Amazon.com

Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for--or attempting to postpone--his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Clement Hurd's illustrations are simple and effective, alternating between small ink drawings and wide, brightly colored views of the little rabbit's room.

Finding all of the items mentioned throughout the book within the pictures is a good bedtime activity--a reappearing little mouse is particularly pesky. By the end of the little rabbit's goodnight poem, the story has quieted to a whisper, and the drawings have darkened with nightfall. As you turn the last page, you can expect a sleepy smile and at least a yawn or two. (Picture book) ... Read more

Reviews (287)

A little rabbit goes to bed but is not at all tired...
Generation after generation of children who have not wanted to go to sleep at night when told it was their bedtime have found an endearing manifesto of not being sleepy in "Goodnight Moon." Margaret Wise Brown poetry keeps things as simple as Clement Hurd's illustrations, which show a little rabbit who insists on saying "Goodnight" to pretty much every single object in the bedroom (including the old lady whispering "hush"). Eventually the little rabbit runs out of things to say "Goodnight" to and falls asleep. But we know that this scene will be repeated the next night and the night after that, when your child demands that you read this timeless children's classic from 1947 to them over and over again. There are certain books that every child should have in their library and if "Goodnight Moon" is not at the top of that list it has to be very close to the top for over half a century. Before this decade is up I am sure I will pass it on to a third generation of my family. How many generations is your family up to?

Great Bedtime Book
My daughter received this book as a gift for her 1 yr birthday(She is now 22 mos old and still loves this book. We read it every night before bed). At first, when I read it, I wasn't impressed with it at all. But then, the more we read it, I became wrapped up in the story through my daughter's enthusiasm of finding the little mouse in the pages and realized the sheer joy of her learning experience through reading and imagination. The lines are very short so little ones won't be easily bored waiting for the page to turn and it is so much fun for her to find the little mouse in each colored page, to watch her put her little finger to her mouth and whisper 'hush' with the little old lady in the corner, and to point out other objects in the room.

The story is based on a little bunny going to bed and saying goodnight to various items in his room and with each turn of the page, the light in his room grows dimmer. '...Goodnight mush/And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"/Goodnight stars/Goodnight air/Goodnight noises everywhere' and with that the room is dark and the bunny is fast asleep. The book alternates between color pages and black & white pages during the story. The pages show full color the little bunny's room where a little mouse hides in different areas and is waiting to be found by little searching eyes. Then the pages alternate to black and white that show other items that are found in the room that the bunny says goodnight to.

I have also found that if my daughter is hyper before bedtime, this book helps calm her down through the repetition of saying goodnight, by lowering my voice with each page that we turn and it actually helps prepare her for bed just like the bunny.

This is a very short, very colorful and very fun book for little ones. I highly recommend it.

A Must-Have Bedtime Book...
This book was one of our bedtime rituals. When I was weaning my son from frequent night-time breastfeedings, we would read this book at bedtime every evening. Sometimes I could hear him "reading" this book to himself in the dark if he was still have trouble settling down. Often, we read it in unison, and chuckled together. It's sweet and slow and comforting, and simply taking the time to cuddle and read it has a peaceful effect on both parent and child.

Still a Favorite
I first read this book when my son was a year old. The simple words and colorful illustrations made it one of his favorite bedtime rituals. The book focuses on a little rabbit going to bed and saying "good night" to everything in his room as well as the moon outside. In addition to reading the book, I would ask my son to point to the things the rabbit was saying "Good Night" to. Especially finding the little mouse on every color page. (I believe he's on everyone). We used it like an identification game as well as a story. Simple words that rhyme like "Hush" and "Mush" are easy for little ones to learn and repeat.
An interesting aspect of the illustrations is that the room is drawn darker as the book nears its end. The magic was still there the other night when I read it to my son who is now 3 and a half. Like other books by this author, there is an essentially childlike quality coupled with that "hard to pin down" quality of a classic.

If your child loves the original, they'll love this as well
My 21 mo old daughter loves the original "Goodnight Moon" and loves to play with the little acessories and popout features in this book. The story is the same and there is "lots to do" while turning the pages. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since its publication in 1942, The Runaway Bunny has never been out of print. Generations of sleepy children and grateful parents have loved the classics of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, including Goodnight Moon. The Runaway Bunny begins with a young bunny who decides to run away: "'If you run away,' said his mother, 'I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.'" And so begins a delightful, imaginary game of chase. No matter how many forms the little bunny takes--a fish in a stream, a crocus in a hidden garden, a rock on a mountain--his steadfast, adoring, protective mother finds a way of retrieving him. The soothing rhythm of the bunny banter--along with the surreal, dream-like pictures--never fail to infuse young readers with a complete sense of security and peace. For any small child who has toyed with the idea of running away or testing the strength of Mom's love, this old favorite will comfort and reassure. (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (66)

A heartwarming, beautifully written book, a MUST-HAVE !!!
I first heard a few lines from this book on a T.V. show, and I was in tears! I ran straight to my computer and ordered it. This book is a must have for every child (and parent!). I have never read a book expressing the love of a mother for her child so beautifully. The mother bunny becomes whatever it takes for her to "find" her little bunny as he dreams of different things to be to run away from her. The mother bunny doesn't condemn him, but conforms to his thoughts and dreams and "chases" after him as he tells her what he will become and how he'll run away. I loved the way the mother spoke so lovingly to her little bunny, letting him know that no matter where he went, she'd find him. My son loves the brilliantly colorful images on every other page. It is a nice contrast to the black and white writing in between. This has become a favorite in my home and I intend to give this book as a gift to any and every mother (or mother-to-be) that I know!

Runaway Bunny
This book is wonderful. My son is in an accelerated reading program at school, he brought this book home last night to read and we had such a great time with it. When the story starts off with the little bunny telling his mom that he'll run away and she says she'll follow him I just thought . . . that is love. I told my son that he was the little bunny and I was the mommy bunny, so throughout the story we pretended that those characters were us. The look on my son's face was priceless, I could tell that he knew that his mommy loves him dearly (children need reassurance). He was so proud to hear that I would follow him like that. The color illustrations kept us laughing. They were just so sweet and cute. This book is a classic. I would recommend it to any parent. I didn't see it as a way a mother holds a child back from adventuring out, but as a way a mother/father can deal with a little child wanting to runaway. My son has told me a time or two that he was going to runaway (I believe all kids do - I can remember telling my mom) next time he tells me that I'll just remind him of this story and that I am a mommy bunny! Call me crazy, but I'm assuming that God has read this book as well. After all He keeps running after each and every one of us. Children of all ages need to know that.

A heartwarming tale with an equally heartwarming message
Ever thought of running away? Or, have you ever been really angry at your mother? Well, I have just the cure for that, this book. This is timeless tale of a little bunny who can't help but test the extent of his mother's love, but for every idea the little bunny has for running away, his mother counters with a way of making sure they are always together. For instance, when the little bunny says he will escape his mother by turning into a sailboat, his mother says in reply "If you turn into a sailboat, I will become the wind and blow you home." A wonderful story that displays the unconditional love a mother has for her children.

great book
I think this book is a wonderful demonstration in love.The message is no matter what happens i will be there for you. reading some of the other reviews I feel that some people are reading into a sweet story.

Scary? Disturbing?! Squashed spirits?!? Not at all!
The one- and two-star people have the totally wrong impression. What do you think the (equivalent) age of the little runaway bunny is -- 16 to 25? To what age group are we reading a book like this? You have somehow missed the point, and context.

The idea here is that the little bunny is a very young child, far too young to be on his own -- you know this when he actually tells his mother he is running away! Imagine your child of 4 to 7, momentarily angry about something, who tells you he wants to run away from home, pouting and saying things he doesn't mean, wanting attention, testing your love. (Heck, imagine your adolescent of 16 literally running away, though he wouldn't warn you beforehand!) He is far too young to be on his own, and his mother loves him so much that she will always be there for him when he needs her, and will not let harm come to him. He needs her now, though in his current emotional state he doesn't realize it. Would you let your child run away?

This book's audience is toddler through early-reader, the kind of age where their early needs for independence are joined with an intense need to feel the constant love and presence of the parent -- they need to know their parent(s) will always be there for them. Margaret Wise Brown was not talking about an older child figuratively spreading his or her wings, only to be smothered and squashed by Mother's "love." (The only overall metaphor here is that bunnies = humans.) She's literally talking about an immature child impulsively saying he will run away, and what any good, loving parent would say and do to help and comfort him. The book is from 1942, so perhaps that makes it unclear to some, but from the moment I read it I understood the context; it is a beautiful story if you understand the intent. That little bunny has a great imagination -- the color pages are his mental images of the previous text -- and Mama is fostering it with her responses in kind.

There is one place where I would have worded the mother's part differently: where she she becomes the wind, she says "...blow you where I want you to go." I would have said, "...blow you back to me," and I think that's what the author meant. Also, somebody commented in 2000 about the "I will fish for you" part and said the mother catches him on a hook. Look at the picture -- there is no hook on the line, just a carrot tied on for the little bunny to bite, and a net to scoop him up.

I've replaced our worn, torn paperback with the big lap edition boardbook. We also have the "Goodnight Moon" lap edition, and although they are big and heavy, the size is a plus for the illustrations, and they're virtually indestructible. Our first daughter (4.5) caused many small rips in the pages of her books as she turned them with gusto, and our second daughter (20 mos.) likes to finish those rips when she can! ... Read more

Book Description

What a night!
The moon is full.
Kitten is hungry
and inquisitive
and brave
and fast
and persistent
and unlucky . . .
then lucky!
What a night!

Reviews (2)

My baby loved it!
I started reading Kitten's First Full Moon to my daughter when she was 3 months old, and she has since been captivated by the beautiful black/white illustrations of kitten and her quest for the little bowl of milk.

Here Kitty, Kitty
The cover shows Kitten in a dazzling night garden. The lettering is silvery and the colors of the entire book are grays, black, and white. Kitten sees the moon and thinks it is a bowl of milk. The story shows Kitten (in very clever illustrations) trying and trying to get at the "bowl of milk". Kitten chases after an impossible goal and in the end finds what it was searching for was waiting for it all along at home. Fun for everyone, but cat lovers will really enjoy this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The irrepressible mouse heroine of Chester's Way and Julius, the Baby of the World returns for another true-to-life and very funny episode. Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger--until he takes away her musical purse because she can't stop playing with it in class. Lilly decides to get revenge with a nasty drawing of "Big Fat Mean Mr. Stealing Teacher!" but when she finds the kind note he put in her purse, she's filled with remorse and has to find a way to make things right again. Children will sympathize with Lilly's impulsive mistake and laugh uproariously at the witty and expressive pictures of the very human mice. In a starred review, Publisher's Weekly called this book "sympathetic and wise." (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (36)

HOORAY FOR LILLY!!!
This is a book that adults will appreciate as much as children. Pay close attention to all that's happening in the illustrations. You can't help but love Lilly, she means well but like any of us she finds herself in trouble. Mr. Slinger, Lilly's teacher is a hero. This is a must read for all kids. Makes a great gift, look for a purple plastic purse and movie star sunglasses to go a long with it! After reading this book you'll find yourself looking for and falling in love with all of Kevin Henkes' books! Wow! That is all I can say. Wow!

Aesop would be proud, multi-level morals and fun
Kevin Henkes spins a wonderful tale that appeals to many age groups with the fun story of Lilly and her new purse. Lilly loves her teacher and school, but her normally attentive nature is put to the test when she brings her new purse and accessories to class one day. Woven with lessons about the importance of patience, listening, and responsibility, the story is accompanied by colorful and simple illustrations depicting the young mouse Lilly and other characters in ordinary classroom situations every child can relate to. Your children will love reading this with you; you'll have to read every delightful caption. Something in the story will make adults laugh every time they read it too. Very well rounded and enjoyable work.

Fashionista rodentia
It is my understanding that "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" is the book that really launched Kevin Henkes from mere picture book drudgery to children's book stardom. Though he'd been churning out stories that spoke to kids and their qualms ("Owen", "Chrysanthemum", etc.) Lilly grabbed the world's spotlight and focused it squarely on her cute little shoulders. Though she'd already appeared in two previous Henkesian creations ("Chester's Way" and "Julius, the Baby of the World"), this was Lilly's first foray as a protagonist with her name in the title. As such, the book has been turned into a stage play, been read by millions of small children, and gives spunky kids someone they can identify with and look up to. In short, she's a pip.

Lilly is mightily pleased with her life at the moment. She loves school and she adores her teacher Mr. Slinger. Mr. Slinger (undoubtedly a relation of Miss Twinkle from "Chrysanthemum") is the coolest prof in the world. He wears crazy colored ties, refers to his students as "rodents", provides yummy tasty snacks, and has a penchant for patterned shirts. Lilly is determined to someday be a teacher all thanks to Mr. Slinger. Unfortunately, Lilly's Slinger-love takes a downturn when she brings her new purple plastic purse to class. Noisily displaying it at an inappropriate time, Slinger confiscates the item until the end of the day. In anger, Lilly draws a mean portrait of her teacher and hides it in his book bag. But when the young girl opens her returned purse outside of school, she finds a note reading, "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better", and some yummy snacks are included. Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly decides to make up with her teacher and by the end the two have reconciled joyfully.

Now I was lucky enough to see the Minneapolis Children Theater's production of this particular book (combined with some of Lilly's other adventures to pad it out). And though I'm not a weepy gal by nature, I found myself tearing up during the reading of Mr. Slinger's note to Lilly (i.e. "Tomorrow will be better") as well as when I read the picture book. I don't tear up during children's stage productions and I CERTAINLY don't tear up when reading picture books. Yet here I was, all of 26 years of age, and bawling over the succinct sweetness of Slinger's comforting note. How many books have done this for you recently? How many picture books?

The tale is filled to the brim with the Henkes touches a person expects from his work (be sure to notice the Krazy Kat reference in Lilly's dining room). As per usual there is the comfortable family containing loving parents. And best of all, that wonderful way Henkes has of bringing a happy child to life on the page. No adult reading this book would want to be anyone BUT Mr. Slinger and no child reading it wouldn't want to know him. As for Lilly, she walks the fine line between precocious and precious. And wins. If you're a Henkes fan you won't want to miss this delightful star-making turn. If you're not a Henkes fan, do what you can to cure yourself of this ailment and then immediately read and enjoy this book. It's worth the effort.

The Book Cracks me Up!
I babysit all of the time so I am always looking for great books to read to the kids. This book I read to myself. It is so funny and I love how Lilly is so ostentatious with her purse. She is exactly like I was at that age and I love the message of not impulsively taking revenge on someone before simmering down. I recommend this book to everyone and I promise you will love it! I even named my Hamster after Lilly.

Great lesson in restraint, but hard to read...
I found this book to be very difficult to read aloud again and again. When I taught Kindergarten and preschool before that, I read this book to large and small groups of children and found it tedious and too wordy. For example, why have a line like "Lilly even wanted her own set of deluxe picture encyclopedias." Perhaps some of you may love the dozens of new vocabulary words, but I would rather not have to explain for the umpteenth time what "deluxe," or "diva" means, when the story already has many other new words that are more developmentally appropriate for this target group of readers (i.e., unique, jaunty, considerate, uncooperative...). Anyway, perhaps it is just me being picky, but I didn't care for this story much as a read a-loud. There are many books that I find much more worthwhile. If you have a child who could use a lesson about self-restraint, however, this book may be better than nothing. ... Read more

Book Description

Gentle Emmaline loves nothing more than books and flowers and her little brother Tommy. Sadly, her idyllic country life in Victorian England comes to an abrupt end when her father dies of cholera. The family is forced to move to a mill town, where Emmaline’s mother is dreadfully injured in a factory accident. To ease her pain she takes laudanum and is soon addicted, craving the drug so badly that she sells Tommy into servitude as a chimney sweep in London. Emmaline knows that a sweep’s life is short and awful. Small boys as young as five are forced to climb naked into dark chimneys, their bare feet prodded by nail-studded sticks to keep them working. If Tommy is to survive, it is up to Emmaline to find him.

Linda Holeman brings a bygone period to life in a book of serious historical fiction for young adults. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Lovely Surprise
When I picked up this book from the library, I wasn't expecting much to be behind the pretty cover. Was I ever in for a surprise! Linda Holeman has created a uniquely beautiful novel that deserves to be much more popular than it is.

In 1830's England, Emmaline Roke spends her childhood in a a quiet country village. Surrounded by her carefree father Jasper and an idyllic setting, she is shocked when her father dies and her baby brother Tommy's illness harms him tragically. Poverty-stricken without Jasper's money, Emmaline's mother Cat must begin a horrible life of mill work. Then her mother is injured in a mill accident-and the consequences of her accident endager both Cat and Tommy, who is the dearest thing in Emmaline's world. Intelligent, sweet, and determined, Emmaline goes on a quest to rise above her terrible life and save her precious brother.

Emmaline's story is wonderfully engaging. Holeman writes with beauty and skill, and her somehow quaint style captures the essence and sweetness of Emmaline and Tommy. While in other books a similar story would be dull, this book is filled with enough characterization, fascinating period detail, and complications that it grabs the reader. Emmaline inspired and impressed me, and I couldn't wait to see what happened to her.

My only complaint with the book is that the ending, although it had excellent themes, was that it seemed a little too rushed. However, everything else about "Search of the Moon King's Daughter" was completely wonderful.

You'd never know by the title
Picking up this book from the library, I figured it was a fantasy about some Princess on a quest. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was about Emmaline, an English girl living in the 1800's. When Emmaline's father dies, her mother, her deaf younger brother Tommy, and Emmaline must move away from their country home into a dirty, crowded city. Emmaline's mother goes to work in the mills, and Emmaline herself must work as a seamstress to her Aunt Phoebe.
Then another tragedy strikes: Emmaline's mother is severely injured at the mills. She can no longer work and worse, she soon becomes hooked on laudanum, the pain-reliever she takes. Not only does she spend all the money Emmaline brings in on the drug, but she also sells Emmaline's few possessions and, eventually, even Tommy.
When Emmaline finds that her mother has sold Tommy to be a chimneysweep in London, she goes there to find him. The only problems are that London is a big city, and Emmaline has no idea where Tommy is. Besides that, she doesn't have enough money to survive until she finds him.
This is an awesome book that you will probably enjoy. It's historical fiction, but doesn't make you feel as if you've been lectured. I reccomend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

"Goodnight stars, Goodnight air, Goodnight noises everywhere." This all-time classic goodnight story is bound to enchant every child who hears it. With gently rendered illustrations and lulling words, this is sure to become as much of a bedtime ritual as a kiss goodnight.

Reviews (13)

very calming
My son is a very active 9 month old. There is only one other thing that maintains his attention. THE WIGGLES! God bless them! I read him this book every night to ease him into bed. He loves it! The rythmns of the spanish language work perfectly in this story. It never fails to calm him down. He loves the colors and the images in the book as well.

Wonderful in Spanish, too!
Although I can't figure out exactly why, my boys love this book! This book is just as appealing to children in Spanish as in English. The illustrations are simple but my boys love them! They also really like the repetition. When we read it, I always add a "Buenas noches" to other items on the page. This has really helped expand thier vocabulary. It is one of my boys favorites, as it is for most children.

Soft and Gentle Words
Remarkable tranlation of the original. My children adore "Goodnight Moon," and have me read it to them every night before they go to sleep. When they aweken, they read to each other the bilingual (Spanish/English) book, "Drum, Chavi, Drum! Toca, Chavi, Toca!" These two books are my children's favorites. One makes them fall asleep, the other has them singing and tapping the tumbadora sounds... I think my children will either become sleep therapists or musicians!

A wonderful bedtime book
As American of Cuban descent, it is very important to me that my son learn Spanish. Teresa Mlawer did an excellent job with the translation. She was able to keep the spirit and flow of the original text, although she had to change a couple of things here and there and lose some of the rhyming, which is to be expected. It still has the same soothing musicality of the original, which makes it a great book to read aloud. I love reading this to my 8 month old son as part of our bedtime ritual. And no matter how fussy he's been before I start, he always settles down when he hears the first line.

Excellent for small children
This was designed to read when you put to sleep a small child. The child says good night to all the things in a room. Plus while reading it, you can add features of the child's room to it. If your child is in that stage that wants you to repeate the same story over and over again. This is the book he or she will like. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's never too early to start kids reading. Even in infancy, young eyes can begin to make connections between images on a page and the real thing.White on Black is an ideal first book, and one that will continue to fascinate the very youngest readers as they grow. Exquisitely simple, solid white pictures of everyday objects--a banana, a duck, a bottle--against a black background provide high contrast for developing eyes. This wordless picture book encourages caregivers to engage the child as they "read" together: "Oh look, a boat, that looks like your bath toy, doesn't it?"

With White on Black's companion book, Black on White, Tana Hoban has created a striking pair of visual tools to increase the youngest readers' burgeoning powers of perception. In this complex world, it's a joy to find a book that sees the world in the simplest of terms. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful book to give as a baby present
This is one of the few books that I ALWAYS send as a baby present. It's fantastic---the black and white illustrations are great for a newborn and many of my friends have continued to "read" the book with their child even when he or she became a toddler.

Try her other book---which has black images on a white background as well.

Psychologist mom's ONLY shower gift
Before my first-born could speak or even SIT, all the adults around him could tell which page he liked most--true communication from an infant that didn't involve crying (or other intense and directed body language)! We were amazed that we all had noticed. The books got LOTS of attention from our wee one. Face it, there is just not a lot you CAN "read" to an infant those first six months of life. He loved them. I'm here buying my fifth or sixth set of these two books for yet another mom-to-be. They are so much more memorable than green and yellow clothing, for both parents and babes.

white on black
This book is wonderful for topic focused conversation with your infant. Sometimes it is hard to find things to talk about with an infant. This books helps to solve that problem so that we can expose our babies to the conversational language they need to learn how to speak.

The perfect gift for a newborn
These simple, familiar silhouettes held my baby's interest from the time he was a few weeks old until about his first birthday. For a while I propped the book open on his changing table, and it kept his attention occupied during diaper changes. I wish hospitals would send a copy home with every newborn, to help all infants get the early mental stimulation they need.

A great first book for a baby.
We "read" this book to our son when he was a few weeks old, not because he understood the pictures, but because he could track the black and white pictures. Reading is extremely important to any child and we wanted to start early. So, eventhough our 4 week old had no idea what the words meant, he would nestle as we described the pictures to him and turned the pages. How else does a child learn to love reading? When our son was approximately one year old he could begin to describe some of the pictures and he would sit on the floor and "read" this book himself. An excellent, excellent first book for your baby or for a gift. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

How can you pass this up?
There is no way I can pass this book up everytime I'm in the bookstore. And I own two different copies of this fantastic tale. Yet, I still pick the book up and flip through the first few pages, smiling ear to ear at the wonderment that makes up Peter Pan.

Peter is a boy that refuses to grow up. He lives in Neverland with his fairy, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys. He visits the nursery of Wendy, Michael, and John Darling to hear Wendy's marvelous stories, and one night loses that pesky shadow. When he comes back to get it and tries to stick it back on, Wendy discovers this new boy in their nursery and soon learns about his amazing lifestyle. Entranced by thoughts of pirates, mermaids, and fairies, Wendy, Michael, and John embark on an amazing adventure into a world so unlike ours.

It's bittersweet, it's insightful, it's magical, it's everything and more a child or an adult could ask for in a story. You won't want to leave Neverland, and some days, you may find yourself staring out the window, looking for that hint of light that is Tinkerbell or the boy effortlessly flying between trees and buildings.

Without a doubt the greatest children's story of all time, one that we've all heard, whether it was through a movie or a stage production. Experience the real magic though, and read Barrie's brilliant novel about the boy who won't grow up. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

WOW, even better than reading the "adult" version!
Over the years, I have thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Herriot's wonderful stories. When I found this book for my 7 year old daughter, I wasn't sure if she'd be able to follow along. What makes this book stand out is the fabulous drawings--they are full paged drawings, with not too much writing on each page. Each drawing is very detailed, perfectly matched to the accompanying text. I can't get over the talented illustrators (this book has two different ones, although the drawings are similar in appearance). I've loved re-reading these familiar stories and sharing them. This is one of the best books we've read this year, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it for a permanent library collection.

My children were mesmerized by these warm stories.
My children have loved this book for years (they are now five and seven). Because the stories use words from far-away places, and an earlier time, reading them together has been a painless way to introduce many new and wonderful words into their vocabularies. If you are a parent who likes to read to your children, buy this book! The beautiful illustrations and language will keep you interested as well as the kids.

Settle in for a Great Read!
James Harriot's story telling style conveys the life of an English country vet in vivid language at a pace that makes you and your little ones settle in for sheer enjoyment. His word choices connect with the reader on multiple levels engaging the mind and emotions. The illustrations are both beautifully realistic and immaginative. My children love the stories and frequently ask to hear them again. As a read aloud, it is appropriate from 3 years-old and up. Neither you nor they will ever tire of reading these stories.

All time favorite book for any age
This is our family's all time favorite book. James Herrriot's true stories paired with magnificent illustations make this a wonderful book to read to a variety of ages of children; adults find the stories equally enjoyable. We have frequently given this book as a "family gift"(a spread of ages and boys and girls), gift to siblings of a new baby and even to babies who have everything, but will later appreciate this lovely book.

James Herriott.. the most wonderful writer
I think I have not had a more pleasant reading experience than sitting down next to a burning fire place, listening to my favorite antique clock ticking.. the patter of rain on the window panes and reading James Herriott. It is a memory of that afternoon that all these years later I have never forgotten. James Herriott is the most pleasant, relaxing, refreshing writer. Forget all the worries and cares and escape for a few minutes into a quiet world where the animals speak their own language.. A wonderful book, a wonderful writer. Thank You James Herriott for the memories. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is written by Harold. His fulltime occupation is dog. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe and their sons Toby and Pete. Also sharing the home are a cat named Chester and a rabbit named Bunnicula. It is because of Bunnicula that Harold turned to writing. Someone had to tell the full story of what happened in the Monroe household after the rabbit arrived.

Was Bunnicula really a vampire? Only Bunnicula knows for sure. But the story of Chester's suspicions and their consequences makes uproarious reading.

Since its first appearance in 1979, Bunnicula has been a hit with kids and their parents everywhere, selling over 8 million copies and winning numerous awards. ... Read more

Reviews (75)

bunnicula
I read the book Bunnicula. It's about a dog named Harold
and a cat named Chester. And of course a rabbit named
Bunnicula.(not your ordinary cuddley rabbit.)
It all started when harold and chester's owners came
home from a dracula movie.And the owners didn't come
home by themselves. They came with a box with a rabbit
in it.They put the rabbit in a cage. They had some
trouble nameing the rabbit. But they finally found
the name of bunnicula. Probably because of the fact
that they found bunnicula at a dracula movie.
And they sure picked the right name for him. Chester
began to notice that the black spot on Bunnicula looked
like a cape. Chester stayed awake to see what bunnicula
did at night.(I would of though a rabbit would sleep
at night.) Chester noticed that the sly rabbit wasn't
in his cage. He heard a noise in the kitchen. The door
of the kitchen opened. And guess who was hopping happily
out of the kitchen.(That was a sentance from the book.)
The next morning all of the veggitables were white.
On the third time Bunnicula went out for his midnight snack
Chester was prepared. He was trying to starve Bunnicula.
Harold yelled at Chester. Bunnicula looked sick.A few
days later Harold took Bunnicula out of his cage and
lead him to the kitchen. I can't tell the ending because
this is an online review. I recommend this book if you
like bunny vampires.

Still one of my favorites!
My old copy of "Bunnicula" is old and brittle from being read so many times as a kid, and is still a nostalgic favorite. This book is the first of many about the Monroes, an average family with not-so-average pets. First off there is Harold, the "author" of the book, who is an older mutt and is very gentle and somewhat dimwitted. Next there is Chester, a cat who is partial to reading at night (especially Edgar Allan Poe) and therefore has developed an overactive imagination. At first its just the two of them until the Monroes come home from seeing "Dracula" at the movie theater- who have brought home an abandoned bunny rabbit with them! This bunny is very unusual, with black "cape" markings in its fur, sleeps during the day, and drains all the vegetables in the house of their juice and color! Only Chester suspects Bunnicula is a vampire and sets out in a quest to expose the bunny. This is a great book for little kids as well as older ones, and also good for reading out loud to a kid because its not too long either. The sequels which are essential to this book are "Howliday Inn," "The Celery Stalks at Midnight," and "Nighty Nightmare." Those were some of the first to follow up on "Bunnicula" and therefore the best. This should be given to every child who loves a laugh as well as a thrill at the same time. Enjoy!

We loved this book.
Bunnicula is a very good book because it is funny. In this book a cat can read, a dog can write and a bunny sucks juice out of vegetables. Read this book and you will find out how to get rid of vampires, even bunny vampires.
Kids won't like this mystery; they'll love it! If you like animals, you will love this book.
So, if you want to find out more, read the book Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe.

My summary and thoughts of Bunnicula !
Bunnicula was a great book. If I was you I` d read it because it is funny ,scary and, weird. But you will probably like it too! Here` s what I like about it. My favorite character is Bunnicula! My favorite part is when Chester is wearing Mr. Monroe` s shaving towel on his back acting like a vampire .Bunnicula was a really good book!

I loved this series!
When I was a kid, I loved this series. These books have everything - humor, talking animals, mystery, a vampire rabbit... what more could you want? I just found out there are two books in the series I never read. Even though I am in my mid 20's, I still want to get those and read them. Bunnicula is great for kids of all ages. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tana Hoban has created an elegant solution for those who want to initiate children into the infinite wonders of reading. This picture book compels parents to talk to their babies as they share the wordless pages with their little ones. Black illustrations on a white background provide high contrast for infants' underdeveloped eyes. Soothingly familiar, silhouetted shapes--a leaf, a key ring, a bib, an elephant--will be recognized by the very young, and through these simple pictures, aspiring readers will begin to identify the link between the objects they see and the words their caregivers say. Hoban, beloved author of many childhood favorites, including Black on White's companion piece, White on Black, as well as Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? and What Is It?, has struck gold again--black gold, that is. It's the perfect baby gift! (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Perfect book for newborns
Who says babies are too young for books? This book (and Ms. Hoban's other similar books)is a shining example that we're never too young to be introduced to books and reading. The bright, crisp, contrasting images are perfect for new babies. My baby loves this book, and will sit entranced for quite a while as we talk about the images we see. My only complaint would be that it is too short! (Of course, so are babies' attention spans) I think this book is a great baby shower or 'new baby' present. Their first book, what could be a better gift?

A great book to stimulate your newborn!!!
This book is great! No words, just contrasting black and white pictures. My newborn loved it. He couldn't really concentrate on anything visually, as most newborns are that way, but the minute he saw this book, he just stared and stared at it. I recommend it to all new mothers!

Still one of baby's favorites
Baby's had this book since birth... and after 4 months, it is still one of her favorites. The pictures really grab her attention, and she likes to study them. Also since there are no words, you can make up a new story for the pictures each time if you want!

HIS FAVORITE!
Granted, my son is only four months old, but this book is a big hit. I'm sure he'll outgrow it eventually, but that's the case with any book! If you have a very little one, this is a great book to start with. My son has only a dozen or so books so far, and out of all of them, this is the one he kicks and coos at the most. I'm attending a baby shower in a couple months and I'm definitely going to throw in a copy of "Black on White" for her.

Black And White...
Black and White is a sweeeeeeeeeeeet game and i mean sweet.It is about u becoming a god and this other god Nemesis Is Determined to be the only god.He wants to destroy all other gods.The rest youll have to buy the game to find out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Timeless biblical stories are lovingly brought to a child's level inthis read-aloud treasury. Editor William Bennett (The Children's Book of Virtues)starts with "Daniel in the Lion's Den," a story that epitomizes the courage ittakes to stand firm in one's faith. While he also includes the story of "TheLittle Lost Lamb" (based on Luke 15: 3-7), Bennett is broad-minded enough toinclude numerous other stories that touch upon the meaning of faith withoutbeing biblical in origin. For instance, young readers will be exposed to greatwriters such as Leo Tolstoy in the short story "Where Love Is, God Is" and OscarWilde in "The Selfish Giant." Although the old-fashioned style of illustrationswill no doubt feel nostalgic for some, they are also a throwback to a time whenwhite folks were the only people represented in children's Christian literature.Even Moses has light skin. One of the few characters to actually have color inhis face is the bald, brown-skinned devil. A shameful lapse in an otherwisenoble attempt. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent for both children and parent
I found this book just incredible. The stories are just wonderful for teaching the children valuable lessons and virtues. It's hard to explain the book, other than that my kids enjoyed hearing them, I enjoyed reading them, and the lessons in the stories challenge both child and parent alike.

Could have been broader
Nicely done. It is difficullt to find good books that teach the virtues of faith without being heavy handed. I would have liked a few more faith stories from non-Christian traditions. My seven year old is enjoying it.

FAITHFUL!
This beautiful, gently written and illustrated book will certainly appeal to all ages. It is a delightful presentation of Christianity and, I think, provides a gentle overview of Christian concepts. Young readers will especially appreciate the illustrations. This book is an excellent teaching tool and a good way to form conversations regarding to Christian faiths. It is a treasure and a wonderful part of any family. I really love this book.

Inspirational; not just for children
Where is the greatest source of wisdom in today's society? Despite the common cries of cultural despair, William Bennett has rightly identified the Bible as the source of the moral tenets which we aim to inspire in our children. Although the stories are written in simple, accessible language, children and adults of all ages will be moved and inspired by the simple truths contained herein.

Enlightning
This is one of the great books for children. Besides being entertaining it is educative as well. It works towards improving ones knowledge and faith. This book is a must read and should be there in every family.Some of the chapters are just great and personaly I just loved the book ... Read more

Product Description

A hundred years ago, Dies Drear and two slaves her was hiding in his house, an Underground Railroad station in Ohio, had been murdered. The house, huge and isolated, was fascinating, Thomas thought, but he wasn't sure that he was glad Papa had bought it-funny things kept happening, frightening things...The secret of the house is revealed in an exciting final sequence that maintains beautifully the mysterious and dramatic story of a black family caught in an atmosphere of fear and danger. Written with distinction, and imaginative and imposing book. (Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books) ... Read more

Reviews (73)

creeepy book!!
This book is about a family who a move into a house that everybody thinks is haunted. A long time ago it was a house on the Underground Railroad that housed slaves. Two slaves were caught and killed but the third slave escaped. Mr. Pluto is the caretaker and everybody thinks he is very creepy. Thomas soon hears about a rumor that Dies Drear's treasure is somewhere in the house but the Darrow family are after it too.
I would give the book four stars because it is very interesting and the book is easy to read. It is interesting because it talks about mystery. The plot was okay since the beginning kind of dragged on and on but it gets better later on. The story is easy to read. Overall, this was a great book.

House of Dies Drear
This is an excellent book for many readers. Personally, I don't read a great deal, but when I came across this book for a particular class, I was amazed at how quickly I was getting through it. This book was exciting and constantly kept me thinking of what would happen next. There was constant suspense with the haunted house and mysterious openings in the walls. The devilish caretaker also added to the drama in this story. I would encourage others to take the time and enjoy this interesting book.

Dies Drear
I had very high expectations for this book because of all the good comments I heard about it. After I read it, I was VERY disappointed.It was dull and very slow. I had no fun reading it at all. I do not reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced and exciting books. It was supposed to be a horror story but turned out to be the opposite.

Jessie From Richview Middle School
This story is about a boy named Thomas and his family, the Smalls, who move int a new house called Dies Drear. This house was used for slaves who wanted to return to savery or escape from it. Many things happen to them where they point to an old that is mysterious, but for a good reason, as the bad guy. Strange things happen to them while they are there, and it panics them because they are worried that something might happen to their family. Mr. Small, Thomas's father, and Thomas try to find their way through this big secret that they know is being kept from them. Finally they capture the old mysterious man and they find out that he isn't the bad guy at all, he was just trying to protect Dies Drear, because he didn't know whether he could trust the Small's or if they were on the other guy's side. He kept the secret of what the winding tunnels under the house held. Together the old man and the Smalls scare off the bad guys, at least for a little while. The old man now knows and trust that the Smalls will kept the treasure of the tunnels safe, so he doesn't have to protect them any more. That is how the story ends.
I like this book because it has a lot a mysery and history to it, and I thought it was really unique. I am not a book-reader, but I can tell you that this book isn't just for people who like to read books it is definitely for every type of book reader. I hope you decide to read this book, because it is a really great book in my opinion.

Taylor From Richview Middle School
This story is about a young boy named Thomas and his family moving to a new house in Ohio. The house that they moved into was known as the House of Dies Drear. Dies Drear was a guy who was in charge of the underground railrad. The underground railroad was used so that slaves could flee to the north and escape slavery. Lets move on to the main plot of the story. The main plot is that the Darrows[ a family] keeps trying to break into the the cave that came with the property of the house. This cave held valubles thst Drear use to own. There was also a guy named Mr. Pluto that lived in the cave so that they could keep up the keep of the cave and to protect it so that no one would steel anything out of it. So once they found out that the Darrows kept trying to steel things they thought of a prank to pull on them. I dont want to give to much a way so t you guys will have to read the book to find out what they do to them. Throughout the book old Mr. Pluto was getting ill so at the end of the story Mr. Pluto gives the belongings to Mr .Small Thomas's dad to look after. I actually really enjoyed this book, and sorry to say but i dont like to read. The book had adventure,mystery, and a little touch of history because of the slavs and all, but other wise I thought the book kept you gussing almost the whole time so that made it a really good. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes life can change in an instant

Martha Boyle and Olive Barstow could have been friends, but they weren't. Weeks after a tragic accident, all that is left are eerie connections between the two girls, former classmates who both kept the same secret without knowing it. Now, even while on vacation at the ocean, Martha can't stop thinking about Olive. Things only get more complicated when Martha begins to like Jimmy Manning, a neighbor boy she used to despise. What is going on? Can life for Martha be the same ever again?

Reviews (45)

Olive's Ocean
Olive's Ocean is one of the best books I have ever read.I could relate to it very well.It's about a girl named Martha who goes to New England to spend time with her Godbee (grandmother).While she's there, she starts crushing on Jimmy Manning, but realizes that he doesn't really care about other people's feelings, just his camera.She's also trying to spend as much time with her Godbee as she can, because she knows that this may be the last summer she has with her.When all of this is happening, she is also learning to cope with the loss of a girl who went to her school, but was killed when she was hit by a car.Martha has a hard time getting her hands around the whole situation.
One of the characters in the book is Martha, she's the main character.She's dealing with the hardships, and good times of growing up.There's also Godbee.Martha loves Godbee, and learns a lot from her.She really enjoys spending time with her.Godbee is a very peaceful kind of a person, who loves life and loves being near the ocean.She also enjoys spending time with her family.Then there's Jimmy Manning.Jimmy Manning is the boy that Martha had the crush on in the beginning of the book, but definitely not in the second half of the book.He's making a movie, and uses Martha in it, Martha realizes that he's only using her in the movie though.There's also Tate,Tate is Jimmy Manning's younger brother.Tate is Martha's age, and can sometimes be a little jealous of Jimmy Manning.
I would definitely recommend this book because you can really relate to all the characters in the book, and it teaches you about life and how you should be happy for what you have.You also realize what it's like to be a teenager and what one has to go through.I liked it because I could relate to it.Every summer around the fourth of July my grandparents get a cottage on the ocean, we all go out there to the beach and hang out.After that, we go to the farm where all my relatives are.We all have a lot of fun and enjoy spending time together.This reminds me a lot of when Martha goes and visits Godbee.There were lots of surprises with what happened with Jimmy Manning and staying at the ocean that surprised me.I enjoyed reading about them.I also liked the style of writing, it was very easy to understand at my age and it flowed very easily which I liked.I think that girls would enjoy this book more because it's from their point of view, and girls would understand Martha more I think.It's a very good realistic fiction book, which is my favorite genre so I also enjoyed that.I would definitely recommend it.

Was this REALLY Kevin Henkes???
I didn't know that Kevin Henkes wrote books like this. The style is very different, yet I found the moral to be quite interesting, but as I read in one reviewer's rating, I agree that the character depth was very poor and that there were some "things" in the book not suggested for kids under 11.

The book starts out with Martha Boyle revieving a page from Olive Barstow's journal, which spoke of how Olive--a timid, unnoticed child--wished to become friends with Martha, be a writer, and see the ocean. The problem is, Olive has died from a bycicle wreck, and now Martha wishes to turn back the time and regret it. The book talks about how Martha gets to do things like write and see the ocean and how Olive never had the chance to experience some of the issues a 12-year-old goes through.

I was dissapointed that the author mentioned very little of Olive in parts of the book. Sometimes, I even forgot about her!! They focused so much on Martha, Olive was sometimes forgotten. The book "could have happened" without Olive's exsistence, it just would have had a different ending (I won't tell why!!!). Also, I HATED the three-paged chapters. The book has, I think, 67 chapters, yet some chapters aren't even a page long! I hated how the book was broken up with little chapters; it messed up your thought. It is also slow-moving and, I will say, the reccomended age should be OVER 11 years old, due to some bad words and behavoir that young children shouldn't be exposed to (such as, at only 12 years old, Martha falls in love with a boy named Jimmy Manning, and sometimes that was the entire focus of the story. Jimmy also films a love scene with Martha in his video. If I was the author, I would have left that out, or made Martha 17!)

The book has a good moral about life and death, and is a good TEEN reader.

Got a Good Book? well here's one
Olive's Ocean was a great book.I usually don't like to read, but I was hooked on the book and couldn't put it down.I loved it so much; I really grew attached to the relationship between Olive and Martha. It was a very strong and emotional book that took place in the present and so many devastating things happened.The author was extremely creative with how he ended the book.I discovered many clever happeneings in this book; it just changed how I thought about simple things.Another thing is it made me realize to be thankful for what you have now and in front of you, because in just one second, things could be gone.I found the book satisfying and delightful, the way it ended just sent a sigh and smile to me.I truly recommend this book if you like to read a book just for fun, not adventurous, not mystery, just something nice and sweet to enjoy on a Sunday morning.

A Girl Like Me
In the novel Olive's Ocean, a series of young thoughts, childish dreams, a search for love, and beautiful images of one's mind eye are among the ideas explored in this well written, intriguing story. Written by Kevin Henkes, this book begins with the introduction to the main character Martha and to a major idea in the story concerning the death of Martha's peer Olive, a outcast from school who Martha barely knew but who seemed to have taken special notice of her. After receiving a letter from the dead Olive Barstow containing proof of her admiration of Martha, we follow Martha to a trip to her grandmother's house by the sea, and through her young, vivid mind filled with exciting aspirations and insightful thoughts. We watch Martha confess her longing to be a writer, her longing to find love and hold onto it, her longing to repay Olive for noticing the person she truly was, and her search for the strength within herself.

I found this story to be beautifully simple, homey, and a definite feel good novel. As a teenage girl, I found myself easily connecting to many of the themes and ideas in the story and even to Martha's character. I enjoyed seeing some my own thoughts through the eyes of another girl like me. I would recommend this novel to women looking to reminisce back to their days of searching for their place in the big world around us, or to younger girls looking for a story filled with things to connect to. The author's wonderful insight into the life of the main character and the mind imagery of the story are truly worth experiencing.

Great
I have enjoyed Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes so much. This is a great book for everyone to read because I think itdeals witholder people too,not just little kids. The book is about a girl named Martha who feels really bad because a girl named Olive Barstow, died of a hit and run. Martha feels bad because her and her friends made fun of Olive because she was different, she didn't talk to anyone she just stared at them most of the time. So when Olive died Martha felt so bad, that her parents thought it wouldbe a good time for a vacation to Godbee's. Her brother Vince went away to find his old friends the Manning boys. To make it short and simple it's about a girl named Martha andeverything she does relates to Olive, the girl who died. I would recommend this book because it'sa very good book to read for fun it doesn't matter how old you are you can still read this book. I bet if you read this book you will fall in love with this book. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The Adventures of Tintin Volume 1
Tintin in America:
The first well known Tintin book "Tintin in America" begins where reporter Tintin and his trusty canine companion Snowy get off of a train in Chicago in order to solve a new mystery. They come to investigate the doings of the largest gang in Chicago. On their way the gang finds out they're being investigated and try to stop Tintin. Tintin has many close calls and chases, and on top of that some very good luck. I reccomend this book to anyone who loves mystery, suspense, and a great comic.

The Cigars of the Pharaohs:
The second Tintin story begins where Tintin and Snowy stumble on a new mystery on a cruise ship. A man claims to know where the temple of an Egyptian Pharaoh is and Tintin and Snowy go along with him for fun. This temple had been visited before by someone else and Tintin had to find out who made the visit and why not all come out. This book gives the same suspense and mystery as most of the other Tintin books and I reccomend it just as much as all the others.

The Blue Lotus:
After a few days in royalty in India, Tintin is summoned to a new mystery in China. This time he has to investigate the doings of a secret drug dealer, the only problem is that they are too secret. Ofcourse this book has mystery and suspense and I reccomend it to any person who loves the genre.

This 3 volume book is classic Tintin and I love it so much. It's the best.

Tintin and Snowy rock!
I love Tintin books and this one is no exception. I like the size of the book, the hardcover has a good binding so that it doesn't come apart and with three adventures in one you are getting a great deal.

Want to keep your boys quiet? Give them the book!
I gave this book along with vol. 2 to my nephews at 5th grade and 1st grade and they can't put them down after the 1st page. So I decide to buy the whole collection for them.

(...);-P

Great gifts for kids at the age to open their mind and explore the world!

Watch out - Small Size
Watch out, this 3-in-one comes in a smaller size than the regular single adventures. Makes it harder to read and harder to enjoy the graphics.

Tin Tin- comic extrodinaire'
Tin-Tin is comicbook creation the way it should be!
Tin-Tin is NOT political correctness, it depicks human beings, events as they are, whether evil or good.
You'll be surprised comparing of todays wishy-washy P.C. comics to Tin-Tin..
It has morals, values, perhaps a bit over the top sometimes since black & white issues were more defined years ago..
The artwork is extremely good, even when some panels only have 1 sentance. Tin-Tin will take you to another time & place.
Before there was Indiana Jones, there was Tin-Tin! ... Read more