John, called Jamie, Barrie was born in 1860 in a small town in Scotland, the last of seven children. He was lucky enough to have a mother who read to her children nightly, books she would borrow from the library for a penny a day. If they ran out of stories to read, eight year old John would hurry to his room and write his own. At the insistence of his parents, he attended Edinburgh University and fell in love with the theater and writing. He was lucky enough to become a moderately famous play write, and did marry an actress in one of his plays. He was happiest though telling stories to young children he met in the parks and watching them play. One such family was the Llewelyn Davies family who had five young boys. The two families became good friends and Jamie often entertained the boys by creating haunted groves, wrecked islands and black lagoons on his property. In 1904, he wrote his masterpiece: Peter Pan. It used all the games the boys had played: pirates, Indians, fairies, and crocodiles. He later wrote to the boys that Peter Pan was a character 'I made by rubbing the five of you together.' When the play opened, Peter's agent (and financial backer) insisted the part of Peter be played by a female, as it has ever since. Three years after the opening of Peter Pan, Mr. Llewelyn Davies died and his wife, three years after that. Jamie (or Uncle Jim) became the boys' legal guardian, his boys until the end When Jamie died, in 1937, he had already gifted the copyright for Peter Pan to Great Ormond Hospital for Sick Children in London, where any money made from the book, play or associated sales still goes.

Reviewed by: ewl

Date read: 1/18/2012

ISBN-13: 9780525478867

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The young reader can read all about the amazing feat of a French aerialist, named Philippe Petit. In 1974, this death-defying daredevil danced, walked, and performed for over an hour on a thin cable stretched between the World Trade Center Towers. 'The Man Who Walked Between the Towers' by Mordicai Gerstein gives testament to the grandness and majesty of the World Trade Center and the courage of the man who danced between them.

Similar authors: Emily Arnold McCully; Mary Calhoun; Julie Cummins

Similar books: Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg; Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper by Julie Cummins; Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills, and Frills by Julie Cummins; The Girl On the High-Diving Horse by Linda Oatman High; Mirette and Bellini Cross Niagara Falls by Emily Arnold McCully; High-Wire Henry by Mary Calhoun

Awards won: Caldecott Medal

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/29/2011

ISBN-10: 0761317910

ISBN-13: 9780761317913

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This book shows children that people from other religious groups are just like them in many ways, despite differences in specific religious beliefs, prayers, and places of worship.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0761328734

ISBN-13: 9780761328735

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I had not really read about Marco Polo before. This book relates happenings in his early childhood. He did not meet his father until he was 15. His father and uncle had been exploring and buying goods throughout the world as it was known in the 1200's. Marco Polo begged to accompany them on the next voyage and wrote the memories of his travels to the far reaches of the world. Most travel at that time was taken by boat, but the Polo men also made long distance travel by camel caravans overland to China. Demi created detailed illustrations to help present an enjoyable read.

Reviewed by: cjones

Date read: 2/14/2011

ISBN-10: 0761454330

ISBN-13: 9780761454335

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Rylant wrote this collective biography of three well-loved children's authors, Margaret Wise Brown, L. Frank Baum, and E. B. White. Margaret Wise Brown began writing for children in the 1930s. She wrote so many books that she needed to use the name Golden MacDonald so that publishers had room for all her books on their lists! L. Frank Baum grew up in the late 1860s. The Oz stories grew out of stories he told his children. He was inspired to name the country, 'Oz,' by a label on a file cabinet: 'O - Z.' Elwyn Brooks White was known as Andy. He only began writing for children after he moved back to the country from the city. Charlotte (the spider) was probably based on his own life. Some little-known details are included about each of these well-known authors.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/14/2009

ISBN-10: 0152010831

ISBN-13: 9780152010836

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