Book Description

Runny Babbit lent to wunch
And heard the saitress way,
"We have some lovely stabbit rew --
Our Special for today."

From the legendary creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and The Giving Tree comes an unforgettable new character in children's literature.

Welcome to the world of Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Rirty Dat, Dungry Hog, Snerry Jake, and many others who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own.

So if you say, "Let's bead a rook
That's billy as can se,"
You're talkin' Runny Babbit talk,
Just like mim and he.

Book Description

Last night while I lay thinking here
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:

Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?...

Here in the attic of Shel Silverstein you will find Backward Bill, Sour Face Ann, the Meehoo with an Exactlywatt, and the Polar Bear in the Frigidaire. You will talk with Broiled Face, and find out what happens when Somebody steals your knees, you get caught by the Quick-Digesting Gink, a Mountain snores, and They Put a Brassiere on the Camel.

From the creator of the beloved poetry collections Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up, here is another wondrous book of poems and drawings.

Notable Children's Books of 1981 (ALA)
Best Books of 1981 (SLJ)
Children's Books of 1981 (Library of Congress)
1981 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
1981 USA Children's Books of International Interest
Winner, 1983–84 William Allen White Award (Kansas)
Winner, 1983 Garden State Children's Book Award (New Jersey Library Association)
1984 Garden State Children's Book Award for Non-Fiction (New Jersey Library Association)
1984 George C. Stone Center for Children's Books (Claremont, CA) "Recognition of Merit" Award

Reviews (28)

Where does the sidewalk end? In the attic.
If you don't remember these rhymes from your childhood, then it's about time you visited the attic, "A Light in the Attic," that is. Silverstein combines humorous sketches, whimsical poetry and fanciful word play in another amusing collection. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" will always be my favorite, but poems like "Spelling Bee," "Deaf Donald," "Nobody" and "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony" definately make "A Light in the Attic" a close runner-up.

If you know Silverstein's work, then you are familiar with his simple rhyming style. His flair for combining drawings and words make for a book that's much more than just a collection of poetry. His poems are an experience that would be diminished without the visual aspect.

Silverstein's collections are great for all ages. I read them as a kid, but I enjoy them just as much now. Silverstein has the soul of a child, but the wit of a sage.

"The saddest thing I ever did see
Was a woodpecker peckin' at a plastic tree.
He looks at me, and 'Friend,' says he,
'Things ain't as sweet as they used to be.'"
-Shel Silverstein page 83

The best book of all times, exiting and very funny.
This poem book is the best yet, I have never read any poems as funny as the ones Shel Silverstein writes."A Light in the Attic" is a book for people of all ages.The whole class of seventh graders enjoyed it.We were laughing our heads out when we heard the poem,"Standing is Stupid".I recomend this book to anyone who is having a bad day and wants a moment of happiness!

A MUST HAVE
I am not a big poem fan but I love this book! Drawings are great and so fun!

A review by a children's author
I read Shel Silverstein when I was young and I loved his poetry. I used to read it to the kids I babysat (and I never sat on a baby) and I now read it to my own children. What can be said that hasn't been said already?

This: Shel Silverstein wrote more than just silly. Some of his greatest poems bring tears to my eyes and make me think about things like justice, death, love, and even my Creator. Pretty deep stuff. I personally believe it's that inane sense of humor he had combined with an almost philosophical take on life that mades Shel a great children's poet.

Some of my favorite poems by Shel are in this collection, The Light in the Attic.

The Little Boy and the Old Man should make any person who reads it think about aging and reaching out to our loved ones who are er, how shall I say it, a little past their prime and also to those who haven't quite reached their prime yet. And How Many, How Much is a wonderful reminder that friendship starts in your own heart.

And I wonder, was one of my favorite movies (Bruce Almighty) inspired by one of my favorite Shel Silverstein poems (God's Wheel)? Did the writer read that poem and think "What a great premise for a movie!" Could be. Whatever the case I know his work was one of my inspirations in becoming a children's writer. And now I'm writing a book of poetry for children and as I craft it I returned to all these funny, touching, ironic, wistful, poems and realized, "Uh oh, I set the bar too low. I need to kick it up a notch." I so I strive to do just that.

My nightmare is being compared by a cranky reviewer to Shel Silverstein, "This writer is an imposter to the throne of the great Shel." Let me state here and now that I don't want the throne. I would just like to sit under a oak tree in the courtyard outside the palace if that's okay. And while I'm there I'll just take a big whiff of the rosebush that stayed so very small (read the book and you shall see what I mean).

Finally, let me add this, I believe these poems expanded my creativity in my younger years and I believe they expand it to this very day. Buy a Light in the Attic for your children and read the poems together. You will expand their vocabulary, help them develop a sense of comedic timing, cultivate an interest in poetry, and give them their first lessons in philosophy, all the while having a fantastic time together. Now that's what I call maximum return on a minimal investment(...)

the laughing stock
Hula eels, magic carpets and tickilish tom are all things in A Light in the Attic. This hilarios book has fun filled poems all over! such as Little Abigail and the beautiful pony. What happens to Abigail when she doesn't get what she wants?
The author Shel Siverstein uses rymes through out the whole book to make it super funny. I would recomend this book if you like fantasy and magic. You will love these poems and be rolling on the floor laughing. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

No need to feel Helpless
No child should feel helpless when it comes to the jungle of a playground. This book encourages dialogue and an internal sense of courage. The book is very kid-friendly. The language is perfect for those grade 3-6. The format and cartoon characters make the whole book and subject very approachable for kids. Whether bullied or not, this raises awareness to help all kids help themselves.

Great in the Classroom!
This book has been a valuable part of my classroom read aloud program for 3 years now. It is valuable in that it really speaks to the students on their level. It is straight-forward about the problems and realities of bullies and teasing. This book often provided a great springboard into valuable classroom discussions. Students become empowered to stick up for themselves and to understand the thought process of a typical bully.

I would recommend this book for any classroom library.

GREAT BOOK FOR YOUNGER KIDS
I liked the cartoon explanations in this book, and the way the author explains that bullies are "self-esteem vampires" He goes into gang violence and what you should do about it as a child. He also goes into name-calling and general nastiness. I just wished that he would not have said that most children who are picked on, are shy children. In my experience, it is the children who are different in someway (race, religion, opinions, dress, hair color, braces etc..) that brings on the teasing. This book does not address that issue very well.

Bullies are more than a pain in the brain!
Recent events in our schools have shown that bullies -- aside from being a pain in the brain -- can bring out reactions from their victims that are dangerous. Teaching our children how to deal with bullies is important for parents, just as not being bullied is important to kids.

I bought this book three years ago, and read it to my then 6-year-old. The writing, and the cartoon-like pictures, made it enjoyable for him. We discussed the topic at hand -- bullies. At that age he was riding the bus to school, and was on the playground sometimes with older kids -- bullying was a concern he'd brought up often. I was concerned -- certainly I didn't want him to just turn the other cheek. I'd also noticed that sometimes his reaction to bullies was to 'out bully' them.

This book gave him some ideas on how to cope. It is a great conversation starter for parents and kids. Why do bullies bully? What else could they do? What can YOU do if bullied? What ELSE could you do? Does bullying the bully work? Why not?

A couple of weeks ago, before school began, I noticed that he'd pulled the book out and was reading up on it again.

A good book to read with your kids, and evidently one they can also read to themselves as a refresher course!

Great for both kids and parents.
Concise, yet comprehensive. Entertaining paperback with cartoon-like illustrations. Captured my son's attention and taught me a few new things about bullies and safe strategies for dealing with them. A must read for concerned parents and kids who are tired of being pushed around. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Millie McDeevit screamed a scream
So loud it made her eyebrows steam.
She screamed so loud
Her jawbone broke,
Her tongue caught fire,
Her nostrils smoked...

Poor Screamin' Millie is just one of the unforgettable characters in this wondrous new book of poems and drawings by the creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. Here you will also meet Allison Beals and her twenty-five eels; Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear; the Human Balloon; and Headphone Harold.

So come, wander through the Nose Garden, ride the Little Hoarse, eat in the Strange Restaurant, and let the magic of Shel Silverstein open your eyes and tickle your mind.

1996 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
Editor's Chice 1996 (Booklist)
1997 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA)
1997 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
Children's Choices for 1997 (IRA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Shel Silverstein Rocks!
Shel Silvertein's book Falling Up was the second of his books I ever recieved. (The first was The Giving Tree.) I loved it so much that I read it cover to cover in less than a day! His book has inspired me to write silly poems of my own. I look at his works for reference when I write school asignments because they give me great ideas. I now have all of his poem books and would reconmend each and every one (Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Light in the Attic). His works should be spread across the nation to young and old alike. Read his poems and thank me later!

Shel Silverstein's Falling Up will not let you down!
Falling Up is the third collection of poems and drawings offered to us by the multi-talented Silverstien. This book will appeal to the child and inner-child alike. Regarding age, this book like: "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "A Light in the Attic", knows no boundries. In addition to being a poet, Shel Silverstien is an accomplished cartoonist, playwrite and lyricist. Mr. Silverstein played a big part in the early career of Dr. Hook, writing such hits as "The Freaker's Ball", "Cover of the Rolling Stone" and many others. The popular country classic "One's on the Way" by Loretta Lynn was penned by Shel Silverstein. The Irish Rover's signature song "The Unicorn" was also written by Silverstein and can be found in "Where the Sidewalk Ends".
If the author is Shel Silverstein, you can't miss, as the copy within is sure to be a hit!

Falling Up
I read Falling up by Shel Silverstine. It has over 125 poems.All of them are fun interesting and humoreous. Most poems have drawings and rhyme. The poems are perfect for kids of all ages
My persoal favorite poem is called "the Monkey". I like it for two resons. The first is it tels a story. Seacond is it has great Illustrations. The last is it replaces words with numbers as in "He'd neverr climbed be 4". that poem is on page 40.
this is a great book filled with poems and storys for children. I rcomend this book to all people interested in poems and funny thimgs.

the best
since I was a little girl,I always wanted my mother to read me this book. It was full of deleight and surprises, I enjoyed it alot.when she finished 1 poem, I would always ask her to read another after another.Truly, this is a book that everyone should read and have.I have the entire collection of Shel Silverstein books.He has a very special talent in writing, I have always admired him.His books are one of a kind.

Falling Up
Falling up by Shel Sylverstien is one of the all time greatest poem books. This is a great book for someone who just wants to relax and enjoy reading something silly not serious. It is good to laugh and even better to laugh at what you are reading because at the same time you are working your brain as well as exercising your sense of humor. Mr. Sylverstien uses the most interesting words to express himself in his poems. It amazes me at how he can pull all of these funny things out of his head. There are so many great poems in this one book so that I could not possibly tell you about just one. Some of the poems are so outrageously funny and the few serious ones are still a little humorous which is what makes the poems so good. Shel wrights many poems and has published many books. It surprises me that all of these different ideas and feelings can come from one man. From a tattooed suit to a pet snowball, from a pencil made wrong to a world where things are completely opposite, even the stories that are about life lessons are still really good. Some books by Shel Sylverstien are Where The Sidewalk Ends, A Light In The Attic, and The Giving Tree. Those stories are just as good as Falling Up. The author Shel Sylverstien, the book, Falling up. It is an enjoyable read that can be found at most bookstores, libraries, and online. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you grew up with Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight's Eloise books, someof her eccentricity probably rubbed off on you whether you realize it or not.Frankly, it's difficult to remain unaffected by a 6-year-old girl who lives inNew York City's Plaza Hotel, braids her turtle's ears, talks to Mars through apaper cup, and pours water down the mail chute. Eloise's Guide to Lifepieces together snippets from Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise in Moscow, and Eloise at Christmastime in theinterest of instructing its readers on "how to eat, dress, travel, behave, andstay six forever." Of course, if everyone took this advice, people would putlarge cabbage leaves on their heads when they had headaches, throw occasionaltemper tantrums, comb their hair with forks, and pretend they were orphans toget food from strangers. Like the wee Seuss-isms, this whimsicalsampling of Eloise-isms is sure to renew a sense of rebellion and joie de vivrein nostalgic Eloise fans. This small book is perfect for new graduates or foranyone who has forgotten how much fun it can be to wear toe shoes on their ears.For adults who want absolutely everything Eloise, The Absolutely Essential Eloiseincludes the text and illustrations of the original title, along with ahistorical scrapbook detailing the making of Eloise. (Grownups) --KarinSnelson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

ELOISE!
I've been reading Eloise since I was 6 and I'm now 14! She represents freedom, and her wildness refreshes my mind. It's a great book for kids and it will expand their imagination.

Every child should grow up with Eloise!
Eloise rocked my world when I was little... now I'm 18 and bringing her books to college! She's an inspiration to six-year olds and adults alike. This book is just another great glimpse into the world of Eloise. I consider it a lesson on how to stay young through use of the imagination. It isn't as great as the original Eloise, but it's still wonderful! I read it to children I babysit for (who love her) and I plan on reading it to children of my own someday!

Not an Eloise fan...
My daughter received this as gift from her Aunt(an Eloise fan) for her 6th birthday. I found it to be confusing. I would not pick this for a child. Not my idea of a childrens book.

For Eloise fans only!
Let's face it-you are either an Eloise fan or not. There is no in-between. I happen to be a very loyal fan.

I ran across this by accident one rainy airport day and of course, knew it was going to be great. I was not disappointed. This is a book full of previous work collected into a life "guide".

The illustrations are once again, hillarious! Who couldn't smile at Eloise's antics? The "advice" is superb. But my favorite are the little pink colored advice tidbits on most pages.

I am so relieved that Eloise has not been censored by the politically correct. So many children's books are so soapy clean that you cannot enjoy them. However, all things Eloise remain classic.

Scrapbook of Eloise's Quirks from the Four Books
This book contains highlights of the four Eloise books (Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow), grouped into her habits about eating, dressing, travel, behavior, and staying young (six). The book is like having a brief scrapbook of these stories that capture and remind you of the essential character of Eloise. As such, this book will help you quickly drop the cares of the day . . . and it's healthier than a cocktail.

On the other hand, if you haven't read all four books, I think this assemblage will lose some of its charm. Some of the examples don't make much sense if you don't have the story context for them.

If you have read all four stories but don't have copies, this is the bargain basement way to have a little of each one.

If you can afford to indulge, I suggest Eloise: The Ultimate Edition as a better choice. That has all four stories, plus the wonderful scrapbook material about the development of the Eloise character and biographies of Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight. Once you own that edition, you don't really need this one (unless you just want to tuck it under your pillow for comfort).

Some of my favorite sections from this book include Eloise combing her hair with a fork, ordering room service, insisting on Sabena because they let turtles fly on that airline, and getting a new outfit from M. Dior in Paris. I'm sure you'll find some of your favorites, too.

By the way, Eloise must have authorized this book. Kay Thompson wouldn't have . . . because it's commercial Eloise rather than essential Eloise. The wonderful Hilary Knight drawings carry the edition, even when the context seems lost.

After you have finished enjoying this little souvenir, I suggest that you try boiling down your life into 20 elements of your own habits. Which 20 best capture the real you? If they don't capture you, what does that say? Hmmmm. Something to think about.

Remember the best . . . from midst all of life's little eddies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who hasn't looked at a fruit or vegetable and seen a funny face? In How Are You Peeling?--by the creator of the whimsical Play with Your Food--the "natural personalities" of produce are enhanced with black-eyed pea eyes and the occasional carved mouth--then photographed in vivid colors. One page reveals a wistful-looking poblano pepper being comforted by a cheerful red tomato, while another shows the amused, confused, frustrated, and surprised expressions of a green pepper, red pepper, orange, and apple. Adults and children alike will marvel at the range of expressions these fruits and vegetables possess--did you know just how many faces a kiwi could have? With simple rhymed text describing the emotions ("How are you when friends drop by?/ With someone new... a little shy?"), this appealing picture book is bound to spark discussion with young children. Parents can use it to talk about different emotions or to help children to identify and articulate their mood of the moment. Adults will just plain be amused. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Play with Your Food, LLC. Used by permission of Scholastic Inc.) (Ages 2 to 6) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Amazing
Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers are playing with their food and we are the lucky recipients of their charming and amusing latest effort, How Are You Peeling? Foods With Moods. The simple rhyming text discussing emotions we all feel at times...happy, sad, grumpy or worried, shy, insecure, amused or confused...to name a few, compliments the amazing fruit and vegetable sculptures. It's hard to believe an onion, kiwi, radish or mushroom (to name but a few) could express such emotions, but they do. A vibrant, visual treat the entire family will enjoy reading and discussing, this is a book that should find its way onto everyone's bookshelf!

A captivating, absolutely beautiful book!
From the moment I opened this book I was in love. It is amazing how the artists transform ordinary fruits and vegetables into loveable and wildly different characters. The text is simple for a child to understand, and wonderfully written. If you're looking for a way to talk with your children about emotions, look no further. I read this book to my daughters preschool class and we loved it! I never thought a book could make me want to give an affectionate hug to a green pepper, but this one does! Buy it for every child you know. Heck, buy it for every adult you know too!

Such a Fun Unique Way to Discuss Emotions with Young Kids!
I was reading how important it is for parents to help thier young children identify the different feelings that they experience. This is the first step in the process of planting the seeds of compassion and empathy for the feelings of others. Who would ever think we could turn to fruits and veggies to teach the lessons! These are truly works of edible art portraying such feelings as anger, fear, surprise, joy, pride, sadness, and jealousy. My two sons love this book and so do I. We read it all the time and sometimes use it to open up discussion about specific reasons that they are feeling a certain way and what they can do or say to others. Even my 3 year old "reads" it to me all by himself. I'm so glad that I found out about this book in my favorite source of quick-read parenting sanity, called "The Pocket Parent." This A-Z guide (written exclusively for parents of preschoolers) offers hundreds of tips to try when the kids challenge your sanity. If you have a 2, 3, 4, or 5-year-old, consider adding these two books to your personal library to refer to again and again.

I'm Peeling Fine, Thank You...
"How Are You Peeling" is an incredibly artistic and imaginative book that is fun for ALL ages. The bright colors and clever transformations of these foods are sure to leave you Peeling Great!

Entertaining and unusual
I finally purchased this book because my preschool aged grandsons wanted me to bring it home from the library all the time. They just love this book. It's a good way to talk about feelings and the pictures of the "veggie people" are very clever and interesting. The photos have inspired us to create our own veggie people which is loads of fun for little children. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description

Enchanted by the wildly successful Blue Day Book's poignant, often funny, photos of animals and clever, poetic insights, many parents and teachers from all over the world wrote the author asking, "When will you do a version of this book for children?" That day has finally arrived. The Blue Day Book for Kids features the same style of delightful black-and-white animal photos found in its New York Times best-selling predecessor. But this special edition for children is accompanied by compassionate words of wisdom written especially for children 12 and under. As BTG says, "Hey, even little people have big blue days." The deceptively simple, imaginative story line reflects a child's sensibility about the symptoms, causes, and cures for those times when children feel tired, grumpy, left out, or think that nothing ever goes as they planned. Even on days when brussels sprouts are served at dinner . . . a cherished toy must be shared . . . a homework avalanche looms . . . or a silly mistake is made in front of friends or family, The Blue Day Book for Kids provides children with a literary umbrella to laugh off the unexpected rain life can bring.

Book Description

Kids can never get enough knock-knock jokes. For the insatiable riddler, here are 1,000 jokes that will satisfy the need to tease. Here are knock-knocks about names, songs, insults, sayings, puns, and many, many more, in this laugh-out-loud anthology of knock-knock jokes kids will love.
Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Dishes.
Dishes who?
Dishes your friend, open the door.
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Lena.
Lena who?
Lena little closer, I want to tell you a secret.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cute!
Michael Kilgarriff's Knock Knock joke book is a good book, there are a few jokes that aren't very good but most of the knock knock are cute and if your children like knock knock jokes they will probably love this book and it should keep them entertained but be prepared to hear some of the bad jokes along with the good jokes but the majority of the jokes are cute!

Not funny
This book is not as funny as my initial expectations. I was dissapointed beyond recognition

will keep you and your kids laughing
This is a wonderful book to read along with your kids.There are truly 1000 knock-knock jokes and they are all appropriate for children of any age.The book is divided into sections that have fun themes, so you can begin with some sort of reference if you prefer. My daughter and I went straight through by page. We liked this book because it's creative, easy to read, and can keep you busy ofr hours. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Christmas present!
Kids from 8 to 12 love jokes and this joke book is for them. Easy to read, predictably corny, these jokes will keep them reading and improve their memory skills.

If you have a long car trip ahead or, better yet, your grandchildren do, get them this joke book. It will keep the kids entertained and the driver thankful for those long car naps when he/she doesn't have to "knock-knock".

A good book
This is a great book the title is really what it is like hilariose. There are a whole bunch of jokes for kids like you and me i loved it so why shouldent you? I read it in about 4 days its great if i were you i would buy it for your kids they will love it. These type of book are great for stocking stuffers to so ENJOY you holidays and enjoy this book!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist and children's picture book author Berkeley Breathed crafts a remarkable, hilarious, and yes, even poignant celebration of "flawed dogs": "The bent and plain,/ The unbalanced bod,/ The imperfect people/ And differently pawed." At the core of this "2004 Catalogue of the Piddleton Dog Pound's Very Available Leftovers" is Heidy Strudelberg, "Garbo, Joan of Arc, and Mother Teresa of the nation's unwanted dogs: a reclusive warrior-saint of poundpups." Breathed reveals how Heidy was ousted from the high-falutin’ vanity dog breeding world when she awarded a muddy three-legged street mutt the Westminster Best in Show ribbon. Now, it seems, Heidy has retreated to the Vermont mountains to run the Last Chance Dog Pound, where defective dogs go for one more attempt at getting adopted. The bulk of Flawed Dogs, once you've laughed your way through the introductions and formalities, is a gallery of pathetic pups with accompanying verses. A picture of an extra-long Dachshund startling the dishes right out of her mistress's hands, is captioned thus: "Here’s Sal, it seems no one wants her./ Her ends will stroll off and wander./ A long doggie weenie/ Of noisy linguine/ Sal barks at her butt way down yonder." Dog lovers will be all in a tizzy to get their hands on this crazy, wonderful salute to blemished beagles and faulty foxhounds everywhere. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great illustrations
With a name like Berkeley Breathed you'd better be a Pulitzer-Prize winning illustrator with the talent to boot; otherwise, you yourself might end up in the Piddleton Last-Chance Dog Pound as just another flawed, unloved, and rejected mammal, whether canine or human. This funny book brings together a gaggle of aesthetically challenged canines for whom Lady Luck seems to have happily passed them by. Some of their owners are almost as unprepossessing, but you know what they say about dog owners resembling their dogs. Some of them are so homely they're almost cute, but I guess that wasn't enough to save them from the pound. This is another funny and beautifully illustrated children's book from Breathed.

Funny and moving...the perfect book!
As someone involved with dog rescue, it was easy to "recognize" all of the dogs and their situations. Dogs (and cats) end up at pounds and shelters by the MILLIONS each year for reasons as diverse as "I'm moving", to "I didn't know they would shed". And sadly, the majority of these dogs end up being put to death. In this wonderful book, Mr. Breathed brings attention to the plight of these creatures while entertaining, fabulously! I recommend this for every animal lover and Berkeley Breathed fan.

SUPERB...Berkeley Is A Genius again and again! Ages 3 - 150
Been an enormous fan of the man for years. Bloom County was epic, a force in the papers that left little else. I've always been amazed at how he's carried the texture and grace of the comic strip to book form, and he has once again. Going far beyond typical illustration, he's evolved the art form into it's next phase...awesome!!

This book is incredible. I said astounding and I mean it, as even I didn't intend to be as moved as I was. There's a thinly veiled metaphor here, and hits its mark completely. Thank you so much, Mr. Berkeley, for once again raising the bar high above the rest. You'll always occupy that space with Shel Silverstein and his like. For all ages, a comedic, emotional masterpiece.

beautiful!!
Everyone who had ever owned a "flawed" animal of any kind should have a copy of this beautiful tribute! The artwork is extraordinary and the rhymes whimsical. Berkely Breathed is magical!

Perfect
I bought this book for myself because I love Berke Breathed's art first, and am a dog lover second. This beautiful, whimsical and charming book made me laugh and pulled my heart strings enough for me to purchase 4 more copies and give them as gifts to my friends who also have dogs of their own, flawed or otherwise. Wonderful for kids of all ages. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"I spy a heart, a starfish, a frog, / A towel, a trowel, a taxi, adog;/ Seven horses, a barrel, a duck that is teeny, / Two real feathers, and a surfer's bikini." Now, all you have to do is find these objects in Walter Wick's masterful, crystal-clear, boldly colorful photographic landscapes. I Spy Gold Challenger! collects author Jean Marzollo and Wick's 12 favorite photographs from previous I Spy books, and invents a new series of ways to make children scratch their heads. A fantasy castle with a sand dragon and a medieval battle in progress; a complex city intersection made from wooden blocks and assorted toys; an attic stuffed with junk--each page seems more complex than the last. The seeming simplicity of the task at hand, and the surprising difficulty in finding all the items mentioned in the accompanying rhymes, remains a winning combination. (Click to see a sample spread. Text copyright ©1998 by Jean Marzollo. "Patterns and Paints" from I Spy School Days copyright ©1995 by Walter Wick. Permission from Scholastic Inc., Cartwheel Books.) (Ages 3 to 7) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

hours of fun
Like all of the I spy books, this one offers hours and hours of fun for all ages. Some of the things to be found took days to find, which can be a bit frustrating for some people.

The best trip companion for a little kid
This book is as exciting for kids as it is for parents. I bought our first I Spy book for a long (17 hrs) plane flight with my 3.5 year old and it really did the job of entertaining him enough. Without it the trip could have been a nightmare. I recommend it to anyone who needs to keep a child entertained and occupied for a longer period of time.

Each page is a picture if multiple little objects. Under the picture there are several riddles, and kids can spend quite a lot of time looking for the objects. But parents can make addititional riddles--so many objects are hidden or not obvious. And they can have fun too.

The artwork is beautiful and sharp. While older kids can learn to be more observant, younger ones can enhance their vocabulary by learning the name of the objects (with an adult's help , of course).

Terrific book, challenging for all ages
We have a 2-1/2 yr old daughter who absolutely LOVES the "I Spy" book series. This book is much more involved and difficult than the smaller board books designed for little ones. However, she got the idea of searching for things from the easier board books and soon got bored (pardon the pun). Using this larger version, we can make up lots of games to keep it interesting. Now, she asks us "I spy a ___" and we have to find it. Hard to do with only a few pictures on each page.

We have a lot of fun with it too - and haven't found some of the things after several months! Bottom line: Great book - start with the board books for younger ones and move up to this. make up your own games to challenge them. Enjoy

A great book!
This is a book of kids' games. It was really fun to play with. The whole book was very hard to do. I had fun with the book.

I love this book because of all of the creative pictures.
The page I like the most is Levers, Ramps, & Pulley because everything is put together & makes a Balloon Popper. ... Read more

Book Description

"Have you ever done something and then thought, "Uh-oh, that was a bad idea"?We thought so.How about the time you asked your best friend to give you a haircut?Or when you went skating with your dog (who had just been kicked out of obedience school)?What if you put all you bad ideas into one book?Then you would have...

THE BOOK OF BAD IDEAS!" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great read aloud!
As a 6th grade teacher whose students love picture books (though they wouldn't admit it), this is a great read aloud. The kids laughed and laughed and couldn't wait to create their own "bad ideas". Great choice for any age!

Everyone has Bad Ideas
I love this book! It reminds me of growing up in a house with three little brothers. Every family has their own memories of bad ideas. Laura Huliska-Beith tells of hers with flair and creativity. The illustrations are colorful and rich in texture. There is something new to laugh about every time I read it. I'm buying a copy for each of my brothers! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Caution: for advanced storytellers only! The tongue twisters in this book will have your children laughing for hours--and that laughter just might be directed at you! Mixing genuine words with classic Seuss vocabulary, Oh Say Can You Say gets trickier with every page.You'll start off easy with this cautionary limerick:

Said a book-reading parrot named Hooey, "The words in this book are all phooey.When you join them your lips will make slips and back flips, and your tongue may end up in Saint Looey!"

Reviews (9)

oh say can you say is a very good book
its a rhymeing book good for all ages and fun to read. It will leave you with a smile on your face wondering how he did it again. Dr. Seuss is a great author and shows you why once again in this book....

Tongue Fun for Everyone
We all know Dr. Seuss is the best,
put your tongue twister skills to the test!
Tho' this book's oft overlooked,
I am sure you'll be hooked
"Oh Say..." is a Seuss tongue-twist fest!

Tongue twisters, Seuss style
"Oh Say Can You Say?" is a collection of tongue twisters from the fertile pen of the great Dr. Seuss. Each twister is accompanied by Seuss's characteristically whimsical illustrations. The collection is introduced by a frazzled-looking parrot named Hooey.

"Oh Say" contains Seussian imaginary creatures (the Schnak, the Grox, etc.) and silly characters ("a musical urchin named Gretchen von Schwinn," the acrobatic Fuddnuddler brothers, etc.). Along the way are such tongue-torturing phrases as "Skipper Zipp's Clipper Ship Chip Chop Shop." The colorful illustrations, as one might expect from Seuss, are bursting with surreal energy. Overall, a lot of fun, especially if you love rhyme and alliteration.

Oh say can you say
I thought this was a really good book. I liked all the tounge twister. I could Hardly say most of them fast. I think this would be a harder book for younger children.

This is wonderful!
My 2-year-old loves the sounds and rhythms of the words. These are tongue-twisters that also rhyme, in that unique, Dr. Seuss style. Imaginative, wild and wonderful verses. I love reading them, as well, and my husband enjoyed them, too. Just alot of fun. ... Read more

Book Description

N-R-E S N T-S.

N-Q = Thank you.

S M-T = It's empty.

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

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

Reviews (17)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

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

Reviews (7)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

Trendy Wendy knows. She knows that boys are stupid. And smelly. And that they have cooties. Trendy Wendy, whose motto is "Buy me stuff," knows all about boys. Now she shares her urgent message--"Throw rocks at them!"--with girlfriends everywhere.

With a South Park-for-girls, James Thurber-meets-Matt Groening edgy freshness, artist and entrepreneur Todd Harris Goldman updates the eternal battle of the sexes. And this time the girls win. Irreverent, hilarious, and outrageous are mild words to describe this 96-page, full-color, sad-but-true testament to the pathetic flaws that are ever so apparent in boys. (Even if it is kind of cute how dumb they are.) Narrated by Trendy Wendy, the feisty stick figure with big blue eyes, Boys Are Stupid articulates exactly what girls wish they could do to boys--well, sometimes--while shining a light on the terrific attributes of girls. Along the way, she even reveals where boys come from--the stupid factory. Not exactly politically correct, if you happen to be a boy, but it is impossible to stop giggling once you start reading.

One important aside: the phrase "Boys are stupid, throw rocks at them!" started on a t-shirt that is so phenomenally successful it launched a multi-million dollar company, David & Goliath.

No boys were hurt during the making of this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For over 20 years, kids and kids at heart have giggled at the jumbled,goofy nonsense poems of Shel Silverstein. And now, lucky readers canlisten to his mad meanderings as well with this 20th anniversary editionof A Light in the Attic, which includes a CD read by the author himself.Eleven classics, including "Twistable, Turnable Man," "The Dragon of GrindlyGrun," "Prehistoric," and "Backward Bill" are performed by the late virtuoso ofverse, while the tremendously popular book contains every one of the originalpoems that made Silverstein's name a household word: "Poemsicle," "Hula Eel,""Standing Is Stupid," "Moon-Catchin' Net," "Meehoo with an Exactlywatt," anddozens upon dozens more. Silverstein's amusing, cartoonish line drawings areevery bit as familiar and beloved to readers as his poems. Gone, but notforgotten, the creator of the irresistible poetry collections Where the Sidewalk Ends andFalling Up, left anindelible mark on children's poetry. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This sequel's just as funny as First Day Jitters!
Mrs. Sarah Jane Hartwell is back, in this sequel to "First Day Jitters." On the first day of school, she sets up a mailbox for her students and the rest of the school staff to post letters to her. As the year unfolds, via the letters, the reader learns of all the important adventures and learning that occur in her classroom during her first year of teaching. There's the disastrous field trip, the unexpected visits from the firefighter, the observations by the principal, and the problems with snacks and classroom pets. The full color illustrations expand the detail offered in the letters. Some of the letters are shown in their childish handwriting, and there is a huge improvement in penmanship skills between the beginning and the end of the year. The others are typeset, which makes the reading easier. This is a delightful sequel, just as funny as the first book. Read First Day Jitters to a class during the first week of school, then save this one to read to the same group during the last week of school. Students and teachers will all wish they could be in Mrs. Hartwell's class!

Another great book for teachers.
FIRST YEAR LETTERS is a great sequel to Julie Danneberg's best selling FIRST DAY JITTERS. Filled with humor, charm and wonderful illustrations this is a must for teachers, especially those who wonder if they'll ever survive that first year of teaching! I had the opportunity to hear Ms. Danneberg read FIRST YEAR LETTERS to teachers at an International Reading Association conference and they LOVED it. The line to get copies autographed went on and on.... ... Read more