Book Description

Reviews (154)

Easy to read, teaches colors and new words...
This was the first story my daughter learned in Primary/Kindergarten. Each day the kids learned a new color and words for each page of the book. My child really enjoyed bringing home worksheets to show me what was happening in the story.

After she learned the story, I bought the hardcover book to replace the well-worn worksheets that were getting very crumpled. This is truly my daughter's favorite book, and she loves reading it to her sister. Her reading skill has surpassed this level, yet she returns to it for the colorful illustrations, and to remember the joy she had in learning to read. This book rates 5 stars and your child will love the melodic tempo to its words as they learn to read.

Great For First Storytimes
This book is a great first book to read to baby. The text is rythmic and the illustrations are bold, simplistic, and big enough to attract young babies' attention. My son, at 4 months, enjoys this book.

Simple animals and Colors
Yes, I can recite this book by heart. Sometimes we leave the colors out, sometimes we shorten it, but it is a bedtime must. My son likes it when we make the animal noises, too. Good for animal and color identification. This is another book that is good for practicing baby sign language.

Way to Go Bill Martin and Eric Carle! Great classic books!
My son has loved this book and Polar Bear, Polar Bear since he was 1 1/2 and he is now 3. He learned his colors and animals as well as enjoyed the rythmatic way the book reads. He reads this book to me all the time from memory and it is a book we treasure in our house. My nephew has it now too and at 2 1/2 reads it to his mommy too!
Get this book! Take it out from the library and see your child's reaction if you don't believe me. By the time the book is due back, you will be headed to the book store to buy it!

How to Have Real Fun With This Book After 200 Readings
Here's the way to keep this book fresh after multiple readings....start at the last page and read it backwards! My son loved it backwards and years later still can remember me reading "Bear Brown, Bear Brown, See You Do What?" ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hat and boot in hand, a boy and a bear set off on a delicious and raucous romp through Berryland. They frolic in strawberry fields forever, rumble and ramble in blackberry brambles, and topple their canoeberry with blueberries. Silly rhymes and a musical beat practically beg to be read aloud, preferably accompanied by dancing. New readers will giggle as they follow the fruit-frenzied pals on their berry adventures. Jamberry builds quickly in intensity and complexity, starting with "One berry, Two berry, Pick me a blueberry," and working up to "Raspberry, Jazzberry, Razzmatazzberry, Berryband, Merryband, Jamming in Berryland." Children will love discovering the subtle touches in Bruce Degen's illustrations: a frog climbing out of a hat, crackers and butter instead of lily pads, and a sign by the raspberry skating rink imploring skaters not to pick the jelly rolls planted nearby. Every character seems giddy with well-fed joy in this veritable jamboree of flavorful fun. Jamberry is a book best enjoyed on a gloomy day with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (63)

A Berry Blast.....
Come join a little boy and his very endearing bear friend as they travel through berryland, on a "razzamatazzberry" adventure of a lifetime, picking and eating and playing together. Bruce Degen fills this entertaining treasure of a book with lively and joyous wordplay, alliteration, and high-spirited fun, and complements his jazzy, rhyming verse with bright, bold, and engaging illustrations. Imaginations will soar with each page turn as little ones explore the busy artwork, finding something new and special each time they open the book. Perfect for preschoolers, Jamberry is a marvelous mouth-watering, toe tapping, energetic, romp that begs to be read aloud, and is sure to send you off to the kitchen for a jamberry snack of your own. This is a classic to share with family, friends and future generations. "Mountains and fountains/Rain down on me/Buried in berries/What a jam jamboree!"

My toddler twins LOVE this book!
I have to admit that when I first read this book, I wasn't too sure what I thought of it. As another reviewer said, it contains a lot of fanciful words: jamberry, moonberry, berryband, and so forth. My twins absolutely LOVE this book, though! To them, it's every bit as good as their favorite Dr. Seuss classic. They enjoy the rhyme and repetition of the words, and love to look through the beautifully illustrated pages to find things they recognize. We have a lot of books, and this is the one that they will ask me to read every day (sometimes more than once). We've nearly worn out one board book by reading and rereading it, so I'm going to buy another for them soon. I highly recommend this book for your toddler!

Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity!!
Yummy!! A delicious book packed with fruit flavor. Mouth-watering blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries burst from each page, as you float along on rhymes with punch. I eat this book up every time.
This is as good as it gets in a board book for your wee one. The illustrations are gorgeous, and Degan has fun with it too, giving a "hint" of the next page's adventure as the starring duo finish hunting for one fruit and move on in search of the next. Although it's tempting to whip through, singing the rhymes like a song, it's also fun to linger on each page and point out all the things going on in each picture -- hints of the adventure to come and remnants of the one just completed. So, you can read through it a couple of times in each sitting.
This is my favorite of favorites to read to my one-year-old -- luckily, he likes it too!!

The Library Book We Had to Buy
We checked this book out of the local library 2 weeks ago. Our 19 month old son fell instantly in love with it. He asks to read it several times a day, he carries it around and talks about it. I logged onto Amazon today to buy a copy because I know he's going to miss it greatly when it goes back to the library next week.

no love from our book lover!
My son is 18 months old and LOVES books. He seems to have an insatiable desire for books. I was disappointed by the "busy" illustrations and awkward reading. This is the only book we own that doesn't hold his interest at all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Have you ever dreamed of being locked in a departmentstore at night? The endearing story of Corduroy paints a pictureof the adventures that might unfold (for a teddy bear at least) insuch a situation. When all the shoppers have gone home for thenight, Corduroy climbs down from the shelf to look for his missingbutton. It's a brave new world! He accidentally gets on anelevator that he thinks must be a mountain and sees thefurniture section that he thinks must be a palace. He tries topull a button off the mattress, but he ends up falling off the bedand knocking over a lamp. The night watchman hears the crash,finds Corduroy, and puts him back on the shelf downstairs. Thenext morning, he finds that it's his lucky day! A little girl buyshim with money she saved in her piggy bank and takes him home toher room. Corduroy decides that this must be home and thatLisa must be his friend. Youngsters will never get tired of thistoy-comes-alive tale with a happy ending, so you may also want toseek out Dan Freeman's next creation, A Pocket forCorduroy. (Ages 3 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (45)

This is such a touching story
This story shows that it doesn't matter what you look like or what other people think of you, someone will always love you for who you are. After reading that book I always wanted a bear just like Corduroy with the missing button and all. I thought how it was so cute that the little girl came back with all her piggy bank money and bought the tiny bear that didn't even look new. Most kids will see things in the store and beg for it then forget about it once they are told no. There must of been something about Corduroy that you will have to read to find out.

Everyone should know this lovely book!
Cordoroy is the perfect children's book. It is a gentle, sweet tale of a little bear in cordoroy overalls waiting to be purchased in a department store. A real little girl sees him and falls in love with him, but her mother says she doesn't have money to buy him and he's missing a button. After the store closes, all the toys with faces close their eyes except Cordoroy. Instead, he travels the department store searching for a button because he didn't know he was not perfect. He does not solve his problem. Cordoroy is back on the toy shelf the next morning. The little girl, Lisa returns to buy him. She takes him home, sews on a button, and provides him with his own little bed right beside hers. "I've always wanted a friend!" he says. This beautifully illustrated book has a simple text and huge appeal to anyone with a heart.

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear
Children have been fascinated with the idea of dolls and toys that can talk and move, from the Newbery winning, "Hitty: Her First 100 Years" to the more contemporary (and better known) "Corduroy". This particular tale focuses on a bear, his small unassuming quest, and the girl that eventually becomes his friend. The book feels more like, "The Velveteen Rabbit" than "Toy Story", but kids will quickly come to enjoy (or at the very least, understand) Corduroy's wish for a child to love him.

Living in a department store with other toys and dolls, Corduroy is a stuffed teddy bear in overalls. One day a doe-eyed girl and her patient mama spot the bear and the child is instantly entranced. Unfortunately, her mother points out that the bear is a little worn down and is even missing one of the buttons on its overalls. Upon hearing this, the bear is distressed and resolves to, that night, locate the missing item. After taking an unexpected ride up the escalator, Corduroy finds himself in the store's bedding area. He tries (unsuccessfully) to prise a button off of a nearby mattress, but succeeds only in alerting the local night watchman to his presence. The next day, however, the girl returns with her own allowance money and quick as a wink purchases the bear, missing button and all. She even sews a new button back onto his overalls, and the two are fast friends.

The book, when you look at it closely, almost seems to resemble a series of woodcuts, painted with watercolors later. I don't know if this was the case, but if so the author/artist, Don Freedman, is certainly adept. I've never seen woodcut faces as well presented as the ones here. People are smooth and rounded, and Freedman apparently doesn't have any problems with round curves. Moreover, I was impressed that the little girl and her mother that view Corduroy are black. Originally published in 1968, this was a bit of a big deal back in the day.

Today, the story of the little bear who wanted a friend is as poignant and simplistic in its telling as it was when first it came out. Anyone who read (or had read to them) this book as a child will instantly remember the scene of Corduroy tugging and tugging the button on the mattress in an attempt to remove it for himself. It's a sweet story all in all. I think people feel a great deal of affection for "Corduroy" because they can identify with the little unwanted fuzzy guy. He's a cutie, there's no question.

Fun bear story
A brown teddy bear sits in a toy shop waiting to find a real home. He catches the eye of a little girl, but her mother says she can't take him home because he's missing a button on his overalls. Determined to find a home, the bear goes on a nighttime hunt through the store for his button. The hunt almost ends in disaster. But the next morning the little girl returns to the store and takes him home at last. The book is not scary. The human characters are shown to be African Americans. The book has about 250 words.

Sweet little tale about a bear
The Corduroy books are sweet, easy tales about a stuffed bear and his BIG adventures. Easy reading, nice pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes daddies are loud and playful. Other times they are quiet and compassionate. And they are always loving. Sebastien Braun's appealing text and charming illustrations follow a day in the life of a bear and his bear cub in this celebration of the bond between father and child.

Amazon.com

When Christopher Robin asks Pooh what he likes doing best in the world, Pooh says, after much thought, "What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying 'What about a little something?' and Me saying, 'Well, I shouldn't mind a little something, should you, Piglet,' and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing."

Happy readers for over 70 years couldn't agree more. Pooh's status as a "Bear of Very Little Brain" belies his profoundly eternal wisdom in the ways of the world. To many, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and the others are as familiar and important as their own family members. A.A. Milne's classics, Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, are brought together in this beautiful edition, complete and unabridged, with recolored illustrations by Milne's creative counterpart, Ernest H. Shepard. Join Pooh and the gang as they meet a Heffalump, help get Pooh unstuck from Rabbit's doorway, (re)build a house for Eeyore, and try to unbounce Tigger. A childhood is simply not complete without full participation in all of Pooh's adventures. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (50)

The original is still the best
For all those who think that Winnie the Pooh is a Disney creation, this book will be a revelation and a delight. The ubiquitous and lovable Disney mass-market version of A.A. Milne's characters cannot compare with the simple wisdom of this children's classic. The writing and humor is far more sophisticated and subtle than the slapstick cartoon version cooked up for mass consumption.

The book also contains an interesting and informative forward and introduction that explains the origin of Winnie the Pooh, that Christopher Robin was really Milne's son and other fascinating facts about Milne's life.

Most importantly, it holds the original stories of Pooh and friends, and the original illustrations by Earnest H. Shepard. These illustrations provide a look at how Pooh first appeared 70 years ago.

The recommended age for this book is four and up, but we have been reading these stories to our son (who is also thoroughly immersed in the Disney version) since he was about two and a half and he loves them. I'm sure he didn't comprehend what was going on in the stories at first, but as time went on, he increasingly continued to understand. He still loves bringing us the book.

This book is a treasure. Anyone who has a child who loves Pooh owes it to him or her to hear the original version. It is fun for adults as well. It is the quintessential addition to any Pooh collection.

A bear of very little brains . . .
A. A. Milne would be proud of the interpretation of his story and characters that will always live in the forest of imagination. Ernest H. Shepard's artwork makes this adventure is a visual delight. The characters represent archetypes to which children can identify and relate. As long as there are children and parents to read to them, Winnie the Pooh will remain a favorite storybook classic.

* Pooh teaches a positive attitude; he will always get the honey, and get out of predicaments through his friends. His wisdom is simple and easy for children to understand and agree upon.
* Eyore is forlorn, pessimistic, and surprised by the good things that come his way. He never expects to be part of the crowd, but always is included. The emotion is easy to relate to from our own adolescence, and helps adults remember the trials of childhood.
* Tigger and his bouncy tail take us into the air in a never-ending enthusiasm for the joy in life. In addition, he shows the potential of getting into trouble because he does not think about the results.
* Rabbit, practical Rabbit, who is also a sourpuss, shows that we can always miss the joy in life, but if we join with others then good things happen.
* Kanga and baby Roo show the importance of love and protection for parent and child.
* Owl is the wise old teacher who always asks "Who?" in the quest for knowledge, and shows the value of learning.
* Christopher Robin represents the adult, the one who solves problems, and is a constant force even when not present. He is the focus, the thinker, and he shows the value of considering thought before words and actions. Since he is a child, children can see they too have control, make decisions, and find answers.

My daughter loves her long worn out book with the torn red cover, and although this book is its replacement, the original stays in the family.

Five stars and great thanks to Walt Disney Studios who keeps the Winnie the Pooh light burning.

Victoria Tarrani

Outstanding collector's book.
I got this for my wife (A Pooh fan if there ever was one) when she was six months pregnant with our son. She absolutely loved the classic illustrations, and reading through the book once myself the writing is quite good. I've been reading from this book to my now two-year old son about once or twice a week (I work nights =/) when I am able to when he is in bed ready to go to sleep, and we both enjoy the quiet bonding time while I read to him. He doesn't quite understand everything, but enjoys the rather bad attempts by me to give each character a different sound/voice/accent, but of course he can't tell it's bad. ;)

We keep this book out of his reach in a very special area, and plan to give it to him when he has his own child as a family heirloom. The book itself is beautiful, wonderfully crafted and illustrated, clearly worth saving for future generations. If you like Pooh and company at all, get it, you won't be dissapointed!

Good to see the classics live on
There is no way Disney's b*stardisation of A A Milnes characters is anything even close to the original. These stories and poems are works of art and it bothers me that they are so degraded by association with an unorignal cartoon very much pitched at the commercial realm and the lowest common denominator. But the originals live on. Do yourself and your children a favour. Buy this book. Introduce them to good literature and stories of timeless (and ageless) appeal. Turn off the TV and read to them. Then, when they go to bed, read them for yourself.

Very British!
I gave The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh to my older daughter for her 10th birthday. She reads portions of it to her younger siblings. This is one of her favorite, most cherished books.

Don't be deceived into thinking that Pooh is just for toddlers and pre-schoolers. The humor is very intelligent, and the characters are just plain wonderful. It is written in a very British style, which I think makes it a great introduction to English literature for children.

This is a true masterpiece, and would make a good gift for anyone who truly loves good literature, no matter what their age. ... Read more

Book Description

When Brother and Sister Bear accidentally break Mama's favorite lamp, their little lie grows bigger and bigger, until Papa Bear helps them find the words that set everything right again. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

20 minutes well spent.
This is a good book for your children to read, in the sense that it has a good lesson within it's text. Your children can learn about telling the truth. A good idea to do while (or after) reading this story to your child, is to explain to them that they can tell you anything. You don't want your kids keeping secrets from you.

Liar Liar Pants on Fire
This book really related to me because I used to have a really big lieing problem until my dad and I sat down and had a talk about not to lie. In this story Brother and Sister Bear break Momma Bear's lamp they keep telling more and more lies. But when Papa Bear comes in to help them out he helps them get everything straightened out. I would recommend this book to all parents to help their kids stop lieing.

To tell the truth?
When brother and sister are playing soccer in the house they end up breaking mama's favorite lamp! They try making up a lie to get of of the blame. But can they keep their story straight>?

This book teaches kids how it is better to tell the truth and not to lie no matter what they have done. It is a great lesson to me learned and I suggest it for any child!

A Great Lesson for Children
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth is a wonderful story for children of any ages. It teaches children a very important lesson,always to tell the truth no matter what and if a lie is told, it would always come back to haunt you. I greatly recommend this book for children.

Berenstein Bear Books
With my first Grandchild, who is now a young teen, we were introduced to the Berenstein Bear books and had every one that was out. She loved them and still has them. Seeing how she enjoyed having them read to her and then reading them herself has me now buying them for my youngest grandchild. They are timeless and enjoyable but at the same time teaching life lessons to your children and grandchildren. Worth every penny and effort it takes to own one or the whole set. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Moving Day
It was about a bear family loving where they live including their friends and home. But the soil for growing vegetables was hard and rocky so they decided to move well papa and mama bear. When they found a place to move it needed a little bit of work but they managed what it would look like and they got new friends and a new home and a new place to grow vegetables. It was a very good book and I would read it again if I had to but its not something I would read again by choice. It teaches kids what ever you do something good will come of it eventually.ages 3-8

Not much help
This book is cute, but not much help for little ones to ease their move. It does show that all the boxes get packed and go to a new house which will be better. But it doesn't say that it will be better for the kids, just for the parents.

The Bear Family....Moving?
This book is set before the bear family has moved into the tree house. It tells about why they are mvoing and how sad brother is but how he does have even more fun when they get to their new house.

If you have read any of the story books in this series you know how great of books they are. I suggest this book for any kids who loves great book!

The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day
This was one of the best children's books I have read, and I recommend it for children that are getting ready to move. This book was written by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
Moving day is about a family of bears, they are Papa bear, Mama bear, and brother bear. Before they moved to the valley, they lived in a cave. Mama had a vegetable garden, and Papa cut down trees and made furniture. Brother kept busy playing with his many friends, which were animals. Then Papa bear said that they they needed to move because the trees were getting farther and farther away and Mama bear agreed that they needed to move because the soil was getting too hard for her vegetable garden. Brother bear was very sad about moving because he would miss his friends. Mama bear said that he could write his old friends and make new friends when they moved into their new house. They moved into a treehouse that needed alot of work. As they looked at it and imagined how it would look after it was fixed up, the neighbors came over to say "hi". Now the bears had new friends and after they fixed up the treehouse it was just perfect!

It is still Great
In 1981 we moved cross coutry with our three year old son. This book helped "develop" the pictures of the process for him. Now I am in the "mentor" position for other young mothers facing long distance moves. This is my first gift choice for them and their three or four year olds to make the process understandable and FUN. Patricia Smith, RNS, MS ... Read more

Book Description

Within Cole Matthews lie anger, rage and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years. This time he caught Alex Driscal in the, parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Now, Alex may have permanent brain damage'and Cole is in the Biggest trouble of his life.

Cole is offered Circle Justice: a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender, the victim and the, community. With prison as his only alternative, Cole plays along. He says he wants to repent, but in his heart Cole blames his alcoholic mom his, abusive dad, wimpy Alex -- everyone but himself -- for his situation.

Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by Mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, Cole waits for his death His thoughts shift from from Anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. Rescuers arrive to save Cole's but it is the attack of the Spirit Bear that may save his soul.

Ben Mikaelsen paints a vivid picture of a juvenile offender, examining the roots without absolving solving him of responsibility for his actions, and questioning a society in which angry people make victims of their peers and communities. Touching Spirit Bear is a poignant testimonial to the power of a pain that can destroy, or lead to healing

Reviews (67)

Touching Spirit Bear
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a compelling story of a teenager's struggle with anger. He is beaten by his father, ignored by his mother, and struggles to understand how he fits into "family". His anger gets the best of him. He beats a classmate so severely that he has brain damage. This time his father can not buy him out of trouble.
Cole's only hope of avoiding a prison sentence is to enter into an alternative program known as Circle Justice. Banished to an isolated island off the coast of Alaska, Cole secretly vows that he will escape and return to civilization, and beat the system. He didn't plan on the mysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins a life long journey of controlling his anger from with in. He learns humility and respect for those he once took his anger out on.
Ben Mikaelsen once again writes for the young reader, speaking to them from life experiences. Touching Spirit Bear calls to those readers who are struggling to find acceptance and respect among their peers.

"Touching Spirit Bear"
Cole has a really big anger problem. He is a Juvenile Delinquent and his anger has taken him way too far. After beating up his fellow 9th grade student, Peter Driscol, he was sent too many detention centers. Cole is about to be sentenced to a 'real' prison when his Native American friend comes to his rescue. Cole has two choices, to be sent to a prison or be sent banished to an isolated Alaskan island for a year. Cole has heard the horrible stories about the things that can happen in prison and he decides to try the circle justice thing that his Native American friend had told him about. Cole experiences good and bad changes while being banished that just might change him for the rest of his life. I rate this book a 5/5 stars. The reason is, because think that this book has great description and it could 'hook' anybody. This book is a great book and I recommend it for anybody.

Wow! This book is really amazing!
Touching Spirit Bear is one of the best books I have ever read. It all starts out with a juvenile delinquent who brakes into a store. He was bragging about it in school and a guy named Peter tells on him. After school Peter is badly beaten, he was punched many times and had his head smashed into the concrete. This causes Peter to have brain damage. Then Peter's parents sued Cole for the damage.
Cole isn't a very good kid. He seems to think that everything is below him and he is the dominant person of all the creatures on the earth. Cole really doesn't want to go to jail for the bad things that he has done so he decides to go to the Circle of Trust. The Circle of Trust is a program where instead of going to jail it's a chance for the people to sit and talk about what the person's punishment should be. Cole's and Peter's family went to the Circle of Trust meeting. They decided that Cole's punishment is to go to an island for one year without contact to anyone to find what he really is. He went to the island and as soon as the people who took him out on the island were gone he set the house they had built on fire. His plan was to swim back to the mainland and of on with his life with no one knowing. He soon finds out that it's not that easy and looses all of his energy. He then makes a spear. All of a sudden out of nowhere a huge white bear appears and Cole charges at him, the bear then started to beat Cole up. After the attack Cole lays there with a broken arm, broken hip, and shredded stomach. About a week later people came to bring him supplies, finding Cole lying there almost dead. After a while in the hospital they let Cole go. He wanted to go back to the island because he still didn't want to go to jail. He has to sell all of his belongings to pay for it. Also he has to build his own cabin this time.
If you want to find out what else happens to Cole you have to read the book! I would recommend thins book to anyone. I think the author did a very good job on this book. It doesn't matter if you're a girl or a guy you would both love this book.

Touching Spirit Bear
The book that I am reviewing is Touching Spirit Bear and it is about a fifteen year old cole gaets beaten by his father.Just as cole's father was beaten by his father. Now cole himself is turning violent. He robbed a tool store and he got away with it for a couple of days. until peter his classmate told on him so cole beat him and peter was hospitaized. So cole's parents send him to angermangment classes that didn't help so he gets sent to an island in alaska. They give cole a little hut and supples to survive for a month. He goes walking around the island and he see's the spirit bear and think's that he can beat up the bearlike he did peter the bear broke his arm and leg. Then a few days later the two guys come back and find him on the beach and immedalty take him to a hospital and after he recovered they sent him back to the island for another month and survived.

Touching Spirit Bear
Touching Spirit Bear is a spectacular book. The book was about a boy, Cole Mathews, who has a very hard time controlling his anger. Cole Mathews steals possessions from stores a lot. One day Peter Driscal, a kid from Cole's school, found out that he had broken into the store that the police were trying to find a suspect for and reported it. When Cole found out who told on him, he chased Peter down after school and beat him very harshly. It was so bad that Peter now has problems thinking and has mental problems. When Cole got arrested, he went to court and the judge gave him a chose. The chose was either he could go to jail or Justice Circle and wouldn't have to serve as much time. Like any other kid would he decided to go to Justice Circle. The Justice Circle had some meetings and finally Garvey convinced them to send him to an island for one year so that he could think things out by himself. As he is left at the island he decided he would try to swim island to island and try to get to the United States again. After he was a ways out and starting to cramp up he turned around. At the island he now had no shelter since he burned it down before he left. After a nap he decided to go get some food. He then saw the Spirit Bear and Cole tried to kill it. Yet the bear ripped him to shreds. In fact Cole couldn't move. So when the guy that brings him his supplies saw what had happened he took him back to a hospital. Finally, after he recovered, the Justice Circle had some more meetings. They had to meet with each other to see if they should allow Cole Mathews to return to the island. If you want to see if Cole Mathews gets another shot at the island or if you want to see if Cole can change his life around. Read Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Review of Blueberries for Sal
This is the story of a little girl that goes blueberry picking with her mother. She is helping her pick blueberries but she is more concerned with eating them then she is with keeping them so her mother can make things with them. At the same time a mother bear was picking blueberries with her cub too stock up for the winter. The cub was doing the same thing as Sal and eating the blueberries faster then he was picking them. The cub and Sal did not follow their mothers. They just wondering off eating there merry way around the mountain. Eventually Sal and the cub end up all mixed up and with the wrong mothers and they set out to get with the right ones again.
I love this book. It is a great tale and it is so much fun to read over and over again. The pictures are great and so realistic. I think this really is a good book for children to read and I think it is one that they would really enjoy reading too. This is definitely a book that I want for my class collection and I think the author did a really good job at making this book fun and full of adventure.

An adorable classic adventure story
It's a classic case of mistaken identity when, while on a hunt for blueberries, two very different mommies and two very different children get separated and all mixed up. Or are they really that different? With McCloskey's incredible eye for natural detail from a child's point of view, this story tells a hilarious tale about a human mother and child (the eponymous Sal) who go blueberry hunting and run into their bear counterparts, who are storing up food for hibernation. Not only are the sound effects hilarious (my son loves to chant the KERPLINK! KERPLANK! KERPLUNK! part along with me) the story also teaches a lot about comparing and contrasting characteristics in the natural world, and the striking and original blue-and-white illustrations make this book unique. Your preschooler is sure to delight in it, and your first grader is still going to love it and be able to draw more sophisticated comparisons and conclusions from the story. Sure to be a bedtime favorite for many years - it has been in my househould!

The Beauty of Simplicity
Both the story and blue-ink illustrations are simple but charming. There's nothing mythopoetic here, but there is something magical about just being out in the wide-open country picking berries (we're going to pick wild blackberries today!). An excellent short bedtime story of the "light reading" variety.

A Much Loved Classic
For our family, each summer we read "Blueberries for Sal" together. Then we drop the blueberries that we've bought (sadly not picked) into a tin bucket to listen to the kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk, and end with making blueberry jam to put aside for winter.

It's something my older children remember with delight, and something my youngest is newly excited about. The illustrations are beautiful, especially of Sal and Sal's Mother in the kitchen.

Classic
This is a story that you were probably read as a child. It is one of those wonderful stories, so rarely written in this day of commercial tie-in books like Bob the Builder and such, that both the child and the parent can enjoy together and even both get a good chuckle out of.

If you are looking for a fun children's book with great illustrations, this is for you. ... Read more

Book Description

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild. . . .

A day in the life of parent and child-full of smiles and giggles, messes and meals, boundless energy and well-earned naps. Not to mention lots of love.

Illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa ... Read more

Reviews (50)

My 2 year old's favorite book
I am astounded at the Publisher's Weekly review - way off base. What a sourpuss! My 2 year insists that I read this book to him 3-4 times a night and he still hasn't had enough. We've read it over 100 times and he never tires of it. This is my third child and never before has a book captivated any one of them at this age the way this one has - not even close. I am going to buy it for every new parent I know. The illustrations are well done - with four little animal dolls emulating the child bear and his parent - and my son picks out something new every night we read it. I do think the bears look male, but perhaps it's just that my son and I are male and I want to identify with them. The rhymes are captivating for him, and touching and clever for me. I highly recommend this book. If 2 year olds could write, you would see even better reviews.

If you read ONE book to your child it should be this one!!!
I am totally and utterly disgusted with the publishers weekly review above. My mother bought me this book for my 3 year old. We both wept after reading it. My daughter LOVES the book. After reading it the first time she walked around asking everyone, "am I your giggle?". When we would reply, "well of course", she would run around giggling! Because we both get so excited about reading this book we now have put this book in her "special" book pile that contains now only 4 books, all her most favorites. I NEVER get tired of reading this book to her because it conveys exactly how I feel about her, in her way of understanding. My 6 month old son also likes to listen to us reading it, he gets excited because his sister laughs at every page. With each page she asks, "am I your wild?" or "am I your wiggle?", and so on. I can't wait for him to be old enough to understand the words and the message, "YOU ARE MY I LOVE YOU".

You Are My I Love You
This book is just the best!! I'm buying it for all the new parents I know...what a great book to include with a baby gift.....I'm also giving one to my high school senior who will be graduating in a few weeks....no matter what the child's age....I want her to know the she is my I love you!!

I am your way home, you are my new path
My mother gave me this book for my birthday last week. Being on the other end (the receiver of the book) my mother expressed more by giving me (her young adult daughter) this book than she could have said in any card. It is a toast to the parent/child relationship. I will treasure this book forever, because it has given me a sense of how parents feel of thier children. It feels very good! Every parent should buy thier child this book.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS TO SHARE W/ YOUR CHILD!
The publishers review is way off!! This book is an endearing tale of the parent-child bond. It tells a quaint story of how our roles as parent & child vary. And I feel it shows how our view of the world as a parent differs from that of our child. Whenever I read this book to my son, I feel am expressing how special he is to me in a way that he can understand. This book is definitely one of my favorites!!! ... Read more

Book Description

When Papa Bear tells the cubs why they should never talk to strangers,

Sister begins to view all strangers as evil until Mama brings some common sense

to the problem. "The Bears' rules for safe conduct among strangers are listed

on the last pages, including a rule about the privacy of a bear's body. A good

book to start awareness in young children."--School Library Journal.




... Read more

Reviews (20)

The best book on strangers for young children
I used this book about 6 years ago to help teach my child about "stranger danger". This book helps to teach about strangers without scaring children away from everyone and everything. All the Berenstain Books are definately worth reading to youngsters - they all teach a lesson or two in a very positive, easy to understand way that is suitable for a wide age range. Most of them also make excellent bedtime stories (I didn't think this one was good for bedtime) and often help children to open up about a subject and discuss what they are thinking or feeling. They are also very good First Books for the cild to read as they get older. I highly recommend this and all of the Berenstain Bears books. My child outgrew them and had given them away, so I am now purchasing a few to give as a Christmas present to a co-workers 3 year old who I think will enjoy them as much as my child did.

One of the least paranoia inducing "stranger books"
I have gotten rid of most "don't talk to strangers" books because they are mostly fear inducing. I want my children to use common sense, and this version emphasises that. Sister (gotta love the names :-) ) fears everyone when first told that not all strangers are trustworthy. Mama comes to the rescue with some much needed common sense and moderation. The book concludes with a plausible example of Brother maybe trusting a stranger too much.

A good starting point for working with young, very trusting children, on appropriate interpersonal interactions, and may help prevent the child from fearing even the grocery store clerk.

What about the rest of the strangers?
The book does teach children about what to do with strangers, but the view of strangers is not appropriate. They are all darkened men. A more developmentally-appropriate, anti-bias book would include strangers of all races, class, personality, and gender.

The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers
This is a great book for teaching young children about strangers. My son is 5 and really enjoys reading this book over and over again. The content is informative, but not scary. The comparison momma bear makes between strangers and a barrel of apples is so simple and accurate. The simplicity allows the children to understand you never know what is on the inside of an apple or a stranger. A visual key kids are likely to remember.

Learning About Strangers
This is a good book. My 5 year old son enjoyed the story, and the lessons that I wanted to convey about strangers (what is a stranger, stranger rules, etc.) were covered very well. The story shows how one can become too afraid as well as how one can be lured into leaving with a stranger. Children learn to be careful without being paranoid. Children also learn that "telling" is not the same as being a "tattletell".

We have enjoyed all 8 books that we purchased from this collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes mommies are funny and playful. Other times they are warm and comforting. And mommies always know when to laugh, where to play, and how to love. Through simple, moving text and endearing illustrations, Sebastien Braun captures the spirit of motherhood in a celebration for every mother and child.

Reviews (1)

A new great illustrator !!
His first book is amazing !! A magic world for kids....and theirs parents !
I 'm waiting impatiently the next one !!
Indisputably a great illustrator ! ... Read more

Book Description

"Once upon a time, a very long time ago, Winnie-the-Pooh lived in a forest…" The world of Pooh is a world of enchantment. It is a world forever fixed in the minds and hearts of countless children -- a world where Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga and the others share unforgettable adventures with Christopher Robin.

Winnie-the-Pooh is filled with delight: Pooh goes hunting with Piglet, celebrates Eeyore's birthday, and accompanies Christopher Robin and the others on an "Expotition" to the North Pole. Through it all, Pooh remains the whimsical philosopher and staunch friend, captivating children as he has for generations.

Reviews (20)

There's no classic like an old classic
Ah, the adventures of Pooh & Co. Far fewer people have read these light lovely little books than seen their animated semi-accurate Disneyfications. Should the average reader choose to actually read, "Winnie the Pooh", they'd find a series of adventures set in a child's safe/tame landscape. The great recommendation of this book (and its subsequent sequals) is the jokes that kids won't get but that adults will adore. Aside from some of the more C.S. Lewis-like twistings of the English language, some characters are written as charicatures of the timid, the pompous, and the dejected. After all, who hasn't known their own Owls or Eeyores at some point in their life? In my opinion, Piglet is almost the quintessential timid Englishman. As for the original illustrations, they cannot be improved upon (especially since the movie has so invaded the public consciousness). My advice? Get kids to read this before they see the film (which is probably an impossible thing to desire these days). You won't regret it and they'll take them to heart.

A pre-schooler's delight
Ah, the treasures you come across cleaning out your adult child's closet once he's grown and left the nest. How could I have forgotten this enchanting book? My son used to love Winnie the Pooh and all his friends when he was three years old. In Piglet, Kanga and Baby Roo, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl and Pooh himself, A.A. Milne created some of the best-loved characters in children's literature. The stories in the book are funny and endearing, what child doesn't laugh out loud over Pooh and Piglet hunting for Woozles, and Eeyore losing his tail? Read this book out loud to your child (or silently to yourself), and you may find yourself transported back to your own childhood:

"Isn't it funny
how a bear likes honey?
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
I wonder why he does?"

Excellent reading of the book.
This is a review of the Jim Broadbent recording of the first Winnie the Pooh book. Although it does seem to include the other recordings I have heard, and I expect his version of The House at Pooh Corner would be quite similar.

Jim Broadbendt does a great job reading us WtP. Anyone who has heard the Charles Kuralt version- this version is 300% better. Jim not only has a sense of of humor, but does a different voice for each character. Two things sorely lacking on the CK versions. Now, for those who have heard the Peter Dennis recordings, well, those are better, there's no getting around that. Peter's piglet cannot be topped and he also does the most wonderful versions of the songs I have ever heard. But alas, those tapes are no longer available and Dennis never recorded the entire book(s). So, I figure Jim is still deserving of the 5 stars.

Broadbent does a wonderful job of bringing out the humor in the stories, something which the Kuralt recordings do not. His Eeyore does sound a bit like Ringo Starr- but, that works rather well now, doesn't it? Pooh, well, he's a bit on the not-so-bright side, but he's cheerful and trustworthy. Piglet does sound timid and sweet. Rabbit, well, he could be a bit more edgey in these. Jim has made Rabbit a bit more sympthetic a character than I envision him. Still, the subtle nuances are not lost, even on children. And, it is nice to have an unabridged version of the story available.

My children just love these cds. Which is nice. It's always good to have something that the entire family enjoys and is still a worthwhile use of time. Especialy something that one can listen to in the car that doesn't bore the pants off the driver and yet amuses the children enough to keep them quiet. I highly recommend this version for anyone who would like to expose their child to the original Pooh stories.

Sing Ho for the life of a Pooh
Unless you were just teleported here from an alternative universe where Walt Disney was a hobo and stayed locked up in jail, never to entertain the world with his many talents, you _had_ to have heard of Winnie the Pooh. This _is_ the A.A.Milne stories with the beautiful Ernest Shepard's illustrations and if you never read this, you are in for a real treat.

The illustrations are gorgeous watercolors. The characters have more dimensions to them and the effect is more subtle. You'll recognize some stories from the Disney movies / shows - some you won't. They are great bedtime stories for your little ones and work equally well for adults.

If you have little ones in your life, you are going to want this book to read to them or give as a shower gift to an expectant mom. If you want to see what Pooh, Piglet ant the gang are like without all the "Disneyfications", this is also a great book. And, if you're like me and have fond memories of this book, it's _definitely_ for you. Read and enjoy:)

black and white originals
Horn Book review hit it on the head: the black and white illustrations are superior in every way to the colored-in versions. The original editions were, after all, illustrated with simple, clearly-outlined sketches. So now, finally, we have have Winne-the-Pooh as it was originally intended to be. On top of that, excellent quality paper, beautiful binding, a perfect size, this slip-cased edition is a collector's item. ... Read more

Book Description

A book for pre-school and early primary readers, The Big Hungry Bear is the story of a little mouse and you (you are the only one who speaks).What you try to do is trick the mouse into giving you his 'red, ripe strawberry' by making him think 'a big hungry bear' is chasing him, wanting to take it away. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Adorable, Colorful, and Funny.
The Story: A mouse is in the process of picking a red ripe strawberry when you, the reader, come upon him. You warn the mouse about "The Big Hungry Bear" who loves "Red Ripe Strawberries." Though the darling little mouse looks up at you with wide, worried eyes, he really wants that strawberry and continues to pick it and drag it back to his little home, where he tries hiding it, guarding it, disguising it, etc. Finally, the reader tells the little mouse the only way he can save his strawberry from the "Big Hungry Bear" is to "Cut it in two, share half with me, and we will eat it all up."

Your little mouse will love this book, and so will you. The illustrations are absolutely fantastic, and the mouse is one of the most expressively drawn characters in children's books. It's a quick read accompanied by bright, colorful, beautifully painted pages that will keep the attention of even the youngest child, and have your older child giggling and reading along with you.

Delightful, clever, and fun!
This is one of my 3 year old son's favorite books. The illustrations are GREAT; I recommend the larger hard cover book. This book starts with "Hello little mouse, what are you doing?", as you "catch" the mouse picking a strawberry. The adult gets to enjoy the mischief of the narrator, who tricks the mouse into sharing and eating the strawberry by convincing the mouse that the big hungry bear is on the way to eat the strawberry. The finer point that there probably is no bear is not necessary for the child to understand to enjoy and participate in the story. My son enjoyed from the age of 2 the clever ways in which the mouse tries to hide the strawberry, and always acts out his part of taking his half of the strawberry and eating it.

A PEACH OF A BOOK
This is one of my very favorite kids' books. There is no
particular moral, the story line is minimal, there is no bear!
But there is a little mouse with one of the most expressive
faces in all of kids' picture books, a huge strawberry, and a
very happy and satisfying ending.

Don and Audrey Wood are an extremely talented couple, both when
they work on separate projects and especially when they work
together.

Suspenseful without being scary
The Little Mouse book has a wonderful interplay between the reader and story as it introduces concepts of sharing and how to deal with the threat of a bully.

Pictures Make this Story - The Strawberry Seems Edible
Both my kids loved this book and I have given it to lots of people. I like the big hardcover because the pictures are so great (although the smaller Board Book is nice). In The mouse offers up the strawberry to the reader to share, and even Mom and Dad feel like they ought to take a piece. Simple story - and although the narrator tells the mouse he ought to take care of his strawberry or a great big hungry bear will eat it, my kids were never scared. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On a cold windy night, an itty-bitty mouse "pitter-pat, tip-toe,creep-crawls" into a sleeping bear's cozy lair, looking for relief from thebitter winter weather. Soon he is joined by a veritable menagerie of woodlandanimals, and the party begins. Popping corn, brewing tea, tweeting, andchatting, the critters enjoy themselves thoroughly while the bear slumbersthrough it all. Until, that is, an errant pepper flake from the simmering stewwakes him up with a giant sneeze. As the bear goes from ferocious snarls andrumbles to pitiful whimpers, his uninvited guests realize what the problem is.

You've snuck in my lair
and you've all had fun!
But me? I was sleeping
and...
I have had none!

First-time author Karma Wilson and artist Jane Chapman (illustrator of PhyllisRoot's One Duck Stuck)have created a charming little tale of sharing and caring that will have readersof all ages cheering at the humorous finale. (Ages 3 to 7) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (34)

We love this book!
My 2.5 year old son has asked me to read this book endlessly since we received it. Besides gorgeous illustrations, the story is so cute and full of wonderful onomatopoeia words like GNARL, roar, twitter, pitter-pat, etc. that make the story so much fun to read and the kids enjoy it tremendously.

Bear sleeps deeply in his den and the other animals seek shelter from the cold night. They have tea and nuts and soup, and bear wakes up to find a party going on without him! Bear is devastated, not because of the animals in his den, but because they were having fun without him. We love the illustrations and the story--can't wait to buy the other book about Bear, "Bear Wants More."

Enjoy!

My all time favorite children's book
Bear Snores On is at the very top of a long list of my favorite children's books. Every time I read it I am reminded why I love it so much. The illustrations are absolutley beautiful. The rhyming text is adorable. The story itself is the cutest. My children, 3 & 1 1/2, love this book. You can't get any better than Bears Snores On. The follow up, Bear Wants More is also very good. You will not be dissapointed with this book, I promise :)

Animal insomnia
As I am sure you know, author Karma Wilson began her illustrious picture book writing career with the charming "Bear Snores On". Since this impressive debut, Bear has gone on to appear in further Karma Wilson outings. Yet it all began here, with a tale of hibernation and a friendly hootenanny of wild animals.

A big brown bear, his teapot and other cave utensils strewn hither and yon, is hibernating in the winter. Outside it is blustery and cold but (as we are repeatedly told), "The bear/ snores/ on". One day a timid mouse enters the lair and lights himself a small fire for warmth. No reaction from the snoring bear. Soon a hare joins the mouse and they have a cup of tea. No bearish interruptions. Then there's a badger. Then a mole, and a wren, and a raven, and a gopher. In no time at all a full flown party is in swing, ending when a small fleck of pepper causes the bear to sneeze. Suddenly he's awake and he's angry, but not for the reason you'd think. No, Bear's just upset that everyone had a party without him. But soon, the animals reassure the bear that the party can definitely continue with him, and their host entertains by telling them stories far into the night. By morning everyone is fast asleep. Except (oh irony) the bear.

There's not much to the tale, honestly, but it's not the plot that's important. Ms. Wilson has an ear for delightful cadences and rhyming sequences. Just listen to the following sequence, "An itty-bitty mouse/pitter-pat, tip-toe/creep-crawls in the cave/from the fluff-cold snow". I love how that (and every other) line scans. Accompanying these deft syllables is the art of Jane Chapman. With her guidance, the walls of the cave (illuminated by a crackling fire) glow a homey auburn. Characters are both realistically rendered and adorably fuzzy. I was particularly fond of a scene from out in the blustery snow where, looking into the cave, we see the black silhouettes of the dancing creatures against the yellow glow of the fire. Color and texture are alive and well with this artist, I assure you.

"Bear Snores On" isn't the MOST memorable of picture books, but its pleasant enough. It's perfect for the child that is frightened easily (nothing bad happens, unless you count bear growling at one point) and gentle in its characterizations. All in all, a class act all around. If you need a good bedtime story to tuck the little ones in with, I highly recommend the electric boogaloo that is "Bear Snores On".

Fabulous Book
This book has been a favorite in my house from day one. Great text,the phrase Bear Snores On continues throughout the book and each time it gets a little louder and I find that children like to say it with you louder and louder each time until bear finally wakes up from a pepper flake that made him sneeze. (My son's favorite part)The illustations are beautifully done and fit the text perfectly. Definitely one of my best book buys of the year. I Highly recommend Bear Snores On.

My childrens' favorite
This is the best book in the world! My kids love the rhyming and enjoy the beautiful artwork. There's so much you can add in sound effects it's great! Highly recommended for a bedtime book, cuddle time read, etc. I also own Bear Wants More, though I don't think it quite has the same charm as this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Chuck Swindoll shares 12 of the most important Bible teachings portrayed in 12 fun-filled stories kids can identify with and understand.

Reviews (2)

A Great Family Devotional
I've had this book for 3 years and both my children (now aged 5 and 11) still love to hear the stories. The pictures are colorful and enjoyable and the bible stories are well placed in the story themes. The story set up begins with a situation the bear family encounters and then a bible story that relates to that situation is recollected by one of the bears. The last story Heaven Can't Wait will have the reader teary eyed, and is told in such a way that although the child will experience the sadness of death, they will see the victory of eternal life with God. I wish there were more books written of Big Ideas In the Bible. This book makes a great family devotional!

My 6 year old loved it.
We were on vacation at a friend's. They brought out this book to read for her bedtime story. Well, we had to read 2 of the stories that night. The first thing the next morning, she got the book out again and asked me to read more. While the other kids were out swimming in the pool, she insisted I read her 2 more of the stories. When we got home from vacation, she told me she wanted to use her allowance money and buy a copy of the book herself. The tone of the book is warm and encouraging. The spiritual truths are shared in a beautiful and loving way. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews<