Book Description

Is there anything more memorable than the expression on a young child's face the first time he or she visits the farm? That sense of wonder and amazement is captured in Baby MacDonald on the Farm. Each page invites children to learn all about farm animals through engaging text, delightful illustrations, and real-life photos that are accompanied by unique touch-and-feel elements. Baby MacDonald on the Farm is a wonderful learning experience that is certain to engage young children for hours and hours of playtime learning. ... Read more

Book Description

In this tender sequel to the New York Times bestseller and children's classic, The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn provides parents with another tale of love and reassurance to share with their children. Chester Raccoon has a baby brother--and the baby is a bit more than Chester had bargained for. "Please can we give him back?" he begs Mrs. Raccoon, to no avail. The last straw is when Chester sees his mother give his baby brother a kissing hand--his kissing hand, Chester thinks. His mother assuages his fears with her own special brand of wisdom, finding just the right way to let Chester know that he is deeply loved. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A delightful story about raccoons and love.
As a book reviewer for Funseeker's Radio Network I come across a lot of delightful children's book, but this one has to be in the top ten. A mother raccoon has two cubs, with Chester being the older. His mother gives him a kiss in his hand, a "kissing hand" and he is delighted, until he sees her give one to his baby brother. His mother lets him know that he is loved just as much as his brother and that she has enough love for both of them. The illustrations by Barbara Leonard Gibson are some of the best I have seen and remind me of Harry, my own pet raccoon I had when I was younger. This book needs to be bought in pairs, one for the adult buying it and one or more for the children who will love the story and the message it gives. ... Read more

Book Description

Place your favorite farm animals on the incredible full-color, pull-out backgrounds to create amazing scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Great book for special needs children with a tactile need!
My 6 year old son is developmentally disabled. He loves to look at bright pictures and feel different textures. This book is great for both. Although he is six we usually resort to tactile toys intended for infants. How refreshing to find a book that suits his needs and doesn't look babyish! The other books in this series are great as well. Zoo animals, Dogs, and Cats.

So much fun
My six month old daughter starts to giggle and shake when I pull this book out. She loves this book. I read it to her and let her feel all the animals. Everytime I turn the page she squeals with excitement. I love that it is a board book, too. She can hold it and gum it like babies do with EVERYTHING and it is not ruined. This is a real fun book to read to babies. There are never too young. This one is perfect because she can see the pictures and feel all the fur.

Great Reading for the Car
My son loves this book so much he has a copy of it in the car which he often looks at it when we're going to day care or coming home.

A must have book for your pretoddler
My son is just 10 months & he loves this book. He goes over to his books & always finds that one so he can touch the fluffy chick. He actually sits & lets me turn the pages in this book so he can touch all the animals. His favorites are the chick & the whooly lamb. I bought this book for my son a few months ago & he is fascinated by being able to touch the different animal textures. When we are reading other books that talk about chicks or lambs he will go over & look for this book! He apparently makes the connection!

Great first book for your baby!
This is one of the first books that I read to my son Zachary. From day one, he was always interested in this book. Now 3 years old, he still loves to look at the photos and touch the pages. It is a great book from baby to toddler. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A perfect springtime accompaniment to actual bugs, Insectlopedia swarms, buzzes, and slithers with poetry and paint. Douglas Florian, creator of the award-winning Beast Feast, On the Wing, and In the Swim, has succeeded again, this time with a delightful infestation of 21 spider and insect poems and paintings, awash in watercolor and collage on primed brown paper bags.

Well-loved for his clever wordplay (complete with endearingly shameless visual and verbal puns), Florian manages to seamlessly blend science with pure whimsy. Take "The Praying Mantis," for example: "Upon a twig/I sit and pray/For something big/To wend my way;/A caterpillar,/Moth,/or bee--/I swallow them/Religiously." His rhythmic chant "The Weevils" begins, "We are weevils./We are evil./We've aggrieved/Since time primeval." Add a few inchworms, moths, and whirligig beetles, and you have the blisteringly funny, stingingly clever Insectlopedia, the perfect book for emerging entomologists and budding poets alike. (All ages) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great fun, even for kids who aren't "insect lovers"
This is a book of poems about insects. The poems are great; their content is funny and rhythmic. Through the poems we learn about the various insects. Some have very creative text formatting such as the inchworm; the text is shaped like a humped-up inchworm. The illustrations are very creative collages that are unique compared to most other children's books.

I began reading this when my first son was 2 years old and he loved the poems then and he loves them now. Neither of my children are otherwise very interested in reading about insects but this book captures their interest and they laugh hysterically at some of these poems. After reading these they have found some of the more unusual insects such as the walking stick outdoors and called it to my attention. We've owned the book for 3 years, every once in a while my now-5 year old will find it and get excitedly proclaim "we haven't read this in a long time" and begs me to read it again (and again and again).

Some of the insects featured are the inchworm, tick, walking stick, praying mantis, monarch butterfly, daddy long legs spider and army ants.

The poems are so much fun I don't mind reading the entire book two or three times in a row. A fun book to read to young children. This is good reading for just plain fun or to introduce poetry or to enhance learning about insects and nature.

It's great! (Ethan 5) It's Wonderful (Alissa 6)
We just love reading Insectlopedia! My 6 year old daughter andmy 5 year old son both think it is a great read. Ethan & Alissalike the poem about the Whirligig Beetles the best.

Excellent Book Filled with Info!
I read this book while sitting in the Dr.'s office this week. It was not only fun to read, but educational as well. At 27 I learned some interesting things about insects! And the illustrations are outstanding, especially for adults who can look further into the artwork.

enchanting poems not only for children
Florian created a wonderful book of poems that captured the youthful joy and echantment of the insect world. Each poem is unique and the accompanying illustrations are whimsical and fun. Both parents and children will love this book.

A pure delight!
As a children's author myself, I look at a LOT of picture books each year. INSECTLOPEDIA was one I simply had to have. The poems and art are equally witty, and it seems to me the perfect gift book, to be enjoyed and appreciated by children (and adults) of all ages. Every time I show it to someone, we find something new to delight us in the art work. A wonderful book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the author of the award-winning legend of peace, Old Turtle, comes a soulful new tale about the wise old turtle who advocates listening to the "language of breezes...learning lessons from stones and animals and trees and stars." In this story, a truth falls from the stars, breaking in half when it lands. Crow, Fox, Coyote, and Raccoon, each pick up this piece of truth but discard it because of its rough edges and broken nature. But when a human being finds it, noting the words "You Are Loved" written on it, he and his people cherish it as their most important possession. Time passes, and jealousy, fear, and anger rise up in the people who hold this Great Truth, as well as in those who do not have it. The world begins to suffer. Finally, it's up to a little girl to seek understanding and a solution to the woes of the world.

Old Turtle and the Broken Truth's new age allegory is exquisitely wrought, in word and in picture. Douglas Wood's prose is the timeless language of fables, meshing perfectly with Jon Muth 's radiant watercolors for an experience anyone seven to one hundred and seven can appreciate. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Compelling Story + Elegant Watercolors:=Ageless Picture Book
I picked this book because I love turtles and I was intrigued about what on Earth (or anywhere, for that matter!) the Broken Truth might be....

Through Douglas Wood's narrative, I was taken to a land where every stone was a teacher and every breeze a language, where every lake was a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.....

And then in a brief moment, the sight of the Broken Truth falling to the ground in an especially poignant watercolor by illustrator Jon Muth.

I found the unfolding story to be told gently and with great care. As one other reader noted, it echoes so clearly many of the challenges which are inherent in humankind today.

And then, on the other hand, I am very familiar with this place where every stone is a teacher, every breeze a language, every lake a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.... Very worthy read... and very worthy of sharing with children and grown children everywhere.

Old Turtle returns with another bit of wisdom for the people
In this sequel to the beloved "Old Turtle," the people of the Earth are living in peace until they discover a powerful truth that gives them strength and happiness. The result is that the Earth is soon full of suffering and war until one little girl seeks out Old Turtle, who tells her that what the people do not realize is that the great "truth" is broken and incomplete. It is then up to the little girl to travel back to the world and pass on the precious piece of wisdom that will provide the people with the whole truth.

While I certainly like the idea of a "broken truth" as a metaphor for explaining why so much goes so terribly wrong in the world in which we live, I had to admit that I was rather disappointed by the revelation of what were the two halves of the broken truth. The completed message is certainly worthwhile, and an important one for everyone to appreciate and understand, but I am not sure why half of that truth (the first half in this case), would create a world of war and suffering. However, young readers will not be sidetracked by such practical concerns and should find the message of "Old Turtle and the Broken Truth" to be something that meets their expectations. Douglas Wood's story is complimented by watercolors by Jon J. Muth.

Beautiful Story
Having never heard of or read "Old Turtle", I am not sure WHY I was compelled to look at this book while at the book store today. Perhaps it was the awesome watercolor on the cover..? At any rate, I sat and read the entire book. I remember looking up twice to see if anyone noticed how choked up I was getting - NOT the reaction I was expecting out of myself, but then again, I wasn't expecting to sit down and read one of the most eloquent, beautiful stories I've ever read. I immediately purchased it for an environmentalist/animal rights activist friend of mine, a brilliant girl with so much passion and ability to change the world, who of course I was reminded of by the little girl in the story. This book so amazingly sums up so many of the problems in our world and collective conscience, and so brilliantly pulls them all together into one fundamental flaw in our thinking, whether it's our ignorant views towards animals, nature, or the middle-east, etc. And it offers hope. I can't wait to give it to my friend!

Insightful!
This simple story is actually quiet complex and compelling, revealing the consequences of self-righteousness and intolerance. Within the first few pages, the author quickly sets the stage for conflicts that Old Turtle can explain with his insight and understanding. This is a timely story, as we are often confronted today with accepting others' viewpoints and cultures.

Most children's books aren't just for children...
This story of a broken truth and the secret to peace and happiness is a remarkable tale for children and adults. Children may not grasp the full meaning of the story, but they may appreciate that it is a child who helps the world. Adults will find that the simple truth gives them chills. The watercolor illustrations are as beautiful as the tale.
I bought this book for my friend's birthday. Once you read it, you, too, will want to share it with those around you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Officer Buckle is a roly-poly bloke, dedicated to teaching schoolchildren important safety tips, such as never put anything in your ear and never stand on a swivel chair. The problem is, Officer Buckle's school assemblies are dull, dull, dull, and the children of Napville just sleep, sleep, sleep. That is, until Gloria the police dog is invited along! Stealthily pantomiming each safety tip behind Officer Buckle's back, Gloria wins the children's hearts. Meanwhile Officer Buckle assumes the cheers and laughter are all for him. As the master comedian Jerry Lewis once explained, every slapstick artist needs a straight man! Children will be highly entertained by the laugh-out-loud, adorable illustrations in this 1996 Caldecott Medal winner, while learning the value of teamwork and a pawful of nifty safety tips. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Stay with your buddy!
This book for children is about a police officer (I've been told that it is based, in part, on a San Francisco officer) who gives talks on safety to elementary school children. His talks are quite boring until he is accompanied by his police dog, Gloria. At first he is deflated that the students aren't cheering his presentation; but, with Gloria present they actually learn safety. The book won the 1996 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a children's book. One of the earlier reviewers gave this book only two stars apparently because they couldn't see the humor. Part of the humor can be found in the background and how it meshes with the text.

A Read-Aloud Hit!
Primary age students in our school love to have "OfficerBuckle and Gloria" read aloud to them, and upper grade studentsremember this story fondly.

While the story stands alone as a playful read-aloud, it can be an effective tool for opening a discussion on safety. Officer Buckle keeps thinking of new safety tips that he keeps thumbtacked to his bulletin board, like "never do tricks on the monkey bars without someone there to catch you." The endpapers of the book are also filled with stars containing more safety tips.

Just as the students in the story are entertained by Gloria, the dog, and come away with Officer Buckle's helpful tips, children who read or listen to this book read will be entertained, yet come away with some great advice, such as "always wear a crash helmet."

This one deserves the Caldecott Medal as the colorful, playful drawings are an essential part of the story.

Safety tips
Officer Buckle is a friendly police officer who enjoys making up safety tips and sharing them with school children. However, the school children find Officer Buckle's safety lectures boring, until the day when he takes his new police dog Gloria along with him to the lecture. Officer Buckle doesn't know it, but Gloria has a habit of acting out the tips behind his back while he is speaking. When Officer Buckle finally finds out what Gloria is doing behind his back, he decides to stop giving lectures. But Gloria finds that she can't go on without him, and the school children also miss the fun. The story is very cute and not at all scary.

An officer and a gentle dog
Widely regarded as the least deserving Caldecott winner in the last 15 years. Now that's a pretty negative opening comment about a book that is, all in all, an amusing story about a man and his eclectic dog. And I'm not saying that this book is THE worst Caldecott winner to have ever existed. That honor belongs to the ludicrously racist and factually inaccurate "Abraham Lincoln" by the Parin d'Aulaires. Certainly this is a nice little tale about safety, and it presents actual important safety tips in a fun and original manner. But it's hardly deserving of a medal. Hardly.

In this tale, Officer Buckle finds that his school safety tips are being met with more than a little disregard on the part of the students. Kids are just snoring in the aisles when Buckle reads the list of tips. All that changes when the Officer acquires a police dog named Gloria. Suddenly the kids are wide-awake for Buckle's safety demos, and it's no wonder. Gloria is faithfully acting out each and every safety tip as her owner reads them out. From "Never leave a thumbtack where you might sit on it" to "Do not go swimming during electrical storms". Of course, Officer Buckle has no clue why there has been such a rise in his own popularity. But when watching a taped recording of his own program, the law enforcement agent must decide whether or not he is of any real importance to the community, or if it's all Gloria's glory.

There's a lot to love in this story. Rathmann has fitted many a scene with tiny interesting details. Buckle fans (as well as the Officer himself) sport anti-banana peel badges and t-shirts. Officer Buckle's book collection (containing such titles as "You Can't Be Too Careful" and "Safety in Numbers") is held together by Gloria shaped book-ends. And check out Buckle's final safety tip written in front of him while angrily refusing to do anymore speeches (#100: Never turn your back on a strange dog). The plot is cute as well. It's nice to see an energetic dog in the vein of Snoopy or Mark Teague's Ike that's female for once. And there is a real affection between Buckle and his trusty canine friend. I think back to the scene of the policeman feeding Gloria an ice cream cone after she's given a stint of autographs to waiting fans. Finally, there's no denying that Buckle has come up with some really good safety tips. The front and end papers of this book show some useful stars containing Gloria acting out why one should or should not follow such n' such a tip.

Now when I said the book didn't deserve the Caldecott, I meant it. It's a swell book with a fun story and lovely pictures. But it's not superb. I can only assume it won solely on the basis that it is the only Caldecott book to discuss safety in any serious manner. And it does so without causing undue fear or worry on the part of the small child reader. Which is good. So by all means, go out and read this nice little story. Just don't expect to be blown away by its wit or depth.

just so so funny
we just read it together and laugh and laugh and laugh. and then one of us, my son or i will point to another illustration of gloria's expressions or antics and we just laugh and laugh again. a lovely book. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. Mr. and Mrs. Bird's search for a "better" nest leads them to some peculiar spots. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My Favorite book as a child - bought it for my daughter
This was my favorite book as a child. I had it memorized by the time I was 2. My mother sold it at a garage sale and now 30 years later is kicking herself for it.

When I had my daughter 3 years ago, my mother and I looked all over for this book in bookstores. Amazon is the only place I found it.

The best kids book {and Homeowners/tenants mantra}
This has to be the most memorable kids book in the world. After having read its Amazon reviews, I now know I wasn't the only little kid that HAD to have it read to them all the time! The illustrations are so memorable and the moral is priceless. At 23, I still remember the line "I love my house, I love my nest, in all the world my nest is best." The book resides at Grammas house and will continue to be read to generations to come.

BEST NEST
THIS BOOK WAS BOUGHT FOR ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. IT IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK FOR CHILDREN AND I CAN REMEMBER TO THIS DAY THE VERSE THAT IS REPEATED IN THE BEST NEST ON MOST OF THE PAGES. "I LOVE MY HOUSE ,I LOVE MY NEST IN ALL THE WORLD MY NEST IS BEST. I AM NOW 35 AND I AM SO PLEASED I HAVE FOUND THIS BOOK TO BUY ONLINE AS I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IT EVERYWHERE SO THAT I CAN READ IT TOO MY KIDS AND I HOPE THEY LIKE IT AS MUCH AS I DID. ANYONE WITH SMALL CHILDREN SHOULD BUY THIS BOOK.

Favorite Book as child
By far, The Best Nest was my FAVORITE book growing up. My mother would read it to me every night before bed, singing Mr. Bird's songs. Quite enjoyable.

a classic story about appreciating what we have!
This was my favorite book as a child-- my mom must have read it to me hundreds of times. I am now expecting my first child and this will be one of the first books that I purchase for her! ... Read more

Book Description

A lion, a dog, and a tiger are having a contest--can they get ten apples

piled up on top of their heads? You better believe it! This first counting book

works as a teaching tool as well as a funny story.




... Read more

Reviews (9)

Communist Manifesto for Toddlers
A lion, a dog, and a tiger all compete to see who can accumulate the most apples "up on top." All goes well (excepting perhaps a little inflation,) until some other animals without any apples become envious and decide to knock down all the apples. If they can't have them, no one will! Isn't that just like a Leftie? The apple-less animals chase the appled animals around town, until finally they collide with a horse and cart piled hyperbolically high with apples. Boom! The end result? *Everyone* has the same number of apples up on top, and everyone's so happy. No rich, no poor! Wow, what a world that would be.

Surprise: Board Book Not the Full Version!?
My son loved the "Ten Apples Up On Top" (Hardcover) book I borrowed for him from the library so much that I ordered a copy of our own. Thinking that the board book would be more sturdy, that's what I ordered. Never imagined that the board book could be only less than half of the full version, you can imagine the surprise and disappointement we had when we sat down to read it together. Now I know to compare the number of pages when I order. I wish there were some kind of clearer indication and warning about Board book version not being the full version somewhere in the Product Description.

An addictive classic
My daughter wanted this book read to her several times a day, every day, for months when she was two. It is wonderful, predictable text and teaches counting and rhyming. Dr. Seuss didn't put his name on it originally because it wasn't up to his standards, but it's still a great little kid book!

Counting Apples is fun in the car
My 4 yo son has several Suess board books in the car. They are sturdy and perfect for road trips. His favorite is 10 Apples Up On Top, because he loves to count, and this is a book that he can "read" on his own after hearing me read it once. He likes for me to read it to him too, because he loves the sing song rhyming of Dr. Suess.

Entertaining....with an anticlimax!
How many apples can you place on top of your head...one, two, three? This book is really fun. As a child I remember counting the apples "up on top" of the characters heads. With each turn of the page a new and more outrageous event takes place as well as the addition of more "apples up on top". My girls listen attentively through the entire book and love the conclusion each time we read it. ... Read more

Book Description

Wendy Pfeffer describes the amazing metamorphosis from tiny, jellylike egg, to little fishy tadpole, to great big bullfrog. Holly Keller has created the archetypal frog pond and we see it through the seasons as the tadpoles grow legs and lungs and eventually hop onto land: bullfrogs at last. "Well-designed ink drawings washed with soft-toned watercolors stretch across the double-page spreads, showing the action above and below water level. . . .an attractive, general introduction."—BL.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Best Children's Science Books, 1994 (Science Books and Films) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Great Kids' Book
This is another great STAGE 1 book in the "Let's Read & Find Out" Science Series. The STAGE 1 Series books are written for preschool and kindergarten-age kids (age 3 to 6) about basic science concepts.
This book has 32 pages of nice illustrations (artwork NOT photography) to help the words tell about the developmental stages of frogs.

Some children's books miss the fact of who their target audience is. The "Let's Read & Find Out" books consistently keep subject matter easily understood using age appropriate vocabulary and keep a child interested at the same time.
We recently bought a home science frog growing kit. This book is perfect read along material to show my five year old son what to anticipate in coming weeks.

The books are written for the reading ability of an "average" 3 year old. Older kids may very well get bored with the simple reading in this book. But, they should find the information about frogs fascinating, especially if they are participating in growing some at home or in class! Remember how much fun frog eggs and tadpoles were as a kid?

We have several books in this series and are pleased that our son enjoys them so much.
John Row

very good
This book is very appropriate for any young one learning about frogs. My nephew has learned alot from this book about where frogs come from. The pictures are real and not drawings which I like. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Once upon a time three pigs built three houses, out of straw, sticks,and bricks. Along came a wolf, who huffed and puffed... So, you think you knowthe rest? Think again. With David Wiesner at the helm, it's never safe to assumetoo much. When the wolf approaches the first house, for example, and blows itin, he somehow manages to blow the pig right out of the story frame. The textcontinues on schedule--"...and ate the pig up"--but the perplexed expression onthe wolf's face as he looks in vain for his ham dinner is priceless. One by one,the pigs exit the fairy tale's border and set off on an adventure of their own.Folding a page of their own story into a paper airplane, the pigs fly off tovisit other storybooks, rescuing about-to-be-slain dragons and luring the catand the fiddle out of their nursery rhyme.

Wiesner, Caldecott Medal recipient for Tuesday, and Caldecott Honorwinner for both Sector 7and Free Fall, prefersnot to wait around until pigs fly. He gives them wings (or paper airplanes) andsets them on their way! In his latest flight of fancy, Wiesner uses shiftingillustration styles and fonts to startle complacent readers into an imaginaryworld even as they ponder the conventional structure of story. His trademarkcrafty humor and skewed perspectives will tickle readers pink (even thenonporcine variety)! (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Illustrations may be hard for Youngsters to Fully Comprehend
David Wiesner's, clever twist on "The Three Little Pigs," takes a story that we all know, and had the pigs escape from the wolf and out of the story itself. The pigs fly off on a paper airplane stopping periodically at other stories. While they are stopping at other stories, they begin to rescue more and more characters along the way.

The author and artist, David Wiesner, used watercolor, gouache, colored inks, pencil and colored pencil on Fabriano hot press paper in order to capture the illustrations in his book, "The Three Pigs." I enjoy the illustrator's use of two kinds of artistic styles within one picture. For example, on the third page, Wiesner illustrates the pig in the fairytale as more of a cartoon style. Whereas, when the pig is exiting the fairytale, the illustrator makes the pig more realistic by using colored pencils. I think by using the different styles within the picture, it allows the reader to really understand and visualize the pig falling out of the fairytale. This technique is used throughout the book, when a character is leaving or entering a fairytale. The technique is used with different variations on certain pages. In the scene with the, "Cat and the Fiddle," the pigs turn into very cartoon-like characters, and in the tale about the dragon, the pigs turn into black and white pen and ink drawings.
Another technique that I really appreciated in this book was the pages within a page. Wiesner used the play on fairytale pages to illustrate the pigs in the, "real world."
Although, this book uses wonderful and creative illustrations, I think it would be a difficult concept for small children to grasp. Some small children barely have the concept of the original, "Three Little Pigs," let alone a big twist such as this one, especially with the addition of other fairytales. However, I do think that this book would be a good choice for slightly older readers such as kids aged 9-12. They will be able to grasp the concept and follow the storyline a little bit better than their younger counterparts.

CUTE AS....A PIG'S EAR!
Who hasn't heard of the old-time favourite classic for children, "The Three Little Pigs"? This delightful book has all the adventures of the original three little pigs and then some. The illustrations and cute adventures which take place in Wiesner's book are sure to produce a smile or two. You will find a dragon, the cat-in the fiddle and the cow jumping over the moon - and who said, "pigs don't fly?" This is a beautiful book that is bound to warm the heart of any young child. It makes a terrific bedtime story or anytime story and what a wonderful way to share one of those special moments with your child.

Irresistible kid's Pick
I find 'The Three Pigs' - an Irresistible kids Stuff apart from the many stories like Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Cinderella, etc. The kids love to read the tale 'The wolf huffed & puffed' and blew the house is just a repeat that the kids love to say and find out how the pigs escaped and finally, as a great picture read, the book is a imaginery fantasy. Like many other books of this tale, David Wiesner's book is a grab as it has good illustrations, dialogue balloons and style that draw attention, is a great adventure into fantasy world. A good story that kids love and a good Pick 'The Three Pigs by David Wiesner'

The Three Pigs
I am a student at West Virginia State College University. I am currently enrolled in a Children's Literature class. My professor, Mr. Samples had us to choose a Caldecott Award winning book. I chose this book because I have been a huge "three little pigs fan" since I was little. I think it has fabulous pictures. I think the book is unique because the author has changed the plot a little, as opposed to the older version.

A wonderful "what if" tale
This book begins as the story of the three little pigs, but before long the pigs have decided they want to be change the story around a bit. Through their travels, the pigs enter nursery rhymes and other tales, liberating other characters as they go. After awhile the three pigs decide to return to their original story, but they still refuse to follow the instructions of the text. The wolf may still be waiting for them, but he cannot defeat their new friend the dragon.

One of the chief delights of Wiesner's book is the variations in artistic style. When the three pigs are on the pages of their original story, Wiesner draws them in one style. When the pigs escape their tale they become much more realistic looking. For each story they enter, the pigs take on that particular artistic style and color palate. Wiesner's tale is a pleasure, not only for his novel take on the story of the three little pigs, but for the amusing liberties the pigs take with the pages of their story (making paper airplanes) and the text on the page (rearranging it to suit them). ... Read more

Book Description

Emboldened by the enthusiastic response to Belly Button (Round)—a song from her Grammy-nominated book/CD, Philadelphia Chickens—Sandra Boynton further contemplates this mesmerizing subject.

Featuring a beachful of bare-bellied hippos—including one tiny baby who can only say “Bee Bo”—the Belly Button Book is the latest quirky addition to the phenomenally successful Boynton on Board series, which has 5.5 million copies in print. Every page captivates with Sandra Boynton’s inimitable illustrations and joyful rhyming text:

Soon after dark, upon the beach, we sing a hippo song, and if you’re feeling in the mood, we hope you’ll sing along: “Belly Belly Button, you’re oh so fine. Ooo, Belly Button, I’m so happy you’re mine.”

Shiny and sturdy, and featuring a great (navel-shaped, naturally) die-cut cover that offers a provocative glimpse of the merriment inside, the Belly Button Book provides enduring, giggly, read-aloud fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Maisy the mouse and her friends Cyril, Charley, and Tallulah have a busyday of gardening, painting pictures, cleaning the playroom, and romping at theplayground. Young readers can lift the flaps--all 36 of 'em--to learn aboutnumbers, colors, shapes, and opposites as the pals go about their day. Whatobjects in the playroom match the shapes on the flaps? What color completes thepictures of carrots, whales, and grasshoppers? The oh-so-cute Maisy is a hugefavorite with children, who watch her on TV and read about her in Where Does Maisy Live?, Maisy Goes to Bed, Count with Maisy, and many moretitles by award-winning artist Lucy Cousins. Vibrant colors and bold blackoutlines set the tone for this cheery, interactive book about everyone'sfavorite mouse. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (8)

16 month old Ayla and Maisy books
My grand child, Ayla, also enjoys this lift the flaps book. She is still discovering flaps she hasn't noticed as yet. I will difinitely order more of the Maisy books as they are a hit with her.

Awesome book
I got this book for my 16 month old 1 week ago and she has hardly put it down since. It has bright captivating illustrations, robust flaps that are hard to tear, and a different theme on each page. The themes are ones from real life (counting bugs in the garden, colouring different objects, putting different shaped toys away in the playroom, and doing opposites in the playground) and the way the flaps teach the concepts is ingenious. My baby is particularly crazy about the opposites page since when you flip the flaps Maisy goes up and down the slide, Cyril swings high and and low on the swing and Charley dumps a bucket of sand into a truck, all activities she's crazy about herself. Flipping the flaps and seeing the results has her mesmerized. I can't say enough good things about this book!

my 3 year old loves this...has enjoyed this book for months
Cute book. Really big. Lots of little flaps to open. Lots of fun things to talk about (if child is speech delayed and you are looking to teach vocabulary interactively)...Concepts up/down and wet/dry are shown very effectively with flaps...Lots of good chances to say "where is....?" and open flaps to find. If your 2-3 year old likes Maisy, this is a good book ...

Lots of Flaps and Learning!
This book has so many flaps! My daughter loves them! But, there are so many, and some are small, that it's almost too much for her at nine months. This is definitely a book she'll grow into, though.

The characters are cute and she likes to hunt for them under flaps. The book itself is colorful and oversized, making reading it a lot of fun for both of us. Plus, different pages explore counting and colors and other topics that will make it easy to give your child a little "lesson" while reading.

Maisey's Big Flap Book
My 15 month old son loves all of the Maisey books. The lift-the-flap books allow him to participate. He can't wait to see what is under the next flap. I would recommend these books to any toddler. ... Read more

Book Description

Look for additional Blue's Clues books -- board books, sticker books, and more! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

His new snuggly?
My 20 mo old son hasn't "bonded" to an object yet and this book may be it...he LOVES the pictures and makes sounds like Blue when he reads it. He's hard to get to concentrate on a book...we may get the whole series!

just okay
My daughter is a huge Blue's Clues fan so we had to get this book for her. I was also looking forward to the subject of bedtime since my little girl tends to have trouble winding down and getting ready for bed. So I thought maybe this would help a little.
I thought the story was not really as good as some other Blue's Clues books we've read. And the main thing I didn't really like was that the pages just had too much text for us. My daughter is 20 months and actually has quite a long attention span for her age, but she just doesn't stay interested in this book long enough for me to read a whole page.
If your child is a little older though, it should be okay. Overall I wouldn't say this is a bad little book...just okay!

Great Bedtime book!
My 18 mo old son had become a Blues Clues addict. He calls them "coo-clues." I bought this book for him along with a few others, and this has become the overwhelming favorite. He brings it to me all the time, requesting me to read it. In the book Blue goes through her bedtime routine and my son finds it easy to follow along pointing out to things along the way. He likes this book so much we usually end up reading it several times in a row!

Bedtime favorite
This book is our daughters favorite our of all the Blue's books. It's the current bedtime book and she could easily spend the entire night reading it. It is fun for parents to read in bed with their kids and you will enjoy it too. Pages are bright and colorful and holds the childs attention. Parents add a few sound effects, dog barks etc, like on tv, and you will have a winner here. The whole Blue's videos and books are a must and in association with parental teaching your child will improve greatly. Where was Blue many years ago for our other children. One of the best learning shows around. Our daughter is two years old and now has a great imagination and play skills, which, thanks to Blue and Steve, is improving each and everyday of Blues Clues. Buy this book, plenty of fun adults and kids.

Good bed-time book - but no clues
This is a nice little book for walking your child through a bedtime routine. It doesn't require any familiarity with Blue's Clues for it to make sense and be a good bed-time read. However, if your child (like mine) is a Blue's Clues nut, and constantly scanning for clues, this book may cause some dissapointment at first. He got over it though, and now makes up his own clues as he goes through the book. Good stuff. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you read this very popular book just before bed, and the light is still on in the hallway, you can make the rainbow scales glitter on the page, and realize why the Rainbow Fish was so proud of his beautiful decoration. Sometimes, though, being too proud of outside beauty can blind a fish, or a child (or even, heaven forbid, a parent) to the beauty people hold inside. That's the lesson of this simple tale, imported from Switzerland. It's a useful one for future sneaker and designer clothing shoppers, for rainbow fish--and for quieter, plainer minnows, too. ... Read more

Reviews (116)

A Wonderful Book About Sharing
Although some would argue that this book teaches people to buy friends, I do not see it in this light. The book simply encourages children to give of themselves to others. As the rainbow fish shares his scales, he feels good about giving a part of himself to make others happy. I don't see how giving oneself to others qualifies as buying friends. My three-year-old son absolutely LOVES this book. He memorized the whole storyline in about a week. He loves to tell me the story as we flip the pages. The illustrations are colorful and exciting for a three-year-old. I would recommend this book as the basis for a discussion on sharing, not on buying friends, but sharing of yourself. This oldfashioned concept is threatened in our ME world.

Bad message for children.
My cousins, who live in a socialist European country, recently visited us in the U.S., and gave this book to my children as a gift. I love my cousins but think this is a horrible book. The message is clear: if you are better than anyone else, or rise above your peers in any way, no one will like you, and you will be lonely and miserable, as well as the target of envy and sometimes hatred. However, if you bring yourself down to their level, or pay them off, you will be most popular! The book reflects the mentality of the socialist, and demonstrates altruism at its worst. Everyone must be the same, and no one can excel at anything or in any way. The rainbow fish teaches children that it is good to strip yourself raw for the benefit of others, who were never your true friends to begin with, but only wanted something from you and based their acceptance of you on what you could provide for them. You know, kind of like that bad friend in school who loves you when you're down and out, but can't stand it when you lose weight and are looking good or happy or successful. Once the rainbow fish has taken off and given away all its beautiful scales, it is no longer the prettiest fish. The other fish, who each got a scale, are not elevated, but rather, they're all dragged down to the lowest common denominator. One scale each. Not enough to make anyone prettier than anyone else -- no one can really shine. It's not about sharing and love, but more like emotional bribery. I give this book one star, only because I have to, and the illustrations are pretty. Steer clear.

Under the sea
A great children's author (who, for the sake of her privacy, shall remain nameless) once commented that "The Rainbow Fish", was the third in the triumvirate of picture book mediocrity. The first two being, of course, "Love You Forever" and "The Giving Tree". I don't feel like explaining why this statement is not only brilliant but sublime, so instead I'm going to review this seemingly innocent little picture book. Here we have a very dull book with a very poor message. In my humble opinion, it hardly deserves much notice.

Originally a Swiss picture book (who knew?), "Rainbow Fish" tells the tale of a little sparkly fellow below the sea. The Rainbow Fish glitters and glides in the ocean's depths, ignoring the calls of the other fish to come out and play. One day a little fish asks for one of his shiny scales. The Rainbow Fish is not exactly polite in his refusal, but for some reason this is the comment that causes all the other fish to make him a social pariah. The Rainbow Fish is a little upset by this and asks the advice of a wise old octopus. Unfortunately the octopus is of the opinion that Rainbow Fish should give away the very things that make him special. His shiny scales. Once he has given a scale to all the other fishes he'll look exactly like everyone else and be happy. He does and then is. The end.

I suppose if you looked at this book from a religious context it might make a little more sense. But even then the moral would still run along the lines of give-up-your-worldly-possessions-and-everybody-will-like-you. Hm. What makes this book so offensive to some readers is the simple fact that it's is preaching a kind of same = good mentality. Tis better to meld with the crowd than to hold onto that which makes you an individual and unique, it sayeth. Then there are the illustrations to contend with. In an interesting marketing technique, the shiny scales Rainbow Fish sports are small hologram-ish cut-outs that line his body. Little kids will, presumably, see the shiny things on the cover of the book and immediately grab it. But how stand the rest of the illustrations? Certainly the colors in this tale are luminous and lovely. Pfister has developed a lovely watercolor technique wherein the blended shades of the scenes work perfectly within the context of the story. Unfortunately, the actual illustrations themselves are fairly hum drum. Don't expect the breathtaking loveliness of Eric Carle's "Mister Seahorse" or even the originality of a similar seaside tale, Irene Haas's, "The Maggie B.". Characters here never change expression (except that once in a while their little fishy mouths curl either up or down as appropriate). As a gimmick, the shiny scales work well. Just don't pay much attention to anything else in this tale.

The best advice I can give regarding "The Rainbow Fish" is to recommend Leo Lionni's classic picture book, "Swimmy". Like The Rainbow Fish, Swimmy's a little guppy who's different from everyone else. But rather than, oh say, changing his scale color to blend in, Swimmy uses his unique position in society to help those around him while remaining true to himself. A powerful statement that "The Rainbow Fish" sorely lacks. I'm not saying this is the worst picture book ever written, mind you. Just a mediocre one. With all the wonderful picture books out there, why not grab the best and leave the rest? Or, if we're going to take the advice of the Rainbow Fish to heart, do what everyone else is doing and strive for mediocrity. Hey, it worked for him!

Celebration of Appeasement and Mediocrity
We own this book only because my wife ordered it from a book club. Had we looked at the book, we never would have bought it. My two-year old has not seen it, nor will he. He has enough good books. And this book is bad. The book is so bad, destructive, immoral, and wrong that I have trouble figuring out where to start. Well, let's start with the "moral(s)" of the book, which can be summed up as follows: (1) being special is evil, and worthy of hatred; (2) if you do not give your possessions away to others on their demand and pursuant to their coercion, you will be rightfully hated; (3) you will be happy only if you are mediocre; (4) you need to bribe people to be your friends. And the message here is not about sharing. Notice, the Rainbow Fish does not "share" his scales (sharing would imply that his friends were going to give the scales back when they are done.) No, the Rainbow Fish is compelled (by emotional coercion) to give away that which makes him special. What part of this story is supposed to be edifying? It is garbage.

Pretty pictures, emotionally damaging story
I was relieved to see so many other bad reviews of this book, because I had thought I was crazy. I knew this was a very popular book (posters, puppets, etc.) so I bought it and was shocked at how bad the story was. When the Rainbow Fish chooses not to give his beautiful shining scales to another fish, all of the fish swim away and leave him "all alone". Thanks to a wise octopus, he discovers the only way to win friends and be the "happiest fish in the sea" is to give away his scales. I'm a teacher and a parent, and this is just a really bad lesson to be giving to a child, especially one under three years old who has little experience interacting with other people and forms ideas and expectations about the world based on books, tv, familial messages, etc. It is just beyond bad if your child is already sensitive and non-aggressive.

I changed the words to this book, but my daughter is almost three now and can pick out certain words (that she knows I'm not reading!) and asked me to read the "real" story. I explained that I wasn't crazy about the story, and promptly disposed of the book. I did not even consider donating it to the library or selling it to a used bookstore, because I don't want to be part of perpetuating this story! It is that bad.

Please do your children and society a favor and skip this book. Unless "give other kids all of your special, favorite things or else they'll all hate you and you'll be lonely and sad forever" is a moral lesson you want to teach your children, you'd be better off choosing one of the gazillion excellent children's books out there. Try anything by Richard Scarry, Byron Barton, Sandra Boynton, Eric Hill, Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, etc. etc. etc................ ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Everything you would want for your kitty is in "Cat Heaven"
Thank you Cynthia, for such a sweet, touching, loving book. I have read it many many times - although I have yet to get past the page of kitty coming back and watching her family from outside without getting teary eyed!

I also read this book with my 3 1/2 year old daughter, and it always sparks more wonderful conversation and questions about God and Heaven and angels. She is very pleased that the kitties in Cat Heaven have lots of "little pink fishes" to eat, lots of toys to play with and lots of love!

Your whimsical, wonderful illustrations are refreshing and uplifting, and although the words are simple and few, they speak volumes to anyone who has ever loved and or lost a special cat.

a must-read for cat lovers
I read a review of this book in a magazine and decided to purchase it. I ended up buying 2 copies - one for myself and one for a close friend whose cat is terminally ill. She found it so touching and comforting, and her son enjoys the story as well, particularly the pictures of cats sitting in God's lap and on top of God's head. I purchased it for my own family because we too have a terminally ill kitty. I knew it would be a wonderful way to prepare my daughter for our kitty's eventual passing. Of course losing a beloved kitty is tragic and heartbreaking. But this book does provide true comfort by encouraging the readers to envision their cat in a wonderful, loving place that truly is cat heaven.

A beautiful gift for the grieving cat owner
I bought this book after loosing my kitty Juliet and it was such a comfort. It is a children's book, but it also comforts the adult heart after the loss of a beloved cat.

I have given this book as a gift countless times to friends who have suffered a loss and also to adults whose children are having a difficult time understanding why their kitty is no longer with them. This is a real comfort when it comes to pet loss.

There is also a version called Dog Heaven that is equally beautiful.

This will touch your heart!
I bought this book after loosing my kitty Juliet and it was such a comfort. It is a children's book, but it also comforts the adult heart after the loss of a beloved cat.

I have given this book as a gift countless times to friends who have suffered a loss and also to adults whose children are having a difficult time understanding why their kitty is no longer with them. This is a real comfort when it comes to pet loss.

There is also a version called Dog Heaven that is equally beautiful.

Wonderful for all ages
We lost our cat several weeks ago, and I bought this book to help my young daughter with her feelings of grief. *I* was the one who ended up crying while reading it aloud to her, not because I was sad, but because the words and illustrations are so comforting. My daughter and I talked after reading it, and agreed that now we can picture our beloved kitty doing all of the wonderful things in the book. Cynthia Rylant was already our favorite author (the Mr. Putter and Tabby series is fantastic, as is the better known Henry and Mudge series.) She has captured our feelings once again with Cat Heaven -- it's just perfect. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sandra Boynton knows her farm animals. This simple board book, "a touch, skritch, & tickle book," will delight babies and toddlers (and probably moms and dads too) with its multi-sensory presentation of whimsical barnyard creatures. Each bright, colorful illustration features a tactile component and some fun words to accompany it. The cow's nose is made of a soft pink material and the text on the opposite page declares, quite correctly, "Fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy." A dog with a rough paw, a pig with a smooth nose, a turkey with a "little bit bumpy" wattle, and a soft-bellied duck round out the ensemble. The final page features two chicks inside lift-the-flap eggs who disagree about whether to start over at the beginning of the book. "Touch and feel" children's books are no new innovation but too often the different textures end up feeling more or less the same. But Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy! features quality construction and is large enough for very young children to hold and manipulate. (Baby to preschool) --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My 2 year old LOVED this book...
We checked this book out from the library for my 2 year old. He loved it so much that he memorized it and loved reading it to anyone who will listen. He is so funny reading it with so much feeling! We are expecting a baby in October and are buying it for the new baby from big brother. Then he can read it to the baby after it is born. It is a very basic book and not like Sandra Boynton's other fun wordy books, but I LOVE the animals and love that is is so basic for little ones. LOVE IT!

My 7 month old twins love this book!
I've been reading it to them for several months and they really enjoy it. When they were younger, they loved the colorful, large, simple pictures, and now, they can touch the "feely" stuff. They also really seem to love the rythmn of the words, and since I learned it by heart pretty quickly (not so hard since there are like 10 words in the whole book!), I often recite it during meal times and it always makes them smile.

The only thing that is a little annoying is the last page where you have to flip little cardboard covers to decide if you want to "Start over again with the Fuzzy Fuzzy guy." It kind of breaks the rythmn of the book, and I can easily see them getting ripped off when the boys are not too much older.

I just bought another copy to give to my sister and her infant.

Enjoy!

My daughter won't put it down!
I bought this book for my daughter when she was 9 months old. At first it was just something else to try to chew on but after she figured out that she could feel the textures it has become her favorite book. She carries it all over the house and has us read it to her over and over and over again. This is a great book for toddlers and would make a great gift, too.

My son LOVED it
We started reading this to my son when he was just a month old or so, and he loved it - it was the first book that he reached out to "touch" the page. It was perfect for a very young child's attention span. As he has gotten older (he's now 10 months), he would sit and go through the pages himself, tapping each page in the appropriate place, until he ripped the egg at the end (okay - he chewed part of it too). I forgot about it until my father picked it up and showed it to my son and he got so excited!

Great for Babies
This book is perfect for young babies. It has large colorful illustrations. There is only one animal on a page which makes it enjoyable for babies to look at. It also has great textures. It is perfect for talking about different animals. The only downfall is there is not a lot of words but babies don't really need a lot of words. My daughter is (x)months and she loves to feel all the different textures. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

great images
I read this book to my class of first graders and they loved it! This book is well-written and uses wonderful descriptive words to paint a vivid picture for the kids. They connected to the story and wanted to hear it again!

A Magical Experience
I read this story to my three little children. After I did so in a kind of hushed whisper, we all looked at each other like we just discovered a magical place together. My oldest, who is 7, leaned her head back self-consciously, in a kind of surprise, to stop her tears from spilling over. There is so much youthful joy and discovery and poignancy in the story. What a beautiful book, not just in its words, but in the sepia-tone illustrations.I put it on MY wish list for Christmas!

A young boy awakens to the importance of life beyond himself
This is a true to life story of a young boy's excitement over fireflies he catches on a warm, Summer night. The author beautifully depicts the wonder and exhilaration the boy feels as he catches hundreds of fireflies in his glass jar. As he lies awake in bed that night he watches as the fireflies moonlike glow begins to fade away. He knows he must make a decision. At the conclusion the boy awakens to the importance of life beyond himself, and it is beautiful. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The board book version of this popular recitation of animalcharacteristics is equally as delightful as other editions, with one keyimprovement: it's inedible. This robust reissue follows lovable Lloyd the llamaon his quest to find out what percentage of the baby animal population hasllamas for mamas. The rhymes are original and infectious, and the riddles aresure to have children shouting out the answers in anticipation of turning thepage.

Youngsters often exhibit an insatiable appetite for adorable baby animals,and Is Your Mama a Llama provides plenty of fodder for fawning.Illustrator Steven Kellogg, however, manages to keep the pictures sweet withoutbeing saccharine. And rest assured, no matter how often your little one iscompelled to kiss the critters, the sturdy board-book format will stand the testof time (and of course, slobber). (Ages 0 to 4) ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Great Pre-school Storytime Book
"Is your Mama a llama? I asked my friend Rhonda." "I think not, is how Rhonda responded." Little llama wants to know if his friend's mothers are llamas too. Superb, rich illustrations of the baby animals and mamas, including such exotics as bats and swans make this a Storytime favorite. My group has this one memorized and love to read along with the illustrations. Remember they are only three! New members to the group feel comfortable giving the correct responses with the rest of the tried and true. Treat your group to the bigger than life version. Fun to turn the huge pages and the illustrations translate well.

Kids Love It
Is Your Mama A Llama is a great book for early readers. I used it to entertain a crowd of 1st graders the other day and the children still ask me to read the book to them again. It is filled with colorful, eye-pleasing pictures. This book is a value that I think all parents should buy if they have young readers.

Very sweet book, makes you wish that your Mama was a Llama
My young daughters (now 3 and 7) dearly love this book. We have it memorized. It is sweet and the illustrations are beautiful. It is one of the few young books that I never get bored of reading. It is definitely a classic children's book.

I love the finale of this book!
This book is great-with a unique finale! At the end it says, "My mama's a-Llama! And this is...THE END!" In fact, whenever I watch a cartoon that ends with the words, "The End" onscreen, I recite this story in little bits and towards the end I say, "My mama's a llama! And this is..." and then the words, "The End" appear onscreen.

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