm and understated humor -- in a way we're sneaking a peek at his diary. Miss Myrtle's Boy is an excellent read that will leave you smiling and musing on your own life look after you've finished it.

"Miss Myrtle's Boy" is a story elegant in its simplicity. It serves as a good reminder of the importance of the journey over the destination, and of what's special about everything in life that is ordinary. If you like the style of Mildred Walker's books, taking us back to a time and place we all know a bit of -- where values endure, common sense rules, and land shapes the people -- then you'll love "Miss Myrtle's Boy." Its lessons are timeless. Charles L. Larance has delivered a delicious bedtime read, as effective as cocoa and a slice of pie to ensure sweet dreams (but with none of the calories)!

"Miss Myrtle's Boy" is a series of vignettes about growing up and coming-of-age in an idyllic small-town Arkansas community in the 1940s and '50s. If you are a male in, approaching, (or exceeding) mid-life and you want a quick nostalgic escape back to your youth--no matter where you grew up or what your family circumstance-- this book IS for you. I grew up in a large city in the Northeast, the product of a divorced home and still virtually every chapter "pinged" me and brought me "home" again. The simplicity, the reality and the honesty will touch you. And this book isn't just for men in their 50s. If you are married to one, or you are the child of one and you want to better understand where he came from, read the book. If you still have an appreciation for the American values of the 1950s, read the book. If you feel stressed out by the pace and pressure of of the world around you as we rush into the next millenium and you want to slow down a bit, read the book. It would be very easy to read this book in "bite-size" pieces whenever you have a few minutes, since each chapter is a story unto itself. But, if you're anything like me, once you enter the world of "Miss Myrtle's Boy," you'll want to linger a while longer. If you'll soon be getting on a plane for a business trip, or if you're headed for vacation, or if you're able to take a "time-out" at home on an evening or weekend, do yourself a favor and pick up "Miss Myrtle's Boy." You will be glad that you did!