Editorial Review

The tale of Taran, assistant pig keeper, has been entertaining young readers for generations. Set in the mythical land of Prydain (which bears a more than passing resemblance to Wales), Lloyd Alexander's book draws together the elements of the hero's journey from unformed boy to courageous young man. Taran grumbles with frustration at home in the hamlet Caer Dallben; he yearns to go into battle like his hero, Prince Gwydion. Before the story is over, he has met his hero and fought the evil leader who threatens the peace of Prydain: the Horned King. Read more

Reviews (205)

Read this series and you'll say "Harry who?"
Never mind that Potter guy, this is much better!I am a children's librarian and I've long wanted to read this series.I had all the paperbacks on my personal bookshelf for years and often picked them up then put them back down.I have three children's series I want to read before I die: "The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper (read it a few years ago--very good); The Narnia series (I'm trying desperately to get through "The Horse and His Boy"); and "The Chronicles of Prydain."I am thrilled to be able to tell you I recently finished this series.I just loved it!"The Book of Three" is one of the best in the series because it introduces the reader to most of the wonderful main characters.My favorites were Taran, the creature Gurgi (loved his way of talking, especially his fondness for "crunchings and munchings."), the bard Fflewddur Fflam, Prince Gwydion, Dalben and Coll.Eliwony sometimes got on my nerves but I learned to like her.I'm so glad this was a series of five books rather than one huge one.I devoured them one right after the other but if it had been one big book I may not have read it.I also loved the last book in the series, "The High King" because everything came together.One of my other favorites was "Taran Wanderer."The good vs. evil in this is so powerful.The characters, even minor ones, held this together.It is so very apparent that Taran grows up in these books.Eliwony does too but Taran is a likeable young boy and an even more likeable young man.The writing throughout the series is exquisite.I loved the line "...memory lives longer than what it remembers."

Taran, Gurgi, Eionwy, Flewdur.... It was great to go back to PRYDAIN!
I haven't read these books in 20-years, but it was worth every minute. Once I started I couldn't put them down and I was right back in the mix with the Assistant Pig Keeper. I will definitely be reading them again in a few months and hope to pass them on to others who will enjoy them as immensely as I have.

A Beautiful Book
The Book of Three is the first in a series of children's fantasy novels that I find highly entertaining. The Book of Three (like the others in the series) is set up like a fairy tale: there are definable good and bad characters marked by their morality and purposes. It involves heroic battles, adventure, magic, and an array of brilliant characters whose growth underlines the epic portion of the tale.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fantasy    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (1)

Worth 1000 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the best fantasy series since The Lord of the Rings. While this series is not as widely know as Narnia or LOTR it deserves a lot of credit and imo is better then Narnia.
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Subjects:  1. Fantastic fiction    2. Juvenile fiction    3. Prydain (Imaginary place)   

Reviews (111)

Good, but the series gets better
This, the second book in Alexander's series, is a pretty good book which describes the quest that Taran and his companions go on to destroy the Black Caulrdon, which is an instrument of evil which is used to create undead warriors to fight for evil.They finally find it, hidden in the cluthces of some Welsh legends.There Taran has to make a choice:he had just found a magical amulet that actually makes him into the skilled adventurer that he wants to be, but the Three Sisters (the Welsh legends) will only part with the cauldron if Taran gives them his amulet.
a fflam! a fflam!
The Black Cauldron is a fantastic book (NOT like the movie AT ALL ^_^)Taran hasn't learned his lesson from the Book of Three, or if he did he forgot it, but that is ok because FFLEWDDUR RETURNS! YAY!(Is it broken? No, not my arm, the HARP!) Fflewddur really got the short end of the stick in the movie, though...Anyway, in all seriousness, it is the supporting characters who really make this book (well, the whole series, really, but The Black Cauldron in particular)so special. It is a bit darker that The Book of Three (a pattern throughout the series, each a little darker than the next as Taran grows up) and the Companions are tested more sorely, but it means each gets the chance to shine a little brighter.(A Fflam is valiant! ::twang!:: Drat...)In conclusion...read it. It will not disappoint.

Great Series
This was a series that I never read as a child, but constantly picked off the shelf and browsed through... now that I am done withcollege and finally have time to read for my own personal entertainment, I have begun picking up some cherished classics from my childhood and even picking up some of the well known classics that I hadn't yet read... and in the case of the Prydain Chronicles, I am very glad that I did.This is a great series, and just as entertaining and well-written for adults as well as for that younger audience.I wish more literature had such cross-over appeal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fantasy    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (119)

By far the best book in the series
I must confess that I was very surprised at the quality of this book.The others in the series were good, but this one was spectacular.It is definitely deserving of the Newbery award it won.This books is similar to the Return of the King in that it is the climax of the series and everything is finally resolved.Also similar is that the forces of good make a final march of the land of the dark lord, overthrowing him with the help of a evil creature not entirely meaning to help them (ala Gollum).
High Fantasy
Lloyd Alexander won a Newbery Medal for this final book in his Prydian Chronicles.This modern fantasy book is one of my favorites and tackles the basic confrontation of good and evil.Strongly based on Celtic and Welsh mythology, Lloyd Alexander creates the kingdom of Prydia.Throughout the series, the assistan t pig-keeper, Taran, encounters the evil forces of Arawan, the Death Lord.Paralleling the story of King Arthur, Alexander's hero believes himself to be nothing but an insignificant farm hand until he rises to greatness at the climax of the novel.

The High King

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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fantasy    5. Juvenile Fiction   

Reviews (53)

4 1/2 stars for a classic coming-of-age
Taran is lonely without Eilonwy, in her absence he has decided that he is really in love, but since she is a princess he comes to the conclusion that he can only marry her if he too, is royalty. That brings into question who his parents are. In the three previous book it is implied that he is a foundling so he decides that if he went on an orderly search throughout Prydain he might find out. He leaves taking Gurgi, and along the way meats up with Fflewder Fflam and Doli.
Taran Wanderer
This was a good book. But the begining was not very good. It was basicly about going from kingdom to kingdom. The main charcter is Taran. He is a very interesting charcter. He starts on a quest to find his parantage. And he goes through mountains, castles, swamps and even caves. The biggest conflict comes into place when he meets Dorath. Dorath is a meen charcter who is part of a group of "hired swords". He treis to convince Taran to hire them but he doesnt so he becomes a enemy of Taran. He challenges Taran for his sword and a few other items that dont matter. But he wins and take sthe sword for his own. Taran has a grudge on him until he fights him again and defeats him by breaking his sword. Taran also faces a wizard who turned his freinfd Dolly in to a frog. Taran defeats the wizard and he turns Dolly back into a dwarf.

Amazing Story of Courage,Friendship and the Search for Truth
Taran Wanderer was not given the Newbery Award like it's successor The High King; nor was it awarded a Newbery Honor medal such as it's predecessor The Black Cauldron. However, Taran Wanderer is the most complete book in the Chronicles of Prydain. Lloyd Alexander deftly tells the tale of Taran's quest to find his parentage in hopes of being decendant from noble blood. Gurgi, Taran's faithful sidekick journeys with him through far off parts of Prydain. Along the way, old friends and faces reappear such as Fflewwder Fflamm the bard/king, Doli of the fair folk, Kaw his hijinxing bird, Llyan the giant cat who Fflewwder now rides as his mount and King Smoit whose army rescued Taran and his companions at the end of The Black Cauldron. Taran's journey to find himself takes him to a number of different trades such as metallurgy, weaving, farming and pottery. He also meets his fair share of adventure and enchantment along the way. At 254 pages Taran Wanderer is the longest book in the series but it reads the fastest because there is so much action and uncertainty in what Taran will finally find out about himself. The Chronicles of Prydain still stand as some of the greatest fantasy stories ever written and Taran Wanderer is the BEST book in the Chronicles of Prydain. Highest Recommendation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fantasy    5. Juvenile Fiction   

Reviews (48)

Good book, good principles
All of Alexander's main characters are back in this book (besides Doli I think), and once again Alexander does a wonderful job of portraying the battle of good vs. evil in the fun garb of a fictional adventure.This book highlights self-sacrafice, as Taran has to choose whether or not to help the man competing for the same things that he wants.It also highlights the immorality of selfishness, as Glew is pretty much selfishness incarnate and ends up stuck in a cave with no way to get out, until Taran and co. decide to be merciful to him even though he tried to kill them.
Great Kid's Book
As a kid I read the Prydain books again and again. I can't resist some Harry Potter comparisons, and since they make a good common point of reference, I'll use the device here. The Prydain books aren't quite as exciting and magical as HP, but they have many of the same coming of age problems expressed through allegory, and frankly I find the characters better developed, more humorous, and more likeable. This is the third in the five book series, and to my mind the weakest but still very, very enjoyable. The protagonist of this book, as of the others is Taran of Caer Dallben, an orphan of unknown parentage and now an Assistant Pig-Keeper. He is being raised by a monastic collection of former war heroes and semi-wizards, and is always insecure about his lineage. In this book he also struggles with the crisis of his best friend, the princess Eilonwy, being forced to leave to learn to be a lady.Other main and recurring characters, save perhaps for the princess, are more or less also neurotic in delightful ways. Alexander avoids formula, even though the plot when described could sound like a million sword and sorcerer books. The depth and likeability of the characters lifts it above most fantasy books,though, especially fantasy books for kids. We grow up with Taran, and the character he develops is character that would almost universally be recognized as admirable. I highly, highly recommend all of them- at least as much as the HP books. Again, I think this may be the weakest one, but it's still terrific.
great, but The book of Three(also by Lloyd Alexander)was better
Dont mind if I rated this 4 stars. THis is a great book, I couldnt stop reading it, but its just that THe book of Three was more interesting. I read this book since 5th grade(now im in 6th grade)its a lot interesting.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fantasy    5. Juvenile Fiction   

Reviews (50)

was very interesting and soul capturing, very, very highly necommenable
This was a very good book. I liked it because a young boy and his "magic" cat go on 7 or 8 breath-taking adventures. Well, if I keep going on I'll spoil the story for you so I'll have stop here.
~TIME FOR TIME CAT~
The book TIME CAT was written by Alexander Lloyd. To me it was a very well written, compelling, and had the perfect amount of description. This book describes different places and time periods. By having a time traveling cat Greath, take his boy Jason, too many different places and times. A bit of the places are Egypt, Japan, and Germany.
time cat
Time Cat is a book that does not carry on a single plot. Every section has a new storyline. I liked this book because at any time you can pick it up and read one short story start to finish. most of the sections have a twist at the end of them, something that makes you think.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Fantasy fiction    7. Fiction    8. Imaginary voyages    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Time travel    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (34)

No one can do it like Lloyd!
The Arkadians by Lloyd Alexander is a very fascinating read. It is the type of book that almost anyone would like, but fantasy enthusiasts will really adore this book.
Hail the Arkadians
With China, India and ancient Wales under his belt, Lloyd Alexander strayed over to Greece in "The Arkadians." His typical quest story is given a twist of Greek mythology and feminism, but never enough to keep the book from being light, funny and adventurous.
The art of storytelling at its most professional
This single book is better than the entire Prydain Chronicles. Whereas the storytelling in the latter series was occasionally clunky and the settings vague, Alexander's hallmark is the nerve-wracking suspense he creates so that the reader just has to finish the book once he starts it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fantastic fiction    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (21)

Tales ah-plenty, tales galore
The superstars of children's literature often have to contend with the continual cries of their fans for further adventures and stories.How long do you think J.K. Rowling will be able to keep her promise of only seven Harry Potter tales before she breaks down and consents to one further story?We should never forget that when a character (or characters) becomes famous and beloved, he/she/they cannot rest in peace.Even Sherlock Holmes rose from his grave to star in further adventures and imaginings.It should come as no surprise then that Lloyd Alexander acquiesced, after a fashion, to his adoring public.After being asked to writer further tales from the land of Prydain, Alexander chose to give the public what they wanted.Sort of.The stories in this book do take place in Prydain and they do contain many of the beloved characters we've grown to know.In a sly twist, however, Alexander sets all these tales BEFORE any of the action we read about in the Prydain Chronicles.This experiment in prefacing the stories we already know so well could have ended up as either derivative or as depressing as George Lucas's attempt to create the first three movies of the "Star Wars" series.Instead, they end up as tiny parables that speak about hope, light, and beauty in the midst of potential bloodshed and terror.They're well worth a reading.
Little bits of background for every Prydain fan
This highly readable collection of short stories provides a wonderful look at some of the characters and events that take place before the Prydain Chronicles. Don't miss out this book!
"Stories of the mythical land so beautifully conceived by Alexander are written with grace and humor....Each tale stands alone, a small gem." -Bulletin of the Center for Children BooksRead more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children's stories, American    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Fairy tales    5. Fantasy    6. Fantasy fiction    7. Fantasy fiction, American    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Short stories    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (15)

Fortune Tellers instills good values
The fortune tellers is great book full of great morals. I think that its message of "learn from being conned" is great. The guy is conned by a fortune teller, and he then uses what he learned to make money.
The Fortune-Tellers
The Fortune-Tellers is an interesting story about a carpenter who wishes he could have more and wants to know about his future and what it holds.He goes to a fortune teller and asks what his future holds for him.The fortune-teller on the other hand is a fraud as you can tell just by the first thing he says."Rich you will surely be"..."if you earn large sums of money." This is the kind of talk that the fortune teller tells this poor, innocent carpenter. Unfortunately the carpenter buys all this and he goes back to his work.After thinking, he wanted to know more about his future and goes back to the fortune teller to ask questions.Waiting for him is a special twist you would've never expected.
The Fortune is True
During this book a young Carpenter hears theirs a Fortune-Teller in the village. He finally finds it, and the fortune-teller tells this curious man that someday he will find true love. During the night this brave, unwilling man goes back to the old man's stand and takes his magic cap, and his crystal ball, and while this is going on a Banker lady is watching him. The next day the real fortune-teller lift, and the carpenter became the new fortune-teller. Everybody from his old crummy village came to ask him some questions in his new, and approved village. Even the Banker lady, her husband, and her beautiful daughter came to visit. That's when the carpenter found his true love after all. The carpenter and the unbelievable woman get married under true, and peaceful love. Read this amazing story to find out what will happen next. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    4. Fiction    5. Fortune telling    6. Humorous stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (2)

Invaluable to Alexander's fans
The Prydain Chronicles have become a fantasy classic, a collection of five novels and one short story collection that are considered by many to be up there just below J.R.R. Tolkien's works (which the Chronicles resemble, in their depth and use of mythology). Now Michael Tunnell's guide to the Prydain Chronicles has been rereleased, and it's definitely worth getting. Wonderful!
If you love the Prydain Chronicles, as I do, this companion is a must have.It's an excellent resource if you want to find out about a character in the Chronicles without going back and re-reading.It's veryeasy-to-use, and well done, one volume I definitely recommend adding toyour personal library when you have the chance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alexander, Lloyd    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    3. Children's stories    4. Children's stories, American    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Chronicles of Prydain    7. Dictionaries    8. Fantasy fiction, American    9. General And Reference Works (Young Adult)    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Literature (Young Adult)    12. Reference - General    13. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (2)

Beautiful!!!
I checked this book out from the library due to a recommendation from Books Children Love. It was exceptionally captivating to me and my five children. I won't spoil the story by telling you the details, but I will say we can all learn something from this book. I plan on adding it to my home library for my family to enjoy for years to come.

Doing what needs to be done- from the Middle East
This book is a treasure. I'm a school librarian and discovered it on our shelves,gathering dust, last week and have been reading it to classes ever since. It tells the story of a man who needs to get an important message to the king. He appeals to various villagers and ultimately realizes that, even though he is not the smartest, the most eloquent or the strongest, the task is up to him. The story is a wonderful lesson in doing what needs to be done, regardless of our limitations or fears. I like the fact, also, that it's a story from the Middle East. Good for the kids here to see that we all grapple with the same issues and that heroes can come from far away places and places that are sometimes considered our enemies. Anyone familiar with Sufi tales will recognize the style of this story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Babies & Toddlers    3. Fairy tales    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (10)

The great book ever so far this year
I love the book so far.The name of my book is called The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man.So, the best part about the book is when the cat kept asking, master please, can I be turned into a man?That was the best part so far.The other part of the book I enjoyed was when the master turned the cat into a man, and he had all of his clothes on the wrong way.He had his shirt on his legs, and his pants legs on his arms.The cat's name is Lionel.The master's name is Master Stephanus.I love his name, becuse it's different, and it's closed to my name.The only thing I don't like is when the cat says he can't go to Brightford, because all of that time he said can I go?, can I go to Brightford?

The cat who who wished to be a man
I received this book inmediately after I ordered it, great condition.

Carrie C.
I really like this book because you see life from a cat's Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Fiction    7. Historical - Europe    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (10)

Firebirds
Firebirds is a short story book by Lloyd Alexander, Michael Cadnum, Kara Dalkey, Nancy Farmer, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Diana Wynne Jones, Patricai A. Mckillip, Garth Nix, Meridith Ann Pierce, Sherwood Smith, Nancy Springer, Megan Whalen Turner, Elizabeth E. Wein, Laurel Winter, Emma Bull with illustrations by Charles Vess. The book is edited by Sharyn November.
Solid anthology with a few standouts
"Firebirds" came into my hands with high praise from sources I respected, and I was not disappointed.I was not overly impressed either.The collection of stories is fairly broad, but the focus is clearly on fantasy (broadly defined, not just swords and sorcery, although there is that too).I have no idea why it includes science fiction in the title, I can't remember a single title I would classify as SF.
More to Firebirds than meets the eye
Thanks to smooth writing and a classically romantic sensibility, this collection seems light and airy on first reading. The darker images crept up on me later.
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Subjects:  1. Anthologies    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Children's All Ages - Fiction - Science Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    6. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Anthologies    7. Fantasy fiction, American    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Science fiction, American    11. Short Stories    12. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (15)

Am I the only person who doesn't love this book?
If you've read the other glowing reviews for this book, and for the other books in the same series, then you'll probably understand why I decided to purchase this whole series all at once, without reading even one of them first. According to absolutely everyone else, these books are brilliant, and I fell for the hype. I was looking forward to reading them like a starving man looks forward to eating a three course dinner.
A trilogy by Lloyd Alexander, the grand master of fantasy!
The second book of the Westmark Trilogy, the adventures of Westmark continues in "The Kestrel". Theo is now traveling through Westmark to learn more about the country. He and Mickle, now known as Princess Augusta, are hoping to be married after he returns. But suddenly and without warning, Westmark is thrown into turmoil as the neighboring country of Regia has declared war on Westmark. Theo is once again forced into making a hard decision, will he stay in the sidelines or fight for his country? Eventually, he joins under the command of Florian and his people to fight a guerrilla war against the troops of Regia. As he sees brave and honorable men die one by one, Theo finds himself changing into a merciless commander and a stranger to himself... A shrieking Kestrel
Regia is invading Westmark.King Constantine IX of Regia and his uncle, Duke Conrad, have already paid off the corrupt General Erzcour, who is the commander of all of Westmark’s forces.Erzcour has ordered all of his men on the Regian border to surrender to Regia.However, many of his soldiers and officers disobey his orders, to stand and fight for their country in the mountains that separate Regia from Westmark.Unfortunately, the valiant fighters are leaderless and low on ammunition.They beat a hasty retreat.Queen Augusta of Westmark, who was formerly a street urchin because the corrupt chief minister, Cabbarus (now affiliated with Regia), threw her out on the streets before she knew she was a princess, orders a carriage to carry her to the border.She then rallies the remains of the army to the nearest city and resupplies there.She is eventually forced to fall further and further back.Meanwhile, revolutionaries who wish to overthrow the monarchy must for the time being support it because if Westmark is defeated, then they will be also.One group is lead by Florian, a very well respected anti-monarchist.He begins to organize militias and to support the Queen’s army as well as he can.Justin, a far more radical revolutionary who will stop at nothing to establish a republic, leads the second group.Theo, Queen Augusta’s boyfriend, becomes second in command of Justin’s group, and assumes the name “Colonel Kestrel”. Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (3)

The title attracted me
As I said before, the title of this book was the attraction for me.I actually found the illustrations a little fearful.I personally would have liked to have seen brighter colors used in the illustrations and utilizing the title for a more whimsical tale.That being said, I still purchased several copies of the book and give it as a gift -- especially when one is focusing on the acquisition of a cat as a pet for the little one in the house.

Grandma and her little cho cho love this book!
My Grandson, at age 2 years and 9 months picked this out because of the picture on the cover. I thought he wouldn't understand and enjoy it because of the British expressions. Was I ever wrong! He loves it and I love reading it to him. After two days he was playfully using the expression "I'll be in a pickle for sure" and telling his mother he had swallowed some thunder after eating some corn. Now two months later, I was surprised that he has practically memorized the book (the first six pages completely - and there are a lot of words, many of them quite unusual, on those six pages. He often suggests we "tidy up the cottage".Mother Holly is a great help with learning good behavior and, even after all the excitement, he usually goes to sleep when the cat does.

FELINE FANCIERS WILL LOVE THIS!
Cat lovers, rejoice!Here's another paean to our favorite feline pet.Schachner's illustrations are hysterical as cat gets into all the mischiefanyone can imagine - from tangling in the thread of his mistress's spinningwheel to climbing into the cupboard and creating chaos among thecrockery.Read more

Subjects:  1. Alexander, Lloyd    2. Animals - Cats    3. Behavior    4. Cats    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    11. Animal stories    12. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General    13. Myth & legend told as fiction   

Reviews (10)

Alexander's Adventures?
I've enjoyed most of Lloyd Alexander's non-fantasy- what I'll call "Fredonia" (in deference to the Marx brothers) adventures.This one seemed to ring a little too close to *The Prisoner of Zenda*- a wonderful story in its own right.Go to the original

Confusing
I think that the book The Beggar Queen is a little confusing because its just that like all of a sudden a character pops up out of no where. ANd i really dont understand it! i have to take a test on it tomorrow and i really dont understand it and i am having to read a HALF of the book tonite then skimmin and scannin it ... so yeh Confusing Swashbuckler
I definitely prefer Lloyd Alexander's fantasy world to his realistic fiction set in mini monarchies.Perhaps it's because I have not read the first two books in his Westmark series, but I was confused by the very complex plot--multiple schemes and counterschemes of many characters--to keep things straight.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fantasy fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    6. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

Eleven-year-old David nearly died of pneumonia. ("New Monia," as hisAunt Rosie called it with her heavy Briti