Reviews (8)

Gives Me the Warm Fuzzies
One of my top 5 favorite children's books! The story line is touching, the illustrations are amazing! I recommend this book to young and old! Besides the beautiful bond between Joseph and his grandfather, I love the incorporated journey of the family of mice that is illustrated at the bottom of the pages - the little girl with the red coat and hankerchief covered head is also brilliant! So many stories happening in one book! A definate 'keeper'

Enchanting!
There are many versions of this story in print (it is a classic Yiddish story) but Gilman's version is far and away the best.
Joseph, a wonderfully drawn character, receives a beautiful blanket from his grandfather. As he ages, the blanket is transformed into a jacket, a vest, a scarf etc.
The prose is very well-done and very lively with lots of repetition which will please children and their parents. The illustrations, however, really make this book. They are fantastic! The world of the shtetl really comes to life in these detailed drawings (in fact, living in a shtetl actually looks pretty good which is an amazing accomplishment!).
I have given this book to friends and family---both Jewish and non-Jewish and everyone has loved it. Buy it, find a blanket and curl up with a child to read this one!

A book to grow up with!
I've seen a few knock-offs of this story, and actually, they're all based on a classic Yiddish folktale, so I guess they have the right. But in my mind -- and my kids'! -- Gilman's sweet take on this tale of old-world frugality and love will always be the "classic."

Gilman's richly colourful paintings are full of action, vivid cross-sections depicting events playing out in all the rooms of Joseph's house, out on the street, and even in the cellar where a growing family of mice plays out a surprising "bonus" story of their own.

The characters here are all believable; Joseph is as mischievous and playful as any modern child. And the time flow in this book is exquisite: as in life, Gilman's transforms Joseph from page in subtle but certain stages, bringing him from early childhood into his cheder years.

This is a story kids will love to listen to over and over, and even adults will enjoy making new discoveries within the familiar illustrations. A superlative gift for any child, one which will grow with them and be cherished for years to come.

8 year-old from North Bend
I gave this book five stars because it had really good word choice and it reminded me of a blanket I used to have. I would recommend it to 7 year-olds or older. It is my favorite book. I have read it 25 times.

Wonderfully repetetive book
I used this book in a daycare class of two and three year-olds. It's great!! The repetition gets children involved actively with the story and the artistry keeps children busy looking for all sorts of details. Wonderful book for children of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Best "Grow up on" Book Ever!!
I just love this book so much. My Grandma would read it to my sister, brother and I before we went to bed every night, when we stayed at her house. We would make her read it over and over and over again, in one night. We all three knew it by heart, my Grandma never even had to lok at the book. We especially remember the part, "Jillian Jillian Jillian Jiggs, it looks like your room has been lived in by pigs!" My grandparents recently moved to our town and my Grandma miss-placed the book during the move, so she can't find it. I had the idea of buying it for her and giving it to her on her birthday, which is coming up, and I can't believe that I was able to find it so easily!! It's such a wonderful book.

Great Children's Book.
If I had one word to describe this book, it would definately be "AWESOME!" Jillian Jiggs is about a little girl who (like most kids) HATES to clean her room. But she always promises her mom that she *will* clean it, but then forgets when her friends come over. Jillian, her 2 friends, and her little sister play a bunch of games, and keep making her room messier. This book is really funny, I totally recommend buying it!

Overall grade: A+

Awesome Kids Book!
My mom bought me this book at a book fair in school when I was small. I absolutely loved it. My mom would always read it to me, and then I'd always read it to myself. It's got great illustrations and it's a really cute story. Still have the book and look at it to this day.

My Favorite Kids Book!
When I was young I loved the book! I know main phrase still "Jillian, Jillian , Jillian Jiggs, Its like your room has been lived in by pigs!" "Later I promise, as soon as Im through. Ill clean my whole room up, I promise, I do." I searched & searched my house for it when I needed it for a school project but couldnt find it anywhere! So i tried here. I love this book I recommend it to everyone!

what a book
I couldn't belive that they had this book on here! I've looked everywhere to find a copy of jillian jiggs. I remeber memorizing the whole book in school,and going to younger grades to read it to them. It's such a fun book, full of colors and rhymes. I couldn't recomend a better book for kids. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A treasure and a perfect gift!
A friend sent this book to me for my granddaughters and it has become their favorite book of all time. It reads like a classical fairy tale and the illustrations are true works of art in anyones eyes. Totally mesmerizing, it will be a book they will want to keep forever.

I am buying a second copy tonight so each grand will have her own!

It should become a chidhood classic.
The Balloon Tree is a simple story that young children will quickly become engrossed in. Children relate well to the balloon as it is within their realm of experience. Add to the story the magnificant presentation in the illustrations this book will bring many hours of pleasure. My niece has a hardback copy of this book. It lives on the Special Book shelf in her room and when we read it togeth we spend a lot of time looking at the detail in the illustration. We have our favourite page that still brings ooohhhs and aaahhhs when we turn the page. Get this one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Why Are the Good Ones Always the First to Go?
Great story of brave females outwitting brutish pirates. My four-year-old loves it and shares it often with his pirate-loving friends. Let's get it back on the presses!

Out of print? Oh no! Revive this book!
One of my all-time favorite children's books, either alone or with the audiotape. Entertaining illustrations, heroic girl, humorous pirates, energetic grandma, clever plot, and nautical jargon woven in. Beautifully read by this popular Canadian author (audiotape version) and much fun to read aloud. Hard to believe this is out of print. Revive this great pirate adventure for little girls and boys alike! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great kids book!
These are some of the best children's books I have ever read (and I've read many a bedtime story!). This one is a house favorite and has been read so many times none of us have to look at the words anymore. They rhyme throughout each book (which helps the children read along), have a very cute story my kids love to read over and over and I can't forget to mention the great illustrations. One other bonus to this installment in the Jillian Jiggs series is the instructions in the back of the book on how to make your own 'Wonderful Pigs'.

This is a great book!!!
The whole book rhymes so I loved reading it. The kids loved listening to it and I promised to buy what we need to make our own wonderful pigs (there are instructions in the book)This book is very highly recommended.

Jillian loves her pigs
My Kindergartners loved this book because Jillian, the title character, gets a great idea to create pigs but realizes that her hard work is hard to sell. Everyone wants to buy her beautifully made pigs, however Jillian becomes sad at the idea of selling them. To solve her problem, she teaches others how to make their own "wonderful" pigs! We could not resist the temptation to create and decorate our own pigs in our class! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Fun Little Book!
We received this book as a gift when my son was about 3 years old and he is now almost 6. It is funny and silly and he has always enjoyed it. Part of the book also requires the child to find one of the characters who is hiding and that was great fun. It is fun the read and curl up with. An enjoyable book for young and old! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Enchanting Book
All of Ms. Gilman's book as excellent and this is no exception. If your little girl is princess crazy like mine, this book shows that being who you are is sometimes better than being a princess. The illustrations and language are beautiful, and the story is both thoughtful and fun. A great book to read to younger children. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A wonderful read-aloud
This book was an absolute hit with an audience of Spanish-speaking children! It is a retelling of the Jewish folktale that has become familiar through the Caldecott award winner, "Joseph Had A Little Overcoat." The illustrations provide an intimate dollhouse view inside Joseph's home, including a parallel story that goes on under the house among a family of mice who become the resourceful recipients of the scraps of fabric that fall through the cracks in the floor. The text is repetitive and invite choral participation on the part of the listeners. Joseph's undying confidence in his grandfather's ability to salvage his beloved blanket-turned-jacked-turned-vest, etc. holds out until at last he loses the last prized button. Nevertheless, Joseph seems to have inherited some of Grandfather's abilities to create something from almost nothing. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jillian Jiggs to the Rescue
"Jillian Jiggs to the Rescue," is an excallent example of creative children's literature. An excellent story for children on helping and having fun with friends while doing it. A wonderfull book tht should be read by all! ... Read more