Customer Reviews

The Moon Robber (Magic Door Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first book of the Magic Door series is a fun ride, a story about three children getting sucked into another world.

Ten year olds Michael and Sarah (with six year old Joey) are in the town of Bridgeport when an earthquake strikes - and opens a discreet-looking old door that leads to a bizarre-looking room. In an instant, they are transported to the alternate world of Great Kettles (yes, that is the real name).

It is, not surprisingly, a place filled with magic and mystery. The inhabitants include storybook characters like the Sandman, Father Time, and others like them that are seen only in storybooks and fairy tales. But, there is something extremely bad brewing: a giant is looking for something important and powerful, which is capable of destroying Great Kettles - and the town in our world also!

This story has similarities to others (like Alan Garner's "Elidor") but is presented in a fresh and enjoyable manner. Readers who initially think "oh ack, it has little-kid storybook characters in it!" might like the portrayal of them - not to mention the fact that the illustrations are just beautiful.

It's a light, pleasant fantasy with above-par illustrations and a nice storyline that will keep the reader interested. It's not very long, though, and I wonder if it is targeting an audience slightly below the 9-12 crowd.

Looking forward to Book 2.

Sarah and Michael, both 10, were standing at the window of the Magic Door Toyshop with Joey, 6, when owner Sam set a toy on his workbench and implied that it was magic. The shop had a door with an arched top, and a great latch and bolt. They had never seen it open. Suddenly, as Sam spoke, the gumball machine on the bench started to shake and a strange rumble passed through the shop. Nothing like this had ever happened before in Old Bridgeport. Then, right before them, the magic door swung open.

The door led to a dusty shop, although there was no other shop next door and no door on the Sam's outside wall. There was a clock tower. They found themselves in Kettles, and Videlia Potts introduced herself as the shop owner. With eyes bright as stars, she explained that the magic door connected Kettles to the Outland. Just then, an earthquake seemed to shake the shop. It was Mogg, the local giant.

The children met the cow who jumped over the moon, and saw the actual moon, not to mention the man in it. In the next six chapters, the children had several adventures before returning to Sam's shop, where the clock was only 20 minutes later than when they had left.

This is a great book, albeit short (64 pages) and the illustrations are wonderful. It is most suitable for children in first or second grade. Alyssa A. Lappen

We just love the illustrations in Dean Morrissey's works. The story is entertaining and lit up even more by his great pictures. I read this to my boys and we all enjoyed it :)

THE MOON ROBBER
By Dean Morrissey and Stephen Krensky


The Moon Robber is a fantasy mystery type book. In the book three kids go into a magic door, which led to great kettles, they met a person named The Onion Lady. She showed them the moon except its mechanical. Later a giant steals the moon because he was afraid of the dark. He thought the moon put off light all the time. But the giant didn't know that other people needed it. He said he would give it back if they fixed his lantern. They did and he gave the moon back.

The main characters are Joey, a six year old boy, Sarah, a ten year old girl, Michael, a ten year old boy and Sam, a toy shop owner, also father times apprentice. I would tell about their personalities but I couldn't find any for them. Each one plays a big part in the story.

The problem in the story is a giant steals the moon. Another one is they have to get the moon back to their world before nighttime. That is basically the problems.

The solution to the problems with the giant was the kids and Sam fixes the giants' lantern, so the giant gives the moon back. They get the moon back on time but I don't know how. It never tells how, That's the solution.

This is a pretty good book. I would recommend it to some people but not all people. I would rate it as three and one/half star book.