Book Description

Walter’s family is holding a yard sale, but there are few customers. Walter, fartingcontentedly near Father, wonders why. When a man offers ten dollars for Walter, Fatherreadily agrees. Walter wonders why. Walter is sad to leave his family behind, butrelieved to discover that his new owner is a clown. Walter figures he will help the clownbring joy to children on their birthdays. But the clown has a dastardly plot: he will useWalter’s gas to inflate balloons and then pop them to stun guards during bank robberies.Will Walter turn to the dark side? Of course not! He comes out a hero and is reunitedwith his family by doing what he does best. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

It is about FARTS!
To all of those reviewers who have panned or have been offended by this book, all I have to say is:

"I fart in your general direction"

The name of the book is Walter the Farting Dog.
If farts offend you, DON'T READ THE BOOK!
Did you think it was going to be about making cookies?!?!?

The book is strange, weird and silly.
The drawings are abstract and fun to look at.
The story is weird at best, but a story about a farting dog, come on, this ain't War and Peace.

If you like farts, buy the book. My kids LOVE it, and isn't that who the book is written for?

Craig

Loses the first book.s sweet spirit
From the moment Dad sells Walter at the garage sale without so much as a second thought, this book heads down the wrong path. It does not have the goofy sweet spirit of the first book. The kids I read it to were really upset that not only Dad sold the dog, but he lies without even a blink. Boo Hiss!

Walter, Canus Inflatus
I ran across the first two Walter books while I was at the mall waiting for my husband to finish looking at every single DVD in stock (there must have been thousands.) So I had plenty of time to read both books. I loved them!

I rarely have occasion to look at childrens' books, so I was a bit surprised at the title. It's a far cry from Wishbone and Clifford the Big Red Dog. But this is a very funny book. Yes, it's lowbrow and coarse. So are the Three Stooges and most children. And behind their sophisticated, mature exteriors, so are most adults. So relax and enjoy this well-written (by William Kotzwinkle, author of E.T.) story of a stray dog whose family loves him even with his one major flaw. Find out how Walter triumphs despite being sold at the family yard sale to an evil clown who uses Walter to inflate putrid balloons to use as weapons during a bank robbery.

And for those over-educated lowbrows among you, check out the Latin translation (really!), Walter, Canus Inflatus.

Kick Back and Laugh!
If you enjoyed the first "Walter the Farting Dog," you'll fall off your chair laughing at this second book in the series. William Kotzwinkle's imagination is one to admire to come up with such a creative and cute use of a bodily function that we all have to address at some point in our lives. If you're offended by farts, don't buy the book. But if you have grown up in an environment where you can joke about these acts of nature, you'll laugh you head off while reading this book! I say, "Laugh, and laugh out loud!"

a dog lover's special
If you don't have a sense of humor, don't buy this book. If you want to laugh outloud, buy it. If you're a dog person, you'll want to buy copies for your friends. ... Read more

Book Description

This classic text shows readers how children’s literature can capture the attention of K-8 students and foster a lifelong love of reading. The standard text in the field, it covers learning about children’s literature, understanding children’s responses to literature, the history of children’s literature, beginning books, picture books, the genres of children's literature, planning the literature program, and extending and evaluating children’s understanding of literature. The eighth edition’s cover illustration and interior details were created specifically for this text by children’s book illustrator Karen Barbour. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Have you ever dreamed of being locked in a departmentstore at night? The endearing story of Corduroy paints a pictureof the adventures that might unfold (for a teddy bear at least) insuch a situation. When all the shoppers have gone home for thenight, Corduroy climbs down from the shelf to look for his missingbutton. It's a brave new world! He accidentally gets on anelevator that he thinks must be a mountain and sees thefurniture section that he thinks must be a palace. He tries topull a button off the mattress, but he ends up falling off the bedand knocking over a lamp. The night watchman hears the crash,finds Corduroy, and puts him back on the shelf downstairs. Thenext morning, he finds that it's his lucky day! A little girl buyshim with money she saved in her piggy bank and takes him home toher room. Corduroy decides that this must be home and thatLisa must be his friend. Youngsters will never get tired of thistoy-comes-alive tale with a happy ending, so you may also want toseek out Dan Freeman's next creation, A Pocket forCorduroy. (Ages 3 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (45)

This is such a touching story
This story shows that it doesn't matter what you look like or what other people think of you, someone will always love you for who you are. After reading that book I always wanted a bear just like Corduroy with the missing button and all. I thought how it was so cute that the little girl came back with all her piggy bank money and bought the tiny bear that didn't even look new. Most kids will see things in the store and beg for it then forget about it once they are told no. There must of been something about Corduroy that you will have to read to find out.

Everyone should know this lovely book!
Cordoroy is the perfect children's book. It is a gentle, sweet tale of a little bear in cordoroy overalls waiting to be purchased in a department store. A real little girl sees him and falls in love with him, but her mother says she doesn't have money to buy him and he's missing a button. After the store closes, all the toys with faces close their eyes except Cordoroy. Instead, he travels the department store searching for a button because he didn't know he was not perfect. He does not solve his problem. Cordoroy is back on the toy shelf the next morning. The little girl, Lisa returns to buy him. She takes him home, sews on a button, and provides him with his own little bed right beside hers. "I've always wanted a friend!" he says. This beautifully illustrated book has a simple text and huge appeal to anyone with a heart.

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear
Children have been fascinated with the idea of dolls and toys that can talk and move, from the Newbery winning, "Hitty: Her First 100 Years" to the more contemporary (and better known) "Corduroy". This particular tale focuses on a bear, his small unassuming quest, and the girl that eventually becomes his friend. The book feels more like, "The Velveteen Rabbit" than "Toy Story", but kids will quickly come to enjoy (or at the very least, understand) Corduroy's wish for a child to love him.

Living in a department store with other toys and dolls, Corduroy is a stuffed teddy bear in overalls. One day a doe-eyed girl and her patient mama spot the bear and the child is instantly entranced. Unfortunately, her mother points out that the bear is a little worn down and is even missing one of the buttons on its overalls. Upon hearing this, the bear is distressed and resolves to, that night, locate the missing item. After taking an unexpected ride up the escalator, Corduroy finds himself in the store's bedding area. He tries (unsuccessfully) to prise a button off of a nearby mattress, but succeeds only in alerting the local night watchman to his presence. The next day, however, the girl returns with her own allowance money and quick as a wink purchases the bear, missing button and all. She even sews a new button back onto his overalls, and the two are fast friends.

The book, when you look at it closely, almost seems to resemble a series of woodcuts, painted with watercolors later. I don't know if this was the case, but if so the author/artist, Don Freedman, is certainly adept. I've never seen woodcut faces as well presented as the ones here. People are smooth and rounded, and Freedman apparently doesn't have any problems with round curves. Moreover, I was impressed that the little girl and her mother that view Corduroy are black. Originally published in 1968, this was a bit of a big deal back in the day.

Today, the story of the little bear who wanted a friend is as poignant and simplistic in its telling as it was when first it came out. Anyone who read (or had read to them) this book as a child will instantly remember the scene of Corduroy tugging and tugging the button on the mattress in an attempt to remove it for himself. It's a sweet story all in all. I think people feel a great deal of affection for "Corduroy" because they can identify with the little unwanted fuzzy guy. He's a cutie, there's no question.

Fun bear story
A brown teddy bear sits in a toy shop waiting to find a real home. He catches the eye of a little girl, but her mother says she can't take him home because he's missing a button on his overalls. Determined to find a home, the bear goes on a nighttime hunt through the store for his button. The hunt almost ends in disaster. But the next morning the little girl returns to the store and takes him home at last. The book is not scary. The human characters are shown to be African Americans. The book has about 250 words.

Sweet little tale about a bear
The Corduroy books are sweet, easy tales about a stuffed bear and his BIG adventures. Easy reading, nice pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Introduce your students to a Newbery Award winning book with this engaging teaching guide. Includes an author biography, chapter summaries, creative cross-curricular activities, vocabulary builders, reproducibles, and discussion questions. ... Read more

Reviews (628)

Out of the Dust Critique
I think the novel "Out of the Dust" is a great, emotional story. It was very touching and I thought that it was neat that Karen Hesse wrote the story in free verse poems. The poems gave me enough information for my imagination to fill in. I could read the story at many levels.

It is about a 14- year old girl, named Billie Jo. She suffered terrible dust storms in Kansas, the death of her mother, a non- communicative father, and the burning of her hands. She really liked to play the piano and was the smartest kid in the state.

In the beginning of the book, her father worked on the farm, her mother did work around the house, and Billie Jo helped out, played the piano, and went to school.

In the middle, a terrible accident happened. The Dad placed a pail of kerosene in the kitchen, and Ma thought it was water. She tried to make coffee using the kerosene. Then the pail caught on fire and Ma ran outside. Billie Jo picked up the bucket to keep the house from burning, and ran outside with it. As soon as she was outside, she threw the pail. Ironically, Ma was running back inside. The burning pail hit Ma and she was engulfed in flames. Billie Jo pushed her down and tried to put out the flames, burning her hands badly. A month later, Ma died, giving birth to a baby, who died shortly after. The tragedy was so horrible that I was drawn to find out how the story would end. Yet, the author didn't overwhelm me with morbid details.

Billie Jo and her dad barely talked. It took time for the two to work out their problems. At the end of the book, they met a woman who acted like Ma. She was called Louise. Pa married her and Billie Jo forgave him and vice versa. They overcame the past and moved on in life.

I like how Billie Jo gradually developed the problems and gradually solved them. In doing this, the author made everything believable.

The whole story improved with the addition of Louise. There was always tension between Ma and Dad. Louise's influence brought calmness to Dad and Billie Jo. She also re-introduced Ma's good ideas to Pa, who finally acted on them.
Louise also helped Billie Jo's confidence and sense of family increase. Through all this, these three characters grew in positive ways.

In summary, the free verse poems, which encouraged my imagination and the gradual positive resolution of Billie Jo's and Dad's problems, left me feeling stronger and more positive about life. This story touches anyone who reads it.

Out of the Dust
I recently finished reading the book "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse. We are studying the Great Depression in history, and my History teacher thought it would be appropriate to read this book for further knowledge, and in depth descriptions. I think that reading this book, while studying the Great Depression is a great combination, and results in a rapid increase of knowledge. One of the most unique characteristics about this book is that it is written in diary format, completely in free verse poems, by Billie Jo, a 13-year-old girl living in Okalahoma, during the dust bowl. The best thing about expressing literature in poetry is that it adds emphasis on the dramatic parts; they also add emotion to places where emotion makes history a reality. Page upon page, Billie Jo describes how the dust storms impact the crops, as well as everyday life, and also how it feels to be living in the middle of the biggest dust storm in all of America; the Dust Bowl. As Billie Jo describes life during a dust storm, you are swept from your everyday life and brought into the reality of being in a dust storm. The descriptions are great, you feel as if you are Billie Jo, venturing into the wind, not being able to see, dust filling your mouth. This book explains the causes, effects, and impacts of the Great Depression, as well as many aspects of The New Deal. The FERA (federal emergency rescue association), a program in The New Deal, helps Billie Jo and her family with the farm, the CCC is also mentioned in the book. The story is not all about the dust storms however; "Out of the Dust" has a great plot, with many different things to pull you in farther. Many events happen that will alter Billie Jo's life forever, a horrible accident scars Billie Jo both mentally and physically, after which her relationship with her father will never be the same. As Billie Jo pursues to sort out her many family problems she surprisingly digs deeper into her soul than she ever thought was possible, finding things out about herself that she had never known before. I enjoyed this book very much, and I know you will too. If you enjoy learning more, while having suspense and a great, enthralling plot, this book is definitely for you!

it's a good story
Recommendation-
I recommend this book to anyone that's 13 years old and up because the first part of the story is emotional. Billy's mom died. "Ma died that day giving birth to my brother." Billy's mom died because of the fire in which she was burned badly. This is why I recommend this book to older kids. I like this book because when people that are close to you pass away it shows how you can get on with your live. "I was invited to graduation, to play the piano." This citation shows that people start to think that Billy is normal, and she can play the piano again.

Excellent book. Makes you think about what you have.
I read Out of The Dust when i was probably 11, and i LOVED it! For me, i love stories with a lot of drama and stories that make me cry. Some people don't like that feeling when reading a book. like i said though, i like it. As well as tears, there were also some laughs. it's a quick read and deffinately a good one!

NO GO FOR BILLIE JO
I'm sorry but unless you are looking to throw yourself in a state of depression, this book is of no use to you.
The story is about a girl who loses almost everything she has in a fire taking place around the time of the Dust Bowl. Sounds happy, huh?
And when I say that the girl, Billie Jo, loses almost everything, which is closer to 'everything' than 'almost', I mean, she loses almost everything.
Family? Her mother and unborn brother die in a kitchen fire, and the saddest part is that their deaths could have been prevented if Billie Jo hadn't flung boiling water out the door her mother had been walking through, and as you might imagine, that causes grief for Billie Jo, and her father as well. In fact, he goes on to become an alcoholic, or something like it, who lives in oblivion to pretty much everything. Even Billie Jo suffers from physical pain, when her hands were severely burned from the pot of boiling water she had unintentionally flung at her mother, causing her death.

Belongings? Well, her family, or as the previous reviewer put it, 'what was left of it'..(I give you credit, whoever you are!) ...lost their fields, which were their main staple of income, in the dust bowl.
Now, you might think that I'm exaggerating, but I assure you I am not. Before I had read it, my friends had told me how sick a book this was (and darn it, I couldn't agree more) and I just read it because I thought THEY were the ones exaggerating.
So, you can be like me, If you wish, and go along and read it, which might not be such a bad idea, so you can get a taste for yourself how morally depressing this book is, or you can play it safe and not risk the nightmares. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light? Does a dinosaur slam his tail and pout? Does he throw his teddy bear all about? Does a dinosaur stomp his feet on the floor and shout: 'I want to hear one book more!'? DOES A DINOSAUR ROAR?" Most certainly not. Dinosaurs give their mommies and daddies big hugs and kisses, tuck their tales in, and whisper "Good night!"

Every sleepy little dinosaur will recognize the tricks of the trade in these bedtime shenanigans. The chuckle factor is sky-high here, with giant, full-page pictures of cleverly identified Tyrannosaurus rexes, triceratopses, and Pteranodons. A variety of human mothers and fathers trying to put their dinosaur children to bed will bring the point home that the story may have something to do with human kid behavior as well. This good-natured nighttime book is sure to be a winner (even though it might inspire a few noisy dinosaur antics), especially as it's written by Jane Yolen, prolific Caldecott Medalist author of Owl Moon. Yolen and Mark Teague have teamed up to create a fun, silly, playful read-aloud. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (60)

A book to make bedtime a little easier.
This book is now a favorite of my two and half year old daughter. She asks me to read it to her at least once a day. The premise of the story is to show the proper way to say goodnight. The first half of the book shows dinosaurs acting up at bedtime (hmm kind of reminds me of my daughter) and the second part shows dinosaurs saying goodnight nicely. The pictures of the dinosaurs really crack her up. She loves the opening picture of the dinosaur in the tub and the one of the dinosaur holding a toy train. The pictures are so charming that I am sure they will have adults smiling too. The text is simple enough for a small child to memorize and the names of the dinosaurs are included on the page with their picture to provide even more learning oppurtunities. This book has made my daughter so crazy for dinosaurs that I intend to take her to a dinosaur exhibit at our local science museum. The best part of this book is that it has actually made my daughter go to bed with less resistance. When she starts to act up I just quote a line or two from the book and she settles right down. Last night she told me "goodnight mama dinosaur." We love this book.

Beautifully Illustrated
The first thing that comes to mind when I look at this book is how beautifully illustrated it is. The images are rich, engaging and a delight to absorb.

The book covers ten dinosaurs -- Allosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Apatosaurus, Corythosaurus, Dimetrodon, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, Trachodon, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex. All of them appear so friendly that your child just might invite them for a sleepover. Moreover, they are anatomically correct, insofar as they can be for cartoon like illustrations.

One of the most interactive pieces of the book is that each illustration has hidden within it the name of the dinosaur. Everytime my son and I read this book he seeks out the dinosaur's name. It's a dino I Spy game for him.

He's also fascinated with the fact that he can match the dinosaurs from the inside covers (front and back) with those within the story.

Of course, beautiful illustrations are important, but so is the story line. This one is done well. The illustrations show the dinosaurs engaging in all sorts of antics to avoid going to sleep. However, the point of this is to question whether or not dinosaurs show "naughty" bedtime behavior. They do not. In the end, dinosaurs "tuck in their tails" and "whisper, 'Good night!'

Overally, I would highly recommend this book for dinosaur loving preschoolers! It is beautiful, interactive and well written.

Dinosaurs act up at bedtime too!
This imaginative book features a large cast of "real" dinosaurs acting as naughty as real kids do when it's bedtime. I loved the pictures of exasperated parents as a huge brontosaurus throws covers on the floor or a tyrannasaurus rex runs around the room. My second grade niece, a good reader, handles the text with ease but isn't too old to be tickled by the concept. Younger siblings like this one too. Inside the front cover is a chart with small drawings of the characters and their scientific names--an educational bonus!

How do you think?
I'm always pleased when an author and an illustrator of equal talents are placed together by a clever editor so as to produce a wonderful piece of picture book art. Jane Yolen is the author of, honest to goodness, more than two hundred books for both children and adults. Just pause a while and marvel at her consistency, if you will. Mark Teague may not have that many works under his belt, but what he lacks in proliferation he makes up for in downright fabulous illustrating. If you've read his charming "Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters From Obedience School" then you are aware of how amazingly adept this man is. Taking those monstrous creatures co-opted by children as their favorite animals, Yolen and Teague have created a book that proves what we've suspected all along. Your children are merely little dinosaurs in disguise.

The premise of this book is simple. Sleepy dinosaurs do NOT want to go to bed at night. The book ponders just how exactly these dinos do say their goodnights to their parents. The parents in this book, by the way, are always human while their dinosaur offspring fill their bedrooms from ceiling to floor. So how do dinosaurs say good night? Well, they can insist on reading one more book. They can fall onto their beds in tears. They can slam their tails about and pout too. But no, my friends. In the end, dinosaurs do none of these things. Instead, they give their parents a big kiss and a hug, tuck their tales into their beds, and say good night. Just like a good little dinosaur should.

The hope after reading this tale is that kids will understand that all the naughty behavior exhibited by the dinosaurs in the early parts of the book will be negated by the good behavior exhibited at the end. How well this works, I do not know. One thing is for certain, however. Mark Teague is a genius. Oh, I'm sure Jane Yolen put a lot of work into this puppy as well. Yes yes. But Mark Teague... now there's a man who knows how children react at nighttime. These pictures are just a scream. Each father or mother than enters the dinosaur's room is usually accompanied by some cowering pet, either a dog or a cat. The dinosaur's rooms are outfitted as a child's would be too. Teague has helpfully included each animal's name (from the roaring Triceratops to the piggy back begging Ankylosaurus) somewhere in the picture too. I was also well pleased with the parents in this book. A good multi-racial cast, they don't give an inch to these plying crying dinos. And you haven't lived until you've seen a Tyranosaurus Rex kissing his Donna Reed look-alike mother. More recently popular dinosaurs, like the Velociraptor, do not appear in this tale. Probably a good idea in retrospect.

All in all, this is one of the most successful new bedtime books to come around the pike. For those kids bored to tears by the far calmer "Goodnight Moon", this will be just the exciting bedtime tale to get them tucked away for the night. A fabulous creation that fully lives up to its popularity.

You think it is difficult to put kids to bed? Try a dinosaur
I noticed that there are editions of "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" in Spanish and French, which is not surprising because the art of Mark Teague certainly translates into any language. Author Jane Yolen poses the questions regarding what happens when Papa or Mama comes to turn off the lights and send their dinosaurs to bed, and Teague comes up with the utterly charming images that will delight readers of any age. Part of the fun is that Papa and Mama are regular human beings, so when Papa shows up and points to his watch to a Tyrannosaurus Rex that takes up an entire page as a way of suggesting it is time to put away his toy train and go to bed, you just have to smile (note the family dog is about the size of one of the T Rex's toes). From the Stegosaurus that slams his tail and pouts to the Ankylosaurus that demands a piggyback ride, each of these two-page spreads will make parents happy that they just have regular human kids and not dinosaurs.

For children the fun will be in answering the question of the title and discovering that dinosaurs and little kids have a lot in common when it comes to resisting being put into bed. There is a slight risk that your kids might find a new way of prolonging the inevitable and find themselves imitation the Corythosaurus and falling on top of their covers and crying or stomping their feet on the floor and shouting they want to have another book read to them. But then "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" really covers all of the basic delaying tactics of children. Besides, it is clearly indicated that these tactics are a bit silly, even if you are a sulking Allosaurus or roaring Triceratops.

All of the illustrations in this book are a joy, including those inside the front cover where Teague shows all of these dinosaurs sitting atop their beds doing things like blowing bubbles or quietly reading a good book (okay, the Ankylosaurus is jumping on the bed, but clearly he is the high energy one of the group). "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" is the first in a series of similar collaborations between Yolen and Teague that includes "How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten?" "How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?" and "How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Room?" That last one is definitely the one I want to check out next, because I shudder to think what Yolen and Teague will come up for in those situations. You think getting a Dinosaur to say goodnight is difficult? That is nothing compared to getting them to clean their rooms. ... Read more

Book Description

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is inarguably one of the most popular children's books of all time. Now, here is the Spanish board book version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, filling an important niche for the youngest of Spanish-speaking children. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

So cool!
In case you aren't familiar with this book, it is about a caterpillar who eats and eats and eats. The board book version has holes in the pages so the reader can see what he has eaten. It is so cute! The illustrations are adorable and the kids love it! We are a bilingual family so my boys have the Spansih version. It's super and very durable!

A wonderful way to introduce Spanish into the classroom or y
This is a wonderful Spanish translation of a classic. This story flows whether you are reading in English or Spanish. Children are so familiar with this story that they embrace the Spanish easily. This translation is a must have in the multi-lingual classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (39)

Fun for adult AND child!
Sandra Boynton writes some of the funniest children's stories. She must truly have a wonderful sense of humor. I have always loved her book "Cloe and Maude" and now that I am a mother I have discovered her books anew. I found "But Not the Hippopotamus" in the grocery store - it made me laugh out loud right there in the baby aisle. I had to buy two - one for my daughter (who is 5 months and loves it) and one for my best friend who is due with her first child in September. This book has such a great rhythm to it and the ending is too cute! Of course Boynton's drawings, as always, are adorable and full of personality. I think I have just about all of her books on my wish list! Really a must for the night-night library of a young baby. I never get tired of reading it.

But not the hippopotamus....
This is a great little book to read to the little people. The illustrations are humorous, and the rhythm and banter of this book is great. All of the Boynton board books are worth having, but this one is a particular gem.

If your child is to the age that they like the notion of call and response songs and books, they will LOVE this book. As you will see, everyone in this book is living it up, and we see them all doing fun things. But at the end of every little scenario you get, "But not the hippopotamus"

(It is amazing how quickly a child can learn to say hippopotamus, or what variations on that word a child will create!) But, don't fret for our poor hippo, he does get a happy ending, but....

READ THE BOOK! I won't give the spoiler.

Her top favorite
My 3 year old thinks this is by far the most hilarious book ever written. Next to Red Hat, Blue Hat it is her favorite Boynton book. We sing the line "But not the hippopotamus" in an opera voice and that seems to do the trick for making it fun!

a family favorite
We love this book so much we have 3 copies, 1 for each child! I know the book by heart, and my 5- and 2-year-old are close. We prompt our girls to finish the lines as we read along. They can even "read" the book to each other.

This book is filled with wonderful rhymes, and a silly story kids love. It also provides parents with an opportunity to teach kids an important lesson: be nice and include others when you play.

Absolute Perfection in a Board Book!
Sandra Boynton is an absolute genius with words and pictures.

Seriously!

BUT NOT THE HIPPOPOTAMUS is one of the cleverest -- driest -- most delightful of all of her board books for wee ones. All four of my children absolutely loved it.

You should hear my husband read it out loud. No, really. He's a master at Boynton-out-loud reading.

One disappointment of this newer edition of the book is that the language has been a bit "dumbed down." The first page of the original edition reads, "A hog and a frog cavort in a bog." I suppose Ms. Boynton's editors figured that a lot of people don't know what the word "cavort" means.

Well, they won't know, will they, if editors remove words like that from books??

At any rate, I highly recommend this -- and any -- Sandra Boynton board book for your toddler or preschooler. They are, each and every one of them, a refreshing move away from the cloying, poorly written, overly-cutesy garbage that is littering the bookshelves these days.

Trust me -- you and your child will BOTH be delighted by this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Treasure Trove is a fairy tale about real treasure for parents and children of all ages. The book is fully illustrated. This Fairy Tale takes place in a Great Forest and tells a sweet (and sometimes sad) story about friendship and greed, Good Fairies and Evil Fairies and how love is greater than fear. Also, concealed in the pages of this story, are the clues to twelve very real and very valuable treasures that are hidden around the continental United States for you to find and keep ...treasures similar to the jeweled Forest Creatures in the Fairy Tale. The treasures are not hidden in remote locations but rather in places accessible to everyone. You might even find one by accident, as you walk across a field or down a street. But none are on private property, and none are buried. Nothing needs to be lifted or moved for you to find them. But they are hidden well. The simple clues do not need any special knowledge to find or decipher. Anyone who can read can discover the exact location of each treasure --just the way one of the characters does in the story. This book is more than a treasure hunt. Enjoy reading it and take time to read it to a child. It will remind you and the child that we have to take care of each other, and take care of the earth. Oh yes --and not to be afraid of the dark. So, as you read and look carefully at the illustrations, if you believe in Fairies, you may find the clues that will lead you to the treasure.

... Read more

Reviews (22)

FUN
The previous reviewer has it all wrong.The misspellings are part of the clues.They alert readers to the use of code and anarams.Sorry you missed that, buddy...you'll never find the treasure!!!As for the drawings, they contain the code too...distortions are intentional and even the "blockishness" is part of the puzzle (didn't you read about the 5x5 box?).
I don't understand people who rush to criticise something that is supposed to be FUN!!!

misses cult classic status
Personally I find the story lacking depth or interest. However, for the idea of creating a book whose purpose is to go on a treasure hunt it is excellent. So it does deserve points for originality. The illustrations are well thought out, as obvious much more time went into them than some people believe. Most amateur artists cannot draw a comprehensive picture and incorporate clues and hints. It's worth reading once, and perhaps seeking out the treasure, but it falls short of a cult classic and beyond the end of the comptetition probably has no staying power.

STOP THE BASHING!
I know all the "publishing professionals" out there who give this book negative feedback say that the plot line is shallow, the characters lack depth, and the illustrations are high school like.But I got some news for everybody, the people who buy this book ARE NOT publishers and can appreciate and enjoy the book for what it is worth.It is a story parents and children can enjoy TOGETHER.It is a story that is bringing people across the country together.For example two huge online forums(12gems and Tweleve)have been created for the sole purpose of finding the treasures.
For all of those people that say the clues are too hard for a child to find.Well I have a hunch that if the clues were made so easy that a child could solve them, it would take an adult maybe a few days to solve the clues.What kind of treasure hunt lasts a few days?And yes there are easy clues that lead to no exact locations(maybe if you put all those easy clues together you might understand it more though......).But those clues are there to keep the kids interested in the treasure hunt, but other clues are hard enough that adults have trouble with them.That is the beauty of this book.An adult and child can work on the clues together and each see things that the other may not.Either way people are going to complain, "oh the clues are too hard"well if the treasure was found in a matter of days those people would be saying "the clues were too easy."
The purpose of this book was not shock and impress the literary world.It was not written to win awards.It was not written to achieve fame(although it may have happened).It was not written for the literary world.It was written for families and everyday people who can see past the grammatical flaws(did you ever think the flaws may just be clues???), see past the "high school" illustrations, and see what is really important in life.Spending quality time with your family and friends. It is something that can not happen enough in anyone's lifetime.So thank you Michael Stadther for providing everybody a story and treasure hunt that will impact families nation wide and give a child and parent a memory that will never be forgotten.

A fun fantasy
I am a grandmother who purchesed 2 of these for grandsons. When I read it I got so into the fantasy that I completely forgot to look for the clues!

It's a Treasure!
My grandaughter read this book to me and it was a great story with a beautiful premise.We looked for some clues, but couldn't find any new ones, so we'll just keep looking! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (35)

Great Story For All ages
Le Petit Prince is a great story for adults and kids alike. Kids can read this book and see it as only a story about a little boy from another planet who wants to find somone who understands him. Adults can read this book and see deeper meanings to what is happening. If you dig into the story you find things in this book dealing with issues we have to face. It's a great book and I would recommend it to any of my friends but I would have to tell them to get the English version. I would prefer to read the French version.

Magnifique
I was given this book to read for a high school French class, and I'm so glad I did. (If you're by some fluke reading this, Coop, thanks so much for introducing me to "Le petit prince"!) It may be classified here as "children's" literature, but it's so much more. This is a beautiful, moving story of the little prince and his journeys through planets and on Earth. It contains some incredibly deep philosophy and will make you appreciate the simplicity and innocence of childhood... and make you want to regain that outlook on life. I know that I'm trying to see the world as a child again.

...Et si vous pouvez lire ce livre en français, c'est beaucoup plus beau. Le livre en anglais n'est pas mal, mais il n'y a pas l'élégance.

Open ended
It's a strange little book that defies classification. My husband and I both read it and went away with very different interpretations. The book is part whimsy, part satire, and part philosphy. Its deceptive simplicity defies classification on greater examination.

life lessons
I read this book a year ago with my French 4 Advanced Placement class. It is still sitting on the head of my bed, because I have read it multiple times and refer to it often. I have never been more inspired, nor more changed, by any one novel. The lessons that are meant to help children grow into admirable adults can teach us adults so much more. I looked at everything differently once I finished reading this book. I learned so many invaluable lessons that I will carry with me forever. I am absolutely sure that I will read this to my children someday. The lessons I learned, from not judging someone by what they look like to getting my priorities straight, have forever changed the way I treat people and the way I live. I believe I am more mature now because of the impact this book had on me.

great in its original language
I have read TPP in Spanish, as a child; in English and now in French. The French is 100 times better than any translation. If you have been raised in a romance language, you know that the charm and sonority of French or Spanish is completely lost, even in a good translation. If you have read TPP in translation before, read it in French. It is easy to understand and a great book for those, like me, who want to develop reading skills.
Regarding the story, it is indisputable that TPP is a classic full of wisdom. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Fantasy Story!
This book is filled with magic, fun, and fantsay, three things most preteens can't resist. As an elementary school teacher and mother, I think all kids from 9-13 will enjoy this book. (...)

Good Read
This book contains all three elements deemed essential for a good fantasy story: magic, mythology, and medeival setting. Additionally, the story concerns two likable characters that kids easily relate to. This book is not rated in the top 200 Amazon sellers for nothing, so apparently a lot of other readers have enjoyed it. For magical fun and adventure, I highly recommend "Summer of the Sea Serpent" for readers aged 9-12. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Due to the success of his first campaign involving theAmulet of Samarkand,Nathaniel, now fourteen, has been appointed the youngest representative ever to the Office of Internal Affairs, and has been devising traps to capture members of the Resistance--a secretive group of commoners who are determined to undermine the ruling class of magicians. When a magic-sapping Golem’s surprise first attack is labeled an act of Resistance terrorism, Nathaniel reluctantly summons Bartimaeus for help. Meanwhile, a zealous young member of the Resistance, Kitty Jones, is planning to rob the sacred tomb of the great magician Gladstone, and turn the power of his buried magical instruments against the spell makers. The towering clay Golem and its shadowy master unites the destinies of Nathaniel, Bartimaeus, and Kitty together in one fateful night--unfortunately, that night is much too slow in coming. Stroud’s second book is far too long and gloomy, focusing more on the priggish Nathaniel and wronged Kitty than the dijinni readers have come to adore. Fans of Jonathan Stroud’s breakout hit, The Amulet of Samarkand, may be a little disappointed to discover that Bartimaeus features so little his second book. While Stroud cleverly uses the class war between the ruling magicians and the disgruntled commoners as a metaphor for current political and social clashes, the text suffers overall from a lack of the dijinni’s famous facetious footnotes. Avid fans are left skimming the slow parts and hoping that when Bartimaeus escapes his servile bonds he will be given more space to make them laugh. --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Book Description

Dear Reader,

The word "carnivorous," which appears in the title of this book, means "meat-eating," and once you have read such a bloodthirsty word, there is no reason to read any further. This carnivorous volume contains such a distressing story that consuming any of its contents would be far more stomach-turning than even the most imbalanced meal.

To avoid causing discomfort, it would be best if I didn't mention any of the unnerving ingredients of this story, particularly a confusing map, an ambidextrous person, an unruly crowd, a wooden plank, and Chabo the Wolf Baby.

Sadly for me, my time is filled with researching and recording the displeasing and disenchanting lives of the Baudelaire orphans. But your time might be better filled with something more palatable, such as eating your vegetables, or feeding them to someone else.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Reviews (123)

Dark Humor, Misfortune, Despair, and False Hope
Unfortunately, for the Baudelaire orphans bad luck seems to follow them wherever they go like a nefarious, gloomy, gray cloud. Their many attempts of escaping the vile, and filthy Count Olaf have been hopeless since he always seems to track them down.
In the ninth installment of A Series of Unfortunate Events Lemony Snicket once again creates a dreadful scenario filled with dark humor, suspense, mystery, and a shred of small hope, if that is even possible. The Baudelaire orphans find themselves forced to disguise themselves in freak costumes and submerge themselves into different identities. Instead of clearing up the mystery that encircles the anagram of V.F.D. they find themselves with more questions than answers. So very close to finding the solution they were until, once again, they lost their chance.
This book, as well as the series are a good read for anybody who wants to have a good time, laugh, or in very rare cases...cry. There's a feeling of impotence as one believes that maybe, just maybe the Baudelaire's might have a happy experience for once but then you find out that this is as unbelievable as ants that can talk. Lemony Snicket's literary voice is unique and worthy of recognition as he creates a ghastly storyline that hasn't been seen before. Seriously, when was the last time you read a book with a sad beginning, middle, and end? I am a mere fourteen years old yet I really delight in hearing his mind perplexing stories with great vocabulary words, and strange yet funny baby talk. These book are great for any age.

sometimes the carnival is no fun at all..........
Justin Pergolini
Room 22

I am a fifth grade student at Waldron Mercy Academy(JP).The book I am reviewing is THE CARNIVOUROUS CARNIVAL by LEMONY SNICKET.PLEASE RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.THIS REVIEW IS DANGOURUS AND MUST BE ERASED. You could not possibly want to hear the horrible events in this book...that is what Lemony Snicket whould say if he was typing this. Unlike Lemony Snicket this book is one of the best books I've ever read. Trouble has struck again for the Bualdeluares. Our story begins with the Bauldeluares in the trunk of Count Olafs long black car. The Bauldelaures are three orphans named Violet,Klaus,and Sunny whose parents died in a horrible fire. Count Olaf is a greedy man who has followed the Bauldelaures everywhere they go trying to steal the orphan's fortune and has faked his own death and blamed the poor Bauldelueres for the murder. The Bualdelueres have left their recent ''home'' at Hemlich Hospital, which I am sorry to say is no more, and found a small glimmer of light in its library of records.............

The Bualdelaures arrive at Calarigi Carnival (which I am sorry to say is no more either) where they hear of a fortuneteller who is telling Olaf where the orphans are all the time. The Bauldelaures disguise themselves as freaks to get a job at the carnivals house of freaks. It's horrible there as the Bualdelares are treated harshly on stage. They are in even more danger when Count Olaf announces the next big attraction at the carnival:feeding some lions one freak a day that is randomly selected from a hat. But that night the Bualdelares find out a little secret about the fortuneteller...

But I am afraid that tragedy strikes again for the Bauldelares and this dark road is very long indeed...........

one of th best
The Carnivorous Carnival is definently one of the best Lemony Snicket books i have ever read. This time the kids hitch a ride in the back off Count Olafs car to the Hinterlands. I the story the kids desquise themselves from him as freaks. Sunny dresses up as a wolf baby and Violet and Klaus dress as a two headed person. throughout the story the kids end up finding out something they really want to know but dont find out if it is 100% true. the end of this story is the most sad of them all. so i think that yu should read the book to find out what turns out to happen in the end.

One of the best of the series
I really love the Series of Unfortunate Events. This one is one of my favorites of the series along with the Wide Window (3), The Austere Academy (5), and the Hostile Hospital (8).
These books are very good. I was very suprised by many things in this book.
Read them!

responce to literture
In the book The Series of Unfortunate Events The Carnivorous Carnival there are three children's names are Klaus, Sunny, and Violet. They are three children who are very unlucky and get into stuff they shouldn't get in to. Olaf captured the kids and what's to get the Baudelaire fortune. Violet, sunny, and Klaus find disguises and put them on. They dressed up like a two headed person and a bay wolf. Olaf finds out who they really are and tries to put them in a pit of hungry lions. Violet tries to escape but does it work read the book to find out. This book is very interesting and I think every one should read it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Seventy-five years ago, that most beloved of "silly old bears,"Winnie-the-Pooh, came down the stairs, "bump, bump, bump," on the back of his head,behind Christopher Robin. And now, after generations of children have grown upon stories about Pooh's adventures with his forest friends, the four all-timechildren's classics from A.A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard have been collected inone hefty, handsome volume for another multitude of generations to enjoy.Gathered together are the poems and tales that celebrate heffalumps, Eeyore'sbirthday, the unbouncing of Tigger, Disobedience, Buckingham Palace, andsneezles. The stories about Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit's doorway, Piglet doinga "Very Grand Thing," and Eeyore losing a tail (and Pooh finding one) aretimeless favorites for children--and grownups--of all ages. Four originalclassics are here, in all their glory: Winnie-the-Pooh, The House atPooh Corner, When We Were Very Young, and Now We Are Six. Thisbeautiful edition features complete, unabridged text and all of Shepard'soriginal illustrations, each hand painted in watercolors--this is a truecollector's gem. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (15)

All the magic of Winnie the Pooh...
This is a beautiful book. This is definitely not the Disney version of Pooh. This is the 'magical' and mysterious Pooh in all his glory. The illustrations are timeless and add depth to the characters in the Hundred Acre Wood.

I've had friends young and old who have seen this book lying on my coffee table and have picked it up and have become like children again reading these tales.

The REAL Pooh
No childhood - or adulthood, for that matter - would be complete without the adventures of wonderful Winnie and his friends. This 75th anniversary edition is beautifully presented, and readers used to Disney's glossily commercial drawings will be amazed by the original Ernest H. Shepard illustrations featured here. Coloured by Shepard when he was in his 90s (!), Pooh, Piglet, Christopher Robin and co have never seemed more endearing and vivid.

But the greatest credit should surely go to A.A. Milne for creating some of fiction's most delightful characters. Reading this collection today after a break of 30-odd years, Milne's gentle wit and enthusiasm seem as fresh as ever. What a wonderful sense of life (and fun) the man must have possessed.

Pooh is the perfect antidote to today's cynical times!

Pooh Corner
I loved Pooh as a child and know have been able to introduce Pooh to my own kids. It has a generational appeal. A few years ago, a friend of mine lost a 6-year-old son through an accident where older children were playing with a handgun. The funeral featured the boy's favorite poem from Milne with the final line, "Now that I'm six, I'm as clever as clever. I think I'll stay six forever and ever."

The double meaning and emotions from the loss of this young Pooh fan will always be with me. Another book for bedtimes that is full of love, adventure, and wisdom is Original Animals by Horton. I encourage you to check it out. You will be glad you did.

Wonderful book
I bought this book as a baby shower gift, and couldn't have been more pleased. It has an attractive cover, sturdy pages, and a good binding -- all necessary for years of bedtime stories! Like most classic Pooh books, the only illustrations are the original drawings, so the emphasis is on the story. One note: This is a big, fairly heavy book. It's something to be read to or by an older child, maybe at bedtime, but it's not as durable for the poundings board books get.

Wonderful!
The delightful full color illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard are what separate this combined volume from all others. A must-have for Pooh fans. The large type-set will be appreciated by those needing it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sixty years have passed since a curious little chimp in Africa met theman with the big yellow hat and got into the first of many scrapes. Decadeslater, George is as curious--and naughty--as ever. To celebrate the 60thanniversary of Curious George's debut, this special edition is a collection ofseven classic adventures by Margret and H.A. Rey, along with an introduction bycritic Leonard Marcus, a retrospective note by publisher Anita Silvey, a historyof the Reys by Dee Jones, curator of the de Grummond Children's LiteratureCollection, and a photo album. The many generations of fans of the "good littlemonkey who was always very curious" will be fascinated to learn how H.A. andMargret escaped on bicycle from German-occupied Paris, with just their wintercoats and several picture books (including a draft of Curious George, then calledFifi) strapped to the racks. Photos and essays reveal H.A. to have been agentle, humorous man, while Margret, by all accounts, was spirited and brutallydirect, with a keen business mind. The chemistry between them workedbeautifully. Between them, they created one of the most beloved characters inchildren's literature. This handsome volume includes Curious George,Curious George Takes a Job, Curious George Rides a Bike,Curious George Gets a Medal, Curious George Flies a Kite,Curious George Learns the Alphabet, and Curious George Goes to theHospital. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (47)

George stays in your mind forever !
I loved George so much when I was little, even before I could read. My mom bought me one and she ended up buying all the other Georgefs books. Mine were written all Japanese, George's books are everywhere in the world and famous. I am 36 year-old (!) now, I still can remember some of the stories I read and adorable drawings of the books. I think this book even had an influence my "personality development" as a child. Good influences such as: be independent, be curious, be creative, be bold, be unique, be humorous, be even a little rebellious, be lovable. Very good chilren's book.

Memories of old and new
I absolutely loved Curious George when I was a child. It is so thrilling to watch that same excitement in my 3 y.o. daughter. She practically begs me to read her a story from the book every night. During the day, she loves to flip through the book looking for her favorite pictures. It's not often that children enjoy the same things that delighted their parents as children. I am so happy to able to share these stories with her!

Too much monkey
The Curious George stories are cute in small doses but after awhile they become rather repetitive.

A Great Book to Read at Bedtime
When I was a child, curious George was one of my favorites, and now this fine book allows me to pass along George's adventures to my own children. Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it contains so many curious George stories. You could read a different story each night for several nights. My children have quickly become as fond of George as I was when I was a child. The accompanying illustrations are very colorful and they definitely grab a young child's attention. I highly recommend this fine children's book. It is a great book to share with your children and perhaps serve as a reminder to your own childhood.

Perfect under the tree!
This makes a great gift. Curious George is a very fun character, who gets into really interesting situations. There's a lot of "story" here, and hours of reading fun.

I like this one as it's become a cherished book for my kids. They read it together, and have lots of fun with it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the second of the "Merlin Missions"--hardback additions to Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series--plucky heroes Jack and Annie must once again must travel back in time to rescue Camelot from looming danger.

One wonders why Merlin can't handle this sort of thing himself, but then of course we wouldn't get a chance to see Jack and Annie have another seat-of-the-pants adventure, getting mixed up with shape-shifting magic, armies of birds, a puzzling gem of power, and all sorts of other trouble. With the help of their old pal Teddy (Morgan le Fay's apprentice, last seen in dog form in four earlier Tree House stories), the two "Master Librarians and Magicians of Everyday Magic" must solve the mystery behind a castle full of ghosts and a menacing army of ravens. Not surprisingly, half the trouble comes in unraveling Merlin's riddles and helping Teddy use his rhyming magic correctly.

Osborne doesn't challenge readers overmuch (including the constant restatement of plot elements, perhaps worried that kids might otherwise forget or lose interest) and many parts of the story barely convince (like Teddy's "period" dialogue, e.g., "'Tis cool indeed"), but fans of the Magic Tree House will no doubt love another installment. (Ages 6 to 9) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Hooray for the Osbornes
For some reason I've gotten into reading children's books. Maybe only a nostalgia for lost youth or something, but I have found some very enjoyable entertainment in some of those I've read recently that were not available when I was a kid myself. The Magic Tree House series is just such.

I picked up Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve as my introduction to Miss Osborne's work and was thoroughly delighted with it. Simple and direct, it is instructive without being pedantic, and introduces new words in contexts where their meanings are apparent-or explains them when they aren't. The story hangs together well, introducing the protagonists and some of their past exploits sufficiently to engage the reader no matter where in the series one starts.

I think that some of the better children's stories are written to capture the attention of adults as well. If an adult can read them, or reread them as an adult, and not lose interest in the narrative, the book is a good one. Children have as complex a gift for understanding plot and theme as adults do. I think years of television have made them better at it than they were when I was a kid. It's not the structure or complexity of the tale that loses them so much as the reading vocabulary. Language and relationships are probably "hotwired" into humans. The written word is something else again! The Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve was interesting enough to keep the reader involved with the story and working through the new vocabulary.

One of the most significant things about the author's work is her background in history, literature, and culture. As she explains in the final pages of the book, she put her tale together from many sources, including English history, Welsh and Irish poetry and Celtic mythology and folk beliefs. In looking over the titles of her other stories, I see that she and her husband have been able to weave into their children's adventure stories information about historical topics of a wide variety making learning something fun to do. I say hooray for the Osbornes. I expect to read some of their other books and share them with others.

Magic Tree House series #30 .. Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
I am amazed at how captivated my little first grader was with this book. She simple could not put this book down. My daughter read the whole book (113 pages) over the weekend! The occassional repitition used in this book was a great way to remind my child what had happened in the story and how it ties in with what is currently going on in the story. There are just enough new words to help challenge the young reader yet not to many to overwhelm a child. The artwork in this book is used by the author as a device to further motivate the young reader to turn the pages and see what is coming up next. I am very thankful that such a captivating series is available. The Magic Tree House series motivates children to read. I only wish that the books stated the reading level so that I could more easily gauge my daughter's progress.

Everything is cool in this book
I love this book.It is the best book. I love the merlin missons. You have to read it. But it's better to read it in order. Get "the magic tree house #1 Dinosaurs Before Dark" it's about two brother and sister finds a tree house and find out that the tree house was magic. It takes them anywhere they want to go. Just point to a cover on the book and their there. The magic tree house #1 is a good book. The magic tree house #30 is the best book ever its about a castle that have been haunt by a big raven king and Jack and Annie have to save the castle. Luckly Old Maggie told some riddles as hints to help them. Not only Jack and Annie is alone to save the haunted castle, Teddy was helping them too. Teddy help them to become a raven and help them get to the raven nest where Merlin's diamond is. The raven king stole Merlin's diamond and Merlin need it. So he need Teddy,Jack,and Annie.
Please read this series.

Coolest book
I think that this book was great!!! it really was different and unique. Not this book but all of the magic treehouse books are awesome. I say that mary Pope Osbourne is on of he best childeren authors.

Delightful!
This book will charm every child over the age of five. It's quite an adventure that its hero and heroine go off on together. The story is well-conceived: detailed, fascinating and well-described. Great Halloween spirit--and the saga is not at all scary! ... Read more