Paging all readers: Fall 2004 book reviews

Sometimes people say their mind plays tricks on them - and sometimes people play tricks on their minds. Confused? Good - because that's what some books try to do! This week, our reviewers look at books of illusion and great imagination.

Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur (See book cover)
By Mordecai Richler
(McClelland and Stewart, 1985)

Reviewed by Jacob, 10

What this book is about: A boy named Jacob Two-Two's father went on vacation, and brought back Jacob a lizard. But it grew up to be a dinosaur. (See illustration)

Where and when the story takes place: The book was set in Jacob's house in Montreal, Quebec and in the wilderness where Jacob ran away

Why I liked this book: I liked this book because it had a dinosaur that was potty-trained and a boy with the same mane as me who said funny things.

The most interesting thing I learned from this book: That you should not run away from home without the proper equipment, because it will be embarrassing to have to go back home and then leave again.

My opinion: I think it was one of the best books in my bookshelf, because it was funny. I rate it 10/5 for readers in grade 3-4.

Reviewed by Tina, 10

What this book is about: This book is about visual illusions, and contains many interesting illusions that puzzle the mind. Hundreds of them will amaze you as images disappear in front of your eyes! This book makes you see movement when there is none. It is cool!

What are your favourite illusions? I like two illusions equally best. The first one is called the Stoop Effect. It is very tricky, and you can do it if you try hard enough. Not like the illusion I also like the Rose Steregram because I always like to see shat the hidden picture is. I always wonder why a heart shape appears when I look at it cross-eyed.

Why I liked this book: I liked this book because all the illusions are very tricky. I learned how to use steregrams, and strategies of finding hidden images. I wonder if these illusions could actually happen in real life.

The most interesting thing I learned from this book: I learned how to make optical illusions. The book shows wonderful puzzles, some of them very simple. I learned how to design illusions with just a pencil and circles.

My opinion: This book is excellent. It is hard to explain why I like it so much. I just have a craving for all types of visual illusions

Reviewed by Byran, 10

What this book is about: This book is about visual illusions. It contains a lot of examples, with great descriptions and captions for each example.

What were your favourite illusions? Kitaoka's Spinning Wheel Illusion was the best one. It has two illusions in one. The first illusionary effect is the spinning circles, and the second one is the Fraser's spiral figure inside each figure, with the figures made of circles.

Why I liked this book: This book's illusions have something to do with science and science is my favourite subject, along with logic and computers.

The most interesting thing I learned from this book: The most interesting thing I learned from this book was how to make an optical illusion myself.

My opinion: This book was excellent and interesting because illusions are very strange and interesting. I recommend it to other readers my age.

Reviewed by Daniel, 10

What this book is about: The book is one of a series about kids who can turn into animals. Inn this one they go up a teammate's nose to save him from aliens.

Where and when the story takes place: This story takes place in an unknown town. The time is about present day. The town is unknown because the characters need to keep their location secret.

Why I liked this book: I liked this book because it can draw the reader in. It is very suspenseful.

The most interesting thing I learned from this book: I learned from this book that you should close your mouth because a fly or an alien could go in.

My opinion: This book was amazing. I recommend it to ages 7 and up.