Book Description

Poky Little Puppy and The Tawny Scrawny Lion are just two of the 46classic Little Golden Books included in this unparalleledcollection.Selectedby noted a children's book editor, and with a new introduction by scholar,Leonard S. Marcus, no other collection brings so many time-tested favoritestogether in one place. A wonderful gift item, complete with a ribbon marker,that will occupy a special place in every home. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Sure brings back memories!
What a great idea - these lil books were such a precious part of my growing up, love sharing them again with my son! There's a new author around who writes stories that are very similar to the lil goldens, and I recommend his book as well as this one: Bobtales by Bob Morgan

A Family Treasury of Little Golden Books
This is a wonderful selection of children's stories. I remember them from my childhood and own many of the individual books. Unfortunately, while the original little books had illustrations and a short text on each page, only a fraction of the pictures from each story have been retained for the treasury. In some extreme cases the text of 15-20 page picture books has been included all on one page with 1-2 small pictures. My 4 year old finds these somewhat boring, though she has loved the original books since before age 2. This book is worth buying if you don't have access to the originals, but it would be much better for young children if they had included more of the art which captures the imagination.

caution- overpriced
Looks like a good one but can be had for 2 dollars less at your local book store!

A great collection at a good price
It amazes me how expensive children's books are these days! Well, here's a way to get more for your money... a collection of favorites from a respected children's book publisher, Golden Books, for a price that won't break the bank. Especially for 46 stories! So if you have kids who like to read (or you like to read to!), this is a great addition to any library. Also a great way for a grandparent to have several kids books without the mess of lots of individual books.

A Famiy Treasury of LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS
I ordered A Family Treasury of LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS for my two year old son. He really enjoys us reading the stories to him. I enjoy it since it has taken me back to my childhood. I remember reading these same stories when I was little but I had forgotten all about them. They used the original illustrations, which really gives the book a wonderful warmth. From a parental point of view, the book is great since you don't have all of the little books to put away. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with a child that loves to read! ... Read more

Book Description

If you had a giraffe
and he stretched another half …
you would have a giraffe and a half.

And if you glued a rose
to the tip of his nose …

And … if he put on a shoe
and then stepped in some glue …

And if he used a chair
to comb his hair …

Shel Silverstein’s incomparable line drawings add to the hilarity of his wildly funny rhymes. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

An Amazing Book
"A giraffe and a Half" By Shel Silverstein is an amazing book, especially for kids. I loved when my mom read it to me as a child or when I read it becuase it was always fun to see what came next. Sometimes I would even guess what was comming next. Both the pictures and the sayings made me laugh or smile. I would have to say it was one of my favorite books as a kid.

A Book My Mom Read To Me As A Child
I think this is a very good book for childeren becuase it is funny and also has alot of funny pictures. This book makes you laugh, and it also has many tounge twisters which, i think, makes it funnier.
This book is about a giraffe and a little boy and he keeps making the giraffe do things or adds things to him. Everytime he adds something to him you read what the giaffe has on or did all over again. The giraffe ends up taking off everthing of giving it away. In the end he is just a normal giraffe again.

Delightful
One of the best children's books I've read. The rhymes are contagious. The story slides off your tongue as you read it. Children are taken with it. And then we create the game of adding new verses and rhymes for the giraffe, and a half.

Giraffe & a Half :()
Giraffe and a half is great for kids that love repetition. Your child could learn to memorize better with this book. I really love this book and I would recommend getting other Shel Silverstein books because I have the whole collection.

Hilarious
I read it to my own kids when they were small, read it until they and I had it memorized. I then took it to school where I read it to my eighth--yes, eighth-graders who laughed and got sing-songy and guessed the next line and who chanted along as soon as they figured out the pattern. We next wrote our own versions and read them to the elementary kids. Good stuff for all ages. One of my favorite books! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"If you give a pig a pancake, she'll want some syrup to go with it.You'll give her some of your favorite maple syrup. She'll probably get all sticky, so she'll want to take a bath." You get the idea. Baths lead to bubbles, bubbles lead to rubber ducks, rubber ducks lead to wanting a trip to the farm. If You Give a Pig a Pancake is a delightful exploration of the scenario "if you give an inch, they'll take a mile." But who could refuse the whims of this adorable piglet? Not us, and certainly not the pig's young caretaker. Parents will feel a familiar twinge as they witness the pig's increasingly elaborate demands, and kids will be delighted that the story circles back around to the original pancake. Laura Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond--well-loved creators of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Give a Moose a Muffin--succeed again in concocting a marvelously skewed study of cause and effect that inevitably results in a riotous read-aloud. Your kids will ask for this book again and again, and you won't want to refuse. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (55)

NICE TO SEE THE ROLES REVERSED FOR A CHANGE!
This book makes me laugh-out-loud; it is so adorable and cute!

"If You Give A Pig A Pancake" helps the child see what we as adults go through running after her giving in to her little whims and idiosyncrasies! Let's hope as she gets older she will understand what this book is trying to say:

1) Appreciate and be thankful for your parent(s).

2) Don't take life too seriously.

3) Live life to the fullest and have fun!

4) Be your own person.

5) You never have to grow up.

6) Don't worry about trivial matters; just say "oh, go have a pancake!"

7) Help others; what you give has a way of coming back to you-- DOUBLE.

This is a great book for all ages; it is the female version of "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie." I highly recommend both books; great illustrations and short easy-to-read stories.

Your child will be reading in no time if you read fun books like this to her, and simultaneously you'll be laughing as well!

GO BUY THIS BOOK!

Another favorite read.
We have several of the If you Give.... books by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. And they are all such favorite reading.

In this book we meet the cutest little pig, and the girl that owns the pig. She starts with giving the pig a pancake (a great way of playing with words with the kids), and when he gets the pancake he wants syrup, you find the syrup and he wants...... you are on the run untill you are back again on the last pages where pig's sticky hands reminds him of your favorite syrup, and of course no syrup without a pancake. Any child loves this way of playing with words, and playing with - what will happen next :-)

We live in Norway, and my youngest one understands only a little English yet, so I translate for her while reading. My dream is to have these books translated into Norwegian - what a treasure to give the small kids of Norway.

By the way, the book is also fun reading for older kids, and for grown ups. Why should the small kids have all the good picture books :-)

Britt Arnhild Lindland

So, So
Just another variation on the first book (Mouse Cookie) and to me the story did not flow together as well. My kids like it though.

A very poorly written book............
I've read this book to my daughter who loves it. I've also read the other books in the series. The illustrations are rather cute but the story is so poorly written. I feel anybody could have come up with the lame text this author has come up with. All her books are the same style and don't require much creativity or imagination. I give the book two stars because my daughter likes it and the illustrations are good. We borrow it from the library and I would never purchase it. For a good children's book, I think the British authors do a better job!

excellent
Totally gets into the kids psyche. They love to see what the pig will want next. This whole series is a fabulous display of cause and effect. very nice ... Read more

Book Description

The important thing about The Important Book--is that you let your child tell you what is important about the sun and the moon and the wind and the rain and a bug and a bee and a chair and a table and a pencil and a bear and a rainbow and a cat (if he wants to). For the important thing about The Important Book is that the book goes on long after it is closed.What is most important about many familiar things—like rain and wind, apples and daisies—is suggested in rhythmic words and vivid pictures. ‘A perfect book . . . the text establishes a word game which tiny children will accept with glee.’ —K.

... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great book
I used this book at the beginning of the school year to get my special ed students to write about what was important to them or about why the things in the book are important. They all loved the activity and it was one of their favorite picks for reading time.

affirming perceptions
This thoughtfull Brown book methodically affirms a small child's growing ability to construct opinions about his or her world. Misunderstood as asserting objective classifications, Brown instead elaborates on the ellusive season of child development when subjective and objective information are indistinguishable:
"the important thing about a daisy is that it is white" and air is "the color of air".
Recommended if you want the child in your life to catch Brown's vision of personal discovery.

Great author - mediocre book
This short volume has failed to spark much interest within me and my children. It lacks the poetic lilt of "Goodnight Moon" and the quiet force of "Runaway Bunny." The illustrations, many in black and white, seem from another era. Yet, they are not timeless and fail to inspire.

Brown's muddled characterization of the essence of everyday objects seems neither accurate nor absurd, neither artistic nor banal. Why, for example, are we told that the important thing about a shoe is that "you put your foot in it" when so many more relevant characteristics could have been chosen? (protects your foot from harm, keeps your foot warm, makes a fashion statement, leaves footprints, gets mud on the carpet, etc.)

Teach the"Main Idea"
We use this selection to teach the concept of the main idea. I start the entire year off using this book. I read the book aloud to the students.We discuss each aspect of the important or the main idea of each subject.After completing the book we then write a page about ourselves. Example: The important thing about Ellis is that he is a toehead,he loves computer games , he plays with his trucks and he always wears Carharts,but the important thing about Ellis is that he is a toehead. Ellis is a student that has the whitest hair you have ever seen...everyone always says something to him about his "toehead". The children (usually third graders) each do their own page and we publish our book for the classroom. We try to have this completed by our open house. The parents really enjoy it and they get to know their childs classmates in a special way. Just a thought!

Great for the beginning of the school year!
I use this book at a "getting to know you" starter for the 1st day of school. After reading the book, the students start to see the pattern. I then have them write something about themselves using the same pattern in the book. "The most important thing about Sue is that she likes to read. Sue has 3 cats, plays soccer and can pitch like Nolan Ryan, but the most important thing about Sue is that she likes to read." I then have them illustrate these things on manilla paper or with the computer, then bind all of the pages into a class book. The kids love getting to know each other this way. ... Read more

Amazon.com

David, the out-of-control monster-child from David Shannon's Caldecott Honor Book No, David! is back... and ready to disrupt the class. Shannon remembers the word "no" all too clearly from his childhood, and, as he says in his introduction, "It seems that kids haven't changed much over the years, and neither have school rules, some of which date back even further than the invention of sneakers." In David Goes to School, young David shows up late to class, goes wacko at the blackboard, chews gum in class, yells answers out of turn, pulls pigtails, stares out the window, cuts in line, has a food fight ("I don't care who started it!" says the teacher), lingers at recess, and draws on his desk. Colorful, hilarious, childlike illustrations examine our strangely appealing demon-boy at eye level, which is especially disgusting as David stretches an enormous mass of bubble gum from his pointy-toothed maw. After an intense day of exuberant misbehaving, however, he stays after school and washes all the desks until they sparkle. The day ends with a gold star and a pat on the head... something that any child (or adult) would find satisfying. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by David Shannon. Courtesy of Scholastic, Inc.) (Ages 2 to 6) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (25)

If your child acts up in class, this may be useful...
I am surprised at the great number of rather poor reveiws for this delightful book. First of all, the book is geared towards first time school-goers who are just learning the ropes of good behavior in a school setting(and may be having a hard time of it!). Many children find it difficult to behave properly in school - not all children are perfect little angels in the behavior department. As a former teacher and currently a classroom volunteer, I have noticed many young students getting scolded for the many things depicted in this story - things such as not raising you hand before speaking, not paying attention to the teacher, etc. If your child is acting up in class, I think this book might be helpful in demonstrating what is and is not acceptable at school. At the conclusion of the story, David finally learns how to behave properly and is rewarded with praise. I think this is a positive lesson! If your child does not have any behavior issues, you may not relate to this book as much as the parent/teacher who is trying to reach a disobedient child. The pictures are bright and colorful and despite some of the previous reveiwers' comments, I don't think that children reading this book wuld assume that the bad behaviors depicted in this book are something to imitate. I think the message is clear: You will be scolded for bad behavior, praised for good.

David---the Saga Continues
Jamie, my two year old grandson loves this book. To adults, this book may seem overly cute and simple. To a toddler, it is a slice of everyday life. The large colorful pictures and simple text make this a must have. The child can easily learn the words and read along especilly the line where the teacher says "David, be quiet!"

Book for all kids
This is a great book for kids 3+. It teaches them the good and the bad side of things. Along with Stellaluna this is my son's favorite book. He is 4 and can read it on his own! He loves it so much it encouraged him to read and learn the words. He can relate to David with the things David does and reaction by the teacher. Great book, surely one to invest in.

david is my hero
this book rules. i have no soul and it made me cry from laughing so hard. i dont think david started the food fight, and i love how he has no idea that he is cutting the line in the cafeteria. i wish this book had been out when i was a kid so i could have given it to the teachers that said "bridget is always in la la land" or "bridget isnt working to her full potential" or "bridget spaces out a lot" or even "bridget writes on desks too much" and say "ha! this guy did these things too and now he writes famous books that people review on this thing in the future called the internet, watch out world!"

Ha!
What a great book! I bought it for my brother, also a David, who now has a three year old son. He's in for it!!
Fun book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

Borne from actual questions asked by her own daughters, journalist Maria Shriver's What's Heaven? is a gentle narrative following the conversations that pass between a mother and a young daughter in the days immediately following the death of the child's special great-grandmother. Initially, young Kate's concern is with the obvious change in her mother. Quickly, one question leads to another.

Kate asked,"Mommy, why are you so sad?" Her mom looked at her and said, "My grandma, your great-grandma, has died and gone to Heaven."Kate thought about this for a moment. "Then she asked, "Heaven? What's Heaven?"

Reviews (50)

A great helper
This book helped so much when trying to explain to my five year old son what happened to his baby brother. As a Catholic, I share many of the ideas and beliefs that Ms. Shriver brings forth in the narrative - however I feel this book would help children of many different faiths as well. My son would periodically pull "Whats Heaven" off his bookshelf to read together with me - more so right after his brother's death, but even now, 3 years later he asks me to look at it with him sometimes. Each time we'd go through it he'd ask some of his own questions and we'd struggle through them together. Sometimes we cried, sometimes not, but I believe by sitting down together and allowing him to think over these questions has undoubtedly helped in his struggle to understand death.

A Heavenly Gift
Death eventually visits everyone. Arguably, the most difficult aspect for adults is how to tell the children and grandchildren. Fortunately for all of us, Maria Shriver has written, along with the beautiful illustrations of Sandra Speidel, a classic in the making.

Although I had heard about this book when it was first published, it was not until the death of a very close friend prompted my purchase. I intended to make this book available to my friend's adult children as they explained her passing to her three granddaughters ages 4-6. Indeed, the book has been appreciated by the children. But, even better, like any classic children's book, it served to answer questions that adults have forgotten the answers to. Childhood is a magical time and young children seem to handle the notion of death better than we grown-ups could ever imagine. Thank you for bringing simple answers to difficult questions!

What the Bible Says About Heaven
My daughter recently purchased Maria's book for her children, ages 5 and 8. I read the book first and suggested she not read
it to the children. The book is not based on Biblical truth, but on Maria's opinion of what she hopes Heaven is like. The book could have been beautiful, had it been written according to scripture. The Bible says that forgiveness and eternal life in heaven are God's free gift. We cannot earn it by doing good things or being "religious". No church can give it to us. We must receive it freely. We must repent of our sins and trust Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. ".....but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 6:23b

Grief
Dealing with grief is so difficult for children. There are so many books out there that explain it in their own way. Maria chose what she wanted to tell her children. Each person may be different. I thought the illustrations were beautifully done.
Search for books and video's that you think will help your children. I don't see a section here to recommend other books/videos so I will just add it here. I liked After the Tears, A Gentle Guide to Help Children Understand Death (video).
The best to Maria and her family.

agree with gabsmom's review
I keep several copies of this book on hand to give to friends with small children when a grandparent dies. It's also a good therapeutic tool when a surviving grandparent reads it to a grandchild. No, it's not an all-encompassing discussion on death or God. But anyone who has been around small children knows that an explanation for one simple question will raise ten more questions. And those questions may not come until days or weeks later. At that point, "What's Heaven" can be revisited, or the discussion can lead to more in-depth issues. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne make quite a team. Theinseparable duo digs the great canals for the big boats to travel through, cuts through thelarge mountains so trains can pass, and hollows out the deep cellars for the greatskyscrapers in the city. But the introduction of gasoline, electric, and diesel shovelsmeans big trouble for Mike and Mary Anne. No one wants an old-fashioned steam shovellike Mary Anne when a modern shovel can do the digging in half the time! Forced totravel far out of the city to look for work, Mike and Mary Anne find themselves in thelittle town of Popperville. Mike and Mary Anne make a bid to dig the cellar for the newtown hall, promising the town that if they can't dig the cellar in just one day they'll acceptno payment for the job. Will Mike and Mary Anne be able to complete the job? Thewhole town of Popperville turns out to watch. Virginia Lee Burton, author of such classicchildren's books as The LittleHouse and Katy and theBig Snow, offers a touching portrait of love and dedication while commentingon the modernization that continuously shapes our lives. Hamilton's wonderful crayondrawings bring Mike and the indomitable Mary Anne to life. (Ages 3 to 6) ... Read more

Reviews (53)

I Loved This Book!
Like so many other reviewers I have fond memories of reading this book as a child. I fondly recall being a child in the 1970's and of having had this book read to me and when I got older and could read on my own I read it myself and I enjoyed the story of Mike Mulligan and his beloved steam shovel Mary Anne and recall this book having positive messages as well as being an entertaining book for children. Mike Mulligan is a steam shovel operator who has named his machine Mary Anne and they have worked very hard for many years digging canels, etc but times have changed and with steam shovels being replaced by electric, gasoline and diesel shovels Mary Anne is thought of as being obsolete but Mike is a very positive and determined man who knows that he and Mary Anne still have what it takes and to prove that he agrees to dig the foundation for a new building but has to do it in one day but he knows that they are up for the challenge. Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel is a wonderful book for children and I think it's good for both boys and girls and I very highly recommend it.

A classic story with warm, active pictures
The cover of this book is the same as my old, dog-eared copy from my childhood 30 years ago. A Caldecott Award winner, the pictures drive the tale as much as the plot. An excellent book from cover-to-cover.

Re-reading it now brings back great memories and fascination of how Mike Mulligan and his beloved steam shovel worked hard to accomplish a fantastic task. Whenever people watched them dig, they always worked a little better and a little faster.

A modern John Henry, Mike faces the challenge of new technology. Undaunted, like the famous hammer-driving tall tale hero, he struggles to meet the task. Can he dig a hole faster than the new machine? Can he and his mighty red-metal friend do it by the end of the day?

A great story of perseverence and hard work, I fully recommend "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." Place it on your shelf next to "Make Way for Dcklings" and "Where the Wild Things Are."

Anthony Trendl

I loved it as a child, my childern love it too.
I couldn't wait until my twins were old enough for Mike. They're now 2 1/2 and love hearing about Mike and Mary Anne. A great story of friendship, taking pride in one's work and problem solving. Never mind the 1939 date, this story works forever. I now get to read it at least twice a day and it never gets old.

A Tale of Two Friends
Just thinking about this delightful book makes me smile. I remember Captain Kangaroo reading it on his television show, and I checked it out from the Bookmobile with my own library card.
Mike Mulligan and Mary Ann are best friends and co-workers. They might be running out of work soon, though, since Mary Ann runs on steam--not as efficient as the diesel shovels. A bargain with the town of Popperville gives the twosome one last shot to strut their stuff, and as the town gathers, a few residents at a time, Mike and Mary Ann prove that friendship lasts, even when diesel shovels take over.
This book is equally appealing to boys and girls, and it will forever occupy a favored place in my memories. It's as wonderful a story today as it was when published in 1939. God bless Mike and Mary Ann.

Nobody can do it like a steam shovel
I tend to bring a lot of picture books into my home. My husband doesn't mind, but neither does he show an inordinate amount of interest in them. Enter "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel". Suddenly my husband was elated by the appearance of this book. "This was the only book we had in my Kindergarten class!", quoth he. After he'd picked through it once more, I had my chance to glance through the story. Admittedly, I did not know of the adventures of Mike Mulligan or trusty Mary Ann until rather late in life. But looking at my hubby's gleeful expression on seeing it again, I know that this is one of those classics that sits in the back of the memory for years and years and years.

Mike Mulligan (Irish, according to the book flap) runs a delightful steam shovel named Mary Ann. The opening spread shows Mike waving at the viewer, while meticulous arrows indicate every lever, cog, and line in Mary Ann's hull. In a rather John Henryish turn of events, Mary Ann is eventually determined to be obsolete in the face of the fancier gasoline, electric and Diesel shovels. Mike refuses to give up his precious steam shovel, however, and a race to prove that Mary Ann can dig as much in a day as a hundred men can dig in a week explodes in a riveting (ho ho) finish.

Books about trucks, construction equipment, and planes is commonplace today. But such modern day classics as "I Stink" owe a great debt to the path that "Mike Mulligan" paved. Here we have a beautifully illustrated (in color at that!) story about two of the best friends in the world. Those kids interested in the technical aspects of steam shovels will be in heaven. And those that just like a rip-roaring yarn about a race against the clock will have a ball as well. Interestingly, author/illustrator Virginia Lee Burton chooses not to close up on Mike Mulligan's face at any point. When we do see him, he's usually viewed at a distance, waving, weeping, and smoking to his heart's content. It's Mary Ann that get the full frontal treatment, and she's a joy. Who could have thought a steam shovel to be so eloquent and emotional? That's the joy of this story and the genius of Virginia Lee Burton's masterwork. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The crafty barnyard crew from Click, Clack, Moo: Cows ThatType is back, and this time Farmer Brown has decided to take a vacation.But not to worry--he's leaving his brother Bob to mind the farm: "I wroteeverything down for you. Just follow my instructions and everything will befine. But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." Of course, fans of Doreen Croninand Betsy Lewin's last brilliant book already know to keep an eye on thatmanipulative mallard. Now, wait a minute... what's Duck doing eyeing thatpencil?

Poor Bob has no idea what he's in for, and Duck and friends have shrewdly seizedthis chance to move on from collective bargaining to outright subterfuge: "Bobgave Duck a good long stare and went inside. He read the first note: 'Tuesdaynight is pizza night (not the frozen kind!). The hens prefer anchovies.'" Well,seems like strange way to run a farm, but... "Twenty-nine minutes later therewas hot pizza in the barn." Giggle, giggle, quack, indeed.

Clearly, Duck and his cow pals aren't the only ones around to have mastered thepencil and the keyboard. Cronin and Lewin have put their talents to good use yetagain, offering up another simple but clever story fit for kids and grownupsalike. Lewin seems to snicker throughout her playful watercolors (gotta lovethose monogrammed towels: "FB"), and Cronin has a ball with the animal cast andtheir human patsy. (What do the cows pick on movie night? "The Sound of Moosic,"of course. Giggle, giggle, moo.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Farmer Brown has a NEW problem
Farmer Brown has gone on vacation, leaving his brother Bob to watch the farm, but he doesn't know that Duck has found a pencil and is giving Bob brand new (and need I say "animal-centric") instructions! Pizza for dinner, bubble baths for the pigs, and movie night in the house are probably not what Farmer Brown had in mind, but the animals seem to be enjoying themselves, giggling all the way to their electric blankets.

This is another fun story from the creators of "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type", with hilarious watercolor pictures augmenting the text. If your child has a sense of humor or thinks farm animals deserve a break, s/he will undoubtedly enjoy this tale of farm animals living the good life.

All of your animal friends are back!
"And watch out for Duck, he's trouble!" warns Farmer Brown to his brother Bob who has come to watch the farm so Farmer Brown can get a much needed vacation. This book follows the same formula as Click Clack Moo in that the animals get the upper hand on a human, in this case Bob. Bob does his best to follow what he thinks are Farmer's Brown's notes but they were really written by duck. The animals have traded their typwriters in for pencils and now they are running poor Bob ragged. With Duck doing the dictating bubble baths with Farmer Brown's good bubble bath and the movie the sound of Moosic are on the itenerary. The giggle giggle quack in the title refers to the sound the animals make as they get their scheme over on Bob. Of course all good things must come to an end. Farmer Brown catches on to what the animals are up to when he calls and duck answers the phone. If you loved Click Clack Moo you will love this book. Click Clack and Giggle Giggle are my two favorite books to read to my daughter. I never get tired of reading them to her and she loves them just as much. Even though the recommended reading age says 4+ my two and half year old daughter finds these books humerous and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to everybody.

Wish I could give it 4.5 - a real charmer
We started with Click, Clack, Moo but I like this book better. This one has the same warm and funny illustrations, the same wit, and it's not boring to read to your kids over and over and over again. The downside to CCM was its political/union overtones. The only downside to Giggle, Giggle, Quack is the ending kind of fizzles unlike the charming and unexpected ending in CCM.

Entertainment for everybody!
I became a big fan of Cronin and Lewis with "Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type." "Giggle Giggle Quack" is every bit as hilarious. It is one of those books that you don't mind reading to your child over and over because it entertains the grown-ups, too. If you fall in love with Cronin and Lewis, too, don't miss "Duck For President" (that darn Duck is at it again) or "Diary of a Worm."

Early Christmas Gift
I recently purchased this book for my 3 1/2 year old nephew with the intention of giving it to him for Christmas. Well, needless to say after reading the book to myself shortly after it arrived, I just HAD to give it to him! This book was really, really funny, and I was incredibly excited to give it to him and I realized I just could not wait until Christmas. When I gave it to him, he was in a bit of a cranky mood, but as I was reading it to him, he slowly inched his way over to me until he was nestled on my lap. He loved it! He had the "Hey, I know that's not right" look on his face the entire time I read it to him (especially when the pigs got a bubblebath). I highly recommend this book for any toddler, especially one who has a really great sense of humor. Enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Olivia would be Eloise, if Eloise were a pig.She is good at singing 40 very loud songs and is very good at wearingpeople out. And scaring the living daylights out of her little brother, Ian,particularly when he copies her every move. She is also quite skilled atreproducing Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm #30" on the walls at home. When hermother tucks her in at night and says, "You know, you really wear me out. But Ilove you anyway," Olivia precociously pronounces, "I love you anyway too."

The New Yorker artist Ian Falconer's endearing charcoal portraits of hisporcine heroine are spotted with fire-engine red gouache in all the rightplaces--perhaps a tribute to Hilary Knight's red, pink, white, and blackcelebrations of Olivia's human counterpart? When she dresses up, the bow on herears, her red lipstick, and her high-heeled shoes are all red. (The only timeher shades-of-gray body is pink is when she is sunburned and the area where herbathing suit was is white!) Falconer does a fine job of letting the spare textset up the jokes for the visual punch lines--a dryly humorous interplay thatadults will appreciate as much as children.

Preschoolers (and their parents) will see themselves in Olivia--a typicalhigh-energy, over-the-top kid who likes the beach and Degas paintings, but hatesnaps. On the other hand, she combs her ears and is unusually gifted atsandcastle building. While we are certainly reminded of Eloise, Falconer'sportrait is simpler in scope, less demented, and,as a result, less adult. Bottom line: precocious is fun, and we're tickled pinkto have Olivia join the parade of, let's just say, individualisticyoungsters. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (100)

When I Need A Quick Laugh I Read Olivia
The cover caught my attention. Olivia was written big and boldly across it. A white piglet wearing a red dress with a black bow tie and zebra stripped stockings. It begged me to read it.

Author and Illustrator Ian Falconer has written a funny book about a little piglet named 'Olivia' who has too much energy. My favorite part of the book are the first four lines: "This is Olivia. She is good at lots of things. She is very good at wearing people out. She even wears herself out." The reader is shown (on two pages) a series of drawings in succession of Olivia jumping, running, standing on her head, yelling, playing ball, etc. and finally (the last drawing) she is flat on her back exhausted.

You can see her driving her mom crazy. She's adorable to read about but if she were my daughter she'd drive me crazy also. In my baby name book 'Olivia' means 'holy'. Not quite Olivia I thought. I got the dictionary and read through all the definitions for 'holy'. There it was at the bottom 'holy terror, a troublesome child'. Bingo! Now that's Olivia but in a funny way.

As I read through the book I could hear myself giggling. Laughter is good for the soul, so go ahead and get a heavy dose of Olivia. I recommend it. It's good for you!

The Quintessential Children's Book!
FIVE STARS! Ian Falconer comes up with a children's book that no matter how many times I read through it, it is incredibly pleasing. The storyline about an imaginative young girl named Olivia is simple and captivating. Whether looking at art, building sand castles, or dealing with her copycat brother, Olivia is charming. The humor in Falconer's work is contagious with its harmonious blend of illustration and text. The illustrations are done in a "limited" palette of black white and red with an occasional brown thrown in. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that this book may be handicapped because of its limited palette. It merely serves to increase the reader's delight in Olivia and her world. Olivia is one of the finest reading encounters that I have run across in my life. Olivia is quite simply... perfect.

Crazy James

Trying to be objective
It seems that people either love or hate this book, so I thought I'd try to throw out an objective point of view. When my four year old daughter picked Olivia out at the library, I could not figure out why. The illustrations are basically black and white with hightlights of red. I prefer bright, primary colors, especially for young children, so my first thought was that it was boring. I read it to my daughter and found the story to be cute. It draws you into the pictures because the text is incomplete without them.

I noticed that some people with boys didn't seem to like the book. I'm not surprised. Olivia is mischievous, but she is definately a girl, and therefore probably appeals to girls much more than boys. Of course, I have three girls and no boys, so I don't know exactly what appeals to boys.

No, Olivia is definately not a good role model, but do all of our kids' books have to show perfect role models? After all, what child is really like Emily Elizabeth of Clifford, and what parents are really like Caillou's? (PBS shows if you don't know.) Poor role models offer us the opportunity to discuss with our children what behavior is proper and what behavior is not proper when they are not misbehaving and therefore are much more receptive to hearing it. Not that they should be allowed to read anything and everything, but I believe that it's important to show them real life, too.

The important thing to me is not what other people think of the author or the book. Rather, do I approve of the book, and do my children like it. In my case, it is yes and a resounding yes (my daughter asked me to read the book so many times that I was glad it was a library book so I could return it!) Truthfully, if it was up to me I'd give the book only two stars. But since my daughter liked it so much, I had to go with four. But just because we like it doesn't mean you will. I'd recommend (as some others suggested) check it out from your library. Then you'll know if it's worth your money.

You Must be Kidding, This book is Horrible
I agree with one of the other reviewers who said that it's for the hip mommies and daddies, I don't agree that this book is wonderful however. This book is written more to impress the adults reading the book than it is written for the child listening. The illustrations do look like they belong in the New Yorker, and the last time I looked that magazine was not for children. There are alot of wonderful , beautifully illustated books out there for children , spend your money on them and let the adults read Olivia.

The most charming pig since Wilbur himself
Ian Falconer has done many an amusing cover for "The New Yorker" in his day, so it is only fitting that he be responsible for the most New York-inspired children's book since Eloise decided to wreck havoc in the Piazza. For those of you who have never met the charming Olivia, this is probably the best book to begin with. Less pretentious than its sequels, in it you meet Olivia, her family, and her penchant for extravagant imaginings. Drawn in beautifully shaded black and white, this particular tale is dotted with brilliant flashes of Olivia's red belongings. Her adventures are quite tame. Following the day to day adventures of an average child, the viewer views Olivia going to the beach, into her closet, to the museum, and at last to bed.

Reviewer Dwight Garner recently noted in his New York Times Book Review that, " 'Olivia' is one of those kids' books... that hip mommies and daddies like to give to the children of other hip mommies and daddies in order to demonstrate, yet again, what delightfully hip mommies and daddies we all are". There's no denying that this book is decidedly hip. I've yet to see a mom in a children's book look as particularly metropolitan (read: New Yorkish) as Olivia's black clad momma. And when Olivia creates a castle, she doesn't go halfway. She creates a sand-skyscraper. Mr. Garner does bring up an interesting point, though. Is "Olivia" something kids actually love and hold dear to their hearts, or is it something that parents love and hope their kids will get into? Who doesn't want their children to be inspired by a character that reads about Maria Callas before she goes to bed?

I don't know how kids feel about the story. But what I do know is that it's a quality piece of work. The art is beautiful. The story sublime. Plus it's a riot. Olivia stuffed into one of the legs of her mother's pantyhose is a black and white joke hidden in the corner of a colorful montage of Olivia wearing her full wardrobe (love the ballgown).

"Olivia" is not going to change the world of children's book publishing. And perhaps it's only ever going to be fully appreciated by people over the age of 18. But with all the crummy two-bit picture books out there ("Love You Forever" anyone?) sometimes it's just a small slice of heaven to read something to your child that's enjoyable to them and fun for you as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Comedian, actor, and director Billy Crystal’s ode to his first grandchild will strike a chord with every expectant grandparent (and parents, too). Readers will feel the sweet anticipation building as Grandpa Crystal dreams about the baby’s upcoming birth. While the writing is at times awkward, the sentiment behind the text is genuine and universal, " I want to feel your heart beat as you lie upon my chest, bait your hook, fly your kite, help you study for a test."The narrator envisions peekaboo, horsey, and visits to the beach with a red-haired tot--his love virtually bubbles over. Pastel illustrations (reminiscent of the dreamy, soft-focus drawings in pregnancy books) by Elizabeth Sayles show the rugged, gray-haired gramps beaming as he partakes of the imagined pleasures to come. Crystal concludes with another awkward yet heartfelt verse:

Your mom is my daughter, and your dad is his mom’s son. You lived within your mommy, but now the time has come. Get ready, sweet little one-- Your life will be just great. I’m going to be your grandpa, and… I can hardly wait.

Reviews (18)

Touching
As a mother of two youngish children, I loved this book! It was a touching read and some parts nearly brought me to tears. The illustrations are superb! Billy Crytal has written a book that is a treasure for parents and grandparents. Debbie Farmer, author 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat'

A wonderful read about being a grandparent
I absolutely loved this book! The grandfather-to-be talks about what activities he will do with his new granddaughter. Then he talked about when his daughter was young and the things they did together.I especially liked the part where he said that he took her to the movie and he didn't watch the movie, but instead he watched his daughter's face. It was a touching read. It nearly brought me to tears. The illustrations are superb! This would be a great book for the parent-to-be. Bravo to Billy Crystal!

Billy Pay Me
Plenty Of Grandfathers could tell the same story, yet nobody is giving them a publishing deal. Another in the line of celebrity books. At least Jay Leno's new book was funny.

classic
This book is so sweet and the illustrations are timeless. It uses some words you don't often find in this level of book so that is nice to introduce new vocabulary.

Great gift for a grandfather to send
The title and the book are EXCELLENT! My wife and I had to move away from home, sent this book to our daughter and she was thrilled! Since we are from Boston, the only problem was a reference to the Yankees ... but, this may be our year! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Officer Buckle is a roly-poly bloke, dedicated to teaching schoolchildren important safety tips, such as never put anything in your ear and never stand on a swivel chair. The problem is, Officer Buckle's school assemblies are dull, dull, dull, and the children of Napville just sleep, sleep, sleep. That is, until Gloria the police dog is invited along! Stealthily pantomiming each safety tip behind Officer Buckle's back, Gloria wins the children's hearts. Meanwhile Officer Buckle assumes the cheers and laughter are all for him. As the master comedian Jerry Lewis once explained, every slapstick artist needs a straight man! Children will be highly entertained by the laugh-out-loud, adorable illustrations in this 1996 Caldecott Medal winner, while learning the value of teamwork and a pawful of nifty safety tips. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Stay with your buddy!
This book for children is about a police officer (I've been told that it is based, in part, on a San Francisco officer) who gives talks on safety to elementary school children. His talks are quite boring until he is accompanied by his police dog, Gloria. At first he is deflated that the students aren't cheering his presentation; but, with Gloria present they actually learn safety. The book won the 1996 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a children's book. One of the earlier reviewers gave this book only two stars apparently because they couldn't see the humor. Part of the humor can be found in the background and how it meshes with the text.

A Read-Aloud Hit!
Primary age students in our school love to have "OfficerBuckle and Gloria" read aloud to them, and upper grade studentsremember this story fondly.

While the story stands alone as a playful read-aloud, it can be an effective tool for opening a discussion on safety. Officer Buckle keeps thinking of new safety tips that he keeps thumbtacked to his bulletin board, like "never do tricks on the monkey bars without someone there to catch you." The endpapers of the book are also filled with stars containing more safety tips.

Just as the students in the story are entertained by Gloria, the dog, and come away with Officer Buckle's helpful tips, children who read or listen to this book read will be entertained, yet come away with some great advice, such as "always wear a crash helmet."

This one deserves the Caldecott Medal as the colorful, playful drawings are an essential part of the story.

Safety tips
Officer Buckle is a friendly police officer who enjoys making up safety tips and sharing them with school children. However, the school children find Officer Buckle's safety lectures boring, until the day when he takes his new police dog Gloria along with him to the lecture. Officer Buckle doesn't know it, but Gloria has a habit of acting out the tips behind his back while he is speaking. When Officer Buckle finally finds out what Gloria is doing behind his back, he decides to stop giving lectures. But Gloria finds that she can't go on without him, and the school children also miss the fun. The story is very cute and not at all scary.

An officer and a gentle dog
Widely regarded as the least deserving Caldecott winner in the last 15 years. Now that's a pretty negative opening comment about a book that is, all in all, an amusing story about a man and his eclectic dog. And I'm not saying that this book is THE worst Caldecott winner to have ever existed. That honor belongs to the ludicrously racist and factually inaccurate "Abraham Lincoln" by the Parin d'Aulaires. Certainly this is a nice little tale about safety, and it presents actual important safety tips in a fun and original manner. But it's hardly deserving of a medal. Hardly.

In this tale, Officer Buckle finds that his school safety tips are being met with more than a little disregard on the part of the students. Kids are just snoring in the aisles when Buckle reads the list of tips. All that changes when the Officer acquires a police dog named Gloria. Suddenly the kids are wide-awake for Buckle's safety demos, and it's no wonder. Gloria is faithfully acting out each and every safety tip as her owner reads them out. From "Never leave a thumbtack where you might sit on it" to "Do not go swimming during electrical storms". Of course, Officer Buckle has no clue why there has been such a rise in his own popularity. But when watching a taped recording of his own program, the law enforcement agent must decide whether or not he is of any real importance to the community, or if it's all Gloria's glory.

There's a lot to love in this story. Rathmann has fitted many a scene with tiny interesting details. Buckle fans (as well as the Officer himself) sport anti-banana peel badges and t-shirts. Officer Buckle's book collection (containing such titles as "You Can't Be Too Careful" and "Safety in Numbers") is held together by Gloria shaped book-ends. And check out Buckle's final safety tip written in front of him while angrily refusing to do anymore speeches (#100: Never turn your back on a strange dog). The plot is cute as well. It's nice to see an energetic dog in the vein of Snoopy or Mark Teague's Ike that's female for once. And there is a real affection between Buckle and his trusty canine friend. I think back to the scene of the policeman feeding Gloria an ice cream cone after she's given a stint of autographs to waiting fans. Finally, there's no denying that Buckle has come up with some really good safety tips. The front and end papers of this book show some useful stars containing Gloria acting out why one should or should not follow such n' such a tip.

Now when I said the book didn't deserve the Caldecott, I meant it. It's a swell book with a fun story and lovely pictures. But it's not superb. I can only assume it won solely on the basis that it is the only Caldecott book to discuss safety in any serious manner. And it does so without causing undue fear or worry on the part of the small child reader. Which is good. So by all means, go out and read this nice little story. Just don't expect to be blown away by its wit or depth.

just so so funny
we just read it together and laugh and laugh and laugh. and then one of us, my son or i will point to another illustration of gloria's expressions or antics and we just laugh and laugh again. a lovely book. ... Read more

Book Description

Celebrate life’s journeys with The Little Engine That Could! Selling over 60,000 copiesin the first two months on sale, I Knew You Could! provides familiar comfort inchanging times and serves as a wonderful gift that will be treasured for years to come.With inspiring and enlightening words of wisdom, this sweetly nostalgic book is perfectfor graduates of all ages as they make the transition from one phase of life to the next.From "I think I can" to "I knew I could," The Little Engine That Could helps usremember that anything is possible if you put your mind to it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rhyming verse combined with inviting illustrations
I Knew You Could!: A Book For All The Stops In Your Life by Craig Dorfman is an enthusiastically recommended picture book based on the beloved classic children's story "The Little Engine That Could." Singsong rhyming verse combined with inviting illustrations by Cristina Ong of a happy and plucky blue engine encourage readers of all ages about the importance of believing in oneself. ... Read more

Book Description

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

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

Reviews (37)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She was right.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (12)

A wonderful illustrator tells an important tale
A zen riddle? A story by Tolstoy? A comics illustrator? You wouldn't think these three things would come together to form one of the most lovely pieces of children's literature I've seen recently - but they do. This is a book I purchased to read to my 3 year old, but I find it a comfort to myself, as well. Jon J. Muth's watercolour illustrations set a pensive mood for a weighty tale, told lightly.

"This Is Why We Are Here"
"There was once a boy named Nikolai who sometimes felt uncertain about the right way to act..." He wanted to be a good person, but was unsure how to accomplish his goal. Nikolai had three important questions...When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? "If only I could find the answers to my three questions... then I would always know what to do." So he decides to seek the counsel of Leo, the turtle. "He has lived a very long time. Surely he will know the answers I am looking for." But as he reaches Leo's home, high in the mountains, disaster strikes, and without even thinking Nikolai takes action, and in the process finds the answers he's been searching for..... Based on Leo Tolstoy's short story, Jon Muth has authored a reflective and inspired picture book retelling of The Three Questions. His simple and eloquent text, with its gentle message of compassion and living for each moment, is enhanced by lovely and evocative watercolor artwork in quiet and subdued tones. Together word and art answer Nikolai's questions in a captivating and engaging way..."Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world." With an Author's Note at the end to augment the story and introduce Tolstoy and his works, The Three Questions is a perfect fable for youngsters 5-9, and is sure to open interesting and thoughtful discussions.

A great book to talk about
What a wonderful book. It really gives you a great starting place for basic discussions with children. It gives good tools to help a child with basic problem solving and teaches them that everything in life can be seen from differrent perspectives.

Trite and arrogant
As a great fan of Tolstoy I am certain he would be mortified to be touted as the inspiration for this book. There is an arrogance in the communication of the moral message that the author wishes to send and could there be a more trite "situation" for his main character to "happen upon" in order to "save" the victim and be the hero? Puh-leeze.

Teach your child how to know how to responsive to others.
This book tells a story that helps children learn one of the most important lessons in life. Parents will benefit from reading this book as well. There is a parallel between this book and the work of the famous Arbinger Institute (arbinger.com