From the author of Chocolat and Five Quarters of the Orange comes her best yet, a riveting, psychological drama of revenge set in the confines of a minor prep school in England. The school has weathered several small scandals, survived the introduction of technology, resisted going co-ed, and gained a new headmaster since the sudden death of a pupil fifteen years earlier. But things start to go dreadfully awry for both students and masters at St. Oswald's Grammar School for Boys, and Roy Straightley, the eccentric veteran classics teacher, is drawn into a harrowing game of cat and mouse against a dangerous opponent determined to destroy the school. As events begin to spiral downward, the loyalties of the staff are divided, the strained relations between the school and the town are tested, and the privileged life beyond the school gates is tarnished forever. The conclusion is a shocker, and it is to Harris's credit that it remains totally credible. The quality of the writing and the skillful plotting makes this not just another private school novel. Definitely worth reading.

Always on the lookout for mysteries in unusual settings, I found this one set in France, had immediate appeal. Fortunately, on reading it, I found that it lived up to all my hopes and expectations. The characters are complicated, the plot has unexpected twists and turns, and author Michelle Wan brings the lush, sensual atmosphere of the Dordogne to life on the page. Highly readable, entertaining, and entrancing.

A new Amelia Bedelia book--what a treat! This time she's t the library, making jackets for the books, (the won she makes for the book about the North Pole is extra warm!), trying to hear a pen drop, running way in fear from a thesaurus, and having the book thrown at her by the police after she "borrows" the bookmobile. This new Amelia Bedelia tale is a delight and will amuse the adult and young reader alike.

This beautifully illustrated children's nature book educates and delights as it entertains. A lovely book to read to (or with) a pre-schooler, it's ripe for interactive guessing and discussion. The paper collage pictures of different animals renowned for their specific body parts are almost 3-dimensional and very clear to even the youngest child. A great nature book for very young readers.

My favorite John Burningham books definitely fall into the "oldie but goodie" category. Both of these gentle adventures are great to read aloud and encourage repetition and participation from the little ones being read to. Lovely to look at as well as to listen to, these enchanting stories are evocative of an idyllic childhood where it's perpetually picnic weather and all problems are solved by a tea-party. Pre-school.

The very adorable and highly energetic dog Ivan (well, he's a Jack Russell, what do you expect?) bounces his way into all your favourite fairy tales. He barks at the Billy Goats Gruff, scares the Three Bears, chases off the Three Little Pigs and inadvertently thwarts the Big Bad Wolf's dastardly plans and EATS the Little Gingerbread Boy! Great fun and with bright, lively illustrations that bring the characters to life. Another wonderful addition to our favourite dog books.
Susannah

What a find! This should be Daniel Pinkwater's next book to read out loud on "Weekend Edition." A great premise--little Rose has to answer the door to caterers, guests, musicians, and magicians and host an impromptu party--all while Mama's having a quick little chat on the phone! Luckily, Rose manages just fine! Lovely, rollicking, rhythmical verse and fun illustrations. Great for the pre-school set who just love parties.

Imagine suffering abuse so great that your soul shatters into many pieces and those many pieces develop lives and personalities of their own. Then imagine overcoming this tragedy and living a productive life working in the high tech industry in Seattle. In telling the story of Andy Gage and Penny Driver (two beautifully drawn characters) Matt Ruff takes a huge departure from his most recent work in creating an intriguing and intensely empathetic novel of multiple personality disorder. This has none of the titillating cheap-thrill style of Sybil, but like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, is a touching and evocative exploration and explanation of a real psychological puzzle.

Despite its rather misleading title (it sounds a bit like a Danielle Steel novel), this is one of those lovely, yummy, old-fashioned three-generation sagas that make you want to curl up with a cup of tea, an afghan, and a roaring fire on a cold, rainy day. Set in the 1950s and '60s in London and New York, it follows the fortunes of a publishing house run by the rather upper-crust Lytton family. Filled with characters both likeable and deplorable, it becomes as addictive as any soap opera and leaves you even hoping there might be a sequel. Real publishing houses and well-known writers make cameo appearances along side the fictitious cast members and settings, which all adds to the salacious quality. Loved it!

Adrian Mole has been documenting the bizarre nature of British society's trivial side for twenty years now in his various volumes. He is now (almost) in mid-life crisis, enjoying a loft lifestyle on the budget of a second-hand bookseller, and is the father of 16-year-old Glen and of a toddler living in Africa with Adrian's ex-girlfriend. Adrian is currently trying to get a refund on a holiday in Cyprus, which he wishes to cancel having recently heard that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction that could land there in 45 minutes. His teenage sweetheart, Pandora, is now a government minister with her own agenda, Glen decides to enlist in the British Army, and Adrian becomes embroiled in another doomed romantic affair. All the characters from the previous books are there in what seems Real Time, which to me is one of the delights of this series. Adrian has aged pretty much at the same rate we have but has somehow still maintained his wonderful naivete and faith in the establishment. This is a truly wonderful, long-running satire. If you've never read them, look for the earlier volumes too.

This skillfully written thriller is based around a disgraced British ex-prime minister and his ghost-writer working on his exceedingly well paid memoirs while hidden away on a wintry Martha's Vineyard. The more background the ghost digs up the more dangerous the assignment becomes until he finally unearths the horrific truth about his predecessor's death and discovers the secret the ex-PM has been keeping his whole political career--a secret that has ramifications on the world political stage and one that provides some thought provoking consideration from the reader. A darn good read on a chilly night with just the right amount of intrigue, danger and polish.
Susannah

A boring day of running errands is turned into something quite spectacular for a young boy when all the shopkeepers give away a FREE dinosaur with every purchase! So much better than stickers and lollipops, don't you think? Personally, I'd like my own stegosaurus - because a brontosaurus just wouldn't fit in my house! Truly beguiling storytelling with humorous and enlightening illustrations from Caldecott Medal winning illustrator David Small (So You Want to Be President?,The Gardener, and many more) make this a lively and entertaining read for any dinosaur aficionado.
Susannah