Book Description

Illus. in full color. The meanings of "up" are conveyed with merry verse and illustrations in a happy book that celebrates the joy of life. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Dr. Seuss let's somebody else draw his book on "Up"
"Great Day for Up" is a unique Dr. Seuss book and you can tell this just by looking at the cover. That is because while the book is written by Dr. Seuss it features the jolly drawings of the English artist Quentin Blake. Until this point every time I have read a book written by Dr. Seuss it was also illustrated by Dr. Seuss and when somebody else did the drawings Dr. Seuss used the name Theo. LeSieg (which is "Geisel" backwards). So the fact that this is a real "Dr. Seuss" book drawn by somebody else is pretty special.

This Bright and Early Book provides rhymed text and illustrations introducing the many meanings of the word "up" as Seuss and Blake show beginning readers that this is a "Great day for up!" You get the point half way through the book but little kids should be able to hand on longer, especially when they are reading the book for themselves. Besides, by the end of "Great Day for Up" we get to the point where "EVERYONE on Earth is up!" (with one very important and rather ironic exception).

As with all of the Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners what you have here is a brief and funny story, where the words are few and easy, there is a catchy rhythm, and the pictures are happy and colorful clues to the text. These are designed for an even lower age group than the Bright and Early Books that followed "The Cat in the Hat," which was the "Harry Potter" of its day when it came to encouraging even pre-schoolers to discover the delights of reading for themselves. This is not one of the most interesting volumes in the series, but overall these books were a delight.

Great book for beginning readers.
Ya, ya, ya so this book teaches about the meanings of the word "up". But, to me that takes a backseat to the fun rhythm and rhymes that make a child WANT to be able to read the book by themselves. The small vocabulary, phonetically spelled words and visual clues are wonderful for early readers. My step-son enjoys reading this book together at bedtime and can actually read it to US now. I love the "bright and early" books from Dr. Seuss for building early reading skills.

Great day for up
The book was about everyone waking up, getting outside, and having fun. All the characters interacted together, the played outside, and everyone made new friends. I enjoyed reading this book, just he way Dr. Seuss wrote it makes you want to keep reading it. It kept me entertained even though I'm not a little kid. Children between the ages of 4-8 will love this book. It teaches kids to wake up, get out and play, and just have fun; instead of just wasting their time inside doing nothing and watching T.V. If the kids couldn't read then this would be a good book to help them out with because there's not a lot of writing and the words are easy. I loved the ending of the book but you'll have to read it to find out!!

good day
I think this book was a good book. I would recamend it to everyone. it was a fun book. it was a favorite of mine.

A below-average Dr. Seuss Book
Dr. Seuss has some really brilliant books. This book is just a so-so Dr. Seuss. As a parent who is familiar with about 15 Dr. Seuss books, this is one of my least favorite books.

The book attempts to teach the child what "Up" means. There is a terrific amount of repetition, and the cleverness in the rhyming and pictures is not "Up!" to par with other Dr. Seuss books.

My 6-month old children are too young to understand this book, but I think that Mommy and Daddy will tire of the book long before they have gotten the very simple and trivial message in this book : what is the difference between Up and Down ... ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Great Book
This was a childhood favorite of my family. I can't believe it's out of print. It's a great book for kids (and adults) of all ages.

The Absolute Best Picture Book Around!
My mom used to read this book to my younger brother and I all the time when we were little (I'm 13 now...still love the book..). We used to laugh and laugh. I still do when I read this at bedtime, just for kicks. It's great! The names of the characters are hilarious and the dad plays a whistle made out of a carrot! C'mon now, that's awesome!

The Wuggie Norple Story
THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ! For the last 6 years, I have only been able to locate ONE copy of this book, and that was at our public library. My son's school library does not even have a copy (shame, pitiful shame). What a treasure we stumbled upon when we first checked this book out some 2001 trips to the library ago. Daniel Pinkwater has an uncanny imagination that sucks readers of all ages in with his witty, nonsense storyline. Today I'm presenting this story to my son's second grade class...and I'm sure my son will spew the words of the book from memory. Check it out for yourself~ plenty of laughter and smiles are sure to follow.

We named our cat after this book
My family took this out of the library and kept it for over a year. This is really more of an endorsement of The Wuggie Norple Story than our actions, but I cannot recommend this book highly enough for both its writing and illustrations. Too many of Mr. Pinkwater's books are out of print right now and THEY MUST BE BROUGHT BACK!

A laugh a minute
I bought this book years before having children and read it aloud to my friends. We roared laughing. What a GREAT book. Now I read it to my kids. They love it too. ... Read more

Book Description

In this sequel to Caldecott Honor winner Strega Nona, “Big Anthony romps through a case of spring fever with an ill-gotten magic ring, against the architectural background and blue skies of la bella Italia.”--Booklist ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Big Anthony is my hero!
Big Anthony is a great character. He has the "want to" but lacks the necessary skills. However, his efforts at accomplishing magic feats will delight any child and adult. Big Anthony is one of my favorite Tomie de Paolo characters and this book is a great one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ms. Frizzle, science teacher extraordinaire (in the tremendously popularMagic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen),parachutes into social studies in the first of the new series from the samecreative pair. On the first day of school vacation, the inimitable, redheadedMs. Frizzle joins a tour group bound for Egypt. When the plane trip gets toomonotonous, Ms. Frizzle invites the group to jump ship with her. Somehow, tourguide Herb ends up in contemporary Cairo, while everyone else lands in ancientEgypt! Here's where Ms. Frizzle's teaching skills come in handy. By the end ofthe vacation, members of the tour group--and readers--have learned more aboutmummies, pyramids, Re the sun god, and ancient Egyptian's teeth than they everimagined.

With their familiar blend of information sharing and humor, Cole and Degenpresent what might in any other format be an overwhelming amount of informationin a lively, entertaining, easy-to-absorb style. Full-color cartoon-style textand illustrations allow readers to explore Egypt even as Ms. Frizzle and herinadvertent students do the same. Witty asides take the shape of travel diaries,postcards home, and messages on Herb's megaphone ("I'm the tour guide!","Help! I lost my tour group!"). Ms. Frizzle's sly pretended ignorance at timesalso makes for high hilarity. "I can't imagine how that happened. Can you?" shesays, after the airplane door somehow swings open. If only all education wasthis much fun! (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Book!!!!!
This book is great! I got this book when I was 4 3/4 and I am now 13 1/2 years old and it's still wonderful!!! It shows wonderful examples of hieroglyphs and demotic writing!!! It shows you detailed pictures of an Egyptian market, scribes house, and tells you how mummys were made!!! After reading I ( to my mom's extreme annoyance) turned our basement in to an Egyptian town, and you can imangine what I went as that Halloween!!

Mostly good!
My daughter loves this book. The information is packed tightly into the book, much as in the Magic School bus books. The one major problem that really upsets my daughter is that in one picture the Sphinx does not have a beard. Really, this upsets her a great deal. There is a scene when Ms Frizzle opens an airplane door and jumps out, which I do feel is not good to put in a kids book. It gives them ideas, in my opinion.

Other than that, the book has good information in it.

My 2nd graders love this book!
Doing a unit on Ancient Egypt this Summer, and was THRILLED to see this book at the library. I wish they had made a video too! My kids love it. Ms. Frizzle is her usual self sans the class. She's taking a vacation in Egypt during Summer break but just can't let go of being a teacher. She jumps out of the plane on the way there and the other passengers become her students. They go back in time thanks to Ms. Frizz's Time Travel Watch. Great illustrations, captions. Very historically faithful and fun.

a funny and informative book for children
This new adventure with the loving teacher Ms. Frizzle will enchant kids of all ages. Splendidly illustrated with accurate details, this book is a delight to read: funny, informative, colorful, clear and comprehensive. An excellent, highly recommended book for children ages 8 to 12.

Ms. Frizzle and Ancient Egypt... What Could be Better?
My children absolutely love the Magic School Bus Adventures. Now, combining Ms. Frizzle with one of their favorite times in history is a magical success! My children learned about Ancient Egypt in the exciting, fun and descriptive way only Ms. Frizzle could portray. I'm so glad Ms. Frizzle "took chances and got messy" with social studies! Hooray! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A thoroughly Seussian tweak of the alphabet-book tradition, On Beyond Zebra is about all the letters that most people ignore--the ones that come after Z.Our hero (instantly recognizable to most Seuss fans as the boy who captured Thing One and Thing Two in The Cat in the Hat) takes his young friend, Conrad Cornelius O'Donald O'Dell, on a guided tour of all the weird creatures that begin with letters such as Yuzz, Wumbus, and Glikk. "And Nuh is the letter I use to spell Nutches, Who live in small caves, known as Nitches, for hutches." The message is pretty simple: the alphabet pins down boring old "reality," but if you explore further afield there are more interesting worlds to discover. "So, on beyond Z! It's high time you were shown, / That you really don't know all there is to be known."Explorers in need of guidance will even find a table of useful new letters (a beyondabet? a WumbaGlikk?) in the back. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Unforgettable
I read this book as a child about 45 years ago. I loved it and never forgot it, although its title transformed in my child's brain to "way beyond Z". It inspired me, fed my imagination and made me feel like a child with special sight. Unlike adults, I KNEW the alphabet beyond Z!! Now that I have located this title again, I will give it to every child I know! Thank you, Dr. Seuss!

Thinking outside the box
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I'm so happy to be able to share it with my nieces. I think all Dr. Seuss' books encourage imagination and creativity, but none more than this.

Mom read it to me, will read it to my nephew
I was in college before I was informed that Dr. Seuss books had "messages". I then thought about it, and decided that my professor was partially right and that this is one of the books with a "message". It teaches you not to stop at the obvious but to see if there is more to life.

Gloriously, the book is so good that you don't notice until you are in college and someone tells you. Which is A Good Thing. I hate books with "messages".

I'm 41, and I bought this book for my just-aquirred 5 year old nephew. Only I re-read it before giving it to him.

Dr. Seuss was a prophet of unfettered imagination
If I were to start my own religion, this would probably be the most sacred text. Dr. Seuss possessed powers of pure imagination unequaled in all of children's literature, and this book is the most inspiring, mind-expanding example of his divine gift. Even more important than Cat in the Hat or The Lorax, every baby born into this world should be given a copy of On Beyond Zebra. Buy it and give it to a child you love today!

Seuss's Structure Slips!
Doctor Seuss has taught us all to enjoy flawless humor, good fantasy, and fantastic illustrations. So it was a great surprise to me when this book didn't carry off its premise smoothly.

The book is a satire on those alphabet books that all children trudge through to learn their ABCs. A is for apple, and so forth, is the predictable format. Here, Dr. Seuss adjusts the format to be about animals. "A is for Ape. And B is for Bear."

The story opens with Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell announcing, "I know all the twenty-six letters like that . . . ."

Our narrator disagrees. "But not me." "In the places I go there are things that I see that I never could spell if I stopped with the Z." "My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends."

Now, here's the problem. Although the book has many interesting and new letters and creatures, each letter is actually just a combination of the first twenty-six. For example, YUZZ is the first new letter, and is illustrated by the tall and hairy Yuzz-a-ma-Tuzz. Although a sort of symbol is established to represent the letter, Dr. Seuss doesn't use the symbol in the rhyme. He always refers to the letter as YUZZ.

Dr. Seuss could have used his new letter symbol wherever it fit into the rhyme, or he could have made up letters that were not combinations of the first twenty-six letters. Either approach would have worked.

I suspect that the structure in the book can either consciously or subconsciously confuse a new reader about what a letter is, what a syllable is, and what a word is. It's all quite unnecessary.

If Dr. Seuss had used his new symbols to form new words, that would have been a nice basis for helping English readers learn how to move back and forth between English and languages with different methods of representation, like Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Hebrew. So, the book's a bit of a missed opportunity in this direction, too.

My suggestion is that if you want to have fun with the story anyway (because the creatures are pretty swell), simply point out that Dr. Seuss made a little goof and clarify the point about what a letter is in whatever way makes the most sense to you for where your child is in reading readiness.

The animals and their names are terrific, and you will enjoy them and their illustrations. Here's a partial list: Wumbus ("my high-spouting whale who lives on a hill"), Umbus ("a sort of a cow" with 98 or 99 "faucets" for giving milk), Humpf-Humpf-a-Dumpfer, Miss Fuddle-dee-Duddle (a bird with the longest tail), Glikker (blue and small, eats seeds, and juggles cinammon seeds), Nutch (lives in small caves that are in short supply), Sneedle (a mos-keedle with a sharp hum-dinger stinger on its head), Quandery (a red creature on shells in the ocean that worries a lot), Thnadner (the big one has a small shadow and the small one a big shadow), Spazzin (a camel-like creature with amazing horns for carrying baggage), Floob-Boober-Bab-Boober-Bah (fish you can use like stepping stones to get across the top of water as they bob on the surface), and Zatz-It (like a tall giraffe).

The story concludes with young o'Dell getting the spirit of the narrator.

"This is really great stuff!

And I guess the old alphabet

ISN'T enough!"

o'Dell draws a new letter:

" . . . what do you think that

we should call this one, anyhow?"

Enjoy imagination, and honor it . . . wherever it may be found! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Cloud Book
The Cloud Book is a great book for the curious little scientists or meterologists in your home. To tell you the truth, I thought that this book would be boring. Who wants to read a book about clouds out of science class? But, this book came a surprise to me. It explained clouds in a fun way, making you want to learn about them. The illustrations and metaphors help you understand, while teaching you about them at the same time. The illustrations help you relate everyday objects to those confusing scientific words. Only Tomie de Paola could compare the cumulus clouds with a cauliflower or the cirrus cloud with mare's tails. He also tells folk tales and legends that go along with the clouds. This book is a must on the bookshelf of any future meterologist!

Another hit!
What more do you need to say? It's a Tomie de Paola book. He's definitely one of the better writers/illustrators out there. "The Cloud Book" is a good, first introduction to the science behind clouds while at the same time entertaining the children. Teachers and parents should buy this book!

Great Scientific Information in a Fun Way
My first grade students particularly enjoyed this story while studying out weather unit. The book provided scientific names of clouds in an easy to understand way. It had a good mixture of fact and fiction. The pictures were very entertaining to the children. Every child in my class was engaged in the reading and was ready to go out and look at the clouds and call them by their real names when I had finished reading. I highly recommend this book.

Great For Children Of All Ages!
I've been a true fan of Tomie De Paola for some time and wanted to let everyone know that this is one of his greatest!This has been a great hit with my niece, as well as with all the kids I work with (preschoolers & school age). Make sure you put this one in both your home and school library. This book was also very helpful to use during our "weather" theme! ... Read more

Book Description

This is a delightful reading of the favorite Italian Christmas story about an eccentric old woman and her never-ending search for the Baby King. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A story of Christmas generosity.
My husband is Italian, so Befana (who brings gifts to Italian children on Epiphany) is as much a part of our Christmas traditions as Santa Claus. To be honest, I prefer the story of Befana and find it a lot closer to the spirit of Christmas.

Befana is a somewhat grumpy and fussy old woman. One day Three Kings show up at her door, following a star, and looking for a miraculous baby. They urge Befana to come with them, but Befana is so busy with her household tasks she thinks she doesn't have time.

Little by little though, the idea of a baby who "comes for the poor" (like her) and yet attracts kings as well begins to move her and she decides to follow. She gathers up some goodies she has just baked and a few toys to bring as gifts for the new baby. But she has waited too long, and although she keeps following the star, she never finds the infant.

The lovely aspect of this story is that she begins leaving her gifts for other children, because she recognizes in them the spirit of that miraculous child that the Three Kings sought. I love the idea that children receive presents at Christmas because Jesus' spirit is in them.

This is an essential book for Italian-American families. I think it would also be a good book for teachers or parents of somewhat older children (past Santa Claus believing age) who are interested in Christmas traditions of different cultures. In Russia, the story of Babushka is very similar to the story of Befana (and there are several good picture books about her). And in Mexico, the Three Kings themselves bring presents (and Tomie dePaola has done a wonderful book about the story of the Three Kings that makes a perfect companion to this one).

Overall, a terrific Christmas book.

Childhood Memories
Tomie DePaola evoked memories of my childhood Christmas' in both visual and verbal splendor. I was taken back to my childhood and the story told to my sisters and myself about the Befana. Not only is this book written at a level that all children can understand and appreciate but it also keeps an adults interest. It beautifully illustrates another legend which inspires the wonderful message of the giving time we call Christmas. This has been accomplished noteably by Mr. DePaola's illustrations that although simple are rich in colour and meaning. As a person of Italian heritage I was elated to see such a wonderful legend captured in print in such a obviously well researched manner. The subtle yet awe inspiring symbolism contained in the book make it a pleasure for adults yet the simpleness and vibrant colours make it equally riveting for children. I would label this book a "must have" for all parents but especially those of Italian descent wanting to share some Italian culture with their children. ... Read more

Book Description

With his unmatched powers of wit and imagery, Roald Dahl's stories illustrate the consequences of greed and revenge and the benefits of being honest and forthright, in this 4-tape collection featuring the award-winning titles: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Enormous Crocodile.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

Supurb!
These are absolutely wonderful stories told by a fabulous storyteller: the author. Who else could express the works better? Mr. Dahl has such a soothing voice that my family often listens to these tapes at bedtime and gently drift to sleep. I have two daughters, 7 and 3 years old. We highly recommend these tapes.

A listening treat for young and old alike
I am glad to have the chance to listen to Dahl interpretating his own stories. Dahl's controlled yet effective narative gave his own writing a new lease in life ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Another Good Hardy Boys Book
This review concerns the original 1930 edition. Frank and Joe are arrested following the theft of valuable mail bags from the airport and must track down the real thieves in order to clear their names. While there is nothing spectacular about this book to make it stand out from the rest, it is by no means a bad book. The mystery is interesting and there is a decent amount of action. One thing that I did like about this book was that the criminals were featured prominently thoughout the book, unlike in some other volumes where Frank and Joe don't come across the criminals until the last few pages. Many readers will find it odd that the Hardys and their friends graduate from high school in this book (especially since in #10, they are back in high school), apparently, with the beginning of the Great Depression, the author must have been unsure as to whether or not the series would continue. This is an above average book any Hardy Boys fan would enjoy reading.

An Interesting Book
This review concerns the revised 1965 edition. Mr. Hardy asks Frank and Joe to help him on a case concerning the theft of platinum containing electronic parts from company called Stanwide. Frank and Joe go undercover at the company to find out who is behind the thefts and soon find a number of suspects. They also find another mystery about the ghost of Clint Hill, Stanwide's chief pilot, who died in a plane crash at sea, who has been harassing one of the company's employees. This was a rather interesting book; I thought that it had one of the better plots of the books in the series. The book had plenty of action and the Hardys came into contact with the criminals quite often. I liked the part where the Hardys went undercover at Stanwide; unfortunately, it was much too short. I was a little disappointed with the ending. I found it to be rather quick and I thought that the Hardys were able to find the criminals too easily. Also, the "surprise" at the end of the book wasn't much of a surprise. Mostly; however, I enjoyed the book and I think that any Hardy Boys fan would like it.

A must read!
I came upon this book when I was doing a book report for Language Arts class. The book is called The Great Airport Mystery. In the book valuable eletronic parts containing Platinum are being stolen from shipments from Sanwide Mining Eqipment Companys cargo planes. Frank and Joe Hardy are called to take the case. They become suspicous because there is a ghost lurking around of Clint Hill. They end up at a mountain top in Montana. With a danger filled showdown. Frank And Joe walked down the hill towards the cabin. Joe looked through a hole in the cabin and saw.....you will have to read the book to find out what happens o.k. . I hope you will read this book it is very funny,intruiging,and adventures.

Hardy Boys Strike Again!
The Hardy Boys and their father are involved in a wreck with an airplane.All of the Hardy family is knocked out.When they awaken they are off on another adventure.Yhe Hardy family wind up being accused of robbong an airport.They dodge arrest and put
their investigative skills to work.They turn the tables on the forces of evil by catching the bad guys in the act of robbing another airport.The Hardy Boys prevail again.In the Hardy Boys
books the good guys always win.I plan to buy the Hardy Boys books for my new grandson.

CLINT HILL MYSTERY
The Hardy Boys The Great Plane Mystery
Franklin W. Dixon
Reviewed by S. Teran
Period 5

In the beginning of this book, the Hardy boys and their father were trying to get to their house in Bayport after they accidentally took a wrong turn. As they were going through a field, they heard a low pitched droning. They decided to ignore it. A few seconds later, out of no where, a plane came flying at them. They tried to dodge it but the wheel of the plane hit the roof of the car. The car flipped and everyone was knocked out cold. After about 10 minutes or so, they woke up unhurt but their car was almost totaled. Since the Hardys were used to the unexpected, they just went on. The next day, the Hardys flew a helicopter back to the area where they got hit by the plane. They found a shack that would normally be hidden to the naked eye in the forest. Just as they found it, a weird voice came over the radio speakers. It eerily said, "You can not escape the dead person, you know who this is, this is Clint Hill." The next day the Hardys got jobs at Stanwide, a computer/plane/helicopter industry, where Clint Hill last worked. Their jobs were to deliver notes and packages to other parts of the plant. After work and with permission, the Hardys took a helicopter out to the same location. Just as they were about to land, a tornado came towards the helicopter. The winds were too strong and forced them to crash land. No one was hurt but the helicopter was damaged beyond repair. The boys looked for clues until they saw a camouflage tarp covering a cave. Behind it, they found Clint Hill's plane. The Hardys flew to an island off the shores of a lake in Montana. There they found barrels of aviation fuel. They also found a shack like the one at Bayport. At the shack, they saw two people, Anchor and Barney. They were pilots for Stanwell. These two men were up to no good. Before they knew it, the Hardys were captured and thrown into a shack. Once the trap door opened, sleeping gas filed the room which knocked out the Hardy boys. Anchor called all the other pilots who were involved in the smuggling to come to this Island. The pilot, who flew the Hardy boys to this island, got worried and went looking for them. He found the shack and he also fell into the trap door. He was only stunned by the gas. He was able to get the boys out and call for help. He called Mr. Allen, the president of Stanwell, to come to the island. Upon arriving, Mr. Allen was shocked to see platinum and Clint Hill's crashed plane. This plane had crashed off the Cuban shores about 10 years ago. Meanwhile, the police were chasing Anchor, Peterson, and Rodax. The police eventually caught them and interrogated them for 3 days. They told the police of their hide out, the platinum and of the rest of the people who were involved in the smuggling. Mr. Allen had congratulated the Hardys on their findings and was told that someone wanted to talk to them back at Stanwell. They walked into the office and saw Clint Hill. He told the Hardys that 10 years ago, Peterson, who was the command pilot, left him stranded after the plane crashed. He was stranded in Cuba all this time. He explained that the eerie message over the radio wasn't him. It was just Peterson trying to scare people.
I liked this book so much is because it is a Mystery book. I really like Mystery books because the authors always keep you on the edge of your seat. For example, when the mysterious voice came over the radio, it said, "You can not escape the person you have killed." That part crept me out so much. I also liked this book because once I started to reading it, I couldn't stop. Before I knew about Mystery books, I never wanted to have anything to do with reading a book. The only time I would read a book is when one of my teachers would make us read or if they were instructional books on how to play Nintendo games. Franklin W. Dixon, the author of these Hardy boys mysteries, always seems to write amazing storylines.
There really was nothing that I didn't like about this book. If anything, it was just too short of a book.
My favorite part of this book is right in the beginning. It all started when the Hardys were taking a short cut through the plains when they heard a low pitch sound off in the distance. They decided to ignore it and continue as usual. The low pitched sound kept on getting louder as if it was getting closer, but of course, they still ignored it. Finally, Mr. Hardy got scared and turned off his headlights only to find another pair of lights going overhead. Something hit the top of the car to make it flip. Then the headlights mysteriously vanished. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. Every afternoon King Birtram raced around the palace on a pair of old red stilts, until they were stolen. An uproarious tale. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good Seuss story of sticking to your duty.
Though it is hard to pick a favorite by Dr. Seuss, this is one of his best. The king works hard so he can play hard. When the duke takes away the fun, the kingdom has problems. Only a boy who knows his duty to his king can save the kingdom.

Play Hard . . . Work Hard!
Many young people are unsure about the proper balance between work and fun. As a result, they tend to overemphasize one or the other. Dr. Seuss has created a wonderful book here to relieve youngsters of the sense that they should work hard all of the time.

This is an early book by Dr. Seuss, and it is written in prose rather than rhyme. Despite this, the prose often has a definite meter, and he sneaks in rhyming words now and again.

The illustrations are predominately in black and white, but splashes of red are used for emphasis to good effect.

The story is quite funny. The king's passion is to run around the kingdom on his red stilts. But he never does so until after putting in a full twelve hours of grueling work.

Never was there a harder working king than Birtram. He even signs papers while taking a bath at five in the morning!

He feels very responsible, because he kingdom is threatened by natural disaster if he lets down his guard.

Who could begrudge such a fine king his fun? Well, there is one who does. Where could that lead?

I also found the book very good for introducing the concept of how we all rely on one another for our well-being. For example, this story can also help a parent explain the need to go to work, despite a sincere desire to stay and play with her or his child.

I think the book is good, too, for helping children think about what kind of work they might want to do when they are older. What benefit would they like others to receive from their work? How hard would they like to work? What difficulties would be bearable, and which would be too much?

After you finish enjoying this book, I suggest that you and your child spend time planning how you can have more fun playing together, and still meet your responsibilities. You can also tell your child about different kinds of work that adults do, and what the stresses and strains are. Although no four year old is going to choose a vocation, it is never too soon to start providing the raw material for mental exploration of work alternatives. Most of us will spend more time working than anything else we will do in our lives except sleep!

May you and your family find ways to play hard that energize and excite you to do your work well!

All work and no stilts put King Birtram's kingdom in danger
Theodore Seuss Geisel, using his famous pen name of Dr. Seuss, wrote and illustrated his first children's book, "And to Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street," in 1937. Two years later he wrote "The King's Stilts." Even at this early point in his career Dr. Seuss was able to emphasize the idea that reading could be fun without have to be moralistic and that it was important that the illustrations actually had a close relationship with the text of the story. Geisel once declared: "I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." Certainly "The King's Stilts" evidences that point.

The story begins with the point that King Birtram on the Kingdom of Binn NEVER wore his stilts during business hours and that he worked very hard, continuing to sign important papers of state even while he was taking a bath. However, the king's most important job was caring for the mighty Dike Trees that protected the people of Binn from the sea. Their heavy, knotted roots held back the water. However, those roots were also very tasty to Nizzards, a kind of giant blackbird with a sharp and pointed beak. If the Nizzards were to eat the roots of the Dike Trees then the roots would soon give way, the sea would pour in, and every last soul in the Kingdom of Binn would drown. But King Birtram did not allow this to happen and by gathering together a thousand of the largest and smartest cats in the world to function as Patrol Cats (wearing badges that say "P.C."). These cats were so important that the Cat Kitchen was bigger than that of the King and even had the best cooks in the land.

Every day from seven in the morning, when he watched the changing of the Cat Guard, to five in the afternoon, the King inspected every root of every Dike Tree in the kingdom. Only after that important task was finished each day would King Bitram hurry back to his castle to get his red stilts and start racing through his marble halls and garden stairs. The people thought it looked strange, but they knew the king worked hard and well as his job and if he wanted to have a bit of fun then he should be allowed to do whatever he wanted to do. Unfortunately Lord Droon was the one person in Binn who did not like fun and who sulked long enough that the decided to steal the King's stilts, which is when things start to go bad for both King Birtram and his people.

What makes this an interesting book is that, as is usually the case, Dr. Seuss is telling a story that imparts lessons to both young readers and older readers alike. If anything it is the latter that are the target audience for this story, since we see that being able to play is as important as hard work. As long as someone works long and hard they deserve to do what ever their heart desires when it comes to having fun. Meanwhile, younger readers would be getting the opposite lesson, learning that being able to have fun as an adult is dependent upon earning your enjoyment (which makes it clear that "The King's Stilts" is really more for adults).

I was actually surprised that "The King's Stilts" was written in 1939, because if I were trying to guess at what inspired Dr. Seuss to tell this particular story it would have been the concern in the press about President Dwight D. Eisenhower playing golf so often (I thought King Birtram looked a bit like Ike). But evidently Dr. Seuss was going for a more universal idea here. Meanwhile there is the entire subtext of how a kingdom might be lost because of a pair of stilts the same way as the old story about the battle lost for the want of a nail, which only serves to prove that with the good doctor there are always multiple levels to the story and its lessons.

Day Cats, Night Cats
Another of the finest long-form Seuess books, THE KINGS STILTS joins BARTHOLOMEW AND THE OOBLECK, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and both of the Horton the Elephant books as his finest works for new readers.

The best Dr. Seuss book
This is a Dr. Seuss book that a mother can love. It's long, but entertaining even the fifteenth time you've read it. No tongue twisters or silly rhymes, just a playful, fun story with a good message to discuss with your children. ... Read more

Book Description

Now, the very youngest of readers can join in the fun with this Classic Board Book™ edition of Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? In joyful verse and vibrant illustrations, Nancy White Carlstrom and Bruce Degen's lovable Jesse Bear shares his special day with young children everywhere! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?: excellent children's book
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?, is an excellent book. This book focuses on younger children, but is interesting and fun for all to read. I am currently 16 years old and I have owned this book since I was very little. One can tell by the condition of the cover it was a very well liked bedtime story. The story tells of Jesse, a little bear cub, and what he does during the day. Jesse goes through the story telling what he wears for every activity he does, whether it is sand, a shirt or his pajamas. Jesse is a very mischevious, and spunky little cub who will keep you paying attention throughout the story. This book has great illustrations and will be treasured forever.

A must have for baby and toddlers.
My daughter has loved this book since receiving it on her first birthday. We like that Mommy, Daddy and Jesse bear are interactive in the story.The ryhming text makes it easy and enjoyable to read after a nonstop day.

My daughter loves it!
I got this book for my daughter's second birthday along with 3 others. This is her favorite! She loves to follow along with Jesse's day from playing in the sand, to the part when Daddy comes home and finally getting ready for bed. Great illustrations and rhyming text.

From the library to our home
My pre-schooler brought this book home after her weekly visit to her school library. One week with this book was simply not enough. All of my children adored this book as much as I did so, therefore, I bought it.

Another addition to my baby gift bag
This book is just delightful. Jesse Bear, the toddler protagonist, spends his day "wearing" different items -- from a shirt to sand to his chair (my son's favorite). The story is told in rollicking rhyme with gorgeous illustrations. I'm a fan of board books for this age group -- they tend to be a little hard on the paper versions. A definite must-have! ... Read more

Book Description

After Ms. Frizzle takes her class to visit a beekeeper, the Magic School Bus mysteriously vibrates, shrinks, and flies right into a beehive. And when Ms. Frizzle tells everyone to "be a bee", the adventure begins. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

More Science!
My son is 4 years old and we read to him a lot. Now, before bed, he announces, "Mom, you know what kind of book to read....ONLY SCIENCE!" He loves science, and the Magic School Bus is a great, fun way to introduce it, even to a preschooler!

Beekeeper's Review
Kids (of all ages) ask the darndest things. When we work fairs or are identified as beekeepers in public, we are bomberded with basic questions regarding honeybees. This book was bought for my mother as much as for my brother's son. He asks her questions difficult to answer without pictures, "How do bees make wax...?" This book goes into enough detail to answer all the "How do...?'s" likely to come up regarding honeybees. A fine book for any child interested in insects. Also a good selection to temper the fears of those children that may fear bees. The pages are a little busy, otherwise would have gotten 5 stars.

Once again, Magic School Bus hits the mark!
The full details in this book are simple enough to keep children's interests (mine are ages 4 and 8) but still provide more data than even I knew. The subject matter is of particular interest to kids, not only because bees are encountered nearly every day, but this book helps this overcome the fear that some children have of bees by showing them as peaceful, otherwise occupied and busy creatures. Don't miss this, or any other Magic School Bus book if you have kids! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Our nameless hero--a typical Seuss hybrid who's part bear, part puppy,and part beyond categorization--has an innocent, carefree life, until it's ruined by minor problems. With a toe stubbed, and a tail bitten by a Quilligan Quail ("And I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, and some come from behind"), he sets out on an ill-fated journey to find a better, less troublesome place: the fabled city of Solla Sollew, no less, "on the banks of the beautiful River Wah-Hoo,/ Wherethey never have troubles. At least very few." Like most dreamlands, Solla Sollew is harder to attain than expected--nobody seems to know how to get there, and the journey is far worse than anyone anticipated. When the faircity is finally attained there is, of course, a last straw; but a happy twist suggests troubles may be better faced than escaped. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Still my favorite Seuss after 35 years of reading it
(If I could rate it twice, it would have ten stars.)

The un-named hero of the story has so many troubles he doesn't know what to do, so, on the advice of a passerby, decides to make the trip to Solla Sollew, where they never have troubles (at least, very few!) So begins an odyssey which, after more adventures than you'll find in any other Seuss, teaches the lesson that it's better to face troubles than to run away. This book captivated me on my 5th birthday (the year it was first published) and is still my favorite. The plot is more complete and complex than any other Seuss, and the moral is as valuable today as when I first read it. A side benefit is the striking use of color; the Dr. used a more subtle color scheme in Solla Sollew and it enhances the realism of the story. This, as much as any other, is essential Seuss.

The Grass Only Seems To Be Greener Elsewhere
This book is great for the child who is never satisfied, or is too easily discouraged.

The story opens with a happy, carefree young furry creature with a tail in the Valley of Vung starting to have problems because he gets careless and doesn't look around. Discouraged by these setbacks, he is all ears when a chap on a One-Wheeler Wubble comes along and says that there's never any trouble in the City of Solla Sollew, and offers take him there. The trip turns out to be very arduous and difficult. Finally at Solla Sollew, a new problem arises. From this experience, he decides to be more proactive in the future. "Now my troubles are going, To have trouble with me!"

Like all of the Dr. Seuss books, this one is enlivened by hilarious creatures, dramatic and colorful illustrations, and a pleasant rhyming scheme that uses funny names to aid the rhymes.

One of the most difficult lessons for people to learn is that we carry the seeds of all our problems and opportunities around with us. Simply changing the scenery may not be enough, if our old ways of thinking still guide us. If you are somewhat depressed and see no opportunity in one place, even in an earthly paradise you can still experience life the same way.

Many people go through life looking for the perfect mate, house, and job, only to be constantly disappointed. In I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew, that voyage toward perfection can be quickly experienced and the lesson learned. Here is where a parent can make a big difference. You need to share some experiences in your own life where you lived this story, and share what you learned as a result. In this way, you can help you child in later years by providing an alternative perspective and reminding her or him or this story. "Are you going to Solla Sollew?" can be a shorthand way of encouraging your child to re-examine the purpose of the sought-for change.

For an adult, the benefit from this story can be to help you consider whether all of the error-elimination you pursue is worth the effort. My clients frequently are interested in reducing their error rate. They may be starting, though, in an area with an error rate that is only one in ten million occurrences. And the area being considered may be relatively unimportant to the success of the organization. The same effort could instead make important improvements in some area where mistakes abound, results do matter, and perfection is an impossible dream.

Decide what the problem is before you grab just any solution!

Underappreciated
This Dr. Seuss classic story is underappareciated by readers young and old. The verse is creative and enchanting, and reminiscent of that old stand-by, "There's a Wocket In My Pocket", with its fantastical inventions.

Not to mention, this particular story teaches a valuable lesson about how "the grass is always greener on the other side".

If you're a Seuss fan and haven't checked this one out yet, give it a try.

my favorite dr. seuss
As a child, someone read this book to me only once, and I looked for it ever afterward. It seemed more magical, somehow, than all the other Doctor Sues books. In college, I stumbled across it again and bought it. It's still one of my favorites'a great pick-me-up if you're feeling beat, definitely good for college students.

The story is about a fellow who has troubles and so goes looking for the beautiful city of 'Solla Sollew, on the banks of the beautiful river wha-hoo, where they never have troubles, at least very few!' Well, as you can imagine, he has a terrible time getting to Solla Sollew'flood ands wars and wild beasts'and when he finally gets there, he discovers that the advantages of Solla Sollew have been somewhat exaggerated. He ends up going back home with a new attitude. The story isn't any different than many similar stories, but the rhymes are particularly lyrical, the artwork particularly funny. I pull it out every few months and read it, and I laugh every time.

More Involving Then Most Seuss
This was my absolute favorite Suess book when I was little. It always seemed to me to be larger in every way than the other Seuss books, and in fact my copy (which I have carefully preserved almost 40 years now) was indeed physically larger in size. The format of a quest was as appealing to me as a youngster as it is to all of us in its many more mature formats. Like all Seuss books, it is a little wierd and twisted - I am not always sure that is a good thing, but I loved the alliteration of phrases like "the perilous poozers of pomplemoose pass". As many have noted, the plot of a character facing his troubles in stead of searching for greener pastures was clearly evident to me as a 4 year old. I learned from this book that there are key slapping slippards everywhere, and that troubles that seem large at first can be faced with determination and preparation. The illustrations to me seem more detailed than most Seuss fare, with greater variety of strange characters and settings. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

First Rate
This is an excellent translation that transfers the poetry of Seuss into Spanish. Not all translations are equal, but Marcuse's are first rate. Brava!

A flawless translation
The 5 stars are for the translator. What a wonderful rendering of Dr. Seuss inspirational masterpiece! It makes for the perfect gift for all ages and all occasions. ... Read more

Book Description

Reader t.b.a.
approx. 3 hours
2 cassettes

Afer a dying criminal confesses that his loot has been stashed "in the tower" the Hardy Boys make an astonishing discover. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Suspense, Mystery
This was a fairly good Hardy Boys book. Can't say it is the best though because other books have more suspense, mystery. However, this book was the first and therefore did not need to be the best. Frank and Joe Hardy are the sons of celebrated detective Fenton Hardy. Apparently even though it does not go into details, they just helped them on a case. They hear that the Tower Mansion, one of the bigges houses in town has been robbed. They find out that the suspected is one of their best friend's dad Henry Robinson. Using a lot of brainwork because of a deficit of details they figure out the solution of the mystery. To find out what it is, read it.

Who stole Chet's hot rod?
This review is of the 1959 Revised Version of "The Tower Treasure". The first 38 titles in the series were revised over the course of 15 years (some with minor changes, others were completely re-written). "The Tower Treasure" is the first Hardy Boys mystery.

Starting out with Frank and Joe trying to track down the thief who stole the beloved yellow "hot rod" of their friend Chet Morton, the Hardy brothers find themselves in the midst of their first real mystery to investigate. The brothers discover the disguise the thief must have used. This leads them to seek help from their father, the famous investigator Fenton Hardy. Fenton and the boys suspect that there may be a connection to the recent robbery at the Tower mansion where the only suspect is the father of their friend, Slim. Neither Frank nor Joe believes that Slim's father could have possibly committed the crime and they are committed to clear his name before Slim's family is ruined.

I remember when I was much younger and was the age of the target audience of this novel. I could not get enough of the Hardy Boys and read each of the books several times over. Reading them a decade and a half later, I can still easily understand my obsession with the stories. "The Tower Treasure" is fast paced, interesting, and has a mystery that is begging to be solved (though this is one that can't necessarily be solved by the reader before the brothers solve it). It is fun to read through the Hardy Boys, and this is a good, clean, young adult adventure story (the series is more adventure than young adult). I can only hope that when I have children that they will enjoy the Hardy Boys as much as I did.

-Joe Sherry

Adventure books for kids
I read these books as a kid, they were written starting from the nineteen twenties. Our twelve year son old enjoys them now, and I expect that our eight year old will enjoy them in the future. They're a good alternative to Harry Potter, where magic and power over grownups plays the dominant role (the Hardy Boys more or less compete in skill with their father as detectives, although parents rarely appear in the stories). The Carolyn Keene mystery stories (Nancy Drew) are also equally good for both boys and girls, and could have been written by the same author! Even better, if you can find them: Ellery Queen Jr.'s mysteries (The Brown Fox Mystery, The Red Chipmunk Mystery, and three others).

How I got onto these books: my mother ordered and sold them from our office equipment business in a small Kentucky town in the fifties.

Start of a Legacy
The Series: In 1927, Franklin W. Dixon launched the "Hardy Boys" books, a series of books telling of the exploits of Frank and Joe Hardy, the sons of a big-city detective. The Hardy boys lived out in the country and, with their friends, loved following in their father's sleuthing footsteps. The result was a set of wonderful amateur detective stories that I read as fast I could find when I was a kid. The Hardy Boys helped launch me on my lifelong reading binge.

This book: This was the first of the Hardy Boys mysteries. We get introduced to all the characters and are quickly thrown into a mystery involving a dying man's confession and buried treasure. Well-written, fast-paced, and just plain likable, this is a great book-gift for the young reader.

What a Treasure!
I choose Tower Treasure because my teacher recommended it because I told her I was interested in mystery books,and it was a good choice.
This book is about two young teenage boys who want to be detectives like their father.They are out to solve a mystery of stolen jewels.This is a mystery they want to solve quick to clear a friend's father who is innocent.During their journey they find many clues,but to find out the amazing ending you'll have to read it.
I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy mystery books.It is exciting as you near the end,but you have to give it a chance in the beginning.I'm sure you'll enjoy this mystery book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Beyond Dr. Seuss's work for children is an entirely different world--perhaps similar in whimsy and humor, but even more wondrous. The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss is a short (less than 100 pages) and beautiful full-color coffee-table book filled with cartoons, sketches, and oil paintings. The collection of birds, cats, lions, and pointy-headed peopleis fairly familiar territory for any true Seuss fan, but with a deeperamount of detail and more sophisticated tones. A favorite design in ink istitled "Impractical Marshmallow Toasting Device"--it's easy to see Seuss didn't find art to be a serious business. And could the oil painting "Cat from the Wrong Side of the Tracks" be a rendition of Cat in the Hat's evil twin? A wonderful, intriguing book for Seuss fans of all ages. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Wonderfully Facinating
Every page unfolds another facinating look into the mind of a wonderful artist that many have grown up with. I personally was amazed at what I found within these pages, and would recomend this book to anyone that is either interested in art, or in Dr. Seuss. This book shows that he was much more than just a children's author.

beautiful book
dr. seuss was more than a children's book author, he was an artist. i had always taken for granted this fact until i saw this as another extension of his work. beautiful pictures and fascinating sculptures...would i love to one of those hanging in my livingroom!

One Cool Cat
Best known of course for his dearly beloved children's books, Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) was also an supremely talented artist, as this collection of his paintings and sculptures attests. Far more detailed than the illustrations of his books, the paintings in particular range from gently witty to absolutely dazzling.

Many great painters use the canvas to tell a story; Seuss goes a step farther. Each of his paintings are like a portal into an amazing little world. "Cat Detective in the Wrong Part of Town" evokes a seedy 50's mystery story, but with cats. Cats, by the way, are a major theme of this collection. They pop up everywhere, doing everything: Dancing the night away in "Cat Carnival in West Venice", playing pool in "Cat from the Wrong Side of the Tracks", even taking a shower in "Cat in Obsolete Shower Bath (Study)". Seuss packs a lot of feeling into his subjects; "Lonely" sums up isolation about as well as anything I've seen, and several untitled pieces each show one lone bird flying serenely above a stormy sea. My favorite painting is entitled "I Dreamed I Was a Doorman at the Hotel del Coronado". With its dreamy South American feel and bright colors it reminds me of an old Technicolor movie from the forties.

I can't recommend this book enough, the paintings are just wonderful. I never get tired of looking at them. A complete must-own for any Seuss fan, or just any lover of the whimsical. A+

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!
We all know Theodore Seuss Geisell as a creative author and illustrator. However, many of us have no idea he was an incredibly imaginitive, colorful and captivating non-literary artist. I love this collection, and think it really shows Seuss' breadth of talent. (If you also want to see more to Seuss than his kids' books, check out his biting WWII political cartoons. They're equally a treasure.)

And to think I saw it at the art gallery on Superior Street
One of our local art galleries had several choice examples of the art of Dr. Seuss, not just the cartoon drawings that made their way into his wonderful books, but the paintings and other artistic efforts presented here as "The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss." This work extends from a series of four pencil and watercolor illustrations about Peru done in 1925 to an ink drawing entitled "The Economic Situation Clarified" in 1975. That means a half-century of art the beginning of which predates his first publication, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," by a dozen years. As I said, these are more than just paintings, including the heads he did in the 1930s, including my favorite, the Blue-Green Abelard. The commonality of all this artwork is the fertile imagination of Ted Geisel. The creatures in these illustrations will seem familiar (you will spot Horton and other beloved visages) but what will strike you is the way Geisel started incorporating brilliant colors and abstract designs into his artwork.

I am not pretending that this is serious artwork, but just that Geisel was serious about his art. He was not a great artist, just a beloved artist, who could twist and tangle pictures the way he could words and rhymes. We appear to have run out of his books, but "The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss" give us something "new" to enjoy. You might even find something you would like to get a copy of and put up on the wall in the children's bedroom. ... Read more

Book Description

"The Trunchbull" is no match for Matilda!

Who put superglue in Dad's hat? Was it really a ghost that made Mom tear out of the house? Matilda is a genius with idiot parents -- and she's having a great time driving them crazy. But at school things are different. At school there's Miss Trunchbull, two hundred menacing pounds of kid-hating headmistress. Get rid of the Trunchbull and Matilda would be a hero. But that would take a superhuman genius, wouldn't it?

Book Description

Here's everyone's favorite teddy bear song with endearing pictures by the popular illustrator of Good Dog, Carl. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

review of Te