Amazon.com

Not blessed with the adorable good looks of a koala, the mythic mystery of a dinosaur, or even the useful familiarity of a dog, the manatee is an infrequent hero in the world of children's literature. It doesn't help matters that the poor thing has a name that's so difficult to rhyme. But the unnamed hero of John Lithgow and Ard Hoyt's I'm a Manatee (really, a boy dreaming he is a manatee) sees plenty of upside to the life of the animal that's been indelicately nicknamed the "cow of the sea." And when rhymes are unavailable to state his case, he simply makes some up: "Encumbered by my lumbering gigan-atee,/ I'm thought to be an ocean-going brute!/ The least appealing creature on the planet-ee,/ But to a manatee, I'm cute!" The words in the book are the same as the lyrics in the song version of I'm a Manatee, which is included on an enclosed CD featuring a singing Lithgow as well as in musical notation in the back of the book. The verses sound more natural in their original musical form than they do read aloud in the pages of the book where they can clunk a bit. Still, there's much to like about in this aquatic flight of fancy, including the kind of wordplay moms and dads will enjoy (very few kids' books contain the phrase "immune from human folly and inanity") and Hoyt's illustrations of the title animal, which manages to be simultaneously homely and adorable. (Ages 4 to 8) --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (4)

How does he do that!?!?!?!
How does John Lithgow manage to teach such an important concept in such a fun way. My daughter was introduced to Mantees for the first time in this book and she ended up adoring them. The book has a couple pages of illustration that subtly introduce the plight of the Manatee and why they are endangered. I chose to take that opportunity to educate my daughter on why Manatees are endangered.

We are planning a trip to Sea World so she can see Mantees and she is thrilled. Thank you John Lithgow for your excellent educational, extremely fun books. Keep them coming.

Enchanting!
I watched John Lithgow "sing" this book to a group of children on TV (the Early Show, CBS 10/21/03) and they were enchanted by the clever words, the imaginative story and the catchy tune Lithgow created. I can't wait to add this book to my collection! And I don't even have children! John Lithgow is a genious!

The CD song brings this adventure to life
This book/cd combination brings a delightful musical interlude to this story of a little boy who dreams of becoming a manatee, and embarks on an underwater adventure. The CD song brings his adventure to life in this title especially recommended for parents for read-aloud and multimedia pleasure.

Lithgow pens another hit!
I saw this book and could not resist it. Being a lover of "Marsuial Sue," and a manatee fanatic, I had to get it. The book is so witty. John Lithgow is a remarkable linguist. The music is also very cute, and the illustrations are adorable. I highly recommend this book, as well as other Lithgow titles. I promise you'll enjoy them =) ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's bedtime for young Frances--an adorable and irrepressible little badger--and everyone is ready but her. At 7:00 p.m. Frances is wide awake and bursting with youthful excitement. She tries every delay tactic she can muster--from demanding extra hugs and kisses to volleying a series of urgent last-minute questions ("May I sleep with my teddy bear?" "May I have my door open?"). She's almost positive there are spiders, giants, and tigers in her room.

Any parent will quickly identify with this phenomenon--how the last minutes of the day suddenly become the most action-packed. Garth Williams's illustrations complement Russell Hoban's sweet story perfectly, capturing the endless energy and overactive imagination of Frances, and the waning patience of her exhausted parents. Bedtime for Frances is the perfect goodnight story to tell your wide-eyed children. And never fear, like Frances, they too will eventually, contentedly, drift off to sleep. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (32)

getting quite a bad rap without much cause.
I'm quite suprised so many people take issue with this book. It was one that I loved as a child, and although I had the sort of fears that children often do, my parents were always really good about reminding me that the things in your room when the lights are off are the same things there when the lights are are on. Perhaps that's the reason this book never inspired the terror in me it seems to present to many reviewers' children.

As for the spanking issue -- I was hardly from an abusive home, but the issue of punishment was something I was always familiar with. I hardly think the book is suggesting that Frances is going to be physically abused by her parents, so much as it's showing fed-up adults convincing their child to just get some sleep.

This book might not be for the terribly young, but it's a pretty cute story about conniving for extra time before bed. I would recommend it to anyone who is up front with their children about things like 'spankings', even if they don't practice them.

A spanking good book
Okay, the title of this review is a joke. The threat of spanking, mentioned by 13 (if I counted correctly) of 31 customer reviews, is offset for the following reasons. 1) The book is a classic--a great old book that has become a multi-generational tradition in many families, including many (like mine) that do not spank their kids. 2) Children live in the real world, and excessive sheltering from it is counterproductive. 3) There are very few books that deal with nighttime fears as effectively as this one (*Where the Wild Things Are* is another). 4) It is aimed at a younger audience than the other Frances books making it a good introduction to the series. 5) Like all the Frances books, it is well written, well illustrated, and quite amusing. Note--Garth Williams illustrated this one; the others were illustrated by Lillian Hoban. 6. It has wonderfully delightful examples of a very young child's (il)logic, for example, "There is a giant in my room, may I watch television?" (or something like that--I don't have the book in front of me).

I am highly amused that, for all the reviews that complain about the spanking threat, NONE of the to date complain about the smoking by Frances' father. I'm sure that MUST say something strange about Amazon's customer reviewers, but I can't figure out what!

Great Book and Kids are Smarter Than You Think!
I was a HUGE Frances fan as a child and this is my duahgter's first one (from Grandma)---My little girl has NEVER been spanked and she was in no way, shape, size or form upset by the spanking aspect. We are a super liberal, open family and to me that includes realizing that certain things were accepted in the past. My daughter's only reaction to the spaking paragraph was that Father Badger "looked like Daddy" when Frances woke him up.

Children are intelligent enough to get it. Relax a bit, people.

good book
Do you ever want to stay up late? Find out what happens in Frances' Bedtime. Frances keeps asking her mom and dad for something like a glass of milk so she can stay up past her bedtime. I think this book is fun and enjoyable because Frances is a lot like me. I like to stay up late too. I learned in this book that you should do what you are told because mom and dad usually know what is best for their kids. See if Frances gets her way.

Not thrilled
I was hoping for a story that would help to paint a lovley picture of bedtime from a child's stand point. This book only succeeded in spelling out some lovely ways that children can make it exasperating for themselves and their parents.

Very disappointing, given that Bread and Jam for Frances is one of our family favorites. ... Read more

Book Description

Elmo is too big for a crib! He’s ready to sleep in a big kid’s bed! It may take a little while, but with his favorite snuggly blanket and his teddy bear David by his side, soon Elmo feels comfortable in his new bed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for young children
I was really happy with the purchase of this book. My 20 month old son is getting ready to be moved into another room and a big boy bed to make room for his new brother. Most of the books that I have found on this subject have been a little too detailed for my son. This board book breaks the transition down is simple statements that young children can relate to. Example "Elmo slept in a crib when he was a baby but now he's ready for a big kid's bed." "Elmo knows that sleeping in a big kid's bed will feel different than sleeping in a crib." Etc...

It even has Elmo with his favorite doll, David, and his favorite blankie. My son sleeps with a blankie and therefore can identify with Elmo even more. The pictures are colorful and engaging. Well done! ... Read more

Book Description

It's as easy as waving bye-bye!

Babies have a lot to say, even before they can actually speak familiar bedtime words like "sleepy" and "quiet." 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 (1)

Baby Signs for Bedtime
I got this book for my 15 month old daughter a few months ago and she just ate it up! The first day, she flipped through the pages and started doing some of the signs on her own. Two months later, she knows all of the signs by heart and uses them constantly. This is still EASILY one of her favorite books, especially to share with friends and family! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every little bunny should have a brother as kind and thoughtful as Willa's big brother Willoughby. When Willa can't sleep because she is so afraid of bad dreams, her brother leans down from the top bunk to encourage his little sister to think happy thoughts...about her chicken slippers, her blue-and-white jumpsuit, and tomorrow's anticipated pleasures. That very night, Willoughby takes Willa on a piggy-back ride around the cozy tree house to check on her breakfast food, her toys in their basket, and the quiet world sleeping outside, all the while explaining in soft, soothing tones how everything in their snug little world is waiting for the next morning to unfold. He tells her that the morning is waiting "For grass to grow, flowers to bloom, and leaves to flutter. For clouds to float, wind to blow, and sun to shine. For birds to fly, bees to buzz, and ducks to quack." "'That's a lot of happy things,' said Willa."Joyce Dunbar knows just how to set the scene for sleep, and Debi Gliori's charming, expressive bunnies are very, very cute. (Click to see a sample spread. From Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep by Joyce Dunbar, illustration ©1998 by Debi Gliori, reproduced by permission of Harcourt Brace & Company.) (Ages 3 to 6) --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Read "Something Happy" to your child
If you would like to foster compassion and empathy between siblings, this book is a must have for bedtime reading! I have read this book to my son almost every evening and he just loves the story. It is endearing to see normal fears presented by the charming little sister bunny and to have those fears put to rest by her caring older brother. The story teaches children how to show love to their siblings through simple acts of kindness. The illustrations are vibrant and intricate with great attention to detail. This is an old-fashioned tale of family caring wrapped in a beautiful package.

An adorable tale with beautiful illustrations
This is one of my favorite picture books. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and the colors are wonderful. It's a sweet story about a big brother helping his little sister get to sleep. This book is especially great for families with a big brother and little sister. My kids love it when I use their names in place of Willoughby and Willa!

A great bedtime story
My three children, ages 3-5, adore this book. It is one of the few books that they will all sit still for. It is a lovely story about an older brother taking care of his younger sister, helping her go to sleep. The illustrations are wonderful.

The resonance of the words are so soft and melodic
This is my second favorite "night night" book ever. (after the venerable GoodNight Moon) And it has many of the same aspects. A simple repetative story line that is comforting to young children and wording that is almost melodic to read. The wording is indeed repatitive, but any early childhood expert can tell you that for a young child that is what draws them into the story. Remember, it is not written for an adult. The fact that "Willa" and "Willoughby" are repeated on every page makes the story instantly familiar to a young child. The story is sweet and the illustrations are georgeous. My copy has been patched many times now and I smile whenever I see it.

what a happy way to fall asleep
This has been my 3yrs old's favorite book for MONTHS now, and I'm not tired of it yet! It begins with a tone of comfort and "everything is right with the world" and ends with brother and sister bunnies snuggled up ready to drift off to sleep. I would like to fall asleep this way every night! Just what you want for a bedtime book! ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A very fun book to read with one's children
I bought this book over two years ago, when my daughter was around 14 months and was just starting to visibly enjoy being read to. Two years later she still pulls it off the shelf sometimes and asks me to read it (usually around bedtime).

The plot is appropriately simple: Mama Owl goes out hunting for the night, and the three owl babies get progressively more worried and scared. When they have almost sunk into despair, mom comes home.

The illustrations are beautiful. Benson does an excellent job of evoking the fear of the wee owlets as they wait, and their exuberant joy upon mama's return. They are a perfect companion to Waddell's writing.

Waddell makes good use of parallelism. After a couple of readings, if you're child is verbal, expect her to be wailing "I want my mommy!" right along with you and baby Bill. Also, despite the brevity and simple vocabulary, one gets a real sense of the different personalities of the owl babies. As children's literature goes, this is a masterpiece.

Concurring with several other reviewers, I would agree that this is a great book to share with your kids if any of them suffer from separation anxiety.

Touching,tender story of a mother's return to her babies!
This is one of those "special" books that you won't mind reading to your little one over and over again. I find that a great children's book is a lot like a great children's movie; both the parent and the child enjoy it yet at different levels. Such a tender story of a little one's fear that their parent won't come home. However, the beautiful and touching illustrations almost steal the show! You can see the worry in the little owl's eyes and hear little Bill's anxious "I want my Mommy!" My two year old daughter loves the part when it's "dark" outside because the artwork truly conveys the dark; but not in a scary way! I loved when the oldest owl, Sarah, suggests that they all sit on her limb together. My favorite illustration is when the mother owl returns and the 3 little fluffy baby owls are jumping up and down. You'll snuggle a little closer to your child when you read this one together. Just the sweetest little book you and your special one will ever read!

Terrified Owl Babies
The beautiful artwork in this book doesn't mask a storyline that is way too upsetting for a young child. From the perspective of a 3-year old, mama owl disappears on page 1 and doesn't return until the last page. The pages inbetween show 3 gorgeously drawn little birds in the throes of anxiety over the loss of their mama. As an adult, I found it unsettling as well. Too bad the talented artist got hooked up with a hold-over author from Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Perfect for a two year old
We started reading to our daughter very young, which she always enjoyed, but this was the first book we read where she clearly followed the narrative. She was in visible suspense when the mother owl was gone and very relieved when she came back. An amazing moment! It was a favorite that we read many times thereafter. She was around 2 years old at the time and I highly recommend this book as a gift for a child that age.

Calm fears - and a cute little brother
Our three kids love this book. Particularly hearing the fear in the littlest owl's wishing for his Mama's return, and his joy at her arrival. ... Read more

Book Description

In this charming sequel to the classic Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Kate and Henry eagerly await Grandpa's return from a vacation that his postcard says has been one of the best and most unusual ever. Thinking about that postcard Kate drifts off to sleep that night and...

"With Henry as my co-pilot..." she visits the strange land of Chewandswallow -- a land characterized by massive amounts of food, immense carrots, leafy jungles of lettuce, and tuna fish sandwiches so gigantic they have to be moved by helicopter. What the people of Chewandswallow are doing with all that food is most intriguing of all. Fans of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs will applaud this return trip with its underlying message of generosity and a world community. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not Returning to Chewandswallow.
I thought PICKLES TO PITTSBURGH was the sequel to CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, but I was somewhat mistaken. The children from the first story do visit Chewandswallow, but only in a dream. The illustrations in this book are just as original as the ones in the first. However, the story is lacking and doesn't have the charm of the original story. Young children don't seem to mind that, though, and like reading the stories back to back. If you're familiar with CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, you maybe disappointed somewhat after reading PICKLES TO PITTSBURGH. However, if you're just looking for a book to read to kids, it's a good choice.

Not as good as the first, but worth owning
I remember reading the first book ("Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs") when I was in school and I loved it. I had no idea there was a sequal to it until it showed up on my recommendations list. I purchased it for my daughter. It is a good story, but for me at least, it was just a sequal to a much better story. I am glad I purchased both books, but my daughter and I really enjoy the first much more.

Imaginative
This book is most interesting for 4-8 year olds but it will continue to be read forever. It is about a girl's dream. She dreams about a different world. Everything is made out of food. Kids ennjoy the imagination in this wonderful book.

Super, Super, Duper, Fabulous
This book is very creative. People should read this book because it is hilarious. I am a second grader and I read this in my class. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (14)

A perfect book in a less than perfect format
"Piggies" is a classic. Mirthful with beautiful illustrations, this book would be perfect for any youngster under the age of seven. Audrey and Don Wood have collaborated on several award-winning books, and of the ones we've seen, "Piggies" is our favorite.

The story is simple. The child narrator discusses his/her five pairs of piggies (fingers, thumbs), assigning a temperament to each pair. The pairs go through several kinds of environments, changing with the environment. The ten little piggies cavort and act up according to the situation. In the end there is a bedtime coming together of the piggies.

That rather perfunctory summary does no justice to this charming book, especially since the illustrations by Don are spectacular.

And this is the main beef with this board book format of the story (and the sole reason for losing a star.) Several full-size versions of this book exist. At this larger size, the amazing detail of the little pigs emerges. But in the board book format, the illustrations get squeezed down, losing the details that bring out the personalities of the piggies.

This leads to a tough decision: go with the sturdier board book or with the regular hardback. Much depends on how hard your children treat books. Very small children would do better with the board book, while older children would be better off with a larger, less sturdy format.

Still, either way, this is an admirable addition to any young child's library and comes highly recommended.

Piggies Review
Piggies by Audrey and Don Woods is an excellent book for children. The authors used simple content to make this book easy to understand. The book is about ten little piggies. All of the piggies are very active and different. Two are silly, two long, two fat, two small and even two smart. The authors describe each set of piggies in twos, which is very significant because it will help readers to learn the number two and counting by twos. The text of this book can be compared with the story "This little piggie went to the market," a story that many parents have shared with their children. The illustrations in this book are bright and precise. The Woods' use of bright colors help capture your attention and expand your imagination. This oversized book will attract readers immediately with its big, yellow outside cover. The illustrations help to show not only how the piggies are similar but also how different. The Woods did a great job of writing and illustrating Piggies. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to let their imagination explore the world of these little piggies.

You'll fall in love with this book!
I bought this book for my son because I just loved the illustrations. It's a simple, fun story and he absolutley loves the book. I have to read it to him several times a day and I have yet to tire of it (after several months!).

Do You Like Pigs You Will Like This Book!
In the book Piggies by Audrey Wood and Don Wood there are lots of pigs. The pigs are really funny. They sing, they take baths, they read, they eat watermelon, and get muddy. Something you have to know, though, is that the pigs are on hands. They are really fingers. I liked the book because I thought the pigs were really cute.

Student from G.P.

Great book for reading with your Mommy and Daddy
I am an 18 month old toddler. My Mommy and Daddy first started reading this book to me when I was only 1 year old. I didn't like it at first. I just wanted to read my book about farm animals. But my Mommy and Daddy seemed to think it was so charming that they kept reading it to me and soon, I started to like it.

What makes it fun for me is that my Mommy and Daddy play along with the book. Each page has a unique hand position or hand play that they can imitate. Towards the end, one of the hand plays involves tickling my tummy, so I look forward to that. Now that my parents know the entire book from memory, they sometimes "read" the book to me without the book by reciting the words along with the hand gestures, and it is still a lot of fun.

The pictures are very bright, colorful, and complicated. For me, the pictures are too complicated to understand, but I hope to understand them one day when I am older, so I am going to hang on to this book for a little while. ... Read more

Book Description

Llama, Llama red pajama waiting, waiting for his mama. Mama isn’t coming yet. Baby Llama starts to fret. In this infectious rhyming read-aloud, Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama!Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying when she goesdownstairs, and his soft whimpers turn to hollers when she doesn’t come right back. But just intime, Mama returns to set things right. Children will relate to Baby Llama’s need for comfort, as much as parents will appreciate Mama Llama’s reassuring message. ... Read more

Book Description

Dora loves her backpack. She always has what Dora needs inside. Join Dora and her pals as they try to reach the library before it closes, so Dora can return her books on time. Can Backpack help? Find out in this exciting adventure! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For 5 and up
I personally liked this book. It really lets children interact with the storyline, which is to get Dora safely to the library so she can return her books. Dora asks the reader for help in finding articles in her backpack that will help her accomplish this goal.

Overall, this book was a little too advanced for my soon-to-be three year-old cousin. Be sure to buy this book for a child who's older, because it's not a hardcover book (a little one will rip this easily) and it might be a little difficult for a toddler to interact with the story.

A great book
My 2 year old is a big Dora fan and this book is requested at bedtime every night. It is very interactive (there are lots of questions in it like "where is boots?" or "Can you count the books?" ) It is a good inexpensive book for any Dora fan. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

This bedtime story book holds Mom's attention too!
This is one of our top ten bedtime stories for our preschool children. It is the discovery of beauty and love as a mother guides her child on a bedtime trek from the porch, to the rocking chair, to the bed. It is a warm and sensitive version of the "mockingbird" Hush Little Baby lullaby. My children don't ask me for a mockingbird, a diamond ring, looking glass, etc. and so that original version seems outdated. Hooray for Sylvia Long...this book reflects a new time and a new generation of parents. She has done an excellent job in creating a book that shows a mother's love and the security of having many options at your fingertips that enrich your life (or in this book make you drift off in contented sleep). Younger children enjoy having a book read to them time after time (moreso than the parents enjoy the reading of it). It seems that with Hush Little Baby I find new details in the artwork each reading and even I havn't tired of it yet. Every page is warm and cozy and filled with nature or cuddles or quilts or bears..all things little children can relate to. I love the individual stitching around the illustrations - a different one each time you turn the page. A negative noteworthy comment (made by three of my children)is that at times the bunnys' ears are very short and seem catlike. Overall I would say this is a must in a childrens' home library!

A Pleasant Surprise
I was pleasantly surprised when I recieved this gift set in the mail, as a present from a friend off of my baby registry. The gift set is beautifully packaged and the toy is soft and plush and makes a quiet rattling sounds--quiet enough to not annoy mommy, but loud enough for baby to enjoy. It is also curled up in a C, so that you can fit the bunny rattle right onto her cradle or changing table.

The book is great--A very soft and warm writing of the hush little baby song that focuses more on nature and baby goods other than diamond rings and such (as the original song goes). It's a great book to read to baby at bedtime, and very soothing. I'm glad we recieved this!

Love this book! It's one of my daughters favorites!
I've had this book for a year. I've read it so often that I can now sing it without reading the words. My 3 year old daugther calls it the "Banjo song" because one of the lyrics in the book mentions a banjo. She asks for it every night lately. I highly recommend this book.

Beautiful Book
This is one of our favorites. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Its a wonderful nighttime book to sing to our baby, and the new story created by the author is terrific. The pajama clad bunny is cute and our baby loves to play with him. A must have in your library.

A Must Have!
I just started giving this book as a gift to all newborns! It sends such a great message. In this materialistic world of ours, it's nice to know that happiness can be taught and shared through the simple things in life. ... Read more

Book Description

HELP IS FINALLY HERE FOR PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN JUST WON'T "STAY IN BED" AT BEDTIME.

Helping children learn to stay in bed after they have been tucked in for the night is a challenge many parents face.Now, with the help of Peterson's delightful new book, The Sleep Fairy, families everywhere can have pleasant bedtimes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

End your evenings blissfully!!! Bedtime Problems solved.
We have 11 children. Six daughters. Before we found this book we were troubled every night at bedtime by three of our younger daughters. If our daughters ever stayed in bed it was purely accidental and certainly not routine. These are good children, with good behaviors, with their only weakness being at bedtime.

We used this book and within two nights, the girls were staying in bed. It actually helped to have more than one child, because they had another person to see succeed if they did not.

We were blessed with peaceful evenings alone, and happy children. The girls that would not sleep are now 8 and 6 and they have no problems staying in bed. Our five year old has been staying in bed with this book for at least two years, and our just three year old girl is now reading the book with us or even the older girls and staying in bed as well. This book even works when friends sleep over....they want to be part of the magic too!!

The book does not continue to be read every night. This book is a quick fix that you can gradually subtract once the child is used to the routine and out of the habit of getting out of bed.

We recommend this book to anyone with a child who is hard to put to bed, or just needs some behavior reinforcement for bedtime problems that occur only sometimes. We love this book. It is a God send that saved us from endless nights of stress, that should always be the most pleasant time of day. Days with children should end peaceful and lovingly, and this book would guarantee that result. What better memories to foster with your child than peaceful evenings and a little magic.

Sweet Dreams and Morning Surprises
"Tonight is a special night and you are warm and snug.
You sipped your final drink and you gave us your nightly hug.
I sit here by your bedside and I hold you in my arms,
as I tell you of the Sleep Fairy and all her special charms."

Many parenting books now suggest rewarding and praising as a way to cast an obedience spell over your children. While children do seem to have minds and motivations all of their own, there are times when authors think up the most creative solutions to everyday conundrums.

In sharp contrast, the most uncreative solutions include ideas like: "Putting your children to bed and letting them cry themselves to sleep." Sounds fun for the children, doesn't it?

This book is much more creative. Janie Peterson is a Child behavior specialist who presents a fascinating solution to the eternal question:

"How do you get your kids to stay in bed once they are there?"

Not only does this book contain a magical formula for getting your children to stay in their own beds, it appeals to your child?s magical inner world. That place where they dream, imagine and wish. Positive rewards work well for other teaching moments and so Janie Peterson imagined they would also work well at bedtime.

Now, if there it a Tooth Fairy, why shouldn't there be a Sleep Fairy?

Years ago, Janie and Roger Peterson discovered a delightful Sleep Fairy who helped them teach their children to stay in bed at night. Since then, they have shared this magical solution with other parents who then learned how to sprinkle a little fairy dust themselves.

So who is the Sleep Fairy? Well, you of course. It is a job that has the rewards of: no whining, no tantrums, no arguing, no crying and no begging.

The Sleep Fairy simply stocks up on a collection of small treats children enjoy. It could be as simple as a bookmark, sticker, ribbon, piece of candy or a tiny toy.

The author suggests that you read this story every night when you first start to put this idea into action. Once your children are staying in bed, the sleep fairy then visits them quite often for two weeks. After this, you phase out the routine and tell your children the Sleep Fairy will only be an occasional visitor.

The story itself has been designed in vivid colors and the text is warm, snuggly and often rhymes. Molly and Katie are the two girls in the story. They get ready for bed and brush their teeth. After Dad reads a bedtime story, Mom tucks the girls into be and Mom and Dad tiptoe out of the room.

"Minutes Later" Molly climbs out of bed and asks for another drink. Then Molly and Katie beg for another story. When Mom and Dad say: "GO BACK TO BED," the two girls unhappily return to sleep.

There had to be a better solution, so the next night Dad reads a magical story. He tells Molly and Katie about the Sleep Fairy and suddenly going to bed and sleeping is much more fun. As Molly and Katie snuggle into bed, they have happy dreams and don't get out of bed.

The next morning both girls find a tiny lovable doll.

Reading "The Sleep Fairy" is a ingenious way to encourage your children to magically remain in bed. This book has been proven to substantially reduce children's bedtime problems and night awakenings.

Destined to become a Classic Bedtime story. Finally parents can enjoy a peaceful night's sleep too!

~TheRebeccaReview.com

The answer to all bedtime problems!
A must try for all parents who have kids that don't want to go to sleep or want to sleep with their parents. I read it once and my 3 year has slept in her bed since. The story can easily be adapted to your bedtime routines and you can insert your rules for what qualifies for the fairy to visit. Treats do not have to be much, stickers, a dime, or 3 pieces of hard candy made her day. I had my doubts when I first read it, but after its results I keep referring my friend to it!

it's a miracle
I can't believe the results after just ONE time of reading the story to my 3 year old daughter!!! After years of sleeping with mommy, crying, whining and getting out of bed my daughter stayed in her own bed without one "peep" after reading The Sleep Fairy story. And she loves the book. she now can recite it and reads it to me each night, even the poem is memorized, word for word.

Parents must try this book. I've recommended it to my friends with children and it has worked miracles with all. Why didn't someone think of this book sooner? It is my best buy of the year!! ... Read more

Book Description

Woof! Woof!

It's time for bed, but Biscuit wants to have a snack, and play, and hear stories. Will he ever go to sleep?

Reviews (13)

Should Be Biscuit's Bedtime
This is the first Biscuit book, wherein we meet the small yellow puppy and the-girl-in-purple-sneakers. It is bedtime but Biscuit, like many children, does not want to go to bed. Instead, he wants to play, snack, drink, get hugged, have a blanket, etc.

Many parents will recognize what Biscuit is doing, avoiding sleep and getting more "mommy time." But in the end, what Biscuit winds up with is to be asleep but not in his own bed, but near the little girl.

Adorable illustrations really make this a fun book for children (sometimes I have my daughter read Biscuit's part, "Woof, woof!"). A great book. Read them all.

A Comforting Story for the Beginner Reader
Biscut is a cute "small, yellow puppy" owned by an equally adorable 3 to 6 year-old, auburn-haired girl. Most of this 21-page book is in the following format:

Time for bed, Biscuit!
Woof, woof!
Biscuit wants ...

What does Biscut want? Well, he wants "to play, a snack, a drink, to hear a story, his blanket, his doll, a hug, a kiss, a light on, to be tucked in, one more kiss, one more hug, and to curl up." Thirty-five simple words are introduced and many are used over and over again so that the text eventually averages a little more than six words per page. This warm, comforting story is perfect for a child who has just started to learn to read.

First Biscuit book we bought!
This is the first book my daughter, who is 5, really got attached to. She loves it and all the Biscuit books! We just keep buying all we can find about Biscuit. Great beginner reader book!

Biscuit
This book is about a little puppy that needs to go to bed, but little Biscuit doesn't want to. He keeps wanting to play, eat, hear a story, then he goes to the little girls room to curl up with her. He finaly falls asleep when he lays on the girls blanket on the floor. I thought this book was so cute. The pictures were really good. This book teaches the children how some pets need this much attention and how they don't always do as they are supposed to.

Biscuit
The book Biscuit was about a little girl who had dog that needed lots of attention. Before Biscuit was ready to go to bed the little girl had to feed him, play with him, read him a story, tuck him in, give him a hug and a kiss and leave a light on for Biscuit. Just as the little girl fell asleep Biscuit was in her room and wants more attention. Will Biscuit ever fall asleep?? The lesson that I learn from this story is that having any kind of pet is a lot of responsibility and that you really have to be kind to your animals. The age range of this story I would say would have to be for children two to five years old. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Simple and Sweet
My son loves this book as a must read every morning when he wakes up and every night before he goes to bed. We love searching for the mouse and the flea and seeing the movement of the characters before they end up on the bed or off of it. The colors and the change from night to day are so smooth you almost dont notice it.

Good Book
Spanish is our native language and we speak Spanish at home so that our kids learn both Spanish and English. This book is a simple story with rather rich language, my daughter got 3 or 4 words she had never heard before. Besides, my daughter loves the story and the pictures; she likes to look for the mouse and the 'pulga' in all of the pages.

La Casa Adormecida
The language is simple and repeptitive, making this a great book to teach Spanish in Elementary and Middle grades. Illustrations are great. It's also a good book for native speakers practicing reading. I use it as a check-out book for English as a Second Language students, to motivate literacy acquisition. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A great book that allows active child participation.
"Go away, Big Green Monster has delighted my preschooler for nearly a year now. After reading it to him only 2 or 3 times he had memorized nearly every page. Now when we crack open the book, he reads it to me first and then I read it to him. He especially likes the last page because he can firmly state with power, "Go away, Big Green Monster and don't come back, until I say so!" This book is also a good tool in color and shape recognition.

Alredy a classic
I'm a children's librarian. This book is so incredibly popular with my library children that I order a dozen copies at a time. Its simple, bold graphics are extremely pleasing, and the children love the cutout pictures.

I frequently use this book for story programs. The first part of the book builds the monster by adding one facial feature at a time. I usually ask the children what the facial feature is or what color it is. The hair is purple, the face is green. When the monster is complete, I ask if they are scared. They never are. Then we get out our pointer fingers, shake them at the book, and in our bossiest voice chase that monster away. The book ends with the children telling the monster not to come back until we say so.

Whenever I read this book to a group, I invariably see children rereading the book on their own. Usually half the children want to check out a copy of the book. Because the graphics are so good, and the story so strong, even very young children can "read" this book to themselves. I love to see the children sitting at tables, shaking their fingers at the book, and gruffly telling that bad monster to "Go away."

I highly recommend this book because it is empowering, it's fun, and it's a great book to teach your child to love books.

Come back little big green monster!
I've enjoyed reading through the vast variety of responses to this book, and mostly they bring up some interesting points. 'Go Away Big Green Monster' is ostensibly a book that is meant to (and I'm quoting the back of the book here) 'chase away their (kids') nighttime monsters'. All well and good. This doesn't give the book much in the way of plot development or character analysis, but it sure does create one heckuva scary bed time monster. By flipping through the pages the book slowly creates, then disposes with a big green boogie man.

I was a bit amazed at the cut out construction of this tale. It's cleverly done and expertly woven. But as some reviews of this book have pointed out, it's probably a book best written for kids who ALREADY are afraid of big green monsters. If you've a child who's never considered that monsters might be out there with 'a big red mouth with sharp white teeth' this might suddenly inspire them to become afraid for the first time. Sort of the antithesis of what the book is supposed to accomplish. I mean, it's a cute book. No question. Just make certain that you're handing it to a little one that is not innocent in the ways of monsters and monster appearance.

Oh, and as a personal side note, I love the cover. The big green monster stares out at the viewer in a perfect Kilroy-esque appearance (his big ole nose hanging like a blue cucumber over the yellow wall). Any book that references Kilroy is a-okay by me.

I love this book
I love this book, not only is it a fun book to read, but it helps children learn how to make the monsters go away when they are scared. I not only read this book to all my children at school but I also read it to my five month old son. He listens to me and the colors really catch his eyes.

Jack's Monster Book
This is the favorite book of my son's pre-school two year old class. They are not frigtened by the story and seem to like retelling the story back to the teacher. My son enjoyed this book so much at school we bought it for his Christmas present and likes to look at it most days. Very good for children 2-6 years of old. ... Read more

Book Description

It's time for bed, little Sam!But which plush animal friend should he take to bed with him?There's soft furry tiger, fuzzy felt monkey, rough and scratchy crocodile and wrinkly elephant.With charming, colorful illustrations and a variety of textures for little hands to explore, Sweet Dreams, Sam is the perfect introduction to a toddler's tactile world. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Book!
My 9 month old adores this book. It has really bright colors and the touch and feel pictures are really a nice size so he is immediately drawn to them where other books seem to have a small touch and feel picture. I would definitely buy this book for a friend.

One of my son's all-time favorites
This is such a great book. The story is sweet, and the touch and feel part has been a big hit with my son for months....most children's books shouldn't be taken too literally. (Duh!) In THIS book, Sam is debating about what stuffed animal to take to bed with him. But, in the end . . . well, I won't spoil it for you. I cannot imagine anyone NOT liking this Story. It is adorable.

Sweet Story!
On his way to bed, Sam the bunny, searches for a friend to help him fall asleep, and says, "With brave, furry Tiger, I won't be afraid of anything." The reader sees a large, orange-FURRY tiger with black stripes, and Sam who is dressed in SOFT, blue pajamas is carrying a teddy bear.

The story continues with Sam climbing on a blue-WRINKLED Elephant's back so he can touch the stars. Then he thinks about an orange-FUZZY Monkey, a yellow-FEATHERED Parrot, and a Crocodile's green-ROUGH back, but in the end decides a hug from Mama is best of all - red-CRIMPED, paper dress.

The illustrations are simply drawn, and brightly colored for a strong visual contrast; in addition, the animals are large, providing ample space for touching and feeling. My only objection to giving "Sweet Dreams, Sam" five stars is due to the taxing prose. When reading to children a rhythmic cadence facilitates better listening, and holds interest for longer periods, i.e. the reason Dr. Seuss's books are classics and nursery rhymes still exist. At any rate, the story is sweet and the "touch-and-feel" effect fascinates children.

Oh, as far as a previous posters comments concerning the crocodile page - I wouldn't want my son to play with Tigers, Elephant's, Monkey's, Parrots, or Crocodiles. The purpose of this book is to spark children's imaginations with creative thought, teach colors, animal recognition, and sooth them to "Sweet Dreams." I am sorry she missed the point. One-year and up.

Great book to get little readers attention
My eight month old son loves this book. He enjoys putting his tiny fingers on the furry tiger, shiny elephant, and scratchy crocodile. The pictures are bright and fun and it's a very interactive book for young babies. This is our favorite book to read together.

Lovely to look at, but...
Sweet Dreams, Sam, with its colorful drawings and "childfriendly" pages will appeal to any small child. The book's short and imaginative text makes, for the most part, great bedtime reading. However, "stars" had to be taken away, in my opinion, because of the crocodile page. Do we want to tickle our small child's imagination with the thought of stretching out on a crocodile's back or playing with the snout of such a beast? I discarded the book because one of the first 10 lessons for my child's life is to instill a fright of the dangerous crocodile/alligator. ... Read more

Book Description

Imagine a night when you can ride your bike right up the stairs to your bed. Imagine a night when your toy train rumbles on its tracks out of your room and roars back in, full sized, ready for you to hop on for a nighttime adventure. Imagine a night when a farmer plays a lullaby on his fiddle, and his field of sunflowers begins to dip and sway to the rhythm. Imagine a night when ordinary objects magically become extraordinary...a night when it is possible to believe the impossible.

With the intrigue of an Escher drawing and the richness of a Chris Van Allsburg painting, renowned Canadian artist Rob Gonsalves depicts that delicious time between sleep and wakefulness, creating a breathtaking, visual exploration of imagination and possibility that will encourage both children and adults to think past the boundaries of everyday life, and see the possibilities beyond. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful art!!!
The art in this book by Rob Gonsalves is wonderful!! It is filled with imagination and an awesome use of unusual, yet clever, perspective. Figures emerge from nature, buildings emerge from canyons, priests emerge from cathedral windows...the list goes on and on. The limited text in the book is more of a reflection of the paintings rather than the other way around. I didn't need the text for the book to inspire me. If I were rating the text alone, it would be so, so. The paintings are what make this book spectacular! The book should be considered for most all age groups. Even though it appears to be geared more toward a child audience (because of it's size and the typestyle/font), I wouldn't buy this book for a small child. However, I think it could be appreciated by those 10 and older.

Very imaginative book!
Based upon a series of paintings by Rob Gonsalves, the author has magically created a book of transformation. The paintings and the text are both wonderful and work very well together. This book would be inspiring to anyone. It is imaginative, creative and uses rich language...something important for the development of children into good writers. I intend to use this book in my classroom for an interesting writing assignment that will also require the students to delve into their imaginations. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wait Until They're Older
While my 2-year-old likes the pictures, the concepts of imagination and fantasy are apparently over his head. He clearly doesn't understand the concept, although he does enjoy the clip of the rhyming text. My advice: wait until your child is a little older before trying this book.

Bound to be a classic
We came across this book by chance at the library. My son is 2 years old and loves trains- this story is so sweet, it's a wonderful make believe. He loves it so much I renewed it 2 times before we broke down and had to buy it for him.

An Imaginative Story
My five-year-old son loves this book and asks me to read it over and over to him. (He's even learning to recognize many of the words.) What I think he loves about it is that Ben uses his imagination to create magical worlds with his toys -- just like what five-year olds do. ... Read more

Book Description

The sun and the moon shine down on a young boy as he spends a day by the

sea. "Sun shines on the mountains, sun shines on the sea. Sun shines on my

pillow, and says wake up to me."




... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great illustrations
My 17 mo daughter loves this book. She loves to point out the sun or the moon on each page. She hands it to me to be read to her at least once a day.

great first read
my son is 3, and he really likes this book. it has large print, so he can read some of the words. he talks about sunshine and moonshine during the day, and he got it from this book. it's memorable and easy to read over and over. get it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Simple, Soft, Explanation of Nightmares for Young Children
Both "Brother" and "Sister" Bear have bad dreams after they play with some toy monsters, and "Brother" sees a movie about them. "Mama Bear" and "Papa Bear" comfort them when they each have bad dreams that night:

"But it was so real!" she said, calming down a bit.
"That's how it is with dreams," he [Papa] said. "It's as if they're really happening, but they're not-they're just in your mind."

After Sister explains the dream, Mama explains that the mind keeps thinking during sleep, but in a nonsensical way, and that a dream "takes all the things you were thinking or were nervous about during the day and puts them together all jumbled like a mixed-up jigsaw puzzle." Mama validates that the dream is scary but also points out how it was interesting.

This may or may not help a child experiencing his/her first nightmares. It's might be useful as an initial explanation, but it doesn't (nor does it intend to) offer much more insight or coping strategies than those mentioned above. As usual, the drawings are fairly bland and unimaginative, but will be familiar to the Berenstain Bear fan.

The Bad Dream
Waking up from a bad dream isn't very pleasant, but after reading this story its not half as bad. This story helps explain to your children why they dream and why sometimes they are scary dreams. It's a great and fun way to show your child that dreams are all in their head, and not even close to being real.
It all starts when brother buys his new Space Grizzlies play set. He makes a deal with Sister so she will play with him. The next day Brother goes to see the Space Grizzlies movie and it scares him. That night both Sister and Brother have nightmares ... about Space Grizzlies. They both run into Mama and Papa's room, first Sister, then Brother, and that is when they explain to them how dreams get concocted in your mind.
This is a great story to show your kids that dreams aren't real. It also explains why they have bad dreams. I would recommend this story to any child who has bad dreams. If you are an adult I would recommend you read this to your child. It's great just like all the other Berenstain Bears books. I would also recommend you read some more books by Stan and Jan Berenstein to your children.

Great Kids Book
After the cubs go to see a scary movie with their parents, they have a horrible bad dream. Will Mama and Papa be able to help the cubs?

This a a really great book. It explains to kids why we have bad dreams and how they are not real. I suggest it for any child who loves good story!

Toddler loves it
She loved the picture of the cover on the back of another Berenstain Bear book. We have read it so many times that our 3 year old can tell the story word for word by the pictures. Any time she claims to have a bad dreams now "Space Grizzly's" are chasing her.

The Bernstain Bears and the Bad Dream
I bought this book because my 2 1/2 year old daughter was having nightmares. It explained to her what nightmares were in a way that she could understand. After I finished the book she said "no monsters Mommy?". I have read it to her before bed everynight since I bought it and she has not had nightmares since. I would recommend it to anyone who has a child who is having nightmares or who is afraid of monsters in the night. What a lifesaver this book is...I now get a full night's sleep again!

Heather ... Read more