Book Description

Billy and his loyal pony Blaze head west together in another exciting adventure from C. W. Anderson. When their new friend Jim is unable to tame the wild horse Thunderbolt, Billy and Blaze want to help. Fast and elusive, Thunderbolt is not easy to befriend. But with their kind and gentle approach, Billy and Blaze may succeed where the other cowboys have failed. C. W. Anderson's story is one of friendship and adventure, and with his beautiful drawings of Blaze and Thunderbolt, it's sure to be welcomed by young readers everywhere.

Blaze and Thunderbolt is part of the classic Billy and Blaze series. Thoughtful drawings and easy-to-read words capture the warmth and understanding shared by a boy and his horse. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Billy & Blaze go west!
I like this book on Billy & Blaze because I like cowboys and they headed for the ranch on the summer.

I like being a cowboy.

I like this book alot!

Great Book for Young Boys
The whole Billy and Blaze series is wonderful. This book is my son's favorite. The story is about how Billy takes Blaze on a ranch vacation. They see a wild horse they name Thunderbolt. None of the grown up cowboys can get near him. Blaze and Thunderbolt become fast friends. Eventually Thunderbolt follows them home, jumps in the corral with Blaze, and becomes friends with Billy. Billy is the only person Thunderbolt trusts and eventually lets Billy train him. Billy goes home from vacation with a beautiful new horse and Blaze has a best friend. My son was facinated by the friendship between the horses and how a boy could train such a big animal. The illustrations are beautiful and my son loves them. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes it's the imprint of an ancient leaf in a rock. Sometimes it's a woolly mammoth, frozen for thousands of years in the icy ground. Sometimes it's the skeleton of a stegosaurus that has turned to stone.

A fossil is anything that has been preserved, one way or another, that tells about life on Earth. But you can make a fossil, too--something to be discovered a million years from now--and this book will tell you how.

Reviews (2)

A review of the record of fossils for children Ages 5 and up
Fossils tell of long ago is a good book for children. Brightly illustrated pictures help them grasp the facts of fossils. It includes a fun experiment, too, along with a clear explanation of how fossils were made. I give this book four stars.

Aliki's blatant attempt at political correctness.
While this book is still a decent introduction to fossils for children, I'm giving it two stars because it is a VERY different book from the original (published in 1972, I believe) that I read and loved as a child. I purchased this version thinking it would be the same as the original (except for the different cover and perhaps some updates to the information therein). Well, I was wrong. ALL of the illustrations have changed (NOT for the better, either, in my opinion). There are now children of every hue pictured, and even a black boy in a wheel chair. How nice. This is what all children's books of the future will look like, apparently. (Classic children's books that don't include pictures of kids from various ethnic groups will need to be re-illustrated.) Aliki, why did you mess with a perfectly good original?

If you've read the original edition of this book, DON'T purchase this one, as I think you'll be disappointed. Search for a used copy of the original. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A Wonderful Book.
A wonderful book. It gave sooo much information. Parents will love it. I feel the author tried to tell us something. I think he wants us to keep trying to accomplish our goals and not be bothered by what other people say. ... Read more

Book Description

Popcorn, corn on the cob, cornbread, tacos, tamales, and tortillas. All of these and many other good things come from one amazing plant. Aliki tells the story of corn: How Native American farmers thousands of years ago found and nourished a wild grass plant and made it an important part of their lives. They learned the best ways to grow and store and use its fat yellow kernels. And then they shared this knowledge with the new settlers of America.

Reviews (1)

A great informational book
Corn is Maize is a great book on corn. It not only shows how corn is grown and the many uses. It teaches the children about Indian culture and how they shared their corn with the prilgrams. A book of history, science, and social development. ... Read more

Book Description

In this elegantly designed volume, more than sixty of Aesop's timeless fables have been carefully selected, humorously retold, and brought gloriously to life by four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Jerry Pinkney. Included are the Shepherd Boy and The Wolf, the Lion and the Mouse, the Tortoise and the Hare, plus many other characters-and morals-that have inspired countless readers for centuries.

With more than fifty magnificent full-color illustrations, this handsome edition is a must for every bookshelf. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables is a great book that is a collection of short stories. This book gave us famous phrases that are used today, such as "sour grapes." These are easy to understand stories for all ages(unless you are under the age of 7). It's amazing that such small stories have great meaning. Every fable gives some kind of small lesson at the end. The characters fit each story very well. This book is a must read for people who wonder where some of our everyday phrases come from and who want to learn a lesson from just a few sentences.

Comprehensive, but a Bit Too Short & Sweet
If you are looking for a short, comprehensive, encyclopedic catalogue of Aesop's Fables then this book is a steal. There are 83 fables in all, including the more famous ones such as the Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Lion and the Mouse and the Goose That Laid the Golden Egg. Each fable comes with a half page or so re-telling of its story plus a one sentence synopsis of the stories' "moral" at the end.

My problem with this is that the stories are so short, there is no magic in them. They are stripped of all but the bones. I can't imagine a child being interested in the stories told this way. I would have preferred them cutting the number of stories and instead fleshing them out by a few pages. I recommend paying a few bucks more for *The Aesop for Children* (ISBN:0590479776) by M. Winter which does just that.

There are (at least!) two editions reviewed here!
Read carefully, and realize that the Publisher's Weekly review and several of the comments do not refer to this edition!

The body of Jacob Lawrence's artwork is a national treasure. These drawings may be black and white...they are also exceptional artwork by one of America's finest artists. In choosing this edition, you share not only Aesop's Fables with a child, but also truly great art.

HEAVY-DUTY GREAT LITERATURE THAT EVEN A 5YEAR OLD LIKES
Most kid books are just fluff. Boring stuff.

Aesop's Fables, on the other hand teach REAL VALUES: hard work, honesty, unity, etc. And we hear people refer to various fables on a regular basis throughout our lives.

A child is really disadvantaged if he doesn't get exposed to these valuable stories and internalize them at an early age.

I recently had to repeat the story of "the boy who cried wolf" to my 10-year old son, in order to help him to improve his behavior. this is one of the most important books you could buy for your child.

--George Stancliffe

Aeosps Fables are more than good, theyre grrrrrrrrreat!
On my birthday in second grade, my parents gave me a package containing these stories, written by the ancient Aesop. I read through it, at first not enjoying it much, thinking ,"What fun could it be to read something wrtitten by some old guy?" after reading through one fable, I was changed. My heart lightened, and I finished the book inside my favorite blanket within a day,and my parents were surprised that I had already finished. And even if it was heavy reading for a second grader, I loved it and have read it several times over again. I suggest that everyone should read this book because of the helpful morals that allow you to understand everyday life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Fun Book to Stimulate Interest in History
This is a fun book that should help your youngster develop an interest in American History. It is easy to read an has great illustratiions. You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Look for others by the same author.

Well-focused, well-balanced and entertaining
I bought this book for my 5-year-old nephew, and already I can hear him laughing at the illustrations of Edison sitting on goose eggs in his father's barn, causing a chemical fire in a baggage car, and courting teacherly reprisals for his apprarent boredom in a conventional classroom. These all-too-human mishaps from the great inventor's life mix well and bring interest to the charmingly illustrated discussion of his accomplishments: lighting up New York City, inventing the phonograph, inventing the first movie camera and making the first movies with a story. More than just providing a laundry list of his accomplishments, though, this little book explains in simple terms how he worked his way up to owning his own laboratories in Menlo Park, first as a candy butcher turned telegrapher, and finally coming into some money with his invention of the stock ticker. Thomas Edison's accomplishments are something to admire, and I'm definitely happy to start my nephew off learning about him with this book.

Adler biography series is wonderful!
Have you ever needed a short and sweet biography for younger students yet could only find books for independent readers? Adler has solved the problem. This book is a wonderful introduction for K-3 graders who need information but cant handle those lengthy chapter books. Abundantly illustrated to keep little eyes busy while listening to the story. Loaded with biographical information and includes a timeline of important dates. Other titles in the series include; Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, Christopher Colombus, George Washington, Martin Luter King Jr. and others. ... Read more

Book Description

Lizard has always lived snug as a bug on his rock. But one day Lizard returns home to find that Snake has moved in! Zoli, zoli, zoli! Snake is big and fearsome and yricky .What can Lizard do to send him packing? From the incomparable creators of Lizard's Song comes another amiable, vibrantly illustrated picture book that sings right along and will have young children rooting for that resourceful underdog, Lizard. Sweet and jolly just right for storytime. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Update of a Traditional Tale: Lizard's Home
Lizard's Home has it's basis in an old hispanic folk tale. A version for older readers appears in Joe Hayes' Watch Out For Clever Women where the villan trying to cheat using the black and white pebbles is a money lender. The simple, but very colorful and expressive illustrations of the snake and lizard in this story are sure to captivate younger readers. The clever little lizard is able to outwit the wily snake without any violence. This would be an excellent read-aloud for kindergarten and first grade story time. ... Read more

Book Description

The journey begins for a young immigrant named Miss Bridie. It is a journey of hope and uncertainty, a journey that will take her to a new land, a new home, and—if she has chosen wisely—a good life. With elegant woodcuts, Caldecott medalist Mary Azarian brings to life Leslie Connor"s spare story of a life rich with blessings, yet not without challenges. Here is a lyrical tribute to the millions of immigrants who left their homes to begin anew in America—and an enchanting look at how one woman carves out a life with the help of a common shovel. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A must for the horselover of any age!
The Billy & Blaze series was my absolute favorite in gradeschool-- the illustrations are gorgeous, and the stories are well thought out and written superbly. I remember signing this series out of the school library over and over and over again... now as an adult, I am THILLED to see it offered here at Amazon. None of these books will disappoint a horselover-- no matter what age you are!

Blaze and the Gray Spotted Pony
The is the BEST of the charming and beautiful Billy and Blaze series by CW Anderson. Billy gets a human friend this time, who loves horses as much as Billy does. This friend wants a gray spotted pony for his birthday--Billy and Blaze have to go FIND him one. It's a hackneyed plot (no pun intended, Hackney lovers) but it is done right without any silliness. But this is a Billy and Blaze book, and any collector of them know the REAL reason to buy a Billy and Blaze book are for the amazing CW Anderson pencil drawings! It is amazing to see, over the course of the series, how much this man had improved as one of the top equine artists of this country and he is sorely missed. This is a great book to read as a stress-reliever for pony loving adults, or a bedtime story for children ... Read more

Book Description

A gift from a wizard makes Jack's fortune grow by ones and twos, then threes and fours, then faster and faster, challenging you to keep track of his riches.

"The real wizard is the renowned Japanese author and illustrator, who has found yet another way to introduce numbers and counting with wit and charm...Endlessly rewarding." --The New York Times Book Review

"Children old enough to enjoy brain teasers will have fun working this out." --Kirkus Reviews, pointer review

"A tour de force from a most original author-illustrator." --The Horn Book ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A major disappointment
Love Mitsumasa Anno's other books, but the wonderful intricate drawings are missing from this book, and the story is easily 60% too long, especially for children.

Creative Math Lesson
Anno's books are great for teaching fun math lessons. I readthe book to my sixth graders and had them figure the answers to thequestions as we went. They loved it! They really have to listen carefully, so it makes a great lesson in listening skills as well.

Using Math in the real world
Anno's Magic Seeds is yet another book written by Mitsumasa Anno that integrates literature with mathematics. This book is a useful tool for teachers attempting to provide a connection of math in the real world for their students. The story is enchanting and it certainly proved to be a creative way for beginning a math lesson- atleast it was for my 4th graders! I highly recommend this or any of Anno's books to stimulate children's interest in mathematics!

I give it a 3.5
Sure, this book is real cute, but it is missing something. It is strange, and my nephew wasn't thrilled by it. I bought it for his because of his obsession with seeds. It is no run of the mill book, but it could do better ... Read more

Book Description

Reading the prairie

It's the 1880s, Noah works hard on the family farm and roams free on the Colorado prairie. One day his Aunt Dora arrives to give him some schooling. Noah doesn't think he needs it. What use is reading on the prairie? But what Noah discovers will change his life forever.

Reviews (1)

if you like Little House on the Prairie try this
Prairie School is about a nine year old boy named Noah. He and his family have just moved from Maine to Colorado. He loves being there on the open prairie. He feels free. One day his mother tells his they are going to have a visitor. It's his Aunt Dora and she is coming to teach him to read. Naoh doesn't like the idea at all. Once Aunt Dora shows Noah her way of teaching he catches on and enjoys learning new things.

The book is part of the I Can Read series. It's a level 4, for grade 2-4. This is a good introduction to historical fiction.

I would recommed this book. It would make a great read aloud while learning about the 1880's. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

teaches with humor
This book, just like the first "Where's My Teddy?" book, teaches with humor. The illustrations are really eye-catching and this story teaches parents and children about the importance of having friends. We love it.

Your kids will love it!
My 3 year old loves the bear stories. In this story, the boy Eddie gets trapped behind the Bear's huge teddy bear. He pretends he is the huge teddy by speaking back to the real bear who is sad. The two become friends. My son laughs everytime we read this. It is a complement to the other bear book by the author, in which Eddie is left out in the woods with the Bear while his mother runs back home to fetch an item for their picnic. This is a wonderful read. Highly recommended!

A Must Have!
This is a delightful, relational story. It's cleverly written, and beautifully illustrated, and one that became our favorite imediately! This is a book that I have shared with friends and often give as a present. I cannot say enough about this book (or author)!

We LOVE the bear!!!!
My kids have three of Jez Alborough's books. They absolutely love the bear. I think the stories are well written and funny. We read at least one bear book every night!

wonderful rhyming story about making friends
this is a great story about making friends. It teaches children about compassion, and love. It is also just a whole lot of fun, Especially if you read the other two stories: Where's my Teddy and It's the Bear. My kids love them! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

lots of great info
We read this book in our homeschool history class. It's great for colonial unit study. Even mom learned a few new things about Ben Franklin! How cool is that!

Another winner
These picture book biographies are great for lower elementary students. Big colorful pictures and packed with information. Great for colonial unit study. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Story
While the ants are hard at work collecting food for the long winter, the grasshopper only plays and does no work at all to prepare for the long harsh winter up ahead. Soon the winter comes and the ants are warm and have plenty of food to eat. However the grasshopper is out in the cold with no food at all. I liked the illustrations in this book, and I also enjoyed the way the author told the moral to the readers. The author's main moral was that there are times when you can play and times when you need to do work, and you can't play all the time. The moral is easily understandable so that children will be able to pick up on it. Also it is a great way in introduce time management to older children

A delightful retelling of a classic story
This retelling of the classic Aesop fable is set in China, at the Emperor's Summer Palace. In this version, as in the classic, the ants work diligently over the summer to prepare for the long winter, when food will be in short supply and the temperature quite cold. The grasshopper, on the other hand, prefers to sing and dance during the long summer days, doing no preparation at all. In the end, the ants are rewaded for their hard work by being warm and full during the winter days, while the grasshopper is left to suffer in the cold. The illustrations were done on rice paper with ink and gouache paint. Not only do they support and enhance the text, but they are truly beautiful works of art. They are a delightful mix of soft, subtle colors and vibrant colors. The rice paper background provides a strong sense of texture and depth. Children ages 4 to 6 will be drawn in by the stunning illustrations, and will learn a valuable lession from the story as a whole.

Beautiful artwork!
I liked this retelling of a classic -- especially in the slight twist - yes, the ants have foresight but they are workaholics and the grasshopper may not be industrious but he appreciats the beauty of a summer night. But it's the elegant illustrations that really catch my eye and highlight this story. Delicate ink strokes with sharp details on rice paper capture the spirit of chinese art and are a wonderful complement to the story's setting. Simply gorgeous and a treat for the eyes. It makes me believe that Aesop should have done this himself! ... Read more

Book Description

Long ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Then, suddenly, they died out. For thousands of years, no one knew these giant creatures had ever existed. Then people began finding fossils--bones and teeth and footprints that had turned to stone. Today, teams of experts work together to dig dinosaur fossils out of the ground, bone by fragile bone. Then they put the skeletons together again inside museums, to look just like the dinosaurs of millions of years ago.

Reviews (1)

Easy/ fun to read, comprehensive, informative, & great pics
I am six years old and in second grade. I needed a book for my report on Apatasaurus. This book was just perfect. I had to have 5 sources for my report, and this book was my favorite. I have a few other books on Dinosaurs from this author too. I like the way he writes. Thanks for your help with all the good information. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"For my birthday I was hoping my parents would give me a bicycle.They only gave me a dime."

So begins David Adler's inspired tale of the challenges and magic--yes, magic--of a depression-era childhood spent in the Bronx, New York. Disappointed, but not surprised by his present, the young narrator in The Babe & I spends his birthday afternoon wandering neighborhood streets with his best friend Jacob, discussing--as always--the New York Yankees and the world's greatest baseball player, Babe Ruth. The boys may have little in the way of monetary goods, but they do live within walking distance of Yankee stadium. They get a special lift from their proximity to this golden team of graced athletes, even if they can never go inside the gate. On this day, however, the stakes are raised significantly when the narrator discovers a difficult, saddening secret about his father. In response, he decides to join Jacob and become a newspaper boy--a decision that helps his family through these tough years and leads the narrator into the best, most unbelievable encounter of his life--better than any bike or birthday or anything.

Adler's honest, vivid reflection of 1930s life is perfectly complemented by Terry Widener's evocative, earth-toned illustrations. Reminiscent of WPA murals, Widener's images help Adler transport the reader to another time and place in a symbiotic pairing that makes this tender book a true work of art. (Ages 5 and older) --Jean Lenihan ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Babe and I
The Babe and I was a good story because the kid for his birthday he only got a dime and in the 1932, a dime was like two dollars.The kid and his mother always thought that his father had a job but the whole time he had been fired and he was out selling apples.Then they went for a walk him and Jacob and the kid found out that his dad sells apples and he got upset because he saw how hard it was for his dad to make a dime.So then the kid got a job as a newspaper seller and he was tought to sell like a pro and he started making money.Then one day Babe Ruth bought a paper from him and gave him five dollarsand he didnt reconize Babe but then he bought tickets for the game and watched BAbe play.Then with the little bit of money he had left he went home and put it into the money jar.

The reason i liked this story was because the kid tried to help his familybecause he found out that his family needed help.Then he kept the secrect to himself about his dad selling apples because he didnt want his mom to find out.

The Babe and I
The book takes place during the Great Depresion,and its about a boy that thinks his family is lucky because his dad didn't loose his job.However in the day of the boy's birth day,the boy finds out that his dad had lost his job and now his selling apples.the boy was really sad, but his friend Jacob offers him to sell news papers with him.The boy starts to sell,and to carry it he borrows the neighbors'carriage.One day thet the boy is selling news paper ,he sells one paper to Babe Ruth and with the money babe pays him the boy and Jacob go to his last game.I rate this picture 4 because I liked the way the author described the emotion of the characters.I also liked the describing details of the settings.

The Babe and I
This book was about a family living in the Bronx. This family was very poor. Only the dad. On that day it was the boys birthay.So his dad gave him 10 cents.Because on those days that was enough money 2 eat and pay rent.So one day the dad leaves to work and his son and mom stay home.Then the boys best friend comes over to his house and ask him if he wants to go to work with him.So they did.And on the way home to his friends job they bought an apple for 5 cents.Also on the way he saw his dad selling apples!The boy felt really bad and confused why he wasnt working in a factory? But he didnt way nothing to him or let his dad see him.So his friend thought him for people to by him newspaper to announce Babe's home runs and good palys.And it did work also he even made much more then his dad.Even one day, his favorite baseball players, Babe, bought him a news paper and give him 5 dollors.After he earned a lot his dad found out.But he wasn't mad about it, just emberessed. So what this boy kept doing his job he felt thankful for babe because for his good plays he got a lot of many.

The Babe and I
The babe and I was a book about a kid living in New York during the middle of the great depression. He thinks his dad is a business man but soon finds out that hes a "apple seller".
This book is a great childrens because of the fact that it is realistic and teaches kids what life was like in the Great Depression.

so cool!!!
this story is great is about a kid that he find outs that's his dad's job is selling tomatoes. he and his frindsstart selling newspaper discober what happens while he sells ordenary newspaper. ... Read more

Book Description

It's bedtime on the farm, and Mother Hen is singing her chicks to sleep: "Gather round, my children, Cuddle as I sing, Let yourselves grow sleepy, Safe beneath my wing..." Mother Cow, too, begins to sing to her calf, and Horse, Pig, Sheep, and Goose all join in with their verses. To the farmer in his bed, it all sounds like so much clucking, mooing, neighing, and oinking...but to the animal babies, it's a beautiful lullaby. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

His constant favorite
My son just turned one yr old last week and this book has been his favorite for the last three months. "Goodnight Moon," is alright, and "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" is a close second, but this one he loves. At first he would cuddle with me while I read it to him, but now that he is a little older he is determined to turn the pages himself. I have the paperback version and need to buy another copy as I've had to repair numerous pages while he learns how to turn paper pages. Poor book. I'd put it up until he's older, but he will look all over the living room for this one and then sit down in the middle of the floor and slowly "read" the book 2-3 times before he is ready for the next activity.

The perfect lullaby
My 2 1/2 year old loves this book and song. The music is printed at the end - and it puts her right to sleep nearly every time. She sings the song whenever she is putting her animals to bed, and it is a lovely story! The illustrations are great for this age - I wholly recommend it!

Great songs, story, and illustrations.
This is one of a few books that get the "again, again" rating from my 3 year old. He loves the song and story and of course the animals. If is running too long its easy to skip a couple of animals and get to the end w/o compromising the story.

A Perfect Bedtime story book.
My two year old loves Barnyard Lullaby but can not resist closing her eyes to sleep as I read the last two lines on every-other page: "Go to sleep, my sweetheart, Tomorrow is a brand-new day". When we are not reading this story at bedtime, she loves to name the animals and make each one's sound. ... Read more