Book Description

From those famous ducklings to Homer Price's delicious donuts,generations of children have grown up delighting in the timeless stories ofRobert McCloskey. Here, for the first time, all of his published works--Make Wayfor Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, Lentil, Time of Wonder, One Morning inMaine, Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man, Homer Price and Centerburg Tales--are broughttogether. With biographical information and photographs, and an introduction byrenowned critic Leonard Marcus that outlines McCloskey's career and hisunforgettable contribution to children's literature, this collection is an in-depth look at the life and workof an extraordinary children's book legend. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A lovely, quietly charming book about fatherhood
You could hardly do better than to get "The Little Green Goose" for any father, whether adoptive or biological. Adele Sansone's text is a miracle of economy, covering parenthood, adoption, geneaology, and more with a minimum of fuss and text.

The barnyard goose decides that he wants to be a father, but as he has no wife or other partner, he decides to adopt a spooky looking green egg found by the dog at the edge of a field. The goose settles himself on top of the eggs and waits and waits. When the egg finally cracks open, what emerges is some sort of lizard or dinosaur or who knows what--but it definitely is not a goose. Still, Sansone's goose dad utterly ignores the differences between himself and his new son and makes a natural (and skillful) parent. When the "green goose" decides to try to figure out what his real background is, he has little luck and ends up coming home to the goose--who, after all, is the only parent he's ever known.

The illustrations, by Alan Mark, are utterly charming. The "green goose" is splotched and splashed with color, while the goose is drawn sparingly and convincingly. This is, overall, a fun tale with subtle and valuable life lessons.

a story of adoption that did not forget the story!
Wonderful book covering so many subjects in a short entertaining time. Father goose longs for a child, and adopts a very strange egg. After the little green goose is born, the baby chicks tease saying thats not really your mommy, you dont look anything alike. The little green goose goes around trying to find out who he looks like and then becomes lonely and returns home, realizing home is where you are loved. Great book for adoptive fathers. Also for those involved in transracial adoption. The story illustrates a fathers love and caring, the idea that families do not need to look alike, and all this is done with a tale that is good for its own sake. The illustrations are superb, my favorite is the final one, this great big green dinosaur-like creature (the little green goose) with the father goose laying on top of his head, one wing stretched out protectively over his child and both fast asleep. ... Read more

Book Description

Bee hummingbirds, ostriches, flycatchers, chickadees, and bald eagles! Dick and Sally find themselves on a bird-watching tour led by the Cat in the Hat. After a quick lesson on just exactly what a bird is, they go motoring around the world to observe our fine feathered friends in their natural habitats. Time flies, and soon it's late, but the Cat saves the day by shifting his vehicle into Fine Feather All-Weather Flying Machine mode and winging Dick and Sally back home. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fine Feathered Friends
In this book the cat in the hat comes back again to visit Dick and Sally, but this time he doesn't create a mess. This time he has come to teach them all about birds. To start off with he talks about birds in general, how they have feathers and a tail and hatch out of eggs. Then he, Thing 1, and Thing 2 take Sally and Dick to different places to introduce them to several different types of birds, such as the spoonbill, emperor penguin, bald eagle, ostrich and more. The cat then leads them all into his Fine Feather, All-Weather Flying Machine, getting them home just in time so that their mother doesn't notice they were gone. This book is very informative, and is written in rhyme. The pictures are bright, bold and colorful. Somehow though, this book fails to capture my attention and hold it, making it not one of the best books I've read by this author.

Loggie-log-log-log

Learning to love nature
This book engaged my 4 year old daughter from the moment she saw the cover. The combination of familiar characters (The Cat in the Hat, Sally) and silly Seuss-like rhymes and drawings is a wonderful vehicle for teaching preschoolers simple biology concepts. My daughter laughed while learning about the biggest, smallest, and quirkiest members of the bird family. This book is part of a series that spans birds, fish, mammals, insects, and dinosaurs. As a group, the series is a great tool to teach children about groupings in nature (i.e., what do mammals, insects, birds have in common?, how do they differ?). Even adults can learn a fact or two while reading to the little ones! ... Read more

Book Description

John James Audubon was a boy who loved the out-of-doors more than the in. He was a boy who believed in studying birds in nature, not just from books. And, in the fall of 1804, he was a boy determined to learn if the small birds nesting near his Pennsylvania home really would return the following spring.This book reveals how the youthful Audubon pioneered a technique essential to our understanding of birds. Capturing the early passion of America"s greatest painter of birds, this story will leave young readers listening intently for the call of birds large and small near their own homes. ... Read more

Book Description

At first light the finches
are flitting about the trees

In this companion volume to JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, the winner of the 1989 Newbery Medal, Paul Fleischman celebrates the sound, the sense, the essence of birds. Written to be spoken aloud by two voices, sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous, these poems perfectly capture the beauty of birds in their singing, soaring, and rejoicing.

Reviews (1)

Delightful
The poems in this book are meant to be read aloud by two different people. Each person reads one of the two columns aloud and lines written on the same line are said simultaneously. This volume contains poems about birds.

My 9 year old son, who doesn't like to read out loud, loves to say these poems with me. It takes a couple of readings to get the cadence right, so this becomes a wonderful way to work on diction while having a tremendous amount of fun. ... Read more

Book Description

Joyful Noise

Written to be read aloud by two voices, sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous -- here is a recording of irresistible poems that celebrate the insect world, from the short life of the mayfly to the love song of the book louse. Funny, sad, loud and quiet, each of these poems resounds with a booming, boisterous, joyful noise. Winner of the 1989 Newbery Medal.

I Am Phoenix is an exultant celebration of the sounds and essence of the bird world. A companion to Joyful Noise, written to be spoken aloud by two voices and masterfully performed by Lloyd and Twomey, these poems perfectly capture the beauty of birds in their singing, soaring and rejoicing.

Performed by John Bedford and Anne Twomey

Book Description

This is a true story about a great horned owl named Jackson who chose his adopted human family over his natural instincts to live in the wild.Jackson was born in the wild with owl parents that cared for him and his owl siblings in a nest high in the branches of a giant tree.One day, a young boy climbed the tree and captured Jackson in a burlap bag and took him home.The boy soon realized that caring for a wild animal was a lot of work and that owls wre not intended to be pets.Gijsbert (Nick), a kind man with a special license to care for owls, was contacted and took Jackson home to his family where they cared for him until he was old enough and strong enough to be set free. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Adopted By A Book!
The illustrations (paintings) in this book are worth the price alone. They are absolutely stunning. A great book for your coffee table. Read it to your children or grandchildren. This book is sure to awake a sense of wonder in a young person. There are ecological concepts, such as food chains and predation, which are paramount to a youngster who needs a real world experience with living things. The great horned owl is vividly presented as a fearsome predator, yet as an individual the Van Frankenhuyzen's owl is one to be admired as well as respected. Thoreau rejoiced that there were owls. I too rejoice there are owls, and rejoice there are sensitive and compassionate naturalists who can bring the natural world into ours. What a blessing this book has been to my family. It will be read and reread again, especially when we can not get outside and tramp the woods and fields for our own owls!

Awesome
I am an adult owl lover who bought this book for myself, and just love it. This is an amazing true story that's funny, endearing, and doesn't end sad. It makes you say 'awwwwwe.' Every page has huge, beautiful paintings of the Great Horned Owl which are worth the price of the book alone. Even non-owl-lovers will love this story. It begins with Jackson, the owl, riding home in the car, perched on the head rest of the passenger seat (there's a painting of it) and ends with the owl perched on the roof of his owner's house. In the middle, there's a painting of Jackson standing at his master's door, mouse in beak, seeking admittance after tapping on the door, so he can share his hunt with his human family. And this is a mere sampling.
Absolutely buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

Adopted by an owl
This is the only book I could keep the interest of my [child] for the Whole book! I will be looking for more books written by Ms. Smith. I would like to comment on the beautiful pictures. They made me feel like I was there!

Your library must have!
Adopted By An Owl is a truly enduring tale. It tells of the Van Frankehuyzen family's rehabilitation of a Great Horned Owl and of the Owl, named Jackson, taking to the family as if he were the family dog! It is just amazing to read about the Jackson's interactions with the family, his healing process, and his overall protectiveness of them. Most people see these critters as frightening but you see how amazingly enough, Jackson was able to be both a free wild bird and yet an integral part of the family for many years. This is a wonderful book to share with Children as I think it helps to teach them compassion towards animals. It shows children that we can all be a part of nature by helping even the littlest creature live on. Hopefully, it teaches some that certain animals are not meant to be in captivity either .If you like this book, you must look for Saving Samantha. It is the Van Frankehuyzen's journal account of raising a baby fox pup who they found as a small kitten captured in a trap. I do not want to give too much away, but as a bookseller, this is my favorite Sleeping Bear Press children's book to date!

An excellent book!
As a naturalist who works with a permanently injured Great Horned Owl, I can say that besides being stunning, the illustrations in this book capture the true facial expressions and body postures of a Great Horned Owl. The information in this book not only draws you into the story, but it is very accurate and educational. I can't recommend this book highly enough to someone looking to present enthralling, accurate information about owl biology to youngsters (or adults for that matter!) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Penguins - Another Gail Gibbons Masterpiece
As with "Whales" Gail Gibbons continues to distinguish herself as one of the premier authors of non-fiction books for the young. Graceful illustrations of every kind of penguin plus interesting and new facts for even the most seasoned adult viewers of the Discovery Channel. Large print, along with thoughtful pronunciation guides, makes it easy for younger readers. An absolute joy to read! ... Read more

Book Description

Starting and ending with adorable ducklings, this 60-year old story is still as charming today as it was when Viking first published it in 1941. A true classic, Make Way for Ducklings is sure to win yet another generation of fans! ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way For Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
The Viking Press

Imagine yourself as a mother duck, flying over Boston looking for a place to rest and lay your eggs, but you are very very particular about where you land. Considering that Boston is a busy place, would you want to raise a family there? This is what this story is all about. Make
Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is a Realistic Fiction and Fantasy book for young and old readers. It takes place in the air when Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a place to land. Mr. Mallard finds very nice spots but Mrs. Mallard is not satisfied. She says she doesn't want to raise a family  where there might be foxes in the woods or turtles in the pond. They fly on for awhile until they reach Boston. The Mallards are very tired and fly down for the night on a small island near the park. In the morning they hunt for food in the bottom of the river but don't have a lot of luck. Soon their luck turns good when a boat carrying a load of people has the people throw peanuts to them to fill their empty stomachs. Mr. Mallard and Mrs. Mallard decided that they would like to nest there, until a boy riding a bike zips by Mr. Mallard and almost runs him over. Now will the Mallards decide to stay or will they leave forever?

There are 3 main characters (or 11 counting all the ducklings) Mrs. Mallard, Mr. Mallard, their ducklings, and Michael the policeman. Mrs. Mallard is a mother duck, that thinks a lot about  her kids' future, which I think makes a great mother. She is very independent and proud
about things she accomplishes and does. She loves her family and her husband very much and hopes for a pleasant future. She also loves her human friend, Michael, who is loving to the Mallard family. Mr. Mallard is the father duck. He is a loving and caring dad who sometimes gets annoyed with his wife when it comes to finding new nesting ground. Mr. Mallard helps take care of the young with his wife but also likes to venture off to see the surrounding area. Michael, the policeman, is the family friend. Everyday they go and visit him for peanuts. Michael also does great deeds for them by helping them cross the street carefully. He loves his little family friends.

I recommend this book to all readers, because it is a short story and it will not take a long time out of your day to read it. It is a heartwarming book that you can imagine what is happening without looking at the illustrations. The illustrations are so detailed that you can understand the story without actually reading the words. You can actually go to Boston and see statues of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings walking to the pond at the public garden, which my family and I did this summer. I connected to the story when I saw the big swan boat carrying  people, just as the Mallards saw them, too. I think the boat and statues are cool. Anyone can enjoy this book because it's made for all ages!!  

A McCloskey Classic
Robert McCloskey's classic children's book, Make Way for Ducklings is just as delightful in the year 2002 as it was back when it was first published in 1941. The timeless story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their eight adorable ducklings is still a fun read for children and parents alike. The story begins as the prospective parents search for a new home suitable for raising their young ones. Mrs. Mallard is clearly the expert in this endeavor and Mr. Mallard is quite relieved when she finally settles on a spot that is not too dangerous or noisy for their young family. The couple make themselves quite at home on a little island in the Charles River of Boston, a quiet oasis within the busy city. Soon the ducklings hatch and Mrs. Mallard sets about teaching them all they need to know in order to live in the city. By now they have made good friends with some of their human neighbors, especially Michael, the policeman. When the family makes its first trip into the city, Michael calls for backup and literally stops traffic all along their path. The people the Mallards encounter are just as pleased to see the ducks as the Mallards are to be there. The reader leaves the family settling comfortably for the night after a day of happily following the Swan boats in the park and eating the peanunts tossed their way. The charm of this book lies in both the heartwarming story and th realistic but idyllic illustrations. McCloskey is quite gifted at portraying the natural world to children in a way that is authentic and familiar. Most children have seen duck families in a nearby pond and witnessed the way the ducklings learn about the world by waddling along after their parents. The sketched illustrations add to the natural feeling of the book. The depiction of the ducks is terrific because they are visually expressive but still look like ducks. Another engaging facet of the story is the positive interaction between animals and humans. The Mallards find a way to live comfortably within a city full of people and their human neighbors are welcoming and accommodating. Overall, this a warm and timeless book. It is just perfect for a parent and child to read together or for a teacher to read to a classroom of younger kids. This is a good selection for children aged 3 to 7.

A charming classic
What can I say that everyone else hasn't already? This is probably one of the finest children's books ever written. Its illustrations are richly detailed and vivid even in two-tone, and its story is adorable and wholesome. We're FROM Boston and we've recently moved away, and my little boy always thrills to recognize the Boston Gardens he remembers, but set in times past. The story is sneakily very educational, integrating in plain English information about the migration, mating and molting habits of ducks into an engaging and whimsical story about a mother duck taking care of her own. It also teaches about counting, nature observation, social studies (explaining the different jobs of a police officer) and alphabetization (The names of the ducklings will never fail to make your little one giggle.) We've had it for two years, and it remains one of my son's favorite bed time stories. Truly a classic that belongs in any child's library.

Quack quack waddle waddle, quack quack waddle waddle
A tip of the hat, one and all, to Mr. Robert McCloskey. The father of the delicately shaded picture book, his stories always contain simple plots and a bundle of warmth. "Make Way For Ducklings" (which battles with "Blueberries For Sal" for the title Best-Known-McCloskey-Story) is one of the author's strongest efforts. Bringing elements of rural and urban life together, it not only tells a great tale but remains timeless in its telling.

The story follows Mr. & Mrs. Mallard, a realistically portrayed duck couple. No animals in funny clothes here. The two settle on a small metropolitan island to lay their eggs. Once hatched it's up to Mrs. Mallard and her troop to walk to their new home in the central park with the help of their local police force.

In the sixty some odd years since its publication, "Make Way For Ducklings" has remained exactly the same. The closest it comes to dating itself (aside from the stately cars and "lending library") is that Mr. Mallard abandons his family to fly ahead to the save island. That's one way of looking at it. Another way is to point out that Mrs. Mallard is a capable mother who knows exactly how to lead her small brood. The book is fun, diverting, and illustrated beautifully. It does not pretend to be anything it isn't. It is the classic above all other classics. And it is McCloskey's greatest invention.

Good story
This is a nice tale of a family of ducks finding their place in the world. We have the hard back version and the "book on tape" and both of my children like it. Nice to pair with The Trumpet of the Swan as part of this book is also set in Boston. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hen on the Farm
A wonderful book with lots of bright large simple drawings of farm animals and equipment done on soft cloth pages that our baby loves to read and hold herself. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Penguin Quartet
Please, Please bring this book back into print!It is a wonderful tribute to New York - the perfect introduction to the magic of NYC for any child.Wonderful characters, beautiful illustrations.My nephews love this book.

An awesome combination of jazz and penguins!
I love this book because it has two of my favorite things: jazz and penguins.The illustrations are adorable, and you can find something newin them every time.The pages are simply bursting with color.The plotline is clever and attention-keeping.This book deserves an A+ without adoubt!

Jazz for Juniors...and Flightless Birds
Herbie, Max, Charlie and Miles Penguin find happiness and tasty fish in New York City, playing the coolest jazz around. This story has something for everyone: funny penguins and silly scenes for kids, jazz jokes and parenting puns for the old(er) folks reading the story at bedtime. Colorfulillustrations and an album of the quartet's snapshots of their visit to NewYork round out the package. Pure fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of Jane Simmons's celebrated read-aloud Come Along, Daisy! will be happy to see the endearing duckling back in this sweet picture-book companion. This time, Aunt Buttercup is sitting on an egg for Daisy's mom, and young Daisy can't wait for her new brother or sister to be born. But when all three of Aunt Buttercup's eggs hatch, Mama's green egg doesn't! "'Some eggs just don't hatch,' said Mama Duck. 'Come and play with your cousins, Daisy.'" But Daisy doesn't want to leave Mama's egg, and helps keep it warm even when night falls, and she is cold and tired. Finally, Daisy and her mom wake up in the morning to a Pip! Pip! Pip! It was her little brother! "And together they watched the sun rise on Little Pip's hatching day." Young children will love the irresistible ducks (just look at that face!), and of course the fact that Daisy doesn't give up on the egg no matter what. Each of Simmons's soft, artful pictures offers an intimate perspective on Daisy's family... from the close-up comfort of the warm, feathery nest to an unusual cattail-high view of the ducks gathered around the future Pip. (Baby to preschool) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One of my daugher's continuing favorites
This is a beautiful book, fun to read, and my daughter enjoys it immensely. She even "reads" along, reciting all the parts she remembers, and looks so proud of Daisy when she sits on the egg. At three, my daughter is doing as many things as she can her "very own self" and I think she identifies with Daisy wanting to do something on her own. This book is definitely worth having in your kids' library.

My kids loved it!
This book not only has beautiful illustrations, but also has an engaging story that young children will sit quietly to hear. As a preschool teacher I have watched my 3-5 year olds ask me to read it again and again. The message of perserverance is a good one and that's what the children seem to focus on when they hear it. "Daisy did it!". I can't wait to read the first book about Daisy. I plan on purchasing this book to add to my personal library for when I have children of my own.

It's about Ducks
The illustrations of this book are beautiful--they make me want to cup Daisy and her cousins (and little Pip) in my palm--and the story is lovely. Despite one reader's feeling that there's no message (or an inappropriate message), I think children have the right to literature that's more than didactic, that represents dramatic or emotional or natural situations for their amusement or wonderment or pondering. And ducks sit on eggs for other ducks. And sometimes, eggs don't hatch. True to character, though, Daisy is curious, determined, and sweet--this is why she sits so diligently on the egg and is able, through her own determination, to win over her doubting Mama. By the last page, when Daisy and Mama and Pip watch the sun rise on his "hatching day," I had a tear in my eye, and my nine-month-old was still interested in the bright and duck-filled pictures.

I don't get it
As a fan of the first book, I was a little put off by this one. The art is as beautiful the first, but the story goes kind of flat. I come to expect that somewhere behind the sweetness and warmth of a children's book, should lie some commentary about life. Jane Simmons' first book 'Come Along Daisey,' showed that she knows just that. I left wondering what a Child should think about a mother that doesn't watch her egg, and then gives up on it, and leaves it to her duckling to save the day. In today's world I wonder what kind of conclusions children will draw. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best!
This kit has a real Ren & Stimpy feel to it. I mean, a kit full of bird barf? While not as rewarding as watching the owl caugh up the actual pellet in the wild, this education book is likely to open doors to the world of birding in ways no youngster, teacher, or parent ever expected. Truth be told, kids find body functions funny, and barfing is one of the favs.

And by the way, my thanks to whoever took the pic of the Great Horned Owl on the front cover.

FUN AND ENTERTAINING!!
My 8 year old son was so excited to get this book. Naturally, he loves anything gross and Owl Puke combined that natural affinity for the 'yuck' factor with an entertaining (and educational) read. (Great title, too). I highly recommend this book to parents everywhere and look forward to seeing what's next from Hammerslough!

great
I love this book!! My son couldn't wait to open it and he learned so many good things from the skeleton. Definetly a great book for youngsters!

Useless. Missing the point.
This is horrible. Why buy a book that shows you how to find skeletons in owl puke when the joy of watching the actual owl puke has been completely forgotten?

Sure, it may be marketing savvy to name the book "Owl Puke" and to label the box containing owl puke "Owl Puke," but to not witness a real life owl puking seems perverse in my opinion. Call me old-fashioned.

But the song "Hot Shot City" is particularly good. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

count the ... ladybugs?
My daughter (20 months) loved this book (from the library) as much for the fun illustrations and rhymes but particularly for the game of finding three elusive ladybugs on each double-page spread. It's this kind of continuity and detail that makes a great kid's author/illustrator and Keith Baker is definitely one of them.

Anthony's Reveiw
The children story Quack and Count was a neat little book that shows kids how to count to seven in a fun little way. What I like best was how the arthur was able to find different expressions to use in each of the different pages of the story.

Concept of 7
This book has a wonderful repetitive rhyme that introduces all the different number conbinations for the concept of 7. At the same time there is a predictable quality to each of the pages and the rhyming patterns that promotes emergent literacy as well as numeracy. Great for Preschool aged children. ... Read more

Book Description

This first look at robins follows a full year of growth and change: how the birds develop inside their egg during the spring, how they mature from chicks into fledglings in the summer, how they learn to fly in the fall, and how they leave for warmer climes in winter—only to return when spring comes around again.

1995 Best Children’s Science Books (BL) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Nest Full of Eggs
My 5 year old son and I found this to be a very enjoyable book. I appreciate this book because it is so informative, yet reads more like a story than a textbook. The story begins in the Spring as the robin builds her nest and lays her eggs. It continues as the eggs hatch, and the birds grow up. The story closes as the birds leave in late September and explains that they will return the next Spring. I feel this "Full Circle" approach is very helpful to young learners. All throughout the book this story uses new words for children to learn and very naturally weaves the definitions into the story. The illustrations are a tremendous asset as they help to reinforce the new words. There are several processes shown step by step such as the development within an egg and the building of a nest. They are clearly and delightfully explained and also very well illustrated. I sometimes come across a children's book that captures my attention, yet fails to interest my son. What value does such a book have it it fails to reach the audience it was written for? I find this is not the problem with "A Nest Full of Eggs" as it is entertaining for both adults and children, while having the substance adults would like to teach to children. It is written for children yet does not talk down to them. This book is a part of a larger series called,"Let's read and Find out Science". I have also enjoyed reading others in the series and would highly recommend investigating this series. ... Read more