Book Description

Through original artwork by the renowned artist Tomie dePaola-a longtime aficionado of Frida Kahlo's work-as well as beautiful reproductions of Kahlo's paintings, this latest Smart About book explores the creative, imaginative world of Mexico's most celebrated female artist.

Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. ... Read more

Book Description

Lately Strega Nona has been distracted-she even gave Signore Mayor the wrong remedy for his headache. One night Nona has a dream about her Grandma Concetta, who has been in heaven for many years, and her little house at the seashore. Nona decides that she will take a vacation there. While Strega Nona is away, Bambolona will do the daily remedies and Big Anthony will do the chores. With these two left in charge, what could possibly go wrong? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Trust Your Instincts!
The main weakness of this book is that it requires a knowledge of the predecessor books in the series to understand the characters and the story context. If you have read the other Strega Nona books by Tomie dePaola, this is a five-star book. If not, this is a three-star book. I have averaged the two scores out to arrive at a four-star rating.

The theme of the book is understanding patterns and connections.

The story begins with Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) having a vivid dream about being a child again and being with her Grandma Concetta at the beach. The next day, Strega Nona is distracted, and everyone notices it. In fact, she almost gives the mayor the wrong medicine for his headache.

She then has another dream in which her Grandma tells her to come to her house at the beach. Then, Strega Nona realizes that this is all a subconscious desire for a vacation . . . something she has not had for a long time.

She rounds up Bambolona, her medicine helper, and Big Anthony, her chore helper. They will take care of everyone while Strega Nona is gone.

Strega Nona has a wonderful time by herself at her Grandma's house. She sends presents to Bambolona and Big Anthony. Bambolona covets the candy sent for Big Anthony, and switches the tags so Big Anthony gets bubble bath instead.

Big Anthony doesn't know what bubble bath is, and pours it all into one bath. Soon the entire village is covered with bubbles. At least it's not pasta, again! There are two things that I like very much about this story. First, it encourages a child to think about her or his intuition as a possible source of insight. As a parent you can then encourage your child to share his or her dreams and day dreams, and talk about what they might mean.

Second, the book contains a number of Italian words. This makes for a pleasant way to show how your child easy it is to learn a few words in another language.

Any parent will also appreciate the suggestion here that the adults need a break sometimes, too.

After you have finished enjoying the story, I suggest that you and your child discuss some of the dreams you have had that turned out to be important signs of what you needed to do. Beyond that, consider what dreams you are ignoring now. What do they mean?

Then, perhaps you could discuss the family's next vacation.

Be sensitive to your instincts!

Paradise found
Sometimes the best remedy for stress is to get away by yourself -perhaps even to a place from your youth. This is what happens when Stega Nona finds herself prescribing mixed-up conconctions for the villagers in her neighborhood. Admitting she needs a well-deserved vacation can be a tough decision, but once Strega Nona goes back to her Grandmother Concetta's little house by the seashore she relaxes and learns a little time away is sometimes necessary for one's business. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Celebrated children's-book illustrator Demi puts the Buddha's life story into words any child can enjoy. Even more, children will love the lush, meticulously painted scenes, rendered in traditional Asian fashion yet as light and whimsical asCalvin and Hobbes. (Ages 9 to 12.) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Moving, Great Book!
This book tells the story of Buddha so clearly and precisely that it taught me a lot that I previously didn't know or understand. I am hoping to share this book with my students during the Buddhist New Year in April. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. The Cat in the Hat tells us three zany stories-in-verse about his son, his daughter, and his great-great-grandfather. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Dr. Seuss makes a series of lessons in a trio of stories
"I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories" presents a trio of stories told in verse and illustrated by Dr. Seuss in 1969. Each story makes a simple point. The title story is about a young fellow who looks like a smaller version of the Cat in the Hat (there is reason to believe he is part of the next generation) who declares that he can lick thirty tigers today. However, as soon as he see the thirty tigers he starts finding reasons to whittle down that number, which should indicate to young readers the problems of biting off more than you can chew (pick whatever phrase that expresses this idea you like even if it is your eyes are bigger than your stomach).

"King Looie Katz" is about the fancy cat named Looie who was the King of Katzen-stein and who was so proud of his royal tail that not only did he wash it every morning in a ten-gallon golden pail. In fact, King Looie is so proud that he decides that his tail should never be allowed to touch the earth and he made Fooie Katz follow him around and keep from dragging on the ground. When Fooie notices his tail is sagging he makes Kooie Katz lift up his tail. Soon all the cats in Katzen-stein are walking round and round keeping each other's tails from dragging on the ground. All the cats, that is, except one in this simple story about being more "demo-catic."

Finally there is "The Glunk that Got Thunk," which has the distinction of being the wordiest Dr. Seuss story I have ever read. The sister of the small cat we met in the first story likes to go upstairs after supper and use her Thinker-Upper. Usually she thinks up friendly little things with smiles and fuzzy fur. But one night she decides to go for go for something more fun and discovers she has thunked a Glunk. There are two problems with this. First, a Glunk cannot be UN-thunk. Second, this Glunk calls his mother each night, which is an expensive long distance phone call (ten dollars a minute), and this particular Glunk will never stop talking (which explains why this story gets so wordy; beginning readers will be amazed). There are actually several lessons that can be drawn from this one.

None of these are what I would call first level Dr. Seuss books but there are three of them, which just about adds up to a solid collection. You readers might find it strange to find three short stories collected in one, but there are other such collections out there. These stories are a bit more inclined towards making points beyond the good doctor's normal delightful infatuation with the realm of imagination.

If you love Dr. Seuss, you need this book
This is one of the great Dr. Seuss books that a lot of people don't seem to know about. Really, really fun and a little bit different from the others. My nephew cracks up every single time I read it to him.

Lessons taught in the most wonderful way possible
These three stories are a wonderful trip for children into an imaginative world, where they learn important lessons, in the most fun way possible.
In the first, 'I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today' the character learns that his bravado does not live up to the reality, in 'The Glunk that Got Thunk' children learn how insurmountable problems can be solved by working together and keeping a level head, and in 'King Loii Katz' children learn a very important lesson:
That sometimes one has to follow ones own conscience and put a stop to the bandwagon. It only takes one to say 'ENOUGH'.
Beautifully illustrated, and with a wonderful sense of humour and imagination.

My Favorite as a Child, Now My Daughter's Favorite. . .
This book (or books, since there are 3 complete stories within the covers) is a fantastic journey into the extended family of the Cat in the Hat. His great great great grandfather learns a lesson about hubris. His son learns the dangers of overconfident bragging. His daughter learns the value of teamwork, and why families need to stand up for one another. The language is delightfully silly for children, yet parents will recognize friends, family and foes in Seuss' wise and deadly accurate characterizations. I got this book c.1970 and it was my favorite, now my 3-year old daughter has me read it every day. NOTE: As a four year old, I found the Glunk a little scary. My daughter doesn't seem to have that apprehension! A pleasure to read that children will love!

If you want a memory that will last forever...
This book is one that has followed me through my entire life in the memories shared between me and my father. He read me these stories when a was a child and the memories still make me smile as I've just graduated from college. I recommend this book to all parents and children, and make sure you read it together. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Leo and Diane Dillon have collaborated on 40 illustrated books and won a shelfful of major awards for their artistic work, including two Caldecott Medals. No surprise, then, that this book is a feast for the eyes--but it's remarkable even by their exalted standards. The text, printed in large, clear capitals along the bottom of the pages, consists simply of the famous verses from Ecclesiastes: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die...."Each phrase is illustrated by one of 16 panels, and each panel stems from the artistic style of a different culture, from Egyptian tomb friezes, to Japanese harvest scenes, to Aboriginal bark paintings, to Greek vase paintings. The rich, sophisticated illustrations may appeal more to parents than to their children--and verses like "a time to kill" may be too much for the very young--but there could be no more beautiful vehicle for the old wisdom that we have to know, expect, and live with both the good and the bad that life will inevitably bring us. At the end of the book the authors provide interesting information on the style and the art history behind each illustration. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustrations copyright © 1998 by Leo & Diane Dillon. Permission from The Blue Sky Press, Scholastic, Inc.) (Ages 5 and older) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Beautiful Illustrations of 'To Everything there is a Season'
(Library of Congress 97-35124(I borrowed it from the public library to read).In their appendix,The Dillons,(Leo & Diane)have listed verses in the bible's Old Testament's Ecclesiastes according to their preferences on which ethnic groups or countries builds up,who laughs,who embraces,who speaks,who loves by the order in which they place the countries in the biblical verses. It begins with Ireland(to everthing there is a season,and a time to every purpose under the heaven followed by Egypt,Japan,Mexico,Greece,India,Europe,North America,Ethiopia,Thailand,China,Russia,Australia,the Far North(Siberia to Greenland),and ends with the Middle East WITH THE verses a time of war & a time of peace).And of course a picture of the planet earth with "one generation....but the earth abides forever)".I'm glad they put it where children would not be interested in reading the small print..they have bigger pictures on page 1-30,and most wouldn't understand Egypt associate with dying or Mexico associated with killing,or Greece associated with a time to break down ,India on a time to weep or Europe on a time to mourn.I would give it to an adult vs a child as a gift.

Wonderful Book for All Ages
This book is a treasure of representative illustrations of artistic styles from a wide variety of cultures. Although the text comes from a specific time and culture, it demonstrates that its message is applicable to all members of the human family. I have made this a standard gift for friends and family with new children. The colorful pictures are stimulating and captivating for the very young who have not yet learned to read, while the timeless text provides a new level for children to experience the book as they get older. As an adult, I find this book to be something I enjoy over and over for myself and to give as a gift.

Misconceived multiculturalism
Althought the illustrations are beautiful, I think it's deeply problematic to take Judeo-Christian theology and then attribute it to other cultures. At least 2/3 of the illustrations represent times, places, and peoples who wouldn't have been familiar with the text being illustrated. And, since the explanatory notes in the back are so thin, no real appreciation of the other cultures being invoked is achieved. Mixtec human sacrifice as an illustration of "A time to kill, and a time to heal?" Just how will this promote cross-cultural understanding/respect? There's clearly enough historical/cultural/national diversity among people who have read/believed in these verses from Ecclesiastes to produce a celebration of difference within a common faith. That would have been a much more responsible approach. As it is, this book is either an assertion of the universality of sectarian beliefs or just an attempt by some talented illustrators to show that they can imitate a wide variety of artistic styles. For an example of someone (writing for elementary school aged children) who handles multiculturalism (within a Judaic tradition) well, see Barbara Goldin's _Journeys with Elijah_. And if you just want a picture book of these verses, consider Barner's To Everything.

Beautiful, multicultural illustrations. Many uses.
I picked up this book at a small local book shop and immediately had to have it! The Biblical theme makes it posible to use in Sunday school classes, however, the art work and idea of dealing with change makes it appropriate for school use, too. I teach education courses and plan to use it in my Art in the Classroom course as well as Children's Literature. Children could make up their own stories to go with the illustrations which come from original art of many ages and countries. All the illustrations are explained and identifed in the last pages of the book. I have given away my copy to someone who saw the potential for use in the classroom because she was dealing with seasons. This book is for anyone who enjoys outstanding picture books, not just children.

A absolute treasure to own and to give!
Ecclesiastes comes to life in the stunning multi-cultural illustrations of the verses. It should be on your gift-giving list for young AND old alike. The cultural portrayals are so pure students will enjoy naming them as the pictures are shared. The information about the illustrations in the back adds a special touch. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Bill Irwin
approx. 3 hours
2 cassettes

Determined to learn the secret of the old mill, Frank and Joe employ a clever use to gain entrance and become trapped.There they unravel two mysteries, one involving a counterfeiting case and the other, a national security case their father is working on. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The Best Hardy Boys Book
My favorite Hardy Boys book is the Secret of the Old Mill. I loved the part when Ken Blake fell into the river and Frank and Joe jumped into the river to save Ken Blake. I also loved the part when Frank, Joe, and Chet were in the Sleuth and Frank pulled the wires from the engine to stop the boat. I think that the Secret of the Old Mill is the best Hardy Boys book I have read.

the action story
Hi my name is Ryan.The Secret of the Old Mill is a really good book.In the story Frank and Joe descover conterfeit $20 dollar bills and a company called Eleckton is making them.The hardys drive over in the Queen and Frank and Joe descover a secret door.Will Frank and Joe solve the conterfeit mystery? Read the book to find out.I recomend this book for people who like stories with a lot of excitement.

Can the counterfeiters be stopped before they fleece Bayport
This review is of the 1962 Revised Version of "The Secret of the Old Mill". 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 Secret of the Old Mill" is the third Hardy Boys mystery.

Counterfeit money is being passed around Bayport. Chet Morton, the best friend of the Hardys, makes change of twenty dollars for a stranger and when he tries to purchase a microscope he learns that the bill is counterfeit. When the boys bring the bill into the police station, they learn that the chief has known about the counterfeits being passed but is keeping it quiet so as to not alert the criminals. The Hardys start some investigating on their own. Threats are made to the Hardys telling them to get off the case; but are the threats about the counterfeit case or the secret mystery that their father, Fenton Hardy, is investigating?

Reading the Hardy Boys as an adult is a nostalgic pleasure. I loved these books as a child and remember so much from when I read them years ago. What makes these books special is that I can enjoy them almost as much now as I did back then. "The Secret of the Old Mill" remains a good Hardy Boys mystery and a great story. It is fast paced and always interesting. I remember that after I read this book as a child, I started checking all of my money (such as it was) to see if it was counterfeit. That's the mark of a good story, that it can make a child interested in what is around him and comparing it to what was learned in the book.

-Joe Sherry

The Heart Pounding action Packed book!
On a scale from one star to five stars, I would rate this book a four star. It had a lot of action-packed chapters but it ended too soon. An action packed story should have a sequel to it. This book just drops the subject like all of the other Hardy Boy books and goes to the next book. For instance, this book goes onto "The Missing Chums". Even though the Hardy Boys books have a separate mystery, it would be nice if each book had at least one sequel to it. Overall, this book is really great to read. I recommend this book for early readers and for book reports. The reading level of this book is not hard to read, but it isn't too easy either. It's all evened out. Franklin W. Dixon knows how to write action.

Heart Poundin' Action Packed Book!
This book is a really suspensefull book though but overall, it is very good! I recommend it for kids who are starting to read. Franklin W. Dixon really knows how to write good novels. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some originals of the earliest Chinese-Buddhist sutras still exist--printed in gold ink on deep indigo paper. To see one is to sink into it. Demi, devout Buddhist and illustrator of children's literature, recreates the stories in the form of a children's book with smooth writing and stunning brushwork. These moral tales, taken from Jataka literature of Buddhism, relate engaging incidents among humans and animals that highlight a valuable lesson, each complete with a final moral. Children are sure to fall in love with this masterful combination of art and moral education. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is a wonderful book
My five year old son loves listening to these stories. I have long been looking for books that help children understand moral values. This is my favorite Demi book.

Buddha Stories
An excellent book. Most of the stories have a theme of wonderful compassion and it is set out in such way that children are encouraged to think about what is really of value in life. We borrowed this book from the library many times.

Good collection but poor choice of colors for illustration.
This is an excellent collection of about 10 jataka tales of Buddha's past lifetime, in about one page per story. Younger children, however may not enjoy reading the book on their own because of the color illustration quality, i.e., light gold on black paper. ... Read more

Book Description

... Read more

Reviews (10)

[my] Opinion
This is the first Hardy Boys book that I ever read. It was very enjoyable to read. Some parts of the book are more exciting than others. Like when they Hardy Boys went to South America to look for a spy.
I would recommend this book to kids my age and older that likes adventure and mystery.
This book was good enough to make me want to check out the rest of the series.

Exciting Mystery
Frank and Joe Hardy are driving by the MicroEye plant in Bayport when they spot someone trying to break in. Foiling that only leads them to more questions. Who is trying to steal secrets from the plant? Then they rescue a man who jumped overboard from a ship, only to have him run off when they reach land with a mysterious warning about "footprints." Mr. Hardy is out of reach on a case of his own, but important papers of his are stolen from the house. The Hardys have few clues, but they follow them doggedly on a trail that leads them to South America and brings them plenty of danger.

I remembered enjoying this book as a kid, and rereading it, I found I enjoyed it again. There is so much happening here, it's almost hard to keep it all straight. And it's certainly hard to figure out how all the pieces will fit together. Yet everything is skillfully woven together in the end for a breathtaking and logical climax.

The Hardys are always good for some exciting escapist fun, and this book is no exception.

CAUTION: Chinese Racial Stereotypes!
This review is for the Applewood 1930's text reprint. This story is probably not for the young, it should be read with the understanding that it was written in the 1930's. It is a decent mystery, but if you are offended by Charlie Chan movies you will want to read the revised re-written version from Grosset & Dunlap.

Not Much Better Than The Original
This review concerns the revised 1965 edition. Frank and Joe help the U.S. government foil a plot by a small South American island dictatorship to steal a top-secret spy camera. Anybody who read the summary to this book would think that the book was going to be really good, but; unfortunately, the summary was probably the most exciting part of the book. The plot sounds good on paper; however, I thought that the book lacked action and excitement and many of the events that sounded so good in the summary do not end up to be much at all. The revised edition is better than the original, which was a complete snore, but it isn't a good book either.

While The Clock Ticked
In all of those mystery books I had read, The Hardy Boys is the only kind I really interesting in, and in those Hardy Boys books the one I really love is While The Clock Ticked because I had it...^wink wink^...! ...
It was starting with a mysterious stranger apparently steals some of Mr. Hardy's papers from the Hardy home, suspicious events are occurring at the local Chinese laundry and one of Mr. Hardy's clients demands that his name be cleared of rumors that he is involved in smuggling Chinese immigrants. And there is going to be more action and interesting then what I just wrote. So I suggest you should check you this book. But the whole idea of the book is it focused heavily on the title that I liked and presented a fairly good mystery.
It is really good in the beginning, and terribly good at the end. All people like to read mystery books should check out this book but do not forget to check out all other Hardy Boys books, though. Because I know author Franklin W. Dixon did not write just one book but many of them. I heard others Hardy Boys from him are really good, too. And in a minute I am going to look for them online. So anyway, I recommend you should check them out and save them for your summer reading books. Enjoy reading them and have a fun summer, students from Mrs. Lenhardt's class. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You can't keep a good pup down--at least not down off the counter, oraway from the storage closet, or out of trouble in general. Alexandra Day takesoff on another scamper with her cute rottweiler pup in Puppy Trouble, apop-up tear through an about-to-be-very-disheveled home.

Just as in past outings (like Good Dog, Carl and Carl Goes Shopping), thisrascally dog means well--he's just, well, a puppy. Kids will especiallyenjoy this Carl adventure for its copious push-and-pull-tab action, on sixdifferent spreads, from the living room to the bathroom to the kitchen. Many ofthe scenes are conventional pop-up tableaus: Carl popping out of his petcarrier, tugging on a tablecloth, and jumping off a counter. But a few show somegenuine ingenuity, like a spiraling roll of toilet paper (as if he needs helpfrom the cat), a rear-end-activated TV remote, and a convincing imitation of aFelix clock.

Day's sweet renderings and muted, traditional setting maintain Carl's mysteriousbut undeniable appeal, and the short lines of text ("Let go of kitty's pillow!";"Better not pull that!") provide wee ones with an excellent chance for buildingvocabulary. (Baby to preschool) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Book Description

With her reluctant student, Arnold, the Friz slips through a mysterious trap door -- and ends up in the Middle Ages! There, they explore a medieval castle, meeting the people who live there and learning about everyday life within the castle walls. When the castle is threatened by invaders, Arnold and the Friz don chain mail to lead the defense. They repel the invaders just in the nick of time, then they joust and feast before returning to the 21st century. With their careful research and trademark wit, Cole and Degen introduce the many facets of medieval life. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. The Cat in the Hat challenges readers with seemingly silly questions: Do pineapples grow on pine or apple trees? Do roosters sleep on their backs or sides? Kids will pick up a host of oddball facts, have fun juggling sense and nonsense, and exercise their imaginations. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Everybody Passes . . . and Learns Thinking and Reading, Too!
This book clearly deserves more than five stars, and is one of the very best Dr. Seuss books for beginning readers. The only thing that's missing are the rhymes!

"Here is Ziggy Zozzfozzel with his sister Zizzy."

"They got every question wrong.

Are YOU smarter than a Zozzfozzel?"

Aw, if school had only been full of challenges like that, everyone would have focused on learning instead of grades. Some may object that by setting the standard low, accomplishment is stilted. I think it is enhanced, because children will want to get as many more right as they can versus the Zozzfozzels.

By the way, although this is a book of quiz questions (nicely feeding into the mania of shows like Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?), this is the teacher's edition. The answers can be found on pages 58-62.

Let me begin by praising this book as a beginning reader. Each item is well illustrated so that a child can associate the words with the images. There is a lot of variety in short words (only a few words are long, like the nonsensical name, Zozzfozzel). So a youngster can learn more words from this book than from 2 or 3 of most beginning readers. That makes the book more valuable. Also, the context of asking questions makes the words and images more vivid and memorable, which should speed memorization and learning. Your child can clearly grow into this book over a period of time. The book has mostly pre-school words, but it also has words up to about 2nd grade level.

What just bowls me over about this book is the discipline in the quiz questions. First, there are lots of them. So for most children, you will take just a few at one sitting. You could probably work on this book for a week or more the first time you go through it, doing a little bit every day. By the time you pick any page up again, it will seem fresh.

Second, the questions test a variety of thinking methods. Mostly the quizzes fall into these categories:

Common sense -- Are freckles catching?

Spatial puzzles -- gears, ropes, and mazes to study

Observing -- Do eyebrows or mustaches grow faster?

Word meaning -- How many kings are women?

Nature facts -- Which ends of a bee does the stinging?

Games -- On a tic tac toe board, who will win?

What If? -- Imagine that you jump up in the air and don't come down. What should you do?

As you can see, these kinds of questions are perfect for using a few Socratic questions to help guide the youngster down a thinking path that can lead to a correct answer. This means you have a chance to help your child with problem-solving strategies. You can also introduce learning resources (like pictures of a bee in a book) as ways to locate a correct answer.

Further, you will get a sense of where your child takes to things like a duck to water . . . and where it is harder for her or him. Then you can spend more time on those trickier areas to boost skill and confidence.

Although the questions hardly make the book into a Mensa qualifying test (for high IQ people), many of them are interesting enough to keep the adults alert. Also, there is a lot of potential for more than one correct answer (especially with the "what if" questions). This provides a chance to exercise imagination and to expose ambiguity.

After you have exhausted and worn out this quiz, you can go on to create new quiz questions for one another. I suggest that you keep it a competition against getting them all wrong, rather than indirectly setting up any other kind of comparison.

Now, where do pineapples come from (besides the grocery store)?

Classic Cat
One of my earliest memories is going to the library and checking this book out, My older sister and I would sit and look at this book for hours and hours and although the quizzes were easy enough to solve they were so amusing that you didn't mind repeating them time after time. I imagine that we must have worn that poor book out with all the love and attention we gave it which is just the kind of fate any great book deserves.

good more than once
True, once you have read this book once, you will already know the answers to the questions. This is no worse, however, than knowing what happens next in any other Suess book. The rhyming and the wonderful Suess pictures are still there. I still find it entertaining to read again and again, and so does my 5-month-old son. ... Read more

Book Description

Originally published in 1936, the 15th book in the Hardy Boys series continues the Applewood program of reissuing these nostalgic classics in facsimile editions.

Reviews (8)

Very Exciting
This review concerns the revised 1968 edition. Mr. Hardy, Frank and Joe are hired by Mr. Alden,the president of a company that makes experimental race cars and motors. Three of their drivers have had accidents while on test drives because the windshields of their cars suddenly went white and blocked their vision. Alden is afraid that someone is trying to sabotage his company and steal a top-secret experimental motor. The theft of Alden's race horse, Topnotch, further complicates the mystery. This book is quite good; it is packed with action, mystery and suspence. The plot is interesting and would probably appeal to most young readers and even older fans of the series. However, I am disappointed with the manner in which the criminals were captured. It was purely by dumb luck and reminded me of something that would have happened in an episode of Inspector Gadget. Also, I didn't like it that the Hardy's friends were largely ignored in this book; Chet is the only one used to any extent and even he isn't really involved in the mystery. Despite this, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to other fans.

AN OUTSTANDING PREFORMANCE
This book was terrific! I don't know about you but this was superb. Its was when a orange dragster bumps into the Hardy Boy's convertable. This leaves the Hardys mystified. Mr. Hardy talks to his sons about a mystery and wants his sons to help him solve his mystery. This is an enjoyable book.

One Of The Best
This review concerns the original 1936 edition. Suspicious events at a home in Bayport and the disappearance of a valuable race horse combine to make one of the most interesting and exciting Hardy Boys books. This book was great; well-written, well-paced, and the mystery was highly intriguing. This book has one of the best endings of all of the Hardy Boys books that I have read and is especially good from page 172 on. It's an excellent book that I would recommend to all Hardy Boys fans.

The Sinister Signpost: One of the most books of action
The plot of this book, (or even every page) is teriffic. I like racing cars, I like the fighting parts, and the adventure of finding the stolen horse, Topnotch. The most weird part of the book is the ability of creating Vilno's inventions. I can't believe that they could have such an extrordinary laser in those days, and I thought you could only make that today, or on some shows like Star Trek. But I really liked the sonic force. I just can't say how good this book was. Definetly read this terrific 15th book in Franklin W. Dixon's Hardy Boys series.

Hardy Boys The Sinister Signpost
The Hardy Boys The Sinister Signpost is about a person named Alden who thinks someone is stealing secrets about a motor. All of a sudden his horse Topnotch gets stolen and the criminal wants a ransom. Who is the criminal? Do the Hardy's catch him. Read the book to find out. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

A great book to use in the classroom when teaching poetry.
This book was a fantastic support when teaching 5th graders to move beyond "recipe" poetry.The ode structure helps them find the poetry in their day to day experiences.They thoroughly enjoyed listening to GarySoto's odes, and were eager to write their own.

A great book to use in the classroom when teaching poetry.
This book was a fantastic support when teaching 5th graders to move beyond "recipe" poetry.The ode structure helps them find the poetry in their day to day experiences.They thoroughly enjoyed listening to GarySoto's odes, and were eager to write their own. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Average
Published in 1950, the was a fairly decent swift paced book. The volume had a decent plot and good mystery and there was considerable interaction between the criminals. This volume for some reason often reminds me of The Secret of Pirates Hill. The brothers try to find a family treasure lost during the Civil War. One of the more funny chapters Atomic Crackers appear around page 130. I find this an average volume perhaps leaning slightly on the better than average side. Certainly worth reading. RATED B-

A Pretty Good Mystery
This review concerns the original 1950 edition. Frank, Joe and Chet travel to the southern U.S. to help a retired general find a fortune lost during the civil war. This was a really good book; it was well written and had a lot of action. Two things that I liked about this book were that unlike some books where Frank and Joe have little contact with the criminals until the last chapters, in this book they were constantly running into the crooks, also, there was actually a mystery to solve in this book (the location of the treasure), instead of some other volumes where Frank and Joe are merely trying to capture a certain gang. This is a great book all Hardy Boys fans will enjoy.

The Secret of the Lost Tunnel
This oddly enough one of my favorite Hardy Boys book because of the post civil war connection and the southern stereotypes that are laughable at best. Obviously the writer had a limited at best knowlege of the south and this makes the book almost as comical to a true southerner as a fake southern accent in a movie or television. This oddly enough is the rule and not the exception in most of the hardy boys series. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (14)

Beautifully Illustrated Fantasy
Of course no one would leave his/her baby with an ordinary dog--but this is CARL! Carl can dress the baby and care for the baby. Let's face it. The story is totally make believe. Santa arrives at the home too and leaves by traveling up the chimney. I don't suppose I would expect that in real life either. The illustrations are lovely. There are very few words in the book, so it is fun to tell the story in your own words. I think Carl's Christmas as well as the other Carl books are charming.

Beautifully illustrated Christmas book for toddlers/Pre-K
Overhearing a man at the bookstore ask for a "baby's first Christmas" book, this one leapt to mind. It's an enjoyable tale about a family dog keeping watch over the baby at Christmas time. They leave the house on their own and journey through the snow-swept streets of town enjoying a variety of Christmas scenes sure to warm the heart.

There is almost no dialogue in the book, which allows parents to narrate the story at the language level of their child. Children, too, would be able to pick up the book and follow the story simply through the beautiful illustrations. Carl being left to babysit may bother some readers, but I accepted the premise as fantasy and was captivated by the colorful, touching images of Christmas as experienced by Carl and his young charge.

H-E-L-L-OOOO!!! "Carl" is a wonderul FANTASY!
A absolutely WONDERFUL book! One in a series of "Carl" books, that are beautifully illustrated and "told" in the most lovely way for young readers...thru the illustrations! My son totally enjoyed this book when he was much younger (which did NOT prompt him to try and ride our 2 Rotts, as some seem to have a problem with) and it has become an absolute favorite for one of my nephews, who is 3 yrs. old...the "adults" who write in ridiculous unproductive reviews, as has been posted here in the past, and need a forum to discuss child endangetment issues, need to find another venue...this is not the place; Childrens books, for the most part, have always been based on FANTASY! Parents help by teaching their children the differences between fantasy and reality...yes, even to 2 year olds! If the thinking of a few "joyless" people who have posted their "reveiws" here in the past on this book was the norm, then I guess Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, et. al., should be "arrested" for child neglect too, for kids might try jumping off roofs to fly! Go Carl!!!

PS...And here's a thought: if you have children sitting on your pets, as the reveiwer from Stockton CA (reveiw posted Nov. 26, 2002) has a problem with, and can't get the kids to stop, then maybe it is time to do your pets a favor and find them new homes!

CHILD NEGLECT ON CHRISTMAS
I think this is a horrible book. A baby left alone with the dog on Christmas while his parents go to Church and to grandma's house. The baby is going through town a night in the snow in his pajamas. I have a hard time getting my child not to sit on the dog already I don't need him getting ideas that he can ride on a dogs back. Just the whold idea of leaving your baby with the dog is horrible.

Leave your baby home with the dog?
I just could not get past the idea of this book. A family leaves a baby home alone with a rottwielier on Christmas day. The dog then rides the baby on its back through the cold city streets even stopping to peer into the window of another family enjoying their Christmas together - babies included. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Just suppose," said Ted "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, "there was a little kid who didn't speak words but only weird sounds?" Thus Gerald McBoing Boing was born, brought to life by a studio called United Productions of America as an animated cartoon. This delightful, rhyming story went on to win an Academy Award in 1951, and was briefly made available as a book at the time of the movie's release. And now it's back!

When Gerald McCloy turns two, he doesn't start talking like most children--he says "Boing boing!" instead. His George Jetson-style father, turning gray, rushes to call Doctor Malone, who decrees there is no cure. In time, Gerald only increases in volume, shouting "Boom!" like a big keg of exploding powder. School is no help, either. He cuckoos and honks in the classroom, "And as little Gerald/ grew older, he found/ When a fellow goes BAM!/ no one wants him around."

Outcast, forlorn, he runs away from home. But just as he is about to board a slow-moving freight, the owner of the BONG-BONG-BONG radio station accosts him by the tracks. "I need a smart fellow/ to make all the sounds,/ Who can bark like a dog/ and bay like the hounds!/ You're GONG is terrific,/ your toot is inspired!/ Quick come to BONG-BONG-BONG,/ McBoing Boing--you're hired!"

This fun and funny picture book--soaked in muted Fiestaware colors--lilts and bounces and boings like a good read-aloud should. Children will discover that sometimes it's our quirks that end up making us special. (Ages 3and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (16)

GRADE A+ BOOK FOR KIDS!!!!!
As an elementary school teacher I not only know and appreciate a good book, but I am even more amazed when a book offers some type of character enhancement. As a child, my mother read this book to me, and thirty years later it is still my favorite. I now read it to my kids, and love the message that "it's okay to be different."

Sing-songy noise-making fun!
This book caught my eye when I saw "Dr.Seuss" on the cover, but also because of the fantastic artwork by Mel Crawford. I absolutely love the rhymes and making all the various sounds which accompany the text. I have a 2 year old daughter who looks forward to each sound with eager anticipation! It's easy to slam this book for being trenched in 1950's family life, and to condemn it for painting Gerald as universally unaccepted. Reading to your child is supposed to be fun. Hopefully it will also foster a desire to learn to read. This book was not written to demonstrate to children that our lives can be unfair and unequal. If after reading this book you feel uneasy about its subtext then a few things are wrong: 1) you are reading too much into the book 2) you should examine your own relationship with your child and 3) you missed the point of the book -- to provide fun and lively reading material that just might inspire a child to pick up a book on his or her own.

I'm a boing-boinger
Cool book, can't wait to see the movie.

Cute Sounds, Bad Message
This book has fun noises and cute pictures. The story, however, is much to be desired. Basically, the story says that if you are different, no one, not even your parents or teachers like you or accept you, unless or until you become rich and famous. Only when you become rich and famous for the difference for which you were once scorned, punished, and ostricized, do your parents and other people like you. Perhaps it reflects reality, but it is not a good message for kids.

An enjoyable read-along
My 10-month old son loved this book. He enjoyed the rhythm and laughed at the strategically placed onomatopoeia through the entire story. As a special education teacher, I appreciate the message of celebrating differences coming from a reknown author such as Dr. Seuss. The characters are slightly dated and simply drawn, but the message is universal. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

My Thoughts of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
I read Charlie & The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl for my grade 5 LA class. I really enjoyed this book. Charlie is main character in this story. He comes from an extremely poor family, his 4 grandparents live with his parents and Charlie. The story centers around a Chocolate Factory that is giving out 5 golden tickets, which provide the lucky winners with a lifetime supply of chocolate and a tour of the factory. The tour has no end of unexpected surprises. The funniest character was Veruca Salt because she was going to steal a squirrel. The squirrels tackled her and then knocked her on the head (to see if she was a good or bad nut). They decided she was a bad nut and then threw her down the garbage chute! This book is very hard to put down! There is also a movie available called Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

This book is very realistic.
I think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is more than okay but was not the greatest.I liked Willy Wonka the best. He was very funny.That book was exiting to read.I liked the book because I love chocolate. This book is the best book we've read, so far,this year in 6th grade.Charlie ended up with the Chocolate Factory and he loved it a lot.

Ok...if you're a 6th grader
I purchased this script with the intent of directing it as a high school play. Our high school has done many productions of children's stories and almost always receives a positive response, so I was not worried about the content of the play being too infantile. But this play was adapted from the original book to be performed by a group of 6th graders. The age group it was intended for shows blatantly. After reading through it and reflecting on the play as a whole, I decided that it was pretty lame. Now, I'm not trying to impugn Mr. George's adaptation. On the contrary, I commend him for taking the initiative to put so much work into adapting a story like this for the stage. But I wouldn't dare try to put this play on the stage of a high school theatre, or anything at all, unless it is done with all children cast members or done for an all children audience.

Charlie and the chocolate factory
I found this book a most stimulating read, a truly exostentuous experience for any young man or eligeable young person to spend their Sunday afternooon perusing.I will highly recomend this book, the characters were most tangeable and the diction frippent, I think perhaps it contains some useful message on morality to all the little cherubs.

ONES OF THE COOLEST BOOKS
I THOUGHT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK WAS VERY INTERESTING. THE STORY IS ABOUT A LITTLE BOY NAMED CHARLIE. HE LIVES WITH HIS PARENTS AND FOUR OF OF HIS GRANDPARENTS CHARLIE LOVES TO GET CHOCOLATE FOR HIS BIRTHDAY. HIS FAMILY IS POOR. ONE DAY HE FOUND A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL. HE WENT TO THE SHOP AND BOUGHT HIMSELF 3 CANDY BARS AND FOUND THE GOLDEN TICKET. THERE WAS A CONTEST FOR THE TICKET AND WON. MY FAVORITE PART IS WHEN VIOLET ATE THE SPECIAL GUM FROM MR.WILLY WONKA AND SHE TURNED INTO A BLUEBERRY. THIS IS A GOOD BOOK BECAUSE HE GOT TO HAVE THE CHCOCOLATE FACTORY. ... Read more

Book Description

Teeth–they come in handy when you chew or smile! In Dr. Seuss’s hilarious ode to teeth, little ones will laugh out loud as they find out all the things teeth can do and how to take care of them so they last a lifetime! All the fun and charm of the original book are in this new board book version for the youngest readers. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Theo. LeSieg on the importance of caring for your teeth
You start off reading "The Tooth Book" wondering why Dr. Seuss, writing under his Theo. LeSieg pseudonym, is taking so much time answering the question "Who has teeth?" That is because the answer seems rather obvious and even more so when this book gets to the importance of teeth to chewing, smiling, speaking, and trapeze artists who are supporting their partners by something they are holding on to with their teeth. Then the book touches on a few animals that do not have teeth, and again you find yourself asking "So what?" At which point the book springs it trap and we find out that "The Tooth Book" is not only entertaining, it is (surprise, surprise) educational as well.

The final section of this book is devoted to the idea of protecting your teeth because you only get two sets. Even though kids will lose their first set of teeth, they do not get the same deal on their second set so keeping them in good shape would be a good thing. Some of the advice is, as you would expect from Dr. Seuss, a bit absurd (do not use your teeth to chomp down trees like beavers), but most of it is on target, even if the book does not go into much depth. The illustrations, as is usually the case with "LeSeig," who writes more about the real world than Dr. Seuss, is by a different illustrator than the author, in this case Roy McKie. Dr. Seuss does wonderfully strange animals and people, while McKie illustrates them in a more conventional manner.

"The Tooth Book" is one of the Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners. However, obviously you want to pick your moment before introducing this particular book to your young child. Even when you kid starts losing their baby teeth it might be too soon for them to read this one, but certainly when you are teaching them to care for their permanent teeth this is a book that will be helpful in giving them an idea of what to expect. "LeSieg" does not provide specific things for kids to do to help keep their teeth in good shapes, but that information can certainly come from other sources. But he does at least get beginning beginner readers to think favorable about dental care (and even dentists as well).

Great Book
My 3-year-old loves this book! It gives the youngsters the idea of baby teeth and permentent teeth. The pictures are cute and the text are fun too. My son giggles every time we read it to him.

illustrations are not multi-cultural
You get a view into 60's white america. The only people of color in this book are a policeman, and a caricature. I don't have a problem with other Seuss books where they are set in fantasy land and the whole world is make believe. This is set in everyday life, and I think its best left on the bookshelf, it has nothing to offer my child who has and who lives in a world where folks have brown eyes and black hair, not to mention various shades of skin colour. The rhyming is also not entertaining enough to enjoy and makeup for this one-dimensional "white" depiction of the world.

Preschool Reading Education About Teeth and Teething!
Adults can quickly forget that children spend much of their time from ages 2 through 10 either getting teeth or losing their baby teeth. It is seldom a pleasant experience (except perhaps if a generous tooth fairy is involved), and must make a child feel like it will never end. Dr. Seuss (writing under his pen name of Theo. LeSieg, an anagram of Geisel) has created the world's best book for helping children learn about teeth, teething, and how to read. What a great gift for each generation of youngsters!

The book is conveniently organized into the kind of questions a reporter would ask.

Who has teeth? These include red-headed uncles, policemen, zebras, unicycle riders, camels and their riders, and little girls named Ruthie.

Where are there teeth? You will find them on mountain tops, in the air, underground, east, west, north, south, and in a lion's mouth.

Why are there teeth? "They come in handy when you chew." But they are also useful for smiling, work (especially if you are an acrobat and hold someone by your teeth), and speech.

Who doesn't have teeth? The snails and jelly fish are sadly bereft.

What about peoples' teeth? You will grow 2 sets, with 32 in the second set. And you will not get any more, so you'd better take care of them. So don't chew trees like a beaver, or use your teeth to open bottles, or eat sweet junk food ("Billy Billings [has] fifty fillings.").

For you, they will always be "handy when you smile. So keep your teeth around awhile."

"And never bite your dentist . . . your teeth's best friend. Bite someone else instead."

The humorous treatment of the tooth subject will help intrigue your child. You can expect to get questions about why all of these toothy things occur, so you should probably look up the answers before you introduce the book to optimize the educational opportunity. Or talk to your dentist or dental hygienist on your next visit.

The illustrations are not by Dr. Seuss in this new edition, but they are wonderfully done. The teeth are large, in the center of your attention, and beautiful. This serves to underscore the message of having teeth be a positive part of everyone's life.

As a prereader, this book is good for repetition. The words "tooth" and "teeth" are almost everywhere. This can help your child learn to identify those words. When that identification can be done, you can point to the words in the story when you come to them and your child can "read" them to you then aloud. You can eventually add other words that are repeated like "smile" and the articles like "a" and "the."

The illustrations can add clues to allow you to help your youngster identify other words like "red" and "trombones."

After you have finished enjoying this story, I suggest that at some point you begin to ask parallel questions about other parts of the body. This approach can help expand your child's awareness of what makes humans different and what is good about that.

Sink your teeth into this learning opportunity to become a better parent . . . and you'll have a real mouthful! And your child's mouthful will be healthier and your child more literate, too!!

The Wonderful World of Dr. Seuss
My son was brought up on Dr. Seuss Books! He is now 15 and they were the only kid's books he wouldn't let me give away. As for the tooth book, the pages are mostly ripped out. As he was teething, and in great pain, I later found his 'beloved' tooth book with almost every page torn in half. You can figure out why. It is a wonderful book. ... Read more