Amazon.com

In John Irving's ninth novel A Widow for One Year, a creepy children's book author named Ted Cole writes a bedtime story about things that go bump in the night. That odd, gently comical tale is brought to life here with Tatjana Hauptmann's shadowy, moonlit pencil illustrations. Young Tom wakes up in the middle of the night to an unusual sound, but his two-year-old brother Tim does not. When his fathers asks what it sounded like, Tom reveals a number of silly and scary options: "like a monster with no arms and no legs," or "a dog trying to open a door," or "a ghost dropping stolen peanuts"--"a sound like someone trying not to make a sound," in fact. The illustrations--with a smattering of wordless spreads--show the pajama-clad Tom wandering alone through a big empty house as bulges in the wall and long shadows hint at unseen horrors. In the end, the father tells his boys that the sound is just a mouse in the wall. Tom is immensely relieved, but baby Tim screams because he doesn't know what a mouse is, and stays up all night to ward off the furry, mysterious thing. Not too scary, nor too comforting, Irving's picture-book debut imaginatively captures that late-night world where everything looks and sounds a little like a monster.(Preschool to age 6) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Book Description

Who wants to go to bed when you can play with dinosaurs, have a tea party, or get a piggyback ride from Papa Bear? Brother Bear and Sister Bear are doing everything they can to postpone their bedtime -- even if that means putting Mama Bear and Papa Bear to bed first!

Book Description

In fun, rhyming couplets and striking artwork, the Chapmans present hilarious pictures of what dogs might dream of being and doing. Chewing on bones? Sleeping all day? No, these dogs dream of dancing on stage, running for president, flying to the moon, going to school, and yes, eating steak in a diner while the people wait outside on the street. Most dogs have been denied these "people only" experiences...until now!

This is a book for anyone with wild and wonderful dreams ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great book
Nice story about dogs and their aspirations.My nineteen month old daughter loves this book.

So this is what dogs dream about!
Here is a wonderful book about what our dogs just might be dreaming! The illustrations are vivid and lots of fun, while the text is simple and silly enough to please all ages! If your family likes James Marshall and Maira Kalman books,you should add this to your library! ... Read more

Book Description

Mom and Dad say there's no dragon, but Sophie is determined to find him herself!

Award-winning author Hilary McKay and illustrator Amanda Harvey have created a wonderfully imaginative tale about confronting nighttime fears, a story that will delight young children everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

another great imagination book
Hearing noises downstairs at night sounds magnified and scary to young children.The little girl in this book is ready and willing to try to get rid of what she perceives to be a dragon in the darkness of night and invents ways that might help. The art on the pages helps make the idea of a dragon in her house seem possible.Her parents are very understanding, and in the surprise ending, she conquers the "dragon".Delightful treatment of an age old story that has held good size groups of preschoolers spellbound at storytime. ... Read more

Book Description

On a terrifically rainy day, Ben has a dream in which he and his house float by the monuments of the world, half submerged in flood-water. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Landmark Story
From the brilliant author and artist, Chris Van Allsburg, who brought us Jumanji and the Polar Express, comes this delightfully surreal story of the unusual help a boy gets when he's studying for his Geography test about landmarks of the world. There is very little text but the characteristic black and white line drawings of Van Allsburg speak volumes. There are lots of subtle details that make you want to look this book over again and again. The clever Geography lesson is sure to be remembered forever when learned in this fun-filled fashion. It's a great book with Van Allsburg's usual wry little twist at the end. Don't miss it!

Ben's Dream by Chris Van Allsburg
By the author of the well-known Jumanji and The Polar Express, Ben's Dream is full of incredible black and white line drawings. Beginning on a normal after-school afternoon, Ben leaves his reality (in typical Van Allsburg fashion)for far-away adventures visiting the world's major monuments.

Your imagination is required - it's largely a picture book - and will be different and fresh with every visit.

Look closely at every drawing - and don't forget to look for Fritz, the bull-terrier with the dark eye-patch who appears somewhere in most of Van Allsburg's books.

Simple. Fun. Something new to notice every time you read it. ... Read more

Book Description

This oversized collection features all your favorite Disney friends! Ten stories that can easily be read in five minutes - perfect for busy families to share together. (Include short stories from Cinderella, Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Lion King, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, Aladdin, plus Mickey and friends). ... Read more

Book Description

It's late at night, and the cheerful chatter of Moth, Frog, Cricket, and Mockingbird keeps a restless child awake. But the friendly wind and a cooperative cloud intervene to quiet all nighttime melodies and deliver a gentle "Good night." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A SOOTHING BEDTIME TALE
Granted, there are a plethora of bedtime stories available, but when someone asks for recommendations "Wind Says Good Night" is usually on my list.

Youngsters find much to enjoy as a chorus of frogs, moths, mockingbirds and crickets all whisper goodnight. The text has a comforting lilt, and the pastel drawings are both restful and amusing.

A beautifully entertaining story
A little girl can't go to sleep, so the wind asks what he could do to help. And that is the flow of the story ~~ as nighttime winds down to the soft sigh of the wind.

There is a magical quality to this book ~~ one that keeps me reading in delight. (If I have to read these books to my kids, it better be enjoyable for me too!) The pictures are beautifully illustrated. I am now a David Jorgensen fan. And I really enjoy Katy Rydell's writing in this book. It's very musical and lyrical ~~ whimiscal too. It's a delightful book for my children to hear before they go to bed. And the pictures are a joy to behold.

This is one purchase we won't regret buying!

10-15-03

My favorite, and my daughter's favorite, for over two years!
This is a wonderful book for bedtime. One of my favorite aspects is that the text can very easily be paraphrased if needed- the reader can skip over the repeated lines and go right to the answer: "I can't stop shining unless there's a change in the weather." Then when your child is a little older, you can read the entire book as written. "The child", by the way, is never referred to as a girl or a boy, which is nice, so that boys and girls will be able to identify. I'm not sure I agree with the reviewer who said that this child is "restless"- the child simply can't sleep because a bird is singing outside the window, and so the story begins. This beautiful book makes a great gift!

Beautifully written and illustrated-great bed time story!!
The repetitive text is great for bed time reading and the illustrations are beautiful! I've been collecting children's books for my daughters and the collection wouldn't be complete without this story. ... Read more

Book Description

There was once a little raccoon who wanted to go out in the night -- to know an owl, to see if the moon is a rabbit, and to find out how dark is the dark. But his mother said, "Wait. Wait till the moon is full." So the little raccoon waited and wondered, while the moon got bigger and bigger and bigger. Until at last, on a very special evening, the moon was full.

Reviews (5)

A wonderful childhood memory to pass on
I have been looking for a copy of this book for years. While visiting my brother recently I discovered that he had the copy that we read over and over again when we were children. It's in poor shape, a testimony to the use it received. He wouldn't part with it, so I am so pleased to find it available again. I'm sure my 2-year old grandson will enjoy this sweet and gentle story as much as I did.

Incredibly touching
I first discovered this book while teaching Kindergarten several years ago. The story and it's wonderful illistrations struck a chord of wonder and notalgia in me that I had not experienced in a long, long time. Thereafter, it became my favorite storytime book with the children. The book was lost one year to my distress, so you can imagine the joy I felt in finding it here, available to the publc once more. This is a book that should be read and enjoyed by all.

What can I say?
What can anyone say about this tender book. It had an enourmous influence on me as I grew up. I loved the language and the pictures. Today I have sold paintings and some of my writing. And writing poetry comes very very easy to me. This is a book that has made a difference.

I have been looking for this book for years.
My mother read this book to me when I was a little girl. I have been looking for this book for 25 years and am so glad to find it. As a 41 year old woman I am going to order it because this story brings back such safe, wonderful feelings and memories for me.

beautiful story line and wonderful pictures.
I read this book as a child in the hardbound copy. I am so happy it is still in print for other children to enjoy. The story shows the sweet patience of a loving mother and her cub who cannot wait to get outside to play. ... Read more

Book Description

This Sesame Street read-along takes babies and toddlers to the moon and more in this lovely board book version of the classic song. Sturdy pages, beautifully illustrated in glowing color, make this celebration of the imagination the perfect gift. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

One of my Personal Favorites
If your heart melted when this song appeared on "Sesame Street," then you'll love this book. If you are not already familiar with it, Ernie dreams about the amazing places he'd like to go. He learns that it's great to have an imagination, but there's no better place than being at home with loved ones. This is a short book that would make a great bedtime story for any preschool child.

Fun song, great illustrations
My 18 month loved the Sesame Street song that is sung by Ernie so she was hooked from the start. Additionally, the illustrations are really beautiful. When I am reading it to her, I catch my 4 year old peaking over listening in. This book is a hit in my house.

Mark's all time Favorite
This book is wonderful. It is my 20 month old son's favorite book from the moment he saw it the first time. I wish there were more of these Seasame Song books. The illustration is beautiful (I don't care what the paid review says!). Anyone who enjoys singing and/or reading with their child will love this book. Now when my son sees the song being song on Seasame Street he runs to his cabinet and pulls out the book. Its the first book he gets out in the morning and I have to make him leave it down stairs on his way to bed.

Great bedtime book
My son and husband loved this song from Sesame Street so I was so excited they had a book of it. The illustrations are beautiful and my one year old loves the funny pictures of Ernie. We sing the song as a lullabye and it works like a charm!

One of those not-so-babyish Sesame Street songs
"I Don't Want to Live on The Moon" has been one of my mother's favorite songs. The song is mostly in Sesame Street episodes about space, but the main theme of this soothing song is really about having wishes rather than about going to the moon. It tells how when one has wishes, it is hard to decide whether or not he or she really wants them to come true because of the changes that might happen if they did. I sing the song when I think of my wishes and at nighttime when I see the moon. They really ought to make more books of those not-so-babyish Sesame Street songs such as, "We are all Earthlings". Buy this book for somebody who's always got wishes on their mind about which they have tough decisions. ... Read more

Book Description

Mama"s out dancing, and Lulu, the babysitter, is in charge. The Five Little Monkeys are supposed to go to bed, but they convince Lulu there"s time for just one game of hide-and-seek first . . . and then another, and another . . . until they discover the ultimate hiding place. Lulu is frantic; where can those monkeys be? Vibrant, expressive illustrations in Eileen Christelow"s signature style accompany a catchy rhymed text that"s great for reading aloud. The refrain invites children to join in; as Lulu counts to 10, 24, and finally 104, young listeners will count along with her. And what little monkey can resist the idea of mischief at bedtime? ... Read more

Book Description

This boy is not ready to go to sleep, so he revs up his little red car and drives away into a magical, softly-muted land filled with larger-than-life toys. But all the toys are too tired to play, and when the toy musicians play a lullaby, it puts the boy's car to sleep.How will he get home now?Luckily, someone is still awake, and she's on her way to pick the boy up and tuck him (finally!) into bed. This humorous, clever story is sure to become a bedtime favorite.

"The imaginary blends seamlessly with the real." -Booklist, starred review

Awards:

( Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A "bad" baby's journey into night
It doesn't take long for the trouble to start in "The Boy who wouldn't go to Bed". Confronted with the age-old parental imperative of "Bedtime", appalled at the absurdity of such a command when "it's still light", and utterly unintimidated by the power disparity involved, the baby retorts with a steely "No!", hops into his car and roars off into the night, leaving his mother far behind. At the outset the illustrations are suffused with a beautiful golden light but as the journey progresses that light begins to fail and we are left to reflect on the wisdom of the baby's decision.

This baby is a man of action who is bound to appeal to any child who's ever confronted an "unreasonable" bedtime, or any other "unreasonable" parental dictat. His dynamic response shows from the outset that he is a force to be reckoned with who will not kowtow to authority figures, no matter now mighty. The stage is set for a showdown more reminiscent of "Cool-Hand Luke" or "Braveheart", for it is clear our hero is prepared to match himself against any adversary. No whining, crying or ineffectual complaining here, but a forthright declaration of independence by the baby. Yet as the story progresses it is clear that independence has its price. The baby's long journey into night brings him up against all kinds of dark, mysterious characters, each with their own, sleep-related agenda. The night world beyond the bedroom soon proves resistant (or at least too sleepy to respond) to the baby's efforts to command it and as the tale progresses even the baby's faithful car threatens to fail him. The baby searches in vain for reliable (or at least wakeful) companions to share his adventures but without a Gandalf to help him assemble a "fellowship" his journey to the world of darkness threatens to be a lonely one. And just when it looks like he's really on his own, it becomes apparent that something or someone is pursuing the baby, and not until the book's grand finale do we see who that pursuer is (though knowing parents can probably guess!).

The book's message, if it has one, is that there are primordial forces in this world that even a baby with a car should hesitate to match himself against, and that the rhythms of nighttimes and bedtimes are beyond the power of mere children to challenge. Like King Canute, by book end the baby has learned an important lesson about the power of nature and that we all have to sleep sometime.

Helen Cooper conveys that lesson with incredible skill. Her beautiful, award-winning illustrations capture the light of the failing day perfectly, and the progression from gold to dusk to gloom enhances the sense of a journey from one realm to another. And at the end of the book we see that the strange creatures and settings our hero encounters have their analogues much closer to home.

Like Scorcese's "After Hours", this book is perfect at conveying that sense of things closing down for the night, and the terrors of being caught outside alone, far from home, in a strange territory full of characters who won't conform to our ideas of what is proper night behaviour. It also reminds me of "The Phantom Tollbooth", another child's toy auto journey into a fantastic night world.

This is a wonderful bedtime book that is great fun reading to small children (7 and below). The Breugel-like level of detail in the illustrations are an endless source of fascination for small children. Each time you read it there is liable to be a new detail that catches their interest and provokes discussion, though sometimes requiring an adult to improvise explanations for certain illustrations that aren't apparent from the text. The text is simple but fresh, with stimulating repetitions, and lots of opportunities for interactive dialogues between child and reader. The tensions in the story and the sly humour of many of the illustrations and situations make it exciting to read while the relentless repetition of its main theme - the importance of sleep - can be quite sleep-inducing. I've almost fallen asleep reading it sometimes, yet by no means from boredom. It is so easy to identify with that baby, and share his frustration as his efforts to find fellow travellers fail. Right from the opening bedtime showdown I can tell the children I read it to are thinking "Been there! Been there!" We are all torn between rooting for the baby yet worrying about the implications for bedtimes everywhere if he succeds .

I would strongly recommend this book for anyone involved with small children.

LOVE this book
The illustrations are WONDERFUL and the story is fun.I would recommend this book to everyone!

Great book
My almost 2 year old son got this book for X-mas.We have been reading it everyday since. He loves it! After reading this book 3 or 4 times he says sleepy now when it is time to go to bed.
I like it because it seems to get the message across that night is for sleeping. Plus it has beautiful illustrations and the text isn't completely assanine. After writing this I am going to but some more of this authors books. Too bad she doesn't have one about going to the potty:)

Great book
My almost 2 year old son got this book for X-mas.We have been reading it everyday since. He loves it! After reading this book 3 or 4 times he says sleepy now when it is time to go to bed.
I like it because it seems to get the message across that night is for sleeping. Plus it has beautiful illustrations and the text isn't completely assanine. After writing this I am going to buy some more of this authors books. Too bad she doesn't have one about going to the potty :)

I was misled by all these glowing reviews.
Let me qualify something.I have a two year old.This book is not good for a two year old.Pictures: Poorly done, with some artistic watercolors that are really to dark.Not a bright happy and pleasing in the illustration department.The pictures are really elementary in skill level.Story:This book is really just a huge social message about the loss of habitat for certain animals.I dont think that little kids really can conceptialize this let alone care.The message also offers no solution to the problem.Leaves you hanging at the end as you wonder if you missed something.Text: Not a rhyming book.Actually, just did not have good flow.I hate to be the odd man out here, but for MY purposes - not a book that I would recommend you buy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star On All the People That I Love
My youngest son has suffered from severe asthma ever since he was an infant and he's almost 20 years old now. Some of my most painful memories are of watching him struggle with the torture of this disease when he was very small, and feeling the awful helplessness a parent feels when they have done all they can and still the suffering continues. When my son was at his sickest we would snuggle close and I would rub his back and quietly sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to him in a slow, soothing voice. Sometimes I would need to sing it for a long while before he could finally relax enough to fall asleep. I had to learn all the verses besides the familiar one and I had to make up several additional ones, too! As he grew older I continued to sing it when things were bad. When he was sad or in pain or facing a tough time, he would cuddle up and ask for a back rub and "Twinkle Twinkle." I think he was 18 the last time I sang it and he was suffering heartbreak rather than asthma. Well, to get to the point, this book does complete justice to the special song that has meant so much in our lives. It has all of the verses and they are very beautiful. Sylvia Long's lovely illustrations show little animal children dressed in cute clothes like sweaters and blue jeans as they sit together on a country hill gazing up at the diamonds in the sky. Then we see each of the children go to their own homes where their loving parents cuddle them off to bed. They have such cute and colorful jammies on. The love between a parent and child shines throughout this little charmer just like a twinkling star. I love it! ... Read more

Book Description

There's a new dog in town and his name is Otto, a lovable, goofy dog sure to win over the preschool set. In each adventure, Otto faces a familiar childhood dilemma and resolves it in a surprising, silly, and satisfying way. What should a dog left alone in the house do? Go to the beach and meet a new friend, of course! How should a dog get himself to fall asleep? Why, he should dream about all his favorite things! Todd Parr's signature bright colors and bold images burst out on every page. Each easy-to-read story ends with a special reassuring message from Otto, giving these books the same personal touch that proved so popular in Parr's previous bestselling titles It's Okay to Be Different and The Feelings Book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great fun!
Todd Parr really gets it right. We love his illustrations and straightforward text. I like this book even better than the "Do's and Don't's" books that we've come to know well. This one is cute enough that the kids get it and the adults can grin as well. Easy, sweet, silly, fun to look at. My four-year-old adores it -- an instant favorite. Our most-loved page is when Otto brushes his teeth with "chicken flavored toothpaste." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful Book!
Our 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 year old daughters really enjoy this book.I love it so much that I give it to friends who have toddlers or preschoolers.

The messages are so sweet and the words are appealing to young children.Nothing scary, just pure tenderness and comfort.It's a collection of one page stories, (each with a different theme) that interest young children - growing, blankets, rain, falling asleep, bath time, dreams, favorite toys etc.The format allows for good conversations to arise with your child.

Excellent for infants--pictures and language are wonderful
Great book for short attention spans.Theillustrations capture theattention of infants, and the messages are simple and sweet.Highlyrecommend for new (and experienced) parents who would like to read to theirchildren at very young ages. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the world’s foremost sleep educators, Dr. James B. Maas of Cornell University, unveils his first children’s book, Remmy and the Brain Train. The author, who teaches the nation’s largest university lecture course, uses his award-winning pedagogical expertise to create a fun multi-dimensional learning experience for children ages 4 to 8. Remmy and the Brain Train is designed to help improve a child’s daytime alertness, mood and performance. The book is a follow-up to Maas’s New York Times bestseller, Power Sleep (Random House and Harper Collins), widely praised as successful in helping adults enjoy a happier, healthier and more productive life.

Remmy and the Brain Train follows a tired young Remmy through a groggy day of exhaustion and confusion. He has trouble with math, spelling and remembering names, and is feeling moody, upset and sad…but does not know why. That night Remmy is visited by the irrepressible magical train conductor, Doctor Zeez, who whisks him off on an exciting adventure through the Land of Good Sleep. Here Remmy learns of the voyage his mind and body embarks on every night, and how developing good sleep habits makes him stronger, smarter, happier and healthier.

Remmy and the Brain Train is illustrated by Guy Danella and includes a read-along, sing-along CD by award-winning children’s songwriter/performer Suzanne Scheniman. A myriad of sound effects enrich the detailed whimsical illustrations depicting Remmy’s world. Suzanne's wonderful "Sea Songs" can be obtained on amazon.com in the popular music section. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Its sleepy time!
Kids today aren't getting enough sleep. It is obvious when you look at the number of children who are being labeled as having ADD or ADHD, when all they really need is more sleep. If you are a parent of a young child, I highly recommend this book, not just for your child(ren) but for parents too. Its important for parents and children to understand how sleep, or lack of sleep affects the body and more importantly, the mind. Remmy and Dr. Zeez help children to understand why they need to get their sleep and how they can benefit from getting 9 hours of GOOD sleep every night. I'm all ready reading this with my 6 week old daughter. The play along CD which accompanies the book is a great bonus which I find relaxes me as well as my daughter as it is played. Enjoy some good rest...you and your child(ren) deserve it!

A fantastic journey that educates while it entertains!
"Remmy and the Brain Train" is an exhilerating ride that will fascinate both parents and their young children, a rare accomplishment in children's literature. It's a clever, behind-the-scenes look at the values of sleep, that is just as educational for my husband and I, the parents of an inquisitive 5 year old, as it is for my son. Through the delightfully fun dialogue of Dr. James Maas's characters we are taken on a nightly journey to the land of great sleep and are cheerfully explained the benefits of bedtime...something ALL parents can appreciate! "Remmy and the Brain Train" is the perfect marriage of a working didactic tool and an imaginative, creative fairy tale. The principles behind better sleep are woven seamlessly into the story, and because awkward textbook jargon is thankfully nowhere to be found, our son actually understands why sleep is important! Just as I was intrigued and motivated by Dr. Maas's first book, Power Sleep, a few years ago, so now is my child by this, his first foray into children's literature. I would recommend "Remmy" heartily to all parents who want to raise a happy and healthy child!

Awesome Book
My almost 4 year old received this as a Christmas Gift and he loves it! The accompanying CD makes it even better with a calming rythem and memorable phrases.

Remmy ant the Brain Train
A very good book and the CD by Suzanne Scheniman is outstanding! It's geared toward children, but even adults will listen over and over.

And poetry to boot!
Maas does a fine job in explaining to children why it's important to sleep. He writes in rhyme, and the colorful funny pictures add to the entertainment.

For adults, I give my strongest recommendation for Dr. William Dement's The Promise of Sleep. Stanford sleep researcher Dement covers everything from sleep pathology, dreams, and how sleep-load even affects your intelligence and internal organs. If you love a medical detective story, or just want help in physically feeling better, go check it out! ... Read more

Book Description

Award-winning artist Sylvia Long has teamed up with author and naturalist Michael Elsohn Ross to create a truly enchanting bedtime book. From goodnight stories to goodnight kisses, the simple, cozy text celebrates the special bedtime rituals that are so beloved by both parent and child. With its colorful butterflies, cozy caterpillars and dreamy ladybugs -- all in their cutest pajamas -- this is a book that readers will want to snuggle up with again and again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"And if the moon could talk, / it would tell of evening / stealingthrough the woods / and a lizard scurrying home to supper." Kate Banks and illustrator Georg Hallensleben's lovely bedtime book spins a sleepy tale of what the moon would say if it could look down at a night-swept Earth and tell us what it sees. The book begins with a cozy inside view of a little pajama-clad girl and her stuffed white rabbit. Then we travel outside to a moon's view of the night world. Back inside, from the familiar objects on the bedside table--"a glass, a wooden boat, a starfish, too"--we move to "waves washing onto the beach, / shells, and a crab resting." Each rich,color-drenched scene complements the next--as Mama hands her child the toy rabbit, a lioness licks her cubs in a faraway den. "And if the moon could talk," the book concludes, "it would tell of a child / curled up in bed wrapped in sleep. / And it would murmur / Good night." From the creators of the beloved Baboon and Spider, Spider, this beautiful book--winner of the 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for best picture book--has become one of our all-time favorite bedtime stories. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustrations copyright © 1998 by Georg Hallensleben, text © 1998 by Kate Banks. Reprinted by permission of the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.) (Ages 3 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A rare gem!
This is one of my very favorite picture books, as it is equally enjoyable for children and adults. This treasure of a book is aesthetically pleasing to both eyes and ears, and its message sweet, imaginative, and meaningful. The paintings are richly colorful and simply beautiful, and the text is lyrical and soothing. It's a perfect bedtime story that begs reading again and again and again.

A great book!
I love books and have a 2 yr old daugter, therefor my daughter loves books. And if the Moon Could Talk is one that we can both recommend without question to anyone.

My little girl just loves it. It is one of a very few books that she picks up again and again. The story is perfect for that "just before bed book."

Buy it, you won't be sorry.

My Favorite Children's Book!
This is a fantastic child's book! It is gorgeously illustrated with mysterious, lush, beautiful night scenes; the text is rhythmic, soothing, subtle poetry of the highest quality. I've been reading this book to my niece for three years and she loves it still! When she was four I'd read it to her and she would get to "read" the refrain "And if the moon could talk" each time it appeared. When she was five and six she'd read it with ever-increasing ease as she learned to read; now that she's seven we alternate pages, but she still has her favorite parts she will not allow me to read--she insists on having those pages to herself. We imagine we live in the beautiful town, assigning houses to grandma, uncles, cousins. This is a book to treasure!

Maybe too well written for toddlers
I bought this book for my 2 1/2-year-old twins, but a lot of it goes over their heads. Obviously the author has talent, but she's more of a poet than a storyteller. Perhaps she should be targeting an older crowd. This book has elements suited for toddlers (big pictures, only one sentence per page) but the writing is too sophisiticated and abstract for them, and the story too disjointed. I guess it would be good for a one-year-old or younger who just enjoys hearing a parent read a peaceful book (e.g., "Eyes close. There is a drowsy hush. Darkness swells into a colorful dream. And if the moon could talk..."). But my kids prefer books with stories they can understand, and even repeat. This ain't that.

By all means, get this book!
This is my 21-month-old son's absolute favorite book. Since finding it in our library a week ago, it is the only book that he lets me read to him at bedtime. Hallensleben's lush and dreamy illustrations, along with Banks' carefully chosen text works like magic to lull our little guy into a deep, peaceful sleep. If I dare put the book down for a second or suggest another book, he gestures wildly until I return to his favorite. Hallensleben is a remarkable artist, and adults and children alike are transported into his magical world. I can't wait for this and two other Banks/Hallensleben collaborations to arrive in the mail. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream: A Mathematical Story
This is one of a genre of books wherein the beauty and elegance of a mathematical concept is revealed to the main character in a dream (others notables inlude MATH CURSE by Jon Scieszka and THE NUMBER DEVIL by Hans Magnus Enzensberger). This book is a marvelous way to integrate literature with mathematics and I have found it useful to aid in the introduction of multiplication to students in my 3rd grade. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"So tiny, yet the closer you look, the bigger she gets" perfectly captures Dream Weaver, Jonathan London and illustrator Rocco Baviera's evocative, hypnotic picture book about a little boy watching a tiny yellow spider, in the up-close-and-personal vein of Verdi and Stellaluna. If you're quiet and you really listen, can you hear the spider's feet on the sparkling web?Baviera's ultramagnified, crayon-pencil illustrations make you feel like it might be possible. The spider's web shimmers with the slightest wind, and a "raindrop on a fallen leaf is a forest pool." Magically, this talented pair manages to make the little yellow spider's webbed world soothing bedtime fare--the young boy goes home from spider gazing to dream about weaving a web of his own to catch fallen stars and return them to the night sky.(Great read aloud, ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent book for toddlers and young children!
This book is about the life of a spider from the point of view of a young boy. The illustrations are vivid and the text is like a young boys handwriting to add to the overall "vibe". Our son is fascinated with bugs (including spiders) and this has become one of his favourites. Everytime we read it, he goes on the journey with the young boy as he watches the spider and follows it through weaving a web, having the web accidently hurt by a hiker, then helping the spider to find a safe place to weave another web. Included at the end of this book are a bunch of facts about spiders for older kids, or younger kids who are greatly interested. ... Read more