Book Description

Sophie likes to play with her rag doll, but then her mother tells her the big, important secret. "Soon you'll have a real live person to play with. We're going to have a new baby." Sophie likes this idea, but the baby takes so long to arrive that she sometimes forgets all about it. When her new brother is finally born, he's quite a disappointment. He can't play with Sophie, and he needs Sophie's mom and dad all the time. Worst of all, Mom and Dad seem to like him a lot. One day, Sophie shouts at the sky, "I don't want that baby anymore!" ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Beautiful Story
The book depicts a close family season by season as they prepare for, add and adapt to their newest family member. The illustrations are beautiful. The story told from the older sister's point of view is touching.

sweet book for a new big sister!
We bought this book for our daughter when we were expecting our son. It's the story of a big sister who welcomes a baby brother (the "winter baby"). Most of the books that I looked at on this subject have a very negative angle, but just a brief portion of this story focuses on the challenges and frustrations of becoming a big sister. It shows the great anticipation of the baby through the changing seasons and also accurately depicts life with a new baby today - changing diapers, sitting in a vibrating seat and breastfeeding. In the end, Sophie is the one who teaches her little brother to smile and they become great friends. This is now one of my daughter's favorites!

Wonderful , loving tale for a big brother or sister....
This is a wonderfully sweet book. It shows how a family prepares for the arrival of a new baby, and does an excellent job showing the passage of time, through beautiful illustrations of the seasons. It also addresses the frustrations and anger a young child feels when the new baby gets all of mom and dad's attention. The dialogue is simple and sweet - my almost 3-year-old really liked it and "got" it. I love that it depicts the mother nursing the young infant in a natural way. This is a GREAT book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The great thing about being big (as every older sibling knows andflaunts) is that you get to stay up later than your younger brothers andsisters. On the other hand, staying up late isn't always all it's cracked up tobe. Adorable little elephant Humphrey, whom we met in Humphrey's Corner, looks on inbemusement as his big sister Lottie gloats over her privileges: "I don't go tobed yet. I am a BIG GIRL." Humphrey has a lovely time in his bath, enjoys a hotmilk and buttery toast supper, and gets all snuggly and sleepy as his motherreads him his favorite fairy tale. Meanwhile, Lottie, who has declined allbedtime rituals, is becoming hot and cranky.

Sally Hunter's pastel-colored pencil and watercolor illustrations are filledwith details of a cozy home life, while her simple, toddler-like text depictsthe sometimes complicated desires of children. Bed-shy kids will see bedtime inan entirely new light, whether they identify with Lottie or Humphrey. (Ages 3 to6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Humphrey's Bedtime
I have all 3 books Sally Hunter has released so far. The stories are simple, yet they hold your attention. The pictures are beautiful. They really make me remember what it was like to be a small child. My son has been enjoying theses books since we found them at a book store over a year ago. He is now 4 and continues to love them. I will preorder Sallys' books as long as she writes them. I hope for a collection! They are simply my favorite books.

Sweet story
We love Humphrey's corner at our house! A lovely little story that's beautifully illustrated! ... Read more

Book Description

Cassie spends her days watching Grandfather and Caleb in the barn, looking out at Papa working the fields, spying on Sarah feeding the goslings. She's an observer, a writer, a storyteller. Everything is as it should be.

But change is inevitable, even on the prairie. Something new is expected, and Sarah says it will be the perfect gift. Cassie isn't so sure. But just as life changes, people change too. And Cassie learns that unexpected surprises can bring great joy.

More Perfect than the Moon invites us back to the Witting family farm, visited in the Newbery Medal-winning Sarah, Plain and Tall; Skylark; and Caleb's Story. With her lyrical prose, Patricia MacLachlan writes about a family's boundless capacity for love.

Performed by Glenn Close

Book Description

A picture book for the very young that celebrates a child's excitement for construction vehicles

"Honk the horn!
Flash the lights!
Scoop the rocks!
Push the mud!"

A little boy imagines driving a great big digger-scooping and pushing mud to make a playground for his baby brother.

Children are fascinated with bulldozers, backhoes, payloaders-diggers of all shapes and sizes. In this playful picture book, simple alliterative language and bold, colorful images capture a child's love of building and creating.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

My 3 Year Old Loves It!
This book is great for your little truck lover. It's perfect for my sons short attention span.Great pictures and concise wording. The boy in the book dreams of buying his own digger some day and even takes his little brother along for a ride, in our case I substitute sister. Highly recommend.

Great Toddler Book
My almost two-year old son loves this book!!!It is short, easy to read and has great pictures.He has the book memorized and sometimes we just look at the pictures and discuss them.He has always loved construction equipment and big trucks and this is right on his level.The boy in the book has a little brother and it would probably be a good book for someone expecting a second child. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What we can do for our child with down of syndrome?
I found all of this materials very interested because we have a daughter with down syndrome, she has 17 months she is very sweet and we love her. Thanks very much,

Mara ... Read more

Reviews (3)

my favorite of the books in the series
The author of this story must be a very ingenious writer.
Most writers would undoubtedly be at a loss to combine animal names, names of clothes items, and names of body parts in a single plot--and furthermore incorporate the element of children's repartee.

For beginning readers or ESL students, you can use this book for a lesson on any of these three topics.

Fun reading prep for young children, with flash cards
My two-year-old brings this book to me all the time. Simple text augmented with rebus pictures means that he can participate in reading the book, and he loves that!

Silly Willy needs to get dressed but he is, after all, silly. So he puts his pants on his head and his hat on his nose, etc. each time prompting his mother to tell him he looks like some animal, such as a bunny or a duck. It is a sweet, if slight, little story, and Willy and his mom obviously have a happy and friendly relationship. Willy's mom helps him get things right in the end, though Willy asserts that he is still silly.

Twenty-four flash cards are fun for children who can point or speak, and primarily contain objects found in the book.

The whole series of All Aboard Readers is worthwhile, and Silly Willy is no exception.

very cute and promotes learning to boot.
Silly Willy is in the process of getting dressed. As he dresses he puts his clothes where they don't belong. He puts his pants on his head and his mom says no, you look like a rabbit-silly willy. Finally, he gets the right things on the right places. This is all done with cute rhymes and pictures for words. Between the pictures are simple words that have rhyming phrases. My 3 year old LOVES to help me "read" the book. My 5 year old loves to read it. In the back of the book are flash cards that you can read through for fun at the end of the book. They don't have to be used for "drilling" your kids. Mine love to practice their reading this way.

I have to say this whole series of all aboard reading is terrific. My kids love the stories and there is definately improvement in their word recognition. ... Read more

Book Description

Generations of children have read, re-read, and loved Ezra Jack Keats's award-winning, classic stories about Peter and his neighborhood friends. Now, for the first time, Peter's Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles! are available in paperback exclusively from Puffin.
"A more charming or contemporary child than Peter...is hard to bring to mind." -- Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (4)

We Loved This Story!
This story is about Peter who has a new baby sister. He is very jealous and doesn't want to share his things. Peter finally gives her his old chair that is too small for him. We liked this story because Peter learns to be a good big brother. You should read this story because the pictures are really nice.

Wonderful book!
I have 2 boys in 1st grade with little sisters. This book reflects the struggle that they go through in sharing things with younger siblings.

not the author's best
I came to Ezra Jack Keats' _Peter's Chair_ with high expectations. My two-year old and I both love his other books, like Goggles, A Letter To Amy, and Whistle for Willie.

_Peter's Chair_ is something of a disappointment. Drawn in the same style as his other titles, it's the story of Peter, who becomes an older brother for the first time. He rebels when he finds out that all his baby things are being reassigned to the baby girl, and given a fresh coat of PINK paint. Eventually he comes to accept that he's got to share the spotlight, and all is well.

When a younger sibling is born, it's nearly always a struggle for the older child to learn to share the parental attention. This is a common issue dealt with in children's books. Sad to say, it isn't dealt with very well in this book. _Peter's Chair_ just isn't a very good story, and children of the 1990s and later, who can't see that PINK MUST EQUAL GIRL and BLUE MUST EQUAL BOY are going to be confused by this implication.

Please, go look at the author's other titles: Goggles, A Letter To Amy, and Whistle for Willie, among others. They are most wonderful books by Ezra Jack Keats. Sad to say, I can only give _Peter's Chair_ 3 stars.

ken32

Keisha's Love of Peter's Chair
I teach children ages3-5 and one day I went to the library to get some books for them PETER'S CHAIR was among the selection it also came with the tape so when I wasn't able to read to the children I would put hte tape on for them. The children requested the book everyday up until the day I had dto take it back,there was one child in particular who would come up to me and say Ms.Tracey could you read Peter's Chair to me so I would sit her on my lap and read it just to her and than one day she came to me and said can I read Peter's Chair to you Ms.Tracey, and so in her own words and with expression she read Peter's Chair it did my heart good that she (KEISHA)had started her love for books. Thanks to Ezra Jack Keats you've made a difference in a child's life. ... Read more

Book Description

Stella and her little brother are spending the day at the sea. Stella has been to the sea before and knows all its secrets, but Sam has many questions. "Does a catfish purr? Does a seahorse gallop?" Stella has an answer for them all. The only thing she isn't sure of, and neither is the reader, is whether Sam will ever come into the water.Exquisite watercolors enliven this perfect summer story, while the gently humorous text captures the sometimes fun, sometimes trying relationship between an older sister and her baby brother. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great illustrations!
This is one of my favorites! The artwork is gorgeous and little brother Sam's inquisitive nature is funny. Stella's answers are also quite creative. My daughters really enjoy this one.

FRESH, FUN, & ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE
I just discovered Stella and Sam this weekend and they are now officially my favorite children's characters ever! The brother and sister relationship has never been explored with such sweet simplicity. A worried Sam asks the truly stellar Stella question after question after question, and she answers with pizazz and panache, until Sam can't help but be influenced by her infectious enthusiasm. Their paunchy little-kid stomachs and Stella's flame-red hair are sooooo cute that the book would be worth the buy even for the pictures. Luckily you don't have to compromise - the dialogue makes it difficult to read without laughing aloud and the story flows with a fresh feeling that is completely enjoyable.

Adorable, funny book!
Stella aquaints her little brother, Sam, to "The Sea"--a world to which she is an expert and which adults do not seem to inhabit. He is testing the waters, obviously timid about his first ocean adventure. She is an avid explorer--unafraid to share her waters with fallen stars (starfish) and galloping sea horses. It's worth buying this book just to see the picture of the two fishing off of the pier. Absolutely Adorable!

This beach adventure is especially great for 3-4 yr. olds.
The illistrations are beautiful. The story with all of sams questions and stellas imagination are right out of a preschoolers mouth. Fun summer reading. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Arthur's Baby
This book begins with Arthur's parents telling him and his siter D.W. that they are expecting a new baby in about six months. D.W. is terribly excited. She can't wait for the baby to come but Arthur isn't so sure of the whole thing.
The next day at school he talks to his friends about it, and they don't reassure him of anything. In fact they make him even more doubtful than before. Binky tells him that he should get some earplugs,or he'll never sleep because the baby will always be crying in the middle of the night.
Buster tells him that he can forget about playing afterschool because he'll have to go home and babysit everyday.
Muffy tells him that he'll have to change all the dirty diapers that the baby makes.
Francine tells him that he will probably start talking like the baby does.
For the next few months all Arthur sees are babies everywhere they are all he thinks about and not in a good way.
One day after school Arthur comes home and Arthur's mom shows him their baby photo album. He sees different pictures of him and D.W. when they were babies.
The next Saturday morning Arthur sees his mom packing a suitcase and he asks her where she is going. She tells him that she isn't going anywhere they just have to be ready if the baby decides to come.
Sunday morning Arthur goes down to the kitchen to get some breakfast, but instead of his mom standing at the stove, his Grandma Thora was there. She told Arthur and D.W. that they had a new baby sister and that after they had eaten breakfast they would go to the hospital to see her.
And so they did. They met their dad at the hospital and he took them to the nursery part of the hospital and he shows them Kate, their new baby sister.
On Tuesday Arthur's mom and dad brought Kate home. The doorbell was constantly rinnging and it was always more presents for the baby.
That night they were in Kate's nursery and Arthur's mom asked him if he would like to hold Kate, but he said "I'd rather look." D.W. said that it was for the better because Arthur didn't know beans about babies.
A few days later Arthur's mom needed help and she asked Arthur to watch Kate while she went upstairs. D.W. said that she would take care of everything. The doorbell rang and D.W. opened the door and some of Arthur's friends were there. D.W. told them that Arhtur coulnd't play, but they could come see her baby.
D.W. was very defensive and she told everyone not to get too close to her baby and to be quiet because her baby was sleeping. Then Kate woke up and D.W. said that Kate wanted her bottle. Kate drank her bottle very fast and when she was done she began to cry. D.W. told everyone that she had it under control. She kissed Kate on the head, but that didn't stop the crying, she bounced Kate up and down but Kate wailed louder,then Arthur picked up Kate and patted her on the back. Kate let out a big burp and Arthur told everyone that everything was all right now.
I thought this was a great book especially for a family that is expecting and already has one or more children. It tells kids that there is no reason to exclude yourself and not be a part of the new baby and it tells them that even if you think you can't you can help with the new baby. I recommend this to any family that is expectin and would urge them to read it to their kids and fully explain what they can do to help when the baby arrives.

a review for this book
This book is a great book. I like it because it shows that there are ways to calm children (or should I say all people)down. Everyone should read this.

A great book for expecting a third child
This was such a great book for an older sibling expecting a baby brother or sister as well as for expecting a third child in the family. It really touched on what children might be wonderring or worrying about, helping both the child and the parent to open up and discuss these fears and concerns. My kids loved this and all the Arthur books.

Arthur has a new baby sister.
Arthur has a new baby sister named Kate. But, Arthur isn't so excited. He is scared that she will be like DW (his other sister). But, it turns out she really isn't like DW. Arthur wishes that Kate was sleeping in his room. One day Kate started to cry and when DW was getting Kate a toy, Arthur saved the day. ... Read more

Book Description

Five-year old Carly is angry when her new baby brother Nigel takes her mother's attention away.With her mother's help, she grows to love her brother, But then, a sudden tragedy turns Carly's world up-side-down.In this moving, one-of-a-kind story, Carly takes action to get her brother back and in the end, realizes he's been with her all along. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A powerful and profound story
Dancing On The Moon is a wondrously illustrated color picture book showcasing the artistry of Lauren Grimm in service to a sensitive and gentle text especially written by Janice Roper for children on the subject of coping with great loss. A young girl suddenly loses her infant brother, and her parents try to help her understand that he will always be with her, in her heart. Dancing On The Moon is a powerful and profound story, and highly recommended reading - especially for boys and girls having to deal with the loss of a friend or family member.

Beautiful and important book; a "must-have" for every parent
This is an incredibly well-written and beautifully illustrated book. It tells the story of the journey of a young girl, whose infant brother has died. She sets off to find him, and in the end, realizes that he was always with her, in her heart. The author, Janice Roper, lost her 3 month old son to SIDS, and years later, wrote the story that she was unable to find for her daughter (Selena), to guide her through her grief. She tells the story through beautiful poetry and powerful illustrations.

I received my copy of the book this week. My daughter (almost 9) had me read it again and again. If was about the fifth time we read it, that we could read it without crying. Reading this book with my daughter was like watching someone transform before your eyes. She cried uncontrollably (she has a 6-year-old brother and obviously could relate to the main character, Carly), she talked about her feelings, and then she started focusing on the end of the book. She said the book made her feel really, really good; that when someone dies they are always with you.

Fortunately, my children have not had to suffer the loss of someone close to them. But with my grandmother and my husband's parents aging, it is inevitable. I am comforted to know my daughter experienced this book. I think it will help us through those rough days. Even as an adult, I found it very comforting.

I thank the author for sharing this story, that was born out of her own personal tradegy. By writing this book, she will help so many people. It fills a void in children's literature. It is a beautiful and important book that every parent should own. ... Read more

Book Description

Meet my big sister.

She's
HILARIOUS!
TREMENDOUS!
FABULOUS!

When I grow up, I want to be as clever as she is. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

shower gift extraordinaire --for the expecting sister
Tells it like it is---with absolutely gorgeous art:! Big sisters are--sorry mom and dad--just as cool as it gets in this life time. yessssss. They rule. They rock. Art is so delicious I'm tempted to buy an extra copy to have pictures to frame. (Do they sell posters? If not maybe we should all picket until they do. ) Many bedtime requests and a big thumbs up from our resident big sis. ... Read more

Book Description

This juvenile classic, first published in 1881, tells the story of the widowed Mrs. Pepper and her five children?Ben, Polly, David, Joel, and Phronsie. Fondly remembered as a story that reveals the true value of family, it is the first in a series of books about the residents of the Little Brown House. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Lovely, old fashioned tale for still-innocent children.
This book is written in the style of its time (first published in 1881). It is the tale of an appealing and almost-implausibly loving family of five children their mother. Their father has died and they are managing, though barely, on their own. Poverty is continuous but not oppressive. The Peppers are resourceful and vigorous. The children lack for nothing when it comes to love, and must substitute industry and premature responsibilities for academic education.

They seem not to suffer much. The devotion of their mother to their well being, and the jollity and flair for fun the children possess temper what might otherwise be, for modern children, a frightening prospect. I read this book to my almost-six year old daughter, who was enthralled, enchanted and amused by the exploits of these five youngsters. Their serious bout with measles, their poor circumstances, their unquenchable good spirits, and their close relationships provided plenty of drama for this chi! ld who does not depend on special effects or motorized games for entertainment. In other words, though the story is old fashioned, even obvious and unsubtle in its moral message of love and devotion, it is still rich with possibilities for a child with imagination.

It is a kind of fairy tale, in the end, as the family circumstances are changed due to a somewhat fantastical coincidence of relatedness with a family of considerable means. But children have no trouble suspending their disbelief, and they love happy endings. The essential values are ones to which families of today still ascribe: love, devotion, simplicity, self reliance, and more. Its old fashioned flavor is one of its charms, particularly for children (and their parents) who have an affinity for things old fashioned, and whose language ability can accommodate more formal speech and turns of phrase now in disuse.

My daughter is hounding me for sequels, of which there are many, and of which I was unaware. ! I recommend this book to families who want to acquaint thei! r children with times past and the timeless qualities that are possible within families. It is a good and quiet book with simple, if difficult problems, and characters any child would do well to emulate. It would interest children who have enjoyed "Sarah Plain and Tall," and the "Little House" books, among others.

The Peppers we know and love
This book is about a poor family of five children and their widowed mother. It's about their troubles of being poor and their ability to always look on the bright side. Sidney tells about how the family deals with their problems. The family goes through many hardships, such as an illness throughout the family and a temporary blindness occurring. They think all is over when a twist of fate turns their spirits around.

This book has a great storyline with well-developed characters. It has some tougher words which makes the book an older children's novel. But it is a wonderful book and the author did an excellent job making the reader believe he or she is actually there seeing what's going on and really knowing the characters. I would recommend this book to readers who like stories of growing up and dealing with hardships.

Absorbing Story & Historical Information
"Five Little Peppers" is a lovely, absorbing story that also provides children with a clue about life before television, computers and malls. My daughter, age 8, describes it as a book she would like to "jump into." Two notes about the current HarperFestival paperback version: The cover illustration of the HarperFestival edition is highly misleading in that it depicts a family in essentially contemporary clothing. Also, the tape used to affix the accompanying necklace is so sticky that it can ruin the inside cover a bit when detaching.

The Five Little Peppers and How they Grew
I last read this book when I was 8 years old. It is the story of a loving,caring family,with Polly, the oldest child setting a loving example of selflessness and caring for her sisters and brother and family members. The book chronicles a life of hardship and deprivation to eventual luxury for all. I'm quite a bit older now, but the book left a tremendous impact about how caring for each other is life's ultimate reward.

A Classic for Every Generation
At the turn of the last century, five children and their widowed mother are left alone in the Brown House to make do in the daunting face of real poverty, with the fear of starvation always looming. And yet, the Pepper house is full of love. The five children, Ben, Polly, Davie, Joel and Phronsie, all help their mother in the day-to-day chores that make up their rough existence.

True to the mores of the time, Polly helps her mother sew so she can earn her pitiful pennies as a seamstress. The older boys do odd jobs and their chores. They frequently have nothing to eat but a cold potato, and when measles strikes the house, the almost deadly consequences just about tear the family apart. But their strength and love pulls them through--just in time to meet a family that will change their lives forever.

If you want your child to learn true family values, and to see and value the true spirit of giving, this is the book. Without preaching, without being cloying, without hammering the point home, "The Five Little Peppers" is a lasting testament to all that is good in people. Its charm is as strong today as it was generations ago. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautiful and Beguiling
I think I would give this wonderful picture book five stars even if the text was tripe because the illustrations are so lovely but fortunately the text is equally good. Two fisherman brothers, one an idealistic dreamer and the other a materialistic schemer accidentally pull up a baby mermaid in their nets along with their catch of fish. Both brothers see dollar signs, one hoping for riches and fame, the other wishing for a carefree life of exploration and discovery. They decide to sell her as a curiosity and make their fortune. The dreamy brother falls in love with the adorable merbaby and his conscience won't let him sell her into a miserable life on land. In the end kindness is rewarded. The story also reveals an age old enmity between the sea folk and the land folk because of the way land folk plunder and abuse the gifts of the sea. It has a good message about ecology and respect for other beings rather than dominance and destruction. The large double spread illustrations have an atmospheric sea-green wash and are as sure to enchant as a mermaid's voice. ... Read more

Book Description

Barfburger Baby isn't the only name Jonathon has for his new babybrother, Daniel. Sure, he spits up all the time, but Gasburger Baby andSnotburger Baby also fit him--for obvious reasons.

And today all the relatives are coming over to meet the baby. They make sillyfaces and coo at Daniel. Jonathon just doesn't get it. Why does everyone makesuch a big deal out of the baby? And why do they still insist on calling him hisbaby nickname--Jonathon Pookie Bear? He doesn't even play with Pookie Bearanymore. But he does know just where to find him, and he figures out the perfectway to pass his nickname on so he can be just Jonathon.

For the first time, Paula Danziger shares her unparalleled pitch-perfect view ofchildhood in a picture book, and G. Brian Karas marvelously captures the emotions and family dynamics so that kids and parents will cringe and grin in recognition. ... Read more

Book Description

Rex's parents are adopting a baby, and Rex doesn't like the idea at all. Suppose her parents are so busy with the new baby they forget about her?

So she comes up with a plan. If she can be the perfect big sister, her parents will have to pay attention to her. The trouble is, being the perfect big sister is a lot of work, and it doesn't leave time for much else -- like her best friend, Pinky. ... Read more

Book Description

From pat-a-cake to storytime, from bathtub splashes to bedtime lullabies, twins keep mommies and daddies very busy! Twins need double bottles and twice the swing pushes, have double the runny noses and take twice the patience. But they also bring twice the smiles, give twice as many kisses, play twice the peek-a-boos, and make each day twice as fun!

Perfect for toddlers, new parents, or twins of any age, Charlotte Doyle's cheerful rhymes and Julia Gorton's vivid illustrations show us a day in the life of two adorable twins.

Illustrated by Julia Gordon. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Simple and charming
This book describes the challenges of parenting for two. The text is short (only about 125 words), simple, and rhyming. The pictures are quite fun. There are no scary parts. The pages are thick- -almost like a board book.

A GREAT BOOK FOR ALL CHILDREN
This is by far my twin girls favorite book. With at least 50 books in their "library" this is the ONLY book my girls want to read over and over and over again. My twin girls are almost 2 and I bought this book months ago (when they were around 15-18 months old). Not only do they love to hear me read this book they read it back to me! One night (when she was supposed to be sleeping) I heard one of my girls saying "up, down, up, down...", I peeked in on her and found her reading it to herself in the dark. They love it and I LOVE the fact that they love to read it to themselves. I started reading this book to them and animating the pages, saying Hi to the mommy and to the bears, ball, books and anything that they recognized in the pictures. At the time we first started reading it, the girls didn't talk but they knew signs, and the first time we read it they recognized the bath in the story and did the sign for bath, it was amazing. When they bring this book to me now (for me to read) they know what is going on in the story with out me even saying it. It is how they learned the words "up" and "down" and "jammies". This book really just reinforces things they already know (like bath, ball, outside, mommy, daddy and book) and is a great addition to any childs book collection. I would really recommend this book even for the smallest child, it is illustrated in such big colorful pictures and has short text on each page it is sure to keep their attention. A MUST BUY!

Twins
Charlotte Doyle's book, illustrated by Julia Gorton, focused beautifully on the concept of twins but also indicated that the 2 children were individuals. They tussled over the teddy bear but came together when they lost the ice cream cones, and when they enjoyed the swing and the bath. The book is a good learning tool focusing on counting (one/two) and colors (white/blue).

It's like a musical piece - overture, fast and slow movements, resolving in a tender lullaby with two sleepy heads. Perfect for reading before bed. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. "This brightly illustrated story tells of a youngster's happy acceptance of a new addition to the family and how Mama and Papa Bear assist him with the adjustment."--Booklist. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A very nice book
We bought several books for my two-year old son to prepare him for our new baby. This book does a nice job talking about transitions, specifically growing up and needing a new, larger bed. My son identifies with that, and he likes the story (especially how Papa Bear uses tools to build the new bed). The new baby shows up at the very end of this story, so admittedly, that is not the main focus of this book. (The book might be better titled, "The Berenstain Bears' New Bed".) If you want a book that gives your child details on a new baby (what happens at the hospital, how to breastfeed, how to help take care of it, etc.), then you obviously need to buy a different book. But you probably want to get multiple books on the 'new baby' theme, and this one fits in nicely.

Not the best book for a sibling-to-be
We were given this book for our son when I was pregnant with our second child. It's not one I would recommend to any other expectant family -- you can really tell it was written in the early 1970s, its description of the birth of a new baby is so strangely indirect (the pregnancy is discussed very little -- the focus of the story is mainly on building a new bed for the older sibling!) My son also found it upsetting that the son and father in the book go off for the day, and return home to find that, surprise, the baby has been born while they were gone -- he said, "Didn't the mommy go to the hospital? Didn't the daddy help her? Was she all by herself?" Not the best choice for your older sibling-to-be -- we recommend Joanna Cole's books I'm a Big Brother and I'm a Big Sister instead.

Help for a new "big-sibling"
Twenty-three years ago, my parents gave me this book to help medeal with the arrival of my baby brother. I read it over and overagain, and it really helped me see that I was the big sister and that new things were waiting for me. I think the other reviewer missed the point about Brother Bear outgrowing his bed and giving it to Sister Bear. The authors were illustrating the exciting changes that were in store for Brother Bear and reinforcing that growing up and changing is a good thing. I will definitly read this to my children when I have them.

Not good for showing what happens when new baby arrives
I was dissappointed in the book because I was looking for something to read to my 2 year old which would help her understand what things would be like when new baby gets home. It doesn't even scratch the surface of that topic. It mostly talks about the older child outgrowing his bed and getting a new one so that the new baby can have his old bed. ... Read more

Book Description

When Lisa’s baby sister arrives, everyone makes a big fuss–everyone but Lisa. Grandma is all excited, Dad can’t snap enough photos, Lisa’s big sister Victoria has to show off the baby to all of her friends, and of course, Mom is always busy feeding the baby or changing her diaper. No one pays much attention to Lisa until she begins playing her flute very loudly just outside the baby Lila’s room. And then one of Victoria’s friends proclaims that this very cute little baby looks just like Lisa. It isn’t long before Lisa becomes a proud big sister and even takes Lila to school for show and tell. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Stella has as much moxie as Eloise and as much confidence (andred hair) as Pippi, but herspirit of adventure, overactive imagination, and older-sister omnisciencecatapult her into a league of her own. We met the inquisitive, impulsive Stellaand her less reckless little brother, Sam, in Stella, Star of the Sea and inStella, Queen of theSnow, but are newly delighted with Stella, Sam, and their faithful dog'sthoroughly charming foray into the forest.

Stella has seen hundreds of fairies. Sam think he sees one, too, tiny andbeautiful, but it is only a butterfly, Stella tells him. "'Do butterflies eatbutter?'" asked Sam. 'Yellow butterflies do,' said Stella." As much as Stellaseems to know, however, Sam knows a few things, too. That blue butterflies musteat pieces of blue sky, for instance. And that despite her insistence to thecontrary, the "rock" in the stream was moving.

Marie-Louise Gay's friendly, engaging watercolors crawl with tiny snails andother woodland creatures that readers might miss the first time through.Stella, Fairy of the Forest will warm the hearts of children and adultsalike, especially those who believe that a walk in the woods is an at leastpotentially magical adventure. (Ages 3 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Cute
Stella and her little brother Sam go to play in the forest. Sam has a lot of fears, but Stella, who is a know-it-all, dismisses them by reassuring Sam that bears sleep during the day, and snakes are too small to swallow people. The story is cute, but not always accurate. It has about 600 words.

Loved the first one, but this one doesn't hold a candle.
I loved Stella Star of the Sea. The illustrations with that flaming red hair and subtly comic dog, Sam's conservative and inquisitive nature. Stella Queen of the Snow was okay, but didn't have the same uniqueness. The dialogue seemed a bit forced and not as charming as the first. I am sadly disappointed with Stella Fairy of the Forest. It doesn't have any of the wonderful qualities of the Star of the Sea.

Let's Find Fairies......
Stella's back, with her self-assured manner and flaming red hair, and she's ready to take her little brother, Sam, on a forest adventure in search of fairies. And as they walk through the meadow filled with wild flowers and sheep, and cross the stream on stepping stones, Sam is filled with questions and thoughtful comments about the world around them, and as always Stella has all the answers. "Do butterflies eat butter?" asked Sam. "Yellow butterflies do," said Stella. "Then I guess blue butterflies eat pieces of sky," said Sam. And so it goes as they enter the forest filled with "big old trees." "Are they older than Grandma?" asked Sam. "Almost," said Stella. "They must be at least a hundred years old." "Is that why their skin is so wrinkled?" asked Sam. "That's not skin," said Stella. "That's bark." "Grandma's bark is much softer," said Sam. "Especially on her cheeks." The adventure continues as they watch and discuss forest animals, snakes, and the origin and growth of rocks, build a forest house out of ferns and branches, and watch for fairies..... No one captures the essence of small children, out for a day of imaginative fun and adventure quite like Marie-Louise Gay. Her gentle text is entertaining and engaging, and her ear for sibling dialogue and chatter is unrivaled. It's easy to believe that you're tagging along with Stella and Sam, and listening in on their conversations. Ms Gay's bright and expressive illustrations are captivating, and filled with joy, whimsy, and marvelous detail. Together word and art offer a feast for both the ears and eyes. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Stella Fairy Of The Forest is a wonderful new addition to Ms Gay's Stella series. Read them all and enjoy!

You and your preschooler will love this book!
Marie-Louis Gay's books about Sam and Stella are marvelous. This, their third adventure, begins when Sam asks Stella about fairies. Stella knows just where to find some. She leads Sam through meadows, across a stream and into a magical forest.
This story is truly lovely especially in its treatment of the siblings' relationship. Ms. Gay's illustrations have a special quality particularly her depictions of the delightful red-head, Stella. Don't miss it! ... Read more