Book Description

Hop! Hop!

A new friend joins Biscuit's gentle world.

Reviews (1)

Another Biscuit of Bountiful Fun for Sam and Mom!
Two-and-a-half year old Sam is a big Biscuit fan.... and this one is another hit. The few words on each page, the "lots of stuff to point to"... we learn colors by talking about (and pointing to) the purple sneakers and Biscuits collar is what color? Who says "Woof Woof?" is it the Bunny or the Girl or... YES! It's Biscuit!

The board book quality is high - somehow we got something sticky on it and it wiped right off. Also, the size of this book is also favorable with Sam. He oftentimes carries the book around with him and it fits really well under his arm. There was an earlier Biscuit book that was smaller - the "What is Love, Biscuit?" and this one that are a better "old toddler" size.

You will both enjoy this one no matter how many times you read it. ... Read more

Book Description

"You Can't Keep A Coyote!
They're Wild...."

Brad has always wanted a dog, so when he catches the little coyote, he decides to keep it. He couldn't have a dog when his family lived in a Chicago apartment, but now that they've moved to rural Oklahoma anything seems possible. Even rescuing an orphaned coyote pup...and keeping it a secret from his parents. With his friend Nolan's help, Brad is determined to tame Scooter, train him, play with him, and hide him in an old dog pen behind the barn. It almost works...until Mom and Dad discover his secret -- and Scooter steals their hearts and gives them all a coyote's-eye view of what it's like to live in the dangerous world of men. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Book from the Book Report
This is a TOTALLY SUPER book! I just finished a book report about this book for school. I like it because I LOVE ANIMALS, and chapter books are my genre. So get your copy, I know it'll be your favorite book that you've ever read!

This is one of the best books I've ever read.
I'm in third grade.I loved this book because it had coyotes in it.I am originally from Texas, so I really like coyotes.I liked when the coyote first came into the dog pen because he kept knocking around.It was a funny book and I learned a lot.

GO ANIMALS
People would call me crazy because I rated this book 5 stars. But I am a fan of any animal book. I don't care if it is sad or happy, I AM A MAJOR FAN ... Read more

Book Description

Shy little John Pig isn't going trick-or-treating-all those masks and costumes are too scary. He's going to stay home and carve a jack-o'-lantern. But when an odd witch crash-lands outside his door, John Pig ends up with a Halloween party on his hands-a monster Halloween party! Join the best-selling team behind Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas with this spooky-but not too spooky-Halloween tale!

"Funny and bouncy . . . with a positively cozy assortment of ghosts and ghoulies. . .This is one treat without any trick."
-The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A really wonderful book!
I bought this book for my daughter to celebrate Halloween. It is her favorite holiday so we read this book year round. The story is about a pig named John who is too scared to go trick or treating on Halloween with his friends. John stays back at the house as his friends go on without him. After they leave a real witch comes calling for some treats. When she sees that John only has candy to hand out she decides to teach hime how to make some real Halloween treats. They whip up such heavenly connoctions as pies, tarts, mousse, sundaes, and cookies. All of the witch's monster friends show up for a real Halloween party. Finally the witch tells John that they have to leave while it is still night out. When John's pig friends come back cold and tired they are amazed to find all of the treats that John has prepared. When John goes to bed he realizes he is no longer afraid of Halloween and he dreams of all of the new friends he has made. The illustrations in this book are great and the story is really sweet. My daughter loves this book and I really enjoy reading it to her. This book will really put you into a Halloween mood.

This was a wonderfully sweet story of Halloween
I fell in love with this book from the start. I loved how John Pig portrayed his feelings about Halloween. There was so many adorables pictures that you begin to see new things in the pictures that you didn't see before. The witch is great - My kids loved that idea that she was a fun witch. The food she made sounded heavenly... What a great book for kids.... My children adore this book as do I. ... Read more

Book Description

Hamsters have a long history of popularity with children everywhere, and in Japan their popularity has skyrocketed. Driving the phenomenon is Ritsuko Kawai’s hugely popular manga series, Hamtaro Tales. Now kids who want to raise real hamsters can do so with the help of this colorful illustrated guide. The process of choosing and raising a hamster is covered, and photos of hamsters in precarious situations engage readers. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Best Hamster Care Guide
This is one of the most informative animal care guides I have ever read. It seems simplistic with its big, bright photos and cartoons; but you soon realize that the information is comprehensive and surprisingly in-depth. Yet fun to read! You learn more about the different hamster breeds than most care guides tell you. I was able to pick out the perfect hamster for my 8 yr. old daughter. And now she knows more about hamsters than most other hamster owners thanks to this book! I enjoyed reading it just as much as she did. And found out things I never knew about hamsters - even after owning several of the furry little critters in my life!

You definitely don't have to be a fan of "Hamtaro" to like this book. I highly recommend it to anyone (kids AND adults!) who want to get a pet hamster.

Review from someone who doesn't watch Hamtaro
I bought this book among other hamster owning books out of curiosity, thinking it would just be "for fun." However, this book is far more useful than the ones directed at an older audience. I can definitely see its uses for children as well.

The advice is direct and to the point. There is no agenda here or biased personal views. This is the first book I've found that lists how much room is actually needed for each breed as well as many pictures. This helped greatly when picking out a cage.

It's a book that is very concerned with a hamster's safety, It constantly warns against bullying and animal cruelty. In addition, it stresses responsibility. All in a very practical way.

It goes over hamster body language and emotions. As well as what human behaviors make a hamster unhappy.

Each chapter is followed by a less cutesy checklist for adults that expands on each topic.

This is an all-around solid book for first time owners of any age as well as a great idea. If only Disney and Taco Bell had come out with Dalmation and Chihuahua guidebooks in anticipation of their sudden pet popularity explosion.

very cute and very informative
I bought this book for my 5 year old son who loves Hamtaro. I didn't know what to expect with the book, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it combines useful guidance about purchasing and caring for a pet hamster with very entertaining drawings and quotes from Hamtaro and his Ham-Ham friends. The text was factual but not dry or boring at all, and the reading level was pretty much at my son's level (2nd-3rd grade). There are also nice parent guide pages that are written at a slightly higher level.

This would be a good book for someone who's interested in hamsters, even if they aren't into the Hamtaro television show. ... Read more

Book Description

There are many different kinds of dogs and so much to find out about them.Why do dogs bark, howl, and bury bones? Why do they like to lick and sniff people? Children can find the answers to these questions and many more in this fun-to-read, informative book illustrated with big, colorful canine photographs and humorous drawings. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Answers to basic dog questions
Answers such questions as "How many puppies can a dog have at one time?" and "Why do dogs burry bones?" Sentences are mostly short. Pronunciation hints are included in the text. Each page has at least one illustration or photograph. Instructs readers on teaching dogs to come, stay, and sit. KWR, Library Student ... Read more

Book Description

Since it was first published over fifty years ago, April's Kittens remains a classic cat story and is now made available again in this handsome new edition.

Many children understand April's dilemma when her cat, Sheba, has three kittens. April is thrilled until her father insists that theirs is strickly a one-cat household. April must give up three cats, but which ones? The aptly named Charcoal? Tiger-striped Butch? Sweet-faced Brenda?--or even Sheba?

How April eventually comes up with the perfect solutions makes for a heartwarming story that has appealed to many young cat lovers and will continue to delight generations of children everywhere. Clare's Newberry's enchanting illustrations reflect her fondness for cats; School Library Journal deemed these "beautiful drawings, so real one wants to pet them."

Reviews (10)

A timeless book to treasure
This book was given to me in 1940 when I was seven years old. I adored it then, and I have loved it ever since. I'm so happy to see that it's back in print! The illustrations are wonderful, but the story is outstanding too, with emotional depth found in too few picture books. The child's love for the cat and kittens, and the need to make a hard choice in the way best for everyone, was something I never forgot.

Wonderful Reviews from The New York critiques
The New Yorker review: "Mrs. Newberry is the paragon of cat portraitists. Here she has written the story of a little girl and her kittens to warm the heart of any child."

The New York Herald Tribune: "Even better than MITTENS, this picture-book is a prize...This family lives in a one-cat apartment; every city dweller knows what that means...what a heartbreaking thing for a little girl to let even one of them go?

The pictures are portraits of the sempiternal kitten, new with every batch yet old as Egypt."

The New York Times: "Mrs. Newberry, if possible, is even better and more beguiling...in April's Kittens."

These are marvelous books
... If you and your child love cats and gorgeous illustrations, you should hunt these books down. We have many of them. "Herbert the Lion" got us started and that's a delight too. THese books should not be allowed to go out of print

Aprils Kittens
This is very first book that I checked out of the school library. The fact that I could remember it so vividly testifies to the fact that I really loved it. I recently purchased for my own daughter. It is a wonderful story.

My mother would have loved these heart-warming reviews
Not many people know that all the Clare T. Newberry stories were "99%" true. My mother felt that just having and loving cats led to wonderful stories that were much more poignant for being real.

Reading the wonderful and deeply felt reviews on this site would have delighted my mom, and they certainly have touched me.

It is very sad that all the other books listed on this site are really in print, but Smithmark Publishers who issued them declared Chapter 11, so to get them you have to do a book search which Amazon also provides. But they are available! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A tiny old woman named Mrs. Brown lives in a big house on the edge oftown with no one but cats, cats, cats to keep her company. All day long, as Mrs.Brown goes about her business, the cats snooze away. But as soon as she putsdown their 60 bowls of cat food and marches herself up to bed, the cats go wild.Cats throwing confetti, eating spaghetti, chasing their tales, cutting a rug,doing the fox trot and the jitterbug, these feisty felines "whoop it up untilthe dawn." The ever-tolerant Mrs. Brown wakes every morning to a complete mess,but simply sweeps her beloved cats into a heap so they can get their beautysleep. Although some consider Mrs. Brown to be a little batty, she scoffs at thethought. "Oh fiddle dee dee! / I love my cats and they love me."

Lesléa Newman's amusing cat romp is perfectly paired with Erika Oller'splayful watercolors of dozens upon dozens of snoozing and frolicking felines.Newman is the well-known author of Heather Has Two Mommies andMatzo Ball Moon, as wellas many books for adults. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Cool Story-Great Illustrations!
I thought this was a book about the Broadway play 'CATS' anyway it was a great read, and it has good pictures. Buy it!

Purrfect in every way!
Cats, cats, cats is a purrfect addition to anyone's library. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully illustrated and delightfully authored book. From the first delicious rhyme to the last, I felt like a kid again. I smiled with glee as I turned each page to discover the mischievous adventures of Mrs. Brown's cats. Although it is listed as a children's book, the book is a must for anyone who likes to escape on a silly and tender adventure cuddled up with a good book. I would recommend reading it to youngsters at bedtime and then again to yourself because the illustrations are so exquisite and the clever writing is sure to make you grin ear to ear. Cats, cats, cats is a must, must, must!

Fun, Fun, Fun!
Mrs. Brown loves her cats. She loves the softness of their fur and the loudness of their purr. She loves to comb their fluffy tails and manicure their nails. She loves to fill her lap with them and sometimes, take a nap with them. And all day long as her cats snooze away, Mrs Brown does all her household chores. But, in the evening after she puts down their food and goes up to bed, Mrs Brown's cats party the night away, eating spaghetti and throwing confetti, dancing and chasing their tails, knitting and purling and whooping it up until the crack of dawn. And then, as the new day begins, the cats begin their beauty sleep and Mrs Brown starts cleaning up their mess and putting her house back in order again..... Lesla Newman has written a charming and humorous picture book that will delight both youngsters and adults with its expressive rhyming text. Her gentle story is only outdone by Erika Oller's wonderfully busy and detailed watercolor artwork and kids will be mesmerized as they watch the many antics of Mrs Browns very talented felines. Perfect for children 3-7, Cats, Cats, Cats makes a terrific gift and is sure to make a cat lover out of everyone!

Delightful Picture Book for Cat Lovers
This book may be aimed at youngsters but the humor of the slightly wacky rhyming and the amusing watercolor illustrations makes it a delightful story to read out loud over and over to all the cat lovers you know. There's lots to discover in each picture of all the silly things cats do. I'm buying it for my mother, who at 79 has suddenly adopted a slightly scaled down group of felines. I know she'll recognize quite a few of the cats! ... Read more

Amazon.com

First pets have always been popular, including such notables as FDR's Scottish terrier, Fala; Caroline Kennedy's pony, Macaroni; and Amy Carter's cat, Misty. President Clinton's cat, Socks, and his chocolate Labrador, Buddy, have also managed to attract quite a few fans since landing in the White House, the majority being curious children who have lots of interesting questions and aren't shy about sharing! In Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton gathers together more than 80 full-color photographs of the dynamic duo and 50 letters to them from kids across the United States and offers answers to their most-often-asked questions. From "Socks Stats" and a "Buddy Bio" to a FAQ page for each, and "Socks and Buddy's Guide to Good Pet Care," children will be delighted with the generous information provided on two of their favorite pets, as well as the "pet history" of the White House and a look into how letters to Socks and Buddy are received, sorted, and answered at the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home. Clinton, who is donating all of the author proceeds from the sale of this book to the National Park Foundation, also devotes a chapter to suggesting numerous ways that "parents can help their children initiate and enjoy the experience of writing and receiving letters," making this a treasure for both parents and children alike. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A terrific gift for cat and/or dog lovers.
"Dear Socks, Dear Buddy" is written in a sweet, easy-to-read style that would appeal to kids or adults of all ages. In addition to letters written to Socks and Buddy and answers to questions most frequently asked in them, Hillary Clinton includes a chapter on pet care. But the real treasure here is the photographs, which I've looked through at least a dozen times so far, and I've had the book only two days! The photos portray a more domestic side to life in the White House, and assure us that real people live there and do more than just fling politics. It's easy to tell from the photos that Socks is a tremendously patient and photogenic cat. Did you know that he goes on official visits to hospitals and senior centers in a cat carrier with the presidential seal? I found looking through this book to be very calming. If you know someone with a dog or a cat, this would make a very good gift. Hillary Clinton's proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the National Park Foundation; the publisher is donating a portion of profits to animal charities.

Woof Woof
In this predictable knockoff of the Presidential pet book series pioneered by several Republican administrations, Diet Roosevelt's cat and dog ("Socks" and "Buddy," respectively) are hagiographically profiled. Author Lady Diet Roosevelt relies largely on letters purloined from a swarm of unsuspecting child correspondents for the body of the text, much as her husband's administration largely appropriated the watered-down policies of his predecessors in running the nation (even his philandering was a watered-down take on Camelot days!). Intelligent Diet Roosevelt watchers who buy this book hoping for hidden political insights should look elsewhere, as this is a fairly straightforward profile of the first pets, targeted solely at small children and Democrats. The one curious exception to this is the unconfirmed rumor - suspiciously unrefuted in this volume - that the Kremlin's most popular occupants in Lenin's day were his cat and dog Ïðèÿòåëü and Íîñêîâ - Russian for Socks and Buddy, respectively. Coincidence?

fun book to read to and with children
A book for all dog and cat owners. I liked the way she organized the photographs between the children's letters. Some of the children's letters had drawings that my grandchildren enjoyed. I thought Buddy's Bio and Socks Stats where clever, and we tried the same idea to describe other pets. My children grew up with pets, but my grandchildren do not have room for pets. So we read this book about Buddy and Socks whenever they want to know more about having pets. Usually it leads to drawing a picture or writing a story afterwards.

Great book!
What a fun way to see inside the lives of the first pets. Well-written, with lots of cute photos and interesting information.

Good intro
"Dear Socks, Dear Buddy" is a cute photo album and collection of letters sent to the former First Cat and Dog. It's a great way to introduce young children to politics without using the word impeachment.... ... Read more

Book Description

ON A VISIT to Mr. Oakley’s farm, Harry and the Dinosaurs meet a bunch of little ducklings and decide that a pet duckling would be the perfect thing to ask for for Christmas. As the holidays approach, the excitement builds as to whether or not there will be a new pet on Christmas morning. And sure enough, there is a new pet . . . but it isn’t a duckling! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

But the cat came back, the very next day
This is as much a book about cats and their natures as it is a tale about building trust and patience. A prequel to the previously popular and delightful "Ginger", Charlotte Voake's, "Ginger Finds a Home", gives us a little background information about one very special house cat. While in "Ginger" the cat is a fat comfortable fellow with little time for the ragtag mechanisms of a new kitten, in "Ginger Finds a Home" our hero is a skinny alley cat who doesn't know where his next meal is coming from.

The Ginger here is a wild thin creature that lives at the end of a garden. He never knows where he'll be getting his next meal. One day, Ginger finds a plate of cat food waiting for him to eat. The next day, when he goes back to the same spot he sees his benefactress, a little girl. Soon a trust grows between the two (slowly and with time) and eventually the girl invites Ginger home. The cat easily grows skittish in the new environment and the little girl is distraught, fearing she's pushed him too far. But the cat comes back and now the two live together peacefully with Ginger visiting his patch at the end of the garden to sunbathe only.

It's nice to see a story that talks of patience and slow understanding. Voake is an adept writer and though I felt this wasn't quite as satisfying a story as "Ginger", the book has a charm all of its own. Ginger is quite full and healthy looking at the end of the book, though his tail remains as skinny and raggedy as ever. Owners of their own cats will be pleased to note that the little girl knows exactly how to hold Ginger, carefully placing an arm underneath his lower legs when she picks him up. Those readers who chose to glance at the author's note on the back inside flap (aside from seeing a parting shot of a happy Ginger in his cat basket) may be delighted to find that the story is based on a real Ginger who decided to live with the Voake family in England. Truth be told, there is a rather English flavor to the book. It is both understated and touching. In the end, a perfect compliment of tones make "Ginger Finds a Home" an excellent edition to any home library. For the cat lovers of the world, it's a keeper.

Ginger is invited by a little girl to live in a real home
Ginger is a little orange cat, very thin, with a tail like a piece of string, who is living in a patch of weeds at the end of a garden. Ginger survives by drinking water from puddles and finding things to eat in trash cans before sleeping in a patch of weeds each night. Then one day the cold and hungry little cat came back to his patch of weeds and discovered a plate of delicious cat food. The next day there is not only another plate of food waiting for him, but also a little girl.

"Ginger Finds a Home" is a prequel to Charlotte Voake's "Ginger" and tells the story of how one small cat finds, help, a home, and love. Voake lives in England and the story here is a true one about the day the real Ginger, who lived at the bottom of her garden in England, decided to come and live with the family. What is nice about this story is that it captures the tentativeness of the bonds between the hungry cat and the little girl that has decided to offer him a home in which to live.

Anybody who has lived with a cat (it is a mistake to think that they choose to live with you) will know that "Ginger Finds a Home" rings true. For anybody who has ever brought home a stray cat this charming little book will strike a chord, and if you have a cat that entered your life by more conventional means you can check out Voake's "Ginger" as well.

Pleasing & gentle
Ginger is a stray cat struggling to survive when he finds a place where food is easily available-- although there seems to be another animal there too. This animal continues to bring food to him and finally he trusts the little girl enough to venture into the house where at last he finds a home.

Voake manages to portray the hard life of a stray without being too upsetting for younger children while making sure that they understand the hardships involved. She also gently instructs in the art of making animal friends: patience, kindness and more patience. She is also accurate in her depiction of Ginger's reactions in a way many authors fail: for example, Ginger is frightened being in the house and reacts accordingly instead of deciding immediately that this is HOME. It's a more realistic treatment than most and I find that admirable.

The illustrations are more suggestive of characters and events than detailed and accurate; this is not Anne Mortimer, more like Quentin Blake. They are also old fashioned in a way, in that they leave lots of open space, focusing in instead on, say, how Ginger curls up in his spot of grass rather than the entire yard.

I'd especially recommend this for people who work in animal rescue to use to explain to small children what it is like to be a stray and why stray animals need time to adjust to people. However it would work for any pre-K- 1st grade as a story just to be enjoyed. ... Read more

Book Description

When Tiny was a puppy, he fit inside a shoe. He fit in a bag, and he even fit in a pocket. Then Tiny grew, and now he is too big for his doghouse. He is too big to lick his friend's face--yuck! Young readers will enjoy this sweet, funny story about a very big dog who was once a tiny puppy. Not since Clifford has a big dog been so appealing!

* Puffin Easy-to-Reads
* 32 pages
* Full-color illustrations
* Ages 4-7 ... Read more

Book Description

Bird?
Bunny?
Turtle?
Fish?

Elizabeth really, really wants a pet, but her parents say NO to all of her ideas. Instead, she ends up with a cactus called Carolyn. And after some very unsuccessful campaigning, to her wonderful surprise, Elizabeth encounters Doug -- surely the most unusual and special pet of all.

Even Carolyn agrees.

Margie Palatini and Bruce Whatley team up for a wacky picture book that handles a topic every parent and child will relate to -- choosing that just perfect pet.

Reviews (2)

Fun story
Any kid who's ever wanted a pet will relate to this fun picturebook. For another fun book (my kids can't live without this one), take a look at, Drum, Chavi, Drum!

cute pet book
Elizabeth wants a pet, but her parents say NO to all of her ideas. She ends up with a cactus called Carolyn. She likes the plant but decides to keep asking her parents for other animals. They keep telling her no. She finds a bug one day and decides that he is the perfect pet.

We liked the pictures in the book. The story line kept us interested til the end.

I would recommend this book because most kids can relate to the little girl in the story. She wants a pet but her parents won't let her have one. ... Read more

Book Description

When your pets are home alone, are you sure they're really there? Really? Put yourself in the position of a beloved pet whose family has just installed a new pet door to the backyard. But instead of the backyard, there's a teeming city populated entirely by pets. The stores, restaurants, and theaters, the public transportation, the museums, parks, and municipal services are run by a huge assortment of well-dressed cats, dogs, rabbits, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, turtles, fish, and parrots. It is wonderful, but all too soon, it is time to go home. There is one very large problem -- how do you get there? In myriad, strikingly detailed and richly hued illustrations, sister-and-brother team Susanne Santoro Whayne and Christopher Santoro present a highly original, good- humored parallel universe for all young readers to visit, explore, enjoy, and then revisit. ... Read more

Book Description

Teaches teens how to connect with animals and the world at large in a deeper, more meaningful way.

• Shows how telepathic communication with animals can enhance all teen relationships with nature, themselves, and others.

• Contains exercises, games, and visualizations to enter into communication with all life.

• Includes conversations between animals and professional animal communicators.

As companions, helpers, and spiritual guides, animals have always held a special relationship with the human community. Awakening to Animal Voices helps teens access their natural ability to communicate with the animal kingdom and open more profoundly to life, other human beings, and the deeper nature within themselves.

Through games, exercises, experiments, and stories, teens will learn to tune into the subtler whispers of nature. They will discover their personal animal guide and learn the spiritual tools of shamanic journeys, dreamwork, visualizations, and shapeshifting. Filled with advice from animal communication professionals and actual conversations with animals, Awakening to Animal Voices is an invitation to explore our inner way of knowing; to communicate more effectively with others; and to express a more consciously alive self in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

How to Talk to Animals... & Hear Them Talk to You!
AWAKENING TO ANIMAL VOICES is a book for open-minded readers of all ages who are willing to believe it could be possible to communicate with animals, and are ready to find out how to go about it. Author Dawn Brunke shares animal communication stories, exercises, and quotations in an easy-flowing format that makes the material accessible, informative, and fun.

I especially love the way that deep animal wisdom is shared from a wide variety of animals including cats, dogs, lions, bumblebees, flies, llamas, ravens, finches, sharks, whales, elephants, cows, buffalo, frogs, donkeys, and hamsters. Photographs of many of the animals add an extra dimension to this lovely book.

Once you start talking with animals, you'll gain confidence in what you're hearing in response... and AWAKENING TO ANIMAL VOICES helps tremendously by presenting lots of examples of animal conversations as well as tips and pointers for getting the dialogue going. I've been having conversations with animals for years, and recommend AWAKENING TO ANIMAL VOICES as the perfect guidebook for starting a fabulous conversation with all the animals in your life!

-- Cynthia Sue Larson
author of "AURA ADVANTAGE: How the Colors in Your Aura Can Help You Attain What You Desire and Attract Success"

A great read for young and old!
Last year, Dawn Brunke came to our tribal Ya Ne Dah Ah School to talk about animal communication. As part of her talk, she guided the children through a journey to experience what it was like to be the little fish that was swimming around a bowl in the classroom. I followed along, wondering if the exercise would work for me. Closing my eyes and connecting with the fish, I began to feel what it was like to float and swim through the water with little fins attached to my body. For a few minutes, I actually experienced what it was like to 'be' a fish - and so did the students.

This amazingly wonderful book is easy to read and appropriate for young and old alike. Like Dawn's first book (Animal Voices), Awakening gave me a greater appreciation for animals by reading their voices as they share their observations and wisdom. Dawn also relates how she learned more about animals by connecting with them in different ways - through animal communication, dreams, healing experiences, power and totem animals, and more. For example, she writes about observing an eagle, and suddenly seeing through the eagle's eyes. Her book explains how anyone can do this.

In addition to a very appealing graphic design with lots of great quotes, animal motifs and photos, and boxes containing animal messages and stories, Awakening to Animal Voices has many other voices too. It includes advice from professional animal communicators as well as animals...from horses, cats and llamas to donkeys, turtles and even some Iditarod sled dogs. More than that, it has exercises, games, meditations and projects aimed at helping readers to connect more deeply with animals (and themselves) by drawing on their own unique strengths and abilities. I only wish there would have been something like this for me when I was a teenager. It will put young readers at a great advantage that many of us older spiritual-seeking bookworms didn't have.

Absolutely worth having on the shelf!
Dawn's first book, Animal Voices: Telepathic Communication In the Web of Life, was an eye-opener for animal lovers. Dawn has once again written an excellent book, this one applicable for people of all ages, not just teens. She provides many exercises and thought provoking concepts throughout the book which leave the reader with no doubt that they too can telepathically communicate with animals. Of all the animal communication books out there, I believe this is the best one for awakening your inherent abilities to communicate, no matter your age. I highly, highly recommend this book.
(...) ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 1.5 hours
2 cassettes
Performance by Victor Garber

An overnight camping trip! Howie, the Monroe's faithful dog, is not excited, and Chester the cat is worried.The woods, Chester informs Harold, are not only full of cockleburs and ticks, but of spirits - evil spirits who prey on the innocent.Harold is not taking Chester seriously.But when two strange men and their even stranger dog set up camp next to the Monroes, things begin to happen that make even Harold wonder.Could Chester be right? ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Actually GAve Me Nightmare!!LOL
Anyway!!,this novel is written by Howard the dog.(no really)and he tells of his scary adventure in the woods,with 2 strange fellas and their ugly dog with an attitude problem.
Cons..The story one of the dogs was telling was boring and took up too much space.

Not as good as the other BUNNICULA books
This one was just alright. It's the second sequel to the classic original BUNNICULA. It's not really bad but it's boring in part; like I found the whole first chapter to be a bore.

It does get sort of scary in parts, but nothing major. Read it if you want. It's fun. But, for really good BUNNICULA bookds, I recommend: BUNNICULA, THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT, HOWLIDAY INN, RETURN TO HOWLIDAY INN, CREEPY CRAWLY BIRTHDAY, THE FRIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HOT FUDGE, RABBIT-KADABRA, and BUNNICULA STRIKES AGAIN.

It was a very good book it was interesting.
It was a very good book to read.I liked the book,eventhough i didn't finish the story.The story was about two dogs and one cat the cats name was Chester. The dogs name was Howie and Harold

Chester Strikes Again
On a family camping trip Chester and Harold get separated from their family and having a HOWLING night-time adventure complete with Chester's bedtime story. And as usual Chester imagination gets the best of him. You also find that the old saying "You can't judge a book by its cover" is true. James Howe delivers another great mystery.

scary, but not really
If you like scary books then this book is for you. If you like funny books then this book is for you. I like the scariness of the book. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. It has a big surprise at the end! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book on responsibility
What child hasn't asked for a pet at some point in their childhood. What an excellent way to teach responsibility. This book shows the parent how to test a child's readiness for responsibilities, while showing the young readers the perils and pitfalls of having one's own pet business, as well as the rewards, and entertaining us all in the meanwhile. Well done. It's also fun to look in all of Marc Brown's books and find the hidden names!

Being Responsible can be Fun !
I am in awe of how Marc Brown has simplified the concept of responsibility, so that it may be understood by my two year old daughter.

My two year old daughter summed this book up by saying; " Arthur showed his mommy and daddy he can take care of everyone's pets now he can have Pal . In my eyes that says it all !

The author has sucessfully done what was intended . He communicated an important moral concept to a small child , what being responsible is and how doing things morally right can be fun and rewarding.

Keep up the good work Marc Brown you are helping me communicate important moral, social, family, and educational values to my daughter. Great Books and Characters ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

It's a beautiful book, that my kid's love !
This book is a great children's book, as our ALL in this series. It is the one series that myself and my two children always look for on our bookmobile that visits us every week in town. They simply are great stories, that really leave you with a good feeling inside. You can really see the love in the stories.

Ted Tatosian Vernon Hills, Illinois

Excellent book for beginning readers
The flowing language and engaging text and illustrations encouraged my 6 year old son to try to read this "all by himself". Unlike many "early reader" books, the language is not awkward, and the repetitions are very natural. A pleasure.

A delightful, whimsical story for young... and old!
My daughter, 4, loves this story best of the several Mr Putter and Tabby stories that we have read. Unlike so many children's stories, this one (and the others in the series) convey a sense of real sense of human (and cat)character. The relationship between Mr. Putter and Tabby is loving and supportive. Most important, each story -- and especially this one -- communicates a wonderful sense of life lived with joy, respect, compassion and the muted simple little "heroics" of everyday life. In this case, sharing a wonderful red-and-white remote controlled biplane with neighborhood youngsters, especially with one boy who reminds Mr. Putter of himself as a boy.

While directed mainly to children 4 to 8 years old, they have touched by wife and I as much as my daughter as we have read them at bedtime. The small price of these books is more than worth the time spent and re-spent in the simple, caring world of Mr. Putter and Tabby. ... Read more

Book Description

Stella’s little brother Sam is back in this charming picture book. Sam asks his big sister whether or not she is sleeping. "Yes," answers Stella. "Aren’t you?" But Sam can’t sleep: he misses his beloved and faithful dog, Fred. Where could he be? Sam knows that Fred is afraid of many things: the dark, the monster that lives in the closet, and the giant toad that lurks downstairs. Luckily, Stella is there to reassure Sam as they search everywhere. Gay’s delicate watercolors, full of whimsy and humor, bring Stella and Sam’s world to life. ... Read more

Book Description

Something's wrong with Martha, the talking dog! She has eaten her daily bowl of alphabet soup, but when she opens her mouth to speak, strange sounds come out instead of words. Fortunately her nose still works, and she follows it to the source of the mystery. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Entertaining for kids AND adults!
I was lucky enough to come across this book while searching for a birthday gift for a little friend of mine. I was intrigued by the title, picked it up, and then had to read the ENTIRE thing. What a fabulous book!

The words are clearly printed on a white background, the pictures are large and colorful, and the humor in what Martha says will keep readers of all ages entertained.

Not only does the story deal with standing up for what you need, but I found that I could use this in my practice as a speech-language pathologist. Martha, when she eats alphabet soup, gains the ability to speak because all the letters go into her brain instead of to her stomach. But when some letters are left out, she has trouble communicating. When she gets all her letters, she can communicate just fine. A lesson! Wow!

I've read a lot of children's books, and this is a gem. Don't miss it.

Martha Blah Blah
Martha Blah Blah is about a dog who can speak when she eats alphabet soup. With her new-found language, Martha has adventures, helps people and animals and learns new things. She does have a dilemma, but she overcomes it to save the day. The illustrations in this book enhance the story. The illustrator uses large watercolor images that are humorous and does a good job of showing what is going on in the story. The author uses words that make the book easy to understand and employs a large font so that they are easy to read. The author also includes footnotes in some parts of the book, which can draw the attention away from the illustrations to the footnotes. Without the footnotes, however, one would not be able to decipher what Martha is saying when she loses her voice. Even though the footnotes draw attention away from the illustrations one can have fun trying and decipher what Martha is saying and then the answer is at the bottom of the page. In a small way, the footnotes make one think while reading the book. I believe that this book is entertaining and sparks the imagination. Like most children' books, it has a happy ending, which makes the story even more likable. Overall, I think that Martha Blah Blah is an excellent children's book that deserves to be read.

Laugh out loud wonderful
I read this book to my nephew, not knowing how completely hysterical the Martha series is.

The illustrations, including the very funny side dialogues, is straight-forward and not at all confusing. You can read the book to smaller children without the side dialogue, and they'll still understand it. Older kids can read the dialogue out loud and be just as entertained.

The story isn't scary, and does give a few good but not preachy lessons: avoid being greedy, don't abuse the telephone (there's a great picture of Martha yakking away on the telephone and getting reprimanded), and that being understood when you speak is very important.

Lots of fun, quick little story, ideal for bedtime. I highly recommend it.

Good story, good politics
This is my favorite Martha book and one of the few children's books I have found with good labor politics (_Cows That Type_ is another).

ipiio Boo!* i ig fu.**
*An inspirational book! Heightens the child's awareness of the importance of the sounds that different letters make (great fun for phonemic awareness). My 5 year old got a kick out of decoding Martha's garbled messages. **It makes reading fun. ... Read more