Jack’s Book Reviews

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Me: So how did you like this book?

Jack: I read it and it was interesting and pretty good!

Me: What was your favorite part?

Jack: My favorite part was when um Gulliver saw a floating island.

Me: Yeah?

Jack: The island is used to crush towns and its weakness is (hold on let me think) … Hey don’t type in brackets…it’s a rotating gear that some scientists controlled by the King’s demands.

Me: What else?

Jack: Some scientists either fall asleep on the job or they may forget what they’re actually supposed to be doing.

Me: Was it a fun book that you would recommend?

Jack: Yes!

Me: Who would like it?

Jack: My friends and kids my age and maybe a little older than me.

Me: What was the strangest thing you read?

Jack: When Gulliver saw the floating island. That’s it.

Me: Cool! Anything you’d like to tell the kids?

Jack: It’s a good book and you’d probably be likely to like it!

Me: That’s a tongue twister!

Jack: Whoa we did a lot of writing! We can print this out, send it off and we’ll be famous!

Me: Not likely… 🙂

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The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight by Stan Berenstain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jack: (cracking up) This is HILARIOUS! Look, the Mom gets so upset she whistles with her fingers and her eyes cross! Ha ha ha!

me: Is that your favorite part?

Jack: I think the best part is when the neighbors didn’t know which was worse (he reads from the book) “the big storm or the racket coming from the bears’ house.” Ha ha haaaaa!

me: Do you think other kids would like this book?

Jack: Of course! Didn’t you hear me say it was funny? Kids love funny books. But there are a few bad words in here.

me: No!

Jack: Can I tell you them?

me: Okay, just this once.

Jack: They say “shut up” (he looks over at me quickly) and then they say “dopey”. Is that REAL bad??

me: It’s not nice, but I’ve heard worse.

Jack: Like what??

me: Never mind.

Jack: If I had a sister I wouldn’t fight. I’m a very good sharer.

me: Does this book teach any lessons?

Jack: Yeah, you shouldn’t fight. But if you do, you should say sorry.

me: Good lesson. That goes for everyone, not just brothers and sisters. (I look at him pointedly, remembering his fight with me earlier)

Jack: I know I know, I said I’m sorry.

me: Okay. Thanks. How come you didn’t want me to read this book to you?

Jack: Because I can read it by myself much faster. You take too long.

me: Oh.

Jack: But anyone that reads this book should turn it over and buy all the other books they show on the back.

me: Good marketing.

Jack: I know.

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Ghost Beach by R.L. Stine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Today Jack is reviewing a book in the Goosebumps series called Ghost Beach. He seemed to really enjoy this book, and actually read it twice. That has to be high praise when you’re 6 and have next to zero attention span.

(Should I tell you that Jack is pooping while we conduct this interview? Sure, why not. It’s the only way he’ll sit still for a minute so I can ask him some questions. And I think the visual helps.)

me: So what did you think of this book?

Jack: It was pretty good, and it was cool, that’s all.

me: What was your favorite part?

Jack: Ohhhh when they were in the cemetery and hands were popping up.

me: Didn’t that scare you?

Jack: No, because it wasn’t real. They just made it up.

me: Would you read it again?

Jack: Maybe…

me: What about other kids reading it, would you recommend it?

Jack: It’s pretty scary, so they would have to be at least 6 years and older to read it.

me: Was it hard for you to read, like lots of big words?

Jack: Not really.

me: What do you do if you come across a word that you don’t know.

Jack: Uhhh, just sound it out.

me: But what if you don’t know what it means?

Jack: Mom, I just ask YOU!

me: Oh, true… So should we get more Goosebumps books?

Jack: That’s probably the only one.

me: Why do you think that?

Jack: It doesn’t have a number or anything.

me: I think there are like hundreds of Goosebumps books.

Jack: No. How do you know?

me: I’ve seen them before. They’ve been around for years.

Jack: Well bring one over here and prove it.

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Yukon Ho!: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection by Bill Watterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the book that Jack wanted to review first. 🙂

CALVIN AND HOBBES – YUKON HO!

me: So what do you think of Calvin and Hobbes? I hear lots of laughing going on over there…

Jack: Well, I really love Calvin and Hobbes because it’s you know very funny! It’s like when they were riding on the magic carpet and Hobbes said “Is this legal? Do you have your registration and proof of insurance?” Hahahahaha. (Jack laughed harder at this line than I’ve heard him laugh in a long time!)

me: What would you tell other kids if they were thinking of getting Calvin and Hobbes?

Jack: It’s like um when he builds a snowman in the road with two tire tracks in it so people can’t get by in the road…

me: What would you tell them though?

Jack: I’d really love to be on a blog to tell people how funny this is. It’s the funniest I ever read.

me: You are on a blog. Mine.

Jack: Am I famous?

me: Not yet.

Jack: I would tell them to ask your mom to go get this book. I got it at a book store in Cape Cod, but if you live in Cape Cod you can walk there, but if you live in Connecticut you have to look in your own bookstore, or online. I think they would laugh alot.

me: What age children should read this book?

Jack: All ages, well only the kids that know how to read, heh heh. Oh, and just a tip if you don’t have any money to get this book, you could try Goodwill or the library where it’s free. But if you have one dollar you could get a movie at the library…!

me: We’re talking about books here not movies.

Jack: I’m just saying… (he sighs) Okay, bye, we’re signing off, but not for the last time!!! Oh wait wait! They can go to CalvinandHobbes.com! Okay that’s it. Or go on Google. Done.

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