Book Description

Illus. in color. The story of an incredible twosome that "provides interest, suspense and word repetition. Illustrations excellent. Recommended."--(starred) School Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This story sounds like Pinocchio
I read this book in first grade and noticed that the details of the story are very similar to the cartoon movie, "Pinocchio" for example, Sam the owl tries to teach Gus the firefly right from wrong(like Jiminy Cricket)and Gus doesn't listen, and just like when Stromboli locks Pinocchio in a cage, the Hot Dog Man cages Sam in a glass jar and drives him off, only it's in a pickup truck rather than a horse-drawn trailer. The only differences are that there were no characters taking the place of Foulfellow or Gideon, and that in Pinocchio, the Blue Fairy saved him, not his conscience.

cool dude
This was a very, very cute book.

Read it over and over and over and...
This was my favorite book growing up. I owned a copy and I still checked it out of the library so I could read it at school. At age 4, the story was engaging and the moral easy to understand. At 5-6, the story was still great, but the challenge of reading words with such a wide range of difficulty kept me interested for years.

This Book Works Brilliantly
I have never forgotten reading *Sam and the Firefly* as a child, and I never will. One of my children projects all of his naughty deeds onto Sam; the other wants me to be sure to read every single word on every single page. This is a book that, on all levels, just plain works.

Gus is a law-abiding owl who teaches Sam to make words with his fire-fly light. Sam likes the words but soon is into mischief, writing "cold dogs" above a hot dog stand and nearly causing a riot by writing "free" above a movie theater. His tricks border on the dark as he almost causes cars to collide. The scary darkness of the tale never comes to anything but engages the reader completely. My children worried about the outcome, and wondered (like Gus) how to control Sam. The book even becomes tense when Sam ends up in a closed glass jar and needs rescuing.

Yes, Gus is a lot like a parent. Sam is a lot like a child. And the book is full of learning to read and testing limits and innocently causing real danger and true friendship and sticking together and...it amazes me how seamlessly Eastman puts all of this material together in a riveting story. This may be the best Eastman book of all. It may also be one of the least preachy and most educational books I know. Dark and light, good and bad. It's all there.

Super Book to Teach Youngsters how to Read!
Sam and the firefly is a super book for many reasons. First of all, Sam and the Firefly is the first book I learned how to read. My mother read it to me every night, until she started letting me read some of the words, and soon, I could read the whole book. (I didn't memorize the book, either.)I highly recommend that you give this book to youngsters who are beginning to read. This book also has a cute plot that will capture youngster's attention, and the illustrations are very fun. This book is a fun read, and I will treasure it forever. ... Read more

Book Description

Push, pull, and slide the eensy weensy spider up and down the waterspout in this cheerfully illustrated version of the beloved rhyme.

Reviews (1)

My Baby Can't Get Enough!
My almost one year old can't get enough of this wonderful book about his favorite song! He loves to lift the flaps and to listen to me sing as we flip through the pages. By far, it's his favorite book! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Butterfly House
This book is about a girl who saves a caterpillar
from a hungry blue jay. The girl keeps the caterpilar until it is a butterfly. My favorite part is when they make the caterpillar's little house. I LOVE the illustrations.I'd recommend this book to people who like butterflies.

A very warm celebration.
I saw a copy of BUTTERFLY HOUSE and bought it right away because I was attracted to the love and warmth that the book radiates through its story and illustrations on one of my favorite subjects, the butterfly. Butterfly lovers can look for MALINDA MARTHA MEETS MARIPOSA too, different in that it features the Monarch rather than the Painted Lady and different again in that it offers the dimension of acting out the life-cycle as a play. Similar is the love for the butterfly that the children will experience in each book. One doesn't seem complete without the other. Together a child will build a life-time of love and knowledge on this subject.

A beautiful story of a girl her grandfather and butterflies.
This was a delightful book written by Eve Bunting highlighting her wonderful style of writing. This book caught my eye at first by the beautiful cover but then I was spell bound by the wonderful illustrations and the delightful story. I was also attracted to this book because of the butterflies. I am a teacher and my first grade class just raised painted lady butterflies, just like in the book. It was a wonderful book to share with my students, especially on the day we released our own butterflies. The book helped explain that it was okay to cry but to be happy at their new found freedom. I would recommend this book to anyone at any age. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Excellent story and Beautiful illustrations!
I have loved this book since it first came out. The pictures are beautiful- very detailed and fun to look at. I have never seen such pretty flowers and colors in a children's book. Since reading this book, I am a big fan of Miss Spider and collect Miss Spider toys, books, etc. The story sends a very good message to kids. The story rhymes which makes it fun to read aloud.

I fell in Love with Miss Spider at her tea party!
I happened upon Miss Spider about three years ago at the Denton public library. At the time my daughter was 3, I love the prose, I love the art, I love Miss Spider!

David Kirk does a wonderful job of creating an adorable "mis-fit" Miss Spider is so misunderstood! None of the other bugs want to come to tea. The story breaks your heart then shows how persistance and kindness pay off!

My daughter isn't as thrilled by the books as I am. but then again, I LOVE them. Thank God for people with such great imaginations as the author and illustrator of the Miss Spider series. I recommend Miss Spider to everyone, not just kids, the lessons are profound and the flowing prose style is wonderful. This is my very favorite book to read to children. I am a life long fan of Kirk!

Beautiful
The artwork in this book will keep any child interested. It took my daughter a few reads to get into the story and she still prefers Miss Spider's New Car, but we read this book often.

Vividly Gourgeous Illustrations-A Joy to Read!
~ Miss Spider's Tea Party is one of those children's books that brings delight to the adult reader as well as the child.
~ The illustrations are beautiful and vividly intricate, but not too complex for children to enjoy, the story has a very gentle wit, that adults will appreciate.
~ Poor Miss Spider invites all kinds of insects to tea, but for some reason they seem reluctant to befriend her. : - )

~ Happily, her naturally sweet charm wins her popularity in the insect kingdom over, as well as a true fan in the reader. Children really seem to love this simple tale, mostly for the beauty of the illustrations, and the sense of a happy conclusion approaching.

I highly recommend this as a book you can enjoy reading with your child. And I would definitely also recommend the sequel "Miss Spider's Wedding"!

Wove a Web Around Me
My daughter and I love this book. The wording is terrific and the paintings are fantastic. She started turning the pages when she was 4 months old as she couldn't wait to find out what happened next with Little Miss Spider. Even at her age she's picky about books. I've been trying to read Eloise to her for days, but no go. However, Miss Spider is always a hit. Fortunately, it's so well written that I don't get tired of reading it time and time again. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the diary ... of a spider. But don't be worried -- he's more scared of you and your gigantic shoe! Actually, he's a lot like you. He goes to gym class and has Grandparents Day at school. But he also spins sticky webs, scales walls, and takes wind-catching lessons. Lucky for him, his best friend is a fly!

Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the #1 best-selling Diary Of A Worm, spin a hilarious tale about the upside-down web world of an eight-legged charmer and his unlikely friend, Fly.

Book Description

Beetle McGrady dreams of being an explorer like Marco Polo or a pioneer like Amelia Earhart. She dreams of being brave and daring, and she will begin by ... eating an ant.

It's dare double dare on the school playground, but will Beetle be able to live up to her dreams? Face to face -- or Beetle to ant -- will she be able to

bite and
chew and ...
swallow?
Gulp!

If she does, what will the ant taste like? If she does, will the ant be crunchy or squishy? And if she can't, does that mean she's a chicken?

Book Description

Did you know that ants have jobs? Ants may not look like they are doing anything important, but each ant that lives in a hill has a special job, whether it is cleaning the nest, digging new tunnels or gathering food. And in each ant city there is a queen ant who is busy laying eggs.

In this popular Stage 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science book, Arthur Dorros explores the fascinating and complex ways in which these industrious insects work together to keep their ant cities alive.

A Reading Rainbow Selection
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1987 (NSTA/CBC) ... Read more

Book Description

The impressionable Buzzy reads the startling and shocking "scientific fact" that he should not be able to fly and he begins to doubt himself.Come along on Buzzy's chanllenging journey and discover what can happen when you learn to Bee-lieve. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Terrific moral with beautiful pictures
My son got this book as a gift for his 1st birthday (and signed by the author!). We read this book once or twice a week. My 18 month old loves it and he points out Buzzy on every page. I like it because it also uses "big" words in a way that you don't normally see in children's literature (words like frustration, envious, and destination). The illustrations are beautiful - the colors are very vibrant and really hold my child's attention as I read to him. I think when he gets older he'll like it for the moral of the story. Overall, this is a favorite in our collection.

Best book ever!
I purchased this book from one of my neighbors who was raising money for her school. When I got it, my son was just a few months old and I put it aside with all the "When he gets older books." When he was 2 1/2 yrs old, he found the book and asked me to read it to him. What a wonderful book! I was so upset with myself for waiting over 2 yrs to read it! My son LOVES this book, and so do all of friends. I have bought countless copies and given them as gifts. Everyone just raves about it! It's a story that needs to be told. Giving your child the gift of confidence...what could be better than that?!

The Buzz on Buzzy
As an elementary education major, presently studying Children's Literature, I was thrilled when I encountered Denise Brennan-Nelson's Buzzy The Bumblebee. To accompany my course work, I have been spending time at a local elementary school reading to children during their weekly library hour. Buzzy arrived in a shipment of new library books for the children, and immediately grabbed my attention. I quickly read the book, finding it to be thoroughly entertaining, as well as educational. That very day I read Buzzy to first and second grade classes, and their reaction was amazing. The children were enraptured with Buzzy's extraordinary journey. The beautiful and brightly colored illustrations only further enhanced their literary adventure. The children responded eagerly to the social lessons of believing in yourself, and rejecting stereotypical labels and limits. Furthermore, the text is appropriate for beginning readers, and makes reading fun with its lilting rhyme. I have

since purchased Buzzy, hiding him safely away, as he will one day become a most valuable asset in my classroom.

Great for children with low self-esteem.
I bought this book a year ago for my 1 year old granddaughter, since reading it to her, it has become her favorite book. I'm a fourth grade teacher, so I carry the book to school and read it to my classes, they loved it. I have to read it at least once a week my classes.

The book has a lot of ryhming words and it's easy for the students to understand and enjoy. I've recommemded the book to many of my co-workers and friends.

Buzzy the Bumblebee
What a great book for children of all ages. We read it to our salespeople last night at our weekly sales meeting and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all. What a positive impact it will have each time it is read. I thoroughly recommend this book for self-esteem building. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The life of a Honeybee review
This book has great information on all aspects of the honeybee. It talks about the life cycle, the social behavior, body plan, and habitat of the honeybee. It also tells you a little bit about classification. The book isa quick and easy read too. ... Read more

Book Description

-Ideal for babies and toddlers.

-Textured fabrics and bright colors help to develop children's sensory awareness.

-Rhyming text helps kids improve their listening skills.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good choice.
My 5 mos old daughter enjoys chewing and manipulating this book since it has lots of fabric flaps to tug (ex: as insect wings) textures (shiny fly eyes, worm skin) and bright colors.

The cover is crinkly and it closes with Velcro. It would have been nice if it had a fold back Velcro tab so you can wash the book open without it snagging on things. It also would have been nice if the snail was a squeaker or if the spider would dangle from the web on a cloth cord. The little spider legs are cute, but very spindly and small -- watch out in case they come off with wear.

I'm a bit concerned about the colors fading/bleeding in the wash but overall it's one of the more attractive cloth books for babies and I think it was a good choice.

My 6 year old niece enjoyed reading the page rhymes out loud, so it ought to have a good lifespan.

I never leave home without it!
This is my Three month old's favorite book. She loves to chew on it and look at the pictures. She has had it for a few weeks now and gets excited every time she sees it. Her favorite page is the one with the spider, she loves to chew on the spider's legs. She even cried when I took it away from her to change her shirt!!!

Our 6 month old loves it!
Our 6 month old loves this book. Every page has bright colors and many textures. The phrases are cute and clever. Her favorite page is the one with the butterfly and she will try to turn the pages back to it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When she's not having tea parties or zooming around in her new car, David Kirk's colorful Miss Spider helps kids learn their ABCs and even how to count. This set of three Miss Spider board books--Miss Spider's ABC, Miss Spider's New Car, and Miss Spider's Tea Party: The Counting Book--comes in a handy cardboard carrying case with a red plastic handle. If you're looking for the rich, rhyming language of Miss Spider's New Car, you should stick with the original hardcover, for the board book edition of this and of Miss Spider's Tea Party have been abbreviated and modified as smaller books for smaller hands. In Miss Spider's ABC, the heftiest board book of the bunch with all 26 letters of the alphabet, Miss Spider's friends prepare for her giant surprise birthday party: "Bumblebees blow balloons.... Earthworms entertain.... Fireflies fandango.... Moths mingle.... Owlflies ogle." Kirk's action-packed illustrations are crisp and luminous--crawling with comically anthropomorphized bugs jumping and laughing and mingling. A fine introduction to the world of Miss Spider for the younger set. (Baby to preschool) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful!
My 2yr old twins love this collection! They can carry around the little case and the books are wonderful! They love bright colors and this collection is bright and fun! ... Read more

Book Description

This beloved Eric Carle classic returns once again in a colorful new board book format. For generations, The Grouchy Ladybug has delighted readers of all ages with the story of a bad-tempered bug who won't say "please" or "thank you," won't share, and thinks she is bigger and better than anyone else. As children follow the Grouchy Ladybug on her journey, they will learn the important concepts of time, size, and shape, as well as the benefits of friendship and good manners.

Reviews (38)

Great for all ages!
I am a mother of 3 aged 5,3 & 1 year. All three of my children love this book. They think the Grouchy Ladybug is a silly bug. They enjoy "reading" along with me because the book is so repetitive! Even my one year old sits & listens intently to the pattern. "Ya' wanna fight! " "If you insist..." "Oh- you're not big enough." Repetition is the best tool in teaching to read & Eric Carle books are PERFECT for that! The other concepts he introduces in his books such as TIME & DAYS are helpful in teaching too. GREAT WORK, MR. CARLE!

The Wonderful World of Insects
The Grouchy Ladybug is a wonderful Eric Carle book. I love his mosiac illustrations, and the moral he projects. The grouchy ladybug is mean to all the other insects that he meets. He does not want to share the aphids on his leaf with the friendly ladybug. He ends up making no friends at all, and the animals he is rude to are getting bigger and fiercer as the book goes on. In the end the grouchy ladybug ends up on the same leaf he started out on, and shares the aphids.

Note to teachers: This is a great book to introduce a unit on insects. Most students probably don't understand what aphids are, and the ladybugs feed on them. You could also incorporate all of the other animals in the text to do a unit on animals. There are so many wonderful teaching oportunities with all of Eric Carle's books, but this is one of my favorites.

Wonderful book--one of my child's favorites
This is a great book and the repetition is great for a emerging young reader. My 3 year old can "read" this book to himself and his baby sister because he can anticipate what will happen when he turns the page. He has language delays due to hearing problems when he repeated ear infections and these repetitious books that Eric Carle has done have been wonderful with slowly introducing him to language.

Repetition, repetition, repetition....
After reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to my son enough times to have it memorized, I bought this book thinking that it would be a nice change, and expecting The Grouchy Ladybug to have a moral somewhere along the lines of Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (if you haven't read that to your kids, get it). I found The Grouchy Ladybug to be repetative to the point of parental abuse. Eric Carle has good children's books, but this one was definitely not my favorite. The only thing my son has learned from it is "Hey, You, Wanna Fight?" It was okay to read once or twice, but the next garage sale, it's going to mysteriously vanish. I would suggest The Very Hungry Caterpillar instead, if you don't have it.

This book is crap
Eric Carle has done better. Read the "Very Quiet Cricket". This book is extremely repetitive and isn't really even a story so much as an excuse for the mediocre illustrations and a kind of irritating gimmick of having differently sized pages. These pages are have for my son to turn also.

I love reading real children's stories to my kids, and I don't mind some repetition (e.g., "Guess how much I love you" and "Are you my Mother?" are great...) But the ladybug keeps saying the same thing over and over and over. Yeah, I've hid the book from my kids and they don't miss it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Janell Cannon, best-known for her award-winning picture books Stellaluna and Verdi, departs from the worldof bats and snakes and turns her attention to... cockroaches. None of these areparticularly cuddly creatures, but seen through Cannon's anthropomorphizingglasses, they are ones we can sympathize with. Crickwing, cruelly named for histwisted wing, is a lonely food stylist. He builds sculptures out of roots,leaves, and petals... and then eats them. But artistic serenity is not possiblein the dangerous forest. The melancholy insect is constantly faced withcockroach-eating lizards, ocelots, and worse, food-stealing monkeys: "'Anothermasterpiece--ruined!' Crickwing panted. 'I'm starving and my wing aches. I don'tknow if I can take this much longer.'"

Bemoaning his fate as a "mere exoskeleton," Crickwing wakes up with thoughts ofvengeance. As he watches thousands of leaf-cutting ants busy at work, hewonders, "Why isn't anyone bothering these little twerps?" He sticks hisspiny leg out to trip one of them, and delights in taunting them further. Ofcourse, the ants don't take this well. They swarm him, drag him into the darkcorridors of their anthill, and bury him up to his neck--all the whilewhispering about how his mother must be heartbroken to have produced such anawful menace. Just as they are about to fork him over as their annual peaceoffering to the army ants, they have a crisis of conscience. "Nobody deservesthat, not even this big bully," says one of the ants, and, risking the wrath oftheir queen, they release him and flee. Now it's Crickwing's turn to have aconscience. He races after the leafcutters with his creative plan to keep thewarring army ants at bay. The story ends in a festive explosion of flowerconfetti, and a valuable lesson in compassion. The concluding "Cockroach Notes"and "Ant Notes" crawl with fascinating facts about our six-legged friends. (Ages5 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Think twice before crunching that cockroach!
Janell Cannon has a gift for making the creepy critters lovable. In "Stellaluna" she made us identify with a lost bat; in "Verdi" she made us cheer for a snake who learns to shed his skin; but now she tackles the impossible: cockroaches!

Crickwing (so named because of a twisted wing) is a lonely cockroach. He spends his days as a "food-stylist", crafting sculptures of his food before eating them. But he and his sculptures are easy prey to lizards and other roach-eating critters.

Tired of being a victem, he decides he is going to pick on some smaller targets: ants! But the leaf-eating ants are not as harmless as they seem and they swarm Crickwing when his shenanigans go too far. Crickwing is not really the bully he seems, and when danger threatens both the ants and him, he becomes an unlikely hero! Vibrant and just as engaging as her previous books, though this one is more of a cheeky fable then fantasy. "Crickwing" just might make you think twice before stepping on a cockroach! A terrific companion piece for the award-winning author.

Cockroaches! That sculpt! I love it!
Although not quite STELLALUNA or VERDI, Ms. Cannon excels with CRICKWING, the story of an injured cockroach-turned-sculptor. The book, as all of Ms. Cannon's books, is vibrant and beautiful, and a welcome addition to my own daughter's library.

The story: we follow the injured Crickwing through his own torments, his release in art (sculpting food) and subsequent personal growth when he turns tormentor to some leaf cutter ants. His eventual acension to savior of the ant colony (from Army ants) resolves the conflict (both internal and external) in a way sure to delight and comfort your child.

CRICKWING, although not the best book (by Ms. Cannon, or otherwise), is sure to delight fans of STELLALUNA or roaches (see the movie Joe's Apartment).

Controlling emotions
Crickwing is a cockroach who is grumpy because a toad have him a crooked wing and it aches. Crickwing likes to play with his food before eating it, but several nights in a row, his meal is stolen from him by large critters like lizards or monkeys before he gets a chance to dig in. Crickwing vents his frustration by torturing leaf cutter ants, but he gets in deep trouble, finding himself elected by the leaf cutter ants as the peace offering for the army ants. The story has a number of points that some kids, especially young ones, may find rather scary. But other kids may enjoy the tension. At the end of the story are some feature articles that provide more factual information about cockroaches and ants. The book has about 1600 words.

wonderful book
Another gem from Janell Cannon. More beautiful illustrations. This author is gifted enough to get us to fall in love with a cockroach! A great story with many life lessons tucked in along the way. I highly recommend it!

crickwing
I found this book to be one of the best children books i've read. The storys about a cockroach that has a cricked wing and is always being picked on. He decides to pick on things smaller than him after a bit. The book has a twist in the end. It has good drawings, pictures, and cool colors. Its a cool book and worth reading. So read it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great reference
I read this book 2 years in a row for Spiders week at preschool. If you skip the history part, you're good! But its got a good reference book that is understandable at this age level. It talks about sizes, shapes and different webs. Very few non fiction books out there can be adapted for this age level with a variety of understanding---understanding this. But this is one of those books---and the kids love it too. ... Read more

Book Description

A board book version of a favorite nursery rhyme with added adventures. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Itsy Bitsy Spider
This book is a wonderful addition to any home library, if you can get it onto a bookshelf that is. I am the mother of three girls, a 5 year old and 3 year old twins. My girls love all of Iza's books, but this has remained a "the faviorite" by them all. They sleep with her books, we have two copies of Itsy Bitsy Spider, one being the paperback now covered in packing tape to help preserve it and the new edition the board book in hopes of a lasting bedtime cuddle mate. If you can get your hands on the author reading her books on audio I suggest it greatly. No matter how well you read the audio cassette is still better. Good Luck getting your child to put this one down! (not that we would want that.)

POSSIBLY IZA'S BEST BOOK!
THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER deserves 5 stars just for the illustrations alone; it has all the colors in the rainbow plus a glossy sheen to highlight/accent them! Also the story is so cute and fun to read! I find no flaws whatsoever in this book--period. 10 STAR BOOK!

I really enjoy singing the song to the story (but it is like a poem, so it isn't necessary if you don't like to sing. If you need it, the music notes are on the last page of the book. You sing the same tune to all the verses of Iza's story.)

I ALWAYS sing the story as my daughter and I are reading it together all the way through. Then when I try to put the book down, she refuses and has to look through it again--the illustrations are that good! The second time I use it as a training tool to teach her the names of objects illustrated. I'll say "where's the spider?" (house, flower, butterfly, turtle, fruit, fan, yellow bucket, mouse, boots, green chair, boots, orange cat, tree, squirrel, rabbit, frog--you get the idea!)

THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER is a book for ALL AGES and guaranteed to induce smiles and giggles. You won't find a better childrens' book anywhere--believe me! (We own probably 50+ childrens' books!) Anything Iza does is top knotch but if you can only buy one of hers, this one's it! (But I highly recommend you get "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" also. "I'm a Little Teapot" is on its way...ok, I'm hooked but you will be too!) You won't be disappointed with Iza, trust me!

Thanks Iza!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider makes us laugh and laugh every time!
Iza Trapani did it again! My kids and I love this book! When we get to the part with "the rocking chair" we pack out laughing and have to hold our tummies! Fantastic rhyme and the pictures are loads of fun.

Great Idea but the lines do not flow
Itsy Bitsy spider is probably the third most favourite rhyme of most kids. The reason? The words have such a wonderful rhythm about them and it sounds so plausible! This book does away with that magic. The new lines seem to have been thrust to sort of fit into the same rhythm, there is no natural flow. To make matters worse the concepts are very confusing in places! fOR eg the the phrase "off came the fan", My son expected the fan to come "off" like his bandaid, not turned off. I wasnt impressed with the art work either.

Great book!
This is the only book my 1 1/2 year old will sit quietly the whole way through. Because of this and other Iza Trapani books we've created some great memories. The artwork is incredible and the stories go beyond what I knew them to be as a child. It's a great book to read to toddlers who may not have the patience for other books. ... Read more

Book Description

Get ready for bed with the Jitterbugs in this delightful pop-up bedtime book! (There's even a mini pop-up book inside!)

Good night, sleep tight,
These pop-up bugs will never bite ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best Pop Up Books Ever
My son absolutely loves David A. Carter books!! I get him one for every occassion. Jingle Bugs is his favorite. I highly recommend any David A. Carter book for your young children!! They have wonderful illustrations, you can move the bugs and some even come out of the book. These books just make you smile! I'm so glad I found them.

David Carter continues to amaze!
David visited my Kindergarten class yesterday and provided a wonderful show. The books get better and better! His CD-roms for Kindergarten are the best I've seen. My kids almost demand to take them home for a night or a weekend.

Jeff Fulweiler ... Read more

Book Description

Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly -- follow the metamorphosis of this familiar backyard creature as it evolves into a delicate flying insect. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Food for the Imagination
Written as if the author is speaking directly to the reader, this wonderful book draws the reader into the world of the butterfly. It does a very appropriate job of explaining the life cycle of the butterfly in terms a preschooler can understand. The illustrations are also quite nice, not too detailed or flowery, not too plain. They complement the simple text very well. Especially nice are the ones near the end of the book of the little girl.

However, there are many nice books for preschoolers about butterflies. This particular book's special quality is in the way it invites the reader to imagine what it's like to be a butterfly. My preschoolers greatly enjoy "acting out" the book, starting as a caterpillar eating it's way out of an egg. The text is perfect for a simple preschooler "play". It gives them a creative way to move and physically explore what they've learned.

The ending to the book is very nice, too. Rather than just stopping once the caterpillar turns into a butterfly, or after explaining the common activities of butterflies, the book draws the reader back to reality. The reader doesn't look like a butterfly; the reader looks like, and is, a human child. The book briefly contrasts the differences between the butterfly and the human, listing good things about being a human.

The final pages list interesting facts about butterflies. Most are just a bit too complex for young preschoolers, but early grade school children should appreciate them. The admonition to not touch a butterfly's wings is well done and a nice way to end the book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A vibrant look at a miniature world
"A Ladybug's Life" is written and illustrated by John Himmelman. The text and pictures look at the life cycle of a ladybug, including hatching, metamorphosis, and eventual egg-laying. The book includes a glossary of terms ("aphid," "larva," etc.).

Himmelman has crafted some wonderful images: golden ladybug eggs clustered on a green leaf, a ladybug dwarfed by a fierce looking preying mantis, and more. The artist brings to vivid life a world of savage beauty--it's like looking at an exotic science fiction landscape. The book shows predation and evasion of predation, but is not gory and deals with these realities of insect life in a matter-of-fact way. This book is another triumph for the talented Himmelman, who has created in these pages a world that is rich in color, action, and drama. ... Read more

Book Description

Leo's a lovable little lightning bug, but he has a big problem: no light! This leads to teasing by the other bugs and an unhappy Leo. But with determination, motherly support, and a little luck, Leo eventually lights up the night. Transformed by his newfound confidence, he now laughs at himself, plays with the other bugs, and enjoys a good night's sleep. Included in this enchanting picture book -- a Book Sense 76 Children's Pick and Los Angeles Times Children's bestseller -- is a dramatic audio CD, complete with sound effects. James Muscarello's magical chalk drawings bring Leo's world to life. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

I love this book!
"Leo the Lightning Bug" is a book that has a touching message that applies to
each and every one of us. It is one of those rare children's books that
imparts a feeling of self worth and courage. It is sensitive, funny, sad, and
exciting - without a single unengaged moment. The illustrations are
expressive and delightful. The enclosed CD is especially wonderful. The sound
effects and music are beautifully incorporated into the story. The voices,
including children's voices, make the story and its characters irrisistable.
I love this book, and every child (or adult) to whom I have shown it, also
loves it. I recommend "Leo the Lightning Bug" for everyone. It will be one
book that you listen to over and over again and will want to keep for your
grandchildren!

children & parents enjoy this one
Our three-year-old son received this as a gift from Grandma and has been requesting it for reading sessions or listening to the CD version several times a day for the last week and a half. And amazingly, I am NOT sick of it yet.

Very enjoyable encouraging story but not at all preachy. The CD story is one of the best quality pre-read stories I have heard. It has music, sound effects, and several different and very expressive voices participating. At the same time it is not over-the-top detracting from the story itself.

My only critique is that on the CD the page turn signals are very subtle. But my son quickly memorized the book anyway and learned exactly when to turn the pages. Also, unlike some the books-on-tape there is no audio version without page turn signals. Both very minor issues.

This is a great value for both a beautifully illustrated hardcover book and an audio CD. A great gift!

Wonderful book!
I have bought this book for my grandchildren and have enjoyed reading it with them. Beautiful illustrations and lots of fun for young children.

Fantastic!
This is simply a must have book for your preschoolers! My two boys, ages 3 and almost 5 LOVE this book. It has a great message - you have to practice to be good at things - and the CD is very well done. You cannot go wrong with this one.

Leo the lightning bug
This is an enchanting book, so well written and beautifully illustrated and it includes a CD narrated by the author and his niece and nephew. It has a very positive message of the value of perseverace in the face of obstacles. I love this book and have given it to every child I know!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. "A little bug sneezes, causing a chain of calamities. Repetition helps beginning readers and cartoon-like characters add zest."--School Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Gavin's Book Review
My book i thought was funny and i like the sequence of events and the idea of how a little bug justed sneezed and a lot happen. I used to read this book every night. This book is fun to read.

Deeper than you think
This is a book for children that has some universal lessons for adults, also. Without a child (or a parent) knowing it, they are subtly and pleasantly introduced to the concept of the interconnectedness of life, and the effect that ones actions can have upon others. This message is not hammered home, but is quietly and humorously expounded by the very talented author. I have considered using this book in college classes for discussions of karma, and also for discussions on personal responsibility.

An Adorable Little Bug
By the time I was four years old I had this entire book memorized. My parents knew better than to skip pages, becuase I was paying attention. It is an adorable book about a little bug that sneezes and all the things that happen becuase of it. Who knew that a little sneezing bug could sink the ship "Mary Lou"?

Favorite Book When I Was Little
When I was little my mom used to read me this book all the time. It was my favortie book and I highly recommend it.

One of my all time favorites
I just got done reading this book (yet again) to my children before bed. I imagine my mom probably read it to me about a hundred times, too. If you read this book, (and I highly recommend that you do) you, too, will be captivated by it. And do not miss the illustrations, there's something new every time you look! ... Read more