Amazon.com

One of the titles for the younger crowd in the Beginners Books series, My Book About Me has an unusual interactive twist--you make it up as you go along. On each page there's something new to complete, from "I weigh ___ pounds" to "My teeth. I counted them. I have ___ up top. I have ___ downstairs."It's a simple idea, but with a surprising amount of educational value--getting children to name their home country, to recognize and draw in the color of their own eyes, learn their telephone number and address, to name favorite clothes, foods, and colors, and more. Finally, there's a two-page spread where each owner of the book can write his or her own story. Illustrator Roy McKie's style is halfway between the P.D. Eastman of Are You My Mother and the mainstream Seuss of Cat in the Hat and Thidwick: The Big-Hearted Moose. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Every kid should have this book
I've bought a stack of these for gifts- give them to every primary-grade kid you know! My son (& nephews & godchildren, etc...) all LOVE this book! It's a perfect way to get a reluctant writer to start writing. With Dr. Seuss' usual wacky illustrations & wit, the child fills in blanks about him/herself, home, favorite activities, etc. You should have seen my son counting how many windows in our house!

It is a family tradition
I found a copy of this book that was given and done by my hubby when he was a little boy. It is so cute to look back on. I loved it so much, I had to look it up for my 2 children. I found it and now my 9 year old son has one, my 7 year old daughter has one and I have ordered one for my little baby on the way. It is a family tradition with us. We love it and it is fun to run around the house and to talk with your child to fill out the pages of this memory book!!

GREAT book!
My six yr old just rec'd this book for her birthday. She is thrilled and eager to complete the book. We will treasure this book always. I'm going to purchase several myself to give as gifts.

i love my book about me!
i got my book about me from one of my aunts for my 5th birthday, and she helped me fill it out. i'm now 24 and still have it, and love it! unfortunately, my mom didn't get any for the older 3 of my siblings, who are now in their teens, but i have other younger siblings (we have a whole heard!) and i plan to get it for them, and also buy a few extra copies for when i have children. (if it's still around, i might just get one for every year!) it's the perfect gift for a child between 5-7. and it's nice to look back and see the ways that things, and people, change and grow. every parent should get this book for each of their children. you won't regret it! it's a great keepsake, directly from your child!

My Book About Me, by Me Myself
I'm so glad to see this book still in print. While my 21 yr. old is all grown up, we hoot about some of his answers back in first grade (example: what do you want to be when you grow up?), and just smile at others (my friends are:...., foods I like/dislike are...) So many of the answers can be in checklist form, just perfect for those who can't yet write, but think big! So now..I'm ordering this for some of my little first grade friends! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Spurred on by another mysterious rhyme from Morgan le Fay, the magicallibrarian of Camelot, siblings Jack and Annie climb into their magic travelingtree house once again, this time on a journey to Merry Olde England--andShakespeare's theater. Their quest? To find "a special magic" that will,"without wand, spell, or charm / turn daytime into night." Armed only with theirbackpacks and a book about 16th-century England, Jack and Annie manage to solvethe riddle, save a bear from a cruel fate, and make their stage debut in "AMidsummer Night's Dream."

Following the wildly successful formula of her Magic Tree House series (Earthquake in the EarlyMorning, Twister onTuesday, etc.), Mary Pope Osborne delivers another exciting chapter bookfor young readers (and read-aloud listeners). Additional information aboutShakespeare is included, plus a partial list of the more than 2,000 words andexpressions he invented. As always, illustrator Sal Murdocca's appealingblack-and-white drawings are well matched to Osborne's story. (Ages 5 to 9)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Mary Pope Osborne's insightful look into Shakespeare's Time
Once again Mary Pope Osborne delights her readers as she offers them a spectacular trip back in time to the Elizabethean Age and Shakespeare's theater. As Osborne lures readers in with her captivating tales, the illustrations by Sal Murdocca add to the book by showing readers what "Olde England" looked like. Stage Fright on a Summer Night gives vaulable historical data, while allowing Jack and Annie to experience the stage life and a personal encounter with Will Shakespeare. This book provides a great introduction for young readers to Shakespeare's plays and to common problems experienced by young actors. This Osborne book reminds me of King of Shadows by Susan Cooper, but Osborne focuses on a younger audience and shows us that youngsters,too deserve to know about one of the greatest writers ever known.

Stage Fright on a Summer Night
Stage Fright on a Summer Night by Mary Pope Osborne is a wonderful book for children. In this Magic Tree House book Jack and Annie travel back in time to Olde England and meet William Shakespeare as they are look for the magic to turn daytime in to night. In the book they the children learn about the city of London, the London Bridge and the theater in William Shakespeare's time.
Mrs. Osborne has a great way of making her readers feel as if they are actually in Olde England with Jack and Annie. She also gives her readers just enough just enough historical facts that the readers are learning without know that they are. They think that they are just having fun reading a good book. I also liked the way Mrs. Osborne included quotes from Shakespeare's plays and then at the end of the book told in what plays the reader could find these. A long with the quotes Mrs. Osborne also included a list of words that Shakespeare had invented and that we still use today. I think that this is a great for young readers to see. With both the quotes and the word list in the back of the book I think this would be a great book for a teacher to use in his/her classroom to introduce both London and William Shakespeare to students.

Children love reading these books and they are educational
My seven year old loves reading these books over and over again. While she is enjoying the books, she is learning about different places and times in history. She's learned about the Amazon, the wild west, hawaii, the civil and revolutionary wars, the middle ages, ocean mammals, and so much more. I highly recommend the whole series.

Stage Fright on a Summer Night
I loved Stage Fright on a Summer Night.It's about to kids,Annie andJack who go back in time to London.While they're in London they meet William Shakespear who askes them to cover for to faries(who are really two boys.)Jack and Annie agree to cover for two faries.But Jack gets stage fright and tries not to show it,but in the end he forgets his fear and was fabulous! William Shakespear thanked them and said good bye.

it was coolllll
I gave my book five stars ***** because Jack and Annie go back to old England when William Shakespeare time. Morgan Lefay has this magic tree house they go back into time. When they were there this man came up and wanted them to be in a play. The man was William Shakespeare. I really recommend this book for you to read. ... Read more

Book Description

In their first adventure as Master Librarians, Jack and Annie go to the

city of Pompeii to bring back an ancient story that is in danger of being lost

forever. Little do they know they are saving the myth of Hercules! But before

they can find it, the town's volcano erupts in a mighty explosion.Just when

things look hopeless, Jack and Annie get some unexpected help from a certain

mythic hero - and the rest, as they say, is history.




... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent
I read the Magic Tree House series when I was eight or nine, and I loved them! This was one of my favorites, since I love studying ancient Rome. Jack and his sister Annie are wisked away to ancient Rome in the magic tree house so they can get an ancient story that is in danger of being lost forever. Soon they find out that they are in Pompeii the very day Mount Vesuvius will erupt! Can they escape and get the story?

Magic Tree House is Magically Magnificent!
I discovered these books in my work as a teacher of reading to 2nd grade students. And students just love them!
Let me start by saying this is an excellent series of books. The way that Mary Pope Osborne incorporates: science, social studies(history/geography) and many other important academic elements into her stories is phenomenal!
The stories are exciting and well written. They have a way of drawing kids in and keeping them wanting to turn pages.
In our guided reading groups we usually read a chapter or two per day and the students frequently beg me to read more! That is how much kids love these books! Isn't that refreshing?
This particular installment in the Magic Tree House series finds Jack and Annie traveling back to ancient Rome! They happen to land in Pompeii in A.D. 79 on the day that Mount Vesuvius erupts!
This book incorporates two very popular elements for young children: volcanos and magic. It is undeniable that young students are intrigued by the power of volacanos. They love to read about them and this particular book is a great way for them to start researching.
Jack and Annie's adventures never fail to thrill readers and keep them interested.
I highly recommend these books for students in early elementary school. They are excellent for students in 2nd grade. Enjoy!

The Amazng Kids from the magic tree house
This book is about two kids named Jack and Annie. One day a magic tree house sends them back to the Roman times to the Roman Empire. When they got there they feel a tremble. After that they knew there was a Volcano. They fought and saved the Roman Times.
I gave this book three stars because it shows Annie and Jack were determined. And it was easy to understand. I recommed it because it is a nice story and there is a good message.

Children need fantasy
The purpose of fantasy is to enable children (and adults) to experience what they never could in reality. Every child knows that no adult would send him to the vicinity of a rumbling volcano--which is exactly why they love stories in which things like that happen. Seeing make-believe heroes in danger and seeing them get out of it is one of the ways children learn to be brave and optimistic. If a 4-year-old loves these books, then he's getting something useful out of them. My 8-year-old loves them, and I will happily keep reading them to him as long as he wants!

My son (4) loves it, I hate it!
My 4 year old loves to have the Magic Treehouse books read to him. My husband and I hate them and will not be getting more. My biggest complaint is that the children in the books are put into real danger (in this book, they are trying to get out of Pompeii while Vesuvius is erupting!) and the adult who sends them into the danger (Morgan le Fay) knows it! No adult with a brain would send two children back to Pompeii while Vesuvius is erupting just to get a scroll! The lives of the children are worth more than a book! The books are not very well written and very formulaic. I realize my son is younger than the target age for these books, but I don't think I would be too happy with him reading them at 7 or so, either! ... Read more

Book Description

A lion, a dog, and a tiger are having a contest--can they get ten apples

piled up on top of their heads? You better believe it! This first counting book

works as a teaching tool as well as a funny story.




... Read more

Reviews (9)

Communist Manifesto for Toddlers
A lion, a dog, and a tiger all compete to see who can accumulate the most apples "up on top." All goes well (excepting perhaps a little inflation,) until some other animals without any apples become envious and decide to knock down all the apples. If they can't have them, no one will! Isn't that just like a Leftie? The apple-less animals chase the appled animals around town, until finally they collide with a horse and cart piled hyperbolically high with apples. Boom! The end result? *Everyone* has the same number of apples up on top, and everyone's so happy. No rich, no poor! Wow, what a world that would be.

Surprise: Board Book Not the Full Version!?
My son loved the "Ten Apples Up On Top" (Hardcover) book I borrowed for him from the library so much that I ordered a copy of our own. Thinking that the board book would be more sturdy, that's what I ordered. Never imagined that the board book could be only less than half of the full version, you can imagine the surprise and disappointement we had when we sat down to read it together. Now I know to compare the number of pages when I order. I wish there were some kind of clearer indication and warning about Board book version not being the full version somewhere in the Product Description.

An addictive classic
My daughter wanted this book read to her several times a day, every day, for months when she was two. It is wonderful, predictable text and teaches counting and rhyming. Dr. Seuss didn't put his name on it originally because it wasn't up to his standards, but it's still a great little kid book!

Counting Apples is fun in the car
My 4 yo son has several Suess board books in the car. They are sturdy and perfect for road trips. His favorite is 10 Apples Up On Top, because he loves to count, and this is a book that he can "read" on his own after hearing me read it once. He likes for me to read it to him too, because he loves the sing song rhyming of Dr. Suess.

Entertaining....with an anticlimax!
How many apples can you place on top of your head...one, two, three? This book is really fun. As a child I remember counting the apples "up on top" of the characters heads. With each turn of the page a new and more outrageous event takes place as well as the addition of more "apples up on top". My girls listen attentively through the entire book and love the conclusion each time we read 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

Wendy Pfeffer describes the amazing metamorphosis from tiny, jellylike egg, to little fishy tadpole, to great big bullfrog. Holly Keller has created the archetypal frog pond and we see it through the seasons as the tadpoles grow legs and lungs and eventually hop onto land: bullfrogs at last. "Well-designed ink drawings washed with soft-toned watercolors stretch across the double-page spreads, showing the action above and below water level. . . .an attractive, general introduction."—BL.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Best Children's Science Books, 1994 (Science Books and Films) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Great Kids' Book
This is another great STAGE 1 book in the "Let's Read & Find Out" Science Series. The STAGE 1 Series books are written for preschool and kindergarten-age kids (age 3 to 6) about basic science concepts.
This book has 32 pages of nice illustrations (artwork NOT photography) to help the words tell about the developmental stages of frogs.

Some children's books miss the fact of who their target audience is. The "Let's Read & Find Out" books consistently keep subject matter easily understood using age appropriate vocabulary and keep a child interested at the same time.
We recently bought a home science frog growing kit. This book is perfect read along material to show my five year old son what to anticipate in coming weeks.

The books are written for the reading ability of an "average" 3 year old. Older kids may very well get bored with the simple reading in this book. But, they should find the information about frogs fascinating, especially if they are participating in growing some at home or in class! Remember how much fun frog eggs and tadpoles were as a kid?

We have several books in this series and are pleased that our son enjoys them so much.
John Row

very good
This book is very appropriate for any young one learning about frogs. My nephew has learned alot from this book about where frogs come from. The pictures are real and not drawings which I like. ... Read more

Book Description

With their engaging stories and clever illustrations, the Bob Books have ushered millions of kids into the world of reading. This relaunch of the popular series features a handy new chart on the back of each box that enables parents and educators to easily identify which set is best suited for their child's reading capabilities. Each set is color coded to indicate reading level and each story is carefully crafted to help children at different learning stages master essential reading skills. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonderful!
My daughter is 5, and we have been reading Bob Books for about a year now. We started with the most basic set and have worked to the more difficult books. They are simple enough that she has gained tremendous confidence in her reading skills. She never gets frustrated and wants to quit. Her reading skills have far surpassed her age, and I feel that these books are part of the reason. I would highly recommend them for anyone with beginning readers! I can't say enough good things about them!

GOOD PROGRESSIVE LEARNING TOOL
WE LIKE THE WAY THE BOB BOOKS GRADUALLY GET MORE DIFFICULT - IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS.

Five WOWS for Bob!
This series continues the fantastic reading series Bob Books. I use these little books in my first grade class room and also had them available for my own child when he was a beginner reader. Your children will adore these little books---simple, accessible, enjoyable. Children gravitate toward little books which the author intuitively used as her masterstroke in marketing these charming books. I love them! Kids love them! Get them all! And write and draw your own! Five WOWS!

Bob Books Wow!
These are great! Both my kids love reading them. ... Read more

Book Description

"Little Mouse. Big Lion. Big, big trouble. Who will save the mouse? Who will

save the lion?" This simple retelling of the classic Aesop fable will be a

treat for kids and their parents as an adventurous mouse proves that even small

creatures are capable of great deeds--like rescuing the King of the Jungle.

With big, bold illustrations by Lisa McCue and large type, this Early Step

into Reading book is perfect for kids just beginning to learn how to read.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Lion and the Mouse
My 4 year old daughter really loves this book. I read it to her almost ever night. The words are easy for her to read and understand. ... Read more

Book Description

The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie off to the mountains of Africa. There they run into a huge mountain gorilla! At first they don’t know whether they should shake hands or turn tail. But the ominous-looking creature turns out to be surprisingly gentle. Not only that, the gorilla may be able to help them learn their next bit of magic, which Morgan has challenged them to do. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I love this book
Good Morning Gorillas is one of my favorite Magic Tree House books. I love it. I love the book because it has lots of words and it's long. I always love long books. My favorite part of the book is when Jack & Annie get a twig from a Mountain Gorilla as their gift.

I love the Magic Treehouse books!
We read this book in our second grade class and really liked it. I am 8 years old and this is the kind of book I want to read. ... Read more

Book Description

How does a tiny acorn grow into an enormous oak tree? At one time, the tree in your backyard could fit into your pocket! Look inside to learn the simple steps for turning a packet of seeds into you own garden.

How does a tiny acorn grow into an enormous oak tree? At one time, the tree in your backyard could have fit into your pocket! Look inside to learn the simple steps for turning a packet of seeds into your own garden. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My five year old enjoyed this book
We enjoy the "Let's - Read - & - Find - Out" series of books. This one is a good addition, explaining seeds on my five year old son's level of understanding . Something that many adult writers of childrens' science books sometimes aren't very good at getting across. It is in my child's library at school.

The books in this series are informative and interesting for their target audiences. The illustrations are well done and add to understanding the process being described. They make it easier to follow for kids.

Life Springing Forth.
This book should have been more appropriately titled HOW TO WATCH A SEED GROW. Instead of discussing the various stages of development and explaining what happens, the book is basically an extended science project explaining how students can watch a seed grow into a plant. The book talks about the different stages, but only discusses what the planted beans should look like in those stages, not really explaining what is happening or why. Nevertheless, the book does outline a good science project for younger children, but isn't much as a book to read to kids.

A Kids First Science Book
This is one very good science book. If you would like to do a seed project then this is a good guide to lots of young peoples questions about plants. It has colorful illustrations about what is happening with your project. It is written in detail, but not like a boring high school science textbook that goes on, and on, and on about one thing, giving every detail that there is. So what I'm trying to say is that this is a good book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A cautionary Cold War tale (first told by Dr. Seuss back in 1984), The Butter Battle Book still has a lot to teach about intolerance and how tit-for-tat violence can quickly get out of hand. Explaining the very serious differences between the Zooks and the Yooks, a Zook grandpa tells his grandchild the unspeakable truth: "It's high time that you knew of the terribly horrible thing that Zooks do. In every Zook house and every Zook town every Zook eats his bread with the butter side down!" He then recalls his days with the Zook-Watching Border Patrol, as he gave any Zook who dared come close "a twitch with my tough-tufted prickley Snick-Berry Switch." But when the Zooks fought back, the switches gave way to Triple-Sling Jiggers, then Jigger-Rock Snatchems--even a Kick-a-Poo Kid that was "loaded with powerful Poo-a-Doo Powder and ants' eggs and bees' legs and dried-fried clam chowder."

With lots of fun and more-than-fair digs at the runaway spending and one-upmanship of U.S.-Soviet days, The Butter Battle Book makes a chuckle-filled read whether you're old enough to get the historical references or not. (And with all the Bitsy Big-Boy Boomeroos still in service, this book's message is far from obsolete.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Butter Battle Book Review
The Butter Battle Book, written by Dr. Seuss is an exellent display of his own thoughts on the nuclear war. This book helps inform young audiences about our nation's history in a way that they can understand. Although this is a childen's book, it is great reading for all agaes, and really hits home for those who have memories of the Cold War. The disagreement between the Yooks and the Zooks expresses how they both think bread should be buttered. One "butter-side up" and the other "butter-side down." The controversey, turning into a battle shows Dr. Seuss' dislike for generic disputes. The Yooks and the Zooks hurry to develop more powerful weapons, until; both groups take it to an extreme. The underlying theme to the book is the absuridity of battle. Dr. Seuss tries to convey that people must overcome their pride to live in peace. Memories of the Cold War like the wall dividing the Yooks and Zooks add to the realistic element to The Butter Battle Book.

The Real Slim Seuss
Dr. Seuss is a fantastic author; he has imagination, story-telling abilities, and a wonderful and clever sense of political activism. I was telling my history teacher about all the not-so-hidden political messages in all of his works and this work is the perfect example of Dr. Seuss's writing style. The Butter Battle Book has many different levels for what is so often called a children's book from an acclaimed so-called children's author. The battle between Yooks and Zooks over which way butter goes on bread gives children a good, simple, but true story about dealing with petty differences in a constructive way. Otherwise, bad things can happen, like war. That meaning is very good for children to learn and this is a great book to teach kids with. However, adults reading this book can see the obvious historical parallels and the deeper implications of the story line. The pettiness behind the conflict of the Cold War is Dr. Seuss's vehicle for conveying the astounding destructive potential behind a war where the enemies lose sight of their true goals and meaninglessly try to 'out do' each other. The war ends up getting fought for the wrong reasons and something that we will forever regret and can never take back may happen. This is a very real danger and the prejudice attached to battles like the one in this book eat away at our morals, our societies, and our motives. Dr. Seuss has done the world a wonderful lesson by showing this to children and adults alike.

Something to think about
Before I get into my review, let me start by saying I missed the Cold War, except for in school history books. That being said, this is an excellent and thought-provoking book for 'kids' of all ages.

This book is about 2 groups, the Yooks and the Zooks, who live separated only by a wall, and are very similar except for the way they butter their bread. This leads to a battle involving constantly bigger weapons, until they come up with the 'big-boy boomeroo', capable of destroying each other's lands. Of course, the book ends before the story does, leaving you guessing on exactly what would happen.

I went through a few stages with this book, making it even better to think about. The first time I heard it, I was about 5, and upset that there was no 'ending'. After a few more times, I decided to use my imagination to create my own ending, which is what many children will do if encouraged by a parent reading with them. As I got older, I realized there was no ending because if it was real, you really wouldn't know how it ended until it happened. This book also made me think about how small differences in people can cause such big problems if you are not open minded. (That was after a few years - in the beginning I wondered why the Zooks didn't just turn their bread upside down and everyone would be the same).

The Butter Battle Book is a wonderful lesson, written in a way that even a child could understand the concept of war, see how differences in people can cause foolish problems, and use their imaginations. I would recommend it to anyone.

Trivializes a serious matter
While I love Dr. Seuss, I cannot believe that he trivializes the Cold War in the way that he does with this book. The much hated "arms race" was a race to protect ourselves and was a race that we not only won, but a race that also brought down the Soviet Union. Ironically, we won it because we outspent the Soviets. We outspent the Soviets because capitalism creates wealth. The fight between capitalism, which allows freedom, and the crushing weight of communism, which ideology has systematically killed more humans than any other in the last century, is not boiled down to something as simple as butter on bread. Buy one of his other books-the non-political type.

Dr. Suess: Political Visionary?
When I first read this book to my 3 year old nephew, I ended up staying on the couch, completely engrossed, while he went off in sheer boredom. This book, in at least one way, changed my perspective on the tragedy of a world we've singlehandedly created( or destroyed, whatever your opinion be). Geisel accurately portrays the futility of hostile exchanges(in this severe degree)in a symbolic war over buttered bread. This book is, in my opinion, a must-read for all ages. Younger children will enjoy his rhyming "lyrics," and older generations will take note of the significant importance of Yook's and Zook's struggle for supremacy. But don't be mistaken, Suess's use of a "butter battle" is not "dumbed-down" or superficial; on the contrary, it is the perfect example, and conveys an even stronger message, than that of, say, a textbook or straight explanation. The only reason I can think of not to read this yourself, or to your children, is that you prefer to live in the dark, your perceptions shrouded by the influence of the common right or left-wing conservative, and not live by your own opinions. I'm no communist, but I believe owning your own place in the world can be further obtained by reading and reflecting on this miraculous work of "art". ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Story of Babar--the early adventures of the enduring, endearing elephant--was written in 1931 by French writer Jean de Brunhoff (1899-1937). Since then, it has been translated into at least 12 languages. It's amazing how much can happen to one little elephant in the course of one little book: Babar loses his mother to a hunter, wanders into the city, gets a new wardrobe, becomes the hit of high society, marries his cousin Céleste (totally acceptable in contemporary Elephantine society), and is crowned King of the Elephants.

The Story of Babar is essentially the tale of a country boy who comes to the city and, while there, comes of age. In the end, he returns home to share his knowledge and experiences with family and friends. The beautiful, delightfully detailed illustrations--de Brunhoff was a painter by trade--never fail to amuse. (Although none of the characters seem to notice, the sight of Babar in a suit leaning against the mantel while he regales his audience with tales of the jungle is plainly hilarious.) All of the Babar books are notable for their ability to tell larger stories with simplicity and style, and The Story of Babar is no exception. Potentially troubling moments--the death of Babar's mother, for example--are handled with taste, emphasizing Babar's unique gift for uncovering a silver lining in the most persistent of clouds. (Ages 4 to 8, though the cursive writing makes it best for reading aloud.) ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Interesting Classic
I had a beach Babar book as a child, so I bought this to share with my daughter. It is kind of bizarre, so keep in mind that it was written in the 1930's. First, Babar's mother is killed, as was the fate of most classic animal stories. Then, he decides to become more like men, HOW ODD! He wears clothes and walks on his back legs. Any time any of the elephants in this book wear clothes, they gain the instant ability to walk on their hind legs. When he returns to the elephants, he is crowned king, which is unlikely since elephants are matriarchal (they are led by females and grown males are banned from the group except during mating times). Then he marries his cousin, and they live happily ever after. In the spirit of Curious George, who was kidnapped from his home and forced to conform to human ways, this is a charming but very out-dated tale.

A childhood's classic.
Some children's books can be read over and over again, and Jean De Brunhoff's book about Babar, the little elephant is among them.
The copy we have in our house were purchasted in 1988 and has survived 4 kids. Out Marta is the forth one, and at age 6 she still loves to cuddle up with a smile on her face listening to the story of Babar. The very sad part for a six year old is the beginning where Babar's mother dies and Babar runs away. But Babar is lucky and meets an old lady who takes care of him. And the joy is always big in the end when Babar meets his childhood friends and cousins again in the end of the books. And even becomes a king and marries his cousin Celeste.
The book was written in 1939, but is still well worth reading for any child, and should be part of every lucky child's book collection. It will still be read again and again here in Norway, though the pages in the copy we have almost fall apart now (they can always be glued together again though)

Britt Arnhild Lindland

If I were king of the foreeeeest
Thank God for the French speakers of the world. Were it not for them, Babar might not have ever been created and we would have to live in a wretched Babar-less world. As it is, however, we are blessed to have this delightful story at our fingertips at any time. The story of Babar was originally published in 1933, and it has stood the test of time with dignity and flair.

The story of Babar is simple. After his mother is shot by a cruel hunter, the little elephant runs away to a metropolitan city. Once there, he is taken under the wing of a kindly older lady. Babar then proceeds to become the greatest dandy of children's literature today. Here is the section I love the most:

"Babar then buys himself: A shirt with a collar and tie, a suit of a becoming shade of green, then a handsome derby hat, and also shoes with spats".

Contrary to popular thought, an elephant in spats is the most dignified thing in the world. With these purchases Babar has transformed himself from rural rube to the original metrosexual. He becomes cultured, learning the rudimentary aspects of human civilization while regaling party guests with his tales of the forest (note his pin-striped pants and casual dinner jacket). Eventually Babar is lured back to his jungle home and is swiftly crowned King of the elephants.

The 1933 setting in which Babar acclimatizes himself has grown more charming over the years. And most remarkably? Most older picture books contain at least one racial stereotype somewhere in the midst of a picture. Not so our darling "Babar". I feel safe in saying that you might search through any future adventure of the winsome elephant and not stumble across a single picture or piece of writing that causes you a twenty-first century gasp of disgust. This isn't to say that there aren't some rather peculiar dated aspects to the book. I read this book as a child and had a vivid visceral memory return to me when I saw the sickly state of the former King of the elephants who passed away after eating a bad mushroom. That is a grotesquerie unknown to the kiddies today. But all in all, "Babar" is without fault. Certainly he's the essence of capitalism. One might believe the elephants crown him king as much for his pretty red convertible as for his brains. But Babar is still a unique and moving tale that will continue to entertain the masses of children for years and years to come.

A Classic
From the beautiful illustrations, to the charming characters, everything about Babar reminds you of a time when we took the intelligence of our children seriously. The first thing anyone who grew-up on more modern fare will notice is the delightful and literate prose. The reason children could speak latin by 5th grade 80 years ago, was that they weren't condescended-to; and Babar doesn't either. You won't get the modern "barney-speak" here, this generation had more confidence in your children, believe me. Although the prose may be too difficult for the average 5 or 6 yr-old to read on their own, they will have no difficulty at all in understanding it perfectly when read to them. Now my 5 yr-old daughter knows what a "perambulator" is, you won't get that from the Wiggles. As far as the complaints in regard to "scariness", all I can say is, if this is scary because Babar's mother is killed by a hunter, then you'd better take Bambi, The Lion King and close to all of the fairy tales off of the reading list as well. The subject is handled compassionately and tastefully. Of course I want to sheild my child from horrific content, but if we refuse to gently ease them in to life's realities, such as the loss of loved-ones, then their entertainment turns from safe into vacuous pretty quickly. I won't even waste bandwidth on the silly, leftist nonsense regarding imperialism. There is no political content here, subtle or otherwise. If you really want the kind of western culture "self-flagellation" that these aging hippies seem to thrive on, try Disney's Pocahontas, or a Cartoon version of The Life of Che Guevara. Assume the best of your kids and try the Babar series, particularly the older ones.

imperialist propaganda for the kiddies
I don't know why this book is a classic. Foreigners come to Babar's home and kill his mother. He goes to the land of the foreigners to learn to be just like them because the are so swell and all. He then takes their ways back home with him. marries his cousin and gets everyone to wear clothes like the foreigners. This is a nightmare, not a children's book. ... Read more

Book Description

9 complete stories at a great price!

Featuring:

The Cat in the Hat read by Kelsey Grammer
Horton Hears a Who read by Dustin Hoffman
How the Grinch Stole Christmas read by Walter Matthau
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? read by John Cleese
The Lorax read by Ted Danson
Yertle the Turtle, Gertrude McFuzz, and The Big Brag read by John Lithgow
Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose read by Mercedes McCambridge
Horton Hatches the Egg read by Billy Crystal
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back read by Kelsey Grammer ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolutely Wonderful Readings!
As a homeschooling Mom of 2 small girls, we do A LOT of reading together. What a treat to have someone else do the reading for me every once in a while! Kelsey Grammer, John Lithgow, Walter Matthau, Ted Danson, Billy Crystal and other famous voices certainly do an OUTSTANDING job! The stories are unabridged, which makes it easy to follow along with your own Dr Seuss library. Between the talented author and the unquestionably talented actors, you just can't go wrong...what a great gift to any child or Dr. Seuss fan of any age! My daughters love this CD, and are always asking for one more story or the other disc. SO...we purchased the Green Eggs and Ham CD set today, and are very eager to see how it compares to this fun compilation! ... Read more

Book Description

When the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie off to Hawaii it’s for more than a vacation–they’re in search of a fourth kind of magic for Morgan! On the way they help an island community survive a tidal wave and, of course, take some time out to surf! Ultimately, they discover that the magic that they have found in this set of four books are everyday magics: the magic of the arts, the magic of the natural world, the magic of community; and the magic of fun. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great fun and educational
My seven year old loves reading these books over and over again. While she is enjoying the books, she is learning about different places and times in history. She's learned about the Amazon, the wild west, hawaii, the civil and revolutionary wars, the middle ages, ocean mammals, and so much more. I highly recommend the whole series.

The Wonderful Adventures of Jack and Annie
This book would be a good choice for people like my friend Lily, who are interested in magic and exploring different times. The Magic Tree House books can go back to times when the dinosaurs ran around and I think there was one when slavery was going on in America. In this book, the characters went to Hawaii and Jack and Annie learned about the huge waves there.
In my favorite part, they were at the beach surfing and Jack was reading a little bit about where they were. He felt a movement and searched up what that was in the book. The wave got bigger and bigger until it was huge, and they had to run away from it. They ran to the top of a giant hill to be safe.
These books are great for 3rd graders reading independently.

High Tide in Hawaii is Great!
Would you ever want to have a magic tree house? In High Tide Hawaii, author Mary Pope Osborne tells us that one summer day two kids named Jack and Annie travel in their Magic Tree House. It can take them anywhere. It took them to an Hawaiin Island of long ago. A tidal wave causes strange things to happen. They go to a luau and eat strange native food. This is a good book! You should read it because it is in Hawaii and I think it's cool. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was one of the titans of 20th century American children's literature--a legacy that shows no sign of diminishing in the 21st. But such epochal fare as The Cat in the Hat and enduring, whimsical characters as Horton, The Grinch and Sam-I-Am represent but one corner of the late writer/artist's vast artistic universe. Other Geisel biographies have detailed his remarkable life and vibrant art, but Massachusetts dentist/Seussiana collector nonpareil Richard D. Cohen serves up a "visual biography" that's part lovingly illustrated coffee table book and part insightful analysis of a creative mind and the various historical and cultural forces that shaped it. Cohen richly illustrates his compelling tribute with key, telling artifacts from his own massive collection. No corner of the author/artist's life has escaped Cohen's obsessive collector's eye, including: turn-of the-century bottles of the Geisel family brewery, Geisel's teenage writings and illustrations, later work that spans careers in cartooning advertising (successful campaigns for Esso, Flit and others), wartime propaganda (including uncredited work on the Oscar-winning Hitler Lives!) and Hollywood (The 5000 Finger of Dr. T). Indeed, in Cohen's thoughtful, lavishly illustrated analysis, Geisel's latter-day incarnation as children's author supreme was but the logical distillation of a lifetime devoted to wit, wordplay and whimsical art.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Yes I Love It, Sam-I-Am!
As we celebrate the centennial of Ted Geisel's birth, material is appearing that looks at the influence of Dr. Seuss on generations of American readers. Dr. Cohen brings us what is obviously a labor of love. Drawing inspiration on his extensive collection of Seussiana, he has produced one of the most lavishly illustrated and broadly scoped book on the life and works of the good doctor.

Cohen reaches back to Geisel's school days and illustrates the development of the artist's style and humor. Continually he will point out how pieces done at various points in Geisel's life can be traced as part of the development of what would become some of his trademark images and beloved characters, including the Grinch. Instead of focusing heavily on Seuss's books, he draws attention to the vast collection of other artwork that was drawn, mostly before the books even came into being. Seuss's work as a humorist, advertising artist, sculptor, and cartoonist (political and otherwise) are shown here as he continued to improve and hone his craft. The end results are the books that are so beloved to multitudes of people who were lucky enough to grow up with Seuss in the house.

The book would be worth it for the pictures alone, but the accompanying text helps get below the surface of many of the pieces, and to tie them together into a artist's whole output. Even if you only look at the pictures and read the captions to the pictures, you will get a whole new appreciation of Dr. Seuss's work over the years. If I any complaint, it is that in some ways the books almost get shorted too much in this narrative, and too often the captions for the illustrations are repetitive to the text. But these are minor quibbles that in no way detract from the glorious whole.

For the Seuss lover, and for the casual reader, this book brings the reader a whole new appreciation of a beloved illustrator's work and the genius that was Dr. Seuss.

The many facets of Dr. Seuss
Since 2004 is the Seussentennial, or the hundredth anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birth, this is a great time to get to know more about one of America's most popular icons of children's literature. Ted Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, was far more than an author and illustrator of children's books and movies. His career includes humorist, journalist, advertising genius, magazine and political cartoonist, creator of wartime training and propaganda films, president of a publishing company, and spokesman for children's education.

Author Charles Cohen, a dentist and avid collector of Seussiana, is well qualified to write this visual biography of Ted Geisel. Through lavish illustrations, many from his own collection, Cohen shows the many facets of Geisel's art and imagination. The reader is treated to Geisel's earliest works from long before his first published children's book. These include examples of his college newspaper cartoons and his many successful advertising campaigns that blended humor and salesmanship. These creations are juxtaposed with his later children's books to provide the reader a deeper understanding of how culture and history shaped the evolution of his ideas and whimsical bestiary, and to point out the same themes cropping up over and over again in his works.

Although this book provides a fascinating view into many unusual perspectives of Dr. Seuss the artist and innovator, there is little here about Ted Geisel the man. In the introduction, Cohen says that he neither met Geisel nor interviewed anyone who knew him. Instead he delved into Geisel's works to discover what made him tick. As a result, there are many facts missing about Geisel's personal life and friendships. The few personal facts that were thrown in, mostly towards the end of the book, came from out of nowhere and made me crave more details. It is for this reason, especially since this book is called a "visual biography," that I rated it four stars instead of five. It is more a visual exploration of Geisel's works than a biography. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a creatively obsessed man that you never realized existed. It will also rekindle your fond memories of the Dr. Seuss books you read as a child. Perhaps it will even shed a bit of light on why you loved those books so much.

Eileen Rieback

A Grown-up Biography of a Children's Hero
With the awful, distorted, contrived pile of wasted film, conjured up in the form of Mike Myers' take on the "Cat in the Hat," it would be nice to know why, in the beginning of it all, Dr. Seuss was ever popular at all. He was a great writer and cartoonist before his famous cat's striped hat became chic fashion among post-grunge era teenagers.

In "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel" by Charles Cohen, we are shown the greatness of Seuss -- of Theodor Geisel, through drawings, paintings and text. We get to learn about his early days at Dartmouth, as he toyed with hybridic animals, wit and satire.

Not every idea worked. Seuss, an experimenter, evolved from being a talented but rustic styler of odd creatures into a sophisticated artist of odd, if not bizarre beasts that had genuine identity.

Before he write and drew books about green eggs, grinches, and elephants named Horton, he was an editorial cartoonist. His language in many of the cartoons was far from being politically correct, but his social commentary decrying racism was right on. He hard-handed racist thought with no evidence of his sweet children's characters kindness.

Cohen has produced an array of research. Samples of Seuss' art grace most pages. We also get a look at the vast merchandising, parodies, and unlicensed knock-offs.

This is not a children's book. Don't be fooled by the name of the publisher. It is for someone interested in reading a serious look at the history of one of America's beloved cartoonists.

I fully recommend "The Seuss, the Whole Seuss and Nothing But the Seuss: A Visual Biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel." by Charles D. Cohen.

Anthony Trendl

Fabulous!
This book is not all about reiterating the Seuss stories we've already read, but instead an objective well researched pictoral and written account of the man so many love. Cohen does a great job researching the possible meanings of Geisel's cartoons and later texts. There are many, many Judge magazine and other political cartoons that are absolutely hilarious, and absolutely adult in nature (similar to alot of his "childrens" stories).

I highly recommend this book to anyone what likes to drop into a chapter then skip to another at an opposite end of the book because they are somewhat independent although chronological, it is easy to skip around to the parts you feel like reading for that day.

Also, at 400 pages full color, who can pass up the bargain?

f.y.i. This biography seems to coincide a lot with *In Search of Dr. Seuss* the movie that just came out in dvd

Gorgeous book
Kudos to Dr. Cohen. The writing is insightful, the illustrations and pictures are outstanding, the sheer volume of content is overwhelming and of course, the dedication is tear-jerking. A must have for any Seuss fan. Read the inside jacket-I'm guessing someday there will be a Poem Repair Shop. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Junie B. Jones and all of Room 9 are getting ready to graduate from kindergarten! Their teacher--known to our heroine as "Mrs."--distributes their fresh white caps and gowns ("Cats and gowns, cats and gowns!" Junie hollers), and makes her students promise to keep them in their boxes until the big day. But Junie B., being Junie B., is sure that just one peek on the way home won't soil her gown. And then she must show off to her stuffed animals with a lot of whirling and skipping, which of course makes her thirsty. But guess what? "Grape juice can go wrong."

The 17th title in Barbara Park's popular Junie B. Jones beginning chapter book series is filled with more messy antics from the irrepressible 6-year-old with the rather unusual speaking style. She may be trouble, but Junie B. Jones has definite six-appeal. Don't miss any of the titles in this lively series, from Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket to Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying to Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day. Denise Brunkus's witty drawings deftly capture the tragicomedies of kindergarten life. Although the cute-precocious style may eventually grate on grownups' nerves, kids won't tire of Junie B.'s everyday adventures. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (16)

One of the Funniest Books in the World!
This book was about how Junie B. (Don't forget the B!) was getting ready for graduation from Kindergarten. ...And she got popular because she accidentally got purple drops on her cap and gown, so everyone else drew colored polka dots on their gowns.

I liked this because Junie B. is very funny. I liked this book as much as "Junie B and the Stinky Smelly Bus" and I think other kids would like to read it too.

Mom's Note: "This was the first Junie B. book that I have read with my daughter (she read another one in school) and it was absolutely adorable. Ms. Park captures the essence of a kindergartener by telling the story in the first-person, from little Junie B's perspective and she does a wonderful job. It really sounds like a Kindergartener is telling the story, which makes it all the more enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading more of these with my daughter!"

What a hoot!
Junie B. Jones is a mischievous little girl who is learning the lessons of life. Our family has enjoyed each book in this series. We can't wait to see what she's up to next. The Junie B. Jones series is a great first chapter book series for beginning readers. My children have sometimes balked at reading time, but when it's a Junie B. Jones book, they read it from cover to cover without stopping. In this book, Junie B. is finally graduating from kindergarten. The lessons learned in this book are obedience...the consequence of not obeying, and also friendship and loyalty. The children are given white graduation caps and gowns and told not to play in them. Junie B.'s mother even puts hers on top of the refrigerator so Junie B. cannot play with them. Of course, a mischievous little girl such as Junie B. cannot help herself and devises a way to get the gown down. The gown becomes soiled and Junie B. must find a way to cover it up. I thought it was a great book, though I think she kind of got of the hook this time. I took the book to school and read it to the second graders there. They loved it too. They think Junie B. Jones is a hoot!

Junie B. Jones Is A Graduation Girl (Book 17)
It's kindergarten graduation! All the children in Room Nine are excited when they get their bright white graduation gowns. Mrs. says to keep them in their boxes until the big day. But Junie B. Jones just can't help herself. Then - uh-oh! - an accident happens! Can Junie B. find a way to fix things? Or will graduation day be a spotty dotty disaster?

No so funny...
This one isn't as funny as the other ones. It didn't make me laugh. Junie B. is spoiled and a bad influence to little kids (it's not the grammmer) she just gets her own way. And my little brother's and I, don't like it. Junie B. is loosing her spunk, especially in 1st grade!

Junie B Jones is a Graduation Girl (#17)
Junie B. Jones gets her dress and hat for graduation day, and she is supposed to keep it in the box on the refridgerator, but then she gets it down and spills grape juice on it! When I first read it, I was kind of surprised that Junie B. won't be in kindergarten anymore. But this is not the last book! The next book she is in first grade! I have all these books, but I lost one. I noticed that when you buy these from a bookstore, they have the number on the side, but if you order them at school, you can't tell which number it is. I did get mine at the book fair at school, and it has the number on the side, but if you buy them from the book order papers, they don't have the number. Junie B. Jones is a Graduation Girl is funny. It is kind of short, though. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"It's a pretty good zoo," said young Gerald McGrew, "and the fellow who runs it seems proud of it, too." But if Gerald ran the zoo, the New Zoo, McGrew Zoo, he'd see to making a change or two: "So I'd open each cage. I'd unlock every pen, let the animals go, and start over again." And that's just what Gerald imagines, as he travels the world in this playfully illustrated Dr. Seuss classic (first published back in 1950), collecting all sorts of beasts "that you don't see every day." From the mountains of Zomba-ma-Tant to the blistering sands of the Desert of Zind, Gerald hunts down every animal imaginable ("I'll catch 'em in countries no one can spell, like the country of Motta-fa-Potta-fa-Pell"). Whether it's a scraggle-foot Mulligatawny or a wild-haired Iota (from "the far western part of south-east North Dakota"), Gerald amazes the world with his new and improved zoo: "This Zoo Keeper, New Keeper's simply astounding! He travels so far that you think he would drop! When do you suppose this young fellow will stop?"

But Gerald's weird and wonderful globe-trotting safari doesn't end a moment too soon: "young McGrew's made his mark. He's built a zoo better than Noah's whole Ark!" Some of the text and illustrations--imaginative as they are--are obviously dated, such as the following passage: "I'll hunt in the mountains ofZomba-ma-Tant/ With helpers who all wear their eyes at a slant,/ And capture a fine fluffy bird called the Bustard/ Who only eats custard with sauce made of mustard." And your children may be the first to recognize that attitudes have changed since the xenophobic '50s. But that doesn't mean this tale need be discarded; instead, it should be discussed. Ironically, Seuss was trying here--in his wild, explosive, and sometimes careless manner--to celebrate the joys of unconventionality and the bliss of liberation! (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The Best of Dr. Seuss!
"If I Ran the Zoo" is my absolutely favorite book by Dr. Seuss! This book is an instant childhood classic. I cannot remember how many times I begged my grandmother to read it to me. By far one of the Doctor's most imaginative stories.

One of the best..
In "review" of the current online reviews - y'all just don't get it. Dr. Suess' books are about using ones imagination, not just the environment (which y'all seem to take literally), but how we treat, and take life (ALL life) in general on a day to day basis. Relate the "animals" in "If I Ran the Zoo" or "If I Ran the Circus" to someone you know (or read about). Learn from them. Enjoy.

Many negative messages outweight the positives...
Let me start off b