Amazon.com

Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for--or attempting to postpone--his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Clement Hurd's illustrations are simple and effective, alternating between small ink drawings and wide, brightly colored views of the little rabbit's room.

Finding all of the items mentioned throughout the book within the pictures is a good bedtime activity--a reappearing little mouse is particularly pesky. By the end of the little rabbit's goodnight poem, the story has quieted to a whisper, and the drawings have darkened with nightfall. As you turn the last page, you can expect a sleepy smile and at least a yawn or two. (Picture book) ... Read more

Reviews (287)

A little rabbit goes to bed but is not at all tired...
Generation after generation of children who have not wanted to go to sleep at night when told it was their bedtime have found an endearing manifesto of not being sleepy in "Goodnight Moon." Margaret Wise Brown poetry keeps things as simple as Clement Hurd's illustrations, which show a little rabbit who insists on saying "Goodnight" to pretty much every single object in the bedroom (including the old lady whispering "hush"). Eventually the little rabbit runs out of things to say "Goodnight" to and falls asleep. But we know that this scene will be repeated the next night and the night after that, when your child demands that you read this timeless children's classic from 1947 to them over and over again. There are certain books that every child should have in their library and if "Goodnight Moon" is not at the top of that list it has to be very close to the top for over half a century. Before this decade is up I am sure I will pass it on to a third generation of my family. How many generations is your family up to?

Great Bedtime Book
My daughter received this book as a gift for her 1 yr birthday(She is now 22 mos old and still loves this book. We read it every night before bed). At first, when I read it, I wasn't impressed with it at all. But then, the more we read it, I became wrapped up in the story through my daughter's enthusiasm of finding the little mouse in the pages and realized the sheer joy of her learning experience through reading and imagination. The lines are very short so little ones won't be easily bored waiting for the page to turn and it is so much fun for her to find the little mouse in each colored page, to watch her put her little finger to her mouth and whisper 'hush' with the little old lady in the corner, and to point out other objects in the room.

The story is based on a little bunny going to bed and saying goodnight to various items in his room and with each turn of the page, the light in his room grows dimmer. '...Goodnight mush/And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"/Goodnight stars/Goodnight air/Goodnight noises everywhere' and with that the room is dark and the bunny is fast asleep. The book alternates between color pages and black & white pages during the story. The pages show full color the little bunny's room where a little mouse hides in different areas and is waiting to be found by little searching eyes. Then the pages alternate to black and white that show other items that are found in the room that the bunny says goodnight to.

I have also found that if my daughter is hyper before bedtime, this book helps calm her down through the repetition of saying goodnight, by lowering my voice with each page that we turn and it actually helps prepare her for bed just like the bunny.

This is a very short, very colorful and very fun book for little ones. I highly recommend it.

A Must-Have Bedtime Book...
This book was one of our bedtime rituals. When I was weaning my son from frequent night-time breastfeedings, we would read this book at bedtime every evening. Sometimes I could hear him "reading" this book to himself in the dark if he was still have trouble settling down. Often, we read it in unison, and chuckled together. It's sweet and slow and comforting, and simply taking the time to cuddle and read it has a peaceful effect on both parent and child.

Still a Favorite
I first read this book when my son was a year old. The simple words and colorful illustrations made it one of his favorite bedtime rituals. The book focuses on a little rabbit going to bed and saying "good night" to everything in his room as well as the moon outside. In addition to reading the book, I would ask my son to point to the things the rabbit was saying "Good Night" to. Especially finding the little mouse on every color page. (I believe he's on everyone). We used it like an identification game as well as a story. Simple words that rhyme like "Hush" and "Mush" are easy for little ones to learn and repeat.
An interesting aspect of the illustrations is that the room is drawn darker as the book nears its end. The magic was still there the other night when I read it to my son who is now 3 and a half. Like other books by this author, there is an essentially childlike quality coupled with that "hard to pin down" quality of a classic.

If your child loves the original, they'll love this as well
My 21 mo old daughter loves the original "Goodnight Moon" and loves to play with the little acessories and popout features in this book. The story is the same and there is "lots to do" while turning the pages. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since its publication in 1942, The Runaway Bunny has never been out of print. Generations of sleepy children and grateful parents have loved the classics of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, including Goodnight Moon. The Runaway Bunny begins with a young bunny who decides to run away: "'If you run away,' said his mother, 'I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.'" And so begins a delightful, imaginary game of chase. No matter how many forms the little bunny takes--a fish in a stream, a crocus in a hidden garden, a rock on a mountain--his steadfast, adoring, protective mother finds a way of retrieving him. The soothing rhythm of the bunny banter--along with the surreal, dream-like pictures--never fail to infuse young readers with a complete sense of security and peace. For any small child who has toyed with the idea of running away or testing the strength of Mom's love, this old favorite will comfort and reassure. (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (66)

A heartwarming, beautifully written book, a MUST-HAVE !!!
I first heard a few lines from this book on a T.V. show, and I was in tears! I ran straight to my computer and ordered it. This book is a must have for every child (and parent!). I have never read a book expressing the love of a mother for her child so beautifully. The mother bunny becomes whatever it takes for her to "find" her little bunny as he dreams of different things to be to run away from her. The mother bunny doesn't condemn him, but conforms to his thoughts and dreams and "chases" after him as he tells her what he will become and how he'll run away. I loved the way the mother spoke so lovingly to her little bunny, letting him know that no matter where he went, she'd find him. My son loves the brilliantly colorful images on every other page. It is a nice contrast to the black and white writing in between. This has become a favorite in my home and I intend to give this book as a gift to any and every mother (or mother-to-be) that I know!

Runaway Bunny
This book is wonderful. My son is in an accelerated reading program at school, he brought this book home last night to read and we had such a great time with it. When the story starts off with the little bunny telling his mom that he'll run away and she says she'll follow him I just thought . . . that is love. I told my son that he was the little bunny and I was the mommy bunny, so throughout the story we pretended that those characters were us. The look on my son's face was priceless, I could tell that he knew that his mommy loves him dearly (children need reassurance). He was so proud to hear that I would follow him like that. The color illustrations kept us laughing. They were just so sweet and cute. This book is a classic. I would recommend it to any parent. I didn't see it as a way a mother holds a child back from adventuring out, but as a way a mother/father can deal with a little child wanting to runaway. My son has told me a time or two that he was going to runaway (I believe all kids do - I can remember telling my mom) next time he tells me that I'll just remind him of this story and that I am a mommy bunny! Call me crazy, but I'm assuming that God has read this book as well. After all He keeps running after each and every one of us. Children of all ages need to know that.

A heartwarming tale with an equally heartwarming message
Ever thought of running away? Or, have you ever been really angry at your mother? Well, I have just the cure for that, this book. This is timeless tale of a little bunny who can't help but test the extent of his mother's love, but for every idea the little bunny has for running away, his mother counters with a way of making sure they are always together. For instance, when the little bunny says he will escape his mother by turning into a sailboat, his mother says in reply "If you turn into a sailboat, I will become the wind and blow you home." A wonderful story that displays the unconditional love a mother has for her children.

great book
I think this book is a wonderful demonstration in love.The message is no matter what happens i will be there for you. reading some of the other reviews I feel that some people are reading into a sweet story.

Scary? Disturbing?! Squashed spirits?!? Not at all!
The one- and two-star people have the totally wrong impression. What do you think the (equivalent) age of the little runaway bunny is -- 16 to 25? To what age group are we reading a book like this? You have somehow missed the point, and context.

The idea here is that the little bunny is a very young child, far too young to be on his own -- you know this when he actually tells his mother he is running away! Imagine your child of 4 to 7, momentarily angry about something, who tells you he wants to run away from home, pouting and saying things he doesn't mean, wanting attention, testing your love. (Heck, imagine your adolescent of 16 literally running away, though he wouldn't warn you beforehand!) He is far too young to be on his own, and his mother loves him so much that she will always be there for him when he needs her, and will not let harm come to him. He needs her now, though in his current emotional state he doesn't realize it. Would you let your child run away?

This book's audience is toddler through early-reader, the kind of age where their early needs for independence are joined with an intense need to feel the constant love and presence of the parent -- they need to know their parent(s) will always be there for them. Margaret Wise Brown was not talking about an older child figuratively spreading his or her wings, only to be smothered and squashed by Mother's "love." (The only overall metaphor here is that bunnies = humans.) She's literally talking about an immature child impulsively saying he will run away, and what any good, loving parent would say and do to help and comfort him. The book is from 1942, so perhaps that makes it unclear to some, but from the moment I read it I understood the context; it is a beautiful story if you understand the intent. That little bunny has a great imagination -- the color pages are his mental images of the previous text -- and Mama is fostering it with her responses in kind.

There is one place where I would have worded the mother's part differently: where she she becomes the wind, she says "...blow you where I want you to go." I would have said, "...blow you back to me," and I think that's what the author meant. Also, somebody commented in 2000 about the "I will fish for you" part and said the mother catches him on a hook. Look at the picture -- there is no hook on the line, just a carrot tied on for the little bunny to bite, and a net to scoop him up.

I've replaced our worn, torn paperback with the big lap edition boardbook. We also have the "Goodnight Moon" lap edition, and although they are big and heavy, the size is a plus for the illustrations, and they're virtually indestructible. Our first daughter (4.5) caused many small rips in the pages of her books as she turned them with gusto, and our second daughter (20 mos.) likes to finish those rips when she can! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hat and boot in hand, a boy and a bear set off on a delicious and raucous romp through Berryland. They frolic in strawberry fields forever, rumble and ramble in blackberry brambles, and topple their canoeberry with blueberries. Silly rhymes and a musical beat practically beg to be read aloud, preferably accompanied by dancing. New readers will giggle as they follow the fruit-frenzied pals on their berry adventures. Jamberry builds quickly in intensity and complexity, starting with "One berry, Two berry, Pick me a blueberry," and working up to "Raspberry, Jazzberry, Razzmatazzberry, Berryband, Merryband, Jamming in Berryland." Children will love discovering the subtle touches in Bruce Degen's illustrations: a frog climbing out of a hat, crackers and butter instead of lily pads, and a sign by the raspberry skating rink imploring skaters not to pick the jelly rolls planted nearby. Every character seems giddy with well-fed joy in this veritable jamboree of flavorful fun. Jamberry is a book best enjoyed on a gloomy day with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (63)

A Berry Blast.....
Come join a little boy and his very endearing bear friend as they travel through berryland, on a "razzamatazzberry" adventure of a lifetime, picking and eating and playing together. Bruce Degen fills this entertaining treasure of a book with lively and joyous wordplay, alliteration, and high-spirited fun, and complements his jazzy, rhyming verse with bright, bold, and engaging illustrations. Imaginations will soar with each page turn as little ones explore the busy artwork, finding something new and special each time they open the book. Perfect for preschoolers, Jamberry is a marvelous mouth-watering, toe tapping, energetic, romp that begs to be read aloud, and is sure to send you off to the kitchen for a jamberry snack of your own. This is a classic to share with family, friends and future generations. "Mountains and fountains/Rain down on me/Buried in berries/What a jam jamboree!"

My toddler twins LOVE this book!
I have to admit that when I first read this book, I wasn't too sure what I thought of it. As another reviewer said, it contains a lot of fanciful words: jamberry, moonberry, berryband, and so forth. My twins absolutely LOVE this book, though! To them, it's every bit as good as their favorite Dr. Seuss classic. They enjoy the rhyme and repetition of the words, and love to look through the beautifully illustrated pages to find things they recognize. We have a lot of books, and this is the one that they will ask me to read every day (sometimes more than once). We've nearly worn out one board book by reading and rereading it, so I'm going to buy another for them soon. I highly recommend this book for your toddler!

Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity!!
Yummy!! A delicious book packed with fruit flavor. Mouth-watering blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries burst from each page, as you float along on rhymes with punch. I eat this book up every time.
This is as good as it gets in a board book for your wee one. The illustrations are gorgeous, and Degan has fun with it too, giving a "hint" of the next page's adventure as the starring duo finish hunting for one fruit and move on in search of the next. Although it's tempting to whip through, singing the rhymes like a song, it's also fun to linger on each page and point out all the things going on in each picture -- hints of the adventure to come and remnants of the one just completed. So, you can read through it a couple of times in each sitting.
This is my favorite of favorites to read to my one-year-old -- luckily, he likes it too!!

The Library Book We Had to Buy
We checked this book out of the local library 2 weeks ago. Our 19 month old son fell instantly in love with it. He asks to read it several times a day, he carries it around and talks about it. I logged onto Amazon today to buy a copy because I know he's going to miss it greatly when it goes back to the library next week.

no love from our book lover!
My son is 18 months old and LOVES books. He seems to have an insatiable desire for books. I was disappointed by the "busy" illustrations and awkward reading. This is the only book we own that doesn't hold his interest at all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's never too early to start kids reading. Even in infancy, young eyes can begin to make connections between images on a page and the real thing.White on Black is an ideal first book, and one that will continue to fascinate the very youngest readers as they grow. Exquisitely simple, solid white pictures of everyday objects--a banana, a duck, a bottle--against a black background provide high contrast for developing eyes. This wordless picture book encourages caregivers to engage the child as they "read" together: "Oh look, a boat, that looks like your bath toy, doesn't it?"

With White on Black's companion book, Black on White, Tana Hoban has created a striking pair of visual tools to increase the youngest readers' burgeoning powers of perception. In this complex world, it's a joy to find a book that sees the world in the simplest of terms. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful book to give as a baby present
This is one of the few books that I ALWAYS send as a baby present. It's fantastic---the black and white illustrations are great for a newborn and many of my friends have continued to "read" the book with their child even when he or she became a toddler.

Try her other book---which has black images on a white background as well.

Psychologist mom's ONLY shower gift
Before my first-born could speak or even SIT, all the adults around him could tell which page he liked most--true communication from an infant that didn't involve crying (or other intense and directed body language)! We were amazed that we all had noticed. The books got LOTS of attention from our wee one. Face it, there is just not a lot you CAN "read" to an infant those first six months of life. He loved them. I'm here buying my fifth or sixth set of these two books for yet another mom-to-be. They are so much more memorable than green and yellow clothing, for both parents and babes.

white on black
This book is wonderful for topic focused conversation with your infant. Sometimes it is hard to find things to talk about with an infant. This books helps to solve that problem so that we can expose our babies to the conversational language they need to learn how to speak.

The perfect gift for a newborn
These simple, familiar silhouettes held my baby's interest from the time he was a few weeks old until about his first birthday. For a while I propped the book open on his changing table, and it kept his attention occupied during diaper changes. I wish hospitals would send a copy home with every newborn, to help all infants get the early mental stimulation they need.

A great first book for a baby.
We "read" this book to our son when he was a few weeks old, not because he understood the pictures, but because he could track the black and white pictures. Reading is extremely important to any child and we wanted to start early. So, eventhough our 4 week old had no idea what the words meant, he would nestle as we described the pictures to him and turned the pages. How else does a child learn to love reading? When our son was approximately one year old he could begin to describe some of the pictures and he would sit on the floor and "read" this book himself. An excellent, excellent first book for your baby or for a gift. ... Read more

Book Description

Available in paperback for the first time, the modern classic that introduced the beloved baby-sitting rottweiler to the world. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

A great "wordless book"
It's not toally wordless.. there are a total of two sentences; one in the beginning and one at the end. The rest of the story is done through beautiful illustrations of interactions between Carl (a Rottweiller) and a baby he's left to care for. For those who find that absurd I point to every story where children are abandoned by mothers (Cat in the Hat, Hansel and Gretel, for that matter every fairy tale ever written). It's fiction! Also it is intended for a pre-reading audience (I recommend 2-3 years) not those who will be judging its probability.

As a speech language pathologist I find this book to be AMAZING for eliciting spoken language. You can ask what the baby is doing, where is the baby, how did that happen, or even "Can a baby swim in a fish tank???" Even my 2 year old son answers no.

It's a great imaginative story with beautiful pictures, phooey to those who are shocked.

Great book for any dog-loving child!
Beautiful pictures captivate child and adult alike as they tell the adventures of lovable Carl and his small charge. On this day, Carl's job is simply to babysit for an afternoon. What an afternoon it turns out to be for Carl and the baby! Even non-readers can follow Carl's adventures and begin to cultivate a love for books through this creatively told story. Dogs and young children are a perfect combination. After reading this book, you will think the same about books and young children!

A great wordless book
(...) It's a beautifully illustrated book with all of two printed sentences. The child can speak the story, question the story, and describe the probability if they are mature enough. Yes, the parents do leave the child with a Rottweiller, but unless you are buying this as a parenting manual this will not affect your children's behaviour.

I am amazed that anyone finds it shocking, considering the truly shocking we see in our culture all day.. a piece of children's ficiton on par with a giant red dog (Clifford?) or any fairy tale ever spoken. It is truly innocent and appealing to most toddlers I've met.

Try another Carl Book
The dog "Carl" is left alone to babysit. If you read the other reviews, you will see people shocked by the antics (sliding down the laundry shoot, swimming in the fish tank, etc.) I have to agree that you don't want your child thinking these things are fun or funny. However, I recommend you try "Carl's Afternoon in the Park." Same idea (rottweiler left to take care of baby, which you may argue is disturbing in itself, but not if you take it in good fun as it is meant) without the really off-limits stuff that you don't want your child attempting. In this book, Carl, baby, and a puppy do things that you would do with your child (go on the merry-go-round, get ice cream, slide down slide, get their pictures painted). My son loves it... laughs at the dog getting water splashed in his face and the puppy sliding down the slide and toppling over the baby. And enough intrigue for an adult (nice to notice every artist is painting the dogs and baby using different styles). Beautiful pictures throughout. Over all, a good, beautiful, imaginative book.

nothing good about this book
i really don't understand how someone could love this book. my mom bought it for my daughter w/o really reading it first. she saw there was a dog on it and my daughter loves dogs so she bought it. well, she gives it to her and we are looking through it and i couldn't believe how stupid and thoughtless this book was! a classic? HARDLY!
a dog left in charge of a child....dog gets the baby out of the crib, dog lets the child get in the fish tank...i mean, what the heck??!
this book, in my opinion is whacked. we chunked it in the trash!
if i could give ZERO stars, i would! ... Read more

Book Description

Whether by foot, boat, car, or unicycle, P. D. Eastman's lovable dogs

demonstrate the many ways one can travel. The new text emphasizes the concept

element of the original while maintaining its rhythm and charm.




... Read more

Reviews (34)

Abridged, but wonderful for babies
We have both versions of this book: the abridged board book, a favorite of my 20-month-old; and the original extended version, a favorite of my nearly 5-year-old, who can now read it all by himself. They both love it. The board book version, while abridged, is very, very well done. The words are rhythmic and catchy, and from a very early age my son and daughter have both run around the house yelling "Go, Dog, Go!" Toddlers generally lack the patience for the big version - the board book is a fantastic and accessible way to introduce them to the fun of words and language and such concepts as stop and go.

The First Book I Ever Read
Although my parents frequently tell me I was reading from cereal boxes and newpapers before this, the first time I vividly remember reading a book was sitting in my Aunt's lap and happily stammering through "Go Dog Go." The many colors of dogs and the way they got around intrigued me as a four year old and my (no pun intended) dog eared copy of P.D. Eastman's Suess-like rhymes stayed on my shelf for a long time after I'd grown out of this leavel of learning skill. Get it for your youngsters, it will make them happy to try and follow along.

Green Dogs, Red Dogs, "Do you like my hat?" - Vocabulary
This was one of my favorites as a child. It became a favorite of my daughter's as well. Now my son is hooked on it.

The book starts simply. "Dog" is the only word on the page. That sets up the theme.

We quickly are taken through comparisons and colors. Black, white, red, blue, yellow, green, in, out, up, down, big, small, stop, go, over and under. Add some simple numbers and the book gains real substance.

But then we have the two plots. First is the "Do you like my hat?" story that runs to the book's conclusion. The other is dogs on the go. They run around, go to sleep, wake up, drive away fast, and finally all congregate at the top of a tree.

Great Eastman illustrations and fun vocabulary will entertain most children

More dishonesty from Random House
Look at the cover of this Bright and Early Board Book...does it say "Abridged" or "Adapted"? NO, to discover that fact, one has to look carefully at the fine print on the inside of the cover. And even then, what Random House says is "Originally published in a different form as 'Go Dog Go'" instead of a more honest "Abridged and Adapted from 'Go Dog Go'". This is deceptive marketing at its absolute worst. If this were food for the stomach rather than food for the mind, the FDA would long ago have ordered Random House to cease and desist this sort of misleading behavior or face the consequences.

I am old enough to remember the difference between a book labeled "by P.D. Eastman" and a book labeled "by P.D. Eastman (Abridged)." There was a day when publishers felt compelled to be honest about their product, which allowed us consumers to easily make an informed choice about what we wanted to buy.

I for one still want that choice from publishers and urge any and all of you who care about books to not purchase this Random House Bright and Early Board Book, at least until they are a little more honest in their practices.

A great introduction to Dr Seuess
This is a great introduction to the wonderful world of Dr Seuss. It's short, it's fun and the premise is less reliant on a child's comprehension skills than many of the other Dr Seuss book. My son has loved this book since the age of 18 months, when the likes of "Cat in the Hat" were too long or confusing for him. It always makes me smile too! ... Read more

Product Description

A delightfull Ukrainian Folktale adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett as a boardbook. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

The Mitten
The story of the Mitten begins when a boy named Nicki begs Baba to sew him white, wool mittens. After she finished, the boy went to play with them. Baba said that when he got home, she would check to see if he was alright, then see if he still had the new mittens. Soon, Nicki dropped one of his mittens and lost it. Many different animals found the mitten to be a good place to rest. At the end, Nicki finds his mitten and returns home. The only thing, is that one mitten is four times bigger then the other.
I really enjoyed the book, The Mitten. It was always may favorite when I was a young child. The story really kept my attention, and I could follow it very easily. I liked all the different types of animals. I though the story was very good, and I'm sure you would too.

A Great Book
This is another great retelling by Jan Brett. I read this book to my second grade class every year. You can download a mitten and the animals from the story at Jan Brett's web site. After I read this delightful story to my class, the children color the animals and cut them out along with the mitten. I read the story again and they act it out with their animals. They take the mitten and animals home to do a retelling with their families. The children absolutely love this story and the activities.

Small, short and sweet
This is a small handy for the car sort of book. The story is short and a pleasure to read as it reviews the names of different animals found in the forest. This was given to my little one as present from my Ukrainian grandmother whom we call "Baba", I like that we can relate to a few of the books details, like the gramdmother shown an ethnic blouse like the ones worn in the old country, and the boy is called Nick like many Ukrainian boys making the book even more authentic.

Beautifully illustrated book!
My 18-month-old sons love this book. I have to read this one to them over and over ~~ they love the bright colorful pictures. They love hearing about the animals. And I love reading it to them. It's fun and pleasurable on the eyes as well.

Nicki wants a pair of white mittens and his Baba agrees to make it for him. However, he loses one and a mole decided to rest in the white mitten lying on the snow. He soon is joined by a rabbit, a fox, hedgehog, badger, owl, a bear and a tiny mouse. It's hilarious to imagine all of them in one tiny little mitten ~~ and so fun to read too!

I recommend Brett's books for everyone. She's a wonderful story-teller and her art is beautifully-illustrated. She is an example of how children's books should be!

2-4-04

Two Stories in One
Jan Brett has some of the most beautifully illustrated books around. This is no exception.

Nikki is a boy who convinces Baba to knit him some mittens that are as white as snow. Baba warns him that white mittens are very easy to lose. Baba is right.

Nikki goes out to play and almost immediately drops one of the mittens. This is where the two stories come in. The main story is told in the large illustrations on each page as a series of animals squeeze themselves into the mitten. In the borders of each page, we see Nikki as he plays and ultimately disturbs each of the animals so that they leave their homes and eventually find the mitten.

The stories cross as a sneeze blasts the animals out of the mitten and we see Nikki retrieve it in the main illustrations while the borders show the animals returning to their homes. Baba sees Nikki reach up and catch the mitten as it drops from the sky, but she is puzzled when she sees that one mitten is now much larger than the other.

Absolutely beautiful illustrations. A simple story but full of fun as we see how each of the animals enters the story. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Emily Elizabeth has a big red dog--the biggest, reddest dog on her street, and his name is Clifford. How big is he? He's so big that when he runs after cars, he catches them in his mouth, and his doghouse is bigger than Emily Elizabeth's house. Needless to say, he makes an excellent watchdog. Children love the idea of the things you could do and the fun you could have with a giant dog, and Norman Bridwell's delightful, Clifford-proof board-book edition will not disappoint. (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Introducing Clifford.
This first Clifford the Big Red Dog book is in board book format so that younger children can flip through the pages and enjoy Clifford without accidently destroying the book. This book introduces Emily Elizabeth and her pet dog, Clifford. However, Clifford isn't an ordinary dog. He's big. He's red and he has some peculiar habits. Children of a variety of ages love Clifford and this book is a great way to introduce young children to Emily and Clifford. It's fairly short, entertaining, and contains a subtle message on acceptance as well.

One of my favorite classic childrens books!
Clifford The Big Red Dog was one of my favorite books when I was little it was one of the books my parens would have to read to me at bedtime, I still have the book too but is not in the best condition because when I was little I ripped the cover and scribbled all over the book, I'm thinking of buying this wonderful classic childrens book for my niece and since she loves dogs I'm sure she will love this book just as much as I did!

Good old Clifford
This is a short and sweet introduction Emily Elizabeth gives us to her oversized pal Clifford. She explains why she wouldn't trade him for any other and some of the aspects that make having him as a pet not so practical. Who can help but love this giant creature? I find the whole series amusing to young and old alike.

The Big Red Favorite of My Kids
Clifford is one of those literary creatures who adults find hard to quite "get." I am among those adults, but I have to admit, my children love all things Clifford and when his show is playing on the local PBS channel, its "must-see-TV" time for thekids.

This is the book that launched Clifford's career. Originally released in the late eighties, Clifford has grown into a children's icon. Norman Bridwell apparently hit upon a idea that resonates with children. Of course, most kids love dogs, red is a color that stand out, and I guess combine the two in a giant dog and you've got instant appeal to the toddler set.

I don't mean for that to sound cynical. Clifford's stories frequently contain good moral lessons for the children and most often revolve around the concept of "love" for one's pet and vice versa.

Oddly, in this, the first book in the series, there is no explanation for why Clifford is a giant dog (I've never sorted out how tall he actually is; sometimes he appears to be 10-12 feet tall and sometimes twice that height). Of course, my four-year-old could care less about explanations, she just loves him.

The cutest dog ever!
This book is siginificant to me because I love animals, especially dogs! This book is good for children because it will show them its ok to be different. I have 3 dogs so I think I know how hard it is to raise pets, it would probbaly be just as hard to raise Clifford because he is so big. In this book Emily talks about how much she loves Clifford and she doesn't care how he looks and would never trade him for another dog. Overall, this was a pretty good book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Judy can pat the bunny. Now YOU pat the bunny." Sound familiar? Pat the Bunny is a part of childhood, as soothing as cocoa and animal crackers.Dorothy Kunhardt's interactive book for babies and toddlers was one of the first of its kind when it was published in 1940, and it has since sold over six million copies. We pat the soft fur of the bunny, play peek-a-boo, look in the mirror, and then do it all over again. (And again and again and again.) After you Pat the Bunny with your baby, why not Pat the Cat and Pat the Dog? These two sequels were written by Edith Kunhardt, the daughter of the author of the original book. Both use the same tried-and-true Pat the Bunny format: sturdy cardboard pages with eight activities that wee ones can explore, from sniffing some brownies, to squeaking a teddy bear, to unfastening Grandma's tennis shoe. The simple line drawings and pastel colors don't do much for adults, but somehow they are just right for babies. This boxed set is a fine choice for a baby gift or first birthday present, and a lifesaver on a long car trip. (Baby to preschool) --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Simply the Best Ever
Some things become life experiences not only for one's child, but for oneself. "Pat the Bunny" is such a book. It is so dear, so simple, and so very, very perfect that it is deceptive. It really can teach a very young baby about textures and colors and the fact that the world is a varied and wonderful place.

When my first child (now almost 18) was less than 6 months old, I would take her tiny hand and place her chubby fingers on each different texture...the bunny, the cloth, and of course my favorite...Daddy's scratchy beard! (a piece of sandpaper). I don't know how much of the simple and sweet words my daughter absorbed, but she was cuddled in my arms, being rocked (our favorite place to read) and she definitely liked to touch the textures. Now the interesting thing is that the book remained special, and when she should have outgrown it, she did not. It remained in the collection. I think that's because it is just so peaceful and simple, remnants of a former time.

If you are expecting, if one of your friends has a new baby, if you are a grandparent or a loving aunt or uncle, you cannot give a better book for a new baby. It will be that baby's cherished book in short order. Guaranteed. One word of warning, though. Make sure that you are buying the original, with all the textures. I saw one oversized board book version the other day, and its only texture was the cotton of the bunny, which carried through to each page. No no!! We need everything right for this book of a lifetime.

This Bunny's a FAVORITE!!
Our son inherited two identical copies of Pat the Bunny from his big sister (who adored the book equally), and he quickly learned all the fun things he could do with Paul and Judy. His favorite thing to do is to play peek-a-boo with Paul. We are disappointed that the binding has failed on both copies, but gladly, it is due to them being so LOVED. In order to keep our now-one-year-old boy happy, we are buying him a copy of his own for Christmas (and maybe a spare for the diaper bag for outings).A true favorite story-simple and fun! And a great gift to receive for a new baby.

Pat the Bunny
My daughter enjoys this book from time to time. I, on the other hand, can't get past the smell of the flowers in it. I gag everytime I get near it. The book is somewhat bland. I wouldn't really reccoment it to buy.

Cute
This is a cute classic book. It is fun to read and fuzzy bunny is fun for kids.

Eh...
It's a cute book, but very dated. Not very sturdy either. I cringe whenever my son reaches for it, but that's not too often, as it doesn't hold his interest very well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Good news for babies everywhere! Literature and lore expert Iona Opie and the indomitable Rosemary Wells have teamed up to create a series of Mother Goose books in a sturdy, cardboard-paged, gnaw-proof format. In Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes, eight favorite rhymes are delightfully illustrated, from "Humpty Dumpty" to "Little Jack Horner." Wells comes through again with adorable, expressive bunnies and shyly smiling mice. Larger (and more charmingly illustrated) than many board books, this whole star-studded Mother Goose series is guaranteed to delight your favorite little one. (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Board book fan
I knew my first son would love books when he gnawed his way through his first two board books. Now my second son is well on his way, both paging through and chewing on the sturdy board pages of this charming and colorful edition of Humpty Dumpty. Captivating rhythms and bright attention-getting illustrations are sure to delight any fan (child or adult) of Well's animal characters. Previous reviewers expressed concern about rhymes like "Davy Davy Dumpling" but before censoring this book, I'd ask them to think back to when your child was a plump and cuddly infant. How many times did you tickle him and say "I'm going to eat you up!" Did you really mean it? When you change a diaper are you "sugaring and buttering" your baby with powders and creams? I eat my baby up several times a day and it makes him laugh hysterically!

Based on reaction of my 18 month old daughter.
I am surprised to read the reviews. I do not care about rhymes and illustrations. What I care is if my kid loves it. She always asks me read to this books at least once in a day. She is so happy when I am reading this book for her. The thick pages are really important for small kids as they can not tear them off.

Odd illustrations
The Rhymes themselves are Okay but I was dissappointed in the illustrations. It is odd how humpty dumpty is not really illustrated the way we all know Humpty.

Very special children's books
We have the board books (like this one), as well as the two large hardbound books. My children love them, especially my daughter age two, one of whose first words was "Winkie!" after the Wee Willie Winkie rhyme. I find the negative reviews of these books very puzzling -- don't the authors of those reviews have any imagination? Or are they just close-mindedly PC? Or maybe they just do not know (literally) that a dumpling is a boiled pastry that is eaten with butter and sugar? An aspect of nursery rhymes is their connection to deep, and ancient, currents of culture.

A truly odd book
My 2 year old received this as a gift. I seriously wonder whether the person read it before they bought it. Although colorful, the illustrations often don't well represent the rhymes. The rhyme about Davy the Dumpling, whom we boil in pot, then butter & sugar and eat is truly bizzare. We'll be losing this book very soon. ... Read more