Book Description

This hilarious lift-the-flap features animals and the underwear they wear! Kids will roar with laughter as they lift each flap and reveal boxers on a horse, furry undies on a crocodile, leafy green bloomers on a sheep, and more. We save the best for last, though--on the final spread, an elephant is hiding behind a large leaf...for good reason. He forgot to put on any underwear! This is a fun way to teach colors...and the importance of wearing your drawers! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Boy Humor for a 5 year old
My 5 year old son just received this book as a gift. We had to read it at least 10 times in one sitting and he wants to read it again but it was time for dinner. He could not stop laughing and he wanted to help read this book. Roll on the floor humorous ending!!! (remember for a 5 year old boy) He already has many parts memorized. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Perfect size for families on the go!
A smaller version of the full sized I Spy books, these books are just great. They include cropped pictures from the regular I Spy books and are printed on durable cardboard - just right for little hands!

My two year old loves this collection of books - they are just the right size for her to hold, are sturdy enough for her to play with, and there are lots of interesting pictures to hold her attention.

The pictures are lots of fun to look at. They give parents the opportunity to sit with their children and discover the different things in the pictures and to help their children identify them.

These are all very good books!! I highly recommend.

Good Way to Teach Observation Skills
These board books are a smaller and simpler version of the original "I Spy" series. If you are not familiar with the "I Spy" series, the basic concept is similar to "Where's Waldo" in that you "search" for specific objects. But in this case, the searching field is a series of photographs that depict varied and interesting items. Each photograph has a particular theme and is full of colorful and inventive objects.

The original "I Spy" books ask you to find many objects in each photo and can be very challenging. My husband and I got a kick out of finding the objects ourselves and by no means breezed through the books. These simplified board books are geared toward a much younger audience--they offer toddlers and younger children a way to play the same type of game. The photographs contain only a handful of objects, and the reader is asked to find only two objects per page.

My daughter really enjoys these types of interactive books. They give her a chance to be "proud" when she finds whatever she's looking for. There is also a similar series I would recommend called "Find the Duck (Puppy, Piglet, Kitten, Teddy)..." books. In the "Find the..." series the child is looking for the same object throughout the book. . If you are interested, I wrote a review on that series where I go into more detail about them.

Overall, these are a nice way to interact with your toddler--they offer an opportunity to teach patience and to carefully investigate things. My only criticism is that I noticed that the photos that they use are just blown up portions of photos taken from their original series. I wish they would be more creative and use entirely new photos.

FUN!
We have all the I Spy books to date and this is my 3 year old's favorite. He LOVES searching for the certain animals, identifying the other animals, and even attempts to sound like the different animals. We've had this book since before my son was 1. Don't wait until your child is a toddler to buy this book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gerald the giraffe doesn't really have delusions of grandeur. He justwants to dance. But his knees are crooked and his legs are thin, and all theother animals mock him when he approaches the dance floor at the annual JungleDance. "Hey, look at clumsy Gerald," they sneer. "Oh, Gerald, you're so weird."Poor Gerald slinks away as the chimps cha-cha, rhinos rock 'n' roll, andwarthogs waltz. But an encouraging word from an unlikely source shows this glumgiraffe that those who are different "just need a different song," and soon heis prancing and sashaying and boogying to moon music (with a cricketaccompanist). In the vein of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Gerald'sfickle "friends" quickly decide he's worthy of their attention again.

With this rhyming, poignant (in a cartoonish way) tale, Giles Andreae, author ofRumble in the Jungle, andnumerous other picture books, shows insecure young readers that everyone can bewonderful, even those that march to the beat of a different cricket. The rhymesare somewhat awkward, but the bold, bright watercolors by Guy Parker-Rees willinvite readers to kick up their heels and find their own internal harmony. (Ages3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (21)

This is why we liked this book:
The kindergarten class at Eliza Kelly School liked this book very much. We liked when Gerald did the backwards sommersault in the air. We like to dance too! We also liked the part when Gerald closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the jungle. The cricket was a good friend to Gerald.
The illustrations were colorful and beautiful.
Gerald is a great dancer!

Kindergarten at
Eliza Kelly School

There is something special in all of us
This book is wonderful. It demonstrates, in its storyline and text, that there isn't always just one right way to do something. In other words, we may all have a unique approach. In this case Gerald thinks he's a bad dancer. His negative perception is reinforced by the other jungle animals whom Gerald thinks dances perfectly. The other animals tease Gerald. He doesn't seem to "fit in" with the crowd. Gerald's problem is, he is trying to dance their way. He needs to find his own style.

Good and bad examples abound in real life, and with our guidance they all provide rich learning experiences for our children. Given that, with your guidance, this book imparts to children a) There is often more than one way to do something, b) courage and perseverance pay off, and c) teasing hurts. Not bad for 29 pages of delightful rhyming text and colorful illustrations.

A Wonderful Lesson!
This is the most precious story about how being different is okay and how you can still be good at something even though you have to go about it a little "differently." I bought this for my 4 yr old son with cerebral palsy who can't walk and he absolutely adores it! "We can all dance if we find the right music." Gerald, who initially was ridiculed by the other animals for being a terrible dancer, gets a little help from a friend in finding the "right music." His dancing is admired by the other animals in the end. My husband demonstrates the different dances with my son as he reads the book to him which my son thoroughly enjoys! We have a very extensive book collection for my son, but this would have to be one of his (and my) all-time favorites. I have also bought several copies of this book for my son's school. The illustrations are the best that I've ever seen in a children's book. Can't recommend this highly enough!

Boogie on, Gerald!
Gerald the Giraffe is one clumsy animal. He's good at standing still and munching shoots off trees but when he wants to join the other animals at the Jungle Dance, they only laugh at him. Not for long, though. His friend the cricket knows how to play the music that inspires Gerald to dance like John Travolta in his best days. Gerald is transformed because "we all can dance ... when we find music that we love."

"Giraffes Can't Dance" is my personal favorite among Max's books. The story is familiar to many kids who go to kindergarten and learn that their peers can be picky about who belongs to the pack and who does not. In the book, the exuberant illustrations of Guy Parker-Rees take the sting out of Gerald's initial rejection by the other animals. Watching the Rhinos rock'n'roll and the lions "dance a tango that was elegant and bold," balances Gerald's sadness. The emphasis of the story is on Gerald's joyful transformation, anyway. Just read Gerald's jubilant "I am dancing! Yes, I'm dancing! I AM DANCING!" with enough liveliness and watch the kids identify with a flying giraffe. After all, the lesson is that you can excel and enjoy who you are even if, at first, the world does not play your tune. With a little help from his friends, Gerald finds out that "sometimes when you're different you just need a different song."

Let me add one short paragraph on Gerald's helpful friends, the cricket and the three small bugs that are hiding on every page. These four little fellows are an ingenious device to soften the impact of the emotional story. Kids are in love with details; once they know what to look for, they will tirelessly search for the bugs and the cricket, and point them out to you. Hint: play dumb and they will have a party.

I read this book to my disabled child (4 years old)
This is a wonderful book about a Gerald, a giraffe who attempts to dance at the yearly jungle dance, but shies away from the stage when other animals laugh at him. This book express beautifully how it feels to be different - 'Gerald had never felt so sad and so alone' - and ends on a very positive note: 'Sometimes when you're different, you just need a different song' and 'we all can dance, when we find music that we love.' It was a perfect book to help my child with his feelings towards his weakness. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sandra Boynton knows her farm animals. This simple board book, "a touch, skritch, & tickle book," will delight babies and toddlers (and probably moms and dads too) with its multi-sensory presentation of whimsical barnyard creatures. Each bright, colorful illustration features a tactile component and some fun words to accompany it. The cow's nose is made of a soft pink material and the text on the opposite page declares, quite correctly, "Fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy." A dog with a rough paw, a pig with a smooth nose, a turkey with a "little bit bumpy" wattle, and a soft-bellied duck round out the ensemble. The final page features two chicks inside lift-the-flap eggs who disagree about whether to start over at the beginning of the book. "Touch and feel" children's books are no new innovation but too often the different textures end up feeling more or less the same. But Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy! features quality construction and is large enough for very young children to hold and manipulate. (Baby to preschool) --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My 2 year old LOVED this book...
We checked this book out from the library for my 2 year old. He loved it so much that he memorized it and loved reading it to anyone who will listen. He is so funny reading it with so much feeling! We are expecting a baby in October and are buying it for the new baby from big brother. Then he can read it to the baby after it is born. It is a very basic book and not like Sandra Boynton's other fun wordy books, but I LOVE the animals and love that is is so basic for little ones. LOVE IT!

My 7 month old twins love this book!
I've been reading it to them for several months and they really enjoy it. When they were younger, they loved the colorful, large, simple pictures, and now, they can touch the "feely" stuff. They also really seem to love the rythmn of the words, and since I learned it by heart pretty quickly (not so hard since there are like 10 words in the whole book!), I often recite it during meal times and it always makes them smile.

The only thing that is a little annoying is the last page where you have to flip little cardboard covers to decide if you want to "Start over again with the Fuzzy Fuzzy guy." It kind of breaks the rythmn of the book, and I can easily see them getting ripped off when the boys are not too much older.

I just bought another copy to give to my sister and her infant.

Enjoy!

My daughter won't put it down!
I bought this book for my daughter when she was 9 months old. At first it was just something else to try to chew on but after she figured out that she could feel the textures it has become her favorite book. She carries it all over the house and has us read it to her over and over and over again. This is a great book for toddlers and would make a great gift, too.

My son LOVED it
We started reading this to my son when he was just a month old or so, and he loved it - it was the first book that he reached out to "touch" the page. It was perfect for a very young child's attention span. As he has gotten older (he's now 10 months), he would sit and go through the pages himself, tapping each page in the appropriate place, until he ripped the egg at the end (okay - he chewed part of it too). I forgot about it until my father picked it up and showed it to my son and he got so excited!

Great for Babies
This book is perfect for young babies. It has large colorful illustrations. There is only one animal on a page which makes it enjoyable for babies to look at. It also has great textures. It is perfect for talking about different animals. The only downfall is there is not a lot of words but babies don't really need a lot of words. My daughter is (x)months and she loves to feel all the different textures. ... Read more

Book Description

Packed with striking animal photography and more than 15 exciting textures, the Touch and Feel Animals Box Set is the perfect gift for the curious toddler.

Contains: Touch and Feel: Farm, Touch and Feel: Baby Animals, and Touch and Feel Wild Animals ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My daughter LOVES these books!
My 10 month old loves the "Touch and Feel" books! We read some every night before bed and often during the day. She will even turn the pages and babble/read by herself! She loves the different textures (although she isn't a fan of the sticky paint or frogs feet) and pictures. I would recommend any of the "Touch and Feel" books. ... Read more

Book Description

Boynton is back! Joining Barnyard Dance! and Birthday Monsters!, here is Hey! Wake Up! a good-morningbook with the irrepressible language, the inimitable illustrations, the irresistible cast of characters only Sandra Boynton could create.

Yawn.

Stretch.

Touch your toes.

Shimmy shimmy shimmy,

Wiggle your nose.

Just watch out for the broccoli stew. (Ew.)

... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great for Mom too!!!
This is an absolutely great book. My son loves having this book read to him while we commute on the subway in the morning. He never tires of it and especially loves the part about touching your toes, too small for basketball, and broccoli stew (ew!). It cracks him up everytime!!! Quite an enjoyable read.
We have a lot of fun acting out and describing things in the pictures and the language is so simple and so catchy that you can't help but have a good starrt to your day.

Great New Concept by a favorite author.
I love the concept of this book: there are so many bed time books but this is the first wake up book I have seen. I read it to my children every morning when they wake up. It's great because now we have a morning routine that includes reading as well. It is a little long for them now, but they will grow into it soon.

The pictures are great and the text is very funny as well.

Jaunty rhythms for the kiddies.
I love these books. My daughter loves these books. Boynton's books are cutsie-poosie for the kiddies, and they are hard to read without starting to sing.

There was one part that made me uncomfortable, though. I know this is going to sound hyper-sensitive, but it bummed me out when the narrator tells the little rabbit that he's too small for basketball. The book goes on to tell the elephant: "You're too big to use the swings, you should go do big guy things." The elephant looks despondent on the swing, like an eight-year-old with a glandular problem being teased by adults who think he's twelve. It made me a little sad. Why can't the rabbit play basketball and why can't the elephant ride a swing with the other kids? But, I know, it's just a kids book, I'm definitely missing the point, but I can't help what it made me think.

But your kid will love it. The rhythms are jaunty and fun. Enjoy.

Still love Boynton
I give this one a 4 only because it hasn't really caught on at our house like the earlier books (One Two Three!, Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs, Horns to Toes, The Going to Bed Book, etc.). It still has the fun rhymes and Boynton humor and I think it's a cute book, maybe it just has too many words for my under 4 crowd.

Just to add to the accolades...
As a teacher I use this book in morning circle time with a class of mostly non-verbal autistic preschool students, and it's hands-down the class favorite. The language of the book is so basic that we include a lot of introductory signs ("eat", "juice", "open") along with the movements, and basically move for the whole book. One of my students in particular has really had a breakthrough with this book - he makes us act it out all day! It's the first thing he's really learned to imitate, and about the first positive "fixation" he's had in class. It's wonderful.

And we love "broccoli stew - ew", too. Even my completely non-verbal, non-signing kids make an effort to get an "ew" out.

Just don't do what I did, and point out later in the day that a kid has beef stew for lunch! I tried that, got a worried look and an "ew" from a little girl, and had to spend the better part of a week convincing her to touch any part of her lunch again... oops. ("It's not broccoli!" Didn't matter to her.)

We want more Sandra Boynton!!! (By the way, my class also loves "But Not the Hippopotamus" and "Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaur".) ... Read more

Amazon.com

The board book version of this popular recitation of animalcharacteristics is equally as delightful as other editions, with one keyimprovement: it's inedible. This robust reissue follows lovable Lloyd the llamaon his quest to find out what percentage of the baby animal population hasllamas for mamas. The rhymes are original and infectious, and the riddles aresure to have children shouting out the answers in anticipation of turning thepage.

Youngsters often exhibit an insatiable appetite for adorable baby animals,and Is Your Mama a Llama provides plenty of fodder for fawning.Illustrator Steven Kellogg, however, manages to keep the pictures sweet withoutbeing saccharine. And rest assured, no matter how often your little one iscompelled to kiss the critters, the sturdy board-book format will stand the testof time (and of course, slobber). (Ages 0 to 4) ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Great Pre-school Storytime Book
"Is your Mama a llama? I asked my friend Rhonda." "I think not, is how Rhonda responded." Little llama wants to know if his friend's mothers are llamas too. Superb, rich illustrations of the baby animals and mamas, including such exotics as bats and swans make this a Storytime favorite. My group has this one memorized and love to read along with the illustrations. Remember they are only three! New members to the group feel comfortable giving the correct responses with the rest of the tried and true. Treat your group to the bigger than life version. Fun to turn the huge pages and the illustrations translate well.

Kids Love It
Is Your Mama A Llama is a great book for early readers. I used it to entertain a crowd of 1st graders the other day and the children still ask me to read the book to them again. It is filled with colorful, eye-pleasing pictures. This book is a value that I think all parents should buy if they have young readers.

Very sweet book, makes you wish that your Mama was a Llama
My young daughters (now 3 and 7) dearly love this book. We have it memorized. It is sweet and the illustrations are beautiful. It is one of the few young books that I never get bored of reading. It is definitely a classic children's book.

I love the finale of this book!
This book is great-with a unique finale! At the end it says, "My mama's a-Llama! And this is...THE END!" In fact, whenever I watch a cartoon that ends with the words, "The End" onscreen, I recite this story in little bits and towards the end I say, "My mama's a llama! And this is..." and then the words, "The End" appear onscreen.

My Kids' FAVORITE Book!
It's so rare to find books that rhyme well, and this one is a gem! We never get tired of reading it. Great for kids and a pleasure for adults to read! Highly recommend! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Because Arthur is so cool!
I love Pal! (Arthur's dog) Arthur writes about how he got pal for school. I really like Arthur books!!!! Danielle

It is fun to read.
Everybody should write a story. I am 5 years old and I love to write ... just like Arthur. ... Read more

Book Description

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sisters, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena's affection--he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?

Reviews (75)

An Excellent Book
This tale of romance and courage kept me reading for hours. I couldn't stop reading it at home and school. I loved that book that I could read it again and again.This story is about a young swan that came into the world without a voice. He is determined to win the money he needs for his father's dept, because Louis's father stole a trumpet from a music store. Determined to raise the money needed.He travels from his beautiful home in Montana to places all over the country.He even got jobs like leading a swan boat in one place. Playing his trumpet at another and playing the trumpet at his human friend Sam Beaver's camp.Soon he raises the money he needs and his father pays back his dept.He also wins the heart of a female swan he loves Serena. This is a tale that'll have everyone reading for hours. I like this story and I'm sure others will too.

A Great Book
The Trumpet of the Swan is about a swan named Louis who was born mute. However, he was determined to do something to prove himself. He then asked a friend to help him to learn things that are taught in school. His parents were still not satisfied because they still could not communicate with their son. It was Louis's father who did a great sacrifice to help his son. Louis wanted to clear his father's debts and so he ecountered many adventures. However, what he wanted most was to have Serena (a beautiful female swan) for his wife. Did he succeed? Read this book and you will find out.

This book is a little touching and very exciting.

Trumpet of the Swan
I loved Trumpet of the Swan. It taught me basically everything with the situation that Louis had. It was a very good book. I think everyone will enjoy it at all ages. When I read it, I could not stop reading. Even when it was time to sleep, I took a flashlight and read it. It was a wonderful book. Everyone will definetly love The Trumpet of the Swan.

The Trumpet of the Swan
This book is about a young Trumpeter Swan named Louis who was born with a speech defect problem. He learns to play the trumpet and travels all over America. I was obsessed with it. In fact, I'm reading it again right now. I can't put it down. HELP!!!!!!!!!

It was a great book
It was a great book. I think it was a book that would calm people down. It could be something you can read in your spartime. ... Read more

Book Description

This boy-wants-dog story with a twist is both snappy and endearing.The little boy's mother won't let him have a dog. Dogs are too messy and too loud. But she says he can have a dragon for a pet&150if he can find one.Enter the coolest&150but naughtiest&150pet ever. The dragon is messier and louder than any dog. And he will not leave. How will the boy ever get a dog now?

Wry, stylish illustrations with an appealing retro look perfectly complement the spare, witty text. A comical, engaging story for anyone who's ever wanted a pet! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brilliant!
This is the best children's book I have seen in a long time. I found it browsing in a bookstore for a child's birthday - and now I plan to give it as a gift many times over. The story is great and the illustrations are perfect. Bravo to David and Hanako!

Great fun!
I've had a ball reading this book to kids (and to myself). Having trouble convincing Mom to let you have a dog? Well, this little boy has it all figured out. The author has written an upbeat, warm story and the illustrator's additions make the pictures lots of fun to inspect. That is one cool dog substitute this boy invites home. Check it out. Sure to become a favorite at your house. ... Read more

Book Description

Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages, and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

4.75 stars
Like every Boynton book, this is a good book. The words rhyme and flow nicely, and the pictures are really cute, bold, and colorful. As its name suggests, this book talks about opposites "Big and small, short and tall." The major downside in this book is the words. They still flow nicely and rhyme without strain, but they lack some little charm that almost all of the other Boynton books have. Another reason for this is that it is a list of opposites illustrated and carefully placed so they rhyme. The pictures and placement of the words make up for the actual words however. My favorite picture is for the in/out, two turtles, one in its shell, and one standing on top of it. Every page has a cute picture. Also, the way the words are written, not the words themselves, is a wonderful thing. The big is written big, the small small, the tall vertical, and in the slow each letter is separated.

Loggie-log-log-log

Superb
I believe my husband and I enjoy reading these more than our 18 month old son enjoys hearing them. She is beyond funny.

Classic
These Boynton board books cannot go wrong with the young-uns. My nephews and nieces ask me to read them over and over again.

Really fun and educational
This was a fun way to teach my daughter about opposites and she enjoys it being read to her over and over and telling me the difference now.

Humorous illustrations for a basic concept
"Opposites," by Sandra Boynton, combines colorful illustrations with a very simplified text in order to teach the concept of opposites to young children. Each page of the book contains one or two pairs of words that function as opposites: "big" and "small"; "heavy" and "light"; "day" and "night"; etc. The illustrations are delightful. Boynton uses a variety of cartoon animals (pig, snail, elephant, turtle, etc.) to demonstrate the meaning of each pair of words.

My only reservation about the book is that it seems to reinforce dualistic thinking into children. I know that "opposites" is an important concept for children to learn, but I also believe that children need to develop a more flexible way to perceive and describe the world. Boynton's "Opposites" gives no indication, for example, that there is a "room temperature" in between "hot" and "cold."

While I recommend this book for both its humorous artwork and educational value, I also recommend that parents take time to teach their kids that there are many variations between the seemingly irreconcilable opposites presented herein. ... Read more

Book Description

Mossflower, prequel to Redwall, is widely acknowledged by fans as one of the most memorable volumes of the bestselling Redwall series. It is now available in a special format, with six all-new, full-page illustrations and a brand-new map by David Elliot (illustrator of Triss and The Angel’s Command, and winner of the 2003 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Award). Fans will be eager to add it to their collections, and those new to the Redwall series will want to pick it up to find out how the grand epic got its start. ... Read more

Reviews (257)

A Thrilling Prequel to Redwall!
I really enjoyed this book, because it was a very good science fiction/ fantasy book. It was a very good book that kept me wanting to read it more and more to see what happened next. I couldn?t put the book down once I began reading. It was about talking animals with a problem. Martin a warrior mouse was traveling from his home land, searching for his father when he was captured. He was thrown in the jail of Kotir in mossflower. He later finds out the all the woodland animals in mossflower are being enslaved and attacked by wildcats and there army. After being helped by the woodlanders he decides to stay with the woodlanders and help them defeat the intruders. With his new found friends he sets out to the mountain of Salamandastron to get help from a great warrior badger. On the way they overcome many hardships. While back in Kotir the rest of the woodlanders find out other ways to stop the intruders.
I rate this on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, a 5. I rate this a perfect five because this is just the kind of book I enjoy reading. This book also has a lot of action and fighting in it which kept me wanting to read more.

Bravery, cunning, determination. Mossflower has it all

A masterful story of cunning, treachery, determination, and bravery. Brian Jacques' tale of how the Redwall Abbey came to be is truly a must-read for any fan of the Redwall series, and for anyone who has not read one of the Redwall books, Mossflower is a great place to start!

The story is full of riddles, songs, memorable characters, and one cannot forget the battles of the peace loving woodland creatures versus the evil troops under the command of the the merciless wildcat Tsarmina. The brave Martin, clever Gonff, the strong Skipper of the Otters and a plethora of other colorful characters make this book one not to miss. There's something for everyone in this book, action, humor, love, mystery, and riddles that make the mind boggle!

Truly one of Brian Jacques' best and most beautifully done works, also a fantastic tale for all ages! This was the first of Jacques' books that I ever read, and I've looked forward to any of his new books ever since

Mossflower
Mossflower starts out kind of slow. But after awhile it starts to go faster. And u start to get more interesed in it. along the way Martin has lots of adventures. And has lots of enemies,but he also has lots of friends. this is a book that u can't put down.

Mossflower
This is in my opinion one of the best Redwall books. The story of a band of woodland creatures resisting the tyrannical reign of the evil wildcat queen Tsarmina, this book has lots of fighting and battle scenes. It is also the first book in which Martin the Warrior appears, the heroic mouse from the northern coast destined to free Mossflower from the cat's oppressive rule! This is the first Redwall book I ever read and it is one of my favorite books of all time! I would give it ten stars if I could!

Read it for Tsarina's tantrums
After reading Redwall I was hoping for greater insight into Martin's history. Mossflower though it introduces Martin it doesn't come close to filling in the back story in any coherent fashion. The only really entertaining bit of it is Tsarina's tantrums. She's portrayed wonderfully as a mad cat queen. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (13)

A lesser known, but still valuable Steig classic
I love this book, and feel that William Steig is one of the most underrated and insightful children's authors. I have asked many people who have children that I know whether they have read any of his books, and the usual answer I receive is "no". What literature they have been missing out on! My son really enjoys this book, and it is one of the first books with a substantial amount of text on each page that I have been able to convince him to sit still to hear (he's almost three).
The story of a mouse and whale who find solace in a most unlikely friendship is charming and very applicable to human relationships. I think this book can teach children that friendship can be found in a people who are not necessarily like ourselves...and that these friendships are often some of the most important and profound in our lives. Hopefully, children will take away from this book the message that not everyone is the same, and that so much can be valued and gained from finding friends in those who are different from all the rest.

A soft-hearted story about the meaning of friendship
'Amos and Boris' was my favorite book when I was in Kindergarten. It is now my children's favorite, too. The characters, Amos (a mouse) and Boris (a whale) learn about friendship, loss and love in a warm, comforting story. This is a book Mr. Rogers might read to his kids - but without the annoyance factor. The illustrations are peaceful, immpressionistic, and very grown up. Parents won't mind being asked to read 'Amos and Boris' night after night.

Amos and Boris
"Amos and Boris" is one of our family's favorites, bar none. The kids (ages 9 and 7) have hundreds of books, but none touches us the way this story does. All of Steig's work is exceptional, and this story is his crowning glory. A MUST READ!! I took it into the third grade classroom as a guest reader. At the end of the story, I asked the kids to raise their hands if they liked it. 27 hands shot up!

A two-generation classic
I recently stumbled upon this book in my public library and was instantly taken back to many fond moments spent in its pages during my childhood. I brought it home to my five-year-old who is now just as enchanted. This smple update of Aesop's classic Mouse and Lion tale is a guaranteed pleaser.

great!
this was my ABSOLUTE favorite book as a child. i couldn't put it down! for some reason it always made me sad at the end....beautiful book.... ... Read more

Book Description

‘Short, original fables with fresh, unexpected morals poke subtle fun at human foibles through the antics of animals. . . . The droll illustrations, with tones blended to luminescent shading, are complete and humorous themselves.’ —Association of Library Service to Children, ALA.

Winner, 1981 Caldecott Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1980 (ALA)
1981 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1980 (NYT)
Children's Books of 1980 (Library of Congress) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fables and animalia
I'm on an Arnold Lobel kick these days. Having breezed through the sweet, "A Treeful of Pigs", stopped to admire his treasury of nursery rhymes (two thumbs way way up on that one), and genuflected in the face of the eternally classic tales of Frog and Toad I'm actually getting around to reading his 1981 Caldecott winning picture book, "Fables". Lobel deserves every inch of praise he received for this admirable work. Imagine how difficult it must have been to create not one, not two, but twenty absolutely new fables filled to the brim with wit and wisdom! Not an easy task. Still, Lobel not only faced up to the challenge but also accomplished it in a manner best befitting the gentleman he truly was. These are fabulous fables.

Each tale contained in this book is acted out by a variety of different animals. No two stories contain the same kind of animals (with the possible exception of one fable centering on a hen and another on a rooster). The stories are short and easy for youngsters to understand. They are usually followed up with little moral lessons along the lines of "At times, a change of routine can be most healthful" or "When the need is strong, there are those who will believe anything". Admittedly, these are half a step away from becoming fortune cookie messages. Still, there's no denying that each and every one is true. Sometimes they become particularly poignant. I am thinking of the story about a young mischievous kangaroo that would throw spitballs in school and put tacks on chairs. When his teacher went to his home to inform his parents of their son's terrible behavior, he found them throwing spitballs at one another and doing just the kinds of things the little one had done in school. Moral: "A child's conduct will reflect the ways of his parents". Truer than most would think.

Accompanying these droll adventures are Lobel's very particular illustrations. As an artist, Lobel has given an entirely new level of sophistication to his creations. Though undeniably Lobellian (is that a word?) they're far more detailed than anything much his work before or since. In the story where a pig dreams of candies all night, the image on the opposite page displays a subtley shaded porcine character flying next to a gorgeous moon, a mélange of greens and yellows. Other delightful pictures include the one accompanying the story of two elephants. The pompous father elephant reads his paper, oblivious to the fact that his left slipper has caught fire from his pipe. Standing in front of him, eyes at half-mast (a look of singular disinterest on his face) a younger elephant gazes at the blaze serenely. Children familiar with Lobel's "Frog and Toad" books might be ever so slightly disturbed by the story in which three frogs run to find the treasures at the end of the rainbow. Not only do the jacketed amphibian get eaten by a snake, but they all look a heckuva lot like Frog from the aforementioned popular series. Things to consider.

The tales told here are as well written and presented as an ancient Aesopian collection. I would greatly encourage you to pair this book with, "Anno's Aesop: A Book of Fables by Aesop and Mr. Fox". The books compliment one another and lead to similar sillinesses. If you've ever thought that you loved Lobel, think again. Until you've read this picture book you'll find you were completely in the dark regarding his real talents. A stunning accomplishment.

Fables
Fables is a collection of fables that the author made up himself. They aren't the traditional fables of the world, but they still all contain a moral lesson. Each story is about animal characters, which makes the stories very enchanting.
Each story is very short and is contained within the borders of one page each. This is a good quality for a short story book because a story can be told in a very short amount of time. The whole book does not have to be read in order for the reader to benefit from it. The meaning of every story is stated at the bottom of every page. This is an advantage to the reader because they do not have to read the entire story to figure out if they want to read that particular fable.
Each fable is accompanied by its own colorful illustration. The illustrations are large and cover the entire page opposite the fable that it belongs to. Some of the illustrations are rather humorous and get the reader's attention before they even begin reading the story.
This would be a good book to have in a younger aged classroom. The stories are short so the reader is not bogged down by a long drawn out story. They are also humorous and are sure to get a laugh out of any youngster.

Good- but not for preschool
Amazon.com has this graded as for Baby-Preschool. No way. These are fables with morals, and the vocabulary is at least second grade. I teach Third Grade and this book accompanies my reading series.
There are some stories I like better than others for both content and message. (some I don't use) I'd recommend it for Second to Fifth graders.

Tongue in Cheek Animal Fables with Beautiful Illustrations
This book won the Caldecott Medal for the best illustrated children's book of 1981. The book contains twenty one-page fables, facing a one page illustration of the key moment in each fable. The illustrations bring the morals of these tales to life in ways that will keep your children laughing. That will make the lessons more memorable, as well as more entertaining.

The fables are uneven in the relevance and importance of their messages. I graded the book down one star for the several fables that are more irreverent than relevant. You can obtain more benefit for your child if you selectively read the fables to emphasize the more important ones.

For an example of a weaker one consider The Pelican and the Crane. This is a story about a crane who invites a pelican to tea. The pelican is horribly uncouth and messy. The pelican complains that "no one ever calls me." The moral is stated as "when one is a social failure, the reasons are as clear as day." The narrower moral is about being inconsiderate, but that is never quite spelled out. So even the weaker fables can be tightened up with a little parental explanation.

I thought that the following stories were comparable in quality to Aesop's Fables:

The Crocodile in the Bedroom ("Without a doubt, there is such a thing as too much order."; The Ducks and the Fox ("At times, a change of routine can be most healthful."); King Lion and the Beetle ("It is the high and mighty who have the longest distance to fall."); The Lobster and the Crab ("Even the taking of small risks will add excitement to life."); The Hen and the Apple Tree ("It is always difficult to pose as something one is not."); The Baboon's Umbrella ("Advice from friends is like the weather. Some of it is good; some of it is bad."); The Frogs at the Rainbow's End ("The biggest hopes may lead to the greatest disappointments."); The Camel Dancer ("Satisfaction will come to those who please themselves."); Madame Rhinoceros and Her Dress ("Nothing is harder to resist than a bit of flattery."); The Pig at the Candy Store ("A locked door is very likely to discourage temptation."); and The Mouse at the Seashore ("All the miles of hard road are worth a moment of true happiness.").

In most cases, other lessons can be drawn from the same fables. I suggest that you and your child discuss what else you noticed in the stories. You can then add experiences that each of you have had during the day, and discuss the meaning of each.

Remember that only those who wish to experience the most misery and injury themselves prefer to learn only from their own mistakes.

Remember to look on the funny side of life's hard lessons!

Original fables that children will love.
This children's book consists of twenty original fables containing animal characters (just as in Aesop's fables) with a moral at the end of each: for example, "Knowledge will not always take the place of simple observation." The book won the 1981 Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a book for children. ... Read more

Book Description

2002 marks the 100th anniversary of one of the best-loved children's books of all time. Since 1902, over 40 million copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit have been sold worldwide, in more than 35 languages. Recently, it was named the second best-selling children's book of all time by Publishers Weekly. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A tale too good to pass up
Caveat: Now if you're in the market to buy "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", I highly recommend that you do NOT purchase the horrendous version illustrated by David McPhail. This interesting monstrosity takes a book that was previous perfect and renders it perverse. I am reviewing the original Beatrix Potter edition of this tale, but because Amazon.com doesn't like to differentiate reviews, I'm fairly certain that this review will also appear for the McPhail book as well. Please, dear readers, do not in any way shape or form purchase the McPhail version if you want the original adept "Peter Rabbit"! Where Potter is adept and charming, McPhail is syrupy and doe-eyed. Where Potter is subtle, McPhail is over the top. Where Potter succeeds, McPhail fails. To locate an original edition of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" click on the author "Beatrix Potter" as it appears at the top of this screen. That should bring you to a selection of choices, one of which is the original "The Tale of Peter Rabbit". Oddly, the only way to purchase that particular original version of the tale is to select her name. I don't know why. Call it a flaw in the Amazon.com system, if you will.

Now, why doesn't Peter Rabbit age? I'm not being literal here, people, so please don't inundate me with explanations that patiently explain that fictional characters in books cannot get old. I won't hear a word of it. Reading "Peter Rabbit" today is just as fresh and new an experience as it was one hundred years ago. Author Beatrix Potter created the story of Peter Rabbit for a young boy with whom she was acquainted. Using the novel idea of drawing animals as they appeared in nature, just in funny clothes and talking, her books are remarkable because she had a dual talent for both illustration and clever narrative. Now after all these years I opened up "Peter Rabbit" to see why I loved it as much as I did as a kid. And the fact of the matter is, it hasn't aged a smidgen. A remarkable and astounding feat for a story originally published in 1903.

Peter lives, as many of us know, in a large fir tree with his mother and his siblings Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail. His father was baked in a pie (a fact that many parents have decried as too dark for children, and that many children have shrugged at without a second thought). Though instructed by his mother NOT to go digging in Mr. McGregor's garden, he's a naughty little thing. His tasty trip is brought up short, however, when he stumbles across the farmer himself. In the course of their chase Peter loses his little blue jacket with the shiny brass buttons and must return to his mother (after a series of close shaves) without it or his shoes. He is promptly put to bed with a cup of camomile tea (a fate we non-camomile tea drinkers must assume is harsh) while his siblings eat the tasty blackberries they picked that morning.

Beatrix Potter claimed that though she was adept at illustrating animals, she had the darndest time (my words, not hers) drawing people. You will note, therefore, that Mr. McGregor is a bit of a featureless wag. The story was remarkable in that it was the first time (I believe) that animals drawn in a picture book actually looked like real animals. Peter is exactly the kind of bunny you'd expect to catch in your yard, except that he's occasionally wearing jaunty spring wear. The similarities in this tale to that of the Brer Rabbit tales of the American South is interesting but due to the fact that Potter was writing this story in 1903 Britain, she probably didn't steal the plot. The book is a classic in the purest sense, of course. If you can get a copy that is small (intended from the start to be the size that little hands could open easily) do. It's a beautiful tale that is as fresh and green today as it was when written long long ago. A classic.

A must
I got this book when I was very young and to this day I still love it. It's a cute story about this naughty little bunny going into Mr. McGregors yard and getting into a big mess. I love the drawings and everything about it. A great book for the kids.

Classic for adults and children
Four rabbit children are told to pick berries by their mother, who also warns the rabbits not to go near Mr. McGregor's garden. Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottaintale obey their mother, but Peter, the mischievous of the four rabbits, ignores his mother's warning and ventures off for some tasty food from Mr. McGregor's garden. While Peter is greedily eating some radishes, he is spotted by Mr. McGregor. Peter tries to dash out of Mr. McGregor's way, only getting further and further away from the garden gate. Will Peter get away from Mr. McGregor, and find his way out of the garden? What will happen when his mother hears what he has done?

Personal Response:
I have loved this story since I was little, probably because any child can relate to Peter's mischievous ways. I have not met a child who could not attest to getting in over their heads after doing something they were told not to do. Beatrix Potter does an amazing job illustrating this well known tale. She brings life to the characters with her beautifully detailed illustrations. The illustrations have soft lines and curves to give a pleasant fell to the story. The pictures go along with the pages of the story as well as adding detail to the reader's mind about the plot and setting. The reader can see the vastness of the garden by looking at Beatrix Potter's illustrations.
The author's ability to suspend disbelief is not very great, because of the nature of the story. This story is made to be a fairy tale, which is not usually believable to children or adults. Children are accustomed to talking animals in stories at the age they would read this book. However, the plot of the story is very realistic to the child. It is realistic because the child can relate to disobeying their parent, and getting into trouble of some sort. They can also relate to the punishment that Peter gets at the end of the story.

A wonderful tale of Peter Rabbit
Peter Rabbit is one of four rabbits in his family. Very much curious as well as disobedient, Peter decides to wonder off into Mr. McGregor's garden. He has heard the warning given to him by his mother of what Mr. McGregor does to curious, wandering rabbits. Peter slips away from his brother's and sister's while they play in the fields and decides to see this wonderful garden. While in the garden, Peter fills his stomach with delicious carrots, lettuce and other various vegetables. While eating, Mr. McGregor finds the somewhat stuffed rabbit and chases him around his garden. Peter, realizing the mistake he made, only wishes to be free, that he might not make the same mistake again. This book is very well written and can capture the heart of even the oldest person. Filled with detailed pictures, Peter comes to life in this classic tale of tales.

This is my Nephew's favorite book
The pictures in this book are absolutely wonderful. It was my oldest nephews favorite book, his little brother also loves it, unfortunately after five years of hard use I just replaced it with a new one. This is the first time we've ever "worn out" a book!

If my two nephews could write a review, (they are boys, 5 and 2 yrs old), they would tell you that this book is a treasure! ... Read more

Book Description

Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawnversions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuringnontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages,and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Blue Hat, Green Hat, Red Hat, oops.
I really like this book. In it there are four characters; an elephant, a moose, a bear and a turkey. The elephant, moose, and bear all have no problem dressing themselves. They put their hats on their heads, pants on their legs, socks on their feet, etc. The poor turkey however can't seem to get anything right. He stands on his hat, puts his pants on his head, puts his coat on backwards, etc. The one time he does manage to get all dressed properly, he jumps into the pool! (oops)

Sandra Boynton's pictures are always adorable, and this book is no exception. The pictures are also very bold and bright. The story is told like the following: "Blue Hat, Green Hat, Read Hat, oops." Under each set of words is a picture of an animal wearing (or standing in) their hat. A wonderful book.

Loggie-log-log-log

My 2-year-old just "read" this to me!
My two-year-old daughter and I love this story. I read the story, she supplies the "Oops!" We both laugh at the turkey who can't seem to get his clothes on right. But I was amazed last night when she read the whole book to me, cover to cover! I know she's reading the illustrations, not the words, but it was still a delight. The words are so simple and the pictures are so clear that she finally has a book that she can read to me. And despite its simplicity, the book is still funny every time we re-read it.

What a Great Book!
My family and I love Sandra Boynton books but this book is really great. It helps children learn their colors and it's funny too. I love to hear my son giggle when I read Oops! A must buy for 2-3 year olds.

Bookshelf Hall of Fame
I have dozens of children's books, but this one consistently gets the kids howling. Something so silly and fun about a confused little turkey. Hands down the book they grab first when they run to the bookshelf.

My Kid Loves This Book
My son, who will soon be 3, has read this book with me so many times that he "reads" it by himself now. When he was a year old, the "oops" at the end of every page was one of his first and favorite words. This is a wonderful book for the pre-reader, because the repetition of simple words and colors really helps kids learn. And my son really responds to the humor and silliness of the book. I think Sandra Boynton is his favorite author, we read at least one of her books every night. They're awesome! ... Read more

Book Description

Jan Brett's intricate illustrations against a beautiful papyrus background make a stunning picture book of a favorite story-this time featuring Noah's granddaughter. As the floodwaters rise, she helps take the animals onto the ark and get them settled down. But it's not easy when giraffes are sleeping next to pandas and lions are curled up with turkeys. Finally the gentle rocking of the ark lulls them all to sleep until the waters recede and Grandpa Noah, his family, and all the animals leave the ark. This simple telling, combined with extraordinary illustrations of every animal imaginable, makes On Noah's Ark perfect for young and old. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Oooops! She left out the main character!
Beautiful illustrations do not make up for the fact that there's not even a nod to the Creator of the story! Come on, "Grandpa Noah says that the rains are coming"!?!?!? Wasn't it God who said the rains are coming? (...)

Wish it were longer!
Written from the viewpoint of Noah's grandson, this is a charming story from onboard the ark. My just turned 2 year old loves it and I don't mind reading it over and over (and over and over). We have other Noah's Ark books but many require too much explaination or are too scary for this age group. I am planning to buy this for cousins and friends.

A beautiful book
Once again Jan Brett's illustrations are a treat for the eye. This is a simple telling of the ark story from another point of view. Noah wasn't the only one on the ark and children love to imagine what other people on the ark were like. This is a wonderful book to use to get a discussion going with young children and get them thinking about the ark and it's passengers.

A different story
This is a beautifully illustrated story about a little girl on a fantastic animal cruise. If you want a lovely book with gorgeous pictures of animals, you'll like this book. If you want to teach your child about the Noah of Genesis, look instead at the wonderful Noah's Ark by Peter Spier. That book also has lovely illustrations, but sticks much closer to the Biblical version of the story.

One of Jan Brett's best!
Beautiful illustrations and a creative storytelling make this version of the Noah's Ark story a must have! Jan Brett is one of my favorite author/illustrators and this book will not disappoint any of Brett's fans. This book is a joy for both parents and children to read. My 2 year old daughter loves it. ... Read more

Book Description

A new addition to the critically acclaimed mini-sized reference series DK Pockets, Animals of the World is packed with facts and pictures arranged in a clear, logical way. Thousands of animals are shown in glowing full-color photographs, and brief text gives key information on the animals' habits, feeding, and migration patterns. ... Read more

Book Description

Following on the great success of her first four bilingual board books, Rebecca Emberley has created another set of brightly colored board books that toddlers and their parents will adore.The subject of each book appeals directly to a child's experience of the everyday world: clothes, food, animals, and toys.It is never too early to begin to learn another language and these four stylish books will help the youngest English and Spanish speakers prepare for the multilingual society in which they will live. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Boring
This book is simple and kindof boring. The illustrations are not very realistic. My children never got interested in it. There are only a handful of pages with one animal per page. it isn't very exciting at all.

Great Spanish/English Series
Raising a multilingual child is difficult particularly in our mono-lingual culture. It is all too easy to resort to the English default. As a parent I have to make an extra conscious effort to speak Spanish to my daughter and familiarize her ear with the sounds she will hopefully use one day. In this regard bi-lingual books have been essential in helping me to set aside Spanish-time. I have read this series of board books by Rebecca Emberley to my daughter since she was 3-months old and they are still among her favorites at 15 months. These books are ideal for interacting with your baby and toddler in a multilingual fashion. The illustrations are bright and colorful and the pages withstand repeated vigorous turning by little hands. Each page presents a single word in English and Spanish for added comprehension, yet ideal for short attention spans. Thank you for a wonderful series.

GREAT series of books to learn words not just espanol!!
These are a great series of well & simply illustrated books that my son absolutely loves. He knows the spanish words before english (we are primarily english speakers) for so many things, and he learns them here first! My husband has also learned quite a few words from the series as well.... ... Read more