Author Archives: admin

306I: Girl Rides Polar Bear

I read this book in perhaps 5th grade (1975). An Inuit Girl lives with her mother but is either urged to leave or gets lost (set in Greenland?). She encounters a polar bear and is “adopted” by bear. The hardcover book jacket featured girl in traditional parka riding the bear, she has a spear I think.

Sounds suspiciously like East published in 2005, but this was long before that.  I remember her learning to fish.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

306H: A little boy who builds a robot

This book was read in the 1960’s (maybe 1967 of 1968) by a friend of mine. He describes it as being a book about a little boy who built a robot out of scraps. Those scraps maybe have been pick-up from a junk yard.  The boy may have been an only child and living with one parent. The second parent may have died or was in the military. The robot’s name or the boy’s name could have been Robbie. My friend definitely remembers the name Robbie. Another character in the book could have been named Tommy or Johnny. The robot and the boy developed a friendship. “Robbie” could have also been in the title of the book.

Books that I have already eliminated: “Andy Buckram’s Tin Man”, “Harry’s Homemade Robot”, “The Runaway Robot”, “Tommy Tinker the Wind up Robot” and “Rosalie, Robbie and the robot”

306G: Anti-Jewish Demons

Adult book. Was in paperback format in mid to late 70s. Book was about one of the 4 arch -demons (as in demons from Hell) who became known to members of the Jewish race. This particular demon held special hatred for the Jewish people and had been an SS officer during WW2 era.
They were able to capture the demon (who was in human form) by someone wearing the vest of Abraham. They imprisoned him in the crypt in China which is surrounded by the Terracotta warriors who actually were guarding the tomb to ensure none came close to open it. One follower of the demon tried and the terracotta warrior killed him with a bow. The crypt was actually a prison built specifically for him. Another prison was built for one of the other 3 arch-demons under the great salt lake in Utah prior to the prison being submerged thousands of years ago.

306E: The rabbit that gave all of their clothes away in the cold

My children want to find this book that I read to them. The cover was deep blue with the rabbit on the cover, in a snowy nighttime setting. Over the course of the book, the rabbit (as I recall, you are never sure if it’s a he or she) gives away maybe food, definitely shoes, coat, scarf, etc to others in need. Sadly the rabbit freezes to death, but then maybe you see the rabbit in the starry sky? Not an old book, probably written in 80s or 90s. Very simple drawings, cartoon like, not realistic. Anyone remember?  Title might have indicated it was a book about giving. Thanks

306C: Girl With The Big Craft Box

It’s a children’s book from the 90s about a girl who has to be home from school for an extended period (broken arm or leg or something?). She’s bored. She is given a cardboard box full of art and craft supplies. She starts making all kinds of things – I think maybe a whole little town made of construction paper? With little dogs and everything? If I remember right. Her older siblings are snarky about it but eventually they get jealous and start helping her. I think she had an older brother and sister, but that detail is foggy. The big box of art/craft supplies is what really sticks out to me.

306B: Boy’s parents leave him alone on a farm

I read the book as a teen in 1998; it was about a boy (maybe 10 years old) raised on a farm, parents disappeared one day, and the boy continued to tend the farm in their absence. One day he was sprayed by a skunk; he couldn’t smell himself for some reason. He tried to clean up the skunk smell best he could, but as he boarded the bus the school, he could tell he still smelt like skunk based on the looks of the other kids. He exited the bus to return home and he never returned to school. The story goes on to tell his journey of raising the farm without his parents. I believe his parents returned years later.

306A: 1960s/1970s anthology of women in history kids

I’m looking for a book that I read many years ago – it would have been mid-1970’s or so. I’m not sure if the book was printed then or earlier (1960’s). It wasn’t a picture book, but rather, a chapter book (I had it in a hardcover edition). Although I was young when I read it, this wasn’t a typical children’s book. It might have been more along the lines of a young adult book.  It was an anthology of women in history and included chapters with summary bios on Clara Barton, Jane Addams (of Hull House), Florence Nightingale, Harriet Tubman, and Susan B. Anthony (I know these women were included). Amelia Earhart might be another. Abigail Adams or Dolley Madison might have also been included, but I may be wrong about them. I can’t remember much about it other than the subjects were all women and it was the first I had read of Jane Addams and Hull House.

 

305Z: Beavers Walk into the Woods

Children's picture book for the 4-6 year old range. Two or three beavers go hiking in the woods and get lost. It gets dark and possibly stormy they find a house and settle in then more animals start showing up looking for shelter. There is a cute catchphrase every time a new animal comes in like "who's there". Then at the end the owner of the house is a bear and all the animals are scared but of course he is friendly and makes them dinner possibly soup! Favorite children's book when I was young and I cannot find it anywhere and have had zero luck on Google! I would love to read this to my kids before they outgrow it!

305X: Man Uses PC to Compensate for Memory Loss – Ultimately Both Die in Suicide Pact

I read a short story in the late 1970’s or early 80’s. I think it was in a collection of award winners – maybe science fiction, and may have come from Scholastic or similar program. It is not Living Will.

A man is faced with progressive memory loss (Alzheimer’s?). He programs a personal computer to help him cope with his declining mental condition and keep up appearances of normality so that he can continue to live independently.

All scenes take place in the room the computer is in and are from its perspective. It talks the man through getting dressed and ready each day, then waits for him to return home and pieces together his day based on the contents of his pockets.

It monitors the progression of his deterioration and eventually concludes he is no longer able to function safely on his own. It initiates a euthanasia protocol per its programming and then begins deleting its files – apparently because its only purpose was to take care of the man and he is gone.

I remember it as not so much a science fiction story, but a tragic love story.