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I haven't written a book review in a while, but this book was so amazing I couldn't resist.

Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" has held a special place in my heart since I was young. I've always loved the classic story and the magic of the tale. I thought Ebeneezer Scrooge was a big meanie, and I loved him for it. Then on our first date, my husband and I watched the Muppet version together and my love of the story was cemented.

I really wanted to share that love with my little girls, and was extremely excited when I found out that there was a new pop-up version of the story - A Christmas Carol: A Pop-Up Book (Pop Up Book) by Charles Dickens, Chuck Fischer.

As soon as I got the book, I had my girls come sit by me so I could read it to them.  I expected it to be a simplified version with cartoonish graphics.  But when I opened the first page I was blown away.

The art work and pop up detail was some of the most intricate I had ever seen.  It was truly amazing.


And it didn't stop!  There was page after page of detail, each illustrated just as beautifully.

I was so enthralled by the pictures that at first I didn't notice that there weren't any words on the pages.  It took a minute to realize that each page had a small booklet that contained part of the story.  I love this idea.  The graphics didn't have to be minimized in any way to make room for the story, and the story could be read while my girls were looking at the pages.  It's truly magical.

And don't let the words pop up book fool you - this book is definitely not just for kids.  It would be a great addition to any library.



I received this book for review purposes from the Hachette Group.

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The Return of the King

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This is the climax of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I thought it was a spectacular ending to the story and I loved every part of it. I especially liked the part after the major confrontation when the hobbits returned home. It added a lot to the story and was very enjoyable. In this book, Aragorn and his companions are preparing for battle with the forces of Mordor. At the same time Frodo and Sam are painstakingly making their way across Mordor to Mount Doom. The armies of Gondor and Rohan must do all they can to give Frodo the chance to destroy the ring or all hope of defeating Sauron will be lost. There is fighting and some reference to drinking.

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This is the first part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is one of the greatest works of fantasy ever written. I was pretty young when I first read this book and I remember having some trouble with all of the descriptive writing, but even then the story was too good for me to put the book down. I have since read it many times and still love it just as much. I recommend this book to everyone. This book contains the story of Bilbo’s nephew Frodo. On Bilbo’s earlier journey, he found a magic ring that can turn him invisible. Little did he know that it was actually a ring of power created by the great enemy in order to control the world. Frodo must join with others from all the races of middle earth on a journey to destroy the ring before its master can regain it. In regards to content, there is a war and they talk about drinking.

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Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill


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This is the first book in the Icemark Chronicles and I thought it was excellent. The book is basically one huge war, but the addition of the mythical creatures really added a lot to the story. I thought the book was very well written and the characters were excellent (especially the non-human ones). This book may not be appropriate for younger readers since there is a lot of violence and death because of the war, but it wasn’t full of gore or anything like it. In this book, the small northern kingdom of the Icemark is being invaded by the Polypontian army, the greatest fighting force in the world. If the young Queen Thirrin Oakenshield is to be victorious she must enlist the help of her former enemies, the vampire king and queen as well as other equally dangerous creatures.

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Eldest by Christopher Paolini


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This second Inheritance book is a great continuation of the story started in Eragon. I really liked the additional details about the land of Alagaesia and its peoples. I also really enjoyed the action in this story as well as the addition of the storyline involving Eragon’s cousin Roran. I think that this was better written than the first. My only complaint is that it seems that too many plot elements were brought into the story, but this is a minor complaint. In this book, Eragon must continue his training with a mysterious person in the land of the elves. While Eragon is gaining in strength and skill, his friends are facing terrible new threats from the King’s army. Eragon must learn all he can in order to once again stop the advancing forces of King Galbatorix.

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The Crow by Allison Croggon


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I honestly didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first two, but it was still a very good story and very well written. I didn’t like this one as much mostly because I was expecting more of Maerad and Cadvan’s story, but instead, this book was all about Maerad’s brother, Hem. In this book, Hem is sent south to Turbansk where the evil forces of the Nameless One are threatening to overrun the city. As his sister tries to understand the Treesong, Hem must do what he can to stem the tide of evil that threatens to destroy them all.

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The Naming by Allison Croggon


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This is the first of four books of Pellinor. When I read this book I couldn’t believe how good it was. I have always been a huge Tolkien fan and this book reminded me of that kind of epic story. The writing was excellent and the story was amazing. I also liked how it was presented as a lost piece of earth’s history rather than on some fantasy world. This book is probably not for everyone. It is intended for a young adult audience and would probably be very difficult for younger readers. In this book, a young slave girl Maerad is rescued by Cadvan, a powerful bard. She then learns that she too has the gift and may be one chosen to save the world from a terrible threat. She must learn all she can about her power, but first she must learn own name.

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Calling on Dragons by Patricia Wrede


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I enjoyed reading this book just as much as the other two, but I have to say that I was frustrated at the end. The story was just as fun and clever as the first two, but the book leaves the story without a resolution. My recommendation is to have the fourth book ready as soon as you’re done with this one. In this book the evil wizards are once again planning to steal magic. This time they plan on stealing all the magic from the enchanted forest. It takes the combined strength of all of the dragons and others to try and stop the wizards from gaining all the power they desire.

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Searching for Dragons by Patricia Wrede


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This second Enchanted Forest book is just as good and entertaining as the first. I really liked the additional characters in this book as well as the involvement of the Enchanted Forest. The story was funny and had all the wit of the first. In this book, the wizards have chosen the perfect time to attack. Kazul, the king of the dragons, is gone on a trip, leaving the dragon caves unguarded. Now, Cimorene and her new friends will have to find and bring Kazul home before it is too late.

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Dealing With Dragons by Patricia Wrede


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This is the first in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. This is a fairytale type book, but it is not a typical fairytale. I thought it was very funny and I especially enjoyed the chapter titles. I thought the situations and problems were very clever and entertaining. This is a great story for anyone who enjoys a good story as well as a laugh. In this story, Cimorene is not a typical princess. So, she runs away to live with dragons. When she uncovers a plot of the wizards to gain power, she has to use her quick wit and her own special way of dealing with wizards to save the day.

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Abhorsen by Garth Nix


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In reality, this book is simply the rest of the story started in Lirael. I was very excited to read this book because Lirael ended without finishing the story. The only thing that I would have liked more would be more resolution after the final battle. In this ending to the Abhorsen trilogy, Lirael must join Prince Sameth as well as Sabriel, the Abhorsen, in order to face the Destroyer who seeks to lay waste the entire world. Even with the help of powerful allies, the Destroyer may be too great a foe to defeat.

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Lirael by Garth Nix


Rating:
The second book in the Abhorsen trilogy, Lirael was an excellent book and really added a lot to the story. I really enjoyed how this book helped explain how things work in the Old Kingdom and I thought that Lirael and Disreputable Dog were excellent characters. I also enjoyed how the story came from several different perspectives. In this book, Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, but has never received the gift of seership. When she is forced to leave the Clayr’s glacier, she embarks on a journey not only to save the kingdom, but to know her own destiny.

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Septimus Heap, Book Three: Physik (Septimus Heap)

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I had a lot of fun reading this third Septimus Heap book. The book actually has very little magyk in it, but it was a very interesting story. I thought that the storyline was very clever and the characters were interesting. In this book, Septimus is taken back in time to when Alchemy was practiced alongside magyk. Although Septimus is learning a lot, he needs to find a way to return to his own time and stop a deadly plague that has found its way into the castle.

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Magyk (Septimus Heap, Book 1)

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This is another great fantasy book that the whole family can enjoy. It is the first in the Septimus Heap series. I liked this book a lot because it had a fun story rather than just focusing a lot on the fantasy aspect. In this book, Septimus, a seventh son of a seventh son, is kidnapped at birth to be trained as a dark wizard. However, a switch at birth puts Septimus in the young army. His family thinks he is dead, but they are asked to care for the baby princess after the murder of the queen. Now, the princess is in danger once again and Septimus still has no idea who he is. Finding the truth and saving the princess is a great adventure.

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Artemis Fowl: Lost Colony, The (Artemis Fowl)

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This was an unexpected addition to the Artemis Fowl series. I thought that book four would be the last. I really liked that in this one Artemis really is one of the good guys. He really tries to help for the sake of doing something right. This one has Artemis discovering a colony of Imps that was banished to another dimension. Artemis, along with his allies and friends, must find a way to stop the lost colony from returning right in the middle of the human world.

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Artemis Fowl (The Opal Deception)

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This is the fourth Artemis Fowl book and I think that it is the best one this far. This book was very exciting and interesting to read. I thought that they way Artemis used his wit to solve problems was particularly good. In this book, Artemis and Holly must once again face their enemy Opal Koboi who had been planning revenge for a long time. It takes all of Artemis’ intelligence as well as Holly’s abilities to stop Opal before she completes her plan.

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The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, Book 3)

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This third Artemis Fowl book once again sees Artemis working with the fairy people rather than against them. Again the book is a good read and family appropriate. I like this story because it really puts a crook up against a bigger crook and it’s a good thing that one of the crooks is kind of working on the right side. Having stolen some fairy technology, Artemis creates a new computer far above any human creation which is stolen from him. Now, Artemis must team up with Holly and other in order to retrieve it before their enemies learn how to break Artemis’ code.

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Charlie Bone and The Beast (Children Of The Red King, Book 6)

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This is the sixth book in the Charlie Bone series and to be honest, I thought that the fifth would be the last book. I was very glad to see the story continue. It continues the great story and family friendly entertainment that I enjoy. In this story, Charlie meets a new and dangerous boy with a gift for controlling water in harmful ways. Also, Charlie and his friends must use their gifts to rescue an old enemy.

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Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy (The Children of the Red King, Book 3)

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This is the third book in the Charlie Bone series. Again, this book is just as good and appropriate as the others and I highly recommend it. In this book, Charlie discovers that a boy has been turned invisible and kept locked away in the Academies attic. Charlie and his friends must find a way to help this boy and prevent the Bloors from continuing their plans.

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Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (The Children of the Red King, Book 2) -

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This continues the Charlie Bone series. It is just as good as the first and is also a great book for the whole family. In this book, a young boy is transported from the past into Charlie’s time using a device of the Red King called the time twister. Charlie must try and reunite him with his family while continuing to try and unravel the mysteries going on at Bloor’s Academy.

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The Singer of All Songs (Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy, Book 1) by Kate Constable

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This book is the first in an excellent fantasy series. I just happened to pick it up and was very pleasantly surprised by what I found. Unlike many fantasy series, the power in this book comes from singing. It was a different way to write this type of story and I really liked it. It is written for young adult and so may be difficult for younger readers, but it is clean an appropriate. In this story, a young chanter Calwyn finds an injured man, Darrow, within the sacred wall of ice. Like her he has the power of chantment, but he is pursued by a dangerous enemy. This enemy is determined to gain mastery over all forms of chantment and become the singer of all songs. Calwyn will also have to master new skills if she is to defeat him.

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Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

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This is the first book in the Fablehaven series. It is an excellent read and appropriate for every age. It has a different take on the fantasy genre, but it was very well done. The story was very interesting and the characters were very likeable. Also, there is an obvious "moral" to the story about being responsible and obeying the rules. It is about two kids, Kendra and Seth, who go to stay with their grandparents during the summer. While there, they discover that their grandparents are the caretakers of a magical preserve. Kendra and Seth become caught in a plot to free an ancient demon and they have to learn more of Fablehaven's secrets in order to stop it.

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Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George

I didn't know how Jessica Day George was going to make a sequel to this book, but she did it and she did it brilliantly. The story is just as magical as it is in the first book, and I love the development of old and new characters.

Since the Dragon War, Creel has been busy at her new popular dress shop. But when Luca sends her a message about dragons being controlled in another country, she knows that it is up to her to find out what is going on. Her old friend Shadras is reluctant to get mixed up in human affairs (even when it concerns other dragons), but eventually agrees to help Creel find out what is going on. Creel discovers that someone or something is using necromancy to control the country's dragons. Can Creel find the culprit and put an end to the 2nd dragon war before all those she loves are destroyed?

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Ranger's Apprentice: The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 4)by John Flanagan

Rating: This was such an exciting and enjoyable book to read. This fourth book in the series gave some much needed closure to issues presented in the third book. The story was interesting and full of the same characters as the previous installments. The book is an excellent read for all ages, but there are some violent parts dealing with the war towards the end of the book.

Description: As Will is reunited with his master Halt, the companions discover a threat to Skandia. The powerful armies of the Temujai are determined to conquer everything in their path. It will be up to Will, Halt, Horace , and Evanlyn to forge an alliance with their former enemies if the new menace is to be stopped before even their own homeland is lost.

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The Icebound Land: Book Three (The Ranger's Apprentice) by John Flanagan

Rating: This is the third book in the series and it was excellent. In reality there are two stories. Both were very good. This book ends without completing either story and so leaves you wanting to go right into the fourth book. It is clean and appropriate and a great read.

Description: Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia to become slaves. Halt and Horace set out to rescue them. Horace and Halt will have to overcome challenges on their journey in order to reach their friends, but can they do it while Will and Evanlyn are still alive?

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