Reviews (30)

This bedtime story book holds Mom's attention too!
This is one of our top ten bedtime stories for our preschool children. It is the discovery of beauty and love as a mother guides her child on a bedtime trek from the porch, to the rocking chair, to the bed. It is a warm and sensitive version of the "mockingbird" Hush Little Baby lullaby. My children don't ask me for a mockingbird, a diamond ring, looking glass, etc. and so that original version seems outdated. Hooray for Sylvia Long...this book reflects a new time and a new generation of parents. She has done an excellent job in creating a book that shows a mother's love and the security of having many options at your fingertips that enrich your life (or in this book make you drift off in contented sleep). Younger children enjoy having a book read to them time after time (moreso than the parents enjoy the reading of it). It seems that with Hush Little Baby I find new details in the artwork each reading and even I havn't tired of it yet. Every page is warm and cozy and filled with nature or cuddles or quilts or bears..all things little children can relate to. I love the individual stitching around the illustrations - a different one each time you turn the page. A negative noteworthy comment (made by three of my children)is that at times the bunnys' ears are very short and seem catlike. Overall I would say this is a must in a childrens' home library!

A Pleasant Surprise
I was pleasantly surprised when I recieved this gift set in the mail, as a present from a friend off of my baby registry. The gift set is beautifully packaged and the toy is soft and plush and makes a quiet rattling sounds--quiet enough to not annoy mommy, but loud enough for baby to enjoy. It is also curled up in a C, so that you can fit the bunny rattle right onto her cradle or changing table.

The book is great--A very soft and warm writing of the hush little baby song that focuses more on nature and baby goods other than diamond rings and such (as the original song goes). It's a great book to read to baby at bedtime, and very soothing. I'm glad we recieved this!

Love this book! It's one of my daughters favorites!
I've had this book for a year. I've read it so often that I can now sing it without reading the words. My 3 year old daugther calls it the "Banjo song" because one of the lyrics in the book mentions a banjo. She asks for it every night lately. I highly recommend this book.

Beautiful Book
This is one of our favorites. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Its a wonderful nighttime book to sing to our baby, and the new story created by the author is terrific. The pajama clad bunny is cute and our baby loves to play with him. A must have in your library.

A Must Have!
I just started giving this book as a gift to all newborns! It sends such a great message. In this materialistic world of ours, it's nice to know that happiness can be taught and shared through the simple things in life. ... Read more

Book Description

BooBoo is a curious blue gosling who likes to eat.She likes to eat everything. Well, almost everything. ... Read more

Book Description

Uh-oh.Mrs. Wishy-Washy is at it again. Rubbing and scrubbing all the animals on the farm. But this time they aren't standing for it. Duck, Cow, and Pig are leaving mean old Mrs. Wishy-Washy for good!

They run away to the big city.But they get lost, wander into a restaurant, and even stumble into a hardware store and get covered in paint! Where is Mrs. Wishy-Washy when they need her? Maybe her farm isn't so bad after all . . .

Joy Cowley and Elizabeth Fuller have brought their clean-loving Mrs. Wishy-Washy back to her old tricks in this full-length sudsy story that will become a favorite before you can say "Bathtime!"

Illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

So much fun!
This is a great book - full of good old fashioned rhyming fun. That's why my husband and I love it. Our toddler loves the colorful, charming illustrations. Either way, it's a winner and on our top ten list!

Mrs. Wishy-washy Delights Again
I teach kindergarten, and my students have read all the books about Mrs. Wishy-washy and her animals. This book has the same fun, joyful tradition of the other stories. The children's immediate comment was "Read it again!". One child wanted to write to Joy Cowley to see if she was going to write another one. This book is a winner.

Fun To Read
I have recently purchased this book for my 2 year old and she cannot put this book down. The pictures are wonderful and full of color. The pictures are so big and the story plot is not that long so that for non readers it is just great and lots of fun to read. Suggestions, make noises as you read the few lines and have them call out and descripe the colors and animals seen on the pages. I truly recommend this book because most importantly my daughter loved it and I loved seeing her face. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Too simple, no substance
I was disappointed and am reconsidering ever buying books online again! You can't really see what you are getting, and this is just too simple to be useful.

Doctor Maisy
If your child loves Maisy books as much as mine does, definitely add this one to your collection! Not only are the pictures colorful and inviting, but it also makes going to the doctor seem fun and exciting! Plus, it's always great to see Maisy and her friends playing different roles and doing fun things! Each page brings delight to my child's eyes! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A companion to the popular One Yellow Lion and Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings, Matthew Van Fleet's Spotted Yellow Frogs is an engaging fold-out book for babies and preschoolers. Each spread introduces a new pattern, 3-D shape, and color. For example, one set of pages has the words "Striped Orange" on the left, and on the right is a striped orange cube entitled "Cube." Fold out the cube, and voilà! A pride of tumbling, striped-orange tigers appears. Young children will love the peek-a-boo approach of the book, but parents and teachers should let kids know that the patterns shown in the book are not necessarily the only patterns one might find in the animal kingdom. For example, beetles are not always "zigzag red" and butterflies aren't always "swirly purple." The book closes with a 36-inch-long, fold-out page featuring all seven shapes. Readers are asked to call out the names of the shapes, colors, and patterns, and to guess which animals hide behind each. The flip side shows a jumble of all the animals, so kids can pick out which animals are matched with the "wrong" pattern. Spotted Yellow Frogs is an excellent learning tool, and a book that children will want to read again and again. (Baby to preschool) --Aimee Damman ... Read more

Reviews (6)

a 2 year olds favorite
My son calls it the sticky tongue book. I like to call it a wonderfully illustrated and educational book for young children. 3d shapes are shown in different colors and patterns and then open up to show a scene of different creatures underneath. A red zig zag ball turns to a family of red zig zag beetles tickling each other and playing, one is eating and one is sleeping. My 2 year old loves the humor in the pictures. He asks to read this book every day.

Perfect for squirmy babies!
We got this book with a bunch of other hand-me-downs, and now I'm planning on getting the others from this author. My daughter is almost a year, and she gets squirmy every time we try to read any book but this one. With this book, she sits still, and looks so intently at the pages, laughing as we open each flap. Every time I say "the end", she signs "more". She could sit and read it over and over. While the shapes are more advanced than a baby will understand, I highly recommend this book for little ones, as well as preschoolers!

My 3 year-olds new favorite
It's a good thing I love this book, because I've had to read it every day for the past two weeks and there is no end in sight to my son's enthusiasm. Not only is it a good introduction to complex shapes, but the illustrations are phenomenal. The animals are drawn with complex emotions on their faces that are fun to discuss with my child. From bored to exhausted to annoyed to surprised to delighted to perplexed and on and on, with small details in the background that my son loves to look for over and over. This one will be a gift to other children from now on.

Very clever and fun to read
My 25 months old daughter liked the "Fuzzy Yellow Duckling" book she discovered at playgroup, and I decided that it was worth ordering from Amazon.com. While reviewing the selection by the same author, I ended up buying this one too. It hasn't been a disappointment, my daughter loves both books although I feel that this one is more suitable for slightly older children since the shapes it teaches are things like cubes, columns, wedges etc. Still, it's a great and very clever little book with a wonderful "ending" of double sided long "synopsis" of the book. I think I will buy the 3rd book by this author soon.

3-D Shapes Center Resource
I used this book in a learning center for a second grade class to reinforce the concept of 3-D shapes. They loved the illustrations which provided an excellent visual format for the concept. The minimal text makes it very readable yet the vocabulary is challenging enough for all reading levels. Considering it was written for preschoolers, the older kids loved it. ... Read more

Book Description

Pat the Cat, the long-awaited companion to the classic Pat theBunny, is yet another irresistible first book for toddlers from the Golden Touchand Feel Books line.Play along with Martha and Neddy as they write shoppinglists with Mommy, help Daddy get money from the cash machine, smell freshlybaked ginger snaps, play hide-and-seek and, of course, pat the cat. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My little one loves it
Okay, *I* may think it's boring and *you* may think it's boring, but my child ... loves this little book. It is frequently the one he chooses to have read to him, perhaps because each page is interactive.

One, of course, must pat the cat. Then you can extract money from the ATM and later put it into daddy's wallet. You can imitate mommy making a list, scratch and sniff the gingersnaps, help Neddy and Martha see-saw and play peek-a-boo, and squeeze the little bear before going to bed.

It is a fun, quiet little book that your child will enjoy. And you will too -- not because it's exciting, but because the time you and your child spend looking through it will be happy and peaceful.

This is my toddler's favorite book.
At first glance, you may not be impressed because the illustrations are a little dated. However, it is a great interactive book for toddlers. My daughter loves this book (and that's what it's all about). We also have Pat the Bunny. I'm buying Pat the Puppy tonight. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A Must-Have for children of ALL ages!
Today, I called my grown daughter in MI and her first words to me were "The Rainbow Goblins is in print again"! Oh, the memories of reading that book from the public library over and over. I not only bought copies for my children, but for friends' children and my grandson as well. This is a beautifully illustrated book with a wonderful story. I hope you make memories as blissful as mine while reading it to a child you love.

The fanciful origins of rainbows
It's hard to believe that 15 years have passed since the original publication of The Rainbow Goblins. I read it then and was delighted with the simple yet moving story of the rainbow. How the goblins stole the colors from the rainbow and hwoo the flowers rescued the colors and banished the goblins. But what attracted me the most was the incredibly beautiful illustrations! The vividness of the colors of the goblins and the rainbow have stayed with me all these years. I was delighted to see this book re-issued. I purchased one as a gift for my young cousin who collects childrens books with outstanding illustrations. The Rainbow Goblins is a book that can be enjoyed by children of all ages, from the young who will love the story of the rainbow, to us older folks who remember seeing rainbows.

Unforgettable!
My mother bought me this book when it first came out, years ago. It was my favorite book of all time, and someone borrowed it and never brought it back which was very sad. Many years later, I was telling someone about it - about how I had been so influenced by the illustrations in it and the great story, and i decided to have a look to see if it could be found. I was soooo happy, i bought a copy for my niece right away. But when I got a copy for my own birthday, boy - that was something else. It still moves me, and I really enjoy paging through it. It is beautiful. Share it with someone you love.

Rainbow Goblins
PARENTS BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although the story is a bit formulaic, the pictures are beautifully done...
that is until you realize what two of the goblins are doing to each other as the story progresses. This Ul De Rico has no business in children's literature. I think you will agree if you check out this book and what the yellow and red goblins are engaged in in some of the illustrations.
As a parent and illustrator, all I can say is SHAMEFUL!

The Rainbow Goblins meet their match in Rainbow Valley
There once was a land that lived in fear of the seven Rainbow Goblins. Each had its own color, which was also its name, and they were led by Yellow, who was their chief because he was the craftiest. The goblins were feared because they lived on color and scoured the land looking for rainbows. Whenever they saw one they would catch it in their lassoes and suck the colors out of it so that they could fill their bellies with the bright liquids. However, one day the Rainbow Goblins came to a hidden paradise called the Valley of the Rainbow, the one place in all the land that did not fear the goblins.

The story of "The Rainbow Goblins" and the oil paintings on oak panels that illustrate the story, are the work of Count Ulderico Gropplero di Troppenburg (a.k.a. Ul de Rico). "The Rainbow Goblins" is a story about the arrogance of evil and the power of nature, while the artwork would remind you of Renaissance artwork if it were not for the bright colors put into most of the paintings. "Time" described "The Rainbow Goblins" as a fairy tale that might have been told by the Brothers Grimm and illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, a comment that will not mean a lot to the younger readers that will fall in love with this exquisite book, but it will give the rest of us something to think about. ... Read more

Book Description

"When I was little, I could hardly do anything. But now I can do lots of things, like braid my own hair and go to nmusery school. I'm not a baby anymore. I'm me!"

... Read more

Reviews (12)

Something every child could relate to!
This is the first year that I am teaching first grade. I read this book to my class then asked them to draw a picture of what he or she remembered from when they were little. Every child had an idea! As the students were drawing pictures I asked them about their memory and wrote a sentence or two for them to copy (this was only the third week of first grade). The parents will love to see these at conferences! A Fun book and a great writing prompt!

For once it's not about the baby!
The pictures are great fun. If you have to read the book 20 or 30 times, it helps to have something new peek at you out of those rich pictures every once in a while. And I love the story too. This book is about being a big kid, versus a being a baby. Too many new sibling books make the new baby the subject. I think most new big siblings have had just about enough of those darn babies. And it's funny. My daughter and I disagree about what's really happening in the picture that goes with the part about time-outs, but we both think it's funny.

Main complaint: Where's the dad??
The first thing my husband said after reading the book to our daughter is, "Where is the dad?" or even the grandfather for that matter. There are references to mommy and grandma. I don't know the history of Jamie Lee Curtis. Perhaps she didn't have a father figure present growing up, which certainly would explain why there are no memories to explore.

In regards to the editorial review that they "slip in implicit endorsements of specific cereals and junk foods (Cap'n Crunch, Chee-tos, Animal Crackers)", this didn't bother me. I would guess that most people have a specific image or memory in their head about when they ate Cheetos, Fritos, Cheerios, oreo cookies, or whatever. It's the beauty of our memory of being 4-1/2 years old.

The watercolor illustrations are beautiful. There is so much detail that they tell a story themselves. (And at least pictures exist of male role models).

As for the book overall, my daughter loves it, and that's what is most important.

A delight to read to youngsters
The combination of delightful illustrations and simple words evoking the mind of a child make this book, like all of Curtis' creations, a pleasure to read to youngsters and to get fun reactions about what and who they think they were as babies. I'm glad that a granny got a place in the book too, catching the little grandchild at the bottom of a long slide. That's me today. I like how Curtis weaved in the importance of reading to children at night, and I vote for her book to be one of the choices. Her love as a mother and understanding of children shine through the pages.

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

Wonderful creative book
My three year old daughter enjoys this book as much as her mother. This book is not only cleverly written, but delightfully illustrated. After we bought this book and read it and read it, we ordered all of the other books written by Jamie Lee Curtis. Quite frankly, I didn't know she had it in her!!! Great job Mrs. Curtis!! Thanks for sharing your talent. ... Read more

Book Description

It’s nap time on the farm, but one un-sleepy baby has a different plan...
Will Baby do the cha-cha? Will Mama flip her wig?
Will Baby dance the polka with a polka-dotted pig?
Perfect fun for young children who like lively stories, this happy tale invites all to join in and dance along. Read, sing, lift the flaps, do a little jig-and-twirl! It’s a toe-tappin’, no-nappin’ good time when baby starts to boogie. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful book!
I have two-year-old twins, and they are absolutely entranced by this book! After reading it to them the first time, they became and have remained simply delighted to shout out the animal names as we flip open the pages. Our copy is a library book; I'm ordering it right now and plan to see if this author has others. Again, great book! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Puppy love
Who said it's a dog's life? FudgeFudge and Marshmallow may be man's best friends, but life gets ruff when a new baby puts them in the doghouse faster than you can say, "down, girl!" But they're not going to roll over and play dead. They plot revenge, until Grandpa shows up and becomes a bone of contention.

Hah! I'm so punny, I just kill myself. Hey, if there are books to get siblings used to the idea of having a new baby around, why not one for your mutts? Although Jenkins says she has no dogs of her own, her depictions of their distress and jealousy certainly have bite.

Pratt stretches the figures to funny, whimsical sizes, and the fuzzy brushstrokes and bright colors add an upbeat touch even as the dogs go barking mad. This one'll tickle you down to your funny bone, and teach an older sibling that no, you can't bury your baby sister in the backyard.

(Sorry about the puns. I just couldn't help myself. I'm through now.)

ADJUSTMENTS, ADJUSTMENTS ! IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.

FudgeFudge and Marshmallow ruled the roost, more or less.They received a great deal of attention from the man and woman to whom they belonged, so basically they were two happy dogs.That is until a new animal came to live at their house.They do not like this intruder one bit.

For starters, he didn't smell at all like a dog, and people didn't play with them any more- no sticks to chase or tossed balls to run after.People just sat and looked at the new animal.The intruder took FudgeFudge's spot on the couch, and no one even noticed that Marshmallow was showing his tummy, ready to be scratched.

To add insult to injury, when Marshmallow whines, someone tells him to be quiet.And, when FudgeFudge barks, he's sent to the corner.But, when the new animal cries it is cuddled and kissed.How ridiculous!

Of course, the new animal is a baby.The two dogs simply do not know how to deal with this member of the family.It takes a visit from Grandpa to straighten things out.
Youngsters will laugh at the dogs' reaction to the baby, and many will probably relate to the changes that occur when a new person joins the family.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (35)

The Best Bedtime Book!
We received this book as a gift when my 3 year-old son was born. It has been a family favorite ever since, and now we read it to my 1 year-old daughter, who loves the butterflies. No matter how many times we've read it, my husband and I both get misty when Nicholas curls up in his hollow tree!

It's a have to have!
When my 14 year old daughter was little, this was the book she had to have read to her when she went to bed. It was read to her so many times, that by the time she was 3 she had the whole story memorized - and many people thought she could already read! Then, it became the staple for my son. Nine years later, I'm expecting my third child, and have to find a new copy of this book for this baby as it's become a family tradition to read all about Nicholas and his adventures.

Such a GREAT Book!!
I had this book when I was little.. i got it in 1981 (year i was born) and I read it so many times!! I had that book memorized! My copy is sitting in my box of baby stuff.......

My son's first bday just past and I just about cried when I saw this book! He just loves it when i read it to him and pays attention to all the bright pictures!

IT'S A MUST for young children!

newmom
My 5-month-old son received this book as a gift and it is by far his favorite book. The illustrations are absoutely beautiful! He is captivated by the large colorful pages. Forget turning on the tv, read this book to your child instead!

Still remember the pictures after 30-some years!
I was very excited to find out that this book is still in print - I have such vivid and fond memories of this book from my own childhood - of reading it with my Mom but especially gazing at the illustrations. I bought this for my 2.5 year old niece and my friend's 3 year old daughter - both Moms report the girls are captivated by the pictures! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very beautiful
I had four children over a period of ten years, when, frankly, it wasn't fashionable. Realising now that I and my wife have "done our bit" to raise the census count now, we tend to look back very rarely on that period when they were all crawling about or demanding room service...

It's rather sad that while that period is going on, you rarely find people who will barge into the house and actually tell you the truth - that in all this haze of nappies, late nights, worry, and occasional delight, that this period is unreplaceable, precious, and if you look out of the corner of your eye, more than wonderful. Babies are one thing, I guess according to one set of people, but a parallel reality grants them quite incredible powers - they are magical creatures, impossible, fantastic, wise, full of joy and splendour.

This book made me look in precisely that direction - towards the rather long time ago of my own tinies, and I was immensely moved by the memories I had put away of my babies learning every little ordinary thing. And the art is just right and it's all magic.

I had to look the other way, my eyes were rather wet when I finally looked away, and of course I bought it. I'm not sure why, because my babies are now quite big, but I caught my girls reading it, and perhaps it's going to be for their babies, one day in the far distance!

The Sweetest Book
This book is so sweet and beautifully illustrated; It was on a shelf at our local library in the "New Books" section. I picked it up to read to my 20 month old daughter and proceeded to burst into tears! This could have been written about her; all of baby's 1st year milestones are recorded in harmony with nature. It is a simple and charming story. I will buy this book and save it for my little girl - so she can read about herself when she is grown!

Oh, I really do like this one
Actually, I wept. I shouldn't say this, but I have four children and been through the business of nappies and late nights and I stood in the bookshop and just could not hold back the tears. It is so lovely. I have not illusions about it being tough being a dad nowadays, but this book is so simple, and shows the beauty and majesty of creation through these beautiful creatures.

Babies... everything they do is wonderful or impossible, or ridiculous, and the book shows you to value everything that is fatherhood, and being a created being.

My wife told me I was silly. She's probably right, but who cares? I am in awe of something greater than me and in love with love.

This was an excellent book to celebrate a one year birthday
The book had beautiful illustrations and a wonderful storyline. It is a wonderful way to celebate a baby's first birthday.

Moving prose and illustrations celebrate baby's first year.
Captivating illustrations celebrate the first year of baby's life. Moments after birth, smiles and all the joyous experiences of discovery and accomplishment are revealed in sweet prose and illustrations on each breathtaking page. This book will gently tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever loved a baby. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

My Son's Favorite Book
My 21-Month old son LOVES this book... he is fascinated by construction trucks and such and gets so very excited when we read it. It is very bright and colorful and gets his attention each and everytime. He loves pointing out everything and is always his first choice to read at bedtime! If your little one is as truck crazy as mine is, s/he'll love it! ... Read more

Book Description

"Do I have to go?" Owen asks.
"Yes," his mother replies.

But his mother sends him off with more than just his lunch. She promises that no matter where he is and no matter what he's doing -- whether Owen is making a new friend or spilling his juice -- she'll love him all day long, from the moment they part until the moment Owen is back in her arms again.

Francesca Rusackas and Priscilla Burris's book is a reassuring tale of how the enduring love of a parent stays with a child whether they are together or apart.

Reviews (6)

A Darling Book!
With its tender message and darling illustrations, this book is a household favorite! A perfect gift for parents who are sending their little ones off to school!

What a great discovery!
I discovered this book by accident and it has literally become a staple of evening reading with my 2 1/2 year old. It's so great to watch a child grasp the concept that just because a parent is away from them during the day, doesn't mean they don't still love them. My daughter says "I Love and miss you all day long, Mommy" almost every day when I leave for work. I have given this book to all of my working mom friends, too! A must have!

Very Reassuring to my toddler
"I Love You All Day Long" has become a common phrase around our house. My toddler loves the book. She finds it reassuring in her daily life with and without mommy. She enjoys the pictures. It's a wonderfully touching story true to the life of a youngster who still needs that security of knowing Mom loves him/her no matter what he does or where he is. A GREAT story!!

delightful book to reassure new preschoolers/kindergarteners
A joyous book to help any child feel better about going off to preschool or kindergarten--for the first time or just for the new school year. Bright, colorful, uncluttered illustrations and smooth effective prose show us little Owen Pig's worries (with wonderful facial expressions) and how his mother is able to reassure him that he is loved even when she is not there. My own four year old asked for repeated readings and loved every page. Enthusiastically recommended.

Feel good book without being sappy
The message in this book, "I love you all day long," was perfect for when my 2-year-old told me that she missed me when she was at daycare. The book helps give a framework for reminding your little one how much you love them without being overly emotional. It shows day-to-day activities that my daughter really related to, like snack time and going down the slide. And it's just a cute book. This is one of her most requested books, even after her separation stage has ended. ... Read more

Book Description

While in the park Sophie decides she wants a cookie and throws a tantrum when her mother will not give her what she wants. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

We love this book!!
What a fun and wonderful book this is. My 3 1/2 year old son loves it and even reads aloud with me his favorite parts (THE COOKIE! THE COOKIE!). We really relate to how Sophie feels when she gets really angry and what it feels (and looks)like to have a tantrum. There are no judgements in this book, only real feelings and patience and understanding from a mom. And it has a peaceful loving ending too. Bravo! to Harvey Stevenson and Deborah Blumenthal.... encore! encore!

At last, a parent allows their child to have feelings!
Sophie sees another child with a cookie, (and she's cranky and hungry and it's naptime) and she REALLY wants a cookie, but her mom says "no", they don't have one today, and Sophie has a tantrum, while her mom stands and listens and watches- she's there for her daughter without interfering, and when Sophie is done with her feelings, they go home, there is no judgement or shaming directed at Sophie for her "freak out", just matter-of-fact kindness. It's SO refreshing! I particularly like the message of the book which is that adults don't have to give children whatever they want or try to reason with them, distract them, etc.. They simply need to let children have their feelings about not getting what they want.

This is a wonderful book for toddlers and their parents!
Deborah Blumenthal puts her finger on the frustrations experienced by two-year-olds who don't know how to stop their tantrums once they start. The colorful and charming illustrations keep kids' attention, and the text is simple enough for your toddler to follow and memorize. It's a "universal," captivating book that really struck a chord with my own young son. Anyone dealing with the so-called "terrible twos" should like this book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who needs words to tell a story? In Raymond Briggs's charming tale, told with 175 softly hued, artfully composed frames, a little boy makes friends with a snowman. He wakes up on a snowy day, tells his mother he's going outside, then begins a flurry of snowman-building. That night, he can't sleep, so he opens the front door and lo! the snowman has come to life. The amiable yet frosty fellow enjoys his tour of the boy's cozy home; he admires the cat, but is disturbed by the fire. The boy shows him other wonders--the TV and a lamp and running water. Predictably perhaps, he is disturbed by the stove, but likes ice cubes quite a bit. Soon it is the snowman's turn to introduce the boy to his wintry world. They join hands, rise up into the blizzardy air--presumably over Russia and into the Middle East--and then safely back to home sweet home. The boy pops into bed before his parents get up... but when he wakes up the next morning he races outside only to find his new buddy's melted remains, scattered with a few forlorn lumps of coal. Since the book is wordless, you can make up any ending you want... like "Then, in a puff of pink smoke, the snowman recomposed himself and went to live in the boy's garage freezer." Or you could just resign yourself to a peaceful "And that was that." Raymond Briggs's The Snowman won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and this wintertime classic continues to win the hearts of kids every year. (Preschool and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The Snowman
A children's classic, a must for every book shelf. The wordless format lets the children create their own story. We purchased the book for our then three year old, at eighteen he still reads and loves the book. This year I am purchasing another copy for our thirteen year old who also loves the gentle illustrations and the heart warming message. This book truly illustrates that words are not necessary for a book to be a literary great.

Marvellous, touch everyone's heart !
The greatest children book I ever read, drawing is beautiful and the story is so touching. It touches every one's deep deep heart and wish can fly with the Snowman in the sky. Highly recommend as a gift at Christmas time for children and even adult.

Don't miss it. Just like no one miss 'The Little Prince'.

Special
A gentle book that has no words. The story is in the pictures. For my three year old son who so desperately wants to read, he had no problem 'reading' this story. He was able to tell a story, look at the pictures and pick out different details and tell a different story. The pictures are gentle and kind and show a special relationship with imagination, dreams, wishes, children and the fine line between reality and imagination that children can walk with ease.

Enjoy.

review
This is a wordless book about a little boy that makes a snowman. He can't sleep at night so he gets up and opens the door to look at my snowman and he is alive. They go through an exciting night of adventures. He shows him around his house. ... This is a great book even though it doesn't have words. It allows the reader to make up there own interpretation of the pictures and much imagination can be put into trying to read this book. This has great pictures and they are very clear so it can lead to easy interpretation too. This is a great book and I would recommend that everyone reads it. This is a book that I want to have in my classroom collection.

Magic!
The Snowman...When we are children, the impossible, the fantastic, seems completely possible, if we only believe in it strongly enough. This wonderful picture story by Raymond Briggs depicts a little boy's magical adventure with his snowman who has come to life. This is, to put it simply, a must-have book. If you enjoy it, you must---MUST see the animated version! Words cannot possibly do it justice---you just have to see it. Enjoy!! ... Read more

Book Description

Now in paperback, a picture book, told from a child's perspective, about what to expect when Mom's expecting.

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Reviews (13)

A lovely book.
Sometimes when shopping for childrens' books online, it's hard to know what a book will really be like (though reviews help). This book I saw in a bookstore and I was captivated by it -- it's not sentimental or sappy but by the time I finished reading it I was extremely moved, even a bit teary. As other reviewers have noted it covers different aspects of prenatal preparations, baby growth, baby care, etc., but it also manages very subtly to encompass some of the emotions (in parents as well as siblings) around the arrival of a new baby. It has a somewhat larger format and wonderfully simple yet expressive illustrations. My son (who just turned four) loves it, and I think it makes him feel good about the prospect of being a big brother (the sibling in the story is a boy, but the book is written in such a way that girls would be able to relate to it, too). After all, it is the big brother who plays a pivotal role in helping to soothe the baby at the end of the story!

Hello Baby by Lizzy Rockwell
My 6 year old son loved this book. We read it practically every night while we were expecting our second baby. He loved to compare what stage of development our baby was in based on the fetal development chart in the book. It's a wonderful, lighthearted story that really helped him get excited about having a new baby in the house.

Great Book
We got this for our 2 1/2 year old, as we are expecting our 2nd soon. We read this book to him every night and he has memorized it. I thought the concepts in the book might be a bit to difficult for him to understand, but he gets it and is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his new baby sister.

Fantastic story and pictures
This is my favorite book of this genre and recommend it to anyone with a new baby coming. We own 6 different "new baby" books and this is the best because it touches on all aspects of the baby-to-come (it ends when the new baby is only days old). There are illustrations of the mom/older brother at the OB's office, of an embryo and fetus development, of the family going through old baby clothes to prepare for the arrival of #2, of waiting at home w/Grandma while mom & dad go to the hospital, of visiting at the hospital, Dad bathing the baby at home, mom breastfeeding, and of a crying baby, among other illustrations. My daughter wanted to read this book several times daily for months before my son was born. She still loves hearing the book read to her and will read it to her stuffed animals, too, 8 months after my son was born. (My kids are 26 months apart.)

* A Beautiful Book *
I have to hold back the tears when I read this book to my son who is almost 4 and expecting his baby brother in a few weeks. It is so helpfull for a child his age to see the trip to the midwife, using the doplar to hear the hearbeat, feeling baby move in mommys tummy, seeing a growth chart showing baby's growth in a very accurate way for a child his age. I love the picture where they take out all of his old clothes and get them ready for the sibling. Also when the dad and son give the new baby a bath together - it is so touching. I can not highly recommend this book enough especially for an older child that can appreciate the complexity of what is really happening to his family. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The Kids Love This Book
When I was a working librarian, I read this books (and the others)to my storytimes. When I retired I started to volunteer in an inner city school. I was not certain how the children would react to the book. I am now in my sixth year reading to Preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade. They hear the first four books each year and they always ask me to repeat the books. The line about "no one had ever asked him to come in" always gets a great response. I think everyone should read these McDuff books. So many classes can't be wrong!

Doesn't take a bite out of crime.Just out of shortbread.
Dear old Rosemary Wells.If you've ever read her books about that famous bunny Max or classic titles like, "Morris' Disappearing Bag" then you know that her stories, while disjointed, can often be truly charming works of preschool art.So when I discovered the McDuff books (written by her but illustrated by someone else entirely) I was ill at ease.I mean, Wells draws such cute little bunnies.How could anyone else adapt to her words?On reading the first book of the McDuff series, "McDuff Moves In", I was amazed to find myself suddenly on the oposte side of the fence.The pictures in this book are really quite charming.From the cute little Scottie named McDuff to the 1950s setting, visually this story's a charmer.But strange as it may seem, Wells's words are out-of-place here.Though a brief tale with little in the way of plot, somehow this book is not as direct or understandable as it might be.A pity.

On our first view of little white McDuff, he's sitting in the back of a city pound truck.After a providential bump in the road and a quick escape, the solitary doggy goes down a nice suburban street in search of food and shelter.Door number one at the first house growls at him.Door number two at the second house hisses at him.But door number three at the third house is just right.There, a friendly couple take him in, feed him, give him a bath, then decide they haven't room for a doggy.Fortunately an attempted car ride to the pound proves that maybe this couple has grown a bit attached to their shaggy new friend.Happy ending and shortbread biscuits for all.

The book bears a striking resemblance to Lyn Rossiter McFarland's subsequent similarly plotted picture book, "Widget".The difference, however, is that "Widget" is the stronger story.Though I was with "McDuff" through the beginning, about the time he stumbles on the kindly couple I found my eyebrows slowly beginning to lift.For example, when McDuff appears outside the third home, the book says the following: "Somebody opened the door and asked him to come in.It was Lucy. 'This is Fred', said Lucy".Looking at the picture of both Fred and Lucy staring at the pup on their porch, I naturally assumed that now the dog was named Fred.Not so much.The text and the pictures don't mesh particularly well either.When the book says that Fred checks McDuff's collar, the picture shows Fred sitting on a chair with McDuff hiding underneath.Plus the language is oddly stilted.It ends with the words, " 'How happy we are!', they said in their dreams", which is half an inch shy of hokey and a sneeze away from outright saccharine.I don't think I'm conveying the book's inability to tell its story convincingly to you.Nevertheless, I strongly urge you to flip through this story long before you decide to buy it.Long before.

Which is not to say that the pictures don't almost make up for its narrative flaws.Illustrator Susan Jeffers has a Caldecott Honor Award under her belt and it shows.From Lucy's painted toenails and felt hat spotted bathrobe to the image of the three new friends happily munching on McDuff's shortbread biscuits at the tale's end, this book seeks to enchant.Seeks and, were it not for the words, would succeed.I loved the fabulous 40s-50s decor.I liked the scared little McDuff turning into a confident happy pup in a loving home.I liked how realistic these images were and how original the setting became.Obviously if Rosemary Wells had illustrated this tale herself she would've done it in an entirely different way.It's just her own bloody good luck that she found herself paired with such a supremely talented artist.

So it's entirely up to you."McDuff Moves In" has much in its favor and much against it as well.Personally, I suggest that if you are looking for a tale of a cute little white Scottie finding a home then you should seek out "Widget" by Lyn Rossiter McFarland forthwith.If, however, you're a fan of the period picture book genre and you like Susan Jeffers's work, "McDuff" may be a great choice for you and yours.It is not Rosemary Wells's best writing and the story is pretty touch n' go.Still, there are things to recommend it.Definitely give it a trial run.

Fantastic!
I own this book, as well as others in the series. They are just great! My mom owns a Westie, perfectly named Duffy(he got the name before we new about the books), and the illustrator captures the essence of the Westie. Every picture is perfectly drawn to show the character of a Westie. I love the author as well. I have been a teacher and have always read Ms. Wells' books to my students and the McDuff series is loved by all. McDuff moves in is just a fun book to read and I recommend it to all ages.

Ashleigh LOVED this Rosemary Wells book!
I am a 2nd grader.My name is Ashleigh.I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells.My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN.I like this book because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home.

Ashleigh LOVED this Rosemary Wells book!
I am a 2nd grader at Anna Merritt Elementary School.My name is Ashleigh.I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells.My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home. ... Read more

Book Description

Children will feel as though they are riding the big red fire engines and hearing the "clang, clang" of the bell! Large-scale, active pictures will transport young readers to the scene where they'll see brave firemen connect hoses and save the day. A Little Golden Book Classic! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Wonderful Book from the Pre-PC Past
This is a great book to teach children about fire and fire fighting. The illustrations of firemen (not firefighters) at work are very vivid and colorful. The illustrations use clear lines rather than sketch-type illustrations. The historical fire engines (circa 1950s) are retro-cool. My two-year old daughter learned a lot about fires and firemen from this book. Most importantly, it kept her interest and mine -- the parent who has to read it repeatedly.

nice book
Nicely ilustrated book. Great for every boy who likes fire engines.

The Fire Engine Book
I thought the pictures are very pretty!! The story is short which makes it easy for me to remember!! I love to read!!

Haunting but very racist
This book is a very frightening vision of what America would be like if the Aryans got their way. Every fireman looks identical, they are all white clones. There is not a tiny bit of pigment to be found in any illustrated face in this book. Also notice that the firemen never speak. There are many noises graphically depicted in this book (e.g. "sssss," "clang clang clang," "sput sput sput") but the pictures clearly depict everyone following orders, like good little clones.

This book teaches children that only white people can be heroes, and to mindlessly follow authority. Also that it is bad to be different.

perfect first firefighter book
this simple story with its rythmic prose and sounds aplenty has enthralled my twins. The pictures feature lots of firetrucks and gently show hose, axe and ladder action at the fire itself - just the sort of thing that they couldn't quite imagine on their own yet are terribly curious about. Most early fire truck books sanitize the actual firefighting ( I don't know, too scary or glamorizing fire perhaps?) but those just left my kids confused. What do firemen DO, Mommy?

The trucks are quite dated in the pictures - circa 1945 perhaps - so purists might object that they aren't what one sees today, but my kids have never noticed. To us, its just a beautifully illustrated, interesting book for the very young. ... Read more