Book Description

Illus. in full color. "In Seuss's familiar rhymed couplets and illustrations, the Cat in the Hat shows Young Cat some wonderful stuff about reading with both eyes open."--School Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

This book was dedicated to my father
I may have a biased opinion, because this book was dedicated to my late father, David Worthen. My father was an ophthalmologist and operated on Dr. Seuss' eyes in the late 1970s. To me, this book is about the importance of sight, which allows us to read, learn, explore, and imagine. I hope that someone will duplicate it in braille so that non-sighted people can enjoy it too.

Brilliant Encouragement for Memorization to Help Reading!
This is a fabulous book that every parent should read with their children!

Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! was one of her picks.

To me, the brilliance of this book is in its title. This book encourages children to memorize this book. My four children all began to learn to read by first memorizing books. Then they could begin to match what they had memorized with words on the page. The next step was to then identify the word and be able to say it in an unmemorized book. Finally, they could read alone. Memorization is a key step, and I notice that many first-time parents don't realize that. Dr. Seuss provides the big clue here for children and parents. The choice of long words with funny sounds is particularly clever as a way to encourage memorizing. Who could decode Mississippi, Indianapolis, Hallelujah, Schenectady, and Wilkes-Barre the first time they saw them? Putting the place names on signs on a road emphasizes the child's obvious interest in becoming a driver some day. Brilliant!

Aside from the theme, the book has the great qualities of all Dr. Seuss's books for learning to read. There's lots of repetition. The adjectives can be translated into pictures, and the stories are humorously illustrated. For example, "I can read in red. I can read in blue. I can read in pickle color too." The four color words are all printed in a larger type size in the color described. The Cat in the Hat is wearing pickle color glasses that match the words "pickle color" in the sentence above. The rhyming scheme used throughout also makes it easier to memorize and progress.

The book also has wonderful conceptual material such as left and right examples, being upside down, and how the order of words in a sentence affects their meaning (mice on ice, and ice on mice).

Then lest your child get a subliminal message to ignore what is going on around you, Dr. Seuss points out the advantages of having your eyes open. "You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut."

After you have helped your child to memorize this book and begin to notice these words around her or him, I suggest that you try writing a book like this with your child on the same theme. You will probably have to do the writing down of words, but your child can certainly do the illustrations. In the process, you can begin to help your child learn about rhyming if you want to be ambitious. Afterwards, I suggest that you ask your child to tell you how he or she is learning to read, to encourage more consciousness of the role of memorization. Your enjoyment of poetry will always be enhanced by memorization. I suggest you try some for yourself as well.

Remember this advice!

What Can YOU do with your eyes shut?
What I appreciate about this book is it encourages reading and conversation between parents (or adult) and child who I think would be great to read this one together. It also stretches the imagination: "reading with eyes shut? How does the Cat in the Hat read 'Mississippi' with his eyes shut? Can YOU read with your eyes shut?"

...

Read this one WITH a child (and with creative humans of any age!) and talk about it... stretch the concept.... And see what else will open up with our eyes shut.

a great rhyming book
this book is another Dr. Seuss classic that uses rhyme in it and really catches your thoughts and eyes and makes you wanna keep on reading. It is a great starters book and i loved it

A child's laughter
This book by Dr. Seuss made my child laugh, and it caught her attention. She read it only as a child would, and she understood without question what it meant. An imagination is all you need, and she has plenty.

The words play around. The pictures grabbed at your attention. This is a great book, and I recommend it to every child and parent, as well.

Many thanks to Dr. Suess for enriching my child's imagination and sparking her love to read. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Mr. Fox is to clever for 3 farmers called Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. These are nasty farmers because they like to kill and they're evil.Mr Fox and his family live in a hole, under a huge tree on top of a hill.
Every night Mr. Fox goes to 1 of the 3 farms to steal something to eat.But doing this caused alot of problems.The 3 farmers wanted to strangle the poor fox to death!What do you think will happen?
I felt bad and good. I feel bad because its a shame that Mr. Fox has to steal food in order to keep himself and his family alive.I felt good because atleast his risking his live, and that shows that he really cares for his family.
I think that the 3 farmers don't have to kill the fox to keep their food safe.I also think that there are other ways for the fox get food.Like hunting for food.I loved this book so much that i couldn't put it down.I couldn't put it down because it was written by my favorite aouther ROALD DAHL.
This book was also funny because it said that Bean never took baths so he had all sorts of junk in his ear,like fly's, gum, and dirt.
I recommend this book to who ever likes funny stories, and to who ever likes ROALD DAHL books.

- Giovani Ruiz.

Fantastic Mr. Fox
I recommend this book because it's funny. I liked the drawings by Roald Dahl because they are silly. Boggis, Bunce and Bean are three mean farmers trying to kill Mr. Fox because he keeps on taking their food. Mr. Fox out-smarts them by making them think he is one place when he is another. I especially liked when Mr. Fox and his friends had a feast because no one can hurt them, and I can't believe that the farmers are still waiting for Mr. Fox to come out. (They are probably skeletons and bones by now!) For anybody who didn't read this book, I think you should read it.

strangest book ever
Have you ever seen a fox family so brave to survive from evil farmers?
Mr.Fox and his family have to survive with out coming out of their hole because the farmers will shoot them. Boggis, Bunce, and Bean are nasty farmers after Mr.Fox and the family. They have to face changes when they are living underground. The farmers never stop digging until a certain point. The Fox family used to steal animals from the farms so that is why the farmers are after them.
I would give this book three stars. The theme of the story is never to steal from some one.

FANTASTIC
The fantasy written by Ronald Dahl titled Fantastic Mr. Fox will keep you in stitches. This story takes place on a farm where three farmers lived. One was fat, one was short, and one was lean. Their names where Boggis, Bunce and Beans. The most important character of them all is the fantastic Mr. Fox. Mr. Fox steals from the farmers. He steals chickens, turkeys and cider from the farmers. As a result of his stealing, the farmers want to catch and kill him. But will it work? Check the book out and see.
I recommend this story to kids of all ages. This book is a must read book. It is a humorous book to read. The fox is so sly he steals from the farmers without getting caught sometimes. One time he pushed the limit too far. As a result they went hunting for him. The book is a good book for you if you like to get in trouble. To find out more take an easy trip down to library and check it out.
Ronald Dahl has written more than 8 exquisite books. He is such such a good author himself. This is a book which stand above the clouds. Check it out at your local library and have a ball reading this book.

Fantastic Mr.Fox
In Fantastic Mr. Fox three rich farmers were trying to shoot a fox. One farmer is fat and has chickens and eats three a day. One farmer is very short. On his farm he has duck and geese, but he eats doughnuts stuffed with goose liver. The last farmer is tall and thin. He has turkeys and a big apple orchard. All he would eat was apple cider. The fox had been stealing their chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. This is a story about three farmers trying to get a fox.
I really like this book. It has a lot of detail. It is funny and written well. Roald Dahl is a great author. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anyone who has ever read James and the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory knows that Roald Dahl is a man capable of working magic on young people. The wonderfully weird worlds he evokes are so perfectly in tune with children's imaginations that--PRESTO!--he has completely enchanted kids (and adults, we admit) around the world.

This splendidly illustrated treasury--which we discovered with unfettered glee--showcases excerpts from the above books, along with short stories, rhymes, memoirs, unpublished poetry, and personal letters. A host of Dahl's best-loved characters are here, from the Enormous Crocodile to Willie Wonka. The whole shebang is fabulously illustrated by Quentin Blake, Ralph Steadman, and a myriad of other fine artists. Young Roald Dahl fans will devour this book eagerly, and those who have never met Charlie Bucket, Matilda, or the Vermicious Knids will want to get their hands on everything he's ever written. (All ages) ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Parents! Don't fight with your children for this book!
For those who have not yet grow up with Roald Dahl books as bedtime stories, the Treasury is good news indeed. For those who grew up with Roald Dahl books but lost them, the Treasury is fabulous news!! For the first time, Roald Dahl's fans can enjoy the adventures of their favorite hero and heroines in one whole volume. The wondrous chocolate factory, Matilda's extraordinary power, and many more charismatic characters in Roald Dahl's mystical kingdom. (Yes, even the wicked witches and awful giants have their places) The poems are a definitely a delightful read, and letters give the readers an insight to Roald Dahl's brilliant and imaginative mind. A pen under Roald Dahl's fingers becomes a magic wand that creates so many colorful dreams for both the young and old. The delicate illustrations by Quentin Blake and other outstanding illustrators add delicious flavor to the already luscious stories. The only small drawback is that the treasury is a collection of excerpts from various stories, but at the same time, it may also become a merit. I don't have to flip through a whole book for my favorite passages in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!!!

A window into an amazing world
When I first read parts of this treasury, I was only in fourth grade. It swallowed me up, and I couldn't stop reading it. I would read it out loud to my parents, and before they knew it, they became wrapped into it too. Roald Dahl thinks up wonderful settings to go with his books, and everything that happens seems almost perfect. He combines an interesting plot, with humor and action, to create the perfect book. Dahl obviously has fun writing his books, as his fans have fun reading them. If you decide to read this treasury, you will find yourself transported to a world of unknown witches, greedy foxes, giants houses, peaches, and more amazing places that you would never think up. I respect Dahl for his wonderful imagination and terrific writing abilities. Overall, I really enjoyed this treasury.

Wonderful assortment of Dahl's childrens work
This is a beautiful book full of colorful illustrations, which is always a major plus, most of which are by Quentin Blake. This has some of Roald Dahl's poetry (such as his hilarious fairy tale retellings), short stories, excerpts from his children's novels, recipes, letters from fans, and other nice little tidbits, like a sheet Dahl filled out about his birthday, favorite color, food, etc. I think this book is well worth the money, because I got this a few years ago and haven't grown out of it since!

A superb, fantastic, and wonderful book
This book, like all other books of Rohld Dahl, is detailed, humorous, and just plain good. I spent 9 hours just sitting in a chair, reading this book, defanatly another fanatic book of Rolhd Dahl. I loved it. WOW!

What I liked and didn't like about the Dahl Treasury
I am nine and a half years old. I liked the variety of stories and poems, but I was frustrated at first because I thought I would be reading entire stories. Instead, I found that the Treasury included only chapters of some stories. Short stories, like the Enormous Crocodile, were entirely included.

This book left me searching for the complete works of Roald Dahl. ... Read more

Book Description

A little boy must come to terms with being teased and ostracized because he’d rather read books, paint pictures, and tap-dance than participate in sports. “There is a good balance between the simple text . . . and the expressive pictures . . . an attractive little book.”--School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Oliver Button is a Sissy by Will Herman
I really enjoyed this book. It is about a little boy named Oliver Button. This little boy doesn't really care what other people think, he likes to do what he thinks is fun, and that is it. He doesn't do normal things like other boys, he dances, and jumps rope for exercise. He got a new pair of tap shoes and the older boys teased him and called him a sissy and wrote it on the wall. Oliver still kept going to dance school and practicing and practicing.
When there is a talent competition, Oliver signs up to be in it. During the competition he did a tap routine and ends up losing. His parents still thought of him as a champion and when he goes back to school, instead of Oliver Button is a sissy on the wall it says Oliver Button is a star. I would recommend this book to a lot of people because this is a very entertaining book. It shows that if you have fun doing something thats a little different, keep doing it no matter what other people say.

It's OK to be Different!
This is an excellent book that confronts gender stereotypes and the importance of accepting people for who they are. Oliver Button does not engage in the traditional activities that boys do, and thus, he is faced with repercussions and consequences (based on how others feel Oliver should behave/act). I teach fourth grade and - though a picture book - it is the ideal book to discuss self-confidence and diversity and the significance of accepting individuals while recognizing their accomplishments and contributions.

Learning How Not To Be A Non-Conformist...
When I first read this book to my library classes, I was a little curious on how they would react. Yet I was suprised to find that after the story was finished, the children cheered and clapped. There were many attentive children throughout the story and some(whom I personally believe)were wondering why Oliver was so 'different.' Maybe it could be that more than a handful of children could relate to this story. It was fun for me acting out the different parts, and the children enjoyed these visuals also. We also shared how we would feel in the situations Oliver was set in. I recommend this book to all!

Wonderful, a very special book
I watched a special on TV about this book. It's a story about a little boy who gets picked on and eventually finds good things about himself. It was similar to what my nephew experiences in school. He is a boy who loves playing with the girls and isn't real "tough", so he has a hard time with some kids. This book was wonderful for him to read. I sent it to him through amazon. He got it in the mail, read it that night and then took it to school and read it to the class the very next day! He brought home a special award for sharing such a wonderful book! I think all teachers should share this with their classrooms and use it as a way to address bullying!

OLiver Button is a Sissy It's a funny book
Once Oliver did thing that girls did. He didn't play with boys or didn't play any spots. All he did was to play with paper dolls, pick flowers, jump rope, draw and dance. He asked his mother if he could take some dance lessons so he went to Mrs. Leah's dancing class with other boys and girls.

My favortie part was when every one said he was a star at tap dancing because he has been practicing really hard at home and at Mrs. Leah's class. At home he was practicing when he got home from school everyday.

Tomie made it for his mother named Flossie his mother is still alive. His mother is in her 90s.

I liked it when he practiced with his black pair of tap shoes and when a girl told the other kids to leave him alone two girls said to five boys in the schoolyard. ... Read more

Book Description

Why do the storks no longer come to the little Dutch fishing village of Shora to nest? It was Lina, one of the six schoolchildren who first asked the question, and she set the others to wondering. And sometimes when you begin to wonder, you begin to make things happen. So the children set out to bring the storks back to Shora. The force of their vision put the whole village to work until at last the dream began to come true.

Winner, 1955 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)
1963 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

Reviews (21)

Each time I read this book, I love it more.
This is so much more than the story of a group of school children trying to bring storks to their Dutch fishing village on the North Sea. It is a story of people - people everywhere. It is a story of how important people are, irregardless of their age, physical condition, or how they make a living. It encourages us to go beyond what we see on the surface. It shows us that when we help others and care about others, good things will come to us. The children originally wanted to lure storks to their little village because the storks were said to bring good luck. Little did they know that storks would send good fortune ahead in the form of new-found friendships, help for others, and a community that came closer together than it had been before. Miendert DeJong does a masterful job of telling the story and providing strategically planted links as the events take place and unfold. I am an elementary teacher in Cabarrus County, NC. I have read this book to my children each year for many years. When I ask my new class if anyone has heard of the book, no one raises a hand. By the time we finish, the children feel like they have been right there with Lina and the boys. They have also grown to realize that Janus was far from being the mean old man that they met at the beginning. They realize that he just needed to be needed. Each time I read the book, I see more and I learn more. Don't read this story just once. You will be walking over a hidden treasure.

Breathlessly exciting!
Ok I'll admit I was very skeptical. The premise does seem a bit dry. School children band together to find a wheel to put on their school and attract storks....I was not excited by the prospect. Thank goodness I decided to read it aloud to my children anyway! Some parts of this book are so exciting and suspenseful that I literally had sweaty palms during the reading.

And just because it is a rousing good tale doesn't mean that there aren't some wonderful life lessons to be learned by it as well. Perserverance. Friendship. And the reality the EVERYONE has something to offer to common good. This is a timeless story with appeal to all ages. Grown-ups will enjoy reading this aloud as much as their children will enjoy hearing it. I confess....I read to the end because I couldn't wait for the next read-aloud session.

The most stupidest book I have ever read!
This book is so boaring. I mean storks! Thats for like 5 year olds. This book is for people who like nice calm books. This book doesn't even have have any action,unlike Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the Angel series. If I reccommened any books i reccomened Charmed, Angel, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer books.

A Classic Story With Heart and Soul
Meindert DeJong's literary voice is one of a old man sitting on a bench telling this charming tale with realism and character. This story takes you away to Shora, a small, fishing village where life has a pace of its own. The characters, mostly children, develop fully within the context of this inspiring story about their determination and ability to change their world. It is definitely one of those books you read furiously and hate to have end.

Wow
My title sums up my feelings about this book. The name "The Wheel On the School" sounds too much like a child's song than a Newbery Medal. When I started reading it though, I was hooked. It has a very original plot and is written by a great writer (He has won the most Newbery Medals and Honors ever). The basic plot: a girl named Lina goes to a school in Holland with five other kids. She decides to try to get some storks to come to her village, and all the school kids try to help her. I would highly suggest this book to anyone who does not mind reading a book this long. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (1)

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

Amazon.com

If I Ran the Circus is a grand rhyming Seussian hymn to every child's grandest and wildest plans. Behind Mr. Sneelock's ramshackle store, there's an empty lot. Little Morris McGurk is convinced that if he could just clear out the rusty cans, the dead tree, and the old cars, he would have no further obstacles to using the lot for the amazing, the world-beating, Circus McGurkus. The more elaborate Morris's dreams about the circus become, the more they depend on sleepy-looking, innocent Mr. Sneelock, who stands outside his ramshackle store sucking on a pipe, oblivious to the fate that awaits him in the depths of Morris's imagination. He doesn't yet know that he'll have to dispense 500 gallons of lemonade, be lassoed by a Wily Walloo, wrestle a Grizzly-Ghastly, and ski down a slope dotted with giant cacti. But if his performance is up to McGurkian expectations, then "why, ladies and gentlemen, youngsters and oldsters, your heads will quite likely spin right off your shouldsters!" Welcome to the big top. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (10)

for circus fans
My 6yr old daughter picked this book out at the library because she saw a poster of it being held by Jonathan Lee Iverson - the ringmaster for Ringling Bros. She fell in love with the circus at age 4 and had to read this book when she saw the poster. She was so upset when it was time to return it that I decided to buy it for her and give it to her when she completes kindergarden. She looks for it every time we're at the library. It's a tongue twister for adults (what Seuss book isnt't) but actually kind of fun as you get into it. Lengthy too but if you have a circus fan I'm sure they'll love it too.

Perhaps the most perfect Seuss!
If I Ran the Circus is a delightful cross between the tongue-twisting Fox in Sox and the classic Cat in the Hat. I read it to my children until they begged me to stop. Then I read it to my wife. It demands to be read outloud with the greatest of enthusiasm, almost child-like glee, drawing out the unique word combinations and stunning metre and rhyme. Fabuluous.

One of Seuss's finest
Absolutely topnotch Seuss--a rollicking, over-the-top display of his art, word play, imagination, and humor. The Foon, the Drum-Tummied Snumm, the Organ McOrgan McGurkus, the spouting whales--all are among Seuss's most delightful creations. This book is bursting with optimism and energy, and to read it well to a child you have to give it your all.

I'm surprised this book is not mentioned very much in the current burst of interest in Seuss (2004 is his birth centennial). It's a marvellous tale and it would be a shame for someone to go through a childhood (or parenthood) and miss it.

If I Ran The Circus
My dad bought me this book when I was quite young and to this day it is still my favorite book. I read it when i'm having a bad day and it always makes me smile. It has something for everyone. As a kid I liked the language and the amazing drawings. As an adult I like the idea of the dream of running a circus, so to speak.

From Childhood to Adulthood
This is the one book I would not let my parents put down as a child and now with my first child on the way I have a new copy to read aloud to him. The book is a fabulous adventure that never gets old. If you need a reason other than the wonderful story and its characters, try challenging yourself to read it all the way through with out getting tounge-tied. My father never could! ... Read more

Book Description

When a daisy suddenly sprouts from the top of Mayzie McGrew's head, she is

faced with her classmates' taunts, her parents' dismay, and a publicity agent's

greed. How poor Mayzie learns that love is more important than fame and fortune

makes an endearing morality tale for our time--and for all ages. Narrated by

the Cat in the Hat, Daisy-Head Mayzie is vintage Seuss!




... Read more

Reviews (10)

I love this book!!
I love this book because it is funny, and exciting. It is easy to read and it made me laugh. T.J. (4th Grader)

too hard for young children
What everyone is saying that this isn't Seuss's real work, I believe. Seuss uses language that is easy to understand for children, and they used rather big words in this. I do like this book but if I read it to a kid they would only understand some of it.

Dr. Seuss is rolling over...
Dr. Seuss left this book in a drawer when he died. He obviously didn't think enough of it himself to publish it, but now that he's dead I guess anything's fair game. The illustrations are designed to fool you into thinking he did them, but he didn't. Yet this book says "by Dr. Seuss" on the cover just like The Lorax or Cat in the Hat. Deceitful.

Not a typical Seuss, but my daughter LOVES it!
Hands down, this is my daughter's *favorite* Seuss book. At 3 & 1/2, she can practically recite it word for word. I was saddened to see the other negative reviews about the book, because I like the message in it - 1) Your family & friends will always love you, and 2) Fame isn't all it's cracked up to be. The book can be the spark for some interesting & thoughtful conversations on values.

do NOT buy this book
I love Seuss. I think I owe my relationship to language to him. I am now reading all his work to my daughter.

But know this: this book does NOT count as a "real" Dr. Seuss book. The illustrations are PURE trash, and the story may have turned into a real Seuss work, if he'd worked on it further (it sounds like scribbled notes for a story). ... Read more

Amazon.com

On one of their weekly balloon flights over Celesteville, Babar and Celeste notice that the railroad station is standing empty. Elephants, it seems, now prefer cars over trains. Interestingly, although Babar comments on the roads "jammed with traffic," he and his queen decide to focus on the other issue--the abandoned station. Celeste comes up with an idea to turn it into a museum to house their art collection, and soon an architect is drawing up plans and workers are renovating the building. When the great day of the opening arrives, what a show! The royal couple had acquired some pretty impressive and well known works of art--all featuring elephants, of course. Laurent de Brunhoff outdoes himself with the real-life art-inspired paintings and sculptures, from Mary Cassatt’s"Mother and Child" to Edvard Munch’s "The Scream" to Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa." Young art buffs will enjoy the very age-appropriate art appreciation lessons, as the children are encouraged!to say whatever they want about the art: "I like this picture because it’s red," says Arthur about Van Gogh’s "Self-Portrait." When pedantic Cornelius tries to pontificate, Celeste gently hushes him. Includes a free pull-out poster. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Note Cards
Buyer beware -- these note cards fold to 3"x5".

wonderful
My wife's parents gave this book to my daughter. I was as delighted as she was! I grew up on Babar. What a lovely children's book! My four year old daughter absolutely adores it. Buy this for the children in your life and they will love it.

A delightful visit to Babar's Museum of Art
A balloon ride over Celesteville leads to Babar and Celeste deciding to turn in an abandoned train station into a museum in which they can display their great collection of fine paintings. Everyone in town gets more and more excited waiting for the big day when the museum is opened and everyone can see everything that is hanging on the walls inside. The paintings might be intended for the elephants and other animal friends of Babar and Celeste and this book might be intended for younger readers, but the readers who will most enjoy Laurent De Brunhoff's book are going to be those old enough to appreciate the witty elephant-inspired version of great paintings from Michaelangelo's "Creation of Man" and Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" to George Surat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" and Edvard Munch's "The Scream." There is just something intrinsically enjoyable about taking Leonardi Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and making the lady with enigmatic smile an elephant, and the idea of doing the same thing with Vincent Van Gogh's "Self Portrait" is hysterical since Babar is an African elephant and not an Indian elephant. The more you know about great art the more you will enjoy strolling through the galleries with Babar and his family. The book also includes a pull-out poster of the delightful art found in "Babar's Museum of Art." The adventures of Babar have been delighting children for half a century and this is a charming addition to the series. It should also inspire its young readers to check out the "real" versions of these great paintings so that they can find out what the adults are chuckling about as they enjoy "Babar's Museum of Art." Is it too early to be thinking about books that would be great to give as gifts to young readers for Christmas? This one should be high up on that list.

Wonderful for preschoolers through elementary children!
Some of us remember having "Babar" books read to us when we were children. This book rekindles those warm thoughts while providing an interesting, entertaining look at art and life. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bartholomew and the Oobleck easily qualifies as a Seuss classic, first told way back in 1949. And its message--the importance of owning up to your mistakes and saying that you're sorry--is as timeless now as it was then.

Bartholomew Cubbins serves thanklessly as pageboy to King Derwin of Didd, a headstrong man who's decided he isn't satisfied with mere sun, fog, rain, and snow. ("Humph! The things that come down from my sky!") He wants something else, something uniquely his own, so he calls in his royal magicians ("Shuffle, duffle, muzzle, muff. Fista, wista, mista-cuff. We are men of groans and howls, mystic men who eat boiled owls"). Happy to oblige, the magicians tell the king they can make "oobleck" fall from the sky, only nobody--not even the magicians--knows just what oobleck is.But after a night of arcane incantations, everyone in the kingdom gets a taste of the stuff (in the case of the Captain of the Guard, literally!), as the green, gluey goo gums up everything in sight.

Of course, Bartholomew tries to help, but it's up to the king to save the day, as he learns to utter not magic words but simple words with magic in them: "I'm sorry." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Science is fun, but not always
Bartholomew and the Oobleck is my favorite Seuss. The King wants something new to come from the sky. He's tired of the sun, the rain, the wind and the snow. He sends his magicians to their secret cave in mystic mountain Neekatave. In the morning green sticky oobleck falls from the sky and gums up the entire kingdom. It's great fun watching everything get stickier and sticker. Even the King gets stuck to his throne. Of course Bartholomew saves the day. And the King learns that the right thing to do when you've messed up other people's lives is apologize. Silly me, I'd hoped that my daughter would learn to apologize when she's made a mistake -- if kings can do it --- but she didn't get the message. Still, the book is delightful. I don't see it as an anti-science tale. Yes, lots of folks tried to talk the King out of his experiment, but scientists get that anti-science fear all the time. They have to ignore it or they can't do their jobs. The King didn't fire the magicians. This experiment was a failure. That didn't mean he should give up his throne and quit trying. He apologized, and went on with his life. That's the way life is.

Growing together,

Lois...

The power of two little words!
Boy, this book takes me back when I was very young. I really enjoyed it. And, now that I'm considerably older, I still enjoy it. It is a story about a king who is bored with the things that fall from the sky (for example, rain, snow, etc.) and orders his magicians to make something new. They come up with oobleck, a green, gooey substance. But, when it begins to fall, it messes up everything and the king's page, Bartholomew, teaches the king the power of the words, "I'm sorry." The book was a 1950 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a children's book.

A great story for making up voices...
Although "Bartholomew and the Oobleck" is different in style than the Dr Seuss books most people are familiar with, it is still a good story. Bartholomew is pageboy to the king, and apparently the smartest person in the kingdom. When the king orders his magicians make "something new" fall from the sky, with disasterous consequences, which threaten to bury the kingdom under an ocean of green sludge, only Bartholomew takes action.

I love doing different voices when I read stories to children, and this book certainly lends itself to that as Bartholomew runs through the castle trying to alert people of the danger, and get help from anyone, exchanging dialogue with a large variety of people along the way.

I'm only giving this book 4 stars, instead of 5, because it doesn't hold the attention of my kids as well as many of the other books we own, but we certainly have a lot of fun with it anyway.

A timeless classic for children and adults
Bartholomew and the Oobleck begins with the King of Did being irritated and bored with the weather. His page, Bartholmew, tries to enlighten the king with simple common sense. The king ignores him and turns to (literally) magical solutions for his current peeve. When the results turn disastrous, Barthlomew tries to warn his friends in the castle. No one listens to him, being more concerned with their own business and as a result, they all end up worse off. Then, when the king finally listens to him, a ray of hope appears amidst the crisis.

Written in 1949, "Batholomew and the Oobleck", like its prequel, "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins" hardly feels like a Dr. Suess book. The illustrations look like charcoal sketches (except of course for the green oobleck) and the text lacks the sing-song poetry commonly associated with Suess books. Despite this, the Bartholomew books have withstood the tests of time and tastes because they touch on a subject that is near to the hearts of all children, but which is rarely addressed in children's literature. Many times children find themselves surrounded by adults hurrying about, fixated on their own agendas. When a child is in the thick of such a situation, he or she will often be ignored. After all, why should adults listen to children? BATO tells us why; children can sometimes see situations as clearly or moreso than adults specifically because they are not distracted by adult agendas! The lesson of BATO stands for all generations, and that is what makes it a timeless classic.

Scary!
This was without a doubt my favorite of all Seuss books.l It is different than the others, darker in tone and more daring.

The Oobleck might be a metaphor for nuclear proliferation, but whatever it is, it's sticky, nasty, green and scary. It rains from the sky (fallout?)and it gums up everything.

A brilliant book, and one that has kids shivering and adults wondering at the skill of Dr. Seuss to tell a kid's tale and at the same time, make some acerbic commentary. HIGHLY recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The haughty ruler of Didd, King Derwin (who would foolishly go on to summon green goo from the sky in his later years) showed the first signs of his silly self-importance back in this 1938 Seuss classic, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.

When Bartholomew visits town one day, selling cranberries at the market for his parents, the King's procession screeches to a halt in front of him; King Derwin then leans out of his coach, demanding to know why Bartholomew hasn't respectfully removed his hat. "But, Sire, my hat is off." He shows the king the hat in his hands that he's just doffed, but sure enough, another identical one sits atop his head. He takes that hat off only to reveal another... and another, and another, and another. Poor Bartholomew goes through 45 hats, then 136, then 233, as the angry king calls in every expert in the kingdom, from Sir Snipps the haberdasher to the Father of the Father of Nadd. In the end, Bartholomew barely gets away with his head (forget about the hats!), as Seuss spins this weird and wacky tale, a strange thing that "just happened to happen and was not very likely to happen again." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Keep your "Eggs and Ham" I like the HATS!!
This is a truly AMAZING book. The first time I brought it home from the Grade School Library I was enchanted! Bartholomew Cubbins is challenged with the difficulties brought on by his hat. He is almost beheaded for not taking his hat off before the King. He get's out of that though because of his hat. He is chanted upon by wise men and cats. The nephew of the King does not like Bartholomew because he is getting more attention than he. Bartholomew continues to remove hat after hat the entire time. In the end they become grander and grander. The thing that almost got Bartholomew killed it what saves him in the end.

I brought this book home over 500 times. Before I could read my mom read it to me, even when I could read I made her still read it to me. I treasure this Seuss book above all of my others. Bartholomew has an amazing time trying to take his hat off. This book has all the wonderful Seuss words and adventure that is to be expected.

Wonderful to enhance the imagination of young children.
I run a day care in my home and I read everyday to the children. They love the story of Bartholomew Cubbins. After reading about the first few hats, the children pretty much read it on their own. They knew what would happen when the next hat came off. Needless to say, I had to read it many more times before I had to return it to our library. Dr Suess never disappoints his readers. Here is another example of his perfect writing skills.

Can Bartholomew Remove His Hat?
Bartholomew Cubbins, lowest of the subject of King Derwin has gone into town to sell some cranberries for his parents. When the king passes by, he doffs his hat, only have the king stop and accuse him of not taking his hat off. Surprised to find it is true, he takes his hat off, only to find a third hat on his head. The king has him arrested and begins trying to figure out ways to keep the hat off. His wise men and magicians are certainly no help. Meanwhile, Bartholomew must figure out a way to get his hat to stay off his head before the consequences become drastic.

This is an early Dr. Seuss book, and a lesser known of his works. Still, it tells a fun story about a boy in trouble for something he didn't do. Everyone can relate to that. Even when the king becomes obsessed with the hat, Bartholomew never looses his respect for the king.

This doesn't have the charm, creativity, or poetry of some of his other works, but is still fun for kids because of the absurd length they reach to try to get rid of that hat.

memories for a lifetime.
As a adult in my 40's, it is not easy to recall many specific details from my early childhood. But I have never forgotten the specialness of my favorite book - The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss.
The delight I felt in reading it - or better yet, having my Grandmother read it to me, is a memory I cherish. The whimsical and ever more fanciful hats that Bartholomew found upon his head captivated me.
This book is a treasure and to this day, when asked for a recommendation of my favorite books, I secretly think of this childhood tale.

The Awesome Book called 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, written by Dr. Suess, at Random House

If you like fantasy choldren's books with lots of pictures then this is the book for you. A boy is going to the market to sell cranberries and the king rolls by on his carriage, everyone takes of their hat but whenever Bartholomew takes off his hat another one appears. The king's nephew wahnts him to be executed because he is getting all the attention and even he can't take off Bartholomew's hat. After each hat pops off a new one comes on Bartholomew's head. The kind tries many ways to get the hat off, including shooting them iff with arrows and other ways to. Get ready Bartholomew this will be one funky ride.

Bartholomew is the main character, the poor farm boy that just can't take off his hat. There is also the king's nephew, the Duke of Wiinfred, is a snob and tries to kill Bartholomew after he can't take off Bartholomew's hat. There is also the king who is rather clueless throughout this whole book.

I would definately recommend this book to kids because it isn't hard to read and is very easy to understand. It is also very funny with many wierd and hillarious twists in it. Dr. Suess is a very good writer and i would recommend any of his books. He does a very good job of giving each character their own voice. The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins is a Dr.Suess is a classic and everyone should read it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This classic Seuss title stars a happy-looking quadruped from the shores of Lake Winna-Bango who has the most amazing antlers and the kindest disposition. Alas! Everyone, but everyone, takes advantage of his generosity, and before long he has three-quarters of the animal kingdom nesting in the convenient perches atop his head. ("They asked in a fox, who jumped in from the trees, / They asked in some mice and they asked in some fleas.") You might think someone would take pity, but nobody seems to like an oddball, and all Thidwick gets for his trouble is complaints and contempt. Unable to cross the lake when winter threatens, he looks all set to starve--and then things get even worse. He is saved from certain death just in time, swims the lake, and joins the herd again. One reason this Seuss is so good: it has a moral, but the moral isn't pressed too far and the exuberant linguistic fun isn't subservient to it. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (9)

39 years of loving this book!
I bought this book 39 years ago at a church sale when I was 6 years old--yes, I used my own money! I loved it then and I love it now. The illustrations are a hoot--seeing one critter after another move into poor Thidwick's horns has always made me laugh. And, I like to think of myself as a nice guy too and a moral fellow, just like poor Thidwick. So, the lesson of seeing people take advantage of one's good nature has served me as I've gone through life. In college I majored in Political Philosophy and I thought of this book then. The lesson for me was--Bad people will use your morality against you while themselves being unaccountable. Bad people will break the law all the time, but if a good person breaks the law...listen to them scream! And of course, poor Thidwick will do anything to keep from breaking the law (in this case the law of hospitality), even starve to death or be shot by trophy hunters, rather than eject his "guests." The law has been distorted and perverted in Thidwick's case. His immoral guests remind Thidwick that if he's to be a good host then Thidwick must cater to their needs. They don't / won't consider Thidwick's needs. The ungrateful guests seem offended that they might have some responsibility for Thidwick's suffering. Years later when I read a book by Ayn Rand, I thought of Thidwick during several passages. But this is most importantly a children's book that children love! My 4 year old son picks this book to have me read it to him regularly. If he didn't like it, what would it matter that his dad likes it so much!

My favorite Dr. Seuss book
..I won't write pages retelling the whole book. I just want to tell you that this is my favorite Dr. Seuss book and I have a copy that I received as a gift when I was 7 years old. My copy is over 30 years old and I have taken it in twice to read to my children's classes. My four kids love this book and their classes loved it too. A great book - buy it for your child and I'll bet that they will have the book 30 years from now and will be reading it to their kids!

Get Stuffed! Fish and Guests Smell in Three Days!
Thidwick's adventure begins simply enough. He is marching along on the shores of Lake Winna-Bango, on the far northern shore, looking for moose-moss to eat with 60 other moose. A small Bingle Bug nicely asks Thidwick for a ride "for a way." Thickwick replies, "I'm happy to share!" Most of us would have said the same.

But what happens when a guest overstays her or his welcome? In Thidwick's case, his horns become a veritable zoo of wildlife. There is a Tree-Spider spinning a web, a Zinn-a-zu Bird who gets married and builds a nest, and their uncle the woodpecker who pecks holes the squirrel family inhabits. And so on it goes, to include a bobcat, turtle, fox, mice, fleas, a big bear . . . and 362 bees!

Thidwick is like the horse in Animal Farm. He's providing all of the work and benefit, and everyone is bossing him around. Why, they won't even agree to let him leave with the other moose to find more moose moss. Why is Thidwick willing to put up with this? What are the benefits of having a big heart in this situation?

How does Thidwick end up in this mess? Well, having accepted the Bingle Bug, the subsequent guests ignore Thidwick and ask the earlier guests instead if they can move in. Thidwick honors his first commitment, extends it in time and to the new inhabitants.

As a result of Thidwick's dilemma, this book provides a good opportunity to discuss sharing with your child . . . and explain the benefits and limits of sharing.

Your child will run into people who will try to take advantage. This gives you a chance to ask your child what he or she would do in Thidwick's situation.

The story's resolution is a most original and humorous one that makes good use of the mental picture of shedding your onorous burdens.

This story is illustrated by Dr. Seuss, as well as written in his best rhyming way. The drawings of the creatures in Thidwick's horns come close to matching many of Dr. Seuss's most imaginative mechanical devices. The horns of this dilemma are funnier than those devices, because this concoction is based on animals and natural processes.

The story is a pretty easy one for five to six year olds to learn to read, because many of the words are short and rhyme. The illustrations also "name" many of the nouns. The humor provides "hooks" for memorizing the words.

I also liked the idea of introducing children to the concept of treating a guest well, even if the guest does not behave well. Our society would be much improved if we all did a little more friendly hosting.

After you finish enjoying this story, ask your child if she or he knows of anyone who is like Thidwick. Ask your child what that person should do differently.

Enjoy having a big heart . . . and hosting others!

One of two of my favorite Seuss's
I remember this book from growing up 30 years ago. The story of a overly gracious moose and how some of his woodland 'friend' take advantage of him. It is classic Seuss with wonderful rhyme and wording. This and McElligot's Pool are now staples for our children's bedtime reading.

Thidwick is always remembered
This is a wonderful children's story that I remember reading as a child. It has such an impression on me, I never forgot the story nor the moral that Dr. Suess implied in this tale. ... Read more

Book Description

For hundreds of kids, The Trunchbull is pure terror. For Matilda, she's a sitting duck.Roald Dahl is one of the most beloved storytellers of all time, and his books have been children's favorites for generations. Puffin is proud to offer a strong new look for nine of our classic Roald Dahl titles. The distinctive cover treatment, with new art by Quentin Blake, will make these books easily recognizable. In addition, Quentin Blake's funny, quirky illustrations now appear in all of the books. So turn the page and you'll be sure to have a Dahl-ectable summer! ... Read more

Reviews (260)

Review of the novel Matilda of Roald Dahl
The novel Matilda by Roald Dahl is about a little girl, called Matilda, who is a complete genius. She taught herself reading and calculating. Her parents, who think a lot of themselves and who are criminal, neglect her. Miss Honey, Matilda's first teacher, is very nice and smart; also, she had a cruel childhood. Her aunt, Miss Trunchbull treated her all the time. Her aunt Miss Trunchbull is the brutal headmistress of Matilda's school. Miss Trunchbull hates all children and uses them to stay in shape as a hammer thrower. Since Matilda met Miss Trunchbull for the first time, they fight against each other. In the end, Matilda helps Miss Honey to get her property, which Miss Trunchbull stole, back and Matilda's family allows her to stay by Miss Honey.
We think this book contains a good humour and it is written with a lot of fantasy. Because it is also easy to read, younger people, who are not able to understand much English, are able to understand Matilda's adventure, either.
It might be a problem that Matilda does not spend much respect on her parents, what is shown very often, when Matilda punishes her parents for their behaviour. It could be a problem that younger children think that they are also allowed to play such tricks when they do not agree with their parent's decisions.

It's Amazing!
Matilda, is a book written mainly for children and thus much of it is not quite possible. In other words, the book lets your imagination run wild. An example would be the nasty Trunchbull who took hold of a child by his hair, lifted him up into the air and flung him straight out of the window just because he was eating chocolates in class! And it would be a Guinness world record if a child like Matilda could read books like Shakespeare! So in that way this book, mainly for children is just for stretching your imagination like a rubber band.

Roald Dahl has made every single character in this book marvellously exciting but that is probably the only similarity between them. All the characters have their own unique personalities. For example, I will compare Miss Honey with Mrs. Wormwood. Miss Honey is a school teacher who was very startled by Matilda's brilliance on her very first day at school. Mrs. Wormwood, Matilda's mother, on the other hand was absolutely not interested in education or Matilda. Her opinion was that 'A girl should think about making herself look attractive so that she can get a good husband later on. Looks is more important than books," By reading this you can see how totally different each character is.

My favourite character in the book is Matilda who is a genius and a child prodigy. In Roald Dahl's words ' ...extraordinary, and by that I mean sensitive and brilliant. ...Her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn that her ability should have been obvious to the most half-witted of parents.' The parts where she takes revenge on her parents for treating her badly are full of suspense.

I would recommend this book to my friends as I have thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A normal book for children
This book Matilda is about a five and a half year old girl who is a genius. Matilda goes to a school where an evil headmistress is. She doesn't likes children and she treats them very hard. Only the class teacher Miss Honey of Matilda is nice and kindly to their children. The parents of Matilda doesn't interests in Matilda and in her especially talents. Often Matilda punish her parents a little bit, because they aren't nice to her. I have one sister and one brother and when they get on my nerves, I play sometimes practical tricks on them. This book is very detailed and I like the characters of the person, because they describe the persons very good. I can imagine how the persons look like.

good book
"Matilda" by Roald Dahl is about a little girl called Matilda who is a genius and has got many problems with her parents because they are not intersted in her. Furthermore Matilda meets her monster-like headmistress, who hates small pupils and a very nice and kind class-teacher Miss Honey, who is the only one who encourages her talents.
I think the children's book "Matilda" is very well written because it is easy to read but I also think that the story is a bit unrealistic.

A book for children
The book Matilda is about a girl, called Matilda, who read books of adults since the age of three. But her parents don't assist her by her talent.
At school Matilda meets her nice class teacher Miss Honey and the headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who don't like children.
The book tells us how Matilda plays tricks to her parents and to Miss Trunchbull.

In my opinion the book is for children, because Roald Dahl wrote the book in a easy english with mostly easy words. The content is sometimes funny, but sometimes unrealistic, too. ... Read more

Book Description

Roald Dahl's inimitable style and humor shine in this collection of poems about mischievous and mysterious animals. From Stingaling the scorpion to Crocky-Wock the crocodile, Dahl's animals are nothing short of ridiculous. A clever pig with an unmentionable plan to save his own bacon and an anteater with an unusually large appetite are among the characters created by Dahl in these timeless rhymes. This new, larger edition is perfect for reading aloud and makes Quentin Blake's celebrated illustrations even more enjoyable.

"Will elicit a loud 'Yuck.'In other words, children will love them." (Children's Book Review Service) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Oh man!
I remember reading this in 5th grade (1995) and laughing so hard. From the Ant Eater that ate aunts (due to American mis-pronounciation), to the cow that sprouted wings and flew around crapping on thigs, this never got old. This was pretty hard to find back in the day, but it's good to see Amazon has a lot of them in stock. This is dirtier than Dahl's other stories...as the name suggests...but it's nothing too offensive for anyone younger than 9 or 10. Go for it, it's nuts and a half.

A favorite
From a six year olds' point of view.
"It is fun to ready and funny. I love the part of the boy with the talking tummy."

I thought some of the Rhymes might be a little to grody for a little girl, but that is the essence of this little book. She takes delight in reading it aloud to her friends at school. And she never tires of it. She is a Roald Dahl fan and I am over the moon about it. I think Dahl and his books are a great alternative or addition to Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House. But I think ultimately he will outlast many of these other books. He is a classic.

Goodness Gracious Me
A classic piece of Dahl lunacy. Whether you are 5 or 50 this Roald Dahl classic will have you squirming and tittering. Quentin Blake's wonderful illustrations capture Dahl's beasts and bring them hairily to life. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was a prickly, colorful character who wrote maliciously funny short stories for adults (The Best of Roald Dahl) as well as better-known works for children (James and the Giant Peach). As he relates in the introduction, he started the research for this book by making a call to the celebrated ghost-story anthologist/writer, Lady Cynthia Asquith. He then went to the British Museum Library, andread a total of 749 tales before selecting 14 for this anthology. His criterion: "Spookiness is, after all, the real purpose of the ghost story. It should give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts." Included here are not only acknowledged classics by Robert Aickman, Edith Wharton, J. S. Le Fanu, andF. Marion Crawford, but also tales by lesser-known writers such as L. P. Hartley, Rosemary Timperley, Jonas Lie, Mary Treadgold, and A. M. Burrage. The Washington Post writes, "Dahl's taste, it will surprise no one, is impeccable." ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Lovely, subtle spookiness
I don't usually seek out "scary" fiction, but I was looking for a gift for my son (a teen) and bought this one. He hasn't tried it yet, but I have been eagerly reading the stories. My favorite was also "Playmate", but all of the stories are good.
It should be noted that all of these stories were written quite a while ago. This means that the language is more complex and even maybe seems a little stilted to modern ears, but on the other hand, this is very high-caliber writing, and the language is a joy. (Many readers will have their vocabulary stretched just a little) I found the writing style to be an inspiration for my own writing. This is a very good collection!

introduced me to a few authors i'll read more of
most of the stories in this book i could have done without. i found them boring and not the least bit frightening. i loved the edith wharton story (just buy her book of ghost stories), and the rosemary timperley stories were great too!

more disturbing than any of the stories was dahl's sexist introduction. he waxes lyrical on how women authors are kept out of the literary canon, because men really have the upperhand in that area, but ladies sure can write a creepy story. i was incredibly irritated.

this book gets 3 stars instead of one because it peaked my interest in ghost stories written by victorian women writer's- aside from that, it was pretty blah.

and don't get me wrong, i've always been a fan of his, and have read quite a lot of his books, but the sexist remarks dampened my admiration.

i strongly suggest flipping through this one before purchasing it.

scary!
I read this alone at night (2nd time) and it still scared me! Some are scarier than others, but theese are real ghost stories, creepy not gory.

This Book's the Best
I think that this book is the best he has written. I read it for a report in sixth grade and loved it. All of the ghost stories he assembled in this collection were terrific. My favorite story of the fourteen in the book was called Playmates, but the rest were also wonderful.In the introduction, Roahld Dahl said that in good ghost stories you don't see the actual ghost, just the people and events that are affected by the spirit. I think that the book was a great idea and more like it should be published.

A Great And Little Known Horror Gem
A ghost story should first and foremost be about atmosphere, and this collection of subtle, beautifully written ghost stories is a must-have. The stories range from the classic Victorian style to more bizarre stories such as the brilliant "Ringing the Changes." In addition, Dahl has selected works that are not usually included in the horror cannon. There is no Poe, no "Monkey's Paw." Instead, Dahl chose to emphasize more subtle and lesser-known works. And his introduction about the importance of women writers is also not to be missed. This is a brilliant anthology. ... 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.