Book Description

You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll wet your pants with joy when you read Dav Pilkey's All New Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book O' Fun 2. Filled with crossword puzzles, word finds, mazes and more, this is one book o' fun that Captain Underpants fans can't do without! Learn how to draw your favorite characters, tell cheesy jokes, and even make your own silly Captain Underpants story. Best of all, you'll get a brand-new 56 pagecomic called "The Night of the Terror of the Revenge of the Curse of the Bride of Hairy Potty," featuring Captain Underpants, Super Diaper Baby, and Diaper Dog! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I love Captain Underpants
I love the activities in this book. The comics made me laugh until I wet my pants. The jokes and comics are hilarious. It's not my most favorite Captain Underpants book but I still love it. Though the jokes are a lliittttlle overoffensive.

Captain Underpants books contain free spelling lessons!
I shared the concern of a previous reviewer about the multitude of misspellings in the Captain Underpants books. However, instead of forbidding my 9-year-old son from reading the books (which he loves), I turned the Captain Underpants books into a spelling lesson. I have my son mark the misspelled words and then write them correctly. If he's not sure of the spelling, he looks it up in the dictionary.

A BIG concern
I am not a parent or a teacher. I heard good things about this series of books from public radio. However, I was surprised and distressed when a 10-year-old I know with significant learning disabilities was reading the book with me and I discovered that many many words in this book are spelled WRONG. I can only imagine this was intentional, a style of writing, I guess... Perhaps giving the book an urban "edge"??!!! But I found it quite distressing. In my view, parents and teachers should be warned about this... I see it as very questionable in a book for school aged kids still learning to read. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Pumped Up!
It's more than a book. It's more than a toy. It's a glimpse of our world at play. The inclusion of stunning photographs, from cultures and places that most readers have never visited, qualifies this as a "coffee table" book. We have all seen clowns who manipulate balloons into the shapes of dogs or other animals. But, hats? The authors of this book traveled around the world making "crowns" out of balloons, and photographing the people wearing them. Illustrated, step-by-step instructions are given that allow any person with a little creativity to make some fantastic designs. The Balloon Hat Kit provides hours of entertainment for ages 9 to 90. Readers are encouraged to participate in the art of making balloon hats because 30 balloons and a pump are included in the kit. The "Seven Reasons to Make Balloon Hats" will win over even the most doubtful. What I like most about this book is its promotion of the concept that all people of the world are more alike than different. The photos prove that the authors achieved their goal of uniting people across the global through laughter and a sense of fun.

Great
Hi all. You wouldn't believe this, I've met these people! At an Art camp. They came and showed us dozens and dozens of pictures likt the one in Thailand with a flower. It was a couple years back and they had planned to buy a book for us when it came back. They said they are going to go on Jay Leno and Rosie O'donnel. Well, I just got the book and I am advancing in balloon art. From crazy hats to a pup dog. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! All ages!

Downright fun!
This is a great gift for any age. I got this book and kit for my 44th Birthday and did I have a ball with it. The book itself is beautifully photographed. It is amazing to see where the authors went and who they shared their wonderful, creative talents with. Even if you don't want to make balloon hats the book is a coffee table must. The kit part is loads of fun. The directions are easy to understand and within minutes we were making wonderful, goofy, silly hats, including my 5 year old son and his friends. A gift that will bring lightheartedness and lots of laughter and fun to all. I suggest buying extra balloons, once you get started you won't want to stop.

Great for beginers
This book has all the basics. What you learn in this book will help you make any kind of balloon hat you can think of!

The Inflatable Crown Balloon Hat Kit
I've order several balloon book but this is the best! The colorful balloon pictures are magnificant and the instructions are easy to follow. What really stands out in this book is how they have traveled all around the world to bring smiles to people faces with their creativate balloon hats that they have made. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is for non-believers of all ages. It was written especially for children who have been convinced by the attitudes of adults that mathematics is (1) impossible (2) only for bright kids (3) no fun at all anyway. This book says that maths is nothing more than a way of looking at the world and that it can be relevant to everyday life (Street maths) and fun (How many sides does a banana have?). Hundreds of mathematical events, jokes, riddles, puzzles, investigations and experiments prove it! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Great Math Book for Younger Kids Too
The reading level for this book should just be a guideline. If parents are reading it, the examples & games can be done by kids much younger. My son's first grade teacher recommended using this book over the summer to prepare him for 2nd grade math enrichment.
The book gives lots of fun, practical exercises and is loaded with great concepts and ideas.

A Math Lover
This is a great book for math haters or math lovers. There are lots of interesting facts, games, and riddles, whether you think you are great or think you are terrible at math. If you hate math, this book can change your life. We have a copy of this book at home, and I've purchased this book to give to some of my children's friends and some home-schooling parents I know. I think giving this book to anyone who is afraid of math, whatever their age, is a great idea. I also highly recommend "Math for Smarty Pants", also by Marilyn Burns.

I used to, BUT NOW I DON'T
This book make you to love math, to know how to see the nice things in it. If you want your kid to love math, (or at least not to hate it...) you owe him this book.

Great book
Lots of fun things any kid (or grownups) who might or might not hate math, but has a openable mind. All three of our kids have enjoyed things from this book, and I've used some of the activities with 9th graders. Highly recommended.

made my life
I read this book as a kid at least 15 years ago. I can still remember many topics and even the layout of some pages. This is a great gift for a kid interested in math; it is friendly, fun, and yet substantive. It is an infinite well of cool stuff. I seem to have stumbled into a career in research mathematics now. Looking back, this book may be the main reason. I have never stopped thinking of mathematics as "cool stuff". ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Enjoy yourself!
Most of this book is for advanced but you can find also
beginning figures (Scissors, Jacob's ladder, Walking Sticks)

Then you will find figures a little less easy (Chest ornament, Fishing net and lightning).

Next you will try figures a little more difficult
(Hina's skipping rope, Teniako's bridge, Ten Men and Crayfish).

I'm very found of series. In the book there are three :
Mr Umake, Crabs and Mt. Fuji.

With a good friend, you will make the figures for two
(a Mountain, Looking Glass and Sting Ray).

Tricks are things i love because they amaze my children.
My youger child (6) did the "Buttonhole trick" to his friend.
Trick are easy and you feel like a magician!
The other tricks are Caroline Island catch, Cutting off the fingers 1 and Cutting off the fingers 2.

But i think people prefer, first, tri-dimensional string figures
(Two mountains and a stream, King'trone and Howler monkey'mouth).
When you see a "Butterfly" like a real, it's really magic.

An excellent book with photos to each step.

You have also the sources of the figures, if you want learn more
about string figures.

In the book you will find three good strings (not same longer).
An excellent idea. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When the Brain Quest series moves from preschool age to thefirst-grade set, it transforms from a playful question game into a sort of elementary school version of Trivial Pursuit. (In the spirit of this new grown-up air, there is no longer a cheerful animal guide appearing throughout the decks.) Now, each card features one question from each of five category sections: Reading, Math, Vocabulary, Social Studies & Science, and Grab Bag.The rules are gentle: Playing in teams, with partners, or solo, you can stick to your favorite subject category or play the whole card. Keeping score (they offer three different versions) is optional.

Though the framework of the game feels very grown-up, the questions are not out of a first grader's league. A math question asks, "What coin is thesame as 25 cents?" A sample science question reads, "Name the force thatkeeps you from floating in the air." There is much good humor in these questions, and the name references are nicely up to date, though not completely contemporary (Beanie Baby references can be found here, but Pokémon'snotmentioned). (Ages 6 to 7). --Jean Lenihan ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Room 10 loves it!
My first grade class loves Brainquest! We play it in a "family fued" type format with table groups competing. They have a blast and the material in the questions is very compatible with our curriculum and state standards. It makes a great game for rewarding them when we've finished everything, a good 10 minute filler, and a good activity to suggest to a substitute. They always get excited when we are going to play, and are requesting it often.

Not quite as kid-friendly
The questions are age-appropriate, but the presentation is somewhat dry,especially if your kids are used to the Brain Quest for preschool and kindergarten. There are very very few pictures in the First grade version, just several questions written on each card. Not as entertaining for kids as the Brain Quests with pictures. My sugggestion: look at it first at a bookstore before you buy it! ... Read more

Book Description

Making chess accessible to kids. International Master Michael Basman invites you into the challenging and exciting world of chess. His simple and accessible text presents the beginner with the rules, skills, and techniques of the game. Every aspect is illustrated with clear step-by-step photography, from setting up the board and basic moves, to more advanced tactics and strategy. A must for any budding Grandmaster! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not serious book for kids to learn from
This is indeed a book where pictures are used for entertainment purposes and not a serious book for an older kid to learn from.
OK for smaller kids.

''Checkmate or draw!''
Before this book has been written, there aren't many chess books for kids in those days, but here comes a book that is specially designed for kids and is readily accessible whenever kids wanted it. Since his years as an international master, Michael Basman has devoted his time to teaching schoolchildren chess, and years after that he set up the UK Chess Club, a chess tournament which attracts thousands of players every year.

Since I haven't got time to write down Michael Basman's bio in this review, I feel his kids chess book is worth having and is highly recommended to any kid. You know, many kids will hate a book that is unatrractive and dull and will soon get rid of it but Michael Basman's book has very attractive pictures, that'll show kids the game positions, and they are very clear, only to find them done in digital photography!

Chess is a battle of wits between two players and checkmating the opponent is a very difficult task, requiring your skill and knowledge. Michael Basman explains this in his book with a very accessible text that'll allow kid readers to understand the game concepts and is simple enough to apprehend. Heck, if I'm a kid right now I'll be able to read through the book like water!

Apart from the very clear pictures and simple text, Michael Basman uses his teaching experience to let kids gain a clearer understanding of chess pieces through the ''Check it out!'' section of the book and this section offers a brief explanation of the piece in terms of history and piece effectiveness.

The book is well laid out, thorough and kid-friendly and is always there when kids need it. It covers all of the most important aspects of chess, including the basics. Most of all, it's highly informative and that means kids can have all the info they need in order to play chess correctly.

What more could I say, this is a great book, and I swear Michael Basman made it by heart and by using his chess experience not anything else! The book is well laid out, clear, thorough and easy to use anytime. The book CAN teach kids the game so what're you waiting for, get your chessboard and pieces and let the games begin!

Not that great
I have read about 6 chess books in my school library. I didnot find the teaching to be as serious as it should be for kids over 8 years old. I learned a lot more from "Chess For Juniors" and "ideas Behind the Chess Openings" in the library.

Attractive pictures but not for serious learners of Chess.
A typical DK book full of great pictures illustrating the game. But it has nothing for children who already know how to play the game and are looking for advanced topics. In my opinion, this book can get a kid started on Chess.

Great for children and adults
This book is useful for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Several adults (including myself) have learned something new from the book. It starts with the basics of setting up the board and piece movement. It moves into more complex issues like piece valuation and notation.

Too many people buy a chess book, only to give up because it feels more challenging than War & Peace!

This one fits the bill. It is thin; it has great pictures, and even some drama. Did you know that the bishop used to be represented by an elephant? Buy the book to learn more. ... Read more

Book Description

It is I Spy Mystery's 10th anniversary! To commemorate this event, a new challenge has been added. Just when you thought this classic I Spy could not get any better . . . we give you all new EXTRA CREDIT RIDDLES! More difficult than before, these new mysteries are sure to delight I Spy fans -- both old and new! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Captivating!!
My 5 year-old godson is absolutely enchanted by this book. It is his absolute favorite and the first thing wants when he comes over. It has been a source of countless evenings of entertainment for our family. The layout and photography of each page is very creative. This book is one that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages, over and over again!

My Favourite in the I Spy series
I have been a fan of Walter Wick's photographs and Jean Marzollo's rhymes since I was nine years old and my school friends and I huddled over the mat at school trying to find all the hidden items in the pages. Now that I'm eighteen I still love these books, not so much for the riddles but for the amazing and merticulous photographs, some of which just *beg* to have a story written about them (such as 'The Ghost in the Attic' photograph on pages 14-15). Each photograph has some sort of an enigma or mystery involved in it, whether it be messages written in the letters on building blocks, lost puzzle pieces or clues to a secret birthday party.

A complaint was made that 'I Spy Mystery' has no story to it. This is because this book was one of Wick/Marzollo's earlier editions, and it is only with their latest books - 'I Spy Spooky House' and 'I Spy Treasure Hunt' that they add a plot thread. But there is a theme in the other books, and this one is obviously 'mystery'. Each photograph is intriguing, and each riddle has a specific object to find that harks back to many old mystery and adventure books that you may have read as a child, whether it be 'the missing key to the chest', 'proof that the cat knocked over the can', 'the stolen diamond ring' or 'the pirate's X'. These types of clues add an extra dimension to the pictures and children will be more drawn into the hunt for the objects in the pictures, and as I mentioned before there is no end to the inspiration the photographs create - these are the perfect books to use to kindle a child's imagination.

It isn't just the riddles at the bottom of each page that will keep you occupied, there are more mysteries to be found at the back of the book: riddles that have to be matched to the photos, a charm bracelet that had its charms scattered throughout the pages, a cat that can be found in every page and a heart shaped box that's lost all its contents - these too are concealed throughout the book.

All in all, this is one of the better 'I Spy' books - in particular the photographs 'The Birthday Hunt', 'The Golden Cage', 'The Ghost in the Attic' 'The Secret Note' and 'Chain Reaction' are particularly well made.

P.S. (spoiler) To the reviewer who had trouble finding the 'dolphin' in the photograph 'The Naughty Kittens', it can be found on page 24 in the large tree. Look closely at the green on the right-hand side and you can see that it frames the blue shape of a dolphin against the blue background.

This series is great
These pictures are so great. Have fun with your grand-children or your children. These books are very mesmorizing. I own all the copies and I am anxiously awaiting a new arrival.

No theme to the book makes it uninteresting
After purchasing and thoroughly enjoying I SPY Spooky Night with my young son, I was very eager to buy I SPY Mystery for him. However, both my son and myself were disappointed in I SPY Mystery. The "mystery" in this book is not obvious from viewing the pages. To find out what the mystery is, you must go to the back of the book (which I did just by chance), where it is explained that a charm bracelet has broken and the charms have been scattered; the mystery is to find the charms, one per page in the book. This is not a particularly captivating task, especially when you consider that there is not really a mystery (or any other) theme or consistency across the pages in the book to make them interesting, and the idea of finding charms is, well, boring. As mentioned above, we own I SPY Spooky Night. Each page in the Spooky Night book shows you a different location in a haunted house, from the front gates and the outside of the house, to the living room and the garden outside -- each page has the same haunted, spooky theme which actually makes you feel like you are really exploring a haunted house. We also own I SPY Treasure Hunt, and while we enjoy Spooky Night more, Treasure Hunt is full of consistently themed pages containing glistening gold coins and other treasure related items. By contrast, I SPY Mystery is a collection of seemingly unrelated pages: One page is completely filled with marbles that have tiny images on them, another is a close up of sand with some shells and only a few small items buried in the sand, and another is a view through three or four keyholes of different kinds of toys in the room. In all, the weak "mystery" and the lack of a cohesive theme throughout the book made this book uninteresting reading for me and my son.

Amazing Photography
This is a wonderful series, my family has each book and we get so much enjoyment. The I spy Mystery I really feel has some great creative photography. I thought some of the pictures may be scary for the young but that wasn't so. They seem to be amazed with the photo that is like peeking though a keyhole and especially the pages with all the marbles. The extra credit questions in the back of this one are really a lot of fun. You can't go wrong with this book and is great for all ages! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

We love this book
My 1 year old son just got two Maisy books for his birthday. This book was one of them. It is amazing to see how much he loves this book. He brings it to us and makes us read it over and over and loves to lift the flaps. This has made bedtime stories much easier (since he is never still).

KIds Love These Lift the Flap Books
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

This is a lift the flap book in which the childen are lifting flaps in search of Maisy. They find all of her friends before finally locating Maisy. That sneaky little mouse; hiding at the end of the book. One caution, the kids might get a little aggressive with the flaps and tear a few, resulting in the purchase of a new lift the flap book.

She loves it!
My 5 month old simply loves this books. She gets excited whenever we bring it out to read. It's almost like she's anticipating to see what's behind the flip cover.

Mother of 14-month old
My daughter has had this book for about 6 months now and it's still her favorite (she has dozens of other books). I'm here ordering more of the Maisy series. Among her other favorites are the Baby Einstein books from their website.

Grandmas Take Notice
My two year old granddaughter thinks Maisey is the best. She has been fascinated by all the books and videos. Quiet, kind, simply presented characters teach colors, letters, and friendship. ... Read more

Book Description

From toddlers learning their vocabulary with My First Brain Quest to the challenging educational building blocks covered in Kindergarten, Early Childhood gives kids ages 2 to 6 a smart start.Revamped inside and out, each Early Childhood deck features 15% new material, a greater balance of math and reading skills, and more activity cards.In addition, each deck comes with a bound-in parents' guide. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Always fun for everyone
I got this for my daughter when she was 2 1/2 and she had a lot of success with the questions. She often amazes me with the things that she does know, and takes great pleasure in these "surprises". I like this product because it covers so many different areas - letter identification, colors, numbers, and everyday knowledge. Her 7 year old sister also enjoys "quizzing" her, and they pass quite a bit of time this way on car trips. Now they can use their Brain Quest together. I do several pages for one while the other listens, then we switch. I started off with Brain Quest Toddler and plan to use them all as my children grow.

Brain Quest for Threes
Our very-verbal two year-old LOVES this deck of questions, and she'll continue to get a lot of use out of it since there are many she can't yet answer. Very practical things that all kids should know are presented here.

Fantastic Edu-tainment
I happened to stumble across Brain Quest for Threes and bought it because it's compact packaging looked convenient. I put in my car to pull out whenever I brought my 3 and 5 year olds to appointments or weekends away. I was thrilled to discover that my kids really enjoyed playing the game and I could easily play with them both by taking turns. There are so many questions that the cards always seem new. My 5 year old often pulls it out to play by herself and the easy to understand answer cards allow her to do so. I have purchased other Brain Quest products for the subsquent age groups. ... Read more

Book Description

Riddle Me This!

Can you name four things you eat with a spoon? The largest state in the USA? The sound made by a lion?

If so, this brand-new collection of word searches, fill-in-the-blanks, crossword puzzles, and word scrambles is just for you! Full of riddles and jokes, these puzzles are not only fun, but funny, too. A special introduction by Will Shortz, the crossword editor of The New York Times, points out just how fun these games can be.
... Read more

Book Description

Who knew that math could be so cool? Crammed with games, puzzles, and trivia, The Everything® Kids’ Math Puzzles Book puts the fun back into playing with numbers!

Inside, you’ll be able to:
·Decode hidden messages using Roman numerals
·Connect the dots using simple addition and subtraction
·Learn to create magic number squares
·Use division to answer musical riddles
·Match the profession to numerical license plates

If you have any fear of math—or are just tired of sitting in a classroom—The Everything® Kids’ Math Puzzles Book provides hours of entertainment. You’ll get so caught up in the activities you won’t even know you’re learning! ... Read more

Amazon.com

After mastering the many I Spy books and then moving on to conquer thetougher-riddled I Spy GoldChallenger, kids begged Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick for an evengreater challenge. Naturally, this creative team rose to the occasion, creatingthe ultimate: Extreme Challenger! Open to any page and find amind-boggling array of things: "a lobster, a pig, a guitar, / Two skulls,a button, a spring, a car." Wick's exceptional photographic skill renders everyobject crystal clear, whether on a blank white background or against a backdropof dusty old bookshelves with antique toys, keys, clocks, and tools. Marzollo'srhymes are straightforward yet clever, matching "an ace" with "a missingbottle's space," and "puffball shoes" with "sad blue ooze." Children will haveso much fun "I spying," they won't even realize they're developing their visualdiscrimination ability, as well as their reading and vocabulary skills! Extracredit riddles at the end of the big, colorful book provide an additional testof readers' nimbleness, and the authors also encourage children to write theirown rhyming picture riddles based on the illustrations in the book. Okay, allyou eagle-eyes out there, have at it! (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fun for all ages
This was the #1 request on my wish list for my 2 year old son. Not only can he study the pages to find animals, trucks, and toys, I can keep occupied by the riddles. He cannot find the difficult objects, but enjoys the colors and looking for the more obvious things. All of these books are excellent. They increase concentration and problem solving. They are great for 2 years to 100 years.

Provides hours of intense, enjoyable effort.
This book has been the source of hours of mind-stretching entertainment for my children and several hours of frustration for me. The puzzles are difficult, yet not impossible and there is nothing better in improving your powers of intense observation. They can be enjoyed by all children approximately eight years of age and older. I highly recommend it.

this book is great!
i think the i spy series should have more than 5 stars. it deserves 100 stars! i like them because of the photos and picture riddles, those are both cool. you should definitely try to collect these books because they're SO neat. keep 'em coming, marzollo & wick! and thanks for making such great books. p.s. these books are GREAT for road trips!

Extreme I Spy!
In which we find hidden objects & rhyming riddles in this extremely challenging collection of far-out photos of every imaginable object from hair clips to teething rings, from spiders to masks, from dinosaurs to baseball games.

Some pages have trays from old, old toy boxes & some pages are pure plastic paradises. There's a page of weird & toothy monsters made from pipe cleaners, corks & jelly beans & another of old seed packets, school books, chalk slate boards, ink pens & an abacus.

Boy, these sure are harder than I ever remember the game to be & a lot more fun! For one thing, they don't disappear around a corner as our car drove on!

Great for those long waits in airports or rainy summer days!

Pretty good "Greatest hits"
As others have mentioned, the "Challenger" books compile photos from other I Spy books. I'd say the riddles in this one are a little more difficult than the riddles that accompany the pictures in the original books. The clues tend to be for smaller, more obscured, or otherwise more difficult-to-find items in the pictures, so they are a little more challenging. Therefore still worth getting, I think, even if you have some of the original books.

We and our kids (Almost 4, and 1 1/2 years) love them, but one thing I'd say for small kids is that some of the pictures tend to be a little spooky (creepy clowns, skeletons, etc.). It seems to bother them less than I think it would, but if your kids are particularly sensitive...

Overall, the I Spy books are excellent and highly recommended! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"How big is baby ostrich? SOOO BIG!" Young children will love liftingthe flaps to find out just how big each animal can be. The text is simple: "Howbig is baby...? SOOO BIG!" Lift the flap to see giraffes, owls, and snakesstretching and leaping to their fullest extent to impress the world with theirsize. The final page will be the favorite one, of course, as the questionchanges to "How big are YOU?" and a fold-out 22- to 48-inch ruler is displayedto be detached and mounted on the wall for kids to determine exactly how tallthey really are.

Charming illustrations, big and small, by beloved artist Dan Yaccarino (Circle Dogs, Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I'm Off to theMoon!), delight the eye with their warm colors and personality, whilethe playful concept will surely appeal to every tot who dreams of growing talland strong. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great!
My 1 year old loves it. It is one of his favorite books at his granny's house. He even puts his hands up and says something that sounds like "so big".

Wonderfullll1
My 9 month old daughter loves this book. It is her absolute favorite!

One of my 22 month olds favorites!!
Excellent book! Great repetition and wonderful illustrations! My 22 month old son loves this book. We read it almost every day. He loves to look at the pictures but his favorite part is when I ask how big each animal is and then he answers by raising his arms over his head while I say SOOO Big!

A bit too simplistic.
My 14 mo. old daughter is not too interested. I don't think this lift-the-flap is challenging enough. It's cute enough, but I don't think the illustrations are very interesting to her. I guess it depends on your child's likes/dislikes. She's really enjoyed Dora the Explorer's Christmas Book-which has much more "busy" illustrations and oddles of flaps to lift.

Too baby-ish for my 14 mo. old.
She's not too excited about this one. Better for the under 12 mo. crowd. Pics very simple and boring. ... Read more

Book Description

Play games from all around the globe!

Learn to play Mexican kickball. Practice throwing jackstones the way kids do in Kenya.Discover how to construct a galimoto (wire toy from Malawi) with pipe cleaners.With Kids Around the World Play!, you’ll have a great time exploring the traditions of other cultures while you sharpen your wits with the memory game from South Africa called dithwai, or challenge your racing skills in the South Korean flower relay, or make your own cool bilboquet, a toy from France.

Filled with games and activities from places near and far, including China, Japan, india, Mexico, Bolivia, italy, and Russia, among many others, this exciting collection also gives you plenty of fascinating facts about the history and culture of each country.All the toys and games can be made or played with just a few simple materials easily found around the house.So get ready for tons of fun and excitement while you discover just how much you have in common with kids around the world! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another great book...
>
> This is a fun book!! If you're concerned about
> spending more time with your kids, then buy this book.
> Many of the games, especially Egyptian Senet, German
> Muhle, and Kenyan Bottle Cap Checkers, can be enjoyed
> by all family members. Our family had a great time
> playing these games. Plus, the historical and cultural
> information about games and toys is fascinating!
> Braman has done it again! I highly recommend this
> book. ... Read more

Book Description

Includes units on figural and verbal descriptions, similarities and differences, sequences, classifications, and analogies. Skills addressed include reading comprehension; describing shapes, things, and words; following directions; antonyms and synonyms; several types of analogy; deductive reasoning; parts of a whole; mapping and directionality; logical connectives; spelling and vocabulary; overlapping classes; pattern folding; tracking, rotation, and reflection; mental manipulation of two-dimensional objects. Reading level: grade 2; ability level: grades 2-4; 326 activities.Reproducible for single-classroom or single-home use. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I love this book!!!
Sylvan Learning Center uses it, that should be enough of a testimony right there!

My third-graders spatial skills were not well developed.
She used to go ballistic when she had to mentally form a three-dimensional object from a two-dimensional image. After doing the Building Thinking Skills Book 1, she says it's a breeze. Her nonverbal scores used to be low. Now they're higher than her verbal, which were already high. Her creativity and problem solving have also blossomed since she started using these materials. ... Read more

Book Description

A great car game! "Made to avoid car sickness," as my prone-to-car-sickeness son explains.Generally, players look out the window to find objects described in the cards.Points for each found object vary.The very sturdy box is built to withstand the wildest, most rambunctious family! Don't travel without one of these games!(Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council) ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great game for the car!
This is a great game to have for car trips (especially the long ones)! Plus, I've found that my kids (ages 4 & 6) are even learning new items... things they didn't know before, now they do. To make it simpler though, we just made it team game, instead of indiviually. And we don't keep score (so there are no hard feelings). We just have a great time finding things together!

For family fun in the car... buy this game! It's great!!

Road Trips can be fun!!
Where was this game when I was a kid? I bought this for a recent long car trip with the kids and we all had a great time playing it. Now even if we are driving thru town someone will call out items that they have found. It is entertaining for the whole family!

Fun Family Frenzy
I purchased this game before setting out on a cross-country trip (PA to TX and back).

We had so much fun with this game -- my husband, my teenaged son, and I. Definitely a good game for all ages!

Tons of fun in the car
My husband and I went on a road trip with my in-laws (7 hours in the car) and we had a blast with this game. It really made the time fly. My nieces and nephew enjoy the game as well. They ask to borrow it everytime they take a road trip. I highly recommend this game for any one who travels. We love the share the road cards. It always shocks me when you can actually get people in other cars around you involved. The compact size is great for keeping in the glove box.

Good for long trips
We found the game to be alot of fun. One caution however -- it does not scale down to the lower age children. I recommend for kids from 10 to 99! ... Read more

Book Description

A favorite of parents and caregivers.Over 300 innovative and easy-to-do activities. Ones ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for people in daycare.
I found this book to have a lot of great ideas to do with toddlers ... Read more

Book Description

N-R-E S N T-S.

N-Q = Thank you.

S M-T = It's empty.

D N S 5 X = The hen has five eggs.

It looks like a secret code, but read the letters aloud and solve the puzzle! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Cdb!
A gift at 16, I laughed at every page... at 42, I am ordering 4 copies...a difficult book to review as you really have to see it to believe it. So order one up, and one for a friend. Enjoy, laugh and learn to C D B.

Letters make the world go round!
Hello friends!, I hope that you have had a chance to read this wonderful book. The magic of letters truly comes alive with excitement! For me, my favorite part is all of the silly letters that can be found throughout this outstanding book! I know this book is going to be my favorite for a long, long time. So, now that you have read my review take a moment to read this extraordinary book-anytime-anywhere! Enjoy!

I M N X-T-C!
smart! adorable! unexpected! (the book, not my kids...)
This book really has us rolling in laughter. My sons (ages 4 and 6) and I have been playing with an electronic toy: push a letter and the thing says the letter's name. We had been using it to make word sounds -- pressing U R A Q T for "you are a cutie" and so forth. When I saw this book I just had to get it. It is amazingly clever -- and to think it was written in 1968. It's fresh, not at all dated. My sons are very good readers for their respective ages, but it is definitely appropriate for them. I had to explain a phrase or two (they didn't know the word "ecstacy" when they saw X-T-C) but otherwise it was totally on their level. I still crack up reading it, and I've read it at least ten times. The watercolor illustrations are perfect. Stieg conveys a lot of emotion and expression with just a few brush strokes. When a boy sees someone with a lollipop and tells him "I N-V U," you can see the envy.
I won't mind if my kids want to read this one again and again. I M N X-T-C 2!

taught me how to read
This book helped me learn to read when i was 3 years old. As long as you know the alphabet you can read this book, which makes it perfect for children who are learning to read.

This is the most fun book!
I remembered this book from my elementary school library, and was delighted to find that it had been reprinted. This book is meant to be read out loud and deciphered - our children ages 16 down to 6 were entertained, as were the adults in the house too. This book is just plain fun. ... Read more

Book Description

Pull back the flaps and find out each hilarious punch line in this classic collection of knock-knock jokes! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sustained Laughter
We thought this would be a cute book for our soon-to-be five year old grandson. We were in for a treat. This was his first introduction to knock-knocks, and he began laughing harder and harder at each as he discovered the joke. "She was supposed to say 'I need a" but she said "Anita" (Bath, that is!) He giggled and roared, becoming almost breathless with laughter at each new knock-knock. Ten aren't a lot, but they certainly tired him out. What a delight to see! I'd like to see the author write some follow-up books. We've looked at other knock-knock books in the stores, but most of them have many jokes that presume a vocabulary or a cultural literacy beyond that of a five year old. This collection hit exactly the right keys.

Not what I expected
I am very disappointed with this book :( I bought it for my 5yr son so I could help him learn some funny knock knock jokes. I thought I was buying a book FULL of fun knock knock jokes, but when it arrived and we first opened it.....we found a little book that looks like it's made for a 2yr old (has VERY babyish pictures and thick cardboard pages)!!! The biggest let down is that is only has TEN knock knock jokes!! Unbelievable. ... I'll just have to suck it up and search for a new knock knock book...

GREAT LITTLE BOOK OF KNOCK KNOCKS
I've been looking for a simple knock-knock joke book for my 4 and 5 year old nephews for months now...thank goodness this book came along! It only has a handful of jokes (10?)...but they all make sense and they're easy for the kids to remember too. The book has a neat setup. One page asks the question, then the facing page has a flap where you flip it over to reveal the punchline. Very cute. Much better than any of the "greatest" knock knock joke books I've seen. It's a good intro book, but I'd guess that older kids might not be too impressed with it since it is a very simple book. Perfect for my 4 and 5 year old nephews though.

Knock Knock
Charming fresh pictures and seriously awful puns adds up to total delight for my five year old.

Excellent-EXCELLENT! First Reader
This very cute book had my three-year old reading it TO ME within 20 minutes. He loved it. We both did. The illustrations are adorable and the thick pages will withstand all that a toddler has to muster. I'm SO happy that I bought this book. ... Read more