Book Description

Once upon a time, there was a diaper-wearing princess who wouldn't use her potty. Her royally frustrated parents were beside themselves: what could they do? They pleaded, they demonstrated, they brought in potties from all over the kingdom: pink potties, polka-dotted potties, musical potties, even one that glowed in the dark. But with every new potty, the Princess would only say "Take it away!" and wear her diaper instead.

In this comical look at toilet training, Wendy Cheyette Lewison and Rick Brown turn an all-too-familiar dilemma into a royally funny romp. A must for toddlers and parents trying to keep a sense of humor about toilet training. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Great book to motivate toddlers into toilet training!
I feel this book is an excellent tool to aid in the toilet training process. I bought character underpants and a neat potty, but it wasn't until my daughter read about someone else getting their panties, did she take an interest in going to the potty. The princess' experiences resembled her own - i.e. preferred going in her diaper, didn't want to have anything to do with the potty, and her OWN panties excited and motivated her. It helped her to have someone to "relate" to. We still have a ways to go, but I believe this book gave her a step up in the process.

No 'special potties' needed! Funny, gets them interested.
As I began reading this book about a little girl whose royal parents buy her every color and pattern potty imaginable to get her to potty train, I was a bit worried my child would begin demanding her own 'pink potty'. However, as you read you discover none of these bribes work with the little girl-she simply doesn't want to (sound familiar? It did for me). Anyway, only the thought of soiling the princess' pretty, new undies gives her the desire to run to the potty in the end. And it is then that she discovers she doesn't need any of those fancy potties, the closest potty will do(which is the plain, old potty)! Now, my daughter couldn't care less about pretty panties when we began to suggest potty training. ... This was her favorite book and it is so cute she actually continued choosing it in her nightly read selections for some time after potty training. ... Anyway, would reccomend this Princess and the Potty to keep the task at hand foremost in their little minds and then one other for more specific step-by-step instructional which can tend to be not as attractive for them to want to read. Good luck! If you stick to it and let them feel the few messes and help clean up, you'll succeed!

Excellent
Our little girl was really reluctant to use the toilet. I found this book really helpful because it showed a little girl having issues using the toilet. At the end there is a lovely picture of a happy little girl sitting on the toilet - very useful.

"Less Than Fairy Tale Reactions"
While this story happens "once upon a time," it sure sounds like some contemporary families I know. Princess is a royal - um, challenge who refuses to use her potty. King and Queen worry more about what the neighbors will think and about pleasing the princess than finding an effective solution. Even in my own home, we were overindulgent when training our firstborn on her own little throne (Stickers? Silly songs and dances? Nothing but a royal hassle!).

Since then we have read almost every potty book available on the market (over two dozen!). Most fit into two categories: INSTRUCTIONAL books that introduce the skills needed to master the potty; and those that are primarily ENTERTAINING, for children who understand what is supposed to happen on the potty, but need extra time to make it happen.

This text is more detailed than most, the vocabulary more difficult (with words like chambermaids and pantalettes, for example). But I found Wendy Cheyette Lewison's fairy tale ENTERTAINING. Unfortunately my little ones found it a little too lengthy and lost interest before I reached the end. Too bad. The Princess and the Potty is a delightful read from the once upon a time to the happily ever after.

Fun and Helpful For Toddlers and Parents
What a great "potty-learning" story! I was a little sceptical when I first saw the title - I thought it sounded silly. But after reading more descriptions and reviews I changed my mind. Boy am I glad I did! My 22 month old daughter loves it and so do I.
The pictures are fantastic and the story is done very well. I like how tactfully it is told. It feels like you are reading just any other fairy tale about a princess but it is nicely wrapped around the potty :-) Great reminders for parents too.

My daughter really gets into this book. She really likes the part where the princess says "This potty doesn't please me, take it away!" And always grins and nods her head sharply. (Maybe it's just the way I read it, but it's cute anyway.)

She loves to sit on the potty with this book and has me read it to her several times a day (esp. at bedtime) and also "reads" it to herself during the day. Unfortunately, though, it is soft cover with paper pages (most of her books are board books) she is pretty good with it but it still gets slightly damaged. I have to be careful to put it away when she is done with it so that it doesn't get trampled or lost under her toys and therefore crumpled.

Definitely a keeper, get it for you and your princess. Great to have in the library. (We also have "The Potty Book for Girls" and "My Potty Book for Girls") ... Read more

Book Description

A fanciful foray into the imagination of a child can be found in the delightfully written and dazzlingly illustrated new children's book, The Sleep Ponies. Author/illustrator Gudrun Ongman, a professional sculptor and painter, has transformed her mother's bedtime tale into a lyrical myth about magic ponies that carry children away to golden fields of dreams. The sweet story, the evocative, description prose, and the warm, soft watercolors all combine to captivate both parent and child as they journey together to the land of The Sleep Ponies. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Enchanting Naptime Story
I love reading this book to my sons. They seemed to be almost eager for their nap the first time they heard of the little girl who closed her eyes and met the Sleep Ponies. The words and pictures make the story come alive. We never get tired of this one.

Beautiful and accomplished watercolor illustrations
The Sleep Ponies by Gudrun Ongman is the deftly woven and highly recommended picture book story of a little girl who learns from her grandmother how to call her "sleep ponies" into her dreams. Ongman's beautiful and accomplished watercolor illustrations superbly enhance this gentle and touching children's picture book.

wonderful , beautiful story!
Loved it from start to finish. Illustrations were beautifully done and the story, it makes you feel has if your there in a dream. A wonderful book for all ages.

Surely a "Classic"
Magic? Intrigue? Charming story-telling? No I'm not talking about the popular Harry Potter series. I'm referring to writer and illustrator, Gudrun Ongman's new book, The Sleep Ponies. As the book jacket suggests, it's for readers ages four and up. I've just finished reading The Sleep Ponies for at least the fifth time. A few weeks ago, I shared the book with my 89-year-old mother who praised it for its creativity and wonderment. I sent a copy as a birthday present to my sister-in-law and her daughter knowing their shared love of horses. Gudrun has been doing readings at various book stores and the book is well-received by younger audiences. An eighth grade student of mine thoroughly enjoyed The Sleep Ponies as it tapped into her love of horses. Through the poetic prose and beautiful illustrations, Gudrun Ongman has captured the essence of a child's dream of being with horses. The watercolor and pastel pictures are poetic in themselves. Surely, the book is a contender for a Caldecott Award. The Sleep Ponies promises to be a classic passed from generation to generation. Read, relax, and you too may enter the delightful world of the The Sleep Ponies.

The Sleep Ponies
If you are looking for the perfect book to read to or with a young reader, look no further! The Sleep Ponies is superbly illustrated with charming,bright colored drawings that immediately set the mood for the beautiful story.Each page is a work of art in and of itself. The story is about a young girl who is taught by her grandmother to call The Sleep Ponies.They take her on magical adventures during her naptimes.The writing style is soft and poetical, creating a restful,dreamy mood.For any child who loves horses or any adult who remembers their own youthful daydreams,this is a wonderful experience to share. It is one book that you will not mind hearing over and over again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

All children want reassurance that their parents' love runs wide and deep. In Guess How Much I Love You, a young rabbit named Little Nutbrown Hare thinks he's found a way to measure the boundaries of love. In a heartwarming twist on the "I-can-do-anything-you-can-do-better" theme, Little Nutbrown Hare goes through a series of declarations regarding the breadth of his love for Big Nutbrown Hare. But even when his feelings stretch as long as his arms, or as high as his hops, Little Nutbrown Hare is fondly one-upped by the elder rabbit's more expansive love.

Anita Jeram'sillustrations are bound to elicit an "aw" from even the sternest of readers; these loving rabbits are expressive, endearing, and never cloying. In turn, Sam McBratney tells a simple bedtime story of sweet familial love with humor, insight, and a delightful surprise at the end. Children and parents will love snuggling up for this one--a treat to be read again and again, just before the lights are turned out. (Click to see a samplespread. Text © 1994 by Sam McBratney. Illustrations © 1994 by Anita Jeram. Permission from Candlewick Press.) (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (182)

Love unlimited - a powerful message for children
I was browsing through the children's department of my favorite local bookstore, looking for a gift, when this title caught my eye. I settled down on the floor for a read, and fell in love.

Big Nutbrown Hare is getting ready to put Little Nutbrown Hare to sleep for the night, when Little challenges him to guess how much he loves him. Little stretches his arms wide and says, "This much!" Big stretches his arms even wider and returns the love. Little keeps finding bigger and bigger ways to express his love for Big, and each time, Big outdoes him by virtue of his greater size. Finally, Little has to stop and ponder, and then triumphantly claims that his love for Big goes "all the way to the moon." That's a lot, Big concedes, and satisfied, Little settles down to sleep - and misses Big's whisper that he loves him "to the moon and back."

For children anxious about being loved, I can't think of a better story to illustrate how limitless their parents' love really is. No matter how much you love me, Big is saying, I love you that much and more. A comforting message, and one that Little can sleep on.

One of the things that makes this book unusual is that both hares are male. There is no lack of books about the love of mothers for their children, but Daddy-love is harder to find. I love the message here.

The pen and watercolor illustrations are wonderful. The animals are perfectly drawn - not cutesy, not cartoony, they are big rangy hares, with remarkably expressive faces. No cute little fluffola bunnies here...

I recommend this book as a valuable addition to your children's library.

Still brings tears to our eyes
In this tender story about a father putting his child to bed, Sam McBratney effectively conveys the depth of the love I feel for my own children, but am often unable to put into words. Little Nutbrown Hare wants to tell his father, Big Nutbrown Hare, just how much he loves him, but no matter what measure Little Nutbrown Hare chooses, his father always loves him more. For example, Little Nutbrown Hare loves his father as high as he can hop, but Big Nutbrown Hare loves his son as high as he can hop, and he can hop much higher. Finally, the tired little rabbit tells his father he loves him right up to the moon. Big Nutbrown Hare kisses his son good night and whispers, "I love you right up to the moon-- and back."

Anita Jeram's pen and ink and watercolor illustrations of father and son gracefully capture the love they feel for each other. She hasn't drawn the typical cute little bunnies found in many children's books; she's drawn creatures capable of expressing emotion. The expression on Little Nutbrown Hare's face as he's falling asleep is one I've seen on my own children. Her pictures also show an incredible range of movement, from stretching arms as high or as wide as possible to very gently kissing a sleeping child on the forehead.

This is one of my favorite books. It's a standard part of any "new baby" gift I give, and everyone who has received it from me tells me that they cried when they read it. I still cry.

A Wonderful Book!
This is one of the sweetest books out there. My daughter and I love to read it together. My only compliant is that this book didn't interest my daughter until around her second birthday, I assume because of the lack of color. The illustrations from an adult perspective thought are beautiful, as is the message.

Not just for kids
I bought this book not for a child but for a close friend who is going through a very difficult time in his life. I picked it based on the title alone, because it seemed like it'd have the sort of message I wanted to share with my friend. When I read it, I was delighted by the very simple story of two characters trying to define the size of their love, in a way very much like a game I used to play with my mother. Some people feel that the story is very competitive and I can understand that opinion, but I never felt that way when I played that game with my mother, nor does the book feel competitive to me. To me, the message is simply about love, and the undefinable, unquantifiable nature of it, and the way that no matter what kind of analogy you create for how much you love someone, it's still not big enough.

Besides the message of the story, and soothing illustrations, what really made this book a favorite was the lack of definition for the relationship between the big and little hares. A lot of stories mention in one way or another how the characters are related, and usually they're parent and child. This book makes no mention of how the two characters are related, or even if they are related in any legally-recognized way; you can take it to be whatever you want, whatever fits. Because of that, it's a particularly good fit for our odd mentorship-friendship, or any other nontraditional relationship.

So sweet
I love that this is the first book I ever read to my son. It is so sweet and perfect to show how love is boundless... ... Read more

Book Description

Tell me again about the night I was born . . Tell me again how you would adopt me and be my parents... Tell me again about the first time you held me in your arms . .

In asking her mother and father to tell her again about the night of her birth, a young girl shows that it is a cherished tale she knows by heart.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell come together once again to create a unique celebration of the love and joy a baby brings into the world. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is a heartwarming story, not only of how one child is born but of how a family is born. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

This is a heartwarming book for adopted children.
This book is about a young girl, who is asking her mother and father to tell her again about the night she was born. This little girl is adopted. She knows the story by heart. So, she ends up telling the story herself. This is a very heartwarming book. It begins with the phone ringing to tell them that she has been born. I cannot begin to express how touching this book is to me. The illustrations are adorable. They are so enticing to observe. The pictures capture Curtis's writing perfectly. Laura Cornell is a gifted illustrator who brings books to life in her drawings. I would definetly recommend this book. It makes me feel all warm inside when I read it. This book really brings out the true meaning of family and what it means to be loved.

Another hit by Jamie!
This is a nice adoption story which little adopted kids will find easy to understand. The questions asked by the little child will stimulate the young readers into asking questions about their own birth and drawing comparisons. The pictures are delightful and whimsical. I like Curtis' simple explanation that the birthmother was too young to take care of the child and needed to find parents for her baby. She avoided confusing the young reader with the "chosen baby" story and that the birthmother gave the baby up because she loved the child. I am an adoptive mother of a four-day-old girl and I too kept my explanations to the fact that our birthmother was not able to take care of the baby. It would have been fun to have had this book when our little girl was young.

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Better Adoption Book
I debated 4 or 5 stars. This book is not perfect but it is one of the better adoption tale books out there. Jamie Lee Curtis writes very nice childrens books!

This story doesn't quite follow how our adoption went but our children love it just the same. It follows how the parents get the call and bring the baby home.

The book is written the way young childrens book should be written so the parents can read the book with a nice pace, etc.

The book that I couldn't forget
I read this book in a bookstore, before my husband and I were even considering adoption. It brought tears to my eyes, and I thought the story was beautifully, touchingly told. Several people in my family have been adopted, in different ways and at different times, and yet they all consider their adopted families their "real" families,and they all loved this book. It makes me cringe to hear adoptees talking about "completing their family trees" in such a way that they acknowledge the people who raised them as if it was a simple favor. Now, as we complete our own adoption, I can't wait to read our children this book. It's not exactly the same as our story, but the message is perfect.

great for introducing kids to adoption
I bought this for a friend who had just adopted a toddler. It is such a sweet book about the emotions the adoptive parents go through, and how special adoption is. What a good way to introduce a small child to adoption. ... Read more

Book Description

"Goodnight, Max," says Max's sister Ruby. But Max can't get comfortable. First he spills a glass of water. Then there are all those itchy cookie crumbs in his bed...and the moon shining through his window. Will poor Max ever fall asleep? Rosemary Wells' beloved Max and Ruby are back in an irresistibly touchable book that is also a satisfying bedtime story. Toddlers won't be able to resist all the tactile elements--fourteen tempting things to touch, move, even smell--while a gently humorous story makes this the perfect book for bedtime, naptime, or anytime! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

You have to be a fan
I bought this book after reading all the great reviews. It is a nice book, bright colors, lots of attention to detail, silly story line, but I didn't think the areas for the child to feel were large enough. The sticky candy in Max's pajamas is just about the size of a child's fingertip, the lace curtain is just a thin slip of fabric, the lightning is a skinny zig-zag of foil and the "cookie crumbs" sandpaper is only about a quarter-inch high. There are other touch-and-feel books that provide a much larger exploratory surface. Still, this book does contain a good variety (sticky candy, rough crumbs, fur, smelly sock, etc.)I'm not sure why, but that smelly sock always seems to be such a hit!

A touch of genius by Rosemary Wells
What a joy of a book! My baby loves feeling the surprises on each page from the crumbs in Max's pockets to the gummy nightcrawlers on his feet! A sweet story with tactile turns on each page. A classic in the making, I can hardly wait for a sequel!

A splendid board book for toddlers & preschoolers.
It's time for bed, but Max can't fall asleep in this board book for toddlers who will find here a delightful bedtime dilemma. Bright pages with tactile cut-outs attract attention with touch and feel surprises as Max faces a too-long night.

Max and Ruby star in this lovely story about going to bed
My children adore Max, and this book is no exception. My three-year-old had me read it to him no less than three times in a row today. He loves to touch the lace curtain, soft blanket, and the "spilled" water. And what a sister! Everyone needs a sister like Ruby!

Any parent who's tried to get their own "Max" to bed can sympathize with Ruby, the long suffering and ever patient sibling.

What a joyful little book!

Goodnight Max
The irrepresible Max and his ever-patient sister Ruby are backonce again in this humorous yet soothing bedtime tale, complete with"touch and feel" fun.

Max is unable to fall asleep, andhis mishaps require continuous changes of his pajamas. My 3- 1/2 year old grandson, a Max fan from babyhood, especially loves the feel of the cookie crumbs in the bed and the sticky candy on the pajama feet. Peeking under the real fabric blanket is also a big hit, and the "smelly" sock is met with hillarity every time.

The format is an oversized board book, but with an expanded text and richly detailed illustrations. The designs on Max's fun-theme pajamas makes us want to own them; the silver moon is appropriately silvery, and the fly swatter is made of real netting.

Goodnight Max is a wonderful companion piece to "Goodnight, Moon" and "Bedtime for Frances". Babies would love touching the fuzzy teddy bear and Max's furry tale; older pre-schoolers can open and close the window. It's the best Max yet. ... Read more

Book Description

A Spanish translation of the original Curious George story. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

teaching my granddaughter Spanish :)
I bought this for my three-year-old granddaughter at Christmas. She loves it and has developed a pretty good accent (as good as mine, anyhow :) She knows what a bolsa is, and a monito and of course a sombrero amarillo. She has it firmly in mind that balloon = globo, so the globe of the world is like a balloon. Red is rojo and blue is azul.

And she hasn't yet taken to smoking a pipe :)

What's especially interesting is that she doesn't require that the story be translated, though she does like to talk about what Jorge is up to on a given page. "WHY did the man put Jorge in a bolsa?"

poor judgement
I had never read this book as I child but since I knew it was a classic I decided to buy it for my daughter. I never realized that Curious George and his owner smoke pipes and make it look appealing. I guess this has to do with the fact that this book is very old. If you dont' mind giving your child the idea that smoking a pipe is acceptable than buy this book for your child. Mine won't be reading it.

Revisit Curious Jorge...in Spanish!
If you like Curious George, you'll enjoy him all over again in Spanish. Jorge is unstoppable- he gets to know the city and finds a happy home at the zoo. The fun is in the trouble that he causes along the way! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Who knew?
I was worried about this one, because pumpkin faces are stuck in permanent frown. I brought this book home to my almost two-year-old niece and she loved it. She paraded it wherever we went for the weekend, and started to learn the names of all the different pumpkins. We read it thirty times in two days. I felt like a hero.

Dr. Pompo's Nose
This book is full of fun ideas that have to do with, when something like a pumpkin nose, is found in a pumpkin patch. The funny words and mentioning of different foods, was so silly, that I laughed the whole way through. The nose could be just about anything I could dream up, from a bat to a tree. All in all a funny, entertaining and happy book, especially when the right owner is finally found! I read it three times out loud!

Clever use of pumpkins as characters
"Dr. Pompo's Nose" cleverly uses real pumpkins as the characters, but I felt that the rhyming text was forced and akward to read. However, the range of expressions on the pumpkins' faces are amazing and fun to look at. Although I liked this book, I would recommend "How Are You Peeling" by the same authors more.

Another Halloween Howler!
"Dr. Pompo's Nose is yet another delightful creation by the author of "Play With Your Food" and "How Are You Peeling?" It will have the children --and their parents-- rolling in the aisles this Halloween! Bravo! ... Read more

Book Description

Clement Hurd redrew some of his pictures for this new edition of the profoundly comforting story of a bunny’s imaginary game of hide-and-seek and the lovingly steadfast mother who finds him every time.

"Best of the Best" Children's Books 1966–1978 (SLJ)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1972 (NYT) ... Read more

Reviews (66)

A heartwarming, beautifully written book, a MUST-HAVE !!!
I first heard a few lines from this book on a T.V. show, and I was in tears! I ran straight to my computer and ordered it. This book is a must have for every child (and parent!). I have never read a book expressing the love of a mother for her child so beautifully. The mother bunny becomes whatever it takes for her to "find" her little bunny as he dreams of different things to be to run away from her. The mother bunny doesn't condemn him, but conforms to his thoughts and dreams and "chases" after him as he tells her what he will become and how he'll run away. I loved the way the mother spoke so lovingly to her little bunny, letting him know that no matter where he went, she'd find him. My son loves the brilliantly colorful images on every other page. It is a nice contrast to the black and white writing in between. This has become a favorite in my home and I intend to give this book as a gift to any and every mother (or mother-to-be) that I know!

Runaway Bunny
This book is wonderful. My son is in an accelerated reading program at school, he brought this book home last night to read and we had such a great time with it. When the story starts off with the little bunny telling his mom that he'll run away and she says she'll follow him I just thought . . . that is love. I told my son that he was the little bunny and I was the mommy bunny, so throughout the story we pretended that those characters were us. The look on my son's face was priceless, I could tell that he knew that his mommy loves him dearly (children need reassurance). He was so proud to hear that I would follow him like that. The color illustrations kept us laughing. They were just so sweet and cute. This book is a classic. I would recommend it to any parent. I didn't see it as a way a mother holds a child back from adventuring out, but as a way a mother/father can deal with a little child wanting to runaway. My son has told me a time or two that he was going to runaway (I believe all kids do - I can remember telling my mom) next time he tells me that I'll just remind him of this story and that I am a mommy bunny! Call me crazy, but I'm assuming that God has read this book as well. After all He keeps running after each and every one of us. Children of all ages need to know that.

A heartwarming tale with an equally heartwarming message
Ever thought of running away? Or, have you ever been really angry at your mother? Well, I have just the cure for that, this book. This is timeless tale of a little bunny who can't help but test the extent of his mother's love, but for every idea the little bunny has for running away, his mother counters with a way of making sure they are always together. For instance, when the little bunny says he will escape his mother by turning into a sailboat, his mother says in reply "If you turn into a sailboat, I will become the wind and blow you home." A wonderful story that displays the unconditional love a mother has for her children.

great book
I think this book is a wonderful demonstration in love.The message is no matter what happens i will be there for you. reading some of the other reviews I feel that some people are reading into a sweet story.

Scary? Disturbing?! Squashed spirits?!? Not at all!
The one- and two-star people have the totally wrong impression. What do you think the (equivalent) age of the little runaway bunny is -- 16 to 25? To what age group are we reading a book like this? You have somehow missed the point, and context.

The idea here is that the little bunny is a very young child, far too young to be on his own -- you know this when he actually tells his mother he is running away! Imagine your child of 4 to 7, momentarily angry about something, who tells you he wants to run away from home, pouting and saying things he doesn't mean, wanting attention, testing your love. (Heck, imagine your adolescent of 16 literally running away, though he wouldn't warn you beforehand!) He is far too young to be on his own, and his mother loves him so much that she will always be there for him when he needs her, and will not let harm come to him. He needs her now, though in his current emotional state he doesn't realize it. Would you let your child run away?

This book's audience is toddler through early-reader, the kind of age where their early needs for independence are joined with an intense need to feel the constant love and presence of the parent -- they need to know their parent(s) will always be there for them. Margaret Wise Brown was not talking about an older child figuratively spreading his or her wings, only to be smothered and squashed by Mother's "love." (The only overall metaphor here is that bunnies = humans.) She's literally talking about an immature child impulsively saying he will run away, and what any good, loving parent would say and do to help and comfort him. The book is from 1942, so perhaps that makes it unclear to some, but from the moment I read it I understood the context; it is a beautiful story if you understand the intent. That little bunny has a great imagination -- the color pages are his mental images of the previous text -- and Mama is fostering it with her responses in kind.

There is one place where I would have worded the mother's part differently: where she she becomes the wind, she says "...blow you where I want you to go." I would have said, "...blow you back to me," and I think that's what the author meant. Also, somebody commented in 2000 about the "I will fish for you" part and said the mother catches him on a hook. Look at the picture -- there is no hook on the line, just a carrot tied on for the little bunny to bite, and a net to scoop him up.

I've replaced our worn, torn paperback with the big lap edition boardbook. We also have the "Goodnight Moon" lap edition, and although they are big and heavy, the size is a plus for the illustrations, and they're virtually indestructible. Our first daughter (4.5) caused many small rips in the pages of her books as she turned them with gusto, and our second daughter (20 mos.) likes to finish those rips when she can! ... Read more

Book Description

Do you
wake up
with a
wiggle?

Do you
wiggle
out of bed?

For energetic toddlers (are there any who aren't?), here's a book that invites them to wiggle along with the story. Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again and again, Doreen Cronin's latest romp will have toddlers wiggling, giggling, and then (hopefully) falling into bed, blissfully exhausted! ... Read more

Book Description

From all
of the daddies,
tall or small,
mine is the best,
the very best...

Some animal daddies comfort their babies or hold them tight, or face every danger for them. But the narrator of this loving picture book knows his daddy does all of that -- and more -- for him.

In this sweet companion to the New York Times best-selling My Mother Is Mine, Marion Dane Bauer and Leslie Wu celebrate fathers. A Father's Day card is attached to the back of the book, but this is a book to share all year long.

the very best daddy of all.

Amazon.com

When George's mother tells her son to bark, he meows. She patiently explains that "Cats go meow. Dogs go arf. Now, bark, George." But he quacks! Then oinks. Then moos. Becoming less patient and more exasperated, George's mom takes him to the vet, who reaches deep down inside the errant pup, and, much to everyone's surprise, pulls out a cat! Then a duck, a pig, and finally a cow. George is cured, and barks at last! On the way home, his proud mother wants to show off her convincingly doglike son to everyone on the street. But when she says, "Bark, George," he simply says, "Hello." This is the simplest offering yet from Jules Feiffer--creator of the delightful picture books Meanwhile and I Lost My Bear. Still, his cartoonish drawings are intensely expressive, alive, and hilarious. None of it will be lost on the youngest of readers who will giggle every time George fails to bark, every time the vet extracts a new animal, and at the final punchline, too. In a world of often overdone or underdone picture books, this fine Feiffer creation is just right. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Jules Feiffer. Permission by HarperCollins Publishers.) (Ages 2 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Funny story and cute illustrations
My 14 month old loves this book! He already understands the humor in it and laughs when George meows, moos, etc. There is even humor added in for the parents (the long latex glove). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with a toddler or preschool-aged child...When we read this story, we replace the "goes"'s and the "went"'s with says and said. By the time my son is old to read for himself and catch on to what we're doing, he'll have outgrown this book.

Silly Dog!
I got this book for my son, who is 2 years old. He requests it eagerly, and enjoys saying "silly DOG" each time George belts out the wrong sound. This is the type of kids book that will have your child repeating with you, and adding things on his own interactively. It is a fun book with cute illustrations and punchline. As a mom who loves to read fun books, I recommend it for all parents with young kids.

Pretty Doggone Funny!
Kids will laugh hard at the drawings, especially of George's exasperated mother ! This is a classic and a keeper.

Simply WONDERFUL!!
I read a review of this book that intrigued me enough to buy it.... 6 years ago! I read it to my son when he was little and it quickly became his favorite. He would even tell people all about George the "goofy" dog. Eventually he moved on to other books over the years. Then, shortly after his baby sister arrived, I quietly watched unnoticed as he brought out the book and read it to her! He told me later that he had "shared" the book with his sister. He was so thrilled to be able to pass on the fun of the animal sounds. I would recommend this book to all parents! It will be a much loved book that your child won't soon forget!

Delightful
This is the story of a puppy that can't seem to bark - instead he makes other animal noises. His smart mother takes him to the vet who knows just how to correct the problem. This book makes for a quick read if you can stop giggling. The illustrations of the vet's expressions are very funny. The ending is a delightful surprise. ... Read more

Book Description

A book for pre-school and early primary readers, The Big Hungry Bear is the story of a little mouse and you (you are the only one who speaks).What you try to do is trick the mouse into giving you his 'red, ripe strawberry' by making him think 'a big hungry bear' is chasing him, wanting to take it away. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Adorable, Colorful, and Funny.
The Story: A mouse is in the process of picking a red ripe strawberry when you, the reader, come upon him. You warn the mouse about "The Big Hungry Bear" who loves "Red Ripe Strawberries." Though the darling little mouse looks up at you with wide, worried eyes, he really wants that strawberry and continues to pick it and drag it back to his little home, where he tries hiding it, guarding it, disguising it, etc. Finally, the reader tells the little mouse the only way he can save his strawberry from the "Big Hungry Bear" is to "Cut it in two, share half with me, and we will eat it all up."

Your little mouse will love this book, and so will you. The illustrations are absolutely fantastic, and the mouse is one of the most expressively drawn characters in children's books. It's a quick read accompanied by bright, colorful, beautifully painted pages that will keep the attention of even the youngest child, and have your older child giggling and reading along with you.

Delightful, clever, and fun!
This is one of my 3 year old son's favorite books. The illustrations are GREAT; I recommend the larger hard cover book. This book starts with "Hello little mouse, what are you doing?", as you "catch" the mouse picking a strawberry. The adult gets to enjoy the mischief of the narrator, who tricks the mouse into sharing and eating the strawberry by convincing the mouse that the big hungry bear is on the way to eat the strawberry. The finer point that there probably is no bear is not necessary for the child to understand to enjoy and participate in the story. My son enjoyed from the age of 2 the clever ways in which the mouse tries to hide the strawberry, and always acts out his part of taking his half of the strawberry and eating it.

A PEACH OF A BOOK
This is one of my very favorite kids' books. There is no
particular moral, the story line is minimal, there is no bear!
But there is a little mouse with one of the most expressive
faces in all of kids' picture books, a huge strawberry, and a
very happy and satisfying ending.

Don and Audrey Wood are an extremely talented couple, both when
they work on separate projects and especially when they work
together.

Suspenseful without being scary
The Little Mouse book has a wonderful interplay between the reader and story as it introduces concepts of sharing and how to deal with the threat of a bully.

Pictures Make this Story - The Strawberry Seems Edible
Both my kids loved this book and I have given it to lots of people. I like the big hardcover because the pictures are so great (although the smaller Board Book is nice). In The mouse offers up the strawberry to the reader to share, and even Mom and Dad feel like they ought to take a piece. Simple story - and although the narrator tells the mouse he ought to take care of his strawberry or a great big hungry bear will eat it, my kids were never scared. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kids love trains, and Kevin Lewis and illustrator Daniel Kirk's Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo will do nothing but encourage the obsession. "Sun's up! / Morning's here. / Up and at 'em, / engineer," cheerfully begins this rhyming picture book. As the simple large-lettered text chugs along, Daniel Kirk brings a child's playroom and train set to life with bold, bright illustrations reminiscent of his work in Bigger. In the course of the book, the toys bustle about to make sure the steam engine is loaded up with freight and finds its way (through the country, 'round the mountains, into tunnels, and across the river) to its destination--the city. There the "sleepy-sleepy choo-choo" rests, right next to a tired little boy, until the next day's work begins: "To theroundhouse/ you are bound. / Good night, engine, / safe and sound." (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Come inside a boy's imagination for some train play!
This is a great rhyming story about a boy's imaginative train play. A young boy has set up a creative train layout in his room: going over the fish tank (bridge), to the freight yard, up mountains, down valleys, etc. His entire room is laid out with track and many of his toys are involved in the layout such as blocks to prop up the track and dolls to lift boxes. As we read the book we see the toys "moving" and doing jobs and the illustrations are such that we are as small as the train and looking out and around as if we were riding the train ourselves. At the end the train is said to go into the roundhouse and the boy is seen sleeping in bed with his locomotive and the track laid out on the floor all around his room! Great imagination!

The text itself is well written and rhyming and just has a great flow to it.

I bought our first hardcover edition right after it was published which was over 3 years ago. My older son has loved this since he was 2 years old and I have read it over and over and over. He is a real train lover and even now at age 5 he loves this book (over many of the other train-themed children's fiction books we own).

The text is not annoying in any way and I truly don't groan when I have to reread it to him several times. My second son has loved this book since infancy. Sadly, after 3 years of handling it finally fell apart and now I am buying a second hardcover edition. I browsed the board book version in a store but was disappointed. The hardcover is a larger size than usual and the illustrations are bold and large. In the board book version some of the illustrations are greatly pared down in size and much is lost. If you own the board version I highly recommend also buying the hardcover edition if your child likes the book. This would make a great gift!

A great rhyming, chime-in read-along about TRAINS!
"Sun's up, morning's here. Up and at 'em, engineer!" After one reading, this became my 2-yr-old son's favorite book. He loves to chime in with the last line of verse on each page. As a train fanatic, he loves seeing all the parts of the toy train and making the Whooo Whooo sounds. As a parent, I find the setting in a child's room (rather than in the outdoors) very refreshing. Morning, naptime, bedtime, we are probably reading this book.

A MUST HAVE FOR ANY BOY OR GIRL AGE BIRTH TO 3
If you're having a baby or if you have a toddler you must have this book. My daughter (age 3) loves it and I love reading it to her. I sit her on my lap and bounce her up and down to the rhythm of Chugga Chugga Choo Choo (and I add extra Chugga Chugga Choo Choo's while I turn the page so that the rhythm never stops).

It's got such a sweet ending, I start drawing out the Chugga Chugga's at the end and yawn "Sleepy Sleepy Choo Choo Till Tomorrow".

The illustrations are adorable. This would be a great shower gift, it's just so much fun to read.

attention getter
I definately think this book deserves five stars! The colors and pictures are so bright and fun they will catch even an adults attention. The words are catchy and repetitive witch is great when your trying to read to busy toddlers or in my case children with special needs. Those of you who know or have children with special needs know that your lucky just to get them to listen to the first five pages. However I got this book at the library and read it to my little two year old brother who has autism and he sat through the whole book and then wanted "more more". The sounds are also good practice for little ones the Choo Choo sound and Whoo Whoo,my little brother who can say very little was running all over the house saying choo choo and whoo whoo. I was very impressed with this book and am going to buy it right away!

My toddler's favorite bedtime book
My 2 year old loves this book! His first word for train was "choo choo!" We enjoy the rhyming ("Sun's up, morning's here, up and at 'em, engineer."), and the whole theme of the toy train and all the toy characters (a la Toy Story) in the child's bedroom. He loves the "whoo whoo" whistle sound the train makes, especially when the train is in the tunnel and you get the echo! It is a little short, as another reviewer states, but hey, so is a toddler's attention span! ... Read more

Book Description

"Even before you were born,
I was your grandma
and I loved you."

A loving grandmother eagerly awaits the arrival of her grandchild. She dreams of the baby's soft sighs, sweet smells, and tiny toes, and imagines the infant smiling, rolling over, and crawling for the first time. Finally, the baby arrives and Grandma is ready with a very special message.

Tender and touching, Anne Bowen's I Loved You Before You Were Born perfectly conveys the magical anticipation of birth and the Joy a new child brings to a family. Greg Shed's rich, luminescent paintings capture the love and wonder of this blessed event.

Reviews (5)

Wonderful warm book for all grandmas to share
This lovely book blends soft, painted illustrations with loving text about the great anticipation of an expected grandchild. It mirrors my thoughts as I waited for my first grandson this summer. I think the book is valuable for conveying to a slightly older child the sense of joy he brought to his family before he was even born, let alone after his arrival, and that he is a valued and greatly loved member of a family with differing generational expections and anticipations. You will love sharing this book with a grandchild.

THOUGHTS FROM A GRANDMA
I am a grandma of 8 grandchildren under the age of 4 yrs old. I read this book and loved it! Eventhough I have 8 grandchildren, each one of their births have been very special, and this book says what my feelings have been for each one. I am so thankful I found this book in the library while looking for books for my 4 yr old grandson to read. Thank you Anne Bowen and Greg Shed for a beautiful book!

Happy Tears
My daughter and I read daily but few books have moved us emotionally as this one. We both had tears in our eyes as she realized how much Grandma loved her even before she was born. This is a must have for all Grandchildren and Grandmothers. Just have a box of tissue nearby.

A Book That Honors Children
Anyone can easily identify with this book, which finds words to convey the magic and wonder that is felt before the arrival of a baby. Told from a grandmother's point of view, it honors children and shows the connection and sense of wonderment we have for them before their arrival, and once they are born. The art is perfectly matched to the lyrical text and I noticed the added bonus of each text page being a different pastel color. I will keep this book in mind the next time I hear a pregnancy announced.

all grandmas will want this....
This is a wonderful, gentle story for all grandmas to read to their new grandbabies. It has all the joy and anticipation and tenderness and love of waiting for and then holding that wonderful baby. I read it to my two year old grandson this weekend and we both loved it. The illustrations are beautiful watercolors that greatly enhance the text. ... Read more

Book Description

The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting--if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful--until she claims him for her own. "Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child's fragile self-esteem....Lilly is a superb and timely heroine."--Publishers Weekly. " ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Sweet Baby Julius
DO NOT be scared of the previous reviewers silly fears about "bad words" in this book. You don't have to be a genius to see that this is a positive book, with an extremely positive message about babies. Plus, it is Kevin Henkes, and he writes books that kids love, I know, I'm a teacher and if you want your kids to love books, buy them books like this. It's great, and the illustrations are adorable.

When my son was born, we recited parts of this book to him..
...in the NICU. "But his parents loved him. They kissed his wet pink nose, they admired his small black eyes, and they stroked his sweet white fur." Our four-year-old nephew wanted us to name the baby Julius (and we have tee-shirts personalized with Julius, though his name is Jake). We love this book SOOOOO much, and we give it often as a gift. It's a pleasure to read over and over again. "Kiss! Admire! Stroke!"

Julius, the Baby of the World
Lilly, an active mouse, stars in Julius, the Baby of the World, by Kevin Henkes.

It stars Lilly who loves Julius. But when he is born she hates him. She hates how her parents kiss his wet pink nose and how they stroke his soft white fur and admire his small black eyes. Lilly has to share her room. They want Julius to grow up big and strong like Lilly. But when her parents aren't looking, Lilly has her own ideas. Lilly's parents are doubtful about leaving them together alone. Lilly scares him and ignores him. Lilly spends more time in the uncooperative chair. Lilly hates him, but her parents love him. She warns her friends about him and other people.

My opinion is if you like a nice humored book with good pictures, this is your book. I love the way the colors work together. So go...get Julius, the Baby of the World.

I wouldn't have bought this if I'd read it first
Maybe this book would be a good thing for an older child who could understand that the behavior described in the book might be meant as something funny and not be OK to try, but I don't plan to read it to my 2 1/2 year old. It features a big sister who is having a tough adjustment to a new little brother (so far so good), but it goes into descriptions of a degree of negativity and acting out that I am not really looking to introduce my child to or read about over and over. The new big sister is pictured leaning over the baby's crib saying: "I hate you. You're ugly." In our family, we just don't talk to each other like that. The girl makes up a story for her brother in which she says he is a germ, a zero, like dust under the bed, like dirt...If my child had come up with doing this sort of thing on her own, I'd have to think hard about whether reading a story like this would be helpful. Since she hasn't come up with this kind of behavior, I don't really want to plant the seeds by reading this together. I thought Susan Winter's A Baby Just Like Me was much better, and my daughter loves that book. I also liked Geraldine's Baby Brother.

Hilarious, charming and a little educational thrown in
One of only a very few children's books that is laugh-out-loud funny for adults. For the kids, the pictures are colorful and charming (as are all Kevin Henkes illustrations) and the lesson in sibling jealously is a good one. I buy this book for all my little friends who are expecting their first younger brother or sister. A gem among the wonderful collection of Kevin Henkes books. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Harry was a white dog with black spots who liked everything, exceptgetting a bath." Taking matters into his own paws, he buries his family'sscrubbing brush in the backyard and runs away from home before they can wranglehim into the tub. Harry gets dirty playing in the street, dirtier at therailroad, and dirtier still playing tag with the other dogs. When sliding downthe coal chute, he actually changes from a white dog with black spots to a blackdog with white spots! Of course, by the time he gets home he is completelyunrecognizable to his family--even when he does all his clever flip-floppingtricks. In a stroke of doggy genius, he unearths the bath brush, begs for abath, and the rest is history. Youngsters will completely relate to the urge torebel, the thrill of getting dirty, and, finally, the reassurance of family.Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham's Harry the Dirty Dog, first publishedin 1956 and now rereleased with splashes of color added by the artist herself,is one of those picture books that children never forget. (Ages 3 to 8)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Harry the dirty dog is a classic kid's story
I remember reading this book when I was in school and I always enjoyed it.

Harry takes off from his family, and gets so dirty they don't recognize him. He has a fun time around town, but when he realizes his family does not know him, he needs to have a bath to prove that he is their dog.

This is a cute story, which my 7 year old loves to read over and over. A five star read for kids of any age.

To wash him is to know him
The book I read was Harry the Dirty Dog. I like this book because of the illustrations. The dog in the story is cute. I also like the plot of the story. The dog doesn't like to have baths. He runs away and gets dirty. He is so dirty his family does not recognize him. Finally he begs for a bath and gets one. His family realizes it is him.

Adventure and Drama
Harry runs away to avoid a bath, sending the reading along for a journey through all the dirtiest (and most fun) places in the nearby city streets. Of course all adventurers eventually have to come home. Here the story does a wonderful parody/reversal on the recognition scene in the Odyssey, where it is Harry who can't be recognized for his "disguise" of a black sooty coat with white spots. Eventually though the power of the dreaded bath, he's finally revealed and reunited with his family.

In the bawth, in the bawth
A trip back in time to 1956. Let it never be said that fantastic female illustrators are a new phenomenon. Margaret Bloy Graham's attention to detail and delightful characters back in the day resulted in this lovely tale of a filthy dog. Perusing the pages of 'Harry the Dirty Dog', the reader is drawn into a delightful story that encompasses all times and all places. It is a story that has stood up well over the years.

Harry is a white dog with black spots who is NOT fond of baths. After hiding his scrub brush and hi-tailing it away from his home, Harry becomes so terribly dirty that he resembles a black dog with white spots. When his own family doesn't recognize him, Harry must take drastic measures to make his way back into the family's heart.

Harry's an adorable little mutt. The book isn't making any intentional social commentary, but I did love the variety of places Harry got into. Look, he's playing near the construction workers! Look, he's down at the railroad! Look, he's sliding down a coal shoot! It's nice to see jobs in a kids book that aren't all posh upper middle class desk occupations. Admittedly, sometimes the book's published date is obvious. Where, after all, are all the black people? Any minority at all? This is a world full of white white whites. Still, how much do you hold a book accountable for such things when it is thoroughly lacking in any other problems?

Harry's family members look like nothing so much as early prototypes of Harry Bliss (the New Yorker cartoonist), by the way. Those big black Orphan Annie eyes. Altogether, this is a good book for any adult that wants to remember a time tinged in nostalgia. Kids will feel for Harry, just as they are relieved that he makes back home okay in the end. Any child that loves doggies will adore this book. It may even serve those adults that want a story that applauds the virtues of keeping clean. A fine piece of work.

A Terrific Story!!!
This is a very simple, but powerful little tale, with the dog taking the part of the teacher. The dog hides the bathtub brush because he doesn't want a bath and then he runs away from home. Then he goes on an adventure and gets dirty and even dirtier as the tale goes. Then he comes to his senses and returns home, only to have the family not recognize him, until...he finds the brush he hid and then it all turns out alright. The artwork is pretty basic and wonderful and it communicates the story so well. A very well done book. Kudos to the writer and illustrator!!! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Potential but missed the mark for me
It is a cute story and well illustrated but the text left a bit to be desired. Some parts were way too repetitive and sometimes the dialog did not even use complete sentences. In the context of the rest of the book, that did not make sense to me.

Anyhow, I'll keep it because my girls like it.

Great book!
When we got this book our two year old opened it right away (probably because of the excellent illisrations) and asked me to read it. Now normally after about the first sentence or two she would be distracted by some other toy but she sat through the whole story and it has become part of our night time routine.

One of our favorite books
This book is wonderful because the adult can read it multiple
times and it is still engaging. The catchy rhymes make it easy
to memorize, which helps my 3-yr-old toward reading it on his
own. The illustrations are fantastic, with bright colors to catch the attention of young children and humor to keep the parent and child laughing. I also recommend Chugga-Chugga Choo Choo.

Finally, a book our 2 year old son slows down for
Concerned that our two year old was never going to slow down to listen to a story, we ordered this book because it was about a subject near and dear to his heart...trucks. My husband and I were instantly impressed by the bold, colorful illustrations. We opened the book and started reading it and our son stopped what he was doing to come sit and listen and look. After only two readings, he repeats many of the rhyming lines as he flips through the book on his own and asks us to read the book every night now. This book has it all, rhyme, reinforcement of numbers, great pictures, a subject matter that is of special interest to most boys (though I think girls could love it too), and the neatest part is that the illustrations tell a story that the words do not point out. I love the fact that this allows you to talk with your child about why the truck got stuck. This is truly a neat book and I think Lewis and Kirk deserve an award for this one. Can't wait to get Chugga Chugga Choo Choo.

Enjoyable even after the 1000th time!
"Rotten Luck! My truck is stuck!"
Colorful & rhyming. Two dogs driving a loaded truck on a desert road, get driven into a hole! They ask travelers traveling in a car, Movers in a van & a school bus for help! but the truck wont go! Until the tow truck arrives to rescue the day. My 3 year old son just loves it. A must for your home library. ... Read more

Book Description

Pat the Puppy, the welcome companion to the classic Pat the Bunny,is yet another irresistible first book for toddlers from the Golden Touch andFeel Books line.Play along with Tom and Sarah as they smell chocolatebrownies, sit in the rocking chair, watch home movies, and, of course, pat thepuppy. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not sturdy enough for toddlers
The idea is a good one, but the very first thing my toddler did was rip the frog off the page. Also, it's not board book, and it doesn't have regular paper pages, it's something in between. More like oak tag folded over to create stiff pages. Pat the Bunny is the only one of this series that I would recommend.

Why mess with th