Book Description

This is Gennady Spirin's own dear story about the day his son Ilyafound a crow with a broken wing, and brought it home. The veterinariantold the boy that it would never fly again. "Put it to sleep!" he urgedthe parents. But the wild crow-Martha, they called her-was full ofsurprises. She most certainly made their home, her home, and one dayshe did fly! Would there be one more surprise? When she flew away thatfall, would she return again?

With Gennady Spirin's beautiful and delicate watercolor illustrationsand the sweet memory of Martha's year as his guide, Martha takes flightonce again. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One to Read Again and Again
What a fabulous book!! Everyone in the family enjoys reading and hearing this book again and again. It is so full of fun and imagination. Read it and see...you won't be disappointed.

A major hit with our 3-year old daughter.
Our daughter has taken this book out of her pre-school library 5 weeks in a row. We all love the wonderful, lively illustrations. Most of all, we love the message -- different can be absolutely beautiful! With Mrs. Pennywort's encouragement, the especially talented Pauline can produce any egg she wants. A great story on all levels.

One of our very favorite books!
It has become a tradition in my home to read this book before painting our Easter eggs. The story and illustrations are so comical, colorful and exciting that we can't wait to turn the page and see what happens next. Then we pick our favorite egg. What fun! You won't be disappointed.

Wonderful book for children to expand their imaginations!!!
I teach school, and I love to read this book to my students every year at Easter time. It is a great book to encourage creativity. I also use it to have the students sequence different egg patterns. My students love the story as much as I do. ... Read more

Book Description

Young minds will enjoy this original information series in paperback because it covers so many of their real interests and enthusiasms. Every topic has been thoroughly researched to encourage kids to learn about their world. Fact-packed, fast-paced paperback series focuses on a wide range of favorite topics and school project themes. Over 200 original, descriptive artworks and reconstructions in each book. Designed to enthuse children and stimulate them to investigate further on their own. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"I'm a little white duck
sitting in the water,
a little white duck
doing what he oughter."

Children have sung this silly song written by Walt Whippo and Bernard Zaritzky for half a century. Performers from Burl Ives to Danny Kaye to Raffi have recorded it over the years. And now, for the first time, the classic sing-along song about the duck that "quack, quack, quacks," the frog that "glug, glug, glugs," and the bug that "bzz, buzz, bzz's" has made its way into picture-book format. Joan Paley's gorgeous collages are full of vivacious color and three-dimensional pizzazz. Bold, brilliant greens and blues dominate, drawing the reader deeper and deeper into the happy little world of these water critters--happy, that is, until the little red snake comes along and scares off the duck and frog and eats the bug! But he's still glad to be "a little red snake playing in the water," so all's well that ends well. To soften the blow of the untimely demise of the little black bug, all four of the characters (duck, frog, bug, snake), plus the guitar-strumming mouse narrator, take a bow on the last page, so sensitive young readers will know it's all just play-acting. Musical notation is included. (Ages 2 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Little White Duck
A great sing along book that is perfect for pre-school age children.They love interacting, and with an easy tune to sing/read they will feel like they are reading the book too! As a former pre-school teacher, I look forward to reading and singing this book with my own children.

Cute book!
My daughter loves this book. It is really cute!

The Best Illustrator EVER
Joan Paley is the best illustrator EVER! (hi mom!)

You can't help but sing along!
This song was one I had learned in pre-school, and I was thrilled to see it as a beautifully illustrated picture book.The large, bold pictures will work well in a lap or in a storytime.The text does not hamper the pictures, but neither is it lost or hard to read.

A most enjoyable book!

Lots of Fun
We love this book!The rhymes flow so nicely making it very easy to read - or sing, if you know the song!Also, the illustrations are wonderful!The bright colors really help keep my young daughters attention! ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the creator of TheNew Way Things Work, Castle, and Black and White, comes apoignant tale of a very curious friendship. Angelo is an old Italian craftsmanwho restores facades of Roman buildings. Sweeping away feathers and twigs left"by generations of thoughtless pigeons" one day, Angelo comes face to beak withhis nemesis. This pigeon isn't looking so good, though, and in spite of himself,Angelo takes her home and brings her back to health, grumpily commenting, "Mammamia! I restore walls, not pigeons." It's not long before this lonely old mangrows attached to the bird, though, and makes a touching, lasting gesture to herin the final hours before his death.

David Macaulay's unusual story is funny and touching, if jarring at times, aswhen the narrative makes inexplicable leaps with no transition. He uses hisfamiliar illustrative style to greatest effect in depicting the clutter of Romanrooftops and close-ups of crumbling walls and sculpture's toes. Also lovely arethe images of twigs and feathers that frame the book, scattered even across thededication and copyright pages. (Ages 6 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Caldecott contender from Macaulay
Each day at work I have to read the new picturebooks that have been proccessed. I dislike few of them. I enjoy most of them. I love very few of them...especially on first perusal. "Angelo" is one of the very few.

It's the story of the unlikely friendship between a master plasterer (Angelo) and a pigeon he dubs Sylvia. He finds her wounded on the ledge of a building he is restoring & takes her in despite his negative opinions of birds. (The pigeon hospital bed he rigs up for her is wonderful). She flies off after convalescing...only to return when he needs companionship to see him to the end of his last great job. In thanks, he creates a tribute to her...a tribute only he could create & one only a pigeon could appreciate.

The story is heartwarming, but the pictures are silly, cinematic, and inspired. This is a treat to read (for young and old) and it is my pick (so far) for Caldecott 2002...

The Power of Friendship.....
This restoration was to be Angelo's crowning glory, his masterpiece, and as he begins his work on the old church, brushing away years of debris left by birds, and searching the nooks and crannies for cracks that would need repair, he comes across a sick and injured pigeon. Angelo was not a fan of pigeons, after all they made a mess of his buildings, but he couldn't bear to leave this helpless, "barely breathing" creature to die, So he scoops her up in his hat and takes her home. There he names her Sylvia, nurses her back to health, and they become devoted to each other. As time goes by, Angelo grows older and tires easily, and he worries that he won't be able to finish his "crowning achievement". Sylvia works by his side every day, cooing her encouragement, fanning him with her wings in the hot weather, and entertaining him when he rests. And on a warm November day "Angelo finally applied the last coat of stucco to the cherubs in the high pediment." But he still has one more task to finish before his work is complete..... David Macaulay has authored a captivating and poignant picture book about an unusual and enduring friendship. His gentle text is beautifully enhanced by his evocative and expressive illustrations, full of charm, humor, and marvelous architectural detail. Together word and art tell a heartwarming and endearing story of a life fulfilled by dedication to work and special companionship. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Angelo is told with great insight and wisdom, and makes a terrific read aloud story the entire family can share. ... Read more

Book Description

Shows you an animal as though it was right next to you--theimages and information make the animal come alive on your screen! ... Read more

Book Description

Nearly one in five Americans is a birder. Many more would like to learn how to identify the common birds seen in their backyards. But the traditional field guides, packed with lots of detail and technical jargon, appear inaccessible to the uninitiated. What is a beginning birder to do?

What’s That Bird? offers a unique combination of ID guidance along with general information basic to becoming a birdwatcher, making it the perfect tool for beginning enthusiasts. Intended as a book for adults and children to share, the design and text are engaging and accessible to all ages.

Detailed profiles of 30 common North American birds, featuring family information, silhouette, habitat, call, size, and general description, make it easy to become a master at identifying backyard birds. The “Also Meet” section introduces an additional 30 birds, usually a regional variation or another member of the family, further expanding one’s bird repertoire.

In a separate section, first-time birdwatchers learn how birds eat, communicate, and even breathe. They also learn the best ways to observe birds, techniques for keeping a bird journal, and how to protect endangered birds. And family-friendly projects, such as building a nesting platform, a bird arbor, and a nesting box, enhance the birding experience.

The book contains more than 120 fullcolor photographs by noted bird photographer Tom Vezo, along with full-color illustrations and easy-reference charts. With interest in birdwatching on the rise, this is an invaluable introductory tool for educators, parents, and children alike. ... Read more

Book Description

It's migration time and as a mother gull dives into the water to catch a herring she's caught in an oil slick! Thinking of the egg she is about to lay she manages to extract herself and fly to the nearest port. Exhausted, she lands on a balcony where Zorba the cat is sunning himself.Zorba wants to get help, but the gull knows it's too late and she extracts three promises from him: 1) That he won't eat the egg, 2) that he'll take care of the chick until it hatches, and 3) that he'll teach it to fly. The first two are hard enough, but the third one is surely impossible.Isn't it? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful to Read Aloud
I read this book to my 7 year old twin girls, and the three of us loved it. The vocabulary, the humor, the characters were all wonderful. I have high hopes that the author will continue to write children's books. ... Read more

Book Description

Did you know that each flight feather has one million parts? That birds from different areas have different accents? Overflowing with amazing facts, fun projects, and fascinating legends, this book will entertain and enlighten kids from 9 to 99. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Truly Excellent Bird Book!!
This has become one of my favorite books on birds. It is packed with very interesting information. You are guaranteed to learn something new! I bought this book for myself, but whenever I picked it up my children wanted me to read it to them also. The illustrations are wonderful! I have always enjoyed Rebecca Rupp's easy delivery of so much useful information in such an understandable, relaxed, and often humorous fashion. Before I had even read halfway through the book, I ordered my mom-in-law (a fellow bird-lover) a copy for herself. It is a quick, easy read. You'll probably finish the book before you want it to be over. I am thrilled to have added this book to my collection and would highly recommend it for just about anyone interested in birds or learning new things. ... Read more

Book Description

Many birds travel thousands of miles each year, migrating between summer and winter homes. Just how they find their way back and forth, sometimes returning to the exact same nesting grounds each year, has puzzled ornithologists for years. Roma Gans details the many theories scientists have proposed to explain the mysteries of migration.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pretty Birds
This is a good book because the birds are pretty. I liked the arctic terns in the book. ... Read more

Book Description

With incredible openness and honesty, 39 teens tell their stories, covering topics like falling into drug and alcohol abuse, getting hooked on pornography, struggling with homosexuality, participating in the occult, attempting suicide, becoming pregnant, being physically abused, living in foster homes, going to jail, getting kicked out of the house and living on the street, and other heart-wrenching experiences. The good news is that every one of these teens had a life-changing encounter with God. They experienced the grace, forgiveness, and healing that turned their sorrow into joy.Yes, some still have struggles and scars-but all are with a hope they didn't believe was possible. Suzanne Eller, a writer and youth worker, has carefully helped the teens to craft and edit their stories in a way that is candid and real, but without glamorizing or sensationalizing the hardest moments of life. The result is a book that provides teens with a unique opportunity to receive in-your-face spiritual insights-because it is coming from people their own age who have "been there."Even teens who are not in extreme situations will be inspired by these stories that reveal God's power to transform lives. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Honest, awesome, written just for teens - I loved it!
This book kept my interest from the first word to the last. It was honest and real and didn't talk down or preach about issues that matter to teens. It was open and honest and identified with the things that teens face, but showed God to be powerful and merciful. Perfect gift for a teen from a parent, grandparent or anyone who knows a teen who needs to know that God is not afraid of the tough stuff. In fact, he's HUGE in our lives and can walk with us through whatever we face and not only bring us out on the other side, but change our lives forever. He's awesome. This book is awesome.

Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life
The format of the book "Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life" by T. Suzanne Eller, lends itself to easy reading. Each chapter is a touching real life experience by young folks in their early teens to mid twenties. The stories tell of their personal downward spiral into the pit of lying, stealing, physical abuse, drugs, porn, occult, sex, pregnancy, homosexuality, and some of them jail. Their life and death stories are made even more significant by the fact that hundreds of our nation's teens are moving in the same direction. Intervention is needed.

This book is one of hope, of overcoming, of climbing out of the pit. Each of the teens tell their story because they did find help, they did find a way to "do a 180°". These teens were from different states across our nation and yet the common thread to the answer is through God.

T. Suzanne Eller is a cancer survivor who has written a book that will help other teens, parents of teens and those who work with teens. I'm a grandmother of teens and heartily recommend the book.

Clarice Claiborne

Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life
I will never forget the night that I wanted to die.

I didn't want to tell anyone. I didn't want to tell anyone about the tears that I had cried when they weren't looking. I didn't want to tell anyone that I didn't have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. I wasn't going to tell anyone.

But I needed to tell someone. And I needed to hear someone say, "I know what it's like to be depressed." But no one was saying it. And I wasn't telling.

I was tied up in my own fear that someone would think that I was crazy. And I couldn't afford to be different from those around me - God knows that I didn't want to be any more of a misfit than I already was.

What I didn't know was that there were thousands of teens experiencing similar thoughts, and they too felt that they had had nowhere to turn. They too, were suffering in a dangerous silence.

One of those silent teenagers was a young boy named Darrin. Darrin was so addicted to pornography that he tried to take his own life. He had no hope.

Around the same time in another area of the US, Jennifer Harmon was learning to live again. After a serious diving accident, Jennifer was left dependant and paralyzed from the neck down. Jennifer had nowhere to turn.

I've never met Darrin, or Jennifer. But their stories of hope and life have inspired me to live life to the fullest.

I've never heard Darrin say, "I know how it feels to be depressed," and I've never put my arm around Jennifer and laughed with her so hard that my stomach hurt. But it doesn't matter - because these teens are just like me, with stories just like mine.

They're Real Teens, with Real Stories, in Real Life. They're just like you and they're just like me - they're not afraid of the word, "suicide", they're not afraid to talk about the pain they feel, and they're not afraid to share their honest feelings about love, life, and God.

Their stories are presented in a book that was published this month by T. Suzanne Eller, entitled, Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life.*

The publisher, Suzanne Eller, remembers what it was like to suffer extreme emotional pain as a teenager. Coming from a difficult home situation, Suzanne questioned the love of God. In fact, she questioned His very existence.

"I asked God to show me that He existed," Suzie says. "And when He did, He rocked my world."

One of the ways that God continues to rock Suzie's world is by giving her the opportunity to edit and compile the book, "Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life".

Suzie began working on the book when she realized that there was no other book for teenagers that handled the tough issues. "I'd look in a bookstore," says Suzie, "and I'd ask myself the question, 'why are we not talking about the things that matter?'"

When Suzie began her work on the book, teens from around the world volunteered to share their personal stories. From tragedy to triumph, Suzie's book is packed with true and inspiring accounts written by "Real Teens", containing "Real Stories", about "Real Life".

VERY Good Book!!
This book is so powerful. I acutally was one of the people that had a testimony in it. I love to hear and read testimonies of how God changes peoples' lives. This book is a valuable resource, I have already purchased 10 extras to hand out to new believers and friends who also love testimonies!! It's fantastic to see how God still moves today, in the most screwed up lives, and bring His sons and daughers up out of the mud and sets them on mountains!! Hallelujah!! You will be very blessed if you get this book!

Awesome and true Reality
I bought the book and read the entire thing in a day. I must say the trueness and the reality of it touched me deeply. The teens Suzie wrote were teens that have gone through some of the everyday problems that most teens go through these days. I know one story in particular touched me. It talked about looking in God mirror than worrying about what everyone else thought about you. It was really great and I would recommend it to all and any. Rock On Suzie. ... Read more

Book Description

A detailed look at the seldom-seen life of a barn owl. Parents and kids discovering nature together will find this a thought-provoking introduction to the appreciation of a wild animal in its natural habitat.
• ASPCA bibliography: Kids, Animals, & Literature
• A NAPPA Honors Award-winner
• An NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A picturebook with factual information.
Animal Lives: The Barn Owl is a picturebook with factual data, a genre I am generally pleased with.Given the picturebook format, I felt that some of the vocabulary choices would be very difficult for younger or struggling readers, i.e. superefficient sense of hearing, perilous flight.That said, the information about barn owls is well presented and researched, the illustrations are accurate and well-done, and the book includes resources and information about conservation.The author follows one barn owl pair as they raise their first brood of young-from courtship to leaving the nest.A nice insight into the lives of the owls. ... Read more

Book Description

Little Penguin is lost and doesn¹t know where to go! But then he finds footprints in the snow. Will they lead him to his mom and dad?Gentle, rhyming text accompanies bright, eye-catching artwork in this reassuring story about being lost and being found. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Babies love the puppet!
This the first book that got my daughter's attention at 6 months! She has many toys and books, but the penguin puppet is hard for her to resist. The book is fun and and the puppet helps children interact and it holds their attention!

Cute interactive book
Cute simple interactive puppet book. Both our children (1 and 3) love this book. It has simple wording and a touching saying at the end. ... Read more

Book Description

Budding musicians can learn the basics of making beautiful music in this new Magic Ribbon book!This patented format has seven ribbons that magically appear with the turn of each page teaching you the musical scales.One by one the ribbons combine to create a colorful xylophone, showing the notes it takes to make music! On the final page a musical sound chip plays the scales. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Neat book, music chip defective
Its a short and simple book that introduces the 8 note music scale. The ribbons are a neat concept and hold up well. The music chip at the back was defective from the start.

We sing the doe-a-deer song with it sometimes--because the story is simple. It is a clever book though, for finding a concrete way to explain to very young children the concept of music notes. You can't go wrong with it, my seven year old likes to read it too.

Wish it worked the first time
I ordered two copies of this book. It is charming just like "What Makes a Rainbow", though I was disappointed to discover that the musical sound chip in both copies was defective. I've ordered replacements, but am hesitant to recommend this book.

WEAK COMPARED TO WHAT MAKES A RAINBOW
We got "What Makes A Rainbow" as a gift and the baby has loved it since 3 weeks old. It is one of our very favorite books and it inspired us to try this book, but the music chip was defective and the story is weak. Maybe our timing was off in terms of when we introduced it, but our baby never got interested in it.

Not your typical pop-up book!
My husband is a former public school music educator and chose this book for one of our son's two-year birthday gifts. We had no idea it would be such a hit! In less then one week, he learned the musical scale by heart!

Although called a "pop-up", this wonderful little book is really much more resilient and well made than a standard pop-up. Instead of typical paper pop-ups, each page reveals a beautiful ribbon of a different color to represent each note on the musical scale. Imaginative and sweet illustrations show how Mama bird teaches her baby how to make music, and baby bird learns the notes of the scale along with the reader. Each ribbon is sized according to the ascending note on the scale and makes a lovely visual effect when the scale is complete. This could also be a great tool for teaching colors!

My son is thrilled when we get to the last page and the ultimate pop-up, (this one is paper but well made) of Mama bird playing her scales in full glory, each one labeled and in corresponding color from the previous pages. You'll love the sparkle in your child's eyes when he discovers the best surprise of all - a well concealed music chip that plays the scale in ascending then descending order when you reach the grand finale' final page!

A lovely and charming book that will have your little one memorizing the musical scale and colors of the rainbow with eager delight. ... Read more

Book Description

Early one morning, Goose sets out to make a nest. Honk! The first place Goose finds looks nice and warm. But "Silly Little Goose!" That pen is for the pigs! Then Goose finds someplace nice and soft, a rag box in the tool shed. But "Silly Little Goose!" Th ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Charming story for pre-schoolers & kindergarteners
My 6 year old and 3 1/2 year old love this story. They got it for Easter last year, and we have read it many times. They love to see the silly places the goose chooses for her nest. The illustrations are appealing--a nice Easter basket story! ... Read more

Book Description

Watching birds can be easy and lots of fun. With plentiful illustrations and simple text, this book is especially designed to kindle the spark of interest in birds for children ages 4 to 10. The young person in your life will learn how to attract birds and identify common backyard birds. There is also lots of age-appropriate information, such as the distinctive behaviors of different species, how to make a nest box, official state and provincial birds in the U.S. and Canada, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An educational and highly recommended book for children
Artist and author Barbara Herkert's Birds In Your Backyard is a truly beautiful color picturebook that teaches young children in North America about the different types of birds they may see in their backyard, and how to attract feathered friends with birdhouses and bird food. From Northern Cardians to Eastern Bluebirds to the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Birds In Your Backyard is sure to cover the delightful creatures the fly about the backyard of any North American child's home. Birds In Your Backyard shows the young reader how to feed and water birds, identify common backyard species along with their distinctive behaviors, how to keep a birdwatcher's journal, make a nest box, plants that attract birds, the official state and provincial birds in the US and Canada, and lists organizations with programs for young birders. There are appendixes and resources so that especially inquisitive children can search and learn still more about birds, and about common wild plants as well. An educational and highly recommended softcover aviary book for children ages 4 to 10.

learning about birds
this book is excellent for young and old alike. I bought one for myself and also a niece. Enjoying birds in my backyard makes me curious to their background and type. This book tells both in an easy to read and beautifully illustrated format. Barbara's illustrations are exceptional. Children will enjoy them as they relate to them and their discoveries of birds. If you have a grandchild or your own child, this would make a great gift for them. Children are always eager to learn and this book is ideal for even the youngest reader. if you buy the one with binoculars the reader will eagerly be more excited to discover those feathered friends that come to visit their yard.

This is a great book!
This book is packed with information about birds and bird watching yet it is written in a comfortable entertaining picture book format. It contains a recipe for bird "cake", directions for building a bird box, and even suggests what kind of plants birds may enjoy in your backyard.

What I liked most about this book was the "common" backyard bird identification pages as well as a listing and illustration of every state bird. It was fun to find out what my state bird is as well as other states. The author has done an outstanding job of presenting the joy of birds and bird watching in a beautifully illustrated picture book.

I highly recommend "Birds in Your Backyard" for any young person (ages 4-8) interested in learning about not only birds but who are interested in interacting with their natural environment.

Birds in Your Backyard
An excellent introduction to birds and birdwatching. Beautifully illustrated to draw young children in. Older children will enjoy the fun facts and hands-on projects. Endorced by the National Wildlife Federation, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the American Birding Association. ... Read more

Book Description

This handsome book combines magnificent photography, whimsical illustrations, and informative text conveyed in a kid-friendly, conversational style.It's a marvelous introduction to seventeen species of penguins and thier Antarctic home.Discover how penguins keep warm, why they are black and white, and why these "bird brains" don't live in a warmer place!(Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good combo of "funny" and "informative"
I picked this up for our daughter at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Splash Zone exhibit. I had some reservations at first but they were quickly put to rest after my daughter started laughing and quoting facts about penguin behaviour and penguin species (for about 1 hour of our drive home). The book is nicely done with a combination of simple cartoons, jokes, beautiful photographs, and natural science information. I'm hoping that the authors come up with more of this series. I've already put in an order for their other book, "Cat Nap". Nice job folks! ... Read more