Reviews (2)

13 year old loves it, it puts a smile on your face
this book helps you to look at yourself by answering questions on what kind of a friend are you? Mall Madness - are you a good shopper? how do you make good friends? This is simple, funny, and easy to read, and puts a smile on your face. Ages for 8-14.

This Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear amazon customers,

This book is great. I had soooo much fun with this book."Now why is this book so great?"you may ask.This book is sooooo great because it has many fun quizzes including "Are You All American?","Boy Barometer", and much, much more.It's fun to do by yourself, or with a friend.These quizzes are some that tell you what you are like. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Very Very funny!
This book was extremely funny. My daughter and her friendsfilled them out then read them to me it was hillarious. Not only was Ilaughing my 78 year old mother was going histerical. This was a realy great book for kids and maybe even ADULTS! ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (1)

Exceptionally well organized and thorough.
This outstanding book for parents and caregivers of two year olds is the third in a series. It offers activities that promote total child development, including physical, mental, and the creative aspects of learning. The organization into easily located categories makes it easy to quickly locate an appropriate activity. As a grandparent-caregiver who used the books for Baby and One-year olds, I am pleased to find that the activities are just as well thought-out and age appropriate in this book as in the other two. The instructions are very clear and there are enough activities that even if only half of them were tried you would never run out of interesting things to do. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Nice pictures and graphics - but not the best beginner book
I got 3 books on chess for my 12th birthday. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, Chess For Juniors and Starting Chess. I give most of the stars because his book has great pictures and graphics. But, the amount that I learned from the written text was where this book was not so good. I do like this book a lot more that the Fischer Book, but my Chess For Juniors book was the absolute very best for a kid my age.

This Book Got My Son Interested in Chess
I began reading this book to my son when he was four. We started with the basics of how to set up the board and how the pieces move. Starting Chess helped peak my son's interest and learning in the game. He has now progressed to thinking about strategy and combinations as a result of Harriet Castor's excellent method for conveying the fundamentals found in book.

As an Usborne book, I knew this would probably be a great tool to teach the game since the company designs interactive reading to compete with television and video games. The puzzles and great graphics throughout helped to stimulate my son's (and now my younger daughter's) interest. They are both really enjoying the game, and we play often.

Highly recommended!

PS "Chess For Children" by Ted Nottingham is an excellent follow on book to continue developing young kid's passion for Chess.

Great book for kids
I've been reading this book to two kids in the family, ages 7 and 9, and they love it. Also we have a 3-year-old who likes the pictures and has slept with this book under his arm--what other endorsement do you need?

The drawings are fun, with lots of animated characters. Chess notation is described but not required for learning the moves (drawings are shown instead). The book covers all the basics for each piece, discusses exchanges (and points per piece), special moves (castling, en passant), opening moves and tricks, and endgames. Plus there's some chess history and simple puzzles. High recommended.

Excellent beginners book on chess fundamentals.
Originally found this in the library. I knew some chess, but wanted to get back to the basics. The color art and thinness of the book (not a lot of long explanations to bog me down) attracted me to it, and I got quite a lot out of the simple, to-the-point concepts and explanations. I am now referring it to a friend of mine who is visually-impaired and wants to learn chess. The large print is good for his reading, and the simple explanations help him to understand chess without drowning in complicated teaching. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Not for kids only
I found the title to be an unfortunate choice; it makes the book look like a kids book. Kids will benefit, but so will anyone with a USCF rating below ~1500. This is not a book about how to move the pieces. It doesn't outline basic strategy such as controlling the center, developing your pieces, or castling early. Instead, almost the entire book is devoted to "The 50 Deadly Checkmating Patterns." These range from the simple back-rank mate to four variations of the Greek gift sacrifice to methods of salvaging a "Petrosian draw" in the endgame. Chandler argues that these are common themes, and that by working through the well-diagramed, two-page-per-example sections, we will notice these possibilities in our play. He includes a test section at the end to how well the material has sunk in. The text is easy to read with clear, well-anotated diagrams (the key move is indicated by an arrow as well as the text), and the hardcover version withstands abuse in your gear bag. This is a superb book to glance at while you're waiting for the tournament to start.

One of the best chess books you can buy
This book teaches mating tactics in so many ways!

* 50 patterns, 2 pages each
* For each pattern, a brief description of the elements which must be present. (This is similar to more advanced checkmate books, but at a very simple level.)
* Then, a couple of diagrams with arrows, showing the motion of the key pieces, with the moves written below. Very good for improving visualization, so you might spot the pattern later.
* Then another similar pattern, with 2 diagrams.
* Then a couple of positions for you to work out yourself, with solutions directly underneath.
* And finally, near the back of the book, a set of a few dozen positions. They include theme numbers for you to use as hints if necessary. Solutions are separate. This reinforces the learning.

These are all attacks on the castled king, not How To Take Advantage of Opening Blunders, or How To Solve Unlikely Chess Positions. These positions can actually occur in your games, even Fischerandom. The attacks are simple, but not obvious. Some are even by the Black pieces!

Nice hardcover for a thin book. Large diagrams. Feels great in your hands. Very well-designed.

Excellent book for someone rated between 1200 and 1500. I keep it in the bathroom. (I use different chess books in different ways. I take tactics puzzles to the gym. I always keep a chessboard handy for endgame books. I use a miniature set for studying openings. And I follow along with game anthologies by using a computer database and watching the computer analysis. And I am improving rapidly.)

Do one theme (two pages) per day. In two months you'll have actually finished an entire chessbook, and you'll miss it! You will find yourself improving your own defenses because you'll know what to look out for. One of the few chess books you'll actually read cover to cover, and it's cheap for a hardcover.

Fun but limited book
I enjoyed the puzzels with checkmates - one of many decent books covering basic checkmate situations. My favorite, and a better book is "Art of the Checkmate" even though it is in English Descriptive notation.

Poor Dad Must be Bad!
This book must assume your dad is really bad at chess. It has problems to work on with checkmates. But most games aren't won or lost because you overlook a neat checkmate problem. Most games are won or lost because you first lose material then when the checkmate is easy to set up you go ahead and win.
The checkmate problems are ok, but this is the end result of what you get when you use other strategy to win.

A Simple and Effective Method
This book works because the 50 checkmates (actually 47 checkmates and 3 drawing concepts) are so superbly well-chosen. Some typical examples of the patterns covered are:

Single rook sacrifice on h8
The Bxh6 Sacrifice
The Double Bishop Sacrifice
The Greek Gift Sacrifice

A nice touch is that for many of the themes a little bit of history is also given. For example, Deadly Checkmate 50 is called The Fischer Trap, as in involves the Bxf7+ and Ne6 motif of Fischer-Reshevsky in 1958. We also learn that the great German player Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) once fell for this trap too.
This educational element helps explain why this book is almost a text book in many schools and clubs - the clarity of the explanations is another reason. The book is fun too. Very highly recommended, even for adults! ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone loves Mad Libs-where you fill in the fun! Now our insanely popular, outrageously funny, best-selling series has a hot new look.AUTHORBIO: Leonard Stern and the late Roger Price are two of the founders of Price Stern Sloan. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of the better Mad Libs available
My friends and I love Mad Libs and this version is one of the better ones to buy. ... Read more

Book Description

A Series of 25 Irresistible Storybooks That Build Early Phonics Skills & Teach the Top 25 Word Families
Box Set!
Word Family Tales are humorous read-aloud stories created to build early phonics skills by teaching children to recognize "families" of words that share the same spelling pattern.This ability helps kids decode new words with ease and become stronger readers, writers, and spellers.Set learners on the path to literacy success with these rib-tickling tales ­ one for each of the top 25 word families. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

These books are great!
These books are great! I'm so glad I bought them. My daughter was dreading reading. It was a pain to get her to read. But these books are so funny and cute, I can get her to read them without a fight. ... Read more

Book Description

Better for kids than television, these games stretch the memory, improve language skills, exercise logic, and sharpen visual acumen-without being homework! From the editors of Games Junior magazine comes a chock-full compendium of picture puzzles, scrambled comics, logic defiers, memory contests, connect-the-dots, riddle searches,mini-mysteries, out-of-orders, mazes, crisscrosses, rebuses, and other great games for young ones. Over 125 games. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Big Book = Big Fun!
I purchased this book to use with my students to help them develop their visual perceptual, perceptual motor, and problem solving skills. The puzzles vary in presentation and level of complexity, so you will be sure to find something to suit. The kids are having fun, so they forget about the fact that they are also learning important skills.

Great
This Book is a fun and exciting book that varies from crossword puzzles to picture matches and many more fun games and puzzles. You should get this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Now first- and second-graders can really sharpen their skills. Announcing Brain Quest Math and Brain Quest Reading, a natural extension of Brain Quest into single-subject tutorials. Using the same curriculum-based, question-and-answer format that has made Brain Quest America's #1 educational bestseller with over 16 million copies in print, Math and Reading concentrate on the two subjects that are of paramount importance for parents, teachers, and especially the kids. Math is as focused as flash cards, but with far more range, interactivity, and educational value. Each grade comprises two decks. 1st Grade has five questions to a card, covering Numeration, or the basics of numbers; Bits & Pieces, including shapes and equivalents; Computation-addition and subtraction; Measurements; and Problem-Solving. 2nd Grade, with seven questions to a card, adds two new categories to the original five-Super Computation, which has more complicated operations, and Fun with Numbers.Reading takes a thorough approach to working on the fundamentals of reading and language arts. First comes an original one-page story illustrated in full-color, with 56 stories per grade. Following the story card is a comprehension card, quizzing the reader about the story, its characters, and content. Following that card is a second question card-five questions for 1st Grade, seven for 2nd Grade-on Grammar, Word Choice, Phonics, Vocabulary, Extensions, and Mixed Bag.

A strong foundation in math, a strong foundation in reading-that's what elementary education is all about. Making it fun to learn is what Brain Quest is all about-that, and reinforcing the idea that It's O.K. to Be Smart! ... Read more

Book Description

In Math Magic, his New York Times bestseller, Scoff Flansburg demonstrated his universal ability to make math fun and easy for adults. Now in Math Magic for Your Kids, the Human Calculator does the same for elementary school children.

Measuring flour for a birthday cake, setting the dinner table, counting change -- learning these simple skills daunts millions of children. And helping them along can be frustrating for parents. In Math Magic for Your Kids, Scott Flansburg comes to the rescue. With entertaining games and tricks, this proven method helps kids develop a positive attitude about numbers, the necessary foundation on which they will build math skills for the rest of their education. Children will discover hours of independent amusement, while parents will find activities they can do with their children to supplement their schoolwork and to help them get better grades, including:

• Innovative counting exercises that teach addition and subtraction
• Writing activities that reinforce math concepts
• Shortcut methods that provide "magic tricks" for learning math skills
• Riddles and puzzles that activate logic and math basics
• Games and drills that introduce and perfect multiplication and division

Reviews (5)

Making numbers make sense!
Mr.Flansburg's methods of stressing basic math skills are new and important before algebra or higher math will make sense. His new web site thehumancalculator.com also offers more information about his goal to wipe out innumeracy. He taught me it's never to late to conquer math phobia and fulfill my career goals that never materialized because of math avoidance.

Confused on age level
The book was ok however, I wanted a book for older students. This is recommended for 6 th 8 year olds. The book is in an easy to read format and has breaks to complete exercises to practice what you learned.

In a math-phobic era more people should read this book!!
I homeschool my kids who like the ideas behind math but find drilling real agony!!! They are beginning to see the fun in it and don't mind repetition any more. Thanks and praise to Scott Flansberg!!!

Fascinatingly different from traditional textbook math
Though math was never a problem for me, I discovered that this book not only made math easier and faster, but it also caused the numbers to take on some practical meaning. I recommend the book for anyone who wants to understand the reason numbers work.

This Book's Great!
This book has complex problems and exercises for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. With the exercises and advice,this book teaches you the basics of doing Mental Calculation. Although Scott Flansburg only explains how to make the numbers 0 to 12 more sense to you, every child can enjoy math-because Scott, the Human Calculator, actually makes it fun! ... Read more

Book Description

Continuing in the tradition of Books 1, 2, and 3 The Greatest Dot-to-Dot Book in the World (Book 4) is the fourth in a series of connect-the-dot books which stand apart because of their complexity and variety. As in Books 1, 2 and 3, there are traditional dot-to-dots as well as unique innovations and variations for those who can count into the hundreds and follow simple instructions. Readers will appreciate the fact that you can't tell what the images are before you start as well as the playful challenges that maintain excitement throughout this book of all new puzzles. This fun and relaxing book will entertain young and old alike! Ages 8-adult. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Greatest Dot To Dot Book In The World Book 4
This series of dot-to-dot books are wonderful. As a child, I loved games and challenges. Dot-to-dots and mazes were my favorites. I had no idea these books even existed until I saw them in a Bits and Pieces catalog several weeks ago. I looked them up on Amazon and found there were four books. I ordered all four books from Amazon even though I thought I would probably be disappointed if they were too simple. Even as an adult, I still work dot-to-dots when I find them in magazines and newspapers, so I figured I had nothing to lose even if these books were for children. I'm in the baby-boomer generation, so I confess I like to revisit my childhood era occasionally.

Boy, was I surprised! When they came in the mail, I sat up until 5 a.m. the next morning working some of the puzzles. I am retired with 30 years in my local school system, so it wasn't like I had to get up early. After I would complete one puzzle, I would think I'll just do one more. Then another. Then another. I tried all the different types of puzzles. I am so excited and I wanted your customers to know how much I enjoyed them.

Even my 76 year old mother enjoyed working the puzzles. Like me, she was very skeptical about ordering sight unseen.

I hope to see future publications of new books. I look forward to seeing Books 5, 6, 7, etc. real soon. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

something for everyone
I just ordered several of these books to give as birthday gifts for my 9 year old daughter's friends, but I had to read through it before we gave them away. Now I may need to purchase one for our house! The stories were fun, interesting and challenging, but not so difficult that my daughter couldn't figure some out for herself. I agree with the previous review that it makes one "think outside the box" - and is a fun and valuable asset to any library!

Logic outside the box - made fun
This book consists of folktales, very concisely told, that in some sense are a riddle, a puzzle, a play on words ... These stories are presented as problems to solve.

A major strength of the book is the variety of sources of the tales - Tibetan, Aesop, Armenia, India, Grimm brothers, Ethiopian, Japan; in fact many of the stories could have come from any of a number of cultures. The illustrations add to the interest of the book for its intended audience.

The only weakness is that in only one case does it offer alternative answers. For example, in filling a room perfume works as well as light; if children are reading the book independently, they may not have the confidence to recognize that their answer is a clever as the one given in the text.

The stories are fun - parents and children should enjoy this.

Marvelous folktales that present a challenge and a smile.
This is a wonderful book that combines mathematical reasoning and logic with fascinating folktales from around the world. A book that delights kids as well as adults.

Excellent challenge for kids; helps in creative thinking
I used this book as a summer activity for my kids a number of years ago. One story would be posted on the refrigerator, and left until solved. There was no pressure, and no help. It would just sit there and pique their curiosity. They loved it, and still ask me (10 years later) if there are any more. I'm glad there are sequels now! ... Read more

Book Description

Thirty large, whimsically rendered and fun-to-color vignettes for youngsters have unusual objects or figures hidden in them. Young puzzle-solvers are asked to locate letters of the alphabet cleverly hidden in Ms.Froggy’s classroom, identify images of fish, birds, and the moon in the Lost Swamp, and much more. Easy-to-read captions provide instructions.
... Read more

Book Description

Klutz-clear instructions for folding seven Dollar Bill Creations, from the all-time favorite Dollar Bill Ring to the Amazing Pachyderm.Packaged with a real-live dollar bill.Fold it!Don't spend it! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

the buck book
I bought it to have handy for rainy days. My children were small and I needed something to keep them entertained. After many years of using it and planty of fun, I moved and I lost it. I am buying again, because I treasure it. And when my children come back with their children, this is the book they want to see. Sincerely, Hilder Garrison

Had it as a kid--loved it then and love it now
I got this for Christmas one year when I was in elementary school and was instantly fascinated by it. I still pull it off the shelf every now and then (I just graduated college) when I want to make a dollar-bill elephant. This book is a LOT of fun for kids and parents alike. It's something parents can give to their kids to provide them with a fun activity that's creative and useful--you'd be surprised how much a waiter appreciates a crummy tip when it's folded up into the shape of a frog that leaps. A co-worker of mine just got it for her kids who are 10, 11 and 12 years old, and they love it too. Definitely fun for all ages. Very well-written (funny and witty) with clear directions. I highly recommend it!!

THE BOOK WITH WONDERFUL PROJECTS IN IDIOT FRIENDLY FORMAT
Wonderful spiral bound book with very thoughtful and painstaking
detail to dialog along with good graphics.

The author didn't make it easy for herself by giving the reader a glossary of terms on the folds and expecting the reader to commit them to memory before proceeding on.

You are literally walked through each project in such a way that you will get professional results the 1st time, in minutes.

The best I've read so far.

p.s. I like the crisp uncirculated dollar that came with it.

Great and simple
This book has seven cool little designss, a Buffalo Bill Badge, A Bowtie, A ring, a Dime-In ring (dime doesn't stay in very good), a jumping frog, an elephant and a peacock. They are all very simple to make and olny take about 5 minutes or so. Buy this book. I know you'll be satisfied

this book's ideas are very creative.
i bought this book a few years ago and i use the designs to leave tips at restaurants. it always puts a smile on the waitresses' face. i also liked the detailed directions and the illustrations; they're easy to follow. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eagle-eyed young readers who can't get enough of Walter Wick and JeanMarzollo's always fresh picture-riddle books (I Spy, I Spy Treasure Hunt, I Spy Gold Challenger, etc.)will be tickled pink to see this celebration of the seasons. Featuring Wick'strademark crisply photographed scenes and Marzollo's clever rhyming riddles,this festive volume follows the holidays and months of the year, asking readersto spy beach balls, shovels, and "a surfin' fella" on the sand in June, andexclamation points, a Q, erasers, and a yellow three on a classroom chalkboardin September. From January to December (with some tricky extra credit riddles atthe end), "Picture riddles fill this book; / Turn the pages! Take a look! / Useyour mind, use your eye; / Read the riddles--play I SPY!" (Ages 3 to 7)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

rather difficult
This says it is for kids from age 4 but I don't think that is quite right. The pictures are blurry and the items are not easy to find. They are quite challenging puzzles and I think the over 9 age group would be more likely to enjoy them.

Fun to turn to again and again.
I SPY YEAR ROUND CHALLENGER is filled with 12 pictures -- one for each month. Every puzzle is very different from the others. These clever photographs have beautiful colors but they're sometimes blurry or dark and hazy, and it's hard to see what's what. I wasn't always sure what I was looking for. I even believe there's a typo, making you look for one thing when it should be something else. In a couple of cases you can see only a tiny part of the thing you're supposed to find. And the extra credit riddles need to be on a foldout page so you can refer to them without flipping back and forth. Still, it's a beautiful, clever book and a lot of fun.

can never have enough I spy books.
The I spy books are the most used books in my house. I run a day care and have lots of kids of all ages. From the 3 yr old to the 10 yr old they will all sit around together looking at these books and talking about them. The little ones ask the older ones what the words say. I highly recommend collecting this series of books for your home library.

Entertaining
My 9 y.o. daughter just can not get enough of these books. She was so excited to receive this for Christmas I thought she might burst. This was a definite success in gift giving history.

Great Stuff, But Nothing New!
Since this book was published in 2001, you might think that you are getting new pictures. Our family loves these pictures, but all of the photos can be found in other volumes.
If you don't have any other books in the series, this is a wonderful copy, but if you have all of the others it is a waste of money. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Most fun I've Ever had with a book!
I don't know what "Horn Books" had against Paul Adshead, but it seems like all their reviews of his stuff insult the art and the target age level of the material. First of all, I read this book when I was in first or second grade like 30 times. I showed my friends, and even when I was alone, I would imagine myself of a real quest in Puzzle Island. I admit, the art is no Sistine Chapel, but it is attractive and brilliant in its own way. Also, I admit the puzzles are difficult, but that adds to the excitement. It caused me to take the book to school and show friends, as well as ask my parents for help. The difficulty made the book an experience, not just a quick read. It's fun, and it teaches a lot of different methods of problem solving. I'm a graduating High School Senior now and I have a 4.3 GPA with a 1500 SAT I score, and I read the book when I was young... coincidence?

Supreme Adventure Story!
Puzzle Island is a book filled with fun. I would show all my friends the book if I had a copy. I felt very excited every time I read it .I will tell my friends all about this adventure story and they would share it with their families .When you are reading Puzzle Island, you feel like you're on a never-ending adventure, trying to find names of animals and where they are hiding on the page. This leads you to the secret code, secret animal and the mysterious place. I will not tell you anything about the secret animal, because it's a secret! You must find out yourself. If you work out how to find the hidden words, you will find a helpful message.But now I won't give you any more clues as I will spoil your adventure. What I find so fasinating is how the author ( and possibly the illustrator) was able to draw a picture with hidden animals and letters and still make them look perfectly unoticeable and disguised? But I do hope you will like this book as much as I did.

Fantastically Puzzingly
Puzzle island is an extremely good book. But it is really challenging. I got the paperback book when I was 9, and just last week, I think I finally finished it. I'm going to be 14 in 6 days, so you can imagine how long it took me to figure out the secret. Actually, I'm not even sure if I got it right!! My advice to anyone that reads it is to be very patient, because no matter how old you are, you are definitely going to get frustrated. The vivid pictures are so unique and fantastic, your eyes are going to be all over it, looking for the hidden animals. Sometimes, you will look over a picture more than 10 times and still not see what's in it. But, ultimately, Puzzle Island is a magnificent book that I would recommend to all ages.

amazingly challenging
this book kept me up for hours with my big sister, and she's 14. we would read the book over and over trying to figure out the puzzles! the detailed illustrations keep your eyes popping while trying to find the difficult, hidden clues. it has taken us many, many sittings to figure out everything; what we are looking for and where it is... but i won't tell! i can't even asume i know every secret about this book. i read constantly, but i have to honestly admit that this is the most fun i've ever had with one book, and my dad loves it too. since my sister and i are two years apart, we get into disagreements... but we don't ever argue about this! better than movies, i say. if you were to only have one book, take this; because each time you read it you discover something else, and i've read it at least 37 times! this is a great challenge, and a fun story.

Challenging For Everyone!!
Treasure Island is the kind of book that has so many uses. Its great to keep kids and adults amused on long car rides, or to solve as a family, and the pictures are amazing. This book's illustrations are so creative, and they incorporate the use of positive and negative space very well. If you look hard enough, you'll find things hidden in the most unsuspecting places. There's lots of things for unexperienced puzzlers to find, and at the same time, it's not a bore for those who are a little bit better. There seems to be no end to the things you can find, and the mysteries you can solve. This is a great buy for trips, family reunions, or whatever else you want to do with it. I assure you that you won't regret buying this book!! ... Read more