Book Description

The pages of Follow the Silver Trail reveal that Ant has a mysterious problem. Once Ant discovers Caterpillar has a very similar problem, the chase is on. Fortunately, these critters and young readers have an excellent clue to follow — a strand of silver foil that stretches across every page and through each hole of this distinctive book. Along the way, each cut-out provides a glimpse of the page that follows. These charmingly illustrated, expressive critters have vibrant tales to share with young readers. In the end, they’ll discover who has been eating Ant's, Caterpillar's, Ladybug's, Bee's and Cricket’s food! ... Read more

Book Description

A busy bee, a quiet snail, a colorful butterfly -- young children's favorite insects and crawly creatures are all here in superb close-up photographs. Why does a spider spin a web? How does a grasshopper hop? Simple text and detailed illustrations will satisfy inquisitive preschoolers who are busy learning about the world around them. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A strong and interesting little girl
My little girl is afraid of bugs. She loved this book--it introduced her to the idea that insects are interesting, and that it is okay to be really really excited about the world. A positive, funny and informative book.

A cool and smart girl!
My mom asked me to read it since she thought it was a great book. I did. And I like it. Amanda looks like any nerd in school, but she is actually really smart and cool.
She is smart because she knows everything about bugs, most of them in the story that I have never heard of. I would say she is an Einstein in the field of insects! I bet it takes a lot of hard work and a strong passion to be able to learn so much.
Amanda is cool too. Nobody tries to understand her. However, she never gives up her passion even though she often gets herself into troubles for it. That's what a real hero is about.
Well, I am glad that hero is not always lonely. At the end of the story, Amanda finally finds a bosom friend that shares the same passion with her. I like the happy ending!

Insects Are My Life
I guess I am partial about liking this book. The reason is that I am the mother of the Amanda Frankenstein, whose name was used in this book. When the "real" Amanda was young, she too liked bugs. I thoroughly enjoy sharing this book with the students at my school where I teach. The students love the story and that my daughter's name is in the book. It is a special book to my family and I as well. Mrs. McDonald wrote a cute story showing how girls can like bugs and things of nature. She also showed how students can meet others who share similar likes.

"Insects Are My Life" is one of our favorite books.
My grandaughter (age 4 and a half) loves this story. All of us have felt a little at-odds with the world at times and Amanda Frankenstein is no exception. She is a strong heroine with a passion for insects. She is a "toughie" - she can jump from 3 stairs while wearing her butterfly wings and stand up to teasing in school. She is a resiliant and likeable little girl who eventually meets up with another whose passion is reptiles. I would definately check-out any offerings by this author.

Insects are great!
I like when Amanda Frankentein loves insects so much that she tries to act like one. Amanda wants to even let bugs in her window! I like that part where Amanda finally finds a friend that is a little like herself. The illustrations are so colorful and make me feel like a part of Amanda's life. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Fun reading and great illustrations!
This is a beautiful picture book with a fun, rhyming story, and super illustrations! The poor flea has a cold and he sounds stuffy when he talks ("Does eddybody hab a tissue for be?"). He sniffles, sneezes, and wakes up the whole barn! There are lots of animal sounds to read, too, which little ones usually love. Great fun for your 3-6 year-old!

Entertaining Read Aloud
Entertaining and funny book. Nicely illustrated. Good for reading aloud, particularly if you include sounds (snoring, sneezing). My 3 yr old daughter really enjoys this one. She now recites it from memory.

Great artwork, contrived story
I love love love the illustrations of this book. They're so full of colour, movement and personality. Lots of kid appeal! However, I feel that the artwork is its strongest point. While I appreciated the value in the repetition and the rhyming, I found the story and the rhyme itself very contrived. I felt as if the author was trying too hard to get the rhyme to fit neatly and compactly into the almost 30 pages that the story rests on.

That said, my 3 year old daughter loves this book and whenever she asks me to read it, I have to do so several times before I manage to redirect her attention towards a different book. She laughs hysterically whenever we get to the part where the flea sneezes. That reaction must count for something and probably has more merit than the opinion of her cranky mommy.

Tumble-down wonderful
This is one of the best children's books we've read. Our 3 year old loves the repetition and after a couple of readings, has memorized the entire book. We have to read it every night before bed. It is a wonderful story, and the illustrations are fabulous. A must have for your child's library.

Great Book!
Any book that can make my three year old grand-daughter
laugh out loud deserves a five star rating. It was a delightful story, very easy to read. It is a favorite of ours, that will be read again and again. ... Read more

Book Description

Such a clever caterpillar!

A carefree cabbage caterpillar named Clara, who becomes a common cream-colored butterfly, can't possibly compete with a catty, conceited caterpillar named Catisha, who becomes a captivating crimson-colored butterfly. Or can she?

Reviews (3)

My kids and I loved Clara Caterpillar!
This is story about hidden talents, not judging someone by their appearance etc. and it is very clever. I especially liked the fact that the hero in this story is female. I bought this story for my son's 5th birthday, but my 8 year old daughter simply adored this book. After I read it aloud to him a couple of times I saw her pick it up and read it to herself again and then to him when he asked her to. (She is not normally gung-ho for reading)Great story. Fantastic pictures.

Fabulous!
Absolutely delightful! Beautiful illustrations accompany the alliterative text that tells the tale of a cream colored butterfly who pales in comparison to her spectacular butterfly friends. But when Clara's relatively plain appearance helps her to save another butterfly, the other butterflies recognize her true value. An outstanding read aloud.

Clara Caterpillar
Clara Caterpillar is a fabulous book for many reasons!! My kids enjoyed hearing the tongue tripping tale and love reading it aloud themselves. The alliterative style is quite ear catching. The illustrations are vibrant and colorful. The pictures draw you into the garden until you feel like another bug.

This book is perfect to use with students. I used this to teach caterpillar metamorphosis. It will also be read frequently to illustrate accepting and admiring the unique qualities of individuals. No classroom library would be complete without this book! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Center stage for the tiny mealworm
"A Mealworm's Life" is written and illustrated by John Himmelman. The book combines a simple text with beautiful images. Also included is a short glossary of terms. Set on a farm, the book tells the story of a mealworm's life from her being laid as an egg to the hatching of her own offspring. The text covers its main character's metamorphoses, encounters with other creatures, etc.

This superb book brings a sense of both dignity and magic to the life of this tiny creature. The illustrations are truly beautiful and are rich in subtle details--the scales on a chicken's foot, the patterns on a moth's wings, etc. The rich shades of brown, green, and gold bring a luminous warmth to the book. Himmelman includes some clever visual touches that bring an almost cinematic sense of drama to this miniature epic of one little life. Among the many nature and science picture books for children that I've read, I would certainly rate this as among the best. ... Read more

Book Description

After countless phone calls and letters from fans, we've brought back these time-honored tales. Sharing life lessons and memorable morals, the Serendipity books are a seasoned favorite with children and parents alike. So, journey to the magical, mystical land of Serendipity with these four cherished editions featuring newly revised text from the author.

Berry the Hucklebug doesn't want to do any chores-so he runs away! But after some pretty scary adventures, Berry learns that even when you've got to pitch in, home is still the best place to be. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My childhood favorite
All the Serendipity books are great! I fully recommend them to parents across the nation!

Charming...
If you're having trouble disciplining your child to do chores, this book may have an answer for you. Hucklebug is a young bug who runs away from home to escape his chores, but he soon learns that he's getting more than he bargained for. Enchanting, colorful, and full of smiles. ... Read more

Book Description

Beetles and Bugs is the sixth title in Maurice Pledger's Nature Trails series which features interactive touch-and-feel pages and stories that stimulate children's curiosity and make learning about the natural world entertaining. Endearing characters and nature-inspired settings encourage youngsters to ask for these books time and time again. Beetles and Bugs is a beautifully illustrated and highly educational book that introduces children to the world of beetles and bugs and teaches how to identify 63 different insects. The series includes By the Seashore, In the Forest, In the Ocean, In the Rain Forest, and On the Mountain. ... Read more

Book Description

A spider has made her home among the green hills and valleys of a lettuce leaf. It is a perfect den, just the right size, with a dewdrops pool nearby that will catch moths on moonlit nights. How is the spider to know that the lady intends to eat that very lettuce for lunch one day?

Reviews (2)

the life of a garden spider
A spider lives in a head of lettuce until the day the gardener decides to make a salad for lunch.Over the length of the book, the readerbegins to identify with the spider, so the woman's mercy on discovering her visitor is welcome, and teaches a lesson in our connectedness to other creatures.Pastel art is comforting and quiet.(The book does discuss the spider's eating insects, in case that's not appealing to you.)

A heartwarming story of compassion.
Told from a spider's perspective, this story details the life and near demise of a small creature.At the last moment the lady of the story demonstrates compassion and returns the spider to the garden where he can live a long and happy life.This story is filled with rich illustrations and captivating text.Good for children 3-5 but riveting for those 5-8.The message is one we all should hear. ... Read more

Book Description

Spiders make webs to catch flies, gnats, and other insects. How do they do it? How long does it take them? Read and find out!

Amazon.com

An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things. ... Read more

Reviews (306)

among the best in children's literature
As we all know, there are those certain books in the world that literally every single child in the world should read, and "Charlotte's Web" is a perfect example of must-read literature. It's such a classic story, not to mention a beautiful one. E.B. White creates such memorable characters and describes them very well. When a little girl named Fern hears that some baby pigs have been born in the barn, she is terrified to hear that her father plans to kill the littlest one, the useless "runt." Fern talks her father into letting her adopt the pig. She names it Wilbur and treats it as her own. Then the time comes for the pig to be more on its own, so Fern is forced to sell him to her uncle, who owns a farm. Wilbur feels lonely and out of place until he meets Charlotte, a kind spider who befriends him and, eventually, saves his life. Beautiful, beautiful story of friendship and courage. It contains characters and a fun plot that any child can enjoy. I read this book for the first time when I was in fourth grade, and I recently helped a little second-grader that I baby-sit for with her "Charlotte's Web" comprehension questions. It brought memories back. This is one of those books that you remember for the rest of your life once you've read it. It's excellent, and well worth the money.

'O best beloved'
This is a book which should have ten stars, not just five.

Faced with the impending slaughter of Wilbur, the runt piglet she has saved and nursed to health, Fern is appalled that she has fattened him for the axe, and commits herself passionately to save her beloved animal. So, too, is Charlotte, the spider who inhabits the barn with him, and woh turns her web into a sort of billboard/oracle which astonishes (and admonishes) the community by weaving words that inform them that this is no ordinary pig! She recruits Templeton the Rat and the rest of the animals in her battle for Wilbur's life...will they succeed? or will Wilbur be a nine-days' wonder? and what will be the ultimate cost?

This is the best present I can imagine to inspire a young reader; it's a wonderful tale of courage against the odds; it's warm, sad, and delightfully funny, and 30 years after I read it in fourth grade, I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it. A special, special book. (With wonderful original illustrations!)

A Great Book about Friendship
I must confess that having just read "Animal Farm" shortly before reading this book, I was a little hesitant about excepting this as a pure children's story without any hidden political agenda. I kept expecting the talking animals to rise up behind the pig and take over the farm. Rest assured however there was none of that, as E.B. White does a good job of keeping the story at a purely kids level.

Wilber is the runt in a litter of pigs, and Mr. Arable the farmer is going to take him out back and have him slaughtered since as he says, "He is small and weak and will never amount to anything." His young daughter Fern who is eight, hears this and requests that her father give the pig to her to raise instead. The father wishing to prove a point to her, allows this so long as she promises to do all the work to take care of it. To Mr. Arable's surprise Fern does an excellent job of raising Wilber and he turns out to be "Some Pig", proving that even though he was very small he still could amount to something.

As Wilber grows bigger the Arable's can no longer support feeding him, so Mr. Arable has Fern sell Wilber to her uncle Mr. Zuckerman who has a farm down the road. There she goes and visits Wilber every day. Being young I guess gives you the ability to sit and listen to the animals more intently than adults, and by doing so Fern is able to hear that the animals can actually talk and she understands them. (Being the father of two girls who are 7 and 5, I'd have to disagree somewhat with this logic as my girls never sit still, and certainly have a hard time listening at times, but for the sake of the story we'll just give them the benefit of the doubt.)

Anywise Wilber meets all the other animals in the barn who are very nice, but none of them are really his close friend. He becomes lonely and wishes for a friend. A gray spider named Charlotte answers his prayers and after introducing herself, she becomes Wilber's best friend.

When the other animals tell Wilber that Mr. Zuckerman is just fatting him up to eat him for Christmas, this makes him greatly disturbed. Charlotte being a great friend promises to do all she can to make Wilber so important to Mr. Zuckerman that he would change his mind. She sets a plan in action to weave messages into her web proclaiming how great the pig is, and by doing so she hopes to trick the adults into believing it as well. With the help of Templeton the rat she obtains some newspaper clippings and begins her work.

Each new message in the web is looked upon as miracle, but rather than looking for any religious connection, the folks in the town just believe they have a very famous pig on their hands and accept it at face value.

The suspense builds as Zuckerman takes Wilber to the Fair. If he can just win an award there, Charlotte knows his life will be saved. Charlotte and Templeton have to stow away in Wilber's crate just to accompany him to the Fair, and then when they get there the pig in the stall next to Wilber is twice as big and looks to be a shoe in for first prize.

This book was obviously written at a much simpler time in history. At the Fair grounds the adults send the kids off on their own. Besides Fern who is 8, she has a little brother Avery who is only 5. After giving them all kinds of warnings such as not to eat too much, and to stay out of the sun, to not get dirty, and to be careful on the rides, the mother stops and says to the husband, "Do you think they'll be all right?" and he responds, "Well they have to grow up sometime." (None of the warnings were about staying away from strangers.) Of course when the kids returned they hadn't stayed out of the sun and were hot, and completely dirty, but they had fun.

Fern meets a boy at the Fair, and starts to grow up a bit as playing with him starts to seem like more fun than talking to bunch of animals.

It is a great book about overcoming obstacles even though you are very small, growing up, and most of all friendship. My girls loved the book as well, and especially seemed to like the illustrations by Garth Williams.

Quality literature for children
A spider saves the life of a friendly pig by spinning accolades about him in her web, thereby producing a miracle that impresses people for miles around. This is a beautifully written little story for children that has real literary quality. The prose is excellent. Note in particular the simple but lovely descriptions of the passing seasons that Mr. White writes. The themes include friendship, coping with the loss of loved ones, and the realization that life goes on, changed but still worth living.

Best book ever
I think this is a really good book.It was about a pig and a spider who were vary good friends. My favorite part of the story was when they went to the Fair. The book was great. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Beautiful Book!
Fiona the Firefly is simply one of the most adorably illustrated, heartfelt books for children I have read in years. Fiona is a firefly who doesn't feel "special," and wonders why she isn't like the other bugs. But she learns how to "let her light shine" in her own delightful way. Most enchanting about this book are the elderly ants, the "Pest Shop" and the acts of kindness Fiona dreams up.
Add this to your book shelf! ... Read more

Book Description

What kind of bugs are in the yard-long yellow box? A bunch of bouncing brown basketball bugs, of course. Learning one's colors was never more fun than in this ingeniously illustrated and engineered pop-up book.This sequel to How Many Bugs in a Box? will keep kids laughing as they learn their colors. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

More Bugs in Boxes
This book is great for little kids. They get to learn colors. Plus, pictures pop out! A great learning book. ... Read more

Book Description

This companion volume to the best-selling Slugs and Skunks! takes an irreverent look at another of the world's most misunderstood creatures-bugs. Accompanied by Lynn Munsinger's sly, witty illustrations, Bugs! is sure to disgust and entertain both bug lovers and bug haters alike! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fun for kids & adults!
I bought this for my nephew but am now buying it for my husband...it is a clever, witty, and well illustrated book suitable for anyone with a wacky sense of humor.

Creepy crawly fun!
This book is just plain gross... but ALSO, it is truly funny! I get a big kick out of the fast paced jaunty way it reads out loud, and the way it makes your skin crawl as you read it.

My son who is 2 may be a little young for it...he may even go out and eat a bug because of it. I think it was a little creepy to him at first (with the boy riding on a REALLY big black spider), but now he requests it, and enjoys the funny illustrations as well. It is not scary by any means, but more silly and gross. I recommended this book for kids ages 3+ for a creepy crawly good reading time.

Bugs! By David Greenberg
David Greenberg's book, Bugs!, crawls with humor and entertainment for all ages. I absolutely love it! The story in verse is original, fast paced, and definitely stimulates the imagination using more of the readers' senses than just sight. Tastebuds balk at the thought of eating a squirting bug. Ears hear the loud crunch of that first imagined bite. Noses begin to scrunch up as stinkbugs are sprinkled over a salad. Skin twitches with feelings of being crawled on. The author's style is grossly hilarious and quite clever. His ridiculous use of the bugs is sure to keep the interest of readers, even reluctant ones. Surprise and the unexpected are the usual bill of fare in this book, especially the ending. Lynn Munsinger's colorful illustrations further complement the story. Each bug is characterized with individual personalities through the various facial features and expressions. None of the bugs, even the creepier ones, appear fierce or frightening. They lean more towards harmless, lovable, and/or goofy looking. The illustrations and text are in harmony and together create a light hearted, amusing story in verse.

Hilarious! Entertaining for all ages.
I checked this book out from my local public library to read to my children, ages 6 and 3. Not only did my children find it an enjoyable book, they wanted to keep it. It has ben passed around my children's school, and has only recieved great reviews by the teachers. It is a book that will be added to the school's library.

Custard like.
Fantastic, and reminds one of the Custard books. Since she (he?) illustrated those, these are great. Highly recommended. My son wants to eat a bug now. Ycccccch. ... Read more

Book Description

All of Little Bear's friends and family have gathered for dinner. Everyone is having a wonderful time. But when they hear an odd noise, Little Bear finds out that they have an unexpected guest for dinner -- a cricket!

Book Description

Crinkleroot is an expert at finding animals because he knows where to look for them. In his jeep Crinkleroot covers a lot of ground, spotting over eighty different wildlife species in wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, drylands, and more. Along the way, readers will learn tips for finding wildlife in their own neck of the woods. ... Read more