Reviews (2)

Rock Star Babies!
These books are so cute. There are several of them in the series. They use the lyrics from popular Motown songs with pictures of various happy babies.

The books are heavy cardboard so if you have a child that is just at the point of trying to turn the pages by themselves they won't rip the pages. They are also well sized for little hands.

The babies are a multicultural lot with both mommies and daddies represented so chances are you will find babies, and parents, that look just like you.

And since the words are really song lyrics they are easily sung or spoke in a rhythm that children should like.

Too cute! Gotta sing along!
Perfect book for both my girls! The baby is biracial and it's so hard to find anything that isn't all blonde hair and blue eyes! These books are cute, fun and we all know the words! Only complaint: HARD TO FIND! Even here, unless you know what you are looking for! But worth the search! ... Read more

Book Description

Follow the story of the Incredibles, a family of undercover superheroes, in the Essential Guide to Disney/Pixar's newest collaboration. This insider's guide gives readers all the background information on the characters and places seen in the movie - a must for CG animation fans. ... Read more

Book Description

What do we feel when we look at a great work of art/ What does a poet feel/ Heart to Heart offersan original way to approach poetry and art—with new works by distinguished American poets, specially commissioned for this book by editor Jan Greenberg. Prompted by paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs by American artists working in the 20th century, these poems lend a new meaning to “art appreciation” and make each page of Heart to Heart an exciting discovery.

Join such poets as Jane Yolen, Nancy Willard, X. J. Kennedy, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Mura, and Angela Johnson as they reveal a personal, heartfelt response to works by Thomas Hart Benton, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Grandma Moses, Faith Ringgold, Man Ray, Georgia O’Keeffe, and many others. Whether the poems are playful, challenging, tender, mocking, humorous, sad, or sensual, each work of art, seen through the eyes of a poet, allows readers to look at the world with new insight. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Getting to the Heart of Art
This is a great book for artists and non artists alike. It is a useful tool for any age group in understanding visual imagery. The poetry is done in response to art that ranges in style and media, giving the reader/viewer a wide exposure to the arts.

The poerty is crisp, interesting and meaningful to contemporary culture without being trite or overly stylized.

This book is a great educational resource, coffee table book, or good cure for the common boredom! ... Read more

Book Description

Aunt Cora is determined to turn two orphans, perky Hilary and sullen Rachel, into members of her dance troupe. But Rachel wants to keep Hilary from being one of Wintle’s Little Wonders–is it selfishness or something else? Misunderstandings and a spoiled cousin combine for a tale full of high drama. Originally published in 1957. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Dancing Shoes
I think this book is really great and is one of my favorite books. Ten year olds Rachel and Hillary Lennox have to go live with their Aunt Cora in London after their Rachel's mother dies. Rachel is a worry rat who is always worrying about Hillary. Hillary is an oraphan whom Rachel's father adopts when Rachel was 6. Before their mother died, Hillary was doing ballet with Madame Raine. Madame Raine thought Hillary should go to the Royal Ballet School. Aunt Cora to Hillary's luck teaches a dancing school but Aunt Cora doesn't want Hillary because they had no realation. When Aunt Cora sees Hillary doing ballet on the front lawn she imeditley changes her mind and wants to take both of them. Rachel has a cousin named Dulcie. Dulcie is a spoiled brat and always gets her way. Her father Uncle Tom doesn't like that though. Uncle Tom was Rachel's mom's brother. A few days after their arrival Aunt Cora starts traing them to be Mrs. Wintle's Little Wonders. (Aunt Cora is also known as Mrs. Wintle) Read the book! you'll probably enjoy it!

"Dancing Shoes" will waltz away with your heart
How can it be that a book about a dancing school in 1950s London would make such an impression on a klutzy American 12-year old in the late '70s and early '80s? A compelling story and appealing, cleancut prose have made "Dancing Shoes" a staple -- albeit dog-eared -- book in my library for more than 15 years.

"Dancing Shoes" started my long "pas de deux" with Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" series. Streatfeild describes the day-to-day lives of Rachel and Hilary -- two orphans who find unexpectedly themselves living in a stage-training school with their brusque, stage-mama Aunt Cora -- in such a way that the reader can feel the warmth of the footlights and the pinch of their tap shoes. The plight of untalented Rachel among the dancing troupe of Mrs. Wintle's Little Wonders was very true to life, and her triumph over her spoiled cousin at the end of the book gives hope to all little girls who aren't so light on their feet. This and other "Shoes" books will be passed on to my own daughters.

A MUST READ LOVABLE BOOK!
I received this book when I was about 8 years old. I took one look at it and thought, "I am NOT going to read this. It's a BABY book!" I never touched the book again until 3 years later, when I was 11 years old, and decided just to try out the book. OMG! Was I wrong! This was not a baby book! The story of Rachel and Hilary Lennox and their lovable (in a villainy way)conceited cousin, Dulcie Wintle, is a charming book that every one (and I mean EVERYONE) will love.

Rachel and Hilary come to live with their Aunt Cora, who runs a dancing (ballet, acrobatics, musical comedy, etc.) school, when their mother dies. Aunt Cora is set on making them both "little wonders" but Rachel finds that she disdains it, having no talent for those types of things. Hilary, however, finds that she loves it, and has a real talent for it, too! But Rachel doesn't want Hilary to be a "little wonder," let alone love it! Hilary was going to go to the Royal Ballet School of Dancing before their mother died, and Rachel is set on making her go after her mother's last words for her were to make sure Hilary went on with her dancing.
Misunderstandings will get in the way, as Hilary grows more and more with the "bad" type of dancing, becomes competition with Dulcie, and Rachel comes to find that dancing may not be her thing, but that doesn't mean that stage is not...

Dulcie -- my favorite childhood villain!
I've always adored books set in England ... and it started with the Noel Streatfeild books that I devoured as a child. Of all of the Shoes books -- and believe me, twenty years ago I read every single one I could get my hands on -- this is still the best.

The two heroines are so likable and yet so different from each other; Rachel is introspective and quiet, Hilary is vivacious and fun-loving. What this means is that every little girl reading it can identify with one or the other. Streatfeild is at her best when it comes the book's character development. Rachel's reaction to her mother's death, and her changing relationship with her sister, are very well-drawn and utterly convincing.

Best of all, this book has Dulcie -- the character you love to hate. And every single person gets her comeuppance in the end; the reader's desire for poetic justice is fufilled in a most suprising but totally convincing way. It's a wonderfully satisfying read, and the kind of book that you can read again and again ... even as an adult.

Absolutely brilliant
I can't remember when I first read 'Dancing Shoes' - judging by the writing in the front cover, I must have been pretty young - but I have never stopped loving it. Though my copy is now dog eared and I practically know it off by heart, I read it about once ever four months.

It is the involved and moving tale of Rachel and Hilary, both ten years old when the book begins. Hilary was adopted by Rachel's parents when they were both four, and has always felt part of the family. She is a promsing ballet dancer (her real mother being one) but is lazy, and doesn't take the work seriously. Rachel, who is serious in everything she does, watches all of Hilary's lessons and keeps her working hard. Their father, a famous film star, died when they were seven. When the book opens, their mother has just died too, leaving them orphans.

They are taken to live with Rachel's aunt and uncle, Cora Wintle and Tom Lennox. Aunt Cora, or Mrs. Wintle as she is commonly referred to, runs a stage school for children called Wintle's Wonders. Throughout the book she is mean, oppressive, selfish and cold hearted torwards first Rachel, and then Hilary. Uncle Tom is an artist, and the opposite of Cora. He nurtures Rachel, who feels misunderstood and out of place in a dancing school, and tries his hardest to make things better. Their spoilt cousin Dulcie is a brilliant dancer, and thoroughly conceited. Pursey is the kindly and fat house keeper who becomes their mother figure.

'Dancing Shoes' focuses on Rachel's trials and tribulations, mainly trials though, and how she reacts to the situations and characters around her. Everything about it will pull you in and make you feel like you're really living her life. Although at times it is heart breaking, it is suitable for children and adults of all ages. The ending is very fitting, even though it is somewhat bitter sweet. Please, do yourself a favour and buy this for yourself, your daughter, grand daughter, neice, cousin, sister... whatever. It is fantastic! ... Read more

Book Description

An author and artist who has continually stripped away the
mystique of architectural structures that have long fascinated
modern people, David Macaulay here reveals the methods and
materials used to design and construct a mosque in late-sixteenth-
century Turkey. Through the fictional story and Macaulay"s distinctive full-color illustrations, readers will learn not only how such monumental structures were built but also how they functioned in relation to the society they served.
As always, Macaulay has given a great deal of attention to the
relationship between pictures and text, creating another brilliant
celebration of an architectural wonder. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Macaulay tops himself
A very informative book about the building of a mosque in the Middle Ages that can be appreciated by anyone from teenagers on up (anyone younger might not get the full benefit of the text, unless they are intellectually gifted). Macaulay focuses on the architectural and social aspects surrounding these holy structures, so that even those with no knowledge of Islam can appreciate the significance that these buildings have in Muslim culture. Not only that, the author's drawing style has improved greatly from his books of the mid-70s, bringing more vividness to the subject and doing justice to the intricacies and beauty of the artwork within the mosque. As always with Macaulay's books, a treat for the eye and the mind.

Richie's Picks: MOSQUE
When I take such pleasure in reading about Paul Edward Logan's accomplished woodworking skills in THE LAND, when I become so attached to Alex and Morris Rose's old house and unique towers in THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE, and when I delight in telling middle school audiences about Duncan's toilet-stealing scene in ACCELERATION, it is within the context of those beloved childhood memories: Days breathing sawdust and trying to keep my hands warm through a gray autumn Saturday as I did a man's work on my dad's construction jobs and created something lasting.

Thus, I can imagine being one of Huseyin Bey's nine sons. Huseyin is hired to serve as the superintendent of building for the fictitious, late-1500s construction feat that is chronicled in David Macaulay's MOSQUE. To read David's dedication, "For my children and their children's children" is to get but an inkling of the temporal scale we must learn to think in when discussing the subject matter. This is a book which can quite handily serve as the front step for a comprehensive study of the Islamic religion, or of the Ottoman empire, or of what is going on today. And while the impeccable work of David Macaulay is no secret to any of us, this focus on the magnificent vision, the mathematical beauty, and detailed craftsmanship inherent in these structures sacred to a large part of the world, is a wonderful way to begin educating children (and their parents) about that which most of the West is so ignorant. (I am sad to say that as I read MOSQUE during half-time at a freshman basketball game yesterday, someone's parent leaned over and muttered, "Yeah, mosques, that's where they hide the weapons of mass destruction.")

Throughout the book we're treated to those illustrations for which David Macaulay is so well known and loved: from large overviews of the overall project as it rises from the ground, down to detailed views of creating stained glass windows, bricks, forged iron grilles, perfectly rounded arches, and the Muezzins' balcony.

The what?

Yes, that's another great thing about MOSQUE. We are provided with a whole series of new "languages," involving architecture and the Islamic culture. And not only do we see how the project is laid out so that the worshippers are facing Mecca when they pray, but we also get to see the balconies, the bakeries, the bathrooms and the bath house.

Not a picture book for little kids, MOSQUE is an entertaining and info-packed illustrated introduction to a world different from our own--temporally, geographically, and culturally--which we learn is not all so different as some would want us to think.

Yet Another Fine David Macaulay Book
* I'm something of a fan of David Macaulay -- author of THE WAY THINGS WORK,
CASTLE, CATHEDRAL, BUILDING BIG, and other books for adolescents -- who
always does a very neat job of describing how various constructions are put
together. (BUILDING BIG was also a PBS TV series, and showed that Mr.
Macaulay is also an articulate and enthusiastic lecturer.) Anyway, when I
ran across his latest work, MOSQUE, I had to pick it up and go through it.

MOSQUE details the construction of a mosque in Istambul at the end of the
16th century, when the Ottoman Empire was at its peak. The story of the
construction of this particular mosque was fictional, but the building's
design follows principles established by Sinan, the chief architect of the
Ottoman court for fifty years during the 16th century, and the details of
actual construction were carefully researched. No doubt Mr. Macauley did not
want to have to go through the extremely difficult job of trying to
authenticate the personnel and chronology of a specific construction project,
which would have greatly increased his effort without any real benefit to the
reader.

In any case, the story begins in 1595, when a wealthy and powerful Ottoman
admiral decided to create a charitable foundation to establish a mosque in
Istambul as his legacy. Actually, the admiral wanted to build more than just
a mosque; he wanted to establish a "kulliye", a complex of buildings centered
around the mosque but including a seminary (madrese), a bathhouse (hamam), a
soup kitched (imaret), a public fountain (cesme), and his tomb (turbe).

Construction began in the spring of 1596 on a burned out section of the city.
Planning details of the effort were pretty much what they are for a big
construction project today, involving estimating materials and costs, lining
up suppliers and subcontractors, and keeping work on a prearranged schedule.
Some of the considerations were surprisingly elaborate, such as ordering the
fabrication of stained-glass panels from Venice.

The buildings were constructed of stone and brick. The mosque itself was a
two-story stone box with a brick dome and a minaret, with the building laid
out so the faithful would face Mecca, and with a front courtyard with a
fountain for washing (a "sadirvan") before prayers. The other buildings were
single-floor structures, with a set of rooms, each with its own small brick
dome, ringing a courtyard. The complex was completed in 1600 and dedicated
in July of that year.

The admiral died soon after and was laid to rest in the turbe. However, his
favorite wife then funded the construction of two more buildings for the
kulliye: a combination office / shop and hotel building (han) and an
overnight lodge for caravans (caravanserai). They followed similar design
principles to the other buildings in the kulliye and were completed in 1602.

MOSQUE maintains the same standards of quality as Mr. Macaulay has set in
books like PYRAMID and CATHEDRAL, and in fact MOSQUE follows the exact same
format, with very tidy drawings of even small details of construction and Mr.
Macaulay's friendly, clear prose. Although targeted at adolescents, this
book meets the standard that any good book for young people should meet: a
adult can read it and find it perfectly entertaining and informative.
Recommended, if you can get into construction projects.

Good book... for adults
Macaulay draws as well as any architect, and his lengthy explanations of the architectural intricacies of a mosque's construction are clear. Unfortunately, it would be a rare child who would possibly interested in any such thing, and this verbose, detailed picture book is not likely to draw them in. His books are more popular with the New York Times set who thinks children's books ought to be aimed at adults. However, this book may prove useful for kids in the 4th grade and up who need to do a report on mosques.

Fascinating Fictional History
As the author has shown in numerous award-winning books-Cathedral, Pyramid and City, to name a few-his unique gift is the ability to show how monumental historical creations have been fabricated through wonderfully complex sequences of logical steps. This book fits neatly into that lineage, which could seem formulaic by now if each book were anything less than fascinating. Though the mosque, architect and patron in his story are all fictional, the book is set in Istanbul between 1540 and 1580, during the life-time of Sinan, the most renowned architect of the Ottoman Empire. The author remains faithful to that history, and imparts genuine awe at the resulting beauty. DD ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Katie is the Best
I retuned from London with this book for my 3-year-old neice. She is now 4 and can recite the book word-for-word. It's a wonderful way to get children interested in art!

Mischief in the museum
Katie and her grandmother head to the museum on a rainy day and when grandma sits down to rest, off Katie goes to explore quickly getting into trouble. The rest of this story tells of Katie's attempts to clean up the mess she makes when she attempts to gather sunflower seeds from a Van Gogh painting. Mayhew incorporates visits to multiple post-impressionist painters, including more Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne. My 4 1/2 year old son loves this story and others by Mayhew (Katie and the Impressionists, Katie and the Mona Lisa) I think in part because he can identify with how much trouble Katie causes! However, it all comes out ok in the end, which reassures him and he learns a considerable amount about art in the telling of the story...if not any lessons on museum etiquette! A delightful, engaging book for young kids with beautiful illustrations of post-impressionist masterpieces. This books gets frequently requested at bedtime by my son. I highly recommend it. If you're interested in other authors, my son also likes Laurence Anholt's books about Picasso and Leonardo da Vinci. We have also purchased The First Starry Night, by Joan Shaddox Isom, which is gorgeously illustrated, but for some reason he doesn't like that one as much as others...perhaps it's because Van Gogh leaves the little boy in the story in the end.

A Postimpressionist Experience.....
It's begun to rain, so Katie and her grandma can't finish working in the garden, and decide to go to the museum. As soon as they arrive, Grandma sits down for a little rest, so Katie scampers off to see what interesting and beautiful paintings she can find today. She likes Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh, the way the flowers look full of seeds, all dry and crunchy. Katie reaches into the picture to touch them and knocks over the vase, spilling the sunflowers all over the museum floor. Before she can clean up the mess, and put the flowers back into the painting, she hears giggles coming from the next frame, and that's when all the fun begins..... James Mayhew is back, and those who loved Katie And The Mona Lisa and Katie Meets The Impressionists, are in for another wonderful romp through the art museum, this time with the postimpressionists. Follow Katie as she meets and enlists the help of Breton Girls Dancing by Paul Gauguin, chases a dog into Vincent van Gogh's Cafe Terrace At Night, wreaks havoc with Paul Cezanne's Still Life With Apples And Oranges, and steps into Gauguin's Tahitian Pastorals to go wading at the beach. Mr Mayhew's simple and charming text is full of energy, humor, and fun, and complemented by his marvelously creative and engaging artwork. Little art lovers will enjoy all the silly antics in this charming chain-of-events story, as Katie works to finally set everything right again at the end. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Katie And The Sunflowers includes a short afterword detailing the postimpressionist period, and further information about each of the paintings in the story. This is a picture book that's sure to peak everyone's interest, and send you and your family to the nearest museum for an adventure of your own.

Another Museum Adventure with Katie!
If you enjoyed the other Katie adventure stories by James Mayhew, you will be happy to add this to your collection. Katie takes children on a trip to the Post-Impressionists' section of the neighborhood art museum. There she travels in and out of paintings by Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin. Everytime my niece sees these Mayhew books she wants to know when we are going back to our city's art museum. A recommended book for any library. ... Read more

Book Description

This imaginative board book features beautiful paintings by a renowned artist paired with playful, rhyming text. In A Picnic with Monet, Claude Monet's light-filled paintings take children on an enchanted picnic in the countryside. This board book is a fun introduction ot art and an imaginative adventure all rolled into one! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lovely, imaginative book
This book not only features Monet's beautiful paintings but the words are far above the quality usual found in children's books. It is enjoyable for adults as they share the artistic experience with their children. My eight month old baby loves it. It is one of her favorite books. I'm sure older children would appreciate it too. It's one of those books that parents won't mind reading again and again. ... Read more

Book Description

Grab your pencil.Pick up some paper.And get ready to tdraw the coolest, most action-packed Pokemon art ever.Catch step-by-step secret tips on drawing your favorite Pokemon, like Pikachu, Togepi, Chikorita, Meowth, Pichu, Houndour, Lugia, Cyndaquil, and more!Plus, draw bonus poses of Pokemon in action, and create your own battle scenes!You'll be a Pokemon drawing-Master in no time! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

They don't teach you anything!
I'm a big fan of pokemon and I really wanted to learn how to draw a Mew. This book doesn't teach you anything. They just show you a picture of Meowth and say draw it. They don't even give you the right steps. And you can only learn to draw about fifteen pokemon. Compare that to all the 386 other pokemon that people want to draw. Plus they don't show you how to draw Mew. ... Read more

Book Description

I See You, I See Myself, written for young adult readers, examines the early experiences and choices that led Jacob Lawrence to become an artist. In bold colors and precise language, the book describes how the break up of his parents, a period of foster care, reunification with his mother, brother, and sister in Harlem, and the influence of other adults in his community shaped the decisions Lawrence made about his art and his life. The hurdles that he faced -- moving, parent separation, and discrimination -- are ones that challenge many children today. I See You, I See Myself describes how the choices one makes in dealing with these challenges start to shape a personís life. It includes 65 color illustrations of Lawrenceís work, accompanied by photographs documenting his early experiences in the Harlem community.

Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1917. Moving from there to Easton, Pennsylvania, and finally to Harlem in 1930, his family was part of the Great Migration of African Americans who relocated to the North from the South. Raised among the ìNew Negroesî -- the emerging African American writers, artists, and poets who were a manifestation of the Harlem Renaissance -- Lawrence was one of the first artists trained in and by the African American community in Harlem. At Utopia Childrenís House, a community daycare center, Lawrence received his earliest art instruction from Charles Alston, then a graduate student at Columbia University Teachers College. Lawrence continued to study with Alston throughout the 1930s at the WPA Harlem Art Workshop and at Alstonís studio. He encountered notable artists, writers, and activists, such as Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, William Aaron Douglas, Orson Wells, Alain Locke, Addison Bates, and Augusta Savage, who had a profound effect on his development as an artist. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

I love it!
The text in the book is very sweet. However, the best part about this book are the pictures. They are very vibrant and extremely beautiful. I read it to my class and they really enjoyed it. ... Read more

Book Description

Ten full-color images depict maritime marauders wielding sword, pirate with his parrot, skull-and-crossbones flag, pirate vessel, more. Instructions.
... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

A Believe It Or Not book for the musically inclined
Most eccentrics do not become famous and most talented souls remain undiscovered. In "Lives of the Musicians", however, eccentrics with talent not only were discovered, but lauded long past their own lifetimes. Author Kathleen Krull has partnered with illustrator Kathryn Hewitt to create the world's first interesting children's collection of biographical information concerning some of the best composers ever to breathe.

The book spans the field of music from Verdi to Woody Guthrie. Each entry (there are sixteen in total) contains one picture and one description of the artist's life. These descriptions, as described by the author herself, "are offered now as a way of getting closer to the musicians - and the music". Every quirk and interesting tidbit is laid before the reader in the most wonderfully entrancing ways. Did you know that Bach once got into a knife fight in the streets? Or that Sir William Gilbert owned a bee named Buzfuz? It might be interesting to collect such fun but otherwise meaningless tidbits about composers' sometimes sordid lives, but Krull goes a step further. Facts included in each life explore the necessary details of their birth and death dates, how they were introduced to music, their lives, etc. Each section is also followed by information about their best-known works. What I liked about this book, however, was that the author did not choose to linger over their individual creations. A kid reading this book is not going to want to hear a long drawn out account of exactly why Chopin chose to write his Funeral March the way he did. You can find this information in a standard biography of Chopin's works. No, this is a book gives children the chance to acknowledge that all those hoity-toity names they've been forced to digest in elementary school music classes actually had interesting and sometimes wacky lives. Plus, the author is kind enough to include a section of musical terms, an index of composers, and a list meant, "For Further Reading ... And Listening", for those kids who wish to know more about these fascinating heroes of music.

Krull's method of writing is particularly adept when conveying irony. In her section devoted to Erik Satie (a perfect choice for this book, if ever there was one) she describes the composer's reaction to his own poverty.

"He once remarked, 'It's odd. You find people in every bar willing to offer you a drink. No one ever dreams of presenting you with a sandwich'".

The next line then states off-handedly, "He died of cirrhosis of the liver at age fifty-nine". Kids may not get the joke, but I for one whole-heartedly approve of the author's choice to mention that fact after such a statement.

Because the book only contains sixteen composers, you can't help but wonder what the author's method of selection was. These composers certainly define the canon of Western music, with two women, an African-American, and a man of Jewish decent serving to bring a little diversity to the list. But why include Charles Ives and not Claude Debussy? Why Stravinsky and not Wagner? The only reasons I can find for some choices would be because some composers lived far more interesting lives than others. Certainly the range of oddities Krull has collected is fascinating.

This book is probably best for slightly older children. Krull is an honest biographer and does not skirt around the fact that Chopin and George Sand never married, or that Tchaikovsky was undoubtedly a homosexual. She does not fudge facts to make them more interesting or record hearsay and rumor (though she is prone to mentioning "legends", like that concerning Beethoven's death). All in all, you will not find a better or more entrancing way of introducing kids to the classical composers. And for those of you that wouldn't be able to tell Prokofiev from Stravinsky if you bumped into him in the street, let me recommend that you take a gander at this puppy as well. It's a heck of a lot of fun, and a hoot to boot.

I Loved This Book.....
I loved this book because it made those musicians seem like real people instead of great-all-star-super-geniuses. It is full of strange little facts about all the famous musicians like Bach,Gershwin,Beethoven and Schmann.

---Megan W.

Lives of the Musicians
This book provides interesting insight into the lives of composers. I teach music to elementary and high school students and I read this book to all of my students. They all enjoy learning the details of the composers lives. The book presents the composers in such a way that the students remember the information about the composers. The book does not provide information about what the composers' music sounds like, and that is something I also like to teach. A great book to gain kids'interest in famous composers.

Lives of the Musicians--Good Times, Bad Times, and What the
I first read lives of the musicians when I was about 7 yearsold or so. Then, I thought it was terrific. I still do. However, I amnow 12 years old, and now that I have paid more attention to it, I see several faults, but overall it is still a very good book. First of all, their choice of musicians is not the best. I would have recommended Debussy and Schubert, like the Kirkus Reviewer. Some of the composers I have hardly ever heard of, like Igor Stravinsky or Nadia Boulanger. And while Clara Schumann was a great pianist, I think they should have focused more on her husband, Robert, a prolific composer, whose works are among the very best. Also, some of the parts of the biographies are questionable. Frederic Chopin may not have actually been romantically involved with Aurore Dudevant (George Sand), but in love with the Countess Delphine Potocka. The book states that the Waltz in D-Flat, or Minute Waltz, was written for George Sand's dog, when in fact it was probably written for Potocka. However, the book was still very well written, and I enjoyed it, despite the possible mistakes. I recommend this book to anyone who likes music, classical or not. So sit back and enjoy!

Lives of the Musicians-Good Times, Bad Times, and What the N
My granddaughter, age 9, said this: "I enjoyed this book so much that I checked it out of my school library 5 times. I am in ballet, and Tchaikovsky wrote our recital music. We are doing "Sleeping Beauty". I enjoyed reading about his life. Then I got to read about the other ones, too, and found them very interesting. I thought that Kathleen Krull described their lives as if each composer was telling about himself/herself. The illustrations told me alot about what their personalities were like. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys music." ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

In See the Circus young readers are quizzed in verse on characters and events at the circus ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Take your child to the circus and never leave the couch!
I love ALL of these H.A. Rey "Lift the Flap" books. They are just well done and appealing. His art work is so innocent and perfect for children, a rare thing in this modern world of distorted, cartoon caricature-type art so prevalent in children's books today. I have 3 children, ages 19, 10, and 4 and ALL of them loved these books at certain times in their childhoods. In this one, it is very colorful and varied in its pictures of what you would see at the circus. It is one of our favorites in this series. I have never given this book to a child and not seen the child enthralled by it and going through it again and again, opening the flaps each time. If you are looking for a sure-fire hit for a small child (2-6 or so) then get this book. They can enjoy it themselves, and even if it becomes a favorite that mom and dad have to read over and over and over....(it's happened to me lots of times!), Mom and Dad will love it too, because it is not too long to get tired of. It is a very good price, and while a paperback, I find it sturdy. Our first set was bought 14 yrs. ago or so, and just now we had to replace them. These new ones are made of much sturdier paper. I guarantee you will like this book! And your child will too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"One day many years ago, as I was looking through a microscope at atropical moth, to my surprise I noticed a tiny, perfect letter Fhidden on the wing. I was astounded and wondered if I could find other letters. Perhaps I could even find the entire alphabet in the wings of butterflies and moths! I decided that I was going to be the first to try."

So wrote Kjell B. Sandved in his introduction to The Butterfly Alphabet. Little did he know that it would take him more than 25 years, with visits to more than 30 countries, to discover and photograph all the letters of the alphabet in butterfly wings. This glorious book is the fruit of his labors. On each spread, you'll find a picture of the whole butterfly or moth and its common name, with a full-page, full-color close-up on theadjacent pageof the letter on the creature's tiny wing scales. A gentle poem accompanies the flight from A to Z as well: "On wingsaloft acrossthe skies-- / An alphabet of butterflies. / Each butterfly in secret brings / A letter hidden in its wings." A few butterfly basics and a glossary of the species featured in the book close this fascinating, loving, photographic ode to the order Lepidoptera. (Ages 4 to 104) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Much more than an alphabet book; truly for butterfly lovers
I first thought this book was an alphabet book for young children, such as to help teach them the alphabet. This is more like a book that would be kept on a coffee table by an adult that adores butterflies. I still love it despite my misconception!

This is an amazing work. The author is actually a nature photographer who accidentially noticed that some patterns on butterfly's wings are shaped like letters of the English alphabet while looking at the wings under a microscope. He then took very close photographs of the "letters". He then went around the world hoping to find each of the 26 letters in our alphabet; this journey took 25 years. Now that is a labor of love!

The end result is this: on the left side of the page is a full color photo of the entire butterfly. One sentence describing butterflies with one of the words beginning with that letter of the alphabet is written in very poetic language that would be most appreciated by adults or anyone who enjoys poetry. Note that the featured letter is written in capital only and in script style so this is of no use to preschoolers who need to see both capital and lower case letters in PRINT. The name of the butterfly is then given. On the right side of the page is a huge photograph of the close up that shows the pattern on the wings that looks just like the featured letter of the alphabet.

Incredible! Interesting!

This would be of interest to anyone who is interested in butterflies. Possibly a good tool to show when introducing microscopes and what they can reveal and also when teaching about butterflies and science/nature.

Butterflies!
This is a beautiful work for anyone who loves butterflies. I often pick it up and browse its pages, admiring the beauty in nature. It can be read and reread numerous times. The photographs are wonderful, and the idea is ingenious! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

More than a kids' "busybook"
The craft instructions in this book are indeed easy, fun, cheap to do (etc) for kids. But the best part was the discussion in the back of the book on appropriate levels of creative projects for kids of different ages. It clearly outlined what attention span and dexterity level you should expect from kids of different ages. And it had useful advice for adults on how to make the project fun for kids; not just push the child to produce an "aesthetically ideal" finished project. That unanticipated inclusion in the book made it really stand out for me.

A wonderful anthology of craft ideas for kids of all ages!
Kids Create! is an excellent collection that uses various mediums and can apply to children with varied artistic ability. I am a 6th grade art teacher, and I purchased the book after borrowing it from the library. There are too many wonderful ideas to let it slip away! My students especially love Carlson's collection of sculpting projects.

Simple crafts - using readily available supplies
Very useful book for those responsible for keeping young children interested and involved with handicaft projects. Supplies are readily alvailable and at nominal cost. Instructons are clear and uncomplicated. ... Read more

Book Description

Trouble is brewing at the Varmint Theater! Before he knows it,watchmaker mouse Hermux Tantamoq finds himself not only hired to track down amysterious blackmailer, but roped into designing the set for an upcoming show.Hermux is on the case--and busy backstage--but as he enters the chaotic world ofthe theater he's lost in a whirlwind of distractions: an accidental foray into"reality theater," film director Brinx Lotelle's shameless interest in Hermux'sfriend Linka, beauty queen Tucka Mertslin's latest shenanigans, mysteriousnewcomer Corpius Crounce, and a very strange parrot.

When Hermux receives a threatening message, he realizes it's up to him to savethe day, save the theater, protect his new friends and get the girl--a lot forone mouse to handle, even with a surprisingly talented pet ladybug in tow!

Rich descriptions and snappy, witty dialogue bring Pinchester to life in thishighly-anticipated third installment of Hermux's adventures. ... Read more