Amazon.com

Who can resist the allure of the hidden wilderness water hole? Certainlynot one rhino. Not two tigers. Nor three toucans. Pretty soon the delicious poolis drawing moose, catfish, pandas, tortoises... and more than 100 other crittersfrom Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and beyond. But is it our imaginationor is that rhino-sized water hole dwindling to a mere shadow of its former self,a puddle not fit for eight ladybugs, let alone 10 kangaroos? As the seasonschange across the world, and the animals get thirstier, the water supplydiminishes. Eventually, even the flowery-shirted frog that has stoicallylingered through the drought packs his suitcase and takes off. The only hope nowis a drop of rain on the parched earth...

With his usual elaborate detail, Graeme Base, mad genius behind Animalia, The Eleventh Hour: A CuriousMystery, and other wild and wonderful titles, presents a one-of-a-kindcounting book. Naturally, Base would never be content to stick with a simple 1through 10 format. Readers of all ages will linger over each spread, firstcounting the highlighted animals and giggling at the translation of their gruntsand growls (the moose's "Moo, moo, mooooooiii!" means "Hey, get your hoof out ofmy ear!"). Then it's time to check out the diminishing size of the die-cut holein the pond. And finally, readers will want to find each of the 10 additionalanimals cleverly hidden in every illustration, based on the silhouettedcreatures in the border. A safari on paper--with an environmental andmathematical education thrown in for good measure. (Ages 4 to 8) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Outstanding Work of Art
This is one of my 3.5 yo's favorite books. It is one of the most beautifully illustrated books that I have ever seen. I can't get over how gorgeous it is. It needs to be read many many times to soak up all there is to see 1) counting book 2)Counting backwards book (the frogs go from ten to one as the story goes on 3) A Geography book 4) an "I spy" book for all the hidden animals 5) An animal habitat book 6) humor book with the "translated" sayings and the silly frogs. 7) a science book on the importance of rain to the environment So bam - you have reading/literature, math, geography, visual discrimination, science (biology and geology), and art too all in one gorgeous package. This is my first encounter with this writer/illustrator but I am definitely going to search out other books.

Endless fun for kids!
I am a great fan of Graeme Base and have all of his books and have bought many more as presents for friends. The Watering Hole is a great story for kids to learn about animals - maybe strange animals that aren't in their country! Learn their sounds. I read it with my friends kids and we tried to imagine what the different animal sounds were in different lanaguages. You can always find a new way to enjoy the book. It also has an environmental theme, which many kids understand and like to talk about. A MUST buy!

get the right one!
I loved it! The art is spectacular and even adults will enjoy finding the hidden animals. Good for many age levels BUT I bought one for my grandaughter, but gave it to a good friend. When I went to buy another one, it had no hole in the pages! It is still a beautiful book but for younger readers, I would recomend the book with the actual hole in the pages.

A family favorite
My son is just 18 months old. He recieved this book as a gift when he was born. He now loves it and we must read it every night. He doesn't care much about counting yet and I've yet to find all the animals in the pictures but he loves the bright pictures, the story, and most of the all the tigers. We love it so much I bought others by this author-all equally as good. My 12 year old nephew who is an excellent reader even enjoys some of this authors books. A must have for any young reader or older reader too!

A Marvel
This book is just wonderful, not only for children - my 3,5-years-old son just loves it - but also for grown-ups. The drawings are excellent, a fine mixture of realistic and cartoon with lots of subtle information in the frames. The texts are funny. The message is gripping: without water (we) all will go away.

From this book one can learn about the animals, the various continents and environments they live in, numbers one till ten. It is an experience for father and son to learn about the marvel of the waterhole. ... Read more

Book Description

For over sixty years, Madeline's adventures have enthralled her ever-growing audience. This collection brings together all six of the Madeline books in one volume. Every well-loved word and picture is here, plus an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anna Quindlen, an essay by Ludwig Bemelmans on how he created Madeline, and working sketches of Madeline, as well as photos of the Bemelmans family. This landmark volume will be treasured by the entire family. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Our first choice EVERY night!
Our two little girls, three and two years old, LOVE Madeline. Daddy reads them one story each night -- they always get to pick which. For Christmas they got two new books which are still almost unread, since every night they want Madeline! The stories are exciting, but gentle and sweet; they are moral but not preachy. And the poetry is wonderful! Also the stories are not too long for a tired parent's voice at bedtime. But with only two little ones of my own, I wonder how DOES Miss Clavel keep TWELVE little girls in two straight lines?

My two-year old daughter is hooked already.
My daughter had seen a couple of Madeline videos (including Madeline's Resuce) and really enjoyed them, so I decided to purchase this book. Well, after only having it for a week and a half, she is pulling it off her bookshelf and asking me to read it to her. The sing-song quality of the prose has her "reading" along with me as best she can already.

These stories can be understood by toddlers even at this early age, although the "recommended" age for this book is older.

A great book and a good deal - worth the price.

Great Collection of Stories for Girls
I originally bought this book for my daughter so she could get a book of her own when the book delivery arrived in the mail.
There are 6 stories - poetic, simple, and time tested.
My daughter is a great reader now, and I attribute this book as one of those that sparked her interest in reading.

What's with Madeline?
I honestly don't know how to review these works. Obviously they are well-loved and have stood the test of time. But on closer inspection, the stories are kind of weak. The 11 girls who have the misfortune of not being Madeline are nameless, dialog-less, characterless ciphers -- for six books! Pepito changes overnight from an animal-abusing brat to a saint? And the christmas story is just plain stupid.

But like the illustrations, in the end the stories are examples of how sloppy and messy can work. The cadences of the text are wonderful. And my 3-year-old daughter loves the books. Who am I to complain?

Adorable characters and great story lines!
I just bought this for my 3 year old daughter as I wanted to introduce her to Madeline.

Madeline and Miss. Clavel (are) brilliantly brought to life in each of the six short stories. There are are bright, vivid pictures with not too many lines which hold the little one's attention (If the wonderful story lines didn't!)

My daughter and I are really pleased! ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A spunky role model!
I missed the Madeline books completely when I was a child, so my daughter and I discovered them together. It's an education seeing Madeline through her eyes. In Madeline, my daughter, who is somewhat shy and leery of new experiences, has a heroine who is smart, spunky, and completely in control of every situation.

I like Madeline the character a lot more than I like the books. I've found that very few writers can write wonderful verse, and I don't include Bemelmans in that august company. Some of his rhymes flow nicely together, such as the opening lines of the first book:

In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. Some of his rhymes are jarring:

and soon after Dr. Cohn came, he rushed out to the phone, and he dialed : DANton-ten-six --

'Nurse,' he said, 'it's an appendix!' Everybody had to cry --

not a single eye was dry. . . . Madeline woke up two hours

later, in a room with flowers.

Still, the story isn't bad. A brave little girl is rushed to the hospital, has her appendix out, then shows off her scar. She makes it so exciting that all the other girls want their appendix out, too. Even my daughter wanted to have an appendix scar, until I explained just what that would entail.

Essential!
As a child, some of my favorite books were the Madeline stories. This is the first in the series, and it sets a wonderful tone. The illustrations are wonderful, and it's fun to see illustrations of actual Parisian landmarks such as the Opera, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Tulleries. The story is fun, fast and catchy, and I used to wish that I was one of the little girls standing amongst the two straight lines lead by Miss Clavel.

This book is not just for little girls. Boys can enjoy the story as well.

don't read
I am taking a class at West Viginia State Univesity and it used to be known as West Virginia State College. The class is children's literature and Mr. Roger Samples teaches it and he keeps it interesting the way he teaches the class. The book Madeline I did not like because it reminded me of a military school the way they had to eat and walk in squads every where they went. It also reminded me of an old boarding school where you had those mean teachers hitting the kids with a ruler when they answered a question wrong. I did like the rhyming words and would read this to my class. It tells you that her friends want to be cut up just so they can have a scar just like her. It does not tell they pain she had after the surgery or the painful recovery of rehab. The book makes you believe that having surgery is fun.

Two-thumbs up!!
MADELINE is definitely my 3yrs.old daughter's favorite character.I got this copy as a free gift from Vermont Council of Humanities(Thanks a lot to them)and ever since then,this little girl from Paris has captured our hearts.I intend to keep all the books by Ludwig Bemelmans as a part of our collection.Not only the books...the Madeline rag-doll is also a must for any Madeline fans!!!

I still love this book after so many years...
Ever since I was old enough to read I've loved Madeline! I remember going to the library and checking out this book and all the other ones in the series (Madeline and the bad hat, Madeline to the rescue...) I was always disappointed that they were checked out. I am 21 years old now and still have an infactuation with Madeline! She is a great role model for children of all ages and the stories and lessons learned from them stick with you!

I'd recommend this book for new mothers and small children alike! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

We Liked This Story
This story is about Arthur going on vacation with his family. Arthur didn't really want to go away with his family. He wanted to be with his best friend. At the end of the story, Arthur really does have fun and comes back to show his friend all the pictures. We liked this story because Arthur did a lot of fun things with his family.

Arthur's Family Vacation by Marc Brown
It's the last day of school and Arthur wants Buster to come with him on vacation instead of going to camp. Arthur's mom and dad say that he can't come so he's disappointed. Everybody packs their stuff and they load the inside of the car and the roof. Arthur's family gets to the hotel. They only have one tiny little room for all of them and the pool is smaller than D.W.'s bathtub, she says. They have problems on their vacation. First, only the parents enjoy their dinner, then they try to write postcards, but they haven't done anything yet. Next it rains. Arthur fixes their trip by planning out a whole bunch of fun stuff for the family. On Friday it stopped raining and it was the best day yet. They went to the beach. When they got home, Buster was already there. Arthur and Buster had missed each other, but Arthur had a great time with his family on vacation. This was a good book, but not the best I ever read. Marc Brown is one of my favorite authors. I'd recommend this book to a second or third grader who likes to watch the Arthur T.V. show. ... Read more

Book Description

3 hours, 9 minutes
2 cassettes
Performed by Laura Hamilton

Being eleven-going-on-twelve is hard enough, but when Margaret Simon's family moves to New Jersey she knows she needs to talk to someone.Is God listening?
... Read more

Reviews (252)

It exposed my inner child! Ahhhhhhh!
I read this book in sixth grade. I remember PRAYING that my period would start and I'd look at bras in department stores and wonder if I would be better off getting an operation to make my breasts bigger since I'd never even fill my training bra on my own. It happened for me, just as it began to for Margaret.

I will be giving this book to my own daughters in a year or two as I find that talking directly about sex is often uncomfortable and easier to discuss if happening to someone else, especially a character in a book! Yes, Maragret and her pals DID get silly, like making names of boys that they liked and discussing them. So did I with my friends. It is so cool to know that this book is still in print and I can talk to my own kids about this type of goofy behaviour and tell them waht is normal and what isn't and what they'll die thinking of what they had done at their ages when they grow up!

Must Read For Young Girls
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is written by Judy Blume. It is a fantastic book. It takes place in New Jersey. The charters are Margaret Simons, an eleven year old girl, and her eleven-year-old friend Nancy. Margaret wants to become a woman just like her friends. She's lonely and needs someone to talk to.
Are You There God It's Me Margaret is a must read book. This book is a must read because Margaret is going through her teen stages, as well as her whole life changing. Margaret feels like there's no one to talk to and turns to God. Margaret's family moves from New York City, to the New Jersey Suburbs. This changes everything for Margaret. She has a new home, new friends, and a new school. Margaret's new friends have gone though physical changes to become young women and Margaret wishes to do the same. Margaret is very lonely, so she starts to talk to God .She tells him all her problems and asks for his help.
Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey making up stories inside her head. She spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing but now on paper. More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold and her work has been translated into twenty something languages. She receives thousands of letters a mouth from all ages. Judy lives up and down the East cost with her husband George Cooper, who writes nonfiction. They have three grown children and one incredible grandchild. If you want more information on are you their god it's me Margaret your going to have to read it.

So unrealistic, it's hilarious.
I can't relate to anything these girls were going through. I was busty at grade 6 and it was annoying as hell, so it's not all that great. I also got my period at grade six, I didn't tell my mom to "come see, come see" and all that crap. At grade six we had fights, we gossipped and spread rumours, slapped our enemies, played chinese jump rope, walked around and did nothing, played on the playstructure, hung upside down on bars... we didn't do any of the stuff that JB focusses on - we were never that open about our period or our boobs. We didn't form clubs that gave us sheets to rate a guy, or tips on how to increase your bust size and get a bigger bra. There weren't even clubs, period. Not only that, but who get's that hung up in a rumour? Margaret needs to smarten up, and at grade six that's gotta be old enough to realize that you can't completely believe what someone - even a good friend - tells you. I hated her emotional problems, her personality, everything about her and it was hell ploughing through the book knowing that there would be one more page about dear old Margaret. Grade six is nothing like what JB says it is - everybody's fun and easy going and all the girls just wanna have fun. And at fourteen, it's still like that - the flat people don't care that much, none of us obsess about boys, or being popular, or blah blah blah. The religious part was meaningless in my opinion, and I thought it was crazy how she was walking from one religion to another - if you're going to pick a religion, you need to some actual research, not listen to what your friend's say about it. This book is best read by someone who's bypassed Margaret's grade, age, and problems so that way you won't be fed with trash and can realize how ridiculous this book is.

Tug of War over Religion
Margaret Simon dreads leaving NY city to move to a town in NJ, where she will start in a new school. Making friends does not prove to be a problem after all, plus her entire 6th grade class
has to break in a brand new teacher. Still there are two underlying themes which cause her great concern: one is the slow growth of her body into maturity. She and the other Pre Teen Sensations obsess over filling their bras and getting their periods. (This book is definitely not of interest to boys.)

The serious issue, however, is her dual religious heritage. The only chld of a Christian mother and a Jewish father, Margaret is a pawn in a tug of war on the part of her grandparents in the opposing camps. Her parents prefer to raise her to be Nothing--calmly assuming that she wil be able to make up her mind as a young adult without any guidance from either of them. Meanwhile Margaret carries on private conversations with God in her own mind, confiding to him as if by phone--begging him to reveal himself to her and reminding him to help her body mature. When
she has a big fight with God over a grandparent disaster, she stops talking to him. The author does not resolve Margaret's religious dilemma. How will she make up with God--if she still believes in him? There is also a more subtle theme about not believing vicious gossip about people you don't really know. Also a mild warning about the issues of pre teen posturing and snobbery. A good read if you are entering 6th grade.

A Fave Since Age 9!
Judy Blume's writings were often deemed controversial. Oddly enough, Margaret's concerns placed this book, in the year 1970, under that label. Whether it be because of sex talk, periods, or Playboy references, this is a book that all preteens ought to read. Why? Margaret is a regular girl dealing with normal adolescent troubles. She's moved to New Jersey, she suspects, because her parents wanted to distance herself from her grandmother, who paid for Margaret's private school tuition, knit her cute little sweaters, and doted on her in a big way. Now, Maragret will go to public school. You can already see the transition to a new neighborhood won't be all too rough - she and Nancy Wheeler become fast friends and find they will be in the same sixth grade class. She, along with Nancy, Gretchen Potter and Janie Loomis, start the Four Preteen Sensations.

Blume frankly addresses puberty, as well as religion. I like the fact that Margaret feels she can talk to God without actually belonging to any particular organized religion. She is technically half Catholic and half Jewish and a pivotal part of the book is her search to find which religion is right for her. She visits a synogague and a church, yet does not feel God in either place. This exploration of faith is actually something I have seen quite a few younger kids go through today in society - it really is no different from 1970!

Margaret constantly wants her period. Why? I don't know. It will make her feel more grown-up, more womanly, I guess. Yes, I know, I know, I just answered my own question! :) Margaret also wants the body of a woman. She and her friends gossip about Laura Danker, a buxom sixth grader with a bad reputation, seemingly only because of her figure. Margaret wants breasts and goes bra shopping, only because the Four PTS girls are required to wear one as club rules - she doesn't even fill a double A. As some of the girls begin getting their periods, Margaret wonders when her time will come and we wonder if it will come during the 149 pages of the book.

Blume captures the essence of the preteen age in this long acclaimed novel. Believable characters and a believable plot, as with other books of hers, will make this one enjoyable. Margaret asks herself questions that we ask ourselves everyday. She worries about the same things we worried about at her age - maybe even now. She has similar thoughts, concerns, and feelings and does not seem at all contrived or mechanical. This way, many will be able to relate with Margaret and her story. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sandra Boynton knows her farm animals. This simple board book, "a touch, skritch, & tickle book," will delight babies and toddlers (and probably moms and dads too) with its multi-sensory presentation of whimsical barnyard creatures. Each bright, colorful illustration features a tactile component and some fun words to accompany it. The cow's nose is made of a soft pink material and the text on the opposite page declares, quite correctly, "Fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy." A dog with a rough paw, a pig with a smooth nose, a turkey with a "little bit bumpy" wattle, and a soft-bellied duck round out the ensemble. The final page features two chicks inside lift-the-flap eggs who disagree about whether to start over at the beginning of the book. "Touch and feel" children's books are no new innovation but too often the different textures end up feeling more or less the same. But Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy! features quality construction and is large enough for very young children to hold and manipulate. (Baby to preschool) --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My 2 year old LOVED this book...
We checked this book out from the library for my 2 year old. He loved it so much that he memorized it and loved reading it to anyone who will listen. He is so funny reading it with so much feeling! We are expecting a baby in October and are buying it for the new baby from big brother. Then he can read it to the baby after it is born. It is a very basic book and not like Sandra Boynton's other fun wordy books, but I LOVE the animals and love that is is so basic for little ones. LOVE IT!

My 7 month old twins love this book!
I've been reading it to them for several months and they really enjoy it. When they were younger, they loved the colorful, large, simple pictures, and now, they can touch the "feely" stuff. They also really seem to love the rythmn of the words, and since I learned it by heart pretty quickly (not so hard since there are like 10 words in the whole book!), I often recite it during meal times and it always makes them smile.

The only thing that is a little annoying is the last page where you have to flip little cardboard covers to decide if you want to "Start over again with the Fuzzy Fuzzy guy." It kind of breaks the rythmn of the book, and I can easily see them getting ripped off when the boys are not too much older.

I just bought another copy to give to my sister and her infant.

Enjoy!

My daughter won't put it down!
I bought this book for my daughter when she was 9 months old. At first it was just something else to try to chew on but after she figured out that she could feel the textures it has become her favorite book. She carries it all over the house and has us read it to her over and over and over again. This is a great book for toddlers and would make a great gift, too.

My son LOVED it
We started reading this to my son when he was just a month old or so, and he loved it - it was the first book that he reached out to "touch" the page. It was perfect for a very young child's attention span. As he has gotten older (he's now 10 months), he would sit and go through the pages himself, tapping each page in the appropriate place, until he ripped the egg at the end (okay - he chewed part of it too). I forgot about it until my father picked it up and showed it to my son and he got so excited!

Great for Babies
This book is perfect for young babies. It has large colorful illustrations. There is only one animal on a page which makes it enjoyable for babies to look at. It also has great textures. It is perfect for talking about different animals. The only downfall is there is not a lot of words but babies don't really need a lot of words. My daughter is (x)months and she loves to feel all the different textures. ... Read more

Book Description

Joel's best friend Tony drowns while they are swimming in the forbidden, treacherous Vermilion River. Joel is terrified at having to tell of his disobedience and overwhelmed by his feelings of guilt. ... Read more

Reviews (99)

Deep, intense and probing questions for all
On My Honor is a heartwrenching story of guilt and responsibility. I read this book quickly in one sitting. It was amazing. It was depressing. It definitely deserved the Newberry Honor Medal it received.

Marion Dane Bauer is a great author. Her characters are rich and personable. Readers quickly fall in with the protagonist, Joel, a bright boy with a strong conscience. Joel is the source of approval for many, including his best friend Tony. As Bauer writes, it becomes apparent, that the only commonality between the two friends is the fact that they were nearly the same age and lived across the street from each other.

Bauer wastes no time presenting the conflict. Joel struggles to stand firm in his beliefs against Tony's taunting dares and flamboyant disregard for safety. Joel quickly realizes after tragedy strikes that even his faith in his father's good judgement isn't enough. When Tony dies, nothing can comfort Joel, who makes a rash decision to disregard his own conscience.

I appreciate the way the author emphasizes the role parents play in teaching their children responsibility and the joint effort necessary in sharing guilt when misplaced responsibility backfires. Joel's father, does his best to comfort Joel, and even shares the responsibility for Joel's guilt. As a teacher, I meet many parents who are unwilling to take responsibility for their children's actions, decisions, and mistakes. This book points out the importance and role parents must play in the lives of their children.

I really got wrapped up in this story. I was however very disppointed in the ending. Joel spends the majority of the novel struggling with guilt. In an effort to absolve himself from responsibility Joel weaves a series of painful lies that affect both families deeply. Bauer never really resolves this. When the truth comes out, Joel runs from the consequences. Though he may never escape the impact his decisions have on himself, there is no resolution for Joel's responsibility to Tony's family. The pain that both families must face will take time to heal and will have a lasting impact on all readers.

I was also disappointed in Bauers disregard for spiritual comfort. She brings up the ideas of God, Heaven and afterlife, only to disregard them. This probably reflects Bauer's own beliefs, however, and must be recognized as such.
"Do you believe in Heaven?" (Joel) asked at last. "Do you believe Tony's gone there?"
His father bent toward him. "If there is a heaven, I'm sure Tony's gone there," he replied. "I can't imagine a heaven that could be closed to charming reckless boys."
If! Joel felt as he were sinking through the bed. "What do you mean...if there's a heaven?"
"I dont suppose anybody knows...."
Christian readers will find little comfort, and even less familiarity in this novel.

I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a very dramatic read. It is also a good book that addresses guilt, lying, death and responsibility. Joel's struggle represents the struggle all preteens face when compromising the responsibilities and confidence their parents have placed in them.

fifth grade litature group
Why is the book called On My Honor? " On you honor Joel. You won't go any where but the park?" " On my honor.

On my honor is about two boys who break a promise, and one of the boys drown when they go to the river instead of the park.
Joel dared Tony to swim to the sand bar. That's why Tony died.
After Joel couldn't find Tony he despratly needed help. He ran out in front of a car and asked for help.But there wasn't any luck.
Joel went home and locked himself inside of the house.His father came home and wonderd where Tony was but Joel lied. Tony's mother and father were very worried.

Can you imagine what the rest of the story is about?
If not this is a good book to read.

On My Honor
I am a student at West Virginia State University. I am currently taking a Children's Literature class from Professor Samples. I chose this book not knowing anything about it. Once I picked it up to read, I couldn't let it down. I thought it was written really well. This story taught the importance of standing up for yourself-no matter what.

Powerful, moving, and haunting
The first time I ever read this book, I was in graduate school studying to become a librarian. We had to read a book a night, and up until my experience in grad. school, I'd been the reader of only romance and mystery novels. I read this book in about two hours, and I was extremely moved. WOW. Now it's 5 years later, and I just read this book to my 5/6 grade students. It has been the only book that we've read this year that the kids have TRULY enjoyed. I had students telling me that they really wanted to read after reading this. I had students that wanted to buy the book. It is an excellent story which helps students understand peer pressure, character values, and making the right choice. Bauer's portrayal of Joel's guilt using the stench of the river is absolutely brillant. I highly reccommend this book to all teachers and librarians of young adults.

On My Honor
The book, On My Honor, is the audio book I chose for a Language Arts project. It`s a great book if you like adventure and mystery. It`s about two boys who are friends and a lie that they tell their fathers. They promised, on their honor, they were going swimming at the local pool but instead they went to the river. The lie they told ended with a tragedy. It`s a book worth reading and it makes you think how a small lie can change your life forever. ... Read more

Book Description

"If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until it looks so ugly you can hardly bear to look at it."

How do you outwit a Twit? Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything -- except playing mean jokes on each other, catching innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. They don't just want out, they want revenge.

Reviews (84)

Would You Ever Want a Frog in Your Bed?
What would you do if someone put a frog in your bed or made you eat worms while making you think its spaghetti? The Twits is a book about some nasty people who play awful tricks on each other. The author is Ronald Dahl, who is a very popular author. Mr. and Mrs. Twit have bird pie on Wednesday and keep monkeys in a cage and make them do awful things. The father is Muggle-Wump. He has a wife and two children. My favorite part is when a friend comes from Africa and warns the bird by singing this song. "There's sticky stuff all over this tree! If you land on it you'll never get free! So, fly away! Fly away! Stay up high! Or you'll finish up tomorrow in a hot bird pie!!!" So read the book The Twits to figure out what happens to the monkeys and the Twits.

Devilishly Funny
The Twits is so hilarious. I've always been a fan Roald Dahl's, but I had never experienced this comic gem. The giggling begins on the first page, and it reaches a huge climax a quick 76 pages later. You will probably be doubled over laughing by then. Everything about the book is funny as you watch Mr. and Mrs. Twit pull prank after totally original prank on each other (the pranks include frogs, glass eyes, and balloons among other things). Then, you find out that the mean, awful Twits have been trying to raise an upside down monkey circus, and the monkeys want to get their freedom and to get back at the Twits. Their ingenious plot to get back at the Twits provides the biggest laughs of the book. Even the small descriptions are funny. My favorite line in the book comes when Dahl is describing the yard. He writes of the tree: "To one side (of the house) there is The Big Dead Tree. It never has any leaves on it because it's dead." I'm not totally sure why, but that line almost had me crying. This is one of the most fun reads I've ever had, and the illustrations are great, too. Anytime you're feeling bad, I would certainly suggest this delightful (even if a little mean) read.

this book is great
This book i enjoyed very much. I loved how it was really funny, and every chapter made me laugh. It was a easy to read book and it was really imaginative. the only things i didnt like is that the chapters were really short and the begginig to almost the end all they did were jokes on each other for a while. But over all it was a great book.

The Twits Book Review
The Twits are the ugliest and evilest people in the whole entire world. They have caged monkeys at their house. The monkeys want to be free to return to Africa. The Roly Poly bird comes to help them get free. The Roly Poly bird is a bird that origanated in Africa and took a vacation to England. Will the monkeys get? Read the book to find out.

We liked The Twits because it was funny and silly. It was also a short chapter book. The Twits are funny characters. I would really consider reading this book.

The twits
When I read the book called The Twits I thought it was very interesting. It was very extraordinary and exciting. It was also really gross when the writer, Roald Dahl, wrote about Mr. Twits beard. Mr. Twit never washed it and it had bits of food from many years ago in it. It's just a funny little book you can read in your spare time. Mr. and Mrs. Twit fight a lot by planning mean and nasty tricks on each other. I wonder why they are married? The twits aren't just ugly on the outside but on the inside as well! The Twits hate everyone and everything. They are mean to nature and animals. They have no care or respect for anyone, not even for themselves! They catch innocent birds and make them into bird pies. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The best book read for explaining death, and its vocabulary
When Dinosaurs Die explains, in very direct terms, what it means to die. Also, it talks about the different ways a person dies, explains what different people believe happens after death, and what may be done to remember soneone who has died. The book even includes a glossary to define all the new words that may be associated with a death, such as autopsy and cremation. The author accomplishes all this without bias, or condescention. The language is simple enough for a child of four, the concepts, comforting, even for those of us in our thirties. Well worth owning.

Great Book!
It has been almost six months since our High School Business Teacher, Mrs June Wang passed away. When she died, I found a copy of "When Dinosaurs Die" at a bookstore and donated it to the school library in memory of her. It was such a good book that it made the librarian cry. It has episodes in it like, What does Alive Mean, and What does Dead mean, and What Comes after death. My favorite book was when a little girl was getting her pet hamster ready to be buried and her brother took a piece of lettuce and said, "Here's a snack in case she gets hungry." And the mother said, "Sweetheart dead hamsters don't get hungry." That reminds me of when the egyptians put food in the pyramids for the mummies, for their life after death. Well worth owning.--Robert Metz

Overall a good start on a difficult subject
My biggest problem with the book, would have to be the structure. It jumps from one type of family death to another (pet as opposed to a parent or grandparent) too quickly and in a confusing fashion. I think it would have been more effective if they had written it as a narrative of a young character learning a relative had died, and going through the stages of emotions, the funeral, aftermath, etc. Still, this book presents many of the situations kids are certain to go through when they lose a loved one (anger, denial) and for that I give much credit. I find it unfortunate that almost all authors of kids series that stress coping with new situations and rites of passage in life don't want to touch this subject, even though it is probably the most important issue that a child has to deal with at that age.

Does not pull any punches...
This book is direct and honest about the subject of death. This book covers every aspect of death from old age to accidental to suicide. The death of a pet is also covered. Also looks at several belief systems of what happens after we die.
As parents we are afraid to talk about death to our children and with our children, this book broaches the subject in a way children can relate without sugarcoating it.
I wish I had this book to read to my 5 year old daughter when her great great uncle and great grandfather died within 1 month of each other.
Some areas maybe too intense for small children or very sesitive children so use discretion what information you read when reading to them.
I think this would be an excellent book for 3rd and 4th graders experiencing death of a loved one.

Answers for kids' direct questions
I highly recommend this book.

Kids ask very direct questions about death, and this book addresses those questions. Let's face it...it isn't always hamsters or very old grandparents who pass away. Sometimes people in our children's world die at early ages from disease, accidents, and even murder and suicide (both cases have touched our rather sheltered lives over the past six years that we've had children).

Kids seem to do better with simple direct answers rather than obtuse allegorical references to leaves turning brown and seasons changing.

This book allows you to step right up close to these unfortunate, tragic occurrences, acknowledge that they happen, and then move on. Because it's true that sooner or later death happens in our lives, and it happens in all kinds of ways, not just in tidy t.v. drama hospital bed settings.

Get this book so you will be prepared when you need it. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Just Amazing for kids and adults!!
I first saw this book when my six year old son saw it at the library. He wanted to check it out because his summer school teacher had read it to him and he said it was really good. So we brought it home and read it. Of course, by the second page my son was revealing the answer to the mystery (because his teacher had explained it to him). So, I didn't get to figure it out like everyone else. After we read the book, I put my children to bed and promptly went back to the couch and picked it up. I went to the "top secret" section in the back that reveals the answer to the mystery. Detailed explanations about each clue on each page were there and everything was so fascinating. If you've had this book forever and not figured out the mystery, your missing out on a lot of neat info by not opening the back section! I plan to buy this book for road trips... I think my kids could entertain themselves for hours trying to find all the mice!

Excellant choice for building childrens interest in reading!
I feel that this book is a great way to establish an interest in reading in childrens lives. I think that The Eleventh Hour allows the mind to read the words on the page and then to re-read the book and examine the pictures to try and find clues to solve Horace's birthday party catastrophe. It took me 3 days to solve the mystery of who ate the birthday feast. I studied and studied and re-read and re-read until finally it clicked. I feel like a book of this manner will capture a child's mind and pull them into the world of reading, making them want to read and not put the book down unitl sovling the mystery. Having children understand and enjoy reading is the most important to me. Bringing a child to enjoy reading is what I as a future teacher plan to do in my classroom. Thank you for your wonderful book to use in my classroom to encourage and nourish my childrens minds.

Wonderful Children's Novel
Perfect for the curious and inquisitive child, the Eleventh Hour was one of my favorite books as a kid, I enjoyed every day it took me to solve the mystery, running with glee to my mom or dad every time I found a new clue, or solved another piece of the puzzle.

So when I wanted to buy some books for a neice who loves to read the Eleventh Hour was at the top of my lengthy list. She has enjoyed the book and solved the mystery pretty quickly for an 8 year old, and even solved she still loves to spend hours looking through the book at its beautiful illustrations and try to find more hidden clues to the mystery.

This is most certainly the perfect book for any imaginative and curious child!

A Mind Stretching Book
This book is a fun book to read! It has very detailed illistrations. It is about an 11 year-old elephant who wants to invite his animal friends to his birthday party. He has a grand feast, but no one can eat it until the Eleventh Hour. To take up the time they play games. When it is time to eat the feast, they find that the food has vanished! You have to solve the mystery to find out who stole the feast. It is a fun and challenging book. It keeps your mind working!

Great Illustrations, Unsolvable for Children
While the illustrations are superb and disovering some of the clues can be great fun, solving all them is arguably impossible. For those who happen to be well schooled (certainly not children) in obscure areas of knowledge, it may be possible, but not likely given that the author makes one significant error (see page where animals discover feast is missing) and takes such liberty as making up some, but not all of the hieroglyphics (very misleading). Some COULD be deciphered, one, for the letter Q would be an extremely fortunate guess. Morse code can be translated online but will not be within casual reach of many children. The author has some brilliant ideas that are just not well suited for his intended audience. As an adult book, the conclusions are challenging, if not impossible in certain areas due to the aforementioned, however, children can certainly enjoy it if they are not frustrated by the unlikelihood they will solve the mystery based on solving each of the author's clues. If they enjoy the possibility of a correct answer based on guesswork and solving the occasional clue, it may be very enjoyable for them. ... Read more

Book Description

Boynton is back! Joining Barnyard Dance! and Birthday Monsters!, here is Hey! Wake Up! a good-morningbook with the irrepressible language, the inimitable illustrations, the irresistible cast of characters only Sandra Boynton could create.

Yawn.

Stretch.

Touch your toes.

Shimmy shimmy shimmy,

Wiggle your nose.

Just watch out for the broccoli stew. (Ew.)

... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great for Mom too!!!
This is an absolutely great book. My son loves having this book read to him while we commute on the subway in the morning. He never tires of it and especially loves the part about touching your toes, too small for basketball, and broccoli stew (ew!). It cracks him up everytime!!! Quite an enjoyable read.
We have a lot of fun acting out and describing things in the pictures and the language is so simple and so catchy that you can't help but have a good starrt to your day.

Great New Concept by a favorite author.
I love the concept of this book: there are so many bed time books but this is the first wake up book I have seen. I read it to my children every morning when they wake up. It's great because now we have a morning routine that includes reading as well. It is a little long for them now, but they will grow into it soon.

The pictures are great and the text is very funny as well.

Jaunty rhythms for the kiddies.
I love these books. My daughter loves these books. Boynton's books are cutsie-poosie for the kiddies, and they are hard to read without starting to sing.

There was one part that made me uncomfortable, though. I know this is going to sound hyper-sensitive, but it bummed me out when the narrator tells the little rabbit that he's too small for basketball. The book goes on to tell the elephant: "You're too big to use the swings, you should go do big guy things." The elephant looks despondent on the swing, like an eight-year-old with a glandular problem being teased by adults who think he's twelve. It made me a little sad. Why can't the rabbit play basketball and why can't the elephant ride a swing with the other kids? But, I know, it's just a kids book, I'm definitely missing the point, but I can't help what it made me think.

But your kid will love it. The rhythms are jaunty and fun. Enjoy.

Still love Boynton
I give this one a 4 only because it hasn't really caught on at our house like the earlier books (One Two Three!, Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs, Horns to Toes, The Going to Bed Book, etc.). It still has the fun rhymes and Boynton humor and I think it's a cute book, maybe it just has too many words for my under 4 crowd.

Just to add to the accolades...
As a teacher I use this book in morning circle time with a class of mostly non-verbal autistic preschool students, and it's hands-down the class favorite. The language of the book is so basic that we include a lot of introductory signs ("eat", "juice", "open") along with the movements, and basically move for the whole book. One of my students in particular has really had a breakthrough with this book - he makes us act it out all day! It's the first thing he's really learned to imitate, and about the first positive "fixation" he's had in class. It's wonderful.

And we love "broccoli stew - ew", too. Even my completely non-verbal, non-signing kids make an effort to get an "ew" out.

Just don't do what I did, and point out later in the day that a kid has beef stew for lunch! I tried that, got a worried look and an "ew" from a little girl, and had to spend the better part of a week convincing her to touch any part of her lunch again... oops. ("It's not broccoli!" Didn't matter to her.)

We want more Sandra Boynton!!! (By the way, my class also loves "But Not the Hippopotamus" and "Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaur".) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Because Arthur is so cool!
I love Pal! (Arthur's dog) Arthur writes about how he got pal for school. I really like Arthur books!!!! Danielle

It is fun to read.
Everybody should write a story. I am 5 years old and I love to write ... just like Arthur. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This tremendous trio of Margaret Wise Brown's tried-and-true board books is virtually guaranteed to delight babies and toddlers. The Runaway Bunny, illustrated by Clement Hurd, is a comforting testimony to a parent's unconditional love and protection: "'If you run away,' said his mother, 'I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.'" Goodnight Moon walks a child through a hypnotically soothing bedtime ritual of naming familiar objects in a room (and finding the little mouse that keeps popping up); and the melodic Big Red Barn, with illustrations by Felicia Bond, is a colorful foray into farm life: "By the big red barn / In the great green field, / There was a pink pig / Who was learning to squeal." In the end, the barnyard animals are all asleep, and if you're lucky, your favorite toddlers will be, too. A wonderful first-book collection. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

I wish I could give these books to every child in the world
These are the books your children will take to bed with them every night. Goodnight Moon has been my daughter's favorite bedtime book for 2 years, the one she HAS to have read to her before she can fall asleep. It must be the lyrical prose, and the illustrations that FEEL like a bedtime snuggle...this is the book I buy as a gift for every new parent.

Runaway Bunny is just beautiful, the watercolor paintings of a mother and child are fanciful and loving, and seem to come straight from a child's imagination.The theme is especially helpful for clingy children, reassuring them there will always be enough love to sustain them.

The Big Red Barn is simply the most enchanting book of farm animals I have ever seen, with lively colors and a story that intrigues my daughter so much, this is the first book she was content to sit down with and "read" all alone.

Three children's classics in board form will delight
Originally written in the 1940's, these classic children's books will still delight your baby or toddler. The youngest baby is lulled to sleep by the gentle rhymes, and will enjoy the bright colors and charming illustrations as he or she gets older."Goodnight Moon" depicts a young bunny rabbit awake in his bed as he tells all the objects and animals he can see "Goodnight". He lists everything he can see, including his mittens, some kittens, and of course the moon. Toddlers will begin to appreciate the make-believe world of "The Runaway Bunny", in which a mother bunny tells her child she will be there to keep him safe no matter where he runs to. The bright colors of "Big Red Barn" are intriguing to little ones, and will help teach the names of many animals,too. The board books are ideal for the youngest readers, as they can easily help turn the pages. It is difficult for a child younger than 2 years old to turn the paper pages of most books.These are three excellent books to add to your child's library and start the happy tradition of reading!

They don't call them classics for nothing
These three are terrific! I wanted to buy lots of classics for my baby and I was given this one. I could not have made a better choice myself. This is a great edition to my child's library.

Wonderful - Just Wonderful
These books are wonderful. I started reading them to my sons as soon as they were born. My oldest is 3 and he can "read" Goodnight Moon to me. He looks forward to finding the little bunny before his mommy does in The Runaway Bunny and knows when to make the animal sounds before I turn the page in the Big Red Barn.

This collection is a must for all kids. You won't regret buying them for the years of enjoyment that follows!

Love the trio!
Big Red Barn is a BIG HIT in my house and my daughter is only 6 months old! This is followed by Goodnight Moon. She's a little too young for The Runaway Bunny. The illustrations aren't as colorful or fun as the other two, but I know when she gets older it will also be a favorite. Definitely recommend this trio for parents! ... Read more

Book Description

The Cherokees call The Trail of Tears Nunda¹utsun¹yi, or ³The Place Where the People Cried.² In Joseph Bruchac¹s Scholastic debut, Jesse Smoke, his mother, and his sisters are forced to abandon their home, their land, and their possessions when they and several thousand other Cherokees are forced west on The Trail of Tears. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Journal of Jesse Smoke
The Journal of Jesse Smoke
If you like historical fiction then I think you should read The Journal of Jesse Smoke because it was very exciting. It was exciting when the soldiers came to take all the Indians away. I thought that was interesting because then a white man tried to steal a house when a soldier beat him up. Then they went to the fort. Many died. They called it the Trail of Tears.
The Journal of Jesse Smoke is about how the Cherokee and the Creek Indians have to live in forts. They think it is very unpleasant. Then a lot of Indians die. Most of them are very weak or and ill.
The soldiers wanted the Indian's land so they came and kicked them out. Some of the Indians refused to go so then the soldiers killed them. I thought that was very mean and sad.

11-19-2002
Amozon.com

Jesse Smoke's Journal
If you like historical fiction, then I think you should read The Journal of Jesse Smoke because it was very exciting. It was exciting when the soldiers came to take all the Cherokee and Creeke Indians. I thought that was interesting because then a white man came trying to steal the house when a soilder beat up. Then, they went to a lot of forts. Many died. The Cherokee and Creeke Indians called that journey the Trail of Tears.
THE END

Great
I LOVE Dear America and this was one of the best ones. I really learned a lot from it for my research topic the trail of tears.

The Trail of Tears
Jesse and his fellow Cherokee people have lived on the land for generations. Their ancestors grew old and died on the same Georgian land. However life changes suddendly in 1838 as the Treaty of New Enchota forces him and his mother and sister off of their land. At first like many of his people his family refuses to go. However in the middle of the night one night they were forced harshfully to move out. Jesse knows life will never be the same again as he sees the harships, sickness, death, hunger, fatigue, and sorrow in his Cherokee people. The "Trail of Tears" was truly a sad time in our nation's history.

A Cherokee boy keeps a journal on the Trail of Tears.
Sixteen-year-old Jesse Smoke's Cherokee ancestors have lived peacefully on the land for generations. Jesse's own family once owned a large, successful, plantation, until the family was driven off their land by white people, who then killed his father. Now, Jesse, his mother, and his two sisters live on a small, backwoods farm in Tennessee. But even there, they are not allowed to keep their land. All the Cherokees are ordered to leave their homes and move west to Indian Territory, part of present-day Oklahoma. Those that refuse, among them Jesse's family, are rounded up in the night, their homes burnt to the ground as they watch, and then taken to overcrowded stockades to await their forced journey west. Jesse tells the heartbreaking story of the tragic journey his people come to call the "Trail of Tears." I reccomend this book to all My Name is America fans. ... Read more

Book Description

Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages, and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

4.75 stars
Like every Boynton book, this is a good book. The words rhyme and flow nicely, and the pictures are really cute, bold, and colorful. As its name suggests, this book talks about opposites "Big and small, short and tall." The major downside in this book is the words. They still flow nicely and rhyme without strain, but they lack some little charm that almost all of the other Boynton books have. Another reason for this is that it is a list of opposites illustrated and carefully placed so they rhyme. The pictures and placement of the words make up for the actual words however. My favorite picture is for the in/out, two turtles, one in its shell, and one standing on top of it. Every page has a cute picture. Also, the way the words are written, not the words themselves, is a wonderful thing. The big is written big, the small small, the tall vertical, and in the slow each letter is separated.

Loggie-log-log-log

Superb
I believe my husband and I enjoy reading these more than our 18 month old son enjoys hearing them. She is beyond funny.

Classic
These Boynton board books cannot go wrong with the young-uns. My nephews and nieces ask me to read them over and over again.

Really fun and educational
This was a fun way to teach my daughter about opposites and she enjoys it being read to her over and over and telling me the difference now.

Humorous illustrations for a basic concept
"Opposites," by Sandra Boynton, combines colorful illustrations with a very simplified text in order to teach the concept of opposites to young children. Each page of the book contains one or two pairs of words that function as opposites: "big" and "small"; "heavy" and "light"; "day" and "night"; etc. The illustrations are delightful. Boynton uses a variety of cartoon animals (pig, snail, elephant, turtle, etc.) to demonstrate the meaning of each pair of words.

My only reservation about the book is that it seems to reinforce dualistic thinking into children. I know that "opposites" is an important concept for children to learn, but I also believe that children need to develop a more flexible way to perceive and describe the world. Boynton's "Opposites" gives no indication, for example, that there is a "room temperature" in between "hot" and "cold."

While I recommend this book for both its humorous artwork and educational value, I also recommend that parents take time to teach their kids that there are many variations between the seemingly irreconcilable opposites presented herein. ... Read more

Reviews (175)

Another Wonderful Book by Roald Dahl!
They are completely bald and always wear wigs, constantly sneaking hands underneath to scratch their itchy scalps. They don't have any toes and have really broad feet, but they force their feet into narrow, fashionable shoes to blend in. They have really long, curved fingernails that they usually hide by wearing gloves. They are the witches. And the meanest, nastiest witches live in England, where a boy has just gone to live with his grandmother after his parent's tragic death.

His grandmother always warned the boy about suspecting nice women who offer him candy - check for gloves, wigs and pinched feet. He is able to avoid the witches until his grandmother becomes ill and they go to a seaside resort where the English witches are having a convention just like normal people in the hotel. Stunned, the boy overhears the grand witch's plot to eliminate all of the children in England by feeding them candy that will turn them into mice! When he is discovered, the boy knows that the witches are going to kill him, but they test the potion on him instead. Now in mouse form, the boy and his grandmother must use all of their wits and cleverness to defeat the witches' evil scheme!

The Witches is a highly entertaining book by the always inventive Roald Dahl. You would think that a book about witches would be scary, but Roald Dahl has just the right combination of humor and lightheartedness to balance out the scariness. I loved this book when I was growing up and have enjoyed sharing it with my younger siblings and nephews. It is true that it has a couple of slow parts as the author takes the time to set up the story, but the storyline is just so imaginative that you get caught up in the story and don't really notice until you have read it a couple of times. With all of the many details, Roald Dahl can easily convince you that witches are real and that there really are women out there like that! Humor aside, it does show that you should never take candy from strangers - no matter what they look like! Although this book is great for reading alone, it is best when real aloud and shared with children, who always know the right parts to gasp at!

Satisfying and invigorating
The Witches
This book is great, it brings out the excitement and urge to read. This book is a book that makes children wonder what's next. The characters are gruesome and horrifying. The WITCHES starts with a boy and grandmother that live in england... The Boy is very young and curious and is about nine years old. His grandmother is eighty-nine who smokes a lot and she is still very healthy. One evening the grandmother had planed a wonderful trip to Norway with her grandson. Suddenly the woman got sick from her tobacco in her cigars. The doctor came to nourished her and to give her some time to recuperate. Once she had been cured she hollered down to her grandson. The sound of his trampling feet went as fast as they have ever gone. The grandson pounced into his elders arms and and hugged her tightly in his arms. He asked if they where still going on vacation. The doctor sighed and said with his head tucked into his shirt and said.
"Im afraid to say that you can't go far with your conditions, and that you can go to the hotel on the beach." After the boy received a great gift of a pair of mice (A great gift from the doctor of forgivness).They got there parcels gathered them and they left at once. When they reached there destination they unpacked and went there own way, the grandmother staying in the room knitting, and the grandson going to train his mice. Then something terrible happened, the strictly privet party or that's what they seem to call it, discovers him. which the rest is for you to find out.This book is great, the characters come alive which makes you want to read more.

The Witches Book Review
THE WITCHES is about a boy who doesn't have a name. Throughout the story, the kid is called boy and darling. Boy, as I will call him, is living with his Grandmother. His grandmother tells him all of these crazy stories about witches and how to identify them. Boy at first doesn't really believe his grandmother until he's locked in a room full of witches. Will he get out? Will he die? Read the book to find out.
"I didn't really like the book" Lindsey said, "I thought it was boring, plus the author didn't give enough information, so it left me off with lots of questions that wern't answered." Katie has the same oppion as Lindsey. "I like the plot and the whole book, but my questions wern't answered." Katie said. Erica said," I liked it and I would recommended, but there were some boring parts in it. Hannah said," It was pretty good, I loved it. Yes I would recommend it to kids. Only those who don't believe in witches, though."

A Scary Story for Kids, but didn't cause any nightmares
The Witches is about a little orphaned boy who lives with his grandmother. Before bedtime each night his grandmother would tell him stories, and his favorite story was always about the Witches. His grandmother seemed to know everything about them and told him how to recognize and stay away from them. The boy never knew his grandmother to lie, so he listened and followed her advice on the subject. When the boy finds out that Witches really do exist, his grandmother's advice comes in handy to help the little boy escape them for a long period time, but they eventually catch up to him half way through the book and turn him into a mouse. You would think that this would be a very sad thing, but the boy loves being a mouse. Actually while reading this book to my five and seven year old daughters, the youngest one said that she thought being a mouse would be a very neat thing and asked if it was possible for me to turn her into one. I told her that even if I could I wouldn't since I would miss having my little girl too much. As a mouse the boy realizes he can do a lot of things he couldn't have done otherwise if he was still a little boy, so with the help of his grandmother they comes up with a plan to get rid of all the witches in England. It was a great story. Unlike Roald Dahl's other books which touch upon