Book Description

Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing happen. At first he tried to forget about it, but soon something inside him started to bother him. He felt nervous for no reason. Sometimes his stomach hurt. He had bad dreams. And he started to feel angry and do mean things, which got him in trouble. Then he met Ms. Maple, who helped him talk about the terrible thing that he had tried to forget. Now Sherman is feeling much better.

This gently told and tenderly illustrated story is for children who have witnessed any kind of violent or traumatic episode, including physical abuse, school or gang violence, accidents, homicide, suicide, and natural disasters such as floods or fire. An afterword by Sasha J. Mudlaff written for parents and other caregivers offers extensive suggestions for helping traumatized children, including a list of other sources that focus on specific events. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent, highly recommended!
I just can't get over how wonderful this book is. It's perfectly stated so that the child reading it or being read to can understand that there are others out there that feel the same way. The information in the back of the book to parents and caregivers is superb. I'm going to purchase a copy for a few of my friends, and for my sons school. Our family and community has had two serious tragedies in three months, and this book helped my son immensely, having lost his older brother a few months ago. This book is wonderful and simply stated.

PTSD: The Children's Chair - recognizing their limits
Emotional Toxic Shock Syndrome, or PTSD, thought by many to exist only in situations where extreme conditions cause children to fall victim to the illness characterized by its now well defined symptoms, is now a nearly universal phenomenon that goes largely unrecognized in its many variations. The interests of children would be best served by making the connection between violence, neglect and trauma that forms the foundation of PTSD, the perpetual kind, that undermines adult potential and leaves its victims vulnerable to and the most probable outcome of any and all "emotional overload" setbacks in childhood we tend to ignore or dismiss as unfortunate influences. PTSD, rarely the first inquiry (and rarely examined) as the most probable diagnosis of children caught in domestic conflict, or those troubled, or in trouble, is a constant and continuous affliction in modern society where family conflict is "nearly presumed" as ordinary occurrences. Diagnosed with a myriad of "other" less likely performance-undermining illnesses, it is far easier to medicate, counsel, and address anything but the real source of their problems, the desperate situations out of which their troubles come. Medication, inappropriate ridicule or punishment and inadequate counseling insures circuitous examination that prevents the real diagnosis and the real resolution of their problems, often leaving us wondering why they "cannot be reached," or foolishly justifying the compounding of social and educational dysfunction laid upon them, and further crippling them for life ignoring all forms of social conscience due to our own neglect and ignorance. Failing to recognize that orphans, or orphan-like children are not likely to receive the remedial steps for recovery, and that adoptees are actually former orphans with unaddressed impact can only be detrimental to wellness. Continuing conflict among the almost-orphaned is little better. All reside in varying states and levels of PTSD which do not disappear with age but become buried within the makeup of the individual further complicating the healing and health of those who suffer, or once suffered the conditions that caused it. Recognizing the realities and necessities of treatment should be a first concern and the first step in diagnosis for any child, or any adult. Awareness is always the key to understanding how illness becomes health in the non-physical sciences, a.k.a., the world of emotional, mental and cognitive health. More discussion is needed, not silence.

A Perfect Help for Understanding Trauma
This book is absolutely perfect for helping children who have experienced trauma understand their feelings, consciously and subconsciously. The story is straight forward about how sometimes we try to hide from the scary feelings created by trauma and how we may act out because of our trying to suppress those feelings. It also gives children an entre' into how to handle these feelings while not telling them that everything will go back to the way it was. Spectacular! Probably the best child's self-help book I've read in a long time.

Great for Teachers and Parents to Use
This is a wonderful book for teachers or parents to use with younger children. It uses a fun character to show different emotions that children have after witnessing or being a part of something that is tramatic to them. This could be their parents fighting, divorce, abuse, etc. That is what is so wonderful about this book; it does not tell what the character witnessed. As a result of this, it can apply to a number of situations. This book also helps children to realize that it helps to talk about what is bothering them. This is a must read! ... Read more

Book Description

The prince is hoping to fall for Rapunzel, but since she can't quite hear what he asks for, everything but her hair gets tossed out her window. Instead of her curly locks, she throws her dirty socks. Instead of silky tresses, out go lacey dresses. And you can predict the guaranteed-to-crack-kids-up clothing she sends down when the prince simply says hair. . . .

Finally Rapunzel heaves out something that makes all the prince's dreams come true, showing how misunderstandings can lead to happily-ever-after.

Hilarious text, clever page-turns, and vibrant, eclectic art make this a non-traditional Rapunzel kids will want to read about again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Hooray!
The story is a cute variation of the one we all know.

The rhymes and meter are good--this is so refreshing!!

And while it ends in happily ever after, Rapunzel doesn't have to get married.

This is a lovely book.

Throw down your underwear!
This is a hilarious adaptation of the story of Rapunzel. I read this to students in an elementary special education class and they also loved it. The rhyming makes it fun for the kids to guess what Rapunzel throws down. The prince will say, "Throw down your curly locks!" The next lines would say, "So Rapunzel threw out...." and the kids would have fun guessing what Rapunzel threw down. Another teacher in the room stopped what they were doing and listened to the story as well.

WE LOVE IT!
One of the best new picture books we have read in a long time. The illustrations are adorable and the poetic story is hilarious! This is a must have for every child's library!

CLEVER, WHITTY, FUNNY
This book is a clever display of Leah's talents. The illustrations are hillarious and the text and rhyms are great. I really enjoyed this book and knowing Leah personally I think this is a great display of her talent and that everyone should own a copy. This book is great for all ages and I recomend it for anyone in need of a good laugh.

An excellent book! For all ages
This is an excellent display of color and clever, witty writing. I have known the author since I was 4 and have grown to love her poetry and writing. I recomend this book for fun for all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color."Mirandy is sure she'll win the cake walk if she can

catch Brother Wind for her partner, but he eludes all the tricks her friends

advise. This gets a high score for plot, pace, and characterization. Mirandy

sparkles with energy and determination. Multi-hued watercolors fill the pages

with patterned ferment. A treat to pass on to new generations."--(starred)

Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.Cassette running time: 20 min.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

Can the wind be a partner?
This children's book, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, is about a young and joyous African-American girl who hopes to win a prize at a cake walk by capturing the wind as her partner. The story takes place around 1900 and is a beautiful view of a happy people. The book was a 1989 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children. ... Read more

Book Description

Little Trisha is overjoyed at the thought of starting school and learning how to read. But when she looks at a book, all the letters and numbers just get jumbled up. Her classmates make matters worse by calling her dummy. Only Mr. Falker, a stylish, fun-loving new teacher, recognizes Trisha's incredible artistic ability--and her problem, and takes the time to lead her finally and happily to the magic of reading.This autobiographical story is close to author Patricia Polacco's heart. It is her personal song of thanks to teachers like Mr. Falker, who quietly but surely change the lives of the children they teach.Patricia Polacco lives in Union City, MI. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Deeply personal story offers hope
This is perhaps the most important of Patricia Polacco's autobiographical books. What an overwhelming triumph for a bright and gifted child who was unable to read until late elementary school to have created this book! Polacco shares her feelings of ostracism and self-doubt so poignantly though the written word as well as through her sensitive illustrations. Mr. Falker is the kind of teacher all of us wish we could have had, and for those of us in education, aspire to become. His insight, patience and skill are truly inspiring, as is Patricia's courage in sharing this important story.

An Excellent Book
In the story Thank You Mr.Falker,a little girl named Trisha does not know how to read since kindergarten. At the end of the fourth grade Trisha and her family move to California. She starts fifth grade there and she still does not know how to read. Everybody calls her dumb. I liked this story because it felt like the characters were actually real. Another reason why I enjoyed the story is because Trisha has trouble reading and I do also; that makes us have something in common. The final reason why I liked this story is because it has an upbeat ending when Mr.Falker helps Trisha by bringing her to a reading teacher and she learns how to read better.

Teachers make the difference!
As an educator, I highly recommend "Thank You, Mr. Falker". This book helps to put into words why I and many others become teachers. Patricia Polacco shows that teachers can make a difference in a child's life. If I can reach and inspire just one student like Polacco's Mr. Falker, I will have fulfilled my calling!

Uniquely Touching
One of the most touching children's books I've read in recent memory, this autobiographical story by the great Patricia Polacco tells how "Tricia" overcame her reading problems with the help of a compassionate teacher. Polacco's story evokes the attendant feelings of inferiority and isolations, as well as her grateful joy upon finally reading an entire paragraph.

The story opens with a family ritual later expanded into a full story in Polacco's "The Bee Tree": Her grandfather drizzles some honey on a book cover and tells her "knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book."

Polacco draws in her trademark big loopy style; her palette and composition superbly capture emotion, particularly in the close-ups. She can convey a range of feelings simply by how she places color on a person's face. She's one of the most original and recognizable illustrators around. One of the most heartfelt and moving books you'll find in children's literature.

EXCELLENT STORY!!
This is one of that most excellent children books. Due to the different abilities of children, this book allows for students in a classroom and at home to see the effects that "name calling" and other inappropriate treatment can have on a child with a learning disability.I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially educators. This book is a must read for any classroom!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I Spy Books are fun
I spy books are fun to read. In i spy funhouse it is very good. They are very good at hideing things. I like all of the i spy books. They are all good books.

Entertaining Fun in your House
This is a funhouse book, It is worth a second look. Read it and you'll see, It does splendidly.

Kids love it, Moms love it, Neither throw a fit, And gladly they will sit, To read this book a bit.

The pictures are great! Can YOU find its mate? ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Beautiful, heart-warming book
This is a lovely adoption story, particularly for young children adopted from Central America or South America. The illustrations are beautiful, dynamic and colorful, and the story is gentle and joyous. The story captures the excitement and joy of traveling to bring home an adopted child without dwelling on details, so it is easy to add the specifics of your child's adoption as you read. The book emphasizes the permanence of adoption, and that the child was meant to be the child of the adoptive parents. My 2 year-old daughter, adopted from South America, loves the story, and requests it before nap-time and bed-time.

I love this book!
As the mother of a 3-year old adopted from China, I've bought quite a few adoption-related children's books, and I like many of them. But this one I love! Although it's not directly tied to Chinese adoptions, the story is similar to ours (we're a 2-parent family; we adopted a baby; we traveled to get her). The illustrations are lovely and the story captures the happy anticipation we felt as we waited for our child. Most importantly, the author gave me words to use in explaining my daughter's birth to her: "You grew like a flower in another lady's tummy until you were born. The lady couldn't take care of you so Mommy and Daddy came to adopt you and bring you home." I just love those 2 sentences and feel grateful to have them. And my daughter asks me to read this book just about every day!

A fun adoption book just right for youngsters
I like the magical urgency expressed in the words of one adoptive family flying 'over the moon and through the night' to pick up their baby and love her 'forever and always.'It is a simple story that can be understood by small children. The illustrations are charming and stress the importance of the family unit.
Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Love this Book
This is about the best book we have that deals with how we became a family - hands down! Our daughter was born in China as is our Number #2 daughter who we are expecting any day now. I found alot of the "classics" in the "how we became a family" to be not my cup of tea or piece of crazy cake, as it were."Over the Moon" approaches the "how you were born" subject so beautifully that we felt comfortable reading it to our 3 year old (over and over and over........) and would have felt comfortable reading it to her 2 years ago! A very gentle, happy, gorgeous book!

A Beautiful Story...It could be mine!
As we await the finalization of the adoption of our daughter from Guatemala, I read this book over and over again! I feel as though it tells our story. The illustrations are bright and appealing. I cannot wait to share it with my daughter. A must have for any adoptive family. ... Read more

Book Description

The Grumpy Old Troll was mean to his friend Mouse -- and now he needs help from Dora and Boots for Mouse to forgive him. But what should he say? Join Dora and Boots as they help the Troll, and learn about manners along the way! ... Read more

Book Description

School's open for I Spy fans, with a fun learning activity on every page. Readers will find a blackboard scene with brainteasers to solve, a classification puzzle to ponder, a nature scene to explore, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A lot of fun!
My ten year old son introduced me to this fun little book (OK, It's big, but thin.), which he has been looking at for several years now. It has fourteen, two-page sized pictures of a collection of odds and ends connected with school. At the bottom of each of them is a list of things that you can look for (sort of like, Where is Waldo). But, read through to the end, there is a riddle about someone you'll find in each of the pictures.

This is a fun book. It challenges the young reader to concentrate on what is actually on the page, and pick out certain select items. I like that my son reads it for fun, even as the book is teaching him to concentrate and search systematically. He loves this book, and so do I. We both highly recommend this book to you.

I SPY SCHOOL DAYS IS SO FUN
I love this so much because it's fun, it's awesome, and now I want all the I Spy books. The I spy school days book rules. The coolest part was where all the toys were. This review was dictated to me by my 7 yr. old son.

Great Books
This is great! Also, in the "Be My Valentine" page, there's one that you should look for- a queen. It took me hours! Recommended.

Incredibly well done
Children of all ages (adults too!) will find something to enjoy in these pages -- the young ones just looking at the absorbing pictures and the older ones searching for the myriad of items hidden within each scene.

The scenes are each a two page photograph filled with many objects that revolve around a certain theme, from the alphabet to a town of blocks to a wooden marble machine that actually works (see the last pages for a note on this). At the bottom of each scene is a riddle to tell the searcher what he or she is looking for and to provide clues. Some of the objects are easy to find, some are impossibly difficult!

And for those of you who reach the end of the book and wish it wasn't over ... it doesn't have to be. There are additional riddles on the last pages so you can enjoy the pictures all over again.

Highly recommended.

Parent's best friend for a long trip
This book is as exciting for kids as it is for parents. I bought our first I Spy book for a long (17 hrs) plane flight with my 3.5 year old and it really did the job of entertaining him enough. Without it the trip could have been a nightmare. I recommend it to anyone who needs to keep a child entertained and occupied for a longer period of time.

Each page is a picture if multiple little objects. Under the picture there are several riddles, and kids can spend quite a lot of time looking for the objects. But parents can make addititional riddles--so many objects are hidden or not obvious. And they can have fun too.

The artwork is beautiful and sharp. While older kids can learn to be more observant, younger ones can enhance their vocabulary by learning the name of the objects (with an adult's help , of course). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Because Arthur is so cool!
I love Pal! (Arthur's dog) Arthur writes about how he got pal for school. I really like Arthur books!!!! Danielle

It is fun to read.
Everybody should write a story. I am 5 years old and I love to write ... just like Arthur. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A cricket is born who cannot talk! A bigger cricket welcomes him to the world, then a locust, a cicada, and many other insects, but each time the tiny cricket rubs his wings together in vain: no sound emerges. In the end, however, he meets another quiet cricket, and manages to find his "voice." Children will love the repetitive text as they meet a steady parade of new creatures (including a "spittlebug, slurping in a sea of froth"); and of course they'll delight in the happy ending. This is one of a series of large (11.5 by 8.5 inches) format Eric Carle books with a mechanical twist: in this case, the quiet cricket bursts into (surprisingly authentic) electronic song as you turn the last page. (The battery is replaceable.) An amusement for the ears, but most of all--as ever, with Carle--a feast for the eyes. The colorful cut-paper illustrations are simply gorgeous, drawing you in even on the hundredth reading. (And there will be a hundredth reading, followed by many more.) (Baby to preschool) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Sweet Story, Beautifully Illustrated
My two year old son loves The Very Quiet Cricket; and this book, along with "Brown Bear, Brown Bear...", have been his bedtime favorites for months. Toddlers and parents alike will enjoy the repetitive and rhythmic nature of the verse (my son heaves a very dramatic sigh every time I read "...but nothing happened, not a sound." The simplicity of the tale lends itself nicely to parental embellishment, which is great for those who like to add a bit of their own drama to a story. I love the fact that I can tailor my reading of it to suit the hour or my son's mood, making it shorter or longer, exciting or soothing. Eric Carle's illustrations alone make this book a worthy addition to any child's library.

I agree with the reviewer who complained that this is not "first reader" material, but I would add that "The Very Quiet Cricket" is more about the joy of reading than about teaching the mechanics of sounding out simple words.

Attention getting illustrations
The Quite Cricket book is another favorite from Eric Carle. I have almost every book he has written. My favorite is The Very Hungry Caterpillar but this is a tie for second.. I loved how he illustrated all the other insects in the story especially the dragonfly. The large drawings would hold the attention of a young child. This isn't a book for a new reader some of the vocabulary is a little difficult. The only draw back to this book is when the battery that makes the cricket sound dies, it is rather expensive to replace.

Great Illustrations & Story, but...
My 8 1/2 month old is fascinated by the wonderful artwork and the chirping sound. I expect he'll enjoy the story when he can understand the words. However, there's an inconsistency in the text that drives me crazy. The three crickets are referred to as "he" and "she," but the praying mantis and worm are referred to as "it." Argh!

Our child loves this book!
We received this book as a gift and Grandma ended up getting the board book version for our daughter because she loved it so much (and wanted to look at it more often than we did)! The illustrations are great, like in all of Eric Carle's books.

She loves getting to the end of the story, but will also turn back to look at favorite pages.

We have a few of the other Eric Carle books and enjoy them as well, but this one stands out right now and it doesn't look like her interest is going to fade any time soon.

Very Provocative Bugs
The Very Quiet Cricket is a great book, and while difficult, I suspect most children will like this much more than their parents suspect. Like all of Eric Carle's books, my son (2 ½) loves The Very Quiet Cricket. The art is, as always, amazing, and he really enjoys repeating the phrases on each page. The formula seems to draw out his inquisitiveness; this book nearly always stimulates more enjoyment than others do. In particular, he enjoys the chirping sound the book makes when you turn to the last page. He'll ask to have the book read to him as many as four times in a row.

This is a challenging book for young kids, more so than many of Carle's others. I think the interesting insects and provocative words and sounds are part of why my son likes it so much. It may be some time before he really masters that vocabulary, but I love that Carle challenges his young readers in this way. I can unconditionally recommend this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anyone who has ever let go of a balloon string and watched the brightobject go up and up and out of sight will appreciate this whimsical picturebook that ponders the age-old question Where Do Balloons Go? This"uplifting mystery"--examined in singsong rhyme by Jamie Lee Curtis andplayfully explored with Roz Chast-like illustrations by Laura Cornell--is a newoffering from the team behind Today I Feel Silly, When I Was Little, and Tell Me Again About the Night I WasBorn.

Where do they go
when they float far away?
Do they ever catch cold
and need somewhere to stay?

"Do they tango with airplanes? / Or cha-cha with birds? / Can plain balloonsread / balloons printed with words?" Cornell's splashy colorful spreads (onewhich folds out to four full pages) pop with plenty of witty details. Oneballoon, for example, waits nervously with a suitcase outside the Bates Motel.In a balloon-ridden urban scenario, advertisements promote balloon-friendlyservices such as "The Detanglers, professionals since 1934." This exuberant bookwill have you half-believing that balloons are people, too. A page of vinylreusable stickers in the back can be used on the sky-and-cloud wash on the frontendpaper, or the space-scape (complete with comets) on the back endpaper. Nexttime your child's balloon drifts away, it'll be much easier for him or her toimagine it dancing in Bolivia than caught up in phone wires! (Ages 4 to 8)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A Wonderful, Colorful Book
That dynamic duo, Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell ponder the age-old question, Where Do Balloons Go?, in their fourth collaboration of the same name. Written in rhyme, Curtis' gentle, witty, imaginative story will delight and amuse children of all ages as they explore the possibilities of what might happen when you let go of a balloon. "Do they tango with airplanes? Or cha-cha with birds? Can plain balloons read balloons printed with words?" Cornell's busy, expressive illustrations add just the right touch to this wonderful story and will keep youngsters entranced reading after reading as they find new hidden pictures and scenes. This is a real gem of a book, the whole family will enjoy, that is sure to become a classic in years to come.

Fun, Open-Ended, Imaginative Speculations!
This book clearly deserves more than five stars!

Most good children's books have a primary story line that entertains the children, and brings home an important lesson. The outstanding children's books manage to combine more than one lesson. The great children's books appeal to adults as much as to children. The classic children's books take children and adults to places, thoughts, and lessons that they would never otherwise have considered. Where Do Balloons Go? has all of the elements of a classic children's book, with some novel improvements in combining text and illustrations to expand your imagination.

Where Do Balloons Go? begins with this query:

"Where do balloons go when you let them go free?

It can happen by accident. It's happened to me."

Now, if you are like me, you assume that the helium-filled balloons are carried high into the air until they either develop a hole and burst or explode from the expansion of the helium into the near-vacuum around the balloon. Not very exciting as alternative thoughts, are they? That dead-end in your mind, though, sets you up for the wonderful, mind-expanding speculations in this interesting book.

"Are they always alone? Do they ever meet up in pairs?

Do they ever get married and make balloon heirs?"

To fully appreciate this set of questions, you have to imagine the illustrations that complement the queries. Balloons are dining in a restaurant, having a romantic time. Using that illustrative vision to launch into the idea of balloon "heirs" (pun obviously intended for "airs") is hilarious. I just loved it.

The illustrations are done in vibrant colors, emphasizing lots of purples, that create a play with the text and vice versa as the above example shows to greatly expand the meaning of the book.

For a further example, the text says that balloons are

" . . . always concerned that they'll POP --

maybe caught up in wires

pushed by the breeze . . . or tangled in trees . . . . "

The corresponding illustration emphasizes professional human balloon detanglers with advertisements and all kinds of specialized gear untangling balloons from trees. The illustrations have a Richard Scarry-type appearance combined with a New Yorker-style sophistication that effortlessly engage these illustrations to nicely bridge the gap between children and adults, without excluding either side of the audience. In this sequence, you have an additional reversal in that people are serving the balloons, rather than our usual conception of the object serving the person. Without this illustration for the text, that final visual play on the verbal concept would not have been possible.

A standard technique for children's books is just to anthromorphize the objects. This book goes well beyond that. First, different types of anthromophization are employed (as objects with senses "twisted by clowns" as well as self-animate objects "Do they tango with airplanes?"). The balloons are also made into creatures with animal-like qualities ("Or cha-cha with birds?") and spiritual beings (with a relationship to the stars).

You will have to read the book to appreciate its full power. Along the way, you will be exposed to concepts that explore balloon communication methods, how balloons relax, benefits achieved by floating away, activities they pursue unseen in the sky, and the mental perceptions of the balloons as all this occurs. In one nice surprise, there's an enormous fold-out illustration. At the end, you also have stickers that your child can put on the book or anywhere else that she or he wants to.

The ending is brilliantly done, in closing the seemingly open-ended circle of the questions and the action. You will appreciate the way the ending connects parent and child in a particularly nice way.

After you have enjoyed the mind-expanding, humorous, and versatile perspectives in this book, I suggest that you take another question to which there is a scientific answer available, and build your own set of speculations and interactions. In the process, you and your child can create the story together . . . along with your own illustrations. If you cannot think of any other question, I suggest "Why does popcorn pop?" as a starting point. The punny potential of that question could even take you beyond the heights reached in Where Do Balloons Go?

Reach mentally for the stars and grab the physical and emotional closeness that rewards both you and your child!

Great Book!
It amazes me how many talents Jamie Lee Curtis has! This is an absolutely great book and my daughter and I have read it so many times I remember it by heart! "Where do balloons go when you let them go free? It can happen by accident, it's happened to me!":o)

Helped my son get over losing a balloon
My 5yo son, then 4yo, lost a balloon at a birthday party. He was totally traumatized by the experience and always worried that balloons would fly away, fly out the door of our house, etc. This caused him great stress.

I bought this book hoping it would get him over that anxiety. Not only did it accomplish that, but he fell in love with the book. I bought it for therapeutic reasons, but he also enjoys it because of the wonderful illustrations, fun story, and clever rhymes. Bravo, Jamie Lee. Quit your day job, you're a gifted children's book author!

Can't say enough good things about it!
My son was very interested in balloons, so I bought him a couple books about them. Where do Balloons Go? quickly became our favorite. The illustrations are beautiful, vibrant watercolors. The story is funny, with a touching ending. I found myself with a bit of a lump in my throat reading the closing line ("Where do balloons go? It's a mystery, I know. So just hold on tight till you have to...let go."). The sentiment is so meaningful. Some reviewers have commented that this book would be a good way to explain to a child how to deal with the death of a loved one. I can see it as applying to many other aspects in life where you have to "let go." The main idea is to appreciate what you have in the present moment.

Of course, most of the "meaningful" stuff goes right over my toddler's head. He just likes that it's a silly story about balloons and where they might go when you let them go free. The story is written in rhyme, so you can't help but use a sing-song voice when you read it. My son eats that up. He also loves that the center pages fold out to reveal "a big balloon dance." It's his favorite part. I was concerned that the special fold out pages would end up damaged or torn, but he's very careful with them. Well, as careful as a two year old can be. The book has held up just fine, though. The ages listed for this book are 4 through 8 years, but I think that even younger children can appreciate it, as well as parents. It's a fabulous book, and sure to be a favorite for any family. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A CLASSIC STORY BEAUTIFULLY RETOLD

Ofttimes the retelling of a classic does not at all diminish the original work, but rather brings new life to a beloved story.Such is the case with Amy Lowry Poole's retelling and illustrating of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Pea Blossom," which was originally published in Danish in 1853.

Writer/illustrator Poole lived in Beijing, China, for four years where she studied scroll making.This background is reflected in her beautifully wrought paintingsthat so perfectly evoke the spirit of this timeless tale.

Many will remember that the story begins in a little garden outside of Beijing where five peas wait in a shell.As they impatiently anticipate the day when they'll be free of the shell, they dream of what they will do.One wants to fly to the sun, another intends to soar to the moon, while the smallest pea simply says, "I shall go wherever it is that I am meant to."

Finally, their shell is torn open by a boy who believes they're perfect for his peashooter.Youngsters will enjoy learning the fate of the peas, especially that of the smallest one whose life journey is a rewarding surprise.

Thanks to Amy Lowry Poole for introducing this thought provoking tale to another generation.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Book Description

This boy-wants-dog story with a twist is both snappy and endearing.The little boy's mother won't let him have a dog. Dogs are too messy and too loud. But she says he can have a dragon for a pet&150if he can find one.Enter the coolest&150but naughtiest&150pet ever. The dragon is messier and louder than any dog. And he will not leave. How will the boy ever get a dog now?

Wry, stylish illustrations with an appealing retro look perfectly complement the spare, witty text. A comical, engaging story for anyone who's ever wanted a pet! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brilliant!
This is the best children's book I have seen in a long time. I found it browsing in a bookstore for a child's birthday - and now I plan to give it as a gift many times over. The story is great and the illustrations are perfect. Bravo to David and Hanako!

Great fun!
I've had a ball reading this book to kids (and to myself). Having trouble convincing Mom to let you have a dog? Well, this little boy has it all figured out. The author has written an upbeat, warm story and the illustrator's additions make the pictures lots of fun to inspect. That is one cool dog substitute this boy invites home. Check it out. Sure to become a favorite at your house. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One couldn't select a more delightful and exciting premise for a children's book than the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole. And one couldn't ask for a more talented artist and writer to tell the story than Chris Van Allsburg. Allsburg, a sculptor who entered the genre nonchalantly when he created a children's book as a diversion from his sculpting, won the 1986 Caldecott Medal for this book, one of several award winners he's produced. The Polar Express rings with vitality and wonder. ... Read more

Reviews (102)

An Absolute Necessity For Anyone's Personal Library
Oh, what a beautiful book this is! I've owned this book for over fifteen years, and every year during the holiday season I take it down from the shelf and read it, and I am immediately taken back into time. For the few minutes that it takes me to read this book I once again become a child full of wonder and innocence. I begin to believe in the magic of the holiday season, and yes, for a moment I even believe in Santa Claus again.

This is the story of a boy lucky enough to ride The Polar Express to the North Pole on one magical night to see Santa Claus and his elves. While the destination is exciting, the real fun is riding in this train full of children, all dressed in their pajamas and snacking on cookies and milk. The story is beautifully told by Chris Van Allsburg, but the real reason why reading this book is an annual tradition for me is the brilliance of the illustrations. The pictures are painstakingly detailed, especially the beautiful images of the train, the light from the stars in the sky, and the fallen snow.

While Santa Claus is incorporated into the story and the illustrations, he is not the focal point. The crux of this book centers around this train, the wintery environment, and the youthful magic that makes it all so special.

I am now 22-years-old, and this book is just as compelling for me today as it was when I was 5. I look forward to the day when I will have children of my own and will be able to make it an annual tradition to read this book to them. This book is a must-have for anyone's personal library, especially if you are a parent, a child, or a child-at-heart like me. I give this book the highest of recommendations.

Sorry, the movie can not be as wonderful as this book
Chris Van Allsburg's "The Polar Express" tells the simple tale of boy who has been told by a friend "There's no Santa." However, the boy knows this is wrong, which may explain why the Polar Express shows up outside his house that night to take him to the North Pole. In the giant factory city where all the toys are made for Christmas, the elves will all gather and Santa will give to one of the children on the train the first gift of the Christmas season.

"The Polar Express" is a simple tale of the power of belief, told through exquisite pastel drawings that make a steam locomotive seem a soft vision of light in the gently falling snow. The story being told is almost as good as the illustrations. This is a modern Yule time classic, which teaches a simple lesson: always fix a hole in your pocket.

I find it hard to believe that this beloved children's book is coming to the silver screen through full CG animation, even if it is Imageworks' next-generation motion capture process that the digital characters to be modeled on live-action performances. But if the movie leads new readers, both young and old, to discover Van Allsburg's original book, then we can think of it as being the world's longest commercial and not a inadequate substitute for one of the great picture books of all time.

Wintery Exploration
I have loved this book since I first heard it in second grade. That little boy reminds me of how I used to stay awake all night Christmas Eve and then sneak downstairs when I heard the first little noise. The artwork is wonderfull, I would just sit there and imagine I was part of the book. I am diffently going to get this book for my children.

Can't you hear the whistle blowing?
It must be nice to have written a real holiday classic. I imagine that author Chris Van Allsburg must be tickled pink by way his book, "The Polar Express" has slowly gained increasing attention and praise as the years have gone by. Though not my favorite Van Allsburg (a tip of the hat grants his miraculous "The Stranger" that honor) this book is perhaps more perfectly his style than any of his other texts. And in that way, it is truly wondrous.

In this story, a young boy travels at night by a train bearing the book's title to the North Pole with a host of other antsy children. This combines the dual pleasure kids would feel in getting to staying up late AND taking a train all by themselves. Once at the North Pole, our hero asks Santa only for a silver bell from his reindeer's sleigh. Santa complies and though the boy looses the bell on his way home, Santa returns it to him. For years afterwards, only those who truly believe can hear the bell's magical ring (which, actually, explains why adults cannot hear Santa fly overhead at night, I suppose).

It's a lovely story, complimented nicely with Van Allsburg's realistic (but not photo-realistic) illustrations. Particularly nice is how the story does not date. Though it clearly takes place at a time when children wore dressing gowns, it does not feel as if it is a period piece. The kids traveling on the train are slightly multi-cultural and the waiters on the train delightful in their white puffy hats.

This book is so well loved that it has actually inspired whole communities to create their own makeshift Polar Expresses. On these trains, kids are served hot cocoa "as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars" while grown-ups read them the book. They then meet Santa and go home contented and happy. Unfortunately, as charming as this may seem, it may be greatly exploited with the late 2004 release of the CGI film version of the book. My advice is to grab this book right now, regardless of whether it's Christmas or not, and read it to your kids thoroughly. Such nice stories as this deserve extensive attention. Let us all hope that this story sinks deeply into the canon of picture books beloved by millions of kids the wide world over. It's a class act through and through.

If you have a little kid in your life, it's a MUST READ
Gorgeous illustrations.
Amazingly mesmerizing language, almost poetry.
Magical story about Santa's visit on Christmas Eve. Santa, however, arrives on a train instead of a sleigh, and he takes the boy on a train ride to the North Pole (a trip that is so exquisitely illustrated that you can come to believe it's real), where, from among hundreds, he's chosen to receive the first Christmas present, which he can choose. He could choose anything, anything at all - and he chooses one of the bells from Santa's sleigh, which is loaded, ready and waiting.
When he returns home and the train pulls away, he's devastated to discover the bell has fallen through a hole in his pocket. What happens next to restore this child's believe in Christmas magic.
Buy the book and find out. Buy it. But it now and read it yearly at Christmas. When your kids grow up and leave home, read it to yourself. Then read it to grandchildren. Take it to your retirement community and keep reading it.
For sure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ah, mice. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Laura Numeroff andillustrator Felicia Bond, creators of the bestselling picture books If You Give a Mouse a Cookieand If You Take a Mouse to theMovies, are back with If You Take a Mouse to School. As you mightimagine, there are great risks in bringing your mouse to school. For starters,he'll ask you for your lunchbox. And then a sandwich. And a snack for later.Still not satisfied, he'll want to participate in everything from math tosoccer. Children and adults alike will revel in the hilarious, very cuteillustrations of the mouse in the classroom: hanging from the top corner of theblackboard to spell (aptly enough) "precocious" and "adrenaline," writing"'Goodnight Mouse' by Mouse," sitting inside the boy's open backpack playingwith a yo-yo, etc. This book is more episodic in nature than the trulycause-and-effect formula of the previous books: "If you give a pig a pancake,she'll want some syrup to go with it." Nonetheless, kids who know and love thisrollicking read-aloud series will laugh and play to see a mouse at school. (Ages4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Not my favorite, but my 2+ year old loves it
This newest book in the "series" does not seem to have the same flow of events as the others, however, it is still a fun book to read and my daughter loves it. The illustrations are fun and the story is cute. If you don't own any of the books in the series, I'd purchase this one last. "If you give a moose a muffin," and "If you give a pig a pancake" are the best.

If you take a Mouse to School
My four year old son really likes mouse...Mouse is just as precocius as he. He has bonded with the mouse character they are kindred in spirit. I am excited about it all! In this book the mouse does things that my son thinks about doing or does. It is fun for him to learn that others share the same thoughts, and actions. These series of books have definitly touched his heart and I believe they will be stories that he will one day pass along to his children.

Ok, but then what?
OK, bottom line, my daughter loves this book. Loves the story and loves the pictures. So I have to give it an overall positive review because the primary purpose of a kid's book is to entertain the kids.

But I do have a little complaint, and I know how silly it will sound. This book is a follow-up to "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" and others in the series, such as another of my daughter's favorites, "If you Give A Moose A Muffin." What is clever about these stories is that they develop a circular sequence of events that ultimately lead back to the beginning for what could be another in an infinite series of rotations through the steps. This book does not end so neatly. The mouse must return to the school to retrieve his lunchbox, hence you are taking a mouse to school again, but it is at the end of the school day, not the beginning. If there were one more page it would say, "Umm, then you'd go home."

I know, again I'm being too knit-picky for a kid's book. But parents will feel more enthusiastic to read a kids book where the gimmick is successfully carried out, not one that seems forced, as if the writer had a deadline. Or a nap to take.

Still, thumbs and tails up. I gave it four stars figuring I'd give five to Felicia Bond, the illustrator, and three to the author, Laura Numeroff.

I know this book by heart...
My seventeen-month old son will search through his vast library to find this book (and the others in this series), protesting when I try to compromise with another selection. He loves the story, knows when to turn the page (which is no longer necessary, as I can recite them all from memory) and will accept no subsitute. I even tried burying the books away so that I could read something new to him, but he dug them out, carried them down the stairs and insisted I drop everything to recall what are apparently his favorite stories.

he will ask you
This is a nice book to read to young kids. This is mostly like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. It is about when you take a mouse to school. He will ask for all school supplies.(like a lunch box) ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (13)

A lesser known, but still valuable Steig classic
I love this book, and feel that William Steig is one of the most underrated and insightful children's authors. I have asked many people who have children that I know whether they have read any of his books, and the usual answer I receive is "no". What literature they have been missing out on! My son really enjoys this book, and it is one of the first books with a substantial amount of text on each page that I have been able to convince him to sit still to hear (he's almost three).
The story of a mouse and whale who find solace in a most unlikely friendship is charming and very applicable to human relationships. I think this book can teach children that friendship can be found in a people who are not necessarily like ourselves...and that these friendships are often some of the most important and profound in our lives. Hopefully, children will take away from this book the message that not everyone is the same, and that so much can be valued and gained from finding friends in those who are different from all the rest.

A soft-hearted story about the meaning of friendship
'Amos and Boris' was my favorite book when I was in Kindergarten. It is now my children's favorite, too. The characters, Amos (a mouse) and Boris (a whale) learn about friendship, loss and love in a warm, comforting story. This is a book Mr. Rogers might read to his kids - but without the annoyance factor. The illustrations are peaceful, immpressionistic, and very grown up. Parents won't mind being asked to read 'Amos and Boris' night after night.

Amos and Boris
"Amos and Boris" is one of our family's favorites, bar none. The kids (ages 9 and 7) have hundreds of books, but none touches us the way this story does. All of Steig's work is exceptional, and this story is his crowning glory. A MUST READ!! I took it into the third grade classroom as a guest reader. At the end of the story, I asked the kids to raise their hands if they liked it. 27 hands shot up!

A two-generation classic
I recently stumbled upon this book in my public library and was instantly taken back to many fond moments spent in its pages during my childhood. I brought it home to my five-year-old who is now just as enchanted. This smple update of Aesop's classic Mouse and Lion tale is a guaranteed pleaser.

great!
this was my ABSOLUTE favorite book as a child. i couldn't put it down! for some reason it always made me sad at the end....beautiful book.... ... Read more

Book Description

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

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

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

Reviews (47)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

Reviews (32)

Here's a winner.
In a word, this book is sheer delight. I don't know how many big families there are out there, but this book accurately captures the crazy chaos of living in a growing family and the challenges of making everyone happy at meal time.(I grew up in a large family.) Me, my children and my husband never tire of the lovely rhythm and rhyme of the Peters family story and their nightime escapade creating the ultimate birthday gift for their beloved Mom. In fact, my daughter and son insisted on making Dad "a pink and plump and perfect cake" for his birthday. SUPERB, detailed illustrations, delightful and memorable phrases - a very uplifting tale for weary, unappreciated parents and a BLAST for kids to read.

Lovely.
When you rate a children book (one that is meant to be read aloud) you rate the book from your point of view as the vocal reader and not necessarily from the kids point of view. How was the reading from your "reading" side? is it one of the books you hate having to go through or is it fun for you as well? this book is definitely a "10" for all participants. The fatigued mother (sorry fathers, the mother is the heroine here), reading the book at the end of her full day and receiving in this book something to address her side and problems (in picture and rhyme) and the child who enjoys reading about other children funny as himself - and always loves to hear about large families. Former reviewers have saluted the rhymes of Mary Ann Hoberman but I would like to honor the great drawings of Marla Frazee. The story evolves from one drawing to the next, through time passing by - portrayed by changing seasons (Summer - bathing in the lake, Autumn - falling leaves), the mother continuous pregnencies, the part of her hobby (playing the chello) in her life - central when she had one child and then forgotten all together (thrown aside) and again appearing in the end of the story. I find it always interesting (and credible) to hear about other people's problems and this is what I feel when I look at the drawings - their house is also in a constant state of a mess (although she does do her best...), the loads of laundry... the ever lasting need to go to the store, fill the house with food (mother and father are again seen with bags of groceries), isn't that what you do all day? very real and very satisfying. I cannot comment much about the rhymes as I read the (beautiful) Hebrew translation but I am sure the translator had a great original to translate from.... I would like to stress again how I love the REALITY of this book - the kids and the house life are so normal. Nothing too pretty or cute - not the kids (each one with his own personality and each one with his own craving), and not the crowded house - diaper changing on the floor, one kid is in the toilet, seven beds in one room. You might argue about the reality of the ending but this is an ending I am sure we all wish for and a perfect ending to this perfect book.

Seven Stars!
My all time favorite book......the illustrations are wonderful and there is so much going on in the scenes that my daughters were mesmerized as I read. The rhyming lyrics are funny, and the whole concept of each of the children having their own fussy way of eating is quite cute. They drive their mom nuts, of course, but in the end, the make her a surprise that is truly dee-lish :)

The Seven Silly Eaters
This book is great for children and their parents.They can share in the diversities of each child and the love between them and their mother. This is great way to helpyour child understand the love a mother has for her children.This is a fun and loving book in which many should read.

FANTASTIC!
An absolute favorite in our house, and sure to delight anyone with more than one child! ... The pages are so well illustrated - there's enough there to entertain and discuss for hours! The cadence of the story makes it easy to read (and memorize)! A great addition to any bedtime repertoire, and a great gift, too! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Are you ready for a scintillating seahorse fact? The father seahorse isthe one who carries the mother's eggs around in his pouch before theyhatch. In Mister Seahorse, master collage artistEric Carleteaches preschoolers this lesson and introduces them to a few other fishwho bear the traditionally maternal burden of caring for eggs: thestickleback, tilapia, Kurtus nurseryfish (known here as Mr. Kurtus),pipefish, and bullhead catfish. As ever, it's Carle's art that stealsthe show. Cut-up tissue paper soaks up the watery paint and makes for aboldly colorful, almost jewel-like undersea journey. The story? Well,repetition is the heart of instruction, after all.

Most of Carle's books employ some sort of gizmo or gadge