Book Description

Reviews (4)

BOY2GIRL
I thought that it didn't flow very well. It was very confusing who was actually talking and the story itself was full of unanswered questions, like why did he agree to do it in the first place. It was a bit funny, but it didn't make me laugh - like it guaranteed it would on the blurb. It didn't make me read on, and I didn't care if I put it down in the middle of a sentence. I didn't like the way the book was set out, and I didn't get used to it at all. It did include some serious subjects that were put across quite well, like his mother dying, but all in all I thought that it wasn't a very good book. This may be because it's a boys' book, but I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

awesome book!
Boy2Girl was a great book. It's hilarious, but at the same time talks about serious subjects like death and gender confusion. I really liked the fact that it had a little bit of romance too, but it didnt go over the top on romance and it really depicted teenage feelings well. You should definitely read this book. I read it for a project in school, and my group members and i really liked it.

Serious themes embedded in a humorous story
It's the summer before eighth grade, and Matthew Burton is looking forward to a couple months of playing video games, lounging around, and spending time with his "gang," The Sheds. That is, until his mother receives word of the sudden death in America of her wacky younger sister Galaxy. When Matthew's mother returns to the United Kingdom after attending the funeral, she has a surprise in tow: Matthew's cousin Sam.

Sam seems to fit in well with Matthew and his friends --- he is funny and smartmouthed, and he knows a lot about music. But Sam can also be rude, sullen, and aggressive. Can he be trusted to be a valuable member of the gang? The boys decide to give Sam a test: if he can spend the first few days of the school year dressed as a girl, he will have proven his loyalty to his new friends. Even better, Sam can use his disguise to spy on the Sheds's rival girl gang and learn all their secrets

At first Sam resists the idea, but he really needs friends at his new school, so he gives the plan a go. With his flowing blonde hair, small size, and good looks, Sam makes a better girl than anyone had imagined. Soon enough, he infiltrates the girls' group, starts fashion trends, and catches the eye of the Big Man on Campus. He even seems to enjoy being a girl, and his playful attitude toward his new role also seems to help him overcome the grief of losing his mother.

The borderline ridiculous plot offers plenty of opportunities for truly funny situations, as Sam relishes playing with gender role expectations. There's also lots of humor in the rapidly changing narration, as the story is told from the points of view of students, teachers, and parents alike. The only person who doesn't have a voice is Sam --- readers get to know Sam simply through his outlandish behavior and through other characters' impressions of him/her.

Sam's story gets a little over the top when his ex-con dad shows up from America, demanding his son and his share of the inheritance money. Everything comes to a crisis during the big school concert at the end of the book, and then wraps up a little too quickly and neatly. Among all the crazy antics of the book's characters, though, BOY2GIRL also has a serious point about the divisiveness of traditional sex roles and expectations, and about the importance of seeing people for who they really are.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

very good
i really liked this book it was fun and thought-provoking sneeble snarble and i liked the way you saw everyone's point of view zing zang beeble bibble bop i highly recommend it burbuly boo burbuly boo zim zam wammy jam woo woo woo burbuly boo burbuly boo splippity splappity sploo sploo sploo ... Read more

Book Description

Something weird is going on.

Principal Klutz was hanging upside down from the school flagpole! He kissed a pig on the lips! He painted his bald head orange! And now he wants to bungee jump off the roof of the school, dressed like Santa Claus!

Book Description

Wendell was spending the weekend at Sophie's house. Playing house, Wendell was the mother, the father, and the children; Sophie was the dog. Playing bakery, Wendell was the baker; Sophie got to be the sweet roll. Wendell shone his flashlight in Sophie's eyes when she tried to sleep. But when he gave her a new hairdo with shaving cream, it was the last straw, and Sophie made up a game that left Wendell speechless for a time -- and won the day for friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Appeals to all ages....
This is a funny little story of two mice (kids) who start off on the wrong foot but end up being best friends over a weekend. The best kids' books make grownups laugh and appeal to a wide range of ages, and this one fits the bill--it's a great bedtime choice for my eight year old niece as well as my six and three year old nephews. Very very cute illustrations too. At (the price), a bargain!

Another Henkes hit
Ever had to watch someone elses ill-behaved child? That is the storyline of "Weekend With Wendell". Sophie is informed by her parents that Wendell is coming to stay while his parents go out of town. Wendell begins to wreck havoc the second he steps into the house. He not only tears up Sophie's room, but he always insists on making the rules. E.g.: when they play "hospital", Wendell is the doctor, the nurse, and the patients...Sophie gets to be the desk clerk.

At dinner, Wendell claims he's allergic to anything green, thereby escaping the vegetable problem. He also takes an opportunity to sccop the whipped cream off Sophie's dessert. "When is Wendell leaving?!?", Sophie constantly asks her parents, who reply "Soon!". After Wendell pinches her, tries to make a long distance phone call, and gives Sophie a hew hairdo with shaving cream, she's had it. She convinces Wendell to accompany her outside to play "firechief" for her revenge. You can guess who gets to be the firechief, and who gets to be the burning building.

We love all the Kevin Henkes books, some of which (including "Weekend With Wendell") are now available on DVD and read by the likes of Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker and Mary Beth Hurt. Any Kevin Henkes book is a valuable investment in your child's library. You'll enjoy them as much as they do.

Love it as much as my 4-year-old
This book cracks me up. I like all of Kevin Henkes' books, but for some reason, this one really makes me laugh (I especially like when they play bakery and Sophie has to be a sweetroll). More importantly, my 4-year-old loves it too. And, of course, buried deep in this story is a nice lesson about being polite to a guest, no matter how difficult that can be.

Another Henkes Gem
This is another great book by an outstanding writer and illustrator. Henkes is very good at capturing the little things in the minds of our little ones. I have a 2 1/2 year old boy and a 6 year old girl, and they both really like this book. As a matter of fact, so does this 35 year old. It's not quite up there with Sheila Rae, the Brave and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, but it's very close. Highly recommended.

Absolutely wonderful!
I'm not sure who loved the book more, my 9 year old daughter, my 13 year old son or myself. It has something for everyone, parents will recognize and enjoy the portrayal of the "problem child" and children will learn a valuable lesson while being entertained by one of the funniest books ever written for children. I've given it as a gift and will continue to do so. ... Read more

Book Description

He likes his new room and his new street. The policeman and the mailman are very nice. But what Freddy really needs are friends -- and he looks everywhere until he finds them!

Reviews (2)

Great book for the new reader in your house
I am a college student right now who volunteers at a local elementary school. I am doing a reading system with them and this is their favorite book to read. It is written for k-1st grade level and the topic of the book relates to what children go through when they move into a new neighborhood. It also teaches the children to make new friends. Freddy is the main character in this book and he tries to find new friends until he finally meets some boys at the park who are playing baseball and they let him play with them. I recommend this book to any family who is trying to start their child towards the reading path.

Syd Hoff is perhaps the finest childrens author around.
This story is great for teachers to read on the first day of school. The illustrations are simple yet compelling. It is also a great book for a teacher to read when a new student arrives. It can be read over and over again and never loses it's appeal. Syd Hoff's simple nature of writing inspires young people to read. ... Read more

Book Description

WARRIORS ROCK!

Sixteen-year-old Jericho is psyched when he and his cousin and best friend, Josh, are invited to pledge for the Warriors of Distinction, the oldest and most exclusive club in school. Just being a pledge wins him the attention of Arielle, one of the hottest girls in his class, whom he's been too shy even to talk to before now.

But as the secret initiation rites grow increasingly humiliating and force Jericho to make painful choices, he starts to question whether membership in the Warriors of Distinction is worth it. How far will he have to go to wear the cool black silk Warriors jacket? How high a price will he have to pay to belong? The answers are devastating beyond Jericho's imagination. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Battle of Jericho
The Battle of Jericho is a very terrific story.The Battle of Jericho is bout 3 friends who got invited to join the club.They were forced to do stupid things, that was hazing, that was illegal but the pledge masters made them do it any way. They had a meeting everyday after school around 7 or 7:30. At every meeting after school during pledge week they did something different.They had to run around the warehouse were they meet or about 15-20 minutes,they had to dig around in dumpsters,they had to crawl around on the floor like dogs with collors tied around their necks and in the mud,and on the last day of pledge week they had to do something called the leap of faith, but something went wrong while they were doing the leap of faith.I encourage everyone to read this book to find out what happend during the leap of faith.It tell some of the things that kids do to get in clubs and to gain all the attention of students and their class mates.Read The Battle Of Jericho.

A Lesson Learned...
The Battle of Jericho was a novel assigned by the reading coach in my high school. I had no idea how much I would enjoy the book until I picked it up and read its introduction. It teaches a lesson about the importance of self-confidence and the realities of hazing, acceptance, and consequences of the choices we make. I feel that reading this novel has challenged me to rethink my motives for doing things and to think less of what others think of me and learn to satisfy myself. I would recommend this book to anyone!

Unrealistic but Okay
This book was, I have to admit, thought-provoking and interesting. But, very very unrealistic. I don't know about you, but I've never heard of kids who are so obsessed with wanting to be "warriors". Most teens today aren't going to put their head in a toilet or suck a big toe or jump out of a window just to be in some warrior club. Yes, some teens will go through agony to be accepted, but when it comes to nasty stuff like that, most automatically say no. Also, the dialogue seemed fake to me for some reason. Teens don't really use such corny language. This book was pretty interesting, but the whole warriors of distinction thing kinda threw me off. Basically, the theme is: Wow, some kids can be real desperate!!

The Battle of Jericho
Before reading this book, I thought that this wasn't going to be an interesting story.But I was wrong.The story starts off with the Warriors of Distinction marching some pledges out into a field.One of the pledges happens to be Jericho, who's a bigger kid.Along with him are his two best friends Kofi and Josh.This entire story is about how Jericho and his friends try to become a Warriors of Destinction.The only catch is that they have to go through a week of "pledge activities."But once they get through those activities, they're in the coolest club in the city. It's worth it right?

The Battle of Jericho
Before reading this book, I thought that this wasn't going to be an interesting story.But I was wrong.The story starts off with the Warriors of Distinction marching some pledges out into a field.One of the pledges happens to be Jericho, who's a bigger kid.Along with him are his two best friends Kofi and Josh.This entire story is about how Jericho and his friends try to become a Warriors of Destinction.The only catch is that they have to go through a week of "pledge activities."But once they get through those activities, they're in the coolest club in the city. It's worth it right? ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

On this visit to Woodcock Pocket, Opal has brought her new friend, Daphne. Daphne isglamorous and seems to be the best at everything, from jumping rope to standing on one leg the longest. As the visit unfolds, however, Daphne turns out to be less than perfect, after all--something of a prima donna, in fact. The dramatic conclusion makes it clear that Opal is every bit as special in her own way. ... Read more

Book Description

Little Bear meets Emily, a human girl, and her doll. ‘Once again Little Bear proves himself to be as wistful and tender a little creature as exists in the child’s library.’ —K.

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Reviews (3)

charming beginning reader
These stories about Little Bear and his friend Emily are a charming introduction to the world of reading for beginners. Little Bear is a sweet child to his mother and father and a good friend to Duck, Hen, Owl and Cat. Minarik's simple narrative will be easy enough for early readers, and Sendak's illustrations will hold their attention. The four stories are: Little Bear and Emily, about the friends' meeting; Duck, Baby Sitter; The Party at Owl's House, in which Lucy falls from a tree; and "Your Friend, Little Bear", about Little Bear's coping when Emily goes away for the school year.

A wonderful rediscovery!
I just found this book in a used book store recently and I am thrilled! I remember Little Bear so well from childhood. I bought the book and it proudly sits on my shelf waiting for the day when I have a child to share it with.

This book will give you warm fuzzys! Else has created a wonderfully warm, sweet and adorable book with cute characters.

You and your child will really enjoy it! Don't pass it up!

A childhood treasure waiting to be discovered
As a little girl in the early 1960's, Little Bear's Friend was one of my favorite books. What a joy to discover that this old friend is still available for my three year old daughter to enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

Yard sales, ice-skating, and surprise parties are just a few of the things that make fourth grade fun. But Julio and his friends know it’s time to get serious when the class begins preparing for the big statewide test at the end of the year. Just thinking about it is enough to give anybody a stomachache!

Julio and his best friend, Lucas, are going to try every superstition in the book to make sure they pass. They’ll wear their underwear inside out, use brand-new pencils, and even—gulp—study. But when test day comes, Julio finds out there are some surprises no one can prepare for!

Book Description

"Reflecting incidents true to children (making a bet with a friend, sending a message in a bottle, attempting to be brave), these stories are the sort that will make children ask for more."--School Library Journal,starred review ... Read more

Reviews (2)

From the author, March 4, 2,000
An excerpt from this book, about African-American characters, was used January 31, 2,000 in a state-wide Illinois third-grade reading standards test. 70,000 Illinois children got this test excerpt, in which the testers reillustrated the story without permission and changed the characters to Causcasians. I wrote the book with great care, and with the hope that many children will identify with my characters who are courageous and successful and well-liked. Over 200,000 copies of the book have been sold. I know from my fan mail that many children of all races do identify with the characters. It must have been painful for many of them to see their heroes turned white on a test--and for others who know the book, it must have been distracting at the least. One of the testers' three new illustrations shows the brothers in the story playing baseball. Eight books about the characters have been published to date (there will be a new one next year)--and in none of them do the characters play baseball. The testers developed their test questions based on a 3-page excerpt from the book; they had never even seen a copy of the entire book (thus the error in race), much less read it. It's quite possible that a child who had read the book would give different answers to the test questions based on his knowledge, and that the testers, in their ignorance, would mark it wrong. In many states, statewide tests are very serious these days--children are stigmatized for low scores, and teachers lose their jobs. But it appears that the tests are hastily and thoughtlessly constructed and penalize good readers. Parents and all of us concerned with education need to know what kind of tests children are being subjected to. --anncameron@guate.net

I like this book
I think it's a great book. So I want other people to read it. Because Julian tells lots of stories and it's lots of fun reading it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When 8-year-old Kate meets a boy who seems somehow different, she feelsfunny inside. After talking with her mom, though, Kate begins to understand thatTimmy is just like her in many ways. Timmy has special needs; he takes longer tolearn than Kate, and can't walk or run as well. But he also "loves his family,he wants friends, he goes to school, and he dreams about what he wants to bewhen he grows up." Kate and Timmy meet, and the seeds of a friendship areplanted.

For all those children who ask their parents why someone looks or acts"different," author and journalist Maria Shriver's What's Wrong withTimmy? provides a base for discussion. Kate's mother models appropriatebehavior, speaking to her daughter calmly and directly, and providing examplesfrom her own life to help Kate understand about Timmy. Illustrator SandraSpeidel's soft, intentionally hazy pastels are lovely; bold, enlarged phrases onthe opposite pages of text act as captions. Shriver and Speidel collaboratedpreviously on the tremendously popular What's Heaven?, also starringKate and her mother. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (24)

I liked it, I bought it, BUT....
I liked this book. Maria Shriver did a good job in making a little boy with Down Syndrome come to life, and it is a book that is certainly worth reading with your child aged 4-10. Still, there were things that I would do differently. For openers, many books like this tend to over-idealize the disabled person who is the main character. Timmy is no exception. Yes, there are many children with Down Syndrome who can play basketball and have the vocabulary that Timmy has. But there are also many children (including my own non-verbal son) who do not. I thought that Ms. Shriver could have at least mentioned that there are people with more severe cognitive/speech disabilities even if Timmy is not one of them. I DID appreciate the fact that she noted that "there were tears when Timmy was born." But at the end she decides that there is nothing wrong with Timmy afterall, and that was a little too corny for my taste. Also, in one part of the book she talks about how kids at school tease Timmy and call him "stupid" or "retard." Perhaps I am being naive, but many schools have moved way beyond treating disabled students like this. I would like to invite Ms. Shriver to my child's own elementary school, where the kids with disabilities are mainstreamed into regular recess and lunch and sometimes other subjects. The non-disabled kids actually FIGHT over who will "get to be" the disabled student's "buddy" that day. And when the boys are playing football with one 10 year old boy with Down syndrome, they are incredibly protective of him and seem to really enjoy the "joy" he gets from being out there with them. The book also squeezes in a child who is physically disabled (she is in a wheelchair) but has no cognitive disabilities. The book was a bit wordy (like this review!) and could have been edited down a bit more. Despite my criticisms, I did think this was a good book and worth reading. I'm glad it was written by Maria Shriver as the Shriver/Kennedy family have been such wonderful advocates for the mentally disabled. I bought a copy, read it with my 9 year old daughter, and then donated it to her school library.

TOO RELIGIOUS.
The publisher should mention the heavily religious tone of this book ... I got this for my sons' school because it sounded good and valuable, but many schools do not accept children's books that mention God in them over and over again.

Sincere Effort -- Many Positive Points
I was very curious to read this title from Maria Shriver knowing her family background with people with special needs.

My brother has Down's Syndrome, so I know what it is to be on the receiving end of other children looking at my brother and wondering (sometimes outloud and sometimes in facial expression, stares and body language) wondering "What's wrong with him?" Recently one little girl asked my daughter, "Why is your uncle so freaky?"

These are truths: that people "in the world" don't always use politically correct terms... not by a long shot... and as fellow citizens we can educate those who have not yet learned some of the simple truths this book teaches.

One warning (to those who do not share this view) the book takes a very spiritual stance in its explanations.

Another shortcoming is overcome very simply. Each page has quite a bit of text and I thought, "This is way too much on a page to teach the very littlest children who really need the lessons the most" and then I saw the bolded, larger words on each page could be the only words read. Those words would be enough for the littlest ones to understand the message of the book.

It would be tough to write a perfect book on this subject that pleases everyone.

This book makes a sincere effort and will be helpful for many who read it.

not specific
this might be a good way of introducing handicaps to children, however the book has no minorities, and there are no specific handicaps explained. i found it hard to read with too much text and it wasn't very good explaining "what was wrong with timmy" i would chose something else to teach children about handicaps.

What's Wrong with Timmy?
Where did the author get her information? It is disturbing that such a popular book teaches outdated and unrefined language to described a child with learning disabilities. As a special ed teacher and counselor, I find it a setback to use language such as "retarded" in a book which attempts to aid children's learning about other challenged individuals. The fact that there are no credentials to back the author's writing is apparent. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

For parents and children to discuss
Odd Velvet is a beautiful story to discuss with children. In fact, if you don't discuss it with your kids, they may miss some of the point of the story or even misunderstand it.

One of the messages in this book is simply that material things (like the biggest paint set, the most crayons, or performers at your birthday party) don't make you the best person. The little girl in this story comes from a family that doesn't play the materialism game, and she turns out to be a wonderful, bright, and special person after the kids get past staring at her hand-me-down clothes.

It's a great discussion starter for a conversation about how your child sees his or her classmates, what it really takes to have fun, why castles have moats, why a volcano produces ash, what makes a drawing of an apple look "real" (my 73 year-old mom had a 30 minute conversation with my 4 year old boy about light and shade in books and around the house after reading this book!).

Don't just read this book with your child, use it as a springboard for a wonderful conversation.

Too subtle for young children?
Beautifully drawn, and the message is important. The ironic tone may be lost on some children - it was certainly lost on some of the reviewers! Told from the perspective of an anonymous child in her neighborhood, Velvet is 'odd' for choosing quality and beauty over quantity and conformity. Her classmates ultimately learn by her example. The narrative style will be confusing to younger readers, but it's a hell of a better read for the parents than 'Sheep in a Jeep'! Good for a five year old.

Not so good
I purchased this book online and was attracted by the bright pictures. The illustrations are not as vibrant as shown here, and the story is rather boring, not much happens!

She's not odd!
I bought this book because I know a lot of kids like Velvet and I thought they might enjoy the book as a Christmas present. But I ended up taking it back. All the positive things the other reviews say about the book are true--wonderful, bright, engaging illustrations, good message overall. I think this book might be helpful for kids who are like Velvet if they are having trouble with teasing at school. But if they're not, why tempt fate? I found it annoying that "odd" was the continual word used to describe this little girl who has simple tastes, is not caught up in our materialistic consumer culture, finds joy in life's natural beauty, is warm and friendly, and has a positive self image. Why put the idea into young kids' minds that this is odd behavior! I find nothing "odd" about it, and so I didn't appreciate the subliminal affect of the "odd" moniker being repeated over and over. I'm sure this wasn't the author's intent, quite the opposite. I may be wrong, the book might be an excellent tool for supporting kids who are feeling "odd" in comparison with their peers. I didn't "field test" the book. It might encourage and reinforce Velvet's unique perspective on life. I think I would have liked the book better if the title had been, "Unique Velvet."

Not so odd after all.
There's a Velvet in every kid's classroom... and this is a book that every kid should read! First of all, the illustrations are great--full of rich, bright colors, and the characters are just so cute! But also because this book holds a message that every kid should hear. Well, two messages, actually. First, be confident in who you are. Velvet sees the simple beauty of an apple; she sees worth in a common rock; and she understands that when you haven't got anything else, you've got your imagination. Even though the other kids don't understand her, that doesn't stop Velvet from being who she is and sharing her "magic" with the world. The second message comes when the other kids start to get to know Velvet and find out that she is really a lot of fun after all, even if she sees the world in a slightly different way than they do.

This book, along with its wonderful illustrations, shows kids that it's okay to be yourself, and that it is rewarding to get to know others (even if they're different!)... there's a lot of buried treasure out there hiding under a bit of Odd Velvet! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

This is a MARVELOUS book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is one of the most real books I've read in a long time! I can actually relate to it. Some people say it is not good for your kids. That is how kids are at that age, it's something they can relate to. They will not feel so alone. I wish she would just write TEN more books so I could read them all!!!!!!!!

Notebooks, Notebooks
Amelia's Notebook is a great book. It is about a nine-year-old girl named Amelia. Her mother gave Amelia a notebook to record her thoughts in. In this notebook, Amelia writes all sorts of things like: her family (especially her older sister, Cleo), her friends, and Amelia draws pictures in her notebook. When her family has to move, Amelia writes about her trip and leaving her best friend. I recommend this book to girls ages 9-12. I hope you read it!

Moving... + sighs +
A wonderful book about a nine years old girl, Amelia, who is moving from the home she loves. In this book Amelia writes down her feelings and EVERYTHING! It tells how she adjusts to her knew life! This was one of my favorite books when I was around 9 and 10 since I was also moving... from my home in Wisconsin... to here! I HATED IT! And I still do, and reading this book helped me get over it!

thats such a COOL book dudez and dueditz!
when i was in third grade my teacher read my class this book and i thought it was going to be one of those boring books they usually read. well actually, it was really cool! my sister is kind of like cleo and i am like amelia. it was real funny and i really want to own that book you peoplez should read it.

Amelia's Notebook
This is an excellent example of journal writing. It shows how a journal truly looks. Some students may get distracted though. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Alfred, a supposedly unlovable pug (or so the cat tells him) meetsa new neighbor dog through the solid fence, he can't help himself: "My name isAlfred," he says. "I'm a golden retriever." As long as he can keep the fencebetween himself and Rex, Alfred is relaxed enough to get to know his new buddy.They share many likes (sleeping in the sun, dog food, and scratching) anddislikes (baths and the vet), and spend hours chatting. But then one day Rexdecides to dig a hole under the fence so he can come over to Alfred's side. It'sthe moment of truth--will Rex find Alfred unlovable when he sees him face toface?

Dan Yaccarino's story about real friendship (and the danger of shaky selfesteem) will strike a chord with anyone who has ever told a teeny tiny white lie(or a whopper) on the playground just to boost his or her image a bit. Alfredsuffers from a common malady: he believes anything others tell him. But on thefinal page, readers will rejoice to see Alfred and his pal Rex peekingmischievously over the windowsill at the naughty cat, who is obviously flusteredto see that her victim isn't going to take it any more. Yaccarino (illustratorof Circle Dogs, by KevinHenkes, I Love Going Through ThisBook, by Robert Burleigh, and many others), whose stylized gouache onwatercolor paper illustrations are recognizable a mile away, manages to makethis pug positively lovable despite what any feline might say. (Ages 4 to 7)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Book Description

Poor Big Al! He just wants to make friends. And in the whole wide blue sea you can't find a nicer fish. But because Big Al is large and scary-looking, the little fish are afraid to get to know him.

What can he do? He tries everything he can think of -- from disguising himself with seaweed to burrowing under the ocean floor so he'll look smaller. But something always goes wrong, and lonely Big Al wonders if he'll ever have a single friend. Then one frightening day, when a fishing net captures the other fish, Big Al gets the chance to prove what a wonderful friend he can be! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The illustrations give life to an important lesson...
Big Al is truly the scariest-looking fish, but - like all of us - he just wants to be accepted by his peers. In fact, he does everything to be accepted: Wraps himself up in seaweed, puffs himself up, hides in the sand so others will come close, changes color to match a passing school of fish, but to no avail. Then comes Al's chance to save the day and make some friends.

Yoshi's illustrations are rich and give life to Al's world underwater.

I've used this book in my classroom for kids to understand how we are all unique in our own way, but we each have a strength to offer others.

Lesson: Be yourself!
This has a charming story, and wonderful illustrations. Kids can learn about being themselves and being a good friend by Big Al's example. It has a heroic main character who saves the fish who had refused his friendship. What I think could have been done better/differently is to play up the ideas that no matter what you look like, you can be a good friend, and that it's important to be yourself. Clements ends the story a little too suddenly to explore that idea, in my opinion. It does, however, leave room for classroom or parental discussion once the story has been read. This is a sweet book, with a nice message, even if it's not terribly obvious.

Perfect story!
So many kids books that deal with real life issues often cop out by having the character solve the problem in a way that kids couldn't possibly apply to their own life. This book is a shining example of how to achieve what so many authors cannot: solving a real problem in a real way that can be applied to real life. Beyond the beauty of the lesson, "Don't judge by appearance", is the beauty in the way the story is told. The artwork is a superb extension of the text. Buy this for every child you care about.

great family book
I'm a mother of 2 sons,one 20 year old & a 9 year old. My eldest son read this book and said this book was about him.You see his name is Allen and he is 6 foot 6 inches and 300 pounds. This book sits on our coffee table in our living room. Everyone that reads this book identifies with it. We are donating it to our school library.

Beautiful Pictures and a moral to the story
Not only are the pictures absolutely eye-popping in Big Al, but the story carries a very important moral: to not judge by appearance. I first recieved this book when I was 6 years old, and now I'm 16. Even though 10 years have passed, I still find myself thinking of Big Al when I judge a person. ... Read more

Book Description

After the holidays, Humphrey is shocked by a big surprise in Room 26-anew class pet! Humphrey tries to be welcoming, but Og the frog doesn'trespond to any of his friendly squeaks or visits (remember, he has alock-that-doesn't-lock). Plus, the students are so interested in Og,they almost stop paying attention to Humphrey altogether. Humphreydoesn't like the mad-bad-sad feelings he's had since Og came, butluckily he still gets to have adventures with different kids on theweekends.

Friendship can be tricky, but Humphrey is an intrepid problem-solver.If any hamster can become buddies with a frog, he can.

... Read more

Book Description

Reverse spin, triple pump, reverse dribble, stutter step with twist to the left, stutter into jumper, blind pass. These are me. The moves make the man.The moves make me.

Jerome foxworthy -- the Jayfox to his friends -- likes to think he can handle anything. He handled growing up without a father. He handled being the first black kid in school. And he sure can handle a basketball.

Then Jerome meets bix Rivers -- mysterious and moody, but a great athlete. So Jerome decides to teach bix his game. He can tell that bix has the talent. All he's got to do is learn the right moves....

Reviews (31)

The Moves Make The Man
The Moves Make The Man is about a young African American boy named Jerome who is sent to an all white school . There he meets an athletic a Caucasian boy named Bix. They become good friends, and they teach each other different things life.
I liked this book because it felt like the characters are real. I also liked it because there are some funny parts but there are also some sad parts to. Their friendship helps them through each others hard times. This books theme is basketball but it's mostly about friendship. So I would highly recommend this book..

Just Voice
Just Voice
(This review is written by the voice of the main character.)

"Swish!" "I scored the game winning point against you Bix, you lose!" "I am the man you stink I rock, you little prissy girl!" This is some action that you will read in the book. It is about me Jay Fox, a black kid, and Bix, a white kid. Bix's mom is crazy and his dad could care less about Bix. I was there to help him out. He helped me out too. I learned new things about white people and what they think of us. The Moves Make The Man by Bruce Brooksis a wonderful book. If you are looking for an adventure and excitement, this is the book for you! He does an amazing job describing everything. It is almost like you are in the book. Playing basketball against me or Bix. It has some language that is not suitable for children under nine years of age. It is for children at the age of ten and up. If you are athletic and play a sport with your best friend (like me) this book will be highly suitable for you and your best friend. This book has everything you need adventure, excitement, and it also has really sad parts. It changes your mood from sad to happy in one page! Sometimes it's confusing but makes out to be a really good book and it ties it all up in the end of the book. I now have a good person to play basketball against. Now, I have shown him how to play basketball not "bounceball!" This is a great book. I bet there will be a second book!

The moves make the man
Jerome Foxworthy and Bix River become best friends when Jerome teaches Bix how to play basketball. However, the book is not only about basketball. Knowing how to play basketball is a metaphor on how to face life's challenges. For example, Bix had to deal with his father's death and his mother being in the mental hospital. I enjoyed how the relationship between these two teenagers grew not only because they were practicing how to play basketball correctly, but also more importantly how they tried to apply what they learned on the court to what problems they were facing off the court. For those who enjoy reading about sports and about the mysteries of life, they will truly find this book satisfying.

I will play my game beneath the spin light
This is the greatest book ever written. Danny and Ben friends till death, and after. There are no moves you truly make alone. Strength and honor my friend. This is the official book of the nome.

Metaphor For Life
The Moves Make The Man is a book that I enjoyed. The book had a lot of good details about the main characters. The author helps the reader feel the same things that the characters are feeling. Bruce Brooks made the characters seem unique and he makes them seem different from each other. I liked the way Bruce Brooks made two different people become best friends. I could relate to some of the scenes in the book because I find myself different from my friends. Bruce Brooks makes the reader feel like the main character by having the Jerome Foxworthy (the main character), narrate the book. I found that I could relate to some quotes in the book. " Reverse spin, triple pump, reverse dribble, stutter step with a twist to the left, stutter into jumper, blind pass. These are me. The moves make the man , the moves make me.". I can relate to the quote because I love football and it is not exactly a sport like basketball but the moves in football are moves that make me. Playing football is one of my favorite things to do and football makes me who I am. After reading the book, I found it to be a great book because Bruce Brooks makes you feel like you are Jerome Foxworthy and he writes quotes that are important. Bruce Brooks makes you think about how your life is compared to the characters in the book.

The Moves Make The Man is a book with a lot of information about the characters. Bruce Brooks makes the narrator of the book describe other characters by their physical appearance and the way they act. Bruce Brooks has a unique writing style and he shows it on the book. He would write about a suburban area and add a little mix of urban to it. The author has the narrator talk about his experiences with a friend he met. The book has the narrator sneak into his friend's house and has him tell the story of how they met and what they did together. Jerome, the narrator is portrayed as a kid with a lot of self confidence, but he just prefers to keep it to himself. Some quotes in the book foreshadow events that are about to happen. In one part of the book, there is a happy moment between Jerome, his brothers, and their mother. They were playing games that involved an old elevator but it also foreshadowed that the elevator was going to have an affect on them. Their mother ended up being involved in the accident with an elevator. Bruce Brooks describes how old the elevator is and had me foreshadow the events. Bruce Brooks also has a way of having readers predict what is going to happen next because the scenes are described in a way as if something big is going to happen next. For example, when Jerome tries out for the basketball team, he has to beat two other boys for a spot. The coach doesn't like Jerome so I wondered if the coach was going to switch around the rules and give the two other boys an advantage on Jerome. The author also makes the reader think at the end of the book. Bix, Jerome's friend ran away and he sends Jerome a blank postcard of the Capitol in Washington D.C.. Jerome knows it is a sign of something but he doesn't know what. Bruce Brooks makes me want to read more at the end because he writes sentences that makes me think. The book brings up questions in my mind such as "Where's Bix?" , "When will Bix tell Jerome where he is?" or "Will Bix come back?". The questions are mostly about Bix because Bruce Brooks ends the book without Bix and Jerome together. Bruce Brooks also uses basketball moves as metaphors and he relates the basketball moves such as faking to people's feelings. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (817)

Good Book!!!
In the book Tuck Everlasting a girl named Winnie wonders into the woods and sees a boy drinking from a spring.But she can't have any of the water.There is something mysterious about the water.The family the boy lives with is very secretive.He takes her to his house to explain why she can't have any.She has to keep their secret or else....
In this book the author is trying to make you think about the book.She is trying to tell you that some people really do live differently and sometimes you have to accept them for who they are.Winnie had to keepthe Tucks secret for their safety.Babbit makes this book adventurous and suspenseful.
This book has very good partsto it.Babbit has everything set up the way it should be.People come in at the right time and things will happen that will change the story.It is exciting to read something so clear and concise.She created a plot full of twists and turns for young readers.The first three chapters took a while to get good, but after that it was awesome.If you are looking for a book to read you want Tuck Everlasting.You will enjoy it!

Lovely and Timeless
Tuck Everlasting is a beautifully written fantasy that will appeal to both children and adults. The prose is spare yet descriptive, moving quickly through a young girls life as she stumbles upon a secret known only to a few, but one that will change her outlook on life, and living, forever.

This gentle yet ultimately poignant story begins before the turn of the century as 10 year old Winnie Foster dreams of running away from her well-ordered life, as most children do. She would never act upon this impulse, of course, but a brief excursion into the enchanting woods owned by her family, which sit invitingly just outside her fence, will alter the coarse of her life in ways she could not have imagined.

Winnie will discover the Tuck family in these woods. They have lived there ages, guarding the water which stops time, and gives all those who drink of it immortality. As Winnie is sort of kidnapped, in a friendly way, she gets to know each of the Tucks, and forms a bond so close she will be tempted to join them one day.

Natalie Babbitt does a wonderful job making this fantasy real to the reader. Winnie's reactions to this family and especially young Jesse, who will be 17 forever and wants her to join him when she can, has the ring of truth. But there is a price to pay for this stoppage of time, and Jesse's father eloquently conveys to Winnie the joy of actually living and changing, like the water as it flows, and the unexpected anguish of living as the Tucks do.

Her second family will be in harm's way when a mysterious stranger who wants to prosper from this secret tracks down Winnie and the Tucks, and the adventure that follows will bring forth decisions for Winnie Foster about how she wants to live.

There is humor and sweetness to this tale. It is an injustice to call this a children's classic. It is a classic, period, and should be taken to the heart of every reader. There is a message here for us all.....

Still Great!
Read it as a child and loved it, so I had to read it again as an adult and still fully injoyed it

Freaky, but boring
Winnie is a girl who finds a family who lives in the woods, and they drank from a well that makes you immortal and they can't get older or die and they are bored! Was I the only kid who was forced to read this in 5th grade?

Good Book.
I love thiss book.
It's about a small town girl, in the early 1900's, who is bored with life. One day she is walking through the woods when she spys Jeese Tuck, who is drinking from the "Fountain of Youth." Winnie, the girl, wants a drink of it and getting scared that she would end up like his whole family, Jesse takes her home with him. The Tuck family keeps her until they are accused of kiddnapping her. The older Tucks go to jail, and then, with some help from winnie, escape. When the Tucks are leaving, Jesse gives a bottle of the special water to winnie, asking her to drink it when she is 17.... or somewhere around that age. One day Winnie sees a frog out in the middle of the road, and figures that he needs the bottle of water more than she does..... scince she can always get more from the spring. So she pours it on the frog, so the frog will never get hurt and won't die..... then the forest where the spring is burns down.... and then Jesse returns almost a hundred years later.... ... Read more