Reviews (3)

This Books Gives a Priceless Smile
The color and story of Maisy books are just right for a child of a young age. Each page is bright and creative. When reading this book to my nephew, (who is less than 1 year old), and seeing his mother reading it to him, there was something about this particular book that made him smile above any other book read to him. In fact, every Maisy book brought on a smile. Other books didn't make him smile so widely.
There were even pages he seemed to love more than others. Perhaps he found the name Maisy to be funny or the colorfull pages with animals was cute to him. He can't tell me exactly what it is he loves about it, because he is too young to tell me, but the smiles and laughs says it all.
This is a great book, and there are so many Maisy books to choose from. If reading to a child about cleaning as this one is, isn't good enough then there are plenty of other Maisy books to choose from. However, this one in particular made him smile more than ever. I recommend this book, and so does my nephew. :D

I am sure someday he will be reading these books out loud as he learns.

This Book Gave A Priceless Smile
The color and story of Maisy books are just right for a child of a young age. Each page is bright and creative. When reading this book to my nephew, (who is less than 1 year old), and seeing his mother reading it to him, there was something about this particular book that made him smile above any other book read to him. In fact, every Maisy book brought on a smile. Other books didn't make him smile so widely.
There were even pages he seemed to love more than others. Perhaps he found the name Maisy to be funny or the colorfull pages with animals was cute to him. He can't tell me exactly what it is he loves about it, because he is too young to tell me, but the smiles and laughs says it all.
This is a great book, and there are so many Maisy books to choose from. If reading to a child about cleaning as this one is, isn't good enough then there are plenty of other Maisy books to choose from. However, this one in particular made him smile more than ever. I recommend this book, and so does my nephew. :D

I am sure someday he will be reading these books out loud as he learns.

Spring Cleaning at Maisy's
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

However, this is one of my daughters' least favorite Maisy books. Perhaps because they aren't too keen on cleaning up themselves (what two year old and four year old are?). Anyway, Maisy is cleaning her house when she gets some help from a surprise visitor. Who could it be? Hey, read the book if the suspense is killing you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gaily tied up with two red ribbons, Lucy Cousins's unusual, delightful, virtually wordless "book" is in fact a triple pop-up. When you open the covers (vertically, like a door, rather than horizontally), you are introduced to this endearing rodent's kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, like three little dollhouses. In the boldly colorful kitchen is a pop-up table and chairs, and a pop-out-from-the-wall set of cabinets, complete with a range that opens to reveal a baking pie, and many other distractions. Turn the "page" and you come to a bathroom complete with a mirror on the wall, a liftable toilet seat, and a little figure of Maisy to stand in the shower stall. Each room comes with a sheet containing cut-out objects like clothing and small furnishings, to be arranged at will. In the bedroom, a tab turns a window scene from day to night and back again, and a clothes chest has real sliding drawers. Maisy is a character small children can fall in love with. Ingenious. (Ages 3 to 6) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (14)

My 2 yr old LOVES this book
We just received this book as a birthday present last night and I can't tell you how much my daughter loves it. She played endless for HOURS with it. We finally had to go to bed and she cried for 30 min! She woke up this morning asking for it. If your child loves Maisy, this is perfect. You get to be in Maisy's world. I love that it's not electronic and high tech-it's perfect for little imaginations to explore and invent.

Wonderful playhouse!!!
I was actually pleasantly deceived by this "book" I purchased this via Amazon over the star reviews and the fact that my daughter LOVES Maisy and her books. I didn't even realize that this is a pop up house of Maisy's bathroom, kitchen and bedroom. There are pop out food and plates to put it the cupboard, fridge that all really open. A stand up Maisy doll with multiple outfits to change her in. Even a pop out bed with a cover for her! This is a wonderful toy for a preschooler and enhances their imagination. The only problem that I truly see in this "book" is no where to store all the little pieces it comes with. I just attached a ziplock to the book to prevent the tiny pieces from getting lost. This was my 2.5yr old daughter's favorite Christmas present - I don't think she was quite old enough to keep it very neat but she has played for hours and hours! I purchased another one for when she is a little older. Very reasoable price and a sure pleaser!!

independent play
My daughter received this book when she was just a little over two years old. She was already a Maisy fan. What shocked me was that she disappeared into the bedroom one day, and when I went to go check on her, she was quietly playing all by herself with this. I didn't figure it would last long. Finally, almost an hour later, I had to go in and get her to go to the grocery store. She is almost three now and STILL loves to play independently with this book/toy - it's the only toy which occupies her independently for hours on end. I bought her the farm version too, which she also likes. A definite winner!

A toy not a book
This is a "book" that folds out to a house - complete with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. It has accessories, including Maisy, her toy panda, sailboat, rubber ducky, clothes, toothbrush, hairbrush, food, drinks, etc, etc. The cupboards and fridge open to reveal food, dishes and more. The bathroom has incredible attention to detail, including toilet paper that actually rolls out a little. I have a 3 year old daughter and she will play with this for hours. The toys are made of paper which is pretty durable, but are showing some wear. It doesn't bother her. This is one of her favorite toys and she plays with it every day. At first I was worried about the set getting ruined by little hands, but it is holding out very well. I highly recommend this toy for Maisy fans. There is a Maisy Farmhouse which is a great companion to this one.

Our 2-year Old Always Asks to Play With This Book/Toy
I got this for my daughter's 2nd birthday and she adores it. She always asks for "Mady" (Maisy), so I tie the red ribbons and set up the whole house for her. The only annoying thing about it is the clean-up of all the tiny little cardboard accessory pieces. I think some of them are in our vacuum now. ... Read more

Book Description

The chameleon's life was not very exciting until the day it discovered it could change not only its color but its shape and size,too. When it saw the wonderful animals in the zoo, it immediately wanted to be like them -- and ended up like all of them at once -- with hilarious results.

Reviews (6)

The Mixed-Up Chameleon, School Project
I think that "The Mixed-Up Chameleon" by Eric Carle is a really great, fun and interesting, and a great learning experience for children. Personally, I have loved this book since as long as I can remember. In the beginning, it describes a chameleon that is bored of its boring life. He then goes to the zoo and sees all kinds of different and beautiful animals. Astonished by the sight of all of them, he wishes to become them one by one. He must wish to be about ten animals including a person. After all of this excitement, he sees a fly and...... Well, I can't tell you what happens! Buy this book and your child(children) and you can find out together.
This is the type of book that you can read and enjoy for years and years. Although, if I had to lower it down to a certain age group, then, I would have to say it's mostly for children from the ages 5-8. But don't get me wrong, I'm defiantly not telling all of you that are older not to read this book.
For all of you parents out there:
This book is a great choice for children that are in the learning process of reading. It's easy to comprehend and there are not many words that will be stumbled on. Also, it has a great lesson behind all of it. You can wish to be something else, and if that wish comes true, then all it will tell you is that you were perfect the way you were before. Wishing to be something else will just make things difficult in the long run.
So after hearing all that I have to say do you think you'll be interested in buying a book like this? Trust me, it will be worth the money and a great buy.
Also, I just wanted to say that if you enjoy this book, then I believe that you will enjoy every single one of Eric Carle's others. He is an amazing author.

Great Artwork, Strong Message
Eric Carle's "The Mixed-Up Chameleon" tells the story of a little chameleon who hates the fact that he changes color to match his surroundings. He notices a zoo and all the wonderful and distinctive animals there. He begins to wish for (and receives) various elements from the animals ("I wish I was tall, like a giraffe" is one). The chameleon ends up as an assemblage of parts which look great on the original animals, but don't do very well all together. The rub comes when the hungry chameleon cannot reach the fly to eat it. He wishes to be himself again and regains his true form.

My kids love this book, not only for the beautiful artwork, but also because as each page is turned, the new animal whose feature the chameleon takes is shown, so at the end, all the animals are shown at the edge of the page. I like the message that being yourself is always the best, and that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

Wonderful for the Classroom
This is a story of a chameleon who is not happy. He thinks he is not exciting. He sees some beatiful animals at the zoo and wishes he could be like them. The animals he sees are: a white polar bear, a pink flamingo flamigo, a red fox, an orange fish, a brown deer, a yellow giraffe, a green turtle, a blue elephant,and a purple seal. Each time the chamelon sees a new animal he wishes he could be like them. The chamelon's body begins to dipict a part of the other animals. At the end of the story he wishes to be back to normal. This book could be used in the classroom when the students are learning their colors. It could be used to reinforce squencing. The students could retell the order the animals appear. The illustrations are are wonderful in this book. The students could construct torn-paper designs to illustrate the chameleon.

Story grows on you
We read this book after Brown Bear and Polar Bear and about the same time as Hungry Caterpillar. While my 2 1/2 year old son, Brian, loves all of his Eric Carle books, he's particularly taken with this mixed-up chameleon. From the first page, there are already new concepts to grasp, such as seeing the chameleon turn "brownish" after it moved onto a "brown" tree, "reddish" on a "red" flower, and "yellowish" on the "yellow" sand. That's just Page 1. Subsequently, Brian would then read out loud, how "I wish I could be HANDSOME like a flamingo,"..."smart like a fox",..."funny like a seal" at which point he'll go "hahahahaha". He's only had the book for 3 weeks and he's already "reading" almost the whole book by himself. The story has a moral to it too, about how the chameleon, after wishing to be all the things it wasn't, ended up so mixed-up that it finally wished "I could be myself." We have great fun reading about the chameleon together, as we do about the other Eric Carle characters: hungry caterpillar, brown bear, polar bear, and little cloud.

A colorful story with a valuable lesson
Eric Carle has a beautiful way of telling stories that touch the heart and teach valuable lessons. The Mixed-up Chameleon tells a story about the importance of being yourself. My 2 year old loves the bright pictures and easy to follow story. Another loved Eric Carle story! ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. "This introduction to sharks keeps within a

first-grade reading level without sacrificing information. Cole tells about

different kinds of sharks, and facts on their food consumption and innumerable

teeth. The text makes clear that few sharks eat people and that sharks come in

a variety of shapes and sizes."--Booklist.




... Read more

Reviews (6)

Hungry, Hungry Minds
My son, a college sophomore these days, made me read this book to him so many times when he was little that I can still recite some of it by heart. Beyond the wonderful illustrations and fascinating facts about sharks, this book has a very playful way with language that immediately captures a young reader's attention. If you have any little oceanographers at home, or even if you are simply trying to get some wiggling, non-scientific, prodigies to calm down and get ready for bed, by all means, pick this one up. Your kids will love you for it.

I didn't know so much about sharks until I read this book
I like't the book. I did't know that more people die from bee
sting's than from shark bites!

hungry hungry sharks
The book Hungry Hungry Sharks by Joanna Cole is a good book if you like sharks and you want to find out what they eat or how they live. This would be the book that you would want to read to find those things plus you can find lots more about sharks than what I listed above.

4 1/2* Fact-Filled!
This is an excellent book for the budding oceanographer (or the beginning reader). It realistically shows the shark as predator (some of the pictures show sea animals being eaten by sharks, but the illustrations will probably not be upsetting for most), and as victim of the smarter, more teamwork-oriented dolphins. The book does a great job of reporting interesting shark facts; for example, there are more than 300 types of sharks, the dwarf shark is no bigger than a hand, a barrel of nails was once found in a shark's belly, etc. 47 pages long, the publisher recommends it for readers in grades 1-3. A good beginner book.

A Review of "Hungry, Hungry Sharks"
"Hungry, Hungry Sharks" was one of the first shark books I bought as a child. Now, as a teacher, I still use this book to provide some factual information to my students. The words are simple enough for a primary student to read, and the illustrations justify the reading. The information in the story is factual, and children love hearing about the sharks. It's a good book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Mia Hamm and How She Started
I would recommend this book not only to people who love soccer, but to everyone who enjoys a true story about a great athlete and role model. The story of Mia Hamm is basically about how she was introduced to soccer and how she follows her dream to be the best women's soccer player in the world.

The book is really better than it looks like!
On teh field with Mia Hamm by Matt Christopher was a very goodbook. I didn't have a very good idea who Mia Hamm really was though.The only thing I know is a professional soccer player. I aw the book and it looked pretty interesting. I'm about a quarter of the way through the book and I'm liking it so far. Usually I don't read books , let alone a whole book.

This book is the best!
This book is by far the best i've ever read. It has great pictures and has lots of info on Mia. I think she is the best player i've ever seen. So this book was very interesting. If you love to play soccer, and enjoy watching and learning about Mia , this is THE perfect book! Once you start reading it, you won't stop reading until you've finished! SO GET OUT THERE,GET OFF YOUR BUTT, AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER, AND READ! ... Read more

Book Description

"Ms. Frizzle warps her students back to the late Triassic period, where they begin a journey forward through time in search of Maiasaura eggs. . . .Sidebar information provides the hard science, timelines, and maps of continental drift. . . . Grades two to five." ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Adventure Millions of Years in the Making!
As if Ms. Frizzle's field trips weren't time-consuming enough, now she's decided to take her class back to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! Has the Friz gone mad? Who knows what kind of animals stalked the very land we stand on millions of years ago? This joyful journey to the Jurassic could end up a perilous predicament in the past!

Written in 1994, "The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs" is yet another wonderful collaboration between Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. It's Visitor's Day in Ms. Frizzle's class. Parents, relatives and friends are coming to see the students' work in all things dinosaurs. But not before the Friz makes a special announcement.

"Our class has been invited to a dinosaur dig," she informs her students. "We'll be leaving right away."

And, just like all the other field trips Ms. Frizzle has taken, this one ends up being bigger than originally planned. So big, in fact, it can only be described in prehistoric terms!

The students learn all about fossils (anything left from ancient animals or plants), as well as the scientists who study them (paleontologists). They also get to see how these scientists go about their work, using chisels and shovels and burlap and plaster. Then the real adventure begins when the Friz suggests to the class that they all go looking for some Maiasaura nests. And the only way to do that, of course, is to blast into the past!

Students will recognize some of the more well-known dinosaurs featured in this tale - Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex. But they will also be introduced to lesser-known plants and animals from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods - Cycads, Ferns, Elasmosaurus, and Lambeosaurus. Each different geological period represents a variety of creatures, habitats and temperatures.

Were dinosaurs part of a herd (meaning, did they live in packs?), or were they solitary creatures? Were some dinosaurs caring parents, or did they leave their young to fend for themselves? What brought about the end of a species that existed for so many millions of years? But most importantly, will Ms. Frizzle's class ever return to the present day?

As with every book in the "Magic School Bus" series, Cole and Degen wrap up their latest narrative with two things: 1) "From the Author's Desk and the Artist's Drawing Board" helps distinguish fact from fiction in the story; and 2) another clue as to the next riveting field trip the Friz has planned for her class. To weather that storm, the students had better be packing umbrellas and windbreakers! Things could get a little foggy!

Six excellently executed books into this series, and Cole and Degen haven't missed a beat. The writing is superb, the story engaging, and the artwork as clever and informative as ever. Parents and children alike will delight in a story that offers all the thrills of an amusement park ride, yet all the comforts of a favorite reading chair. So hop aboard the magic school bus!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Goodness gracious, we've reached the Late Cretaceous!"

Not accurate information, be careful using this one
The info in this book doesn't follow the Bible facts about the creation of Earth, man and animals. Be careful using this book. Make sure it follows an explaination to your youngster about Bible truths. This is a FICTION book and not based on facts.

While I usually like Magic School Bus books; not this one!
There are so many "info-narrative" books about dinosaurs for children I was disappointed in this one. I am sorry to be the dissenting opinion but I am not impressed with this book. I would use a different book.

The Frizz and Co. in the Land that Time Forgot, via Heinlein
It is not surprising that this is one of the best-selling children`s science series`. My five-year-old loves the pictures and story, while the seven-year-old also appreciates the plethora of facts, as well. The engaging and humorous text is packed with information and complemented by lively and amusing illustrations. The boys love the cartoon bubbles and the short "reports" by the kids in the story. The indomitable teacher, Ms Frizzle and her morphing wardrobe challenges her students on these amazing fieldtrips.

IN THE TIME OF THE DINOSAURS is about: dinosaurs and fossils. Obviously too broad a subject to cover thoroughly in this slim volume, but there`s plenty to whet the appetite. There is a real paleontologist at a real dig. And the bus turns into a time machine. The colorful charts and final class display keep us in perspective. The kids always have questions about something. Thank you Ms Frizzle, Ms Cole, and Mr Degen for answering and encouraging them.

great presentation of just the right amount of information
My son, who is 3 and a half, loves this book. Everytime we go to the library he asks to borrow it again. It's time to own it now. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

We love this book
My 1 year old son just got two Maisy books for his birthday. This book was one of them. It is amazing to see how much he loves this book. He brings it to us and makes us read it over and over and loves to lift the flaps. This has made bedtime stories much easier (since he is never still).

KIds Love These Lift the Flap Books
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

This is a lift the flap book in which the childen are lifting flaps in search of Maisy. They find all of her friends before finally locating Maisy. That sneaky little mouse; hiding at the end of the book. One caution, the kids might get a little aggressive with the flaps and tear a few, resulting in the purchase of a new lift the flap book.

She loves it!
My 5 month old simply loves this books. She gets excited whenever we bring it out to read. It's almost like she's anticipating to see what's behind the flip cover.

Mother of 14-month old
My daughter has had this book for about 6 months now and it's still her favorite (she has dozens of other books). I'm here ordering more of the Maisy series. Among her other favorites are the Baby Einstein books from their website.

Grandmas Take Notice
My two year old granddaughter thinks Maisey is the best. She has been fascinated by all the books and videos. Quiet, kind, simply presented characters teach colors, letters, and friendship. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Second grade is not turning out the way it should for Ramona Quimby.Her dad has lost his job, her mom has found a full-time job, and her big sister Beezus has "reached a difficult age." In her inimitable way, Ramona decides to take charge. She practices TV commercials in hopes of earning a million dollars, but only ends up insulting her teacher and getting into a prickly mess with some burrs. Then she embarks on a campaign to make her father stop smoking. Mr. Quimby manages to hold up under all these strains, but the challenge is on for the whole family to prove their mettle.

Once again, Beverly Cleary proves her own mettle in this touching and hilarious Newbery Honor Book. Beloved author of over two dozen children's books, and recipient of many awards, including another Newbery Honor for Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and a Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw, Cleary's instinct for children's jumbled emotions is flawless. Alan Tiegreen's adroit line drawings perfectly complement Cleary's style; it's hard to imagine one without the other. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Review from a 3rd Grader: Don't miss Ramona And Her Father
Wow! This book was amazing and spectacular. I loved it. Some of the parts were sad but it was happy at the end. It was about a little girl in second grade. She lives with her sister Beatrice, her mom, and her dad, and of course Picky-Picky, their cat. The funniest part was when Picky-Picky ate the jack-o-lantern. It was so funny. I love this book. You should read it. It is called Ramona And Her Father.

Beverly Cleary Gets Serious.
Beverly Cleary wrote some of the funniest books ever written for children with her Henry Huggins/Ramona series. However, her Newbery honor winner "Ramona and Her Father" marks the beginning of Mrs. Cleary's decision to include more serious situations into the lives of her characters to go along with their comic adventures. This book revolves around the very unfunny and realistic situation of Ramona's father losing his job. (Undoubtedly, Mrs. Cleary drew upon her own childhood memories of her father's unemployment during the Depression to tell this story.)

Ramona's life is turned upside down by her father's unemployment. Her father is cranky and depressed, her mother tired from overwork, and older sister Beezus, the funloving tomboy of the Henry Huggins books, is now a temperamental teenager. The book chronicles Ramona's attempts to deal with this difficult situation, and results are touching and very often hilarious. Despite its serious subject matter, the book still retains Mrs. Cleary's comic touch. This is one very funny book! The chapter about Ramona's hope of becoming a TV commericial actor, which she believes will end her family's problems, is one of the funniest Mrs. Cleary ever wrote. If I had to pick one book from the entire Henry Huggins/Ramona series "Ramona and Her Father" would be the one. Ramona's experiences with a difficult family situation are told with humor and candor.

Stockard Channing Reads Ramona
Since no one seems to have left a review pertaining to the audio edition, I thought I'd add my 2 cents. Stockard Channing's reading of all the Ramona books is excellent. She puts a lot of emotion into her readings and gives what I consider an almost theatrical performance. It's been 10 years or so since I last listened to one of her readings, and I can still hear her voice in my head when I re-read the Ramona books. Definitely think about buying this set. They're perfect for long car trips or just sitting around the radio at home. :)

Ramona and Her Father
Cleary, B. ( 1975). Ramona and Her Father. New York: Avon Books, Inc.

Synopsis: Ramona is having an average, ordinary day. Ramona, her mother, her sister Beezus, and even her cat are in the kitchen. Ramona is waiting for her father to come home from work. She is writing her Christmas list months in advance and hoping that when her father comes home, they can go to her favorite restaurant since it was pay day. However, everything changes when her father comes home with the bad news that he lost his job. During this time, Ramona also goes on a crusade to help her father quit smoking. Ramona and her family show that although her family is having financial problems, they work together to remain strong for one another. The reading level is 5.1.

Evaluation: The main conflict is between Ramona and her father. At first, Ramona is happy to be able to spend more time with him since he lost his job, but notices changes in him. Now, he is more irritable and this is where the tension occurs. Ramona is also worried about her father's smoking habit and wants to help him quit. Ramona also struggles because she wants to make everything better for her family. Children can definitely relate to this when there is a family problem and they want to help. The dialogue and narration makes the story very realistic. The conflicts are also realistic. The problems that arise from the father losing his job also create realistic situations like the fact that the cat is even being effected by financial stress. The dialogue helps to lighten the seriousness of the conflicts. The dangers of smoking and losing a job are very serious, but the dialogue helps ease the severity. Ramona's character helps to make the story humorous. This is why children have enjoyed Ramona's adventures for so many years.

Beverly Cleary's Best Book
This is my favorite book by Beverly Cleary, and I've read a lot of her books. Cleary is both realistic and funny as she describes the ups and downs in the life of the poor but happy Quimby family. There are so many parts in this book that I love: how the Quimbys make do after Mr. Quimby loses his job; how Ramona tries to make her father stop smoking so that his lungs won't turn black; how Ramona realizes that she can feel good about herself even when everyone around her is cross; and how Ramona learns what a happy family is really like. Beverly Cleary is one of the very best writers I know. She knows that children are more intelligent and mature than adults give them credit for, and she knows the importance of both the family and the individual. Her books are always funny, touching, and memorable, and this one is her best. ... Read more

Book Description

Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle Two Board Book Bear Set (Brown Bear and Polar Bear)
For a limited time buy two of the classic "Bear" books from Bill Martin Jr. and Erick Carle in one easy-to-order package. ... Read more

Book Description

The barnyard rooster crows and Jack wakes up -- hungry, of course! What does he want for breakfast? A big pancake! But first, Jack's mother needs flour from the mill, an egg from the black hen, milk from the spotted cow, butter churned from fresh cream, and firewood for the stove. Will Jack ever get his pancake?

With his trademark vibrant collage illustrations and a lively text, Eric Carle has created a mouthwatering tale for young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great food book
This is a great book about where food comes from. One morning Jack decides he wants a pancake for breakfast. His mother tells him "Fine," but first he has to go get the wheat from the field and winnow it and then take it to the mill and help mill it. He also has to collect an egg from the chicken, milk the cow, churn the butter, and cut firewood for fuel for the stove. By the time his pancake is finally ready to eat, he's really hungry!

This book fascinated the kids.
Pancakes, Pancakes! is another beautifully illustrated Eric Carle book for the youngsters. My son likes nothing better than a huge plate of pancakes for breakfast and was attracted to this book immediately upon viewing its cover depicting a large, happy pancake.

Pancakes, Pancakes! tells the story of a hungry little boy who wakes one morning with a craving for pancakes. He asks him mom for pancakes but she's too busy and tells him to collect the things needed to make them instead (they apparently don't sell the frozen ones in this story). He's a good little boy and does so without complaint. He has to make the flour (by hand!), wait for the hen to lay an egg, milk the spotted cow, churn the butter and so on until he has all of the ingredients assembled. Frankly, I was surprised this poor child didn't complain and then collapse from exhaustion! Finally, the sweet boy gets his pancakes and all ends well.

My kids were riveted to this tale and especially enjoyed the illustrations. They were particularly fascinated by the page containing a picture of the ingredients the boy collected. The story also invited a lot of questions (my kids are used to microwave pancakes and were quite bewildered by the lengths the boy had to go to for breakfast). They both seemed to enjoy it very much and, best of all, it held their attention and made them think and ask questions instead of zoning out while I read. All of this combined with the beautiful art work makes Pancakes, Pancakes! a keeper for us.

Pancakes, Pancakes!
The story "Pancakes, Pancakes!" is a wonderful book for children. Eric Carle is a great author and has many other good children's books. This story is about a boy who wants pancakes for breakfast but has to do the work to get it. He has to get the wheat, butter, milk the cows, get eggs from the chickens, and build a fire and everything just so that his mother can make him a big pancake. I think this book teaches kids that you have to work to get what you want. Overall, it is a good story and I think kids can learn from it.

Pancakes, Pancakes
If you and your kids (ages 2-7) like to eat pancakes. You will surely enjoy helping them make pancakes with you in the kitchen after reading this yummy (though not edible) book. Your taste buds will salivate and you'll be heading to the cabinet to check for ingredients to help your little ones make fresh pancakes.

Pancakes, Pancakes!
Pancakes, Pancakes has been my favorite "elementary" book for years! I love this book even now and I am in middle school. Eric Carle is a great children's author. I have about every one of his books he has ever written. The illustrations are beautiful to look at and the stories are so appealing to young readers. Great job, Mr. Eric Carle!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

If each orange has 8 slices and each slice has 2 seeds, how many seeds are there in all? You'll have fun wether you multiply, add or count your way through the math puzzles hiding in the world all around you.

In this companion volume to How Many Snails?, dynamic illustrations and appealing words combine to introduce beginning math concepts and reinforce visual literacy.

Reviews (2)

Each Orange Had 8 Slices: A Counting Book
Cute counting book with colorful illustrations. Gives 3 sets of numbers and asks 3 questions in each "section." Better than average. I would recommend this one for K and 1st grade, as well as teachers and parents.

This book can be used with upper-elementary aged kids too!
This is a wonderful book to use in patterning, multiplication, and creative thinking! I use the book in my classroom in so many ways, with children up to third grade! We read it, then make up our own "Math Riddles" to put into our own class book. Example, Three fish had four fins each, with eight dots on each fin. How many fish? How many fins? How many dots altogether? ... Read more

Book Description

"The rousing notes of the bugle and the laughter and shouting increased the feeling of rebellion within Ralph. As the last strains of the bugle call hovered in the clear mountain air, Ralph made up his mind. He knew now what he was going to do. He was going to run away.

Fed up with his timid mother and uncle and his squirmy little cousins, Ralph hops onto his toy motorcycle and zooms down the road to summer camp. It turns out camp is not all peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fun. A strict watchdog, a mouse-hungry cat, and a troubled boy named Garf lead Ralph on some fur-raising escapades. Perhaps home isn't such a bad place to be, if only Ralph can find a way to get there again.

Reviews (19)

Runaway Ralph
...Runaway Ralph is about a mouse who runs away from home with his motorcycle and ends up in happy acres camp. Personally I think Beverly Cleary (the author) is trying to tell how bad it is to runaway from home. The book is so good I rate it a 5 out of 5.My favorite part is when Ralph is trying to escape from a cat and knocks almost everything in the craft center down. As you can see Runaway Ralph is a really good book.

Under the Wheel of Excitement
Runaway Ralph is a totally awesome book to read, and I encourage you to read it too! This book is filled with laughs and a mouse and his motorcycle that are out of their minds for adventure. Ralph (the mouse) lives in an inn called Mountain View Inn and has to deal with his timid mom and uncle and many little bratty cousins. Finally, he decides he has had enough and escapes on his motorcycle to Camp Happy Acres. However,Camp Happy Acres is not what he expects. He finds himself caught in a butterfly net by a guy named Garf and put in a cage. Perhaps home isn't such a bad place to be. Will Ralph find a way to get back home on his motorcycle if he runs out of fule? Well, it's up to you to find out. So don't wait any longer start reading now!

Run Away Ralph By Beverly Cleary
Imagine sitting under a huge grandfather clock at a motel until the strike of nine o'clock. Thats's exactly what Ralph did that night. Ralph is the only big mouse besides Uncle Lester, and he is adventurous. All of his other relatives are little, annoying brats that wants a ride on his red motorcycle. So he runs away to Happy Acres camp where he meets a kid named Garf. Garf is a kid who likes to be alone. Garf is also adventurous. This is a very adventurous and exciting and cool book. This book is for all ages. If you like adventurous books,this is your kind of book. I'm sure you will like the part when chum fills up his mouth with sun flower seeds. If you like Judy Blumes writing then you will like this book. This book is right for you!! By William Smithwick

Extraordinary Ralph
Are you looking for a good book to read? Whell if you like mice and motercycles you will love this book. It's one of the best books on earth!
This book is about a mouse named Ralph s.mouse and a toy motercycle that really works! Raiph runs away from the hotel wich he lives at and goes to a boy's summer camp and gets into big trouble, but i'm not telling you what happens there.
My favorite thing about the book is how big of a heart Ralph has in his territory and how well Beverly Cleary decribes Ralph's adventure.
Theres's nothing I think the author could do better because the book is so awesome.
The theme of this book is if you run away , you'll soon find you want to come home.
...

Brave Ralph
I read the book Runaway Ralph by Beverly Clearly. I like this book because the character shows that he is brave. The reason I think he is brave is because he went out on his own and survived by himself. My favorite character in the book is Ralph because he is brave and in the book it shows that he is not afraid of anything. When I was reading the book there was some parts that where very exiting and some parts where he got in to problems. After reading the book I rated the book 4 stars because there are also some parts that are not that good. This book is good for 3rd and sixth graders because they would like it very much. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

To love a poem
This book provides a good start to teaching children to love poems. It contains the one element necessary to every successful poetic verse: transformation and magic.

The book opens with a William Blake epigraph: "O! How I dreamt of things impossible."

Inside are 32 poems, from a range of sources, including the Book of Job, Sir Richard Burton, William Shakespeare--and every poet's demi-god, Ranier Maria Rilke.

Each verse is wonderful in its own right. The words alone make this book alive for kids: Reading several of these poems to a class of second graders elicited cries for more. I ran over time, and ended up reading half the poems.

The brilliant illustrations add their own glory. Alyssa A. Lappen

A magical land...
We just bought this book for our seven year old son. The collection of poems, combined with Eric Carle's magical drawings has taken our son to a new world filled with dragons, unicorns, and all kinds of fantastic creatures. This is the world of a child's imagination and there is no one like Eric Carle to bring it to life...Read to your child, stare at the beauty of the art work and you will travel together to a magical land.

A wonderful way to introduce children to mythology.
In a world where Teletubbies rule and purple dinosaurs cavort under hot studio lights, it is refreshing to find a children's entertainment devoid of pretension, which combines a bold design sense with quotes from genre stalwarts (Anne McCaffrey and John Gardner, among others) to form what amounts to a kid's first mythological primer. It's also a great way for adults to revisit the subject, as it delves not only into classical Greek and Roman lore, but also into the oft-ignored realms of African and Asian mythology.

Does not quite live up to Carle's usual artistic quality.
Unlike most of Carle's books, this one is for a slightly older audience. I chose it because it has my two year old son's namesake (Griffyn, though spelled with two i's) in it. The poems or stories are not as pleasing to the ear or as readable as Carle's usual. ... Read more

Book Description

Ms. Frizzle¹s class has been studying the senses. But they¹re in for a real lesson when assistant principle Mr. Wilde ends up behind the wheel of the magic School Bus. He and the kids take an amazing ride into the eye of a passing policeman, the ear of a child, and the nose of a dog! On the way they learn facts about sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. But how will they get back to school with the Friz? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Parental guidance required
My science-loving eight-year-old son really enjoys reading books from the Magic School Bus series, and the topic and plot line of this one engaged him as well. But early into the book, he was asking me about nearly every other word. When I looked more carefully, I realized the reading level was higher than other books he had read in the series and many of the facts were things I had learned in junior high. I decided to take over, reading the book to him and explaining many of the topics in more detail. Don't get me wrong -- he really enjoyed the book and learned some "cool" new things about the senses. It just wouldn't have made much sense without my involvement.

Science
This book is based on the television show the magic school bus, with Mrs. Frizzle. The book contains great factual illustrations for the reader. The students of Mrs. Frizzle's class are learning about the senses so they get into their magic school bus and shrink down, and go into a students nose and from there they continue to the other sensory organs. I like the format of this book because it is very active instead of reading from a textbook the children can get the same information but have fun while they are learning. I also like hands on activities and this is as close as hands on with a book as you can get. It also gives small science experiments and reports that the class has written for the child to read. The author has such great imagination and brings the fun back into learning science.

Good science explanations but overwhelming for youngsters.
The Magic School Bus brings another cute story into print this year with Exploring the Senses. The story is somewhat predictable - the bus shrinks and children pop in-and-out of various parts of the body. But the basic explanations of the senses is good. Children ages 8 and older will learn about hair cells, smell cells, taste cells and rods and cones. The topics are a bit broad and children may need to read it several times to understand the science concepts. No experiments are included (unless you have a magic bus!). However, children will learn that we have many sensory cells and that each of these cells sends nerve signals to the big decoder - the brain. (From The Science Spiders(TM) Newsletter). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Too simple, no substance
I was disappointed and am reconsidering ever buying books online again! You can't really see what you are getting, and this is just too simple to be useful.

Doctor Maisy
If your child loves Maisy books as much as mine does, definitely add this one to your collection! Not only are the pictures colorful and inviting, but it also makes going to the doctor seem fun and exciting! Plus, it's always great to see Maisy and her friends playing different roles and doing fun things! Each page brings delight to my child's eyes! ... Read more

Book Description

This soft, lovable Angelina with movable arms and legs is a perfect likeness

of her picture book counterpart--right down to her winsome smile. She's 9-

inches tall, she's costumed in a removable tutu, and she's packaged in a

see-through box that folds out into a theater stage. A miniature paperback

edition of the original Angelina book, Angelina Ballerina, accompanies

the doll making this an irresistible gift for any child.




... Read more

Reviews (10)

My daughter's Idol
My daughter has fallen in love with this book and the character of Angelina so quickly. It is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations and we enjoy reading it so much. My daughter was already interested in ballet but this book has brought her imagination to a new level. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a young girl.

Fun for any aspiring ballerina
Katharine Holabird's "Angelina Ballerina" is fun for any aspiring ballerina. Angelina Mouseling--a wee white mouse--loves to dance, to the exclusion of all other activities. She won't clean her room, she won't help clear the table, she listens to neither her mother or her father because she is dancing, dancing, dancing at every waking moment. Everything changes when her parents recognize that her interest needs to be taken seriously. Mr. and Mrs. Mouseling do just that when they go shopping and come home with--ooooh!--a ballerina's tutu for Angelina to wear.

Shortly thereafter, Angelina begins ballet lessons. Her perseverence pays off and she becomes a famous ballerina. In the interim, however, the attention her parents have paid to her love of ballet pays off in the form of her willingness to do all the things she didn't want to do before, because now she can dance all she likes in ballet class and in recitals.

I agree with the comments that have been made about the subdued sexism here. Angelina is presented as someone who is too fast and too nimble for the boys on the playground, but later in the book--once she has gotten what she wants--she is described as letting the boys catch her after all. It's a jarring note in an otherwise perfectly charming book.

Special mention must be made of Helen Craig's detailed, charming drawings. She doesn't completely anthropomorphize the mouse characters--they are clearly little animals, with anatomically correct limbs and quivering whiskers, but Craig somehow manages to humanize them and make them utterly winsome and dear. All around a very nice book for the aspiring ballerina!

Adorable Book For Your Ballerina
Angelina Ballerina is a little mouse, whom loves to dance. She dances all over the schoolyard, and through the house. Finally her parents enroll her in a ballet class, where she becomes one of the best students.

Angelina Ballerina is enjoyable for little ballerinas of all ages. Not only will it encourage your little ones to read, but to also have faith in themselves when trying something new. The illustrations will also make you and your little ones smile in excitement. A must have book for all ballerinas.

My daughter's favorite!
We bought this book at a festival of books. The author did a reading and then signed the books. Ever since then, my 5 year old, Xotchitl, has not put it down! It is a great book! She is hoping that Santa Clause will bring her the rest of the Angelina books!

Best Children's Ballet Book
I think that Angelina inspires young dancers to fulfill their dreams. She is spunky and delightful. It's the perfect little gift for a young child. They don't have to be interested in ballet to enjoy this book. I am a pre-professional ballet dancer. This book means a lot to me for it was my favorite book when I was younger and it still is one of my favorites. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the first day of third grade, when Ramona Quimby meets hereventual nemesis Yard Ape, life moves on at its usual wild pace--usual for the boisterous Ramona, that is. Soon she is accidentally squashing a raw egg into her hair at the school cafeteria, being forced to play Uncle Rat with her annoying young neighbor, and, worst of all, throwing up in her classroom. The responsibilities of an 8-year-old are sometimes daunting, especially in a family that is trying to squeak by while the father goes back to school. But Ramona is full of too much vim and vigor to ever be down for long.

In her second Newbery Honor Book about Ramona (the first was Ramona and Her Father), Beverly Cleary presents another slice of the Quimby family life. Author of more than two dozen children's books, Cleary has a true knack for understanding the tangle of thoughts and emotions in a child's mind and heart. Empathic, witty, and astute, she has earned many other awards, including the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. Alan Tiegreen's clever line drawings have charmed countless readers of Cleary's books over the years, and his style is now inextricably tied to hers. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Fun
A characteristically enjoyable Ramona book. Obviously Beverly Cleary has never forgotten what it's like to be a kid. She's very good at showing that children have feelings and thoughts of their own and how children can be both petty and noble. Also, Cleary never talks down to her young readers, using such words as "reflect" and "apparent," which not all grade-schoolers might be familiar with. I think her books are very aspirational, showing children that they can be more than they are. Ramona, to me, is the embodiment of aspiration, with her creativity, imagination, and talent for self-actualization. When I have children I will have them read all the Ramona books, especially my daughters. I want them to read about girls who are strong and self-reliant. I liked this book because it introduced the character of Yard Ape, who is described as "sturdy" and "smart and lively," the perfect foil to Ramona herself. I must say I didn't see why this book got a Newbery Honor; I enjoyed other books in the series more, like Ramona and Her Mother, and the other Newbery Honor book, Ramona and Her Father. But I still enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to readers of all ages.

Ryan S, Age 10 reviews Ramona Quimby, Age 8
This was a great book because it is about a girl and some of the things that happen to her during 3rd grade. Her dad used to be a check out person at the grocery store, now he is going back to college. Her mom works at a doctors office. Her older sister Beezus just started middle school. Money is tight in the Quimby house and Ramona and Beezus try to help out as much as they can. Some bad things happen to Ramona. One day at lunch she cracks an egg against her haed and realizes that it is not hard boiled and it meeses up her hair. The she gets sick and throws up all over her desk at school. The Quimby's car gets sick and needs a new transmission and it costs a lot of money. One rainy Sunday tha Quimbys decide to go to Whopperburger for dinner and a nice old man pays for their dinner. They realize that they may not have money but they sure do have love! Ramona Quimby, AGe 8 is a good book for kids to read becuase a lot of the same things that happen to Ramona could happen to us!

Ramona Quimby Age Eight--Read it!
Ramona Quimby Age Eight

In the book Ramona Quimby Age 8 Beverly Cleary tells the life of Ramona. Ramona is a short brown haired, brown eyed eight year living in the city. In the beginning Ramona had the first day of third grade. After school Ramona had to go to Howie her preschool friend's house to play. Pretty soon she got bored of going to Howie's house. Later, Ramona got an egg dropped on her head in the cafeteria. Ramona also threw up and had to go home. I would recommend this book for ages 7 and up. There is no violence in this book. It really is a great book and the ending is very exciting.

Ramona Quimby
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is a great book. The book is about a girl named Ramona, her sister, Beezus, and her mom and dad. Ramona and her sister attend school like any other boy or girl. Ramona has interesting things happen to her at school. Once, she cracked a raw-egg on her head while she was following a school fad. She has an average family and a normal life. Her family isn't rich, but they get along just fine. They fight sometimes, but they work it out. Read the book to find out more about their family and their lives.

Romana is Truly a Character
Although it is easy for many of us to forget what it was like to be little it is obvious that Beverly Cleary has never suffered from this problem. She shows that children have feelings and thoughts of their own. Her skills as an author are also present in the way she regards her younger readers as intelligent individuals while teaching them that they can be more than they are with a little thought and work.

Ramona is creative, imaginative, talented, and of course active just as every other eight year old would be. Not only are her active escapades entertaining, but so are her thought processes. Watch and enjoy as Ramona strugles to keep happy in some very potentialy traumatic times. ... Read more

Book Description

When Ms. Frizzle's class takes a field trip to the local weather station, they end up in a hurricane. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The magic school bus inside a hurricane
I liked this book because it is a good way of showing what a hurricane looks like, how they work, what i can/can not do. It talls you how they are formed and where you can go to be safe from a hurricane.

Aw, heck. What's not to like?
For those familiar with the "Magic Schoolbus" series, Mrs. Frizzle's adventures with her class all have a similar plotline. Mrs. Frizzle explains some scientific topic, whether it's the solar system, the dinosaurs, etc. and then lures her children onto her special schoolbus for an adventure. During the adventure the only child that is regularly singled out as the perpetual schlamatzel is Arnold, a boy who doesn't care much for adventures, thank you. In the end, the class is safe and has learned quite a lot, despite themselves. Even Arnold. Then there is a "letters" section in the back where readers wishing to complain about scientific inaccuracies (in this case, how dangerous it would be to be caught in a hurricane) are one-upped by already existing letters. The particular plotline in this hurricane obsessed book was not too dissimilar from the others, and was a lot of fun. I used to read these books to kids that I babysat back in my high school years, and certain types of children love them. The pages are always busy with text, speech bubbles, experiments that kids can do at home, and various factoids sprinkled hither and yon. I do wonder how long these series will last before it is regarded as hopelessly dated by the young. Please note that the review previous to my own was last written in 1997. Currently the show is doing well as a tv series, voiced by Lily Tomlin. Just the same, it would be very difficult to read this book to a group of kids. The books are relatively small and crammed with so much extra text that children will want to handle them one on one, rather than with a large group. Each book would pair well with a companion non-fiction book on the same topic.

This imaginative book has the creativity to keep kids alive.
I'm a kid and watch the Magic School Bus on TV. The books are even better! When Arnold gets lost in a hurricane on one of Ms.Frizzle's wacky field trips, the kids need to know the parts of a hurricane to find him. I thought it was creative and funny to include a radio that knew everything and could dance. By the time Ms.Frizzle's class goes on the real field trip, they have become experts on hurricanes. The weather team is amazed at the intelligence of the students. This book is great because it's not like those other books that lag on and on about one subject without any excitment. The Magic School Bus books make subjects like hurricanes, fun to learn about . I liked how the kids knew more than the weather team. I give this book two thumbs up!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of the Best!
This fantastic book depicts the story of an early farm family who raise animals, work their land, and make just about everything they need. That is only the begining! The story flows well, starting with a family working together preparing goods for papa to trade in town. It continues with papa trading or selling everything he has brought, including the ox team which he rode into town. He comes home bearing new items, (and a few treats!)to give to his family so they can begin preparing for another year, and another harvesting of goods to sell and trade. Gorgeous color illustrations will transport little ones into the more simple setting of a slower paced life, feeling of clean air, no electricity, and the satisfaction of seeing accomplishments and the rewards of patience and tasks well carried out.

Life in Historical America
The journey of a settler who packs up his cart with surplus that was grown, handmade, and raised on a farm in historical New England. The story takes the reader through what a family has to do to survive during this time period and what each part the family had in that survival. From a historical perspective an awesome book. With the love of history that I have on a personal note this story gives me clues to my own ancestors survival needs. I have two copies of this book one at home and one in my classroom. Very detailed illustrations, very accurate information on the settler's way of life and need for trading or selling off goods that the family helped make. The portrayal of the family with no electricity and providing their own means of survival. The story tells us that the farmer travelled ten days to reach the village of Portsmouth. I would've like to know which direction he came from, whether he had to travel from the south, the north or the west of the village. I would've also like to have know what he saw and who he might have met along the way.
Classroom Activities I do with this book:
Math - Seasons, Sequencing, Money, Trading/Selling, Time Art - Draw the seasons, quilts, weaving, looms, broom making, Science - Make candles, grow a pototo from a seed, make maple sugar,
Social Studies - 13 Colonies, Mapping Skills, Clothing, Occupations, Cooking
Reading - Write a sequel or pre-story to this book, illustrate one aspect of story or write about who he might have met along the way and which direction he came from.

Have you seen, the Ox-Cart Man, the Ox-Cart Man...
Most books that focus on continuity and the circle of life/the seasons/etc. like to concentrate on that theme via animals munching on other animals. We sometimes forget that there are subtler ways to present this same theme. Consider the lovely "Ox-Cart Man" by Donald Hall. A 1980 Caldecott Award winner, the