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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

Book Description

Talk about a change of plans! Ms. Frizzle and her class are on the Magic School Bus headed for a museum. They have been studying how the body turns food into energy, and now they are going to see an exhibit on the human body. Things seem fine until they stop for lunch. A strange mishap causes the bus to shrink and then be swallowed! Ms. Frizzle's class is suddenly inside a real human body! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fifth Food Group: Magic School Buses
Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen outdo themselves in "The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body." It is their most ambitious collaboration yet, and it definitely doesn't disappoint.

As is the custom, the third book in this science series (written in 1989) picks up where the second story left off. Ms. Frizzle is showing her students a filmstrip about the human body. "We're going to learn all about ourselves," she says. Then she announces the next field trip - the class is heading to the museum to "see an exhibit about how our bodies get energy from the food we eat." However, anyone who has even an inkling as to the kind of person Ms. Frizzle is should know that things rarely, if ever, go according to plan. A field trip is never just a field trip when you're taking a ride aboard her magic school bus.

The Friz and her students stop at a park for lunch before arriving at the museum. Afterward, everyone goes back to the bus . . . except for Arnold! He's still sitting at a picnic table, daydreaming and eating a bag of Cheesie-Weesies. And before the class realizes what is happening, the bus shrinks to the size of a Cheesie-Weesie . . . where it is promptly downed in one gulp by Arnold!

"I thought we were going to the museum," says one student.

"There's been a slight change of plans," explains Ms. Frizzle. "We're being digested instead."

Why visit an exhibit about the human body when you have a magic school bus and a teacher like Ms. Frizzle who can take you directly to the source?

If "At the Waterworks" was like priming the pump, and "Inside the Earth" was like getting the ball rolling, "Inside the Human Body" is like plowing full-steam ahead. Cole and Degen have firmly established themselves as a literacy force to be reckoned with; this is proven in the confidence of the writing and the boldness of the illustrations. There is so much going on in this story that you almost need a scorecard to keep track of it all. It seems as though Cole and Degen are bound and determined to one-up themselves with every book they come out with.

A list of some things Ms. Frizzle educates her class about would include: blood cells (red and white), blood vessels, digestion, germs, the heart, lungs, molecules, oxygen, plasma, the small intestine, etc. Do you know what villi are? You will after you read this book! Any idea what the cerebral cortex does? Ms. Frizzle will show you! Ever wondered why you sneeze? The answer resides in this story!

"Inside the Human Body" deserves just as much, if not more, a home on a person's bookshelf as does "At the Waterworks" and "Inside the Earth." Cole and Degen loaded their latest adventure to the bursting-point with information. You can see the growth author and illustrator have taken since their inaugural effort with "At the Waterworks." They prove that some things do, indeed, get better with age.

At the end of "Inside the Human Body" is a true-false test to help readers distinguish what things were true in the story and what things were made up. And, of course, Ms. Frizzle drops another clue as to where her next great adventure will take us. I'm pretty sure the class will think of their next field trip as out of this world!

It doesn't seem possible, but Cole and Degen managed to improve upon an already-winning formula. They are both in top form with "Inside the Human Body," a field trip that will take you from the brain to the small intestine and back again. Well, what are you waiting for? Hitch a ride on the magic school bus!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Seatbelts, everyone!"

My daughter loves Magic School Bus
My daughter is 3 1/2 years old. I got this book and wasn't sure if it would be to complicated for her. She loves it! I have ordered a few more Magic School Bus books and she can't get enough of them. She even drew a picture of her Daddy's red blood cells! It was hilarious. But best of all, she enjoys them so much. They are her favorite books and she is learning about science. I wish I had these when I was a kid.

Kid Tested
My son likes this book. It gives some good insights into germs and our bodies. he likes the entires Magic School Bus series - but this is one of his favorites. An easy read before bedtime - just the right length.

The Magic School Bus : Inside the Human Body
Very fun to read and educational. My daughter is 7 years old and she must have read it ten times. She only usually reads a book once!

Hilarious, fantastic, fascinating, inventive education!
I discovered these books when my son was 5 and we were in a trial year of homeschooling. Both of us were fascinated, by Ms. Frizzle, the magic shrinking bus, the fantastic field trips and funny Arnold.

The main text is good, the pictures are great and the comic book style conversations and binder paper reports on the sides of the pages are fabulous.

We both learned important things about the solar system, human body, water refineries, the earth and the ocean in a very fun, creative, imaginative and impressive way.

Read these books with any child you know, laughing and learning together! ... Read more

Book Description

Where do rocks come from? When Ms. Frizzle asks her students to bring rocks to class, almost everyone forgets. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Rocks, Rocks, Everywhere!
"The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth" immediately picks up where its predecessor, "At the Waterworks", left off. At the end of each book, Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen provide a subtle clue as to the nature and content of their next collaboration - a sly wink to those of us who catch such details.

"At the Waterworks" concludes with Ms. Frizzle looking at a map of a volcano, which tells us the next book in the series will probably be about our world's physical structures. And that's where "Inside the Earth" steps into the spotlight. Written in 1987, Cole and Degen prove in their second effort that there is no such thing as the dreaded sophomore jinx. This story is just as, if not more, educating and entertaining than "At the Waterworks."

The book starts out with the kids in Ms. Frizzle's class appearing restless over their current learning topic, animal homes. They've been researching the subject for almost a month and "were pretty tired of it." So the class jumps for joy when the Friz announces they're starting something new. "We are going to study about our earth!" she exclaims.

However, things don't go exactly as planned. Only four kids actually bring their homework to class the next day - "Each person must find a rock and bring it to school," said Ms. Frizzle. So she decides to take them on a field trip to collect rock specimens . . . and that's when the fun begins!

Ms. Frizzle lives up to the expectations she set in "At the Waterworks." By the time this field trip is done, her class has learned all about the physical features of the earth. The kids discover how rocks are made of minerals. They delve deep into the ground, getting up close and personal with Earth's crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Ms. Frizzle educates them on the three classes of rocks - igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. She relates to the kids how processes inside the earth take millions of years. She even takes them on a tour through a volcano! All throughout the field trip, the class receives hands-on experience with various rocks - basalt, granite, limestone, obsidian, pumice, sandstone, shale, etc.

And these details are only scratching the surface of what Cole and Degen, not to mention Ms. Frizzle, have lined up for readers in this book. Blending comedy with truth, this is a welcome addition to any children's bookshelf, either in the classroom or at home. And just as they did with their first story, Cole and Degen use the final pages to distinguish what things were accurate in the story and what things were made up.

As is her fashion, Ms. Frizzle leaves readers a hint at what is to come in her next adventure. My guess is that it has something to do with the human body. Talk about an inside-job!

Cole and Degen surpass the benchmark they set in "At the Waterworks" with "Inside the Earth." There are facts and figures, hilarity and humor, bursting from every page. Don't miss out on a chance to ride the magic school bus.

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "This way, class!"

Inside The Earth
This storyis about a class of students that is bord then one day they all go on a journey inside the earth and the kids have all these questions that all get answered. the reason I like this book so much is because it tells so much about the earth in a way that is fun for the students.

Awesome Book
This book is a great book to teach kids about the inside of the earth, and other scientific stuff. It gets your imagination flowing! Its fun and interesting; I always loved the Magic School Bus series! Ms. Frizzle is so funny!

Review
This book was about Miss Frizzle's class. Miss Frizzle's classes are always taking wild journeys everyone. On minute they are in the classroom like a normal class, the next they are somewhere very unusual. In this book they traveled inside the earth to study about it. The book talks about all the things inside the Earth and there are great explanations to many questions that children might have about the earth.
I like this book because it teaches children a lot about what the earth is made up of and it does it in such a way that children will stay interested and amused. A lot of children are really fond of science and things and this book teaches them about science in a fun way. Even children that don't really enjoy science would like this book because it's a fun book. Things happen that wouldn't really happen in real life so in a way it is fantasy like and a lot of children would like that.
I think the author was trying to teach children something and do it in such a way that it is fun. They will enjoy the story of the class traveling into the middle of the earth but there is a lot of science in there for the children to learn also.

The Frizz Does a Jules Verne
This best-selling children`s science series is excellent for reading aloud, while older kids (and parents) will appreciate the range and depth of information, as well. The story-text of the original series is at once humorous, engaging, and packed with facts. Lively and amusing illustrations include cartoon bubbles, as well as "reports" by the students in the story. Ms Frizzle is a Mary Poppins-like teacher with oomph, and a wardrobe to match, who challenges and leads her students, recurring characters who reflect the multicultural nature of the US, on amazing fieldtrips.

In INSIDE THE EARTH, the fabled bus turns into a steam shovel, provides the kids and the Frizz with workclothes and digging equipment, to explore to the earth`s core, Jules Verne-style. Along the way, they learn geology, but with the Frizzle spin. ... Read more

Book Description

When Ms. Frizzle, the strangest teacher in school, takes her class on a field trip to the waterworks, everyone ends up experiencing the water purification system from the inside. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Splashing Debut
"The Magic School Bus: At the Waterworks" is the first in a series of science picture books geared towards young ones. Written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, it marks the debut of one of the most successful concepts in the history of children's literature.

Cole and Degen successfully blend fun and learning into their stories, striking a resonant chord with kids and parents alike. Because, let's face it, education - no matter what subject you're delving into - can be a tad boring at times. But anyone who's ever worked with children knows that adding a pinch of excitement and a smidgeon of enjoyment into the knowledge pot takes an otherwise bland topic and transforms it into something delectable.

"At the Waterworks" introduces us to Ms. Frizzle, a one-of-a-kind instructor who knows how to take seemingly uninspiring themes and metamorphose them into action-packed adventures. The kids in her class consider Ms. Frizzle "the strangest teacher in school." And they are less than enthused when they find out their first class trip is the local waterworks; it seems to pale in comparison to field trips other classes are taking, such as to the circus or to the zoo. But these students have obviously never gone on a class trip with Ms. Frizzle; nor have they ever taken a ride in her magic school bus.

Before they know it, Ms. Frizzle has sent them on a splashing journey. They learn all about the wonders of water; how it is the only substance in nature that can form into a solid, liquid or gas. They come to understand the water cycle; how water evaporates into a gas to form clouds and liquefies as it falls to the ground as rain. They even take a tour of the local waterworks; how water is filtered and purified for people to drink, and how it is distributed throughout the city in underground pipes to businesses and homes.

Needless to say, the children in Ms. Frizzle's class experience a once-in-a-lifetime voyage, one they won't ever forget! And for those "serious students who do not like any kidding around when it comes to science facts," the final pages distinguish what things were true in the story and what things were made up.

Cole and Degen hit the children's literacy jackpot with this series, and it all started with "At the Waterworks." This book was written in 1986, and the "Magic School Bus" is still riding strong - it has spawned numerous picture books, chapter books, a cartoon show, television tie-in books, computer games, etc. The key to its success lies in the fact that it mixes education with a hearty dose of humor and fun. And when you stir those ingredients together, you have a winning formula.

You cannot go wrong with Ms. Frizzle and her magic school bus. These books are so enjoyable, children and parents alike delight in them. I don't know why it took me so long to discover this series, but I'm glad it happened! I cannot say enough great things about it! Do yourself a favor and read a few of these stories; you will not regret it.

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "It's time to take chances! Make mistakes! And get messy!"

Many layers of detail
This is one of the older Magic School Bus books which has layers of detail in it. You can chose how many layers to read, depending on the child's interest and on the time you have available for reading.

The obvious layer is the text. There is plenty of information from just reading the text. If you want to add more, read the dialogue between the characters, written cartoon style in balloons. The most detail would come from the children's sketches and notes that are in the (very wide) margins.

I like the scheme of taking the children through the system and coming out the other end. Children usually find the fantasy of changing size to be fascinating as well. To my knowledge, the book is factual and fairly well up to date.

As a seamstress, I love Ms Frizzle's clothing and accessories.

The Magic School Bus: At the Waterworks
I taught a unit on water to three second grade classes this year and this book helped the students understand where our city drinking water comes from, how it is treated for impurities and how it gets moved through the system and into our homes. The pictures and text are informative as well as humorous and entertaining. This book kept the students' attention and promoted discussiom. I highly reccommend it! ... Read more

Book Description

On a special field trip in the magic school bus, Ms. Frizzle's class goes into outer space and visits each planet in the solar system. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Best children's science series ever.
The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System is one is a series of science adventure books by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen (Illustrator), all of which are trulky excellent. The chart the adventures of Ms. Frizzle and her class as they go on some really interesting field trips.

The books operate on several levels. They work as adventure stories as the manner in which they get diverted from an ordinary school field trip to the adventure at hand is always entertaining. The illustrations are truly wonderful and add to the story line very effectively. The books do in fact contain a lot of basic information about the topic at hand, so your kids are actually learning something as they read. And, as a final bonus, the books always involve some sore of class socialization issue, so your kids are exposed to some real life classroom issue, (here it's a Miss know-it-all type) and strategies for dealing with them as well. On top of all that, the books are just plain fun.

A great series for late pre-schoolers and early elementary age kids. So, what are you waing for? Jump on the Magic School Bus and have some fun!!!

Magic School Bus Lost in Solar System
Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
By Joanna Cole
Illustrated by Bruce Degen

In the beginning of the story the class is going to the museum. But it is closed for construction so Mrs. Frizzle pulls a lever and they blast off in to space. The first thing they go to is our Moon then the sun then Mercury then Venus then Mars. Then they come to the Asteroid Belt. They lose Mrs. Frizzle and on the way back to Earth they find Mrs. Frizzle in the Asteroid Belt. And in this book Arnold's cousin comes with them and she keeps on touching Mrs. Frizzle`s things when she is gone When she is lost they tell her not to but she does anyway. This book tells me all about the universe. And the plants and when they get back to earth they make a project about the Solar System. I think that anyone could like this book. I say it would be good when you are studying the universe. That is the time you should read this book. Like I said it could be good for everybody I'm 9 and I still like this book so I bet you will to. I like this book because it is very interesting.

The Magic School Bus
This book is about a class who goes to the musuem but it is closed. So they see it up close. Janet was bragging about everything. After the trip they had learned a lot

I think the book is about being nice. The book is about learning new things. Learning new things is part of life. The book is saying to learn. The book is telling us to try new things.

I think the book is nice. The book has a series. It teaches you stuff. It also is funny. It's my favorite. It's fun to read.

Magic school bus "lost in solar system"
I like this book because it has to deal with the solar system and i like to learn about space. It does a very good job teaching you about it, and the book was really fun to read. I like how the bus turnes into a space ship and goes to all the planets.

Star Light, Star Bright
Not content with what Earth has to offer, Ms. Frizzle takes her class on a field trip of outer space for the fourth installment of this acclaimed science series, "The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System." Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen are bright as ever in their latest out-of-this-world adventure.

The Friz was already planning for this field trip at the end of her previous voyage, "Inside the Human Body." She informs her students that they're "going to the planetarium to see a sky show about the solar system." And since the kids have already swam through water ("At the Waterworks"), dug up rocks ("Inside the Earth"), and been digested ("Inside the Human Body"), an afternoon at the planetarium seems like a walk through the park. Or, better yet, through the solar system!

There is only one thing dimming everyone's shining star. Arnold's cousin, Janet, is visiting for the day and she isn't exactly the quiet type. She's a regular Ms. Know-It-All, expressing her opinions whenever she feels like it. "I know all of you will be nice to our guest," says Ms. Frizzle. And with that, the class blasts off for the planetarium.

However, it looks like the Friz's mission has been grounded. The planetarium is closed for repairs! But that's when the magic school bus takes matters into its own hands. If you can't bring the stars to you, simply go to them yourself!

The students in Ms. Frizzle's class learn all sorts of interesting facts about outer space. They get up-close and personal with the other eight planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. They are educated on universal bodies such as the Asteroid Belt, meteorites, the Sun, various moons, and rings of the planets. They even find out about things such as gravity, orbits, sunspots, various temperatures in space, etc.

Then something happens that threatens to end the students' quest of knowledge through the solar system. What will Ms. Frizzle do? And even though Janet is a bit haughty, is she the only one that can save the entire class from drifting off into space?

Once again, Cole and Degen prove they have no boundaries. Mixing humor and truth - and not to mention a dose of drama - author and illustrator lead Ms. Frizzle's class and readers alike on an intriguing journey of the solar system. Written in 1990, "Lost in the Solar System" is yet another solid effort from all those involved. But would you expect anything less at this point?

The end of this book, like the three before it, has useful information on what was fact in the story and what was made up. And, like she's done three times before, Ms. Frizzle leaves the reader another clue as to what spectacular exploration she has rolled up her sleeves during our next encounter. Dolphins, fishes and sharks - oh, my! If her outfit is any indication, readers had better start packing their diving suits right now!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Buckle up, class. We're going down!" ... Read more

Book Description

On another special field trip on the magic school bus, Ms. Frizzle's class learns about the ocean and the different creatures that live there. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

20,000 Leaks Under the Sea
At this point, Ms. Frizzle and her class have explored things like the waterworks, the many layers of the earth, the human body, and even outer space. So it's only natural that Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen would decide to lead their readers on an under-sea adventure. "The Magic School Bus: On the Ocean Floor" is another top-notch collaboration by two people who show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Written in 1992, "On the Ocean Floor" picks up where "Lost in the Solar System" left off. Ms. Frizzle's students are working on their ocean science projects, which makes their teacher very happy. However, it makes them hot and tired; the temperature on this day is soaring!

"I wish we could go swimming," comments one student while putting the finishing touches on a display about how ocean animals swim.

"As a matter of fact, children," says the Friz, "I've been planning a class trip to the ocean for tomorrow."

And, just like that, the class - as well as the reader at home - is being whisked away on yet another magical field trip. The kids think they're just going to spend a day having fun in the sun, but Ms. Frizzle has other ideas!

"On the Ocean Floor" rivals "Inside the Human Body" for the amount of information - not to mention good-natured humor - packed into one 48-page book. Just about everything you can imagine - and anything you can't - is touched on in this compelling romp through the heart of the ocean. At the end of Ms. Frizzle's latest underwater voyage, you will have a better understanding of what hidden treasures abound in the deep blue sea.

Ms. Frizzle's class learns all about ocean life; the kids come across things such as barnacles, grunts, limpets, sponges, sugar kelp, tubeworms, and whelks. More familiar entities include coral reefs, dolphins, lobsters, plankton, sharks, tunas, and whales. The students explore high tides, low tides, continental shelves, continental slopes, the ocean floor, hot-water vents, and waves. And I'm only bobbing the surface of what Ms. Frizzle has lined up for her class.

The end of the book leaves us with two things: 1) a little quiz distinguishing what things were true in the story and what things were made up; and 2) another clue as to what the Friz's next adventure will entail. From the looks of it, her idea of a field trip is so old, it's practically prehistoric!

As so often happens, it is common for the things we love in life to grow stale. Rarely does a book series get better with age. But Cole and Degen have managed to do just that. With each "Magic School Bus" story they produce, the product becomes more polished. I had never heard of even half the things this tale delves into, and I thoroughly enjoyed absorbing myself in the read. "On the Ocean Floor" is yet another high-quality effort from two people who wouldn't settle for anything less.

The fifth book in this wonderful series is definitely a keeper, as are the four volumes that precede it. Do yourself a favor, and take a ride on the magic school bus!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Wahoo!"

Minus One for Lenny
Humorous, engaging, and packed with information, this best-selling science series is aptly illustrated with lively pictures. My kids adore the cartoon bubbles and short "reports" from the students in the story. Their teacher, Ms Frizzle, is an amazing character who challenges her pupils and leads them on amazing fieldtrips. Her equally fascinating wardrobe changes with each subject and situation. All this has made it a read-aloud favorite since my eldest was three. In ON THE OCEAN FLOOR, the inimitable school bus undergoes several transformations as it transports us to and through the ocean; from tidal pools, down to the deep ocean floor, and, after a brief visit to a tropical island, home. I was touched by the inclusion of a specimen of fish, well known in my home state of Hawaii. However, I must say OUR lifeguards are nothing like Lenny, who, unlike the rest of the book, is definitely lacking on several points. Real lifeguards patrol their strip of beach and keep watch over the waters from their perch. They also patiently answer my children`s questions about the local sea life (most recently, about jellyfish) and just as patiently patch up even the smallest of "boo-boos." Minus one star for Lenny.

Excellent coverage!
Another triumph for the Magic School Bus series. The class takes a field trip to the ocean (not the beach; the ocean) where they learn about the wondrous creatures that live there. Everything from plankton to mammals, including the strange lifeforms around hot water vents, is touched on in this fabulous book. The inserts on each page from the kids' projects add valuable information. The science is current and presented in an entertaining and easy-to-understand manner. Even though the series is designed for older kids, my two-year-old loves the pictures and carries the book with him everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Ms. Frizzle's class is learning firsthand about how electricity works--by traveling through the town's power lines. Jumping from atom to atom, the kids ride the electrical current within many familiar appliances, including a television. Full color. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Great Book!
This book is a great book to learn about electricity. My daughter wants me to read it to her over and over, and I have learned from it, too! ... Read more

Book Description

"Ms. Frizzle warps her students back to the late Triassic period, where they begin a journey forward through time in search of Maiasaura eggs. . . .Sidebar information provides the hard science, timelines, and maps of continental drift. . . . Grades two to five." ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Adventure Millions of Years in the Making!
As if Ms. Frizzle's field trips weren't time-consuming enough, now she's decided to take her class back to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! Has the Friz gone mad? Who knows what kind of animals stalked the very land we stand on millions of years ago? This joyful journey to the Jurassic could end up a perilous predicament in the past!

Written in 1994, "The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs" is yet another wonderful collaboration between Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. It's Visitor's Day in Ms. Frizzle's class. Parents, relatives and friends are coming to see the students' work in all things dinosaurs. But not before the Friz makes a special announcement.

"Our class has been invited to a dinosaur dig," she informs her students. "We'll be leaving right away."

And, just like all the other field trips Ms. Frizzle has taken, this one ends up being bigger than originally planned. So big, in fact, it can only be described in prehistoric terms!

The students learn all about fossils (anything left from ancient animals or plants), as well as the scientists who study them (paleontologists). They also get to see how these scientists go about their work, using chisels and shovels and burlap and plaster. Then the real adventure begins when the Friz suggests to the class that they all go looking for some Maiasaura nests. And the only way to do that, of course, is to blast into the past!

Students will recognize some of the more well-known dinosaurs featured in this tale - Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex. But they will also be introduced to lesser-known plants and animals from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods - Cycads, Ferns, Elasmosaurus, and Lambeosaurus. Each different geological period represents a variety of creatures, habitats and temperatures.

Were dinosaurs part of a herd (meaning, did they live in packs?), or were they solitary creatures? Were some dinosaurs caring parents, or did they leave their young to fend for themselves? What brought about the end of a species that existed for so many millions of years? But most importantly, will Ms. Frizzle's class ever return to the present day?

As with every book in the "Magic School Bus" series, Cole and Degen wrap up their latest narrative with two things: 1) "From the Author's Desk and the Artist's Drawing Board" helps distinguish fact from fiction in the story; and 2) another clue as to the next riveting field trip the Friz has planned for her class. To weather that storm, the students had better be packing umbrellas and windbreakers! Things could get a little foggy!

Six excellently executed books into this series, and Cole and Degen haven't missed a beat. The writing is superb, the story engaging, and the artwork as clever and informative as ever. Parents and children alike will delight in a story that offers all the thrills of an amusement park ride, yet all the comforts of a favorite reading chair. So hop aboard the magic school bus!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Goodness gracious, we've reached the Late Cretaceous!"

Not accurate information, be careful using this one
The info in this book doesn't follow the Bible facts about the creation of Earth, man and animals. Be careful using this book. Make sure it follows an explaination to your youngster about Bible truths. This is a FICTION book and not based on facts.

While I usually like Magic School Bus books; not this one!
There are so many "info-narrative" books about dinosaurs for children I was disappointed in this one. I am sorry to be the dissenting opinion but I am not impressed with this book. I would use a different book.

The Frizz and Co. in the Land that Time Forgot, via Heinlein
It is not surprising that this is one of the best-selling children`s science series`. My five-year-old loves the pictures and story, while the seven-year-old also appreciates the plethora of facts, as well. The engaging and humorous text is packed with information and complemented by lively and amusing illustrations. The boys love the cartoon bubbles and the short "reports" by the kids in the story. The indomitable teacher, Ms Frizzle and her morphing wardrobe challenges her students on these amazing fieldtrips.

IN THE TIME OF THE DINOSAURS is about: dinosaurs and fossils. Obviously too broad a subject to cover thoroughly in this slim volume, but there`s plenty to whet the appetite. There is a real paleontologist at a real dig. And the bus turns into a time machine. The colorful charts and final class display keep us in perspective. The kids always have questions about something. Thank you Ms Frizzle, Ms Cole, and Mr Degen for answering and encouraging them.

great presentation of just the right amount of information
My son, who is 3 and a half, loves this book. Everytime we go to the library he asks to borrow it again. It's time to own it now. ... Read more

Book Description

For Jesse Bear, days are full of playing in puddles, building with boxes, making mud pies...There's certainly not time to lie around in bed! Of course, even a lively young bear sometimes just has to rest up and take his medicine. And bedtime always comes around again -- after one more story!

Nancy White Carlstrom's lilting verse and Bruce Degen's exuberant illustrations combine in a happy book that young children will love just as much as the two previous Jesse Bear books. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fun throughout the day!
My three-year-old and I love these rhymes and the wonderful illustrations! In the illustrations, there is much for preschoolers to note and discuss (e.g., mom's frown as Jesse spills pudding).

I appreciate the sentiment in many of the poems. In particular, the poem called "Hurry, Jesse" captures the interaction between a working parent and a preschool child perfectly, from the mother encouraging the child to hurry, to the child asking for more time to play, to the mom realizing that unhurried time for the child is probably more important that the task she is rushing off to complete.

It's About Time, Jesse Bear
This book has about 12 short rhymes. Each has short lines which help to keep young ones attention. It opens with Jesse Bear waking up Mom and Dad and ends with bed time. It traces the busy, imaginative day of an active child. My three year old girl loves each page.

A wonderful book to read out loud to children
I found out about this book looking for other books by the same illustrator, Bruce Degen (author of Jamberry). Once again he has created a lush, richly illustrated book that makes the reader smile. The unexpected treasure was the wonderful text by author Carlstrom. The words dance off of your toungue as you read this book out-loud. My 4 year old was giggling repeatedly. I'm adding the Jesse Bear book series to my children's bookshelves. ... Read more

Book Description

Ms. Frizzle¹s class has been studying the senses. But they¹re in for a real lesson when assistant principle Mr. Wilde ends up behind the wheel of the magic School Bus. He and the kids take an amazing ride into the eye of a passing policeman, the ear of a child, and the nose of a dog! On the way they learn facts about sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. But how will they get back to school with the Friz? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Parental guidance required
My science-loving eight-year-old son really enjoys reading books from the Magic School Bus series, and the topic and plot line of this one engaged him as well. But early into the book, he was asking me about nearly every other word. When I looked more carefully, I realized the reading level was higher than other books he had read in the series and many of the facts were things I had learned in junior high. I decided to take over, reading the book to him and explaining many of the topics in more detail. Don't get me wrong -- he really enjoyed the book and learned some "cool" new things about the senses. It just wouldn't have made much sense without my involvement.

Science
This book is based on the television show the magic school bus, with Mrs. Frizzle. The book contains great factual illustrations for the reader. The students of Mrs. Frizzle's class are learning about the senses so they get into their magic school bus and shrink down, and go into a students nose and from there they continue to the other sensory organs. I like the format of this book because it is very active instead of reading from a textbook the children can get the same information but have fun while they are learning. I also like hands on activities and this is as close as hands on with a book as you can get. It also gives small science experiments and reports that the class has written for the child to read. The author has such great imagination and brings the fun back into learning science.

Good science explanations but overwhelming for youngsters.
The Magic School Bus brings another cute story into print this year with Exploring the Senses. The story is somewhat predictable - the bus shrinks and children pop in-and-out of various parts of the body. But the basic explanations of the senses is good. Children ages 8 and older will learn about hair cells, smell cells, taste cells and rods and cones. The topics are a bit broad and children may need to read it several times to understand the science concepts. No experiments are included (unless you have a magic bus!). However, children will learn that we have many sensory cells and that each of these cells sends nerve signals to the big decoder - the brain. (From The Science Spiders(TM) Newsletter). ... Read more

Book Description

When Ms. Frizzle's class takes a field trip to the local weather station, they end up in a hurricane. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The magic school bus inside a hurricane
I liked this book because it is a good way of showing what a hurricane looks like, how they work, what i can/can not do. It talls you how they are formed and where you can go to be safe from a hurricane.

Aw, heck. What's not to like?
For those familiar with the "Magic Schoolbus" series, Mrs. Frizzle's adventures with her class all have a similar plotline. Mrs. Frizzle explains some scientific topic, whether it's the solar system, the dinosaurs, etc. and then lures her children onto her special schoolbus for an adventure. During the adventure the only child that is regularly singled out as the perpetual schlamatzel is Arnold, a boy who doesn't care much for adventures, thank you. In the end, the class is safe and has learned quite a lot, despite themselves. Even Arnold. Then there is a "letters" section in the back where readers wishing to complain about scientific inaccuracies (in this case, how dangerous it would be to be caught in a hurricane) are one-upped by already existing letters. The particular plotline in this hurricane obsessed book was not too dissimilar from the others, and was a lot of fun. I used to read these books to kids that I babysat back in my high school years, and certain types of children love them. The pages are always busy with text, speech bubbles, experiments that kids can do at home, and various factoids sprinkled hither and yon. I do wonder how long these series will last before it is regarded as hopelessly dated by the young. Please note that the review previous to my own was last written in 1997. Currently the show is doing well as a tv series, voiced by Lily Tomlin. Just the same, it would be very difficult to read this book to a group of kids. The books are relatively small and crammed with so much extra text that children will want to handle them one on one, rather than with a large group. Each book would pair well with a companion non-fiction book on the same topic.

This imaginative book has the creativity to keep kids alive.
I'm a kid and watch the Magic School Bus on TV. The books are even better! When Arnold gets lost in a hurricane on one of Ms.Frizzle's wacky field trips, the kids need to know the parts of a hurricane to find him. I thought it was creative and funny to include a radio that knew everything and could dance. By the time Ms.Frizzle's class goes on the real field trip, they have become experts on hurricanes. The weather team is amazed at the intelligence of the students. This book is great because it's not like those other books that lag on and on about one subject without any excitment. The Magic School Bus books make subjects like hurricanes, fun to learn about . I liked how the kids knew more than the weather team. I give this book two thumbs up!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

California,
here we come!

Reviews (1)

Our favorite audiobook
We never tire of Josefina's story. It was a great introduction to the western migration, and sparked my daughters curiosity about the prairie and the period. I would recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ms. Frizzle, science teacher extraordinaire (in the tremendously popularMagic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen),parachutes into social studies in the first of the new series from the samecreative pair. On the first day of school vacation, the inimitable, redheadedMs. Frizzle joins a tour group bound for Egypt. When the plane trip gets toomonotonous, Ms. Frizzle invites the group to jump ship with her. Somehow, tourguide Herb ends up in contemporary Cairo, while everyone else lands in ancientEgypt! Here's where Ms. Frizzle's teaching skills come in handy. By the end ofthe vacation, members of the tour group--and readers--have learned more aboutmummies, pyramids, Re the sun god, and ancient Egyptian's teeth than they everimagined.

With their familiar blend of information sharing and humor, Cole and Degenpresent what might in any other format be an overwhelming amount of informationin a lively, entertaining, easy-to-absorb style. Full-color cartoon-style textand illustrations allow readers to explore Egypt even as Ms. Frizzle and herinadvertent students do the same. Witty asides take the shape of travel diaries,postcards home, and messages on Herb's megaphone ("I'm the tour guide!","Help! I lost my tour group!"). Ms. Frizzle's sly pretended ignorance at timesalso makes for high hilarity. "I can't imagine how that happened. Can you?" shesays, after the airplane door somehow swings open. If only all education wasthis much fun! (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Book!!!!!
This book is great! I got this book when I was 4 3/4 and I am now 13 1/2 years old and it's still wonderful!!! It shows wonderful examples of hieroglyphs and demotic writing!!! It shows you detailed pictures of an Egyptian market, scribes house, and tells you how mummys were made!!! After reading I ( to my mom's extreme annoyance) turned our basement in to an Egyptian town, and you can imangine what I went as that Halloween!!

Mostly good!
My daughter loves this book. The information is packed tightly into the book, much as in the Magic School bus books. The one major problem that really upsets my daughter is that in one picture the Sphinx does not have a beard. Really, this upsets her a great deal. There is a scene when Ms Frizzle opens an airplane door and jumps out, which I do feel is not good to put in a kids book. It gives them ideas, in my opinion.

Other than that, the book has good information in it.

My 2nd graders love this book!
Doing a unit on Ancient Egypt this Summer, and was THRILLED to see this book at the library. I wish they had made a video too! My kids love it. Ms. Frizzle is her usual self sans the class. She's taking a vacation in Egypt during Summer break but just can't let go of being a teacher. She jumps out of the plane on the way there and the other passengers become her students. They go back in time thanks to Ms. Frizz's Time Travel Watch. Great illustrations, captions. Very historically faithful and fun.

a funny and informative book for children
This new adventure with the loving teacher Ms. Frizzle will enchant kids of all ages. Splendidly illustrated with accurate details, this book is a delight to read: funny, informative, colorful, clear and comprehensive. An excellent, highly recommended book for children ages 8 to 12.

Ms. Frizzle and Ancient Egypt... What Could be Better?
My children absolutely love the Magic School Bus Adventures. Now, combining Ms. Frizzle with one of their favorite times in history is a magical success! My children learned about Ancient Egypt in the exciting, fun and descriptive way only Ms. Frizzle could portray. I'm so glad Ms. Frizzle "took chances and got messy" with social studies! Hooray! ... Read more

Book Description

Now, the very youngest of readers can join in the fun with this Classic Board Book™ edition of Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? In joyful verse and vibrant illustrations, Nancy White Carlstrom and Bruce Degen's lovable Jesse Bear shares his special day with young children everywhere! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?: excellent children's book
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?, is an excellent book. This book focuses on younger children, but is interesting and fun for all to read. I am currently 16 years old and I have owned this book since I was very little. One can tell by the condition of the cover it was a very well liked bedtime story. The story tells of Jesse, a little bear cub, and what he does during the day. Jesse goes through the story telling what he wears for every activity he does, whether it is sand, a shirt or his pajamas. Jesse is a very mischevious, and spunky little cub who will keep you paying attention throughout the story. This book has great illustrations and will be treasured forever.

A must have for baby and toddlers.
My daughter has loved this book since receiving it on her first birthday. We like that Mommy, Daddy and Jesse bear are interactive in the story.The ryhming text makes it easy and enjoyable to read after a nonstop day.

My daughter loves it!
I got this book for my daughter's second birthday along with 3 others. This is her favorite! She loves to follow along with Jesse's day from playing in the sand, to the part when Daddy comes home and finally getting ready for bed. Great illustrations and rhyming text.

From the library to our home
My pre-schooler brought this book home after her weekly visit to her school library. One week with this book was simply not enough. All of my children adored this book as much as I did so, therefore, I bought it.

Another addition to my baby gift bag
This book is just delightful. Jesse Bear, the toddler protagonist, spends his day "wearing" different items -- from a shirt to sand to his chair (my son's favorite). The story is told in rollicking rhyme with gorgeous illustrations. I'm a fan of board books for this age group -- they tend to be a little hard on the paper versions. A definite must-have! ... Read more

Book Description

After Ms. Frizzle takes her class to visit a beekeeper, the Magic School Bus mysteriously vibrates, shrinks, and flies right into a beehive. And when Ms. Frizzle tells everyone to "be a bee", the adventure begins. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

More Science!
My son is 4 years old and we read to him a lot. Now, before bed, he announces, "Mom, you know what kind of book to read....ONLY SCIENCE!" He loves science, and the Magic School Bus is a great, fun way to introduce it, even to a preschooler!

Beekeeper's Review
Kids (of all ages) ask the darndest things. When we work fairs or are identified as beekeepers in public, we are bomberded with basic questions regarding honeybees. This book was bought for my mother as much as for my brother's son. He asks her questions difficult to answer without pictures, "How do bees make wax...?" This book goes into enough detail to answer all the "How do...?'s" likely to come up regarding honeybees. A fine book for any child interested in insects. Also a good selection to temper the fears of those children that may fear bees. The pages are a little busy, otherwise would have gotten 5 stars.

Once again, Magic School Bus hits the mark!
The full details in this book are simple enough to keep children's interests (mine are ages 4 and 8) but still provide more data than even I knew. The subject matter is of particular interest to kids, not only because bees are encountered nearly every day, but this book helps this overcome the fear that some children have of bees by showing them as peaceful, otherwise occupied and busy creatures. Don't miss this, or any other Magic School Bus book if you have kids! ... Read more

Book Description

With her reluctant student, Arnold, the Friz slips through a mysterious trap door -- and ends up in the Middle Ages! There, they explore a medieval castle, meeting the people who live there and learning about everyday life within the castle walls. When the castle is threatened by invaders, Arnold and the Friz don chain mail to lead the defense. They repel the invaders just in the nick of time, then they joust and feast before returning to the 21st century. With their careful research and trademark wit, Cole and Degen introduce the many facets of medieval life. ... Read more

Book Description

Melia wants to be a writer just like her mom. She's not exactly sure what a writer does, though. She sees her mom staring at the typewriter and then she sees her opening up boxes of books. But what comes in between?

With some help from her mom, Melia begins to learn the tools of the trade. She learns how to make pictures with words, how to search for ideas, and, of course, how to start a story. Before she knows it, Melia's creating her own spellbinding tales. Maybe she is a writer after all! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

If I Were A Writer
This story is about a young girl who's mother is a writer. The girl watches her mother work and picks up pointers on things that writers do. The girl then starts some writing of her own. As a teacher, I have found that, this book inspires my students to become writers and it is wonderful to use with "writer's workshop." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nicky Loved It
It's the best Commander Toad book! I like them all. They all are great. The monster in this one was cool.

Funny, funny science fiction for kids and their parents
Commander Toad is a delight. He's "bold and bright", though not quite as bright as he thinks. His crew (an amalgam of loose takes on Star Wars and Star Trek characters) puts up with his prideful ways, because he is, after all, a good leader. Together with his mixed-gender crew he gets into and out of a wonderful series of scrapes. This book is the first in the series.

Jane Yolen writes for kids. For example, when Commander and crew are threatened by a sea monster who makes it clear that they're about to be lunch, I asked my 4-year old what he thought would happen.

"Shoot him with a ray gun," he answered.

"I don't know," I said. "I think that they'll find out that the monster's just lonely, and they'll make friends."

Turn the page, and BAM! Lt. Lily, Toad's female weapons master, is blasting away (to no effect). Thanks, Jane. Only you could make a story about a bunch of space-explorer frogs be true-to-life.

Jane Yolen also writes for the adults who read books to their kids. There's nearly a pun a page, and the Commander's ludicrous solutions to problems have a germ of genius unrestrained by the laws of physics that will have you shaking your head over his cleverness.

Buy this book, or regret the lost opportunity. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Argh, Matey!
Boredom settles over the crew of the space ship STAR WARTS and Commander Toad has to do something quick. Lieutenant Lily, Mr. Hop, Jake Skyjumper and Doc Peepers are all unhappy. They've watched all the ship's movies-SPLASH GORDON, THE TOAD WARRIOR, INDIANA FROG AND THE LILY PAD OF DOOM-and read all the ship's books-ROBIN TOAD, THE LIZARD OF OZ, and SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN WARTS-and played a lot of croak-kay, leapfrog, and hopscotch. There is nothing to do and they're all going a little crazy. That all changes the day Commander Salamander and his pirate crew arrive. Commander Salamander boards STAR WARTS and takes everyone captive except for Doc Peepers. Only a little while after that, Commander Salamander makes Commander Toad Hop the Plank at sword point! Only Doc Peepers can save the day!

Jane Yolen is an award-winning children's book author as well as a writer of adult science fiction and fantasy. She's earned the Caldecott-given for the most distinguished picture book, the Nebula-given to the most distinguished writing in the field of science fiction and fantasy, the Golden Kite-given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the World Fantasy Award. She's written seven Commander Toad Adventures, including COMMANDER TOAD AND THE LONG VOYAGE HOME, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE PLANET OF THE GRAPES, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE SPACE PIRATES, and COMMANDER TOAD AND THE BIG BLACK HOLE. With dozens of books written in many genres, Jane Yolen is a great author to introduce to young readers.

Fun to read out loud and filled with puns and sight gags really well drawn by Bruce Degen, COMMANDER TOAD AND THE SPACE PIRATES is a blast to share with young or reluctant readers. The sentences are short and choppy, driving the story on and filling the events with laughs. The pirate talk, "Yo-ho-ho, me slithery-slees!" is top-notch and will inspire young readers to quote the lines long after the book is finished-if an adult is willing to read the passages in a properly piratical dramatization. The solution to the pirates, once revealed, is hilarious and makes perfect sense even to pre-readers who understand story and set-up that comes in narrative repetition.

The Commander Toad series, all seven books, is recommended for imaginative young readers who have already been exposed to STAR WARS, STAR TREK, and various other science fiction based television shows and movies. Jane Yolen is one of the most entertaining authors for young minds out there.

In space, no one can hear you get really, really bored...
Commander Toad and the crew of the good spaceship Star Warts are bored out of their minds. They have played all of their games like leap frog and croak-kay, they have read all of their books like "Robin Toad" and "The Lizard of Oz," and they have watched all of there movies like "Splash Gordon" and "Indiana Frog and the Lilly Pad of Doom" so many times that the crew is desperate for something different. The good news is that the crew of the Star Warts get the diversion they want, but the bad news is that what breaks up the boredom is a gang of space pirates, led by the notorious Commander Salamander, the Scourge of the Skies and Goon of the Galaxie, who has a new game for the hostage crew to play: Hop the Plank.

"Commander Toad and the Space Pirates" is, on a very basic level, quite silly. But young readers are going to be drawn to the relentless puns and Jane Yolen does a good job of setting the reader up for something surprising to happen (probably involving a whole lot of tongue depressers) without really giving away what the big surprise is going to be at the end of the book. The artwork by Bruce Degen is appropriate (you will believe that a frog can fly...a spaceship) and does a nice job of capturing the narrative action. This is one of those books where you trick young kids into learning a life lesson, because while their chances of going off into deep space on a spaceship commanded by a toad are rather remote, kids manage to get bored all the time (or, more to the point, they often complain about being bored, which is not necessarily the same thing). So if any youngster makes the mistake of announcing that they are "bored" within your hearing, then toss this book at them, which should solve both their short-term and long-term problems with regards to the subject of boredom.

Argh, mateys!
Boredom settl