It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Rating:
Summary: A great read-aloud for sophisticated young listeners
Review: Antonio's story evolves entertainingly as he plays off the behavior of his captors. His growing confidence builds the energy of the story. When our family read this together, we could just imagine it being great fun to stage the action for children. The interruptions of the brigands make the story lively, but a little confusing at times. It helps to use different voices for the primary characters (Antonio and the Chief) and the narration.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: We started reading this book to our daughter when she was 4 - one chapter a night. Now that she's a proficient early reader, she delights in reading it herself and having us read it to her, the whole book at a sitting. It sparks our imaginations, makes us laugh, brings up discussion topics, makes our mouths water (for Antonio's family breakfast, *not* the brigands' stew). Enough pictures to satisfy the 4 to 6 year old, good length for early readers, a great first chapter book. And fun for the whole family :)