Book Description

Poky Little Puppy and The Tawny Scrawny Lion are just two of the 46classic Little Golden Books included in this unparalleledcollection.Selectedby noted a children's book editor, and with a new introduction by scholar,Leonard S. Marcus, no other collection brings so many time-tested favoritestogether in one place. A wonderful gift item, complete with a ribbon marker,that will occupy a special place in every home. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Sure brings back memories!
What a great idea - these lil books were such a precious part of my growing up, love sharing them again with my son! There's a new author around who writes stories that are very similar to the lil goldens, and I recommend his book as well as this one: Bobtales by Bob Morgan

A Family Treasury of Little Golden Books
This is a wonderful selection of children's stories. I remember them from my childhood and own many of the individual books. Unfortunately, while the original little books had illustrations and a short text on each page, only a fraction of the pictures from each story have been retained for the treasury. In some extreme cases the text of 15-20 page picture books has been included all on one page with 1-2 small pictures. My 4 year old finds these somewhat boring, though she has loved the original books since before age 2. This book is worth buying if you don't have access to the originals, but it would be much better for young children if they had included more of the art which captures the imagination.

caution- overpriced
Looks like a good one but can be had for 2 dollars less at your local book store!

A great collection at a good price
It amazes me how expensive children's books are these days! Well, here's a way to get more for your money... a collection of favorites from a respected children's book publisher, Golden Books, for a price that won't break the bank. Especially for 46 stories! So if you have kids who like to read (or you like to read to!), this is a great addition to any library. Also a great way for a grandparent to have several kids books without the mess of lots of individual books.

A Famiy Treasury of LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS
I ordered A Family Treasury of LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS for my two year old son. He really enjoys us reading the stories to him. I enjoy it since it has taken me back to my childhood. I remember reading these same stories when I was little but I had forgotten all about them. They used the original illustrations, which really gives the book a wonderful warmth. From a parental point of view, the book is great since you don't have all of the little books to put away. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with a child that loves to read! ... Read more

Book Description

If you had a giraffe
and he stretched another half …
you would have a giraffe and a half.

And if you glued a rose
to the tip of his nose …

And … if he put on a shoe
and then stepped in some glue …

And if he used a chair
to comb his hair …

Shel Silverstein’s incomparable line drawings add to the hilarity of his wildly funny rhymes. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

An Amazing Book
"A giraffe and a Half" By Shel Silverstein is an amazing book, especially for kids. I loved when my mom read it to me as a child or when I read it becuase it was always fun to see what came next. Sometimes I would even guess what was comming next. Both the pictures and the sayings made me laugh or smile. I would have to say it was one of my favorite books as a kid.

A Book My Mom Read To Me As A Child
I think this is a very good book for childeren becuase it is funny and also has alot of funny pictures. This book makes you laugh, and it also has many tounge twisters which, i think, makes it funnier.
This book is about a giraffe and a little boy and he keeps making the giraffe do things or adds things to him. Everytime he adds something to him you read what the giaffe has on or did all over again. The giraffe ends up taking off everthing of giving it away. In the end he is just a normal giraffe again.

Delightful
One of the best children's books I've read. The rhymes are contagious. The story slides off your tongue as you read it. Children are taken with it. And then we create the game of adding new verses and rhymes for the giraffe, and a half.

Giraffe & a Half :()
Giraffe and a half is great for kids that love repetition. Your child could learn to memorize better with this book. I really love this book and I would recommend getting other Shel Silverstein books because I have the whole collection.

Hilarious
I read it to my own kids when they were small, read it until they and I had it memorized. I then took it to school where I read it to my eighth--yes, eighth-graders who laughed and got sing-songy and guessed the next line and who chanted along as soon as they figured out the pattern. We next wrote our own versions and read them to the elementary kids. Good stuff for all ages. One of my favorite books! ... Read more

Amazon.com

What on earth is a Whangdoodle? A "fanciful creature of undefined nature," it was also once the wisest, kindest, most fun-loving living thing in the world--until people stopped believing in it. When that lack of faith became widespread, the last of the really great Whangdoodles created a special land full of extraordinary creatures: furry Flukes, the sly High-Behind Splintercat, and the wonderful Whiffle Bird. But when an open-minded professor--the one adult who still believes in the Whangdoodle--joins forces with three children with active imaginations, they become an unstoppable team on a fantastic and sometimes terrifying journey to Whangdoodleland.

Readers who have explored Narnia, Oz, or Willy Wonka's chocolate factory will be thrilled at this new destination--a marvelous land that will inspire and stimulate creative and scientific minds. And who better to expose young readers to new ways of seeing, smelling, and hearing than Julie (Andrews) Edwards of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music fame? Her lively and clever style pulls readers along effortlessly; she, like the professor, is one grownup who can teach children never to close their minds to possibility. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (212)

Great Whangdoodles!
I had a teacher who read this book to our class when I was in fourth grade. I am now 30, and the book is still one of the most creative, entertaining books I have ever read. Lindy, Tom, Ben and the professor have the most wonderful adventures and meet up with the most incredible creatures. Julie Andrews Edwards has a gift for making the reader feel that she (or he) is actually along on the adventure. Her writing style is so descriptive, it's almost as if you can actually see, smell and taste all of the fantastic things in the book. This book truly recognizes the importance of exercising a child's imagination. I really look forward to reading it to my children someday.

If you like Harry Potter or the Oz books....
...you'll like this look into the collective imagination of two brothers, their sister, and an eccentric professor. Journey with them as the go in search of a magnificent creature that can exist only if someone believes in it.

I first discovered this book when I was in elementary school, around the time it was written, and I fell in love with it. Fast forward about 10 years to a summer spent as a camp counselor when I read it to a cabin full of 9-11 year old girls who couldn't wait for me to read the next chapter each night. Fast foward another 15 years to a mother purchasing a Harry Potter book from Amazon. Lo and behold the title comes up again in the "people who bought this book also purchased..." line. What a treat to rediscover what I consider a classic.

If you like the Harry Potter books or the Oz books or any book that takes the you to imaginary places with imaginary creatures and imaginary landscapes then you'll love it.

What an imagination!
There is so much creative power at work in this story, it's wonderful. I'd give it a ten (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest) for the imagination alone involved in creating all the creatures in the story. Read it yourself and, if you don't like the plot, at least read it for the fascinating descriptions of all the creatures in it. Oh to have an imagination like this author! It was great. I found myself smiling and giggling like a little girl while I was reading it. It's a great conversation piece too - how many discussions are about "whangdoodles" anyway? :o) Great read!

I want a whangdoodle
This book was good. I don't like the people who gave it only one or two (or even three) stars. Read this book and be plesantly surprised. I won't tell you the plot because you need to read it yourself.

Have You Ever Considered a Whangdoodle?
"You'll excuse me for butting in," said a voice immediately behind children. "But if you're looking for something really unusual, have you ever considered a Whangdoodle?"
The children spun around. Sitting in the grass behind them, knees drawn up almost to his chin, was a small man. He was holding a rolled umbrella made of clear plastic.
"I beg your pardon, sir," Ben said, "Did you say something?"
"Yes I did. I said, have you ever considered a Whangdoodle?"
In Julie Andrews Edwards, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles you can. What is a Whagdoodle? It's a mythical creature that lives in Whangdoodleland. Ben, Tom, and Lindy Potter and Professor Savant try to meet the Whangdoodle, but the Prock, the Whasndoodle's Prime Minister, will stop at nothing to make sure they don't. On their strange adventure they meet the Whifflebird, the High-behind Splinter Cat and many other unusual creatures. Do they meet the Whangdoodle? You'll just have to read the book to find out. ... Read more

Book Description

The important thing about The Important Book--is that you let your child tell you what is important about the sun and the moon and the wind and the rain and a bug and a bee and a chair and a table and a pencil and a bear and a rainbow and a cat (if he wants to). For the important thing about The Important Book is that the book goes on long after it is closed.What is most important about many familiar things—like rain and wind, apples and daisies—is suggested in rhythmic words and vivid pictures. ‘A perfect book . . . the text establishes a word game which tiny children will accept with glee.’ —K.

... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great book
I used this book at the beginning of the school year to get my special ed students to write about what was important to them or about why the things in the book are important. They all loved the activity and it was one of their favorite picks for reading time.

affirming perceptions
This thoughtfull Brown book methodically affirms a small child's growing ability to construct opinions about his or her world. Misunderstood as asserting objective classifications, Brown instead elaborates on the ellusive season of child development when subjective and objective information are indistinguishable:
"the important thing about a daisy is that it is white" and air is "the color of air".
Recommended if you want the child in your life to catch Brown's vision of personal discovery.

Great author - mediocre book
This short volume has failed to spark much interest within me and my children. It lacks the poetic lilt of "Goodnight Moon" and the quiet force of "Runaway Bunny." The illustrations, many in black and white, seem from another era. Yet, they are not timeless and fail to inspire.

Brown's muddled characterization of the essence of everyday objects seems neither accurate nor absurd, neither artistic nor banal. Why, for example, are we told that the important thing about a shoe is that "you put your foot in it" when so many more relevant characteristics could have been chosen? (protects your foot from harm, keeps your foot warm, makes a fashion statement, leaves footprints, gets mud on the carpet, etc.)

Teach the"Main Idea"
We use this selection to teach the concept of the main idea. I start the entire year off using this book. I read the book aloud to the students.We discuss each aspect of the important or the main idea of each subject.After completing the book we then write a page about ourselves. Example: The important thing about Ellis is that he is a toehead,he loves computer games , he plays with his trucks and he always wears Carharts,but the important thing about Ellis is that he is a toehead. Ellis is a student that has the whitest hair you have ever seen...everyone always says something to him about his "toehead". The children (usually third graders) each do their own page and we publish our book for the classroom. We try to have this completed by our open house. The parents really enjoy it and they get to know their childs classmates in a special way. Just a thought!

Great for the beginning of the school year!
I use this book at a "getting to know you" starter for the 1st day of school. After reading the book, the students start to see the pattern. I then have them write something about themselves using the same pattern in the book. "The most important thing about Sue is that she likes to read. Sue has 3 cats, plays soccer and can pitch like Nolan Ryan, but the most important thing about Sue is that she likes to read." I then have them illustrate these things on manilla paper or with the computer, then bind all of the pages into a class book. The kids love getting to know each other this way. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (25)

Lousy title, wonderful book
Why oh why do U.S. publishers insist on retitling classic European books? As "I Am David" this book successfully explores far more profound questions than freedom. David's journey is a process of self discovery and a self-imposed restructuring of a broken human spirit. Though told in the third person, the narrative invites us into David's young mind and allows us to see the wonder of objects and concepts that we all take for granted but which are new to the young escapee. Music, play, the taste of an orange, the feeling of being clean, language, colour! David's voyage of discovery is a bitter sweet mixture and we learn the awful truth about his past during his trek across Europe at the same pace as he does himself.

I have read this book with classes of children from fourth to seventh grade, as well as with adults. It is a book for all seasons, and I can still turn the pages with pleasure and wonder.

The wonder of realising what it is to say "I Am David" is what the book is all about! "North to Freedom" is a lousy title - meaningless in fact, David's first steps to freedom take him south! But this should not dissuade anyone from reading Anne Holm's book. The greatest children's story to come out of Denmark since Hans Christian Andersen.

one of my favorites
I have a copy of this book from the UK that is called I Am David. It starts with a man telling David, "You must get away tonight. Stay awake so that you're ready just before the guard is changed. When you see me strike a match, the current will be cut off and you can climb over -- you'll have half a minute, no more." This starts David's journey not just to freedom and home, but also to learning how to live as a regular kid after only living in a concentration camp. It's a serious book but one that should be read.

Timeless
This is such a beautiful book. I first read it when I was nine, twenty years later it is still a favourite.

The story of promise is quite remarkable and never fails to move me. All children should read this book. It opens doors to many other areas that too many forget too easily.

Great Book
This book is utterly compelling. This story of David starts in a concentration camp and ends him up at home. It is tension building and "they" will get him. This takes us from the concentration camp to Salonica then to Italy, Switzerland and finally Denmark. He is saved by King the dog. That was the most exciting part. A must read.

Trust
Do you know what it is like to be hunted? Or to feel the palpable hate from men who destroy everything except what is inside of you? David, from his experience in the concentration camp, simply can not trust anyone. He has to be wary because that is the only way to survive. Parts of him are so deadened inside that when he sees the beautifull it is so much more intense. This book provides a usefull insight into the experience of many that will evoke your compassion and give you some understanding of why some people who are hurt are so reluctant to ever get close again or to seek or even recognize help around them. And through all of this, David is a moral person. He knows why evil must be resisted. Excelent! ... Read more

Book Description

A modern classic that no child should miss. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

I Loved This Book!
Like so many other reviewers I have fond memories of reading this book as a child. I fondly recall being a child in the 1970's and of having had this book read to me and when I got older and could read on my own I read it myself and I enjoyed the story of Mike Mulligan and his beloved steam shovel Mary Anne and recall this book having positive messages as well as being an entertaining book for children. Mike Mulligan is a steam shovel operator who has named his machine Mary Anne and they have worked very hard for many years digging canels, etc but times have changed and with steam shovels being replaced by electric, gasoline and diesel shovels Mary Anne is thought of as being obsolete but Mike is a very positive and determined man who knows that he and Mary Anne still have what it takes and to prove that he agrees to dig the foundation for a new building but has to do it in one day but he knows that they are up for the challenge. Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel is a wonderful book for children and I think it's good for both boys and girls and I very highly recommend it.

A classic story with warm, active pictures
The cover of this book is the same as my old, dog-eared copy from my childhood 30 years ago. A Caldecott Award winner, the pictures drive the tale as much as the plot. An excellent book from cover-to-cover.

Re-reading it now brings back great memories and fascination of how Mike Mulligan and his beloved steam shovel worked hard to accomplish a fantastic task. Whenever people watched them dig, they always worked a little better and a little faster.

A modern John Henry, Mike faces the challenge of new technology. Undaunted, like the famous hammer-driving tall tale hero, he struggles to meet the task. Can he dig a hole faster than the new machine? Can he and his mighty red-metal friend do it by the end of the day?

A great story of perseverence and hard work, I fully recommend "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." Place it on your shelf next to "Make Way for Dcklings" and "Where the Wild Things Are."

Anthony Trendl

I loved it as a child, my childern love it too.
I couldn't wait until my twins were old enough for Mike. They're now 2 1/2 and love hearing about Mike and Mary Anne. A great story of friendship, taking pride in one's work and problem solving. Never mind the 1939 date, this story works forever. I now get to read it at least twice a day and it never gets old.

A Tale of Two Friends
Just thinking about this delightful book makes me smile. I remember Captain Kangaroo reading it on his television show, and I checked it out from the Bookmobile with my own library card.
Mike Mulligan and Mary Ann are best friends and co-workers. They might be running out of work soon, though, since Mary Ann runs on steam--not as efficient as the diesel shovels. A bargain with the town of Popperville gives the twosome one last shot to strut their stuff, and as the town gathers, a few residents at a time, Mike and Mary Ann prove that friendship lasts, even when diesel shovels take over.
This book is equally appealing to boys and girls, and it will forever occupy a favored place in my memories. It's as wonderful a story today as it was when published in 1939. God bless Mike and Mary Ann.

Nobody can do it like a steam shovel
I tend to bring a lot of picture books into my home. My husband doesn't mind, but neither does he show an inordinate amount of interest in them. Enter "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel". Suddenly my husband was elated by the appearance of this book. "This was the only book we had in my Kindergarten class!", quoth he. After he'd picked through it once more, I had my chance to glance through the story. Admittedly, I did not know of the adventures of Mike Mulligan or trusty Mary Ann until rather late in life. But looking at my hubby's gleeful expression on seeing it again, I know that this is one of those classics that sits in the back of the memory for years and years and years.

Mike Mulligan (Irish, according to the book flap) runs a delightful steam shovel named Mary Ann. The opening spread shows Mike waving at the viewer, while meticulous arrows indicate every lever, cog, and line in Mary Ann's hull. In a rather John Henryish turn of events, Mary Ann is eventually determined to be obsolete in the face of the fancier gasoline, electric and Diesel shovels. Mike refuses to give up his precious steam shovel, however, and a race to prove that Mary Ann can dig as much in a day as a hundred men can dig in a week explodes in a riveting (ho ho) finish.

Books about trucks, construction equipment, and planes is commonplace today. But such modern day classics as "I Stink" owe a great debt to the path that "Mike Mulligan" paved. Here we have a beautifully illustrated (in color at that!) story about two of the best friends in the world. Those kids interested in the technical aspects of steam shovels will be in heaven. And those that just like a rip-roaring yarn about a race against the clock will have a ball as well. Interestingly, author/illustrator Virginia Lee Burton chooses not to close up on Mike Mulligan's face at any point. When we do see him, he's usually viewed at a distance, waving, weeping, and smoking to his heart's content. It's Mary Ann that get the full frontal treatment, and she's a joy. Who could have thought a steam shovel to be so eloquent and emotional? That's the joy of this story and the genius of Virginia Lee Burton's masterwork. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Stop everything! If at least one copy of each of these classics is notin a prominent place on your bookshelf, your home and your progeny's childhoodis incomplete. Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends--blustery old Owl, bouncy Tigger,clever Christopher Robin, glum Eeyore, and the rest--have been a staple ofchildren's literature for over 70 years in A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. AndMilne's immortal collections of children's verse, When We Were Very Young andNow We Are Six, havesoothed many a savage beast at bedtime with such incomparable delights as "If IWere King" and "Us Two." All four of these classics, complete with Ernest H.Shepard's original illustrations, are gathered here in a handsome boxed set.These hardcover editions will most certainly be a cherished legacy to be handeddown for generations to come. After all, as Rabbit says solemnly one day,"Without Pooh, the adventure would be impossible." (Ages 3 to 103) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THE Classic
How could anyone pass up a set of the classic stories of a boy and his stuffed friends. With the original illustrations (not the Disney-fied stuff), these are the books I remember my father reading to me when I was "very young." Many kids today may be familiar with a few of these stories from the Disney shorts (combined later into a feature length version and on video). Most kids also know Winnie the Pooh because of Disney (who even brought out a line of "classic Pooh" products based on the original toys and illustrations). These stories were beautiful to begin with - precisely why Walt brought them to the big screen.

Filled with childhood honesty and simplicity, these were the tales Milne told his own child, Christopher Robin, inspired by the boys' stuffed toys and the animals that lived nearby. Do your kids a favor and start by reading the original stories, to them and with them, as they were originally written. As a set, its a wonderful keepsake to pass on to generations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Idea
The idea is great of having father and daughter tales but to many of these stories focus on the evil step-mother and the young woman rescued by a wealthy man, who takes her away. I was hoping for stronger stories of the relationship between a father and daughter. I was also hoping for stronger female characters. ... Read more

Book Description

For twenty-five years, Ellen Raskin's Newbery Medal-winning The Westing Game has been an enduring favorite and is now being reissued with a brand-new jacket by Kevin Hawkes and an introduction by Ann Durell.

This highly inventive mystery involves sixteen people who are invited to the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. They could become millionaires, depending on how they play the tricky and dangerous Westing game, which involves blizzards, burglaries, and bombings. Ellen Raskin has entangled a remarkable cast of characters in a puzzle-knotted, word-twisting plot filled with humor, intrigue, and suspense. ... Read more

Reviews (457)

Good book, lacking in content
The story starts off with openings for six brand new apartments over looking Lake Michigan, six letters were sent to seemingly six random people and the deal was too good for all six to pass it up. A few weeks later the owner of the apartments, the mansion next door, and the local mill which makes paper is found dead in his bedroom on the night of Halloween by one of the people who lived in the apartments. A week later his will is read aloud to all the people who were receiving gifts, coincidentally only the people who lived in the apartment building which turns out to be sixteen people. When the will is read the sixteen heirs are split up into eight random groups of two people, each group then is given a set of what appears to be random words. This set of words are their clues, they have to find out who murdered the owner of the place whose name is Samuel Westing if they can figure it out they get the mansion. They are told that one of them is actually the murderer which sparks suspicion. This sets a game like atmosphere. Next the book describes the individual teams and how they try to use their clues. Many puzzling things happen on the way that change your view of the case.

The rest is for you to read, I have not told to much so still buy this fascinating book. I enjoyed the book a lot and believe firmly that it deserves four stars out of the possible five. I enjoyed this book because it was very entertaining and hard to put down. This book also is a fantastic murder mystery which can appeal to both grown ups and to very young kids, however, the book is very different than a detective story. In fact the author, centers his writings on the characters which are very well explained and you can tell what each one is thinking. The author is able to do this brilliantly, by forming a game out of the mystery where the heirs to the will believe for a good portion of the book that to inherit the most money they must find out who the murder was.

The years pass, and still a must-read
'The Westing Game' was my favorite book as a pre-teen, so when I returned to it years later, my expectations were low. Was I wrong! This book might be accessible to younger readers, but no one who loves a mystery with incredible characters should miss this for the world.

While the plot centers around a less than run-of-the-mill whodunit, the book mainly focuses on the characters: each unique, bizarre, and ultimately endearing. The author manages to make them quirky without making them caricatures. The developing relationships between the 'heirs' as they attempt to unravel the mystery, is, I think, far more important than the mystery itself; they also develop in their sense of identity. These are all themes any adult can appreciate, woven into the story with humor and sly understatement, yet in effect deeply moving.

The plot is complex and suspenseful, layered so impenetrably that at least one surprise at the end is inevitable. Yet even when wrapped in the most logical of puzzles, the author never loses the human touch. There are many scenes portrayed with hilarious, touching absurdity; and Raskin is dead-on with her take on human nature, even when her depiction seems exaggerated.

Read it for a good chuckle--but in the end it may be more than that.

Amazing!
This book is about 16 "heirs" who, if they solve The Westing Game, will recieve a large sum of money. The characters are sorted into eight groups of two and are given a small list of clues.

The 'Game' is full of mystery and alias'. You'll never guess it! Go ahead and try. Read this book.

No Reason To Ban
I just finished THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin. Even with re-reading the last few pages, I still have yet to understand why this clever, complex, yet entertaining book was so controversial. The tangled storylines make you think, not assume the plot. This book was assigned to me as a "banned book" for my Children's Literature class at West Virginia State University. Banned or not, I recommend this book for amateur sleuths and inquisitive older children alike.

LOVED IT!!!!!
This book was great! I really loved the story and all of it's twists and turns. Although it was a little confusing with all the people, I think anyone my age would love this book. If you like mystery, comedy, and just about any kind of book, buy this one!!!!:) :) :b ... Read more

Book Description

Literature Guides
A complete guide to teaching My Side of the Mountain. Includes an author biography, background information, summaries, thought-provoking discussion questions, as well as creative, cross-curricular activities and reproducibles that motivate students. ... Read more

Reviews (364)

Sam's Life in Forest
This book was great! Sam is as boy who lives in the mountains ,but used to live in New York with his little brothers and sisters.It was very crowded and noisy.That is why he is in the mountains.Sam was living in a tree in the Gribley's Farm.He found it with a map,but he didn't just read signs.He went went to the library to find it.The librarian was named Ms. Turner.Ms. Turner found it for him.He wanted to catch a falcon,So he had to go to the library to get information about the falcons.Once he got information he went up the mountains and caught a baby falcon.After,Sam trained her to catch food.They lived there for about 1-2 years all by himsef with his animal friends.The end is surely a surprise,but I will leave that to you to find out.I would recommend this book to someone who likes animals,the wilderness,and loves to read.I really enjoyed this book.I really liked the tree home he had.I also liked how he made all the pots,chimney,clothes,and food he needed to survive.I actually enjoyed the whole book!

"My Side of the Mountain" is Wonderful!! : )
My Side of the Mountain is a fun, exciting, story of a runaway, 13-yr.-old boy from New York who goes to the ancient Catskill Mountains. Kids from 8-11 would enjoy this story because they can relate to his many vistors and adventures. Sam (the runaway)makes many new friends, both human and animal. Frightful, Sam's pet falcon was stolen from her mother at a young age. And Bando got lost and fell asleep at Sam's camp. Sam thought he was an outlaw! all the kids that read this book will enjoy it throughly!

Not in a million years! Far-fetched, wishful nonsense!
Running away from home and living in the wilderness may be the dream for millions of teenage boys, but the reality of 'pulling it off' couldn't possibly be as easy as the author of this book makes it appear.

Everything Sam wants to accomplish in his tree home away from civilization, he does. He may fail once or twice, but then it all works out: He successfully hunts for food, creates flavorful recipes for grand suppers (which he shows off to visitors), sews his own winter clothes from deer hides and rabbit furs...it's all very, very simple! GET REAL! From the incredible anti-authoritarian parents, who let Sam go on his quest in the first place, to the rediculous 'dragged in by the hair' ending, this book was a disappointment. I'm a 4th grade school teacher, and this book was not on any of my students' favorites list!

My only reason for giving 2 points rather than only 1 to this Newbery Award Winner (? )is the fact that this novel does give lots of useful instruction on 'how to' cook, keep water from seeping through home-made vessels, and to entertain oneself when there is no company around.**

Interesting and informative
Written by Gene Craighead George, My Side of the Mountain explores one boy's quest for peace and quiet and his realization of what it means to be alone. An adolescent boy, Sam, escapes the chaos of his family's crowded New York apartment. Sam runs away, to the Catskill Mountains in search of space and independence. Sam feels like a free man up in the mountains. He learns to live off the land. He manages to ward off reporters, tourists, and hikers, so that he may preserve his secret living quarters. Sam faces many hardships, but his determination, to live on his own, helps him persevere. Through his interaction with neighboring animals and his friendship with his pet falcon, Sam survives hardships on the lonely mountain. Sam is content with his life in the mountains, but he realizes that he misses human conversation.

This interesting and exciting book shows Sam's journey away from his fellow humans and his need to be amongst them again. Sam's great journey is inspiring to anyone who has ever just wanted to escape for a while. The plot is developed through Sam's struggle to survive nature and his inner conflicts.

I recommend this book to people of all ages. I believe this story appeals to children because of the adventure and excitement of running away to an unknown place. Adults will find it appealing because they understand the need to be away from the chaos of crowds and cities to find a haven of peace and quiet. Our hectic lifestyles help us relate to Sam's desire for simplicity.

My Side of the Mountain-A Page Turning Novel
I would recommend My Side of the Mountain to everyone who reads because this is a very realistic, page turning, survival story which also provides great information if you were ever stranded in the wilderness as was the main character, Sam. ... Read more

Book Description

As part of the wonderful Collector's Library Series, Treasure Island is one of the best-loved children's classics of all time. This attractive volume contains the complete and unabridged story with 8 full color illustrations, plus numerous black & white illustrations throughout. The deluxe edition features a full piece cloth case, a four color illustrated onlay on the front cover, foil stamping on front and spine, stained edges on three sides, printed endpapers with book plate, and a satin ribbon marker. This book should have an honored place in any child's library. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Treasure Island: Robert Louis Stevenson
Jim Hawkins is an 1880's English boy, who lives along the English coast in his father's inn, the Admiral Benbow. He has a perfectly normal life, until the mysterious Billy Bones comes to stay at the inn. Then, Billy dies after a fight with a strange caller. Among his possessions, Jim finds an old treasure map. Along with the Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey, Jim sails off to Treasure Island. Unfortunately, the crew of the ship they go on is not as trustworthy as first thought. Jim discovers that they are really pirates, and soon he and the few honest men on board are made victims of a mutiny. Now, they must embark on a quest to get to the treasure before the crew and to stay alive in the process.
Stevenson does a wonderful job of describing the appearances of people and places, creating vivid, colorful, and well-defined images of what he is talking about. Long John Silver, one of Stevenson's many characters, is an example of the author's amazing abilities to describe, in this case not only appearance, but in personality. I felt like I knew him inside out. Other characters are also very well described. That's not all that's good about this book. Treasure Island is a very captivating story. It immediately drew me in with its old style of writing (it was written in the 1880's) and great plot.
This is a great novel and, while it carries no strong message, is a great way to use up your free time. I recommend this wonderful story to anyone who enjoys adventure, danger, and would like to go and hunt for buried treasure.

--Jabbermonkey Fitsgerald

Murder and Mayhem and Maurading Pirates.
This wonderfully crafted edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure story is great for any serious reader of classic literature. It's also great for kids. Who can ever forget Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, or Ben Gunn or the unique bond that forms between the wise youth (Hawkins) and experienced seaman (Silver)? Murder on the high seas. Violent battles on an island full of treasure. People who actually talk the way real people talk. It's all here and more. TREASURE ISLAND is one of my favorite Stevenson stories and I highly reccommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

"How about a story? Spin us a yarn."
Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. "I could tell you an extensively strange story," I warned.
"Oh, good!" Gram said. "Delicious!"
And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the lunatic.

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold--the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.

A 1995 ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of 1994
Winner of a 1994 Bulletin Blue Ribbon
A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Winner of the 1997 Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Winner, 1995 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1995 (ALA)
1995 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Children's Book Award for Longer Novels (Great Britain's Federation of Children's Books Groups)
Outstanding Books of 1994 for Middle School-Aged Teens (V)
Best Books 1994 (SLJ)
Bulletin Blue Ribbon Books 1994 (C)

Reviews (503)

Creech's Walk Two Moons
In the exciting tale of Salmanaca Tree Hiddle, Sharon Creech does an excellent job of portraying the story of this young girl's life. Walk Two Moons is a sincerely touching account of Sal's journey, told in the form of two distinct story lines. Sal's mother leaves her and her father in Bybanks, Kentucky and shortly there after, upon hearing that her mother will not return, Sal's father packs up their belongings and the two move to Euclid, Ohio. Gramps and Grams take Sal on a road trip to go visit her mother, who is in Lewiston, Idaho, for her birthday. On their way, Sal tells them of her adventures with a new friend in Euclid, Phoebe Winterbottom. The two girls act as mini-detectives trying to solve the strange mysteries they encounter together. Between the secret messages left on Phoebe's doorstep, to the lunatic they see in their neighborhood, the girls come to share experiences that impact them in many ways. With stops all along the way, Sal eventually makes it to Lewiston in time for her mother's birthday. Up to this point, Creech leaves many loose ends floating along; finally all the loose ends come together in the end. Sal realizes that through the story of Phoebe, she has learned more about herself and her own story.
Sharon Creech is a talented writer who portrays each character in a precise way. I was most impressed with the realistic description of each character and could see them in my head as I read. They were real people who had real problems that I feel most readers could connect with. The structure of the book is such that it keeps the reader interested and guessing what will happen next. There are many twists and turns in plot. Because of that unique structure, the book is one that readers will not want to put down.

"Walk Two Moons" Class Book Review
In this book review are some things that our class liked and disliked. Read this book review to see if you're interested in reading "Walk Two Moons", by Sharon Creech.

One of the best things in this story within a story is the characters. Sal is a 13 year old girl with long dark hair. She came from Bybanks, Kentucky and moved to Ohio. In this book Sal goes on a trip with her grandmother and grandfather, and in another plot, she's telling the story of trying to find out who "thelunatic" is. Sal has a new friend in Ohio named Phoebe Winterbottom. Phoebe lives in Euclid, Ohio where Sal moved. Phoebe is a worry wart. She worries about everthing in her path. Her mother disappeared and they have no idea where she went until the end of the book.

Another good thing about "Walk Two Moons" is that there are a few cliffhangers. Like when Sal and Phoebe try to find out who was leaving the mysterious notes at the end of the chapter. Another example is when Sal tells her father that she left something under the flloboards in her room at their house in Baybanks, Kentucky.

In the book "Walk Two Moons," Sharon Creech puts in good details. An example of that is the characters are described so well. In "Walk Two Moons" Phoebe doesn't like cholesterol and how Sal is emotional when either her mom dies or if her grandmother dies. Another good detail is the vocabulary in the book. Some words are gooseberry, chickabiddy, Ill-ah-no-way, Huzza, Huzzo, and Id-e-ho are some vocabulary in the book "Walk Two Moons".

There are a lot of things that are sad in this book. A lot of people in this book died because there was a really bad accident on a bus. Sal finds out what really hapens to her mother.

If you like a book that's mysterious and funny and sad, this is the book for you.

My Favorite Book!
Salamanca Tree Hiddle is a "country" girl at heart. When her father and she move to Ohio, Sal's life is turned upside down. But Sal leaves, with her strange grandparents, to go to Idaho to find her mother. Along the way, Salamanca tells the story of Pheobe Winterbottom, a girl whose mother suddely leaves her family. Slowly, Sal realizes that her own story is beneaths Pheobe's.
Walk Two Moons has to be Creech's masterpeice. No wonder it won the Newbery. :~D

Not So Great
Before reading this book by Sharon Creech, I had read Bloomability and Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech which were simply fantastic. However, I don't know how on earth this became an award winning book.

In the beginning, it is really good but the interupptions by her grandparents are somewhat annoying. Phoebe, the girl who turns out to be her friend is sort of--well, off the wall.

Also, Salamanca (the main character), to be a thirteen year old, has some dumb and immature ideas. At some points, I thought I was reading about a five year old.

It is also stupid how Salamanca finds out about how mother died.

It makes no since how her grandfather allows her to drive when she's just 13.

Overall, I give this book 3 stars.

Review of Walk Two Moons
I really enjoyed this book because it had a lot of suspenseful, sudden, scary, and sad moments. As Salamanca tells her story you can picture the places she visits, and you can feel, with intensity, what she is feeling. Although it is heartbreaking when Salamanca finds out that her mother had died, it is still an outstanding book. I would reccommend this book to anyone who likes scary mysteries. ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 4 hours, 3 cassettes

When Nate Twitchell discovers that one of his family's hens has laid the
biggest egg he has ever seen, he is determined to see it hatch.And when it
does, neither he nor his parents, the townspeople, the scientists, or the
politicians from Washington are prepared for what comes out!





... Read more

Reviews (20)

Good book for dinosaur lovers!
My favorite part of this book is when the dinosaur hatches. Dr. Zeimer is so excited that he shows up in his bathrobe! No one knows what it is. Another scientist comes to figure it out. But the dinosaur is gone; then it pops out of a flower bed! The scientist was first impatient, then amazed. This book is very funny & exciting & makes you want to read on. Everyone would enjoy it, but especially people who are interested in dinosaurs. Douglas A., age 9

What a cool story!
This book was a good book because it holds your interest. It didn't have any boring parts. It didn't have any parts that went on too long, instead on every page there was something new to think about. I really liked it!

Nate Twitchel found an enormous egg under one of his hens one morning. It was so big Nate had to turn the egg for the hen.It took six weeks till it finally hatched.A dinosaur came out. News spread fast and soon people from across the country started coming to the Twitchel's house. The dinosaur got so big that the Twitchels had to send him away, but Nate got to go too. the dinosaur ended up in Washington D.C. and there trouble began. Read the book to find out how Nate solves his prolems.

Great Story in the Style of Henry Reed (But Better)
I read this when I was ten and again when I was thirty. And you know, I enjoyed it just as much the second time. The story's great and the writing's very good. Like "Henry Reed" and "Homer Price," but better. I wish Oliver Butterworth lived next door - he would've been a really fun and wise man to know.

Not Really a Dinosaur Book
Although on the surface this book is about a boy and his dinosaur, it is really about the freedoms promised to Americans by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Through Nate's story we learn about the power of free speach, and the importance of each voice in our political system. It is also a celebration of non-traditional learning experiences, and the joy of persuing education outside of school. The Enormous Egg is a great civics lesson and should be of particular interest to home schoolers.

A splendid book
I loved this book because it was a funny aventure. I thought the dinosaur, Uncle Beasley, was awesome. My favorite part was when he turmed over a truck on the highway. I thought it was funny! Nate was a cool guy because he rode the dinosaur and saved him from dying. Everybody would enjoy this book! ... Read more

Book Description

A paperback edition of E.B. White's classic novel about one small mouse on a very big adventure! With black and white illustrations.

Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.

Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend?

Reviews (88)

Stuart Little
Stuart Little by E.B. White is a classic story.I never knew what was going to happen to this courageous little mouse.In the book it is like you are reading through the eyes of a mouse as you go through some of his adventures.
This book follows the life of a city family called the Littles.They adopt a son and name him Stuart, but the catch is Stuart is a mouse! So why would you want to read a story about a mouse?You would want to read this book because it is packed with adventure! You never know what is going to happen next! The story goes from Stuart befriending a bird named Margolo, to sailing a sailboat,to trying to drive his own car!Oh, and did I mention the CATS? It was interesting to imagine in my mind what the world looked like through a mouse's eyes.
Any person who likes adventure and little animals will love this book. It also doesn't take very long to read. I read it in two days because I liked it so much! I can't wait to read more of E.B. White's books and stories.

Stuart Little: still as much fun as ever
I re-read this story a few months ago after about an 11 year gap. What a delightful experience! It`s a great book for kids, but reading it as an adult is fun, too, and you understand a lot more of the author`s tongue-in-cheek wit and his lyrical descriptions. Child readers will be entranced by Stuart`s clever adaptions to a world that is always bigger than he is: details like his matchbox bed, paper clip skates, and toy sailboat that he commandeers quite well are very original. I do recall thinking as a kid that it was weird that he was born looking so much like a mouse and everyone just takes it for granted, but you tend to forget about that as you get absorbed in the adventures. Stuart is also born with an enormous capacity for wit and a novel take on life- witness his verbal sparring with Snowbell the cat and his hilarious turn as a substitute teacher. Others have noted that the primary reason he appeals so much to kids is because they, too, have to cope each day with a huge, often bewildering adult world. I agree with this, while also offering the idea that another reason he`s easy to like is because he is a true individual who likes to do things in his own special manner. He does`nt mind if big people and animals find his custom-built car or tiny clothing and suitcase strange! By the end of the story, you`re really rooting for him to find his lovely little bird friend, Margalo, and you`re also quite disappointed that the tale ends so abruptly! If only White had written a Stuart sequel. I can`t say enough good things about Stuart, and re-discovering him has inspired me to both rent the movie and look for a copy of White`s essays.

Dull family classic
The second son of the Little family turns out to be a mouse, whom they nevertheless name Stuart and raise as their own. I was somewhat underwhelmed by this family classic. Stuart's "adventures," such as riding on a toy boat and going down a drain, are related briefly and dully, without developing much tension or excitement. The characters are unfailingly stiff and polite with each other; even the interaction between family members often comes off like conversations between strangers at a cocktail party. The Little family's treatment of Stuart seems quite neglectful as well. Mr. Little, in particular, seems to think nothing of sending his little son into potentially dangerous situations, such as down a drainpipe to fetch a ring. At one point, the book describes how it becomes Stuart's job to go inside the piano while it is being played and hold on to a key that sticks, even though doing so subjects him to loud noises that affect his hearing for hours afterward.

Cute but strange ending
This was a cute book about litle Stuart the mouse in NYC. I listened to it in my car a week ago. Its a great book for kids, but I kept thinking how bizarre some of the events were. The voice of the cat in the book is agravating, like fingernails on a blackboard. The book kind of trails of in the end when Stuart starts looking for his lover, the little bird Margolo. Then it ends. Odd. But a great book to read to kids at bedtime. .

Stuart Little
This book was about a family with the last name Little. One day the parents go out to adopt a brother for their son. When they arrive, a mouse starts speaking to them. They are so confused thinking of what kid they can take home with them. The mouse starts speaking to them of how much he would love to have a family. He would have loved to have a family like them.So afterall they adopt him. when they take him home the real son of theirs does not believe them that the rat is their brother. He also gets very dissapointed. One of the mouse's fears was that, big mean white sharped nailed, cat Snowball. Many times Snowbell tried eating him. Later on in this story he and Snowbell make good friends. Snowbell starts protecting Stuart from all of the street cats. Stuart sleeps in a match box. It's very hard for him to get around the city because he is so small and anyone may step on him. There is a movie and a book mad of him. The both brothers are put on a soccer team. ... Read more

Book Description

There's nothing like a best friend ...

Frog and Toad, those famous pals, are beloved by generations of children. Their every adventure is filled with the magic of true friendship, whether they're telling ghost stories, searching for a lost button, or eating too many cookies. This captivating audio collection features all four of the Frog and Toad books, read with humor and charm by award-winning author Arnold Lobel.

This collection contains:

Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad All Year
Frog and Toad Together
Days with Frog and Toad

Reviews (2)

An Excellent book tape for fans of Frog and Toad books
I am ordering this tape again for my four year old son. He listened to his first copy until it broke. It is fascinating to watch him listen to the stories with a half smile on his face as he recalls the pictures from the books. It is not necessary to read along to enjoy the tape. Mr. Lobel reads the stories perfectly. He clearly conveys the personalities of the characters without "doing the voices."

Wonderful stories of friendship
My toddler son has enjoyed these stories for almost a year now. They are colorfully written and expertly told by the author himself. A must for any young child's collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service. ... Read more

Reviews (182)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH-- a report by 8th grader
Mrs. Frisby is a widowed, lady mouse caring for four small children. She faces a dilemma, that is that spring is creeping up on them and she needs to move to her summer home immediately before the plow comes to tear up the garden she and her family live in. They must move straight away or face almost certain death. What makes this so difficult is that her youngest son, Timothy, lies dreadfully ill with pneumonia, and he will not be well in time to make the long journey through the woods, to the stream. Fortunately, she is, after many exciting encounters with other wild animals, able to find a solution to her problem. She seeks help from the rats of NIMH and learns a great deal of their history throughout the book.

This book was quite enjoyable; , it is a winner of the John Newbery Medal. Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH was full of adventure, sadness, and cheerfulness. But most of all, The Rats of NIMH had a wonderful, intriguing storyline. As you read, you wonder, how could someone think up such a creative, charming, and pleasant, plot? Another thing I enjoyed was how each of the characters was so individual, that you can't help but love each and every one of them.

There was not much to dislike about this novel, except for maybe one thing. That factor being, that mostly the whole book is in dialogue, except for the beginning and the end. This meaning, that during most of the book, it is not extraordinarily descriptive. One more thing that is more of a disappointment then a dislike is that, in the end, the author leaves you hanging, you never find out something that is very important. It is meant to make you crave to know the answer, but you can't have it. I think that that is actually just fine because you then get to make up your own ending.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was one of the absolute greatest books i have ever read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and is looking for an exciting book to read. I certainly enjoyed this novel immensely and I hope that I have encouraged you to read it.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
The book I read was "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH". The main charecter is Mrs. Frisby, she has four children. There are two boys and two girls. The two boys are Martin and Timothy, and the two girls are Cynthia and Teresa. Timothy has pneumonia, and in five days it is going to be moving day. Mrs. frisby goes on quest to get the house moved and to get Timothy better.
I liked this book because it was emotional as well as a exciting book. The charecters go on adventures and meet all kinds of talking animals. If you saw the movie, you should still read the book because the movie is so much different then the book. The type of people who would like this bookwould be people who like science fiction,and people that like fun easy reading.
I would give this book **** four star because it is a good book and I have no complants about it. It is more of a fairytale put in 12 year old words. It is all in all a good book and you should read it.

An Interesting Adventure (written by sixth grader)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a great book. It is interesting, adventurous,and fits my age group. I was assigned this book as a Novel Study project and therefore thought that it would be boring. As I read on I found out that I was very wrong. This book had a lot of adventure, and was very interesting. But this book also has a lot of descriptive detail and sometimes became boring. I do like a bit of detail because it helps me understand the book more. Some people do like a lot of detail, but that is not my style. Therefore I gave the book 4 stars. Though I like animals, this is not why I liked this book, because I am terrified of rats and mice, though some people call them cute. I liked this book because the author used a device call personification on the characters (the animals) which made it interesting because they now posessed human qualities. I like this device because it means the we can relate to the characters though they are animals. I recommend this book to everyone. Try the book out. It may be boring at first but keep reading, it has a lot of adventure. It turns about to be very exciting.

Mrs.Frisby and The Rats of NIMH
This is a a great book for medium size kids. My favorite character is Martin because he is very brave talking at the end.
This is a good book because it keeps you wanting to read more and more. I

had a hard time not going ahead of the schedule.

My Thoughts On Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
This was a very good book about a widowed mother mouse with a child,Timothy who is sick with pnemonia and gets overcomes many problems and fears because of Timothy. First,Mrs. Frisby runs through the cold and darkness to find some doctor(Mr. Ages)to give advise or medicine needless to say Mr. Ages gives her medicine and now another problem occurs it's the end of the winter and it's moving day I think you'll enjoy finding out what comes of this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Officer Buckle is a roly-poly bloke, dedicated to teaching schoolchildren important safety tips, such as never put anything in your ear and never stand on a swivel chair. The problem is, Officer Buckle's school assemblies are dull, dull, dull, and the children of Napville just sleep, sleep, sleep. That is, until Gloria the police dog is invited along! Stealthily pantomiming each safety tip behind Officer Buckle's back, Gloria wins the children's hearts. Meanwhile Officer Buckle assumes the cheers and laughter are all for him. As the master comedian Jerry Lewis once explained, every slapstick artist needs a straight man! Children will be highly entertained by the laugh-out-loud, adorable illustrations in this 1996 Caldecott Medal winner, while learning the value of teamwork and a pawful of nifty safety tips. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Stay with your buddy!
This book for children is about a police officer (I've been told that it is based, in part, on a San Francisco officer) who gives talks on safety to elementary school children. His talks are quite boring until he is accompanied by his police dog, Gloria. At first he is deflated that the students aren't cheering his presentation; but, with Gloria present they actually learn safety. The book won the 1996 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a children's book. One of the earlier reviewers gave this book only two stars apparently because they couldn't see the humor. Part of the humor can be found in the background and how it meshes with the text.

A Read-Aloud Hit!
Primary age students in our school love to have "OfficerBuckle and Gloria" read aloud to them, and upper grade studentsremember this story fondly.

While the story stands alone as a playful read-aloud, it can be an effective tool for opening a discussion on safety. Officer Buckle keeps thinking of