Reviews (428)

You'll Love it or Hate it - I Love it
We've had this book for a few years, but I hadn't ever read it with my daughter until last night. It is a wonderful book. It starts out with a mother and her new baby and she rocks him and sings him a little song about how he will be her baby as long as she lives.

Through the succeeding pages, the baby grows into a toddler, a young boy, a teenager and a man. In every stage of his life, his mother sneaks into his room sometimes, crawls across the floor, picks him up, rocks him, and sings the song. This is the part that some people find creepy (my wife included). I think the problem is that some people just don't care to suspend disbelief and expect every book to be very literal. Yes, a little old lady breaking and entering to rock her grown son is a little odd to us as adults, but if you approach the book as a young child, it might seem perfectly normal. In any case, it serves as an effective symbol to show that the mother's love endures throughout their lives.

Of course, since the son is growing up, so is the mother, and you can imagine where this is leading. When the mother gets too old to sing the song anymore, I broke down in tears right there reading to my almost four year old daughter. We had a pretty good conversation as a result.

So, now you are forewarned. I think whether you like this book or not is going to be very dependent on what sort of person you are and what sort of person your kids are.

Glad I am not a "Normal Well-Adjusted Mother"
Cynics, sickos and general crumudgeons, this book is written through the eyes of CHILDREN and recommended for 4-8 year olds. Would you rather the author show the son in the back of a cruiser after under age drinking at a party and while he is passed out in his bed after his Mom bails him out of jail she could crawl into his room to recite the poem-that would be fun to explain to a 5 year old!

As one reviewer put it, you could just tell your children you love them...think of that page turner. Once Upon a Time, I love You, The End. Oh, Mommy, please read that one again!

Where's the baby's Mother? The son's Father? Who knows? Who Cares!!! My children have never once asked me and I never once cared. Please don't ask the "Normal Well-Adjusted Mother" reviewer. I am sure it will have to do with serial-killer's or cannibles and other non-age appropriate material for a CHILDREN'S BOOK!!!

This is a WONDERFUL book. Sorry, but if you find it icky, creepy, or anything other than innocent pleasure to read take the money you would spend on other book's and spend it on therapy.

A 15 year old girl's perspective.
I adore this book! My mom read it to me all the time when I was little. This is a wholesome book that sends a message of love, not death to a child. I'm sure there are a handful of children who focus on the ending, but not many. And the adults who focus on the ending are obviously unable to handle the concept of death. This book doesn't send a message of incest or inappropriate interaction between a mother and child. It tells the story of a loving relationship between a mother and son that lasts beyond the realm of childhood. In fact, when I have children of my own, I will buy my own copy (perhaps sooner) and read it to them.

A wonderful story of unconditional love...
This is a wonderful story. It brings tears to my eyes each time I read it to my girls - and my girls love to hear it. I give a copy to each and every friend and relative who gives birth and they have all loved it too. I have never read another book that so clearly defines unconditional love. Shame on those individuals who harbor so much unhealthy mental garbage that they cannot see the true emotional beauty in this story.

A True Classic
I have loved this FICTIONAL story of unconditional love since the moment I read it 15 years ago. My sons love it, as it reminds them of how their parents will always be there for them.
However, if you harbor sick, twisted feelings against Mother/Mother-In-Law or if you still need more therapy to sort out your "baggage", this might not be the book for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Is it a fact--or have I dreamt it--that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time?" If you, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, are kept up at night wondering about how things work--from electricity to can openers--then you and your favorite kids shouldn't be a moment longer without David Macaulay's The New Way Things Work. The award-winning author-illustrator--a former architect and junior high school teacher--is perfectly poised to be the Great Explainer of the whirrings and whizzings of the world of machines, a talent that landed the 1988 version of The Way Things Work on the New York Times bestsellers list for 50 weeks. Grouping machines together by the principles that govern their actions rather than by their uses, Macaulay helps us understand in a heavily visual, humorous, unerringly precise way what gadgets such as a toilet, a carburetor, and a fire extinguisher have in common.

The New Way Things Work boasts a richly illustrated 80-page section that wrenches us all (including the curious, bumblingwooly mammoth who ambles along with the reader) into the digital age of modems, digital cameras, compact disks, bits, and bytes. Readers can glory in gears in "The Mechanics of Movement," investigate flying in "Harnessing the Elements," demystify the sound ofmusic in "Working with Waves," marvel at magnetism in "Electricity & Automation," andexamine e-mail in "The Digital Domain." An illustrated survey of significant inventions closes the book, along with a glossary of technical terms, and an index. What possible link could there be between zippers and plows, dentist drills and windmills? Parking meters and meat grinders, jumbo jets and jackhammers, remote control and rockets, electric guitars and egg beaters? Macaulay demystifies them all. (Click to see asample spread of this book, illustrations and text copyright 1998 David Macaulay, Neil Ardley, published by Houghton Mifflin Co.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The New Way Things Work
This is the best book for childern and adults I have ever read. I recieved "The Way Things Work" When I was in 4th grade. Now I have this newer version. My classmates and I both used it during my College Mechanical Engineering Classes. Everyone can learn from this book it is not just for kids but really belongs on every childs bookshelf.

This book really tells you how things work!
Do you think you know how a lot of things work? Yes? Well, you are probably wrong. I am a Physics Major in college and I thought I knew how a lot of things work. However, when I found this book in my physics professor's office, I fell in love with this book. I ordered for my copy on the same day. This book is good for the kids, but some of the stuff is hard to understand because there are some words like forces or angles. These are hard to understand for kids, but the pictures in this book are good for the curious kids. They may understand some of the stuff. But, I would rate this book for grownups. You will learn how locks work, how airplanes fly, how helicopters can go forward or backward. You will understand the mechanics just by looking at the pictures, but the reading the explanations also helps you understand. This is a nice book to keep at the corner of your bookshelf.

An Absolute Need for Every Household
Few books can compare to "The Way Things Work" in the amount which they can teach the curious. Be they old or young, college educated engineers or preschoolers, everyone can pick something out of this book. Trust me; I've seen it from all ends.

When I was six, I loved the mammoths...and learned about simple machines and airplane wings. When I was in high school, I appreciated the mammoths' wit...and learned about automatic transmissions and transistors. Now that I'm in college, I've read the whole thing, and it's still a great reference book, just as entertaining and informative as it was so many years ago. And the mammoths are still funny.

For kids with insatiable curiosity, "The Way Things Work" can be a great and entertaining resource; for everyone who's ever wondered how their car drives, or why their computer works, or how satellite communications happen, it can be an immensely satisfying read.

Good book, but not for the very young
I bought this book for a boy of the age of 8. He didn't seem very interested in the text explanations of how things work. Perhaps he's a little young, but like other reviewers said, this is a book that can most definately be put on the shelf for several years and still have relevance when a few years of knowledge is gained.

BUY THIS BOOK!
My god, this has to be one of my favorite books. When I was a kid, I was FASCINATED (well, I still am) by mechanical things. I must have checked this book out of the library twenty times, and it never got old. It is PACKED with info, the drawings are great, and it is very educational. Well, I was at the library today checking out books for a mechanical engineering class, and there it was on the shelf. I checked it out again for old times sake, and here I am at Amazon.com (to buy my very own copy of course), writing a reveiew. Nuff said. Anyway, if you have a child, boy or girl, old or young, smart or not, it doesn't matter- this book ROCKS! ... Read more

Book Description

Within the sanctuary of a loving family, baby Eli is born and, as he grows, "learns to cherish the people and places around him, eventualy passing on what he has discovered to his new baby sister, Sylvie: 'All the places to love are here . . . no matter where you may live.' This loving book will be something to treasure."'BL. "The quiet narrative is so intensely felt it commands attention. . . . a lyrical celebration."'K.

1995 Teachers' Choices (IRA)
1995 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Notable 1995 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (15)

LOVE this book!
My 5 year-old daughter has hundreds of books, but only a select few sit on the "special shelf" in her room, and this is one of them. I bought it for her a couple of years ago, and it has been my favorite ever since. Everything about this book is beautiful.... the illustrations, the story, and the message. I simply cannot read through this book without crying...........the second to the last page does me in every time!! This book is a lovely reminder to enjoy and appreciate the simple things that surround all of us. If you are looking for a special book that your children will love and you will treasure, this is the one.........BUY THIS BOOK! If I had to pick only one of my daughter's books to save forever, this would be it.

We bought this story for EACH of our childrens' families!
Adults and children both will identify with this story. It is especially powerful for any 5 - 9 yr. old boy who is adjusting to the idea of having a new baby sister.

His big-brother role is defined in a delightful way which enhances his esteem and belongingness to the basic family. He becomes "protector" and "teacher" for his new sibling just as he has been protected and taught since his own birth.

The beautiful paintings, which must be "read" along with the words, are masterpieces.

This book reminds me of home!
It's funny how you read a book sometimes and you think the author must have lived your same life. I used to pick blueberries on what we always called "Blueberry Hill" I built bark boats with my Gram. The barn actually looks like my Grandfather's barn and our milk cow April was exactly like the one in the picture. I planted potatoes with my dad every spring and remember shaking the dirt from my pockets. This book is beautiful, especially if you grew up in a rural setting. I've given as a gift to every friend in honor of their first baby. It was the first book I bought when I found out I was pregnant. READ this book and share it with others!!!

Pretty pictures, pretty words, pretty unrealistic
I love many of Patricia MacLachlan's books. However, this picture book has what I consider a flaw. The protagonist is a young child and the words he uses sound like a sentimental grandmother. I love it when children try to be sentimental. But when they do it sounds child like and that's what's so touching.

The words of this book are beautiful. The child describes being born and his grandmother holding him next to the window so that the first thing he would hear is the wind. He describes his grandfather crying and carving his name in the loft. He describes growing up and all the places to love and various scenes of quiet beauty in a country setting. Here's a quote: "My grandfather's barn is sweet-smelling and dark and cool: Learther harnesses hang like paintings against old wood." Lovely, no? But it all comes off sounding "coached" because the reality is that no child would say these things. An adult looking back on childhood would say these things, and that's really what Ms. MacLachlan is doing in the interpertation of this character. Obviously that works for a lot of folks. The book has gotten great reviews. It doesn't work for me. What does work for me are the absolutely stunningly beautiful pictures throughout the book. Glorious color, absolute realism...this is museam quality art in my opinion.

Patricia MacLachlan is a wonderful writer for older readers. This picture book didn't hit the mark in my opinion. A few better choices of sentimental "country theme" picture books are "The Relatives Came" or "When I was Young in the Mountains" both by Cynthia Rylant.

A family favorite!
Oh, how I love this book! My husband and I never tire of reading it, and my son finds something new in the beautiful pictures everytime we do. A heartwarming story about the special places that make a child's small world uniquely theirs, and the joy at sharing those places with family. This would be a great book for a child expecting a new sibling, empowering him or her with the ability to show the new little one what makes this world so wonderful. While this story is set on a farm, it should be easy to help a child in any setting find the places and things that make their surroundings delightful. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Excellent book for girls and women..
I adore this book. It is about Princess Elizabeth who has to defeat a dragon when the Prince is kidnapped. Elizabeth has to rely on her own strengths, creativity and ingenuity to win the battle with the dragon. Every female I've read this book to has loved it, from my 3 year old niece to a group of 12 year olds to my university Women's Studies class. The book has a fantastic message about women's potential to break through sex-role stereotyping. The book boosted the self-esteem of the girls I was working with and led to some great discussions about the fact that they don't need to have a boyfriend to be happy, and the need to accept themselves and recognize their strengths. I think this book is empowering and uplifting and I reccommend it to anyone who is in contact with young girls. Heck, get it for yourself. You deserve it.

A Must Read for Four Year Old Girls
I am so happy I got this book for my four year old daughter. It's the perfect antidote to those unrealistic Disney stories (i.e., Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty). And don't get me wrong, I think that those Disney stories can be fabulous, but the subliminal messages are somewhat 18th century. The Paper Bag Princess, on the other hand is decidely modern. Its message is: if a guy isn't nice to you, he's not worth it, leave him. Really, is there a more important message about relationships that we ought to be sending to our daughters? There are other wonderful messages in here for girls: you are resourceful, be strong. And, as an added benefit, this is a great and funny book, both of my daughters love it. This would make a great gift to all of the young girls in your life (and I think the age range should start at 2, not 4).

Very Spunky!
Hoorah for a princess story where substance counts over good looks!

Not the Ordinary Princess.
This is a fantastic feminist tale for any age or gender. Once again, Munsch fails to not please. The Princess' ideals are modern, her feeling she doesn't need a prince.

This may be my favorite book!
What a brilliant story to encourage girls to be strong, smart, and realize beauty comes from within!

I have bought this for all friends with new babies...girls and boys. What a gift when we grace our children with the power of confidence and imagination. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Seventy-five years ago, that most beloved of "silly old bears,"Winnie-the-Pooh, came down the stairs, "bump, bump, bump," on the back of his head,behind Christopher Robin. And now, after generations of children have grown upon stories about Pooh's adventures with his forest friends, the four all-timechildren's classics from A.A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard have been collected inone hefty, handsome volume for another multitude of generations to enjoy.Gathered together are the poems and tales that celebrate heffalumps, Eeyore'sbirthday, the unbouncing of Tigger, Disobedience, Buckingham Palace, andsneezles. The stories about Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit's doorway, Piglet doinga "Very Grand Thing," and Eeyore losing a tail (and Pooh finding one) aretimeless favorites for children--and grownups--of all ages. Four originalclassics are here, in all their glory: Winnie-the-Pooh, The House atPooh Corner, When We Were Very Young, and Now We Are Six. Thisbeautiful edition features complete, unabridged text and all of Shepard'soriginal illustrations, each hand painted in watercolors--this is a truecollector's gem. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (15)

All the magic of Winnie the Pooh...
This is a beautiful book. This is definitely not the Disney version of Pooh. This is the 'magical' and mysterious Pooh in all his glory. The illustrations are timeless and add depth to the characters in the Hundred Acre Wood.

I've had friends young and old who have seen this book lying on my coffee table and have picked it up and have become like children again reading these tales.

The REAL Pooh
No childhood - or adulthood, for that matter - would be complete without the adventures of wonderful Winnie and his friends. This 75th anniversary edition is beautifully presented, and readers used to Disney's glossily commercial drawings will be amazed by the original Ernest H. Shepard illustrations featured here. Coloured by Shepard when he was in his 90s (!), Pooh, Piglet, Christopher Robin and co have never seemed more endearing and vivid.

But the greatest credit should surely go to A.A. Milne for creating some of fiction's most delightful characters. Reading this collection today after a break of 30-odd years, Milne's gentle wit and enthusiasm seem as fresh as ever. What a wonderful sense of life (and fun) the man must have possessed.

Pooh is the perfect antidote to today's cynical times!

Pooh Corner
I loved Pooh as a child and know have been able to introduce Pooh to my own kids. It has a generational appeal. A few years ago, a friend of mine lost a 6-year-old son through an accident where older children were playing with a handgun. The funeral featured the boy's favorite poem from Milne with the final line, "Now that I'm six, I'm as clever as clever. I think I'll stay six forever and ever."

The double meaning and emotions from the loss of this young Pooh fan will always be with me. Another book for bedtimes that is full of love, adventure, and wisdom is Original Animals by Horton. I encourage you to check it out. You will be glad you did.

Wonderful book
I bought this book as a baby shower gift, and couldn't have been more pleased. It has an attractive cover, sturdy pages, and a good binding -- all necessary for years of bedtime stories! Like most classic Pooh books, the only illustrations are the original drawings, so the emphasis is on the story. One note: This is a big, fairly heavy book. It's something to be read to or by an older child, maybe at bedtime, but it's not as durable for the poundings board books get.

Wonderful!
The delightful full color illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard are what separate this combined volume from all others. A must-have for Pooh fans. The large type-set will be appreciated by those needing it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk go the blueberries into the pail of a little girl named Sal who--try as she might--just can't seem to pick as fast as she eats. Robert McCloskey's classic is a magical tale of the irrepressible curiosity--not to mention appetite--of youth. Sal and her mother set off in search of blueberries for the winter at the same time as a mother bear and her cub. A quiet comedy of errors ensues when the young ones wander off and absentmindedly trail the wrong mothers.

Blueberries for Sal--with its gentle animals, funny noises, and youthful spirit of adventure--isperfect for reading aloud. The endearing illustrations, rendered in dark, blueberry-stain blue, will leave youcraving a fresh pail of your own. (Picture book) ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Review of Blueberries for Sal
This is the story of a little girl that goes blueberry picking with her mother. She is helping her pick blueberries but she is more concerned with eating them then she is with keeping them so her mother can make things with them. At the same time a mother bear was picking blueberries with her cub too stock up for the winter. The cub was doing the same thing as Sal and eating the blueberries faster then he was picking them. The cub and Sal did not follow their mothers. They just wondering off eating there merry way around the mountain. Eventually Sal and the cub end up all mixed up and with the wrong mothers and they set out to get with the right ones again.
I love this book. It is a great tale and it is so much fun to read over and over again. The pictures are great and so realistic. I think this really is a good book for children to read and I think it is one that they would really enjoy reading too. This is definitely a book that I want for my class collection and I think the author did a really good job at making this book fun and full of adventure.

An adorable classic adventure story
It's a classic case of mistaken identity when, while on a hunt for blueberries, two very different mommies and two very different children get separated and all mixed up. Or are they really that different? With McCloskey's incredible eye for natural detail from a child's point of view, this story tells a hilarious tale about a human mother and child (the eponymous Sal) who go blueberry hunting and run into their bear counterparts, who are storing up food for hibernation. Not only are the sound effects hilarious (my son loves to chant the KERPLINK! KERPLANK! KERPLUNK! part along with me) the story also teaches a lot about comparing and contrasting characteristics in the natural world, and the striking and original blue-and-white illustrations make this book unique. Your preschooler is sure to delight in it, and your first grader is still going to love it and be able to draw more sophisticated comparisons and conclusions from the story. Sure to be a bedtime favorite for many years - it has been in my househould!

The Beauty of Simplicity
Both the story and blue-ink illustrations are simple but charming. There's nothing mythopoetic here, but there is something magical about just being out in the wide-open country picking berries (we're going to pick wild blackberries today!). An excellent short bedtime story of the "light reading" variety.

A Much Loved Classic
For our family, each summer we read "Blueberries for Sal" together. Then we drop the blueberries that we've bought (sadly not picked) into a tin bucket to listen to the kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk, and end with making blueberry jam to put aside for winter.

It's something my older children remember with delight, and something my youngest is newly excited about. The illustrations are beautiful, especially of Sal and Sal's Mother in the kitchen.

Classic
This is a story that you were probably read as a child. It is one of those wonderful stories, so rarely written in this day of commercial tie-in books like Bob the Builder and such, that both the child and the parent can enjoy together and even both get a good chuckle out of.

If you are looking for a fun children's book with great illustrations, this is for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Christopher Robin asks Pooh what he likes doing best in the world, Pooh says, after much thought, "What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying 'What about a little something?' and Me saying, 'Well, I shouldn't mind a little something, should you, Piglet,' and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing."

Happy readers for over 70 years couldn't agree more. Pooh's status as a "Bear of Very Little Brain" belies his profoundly eternal wisdom in the ways of the world. To many, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and the others are as familiar and important as their own family members. A.A. Milne's classics, Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, are brought together in this beautiful edition, complete and unabridged, with recolored illustrations by Milne's creative counterpart, Ernest H. Shepard. Join Pooh and the gang as they meet a Heffalump, help get Pooh unstuck from Rabbit's doorway, (re)build a house for Eeyore, and try to unbounce Tigger. A childhood is simply not complete without full participation in all of Pooh's adventures. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (50)

The original is still the best
For all those who think that Winnie the Pooh is a Disney creation, this book will be a revelation and a delight. The ubiquitous and lovable Disney mass-market version of A.A. Milne's characters cannot compare with the simple wisdom of this children's classic. The writing and humor is far more sophisticated and subtle than the slapstick cartoon version cooked up for mass consumption.

The book also contains an interesting and informative forward and introduction that explains the origin of Winnie the Pooh, that Christopher Robin was really Milne's son and other fascinating facts about Milne's life.

Most importantly, it holds the original stories of Pooh and friends, and the original illustrations by Earnest H. Shepard. These illustrations provide a look at how Pooh first appeared 70 years ago.

The recommended age for this book is four and up, but we have been reading these stories to our son (who is also thoroughly immersed in the Disney version) since he was about two and a half and he loves them. I'm sure he didn't comprehend what was going on in the stories at first, but as time went on, he increasingly continued to understand. He still loves bringing us the book.

This book is a treasure. Anyone who has a child who loves Pooh owes it to him or her to hear the original version. It is fun for adults as well. It is the quintessential addition to any Pooh collection.

A bear of very little brains . . .
A. A. Milne would be proud of the interpretation of his story and characters that will always live in the forest of imagination. Ernest H. Shepard's artwork makes this adventure is a visual delight. The characters represent archetypes to which children can identify and relate. As long as there are children and parents to read to them, Winnie the Pooh will remain a favorite storybook classic.

* Pooh teaches a positive attitude; he will always get the honey, and get out of predicaments through his friends. His wisdom is simple and easy for children to understand and agree upon.
* Eyore is forlorn, pessimistic, and surprised by the good things that come his way. He never expects to be part of the crowd, but always is included. The emotion is easy to relate to from our own adolescence, and helps adults remember the trials of childhood.
* Tigger and his bouncy tail take us into the air in a never-ending enthusiasm for the joy in life. In addition, he shows the potential of getting into trouble because he does not think about the results.
* Rabbit, practical Rabbit, who is also a sourpuss, shows that we can always miss the joy in life, but if we join with others then good things happen.
* Kanga and baby Roo show the importance of love and protection for parent and child.
* Owl is the wise old teacher who always asks "Who?" in the quest for knowledge, and shows the value of learning.
* Christopher Robin represents the adult, the one who solves problems, and is a constant force even when not present. He is the focus, the thinker, and he shows the value of considering thought before words and actions. Since he is a child, children can see they too have control, make decisions, and find answers.

My daughter loves her long worn out book with the torn red cover, and although this book is its replacement, the original stays in the family.

Five stars and great thanks to Walt Disney Studios who keeps the Winnie the Pooh light burning.

Victoria Tarrani

Outstanding collector's book.
I got this for my wife (A Pooh fan if there ever was one) when she was six months pregnant with our son. She absolutely loved the classic illustrations, and reading through the book once myself the writing is quite good. I've been reading from this book to my now two-year old son about once or twice a week (I work nights =/) when I am able to when he is in bed ready to go to sleep, and we both enjoy the quiet bonding time while I read to him. He doesn't quite understand everything, but enjoys the rather bad attempts by me to give each character a different sound/voice/accent, but of course he can't tell it's bad. ;)

We keep this book out of his reach in a very special area, and plan to give it to him when he has his own child as a family heirloom. The book itself is beautiful, wonderfully crafted and illustrated, clearly worth saving for future generations. If you like Pooh and company at all, get it, you won't be dissapointed!

Good to see the classics live on
There is no way Disney's b*stardisation of A A Milnes characters is anything even close to the original. These stories and poems are works of art and it bothers me that they are so degraded by association with an unorignal cartoon very much pitched at the commercial realm and the lowest common denominator. But the originals live on. Do yourself and your children a favour. Buy this book. Introduce them to good literature and stories of timeless (and ageless) appeal. Turn off the TV and read to them. Then, when they go to bed, read them for yourself.

Very British!
I gave The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh to my older daughter for her 10th birthday. She reads portions of it to her younger siblings. This is one of her favorite, most cherished books.

Don't be deceived into thinking that Pooh is just for toddlers and pre-schoolers. The humor is very intelligent, and the characters are just plain wonderful. It is written in a very British style, which I think makes it a great introduction to English literature for children.

This is a true masterpiece, and would make a good gift for anyone who truly loves good literature, no matter what their age. ... Read more

Book Description

A wise cat knows the answer to her big question. And before the girl can drift off to sleep, she needs to hear about the family and friends who care about her. This tender ode to unconditional love and reassurance by Newbery Medal winner Patricia MacLachlan is brought to life by Amanda Shepherd's beautiful illustrations. It is a bedtime ritual to share again and again.

Reviews (1)

very sweet
As a little girl gets ready for bed she ask her kitten an important question.She asks it "Who Loves Me? " The kitten tells her of all the people and animals that love her and why.From the mouse to her cousins and friends animals and humans alike have their own special reason for loving the little girl!



When you read it aloud it sounds almost like a song.

This story would make a great bedtime tale.All kids need to be told who loves them each and every day!

... Read more

Book Description

Their mother died after Caleb was born. Their house on the prairie is quiet now, and Papa doesn't sing anymore. Then Papa puts an ad in the paper, asking for a wife, and he receives a letter from one Sara Elisabeth Wheaton, of Maine. Papa, Ana, and Caleb write back. Caleb asks if she sings.

Sarah desides to come for a month. She writes Papa: I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall, and Tell them I sing. Anna and Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be nice? Will she like them? Will she stay?

Winner, 1986 Newbery Medal
1986 Christopher Award
1986 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1986 Golden Kite Award for Fiction (SCBW)
Notable Children's Book of 1985 (ALA)
1985 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Best Books of 1985 (SLJ)
Children's Choices for 1986 (IRA/CBC)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1985 (N.Y. Times Book Review)
International Board of Books for Young People Honor List for Writing, 1988
1986 Notable Trade Book in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1986 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1985 Books for Children (Library of Congress)
1988 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey)
1988 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Arkansas)
100 Favorite Paperbacks 1989 (IRA/CBC)
Best of the 80's (BL)
1986 Christopher Award
1986 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children
1986 Golden Kite Award for Fiction (SCBW)
Notable Children's Books of 1985 (ALA)
1985 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Best Books of 1985 (SLJ)
Children's Choices for 1986 (IRA/CBC)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1985 (NYTBR)
1986 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1985 Children's Books (Library of Congress)
1988 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey Library Association)
1988 Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Arkansas)
100 Favorite Paperbacks of 1989 (IRA/CBC)
Best of the '80s (BL)
1986 Notable Children's Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1988 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)
1988 International Borad of Books for Young People Honor List for Writing
1986 Jefferson Cup Award (Virginia Library Association)

Reviews (122)

Sarah and the plain review
She will be at the train station tonight and her name is Sarah and she's plain and tall.
This is a saying in the book that really got us reading. This was a really good book and when this book started it was very interesting. This was about three family members, papa, Anna, and Caleb. Their mom died when Caleb was born. Papa , Anna, and Caleb once got a letter from a lady named Sarah who wants to move in with them since she lives by herself. She meets them at the train station at night. Sarah came home with them and was homesick. One day papa taught sarah how to drive the wagon ,and one day sarah drove into town and bought Anna some colored pencils for Anna to draw the sea . This was a great book.

A Tender, Heartfelt Story
Sarah, Plain and Tall is a beautiful story with a poetic rhythm. Sadness fills Anna and her brother Caleb's house, due to the death of their mother the day after Caleb was born. Although haunted by his wife's memory, Papa recognizes Anna and Caleb's need for a mother. He puts an ad in the paper requesting a wife and receives an answer from Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton, of Maine. After exchanging letters with all of them, Sarah decides to come stay with them for a month. As Sarah lives with them, they slowly fall in love with her. Her refreshing openess brings joy to their sorrowful hearts, and they are captivated by her. But Sarah loves the sea. The lonely plains are a poor substitute for her beloved ocean waves. She misses her family. As Papa, Anna, and Caleb share their life on the plains with her, they wonder,"Will she stay?" This is a sweet story about the love of family, the need for a mother, and discovering home that you will not want to miss.

Boring, Terrible, Not Good At All
"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a short and boring book. I, an eleven-year-old boy, had to read it for Accelerated Reader, and as the story progressed it became worse and worse. I thought Sarah's letters to her brother in Maine sounded like letters a four-year-old would write to their parents from camp. The book might have been better if it had been told by another character in the story, such as Caleb or Papa. I would never recommend this book to anyone, unless they are absolutely desperate for AR points. I am very surprised that it won the 1986 Newbery Medal. No offense to the author.

Review Of
This book was a book that I did not care for. The plot was poorly developed. There is very little detail. The story goes nowhere fast. My last comment is the book is too short. If you're a person who likes short books basically about the colors blue, gray, and green, and your between the ages of 7-10, knock yourself out.

Sarah, Plain, and Tall
Sarah came to the prairie, from Maine, to marry Papa (Jacob Witting). At firs it seemed like alot to us (Caleb Witting,and Anna Witting,or Jacobs childern) to have a new mother, years after our born mother had died.

These are the words of the spirt filled, child, Anna Witting.
Her mother died the day after her younger brother, Caleb Witting was born.To Caleb a mother was a mystery, unit Sarah came into there life. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Great Historical Fiction Novel
Daniel's Story, a book about a young boy going through the holocaust is one of the best books I have read in my life. I picked up this book because of my love for historical fiction. Daniel's story brought me smiles, tears, and sympathy.
Carol Matas is a great author and great descriptiveness towards her writing. She writes as the character. As if Daniel were my age, talking like my age. This creates more of a connection with the main character for the reader.
This book describes the average life as a jewish child during the holocaust. What they had to go through, and the triumphs they had to overcome. I would highly suggest this book to anyone and everyone. Even if you are not interested in historical fiction.
Great for school teachers as well for their students to read because of its historical information. Basically Daniel is taken from his home to live in a ghetto. Here, his family either dies or gets trasnsported somewhere else. Him and his father manage to stay together, and stay alive. Their is also a little love route in this book for all of you girls. haha
Again, great book, good to read. Highly suggest if you want to learn about the Holocaust and the way it really was. Daniel is a great, strong character. And the way the author portrays him through out the book relates to many of the young readers out their.
Here is my personal rating:
Description: 4/5
Want a book that can give you vivid pictures in your mind? You will find it here. Great descriptions of not only settings, but character detail. Although the author can be abrupt at some times.
Plot: 5/5
Great plot, although it is very similar to Elie Weisel's "Night". But great story of a young boy and father trying to survive during the lead of the Third Reich.
Characters: 4/5
You will find many character through out this book. Many though are young boys, just about Daniel's age. They all though have very unique characterisitcs. Although sometimes the author could use more description in them to make them "Round Characters".

So, my raiting would be a 13/15. Again, great book!

Very Well Written and Compelling Short Novel!
WOW! This story is surely one of my favourites! Before reading Daniel's Story, I had no background information at all about what the Holocaust and World War II was like. It was a shocking and very compelling novel, to say the least. I first read this story about 2 years ago, and I've read it 5 times since. It keeps drawing me back, with its strong plot and setting development. The characters really got through to me as well! GREAT JOB, Carol Matas! I would HIGHLY recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to learn about the Holocaust and what the Jews had to go through back then.

Googoo gaga
Daniel is young and smart kid. Daniel and his family is Jewish and people don't like them. When Daiel goes to school the teacher is mean to him. Daniel wants to tell his parents, but he noes that there is nothing they can do about it. Daniel has a favorite uncle named Uncle Peter that got sent to the concentration camp. Daniel has a sister named Erica who is very good at the violin. The whole family went to the concentration camp in Poland.

I think that this book is very good because it shoes how Daniel faces life. The challenges he might have to face might be gig but he is still is strong in physical and mental ways each day. I think Uncle Peter tries to make them forget what the nazis do and try new things each day so they are not in fear every day.

I thik if you like books about how people face challenges each day in wars or in the cocentration camps this book is right for you.b It tells lots of true facts about Daniel and the family and how life is effected each day for them.

Daniel's Story
Daniel's Story is a wonderful book. The story is about a 12 year old boy who is sent to a concentration camp with his family which consists of Erika (his sister), Mama, and Papa. The setting is in 1933 when Hitler hated the Jewish people.

Daniel and and his family are taken on a terrifying trip.They were treated horribly. Since Hitler hated the Jewish people they did not get to take a shower and had to work all day and were only fed one meal a day.

I liked reading this story because it has a personality in it, like you are not reading the story, but someone else is telling you the story in real life. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Moving and Educational
What makes this book so good is that it you are moved by the story of Daniel's life and come away thoroughly enriched by the process on a moral level. Yet, what you may not realize is that, afterwards, you have an excellent foundation of what the Holocaust is. I read this back as a child and really enjoyed it. As I grew older, I became an intern and volunteer at the U.S. Holocaust Museum (the institution which was behind the production of the book and has a children's exhibit of the same name). When I underwent the training, I realized that I already knew much about the Holocaust from Daniel's Story. Not only will you know that the Holocaust was a tragic event but you (or your children) will know the specific processes that victims went through such as being deported, going to ghettos, and eventually to the concentration camps. An all-around wonderful book for children! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Stop everything! If at least one copy of each of these classics is notin a prominent place on your bookshelf, your home and your progeny's childhoodis incomplete. Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends--blustery old Owl, bouncy Tigger,clever Christopher Robin, glum Eeyore, and the rest--have been a staple ofchildren's literature for over 70 years in A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. AndMilne's immortal collections of children's verse, When We Were Very Young andNow We Are Six, havesoothed many a savage beast at bedtime with such incomparable delights as "If IWere King" and "Us Two." All four of these classics, complete with Ernest H.Shepard's original illustrations, are gathered here in a handsome boxed set.These hardcover editions will most certainly be a cherished legacy to be handeddown for generations to come. After all, as Rabbit says solemnly one day,"Without Pooh, the adventure would be impossible." (Ages 3 to 103) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THE Classic
How could anyone pass up a set of the classic stories of a boy and his stuffed friends. With the original illustrations (not the Disney-fied stuff), these are the books I remember my father reading to me when I was "very young." Many kids today may be familiar with a few of these stories from the Disney shorts (combined later into a feature length version and on video). Most kids also know Winnie the Pooh because of Disney (who even brought out a line of "classic Pooh" products based on the original toys and illustrations). These stories were beautiful to begin with - precisely why Walt brought them to the big screen.

Filled with childhood honesty and simplicity, these were the tales Milne told his own child, Christopher Robin, inspired by the boys' stuffed toys and the animals that lived nearby. Do your kids a favor and start by reading the original stories, to them and with them, as they were originally written. As a set, its a wonderful keepsake to pass on to generations. ... Read more

Book Description

Through concise text and richly detailed black and white illustrations we come to know the philosophy of life and death in ancient Egypt. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

good introduction
Though this was written nearly thirty years ago, this is still one of the best introductions to the building of the pyramids out there, as he distills the basics down to the bare minimum without sacrificing much detail. The drawings, too, are superb, though the one page showing the various bald-headed workers made me think of Blue Man Group.

I do have some minor reservations, however, which are not necessarily Macaulay's fault (I am not going to go into alternative theories about how the pyramids were built, or speculation about the "real" purpose of the pyramids). One, to have built a pyramid of 2 million blocks in 30 years (working 5 months of the year) would have required that over 400 blocks be cut, finished, transported, and set into place EVERY DAY. Two, he doesn't state how the ramps were built so they could withstand the weight of so many tons of blocks day in and day out. And third, how was this enormous operation made to run so smoothly despite accidents and other problems that had to have occurred?

Despite my reservations, this is still a wonderful book to teach people, especially children, how such a massive undertaking was accomplished.

A GREAT, FUN READ
My friend checked this book out from the library and lent it to me, and I really enjoyed it. Communicating through words and drawings, Mr. Macaulay makes us feel like we're there in Egypt watching the pyramids being built through the decades. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a book they can really sink their teeth into.

How did this guy learn to draw?
Who hasn't wondered how the Great Pyramids came to be? In this stunningly illustrated, richly detailed book, David Macaulay skillfully shows one way they could have built. I had ordered the book for our family's study of ancient Egypt, based on a recommendation in The Greenleaf Guide to Ancient Egypt, which raved about it. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was stunned at the detail and care of the drawings and fascinated by the accounts. Although the long descriptions were daunting for my then-first grader, the illustrations caught her eye, and her older siblings dug into it with enthusiasm.

Egyptian Pyramids
David MacAulty's book discusses and illustrates "one method" by which the pyramids of Egypt may have been built, and follows the construction step by step. His pen and ink drawings are excellent. The book may have been written for children (ages 9 and older) but, I enjoyed the book. I highly recommend it for adults and children with an interest in the pyramids. My eight year old son was fascinated by the book. Hopefully, his interest in Egyptology has been sparked by this fine book. I tend to disagree with the author when he refers to the pyramids as tombs. No bodies have been found within the pyramids. Its more likely the pyramids were used as structures for initiation ceremonies. Although, not specifically stated the entire book, except for a brief discussion of the Queen's pyramid and the mummification process, is devoted to the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The brief discussion of the mummification process is just the right amount of information for a child's book.

Pyramid
David MacAulay's book illustrartes "one" method by which the pyramids of Egypt may have been built, and follows the construction step by step with text and drawings. His pen and ink drawings are excellent! The book may have been written for children, ages 9 and older, but I enjoyed the book! My eight year old son was fascinated by the book. Hopefully, his interest in Egyptology has been sparked by this fine book. I tend to disagree with the author when he refers to the pyramid as a tomb. Although, not specifically stated, the entire book except a brief discussion of the Queen's Pyramid and mumification are devoted to the building of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The brief discussion of the mummification process is just the right amount of information for a child. ... Read more

Book Description

The best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old. Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is asilver-tongued genius with a knack for turning a profit. When the Jenkins boys get lost inSkeleton Cave, the Great Brain saves the day. Whether it’s saving the kids at school, orhelping out Peg-leg Andy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain alwaysmanages to come out on top—and line his pockets in the process. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

I remember this book from when I was a nine year old boy...
I never read any of the books in the Great Brain series; they were actually read to me when I was a child. It was a ritual that my mother and I had every night. Just after I got in bed she would sit or lie down next to me and pull out a book. Over the years she read many different series, and to be honest, at the age of 23 all of these stories are a bit of a blur, except one series, The Great Brain. The Great Brain was by far my favorite I remember the stories as though they were read to me yesterday. One bit, which I remember particularly, is a scene in one of the books involving a headmaster (I think) and one of the brothers. I remember something being said about adults finding it admirable when children looked them in the eye while being addressed. That little bit has stayed with me all my life. After my Mother read that part I immediately started holding my head high and looking every adult who spoke to me in the eye. I've done that ever since, and when I do it I remember The Great Brain. Anyhow, I thought I would share this the world, especially any parent looking for a book that their child might like. If you haven't done it yet, you should consider reading this series to your own kid.

I was so EXCITED--
I was an avid reader as a child, and the GREAT BRAIN books were some of my favorites. I am now a mother of an avid reader, and tried to locate the books in several book stores. (For some reason, the library did not occur to me--shame on me!) I am so glad to have found them on Amazon.com that I am buying the whole set. This will be a great way to spend time with my son this summer! To parents--you will enjoy reading these with your children (sons or daughters)To children--you will enjoy reading these yourself (or listening, if you don't read yet). Very humorous series! Have a great time reading!

Two stars in the story--Tom D. and John D.
Many books have complex plots or narration and attempt to pull together many characters or ideas, or they take place in some annoyingly exotic location. John D. Fitzgerald's books feel natural being in the town of Adenville, Utah and chart the progress of two brothers. Best yet, it introduces you to Adenville so you feel like you're there in a few pages and is overall nice and short--the chapters can stand alone as stories, but the book's short enough you'll have no problem reading it in one sitting. But the best part about this short book is--it has several sequels at least as good.

On the one hand, there's John D., the narrator, who's sentimental and well-meaning but easily pushed around. Being eight he also overreact to everything, yet at the same time the narration tells you exactly what's going on. Then there's Tom D., who uses his Great Brain for swindling and occasionally for helping schoolmates and even adults.

One chapter involves his charging money for kids to see the first instance of indoor plumbing in their hometown and trying to swindle John D., whom he hired to do the dirty work, into paying more than he should when things go wrong. Another involves his teaching a Greek immigrant boy how to be a 'real American'--for a fee, as he pulls some sharp deals along the way. But later Tom helps a friend who is seriously depressed without looking for repayment. You sense it can't last, and you don't want it to, because his hijinks are amusing, and as a reader, you don't have to worry about getting caught by them.

Mercer Mayer's illustrations fit the book wonderfully, and the whole Great Brain series tends to cover issues of potential inferiority without being the least bit whiny. Although this book doesn't contain any of my favorite Great Brain swindles, it focuses more on emotions and people trying to fit in. The whole series is an overlooked set of contemporary classics.

Mr. Locker's 4/5 grade class reading group, loved this book!
Mr. Lockers 4/5 grade readers, Oliver,Tori, Madison,Luc,Sam & Nick, January 26, 2004,
Mr. Locker's 4/5 grade class reading group, loved this book!
The Great Brain was a very funny book. I liked how the Great Brain figures out funny solutions. I think the author did a very good jobwith the book. I like how the author took his childhood and fit it into the book. I thought it was really GREAT!-Oliver M.age10 The Great Brain is a very interesting book. It is based on the funny happenings of the author, J.D.Fitzgerald's childhood.The story is told by J.D., the youngest brother. He tells of the exciting things that his older brother Tom(aka the GREAT BRAIN)does.THis is a very good book.-Madison C. age 9 The Great BRain is a great book to read when you are just having fun. THis book is about a boy named Tom who has a 'GREAT BRAIN'. HIs younger brother J.D., always wants to be like Tom. Sometimes Tom's 'GREAT BRAIN' gets him rewards and sometimes it get him into trouble.-Tori T.-age 10 'Tom (THE GREAT BRAIN) is hysterical with his weird ideas'! I liked this book and hope others do too.-Sam F.-age 11 MR. Locker's 4/5 Grade Reading Group @ Carter Elementary-Palm Desert, CA Loved the GREAT BRAIN!

Also recommended: The Great Brain at the ACademy, Me and my little Brain, THe GREAT Brain does it again, More Adventures of The Great Brain

One Great Brain
I read these books as child by checking them out of a library. Now almost 20 years later, I have decided to reread them all starting from the beginning. The Great Brain book is as good as I remembered. Some things may seem goofy at first from an adult perspective, but give the book a chance and read the whole thing. Many things come together later or at the end. John Fitzgerald gives every book a complete feeling, so you feel satisfied after completing each. Keep in mind the time and setting of the book and you'll be able to enjoy it. The book is written from JD's viewpoint, but is largely about TD aka the Great Brain. I enjoyed these books a child, I am enjoying them now, and my friends in their 50's are enjoying them too. These are for all ages and are my all-time favorite children's series. Now, I hope that they re-release the books or I'll have to look for them used. ... Read more

Book Description

From levers to lasers, from cameras to computers, this 384-page volume is a remarkable overview of the machines and inventions that shape our lives, amusingly presented with a large dose of Macaulay's wit and personality. "A book to be treasured as both a browsing item and as a gold mine of reference information." -- School Library Journal, starred reviewALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Book
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
Horn Book Fanfare Selection
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
... Read more

Reviews (12)

An entertaining look at how machines work!
"The Way Things Work" took almost three years to create. A cute and sometimes silly "Great Wooly Mammoth" makes his appearance throughout the book. The facial expressions and animal antics are at times very amusing.

While the "Mammoth" theme is highlighted, this is a book which discusses serious concepts. They are simply explained in a more entertaining way. In between all the facts, you will suddenly find a page which discusses tusk trimming. "I watched with great curiosity a mammoth that was having its tusks trimmed....." Don't worry, as the story progresses, "velocity" is being explained.

Quite frankly, this book is not only a work of art, it is a compilation of genius. When David Macaulay, Niel Ardley, David Burnie, Peter Luff and Christopher Davis put their minds together for a book project, something amazing happens.

Where they came up with the 384 pages is beyond my comprehension. In fact, only taking three years to write and illustrate such a work, is in itself an incredible feat. Truly, this is a comprehensive, instructive and entertaining reference book for readers of all ages.

Life is too short for reading inferior books. - James Bryce This book is superior in so many ways. It is divided into four main sections: The Mechanics of Movement (inclined plane, levers, wheel and axle, gears and belts, cams and cranks, pulleys, screws, rotating wheels, springs, friction), Harnessing The Elements (floating, flying, pressure power, exploiting heat, nuclear power), Working With Waves (light and images, photography, printing, sound and music, telecommunications), Electricity & Automation (electricity, magnetism, sensors and detectors, computers).

Each page is filled with drawings so you can completely comprehend mechanical principles. David Macaulay takes you from levers to lasers and does it all in a most entertaining and efficient manner. Here is a prize-winning author's brilliantly conceived guide to the principles and workings of hundreds of machines.

Still fun after all these years
I have loved David Macaulay's books since I was a kid. Though I've grown up, I am still facinated by his unique way of explaining things we take for granted. The Way Things Work is a road map for today's highly confusing and intimidating technological times. It allows you to gain a glimpse of the wonder of engineering, from the very simple, to the most complex.

Disappointing! Models don't work!
We find Macaulay's books intriguing and so proceeded to order the kit for our 11 year old daughter. She loves science, does experiments on her own at home, elects to attend science camps every summer, and wants to be an engineer. She found the instruction cards attractive and easy to follow BUT "half the things didn't work" and "it was boring". She was extremely disappointed with the kit as she painstakingly followed instructions, and attempted to troubleshoot and adapt the models when she found they wouldn't work. My husband and I are an electrical engineer and a physician respectively, and we too were unable to shed any light on the problems she was having. We definitely would advise parents NOT to buy this kit.

great idea but very poor execution
it's a very poorly designed kit. parents have to do a LOT of it. Macaulay should have teamed up with LEGO to create his kit.

the cool thing is it has a MOTOR in there, and some plunger things with long plastic tubes to make a pneumatic lift arm. but the construction parts (including wheels) are basically all cardboard! if anything gets slightly bent or stepped on, the whole project is history. durability is nil.

the instructions suck: you cannot follow the numbered paragraphs and build it, you have to read through all the aside comments to do it properly, and the instructional photos are very poorly posed. if LEGO had done it (I'm thinking of the the Klutz press/LEGO teamwork for the Action Contraptions set) they would have broken down the steps accurately, and done photos that kids could follow.

you cannot even put the wheels on without major adult participation. the stickum provided doesn't adhere well to the parts it says to attach it to. "friction" is one of the concepts presented, yet friction of cardboard parts interferes with finished product operation.

If LEGO had participated, the parts would be durable, they would assemble easily, the finished products would work smoothly, a kid could put it together and self-explore the scientific concepts, and it would be brilliant.

The kit's ideas of the things to present (friction, pneumatics, simple machines, etc.) is EXCELLENT. there is very little else on the market that presents these concepts well in a building set. the narrative that explains the physics concepts is well written in simple, understandable terms. it is very cool that the kids get to read about something and build it. but I am sooooo disappointed that the building materials were so poorly designed.

it was a cool idea that was very poorly executed.

Perfect for snow days
When snow struck and my two boys were out with a snow day I gave them this kit and they loved it! It kept them busy for hours and saved my sanity. They had such fun that they didn't want to go back to school. ... Read more

Book Description

In this well-loved Little Critter picture book, our funny younghero has to get used to a new baby sister. What a problem. The baby doesn't payattention when Little Critter reads to her. She cries when he makes silly faces.And she can't understand the jokes he tells. It's seems like an impossible task,but Little Critter finally figures out what you CAN do with a new baby -- andbecomes a very good brother. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great book for the Big Brother/Sister
This is such a cute book...I found it when looking for some book to get for my son to help him get ready for the arrival of his little sister...what I really liked was how it explained how the baby wouldn't be able to really do anything right away...that was very helpful because of course my son who is 2 thought that his sister would be able to play with him and everything right away...but after reading his books he realized she was going to be a little baby and wouldn't be able to do everything he wanted...he is now very excited for his sister to get here and he loves reading it...he now likes to read it to us...definatly a perfect book for either the Big Brother or the Bid Sister.

The Best I've Found
After looking at many different books to prepare my 2 year old daughter for a new brother, this was the best one! It didn't get into where babies come from, but more about what a sibling can do with a new baby and what to expect.

Perfect for young toddlers
We got this book for our 15 month old when we found out we were having another baby. He absolutely loves this book! He carries it around and even sleeps with it in his crib. Even though he's really young, he is very careful with the thin pages. This book is great!

Such a great book for preparing child for new baby!
My son is 16 months old and he loves this book! It has been so helpful in trying to prepare him for becoming a big brother. Even though he is young, we are able to tell him about what babies can and cannot do so he will be ready when his brother arrives. I think out of all the books we bought, we will be able to reinforce more about babies with this book than any of the others. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs to prepare a child for a new siblings arrival!

Great for young kids expecting a new sibling
I bought this book and two others in an attempt to prepare my son for the birth of his sister. He was 22 months when she was born. The other books ordered were too sophisticated for him. This book was a hit - he requested it every night before and after she was born. I liked that it used short simple language to explain what it would be like with the baby around and gave ideas to the older sibling for ways to play with the new baby. The "What to Expect" book and Calliou's book were both not as good. ... Read more