Book Description

Book Description

Illus. in full color. Rocking on the porch after dinner, a little girl and

her father enjoy the twilight until Daddy dozes off. "Out of the night appears

the Moonhorse, glowing white with feathery wings, to take her on a ride through

the sky. Osborne's poetic text comes to mysterious life in Saelig's dark,

dreamy illustrations full of clouds and stars. Imaginative fare for bedtime--or

any time for that matter."--Booklist.




... Read more

Reviews (3)

poetic prose and beautiful illustrations
A young girl sits on the porch at night with her father. When he falls asleep, she takes a ride on the Moonhorse and they fly across the sky. The imaginary trip is related with poetic prose that is inconsistent; however, the chalk illustrations are quite beautiful, and introduce a few of the constellations. Lovely book.

Fly Me to the Moon and Let Me Play Among the Stars
This book is perfection! It is a dreamy and exhilarating combination of beautifully evocative artwork and imaginative, spare, yet poetic text. A little girl rocking on the front porch with her dad one starry summer night wishes on a star and the constellation Pegasus comes to life as a huge white horse with powerful milk-white wings and a flying mane and takes her on an adventure through the constellations. The atmosphere of the darkness, the whispy night clouds, the stars and the stillness completely transports one. The balance between the magical fantasy of the moonhorse and the natural and grounded personality of the child combine in a subtle way to make this fantastic journey happily believable. This book will become a favorite. Don't miss it!

My most favorite of all my child's 100+ children's books
It seems that I often go through my child's books and think, great story but illustrations are mediocre at best - or brilliant artwork for an odd story. Moonhorse is absolutely the most beautifully compatible blend of imaginative work of author and artist. To read this book is to recall a mysterious, yet delightful dream of my 1950's early childhood. I want to know how Pope Osborne and Saelig came together to do this and will they do 1,000 more? ... Read more

Book Description

It is a day in June, and the old woman is sitting on her porch with her cat. She has fallen asleep and is dreaming of her man, who was lost at sea. When she wakes up, the old woman is smiling. She goes to the quilt she is making and cuts new pieces of cloth. She is sewing her dream into the design. As the season turns and the moon waxes and wanes, the quilt grows beneath the old woman"s needle, recording life as it flows around her. When at last the quilt is complete, she sleeps and finally joins her man in his boat sailing past the moon. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Bemused...
This is a beautiful book, with many of the illustrations looking like they are fashioned from snippets of cloth, as a quilt top would be. The story is gentle and cheerful. Here is the old woman working in her garden, and here she is entertaining a group of happy youngsters at Hallowe'en. Clearly she has a full and fulfilling life. And then in the next-to-the-last frame, after she has added her cat and herself to the quilt, they sit down together under the moonlight and...die??? I guess i'm used to authors who clobber you over the head with the punchline. I had to go back and read the story again to make sure i'd reached the right conclusion. Then i had to go look at some reviews of the book to see if other reviewers reached the same conclusion. I suppose that this book can be used to show children that death is a gentle thing when it comes to those who have lived a long and useful life...except that the ending really startled and upset me. I guess i didn't see it coming, and i didn't want the story to turn out that way. I would only recommend reading this book to children if you are prepared to have a potentially upsetting discussion about death and dying.

A warm title of an old woman's activities
An old woman is sitting on her porch with her cat and is dreaming of her husband, lost at sea. Her dreams lead to new ideas for the quilt she is making, and her life takes on new purpose and reflection as she stitches in the changes in this warm title of an old woman's activities.

A senstive look at the journey of life for children
This book full of wonderful illustrations, provides a senstive look at the journey of a woman's life for children and adults alike. It takes the reader through a colorful adventure through the eyes of an old women and her cat. The author's exquisite drawings enhance the warm feeling the book gives the reader. A must read for any age.

A great way to spend quality time with a child!
This book is perfect for children and adults alike. In fact, it's a must read together book. Using this book, parents can easily explain life's transitions and the growing process. It's ending is superb and very tender and sensitive. A wonderful book to share with any child. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

A wonderful bedtime book
What a wonderful bedtime story! The lovely, rhyming verse and supporting illustrations provide a comforting, evocative,and beautiful prelude to sleep.

Best Book Ever!
I loved this book! Especially the beautiful illustrations. The colors and the unusual perspectives are so interesting. I recommend it highly! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The protagonist of this story is actually human, but at heart (and in costume) he's Monkey Boy. Sooner or later, bedtime arrives for all youngsters, primate or other, but this mischievous redhead will do everything in his power to forestall the moment. He snitches bananas, attempts to use his paste-coated toothbrush on his hair, and swings from the shower rod before being marched into bed by his mother. Mom appears only as a shadow, scolding finger, or lower torso, although it is her perspective and voice we experience: "Monkey Boy, get down from there!" Ultimately, our hero prevails, sneaking a flashlight and yet another banana under the bedcovers.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka's first picture book captures a familiar occurrence in most households with children: the bedtime struggle. Monkey Boy is obsessed with his monkey persona--although no doubt he'll eventually progress into the next natural phase, perhaps Super Boy with a cape or Dinosaur Boy. Whatever his fixation, if he's like most kids, he'll use it to the utmost advantage in order to defend his right to stay up all night, snacking and watching TV. As in David Shannon's No, David!, the mother is an ambiguous figure of power. She looms mysteriously and is capable of tormenting the momentarily vulnerable Monkey Boy: "Of course I'll read you a story... " Her son looks sweetly hopeful. "...after you put these toys away!" Monkey Boy is crestfallen. If there were a sound track, we might hear cruel, maniacal laughter now. Still, before her final admonition to go to sleep, Mom tells her son she loves him, too. (Ages 3 to 5) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent book!
I checked this book out from the library and both my children instantly loved it. The illustration was excellent. It was very animated with bold and beautiful colors. It is definitely a bedtime book to have. I'm getting a copy for my 2 little monkeys!

This is pre-school bedtime, period
What memories this book brings back! I have two adult monkey boys now, and these antics ring true to all three of us. Jarrett knows his monkey boys! Thanks for writing/illustrating a book that helps us all connect after the teeth are brushed and the toys are put away. My 7 year old nephew gave up being a power ranger to be a monkey boy when we read this book together....

A Favorite!
My children absolutely LOVE this book!! We read it every night and then the 4 year old "reads" it to the 2 year old after I leave the room and we can hear them in there laughing like crazy. The illustrations are great and it is a charming book. We got this at the library initially and had to buy our own copy, I will save this one for my grandchildren!

Illustrators take notice!
Good Night, Monkey Boy has to be one of the greatest children's books to come out in a while. For all who disobeyed their parents and wanted to stay up just a little longer, this book is all about it. The simple, yet effective message that this book holds, is accessible to kids of any age. Stylistically, (is that a word?), the books characters are all fresh, and new-the colors are bright, and the texture in the paint all adds up to a fine book.
I first learned about this book while attending Montserrat College of art. I am currently striving to become one of the few, and the proud: an illustrator. This sememster at school, a strange new poster appeared in one of the hallways. It read,"good night, Monkey boy". Underneath it was the name: Jarret Krosoczka. it sounded famillier. The images of monkey boy stuck in my head wherever I went, I knew that this was something special. Coincedentally the day I first laid my eyes on monkey boy was the same day I met my new teacher, Jarret Krosoczka. As far as first impressions are concerned, and from what I had seen of his work, I knew it was going to be an extremely fun class. His way of handling class, reflects his work-he can be incredibly fun to be around, but in the end he knows what he is doing. I recommend this book for kids of all ages, and any illustrators out there looking for something fresh. Jarret, you crazy.-

I love Monkey Boy!
This book is great. I read it almost every night to my son, who I now call Monkey Boy (although he doesn't quite understand why: "WHY, mama, why am I Monkey Boy?") The illustrations are great, and we love looking at all the details together. It's the perfect bedtime (or non-bedtime) book. ... Read more

Book Description

Mother Moon is looking for her child. As she calls for him, her tears turn into stars that fall into the sea and are rescued, along with her little one, by a lot of otters. These playful animals cavort and rollick in the starlight until Mother Moon looks down and sees them--and her child, safe and sound. Barbara Helen Berger's poetic words and luminous illustrations are beautifully fused in this dreamlike tale that is just perfect for bedtime.

"Toddlers are sure to delight in the mischievous antics of all those whiskery otters."--School Library Journal starred review ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Calm, tranquil, transformative
Barbara Helen Berger's "A Lot Of Otters" is lovely. We begin seeing, on an open ocean, a little boy in soft red pajamas, floating about in a box! He's has something, which he drops, and soon otters begin to swim around and gather up what he's dropped and what the Moon herself is dropping as well (I can't give away more detail or it will take away some of the fun of the book for you).

The illustrations are soft, sumptuous, and absolutely glowing--Berger has somehow managed to make each page look almost as though it's lit from behind. The toddler is rendered realistically, and the otters are shown sleek and lithe as they would be in real life--but everything has a moonglow cast to it, and that makes this book's pictures utterly and completely enchanting. A wonderful bedtime story, especially on a moonlit night!

A dreamy bedtime story
It's bedtime & Mother Moon calls for her child. Below, a little boy in his pjs with a book under his arms, finds a box to snuggle into & dream of floating on the sea with a lot of otters.

A much-loved book in our rural library, with pictures every mother & child can relate to, this tender & lyrical read takes you out into the otters' world of water & charm & comedy.

A lovely, whimsical book, a soothing, joyous bedtime story.

visually beautiful, poetically haunting...
If you like visually beautiful stories, then you'd be hard-pressed to top the work of Barbara Helen Berger. The otters come to life on the pages of this book...frolicking, reading, rolling, and tasting stars.

Besides its stunning visuals, "A Lot of Otters" is also filled with haunting, almost singing prose; one example:

"A lot of otters saw the stars fall. They dove down into the dark, down into the deep."

Mrs. Berger is one of the best at what she does--she is a true myth-making aritist. It is hard to walk away from one of her stories without being somehow enriched. I recommend "A Lot of Otters" most highly.

precious but repetative
I would give this book five stars for the story, which is an adorable story about a little baby, who's mother is the moon, that gets lost and finds himself floating on the ocean surrounded by otters. It is a very gentle story, and the illustrations are filled with light and magic. The only critisism that I have is that page by page the illustrations are very similar. My two year old daughter doesn't always have the patience to get to the end of the book, although she is mesmerized by the first few pages. The overall review is good though. The story ends with the mother moon finding her child and the image of thier embrace is so cozy and warm. I would give a rating of four and a half and I would be surprised if you and your child didn't love this book.

This lovely new myth delights children and adults.
"A Lot of Otters" is a lovely new myth, made realistic through paintings which exhibit both virtuosic skill and artistic vision. In the central painting, "down into the deep," the otters almost swim on the page. Even more compelling than the otters is the huggable toddler who goes to sea in a cardboard box, drops his beloved book overboard, then watches as the otters enjoy it. While his mother, the moon, weeps and frantically calls her baby, he is calmiy observing this new world of otter antics. Skillfully and subtlely, the author/artist reveals the toddler's feelings through his facial expressions and body language. His face and posture communicate interest, then surprise, dismay, concern, awe, and finally, delight. His emotions are illustrated, but never exaggerated. Throughout this drama of separation, the gentle colors and soft textures assure us that we are reading toward a happy ending. I took "A Lot of Otters" to a recent family gathering, intending to read it to our young grandsons. After family members saw the book,they requested a reading for all. It was a pleasure to share this lovely story with the assembled family of all ages. "A Lot of Otters" could easily be translated into many languages, for the text is spare and the appeal universal. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on the bedtime favorite Hush, Little Baby, this adorable board-book edition takes a trip complete with goonie birds and shooting stars as an alien dad sings his little alien a good-night lullaby. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My son's favorite
I'm buying my second copy of this book because my 16-month-old son has flipped through it so many times it's fallen apart. This was the first book he really seemed to enjoy, and I like it too. The illustrations seem perfect for little ones, with their bright colors and simple lines, and those nice round aliens.

violence
This is a lovely book, except for one small episode of violence. Nevertheless, you can use this opportunity to teach a lesson. When you read this book to your child, you can stop and explain to them that it is wrong to hit someone.

A Cute Twist on a Classic Song
My 22 month old son really likes this book. I "sing" the story to him and and he enjoys filling in the words he knows. A nice addition to the bookshelf!

Great Illustrations and Fun Text
This is currently my 15 month daughter's favorite book. Because the alien child in the book is not gender specified, we've made it into a daddy-daughter book. Which is especially nice when the Papa gives "her" a toolbelt. This is an especially good book for geeky families like ours.

Hush Little Alien
My 18 month old daughter asks me to read this book over and over again. (Okay, she hits me with it) I sing it to her in the car to calm her. The pictures are very unique, bright and colorful. The only downful is that it is not available in a board book. ... Read more

Book Description

For one energetic three-year-old, there are countless reasons to love his new big boy bed. There"s room now for Teddy to sleep with him, and his painted clay lizard, and Hippo. He can go under the bed and pretend to be a dog and scare his cat, Whiskers. Best of all, he can get out of his bed any time he wants—as long as his parents don"t hear him! Written with warmth and humor, this story captures the feelings surrounding a rite of passage that every child experiences. Eve Bunting"s simple, reassuring text and Maggie Smith"s bright, lively illustrations are just right for beginning readers and listeners. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fell apart with little use
First let me say my daughter LOVES this book. It works as a very nice nightlight, ideal because it gently dims and then turns off after a few minutes.

HOWEVER, ours broke within two months. It never left my daughter's bed, it literally was never dropped. My daughter is one of those very CALM toddlers, who doesn't bash stuff around.

Anyway, the moon went out and I opened it up and was a little annoyed because on the battery cover it says "Includes a replaceable battery!" Note the word "A". Which means ONE. NO, there are FOUR LL44 batteries in there. At Target, ONE LL44 battery is $2.99! That would mean to replace batteries you would have to pay $12 plus tax, when the book only cost $9!

So I wasted some time online looking for better prices for button cell batteries, then decided to scavenge from our other books with button cells. It was when I was replacing the batteries that I noticed that the little panel that meets up with the batteries (and sends their charge to the light) had broken off. Sigh. I have no earthly clue if it would be safe to leave in my daughter's bed if I tried to jury rig it. Frustrating.

What a cute bedtime book
My 2-year old got this book for her birthday, and she absolutely loves it.We read it every night as part of her bedtime routine.
The story part of the book is a very simple one of brushing teeth, putting toys away, hug and kiss from mom and dad, and reading a bedtime story.The difference is that this book has a built-in nightlight.There is a moon "button" that emits a soft light when pressed.The light stays on for a few minutes, then fades to dark.Part of the bedtime story talks about the moon light.
And as a side...the nightlight works great as a flashlight when kiddo loses her pacifier in the middle of the night!:-)
I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Moon fell down one night...
Fell upon a farmer's lawn,
Rolled about in sheer delight
On fields he'd only shined upon.

When Moon falls down one night, he and an adventure-minded cow roan up hills and down, wander through city streets, and finally return back home at dawn. A joyous and lyrical romp, this picture book captures the magic and wonder of seeing familiar things in a whole new way.

Reviews (6)

Destined to become a bedtime classic!
Have you memorized Goodnight Moon? I have. And I read Owl Moon until I could hoot with the best of them too. But, beautiful as these books are, I was looking for something else to suggest when my two daughters (ages 6 and 2) screamed, "Goodnight Moon!" for the hundredth time. I found it. When Moon Fell Down is the perfect rhyming bedtime story. In lovely prose:

"The rye smelled sweet; the night winds whirled, circling moon in a misty wreath; And he gazed in awe at the wonderous world, the sky above and the earth beneath . . ."

When Moon Fell Down tells what would happen if the moon came down to earth one night. What would he see, and how would he see it? Sometimes soothing, sometimes surprising, this book's melodic text and dreamy artwork brings a smile to my children's faces and a tear to my eye.

Excellent!
When Moon Fell Down is one of the most lyrical books I've read lately. Smith's words have a musical quality about them, and when you read them out loud, they give satisfaction both to the tongue and to the ear. There's also a wonderful playfulness to the story. This one is going to be a classic.

A Lovely Bedtime Adventure.....
"When moon fell down one night.../Fell upon a farmer's lawn,/Rolled about in sheer delight/On fields he'd only shined upon." So begins Linda Smith's lovely picture book about a night the moon fell to earth. Having seen everything from only above for so long, the moon is eager to see the world from another vantage point. "He'd never seen the trunks of trees/Or blades below the farmer's plow./Moon didn't know a horse had knees,/But things were strangely sideways now." Moon meets up with a friendly cow and travels the night away on a delightful adventure through this small farming town, until at dawn a perturbed farmer sends both back where they belong. "Moon! he cried. This isn't right!/Cow, how dare you roam!/A moon belongs in the sky at night,/And a cow belongs at home."..... Ms Smith's evocative, rhyming text is soft, soothing and full of imagery and magic and beautifully complemented by Kathryn Brown's subdued, detailed and expressive artwork. Together, they've authored a charming bedtime story the entire family will share and enjoy, again and again. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, When Moon Fell Down is a treasure and a book that's sure to become a classic in the years ahead.

I AM OVER THE MOON!
When Moon Fell Down, he could have had any kind of adventure on earth. But instead, he chooses to spend this one special night with a friendly cow, in a small town, looking at the world through a whole different perspective. As author Smith notes, "He'd never seen the trunks of trees/Or blades below the farmer's plow/ Moon didn't know a horse had knees/ But things were strangely sideways now." Not since Eugene Fields wrote Wynken, Blinken, and Nod have I read such lyrical text! At the end of Moon and Cows night of adventure, the farmer sets things straight, "Cow ran off to the bran to fret/ Moon rose above the town/ But niether one would ever forget/The night when Moon Fell Down." Brown's soft watercolors compliment Smith's soft text to create a book that feels organic and huggable. Perfect for bedtime!

Sheer Delight!
This is one of those rare children's books which is absolutely perfect in every way, starting with the rhyme, guaranteed to bring a smile. The tale of Moon's adventure on earth begins: "Moon fell down one night/Fell upon a farmer's lawn/Rolled about in sheer delight/On fields he'd only shined upon." Moon quickly appreciates the wonders of his new point of view, having never seen the trunks of trees nor encountered horses' knees. When the farmer's cow hitches a golden ride on Moon, together they paint the town, arriving home to face the agitated farmer: "'Moon!'" he cried. "'This isn't right!/Cow, how dare you roam!/A moon belongs in the sky at night/And a cow belongs at home.'" Kathryn Brown's illustrations provide just the right blend of softness and whimsy to ensure this book a place on the classics shelf and in every child's heart. ... Read more

Book Description

The independent little girl in this snug story loves her brand new big bed but . . . What if I fall out? What if I get lonely? What if I get lost? What if I get scared? Just right for young children making the transition from crib to bed, and featuring Mary Watson's comforting and realistic paintings, My Own Big Bed celebrates self-reliance, eases fears, and -- with a tuck and a kiss from Mommy and Daddy -- promises a safe and cozy night's sleep. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Great Aid in Making the Transition to a Big Bed
I bought this book for my 2 yr. old son about a month before moving him from his crib to his "Big Boy Bed." I had really wanted to find a book that centered the story around a little boy, but after reading about the book & reading other reviews I decided to give it a try. I read it to him for that month & he really seemed to identify with the story. He was very excited about moving into his new bed & new "Big Boy Room." He's been sleeping there for a month now, & the transition couldn't have been smoother! This book really helped to prepare him for the change from crib to bed! The simple story & pictures made it very easy for him to grasp the concept! I highly recommend this book!

Makes the transition from crib to bed a piece of cake!
We bought this book for our daughter about a month before we were going to move her from her crib to her new "big girl bed". We've heard horror stories from other parents who experienced many sleepless nights when they tried to put their child in a regular bed. After reading her this book for about a month, we finally put her new bed in her room and it was a success! She slept the whole night and the night after that and so on! She never climbed out of her crib but we wanted to move her to a big bed (not a toddler bed) before she became too attached to her crib. She'll be 2 in a few days. Buy this book--it's GREAT!!! Good Luck!

Great for transitioning the Tot out of the crib
This book was given to my two year old daughter to transition her out of her crib. It did exactly that. She was very interested in sleeping in her big bed after reading this book. ... Read more

Book Description

From the Audio Cassette (Unabridged) edition. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

More Laughs
I read these books as child by checking them out of a library. Now almost 20 years later, I have decided to reread them all starting from the beginning. While, the first book ends with T.D., aka the Great Brain, supposedly reformed, after he receives that shiny new bike for Christmas he's back at it again in More Adventures of the Great Brain. One of my favorite chapters in this book is the one about Old Butch because it shows T.D.'s feeling side and allows his character to have depth beyond his tricks. Much of this book is typical of the Great Brain and is good for some laughs. I recommend all the books of this series to children and adults alike.

Great for any age
John Dennis Fitzgerald intended to chronicle his youth in Utah for adults, not children. His publisher thought otherwise and the result are these gems. I don't even call them children's lit gems because I find them just as enjoyable as an adult. Before I go on, you should know that Fitzgerald wrote one book about his youth that is for adults, called "Papa Married a Mormon". It is one of the most amazing books on the American west that I have ever read. Sadly, it is out of print, and you may, like me, have to pay an exorbitant sum to get a copy. Trust me, save up and do it. Now back to this book. Every single Great Brain book in the series is pure gold, and the entire set can be had cheaply, so I say buy them all at once. I "put my money where my mouth is" as Tom the Great Brain would say, and bought the lot.

My Absolute Favorite Childhood Book Series
Growing up, this series was my absolute favorite. The western themes, the sibling plots and the historical aspect of it kept me interested and kept me reading. The books stood on their own, but the characters developed from novel to novel. I read them in fourth grade, vigorously, and can not recommend them strongly enough.

It was the first real page-turned I ever came across.

More Adventures of the Great Brain
This book was an adventurous, and exciting book. It always kept me off my seat, and always kept me wondering.

Great reading for all.
I am surprised at the lack of attention the "Great Brain" series gets. There is a great charm to small town America which is represented in each book. Futher, the interplay between the "kill or be killed" attitude of Tom and the sweetness of his brother John makes for great reading. As well, young children learn the benefits and drawbacks of both attitudes. Truly a great read for kids and a great re-read for adults. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nothing is more satisfying than watching a valiant hero conquer adragon, outwit a thief, or destroy a monstrous cannibal--unless it's seeing anintrepid heroine accomplish all these brave feats! In this remarkableanthology by the mother-daughter team of Trina Schart Hyman and Katrin Tchana,18 stories showcase the courage, cleverness, and integrity of women who dare togo beyond their traditional roles and stand up for themselves and their people.Gleaned from fairy tales from around the world and retold by Tchana to make them"more vivid and vital to her audience," the stories include the tale of Li Chi,a 14-year-old girl who refuses to let a greedy sorcerer continue to sacrificeyoung girls to a horrible serpent. Clever Marcela is so cunning, she manages tooutsmart a king--and fall in love while she's at it. Then there's Amarjit, thebarber's wife, who, fed up with her handsome husband's laziness, manages to takematters in her own hands and create fabulous wealth from nothing. CaldecottAward-winner Trina Schart Hyman (Saint George and the Dragon)paints spectacular illustrations, worthy of their esteemed role in capturingboth the noble and the grotesque. (Ages 7 to 11) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

If I were still a girl...
I would not care for this book. That is why I only gave it four stars. After reading the first story, I think if you have a daughter who is sensitive and does not care for violence you should look elsewhere for a book for her. My son really enjoys it though, which is good as I bought it for him. The illustrations are beautiful as they should be in a children's book and the stories, though short, are able to develop character better than most modern children's books do.

Girls Rock!
In this day and age, young girls are bombarded with not-so positive images of midriffs, barbies, and some rather unwholesome popstars. The "Serpent Slayer" offers a refreshing change of perspecitve. This book is a collection of tales from around the world, retold in an up to date, easy to understand and yet beautifully written format. The stories are specifically about strong, clever women. The illustrations are excellent and the main characters are uncompromising. The tales have classic fairy tale plots; dragons, thieves, mythical gods, and lions (oh my!). At only a couple pages each, a story can be read aloud in a reasonable amount of time, making them perfect for bedtime. Although I recommend this specifically for girls, I am sure children of any gender and age would be equally enthralled. I know I was! Buy this book! We need more like it.

Boys like it, too!
This fabulously illustrated, enlightening story book is interesting to children of all sexes: in fact, I've given this twice as gifts to boys and they are as entertained by the tales of these heroines as they would have been by Robin Hood or St. George.

Spectacularly illustrated, splendid vlaues, terrific stories
In The Serpent Slayer And Other Stories Of Strong Women, Katrin Tchana artfully retells classic folktales from around the world which showcase strong women overcoming a diversity of daunting obstacles and fearsome challenges. These wonderful tales include The Barber's Wife; Nesoowa and the Chenoo; Clever Marcela; Sister Lace; The Rebel Princess; Beebyeebyee and the Water God; Kate Crackernuts; The Old Woman and the Devil; The Magic Lake; Grandmother's Skull; Three Whiskers from a Lion's Chin; Duffy the Lady; and the title piece, The Serpent Slayer are all spectacularly illustrated by the talents of Trina Hyman. These very highly recommended, multicultural stories of courage, cleverness, perseverance, and endurance are thoroughly entertaining, even as they hold forth splendid values and possibilities for their young readers as they live their own lives and overcome whatever obstacles or solve what ever problems they encounter while making their way through the world!

Girls Night Out
At last! A series of stories from around the globe written by a mother and daughter team all about female heroes (not heroines, mind you, but heroes.)

Featured in these pages are all kinds of women who are plucky, smart, resourceful, brave and just plain smart. This is just the sort of anthology to give to your daughters, to inspire and help them conquer their own life adventures. A very satisfying read for girls of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time, Caillou sleeps through the night with the door closed. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

If this book introduces "negative" themes...
then just wait! They're probably too young! And skipping the part about being afraid of the dark is dumb. The character is three, wait until your child is three as well. ALL CHILDREN develop some kind/degree of fear of the dark. Its normal and just means theyhave lively imaginations. The book introduces it becauses it's saying, "Hey kid, you're perfectly fine. Everyone has been afraid of the dark. It's Okay! Now go to bed."

Poorly written book
I agree with the last review...this book introduces too many negative behaviors for children. Our 2 1/2 year-old daughter has not had a fear of the dark, so we found ourselves editing the story to fit our needs. But aside from that, I've found this book, as with several in the series to be burdensome to read. They introduce too many ideas/lines of text per page, cramming in lots of events that aren't or can't be represented by one picture alone. Also, it just seems these storylines were cranked out without any thought as to cohesiveness and pleasant wording. The Caillou Play Time book actually expresses that Caillou has feelings of hatred toward his parents. Needless to say, it was a bit over-the-top for our tastes.

Not a great Caillou book
First of all, this was my 4th Caillou book purchase and my 2 1/2 year old loves the cartoon series so I am a Caillou fan. Despite this,I must say that this book (and another which I just got "Caillou-Careful"-see that review too)has some examples of unwanted behavior in it that I'd would rather not teach to my son. May be my son is more impressionable than others, but he picked up that Caillou was scared of the dark, didn't want to go to bed and wanted his door open. All this stuff needs addresing if it's an issue in your house, but my son has no fear (yet?) of any of those things. I now edit myself when I read this book to my son because I don't want to teach him that there's a reason to fear bedtime. When he loses interest in it I plan on throwing it out. I almost got the Caillou Potty book but I read a reveiw that said almost the same thing that I just said about this book influencing negative behavior. I would suggest avoiding this book for that reason too.

Just Lovely
My 3-year old daughter just loved this book. She asked me to read it to her every night, and after a week or two she learned by heart every word of it!

Caillou as a good example
This is a beautifully illustrated book based on the PBS series, "Caillou".

This book illustrates how Caillou is a "big boy" now, able to stay up later than his baby sister, play board games with his parents, and finally go to bed, with his door shut. Thanks to this book, we were finally able to convince our daughter to sleep all night in her own bed. She is proud to say that she is now a "big girl", just like Caillou! ... Read more

Book Description

Helen Oxenbury's delightful board books, featuring her sweet and cuddly babies at play, are back with a whole new look. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Surprising Dystopian Epic
You cannot experience the full impact of "Say Goodnight" without also reading the companion works, "Clap Hands," "All Fall Down," and "Tickle, Tickle". Ms Oxenbury weaves a world which first lulls you into comfort with what appears to be non-violent multicultural values. Upon repeated readings (and you must read all four, with "Say Goodnight" as the last) you finally realize this was not her goal all along.

The first signs that her world is not one of peaceful babies is the inconsistencies: in no two consective pages are the clothes of the babies ever the same. In "All Fall Down," for instance, the same babies "bounce" and "fall down" but have different attire entirely. Then the question comes up: who are the real parents? There are at least four adults being shown; what are the relationships of all these people? The children are living, eating, bathing and sleeping together. The adults are only around for a few key illustations.

Lastly, the same pudgy Caucasion is the one being tormented at "Open wide" (mealtime) and at "Tickle, tickle." It then becomes clear that Ms. Oxenbury is really telling a post-multicultural tale over the course of her four books: the swell of influences of around the world will subdue modern society, forcing a uniform experience upon us all.

This is done with about 50 words in total. Bravo!

Simple and Sweet
If you're just about to start reading to your baby, you might want to get this book because it has all the core ingredients to captivate a baby's attention. It's pretty short (10 pages), has very simple text with huge and colorful illustrations. But, if you have long started reading to your child, this book might be a bit of a frustration. It's just too simple. Once you have engaged your child into the daily reading activity for quite sometime, you can actually hold her attention for a good 5-10 minutes. To me, make full use of that time by reading books that have a bit more text than this one.

Little Boy's favorite
My little boy has loved this book since it arrived and now at 20 months it's still a favorite. His eye's light up when we look at it. Definitely a keeper for toddlers

Excellent for babies!
My 8 month old daughter inherited this lovely book from a friend of mine who swore by Helen Oxenbury books for both of her children. Its sturdy, colorful and features cute illustrations of a racial mix of babies playing in the build-up to bed-time. Its lovely! ... Read more

Book Description

Day is done.

For Widdle, Waddle, Piddle, Puddle, and Little Quack that means time for B-E-D! But there's blinking, hooting, and swaying in the night that's keeping everyone awake! Mama wants to know when it will finally be BEDTIME?

Find out in this timeless lullaby of a story by renowned author Lauren Thompson in Derek Anderson's splendidly illustrated world! ... Read more

Book Description

Adventure, drama, wild horses running free. The American West is brought to life through the eyes of the horses who were there in a new program of books inspired by Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, the new film coming May 2002 from DreamWorks.

Strider is a wild mustang born to freedom in the Cimarron Valley. When a drought hits the valley, Strider sets out to find the horses a new place to live. But on the way, danger strikes, and Strider must make the ultimate sacrifice for the herd. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

SUPER!!
The Best Book I ever will Propably read, I read it in one evening! For anyone, who wants a great book, Esperanza should be at the top of their list!

Esperanza Rules!!!!
This book is amazing! I have read all the other books in the Spirit collection, but this one is the best. I like these books because they are about wild horses. Esperanza is a palomino(and Spirit's dam), so she is my favorite. ESPERANZA RULES!!!!!

A Very Good Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved this series. I loved how the author took it from the horses point of view and not the humans view like so many other books have done in the past.

I hope Kathleen Duey ( the author) will keep writing!
I recomend this is a good book for any horse crazy people ( and the other books too!). ... Read more

Book Description

This heartwarming book - an adaptation of one of John Denver’s best-loved songs - is a lovely reminder of the good, pure things in life. Sunshine On My Shoulders celebrates friendship, sunshine and simple joy. Children and adults alike will love Christopher Canyon’s whimsical and humorous illustrations, that capture the innocence of childhood. The hardback edition includes a CD of John singing The Music Is You and Sunshine On My Shoulders, plus the musical score of Sunshine. This is the first of a series of picture book adaptations of John Denver’s songs that reflect the gift of friendship and nature. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Beautiful!
I came across this book in the bookstore today and knew that I had to have it as soon as I saw the cover. I was very familiar with the song, but had no idea there was a book based on it. The pictures are perfect for the song! The book is very, very nicely done. It was an added bonus that there was a CD and musical score included. I came home with two copies.

Caldecott Material
"Sunshine on my Shoulders" is a beautiful song of the seventies which has been captured perfectly by Christopher Canyon's bright and warm illustrations. One can feel the sun bathing the two characters as they enjoy a summer afternoon. I have been a fan of Canyon's nature illustrations, but "Sunshine" is by far his best effort yet. Members of the Caldecott commitee should take notice.

exceptional
When I first heard of this project, which had John Denver's blessing before his death, I was excited, but unsure that any illustrator could do justice to John's songs. Christopher Canyon has perfectly incorporated the love of children and of nature that John Denver shared in his music. Now I'm looking forward to all the books in this series. Great work, Dawn Publications.I was so overwhelmed by the copies I'd bought for my grandchildren, I turned around and bought one for my friend who, like me, remembers John Denver's lessons daily, and misses his voice always...

This book should be in every school!
I had the pleasure of meeting Christopher Canyon in Aspen at the John Denver tribute Celebrations. I bought copies of the book for my childrens classrooms as well as for home. I cant wait for future books of John Denvers songs.

A rapturous experience meant to be shared
John Denver's Sunshine On My Shoulders presents a picture book version of the hit song by John Denver enhanced with and adapted text and brilliant color illustrations by Christopher Canyon. The charming story presents the adventures of a young girl enjoying the outside world and the thrill of life. A rapturous experience meant to be shared between young and old, John Denver's Sunshine On My Shoulders is a inventive and charming tribute to a fondly memorable tune. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Little Bunny's Sleepless Night
Very sweet book about a rabbit struggling to fall asleep. Great illustrations.

Great Bedtime (or anytime) Tale!
This is a wonderfully charming tale about a bunny who can't seem to get to sleep, so he goes to friend's house to friend's house trying to accomplish this task. In the end, he finds out that the best place to sleep is in his very own bed.
Wonderfully written!

Lot's of fun and apparently very memorable!
My little boy (aged 2 and half) loves this book. He has it memorized word for word and has kept reciting the lines for a couple of months now.

A lonely bunny finds peace with himself
This book is absolutely fantastic, and a must for families with a only child. The story illustrates how one can get mired in thinking that they need (unnecessary) companionship. For an only child, it teaches him or her that being in their own bed alone at night has the distinct advantage of peace and quiet. It is an absolutely lovely story with some very memorable lines. It is even a good message for adults who think 'companionship' is the answer over a good night's sleep.

A clever, funny and entertaining tale.
Little Bunny is an endearing character who is appealing to kids of many ages. His quest for a good night's sleep as he drags himself around from friend to friend is really cute. The illustrations of Bunny along with his adorable friends will win your child's heart. ... Read more