Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Especially recommended as a read-aloud tool for parents
Thornton Burgess' stories 'interview' typical birds for kids, using these interviews to teach the basics on different common birds' appearances, behavior, eating and songs. His classic appeared in 1919 to much acclaim, and Dover's economy-minded paperwork reprint offers new generations the same introduction. The Burgess Bird Book For Children is especially recommended as a read-aloud tool for parents. ... Read more

Book Description

Each title in the series is a classic of design and insight.Brilliantly researched and in the handiest of formats, knowledgebecomes more accessible with these pockets full of information. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Super!
This is a nice reference guide for all ages.I have a 4 year old who isVERY interested in nature and I bought this book to aid myself and her inidentifying various birds that we run across.It is perfect for an adultas well as children.There are plenty of pictures that even a child whocannot read, can still understand. ... Read more

Book Description

In nature, we often hear the sound of a bird or an animal before we can see it.Our new Hear and There Books have the same effect.After reading a short riddle, children are asked "What am I?" By pushing a color-coded button on the sound strip, they can hear the call of the bird or the animal.When they pull the tab on the right page, the animal is revealed. To find out more about the featured bird or animal, readers can lift the flap on the left-hand page for more detailed information on its habitat, its young, and its behavior.Written by a professional naturalist, these books are beautifully illustrated, fun to listen to, and filled with interesting facts!

Have you ever wondered what a certain sound was outside your window at night? As children play the calls of these nocturnal creatures, they will be fascinated to read and learn about the coyote, spring peepers, great horned owl, American toad, whippoorwill, field cricket, bullfrog, and katydid. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Preschool Winner!!
A parent shared this book with my son's preschool class when they were doing a lesson on birds. The kids had alot of fun trying to guess the birds based on the description and the sounds. The teacher's and myself were so impressed with this book that I came home and ordered two copies...one for the class and one for my home!! I am also planning on purchasing "Night Calls", also written by the same author.

Great book
I purchased this book for my 6 year old son who loves it. It is well written and has great picture's. The colors are vibrant and eye catching. The pull tabs seem sturdy and that they can withstand the abuse of a 6 year old. The only thing is be prepared for loud birdie noises! They do get on your nerves after awhile. Other than that, it is a very nice book.

Listening to bird calls
I bought this for my 13 month old grandchild thinking I would save it until she was older. She absolutely loves the book! Each time she comes to visit she wants to listen to the calls over and over. At 15 months, she can now identify the birds by call as well as by picture and has become ever more fascinated by the birds in our yard. I know that in the next few years she will become interested in the information on the birds which my husband and I have enjoyed reading. I am ordering three more books for gifts for other grandparents to share with their youngsters.

What does bird watching have in common with piano lessons?
Many kids hate piano lessons but when they are adults, not one regrets learning how to play. So why not teach your kids the joy of bird watching? Granted, I've always thought they were kind of kooky but most bird watchers I've met are the smartest and most environmentally conscious people I know. That said, why not teach your kids a healthy and educational hobby such as bird watching? One of my sons' first words was "bird" because he was always aware of the various birds he would hear chirping in the trees. At 18 months, this is one of his most favorite books. The varieties of calls in this book are all very different so learning to identify the individual calls is similar to learning foreign languages. The set up of the pull out tabs and flaps creates a game of "peek-a-boo" to help keep the interest of a small child. If you are looking or a gift outside of the usual race car or Barbie doll, I recommend a book like this.

My kids love this book!
I have three children, ages 3, 6 and 8. They all love this book! We leave it sitting on a coffee table with a view of our bird feeder, and all my children have learned to identify all of the birds in the book. My 8 year old takes the book outside and sits quietly and "calls" to the birds (and they even answer, sometimes)! This book has gotten them all interested in observing the nature they have in their own backyard. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

For hummingbird lovers of all ages
As a reading specialist I regularly review new children's books. As soon as I saw this one, I thought of my mom. She's a sharp-minded 87-year-old who loves poetry, art and hummingbirds. She gives the artistry, both words and watercolors, of this book an easy five stars.

Educators Recommend
One warm, February morning a tiny hummingbird began building a nest in a ficus tree on the patio of George's home in Claremont , California . For the next two months George kept a "hummingbird journal" of the daily happenings. "I still marvel," she writes, "over the surprising range of emotions one small bird and her family evoked: awe, worry about possible dangers, and laughter when the baby birds teetered on the edge of the nest for their daily flight practice."

George has expertly taken those emotions and woven them into this delightful collection of poems. In "Visitor" we are introduced to the small mother. She is nothing more than a "spark, a glint, / a glimpse of pixie tidbit." In the next poem, however, we see her bravado and determination in action. She becomes a "feathered missile streaking by," ordering the humans off her patio, out of her territory.

Soon two eggs are visible in the "cobweb ship" of a nest. Once hatched, the nestlings, "raisin black / an wrinkled," settle in. In "Flight Practice," George does a superb job at allowing the reader to visualize the drama taking place: "Four curled up feet grip / the top of the nest. / Two tiny motors / rev up for the wing test."

Moser is in top form here. His realistic, incredibly detailed watercolor paintings are small jewels in themselves.

The poems and illustrations combine wonderfully to allow readers the opportunity to vicariously witness nature up-close.

Highly Recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff ... Read more

Book Description

The history of America at sea is presented through the travels of Seabird, a carved ivory gull. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Seabird a journey through time
I first read this book about thirty years ago, and would regularly re-visit it and other titles by this author, until I grew out of so called picture books. That I can still recall the pictures from Seabird, and the images that the cast in my mind testify to the quality of the writing. The journey from coastal whaling off Nantucket, to Greenland, the Pacific and the Yankee clippers that have forged their way into Legend, ending with one of the protaganists and his grandchild on a steamship in the 1920s will never leave me. Books like this should never die or be forgotten. You owe it to your children to make sure they read it.

Beautiful illustrations and unforgettable story
I haven't forgotten it in the 20 years since I last read it. I'm ordering it right now to read it with my sons. This is a lyrical book that can survive a post-politically-correct viewing without losing any of its character.

Age of Discovery
From its inception in the 1940's, Seabird has offered children of all ages a rich blend of New World nautical history, from tall-masted ships to steamships, all woven into an adventure of global exploration by sea. Highly recommended.

To this day Seabird evokes sights and sounds of whaling days and early coal-powered ships. I smell the greased hemp lines and the rendered blubber, the sulphurous fumes of steamers, kelp, and the sea itself.

The early youth, perhaps reading alone or read to, becomes a lean young sailor, develops character, and passes into old age through four generations -- a most remarkable transition when one knows so little of aging or history. Holling was a master author, first of Paddle to the Sea, later of more land-based novels, each rich in full-page color images. ... 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 (3)

awsome book!
Birds, Nest ,and Eggs Mel Boring Reading Level 4.8

Birds, Nests, and Eggs is an excellent book. It is great for a book report or just to read for fun. It is about birds and what kind of tree they nest in. It also tells you what kind of calls they make. It shows you how long it takes for the eggs to hatch and when they learn how to fly. They show you how the birds trick you. They show you how to do some experiments. Again I strongly recommend it.

Excellent learning tool!
I purchased 5 books of this series for my five year old daughter for Christmas, as she wanted a "field guide" like her older sisters when exploring our 45 acres of woods. After reviewing these books before giving them, we decided to use them as part of our science program for our home school. These books have bright and colorful pictures, short accurate explanations of the animal, their habitat, eating habits, and even some of the popular anecdotes that go along with the animal. (For example, the myth about the stripes on the wooly bear caterpillar in relation to the length of winter) It has the appropriate warning for studying certain animals and tips on studying nature in general. What we enjoy most is that many of these animals can be found in our back yard to furthur study. Each book deals with three types of animal, such as Caterpillars,Bugs, and Butterflies. They are separated into sections dealing with each type. At the end of the section is a wonderful hands-on project the child can basically do on their own within the recommended age group (9-12) or with some assistance for a younger age group like my daughter. This particular one is a little different in that instead of having three sections, it is one section dealing with each type of bird, incorporating their nests and eggs, with the projects interspersed throughout. My 5 year old begs us to read these books to her and loves the projects. I highly recommend this book and others in the series for those who want their children to learn about nature and how to respect it.

Me and my 3 year old love it
I was so glad I bought this book for my kids. My 3 year old and I look at it nearly every night (it's his first choice). After only a few times, he was able to help me name all of the birds. He has even recognized one or two in our yard. It's an easy read, with great illustrations, a great book for beginning bird watchers! ... Read more

Book Description

"I am Joy, and I have come to qreet you."

A beautiful bird named Joy stops one day to visit a mountain. Every spring she flies high in the air, looking for the best place to build her nest and raise her children. As much as Joy would like to stay with the mountain, she must leave to continue her search. After hearing the mountain's pleas for her to stay, Joy is so touched she makes a very special promise that each spring the mountain will be visited by one of her kin. Over time the birds bring about a wonderful change in the mountain -- a change that will transform the mountain forever. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

It's about hope!
I found this book again while cleaning my daughter's room; I found it years ago and it is such a wonderful and uplifting story. Perhaps it was more than serendipity that I found it again, for it seemed the perfect message to send to an adult friend who needed some TLC -- for its main message, to my mind, is one of hope, and of believing in the power of love.

Beautiful pictures, beautiful story
This story is one of the true classics of children's literature, even though it is an unkown. I collect children's books, and this is one of my all - time favorites. If you want a story with substance, meaning, and still a wonderful story - buy this one. The illustrations are outstanding, also. Have a kleenex handy, though.

Beautiful
This is one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. It is love. Love that is indeed essential. Like water for chocolate type of love. Whenever I read this book it amazes me how as to how real the author personified the characters.

This story not only clarifies the necessity to of the need for love but it brings it forth with such astounding boldness. The mountain in its isolation literally almost gives up in the midst of its quest for companionship.

This book is not only a book for children -- it is can also be a literary piece for adults. In the quest for the mountain's security; the bird leaves behind generation upon generation of offspring to provide the mountain with a sense of love and security for many, many, many years to come.

Beautiful -- is a mere word that describes an element of something that is precious, astounding, and good. I cannot find the perfect word for this book. It seems to me that beautiful is hardly enough.

Beautiful story, great storytelling
This is a beautiful story about a bird that visits a mountain once a year. Both can talk, and they visit with each other. The mountain is lonely. The bird explains she will die someday, that birds don't live long, but promises she will have her daughter visit when she is gone. She explains that she cannot live there as this mountain is barren, so she can visit only once per year. The mountain is lonely when she passes on and cries (a brook begins). The daughter does visit and she drops one seed per year. In the end the mountain is a thriving ecosystem where birds and animals can live year round, nourished by the water that the mountain created.

The book has longer prose than the usual picture books for this age range (more like the picture books published in the 1950s and 1960s). The illustrations are by Eric Carle, interesting and appealing collage format that he is famous for.

This is a tender and touching tale! It is not just a plain picture book prose, it truly is "storytelling".

Timeless Story for Both Young and Old
I randomly picked and read this book waiting for my wife to finish in her kindergarten class. What joy it brought to me, as it will to you and your children. "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" revels in classic storytelling of old: a building promise of a miraculous ending. The timeless themes of emotions, promises made and kept, and "happily-ever-after" resound throughout the story and beautiful artwork. In these days of rapid-fire animation and video game addiction, "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" brings us to a gentler and far more satisfying place. It will teach your children about the power of friendship and hope, a lesson off-times lost in this world of Pokemon and violence. This book is one that should hold a revered and oft-used place beside your child's bed. But don't be surprised if you find "The Mountain That Loved a Bird" making its way into your bedroom or favorite reading nook. ... Read more

Book Description

In Math Magic, his New York Times bestseller, Scoff Flansburg demonstrated his universal ability to make math fun and easy for adults. Now in Math Magic for Your Kids, the Human Calculator does the same for elementary school children.

Measuring flour for a birthday cake, setting the dinner table, counting change -- learning these simple skills daunts millions of children. And helping them along can be frustrating for parents. In Math Magic for Your Kids, Scott Flansburg comes to the rescue. With entertaining games and tricks, this proven method helps kids develop a positive attitude about numbers, the necessary foundation on which they will build math skills for the rest of their education. Children will discover hours of independent amusement, while parents will find activities they can do with their children to supplement their schoolwork and to help them get better grades, including:

• Innovative counting exercises that teach addition and subtraction
• Writing activities that reinforce math concepts
• Shortcut methods that provide "magic tricks" for learning math skills
• Riddles and puzzles that activate logic and math basics
• Games and drills that introduce and perfect multiplication and division

Reviews (5)

Making numbers make sense!
Mr.Flansburg's methods of stressing basic math skills are new and important before algebra or higher math will make sense. His new web site thehumancalculator.com also offers more information about his goal to wipe out innumeracy. He taught me it's never to late to conquer math phobia and fulfill my career goals that never materialized because of math avoidance.

Confused on age level
The book was ok however, I wanted a book for older students. This is recommended for 6 th 8 year olds. The book is in an easy to read format and has breaks to complete exercises to practice what you learned.

In a math-phobic era more people should read this book!!
I homeschool my kids who like the ideas behind math but find drilling real agony!!! They are beginning to see the fun in it and don't mind repetition any more. Thanks and praise to Scott Flansberg!!!

Fascinatingly different from traditional textbook math
Though math was never a problem for me, I discovered that this book not only made math easier and faster, but it also caused the numbers to take on some practical meaning. I recommend the book for anyone who wants to understand the reason numbers work.

This Book's Great!
This book has complex problems and exercises for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. With the exercises and advice,this book teaches you the basics of doing Mental Calculation. Although Scott Flansburg only explains how to make the numbers 0 to 12 more sense to you, every child can enjoy math-because Scott, the Human Calculator, actually makes it fun! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A gem for your collection
I collect books specifically about the emperor penguin breeding cycle. When I choose a book, I want the emperor penguin pictures to be fairly accurate (not cartoony or wacky) as well as beautiful, vivid, elegant, etc.. And I want the writing to reflect love for the story of these penguins.

I love this book.

Educating and humorous
What a fabulous book! I laughed out loud ... and actually learned a thing or two about Emperor penguins. A great choice for Father's Day - shows the importance of dads in bringing up little ones (penguins, in this case), which is refreshing. Makes a great read aloud for one-on-one, or in group settings, with just the right language to keep preschoolers interested while teaching them about penguins.

Excellent for Dads to read to the Kids
This nature book is wonderful as it tells of the story emperor penguin's unique habits at the kids level and in their language. At the same time there are little footnotes which answer most of the 'why' questions from the kids that arise out of the text. ( so parents appear all knowing) The illustrations are beautiful. My daughter was so enthusastic about this book the I wanted to pop on the plane to Edinburgh, Scotland and show my daughter the Emperor penguins in real life. ( I think Antartica in the middle of winter isn't an option). Nevermind, perhaps Jenkins and Chapman will write about the little blue penguins, which are in Boston, next. ... Read more

Book Description

Bee hummingbirds, ostriches, flycatchers, chickadees, and bald eagles! Dick and Sally find themselves on a bird-watching tour led by the Cat in the Hat. After a quick lesson on just exactly what a bird is, they go motoring around the world to observe our fine feathered friends in their natural habitats. Time flies, and soon it's late, but the Cat saves the day by shifting his vehicle into Fine Feather All-Weather Flying Machine mode and winging Dick and Sally back home. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fine Feathered Friends
In this book the cat in the hat comes back again to visit Dick and Sally, but this time he doesn't create a mess. This time he has come to teach them all about birds. To start off with he talks about birds in general, how they have feathers and a tail and hatch out of eggs. Then he, Thing 1, and Thing 2 take Sally and Dick to different places to introduce them to several different types of birds, such as the spoonbill, emperor penguin, bald eagle, ostrich and more. The cat then leads them all into his Fine Feather, All-Weather Flying Machine, getting them home just in time so that their mother doesn't notice they were gone. This book is very informative, and is written in rhyme. The pictures are bright, bold and colorful. Somehow though, this book fails to capture my attention and hold it, making it not one of the best books I've read by this author.

Loggie-log-log-log

Learning to love nature
This book engaged my 4 year old daughter from the moment she saw the cover. The combination of familiar characters (The Cat in the Hat, Sally) and silly Seuss-like rhymes and drawings is a wonderful vehicle for teaching preschoolers simple biology concepts. My daughter laughed while learning about the biggest, smallest, and quirkiest members of the bird family. This book is part of a series that spans birds, fish, mammals, insects, and dinosaurs. As a group, the series is a great tool to teach children about groupings in nature (i.e., what do mammals, insects, birds have in common?, how do they differ?). Even adults can learn a fact or two while reading to the little ones! ... Read more

Book Description

Joyful Noise

Written to be read aloud by two voices, sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous -- here is a recording of irresistible poems that celebrate the insect world, from the short life of the mayfly to the love song of the book louse. Funny, sad, loud and quiet, each of these poems resounds with a booming, boisterous, joyful noise. Winner of the 1989 Newbery Medal.

I Am Phoenix is an exultant celebration of the sounds and essence of the bird world. A companion to Joyful Noise, written to be spoken aloud by two voices and masterfully performed by Lloyd and Twomey, these poems perfectly capture the beauty of birds in their singing, soaring and rejoicing.

Performed by John Bedford and Anne Twomey

Book Description

This is a true story about a great horned owl named Jackson who chose his adopted human family over his natural instincts to live in the wild.Jackson was born in the wild with owl parents that cared for him and his owl siblings in a nest high in the branches of a giant tree.One day, a young boy climbed the tree and captured Jackson in a burlap bag and took him home.The boy soon realized that caring for a wild animal was a lot of work and that owls wre not intended to be pets.Gijsbert (Nick), a kind man with a special license to care for owls, was contacted and took Jackson home to his family where they cared for him until he was old enough and strong enough to be set free. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Adopted By A Book!
The illustrations (paintings) in this book are worth the price alone. They are absolutely stunning. A great book for your coffee table. Read it to your children or grandchildren. This book is sure to awake a sense of wonder in a young person. There are ecological concepts, such as food chains and predation, which are paramount to a youngster who needs a real world experience with living things. The great horned owl is vividly presented as a fearsome predator, yet as an individual the Van Frankenhuyzen's owl is one to be admired as well as respected. Thoreau rejoiced that there were owls. I too rejoice there are owls, and rejoice there are sensitive and compassionate naturalists who can bring the natural world into ours. What a blessing this book has been to my family. It will be read and reread again, especially when we can not get outside and tramp the woods and fields for our own owls!

Awesome
I am an adult owl lover who bought this book for myself, and just love it. This is an amazing true story that's funny, endearing, and doesn't end sad. It makes you say 'awwwwwe.' Every page has huge, beautiful paintings of the Great Horned Owl which are worth the price of the book alone. Even non-owl-lovers will love this story. It begins with Jackson, the owl, riding home in the car, perched on the head rest of the passenger seat (there's a painting of it) and ends with the owl perched on the roof of his owner's house. In the middle, there's a painting of Jackson standing at his master's door, mouse in beak, seeking admittance after tapping on the door, so he can share his hunt with his human family. And this is a mere sampling.
Absolutely buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

Adopted by an owl
This is the only book I could keep the interest of my [child] for the Whole book! I will be looking for more books written by Ms. Smith. I would like to comment on the beautiful pictures. They made me feel like I was there!

Your library must have!
Adopted By An Owl is a truly enduring tale. It tells of the Van Frankehuyzen family's rehabilitation of a Great Horned Owl and of the Owl, named Jackson, taking to the family as if he were the family dog! It is just amazing to read about the Jackson's interactions with the family, his healing process, and his overall protectiveness of them. Most people see these critters as frightening but you see how amazingly enough, Jackson was able to be both a free wild bird and yet an integral part of the family for many years. This is a wonderful book to share with Children as I think it helps to teach them compassion towards animals. It shows children that we can all be a part of nature by helping even the littlest creature live on. Hopefully, it teaches some that certain animals are not meant to be in captivity either .If you like this book, you must look for Saving Samantha. It is the Van Frankehuyzen's journal account of raising a baby fox pup who they found as a small kitten captured in a trap. I do not want to give too much away, but as a bookseller, this is my favorite Sleeping Bear Press children's book to date!

An excellent book!
As a naturalist who works with a permanently injured Great Horned Owl, I can say that besides being stunning, the illustrations in this book capture the true facial expressions and body postures of a Great Horned Owl. The information in this book not only draws you into the story, but it is very accurate and educational. I can't recommend this book highly enough to someone looking to present enthralling, accurate information about owl biology to youngsters (or adults for that matter!) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Penguins - Another Gail Gibbons Masterpiece
As with "Whales" Gail Gibbons continues to distinguish herself as one of the premier authors of non-fiction books for the young. Graceful illustrations of every kind of penguin plus interesting and new facts for even the most seasoned adult viewers of the Discovery Channel. Large print, along with thoughtful pronunciation guides, makes it easy for younger readers. An absolute joy to read! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best!
This kit has a real Ren & Stimpy feel to it. I mean, a kit full of bird barf? While not as rewarding as watching the owl caugh up the actual pellet in the wild, this education book is likely to open doors to the world of birding in ways no youngster, teacher, or parent ever expected. Truth be told, kids find body functions funny, and barfing is one of the favs.

And by the way, my thanks to whoever took the pic of the Great Horned Owl on the front cover.

FUN AND ENTERTAINING!!
My 8 year old son was so excited to get this book. Naturally, he loves anything gross and Owl Puke combined that natural affinity for the 'yuck' factor with an entertaining (and educational) read. (Great title, too). I highly recommend this book to parents everywhere and look forward to seeing what's next from Hammerslough!

great
I love this book!! My son couldn't wait to open it and he learned so many good things from the skeleton. Definetly a great book for youngsters!

Useless. Missing the point.
This is horrible. Why buy a book that shows you how to find skeletons in owl puke when the joy of watching the actual owl puke has been completely forgotten?

Sure, it may be marketing savvy to name the book "Owl Puke" and to label the box containing owl puke "Owl Puke," but to not witness a real life owl puking seems perverse in my opinion. Call me old-fashioned.

But the song "Hot Shot City" is particularly good. ... Read more