Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hylidae Ex Machina lives!, November 3, 2007
Some of my favorite childrens' stories revolve around a character called Hank the Cow Dog by John Erickson. They are based on a ranch in Texas, and, though there are human characters in most of the stories, they are predominantly populated and acted out by animals on the ranch and nearby wild animals.
As I was reading J. Lyon Laydon's An Adventure in Yore for Bedtime Reading, I was mentally trying to compare and correlate it to similarly-themed stories. I considered The Chronicles of Narnia and realized they didn't quite match up. I thought about Lewis Carroll's work, and that wasn't exactly it either. The Wind in the Willows came to mind, but I just couldn't make the connection.
Then towards the end of Adventure in Yore, as the tree frogs sang, it hit me. This story has a very similar footing to the Hank the Cow Dog series. Laydon has struck a very viable chord in children's fiction with this short. He runs ahead with activity and then pulls back for night time relaxation. It's a marvelous piece of writing that, to be honest, I didn't think I would care much for. However, I found out differently.
From Terramore to Mudgunkland to the Domain of Felvin and back to Bogland, Laydon has created a legendarium totally suited to the reading imaginations of little folks - probably between ages 4 and 7, if I had to guess.
This is a fun story to get into, it has poetic value in much of its prose. And it imparts a dreamy quality to its overall presentation. I recommend this story highly.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Read!, October 19, 2007
I don't know about you, but since I was a child, I have loved to pretend that birds, frogs and all kinds of animals and insects have their own little world; one we know nothing about. A world where they have families and friends, do their work and play and live their lives; much like we do our own. In this delightful tale by author, J. Lyon Layden, we are taken into such a world, one of frogs, mice, and rats. Ah! what a combination. It seems the rats are on a mission of war and the frogs are determined to stop them at all costs.
We meet some delightful characters and some nasty ones as well. For instance, Dr. Croaks, who sets off to protect the lands of Terramore against the invasion of mice, and treat any possible wounded. We share his adventure as he battles the rats, whom we find out are behind all the terror in the land, and who are very hateful, nasty, and dangerous. Dr. Croaks is captured, nearly killed and finally rescued by a frog, a kind that Dr.Croaks has never seen before; one that is strong, brave and magical. He is taken to a peaceful forest where he dreams mystical dreams and awakens to find himself safely back home among his friends, healing and ready for the next adventure.
I have to say this is truly a fun and adventurous tale. It has great characters that are developed fully where you have a good mind vision of them. The author uses the characters to show loyalty, friendship, compassion, fear, and also hate, as is found in the rats. The story has interesting locals, and a storyline that keeps your interest and leaves you wanting more. Very well done; very enjoyable read for both the young and young at heart.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A GREAT SHORT-STORY AND FINE BEGINNING TO THE "YORE" TALE!, February 20, 2009
Joseph Lyon Layden's "An Adventure in Yore for Bedtime Reading" is a great short story, introducing the characters from "The Other Side of Yore" at the beginning of their adventures. I truly enjoyed it, and if you enjoyed Layden's previous Yore tale, or great short-stories, then this is one you'll enjoy as well.
Grade: A
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