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Summary: Wonderful and exciting
Review: This is my new favorite book, and I love reading it over and over again. I've never really seen a book on a phoenix, so I looked here and I finally found it. I read the reviews and I finally got it and when I read it I thought it was the most wonderful book I've ever read. It makes me wish I had a phoenix buddy! :)
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Summary: A wonderfully imaginative tale of adventure and growth
Review: I first read "David and the Phoenix" in 1958 when it became a selection of the Weekly Reader Chilren's Book Club. I loved it then and I love it still. I cannot think of another book which quite so filled me with a sense of wonder. Edward Ormondroyd's vivid descriptions paint bright scenes of characters and places in the reader's imagination. It is the kind of book that a child takes to heart, where it very well may remain ever after. I know that, even before reading the recently reprinted edition, I could recount virtually every episode in the tale, with Joan Raysor's simple pen sketches still providing the framework for my mind's eye recreation of the story. The book is full of humor, adventure, wonder, and gentle wisdom. This is a genuine classic of imaginative children's literature.
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Summary: beautiful book
Review: Kind of an anacronism these days, I suppose, since it emphasizes the child's personal, solitary imagination and experience, whereas Harry Potter is very much about social and worldly egagement and participation. Also, the way the Phoenix talks, it's easy to conjecture that it is a stand-in for a beloved and truly Grand, grandparent. Children's books about grandparents being grand and magical are fairly rare these days in these youth culture oriented times.I first read this when I was 12. I got it out of the Library yesterday and re-visited it for the first time in 35 years. It was a nice place to re-visit. I don't have any grandchildren, but when I do, I hope I can pursuade my son to read them this for bedtimes.
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Summary: A Timeless Book for Children
Review: This book was my husband's favorite childhood book. I've heard him speak of this book since I met him. We purchased this reprinting, and I read it to our sons (9 and 11) who BEGGED me not to stop at the end of each and every chapter. It is a charming, sweet, imaginative book that speaks to the heart of every child (no matter what the age). This book has a little bit of everything in it, and I am so grateful to Jill Morgan for reprinting it! Read it, and I'm sure you'll be captivated too!
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Summary: This is THE book! Thank you so much, Edward Ormondroyd!
Review: This is THE book! This is the book that made this boy fall in love with reading over 40 years ago. This book was my first love. This book has never left my memory. It is as though I read it yesterday. This is the book which filled this 10 year-old with wonder and thrills. This book was the first piece of art that made me cry. Read this book to your children or grandchildren... or better yet let them read it themselves... but don't be surprised if they can't put it down and read in bed under the covers with a flashlight when they are supposed to be sleeping. Through the years I have met so many of my contemporaries who fell in love with this book and have never forgotten it. One doctor who had read it suggested that it helps children of that age deal with their questions about life and death. After reading the first two Harry Potter books I am convinced that Rowling must have read this book. Be sure to read the reviews of this book in the "Out of Print" section of amazon.com. You'll see the impact that this book has. The people who read and were moved by this book brought it back into print through the internet reviews, auctions and rare book sites. If you have a 9-12 year old child buy them this book. Thank you Purple House Press for listening and bringing this book back into print after 40+ years. Thank you so much, Edward Ormondroyd!
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Summary: Thank you, Edward Ormondroyd
Review: This was my favorite book growing up. Hands down. (2nd place was "Follow the Leader" by James Garfield.) I was probably eight or nine when I first read it over 40 years ago. I have a copy somewhere in the house (yellow hard back if I remember). I was curious to see if it was still in print. After all these years for some reason the book entered my thoughts tonight - and I was amazed to see this book rereleased just this past week. What kind of "magic" does Mr. Ormondroyd perform on his readers? Does he reach out telepathically to his (now much older) young readers? Wouldn't surprise me - what with the hold this book had on me for years and years. See, this kid moves into a new house and finds that a mountain exits right in his own backyard. He's just got to climb that mountain and what he finds when he gets to the top...You'll just have to read this book. It begs to be read aloud to children. My youngest boy, Jesse, is eleven and I've got to dig out my old copy to read to him...better yet, I think I'll plunk down the cash on the limited edition. My way of directly thanking the author for the hours of pleasure he gave to me so many years ago.
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Summary: David and the Phoenix is back in print!
Review: To all the readers who have loved David and the Phoenix for over 40 years, we say THANK YOU! ... David knew one should be prepared for anything when one climbs a mountain, but he never dreamed what he would find that June morning on the mountain ledge. There stood an enormous bird, with a head like an eagle, a neck like a swan and a scarlet crest. The most astonishing thing was that the bird had an open book on the ground and was reading from it! This was David's first sight of the fabulous Phoenix and the beginning of a pleasant and profitable partnership. The Phoenix found a great deal lacking in David's education, he flunked questions like 'How do you tell a true from a false Unicorn?', and undertook to supplement it with a practical education in preparation for Life. The education had to be combined with offensive and defensive measures against a Scientist who was bent on capturing the Phoenix, but the two projects together involved exciting and hilarious adventures for boy and bird. Edward Ormondroyd grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. During WWII he served onboard a destroyer escort, participating in the invasions of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. After the war he attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he received a bachelor's degree in English. Later he went back for a master's degree in library science. He lived in Berkely for 25 years, working at various jobs while he wrote children's books. He and his wife Joan moved to upstate New York in 1970. The following review is by Author Brad Strickland: A boastful Phoenix who would fly to safety in the Andes if only he could master Spanish verbs. A terrifying Sea Monster who, when complimented, blushes like a boiled lobster. A tetchy Banshee who has figured out that her racket doesn't pay enough to plan for a comfortable retirement.... All these, and many more, are ingredients in Edward Ormondroyd's charming, funny, and touching fantasy. I'm sorry I missed this when I was a kid, because Mr. Ormondroyd has the original, fanciful, literary touch of an L. Frank Baum, together with an infectious sense of humor. Move over, Harry Potter. David and his Phoenix deserve a place next to you on any child's bookshelf.Ó¹
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Summary: Favorite Book
Review: When I was a kid I used to get up before dawn every morning to read and re-read this book. Please bring it back!
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Summary: The Phoenix is never forgotten
Review: As a child raised in a dysfunctional setting; The story line of this book allowed me to escape into my imagination while letting me enjoy reading which is no small feat for a child with so many distractions. I can honestly say this book probably saved my childhood. The book is by far the greatest kids book I have ever read, no have even come close. The author has done me a great service by writing this book and I will be forever grateful to him. It has been 20 Years since I have last seen a copy of this book and have looked for it with no success until I found I could get it here at amazon. Do your child a favor and even yourself one and read this book. It will lift you out of any dogma you will ever expierence again.
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Summary: "Phoenix, come back"
Review: My older sister showed me this book in the school library when I was about 9. It was probably one of the first books to evoke a tear. Even though most of the details have long since escaped me, it is strange how the memory of this story has hauntingly stayed with me for the thirty-four years since then. I was happily surprised to see how many others were touched by this enchanting story. Unfortunately, I was saddened to learn that it is now out of print. Is there somewhere to write letters to bring this wonderful book back? I would love to have a copy of this book, just to read it again and again.
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