Shrek the Third: Friends and Foes (I Can Read Book 2) (Paperback)

by Catherine Hapka (Author), Steven E. Gordon (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With the king gone, the kingdom of Far Far Away needs a new king. Is Shrek next in line for the throne?

About the Author

Catherine Hapka is the author of many books for children of all ages. She is too tall to ride ponies, though her mare, Gerri, still looks like one. Catherine takes riding lessons twice a week and lives on a farm with Gerri, three goats, a small flock of chickens, and too many cats.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061228656
• ISBN-13: 978-0061228650
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #331,893 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gives Away Major Plot Points--So Hold Off Getting This Until AFTER You See The Movie, May 22, 2007

By	Janet Boyer "JanetBoyer.com" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Shrek is a big, green ogre. He used to live alone in a swamp. Then he married Fiona. She talked him into going to the big city. Shrek doesn't like the city much. He wants to go to his swamp. There is just one problem. He might have to stay and become king!" -- From the book

I haven't yet seen Shrek the Third, but my family and I are eagerly anticipating watching it in the theater this weekend. I almost wished I hadn't found out some major plot points ahead of time! In fact, if you HAVEN'T seen the movie yet, this book pretty much gives away the store--so wait until AFTER you see the movie if you don't want to know spoilers.

This book follows Shrek and his pals as they look for Arthur Pendragon, Fiona's cousin, who is heir to the throne. Half the book is dedicated to the war between the Fairy Tale villians and the Fairy Tale friends--which is the source of major plot giveaways.

We have three books based on Shrek the Third and this one is better than A Good King Is Hard to Find but worse than Royally Wrong in terms of both story and illustration. Rather than the glossy books that show what look to be actual movie stills--such as Royally Wrong--this book has mediocre illustrations, dull coloring, and a complicated, disjointed plot.

Friends and Foes is a Level 2 I Can Read book which means longer sentences, high-interest stories and language play for developing readers. Although no age group is mentioned, I think this would be a good book for readers aged 5-8--and for younger kids who love the Shrek movies.

Despite my reservations about Friends and Foes, if your child is a big fan of Shrek the Third--and you'd like to encourage them to read--then this book may suit your needs. My 8 year old loves all the books and doesn't seem to mind the difference in quality.

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok but didn't like the illustrations, June 24, 2009

By	Alix (Westboro, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This is ok but doesn't get much read time from us. I don't particularly find the illustrations engaging. If your child likes Shrek, and you can borrow this from a local library first, I would recommend that than buying this.