Book Description

Reviews (1)

A True Treasure!
The Whole Green World is an absolute gem of a book. The text is clever and charming and the illustrations are simply exquisite!Together, Tony Johnston and Elisa Kleven have created a world that every child -- and grown-up -- will want to leap right into. A cozy, comfy and colorful world made even more beautiful by a child committed to spreading the beauty of nature around "the whole green world". This a timeless book for readers of all ages to read, study -- the details in each picture are nothing short of amazing -- and treasure!
Enjoy!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Our 6 Month Old's favorite Book
The pictures in this book are great for a younger baby, ours has loved it since she was 5 months (now going on 7 months). She pays attention to it moreso than the other books we read her, and we think it is because of the bright, interesting but still simple illustrations. I like the writing, but my child isn't old enough for me to gauge how it works with her.

another winner
My now 20 month old little boy lives for Agner's bath books. It's amazing how much his vocabulary has improved using these books during bath time. He loves to have them read to him, to point to objects when asked to located them, to look at the pictures as if he was reading the books himself, or to just play with them as a toy. These books are only as good as your creativity on how to share them with your child. Have fun and watch your child learn ... while bathing! I highly recommend all four of the Baby Einstein bath books.

Not well written
I bought this book based on the Baby Einstein name, and I wish I'd bought something else. The illustrations are cute, but it's not well-written. It doesn't flow like most kids' books. I then realized it was written by Julie Aigner Clark herself, who is a genius for making videos, but is not a spectacular writer.

From now on, I will only buy books unseen from writers I already know and like. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The water cycle in action
The Big Rivers is an excellent book. It takes the older elementary student through the water cycle using the big flood of '93 as a living example. I recommend this book for every library. Teachers this book is a great non-fiction book for use as supplemental reading for any environmental education curriculum. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This book is part of a series of guides designed for adolescents interested in natural history and nature. The books are an excellent introduction to the Rocks and Minerals, Birds, Wildflowers, and Insects for children aged 8-18.Each guide is appropriately sized to fit in a field vest pocket.Readers who remember previous versions of these field guides from the 1970s that were dull and overly detailed will be pleasantly surprised.These books are arguably the most beautifully photographed and laid out field guides yet published for young people. Each book has an introductory section filled with interesting facts, descriptions of early naturalists, definitions of many of the terms used in the book, and a guide to using the field guide portion of the book.Best of all, the books also come equipped with laminated field "cheat sheet" cards, for quick identification while on the go, in any kind of weather.Each field guide features 50 common species with photos and brief descriptions of many more regionally occurring birds.Brief discussions of threatened and endangered species are particularly valuable.Great first guides for children and adults with limited natural history background.

The guide has excellent photographs and descriptions of common birds, and a few that are not so common.The photos have enough detail to distinguish tail patterns, eye patches and other features. Many national field guides are often East coast-centric, but this bird book would be very useful in all regions of the United States. An excellent beginning birder guidebook, for children and adults. --Merri Martz ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent guide despite areas for improvement.
This is, as the professional reviews profess, indeed a much more appropriate book for younger readers than the more encyclopedic, primarily textual guides on the market. The majority of hte book is devoted to a field guide of 50 different common North American birds organized by general shape and habitat (wading birds, ground birds, hawks & eagles, etc.). Each bird is shown in a large color photograph with two or three other similar species given smaller thumbnail photos and descriptions (adding another 125 birds). Although the guide does a good job of providing useful annotations by way or a map showing range and habitat by season, an identification capsul providing details useful in identifying the bird, and a bit about its behavior and diet, it misses two obvious points of interest, particularly to younger readers: a picture of a nest with eggs and a photo or graphic of a feather. Explorers coming across a nest or feathers and wondering what bird made it will find the guide of minimal assistance. Generally, a book well worth it. Hopefully, the next edition will be even better. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Makes Thoreau and _Walden_ relevant to the next generation
A ninth-grade English teacher in Michigan tries to interest her students in the writing of Henry David Thoreau by dividing the class into groups and asking them to create their own Experiment in Living. The ragtag group made up of Stuart, Hollis, Beth and Rachel takes the assignment to heart. They each sign a "Henry Contract." And before you know it, they've somehow constructed a cabin in nearby Wayburn Woods. Each member of the group eventually finds a niche -- one that didn't exist before, and one that highlights heretofore unseen talents. Thus do these "invisible" personalities become known to the rest of the school. By the time Wayburn Woods is threatened by a housing development, the place has become familiar to a wider range of students and community members. We can only speculate about what the future holds for our characters and their hometown.

Robin Vaupel has crafted a wonderful YA novel that's sure to turn young people on to Henry David Thoreau. His words and philosophies are peppered throughout the plot, and each chapter begins with an inspirational quote. [I'll forgive a small error: "In WILDNESS is the preservation of the world," not "in wilderness." That's a common mistake that even finds itself painted onto the walls of nature centers.] The story unfolds from Beth's viewpoint, and I found myself wishing I could be fourteen again and could be Beth. My experience in high school libraries convinces me that teenagers of both genders will find this book a worthy read. The most environment-oriented among them may use it as motivation to see and save their own special places. The world could use such inspiration!

Whoohoo!! Robin Vaupel is the best, and so is Henry!
After finishing "My Contract with Henry," I let out a sigh. Not only did this book pull you in with a captivating plot, it also had a complete ending. I guess you could say, all the "i's" were dotted, and all the "t's" were crossed. The book gives you satisfaction of reading it. Having read many, many books in my life, I do not have a favorite all together. Sure, i have favorites per genre, but this book left me with out a doubt. This IS my favorite young adult novel. Robin Vaupel is a very accomplished writer, and I can not wait for the next of her books, "Austin's Orbit." I know hopefully that one day, this great book, "My Contract with Henry," willbe a major motion picture!

The Best Book My Son Has Ever Read
My 11 year old son read this book and wrote a review for the school newspaper. This is what he wrote. "This excellent novel, tells of a ninth grader, Beth Gardner, who is assigned an experiment that would change her life. As she lives in the woods trying to relive the life of Henry David Thoreau she learns to love the wilderness. When a building company buys the woods, Beth does not know if she can save her beloved sanctuary. Mrs. Robin Vaupel is a devoted teacher and a promising author. Her hard work and dedication, that she put into this book has paid off with fabulous results. This was the best book I have ever read and it was a privilege to be allowed to read this magnificent story before it hit the shelves. I would recommend this book and if I had the authority I would not hesitate to award it he Newberry Medal. On a scale of 1-10 I would give this book a 10."

This is a great book!
You really have to read this you'll love it. I think that Robin Vaupel will be the next best selling auther. This book really should be made into a movie.We really need to tell as many people as we can about it!

My Contract With Henry
Never before has a book been written that brings Henry David Thoreau to life as a relevant source and guide to the challenges that face us as inhabitants of this tiny but fragile earth. Teenagers and adults will thoroughly enjoy this great adventure as a group of 9th graders recreate the experiences of Walden in their own lives and use what they have learned to face challenges that will test their newly acquired understanding and appreciation of nature and the value of staying true to their "Contract with Henry." This book demonstrates that Henry David Thoreau can still be an inspiration and guide to all of us that struggle with the challenges of the 21st century. ... Read more

Book Description

"Building on a rhyme that will be familiar to many children, author-illustrator Cole creates an enticing guide to creating a garden. 'This is the garden that Jack planted...' The final illustration presents a satisfied-looking boy surrounded by a lush, bird-filled flower garden....A concluding page of gardening suggestions serves as a springboard to books with more specific guidelines."--Horn Book. ... Read more

Book Description

A young Indian boy carves a little canoe with a figure inside and names him Paddle-to-the-Sea. Paddle's journey, in text and pictures, through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean provides an excellent geographic and historical picture of the region. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Reading this great book made me happy.
If you want to read a good book, Paddle-to-the-Sea would be the best one. It's got loads of excitement. The story is about a little wooden Indian figure in a canoe that travels through the 5 Great Lakes. The Indian boy who carved him wanted him to go to the sea. To find out if he really gets to the sea or not get this great book that I think you would love.

Paddle To The Store And Get A Copy Of This Book!
Paddle-To-The-Sea was one of the first long books my mother read to me [early 60's] and one of the first long books I read on my own. Many elements make this a fantastic book for elementary school-age children: it is an excellent geography lesson, teaching the reader about the Great Lakes region; it shows a character being creative and sending his creation out into the world without knowing if there will be a return for his actions; the payoff for the carver of Paddle-To-The-Sea comes only after a long period of time. When I spent the summer of 1966 in Minnesota with my family, we visited many of the places in the book including Lake Superior. I remember how much the book informed that summer. Several years ago I revisited Lake Superior for the first time since '66 and the images of a small carved Native American in a canoe were still on my mind. Give this book to a young person so they can take its literary journey and have it leave them with a lasting impression.

One of the best children's books ever!
Although this book is quite old, I had never read it before. What a wonderful book I've missed out on! This is a timeless book that encompasses a great story, history, geography, and the good will of people. There were a few lines that made me a bit uncomfortable that referred to Indians, but they really did seem to blend well with the story, and by the end of the book I had a deep appreciation for them. It's quite complicated, short chapter book with some very advanced vocabulary that would be hard for younger children.

I think young kids would like it because of the great story. Older kids would like it because of the huge amount of geography involved, and they could really get into looking at all the maps and follow the path the canoe takes on the way to the ocean. I also think kids in the upper Midwest would learn a lot about their area and maybe a little bit about the Indians who have been in this area for a lot longer than any of us. I really liked the way the author incorporated the different ports the canoe came upon and mentioned things about the town. For example, Duluth was described as "a city on a hill" with iron ore as its export. There were also really nice parts about the wildlife, the storms, and the general scenery that the canoe encounters.

Besides the wonderful story, the drawings and illustrations are exceptional. There are illustrations of the route that the canoe took along with an arrow pointing where paddle-to-the-sea is now. There are illustrations showing a sawmill, a canal lock, a breeches buoy, and a lake freighter. I believe this book would be great to study as a class by bringing out the history of the great lakes region, the history of Native Americans in the region, geography of the great lakes region, and the biology of the region.

A true childhood classic
I read my husband's worn copy of Paddle-To-The-Sea to my children, then to grandchildren. It's faded, dog-eared, worn at the edges and a little tattered, but it'll survive another generation of loving use, I'm sure. One of the true childhood classics, Paddle-To-The-Sea is a rare entity: a cross genre book for kids. The story of the little carved Native American canoe's trip from the North Country to the Sea is an adventure story, a geography lesson, a history lesson, and in some ways, it's even a romance. There are wonderful drawings, accurate maps - and an utterly engaging story. It's worth finding a copy in hardcover to buy, because you're going to want it to last as long as my husband's copy has, for sure, for sure.

an excellent read
This is close to being one of my favorite children's book ever. I don't know if it is normal to cry at the end of this book, but I do. I am so glad I finally added a copy to my bookshelf. I am waiting for the day when my grandchildren are old enough to read it themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

When a storm is raging, David and George are glad to be inside the house, snug and safe. In this spectacular picture book by Caldecott Honor recipient David Wisener, a fallen tree becomes the threshold to the limitless voyage of the imagination, which David and George share as only true friends--and brothers--can. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Kat's Kind Review
The book Hurricane by David Wiesner was an excellent book. It teaches children that you don't have to always have the new hi-tech toys to have fun. All you need is your imagination. I would recommend this book to all ages. It was about 2 brothers who are waiting for a large hurricane to arrive in their town. When the storm finally hits both of the boys get really scared. After the hurricane lets up and is over the boys notice that there is a large tree that fell down right next to their house. It wasn't their tree it was the neighbors but they decided to play on it one day because they were extremely bored. They played on the tree so much that it became their little adventure world. They would spend as much time as they could with that tree. They felt safe and protected when they would play. But one morning the boys awoke to the sound of chainsaws and axes hacking away at what sounded like... A TREE!!! Could it have been their tree???

Hurricane
Excellent book about two great boys who lived through a terrible hurricane and almost fell in love with a tree. It had a little sadness and happiness. Great illustrations! One of the best children's books I have ever read! The two boys showed a bunch of love for the tree, unfortunately, it would go in the end. Overall, an excellent book for all ages!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

What causes the earth’s weather? How do twisters form? What are the deadliest storms on earth? Find out the answers to these questions and more in Magic Tree House Research Guide: Twisters and Other Terrible Storms, Jack and Annie’s guide to nature’s wildest weather. Includes photographs, definitions, an index, information on twisters, hurricanes, blizzards, forecasting the weather, storm chasers, and much more! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Twisters
Twisters are tornadoes. I learned about them in the book Twisters by Will Osborne. Twisters wreak everything. Twisters can destroy homes because the winds go 300 miles per hour. They hit in the midwestern U.S. in April, May and June. I feel excited about this book because it's good to know about natural disasters so if it happens you'll be prepared. ... Read more

Book Description

The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style."[An] extravagantly beautiful creation. It is unusual in its ingenious way of teaching botany and interesting words to the littlest of readers." -- Publishers Weekly"Ms. Heller's colors and drawings are as electrifying as ever." -- Los Angeles Times ... Read more

Book Description

Bats and big cats. Armies of ants. Squawking parrots. Strangling figs. From the ground up to the tree tops, the tropical rainforest teems with life. Stunning drawings, step-by-step experiments, fun-to-do activities, and fascinating facts abound in this magical exploration of an essential ecosystem, in danger of disappearing forever. Tropical Rain Forest is a new edition to the One Samll Square Series not previously published in hardcover. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great, whether you get to the rain forest or not
The One Small Square series is wonderful: the concept is that you take a hypothetical square foot of an environment- woods, seashore, arctic tundra, rainforest, etc.- and explore it at all levels, from underground to the sky. Each book is extensively illustrated with all of the inter-connected layers of life- from fungus to megafauna- in the Square. On the margin of most of the 2-page spreads are activities that you can do, no matter where you live. Food chains, life cycles & seasons are explored, and the back section has an identification guide to all of the life forms presented in the book.

We took One Small Square: Tropical Rain Forest with us on a trip to the Brazilian rainforest with our 5 & 7 year olds. The book was great- for the grown ups & the kids! We used it as a guide to identify many of the animals & plants we saw, as background to help the girls understand what they were going to see, as reading on the long trips up the river. We did many of the activities- some before, some during, and some after the trip. Our guide was so impressed with it that he ordered a copy for himself, saying that it was hard to find something with so much information that was both accurate and interesting to people at many different levels of knowledge. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

From spring"s first thaw to autumn"s chill, the world of the pond is a dramatic place. Though seemingly quiet, ponds are teeming with life and full of surprises. Their denizens—from peepers to painted turtles, duckweed to diving beetles—lead secret and fascinating lives.

A unique blend of whimsy, science, poetry, and hand-colored woodcuts, this collection invites us to take a closer look at our hidden ponds and wetlands. Here is a celebration of their beauty and their mystery. ... Read more

Book Description

An inviting, accessible introduction to the common classroom activity of growing a bean plant.New in paperback. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One Bean is Great!
"One Bean" is a terrific book that teaches children about plant cycles. The illustrations are charming and show exactly what happens to the bean throughout the growing process. The back of the book also gives follow-up activity suggestions. Someone gave this book to me with a packet of bean seeds attached, which is also a great way to present the book to a child or teacher. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

Snowball o' fun
You walk into your first encounter with "Snowballs" with the vague sense that this is going to be yet another winter picture book containing figures made out of cut paper. And though you are well aware of Ezra Jack Keats's "The Snowy Day", you decide to give Lois Ehlert's book a go anyway. You're hoping you'll end up pleasantly surprised by what you may find. And you're in luck. You are.

In this tale of wintertime bird feeding, the author first poses a hypothetical question: "Do you think birds know when it's going to snow?". As if in answer, we view a pair of cardinals, one male and one female, as they devour some seeds. With the fall of a new snow, it's time to make some snow creatures. In a surprising two page spread we see a brown paper sack and plastic bags full of stuff. The author says that this is "good stuff" saved for this very occasion. The rest of the book then displays snowmen, women, children, pets, etc. made out of everything from strawberries to orange plastic fish. Almost every snow person has something in their make up that is delicious to the wild birds, and occasionally a brave birdy will fly into the picture to nibble on a sunflower seed necklace or munch on a popcorn laden body. At the back of the book are actual size photographs against a white background displaying objects that were featured in the snowmen's bodies earlier. Kids reading the book will enjoy trying to find the page that presented the Guatemalan purse or the Thai appliqué heart. Finally, the reader can find out more about snow itself. Two pages full of snowman photos (all goofy in their own different ways) surround a section entitled, "What makes it snow?". And for those of you that are lucky enough to be reading a hardcover edition of this tale, a recipe for popcorn balls appears on the back book flap.

Admittedly, when you get right down to it, this book is just a paper cut out book after all. But Ehlert has taken the liberty of combining your normal run-of-the-mill paper images with life sized photographs of certain objects. If you look on the cover, you'll see that the bird sitting on the snowman's head is all paper while the piece of popcorn it holds in its beak is a photograph. The result is fairly seamless. We can assume that some Photoshopping has been done here since a couple of these photographed items occasionally cast shadows on their snowpeople. This is a fairly well put together little book. It's difficult to combine stories where fun hunt and peck tales are combined with scientific facts. I'm almost tempted to categorize this book as non-fiction for all its interesting information. Even a quick glance at the back cover consists of thirteen newspaper accounts of snowy weather.

In a way, this book is like an educational "Where's Waldo?". Kids reading it will probably have more fun trying to find the objects listed in the back of the book than they will reading about water droplets and the process of evaporation. Just the same, any book that sneaks a little science into the average child's diet is a-okay by me. You may not find much in the way of plot in this item, but there's enough originality and fun packed in "Snowballs" to keep the doldrums away.

gherring
My 4 year old son loves this book. We first learned of the book in his preschool. He came home one day and talked about this book all afternoon. The next day we checked it out at the library and liked it a lot. The book is very creative and colorful which captures a young child's attention. There are so many different items that we could identify and learn. My son wants me to read this book many times throughout the day and frequently asks when it is going to snow. This is a great book by Lois Ehlert.

Creative Fun
I'm a speech therapist with a prekindergarten at risk program. After reading this book with the children we made our own "snowballs" book. I've never seen 3 and 4 year olds maintain their attention to an activity for so long. We made our own snowmen with three large white circles, put them on the floor and the children could choose any items from our classroonm to make any kind of snowmen they could think of. We then photographed them with their snowmen and put the photos into a book. They were unbelievably creative. Since the activity did not require cutting and glueing it was easy for the children to manipulate and change things as their snowmen "came to life". Some of them used ideas from the book and "modified" a little. The language they expressed while creating was unbelievable! This book is such an excellent resource and motivation for parents in using those "junk" items around the house to help children be creative, and to encourage a natural relaxed way to enhance language development. The book is very engaging for young children. The language is short and simple and the pictures bright and interesting. I liked it so much I ordered one for my niece.

A wonderful children's picture book.
The masterful use of vivid colors and an interesting theme in Snowballs will surely draw any child's attention. The following everyday items: coffee beans, bottle caps, foil candy wrappers, and corn are all used to colorfully illustrate the components of a more realistic snow family. The picture book will inspire your children to go outside and make a snow person, instead of plopping down in front of the old TV.

A delightful and beautiful view of snowmen and winter
A visually outstanding picture book showing how all natural paraphenalia (buttons, ribbons, toy wheels, seeds, etc.) are used in the art of making a snow dad, mom, boy, girl, baby, cat and dog. Children become aware of the art of collage and the creativity involved in nature things. The book is complete with facts of winter, snow and then actual photographs of various snowmen made by children. As always, a Lois Ehlert masterpiece. ... Read more

Book Description

The history of the Mississippi River Valley is told in text and pictures through the adventures of Minn, a snapping turtle, as she travels downstream. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Still wonderful after all these years
I read this book in elementary school and went looking for it again last year as a gift for a niece. Be warned that there's a scene that she found really sad (Minn gets hurt) -- and it made her cry. So maybe it's not for sensitive first-graders. Still, the story is wonderful and little Minn is a great character. There's also a lot of fascinating natural detail. And stunning illustrations. It's a children's book version of a top-notch Nature documentary. "Nova" in print, if you will. Also check out Holling Clancy Holling's other books. They're all great, even looking back at them after three decades.

Every child deserves a chance to read this book.
At age 52, I can vividly remember discovering this book in my local library as a boy in 4th grade, especially the luminous color illustrations and drawings Hollings used to tell the story of the journey of a snapping turtle from the Mississippi's trickling source in Minnesota, to its fullness in the Gulf of Mexico. In following the life of "Minn," from hatchling to a veteran survivor of many predators and adventures, I learned the history and lore of the river and the animals and people who live in it and along its banks. This is a book that does not talk down to its young readers. I am buying one now to read again, and to share with any grandchildren who may come along in our family.

This is my favorite book
I discovered this book when I was in fourth grade. I thought it was the best book ever written. I especially enjoyed the juxaposition of the biology of the snapping turtle with the history and geography of the Mississippi River

This is a book that will grow with your child.
Within moments of hatching in the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Minn, a female snapping turtle, loses a rear leg when a boy shoots her. She is rescued by a native American boy, who cares for her until she is well enough to go out on her own. She travels down the length of the river, avoiding turtle hunters, cruising over waterfalls and dams, laying eggs, and taking part in the life cycle of the river. The story follows Minn through her 25 year trip down to the Gulf of Mexico. It is told from the turtle's point-of-view and there are many charming full page color illustrations that the younger child will appreciate. Notes, pictures and maps in the margins of the text give details of the geography of the Mississippi, its animals, plants, cities, dams, bridges, that the older child and adult reader will find informative and meaningful. ... Read more

Book Description

Visit coral reefs, kelp forests, and other extraordinary underwater worlds. Find out fascinating facts about favorite ocean animals, including sharks, whales, and dolphins. Dramatic, atmospheric photography provides a wealth of visual information. Packed with facts and written in an accessible style, Eye Wonders are the perfect educational start for young children. A groundbreaking reference series specially developed for younger children aged five plus. In a stunning style departure for DK, wonderful photography shows subjects within their natural setting, offering a whole new level of information through powerful images. Vocabulary is accessible to children aged five plus, with the meanings of new, subject-related words clearly explained. The series provides an excellent knowledge base on the natural world for children starting to learn. The combination of breathtaking visuals and informative, accurate text will hook even those children who usually avoid books. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful!
The photos alone are worth the price. Go nose-to-nose with a fangtooth; see an octopus's eggs festooning a cave; contemplate a dolphin's teeth. My 5-year-old daughter adores this book so much that she takes it to school for Show-and-Tell. Thanks to the clarity of the description of zones, she refers to the three levels of our house as the daylight zone, twilight zone, and midnight zone. The photos are vivid, the text is clear, and you can read as many or as few nuggets of information as your kid wants to hear - they're all self-contained. You just can't miss with this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Henry and his friend agree to go to Fitchburg to see the country, they each choose very different methods of travel, based on their very different approaches to life. This charming little story illustrates through minimal text and fantastically stylized paintings the concepts Henry David Thoreau spent his life trying out. While Henry (the storybook Henry is a bear) collects flowers to press, strolls on stone walls, finds bird nests, and gathers blackberries, his friend toils and sweats to earn enough money for the train fare to Fitchburg.

With subtle nods at Thoreau and his real-life pals Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne (Henry's friend cleans out Mrs. Thoreau's chicken house, moves the bookcases in Mr. Emerson's study, and pulls weeds in Mr. Hawthorne's garden), D.B. Johnson cleverly introduces young readers to these important historical figures. No moralizing here, just a gentle, humorous look at the different paths each person may choose in life. Johnson chose a passage in Thoreau's Walden (the passage is included in the informative author's note) as inspiration for this delightful picture book, which Thoreau himself would probably be proud to read. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A Story With A Unique Perspective For Daily Life
3 to 8 yrs. Some may find this book objectionable in that they may believe that its underlying message for children is 'work is bad.' But that doesn't seem to be the author's intent. It seems to be more observational then as a teaching tool.

Based on a passage from Henry David Thoreau's Walden, the story is about Henry--the main animal character (bear?) in the story--and his friend, who decide to go to Fitchburg. Henry chooses to walk the 30 miles, while his friend plans to work, so that he can earn enough money to ride the train. We then bounce from character to character to witness what they are experiencing in their quest to get to Fitchburg.

Good illustrations, and interesting story providing ample discussion material for parents and children, about the different meanings this story possess.

Marching to different drummers
There's a lot to love in this book by D. B. Johnson. There is the priceless story-lesson concerning two bears traveling to the same destination by widely divergent paths, one enjoying the pleasures of nature along the way while the other works to earn fare to travel by more modern means. There are the beautifully memorable illustrations, one after another, of the bears as they make their way to Fitchburg. And there is the message, to stop and smell the roses, take in a little nature, just walk. Or maybe just sit in the woods and read Thoreau.

Great place to start
This book is an introduction for young children to the philosophy of simplicity. Johnson has adapted the true story of Henry Thoreau's hike to Fitchburg into a children's tale that kids can understand and cherish. As the book begins, Henry is talking to a friend, and they decide to go to Fitchburg. The friend thinks it would be faster to take the train, but contrary old Henry says it would be faster to walk. Rather than argue their points, the two friends each set off to Fitchburg in their own by their own method. Of course, the friend has to earn money to pay the train fare, so he spends all day doing various odd jobs before taking the night train. Henry, on the other hand, sets off walking, and enjoys the beautiful scenery along the way. They both eventually get to Fitchburg, but they had very different experiences in meeting their goal.

The format of the book, with one side of each page devoted to Henry and the other to his friend, gets children to focus on a constant comparison between the experiences of the two characters. By the end of the book, the children see that there are many ways to reach a goal, and contrary to common practice, sometimes those methods that don't cost money may be preferable- -it all depends on what you value in life. This book would be a great starting point for conversations with children about the choices that they or their families are making. And the pictures are wonderful, too!

Fabulous bk.-great for kids of all ages & a great baby gift!
Aside from the local historical references (towns en route to Fitchburg & famous local historical figures incuding the Emersons & Alcotts), this bk. is a charmer. Lovely illustrations, sweet life lessons about taking time to enjoy the journey rather than trying to hurry it along just to 'get there faster', & the understated moral of the story as stated by Henry at the end. I'd recommend this to anyone-baby through adult-so pleasing to the eyes and to the soul!

A little lesson in taking time to smell the roses!
I read this book based on Javagirl 23's reveiew, and I must give her kudos. Great pick! Henry (a bear) and his friend decide to visit Fitchburg. Henry plans to walk, but his friend decides to work enough to afford train fare, since walking will take forever. While Henry's friend slaves away at different jobs (pick up on the last names of the employers!), Henry leisurely strolls towards Fitchburg, collecting flowers to press, berries, and enjoying himself thouroughly. Henry's friend finally gets his train fare, and they both end up in Fitchburg at the same time. "The train was a lot faster!", says his friend. Henry merely replies, "Yes...but I got us some berries to eat". What's the lesson? Sometimes the fastest way isn't necessarily the best way...take time to stop and smell the roses...or any other cliche you prefer. This is a great lesson for adults- stop rushing around so much and take the slower way of doing something; there may be more enjoyment along the way if you do. ... Read more

Book Description

The Freddy the Pig books have long been considered classics of American children's literature and with each reissue by The Overlook Press, this wonderful pig is charming his way into the hearts of more and more readers, adults and children alike. Freddy's Bean Farm is a frolicking place and Freddy--whether he's a pilot, cowboy, explorer, politician, or detective--will always save the day and be sure to have fun doing it.

In Freddy and Mr. Camphor Freddy is positively worn out from his job as President of the First Animal Bank and-- as if this wasn't enough responsibility for one pig!--his position as Editor of the Bean Home News. At the urging of the farm animals, Freddy answers an ad in the Bean Home News for a position as caretaker of a large estate for the duration of the summer. Freddy is a bit overwhelmed when what was meant to be a relaxing little respite from the world turns out to be a real challenge...but the pig will muddle through!

"They are the American version of the great English classics, such as the Pooh books or The Wind in the Willows."-- The New York Times Book Review

"There's a richness to the world of Bean Farm and a strong moral code that is timeless. . ."-- Los Angeles Times

"Freddy is simply one of the greatest characters in children's literature!"-- School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Mild, but Pleasing, Freddy
Sometimes Mr. Brooks was able to come up with excellent titles for his novels; "Freddy and the Ignormus" will arouse anyone's curiousity, and "Wiggins for President" fairly jumps off the shelf. On the other hand, sometimes he wasn't; a neophyte reader discovering the title "Freddy and Mr. Camphor" on the library shelf might forgivably be tempted to shove it back in. Luckily, the book is stronger than the title.

"Freddy and Mr. Camphor" features two story lines; the primary involves Freddy becoming caretaker of a large estate and facing off against two sets of old enemies, the subsidiary involves insects pitching in to protect Victory gardens from themselves. The two stories are not tied together in any particular way, and do not represent Brooks at his best, but are certainly pleasant. Freddy fans will be pleased to see both Simon and The Winches, and Freddy's new friends, a pair of difficult hoptoads, are most amusing.

Freddy Takes Care
It is hard to imagine it happening to Freddy the Pig, but gradually his busy life as pig, poet, banker, detective, and newspaperman was wearing him out. Even his good friend Jinx the Cat could see that Freddy needed a change. But Freddy didn't see how he could leave all his responsibilities. Finally, his salvation came in the form of a help wanted advertisement for a caretaker at the estate of the wealthy Mr. Jimson Camphor.

The job seemed perfect. Freddy got to live on a houseboat while he guarded the grounds and mowed the expansive lawn. If it hadn't been for a chance meeting with Waldo and Elmo, a pair of dejected hoptoads, Freddy would have thought he was in heaven. But the toads reveal that all is not well. Simon the Rat and his clan have moved into the Camphor attic and, in a fit of random destructiveness, have chewed away the faces on the portraits that are stored there.

Nor is that the worst of it. Mrs. Winch, the housekeeper, turned out to be the estranged wife of Zebedee Winch and his son Horace, whom the reader may remember from Freddy's trip to Florida, where he gave the animals no end of problems. This time is no different. Freddy is locked up, a plot is hatched against him and Mr. Camphor returns to find Freddy accused of vandalism and theft. A dejected Freddy returns to the Bean Farm, determined to undo the damage.

Of course, things are not perfect on the farm either Webb the Spider is on a campaign to convince the insects that they should abstain from eating the Victory Gardens that are providing extra food for the war effort. He is opposed by Zero, the anarchist horsefly, and appeals to Freddy for help. Certainly, a pig's work is never done.

Somehow, of course, all is made right, but it takes all of Freddy's ingenuity, the cooperation of the farm animals, and even an array of militant fleas to bring all the culprits to justice. In the world of the Bean Farm, teamwork, friendship, and an honest determination to do the right thing are the tools that make the difference. As always, Brooks' lessons are painless fun. He displays a touch for gentle yet satirical caricature that cannot help but please both his younger audience and us doddering, older readers who remember the days before noir fiction and, like Freddy, occasionally need to take a break

Two foretrotters up for Freddy and Mr. Camphor!
Long after Walter Brooks has earned his eternal reward, he ismaking a paradise here on earth for fans of Freddy! Freddy andMr. Camphor is one of the best Freddy's out there. If you don't love Freddy, you'll love Mr. Camphor. If you don't love Mr. Camphor, there's always Bannister to adore. If not Bannister, well, there's Mrs. Wiggins, or Jinx, or the Webbs, or cousin Augustus and his relatives. One thing is certain, you won't leave this book without a new friend. Walter Brooks does for the animal kingdom what PG Wodehouse does for humankind by creating a happy fantasyland where nothing ever goes so wrong that it can't be undone, and it is always undone with wit and sagacity. ... Read more

Book Description

Where the willow tree meets the water, a tadpole met a caterpillar.
They gazed into each other's tiny eyes...and fell in love.

"I love everything about you," said the caterpillar.
"Promise you'll never change." And foolishly the tadpole promised...

But we all know that tadpoles don't stay the same, and neither do caterpillars.

Will they still be able to love each other? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What on earth was the author thinking?
This has to be one of the WORST kids books ever written!


Maybe this book would be good for someone who was recently dumped but i think it is a HORRIBLE book for kids!And should not be geared towards kids, especially kids as young as kindergarten! ... Read more