The Royal Diaries

The Royal Diaries

by Various Authors

The Royal Diaries are diaries about the lives of famous princesses and queens, such as Cleopatra VII and Elizabeth I, when they were children. These princesses did not write these diaries themselves, but other people wrote them in a way that made the diaries seem real. The authors of The Royal Diaries included things that really happened to these princesses and describe the princesses' troubles and secrets. They also discuss things about their father or mother. An example of this would be King Henry VIII, Princess Elizabeth I's father. It is a very interesting way to learn about these famous princesses and their relatives. The Royal Diaries series showed me that it is not easy to be a princess.

I have only read two of the 18 Royal Diary books (the two listed above), so I can't give a top 10 or five review yet, but I will tell you that I like the Cleopatra VII diary best. I like it more because it is full of adventure, and is a suspenseful, what's-going-to-happen kind of book. Unlike some kinds of books that just jump into things, this book takes a while to get into the interesting part, but the interesting part is well worth the wait.

After the end of the story, these books have a epilogue and pictures, such as a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. These books are most suited for children ages nine to 11.

Raising a Riot

Raising a Riot
by Alfred Toombs

Raising a Riot is about a father who is caring for his three children while his wife is away from the family. It's a true story written by a former newspaperman who had no idea how tough it would be to take care of a home and children by himself.

I read the Reader's Digest condensed version of this book and enjoyed it because it shows the job mothers do staying at home with their children while their husbands are at work. In Raising a Riot, the roles are reversed. The mother went away on the doctor's orders so the father goes to the family the cottage in Maryland to care for their children -- ages ten, seven, and four. His experiences are funny, even though Mr. Toombs sometimes found it very frustrating.

I was drawn to the story because the title sounded interesting, and it was. The story caught my attention further because it has kids in a home with a stay-at-home parent, and I'm a kid in a home with a stay-at-home parent. My mom stays at home with us, but I think it would be funny to imagine what it would be like if my dad (who is also a newspaperman) stayed at home with us.

I didn't like how his children were demanding, and didn't help with work unless their father made a system (and even with those systems they didn't help for very long).

I think the author wrote this book because it would help husbands understand what their wives are going through. I'm not a wife myself, but it helps me to understand what my mom does.

Now adays a stay-at-home dad is not uncommon, but at the time this book was written (the mid 50s), it would have been unusual. But even though it was written about sixty years ago, I think it can compare to people nowadays, because no matter what time in history, moms are moms, kids are kids, and dads are dads.

First Lady of the Seeing Eye

First Lady of the Seeing Eye
By Morris Frank and Blake Clark

First Lady of the Seeing Eye is a book written by Morris Frank and Blake Clark. I read the Reader's Digest condensed version. It is about the first seeing eye dog in America, Buddy. It is taken from the view of Morris himself, who is blind and owned Buddy.

I came across this book when I had nothing to read and I had read all the children's books in the house. Then my Mom handed me an old copy of Reader's Digest Twenty Best Books. She suggested I read Wilderness Wife by Kathrene Pinkerton but what really interested me was The First Lady of the Seeing Eye. I had read a children's reader version of the story called Buddy a few years ago and I wanted to know more about it.

I think the author wrote this book so others would know all the wonderful things Buddy did. Buddy obeyed and helped her owner to the end, sensed when there was danger and always did something to stop it. I think people should read this book because it shows how the seeing eye program got started, the difficulties of people who are blind, and how they can overcome the difficulties with a seeing eye dog.

Morris said getting a seeing eye dog was like getting out of a prison. He could go to the barber shop and go straight back home without waiting for someone to come and take him. 

This book is not a children's book, nor just a adults's book, but a book someone of any age would enjoy very much. I think even my five-year-old sister would enjoy it if it was read aloud to her. Now I certainly know the wonderful things Buddy did. And everyone that reads this book will, too.

The book is happy, and funny. I would recommend this book because it makes me laugh and be happy, but it is also sad at the end. It shows how animals have lives and feelings, just like us.