Book Description

You've never seen the story told quite like this, with long-suffering Cinderella portrayed by a French bulldog, her spoiled stepsisters by two prissy poodles, and the handsome prince by a dapper Yorkshire terrier. ... Read more

Book Description

The rumor that mean, nasty Ursula turned Ariel into a human just so the sea witch could take over the seven seas? To hear Ursula tell it, she was only trying to help Ariel find her true love (and wanted to impress that hunky King Triton in the process!). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cool Book
This is a great book for the younger children. It shows the nationality of people in different countries. Even though this book has something to do with the story Cinderella, it has its differences and its similarities. For instance, the differences are instead of two stepsisters, it has only one sister and instead of birds helping with the dress it has angels. Some ofthe similarities are they both lost a slipper, and they both get marriedand live happily ever after. This is a very cute book. I really enjoyed it. ... Read more

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The ugly duckling
The ugly duckling is a good childrens book because it teaches kids not to judge people because they look differnt or act differnt. This book is about a duck that is ugly, and the other ducks reject the ugly duck. I would recamend this book for children 3-6 because thats what it said on the cover of the book. ... Read more

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Reviews (1)

A TWIST ON A TRADITIONAL TALE
Everyone loves a classic Cinderella story, and this traditional tale is made even more enticing by the gracefully provocative illustrations of South African artist Jude Daly. Her pages fairly sing with color and movement. In this Irish version the very beautiful Trembling lives in a castle high in Ireland's hills with her two sisters Fair and Brown. Trembling is rescued from her drudgery by henwife who gives her a lovely white gown and shamrock-green shoes, then sends her off to church on a milk-white mare. Of course, she meets the Prince of Emania. You'll never guess how many children they have or the fate of Fair and Brown. It's all in this charming twist on a well-loved story. ... Read more

Book Description

The classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is retold in this 64-page Read-Aloud Storybook. Parents and children will enjoy this unforgettable story of a princess who triumphs over evil and lives happily ever after. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Snow White done right..
Since this is a book taken from Disney's film version, I can see where much change was made. The illustrations are beautiful, more colorful, brighter than the original film. Everything seems to be in order: from the Evil Queen sending the huntsman to kill Snow White (he was unsuccessful) to the Queen transforming into the old witch, handing the apple to Snow White and the dwarves taking care of her until the Prince comes and kisses her awake. Lovely little tale. We read it on a nightly basis at our home. My two year old fancies himself a dwarf..Happy. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated in full color. What big teeth you have, Grandma! Little

Red Riding Hood is about to become Grandma's lunch when a passing woodcutter

saves the day.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mayer's Red Riding Hood a sure bet for many readings
Folklore and fairy tales can be a great springboard for the imagination and Mercer Mayer's preschool version of Little Red Riding Hood is one such delightful romp. This story re-told by Mercer Mayer in an earlier version for the Little Critter series has been refined for preschoolers. The sturdy, lift-the-flap board book is appropriate for its preschool market, yet the artwork and storytelling will keep amused the hapless adult who is asked to read it over and over again The slightly unisex Little Critter's unkempt, google-eyed appearance and one-tooth smile connects immediately with preschoolers. The illustrations are pen-and-ink rendered with bright, pleasant colors. Unlike many other books in the Little Critter series, the backgrounds in Little Red Riding Hood are not vignettes but fully detailed. Children and their caregivers will delight in finding bits of humor and other treasures in the drawings through repeated readings. Mayer's gift for affable artwork extends into the storytelling. With Critter's light spirit, readers should not expect the original story's violent end. It is through the artwork that Mayer makes it easy to side-step the discomfort of straying a bit from the original tale or, worse yet, making light of the violence. Grandma is not consumed, she hides in a closet. The woodcutter does not cut open the Big Bad Wolf, the comical-looking beast simply runs away never to be seen again. Readers will find the Mouse, one of Critter's endearing friends, as usual, on every page. Mouse does his part to find the humor in the moment and it is his comments that are underneath the flap on every page. At times, Mouse helps shed light on the unfolding drama, skillfully taking even more of the scare out of the story. "Here comes trouble" and "Look in here" are a few of Mouse's straight lines, but with Mayer's expressive drawing, particularly of Mouse's eyes, you can not help but be let in on the joke and laugh. If Little Critter is Mayer's self-portrait, Mouse is surely the omnipresent Greek chorus; a voice that speaks to the emerging spirit of preschoolers as well as to their caregivers who enjoy reconnecting with their own. ... Read more

Book Description

When the first flakes fell from the grey sky, the postman and the farmer and the policeman and his wife scurried about doing all the practical things grownups do when a snowstorm comes. But the children laughed and danced, and caught the lacy snowflakes on thier tongues.

All the wonder and delight a child feels in a snowfall is caught in the pages of this book -- the frost ferns on the window sill, the snow man in the yard and the mystery and magic of a new white world. Roger Duvoisin's pictures in soft blue half-tones with briliant splashes of yellow and red emphasize the gaiety and humor as well as the poetic quality of the text.

Reviews (6)

The first children's book to mention mustard plaster
I think I shall begin this review by saying something sacrilegious.It'll capture your attention and allow me to get something off my chest.I've noticed that if you tell children's literature professionals that you think it would be a good idea to take old picture books and liven them up with brand new illustrations by contemporary illustrators, they look at you like you've just suggested burning the collected works of Dr. Seuss.Which is to say, they look at you like you're insane.This isn't to say this practice isn't done from time to time.For example, illustrator David McPhail (for reasons I don't even want to contemplate) thought it might be a good idea to reillustrate Beatrix Potter's, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit".Usually, I think re-illustrating old classics is a bad idea.By and large, it's a dangerous practice that should be avoided.Then I read "White Snow, Bright Snow".This is a Caldecott winning book that is a fabulous read.I've rarely read a picture book that so beautifully captures the feeling you get when the world is first blanketed in a thick covering of fluffy white snow.Author Alvin Tresselt's words are some of the most beautiful you'll read, which makes it that much more of a pity that the illustrator on this book was Roger Duvoisin.I know many of you remember this book from your youth and I know many more would beat me with sticks for suggesting anything at all be changed about this wonderful tale.But honestly, let's look at it again in a clear light.I can't help but think new illustrations would suit this puppy perfectly.

In this story, author Tresselt gives us several different impressions and reactions to the coming of wintertide.As the sky looms dark and heavy with unfallen snow, a postman, a farmer, and a policeman and his wife all decide in their own separate ways that flakes are imminent.Heck, even the rabbits and the children are waiting for it to happen."Then, just when no one was looking, it came".Snow means new boots for the postman and extra shoveling for the farmer.Snow means the policeman gets to soak his feet in hot water as his wife rubs mustard plaster into his chest (don't ask).Snow means the children can make snowmen, snow houses, and snow forts before throwing snowball fights.In time though, the snow drifts away and spring is coming again.The last image of the book is of the children watching the first robin who tells them that spring has really come.

Unlike most picture books written today (I hesitate to say all, but that's my impression), this book contains long wordy passages on one page facing a single illustration on the other.This would be tiresome if the passages weren't so well written.Just listen to this: "In the morning a clear blue sky was overhead and blue shadows hid in all the corners. Automobiles looked like big fat raisins buried in snowdrifts.Houses crouched together, their windows peeking out from under great white eyebrows".Even if you've never seen the effect of snow on a landscape, these lines are evocative enough to make you wish you had.Moreover, they summarize perfectly what the world looks like on a clear sunny morning after a heavy snow.So hats off to Tresselt.Hats off indeed.I only wish illustrator Roger Duvoisin could fill me with half as much awe and wonder.Duvoisin's illustrations are, in and of themselves, fine.I mean, there's nothing particularly bad about them.I liked the distinctly 1940s images (the policeman's wife wears some pretty hip dresses).I liked the image of the policeman twirling his baton.But these pictures suffer from a kind of messy skewed perspective.In context, they work.Yet after reading Tresselt's lovely passages, you find yourself yearning for lovely illustrations.Illustrations that are not forthcoming.I'm not asking for anything spectacular, but the green, yellow, orange, red-orange, yellow-green, and grey pictures (I've just listed the entire color scheme) are sometimes lovely and sometimes dull as dishwater.

So, as I said before, I make the sacrilegious suggestion that we ask another illustrator to try his or her hand on this book.Duvoisin's pictures are fine in and of themselves and I've little doubt that there are adults out there who read this book as children and would bludgeon me with stones for such an idea.Still, the words are so lovely, you can't help but want to pair them with pretty pictures.For an especially good storytime, consider pairing this book with the far more contemporary but no less adept "Snow Music" by Lynne Rae Perkins.Together, the two books capture every essence of what it means to live in a world of snowy whiteness.A great companion to the winter season.

A Winter Wonderland from a Bygone Era
This classic book published in 1947 wraps me in a soft fuzzy blanket of nostalgia and makes me crave the good ol' days of clean white snow and sledding, rubber boots and all the neighborhood children playing together in the huge drifts.It takes me back to being snowed-in, warm fire in the fireplace, hot cocoa and the Postman whose name I knew bringing armloads of Christmas cards. The world depicted in this book does not include the sound of a snow-blower or a snow-mobile.It does not have Doppler radar to let me know it's going to snow. In this book we rely upon the ache in a woman's big toe and the fact that a farmer says it smells like snow. The rabbits know it and the kids search the grey sky waiting for the first snowflakes.This book takes us from those first feathery flakes through a really deep snowfall.We're there as the townspeople shovel themselves out. We're there as the grown-ups contend with the winter snow and the children revel in it. Eventually Spring comes and is greeted with as much gladness as the first snowflakes. The simple four color watercolor illustrations are just wonderful and made me yearn for the days when we didn't hurry from climate controlled houses to climate controlled cars to shopping malls with trees and fountains, for the days when we were on speaking terms with the weather.The writing in this book is so lyrical and gentle that it makes a perfect bedtime story and it is sure to warm the heart of the adult who's doing the reading. For example, "Then without a sound, just when everybody was asleep, the snow stopped, and bright stars filled the night. In the morning a clear blue sky was overhead and blue shadows hid in all the corners."Share this one.

Suburban Perspective on Life in 1947
Snow is the center of this book.Mr. Tresselt develops how snow is anticipated, experienced, and dealt with by a postman, farmer, policeman, the policeman's wife, rabbits, and children.The book is noteworthy for its social perspectives from 1947 more than for the story.As a Caldecott Medal winner, the high point of the book comes in the Day-Glo yellow, orange, and green images that burst from the white and grey world of winter.Mr. Roger Duvoisin has created a most unusual mix of nostalgia and modernism in these images that evoke a Stuart Davis type of feeling.

"Softly, gently in the secret night,

Down from the North came the quiet white."

"Drifting, sifting, silent flight,

Softly, gently, in the secret night."

These lines open the book and help create the magical mood of new-fallen snow.

The postman says that it "looked like snow."He "put on rubbers" to keep his feet dry.But during the storm, he "slipped and fell in a snowbank."The next morning, he "took out his high boots."When spring finally came, he walked slowly so he could "enjoy the bright sunshine."

The farmer said it "smelled like snow."He "went to the barn for a snow shovel."With it, he "dug a path . . . to the house."The next day, he used the path to the barn and "milked his cows."In the spring, he "let his cows out" of the barn for the first time that year.

The policeman said it "felt like snow."He "buttoned up his coat."But he "got his feet wet."He "had a chill and stayed in bed" the next day.When spring came, he "walked in the park."

The policeman's wife said "her big toe hurt."She checked the cupboard to make "sure she had cough mixture."When her husband returned from work, she "put a mustard plaster on his chest."While he is ill, she "knits a long woolen scarf for him."In the spring, she digs in her garden.

The children "watched" the snow start to fall.They "laughed and danced."They even "dreamed" about playing in the snow.In the spring, they "watched for the first robin."

The rabbits "knew" the snow was coming.They "hid in their warm burrows" underground.During the storm they "hopped about as best they could."In the spring they enjoyed "hopping about in the warm world."

Modern readers will probably be struck by the book's having a central figure be an apparently stay-at-home wife with no children in sight.That was common in 1947, and makes the book interesting from a sociological perspective.How much our ideas of sexual roles have changed since then!This story today would probably have the woman be serving as a police officer.

How can you find joy in snow and the long, cold days of winter?If you live someplace warm, how can you enjoy the change of the seasons by visiting snow-filled fields?When I was a child growing up in Southern California, my father would load his pick-up truck full of snow from the mountains and dump it on our front lawn.The neighbor children and I would build snowmen and have snowball fights, until the snow melted.These were some of the happiest moments of my childhood.I still wish spring came as soon after the snow as it did then.

After you read this story, I suggest that you and your child discuss how each of you perceive snow coming, how to deal with it, and your feelings about winter and spring.Then, this book can become a tool to help you communicate your feelings.I suggest that you extend the conversation then to other physical situations that you both experience, so you can enjoy each other's subjective impressions.

Look for the best in every moment!

Fun book for young children and their parents
This book won the Caldecott Medal in 1948.It is based on a poem the author wrote which came to him as he was walking a street in New York City, on a snowy winter night.The book takes place in the suburbs in 1948.Itfocuses on the anticipation of the snowfall, the actual snowfall, thechildren playing and loving the snow and then the beginning of spring.Inthis age of FEdEX and high technology, it is fun to see a postman andpoliceman walking their route.The story really seems like a fairy tale. It is absolutely charming.It has endured since 1948.Your children willenjoy it, and so will you.

The effects of winter on the people of a small town.
A book for children describing the upcoming winter, the snowfall, and its effect on people. The book was inspired by a real snowfall that occurred in New Jersey in the 1940s. Beautifully illustrated, this book won the 1948Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a book for children. ... Read more

Book Description

Happily ever after has never been so happy! These inspired retellings of classic children's fairy-tales are simply told and beautifully illustrated.This is a series of books that parents will treasure and children will love hearing again and again.Jump at the Sun Fairy-tale Classics include: - Cinderella - Goldilocks and The Three Bears - Jack and the Beanstalk - Little Red Riding Hood ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Best Book!!!!!!!
I am fifteen years old, and this is my ultimate favorite book!The characters are believable, and the plot is fascinating. It is a mystery/adventure/romance book that, without being preachy, teaches strong morals and christian virtues. I find it refreshing to read a book that has the courage to do all that.

A Fairytale Come To Life!
After reading this excellent book a few times each year since it has come out, I have finally decided to read the Grimm's version and may I say that Ms. Doman is one really acurate writer. I really hope she DOES continue the story of Blanche, Bear, Rose and Fish as she mentioned at the end of her book. Also, after reading a book like this, I feel so lucky to be a homeschooling Catholic, Ms. Doman makes every reader feel proud of her religion and so VERY proud of Bear and Fish for their courage. I hope everyone who reads any of these reviews will find the hear(and the time!)to pick up this book and read it and read it and read it, over and over and over and over....

A fairy tale made believable!
I love reading fairy tale novelizations, because I'm the one who always wants to know the why behind characters' actions. Novels offer a much better glimpse into fairy tales than a simple story book. This novel knows what it's doing.

The main characters, Blanche and Rose, are well-drawn and believable; their personalities are distinct but both likable. Doman also does a good job drawing Bear as a sensitive hulk. The swing dancing scene is one of my favorites! The plot flows smoothly and quickly, with heroic adventures along the way, but nothing that a real person couldn't handle. Sometimes, even if you like a fantasy book, the characters seem superhuman (well, I suppose they occasionally are!). But in this real-world adventure, all characters are true to life.

My one complaint is that Doman resorts to the Nancy Drew technique of having the villain explain his plot to his victim, so that the reader figures out what's going on. Still, it's only her first book (written at age 23 or so), and it's remarkable! I can't wait to see what else Regina Doman has for us.

An all around Perfect Book
The book is about two sisters, Blanche & Rose, who live in N.Y.C. They are new to the city, and they do not have to many friends. They are well read in poetry and other peices of liturature, they are also christian. They meet a boy, who calls himself "Bear", and then there adventures begin. I won't go into detail, because that might spoil it, but I will say that it is loosly based on Grimn's fairy tale, of the same name. I hope that everyone who reads it will love it as much as I did, (all 7 times) but I don't think it's a book that guys would get into. Regina Doman, where ever you are, thank you for writing a book with intelligent, christen characters, that's still exciting.

A new classic!
This book is the best. I read it in one day and decided to read again the next day. It blends real romance with adventure and excitement. It definately tops my list of the best new books. ... Read more

Book Description

For two hundred years, Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling hasbeen a childhood favorite all over the world. Now Robert Ingpen bringshis spectacular adaptation to new generations of readers.

Born bigger and different than the other hatchlings, the ugly ducklingis ridiculed by his brothers and sisters, rejected by the other ducks,and eventually shunned by his own mother. The little bird leaves hishome, embarking on a brave journey through hecklers, hunters, and cruelseasons-only to discover that the beauty he was seeking was inside himall along.

A beautifully told and brilliantly illustrated edition of this classic,essential story every child should embrace. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Cinderella Penguin
This is a very cute re-telling of Cinderella. In this version everyone is a penguin. Other than that this story follows the normal Cinderella story. Cinderella is treated cruelly by her stepmother and stepsisters. Family gets invitation to ball. Stepmother and sisters go leaving Cinderella crying. Fairy comes and gets Cinderella ready and brings her to the ball. Prince falls in love. Cinderella flees at midnight. Prince goes searching and finds her. They live happily ever after.

What makes this story unique is mainly the use of penguins and the cute, bold, colorful illustrations. The Fairy in this story is called the Fairy Penguin and is a small penguin with wings. The mice that get turned into horses look like penguins with whiskers and Mickey Mouse ears. The horses look like penguins that have sprouted an extra pair of flippers and walk on all of them. The strange thing is that it looks so right. I didn't mind seeing the penguins wearing clothes. In fact I was amused at seeing Cinderella helping her stepsister into a corset. In short, I really liked this book. If your interested, there are more books by this author using penguins.

Loggie-log-log-log

A twist from the old Cinderella
The book "Cinderella Penguin" by Janey Perlman is and outstanding book for kids. If you childeren like the story or movie "Cinderella" they are going to love this book. This book is very similar to the real Cinderella story, but has some differences. Although, the ends do turn out the same. Cinderella gets married to the prince and they live happily ever after.

A delightful twist on an old favorite
My four year old daughter adores this book. Already a huge fan of the classic Cinderella story, she found this book at the library and enjoyed it so much I had to purchase a copy for our own collection. The illustrations are bright, colorful and clever. The story is long enough to hold the interest of a child who is ready to move beyond single-sentence storytelling, yet not so long that it takes forever to finish the book (always a plus if you have a child that is always trying to negotiate for just one more book before bedtime).

A wonderfully charming book
This adorable picture book is a must for everyone. The wonderful illustrations enhance the story and make it enjoyable for people of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

What will happen when the Prince finds one glass slipper? Count with Cinderella from 1 fairy godmother to the clock striking 12 in this Super Early Step into Reading book.
... Read more

Book Description

And that business about the "evil" Queen giving Snow White a poisoned apple? Well, per the Queen herself, she was actually a health nut who was only concerned that her stepdaughter wasn't getting the proper nutrition! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Conundrums abound!!
One of the finest thinking modules ever produced and still a favorite after all these years. Convert the stats on the fly and watch your players actually think their way through encounters. After all the hacking and slashing, this is guarenteed to take characters to the next level.

For expert use only
Remember Tomb of Horrors? That kill all the PCs or at least frustrate them adventure? Fun for the DM, well written (for its time), and very creative. Unfortunately, no player ever liked it. Same goes here. I DMed it and thought it was a great adventure, when I read it. Unfortunately, the PCs skipped out on the adventure about half way through, and simply went back the way they came. They became overly frustrated with the puzzles, and I had to drop too many hints. For use only with experienced players.

very easily to play and DM
I have both read it, played in it, and DMed it and enjoyed every part ... Read more