Book Description

Carmen got the jeans at a thrift shop. They didn’t look all that great; they were worn, dirty, and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for the summer, Carmen decides to toss them. But Tibby says they’re great. She’d love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them. Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything), thinks she looks good in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs they decide to form a sisterhood, and take the vow of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they say good-bye. And now the journey of the pants–and the most memorable summer of their lives–begins. ... Read more

Reviews (554)

I really loved this book
I really loved this book. My friend had read it so I thought I'd give it a try. Well I did and I loved it! It's about these four girls. Lena's the pretty,keep to herself kind of girl, Carmen,nicknamed Carmen "Carmeena" is the rebel of the group, Tibby's basically the outgoing one who is "not a people person", and Bridget's the athlete who won't take no for an answer. Carmen and Lena are shopping at a thrift store when Carmen buys a pair of pants-baggy,faded jeans, nothing really specail about them. Teh day before they all depart for the summer, they decide that they're going to share the "traveling" pants. Lena takes them with her to visit her grandparents in Greece,Tibby gets them next,working home at Wallman's where she meets a girl named Bailey, who's basically a young Tibby, who's ill with leukimia,Carmen's leaving home to stay with her father , and Bridget brings them to soccer camp, where the pants bring her good luck each game. But Bridget really wants them to spark a relationship with Eric, one of the coaches, who Bridget wants to go out with.
this book is probably for girls ages twelve and up.That is the age apropriate level. This book is definitely girly-girl,so it's not the best book for book talks if your audience is made up of a lot of boys.
Hope you enjoy!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
This book was very different from any book I have read before. It is about four girls who have formed a tight friendship since birth...also known as "The Septembers." Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget are spending their first summer away from one another in 15 years. Lena is going away to Greece with her younger sister to visit their grandparents. While there she discovers the boy of her dreams; Kostos. Tibby is staying home and working while she meets a 12-year-old girl that she becomes friends with that is dying of Leukemia. Carmen is off to South Carolina to visit her dad where she shockingly discovers hers and his new family and life. Finally Bridget, she spends her summer in Baja, California in soccer camp, flirty as she is she meets an older consular that she just has to hang out with. Before their summer begins they find a pair of pants that Carmen decided to buy at a used clothing store. They each try on the pants and discover their magic, they look wonderful on whomever wears them. They make rules for these pants, such as never to wash them, and then are off on their separate ways for the summer. They mail the pants to one another and keep in touch via email and letters throughout the summer and wear the pants as their interesting stories develop separately.
I really enjoyed this book but felt frustrated when I wanted to continue reading about one girl and then it was switched to another. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys stories about friendship or teenagers and love. It was a quick read and kept your interest. Also there is a sequal, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, that is about their following summer.

A must read for all teenage girls
This is one of my favorite books of all time and one every teenage girl should pick up at some time or another. Brashares skillfully weaves together the tale of 4 very different girls' adventures over one summer bringing them together by the means of a magical pair of pants representing their friendship. while the idea of the magical pair of pants may seem a bit farfetched to some, this story couldn't be more true to teenage life. Both humorous and heartwrenching, i enjoyed every page of this book. i especially enjoyed the quotes that appeared at the beginning of each chapter. i think every girl can relate to one of the characters in some way or another. I find it almost scary how much i can relate to Lena. My two best friends (who are a lot like Tibby and Carmen) also love this book and we've started our own sisterhood v. similar to the one in the book, which has made us even better friends.

MUST READ FOR TEEN GIRLS OF ALL AGES
This book is an incredible look into the lives of 4 teenage girls as they face issues of their own and help eachother work through them. This is the best book I have ever read and I, like many teenagers do not like to read and finished this book within the first week I had it and right after I finished it I bought the sequel which is also incredible. I CAN'T wait for the third!!

I love this book!
"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?" you might ask.
All the people (well, at least, me.) who have read it will say "Yes. This is a great book. The idea is very creative. (Magical Pants?). The characters are fun and believable. Carmen, Bridget, Tibby and Lena were best friends since they could remember.
They always spend time together in the summer, but in this particular summer, they have to be apart. They discover that the pants Carmen had all along were magical!
They decided that the pants should be passed around the world to each other so they would be together without actually being together!
Ann Brashares is a great author, I could almost actually feel the sadness/anger/whatever emotions that the character is feeling!

This book is not like any other!!! ... Read more

Book Description

The Pants first came to us at the perfect moment. That is, when we were splitting up for the first time. It was two summers ago when they first worked their magic, and last summer when they shook up our lives once again. You see, we don’t wear the Pants year-round. We let them rest so they are extra powerful when summer comes. (There was the time this spring when Carmen wore them to her mom’s wedding, but that was a special case.)

Now we’re facing our last summer together. In September we go to college. And it’s not like one of those TV shows where all of us magically turn up at the same college. We’re going to four different colleges in four different cities (but all within four hours of one another—that was our one rule). We’re headed off to start our real lives.

Tomorrow night at Gilda’s we’ll launch the Pants on their third summer voyage. Tomorrow begins the time of our lives. It’s when we’ll need our Pants the most. ... Read more

Book Description

This is Russell.

Sometimes Russell is just a little bit out of step with the rest of the flock.

All the sheep are falling asleep -- except Russell.

What's a sheep to do?

Russell tries everything ... until, at last, he falls asleep. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

too cute
Russell is a sheep who just can't seem to fall asleep one night.He tries everything from counting the stars to locating the perfect sleeping spot.Nothing works for him.That is until he decides to count sheep!This works and Russell is finally asleep.By this time it's morning and all the other sheep are ready to start their day!

The cartoon like illustrations are full of detail.Lots for little eyes to llok at while the story is being read!
We would recommend this book to others.We feel that the book will entertain children in a wide variety of age groups.There is a little green frog that shows up though out the book.It's fun to discover what the will be up to next!

Richie's Picks: RUSSELL THE SHEEP
"Last night I didn't get to sleep at all, no, no.
I lay awake and watched until the morning light
Washed away the darkness of the lonely night
And last night I didn't get to sleep, didn't get to sleep,
No, I didn't get to sleep at all."
--The Fifth Dimension

Between meetings, workshops, zigzagging between the various publisher booths, morning and evening social events, and late night nibbling at the new ARCs I've just scored, I don't get much sleep when I'm off at the various book-related conventions.

Five-plus years ago, Shari and I were strolling around the exhibition hall at ALA Midwinter in San Antonio. The best part of being "on the floor" at ALA Midwinter is the abundance of editors in attendance. It is always exciting to get an earful of what these frequently unsung heroes of the children's publishing industry actually have their hands on, along with what they've just completed in collaboration with their talented authors.

Anne Schwartz is one of those brilliant and charming editors with whom I love to chat. When Shari and I encountered Anne in San Antonio at that 2000 Midwinter convention, I immediately asked her what hot new literary magic she had up her sleeve for the distant fall season, then eight or nine months down the road.

When Anne responded that I HAD to see the picture book she'd just finished I was momentarily disappointed. The best thing you have for the entire fall season is a picture book? I said to myself, my hope having been that she'd instead be raving about the manuscript for some spectacular novel for eight-to-twelve-year-olds.

But my skepticism instantly evaporated as she opened a manilla file and pulled out a paste-up of OLIVIA. I'll never forget that first reading, including the ending when:

"Olivia's mom gives her a kiss and says, 'You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway.' And Olivia gives her a kiss back and says, 'I love you anyway too.' "

"Close your eyes and I'll close mine, goodnight sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine, goodnight sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me, dream sweet dreams for you."
--The Beatles

I recall the OLIVIA incident because Rob Scotton's RUSSELL THE SHEEP is the cutest and funniest and best illustrated animal character I've seen in a picture book since OLIVIA. And while RUSSELL THE SHEEP won't officially come to the attention of the Caldecott committee the way OLIVIA did (being that Rob Scotton is British not American), I will be shocked if Russell does not similarly grab the Book Sense Illustrated Book of the Year award after he grabs the hearts and imaginations of large herds of American kids, young and old.

Rob Scotton is certainly no unknown quantity in Britain. Not only a celebrated illustrator of greeting cards and posters, his animal characters even adorn a series of Portmerion china.

But the exploits of Russell and the expressions of the various sheep characters in his first picture book go far beyond anything Scotton's accomplished previously. Within just one of the book's first illustrations ("...night fell and the sheep got ready for bed."), you have Russell prancing atop a tree while one sheep is brushing its teeth, one is holding a steaming mug of cocoa, one is heavy-eyed and clutching a teddy bear, and one old lady sheep (wearing spectacles and an old-fashioned night hat) is lying under a quilt with four feet straight up in the air and a glass containing a solution and her false teeth beside her.

Russell goes through all sorts of delightful misadventures trying to get to sleep. And then, by the end of the story when everyone is getting up (Granny putting in her teeth, another sheep reading the Daily Bleat), Russell, of course, is fast asleep.

Good night, Russell!

Adorable
This beautifully illustrated book combines humor with the charming
tale of a sleepless sheep. I was won over from the first page, showing the adorable Russell playfully swinging from a tree!
Every illustration is rich with detail (personally I am a big fan of the frog). I'm hoping to see Russell merchandise to follow,
he would make a delightful toy!

Outstanding!
This is a beautifully illustrated book. It makes me laugh just to look through it. There are slight details to be found in all the illustrations and it is positely beautiful to look at. It is a story of Russell the sheep who can't go to sleep - "Not tired," he says. The other sheep in the flock are all fast asleep under their cute homemade quilts, but Russell is counting his feet, trying to sleep in vehicles and other various locations and counting all the stars in the sky trying to make himself tired. Very entertaining.

Wonderful!
This book is delightful! My three year old and I both love it. The illustrations are wonderful and the story is so cute! ... Read more

Book Description

Moose Flannagan moves with his family to Alcatraz so his dad can work as a prison guard and his sister, Natalie, can attend a special school.But Natalie has autism, and when she’s denied admittance to the school, the stark setting of Alcatraz begins to unravel the tenuous coping mechanisms Moose’s family has used for dealing with her disorder.

When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the Warden, he knows right off she’s trouble.But she’s also strangely irresistible. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents’ expectations, and stay out of trouble.But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.

Set in 1935, when guards actually lived on Alcatraz Island with theirfamilies, Choldenko’s second novel brings humor to the complexities of family dynamics and illuminates the real struggle of a kid trying to free himself from the "good boy" stance he’s taken his whole life. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Al Capone Does My Shirts"
"Al Capone Does My Shirts" is about a 12-year old boy named Moose, whose family moves to Alcatraz in 1934 for his dad's job as a prison guard there. If you don't know, Alcatraz is a maximum-security prison on a rocky island across the bay from San Francisco. Although it is no longer in use, in the 1930's, Alcatraz was prison sweet prison to such notorious gangsters as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. You could understand why Moose isn't excatly thrilled to live there. But the other reason they moved is so his sister, Natalie, could go to the Esther P. Marinoff school. Natalie has a disease that is today called autism, but was unidentified in the 30's. Moose, wanting his sister to be "normal", agrees to move for her sake. Still, he isn't happy about living on what he calls "a 12-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turds and surrounded by water". But the other families that live on Alcatraz might change his mind.
This book is both funny and sad, and Moose is very easy to relate to. Other very dynamic characters make "Al Capone Does My Shirts" interesting. You'll finish it quickly and wish it were longer.

Every 10-12 year old should read this book
My 10 year old daughter read this book in just over 2 days! She could not put it down!!! After reading Choldenko's "Notes from a Liar and her Dog" she could not wait for this to be published. We are buying them as gifts for many summer birthdays. I am now reading it and am thrown right back into my childhood of many years ago. Well written (as was the first), gets right into a 10-12 year olds way of thinking. Children between these ages will be able to totally relate. We can't wait for next one!

a sensational read
Twelve-year-old Moose Flannagan doesn't know how to feel about his new home. Sure, it's neat to live right in San Francisco Bay, but the neighbors leave something to be desired. You see, Moose and his family live on Alcatraz Island, where Moose's father has a new job as electrician and prison guard. At school on the mainland, Moose is a bit of a misfit. Not only do the other guys think living on Alcatraz is a little weird, they also don't understand why Moose can't stay after school to play baseball.

Instead, Moose has to head home to watch his sister Natalie. Natalie has autism, a condition that had not even been identified in 1935, when this novel is set. No one is quite sure how to deal with Natalie. Most "experts" tell the Flannagans to put her in an institution, but the family would rather try a variety of experimental therapies, which yield mostly disappointing results. Moose is the only one who can really reach Natalie, and he constantly clashes with his mother about the best way to work with her.

Moose and Natalie discover a new kind of community among the several families who live on Alcatraz Island, including bossy seven-year-old Theresa and the warden's manipulative, sneaky (but also kind of cute) daughter Piper. In the end, the kids cooperate --- with a little help from Al Capone himself --- to find a place where Natalie can finally belong.

Believe it or not, this novel's unusual setting is based on fact --- the families of Alcatraz prison guards actually did live on the island. The author includes a helpful note explaining the historical facts behind the story, as well as a brief note about autism.

What really makes this a winning novel, though, is not the setting but its main character. Moose, who narrates the story, is responsible and trustworthy in spite of himself. The love he feels for his sister despite the frustrations she causes him shines through all his words. The relationships among Moose, his hardworking father and his well-meaning mother are also rich and dynamic. Even without its connection to the famous mobster, AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS would still be a real hit.

(...)

You and Your Students/Children Should Read This!
This is a beautiful story that mixes all the elements of great fiction. Historical setting and characters, emotional involvment with genuine characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fresh writing style combine to form a unique and sensitive story. Highly reccomended for anyone interested in Alcatraz, Autistic children, or anyone looking for well-done modern kids lit piece. Also reccomended: Notes From a Liar and Her Dog(same author).

A fascinating read.
This novel worked for me on many levels. First, it was a gripping, fast-paced character study of a teenage boy. The author developed a sympathetic, interesting, flawed character. I kept turning the pages to see what would happen to him and how he would respond.

Second, the book was quite poignant in showing what it was like to live with an autistic child, especially in an era when autism hadn't been diagnosed and no one was sure how or if it could be treated.

Third, the setting was so interesting. It takes place on Alcatraz island when prison workers and their families lived there. I learned a lot, but I didn't feel like I was being instructed as I read.

I highly reccommend this novel. ... Read more

Book Description

Baby Ernie is too big for diapers! He's ready to try out his brand-new potty. It may take a few tries, but soon Ernie learns he can use the potty all by himself! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Big help
My 2-1/2 year old son loved this book. It arrived on day 3 of our potty training effort, and it really seemed to motivate him to poop on the potty, which he had been fearful of, although he had been great at going pee pee on the potty and was already staying dry all day. This book and the one called "The Potty Book for boys" are both very good, I thought, in that regard. (I have two other potty books, but I can't remember their names. One has a noise button that makes flushing sounds.) I agree with those who say the wording is fine about having to "go" etc. without specific words - - but, let me say further that, "Hello, parents! Unless your potty "trainee" can actually read the words in the book, or unless you have so many different readers of it that you can't enforce the reading of a consistent version of it, you can MAKE UP, skip or substitute whatever words you want![.]!" I have changed "pee" to "pee pee" or added discussion of "poop" instead of just "going potty" in this book and others. Just make it consistent every time you read it, or they'll figure that out very quickly. Repetition is key. Good luck, potty trainers. FYI - - we are on day 8 now, and he is making all pee pee and all poops in the potty (the big toilet actually with a toilet ring), except we do still put him in his diaper for afternoon nap and nighttime.

Adorable photograph/cardboard book for potty training
This book offers colorful photographs, (not illustrations), of Sesame Street's Ernie and Bert in their baby-version form. The baby Muppets are simply adorable. The pages are made of cardboard, which is great for small children. The storyline covers the complete potty routine, including wiping and washing hands!

Very Good
We really like this book. Simple text. Simple but colorful illustrations. Easy message. We are starting to teach our 15-month-old son to use the potty. When we read this book with him, it looks like he understands what we are talking about and he seems to understand that he is like Ernie in that he smiles when we compare him to Ernie. Recommended.

Guaranteed Hit
Leave it to Sesame Street to produce a potty book that is as simple as 1-2-3. We loved the photos (instead of the usual drawings). Baby Ernie had some of the same toys we have - my daughter loved that! "Don't use too much, Ernie!" I often tell her when she rolls out too much toilet paper.

We have read almost every potty book available on the market as of 9/2003 (over two dozen!). Most fit into two categories: INSTRUCTIONAL books that introduce the skills needed to master the potty; and those that are primarily ENTERTAINING, for children who understand what is supposed to happen on the potty, but need extra time to make it happen.

I think Too Big For Diapers fits more in the ENTERTAINING category, although it includes washing hands with "sudsy soap" - a step many potty books omit. Worth the money.

Cool one
5 stars for saving the money on diapers.

If you are tired of diapers - just start reading and enjoy this book. After a couple of... days/weeks/months (I'll keep my fingers crossed) your honey will realize the process :D
Definitely will help you (the rest is just your persistence). ... Read more

Book Description

Beloved by generations, Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little are two of the most cherished stories of all time. Now, for the first time ever, these treasured classics are available in lavish new collectors' editions. In addition to a larger trim size, the original black-and-white art by Garth Williams has been lovingly colorized by renowned illustrator Rosemary Wells, adding another dimension to these two perfect books for young and old alike.

Whether you are returning once again to visit with Wilbur, Charlotte, and Stuart, or giving the gift of these treasured stories to a child, these spruced-up editions are sure to delight fans new and old. The interior design has been slightly moderated to give the books a fresh look without changing the original, familiar, and beloved format. Garth Williams's original black-and-white line drawings for the jacket of Stuart Little have also been newly colorized by the celebrated illustrator Rosemary Wells. These classics return with a new look, but with the same heartwarming tales that have captured readers for generations.

Reviews (306)

among the best in children's literature
As we all know, there are those certain books in the world that literally every single child in the world should read, and "Charlotte's Web" is a perfect example of must-read literature. It's such a classic story, not to mention a beautiful one. E.B. White creates such memorable characters and describes them very well. When a little girl named Fern hears that some baby pigs have been born in the barn, she is terrified to hear that her father plans to kill the littlest one, the useless "runt." Fern talks her father into letting her adopt the pig. She names it Wilbur and treats it as her own. Then the time comes for the pig to be more on its own, so Fern is forced to sell him to her uncle, who owns a farm. Wilbur feels lonely and out of place until he meets Charlotte, a kind spider who befriends him and, eventually, saves his life. Beautiful, beautiful story of friendship and courage. It contains characters and a fun plot that any child can enjoy. I read this book for the first time when I was in fourth grade, and I recently helped a little second-grader that I baby-sit for with her "Charlotte's Web" comprehension questions. It brought memories back. This is one of those books that you remember for the rest of your life once you've read it. It's excellent, and well worth the money.

'O best beloved'
This is a book which should have ten stars, not just five.

Faced with the impending slaughter of Wilbur, the runt piglet she has saved and nursed to health, Fern is appalled that she has fattened him for the axe, and commits herself passionately to save her beloved animal. So, too, is Charlotte, the spider who inhabits the barn with him, and woh turns her web into a sort of billboard/oracle which astonishes (and admonishes) the community by weaving words that inform them that this is no ordinary pig! She recruits Templeton the Rat and the rest of the animals in her battle for Wilbur's life...will they succeed? or will Wilbur be a nine-days' wonder? and what will be the ultimate cost?

This is the best present I can imagine to inspire a young reader; it's a wonderful tale of courage against the odds; it's warm, sad, and delightfully funny, and 30 years after I read it in fourth grade, I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it. A special, special book. (With wonderful original illustrations!)

A Great Book about Friendship
I must confess that having just read "Animal Farm" shortly before reading this book, I was a little hesitant about excepting this as a pure children's story without any hidden political agenda. I kept expecting the talking animals to rise up behind the pig and take over the farm. Rest assured however there was none of that, as E.B. White does a good job of keeping the story at a purely kids level.

Wilber is the runt in a litter of pigs, and Mr. Arable the farmer is going to take him out back and have him slaughtered since as he says, "He is small and weak and will never amount to anything." His young daughter Fern who is eight, hears this and requests that her father give the pig to her to raise instead. The father wishing to prove a point to her, allows this so long as she promises to do all the work to take care of it. To Mr. Arable's surprise Fern does an excellent job of raising Wilber and he turns out to be "Some Pig", proving that even though he was very small he still could amount to something.

As Wilber grows bigger the Arable's can no longer support feeding him, so Mr. Arable has Fern sell Wilber to her uncle Mr. Zuckerman who has a farm down the road. There she goes and visits Wilber every day. Being young I guess gives you the ability to sit and listen to the animals more intently than adults, and by doing so Fern is able to hear that the animals can actually talk and she understands them. (Being the father of two girls who are 7 and 5, I'd have to disagree somewhat with this logic as my girls never sit still, and certainly have a hard time listening at times, but for the sake of the story we'll just give them the benefit of the doubt.)

Anywise Wilber meets all the other animals in the barn who are very nice, but none of them are really his close friend. He becomes lonely and wishes for a friend. A gray spider named Charlotte answers his prayers and after introducing herself, she becomes Wilber's best friend.

When the other animals tell Wilber that Mr. Zuckerman is just fatting him up to eat him for Christmas, this makes him greatly disturbed. Charlotte being a great friend promises to do all she can to make Wilber so important to Mr. Zuckerman that he would change his mind. She sets a plan in action to weave messages into her web proclaiming how great the pig is, and by doing so she hopes to trick the adults into believing it as well. With the help of Templeton the rat she obtains some newspaper clippings and begins her work.

Each new message in the web is looked upon as miracle, but rather than looking for any religious connection, the folks in the town just believe they have a very famous pig on their hands and accept it at face value.

The suspense builds as Zuckerman takes Wilber to the Fair. If he can just win an award there, Charlotte knows his life will be saved. Charlotte and Templeton have to stow away in Wilber's crate just to accompany him to the Fair, and then when they get there the pig in the stall next to Wilber is twice as big and looks to be a shoe in for first prize.

This book was obviously written at a much simpler time in history. At the Fair grounds the adults send the kids off on their own. Besides Fern who is 8, she has a little brother Avery who is only 5. After giving them all kinds of warnings such as not to eat too much, and to stay out of the sun, to not get dirty, and to be careful on the rides, the mother stops and says to the husband, "Do you think they'll be all right?" and he responds, "Well they have to grow up sometime." (None of the warnings were about staying away from strangers.) Of course when the kids returned they hadn't stayed out of the sun and were hot, and completely dirty, but they had fun.

Fern meets a boy at the Fair, and starts to grow up a bit as playing with him starts to seem like more fun than talking to bunch of animals.

It is a great book about overcoming obstacles even though you are very small, growing up, and most of all friendship. My girls loved the book as well, and especially seemed to like the illustrations by Garth Williams.

Quality literature for children
A spider saves the life of a friendly pig by spinning accolades about him in her web, thereby producing a miracle that impresses people for miles around. This is a beautifully written little story for children that has real literary quality. The prose is excellent. Note in particular the simple but lovely descriptions of the passing seasons that Mr. White writes. The themes include friendship, coping with the loss of loved ones, and the realization that life goes on, changed but still worth living.

Best book ever
I think this is a really good book.It was about a pig and a spider who were vary good friends. My favorite part of the story was when they went to the Fair. The book was great. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For a little one who is reluctant to go to bed, sometimes a silly bookis just the ticket. And when it comes to silly books, Sandra Boynton is theundisputed queen. In The Going to Bed Book, an ark full of animalswatches the sun go down and then prepares for bed. They take a bath ("in one bigtub"), find pajamas, brush their teeth, do exercises up on deck (imagine anelephant jumping rope, a moose lifting weights, and a pig doing handstands), andfinally say good night.

The moon is high. The sea is deep.
They rock
and rock
and rock
to sleep.

Reviews (56)

A Fun Story for Bedtime
This colorful board book from Sandra Boynton's is a bedtime treat! An assortment of expressive animals gets ready for bed aboard a giant boat. Boynton amusingly shows then bathing, dressing, brushing teeth ("With some on top and some beneath, they brush and brush and brush their teeth."), and exercising together.

It closes with the animals settling down for the night: "They rock and rock and rock to sleep." Graced by Boynton's well-known illustrations and rhythmic poetry, this is a great book for infants and toddlers alike.

The Sun has Set not Long Ago
Great bed time book. The rhymes are fun, and it is a fantastically silly story. My husband and daughter and I have all had this book memorized since she was 6 months old ( she is two and 1/2 now). We love to recite it to one another, and have had to have two copies of the book (ah that teething stage was hard, she chewed right through everything.) We all love Sandra Boynton, she is a reliable read and a lot of fun.

A rescue item for a tired PARENT
Our son has loved this book from when he was 6 months to now, at 14 months. The story is very loosely based on a Biblical tale (didn't anyone get the Ark reference?) and simply describes what every child can do before bed, brushing teeth, getting changed, a little play, and bedtime. In addition, we tell the story in two languages and ask him to point out certain animals or to make a teeth brushing motion, which he does with increased accuracy. I recommend it to all the families in my mother's group!

Our FAVORITE "Night-Night" book...
We LOVE Sandra Boynton, and this book is our favorite. My 2 yr. old son knows all the words and the hand motions we've made up to go along w/ it. We laugh and read just about every night before prayers. It's a must have for your toddler.

Another Classic Boynton!
Next to Goodnight Moon, this is our top choice for a bedtime read. The text is lulling & the drawings are adorable.
The animals are on a boat (some say this is confusing to children - it is supposed to be silly!) and they are getting ready for bed. They go through the usuals - bathtime, jammies, teeth brushing...with a little goofiness thrown in - a little late night exercise! Just enough for a little grin before settling down.
Classic Boyton!! ... Read more

Book Description

kira-kira (kee' ra kee' ra): glittering; shining

Glittering. That's how Katie Takeshima's sister, Lynn, makes everything seem. The sky is kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time. The sea is kira-kira for the same reason. And so are people's eyes. When Katie and her family move from a Japanese community in Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia, it's Lynn who explains to her why people stop them on the street to stare. And it's Lynn who, with her special way of viewing the world, teaches Katie to look beyond tomorrow. But when Lynn becomes desperately ill, and the whole family begins to fall apart, it is up to Katie to find a way to remind them all that there is always something glittering -- kira-kira -- in the future.

Luminous in its persistence of love and hope, Kira-Kira is Cynthia Kadohata's stunning debut in middle-grade fiction. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

!WOW!
WOW! this book was one of the best books i have ever read! Read it and i am sure you will love it! It is about a girl whose best friend is her sister but then her sister gets really sick. ... Read more

Book Description

With a bit of last summer’s sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the Sisterhood that wears them embark on their 16th summer.
Bridget: Impulsively sets off for Alabama, wanting to both confront her demons about her family and avoid them all at once.
Lena: Spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that follows his visit even more painful.
Carmen: Is concerned that her mother is making a fool of herself over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on a date, she’s certain of it.
Tibby: Not about to spend another summer working at Wallman’s, she takes a film course only to find it’s what happens off-camera that teaches her the most. ... Read more

Reviews (168)

the second summer is just as engrossing as the first
With The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, I was delighted to find that entering the world of the four teenage girls of Besthesda, Maryland was just as wonderful the second time as the first. While it starts a bit slow, the plot definitely picks up and gathers momentum as it goes.
All four deal with family issues and pain in this book. The memory of Bailey, Tibby's young friend who was claimed by leukemia in the first book, is painfully present in Tibby's mind as she struggles with her mother, who appears to be absorbed in the world of her two little siblings.
Lena uncovers an unpleasant, hidden secret from her mother's past, and has a passionate- yet tragically short lived- reunion with Kostos, her handsome Greek boyfriend.
Bridget is hardly recognizable in this second summer. After the disastrous event that happened to her in the first book, she quit soccer and dyed her hair brown. To recover her own identity, as well as to reunite with her mother's family, she sets of for Alabama on a life-changing mission.
The only character I was disappointed in was Carmen. Apparently having learned nothing from her mistakes last summer, she nearly ruins her mother's romantic life. However, I think she- like the others- is even more believable and endearing than before! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Can't Wait For Summer?
Ann Brashares became one of my favorite authors after reading the first book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I felt that there was someone that wrote down on paper the feelings and emotions that me and my friends go through each day. So, when I found out the the second book was out, I rushed to my nearest bookstore and bought it right away. I finished it the first day I got it and felt so emotional after reading it. Because I read the first book, I could tell that Ann Brashares likes to throw curves in her stories, where the unexpected always happened. I liked that too, it keeps we wanting to move on, to read more, to not put the book down! And that is EXACTLY what you get when you read the Second Summer of the Sisterhood, when I found myself becoming as emotional as Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bee themselves! What makes the book all the more better is that it can appeal to anyone, teen or adult because it deals with situstions that are real. I believe it is all the more enjoyable as well because even how it is written, its in the same way that I talk to my friends so I feel more into it as it is hard for me to enjoy a book the way I do this one! Therefore, I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking forward to summer coming up and waiting for new adventures of their own!

Summertime Is Still Sweet....
I'm a big reader of books of all kinds - teen fare that I can get away with reading, the oh so popular chick lit (a la Bridget Jones Diary), and of course classics and top sellers. So I've got a lot to compare Ann Brashares 2nd offering to - and overall I'd give it a 3.5 stars rather then 4 or 3.

The story itself picks up 10 months after the last one began - summer break yet again with the girls beginning their yearly tradition of breaking into the gym where their mothers had exercise class together and thus brought the four main characters together -

Lena - gorgeous but shy and serious, deals with lessons in love and heartbreak via Kostos (her Greek grandparents family friends son) in this novel...my only problem is that she doesn't really seem to change her attitude much from the last book until the very end, and even then she seems unaware that she is growing up.

Carmen - Rehashes the storyline of the last book in this one with a few plot points changed - basically plays a bratty daughter yet again. Carmen is probably my least fave character in terms of development both plot and characterwise - she never seems to learn anything (which perhaps is a character trait).

Tibby - Seems to have a much smaller role in this book, particularly towards the end, doens't really grow much but revisits the previous summer in an interesting way.

Bee - My fave character and in my opinion has the strongest and most interesting storyline - where she impulsively takes off to Alabama to visit her long lost grandmother and to discover more about her bi-polar mother who killed herself many years ago. Its interesting because Bee appears to be the only one who changed OVER the course of the year, and thus you get to watch her become something from those changes instead of just re-visiting last summers experiences and lessons.

All in all I enjoyed Brashares writing, I love the quotes she uses, and she makes you feel for each of the characters. The only thing I have to criticize her on is the lack of major growth the girls should have experienced during the school year, as the mistakes they made in this book were far too similar to the previous years. Personally the summer before grade 10 and the summer before grade 11 (or grade 11 and grade 12) were completely different times for me, and I think the girls really should've learnt something more then quadratic functions over the year. Another small criticism is that the girls are almost too functioned on their said plot points...Brashares could've created a more 3-dimensional world but granted a book can only show you so much. Finally I think she makes the girls a bit over-emotional at times to the point where it becomes unbelievable. However if you are into the ever popular continuity-necessary teen novel that dominates the market today, then pick this (and the first) book up for some fun summer reads.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
I read the first book in the series and loved it, so of course I had to read the second one. The reason why I only gave this book four stars is because, there were questions unanswered and when I finished the book I didn't know that there was gonna be a sequel. My guess is that all of my questions will be anwered then. Like the first book it;s about four friends, Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget. But in this book it goes into more depth with the relationship of Lena and Kostos. Bridget also meets a guy a soccer camp. What I guess I didn't like was that Bailey wasn't in this book. She was one of my favorite characters in the book besides the four main characters. I can't wait 'till the third sisterhood book comes out, Girs In Pants, but I guess I have to because it doesn't come out 'till january, 25, 2005. Well I hope this review was helpful. Oh, and sorry about all of the grammer mistakes that I made, i'm not very good at grammer.

The Girls Are Back - I read for 8 hours straight!
I absolutly loved this book, and for that note the one before it also. I don't say that about many books! It was truly touching - I cried for Lena twice!

The girls - Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bee - Are off again on another exciting story! I was touched by all of them equally (except for Tibby, who didn't have THAT much substance in the book but it was still good! I loved that they brought Bailey's spirit back into the book! I also am glad Kostos came back, even if.... em I didn't like the end... But it was very good and I enjoyed it!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 1.5 hours
2 cassettes

When ten-year-old India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida, with her preacher father, she doesn't know what to expect.She is lonely at first--that is until she meets Winn-Dixie, a stray dog who helps her make some unusual friends.Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal begins to let go of some of her sadness and finds she has a whole lot to be thankful for.


... Read more

Reviews (351)

Winn-Dixie, A Real Winner
A story of friendship, loneliness, and sadness. A sweet girl, named India Opal Buloni just moved to Naomi, Florida with her father, a southern baptist minister. She comes to town without a single friend or a mother when a dog, named Winn-Dixie enters her life.

Anyone who has ever had a dog they love will appreciate this story. He is smart, sits through church services, and takes on very human-like characteristics. Whenever he gets happy, he opens his mouth and shows an endearing smile.

With help from her new pet, India Opal makes many unique friends in her small, quiet town. She befriends a librarian who has candy that tastes like strawberries, rootbeer, and sorrow. She meets up with an ex-criminal who went to prison for playing his music in the street. She visits an old woman every day who all of the town kids think is a witch.

Although written for a younger audience, I would strongly recommend this book for anyone. This is a Newberry Honor book divided into many small chapters,each with an endearing story. Everyone is sure to enjoy Because of Winn-Dixie.

Need a good read...
A story soon to be a classic and a must read for anyone who has ever felt lost in the world. This story is about a young girl and her father. India Opal and her father the preacher move to a new town in northern Florida. She has trouble making friends and her father keeps himself emotionally distanced from her. He asks her to go to the grocery store and she goes but comes home with something that wasn't on the list...a dog that she named "Winn-Dixie," and it is because of Winn-Dixie that her life starts to make changes.

This book is an enjoyable read for any age. The author has done a wonderful job of setting the location of where the story is taking place, whom the character's are and gives the reader the feeling of being in the story. The text is not hard to read but some of the dialect could be difficult. There is a bit of understatement in the book that may be hard for younger reads to understand but not enough to discourage reading, the writing style is one that fits the story line.

On a personal level I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt lost in the world and needed a friend. Having grown up moving around in the southern states I truly connected to this book and if nothing else this is a great book about a girl and her dog.

A ok
I recommend this book to anyone 13 or older because it's a really good book about friendship. For example, when the pet employ asked her if Winn-Dixie was her pet, Opal said, "He's not a pet he's my best friend." Also I recommend it to any one who loves dogs because Winn-Dixie is in many parts of the story. For example, when Winn-Dixie is in the store making a mess, the manager said that he was going to call the pound. Opal said to the manger," Wait that's my dog. Don't call the pound." She said to protect the dog from going to the pound. In conclusion, if you like a book about friendship and animals, this is the book to read.

Touching and uplifting!
I first heard of "Because of Winn-Dixie" several years ago, when Kate DiCamillo was interviewed on NPR soon after its release. Having lived in FL for many years and being well aware of the Winn-Dixie supermarkets, I suppose the idea of the story and its name intrigued me. I purchased the book some time ago, but as with many other book collectors, I set it aside and didn't get around to reading it till just recently. Although it's written for children, I must say it has appeal for all ages! I was deeply moved by the sweet story, and especially Opal, who someone else expressed my thoughts exactly when they likened her to Scout, from "To Kill a Mockingbird"(my all-time favorite story). She obviously is wise far beyond her years in the way she brings together the diverse personalities and ages of the people she meets in her new home, a small FL town called Naomi. Opal unconditionally loves her funny, quirky mongrel of a dog, and we certainly can't help but love him as well! We should all be so lucky as to someday meet such a gentle spirit as Opal and her Winn-Dixie. My highest recommendations for this touching and very uplifting little gem!

I Almost Shed A Tear
Opal has just relocated, with her father, Preacher, to Florida. One day, while in the local Winn-Dixie, she finds a big, ugly dog. She names the dog Winn-Dixie. When she gets home, her father is disappointed, but reluctantly agrees to let Opal keep the unusual dog. Winn-Dixie helps Opal make new friends in Florida, and it's Because of Winn-Dixie that she finds happiness in her new town. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Tastefully presented
My parents used this book to help answer my questions about how babies are made when I was around 5 years old. This book provided just enough informtion to introduce me to the concept of sex and making babies without embarassing me too terribly much.

I notice that some reviewers worry that the book provides children with too much information or is too graphic. I find that the book would be incomplete if some of the information or the pictures were omitted. If they weren't included, I know I would have many questions unanswered as a child. The tasteful illustrations included in the book helped me understand the book's content, rather than forcing me to fill in the gaps with inaccurate and possibly scary images that could have lead to unhealthy views of sex.

As a child, I found myself really studying the pictures, cartoon images that are presented very tastefully and are actually sort of cute. They pictures do show the male and female anatomy, which is important information if a child is to understand how babies are made. They show a man and woman who love each other and are happy, things that would allow a child to have a positive and healthy perspective about sex and making a baby.

As a person who's had personal experience with this book as a child, I highly recommend it. I plan to use it with my own son in a few years.

(One last note: I believe this book is best suited for younger children that are asking questions or could be introduced to the topic of sex or making babies. It might be a bit juvenile for pre-teen.)

Great, understandable, no-nonsense information...
This is a wonderful little illustrated book that can help parents share information about sex and where babies come from with their children. I especially like the fact that this book is presented from the point of view of that sex is an expression of love, rather than just a presentation of physical facts and the mechanics of sex.

Information in the book is presented in a straightforward manner with "no nonsense and with illustrations." As for the illustrations, my wife told me that they also helped her feel better about her own body! How's that for a double benefit?

I appreciate the level of the presentation as well...pitched toward younger children...say, ages 7-10. Children really need good, accurate information from their folks, especially as they are surrounded by various bits and pieces of partial and even mis-information about sex which they hear from peers at school and other places.

The author uses terminology that is appropriate and understandable. A great little book.

While this is a great little book, I recommend using it in combination with another book, "How to Talk to Your Child About Sex" by Linda and Richard Eyre, as part of a combined effort of discussion and reading as you teach your child about sex.

Good luck!

Alan Holyoak

Following my Mother's example 25 years later. . .
I doesn't seem like it, but just over 25 years ago, my mother sat me down with this book and we went through it. She was a teacher and very much loved books so we had our first talk about sex with the assistance of this one. Now, my daughter is 6 years old and asking questions. Although, I don't discourage her from asking, and I don't shy away from the questions, I'm not sure just how much detail I should get into with her at this age. So this book has come to my mind. I will purchase it and sit down with my daughter as my mother sat down with me. It's got cartoon pictures in it that don't make it quite so uncomfortable to discuss. And I prefer to give her the facts rather than for her get made up stories from other children.

Where did I come from?
My mother read this book to me when I was about 5 years old. It answered most of my questions in a straight forward way. To those who complained about the book being too grafic it is only grafic enough to get the message across. I would much rather deal with a small bit of graphicness than to have my child be confused. Now that I am a mother myself I plan on buying this to help teach my daughter when the time comes. If you want to teach your children where babies really do come from and want the real deal, not some fairy tale, buy this book.

Talks tough, with a sense of humor.
This book takes some tough to discuss topics and puts a humorous twist on them, making it a little easier to talk about. With cartoon-type illustrations, and real-life situations, this is a must-have for everyone's library! ... Read more

Book Description

Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment--and redemption.

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Reviews (2566)

My Opinion of Holes
Holes is a book in which everything is a circle or is the shape of a circle. It is challenging in its own way. It forces the reader to make conclusions by foreshadowing events. The way this book is written shows thought, effort, and many revisions. Using flashbacks to foreshadow events is a brilliant method and definitely worth considering using in your own writing. This book is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats. Notice "Stanley" backwards makes "Yelnats." He is cursed with bad luck, just like the rest of his ancestors. He is accused of a crime he didn't commit, and is forced to go to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional Facility. Here, he must dig a hole 5 ft deep and five ft wide in every direction everyday for 18 months, including Saturdays and Sundays. After much work and toil, he finally leaves Camp Green Lake. This book is very good and is undoubtedly one of the best books I've ever read. I recommend it to people from the age of 12 and up.

This book has holes, but they will be filled in.
Stanley Yelnats is unlucky because of his no good dirty rotten pig stealing great-great-grandfather. An old fortuneteller, named Madame Zeroni, cursed him, and all of his descendants. One day a pair of tennis shoes fell out of the sky onto Stanley's head. His father is trying to invent a used for old shoes, so Stanley brings the shoes home. He is convicted of stealing the shoes, which belong to a famous baseball player. He is sent to Camp Green Lake, a work camp that is located in the middle of the dessert, instead of jail. The boys at Camp Green Lake wake up early to avoid the hottest part of the day. The holes must be five feet deep and five feet in diameter. If anything interesting is found, it must be reported to the warden. After finding something, Stanley gets suspicious. He realizes what it is and understands why they are digging. There are many flashbacks throughout the story of Camp Green Lake 110 years ago. Zero, another boy at camp, quickly becomes friends with Stanley. Stanley teaches Zero to read in exchange of Zero’s help on digging his holes. Many adventures come of their friendship, including surviving in the dessert without water and deadly lizards. This book is great for children, teenagers, and even some adults. It keeps you on edge at all times, and you will never want to put it down. I read this book in 3 days, and it usually takes me a week to read you will never want to put it down. I read this book in 3 days, and it usually takes me a week to read a book at that length. Sachar makes so many great twists in the plot that all tie together for a great ending. That is why I recommend this book.

Classic....
Holes is one of my favorite books...Stanley Yelnats...man youll feel bad for this poor guy.

The characters in this book are great...and so funny.
Zero was my favorite character even though I found him a little annoying. The book has a great story and a great ending.

If you like books with dark humer...I guess this book has dark humer and a great story get HOLES..The movie is also great....

Check it out...It's really good.

5/5...

Later...

Saw the movie first
I made the mistake of seeing the movie before reading the book. The book is good but the movie is better. I think if I had read the book first it may have been a better choice.

HOLES ROCKS
holes is GREAT!!! the funny thing in this book is when stanly always blames his great great pig-stealing grandfather.i would not like to go to camp green lake. it was torture. it wasnt fair wat the boss did to everybody that ever went there. holes was great cause there was so much action and adventure. when u read holes it feels lke u went into a different world like dimension x. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

I just love Dog Heaven!
This book is such a wonderful way to help anyone who has lost a dog, especially children. I teach preschool and one of my student's lost his dog. I gave him this book as well as I'll Always Love You. His parents said the books really helped, and it really helped our entire class learn about the passing of a beloved family member. It's hard for children to understand death anyway, but when it's someone like a dog or cat who just loves so unconditionally, books like this one really help to alieviate any fear that the pet is in pain, or that pet might forget us! I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Comforting to Think about Where our Sasha is now
This is a great book for kids and adults alike who may be grieving the loss of a beloved dog. The illustrations are charming, and the sentiments are great. (God makes dogs special treats in heaven, and they play with angel children, who need their company.) I have given this book to an adult friend who also lost a pet, and she found it very comforting too. We still miss our Sasha dog, but this book helped our family through a rough time.

TEACHER RECOMMENDS!
I have given this book to countless children (and adults) who are grieving the loss of a furry friend. Being a teacher, I am quite often faced with a student who experiences the loss of a beloved pet. If you believe dogs go to heaven, this book offers wonderful comfort in allowing children to imagine what it might be like for their dog in heaven. I would recommend this book to almost any parents trying to ease some of that heartbreak for their child and quite possibly themselves.

A very sweet image of Heaven!
I got this book for my 6 year old son to read for school (to earn AR credits). At the time, he had been very anxious about death, having lost one pet when he was 3 and having another who was very old. We also had two older neighbors die in the past year. He had often had deep worries about death and dying. I was almost afraid for him to read it - worrying that it would bring out those feelings again. But I am so glad he did read it.

The comforting way Dog HEaven is depicted was JUST what we needed. He did ask me if this was real - non-fiction, as he put it. I told him that nobody who is living today has ever been to heaven, so people just have to guess what it is like, and this is what the author believes it is like. That did the trick.

When our second dog passed on, it was very helpful to the children to remember the ideas in Dog Heaven. They were happy that Penny would be able to be with our other dog - Edison; and they had a good time thinking about Edison "showing Penny around in heaven". And also, thinking about our neighbor being there to give biscuits and throw balls to Penny.

It should be on the bookshelf of every family who has a dog!

Great book
This is a sweet book which I initially bought due to my love of dogs. I wanted to share that love with my children and teach them about God as well. Recently our dog passed away and my 4 year old was having a hard time dealing with it. This book helped her to think of Moose being in a special place where he doesn't hurt anymore, he can run and have fun. ... Read more

Reviews (98)

Terrific book for Pre-Teens
I bought this book for my 9 (soon to be 10) year old and was impressed by the head-to-toe body care topics it covered. It touches on everything from hair care, to face cleansing, to washing your hands, to exercising and nutrition. I was wondering how I was going to broach the topic of starting her period with my daughter and this sure helped relieve my anxiety. It covered it honestly, straightforward and not intimidating at all. I think it helped because it was only a minor focus of the entire body-care book. (A brief introduction to what a period is and how to handle it and the fact that it is completely NORMAL and all girls go through it). I told my daughter that she was now in the "girls club" and could talk to me anytime about any of these topics she had questions about...she carried the book around for hours and immediately started cleaning her face, brushing her hair and being more conscious of her overall body care.
I highly recommend this book for preteens and am happy I bought it.

Absolutely the BEST book of its kind for pre-teen girls!
This book is truly on-target with its holistic approach to a girls understanding of her whole body, the changes