Rating: 
Summary: What a Treat to See How Many Love this Book
Review: I "borrowed" my old Weekly Reader Book Club copy of David and the Phoenix from my parents' library a couple of years ago. Like many of the other reader/reviewers here, I first read it around 1958 and was transported. But after repossessing it this time, I never actually picked it up to reread it. Until last night. I had finished a monster novel I love for the third time, and wasn't going to sleep, so I turned to this one. Pretty certain and nearly afraid that it couldn't possibly be as wonderful as I remembered it being. AND IT IS! What struck me particularly was how elegant the prose is. Nothing fancy, but clear and intelligent. Three chapters in, and still not sleeping I went on the web to see if anyone else cared about David and the Phoenix. Boy did I get my answer! Sweeter than sugar cookies.
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars Is Not Enough
Review: I am also one of the Weekly Reader veterans. And I danced and sang when I saw that David & the Phoenix had been re-issued. I don't either sing or dance that well, but I tried!You must read this book. You must read it to your children, you must read it for yourself. It has that element that is so strangely missing from most kids' adventure stories: humor. Yes, there is threat. Yes, David must help his friend escape the threat, even though it costs David dearly. But mostly, this is a very funny book! If you can get through David's first encounter with the Phoenix without laughing --? Well, you need a vacation! It's funny, it's wonderful. For so long, I thought it had vanished forever. Now it's back. Please, anyone, read this book. (And "Follow My Leader" was awfully good, too. Has some bright person finally figured out to go back to Weekly Reader? Can I hope for Danny Dunn?)
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful fantasy adventure. One of the Best!
Review: I bought this book in Utah as a child about 1965 through my elem. school's book club service. It's one of my all time favorite books. I have kept it and have read it to my children. It is their favorite children's book. Amazon: How can we contact the publisher and request a reprinting so future generations can enjoy it too? If you want to read another book that will leave a lasting impression, read "The Little White Indian Boy." Superb and a true story! Recently reprinted after many years of being out of print. So it seems we can talk publishers into reprinting!
Rating:
Summary: A book that leaves a lasting impression
Review: I found this book in my Aunt's house when I was a young child, 12 - 15 years ago. "David and the Phoenix" made a lasting impression on me. I never liked to read much, until I read this book. My family lives at the base of a mountain and we did and still do a lot of hiking. Hiking and my love for all animals helped me relate to this book and I have loved to read ever since. My Aunt can't find this book anymore, probably one of her grandchildren got a hold of it, but I wrote down information about the book when I was a kid, hoping to find a copy for myself. I just happened upon that piece of paper and found that it was a 1958 Edition - Selection of the Weekly Reader, Children's Book Club - Education Center published by Follett Publishing Company, Chicago. Manufactured in the United States of America by American Book-Stratford Press, Inc., NY. Published simultaneously in Canada by Ambassador Books, Limited. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 57-8280. I recently tried to find a copy and had no luck. This is my last hope of finding the book so that the children I hope to have someday soon can enjoy it too.
Rating:
Summary: A gem of fantasy, for children and adults alike
Review: I'm so =glad= to see that others have read and loved this book as I have! My parents subscribed to the WRBC for many years, and that is how I first met David and his beautifully eccentric feathered friend, when I was about 8 or 9 (I'm 47 now). The family copy disappeared, and I was frantic to find another. Finally I spotted it in a restaurant, of all places, in the room they called The Library, and they let me keep it. This is an incredible little story, unpretentious but delightful, on one level an adventure children will love and one another a parable about change and moving on. I know it was out in paperback a few years ago (with a hideous cover), and I really wish someone would reprint it so I could give it to my goddaughter and my grandnieces and ... every child I can think of!
Rating:
Summary: Dusting Off My Memories
Review: In 1958-59, when I was a third grader, my teacher read this to our class at Lawrence Elementary which today is a suburb of Indianapolis. I have never forgotten this book and also became a teacher because of the teacher who first read this to us. I believe that every child who longs for a friend, real or imagined, may identify with David and his love for his phoenix. I remember the tears welling up in my eyes as the book neared its conclusion, and it definitely left an impression on me in becoming a sensitive and caring person. I hope this book continues to be shared in homes and in classrooms for many more years to come.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Children's Book Ever
Review: My second-grade teacher, Mrs. Osborne, had a yellow hard-cover copy of this book and, as was the custom at the time, read a chapter a day to the class just after lunch. It is because of the yellow book that I will never forget Mrs. Osborne. This book was long out of print and I went to a lot of trouble finding a copy in the used book market. I had to have a copy to read to my daughter so that she would have the same wonderful experience with David that I had many years before. The adventure is remarkable, the characters are alive and the story is top-notch. I now look forward to reading it to my grandchildren and I will do it, too. Do yourself and your children a favor and buy two copies. Put one in the safe deposit box in case it goes out of print again. Or, better yet, buy one copy for each of your children and one for the safe deposit box. That way, many generations will have you to thank for one of the best literary experiences that they will ever have.
Rating:
Summary: Long Remembered, Long Awaited
Review: This is a book for all ages with serious life lessons from Chapter One. Just read it to my 84 Dad convalesing, a pleasure to both of us. This book is real yet magical and a great "revival" as we enjoy Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Treat yourself and your child. Read it when I was ten or eleven, and so is the protagonist. This book is everything I remembered from my childhood and much, much more. Enjoy the brave reprint by Purple Press.
Rating:
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!
Rating:
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.
|
