Book Description

When it comes time for the three little wolves to go out into the world and build themselves a house, their mother warns them to beware the big bad pig. But the little wolves' increasingly sturdy dwellings are no match for the persistent porker, who has more up his sleeve than huffing and puffing. It takes a chance encounter with a flamingo pushing a wheelbarrow full of flowers to provide a surprising and satisfying solution to the little wolves' housing crisis.

Eugene Trivizas's hilarious text and Helen Oxenbury's enchanting watercolors have made this delightfully skewed version of the traditional tale a contemporary classic. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

The Three Little Wolves and The Big Bad Pig
I thought that this book was most interesting out of all of the childrens books that I have read. I liked this book because it is funny, especially with the switching of the wolves and pigs. The story takes dangerous animals and turns them into meek little animals. Then it takes an ordinary barn yard pig and makes him into the bad guy. so the whole story has been turned around.

It is neat how the big bad pig takes the power tools and knocks down the houses instead of using his breath by huffing and puffing and blowing the houses down.

The wolves use their friends the beaver, kangaroo, rhinoceros, and the flamingo as there suppliers for the materials to build their houses. They do not have to pay for the supplies, they just ask for the materials and their friends give them what they need.

The rhinoceros was more than happy to give the needed supplies along with other supplies that they did not even ask for, to his friends because he was feeling generous and kind hearted.

The Kangaroo gave them some bricks that were yellow and red so their house would be strong. But that failed because the pig was able to smash the house down with his sledge hammer.

The beaver gave the wolves concrete so they could build a stronger house. But the Big Bad pig used his pneumatic drill and knocked the house down.

hysterical new twist on an old theme
I was looking at this book in our school library when a fellow teacher leaned over my shoulder, read the title, and said, "Oh, no! I bet this one is hysterical!"

She was right.

The obvious role-reversal of Wolf and Pig in the retelling of this old classic is sure to make any child giggle even before the book is opened. Once you DO start reading it, stand back! Three cuddly little wolves are sent by their mother out into the world to make their way (mom is painting her nails black and has curlers in her hair and tail--a very nice touch!). The three wolves, in a departure from the original tale, borrow some bricks from a passing kangaroo and build a sturdy brick house.

All goes well and they're out in the garden playing croquet when the Big, Bad Pig comes sauntering along. The wolves hid inside, won't let him in, and the Big Bad Pig tries to blow the house down.

He cant, of course. The house is brick! But, "the pig wasn't called big and bad for nothing. He went and fetched his sledgehammer and knocked the house down." The illustrations by Ms. Oxenbury of the pig smashing the walls with a hammer while the wolves flee through a window is worth the cost of the book alone. But, wait! There's MORE!

They build a succession of stronger houses, each which is demolished by the pig (he uses a pneumatic hammer and dynamite). Only when they try to change their tactics and make a house of FLOWERS does the pig change his ways and see how destructive and obnoxious he was.

This is a marvelous book, and no mistake. There are probably a good 200 versions of the Three Little Pigs, many of which end with the grisly death of the wolf. In the Three Little Wolves, not only is the reader immediately hooked on the role reversal of wolf and pig, but the text and illustrations are simply hysterical and the peaceful ending make it far more enjoyable than the original fable. This is a book that should be in everyone's library!!

A wolf-friendly revision!
As a kid, I loved wolves and hated the Three Little Pigs. So this funny, wolf-friendly revision of the creepy old classic really tickles me! It begins with Mama Wolf sending her doting pups off into the wide world with the warning: "Beware of the Big Bad Pig!" Keeping Mama's message in mind, the trio decides to build a strong house for protection from the boorish boar. The three fluffy, friendly, refined little wolves are never named, but I like to call them Frasier, Niles, and Daphne. The pig, a burly bully of a construction-worker, could be named Brutus. Safe in the yard of their new brick home, the little wolves play a spirited game of squash. Suddenly the swaggering swine shows up! In a reversal of the original tale, the Big Bad Pig pounds on the wolves' door and demands to come in, while they quaver, "Not by the hair on our chinny-chin-chins!" Then, using his construction hardware, the pig destroys the brick house, and the wolves flee with their fluffy tails between their legs! As the three little wolves build progressively massive fortresses, the big bad pig employs heavy ground-breaking and demolitions equipment to smash them to rubble. At last, the little wolves have no materials left with which to build, except -- ah, but I'm not going to give away the surprise! Let's just say, the ending is a lot sweeter than the original. No one gets boiled alive or devoured, and the the classic adversaries even become friends. Kids and parents will love the beautiful artwork and the silliness of the story, although the ending might seem just a bit too saccharine after all the destruction and mayhem.

entertaining revisionist fairy tale
Kids and adults will enjoy this comic retelling of the classic story of a bully and the three hapless siblings he has targeted -- yes, you guessed it -- the three sweet little wolves and that big bad pig. The illustrations and text are very funny as the pig uses increasingly hefty items to tear down the brick, metal and armored houses built by the wolves, until at last an unexpected material proves that even bullies have their limits. A fun read.

Two Words - Rush Job!
For a children's story this book is pretty average and boring. For a parodied fairy tale it's also below average. There are far higher quality both children's and adult fiction retelling of or in fairy tale format books out there. Gary Larson's, There's a Hair in my Dirt! Would be my pick for the best fairy tale style children's book (adult's will love it too) and Once Upon a Crime would be my pick for the adult fiction readers.

I really didn't like this book. I think the author came up with a good idea of reversing the wolf and pig roles but obviously couldn't develop it further. The artwork in the book is pretty average as well.

Obvious situations don't happen in this book and aren't explained. Why the wolves don't stand up for themselves or just call the police for one. Why are other animals carrying around bricks, cement and other heavy building equipment while walking if they have no intention of using it themselves is another. Becasue you know I often carry around building materials when I go for a walk.

The ending is terrible (don't worry I won't give it away) and very unrealistic. Kids could be taught through the story how to deal with bullies or crime and other messages in this book if it was written properly. Give this a miss.

A great sequel to the original Three Little Pigs tale is the children's book Porkenstein. In this tale the surviving pig from the house of bricks is a mad scientist and decides to make himself a friend. Buy it instead. ... Read more

Book Description

Have you ever gone on a bear hunt? Come along on this one with a brave young family -- four children (including the baby) and their father. They're not scared. With them you will cross a field of tall, wavy grass ("Swishy swashy!"), wade through a deep, cold river ("Splash splosh!"), struggle through swampy mud ("Squelch squerch!"), find your way through a big, dark forest ("Stumble trip!"), fight through a whirling snowstorm ("Hoooo woooo!"), and enter a narrow, gloomy cave. WHAT'S THAT? You'll soon learn just what to do to escape from a big, furry bear!

With tremendous pace, humor, and verve, Michael Rosen has retold a favorite tractional story. The pictures by Helen Oxenbury, one of the most widely loved contemporary artists, are full of masterly characterizations, delightful comedy, and high drama, set in lovely sweeping landscapes. This is a book not to be missed, one to be chanted aloud and acted out, to be enjoyed over and over again. It is a picture book on the grand scale. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Delightful fun
This is one of my three-year-old daughter's favourite books. The repetitive, sing-song chorus ("We're going on a bear hunt, we're going to catch a big one...") and the sound effects, as the family passes through tall grass, mud, a river, a forest and a snowstorm before reaching the bear's cave, will delight any pre-schooler. (For even more fun, use your child's teddy bear as a prop when the bear in the story finally makes his appearance.)

This book is great fun for both parent and child. It's one you won't soon tire of reading.

My kids they all loved it...
When reading this book to my kids they all loved it. (Ages 3-7) Just reading the title to them and showing them the front cover were enough to raise their curiosity of what the story would contain when it was being read. They asked questions like: "Why are they hunting for a bear? Do you think they will be ok?" We're Going on a Bear Hunt does a great job of making reading out loud to your kids a thing to look forward to. Your kids will enjoy this little story as it takes you onward towards the bear.

When reading this picture book you will see that the Illustrations are colorful, lively and accurate in their support of the text at all times. The clearly defined illustrations also complement the mood and setting of the adventuring family along the changing terrain. You will notice the contrast between lighter and darker scenes as the storyline changes emotions and how they help develop the plot throughout.

Just like the illustrations, the text of the story is lively and fun to read. The themes are repetitive and easy for young ones to anticipate. (Another good thing for beginning readers) The page has text that imitates the sounds that the family makes while on the bear hunt. You will also notice that the text and Illustrations are not mixed up with the layout on the pages, thus avoiding the confusion that some books do have. The text is large enough to easily read and good for beginning readers. My oldest enjoyed reading it to his younger siblings.

Overall, I would say that We're Going on a Bear Hunt is a great way to teach your kids, in a fun way, a little about what not to do when you go on an adventure in the wild;-) It will provide plenty of good reading, laughter and silliness. I am sure you will have your little ones asking you to repeatedly read this charming, fun and well-done book.

Can't go over it
Glancing at the cover of Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's, "We're Going On a Bear Hunt", I thought something along the lines of, "Hrmph. I bet they watered it down and made it syrupy. There's no way this kind of kid's book (in which a father and his four children of different hair colors go hunting for a bear) is going to actually end with the family finding the bear and getting chased back to their house". Well, you can just color me wrong all over. Not only is the book faithful to the original song, but it's a hoot to boot. The words are those old familiar ones we all love so well, and the pictures are a high-stepping romp complete with adventure, daring, and danger. Everything, in fact, that a good picture book could hope to be.

If you've ever heard the song "We're Going On a Bear Hunt" then you know the way the story goes. A father and his rambunctious youngsters are setting out to locate one bear. They're not actually on a hunt in terms of carrying guns or anything of that sort. In fact, these people haven't anything with them but one another and the clothes on their backs. With their border collie along with they successfully cross the tall wavy grass (swishy swashy), ford the deep cold river (splash splosh), tromp through the ooey-gooey mud (squelch squerch), wander through the deep dark forest (stumble trip!), run through a whirling snowstorm (Hoooo woooo), and at last enter a deep dark cave (tiptoe). It's the dog that sees the malicious bear first and the brave troop run back over every place they'd been before to escape. In a moment of frenzied activity they enter their house only to discover that they've forgotten to shut the door. At the last minute they get it closed (angry bear safely outside now) and everyone crawls into bed and under the covers. The final shot in the book is one of the bear as he tromps solemly homeward again.

This is quite an exciting book. Author Michael Rosen has captured the enjoyable sounds of the story quite well, and the high tension towards the end is just delightfully scary enough for the youngsters. But it is illustrator Helen Oxenbury that really lets this puppy shine. She has the ability to create scenes in which characters are interacting with one another against huge evocative backgrounds. I'm very partial to a scene in which the family is joyfully running through the tall grasses, dotted occasionally with deep red poppies. The sky is a blue one, filled with light puffy clouds and in the distance a flock of birds travels up and away. Admittedly, I love a good pastoral illustration, but this kind of care for illustrations is visible in all Oxenbury's color pictures (each appearing on every other page). If you're at all familiar with Helen Oxenbury then you'll find numerous scenes in this story that remind you of her other books. The baby found here looks like nothing so much as a clothed version of the infant in, "Big Mama Makes the World". The muddy squelchy vista in another picture is reminiscent of the barnyard takeover attempt in, "Farmer Duck". She knows how to pick 'em, Helen Oxenbury does.

Will kids be scared by a family chased by a bear? Pleasantly so, I believe. The shot of the bear walking home is enough to convince even the worry-wartiest of children that the family is not going to be eaten in the near future. All in all, this is just another one of those great picture books that fill the world. It reads aloud very well, so if you need a book to present to a large group, I've found the perfect match for you. If you like high adventure and a good tale, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" delivers both in spades. A wonderful addition to any storytime collection.

'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen.
If you're going to buy one book this year for a young child, you'd better make sure it's this one. 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen, is a children's adventure story that's guaranteed to leave you wondering at the end. What's the bear really like? Is it a good idea to go on a bear hunt? Maybe it's safer to stay at home in bed. If you did, maybe you wouldn't have such an exciting adventure!
This story is about an optimistic family and their dog who are determined to search for a bear, despite the obstacles in their way. What happens when they finally meet the bear? You'll have to read it to find out!
I recommend this brilliant story to parents and teachers of young children because, as well as being a fantastic read, it's a great book for teaching them about adjectives and prepositions: "A swirling whirling snowstorm. We can't go over it. We can't go under it. Oh no! We've got to go through it!" I also really like the illustrations by Helen Oxenbury because they help to tell the story and bring the characters to life. This is also one of my daughter's favourite bed-time stories. She's not scared...........

How about you?

Do you dare to find the bear?

Wonderful Book
This book is fun and exciting - the short verses hold your attention and that of your young children. I have read this book to children as young as 10 months up to 8 years and they have all loved it.
This book would be useful in pre-school circle time with its repeated examples of "over" "under" and "through" could easily translate into play and movement activities.
The illustrations so beautifully capture expressions and movement.
In the story the family travels through mud, forest, snow and finally into a cave all in search of a bear, but don't worry, "it's such a beautiful day - they're not scared" The excitment builds - are they going to find a bear? And what will happen when they do? Read and find out!
I bought this book for my youngest child as a gift last year and I'm buying more this year to give to the children of friends. ... Read more

Book Description

Helen Oxenbury's delightful board books, featuring her sweet and cuddly babies at play, are back with a whole new look. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Wonderful book for any age group
I am not a child development expert, so I cannot give the technical reasons why my kids become so engrossed in these books. I can say this: both my daughters have loved all the books in this series (including "All Fall Down", "Say Goodnight" and "Clap Hands") since they were infants. It could be the soft oversized illustrations of babies engaged in familiar activities. It could be Helen Oxenbury's gentle rhymes. We were first introduced to Helen Oxenbury's books when the newspaper ran a list of "Must Have" books for different age groups. "Tickle Tickle" was recommended for infants and toddlers, but my oldest (almost four) still takes them out and stares at the pages. She has now memorized the words and "reads" them to her younger sister. I highly recommend all the books in the series, especially "Tickle Tickle"--a perennial favorite around our house.

Big pictures for your child's short attention span!
We checked this book out from the library. Three weeks later, when we had to return it, we turned around and bought our own copy.

Why? Well, our son LOVED this book. It surprised us, because the book only has 4 pictures in it. But that doesn't seem to matter to him. He asks us to read the "Tickle Book", as he calls it, over and over again. And he smiles and laughs all the way through it.

So what's in the book? Well, the first 2-page picture has 3 toddlers playing in the mud. Each child is doing something different, so there is a lot to look at on the page. The next 2-page picture shows the toddlers having a bath. At this point, our son starts chanting "bathie, bathie," and looks at us with eyes that say he wants to have a bathie too. The next 2-page picture shows the children getting their hair brushed (except for the one child with no hair). Since this is another activity our son enjoys, he laughs at this too. The final 2-page spread shows the toddlers getting tickled. At this point, it is a good idea to tickle your son/daughter. I know our son certainly enjoys it!

This book has some nice features. Each of the three children are of a different race, so your child gets exposed to racial diversity. Also, the book is oversized, which makes the large pictures that much more cinematic, kind of like a wide-screen movie, only in book form. And finally, the images in this book are simple, yet playful. What I mean by this is that there isn't a lot of detail per page, but the detail you do see is interesting enough to pull your child right into the book.

In short, we highly recommend this book because it seems to be able to keep our son's attention for long periods of time. And hey, if a book can keep a toddler's attention for more than five minutes, there has to be something special about it, doesn't there?

We love Helen Oxenbury!
Her illustrations are so beautiful. The babies are simply adorable, and all the books in this series are fantastic. Simple phrases coupled with the colorful, down-to-earth pictures spark the imagination. I plan to search out more of her work right now!

Tickle, Tickle
My 6 year old daughter and I love this book. She has regularly checked it out from the public library for the past several years. We have to read it at least twice before bed. She anticipates the last page... and of course, we have to tickle!

Fun for the kids and their parents
My daughter is crazy for Oxenbury's babies. The illustrations and text are a perfect marriage for toddlers. They can relate to the simple, every day message Tickle, Tickle relates..."gently, gently brush your hair". My daughter's favorite part is "tickle, tickle under there" when she gets a HUGE tickle from her dad or me. a must read. ... Read more

Book Description

Helen Oxenbury's delightful board books, featuring her sweet and cuddly babies at play, are back with a whole new look. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Clap Hands
We received this book as a gift when my son was 6 months old. We now have all of these books. My son is intrigued by the pictures and wants us to read it over and over! He's 15 months now and still loves it! A great book!

Clap Hands is wonderful!
My little 16 month old daughter loves this book. We have to read it every night before bedtime so she can "wave to daddy, wave to mom". I also read this book (along with tickle tickle and all fall down) to my 11 year old son when he was a baby/toddler. This book has lasting power over many years and I highly recommend it

Perfect to read out loud
Our toddler had us read this so many times that we memorized it quickly. It's rhythm and rhyme are so catchy that we could repeat the words YEARS after we returned it to the library. Now we're buying it as a baby gift for someone else to enjoy. Like "All Fall Down" (also by Oxenbury) the pictures are adorable multi-cultural children having fun together. It's a nice size and length for a board book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great choice, give as a 1st birthday gift
We checked this book out so many times at the library, we bought copies for us and to give as birthday gifts. Sweet story about cooperation of making cake and celebrating! I love Helen Oxenbury's soft watercolor illustrations - another great choice is "Going on a Bear Hunt"

Wonderful Book!
It is funny that the description of this book online says the main character is a boy, when in fact the author leaves the gender to be decided by the reader. My children (3 boys & 1 girl) love this book, and no one ever says anything about boy or girl. We have given this book many times as a birthday gift and have always had rave reviews for it. Highly reccommed for every house with children!

A wonderful and rare, gender-neutral picture book
It's interesting that some reviewers identify the child as aboy, when the author has in fact written and illustratied this storyto be gender-neutral. The child (and animals, for that matter) can be either male or female -- and that was the author's intention, as described in a note in the book. When the main characters in so many children's books are male for no reason other than the fact that Male is the default gender in our world, how nice for girls to be able to see themselves in the main character of this story (and how nice for parents to not have to change names and pronouns to provide a more balanced perspective when reading to our children). ... Read more

Book Description

Helen Oxenbury's delightful board books, featuring her sweet and cuddly babies at play, are back with a whole new look. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Captivating for little ones
We have all of Oxenburys books in this series (Clap Hands, Say Goodnight, All Fall Down & Tickle Tickle). We also have her Big Baby Book as well. My daughter is 13 months old and loves books, but the books she continually picks out and hands to me are the books in this series. She adores them. My husband and I have probably read these hundreds of times to her, and she is captivated by the art work and the rhyme. A definite must have for your little one!

Captivating to a baby!
I have all 4 of these Oxenbury books and both of my kids have been absolutely captivated by them. It is the only book that they will just sit and actively listen and follow from between 6-15 months. Watch their faces while another reads it to them and you will be amazed at how the respond to the simple, large pictures and rhymes. As an adult, I am attracted to more detailed and complex illustrations, but this is what a BABY likes! Any of her books are a perfect way to introduce you child to book reading.

Mesmerized!
This is my 8 month old's favorite book. Everytime I read it to her, which is everyday for the past several months, she goes into a state of bliss. She loves the big, happy, bouncy multi-cultural babies and I always sing the words to her for added pleasure. Great choice for infants.

Fun to read together
Adorable drawings of multi-cultural children playing together. Wonderful rhythm and rhyme. Nice to have a board book that's bigger than 4" square! We just wish it was longer because it's so much fun to read with our toddler. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Your momma don't dance...
I've read some pretty fabulous books illustrated by Helen Oxenbury in my day. She's one of those rare artists that pay close attention to fine incomparable details. As for author Phyllis Root, I'd not had the pleasure of reading one her tales until I picked up "Big Momma Makes the World". Now I read reviews and descriptions of this book long before I saw it myself. These reviews would summarize the plot and even lift enjoyable passages from the text. I liked what I read and I liked that the reviewers liked what they read. It was with the greatest shock imaginable that I finally located this book and found, to my amazement, that Big Momma was a big white chick. Hunhuna? Now you might think it a bit prejudiced of me to have leapt to the conclusion that Big Momma, the godlike figure in this tale, was black but that's exactly what I did.

This story is a creation tale in its own right. In it, we follow Big Momma and her little baby as she creates a whole new world. She starts just like you'd expect a godlike figure to start. First there's water, then light, then dark. She makes the sun and the moon, "just in time for the little baby's nap", and then makes the earth itself. Then it's time to make fish and birds and (because the laundry started piling up) the rest of the animals are made with one Big Bang. Still, Big Momma is lonely and she has no one to talk to on her front porch at night. So out of the leftover mud comes a swarm of naked people (done in a tasteful style that is more than a little reminiscent of the late lamented Walt Kelly). In time, she takes her baby up with her into the sky and tells everyone in the world to behave because, "I'll be keeping an eye on you". And from time to time she still does. She and that little baby of hers.

Now Phyllis Root notes in her blurb that this story came out of a family car trip where she would tell Big Momma tales to entertain her kids. The story in and of itself has a swell feel to it. A kind of easy going vernacular that reminded me (in a way) of "Swamp Angel" by Anne Isaacs. The fact that the character is white confused me originally but I recovered. I suppose God could be a white woman too. Why not? But though I think Oxenbury threw everything she had into this tale, the pictures didn't spellbind me like her other books did. The baby in the story looked as if it had crawled straight out of her, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". And though the animals are cute, they're nothing compared to her illustrations for the brilliant, "Farmer Duck" (written by M. Waddell). Though she's tossed every trick she has into its creation (the colors in this story are alone worth the price of admission) I had the nagging feeling that something was missing. I dunno.

I can see people becoming violent over this tale for a variety of different reasons. Some people are going to fall head-over-heels in love with it. They'll rejoice in the illustrations, the excellent text, and the progressive idea of a single mom creating the world (a thought I rather like too). Other people will recoil at the idea of God being reduced (in their eyes) to something so new and different. I personally had my expectations raised a little too high by Oxenbury's other books, so my own view of the story is slightly tainted. Nonetheless, this is an excellent book to read to little ones that need a benevolent creator in their lives. A highly entertaining and interesting lark.

Time to Accept It--God is a Woman
The author and illustrator of this book do a masterful job of conveying a contemporary feminist spiritual message without becoming preachy or pedantic, thus making the story very appealing to children of all ages. The text rolls off the tongue with a poetic fluidity and the paintings are so engaging that you will find yourself reading this book to your little ones again and again.

That's good, that's real good....
This fabulous version of the creation story/myth has my almost three-year-old mezmerized. Big Momma, part goddess, part buddha (as admitted by the illustrator) single-handedly makes the world (although her dishes and laundry do pile up in the process). Her daily accomplishments mirror the Genesis story of creation but with a Root-endowed Southern drawl. If you are able to appreciate the gender change, this is a lovely, refreshing version of creation your child is sure to love. It is well-written and beautifully illustrated. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Tiny sized, perfect for a 1 or 2 year-old
This is a set of four mini board books. The books are titled "I Can", "I See", "I Hear" and "I Touch". Each of these books is tiny in page size and each has 8 pages. Note that these books are each published separately as regular-sized board books and I believe that those contain more pages per book.

The tiny books come in a little box. Both the books and the box fit perfectly into the hands of a one and two year old toddler which I feel is the best feature of this product. So many good books are just too bulky or large for a toddler to really tote around easily. I love this little set as I feel it is a good thing when a toddler really enjoys books and the tiny size allows them to be held easily and comfortably. I did not discard the little box as my two-year old loves taking them out of the box and putting them back into the box as an activity in and of itself. He loves browsing them himself and of course having them read aloud. This little set entertained my son through a 5 plus hour plane ride and then a 2 hour car ride after that.

These are not stories; each 2-page spread contains one word and two illustrations for that word. The illustrations depict what looks like the Caillou character at a toddler age, although the boy and baby in the book remain nameless. Both my 2 year old and my 5 year old think this character is a toddler aged Caillou (although there is a different illustrator for the Caillou books). If you are not familiar with Caillou, he is a 4-year-old boy who is the main character in a PBS show and there are also Caillou books on the market. Since my 2 year old enjoys the Caillou show, he calls this character "baby Caillou". He loves these books and at the moment they are rarely out of his little hands.

Oxenbury's Tiniest Books--Biggest Hit
Believe it or not, I started sharing Helen Oxenbury's "Little Baby Books" with my grandbaby when she was only 4 weeks old. She would sit in her stroller in the yard while I sat on the steps reading the little books and showing her the pictures. She smiled her first smile while listening to "I Hear." She loves books but these four tiniest are her favorites. The best things do still come in small packages--Amy & her "Little Baby Books"! Wynndi

A wonderful first book series for children
These very simple (one word associated with a picture) group of books are a wonderful way for very young children to begin to learn associations. The books are even wonderful for 2 year old in that they can now go through the books and tell you about what they see. My son loves this series! ... Read more

Book Description

Helen Oxenbury's delightful board books, featuring her sweet and cuddly babies at play, are back with a whole new look. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Surprising Dystopian Epic
You cannot experience the full impact of "Say Goodnight" without also reading the companion works, "Clap Hands," "All Fall Down," and "Tickle, Tickle". Ms Oxenbury weaves a world which first lulls you into comfort with what appears to be non-violent multicultural values. Upon repeated readings (and you must read all four, with "Say Goodnight" as the last) you finally realize this was not her goal all along.

The first signs that her world is not one of peaceful babies is the inconsistencies: in no two consective pages are the clothes of the babies ever the same. In "All Fall Down," for instance, the same babies "bounce" and "fall down" but have different attire entirely. Then the question comes up: who are the real parents? There are at least four adults being shown; what are the relationships of all these people? The children are living, eating, bathing and sleeping together. The adults are only around for a few key illustations.

Lastly, the same pudgy Caucasion is the one being tormented at "Open wide" (mealtime) and at "Tickle, tickle." It then becomes clear that Ms. Oxenbury is really telling a post-multicultural tale over the course of her four books: the swell of influences of around the world will subdue modern society, forcing a uniform experience upon us all.

This is done with about 50 words in total. Bravo!

Simple and Sweet
If you're just about to start reading to your baby, you might want to get this book because it has all the core ingredients to captivate a baby's attention. It's pretty short (10 pages), has very simple text with huge and colorful illustrations. But, if you have long started reading to your child, this book might be a bit of a frustration. It's just too simple. Once you have engaged your child into the daily reading activity for quite sometime, you can actually hold her attention for a good 5-10 minutes. To me, make full use of that time by reading books that have a bit more text than this one.

Little Boy's favorite
My little boy has loved this book since it arrived and now at 20 months it's still a favorite. His eye's light up when we look at it. Definitely a keeper for toddlers

Excellent for babies!
My 8 month old daughter inherited this lovely book from a friend of mine who swore by Helen Oxenbury books for both of her children. Its sturdy, colorful and features cute illustrations of a racial mix of babies playing in the build-up to bed-time. Its lovely! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderlandhas continuously delighted readers, young and old, for more than acentury. This classic tale, interpreted by many outstanding artists over the years, is a remarkable story ofone little girl who embarks on possibly one of the most amazingadventures in literary history. In this stunning special edition,Helen Oxenbury turns her hand to what is certainly no smallproject and has succeeded in surpassing expectation. More abundantly illustrated than other editions of the same work,this unabridged version is packed with contemporary and accessibleinterpretations of the kaleidoscope of characters--the WhiteRabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts--whohave each captured the imaginations of generations of children.Alice herself is portrayed as a thoroughly modern miss--casuallydressed, personable, and spirited--and her surroundings arebrought to effervescent life with a warmth, depth, and distinctivesense of humor that perfectly complement the shenanigans of thetopsy-turvy world of Wonderland. (Ages 7 and older) --SusanHarrison, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (169)

Take a walk with the dream child.
If you long to be carried away to a world of nonsense and magic, talking beasts and flowers then Alice is the best tour guide you can employ. This is a book that will find a place close to the heart of a reader of any age that has a place inside reserved for whimsy and childlike wonder. As Alice travels through Wonderland and meets many unexpected characters your imagination will soar. Run a race with a dodo bird. Have tea with the doremouse and his friends the mad hatter and the march hare. Thrill at the "Jabberwocky". Alice proves to be a very level headed young lady indeed as she encounters things that become "curiouser and curiouser!" The story meanders through forests and chessboards that are life size never ceasing to amaze the reader with charm and wit. Lewis Carroll completed a masterpiece of fantasy and social comentary in this classic tale. The book is truly a gift to any one who hopes to hold onto childhoods magic.

The Adventures of Alice Could Be Any Dream
I very much enjoyed this book because it was full of pure fun reading. Some books drag from the very beginning, but this children's story didn't. There were surprises from the start. This book is an all original example of using your imagination. Lewis Carrol was gifted enough to let his imagination go wild, and to write it down on paper. This book inspires me to write any sort of crazy thing that is worth writing. This book is about Alices adventures from the time she saw the peculiar White Rabbit with a waistcoat and watch. She meets thrilling but very arguementive creatures and charectors such as the caterpiller who smokes, the Duchess and her baby which turns into a pig, a Mock Turtle, a gryphon, and the most famous the Chesire cat and the Queen of Hearts. This book is a bit different than the Disney movie. There are other charecters in the book that are not mentioned in the animated movie. and I think the book is more bizarre.

Beware the Jabberwocky!
I had seen this back in the 80's and was surprised as to the stars involved in the project. It almost plays out as a who's who of stars from the time. I especially liked Natalie Gregory as Alice. She played the role well as the naive little girl who wants to grow up but childhood wants to keep just a little longer. Sit down and enjoy it with your kids some rainy day and you all will enjoy the warm glow of family again

True to the story?
I give this version of Alice in Wonderland 5 stars because to date, it does the best job of following the actual story line (even dialogue) that is presented in the books. The cheesy acting and the casting can be forgiven, after all it was the 80s.

Brilliant film!
Brilliant film. I have Alice in Wonderland taped on video and i have been looking for Alice Through the Looking Glass for a long time. While watching it last week, I discovered that Part 2 is also on it, so I saw that for the first time the other day. What can i say? Brilliant acting from the whole cast, especially Natalie Gregory who plays Alice. i recommend it to anyone. Children and adults would love it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Who's the center of attention? Baby!
My son loves this story! He is 14 months old, and we checked this out from the library 3 weeks ago. He has wanted us to read it to him every night before he goes to bed. It's perfect at bedtime, because it ends with the baby going to sleep after the most wonderful day you can imagine. Though it's Daddy's birthday party that's brought everyone to the house, baby is the one that everyone wants to kiss and hug.

Helen Oxenbury's illustrations are incredible, the way the people seem to have real weight and personality. I especially love the baby, and there's one drawing of him holding his teddy bear, wrapped in his blanket, with his thumb in his mouth, which is EXACTLY the way my son looks when he's tired and sleepy, getting ready for bed. Of course, my son's Asian/Jewish, not African American, but this book is truly universal.

Excellent and upbeat story!
My two year old absolutely loves this book! It was the first book he received 2 years ago and he really enjoys all the characters, especially Nannie, Gran Gran and Big Cousin Ross. I do change the language a little bit so that it's gramatically correct, but once I got over that obstacle, I really love it too. And we do read it every night. As a matter of fact, I had to order another copy because the first one got torn up by my son's little hands. Excellent addition to any library.

We love this book SO MUCH!
I have a habit of browsing bookstores in every place I visit and selecting a book each for my daughter (age 5) and son (age 1). I picked this book up in CA and loved it immediately! I knew it would be a hit with both the kids and it was. My son completely identifies with the "baby" and loves to point to him on every page. At the end of the story we all hug, kiss, and try to eat him! I am sending copies to my best friends. It's always great to see a lovable African-American tale.

Toddler loves this
My 2.5 year old loves this book. He sat still all the way through the very first reading. He especially loves to chime in "Ding Dong". The rhythm of the book is lovely.

absolutely wonderful, especially for children of color
I ordered this book because Iove Oxembury and because my children are African American. Sometimes (ALWAYS) it is difficult to find terrific children's books with black protagonists who are not living in the ghetto or in some sort of a "statement" book. This filled the bill! The family is funny, funky and believable. The illustrations are delightful, the baby is great (my two year old recites with the book, plays with the action and says "no!" just like mom) and the repetition is perfect and predictable without being boring. Any child would adore the book. My only complaint is that I have read it every evening for three weeks and I think we will be reading it for a while longer! This is going for be a classic! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Make way for .... you know
Ladies and gentlemen, I demand an explanation. Would someone PLEASE take the time and effort to tell me exactly why it is that I had never heard of this book until the good people of the New York Public Library placed it on their, "100 Picture Books Every Child Should Know"??? Why isn't this book being handed out to every kindergartner that walks into school on their first day? Why isn't there a "Farmer Duck" Day where we all get to take off work and revel in the sublime pleasures of this text? And why, oh why oh why, was this book never recommended to me in any way, shape, or form? Ladies and gentlemen, I place the blame fully on a nation in which Madonna can create best-selling children's books because, according to her, there are NO good books for her kids (I'm having a hard time typing as I gag), while my beloved, "Farmer Duck" remains a small perfect gem in a sea of terrible literature. But I digress.

"Farmer Duck" follows the unlikely premise of a duck that runs a farm all by his lonesome. The actual farmer in charge of the place is a lazy no good so-and-so who would rather eat bon bons in bed than take the time to do any work. While the man relaxes in his shirtless luxury (occasionally shouting out a helpful, "How goes the work?") the duck cuts the wood, weeds the gardens, washes the dishes, irons the clothing, and pretty much does everything that needs doing. When at long last the duck grows, "sleepy and weepy and tired" (what a great way to describe any child that has gone too long without a nap, by the way), the other farm animals decide that enough is enough. Joining forces they run that rotten farmer out of town and set about all doing the chores equally with the duck in charge.

The plot is good. The illustrations are brilliant. Illustrator Helen Oxenbury (thank you, oh England, for sending us such a talented artist) has taken watercolor to a whole new level. In a scene as rife with melodrama as any film noir, we see the sheep, the chickens, and the cow walking into the farm house just before dawn. Those moments before the sun has risen have never been so expertly rendered on paper until now. Oxenbury has created subtle gradations of grey and white, steeping the scene in a fuzzy day-for-night that is absolutely stunning. And the details! If you examine the scene closely you can see three watching sheep (one with head relaxing on its front hoofs) as the intrepid heroes creep away together. I'm sorry, but my written abilities are inadequate in describing this scene. Suffice to say, it's gorgeous.

What a relief to finally read a farm story in which the animals really like one another (though, technically, the farmer is the most animal-like of them all). In the canon of ducks-as-heroes picture books, place this story squarely on the shoulders of the funny "Duck on a Bike" and "Make Way For Ducklings". Any child that wants to know anything about farming will do well to read this book. I'm gushing, and I don't care. It's the best farm story ever drawn. You will enjoy every second of reading it. And that's all I have to say about that.

Compassion and charm
You can't help but feel instant pity for the little duck made to do all the work on the fat farmer's farm. He soldiers on while the chubby farmer monitor's his progress with a "how goes the work?" - a phrase my four year old now knows by heart and cries with a snigger with the turn of every page.

The beautiful illustrations carries the Orwellian story of the animal's revolt well, and although the ending is a little far-fetched and rosy-colored, the book it's a wonderful read that has become one of our favorites.

Plagiarism and Communism
The author has written a children's version of George Orwell's "Animal Farm". The story is the same but with the violence omitted. The duck works for the farmer, who is portrayed as lazy. The animals decide to revolt but instead of being killed (a la Animal Farm), the farmer is run off the property that he owns. In effect, the animals have stolen the farm from him. The duck throws away his sickle as he is now free from the slavery of the farm owner. The animals set to work on "their" farm, only now the duck is giving the orders. In "Animal Farm" Orwell goes one step further and shows how the new animal leader becomes a tyrannt, whereas this book ends with everyone working together on a sunny day. (The imagery in this book is well done) The perfect communist utopia where the hard working common man or proletariat, has overthrown the "lazy" wealthy owner or bourgeois. It is a misconception that "owners" don't do any work. They might not do much physical labour but they do the most important work: the work of the mind.

Aside from the theme, I didn't like this book because it encourages theft:

1) theft of a good idea for a story 2) theft of property

I Could Still Hear the Kids Whispering "How Goes the Work?"
even two weeks after I read them the story in their second grade class. Kids love it. It has all the entry points for beginning readers, and adults love it too--for similar reasons. I've had university faculty tell me that it's the Communist Manifesto for kids (remember the centrality of labor, organization, and consciousness), that it's a Trotskyist text (note the role of the Duck at the end) and that it's a classic of feminism (note the multiple voices that had to be considered to fashion the uprising). It's a classic, from whatever interpretation, because it's full of joy, resistance, and hope.

Moo! Baa! Quack!
A brilliant story of a hard working duck and the animal friends who free him from the tyranny of a lazy farmer. A favorite with my eight year-old son as well as my two year-old daughter, Farmer Duck combines clever writing with captivating illustrations. It's a rare book that bears reading over and over again. Farmer Duck is sure to be a classic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great beginning
I bought this book for my son when he was 8 months old and he loved it. This is the perfect book for a baby. The pictures held my sons interest and the simplicity of the story was ideal for his short attention span. A very sweet story book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A simple and sweet book, easy for little ones to memorize.
All the books in the series are perfect for small children, both boys and girls. These basic books with simple illistrations and rhymes are sure to be a favorite of any 1-2 year old. A multi-racial book.

Superb for children 6 months to 18months
This book is perfect for children just learning to label the world. Ms. Oxenbury uses one word desciptions to label items involved with getting dressed. The graphic is merely a baby. Something a child can easily identify with! On the first page, for example, is the word diaper, with a diaper under it. On the facing page, a baby sits dressed only in a diaper. The book continues until the baby is dressed from the hat to the shoes. The illustrations are delightful - even to an adult! ... Read more

Book Description

Franny B. Kranny loved her long frizzy hair.

The longer and frizzier it got, the more she liked it!

... Read more

Reviews (10)

My kid's favorite book!!!
Franny B. Kranny with her wild frizzy hair will win the heart of any reader, adult or child! It's my daughter's favorite book. There's also an extra surprise you have to catch on the inside of the back cover. Helen Oxenbury's illustrations are brilliant!

Franny B. Kranny
This is an EXCELENT book! Anyone who has suffered, like me, with frizzy hair should read this - it will definitely make you smile. My mother brought it home to take to her library, and I ended up getting ahold of it and reading it. Franny B. Kranny is a great little girl and Harriet Lerner is a very cool lady! :)

wonderful girl, great hair
this is a favorite with my class of 3-5 year olds. They like the idea of a bird making a nest in Franny's hair and I like the relatioinships between family members, the independent attitude of Franny and the choices she makes. Please consider adding this to your library and reading it often. It is a gem.

It's ME!
I LOVE this book! It was given to me as a book and this book is just like me! I have curly, red, thick hair! It's great! I love it!

Dare to be Different
Franny B Kranny loved her long red frizzy hair even if it was always getting stuck in things and causing trouble. So when her mother drags her to the hairdresser before a family reunion, she isn't happy. The hairdresser does his best to pin it up and make it look neat, while Franny schemes to undo his work as soon as she's out of the chair. But as she leaves the salon, a bird lands on her head, snuggles down in her hair and calls it home. Her family is appalled, but Franny is thrilled and very careful not to disturb the bird even sleeping upright in a chair. The next day at the reunion, Franny's family is so embarrassed they keep their distance. But the rest of her relatives are fascinated and Franny soon becomes the center of attention. Pretty soon, her family comes around and agrees that she has the most wonderful head of hair and should never cut it. And that's when Franny surprises everyone..... The dynamic team of Harriet Lerner and Susan Goldhor have written a marvelous story about an individual who dares to be different and really knows her own mind. Their charming, witty text is complemented by Helen Oxenbury's bright, expressive and humorous illustrations that really captures the essence of strong willed Franny and the rest of her unusual family. Both children and adults will be laughing out loud at the antics of this wonderful little girl. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Franny B Kranny, There's a Bird in your Hair is a treasure and a book kids want to read again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A nice board book for your toddler
A simple and sweet story about reading books with daddy. For some reason when this series was adapted for the board book format the story was changed from first to third person. But it is still a nice book to share with your young ones.

Super book for your little "reader."
Anyone who has read stacks and stacks of book to their little one will appreciate this sweet book. "Daddy likes to read his paper, but he doesn't mind reading to Tom." The text is pleasingly simple. The illustrations are also fairly minimal, yet there are some wonderful details that toddlers love, like a cat that would rather not be around Tom too much. A favorite at our house. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My Kids Keep Going Back to It
This book and all the others by Helen Oxenbury are wonderful for pre-toddlers and toddlers. Both of my children, one boy and one girl, loved them. They are simple and take about a minute to show your kids (not counting all the requests for "again" you will get). My children asked for them more than any other book we own. My wife and I give these books regularly to friends expecting children of their own. I couldn't recommend them higher as reading material for your own children, or as gifts for others. ... Read more