Reviews (19)

The Most Extraordinary Children's Book
When the Sky is Like Lace by Elinor Lander Horwitz should absolutely be reissued. I can't believe that it is out of print. A friend is having a baby shower and out of the hundred books my two year old loves to hear, this is an absolute favorite. We regularly read him my husband's copy from childhood and I wanted to be able to share this with my friend's child. The story is fabulous, fanciful, rhythmic, and utterly beyond my imagination. The drawings are so deeply rooted to the story that they seem to move as you read along (such as when the trees "eucalyptus" or when the sky is "bimulous"). I am so grateful to my mother-in-law for tucking this book away for all those years. Please please someone reissue this book so more children can relish the fantastic images and situations it creates for us. Much gratitude to the author for her tremendous gift that she shared with us back in 1975 and that I will continue to extend to other children as my son and his friends grow.

Magical, amazing, WONDERFUL book for children or adults
This book should be brought back into print right away! I am fortunate enough to own a copy, but when I looked it up to buy a copy for a friend, I was saddened to find it out of print. This is definitely one of the top 3 children's books ever written that is generally unknown to the public. This is very sad, as every child should grow up reading this book! I was enchanted with it in my childhood, and still am. I could not wait until I could share this gem with my own children. My 3-year-old son now loves it as well. The fanciful storyline leads children into a wonderful land that is part real, part fantasy. The illustrations are magical. The words are wonderful...they add to the imagination of the story in a wonderfully lyrical way. An example: "the trees are aslant at the midnight end of the garden..." and even the recurring theme of a "bimulous night when the sky is like lace." Please, someone, re-print this amazing book! On nights when "the sky is like lace," my son now points out, "Look mommy...it's bimulous!" No child should be without this captivating, enchanting picture book.

THE PERFECT CHILDREN'S BOOK - FINALLY BACK IN PRINT
Both the young and the young-at-heart will adore this wonderful and wondrous book. The bewitchingly lyrical text is complemented sublimely by the beautiful illustrations. My two children couldn't put their copies down and nor could I.

Every child should have the good fortune to be gifted with "When The Sky Is Like Lace". This book is a perfect - and delightfully "different" - gift for every occasion, from birthdays to baby showers. It's a rarity amongst children's books - a true keeper that will become a family favorite for generations to come.

Please Reprint this Book!
I remember reading this book to my daughter 20 plus years ago. Now I want to get a copy to read to her children and cannot find it anywhere except at "collectors" rates. I just want the book - doesn't have to be a first edition or anything. Please someone reprint this book!

Please Reprint This Book!
I first heard of this book while taking a Children's Lit course in college. When our professor read it aloud to us as an example of one of the finest pieces of children's literature she knew, I was stunned that it was out of print. I checked it out of the college library over and over and never tired of its flowing, musical, beautiful text and its equally inspiring pictures. I am crushed that I can't find an affordable copy to buy. Why is this amazing book out of print? I want to pass copies out to every child (and most adults) I know. I want to read it to my own children someday. ... Read more

Book Description

Children all over the world have grown up with Eric Carle and his "very" books. Now, for the first time, three of these classic board books are together in their own little library! Packaged in a beautiful slipcase, the timeless The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Lonely Firefly, and The Very Busy Spider make a collection essential for every new baby, and every child beginning the road to reading. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A really great buy
Of course, these Eric Carle books are gems. Each story is fun because they are interactive. Lights flash at the end of Very Lonely Firefly, and the intricate paging of Very Hungry Caterpillar are great for baby and toddler fingers. But try and buy these seperately, and I'm telling you that you just can not beat the price of this boxed set. It is a great, great, deal. This makes a perfect gift for a baby shower, or birthday. Since the books are the board edition you know that they will last a while too. ... Read more

Book Description

Durante veinte aÑos, La mariquita malhumorada ha deleitado a los pequeÑos lectores y oyentes. Sus dibujos audaces y su texto humorÍstico nos relatan la historia de una diminuta mariquita, como no hay otra. La mark quita malhumorada no acostumbraba a decir "por favor' ni "gracias"; no le gustaba compartir nada; pensaba que era mÁs grande y mÁs importante que los demÁs; y siempre estaba lista a provocar una pelea. De acciÓn continua y con atractivas pÁginas troqueladlas, esta historia invita a los niÑos a explorar los conceptos de tiempo, tamaÑos, formas y buenos modales. AprenderÁn,a la vez que se divertirÁn, con el cuento de cÓmo esta malhumorada fanfarrona se encuentra con "la horma de su zapato" y se convierte en un insecto bueno y educado.Recientemente reimpreso, utilizando las ilustraciones originales, La mariquita malhumorada, mÁs atractiva que nunca, continÚa siendo uno de los libros preferidos de los niÑos por su originalidad y su belleza.

Amazon.com

The creators of George Washington's Teeth unhinge the jaws of history to examine the mouth of America's first president, tracking the poor man's dental woes as he gallops to war, crosses the Delaware, and, with only two teeth left, takes his place as leader of the country. Washington was plagued by black, rotting teeth from the time he was 22, losing about one a year until he was nearly "toofless" and had to have his first dentures made from a hippotamus tusk (that's right, not wood!). Poets Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora begin their quirky historical tale at a lively clip: "The Revolutionary War/ George hoped would soon be won,/ But another battle with his teeth/ Had only just begun..." Indeed. Evidently he was losing teeth even as he crossed the Delaware: "George crossed the icy Delaware/ With nine teeth in his mouth./ In that cold and pitchy dark,/ Two more teeth came out!" (Cleverly, illustrator Brock Cole mimics Emanuel Leutze's famous painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware," making Washington seem more uncomfortably tight-lipped than dignified.) The story ends happily ever after with the crafting of a nice new pair of ivory false teeth that allow George to dance around the ballroom through the night. Truth be told, however, he would be deeply troubled by his teeth until the day he died. A four-page, illustrated historic timeline of Washington's life (and mouth) completes this carefully researched, very funny, charmingly illustrated picture book that works to humanize a larger-than-life historical figure and in turn, history itself. Brilliant! (Ages 7 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

New Perspective
An intersting new perspective on George Washington. It makes him seem more human to children. Young children are intrigued to have the myth of wooden teeth squelched. Ther book provides a historical timeline in the back. This is a great book for children of ALL ages. Even I, an older child and teacher, learned some things. I had no idea our first president was so obsessed with his teeth and that he had such an active role in the solutions to his dental problems. Highly recommended.

Everything young kids will want to know about George's teeth
There are lots of ways of chronicling the change in the national temperament, and one of them is that when I was a kid it was the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree that was what stood out. However, the inquiring minds of the nation's youth today are now going to be more intrigued by the legend the first President had wooden teeth, which is precisely how Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora, aided and abetted by Brock Cole's pictures, manages to teach young readers a nice little lesson in the finer points of historiography.

Told in four line verse, "George Washington's Teeth" relates an imaginative set of encounters between General Washington and his dentist as the number of teeth in the mouth of the Father of Our Country decreases one by one over the years leading to Independence and the Presidency. Well, that is not entirely true since the authors have Washington losing two teeth the night be crossed the Delaware, but that left him with seven at that point in American history, which is a lucky number that fits the victory at Trenton. Eventually Washington is elected President, which is good, but has no teeth left, which is bad (especially when having your portrait painted). Fortunately, he comes up with a solution.

The first part of "George Washington's Teeth" is pretty whimsical, but then the last part of the book contains a time line of important events in George Washington's life from his own letters, diaries, and accounts. However, instead of dealing primarily with the highpoints of Washington's personal and political life, we learn about what historians have uncovered about his teeth: from having already lost two teeth by the time he was twenty two and the rest were all black and rotted, to eating pickled tripe because it does not hurt his teeth, and a letter requesting plaster of Paris to make some false teeth. These are the sort of bizarre historical details that can trick young readers into thinking history is fun.

There are even photographs of Washington's last sent of dentures. For the record, they were not wooden, but carved from hippopotamus ivory, the palate swaged from a sheet of gold, and springs made of coiled gold wire. Hopefully there are some other small nuggets of historical gold that Chandra and Comora, or like minded individuals, can turn to for books in the same spirit as this one.

WELL RESEARCHED AND WITTY
Here's the real truth on our first President's tooth! No, he didn't really have a set of wooden teeth. But, poor man, the Revolution wasn't the only battle he fought. We learn in this delightfully illustrated book that from the age of 24 he lost a tooth a year. Hence, by the time he reached the presidency there were only two teeth left. (Their whereabouts in his mouth seem to be unknown).

Based on historical records as well as Washington's letters and diaries this is a sprightly, fascinating account of the root of his problem (pun intended).

Youngsters will learn a bit of history as well as enjoy a rollicking good read. For instance, they'll learn about Washington crossing the Delaware, and that he then had only nine remaining teeth. He didn't have too many teeth to chatter during the frozen winter at Valley Forge as there were only seven left.

According to a letter Washington wrote he did at one time wear false teeth secured by wires hitched around his remaining teeth. His last set of dentures were made by a Dr. Greenwood, and carved from hippopotamus ivory.

This is a well researched book complete with excerpts from Washington's letters and diaries. Witty pastel illustrations enhance the text. For all ages.

- Gail Cooke

Fantastic fun, and history too!
Comora and Chandra have made a book to delight wordsmiths and history buffs alike. A verse narrative, each stanza informs by amusing. The great craft of the poem is never visible, but always in evidence -- none of the inane repetition that often informs such efforts is found here.
The whimsical illustrations are more than fine, and laid out to support and complement, rather than compete with the words.
A true delight for President's Day, and many others besides.
Bravi! ... Read more

Book Description

All your favorite Ralph Mouse tales in one boxed set -- just in time for the holiday season! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Runaway Ralph
Our little friend back. He is sick and tired of all his little cousins wanting to ride his mouse-siezed motorcycle. For this he decides to runaway for he sees his mother and uncle not helping him. Ralph envisioned fun, freedom, and delicious crumbs of penut-better-and-jelly sandwiches at camp Happy Acres. Though instead he encounters a strict watchdog, a mouse-hungry cat, and more fur-raising escapadles. If you are looking for fun and dangerous adventure than this is your book.

School was Never like This!
Hooray--our motorcycle riding little friend is back,and he's just as spunky and determined to be a Night Rider as ever!
If you enjoyed Ralph's antics when he received his very own motorcycle, you'll be delighted to continue reading his new adventures--this time at school. Also he has new boy to talk to and con into serving as his pit crew, accomplice and general gopher.

Feeling very much unappreciated by his
extensive rodent family, Ralph decides to leave the Mountain View Inn to spend a week at Ryan's school--hey, there's nothing like a complete change of scene to forget one's problems, not to mention, drown a slightly guilty conscience. But one never can count on the reactions of human beings; instead of being terrified by a live mouse in her classroom, the clever teacher
improvises an entire MICE unit for her students. Activities include pure biololgy, scientific experiments and literary data entries.

Unfortunately, her class falls victim to shoddy journalism, which proves a lesson for us all. Even feisty Ralph learns some non-violent strategies to cope with rowdies and bullies. But tragedy strikes during Ralph's acadeic sojourn; alas, will he ever ride his beloved motorcycle again? Or earn the respect of his family? A darling tale which will entertain kids of all ages!

Mouses Dreams Come True
This book is great to read because it has alot of adventure for people who like books that have adventure.Ralph the mouse,is a curious little mouse that has a lot of dreams and tries to make them comer true.I would recommend this book o everyone and I'm pretty sure they would love it.

it's about time!
It's about time someone put these books in a box! Beverly Cleary's beloved tales of Ralph the mouse and his motorcycle have been enchanting young readers for a very long time- I first read them 13 years ago.
Cleary has written countless wonderful books for children of all ages, from the numerous Ramona stories to the award-winning Dear Mr. Henshaw. The Mouse and the Motorcyle is aimed at the younger end of her audience, and kids can't help but love Ralph, the spunky little mouse with big dreams, who lives in a hotel and wants nothing more than a chance at riding that red motorcycle, the motorcycle that will lead him into countless adventures with his human friends.
In Runaway Ralph, Ralph's visit to a summer camp turns out not to be at all what he expected. Can he avoid the more unpleasant kids in the cabin, and get back to his hidden motorcycle?
In Ralph S Mouse, Ralph goes to school in a human friend's pocket, unaware of the new adventures in store, that will earn him the name of Ralph S-for-smart Mouse.
These books are a marvellous addition to any child's collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whether she's sipping nectar from beautiful flowers, avoiding hungrybirds and fish, dancing with a butterfly, or bravely protecting her entire hivefrom a big bear with an even bigger appetite, this honeybee is always on themove. Eric Carle's updated classic features truly inspired feats of paperengineering, including a galloping bear and a spectacular butterfly that looksas if it will take off at any moment. There's not a gratuitous pop-up, flap, ormovable piece of art in the book; readers will gasp with delight at every page,with every reading. The charming story is still a showcase for Carle'sdistinctive collages, in delectable golds, earthy greens, shimmering blues, andwarm browns. This version is smaller than the original, and the text has beenrevised slightly, with younger readers in mind. A clever new interactive coverallows children to make the villain bear's eyes cross as the angry looking beestings his nose.

Carle's bold, appealing style is known and loved by happy readers everywhere,who return again and again to TheVery Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Quiet Cricket, The Grouchy Ladybug, and hismany other very popular titles. (Preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THE KING OF COLORFUL COLLAGE DOES IT AGAIN!
Eric Carle, the king of colorful collage, has been delighting young readers for sometime now. This sturdy board book reissue of his 1981 classic is simply another jewel in his crown.

Bug-eyed, red nosed and eager, a honeybee exhorts her neighbors to go out and gather nectar. Pull a tab, and you'll see her fly. Another tab opens flower petals so the bees can sip nectar.

She's a swift honeybee, this one, as her tab-told story unfolds - she escapes a bird, a fish, and a frog to play with a vibrant winged pop-up butterfly.

But once she returns to her hive she hears a frightening noise. She thinks it must be a robber. What kind of a robber would try to steal their honey? What can the bees do to defend themselves. Pull some more tabs, and you'll see.!

Easy for young hands, a delight for young eyes, and a smile for the young at heart.

A wonderful interactive addition to our Eric Carle library.
My children and I always anxiously await any new addition to our Eric Carle library. It's hard to believe that our next book will meet our high expectations, but they always do. The honeybee and the Robber was a new angle to his interactive collection which we thoroughly enjoyed. My children had plenty of opportunity to share the moving pictures and read the book over and over.The beauty of this book is that the children enjoy "reading" it to themselves using the moving parts to stir their imagination ... Read more

Book Description

It is Tim's birthday. Instead of a package, Tim gets a mysterious letter -- written in code! Tim -- and the reader -- are off, following the clues. And at the end of the treasure hunt is a wonderful birthday surprise!

Reviews (3)

Toddler Fun!
This book is about a boy (Tim) who had received a secret message for his birthday. You must follow the message, which is teaching shapes and through the wonderful illustrations catches the concepts of these shapes associated with this world. The pictures wonderful as all of Eric Carle's are and this is a fun adventure!

Pointy Star
I love this story, but the board book version of it worries me because there is a page with a cut out star that is very pointy. The way my little guy examines books makes me afraid that he would poke himself in the eye.

This is a wonderfully engaging book for children!
My daughter received this book for her 1st birthday and although she was too little to "follow" the symbols of the "secret message" she adores the shaped pages, the large pictures of easily identified objects - moon, stars, rock etc. and the birthday present at the end which you can peek through to see the page before was her absolute favorite. I need to purchase another copy for her because she has just about worn it out! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Hot Day at Maisy's Place
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 workd.

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.

It's a hot summer day and Maisy pulls out her pool to cool off. But she runs into a few problems when she finds a leak in the pool and then has her friend Eddie the Elephant decide to sit in it. Will Maisy ever be able to cool off?

Perfect for one-year-olds!
I've read this book so many times to my 15-month-old, I can recite it from memory! He started going nuts for it around the time he turned one; that's when he wanted a little more of a story line. This book and the other three in the group (Maisy's Bedtime, Maisy Dresses Up, and Maisy Makes Gingerbread) are one step up from the one-picture-and-one-word per page kinds of books for babies, but not so high up that they start having way too much text per page. A typical page in this book is "Maisy and Talullah are feeling hot." Just one or two simple sentences and one wonderful bright Lucy Cousins illustration per page-spread; ten page-spreads total. ... Read more

Book Description

In six tense, exciting short stories, athletes face up to more than sports in tales of love and death, of bigotry and heroism, of real people doing the best that they can, even when that best is not enough.

These stories feature new voices as well as characters from Chris Crutcher's acclaimed popular novels, including Stotan!, Running Loose, and The Crazy Horse Electric Game. Here are the moments that change lives forever. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

This is a keeper!!
Being a high school athlete, this is a cook that I was really able to relate to. Each character in the story shows that he/she is able solve his/her problem through their sports. All of he characters display high morale, which leads them to what they want at the end of their story. an example would be Angus, from the story "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune." He believed that no one should be treated as he was, and at thet end of the story, this trait won over his high-school sweetheart. These stories all show good kids goig through their tough teenage years, and the ways that they cope with these tough times. This book was one of the best that I have read. It showed that no matter how bad the situation is, you can always get what you want in the end if try for it hard enough.

Vinny review
This was one of my favorite books. I loved it! The way the book was worded kept me on my feet. The way it relates to life in such a manor is great. Chris Crutcher impeccabley wrote this book. My favorite story is "The Pin" because so many of those things in the story have happened to me. I would recommend this book to anyone from the age of 13 and up.

Excellent
Athletic shorts, by Chris Crutcher is a book about 6 short stories that describe athletes triumphs. I loved this book. Its would interest me around every corner. I would just wanted to continue reading. The only bad part of the book was that it had to end.

Great Read
I thought Athletic Shorts was a good book because it was easy to understand since it was about sports. All the stories could hold my attention which made me want to read the next page. i thought that was a great way to write a sports book with 6 short stories all in one book. I could really relate to it because i like sports alot. I reccomend this book to anyone that like sports.

Courage shown by the imperfect facing the impossible
Another great book by Chris Crutcher -- this one containing six short stories with troubled or stressed teens facing difficult situations. The last two, on the themes of racial prejudice and sexual preference prejudice, are especially powerful. ... Read more

Book Description

A companion to the best-selling Anna Banana: 101 Jump-Rope Rhymes, here is a collection of nearly forty fingerplays and action rhymes that have been chanted, sung, and enjoyed for generations. Children and their parents can join the eentsy, weentsy spider in its climb up the waterspout, pretend to pound in a nail while singing "The Hammer Song," and tip their bodies over for "I'm a Little Teapot."

Included are such favorites as "The Wheels on the Bus," "This Old Man," "This Is the Church," and "Where Is Thumbkin?" as well as such lesser-known rhymes as "My Hat" and "Birthday Cake." So say them, sing them, act them out -- action rhymes are fun for everyone!

Reviews (3)

nice book of fingerplays
This book contains 38 finger plays, from the well-known (I'm a Little Teapot) to ones I've never heard of (Here are Mother's Knives and Forks). Each is in big type with large illustrations to show you how to do the fingerplay. For those that are sung, musical arrangements are at the back of the book, along with a bibliography and index.

Excellent resource for the fingerplay challenged!

Joanna Cole succeeds again
As someone with training in folklore, I always trust a book with Joanna Cole's name on it. This book does a very good job of showing (rather than desscribing) the actions and provides the words and music. As it is folklore, you will find some of the fingerplays or action rhymes from your childhood as well as new additions to your repetoire. As I have come to expect, I believe that the publishing company has underestimated the age range for which the book is appropriate ... listen to your young friends after their first camping trip with the cub scouts, bluebirds etc. and you will find that even at that ages children are teaching children some of these plays.

Fantastic book to keep kids entertained
I love this book! I use it all the time when I want to keep kids up to 6 years old busy. I have kids who visit who beg me to bring out the book to do the finger plays. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description

Now available for the first time as a coloring book, Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar will delight children as they bring their own imagination to this classic story.Including a new introduction by Eric Carle, as well as blank pages at the end of the book for your own pictures, this is the perfect way to turn story time into coloring time.At the same time interactive and timeless, this is one coloring book you'll want to save as a keepsake! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Who are Maisy's Favorites?
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.

Maisy is visiting her favorite animals in this board book. Short but fun book for the preschool set. Care to guess who her favorite animals are? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

MAgic school bus "cake"
I liked this book, it was interrasting and it had made me read more and omre till i got through it all. I like the part when the shrunk and the guy was chaseing them and the flew into the cake and went into the oven i didn't think there would make it out.

Kitchen Chemistry Fizzes
When their inimitable school bus goes on the fritz (or should I say, "frizz"?,) the students get worried: this is one field trip they don`t want to miss. They`re trying to give their unique teacher a surprise birthday party and need to get to the bakery for the cake. When they finally reach their destination, the unstable bus suddenly shrinks, with everyone in it, to the size of a moth. They dodge the baker`s fly swatter and Ms Frizzle while using kitchen chemistry to get the job done. My boys and I miss the volume of information and mini "reports" of the original series, but they still learn and have fun at the same time. They have a new respect for cooking, as edible chemistry. And the baking soda experiment at the back of the book is a rainy day standby in our household: we love the fizz from the Frizz!

I liked it.
I liked it because the baker thought the magic school bus was a moth. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fascinating anthology with a story from every culture.
This rich, nearly 800-page long volume contains two hundred carefully-selected folk and fairy tales from all over the world that include adventure, mystery, romance, humor, drama, fantasy and horror. You will find this book difficult to put down whether you enjoy it on your own while recapturing the sense of wonder you experienced when you read the stories for the first time, or you read from it to your children in family gatherings or at bedtime.
Organized by geographic region, from Europe to the Middle East to Asia, Africa and America, this wide-ranging collection includes some well-known stories like "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Beauty and the Beast", and not so known, but equally charming ones like "The Forest Bride" and "The Fire on the Mountain".
Moreover, the wonderful introduction of this volume explains the considerations that went into selecting the tales, commenting on the origins, evolution, lore, collection and study of the world's folktales, analyzing their motifs, and even presenting interesting comparisons between them.
As a bonus, this book includes a category index at the back to help you choose the tales according to their topic, including tales of Wise Men and Judges, tales of Giants, Ogres and Male Monsters, and tales of Ghosts and the Supernatural, among others. A thorough index of titles is also available.
Overall, this is the best collection of fairy tales and folktales available in a single volume.

Great for short or long reading sessions!
Nearly 800 pages of adventure, humor, and thought abound in this wonderful collection! Included are the tales everyone knows like Rumplestiltskin, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and others we loved as children. But this book also includes wonderful imgainative fantasy that won't appear in every children's fairy tale book. Did you know about the giant who had no heart in his body? How about the mean spirited half-chicken who eventually became a weather vane? This book contains 200 stories from all parts of the world, more varied than the "Small World" ride at disneyland, and just as enjoyable for those who love to read!

Sit down with this book and open a page at random, and guaranteed it will be difficult to put down! Each imaginitive story can be read in only a few minutes, but there are so many of them that it will be difficult to remember them all, and the stories themselves make for great conversation pieces, or to tell to children (which was their original intent after all.) A must read for those who love ancient fantasy!

An excellent collection
Cole's collection of folktales was published originally in 1982. It's ability to stay in print is a testament to is great depth and array of fairy tales from around the world. The tales are organized by region in the table of contents and are grouped by topic and themes in the index. This is a great standard collection of fairy tales for any library. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Clever Design! Delightful Book!
My 4-year-old daughter, who is fascinated with ballerinas, has enjoyed every Angelina book I have read to her. We were excited to find this latest story about her favorite dancing mouse. In the story, Angelina finds a large envelope containing two tickets to see Serena Silvertail perform with the Royal Ballet. But each time she asks a friend to attend with her, they have other plans! This cleverly designed book features page-sized envelopes containing actual tickets, letters, and postcards that children can pull out and read. My daughter's favorite is the large pull-out poster of the Cindermouse ballet. The only problem we have had is that my less-than-gentle 2.5-year-old daughter was also eager to enjoy this book. I've repaired a few envelopes with tape and I have to verify the pull-outs are still inside the flaps before reading the story again. Definitely recommended reading!

Lovely book for a child who loves ballet and Angelina
This book is a nice story and the pull-out tickets, letters, poster, etc. added a wonderfully fun dimension to this book. I wouldn't give this book to a child much under 4, however, unless you happen to have one that is really meticulous about keeping things nice. It would be very easy to mess up the book or lose the pull-outs, which are important to the plot.

We bought this as a gift. Can't wait until my little ballerina is old enough to have it. ... Read more

Book Description

Only in the world of the theater can Nat Field find an escape from the tragedies that have shadowed his young life. So he is thrilled when he is chosen to join an American drama troupe traveling to London to perform A Midsummer Night's Dream in a new replica of the famous Globe theater.

Shortly after arriving in England, Nat goes to bed ill and awakens transported back in time four hundred years -- to another London, and another production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Amid the bustle and excitement of an Elizabethan theatrical production, Nat finds the warm, nurturing father figure missing from his life -- in none other than William Shakespeare himself. Does Nat have to remain trapped in the past forever, or give up the friendship he's so longed for in his own time? ... Read more

Reviews (38)

A new world
With this novel, I think that Cooper has created a fun and original work. It is a story of a boys acting company who travel to London to preform at the rebuilt Globe Theater. For one boy, the trip involves not just a voyage across the Atlantic, but a journey in time as well. Nat Field finds himself back in Elizabethian London acting in the role of Puck in Shakespeare's personal production of A Midsummer's Night Dream.

This odd transposition in time allows for some interesting interaction with the setting. For a twentieth century boy, the London of Shakespeare's day is a strange world. Having no modern convieniences (such as toilets) and having the drink at every meal be ale are things that don't fit the everyday life of a young American boy. But Nat gets along and proves himself as an actor in Shakespeare's own production.

Given the general elements of this book, not all young readers would enjoy it. To identify with or even to like the main character, one cannot by a typical American kid. The theatrical world and the ability to understand the historical setting of Shakespeare's time are, unfortunately, completely foreign to most kids these days. So this book is not for the typical nintendo-playing sports-loving kid, but rather for the imaginitive book-lover. (For the book is full of imagination and history.)

The book isn't perfect, but it is still a fun read. As an adult reader, I wished that I could have read more about the purpose behind the time travel, but I realize that what was written is sufficient for a younger audience. So, as a young adult novel, it is a great book, well worth the read.

Outstanding Shakesperean time-travel fantasy
Nat Field, an actor in the American Company of Boys, goes to London with the troupe to play the role of Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the new Globe Theatre. Suddenly, he is transported back in time to 1599 London and finds himself portraying Puck at the original Globe. Not only that, he's performing with Will Shakespeare himself, who is playing Oberon! The author brings the sights, sounds and smells of Elizabethan London to life and takes us behind the scenes of the Bard's own production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." After reading this, you'll probably want to read the play and see a performance yourself. Susan Cooper, who was a student of J.R.R. Tolkien, is an outstanding writer and storyteller. Don't miss her magnum opus, the five-book "The Dark Is Rising" series.

Just a good historical book
King of Shadows was oddly good. It tells of a boy named Nat who is playing Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. One night he falls ill, goes to sleep, and wakes up in 1599 Elizabethan England, right in the middle of Shakespeare's own performance of the Dream. It was very accurate historically and ideal for anyone who likes Shakespeare. I would suggest reading the play, A Midsummer Night's Dream before reading this book. It was meant for grades 7-9.

A GREAT book for children 10 and up!!
The book is about young Nat Field. He is playing Puck in a Midsummer Night's Dream. When he goes to bed ill, he is transported back 400 years. (...) I was very pleased with this book. I highly recommend it for girls or boys.

Great book Cooper
I love books and i thought this book was extremly well written, and easy enough to follow along without any troubles. And my aunt had the pleasure of meeting Susan Cooper and said that she is a very nice woman. I hope one day i will get to meet the woman who wrote such a wonderful book:) ... Read more

Book Description

He lives with a nice young couple called Brickers who play with him, pet him, feed him treats, and always have a warm lap for him to sit in. Then a new baby joins the family Suddenly, the Brickers are sharing their laps and love with Charles William, and Socks is getting into trouble. He runs from a phantom dog, wrestles with Nana's best wig, and fights Old Taylor the tomcat for his territory. But as Charles William grows, Socks discovers that he has a new friend and a new way to be a part of the family.

A purr-fectly hilarious portrait of life with a baby from a cat's point of view.

Reviews (10)

Socks By Bevely Cleary
Socks is a cat who has a great family but than his family has a baby . So its all about how the cat acts and playes with the baby.Socks gets jealous of the new baby,but at the end you see how Socks acts with the baby as they get older.I thought this was one of Bevely Cleary's best books.This book is great for middle-school aged kids.This book made me laugh a lot and it inspired me to read more Bevely Cleary books.

Look Here for a Great Story
Socks
By: Beverly Cleary

Did you ever think you might have to share your parents? Well in this story it happened to a cat named Socks. Socks is used to getting all of the attention. When Charles Williams is born Socks gets mad and jealous towards Mr. and Mrs. Bricker.

I like this book because it's funny. I have to do the same thing when one of my brothers is sick, by sharing my parents.

The author taught us to think about sharing. Will Charles Williams and Socks ever get along? Socks learned that when another person is born you have to get used to it and get a grip.

Very funny book!
Imagine that you are a cat that is really jealous of your family. This book is called "Socks". I like this book because it is funny and cute. Socks is a tabby cat that is jealous and gets into trouble. Charles William is a cute and funny baby. The problem in the story is that Socks is jealous of Charles William because Charles William gets more attention than Socks. The solution is that Charles William and Socks become friends. Charles William was throwing cotton balls out of his crib and Socks was catching them and ripping them up. This was a game they had fun playing. I recommend this book to people who like cute books. I think you should read this book.

Great story!
Beverly Cleary must have owned cats before she wrote this book! I've owned this story for over 20 years, when I was expecting my first baby, I often reminded my husband that we should make sure our spoiled cat didn't feel left out like Socks did. Believe it or not, our cat Diablo actually did some of the things Socks did, including coming to get me when the baby cried too loud. We never tried to keep him away from the baby, though, and they eventually became buddies. Our 2 sons and 12 and 8 now, and I'm trying to introduce them to Henry Huggins and Ramona books.

Meow!
This may be my favorite Beverly Cleary book, which is saying a lot because I'm one huge fan of Henry and Ramona.

It takes a lot of creativity and perspective to write a book entirely from the point of view of a cat, and have it come across as real and touching, not as schlock.

Socks the book and Socks the cat are well worth reading again and again, especially the hilarious final chapter. ... Read more

Book Description

Ramona Quimby is the youngest of all the famous characters in Mrs. Cleary's wonderful Henry Huggins stories. She is also far and away the most deadly. Readers of the earlier books will remember that Ramona has always been a menace to Beezus, her older sister, to Henry, and to his dog Ribsy. It is not that Ramona deliberately sets out to make trouble for other people. She simply has more imagination than is healthy for any one person.

In this book Ramona and her imagination really come into their own. Starting with a fairly mild encounter with the librarian, which is harder on Beezus than anyone else, Ramona goes from strength to strength, winding up by inviting her entire kindergarten class to a part at her home without mentioning it to her mother. The riot that ensues is probably the most hilarious episode in this extremely funny book, which proves that Mrs. Cleary's imagination is almost as lively as Ramona's.

Reviews (32)

A funny sister story with a message
I have two younger sisters and I know the kind of trouble they can cause and how exasperating they can be. When I first read this book, I was in third grade. I'm 22 now, and I have read the book at least 20 times since then. Beverly Cleary's book tend to contain such true-to-life values that they remain timeless.
Beezus is the older sister, the responsible and smart one. Ramona is the precocious little sister, creative but messy, cute but needy. Beezus struggles with being nice and trying to entertain Ramona and trying to be firm with her at the same time. There are some great little stories in this book about Ramona's misadventures including her unwavering love for a certain picture book, her locking Henry Huggins' dog in the bathroom, and her deciding that she wants to throw a party for herself without asking her mother. Things finally come to a head at Beezus' birthday party. When attention-starved Ramona gets a little too obnoxious, she shamefully admits that she just doesn't love her little sister all the time.
Herein lies the lesson: Beezus' mother explains that Beezus is not expected to love Ramona all the time, that Ramona will do things that get on her nerves sometimes. But there will also be good times when the two will get along, work together, or share a laugh. And those are the moments that count in the sisterly bond. I have stuck to this mantra when trying to deal with my own two younger sisters so I don't go completely insane.
This is a great book for little girls who have sisters so that one may understand the other's point of view. It helps you take a great look at your own sibling relationships, or it will at least show you that your own younger sister is not NEARLY as bratty as Ramona. :)

Funny and wise.
I read my daughter Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest last year, when she was in kindergarten (because in that book Ramona is also a kindergartner) and she instantly pronounced it her favorite chapter book of all time.

We've since been reading all the Ramona books, but we skipped this one for awhile. It's the first in the series, and takes place when Ramona is four years old. I knew from reviews that if focused more on Ramona's older, more serious sister, Beezus, and wasn't a "real" Ramona Quimby book. I somehow thought it would not be as funny as the others.

I was wrong. Ramona is even more exuberant in this book than in any of the others we've read, and her antics are hilarious. Seeing everything through the eyes of her serious sister does not make it one bit less funny.

But this is not just a funny book. It deals gently and honestly with the difficulty Beezus has in loving her sometimes exasperating little sister. Beezus and Ramona is more than forty years old, but I donÕt think anyone has ever come close to Beverly Cleary's ability to capture and sympathize with children's feelings. Cleary brings everything around to a happy, but entirely believable ending in this warm, wise book.

My daughter says this is her second favorite Ramona book (after Ramona the Pest), but so far it's my very favorite.

Wow, What a litter sister!
The book, Beezus and Ramona is great. Read it now. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it an 8 because big kids, like Beezus, should know that little kids can pests. Little kids, like Ramona, can do naughty things. Little kids should learn from their mistakes. It may take a few times, but one day they will learn.
Ramona is one crazy girl. She does pretty silly and extreme things. She is always causing trouble. My favorite character is Beezus because she is more civilized than Ramona. Beezus doesn't do things that could get her into trouble. Although Beezus is my favorite character, my favorite part is when Ramona breaks the eggs. I thought that was pretty funny. My other favorite part is when Beezus reads 202 Things to Do On a Rainy Afternoon.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has a younger brother or sister.
(...)

A Childhood Treasure About Sisterly Love
This was one of my very first chapter books, given to me in the first grade, and it left such a lasting impression on me. I literally read it to pieces throughout my elementary school years, and even had two little dolls that I re-named Beezus and Ramona, who I used to act out many of the stories.

Each hilarious chapter about another mess Ramona causes for her big sister Beezus (my favorite was Ramona's first trip to the library, and her disastrous attempt to claim a beloved book for her very own) can stand on it's own. But connecting the different segments is a more complex running plotline about Beezus' horrible secret - sometimes she gets so mad at her little sister that she doesn't love her at all! Oh, the horror! :-)

After suffering through one embarrassing misadventure after another at the hands of her infuriating sister, Beezus finally confesses to her mother and her favorite aunt about the "wicked" thoughts she's had about Ramona. Expecting them to be shocked, she is stunned when both burst out laughing and begin reminiscing about their own childhood, when they had some not so loving moments themselves. Yes, even Mother and Aunt Beatrice, who are now the best of friends, experienced sibling rivalry. It's a tremendous relief to Beezus to learn that it's okay not to get along with Ramona all the time, and she realizes that along with the annoying times, she and her sister share plenty of affectionate moments as well.

Originally published in the 1950s, some things are obviously rather dated, but as a child of the 1970's I could completely relate to these two little girls. I am sure kids today can also, especially if they have younger sisters!

Ah, Sisterhood
Poor Beezus. This story is mainly focused about her, and how her little sister, Ramona is always messing everything up for her. Beverly Cleary does a wonderful job of describing how horrible little sisters can be. Beezus feels like a terrible person because there are times when she doesn't love Ramona, but is reassured when she finds out that sisters don't have to love each other all the time. This book is a great read for children (especially those with siblings.) ... Read more

Book Description

A little boy's cat is missing, and he embarks on a fantastic round-the-world quest to find his lost pet. Along the way, he meets lots of interesting people and sees many beautiful members of the cat family, including lions and tigers and panthers. But over and over again he has to say "This is not my cat!" until at last he finds the cat he's looking for -- who has a delightful surprise for him.

Eric Carle's simple, repetitive text and distinctive cut-paper illustrations make this modern classic a book to treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

That's not MY cat -- but it IS my book!
Ok, so I'm getting closer to 30 than I am to 3, but as a lifetime lover of Eric Carle books and a die-hard cat person, I loved this book. I first encountered it in an undergraduate children's lit. class during my senior year in college. From there, I took the book home to my roommates (two guys and another gal) and it became a permanent resident on the coffee table!

It was great to pick up after a long day -- even just to look at Carle's whimsical art work. But, more importantly, the memorable line "that's not MY cat," became the motto of our household. It didn't matter if the subject was a mismatched sock or an extra plate of leftovers in the fridge -- my roommates would jubilantly yell out "that's not MY cat!"

Have You Seen My Cat is a great book for the kid in all of us -- even if you don't have a special child to read to, I highly recommend this book.

My son just loves this book
This book can be a lot of fun to read with your toddler if you "improvise". When my 3 year old and I read it together, I always add words describing what we see on the pages. For instance, there is a Mexican Cowboy on one page and we say "Mr. Cabalero, Have you seen my cat?" and on the next page, we say "This is not my cat....this is a jaguar" So it becomes a learning experience and lots of fun for both of us. I highly recommend any of the Eric Carle books.

Not the Usual Eric Carle
This book misses the mark. Here's all the words in the book "Have you seen my cat", "this is not my cat", "this is my cat". While I agree repetition is good, the fact that there are no OTHER words to describe the different scenes in the book is a huge annoyance and my 18mos daughter seems bored with it too.

One reviewer wrote that they add to the phrase "this is not my cat" the type of cat they see. Well, I think that's exactly what Eric Carle should have done and didn't: "this is a bobacat. this is not my cat". That way, children learn different animal names, but still get repetition of language. Honestly, some of the pictures are a little hard to distinguish...I doubt a toddler figure out the difference between a cheetah and a panther without some type of indication in the book.

Here's my suggestion: take the 3 phrases listed above and come up with your own story and skip buying the book. Spend your money on "The Hungry Caterpillar".

Great book for cat lovers of all ages
My son, husband and I first checked a copy out from the library and we read at least a dozen times a day. When it was time to turn the book back in we had to find a copy for ourselves. Our son is absolutely cat crazy and he loves the illustrations in this book. They're so lively and beautiful.

Out of hundreds of books, this is my child's favorite!!
This is one of the most engaging childrens' books I've ever read! I checked it out of the library for my 2 year old daughter and I am here to buy it for her. She wants to read it several times a day! We like to add to it by saying, "Mr. Cowboy, have YOU seen my cat? That's not my cat..that's a BOBCAT!" My daughter squeals in laughter and it is teaching her animals and different types of people as well. I highly recommend it...along with ALL of Eric Carle's books. You can't go wrong. ... Read more