Book Description

Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair.

And it got worse...

His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV!

This handsome new edition of Judith Viorst's classic picture book is sure to charm readers of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

a terrible day book
i discovered this book when i was in grade skool and i remember running home and telling my mom all abt it, how it was just like what i used to go through. it's abt this little boy named alexander who has the worst day of his life (or so he thinks.) he wakes up with gum in his hair, goes to skool with no dessert in his lunch, finds a cavity at the dentist's office, wants the sneakers with the red stripes but his brother got them first so he has to have the plain white ones, has lima beans for supper, and is forced to go to sleep in train pajamas. it's such a cute book simply becuz you know kids go through it everyday. if ever yr child is having a bad day, read them alexander and see if they don't improve attitudes just a little.

Still makes me laugh
I'm 17 years old and still remember and enjoy reading this book from when I was younger. A friend of mine and I recently got together to go read children's books all day at the local bookstore, and I was delighted when I found "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" sitting on the shelves ready to be read. Alexander is a typical little boy who believes every obstacle in his life is leading to the end of the world. I laughed the whole way through the book, relating to him on several levels. I think the book is wonderfully written for all audiences; while a child may life, an adult may look at Alexander's tale and reminisce about their own childhood when they received plain white sneakers instead of ones with racing stripes.

Run-on sentences and extremely negative energy.
Allow me to quote the first page of this book:
"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

This is not posting on an Internet forum about your favorite movies where you can write what, how much, and however you want; it's a book written for children, and we can't have blatant mistakes such as run-on sentences. Therefore, I'm wondering how this page, as well as many other sentences in the book, made it past the editor(s).

As I finished the first page, the five year old child I was reading to, looked at me funny and wondered why I seemed out of breath. Even she noticed the run-on sentences and found it an awkward listen. So for the rest of the book, where I deemed it appropriate, I paused as if there were actual periods and commas where there should be.

Not only is this book an expert at run-on sentences, but it also showcases an extremely negative attitude in a boy. That may have been justified had the book addressed the issue by the end, but it alas, it doesn't. It just plays it off as if it's normal for children to be this negative. Many people wrote that they can relate to this child and his negative experiences, but if you stretch it, you can say that in reference to many other children's books as well.

Negative people give off negative energy, and without ways to deal with this issue, this is not the kind of book I want children exposed to.

An extremely negative character and ugly grammar does not make a good children's book. I would give it no stars if Amazon allowed it. This is the worst children's book I have ever purchased.

I found a kindred.
As a child plagued with bouts of unluck, I thought I'd found a kindred when I stumbled over the beleaguered Alexander and his tale. He was everything I was. I found this book tucked away in an elementary school's library at a very young age and thought it was hysterical....and I felt the utmost empathy for Alexander, of course.

Everyone has days like these. Grownups can also surely relate to it. I know I still can. It's a great book and I don't see why so many people have posted negative reviews; perhaps they never have bad days??

Children will find a delightful and compassionate friend in Alexander; I would reccomend this book - vehemently - to anyone with children. Or without - if you'd simply like a good smile.

Makes every bad day better!!
This book is great. I read it in a children's literature course in college and I remembered it when I was pregnant with my first son. I know that he'll grow to love Alexander and his very bad day!! Wonderful!! ... Read more

Book Description

The three-time Caldecott medalist tells the tale of two ants who decide to leave the safety of the others to venture into a danger-laden kitchen. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

"Two Bad Ants" learn a valuable life-lesson.
"Two Bad Ants" was first published over ten years ago, but I somehow overlooked it. This gem is worth adding to your collection of children's books, and it's one that children enjoy hearing over and over again. Best of all, "Two Bad Ants" is a book that YOU won't tire of READING aloud to your kids!! What I love about this book is that Van Allsburg isn't afraid to use big words in a book for children; simplistic books are great for kids who are trying to learn to read, but they need books with more complicated vocabulary in order to increase their understanding of language. Van Allsburg really delivers with this well-written, suspenseful, entertaining tale of two ants who discover a scary world they'd never dreamed existed: a modern kitchen, replete with electrical appliances and the inherent dangers thereof. Van Allsburg delivers the story's message simply and directly on the last page of the book: the ants learn that they belong at home and that will be happiest in their familiar surroundings. The easy life they'd envisioned could be theirs in the strange new indoor world of the house was more dangerous than they could have imagined, and wasn't worth the trouble.

The drawings are simple and clean, and the color-pallette is limited, which makes for fewer distractions. The artwork is really fantastic, but the vivid pictures Van Allsburg draws with his rich, descriptive complex sentences are even more satisfying. This is a book that my children and I will enjoy for years to come.

"Two Bad Ants"
If you are looking for a great kids book, I recommend the book by Chris Van Allsburg, Two Bad Ants. This book captivates the reader with its descriptive text as well as its exciting story line. The book is about two ants who, instead of helping the colony by getting food, decide they will stay where the food is and live alone. They quickly learn that living by themselves is not an easy thing to do. They encounter many hardships and obsticles, finally realizing that they need the colony. Read this book and find out what happens to the two ants and whether or not they make it home.

ants are cool
I think this is great book because it is about 2 ants that go in a house and think that a sink is a water fall and think that grass are big woods and think that salt are big dimens and then fall into a big bucket of salt and took it home this is why I like this book and I think this is a great book

Two ants enter a whole new world (someone's kitchen)
The ant world is all excited because world has come that a marvelous crystal has been discovered in a faraway place. The queen declares the crystal to be the most delicious substance she has ever eaten, and so the ants go forth in a long line to bring her back more of the same. After marching through an a dark forest (of grass) and climbing a mountain (otherwise known as a brick wall) the ants find themselves in a strange world without wind or the smell of dirt and grass, with smooth shiny surfaces, all leading to the sea of crystals.

What has happened is that the ants have made their way in the kitchen of a home and that should be enough to let you guess what those delicious crystals happen to be. Two of the ants decide that the treasure they have found is so great they went their comrades return to the colony, these two stay behind. But then they discover that some of the strange things in this brave new world are pretty dangerous.

The idea behind "Two Bad Ants" is pretty interesting, but the story does not develop it as much as you would think and having it illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg is pretty much illustrative overkill. Certainly taking a different perspective on the ordinary world of their kitchen is something that should prove interesting to young readers, but what should have been a strength of this book, its essentially "realism," is abandoned as the two (bad) ants brave a series of dangers that take more of a traditional comic turn.

But the ultimate irony is that this 1988 book would have been more impressive if it had been done by someone other than Van Allsburg. From the artist that brought us "The Polar Express" and "Jumanji," just to name two Caldecott Medal winner books, "Two Bad Ants" comes across as a trifle. How is that for an exacting standard of excellence?

Hmmmmmmmmmm......
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the graphics in this book. They are really beautiful with a faux-woodcut style that is pretty fresh. If you haven't seen a copy, your eyes will thank you for tracking down a copy.

The title is great. Provocative - Unfortunately it implies a sense of humor to the story, which it lacks. It isn't funny (I mean situationally, verbally funny would be beyond it's target audience). For a book that has at most a paragraph of text, spending twice as much time on the story arc (ummmm... that would have been twenty minutes?) would have resulted in a full-on classic. As it stands 2/3rds of it is perfect and the last element does not hold it's own. I realize kids don't need Wagnerian intricacy, but adults reading the book to them them 4 dozen times, would have appreciated a smidge more depth, intent, beauty or humor to the story.

Bewilderingly, the greater goal of teaching responsibility & obedience is a bit lost while also making youngsters inquisitive about garbage disposals, toasters and electric outlets. !??! ... Read more

Book Description

This one-of-a-kind collection reminds weary adults not to lose sight of the values and virtues they learned as kids. Here are over three hundred quotations from over two hundred well-loved children's books, such as Charlotte's Web, Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Eloise, Sounder, Number the Stars, and Goodnight Moon, organized by topic, among them Acceptance, Goodness, Family Woes, and Growing Old. On Silence: "I assure you that you can pick up more information when you are listening than when you are talking."--E. B.White, The Trumpet of the Swan. On Reverence: "Dying's part of the wheel, right there next to being born. . . . Being part of the whole thing, that's the blessing."--Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting.

With clever illustrations from Pierre Le-Tan, here is a book to share with a friend or keep by your own bedside. It's the perfect gift for your sister, your mother, your brother, your nephew, your kid's teacher, your daughter away at college, your son in the Navy, your mailman, your priest, for the old lady next door, or for the baby just born. Most importantly, give it to yourself. It will help you remember why you loved reading in the first place. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Nice Little Book
A good concept & a nice little book. I'd like to see this idea expanded into a larger work, with more children's books used as sources, & with subject & title indices. It'd be even better then!

Wonderful, Charming Book
I just happened upon this book in my local bookstore, and I feel lucky really. It's a gem. Filled with wonderfully witty and wise quotations from childrens books through the ages. The quotations brought back lovely memories of my own childhood and my own childhood reading. They also reminded me of how beautiful and eloquent and wise the simple thoughts are from great children's literature. Thank you, Amy Gash, for putting together such a thoughtful and moving collection. I plan to buy many as gifts for friends and for my own children's teachers. There's a lot to learn from children's literature--wisdom and perspective and, perhaps most of all, a sense humor. I can't think of a better introduction to the world of children's literature--and what it has to offer to grown ups too--than What The Dormouse Said.

misleading
this book offers no "brilliant insight" - it is just a list of quotes the author found interesting. The organization is loose and reading even a couple pages of it is choppy at best.

a fun read for all
my wife and i really enjoyed this book. so many of these quotes apply in day-to-day situations we couldn't stop saying to each other: "this one is SO true!"

good for older kids and adults.

A very enjoyable collection
This is a delightful collection of quotations that anyone who loves children's books will enjoy. Sources range from Alice in Wonderland to Winnie-the-Pooh to Narnia to Harry Potter. The book is divided into chapters, including Imagination and Adventure; Animals; Character and Individuality; Greed, Envy, Pride, and Sloth; Songs and Stories. There's an index of titles so you can look up your favorites. Here are a couple of my favorites: "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." ("The Wind in the Willows"); "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." ("The Hobbit"). ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Judy and Peter find a board game in the park, they take it home, hoping to alleviate their boredom. One live lion, an erupting volcano, and a dozen destructive monkeys later, the children are no longer bored. Their jungle adventure game has come to life! Chris Van Allsburg is a master at walking the line between fantasy and reality. His unusually sculptured drawings (familiar to the many devoted fans of the Caldecott-winning The Polar Express and The Garden of Abdul Gasazi) convey the magical transition of a normal house to an exotic jungle. Readers will tremble along with Judy and Peter, urging them to roll the dice that will plunge them from one perilous predicament into another. Jumanji, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and winner of the 1982 Caldecott Medal, is sure to amaze and thrill even the most jaded young reader. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Jumanji
Have there ever been monkeys jumping around in your kitchen, or a lion destroying your bedroom, with a huge volcano irrupting in your house? Was there ever a large stampede of rhinos running crazy in your living room? Well that is what happens to Judy and Peter in the sensational book, Jamanji. When they were both left home alone, Judy and Peter got really bored. They decide to take a stroll in the park. On their way to the park, they discover a game named "Jamanji" sitting under a tree. They take it home and immediately start to play. All of the sudden, the creatures from the game came to life, in their very own house! How will Peter and Judy get this jungle cleaned up before their parents come home? Will they clean up in time? This book is a great mystery for kids' ages 4 to12. It has a great plot and brings wonderful excitement to the reader. Each topic makes you eager to read more and find out the result of the mystery.

LIONS, MONKEYS, AND, RHINOS, OH MY!
In Jumangi, Chris Van Allsburg details the story of Peter and Judy's afternoon. Through his words and pictures, he describes their eventful afternoon. On a boring afternoon, these two siblings are left alone. Before their parents leave, the two children are warned not to disorganize the house. However, once the children find an interesting board game, their once boring and uneventful afternoon becomes full of action and a bit of chaos. In this picture book, the author, who is also the illustrator uses black and white illustrations that are full of depth. Through his descriptive words and pictures, one can clearly witness the children's afternoon. The simple, yet detailed illustrations add to the characters, sets the setting, and mood. Jumanji's award winning illustrations are unique and add to the concept of fantasy in the book. Many children will enjoy this story or anyone who has experienced a boring afternoon or played an imaginative board game. The book may be slightly scary for younger children, but will encompass the attention of older readers. This book takes the reader along with the children on a wonderful adventure. JUMANJI!

Jungle fever
Chris Van Allsburg used to be my favorite picture book artist, and in many ways he remains so to this day. And it's books like, "Jumanji" that remind me why I love his work as strongly as I do. For some reason, Van Allsburg's picture books are so popular and so evocative that they are continually adapted into full screen motion pictures. "Polar Express" has just been turned into a computer animated extravaganza, and "Jumanji" was a Robin Williams vehicle once. Just the same, nothing compares to the original tale. Using his uber-realistic illustrations to highlight how incredibly bizarre the storyline is, this book is fully worthy of the 1982 Caldecott Medal it was awarded.

Peter and Judy have been left home alone by their opera going parents and boy are they boredy bored bored. After playing with their toys and making a mess they decide to take a run to the park. Once there, they discover an abandoned board game called Jumanji sitting beneath a tree. On a note taped to the bottom of the box read the words, "Free game, fun for some but not for all. P.S. Read instructions carefully". The kids don't know what to expect but they take the game with them anyway. After reading the instructions they find that once a person begins Jumanji they cannot stop until someone has won the game. The first roll of the die leads to a space that reads, "Lion attacks, move back two spaces". Suddenly there's a real live lion in the room, and it's regarding Peter hungrily. The kids realize, to their horror, that whatever happens on the board happens in real life. If they want to finish the game (and remain alive) they're going to have to continue.

The book really plays on the old idea of "when the parents are out the kids will get up to all kinds of unwitting mischief". There's a lot in this story that's similar to "The Cat in the Hat". Two bored kids. The magical entity that destroys their home but (undeniably) occupies their time. Getting everything cleaned up before mom and dad walk in the door. You get the idea. The story is surreal and skirts the edges of the disturbing. With illustrations created with Conte dust and Conte pencils, Van Allsburg makes the pictures especially realistic. You can make out every strand on Peter's head or observe the rubber bands holding together Judy's braids. As a child, I was always fascinated with realistic images of fantastical situations. Van Allsburg fits this bill perfectly.

"Jumanji" was later given a sequel of sorts entitled, "Zathura". I haven't read it myself, but I think my loyalties will always lie with the original. There's something about Van Allsburg's clean lines and startled expressions that really chill the reader to the bone. If you have a child that likes to be ever so slightly freaked out from time to time, I can't think of any picture book artist that does a better job of this than the master of the pencil drawing: Chris Van Allsburg. And "Jumanji" is his masterpiece.

Scary
I am a Van Allsburg fan but this book, though very good, is not one of my favorites. Some young children may be frightened by the illustrations. It is a good was to expose children to the fantasy genre if you feel they will not be upset by the illustrations or plot. (...)

Jumanji
I am a student of West Virginia State College, currently taking a class on Children's Literature. Mr. Samples (A Wonderful Teacher) has instructed us to review a Caldecott winner and write our thoughts on it. I read this book after seeing the movie and, of course, it is quite different. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of the differences and its speedy nature. I believe that children of various ages would enjoy this book because of the quick adventure and excellent illustrations. I would recommend this book to anyone for a classic family reading time, classroom reading, or bedtime story! ... Read more

Amazon.com

One couldn't select a more delightful and exciting premise for a children's book than the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole. And one couldn't ask for a more talented artist and writer to tell the story than Chris Van Allsburg. Allsburg, a sculptor who entered the genre nonchalantly when he created a children's book as a diversion from his sculpting, won the 1986 Caldecott Medal for this book, one of several award winners he's produced. The Polar Express rings with vitality and wonder. ... Read more

Reviews (102)

An Absolute Necessity For Anyone's Personal Library
Oh, what a beautiful book this is! I've owned this book for over fifteen years, and every year during the holiday season I take it down from the shelf and read it, and I am immediately taken back into time. For the few minutes that it takes me to read this book I once again become a child full of wonder and innocence. I begin to believe in the magic of the holiday season, and yes, for a moment I even believe in Santa Claus again.

This is the story of a boy lucky enough to ride The Polar Express to the North Pole on one magical night to see Santa Claus and his elves. While the destination is exciting, the real fun is riding in this train full of children, all dressed in their pajamas and snacking on cookies and milk. The story is beautifully told by Chris Van Allsburg, but the real reason why reading this book is an annual tradition for me is the brilliance of the illustrations. The pictures are painstakingly detailed, especially the beautiful images of the train, the light from the stars in the sky, and the fallen snow.

While Santa Claus is incorporated into the story and the illustrations, he is not the focal point. The crux of this book centers around this train, the wintery environment, and the youthful magic that makes it all so special.

I am now 22-years-old, and this book is just as compelling for me today as it was when I was 5. I look forward to the day when I will have children of my own and will be able to make it an annual tradition to read this book to them. This book is a must-have for anyone's personal library, especially if you are a parent, a child, or a child-at-heart like me. I give this book the highest of recommendations.

Sorry, the movie can not be as wonderful as this book
Chris Van Allsburg's "The Polar Express" tells the simple tale of boy who has been told by a friend "There's no Santa." However, the boy knows this is wrong, which may explain why the Polar Express shows up outside his house that night to take him to the North Pole. In the giant factory city where all the toys are made for Christmas, the elves will all gather and Santa will give to one of the children on the train the first gift of the Christmas season.

"The Polar Express" is a simple tale of the power of belief, told through exquisite pastel drawings that make a steam locomotive seem a soft vision of light in the gently falling snow. The story being told is almost as good as the illustrations. This is a modern Yule time classic, which teaches a simple lesson: always fix a hole in your pocket.

I find it hard to believe that this beloved children's book is coming to the silver screen through full CG animation, even if it is Imageworks' next-generation motion capture process that the digital characters to be modeled on live-action performances. But if the movie leads new readers, both young and old, to discover Van Allsburg's original book, then we can think of it as being the world's longest commercial and not a inadequate substitute for one of the great picture books of all time.

Wintery Exploration
I have loved this book since I first heard it in second grade. That little boy reminds me of how I used to stay awake all night Christmas Eve and then sneak downstairs when I heard the first little noise. The artwork is wonderfull, I would just sit there and imagine I was part of the book. I am diffently going to get this book for my children.

Can't you hear the whistle blowing?
It must be nice to have written a real holiday classic. I imagine that author Chris Van Allsburg must be tickled pink by way his book, "The Polar Express" has slowly gained increasing attention and praise as the years have gone by. Though not my favorite Van Allsburg (a tip of the hat grants his miraculous "The Stranger" that honor) this book is perhaps more perfectly his style than any of his other texts. And in that way, it is truly wondrous.

In this story, a young boy travels at night by a train bearing the book's title to the North Pole with a host of other antsy children. This combines the dual pleasure kids would feel in getting to staying up late AND taking a train all by themselves. Once at the North Pole, our hero asks Santa only for a silver bell from his reindeer's sleigh. Santa complies and though the boy looses the bell on his way home, Santa returns it to him. For years afterwards, only those who truly believe can hear the bell's magical ring (which, actually, explains why adults cannot hear Santa fly overhead at night, I suppose).

It's a lovely story, complimented nicely with Van Allsburg's realistic (but not photo-realistic) illustrations. Particularly nice is how the story does not date. Though it clearly takes place at a time when children wore dressing gowns, it does not feel as if it is a period piece. The kids traveling on the train are slightly multi-cultural and the waiters on the train delightful in their white puffy hats.

This book is so well loved that it has actually inspired whole communities to create their own makeshift Polar Expresses. On these trains, kids are served hot cocoa "as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars" while grown-ups read them the book. They then meet Santa and go home contented and happy. Unfortunately, as charming as this may seem, it may be greatly exploited with the late 2004 release of the CGI film version of the book. My advice is to grab this book right now, regardless of whether it's Christmas or not, and read it to your kids thoroughly. Such nice stories as this deserve extensive attention. Let us all hope that this story sinks deeply into the canon of picture books beloved by millions of kids the wide world over. It's a class act through and through.

If you have a little kid in your life, it's a MUST READ
Gorgeous illustrations.
Amazingly mesmerizing language, almost poetry.
Magical story about Santa's visit on Christmas Eve. Santa, however, arrives on a train instead of a sleigh, and he takes the boy on a train ride to the North Pole (a trip that is so exquisitely illustrated that you can come to believe it's real), where, from among hundreds, he's chosen to receive the first Christmas present, which he can choose. He could choose anything, anything at all - and he chooses one of the bells from Santa's sleigh, which is loaded, ready and waiting.
When he returns home and the train pulls away, he's devastated to discover the bell has fallen through a hole in his pocket. What happens next to restore this child's believe in Christmas magic.
Buy the book and find out. Buy it. But it now and read it yearly at Christmas. When your kids grow up and leave home, read it to yourself. Then read it to grandchildren. Take it to your retirement community and keep reading it.
For sure. ... Read more

Book Description

Why do newspapers turn yellow?

How does bleach make colors disappear?

Why can't you mix oil and water?

Find out the answers to these and other mysteries of chemistry in this fascinating collection of ideas, projects, and activities that teach the basics of chemistry theory and practice.

Turn steel wool into a glutinous green blob. Separate an egg from its shell without breaking the shell. Make copper pennies turn green. Have fun while you learn simple chemistry from a solution of colored water, and the behavior of gases with the help of a soda bottle. Through these and other activities, you'll explore the structure of matter, the workings of acids, gases, and solutions . . . and much more.

You'll find most of the materials you need around the house or classroom. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and cheaply in the classroom, at a science fair, or at home.

Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave:

• ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID
• BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID
• EARTH SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID
• GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOMETRY FOR EVERY KID
• THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID
• MATH FOR EVERY KID
• PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID.

Reviews (1)

Great!
My mom bought this book for me, and I was always begging to do more experiments. They're so easy and fun to do. This is a must have for kids who are doing science fair projects! ... Read more

Book Description

The enigmatic origins of the stranger that Farmer Bailey hits with his truck and brings home to recuperate seem to have a mysterious relation to the weather. Could he be Jack Frost? ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Solve the Mystery!
What is the connection between the stranger who does not talk and the farmer and his family? Watch for the subtle clues. My students always listen (and watch) intently when I have them watch for clues. Who is the stranger? Fun book for children. Well illustrated.

Wonderful Book!
Bang!! Have you ever hit a person who you thought was a deer, while driving your car? Probably not. But, when a mixed up stranger comes into a house, the family thinks he is really weird. The author doesn't tell you who this guy is, but you can read this book yo try to find out!

-Erica

A hypnotic book
Chris van Allsburg's "The Stranger" is, well, a very interesting read. I have to admit to NOT liking it the first couple of times I read it to my kids, partly because the stranger in question remains a stranger throughout the book. Van Allsburg gives us no easy answers here. Still, this makes the book an excellent jumping-off place for questions about who we are, what makes a group of people a family or a community, and how well we really all know each other.

The illustrations are, as usual, stellar van Allsburg stuff. The cover portrait especially, of the stranger being served soup by Farmer Bailey's wife, is very nearly hypnotic. The stranger's face is suffused with a mixture of fear and wonderment, and you find yourself thinking, "Is it the soup that fascinates him? The tureen across the table? The farmer's wife?" It really gets you thinking.

Excellent read aloud
Teachers - this is a wonderful book for a read aloud. I read this book to a class of second graders and they were completely entranced by the illustrations and by the stranger in the story. The book is wonderfully illustrated and is great to read during the fall season to the students. Also, because the stranger's identity remains a mystery this book is a wonderful lead into a writing activity. Read it. You'll love it!

The greatest picture books ever written
Chris Van Allsburg is a great writer and artist, and he does it once again in this fantastic book. The Stranger is about a mysterious stranger who seems to make the seasons last a little longer than usual. I recommend all of Van Allsburgs books to every parent and child alike! ... Read more

Book Description

My cat Barney died this Friday. I was very sad. My mother said we could have a funeral for him, and I should think of ten good things about Barney so I could tell them...

But the small boy who loved Barney can only think of nine. Later, while talking with his father, he discovers the tenth -- and begins to understand. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

An educational tool for the coping skills dealing with loss
This has been one of my favorite books, for myself, my friends, and for use in my work with children. The story is simple, touching, and gives a beautifully positive way to cope with any loss--remembering the good things. The story specifically deals with the death of a young boy's cat and the funeral that follows, as well as the concept of the circle of life. The mother in the story asks her son to think of ten good things about the cat. This task helps him remember the things he liked about his cat and takes his mind off the pain he feels. The concept of concentrating on good memories about someone who is gone is excellent, and an easy way to begin the healing process and encourage a child to talk about his feelings. I've even used the idea when I've had to separate from the children I've worked with. I tell them the ten good things I will remember about them. Outstanding book--timeless!!

A Book About Death from the Point of View of a Little Boy
The little boy who is the narrator of this book has just had his pet cat Barney die. He can only think of nine good things about Barney, until the day after the funeral, when he spends the day in the garden with his father. The plot is extremely simple and spare, but the book depicts grief very well, and so we understand just how broken-hearted the little boy is, and how much he loved his cat. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney is an excellent springboard for families of every religious persuasion (including agnostics and atheists) to discuss what they feel happens after we die. My bright, perceptive and sensitive four-year-old has been asking a lot of questions lately -- about birth and death -- and I used this book to explain death to him. The book was extremely powerful for him, and helped him to put into words many questions that he had, and helped me to answer them for him as best I could. The writing is excellent, and perfectly captures the voice of a young boy, and the illustrations are elegant. It's a classic book, and belongs in every library.

You don't wanna know the 10th good thing
I finally read this book after years and years of hearing it hyped as the perfect book to help a child deal with the loss of a pet, so I expected a lot.

It's not a bad book. I've always liked Judith Viorst's wry voice that seems to capture children's unsure moments so perfectly, and "...Barney" has a lot of that.

The particular details of the story are even good -- I love that the boy's mother wraps Barney in a piece of cloth before they bury him. I love that the boy's best friend attends the funeral to hear him recite the nine best things about Barney. I love the little argument they have after the funeral, about whether Barney is really in heaven, or if he's just in the ground.

But the book takes a jarring twist when the boy decides what the 10th good thing about Barney is. The 10th good thing is basically that Barney is dead and rotting. OK, OK -- dead and rotting and therefore helping flowers to grow. Life will come from his death, and yes, that is the message.

But really. Basically the 10th good thing about Barney is that he's dead and rotting. I'm a fairly morbid person, very interested in the process of death and decomposition, but I think the ending of this story is too morbid to present to young children at the end of this otherwise sweet, sentimental story. It doesn't seem to fit.

Nothing good to say about the 10th good thing....
I work in a school library and as a cat lover am always seeking out the cat books. This one caught my eye and I was expecting something wonderful. I found the story to be hopeless and defeating. How sad the only comfort the father has to offer is composting tips and the last memory the child has to hold is that of a decomposing cat. I'm no censor, but two thumbs way down. Also, if you are looking for something wonderful for pet loss, try Cynthia Rylant's, Cat Heaven!

Simple and sensitive, for all ages
Beautifully simple and sensitive portrayel. Could be a comfort for all ages. Keep it in your library to read and reread. Similar to BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY, which is also a tale for all ages about dealing with the pain of pet loss and grief. ... Read more

Book Description

What's the effect of osmosis on a raisin?

How is water transported through plant stems?

What's the best way to grow penicillin?

How are butterflies different from moths?

Now you can discover answers to these and other fascinating questions about biologythe study of living organisms. In Biology for Every Kid, you'll learn how to talk with fireflies, watch bacteria wage war in a glass of milk, discover how to tell the temperature by counting cricket chirps, and find out how an apple and an onion can taste the same.

Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A little interest boost for elementary school biology
I reviewed this book in The Home School Manual ================

Projects and activities to teach concepts, terminology, and (according to the author, Janice VanCleave) laboratory methods. This book and the others in the series each describe 101 experiments. For biology they are classified under plants, animals, and humans. Each is presented in a two-page spread with an illustration on the right. The order is logical. By working through the book doing some experiments and reading about the others, one would form significant concepts. An explanation is given for each activity. Growing carrots from carrot tops demonstrates that a plant can grow if it has portions of base, stem, and root, and if it receives food and water.

The explanations are oversimplified in some cases (for "finger monocle" for example). Younger students need simpler explanations, but I believe the scientific principles could be stated more accurately. Also, some of the illustrations could be improved, but basically the book is good.

For a total science program I would recommend a textbook or a number of broad topic books. Individual experiments miss some of the overall themes and some concepts are hard to demonstrate.

I have not seen evolutionary concepts in the book. It and others in the series seem best for about grades 3 through 5. Younger kids could profit from most of the activities. The explanations don't bring out the scientific principles clearly enough for older ones.

Part of a series from John Wiley & Sons. ... Read more

Book Description

Young Walter litters and refuses to sort trash for recycling, until he dreams of an overcrowded and polluted future which terrifies him into taking care of the earth. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Just a Dream, Chris Van Allsburg
Have you ever wanted to see what the world is like in the future? Well some people might not be ready to see it. This story shows how the earth has to be protected by everyone.
Walter is a young boy that doesn't care much about the earth. One day he has a donut bag that he tosses on a fire hydrant. That night he is watching a TV show about a boy in the future. He sees that people will have little planes and robots.
So that night he has a dream, his bed takes him years into the future. He finds that the world will be totally different. Walter notices that trees need to be protected because they are being cut down for wrong purposes. Walter finds out about what pollution does to the world. And Walter witnesses advances in science. Walter's bed takes him back to the present. Walter decides that he wants to make the world a better place. And for his birthday he gets a small tree like his neighbor got for her birthday. Then that night his bed takes him away, to the future, again.
I thought the book was interesting because a boy who doesn't think much about the world sees what the world will be like if it is not protected. It was cool that he was moved by what he had seen. And I think I would have tried to clean up too.

Just a Dream
Just a Dream is an incredible story. It is inspiring for kids. I love the books Chris Van Allsburg makes. It's like he is makng it both meaningful and entertaing too. All of his books teach you a lesson and that makes a pefect ending. The story that I like best is Just a Dream. The story is extremely cool. The pictures make you think that it is a real. This is what the story is about. A little boy goes travleing in his room, but he is just asleep. It is trying to tell him he needs to change things so he can save our nation,but it takes more than one person to take care of Mother Earth. We all need to read Chris Van Allsburg's book.

Just A Dream
Chris Van Allsburg has done it again. This book helps kids get a better understanding of why being a litterbug isn't cool. His illustrations are awesome. I wanted to be able to be in the pictures with Walter (the main character). Everybody that litters should read this book. Our world would be a more beautiful place.

Just A Dream
This book, teaches children a lesson on how to respect the environment. Its illustrations paint pictures in our minds and help us to realize the consequences of every action that we make. It also tells us that the future with all the high technology and stuff won't always make us happy. Even if we have all the things in the world we want we may still no be happy.
When Walter goes to sleep, he travels the future to see all the different things that may happen to him. During these dreams he sees different things that kind of make him aware that it is important to take care of the environment.
This book is a great way to teach children to take the time to appreciate all the beautiful things of nature and to recycle and take care of the earth. ~Kellie~

Just A Dream
This is a wonderful book filled with colorful illustrations and it has a great story like to it. I think it is good that the author uses dreams to tell children to keep the world clean.
The author gives to Walter, the boy in this book a very wide imagination. Walter is just a normal boy, and he was watching a television show about this boy living in the future. The boy has a robot and he flew around in a tiny airplane That night Walter went to bed wishing he lived in the future. He had many dreams of the future. He had many dreams of the future. He had many dreams of the future. None of the dreams showed the future he was wishing for. In the end his bed took him to the lawn in between the two trees that he had planted when he was just a boy.
This story shows that the future of great technology is not always the one that will make you happy. The book shows that keeping the world clean is important. It is not always the materialistic things that make this world beautiful. ~Kellie~ ... Read more

Book Description

Last Sunday, Alexander's grandparents gave him a dollar -- and he was rich. There were so many things that he could do with all of that money!

He could buy as much gum as he wanted, or even a walkie-talkie, if he saved enough. But somehow the money began to disappear...

Readers of all ages will be delighted by this attractive new edition of Judith Viorst's beloved picture book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Alexander and his money are quickly parted...
Judith Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is a classic of modern children's literature and probably many of us in my generation their first real thoughts about Australia. I was rather surprised to learn that there is a sequel of sorts from Viorst in the form of this 1978 story, "Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday." The problem is that Alexander's brother Anthony has two dollars, three quarters, one dime, seven nickels and eighteen pennies (do the math yourself) and his brother Nicholas has one dollar, two quarters, five dimes, five nickels and thirteen pennies (ditto). But all Alexander has are bus tokens. By the end of this story young readers will know why Alexander only has bus tokens despite the fact that last Sunday Alexander was rich because his Grandma Betty and Grandpa Louie came for a visit from New Jersey and gave each of the boys a dollar.

Alexander would really like to buy a walkie-talkie, but saving money is pretty hard for somebody his age. As we read this story, illustrated by Ray Cruz, we see how Alexander manages to end up with only bus tokens. I was going to say they would see what Alexander spends his money on, but spending implies getting something in return for your money and while that might apply to buying bubble gum and renting a snake, it does not apply to losing bets or being fined so saying words that little boys should not say. But then the point of Viorst's story is to make the idea of money management clear to young readers and the ways in which Alexander goes from being rich to being poor certainly drives home that particular lesson. As Alexander comes to realize, if you are absolutely positively going to save your money you have to get some money to save.

This book is not as charming as Alexander's original adventure, but then not many children's books rise to that level. However, for parents who have young children whose money is constantly burning a hole in their pockets, "Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday" could be a gentle way of making the point they have probably already made repeatedly. However, parents will almost certainly have to buy this book themselves, because even if this book is not as expensive as a walkie-talkie, it almost certainly will be beyond the current economic capacity of the kids who would most profit from reading it.

Wonderful for being able to laugh at yourself
I always loved Alexander and the Horrible Day. This book was just as good at pointing out human foibles in the body of a small child. Here Alexander is given an allowance, and somehow, it slips through his fingers by the following weekend. We can all relate, and I loved the book.

A Math Book?
I brought this book into a sixth grade class that was having trouble with decimals. I used it to help them make the connection between decimals and their lives. They listened with rapt attention, and then worked enthusiastically the rest of the period writing their own word problems with money. By the next day everyone got decimals. Judith Viorst is a muse! You can find everything in her works, from school and work to life and love. This book gave me (math phobic) a way to teach a math lesson from a Language Arts perspective that helped the students learn!

A great first lesson in economics
Here in Virginia, one of our 1st grade Standards of Learning concerns identifying and understanding concepts of economic resources. This is a great book to illustrate these concepts in a way accessible to young children.

Great book.
I really enjoyed this book. It is the story that I believe every child goes through. ... Read more

Book Description

"These figs are very special," the woman whispered. "They can make your dreams come true." -- Thus Monsieur Bibot, the cold-hearted dentist, was given two ordinary-looking figs as payment for extracting a tooth from an old woman's mouth. Monsieur Bibot refused to believe such nonsense and proceeded to eat one of the figs for a bedtime snack. Although it was possibly the finest, sweetest fig he had ever tasted, it wasn't until the next morning that Monsieur Bibot realized it indeed had the power to make his dreams come true. While dragging his poor dog, Marcel, out for his walk, he discovered that his strange dream from the night before was becoming all too real. Determined to make good use of the second fig, Monsieur Bibot learns to control is dreams. But can he control Marcel? Once again Chris Van Allsburg explores the mysterious territory between fantasy and reality in an uncanny tale that will intrigue readers of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Sweetest Fig
The Sweetest Fig story takes place in Paris, France. Monsiur Bibot, the coldhearted dentist, helped a patient who had a toothache. After Bibot helped her, all she could pay him with were two magical figs. In disbelief, Bibot took the figs and shoved her out of his office. When Bibot went home, he decided to eat one of the figs as an evening snack. It was the seetest fig Bibot had ever tasted, it just wasn't until the next morning that Monsieur Bibot realized it indeed was so magical that it had the power to make your dreams come true.

Another great book
Another great book by Chris Van Allsburg. I do an author study with my second graders and they particuarly love this book. They to hear it read with a bit of a French accent. The children have great empathy for poor Marcel and really appreciate when he triumphs over the self-absorbed Bibot. This book is in much demand in my classroom aftet it has been introduced as a read aloud.

the sweetest fig for ms voorhees book report assignment
Monseuir Bigot. A dentist, a picky snooty stuck up dentist, to be precise. He lives simply, with his small terrier who is not even allowed to bark, and his profession. One day as he is sitting in his office, an old woman comes into his building with a horrid toothache, she has no appointment, but he decides he could use a few extra francs. (he lives in france)He pulls her tooth out, and when he asks for payment, she hands him two figs, and says that they will make his dreams come true. he sends her from his office, and goes home. Later that night he has one of the figs, as a dinnertime snack. When he wakes up he finds that his dream had come true that he had dreamt the night before. He then hynotizes himself for weeks so he can control his dreams, the night he plans to eat the fig and become rich and famous, his dog eats the fig. he wakes up the next morning under his bed... bieng told to go for a walk...

Chris van alsburg has the best ironic childrens books. I really enjoyed how this one played out. The illustrations are as good as you would expect from a van alsburg book, especially well done are the peoples facial expressions.This is a book i would definately recomend to a friend, not nessesarily a younger reader but preferably someone who can read fairly well, its somewhere in between a chapter book and an easy reader.

What if... When You Slept, Your Dreams Came True?
Chris Van Allsburg's book, THE SWEETEST FIG, is an exquisitely illustrated book that raises the fascinating question, "What if... when you slept, your dreams came true?"

This story tells the tale of a mean-spirited dentist, Monsieur Bibot, who lives in Paris, France, with only his small, white dog for a companion. When Bibot receives as payment two small figs from an old woman who can't afford to pay him for his dental services, he is furious. The woman tells Bibot that these figs are special... "they can make your dreams come true." Dreams are clearly something that Bibot cares little for... that is, until he discovers that the old woman was telling him the truth. When he finds himself standing outside a restaurant dressed only in his underwear, and the Eiffel Tower bending down as if it were made of rubber -- he rushes home and begins practicing the art of controlling his dreams. Bibot's attempt to overly-control his life takes a surprising turn, and this story vividly illustrates the point that greed and self-absorption can ruin a man's life.

Because the artwork in this book is so exceptionally good and the moral of the story is so delightful, this is one book that parents will love to read to their children again and again!

Great Story, Magnificent Illustrations, & a Surprise Ending
What more could you ask for? The Sweetest Fig is the story of French Dentist named Bibot who is given two seemingly ordinary figs as payment for dental services rendered. The old woman who gives Bibot the figs tells him that the figs can "make your dreams come true." As the story progresses, it keeps the audiences attention easily. Most of the classes I have read this to (3rd & 4th Grade) seem to think the results of Bibot's first dream are hilarious and are eager to hear the outcome. The ending is rather abrupt but satisfying where Bibot gets his just rewards. Overall, Van Allsburg does a magnificent job (as always) both authoring and illustrating this intriguing tale. Highly recommended for 3rd and 4th grade students. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Witches' brooms don't last forever. They grow old, and even the best of them, one day, lose the power of flight.... On very rare occasions, however, a broom can lose its power without warning, and fall, with its passenger, to the earth below ... which is just what happened one cold autumn night many years ago." So begins The Widow's Broom, the gentle, strangely captivating book by Chris Van Allsburg, who received Caldecott medals for Jumanji and The Polar Express.

The story gets under way when the lonely widow Minna Shaw finds a wounded, sky-fallen witch in her vegetable garden. The witch disappears before dawn, but leaves her old, presumably defunct broom behind. Minna begins to use it around the house and finds that "it was no better or worse than brooms she'd used before." However, one morning, Minna sees the broom sweeping by itself! Opportunistically, she trains it to chop wood and fetch water.

When the neighbors find out about this "wicked, wicked thing" (posing as an innocent, hardworking broom), they accost the widow and demand that the broom be burned. Are they successful in separating the lonely widow and her diligently sweeping friend? This is a wonderfully suspenseful book to read aloud and young listeners will earnestly hope for the broom's survival. Still, older, wiser readers, ages 8 and older, will be swept up in the story, too. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Perfect Halloween Story for Grade School Children...
The Widow's Broom is a fabulous tale of magic, witchcraft and conpanionship. The story focuses on a lonely widow named Minna Shaw whose brief encounter with a witch leaves her with a seemingly ordinary household broom. Minna soon comes to learn that the broom is anything but ordinary as it is enchanted. Trouble soon finds Minna Shaw in the form of her neighbors the Spivey's who denounce the broom as "evil." The events that follow are immensely entertaining and captivating. The twist ending makes the story all the sweeter. Van Allsburg's illustrations are nothing short of breathtaking as he deserved another Caldecott medal for his work here. Overall, kids will fall in love with this enchanting tale and adults may who read it may do the same. Highly Recommended for ALL ages.

The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allburg Reveiw by April
The main characters of this book are a witch, Minna Shaw, a broom, and the Spiveys. This story starts out with a witch flying on her broom. The broom loses its magic to fly, and makes the witch tumble and fall to the ground. The witch lands in Minna Shaw's garden. Minna Shaw was a widow who lived in a small white farmhouse. Widow Shaw knew she was a witch, but helped her any way because she is a kinded-hearted person. Minna takes the witch into her house, and at midnight, the witch left with her wounds all healed. The witch saw another witch circling in the sky. THe witch flew down and picked up the witch that Minna found. The witch left her old broom there, since it didn't fly anymore.
The next morning, Minna Shaw wakes up to an empty house. She wasn't that surprised by it though. She also saw that the witch left her broom there. Widow Shaw justed figured that the broom lost its powers and was like a normal broom. Then she saw that the broom was sweeping the floors by itself. She was very scared by this, but later on, got used to it. Minna Shaw taught the broom how to do other tasks, like feeding the chickens, chop wood, fetch water, bring the cows from the pastures, and to even play the piano.
The Spiveys, Minna's neighbors, found out about the broom. They didn't like it at all because they thought that it was the work of the devil. Sometimes the broom got bored and started to sweep the roads. Two of the Spivey boys were taunting the broom. The broom got loose and knocked both boys over. They got their dog to attack the broom. The broom set the dog sailing through the air. The boys told their father what had happened to them. They still haven't found their dog yet. Mr. Spivey and three other men went to go destroy the broom.
Minna shows them where she keeps the broom. What will become of the broom? Will Minna ever see the broom again? What ever happened to the Spivey's dog? Read the rest of the story if you want the answers to these questions. I liked this book because it gives you a great describion of what is going on. It also has great pictures that help you follow along with the story.

The Widow's Broom Book Review
The Widow's Broom is an outstanding book about an old widow named Minna Shaw, who finds a witch's former broom that has lost the power of flight in her kitchen. At that moment, the broom was sweeping the floor of Minna's kitchen all by it's self. At first, she was frightened, but the magical broom seemed harmless, and it was doing a very good job sweeping the floors like magic, and she thought it might be very good at other jobs too. The Widows broom was a fabulous story and I would highly recommend that you should read it no matter how old you are.

The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg
I still remember the days of when I used to borrow this from the local library as a small child. This used to be one of my favourite books alongside of "The Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland," and many other fantasy books. This one was an exceptionally original and unique illustrated picture book about a widow who earns a strange gift (the broom) from a witch who stayed with the widow to heal from a crash. When the witch leaves, the widow notices that the broom has special powers and can move and clean the house - of course the neighbours are suspicious and jealous and want to get their hands on the broom. One of the things about this novel that makes it so special is the wonderful, sepia tone illustrations that add plenty of atmosphere to the reader's experience. There is one illustration that is very creepy to me and always be a powerful image - the witch standing in the night looking youthful and strong, staring out into the night sky. An excellent book for children and adults alike. Spellbinding reading!

WALTER'S REVIEW!!!!!!!!!
You really should read this book called THE WIDOW'S BROOM.
It is funny and exciting. An old lady gets an unusual
gift from a witch that stayed in her house to heal.
The gift caused a stir with all of her neighbors.
So go ahead and read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Fourteen black-and-white drawings, each accompanied by a title and a caption, entice readers to make up his or her own story. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

The *best* book for creative writers
My sixth grade teacher used this book for a creative writing assignment. We were supposed to pick one of the pages and write a story based on Chris Van Allsburg's wonderful illustrations.

Chris Van Allsburg, known to me as the author/illustrator of Jumanji and The Polar Express, outdoes himself in this book. It is a book to get the mind thinking, especially for children. Each illustration has a caption that is supposed to get the mind thinking. A child cannot read this book without formulating a story, perhaps unconsciously, in his mind.

Chris Van Allsburg is a wonderful artist. Each illustration, done in only simple black and white, is so breathtaking that I could stare at them time and again and be amazed at the detail, the realness. The sentence-long captions that go along with each picture even today cause me to dream up a story. It is a terrific book to get a child interested in writing. :)

My Brain's Barbells
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a book where they give you a title, a picture , and an opening sentence. You have to create the rest of the story. It lets you use creativity and allows you to write whatever you want. But the writing you do is in a strict matter.
One example is a picture of a ship the size of the Titanic. The Ship is going through an extremely tiny canal in Venice, knocking down large buildings. The title is Missing in Venice and it gives you the first line of the story. As for the pictures they are absolutely marvelous. They have tons of details , are black and white , and are very haunting.
This book has stimulated my brain to write with the ingredients that the book presents me. It inspires me to write every day. Also it builds my vocabulary and gives my brain a workout. I give The Mysteries of Harris Burdick five out of five stars and recommend it for all ages.

Middle School English Teacher's Dream Book
I teach English 8 in a middle school setting, and my student writers tend to grumble and struggle with writing longer pieces of fiction. Whenever I display one of the illustrations in this portfolio, my students get out of their seats and rush for the display easel. They ooh and ahh. Then they start thinking and talking about the stories that pop into their heads--all of them different. They get to work with happy faces and elaborate tales with bright-eyed energy. When they are finished, they can't wait to read to the class. All upper grade English teachers should have this book/portfolio in their bag of magic tricks. Me? I'm waiting for the Mysteries of Harris Burdick Part 2.

The portfolio edition is a must-have for any writing teacher
A colleague introduced me to the portfolio edition, and it is one of the best finds I have added to my writing program. What makes this edition better than the traditionally-bound book is that you can post each of the 12" x 16" drawings around the classroom and use them as picture prompts for writing. I have my students use the captions as the first line of their stories. So far, this collection has been a hit with every class I've taught. You won't be disappointed!

Been looking for this book for years!
One of my elementary school teachers introduced me to this book years ago. I think I was only in fifth or sixth grade. Being someone who loves to write, I was captivated immediately by the illustrations and the single sentence from the beginning of the stories that went along with them. I lost track of this book, until last semester when I saw it in my college book store. At the time I didn't have enough cash on hand to buy it, and by the time I went back the book was gone. Sadly for me, I had also forgotten the title and author! Thanks to a friend, I finally found this book again, and I cannot wait to get my own copy to share with my elementary students! ... Read more

Book Description

If you've ever had trouble apologizing or keeping a secret, had a crush or a broken heart, there's a poem here for you!Written with humor and understanding, Judith Viorst's poems are certain to delight children and adults alike -- and be read again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I can even top that
I was in the second grade when I first found this book, and subsequently read and memorized each poem. Viorst has an astounding ability to incorporate the hightened emotions of childhood with the reality of aging. She can be whimsical and rhythmic as well as dramatic and mornful. I would recommend buying this for any relative, friend, or yourself no matter what age. I still have my very first copy given to me by my grandmother and have yet to go a year without picking it up. Believe me, it is more than it seems.

Wonderful for all ages
I, too, got this book in approximately the third grade -- 17 years ago. I am now teaching middle school literature and share this collection with all of my students; I also have given it as a gift to every person under the sun, no matter what their age! It remains, unquestionably, my favorite collection of poetry, if not for its content, then for its sheer simplicity and "perfection." (If you read it, you'll understand what I mean...) Judith Viorst magically captures the sadness, scariness, uncertainty, and immense joys of childhood and adolescence -- her rhymes are clever, too! As I return to these poems as an adult, I find them as applicable today as they were more than ten years ago. Thank you, Ms. Viorst, for such an wonderful book!

One of my long-time favorites
I originally got this book from my grandparents when I was in third grade--16 or 17 years ago. I didn't like it immediately, but a few years later I fell in love with the quick rhymes and the amusing, realistic subject matter. I still have some of them memorized today: "They tell me that I talk too much. I'm trying not to talk too much..." I'm replacing the book now because I've realized that I lost it sometime in the last year, and I still enjoy re-reading it now. Highly recommended! ... Read more