Amazon.com

"Many adults can look back and see that it was in [Mother Goose] rhymes that they first found a love of language, rhythm and story.... Recited by heart, passed lovingly from parent to child, these verses--magical, musical, sometimes silly, sometimes wise--are part of our collective childhood."

In her artist's note, Sylvia Long admits that she approached the project of creating a new Mother Goose anthology with some trepidation. The award-winning artist was convinced that the only way she could take on a new version would be if hers were somehow unique. And unique it is. Integrating well-known rhymes with less familiar ones, and altering otherwise frightening images with clever, comforting artwork, Long has come up with a fresh, fun, yet still respectfully traditional approach to these classic verses. Linking the pages visually, Long encourages readers to discover playful connections between different rhymes. For example, the queen in "Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have You Been?" is seated next to Old King Cole on the opposite page of the spread; apparently, these two are a royal item! Long's love of nature is reflected in her gorgeous watercolors of birds, rabbits, cats, frogs, insects, bears, and mice, all of whom figure prominently as old friends Jack and Jill, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Boy Blue, and Little Robin Red-breast. More than 75 classic Mother Goose rhymes are included in this stunning compendium. (Ages 3 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Heirloom-Quality...Enchanting!!!
This is the most beautifully illustrated Mother Goose book I have seen. Sylvia Long has taken her own interpretations of these classic rhymes and turned them into a wonderful imaginative feast for the eyes. The animal characters behave so life-like as they take the place of their human counterparts! I also like the way the author groups the rhymes according to themes. For example, all the rhymes containing words about specific animals, physical traits or characteristics tend to be grouped together. There is also an index of first lines in the back of the book.

My daughters continually pour over the images every day, and were even inspired to write and illustrate their own interpretations in their personal copybooks. The rhymes are classic, but in this book, the images tell their own stories as well!

5 Stars.

One of the best children's books available.
This is a wonderful book. The book takes you through more than 75 classic Mother Goose Rhymes including Jack and Jill, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Boy Blue, and Little Robin Red-breast.

Each rhyme is superbly illustrated allowing your youngster to understand the meaning of the rhyme through pictures.

This is a keepsake book that will surely be passed down from one generation to the next.

An Award winner
As I have read this book with my 2 and 4-yr old grandsons, I have thought that it must have won an award. The glowing reviews of others on your site seem to validate my opinion. Sylvia Long's choice of rhymes and illustrations for each two-page spread provides an opportunity for Grannie and the boys to communicate about the meaning of these old rhymes. The boys understand their meaning because of the beautiful illustrations that give the rhymes a new life in our modern world.

Charming
I am a school librarian constantly looking for nice editions of familiar nursery rhymes. This is one of the best books I have found in a long time. It has a nice collection of familiar and unfamilar rhymes. Each page has nicely done illustrations to support the rhyme. Sylvia Long identifies in the beginning of the book to look at each picture and look for the "bridge item" that is found in the next picture. Should keep kids busy with these rhymes for a long time.

Great baby gift!
This is one of the most beautiful Mother Goose books I have ever come across! The illustrations coupled with the classic Mother Goose rhymes make it a wonderful baby gift - one that is sure to be a keepsake! ... Read more

Book Description

Reminiscent of the wooden blocks you played with as a child, these sixteen chunky board books are small and sturdy, perfect for stacking and fit neatly into their own carrying case. Each book features a different Mother Goose rhyme accompanied by beautiful illustrations created especially for this new set. This attractive package includes a gift tag, making this the perfect gift-to-go! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Nice Block Books
Just got these block books for my 8 & 1/2 months old. The books are more sturdy than I expected (comparing with other board books that we have.)

My son put the books in his mouth immediately when he saw them. However, the books didn't get destroyed (at least not yet.) In addition, unlike other board books, the pages won't stick together after mouthing.

Although you can pile them up pretty well, don't expect them to be the same as regular blocks. Needless to say, they are still books.

Overall, they are nice and sturdy and my son enjoys playing with them.

For a baby
I was so excited to order the Sylvia Long Molther Goose Board Books because my 7 month old daughter loves books, but I was disappointed. While the books are beautiful and she likes them, they really cannot double as building blocks as they are marketed. All babies put everything in their mouths, which is something the manufacturer overlooked. When I gave her one of the books Christmas morning of course it went directly in her mouth and in less than a minute the front cover basically melted in her mouth and some of the paper came off. I definitely cannot leave the blocks for her to play with because they will be ruined in no time. Unlike other board books that have withstood hours of mouthing, I have to make sure I'm with her at all times when she plays with these in case some of the paper comes off which is a choking hazard. Bummer.

Wonderful books and blocks
This is a perfect gift for any baby's first birthday. The nursery rhymes and illustrations are darling and just perfect for little hands. You can read or build with these block books! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Oh, why won't Marvin K. Mooney just please go now? In this 1972 classic for "beginning beginners," Dr. Seuss devotes his rhymes to budging the reluctant young Marvin K.: "The time has come. The time is now.Just go. Go. GO! I don't care how." But despite his impatience, our narrator certainly isn't short of ideas on how Marvin could make an exit. "You can go on stilts. You can go by fish. You can go in a Crunk-Car if you wish." Seuss's ever wacky illustrations accompany each new mode of transport, from balloon to broomstick to Bumble-Boat. And if those who are just learning find a word they don't know, chances are Seuss has simply made it up to fill out this ear-pleasing, easy-to-read text. This book is yet another fun and euphonious entry from the good doctor, a silly primer for budding rhymers and readers. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Go, man go!
I once heard a rumor that the Dr. Seuss book "Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!" was written by the author as a kind of plea to President Nixon. Written around the time of the Watergate scandals, the rumor I heard stated that the book (a delightful collection of different ways in which Marvin K. Mooney may leave) was a cry that the President should step down and (in the words of the book), "Just go, go, GO!". Reading the story today, I wish I could say that this rumor is unequivocally undeniable, but I can't. The Marvin K. Mooney in this book doesn't look a thing like our dear departed President. If you want a picture book representation of Nixon, I suggest you locate, "The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln". Otherwise, read this story solely for its enjoyable plot.

There are approximately two characters in this tale. One is the aforementioned Mr. Mooney who stands in purple pajamas upon a circular floor rug. The other character is an unseen narrator who appears only as a pair of hands and arms. These hands proceed to point to a watch, point out the door, and gesture in a variety of different ways as to how best Marvin K. Mooney could go. For quite some time Marvin doesn't budge, and we are treated to visual hypothetical images of him leaving ala the mail, by cow, on a Bumble-Boat, or even (my personal favorite) by camel in a bureau drawer. I don't want to give away the ending so I'll just say that the narrator is a persuasive fellow.

The book's not, perhaps, the best known of the Seussian repertoire. And, admittedly, it's not his best. Still, there's something innately amusing about trying to convince a fellow that he should leave posthaste without giving much in a way of a reason. The illogical logic of this picture book, accompanied by Seuss's lilting cadences, is great. There are plenty of better Dr. Seuss books out there, but I think that there may be some people in the world who grew up with "Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!" and will love it just as much today as they ever did. It's good clean fun, simultaneously crazy and lovely. A real treat.

Okay, but what is he REALLY saying to Marvin K. Mooney?
"Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!" is a Bright and Early Book for Beginning Beginners from Dr. Seuss, which is level before you get to the regular Beginner Books (the "I Can Read It All By Myself" books like "The Cat in the Hat"). The idea with these books is that the stories are both brief and funny, that the words are both easy and few, and the rhymes are not only simple but are not concerned with whether the words are found in a standard dictionary. Add to this pictures that make what a Zike-Bike, Crunk-Car, and Bumble-Boat happen to look like as clear as blue shoe or lion.

As the title indicates, the time has come for Marvin K. Mooney to go. We know this because a large, long and possibly adult arm, wearing a wristwatch repeatedly points an imperious finger in the desired direction of departure. While this otherwise unseen figure insists that they do not care how Marvin K. Mooney departs the premises, they sure offer a lot of suggestions, beginning with leaving on foot and ending with seven strange looking birds carrying some sort of vehicle through the air. There are, in point of fact, twenty-one different modes of departure suggested for Marvin K. Mooney in this book, and I would not be surprised if even beginning readers can think of an additional twenty-one modes once they get into the spirit of this book.

There are two things I really like about this Dr. Seuss book. The first is that it applies his considerable imagination to an extreme level as he comes up with more and more ways for Marvin K. Mooney to go. The second is that I really appreciate that Dr. Seuss employs near rhyme. Most rhymes for children are going to play it straight, rhyming "fish" with "wish" and "boom" with "room." But the good doctor rhymes "skis" with "please" and "know" with "go" (and "K" with "Zay"), thus opening the minds of beginning readers to even more possibilities for words sounding alike. This is a vitally important skill, not only for making your own rhymes (as in songs you are inspired to make up on the spur of the moment) but more importantly for being able to make more puns.

"the time has come..."
A very, very amusing early reader book. Absolutely hilarious at times with the usual great illustrations by the author. I love reading this book to my kids. It's one of the few books I can read OTT, which the kids enjoy. Certainly not one of Seuss' greatest books, but it has a fun rythm that all can enjoy and it's written in a way that makes the book seem very fast paced.

Marvin K. Mooney
I read this book when I was a little kid, to the point that I still remember all the words as an adult. This is a good story to read a child. When I had kids, I bought the book, because I remembered enjoying it when my big sister read it to me.

You can go on a Zike-Bike if you like
Another delightful Dr Seuss marvel.
A simple instruction to a guest who has outstayed his welcome is put into the wonderful poetry unique to
Dr Seuss, that is a delight to children around the world, as well as to adults who are young at heart.
Dr Seuss introduces some of the marvelous technological inventions of his world, such as a Zike-Bike, a Crunk-Car, a Zumble-Zay, a Bumble-Boat and a Gazoom.

It is a great way of teaching children reading and language, and as 'go' is one of the first words children learn to recognize, this teaches the meanings in a really fun way. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Caution: for advanced storytellers only! The tongue twisters in this book will have your children laughing for hours--and that laughter just might be directed at you! Mixing genuine words with classic Seuss vocabulary, Oh Say Can You Say gets trickier with every page.You'll start off easy with this cautionary limerick:

Said a book-reading parrot named Hooey, "The words in this book are all phooey.When you join them your lips will make slips and back flips, and your tongue may end up in Saint Looey!"

Reviews (9)

oh say can you say is a very good book
its a rhymeing book good for all ages and fun to read. It will leave you with a smile on your face wondering how he did it again. Dr. Seuss is a great author and shows you why once again in this book....

Tongue Fun for Everyone
We all know Dr. Seuss is the best,
put your tongue twister skills to the test!
Tho' this book's oft overlooked,
I am sure you'll be hooked
"Oh Say..." is a Seuss tongue-twist fest!

Tongue twisters, Seuss style
"Oh Say Can You Say?" is a collection of tongue twisters from the fertile pen of the great Dr. Seuss. Each twister is accompanied by Seuss's characteristically whimsical illustrations. The collection is introduced by a frazzled-looking parrot named Hooey.

"Oh Say" contains Seussian imaginary creatures (the Schnak, the Grox, etc.) and silly characters ("a musical urchin named Gretchen von Schwinn," the acrobatic Fuddnuddler brothers, etc.). Along the way are such tongue-torturing phrases as "Skipper Zipp's Clipper Ship Chip Chop Shop." The colorful illustrations, as one might expect from Seuss, are bursting with surreal energy. Overall, a lot of fun, especially if you love rhyme and alliteration.

Oh say can you say
I thought this was a really good book. I liked all the tounge twister. I could Hardly say most of them fast. I think this would be a harder book for younger children.

This is wonderful!
My 2-year-old loves the sounds and rhythms of the words. These are tongue-twisters that also rhyme, in that unique, Dr. Seuss style. Imaginative, wild and wonderful verses. I love reading them, as well, and my husband enjoyed them, too. Just alot of fun. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Reach for The Moon is an amazing, inspiring read
I have been looking for a poetry book to include in my graduate studies project for a children's literature course. I've spent many hours trying to find the right book with the right message for the right audience. This book fits right in with the theme: perseverance. I am astounded by the giftedness of this writer and the beauty of the watercolors from a remarkable illustrator. I think all my students will be able to relate in some way and find consolation in realizing that success is a matter of tapping into one's gifts. I am pleased on discovering the thoughtful and enlightening personal entries from Samantha,her mother and teacher at the end. What a wonderful story to share!!!

Hardcover Miracle
I now own two copies of this book, one for me and one to loan to friends and family. This book is in no measure short of a miracle. Putting aside learning disabilities and her youth, Ms. Abeel is a gifted poet and author of exceptional depth. That this began as a middle school writing assignment by a child struggling to survive in an insensitive world makes it a tribute to the difference one or two "seeing" people can make. This book is a must for anyone interested in well expressed observation of the rich tapestry of life. --Dave

Absolutely Fabulous!
This poetry book by a thirteen year old learning disabled child opens the doors for all of us as writers and readers. It allows both children and adults to recognize their own "personal disability", maybe something no one sees, and realize that all are conquerable! The prologue and epilogue include Samantha speaking, her parents, and her english teacher...these three points of view bring an in depth view of the "gift within us all" just waiting to be recognized and nurtured. This is a must read for anyone who touches the lives of children!

A beautiful book filled with vivid images
Though this book is recommended for kids, its greatest value is for anyone, adult or child, who is learning disabled. The author, a teenager at the time of writing, was learning to deal with her severe learning disability-dyscalculia- a total inability to deal with numbers. It is evident from reading her poems that what she lacks in arithmetic abilities is more than compensated for by her exceptional way with words and images. The fact that she was only 15 or so when she wrote the poems is even more astounding. a must for anyone who has a learning disability or knows someone who has one. This is one book that should be catalogued under learning disabilities and education!

Inspirational story
I haven't read this book, but I did read a feature article about the author in the October issue of Seventeen magazine. I think it's wonderful that someone could overcome an LD and then be so gifted as to write about it. First chance I get, I'm going to read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Eloise, we love you too!
HONEY, I LOVE and other love poems is simply put, one of the all-time best books of poetry ever written - and it is loved and enjoyed by adults as well as children. Eloise Greenfield's poetry is full of wisdom, simplicity, and elegance. The title poem reflects a childhood any child would be privileged to have - a "flying pool," a cousin from the South whose words just kinda "slide" out of his mouth, a Mama whose arm is for holding her child...and for being kissed. What more could anyone need? The other poems are brilliant as well - especially HARRIET TUBMAN who didn't "take no stuff." This poem, in fact, is an anthem for school children everywhere, who love a hero and aspire to be one as well. Poetry doesn't get any better than the stuff that comes out of Eloise Greenfield's experiences, heart, and pen. As an author and teacher myself, I admire the timeless nature and awesome craftwork in this book, and I share it every chance I get. Honey, you'll love it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In all likelihood, your mother or father read you these poems and remember theirparents reading the same. This collection of poetry by the creator of Winnie the Pooh was firstpublished in 1924. With its companion volume Now We Are Six, the little books becametwo of the biggest bestsellers in publishing history. Children all over the world have heard aboutchanging the guard at Buckingham Palace; James James Morrison Morrison Weather by GeorgeDupree; the three little foxes who kept their handkerchiefs in cardboard boxes; and, of course,Christopher Robin, named for A.A. Milne's son. Adults and older children will enjoy Milne'spoems too, as some of his humor is subtly directed at a more sophisticated audience. But youngerchildren are the ones who love the naughty Mary Jane (lovely rice pudding again?) and the bearson the corners of London's streets. Read these poems aloud and pass along (or start) a familytradition. (Ages 5 to 9) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great poems for our smallest bookworms
Re-reading the poems in this volume takes me back to when I was very young, and fast-forwards to me reading them to my son when he was three or four. A.A. Milne's timeless verses stay with us long after other childhood books have been forgotten. Every child has his or her own favorites; I remember my son especially loved listening to "James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree", "The King's Breakfast" (The King asked the Queen and the Queen asked the Dairymaid: "Could we have some butter for the Royal slice of bread?"), and Emmeline, who slipped off in a snit when someone told her her hands weren't clean. Ernest Shepard's simple pen and ink drawings are a nice compliment to the poems. Reading these poems to your youngsters is sure to be the start (or the continuation) of a family tradition.

Perfect poems for small children
When I was a little boy, my father would read these poems to me. I still have my heavily-battered copy, and every time I look through it, I am overwhelmed with fond memories. The poems in this book are often very simple, but all are very sweet, and Ernest Shepard's illustrations perfectly complement the poems. Every child should have a copy of this book.

poems for childhood remembered
Forget the smoke-filled coffee shop, the microphone on the podium and the beatnicks huddled around their coffees. The real test of a reader's poetic prowess is A.A. Milne, the living room couch and a handful of kids waiting for your renderings of growling bears and timelessl human characters.

It takes an extraordinary book to capture children's attention on the strength of words alone.

It's not that there are no illustrations here, just that each poem has just one or two small, original ink drawings; delightful, but bowing appropriately to the genius of words that can hold children spellbound. For instance, Milne takes a subject like sidewalks and transforms it into the stuff of playacting in Lines and Squares - an irresistible cadence to chant on a walk (or a lumbering gait):

And the masses of bears
Who wait at the corners all ready to eat the sillies who tread on the lines of the street
And I say to them, "BEARS.....
Just look how I'm walking in ALL of the squares!"

As I read I can now recall the precise inflection and finger-shaking combination from Disobedience that it took to elicit giggles from my sisters and me, now working its comedy on my four-year-old son:

James James SAID to his mother, "Mother", he said, said he;
"You Must Never Go Down To The End Of Town If You Don't Go Down With ME!"

When We Were Very Young is a collection of poems for children, about childhood, and for those who wish to remember its special magic view on the world. This book is a beloved tradition in my family, starting with those cozy evenings on my Grandmother's couch as we all snuggled up to hear about the brownie that lives behind the curtain, Jonathan Jo (who had a mouth like an O), the three foxes and Christopher Robin, who couldn't stop his hoppity hop. Your family is sure to find its own traditions in reading these poems to each other, young and old alike.

It reminds me of Dad
My father died 10 years ago when I was nineteen. I know he used to read "when we were very young" to me when I was a child, but it wasn't until I began to read the poems as bedtime stories to my 2 year old, that I began to remember my dad's emphasis and inflections. As I read my favourites to my son, I can almost hear Dad reading them to me.

I am thrilled that my son asks for Christopher Robin as his bedtime stories and "Hoppity" and "Market Square" have become his favourites too. He is an avid reader and I am just beginning to introduce him to poetry, what better way than A A Milne - It makes me feel like a child again and connects a grandson and a grandfather who never met each other.

Like "A Child's Garden of Verses"
Like "A Child's Garden of Verses," the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, A.A. Milnes' "When We Were Very Young," collects and reminds us of childhood bliss. However, unlike Stevenson, Milne has the whimsy of Edward Lear's limericks and verse. Milne captures the joy and gentleness of youth.

For example, Milne has a poem with a refrain, "Jonathon Jo/has a mouth like an 'O'" It is fun to say, and it almost means something. Another poem talks about halfway up and down the stairs, getting a child to see the difference and sameness of the situation, great for critical thinking.

If you want pure silly humor, go buy Silverstein, but for great writing and solid bedtime reading to teach your child wit and poetry, buy this tiny book. There's a good chance you will like it as well. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Lots of fun!
This book is a lot of fun. Fun to read and the pictures are a hoot. My 21-month old daughter loves it and so do her parents.

Enchanting modern fairy tale
I've haven't been so taken by a children's book in years! After only two read-throughs I had it memorized enough to quote it to my grandsons and they were surprised and really laughed :} at Tiny Tim and how hungry he must have been. It has enchanting rhythm and should appeal to any child under 10. I think I will start giving it to newborns so mothers and dads can read aloud and encourage a sense of humor and fun from the get go...

Awesome book....
SO fun to read! Rhyming text makes it easy for little ones to remember!

Fun to sing
WE loooove this book. Checked it out over and over from library so had to buy it. we sing it and act it out and just love to read it.

Fun
This book is cute and fun to sing with my 17 month old. However, she really doesn't get to excited over it. The pictures are still a little boring to her and I sometimes have trouble keeping her attention with the book. I think she may still be a little young for it and hope she will become more interested in it as she gets a little older. ... Read more

Book Description

Mattie J.T. Stepanek takes us on a Journey Through Heartsongs with more of his moving poems. These poems share the rare wisdom that Mattie has acquired through his struggle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy and the death of his three siblings from the same disease. His life view is one of love and generosity and as a poet and a peacemaker, his desire is to bring his message of peace to as many people as possible. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Poetry to lift your Spirit and change your outlook on life
Mattie Stepanek is an amazing young man. At 11 years old, his wisdom far exceeds his years and is reflected in his poetry. Mattie began writing poems (with his mother as scribe) at the age of three and describes himself as "Poet and Peacemaker." He stimulates the reader to examine the really important things in life ... to embrace life. Mattie also illustrated the book with wonderful storytelling finger paintings. With the challenges he has faced in his short life, it is amazing that he has such a mature, wise and positive attitude. Your appreciation of this young man and his work will be greatly enhanced if you should have the good fortune to hear him speak.

A Journey with Mattie
I recently had the pleasure of reading Mattie J.T. Stepanek's Hope Through Heartsongs. I found it to be very enjoying and entertaining. While reading his book I was transported to my young adulthood. I dabbled in poetry and loved to write. I always dreamed of being a published author. What a wonderful accomplishment for someone so young. I am a student teacher and I can see myself reading his poems to my future classes. Many students that I see struggle with confidence. Mattie's poem, About Confidence, would be a wonderful one to read aloud with students. I believe that poetry is a window into a persons soul. Mattie offers a journey into his life through his poetry. His struggles, hardships, joys, and dreams are revealed in verse. I was glad to take part in the journey through his young life while reading his poetry. Even though he is a young author his thougths and ideas are true to life and touching. His poetry is on a very personal and tangible level. I look forward to reading his other books and sharing them with classes to come.

An inspiration book about life and its many challengs
11-year-old "Mattie" Stepanek suffers from a rare form of muscular dystrophy, but this diease has not only not weakened him but given him great wisdom beyond his eleven years. Though his beautiful poems of peace, hope, inspiration, and coping with loss, we gain much wisdom too. Though his thoughts we get to grow in spirit in ways we can't imagine. My favorite poem out of this collection was "Anniversary Reflections" It made me cry because it was so sad to read Mattie's account of the days following his brother, Jamie's, death. Mattie truly has great talent to write movingly and courageously about life, death, love, loss, faith, hope, joy, sadness, and all the feelings life can bring us. He is truly an inspration for all of us.

This is utterly ridiculous.
i'm sorry. he's 11. he has muscular dystrophy. he knows pain, loss & suffering. yes. many children do. he writes poetry. or, more appropriately, places words in an order that sounds like a prayer. great. prayer's a personal thing, and, if that helps you, so be it. but to publish that, and worse yet, to have it be hailed as a "work of art" is utterly and flagrantly manipulating the conscience of many a decent person out there.

the only reason i could EVER see purchasing this book would be (hopefully) that the proceeds would go towards the search for a cure to his rare disease. otherwise, this form of publication should be condemned. i suggest that the vast majority of those of us who struggle with the disease of being TOTALLY HEALTHY publish books devoted to garnering the pity of the Oprah-bound marketplaces as well, although bear in mind you'll probably only be shot down for "parodying" something that is CLEARLY "true" and "heartbreaking."

"a true grasp of the poetic form" is what one reviewer spoke of this candy-laced and overly saccharine book of verse. there are a number of cases one could make for this so-called poetry, but if mattie stepanek can be hailed as a "true poetic master" i suggest, also, that a book of hallmark greeting cards should be published so that Oprah and Johnny Carson can drool over their dripping and wholly unoriginal sentiments as well.

Inspirational
As a person suffering from bi-polar and fibromyalgia, I sometimes feel as if my life could not be any worse. Then I pick up any of Mattie's books or play a cassette and feel very inspired. This is a truly gifted young man who has survived many health obstacles. He is a miracle of God's work in his life and Mattie can serve as a true inspiration to anyone. I suggest that all of his books/tapes would be wonderful for anyone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"6:32 a.m. This is the farm. My partner, Bill, and I wereworking the barnyard shift. It was peaceful. Quiet. Then we got thecall."

"So you're saying you were robbed, is that right, ma'am? What exactly is missingfrom the nest, ma'am? Eggs, ma'am? Chicks, ma'am?" But it turns out that it'speppers that have gone missing--a peck of "perfect purple, almost-pickledpeppers." But nobody was talking: "We had Horner in the corner and were tryingto make Little Boy Blue quack." Then our intrepid pair of web-footedinvestigators gets a break in the case when a tub of "tartest tasty tomahtoes"turns up missing. DUM DE DUM DUM!

It's just more wit from the wonderful Margie Palatini, who brought us Piggie Pie and Zoom Broom, backed up on thisassignment by the spirited illustrations of Richard Egielski. (Ages 4 to 8)--Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Cute
Dragnet (dum de dum dum), nursery rhymes (Little Boy Blue), James Cagney (you dirty rat), and Hawaii 5-O (Book 'im, ducko) all contribute to this clever detective tale, and the typeface looks like typewriter type, just as a detective's report would have looked before computers.

The inventive use of other sources and the logical detection of the plot make this a winner for adults. I can't wait to see how my four-year-old grandson likes it.

Parts of some illustrations didn't seem to have anything to do with the story, but the lettuce leaf hanging from the dirty rat's chin is perfect, though obvious.

If the children you read to like mysteries, try the Nate the Great series by Marjorie Sharmat. They are easy-to-read books and great logic puzzles for the young.

Fun for both children AND parents alike
What a fun and funny book Margie Palatini has written--and Richard Egielski's cartoonish yet deadpan illustrations complement it beautifully. Palatini has taken the "Dum de dum dum" theme from TV's long-ago "Dragnet" and applied it here to a barnyard mystery. Sounds simple, and simplistic, but she soars in weaving into the story all sorts of fairy tale and nursery rhyme goodies--not to mention wonderful wordplay, like:

"A lot of squawking going on down in the coop area, Ducktective Web. Looks like fowl play. Report says feathers are flying. Chief says we should check out the chicks."

"Chicks?"

"Check."

"Let's fly." DUM DE DUM DUM . . .

Palatini works in Peter Piper and his pack of pickled peppers (upping the ante by calling them perfect and purple as well), a falsely accused Little Boy Blue who offers the alibi that HE didn't do it because he was under the haystack, fast asleep--which the witnesses then confirm with: "The sheep were in the meadow. Cows in the corn." Swing back again quickly to the "Dragnet" end of things and the author makes one of the suspects an actual Dirty Rat (aptly named Ratzo).

This is fun for children and possibly even more fun for their baby boomer parents. It's a great read.

A cop show tailor made for the preschool set
Let's say you're a parent that loves nothing more in the entire world than to sit down and watch a little "Dragnet" on the telly. Now let's say you're that same parent, but you'd like to instill the wonders of Jack Webb in your little one. Enter Margie Palatini and Richard Egielski's, "The Web Files". More "dum de dum dum"s than you could shake a fist at.

Bill and Web (partners) are working the barnyard shift when they hear trouble ah-brewing. Someone's been pirating a peck of purple peppers (ready for pickeling). It's off to confront he usual suspects, when our heroes get a lead. In the end, you can rest assured that the dastardly villain will have met his just desserts and our brave ducktectives can work another day.

There are people who will buy this book, read it over and over, and love every minute of it. They'll revel in the exceedingly terrible puns that crop up with frightening regularity. They'll soak up the detective atmosphere (a combination of "Dragnet" and Ed McBain). They'll never get bored with this puppy, and that's all right. There really are some nice things in this book. Egielski's adept illustrations compliment the rising action, best displayed in a scene in which a variety of fairy tale characters hound the police precinct with tales of woe. I was especially taken with the third degree our heroes give a distraught Little Boy Blue.

As for myself, the aforementioned scenes are gold. But the puns.... lordy begordy the puns. Admittedly I have a low pun tolerance. If you can read the following sentence without twitching, then this is undoubtedly a good book to get: "A lot of squawking going on down in the coop area, Ducktective Web. Looks like fowl play. Report says feathers are flying. Chief says we should check out the chicks." You get the idea. I, personally, had problems with that sentence, but that's just me. Other people will adore this book. It does have some nice touches here and there and is chock full of enough movies and cop shows to bring a chuckle every other page. If you like a good rousing yarn and don't mind slightly painful text, this is the perfect book for a dark and rainy night. Hint: Have your kids hum the "Dragnet" closing music when the book's villain is tried and convicted. The book supplies all the "Dum de dum dum"s itself.

The Web Files
Hysterically funny book, especially for Dragnet lovers. Third and Fourth graders love the book, second graders don't get all the humor. Well worth a fifteen buck investment.

A wacky, hilarious detective tale
The Web Files is a wacky, hilarious detective tale set in a barnyard with two ducks as heroes. Dum De Dum Dum. Styled on the old Dragnet series model, the tale unfolds with minimum clipped dialogue and lots of implied action humourously expressed by the color illustrations of Richard Egielski. This school age child's book's style is contagious. Be prepared for repeat requests to read this one aloud. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As she grieved over the "huge shadow [that] had been cast across the lives of so many innocent people and an ancient culture's pride" after September 11, 2001, poet and author Naomi Shihab Nye's natural response was to write, to grasp "onto details to stay afloat." Accordingly, Nye has gathered over four dozen of her own poems about the Middle East and about being an Arab American living in the United States. Devoted followers of the award-winning and beloved poet will recognize some of their favorites from her earlier collections (The Space Between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings from the Middle East, etc.), while absorbing themselves in her new haunting and evocative poems. Nye writes of figs and olives, fathers' blessings and grandmothers' hands that "recognize grapes, / and the damp shine of a goat's new skin." She writes of Palestinians, living and dead, of war, and of peace. Readers of all ages will be profoundly moved by the vitality and hope in these beautiful lines from Nye's heart. (Ages 9 to adult) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"There's a place in this brain where hate won't grow."
This collection is a perfect example of the ability of a gifted poet to communicate hard truths simply. Each piece is a work of art and sings in the voices of immigrants and immigrants' children and with the rhythms of life in the Middle East. Don't buy this book expecting to find a treatise on terrorism or the events of September 11. Buy it to see through another's eyes and sing in another's voice. This is a fantastic book in its own right and a great introduction to the talent and skill of Naomi Shihab Nye.

subtle stories
this book was recommended to me by a friend, so i wasn't sure what to expect.i am really glad to have bought it, the poems are like little stories someone tells you on the porch while it's getting dark.very vivid, i felt as if i knew these people...fathers, mothers, grandmothers, schoolchildren, old arab men selling crafts... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Richard Scarry's bright and humorous animal characters have been charming children for decades. Always inventive in the world of animal fashion, Scarry shows the cow jumping over the moon in pearls and a pink dress, and the little dog who "laughed to see such sport" sports a sailor suit. You won't hear "I can't see the pictures!" with this book; its large size makes it a good choice for group story hour. This collection of 50 Mother Goose rhymes is especially appropriate for toddlers; most of the two-page spreads contain only one illustrated rhyme. (Many children younger than three can focus better on one simple verse than on many rhymes on each page.) Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever has stood the test of time for more than 25 years and is still a hit with young readers. (Ages 1 to 4) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Classic
I used to make my mother read to the entire book to me every night- I had it memorized so I even knew when she would try to skip pages! I absolutely love this book and recommend it to anyone who has kids or who knows kids. This is absolutely my favorite childhood book. . .there is none better!

A great book
This collection of nursery rhymes is a classic. It has all the ones I remember as a child and more. The pictures are big and funny. It is so much fun to read. I can hardly wait to read it during story time for my daughter.

DELIGHTFUL
This collection of nursery rhymes and illustrations are a classic.I deeply enjoyed them as a kid and now my children enjoy this as a good read. Truly a delightful book.

Illustrations create wonderful memories
The illustrations in this book make the nursery rhymes entertaining to small children. This book provided me with many hours of joy and wonderful memories when I shared it with my two children. I am now sending it to my son to share with his little girl.

5 children rate this the best ever!
The large sized illustrations, the bright colors and the rhymes themselves all made this book the favorite with our 5 children. We have gone through 2 copies, now reduced to loose pages, and need to order 2 more for new grandchildren (both age 5 months) ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. A host of inventive creatures help beginning readers recognize many common "household" words. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Seussian imagination unleashed!
Dr. Seuss' best books tend to have a touch of fantasy (or light-hearted science fiction) to them, and "There's a Wocket in My Pocket!" falls into that category. In this book of simple rhymes, the narrator introduces the reader to the gallery of weird creatures that share his home. There's no plot, but there are Seussian creatures galore.

Beginning with the Wocket of the cover, each creature favors a habitat that conveniently rhymes with its name. Example: "And that Zelf up on that shelf! / I have talked to him myself." The creatures include the pink-and-yellow striped Zlock, the cantankerous Yottle, the creepy Vug, the gravity-defying Geeling, and many others. As always, Seuss' colorful artwork is rich in whimsical details.

The narrator loves his home and its weird inhabitants. The book thus seems to have the message that it's OK to be different, or to come from a home that others might find odd. And that's a lesson I like! So enjoy the book, and don't be surprised if you find a "Ghair" under your chair.

Wocket in My Pocket
"Did you ever have the feeling there's a WASKET in your BASKET?" Well this little boy did. This wonderful story is about a little boy and all the things he discovers in his house. There are tons of different creatures made up in the mind of Dr. Seuss. This books crazy rhyming patterns will have your child's full attention. There's just something about rhyming stories that children love.
I would recommend this story to anyone but mainly children from ages 3-9. I am almost positive they would love it. How do I know this? I know this because this has been one of my favorite books ever since I was a little tike. Any adult would love this story also. It's a fun book to read to little ones, I know because I read it to my cousins and they love it!! I would highly recommend you purchase this book or rent from the library. Although it would be smarter to buy it, because "it's a keeper!"

Is there a Wokect in your pocket?
This is probably one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books because I love how he makes up new creatures. In this book a little boy takes us around his house showing us "all those Nupboards in the cupboards" and telling us "they're good fun to have about."

As is expected with Dr. Seuss books it rhymes, most of the time that is. Often the comments made about the animals don't rhyme, but this doesn't impede the flow of words. The book still flows wonderfully.

I always am pleased to see how wonderfully the drawings are done. To come up with all those creatures and yet be able to have each of them look special and different is amazing. All the illustrations are bright, bold and colorful, like one would expect to find in a Dr. Seuss book. All in all, another great Dr. Seuss book.

Loggie-log-log-log

Theres a wocket in my pocket!!
The book there's a wocket in my pocket is about a young boy who belives to find things in all sorts of places in his house such as things in the shower, the cellar, the steps, the chimney. The young boy has a wide imagination and seems to like his house full of things. In this boys house there seems to be a different thing everywhere somethings he likes there others he dosnt.

There's a Wocket in my Pocket
There's a Wocket in my Pocket is a great book for kids. Its a book about a boy who finds all kinds of different Wockets all over his house, in his pocket, in his trash baket, in his bureau, in his closet, in his curtains, behind his clock, up on a shelf, in the sink, in the lamp, in the pots and pans, in a bottle, in and in his chair, they are everywhere. This book is a great book if you like to rhyme words, some a tongue twisting, and some are funny. In the end the boy talked about how he likes where he lives because of all the Wockets there. The reason I liked this book is because it was tongue twisting and it rhymed. ... Read more

Book Description

When you know "the other way to listen," you can hear wildflower seeds burst open, you can hear the rocks murmuring, and the hills singing, and it seems like the most natural thing in the world.

Of course it takes a lot of practice, and you can't be in a hurry...

In fact, most people never hear those things at all, but this book tells you about two people who did -- one who was very good at it and one who took a long time learning.

As in their other books, Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall bring us close to the essence of the natural world. Thanks to their unique talents, their books are for us the experience about which they write and draw. ... Read more

Book Description

What do we feel when we look at a great work of art/ What does a poet feel/ Heart to Heart offersan original way to approach poetry and art—with new works by distinguished American poets, specially commissioned for this book by editor Jan Greenberg. Prompted by paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs by American artists working in the 20th century, these poems lend a new meaning to “art appreciation” and make each page of Heart to Heart an exciting discovery.

Join such poets as Jane Yolen, Nancy Willard, X. J. Kennedy, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Mura, and Angela Johnson as they reveal a personal, heartfelt response to works by Thomas Hart Benton, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Grandma Moses, Faith Ringgold, Man Ray, Georgia O’Keeffe, and many others. Whether the poems are playful, challenging, tender, mocking, humorous, sad, or sensual, each work of art, seen through the eyes of a poet, allows readers to look at the world with new insight. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Getting to the Heart of Art
This is a great book for artists and non artists alike. It is a useful tool for any age group in understanding visual imagery. The poetry is done in response to art that ranges in style and media, giving the reader/viewer a wide exposure to the arts.

The poerty is crisp, interesting and meaningful to contemporary culture without being trite or overly stylized.

This book is a great educational resource, coffee table book, or good cure for the common boredom! ... Read more

Book Description

Pierced By a Ray of Sun offers a collection of poems about all of us, for we all sometimes feel we are different and alone. Throughout time poets everywhere have described these feelings and have recognized them as a cost of being human and sensitive to ourselves.

Ruth Gordon has selected poetry that not only reveals the universality of sometimes feeling lonely and alienated, but also stresses, as the poet Jim Northrup writes, that people have "Toughed it out/Survived."

Includes Poems By:

Carl Sandburg, May Sarton, Paul Simon, Rainer Maria Rilke, John Keats, William Butler Yeats,

Malka Heifetz Tussman, Bob Henry Baber, James Masao Mitsui, Jim Northrup, Dona Luongo Stein

Reviews (1)

Interesting
As it happens, I was indeed alone as I read the poems in this book.A mixed bag, indeed.However, in the final analysis, there are a handful of astonishing pieces and not a true clinker in the bunch. ... Read more

Book Description

"'Will you walk into my parlor,'
said the Spider to the Fly..."

is easily one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse. But do you have any idea how the age-old tale of the Spider and the Fly ends? Join celebrated artist Tony DiTerlizzi as he -- drawing inspiration from one of his loves, the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920s and 1930s -- shines a cinematic spotlight on Mary Howitt's warning, written to her own children about those who use sweet words to hide their not-so-sweet intentions. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Evil spider weaves web to ensnare innocent fly
I have always been fasinated by this warning tale of the evils that can befall those who are too trusting and do not reguard strangers or those of brief aquaintance with proper waryness,(Especially young women... this is after all a Victorian tale!) but, never before have I been charmed amused and enchanted by it!
Mary B. Howett's tale is perfectly illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi.
Entirely done in black and white Tony has set the story in a charmingly Gothic Victorian doll house that carries the shadowy overtones of all evil dwellings.
The Spider is an Edwardian looking gentleman from his tiny moustache down to his spats. His home is the epitome of Victorian (pardon the pun)good taste. The fly is a wide eyed flapper who is as cute as a ..er bug.
A good deal of the charm of this book lies in the subtleties of Tony's wonderful illustrations. The wallpaper with a pattern of bees, the stuffed bug footstool, the cookbook bearing the title THE JOY OF COOKING BUGS, all are amusing additions to the larger tale the pictures tell . Just as the sad little daisy parasol of the fly sitting with her hat on the spiders plate speaks volumes.
This is not only a wonderful childrens book but one any adult who appreciates the work of Edward Gorey or the writing of Lemony Snickett will appriciate!
It is a surprisingly relevant tale for our time as it was for little children about a century ago.

A Timeless Classic Made Even Better.....
"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly... So begins Mary Howitt's 1829, cautionary timeless classic. But this age-old masterpiece has been elevated to new heights by the stunning, black and white, "silent screen" artwork of Tony DiTerlizzi. Mr DiTerlizzi has created a clever and captivating feast for the eyes, and filled his illustrations with spooky humor and wit, intricate, eye-catching details, marvelous facial expressions, and pure magic. Young and old alike will be entranced as they linger and explore each page, finding something new and enticing each and every time they open the book. Perfect for "youngsters" of all ages, The Spider And The Fly begs to be read aloud and shared with friends and family now, and future generations in the years to come. "And now, dear little children, who may this story read,/To idle, silly, flattering words I pray you ne'er give heed:/Unto an evil counselor,/close heart and ear and eye,/And take a lesson from this tale,/of the Spider and the Fly."

Little fly, little fly, fly away home
Some picture books instantly impress. They have that extra little spark or oomph that sets them apart from the rest. At first, the idea of a modern illustrator reworking a cautionary tale from 1829 sounds as if it's in danger of becoming dull, preachy, or didactic. Then you take a single glance at Tony DiTerlizzi's reworking of Mary Howitt's poem, "The Spider and the Fly", and you're blown away. Referencing the silent films of the 1920s and 30s, the book is meant to guide youngsters on the path of wisdom. Presumably by showing the stupidity of flies.

We all know the great opening lines of this tale. " 'Will you walk into my parlor?' said the Spider to the Fly". Here we see our villain, the gorgeously outfitted spider, bowing deeply to a lovely lady fly that bears no little resemblance to Shelly Duvall. The spider himself is replete with walking cane, spats on each of his legs, slick dandified hair, a Rhett Butler moustache, and a long top hat. The fly's initial answer (a negative) shows her in her best flapper wear. She has the parasol, the delicately gloved arms, the handbag, bobbed antennae, and flapper hat. The spider is persistent, now donning a smoking jacket and fez as various buggy ghosts of his past victims attempt to warn the little fly away. Finally, after many attempts, the spider flatters the fly with tales of her beauty. She falls for it instantly and returns when the spider calls, "Your robes are green and purple - there's a crest upon your head; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead". She comes, he pops her in his long hat, and the next thing we know she's tied up tight in a cocoon with the shadow of a spider (cook's hat on head, knife and fork in hand) laughingly approach her. The moral of the story is, as William Bennett once said, "Not everyone who talks sweetly offers sweets".

It's not every picture book that the villain not only wins but also gets his own especial afterword. NOT written by Mary Howitt, the spider has his say. He points out that all spiders are trappers, even the beloved Charlotte from E.B. White's classic book. As we read we see the now full spider, his spatted feet on the table, delicately wiping his mouth on his napkin. A little hat sits forlornly on the plate before him. Thus ends a truly delightful book. DiTerlizzi has taken the time to include a couple facts about the life of the author Howitt, which is great. As an illustrator, the black and white scheme used for these illustrations is marvelous. These pictures were rendered beautifully and each shot is cinematic. There is little doubt, certainly, that some children will be perturbed by the pretty little fly's untimely end. I might point out, however, that there are also some children out there that are perturbed by the death of Charlotte in the aforementioned, "Charlotte's Web". Most kids, I believe, will love this book. It's noteworthy to point out that the blurbs on the back of the book come from Henry Selick (director of the "Nightmare Before Christmas") and Lance Smith (of "The Stinky Cheese Man" fame). Both of these should give you a fair idea of the kind of book this is. It's dark without ever becoming gory. Intense without ever being graphic. And, most importantly of all, it's a joy to look at. Who knew 19th century poems could be so much fun?

A dark treasure!
I remember hearing the story of the spider and the fly when I was a kid, but I didn't exactly remember how it went. I think if I had had this book back then, I would have remembered it very well. The illustrations in this book are so beautiful and delicious! Even if the story totally sucked, this book would be worth the price for the pictures alone. But the story doesn't suck! The little details thrown in with the bug ghosts trying to warn the fly...it was just so unique. This book truly is a treasure to me, my collection will benefit greatly from it.

Not a very good way to end
One time,about last Halloween,I had a substitute teacher at school and she read this book.
The illustrations were very creepy.There was not any color illusrations.All of them were just Black and White.It has like a late 1800s or early 1900s scene.Some parts of the fly and spider actually look like humans.
In the end,the spider kills the fly but the fly was the spider's fiend.Not a very good story to read.Don't get this when you go a book shop. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For over 20 years, kids and kids at heart have giggled at the jumbled,goofy nonsense poems of Shel Silverstein. And now, lucky readers canlisten to his mad meanderings as well with this 20th anniversary editionof A Light in the Attic, which includes a CD read by the author himself.Eleven classics, including "Twistable, Turnable Man," "The Dragon of GrindlyGrun," "Prehistoric," and "Backward Bill" are performed by the late virtuoso ofverse, while the tremendously popular book contains every one of the originalpoems that made Silverstein's name a household word: "Poemsicle," "Hula Eel,""Standing Is Stupid," "Moon-Catchin' Net," "Meehoo with an Exactlywatt," anddozens upon dozens more. Silverstein's amusing, cartoonish line drawings areevery bit as familiar and beloved to readers as his poems. Gone, but notforgotten, the creator of the irresistible poetry collections Where the Sidewalk Ends andFalling Up, left anindelible mark on children's poetry. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Book Description

In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater.

Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that "changed the world." Their lives and their works inspire us to this day, and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Simply Beautiful
Both Shange and Nelson are at their best in this beautifully illustrated walk through African American history. The illustrations are wonderful and the poetry is, in fact, poetry. Lovely.

IT'S HARD TO GET BETTER THAN THIS
What a beautiful book, both the very simple text (a poem that had
been previously published in an adult book) and the illustrations
which are quite possibly the best Nelson has done - which is saying
something because his work is always excellent.

Shange's world is not my world, but that little girl in the book
is right around the age of my granddaughter and the body language,
the look, the smile, the inquisitiveness, the daddy-love could be
my sweetie, and that is probably the most important reason why
I love this book.

Caldecott material--if not, Nelson will be robbed
This is one of the most beautifully illustrated picturebooks I've ever seen. Kadir Nelson is brilliant and supremely talented. It takes us into the narrator's home (the little girl on the cover) and gives us an intimate view of some of the most celebrated African-Americans in history. The text is scarce in a good way, and set off beautifully in boxes within the illustrations. Elegant and edifying.

Wish I could buy 100 copies to give to everybody I know!
This book is so beautiful! The poem and illustrations are a perfect fit, recreating Harlem during a rich period in time. It's about the past, but reminds us of what the present and future could be. Biographies of the people mentioned in the poem bring the story to life even more. This is the sort of book I'd buy for a child, but end up keeping for myself. ... Read more