Book Description

Here's a worm's-eye view of a multitude of marching legs, scary-looking pincers, and fast-flying wings. Each colorful double-page spread provides a close-up look at the activities of a host of creepy characters in a wide variety of habitats, while informative captions detail everything from the feeding habits of leaf-cutter ants to the body features of beetles, scorpions, butterflies, and more. Kids will delight in the vivid, realistic illustrations and lively narratives that provide insight into the daily routines and adventures of an amazing variety of critters - from the trapdoor spider ambushing its prey from an underground burrow, to a step-by-step story depicting a year in the life of a honeybee. Offering both picture book appeal and educational value, this book will make an enthusiastically received gift. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

love the bugs
I am not too big on bugs, but my kindergarten class is. This book will answer many of their questions, especially about the roles of various bugs. The pictures are absolutly beautiful and full of details. This book is a great reference book to have for those children that are "buggy". ... Read more

Book Description

Starfish have arms, but no legs. They have feet, but no toes. When starfish get hungry, they slide, glide, and feel their way in search of something to eat.

Starfish aren't fish, but they are living animals. Learn how starfish move, eat, and grow in Edith Hurd's poetic text, illustrated with Robin Brickman's vivid watercolor collages. Read and find out all about starfish, the stars of the sea. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great for youngsters
I found this book very helpful and informative for my kindergarten class. It is both simplistic enough for them to grasp the information and stay "engaged" as well as, complex enough for children to learn several attributes of a starfish...and remember it! There is also a great activity supplied at the end of the book. It's been a winner for me at home and at school. Great for beginners to science.

For text, 1 star; for looks, 5 stars!
Many first readers are repetitive, and this title from the Let's-Read-and-Find Out Science series is no exception. The text is insulting - the endnote that says "Starfish are not really fish - they are sea stars" could most certainly have been included, but the book is dumbed down by the text talks down to the reader (or read to). An attempt at poetic prose comes out stilted and forced, and there are some difficult words for a stage one reader, such as tangle, oysters, and different.
The book shows great diversity, but makes no attempt to connect this microcosm to the larger picture. The book compares the different varieties without going into detail about any one. This is not a book that can be used for school reports.
The appendix is titled "Find out more about starfish" but instead of listing things like specific habitat, lifespan, number of young, how much sea stars eat per day, etc. the note about sea stars is offered. Further activities include copying and coloring starfish and making a collage, or going down to the ocean to observe them. Other (better) books on the topic are recommended.
This is not a satisfying book, and since this is a topic of great interest to children, it is a shame that such a poor job was done. The only redeeming qualities of the book are the gorgeous watercolor collages by Robin Bricklaw. The muted wash backgrounds make the animals stand out in color and depth. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Details
This is a great book because it offers detailed, factual information about seasons, and doesn't leave any of the important concepts out. It also has great illustrations that are labeled. Gibbons gives children credit for being intelligent enough to understand the complex ways in which our world works, yet understands their developmental needs, and therefore makes the text accessible. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Love this book!
I have not seen the movie, I heard it was scary for little kids. My 2 1/2 old loves this book, she asks for it again and again. I bought the CD and every time we get in the car she wants Lion King music. She knows all the characters, and even can tell me who is singing right from the book. Very well done. It gets the point across of what happens without being too scary (although I did have to explain to her why Mufasa can't come back anymore).

KABLAMMY!
This book is so good it hits you--KABLAM! It's the best adaption of the movie. It's by far my favorite book

Bad plot, but good drawings concerning the movie.
Although this book has really bad plot, it is a very educative book, expecially for the young. It teaches about respect, and correcting ones wrongs. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys good character ... Read more

Book Description

Water is always flowing, from a brook to a stream, to a river to the ocean. Read and find out more about how water shapes the earth and why it is important to keep our water clean.

Reviews (1)

Check it out!
This is a great read for early learners who are just being introduced to the concepts of the flow of water. Two young children, one boy and one girl, follow rain water from brook to ocean. The book goes into enough detail to give the reader a base, and includes a few other pieces of information that might urge your reader to explore more. ... Read more

Book Description

The Cat in the Hat takes Sally and Dick for an “umbrella-vator” ride through the understory, canopy, and emergent layers of a tropical rain forest, encountering a host of plants, animals, and native peoples along the way.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent ! Entertaining and enjoyable!
Gave this series to a 6 and 9 year old last Fall. This is their favorite book. Educational, entertaining, and fun to find the "seach for" items. PLUS - they learned an incredible amount about Sea Life and Sea Animals - that they rememeber MONTHS later.Adults and children love this. Wonderful "hands on" book for kids!

Excellent for kids that like "hidden picture" books
The illustrations are fantastic and my son really loves to look for all the hidden objects (some of which are very hard to find). The text is really good also and we very highly recommend this whole series. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of the books I remember best from my childhood
When I was young my mother was a pre-school teacher so we always had a lot of children's books, but The Sign of The Seahorse was always one of my favorites.

When too young to appreciate the long and somewhat advanced details of the story, I still loved it for the sing-songy sound of the verse, the wonderfully intricate and often personified illustrations, and best of all: searching the jampacket pages for the tiny sign of the seahorse hidden on each page (which I'm surprised no one has metioned yet!). As I got older and was able to read and better understand the story itself I loved it even more for that. It's the kind of book that a child can appreciate more and more as he/she grows, even if it isn't all appreciated initially.

I'm half-way through college now and I still love this book, and look at it every time I go home and see it sitting on the coffee table with the other Graeme books. I'll definately have this for my kids when I have some.

Sign Of The Seahorse
'Sign Of The Seahorse' is a rich, imaginative, book that can be loved by small and enjoyed by adults.

The story line is really interesting because although we are reading about fish and creatures that live in the sea, it pertains to the types of situations one lives and reads about on a daily basis.

It is very easy to feel sympathy for the main charaters and dislike the 'bad guys'. Each charater has such personality and charm in their own way. The way in which the central charaters overcame their problems was diplomatic and handled very nicely, for a bunch of fishy charaters. Not too much fighting or nastiness.

The illustrations get 5 stars too. Rarely will one see the attention to detail, complex drawings and beautiful colours as are illustrated in Graeme Base books.

There is usually a hidden meaning, specific charater or other very interesting thing about each of his books. It makes you want to go back time after time.

Other books by Graeme Base well as Sign Of The Seahorse are Anamaila, and The Eleventh Hour. Each book is equally as good as the other.

We have had Graeme Base books for about 10 years, we still enjoy reading them and finding new 'somethings' we somehow missed before.

I highly reccomend any of his books from newborn to Grandparents.

The Sign of the Seahorse
The Sign Of The Seahorse is one of the best books I have ever read!!! I love the ocean and the discription of the scences and you never get confused about anything. You can really relate to the story even if you are not a fish. Everthing makes sense and it also shows that alot of people always want something better, yet some are already happy with what they have. I would give anyone this book to read because it is just so well writen, the author is totally brillant.

Great for Teachers
This book is a wonderful addition to any classroom grades 2-8. The language is rich and colorful. The story is very detailed and offers great discussions among the children. This is a MUST have for parents and teachers.

Beautiful book
I am 19 now and I have had this book for who knows how long. I loved it when I was younger, and I love it now. The illustrations are the most amazing part. There is so much detail and color.
I am actually going to be getting a tattoo of the "sign of the seahorse" (the symbol on the cover). ... Read more

Book Description

An informative introduction to the "world records" held by fourteen members of the animal kingdom. Each spread portrays an animal that is the largest, slowest, longest lived. Readers can see the animal's size in relation to something familiar. ... Read more

Book Description

Did you know that an oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year? Berger and Mirocha focus on one of the worst spills in history—the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill—to explain in simple terms and with bold, full color illustrations why oils spills happen, how experts clean up after them, and what effect spilled oil has on ocean plants and wildlife. "A good introduction to the subject."––BL.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1995 (NSTA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book with lots of great info
We just read this book as a read aloud for science in our homeschool. We learning alot about oil spills and the damage they can cause. At the end of the book was the idea for kids to write to Senators about laws for oil tankers and such. My son and I plan to do this. This is a great lesson on how kids can be involved and can make a diffrence in the world today. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Draw 50 Flowers, Trees and Other Plants
This is a great instructional book. It takes you step by step thru the process. I would reccommend it to anyone starting out in drawing. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Cloud Book
The Cloud Book is a great book for the curious little scientists or meterologists in your home. To tell you the truth, I thought that this book would be boring. Who wants to read a book about clouds out of science class? But, this book came a surprise to me. It explained clouds in a fun way, making you want to learn about them. The illustrations and metaphors help you understand, while teaching you about them at the same time. The illustrations help you relate everyday objects to those confusing scientific words. Only Tomie de Paola could compare the cumulus clouds with a cauliflower or the cirrus cloud with mare's tails. He also tells folk tales and legends that go along with the clouds. This book is a must on the bookshelf of any future meterologist!

Another hit!
What more do you need to say? It's a Tomie de Paola book. He's definitely one of the better writers/illustrators out there. "The Cloud Book" is a good, first introduction to the science behind clouds while at the same time entertaining the children. Teachers and parents should buy this book!

Great Scientific Information in a Fun Way
My first grade students particularly enjoyed this story while studying out weather unit. The book provided scientific names of clouds in an easy to understand way. It had a good mixture of fact and fiction. The pictures were very entertaining to the children. Every child in my class was engaged in the reading and was ready to go out and look at the clouds and call them by their real names when I had finished reading. I highly recommend this book.

Great For Children Of All Ages!
I've been a true fan of Tomie De Paola for some time and wanted to let everyone know that this is one of his greatest!This has been a great hit with my niece, as well as with all the kids I work with (preschoolers & school age). Make sure you put this one in both your home and school library. This book was also very helpful to use during our "weather" theme! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Science Book
This is an excellent book for children to learn about life cycles. The text and illustrations make the wonderful miracle of life come alive for the readers. Beginning with the egg and ending with the beautiful Monarch the author clearly explains the changes that take place. Information is also included about the migration patterns of these interesting creatures. The last pages explain how children can raise monarch butterflies so that they can observe this miracle of life first hand. I would highly recommend this book to teachers who teach life cycles as part of their curriculum

From Katrina Holder (7 years old)
I like this book because you can learn things about butterflys that you did not know before. You can also tell other people about it to. The pictures are very nice and pretty. ... Read more

Book Description

Her name is FAIRY BOAT, and she is the loving creation of Chelsea, Gram and Grandpa. They launch her at the creek in Fairy Woods and she begins to wind her way downstream.But wait! A goose chases her into Big River, beyond their reach! FAIRY BOAT now faces many dangers. Can the fairies help? Will Chelsea ever see her again?

Learn about the life of a river as FAIRY BOAT travels towards the ocean and the influences of nature and man on our waterways. A fun map is included in the book.The story of FAIRY BOAT parallels life’s journeys, with rough waters and unexpected events at each turn. Yet, woven throughout are wondrous, even magical moments, waiting to inspire us. (Look for fairies hiding on many of the pages.)There may be more than Nature at work here!FAIRY BOAT is one of the award-winning FAIRY HOUSES SERIES products. See also FAIRY HOUSES, and video KRISTEN'S FAIRY HOUSE. ... Read more

Book Description

Listen. The earth seems still and quiet, but constantly, silently, it is moving and changing.
Mountain Dance takes readers from summit to shore, and into the depths of the earth, exploring the geographic forces it takes to move, build, and wear away the great peaks and valleys of our planet. Thomas Locker's poetic text and exquisitely detailed paintings reveal fascinating details of geology in this beautiful and inspiring introduction to earth science.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Geology for Preschoolers
This book describes various geological phenomena, such as the rising up of mountains and the forces behind volcanoes, all in easy vocabulary and a text short enough to hold the interest of the under five crowd. At the end of the book are some more detailed bits of scientific information about each page, to help parents and teachers with the why and how questions that will inevitably follow. (...)

GREAT HUDSON VALLEY ARTIST!
I have every single book by Mr. Locker and wait anxiously for each new one! Mr. Locker is one of the greatest Hudson Valley artists of all time. If you have not seen his work in person, then the books are the next best thing. His work is outstanding! Congrats, Mr. Locker, and keep the books coming! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very informative and entertaining.
This book does a wonderful job explaining exactly how an item gets recycled. Its thought provoking and entertaining. The illustrations are wonderful. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a joyful celebration of our Mother Earth, provider of all we need. With lyrical words and softly lit watercolors, we are reminded we must us her gifts well, and return them with respect and love. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautifully illustrated, a loving story!
This book is simply beautiful. The soft colors in the illustrations are not only beautiful, but very soothing to look at. The story tells of the earth, and all the life forms that make up her body. It then encourages us to look around us to see what we can do to help our mother earth, the greatest gifts we can give back to the planet that gives us life. It's a wonderful story to read to my boys, who are in awe of nature at every glance.

Beautiful
Beautifully written and illustrated. I'd recommend it to ppl of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

This witty and informative salute to the honeybee uses clear, lively text and detailed full-color illustrations to present a wide range of interesting, and sometimes amusing, facts about the life cycle, work, and history of one of the world's most useful insects. ... Read more

Book Description

Molly hates rainy days. The gray sky, the soggy wait for the school bus, they seem to make everyone grumpy. Everyone except her friend Sophie, who shows Molly the magic she has been missing.The simple, poetic language in this lovely book takes readers on a journey—from the girls' first tentative steps into the drizzle to a rain-drenched romp in a puddle. The lyrical text is perfectly matched by the joyful watercolor paintings, which capture not only the color and beauty of a rainy day, but the warm interactions of the girls' blossoming friendship. An exuberant homage to finding pleasure where it's unexpected, the power of imagination, and the joys of friendship, I Love the Rain will have readers singing, "Sun, sun, go away!" ... Read more