Book Description

A raging storm slashes across Assateague and Chincoteague islands. Water is everywhere! The wildponies and the people must battle for their lives.

In the midst of the storm, Misty-the famous mare of Chincoteague-is about to give birth. Paul and Maureen are franticwith worry as the storm rages on... will Misty and her colt survive?

This is the thrilling story of the hurricane that destroyed the wild herds of Assateague, and howstrength and love helped rebuild them. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Wonderful historical fiction for young people......!!!!
My seven year old daughter and I finished this book last night. She was very sad to have it end. What a wonderful account of the devastating storm that hit the islands of Assateague and Chincoteague and the relief efforts to rebuild the islands and the devastated wild pony population.

It was very heartwarming to read in the epilogue excerpts from actual letters of children that sent in their hard earned money to buy back the ponies sold at previous Pony Penning Days to replenish the wild herds of Assateugue. These children and others like them preserved a tradition that had been maintained for over 100 years and because of them continues on today. In fact, Marguerite Henry dedicated this book to those very children that made it all possible.

Marguerite Henry does an excellent job of using local dialect in the telling of the story, especially with Grandpa and Grandma. You can not help but become involved in the characters and their concerns become very real to you.

I read this book many many years ago and had forgotten a great deal of the story. One of the things I did remember was Misty being put in Grandma's kitchen to wait out the storm.

If you are like me and read this book many years ago I encourage to reread it. You will be glad you did.

Read this great book!
This book is about a horse named Misty. She is going ot have a colt. The colt is a Mare and her name is Stormy. Stormy`s family tree is made up out of The Phantom and the pied piper had Misty, Misty and Wings had Sormy. But there was a flood and the flood killed Wings. He was a good horse untill he drounded in the flood. The reason Misty didn`t die was because she was put into a house. The house belonged to Mrs. and Mr. Bebbe. They had two grandchildren. Their names were Paul and Maureen. Paul and Maureen were very excited that Misty was going to have a colt. But Grandpa thought that Misty`s colt was dead inside of her. Grandma said that she was not even going to die when she was born.

If you like to read you will like this book as much as I did. The reason I liked this bookwas because it is a true story and it was written before it happened. This book was a little better than Misty of Chincoteague. I loved reading this book because it was interesting. It also was filled with action and excitment.

The theme of this story was to save Misty from the flood. If they didn`t save Misty her foal won't be able to talk Misty's place as the wild mare.

Foal of Waves
This is the true story of Misty, a famous horse who gave birth to a foal named Stormy during a raging, devastating storm. The book then presents an accurately detailed account of rebuilding the island of Chincoteauge after the storm.
The plot of this is exciting and suspenseful book twists just to the reader's liking, and has times of slow sadness. The odd regional colloquial speech of the characters may sometimes confuses the reader, but it is so well written you it presents a mental picture better than a movie.
This is a very interesting book to me. Its many scenes convey many different emotions: some humor, some happiness, and some intense sorrow. I am also extremely inspired by Paul Beebe, who shows courage and self-control as I would like to. It is a favorite of mine, and a worthy addition to any bookshelf.

very good book
this was a very good book and i enjoyed it a lot. everyone should read it because it has a very good story line. i would reccomend this book to people who love to read.

Misty's Survival
No pony would want to be pregnant in the middle of the big hurricane that killed almost everything in Chincoteague and Assateague. Paul and Maureen love the fact that Misty is going to have a baby until the storm hits. When Paul and Maureen leave Misty, everyone is extremely worried. Misty needs to find a way to survive along with her unborn baby! This is a wonderful story that will have you hanging on to every page. I recommend this book to anybody who has read Misty of Chincoteague or anyone who likes horse stories. ... Read more

Book Description

One night, while the pigs and chickens are sound asleep -- KABOOM! -- Farmer George's Moo Cow disappears! A low-down Space Cowboy has whisked her off to a galaxy far, far away. What's this sweet cow to do now, forced to become the Wild Beast Earthling Moo Cow at the Inter-Galactic Rodeo? Saddle up and get ready to ride Thacher Hurd's zany trip to Planet 246 and back! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rip Roarin' Fun
Who would've thought a story could combine cowboys and space aliens? This book took us completely by surprise. The farmer's moo-cow was kidnapped by Zork, a cowboy from a planet far away in outer space. Zork plans to ride the earthling Moo-Cow in the Intergalactic Rodeo.

My 4 year old son was delighted with the western and space themes and intrigued by the active plot and silly words. I was pleased to find such a neat, adventure-filled book with such a uniqueness to it. Great read-a-loud! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1744, John Newbery started a bookshop in London and hung out a sign reading "Juvenile Library." Over 200 years later, while attending an American Library Association conference, a book publisher named Frederick Melcher had a brainstorm. Why not establish a children's literature award and name it after one of the first people to see the possibilities of publishing books aimed at children? The Newbery Medal was launched in 1922, and since then, each year has brought a new crop of distinguished American children's books, ripe for the picking. Newbery Girls gathers selections from 15 of the best-loved Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor books published in the 20th century. Featuring such unforgettable and diverse heroines as Caddie (Caddie Woodlawn), Claudia (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler), and Yolanda (Yolanda's Genius), the collection honors the books loved best by girls (and boys!) throughout the century. Each excerpt, with text unchanged from the original, can stand alone as a short piece of fiction. However, no one would argue that the best way to thoroughly enjoy these Newbery girls is by reading the classics in their entirety. Get a tantalizing taste with the selections from Newbery Girls; but be sure to enjoy the full repast, as well! (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Book Description

Thirty familiar signs fill the pages of this handsome book, and invite the viewer to COME IN! "Right on target."--Booklist. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Brilliant book for introducing reading to children!
Reading practice does not begin in kindergarten or first grade. Reading environmental print is a child's first exposure to letters, words, and pictures coming together to explain a concept and Hoban does it brilliantly.

Her photographs allow children to decipher the world around them via 30 photographs of everyday signs.

I applaud Hoban for creating wonderful books for children to be introduced to the concept of reading.

Wonderful for toddlers
We got this book for my first child when she was about a year and a half old, and it became an instant favorite. She loved being read the signs in this book over and over.

Astonishingly, she read her first word at about two years old thanks to this book; when we were on a trip in a different state, in a restaurant she'd never seen, she pointed to a sign on the wall and read out "Exit only!" She was reading us "Exit" signs everywhere for months after that, though it was of course a long time before she started reading other words or being able to read phonetically.

Now she's a teenager headed for college, I have a second child about a year and a half old, and I'm buying this book for him...

Excellent pre-reader
I found this book was an excellent pre-reading excercise for my preschooler. She just loves to see and recognize the signs as we are driving. This also makes it a great book to bring along for car trips of any length. I am buying a copy for her friend who loves all things car & truck. I know this will make a great gift for boys as well as girls ages 3+. ... Read more

Book Description

American children's poetry began with Native American cradle songs, moved on to a rhymed alphabet, blossomed in the 19th century with "A Visit from St. Nicholas," expanded in the 20th century, and continues with vigor and inspiration into the new millennium. Some of the best of these poems, however, have been neglected or forgotten, or have simply disappeared. This book, by acclaimed children's author and poet Donald Hall, returns to us the forgotten treasures of American children's poetry. Featuring beautiful drawings from the best children's book illustrations through history--including arcival selections from rare and early editions--this state-of-the-art anthology revives not only the classic poems but also the atmosphere of the periods in which they were written and read.

Starting with a selection from the 1787 New England Primer, "Alphabet," the book spans two centuries to the 1990s with poems by Sandra Cisneros, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Janet S. Wong. Well-known American poets--including Edgar Allan Poe, T.S. Eliot, Carl Sandburg, and Robert Frost--are joined by lesser-known masters. Poems about holidays alternate with verses for recitation, nursery rhymes, poems for laughter, bedtime verses, scary poems, and animal poems. Multiculturalists will not be disappointed either--from anonymous Native- and African-American poets we step forward through the ages to admire the talent of Langston Hughes, Sonja Sanchez, and Francisco X. Alarcon. Both parents and teachers will delight in reading from this book to their children and students. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Let the others wear the ruffled shirts and ride grandly on horseback; Sam Adams, Massachusetts rebel leader, was a plain and plain-spoken fellow, both in history and in Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? Adams, it turns out, was horseless for a good reason. On the way to figuring out just what that reason was, the reader gets a nice, personal look at a leader and his times.

In this book, as in the rest of her series of histories, Jean Fritz sneaks plenty of information into her story about Adams, the American Revolution, and the answer to the title question. (For ages 7 and up) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Revolutionary style
Fritz has the rare talent of making historical figures more than interesting. She makes them human. Immersing the usual boring caricatures of her subjects in the small true stories that she has discovered in their lives, she gives us an entirely different way of looking at our American heroes. In this book, her talent for storytelling has been expertly paired with Trina Schart Hyman's intricate and intriguing pencil drawings. Sam Adams suddenly becomes somebody you'd like to sit down and have a mug of Guinness with. Without a doubt he is boisterous and a bit of a braggart. But he's also a great man, and this book never looses sight of the fact that, though ridiculous at times, Adams did great things and deserves to be remembered for them. There is little debate that Fritz's books remain some of the best historical children's biographies today. I well remember her stories from when I was a child myself, though I half wish Hyman illustrated ALL her books. This book would be absolutely perfect to teach to children during Revolutionary War history classes. Pairing it with all of Fritz's books would also be an exceptionally bright idea.

I love this book!
Many years ago I did a report on Samuel Adams for school. This book by Jean Fritz helped me get a high grade. It did not give me the impression that people who are smarter should be excused from being a soldier or any other ideas. In fact I enjoyed it so much that to this day I love learning about the American Revolution, because Jean Fritz made learning fun for me. I suggest that everyone read it.

OK
my teacher is really absesed with Jean Fritz so she reads her books to us and this was one of them. this book is really not as bad as you may think it can be funny in some was and it is jambed with little interasting facts that JF found so it sort`ve interasting and you can learn from it. i think anybody should try even if they think it looks stupid because some books turn out to be very interasting.

Why don't you get a horse?
I didn't like the book because it was sort of dumb. The author spent too much time talking about Sam not riding a horse. I wanted to learn more about the war and soldiers of the town of Boston. I wondered if Sam Adams was a part of the war.

Don't Confuse Sam Adams' Opinion with the Author
I liked this book, and found that what the previous review objected to was not the author's ideas, but Sam Adams. I think that it is important to remember that most of the Founding Fathers were not the idealistic gods that we hold them up to be. Many owned slaves, many beleived that as intellectuals, they were too good for battle. It's important that kids realize that not everything is black and white, and just because a book portrays a historical figure accurately, doesn't mean you're going to like them. While Sam Adams is an elitist full of quirks, he was a great thinker and an idealist, and Jean Fritz portrays him as such. ... Read more

Book Description

When a dragon is discovered up on the Downs, the Boy is not in the least surprised. He's always known the cave there was a dragon cave, so it seems only right for a dragon to be living in it.

The Boy decides to pay a visit to the cave, and he thinks he knows just what to expect. But this particular dragon is not a bit like the ones in fairy tales!
... Read more

Reviews (6)

Wag the Dog.
This delightful story tells the tale of a boy who meets a kindly dragon on the edge of town. The boy and the dragon become friends and start spending a lot of time together. Then the people of the town find out about the dragon and send for St. George. The boy meets with St. George and takes him to meet the dragon. All three soon become friends and find themselves in a quandry. George doesn't want to kill the dragon and the dragon has no desire to kill George. A plan is hatched and at the end of the story everyone lives happily.

It's really great reading this to younger children. It's got a great message about not prejudging others. It also shows how people can sometimes get everything they want, without anyone having to get hurt by it. That doesn't happen often, but it's nice to be reminded now and again that it can.

A Treasure!
Author of historical fiction.

This book is a treasure for your library. It brings endless pleasure, and is the kind of story that spans all ages.

It is the tale of a boy and his dragon who lives up on the Downs. In spite of the bad reputation dragons have, the boy and he become quick friends. Saint George shows up to do battle with the reluctant lizard, and the boy arranges a mock battle, unbeknown to the villagers that pleases everyone.

Andrew's book Report
(...) THE BOOK IS ABOUT THIS BOY WHO MEETS THIS DRAGON AND THEY
BEACOME FRIENDS THE DRAGON TELLS THE BOY STORY AND NONE ARE
TRUE. BUT ONE IS TRUE THE DRAGONS FAUTHER DIED WHEN A KNIGHT
FOUND OUT ABOUT HIM WHEN THE DRAGON WAS LITTLE. THE KID
HEARS ABOUT A KNIGHT NAMED ST. GEORGE HE TELLS ST. GEORGE
ABOUT THE DRAGON. THE NEXT DAY THE KID SHOWS ST. GEORGE THE
THE DRAGON THE DRAGON DID NOT WHANT TO FIGHT. THE NEXT DAY
ST. GEORGE TOLD SOME OF THE DRAGONS TALES TO THE VILLAGE.
THE TALES WHERE ABOUT KNIGHTS AND DRAGONS FIGHTING. THAT
AFTER NOON THE DRAGON HID IN THE CAVE AND ST. GEORGE FAKED
TO KILL THE DRAGON AND WAS FAMOUS.

(...)

But who Illustrate's This Version - Marlene Ekman?
I love this story but am interested to know the illustrator. If it is Marlene Ekman's illustrations in the hardcover version then it is the best publication. Her pictures add real life to this wonderful child's story.

Reading level is age 8 and above
This is a wonderful story that can be enjoyed by all ages. But because of some of the archaic phrasing I would not recommend it to students under the age of 8. ... Read more

Book Description

School is beginning, and Spot isn't feeling so good about his first day.But with the help of his new classmates-Tom Alligator, Helen Hippo and Steve Monkey-Spot learns to fit in just fine, painting pictures, listening to story time and spelling words with blocks.At the end of the day he takes his painting home and declares that school was "Great!"

This classic lift-the-flap tale includes scenes showing that learning is fun, to help ease anxious first-time students. Available for the first time in a new lift-the-flap board book format, Spot Goes to School is full of surprises, fun and friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

4 1/2* Spot's First Day at School!
Spot discovers that school is fun and interesting in this flap book by Eric Hill. After a warm greeting by his teacher and classmates, Spot hides (under one of the flaps found on every page) when it's time to sing a song. "I can't sing," he says. There is no resolution to this (maybe some pages were torn out of my copy?), but Spot soon finds plenty to do as the disjointed plot reveals Spot's fun activities at school. These include finding dress-up clothes in a small playhouse, spelling the word "DOG" with blocks, story time by the teacher, playing teeter-totter (Spot is cleverly hidden under a flap that is part of a tree), and painting paw prints. When his mom picks him up and asks, "How was school, Spot?" he answers with a resounding "Great!" Twenty-two brightly colored pages showing Spot enjoying school after some initial uncertainty.

A fun book to share with your toddler
Spot the Dog books are a favourite with my girls. They love the simple stories that they can relate to (hiding, baking a cake, playing with others etc) and the lift-the-flaps always bring screams of delight even though we've read them many many times. As they grow I'm sure they'll be one of the books they learn to read with. The words are simple and the font easy to read. Lovely books to cuddle up with your children on your lap. They are also big enough to hold up and read to them as they sit in back seat on car trips.

Gift for My Grandson
I feel in love with "Spot Goes to School" and will be reading it to my grandson when he gets old enough to read.He is only six months old but I am stocking up now. The illustrations are really cute and on every page there is something that easily "opens" to reveal something underneath. What an adorable book to prepare a child for going to nursery school etc.!

Spot Goes to School -- Great for 2-3 year olds!
Spot does it again! That dog named Spot shows little ones how he goes to school and talks about his day. From singing with Helen and Tom, to painting a picture, to reading stories, Spot let my son know it would be fun to go to preschool. We purchased the book right before my son started attending preschool and as we read it, he told me about his day, which includes storytime, painting and singing, as well as playing on the playground. The lift-the-flap books engage little ones to keep on reading. It is a nice way to end the day and naturally talk about what happened at preschool that day. Way to go Spot! ... Read more

Book Description

"There is no Jessica," said Ruthie's parents. But of course there was. She ate with Ruthie, played with Ruthie, and was sorry when Ruthie was bad. Nobody could see Jessica -- except Ruthie. When it came time for Ruthie to go to school, Jessica went with her. Her parents hoped Ruthie would find a friend at school who would replace Jessica. They were in for a (happy) surprise!

Reviews (2)

My Daughter's Favorite Book
An elementary school teacher gave me this book at my baby shower. She told me that her students loved "Jessica," and that my daughter would, too. Time has proven her correct. Recently, my daughter, who is now two and a half years old, asked that I read her the book. "Jessica" has quickly become her favorite book. The story is about five-year-old Ruthie. Ruthie doesn't have a brother, a sister, a cat, or a dog but she has an imaginary friend, Jessica, "who is even better." Although Ruthie's parents tell her that "There is no Jessica," Ruthie knows that there is. The book describes all of the activities that Ruthie and Jessica do together and concludes with Ruthie's discovery of a "real" Jessica when Ruthie begins kindergarten. My daughter loves this book and can recite it word for word. Children quickly become familiar with the story because key words and phrases are repeated throughout the book. More importantly, the book talks about activities and fears that all young children have and accurately depicts a child's hesitation to voice his or her fears. For example, when Ruthie's parents want to go to a movie, "Jessica," not Ruthie, gets a stomach ache and wants them to stay home. This is a terrific book.

Making friends is easier than it looks!
I just read this book a few minutes ago. it's about a little girl named Ruthie who has an imaginary friend named Jessica. They do everything together! From reading books, to playing with blocks. They are the best of friends. Ruthie's parents try to get her to believe that Jessica isn't real, but Ruthie won't listen to them. On the first day of kindergarden, Jessica goes along with Ruthie. But, Ruthie makes a new friend, whose name also happens to be Jessica and they become really good friends. I think that if you know of a child who has an imaginary friend, then they should deffinately read this book, or you could read it to them! ... Read more

Book Description

Misty's Twilight is part thoroughbred, part Chincoteague pony, and one hundred percent fire and talent. A direct descendant of the most famous pony ever, Misty of Chincoteague, Twilight has greatness in her blood. Now it's her turn to shine, perhaps as a cutting horse, a jumper, or in the graceful art of dressage.

Can Twilight, whose ancestors were wild ponies living on an untamed island, do it? Can she compete against the best horses in the world... and win? ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Disappointment as Big as the Phanton
I have read only the first five chapters and, from the looks of it, the book is pretty disappointing. City traffic, crowds -- what happened to the fun and joy of the captivatinging books that came before it? There should at least be a few characters (besides the mom) who are really into going to Chincoteague!

pretty good
this book was a pretty good book, but it was not as good as the other misty books. but it was still pretty good.

Misty's Twilight Review
A colt in the line of Misty is born. His name is Twilight. He is going to compete with the horses of the world. Twilight ends up being able to compete. If I could, I'd rate this story 9,000 stars!

A Huge Disappointment
I've been reading the Misty of Chincoteague books to my 7 yr old horse-loving daughter over the last few months, and have loved Misty, Stormy, and Sea Star. Twilight was an incredible let-down. We felt we knew the Beebe family and many of the Chincoteague residents intimately; none of them were mentioned in this book, and even Pony Penning and all it's festivities were only touched in passing. We never connected with the characters in this book. The kids weren't likeable because they didn't like horses, and complained about having to work on the Farm. Sandy, the Mom, was inconsistent, proclaiming her love of horses and of spending time with them, but not doing it. Chapter 16 closes with them thinking they'll try making Twilight into a cross country jumper, with Sandy envisioning herself riding the jumps with her pony. Yet Chapter 18 opens with Sandy not having had any contact with Twilight for months, and wondering if there was even any bond left between the pony and herself. Sandy lost all credibility with me, and my daughter, when she sent her son away to boarding school because of "teenage mischief-making;" she obviously spent as little time with her children as with her horses, and solved her problems with her children the same way as with her horses, by sending them off to someone else to deal with. The book also lost credibility when Sandy missed Twilight's first dressage show because of opening the invitation too late, but has her dreaming of watching the show, then researching dressage for a hour to learn what her horse had been doing for the last year, instead of picking up the phone and calling to find out how the horse did. And lastly, somehow "Twi" was invited to participate in a prestigious regional show after placing in two events in one show; anyone who knows anything about showing horses knows you need to earn a high number of points in the duration of a show season to get such an invite. We forced ourselves to finish this book, but it was drudgery, not the eager anticipation we had for the previous Misty books.

Misty's Twilight
Alright, I downright hated this book! All it talks about how this part Chincoteague part Thoroughbred becomes a superstar like all of the horse books that are written now. It is like no duh the horse is going to win because the horse is the main character of the book! And, what kind of nickname is "Twi"? It's downright stupid. I just hated this book and I can not believe that some many people actually like this book. I think that the best illustration was when the ugly rat had her ribs sticking out. The worst was when she was doing all of the dressage moves. I mean, they only teach those moves at the Spanish Riding School, so Rat should not know them, especially a near perfect capriole. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Grown-ups will love it, kids love it more!!
When we borrowed this from the library, we read it several times per day, and my kids were begging to keep it when it was time to return it. Now we have to buy a copy for ourselves, plus one for a gift. The rhymes are better than clever--maybe even brilliant! With the catchy rhythm, this was easily the most fun book I've ever read with my kids. My four-year-old daughter was soon reading it to her brother, with the help of the fantastic illustrations. All in all, a very fun book that will thrill young and old!

Counting Crockodiles
Counting Crockodiles is a great book. My 3 year old loves it. It is his favorite book. We read it EVERY night before bed. The pictures are colorful and the animals keep his attention. He likes that the words rhyme. He looks at it so much I am ready for another copy.

Interesting Things Happen in the Sillabobble Sea!
As a mother of a 3 year old daughter and an early childhood educator, this is probably my most favorite book available.

The story revolves around a monkey who spies a banana tree on an island across the way and tricks the crocodiles into making a bridge for him to go over and retrieve some bananas. Each page is very colorfully illustrated and is told in a very catchy poetic form. Through the story you count crocodiles from one to ten and back again. The book is short but puts a smile on your face all the way through.

This story is excellent for teaching values, sequence in stories and in counting, and is a great introduction to crocodiles. A huge fan of The Crocodile Hunter, my daughter finds this story entertaining, and is one of the only stories she asks me to read over and over. It's nice because this is one of the only stories I like reading over and over!

An Instant Hit!
This was an instant hit with my 2 and 1/2 year old nephew. He loved the "eyes" in the water in the illustrations at first reading of the book. Then he pointed out more and more things on each page that he noticed as it was read. Wonderful illustrations on each page. And I loved the message of outwitting the crocodiles! Very neat book.

One of our favorite books!
We LOVE this book! We have read it over and over again. My daughter (age 4) can't get enough of it. I read it to my niece and now she has her own copy and asks to have it read nearly every day. We bought a copy for our preschool teacher and she reads it to her classes. The rhymes are fun for the kids to hear (and the reader to read!) and there are never ending surprises in the illustrations. We've been reading this book for a year now and it isn't old yet! ... Read more

Book Description

Bruce and Betty were going camping. Bailey had to stay home. "You're too little," said his brother. "You can go in a few years," said his sister. But Bailey didn't want to wait. And, with the help of Mama and Papa, Bailey went camping right where he was!

Reviews (2)

Get ready to pitch that indoor tent!!!
Bailey's older siblings are off on a camping trip, but Bailey's too young to go. What to do? Why, have an indoor camping adventure, of course.

This simple, sweet, warm, loving story will really appeal to younger children. The illustrations are wonderful, the text is straightforward and the situations ring genuinely true. This is the sort of tale that leaves a fond smile on everyone's face. Be advised, however, after reading it you'll likely be looking for an old blanket to thrust into tent duty fot the afternoon!

Do your whole family a favor and go camping with Bailey!

A Wonderful Book for Toddlers
The story of a little brother who is too young to do all the fun things his older brother and sister get to do, so his parents create a special day just for him. The wonderful illustrations and simple story are enough to make any little child love this book. Camping indoors is fun for any age, but especially for a little boy bunny who gets to do all the things his older siblings get to do. Beware! You may have to recreate the fun of camping indoors for any toddler who has this book read to them. Oh well, there are worse things! Great book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Trina Schart Hyman used to pretend she was Little Red Riding Hood when she was a little girl, wearing a red cape sewn by her mother. Her love for this character permeates her award-winning retelling of the traditional Grimm story, even as Grandma and Little Red get eaten alive by the wolf and then saved by the kindly woodsman (illustrated carefully with a minimum of violence). Little Red learns her lessons--to keep her promises, to stay on the path, to mind her manners, and to avoid talking to big, bad wolves--lessons parents still try to teach their children many generations after the Brothers Grimm first recorded this story.

For over 20 years, readers young and old have loved Hyman's illustrations of children's books, fairy tales, and folk tales--most notably the Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel, and The Fortune Tellers by Lloyd Alexander. Her illustrations for Saint George and the Dragon, by Margaret Hodges, won the Caldecott Medal. (Ages 3 to 6) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

What a treasure of a book!
I am so glad I stumbled on to this version of "Little Red Riding Hood" and that my son and I will be able to enjoy it together for years to come. The illustrations are lush and evocative; the geraniums bloom off the pages and the calico-inspired borders make you want to cover up with a cozy quilt. The retelling is superb, as well, casting Little Red as a spunky yet polite heroine. Every child's personal library needs this story, and this is the best version of this timeless tale I've ever seen.

Not a PC retelling, thank goodness!
Trina Hyman's lushly illustrated version of Grimm's tale of a young girl and her grandmother beset by a wickedly ravenous wolf is about as good as this tale gets. Fortunately for the reader, this Red Riding Hood avoids the politically correct fate of so many other modern versions of similar works.

Done with an Arts & Crafts flair, the illustrations are detailed and worthy of the Caldecott Honor award this book received. The text is relegated to a small box on every other page, giving plenty of space to enjoy the drawings.

I don't have the original Grimm text, so I cannot comment on how true to their text this work is. However, I can say that the wolf's snacking on Grandma and Red, plus his gruesome demise, is here in all its glory. Don't tell anyone from PETA.

If you are the kind of parent that loves classic tales wondrously retold, and doesn't want to sugarcoat life, then by all means get this one. It is lovely to look at and has a good moral base--just the way they used to make 'em.

This is the true story!
It is so difficult to find these tales told with the original plot, and not made so happy and safe that the point gets lost. And there are important lessons from these tales. Does EVERY story have to end up with everyone living happily ever after? What is that teaching? My three year old loves the danger, gets the message and is not unduly frightened. The illustrations are charming and rich and spark her imagination. The wolf looks like a wolf and Little Red Riding Hood looks like a little girl, instead of saturday morning cartoons. Trina Hyman is a magnificant artist. This is the way I remember the story instead of so many of the modern versions when the wolf ends up being changed into a repentant and compliant friend - that is not how life is and this version is honest without indulging in gross violence.

A perfect Example
Grimms had a superb storyline but this version of Red Riding Hood by Trina Schart Hyman is a Perfect Example for the kids to follow in their day to day life. Red Riding Hood is a sweet innocent girl who in her childishness, does not obey her mom nor keeps her promise. She lacks in her manners but is a friendly, social girl who loves animals and nature. This version has minimum violence illustration. It sets a perfect example to the child with moral values to be good, obedient, careful, keep to promises and the sort. Good for classrooms or parental teach. A child centered tale, the book offers fun and entertaining with a moral in a renewed way and is a good collection of these series of stories in the library. A good Buy and gift for kids.

Not a great version for younger children
As a teacher, I would not recommend reading this version of Little Red Riding Hood to younger children because I don't think it's suitable for a preschooler, kindergarten, or for a first grader to be listening to the ending: The hunter "raised his gun to shoot but then wondered... so he took out his knife and quickly killed the wolf while he lay sleeping. Then he carefully cut open the wolf's stomach. At the first cut, he saw the red velvet cloak, and after a few more slashes a little girl jumped out."
Also the way this author mentions the deaths: "He ran straight to the bed, and without even saying a good-morning, he ate up the poor old grandmother in one gulp.

"As the wolf said this, he sprang out of bed and ate up poor Little Red Riding Hood!"
I believe the book may be a little more suitable for older kids and it has excellent illustrations. I do recommend reading "Little Red Riding Hood" by Della Rowland. This book has two tales in one. The second tale is called "The Wolf's Tale", where the wolf tells his version of how Little Red Riding Hood actually occured. Della makes the story humorous and also allows you to give children a different perspective of the wolf being a much nicer and funnier character. ... Read more

Book Description

He was named "Sham" for the sun, this golden red stallion born in the Sultan of Morocco's stone stables.Upon his heel was a small white spot, the symbol of speed. But on his chest was the symbol of misfortune.Although he was as swift as the desert winds, Sham's proud pedigree would be scorned all his lifeby cruel masters and owners.

This is the classic story of Sham and his friend, the stable boy Agba. Their adventures take themfrom the sands of the Sahara to the royal courts of France and, finally, to the green pastures andstately homes of England. For Sham was the renowned Godolphin Arabian, whose blood flows through the veinsof almost every superior Thoroughbred. Sham's speed-like his story-has become legendary. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Great historical fiction for kids
This book was given to me when I was barely eight years old, almost thirty years ago. I learned how to read books that took more than one sitting with "King of the Wind".

The story is of a mute Morrocan stable boy, Agba, and a foal, Sham, who is born to one of the royal mares Agba cares for. Sham...and Agba...are selected to be part of a gift to the King of France. Their adventures in Europe are filled mostly with despair and cruelty, until Sham sires a foal that becomes the beginnings of the Thoroughbred breed we know today (this part is true; Sham was renamed "The Godolphin Arabian"; all Thoroughbreds must include in their pedigreeone of the three specific founding sires, and the Godolphin Arabian is one of them).

There's a lot here: adventure, triumph over adversity, a respect for other cultures, the care of the creatures that share our lives, and a healthy dose of humor about the absurdities of the powerful or elite.

As a kid, I eagerly devoured any Marguerite Henry book I could find. It's well worth it to get hard-cover editions that include the wonderful full-color illustrations by Wesley Dennis.

Excellent book for kids who love horses
I am now 32 years old, and this book remains vivid in my mind as one of my all-time childhood favorites. The story of the mute stable boy Agba and his travels with 'his' beloved horse Sham exposes young readers to a variety of cultures and stressses the value of faithfulness and loyalty without being at all preachy. Sham, sent as a gift from the Sultan of Morocco to the King of France, is mistreated during the voyage and arrives looking like an old nag instead of the young, well-bred Arab stallion he is. The king's rejection of the horse is the beginning of a new journey as Sham -- with Agba always there to care for him -- passes from one owner to another, eventually becoming "The Godolphin Arabian" one of the three founders of the Thoroughbred bred. This book is worth buying in the hardback form, especially if that means getting Wesley Dennis' gorgeous illustrations in color

"The king of the wind is loes."
King of the wind is a great book. I am not a hores book person but I really liked this book. Sham was born with a singh of bad luk witch was the weat ear but he was also born with a white spot on his hind leg withc was good luk and that he would be a fast running hores. Sham, Agba,(is the mute boy who takes care of him) and a cat. Thoes three go through many things to gether and live many places. The book has a pretty happy ending and you should read it. I am going to give you about ten words of advice, GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY AND GO READ IT.

A Book For All Ages!
This will touch your heart in so many ways. It brings you into the life of a small boy and his special bond with a horse. You will follow their journey that goes many places.

The first time I picked up this book and read it I fell in love with it. I even now in my read this book at least once a year.

Could have told more of the real story...
Marguerite Henry took great license in telling the story of the Godolphin Arabian, but it's likely there were two reasons she did so; first, because she based the majority of her novel on heavily romanticised reports like that which appeared in Western Horseman in 1949; second, to illustrate to young children what could happen to perfectly good horses that were considered worthless because of prejudice or unwillingness to see what was there.

The real Sham was born in Tunis and given by the Bey of Tunis to King Louis XV with a group of other horses. But there's no evidence that he was reduced to pulling a cart in the Paris streets before rescue by Edward Coke. Coke probably got him from the Duke of Lorraine, who'd gotten him from the King.

A contemporary described Sham as "beautiful but half-starved", so the rough sea voyage with the greedy staff is likely true, even if the cart-horse story is not. He also said that Sham (he spelled it Shami, and other accounts have "Scham") was temperamental and generally disliked by the stable hands. A vet who cared for Sham in his last years said he was built to sire champions: "his shoulders were deeper, and lay farther into his back, than those of any horse ever yet seen. Behind the shoulders, there was but a very small space ere the muscles of his loins rose exceedingly high, broad, and expanded, which were inserted into his hindquarters with greater strength and power than in any horse I believe ever yet seen of his dimensions, viz fifteen hands high."

Agba was real; there are portraits of the little horse with a handsome dark-skinned young man in flowing Arab dress and turban. Whether or not he was mute is debatable. Again, many of the later accounts have been greatly romanticised. But Grimalkin the stable cat was real too, according to early records which report his presence in the famous portrait.

There is no record of the apocalyptic battle with Hobgoblin. We can look at that, and Sham's subsequent exile to Wicken Fen, as symbolic of the prejudice felt by the complacent English toward this relatively small, strange-looking newcomer. The truth is that Sham did mate with Lady Roxane and sired Lath. He sired 116 others in his long lifetime.

With all the interest in Seabiscuit of late, one would like to point out that as a direct descendant of Man O'War, he was also a direct descendant of the Godolphin Arabian. Just another horse who seemed worthless, but was not, and came from behind to prove the superiority of Arabian blood.

Look up "Davenport Arabians" to learn more about this proud line. ... Read more

Book Description

Dear possible reader of this book,

I want to be a writer, just like my uncle Harold, who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula. So I wrote this story. And boy! Did I ever get into trouble! My friend Delilah stopped speaking to me because I put her in my book. Uncle Harold stopped speaking to me because I didn't put him in my book. A writer's life isn't easy!

But back to my story: It's about how a talented and lovable (not to mention smart) wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie saves the world from a disgusting, evil menace named...oops, that would give away the story. But trust me, this menace is disgusting and evil, all right!!!

Your friend, Howie ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This is the best book ever!
Would you ever like to visit Asteroid # 6 in space? Tales of the House of Bunnicula Mind Swappers from Asteroid # 6 by James Howe is a good book to read. A dog gets it's mind switched with a squirrel from asteroid #6! Delilah the dog gets sent to asteroid #6 in space. I like this book because it has a lot of cool characters in it and it is really funny. The moral is you should always help your friends when they are in danger. Read more to find out about Tales of the house of Bunnicula mind swappers from Asteroid # 6!

You have to see this review!
Would you ever want to go under a bed to get a potion? Well, It Came From
Beneath the Bed by James Howe is full of mystery. This story is about a dog who wants
to become a writer just like his uncle. Delilah helps Howe save the world from a large
stuffed-animal bear from eating the city. I liked this book a lot. It was good because it was funny and interesting. I don't really have a favorite part because the whole book is
good. Read more to find out.

Biggest Koala Bear in the world!!
I enjoyed this book even though I did not read the other books in the series. Bunnicula is about a boy who wants to rule the world. He made a potion and spilt it on his stuffed Koala Bear named Pudgykins.The potion made Pudgykins grow really, really big. He was eating everything. After he ate one thing he grew one foot taller. At the end of the book they put him on a boat and brought him to to an Island where people dump trash. People were trying to figure out what to do with him. But they just left him on the Island. I like this book very much.

Learn Writing from a Dog....Fun way to teach kids
After taking many writing classes on "how to teach kids to write"...I stumbled across James Howe's new series, "Tales From the House of Bunnicula"...and I began to learn how to teach writing, from a dog. The whole time I was reading the book, lesson plans popped into my head... "I could use this to teach simile...or that would make a great lesson on 'cliffhangers', or when and how to use adjectives...and this part would show what 'literary license' means..... the book is full of laugh-out-loud humor. I can't wait to share these tales with my fourth grade students. Jame Howe's books are not only fun to read, but you soon realize that you can learn a lot from a dog...and from great authors. This is a Howling Success, I know I'll be using them in my classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

Legend has it that more than four thousand years ago a mighty dragon prince named Lac Long Quan married a fairy princess named Au Co. From these parents the Vietnamese people were born. With power, humor, and grace, Sherry Garland shares six of her favorite folktales of Vietnam. Passed down through the ages, these colorful stories depict the rich history, tribal customs, explanations of natural phenomena, and values so important to the Vietnamese people. Award-winning illustrator Trina Schart Hyman brings these magically entertaining and vividly detailed stories to life in an introduction to the folktales of Vietnam that is nothing less than masterful. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Favorite Folktales of Vietnam.....
As the introduction tells us: "To most Americans, the word Vietnam brings to mind one thing - a war fought in muddy rice fields and steamy jungles, as we've seen it depicted in movies and popular television programs. Very few of us know much about the history, culture, or folklore of this ancient country." Fortunately, Sherry Garland's new book, Children Of The Dragon, will begin to change our perception. This superb collection of six folktales is engaging, rich in history, culture, and tradition, and includes author's notes at the end of each story to broaden understanding, and enrich its meaning. From The Legend Of The Monsoon Rains, Chu Cuoi-The Man In The Moon, and The Raven And The Star Fruit, to How The Tiger Got Its Stripes, The Boatman's Flute, and The Bowmen And The Sisters, each folktale is entertaining, satisfying, and runs the whole gamut of emotions, from silly and amusing to poignant and tragic. Award winning illustrator, Trina Schart Hyman brings each tale to life with her marvelously vibrant and vivid artwork. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, Children Of The Dragon is a feast for both the eyes and ears, and is an intriguing and unique collection that transports the reader to another place and time. ... Read more

Book Description

Dear possible reader of this book,

I wasn't sure I'd be able to write a book ever again after Canine Quarterly reviewed my series, Tales from the House of Bunnicula. They said I would never win the Newbony Award. Was I depressed! And I didn't even know what a Newbony was! Luckily Delilah's read a lot of Newbony books, so she helped me write this one. It's about a poor (but very cute) orphan dachshund puppy named Howie Monroe, who lives on the prairie and yearns for a chicken bone. (I know. Trust me.) Things really get exciting when Howie and his best friend, the smart and well-read Delilah, find a time machine and travel back to ancient Egypt where they uncover...the mystery of the Pharaoh's tomb!!!

Uncle Harold (who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula) says he thinks Delilah and I learned a lot about working together. I'm just glad we're still speaking to each other, and I hope you like the story.

Your friend,
Howie ... Read more

Book Description

The classic action rhyme, featuring Michael Hague's lovable bears, is now available in a sturdy board book format, perfect for sharing with the very young.

Reviews (1)

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
My granddaughter enjoyed this book so much, that we have it out more than the Library has it in stock. One of the librairians is a neighbor and we had been to the library that day and we searched high and low for this book, to no avail. That evening the neighbor came with book in hand, and my 2 1/2yr old granddaughter was so excited to get her book back, she claims. She can't read but knows it by heart. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Catchy Poetry
Jan.
Fat snowy footsteps
Track the floor,
And parkas pile up
Near the door.

May.
Now children may
Go out of doors,
Without their coats,
To candy stores.
Jun.
There's Little league,
Hopscotch, the creek,
And, after supper,
Hide-and-seek.
Aug.
The sprinkler twirls.
The summer wanes.
The pavement wears
Popsicle stains.
Oct.
At last, small witches,
Goblins, hags,
And pirates armed
With paper bags
Dec.
Old carols peal.
The dusk is dense.

There is a mood
Of sweet suspense.

These classic poems are newly enriched by the beautiful illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Trina Schart Hyman.
The book has the feel of a Dr. Suess book, without humor.

Terrific Pictures & Poetry
I love the novels of John Updike and was curious to read one of his children's books. As always, Updike has produced a book of high quality. Each month is represented in a four- or five-stanza poem and has two illustrations. What I like about Updike is his obvious love of language, and he doesn't disappoint here. My favorite line is for July, "And Tabby dozes/in a pool/ of fur she sheds/ to keep her cool." What a beautiful summation of July!

Originally written in 1965, the book was re-released in 1999 with new illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. The pictures are stunning and capture the elements of each month. Readers of Updike know that he lives in Massachusetts, and the poems and illustrations have a decidely northeastern feel. Most highly recommended for young readers (ages 4-8 years) as well as their parents who enjoy evocative poetry!

A Vivid, Visual Introduction to Poetic Imagery
Today, many children only know about poetry from Dr. Seuss. A Child's Calendar is a rich introduction to the imagery of poetry that has entranced all who listen since the days of wandering story tellers and shamen. In this volume, classic New England situations and events are beautifully illustrated in warm, heavily inked water colors showing beautiful brown and pink faces amid nature's wonders. Although no one would buy this volume solely for the poetry, the resulting book of illustrated verses makes for the raw material for a garden of happy memories tended by reading to your child (or grandchild) and listening while she or he learns to read to you.

Each month is featured, beginning with January, with a brief poem and two beautiful illustrations spread over two pages. The illustrations are clearly well deserving of the Caldecott Honor.

I found some of the imagery particularly meaningful, and these lines are included below:

January -- "The sun a spark/Hung thin between/The dark and dark."

February -- "And snapping, snipping/Scissors run/To cut out hearts."

March -- "The timid earth/Decides to thaw."

April -- "All things renew./All things begin."

May -- "And Daddy may/Get out his hoe/To plant tomatoes/In a row."

June -- "In golden hours,/Silver days."

July -- "Bang-bang! Ka-boom!"

August -- "The pavement wears/Popsicle stains."

September -- "The breezes taste of apple peel."

October -- "Frost bites the lawn."

November -- "The ground is hard,/As hard as stone."

December -- "We were fat penguins,/Warm and stiff."

The subjects of sun, earth, plants, animals, and change recur in almost each poem.

One of the charms of this book is that it makes the harsh weather interesting and appealing, helping a child understand the balanced nature of the year and his or her role in that balance. For someone who lives in a warm climate year round this book will seem very magical.

After you have finished enjoying the book, I suggest that you and your child partner discuss other cycles that she or he has noticed. You could talk about the daily cycle of the sun, the monthly cycle of the moon, the twice daily tides, or even three meals a day. Young people often have trouble developing a perception of context for what is going on around them. This book and your discussions can help. You will also encourage someone who may want to write some poetry. If so, why not start with January and describe what is happening where you live?

See and hear the most in the beauty around you! Capture it for others to enjoy!

A year to remember
The pictures in this book are great fun--Trina Schart Hyman skillfully captures the atmosphere of each season with a complexity of familiar objects, including the small details that always make her work a joy to wander into. The poetry, however, was not as good as I had expected. The poems lacked internal unity, resembling a list of separate events that never transitioned well enough into each other to evoke the desired image (of that particular month). There were occasional gems--phrases that stood out like holidays in an otherwise unspectacular "year." For example, "January" begins with these lines:

"The days are short,/ The sun a spark/ Hung thin between/ The dark and dark."

And the first two stanzas of "June":

"The sun is rich/ And gladly pays/ In golden hours,/ Silver days,/

And long green weeks/ That never end./ School's out. The time/ Is ours to spend."

Among several other noteworthy passages, my favorite of all is this one from "March":

"The mud smells happy/ On our shoes."

Read it for the gems, not for a unified sense of the season, and you'll be rewarded. But then again, the pictures are reward enough!

Dandy Eye and Word Candy
Updike creates a poem and word picture that accurately and wonderfully describes each month of the year. His short, simple poems are packed full of words and imagines that conjure up seasons and holidays, emotions and activities throughout the year. Hyman's illustrations are an added bonus, as she brings each month to life through the eyes of a family and their friends. I highly recommend this one -- it's beautiful ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sweet book with a lesson
"Kiss the Cow" has become a favorite of my 2-year-old after a recent visit to my parent's house in VA. While there, we saw cows "up close and personal", although we did not kiss any! In this book, Annalisa is one of Mama May's many children; the most curious and most stubborn. After disobeying her mother, Annalisa milks Luella, the "magic" cow. She does not kiss her afterward, however, as is required to ensure future milk production. What happens next is a lesson in learning the consequences of your actions, without being preachy. Luella will not give milk again until Annalisa kisses her, which eventually happens after much cajoling by the children and Mama May. Phyllis Root's book "What Baby Wants" is cute, too.

Pucker Up.....
"Mama May lived where the earth met the sky, and her house was as wide as the prairie. It needed to be. Mama May had so many children she couldn't count them all. Among Mama May's children was one called Annalisa. She wasn't the youngest, and she wasn't the oldest, but she was the most curious and the most stubborn..." Every morning Annalisa watched as Mama May milked their cow, Luella. First she sang her magic greeting song, and Luella gave Mama all the milk she needed for her many, many children. Then she sang her thank you song, and last, but not least, she gave Luella a kiss "right on the end of her velvety, brown nose." "Ughhh!" said Annalisa. "Imagine kissing a cow!" Annalisa watch the milking day in and day out, and wondered what it would be like. Finally she just had to find out for herself. She took her pail from the sandbox and ran down to the pasture. First she sang the greeting song, and Luella filled her pail with warm, sweet milk. Then she sang the thank you song. But when it was time to kiss the cow, Annalisa absolutely would not. The next day, when Mama May came to milk the cow, Luella was dry. No matter how much she sang and kissed, there was no milk for Mama May's children..... Phyllis Root's warm and engaging text is filled with wit and energy, and begs to be read aloud and shared. Will Hillenbrand's bright, expressive, and entertaining illustrations are filled with humor and playful, eye-catching detail. Together, word and art offer a preschool crowd-please that's sure to charm both young and old alike. With its happily-ever-after ending to set everything right once again, Kiss The Cow is a winner!

very cute
This is a delightful new addition to my children's library. The illustrations are wonderfully fresh. The language is not too lengthy or involved, yet contains some wonderful descriptive references. For example, unless you are familiar with a dairy, you probably don't know that fresh cheese squeeks between your teeth. This is a book my two toddlers want to see again and again, and I can hardly wait to share it with my kindergarten class.

Very Cute
This is a delightful new children's book. The illustrations are wonderfully fresh. The text is not too difficult or lengthy for young readers to understand, yet contains some very descriptive material. Only those who've been in dairy land would know that cheese squeeks in your teeth when it's very fresh. My two children adore this book and wish to have it read again and again. I can hardly wait to share it with my kindergarten class. ... Read more