This is, of course, the book that launched the multi-billion dollar franchise about the orphaned boy named Harry Potter that finds out he is a Wizard when he turns 10 years old, and has been accepted to Hogwart’s School for Witches and Wizards. It would eventually spawn seven books, eight movies, a spin-off series, and a play. For the few who do not know the story, this book basically establishes Harry learning that his parents were Wizards and killed by an evil wizard named Voldemort, who also tried to kill Harry as an infant. The attempt to kill Harry failed, and Harry was sent by Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts to live with his aunt and uncle and then chronicles his first year at Hogwarts where he meets two schoolmates who would become his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger.For those who have seen the movie but have not yet read the book, this is the shortest of the novels so it has the least amount of material removed in the movie adaptation. That said, the movie did change some things and did shorten some sequences. For example, the opening sequence with the Dursleys is more extended in the novel and things like the trip to the zoo play out a bit differently than was shown in the movie. But, all the main plot points from the book ended up in the movie, especially once Harry gets to Hogwarts, so that will not be much different.The book is age-appropriate for kids about 10-11 years old and up. Rowling intended that the kids reading it would be about the same age as the characters in the book, so for the first novel around 10-11 years old. The books get increasingly darker and more adult with each new book, but really for this book a kid only really needs to understand the concept of death and “good guys” versus “bad guys”. Otherwise, the novel is pretty tame. It has a good blend of humor, action, and suspense, and touches on themes of family, friends, right vs. wrong, and the like. Even though it is technically a “kids book” it is enjoyable enough for an adult, and even though it was written in the mid to late 1990s, it holds up well enough to be enjoyable even years later. It can easily be enjoyed by people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, etc., whether your first experience with the Harry Potter universe was as a young kid, as a teenager, or (as in my case) as an adult because of watching the movies. And, because it is only a few hundred pages and meant for young kids to be able to read it, adults who are fairly quick readers can probably get through it in a couple of days without a problemUltimately, by now anyone reading this likely knows enough about Harry Potter to know the overall story and knows whether they like it or not. But, if you are just getting introduced to the series and are looking at the reviews if you are into fantasy novels or themes like magic, this is definitely worth reading. While it is nowhere near the best book of the series, it does a good job establishing the main characters, telling the stand-alone portion of the story, inviting the Sorcerer’s Stone, and setting up what is to come down the line.

I’ve been putting off reading this series for ages! I thought since I’d seen the movies a million times, I basically knew the story by heart. Nope! As always, the book delivered so much more richer details, deeper understanding, and moments I completely missed while watching the films.Now I truly see why children and adults alike adore this series. It’s magical, fun, and full of heart. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the books!

I resisted reading this book for a long time, thinking that it would be ‘too childish’ to hold my interest. Then, one night back in 2007, I happened to be at my local Barnes & Noble during the midnight release party for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, the last book in the series. Seeing the enthusiasm of all the fans gathered there (some of whom were in full costume) made me curious, so I wended my way through the crowd (in the process wondering what “The Sorting Hat” was all about) and approached the first free cashier I could find, the first book in my hands. I was suddenly eager to discover what all the fuss was about!Well, as they say, the rest is history. I not only promptly devoured Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, but began acquiring, and also devouring, the sequels. I only stopped in the middle of the sixth book, when a very sad event made me unable to continue….but I hope to be able to go back and finish the series!I picked up the first book the other day, and plunged into Harry’s magical world once again. Once again, I was totally delighted and enthralled! Rowling’s very fertile imagination seems to have no bounds; all the books in this series are full of magical events, as well as twists and turns, and one just never knows exactly what is going to happen next.Rowling also has the uncanny ability to make her characters, as well as the magical world around them, seem so real! From the very first moment, the reader becomes immersed in this very quirky, wonderfully weird world, where nothing is as it seems, unexpected surprises await, and household chores can be accomplished by the mere wave of a wand (something I positively loved).Harry, Hermione, and Ron are wonderful characters, and it’s not the first time I have wished I had grown up with friends like them. It’s great how well they mesh, too, especially since, at first, Harry and Ron constantly found Hermione so annoying.Harry, of course, is the main hero. He starts out life with the odds stacked against him, what with his sad personal history, and “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” wanting to kill him. In spite of it all, Harry remains courageous, and will not let his curiosity, innate optimism, and eagerness to learn magic be dampened by outward events.Hermione could have been the main hero of this whole series, because she not only matches Harry (and her name is the female version of his) in all his great qualities, but is also willing to take that extra step to find out more. Books are very important to her, and I really liked her for that! She is also very thorough in her research, and has an excellent memory. Besides, she can really think on her feet.As for Ron, he is that friend who remains steadfastly by your side, through thick and thin. He’s funny, as well, and willing to attempt any adventure, despite his fears. Besides, he’s an excellent chess player — even beating his two friends at the game. In this first book, his chess-playing skills become extremely important in preventing a great catastrophe.Then there’s Hagrid….sweet, lovable, gentle Hagrid, who has a soft spot for creatures great and small, and loves Harry like a father, or perhaps a big, bumbling brother. He’s pretty much like a giant teddy bear, and I SO wish I could hug him! He’s had some rough times himself, but still remains as positive as he can possibly be. And, most important of all, Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Headmaster, trusts him completely.Dumbledore is another of my favorite characters, but I won’t say much about him because he plays a greater role later on in the series. What I did get to see of him, though, during both my first and second readings of this book, made me like him a great deal! He is definitely a father figure to Harry — always wise, patient, and willing to give Harry the benefit of the doubt.There were other great, more minor characters, as well, such as Professor McGonagall, who is really a very fair-minded person, despite her stern exterior, Quirrell, the stuttering professor, the funny Weasley clan, especially the mischievous twins, Fred and George, and Neville, poor, shy Neville, who is constantly losing his pet toad….Then there’s one character who is almost in a league by himself, and a rather hateful one, too: Severus Snape. Alan Rickman plays him superbly in all the movies. He gets the character’s oily manner (his hair is even greasy) and incomprehensible attitude toward Harry just right. Rickman made it extremely easy for this reader to despise Snape! Even before I met him on the screen, though, Rowling had already succeeded in making me hate him.Another character I love to hate is Draco Malfoy, Harry’s personal nemesis. I’m surprised he isn’t related to Snape, because he can be just as spiteful and horrible to Harry.Amidst all of the typical boarding school activities and classes with such interesting names as “Potions”, “Charms”, “Transfiguration”, and “Defense Against the Dark Arts”, the three friends become very adept at amateur sleuthing, and uncover a secret at Hogwarts, one that students are not supposed to know about….Of course, there had to be time for sports, as well, and I soon discovered that the magical world’s version of soccer — or is it a strange combination of soccer and basketball? — with the delightfully odd name of “Quidditch”, was not only great fun, but had elements of danger, as well, especially when a certain evil wizard nearly took one of the most important players out of the picture….Rowling manages all the elements of her plot with great skill, leading her readers along the path toward the exciting, final discovery of the school’s secret through tight writing, with not a word to spare.I especially liked Dumbledore’s final words to Harry. It was the power of love, he told the young wizard, that won the day. Some readers might criticize this as ‘cheesy’, but I thought it was altogether fitting to the story, considering Harry’s background.This is such a terrific story! No wonder it’s loved the whole world over, by readers of all ages! This book definitely deserves all the praise it has garnered, and more. I know that I will want to read it many more times in the future! And of course, I will also want to watch the movie just as many times!

The first book was a very fun read, I’m quite happy with how the movie adaptation kept up with it. Tho I will say I enjoyed the book more, excited to read all 7 books!

Loving this version of the book

I finally picked this up, after watching all the movies. This book pulls you in and doesn’t let go. J.K. Rowling built a world that feels so real. It’s not just a story about a boy finding out he’s a wizard, but also an adventure packed with so much heart. The character development is so much more than what you get with the movies. It’s the perfect start to an iconic series.

Obviously a well known book. It was such an easy listen. Great to pull out on our road trip over the summer, even the younger kids were engaged with the story. Very easy to download and access on their site too.

I’m so glad that I decided to re-read these books right now. Because oh, how I am loving them. Reading this book again was a lot of fun. And I loved it so much. Harry is amazing. The Weasleys are so adorable. I love Ron and Hermione. I love the school. I love Hagrid. Just, I have so much love for this book.I like how every book in this series is about one year at Hogwarts. Harry must spend every summer with the Dursleys. And oh my god. I can’t stand them. I really can’t. They are so awful towards him. They never get him anything. And they are cruel, in a way. Did not like the small part of them in this book.There is so much to love about Chamber of Secrets. The writing is gorgeous. I liked it more in this than I did in the first one. This book is special to me. I loved reading about Harry and all his problems. Things aren’t going very well for him. He is getting blamed for just about everything, and I must admit to loving that, hah. There was this new teacher in this one. And oh, how he annoyed me. How he annoyed Harry. And it was so much fun to read about. This book is awesome. And not nearly as dark as the books that are coming up.. sigh. Yet still a bit heartbreaking, even so. The writing is lovely. The characters are all perfection to read about. The plot is awesome. All of it is so. I’m so happy that I loved re-reading this gorgeous book.So much is happening in this one. I don’t think I will describe much of it. But I have some thoughts to share. I adore the friendship between Harry and Ron and Hermione. It is stunning to read about. Though I also feel like we don’t get to see nearly enough of it, and that makes me a bit sad. Hmph. But I’m okay. Probably. Because there is so much amazing happening at all times. I like reading about Harry’s sort of hate relationship with Draco. It’s awesome. I don’t fully hate this boy. He’s a bully, but not the worst one.I also liked reading about the sport in this book. How awesome Harry is at it. How great he is at flying. I’m all kinds of jealous, though, as I have always wanted to fly. I still adore reading about the different classes in these books. Though not too much about it, so I didn’t get tired of it. I keep thinking that I don’t see how people could love Snape after book seven, but so far I don’t hate him at all. He just seems a bit grumpy, maybe. But yeah. Not liking him much either, to tell the truth. He is interesting, though.The plot in this book is all kinds of exciting. I loved the mystery about the Chamber of Secrets. About who was turning so many people almost into stone. About the whispering that only Harry could hear. About that annoying Dobby, and all the awful but meant in a good way things he did. I loved reading about the different creatures in this one. Huge spiders. Shudders. Those were awesome. And huge snake. And just, yeah. It was a lot of fun to read about and I can’t seem to say much more than that :)I wish there were tons of things I could say about Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. But my mind seems empty. Probably because this book is so awesome that I have no negative things to talk about, hah 🙂 So my review is a lot shorter than usual. But that’s okay. I just wanted to share about how much I adored re-reading this book. And how happy I am that I did this right now. You all need to read the Harry Potter books. If you have only read book one, you should know that this one is even better. It’s so good.

Why are so many people wild about Harry?I have a fascination with the thought of teaching at Hogwarts though notice they do not seem to have a philosophy course in the curriculum! Over the last year or so I have read the Harry Potter Books and watched the movies. I listen to the music on the soundtrack CDs while working. It sets a nice mood for me. Why?There has been a flurry of writing over the issue of why Potter has been such a hot item. Why do children like to read the books? We have their quotes to read over and think about. Some declare reading them has pulled them away from the abyss and toward success. Adults ponder these issues and offer various reasons why they think they have been so popular with children. Better, they also ponder why the books have been popular with adults as well. Notice that Lady JKR says she wrote the books for herself, because she liked them.Some have detailed the perfect fit the stories have with the trends in political and economic aspects of British or American society. Others have described the wonderful use the plots make of classic templates that always win hearts and imaginations. Harry is Jesus made flesh. Those who see a satanic cultus have been pretty much laughed out of town or they live in towns most laugh at.We also have the interplay with public relations and the media. Lady JKR received good PR even prior to the first publication of HPP/SS. The news media were interested in the poor single mother making good. It was like magic. Scholastic bid high for the rights in America and that meant a burden was on them to produce fans. They did a good job. But of course, the book was good in its own right. The movie stuck to the text, so to speak. One thing AOL did right. The kids would have been disappointed otherwise. Now when we read we picture things according to the film for better or worse. Frankly, I could never have imagined the delivery of lines such as, “It does not do Harry to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” as well as Richard Harris did. Bless him. The irony of it hurts, but it sounds like good advice and one reason to dwell on someone else’s dream when it delivers such wonderful insights.With so many enjoying the books each for their own reasons, it makes little sense to think there is a peculiarly important reason why the books have enjoyed the overwhelming success they have. There are lots of reasons.I do not want the story to stop. It bugged me that I had to wait until June to see the last movie and even longer to find out what happens to Harry next. Book 6 is scheduled to come out July 16, 2005 and my order for it is already placed. But I know I have to be patient. I don’t want JKR to feel rushed. I want her to do the job right all the way to the word “scar.”When I received my order for HPCS, as a side note, I puzzled over this recent development of ordering things before they are published. I have had outstanding orders for about four of five things that have not come out yet. This never used to be the case, at least for me. So this is some new kind of economic development in its own right. I suspect computers had something to do with this. And credit.I would love to teach at Hogwarts. Imagine! Students studying. Reading assignments and papers done. Students working at the library. (I seriously think Snape is the best teacher there). Reading books after class on school grounds. Students getting along well in their own houses at least. Competition between houses is a good stressor. Teachers get to teach what they consider important and they don’t have to worry so much about their popularity. They can be as strict as they want. In fact, if they are not good enough or strict enough they can lose their positions!No more casual clothes. Discipline is the order of the day. All you need to do is deduct points or give detentions, even if those are no longer hanging by the thumbs in the dungeons; they are amazingly effective at Hogwarts. Students really behave. School spirit is great. The school spirits are interesting as well.The classrooms look like the pits – well, dungeons at least. At least they are not temporary or make shift! And if they are drafty? Except maybe divination class where it is warm on purpose. Students have sweaters and robes to keep them warm. Cooler is always better for staying awake anyway. Heck, even dead teachers can keep going in a school like this! (See professor Bins in the books.)No Internet. Heck, no eklectricity at all in fact. But instead of instant messaging there are instant owls. No spam, though there are occasionally howlers. You never have to find someone’s address even if they are hiding from everyone. Owls know where they are. Imagine the possibilities! Message to Osama? Better use a timer if you want your owl back. How would that work?But I think the reason I would want to teach there is not just the castle and its peculiarities. It’s the quality of the students. They are smart and interested. They are the kinds of kids we really want. Is this different than the ones we really have? They come to school reasonably prepared even if some of their wands are defective. There is still the pressure on those who would over indulge in intellectualosity– maybe I should use the word “lucubrations”. “This is light?” “How can you be behind in your school work? We are on vacation!” “She’s a nightmare. No wonder she doesn’t have any friends.” But that sort of thing is resolved. “Thank goodness. Hermione pays attention in Herbology.” What could be more rewarding than being her teacher?I do miss the fine arts. History taught by a dead teacher is not the best critical thinking course. Would critical thinking be out of place in Hogwarts? Not likely. Maybe there is a place for philosophy? At least in Britain.Well, no tickling sleeping dragons.

This drawing book is fantastic! The instructions are simple and easy to follow, making it perfect for beginners or anyone looking to practice basic drawing skills. Each item is broken down step by step, and the results are surprisingly impressive. It’s a great way to build confidence, get creative, and have fun. Highly recommend for kids, teens, or adults who love to draw!

Packed with 300 fun sketches that make learning to draw simple and enjoyable. Perfect for beginners and kids. Great value for money, very functional, and easy to use for practice.

Super cute! My daughter is 5 & loves to draw. We especially like the cute animals but the book has a ton of other things to draw. She found the step by step instructions easy to follow & her artwork has leveled up with the help of this book.

I bought “How To Draw Everything: 300 Drawings of Cute Stuff, Animals, Food, Gifts, and other Amazing Things” as a gift for my 9-year-old daughter, and it has quickly become one of her favorite books! If you’re looking for a fun and engaging drawing guide for kids, this book is an excellent choice. Here’s what makes it such a hit:What I Like:Wide Variety of Drawings: This book is packed with 300 different things to draw—from cute animals and food items to fun objects like gifts, toys, and other fun stuff. There’s something for everyone! My daughter loved how she could draw a puppy one day, then switch it up with a donut or a cactus the next. The variety keeps things fresh and interesting, and it’s perfect for kids who like to explore different themes.Step-by-Step Instructions: The step-by-step instructions are super clear and easy to follow. The book breaks down each drawing into simple, manageable steps, so even beginners can follow along and feel successful. My daughter loves that she doesn’t feel overwhelmed and can see her drawings come to life as she follows the instructions one step at a time.Kid-Friendly and Fun: The drawings in this book are adorable and charming, making them perfect for kids. The illustrations are easy to replicate, and the end results look great without requiring advanced drawing skills. Even as an adult, I was impressed with how cute and fun the final drawings are. The designs are made to be accessible for children, and they inspire creativity in a fun, stress-free way.Encourages Creativity: Beyond the instructions, this book also encourages creativity. While it provides step-by-step guidance, there’s also room for kids to add their own personal touches to the drawings. My daughter often likes to modify the colors or add accessories to the animals and food items, which helps her express her unique ideas.Perfect for Kids of Different Skill Levels: Whether your child is a beginner or already has some drawing experience, this book is great for all skill levels. The drawings start off simple and gradually progress in complexity, so kids can improve their skills as they go. My daughter started with the easier ones and is now confidently tackling the more detailed drawings.Great for Gifts and Long-Term Fun: This book makes a fantastic gift for any child who enjoys drawing, and it’s a great activity for rainy days, weekends, or after-school fun. My daughter has been using it daily and hasn’t gotten bored—there’s just so much to explore. Plus, it’s perfect for birthday or Christmas gifts!What Could Be Improved:More Blank Space for Practice: While the book is packed with fantastic drawings, I wish there was a bit more blank space after each step or drawing for kids to practice on their own. Having a few more pages with room to try additional variations or designs would make the book even more interactive and fun.Higher-Quality Paper: The paper quality is good, but it’s a bit thin, so it may not hold up well to markers or heavy coloring. It’s perfect for pencils or colored pencils, but if your child likes to use markers, you might want to add some extra paper behind to prevent any bleeding.

Such a fun gift, for the kiddo that loves to draw.

“How To Draw Everything: 300 Drawings of Cute Stuff, Animals, Food, Gifts, and other Amazing Things” is a cute resource for kids aspiring to unleash their artistic talents. With its comprehensive collection of drawings, ranging from adorable animals to food items, this book offers a diverse array of subjects to sketch.Each drawing is broken down into simple steps, making it easy for children of all skill levels to follow along and create their own masterpieces. The instructions are clear and concise, accompanied by helpful illustrations that guide young artists through the drawing process.One of the highlights of “How To Draw Everything” is its emphasis on creativity and imagination. While the book provides step-by-step instructions for drawing various subjects, it also encourages children to add their own personal touches and embellishments to make each drawing uniquely their own.This book also includes tips and tricks for improving drawing skills, as well as suggestions for using different drawing materials. This adds value to the book, providing valuable guidance for aspiring artists looking to hone their craft. It’s a good investment and also is a great gift!

Such a cute and fun drawing book. You will learn how to draw so many different things and it will look like you’ve been doing it for years!

Great drawing book for grandchildren. Instructions are clear, and it keeps them entertained for hours. A few pages are a bit crowded, but overall it’s very engaging.

What can I say?? Harry Potter is awesome & will always be magical. Replaced this in my collection for one that was never returned.

I loved this book when I read it. Out of the whole series my favourite.

Cannot wait to complete the series

My son loves Harry Potter series.

I didn’t know what fir bolt mene you cannot the most important thing in it so you can go to the bathroom

I loved this book so much the action in it was amazing!!! Great read and amazing touchingstory!! Sirius black!!!

Really good

Great book definitely my favorite harry potter book. Would definitely recommend!

I absolutely loved this book! From the moment I opened it, I was pulled straight into the world of Hogwarts. The storytelling is rich, imaginative, and full of heart. Every chapter is packed with adventure, mystery, and characters that feel so real you can’t help but get attached.

As with the three earlier books in the Potter series, if memory serves correctly this is my third time through Goblet. I’ve read it twice, and now listened to it on cd. Overall, I still love the story and the way it basically changed everything. While Prisoner of Azkaban, my favorite Potter book (and movie, to date), was a bit darker than its predecessors, the danger still felt a little bit removed and the book still maintained a somewhat lighter tone. With Goblet, Rowling turns Harry’s world upside down and almost from the start the book feels darker; the joy and wonder of the Quidditch World Cup, people tend to forget, is preceded by Harry “dreaming” about Lord Voldemort killing a Muggle and beginning his return to power. The bad stuff doesn’t start with the Death Eaters and the Dark Mark at the Cup, but it certainly escalates from that point.Experiencing the book for the third time, I was once again struck by how well Rowling builds on earlier throw-away comments and sets the stage for the later books. She allows her teen characters to grow, while most of her adult characters remain infuriatingly predictable. We can see Hagrid’s blast-ended skrewt experiment ending badly before it even begins, and we know Hagrid will have at least one “I should not have told you that” moment; Dumbledore will be so focused on keeping Harry safe that he will neglect to share the very information Harry needs to make the smart decisions that will keep him safe; McGonagall will be stern and motherly at the same time; Snape will have those one or two moments where he vaguely threatens Harry and obstructs Harry’s path but will ultimately not be a major part of the storyline …. except that, while all of that happens, Rowling actually gives us reasons this time. We get a bit more of Hagrid’s history, we get to see just why Dumbledore is so distracted, and we start to see the Snape of the movies. In the first three books, Snape is a speedbump in the road and not much more. In this book, Snape quite literally is indirectly responsible for a character’s death (had he not delayed Harry from seeing Dumbledore, Barty Crouch Sr might not have died) and in the final pages we see that he is going to be more than just a menacing teacher from this point on. Rowling expands even the secondary characters’ roles (with the Madame Maxime subplot for Hagrid, and the heightened involvement of the adult Weasleys), and her page count expands to accommodate that change in story-style.She also introduces at least one intriguing new character: Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody. Moody quickly became a favorite character of mine, and remains so. Even after what I think is one of the best plot twists in the Potter series (if not all of series fiction). Listening to the book, I found myself even more attentive to Moody’s scenes than I am when I’m rereading the book. And yes, the clues are all there early on, once you know where to look.Some people have said that upon rereading Goblet, the teen relationship angst comes across as more forced than on the first read. I didn’t find that to be so. Because while spurned feelings and requited attractions motivate the characters at various points, those emotions are still not the main plot (unlike at least one other YA urban fantasy series of great popularity, or so I’ve been told). Harry’s interest in Cho and jealousy of Cedric, Ron’s jealousy of Hermione and Krum, the poor Patil sisters stuck with dates who won’t even pretend they’re interested, even the ease with which Fred (or is it George) asks Angelina (or it is Katie) to the Ball … all of this fits into the book as fine character work and subplot without taking our attention away from the main plots: the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the Return of Voldemort.Unfortunately, there is one spbplot that annoyed me on the initial reading, annoyed me again when I reread the book, and still annoys me listening to the book. As wonderful a reader as Jim Dale is (and he is stretched to prove himself in this book, not only due to the length but due to the number of speaking characters to be interpreted), even he cannot generate any interest or excitement in the SPEW sub-plot. Way too much time is spent for a subplot that is ultimately dropped mid-book and not revisited in any of the remaining books. Yes, it’s an important development for Hermione’s character that she takes up the mantle of gaining equality for a down-trodden race. And yes, I’m sure in adulthood she worked tirelessly at the Ministry to finally get house elves the respect they deserve. But an already long novel could have been 50 pages shorter if Hermione’s Crusade had been cut out or at least mentioned less frequently. Perhaps my largest disappointment of the Potter series is that this major subplot ultimately went nowhere. (I can foresee certain arguments having to do with events in Half-Blood Prince which were cut from the movie version, and in Deathly Hallows. I would ask that if you feel the urge to debate me / tell me I’m wrong, you try to be as vague as possible. I know of at least one person reading this blog regularly who has not read the books and so far has managed to not have any of the major events of DH spoiled for him before the movie comes out (which he will see opening weekend, as he has every other Potter movie, I’m sure).I could natter on for pages yet, I’m sure. I haven’t talked about the representation of sensationalist media in the form of Rita Skeeter. I haven’t talked about Karkaroff and Krum, or the concept of other nation’s schools of magic (I’ve always wondered why Rowling didn’t use an American school, since the books were already selling so well over here. Might have been a nice nod to her American fans. Then again, the portrayal may have been unflattering.) But this is a review, not an essay. Overall, Goblet is my second-favorite book in the Potter series. Great character development, great new characters introduced, lots of groundwork laid for the second half of the series and especially for the next book.

Easy and interesting read for the younger children

This book is all kinds of long. And I loved re-reading every moment of it. It took me a few days to finish it, as it is really long, and I didn’t have that much time. Hmph. But tonight I finished it. And I’m so thrilled that I re-read this precious book. Sigh. So much love for it. Series is getting better and better.I remember watching the Goblet of Fire movie a whole lot. Because I adored Harry’s hair in it. And I loved Cedric so extremely much. I always cried at the end of the maze, sigh. Been years since I last saw it. Hmph. But yeah. I love this movie a whole lot. And I realized how much I love the book too.This one is even more heartbreaking than the first three, which is just all kinds of mean. Since it is going to get even more heartbreaking. My heart won’t be able to take it. Yet I cannot wait at the same time. So excited to re-read the last three books in this gorgeous series. So much love for these books. I love the writing more and more for each book. I fall even more in love with the characters too. And the story is just stunning. I adore magic. I love Hogwarts. I love the classes they take. All the food they get to eat. The different spells they are casting. How they dress. All the creepy creatures. This time, awesome dragons. Which I love oh so much. There is just a lot I loved about this book. I must mention some of it in my review :)This book is so long, though. And felt like it took me forever to read. Yet when I finished it, I wished it had been even longer. Which is the best feeling. So much happens in this one. I can’t begin to mention all of it. But oh, how I loved reading every moment. Harry is now fourteen years old. I loved the moment in the beginning of the book when the Weasleys are coming to pick him up at the Dursleys. It was so much fun. And pretty awful too; I adored reading it. The Dursleys are still pretty awful, just so you know.Harry Potter is just the most amazing boy. And I adore getting to read more about him. Though with the writing style of this book, I also feel like I don’t get to fully know him, which makes me a bit sad. Yet I still know him pretty well, so I’m not too sad about it. Because Harry is awesome. And he just gets more and more awesome. I did not mention Sirius in my last review. But yeah. He is a favorite character of mine. We see a bit more about him in this book. And I loved that a whole lot. He is just incredible :)I still love Harry’s best friends so much. Hermione is amazing. So kind and clever and just perfect. I wish more people in these books would love her, hmph. And Ron. Sigh. I do adore him. Though he is a bit silly sometimes, and I’m not happy with him not believing Harry. It hurt my heart. And I wish he had truly apologized for it. Yet I also understood why he felt the way he did. But even so. It hurt my heart. But anyway. I adore the friendship between these three amazing kids. It just gets stronger all the time.Exciting things are happening at Hogwarts this year. There is a tournament. And it is the most fun and horrifying to read about. Loved every moment of it. The trials are awesome. And awful. And so much fun too. The ball was stunning. Sort of. I love the new characters a lot too. Moody is another favorite of mine, though he wasn’t even real in this one. And that bothered me a bit, hmph. I loved the fake one. How rude. But yeah, bunch of amazing new characters in this book. And old ones too. I enjoyed them all.I can’t say more about this book. Okay, I could probably talk about it a whole lot more, but I’m not going to. Just know that I adored re-reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It is a spectacular book. And I’m so happy I decided to re-read this series. You must all read this book. Harry Potter is amazing. And it gets better for every book. So much happens in this one. More about Voldemort. Shudders. I cannot wait to re-read the next three. And watch the movies again. It will be the best thing, I suppose. I’m excited.

This full-color edition is a wonderful, heartfelt update to one of Dr. Seuss’s most beloved books. It preserves the beloved rhymes, moral, and spirit of the original, while giving the visuals a bright, modern refresh. Whether you’re reading it with kids, gifting it for the holidays, or adding it to your Dr. Seuss collection, this edition feels both timeless and new.

Great book, and a classic. We ready this almost everyday during Christmas time and our kids love it!

Added this story to my daughters library she loves the story

This was a beautiful gift book, large and with very vivid and made the perfect gift

Large book and so cute

Wonderful. Daughter lives it

Very nice book. Large with good graphics. A classic! Great gift for a small child for Christmas.

Wonderful!!!!!!

My daughter absolutely loves the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book! She started reading it the moment it arrived and hasn’t stopped talking about it since. The story is funny, easy to read, and keeps her completely engaged. It’s amazing to see her so excited about reading. Definitely another great addition to the series — highly recommend for any kid who enjoys a good laugh and relatable stories!

Got this book for my 9 year old sister, she loves the series and finds the books hilarious, plus it’s good for her reading ability.

My son (9) loves this series and reads and rereads each book. This series is what hooked him on reading and we will be forever grateful to Mr. Kinney for that!So naturally, I was so proud and excited to be preorder this in July. It was a thrill to surprise my son (9) with it yesterday afternoon. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He was shocked and in disbelief. How could there be one he hadn’t read???Much to my dismay, my son completed the book this evening. He absolutely loved it. Now what do I do? When does the next one come out? ????

I buy the new one every year for my daughter she’s 15 now but has the whole collection and reads them in about two hours. She loves re-reading her favorites over and over. She got hooked on these when she was 8 years old and it’s fun hearing her laugh out loud when she’s reading. Great, entertaining, easy read, and clean books!

I preordered Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper back on April 2 and just got it today — totally worth the wait! My kid was so excited to finally get it, and it’s just as funny and entertaining as all the other Wimpy Kid books. Definitely a great addition to the series!

Spoilers:Damn nerd invited 2 lawyers to his birthday party.Spoilers over.In my opinion, one of the better Wimpy Kid books of the decade. A far cry from the first few books, but your kids will have fun with it and I liked it.

I bought this book for my child a few days ago since it’s the newest release in the series. The story is funny and easy to read, and my kid really enjoys it. We hope the next one will come out soon!

In this book, Greg Hefley is trying to collect one of the most valuable type of cards, so you should read this if you like collecting all sorts of cards and playing with them. It’s about Greg Hefley’s birthday and he wants it to be his best one yet! This book did not cost a lot of money and I like seeing Greg celebrating his awesome birthday party! You should definitely read this book if you like to see what’s happening in someone else’s life!???? -Henry, age 9 3/4 and Diary of a Wimpy Kid lover, including Pokémon lover!!!

I love this book! As a homeschool mom, I love that we can read this and learn the history of the parade and also be inspired. My little one is so creative and I think he’s going to love reading this story and creating our own floats in preparation for this year’s parade.

The book is the history of the Macy’s Day Parade large puppets. My grandchildren found it interesting. There is a lot of detail in the book with great drawings.

As a retired elementary librarian, I give this wonderful book TEN stars! It is enchanting from beginning to end, from the creative explanation of how to say Tony Sarg’s name to the Bibliography and Sources. Even the inside covers contribute to the story. I plan to share it with all the children, small and tall, at our annual family reunion Thanksgiving dinner – I expect it will become a tradition!

Love this story. Book arrived damage free.

My kindergartners LOVED learning about the balloons in the Macy’s parade. This book is beautiful and packed with factual information. Highly recommend!

I bought this book originally for my boys wanting to teach them the history behind the thanksgiving day parade. A tradition that began in my house as a little girl. I didn’t realize that opening it up and learning more myself would bring back the profound memories as a little girl waking up on thanksgiving morning to my dad in the kitchen making orange rolls and breakfast with the parade on the tv. A tradition I’ve carried into my own family.The illustrations are incredible! Highly recommend

I loved learning the history of how those big floating ballons we all seen on TV came about. I thought this book was so interesting and insightful that I’ve read it more than once just to make sure I caught everything on every page!!I love how the illustrator used watercolors, collages and old papier-mache to really give us a feel of how he created the pieces. The illustrator used some of Tony’s collections for the illustartions which I think is so great because we can see what was actually being thought of in Tony’s mind. The story of this book is so passionate that you just can’t put the book down. It’s very thought out and detailed but easy enough to read so children can understand it.This book shows kids how something so small can turn into something so big and exciting! No matter what your hobby if you believe in it you can make people love it as much as you. I truly believe that children would love to listen to this book and Ballons over Broadway could be a history lesson for me to use in my future teaching career!!

3rd to 5 gradeBalloons over BroadwayBalloon over Broadway tells the true story of Tony Sarg and the great impact his skills of manipulating marionettes created the beauty behind Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. I believe this story falls under the category of informational books in that it tells the history of Tony Sarg with colorful covers and attention grabbing pictures to display his progress throughout his work. The artwork used through the book is amazing in the order it was used along with a small tribute with Tony’s picture and a famous quote that Tony had always lived by. The arts played a huge role in Balloons over Broadway in that it introduced children to express themselves in their products which could range from painting all the way to building such huge balloons like Tony Sarg. The artwork used in the book looks that of a scrapbooking project and toys used from the early 1900’s made of wood and cloth. We all know information books make the reader follow along easy and learn factual information about past history, Balloons over Broadway has done just that with chronological sequencing the evolution of Tony’s puppets all the way to giant floating balloons tugged from below instead of above like his puppets.

Fun activity book for boys. My son loved it, and he’s learning to make different paper planes.We also like the diversity of colorful papers.

This book is well made, has paper airplane patterns that are so fun and some that are really unique, and all the designed papers make for really awesome looking paper airplanes! A hit at our house! Perfect for gifts too.

The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes is such a fun kit! The instructions are clear and easy to follow, even for kids, and the book includes a great variety of designs from simple to more advanced. The included paper is colorful, sturdy, and perfectly sized for folding—no cutting or measuring needed. My child loved testing out all the different airplanes, and it turned into a great activity for the whole family. This is a fantastic mix of learning and fun, and I’d definitely recommend it as a gift or rainy-day activity.

Great gift for a 9 year old. She really loved it

The paper is great quality. Directions are easy and clear. Bought this for a Christmas present for my 7 year old and even dad enjoyed it. Sure, you could look up how to make paper planes on the internet.. but this is great hands on and for travel.

The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes is a fantastic activity kit that delivers exactly what it promises — hours of creative, screen-free entertainment for kids and adults alike. I purchased this for my child, and we’ve both had a blast testing out different designs together.The instructions are crystal clear and easy to follow, even for beginners. Each fold is explained step-by-step, with visuals that make the process stress-free and enjoyable. The book includes 40 sheets of colorful, high-quality, flight-ready paper that really brings each design to life.What I especially love is how this kit subtly teaches kids about basic physics and aerodynamics while keeping them engaged through hands-on activity. It encourages patience, problem-solving, and fine motor skills — all while having fun.This is a great gift for curious minds, classrooms, or just a rainy-day project. Highly recommend for kids aged 8 and up, and even adults who want to join in the fun!

Bought this for my grandson before he’s old enough to use it. He and his dad will have a great time when they can break it out. Has pages and pages of awesome planes.

I bought this for my sons in 2021, it’s 2025 now and we STILLA make planes from this book. The paper did finally run out last year so we’ve now been using my printer paper lol. Anyway, the book is still a hit and has definitely been worth!!