amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the long-awaited, heavily hyped fourth instalment of a phenomenally successful series that has captured the imagination of millions of readers, young and old, across the globe. For J K Rowling the pressure is certainly on to continue to come up with thrilling, pacey storylines that allow her hero to mature into a young man without detracting from the magical secret that has made Harry into a superstar. In this book, the teenage Harry has a certain gawky charm that fits well with his advancing adolescence. As the story moves on, Harry too moves on to a new level of maturity that leaves the reader wondering how he will learn from his experiences, and liking him all the more as a character.

Once returned to Hogwarts after his summer holiday with the dreadful Dursleys and an extraordinary outing to the Quidditch World Cup, the 14-year-old Harry and his fellow pupils are enraptured by the promise of the Triwizard Tournament: an ancient, ritualistic tournament that brings Hogwarts together with two other schools of wizardry--Durmstrang and Beauxbatons--in heated competition. But when Harry's name is pulled from the Goblet of Fire, and he is chosen to champion Hogwarts in the tournament, the trouble really begins. Still reeling from the effects of a terrifying nightmare that has left him shaken, and with the lightning-shaped scar on his head throbbing with pain (a sure sign that the evil Voldemort, Harry's sworn enemy, is close), Harry becomes at once the most popular boy in school. Yet, despite his fame, he is totally unprepared for the furore that follows.

This is a hefty volume: 636 pages, of which probably at least 200 could have been cut without detracting from the story. The weight and complexity of the book is perhaps a hint that Rowling now has her eye sharply focused on her adult audience, and the average child-reader (particularly one who is coming to Harry Potter for the first time) may well find its girth daunting. Rowling's ironic and pointed observations on tabloid journalism and the nature of media hype is just one of the references littered through the book that will tickle the grown-ups but may well fly over the heads of her young fans.

However, after a slow start, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire really starts to sparkle halfway through with Rowling's familiar magic (and yes, there is a death--sudden and tragic--and yes, Harry does start to notice girls). The crux of this story, however, is Harry's gradual coming-of-age and his handling of the increasingly determined threats to his own life.

This book is pivotal, not just for the author for whom the heat is well and truly on, but for Harry and his readers who, by the last chapter, are left in little doubt that there is much more to come. (Ages 10 to adult) --Susan Harrison

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

This excellent collection of 16 favourite Greek myths catches all the magic of the stories for today's readers with its lively retellings and appealing illustrations. Included in this collection are the adventures of Jason, Theseus and Odysseus, the story of Icarus who flew too close to the sun, and King Midas whose touch turns everything to gold. In addition, there are also lesser-known stories such as Atalanta-- the goddess who can run faster than any man--and Arachne the spinner who boasts too much and is turned into a spider.

These stories have been wonderfully adapted by talented storyteller Geraldine McCaughrean who has captured all the thrills and drama of the original tales. Gloriously illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark this is a super collection of stories and a superb gift to give, read and enjoy.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

Pretty good, 17 May 2008
I think this is a better version of these ancient legends than is the companion Orchard Book of Greek Myths, though the writer and illustrator remain the same. The text here is fuller and less summarized. The ills, though improved on Greek Myths, still for me have a patronising hint to them, as if to suggest that young children today have to everything spelled out to them so they don't get bored or misunderstand. The ills are neither in ancient mode nor modern, but inhabit a bit of an uneasy, jokey limbo between the two styles.

Still - the stories themselves still speak to us loud and clear, and here they are, bold and colourful.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

Pretty good, 17 May 2008
I think this is a better version of these ancient legends than is the companion Orchard Book of Greek Myths, though the writer and illustrator remain the same. The text here is fuller and less summarized. The ills, though improved on Greek Myths, still for me have a patronising hint to them, as if to suggest that young children today have to everything spelled out to them so they don't get bored or misunderstand. The ills are neither in ancient mode nor modern, but inhabit a bit of an uneasy, jokey limbo between the two styles.

Still - the stories themselves still speak to us loud and clear, and here they are, bold and colourful.

Brilliant!!! well worth the wait!, 22 Jun 2006
i was waiting for this book with high hopes as i hoped it would be as good as the first one, i was not disappointed i could even say it was better thatn the first.

We meet the characters again in the prologue,they have a fight with the wargals they were tracking and will misses his target twice as he panics after the fight he believes he can't be a ranger anymore because he thinks he isn't good enough Halt quickly reassures him. But, will is still ashamed.

Throughout the book you see will become more confident not to let Halt down again. Will then goes on a mission with Horrace and Gilan to the celts to discover them gone. Gilan leaves them to tell king Duncan leaving the apprentices alone to follow later. As events unravel things become more exciting and the book is full of suspense. In the end Will makes the ultimate sacifice to give Horrace time to flea to the king.

In this sequel you see more of the ranger's loverable side and you and the character release he loves his apprentice more than he relises.

This sequel is one of teh best sequels i have ever read and the ending is particulary annoying as he leaves it on an exciting cliffhanger!!

i recommend this book to those who love action, wit and suspense.John Flanagan has made a successful series and i can't wait until the next one!

As great as book 1, 17 Apr 2006
We loved it as much as book one (Australian edition published earlier). This is a great series, loved by mother as much as by son. Fast moving, full of suspense and adventure, trials and triumphs, makes you wish you could really be a part of it.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

Pretty good, 17 May 2008
I think this is a better version of these ancient legends than is the companion Orchard Book of Greek Myths, though the writer and illustrator remain the same. The text here is fuller and less summarized. The ills, though improved on Greek Myths, still for me have a patronising hint to them, as if to suggest that young children today have to everything spelled out to them so they don't get bored or misunderstand. The ills are neither in ancient mode nor modern, but inhabit a bit of an uneasy, jokey limbo between the two styles.

Still - the stories themselves still speak to us loud and clear, and here they are, bold and colourful.

Brilliant!!! well worth the wait!, 22 Jun 2006
i was waiting for this book with high hopes as i hoped it would be as good as the first one, i was not disappointed i could even say it was better thatn the first.

We meet the characters again in the prologue,they have a fight with the wargals they were tracking and will misses his target twice as he panics after the fight he believes he can't be a ranger anymore because he thinks he isn't good enough Halt quickly reassures him. But, will is still ashamed.

Throughout the book you see will become more confident not to let Halt down again. Will then goes on a mission with Horrace and Gilan to the celts to discover them gone. Gilan leaves them to tell king Duncan leaving the apprentices alone to follow later. As events unravel things become more exciting and the book is full of suspense. In the end Will makes the ultimate sacifice to give Horrace time to flea to the king.

In this sequel you see more of the ranger's loverable side and you and the character release he loves his apprentice more than he relises.

This sequel is one of teh best sequels i have ever read and the ending is particulary annoying as he leaves it on an exciting cliffhanger!!

i recommend this book to those who love action, wit and suspense.John Flanagan has made a successful series and i can't wait until the next one!

As great as book 1, 17 Apr 2006
We loved it as much as book one (Australian edition published earlier). This is a great series, loved by mother as much as by son. Fast moving, full of suspense and adventure, trials and triumphs, makes you wish you could really be a part of it.

enthralled, 03 Nov 2007
Since being given this book two months ago my 5year old twins can't get enough, they love the stories and the beautiful way each one is illustrated and I get bombarded with questions about how and why for days afterwards. Daddy missed reading two of the chapters the first time round, as he was working late. My son suggested it was only fair that we read the wholebook again so Daddy wouldn't miss out! They will treasure this for years, especially when they later when they can read it for themselves.
If the art of story telling and bedtime stories is one you wish to enjoy in your family then I doubt you will regret adding this to your bookshelves, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we are doing.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

Pretty good, 17 May 2008
I think this is a better version of these ancient legends than is the companion Orchard Book of Greek Myths, though the writer and illustrator remain the same. The text here is fuller and less summarized. The ills, though improved on Greek Myths, still for me have a patronising hint to them, as if to suggest that young children today have to everything spelled out to them so they don't get bored or misunderstand. The ills are neither in ancient mode nor modern, but inhabit a bit of an uneasy, jokey limbo between the two styles.

Still - the stories themselves still speak to us loud and clear, and here they are, bold and colourful.

Brilliant!!! well worth the wait!, 22 Jun 2006
i was waiting for this book with high hopes as i hoped it would be as good as the first one, i was not disappointed i could even say it was better thatn the first.

We meet the characters again in the prologue,they have a fight with the wargals they were tracking and will misses his target twice as he panics after the fight he believes he can't be a ranger anymore because he thinks he isn't good enough Halt quickly reassures him. But, will is still ashamed.

Throughout the book you see will become more confident not to let Halt down again. Will then goes on a mission with Horrace and Gilan to the celts to discover them gone. Gilan leaves them to tell king Duncan leaving the apprentices alone to follow later. As events unravel things become more exciting and the book is full of suspense. In the end Will makes the ultimate sacifice to give Horrace time to flea to the king.

In this sequel you see more of the ranger's loverable side and you and the character release he loves his apprentice more than he relises.

This sequel is one of teh best sequels i have ever read and the ending is particulary annoying as he leaves it on an exciting cliffhanger!!

i recommend this book to those who love action, wit and suspense.John Flanagan has made a successful series and i can't wait until the next one!

As great as book 1, 17 Apr 2006
We loved it as much as book one (Australian edition published earlier). This is a great series, loved by mother as much as by son. Fast moving, full of suspense and adventure, trials and triumphs, makes you wish you could really be a part of it.

enthralled, 03 Nov 2007
Since being given this book two months ago my 5year old twins can't get enough, they love the stories and the beautiful way each one is illustrated and I get bombarded with questions about how and why for days afterwards. Daddy missed reading two of the chapters the first time round, as he was working late. My son suggested it was only fair that we read the wholebook again so Daddy wouldn't miss out! They will treasure this for years, especially when they later when they can read it for themselves.
If the art of story telling and bedtime stories is one you wish to enjoy in your family then I doubt you will regret adding this to your bookshelves, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we are doing.

An old story, retold... , 10 Mar 2008
from the LEAPFROG book series.

From the back cover:-

'On a cold winter evening, a little match girl tries to keep herself warm.
What wonderful things will she see in the flames of her matches?'

Example of text:-

`It was a cold winter evening.
A poor little girl was trying to earn money by selling matches.
As the sun set, party lights lit up in the windows.
The little match girl huddled behind a wall to keep warm.
"If I light just one match," she said, "I could warm my frozen feet."....'

And so she does.......and each time she lights a match she sees another vision in the flame..... before it flickers away.

A `happy' ending...... of sorts, and although it may not appeal to every young reader.... it certainly opens scope for discussion along the lines of life after death for an older age group.
(n.b. - The pictures of the `lifeless body' may upset more sensitive readers, therefore I would recommend adult perusal first, if possible.)

32 high quality shiny pages in the popular 2-page spread format. Numbered pages with clear, easy-to-follow text. Illustrated throughout.

'Leapfrog has been specially designed to fit the requirements of the National Literacy Strategy. It offers real books for beginning readers by top authors and illustrators.'

There are a number of `Leapfrog' stories to choose from and these are listed on the very last page.

A lovely book, 22 Sep 2001
i read this story as a child and i remember how sad i felt for the little girl. Each picture that came when the match was lit was magical and you wanted each image to stay and as a child it teaches you to think about how other children just like you are suffering in the world. Children will always love this book even though it is sad.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

Pretty good, 17 May 2008
I think this is a better version of these ancient legends than is the companion Orchard Book of Greek Myths, though the writer and illustrator remain the same. The text here is fuller and less summarized. The ills, though improved on Greek Myths, still for me have a patronising hint to them, as if to suggest that young children today have to everything spelled out to them so they don't get bored or misunderstand. The ills are neither in ancient mode nor modern, but inhabit a bit of an uneasy, jokey limbo between the two styles.

Still - the stories themselves still speak to us loud and clear, and here they are, bold and colourful.

Brilliant!!! well worth the wait!, 22 Jun 2006
i was waiting for this book with high hopes as i hoped it would be as good as the first one, i was not disappointed i could even say it was better thatn the first.

We meet the characters again in the prologue,they have a fight with the wargals they were tracking and will misses his target twice as he panics after the fight he believes he can't be a ranger anymore because he thinks he isn't good enough Halt quickly reassures him. But, will is still ashamed.

Throughout the book you see will become more confident not to let Halt down again. Will then goes on a mission with Horrace and Gilan to the celts to discover them gone. Gilan leaves them to tell king Duncan leaving the apprentices alone to follow later. As events unravel things become more exciting and the book is full of suspense. In the end Will makes the ultimate sacifice to give Horrace time to flea to the king.

In this sequel you see more of the ranger's loverable side and you and the character release he loves his apprentice more than he relises.

This sequel is one of teh best sequels i have ever read and the ending is particulary annoying as he leaves it on an exciting cliffhanger!!

i recommend this book to those who love action, wit and suspense.John Flanagan has made a successful series and i can't wait until the next one!

As great as book 1, 17 Apr 2006
We loved it as much as book one (Australian edition published earlier). This is a great series, loved by mother as much as by son. Fast moving, full of suspense and adventure, trials and triumphs, makes you wish you could really be a part of it.

enthralled, 03 Nov 2007
Since being given this book two months ago my 5year old twins can't get enough, they love the stories and the beautiful way each one is illustrated and I get bombarded with questions about how and why for days afterwards. Daddy missed reading two of the chapters the first time round, as he was working late. My son suggested it was only fair that we read the wholebook again so Daddy wouldn't miss out! They will treasure this for years, especially when they later when they can read it for themselves.
If the art of story telling and bedtime stories is one you wish to enjoy in your family then I doubt you will regret adding this to your bookshelves, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we are doing.

An old story, retold... , 10 Mar 2008
from the LEAPFROG book series.

From the back cover:-

'On a cold winter evening, a little match girl tries to keep herself warm.
What wonderful things will she see in the flames of her matches?'

Example of text:-

`It was a cold winter evening.
A poor little girl was trying to earn money by selling matches.
As the sun set, party lights lit up in the windows.
The little match girl huddled behind a wall to keep warm.
"If I light just one match," she said, "I could warm my frozen feet."....'

And so she does.......and each time she lights a match she sees another vision in the flame..... before it flickers away.

A `happy' ending...... of sorts, and although it may not appeal to every young reader.... it certainly opens scope for discussion along the lines of life after death for an older age group.
(n.b. - The pictures of the `lifeless body' may upset more sensitive readers, therefore I would recommend adult perusal first, if possible.)

32 high quality shiny pages in the popular 2-page spread format. Numbered pages with clear, easy-to-follow text. Illustrated throughout.

'Leapfrog has been specially designed to fit the requirements of the National Literacy Strategy. It offers real books for beginning readers by top authors and illustrators.'

There are a number of `Leapfrog' stories to choose from and these are listed on the very last page.

A lovely book, 22 Sep 2001
i read this story as a child and i remember how sad i felt for the little girl. Each picture that came when the match was lit was magical and you wanted each image to stay and as a child it teaches you to think about how other children just like you are suffering in the world. Children will always love this book even though it is sad.

Fantasy dreamland illustrations captivate young children., 10 Jun 1996
This Caldecott Honor winner captivates young children with its entrancing illustrations of a boy's journey through a fantasy dreamland. Since there is no text, children (and adults) are free to make up the story to fit the illustrations in any way they see fit. Another wonderful wordless book by Wiesner is Tuesday.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

Pretty good, 17 May 2008
I think this is a better version of these ancient legends than is the companion Orchard Book of Greek Myths, though the writer and illustrator remain the same. The text here is fuller and less summarized. The ills, though improved on Greek Myths, still for me have a patronising hint to them, as if to suggest that young children today have to everything spelled out to them so they don't get bored or misunderstand. The ills are neither in ancient mode nor modern, but inhabit a bit of an uneasy, jokey limbo between the two styles.

Still - the stories themselves still speak to us loud and clear, and here they are, bold and colourful.

Brilliant!!! well worth the wait!, 22 Jun 2006
i was waiting for this book with high hopes as i hoped it would be as good as the first one, i was not disappointed i could even say it was better thatn the first.

We meet the characters again in the prologue,they have a fight with the wargals they were tracking and will misses his target twice as he panics after the fight he believes he can't be a ranger anymore because he thinks he isn't good enough Halt quickly reassures him. But, will is still ashamed.

Throughout the book you see will become more confident not to let Halt down again. Will then goes on a mission with Horrace and Gilan to the celts to discover them gone. Gilan leaves them to tell king Duncan leaving the apprentices alone to follow later. As events unravel things become more exciting and the book is full of suspense. In the end Will makes the ultimate sacifice to give Horrace time to flea to the king.

In this sequel you see more of the ranger's loverable side and you and the character release he loves his apprentice more than he relises.

This sequel is one of teh best sequels i have ever read and the ending is particulary annoying as he leaves it on an exciting cliffhanger!!

i recommend this book to those who love action, wit and suspense.John Flanagan has made a successful series and i can't wait until the next one!

As great as book 1, 17 Apr 2006
We loved it as much as book one (Australian edition published earlier). This is a great series, loved by mother as much as by son. Fast moving, full of suspense and adventure, trials and triumphs, makes you wish you could really be a part of it.

enthralled, 03 Nov 2007
Since being given this book two months ago my 5year old twins can't get enough, they love the stories and the beautiful way each one is illustrated and I get bombarded with questions about how and why for days afterwards. Daddy missed reading two of the chapters the first time round, as he was working late. My son suggested it was only fair that we read the wholebook again so Daddy wouldn't miss out! They will treasure this for years, especially when they later when they can read it for themselves.
If the art of story telling and bedtime stories is one you wish to enjoy in your family then I doubt you will regret adding this to your bookshelves, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we are doing.

An old story, retold... , 10 Mar 2008
from the LEAPFROG book series.

From the back cover:-

'On a cold winter evening, a little match girl tries to keep herself warm.
What wonderful things will she see in the flames of her matches?'

Example of text:-

`It was a cold winter evening.
A poor little girl was trying to earn money by selling matches.
As the sun set, party lights lit up in the windows.
The little match girl huddled behind a wall to keep warm.
"If I light just one match," she said, "I could warm my frozen feet."....'

And so she does.......and each time she lights a match she sees another vision in the flame..... before it flickers away.

A `happy' ending...... of sorts, and although it may not appeal to every young reader.... it certainly opens scope for discussion along the lines of life after death for an older age group.
(n.b. - The pictures of the `lifeless body' may upset more sensitive readers, therefore I would recommend adult perusal first, if possible.)

32 high quality shiny pages in the popular 2-page spread format. Numbered pages with clear, easy-to-follow text. Illustrated throughout.

'Leapfrog has been specially designed to fit the requirements of the National Literacy Strategy. It offers real books for beginning readers by top authors and illustrators.'

There are a number of `Leapfrog' stories to choose from and these are listed on the very last page.

A lovely book, 22 Sep 2001
i read this story as a child and i remember how sad i felt for the little girl. Each picture that came when the match was lit was magical and you wanted each image to stay and as a child it teaches you to think about how other children just like you are suffering in the world. Children will always love this book even though it is sad.

Fantasy dreamland illustrations captivate young children., 10 Jun 1996
This Caldecott Honor winner captivates young children with its entrancing illustrations of a boy's journey through a fantasy dreamland. Since there is no text, children (and adults) are free to make up the story to fit the illustrations in any way they see fit. Another wonderful wordless book by Wiesner is Tuesday.

Perfect seaside reading, 16 Nov 2008
My kids (a boy and a girl, now aged 6 and 5) love this book. The beautiful illustrations and magical text come together to create a really wonderful, atmospheric story. If you ever go on holiday to the West Coast of Scotland, take this book with you. And if you don't go, read the book and it will take you there anyway.

Beautifully illustrated, 30 May 2004
As pointed out by one of the earlier reviewers, my daughter (5) immediately noticed the glitter on the cover in the bookshop, read the title and decided that her search for a book to take home was over!

This is a beautifully illustrated book with the pictures conveying the mood of each page in an enchanting, almost haunting way. However I do think that in a book this long the story could be developed a little further. My daughter could not have read it herself and in stories I am reading to her she is able to absorb a little more development in the characters.

If your children liked this book they would find "Laura's Star" equally spellbinding, and get the same warm feeling as they drift into a night's sleep.

Good, but not a classic.

Can you Catch a Mermaid? A tale to remember, 26 Feb 2004
The book is beautifully told and illustrated, complete with glitter on the cover to catch the eye of young children. Particularly suitable for girls, this book captures the imagination and draws you in to the story using simple yet effective language. It also touches upon many subjects in an unobtrusive manner such as single parent families and choosing between right and wrong. Jane Ray has managed to capture magic and place it between the leaves of the book, unravelling in the mermaid's hair blowing in the breeze and the vivid descriptions provided. The layout of the book varies from page to page, which makes it exciting to read, the text speaking to you differently on different pages, for example, during the terrible storms that are described, the writing swirls about the page, up and down, in much the same way that the sea would being bashed against the harbour walls. The narrator's thoughts and the speech of the mermaid are in italics, which makes it easy for the children to distinguish between who is talking and also adds a sense of mystery to the words.

a beautiful tale of a young girl's attachment to a mermaid, 20 Sep 2003
Like all four-year-olds, I guess, my daughter has a thing about Mermaids, but I found this story to be more touching, more beautifully illustrated that the other mermaid tale which she is most familiar with - notably The Little Mermaid (both Disney and otherwise).

It tells the story of a little girl who befriends a strange young girl who she meets on the beach, while her father is out in his fishing boat. When she discovers that this stranger is actually a mermaid, she is reluctant to let her return to the sea and prevents her from doing so (without wishing to give the entire game away).

It is a rather chilling tale, with more than a hint of ghostliness to it, but which captures all young girls' obsessions with the idea of being a mermaid.

Beautiful book, 19 Sep 2003
A lovely book, enjoyed by both myself and my daughter (5), gorgeous, detailed pictures. A must for all mermaid lovers.

amazing a must have, 21 Mar 2006
very clear and easy to understand and read. full of interesting and factual information but presented in an exciting way. Absolutly fascinating! a must have for all historians or anyone hus interested in ancient civilisations.
covers a huge variety of different stories, myths, legends etc.
All in all an excellent book definatly 5 stars and definatly worth reading.

Really captures the heart of Greek Myth, 20 May 1998
This book is among the best myhology books I have ever read. It is expanded to the best and most popular of Greek Myths. For example, The Labors of Hercules, The Quest for the Golden Fleece and more.

Magical sports!, 18 Oct 2008
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?


BRILLIANT !, 18 Jun 2008
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !


Of epic proportion, of epic quality., 17 Jun 2008
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is no short read, taking the reader through over 600 pages of wit, humour, misery and excitement. For some, this book may indeed seem over-written, striding down corridors that are hundreds of yards from where the real plot is taking place. However, Rowling is to be commended for her ability to yet again shape the character of Harry Potter into a greater form, but at a pace relevant to mass market fiction. The growing animosity between Potter and Voldemort is considered in a real and engaging way, allowing the plot to play upon the reader's deepest fears.

Drink this goblet dry..., 07 Jun 2008
Rowling is on top form here. Ten pages in, I was hoping that it would never finish. The old caretaker, the 'One who cannot be named' and the eerie setting of an old house. It's great to see Harry maturing throughout the book, although I felt uneasy. But then I realised that was exactly what J K wanted. Great action, great character development, dark, and my favourite H Potter book yet.


Fantastic book magical, 15 Mar 2008
I have only been in to Harry Potter for about 10 months, 2months before the final book was released.I heard they were great but never bothered to read then.BUT am I glad I did they are BRILL I read them all in a few months and would recommend them to anyone of all ages.This book was one of my favourites.I was gripped from the start to the very end.

Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Mythical Knowledge!, 15 Jul 2004
This book is one of the best we have seen to cover the subject of Greek Myths. 16 myths catch all the magic of the stories for today's readers. It includes all the well-known favourites but some less well-known, too. When an eight year old is able to recall the contents of 'Pandora's Box', with ease, you know that an author has captured her readers! 'Hope' prevails!
Charming full colour illustrations make this a book hard to put down. A definite must for the book-shelf, and if the budget can stretch to it, the audio-book really enforces the facts!
Both are on at a great price, at Amazon.
Highly recommended!

Suberb retelling of Greek myths with beautiful illustrations, 28 Mar 2002
This book is the best collection of Greek myths for children I have ever read. The stories are told in a clear and simple way, yet also fully manage to convey their depth. I am a teacher of eleven year olds and on Friday mornings I read these tales for the children: they love them. McCaughrean does not shirk form occasionally shocking her readers with something challenging. The pictures are excellent and manage to convey just the right sense of magic and adventure. My own favourite among the stories is the epic tale of Perseus. It is told and illustrated with great verve and style. Anyone who wishes to share their love of mythology with children or who wishes to learn about them themselves should buy this book.

Pretty good, 17 May 2008
I think this is a better version of these ancient legends than is the companion Orchard Book of Greek Myths, though the writer and illustrator remain the same. The text here is fuller and less summarized. The ills, though improved on Greek Myths, still for me have a patronising hint to them, as if to suggest that young children today have to everything spelled out to them so they don't get bored or misunderstand. The ills are neither in ancient mode nor modern, but inhabit a bit of an uneasy, jokey limbo between the two styles.

Still - the stories themselves still speak to us loud and clear, and here they are, bold and colourful.

Brilliant!!! well worth the wait!, 22 Jun 2006
i was waiting for this book with high hopes as i hoped it would be as good as the first one, i was not disappointed i could even say it was better thatn the first.

We meet the characters again in the prologue,they have a fight with the wargals they were tracking and will misses his target twice as he panics after the fight he believes he can't be a ranger anymore because he thinks he isn't good enough Halt quickly reassures him. But, will is still ashamed.

Throughout the book you see will become more confident not to let Halt down again. Will then goes on a mission with Horrace and Gilan to the celts to discover them gone. Gilan leaves them to tell king Duncan leaving the apprentices alone to follow later. As events unravel things become more exciting and the book is full of suspense. In the end Will makes the ultimate sacifice to give Horrace time to flea to the king.

In this sequel you see more of the ranger's loverable side and you and the character release he loves his apprentice more than he relises.

This sequel is one of teh best sequels i have ever read and the ending is particulary annoying as he leaves it on an exciting cliffhanger!!

i recommend this book to those who love action, wit and suspense.John Flanagan has made a successful series and i can't wait until the next one!

As great as book 1, 17 Apr 2006
We loved it as much as book one (Australian edition published earlier). This is a great series, loved by mother as much as by son. Fast moving, full of suspense and adventure, trials and triumphs, makes you wish you could reall