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Passed on from babysitters to their young charges, from big sisters to little brothers, and from parents to children, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and its cousins (Superfudge, Fudge-a-mania, and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great) have entertained children since they first appeared in the early 1970s. The books follow Peter Hatcher, his little brother Fudgie, baby sister Tootsie, their neighbor Sheila Tubman, various pets, and minor characters through New York City and on treks to suburbs and camps.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first of these entertaining yarns. Peter, because he's the oldest, must deal with Fudgie's disgusting cuteness, his constant meddling with Peter's stuff, and other grave offenses, one of which is almost too much to bear. All these incidents are presented with the unfailing ear and big-hearted humor of the masterful Judy Blume. Though some of her books for older kids have aroused controversy, the Hatcher brothers and their adventures remain above the fray, where they belong. (Peter's in fourth grade, so the book is suitable for kids ages 8 and older.) ... Read more

Reviews (139)

All about the book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
I thought that the book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing was O.K.It was a little funny and confusing but fun to read .If you like being suprised and like to read funny things, then I recommend this book.

Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing
I didnt realy like it. The only part I Iiked is when peter got a new puppy. So I guees it was ok.but not 1 of my favoritesbeacause it needs more action. It also needs more of a story because like every chapter was differnt,and didnot make anysense

please read this book
I would want you to read the Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing.Because it is a funny book that tells alot about a normal family.And becauseit is a suprisng story and a pretictible story sometimes.Also because theres action every page.Plus its very exicting.This is a great book.So come on and read The tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing its waiting for you.

TALESOF A 4 GRADENOTHING

IrecmmendTalesofa4 grade nothingbecauseit isveryfunny. Youwillread aboutFudgegetsin a lot oftrouble,anddoes crazythings.Ithought thatit wasfunny,shocking,andweird. Fudgeisa troublemakerandPeter is not.Ithinkyouyoushoudreadthisbookit isreally great. ThisbookisthebestbookofJudyBlume!!!!

what I think about Tales of a
I think Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is not such a good book.I has a kind of an intresting begining and ending I think you should not read this book beacause you think it would be different in every chapter i think Peter's turtle,Dribble should be in the story more than he is beacause he gets Dribble in the beggining ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (24)

I enjoyed this book and found it very interesting
The book that I read was titled The Search For Delicious, written by Natilie Babbit. I believe that it would be most enjoyed by readers of fantasy books. It is purely a fantasy story. The story is basically about a boy named Gaylen who is sent on a quest through the kingdom to find what people think is truly delicious so that his father can complete his dictionary. Unfortunately, what start out to be a simple question turns into something that will tear the nation apart.

My first opinion of the book is that its characters were mainly understandable and believable. I found this to be strange, knowing that it's a fantasy. The mythical characters led lives similar to mortals but each different in it's own way. For my second focus, I'd like to explain how I chose this book. I picked this book out primarily for its unusual title. It drew me to it because it made no sense at the time. The last item I would like to bring to focus is the author's vivid description of the mythological character like the mermaids and winds. Phrases like "a voice so low and soft that he had to bend close to distinguish it from the lap of the water at the rock" and "...leaves of exquisite tree frothed low..." frequently appear during the piece and make it quite realistic and enjoyable.

As you have probably inferred by yourself, this piece is splendid for young and old fantasy lovers and even those who aren't. This book will give you a marvelous insight into how much there might be, beyond what we know.

A great adventure book!
The Search for Delicious is a inviting book fillied with adventure and suspense. I recommend this book for people ages eight to thirteen. This book is abou Prime Minister who is trying to make a dictionary and everyone in the King's court is fighting about the definition of delicious. One thing I love about this plot is because it's so believable, and it will never make you bored or not want to read it. There's always something else happening next. My favorite part of the book is when the main character Gaylen goes out to find what the townspeople want for the definition of delicious, I reading all the suggestions for the definition...it makes me hungry! A good thing about this book is that you'll will always know what's going on. I definietly rate this book five stars!

A Delicious Book
"There will be civil war!" the {Prime Minister} burst out at last. "Splits, upheavals, and people taking sides! Smiles will be forgotten and spring will escape notice! Little flowers will push up, only to be trodden down, and birds will sing unheeded." Prime Minister DeCree is making a dictionary, but this is not exactly an ordinary dictionary. Some of the definitions are things like 'Affectionate is your dog', 'Bulky is a big bag of boxes', and 'Annoying is a loose boot in a muddy place.' The King is extremely happy with this dictionary at first, especially the definition 'Calamitous is saying no to the King.' He then reads the definition of delicious, which is fried fish according to DeCree, and he says "no." He thinks the most delicious things are apples. The General thinks the definition should be a mug of beer and the Queen favors Christmas pudding. Soon the whole court is fighting over what should be the definition of delicious. So the King decides to send twelve year old Gaylen, DeCree's foster son, to take a poll of the kingdom. The story tells of Gaylen's obstacles and adventures along the way including some helpful dwarfs, a mermaid named Ardis, and a few angry villagers.
I loved this book and could not stop reading it. Natalie Babbitt creates such vivid characters and remarkable situations. I recommend this great fantasy to anyone who enjoys extraordinary adventures in imaginative worlds.

A New Favorite
I don't know why I picked this up to read it. I just ran across an old copy of a book by an author I haven't read much of and started it. I was absolutely startled to find such a warm book of authentic, feeling relationships, sincere humor, and true depth.

The story is of Gaylen. He lives at court where his father-figure, the Prime Minister, is writing a dictionary. The king and the rest of court have a great dispute on the meaning of the word "delicious." Gaylen is sent to poll the country to find out what is truly delicious. On his journey, he finds that the country is about to be throne into a war over the issue, and Gaylen has to try to contact some pretty magical people to try and save the country.

The book works on a lot of levels. On one hand, it is a humorous, adventurous, and truly touching little novel. You really love the main character and each of the episodes he undergoes makes you like him more. But the novel does have a little deeper side as the conflict over the word "delicious" comments a lot on the nature of relative truth in a fallen world, and Gaylen is on a search to try and bring order back to the world.

From whatever perspective one reads the novel, I think there is something wonderful to find. I am definitely going to purchase myself a copy and recommend it to everyone I know.

An overall good book
A very funny and exiting book.However, some parts were boring though. ... Read more

Book Description

Arthur has the hiccups, and none of the traditional cures suggested by his parents help. Ignoring his pesky sister D.W., who claims she knows how to get rid of them, he calls on his friends for help. The Brain suggests standing on his head; Buster says laughter is the best cure and reads him jokes; Muffy’s old family cure is licking a lollipop while hanging upside down. But nothing does the trick. Dejected and still hiccuping, Arthur goes to bed. And that is when D.W. proves she really does know how to get rid of hiccups.
... Read more

Book Description

Clifford the Small Red Puppy thinks up lots of ways to put off going to bed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Clifford book
My daughter received this book as a gift when she was around 18 months of age. We started reading it as the last story before bedtime and it became part of the routine. Like most children our daughter thrives on routine and we continue to read this book at bedtime today (she is 3 1/2). Now she pretends to read it to us as she long ago memorized the words. We have all the Clifford The Small Red Puppy Board Books, but this one stands out.

The perfect bedtime story
Clifford's Bedtime is our favorite "Small Red Puppy" board book. Every child (and parent) can identify with Clifford's bedtime needs: his blanket and favorite toys, a drink of water, and a good-night kiss. Norman Bridwell's simple illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to this story, which you will soon be able to recite by heart! ... Read more

Book Description

Few fantasy lands have captured our hearts and imaginations as has the marvelous land of Oz. For over four generations, children and adults alike have reveled in the magical adventures of its beloved folk. Now, for the first time in over seventy years, the second book about Oz is presented here in the same deluxe format as the rare first edition, complete with all 16 of the original John R. Neill color plates, its colorful pictorial binding, and the many black-and-white illustrations that bring it to joyous life.

First issued in 1904, L. Frank Baum's The Marvelous Land of Oz is the story of the wonderful adventures of the young boy named Tip as he travels throughout the many lands of Oz. Here he meets with our old friends the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, as well as some new friends like Jack Pumpkinhead, the Wooden Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, and the amazing Gump. How they thwart the wicked plans of the evil witch Mombi and overcome the rebellion of General Jinjur and her army of young women is a tale as exciting and endearing today as it was when first published over eighty years ago.

Reviews (13)

One Of My All Time Favorites
This book has a special place in my heart since it was the first Oz book I ever read. The book was so exciting and fun to read that it started me on a wonderful journey through the many other delighful books in the series. Tip is a great character and his life with the witch Mombi still make me feel anxious just thinking about it. I read this to my neice and she loved it so much that she now asks me to read another Oz book just about every time I see her.

This is the one that will reel you in to the series
We have all grown up with the Wizard of Oz movie, book one, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is basically the same story as the movie with some slight differences. Marvelous Land of Oz, the second book of the series is the one that will reel you in and have you wanting to read more. I just finished reading this one, a chapter each night, to my preschool age son. He loved it, especially the surprise ending which I won't spoil for you. Jack Pumpkinhead, the Woggle Bug and a mean witch named Mombi are all new characters, even more colorful than some of those from book one. I loved it, Jonah and I are really looking forward to starting the Ozma of Oz after we finish Black Beauty which we will begin tonight. I hope you will fall in love with the Oz series like we have. It will provide you with a great opportunity for some quality time reading with your children or grandchildren. I think that I look forward to reading time as much as he does.

read it all in 3 days and loved it
this was undoubtedly the best in the oz series. i am not lying to you! in fact, i enjoyed it so much that i just couldn't put it down for THREE WHOLE DAYS!

Good, but not Baum's best
Having read some of the other books, I'm not sure I can share their enthusiasm for this one. It is a very good book, but when ranked with all 14 of Baum's Oz books, I would put this one at twelve, maybe eleven. Baum's writing style is not as developed as in later books, and the plot is not as brilliant as in the first (and some of the laters). The Oz we see here, in fact, contradicts in many ways with the Oz as established later in the series. If you are planning to read the entire series (and if you're not planning to, you should), then read this one as you continue on to the more inspired and better written later volumes. If you are looking to read just one additional Oz book to sample what the series is like, try one of the later books. It will give you a better feel of what Baum is capable of. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is my personal favorite, but they are all good.

And if you've read all the Oz books and are looking for other titles that are just as magical and just as inspired, try the Chronicles of Narnia, King Fortis the Brave or Abarat. All will introduce you to other magical worlds that are every bit as fun to visit as Oz.

Great Stuff Comparable to Twain or Thurber
Baum wrote 14 'Oz' books in the early 1900s. The movie was made from the first in the series. "The [Marvelous] Land of OZ" is the 2nd in the series, and possibly the best. The short chapter from page 71-81 reaches a level of perfection attained only rarely in the history of literature, and is equal to the best passages of Mark Twain or James Thurber. I can't read that passage out loud to my kids without going into a fit of laughing myself to tears. I wish I could reprint it here.

You must try if you can to obtain the wonderful hardcover (or sometimes called 'library binding') edition that goes by the ISBN number of 0688054390. It's a stunning and faithful facsimile of the original 1904 edition complete with its beautiful color-illustrated endpapers, original color plates, and black & white illustrations charmingly integrated with the text. I snapped up a dozen and gave them away as birthday gifts for kids age 7 and up. I don't know if there are any left in print, and it's a good bet these will go up in value. Fine first edition OZ books command a pretty penny. ... Read more

Book Description

Caddie Woodlawn, which has been captivating young readers since 1935, was awarded the John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.Now it is in a brand-new edition with lively illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.In her new foreword, Carol Ryrie Brink lovingly recalls the real Caddie, who was her grandmother, and tells how she often "sat spellbound, listening, listening!" as Caddie told stories of her pioneer childhood. Children everywhere will love redheaded Caddie with her penchant for pranks.Scarcely out of one scrape before she is into another, she refuses to be a "lady," preferring instead to run the woods with her brothers.Whether she is crossing the lake on a raft, visiting an Indian camp, or listening to the tales of the circuit rider, Caddie's adventures provide an exciting and authentic picture of life on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s.And readers will discover, as Caddie learns what growing up truly means, that it is not so very different today. ... Read more

Reviews (75)

Caddie Woodlawn
The most remarkable thing about the book Caddie Woodlawn is that it is a true story! The real-live person named Caddie Woodlawn was 82 when her granddaughter published the book in 1935. By writing down the stories told to her as a child, Carol Ryrie Brink captures her grandmother's life as a girl growing up on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860's.

Caddie Woodlawn is a tomboy who likes to go on adventures with her brothers Tom and Warren. She comes from a large pioneer family of seven children. Her older sister, Clara, always acts more lady-like than she, and her younger sister, Hetty, is always tattling on her.

We discover what life was like on the frontier as we go with Caddie to school, and on visits to the nearby Indian village. The book reveals the often-tense relations between Native Americans and the European settlers. The book tells the tense relations between Native Americans and the European settlers. Since Caddie is friends with Indian John, she is able to restore peace to her settlement by taking action before the white settlers attack the Indians.

At the end of the book, Caddie's sophisticated cousin Annabelle comes from Boston, and Caddie learns that maybe a few lady-like activities such as quilting aren't so bad after all, and this helps her to be happy about growing up.

An inspiring role model
While I get a little antsy reading frontier stories with their detailed descriptions of prairie life, the Woodlawn children's adventures and loving family provided a fairly interesting read. I enjoy Caddie's determination to be a tomboy, despite her mother's wishes, and I love that her father only encourages it. Caddie's bravery (when warning her Indian friends of a white men's attack), kindness (spending her entire silver dollar to cheer up on her motherless classmates), and eventual understanding (of her pesky little sister's loneliness and her own need to be a mature young lady in her own way) make this an inspiring book. I also like that the bully turns out to be not so bad, and that the Woodlawn boys learn "female" chores like quilting in order to spend time with Caddie when she decides to broaden her interests. I especially like Caddie's final thoughts: "How far I've come! I'm the same girl and yet not the same. I wonder if it's always like that? Folks keep growing from one person into another all their lives, and life is just a lot of everyday adventures. Well, whatever life is, I like it." The backdrop might be different, but the lessons and values portrayed in this book are just as applicable today.

Move Over Laura, Caddie is Pioneer Adventure at Its Best
Caddie Woodlawn is an oft-overlooked childhood adventure of rural American life (in Wisconsin) during the Civil War. These true stories were told within the family by Caddie herself until her own granddaughter compiled them into a best-selling book around 1930. Don't let the date set you off - this is a real page turner with something in it for everyone. It has stood the test of time remarkably well.

Caddie and her family grew up in Boston, but made the drastic change to rural life a few years before the story begins. While Caddie's mother encourages a high level of civility in the rough wilds of western Wisconsin, her father is permitted to allow Caddie to grow up running around with her brothers because of concerns of a sister who died of consumption. Caddie is quite the tom boy in her pre-teen years, but what a delight to see her world through these eyes... adventures with curious Indians, a mischievous uncle, loyal siblings, school bullies and a simpler life. Especially touching is Caddie's relationship with her understanding father, whose unusual past is revealed in a surprising fashion to the children.

Great for children and adults (like me) who missed it the first time around! By the way, you can visit Caddie Woodlawn's house when you're in the vicinity of Menomonie, Wisconsin. There's not a lot to see, buy our family really enjoyed the experience.

A great book.
If you love adventures and Wisconsin history then Caddie Woodlawn is the book you need. Caddie Woodlawn is a book about three children, Tom, William, and Caddie. This book is a great story for everyone to read!

Caddie Woodlawn
The one thing I really enjoyed most about this book is that it is a true story. The real Caddie Woodlawn was 82 when her granddaughter published the book in 1935. Carol Ryrie Brink writes about her grandmother's life as a girl growing up in Wisconsin in the 1860s.

Caddie Woodlawn is a tomboy who loves going on adventures with her brothers Tom and Warren. She is part of a large family of seven. Her older sister, Clara, is much more lady-like than she, and her younger sister, Hetty, is always tattling on her.

We find out what life was like on the frontier as we go with Caddie to school, and on visits to the nearby Indian village. The book portrays tense relations between the Indians and the European settlers, and since Caddie is friends with Indian John, she is able to restore peace to her homeland by taking action before the white settlers attack the Indians.

At the end of the book, Caddie's sophisticated cousin Annabelle comes from Boston, and Caddie learns that maybe some lady-like activities such as quilting aren't so bad after all, and this helps her to enjoy growing up. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1838, settlers moving west forced the great Cherokee Nation, and their chief John Ross, to leave their home land and travel 1,200 miles to Oklahoma. An epic story of friendship, war, hope, and betrayal. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must for Every Classroom
This is a truly outstanding, well written book. My daughter at the age of 7 read this with ease. She was able to discuss Seuoyah, John Ross, Andrew Jackson, and Thomas Jefferson with me. She had an accurate understanding of the Traii of Tears, the Indian Removal Bill, and even was able to discuss how the Cherokee Alphabet came about. The best part was she and I both enjoyed the book. This book would make a great gift for a teacher in grades 2 - 4 or any one wanting to learn more about the Trail Of Tears. ... Read more

Book Description

Blast-off!Up into the shy goes the space shuttle.Into orbit, the astronauts get a taste of ready-to-eat food, experience zero gravity, go for space walks, and even fix a satellite.It's fun to fly aboard the shuttle...and then come back to earth.‘A young girl declares her longing to ‘fly on the shuttle into outer space.’The familiar acts of eating, sleeping, and working become intense and special as she and the rest of the crew go about their business.The illustrations positively glow in this simple, lyrical picture book that will have nearly everyone off and flying.’ —SLJ.

Notable Children's Book of 1988 (ALA)
1988 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1988 (NYT)
Oustanding Science Trade Books for Children 1988 (NSTA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A must have for astronaut wanna-be's
Typical Byron Barton cartoon-illustrations with his typical simple text. This time around he uses phrases "I want to'" followed by various actions of astronauts who fly a space shuttle into space to do various astronaut tasks: working, eating, sleeping, etc. Simple text, adored by my son.

Barton's books are a staple in our family. There is just something about the illustrations that my children love. The words, although simple, still capture the and hold the attention of my four year old.

Female astronauts and people of various ethnicity's are represented.

Regarding the age recommendation that some reviewers are discussing, I want to add that since infancy, my son has loved Barton's books, whether they are board versions or regular paper versions. This book is loved by my less than one year-old son, and continues to enthrall my now 4 year-old son, who does have a fascination with space and astronauts. I would recommend this book for babies who don't rip regular paper books, and for 4 year-olds and maybe 5 year-olds who especially love space. If the older child is *not* especially interested in all things space they may be bored with the simple text.

Into space with Byron Barton
"I Want to Be an Astronaut" is another good entry in the series of young children's books by Byron Barton. This one opens, "I want to be an astronaut, a member of the crew." Such simple text is combined with Barton's distinctive illustrations. Bright, solid colors and heavy outlines combine to create figures that have an iconic feel; his pictures make me think of a sort of modern variation on Mayan hieroglyphics.

In the book we see the space shuttle taking off; astronauts working, eating, and sleeping in zero gravity; a cutaway view of the shuttle; etc. Nice touches include a view of earth from space and the portrayal of a multi-ethnic shuttle crew. Recommended for small kids.

Where's the moon????
I checked this book out after my 3 yr old preschoolers had done a theme week on space at school. My son looked at it before I had read it and the first thing he told me is "there is no moon in this book". Every picture of "space" shows the earth in a larger than life format (doesn't the earth look tiny from outer space??), yet not once is there a hint of the moon or stars or anything resembling "space", especially in the eyes of a child.

Aside from that annoyance, this book still has the great illustrations of other Byron Barton books. My guys' favorite picture is the shuttle blasting off. They also enjoy the pictures of activities that take place inside the shuttle - eating, sleeping, working and most of all, floating upside down! Now THAT's what we expect in a book about astronauts!

Nice book for little kids
I bought this one several years ago for my oldest son, now my little guy loves it, too. It seems a bit sad to me now in the wake of the Columbia tragedy ("I want to be an astronaut, a member of the crew" sounds somewhat different now), but that doesn't really affect little kids. If you or your kids are space nuts, this is a good one to begin with.

I wanted to be an astronaut, but I'm nearsighted
Seriously, this is a great book. I came across it in a bin at my son's playgroup, and I ordered it as soon as I got home. This book is fun, and it appeals to my 3-yr-old as well as my 1-yr-old. Now my son (3) has a rough idea of what the earth looks like, what space is, what a space shuttle is, and what astronauts wear and eat. My daughter still just likes the high-contrast pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

For young Samuel Russell, the summer of 1777 is a time of fear. The British Army is approaching, and the Indians in the area seem ready to attack. To Stands Straight, a young Abenaki Indian scouting for King George, Americans are dangerous enemies who threaten his family and home. When Stands Straight's party enters the Quaker Meetinghouse where Samuel worships, the two boys share an encounter that neither will ever forget. Told in alternating viewpoints, The Arrow over the Door is based on a true story.

Illustrated by James Watling.

"Thoughtful and eminently readable." (School Library Journal) ... Read more

Book Description

Karen couldn't tell Mrs. Singer why she had to have her Viking diorama out of the sixthgrade showcase. She felt like yelling, To keep my parents from getting divorced. But she couldn't say it, and the whole class was looking at her anyway.

Karen's world was ending. Her father had moved out of the house weeks before; now he was going to Las Vegas to get divorced and her mother was pleased! She had only a few days to get the two of them together in the same room. Maybe, if she could, they would just forget about the divorce. Then the Newman family could be its old self again -- maybe. But Karen knew something she didn't know last winter: that sometimes people who shouldn't be apart are impossible together.

So she felt like yelling at Mrs. Singer. And then Mrs. Singer did a surprising thing.... ... Read more

Reviews (35)

A little out-dated, but still okay
Okay, so Judy Blume's books do seem, with the exception of her latest one (the new "Fudge" book), to be stuck in the 1970s' and very much outdated, but I still like this book pretty well. Although my parents have never been divorced and I don't have an older brother and younger sister as Karen, the narrator of Judy's story, does, it is the type of book you can sympathize with.

Karen is a sixth grader who must deal with the constant arguments between her parents. She is not completely unaware of the fighting that gets worse and yet thinks she can somehow fix it. Well, as it is, her parents do get a divorce, and Karen's life goes down from there: she's worried she'll never see her dad, the one boy she likes has moved, and her teacher is a "witch" (yes, those are the words; not what you'd think.) She, however, tries her hardest to make her parents love each other and learns the hard way it can't.

To quote Karen's use of rating her days with letter grades, this book is a B+ - a little out-dated, but you're sure to love it. Enjoy!

It's Not The End Of The World
Karen's life is so sad. She has a great friend, Debbie. Debbie is always trying to help Karen but she makes it worse. But everything changes in one moment when she notices that her father has moved from the house to Las Vegas to get split with Karen's mother!! The parents don't mean to harm Karen and her brother and sister but they do. Meanwhile Karen has an idea to get her parents back together. What is she going to do? Is her plan going to work? I loved this exicting book every chapter I read got more interesting I couldn't stop reading it and every page I was in Karen's shoes. It made it good because in every chapter you got more nervous in what was going to happen to Karen's family. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read books about real life and love. I recommend this book because books about real life and love are interesting.

True, it's not the end of the world
Judy Blume's IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD is told through the eyes of eleven year-old Karen Newman. She is a younger and older sister, a daughter to two quarreling parents, and a best friend to her pal Debbie. Karen journals each and every day of her life. Alas, it's been awhile since she had the ideal day, an A+ day. That A+ day, everyone was happy. No fighting or arguing between Mr. and Mrs. Newman took place. It was a snow day and even after Karen walked through the front door, drenched, Mrs. Newman wasn't at all angry.

The arguing between Mr. and Mrs. Newman started with the little things. And then it got worse. Dinners grew awkward and Karen feared the worst. Still, when Mr. Newman leaves home, she's sure he'll come back. Won't he? Not according to Karen's brother, Jeff. He says that their dad's gone for good. But Karen is still in denial, especially after her grandfather, her father's father, implies there's a chance of the two reconciling. This just does more to get Karen's hopes up. And when she sees her father's apartment and meets Valerie, a neighbor, she sees that maybe her father does have a new life. Maybe he is starting over. And it's going to be without her mother.

Valerie and Karen become fast friends. Valerie seems to know anything and everything regarding the topic of divorce. She too sides with Jeff, saying that there's no way her parents are getting back together. Still, despite the fact her gorgeous mother is dating a very rich man, Valerie seems unfazed by her parents' split. Hanging with Valerie is a nice change from hanging out with Debbie. World has traveled around the neighborhood about the Newman family split, and Debbie certainly isn't much help in the matter!

Blume's middle grader novel talks of divorce and how it affects a typical suburban family. Despite the fact that Karen is indeed the narrator, we also see how the divorce is hurting Jeff, who at one point, seemed unmoved. Like in all of other Blume books, the characters and situations are real and true-to-life. I especially liked Karen as a person and saw how she went through different stages throughout the book: the sadness of two quarreling and arguing parents, denial when the divorce was announced, and, at last, she begins to face the unfortunate reality she knows she must. This book is one of my fave by Blume and because my parents recently divorced, I took IT'S NOT THE... off my shelf and lent it to my sister, hoping it would maybe help her deal. The fact is, divorce is on the rise and this book is an ideal read for those children who must be forced to face it, like it or not. Just because divorce rates were lower in the 70s doesn't mean this book will have a different effect.

It's Not the End of the World
For most children, divorce is a hard thing. In Judy Blume's, It's Not the End of the World, Karen learns just how hard it is to have parents going through divorce. Even though her parents would fight, she never thought it would come down to divorce.
After hearing about the divorce, Karen doesn't understand how her parents could do this. She tries to think of a way to get her parents back together. When Karen thinks of her best plan yet, can she really pull it off?
It's Not the End of the World was WONDERFUL! I think that anyone would enjoy this book. Judy Blume put in a lot of ways that children might feel with parents going throught a divorce.

You are not alone
This book was purchased for me by my Godmother (Aunt) when I was in sixth grade and my parents were getting divorced. It really helped me get through that troubling time and if nothing else showed me that I was not alone and this had happened to many children my age. Although I truly did feel this was 'the end of the world' this book enlightened me, obviously by the title, that it was not. Well, now I have received word that my Goddaughter's (niece) parents are going to be splitting up, so I have taken on the responsiblity, like that of my Godmother, to purchase this great book for my niece. I am quite confident that it will help ease this terrible time for my beautiful niece. Thank you Judy Blume, and thanks again to my aunt for showing me one more way to be a great godparent. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

10 Thumbs and 10 Toes Up
Trouble River was about a young boy and his grandma. Dewey was building a raft, and he named it the Rosie B. The Indians suddenly came to their cabin, and hurt their dog, Charlie, with a tomahawk. Charlie survived, and Dewey, Grandma, and Charlie got on the raft to escape the Indians. Grandma stayed in the rocking chair on the raft during the trip. They were going to their neighbors' house, but that house was burned down too. That was not all their trouble. They were caught in dangerous rapids and chased by wolves. Finally they make it to Hunter City. Dewey's mom and dad were there because they had a brand new baby. Everyone was amazed that a 12 year old boy built such a good raft, and made it down the river.

I am a 10 year old old that loves this book because it has action, is interesting, and you never know what will happen next. So read the book and see how you like it. This book is part action, part history, and part funny.....in one whole book!

A Minnesota third grader.
If you like adventure, this is the book for you. This story takes place in the pioneer days. It is about a boy named Dewey who is very courageous, his cranky scary-story telling grandma, and his dog Charlie. The adventure begins when Dewey has to fight off an Indian who was going into his cabin. The grandma was scared that more Indians would come and kill them, so they went on Dewey's homemade raft to escape to the Dargan's cabin on Trouble River. Unfortunately, when they got to the Dargan's cabin it was burned down, so they decided to continue down the river to Hunter City. The adventure continues when they stop to sleep and are attacked by wolves. Thinking they are safe on the raft again, they have to fight the rapids. Will their raft survive the rapids? Will they make it to Hunter City? Read this book to find out?

I like this book because it has lots of adventure. If you like this book you'll like the book Old Yeller.

Those Troubled Days
I read this book way back in the fourth grade. I'm sorry, but while perhaps well written, look at the story! It's horrible! The plot is so incredibly unrealistic and dumb that I was disgusted, and that was 4th grade. Some of my qualms with this book may come from the bit where we had to analyze it, but only because there's truly nothing to analyze. If you took out all the words that are just in as fluff for the story, you'd have the cover and the copywrite information.
Gah! Don't buy this book! Save yourself!

This book cracks open bad
This book was bad. Dewey, age 12, was making a raft with his dog, Charlie while his pa took his ma to have a baby in Hunter ciy. He goes home, but at night sneaks out to work on the raft. His dog and him were going along fine until he hears the whine of a pony. He knows only Indians ride ponies. He and his dog chase the Indian away while awaking his grandma, and he knows the Indian will be back with his brothers. The closest neighbors around he has are miles away, so he and his granma decide to take off down the river on his raft. Of course they bring the dog and his grandma's rocking chair. Things are looking good but they come across some pretty bad problems. Ok, you might be thinking this book is good, but i didn't really like. The book is pretty darn short, you know what is going to happen if you are smart enough, and it is a little dull. I would have personally liked a little more action, not just shooing away a few wolves, and you could also tell what was going to happen to the Dargans.

This book is so so
Dewey and his granmother are alone at their house while his mom and dad r in hunter city having a baby. Dewey had been finishin a raft the day he saw and indian prowling around the cabin. He drove him away but knew he would be back with company. Dewey, grandma, and charlie set out on the river and encounter many problems and delays. This book was very predictable and very short. I likes it but u could tell what was going to happen so when i was halfway through teh book i pretty much knew the ending. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Skakespeare Is Fun
I like Lois Burdett's version of Twelfth Night because I think it is funny and the drawings are by kids. Lois Burdett's second grade Twelfth Night book is easier to read than Shakespeare's original version. It's a good book for kids who don't know Shakespeare and for kids who like Shakespeare. On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the best, I rate Twelfth Night 4 stars because a few of the words, like "thee", are difficult to understand.

Great Intro to Shakespeare
This is one great book. It explains the story very clearly so very young children can understand but still appeals to older children. I think this is a great series to introduce children to Shakespeare. It is so simply written it could be used at bed time, yet it still gets the story very well and is not degrading to the original plays. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Reverse spin, triple pump, reverse dribble, stutter step with twist to the left, stutter into jumper, blind pass. These are me. The moves make the man.The moves make me.

Jerome foxworthy -- the Jayfox to his friends -- likes to think he can handle anything. He handled growing up without a father. He handled being the first black kid in school. And he sure can handle a basketball.

Then Jerome meets bix Rivers -- mysterious and moody, but a great athlete. So Jerome decides to teach bix his game. He can tell that bix has the talent. All he's got to do is learn the right moves....

Reviews (31)

The Moves Make The Man
The Moves Make The Man is about a young African American boy named Jerome who is sent to an all white school . There he meets an athletic a Caucasian boy named Bix. They become good friends, and they teach each other different things life.
I liked this book because it felt like the characters are real. I also liked it because there are some funny parts but there are also some sad parts to. Their friendship helps them through each others hard times. This books theme is basketball but it's mostly about friendship. So I would highly recommend this book..

Just Voice
Just Voice
(This review is written by the voice of the main character.)

"Swish!" "I scored the game winning point against you Bix, you lose!" "I am the man you stink I rock, you little prissy girl!" This is some action that you will read in the book. It is about me Jay Fox, a black kid, and Bix, a white kid. Bix's mom is crazy and his dad could care less about Bix. I was there to help him out. He helped me out too. I learned new things about white people and what they think of us. The Moves Make The Man by Bruce Brooksis a wonderful book. If you are looking for an adventure and excitement, this is the book for you! He does an amazing job describing everything. It is almost like you are in the book. Playing basketball against me or Bix. It has some language that is not suitable for children under nine years of age. It is for children at the age of ten and up. If you are athletic and play a sport with your best friend (like me) this book will be highly suitable for you and your best friend. This book has everything you need adventure, excitement, and it also has really sad parts. It changes your mood from sad to happy in one page! Sometimes it's confusing but makes out to be a really good book and it ties it all up in the end of the book. I now have a good person to play basketball against. Now, I have shown him how to play basketball not "bounceball!" This is a great book. I bet there will be a second book!

The moves make the man
Jerome Foxworthy and Bix River become best friends when Jerome teaches Bix how to play basketball. However, the book is not only about basketball. Knowing how to play basketball is a metaphor on how to face life's challenges. For example, Bix had to deal with his father's death and his mother being in the mental hospital. I enjoyed how the relationship between these two teenagers grew not only because they were practicing how to play basketball correctly, but also more importantly how they tried to apply what they learned on the court to what problems they were facing off the court. For those who enjoy reading about sports and about the mysteries of life, they will truly find this book satisfying.

I will play my game beneath the spin light
This is the greatest book ever written. Danny and Ben friends till death, and after. There are no moves you truly make alone. Strength and honor my friend. This is the official book of the nome.

Metaphor For Life
The Moves Make The Man is a book that I enjoyed. The book had a lot of good details about the main characters. The author helps the reader feel the same things that the characters are feeling. Bruce Brooks made the characters seem unique and he makes them seem different from each other. I liked the way Bruce Brooks made two different people become best friends. I could relate to some of the scenes in the book because I find myself different from my friends. Bruce Brooks makes the reader feel like the main character by having the Jerome Foxworthy (the main character), narrate the book. I found that I could relate to some quotes in the book. " Reverse spin, triple pump, reverse dribble, stutter step with a twist to the left, stutter into jumper, blind pass. These are me. The moves make the man , the moves make me.". I can relate to the quote because I love football and it is not exactly a sport like basketball but the moves in football are moves that make me. Playing football is one of my favorite things to do and football makes me who I am. After reading the book, I found it to be a great book because Bruce Brooks makes you feel like you are Jerome Foxworthy and he writes quotes that are important. Bruce Brooks makes you think about how your life is compared to the characters in the book.

The Moves Make The Man is a book with a lot of information about the characters. Bruce Brooks makes the narrator of the book describe other characters by their physical appearance and the way they act. Bruce Brooks has a unique writing style and he shows it on the book. He would write about a suburban area and add a little mix of urban to it. The author has the narrator talk about his experiences with a friend he met. The book has the narrator sneak into his friend's house and has him tell the story of how they met and what they did together. Jerome, the narrator is portrayed as a kid with a lot of self confidence, but he just prefers to keep it to himself. Some quotes in the book foreshadow events that are about to happen. In one part of the book, there is a happy moment between Jerome, his brothers, and their mother. They were playing games that involved an old elevator but it also foreshadowed that the elevator was going to have an affect on them. Their mother ended up being involved in the accident with an elevator. Bruce Brooks describes how old the elevator is and had me foreshadow the events. Bruce Brooks also has a way of having readers predict what is going to happen next because the scenes are described in a way as if something big is going to happen next. For example, when Jerome tries out for the basketball team, he has to beat two other boys for a spot. The coach doesn't like Jerome so I wondered if the coach was going to switch around the rules and give the two other boys an advantage on Jerome. The author also makes the reader think at the end of the book. Bix, Jerome's friend ran away and he sends Jerome a blank postcard of the Capitol in Washington D.C.. Jerome knows it is a sign of something but he doesn't know what. Bruce Brooks makes me want to read more at the end because he writes sentences that makes me think. The book brings up questions in my mind such as "Where's Bix?" , "When will Bix tell Jerome where he is?" or "Will Bix come back?". The questions are mostly about Bix because Bruce Brooks ends the book without Bix and Jerome together. Bruce Brooks also uses basketball moves as metaphors and he relates the basketball moves such as faking to people's feelings. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. A sympathetic story about Sister Bear, who conquers her fear of starting kindergarten. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Berenstain Bears Go To School
This book was about Sister bear and Brother bear go to school for the first time. Sister bear is in her own class for the first time and she is very scared. I would recommend this story to a 6 or 7 year old because it is good beginner book. The moral of the story is not to be afraid the first time you go to school.

Wow ill i can say is WOWIE
I myself enjoyed the berenstien bears Go To school becuse i can relate to their school problems its like they have already walked in my shoes.This book goes into great detail about the first day of school and how it can seem hard to make new friends and sometime the teacher might seem a little scary

What's So Great About School?
In this edition of the Berenstain Bears series, summer is coming to an end and the Bear children are preparing to go to school. Sister Bear is going to be in kindergarten and is a bit anxious about leaving home and spending most of the day in a new and strange place. Mama Bear takes Sister to the school to meet her teacher and look at her classroom. Sister begins to think that school might not be so bad. However, when the bus arrives to pick her up on the first day, Sister is still anxious. Eventually, she comes to enjoy school and in the process teaches Brother Bear a lesson.

This book is a great book to read to toddlers and young children who are about ready to start school. It shows them that it's okay to be nervous about going to school for the first time, yet at the same time calms their fears about school, thereby preparing them for when they begin classes.

Good for preparing children for kindergarten!
I am an elementary school librarian who reads "The Berenstain Bears Go To School" each September to our new kindergartners. It helps set their minds at ease about what school is like.

In this Berenstain Bears story, Mama Bear notices that Sister Bear looks worried when Brother Bear mentions that he wants to get back to school after summer vacation. Mama Bear takes Sister to the Bear Country School to meet Miss Honeybear, the kindergarten teacher. A few days later, Brother Bear rushes to the bus, dragging Sister along with him. Sister discovers that she loves school, so a few days later when Brother Bear wishes it was still vacation, Sister is the one who drags *him* to the bus.

My students always laugh at this change of perspective. I find most of the Berenstain Bear books to be an ideal, and entertaining, way to teach children positive behaviors or attitudes, or to help them relate about the real world. This book is no exception.

The Berenstain Bears Go to School
I thought this book was a good story to help out youngsters on their first days. I thought the illustrations were great! ... Read more

Book Description

A machine digs a big hole. A cement mixer pours cement. Carpenters put up walls. Bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, and painters do their part. Through brilliantly simple words and pictures we follow each step, and before our eyes a house is built.

Reviews (3)

Building a House
I have no complaints about the book itself. The colors are vibrant and it is fun. However, there isn't enough text. When I bought this I at least exspected a paragraph every page or so. This is a picture book with a few words. I would not have purchased it for my children (Middle Elementary age) had I know that one fact. Great for preschool aged children. Stacey

Building a house 101 for preschoolers
Byron Barton gets another A+ in my book for clear, simple pictures and text. This book is geared for the toddler/preschooler crowd with its primary colors and constuction basics. It would be a great book for anyone in the process of building a house or watching houses being built in their neighborhood.

My 2 year old sons are really starting to associate the similarities between this book and some of the construction sites we visit. While Barton's pictures are simple, there is enough detail to expand beyond the written text. For example, on the page with words "They put up walls.", we are able to find the windows, the floor and foundation. On the page with the plumber, they like to point out the future shower, toilet, and sink. (And of course, being 2, they like to expand on the functions of the staples of every bathroom!)

Our only complaint is that the finished house needs a little decorator's touch. After all, it is totally green and red with no landscaping whatsoever! Even my guys noticed there are no trees. But overall a great book for all our future builders.

Perfect for young children
Simple factual text and brightly colored pictures in clear black outlines all combine to make this abook that should be fascinating to toddlers. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Fun Book! Clever wording.
My kids really enjoy this book. It was a gift from Grandma for my oldest son because he likes to say funny words. This book is full of funny words and names that all three of our kids love. At the end of the book, my daughter always wants to know "what happend to Grandma", so we come up with all kinds of possibilities. This is a wonderful book and is read often as our bedtime routine.

Billiantly Beautiful
This is definitely the best picture i have ever read to my children and i would recomend it to all parents and children alike. It makes you smile and feel so content and happy as you reach the last page. The illustrations, superb, the story, edge of your seat stuff.

Recommend t for everyone, young and old.

A beautifully illustrated multicultural animal book.
This beautifully illustrated book set in Australia's outback has the most interesting animals I've ever seen! The multicultural theme can be used in classrooms and at home to promote an understanding of native animals of Australia, relationships with elders, women of independence, and travel. The story is beautifully written in prose and the illustrations are patterned in pencil/charcoal and brilliant pictures. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Franklin's New Friend
This is a very good book. I love the Franklin books. This book was about a moose that moved in and no one wanted to be friends with him because he was so big. Franklin ened up being friends with the moose at the end of the book. Moose is really nice and they are glad that they became friends with him.
If you ever get a chance to read this book please do so it is a good book to read!!

Franklin's New Friend
As with all of the books in the Franklin series, the topics are approached in an open and non-judgemental way. Franklin's New Friend presents Franklin with the arrival of a new family in his neighborhood. Franklin is encouraged by his parents and teacher to inbrace the potential of making a new friend, without dwelling on the possible misgivings his has. Franklin learns that making new friends is fun, and he does not have to change the relationships he has with his existing friends. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The author of GoodnightMoon wrote scores of poems for children in her short lifetime, many ofwhich were left unpublished until now. In this collection of 24 poems, MargaretWise Brown's virtuosity shines through with verses about simple childhoodpleasures and sorrows. Days later, readers young and old will find themselvesmuttering: "Hark to the sound / Of the sea-slung gong / Ding Dong Dong / DingDong Dong" or "Jig Big / jig little / jig little / Jig Big / Jig like a big PIG/ dancing a jig." Some poems are clearly more refined than others; if Brown werealive, she undoubtedly would have smoothed the rougher edges in "Pussycat andthe Pumpkin," for example. Teri L. Weidner's watercolor and colored-pencilillustrations in "Spring Madness" and "Colors" are sweet and natural, although"The Monkey Man" and "Christmas Song" are less appealing. When all is said anddone, though, fans of the legendary Margaret Wise Brown will be pleased atanother glimpse into her talented, imaginative world. (Ages 4 and older)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Poems perfect for the very young
Written with Margaret Wise Brown's uncanny knack for the ear of the youngest listeners and readers, these previously unpublished poems have found a match for their eyes with Teri Weidner's gentle, quietly glorious illustrations filling each page.For the title poem, a child looks wistfully out a rain-flecked window."Never has the grass been so green" is more cheeringly adorned with smiling leonine dandelions."Pig Jig" is genuinely funny in text and drawing.Adults won't be bored by the poetry or the pictures.The poems are short, set in short lines, not unlike "Goodnight Moon," comfortably reread often;the drawings are all a pleasure to view again;the size of the book (8 1/2 by 11) seems ideally suited to be held in chair or bed with children of the intended age -- "the very young."From our household, this charming volume gets an unqualifiedly favorable recommendation. ... Read more

Book Description

Fantasy lovers of all ages will rejoice at this chance to travel once again to the marvelous land of Oz!

A California earthquake sends Dorothy Gale and her new friends--Zeb the farm boy, Jim the cab-horse, and Eureka the mischievous kitten--tumbling through a crack in the ground. Deep beneath the earth, Dorothy is reunited with her old friend the Wizard of Oz and his troupe of nine tiny piglets.

Together, Dorothy, the Wizard, and their friends travel through many fantastic lands, where they encounter the Mangaboos, people growing like vegetables in the ground; cross the Valley of Voe, where dama-fruit has turned everyone invisible; and are captured by mysterious flying Gargoyles. At last, the intrepid travelers reach Oz, where they have many unforgettable encounters with such favorites as the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, Princess Ozma and the wooden Sawhorse.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz was the fourth Oz adventure. First published in 1908, it has captured the imaginations of young readers and listeners for four generations. Now a new generation can discover these superb adventures for themselves. This deluxe gift edition faithfully reproduces the rare first edition, including all sixteen color plates and all fifty black-and-white illustrations by John R. Neill, as well as the original colorful endpapers.

Reviews (10)

I think it's a great book!
I think Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is a exciteing book which is funny and intresting in a lot of ways.I read all the Oz books but I think this one is one of his best!I definetly rate this a 5 star book! From Hallie McPherson

Dorothy and the Wizard In Oz
NOTE: This is not the edition of the book I would have liked to review. I just didn't see it anywhere. This review is based on the Del Rey edition.

Dorothy and the Wizard In Oz is the 4th book in The Wizard of Oz series.

In this story, Dorothy and Zebediah (Zeb), her second cousin, fell into the middle of the earth though a crack. When they landed, they were in a city. The rest of the story is the trying to get out of the middle of the earth.

There is one really neat thing that happens in this book. As many of you remember, whether you read the book or saw the movie, the Wizard of Oz floated away in a hot-air balloon. Well, in this book, the Wizard lands in the city where Dorothy and Zeb are. He must have been floating for a really long time!

As I have for all of the books in this series, I suggest this book for those who like to read for fun and don't mind a little major fantasy. (Like when Dorothy and Zeb fall through the earthquake to the center of the earth, they could've never survived!)

The best in the series
While all of Baum's books are great, overall I think this was the one that I enjoyed the most. Like the very first book, the plot is simple. Dorothy gets pulled into a magical world against her will, and she wants to get home. She then goes through a series of adventures trying to achieve her goal. Although the book has "In Oz" in the title, Dorothy and the Wizard spend very little time actually in Oz. But don't let this put you off. The underground lands that they pass through are every bit as exciting and magical as the different lands actually in Oz. The ending (how they escape the underground world) is a bit weak, but the imaginative countries that they pass through and the adventures they have in each more than make up for this. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is a book that you will want to start reading again as soon as you finish, but don't. Go on to the next Oz book and then the next. While I believe that this was the best of the 14 original books in the series, they are all wonderful and I would recommend that everyone read the entire series from beginning to end. And then try the books written by some of the other authors. While none are as inspired as those written by Baum, many of them are very good.

And if you've read all the Oz books and are looking for other titles that are just as magical and just as inspired, try the Chronicles of Narnia, King Fortis the Brave or Abarat. All will introduce you to other magical worlds that are every bit as fun to visit as Oz.

This book is "Super, thanks for asking".
The book "Dorothy and the Wizard of OZ," is a great book,and should be recommended for anyone who likes to read. It starts out when Dorothy and Zeb are riding in a buggy, and then this huge earthquake comes, causing a big crack in the earth to form. they fall inside the earth, and end up landing in what we know as "munchkin City", but in the book it is called "The Glass City". They meet the munchkins, and then take off for the wizard. They get there, and then this sorcerer comes out, and starts talking them, as he turns into a funny looking thorny man. the wizard finds the sorcerer and cuts him in half. They take the cut in half sorcerer, and barry him in the vegetable garden. The prince of the vegetable kingdom, tells Dorothy to go and find him a princess. So she does. One night while the wizard and Dorothy are sleeping, they get a v