Book Description

Borden's father, Leon, was a logger in the old-growth forests of California. That is, until the spotted-owl lovers interfered. One day, frustrated by his father's unemployment, Borden sets out on a mission of revenge against the spotted owl but returns home with a half-starved owlet instead.
The family soon discovers that the owlet, whom Borden names Bardy, loves to take showers and watch late-night TV. Only after the whole family has fallen in love with Bardy do they realize that the conflict between nature and human industry is not so easily resolved.
Award-winning nature writer jean Craighead George tells a heartwarming story about a family and their love affair with a special little owl.

Reviews (35)

This is a light story about a serious issue.
Our book group read Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead George. We think this book is appropriate for grades 3-5. This book's genre is fiction based on the real world issue of spotted owls. It's tone is a light story about a serious issue. The stroy takes place on the Pacific Coast of Northern California. The story's main charactar is Borden,the kid who found an owl and named it Bardy. He found the owl when he was hunting spotted owls. Bardy is a young spotted owlet that Borden mistakes as a Barred Owl because he doesn't have his spots yet. Leon is Borden's dad. He is a logger who lost his job because the government made them stop because the spotted owls are at the edge of extinction. He used to hate spotted owls but Bardy imprinted on him. We liked this because it taught us many facts about owls. We also liked it because it talks about a friendship between Leon and Bardy. We recommend this to people who like owls. We give it 3 and a half stars because it is a little slow and steady.

It's people vs. Owls!
Borden Watson's father finds out the rare owl they've been chasing is in the house. He's very mad. All day they searched and searched but couldn't find the owl. The next morning Borden goes to take a shower but guess who's in there? Yep you got it! The owl. the little boy screamed and the dad went and got his gun. Does he kill the poor litte owl? You'll just have to read this great book.

One of the best books I've ever read!
This book is awesome!I read the first chapter in the book store and I just had to take it home with me!If I could I would rate it 10 stars.

Owl lovers vs. loggers
It's owl lovers vs. loggers who hate the spotted owl for putting them out of job. It's an amazing book by an amazing author about a boy whos father was a logger and he took in an owlet that was on the ground. You won't want to miss this!

Lessons from our feathered friends
I came across this book while hunting for books suited to the educational needs of my nine-year-old cousin. This book explores the age-old conflict between economic progress and environmental concerns. The argument for both sides is presented in a manner easily understood by children of grade-school age, and although the book heavily and undisguisedly favors conservation, the humans in this story are warm, believable and not portrayed as selfish destroyers of old growth forests.
The protagonist of this story is young Borden, whose father, a lumberjack, loses his job following a government directive to preserve old growth forests in order that the habitat of the Spotted Owl may be saved. Borden's family is understandably angry, as it appears to them that the government cares more about owls than about people. Here we get the usual argument from the loggers' point of view that logging puts food on the table, that logging has always formed a substantial part of the economy, that the legislators have forgotten the role of the loggers in nation building (i.e. by providing timber for construction), that the extinction of the Spotted Owl would be no great loss to the human population and that the government should strive to protect the interests of people rather than of birds.
Borden enters the woods with the intention of killing the spotted owls that took his father's job. He finds, instead, an owlet that has fallen out of its nest. Assuming that it is a Barred Owl, Borden takes the owl home and names it Bardy. His out-of-work father develops affection for the owl and observes every stage of its growth. When Borden's father receives a summons for assault and public disorder after hitting an ecologist, he decides to bring the owlet to court with him to win over the sympathy of the judge and to convince the public that loggers are not enemies of owls. Soon, true love for the young owl wins him over and he decides to free the owl and pay the fine rather than capitalize on the owl for his own selfish motives. The family learns the consequences of forest loss when a family friend loses his job as a fisherman because the river is too polluted. Borden's father decides to retrain himself for other, more sustainable professions after he understands that change is inevitable and the welfare of the Planet is in his hands as well as the ecologists'.
The environmentalists' side of the story is that the destruction of wildlife habitats and the decrease in the number of Spotted Owls are indications that people are not managing the forests right. Indeed, the exploitation of natural resources does not mean that humans will be able to live better - it might mean that it will help people (poachers, loggers, wildlife traders etc) put food on the table for the time being, but natural resources would be dissipated quickly and human health would suffer more than if measures had been taken to sustainably manage rather than exploit resources. Every action has a consequence, this book teaches us, and if there are no more spotted owls, the rodent population would increase. If there are fewer trees then it won't be long before the loggers are truly out of work as there will be no trees left for them to cut. The loss of trees would cause the loss of vital watershed areas. There will be less fresh water for people, less freshwater fish and less clean air. People have to learn that their quality of life is intertwined with the fate of the Planet. More toys and gadgets and bigger homes do not make for a better life if the air, water and soil are polluted.
There is much to learn in this book about animal behavior. The title of this book comes from a stage in the transformation of the owlet into an adult owl. Owlets bathe shortly before they are prepared to learn to fly.
Far from being moralizing, this book is absorbing and teaches reverence for all beings, from people to owls and trees. A recommended read for children, parents and teachers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Oh, why won't Marvin K. Mooney just please go now? In this 1972 classic for "beginning beginners," Dr. Seuss devotes his rhymes to budging the reluctant young Marvin K.: "The time has come. The time is now.Just go. Go. GO! I don't care how." But despite his impatience, our narrator certainly isn't short of ideas on how Marvin could make an exit. "You can go on stilts. You can go by fish. You can go in a Crunk-Car if you wish." Seuss's ever wacky illustrations accompany each new mode of transport, from balloon to broomstick to Bumble-Boat. And if those who are just learning find a word they don't know, chances are Seuss has simply made it up to fill out this ear-pleasing, easy-to-read text. This book is yet another fun and euphonious entry from the good doctor, a silly primer for budding rhymers and readers. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Go, man go!
I once heard a rumor that the Dr. Seuss book "Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!" was written by the author as a kind of plea to President Nixon. Written around the time of the Watergate scandals, the rumor I heard stated that the book (a delightful collection of different ways in which Marvin K. Mooney may leave) was a cry that the President should step down and (in the words of the book), "Just go, go, GO!". Reading the story today, I wish I could say that this rumor is unequivocally undeniable, but I can't. The Marvin K. Mooney in this book doesn't look a thing like our dear departed President. If you want a picture book representation of Nixon, I suggest you locate, "The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln". Otherwise, read this story solely for its enjoyable plot.

There are approximately two characters in this tale. One is the aforementioned Mr. Mooney who stands in purple pajamas upon a circular floor rug. The other character is an unseen narrator who appears only as a pair of hands and arms. These hands proceed to point to a watch, point out the door, and gesture in a variety of different ways as to how best Marvin K. Mooney could go. For quite some time Marvin doesn't budge, and we are treated to visual hypothetical images of him leaving ala the mail, by cow, on a Bumble-Boat, or even (my personal favorite) by camel in a bureau drawer. I don't want to give away the ending so I'll just say that the narrator is a persuasive fellow.

The book's not, perhaps, the best known of the Seussian repertoire. And, admittedly, it's not his best. Still, there's something innately amusing about trying to convince a fellow that he should leave posthaste without giving much in a way of a reason. The illogical logic of this picture book, accompanied by Seuss's lilting cadences, is great. There are plenty of better Dr. Seuss books out there, but I think that there may be some people in the world who grew up with "Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!" and will love it just as much today as they ever did. It's good clean fun, simultaneously crazy and lovely. A real treat.

Okay, but what is he REALLY saying to Marvin K. Mooney?
"Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!" is a Bright and Early Book for Beginning Beginners from Dr. Seuss, which is level before you get to the regular Beginner Books (the "I Can Read It All By Myself" books like "The Cat in the Hat"). The idea with these books is that the stories are both brief and funny, that the words are both easy and few, and the rhymes are not only simple but are not concerned with whether the words are found in a standard dictionary. Add to this pictures that make what a Zike-Bike, Crunk-Car, and Bumble-Boat happen to look like as clear as blue shoe or lion.

As the title indicates, the time has come for Marvin K. Mooney to go. We know this because a large, long and possibly adult arm, wearing a wristwatch repeatedly points an imperious finger in the desired direction of departure. While this otherwise unseen figure insists that they do not care how Marvin K. Mooney departs the premises, they sure offer a lot of suggestions, beginning with leaving on foot and ending with seven strange looking birds carrying some sort of vehicle through the air. There are, in point of fact, twenty-one different modes of departure suggested for Marvin K. Mooney in this book, and I would not be surprised if even beginning readers can think of an additional twenty-one modes once they get into the spirit of this book.

There are two things I really like about this Dr. Seuss book. The first is that it applies his considerable imagination to an extreme level as he comes up with more and more ways for Marvin K. Mooney to go. The second is that I really appreciate that Dr. Seuss employs near rhyme. Most rhymes for children are going to play it straight, rhyming "fish" with "wish" and "boom" with "room." But the good doctor rhymes "skis" with "please" and "know" with "go" (and "K" with "Zay"), thus opening the minds of beginning readers to even more possibilities for words sounding alike. This is a vitally important skill, not only for making your own rhymes (as in songs you are inspired to make up on the spur of the moment) but more importantly for being able to make more puns.

"the time has come..."
A very, very amusing early reader book. Absolutely hilarious at times with the usual great illustrations by the author. I love reading this book to my kids. It's one of the few books I can read OTT, which the kids enjoy. Certainly not one of Seuss' greatest books, but it has a fun rythm that all can enjoy and it's written in a way that makes the book seem very fast paced.

Marvin K. Mooney
I read this book when I was a little kid, to the point that I still remember all the words as an adult. This is a good story to read a child. When I had kids, I bought the book, because I remembered enjoying it when my big sister read it to me.

You can go on a Zike-Bike if you like
Another delightful Dr Seuss marvel.
A simple instruction to a guest who has outstayed his welcome is put into the wonderful poetry unique to
Dr Seuss, that is a delight to children around the world, as well as to adults who are young at heart.
Dr Seuss introduces some of the marvelous technological inventions of his world, such as a Zike-Bike, a Crunk-Car, a Zumble-Zay, a Bumble-Boat and a Gazoom.

It is a great way of teaching children reading and language, and as 'go' is one of the first words children learn to recognize, this teaches the meanings in a really fun way. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"I find myself moving like a knife, carving my way around people,cutting myself out of their picture and leaving nothing of myself behind but ahole." A gaping hole of misery is what popular young adult author Jack Gantosremembers when he thinks back to 1972, "the bleakest year of my life." Just 20years old, Gantos was in a medium security prison for his participation in aget-rich-quick drug scam. Scared silly by the violence he saw around him daily,Gantos's only lifeline was a battered copy of The Brothers Karamazov,which he painstakingly turned into an impromptu journal by scratching his ownthoughts into the tiny spaces between the lines. There, he recorded both hisfears and his dream of someday writing a book of his own. Before prison, Gantoshad penned a scattered myriad of journals, but had never been able to pull themtogether into a cohesive narrative. It was during his time behind bars that hefound himself growing into a focused, diligent writer who eschewed drugs for thebigger high of watching his words fill the hole once and for all.

Gantos, best known for his award-winning Joey Pigza titles, mines darkermaterial here that is as deeply compelling as his lighter fare. Using short,meaty sentences, Gantos manages to write in a way that dismisses the dubious"romance" of prison, drugs, and "life on the edge" without ever soundingdidactic or heavy-handed. Older teens will appreciate his candor and sheerwillingness to give them the straight story. Vigorously recommended. (Ages 13and older) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Great autobiography
Jack "Joey Pigza" Gantos writes an autobiography centering on how he became a writer. However, this well written chronicle is not a dissertation on "How to Cook Roast Pig" writer's style. Instead this is a powerfully honest report of why Mr. Gantos chose a life of crime to escape his homeland and how he survived his twentieth year of being caught and incarcerated for smuggling drugs. This harrowing period led Mr. Gantos to concentrate on writing.

This talented author provides his audience with a triumphant biography that his myriad of fans will enjoy. Additionally, anyone who relishes a true life account filled with downfall and deliverance will enjoy Mr. Gantos' message that writing not only saved, but filled the "HOLE IN MY LIFE".

Harriet Klausner

People Can Change
This is one great book. It is about Jack Gantos and the summer of 1972, the worst year of his life. It begins with Jack leaving his family in Puerto Rico during his senior year to finish high school back in Florida. He is eventually kicked out of the place that he was staying in and lives the remainder of his senior year of high school in a motel. Soon after, he rejoins his family on the island of St. Croix, where he really gets started on drugs and makes the worst decision of his life.

He agrees to smuggle 2000 pounds of hash from St. Croix to New York City on a small yacht with two other men. Everything goes fine until they begin to sell it and they are busted. Jack is sentenced to six years in prison and he calls it the best thing that ever happened to him. While in prison, he writes his thoughts in between the spaces of a book, and realizes his need to become a writer and share his wonderful thoughts with the world. This is a gripping novel that could make anyone avoid the use or selling of drugs. It shows that anybody, no matter how bad they have become, can change, as Jack has. I recomend this book for any high school age or above reader. You need to be very mature to handle this book, as there is some graphic scenes and profane language.

People Can Change
Hole in my Life is author Jack Gantos' autoboigraphy, and is a gripping novel that i think is very excellent. Jack's family moves to Puerto Rico during his senior year of high school, but after spending some time there, he decides to return to Florida and graduate. His constant binge drinking forces the family he was staying with to kick him out, so he spends the remainder of his senior year in a hotel. He is a reaslly good writer, but never tries to write all his thoughts down. After he graduates, he decides to wait on college and chooses to join his family in st. Croix, where they were now moved to. There he makes the worst decision of his life.

He agrees to, with two other men, smuggle 2,000 pounds of hash from St. Croix to New York City in a small yacht. Everything goes fine until they are busted when they begin selling it around the city. Jack is sentenced to six years in prison. While in prison, he writes his thoughts in between the spaces of a book, and around the margins. He fully realizes his need to become a writer and shoughts his thoughts with others. Hole in my Life is an awesome book for mature readers who can handle it, because there are a few graphic secenes and a lot of profane language. I think this book would keep anybody from buying or selling drugs, and it really shows that people can change, no matter how bad they have become.

Library student opinion
In reading the accompanying reviews I noticed that dbragg from NJ had given only one star, yet had given a highly favorable review. I believe he gave the one star by accident chosing incorrectly from the drop down menu.

I dreaded this book-on-tape based on the mug shots of Jack on the cover and the fact that it was required reading in a graduate course I'm taking. Prison life is a subject I am repelled by.

I listened to this book on tape with Jack Gantos reading. I was immediately drawn in by the quality of writing, the sensitivity of the teen Jack, and by the vulnerability, aimlessness, and contradictory self-initiative Jack demonstrates in his finishing high school with no family nearby, while formulating more clearly his desire to write and go to college.

Then Jack is sidetracked, in a way that any teen can be, into casual drug use. Further trapped by financial lack on an island he can't easily leave, with the goal of college writing programs he knows he can't afford he chooses an "easy" way out.

This story is effective because we have all been teens, all been vulnerable (as Jack so endearingly writes), and most have made, or know those who have made, decisions that have had dire consequences.

What made me love this book was Jack himself. I literally had to remove the tape from the car, pop it into the cassette at home and listen to the end, I couldn't leave the story alone.

Now that I know he survived the experience and has been wildly successful with his children's books I would love to see more autobiographical works by Jack. Encore! Encore! And thank you!

Critical issues in literature
This book explores the way that Jack Gantos got into writing, and how he turned from being a criminal to being famous children's author. The book starts out with Jack in jail and him telling us he loved reading he started writing a book. Then it discovers why he was in jail because he was smuggling hash up the coast. He turns himself in, in New York after contacting a lawyer. The book tells how he turns his life around and gets another chance at life. There were three main elements that I liked about this book, first the drama was great, second Jack Gantos really describes the scenes really well, lastly he really turns himself around in the book.

The drama was great, you couldn't read a chapter with out something cool happening. I mean first chapter he is talking about why he is in jail and how he likes jail. Next is how he got into the crime business. The last chapter is about what he did after he got released from jail and how he got into writing children's books.

Jack Gantos really describes the scenes well. He uses vivid detail and he spends whole chapters just describing his yellow cell. Jack says, "the color of that yellow cell got to me. It was a bright, smiling yellow that buzzed like a summer day. There was no hiding from that color. Like me, that yellow room had its ups and downs as the day wore on."(154) He spends a lot of time sharing his experience with you. People really get a sense of where he is coming from.

In the beginning of the book, Jack Gantos is like 17 and he is in jail and he is telling why he is in jail. And then it like flash backs to how he got there. Jack had smuggled hundreds of pounds of hash up the coast. All through out the trip Jack is sort of second guessing himself. Then when he goes to prison he sort of wants to get out of prison and he comes up with this ingenious way to get out. He decides he will go to college and after he is granted parole he would run to Canada after he got accepted though he changes he decides that it is not realistic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great reference
I read this book 2 years in a row for Spiders week at preschool. If you skip the history part, you're good! But its got a good reference book that is understandable at this age level. It talks about sizes, shapes and different webs. Very few non fiction books out there can be adapted for this age level with a variety of understanding---understanding this. But this is one of those books---and the kids love it too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Caution: for advanced storytellers only! The tongue twisters in this book will have your children laughing for hours--and that laughter just might be directed at you! Mixing genuine words with classic Seuss vocabulary, Oh Say Can You Say gets trickier with every page.You'll start off easy with this cautionary limerick:

Said a book-reading parrot named Hooey, "The words in this book are all phooey.When you join them your lips will make slips and back flips, and your tongue may end up in Saint Looey!"

Reviews (9)

oh say can you say is a very good book
its a rhymeing book good for all ages and fun to read. It will leave you with a smile on your face wondering how he did it again. Dr. Seuss is a great author and shows you why once again in this book....

Tongue Fun for Everyone
We all know Dr. Seuss is the best,
put your tongue twister skills to the test!
Tho' this book's oft overlooked,
I am sure you'll be hooked
"Oh Say..." is a Seuss tongue-twist fest!

Tongue twisters, Seuss style
"Oh Say Can You Say?" is a collection of tongue twisters from the fertile pen of the great Dr. Seuss. Each twister is accompanied by Seuss's characteristically whimsical illustrations. The collection is introduced by a frazzled-looking parrot named Hooey.

"Oh Say" contains Seussian imaginary creatures (the Schnak, the Grox, etc.) and silly characters ("a musical urchin named Gretchen von Schwinn," the acrobatic Fuddnuddler brothers, etc.). Along the way are such tongue-torturing phrases as "Skipper Zipp's Clipper Ship Chip Chop Shop." The colorful illustrations, as one might expect from Seuss, are bursting with surreal energy. Overall, a lot of fun, especially if you love rhyme and alliteration.

Oh say can you say
I thought this was a really good book. I liked all the tounge twister. I could Hardly say most of them fast. I think this would be a harder book for younger children.

This is wonderful!
My 2-year-old loves the sounds and rhythms of the words. These are tongue-twisters that also rhyme, in that unique, Dr. Seuss style. Imaginative, wild and wonderful verses. I love reading them, as well, and my husband enjoyed them, too. Just alot of fun. ... Read more

Book Description

Since its beginnings as a series of stories told to Kenneth Grahame's young son, The Wind in the Willows has gone on to become one of the best-loved children's books of all time. The timeless story of Toad, Rat, Mole, and Badger, brought to vivid life by Ernest H. Shepard's illustrations, has delighted readers of all ages for more than eighty years. ... Read more

Reviews (89)

One of the Greats
Only Kipling's Jungle book, rivals this as the classic talking animal book for children. With his beautiful prose, Grahame evokes laughter, suspense, pleasure and even awe. Water Rat, Mole, Badger, Otter, and the insufferable Toad quickly gain our interest and sympathy. If you buy it to read to children, beware! You may not be able to resist reading ahead a few chapters after you put them to bed. This is a book not to be missed. The scene in which Pan appears as the animals' protector inspired a song by Van Morrison, and a mention in Jane Goodall's book, A Reason for Hope. From it a child of any age will get fun, wonder, and a demonstration of the beautiful possibilities of the English language.

Charm
Kenneth Grahame wrote this for his son and published this in book form in 1908. He has simply created a masterpiece, not just in children's literature, believe me many adults read this one with pleasure. The chapters follow the doings and adventures of Mole, Rat, Badger, and of course Toad. The prose is lyrical at times, the stories hilarious, and charm and wisdom flow from Grahame's pen. There has been many illustrators for different editions of this over the years. I like Rackham and Shepard and recommend the editions that have one or the others illustrations, or get two copies of "The Wind in the Willows" and you can have both of these fine illustrators work to enjoy. I read this book when a child and I come back to it again and again.

A primer on friendship
The Wind in the Willows is a delightful children's classic that touches upon many things; wonder, pastoralism, but most of all friendship between individuals very different from one another. One of the hallmarks of this classic is that the adventure stories remain entertaining to this day. A must read for any child.

Check your Text
In response to the 5 star reviewer, I encourage her to check her text's publication date. I used the Scholastic version of The Wind in the Willows for years and up until 2 years ago it was an unabridged version. That older version has been replaced by the Miles version, however, which is not unabridged. I discovered this by accident when I ordered it for my classes--believing I was getting the old Scholastic version--and found that the version my students received bore little resemblance to the one I had. Hence my warning about this text. The Miles version is NOT the one Scholastic used to offer and it IS drastically altered.

Uneven Version
"Wind" is the charming story of four friends living near the river bank - Mole, Badger, Rat and Toad. The story follows their adventures in the Wide World, and how true friendship keeps them together through "thick and thin."

Unfortunately, the story loses some of its appeal in this video version. It tells the tale well enough, but it just doesn't have the feel of a "classic." Sometimes, you have to read the book to fully appreciate it!

Good, not great. Three stars. ... Read more

Book Description

‘Thirty-five imaginative and humorous poems for an adult and a child to read aloud together. . . . The entertaining verses are varied as to length, rhythm, and subject and are illustrated with harmoniously amusing drawings.’ —BL.

... Read more

Reviews (5)

This book is a must
This book was a staple from my childhood, and
I highly recommend it as a classic to be included in
any collection of children's books. No child
should have to go through life never hearing
about Daddy Fixing Breakfast. ...

Great book if you believe in corporal punishment.
I thought this would be fun to read to (and eventually with) my four year old until I flipped through the pages. Boy, was I wrong! The drawing that accompanies the first poem, "About The Teeth of Sharks" was entirely inappropriate for a young child--better suited for the movie "Jaws." I could have just avoided that page, but then I kept flipping through...hidden at the back of the book were poems that treated corporal punishment as a normal and acceptable way of bringing up a child, for example "How the Frightful Child Grew Better," and "What Do You Think His Daddy Did." I wanted to return this book and thought better; I threw it in the trash.

You Read to Me
This is the most marvelous book. I received it as a gift in 1968 when I was 7 years old and I'm still reading it at 40. My dad heard Ciardi speak at Rutgers and was mesmorized. Definitely buy this book for your children (or as a guilty pleasure for yourself).

The best children's poetry book (just learning to read & on)
This book of enjoyable, amusing, and well made poetry alternates poems to be read by adults to children with poems to be read by children to adults. Since I was 8 I've loved it, my child now gives it as a gift at every birthday party

Ciardi does it again!
I have been a fan of John Ciardi since first grade, and now my students love to read his work. This poem collection is no exception. I encourage all poetry lovers to read it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Historical info for kids
This is a history book that describes the lives of knights in the Middle Ages. The book describes how boys could become knights, what the rules of the code of honor for knights were, and what battles between knights were like. The book introduces a lot of factual material and vocabulary, but there is no plot or story line. At the end of the book, there is a short section describing some famous knights and their dragons. Personally, I found the book a bit dry, but kids who are fascinated with swords and armor may show some interest in it. The book has about 900 words.

Knights in Shining Armor
As an heraldic artist for over 40 years and with grandchildren becoming interested in ALL things, I found this book very helpful in passing on my interests. It has helped them to become intrigued with the Knights of the Roundtable and their play now includes slaying dragons and rescuing fair maidens.They also have started asking about the various insignia in all my books on heraldry.

The illustrations brought to life the costumes and customs of the era. The story was written simply so that any young child could readily understand what the author was saying.

Thanks to Gail Gibbons for such an interesting way for children to learn. ... Read more

Book Description

The third volume of theMy Father's Dragon trilogy, this adventure may be enjoyed on its own. Here, the baby dragon summons Elmer to help save his family from hunters. "Elmer's plan is ingenious and plausible, the fantasy well-sustained."--(starred) Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Elmer's adventures come to an end
Elmer has arrived safely home, but not for long. When his friend the Dragon leaves to find his own family, he discovers they've been taken prisoner by some men who want to sell them to zoos. Now the Dragon must find Elmer in time to help his family without being spotted by other humans. But what if Elmer can't come up with a plan?

This is the final in the My Father's Dragon series. It lives up to the second book, but both fall a little short of the creativity and humor of the first. Still, fans will want to know how the series ends and won't be disappointed with the story presented here. As with the others, the storyline and vocabulary are perfect for the beginning reader or as a read aloud story.

This series is a great way to introduce kids to the joys of reading. Parents will also enjoy the clever fantasy storylines. This is a fun book in a fun series that will entertain children of all ages.

4.5* Excellent Old-Fashioned Dragon Tale!
I love children's books that open with a map, and the "Dragons of Blueland" (the third in Gannett's series about the dragon) promises adventures in such exciting locales as "Seaweed Bay," "The Awful Desert," "Popsicornia," and the "Spiky Mountain Range."

The book delivers, as Elmo Elevator, a "brave boy of nine," helps his dragon friend Boris rescue his family. The story is comforting yet cleverly exciting and humorous. The soft black and white illustrations (done by the author's stepmother, who also did the illustrations for the first edition of Steinbeck's "Tortilla Flat") are a gentle compliment to the text. First published in 1951, this is good fun!

Could have been better
Not every childrens book can be The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte's Web or James and the Giant Peach. My son and I liked this one, but I'm sure within a few months we will have forgotten what is was about. It just wasn't very memorable.

One to read over and over again
I bought this book without ever having heard of it or the author; but my son was having a dragon birthday theme, so I took a chance. What wonderful luck. It is good for children age 4 to 40! We have read it numerous times and the chapters provide comfortable break points as well. This book stirs the imagination and keeps the reader and listener interested!

I love this book.
I like this book because it's very adventurous. They find a lot of really cool things. I like all the things they make-believe and the way everything is drawn. All the things they make in the book are really creative.

Rachel Davis, age 7 ... Read more

Reviews (9)

PRAISE AMAROQ THE WOLF!
YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK! ok, when I was in the 5th grade, i read White Fang and I fell in love with wolves. Jean's book has inspired me in a way words cannot describe. Amaroq the Alpha, Silver the Mate of Amaroq, Nails the Beta, Kapu the next Alpha, Sister the Future Mate of Nails, Zit a son of Silver who will be killed bt Man, and Faithful Zing, the Next Beta to Kapu. YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE WOLVES AND THE REST! Amaroq, Amaroq, praise the Royal Wolf! Go away royal wolf, Go away do not follow, I'm a gun at your head, When I pass the Oil Drum.

The Epic Adventures of Julie and Her Wolves
When 13 year-old Julie Edwards Miyax Kapugen runs away from an arranged marriage, she gets lost in the vast and lonely Alaskan tundra. This begins the extraordinary journey of Miyax and the wolves she befriends. While struggling to survive in the harsh Arctic winter Miyax experiences something few humans ever will. She lives as one of the pack, eating from the wolves kills and communicating with them in their language of barks, yips and tail wags. Soon she grows to loves them as she would her family. But when she learns that her father, the great hunter Kapugen, lives on, she decides to go back to him. Struggling to adjust to this new way of life, she learns that the Eskimo way of life is dying, even in her father. Then hunters endanger her wolves, and Miyax must choose between her pack and her father. This engaging trilogy includes Newbery Medal winning Julie of the Wolves, and its sequels, Julie and Julie's Wolf Pack. They are written by celebrated wildlife biologist and author, Jean Craighead George. Miyax's epic quest to find where humans belong reminds us of our beginnings, and of the creatures with whom we share this world.

Some of the greatest books.. ever!!!!!!!
I bought this pack of books, and I think these are some of the greatest books I've ever read. I've read too many... and none are the best, but these are some of my favorites! Julie Edwards/Miyax Kapugen is stuck on the tundra. She learns by watching a pack of wolves the language of them. She becomes a member of the pack, led by Amoroq. They give her food and she travels with them. She becomes friends with Amoroq's pup, Kapu, and when he is the new Alpha, Julie helps the pack stay strong throughout all three books (Julie of the Wolves, Julie, and Julie's Wolf Pack). I highly recommend this to anyone that respects animals and nature. We should all appreciate them!

Some of the greatest books!
I love animals.. and am interested in wolves most. I am eleven years old and these books are so interesting! I learned all about a wolf's life and their own language. I strongly recommend all three of them!

Three of Jean Craighead George's finest books--together!
Perhaps the best Jean Craighead George book and wolf story for children ever written, the truly magnificent JULIE OF THE WOLVES is now available with its spellbinding sequels, JULIE and JULIE'S WOLF PACK, in this beautiful boxed set. A naturalist and author of over eighty books about wildlife for young readers, Jean Craighead George wrote JULIE OF THE WOLVES in the middle of her writing career and was rightfully given a Newbery Medal for it. It's the unforgettable story of one girl's unbreakable relationship with her animal companions, and should be read for generations. Miyax Kapugen runs away from an arranged marriage, only to become lost and starving on the tundra of Alaska's North Slope. However, she soon befriends a group of wolves, and, by learning their language and social behavior, she becomes one of the pack. This is a truly stunning book; every sentence is a work of art, carefully laden with details about animal behavior, Inupiat/Yupik Eskimo culture, and Arctic wildlife. In the second book, the Eskimo girl (no longer Miyax, but Julie) has returned to civilization, to the father she thought was gone and to a pregnant white stepmother. However, the bond she has formed with her wolves is one that will never be severed. Julie is confused and disappointed to find that her father, Kapugen, has changed a great deal. He now owns a musk-ox herd and his top prioraty is not to honor and love all living things, as it once was, but only to guard the herd. Julie fears that the wolves, who prey upon musk-oxen, are in danger, and, determined to keep them safe, she returns to her second family--but only for a short time. JULIE is no less interesting than its predecessor, and has a great deal to offer. However, I must say that my love of wolves makes the third book, JULIE'S WOLF PACK, my favorite in the series. This is truly remarkable, for it is different from any nonfiction book about wolves in that it goes straight to the core of lupine existence, bringing to life how these highly social animals communicate, hunt, and survive. Kapu, the young wolf pup Julie befriended in the first book and the son of the great leader Amaroq, has taken his father's role as alpha and faces many challenges during his reign. Over the course of several years, the book covers the birth of wolf pups, the threat of disease and starvation, and the endless struggle to survive in this harsh wilderness. The result is very dramatic, and once again every word is beautiful and important. Any wolf lover will add this and all three books to her favorites list, and any newcomer to the world of these fascinating creatures will want to learn more about them and, hopefully, want to protect this threatened species. However, anyone who is really devoted to these books will want to be wary about NUTIK THE WOLF PUP, a picture book that follows the story of Nutik, who was raised by Julie's little brother in JULIE'S WOLF PACK. It lacks the beauty and drama of the other books, even though it is nice in that it teaches young children to appreciate wolves rather than falsely despise or fear them. The three paperback chapter books are together in a fine case with art by Wendell Minor, who illustrated the last two books with stunning black-and-white drawings, and I hope to keep the set until I can share Julie's and Kapu's splendid story with my own children someday. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. A host of inventive creatures help beginning readers recognize many common "household" words. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Seussian imagination unleashed!
Dr. Seuss' best books tend to have a touch of fantasy (or light-hearted science fiction) to them, and "There's a Wocket in My Pocket!" falls into that category. In this book of simple rhymes, the narrator introduces the reader to the gallery of weird creatures that share his home. There's no plot, but there are Seussian creatures galore.

Beginning with the Wocket of the cover, each creature favors a habitat that conveniently rhymes with its name. Example: "And that Zelf up on that shelf! / I have talked to him myself." The creatures include the pink-and-yellow striped Zlock, the cantankerous Yottle, the creepy Vug, the gravity-defying Geeling, and many others. As always, Seuss' colorful artwork is rich in whimsical details.

The narrator loves his home and its weird inhabitants. The book thus seems to have the message that it's OK to be different, or to come from a home that others might find odd. And that's a lesson I like! So enjoy the book, and don't be surprised if you find a "Ghair" under your chair.

Wocket in My Pocket
"Did you ever have the feeling there's a WASKET in your BASKET?" Well this little boy did. This wonderful story is about a little boy and all the things he discovers in his house. There are tons of different creatures made up in the mind of Dr. Seuss. This books crazy rhyming patterns will have your child's full attention. There's just something about rhyming stories that children love.
I would recommend this story to anyone but mainly children from ages 3-9. I am almost positive they would love it. How do I know this? I know this because this has been one of my favorite books ever since I was a little tike. Any adult would love this story also. It's a fun book to read to little ones, I know because I read it to my cousins and they love it!! I would highly recommend you purchase this book or rent from the library. Although it would be smarter to buy it, because "it's a keeper!"

Is there a Wokect in your pocket?
This is probably one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books because I love how he makes up new creatures. In this book a little boy takes us around his house showing us "all those Nupboards in the cupboards" and telling us "they're good fun to have about."

As is expected with Dr. Seuss books it rhymes, most of the time that is. Often the comments made about the animals don't rhyme, but this doesn't impede the flow of words. The book still flows wonderfully.

I always am pleased to see how wonderfully the drawings are done. To come up with all those creatures and yet be able to have each of them look special and different is amazing. All the illustrations are bright, bold and colorful, like one would expect to find in a Dr. Seuss book. All in all, another great Dr. Seuss book.

Loggie-log-log-log

Theres a wocket in my pocket!!
The book there's a wocket in my pocket is about a young boy who belives to find things in all sorts of places in his house such as things in the shower, the cellar, the steps, the chimney. The young boy has a wide imagination and seems to like his house full of things. In this boys house there seems to be a different thing everywhere somethings he likes there others he dosnt.

There's a Wocket in my Pocket
There's a Wocket in my Pocket is a great book for kids. Its a book about a boy who finds all kinds of different Wockets all over his house, in his pocket, in his trash baket, in his bureau, in his closet, in his curtains, behind his clock, up on a shelf, in the sink, in the lamp, in the pots and pans, in a bottle, in and in his chair, they are everywhere. This book is a great book if you like to rhyme words, some a tongue twisting, and some are funny. In the end the boy talked about how he likes where he lives because of all the Wockets there. The reason I liked this book is because it was tongue twisting and it rhymed. ... Read more

Book Description

The three goat brothers brave the terrible troll in a colorful version of the classic tale. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My Son Loved This Version
We have checked out a number of versions of The Three Billy Goats Gruff from the Library when my son was 4. This is the version he liked the most. It is very simple (as one reviewer uses as a reason to reject it) but for some ages, that simplicity is what makes it a favorite.

What the....!
I grew up with this story - what happened?! Somewhere in this grossly underproduced version they forgot that even in a kids story you need talented actors. Kids know when someone sounds wooden and unskilled - and you can't pawn something as poorly done as this off on them. They're smarter than that! I could've done a better job in my garage. "Under the bridge lived a troll..." Come on!

Faithful retelling of the fairy tale
My boys love this author's version of the Three Little Pigs, so I bought a few more of his fairy tales for them. They also liked this one, but not as much. That might just be because it's not quite as interesting a tale! But the illustrations are well done---especially the troll, who is truly scary looking! This is a good book for a reader who likes to do voices, as you really have to use dramatic effect to show how the biggest billy goat has a loud and intimidating voice while the little one has a tiny and timid voice!

I am the voice
Can I just put in a credit for myself here. I am the voice(s) on the audio cassette. Let me know what you think. Hope you enjoyed it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Once a song and dance man, Grandpa reclaims his youth and profession before the delighted eyes of his three grandchildren one afternoon. He simply cannot resist the urge to dress up in clothes left over from his vaudeville days--complete with top hat and gold-headed cane--and to perform tricks, play banjo and tell jokes. He taps, twirls and laughs himself to tears on a thrown-together stage in his attic. Artist Stephen Gammell takes full advantage of lamplight to render Grandpa in shadow and silhouette, trivializing the concept of age and creating a feeling of intense nostalgia. Related from the point of view of the children, the text in Song and Dance Man is soft and understated, and Gammell's artistry is superb. The book won the Caldecott Medal in 1989. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Colorful pictures
I always enjoy books that involve grandparents.This is such a colorful and fun picture book, but the fact that it shows children interacting with grandparents is the best.A great Caldecott winner

Hear the beat of dancing feet
I think there must be a whole old-people-dancing picture book genre out there.Tons of these books appear on the market every year and they bring in a steady profit time and time again.Perhaps the most successful of these (which is to say, it won an award) is Karen Ackerman's charming, "Song and Dance Man".A simple tale of a grandfather puttin' on a show for his grandchildren, the book is a touching tribute to the Vaudeville kings and queens of yore.

Three bright eyed urchins appear at their grandfather's door one day, to his evident delight.Without further ado he leads them up into the house's attic where he keeps a trunk of old treasures.It takes a little sifting and shifting to find exactly what he needs, but soon Grandpa's old taps are on his feet and the lamps in the attic become the spotlights of a makeshift stage.Grandpa begins with a shuffle footed tap solo then moves on to banjo playing/singing, magic tricks, and awful old jokes.The night's entertainment is topped off with a grand finale of tapping and dancing.The crowd (of three) goes wild and everything is put away again."But as he turns off the attic light, Grandpa glances back up the stairs, and we wonder how much he really misses that time on the vaudeville stage, when he was a song and dance man".

You've probably seen illustrations by Minnesota based artist Stephen Gammell before and just didn't know it.They've a kind of controlled insanity, though this book is not half as violent to the senses as his truly disturbing "Old Black Fly".Instead, this story comes off as merely messy, but with a vibrant undertone.The colors in the pictures are often of a sweet rainbow filled spectrum.Grandpa's nose, a permanent red, sits prominently on his kind face.I think the real joy of this book is that you know the main character is having the time of his life.He's truly enjoying reliving his days as a performer, a fact drilled home by the book's wistful final sentence.Thumbs up to author Karen Ackerman too for effectively creating such a great grandpa character.Who wouldn't want a talented guy like this in their family?

For a sweet intergenerational tale that doesn't focus (for a change) on wise advice or dealing with death, this book takes the cake.When you read a book that takes as much joy out of life as this one does, you know you're gonna find yourself going back to it again and again.Sentimental in only the best sense of the word.

Good Values, Good Fun
With a peep into the past, it's also the best of good old-fashioned values.A really warm, sweet, and simple story of just having fun - as a family, intergenerationally and without electronic noise.And the book is not heavy-handed, but the story sends a message about fun - and how we can all create fun without props and just our own voices and body and each other - is a good, and needed, one for both children and adults.I bought it for my 28-month-old and highly recommend this book - it leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside and is just a good, clean, nice story.

Song and Dance Man
The book helps us to think about what our grandparents could have done in the past.It makes us wonder about times before ours.The character is funny and caring, easy to like.The pictures help us to imagine what is going on.A good book to read with family.

Song and Dance Man
Song and Dance Man was about two grandchildren and their grandpa who used to be a song and dance man on the vaudeville stage.He takes the children up to the attic and shows them some of his old dances and costumes.He performs for them and the children feel just as if they were at the vaudeville stage watching this magnificent dance.This book shows the close relationship between grandparents and there grandchildren and is a wonderful book for children to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

9 complete stories at a great price!

Featuring:

Green Eggs and Ham read by Jason Alexander
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish read by David Hyde Pierce
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! read by Michael McKean
I'm Not Going to Get Up Today read by Jason Alexander
Oh Say Can You Say? read by Michael McKean
Fox in Socks read by David Hype Pierce
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut read by Michael McKean
Hop on Pop read by David Hype Pierce
Dr. Seuss's ABC read by Jason Alexander ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Must for Parents and Seuss Collectors!
This is a terrific audio CD of our Dr. Seuss favorites. My sons love to read along in the car and at home. The celebrity readings are great to listen to. Even my husband and I listen in the car, long after the kids have dozed off. Don't miss out on this collection. Well worth it!

Seuss without the Tang-Tonguelers
If you've wearied of Green Eggs and Ham and Sam-I-Am, and would rather not Hop on Pop, you'll be grateful for this CD set with lively readings of the kid-favorites by familiar voices like Jason Alexander, David Hyde Pierce, and Michael McKean. For young readers, pair them up with the books to follow along and VOILA! Instant Readers! this year is Dr. Seuss's 100th birthday! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Terrific and disturbingly real...
There's a sense of time gone by, a lot of these deaths were real for kids and the author's intentions are interesting to ponder. He was/is a great artist.

Non Better a Belloc: Cautionary Tales for Children reviewed
Edward Gorey's first major posthumous publication is like a newly forged work, with freshness and originality. Published several times since 1907, Harcourt's reprint of "Cautionary Tales for Children" contains sixty-one new illustrations enfolding the 95-year old verse, and the result is very satisfying.

Gorey created these illustrations several years ago, but for some reason, chose not publish them while he was alive. Gorey's Victorian style is a delightful fit for Belloc's verse. In fact, those already familiar with Belloc's Cautionary Tales or Cautionary Verses series may very well conclude that they were strong influences for Gorey's "The Beastly Baby", "The Gashlycrumb Tines", "The Epipleptic Bicycle" and others. Certainly, many of the verses in Cautionary Tales feel like they could have been written by Gorey: "Jim, Who ran away from his Nurse, and was eaten by a Lion", "Henry King, Who chewed on bits of String, and was early cut off in Dreadful Agonies", "Matilda, Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death", and so on. Unlike the original cartoonish illustrations by Blackwood, Gorey's illustrations simply set the stage - the big moment is then played out in the imagination. It is Edward Gorey's delightful magic, at work.

Glen Emil... ... Read more

Book Description

Soccer is fun - let's play!

Find all the basics in this lively guide.

• The markings on a soccer field
• What soccer players wear
• The positions, from forward to goalkeeper
• The excitement of pasing a ball
• The thrill of making a goal

All these and more are included, with a useful glossary at the end.

Reviews (4)

The Dwindling Party
A fantastically haunting visit to a world created by Edward Gorey. It seems oddly familiar and reminiscent of Edwardian times, yet in the background always lurks sinister shadows and creatures. This is my favourite book and has been since I picked it out age 2 from a jumble sale. The pop-up art is inspired and the gazebo on the final page is not to be missed. The book is superb, if not slightly disturbing in places. The words are wonderfully humorous and crafted in such a way to contrast the horrific implications of the drawings. Suitable for children, if they want to see it that is.

A Visit to an English Mansion
I love this book. As we enter the gates of Hickyacket Hall we know something is odd. But then as your family members get carried off by colourful monsters one by one you realize that this isn't your average mid-fall family outing. Infact it's a horrible disaster part Agatha Christie and part Jane Austen. Wonderful.

One by one, the "Party" meets its fate, will anyone survive?
Another eerie visit into the world of Edward Gorey,This pop-up book is not childs play. Visit a haunting mansion and watch your fellow visitors disappear one...by...one... A wonderful addition to any Gorey collection. Delightfully Dreadful!

A rare twisted and weird version of the pop-up genre; Gorey
The large Victorian family dwindles rapidly; sliding into a mucky pond, carried away by protean birds, dragged into sarcophagi. The shrinking pool of survivors does not notice and is finally reduced to one observer who walks away on the back cover of the book. The entire book is the story; the covers are not simply reinterating something within but are part of the plot. It is somewhat of a triumph of design, although this must be frustrating for librarians. I return to my copy again and again, and try not to think about what bent edges of my psyche rejoice in this twisted tale. ... Read more

Book Description

Two years ago, Sam ran away from New York City to live in the Catskill Mountains. Now his younger sister Alice has joined him and is quietly living in a tree house of her own nearby. Their peaceful life is shattered when a conservation officer confiscates Sam's falcon, Frightful, and Alice suddenly vanishes.Sam leaves his home to search for Alice, hoping to find Frightful, too. But the trail to the far side of the mountain may lead Sam into great danger.

"Surpasses the original in style and substance . . . This story [is] a jewel."
-Booklist

"George has outdone herself here."
-Kirkus Reviews ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A great adventurous book.
On the Far Side of the Mountain is a great book. It's about a boy named Sam Gribley who lives in the wilderness in his tree home. During the few years he was here, he learned how to build so many devices involving the brook that flows through his mountain. Everything is great, until a few days later Frightful, his pet falcon, gets confiscated, and his little sister, Alice, runs away.
Half this book involves Sam and his friend Bando looking for Alice. Since she thought that they might look for her, she gives them clues along the way. Once they find her, there's tons of suprises awaiting them.
I decided to read this book because I read the prequel, My Side of the Mountain. However, On the Far Side of the Mountain is a much more adventurous story. This book has tons of adventure with crooks, and birds, and getting away from danger. You can learn a lot, too.
I think wilderness guys would love this book. So read On the Far Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

BOOK REPORT
In my personal view I thought this was a pretty good book. Ialso read the the first one(MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN)last year. Ithought it was better then the sequel. This book had a lot ofinformation on the wilderness in it. If I ever got stuck in the woods I would think back to when I read these two fine books. It gave you instruction on how to make a sling to hunt for food with. The book also gave information on how to make traps to [catch] various animals. I thought it was interesting when it talked about falconry and gave you descriptions of plants you could eat and couldnt eat. There were times during this book where I couldnt put it down. there were also times in the book where I wanted to put it down. The book was about a boy named Sam who lives in the mountains with his sister Alice and of course his Perigrene falcon named frightful. When Sam was outside a conservation officer came and took frightful because Perigrene Falcons are almost extinct. He is devasted. Frightful is the one who caught almost all of his food. Later in the day he thinks his sister ran away. That day was not his day. ...While trying to find Alice he is also trying to get Frightful back at the same time. There are all types of adventures in the book while trying to find Frightful and Alice you will have to read the b