Book Description

Poor Hermit Crab! He's outgrown his snug little shell, so he finds himself a larger one -- and many new friends to decorate and protect his new house. But what will happen when he outgrows this shell, and has to say good-bye to all the sea creatures who have made Hermit Crab's house a home?

Children facing change in their own lives will relate to Hermit Crab's story -- and learn a lot about the fascinating world of marine life along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A House for Hermit Crab
'A House for Hermit Crab' is about Hermit, the Crab, is looking for a nice, new, and especially, comfortable, new home to live in. When he finally finds his knew house, he decides it needs a few things to perk it up a bit. Along the way, he meets a few friends who help him very much. The lesson that this book teaches people is that; it teaches to never give up hope in finding something that you need, because if you're not looking hard enough, it would be right in your face and you wouldn't see it. It also teaches that friends are always there if you ask for them. The age for this book would be about 1st ' 2nd grade. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the ways sea creatures help each other.

A House for Hermit Crab
In my own opinion i think that "A House for Hermit Crab" is a good childrens book. I would definetly recommend it to kids. I, myself enjoyed reading this book, so im sure that children would too. The book is about a hermit crab that grows out of his shell and looks for a year to find different things to decorate, protect, and clean his shell. He finds a another little hermit crab that is in need of a shell too, so Hermit Crab gives him his shell and tells him to take good care of his friends. This is a story of friendship and growing up. Its a cute story, and i advise you to read it.

A House for Hermit Crab
The book A House for Hermit Crab I thought was a great childrens book. It was about this Hermit Crab that lives in a shell but soon grows out of it so one day he makes up his mind to go and try to find a new shell that would fit. As hes out adventuring he finds a shell that fits but its too plan he thinks. As he goes on with his shell he finds all these plants and other items that will make his shell pretty and better looking to him. He soon builds a wall up around his shell and then after all that work he grew out of that shell because getting all those things took a year. Then another hermit crab comes and says that she was out grown her shell too so he give his shell to her and he makes her promike that she will take care of all her friends that are attached to the shell. Now he goes on to find a new shell for himself but like before the shell that he found was a little to plan so he thinks hes going to find some more things to put on it hes excited to do this because he remembered what good friends he made last time.
I would definitely recmmend this book to any child.

A wonderful book for ALL ages!
This book is so good - and a wonderful allegory for anybody facing a life change. A child will enjoy the simple story of a hermit crab looking to decorate his shell, and all the creatures who agree to help him. But the sub-context of change - and greeting it with enthusiasm - is what draws me to this book. I plan on buying it for my son when he enters kindergarten this fall, and will give it to others who will be facing similar challenges.

A House for Hermit Crab
You will enjoy reading about this crab who takes his time in selecting just the right house. "A House for Hermit Crab" encourages reasoning and thinking skills for the young listener (aged 2-6). This book will help give your Eric Carle library a new protective shell. ... Read more

Book Description

The Williams sisters have captured the attention of the tennis crowd like no one has in recent years. Taken alone, each is a force to be reckoned with on the court. Each has the skills, the determination, and the strength to make it to the very top of her sport. Yet through all the competition-even times when they face each other on opposite sides of the net-they remain true to each other.

Serena has just won the Wimbledon 2002 singles title by defeating her sister and is currently ranked #1 in the world.Playing as partners, Venus and Serena won the Wimbledon 2002 doubles championship as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eric Carle first published The Very Hungry Caterpillar in 1969, fully intending to create a series of interactive creature books for children. The beloved busy spider, quiet cricket, and lonely firefly books followed, but the artist's quest was not truly complete until The Very Clumsy Click Beetle was born. Carle, who says he'd rather watch a bug attempt to climb over a pebble than join an expedition to Mount Everest, appreciates the small things in life: the Eyed Elator (Alaus oculatus), to be exact--unremarkable except for that when this beetle falls on its back, it can't roll over to get up. Instead, it will stretch and release a snap mechanism that clicks and flips the beetle through the air, and ideally, back onto its feet.

The very clumsy click beetle has no trouble with the clicking and flipping part, but it does have trouble landing on its feet. The young beetle tries and tries again, encouraged by an ambling turtle, a slithering snail, and a scurrying mouse. Finally, when a curious boy approaches, the beetle takes coaching from a wise old click beetle ("QUICK, CLICK and FLIP!") and succeeds. Children will love the bright, bold, tissue-paper illustrations that tell this story of perseverance, as wellas--of course--the unusual clicking sound (emanating from an electronic chipwith built-in battery and light sensor) that accompanies this playful book. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Eric Carle. Permission of Philomel Books.) (Preschool and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very Clumsy Click Beetle
I'm a Branch Manager of a Public Library and we have found that this book is very good for the children that comes over for school visits. It is so funny to be reading them the book and they start hearing the Beetle make it's sound they start looking around the room trying to find out where it is coming from then they cant believe that it came from the book. Every year when school starts back this is the book that i read to my Kindergarden classes. I suggest that everyone should get this book and watch the look on your childs face when you read this book to them.

Library Users say thumbs down
I'm a children's librarian. I bought this book for my library. I've read it to two groups and showed it to some of the children who come to the library everyday. I thought they would like it since Carle's other book The Very Quiet Cricket is so enormously popular. Their reaction has been thumbs down. The children like the chirping sound from the cricket book, but the click sound from this beetle book doesn't impress them. The dull "click, click" really pales in comparison to the lilting cricket chirp. We've had our copy of the beetle book for almost three months, and it's only been checked out once.

I think a teacher or parent might be able to encourage a child to enjoy the click beetle book by incorporating it into a discussion about bugs. Also, a child who is fascinated with bugs might enjoy it. However, for the average child, I recommend buying The Very Quiet Cricket instead of the Beetle book. For a child who already has and loves the cricket book, I recommend buying Carle's The Very Lonely Firefly, which has fireflies that light up. My library kids like to crawl under desks to enjoy that book in the dark.

Great Book to Teach Kids to Keep Trying!
This book is well-liked by my class of four and five year olds. The story is clear and engaging. My students especially enjoy opening to the back page to hear the beetle's CLICK!

The little click beetle repeatedly strives in the story to CLICK and flip over onto his feet, a feat shown to him by an older, wiser click beetle. He tries to show this new trick to a variety of other critters with no success. The critters encourage him to keep trying.

We used this story in class to discuss the importance of persistence and practice to learn something new. This book also sparked a discussion about being kind and respectful, as we talked about how things might have been different if the critters in the story had ridiculed the click beetle for his failure instead of encouraging him. You could challenge children to tell how the ending would have been different if the little click beetle hadn't mastered his CLICK at the right time at the end.

Definitely a classroom staple, along with most of Eric Carle's other titles.

My 4 year old loved this book!
My 4 year old came home from preschool and talked about this book for 2 weeks! He drew click beetles over and over again, and told me how the story goes. He was one impressed 4 year old and any mom knows when their child mentions a book over and over again, it must be good! ... Read more

Book Description

How many times can you jump rope? This rhyme makes the game of rope jumping even more fun. It's a counting rhyme, and there are lots of others like it. There are also red-hot pepper rhymes for jumping very fast, and rhymes for jumping in and out of the rope. There are even fortune-telling rhymes that answer questions and help you predict the future!

The rhymes in this book began as a way to keep the rhythm while jumping rope, but they also lent poetry and humor to the game. Here are over one hundred traditional rhymes that will make rope jumping challenging and, best of all, fun.

Reviews (2)

Great fun
For anyone who jumped rope a great deal (this excludes me) or swung the rope while others jumped (this includes me), this book is sure to have some favorite rhymes. As such, it is an interesting way to initiate cross-generational discussions - jump-rope rhymes are school yard folklore with astounding staying power. The book is also useful as a way to encourage young "couch potatoes" to get a bit of time outside with requiring outside to be a large space.

Of course, the best way to use the book is simply to enjoy it.

Hopping fun! It will take you back to your playground days.
What great fun to be reminded of the jump rope rhymes of my youth. And even greater fun to share them with my daughter. I hope you enjoy this collection of rhymes as much as we do. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If Ready...Set...Read! were a movie, it would surely be a box-office hit with its all-star cast, including Little Bear, Morris the Moose, and Frog and Toad. This rich treasury of children's favorite stories, as well as poems, riddles, tongue-twisters, and hidden picture games, will delight and inspire every beginning reader. There's something for everyone in this diverse collection: Have a young poet in the house? How about a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks or Robert Louis Stevenson? Let the budding scientist discover "Our Earth in Space." The amateur comedian might pick up a few tips from the knock-knock jokes and riddles. And be prepared to untie some messy knots after the tongue-twister section: "Wendy went to rent one red room."

Ready...Set...Read! is a perfect introduction to many well-loved authors and illustrators, including Maurice Sendak, Else Holmelund Minarik, and Russell Hoban. Most importantly, this all-in-one collection, with its easy-to-read type, simple vocabulary, and variety of lively and colorful illustrations, will provide a jump-start to reading that will soon have children racing to the bookshelf for more. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good collection for early readers
I bought this book for my son who is in first grade. He has grown with this book - from the stories where some of the words are replaced by pictures, to the riddles and jokes, to complete stories of Frog and Toad and Morris the Moose. Most importantly - he picks up this book now and reads for pleasure.

My one complaint is that the book seems to be organized backwards - the easier reading is in the back, the harder is in the front.

The same applies to the Ready-Set-Read and Laugh anthology. Good collections and my kids enjoy reading them.

I was impressed
I just received this book yesterday and I was so happy by the response of my 4 1/2 year old daughter. She loved listening to the variety of stories, laughing aloud to some, and she loved the tongue twisters. She especially like the short stories where there are words and pictures in the sentences. We read these together and she felt like she was really reading. This gave her such a confidence boost. She insisted on taking the book to daycare today to read aloud to her class.

Another thing I like is that there are so many stories. This will be a great book to take on vacation. You could read a different story everyday and just pack one book.

This book is wonderful for a variety of reasons. I know it will be helpful for a beginning reader.

Recomended
We have really enjoyed this colletion of easy reading stories+

Something for everyone!
Treasury is the right word for this book! From the hilarious Sheep In A Jeep and Morris Has A Cold, to the interesting and educational Our Earth In Space the stories riveted my four-year-old son. He also enjoyed the nice variety of poems and the funny riddles and tongue-twisters. This book will not spend much time on his bookshelf!

An extra bonus is that the book Morris Has a Cold by Bernard Wiseman is no longer in print. But with this treasury, a child can still delight in Morris' hilarious verbal misunderstandings. ... Read more

Book Description

In autumn, a strong wind blows flower seeds high in the air and carries them far across the land. One by one, many of the seeds are lost -- burned by the sun, fallen into the ocean, eaten by a bird. But some survive the long winter and, come spring, sprout into plants, facing new dangers -- trampled by playing children, picked as a gift for a friend. Soon only the tiniest seed remains, growing into a giant flower and, when autumn returns, sending its own seeds into the wind to start the process over again.

Eric Carle's eloquent text and brilliant collages turn the simple life cycle of a plant into an exciting story, a nature lesson, and an inspiring message of the importance of perseverance. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

LOVE IT!!!
I absolutely adore this book! It is soooooo well written! Its pictures are absolutely beautiful! This book is a must for anyone with children! It is just that good! You should buy this book right away! I PROMISE that you will LOVE it too!

Dust in the wind.
A treat for both child and adult nighttime-tucker-in-person. The edition in our home came with seed packets and plastic trowel for hands on gardening by my own "Tiny Seed" when she was 5.

Bloom where you're planted...and hope for kind soil.--Laurel825

The Tiny Seed
This is a very good book. I think that this is a very inspiring story to people who might think they are too small and won't amount to anything. This is not true in this case, it just takes a little longer to develop. The others develop quckly, and they end up ending quickly to. When he keeps going on, and never really gives up. He sure thinks about giving up a lot but never really does. In the end it will work out better for the person who has to try hard to get through everything, something bad is bound to happen to you. When you tr and never give up, you will succeed. You will become bigger and better than anyone who got an east way through life.
Because you had to go through so much on your journey, when everyone else had it easy,when they have to strugge to get through things, you will get to sit back and relax.
And this story demonstrates that just because you are small you can't grow bigger or can't do things. ...

The Tiny Seed
If you want a good book for your children and want to educate them at the same time? Yes? Then you should read this book to them it tells the kids how a read gets from the plant then the seeds spread all over. In a cycle over and over. This story tells about a tiny seed like it was any person in the world because every one is different and this seed is different from all the others.

The Tiny Seed
The Tiny seed is about how a seed from any plant gets to different places to spread the plants around instead of one area. It is about how the plants cycle. ... Read more

Book Description

It's natural for children to be concerned about the arrival of a new baby at their house. Most big brothers and sisters feel loving and tender one minute, angry or jealous the next. With over forty vivid full-color photographs and a clear, supportive text by award-winning author Joanna Cole, this revised edition of a much-loved classic will prepare children for the ups and downs of having a new baby in the house.

"Should help small children sort out and deal with the turbulent mixed feelings that assail them when a new baby comes home." --Benjamin Spock, MD., author of Baby and Child Care

... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best book for upset siblings
I read this book many many times to my children as they expected new siblings (we have three kids). Now I am buying it for my nephew. The reason this book is different from other "New Baby" books is that it gives young children a voice for the often strong negative feelings of having a new sibling. Young kids, preschoolers and younger, can't put words to their emotions. This book shows young children who are angry at their new baby brother or sister, feel they are being abandoned by their parents, feel ignored, feel they don't get any attention anymore, can't stand the sound of crying, hate the smell of diapers that need changing, and more. Your child may not tell you he/she feels these things, but believe me, they all do.
Many parents think that if they keep telling their older child how wonderful the new baby is, and what a big boy/girl their older child is, and "be nice to your new baby," that it will sink in. Well it doesn't work. Older kids are very hurt/threatened/scared but the entry of a new baby in the home. Many liken it to the feelings a woman would have in her husband came home one evening with a new, younger wife and said, "Look what I brought you! Don't worry, I will still love you, even though I love my new wife very much, and I will still have time for you, even though I won't have as much. I want you to love my new wife just like I do, and help her out, because you are older and can do more." HA! Once a young child can see that he/she is not alone in having negative feelings, and can put words to those emotions, they can work on them, explain them to you, and believe it or not, they tend to abate.

Exceelent book
We bought this for our daughter (along with the author's book "I'm going to be a big sister") and our daughter loves it. She loves looking at the photos of older siblings interacting with their newborn siblings. In fact, our daughter already wants to be involved with changing the diaper and giving baths.

Lets see how she feels in a few years when her sibling is three and follows her everywhere.

Good for younger children, too!
I bought this book for my 2 year old as we prepared for his new sibling. Some of the text is a bit too much for such a young child, but the photos lend themselves to telling a story that children of any age can understand. He liked to see the pictures of tiny babies, and also liked to hear how the older children felt about the babies. I think this book really helped him to know what to expect. We have lots of "new baby" books, but I feel this one is superior - photographs rather than illustrations really help young children know what to expect. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eric Carle's distinctive art holds a place of honor in the world of children's books. (He is the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the illustrator of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?.)In this thoughtfully selected collection of poems about animals, you'll meet creatures of every sort, from an ant to a yak. You'll find selections from many cultures, penned by celebrated poets such as Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, Rudyard Kipling, Emily Dickinson, and Jack Prelutsky. Animals, Animals is best suited for older preschoolers and children in the early elementary grades, but the beautiful illustrations will please children of any age, including babies. The oversized format lends itself well to Eric Carle's bright collages--the animals, birds, and insects seem ready to jump or fly right off the pages. (Ages 1 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Animal collection
This book contains a collection of animal poems. The sources of the poems are quite varied, from Emily Dickinson, to the Bible, to Japanese haikus. All sorts of animals are featured, from fireflies to hippopotami. There are no scary bits, and the pictures are great. At the end of the book is an index of the animals and a table of contents by first lines to help you find your favorite poems. The book has about 2900 words.

The Inimitable Eric Carle
From Ogden Nash to Shakespeare, from haiku to Hungarian proverbs, ANIMALS ANIMALS has it all--and it all is illustrated beautifully by the inimitable Eric Carle. His trademark collage-style pictures and jewel-tone colors bring to life an entire zoo in this collection of short poems and poetic sayings about animals. Ants and elephants, octopuses and walruses, and many other delightfully quirky animals tumble playfully across the pages, vividly animating the lovingly selected verses. No need to read it at one sitting, or even sequentially; just open the covers and let the pages fall where they may. This refreshing and entertaining picture book is sure to engage the most restless reader or listener of any age.

Engaging graphics and enjoyable text for all ages.
I have owned this book for several years; I originally bought it thinking the bright and engaging portraits of animals would surely delight my young child. Since then all our children have enjoyed hearing the poems and laughing at, studying, copying, and perusing the creatures that share our earth. A lyrical book, both in text and picture layout, which we won't easily part with for some time, I'm sure.

We love this book!
My kids adore this book and it's great for grown-ups too! The illustrations and poems go together beautifully and the selection of poems is wonderful. There's a great range of different styles and even young toddlers sit and listen. Eric Carle's books are always a hit but this one in particular is fantastic. This book will be one kids will read for years--even when they're adults. We love this book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? will be delighted to see another title in this lilting call and response series. Much like their earlier picture books, Panda Bear features a string of fine feathered (and furry and scaly) friends watching over each other. In this book, however, all the animals are endangered, from a swinging spider monkey to a strutting macaroni penguin (kids will get a kick out of that name!) to a splashing sea lion. Carle’s trademark tissue paper collages will be as familiar--and welcome--as the text ("Whooping Crane, Whooping Crane, what do you see?" "I see a black panther strolling by me."); young readers will quickly get the hang of the rhythm and join right in. The book concludes on a hopeful note, with a dreaming child seeing the ten f! eatured animals "all wild and free--/ that’s what I see!" Martin includes a note on endangered species that may spark concern and interest in older readers--our hope for these disappearing creatures. (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

HOPEFUL AND INFORMATIVE
Wordsmith Bill Martin and artist Eric Carle are an unbeatable team. Much to the joy of parents and young readers this talented duo has joined forces once again - only their third collaboration in 35 years! It was worth the wait.

With "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do You See?" children meet ten of the world's endangered animals - a bald eagle soaring , a water buffalo charging, a spider monkey swinging, a green sea turtle swimming, a macaroni penguin strutting, a sea lion splashing, a red wolf sneaking, a whooping crane flying, and a black panther strolling.

Each animal is portrayed in Eric Carle's inimitable eye catching collages, and the book closes with a portrait of a sleeping child dreaming that one day all animals will be wild and free.

An estimable hope; a book to be treasured.

- Gail Cooke

Not quite as captivating as Brown, Bear
It's a nice concept and most kids will love the words, different animals and the concept of going from one animal to another. Panda Bear was really written because Brown Bear established such a terrific template. In other words it's a sequel. Like most sequels it doesn't quite measure up.

Kids will still enjoy the colorful pictures, sounds of words and guessing what comes next in the story. Perhaps that's all they need. Sometimes the educational aspect is important and sometimes kids just need entertainment. This is entertaining for little ones and it's a simple enough story so that little ones can start pretending to read and feel more grown up.

Great Companion to a Classic
This book is similar to the original Brown Bear book, with illustrations of panda bear, bald eagle, water buffalo, spider monkey, green sea turtle, macaroni penguin, sea lion, red wolf, whooping crane, black panther, and moon-faced dreaming child.

The illustrations are beautiful--Carle's signature watercolor-collage style. While Brown Bear's illustrations show each animal against stark white backgrounds, Panda Bear's illustrations feature them against bold backgrounds. (Younger toddlers may find the red wolf and the black panther a little scary.)

Although this book doesn't lend itself to teaching basic colors and animal sounds the way that the original does, it is a good way to teach the concept of endangered species to younger children. Overall, a great companion to a classic!

Just like the Brown Bear Book
It's the same idea as the other book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" but a panda is the theme so if your kids like that one they'll love this story too. This author has the most beautifully illustrated books for children.

Adorable!!
I love children's books by Bill Martin and Eric Carle. I really love reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" to my preschoolers and when I heard there was a new book, I had to find a copy and buy it. I can't wait to read this book to my class along with the other two books. It is soooo adorable! The pictures are cute and easy for the children to remember. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A Real Treat for Spanish Speaking Pre-Schoolers
Bill Martin's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" is an early childhood classic, and this Spanish translation maintains all of the qualities that make it a hit with younsters. The captivating illustrations soothe even the most rambunctious of tots. The lyric repetition of language make it a natural for developing Spanish literacy or communication skills. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Solomon Singer's Great Angel
This was a good book about a man who grew up in Indiana. He moved to New York. He hated his home in New York. But then he finds a place that reminds him of his old home in Indiana. I recommend this book for all people because it had a lot of interesting topics and good describing words.

An angel for Slomen Singer
Slomen Singer dreamed for things he could not have. During the 1900's he lived in a mens hotel in New York City,and longed for a fireplace, cat, and love. Slomen Singer had no time and the hotel would not alow a cat or fireplace. One day he goes to a diner named West Way Cafe and meets someone named Angel. I recemmend this book to people who long for something but can only get it only in dreams and wishes.

TRULY A CLASSIC
Solomon Singer lives in a men's shelter in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Very little is known about Solomon's background other than he is an Indiana native. This, however, proves to be a very effective tool in the telling of this story.

Lonely, longing for the natural joys of birds and countryside as he knew in Indiana and a friendly person to talk to, Solomon takes to going for walks during the day. A creative man, he dreams of being able to paint the dingy walls at the men's shelter purple; he years for freedom of decision making that he does not have at the shelter.

Luckily for Solomon, he finds the Westaway Cafe, a friendly and fun place. A man aptly named Angel works at the Westaway and the two become instant friends. Angel listens to Solomon and genuinely cares about him. The question is, is Angel really an angel. Yes, he is!

This is a heartwarming, very moving story that will find a permanent place in the hearts of all who read and hear it. One of these days it will become a classic.

heartwarming
this is a great book for all ages. I had to read it for aChildren's lit class and found it to be inspiring and full of hope.Something the world needs more of for sure. ... Read more

Book Description

Ramona is off to kindergarten, and it's the greatest day of her life. So why is she sitting on the bench while the rest of the students play the game gray duck? Laughs and minor upsets abound in an enormously popular story starring the one and only Ramona Quimby! ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Ramona...a Pest?
Beverly Cleary is the master of creating timeless characters and Ramona Quimby is a timeless character. I read this book when I was a little girl, I fell in love with it, and now I am reading it to my 4 year old son, who begs for a new chapter every night.

Ramona isn't really a pest, but just a curious child, but that leads to all kinds of trouble as she starts kindergarten. Because of her new found troubles she almost decides she doesn't want to be there anymore.

Beverly Cleary really knows how to realate to children. It is simply no wonder that she has surpassed at least two generations with her work as an uncomparable author. She makes you laugh and feel all at the same time.

Excellent for Children of All Ages!
This is a wonderful book! I read it to my class of second graders, as a read aloud every school year. Even though the protagonist in the story is a little kindergarten girl. The "aged" 7 year olds in my class still love it! They seem to really identify with this character... who am I kidding I identify with her too!
Who among us has never felt excited about a shiny new pair of boots... or some other piece of clothing?
Who among us has not felt embarrassed when we mistake a song lyric?
Who among us has not been swept up in the moment wanting to squish, squish, squish in fresh mud?
Ramona, just like you has experienced all this and more. This book in Beverly Cleary's Ramona series, is full of priceless childhood moments. In fact it is not difficult to picture our own selves in all these moments.
Ramona is a priceless kid... and this book is full of priceless moments of childhood reflection.
Adults to Kids should exerience this one. It is well worth your time.

ramona the pest
I think romona the pest is not ok for me.
I don't like it because ramona pull susan's hair.

ramona the pest
I think ramona the pest is a good book because ramona like davy and ramona pulled susan boing boing curls and ramona talks back to her sister and she gets in trouble by her perents and she got stuck in some mud in her new shoes and howie helped her get out of there

Ranona the pest
I think the pest is great I Like It because It Is Funny. My favrite part Is whene Ramona pulled Susan hair and whene she got her mask. She went to school and they had a party. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not just for children
This book is for anyone - of any age - who has lost anything of beauty or anything they love. Children will love it, but don't keep it from the adults. I still can't read it without crying.

Deep book about dealing with loss
The best thing about this book is its refusal to play games with your child's mind. Rejecting the shameless tear-jerking of so much media aimed at children, this book embraces the grand tradition of children's books that takes children seriously. This is a book about dealing with loss about about letting go, but also a book that makes the reader reflect on what is good about life. Warts and all, life is sweet. As a historian, I really appreciate that Yolen tries hard to show what her valley was like AND what it is like after the dam is built. Kids are frightened when they see orchards being ripped out for suburbs; this is a book about dealing with that kind of loss.

Should have packed an emotional whallop
"Drowing towns" I had never heard of such a thing and was highly interested in reading this book about a remarkable event in history.
(Though apparently it has happened worldwide)

To be honest .. I was disappointed. What should have been an emotional, impactful story turned out to be rather bland.

The writing was choppy, (difficult to read out loud) pictures ho-hum (even though I love Barbara Cooney!) and the overall intensity was not there as I thought it should be. Afterall we are talking about people leaving the homes and their way of life that had been in their families for generations.

I was expecting better. I think Patricia MacLachlan and Illustrator Ted Rand or Susan Jeffers could have made a real triumph out of this.

That said, _DO_ read this book. It is a remarkable event in history and this book is still worth reading.

moving & important -- a great place to bring your kid's mind
The concept of water -- where does it come from, how do we use it, where does it go when we are done with it -- is a big topic in our busy household. Both of my kids are interested in the environment and conservation, and I think a lot of that interest can be attributed to a small set of books -- Letting Swift River Go among them -- that were a part of their bedtime often throughout the beginnings of their childhood. My youngest son, in fact, is eleven now, but still pulls this book out and reads it to himself and to others on occasion.

You'll find the great writing here that you expect from Jane Yolen, along with a plot that serves as a vehicle for commentary that allows children to look at the cost of progress when it comes to building towns and cities.

Amazingly touching...great for kids and adults
This is one of the best children's books I've read in a long time. The story of the building of the Quabbin Resevoir in western MA is not a wide told story, but it should be. This book is clearly written so children can understand what was happeneing. The illustrations are also wonderful and will keep the children engaged. If you're the grown up reader, don't count on getting through this with a dry eye. It's definatly a book for ALL ages. ~Sarah Aziz Mount Holyoke College Sophomore (age 19) ... Read more

Book Description

Ms. Frizzle's class is learning firsthand about how electricity works--by traveling through the town's power lines. Jumping from atom to atom, the kids ride the electrical current within many familiar appliances, including a television. Full color. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Great Book!
This book is a great book to learn about electricity. My daughter wants me to read it to her over and over, and I have learned from it, too! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest friend.

Now Sarah Byrnes -- the smartest, toughest person Eric has ever known -- sits silent in a hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding, before its dark currents pull them both under.

Reviews (86)

Without doubt, a must read!
No book has ever captivated me as much as this one. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a fiction. yet realistic book written by Cris Crutener. The characters of this book are strong characters that contribute to the greatness of this book. Eric Calhoune, a senior, faces the task of helping close friend, Sarah Byrnes, who was burned in an accident. Sarah's dad, her problem, is not necesaraly someone you'd like to be friends with. Eric faces other small, bothersome problems. The biggest of them all, Mark Brittain, a fellow classmate who constantly lectures everyone on his strong catholic believes. The only thing Eric doesn't despise form Mark is his girlfriend, Jody Mueller Mrs. Lemry, a strong character, is Erics swimming coach and CATS teacher. Eric tries to help Sarah overcome a psycological problem, by visiting her at the psycological center. Soon, he finds out a dark secret Sarah has kept from everyone for a long time. He then becomes involved in a constant fight to keep Sarah safe. This book came to me when i wasn't sure if I still enjoyed reading. Lately, as a student i have not been able to choose the books I wanted to read, and wa not enjoying reading. Choosing this book was not easy. Mainly, I thought I was going to have to face another boring book. I was wrong. As I read the first pages, I found myself cought up in the plot. Without realizing it I finished, what was perhaps, one of the best books I ever read. It's true that this book involves the same kind of drama many books involve, but something about it is different. it has this special thing that seperates it from other books. You will not encounter a language that is boring or too elegant. The language is realistic and so real that young people will have no trouble reading and understanding it. The author has not avoided using bad words: there are plenty that give this book a realistic tough. The characters don't talk like stuffy old people, but like everyday people, making this book even better. This book is great and not a moment! boring, once started it can be diffiult to stop. This book is perhaps the best ever. The author has known how to write a funny, entertaining, realistic book. It doesn't fall in the same category as those books htat constantly repeat the same ending as they all lived happily ever after. Without doubt, this book is a 10!

A powerful, sad, honest novel
Chris Crutcher has tapped into the teenage psyche for this one. This is a most confusing time in any person's life: you are just starting to deal with certain issues (sex, fitting-in, questioning religion, et cetera), and you may be angry and don't know exactly why. I remember my teenage days quite vividly and have found that I can relate to this story on certain levels.
This is a story about Eric "Moby" Calhoune, a so-called fat kid, who bonds with Sarah Byrnes, an outcast burn victim. They form a friendship that is tested on many occasions by Sarah's inability to face her past and her relationship with her father (Mr. Byrnes is one of the most evil characters I have ever encountered in literature). Soon things get dangerous for both Sarah and Moby, but I won't divulge anymore details. You must read the book to find out what happens.
I will only say that while this book centers on abuse (in many forms), it also deals with a wider range of teenage problems. What is so profound about this story is that it could happen, it may have even happened to some of us or someone we know. It's truthful and realistic. Be careful. It may hit you hard when certain things are revealed. If you tend to cry while reading books or watching films, you might want to have a tissue handy when you sit down with this one.

okay not great
While I initially warmed to the story of two outcasts who formed an unusual, acerbic friendship, the author's crystal clear political agenda which shone through with an annoying, un-ignorable glare in many scenes put me off. The best authors have the ability to gracefully handle today's "hot button" issues via writing without beating the reader over the head. Sadly, this was not one of them.

However, most of the characters were three-dimensional (except for the Christians). There is much biting humor in the story, and that was what sustained me through it.

Recommended but for liberals only. Conservatives are likely to be annoyed (and with reason) and toss it into the trash.

Staying Detailed for Sarah Byrnes
Eric Calhoune is the main character and is quite overweight. Ironically, he's on the swim team but even there he doesn't really fit in. His nickname is "Moby" because he's, well, fat. He becomes best friends with fellow outsider Sarah Byrnes. Supposedly, she was covered in scars after pulling a pot of spaghetti on herself. Together, they write an underground magazine depicting everyone that made fun of them. Then Sarah breaks down completely. Eric desperately tries to snap her out of it without her evil father Virgil Byrnes knowing. More and more details of Sarah's life come out as Eric's once boring life becomes an emotional roller coaster.

I thought the book started off very slow. He spends about half the book explaining past experiences in amazing detail. He describes his swim practices in complete detail. If you are a swimmer, this is the book for you.

Some interesting topics come up randomly throughout the book. Political issues to religion are all portrayed from various viewpoints. Strong beliefs to being very liberal are uniquely displayed in the words of teenagers.

Overall, the book is difficult to follow at times. The author Chris Crutcher, has a remarkable sense of detail and is consistently flashing back to past memories of his relationship with Sarah. However, this sets up the ending well. All the questions are answered and the ending is thrilling and unpredictable.

Incredibly Boring
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a friendship/mystery novel. Eric and Sarah have been friends since grade school and he tells the story about the mystery of Sarah Byrnes and her family. Eric eventually starts to lose weight from joining the swim team in high school but Sarah Byrnes gets self conscious about herself and is afraid Eric wont talk to her anymore. To prove to Sarah Byrnes that he isn't one of the jocks, he eats extra helpings of food to stay fat for Sarah Byrnes.

I think the author could of talked about different stories throughout the book. He would drag on and on about one subject that would be absolutely boring if they didn't know or take interest in that topic. Most people wouldn't.

This novel is a little confusing at first because it goes from past to present all the time. I read this book with my literature circle and everyone agreed that the book wasn't interesting to read. In my opinion, it went real slow and was boring. It was hard to keep reading the book when I had too. If you were looking for real friendship romance and mystery books, I'd defiantly think you should try out a different book. The real interesting parts of the story were way at the very end. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. No offence to the rest of the people on the net that read the book and thought it was fabulous. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What could be better than a magic cupboard that turns small toys into living creatures? Omri's big brother has no birthday present for him, so he gives Omri an old medicine cabinet he's found. Although their mother supplies a key, the cabinet still doesn't seem like much of a present. But when an exhausted Omri dumps a plastic toy Indian into the cabinet just before falling asleep, the magic begins. Turn the key once and the toy comes alive; turn it a second time and it's an action figure again.

The Indian in the Cupboard is one of those rare books that is equally appealing to children and adults. The story of Omri and the Indian, Little Bear, is replete with subtle reminders of the responsibilities that accompany friendship and love. For kids, it'sa great yarn; for most parents, it's also a reminder that Omri's wrenching decision to send his toy back to its own world is not so different from the recognition of their children's emerging independence.

The Indian in the Cupboard is also available in Spanish (La Llave Magica.) (The publisher recommends this book for children ages 9-12, although younger kids will enjoy hearing it read aloud.) ... Read more

Reviews (73)

This book is a magical return to childhood fantasies
One of the best read aloud books ever, Indian in the Cupboard takes us on a magical journey to childhood where fantasies seem real. A young boy is in charge of a tiny, feisty indian whom he keeps in a special cupboard with a key that only he holds. He learns the excitement, value and caretaking responsibility of another human being. The imagination and detail draw the reader right into the story. As a school teacher and mother, I have experienced an emotional bonding with my students and son through this book. My son, 9 at the time, put his hands over his face and said, "Mom, this is my favorite book in the whole world." I felt a surge of joy as I watched my son become hooked on reading. One student unknowingly gave Lynne Reid Banks a wonderful compliment when I attempted to show the class a sketch of a picture in the book..."No! Don't show us the pictures!", and quickly covered his face. The descriptions and story-line of this book make it a DON'T MISS for your child's growing up years! RaNae Palme

probably my favorite kid's book ever
Mrs. Bedwell read this book out loud to my third grade class, and years later as I finish up grad school it still holds a special place in my heart.
The adventure begins when Omri discovers that a magical cupboard given to him on his birthday brings to life plastic toys. When he animates Little Bear, a plastic indian that lived about the time of the French Indian War, Omri's perspective on life changes.
What's special about this book is the how resectfully and seriously it takes the it's young characters and their conflicts. Omri and his friend Patrick discover that Little Bear is no toy, he is a real human being with actual life experiences. He has killed people, eats and sleeps, and remembers his own life and culture. As the two boys deal with the reality of keeping a real person concealed from others, they realize that they can't trifle with others' lives. It is this realization, and Omri's ultimate decision regarding Little Bear that make this a lovely coming of age story. Omri and Patrick learn to repect others and their beliefs.
Although Little Bear, the Native American toy brought to life is called an Indian, this book, I feel, is not chracterized by racism or stereotypes. Little Bear is not a western move redman, he's a real human being with a real human personality, and portrayed respectfully and realistically (as much as he can be, considering the plot).
This book is a definite must read for any kid, or kid at heart, who wonders what would happen if toys came to life.
"The Indian in the Cupboard" is one of four books, thought this one is the best. The final book, in which readers learn what makes the cuboard magical in the first place, detracts from the magic amd mystery of the first three books.

Review of the Audiobook - Educators Beware
I recently purchased the audiobook of The Indian in the Cupboard for use in my classroom. I work with students who struggle with their reading and reading along with an audiobook increases student comprehension of the material. I was disappointed to discover that the author (Lynne Reid Banks) changed parts of the audio version. At first, I only noticed a few changes, such as trousers for leggings. Then I discovered that she completely changed parts of the text by doing adding descriptions and by changing Little Bear's name to Little Bull. I'm not sure why the author felt it necessary to make these changes, but it makes it difficult for students to follow along in the book when the audiobook does not follow the text word for word. If you plan to use the audiobook in an educational setting, be aware of these changes.

On the plus side, Lynne Reid Banks has a very pleasant reading voice. It is enjoyable to listen to her.

The Indian In the Cupboard a review by Curtiss
Have you ever wished your toys would come to life? In the novel Indian

In The Cupboard the author Lynne Reid Banks tells us about a little boy

named Omri and his mysterious cupboard he got for his birthday. Omri then

places an Indian doll into the cupboard.

It is Omri's birthday and he gets an antique cupboard that can bring toys

to life. One of my favorite parts of the story is when Boone gets shot by one

of Little Bear's arrows when Omri, Little Bear, and Boone are watching a

movie about the old western times. In the movie the cowboys and Indians

are shooting back and forth until Little Bear gets frustrated and shoots an

arrow and it hits Boone.

Another one of my favorite parts in the book is when Omri and Little

bear and Boone are in the school . Little Bear and Boone are in a pouch

and Omri's friend has the pouch. Then Omri's friend is getting ready to

show a student Little bear and Boone. Omri and his friend then get into a fight.

If you want to see what happens to Little Bear and Omri, I would invite and encourage you to read Indian In The Cupboard.

The indian in the cupboard
My book I reviewed was the Indian in the cupboard. I liked this book a lot. Its about a young boy named Omri who has a poor family. For his birthday he gets a wooden cupboard for his birthday and finds a magical key to lock it. Omri finds out that the little key and the cupboard turn plastic to life. He puts a little indian in and over night it turns real. The little indian and Omri become friends, but Omri has trouble hiding him from his family and from friends. The setting takes place mostly at Omris house and school. The theme is friendship. I liked the story and i incourage others to read it. ... Read more

Book Description

What color is a bluebird? Easy to answer, but even easier when you have thecolor to match it with. Find the color in the top half of a page that matches the picture on thebottom half. From pink flowers to purple grapes, this colorful book is full of fun and surprises.Children will love solving these color puzzles featuring Eric Carle’s bold and vibrant artwork. ... Read more

Book Description

Henry Huggins feels that nothing very interesting ever happens to him. But from the moment a stray dog in the drugstore begs for a taste of his ice-cream cone and downs it in one gulp, everything is different. Henry names the dog Ribsy and decides to keep him. Before Henry even reaches home with Ribsy he spends all of his money, gets kicked off three buses, and enjoys a hair-raising ride in a police car. And that's only the beginning of Henry's exciting new life! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

One day Henry finds a dog and tries to take it home.
One day Henry finds a dog and he tries to take it home on the bus. Henry and Ribsy become best friends. One funny chapter was when they entered a contest and Henry tried to clean up Ribsy and mistakenly put pink powder all over Ribsy and they ended up winning because Ribsy was a pink dog. I am going into 4th grade and I read this book for school summer reading. I liked it a lot.

The book that started it all!
From my understanding, Beverly Cleary was a librarian who could not get some boys to read. They complained that there wasn't anything to read that they could relate to. They asked why weren't there books about kids like them, just average boys? So Beverly Cleary wrote "Henry Huggins" for them- a story of an average boy who gets into all sorts of believable adventures with highly amusing results. It is a GREAT book, and Ms. Cleary introduced to children's literature some of its greatest characters: Henry and his dog, Ribsy; and, in later books, his tomboy friend, Beezus, and Beezus' amazingly pesty kid sister, Ramona. Everyone of the subsequent books in the Henry/Ramona series is fantastic- filled with humor and characters with whom kids can understand and relate. "Henry Huggins" started it all and makes a wonderful introduction to Ms. Cleary's world on Kickalat Street.

TO OWN A DOG
The life of the third grade protagonist becomes more exciting when he finds a companionable stray dog; just getting him home via public transportation proves his first challenge. The friendly mongrel is so thin that Henry dubs him "Ribsy." Soon accepted as one of the family, this dog accompanies his new master wherever possible; in fact he even causes many incidents of local mayhem and amusement. Henry deals with various crises such as lost property, guppy mania, night crawlers, the shool play and a pet show. But a serious threat to their kid-dog
relationship destroys Henry's peace of mind, when a boy appears who claims to be the dog's former owner.

This is Lite Reading for elementary students, with plenty of dialogue, juvenile antics and conflict. This story is enchanced by Lois Darling's cute sketches. Set in those happy days before kids had TV sets, this ALA notable story explores the joys and woes
of pet ownership. No more will Henry need to wish for something

exciting to happen! Hinted themes include the subject of Cheating and the concept of sharing/showing compassion for others. Note to Cleary fans: Beezus and Ramona appear here too.

A Good Light-Hearted Story
Nothing exciting ever happened to Henry Huggins. That is, until the day he met a stray dog and decided that he HAD to keep him. Predictably, he and "Ribsy" have many humorous adventures together, and these stories are what make up "Henry Huggins". From that first ride home that starts on a city bus and ended in a police car, to a dog show that sees Ribsy sporting pink fur, to the final test of loyalty that will make all readers breathless with anticipation, the story is well told. Everything in this book is carried out in a pleasant and easy-to-read manner, so children should have no trouble staying with the story, even if there are few pictures. Even though it was published over 50 years ago, "Henry Huggins" is still a valuable book to have in your collection.

A Review by Jin Huang, Class 5-506
In November, I read a book that was comical. Henry Huggins is a boy that had no excitement in his life until he found a dog on the streets. He was buying an ice cream cone and he met a dog. Then, he wanted to bring him home. He got on the bus home, but the dog ruined everything. Henry got kicked out of the bus five times. Then the police came, and Henry got so scared for he thought the policemen would take him away. Instead, the policemen just took him home. Henry named the dog Ribsy "because you could even see his ribs." The most important part was when Henry entered a dog show because he wanted to win something. Ribsy slid in the mud, so Henry used talcum powder on Ribsy. Henry didn't know it was pink and the judges said "that is a weird dog." Would Ribsy win anything? Or would he lose? A few months later, a boy came and claimed that Ribsy was his dog. Then they had a competition. Who would Ribsy choose?

I hated the part when a boy came because Henry and Ribsy wee having a happy life, but the boy came to ruin it. How come Ribsy was on the streets? If I was Henry I would say "go home" and if he didn't I'll beat him up. Who will Ribsy choose? Who will he want to go with when the competition starts?

I think this book is good for a kid who found a dog without a collar that belonged to someone else because you could see what this boy went through. ... Read more