Rating: 
Summary: Definitely Da.
Review: Possibly the quirkiest of a quirky series, "Eloise in Moscow" is a delight. There is hardly a creature on earth more likely to confound early cold war Soviet society than Eloise, and here she runs roughshod over guides, interpreters, spies and everyone else whose job it is to see her safely around and out of Moscow. Skibbling down strange hallways, dancing in the snow with the babushkas or attempting to communicate in Russian ("Charge it, pajalsta, and thank you very much.") Eloise, as always, leaves us wanting more. Almost impossible to find before now, this is a must-have for Eloise fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so bad at all
Review: The decision to send Eloise to Moscow in winter during the Cold War is the fundamental weakness of this book. The execution is weak within that story format, and the book falls flat as a result. This book is the only one of the Eloise books that feels very dated. It is more of an anti-communist commentary than a story about Eloise. Moscow during the winter in the Cold War wasn't exactly the place where you can expect Eloise to have lots of fun, get great room service and enjoy terrific shopping, which limits the potential for standard Eloise activities. The book details many stereotypes about Cold War Russia that will seem confusing to those who are under 40. If you are a hard core Eloise fan, read this one and enjoy the contrasts. If you are not so dedicated, you may want to skip this book. The story has a "downer," cricial tone to it that usually overwhelms the potential humor. When Eloise arrives in the hotel, she finds "they were not absolutely glad to see us" "Here's what there is absolutely none of is Moscow Privacy" "It was colder inside than out [and it was ten below zero centigrade outside]" This comes across to me more like kvetching than humor. The running joke in this book is the surveillance on Eloise and Nanny. Someone follows them everywhere. Their room is bugged. People keep checking on them. But it's not really very funny. There is difficulty in presenting the ultrarich person's view of Russia here. Eloise's grandmother sends a Rolls on a rail car for Eloise to travel in. Eloise gets special privileges at the U.S. Embasssy because her mother knows the ambassador. But Eloise cannot charge anything anywhere. The food gets to be boring, even the caviar which Eloise enjoys, because there is little variety. She develops a fondness for champagne (at six?) and champagne corks. This beverage choice seemed to me to be more than a little inappropriate. The best part of the story to me was when Eloise puts on her disguise to take her nightly perambulation through the hotel. One of the nice touches in the book is to tie in pigeons, as so many of the books do. I also liked the fold-out drawing of the Kremlin. The part I liked least was a very long section of satire on a tour guide who doesn't guide them where they want to go very well. They see endless tombs, uninteresting outsides of buildings, statues, and places where they cannot go because they are under construction or tickets are unavailable. Editors need to intervene in such circumstances. After you have finished reading and thinking about this book, I suggest you consider how much our experiences are colored by our expectations. The next time you expect something to be drab and uninteresting . . . why not assume the best instead? You may find that your experience will change as a result. Nyet to this book!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent facsimile edition of a true children's classic.
Review: The reprint of Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight's Eloise In Moscow provides an excellent facsimile edition celebrating the 40th anniversary of Eloise and returning a classic picturebook story to print. Long out of print, this provides the precocious Eloise to new young audiences and adults who will relish her memory.
Rating: 
Summary: Eloise takes on the Cold War
Review: While "Eloise" and "Eloise in Paris" are funny and charming enough for adults and children alike, Eloise's visit to Moscow might be a bit puzzling to young children. It is a little darker than the other two, and very much a product of the Cold War (perhaps even a commentary on it). This is perhaps the most existential of the Eloise books.
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