Book Description

What an event! What a show! It's catchy and quirky. Tuneful and toe-tapping. Exuberant, unexpected, and utterly endearing. It's what happens when you take America's beloved illustrator and children's author and combine her buoyant genius with some of the most talented people on the stage--presenting Philadelphia Chickens!

Created by Sandra Boynton, Philadelphia Chickens is a family musical in a book, bringing together a full-color songbook of 17 1/2 illustrated story-poems with a full-length, fully orchestrated CD of original songs performed by the likes of Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, The Bacon Brothers, and Laura Linney, who pleads "Please, Can I Keep It?"--it followed me home. / What exactly it is,/ I don't know. Also joining in are Eric Stoltz, Natasha Richardson, Scott Bakula, and two Boyntons, including daughter Caitlin McEwan, who performs a piece that every little listener will relate to--a love song to the chocolate chip cookies that are just out of reach. With the collaboration of composer Michael Ford (known to Boynton fans from Rhinoceros Tap), Philadelphia Chickens is that rarest of kids' musical discs--one whose inimitable lyrics and music make it as sing-along, dance-along, cluck-along for parents as it is for their children. ... Read more

Reviews (69)

ENTERTAINING FOR ALL AGES
My 2 year old loves this CD and accompanying book, and truthfully so do I. The songs sound like a broadway production, but are made to be clever and entertaining for young children. I had to buy two, one for home and one for the car. When my 2 year old says "Cow Song" I know just what she's looking for. And she has to hear it over and over again. The songs are adorable and the lyrics are easy to follow. You can't help but sing along. I like the fun diversity of the song topics. My husband and I find ourselves singing the songs even when the CD is not playing. I think any child would enjoy this CD as it is a wonderful departure from the old standard music. It is enjoyable for all ages. We all love it!

Oh what fun!
We absolutely love this book and CD! My nine-month old son thinks that it is the best thing since sliced bananas! We bought it for a road trip when he was five-months old and we have been dancing and singing ever since. If this becomes a traveling musical, we are there. My husband and myself find ourselves singing and dancing along while our son enjoys the show from his high chair. He has his favorites, "Cows", "Philadelphia Chickens" and "Pajama Time" but truly loves the entire CD. Sandra Boynton has always been a favorite of ours, with her whimsical cards and books, but this takes the cake. She and Michael Ford, as well as the performers, have created a masterpiece to be enjoyed by all.

This one deserves 10 stars!
This is by far the best music CD for children that we have! We use CD's in the car frequently as we take long trips to vist relatives (7 hrs. plus). There are no boring lullabys here, or music that will zone you out while driving! It is such a fun CD - parents will find themselves singing along, and (I admit it) may even play it with no kids in the car!

Toe tapping, car dancing fun!

This is no glorble snop!
What a wonderful gift we received for our one-year old ... "Philadelphia Chickens" is fantastic!

Presented as an "Imaginary Musical Revue," this book and accompanying CD are wonderfully written, illustrated and "directed" by Sandra Boynton. I assure you, I am going to look for everything else she has done.

Our son loves the high-energy songs, while my wife and I are halfway to learning all of the lyrics ... our favorites so far (yes, all of them, but standouts include) "Busybusybusy" by Kevin Kline; "Nobody Understands me" by the marvelous (and queckery bifflicious) Meryl Streep; and "Faraway Cookies" is adorably sweet ...

You can see kids really being able to relate to these songs. They are very well written, and the music, in most cases, is just as fun as the lyrics. In the short time that we have had this, it has won over the main spot on our playlists.

As the cover says, it's fun "for all ages (except 43)".

Every Song a Favorite!
We were given this as a gift for my daughters (4, 2, 8 months). We listen to it at home and in the car, and at literally every song one or both of the older girls will say "this one is my favorite". So many kids albums seem almost like parent torture, especially in the car. This isn't one of them. The songs are fun for every family member and very singable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the classic tradition of E.L. Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, debut author Blue Balliett introduces readers to another pair of precocious kids on an artful quest full of patterns, puzzles, and the power of blue M&Ms.Eleven year old Petra and Calder may be in the same sixth grade class, but they barely know each other. It’s only after a near collision during a museum field trip that they discover their shared worship of art, their teacher Ms. Hussey, and the blue candy that doesn’t melt in your hands.Their burgeoning friendship is strengthened when a creative thief steals a valuable Vermeer painting en route to Chicago, their home town. When the thief leaves a trail of public clues via the newspaper, Petra and Calder decide to try and recover the painting themselves. But tracking down the Vermeer isn’t easy, as Calder and Petra try to figure out what a set of pentominos (mathematical puzzle pieces), a mysterious book about unexplainable phenomena and a suddenly very nervous Ms. Hussey have to do with a centuries old artwork.When the thief ups the ante by declaring that he or she may very well destroy the painting, the two friends know they have to make the pieces of the puzzle fit before it’s too late!

Already being heralded as The DaVinci Code for kids, Chasing Vermeer will have middle grade readers scrutinizing art books as they try to solve the mystery along with Calder and Petra. In an added bonus, artist Brett Helquist has also hidden a secret pentomino message in several of the book’s illustrations for readers to decode. An auspicious and wonderfully satisfying debut that will leave no young detective clueless. --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Sometimes a coincidence is just a coincidence
Eleven-year-olds Calder Pilsay and Petra Andalee live three houses away from each other on a narrow street in Chicago's Hyde Park area. They are both unusually intelligent, Petra the sort of quirkily interesting kid whom others in her class consequently label as "weird," while Calder excels at patterning. He fidgets incessantly with the set of pentominoes he keeps with him at all times, fitting the Tetris-like shapes together to form rectangles of varying sizes. Both Calder and Petra, too, are unusually receptive to the idea that is a theme of this book, that apparent coincidences are not always coincidental. When the coincidences and various unexplained phenomena in their own lives begin piling up--many of them connected with the painter Vermeer--Calder and Petra come to believe that a particular Vermeer painting will be stolen. When it is, they believe themselves peculiarly suited to finding it.

While observing and recording suspicious activity in their own neighborhood, Calder and Petra put their considerable talents to use investigating the theft of the painting and tracking it down. The problem is, it's not intellect alone that they apply to the task: Calder believes that his pentominoes give him hints, while Petra finds herself communicating with the subject of the missing Vermeer painting. Led forward thus by their supernatural helpmates, Calder and Petra make implausible mental leaps that, for this reader at least, make suspension of disbelief impossible.

Though its plot is a disappointment, and it never packs any true suspense, Chasing Vermeer has much to recommend it: likeable characters, some nice writing, Brett Helquist's drawings, and the use of codes in the book, based on Calder's pentominoes. The story may also get kids thinking more about art, as the author surely intended. The inclusion of reprints of two of Vermeer's paintings is a nice touch.

Debra Hamel -- book-blog.com

Good story
"Chasing Vermeer" is a good story-- very interesting with a compelling mystery and likable characters.I would love to see Petra and Calder, the two protagonists in more books-- they're very bright and persistent kids.And the writing is very strong.There's lots of interesting stuff about Vermeer, pentominos, the meaning of art, and the role of creativity in our educational system; despite all that, my 6 year old niece really enjoyed the book (and I enjoyed reading it to her.)

I do have a couple of complaints-- one, the book often seems like an ad for a pentomino company, and two, the plot relies to much on the kids' intuition to solve the mystery.Like I said, Petra and Calder are very resourceful; they could have solved the mystery using more logic and investigative techniques, but too often the plot twists revolve around something like, "Hey, the word 'snake' just popped into my head, must be a clue..."

Fortunately, the book is strong enough overall to surmount such shortcomings.Definitely worth the read, and hopefully there will be sequels.

P.S.Always, Brett Helquist's illustrations are wonderful.

Really Good Ending and Content
I think that Chasing Vermeer was kind of boring at first, but the ending was so breath-taking, I couldn't put the book down.My favorite part is that it include a lot of different content along with the story; like Math (pentominos), Art (A Lady Wrting), History (Vermeer), and cool codes you can uncover.If it wasn't for these contents, good ending, and desription, this book would be a snor fest.

Eliana's Book Review, By Eliana age 10
Dear readers,

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett is one of the best books I have read. The author had to have a lot of skill write this book. It probably took a long time to think of the main characters Calder and Petra. Calder and Petra both help solve an art mystery that is centuries old. I think Blue Balliett is a great author. The illustrator is great at drawing, too. I think the author should make a series of these books like the Hardy Boys. This book has a lot of interesting facts and clues; it is very amusing. It could have a little more about the thief, but otherwise it was good. At the beginning it was a little boring, but then it got good because you started to find more clues and coincidences. This book teaches you a lot of new things and words. For example, before I read this book I did not know what pentominoes were, now I know what they are. I recommend this book to mystery lovers.

Jordan's Book Review on Chasing Vermeer
Chasing Vermeer was okay, but it took my reading group a long time to get to the climax. This book is about two kids who are 12 years old and who solve an art crime. The characters are Petra and Calder. The characters also figure out some wacky things like pentominoes and strange puzzles. Also, there are a lot of things happening in this book so be careful reading it. This book has a lot of clues and turns. I am going to give you a heads up the author will get you to think out of the box .I felt like the author didn't give me enough information to solve the art crime. That is why I gave it 2 1/2 stars.
By Jordan, age 11 ... Read more

Book Description

Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away...so she decided not to run FROM somewhere, but TO somewhere. And so, after some careful planning, she and her younger brother, Jamie, escaped -- right into a mystery that made headlines! ... Read more

Reviews (223)

An educational yet exciting book for readers of all ages.
Claudia and Jaime are two very intelligent characters that enlighten the reader as to the workings of a child's mind. Claudia, as the main character, always thinks of interesting ways for her and Jaime to live inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is a fantasy of everyone to be locked in a museum or store after all of the other people are gone. This book is a way for the reader to experience that feeling without the fear of being arrested! I believe that anyone who reads this story will become inspired by the Kincaids and find themselves wanting to learn more. The children have so much fun without hurting others or making fun of others as happens in some children's novels. Claudia is a definite role model for young girls and keeps the book interesting despite the academic undertones of Claudia and Jaime's reasons for visiting Mrs. Frankweiler. PARENTS-read this to your children to get them excited about reading.

This book is definately not 'mixed up'
I first heard about this book on a computer reading game, but I could only read bits and parts of it and when our computer crashed I completely forgot about it.
Then one day I was at the library and I saw this book for sale, but I wasn't sure if it was any good or not. I didn't want to waste my money, so I borrowed it instead. Now I wish I had bought it. This book is fantastic!

It's about a girl named Claudia who is fed up with her boring life, so she decided to run away with her bother Jamie to the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York City. There she falls in love with an angel statue that is rumored to have been made by Michelangelo, but no one knows for sure. Claudia takes it upon herself to find out who made it before she goes home. Her quest takes her to the home of the strange Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, where the statues true maker is revealed.

At first I had been hesitant to read this book because I thought it would have magic or some other stuff and nonsense in it, but I was pleasantly surprised. This story is about Claudia and Jamie's search for the statues maker, and it is also pretty realistic. It's interesting to see how they improvise to make life livable in the great Museum.

I think this book is tops, and it is definitely a must-read.

A timeless entertaining adventure
I read this book almost 30 years ago and loved it, I've bought copies for my friend's children and it's always a hit. Great book for kids who can identify with Claudia, who are intelligent, love art, feel a little misunderstood and crave adventure. Big kids like this book as well!

Simply Excellent
I first read this book in fifth grade. The entire Literature class was assigned to it, so we read it bit by bit during the day, and I couldn't stand waiting to know what would happen next. After three days of the teacher reading the book to us, I ran to the library and bought it for myself.

The characters and their adventures are simply delightful.

A wonderful treat for wild imaginations
Claudia feels underappreciated in her suburban household - a thing all children have most likely felt during at least one time or another. Here, Konigsburgs writes of these feelings with brutal honesty and frankness. Because Claudia is not an only child, it almost seems as if to her, and to readers, that there isn't enough love and attention to go around. Unjustly so, the poor girl frequently gets caught up in chore after chore while her siblings are off the hook.

So she will run away and teach them all a lesson in "Claudia appreciation." The Metropolitan Musuem of Art will become her grandiose and excitingly fantastic home away from home, so to speak. And younger brother Jamie will accompany her, mainly because he has saved every single penny since birth and will have money, just what Claudia needs. Yet to say she's using her younger bro merely for financial purposes would be unjust. I believe Claudia truly wants and needs the companionship.

The highlight of their one-week vacation is a mysterious and ethereal statue of an angel, titled as such. It is oh-so mysterious because everyone is unsure of the statue's creator. Some believe it to be the renown Michelangelo - but it has yet to be confirmed and 12 year-old Claudia is incessantly in awe of thee angel's beauty. She knows she cannot go home until she uncovers the secret of the statue and that will mean having to get in contact with a total stranger, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, who is the statue's previous owner. And if she refuses to help Claudia solve the mystery on her mind, she and Jamie may never get home.

FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER, first published in 1967, has been capturing the attention of children everywhere. Konigsburg has skillfully woven a loveable masterpiece that seems magical, almost too wonderful to be realistic. Yet it is. Claudia feels what so many of society's children today feel. And like many children, she keeps her feelings to herself and deals with pent up frustrations the only way she knows how, hence her escape to The Metropolitan.

I first read this novel when I was 9. I found myself relating to feeling less love from seemingly uncaring parents, due to having a sister who had no responsibilities and extra TLC because of her young age. I found myself envious of Claudia's grand escape to the musuem and I contemplated a night away from home spent at The Philadelphia Musuem of Art. That, of course, never happened. In retrospect, I realize how wild of an imagination I had. My mind was constantly roaming. Children today are just as creative - or they can be - which is why they'll much enjoy this book. Despite now being seven years older, I still frequently pick it up off my bookshelf, worn and dog-eared, to read it again and again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A frustrated grade school artist, Vashti sits slumped over her blank piece of paper at the end of art class. "I just CAN'T draw!" she tells her teacher. Her teacher first uses wit, then subtle yet clever encouragement to inspire her student to go beyond her insecurities and become, in the words of a younger boy who "can’t" draw either, "a really great artist."

Peter H. Reynolds crafts a quiet, pleasing story in The Dot--one that will strike a chord with children who have outgrown the self-assurance of kindergarten and begun to doubt their own greatness. His marvelous watercolor, ink, and, yes, tea illustrations are appealing in a Quentin Blakey way, especially as Vashti begins to go wild with her dots. The delightfully open-ended conclusion will have readers of all ages contemplating how they can make their own mark in the world. Highly recommended. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Help your kids learn creativity
Reynolds does a fantastic job showing how someone can be creative or artistic and not even know it. I picked up this book at an elementary book fair first because I thought it was well written and illustrated. Second because I want to help my children realize they have hidden talents. And third because my husband is an art teacher in high school and his students are constantly telling him they can't draw.

This book not only teaches that anyone can be artistic but it teaches that creativity is not something only some of us are born with - it is something we all have inside of us, we just need to find a little bit of inspiration to bring it out. In Vashti's case, it was her teacher framing her dot and hanging it by her desk.

I recommend this book for anyone: kids, adults, teenagers.

A Must for Any Elementary Library
This book was delivered automatically in our Junior Library Guild order, and it has become one of my all-time favorites as a librarian.

When Vashti angrily stabs a dot onto an empty art class assignment, her teacher wisely follows through with a lesson in life by framing her dot for all to see.

This little bit of attention takes Vashti to new heights by allowing her to take that dot and see where it leads her. She paints all sorts of dots and gains new confidence.

What the story really teaches us is to try, and to start with the tiniest of dots to begin our journeys. As my library class discussed the theme, many of the kids brought up "dots" in their own lives, such as learning how to roller skate, sink a free-throw, or turn a cartwheel. We all have to start somewhere!

And as Vashti's teacher told her when she finished that first dot, "Sign it!"

This little book is truly an inspiration, and the kids loved it. I want my own copy!

A Delightful Book
Vashti thinks she's a terrible artist. Her art teacher challenges her to draw a dot. When Vashti sees her finished dot on display behind the teacher's desk, she decides she can do better. The beautifully simple illustrations add to this sweet book about finding hidden talents.

Ageless Appeal!
This book actually has an ageless appeal to all of us who feel 'I'm not an artist'. I'm a middle school art teacher, and it also charmingly shows how a gentle nudge by a teacher can start a snowball of creativity! ... Read more

Book Description

This rockin', rhythmic railroad adventure celebrates the uniqueness of America and the beboppin', doo-woppin' sound of jazz, from jammin' New York City all the way to New Orleans. With bold, powerful art by the "New York Times" best-selling team of Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, H. L. Panahi's text comes alive with a pulse and beat all its own.

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

When it comes time to tell the class what she did on her vacation,Olivia isn't at all nervous. In fact, she remembers it quite clearly--she wentto the circus, you see. "But when we got there, all the circus people were outsick with ear infections." What are the odds? But the show must go on!Fortunately, Olivia jumps right in to help out--riding elephants, posing as theTattooed Lady (she draws on the pictures with a marker), taming lions, walkingtightropes, juggling, clowning around, and more. In a marvelous fold-out,four-panel spread, our porcine heroine even reigns supreme as the Queen of theTrampoline. "And that's how I saved the circus. And now I am famous." Olivialooks proud. Her teacher looks mad. Ian Falconer shines in this dryly hilarioussequel to his 2001 Caldecott Honor Book Olivia. The charcoal andgouache illustrations perfectly capture Olivia's earnest expressions. Beprepared to be charmed anew! (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Olivia...You've Gotta Love Her.....
It's Olivia's turn to tell the class about her vacation, and she can't wait. "Olivia always blossoms in front of an audience." And so our feisty little pig begins the story about her day at the circus. Of course, all the performers were out sick with ear infections, but "luckily I knew how to do everything." She tames lions and walks tightropes, performs on stilts, juggles, and even rides a unicycle. Then she clowns, swings high on the trapeze, and is Queen of the Trampoline. Finally, she ends her show as Madame Olivia and her trained dogs. "And that's how I saved the circus. And now I am famous." Olivia is very proud. Her teacher is exasperated. "True?", she asks again and again. "Yes, to the best of my recollection", answers Olivia..... Ian Falconer has bettered last year's, Olivia, debut, and fans won't be able to get enough of this adorable and precocious little pig with her queen-size imagination. His witty, yet simple text is kept to a minimum and really captures the preschool mind. But it's his charming and clever charcoal artwork, with just a creative splash of color here and there to highlight his scenes, that really makes this book stand out. Both children and adults will laugh out loud at the antics of this delightful little heroine. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Olivia Saves the Circus is a must for home libraries and a picture book kids will beg to read again and again. Olivia is back and better than ever!

Call me a fuddy duddy, but...
Yes, okay, we parents can appreciate the humor, and yes, the drawings are pretty adorable and the pig is cute and it's a smart, snappy tale - but - but -
BUT
Has anyone bothered to notice that Olivia is basically miserable? That she is sarcastic and lonely? That her relationship with her mother is disconnected at best? (My wife, when reading the part where Olivia comes home from school and answers her mother's clearly rote question of how was school with the rote answer 'fine,' invariably adds, for the sake of our 2 and a half year old - 'but of course we don't do that, we tell Mommy all about our day, whatever happened, good or bad.' or words to that effect....)
I'm all for stories about sad people (or pigs), but it would help if we knew they were sad, not just given a lot of pop cultural whip-smarts and irony and cleverness and told that that is happiness. It isn't. If you read this book to your child, please: make it clear to them how isolated Olivia is. If you don't, you're liable to create your own miserable little clown - amusing now, but there will be hell to pay in later years....

Lying is okay?
The book is funny, but it advocates lying. It makes lying 'cute' and does not explain the consequences of lying. I will not want my daughter to read it and think that lying done right is acceptable.

Original is MUCH better
This book teaches lying. It is not as good as the first.

We will keep it because we like Olivia in general. But, like another reviewer, I feel as though I need to explain many of Olivia's behaviors to my child. ("Right now Olivia is pretending", "She should have told the teacher the truth" and "Olivia and her Mommy need to spend some time together talking") I wish Mr.Falconer had been able to make these explinations for me...

We are still holding out hope for the Olivia and Missing Toy.

There are better spunky imaginative kid stories
On a first, not-so-critical read, the story was enjoyable. The pictures, in black and white accessorized with red (see cover for example), are charming, serene and elegant. The poster of Eleanor Roosevelt in Olivia's bedroom can actually make it worth reading and is definitely a five star detail. The spotlighting of a different circus act on each page was great for my 2 1/2 year old who loves the circus. Olivia is a spunky and imaginative child. She is also spoiled and obnoxious with a badly stereotyped mother (passive) and female teacher (presumably anti-imagination and -fun). There is definitely a need for positive assertive and independent creative female protaginists in children's stories but there is no need to assume that the only alternatives are passive or killjoy older females. The pejorative portrayl of the teacher is enough to make this book a definite do not read. Given the problems with education and the images that children already receive, the last thing we need to do is unnecessarily make it worse by propogating more negative stereotypes about school. Olivia's attitude in responding to her teacher and her mother is unfortunately too realistic - there's no need to assume that such obnoxious behavior is admirable as long as one can be clever and individualistic. Adults need to take responsibility for the character traits that we are willing to validate as admirable and provide "people" in books and other media that we want children to emulate. For truly more admirable spunky and creative girls, try Pippi Longstocking, Amelia Bedelia, Pirate Pink, or Treva ("Trouble with Trolls"). The Caldecott Award is given to honor artists/illustrators, which also happens to be a key component to books for very young children. And this book is beautifully and uniquely illustrated. But given the nature of our society and the problems that parents and children must face, we need to be more diligent in what we expose our children to and that means being willing to take a stand and say no to books that don't remove the pejorative stereotypes and negative values. There are literally 1000s of books out there for young children. It's actually very easy to find really good stories-- with beautiful illustrations - so there's no need to have to settle for this story. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you.Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won't get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.

Crockett Johnson's understated tribute to the imagination was first published in 1955, and has been inspiring readers of all ages ever since. Harold's quiet but magical journey reminds us of the marvels the mind can create, and also gives us the wondrous sense that anything is possible. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Power and a Purple Crayon
*Harold and the Purple Crayon* mesmerized me as a child. My 5 year old adores it, and my ten year old can't hide his continuing enthusiasm. With his purple Crayon, sensible Harold creates the moon so that he can see where he's going. He accidentally creates the sea (his drawing hand shakes, thus making waves appear) but soon negates this potential danger by drawing a boat and, finally, land. When hungry, Harold draws a delicious picnic with purple food. Harold copes.

The central idea is that a child, no matter how small, can exert control over the world, and when that child makes mistakes -- drawing a choppy sea, for instance -- those mistakes can be remedied. This book gives a child power. Grown-ups don't count; Harold makes what he needs without help. Under the influence of this book, at the ripe age of 11, I created a club called "The Purple X", in which, using purple markers to send letters, I set out to right all wrongs. Harold goes one better; he makes light and land. And the book makes children who feel empowered to tackle the problems of a big, scary world.

Harold harold bow-berald, banna fanna foe-ferald...
There's something about Crockett Johnson (real name David Johnson Leisk) that is instantly recognizable. Like Matt Groening of "The Simpsons" fame, Johnson had a particular style of drawing that was both simple and infinitely adaptable. Though he drew the comic strip "Barnabus" and the incredibly simple, "The Carrot Seed", it is "Harold and the Purple Crayon" that won Johnson the fame he has today. The story has been ripped off a million times in a million different ways, but we can all credit this original as the first of the first. All hail that spunky Harold and his oh-so purple crayon.

When we first meet Harold he and his magical purple crayon are already well acquainted. No picture in this book appears that Harold does not draw himself (aside from Harold himself). Our intrepid hero sets off on a series of small adventures that are both intentionally and unintentionally caused by his crayon. Drawing everything from the moon (which makes a point to appear on every single page that Harold finds himself on) to dragons to flying balloons to a policeman, Harold has a gay old time.

Wanna hear a petty complaint? A petty, insignificant, hardly-worth-listening-to complaint? Okay, here goes..... it bothers me that Harold's crayon never gets smaller. By logical extension it should, shouldn't it? Of course, by logical extension I should remember that this is, after all, a MAGIC purple crayon. Maybe magic crayons don't get smaller. Obviously I don't know the rules that govern crayons particularly well. If I did I wouldn't be having these problems. In any case, that's my only objection to this book. It is, I know from personal experience, a heavily adored and respected story. People will carry copies of this book with them all their lives. There is something about Harold and his tiny adventures that speaks to the hearts of millions. If you've never had the pleasure of reading a Crockett Johnson book, this is the place to start. If you have read this book, read it again. It's just that good.

One of the best bedtime books ever!
My 3.5 year old son adores this book and I do too. We read it nearly every night. Harold is an imaginative little boy who draws a world of his own. My son is always talking right along with the book about all the wonderful things he is going to draw. I think every child should have this book. I can't wait 'till my son can read it for himself!

Story of a Little Boy with a Huge Imagination
This classic little book is a lovely reflection on childhood imagination and the joys of creativity.

Tiny wide-eyed Harold, in his one piece jammies and purple crayon in hand, wanders through the night using the dark canvas of sky to draw whatever fanciful dreamscapes his curious young mind can conjure.

No dummy is our Harold. He is an inventive little fellow who devises his own path, invents his own moon to light his way, makes a boat when he finds himself enveloped in a purple sea, creates pies when he is hungry, and so on until he is tired. Thanks to cleverly leaving behind special images as pointers to guide his way, he makes it back home in one piece and with lots of exciting stories to tell.

This is such a delightful book for children and one of the reasons is that it can be used interactively. Read the story with your kids then give them some crayons and a huge sheet of paper and let them loose to design and explore their own magical worlds.

Harold et la differance
Under an everpresent crescent moon, Harold's signifying crayon implies the metacritique immanent in all eschatologies: Outcoding the text beneath him, he at once embraces and negates the subject's death in a meeting of poststructural praxis/(post-)modern framing with narrotological desire. Harold, purple crayon firmly in hand, rises from the smoking ruins of continental thought; but having been "written", will our protagonist find fortitude to "write" his way out of the aporias inherent in a de-centered, post-historical dasein?

There is hope....The trace, in erasure of its present presence, loops back from Harold to Johnson, engendering ample clues for resistance to our clinical gaze...But the specter of psychoanalytic eschatology haunts his every gesture. Every slippage is deferred, in its deferral, of Harold's problematized Lacan, leaving no indivisible remainder, defying the fatal strategies of his feints (forgetting Baudrillard) to attempt that final erasure of Derrida's (cottage) industry through a (re)sound(ing) metanarratalogical poetic. Outdistancing at every step all Derridean slippage, Harold's gestures in the dark problematize the infinite substitution and free play within a field of signifiers (themselves privileged signifieds of the wall/not-wall of the enclosing space/page), resisting inevitably all attempts at reconstituting envelopes of perfomative (de-)coding. With startling metaphysical elan, Harold slips the bounds of our logocentric world to inscribe traces of an essentialist foundation light-years beyond the binary opposition (re)inscribed by la differance: beyond Freud, with (in) Freud, with(out) Freud, to be about Freud, forgetting Freud.

All in all, this "Harold" represents a remarkably vigorous (re)covery of Saussurean categories.

This is no boy scribbling terse graffitos to a lost master narratology; this is the newly minted currency of our retinal field. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jewel and Gem Goop. Make-it-Yourself Stickers. Tornado in a Bottle. Funny Putty. Fruity Lip Gloss. Magic Muck. Snow Globe. Scratch& Sniff Watercolors. Believe it or not, it's possible--easy, infact!--to make every one of these "wacky, wild, and crazy concoctions" (and 57 more) using common household ingredients. John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel have pulled together the cream of the crop of potions, clays, and all-around weird swills for the pleasure of children and scientists of all ages. Why not introduce the very youngest artist of the house tothe world of art with Puddin' Paint? Is there a geologist in the house?Make an Instant Volcano--begins with a fizz, then erupts in a bubblingflow of lava. Time for a bath? Try Bathtub Finger Paints--bathers andthe tub will get clean at the same time! These truly amazingconcoctions are not mess-free, but they guarantee hours of absorbed,lively, creative fun, and inspiration for a lifetime of imaginativeendeavors. Brief scientific explanations would have been a welcomeaddition, but maybe young readers will be motivated to explore thechemical, physical, and geological origins of these experiments ontheir own. Adult supervision is recommended for all projects. (Ages 5and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (45)

FUN & CHEAP! ITS THE BEST!!
When I first opened this book I could tell why it was the #1 selling arts & craft book. The projects duplicate toys you would usally buy in the store at a fraction of the price. I found almost all of the ingredients in my kitchen. Other ingredients I didn't have like Kool Aid could be purchased for very little money at the grocery store. I must confess, I don't usally get excited over arts & craft type books, but "The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions" is not only the best art & Craft book I have ever seen it is also one of the most exciting & refreshing children's books I have ever seen. I recently saw the authors on the Discovery Channel, they seem regular pto really be having fun. Hope someday they get a show of their own.

Great Green Gobs of Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts!
Why does my kitchen look like Dexter's Laboratory? Because my 8 year old loves to cook up his own 'recipes', mixing and zapping all kinds of concoctions.

When I saw this book, I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did! It helps to keep the experiments in-line. There are almost 70 easy, cheap, interesting recipes in this book.

The author cautions that adult supervision is needed - definitely true since although the ingredients are pretty much common to the household, they include some that are messy to handle and sometimes a stove or glue guns are used.

We leave our book on the kitchen table, and before running an experiment, my son checks to see if we have the ingredients. Food coloring, corn starch, white glue, funnels, rock salt, water are scattered throughout the book (the only addition I'd make to this book would be a checklist of common ingredients, to add to my grocery shopping list!)

A favorite for the little kids (under 7) is the shaving soap/food coloring/egg carton/paint brush in the bathtub combination. Instant watercolors, with just 2 ingredients (water and food coloring) is also popular or instant finger paints, with liquid starch, powdered paint and freezer paper.

For older kids, jewels and gems can be made of white glue, the ever-present food coloring, and rock salt and given as gifts. They can make their own stickers with water and gelatin, or use coffee grinds, flour and a few other very ordinary things and make Treasure Stones, to hide gems or secret messages in, and give to friends (or teachers, or family).

Clean up and prep for most of these are easy enough a child could do it! (As I tell my son). The index in the back separate concoctions by type (Toys; Paints; Dough's; Edible Concoctions; Putty, Clay, Pastes; Other).

This is a collection of shared recipes, so there will be some you already have. But there are 70! (So unless you're a homeschooler or a teacher, there have to be some new ones).

All the recipes are in one place, and the directions are easy enough for a child (6 and up) to read.

We aren't even halfway through, but we love this so much, we ordered Book Two. Recommended for entertainment, education, gift giving, too!

Cheaper Than PBS
I just saw this Kid Concoctions book on PBS for a $150 donation. Thanks Amazon for saving me a ton of money! Great arts, craft & science project for kids of all ages.

I Luv it!
My favorite book of all time! This book has been a real lifesaver for last minute science projects and scout projects. I can't to see the next book!

Exciting Science Based Book!
Wow! Without question the best science based book on the market, nothing else has ever come close. The fact that this book has won all of the top awards in the publishing industry, including the Parents' Choice Award and Dr. Toy Award, says alot to me as an educator. The person who wrote that this book is not challenging or exciting is NUTS! I wonder if they have ever seen Kid Concoctions on TV, it is the most exciting thing I have ever seen for kids! If they wanted a book for older kids try "Kid Concoctions & Contraptions". ... Read more

Book Description

Inside the Worlds of Star Wars is the complete guide to the locations from the Star Wars Classic Trilogy. The book is illustrated with 20 full-color, fantastically intricate cross-sections, and features an array of spot artworks, 3-D plans, more than 60 crystal-clear photographs, and detailed orthographic keys to create an extraordinary visual experience. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Fun for grownups, too!
A friend of mine gave me a copy of Ed Emberley's "Fingerprint Drawing Book" and some colored stamp pads for my birthday last year. I had so much fun with it, that I bought the "Complete Funprint Drawing Book" for my five year old niece. We both have lots of fun making "thumbies", and she's able to follow the steps very easily.

I enjoy decorating blank cards and envelopes, and have created scenes using combinations of various fingerprint figures. For example, on one card, I created a winter scene using the skiier, ice skater and snowman, and another using the football player and cheerleader figures. I also use a variation of the queen "thumbie" on the membership cards I've created for my local chapter of Sweet Potato Queens, known as The Couch Potato Queens.

Fingerprint art is fun for everyone, and the books are great!

Easy for anyone
I'm not crafty and this was so easy for me, my 7 year old son, and even my 2 year old daughter. A terrific activity for our cancelled school snow day. Simple instructions to follow and a great sense of self esteem for the children as they accomplish their creations. No frustration for mom trying to explain it either. I'm telling all my girlfriends about this book.

Fantastic book for all ages - easy to follow instructions
I borrowed this book from our local library to use for my daughter's kindergarten project. The drawings are very easy to follow.

I was first introduced to Ed Emberley's books when I received his animal drawing book as a young child. I spent hours drawing animals. It helped me to become creative.

This book combines 2 of Ed's books - thumbprint and fingerprint drawings. It is nice to have the choice because with the different sizes in fingertips, you can create different sized animals and depth within pictures. I especially love the section on fingerprint drawings. The detail and color suggestions are wonderful.

I highly recommend this book!

fun fun fun
What a fun book. My 5 year old son loved it and has already improved his drawing quite a bit. Thumbs up!

Why should kids have all the fun?
I love to be creative when sending out birthday cards and notes. The characters that you can create with Ed's books make you feel like you have an artistic flair...even if you failed art in grade school. What is nice is that there are a variety of ways to use the materials and make your own versions of cartoons by incorporating different faces, etc. I bought the first book by Ed for my son when he was in gradeschool and I promptly hid it...why should he have all the fun? You can make the prints in plain black ink and use colored markers to make the pictures pop. It is well worth the $. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color."Mirandy is sure she'll win the cake walk if she can

catch Brother Wind for her partner, but he eludes all the tricks her friends

advise. This gets a high score for plot, pace, and characterization. Mirandy

sparkles with energy and determination. Multi-hued watercolors fill the pages

with patterned ferment. A treat to pass on to new generations."--(starred)

Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.Cassette running time: 20 min.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

Can the wind be a partner?
This children's book, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, is about a young and joyous African-American girl who hopes to win a prize at a cake walk by capturing the wind as her partner. The story takes place around 1900 and is a beautiful view of a happy people. The book was a 1989 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children. ... Read more

Book Description

Redesigned. Reformatted. Remastered. Resequenced. Ready for Re-release. And it was already great to begin with!

Before there was Philadelphia Chickens, the #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly children's bestseller with 319,000 copies in print, there was Rhinoceros Tap, the collection of seriously silly songs. Now Rhinoceros Tap returns in an all-new package to mirror Philadephia Chickens, with a spiffy audio CD. Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton--whose books have over 6 million copies in print--and with music by Boynton and Michael Ford, the same team that created Philadelphia Chickens, it's a read-along, sing-along, dance-along, oink-along collection of truly delightful children's music. There's "O, Lonely Peas," to appeal to the finicky young eater. The five-year-old's lament, "Bad Babies" ("They whine and they bite, they chew on your toys/And oh, do they make the most terrible noise"). "Tickle Time." "The Crabby Song." A mouse's impassioned ballad to his beloved, "I Love You More Than Cheese." And "Barnyard Dance," the song that was launched by the board book dear to the hearts of more than a million young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A Must Have for LONG Rides with kids in the Car
Sandra Boynton's book and cassette not only have the kids singing but my husband and I find ourselves humming the tunes too! We were facing a nine and eight hour car trips with three kids (3, 2 and 3 weeks) and this made the trip go FASTER! The tunes and words are catchy and easy to sing along with. Some of the songs are from Boynton's other books, like"Barnyard Dance". Others became new favorites to us; Oh Lonely Peas and Bad Babies. Unlike other kid cassettes we have, this creation is done perfectly! Kids and their parents can both enjoy the humor, music and cleverness of Boynton and Ford.This became the only tape played in our car whenever we went anywhere, in fact we played the tape so much from August to October we wore it out. I'm buying another set today!

rhinoceros tap
This tap will make a long journey shorter with little ones in the car. The tunes makes a change from the usual nursery rthyms that we endure in the car. The music is funky. The songs are funny and easy to learn. It is the only tape my husband will have in HIS car. Occasionally I find him tapping his toe to the music. The book helped me learn of the words and when my daughter is older I am sure she will enjoy reading it too. At 2 years she is still a little young to even appreciate the graphics. Our favourite tune is "Tickle Time". When the whole family joins in we usually end up on the floor laughing. This tape will always remind me of my family having a great time together. It does not fail to put a smile on my daughters face.

Excellent choice for kids AND parents!
Rhinoceros Tap is far and away the best tape/book I've seen in recent years. The songs are fun without making parents crazy. In fact, we all like to sing along. The only complaint I had was that the songs are pitched a little too low for children to sing comfortably. The tape is well done and the book is wonderful! One half is simply words and illustrations and the other half is the actual sheet music! WOW! I can't say enough about this set. It is definitely worth the price and the wait!

The Best Tapping Songs, Let's Hit It!
My 33-month toddler has outgrown his nursery ryhmes. If you have an active toddler who has a sense of humor, you may want to try this out. His favourite tunes are definitely "Tickle Time", "Lonely Peas" and "Rhinoceros Tap", but most of all, he enjoys all the songs, including "Turkey Love", "So Long, Doggies" and he will shout at "Horns to Toes" etc.

Catchy tunes, witty words, funny creatures with really fun songs, my son's rhythm tapping is getting pretty steady. Though it's a bit more to pay for this audio book (as per our currency exchange), I couldn't find any other children's songs as creative as this ONE! See the way my son tapped along with the songs, I knew Sandra Boynton had it all!

A Real Fun !
I wondered much while ordering "Rhinoceros Tap" , as my 3 years old boy doesn't know English and this was expected to be his first sing & song book. But now I think that it was the best choice I could have done for the beginning. My boy liked it very much. It's really funny for parents too. Sometimes I listen to the songs when my boy isn't at home. He likes the animals singing, he likes to dance with them and we mostly sing and dance together. I recommend this book to parents all over the world. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Wonderful, classic children's instruction book.
As a kid, I loved to draw, and I loved this book! The author provides simple, step-by-step pictorial guidelines easy enough for young children to follow: if they can read the instructions, they can draw the animals in the book. At each step, there is a basic instruction such as "make a green triangle" or "add two squiggly lines." The instructions are accompanied by both a drawing of whatever it is to be added and a drawing of the animal-in-progress as a whole. Not only is this book fun for children, it's great for book reports and other school projects. Even adults will appreciate the ease at which this book helps them to produce realistic-looking animals while also enjoying the author's humorous style. This favorite book of childhood has become a cherished adult possession.

This is a wonderful book!
I remember owning and using this book constantly when I was a kid. I recently got it for my two young ones and now they are drawing all the time! They would get so frustrated when they couldn't make something look like it was supposed to, but with this book it is easy and teaches them about using basic shapes to draw anything. It is so easy to follow, my two are both five and are doing great! Looking forward to getting some more of his books for my kids to use and enjoy.

A Champion of Creativity
Those wretched art classes to which we were all subjected as children left me in daily agony - and of course wouldn't my older sister just have to be a spectacularly gifted artist. My mother took pity on my suffering and bought me this wonderful book when I was six. It was a balm to my artistic handicap and an immeasurable boost to my confidence when I finally drew the dragon! Looking back now, I believe that Mr. Emberley's books would benefit any child, whether naturally artistic or crying over watercolor class. In an era when children's imaginations are saturated with Disney and TV cartoon notions of art, Mr. Emberley can give them simple tools with which to carve a path back to their own creativity.

Excellent book that kids will love
I too loved this book as a kid, as opposed to other art books, this is easy to follow. I was imersed in every one of his art books and my greatest accomplishment in the 2nd grade was drawing that dragon! It took hours.

Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals
Emberley's dedication of this book reads "For the boy I was, the book I could not find". I could not find a better description of this book if I tried! My six year old son longed for art books that would teach him how to draw. This book more than satisfied that longing. Emberley's animals are fanciful, fun and easy to draw. I have just ordered two more of his books. We can't wait to get out the colored pencils and start drawing! ... Read more

Book Description

Crying in the checkout lane, squabbling with playmates over a new toy, or refusing to go to bed on time.Common Sense Parenting skills can help you handle these day-to-day challenges you face with your young child.Included in this book is: How to set reasonable expectations based on your child's age, development, and abilities.How to give your child all the nurturing, love, and praise he or she needs to thrive.How to use a parent's version of "show and tell" to both prevent problems and correct misbehavior.How to create plans for staying calm for you and your child. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

absolutely excellent
i just had to take the time to write this review to let people know how wonderful this book is. If you don't believe in yelling at or hitting your children, but you can't figure out what else to do, this is the book for you. I have a 4 year old and have been following this book's advice for about 6 months and it works every time. it worked right from the beginning. It made sense to me and fit my style of wanting to "teach" my daughter rather than scold and threaten. It gives you examples and step by step instructiions. It is not a book that you can just "flip through" to get answers to your questions. You have to "read" it all the way through because one section links to the other. But it reads easily and quickly like you are talking to someone who understands. You can read it in a day or two. My copy is highlighted and dog-eared all the way through. I can't say enough about this book. My daughter and I are BOTH happier and better "behaved". I hope the authors have written other books on the next age group and adolescents.

An expertly written "how to" manual
Collaboratively written by parenting experts Bridget A. Barnes and Steven M. York, Common Sense Parenting Of Toddlers And Preschoolers is a very practical and "parent friendly" guide to the raising young children. From setting reasonable expectations for young children; to teaching social skills and self-control; to turning daily and weekly routines into family traditions, to handling very practical issues such as toilet training, bedtime, and meals, Common Sense Parenting Of Toddlers And Preschoolers is an expertly written "how to" manual which is very highly recommended for parents and caretakers of children ages 2 through 5. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every Robert Sabuda pop-up is a marvel, but America the Beautiful is singularly remarkable for its inspired interpretation of the classic American anthem. Each page presents a magnificent pop-up featuring a line from the first (and best known) verse of "America the Beautiful." Sabuda has included the song in its entirety, featuring mini pop-ups, in a small booklet on the final page. Beginning with the Golden Gate Bridge, and ending with a spectacularly regal Statue of Liberty, Sabuda's America the Beautiful is a lovely keepsake that also serves as a patriotic primer for teaching young ones about America. --Daphne Durham

Amazon.com's The Significant Seven
Master paper engineer Robert Sabuda answers the seven questions we ask every author.

Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?

A: Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. I specifically remember feeling as if I'd become a grown-up reader because many of the pages did not have pictures.

Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?

A: The Stand by Stephen King
Madonna's Greatest Hits
Strangers with Candy: Season One

Q: What is the worst lie you've ever told?

A: That I'd be finishing a book project on time.

Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.

A: I live in New York City, so anyplace that's quiet.

Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

A: "Robert Sabuda--Bookmaker."

Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?

A: Benjamin Franklin

Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be?

A: Invisibility

... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Greatest Drawing Book.
I can easily remember the dozens of times I took this book out from the library when I was a kid. I would draw for hours. There wasn't anything that this book didn't tell you how to draw. Cars, boats, houses, people, bridges, and hundreds of other objects. And the best part about the book is how easy everything is. Any kid who has the ability to draw lines, curves and circles can draw everything in this book. From chairs and desks to fancy boats with many sails, from bicycles and tricycles to tractors and tractor trailers, this book had it all. I would recommend this book to people of all ages. It is guaranteed to keep any young artist occupied for hours on end. The best book of its kind.

Another great one, for all ages.
I'm a fan of all the Emberly books and if you have any interest in drawing or if you have kids, I can't recommend them strongly enough.

This one spans a wide range of ages, maybe the widest in the series. It perhaps won't reach as young as the thumbprint book, but because the drawings are designed to be small parts of a larger world, they're even simpler than those found in other books, and that can be very appealing to the young ones.

Older kids can exercise their imagination and skills by, as the books says, making a world. They'll be able to explore other things like composition and theme (however unconsciously) because the drawings they're using for their picture will be easy for them to render.

If I had a wish, it's that there would be more example landscapes in this book. The book is quite short, and the only example of combining pictures is on the last page. But the last page is inspirational and I would've liked more.

Nonetheless, this is a five-starrer.

Making a world
As a child I spent hours drawing complex worlds and maps from what I learned in this book.

Look back at fun and terrific drawing book
"Ed Emberly's Drawing Book: Make a World" really takes me back. From my earliest days in elementary school (early 80's), I remember this book. I did not then, nor do I know, have any appreciable artistic talent. Yet, this book made very common objects, people, and places very easy to draw with a fundamental step-by-step instruction. It gave even the least talented wanna-be artist an outlet for creative production. I simply loved this book. I had it checked out of the school library (with constant renewals) for almost an entire school year until the librarians put their foot down. My parents were kind enough to buy me my own copy, and I carried it with me every day. Even when I wasn't drawing, the setup of the book is creative enough so that a reader can almost come up with their own stories based on the drawings. I have no idea where my old copy of this book is, but you can be sure that I am psyched to buy it again.

wonderful tiny drawings
I have always enjoyed making tiny drawings in the borders of my notebooks at school. And as an adult I still doodle during meetings. This book is for those who love to doodle. It shows you how to make the coolest little doodles and drawings of everything! There are hundreds of people, buildings, vehicles, boats, and animals to draw. An as always no one teaches you an easier way than Ed Emberly! This is the best series of books for learning to draw, and when you want to thinkl about drawing for more than just fun you can move up the the Jack Hamm books, the logical next step after you finsih all of these. As an adult, I still love this book. I love it more now that it makes my 5 year old so happy that he can draw such neat things as castles, with dragons and knights in 2 minutes! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fun book
This book was written for younger readers, but I will find it very useful for my rubberstamping projects. I was glad to find easy to follow instructions for many kinds of books all in one book. Now I won't have to search through my magazines and printouts to find instructions for a project.

The books are fun and easy to do, but the results are impressive.

A kid again
While this book is written for young people, these projects can easily translate into adult projects. The book includes some fundamental book making but also takes you, step-by-step, to more complex design, stitchery and concepts as you go from chapter to chapter. The coptic stitch is woven into pages 28-30 so subtly that you may not immediately realize its intricacy. What is fascinating about Books that Fly is its imagination and introduction to the wonder of books. It takes the reader on a magic tour of books.

great!!!
What a wonderful book! It brings alot to the imagination and really helps children learn to make their own books. It really helps bring a book to life and helps children understand that books do not always have to be paper with words written on them.

Great for creative kids
I bought this book for my daughter for Christmas. She is 10 years old and is forever making construction paper books (I have them all over my house).
From looking through this book, I know that she is going to love making all the projects that are listed in this book. I am sure that I will have a lot more books around my house but at least this will be creatively designed by my daughter!!

I'm giving this to my nephew
Unfortunately, the initial part of this book's title (Books for Kids to Make) isn't something amazon.com shows well so I was expecting something geared to a different audience. Something to 'accessorize' Cover-to-Cover (the supreme bookmaker's book!). This book does a good job of making the craft of book making accessible to children.....so I'll be sharing this with my artistic nephew instead. I could see this also as being useful to a teacher in the lower grades....but it doesn't discuss anything new and exciting for those already immersed in bookmaking. ... Read more