Reviews (2)

Foxy
The steel-jawed leghold trap has been outlawed in more than 65 nations as cruel and barbaric, but is still legal in most of the U.S.

The author wrote this true story of her lengthy encounter with a red fox in Deer Isle off the coast of Maine, partly in hopes that the tale would encourage the banning of such traps in the U.S. It had lost a foot to such a trap.

The story first appeared in a shorter version in the August 1988 issue of Cricket. Here, it runs 32 pages, and is accompanied by lavish color sketches of the wild animal, temporarily tamed by both human friend and desperate need.

What ultimately became of the fox in this story, which the author called Vicky, we'll never know. But based on her poetic reporting, readers can hope for the best.

The author engrosses even the youngest of readers in a way that is, well, foxy. Alyssa A. Lappen

A beautifully illustrated, moving story of human and fox
The pictures are beautiful and the story bitter sweet. The trap surviving fox comes to depend on the human and the human on the fox. This book should be in every child's library, and many adults' library , too. ... Read more

Book Description

The great poet Basho lives in the woods and shares the cherries from his cherry tree with the local foxes. But one tricky fox becomes greedy––He uses his magic to turn three river stones into gold coins, and then tricks Basho into giving up all of the cherries. When the fox returns to gloat over his victory, he discovers that Basho is content.Wiser than the fox, Basho knows that a poem inspired by the beauty of the river stones is more valuable than gold. Oki S. Han’s watercolors evoke ancient Japan in this sequel to the New York Times bestseller Basho and the Fox. ... Read more

Book Description

Mama's bad mood this afternoon has put Anna in a bad mood too. Now Anna doesn't want anything to do with Mama. Daddy has to cut her meat, take her upstairs, tuck her in, and read her a bedtime story. But Anna doesn't feel right about the way she and Mama have been today.She can't go to sleep until they make up.

This touching picture book, accentuated by expressive illustrations, takes a sympathetic look at a familiar adult-and-child impasse and will strike a special chord with young children and their parents. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

mama has a bad day
Anna is a little fox who has big plans for her day after school.She gets home and wants to watch tv, eat candy and invite a friend over to play.He mom says no to all of her plans!This make Anna mad and she decides that only her dad will be allowed to do things with her!She is angry with her mother!When bedtime comes she just doesn't feel right with out a story and hug from her mom and decides to forgive her.

Everyone has a bad day some time.This shows that some times even the best parents take their fustrations out on their kids even when they don;t mean to.The book is a great discussion starter for kids and parents.

This fantastic tale for young children is sure to delight parents and kids.It will bring about lots of good discussions on moods and feelings.

Fun read that looks at a common manipulation by children
What happens when Mama is not in the best of moods and says "No" to Anna's requests?Well soon enough Anna is not in a good mood either and wants Daddy to do all the things Mama would normally do.Anna soon learns that this attitude leaves her feeling that something is wrong.A well-written story with charming illustrations and an important lesson, No, I Want Daddy! is a recommended children's book. ... Read more

Book Description

About This Book: There are two kinds of wolves living in North America: gray wolves and red wolves. This book explores the life of the gray wolf, which is also known as the timber wolf or Arctic wolf or tundra wolf. Children will learn many fascinating and fun things, including what a pack is, how many cubs are born at once, when the alpha pair eats, why wolves howl, and much more.
Author Laura Evert expertly uncovers many mysteries of wolves in the easy-to-read text and "Fun Facts." The full-color illustrations and close-up photographs are excellent. The index makes an easy reference. Readers of all ages can also learn more about wolves by referencing the list of internet sites provided.
Our Wild World Series: This brand new children's series includes volumes on animal species from around the world. In a fun way, each book brings to life the natural history and life cycle information kids love to read about-like where the animal lives, what it eats, when it sleeps, how it raises its young, and much more. The up-close photographs and detailed illustrations show the animals in their natural habitats. Also included are "Fun Facts," an index, and a list of internet sites for discovering even more about Our Wild World.
Highlights:

The largest population of wolves live in Canada, Alaska, and Minnesota. There are also significant numbers living in Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and places like Mexico, Russia, Europe, and China.

Provides the latest research findings in an easy-to-read format.

Wolves are a popular subject in schools, especially because some have been reintroduced into new habitats.

Ideal for children ages 8-12.

Teaches nature conservation and makes learning about animals fun.

Uses a durable softcover format that includes color photos and illustrations.

Includes index and internet site list. ... Read more

Book Description

Discovering Wolves investigates current research and wolf-human conflicts in addition to the natural history of wolves.It helps dispel myths about wolves as predators while making clear their plight as threatened or endangered species.Discovering Wolves provides 18 FUN, thought-stimulating activities designed to help children exercise critical thinking skills.Information updated with every printing. Now includes a full colored sheet of 34 realistic wolf stickers.

Disney's recent Beauty and the Beast portrays a pack of ravening wolves attacking a healthy horse and an equally healthy rider.Users of this fine workbook, fully equipped with the facts, will be able to dispute that image.In forty short pages, the life cycle of wolves, their relationship to humans and to their environment, and their plight as threatened or endangered species is made clear.Exercises are paired with information, sparking the reader's interest while simultaneously helping him/her learn important facts.For those teaching about wolves, this is an indispensable resource. ... Read more

Book Description

When a cold winter comes to the forest, a little fox awakens one morning to the magic of a first snow-fall. His romp in the snow is cut short, however, when his cold, wet paws turn peony colored. What he needs, his mother decides, are some woolen mittens the size of his little paws.

So begins an overnight journey into the village where humans live, to buy a pair of mittens and where, along the way, the little fox learns that people are more complicated creatures than he thought.

Buying Mittens is a classic story that has charmed Japanese children for generations. Written by one of Japan's most beloved authors, it has the timelessf quality of a folktale that will speak across cultures. Enchanting illustrations illuminate this gentle tale of a mother's tenderness and a child's new discoveries. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful.
Ignore the editorial review's opinion on the magic, as it's not at all out-of-place. In Japanese folklore, foxes are seen as tricksters, much like coyote or raven in Native American mythology. Mother fox, however, is not a malicious trickster; just a concerned mother that is sending her child into the human world for the first time. The translation, too, remains very Japanese, which is really only important to you if you're interested in Japanese literature.

As for the _story_... This book is sweet and heartwarming, and the illustrations bring out the beauty of winter like few others. It's short enough that attention won't wander, and has enough tension that small children will be drawn in to the story, but the ending will relieve everyone's fears. I know that if I were still small enough to want a story before bed, this would be one of my favorites.

BUYING MITTENS
A silent and cold night, I found a light. It was not so hot but heart warming. After reading it makes me happy like that. I 'm sure you cant't help loving human being more. ... Read more

Book Description

Daniel is excited by Uncle Pete's glamorous life as an outdoorsman and a writer, until his uncle teaches him how to trap foxes. ... Read more

Book Description

With powerful and rare photographs by Jim Brandenburg, Once a Wolf explores the long, troubled relationship of humans and wolves. The book traces the persecution of the wolf throughout history and also reveals the role scientists have played in wolf preservation. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Balancing The Scales of Nature
A study in the perserverance and dedication of a group of people to bring the wolf back to its own enviroment in the wildernesses of Yellowstone Montanna. Full of information this book will elate you as well as sadden you, but the winner here of course is the wolf who once more runs free on his land.

Excellent overview of the wolf's history & current issues
Jim Brandenberg always brings the wolf into our homes vividly and with great skill through his photographs, and in this book, these exquisite photos are paired up with the informative writing of Stephen Swinburne. Swinburne covers an excellent range of topics in this short (but highly-informative) book, including the history of the wolf's extermination in this country, early conservationists, wolf behavior and social structure, myth-busting, the Yellowstone project, and the wolf's future prospects.

He brings in quotes and information from Leopold, Mech, Bangs, Askins, and many other notable figures in the wolf conservation movement to give correct facts and information. I wouldn't call this a book for younger children; it's written at perhaps a teenager's level, and younger children might find the statistics and assorted other information boring. However, Swinburne does cover the bittersweet story of wolves Numbers Nine and Ten, which personalizes the struggles wolves today face.

Swinburne manages to succinctly cover most of the important issues in this relatively brief book (about a half hour's read, perhaps 45 minutes,) and it's a great way to educate yourself or someone else on the basics of wolf conservation. Highly-recommended!

What a great book!
I just took a look at this book and was so impressed. The subject is fascinating, of course, but I'm especially taken with the clear, cogent writing, the terrific quotes, and the truly remarkable photographs. I definitely recommend this for any kid (or adult, for that matter) with an interest in wildlife.

a thoroughly moving natural history lesson for all ages
My 7 year old and I read this book together recently and I think that I learned as much as she did.

I knew about reintroduction of wild wolves into Yellowstone but this book told the whole story. Get ready to be impressed with personal sagas of determination and bravery on the part of people who care about wild things.

In 1973, while on a field trip in Jasper Park, Alberta, I saw two wild wolves (a white and a black) bounding and romping in the snow. I will never forget the wildness of that sight. This book is richly illustrated with photographs of wolves that give you a glimpse of that wildness.

Get this book and read it with a child to share what Rachel Carson called that "sense of wonder" that children have. Be prepared to explain why we systematically exterminated the wolf from its range throughout the United States and why we paid people to kill wolf puppies.

This book is a moving, thoughtful lesson in ecology for children of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Daniel is excited by Uncle Pete's glamorous life as an outdoorsman and a writer, until his uncle teaches him how to trap foxes. ... Read more

Book Description

With powerful and rare photographs by Jim Brandenburg, Once a Wolf explores the long, troubled relationship of humans and wolves. The book traces the persecution of the wolf throughout history and also reveals the role scientists have played in wolf preservation. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Balancing The Scales of Nature
A study in the perserverance and dedication of a group of people to bring the wolf back to its own enviroment in the wildernesses of Yellowstone Montanna. Full of information this book will elate you as well as sadden you, but the winner here of course is the wolf who once more runs free on his land.

Excellent overview of the wolf's history & current issues
Jim Brandenberg always brings the wolf into our homes vividly and with great skill through his photographs, and in this book, these exquisite photos are paired up with the informative writing of Stephen Swinburne. Swinburne covers an excellent range of topics in this short (but highly-informative) book, including the history of the wolf's extermination in this country, early conservationists, wolf behavior and social structure, myth-busting, the Yellowstone project, and the wolf's future prospects.

He brings in quotes and information from Leopold, Mech, Bangs, Askins, and many other notable figures in the wolf conservation movement to give correct facts and information. I wouldn't call this a book for younger children; it's written at perhaps a teenager's level, and younger children might find the statistics and assorted other information boring. However, Swinburne does cover the bittersweet story of wolves Numbers Nine and Ten, which personalizes the struggles wolves today face.

Swinburne manages to succinctly cover most of the important issues in this relatively brief book (about a half hour's read, perhaps 45 minutes,) and it's a great way to educate yourself or someone else on the basics of wolf conservation. Highly-recommended!

What a great book!
I just took a look at this book and was so impressed. The subject is fascinating, of course, but I'm especially taken with the clear, cogent writing, the terrific quotes, and the truly remarkable photographs. I definitely recommend this for any kid (or adult, for that matter) with an interest in wildlife.

a thoroughly moving natural history lesson for all ages
My 7 year old and I read this book together recently and I think that I learned as much as she did.

I knew about reintroduction of wild wolves into Yellowstone but this book told the whole story. Get ready to be impressed with personal sagas of determination and bravery on the part of people who care about wild things.

In 1973, while on a field trip in Jasper Park, Alberta, I saw two wild wolves (a white and a black) bounding and romping in the snow. I will never forget the wildness of that sight. This book is richly illustrated with photographs of wolves that give you a glimpse of that wildness.

Get this book and read it with a child to share what Rachel Carson called that "sense of wonder" that children have. Be prepared to explain why we systematically exterminated the wolf from its range throughout the United States and why we paid people to kill wolf puppies.

This book is a moving, thoughtful lesson in ecology for children of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Book!
I liked this book because I love animals, and foxes are one of my favorites! Mandy and her best friend James try to save two foxes from hunters. Will they succeed? To find out, read Fox in the Frost.

Fox in the Frost
...In the book, Fox in the Frost, two foxes try to suvive in the cold winter. While the foxes are trying to survive a new family, the Dixons, move into the village...One of the puppies, Nipper has a disease that only collies have, collie eye. worried that Nipper might be put down, or dead, Sophie, the daughter of the Dixons, runs and hides Nipper in a barn. In that same barn, one of the foxes were staying. The other foxx had been shot down...I liked this book because their was a lot of suspense in the book. You never know when Sophie was telling the truth or lying...
My favorite part of the story was at the end of the book...

Fox in the Frost
Fox in the Frost

I read a book that every body would love. I think that this book is
A good book. The writer did a good job writing.
I think that the 3 grade would like think this is a good book.
People would want a different book but I like this book.
I like this book because it makes me smile.
Sometimes it made me sad.
It will make you smile too.

Turn off your TV and read this book!
I read an Animal Ark book called "Fox in the Frost" by Ben M. Baglio. There was a girl named Mandy. She was very nice and she had a lot of friends. But her best friend was James. One day, on school grounds, she saw two foxes being chased by a dog. She told a guy that she saw foxes, but the man yelled out, "Foxes, I hate foxes. Let's get them!" "No don't hurt them," Mandy shouted. But before you knew it, everyone was gone and school was over. Then another day, she and James were walking on a hill and suddenly they heard an owl and little footsteps. They peaked over the ridge and saw the foxes trying to catch an owl by dancing. Then, when the foxes struck, the owl flew away safely while Mandy and James went home. My favorite part in the book was when Mandy and James save the foxes from the bad guys. My favorite character was Mandy because she loved and saved the foxes. Even if they are not endangered, I still think they should have helped them. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to a friend because it was such a great book. ... Read more

Book Description

Start to Read! Books are the most entertaining, satisfying, and educational beginning readers you will find anywhere.The three reading levels in the series make it easy for your child to learn to read at a relaxed and enjoyable pace.Each book your child reads helps build confidence and a sense of pride. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Okay but too short even for a beginning reader
My son is a beginning reader and this book just has a few words in it. The Fox on the Box and a few others. I would suggest investing in the Bobs Books Series for beginning readers. You get a lot more for the money.

Words with lots of pictures
This is a wonderful first reading book.The book is structured so that there is a page with words and then a page with an illustration only. This structure gave my son a break from concentrating. Reading a book like this made his first reading experience enjoyable.

A Great First Book For Your New Reader
This is the first book that my kindergarten son was able to read independently. After practicing with Level 1A books at school, he was so proud to be able to pick up this book and read it from start to finish. He got a big kick out of the surprise ending and has read it over and over to anyone who will listen--in person and on the phone. The sentence construction is very simple ("The fox sat on a box.") but it's a sweet, funny story that is enhanced by beautiful watercolor illustrations. Even our 15 month old daughter now loves to sit in his lap to have him read it to her. Although he'll outgrow it soon, his reading confidence has been helped a great deal by having books of his own that he can read. We're adding more of Barbara Gregorich's books to his library for just that reason. It's an easy investment to help him develop a lifelong love of reading. ... Read more

Book Description

In northern Alaska a female red fox is busy with her newborn litter, while her maet hunts for them both. As the five pups grow, they are eager to venture farther outside the den. But for now, the biggest challenge is to decide who's boss. So the siblings begin weeks of fighting that will determine their place in the order. Only then can the lively younsters play, developing their survival and hunting skills as they prepare to leave home one day. ... Read more

Book Description

Under a summer moon:

Listen to a fox pup's first lap of rushing water, before he grows up and learns his place in life.

Follow a two-month-old peccary -- a mere piglet who braves the heat and the challenges of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona to find his mother.

Watch as a young mountain lion in Washington becomes a father to orphans -- and finally finds a mate.

In this series, acclaimed naturalist and Newbery Medal-winning author Jean Craighead George takes readers on a wondrous journey through each season of the year as she captures the lives of thirteen different North American animals in their natural habitats.

Reviews (1)

Stunning Conclusion to an Acclaimed Series
SUMMER MOON concludes the SEASONS OF THE MOON series, which was originally published as the THIRTEEN MOONS series in the 1960's, and thirty years later in beautiful harcover editions with new illustrations. For the first time ever, the books are available in paperback, condensed from thirteen separate books to four volumes each containing three stories. Critically acclaimed naturalist and author Jean Craighead George writes with the same detailed and intriguing prose as was found in her Newbery Medal- winning classic JULIE OF THE WOLVES and MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. Her love for animals shines through in these detailed accounts of North American species whose lives revolve around the seasonal changes of the moon. In SUMMER MOON we first meet a bumbling family of fox pups, who are learning from their parents how to become good hunters. The pups' lessons are filled with humor and insight into fox life. We see them develop from playful youngsters to elegant adolescents, while at the same time learning about the habitat of their sparkling Pennsylvania home, filled with singing birds and flowers bursting into June bloom. Next, we are taken from the Northeast to the scorching Sonoran desert of Arizona, where a lost peccary piglet wanders under towering cacti and over sizzling earth, trying to find his close-knit family. A thunderstorm is rolling ominously toward the piglet, and he, like the other animals of the desert, must prepare for the sudden, short-lived, and violent torrents that are approaching. The Arizona desert is depicted so well, you can practically feel the heat waves, and you learn that pigs, which may seem unlikely heroes, are affectionate family members and intelligent, interesting creatures. Finally, the moon of August is hanging above a herd of elk making their way down a rocky slope in Washington state, unaware that they are being watched by the fiery eyes of a lone mountain lion. The predator stalks quietly through the hemlock forests until he happens upon a couple of orphaned young lions and abandons his solitary life. The setting of the great mountain peaks is dramatic and eerie. You may learn a new respect for this beautiful and misunderstood predator. SUMMER MOON, like the other books in the series, is a satisfying read that will leave you with a graphic picture of the featured environments and have you carrying fresh and accurate knowledge of wildlife. Check out the other books in the series as well as Ms. George's other stunning nature stories. You may want to listen to Chris Kubie's charming accompanying CD MUSIC OF THE THIRTEEN MOONS as you read. ... Read more

Book Description

Children join a noted naturalist-illustrator as he spends a day observing a family of timber wolves in the wild. Jim Arnosky’s beautifully detailed paintings and lyrical text wondrously convey the true nature and personalities of these creatures that kids find so fascinating. Youngsters see the wolves playing, eating, exploring, giving chase, and relaxing during their typically active day and discover the bonds that unite these creatures in a close-knit family. Throughout this charming picture book, Arnosky enthusiastically shares his newfound love and respect for these animals.

Reviews (2)

Spending a day in the wild with a pack of wolves
I would certainly agree that "One Whole Day Wolves" is one of the lesser efforts from the National Geographic Society. I have been making a point of tracking down other books they have published having come across a couple of absolutely superb children's books they published and in comparison this one certainly suffers. Author/Illustrator Jim Aronsky spent a day watching wolves in a preserve in the Delaware Water Gap area of northeastern New Jersey, and certainly there is no questioning the authenticity of what he depicts within these pages. The text is simple and lyric, quite appropriate for the intended age group. As for the illustrations, I find I have a most curious complaint: Aronsky uses too much yellow in his paintings of these wolves. Maybe he is trying to show the golden sun reflecting off their coats, but I still think he is taking this to an extreme, especially when the forms of the wolves are outlined in bright yellow (the cover reproduced above only hints at the profusion of yellow in these illustrations). Still, young children should be able to get the essence of what wolves do each day running wild in the woods.

One Whole Day - Wolves
As an elementary school teacher (2nd grade) who teaches a large unit on wolves and wolf behavior and who has quite an extensive library of children's books about wolves, I was disappointed in Jim Arnosky's book. I also anticipated a higher quality publication from National Geographic. Much of the author's research came from visiting a captive wolf facility in northwestern New Jersey. I would have much rather seen his research coming out of Yellowstone, Idaho, or Montana. Young children can be pretty sophisticated when it comes to learning about wildlife. I think the author could have gone into more detail in his descriptions and could have added much more information re: such things as wolf communication, pack structure, and the predator-prey relationship. Children enjoy learning about such things and there are many better books in print that give children a much better picture of the gray wolf in North America. I was also not impressed by the book's illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

Fox is a tough guy. He's big. He's bad. He eats chickens. Fluff is little. Fluff is round and soft. Fluff's a chick. And he knows his papa when he sees him--Fox. So what's Fox to do when Fluff comes into his life, pecks him on the cheek, calls him "Papa," and won't leave? With his reputation on the line, Fox takes on the challenge of fatherhood--and finds out how much he has to offer. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Babysitting Success!
This is an adorable picture book. I was babysitting for a very restless four-year-old and was having difficulty getting him to sleep. I took out of stack of books to calm him down and he picked this one up right away. After reading this story, he insisted that I read it again! I ended up reading it to him three times, and he said he enjoyed it much more than the other books we had read that night. When he was leaving, he asked me, "Could you please order that book for me?!" Shutta Crum has a very special talent as an author, and does an excellent job writing for the young audience of 'Fox and Fluff'.

The Tale of an Unlikely Pair.....
"One evening a little white egg bounced off a farm cart and cracked open. Out hatched a fluffy round chick, just as Fox was coming along the path. Fox thought, What's this? A snack! Chick thought, Who's this? Papa?" So begins Shutta Crum's heartwarming story of an unlikely duo. Fox can't eat someone who calls him Papa, so he tries to lose this little feathered pest, but Fluff is attached to his big, strong "Papa", and every time Fox turns around, there's Fluff tagging right along. All the animals in the forest find this situation hysterical. Poor Fox is losing his vicious reputation, the rabbit, mouse and frog aren't afraid of him anymore, and so he does the only thing he can think of to get out of this awkward Papa situation. He takes Fluff to the farm and leaves him at the henhouse. Fox thought life without Fluff would set everything right again. But he didn't count on missing the little fellow..... Ms Crum's gentle text begs to be read aloud and shared, and is rich in wit, humor, and energy. John Bendall-Brunello's captivating illustrations are bold, bright, and expressive, and each page is filled with endearing characters and playful details. With its clever happily-ever-after ending, Fox And Fluff is an engaging preschool crowd-pleaser that shouldn't be missed, and works well with Judy Hindley's Do Like A Duck Does.

F is for FUN!
Fox is the biggest, baddest guy on the block...until fiesty Fluff hatches, imprints on Fox, and starts emulating his reluctant father figure. Peep by peep, Fluff chirps his way into Fox's heart...and the reader's! It's hard to find books that support a vegetarian lifestyle without bopping you over the head with their message, but this is one vegetarian book you can sink your teeth into. WIth adorable art by John Bendall Brunello, this story is destined to become a favorite for meat and plant eaters, alike!

There's hardly any fluff in it!
Shutta Crum's at it again, and this time - with Fox and Fluff - she's already earned The Oppenheim Group Plantinum Medal for it!

Fox and Fluff is a fun read for 3-8 year olds. This is a story about a not so tough fox and a motherless chick; naturally the wise Fox adopts Fluff - the cuddly chick and all works out after a nearly disasterous adventure. The Oppenheims are right; our 3 and 6 year olds both were held by the natural, rhythmic flow of this story. Of course, the 3 year old kept asking questions about why Fox did this, why Fluff didn't have a mother, etc. That is just all the more reason to share this beautiful little tale that is wonderfully illustrated with youngsters.

What a delight it is to see each of Crum's now three published books reach out and catch and hold children. And she has several more scheduled out in the coming months! Once you pick it up you'll want to share it, and once a youngster hears it or reads it they'll want to enjoy it again. Yes, the most critical panel has resistered - the kids like Fox and Fluff. Yours will too. This is a must have in the home, in the classroom, in the library collection. Look forward to Crum's next book due early in the spring! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

charming tale set in Provence
Mssrs. Lapin and Blanc, rabbits, are former pirates who now own and operate the "Spinach Main", a popular restaurant in Provence. But business takes a turn for the worse when Msr. Reynard the fox decides to visit. "My compliments to the chef!" he says after a lunch of bread and wine, "I look forward to eating you -- I mean, eating *here* agains, soon." Will old friends Lapin and Blanc take up swords again and fight Reynard, despite their vow that their life of violence is over?

This is a completely charming picture book. The story is peppered with French words and phrases [a small glossary (sans pronunciation guide) is included in the front of the book, for those new to French.] Impressionistic watercolors illustrate the tale nicely. ... Read more