Reviews (9)

Impressive, but lacking...
I personally feel that this book is for the established artist who knows his basic concepts in art. For the newbie, this might not be the one for you. The drawings within are definitely for those of a slightly higher level.

However, if you are looking to pratice your equine drawings, this is the way to go. The step-by-step drawings are easily to follow, and the guidelines at the beginning of the book serve as a reminder to improve on your drawing skills.

This is truly a good book for practice. If you need the basics, look somewhere else.

This book makes it so easy to draw good horses!
I love this book! I gives really easy instructions so you can draw really good horses, even if you couldn't before. It even tells you what kind of pencils and supplies you should have if you want to draw.

drawing
Makes it much easier for my daughter to draw her favorite animal...the horse of course!

great book!
We were very pleased with this book. The book gives simple yet accurate "how-to"s. A wonderful book.

great for beginners
This book really helps people who want to learn how to draw horses. It has good step by step illustrations of how to do it. ... Read more

Book Description

This "best-of" Wee Sing musical compilation contains all of your favorite sing-along songs plus one very special commemorative 25th anniversary tune. The book features all of the songs that you know and love, and a whopping 68 minutes of musical sing-along fun. Parents can also use the suggestions in the book to join in the fun as they help to develop their child's imagination. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

We love this CD!!!!
I bought this CD because it has a book with the lyrics, so I could learn all the songs to sing to my daughter. I have learn all the songs already and my daughter loves them.... She's now almost 8 months old, and I sing to her with this CD since she was 3 months old...I loves the voices.... I don't know if you guys have hear a CD for kids with adult voices, well I don't like those....This one has cute voices...I don't know the others CD's of this collection, but like this is a compilation that means that all of them have to be good.... I just ordered Wee Sing for Baby.... I hope this new one to be as good as this one!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Want to get a battle-droid's-eye view of the inside of an AAT battle tank? Care to see what Darth Maul's hiding in the trunk of his sinister-looking Sith Infiltrator? You're in luck: the crew that brought us the super-cool Star Wars Visual Dictionary and the Incredible Cross-Sections for the first movie trilogy is back. Boy wonder archaeologist-author David West Reynolds has put together another Incredible Cross-Sections guide, this time pulling apart the vehicles and vessels in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. DK has mastered the art of making Star Wars fans drool, and this latest guide is definitely state of the art, opening up everything from Naboo starfighters to Trade Federation transports.

As always, Reynolds approaches the Star Wars universe with the respect and love of a fan, putting each ship in context with his characteristic friendly but scientific style. The clean chromium lines and meticulous wiring of Queen Amidala's Royal Starship reflect the order and honor of Naboo royalty; the flowing, shell-like details on a tribubble bongo sub show off the Gungans' organic aesthetic. The best ships, of course, belong to the bad guys: you can check out the secret weapons and cloak field generator packed aboard Maul's Infiltrator (which, we learn, has an "experimental" ion engine that will later put the I-E in TIE fighters), and the Trade Federation's droid starfighter and control ship get a full giant fold-out. From the "bunker-buster" high explosive shells spit out by an AAT to the flame emitter weapon on Sebulba's podracer, this inside-out tour makes all the stops you want it to. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (67)

A Dream for Technophiles!
Where do I start? This book is amazing! I am a full fledged Star Wars fan, but since I don't own Fort Knox, I can't afford to buy all of the merchandise. As a result I have to be extremely picky about which items I purchase. I had only to see the Millennium Falcon drawing on the cover, and I was hooked!

I have read The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, but I found the information contradictory to previously published material, and a bit amateurish. Incredible Cross Sections does such a well-thought-out job, and is worded so well, that you almost forget these things don't exist! The gate-fold spread of the Death Star is absolutely incredible! The detail is also carefully executed, right down to the gold-foil insulation on the air ducts in the Millennium Falcon. Everything a Star Wars Technophile could want is in this book. I highly recommend buying the companion book as well: The Star Wars Visual Dictionary.

All I can say is, More! I would love to see another edition of this book containing some of the other vehicles.

Highly Recommended!

The Star Wars Universe has gotten bigger...and better!
I'm a big fan of the Incredible cross-sections books. I've read through all of the other cross-sections books for Star Wars, and when the edition for Attack Of The Clones came out I had to read it. Not only did it live up to my expectations, but it surpassed them. It is richly illustrated and has great information on most of the new vehicles from the Trade Federation Core Ship to the Republic Assault Ship to the revamped Slave 1. I highly recommend this book to those who love Star Wars. And even if you are a huge fan of the films it still makes for some good reading.

Very Detailed UnlessReallyinto Vehicles May Prefer Dictionar
Unless You are really, really obsessed with the star wars ships and other vehicles you are probably better off to purchase the visual directory by the same author. The directory has more pages and is more interesting as it looks at all the characters, creatures, weapons and everything else as well as the ships although the ships and vehicles are not in as much detail as the ones in this book.

The detail in this book is very extensive, so if you are fascinated by Star Wars vehicles then this is definitely the book for you. If you wanted a broader picture of the whole Star Wars world then get the dictionary instead. If your a huge Star Wars fan then you'll probably want both.

Yeap Dad this is a good one.
Ep 2's turn to have it's spaceships and other craft pulled apart and exposed in all their glory. Once again the foldout format is still the best and great for childern and grownups alike.

This Is Wizzard Anni!!!
This edition is devoted to the Spaceships and Craft from The Phantom Menace.

As with Star Wars Cross Sections it is very well detailed and even better with todays print technology. Great for children and first generation Star Wars fans alike. ... Read more

Book Description

"Tom The Turtle" walks children through the stages of moving. Forty six beautiful color illustrations using animals, insects, and reptiles invite moving as a positive adventure. In sensitive words, Tom walks children through feelings, thoughts, and action stages.The child participates in simple exercises that make the concepts come alive to the young reader. Tom captures the world of children for spontaneous interaction with the illustrations designed to enhance each move. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A "moving" book for all ages!
This is a "moving" book for children and adults alike. It is well written and the illustrations are adorable. The charming Tom explores many fears and feelings that we all experience in a move or transition. Highly recommended for children and adults of all ages.

Author's Update
"Healthy Kids" magazine endorses 'LET'S MOVE TOGETHER' to all pediatricians and families. The American Academy of Pediatrics identifed ''LET'S MOVE TOGETHER' as ideal for children who will move. Moving is traumatic for children ages 4-11 and children need special help. 'LET'S MOVE TOGETHER' provides the reassurance children need.

Recommendation
"Healthy Kids Magazine" distributed to Pediatricians in the United States recommends 'Let's Move Together' for children and families who are moving in the October/November issue. The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies moving as one of life's most stressful events for children. 'Let's Move Together' provides the discussion, tips, and coping suggestions for a successful move.

From One Parent To Another
"Let's Move Together" captures all the emotions around moving and fitting in once a child gets there. Schubeck writes honestly about all the feelings we can have surrounding a move from one home to the next. This book allows parents to manage the moving process along with their youngsters. What a great way to reconnect with our children! Clanuwat's illustrations are clean and refreshing--They come to life!

A Valuable Resource
The well illustrated characters guide the young readers in understanding the feelings, thoughts and actions involved in making a transition. This book is a valuable resource for those families in careers that keep them on the move. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Little Hands
This is a very useful book for a parent who wants to work along her child. Activities are well explained and organized by supplies needed, so you won't have to browse through all the pages to find something appropriate for the supplies you have at home. Also, though not clearly stated, there are holiday activities. Older children, especially those younger than nine, will find this book useful. And, they should be able to follow thw instructions with very little help, if any.

More Crafts than Art. found here.
As an artist and parent who now teaches art to young children, I think this book has some cute craft ideas but is not the best introduction to art for children. I prefer Scribble Art by Mary Ann Kohl - it has a similar easy-to-read format with projects that can be adapted to almost any age, but Scribble Art involves more open-ended projects that allow for creativity and self-expression. Little Hands is more results oriented - for instance, if you want to make a quick turtle using a plastic bowl, this book will show you how. Many of projects involve a specific end result - a representational image of a pumpkin or porcupine. Granted, there are times for this; however, I prefer an approach to allows children to create their own subject matter, or explore freely within a given material or technique.

Excellent book for daycare providers or at-home moms!
This book not only provides awesome project ideas, but also shows how to make it simpler or more complex based on age AND provides other ideas and/or book suggestions to go along with the project. It takes a the idea of doing a project with your littles ones to a whole new level. An excellent source for daycare providers, stay-at-home moms, and home schoolers!

By far the best home arts & crafts book for preschoolers
After being disappointed repeatedly by other books of this type, I was lucky enough to find this one. Nothing compares with it in terms of simplicity, creative fun, easy instructions, excellent illustrations, availability of materials at home, variety. My 3 and 4-year olds' favorite afternoon activity is to flip thru the pages and pick out a project - and they are always delighted by the results. My favorite gift to other mothers of preschoolers. Only one word of advise - the clay recipes are not the best - in particular the play dough one - but it's common enough to find elsewhere. If you're going to buy one book in this category, I couldn't recommend this one more. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On one of their weekly balloon flights over Celesteville, Babar and Celeste notice that the railroad station is standing empty. Elephants, it seems, now prefer cars over trains. Interestingly, although Babar comments on the roads "jammed with traffic," he and his queen decide to focus on the other issue--the abandoned station. Celeste comes up with an idea to turn it into a museum to house their art collection, and soon an architect is drawing up plans and workers are renovating the building. When the great day of the opening arrives, what a show! The royal couple had acquired some pretty impressive and well known works of art--all featuring elephants, of course. Laurent de Brunhoff outdoes himself with the real-life art-inspired paintings and sculptures, from Mary Cassatt’s"Mother and Child" to Edvard Munch’s "The Scream" to Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa." Young art buffs will enjoy the very age-appropriate art appreciation lessons, as the children are encouraged!to say whatever they want about the art: "I like this picture because it’s red," says Arthur about Van Gogh’s "Self-Portrait." When pedantic Cornelius tries to pontificate, Celeste gently hushes him. Includes a free pull-out poster. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Note Cards
Buyer beware -- these note cards fold to 3"x5".

wonderful
My wife's parents gave this book to my daughter. I was as delighted as she was! I grew up on Babar. What a lovely children's book! My four year old daughter absolutely adores it. Buy this for the children in your life and they will love it.

A delightful visit to Babar's Museum of Art
A balloon ride over Celesteville leads to Babar and Celeste deciding to turn in an abandoned train station into a museum in which they can display their great collection of fine paintings. Everyone in town gets more and more excited waiting for the big day when the museum is opened and everyone can see everything that is hanging on the walls inside. The paintings might be intended for the elephants and other animal friends of Babar and Celeste and this book might be intended for younger readers, but the readers who will most enjoy Laurent De Brunhoff's book are going to be those old enough to appreciate the witty elephant-inspired version of great paintings from Michaelangelo's "Creation of Man" and Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" to George Surat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" and Edvard Munch's "The Scream." There is just something intrinsically enjoyable about taking Leonardi Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and making the lady with enigmatic smile an elephant, and the idea of doing the same thing with Vincent Van Gogh's "Self Portrait" is hysterical since Babar is an African elephant and not an Indian elephant. The more you know about great art the more you will enjoy strolling through the galleries with Babar and his family. The book also includes a pull-out poster of the delightful art found in "Babar's Museum of Art." The adventures of Babar have been delighting children for half a century and this is a charming addition to the series. It should also inspire its young readers to check out the "real" versions of these great paintings so that they can find out what the adults are chuckling about as they enjoy "Babar's Museum of Art." Is it too early to be thinking about books that would be great to give as gifts to young readers for Christmas? This one should be high up on that list.

Wonderful for preschoolers through elementary children!
Some of us remember having "Babar" books read to us when we were children. This book rekindles those warm thoughts while providing an interesting, entertaining look at art and life. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

A newly repackaged edition of the first book in a series that has sold more than 600,000 copies

A favorite of parents, educators, and therapists since it was first published in 1978, more than 200,000 copies of this first volume from the "draw-from-your-imagination" books have been sold around the world.Praised as "extraordinary, revolutionary" (Newsweek), "imaginative" (The Christian Science Monitor), and "great stuff" (Detroit Free Press), this innovative series has continued to spark the creative impulses in children for years.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fond memories from 2nd grade
After recess every day we would be given a page from the Anti Coloring book and allowed to draw to our hearts content for half an hour. It was one of my favorite times of the day.

Two thumbs up, most definitely!!
As a parent and former early childhood educator, I am pleased to write this review. In a day and age when entertainment does not require much thought process from our young ones (i.e. video games, pointless television shows, computer software, etc.), it is very refreshing to stumble upon the Anti-Coloring Book. Our children are exposed to endless amounts of effort-free fun stuff; and ultimately, young minds become lazy, trained, and forgetful of the power of imagination. How can you say no to a product that fosters developmentally appropriate learning, and promotes self awareness, self confidence, self expression, and independent thinking?? Help your child to break free from the lines and boundaries that hold them back. Kudos to the creators... it's time to get real about our children's needs!

I grew up with Anti-Coloring Books
I still remember some of the specific pages I created in my Anti-Coloring Books almost 20 years ago! I had 4 or 5 different books and loved them all. These books encourage creativity, empowering kids to draw and think "outside the lines." I look forward to giving these books to my nieces, nephews, and children in the near future and are thrilled to learn that they're still available.

Fantastic! Creative, engaging, utterly absorbing...
These books are extraordinary for building a child's ego and self-confidence. The books are structured so that the child's imagination and the child's opinions about life are in the spotlight. The anti-coloring books make kids feel good! They are books that actually manage to give kids the attention they need - rather than demanding attention from the kid. The anti-coloring books continually ask questions about the child, her thoughts, her feelings, her visions. They are brilliant mechanisms for encouraging confidence and creativity. From a parent's perspective, the finished books become a window onto the emotional and psychological landscape of your children. What do they really think? What makes them angry? What are they wishing for? I highly recommend any of the anti-coloring books for children of all ages. Mom and Dad should try them too!

creative, and intelligent
I was given this book as a little girl. As an adult I am purchasing this book to share with my students. So much better than your average coloring bok, this book is thought invoking and inspires creativity in all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

The best-selling collection of tapes and sing-along books--all the childhood favorites. (Ages 2-8) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Have a child.... Get this set! (Cassette and book)
Wonderful collection of nursery Rhymes and lullabies. Includes the old favorites as well as a few I had not even heard of. The voices used are very soothing. I enjoy it. My eight year old enjoys it. And my 9 month old enjoys it. When nothing else seems to be able to calm my infant down for sleep, this works wonders. Great for family time before bed. Times that I am sure my children will remember when they grow up and want to continue with their children. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Good Book by a Favorite Author
This is an encouraging autobiographical tale. Tommy was sure he would grow up to be an artist. He is discouraged by people in his life at times but fortunately Tommy prevails. Thank goodness; we now have an excellent children's author/illustrator to enjoy!

The Art Lesson
When Tommy wants to become an artist, he trys everything he can to be the best artist. When Tommy's older brother goes to school and has art class Tommy can't wait till he gets art lessons.
Tommy really wants to draw, and that is what he spends most of his time doing. When Tommy finally gets to go to art lessons, he wants to draw what he wants, not what the teacher tells him. So the teacher tell him once he draws what she wants him to he can draw anything he wants, and he sure did.
I think that it is really great that Tommy never gave up drawing and it followed him through his whole life, and he is still doing it today. I would recommend this book for children ages 4-8, and I think that it would show kids to do what they want to and never give up.

The Art Lesson-- by: Tomie dePaola
I really enjoyed this book. It tells a true story about the author, Tomie dePaola's personal experiences with teachers in his early years of art. My favorite character in this book is Tommy. I love the ending that shows that Tommy's art passion has followed him throughout his whole life, to when he is a grown man. I would recommend this book to any one of any age that is looking for something to read.

A boy who loves to draw
In this picture book, Tomie dePaola tells the story of how a little boy became an artist. DePaola's simple text combined with his wonderfully expressive illustrations tell the story perfectly. My 4 year-old son identified with the little boy in the book. I identified with the mother who gently reprimands him for drawing on bedsheets but proudly displays his artwork throughout the house. This book contains a very pleasant surprise ending for young readers who are familiar with dePaola's works such as STREGA NONA and BILL & PETE. Don't miss this one.

Terrific Read!
Do you want to read a terrific book with fantastic illustrations? If you said yes, then The Art Lesson is the book for you.
We enjoyed reading a book where the child really grows up doing what he has always wanted to do. This is a story about a child who loves to draw. His teacher only gives him one piece of paper and won't let him use his birthday crayons. But still this can't stop him from drawing. Read The Art Lesson to find out how he solves his problem. ... Read more

Book Description

Phillip comes from a circus family, but all he really wants is tobe a regular kid. After persuading his parents to let him move in with his aunt anduncle, he winds up in Hardingtown, where everyone is wild about dodgeball. Whenhe gets slammed in the face with a speeding ball in gym class, he decides totake the dodgeball bully to court. But can a circus boy take on the UnofficialDodgeball Capital of the World?

This uproariously funny middle-grade novel carries an inspiring message aboutsticking to your beliefs, however unpopular they may be. ... Read more

Book Description

Distilling the innovation, science, and enthusiasm of their first book-The World Record Paper Airplane Book-world record holder Ken Blackburn and mechanical engineer Jeff Lammers present The Kids' Paper Airplane Book.br>Written and designed for younger paper pilots, it has simpler planes with brighter, bolder graphics; games, activities, and fun aviation facts (the "A=Alpha, B=Bravo" pilots' alphabet, for example); and everything kids need to fold and fly. They will learn how to design their own planes, do stunts, and build a 3-D airport with stuff found around the house, and they'll discover that the largest aircraft ever flown wasn't a plane at all. There are 16 models and 76 full-color planes in all, a full-color poster of an airport, a pilot's license and flight log, and a field guide to common aircraft.

But the irresistible attraction, as in the grown-up version, are the planes themselves: The Count, The Dragon, The Manta Ray, The Slice, The Aerobat, the Saturn Rocket. Plus the chance to be the next world record holder.

Selection of the Doubleday Kids' Club. Suitable for ages 5 and up. 360,000 copies in print. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The best flying airplanes in the world
The book had a lot of good airplanes that fly really well. I can't decide which one I like best. The instructions were fairly easy to follow. The book is so good, you should buy it to see the astonished look on your child's face.

Fantastic
I highly recommend this book.We bought this for our twin sons when they were 5, and then another copy to use as party favors when they turned 6.Now they need a third copy.Its great!Spend a few minutes with your kids, teach them to fold paper, and they will have a ball for hours.

great fun; easy to use
I don't have a lot of patience or talent for putting things together.I bought this for my son when he was 5 and he loved it so much I bought it again when he was 6.The pages are just torn out and folded together easily and they fly great!My kids have had so much fun playing with these airplanes.This time around I'm going to try "World Record Paper Airplanes", but the "Kid's Paper Airplanes" was a big hit for us.

Cool
Bought this for my 10 year old.It is so cool.It is easy to use and provides lots of fun.I would highly recommend it.

Must have for children
My son is six and very interested in paper airplanes.The books we have checked out from the library are advanced and hard to follow. This book gives you the pattern complete with dotted lines for folding.We made four in under thirty minutes and they all flew!This is a great book for kids and adults with no mechanical knowledge or patience! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (15)

A wonderful introduction to Monet!
Linnea is a little girl who travels with her neighbor to Paris to see Monet's paintings. Delighted by what she sees, Linnea goes with her neighbor to Giverny to see Monet's wonderful home and gardens. This delightful book has the animated Linnea prancing along in the grounds at Giverny, which are presented in photographs. She learns and explains everything she sees; her sparkling "personality" makes Monet and his art come alive for young readers. Linnea is a joy! She can be purchased as a doll as well.

A child's exciting trip to visit the world and art of Monet
I have read several book recently that explain the impressionist art work of Claude Monet, and "Linnea in Monet's Garden" is certainly one of the most creative and interesting of the bunch. Originally published in Swedish as "Linnea i malarens tradgard," this exquisite little book tells of the adventure of young Linnea to Claude Monet's garden, where she gets to stand on the Japanese bridge overlooking the lily pond that Monet often painted. Linnea also gets to visit many of Monet's actual paintings in Paris, accompanied by her friend Mr. Bloom, a retired gardner who knows a lot about the life and art of Monet. The story of "Linnea in Monet's Garden" is told by Christina Bjork, with drawings by Lena Anderson. The book also includes both black & white photographs of Monet and his family, but color shots taken by "Linnea" on her trip or Monet's home and paintings.

The other books I have read this week about the art of Monet have focused more specifically on explaining his art in terms of subject, color, perpsective, tone, etc. "Linnea in Monet's Garden" covers these topics in a more offhanded way. This hardly matters because the strength of the book is in how in capture's the young girl's joy in actually going to the places she has read about and getting to sit in Monet's kitchen, walk on the Japanese bridge, and take photographs of the water lillies in his pond. There is also the fun of getting to see the actual paintings that she has only seen in books. This story is told as if it were a true adventure (they have to be allowed into the Water Lily Rooms at the museum because they are under repairs and Lineea bursts into tears when they discover the rooms are closed to the public). If you have ever had the pleasure of a finally seeing a great painting in person (for me it was Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" in Chicago) or visiting famous places you have read about for years (pick your own example), then this charming book will speak to you.

B e a u t i f u l
Linnea, a young Swedish girl has developed quite a friendship with the elderly Mr. Bloom, her upstairs neighbor. Mr. Bloom is a retired gardener who is the proud owner of a lovely book about the great French artist, Claude Monet. After hours and hours of studying Monet and his life, the pair begin the ultimate adventure: a trip to Paris, and where it all began! Linnea and Mr. Bloom visit the Marmottan museum to observe the many paintings of Monet. They study his artwork and how the genius painted. They learn about other Impressionist artists--many who were great friends of Monet. Eventually the young child and elderly gentleman make the ultimate trek to Giverny, where Monet lived and painted.
This book could almost be a 'fun' textbook. The artwork, both of the author's and of Monet's is absolutely exquisite. Becoming familiar with Monet's life and his paintings become a marvelous art history lesson. As an adult, I not enjoyed reading this lovely book but I learned a lot. In fact, a few days after reading LINNEA in Monet's Garden I was watching a Sex in the City episode where Charlotte was showing a group of people one of Monet's 'lily' murals. Being familiar with that painting because of this book was an exciting moment for me!

Impossible to resist
I picked this up at the home of a friend. Her little girl scampered over and, eyeing me with suspicion, said, "That's MY BOOK." Once she gave me permission to look at it if I promised to treat it carefully, I began to wish I really could steal it!
What a treasure. Linnea in Monet's Garden is a way to introduce children (about age 6-10, I'd say) to the appreciation of Impressionist art. The book includes photographs and drawings of Monet's home and family, a story of his life, and full-color reproductions of many of his paintings. Linnea is taken to Giverny by the elderly Mr. Bloom and, as she is entranced by all things Monet, so will you be, too.
Buy two copies: one for yourself and one for a young friend.

Wonderful to share with children
An enchanting introduction to one of the world's favourite artists. The journey undertaken by Linnea can easily be retraced when visiting France.

It is a great way to introduce children to Impressionism, this particular artist, and ready them for visiting a gallery.

Thoroughly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

A little boy must come to terms with being teased and ostracized because he’d rather read books, paint pictures, and tap-dance than participate in sports. “There is a good balance between the simple text . . . and the expressive pictures . . . an attractive little book.”--School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Oliver Button is a Sissy by Will Herman
I really enjoyed this book. It is about a little boy named Oliver Button. This little boy doesn't really care what other people think, he likes to do what he thinks is fun, and that is it. He doesn't do normal things like other boys, he dances, and jumps rope for exercise. He got a new pair of tap shoes and the older boys teased him and called him a sissy and wrote it on the wall. Oliver still kept going to dance school and practicing and practicing.
When there is a talent competition, Oliver signs up to be in it. During the competition he did a tap routine and ends up losing. His parents still thought of him as a champion and when he goes back to school, instead of Oliver Button is a sissy on the wall it says Oliver Button is a star. I would recommend this book to a lot of people because this is a very entertaining book. It shows that if you have fun doing something thats a little different, keep doing it no matter what other people say.

It's OK to be Different!
This is an excellent book that confronts gender stereotypes and the importance of accepting people for who they are. Oliver Button does not engage in the traditional activities that boys do, and thus, he is faced with repercussions and consequences (based on how others feel Oliver should behave/act). I teach fourth grade and - though a picture book - it is the ideal book to discuss self-confidence and diversity and the significance of accepting individuals while recognizing their accomplishments and contributions.

Learning How Not To Be A Non-Conformist...
When I first read this book to my library classes, I was a little curious on how they would react. Yet I was suprised to find that after the story was finished, the children cheered and clapped. There were many attentive children throughout the story and some(whom I personally believe)were wondering why Oliver was so 'different.' Maybe it could be that more than a handful of children could relate to this story. It was fun for me acting out the different parts, and the children enjoyed these visuals also. We also shared how we would feel in the situations Oliver was set in. I recommend this book to all!

Wonderful, a very special book
I watched a special on TV about this book. It's a story about a little boy who gets picked on and eventually finds good things about himself. It was similar to what my nephew experiences in school. He is a boy who loves playing with the girls and isn't real "tough", so he has a hard time with some kids. This book was wonderful for him to read. I sent it to him through amazon. He got it in the mail, read it that night and then took it to school and read it to the class the very next day! He brought home a special award for sharing such a wonderful book! I think all teachers should share this with their classrooms and use it as a way to address bullying!

OLiver Button is a Sissy It's a funny book
Once Oliver did thing that girls did. He didn't play with boys or didn't play any spots. All he did was to play with paper dolls, pick flowers, jump rope, draw and dance. He asked his mother if he could take some dance lessons so he went to Mrs. Leah's dancing class with other boys and girls.

My favortie part was when every one said he was a star at tap dancing because he has been practicing really hard at home and at Mrs. Leah's class. At home he was practicing when he got home from school everyday.

Tomie made it for his mother named Flossie his mother is still alive. His mother is in her 90s.

I liked it when he practiced with his black pair of tap shoes and when a girl told the other kids to leave him alone two girls said to five boys in the schoolyard. ... Read more

Book Description

Through the lively verse and striking photographs of this large-format book, young readers learn the ABCs of architecture, including arches, gargoyles, hinges, I-beams, urns, and zigzags. Questions stimulate young readers to think about the structural world around them in a creative, thought-provoking way.

28 illustrations in full color, 91/4 x 103/4" ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great introduction to architecture
My husband is an architect, so I bought this book for our (future) children. The photography is wonderful. We think it is an excellent introduction to architecture, and I love how it asks a question of the reader after each alphabet. For example, it asks if you think a keystone looks like a tooth.

Architecture for the young and young at heart
A delightful book of engaging interactive text and glorious photographic images which will appeal to both children and adults. Compared to other architecture alphabet books, "Archibet" and "An Architectural Alphabet" for instance, this book not only delights the eye but asks the reader to "read" the image and engage with the text. An appendix offers details regarding the specific location of the element in each photograph as well as the full definition of the term associated with each letter of the alphabet. Put it on your Christmas list.

Architecture is for kids too
By now you've probably plowed your way through lots of those children's books that are about impossible for grownups to enjoy. I won't mention any names, but I've tried lots of them and the kids don't seem to like them much either! Here's a book that children enjoy, and that also offers something to us parents. The photos are lively and pretty (and there's a handy list in the back that tells us where they were taken). The verse is clever and fresh and informative. And you walk away from the book understanding a bit more about architecture, a subject that's endlessly fascinating. I'll have to check my son's latest Lego structure to see if he's incorporated any arches, corbels, gargoyles, or other architectural features into his creations. Then I'll know for sure that this book has been as successful with him as it has been with me! Incidentally, this is a good gift book for the school. I'm giving one to my daughter's 2nd grade classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

Random House is proud to present the tenth anniversary edition of a book Publishers Weekly called "a gem of a book...a story that goes straight to the heart."When nine-year-old Gregory experiences several upsets in his life, he responds by creating a fantastic chalk garden on the charred walls of a burned-out factory behind his house.As his garden grows and flourishes, Gregory finds a voice through his art and, for the first time, is able to find his own place in the world.The Chalk Box Kid is sure to delight a new generation of children and their parents. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Garden is in the Eye of the Beholder
Three burned and sooty walls prove an irresistable lure to a lonely 9-year-old boy. Friendless in a new school in a decaying neighborhood, and disrespected by his unemployed young uncle, Gregory discovers the remains of a chalk factory behind his
cement-filled back yard. Who says he can't have a garden like the other kids in his class--it's in the eye and the heart of the gardener, after all. In this case the gardener is a budding
artist, who wants to recreate the beauty of nature and living things in this--his only private space. Even his skeptical parents discover that their son has talent, thanks to his conscientious teacher.

Bulla's literary strokes are characterized by short, simple sentences and minmal kid dialogue. The author's canvas depicts a world of pre teen loneliness, peer pressure and the innate need for social
appreciation. But who will prove brave enough to defy the crowd? This is a good book for young readers who have suffered the trauma of moving or familial rejection, with good insight into the artistic temperament.

This is an interesting book about a 9 year old boy, Gregory.
This book is about a nine-year-old boy named Gregory. The story starts with the worst birthday of his life because he is moving to a house that he has never seen before and it ends with a friendship. When he moves to a new house, at the beginning, his birthday is the best, because he has his own room.

Towards the middle of the book, he finds a burned down chalk factory, with only three walls left standing. He draws a beautiful garden on these three walls, with the chalk that he has found.

In the beginning of the summary, we mentioned that it ends with a friendship. The friend's name is Ivy. Ivy is a shy girl who loves art as much as Gregory.

Matthew and Skylar

Third Grade

What an imagination!
Gregory moves into a new house in a new town on his birthday.He starts his new school and his class is doing a project, they are growing gardens at home. Gregory can't grow a regular garden like the other kids, so with some chalk and a burned building behind his house he draws his garden on the walls of the building. He makes a friend, Ivy who also likes to draw. His classmates make fun of his garden, but in the end everyone thought his garden was beautiful.

The Chalk Box Kid.
If you want a book where you can slip into the person's shoes,and feel like you know the character, then this is the book for you. Gregory was staying with his Aunt Grace for his birthday, because his mother and father were moving to a new house.They hade to move because got fired and found another job on the other side of town, so they hade to move.
Then when Gregory's mother and father got to Anut Grace's house they hade to get back home.When they got there Gregory asked do I have my own room? He did and he was so happy he said "This is better then a party and cake this is the best Birthday ever!" The next day he started the first day of school, in his new school. That day when he came home from school he was walking around and found a gate to a burnt down building. He cleaned it up a bit and found a box of chalk. That at school Mr. Hiller, a friend of Miss.Perry, came in and taught Gregory and the rest of the kids all about plants. When Gregory when home that night he said to his mother,"We don't have any grass around here". So he started to draw plants in the building. His mother and father did nit want to see.They were too busy.Don,t worry the end gets gets better.
I could not put the book down because the book never ended,and you would most likely would want to stay up and read it.You will like the book but you have to read it to find out!!!

A Friendship
I really liked this book because it was about a kid named Gregory who moves to a new town with his mother and father. It is bad enough moving without having any friends, but not making any new ones is pretty bad too. Everyone was given some seeds to plant a garden. But at his new house he doesn't have much of a yard so he can't make a garden. Behind his house is a burned down chalk factory, so he draws a garden. If you want to find out if he makes any friends read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A priceless resource on the fundamentals of drawing animals.
This book is a clearly written and easy to follow step-by-step guide to drawing animals by applying a comparative anatomy system using geometric shapes to help you understand how animals are put together. This fully illustrated reference contains over a thousand diagrams and illustrations and is structured into twenty carefully organized sections in which the author covers the basic and not-so-basic concepts, principles and techniques you need in order to produce realistic, three dimensional and anatomically accurate renderings of animals.
His topics on specific animals include: the cat family, the bear family, the horse family, the elephant, the dog family, the camel, the giraffe, the hippopotamus, the rhinoceros, the deer family, the buffalo, the cow, the pig, the monkey and the ape family, the kangaroo and the rabbit. As an added bonus he includes other topics: Odd and Unusual Animals, Miscellaneous Small Animals and Animal Interpretation and Abstraction, as well as an Introduction to Animal Drawing in which he focuses on animal simplification, structure, construction, poses, gaits and movements, comparisons and techniques on how to make animals look more natural. As a warning, note that this book only explains how to draw mammals and doesn't include mollusks, amphibians, insects, reptiles or birds.
By studying this book as if it were a textbook on a course, doing all the exercises and reviewing each section afterwards, I have steadily improved my drawings of animals in such a short time that I am now constantly rewarded with praise from my friends and family.
This book will give to the beginner the fundamentals of drawing animals, and will give to the seasoned artist and professional new principles and techniques to try. For both, this book is a must buy.

Jack does it right
Jack's book here is one of the best and most useful. Animals can be tough, admility, and Jack clears up some commen problems faced when drawing these beauitful creatures. Topics range from drawing horses, dogs, big and small cats, elephants, and bears. There are literally hundreds of clear and precise images in this book! Give this book a try, you can't go wrong. The pricetag and content are unbeatable!

The Wham Of Hamm
Jack Hamm is a solid, versatile, and fundamentally sound artist with a rare knack for organizing and presenting information in a simple and clear way. This book, one of his four classic how-tos of drawing, has already been a gift to artists everywhere for generations, and is a priceless resource of knowledge and information. Along with Hultgren's similar book, this is the classic workbook on the subject.

Hamm stresses a solid approach to the construction and anatomy of animals, but also helps the reader grasp the conceptual aspects of how animals are put together and what similarities and differences are important to comprehend. The book is very thorough in grouping animals into basic families, such as big cats, monkeys, elephants, etc., and the organization of the book is a major plus. Hamm is sharply focused on construction, solidity, and three-dimensional views of animals and how they move. A college art course could be taught from this book.

Hamm's greatest admirers have always been his peers- fellow artists will tell you that this is the right aproach to drawing animals, and this book will remain in print and in use forever.

Great Reference for Drawing Animals!
This book is a great reference book for drawing animals and is relatively thorough in showing the different types and their common similarities across, and within, species. I thought it was very good in explaining animal anatomy and smaller details such as how to correctly stripe a tiger. However, you will definitely need to see the animals in person or have your own photo resources because there are no accompanying photos.

Canned Hamm
It's a good book about learning the natural poses of animals. If you like to swipe material to use for sketches this is the book for it. It teaches you how animals look in the wild. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A good way to go...
It's an ok book. The drawings are a bit hard but if you just try, the results are great!

drawing horses book
This is a nice book, but
it does not give very
good instructions.

uh... okay i guess
This book was a little too brief. It showed good drawings of horses but it didn't break down the steps of drawing one like a good drawing book would. The materials they give you are great though. Hope you enjoy it.

O.K.
This book was not the best for me it made me want to draw but there was a problem it showed me but it just showed circles. I would recommened this book to people who have alot of calmness.

perfect
Great for any young horse lover, simple visual guide to drawing horses. My 10 year old was able to begin immediately just by following the illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply the best!
For ten years, I've been painting faces for carnivals, parties, Halloween - you name it - this book can take rank beginners and allow them to paint very professional looking faces. The instructions are easy to follow, and elaborate on multiple techniques, including sponging and using different brush tips to achieve different effects. I highly recommend it - a word of caution- use only high quality face paints as they cover and blend better than the cheapos! Enjoy!

Face Painting (Hotshots Series)
This is a nice, compact, book on face painting. It briefly covers materials, equipment, and technique before showing you a nice variety of face-painting ideas. The directions for achieving each look, while not detailed, are sufficient to create the desired effect. Wonderful for Halloween ideas. ... Read more