Amazon.com

"This little dog is under a spell and needs your help. To free him,you must be given four special things:

A gift from a ship lost at sea,
A gift from the prairie blue,
A gift from a forest far away,
A gift from a kangaroo."

How would you feel if you found a note like this in your magic tree house? Eight-year-old Jack and his 7-year-old sister Annie love the funny, enchanted dog Teddy--and know they have no choice but to collect the gifts and break the mysterious spell. In Tigers at Twilight--the 19th adventure in award-winning author Mary Pope Osborne's popular MagicTree House series--these brave, resourceful children have already found the first two gifts, and must find the third in "a forest far away." Knowing that the books in Morgan Le Fey's magic tree house have the power to transport them all over the world, they see their next destination on the cover of Wildlife of India. Once in the thick of the Indian jungle, it doesn't take them long to make friends with the monkeys, to see the huge gashes that tiger claws have made on the tree trunks, and to spot a python. This story is straight out ofan episode of Wild Kingdom; the children spot animal after animal, with only a few close calls. When they find a rare tiger in a poacher's trap, however, the story turns around, and the children are eventually led to the third gift. A tribute to the disappearing tiger, and an animal-filled, action-focused adventure with plenty of cartoon-style illustrations, this slight book is sure to keep kids' attention. A generous layout combined with simple, short sentences promote quick reading that will build confidence in beginning readers. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Tigers at Twilight
Tigers a Twilight
I absolutely delect the book titled Tigers a Twilight by Mary Pope Obsorne , a fabulous writer that discribes the problems that occur in a way that you will react, like the part when the children, Annie and Jack try to rescue the tiger.you might inmediatly get attracted to the book after you read only the first word from the book. I totally reccomend this fabulous mystery book because two kids magicly appear to be in India and learn more about nature.

Tigers at Twilight
Join Jack and Annie in this thrilling expadition to find the third gift to free the enchanted dog Teddy in the 19th book of the series of the Magic Treehouse, Tigers at Twilight. Jack and Annie have one more gift to go before Teddy is freed from the enchantment. In this outrageous adventure Jack and Annie must face many dangers such as tigers, snakes, and rinos! In my opinion this is the most outstanding book in the series of the Magic Threehouse that I have ever read! I hioghly recomend this wonderful book. Hope you enjoy Tigers at Twilight!

Like Tigers? Read This!
Tigers At Twilight by Mary Pope

If you read this book you will think it is very interesting. A little boy and girl go on a quest to solve a riddle. They almost get run over by a rhinoceros and ride an elephant in the forest.

I think this book is really cool. It has a magic tree house and I like tree houses.

Mary Pope wanted to teach us to never be afraid to do something hard.

Harry's Review
My favorite part of Tigers at Twilight was when Jack and Annie almost got caught by something in the forest. It kept my interest while I was reading it because there was a whole lot of action. I really liked the animal pictures in the book. I have read almost the whole series and this is my second favorite book from the Magic Tree House.

Neat book in every way
"Tigers At Twilight" is a Magic Tree House book like no other. It has a lot of facts, if you want to learn about India's forests and it's many animals plus it's wonders. This book also has some neat characters, like the monkeys. It also has a lot of funny moments, and I really laughed at them. Well, I don't want to spoil any more of this book. This is now my second best book, besides "Earthquake In The Early Morning". I highly reccomend this for any fan. Enjoy, everyone!! ... Read more

Book Description

This classic bedtime story, with cozy baby socks, is perfect for snuggling up with at bedtime, naptime, or anytime!

Reviews (287)

A little rabbit goes to bed but is not at all tired...
Generation after generation of children who have not wanted to go to sleep at night when told it was their bedtime have found an endearing manifesto of not being sleepy in "Goodnight Moon." Margaret Wise Brown poetry keeps things as simple as Clement Hurd's illustrations, which show a little rabbit who insists on saying "Goodnight" to pretty much every single object in the bedroom (including the old lady whispering "hush"). Eventually the little rabbit runs out of things to say "Goodnight" to and falls asleep. But we know that this scene will be repeated the next night and the night after that, when your child demands that you read this timeless children's classic from 1947 to them over and over again. There are certain books that every child should have in their library and if "Goodnight Moon" is not at the top of that list it has to be very close to the top for over half a century. Before this decade is up I am sure I will pass it on to a third generation of my family. How many generations is your family up to?

Great Bedtime Book
My daughter received this book as a gift for her 1 yr birthday(She is now 22 mos old and still loves this book. We read it every night before bed). At first, when I read it, I wasn't impressed with it at all. But then, the more we read it, I became wrapped up in the story through my daughter's enthusiasm of finding the little mouse in the pages and realized the sheer joy of her learning experience through reading and imagination. The lines are very short so little ones won't be easily bored waiting for the page to turn and it is so much fun for her to find the little mouse in each colored page, to watch her put her little finger to her mouth and whisper 'hush' with the little old lady in the corner, and to point out other objects in the room.

The story is based on a little bunny going to bed and saying goodnight to various items in his room and with each turn of the page, the light in his room grows dimmer. '...Goodnight mush/And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"/Goodnight stars/Goodnight air/Goodnight noises everywhere' and with that the room is dark and the bunny is fast asleep. The book alternates between color pages and black & white pages during the story. The pages show full color the little bunny's room where a little mouse hides in different areas and is waiting to be found by little searching eyes. Then the pages alternate to black and white that show other items that are found in the room that the bunny says goodnight to.

I have also found that if my daughter is hyper before bedtime, this book helps calm her down through the repetition of saying goodnight, by lowering my voice with each page that we turn and it actually helps prepare her for bed just like the bunny.

This is a very short, very colorful and very fun book for little ones. I highly recommend it.

A Must-Have Bedtime Book...
This book was one of our bedtime rituals. When I was weaning my son from frequent night-time breastfeedings, we would read this book at bedtime every evening. Sometimes I could hear him "reading" this book to himself in the dark if he was still have trouble settling down. Often, we read it in unison, and chuckled together. It's sweet and slow and comforting, and simply taking the time to cuddle and read it has a peaceful effect on both parent and child.

Still a Favorite
I first read this book when my son was a year old. The simple words and colorful illustrations made it one of his favorite bedtime rituals. The book focuses on a little rabbit going to bed and saying "good night" to everything in his room as well as the moon outside. In addition to reading the book, I would ask my son to point to the things the rabbit was saying "Good Night" to. Especially finding the little mouse on every color page. (I believe he's on everyone). We used it like an identification game as well as a story. Simple words that rhyme like "Hush" and "Mush" are easy for little ones to learn and repeat.
An interesting aspect of the illustrations is that the room is drawn darker as the book nears its end. The magic was still there the other night when I read it to my son who is now 3 and a half. Like other books by this author, there is an essentially childlike quality coupled with that "hard to pin down" quality of a classic.

If your child loves the original, they'll love this as well
My 21 mo old daughter loves the original "Goodnight Moon" and loves to play with the little acessories and popout features in this book. The story is the same and there is "lots to do" while turning the pages. ... Read more

Book Description

A popular Potter favorite is available again in a handsome new package. The carrying case comes complete with a handle, and buckle closure, and has the smart new design celebrating 100 years of Peter Rabbit. Books inside include titles such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Tom Kitten, and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck. Now being re-issued because of high demand, this is a great way to start a Potter library. ... Read more

Book Description

In Hide and Seek, ingenious action spreads show how animals use camouflage to hide from enemies or hunt for food, whether in the Arctic or Africa, the forests or the fields. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

HIde and Seek (National Geographic Action Book)
My 12-year old daughter got this book 10 years ago and it has survived three children. Each of my children have enjoyed the National Geographic Books. This one is particulary fun because the kids get to search for the hidden creatures; they don't seem to tire of looking again and again. Our set is finally showing its age so I am purchasing new ones - my 4-year old likes to look at them before she goes to sleep but calls them the "broke books" now.

A pleased reader from Cambridge, MA
Tabs, flaps, surprises and a scary owl are part of the fun of this well-conceived book. The pop-up engineering is really amazing and the illustrations are scientifically accurate as well as beautiful. Children love finding the hidden animals and there is so much variety and excitement in these 12 pages, that it will be enjoyed as much by adults as by children. It is a wonderful book for a parent or grandparent to share with the young ones. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eric Carle first published The Very Hungry Caterpillar in 1969, fully intending to create a series of interactive creature books for children. The beloved busy spider, quiet cricket, and lonely firefly books followed, but the artist's quest was not truly complete until The Very Clumsy Click Beetle was born. Carle, who says he'd rather watch a bug attempt to climb over a pebble than join an expedition to Mount Everest, appreciates the small things in life: the Eyed Elator (Alaus oculatus), to be exact--unremarkable except for that when this beetle falls on its back, it can't roll over to get up. Instead, it will stretch and release a snap mechanism that clicks and flips the beetle through the air, and ideally, back onto its feet.

The very clumsy click beetle has no trouble with the clicking and flipping part, but it does have trouble landing on its feet. The young beetle tries and tries again, encouraged by an ambling turtle, a slithering snail, and a scurrying mouse. Finally, when a curious boy approaches, the beetle takes coaching from a wise old click beetle ("QUICK, CLICK and FLIP!") and succeeds. Children will love the bright, bold, tissue-paper illustrations that tell this story of perseverance, as wellas--of course--the unusual clicking sound (emanating from an electronic chipwith built-in battery and light sensor) that accompanies this playful book. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Eric Carle. Permission of Philomel Books.) (Preschool and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very Clumsy Click Beetle
I'm a Branch Manager of a Public Library and we have found that this book is very good for the children that comes over for school visits. It is so funny to be reading them the book and they start hearing the Beetle make it's sound they start looking around the room trying to find out where it is coming from then they cant believe that it came from the book. Every year when school starts back this is the book that i read to my Kindergarden classes. I suggest that everyone should get this book and watch the look on your childs face when you read this book to them.

Library Users say thumbs down
I'm a children's librarian. I bought this book for my library. I've read it to two groups and showed it to some of the children who come to the library everyday. I thought they would like it since Carle's other book The Very Quiet Cricket is so enormously popular. Their reaction has been thumbs down. The children like the chirping sound from the cricket book, but the click sound from this beetle book doesn't impress them. The dull "click, click" really pales in comparison to the lilting cricket chirp. We've had our copy of the beetle book for almost three months, and it's only been checked out once.

I think a teacher or parent might be able to encourage a child to enjoy the click beetle book by incorporating it into a discussion about bugs. Also, a child who is fascinated with bugs might enjoy it. However, for the average child, I recommend buying The Very Quiet Cricket instead of the Beetle book. For a child who already has and loves the cricket book, I recommend buying Carle's The Very Lonely Firefly, which has fireflies that light up. My library kids like to crawl under desks to enjoy that book in the dark.

Great Book to Teach Kids to Keep Trying!
This book is well-liked by my class of four and five year olds. The story is clear and engaging. My students especially enjoy opening to the back page to hear the beetle's CLICK!

The little click beetle repeatedly strives in the story to CLICK and flip over onto his feet, a feat shown to him by an older, wiser click beetle. He tries to show this new trick to a variety of other critters with no success. The critters encourage him to keep trying.

We used this story in class to discuss the importance of persistence and practice to learn something new. This book also sparked a discussion about being kind and respectful, as we talked about how things might have been different if the critters in the story had ridiculed the click beetle for his failure instead of encouraging him. You could challenge children to tell how the ending would have been different if the little click beetle hadn't mastered his CLICK at the right time at the end.

Definitely a classroom staple, along with most of Eric Carle's other titles.

My 4 year old loved this book!
My 4 year old came home from preschool and talked about this book for 2 weeks! He drew click beetles over and over again, and told me how the story goes. He was one impressed 4 year old and any mom knows when their child mentions a book over and over again, it must be good! ... Read more

Book Description

Do you
wake up
with a
wiggle?

Do you
wiggle
out of bed?

For energetic toddlers (are there any who aren't?), here's a book that invites them to wiggle along with the story. Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again and again, Doreen Cronin's latest romp will have toddlers wiggling, giggling, and then (hopefully) falling into bed, blissfully exhausted! ... Read more

Book Description

From all
of the daddies,
tall or small,
mine is the best,
the very best...

Some animal daddies comfort their babies or hold them tight, or face every danger for them. But the narrator of this loving picture book knows his daddy does all of that -- and more -- for him.

In this sweet companion to the New York Times best-selling My Mother Is Mine, Marion Dane Bauer and Leslie Wu celebrate fathers. A Father's Day card is attached to the back of the book, but this is a book to share all year long.

the very best daddy of all.

Amazon.com

In Pendragon: The Merchant of Death, D.J. MacHale, the creator ofseveral popular television series and Afterschool Specials, transplants thePendragon name from Arthurian legend to modern-day junior high school. Fourteen- year-old Bobby Pendragon has it all; he's smart, popular, and a star basketballplayer in quiet Stony Brook, Connecticut. But a visit from Uncle Press soontopples all of that as Bobby learns that he is a Traveler, someone who can ride"flumes" through time and space. Bobby lands in Denduron, a medieval world wherethe gentle Milago are enslaved by the Bedoowan, and it's Bobby's job to freethem. He reluctantly teams up with Loor--a girl his age from thewarrior-territory of Zadaa--and other Travelers, recounting his adventures injournals that are magically transported back to his friends Mark and Courtney inStony Brook. These first-person journals at times feel contrived--they'reriddled with terms like "coolio" and "bizarro" and gnarly descriptions of vilesights and smells--but the book's thumping story soon scrubs away all suchconcern. The Merchant of Death keeps the pages flipping with steadyaction and near-constant mortal peril for its heroes, promising that both thisand future volumes in the Pendragon series should be eagerly devoured. (Ages 10and older) --D.J. Morel ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Exciting New Series for Science Fiction / Fantasy Fans
Fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon has always thought that he had a normal life. He has a great family, great friends, was lucky enought to have kissed the most perfect girl, has a perfect dog, Marley, and has a super-cool Uncle. But there's something that Bobby never knew about himself, and is about to find out. He's destined to save the world. No, not in ten years from now, but at this very instant. And no, not on this Earth, because life on this Earth is different than Bobby ever thought it could be. Bobby will be saving the world on an alternate dimension called Denduron, a territory inhabited by many strange beings, that is plagued by a dangerous revolution, and ruled by a magical tyrant. Now Bobby is forced to accept his role as savior to the people of Denduron, or else he won't ever see his family again. Besides, Denduron is only the beginning.

D.J. MacHale is a fantastic author who has created an interesting, and out-of-this-world dimension that will pull readers in from the very first page. Bobby is a fun character, who, even though he has to save the world, and is in an alternate dimension, uses teenage lingo of today (i.e. cool, awesome, etc.), that readers will be able to relate to and understand quite well. PENDRAGON: THE MERCHANT OF DEATH is told in alternating chapters between Bobby's journals, and his friends (Mark and Courtney) quest to find Bobby and save him from untimely death, which gives the reader the chance to read both sides of the story. This is an interesting and exciting addition to the science fiction / fantasy genre. A must read.

Erika Sorocco

A must for anyone who likes fantasy/sci-fi books
Okay, to tell you the truth, I picked up this book by absolute chance. I was in the public library and decided to randomly pull a book off the shelves. I picked Pendragon: The Merchant of Death. Being a fan of fantasy books (and because I thought the cover looked interesting) I decided to check it out. I liked it immediately.

The characters are actually realistic and have depth to them. With characters like Bobby, Courtney, and Mark, you get completely normal kids you can relate to. With Uncle Press you are given an enigma, who always seems to know more than you and so on. You also get the traditional bad guy in Saint Dane. I can compare him to Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter, except for the fact that he doesn't have a huge group of followers.
Actually, you can compare most of the Pendragon characters to those of Harry Potter Bobby to Harry, Mark to Ron, and Press to Dumbledore, etc.

The thing that I thought really set these books apart were the settings which were all original, strange and exciting. I also thought that the concept of different territories in the universe and one impossible-to-catch man trying to send them all into chaos interesting.

I was also able to appreciate these books because Bobby isn't one of those hero's who know what they're doing, he seems just as confused as the rest of us, which makes it all the more better.

I could barely put this book down after I started reading and I recommend them to anyone who likes sci-fi/ fantasy books as well as to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books and liked them.

A Great Adventure Story
I liked Pendragon becaue he can travel through Flumes, has a fun uncle, could go to different times, gets into bad situations is scary, is fun. I think that if you like adventure stories like The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings then you will like this book too.

Beats Its All! Bets book I've ever read!
It starts out with a little romance, and then Bobby Pendragon's "perfect" life turns into a mess when Uncle Press comes to take Bobby for a wild ride. During this first book- Bobby, who learns he is a travler, meet a new friend warrior travler, name Loor. Loor kicks butt! But does not think Bobby is worthy of his new found powers until the end. A 10 star book out fo 5 stars! Better than Harry Potter! The Best book I have read in my life- so far. Read the series and you will fall in love with Press, ~Bobby~, Loor, Alden, and many new charactors to come. You will fall in love with its charm!:)

The Merchant of Death
I just got this book, and wasn't very enthusiastic about reading it. I know, I know, HUGE surprise, huh?

The first few pages, I started to think 'Who the heck uses the words 'yo' or 'coolio' any more? Oh, God, PLEASE don't tell me this is another one of those terrible tween novels...'

I got a surprise. A rather large surprise...

Pretty much everything fantasy-wise has been done before. You have to agree with me there. We have kids going into worlds through wardrobes, we have adults able to teleport themselves through fireplaces... all in all, everything has been done. Except for Pendragon.

They have doorways into other worlds and times that you access by saying a word. Magical beings with the same name but different coverings guard these doorways. The only people that are allowed to travel through these doorways are special 'Travelers' that exist solely to save the world and defeat the bad guy.

The bad guy, in this case, happens to be an evil man that can change shape at will and whose natural form is a guy with piercing blue eyes.

Bobby Pendragon knows nothing about this when he is enlisted by his 'uncle' to go and help some people do something. What? He doesn't know. How? Why? Those aren't answered either.

Turns out there's a revolution starting in a territory called 'Denduron'. And Pendragon has been enlisted to help a pretty much hopeless cause and make it so that the slaves of the Bedoowan end up living in peace with their masters...

I loved this book... and I'm about to persuade my friends to read it. Come on, kiddoes... you know you want to... ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes mommies are funny and playful. Other times they are warm and comforting. And mommies always know when to laugh, where to play, and how to love. Through simple, moving text and endearing illustrations, Sebastien Braun captures the spirit of motherhood in a celebration for every mother and child.

Reviews (1)

A new great illustrator !!
His first book is amazing !! A magic world for kids....and theirs parents !
I 'm waiting impatiently the next one !!
Indisputably a great illustrator ! ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. Favorite Scarry animal characters introduce simple learning concepts and over 700 words. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My Fav When I Was Little!
I had several Richard Scarry books when I was teeny tiny, and I remember loving each one! I am now 29 and about to have my first child and was so excited to come across this book. It will be a great addition to my collection that my mother has saved from when I was a child. I can't wait to share this book with my little one. I hope you and yours enjoy Mr. Scarry's line of children's books as well.

This Book is Fabulous!!
My daughter is 2 and absolutely LOVES this book! She's learned so much from it!! Every night this is the book she wants to read! What I love about it is everytime we read it she learns something new--the latest she's learned is the 12 months! I recommend this to everyone---it's also a GREAT gift!

Best Kids' Books Ever!
This book and the First Word Book were my first Richard Scarry books, and two of the first books I ever had. They were wonderful! Each page is full of detailed illustrations of everyday items and their names. I had most of the Richard Scarry books, and they really helped me to learn vocabulary, and quite a few important lessons on behavior along the way! Now I am a mommy, and I can't wait for my little girl to be old enough to get her Best First Book Ever!

Not best FIRST book
This is a great book, I agree. However, it is not the best FIRST book unless your child isn't seeing any books until age 2. My daughter just turned one, and for her the pictures are still too busy. Also, it's not a board book so she can't "read" this book herself without risking the pages. I know we'll enjoy it later, but for now this book has been put away.

Daugher loves it!
My 3 year old recieved this as a birthday gift and she loves to look at all the busy things going on it it! Its one of my favorites too! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Modeled after the popular Taggies baby blankets, My First Taggies Book is a soft fleece picture book with eight different looped ribbon tags to rub and pull and chew. The content of the book is very simple: three two-page spreads featuring a plush kitty, bunny, and puppy, along with accompanying rhymes. "Sweet dreams, little kitty,/ Rock-a-bye and nighty night." The point here is not the plot line, but the delightfully cuddly feel of the book and the interactive tags. Designed to be tactile and visually stimulating, each tag has a different print or texture, much like the satin edges of blankets or clothing labels that so intrigue babies and toddlers. A gentle and safe way to introduce the very youngest "readers" to the world of books. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sweet Book for Baby
This is a precious book that baby will love to read and cuddle. Sweet illustrations, simple rhymes, and those great tags that babies love to feel. ... Read more

Book Description

The Enormous Crocodile is incredibly hungry-and incredibly greedy. His favorite meal is a plump, juicy little child, and he intends to gobble up as many of them as he can! But when the other animals in the jungle join together to put an end to his nasty schemes, the Enormous Crocodile learns a lesson he won't soon forget. Dahl's wicked humor is as delightful as ever in this new, larger edition of a hilarious favorite.

Illustrated by Quentin Blake. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

fun book, but the ending falls short
I really enjoyed "The Enormous Crocodile." It is one heck of a tale. But the abrupt and rather too serious ending leaves me pondering the greatness that could have been.

The story follows the exploits of the tittle character as he sets off one morning to find something to eat. He has a hankering for children from the nearby village. He broadcasts his desire to the other creatures of the jungle as he passes them.

The only problem is that besides being greedy and ill-intentioned, the crocodile is also nasty to his fellow wild creatures. This comes back to haunt him.

The story is a masterpiece of dry humor. Its verbal pacing is darn near flawless. The illustrations are great. Several (especially of the Crocodile's disguises) made me laugh.

Outside of the ending, I highly recommend "The Enormous Crocodile."

Enormous Crocodile
The author is Roald Dahl. He wrote this book called The Enormous Crocodile. The Enormous Crocodile is about two crocodiles. One tries to eat the children but his plans never work. His friends help the children get away from the Enormous Crocodile. They are tired of the crocodile's secret plans and clever tricks. I think this book is really excellent.

Sheer pleasure for all ages!
I dare you to pick up this book in a book store, read the first page to your child and then tell him you're not going to buy it. You'll never get away with it. Roald Dahl excels at writing stories that grip the reader in the first paragraph and don't let go until the end. If you can't get your child to read, let Roald Dahl come to the rescue. Even if you have to read it yourself, your kid will want to read it afterwards. This is a great Roald Dahl starter.

Crocodile Review
The Enormous Crocodile is a fun story with animals of all sorts. The Enormous Crocodile plans to get children, but the plans fail because of the animals. It is like a fun mystery. And the story has so much suspense. There is an elephant, a Roly Poly bird, a monkey and a hippo named Humpy Rumpy.

A Funny Book with Silly Tricks
I just finished The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl. The story is about an Enormous Crocodile who goes through a jungle to a city, so he can eat children. I thought it was funny because the EC did some pretty silly tricks like when he pretended to be a see-saw. What I liked best about it was that the EC's friends warned the children or the town before the EC could hurt them. I thought this was a nice thing to do. The Enormous Crocodle is a good book to read. I would especially recommend it as a family read. ... Read more

Book Description

Who better to wreak havoc with eight beloved fairy tales than Gregory Maguire, the brilliant, funny, and nationally best-selling author of the adult novel Wicked as well as the hilarious middle-grade series the Hamlet Chronicles.

Zany animals of all species run through these fractured tales with alarming speed and dexterity. Who would have thought that the ageless, exquisite Cinderella could be recast as the silly story of an enormous yet lovable elephant who plods along to the ball with glass pie plates on her feet; or that Sleeping Beauty, that most regal of all fairy tales, could be twisted into the story of a frog with a most unusual and promising dance career? Get ready to meet a gorilla queen and a psycho chimp, seven giant giraffes, and one very bad walrus.

Accompanying these hilarious stories are delightfully witty pictures by Chris L. Demarest, master of black line and droll humor.

Book Description

In this sixteenth Redwall adventure, Martha Braebuck, a younghare-maid, wheelchair bound since infancy, wonders about a mysterious old poem relating to the ancient abbey of Loamhedge--and whether it may hold the key to hercure. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Can It Get Any Better Then This?
When it comes to story telling, that's what Brian Jacques does best. I have read four of his books, including 'Loamhedge,' and I love them! Now, back to the recent book. The adventure begins with Martha Braebuck, a haremaid that has been unable to walk since infancy. The fact that she may never walk bothers her, but she makes the best of it, until a dream from Martin the Warrior tells her that not all hope is lost, that the secret to her cure is in the abondoned abbey of Loamhedge. In the mean time, two old friends that used to live at Redwall, Sarobando the squirrel and Bragoon the otter, return to their home, and hearing about Martha's predicament and plan, they willingly offer to help, as long as three rebals, Horty, Martha's brother, Springald the mouse and Fenna the squirrel, don't go with them. And Lonna Bowstripe, a fearless badger that barely escaped death, is on a journey to end the evil life of Rage Bol, who is nearing the Abbey of Redwall. Full of songs, brave animals and a lesson that you don't have to carry a sword to fight back, Brian Jacques has created another masterpiece, and I can't wait for what's to come.

An Adventure Packed Tale
"Loamhedge" is another epic Redwall tale jam-packed with adventure and intrigue. The 16th book of the Redwall series is exciting from the very beginning. I have read all of the other Redwall books and every new book has been a little better than the last.

There are two main characters whose lives are portrayed in the story. Lonna Bowstripe is a badger who has always been a wandering warrior. The other main character is Martha Braebuck, who is a young haremaid always searching for knowledge. Both Martha and Lonna have friends that help them in their adventures. Horty Braebuck (Martha's brother), Abbot Carrul (head of Redwall Abbey), Bragoon and Saro (two of Redwall's best warriors), and Toran (the otter cook) all guide and advise Martha throughout her life at Redwall. Lonna's friends are the Abruc Sea Otter Clan (who healed him from a terrible vermin attack), Garfo Trok (a river otter who gave him passage up the Mossflower River), and Figalok Twigbenda (who hid Lonna from a horde of Sea Rats).

Brian Jacques incorporates two separate plot lines into his story. He begins his novel by introducing Lonna Bowstripe through a tragic experience. The Abruc Otter Clan find Lonna near the Sea Coast with a gashed face, lying on the ground next to a dead older badger. After being brought in and healed by the Clan, Lonna begins his adventures to avenge his close friend's death. The Clan tells Lonna that Raga Bol and his Sea Rat crew have come inland from the coast for the winter and he then vows to kill every last vermin including Raga Bol himself. Lonna sets off on his quest with the aid of the river otter, Garfo Trok.

The foundation of Brian Jacques' second plot line is the life of Martha, the young haremaid. The reader is informed that Redwall Abbey is a peaceful fortress in Mossflower County that houses and protects all sorts of working woodland creatures. This Abbey is where Martha leads her life, bound to a wheelchair. Handicapped from birth, Martha often finds free time for reading and gaining knowledge. When Martha discovers that another abbey beast from ancient times, who shared the same condition as Martha, had figured out how to walk, the plot line is revealed. Horty, Fenna, Bragoon, and Saro all set out to find the lost abbey of Loamhedge where the cure for Martha has been supposedly recorded. This begins the adventure to Loamhedge.

A main theme that appears often throughout the story is good triumphing over evil. Bragoon and Saro left Redwall as Dibbuns (young babes) to search for adventure. They become great warriors and fight vermin in Mossflower for a living. Whenever Bragoon and Saro fight they rarely shed blood. The reader sees them trick a fox and his filthy vermin crew out of their lunch and later save woodland creatures from ten score nasty vermin without a scratch. This theme is also evident in the actions of Lonna Bowstripe. Lonna saves Figalok and her squirrels from a terrible vermin threat that had been harassing the squirrel colony for their entire life. This theme is emphasized throughout the book.

I encourage any Redwall enthusiasts to read this book and if one has not read a Redwall book yet, do it! You will not be sorry.

Almost a 5
I was really hoping when I had heard that this book was called "Loamhedge" that it was more about the long-lost abbey. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed that it was merely about a journey to the ruins and not a story about it. I had been hoping for some more history of the beginnings of Redwall. Still, the book, like all of Jacques works, is filled with adventure and intrigue, happiness and sadness, danger and more. I proudly add this book to my collection!

Enjoyable read
Fans of Brian Jacques should be delighted with this latest installment of the Redwall series. As in the fifteen books preceding, LOAMHEDGE is full of mystery, adventure, romance, tragedy, and a myriad of characters we care about. In this book we are introduced to the wheelchair-bound hare named Martha Braebuck. More than anything, Martha would love to walk again, and this possibility comes to her through a vision/dream in which Martin the Warrior gives her some hints concerning the old abbey. If she can uncover these secrets, Martha should be able to lead a normal life.

When she shares her vision with other folks at the Abbey, they all work together to turn this miracle into a reality. This "quest" is helped along by the zany and loving characters of Braggon the otter and Sarobando the squirrel, best friends and former pranksters of the abbey who have been on their own world adventures and are ready and willing for yet another.

As always there are many layers to these stories, as interesting little characters weave in and out, creating subplots and more adventures. They include Martha's mischievous brother Horty --- who runs off with Sarobando and Braggon to help his sister, the evil searat Raga Bol (who holds the abbey under siege) --- and of course, all the fun "Redwallers" who are part of the colorful tapestry of the Redwall series.

Jacques's ability to create these wonderful personalities, evil and good, from animals is the height of skilled anthropomorphic writing. He has a huge following with a web site that is visited by many fans around the world (www.redwall.org). Outstanding artists lend these books an even greater depth --- all the covers are beautifully done, including this one with Troy Howell's beautiful painting. Charming ink drawings by David Elliot introduce each chapter and are also often featured on the web site.

Even if you have never read any books in this series before, you will still enjoy this latest addition to Redwall.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts (...)

Swabuclikng good tv
The amazing squel to Triss, and Taggerung. The Badger Lona Bula striop is on revenge. Against the evil Rag Bolag. A yuong hare Martha send two redwaller to Loamhedge to figure out the secret. That will allow here to walk.

When she was younger she was parlyzed due to Trama. Latter when the abott was in danger she got the ability to walk so she could save there abott.

If you like this book red the other 15 books in the series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On a cold windy night, an itty-bitty mouse "pitter-pat, tip-toe,creep-crawls" into a sleeping bear's cozy lair, looking for relief from thebitter winter weather. Soon he is joined by a veritable menagerie of woodlandanimals, and the party begins. Popping corn, brewing tea, tweeting, andchatting, the critters enjoy themselves thoroughly while the bear slumbersthrough it all. Until, that is, an errant pepper flake from the simmering stewwakes him up with a giant sneeze. As the bear goes from ferocious snarls andrumbles to pitiful whimpers, his uninvited guests realize what the problem is.

You've snuck in my lair
and you've all had fun!
But me? I was sleeping
and...
I have had none!

First-time author Karma Wilson and artist Jane Chapman (illustrator of PhyllisRoot's One Duck Stuck)have created a charming little tale of sharing and caring that will have readersof all ages cheering at the humorous finale. (Ages 3 to 7) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (34)

We love this book!
My 2.5 year old son has asked me to read this book endlessly since we received it. Besides gorgeous illustrations, the story is so cute and full of wonderful onomatopoeia words like GNARL, roar, twitter, pitter-pat, etc. that make the story so much fun to read and the kids enjoy it tremendously.

Bear sleeps deeply in his den and the other animals seek shelter from the cold night. They have tea and nuts and soup, and bear wakes up to find a party going on without him! Bear is devastated, not because of the animals in his den, but because they were having fun without him. We love the illustrations and the story--can't wait to buy the other book about Bear, "Bear Wants More."

Enjoy!

My all time favorite children's book
Bear Snores On is at the very top of a long list of my favorite children's books. Every time I read it I am reminded why I love it so much. The illustrations are absolutley beautiful. The rhyming text is adorable. The story itself is the cutest. My children, 3 & 1 1/2, love this book. You can't get any better than Bears Snores On. The follow up, Bear Wants More is also very good. You will not be dissapointed with this book, I promise :)

Animal insomnia
As I am sure you know, author Karma Wilson began her illustrious picture book writing career with the charming "Bear Snores On". Since this impressive debut, Bear has gone on to appear in further Karma Wilson outings. Yet it all began here, with a tale of hibernation and a friendly hootenanny of wild animals.

A big brown bear, his teapot and other cave utensils strewn hither and yon, is hibernating in the winter. Outside it is blustery and cold but (as we are repeatedly told), "The bear/ snores/ on". One day a timid mouse enters the lair and lights himself a small fire for warmth. No reaction from the snoring bear. Soon a hare joins the mouse and they have a cup of tea. No bearish interruptions. Then there's a badger. Then a mole, and a wren, and a raven, and a gopher. In no time at all a full flown party is in swing, ending when a small fleck of pepper causes the bear to sneeze. Suddenly he's awake and he's angry, but not for the reason you'd think. No, Bear's just upset that everyone had a party without him. But soon, the animals reassure the bear that the party can definitely continue with him, and their host entertains by telling them stories far into the night. By morning everyone is fast asleep. Except (oh irony) the bear.

There's not much to the tale, honestly, but it's not the plot that's important. Ms. Wilson has an ear for delightful cadences and rhyming sequences. Just listen to the following sequence, "An itty-bitty mouse/pitter-pat, tip-toe/creep-crawls in the cave/from the fluff-cold snow". I love how that (and every other) line scans. Accompanying these deft syllables is the art of Jane Chapman. With her guidance, the walls of the cave (illuminated by a crackling fire) glow a homey auburn. Characters are both realistically rendered and adorably fuzzy. I was particularly fond of a scene from out in the blustery snow where, looking into the cave, we see the black silhouettes of the dancing creatures against the yellow glow of the fire. Color and texture are alive and well with this artist, I assure you.

"Bear Snores On" isn't the MOST memorable of picture books, but its pleasant enough. It's perfect for the child that is frightened easily (nothing bad happens, unless you count bear growling at one point) and gentle in its characterizations. All in all, a class act all around. If you need a good bedtime story to tuck the little ones in with, I highly recommend the electric boogaloo that is "Bear Snores On".

Fabulous Book
This book has been a favorite in my house from day one. Great text,the phrase Bear Snores On continues throughout the book and each time it gets a little louder and I find that children like to say it with you louder and louder each time until bear finally wakes up from a pepper flake that made him sneeze. (My son's favorite part)The illustations are beautifully done and fit the text perfectly. Definitely one of my best book buys of the year. I Highly recommend Bear Snores On.

My childrens' favorite
This is the best book in the world! My kids love the rhyming and enjoy the beautiful artwork. There's so much you can add in sound effects it's great! Highly recommended for a bedtime book, cuddle time read, etc. I also own Bear Wants More, though I don't think it quite has the same charm as this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eric Carle's distinctive art holds a place of honor in the world of children's books. (He is the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the illustrator of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?.)In this thoughtfully selected collection of poems about animals, you'll meet creatures of every sort, from an ant to a yak. You'll find selections from many cultures, penned by celebrated poets such as Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, Rudyard Kipling, Emily Dickinson, and Jack Prelutsky. Animals, Animals is best suited for older preschoolers and children in the early elementary grades, but the beautiful illustrations will please children of any age, including babies. The oversized format lends itself well to Eric Carle's bright collages--the animals, birds, and insects seem ready to jump or fly right off the pages. (Ages 1 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Animal collection
This book contains a collection of animal poems. The sources of the poems are quite varied, from Emily Dickinson, to the Bible, to Japanese haikus. All sorts of animals are featured, from fireflies to hippopotami. There are no scary bits, and the pictures are great. At the end of the book is an index of the animals and a table of contents by first lines to help you find your favorite poems. The book has about 2900 words.

The Inimitable Eric Carle
From Ogden Nash to Shakespeare, from haiku to Hungarian proverbs, ANIMALS ANIMALS has it all--and it all is illustrated beautifully by the inimitable Eric Carle. His trademark collage-style pictures and jewel-tone colors bring to life an entire zoo in this collection of short poems and poetic sayings about animals. Ants and elephants, octopuses and walruses, and many other delightfully quirky animals tumble playfully across the pages, vividly animating the lovingly selected verses. No need to read it at one sitting, or even sequentially; just open the covers and let the pages fall where they may. This refreshing and entertaining picture book is sure to engage the most restless reader or listener of any age.

Engaging graphics and enjoyable text for all ages.
I have owned this book for several years; I originally bought it thinking the bright and engaging portraits of animals would surely delight my young child. Since then all our children have enjoyed hearing the poems and laughing at, studying, copying, and perusing the creatures that share our earth. A lyrical book, both in text and picture layout, which we won't easily part with for some time, I'm sure.

We love this book!
My kids adore this book and it's great for grown-ups too! The illustrations and poems go together beautifully and the selection of poems is wonderful. There's a great range of different styles and even young toddlers sit and listen. Eric Carle's books are always a hit but this one in particular is fantastic. This book will be one kids will read for years--even when they're adults. We love this book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? will be delighted to see another title in this lilting call and response series. Much like their earlier picture books, Panda Bear features a string of fine feathered (and furry and scaly) friends watching over each other. In this book, however, all the animals are endangered, from a swinging spider monkey to a strutting macaroni penguin (kids will get a kick out of that name!) to a splashing sea lion. Carle’s trademark tissue paper collages will be as familiar--and welcome--as the text ("Whooping Crane, Whooping Crane, what do you see?" "I see a black panther strolling by me."); young readers will quickly get the hang of the rhythm and join right in. The book concludes on a hopeful note, with a dreaming child seeing the ten f! eatured animals "all wild and free--/ that’s what I see!" Martin includes a note on endangered species that may spark concern and interest in older readers--our hope for these disappearing creatures. (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

HOPEFUL AND INFORMATIVE
Wordsmith Bill Martin and artist Eric Carle are an unbeatable team. Much to the joy of parents and young readers this talented duo has joined forces once again - only their third collaboration in 35 years! It was worth the wait.

With "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do You See?" children meet ten of the world's endangered animals - a bald eagle soaring , a water buffalo charging, a spider monkey swinging, a green sea turtle swimming, a macaroni penguin strutting, a sea lion splashing, a red wolf sneaking, a whooping crane flying, and a black panther strolling.

Each animal is portrayed in Eric Carle's inimitable eye catching collages, and the book closes with a portrait of a sleeping child dreaming that one day all animals will be wild and free.

An estimable hope; a book to be treasured.

- Gail Cooke

Not quite as captivating as Brown, Bear
It's a nice concept and most kids will love the words, different animals and the concept of going from one animal to another. Panda Bear was really written because Brown Bear established such a terrific template. In other words it's a sequel. Like most sequels it doesn't quite measure up.

Kids will still enjoy the colorful pictures, sounds of words and guessing what comes next in the story. Perhaps that's all they need. Sometimes the educational aspect is important and sometimes kids just need entertainment. This is entertaining for little ones and it's a simple enough story so that little ones can start pretending to read and feel more grown up.

Great Companion to a Classic
This book is similar to the original Brown Bear book, with illustrations of panda bear, bald eagle, water buffalo, spider monkey, green sea turtle, macaroni penguin, sea lion, red wolf, whooping crane, black panther, and moon-faced dreaming child.

The illustrations are beautiful--Carle's signature watercolor-collage style. While Brown Bear's illustrations show each animal against stark white backgrounds, Panda Bear's illustrations feature them against bold backgrounds. (Younger toddlers may find the red wolf and the black panther a little scary.)

Although this book doesn't lend itself to teaching basic colors and animal sounds the way that the original does, it is a good way to teach the concept of endangered species to younger children. Overall, a great companion to a classic!

Just like the Brown Bear Book
It's the same idea as the other book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" but a panda is the theme so if your kids like that one they'll love this story too. This author has the most beautifully illustrated books for children.

Adorable!!
I love children's books by Bill Martin and Eric Carle. I really love reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" to my preschoolers and when I heard there was a new book, I had to find a copy and buy it. I can't wait to read this book to my class along with the other two books. It is soooo adorable! The pictures are cute and easy for the children to remember. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the greatest children's books of all time, Just So Stories is a collection of timeless classics, including "How the Whale Got His Throat," "How the Camel Got His Hump," and "How the Elephant Got His Trunk." Written in the tradition of Indian and African oral storytelling , this volume is beautifully illustrated in color by well-known artist, Safaya Salter. An English novelist and poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907, Kipling's popular stories have garnered attention for generations. This book is an ideal and inexpensive way to start building a classics library for any child, class set, or library. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A Real Treat for Spanish Speaking Pre-Schoolers
Bill Martin's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" is an early childhood classic, and this Spanish translation maintains all of the qualities that make it a hit with younsters. The captivating illustrations soothe even the most rambunctious of tots. The lyric repetition of language make it a natural for developing Spanish literacy or communication skills. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A priceless resource on the fundamentals of drawing animals.
This book is a clearly written and easy to follow step-by-step guide to drawing animals by applying a comparative anatomy system using geometric shapes to help you understand how animals are put together. This fully illustrated reference contains over a thousand diagrams and illustrations and is structured into twenty carefully organized sections in which the author covers the basic and not-so-basic concepts, principles and techniques you need in order to produce realistic, three dimensional and anatomically accurate renderings of animals.
His topics on specific animals include: the cat family, the bear family, the horse family, the elephant, the dog family, the camel, the giraffe, the hippopotamus, the rhinoceros, the deer family, the buffalo, the cow, the pig, the monkey and the ape family, the kangaroo and the rabbit. As an added bonus he includes other topics: Odd and Unusual Animals, Miscellaneous Small Animals and Animal Interpretation and Abstraction, as well as an Introduction to Animal Drawing in which he focuses on animal simplification, structure, construction, poses, gaits and movements, comparisons and techniques on how to make animals look more natural. As a warning, note that this book only explains how to draw mammals and doesn't include mollusks, amphibians, insects, reptiles or birds.
By studying this book as if it were a textbook on a course, doing all the exercises and reviewing each section afterwards, I have steadily improved my drawings of animals in such a short time that I am now constantly rewarded with praise from my friends and family.
This book will give to the beginner the fundamentals of drawing animals, and will give to the seasoned artist and professional new principles and techniques to try. For both, this book is a must buy.

Jack does it right
Jack's book here is one of the best and most useful. Animals can be tough, admility, and Jack clears up some commen problems faced when drawing these beauitful creatures. Topics range from drawing horses, dogs, big and small cats, elephants, and bears. There are literally hundreds of clear and precise images in this book! Give this book a try, you can't go wrong. The pricetag and content are unbeatable!

The Wham Of Hamm
Jack Hamm is a solid, versatile, and fundamentally sound artist with a rare knack for organizing and presenting information in a simple and clear way. This book, one of his four classic how-tos of drawing, has already been a gift to artists everywhere for generations, and is a priceless resource of knowledge and information. Along with Hultgren's similar book, this is the classic workbook on the subject.

Hamm stresses a solid approach to the construction and anatomy of animals, but also helps the reader grasp the conceptual aspects of how animals are put together and what similarities and differences are important to comprehend. The book is very thorough in grouping animals into basic families, such as big cats, monkeys, elephants, etc., and the organization of the book is a major plus. Hamm is sharply focused on construction, solidity, and three-dimensional views of animals and how they move. A college art course could be taught from this book.

Hamm's greatest admirers have always been his peers- fellow artists will tell you that this is the right aproach to drawing animals, and this book will remain in print and in use forever.

Great Reference for Drawing Animals!
This book is a great reference book for drawing animals and is relatively thorough in showing the different types and their common similarities across, and within, species. I thought it was very good in explaining animal anatomy and smaller details such as how to correctly stripe a tiger. However, you will definitely need to see the animals in person or have your own photo resources because there are no accompanying photos.

Canned Hamm
It's a good book about learning the natural poses of animals. If you like to swipe material to use for sketches this is the book for it. It teaches you how animals look in the wild. ... Read more