Reviews (12)

The Worst Book Of The First Ten
This review concerns the original 1929 edition. An elderly lady seeks Fenton Hardy's assistence in locating her twin brother who disappeared shortly after an accident. Meanwhile, Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff travel up the coast to camp at some caves where mysterious things are occuring. This book is easily the worst of books 1-10. The writing (language used, descriptive scenes, etc.) is excellent, like in all of the early originals; however the writing is the only saving grace of this book and the only real reason to read it. The plot is weak and their is no real mystery. There is only one criminal in the book. He is captured on page 139 and the manner in which he is captured was the second most pathetic way that I have seen in all of the Hardy Boys books that I have read; the worst being the criminal in #76 "Game plan For Disaster" that the Hardy's find already tied up on a motel room floor. Unfortunately for Frank and joe they had to tie the guy up this time, but; otherwise, it was somewhat similar. The book contains too many ridiculous coincidences. The Hardys are supposed to be miles from Bayport, yet when they look for a passing motorist to take the criminal to the police station in Bayport, not only is the very first car they stop going to Bayport, the driver is someone the Hardy's know. If that wasn't enough, a similar situation happens later in the book. The reader is left to figure out the explanation of the strange happenings at the caves because it is never explained. This book is worth reading for the writing, but that's about it.

What Was The Author Thinking?
This review concerns the revised 1964 edition. A young girl asks Mr. Hardy, Frank and Joe to find her brother, a young university professor, who recently disappeared. A clue left by the professor leads Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff to the Honeycomb Caves, not far from Bayport, where the boys discover a connection to Mr Hardy's other case involving sabotage at a new radar station in Bayport. I don't know what the author of the revised edition was thinking; he/she took the original edition, that was already not very good, largely rewrote it, stripped away the only really good thing about the original (its rich language and descriptiveness) and made an already dull book even worse. This is a bad book with a boring mystery and not much action. If you're determined to read this title, read the original if you can, neither one is very good, but at least the original was well written.

The cave collapsed.
I think this book is the worst Hardy Boys book ever.This book is so poor I think it wasn't even made by Franklin W. Dixon.I would give it one star but I have to give it some credit.Listen to me and don't get this book.

My Hardy Boys #7 Review
I think this book is a great read for everybody, young and old.I especially liked the part where they meet the retired sea captain in the cave,and at first he is cool with Chet, Biff, Joe and Frank, then they return and he gets all aggressive with them.To sum it up, this book, The Secret Of The Caves is an awesome book.
Go read it!

Fine
This review refers to the original text. The book did not live up to its appealing title and is over rated. While it ranks as one of the best volumes in the set, it ranks among the worst of the early volumes. There is actually one criminal Carl Schaum, captured on page 59. Outside of the brothers going through the caves during the middle chapters the book was rather medicore. The revision (1964) was horrible. Still the book is a definite read as are all the early volumes. ... Read more

Book Description

Amber Brown is excited to be starting second grade-and a little nervous. She's worried that the new teacher might not be as nice as she hopes. Plus, Hannah Burton is going to be in her class, and Amber knows Hannah can be mean. But on the way to school with her best friend Justin, Amber makes a decision. She is going to be ready for whatever happens. And second grade had better be ready for Amber Brown! ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in color. Dr. Seuss's characters explore the zany world of feet. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

A must for every young child's library!
The Foot Book is terrific, but be sure that you buy the 32 page white-covered version, not one of the inferior board books.

My children have loved this book since 6 months. The story is very simple - it shows all different kinds of feet, from wet feet and dry feet to fuzzy fur feet. There aren't many words on each page, so there is lots of page turning to keep the youngest kids interest. Dr. Seuss used a sing-song rhyme, which reads quickly and is very soothing. We read it over and over again.

The artwork is classic Suess, with a focus on feet!

I credit The Foot Book with fostering my children's love of books. At just 12 months my daughter will bring the book to me and climb into my lap for a reading. (Fair warning - you will know this book by heart!)

My older child was bored with this book by about age 2, because it is so simple, but is now enjoying it again as I read it to her sister, and I think it will be a popular choice when she starts learning to read.

My recommendation is to get this book early and enjoy it often!

Dr. Seuss introduces young readers to the joy of adjectives
"The Foot Book" by Dr. Seuss is a Bright and Early Book for Beginning Readers, a series of books for the youngest of the young. The idea here is that the stories are brief and funny, the words are few and easy, and there is always a catchy sense of rhyme. Of course "The Foot Book" is about not only the foot (singular) but feet (plural). There are more references to feet (plural) than to feet (singular), if you happen to pay attention to such things (which, apparently, I did). But the key part of this book are all the adjectives that Dr. Seuss comes up with for all those feet.

This happens mostly in terms of oppositional pairs such as right and left, wet and dry, high and low, front and back, etc. Of course sometimes rhyme comes into play as well, such as when we go from small feet to big feet and then to pig feet. The illustrations all feature the strange hairy creatures that populate the imagination of Dr. Seuss, although you will see a pair of rather normal looking kids in the mix as well. Did you ever stop to think that Dr. Seuss is probably the most influential poet of his generation? He is certainly the most imitated, and behind all those silly rhymes was a deep desire to get kids to read. Once your beginning reader has read "The Foot Book," be sure to have them check out the sequel, "Fox in Sox."

A must have for all!
This is one of the first books my son fell in love with. He would laugh as I used different voices to go with the words and pictures. This book is also great to help with opposites. This is definately a library must have for all.

it was a funny book
this book is funny, just because it talks about feet.i read it twice. i recommend it, it was good.

Don't buy this version, get the original!
The original hardcover The Foot Book is absolutely awesome, but I had a lot of trouble finding it to buy on Amazon (it has a white cover, not green). For some reason the only versions that came up in my search were the board books. My daughterss have loved this book since they were 6 months old (one is now 12 months and the other is 3 1/2), and my copy is very tired.

Be aware that this version only has 12 pages and has stickers and flaps, which get torn and make a mess. If you're looking for the original version, click on "hardcover edition" on this page and you're all set.

I can't see any reason to purchase the shortened, board book version of this classic unless you're concerned with torn pages. There aren't many words on each page, and the rhymey, sing-song story is short enough to hold your child's attention for the entire book. We read this book together for storytime, and put the sturdier books into the crib for play.

The Foot Book belongs in every small child's library, but go with the real deal, not this dumbed-down version. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Better Than The Original Edition
This review concerns the revised 1967 edition. Mr. Hardy asks Frank and Joe to "break into" the house of a neighbour and retrieve a secret invention to prevent it from being stolen by a gang of thieves he is currently investigating. Later, at a party at Chet's home, Joe is kidnapped at the stroke of midnight. Frank, along with some friends, must find Joe and learn why he was kidnapped; as well, the Hardy's have to keep the gang from stealing the invention. Personally, I preferred this edition to the original. The original edition was better written; although, that is true in most cases. However, I found that revised edition had a more interesting mystery and it had a lot more action. I don't consider this book to be one of the best of the series, but it is far from being one of the worst.

An Average Book
This review concerns the original 1931 edition. At the stroke of midnight, Joe is kidnapped from a party at the Morton farm and Frank and his chums set out, not only to find Joe, but to discover why he was kidnapped. I'd more accurately give the book a rating of 3.5 stars. The writing, like with all previous volumes, is excellent and the mystery is alright, but the book doesn't quite live up to the intriguing title. Mr. Hardy does not make an appearance in the book as he is said to be on a case out West and, in my opinion, his omission only hurts the story. Most readers would probably not rate this book as one of their favorites in the set, but they probably wouldn't rate it as one of their least favorites either.

the amazing book
This book is about a secret invention that has to be taken good care of while Mr.Hardy and the inventor are out of town. While the hardy boys are protecting it throughout the book ,many things happen and happen to them. Then finally near the end they arest people of the smuggler/kidnapper gang and get a clue as they go along.Read it and find out what happens in the end.my opinion about the book is that it is very interesting and entertaining. I like it because as you go along it gives you a clue and makes you think like a investagator. Then in the end it all comes together and you get the whole meaning of everything.

The best Hardy Boys book I've ever read!
Okay, so I only read The Tower Treasure, Hunting for Hidden Gold, Tthe Mystery of Cabin Island and The Clue of the Broken Blade, bu this is the best book I have read so far! They must get into their neighbor's house to take an invetion before thieves get it, then they have to find Joe (one of the Hardys) that the theives captured! When Joe was kidnapped in the car, he heared one of the gang's name was Chris. They follow chris through NYC, then they meet up with Keith, the investigator. Frank plays the role of "Youngster", a fake name, by pretending he is part opf the gang, to visit Shorty, one of the gang memebers, and make him spill the beans! This a a great book! Here are my ratings for the hardy series I have read:

Best to Least...

What Happened at Midnight
The Clue of the Broken Blade
Hunting for Hidden Gold
The Tower Treasure
The Mystery of Cabin Island

You may also like Nancy Drew because Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew are extremely similar, with the "look" of the books, except different colors, of course. Too bad there isn't a Hardy Boys software game!

A Twisted and Awesome Book
In this book Frank & Joe Are told by thier father to break into a house and get something before a group of thieves steal it Unfortunately while the Hardys are trying to get the object the thieves come and the Hardys are forced to knock them one. They find more and more suspects until they find the head leader named Taffy Marr.In about the middle Joe gets kidnapped and is left in a cave across a body of water from Bayport. And to gather evidence they somehow always run into a suspect and shadow them. ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, originally published in 1934, the search for a stolen boat leads the Hardy Boys to Mexico where they become involved with a band of Indians and a strange smuggling operation. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Mexican Adventure With The Hardy Boys
This review refers to the original 1934 version written by Leslie McFarlane.
The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe, along with their dad, Fenton, travel to Mexico to locate a missing witness in oil stock swindle.
Along the way, they rescue a kidnapped Mexican boy and get invited to his father's hacienda, where they meet a mysterious Yaqui Indian who aids them on their quest.
All the threads come together as the Boys and their father are captured by the murderous Vincenzo and his band of cut-throats.

There's plenty of action and adventure here as the Hardy Boys battle their way free and solve the case!

Danger South of the Border
Frank and Joe are out in their motor boat when they have a run in with a man in another boat driving recklessly. Searching for him again, they find the boat abandoned and spot what looks like a submarine. Meanwhile, there father has started a new case. A bookkeeper, the star witness in a stock [problem] case, has disappeared, and Mr. Hardy must find him. Soon, the trails lead the Hardys down to Mexico, where they must use all their skills to track the men into the wilderness. But what will they find when they get there?

I always wanted to read this book as a kid (something about the name attracted me), but never got around to it. Finally reading it as an adult, I enjoyed being back in the Hardys' presence. Frank and Joe are still able to entertain, although I must admit they couldn't quite mystify as much as they did when I was a kid. Still, their fans will love this adventure with plenty of danger, excitement, and close calls. Not to mention a wonderful escape scene near the end.

These books have captured the imagination of generations of boys for a reason - the adventure. This book will keep readers glued to the page to find out what happens next to their heroes.

Above Average
This review concerns the revised 1967 edition. The Hardys and Chet go to Mexico to search for a missing witness in a stock-fraud case on which Mr. Hardy is working. Their search takes them to the desert and mountain regions of Baja California; where they come upon a village terrorized by a mysterious symbol carved into the doors of peoples homes and a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Much of the beginning of this book is similar to the original; however, the ending has been completely rewritten. The book is rather good and I would actually give it 3 1/2 stars. There is a moderate amount of action and the plot is interesting. I found the book made good use its mexican setting and the writing was fairly descriptive. It was a good book that is definately worth reading.

An Entertaining Adventure
This review concerns the original 1934 edition. The search for a missing witness leads Frank, Joe and Mr. Hardy to Mexico. I'd more accurately give the book 3.5 stars. The book; although not quite as well written as earlier volumes, was loaded with action and adventure. Chapters 15-23 were very good; however the final two chapters were a major letdown, as the mystery was resolved much too soon. One thing that I did not like about the book was that after the first few of chapters, none of the Hardy's friends were included in the mystery. But still, it was a good book; definately worth reading.

A scary adventure!
Frank and Joe try to help stop the kidnapping in this mystery. Every time someone got kidnapped there was a strange mark on the door of there house. Then the Hardy Boys find out what the sign means and solves the mystery!I think you should buy this book if you like adveture, mystery, and a little vilonce. ... Read more

Book Description

School daze for Babar!

Being the king of the elephants is hard work. But Babar's children say it's even harder to be a student. So Babar heads back to school-with hilarious results. His pencil breaks, he gets in trouble for talking in class, he sits on a wad of gum...what a day! Poor Babar is more than ready for his snack and a nap. "I think I'll go back to being a grown-up tomorrow," he tells Celeste. "It's a much easier job!" ... Read more

Amazon.com

Babar and Queen Celeste have just been married in this early story fromthe most famous of elephantine chronicles. They depart for their honeymoon in a hot-air balloon, and at first all seems wonderful as they glide over a charming coastal town that might be St. Tropez before the advent of tourism.Alas, a storm takes them out to sea and then dumps them on a desert island. The fierce, spear-carrying "savages" who subsequently attack them will remind you that this book was written and illustrated in 1934: they are as far from politically correct as you can get. And the war between the elephants and the rhinoceroses, which ends the story, is also problematic for a modern audience.But the travels and adventures in between show all the excitement and charm that has made the Babar series an enduring hit. (Ages 2 to 6) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another wonderful Babar adventure!
Babar is one of the most endearing characters in children's literature. This volume is a classic that belongs on any child's bookshelf. The story of Babar and Celeste's hot air balloon ride and subsequent adventures in interesting locales fascinates kids, while broadening their cultural horizons. Some mature themes that may disturb kids (war, cruel treatment by a circus ringmaster), but provide a change from the pastel bunny and kitty story genre. Thought provoking for kids mature enough to handle it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Subtitled "Dr. Seuss's Surprising Word Book," The Shape of Me and Other Stuff certainly lives up to its billing. In this delightful book, first published in 1973, kids are encouraged to ponder shapes they may never have considered before: "Just think about the shape of beans and flowers and mice and big machines!" Dr. Seuss's illustrations are in silhouette (for the purpose of accenting the outlines of figures), but are nonetheless up to par with his usual wacky, amusing style. Soaring well beyond the mundane arena of circles, triangles, and squares, here we are challenged to consider "the shape of camels … the shape of bees and the wonderful shapes of back door keys!" Kids will love the silly rhymes and funny pictures, and parents will appreciate this original take on the largely untapped world of shapes. (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Shape of Me
My daughter got this book for her first birthday, and it quickly became one of her favorites. She loved the rhymes based on familiar objects, and enjoyed pointing out the corresponding pictures. I think she liked the fact that the vocabulary was based on words she actually knew and could even repeat, and objects that were part of her everyday life.

the shape of you and other things
The book the shape of me and other stuff is about the shape of you and things around you. It teaches you that there is nothing the same shape. The age level for this book would be threeto five. This book was good but it would be better for three to five year olds.

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff
The book " The Shape of Me and Other Stuff" is a fun book to read. I think probably anybody could read it and like it. It has good rymes and has a good flow. It has nice big illustrations, not alot of color but they are still good for young readers to see. It talks about what everthing looks like and i think it was written to show kids that not everything is the same. The main point in the story is to not want to be someone or something and to be happy with who you are.

Practice in Noticing Small Differences in Outline Shapes
One of the most difficult problems that many beginning readers have is to notice those pesky little differences between letters (like b and d, and q and p). Many children don't focus that much and get a general impression of a shape when looking at a letter or a group of letters. This interesting beginning reader helps you child to "see" the benefits of studying detail more closely.

The book is primarily a series of solid shapes (mostly black on white) set off with bright colors used in some shapes, as backgrounds for others, and as rectangles around words. Each one is a different item. Some of the many items silhouetted include a bug, balloon, bed, bike, beans, flowers, mice, big mahines, elephants, ships, teapots, water dripping, bird cages, peanuts, pineapple, noses, grapes, glasses, scissors, the various shapes that gum can be pulled into, smoke, marshmallows, fires, mountains, roosters, horses, tires, camels, bees, back door keys, spider webs, clothes, garden hose, mug, imaginary beings (like a BLOGG), trombone, fish, whale and a frog. This is not all, but it is more than half.

As you can imagine, a young child will be able to identify very few while an older child will get almost all of them. Not all of the profiles have words associated with them in the text.

As a result, this book should be read in different ways at different stages of development. For example, two year olds will identify more objects if they get a hint from you. Also, if you child likes sounds, you could make a sound like the object for your clue.

For an older child, you can also work together to spell the names of the shapes that are not in the text. For someone about to graduate from the book, you could try creating some rhymes with the shapes that are not mentioned.

The book itself is simple to read, and has a typical Dr. Seuss rhyming scheme.

The key lessons are summarized as:

"Everything comes in different shapes."

"No shapes are ever quite alike."

There is also nice encouragement for your child to feel special, for having a unique shape. That's a nice tie-in to the concept of encouraging your child to notice the small differences that help in reading. This point is brought home in the end when the child narrator says, "I say, 'HOORAY for the shapes we're in!'"

This book will be of most value for a child who is starting to have some success in identifying letters, so although this is a beginning reader . . . it's not the first reader you should use.

After you have enjoyed this book, you might also do some art projects in which your child picks out items that she or he wants you to cut out. You could paste them onto a card along with the item's name, and create your own flash cards for words you child wants to learn!

Notice the small things, so you can see the big picture!

An interesting experiment from Dr. Seuss
In "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff," Dr. Seuss experiments with an artistic approach that is very different from that of his best-known work. This book teaches about shapes, and the illustrations consist entirely of silhouettes of various items: people, elephants, boats, keys, etc.

The shadow-like illustrations are accompanied by rhymes in the familiar Seussian style: "Peanuts and pineapples / noses and grapes. / Everything comes in different shapes." While the book is educational and entertaining, I felt that the silhouettes-only art lacked some of the wacky charm of the full Seussian illustration technique. Nevertheless, I recommend "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff" as a fun addition to the family or classroom library. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

Wilma Unlimited
Wilma Rudolph was never expected to live past her first birthday, but she did. That wouldn't be the only thing she would have to overcome in her challenging life. Wilma was always a sickly child growing up. Her brothers and sisters would get sick, but she would get it twice as bad. By the time Wilma was five, her family found out that she had polio. The doctors had her wear a special steel brace, and told her that she would never walk again. Growing up she would watch children playing basketball, and wished she could some day play as well. One day she decided she was going to learn to walk without her brace. So, she did just that. Her and her mother worked and worked at strengthening her leg. Finally she was able to play with the other children. She helped lead her high school basketball team to the state championship, in which they lost. She caught the eye of the Tennessee State track coach. He couldn't believe how fast she was. Wilma ended up being the first person in her family to attend and finish college. Later on, Wilma went on to win an astonishing three gold metals in the Summer Olympics of 1960. I found this book to be very rewarding. I think it would help kids that have a lot of tough challenges in life. It would also help inspire anyone that would happen to read it. I had always heard of Wilma Rudolph when I was growing up, but I never knew how inpirational her life really was, until now!

An inspiring story of the woman who surprised the world.
This is a wonderful true story of one woman's accomplishments. Wilma Rudolph was a bouncy child who ran everywhere as soon as she could walk. When she contracted polio and scarlet fever at the same time, the doctor said she would never walk again. But Wilma had a mother who rode the bus with her 50 miles each way twice a week, to the nearest hospital that would treat black patients. She had 21 brothers and sisters to help her exercise and practice until she could walk, first with a brace, then (finally) all on her own. Wilma had watched the other children play for years, and she wanted to play basketball as soon as she could. Wilma's long legs, strength, and determination helped her to lead her high school basketball team to the state championships, where she caught the attention of a track and field coach who offered her a college scholarship. In 1960, Wilma made the US Olympic track and field team. She wasn't expected to win any events, but it was an honor for her just to compete. And then Wilma amazed everyone. She won her first gold medal when she flew past everyone in the 100 meter race -- and then won another in the 200 -- and then she won another gold when she anchored the 4 by 100 meter relay. Wilma Rudolph did what no one else had done before, and she earned the richly deserved title of fastest woman in the world. Her story is proof that strength can overcome almost any disadvantages

Running just as fast as she can
Inspirational stories fill hundreds of picture books every year. Most are simply awful. They either tell tales that are loose plots barely supported by facts or they paste together a slapdash concoction of truth and fiction with as little thought as possible. The truly beautiful bio-picture books out there are as rare as hummingbirds in autumn. So it was with great joy that I located "Wilma Unlimited" and found it to be not only inspirational but also a darned good read. Written by Kathleen Krull (the woman who could make long dead musicians fascinating in "Lives of the Musicians" and bring Cesar Chavez to life in the recent "Harvesting Hope") and illustrated by David Diaz the book is the best possible way to introduce kids to one of the world's greatest athletes.

Born in 1940 to a family of twenty-one people (nineteen siblings, no less), Wilma Rudolph was initially a sickly child. Though she was energetic enough, she often caught every disease imaginable. At the age of five, Wilma's left leg twisted inward and it was clear that she'd come down with polio. Still, Wilma was a determined child and she consistently exercised her unruly leg to get stronger. After continual practice, she was finally able to walk free of the leg brace that had weighed her down. At twelve the brace was put away for good and Wilma started participating in sports. She led her high school basketball team to the finals, catching the eye of a college coach. Before you knew it, Wilma was recruited into the Tennessee State University's track-and-field team on a full ride scholarship. In 1960 she competed in the Olympic Games in Rome. The book sets this part up beautifully. Wilma arrived with a twisted ankle into a place filled with television cameras (the first time they ever filmed the Olympics), the place "shimmering heat", and her competition consisting of runners who had run faster races than she ever had. Then Wilma proceeds to win one... two... three gold medals! The last medal is especially dramatic, hinging on the moment when Wilma drops her baton and STILL beats the other runners in the 400-meter relay. The last double page spread in this book shows Wilma standing, "tall and still, like a queen", earning the last of her three medals. It's a truly proud moment for all who have the privilege to experience it once again in picture book form.

Krull has a way with words. I'm not saying that Wilma Rudolph's life is dull. Far from it. But in the hands of a lesser author this story could easily have been bogged down in all the wrong moments. This author knows which moments should be given full glory. The moment when Wilma removes her brace and walks proudly into church will banish from your mind that similar pseudo-inspirational moment in "Forrest Gump". Wilma's struggle at the Olympics through pain and skepticism puts the reader through the same strains. You yearn for this woman to beat them and beat 'em she does. Then, best of all, come the illustrations of David Diaz. This is my first Diaz experience, though I suspect that I'll read many more of his books as the days go on. Diaz has accompanied his illustrations in this tale with sepia toned photographs. The book's endpapers display the outlines of footprints in the dirt. The title page is an evocative view of ivy climbing a raw wooden fence. Behind his colorful illustrations, each background photograph refers to the corresponding scene obliquely. When Wilma and her mother take the bus to the hospital, the photograph is a close-up of a wheel. When she packs away her leg brace, it's shredded packing paper. A great relief it is indeed that the colored illustrations are worthy of their sepia compatriots. Though these pictures may appear blunt at first, they are filled with the most delicate of designs. I loved watching the character of Wilma as she aged. As she grows in confidence, her posture improves and back stiffens until, by the last shot, she is standing taller than all the women around her. Than all the women in the world.

"Wilma Unlimited" should be known to everyone living in American today. This is inspirational without being either annoying or faux-patriotic. It's an actual honest-to-goodness amazing story. The book is beautiful and its story is worthy of its packaging. I challenge you to read it and not shake your head at least once in amazement. It's just that good.

such a fantastic book!
i am a reading specialist in Washington, DC and chose this book b/c i love David Diaz and because, like wilma, my children have many obstacles in their lives. i simply can not finish this book without nearly crying in front of my class. i've read it so many times, but the suspenseful writing and triumphant ending never get tiring. it is a truly wonderful story and wonderfully told and illustrated by this duo.

An inspirational story
This is a biography about Wilma Rudolph. Wilma was not expected to live past the age of five. Wilma was always sick growing up. Her brothers and sisters would get sick, but she would get it twice as bad. By the time Wilma was five, her family found out that she had polio. The doctors had her wear a special steel brace, and told her that she would never walk again. Growing up she would watch children playing basketball, and wished she could some day play as well. One day Wilma was determined to walk without her brace and she walked into church with everyone watching her. Finally she was able to play with the other children. She helped lead her high school basketball team to the state championship, in which they lost. She caught the eye of the Tennessee State track coach. Later on, Wilma went on to win three gold metals in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
I really enjoyed this book because of the inspiration in the story. I think that a child reading this book would get a lot out of it. The illustrations for this book are very unique and beautiful. They flow very well with the story and really help to bring the emotion out in the book.
This is a perfect example of a book where the author is telling the reader that they can do anything they out their minds to. It is a book that I am sure will inspire many children and help them to believe in themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

Skate Tate hates change.But her whole life is changing at once.It's just not fair!Sixth grade is tough.Her new school is bigger, the classes are harder, and Skate's group of close friends is growing apart. Only her Great Uncle Mort (Gum for short) can help her deal with it all. He's not afraid of anything.When tragedy strikes, Gum sends Skate and her family on a road trip that will change their lives forever--starting with Plymouth, Massachusetts. Skate is taking it all down in her scrapbook, but will she ever learnhow to handle what lies just around the corner? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

United Tates of America
I think this book has 3 million thumbs up! I really liked it! I was so into it, I read it in a day practically and read it 10x! I especially like that she and I have the same problems and both are interested in scrapebooking!

United Tates of America
A great book. Very interesting and creative. I like the part where she was learning and adapting to a new school and also her experiences of not feeling as close to her best friend.

Booooooring
This is a really boring book. The only sad or emotional part is when the Great Uncle guy dies. Otherwise its very corny. Not to mention "cheap". What's with stealing the name "Lipschitz" from Rugrats. And come on, the ryhme thing got old fast.

Wonderful for kids & adults - and the travel season ahead
Though the book opens with the first day of sixth grade for its heroine Skate Tate, "Tates" comes out at an excellent time for kids and families planning spring and summer vacations, since the final chapters are spent "on the road."

Paula Danziger gets the language of middle school just right...my daughter laughed over much of this book (she's a fifth grader) and was moved to tears as well. As an added bonus, the scrapbook portion inspired her to gather up photos and memorabilia and spend her allowance on a scrapbook of her own.

"United Tates of America" is funny, well-written, thoroughly entertaining, and also deals thoughtfully with some difficult issues, including death and how to answer a late elementary/early middle schooler's concern about feeling responsible for the death of a loved one. I've been recommending it to friends/other parents who need resources in this area (much as I steer people to "The Tenth Good Thing About Barney" by Judith Viorst when the topic is death of a pet).

And if your child can't read in the car without getting carsick, there's an audiobook version available with a full cast of children and adult voices; in fact, Paula Danziger herself can be heard on the audiobook recording--first as Skate's teacher, Mrs. Lipschitz, and then in a special afterword in which she shares her own journey in creating this novel.

I found this book engaged my child on a deeper level due to the scrapbook section; when you see photos of the characters, although you know it's fiction, you can't help but feel their experiences more intimately. Take a look and give it a try - it's as good a read for adults as it is for kids, and a good place to start a dialogue with your child on loss and healing, among other topics. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Children love this story...
I am student teaching and used this book in the classroom for a lesson pertaining to the overall theme of Thanksgiving and the Indians. The children were on the edge of their seats through the entire story. I used an activity after the book where students had a piece of paper with a grid on it. In each box, there was a number (1-10) that students had to trace. Then, they glued the popcorn kernels in the grid with the corresponding number. There are so many ideas and activities that can accompany this story! I encourage all teachers to use it...no matter what age level! (I used this in 2nd grade).

The Popcorn Book
I really liked the book. The author was very creative with his illistrations. The reason I chose this book was because my favorite food is popcorn! Tomie de Paola must of had to do alot of research for this book. I would recommend The Popcorn Book to any lower-grade teacher.

Wow !
When I was a kid we regularly got this book on our weekly library trips because we loved it at bedtime so much! The historical notes were great, and I was particularly fond of the illustrations.

I'm so glad to find that it's still in print. I'm going to add it to my wish list right now!

Its so good you could eat it all up!!
The popcorn book is a great book. It makes you laugh and makes you hungry for popcorn!! I reccomand this for children of all ages. ( and for children who like popcorn!)

A Terrific Science & History Story!
I read this book to my 8-year-old son yesterday. What a treat! Popcorn is his favorite snack food. Scientific & historical facts are presented in a very hip way by a fantastic writer/illustrator. Even though it contains a lot of information it moves at a very fast past. A must read book!! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (25)

Smoky Night- Chilren facing rioting and prejudice
From her home in Pasadena, California, Eve Bunting was close enough to Los Angeles for the riots of the early 90's to have had a big impact on her everyday life during that time. As an author of children's literature who was always thinking of new story lines, she began wondering about the effects the riots had on children in the Los Angeles area and other areas where rioting was taking place. This is the premise of her book Smoky Night. In the story, a young boy and his mother witness a riot on the streets outside their home. Later that evening, their building catches fire, and they go to a shelter until the fire can be extinguished and the building repaired. Through their experience, they learn the importance of getting along with others regardless of their race or background. Bunting does a wonderful job of portraying the craziness and futility of the riots from a child's perspective. The illustrations by David Diaz are also important in furthering the theme of overcoming the adversity of the riots, along with racism, through togetherness. Smoky Night begins with just the narrator and his mother, exhibiting their isolation in the middle of the dangerous riots. The mother in the story becomes the interpreter of the riots for the young boy. He seems to understand how the rioters are feeling, he says, "They look angry. But they look happy, too," but he does not understand why they are smashing and stealing things. His mother explains that they are so angry that they don't care what's right or wrong anymore. The pictures that illustrate the scenes of the rioting streets are wonderful. Collages of such things as glass to represent the broken windows, the soles of shoes to represent the robbing of the shoe store, and several different types of cereal to represent the robbing of Mrs. Kim's market create the illustrations. A painted scene of the action that is being described at the time also accompanies each of these backgrounds. During the riots, the colors and images are brightly colored, and many different things cover each page. The colors as well as the sparse, carefully selected words create the sense of panic and confusion that everyone, especially the children must have been feeling at the time. The brightest illustration is the one depicting the reds and yellows of the apartment fire along with matches and the fleeing occupants of the building. On the same page appears a lot of dialogue to represent the confusion of the fire in the middle of the night. Most of this consists of quick questions, many concerning the boy's lost cat. Later in the story, Bunting uses this cat which always fights with a neighbor's cat as a metaphor for the people who also work against their neighbors. The reader finds out about the cats' feud and the prejudice of the people when the boy says, "Mr. Kim's cat and my cat fight all the time, and Mrs. Kim yells at Jasmine in words I don't understand." As the people flee from the burning building their sense of urgency is obvious from the repeated use of exclamation points on the page. After the residents of the apartment escape from the fire, the text seems to move more slowly and the pictures show thick, soup-like smoke covering everything. Not until the residents of the apartment reach a shelter and a kind fireman brings both the boy's and Mrs. Kim's cats to them do the illustrations brighten up once again. In the story the cats are important because, like the people, the cats do not get along at first. However, when they are caught in the riots and the fire, they find the need to be with one another and, in the end, the fireman finds them together. The people involved in the story go through the same changes, and they also find that they have never taken the time to get to know each other. A story like Smoky Night can be helpful for any person who is struggling through adversity or thinking that others may be too different from themselves to be worth befriending.

A new view of urban violence
Bunting takes a bold step by bringing the LA riots to life through the eyes of a child. Though not the ideal bed time story, Smoky night is worth being read. It conveys the message of the effects of urban violence on a child but also tells a beautiful tale of coming together. Daniel and his cat stare out their apartment window at the streets below as people loot the stores. He can not understand why this is happening, how people can look angry and happy at the same time. As Daniel and his mother sleep, a fire breaks out in their building. In the confusion their cat is lost as well as the cat of Mrs. Kim, a Korean shop owner where Daniel's mother never goes. Perhaps a tad cornybut effective is Bunting's use of the two cats coming together to find comfort and security in a time of crisis. The illustrations of David Diaz fill the pages with bright neon colors. His use of multi media to create unique chaotic pictures, complimentary to the story being told.

A 3 1/2 year old critic
My daughter spotted this book at the library and said "look its a badge book." We are reading Caldecott Honor books to earn a badge from the library. I thought the content was a little advanced for a 3 year old, but she said "mommy this is an interesting book." She wants to read it again tonight before we return it to the library. I am ordering a paperback copy for at home and for future reads. I think she will understand the content and meaning more as she gets older. I am certain she doesn't know what riots are but she liked the tie-in with the 2 fueding cats becoming friends in the end and sharing a bowl of milk at the shelter where their families have been relocated during the riots.

Avoid, this book creates negative stereotypes.
Must aggree with other negative posts. Although the author has good intentions, this book is too complex for kindergarteners who may sadly create negative stereotypes of Blacks based on the depictions in the book.
However, this book may be appropriate for childeren who have encountered urban riots and other street violence.

Unfortunately I will have to solicite my child's kindergarten library to remove the book or at least place a warning indicating the book contains complex social issues.

a story about a horror that happened in our time
Smoky Night portrays a mother and son family in urban Los Angeles who are forced to leave their apartment because of a fire while the riots are in full swing. The background of each full-page spread consists of various photographed media, while the left side contains the text and the right side the impressionistic illustrations. The paintings contain exceptionally heavy lines to lend a sense of surrealism to a horrifying experience and also give a sense of seriousness within the brightly colored illustrations. This story shows an experience that elementary children nowadays won't remember, but may still be vivid in their parent's memory, and reminds the reader that adversity does not have racial boundaries. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in color. "Riotous humor in picture and verse as an enterprising Seuss creature hunts uncommon eggs for a super deluxe dish."--Child Study Assn. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

TERRIFIC LIGHT VERSE!
This is a WONDERFUL book that deserves to be as widely read as Seuss' best-known books. The verbose, sprawling, exhuberant light verse is fantastic all by itself, and the illustrations are as strange and wonderful as any of Seuss'. One of the illustrations made me laugh out loud.

Certain myopic adults with no imagination will give themselves ulcers over the fact that this book describes (a) eating the eggs of fanciful birds, (b) cutting down a tree, and (c) knocking down a mountain. But children, and adults who are young at heart, will understand that it's all pretend.

If you enjoy light verse and Seuss' illustrations, Scrambled Eggs Super is not to be missed.

Still Super!
Even after 50 years, this is still one of Theodore Geisel's (aka Dr. Seuss) best books. I revisited it after the words "scrambled eggs super dee duper dee peter t hooper" just popped into my head at lunch one day. And as for the environmental whacko who wrote the one star review .... it's fiction and your kids WILL know the difference even if you don't!!!!! If you think Dr. Seuss was anything other than environmentally conscious then take a gander at the Lorax. It's a great book as well.

scrambled eggs definitely NOT super
The message in this book is very outdated and a nightmare to anyone interested in preserving the environment. I love Dr. Seuss and ordered many of the books for my son. This one however I have to send back. The little boy, not content with hens' eggs, travels far and wide to snatch the eggs of countless rare and exotic birds. He prys off a mountain top to get at one bird, and cuts down an enormous tree (old-growth dimensions) to get at another. And he collects literally thousands of eggs, just to cook up for himself and perhaps his family. This story may have been funny when it was written almost 50 years ago, but today it describes little more than environmental destruction and selfish waste. This is definitely not the message I want to give my son, and I am sending back this book.

Look Beyond the Ordinary to Capture Full Potential!
Peter T. Hooper (of The Cat in the Hat fame) addresses Liz. " . . . [S]peaking of cooks, I'm the best that there is!" He perceives opportunity. "[I]t's sort of a shame that scrambled eggs always taste always the same."

His recipe is more challenging than the Joy of Cooking's version. Hen eggs just won't cut it. You need hundreds of eggs from different kinds of birds (all that you've never heard of), 99 pans, 55 cans of beans, 2/3 cup of sugar, a small pinch of pepper, a pound of horseradish, some nuts, some ginger, nine prunes, three figs, 22 sprigs of parsley, 6 cinnamon sticks, and one clove.

And it's not just any different kinds of eggs. You need eggs from the Ruffle-Necked Sala-ma-goox, Kweet, Tizzle-Topped Grouse, Kwigger, South-West-Facing Crane, Grickily Gructus, Zumm, Bombastic Aghast, and many others. In fact, you have to go to so many places that you need a lot of helpers.

When you're done, you've got Scrambled Eggs Super-dee-Dooper-dee-Booper Special de luxe a-la-Peter T. Hooper. And that's what they taste like, too!

Reading this book reminded me of all the ways that children like to brag. I remember going to a camp picnic, and seeing that the can of pork and beans I had brought looked better with the top opened than the others. I began waxing eloquently about how carefully I had chosen my can of beans. Then, another boy noted that the only reason my beans looked better was because he had stirred them up with a spoon to bring the beans to the top of the can! I became much more humble about my grocery shopping skills after that experience. Peter T. Hooper hasn't been brought to ground yet.

A fun thing to use this book for is to think with your youngster about how favorite dishes could be made even better. Then, you can go on to consider how to add variety to other things that you do. This imagining will expand your child's intellect, and help both of you to lead more purposeful, interesting lives!

Be super!

A book that will take you to many thrilling places!
I remember this book as one of my favorites. As a child I would read it over and over. Now that I have two sons, I have gone to the library several times to borrow it. I recently asked the school library to acquire it and was amazed when they received word that it was out of print. Browsing through a book store this Christmas I stumbled upon a copy of it and snatched it up quickly! Now, I can read this wonderful story to my children anytime they want, and can take it to their classrooms and read it to their friends! I'm delighted to be an owner of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Christmas is coming and Carlos and his family are going home-driving south across the border to Mexico. But Mexico doesn't seem like home to Carlos, even though he and his sisters were born there. Can home be a place you don't really remember?

At first, La Perla doesn't seem very different from the other villages they pass through. But then Carlos is swept into the festivities by Grandfather, Aunt Ana, and the whole village. Finally, Carlos begins to understand Mama and Papa's love for the place they left behind, and realizes that home can be anywhere, because it stays in the hearts of the people who love you.

Eve Bunting and David Diaz-the Caldecott Medal-winning team behind Smoky Night- collaborated once again to create a dazzling picture book that glows with holiday joy and the spirit of Mexico.

Reviews (4)

Eve Bunting and David Diaz do it again!
Eve Bunting takes her readers on journey with a Mexican family going home for Christmas. The text she uses is elegantly written. Through the feelings expressed by Carlos and his family you get a real sense of the Mexican culture and the importance of family. David Diaz's illustrations lead you into the journey with Carlos and his family. With the use of collaged background and inset illustrations the pages come alive. The text of Bunting and the illustrations of Diaz give you the sense of being there. This is a book that a child of any age would enjoy.

Excellent book!
This book is very touching...it sensitively portrays the sacrafices Mexican immigrants have to make to move to America for their children to have a better life. Very well done themes of parental love, long car trips, the sadness of leaving one's home country, sibling realtionships, husband and wife being romantic (tasteful and age-appropriate), and a child's growing understanding of the complexities of life. Buy and read it to every child (and adult) you know.

Good story/GREAT illustrations
This story is well told, with a nice pace and sense of language. Diaz is up to his usual standards, creating a colorful world that you just want to hop right into. Judge this book by its cover - it's beautiful!

beutiful story and Illustration
The story will keep the attention of any child with the vivid illustrations of Diaz's technique ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although I'm Not Going to Get Up Today! is aimed at young readers, it just gets better as you get older. Only after you've weathered more than few world-weary years can you fully appreciate this book's profound and universal message: "The alarm can ring. The birds can peep. My bed is warm. My pillow's deep. Today's the day I'm going to sleep!" But the rhyming words of Dr. Seuss and goofy illustrations from James Stevenson will surely get more than a few giggles from the old and the young, as everyone in town--from brothers and sisters to the police and the Marines--conspires to get our little hero out of bed.But, as the sleepy boy says, "nobody's going to get me up, no matter what he does." (Not with tickling nor shaking nor cold water on the head.) "Nothing's going to get me up. Why can't you understand! You'll only waste your money if you hire a big brass band." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Lesson Sometimes Missed
As a middle school social studies teacher, I was given the challenge to teach a lesson using a picture book. During my search for the perfect history related picture book, I came across this book instead. The lesson I found in it was one perfect for the first day of class. While the synopsis tells the story of a boy who does not want to get up, I feel it is the last two pages that are most important. In these pages, since the boy will not get out of bed, the mother gives his breakfast to someone else. The lesson I pass on to my students is that I will do everything in my power to help them learn. I will bring in marching bands if that will help, but I can not force them. They must get up and reach for what they want (ie do homework and study) or someone else will get the reward (an A). Please buy this book for your children (young and old) with the lesson that they have the option of being lazy, but they just might miss out on something they want or need.

Dr. Seuss hits rock bottom
My wife and I finally stored this book away, because there is nothing redeeming about the message, and it's not particularly creative in any respect either. The book dwells on a boy's obstinance/refusal to get out of bed for an entire day...what a wonderful thought to put in the head of our children. The kid refuses entreaties from his mother and even the police to get out of bed and go to school, and in the end, they just let the kid stay in bed and sleep. So...the message for my 2 year old is: defy your parents long enough, engage in anti-social behavior, and they will give in and let you have your way. I still have to wonder whether Dr. Seuss actually wrote this one. It's just horrid, and the rhymes are like a 6th grader's first attempt at poetry. Blech!

I am not going to get up today
I am not going to get up today is an exciting, silly story. It is about a boy who doesn't want to get up for school, and he swears that nothing in your wildest imagination will get him up. Seuss, the author, has some crazy ideas as to what would normally wake people up, but in this case, nothing will make this imaginative child get out of bed.

This is a MUST HAVE
There's got to be a starting point to reading with your child and this should be the place. All my kids loved this book, it has humor they instantly identify with and are always entertained by. They never get bored with this one.

Book Review
This book uses very good discriptions, it also rymes and the illistrations go along with the the words good. It makes you keep reading and reading because the words are discriptive. I would suggest this book to all kids. ... Read more

Book Description

In the most fantastical of the classic Babar stories, we follow Zephir, Babar’s monkey friend, home on school holiday. The monkey princess, Isabelle, has been kidnapped by the horned monster Polomoche, and everyone is very worried. But Zephir, with the help of a tiny mermaid named Eleanore, is certain that he can save the princess himself. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Elephants are not the only Fantastic Creatures!
Page aften page of strange and curious imaginary creatures, mermaids and monkeys! A delightful book.

Zephir embarks from the elephant school, off on his summer vacation. He arrives home at Monkeyville, which is filled with wonderful little houses and shops that hang from the gigantic trees, and off he and his family go to their holiday house, where the first thing that his mother does is prepare a "good soup of bananas and chocolate" (!).

The next day a tremendous package arrives at the post office from Babar. It is a rowboat for Zephir! On a daredevil fishing trip (for monkeys generally do not like the water), Zephir accidentally catches Eleonore, a lovely little mermaid, instead of fish! Sadly he releases her, but she has promised to come to his aid if he ever needs her. Upon his arrival back on shore he is greeted with the horrible news that little Princess Isabelle has been kidnapped in a green cloud smelling of rotten apples! Zephir calls on Eleonore, and she takes him in her fish carriage to her Aunt Crustadele.

Aunt Crustadele believes the culprit can only be Polomoche, who lives on an island with his gang of Gogottes (a very strange assortment of creatures!). "They... are not savage. But they are bored," she says. She sends Zephir off on his quest, telling him he will recognize Polomoche by his pointed horns and yellow skin.

What an adventure! One thing is for sure... any child reading this book will not have a chance to be bored! ... Read more

Amazon.com

McElligot's Pool is a Seuss classic from the distant era before even The Cat In The Hat. It's a single poetic variation on the theme of adult skepticism that's no match for childhood faith and daydreaming. A small boy is fishing in the tiny, unpromising McElligot's Pool, a puddle that (as a passing farmer informs our diminutive hero) is nothing but a hole where people dispose of their junk. But the boy is all optimism: what if the pool is deeper than anyone thinks? What if it connects to an underground stream that flows under the town to the sea? Might not all sorts of fish then swim up the stream and be caught here? "I might catch an eel... (Well, I might. It depends.) A long twisting eel with a lot of strange bends. And, oddly enough, with a head at both ends!" The moral of the story is straightforward: "If I wait long enough, if I'm patient and cool,/ Who knows what I'll catch in McElligot's pool?"(Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (11)

McElligot's Pool
As Dr. Seuss books go, this one has a story with both it's feet still firmly rooted on the ground. It is about a young boy who is fishing in a small pool. When an old man tells him that he won't catch anything if he waits 50 years, he imagines that the pool might be joined to an underground river, connected to the sea, where all sorts of wonderful fish live. There is no escaping however that this book is by Dr Seuss. The fish he dreams up are as whimsical as ever anybody has imagined. It is typical Seuss, is he really a Dr. by the way, to imagine a fish that is partly a cow, or an Australian fish with a pouch on it's belly. The pictures, pencil and water colour, are in the same inimitable style as he always uses, however the colours didn't seem to be as vibrant as usual. This may be partly because copy I saw was in poor condition, but some of the pictures were in black and white, which wasn't. The language has the distinctive pattern and rhythm of the Cat in the Hat, or Green Eggs and Ham. The rhymes are not as well crafted as in some of his other work, he sometimes seems to be putting lines in just to make a rhyme. I might see a sea horse (Now mightn't I now) I might see a fish That is partly a cow. This said most of the rhyming is good, and the story is very funny. He uses quite a lot of pronouns and descriptive language as he is creating his fantastical fish. Knowing the story behind Dr. Seuss's first book leads me to think that this may be deliberate. The story seems to peak to a crescendo, although the pictures do not reflect this. The book is about the child's imagination. He is not confined to thinking in the same down to earth terms as the old man. It about hope and optimism. The little boy will keep on trying to fish in Mc Elligot's Pool, because however unlikely, he might just catch the most amazing fish you will ever see. If someone was to make it into a cartoon it would make quite a good lottery advert.

Look at all the fish you can catch!
The earlier reviewer is right; who cannot like a book by Dr. Seuss? This classic children's story is about a boy fishing in a small pool and imagining all types of fish that he might catch, most of them quite fanciful. I still remember laughing when I first read it as a child. The book was a 1948 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a children's book.

The Best Seuss Ever!
I read this energetic, imaginative story to my children, and now I get to read it to my grandchildren - that means all the big and little fish will become alive again! The pictures are big - big with personality - and if anyone thought fish were boring, well, think again. My daughter learned to read on this book, and it was the one book she would "read" to me (by memory) - all I did was turn the pages. This is a hard-to-find Seuss book, and well worth the search.

A must-have - McElligott's Pool!
This book is the first book Seuss has written- the cat in the hat came later. This book is often overlooked because people haven't heard of it. I think this is the best Seuss book ever. If you like this book I also reccomend you to buy "In Search of Dr. Seuss." It shows a reporter (Kathy Najimy) trying to find out more about Dr. Seuss. It shows McElligot's Pool as the first Seuss. The other must-have Dr. Seuss book is The Lorax. I LOVE LOVE that book!

Ecellent!!!
This was the best Dr. Seuss book of them all! I read this book when I was a little kid and I still read it now! This is the best book you could buy! ... Read more

Book Description