Book Description

Good Night, Gorilla won the 1994 Cuffie for "Most Likely to Succeed in Years Ahead" and has more than lived up to that prediction, becoming a modern classic that is a must in every child's library.

This perfect package will give kids the opportunity to cuddle up with an adorable plush gorilla while they are enjoying his secret bedtime antics. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Gracie's Favorite Book
My 10-month-old daughter demands her father and I read only Peggy Rathman books to her before bedtime. Since she was 5 months old, she would choose Goodnight, Gorilla from a pile of books offered to her, even if I hid this book on the bottom of the stack. I have decided that, unlike most baby board books, Peggy Rathman stories have a climax to look forward to -- whether it is yelling "BEDTIME" in Ten Minutes 'Til Bedtime or gasping when the zookeeper's wife realizes there are a bunch of zoo animals in her bedroom in Goodnight, Gorilla. The illustrations keep me interested, night after night. The attention to detail is wonderful. I highly recommend her books, and wish she would write more!

Perfect for toddlers!!
My son loves this book! I think it must be because the illustrations are easy on his eyes. The drawings are very childlike and the colors(mostly primary)are perfect. This is the story of a zookeeper who is closing the zoo for the night, and while he says "goodnight" to each critter, the gorilla, who is first, steals his keys and lets all the animals out. They all follow him home, and he never even notices! His pop eyed wife has to take care of them herself. It's the most adorable little book! There isn't much to read. It's more of a feast for the child's eyes right before he sets off to night nights.
The copy I have is a small board book, and it's small enough for my son's little hands to hold and admire all by himself.
I highly recommend buying this for the child at age 21 month and over.

Great for signing!
If you are using sign language with your child, this is a great book! It is more of a picture book, but there are great opportunities to sign gorilla (monkey, banana and key on every page, as well as some good concepts for kids like "light" and "sleep."

Even if you aren't signing, this book is fabulous. There are opportunities to identify animals and colors on every page, as well as finding the mouse and his banana.

Fun again and again!
I love this book and so does my toddler! We read it over and over. I love that we can think of different stories for every page and the illustrations and wonderful!!!

Not only cute, but really quite good
The creators of children's picture books that seek to enchant the viewer always run the risk of sometimes becoming TOO sweet. A book that's dripping with sweetie-pie sentiments is always in danger of disgusting the discerning (and purchasing) parent. "Good Night, Gorilla", on the other hand, balances deftly between sweet and smart, becoming both at once. In a simple story, a night watchman at a zoo bids goodnight to each of his animals as a sneaky gorilla unlocks them one by one. The unwitting watchman goes home (animals in tow) and it's up to his wife to put them all to bed again. If I was a better writer I'd be able to tell you just how cute this book is. It's SO cute! But not stupid in the least. Rathmann has filled this story with clever little subplots that kids will enjoy following. A small mouse with a banana lugs the heavy object from picture to picture. Rathmann even goes so far as to wrap a picture on the back of the book's cover around and into the inner fold where the tiny mouse stands by, patiently. The book also emotes deadpan beautifully. In one scene the watchman's wife says goodnight to her husband and the page goes black. Next we hear each animal in the room (that crept in unbeknownst to her) saying goodnight back. The two page spread that follows is just a single pair of wide open eyes in the black dark room. The deadpan wit will not be lost on either kids or their adult parents. If you'd like a book that you can read fifty times over without getting nauseated or bored, find yerself a copy of "Good Night, Gorilla", and count yourself lucky for having discovered it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sixty years have passed since a curious little chimp in Africa met theman with the big yellow hat and got into the first of many scrapes. Decadeslater, George is as curious--and naughty--as ever. To celebrate the 60thanniversary of Curious George's debut, this special edition is a collection ofseven classic adventures by Margret and H.A. Rey, along with an introduction bycritic Leonard Marcus, a retrospective note by publisher Anita Silvey, a historyof the Reys by Dee Jones, curator of the de Grummond Children's LiteratureCollection, and a photo album. The many generations of fans of the "good littlemonkey who was always very curious" will be fascinated to learn how H.A. andMargret escaped on bicycle from German-occupied Paris, with just their wintercoats and several picture books (including a draft of Curious George, then calledFifi) strapped to the racks. Photos and essays reveal H.A. to have been agentle, humorous man, while Margret, by all accounts, was spirited and brutallydirect, with a keen business mind. The chemistry between them workedbeautifully. Between them, they created one of the most beloved characters inchildren's literature. This handsome volume includes Curious George,Curious George Takes a Job, Curious George Rides a Bike,Curious George Gets a Medal, Curious George Flies a Kite,Curious George Learns the Alphabet, and Curious George Goes to theHospital. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (47)

George stays in your mind forever !
I loved George so much when I was little, even before I could read. My mom bought me one and she ended up buying all the other Georgefs books. Mine were written all Japanese, George's books are everywhere in the world and famous. I am 36 year-old (!) now, I still can remember some of the stories I read and adorable drawings of the books. I think this book even had an influence my "personality development" as a child. Good influences such as: be independent, be curious, be creative, be bold, be unique, be humorous, be even a little rebellious, be lovable. Very good chilren's book.

Memories of old and new
I absolutely loved Curious George when I was a child. It is so thrilling to watch that same excitement in my 3 y.o. daughter. She practically begs me to read her a story from the book every night. During the day, she loves to flip through the book looking for her favorite pictures. It's not often that children enjoy the same things that delighted their parents as children. I am so happy to able to share these stories with her!

Too much monkey
The Curious George stories are cute in small doses but after awhile they become rather repetitive.

A Great Book to Read at Bedtime
When I was a child, curious George was one of my favorites, and now this fine book allows me to pass along George's adventures to my own children. Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it contains so many curious George stories. You could read a different story each night for several nights. My children have quickly become as fond of George as I was when I was a child. The accompanying illustrations are very colorful and they definitely grab a young child's attention. I highly recommend this fine children's book. It is a great book to share with your children and perhaps serve as a reminder to your own childhood.

Perfect under the tree!
This makes a great gift. Curious George is a very fun character, who gets into really interesting situations. There's a lot of "story" here, and hours of reading fun.

I like this one as it's become a cherished book for my kids. They read it together, and have lots of fun with it. ... Read more

Book Description

Caps for Sale is a timeless classic, in print for over fifty years, and beloved by generations of readers. This easy-to-read story about a peddler and a band of mischievous monkeys is filled with warmth, humor, and simplicity. Children will delight in following the peddlers efforts to outwit the monkeys in this new, enlarged, and redesigned edition, and will ask to read it again and again.

Reviews (32)

A truly great kids book!
This is a sweet story of a peddler who sells caps. The illustrations are superb, and the story is fun. The seller carries his supply on his head. (First is own cap, then the...). One day he sits under a tree and when he awakes nearly all the caps are missing! Where did they go? Well, buy this book and read it aloud to your kids and have a great time together.

A true classic
This book is well loved by my son and myself.

I love books that have simple pictures that add to the text rather than distract. I like the simple story line. I particularly like that this book can be used as a stepping stone to other activities (acting like a monkey, balancing hats on your head etc.)

The repetitive nature and sing songy words are wonderful for prereading skills. My son loves to act like a monkey stealing my hat as we read this book.

A true classic.

A Good Story for the Kids
A timeless tale written in 1940 still attracts young children's attention. This is a very humorous, easy to understand book to read aloud. The story is accompanied with brightly colored pictures that actually tell the story. After reading it through children can re-tell the story by just looking at the pictures.
It is a story that children will pass on to their friends.

Give me back my caps!
Caps for Sale is a family favorite. My husband does a wonderful job at making the monkey noises. It's a fun story to act out.

fun story
This is a fun story that teaches colors while telling a very funny tale. My son thought it was hilarious when I turned the page and he discovered *what* had taken the peddler's caps. ... Read more

Book Description

Curious George, the beguiling little monkey, is one of the most beloved of all children"s book characters. Now this collection of four board books featuring Curious George is available in a sturdy, reusable, carry-along box. Brightly colored and suitably scaled for the youngest readers, the books feature art from the original storybooks by H. A. Rey. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Childhood Favorite
I added this book to my registry because Curious George is a book I remember loving strongly when I was very young. Curious George is a classic, and I wanted to share that enjoyment with my little one, when she becomes old enough to understand it more.

This set comes in a sturdy box that buttons to close and contains four different Curious George books inside. The books are all board books and each one has the bright and delightful cartoons that I remember inside.

While my baby is still too young to get the gist of the stories, she does enjoy chewing on the book, hehe, and the bright colors keep her attention. This is an awesome gift set, especially for the good price. ... Read more

Book Description

As soon as they say good night to Mama, the five little monkeys start to jump on their bed. But trouble lies ahead as, one by one, they fall off and hurt themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Too much fun for bedtime!
Yes, this book WILL get the kids trying to jump on the bed. It's a lot of fun, and much laughing is heard whenever we read it. There is a lot of detail in the pictures - I love watching the doctor, and Mama gives us a great ending! I picked this up when my younger son was asking for us to play "monkeys on the bed" (the rhyme with hand motions)over & over & over - my fingers were tired. We've been reading ever since! Have I mentioned that the board book format is a great, sturdy idea? Definately a good buy, and highly recommended.

Monkeys are the best!
I have been reading this book to my son since he was 3 months old. The first time we read it he actual laughed out aloud. He is now 10 months and still loves this book. We read it every night before bed and are even painting monkeys on his wall because they are his favorite. Those monkeys are very cute and babies love them.

Five Little Monkeys Jumped on a Bed
This is a very good book this was my favorite book when I was little. It is a really good book for kids, and I don't think that you would be disappointed if you bought it. It is easy to follow along with, and it is even better because it involves monkeys.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
In this book there a five little monkeys that have to go to bed. So the monkeys all get in the bath, put there pajamas on, and brush their teeth. The monkeys say goodnight to their mama and are supposed to be sleeping, when all of the little monkeys start to jump on the bed! One of the monkeys falls off and bumps his head. The mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED!"
This book teaches mainly only one lesson and that is that you shouldn't jump on your bed because you can get hurt by falling off. The age level for this book is 3-7. I have liked this book since I was little and I would definately recommend this book to little kids!

Love the Monkeys
You have to love the monkeys. My 17 month old does. She will ask for my husband and I to read the book 10 times in a row. She never tires of hearing it and is now learning to do the motions with me. The pictures are great and I expect we will still be reading this one for years to come. ... 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

Reviews (82)

Monkey Trouble
A boy named Jay Berry Lee, lives with his mom, dad, and his lil sister Daisy.He lives close to his grandma and grandpa.They live in a Cheroket Nation in Oklahoma.His grandpa owns his own store.
Jay was walking outside and all of a sudden,he saw monkeys.His grandpa told him that the monkeys belonged to a circus,and they are really smart.He also said, they are offering a reward,$2 a monkey except they are offering $100 for the smartest monkey.He is the leader and he looks different than the other monkeys.His grandpa gave him some apples and traps so he could catch them.But the big smart ($100) monkey saw the traps and told the other monkeys so they wouldn't be traped.so, he didn't catch any.
Then Jay Berry went back to his grandpa and he gave him a net.Will he catch any monkeys this time?Read the book to see what happens!! THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK!!

Summer of the Monkeys a review by Ali
Have you ever wondered what its like to meet a real live monkey. Well Jay Berry Lee got the chance to in this book, Summer on the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls. For Jay Berry's birthday he got an animal trap. He got this trap from his grandfather so he could go catch the lose circus monkeys and so grandfather could get the reward money.
Also in this book, Jay Berry's little sister, Daisy, tells him that there is an Old Man of the Mountains. She told him that he was technically the leader of the mountains; in other words, he was the supervisor of the mountains. She also said that this Old Man of the Mountains is only visible to the people that believe in him. Daisy says he comes to visit her all the time. Jay Berry is so gullible that he believes there is really an Old Man of the Mountains.
The climax is when Jay Berry finds the monkeys. This was a funny occasion. People have a way of knowing what's going to happen next. That's what I like about this book; knowing something weird is going to happen next. If you really like mystery books, I encourage you to read this book, Summer of the Monkeys.

NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS
Though this is a coming of age story, it is nowhere near the book that WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS was. Jay Berry Lee resides in Oklahoma circa 1900 when he hears a circus train has crashed, losing 29 monkeys. 28 of the monkeys have a $2 bounty on their heads and one chimp has $100 on his.

Jay Berry dreams of catching the monkeys and buying a pony and a gun. Meanwhile, his sister has a crippled leg and his family cannot afford the medical care to fix it. Hmmm, I wonder how this story is going to turn out?

Though entertaining and fanciful, the story looses some credibility when the monkeys get the boy drunk on moonshine. No, really. I wouldn't make that up.

Everyone lives happily ever after. There is nothing to offend anyone in this book. Not even PETA. The monkeys are ethically treated throughout the novel.

The best book ever
The book Summer of the Monkeys is a book that sometimes can bring a tear to your eye. The author Wilson Rawls likes to do that in his books a lot. This book is about a boy that is fourteen years old. His name is Jay Berry and he lives in the river bottoms. He has a sister that was born with a crippled leg. His sister's name is Daisy. Jay Berry has been saving money for almost his whole entire life for a 22 rifle and a horse. At his grandpa's store, he saw a sign about lost monkeys and it was offering 2 dollars a monkey and a hundred dollars for one monkey called Jimbo. Jay Berry tried everything he could to catch them monkeys but the monkeys kept on tricking him. Read this book to find out if he finally catches the monkeys and gets his dream.
This book will make you laugh and make you cry. It is filled with adventure and excitement. You don't want to miss it! by Josh

Summer of the Monkeys a review by Peter
Have you ever tried to catch a whole bunch of wild monkeys? Well, in the book

Summer of the Monkeys Wilson Rawls the protagonist, Jay Berry, tries to catch a

load of monkeys that escaped from a circus train wreck. Each monkey is worth $2, but

one of the animals that also escaped from the train wreck was not a monkey. The animal

was a chimpanzee that was supposed to be as smart as almost any human, and he was

worth $100!!!

One bright morning Jay was walking down the path to his grandpa's house.

When he got there his grandpa told Jay about the monkeys that had escaped from the circus train

wreck and how much each was worth, but the thing was that the owners wanted the

monkeys unharmed and alive. At first, Jay thought that it would be a quick and easy way

to earn some cash, but he will soon learned how hard it really is to catch monkeys!

Jay went down into the forest thinking he could make friends with the monkeys

However, as he entered the forest, all was completely silent. Then the silence was broken by the

monkeys. As Jay got closer he started to smell something like whiskey. Then Jay saw

them. They were hooting and hollering like a dog chasing a rabbit and drinking sour

mash. When Jay walked up to them the big, hairy, wet chimp offered him a cup of the mash,

but Jay screamed, "NO! NO!" That really did it. The chimp went ballistic. So Jay took the

tiny, round cup and drank it. Then the chimp gave Jay another and another and another

until Jay was so drunk that he fell asleep. When he awoke his perfectly good blue pants

were missing. Now he had to go home with no pants on. What will happen to Jay when he gets

home?
Will this be the end of Jays monkey catching days? Ladies and Gentlemen, I

encourage you to read the book Summer of the Monkeys. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

My daughter knows how to give a HUG!
I am a mother of 1 year old. My daughter likes the book very much. She hands it to me at least 2 or 3 times after I read several times to her. THere is only one word HUG in the book and I have to make up a story for her. I enjoy doing so. Every time after saying HUG I give her a hug. After trying a few times, she knows how to give me a HUG! The feeling is wonderful! Also, the pictures in the book is beautiful. Must buy!

Perfect for Preschool
Once again, Alborough does a fantastic job with his child-friendly illustrations. This simple one-word picture book invites preschoolers to read ALONE and takes them on a baby monkey's adventure to find his own mother's 'hug.' Sweet, inviting, and most importantly, an independent read for pre-emergent readers, I highly recommend it to teachers and parents of young children.

Sweet, simple story with precious illustrations
Parents wil find this a more interactive book to read w/ their children, because most of the text just says "Hug!" but it's the illustrations of this baby chimp and other African animals that tell the story.

The little ape sees other animals (esp. mommy animals and baby animals) hugging, and wants a hug, too.

There will be a lot of pointing, "look at the hippos! look at the zebras!" and lots of hugs when this story is read. Very sweet, and a great goodnight story to read to your kids.

THIS BOOK IS AWESOME
I read this book to my 2 year old every night & she loves it. In fact, when it's time to go to bed we say, "Are you ready to go see Bobo?" and she runs to the door yelling "BOBO BOBO". She knows the whole story I have made up to go along with it and says it along with me. The illustrations are clear and she loves picking out the animals and telling me the sounds they make. Most of all, she loves it when Bobo and his mommy are reunited.

totally loveable
I love this book. We checked it out at the library and my little 14 month old won't let me put it down. Since there are only three words that are repeated through the whole book, my 4 and 5 year olds love to "read" it, also. The story line is simple and sweet. We've already had to renew this book three times from the library and I've decided to just buy it. ... Read more

Book Description

It's summer,school is out, and the five little monkeys are bored. "There is nothing to do!" they tell Mama. "Oh yes, there is," says Mama. "Grandma Bessie is coming for lunch, and the house must be neat and clean." Well-meaning as ever, the five little monkeys clean their room and go on to sweep the floors, scrub the bathroom, and pick berries for dessert.But then . . .Children will welcome the return of the five little monkeys, who make the same kinds of messes they do. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I didn't know that boredom could be so hilarious
This book threw me into a laughing fit when I read it to Max in the children's books section of one of the large bookshops in Singapore (the perfect refuge on week-ends during the rainy winter season). Max is two and a half years old, and he is very tolerant of his dad's monkeying around. To judge by the looks I got when I guffawed, it seems that most parents regard reading children's books as a serious matter.

Anyway, kids have a great sense of humor, and they will enjoy it when you chuckle while reading this book to them. The little monkeys of the title are five clumsy but well-intentioned, lovable creatures that mess up the house while trying to please their mom. That is probably what happens to many two or three-year-olds who hope to do the right thing and end up spilling the milk when they try to assist mom. Enthusiasm combined with clumsiness can produce some rather chaotic results. "Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do" teaches parents and kids to see the funny side in such mishaps.

Recommended for parents and children alike.

Contentment
I love reading this book to my 2 year old daughter. She runs around chanting about the 5 monkeys. I first learned of them from my daycare provider, and came to amazon.com to find them. Thank you ... Read more

Book Description

CLORAL

The second installment in an epic series of adventures

Fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon is not like other boys his age. His uncle Press is a Traveler, and, as Bobby has learned, that means Uncle Press is responsible, through his journeys, for solving interdimensional conflict wherever he encounters it. His mission is nothing less than to save the universe from ultimate evil. And he's taking Bobby along for the ride.

Fresh from his first adventure on Denduron, Bobby finds himself in the territory of Cloral, a vast world that is entirely covered by water. Cloral is nearing a disaster of huge proportions. Reading the journals Bobby sends home, his friends learn that the desperate citizens of the endangered floating cities are on the brink of war. Can Bobby -- suburban basketball star and all-around nice guy -- help rid the area of marauders, and locate the legendary lost land of Faar, which may hold the key to Cloral's survival? ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Wow
D.J MacHale has hit it big with his Pendragon series. The first book was hard to beat, but the second story in this series, Lost City of Faar was just as good as the first, maybe even better. We meet new characters, a new territory with all it's different quirks. Some unexpected things happen which keeps you wanting to read more! We see Bobby understand more and more about what he is and some mysteries are uncovered.

Highly recommended if you enjoyed the first book, Liked books such as "So you want to be a wizard", "Harry Potter and ..." and The "Dark is Rising".

Pendragon Power!
This book is simply, AWESOME! I really enjoyed The Merchant of Death and I waited a long time for the sequel to come out. The Lost City of Faar is, if this is possible, better than the first one. There is a lot of suspense in this book as Bobby Pendragon and Uncle Press continue their adventures through time and space. In this book, they go to the territory of Cloral (a water world), where they have to find out what Saint Dane's newest evil scheme is. Will they survive? Find out in The Lost City of Faar...

Flooms and Booms! What's next?
Flumes and Booms! What's next? This is the novel Pendragon The Lost City Of Farr. The novel takes place in the wonderful world of Cloral which is completely submerged in water. The Clorian's technology is so advanced that diving suits are made of water that has been turned into a type of plastic. And the cities float right on top of the surface of the water. These amazing cities each have a purpose. One is for farming and another is for government. Once again Bobby Pendragon, a new Traveler, just beginning to accept his destiny, is back to fight the evil Saint Dane. Saint Dane is trying to destroy the lost city of Farr so that he can gain control of Halla because if he destroys one Territory the rest will fall and then he will gain control of everything. Bobby once again has to match wits...is he up to the challenge?
This is by far, one of the best books I've ever read. Pendragon is filled with so much action that you don't want to put it down. MacHale explains things with such detail, like how the magical flumes work, that you're never saying to yourself "I don't get it". The only problem with this book is that the author leaves you with such a cliff hanger that you are actually kind of mad; I know I was. You just wish that magically more pages will appear so you can keep reading. This is a must read for anyone who likes a good fantasy.

THIS BOOK ROCKS TOO!
In Bobby's second adventure, he travels to the water territory of Cloral. He, meets Spader, who becomes his best friend, besides Mark. The food on Cloral has been poisened, and only the people of Faar could possibly reverse the poisen. But the island city of Faar was supposed to have sunk, a long times ago. Can Bobby find Faar?

Best of the Series
Wow! This book,The Lost City of Faar,is definetly the best of the four Pendragon series. The book starts out summarizing what happened in the first book. Then, it's off to Cloral for Bobby. At the very beginning of Bobby's time on Cloral, he get's into trouble. A quig , on Cloral they're giant, man-eating sharks, attacks Bobby and Press. The two of them are in major trouble until the Traveler from cloral, Vo Spader, appears. He pretty much saves Bobby and Press's lives, and, even better, he acts like it is no big deal. The three of them go to one the many floating cities in Cloral. Everything seems perfect, but then trouble begins brewing. What happens? Find out for yourself! Read Pendragon #2 and find out. ... Read more

Book Description

In this, the original book about the curious monkey, George is taken from the jungle by the man in the yellow hat. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

One of My Favorite Books When I Was A Child!
When I was a child in the 1970's I loved The Curious George books by H.A. Rey and this is the very first book in the series and it is a very entertaining book about an adorable monkey named George who's curiosity gets him into all sorts of adventures and trouble. I checked this book out all the time from the public library and from the bookmobile that used to come to my school and I was very happy when I was finaly given my own copy to keep and I very highly recommend this cute book and all the rest of the books in The Curious George series!

What's wrong with being curious?
This famous children's book was the first of seven books by Rey about a monkey who is brought to the U. S. from Africa and who seems to have a penchant for getting into trouble. But, his curiosity keeps leading into new adventures and learning new things. The Ann Arbor reviewer of Oct. 7, 1998, clearly is angry at George. If that is the case, why not use the story to teach about rule breaking? I think it is very interesting to learn that the Reys had arrived in New York in 1940, having fled from the Germans invading France. In a way, they were just like George, forced to come to a new world and a new culture. I'll bet they got into trouble every now and then just because of their innocence and their curiosity.

Curiouser and curiouser
The world's most famous literary monkey. I hadn't read "Curious George" in years, and I was admittedly a little hesitant to do so when I saw the copyright date. 1941. Now due to the fact that George is originally from Africa, I had a sneaking fear and suspicion that there would be some terrible racist images to contend with. Imagine my surprise when I found that, as it happens, not a single horrid stereotype appears! Just the same, I have to point out that at the same time not a single positive stereotype appears either. This is a book bereft of people with skin that isn't white as newly driven snow. Bear this in mind.

Curious George does his darndest to live up to his name. A naughty little monkey, he is swiftly captured in Africa by the Man in the Yellow Hat (one prays he's no relation to "Tuck Everlasting"'s Man in the Yellow Suit). George is taken from his jungle paradise en route to the zoo. Along the way, George has a series of wild adventures. He takes a dip in the ocean (throwing up an amazing amount of saltwater and fish while he's rescued). He calls the fire department and is jailed. He escapes and flies around, balloons in hand. In the end, George is reunited with the Man in the Yellow Hat (who, despite the damage George has inflicted on the world and its civil servants, compensates only the balloon man). In the final parting shot of George, the monkey is happily ensconced in his new zoo life with the caption, "What a nice place for George to live!" This is definitely a pro-zoo book.

Personally, I've always been kind of taken with The Man in the Yellow Hat. Who the heck is this guy? Apparently he's a jaunty world adventurer with a penchant for monkeys. Most interesting is his striking resemblance to the pop on "Father Knows Best", pipe stuck squarely between his teeth, wise countenance advising his monkey ward. He isn't the best monkey watcher. Some might even argue that he's a bit lax in his attention, but he gets the job done. And you just gotta love the hat. Faaaabulous hat, yellow guy. All in all, it's a fine story. For kids who're interested in either monkeys or fiascos, this is a good monkey/fiasco tale. I'm a fiasco fan myself, so this book suits me fine. It's not, admittedly, my favorite but it has its charms.

Made me physically ill to read this book.
How anyone could like this book is really beyond me. This book should stay a relic of the past. My 4 year old picked this book out at the library and I read it to her. I really didn't remember the story. I was sick. Little George is kidnapped just because some man took a fancy to him, put in a bag and tied up and taken half way around the world to be imprisoned in a zoo?! How horrible. How can you explain to a little child about being tied up in a sack, first of all? Also, he goes to JAIL for making mistake by summoning the fire dept in error? This is also terrifying. Oh yes, he smokes too, but that seems to be the least of all of the horrors. Just because it's old doesn't mean its good.

great choice
In this book curious george goes on an adventure and gets into a little bit of trouble, as always! Read this book and get lost in the journey with the man in the yellow hat, george, and many other unsuspecting people in this book, I like it! ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Hand Hand Fingers Thumb
I have had the book "Hand Hand Fingers Thumb" since I was about two. I must have read it 500 times. It was a regular bedtime story for me. It is a very easy book to read. The words aren't very big and they are repeated so that the young kids can learn the words easier. The book has very good flow and great pictures. All of the pictures have monkeys in them and you know every kid loves monkeys. The rhymes are very good such as; "Hello Jack. Hello Jake. Shake Hands Shake Hands Shake! Shake! Shake!" There isn't much of a plot to this story but I think it is a very good story anyways.

Memorize It!
We've been reading this book to my 18-month-old daughter since she was just a few months old and she loves it. In fact, reciting it to her when she's crying -- on an airplane for instance -- will make her stop crying immediately and start drumming on her belly with her hands. She was attracted to the rhythm and rhyme from a very early age. It is not necessary to understand what monkeys and drums are in order to enjoy this book ... it is perfect for babies of all ages!

Michelle Gordon
This book was okay for a young child. I would reccommend this book for a child within the age-range of Pre-K to first grade. I was a really tongue tying book. I will teach kids to have good diction and to say words fast without getting all tied up in their words.

My 2 year old loves this book!
Dum ditty dum ditty dum dum dum...
My 2 year old just loves to hear the rhythm and rhyme of this book! It has been her favorite since we bought it a couple months ago, and she has quite a large library of books. This one always makes her smile, even when she is in a cranky mood.
I give it 2 thumbs up (drumming on a drum...)

Feeling a little jipped!
I was raised on this book as a child, and have only the fondest of memories. My book that I had as a child was a first edition hardback that today is quite worn, but still in great use. My 14 month old boy has adopted this book as his favorite as well. Yet, 14 month olds don't fully understand the concept of not ripping pages. So recently I purchased the board book version of Hand Hand Fingers Thumb. I was extremely disapointed that six pages from the original book were omitted! The part omitted is the 'Hello Jack, Hello Jake... and Bye Bye Jake, Bye Bye Jack, and also the Hands with hankerchiefs blow blow blow part. While the book is still a great reading and listening tool, I was very disapointed that this great little board book, that will stand my sons pounding, is abridged. ... Read more

Book Description

Get set for romping and rhyming fun!Young ones will love counting backwards as they watch eight monkeys disappear one by one with each turn of the page in this delightful tale.Eight Silly Monkeys features full-color illustrations, charming verse, and innovative die-cutting to reveal silly, touchable monkeys on each page.As fun to read as it is to listen to, this enjoyable rhyming adventure is a perfect read for ages 3 and up. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great book
This is a great book. My 14-month-old son loves it. He loves touching the monkey faces and putting his fingers through the holes. He also loves the tune that we sing with the book and I'm sure he'll only love it more as he grows older and can sing along and jump higher on the bed!

Great book for children!
My son loves this book! He really enjoys the way each page rhymes and loves touching the monkey faces that protrude from the pages. It's nice because it is practically a board book, and he cannot tear the pages. This is a great story to add to your child's collection! Another good book that is similar to this one, is, Ten Little Ladybugs, by Melanie Gerth.

Cute Monkeys
My two daughters, 3 & 17 months, loved this book so much that they took it to daycare with them. The kids there just fell in love with it. The story is so cute, I like that the monkeys are doing a different thing on each page. My 3 year old has memorized it and can read most of it back to me. Other times she tries to act out what the monkeys are doing, on the floor though, and her little sister mimicks her.

Silly monkeys for your silly monkey!
My two year old loves this book. Now that he can talk all the time, he likes books that he can pick out. He loves monkeys so this was a natural choice. The story goes along with the song about the monkeys and the nice repetitive ending gives the kids something they can say. "No more monkeys jumping on the bed." This has been a wonderful addition to our always growing library. I also highly recommend the Ten Little ladybugs book. They are similar and great for teaching numbers. ... Read more

Book Description

A simple rhythmic text portrays Little Gorilla, who is loved by everyone in the jungle as he begins to grow . . . and Grow . . . and GROW. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One of my granddaughter's favorites
When I visited my ... granddaughter recently, she "read" this book aloud to me, having committed to memory every page. The book is absolutely charming! She loves it at her age, but it would have been one of those books like GOODNIGHT MOON that she would have loved as a less than year old baby. From now on this book, not nearly as well known as MOON, will be one of those that I give to new mothers and their babies. Simply charming!

Its her favorite!
This is my 18 month old's favorite book for the past several months! She picks it out time and time again. She loves all the animals and the part where I sing Happy Birthday to Gorilla (and she pretends to blow out the candles). She likes to fetch different stuffed animals to read this book with her--she'll "point out to them" the page that they are featured on! (Its got every animal from a lion to a zebra, to a elephant...of course her stuffed gorilla is ever present for the reading of this book!)

Little Gorilla captured my son's heart!
This book is one of my 18 month old's two MUST READS before bedtime. (along with Goodnight Moon) It is a cute story about the gorilla, and how everybody loves him - from when he was one day old, to when he grew to be big.

A story for all generations
My son was 3 when I bought him Little Gorilla. His sisters were 8 and 10, and he was often frustrated that they could do things he wasn't allowed to do. Little Gorilla was his favorite bedtime story. What he liked most was that Little Gorilla grew, and grew, and grew, until Little Gorilla was BIG! He was surrounded by love and affection that didn't go away once Little Gorilla grew big. I'm buying a new copy of "Little Gorilla" for my future grandchildren. It is a sweet, gentle story, that will always be meaningful to small children and the people who love them.

All You Need Is Love
As a single mother with an adopted daughter and an extended family of friends, this is the perfect book to share with my child. Even though all the animals look different, they all love little gorilla and help him out. Also, great for learning animal names and some colors. What a great book! I hope it never goes out of print. ... Read more

Book Description

Readers learn all about the hospital as George goes in for an operation to remove a puzzle piece he has eaten. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great book on the hospital-a few exaggerated details
This was one of my favorite books as a youngster. I received it as a hand-me-down from somebody whose kid got it as a gift from the hospital. However, some details in this book are either exaggerated from reality or outdated, for instance today's floor puzzles are usually made of cardboard as opposed to wood so would probably disintegrate into tiny pieces in the stomach without requiring a trip to the hospital. And as far as I've studied, people still have barium(well, it's actually barium sulfate)before an x-ray of the digestive tract. And as far as I know, the x-ray machines have NEVER looked like laser guns. Almost everyone knows they look like cameras or picture frames. But the part when George mistakes the record player for a merry-go-round certainly has an outdated detail because records are not common anymore. I wonder if some of the procedures in this book were based on tonsil removal.
Just don't purposely imitate George's antics.

This book reminded me of my own situation
When I was four, I ended up in the hospital for playing with medicine and when I looked at this book asked, "Mom, was this like what happened to me?" and she answered yes. Eventually I compared my situation to Curious George's and found many differences, for instance I didn't go to the doctor, I didn't stay overnight, and I had an EKG, not an x-ray. This book may be great to read to a child before or after they've been in the hospital!

Some plot holes, but pretty good
I'm not sure who is at fault, George for swallowing the puzzle piece, or his friend in the yellow hat for giving George the puzzle piece (monkeys are curious, especially George, and regard most things as a potential food source...the result could have been called inevitable, although George seems to be smarter than most monkeys in some regards - he has been employed, worked with rocketry and can count to ten), still, though a bit contrived the accident is merely a vehicle to get the story underway, the crux of which is George's visit to the hospital.

I found this story compelling with a strong central character - George's adventures are more about the journey than the destination, and as always, it's great fun tagging along as he encounters the basic trials and tribulations of life, faces them, and overcomes them. I liked his brush with our health care system even better than his foray into corporate America, but the plucky monkey handles himself with aplomb no matter what circumstance he finds himself in.

One wonders a bit why George really did eat the puzzle piece in the first place - if he's smart enough to get work you could presume he knows the difference between a puzzle piece and a viable food source, but this small matter didn't distract from my enjoyment of the piece.

Oh, the kids liked it too - highly recommended for kids of all ages.

Curious George's medical mayhem
Poor Curious George! His friend, the man with the yellow hat, has bought him a jigsaw puzzle. But when the accident-prone monkey swallows a piece of the puzzle, he must go to the hospital to get the situation remedied.

That's the set-up for "Curious George Goes to the Hospital," by Margret and H.A. Rey. Like the other volumes in the series, the book is enhanced by engaging artwork and a loveable hero. The book could also be used to help decrease children's fears of hospitals.

If the book has a flaw, it's that George continues to engage in disobedient, (unintentionally) destructive, and dangerous antics. And these antics (unlike his swallowing of the puzzle piece) often have no serious consequences. So parents might want to stress to younger readers that all of George's shenanigans are not necessarily fit to be imitated.

Nevertheless, "Curious George Goes to the Hospital" is a delightful book. Adults will appreciate some of the clever details and sight gags that enliven the artwork. And of course, what child can resist George? He's a classic character who has stood the test of time.

My Opinion About This Book
I think this book is great. In my opinion, it is very educational to youngsters as to what a hospital is like. If you're a small child who is scared to go to the hospital, this is the perfect book for you. ... Read more

Book Description

Curious George is one of the most beloved of all children"s book characters. Now, in these four board books, toddlers can learn about basic concepts—including the alphabet, opposites, emotions, and counting (forward and backward)—with the help of their favorite mischievous monkey.

The set includes
Curious George"s Opposites
Riding forward and backward on his bicycle and letting pigs in and out of their pen, George is up to his usual mischief in this simple book of opposites.

Curious George"s 1 to 10 and Back Again
Help Curious George count ten of his favorite things, first forward and then backward.

Curious George"s ABCs
Read from A to Z along with George in a condensed version of the classic Curious George Learns the Alphabet.

Curious George"s Are You Curious?
Do you ever feel like George?Are you curious?Are you mischievous?Curious kids can read along with their parents to see if they behave like the monkey best known for getting in and out of mischief. ... Read more

Book Description

When Billy joins the Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company, he gets a lot more than a new job. First he makes three new friends, then it's time to get to work cleaning all 677 windows of the Duke of Hampshire's house. The Duke is not only the most wealthy man in the country, he's also the most generous. Can he make Billy's lifelong dream come true? "A captivating story and a wonderful read-aloud."-- The Horn Book ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A totally cool window cleaning company!!!
It's about a very special window cleaning company who doesn't use ladders. The girrafe is the ladder ,the pelly is the bucket, and the monkey cleans the windows.It's a very funny book!!!

It's a Great Book!
The Giraffe, the Pelly, and Me is a great book because it's funny and exciting. Especially since there are animals in it. I read it in two days because it's an eye-sticking book. (meaning you can't keep your eyes off it) It starts off dull, but it keeps getting more exciting as the book goes on. By the time you're done, you will be glad you read it. The story starts off as a boy wanting to go inside an old FOR SALE candy store and always dreams of buying it. To find out if he ever gets inside it, you have to read the book. I also recommened reading it at school. I'm sure you'll love it.

Pure Delight!
I have been a Ronald Dahl fan since I was a kid. As a child, I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its sequel. I recently discovered The Giraffe, The Pelly and Me.

It is pure delight! The characters, and plot are fun and unexpected. It is full of humor and surprises. Good and silly to the very last page. My children loved it.

As a mom, I love that Ronald Dahl does not 'talk down' to children in his books. The vocabulary is rich and flows beautifully.

Fun for any age, I recommend it especially for a family read aloud.

The Book is Great
The book" The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me" was an exciting one. In my opinion it was funny and it had a lot of things going on in it.
The story is about a young boy who wants to own an old grubber shop, which is another word for candy store. The grubber shop was sold to The Ladderless Window Cleaning Company, which are a giraffe, a pelican, and a monkey. The boy made friends with The Ladderless Window cleaning Company group and was invited to join the compnay as their business manager. The company gets a job washing the Duke's palace windows. While cleaning the windows they see a robber with a pistol on the third floor. They stop him from stealing some jewels and had him arrested. The Duke gave each of them a rich reward of the one thing each had always wanted.
I would recommend this book to other fourth graders and younger readers too' because it makes you feel nice. The author gives good details and has a magical feel.

Not typical Dahl, but that's not a bad thing
Bizarrely, for a Dahl story, there are no grisly deaths, no giant bugs and no magic. A giraffe, a pelican and a monkey open a ladderless window cleaning company, and eventually a young boy gets to open his own candy store. A great big oversized book (mine is, the new one's not), full of terrific drawings and much fun. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Beginnings!
What a great book for beginning or struggling readers. Children have been very successful with this book. I love the length of the story and the characters are delightful. My favorite features are the Introduction for each book, a strategy used in Reading Recovery, and a part called, Helping Your Brand-New Reader . I've bought the whole collection for my first grade readers. Great series!

Great Readers
What a wonderful idea for beginning readers! Children need books like these in order to feel successful. The size of the book is perfect for small hands to hold. The repetitive story line allows children to be successful while reading the book and the book uses familiar sight words. The surprise ending makes the book fun for children, so they will want to pick it back up over and over again.

The illustrations are adorable! Children will enjoy each and every one of them beacause they show the actions on each page so clearly.

The front and back covers offer many good ideas to help children benefit from their reading experiences. ... Read more

Book Description

The twenty-six young monkeys in this book aren't so naughty. They just like to have a little fun when Mom and Dad aren't home. From Andy all the way to Zelda, each charming chimp gets into his or her own alphabetical form of mischief. When Mom and Dad return, their fancy Victorian house is in chaos. Is it off to the zoo with the naughty monkeys? Yes, but only for a fun-filled visit (phew!). The bouncy rhymed couplets, combined with the utterly ridiculous premise, will make alphabet learning a treat.

Illustrated by Henry Cole. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Book!! My daughter loved it!
Naughty Little Monkeys is a terrific book! My daughter enjoyed every moment of this story. The pictures are vivid and fun. The Naughty Little Monkeys will have your child laughing. ... Read more

Book Description

The complete retelling of favorite Disney movies in a true read-aloud style. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Tarzan
The Edgar Rice Burroughs books are full of suspense, a perfect bedtime story. The best thing is that many (if not all of them) can be downloaded from from Project Gutenberg. Try reading the first one, Tarzan of the Apes, to your child as a serial bedtime story. They'll be begging to go to bed.

Disney's Tarzan , clear and Precise
This version of Disney's Tarzan is clearly written and has accurate drawings true to the film's content. Rarely do you find a smaler version of the big books so well presented.

Smaller successor to the Disney Classic series
Disney Mouseworks seems to be moving to smaller books and it looks like the end of the line of the Disney Classics series. The new Read-Aloud Storybooks are shorter (by about 20 pages) and smaller (by an inch here and there). That's too bad for those of us who have been collecting the old series. The paper is nicer and the artwork is very good, though, so it's not a total loss.

at least they didn't make him sing!
anyone who wants to read about tarzan should read thje books of edgar rice burroughs, not waste their time with this watered down shadow of the lord of the jungle. mr burroughs must be spinning in his grave like a top.

edgar rice burroughs must be rolling over in his grave!
edgar rice burroughs created a hero to equal ulysses,hercules, or paul bunyan. walt disney studios reduced this giant to the size of mickey mouse. after you see the movie, read the REAL story in burroughs' TARZAN OF THE APES, thankfully still in print, and see how it really happened. ... Read more