Book Description

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

Reviews (1)

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

Book Description

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

Reviews (20)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

With their engaging stories and clever illustrations, the Bob Books have ushered millions of kids into the world of reading. This relaunch of the popular series features a handy new chart on the back of each box that enables parents and educators to easily identify which set is best suited for their child's reading capabilities. Each set is color coded to indicate reading level and each story is carefully crafted to help children at different learning stages master essential reading skills. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonderful!
My daughter is 5, and we have been reading Bob Books for about a year now. We started with the most basic set and have worked to the more difficult books. They are simple enough that she has gained tremendous confidence in her reading skills. She never gets frustrated and wants to quit. Her reading skills have far surpassed her age, and I feel that these books are part of the reason. I would highly recommend them for anyone with beginning readers! I can't say enough good things about them!

GOOD PROGRESSIVE LEARNING TOOL
WE LIKE THE WAY THE BOB BOOKS GRADUALLY GET MORE DIFFICULT - IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS.

Five WOWS for Bob!
This series continues the fantastic reading series Bob Books. I use these little books in my first grade class room and also had them available for my own child when he was a beginner reader. Your children will adore these little books---simple, accessible, enjoyable. Children gravitate toward little books which the author intuitively used as her masterstroke in marketing these charming books. I love them! Kids love them! Get them all! And write and draw your own! Five WOWS!

Bob Books Wow!
These are great! Both my kids love reading them. ... Read more

Book Description

It's as easy as waving bye-bye!

Babies have a lot to say, even before they can actually speak. Baby Signs are simple gestures that allow babies and toddlers to communicate what they see, what they need, and even how they feel. Research has shown that Baby Signs decrease frustration and tantrums and help your baby talk sooner.

When to begin: When your child starts to wave bye-bye.

How to do it: Show your baby the sign and point to the picture. Always say the word as you make the sign.

Improvise: Make up your own signs -- your baby probably will too!

Reviews (9)

Love it!
I realize that the signs aren't true ASL signs, but I find them easy to remember, and if my daughter wants to learn ASL later in life, I don't think learning some "wrong" signs will hinder her. In fact, many times the easiest way to teach them a sign is to assign a meaning to a gesture they already make.

Anyway, my daughter loves the book. It took awhile for her to start signing... the first one she did was "dog" (pant, or go woof woof... she says "a da!" but da can mean any number of things). Then we visited a friend with a bird, and I did the flap arms sign again, and something within her CLICKED. She flapped her arms whenever she wanted to see the birds.

The next day, she was doing the sign for "cat" and "fish". We watched Baby Einstein "Neighborhood Animals" video (the only one of the series that she shows any interest in), and when she saw a duck she went "quack quack" (sounds like guk guk guk) and started flapping her arms. She saw a bug that was flying and started flapping her arms as well.

If she sees a picture of a fish, she starts smacking her lips. I showed her the "one fish, two fish" book and asked if she wanted to read it and she smacked her lips for "fish".

We also use the back page as a "quiz" page, and I ask if she sees a dog (for example) and she'll point to the dog.

Granted the book doesn't have signs for eat, drink, etc... but using this book as a foundation to teach the baby that he/she can assign a sign to objects and animals, it's easy to build on from there.

Looks simple, but results are outstanding
My husband and I have been working on signs with our 14 month old son for about 10 months now. I'm not sure why (maybe the pictures in the book help him visualize another baby making the sign), but after purchasing this book and working on the signs in the book with him, he is picking it up so quickly. Within 2 days, he learned 4 new signs.

I think that the book offers children learning signs another perspective besides mom & dad making a sign. I want to get some of the other baby signs books by this author to supplement what we have gotten from this book. Even though some of the words aren't those that are 'essential' (like thirsty, hungry, eat, milk, etc.) the book does help your baby and you begin to communicate in this way.

A good guide
ASL should be presented in true fashion to the children. Five of the pictures shown are not true ASL.

Another expensive (baby) book
This book was not at all what I expected. It's simply an overpriced baby book. I thought this would help me to teach my son how to better communicate, well the words used in this book are so simple--I didn't need to spend the money to teach him what he already knows.

Nice, sturdy, attractive, useful!
What a nice addition to the Baby Signs collection ... a sturdy board book full of bright and attractive pictures of happily signing babies. Each sign has depictions of the object in question - for example, "hat" features babies wearing a variety of hats - and the opposite page has a baby making the sign with a note telling the parent what action is required - "pat head".

This is a very good way to get your little one more interested in signing. Babies generally love faces and this book is full of them, and it also presents an opportunity to learn more signs. Recommended for your little signer's library. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (6)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

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




... Read more

Reviews (9)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

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

Reviews (2)

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (5)

Very disappointing
The story is REALLY silly.
Moreover, throughout the book the value given to Pi
is WRONG (it is stated to be 22/7, and only at the very end is it casually mentioned to be an approximation).
This book is a perfect example of how NOT to attract kids to Math.

Good Intro to Pi
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi is the story of a boy that must use math to save his father. Most of the character's names are terms found in math, like Sir Cumference and Radius, which cleverly adds to the effect of the story. The use of a dragon gives the story more of a fantasy feel which appeals to the younger audience. The illustrations in the book are done well and add to the medieval setting of the book because they look like oil paintings. The goal of this book is to introduce kids to the concept of pi in a fun and easy to understand way. It pulls this off by having a fairy tale setting and actually having a reason to use pi that kids can understand. This book is not a quick read, yet it's not long enough to lose the attention of a child. Even though this is a children's book, it should only be used for older children since it involves division with fractions. Because of this, it works as a great educational tool for those older children by introducing them to a fundamental math term they will most likely use later in life.

Excellent Conceptual Intro
The Dragon of Pi is an excellent conceptual introduction to Pi, a concept not even clear to most adults, for children. The ideas are clear and playfully woven into the plot. Using the globally favorite dragon as a character, this book is animated, informative, and an effective educational tool.

Silly motivation of pi
Of all the reasons to be interested in pi, surely curing your father's belly ache is the least inspired. This book is about politics not mathematics.

Nice idea, but ...
A young boy gives his father the wrong potion to cure a bellyache, and must solve the riddle of the ratio of a circle's circumference to it's diameter to get the dosage to cure him. I enjoyed the fun names (Geo and Sym, the Metry brothers), but I was disappointed in the author's choice to use 22/7 as the value for pi. If the story hadn't made such a big point of getting the dose correct (or Dad would never be cured), I wouldn't have had any trouble with introducing an approximate value. ... Read more

Book Description

A cranky baby says..."Waah-waah!"

A cuddly baby says..."Ma-ma!"

Karen Katz's distinctive illustrations bring baby's words to life! Lift the flaps in this sturdy board book to see what a hungry baby, a happy baby, and more say! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Hands on Book for the Creative Minded
I just used this book to teach my daughter (8) and son (5) the same exact lesson on two different cognitive levels. Late last night, I sat down with a paint program and drew two diagrams just like Mrs. Comfort's. I folded and cut a piece of paper into eight squares of approximately the same size. I used multicolored paper clips as chairs. Tonight, we had so much fun that we spent almost five minutes per page, counting guests as they arrived, counting chairs as they dissapeared and reappeared from around the table perimeters and following the detailed chaos as garlic bread, salads, vases and pasta flew around the room. I have one question. Did Mrs. Comfort get the last meatball?

Variable Perimeters and Fun, Practical Problem-Solving
Ah! If spatial relations had been taught like this when we were all young, everyone would be fluent mathematically.

Instead of all those problems about two trains rushing towards one another, this book takes a practial problem and uses it to illuminate spatial problem-solving.

Mr. and Mrs. Comfort decide to invite their family and neighbors over for dinner. Pretty soon, 30 people have accepted so they will be feeding 32, including themselves. In a role reversal from the sexual stereotypes, Mr. Comfort is the cook and impractical one while Mrs. Comfort is the left-brained problem solver. She knows what needs to be done, but everyone else has to work it out for themselves by moving the furniture around.

Mrs. Comfort figures out that they don't have enough tables and chairs for this many people. So she rents some. She correctly figures out that 8 tables seating four people each will do the trick (8 times 4). She rents 8 tables and 32 chairs (but they deliver only 31, and she has to find an extra folding chair).

All is well, until the guests start to arrive. They don't want to sit at separate tables. They want to eat at one big table so they can be closer to everyone else.

That creates a problem. Each time two tables for four are put together, two places are lost (you now have only two ends, while you had four before with separate tables). That's not immediately obvious to the guests, because most of the chairs and tables are unused in the beginning and they don't know how many people are coming.

Mrs. Comfort tries to warn everyone that it won't work, but they ignore her. She finally gives up.

When most of the people arrive, there are not enough places for them at the table (even though there are enough chairs), so they begin pulling the tables apart from one another.

Sure enough, in the end, the guests are seated at 8 separate tables for four. Isn't logic wonderful?

Mrs. Comfort could have ordered more tables and had everyone sit closer to one other. But she wanted to save money. That makes sense, doesn't it?

There is an adult's guide in the end for how to work with your child to make this a problem that she or he can work on. The suggestion is to make 8 little cut-out squares, and to move them into different configurations to handle the various numbers of guests. From this, the child can see that the perimeter varies for the same area, depending on how the area is configured. That lesson will never need to be taught again.

You can also use some of the cooking quantities in here to do math as well. Assuming the children eat so much, and the adults so much, how much will be left over of the meat balls?

Having seen how such a problem can be constructed, I suggest that you develop your own story puzzles. I can guarantee that your child will remember you as a cross between Einstein and Diderot if you do. Here's a hint: How would you go about planning a trip for your family if you were going to have to use frequent flyer miles and the number of miles you had to use varied with when you flew? You can complicate that one for older children by introducing variables like the cost of hotel room nights and car rental days, and having a fixed number of frequent flyer miles to work with in order to find the solution that optimizes the trip and its cost.

But I'm sure you will have even better ideas!

Math teachers: This book will bring the gladness back into your heart, as well as create dedicated, happy students. Do yourself and your students a favor and use this book as a teaching aid.

Think carefully about the periphery to get to the heart of the matter!

My students thought it was "awesome"
I used it in my 4th grade classroom as the basis of a formal observation by my prinical. The kids were enthralled by the book and activities I made using this book to reinforce ideas about area and perimeter. Just as important, my principal liked it too!

Great for introducing perimeter and area!
This book is an excellent tool for introducing perimeter and area to an elementary school class. The story is engaging and funny. The children can easily move colored tiles to imitate the movement of the tables in the story. ... Read more

Book Description

Violet, a very curious young mouse, invites babies and toddlers into her home to explore, room by room, her favorite things. Delightfully written rhythmic verse and engaging illustrations lead children to discover the feel of objects that surround them in their everyday world. From touching Violet's fluffy poodle to joining her as she puts sticky toothpaste on her brush, children will want to visit Violet's House time and time again. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful wonderful book!
We purchased this for our 15 month old daughter for Christmas and she absolutely loves it! She's already a big fan of the touch and feel books (usually the DK line) but this was even nicer than the previous ones we own. Each page (well, two pages) features a room of Violet's house with three or four different items to touch and feel. As well, it provides tons of different textures--from a kitchen sponge (really a sponge) to a furry teddy bear to sticky finger paints and even a mint-smelling toothpaste! I've been a little disappointed lately with the touch and feel books we own as they all seem to have the same couple of textures in different colors (some even have the same texture repeated in a 5 page book). The text is nice as well, simple rhymes encouraging the child to find the different items to touch and feel.

Overall, we are quite happy with the purchase. While the size of the DK books is easier for our daughter to hold on her own, the content of this book more than made up for the larger size. We chose to take it on our vacation with us and it kept her amused on the plane for quite a long time. We are fans of the Baby Einstein products already and this book was no exception. ... Read more

Book Description

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

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

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

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

Reviews (9)

Great for little hands
My son loves this book! (And the Dogs one too.) He is one year old and he can easily turn the pages. There are other board books that are the same size, but the pages are too thick for him to turn the pages by himself very well. He likes to carry it around with him. When he's not bringing it to me to read to him, I often find him sitting there looking at it by himself. Love the pictures! And it's an easy book to throw into a diaper bag or a purse for those down times outside of the house!

Adorable
I bought this book just so I would qualify for Super Saver Shipping. When it arrived, I flipped through the pages. The book is so cute and I love the pictures and drawings of the babies, they are adorable.

Oh, yeah, my God-son (9 months old) likes it, too. :c)

Great Book, Not Very Sturdy
My son liked this book and the Dogs book as a baby. We still read it to him, but now that he's a year old it isn't all that exciting. One note, it doesn't hold up well for those little ones who like to occasionally "taste" their books. I was dissappointed that it started falling apart right away...unlike other board books we have which are much sturdier.

Still a favorite
We have had this book for over a year and it is still one of my 20 month old daughter's favorites. We read it frequently and from the look of it you can see it is well loved. The babies are fun to look at and the words are appropriate for very young infants and toddlers that have short attention spans. I would say this book is a must for anyone with an infant just learning to listen to stories. It will stay around for a long time.

My Daughter's Favorite
This is clearly one of my daughter's favorite books, and has been for some time. The book is small (great for little hands) and the pages are easy to turn. She is fascinated by the variety of pictures of different babies. Our copy is well-worn and quite dog-eared, but has been quite durable given the heavy use.

I would heartily recommend this book, and others in the series, for any baby in the six to 18 month range. Younger babies will like the photos, and older babies will enjoy a book they can "read" on their own. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

Let's get one thing straight right off the bat. Children lovebooks with flaps. They can't get enough of them. And this book has many, many flaps--over 60, in fact. Something else: children are crazy about Thomas the tank engine. Translation? Very young readers will happily spend a lot of time lifting and learning with this big, bright, colorful board book. Early learning concepts are reinforced on each page, as readers are encouraged to explore their knowledge of colors, numbers, sizes, everyday objects, and the alphabet. Thomas the tank engine travels through the pages, starting out early in the morning in the train shed and moving through the stations, dropping off parcels and passengers, and finally ending up in the freight yard with car after car full of important objects to be delivered, such as milk, doors, a piano, a kangaroo, and xylophones. Children should be allowed to roam freely over the pages of this book, making up their own stories related to the pictures they discover under the flaps. (Ages 2 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (13)

...
This is a flap book, 60 of them to be exact.

The popular Thomas the Tank Engine format is used to introduce children to the alphabet and their numbers. Each covers a flap that children can uncover and find a corresponding example. Other pages host more traditional flap objects (items that fit with the story), but the learning flaps have helped...associate letters with appropriate objects and recognize number representation with appropriate groupings.

The book is sturdy, which can't be said for all flap books. The typical Thomas story is here, as well as the colorful art that delights young readers.

This book is a winner. Watch them learn while they enjoy.

flaps, flaps, and more flaps!
Pages with only one flap on them? Why waste the space? This book has flaps upon flaps upon flaps, so many that sometimes my two-year-old will reach for another one I've missed as I'm starting to turn the page. The last page alone is several minutes worth of flap-flipping fun. Even if your child isn't a huge Thomas fan, this is a fun book with lots of hidden things to find on each page. What's underneath will help teach colors and numbers and letters. And if they like Thomas, than they'll love this book. There's a logical progression from page to page if no actual story, but the fun in this one isn't reading out loud, it's finding flaps, lifting flaps, trying to remember what's under flaps. Highly recommended.

Great book for all train fans!
We bought this book for our then two-year-old and it is still his favorite of all his books. The flaps are not as sturdy as they could be, he's torn a few and the Elmer's glue thing has been initiated, but all-in-all, it's a fabulous book and teaches counting, the alphabet, objects, shapes, etc. It's just such a cute book and is without all the negative things that the regular Thomas books has (i.e. name calling, put downs, etc.). This really isn't a Thomas book per se, but more of a basic let's go to the train yard and see what's going on type of book. I highly recommend it for the train lover in your family. It's one of the nicest books we own.

Not Enough Thomas!
This is a very nice book, and my son absolutely loves the first page which shows the roundhouse and each character engine behind a flap. However, we have one complaint: there isn't enough Thomas! Some of the pages seem very disconnected from the Thomas theme. For example: the page showing the inside of Sir Topham Hat's house. I think we own just about every Thomas video on the market and I cannot recall ever seeing Sir Hat's house. My son does not make the connection, and tends to lose interest in the book about halfway through. However, he can spend 1/2 hour on the first page alone, so I guess that makes up for it.

Lots of flaps = Lots of fun
My husband bought this for our son when he was 19 mos or so. He is going to turn 2 soon and he still loves that book. He loves to look under the flaps, and has actually learned a lot from it. He never knew what a kangaroo was until he got this book. I was amazed at his ability to recall what flap the kangaroo was under! It's a bright, colorful book that any toddler will enjoy, especially if they are Thomas fans.

The only downside I would say about this book is that some of the flaps are not as strong as others. My toddler has ripped off a few of them, but mostly because he is so enthusiastic about the book! ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (6)

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

Parents and kids looking for a break from the ordinary will appreciate this imaginative collection of stories and songs from quirk-rock kings They Might Be Giants. Fresh on the heels of their highly successful children's record No!, Bed, Bed, Bed features four brief stories written by the Giants and illustrated with surreal panache by Marcel Dzama along with a CD featuring all four stories in song version. "Impossible" explores the possibility of turning into fantastical animals like Octofish and Octofee or growing violet hair that flows down the stairs. Kids will find the silly animals and warped reality delightful and will love singer John Linnell's spacey conspiratorial tone. "Happy Doesn’t Have to Have an Ending" tells the story of a hippie kitten "on a secret mission to make a valentine for everyone on earth," who wants everyone to dance and be happy. "Idlewild" slows things down with a softer, sleepier beat and a story about a dreamy trip to the carnival. But the Giants save the best story for last; "Bed Bed Bed Bed Bed" is a well-reasoned and catchy argument for slumber. "I did so many things today, there’s nothing left to do", sings guest vocalist Kimya Dawson (in a slower, different version than the one on "No!"). While the story features familiar bedtime milestones, Dzama’s illustrations lend the proceedings a compellingly skewed vision in which kids eat three meals in the company of bears and go to bed accompanied by their pet octopus and a tuxedoed rabbit. While the lyrics flow nicely in the songs, they can sometimes be a bit clunky on the page. But even then, the stories and Dzama’s illustrations are more imaginative and memorable than most children’s books today. --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (18)

CRUCIAL element of my 2-year-old's bedtime routine
Here's the routine: jammies, brush and floss, Bed Bed Bed, lights out. Every night, like clockwork. In fact, the only way I can get her to stop fooling around with the toothbrush is to say, "Let's go listen to Bed, Bed, Bed!" And she hops down from her stool and runs on tiptoes to her room shouting "BED BED BED BED BED BED BED BED BED BED BED BED BED!" When I start the CD, she alternates between studying the pictures in the book very carefully and dancing wildly. She calms down a bit at Idylwild (her favorite song?), and at the end of the fourth song she says "Night night time" and curls up with her pillow and doll. THAT'S IT! Is that amazing or what! Yeah, I'm a TMBG fan, but this CD/book isn't about me and my interest in TMBG, it's not about being a great work of art, it's about the MIRACLE of getting my daughter to go to bed without a fuss.

A must for TMBG fans, not sure kids will like it
I love They Might Be Giants. I love love love them. I've been listening to their music for more than 15 years, and it's been very exciting to hear their music evolve over that time.

Their foray into the world of children's entertainment has been exciting for me, since I'm a children's-book junkie. But while I think the "No!" family CD hits the mark, the Johns' "children's book," "Bed Bed Bed" is a bit off.

The design and illustrations are beautiful, of course. TMBG is known for their cutting-edge taste in designers almost as much as for their music, and so the design and illustrations of the book are bound to catch a child's attention and hold it for a bit.

The text of the book, however, is just song lyrics, and I'm of the opinion that song lyrics generally don't make good reading -- without the music, at least half (if not more) of the experience is missing. And TMBG lyrics are so typically strange, you really do need the music to complete the context.

Of course, the book was meant to be read along with the enclosed four-song CD, and I do think the book is rather pointless without the CD. I take issue, however, with the recasting of the book's title song as a "lullaby." This plodding, tuneless version of the song would put anybody to sleep, in the hope of getting away from Kimya Dawson's monotonous voice. They may have done better to kick off the book and CD with the march-like, sound-effects studded version of "Bed Bed Bed" as it's featured on the "No!" album, and saved the floating, lovely "Idlewild" for the closing lullaby.

Last week I attended one of TMBG's "family concerts," and it was pretty clear that the "No!" album is building a very young sector in the TMBG listening audience. There's a lot to love about the "No!" disc, with its upbeat songs and fun animations. The "Bed Bed Bed" book and CD, while a beautiful package, is less accessible. I do hope the Johns will give children's publishing another shot!

Love it, oh . . . and my daughter likes it too.
Many of us Giants fans are now introducing John's and John's genius to our children. Their new crop of kid friendly products is just what we need to bring our progeny into the fold. The CD has some "kiddy" versions of NO songs and some other ditties, all good. My daughter loves the book! It delivers as a bed time read. Just weird enough, just hypnotizing enough.

My TMBG kid...
My 3 1/2 year old son LOVES this book and cd! We listen to the cd while following along with the book at least twice every night. And being a huge TMBG fan myself, I will never get tired of it. My son was initiated into the world of TMBG with "No!" so we HAD to have Bed Bed Bed when it came out. Thank you Johns!!!!!

Is It A Good Bedtime Tool For Kids?
YES, ANOTHER THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS FAN AM I who bought this 48 page book, accompanied by a 4-song CD, intended for children; however, it's just as hot in hands of adults who appreciate the cleverness, vitality, and care that this band has been producing for over twenty years.

Therefore, it's not a question of whether or not this 5-star TMBG project will please us fans. It boils down to "Is it truly a good bedtime tool?" to help your children into slumber. As a kids' book, I give it 4 stars.

We'll see what you think.

First of all, based on the disappointment I felt upon receiving this package in the mail, I would disagree that it's a book of stories. I'd been lead to believe that it was. BED, BED, BED contains no stories, no more than you'd find in any song. It's a hardbound collection of read-along lyrics set to Marcel Ozama's energized artwork. Still, once the disappointment faded--and it faded fast--I saw the light. This is a wonderful product.

But let's keep things in perspective. The "Note for You" on page 1 tells us, "We have sequenced the stories to help parents and kids find their way to slumberland." In my opinion (maybe I'm wrong), the songs should have been organized in descending order, bouncy-fun to mellow-drowsy

The second song, "Happy Doesn't Have to Have and Ending," is slightly more rockin' than the first song, "Impossible." Their order is not conducive to the gradual fading into sleep we were promised. The last couple of songs are debatable. I feel the CD could have ended with the song "Idlewild," musically, instead of "Bed, Bed, Bed, Bed, Bed." B.B.B.B.B. calls too much attention to the lyrics. Lyrically, however, if this weren't about inducing sleep, I'd have kept the order as presented.

I realize this matter of order is up to the listener. I just thought I should let you know.

The songs themselves are typical of They Might Be Giants. One or two will get your rhythm meter swinging right away, and, after you've listened to the whole CD, you'll find that you love all four songs. The messages, as I translate them, are child-friendly:

1. Don't worry about the limits others place on you. You can grow up to be anyone you imagine yourself to be.
2. The secret to life just might be to make room for fun and happiness.
3. Take a trip into fantasy.
4. Look at everything you did today! You've had a productive twenty-four hourse. The only thing left is to go to bed, the importance of which should not be overlooked.

The neat thing about They Might Be Giants is that their studio albums appeal to children as well as adults. It's no wonder they aimed two CD's exclusively at children. In both BED, BED, BED and their successful kids' album NO!, however, I sometimes felt that the songs weren't perfectly suited for the very young. Again, maybe I'm wrong. I'm not an educator.

In BED, BED, BED, for instance, particularly in the song "Happy Doesn't Have to Have an Ending," words are used that might not fit into your child's repertoire. The word "Gavotte" is used, as well as "moderately." Children aren't idiots, of course, but these words could soar over their heads. (In the Giant's defense, they define "Gavotte" using apt lyrics.)

Also, the phrase "long-haired hippie kitten" is questionable, the "hippie" part. I'm not about to say it's wrong, but it does isolate a passé social class. I feel we should avoid using such terms when providing our children with entertainment. In a sick world, it could become a short journey from "hippie" to "Mexican" to "ni**er."

Despite that, "hippie" is a mostly harmless word, I know. I'm just saying we should avoid terms that come ready-replete with (possible) negative connotations. I'm not normally a crusader against labels. But we're talking about a children's album here.

I've nothing else "bad" to say about this product. Man, I had to listen to it four times in a row. HAD TO. As an adult, I loved it. The message of the song "Possibly" made me misty--which I tend to get over perfectly realized messages of good will. The kitten in the "Happy" song also had an emotional effect on me. . .though, I might point out, he's referred to as a long-haired kitten, and the pictures paint him in short brown fur.

Okay, I lied. So there's a couple more things to say that are not so positive: 1) the short-hair/long-hair issue that I just mentioned and 2) pages 31 to 40.

In pages 31-40 we receive a string of short lyrics, one line per page. This is supposed to be a read-along book, right? I found that I had to turn pages pretty darn fast in order to keep up with the CD. Frantic page-turning during the last song will surely jostle your child from his or her near slumber.

There. No more bad stuff. I, an eternal Giants fan, have tried to review this book without bias. Ah, but, in the end, counting pros and cons won't render a just verdict. BED, BED, BED is a wonderful purchase. You're kids are going to love it.

I dare you to feel differently. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's nothing like spending an afternoon building towers and bridges with blocks. On the other hand, curling up with a good book is nothing to sneeze at, either. So how about... building towers with board-book blocks! This splendid box o' blocks is filled with 26 chunky little board books (what a great idea!), one for each letter of the alphabet. Each spread of the five-page minibooks displays a word ("alligator," "ball," "car") with its corresponding tiny, adorable picture. Stacked on top of one another, these alphabetical "bricks" (just the right size for small hands) will build a fine wall of words. A sturdy 6.25-by-6.5-inch cardboard carrying case allows budding builders and bookworms to carry their literary treasure wherever they go.

Susan Estelle Kwas paints simple miniature images with enough delicate detail to measure up to demanding young eyes. Every book is a delight--building a vocabulary has never been such fun! (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (27)

An excellent toy and a friendly introduction to the alphabet
When my daughter received this box of books as a first birthday present, I was skeptical: surely ABC books were some distance in the future? But she has played with it nearly every day for eight months. Small hands have no trouble with these chunky little books, which are easy to stack. Since each contains only four words with accompanying pictures, sometimes we find ourselves reading just one or two, sometimes working our way through the entire box. She now recognizes all the letters and can name almost all the pictures, and the box is holding up well despite regular use.

I'm surprised that a couple of reviews mention the illustrations unfavorably. They are simple, expressive and stylish.

Fantastic toy
My son received these as a Christmas gift at age 3 months and they have been a huge hit ever since. He loved looking at them and opening them at first, then taking the books in and out of the box, then stacking, now at 18 months he loves to point at the pictures when I say the word. They are small enough to pop in the diaper bag for trips. He can't get enough of them. Our 2 and 3 year old friends love them as well-they're a hit with everyone. A very long-lasting and educational toy.

FABULOUS
the images are really great. These little books are perfect for your child to hold on their own. great for all ages

Great book set and teaching tool!
We were given this set of books as a gift for our son when he was a little over 1 yr old. He's 3 now and still loves them. He started out just chewing on them or stacking them. But soon he was lining them up in order. Then we started spelling small words with them and he caught on fast. He's three and reading now and still loves these books as stacking toys, reading material or as letter blocks. They are tough and have lasted through lots of use. We have had to tape a few back together because no board book survives that much love (clear packing tape works best). But I can take the maintenance given what he's gotten out of them. This is a great gift!

Great Toy
We gave these block books to our daughter for her 1st birthday and she loves them! She takes one book out of the box at a time and we end up reading all the books to her in one sitting. She is also trying to repeat the words. This was such a great gift, that I am going to buy the Learning Block Books. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (6)

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

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

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

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

Enjoy!

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

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

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

Book Description

I Love you More is a book about Love disguised as a children's book. Readers of all ages will love it! It is a flip sided book in that it ends in the middle and starts from either side. This reprsents the two sides of love-the giving and the receiving. Too often love is assumed and not talked about. Love should be seen, heard, felt, sensed, shown, expressed and More! Love is the most important gift we are able to share. I Love You More is access to that gift. Enjoy! ... Read more</