Book Description

Illus. in full color. Brian finds a salamander and takes him home. "Where

will he sleep?" asks his mother. Her "inquiries are answered with imaginative

solutions that will be familiar to all those who have tried to convince a

parent to let them have a pet. Johnson's lush, shadowy paintings depict each

addition to the cumulative scenario as Brian's cozy bedroom is gradually

transformed into a dark green forest that overflows the pages as the fantasy

becomes more elaborate. This is a beautifully designed mood piece."--School

Library Journal.




... Read more

Reviews (10)

good story - great pictures!
This is a simple story of a child who finds, beneath the leaves, a bright & lively creature & brings him home where his mother asks him how he'll take care of his newfound friend.

If a picture tells a thousand words then Steve Johnson's speak volumes. Vivid, compelling & so very magical & real, Brian's adventures & dreams fill the pages with the familiar & the whimsical. I loved the bed Brian made for his friend in his nightstand drawer & the moon & stars on his headboard. Unloading leaves with his dump truck & when the salamander peeks out of Brian's bedroom window, oh, you know you've seen that kind of energy, exhileration & anticipation!

A wonderful book of heartwarming visions with a simple, important story to tell about the responsibility & fun of bringing home wild creatures.

A great book
This gentle story about a boy's desire to make his room a good home for a salamander is one of our family's favorites. The boy's imagination runs wild as he creates the perfect environment for the salamander - and for himself, as well. This book makes a great bedtime story for parents and children alike.

I need to buy a hardcover edition ...
... because I've worn out the paperback reading it to my kids. It is a favorite with my son (now 7). Wonderfully illustrated. Wonderfully imaginative. Get lost in "The Salamander Room" today.

A Salamanders Home
In this amazing book for children a young boy named Brian is exploring in a forest and finds a little salamander and takes it home. His mother is worried and keeps asking him how he is going to take care of this extraordinary creature. Well his mother comes up with more and more questions, while Brian keeps coming up with more and more answers.
As the story progresses Brian's bedroom begins to change, and the more questions he answers, the more his bedroom changes.
Near the end you begin to see what his bedroom is changing into.
At the end of the story his bedroom is filled with a multitude of animals and his room is now a forest but he and his salamander friend are happy and tired and they fall asleep.
This interesting book was written by: Anne Mazer and illustrated by Steve Johnson.

I love this book
I don't normally read children's books, but this one is wonderful! The story and writing are very moving, the illustrations are beautiful. And the message!!!!! The message is wonderful, about dropping the walls that separate us from the natural world, inviting nature into our lives. I cannot recommend this book too highly. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Yet more wisdom cast down from high atop Mt. Seuss, this cheerful trio of tales teaches some valuable lessons in humility--thanks to a sharp-eyed worm, a bragging bear and rabbit, a fuzzy-tailed bird, and a couple hundred turtles led by their foolish King Yertle.

Yertle's story leads off with his attempt to build a bigger kingdom on the backs of his loyal subjects (literally). King of everything he can see, Yertle orders his turtles to stack up under him to build a towering throne.("He made each turtle stand on another one's back and he piled them all up in a nine-turtle stack.") But a plain little turtle named Mack--stuck at the bottom--decides he's had enough. ("I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down on the bottom we, too, should have rights!")

Following Yertle's downfall, a whiny girl-bird named Gertrude McFuzz wishes she had two feathers, just like Miss Lolla-Lee-Lou: "One droopy-droop feather. That's all that she had. And, oh! That one feather made Gertrude so sad." But even when Gertrude gets her wish--and then some--she finds that vanity has its price. Meanwhile, in "The Big Brag," a proud rabbit and an even-prouder bear duke it out in a battle of the senses, arguing over who's the best of the beasts, only to get their clever comeuppance from a wild-eyed little worm. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Dr. Seuss understands leadership
Yertle the turtle is a great book on leadership. It teaches you how NOT to be a leader. Yertle ordered the other turtles to pile up in order that he could be on top and be "king of all that I see." In the end the turtles collapsed and Yertle was back on earth with the rest of the turtles.

We see so many leaders that are like Yertle. Climbing all over others to get to the top. They often take the big fall much as Yertle did.

True leaders will develop those who work for them. The other "turtles" will elevate the leader to the top creating a sound foundation to allow the leader to stay at the top.

Don't be like Yertle.

To the store, the book's no bore, Dr. Seuss scores once more
Three great Dr. Seuss Stories in one book.

Yertle The Turtle presents what Dr. Seuss does so well -- Reaching kids with good morality tales that are fun and easy to commit to memory. The three lessons (Don't be greedy, be happy with how you look, and don't try to one-up each other)are well presented in a format that's fun and leads easily to discussion.

The art is fun, as always, and the poems clever. Dr. Seuss scored with this one, also.

tower of turtles!
I LOVE this book! Yertle is just soooooo selfish! He is King of all he can see! But he can't see very far! So he sits on turtles! Then they fall! Ouch, that must have hurt! Poor Yertle! But he deserved it! GREAT book!

lessons on greed, pride, and envy
The book of Proverbs (in 16:12 to be exact) states that "It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness." Yertle the Turtle (Who Dr. Seuss modeled on Hitler) commits just such an abomination...he fulfills his avaricious desires by abusing his fellow turtles. It is a fun story that packs a message.

The other stories are entertaining as well:

"The Rabbit, the Bear and the Zinniga-Zanniga" is about a wily rabbit who escapes from a hungry bear by the use of its wits.

"The Big Brag" has a particullarly funny ending. A little worm chastizes to the Bear and the Rabbit for having nothing better to do than sitting around and bragging about their capabilities.

"Gertrude McFuss" is about the insidiousness of envy. One feather...two feathers...we always seem to want more. This is interesting reading for those of us here in America which is absolutely driven by consumerism--which is really just envy wearing its "Sunday Best."

Yertle the Turtle is yet another jewel in the crown of the doctor...I recommend this book.

Another great book from Dr. Seuss...
My daughters are huge Seuss fans. My six year-old, in particular, loves the way Seuss puts words together with his irresistable blend of scansion and rhyme. His books can be read on several levels at least, and most of his stories contain some sort of lesson or other that a parent can use to initiate discussions about larger topics.

This book has three stories, one about an ambitious turtle, one about a vain bird, and one about two silly braggarts. All three are short, can be read easily, and raise questions about morals which young children can understand and explore. My favorite of the three is the first, Yertle the Turtle, and his insatiable quest to be the biggest and best, which leads to his eventual downfall.

This is not my absolute favorite of all Seuss's books, but it's a good one, and one I can recommend heartily for any parent and child. ... Read more

Book Description

Wendy Pfeffer describes the amazing metamorphosis from tiny, jellylike egg, to little fishy tadpole, to great big bullfrog. Holly Keller has created the archetypal frog pond and we see it through the seasons as the tadpoles grow legs and lungs and eventually hop onto land: bullfrogs at last. "Well-designed ink drawings washed with soft-toned watercolors stretch across the double-page spreads, showing the action above and below water level. . . .an attractive, general introduction."—BL.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Best Children's Science Books, 1994 (Science Books and Films) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Great Kids' Book
This is another great STAGE 1 book in the "Let's Read & Find Out" Science Series. The STAGE 1 Series books are written for preschool and kindergarten-age kids (age 3 to 6) about basic science concepts.
This book has 32 pages of nice illustrations (artwork NOT photography) to help the words tell about the developmental stages of frogs.

Some children's books miss the fact of who their target audience is. The "Let's Read & Find Out" books consistently keep subject matter easily understood using age appropriate vocabulary and keep a child interested at the same time.
We recently bought a home science frog growing kit. This book is perfect read along material to show my five year old son what to anticipate in coming weeks.

The books are written for the reading ability of an "average" 3 year old. Older kids may very well get bored with the simple reading in this book. But, they should find the information about frogs fascinating, especially if they are participating in growing some at home or in class! Remember how much fun frog eggs and tadpoles were as a kid?

We have several books in this series and are pleased that our son enjoys them so much.
John Row

very good
This book is very appropriate for any young one learning about frogs. My nephew has learned alot from this book about where frogs come from. The pictures are real and not drawings which I like. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Verdi is a proud python, flourishing in the flower of his youth. He loves to swiftly slither around the forest, brandishing his bright yellow skin, and can't fathom why anyone would want to be sleepy and green like the adult snakes he knows. Verdi insists, as so many youngsters do, "I will never be lazy, boring or green!" Despite his resolve to stay young, one day he notices a patch of green spreading down the length of his body. Verdi does everything he can think of to erase this first sign of the inevitable tide of age. But in his frenzy of youthful, Icarus-like bravado, he nearly kills himself. Finally, Verdi learns that even though he can't stop the aging process, green skin won't keep him from being a fun-loving, young-at-heart, figure-eight-forming snake.

Janell Cannon's illustrations are exquisite. As in her award-winning Stellaluna, not only are the animal drawings painstakingly accurate, they are also awash with movement and beauty. The countless shades of greeny-yellow and yellowy-green have the effect of a cool eye compress for the reader--calming, inviting, and enticing readers to reach into the lush environment of the pages. Verdi's lesson is never didactic, always compelling, and pleasantly surprising. (Ages 4 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (32)

artistically mesmerizing and fun for all ages
i work in the public library system here in st. louis, mo, and i almost never get a chance to put "verdi" on the shelve. why? because it's ALWAYS checked out! both parents and children love this coming of age story about a young snake who, like everyone else in life, is afraid of becoming "old" and "boring". once he realizes that with age comes wisdom, he's much happier as an older, greener snake than a younger, more yellow snake. i read this book whenever i get a chance, and because of the kids at the library, that's not very often!

Great!
Once a week I volunteer to read books with children at the local library. "Verdi" by Janell Cannon is one of the most popular choices (Ms. Cannon's "Stellaluna" is also highly popular). It seems that children of all ages enjoy this book about a little yellow snake who doesn't want to grow up and become a boring green adult.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a great coming of age story. We always discuss the books after reading them and after reading "Verdi," the kids always say something like "even adults were young once" or that "you can still have fun when you're a grown up."

I also must comment on the illustrations, as they are exquisite - so colorful and detailed. Everyone just loves looking through this book again and again.

Exceptional!
Janell Cannon is the queen of children's books. Her stories are heart warming and illustrations are beyond compare. I have purchased this book numerous times for gifts (along with the stunning "Stellaluna") and it has always been well received. Kids just love how colorful and exquisite Ms. Cannon's books are!

In "Verdi" we have a young python who doesn't want to grow up. He vows to always be free spirited and never boring like the adults he knows. When he hurts himself doing a silly stunt, he learns that the adults were once as young and carefree as he is and that age doesn't affect your spirit.

"Verdi" is truly a wonderful coming of age story that will have you wanting to read it again and again. It is listed here as a book for first to third graders, but I feel it goes much beyond that due to the fantastic art work and sweet story line.

Verdi review
This book is about a snake named Verdi that doesnt want to turn green. Verdi is a young yellow snake that is very athletic. When Verdi visits other snakes that are old, boring and green he hopes that he will never be like them that is when the trouble starts.

I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 because it was a good story and had great illustrations. I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading about animals and to artist that like to draw animals.

Soon to be a favorite!!
This book will become a favorite for many children, as it was for my child. Its vivid illustrations are tremendously life-like. Children will feel a kinship with the young snake's tribulations about growing up.

It has a strong emphasis on Personality Development. It is like a "coming of age" story where a child does not want to grow up but finds it happens anyway. As much as Verdi the young snake tried to seek independence from adults, he learned that he still needed the warmth and security from the adults in his life.

Social Development skills could also be learned from Verdi as he began to understand the adult pythons' points of views. When Verdi gave them a chance, he realized the adults were quite amazing. ... Read more

Book Description

The Enormous Crocodile is incredibly hungry-and incredibly greedy. His favorite meal is a plump, juicy little child, and he intends to gobble up as many of them as he can! But when the other animals in the jungle join together to put an end to his nasty schemes, the Enormous Crocodile learns a lesson he won't soon forget. Dahl's wicked humor is as delightful as ever in this new, larger edition of a hilarious favorite.

Illustrated by Quentin Blake. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

fun book, but the ending falls short
I really enjoyed "The Enormous Crocodile." It is one heck of a tale. But the abrupt and rather too serious ending leaves me pondering the greatness that could have been.

The story follows the exploits of the tittle character as he sets off one morning to find something to eat. He has a hankering for children from the nearby village. He broadcasts his desire to the other creatures of the jungle as he passes them.

The only problem is that besides being greedy and ill-intentioned, the crocodile is also nasty to his fellow wild creatures. This comes back to haunt him.

The story is a masterpiece of dry humor. Its verbal pacing is darn near flawless. The illustrations are great. Several (especially of the Crocodile's disguises) made me laugh.

Outside of the ending, I highly recommend "The Enormous Crocodile."

Enormous Crocodile
The author is Roald Dahl. He wrote this book called The Enormous Crocodile. The Enormous Crocodile is about two crocodiles. One tries to eat the children but his plans never work. His friends help the children get away from the Enormous Crocodile. They are tired of the crocodile's secret plans and clever tricks. I think this book is really excellent.

Sheer pleasure for all ages!
I dare you to pick up this book in a book store, read the first page to your child and then tell him you're not going to buy it. You'll never get away with it. Roald Dahl excels at writing stories that grip the reader in the first paragraph and don't let go until the end. If you can't get your child to read, let Roald Dahl come to the rescue. Even if you have to read it yourself, your kid will want to read it afterwards. This is a great Roald Dahl starter.

Crocodile Review
The Enormous Crocodile is a fun story with animals of all sorts. The Enormous Crocodile plans to get children, but the plans fail because of the animals. It is like a fun mystery. And the story has so much suspense. There is an elephant, a Roly Poly bird, a monkey and a hippo named Humpy Rumpy.

A Funny Book with Silly Tricks
I just finished The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl. The story is about an Enormous Crocodile who goes through a jungle to a city, so he can eat children. I thought it was funny because the EC did some pretty silly tricks like when he pretended to be a see-saw. What I liked best about it was that the EC's friends warned the children or the town before the EC could hurt them. I thought this was a nice thing to do. The Enormous Crocodle is a good book to read. I would especially recommend it as a family read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

We are mad for poet-painter Douglas Florian. We were buzzed by Insectlopedia, moony for Mammalabilia, and batty for hisother beautifully biological, biologically beautiful books as well. We loveFlorian for his clever, downright shameless wordplay. One of our favorite poemsin Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs is "The Wood Frog":

I am a frozen frogsicle.
I froze beneath a logsicle.
My mind is in a fogsicle
Inside this icy bogsicle.
My temperature is ten degrees.
I froze my nose, my toes, my knees.
But I don't care, I feel at ease,
For I am full of antifreeze.

We polliwoggle.
We polliwiggle.
We shake in lakes,
Make wakes,
And wriggle.
We quiver,
We shiver,
We jiggle,
We jog.
We're yearning
To turn ourselves
Into a frog.

Reviews (4)

Fabulous for reptile fans!
My two-year-old son is a *huge* reptile fan, and he loves this book. The playful language is wonderful, and it's an inspiring way to talk and think about different types of animals. It's one of those books that *I* love reading, too!

A rare find, like Loco for Lizards
This book takes an offbeat subject like lizards and makes the subject fun and entertaining, while it also informs. Very much like Jim Cherry's book, Loco for Lizards, a laugh-out-loud funny book that packs an amazing wealth of information in at the same time. Highly recommended!

Keen observations, delicate touch.
Florian delights! He's carefully observed the reptiles and amphibians in his book, and the poetry and collages are witty and subtle. This is good for kids and like great animation, terrific for herp-loving adults. --Ae Nash, Director, Colorado Reptile Rescue

Poems You Don't Want to Miss!
Douglas Florian is back with another marvelous collection of 21 poems that will charm and amuse the entire family. This time out, he tackles the world of reptiles and amphibians, from those noisy spring peepers to the transparent glass frog to the wall walking gecko. His clever poetry, full of wordplay, puns and even visual fun, is complimented by his creative and inventive artwork, that will mesmerize readers with its wit, color and detail. For all who loved Mr Florian's past collections of Mammalabilia and Insectlopedia, Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs is a terrific book you shouldn't miss. ... Read more

Book Description

Reptiles Up Close features eleven species of reptiles. Each chapter begins with four close up photographs of each reptile. Readers are asked to identify the body part included in each photo before turning the page to find the answer. Photos include the colorful patterns of Scales on the Leopard Gecko's back, the bottom of a Spotted Turtle's shell, and the horns on the nose of a Gaboon Viper.

There is fun information about each species, such as how a baby Water Moccasin attracts food with its tail.An "Explore More" question at the end of each chapter encourages readers to find out more about each reptile.With over 75 full color original photos, this 56-page book includes a glossary of terms used throughout the book.There is also information on where to learn about reptiles in your area and how to share the world with reptiles. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fantastic Book
This is a tremendous book for children and also a great book for adults. The photographs are suberb and the text is well written and a lot of fun.

Kudus to David Nieves and Tom Weidner.

Cool Photos
Wow!!!! Really cool eyeball pictures. I liked the book a lot and trying to guess the close-ups was fun!!! ... Read more

Book Description

How can fish live in water? Why don’t they drown? The answer to this fishy question and more can be found in this latest addition to the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. The book clearly explains how a fish’s body is perfectly suited to life underwater, just as our bodies are suited for life on land.

1996 ‘Pick of the Lists’ (ABA)
Best Children’s Science Books 1995 (Science Books and Film) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great science book for young kids!
Wendy Pfeffer has a talent for making difficult science concepts understandable to young children. This is a lively and very kid-friendly book with cheerful illustrations that kids will enjoy and learn from. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Lizard Music is awesome!
This is the second book I read by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. I loved it! It's a great story, and one that kids will definetely like.. It's just got the exact mix of realistic adventure and silliness that makes a good read. Plus, it's got the Chicken Man, a character from several of Pinkwater's books, it features large lizards, and a healthy dose of Walter Cronkite. I don't think it gets much better.

Incredible and mind-bending story.
This is one of those books that you read, and because of its originality, it makes a lasting impression and you never forget it. I, like many other reviewers first read this book in the third or fourth grade. Our little private Catholic school got two D.M. Pinkwater books added to the library, and everybody in my class wanted to read them. I actually wanted the other, Fat Men From Space, but it was taken, so I picked up Lizard Music. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made! This book is amazing, it's funny, fascinating, and very strange. Everything from the Chicken Man to Raymond the Lizard(s), to some island made invisible because of... refraction of light... or something. (It's been a while.) Anyway, my point is, this book has made a great and long-lasting impression on me, and if you like strange and semi-eerie things, or just great fiction... this is a MUST READ!

Lizard Music
The book that i am going to tell you about is called Lizard Music. It was a pretty good book. The setting of Lizard Music is in more than one place. The setting helps to make the story more exciting because because where victor goes is a little weird. Especially the the people. The Chicken man was a really weird character. He would walk around with his chicken Claudia on his head. Victor the main characterwent from being a scared little boy to a brave little boy. In the beginning he kept on getting scared because ke kept on seeing lizards all over the place. In the end he didn't mind seeing the lizards. I think that the moral of this book is do not judge a book by it's cover because the cover that I saw was a really boring cover,but if I saw the new cover I would probably want to read it. It ended up being a good book though. The end of the story ended up being very predictable. If Victor kept on seeing lizards everywhere then you could assume that he was going to meet them.

Read this book about 15 yrs ago
I read this book about 15 yrs ago when I was in Elementary, and I loved it. Even as a little kid, I had a weird sense of humor, and this book appealed to that bizarre little brain of mine. I dug it, and I still think every kid should read it. If they don't like it, they will grow up to be boring and humourless adults. Some boy I went to school with did a book report on this book every year from 2nd grade until middle school.

This is the coolest book ever!
I started reading Daniel Pinkwater books when I was 7. The first book I read was Lizard Music. I like it the best. I think it's cool because it's a magical book and I like magic. ... Read more

Book Description

Alex just has to convince his mom to let him have an iguana, so heputs his arguments in writing. He promises that she won't have to feed it orclean its cage or even see it if she doesn't want to. Of course Mom imagineslife with a six-foot-long iguana eating them out of house and home.Alex's reassurances: It takes fifteen years for an iguana to get that big. I'llbe married by then and probably living in my own house. and his mom's replies:How are you going to get a girl to marry you when you own a giant reptile? willhave kids in hysterics as the negotiations go back and forth through notes. Andthe lively, imaginative illustrations show their polar opposite dreams of lifewith an iguana. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the intriguing world of reptiles -- their natural history, habits and lifestyles.

Here is an original and exciting new look at the fascinating world of reptiles. Stunning real-life photographs of snakes, crocodiles, lizards and turtles offer a unique "eyewitness" view of some of the world's most curious living creatures, their intriguing characteristics and unusual behavior. See a snake eating a rat, a lizard in mating display, a crocodile's pantry, a baby snake hatching from its egg, and a turtle defending itself. Learn how crocodiles look after their young, how snakes measure the size of their prey, how lizards store fat in their tails, and how chameleons swivel their eyes. Discover how baby reptiles are independent from birth, how snakes are charmed, how geckos walk upside down, how crocodiles swallow stones so they sink under water, how a snake is milked of its venom, and much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great for toddlers/preschool
My 3 year old son loves these books,and they have really helped get him excited about animals and nature. Now when we go for walks he can name every bug, bird, snake etc. that we see and tell me a little about them.

A very intresting book with every type of reptile.
This is a very good book and is my second favorite Eyewitness book coming after Eyewitness SHARK. This book tells about every reptile: Snakes, Allogators and Crocidiles, Lizards, Turtles and Tuateras.I love this book because it tells you very intresting facts about reptiles. You should buy this book because it is awsome! ... Read more

Book Description

The most accessible recognition guides. A systematic approach, authoritative text, and clear photographs make the Smithsonian Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians the most comprehensive and easy--to--use pocket guide to the reptiles and amphibians of the world. Packed with over 600 color photographs of more than 400 species, this handbook is designed to enable you to recognize each species quickly and easily. Expertly written, each entry combines a precise description with fully annotated photographs to highlight the chief characteristics and distinguishing features of each species. A comprehensive introduction describes the anatomy, lifecycle, and behavior of the major groups of reptiles and amphibians, while the initial steps of identification are facilitated by a clear visual key. Each entry in the Smithsonian Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians is accompanied by a map showing the geographical distribution of the species while the text and color--coded bands give the internationally accepted scientific name and provide at--a--glance information on size, diet, habitat, reproduction, and population status. A concise glossary explains all technical and scientific terms used in the book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a useful book
I've the same book but a french one, it is the most useful book a reptiles' lover must have. It is simple to read, to understand. There's a good introduction to reptiles classifications (which is not obvious for begginers), the "identity card" for each animal is well conceived.
A good book to bring for travelling.

One great book.
Like all the books in this series "Reptiles and Amphibians" gives a species by species look at a huge variety of creatures. From Chameleons to Cobras this book has a great selection. There are not many field guides out there with such fantastic and detailed photos so I suggest it for anyone who loves the to some "unlovable" slimy or scaly creatures of our world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delightful
I was fortunate to hear the author speak in the early 90s in my hometown of Syracuse, NY. He is an engaging storyteller. It was then that I discovered his book. The artwork in this edition is rich and appealing. The vignettes of each moon, combined with the illustrations, make an appealing canvas for young and/or exploring minds.

Traditional View of Seasonal meanings
This book is an excellent work of Native American children's literature. Joseph Bruchac is a well-known Abenaki story-teller who profiles in this book the thirteen moons of the year, and profiles for each moon what is important about that season to different Native Nations. The artwork is a beautiful compliment to the story. If you are looking for a solid and sensitive look at inter-tribal stories for children, this is a great place to start! ... Read more

Book Description

A cranky neighbor puts Lyle in the zoo but experiences a change of heart when the crocodile saves him from a fire. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Book to Remember
I am now 21 years old and I can still remember the opening line to this tape. The Lyle books are wonderful for children and this tape is a great way to put your child to sleep. The Lyle books are truly one of my greatest childhood memories!

A crocodile just as sweet as Pogo's Albert the Alligator
A picture book with more backstory than you could possibly imagine. For many, the delightful "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" is a perennial favorite. I, myself, had never read it before. When first we see Lyle, he's standing in the center of Central Park (this is most definitely a New York based book) feeding the ducks. Occupying a swank apartment (you should see his bathroom!) with the Primm family, Lyle is everyone's favorite crocodile. He's polite, helpful, and wonderful at double dutch. The ever dour Mr. Grumps next door has problems with the beloved Lyle. Mr. Grumps continually threatens to send Lyle away, but it isn't until an unfortunate department store incident that Mr. Grumps makes good his threats. In the end, however, all turns out for the best and Lyle is reunited with his loving family.

There's a certain amount of suspension of disbelief involved in this tale. Apparently it is not a particularly odd thing to live with a crocodile. I was especially taken with Mrs. Primm's relationship with the lovely reptile. The two do their shopping together and take a turn about the ice skating rink. (...) Mr. Grumps refuses to even speak with Lyle until a fortunate accident towards the book's finale. And in the end, it's just a lovely book. The writing is superb. The illustrations adorable and evocative all at once. The book has CLASSIC writ large all over it. If you've any wit or intelligence about you (and you wish to pass such virtues onto your darling children) pick up the wonderful "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" immediately.

You have to read tis book - school project / Mr. Boon
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber is a really good book. It's about a crocodile that lives on East 88th street with Mr. and Mrs. Primm and ther son Joshua. He helps them out with many things and is very loved. There is a man named Mr. Grumps that lives two houses down. He has a pet cat named Loretta and Lyle always tries to get her to like him because she seems so scared at the sight of him. Mr. Grumps thinks that Lyle's causing problems so he gets papers authorizing Lyle to be sent to the city zoo. While Lyle is in the zoo he is rescued by Signor Valenti. He takes him to visit his house on East 88th street. While there, he notices that Mr. Grumps' house is on fire. He rescues him and Loretta and then everyone is happy again because everything is put back together.
I think this is a book for children that are already quite a bit into the reading process. There are some pretty big words. Other than that, I think this book is very well put together and that alot of you out there will enjoy it very much. I highly recamend that you read this book with your children. "With", meaning that they defiently need a chance to have fun with it also. This book is highly recamended by me.

good for children
this series is good for young people. give it a try!

Absolutely Adorable........
..............kids are guaranteed to love Lyle and his adventures! They will also learn from this story how to overcome misfortune, difficult situations and about the perils of pre-judging others as they watch Lyle become a hero. Set in Manhattan, NY, Lyle is loved by his human family, but greatly feared by a neighbor and his timid cat. This ultimately lands him in trouble (and in the city zoo) despite his best efforts to make friends with the little cat. In the end though, Lyle proves his good nature by performing a heroic deed that wins over absolutely everyone, including the little cat. Kids will respond to Lyle's persistence, his goodness and his incredible bravery.

This book is written on approximately a second grade reading level. Young readers will enjoy the language in this book, its climb to a climax and its victorious ending. Additionally, the illustrations are lovely in their simplicity. Kids will get a kick out of Lyle! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Now in Dragonfly comes the tale of three colorful frogs. One finds a pebble.

Another declares it a chicken egg. But what happens when a baby alligator

hatches instead? "Kids will giggle at the frogs' repeated references to the

friendly newborn as `the chicken.' They'll be even more tickled when the frogs

chuckle at the `mother chicken' who, finally reunited with her offspring,

greets her `sweet little alligator'...In his 40th book, Lionni is in

typically fine form" (Publisher's Weekly).




... Read more

Reviews (4)

EGG-ACTLY WHAT CHILDREN ENJOY
It's that time of year again when many are looking forward to Easter and Easter Egg Hunts. But, what if someone found a really unusual egg, and to make it even more unique there's not a chicken inside but an alligator?

That's the proposition the irrepressible Leo Lionni puts forth in this delightful yarn about three frogs who find the surprise of their lives.

As always his illustrations capture the eye as his mind captures imaginations.

Hilarious and Touching
I always love to find a story that teaches important lessons with plenty of fun and humor. Jessica the frog and her friends are certain that the egg Jessica found one day is a chicken egg. One day, the egg hatches, and the "chicken" is born...a long, scaly green creature who crawls out searching for the water.

Despite the frogs' misinformation and their obvious differences, Jessica and the "chicken" become great friends. When they discover the chicken's mother at last, the frogs think it is the funniest thing in the world that she refers to her baby as an "alligator."

Both my 2 year old and 4 year old appreciate the humor in this story. I was worried that my 2-yr. old might become confused, but she just laughed and said, "Alligator, Mommy. No chicken!" This is a wonderful book for learning about friendship despite differences. It was also a nice introduction to alligators, including the fact that they hatch from eggs!

A great book!
My kids love this book. They are 3 and 5 years old. This book follow the adventures of Jessica the frog who finds an alligator egg. The other frogs tell her it is a chicken egg and they call the baby alligator a chicken throughout the book (the kids get a kick out of this - and try to correct me after they heard the story again and again). Things good for kids from this book: 1) nature 2) use your imagination 3)explore the world around you.

Just because we are all a little different!
This is a wonderfully illustrated story that teaches children that being different is ok and that our "differences" are what make us unique and special. Each person is special whether they look like those people in their surroundings or not and we must cherish our differences. ... Read more

Book Description

Liza Poole lives with her mother in one of the last balanced ecosystems in North America -- the Gumbo Limbo Hammock deep within the lush kingdom of the Florida Everglades. Some may think it strange to live outdoors, but Liza feels lucky to live it strange to live outdoors, but Liza feels lucky to live in her small yellow tent amidst tropical birds and exotic plants. And at the center of this natural paradise lies Dajun, the majestic alligator who protects Gumbo Limbo's environment.

Then, one day, a state official arrives with frightening orders. Dajun is scaring people nearby -- he must be killed! Liza takes action to save the invaluable 'gator, but suddenly, he is nowhere to be found. Now, she must find Dajun before it's too late, and her search will lead her into the heart of an exciting eco mystery!

Reviews (8)

The Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo
I have just finish reading a book call The Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo. It's about a family who don't have a house yet, because they don't have enough money to build a house. The father was in another country, doing business around the world. He doesn't even know what's happening to his family. Many people say that they don't have house. Well they are, but the mother says that they were on a vacation. She always said that every time because she doesn't want people to know it. So now, their daughter named Liza K., is an adventures girl. She knows all the places in the forest. She even has an alligator friend. Now, she and her friends must save the forest from the people who want to destroy, but then, her alligator friend lost. Now, she's on an adventure to find the alligator and stop the destruction of the forest.

I think this book is good because it tells everybody how important the forest is to us. If we don't have a forest, then how can we live? How can we stay a life without oxygen? Where the oxygen come from? Oh well I think you know where it is. So this book, did, teach us something.

I recommended this book who loves to safe this world.

The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo
My story was about a missing gator. Travis is a gator hunter who is trying to shoot the gator. The gator is too big for the protection law. All the characters except Travis are trying to protect him. The main characters are Dujen, Travis, Liza K., and James James. Because he is a smart young man, James James is my favorite character. In my own life I try to be good and kind to others. James James is like this, he is always considerate and thoughtful.
I liked my book. I don't have a single favorite part; My least favorite part is the authors choice of where the characters lived at the end of book. My favorite part was that Travis didn't find Dujen.
I would recomend this book to a person who likes mysteries.

could've been better
I thoguht this book was OK but could've been better. It has an exiting plot wiht a hunter trying to hunt the gator[dajun] but the ending is so typical. They end up finding...oops I shouldn't give away the story...but the book's ending is not as fun as it could've been. But if you love animals and a good mystery you should definitly read this book.

A greater gator story
This fascinating novel is for anyone who has ever fallen in love with a wild place, with a wild animal, or who is concerned about our jeopardized natural world. Only Jean Craighead George could write such a comprehensible and informative children's book about nature. While they're not JULIE OF THE WOLVES or MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, Ms. George's Ecological Mysteries Series are sure to be enjoyable for any naturalist--inspiring and educational. In THE MISSING 'GATOR OF GUMBO LIMBO, Liza K. Poole lives with her mother and some eccentric neighbors in the heart of the Florida Everglades. (Anyone who was born to live in a tent and fish for food will be envious of this "wild" lifestyle.) When the woods peoples' "dragon", a regal alligator, disappears, they begin to try to track down the great beast, especially Liza K. A ranger is after the gator, for he has been frightening nearby home-dwellers, and should be shot. Liza K. and her unique friends--including a talkative African gray parrot-- go through a series of clues to find out where the gator has disappeared to. The ending, I admit, is slightly disappointing--the threat of the ranger seems to be forgotten after the gator is found, Liza K. and her neighbors must abandon their way of life--but all in all, it's a fine read. The other Eco-Mysteries should be kept in mind--WHO REALLY KILLED COCK ROBIN?, in which a boy tries to solve the mystery of his clean town's feathered mascot; THE CASE OF THE MISSING CUTTHROATS, quite a lot like THE MISSING 'GATOR; and THE FIRE BUG CONNECTION. No young naturalist or ecologist should overlook the wide, wonderful world of Jean Craighead George.

OK
I read this book in my class and it took me forever to finish it. I am a big reader but I just couldn't get into the book. I think it should have been more exciting. In my opinion, it seemed as if the author kept repeating the same information. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the world of frogs, toads, newts and salamanders -- their natural history, habitats, and fascinating life cycles.

Frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and the rare caecilians come in a stunning array of colors, shapes, sizes, and habitats. They live both is water and on land and move in a great variety of ways, from swimming, to hopping, and even flying. With a series of specially commissioned photographs, Eyewitness Amphibian looks in close-up at the fascinating natural world of these remarkable creatures, from bright green red-eyed treefrogs to dull, burrowing, wormlike caecilians; from startling black and yellow fire salamanders to tiny, see-through glass frogs. Unique photo-sequences show newt tadpoles developing into adults, and a burrowing frog disappears before your very eyes. A giant ornate horned toad devours a mouse, and a grog leaps across the pages -- caught in mid air with tongue outstretched after a tasty meal. See the underwater courtship display of a great crested newt, and watch a salamander eating an earthworm. Full of amazing facts and extraordinary real-life photography, Amphibian is a unique and exciting introduction to the varied world of amphibians. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

fun book
My son and I greatly enjoyed this book. It is presented in the typical, and attractive, Eyewitness style, and is packed with information and pictures. I especially enjoyed reading about ancient amphibians. I had no idea that they grew so large in ancient times! ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. A scintillating survey of sensational serpents, from

blood-spewing West Indian boas to "flying" golden tree snakes.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

Shannon's Review!
I learned that a snake can eat an egg without cracking it! A snake from Austrailia is the most poisonous snake in the world. A snake can swim in the water. They can also fight in the spring. You should read it too because I learned lots of new facts. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Delightful for children--and adults!
The artwork lured me to this book. Each page has a marvelous rendition of a sea turtle's nesting saga. The storytelling is accurate but lyrical so even the youngest children will be captivated. I highly recommend it for parents and grandparents to give to the children they love--especially if you're headed for the beach!

Kudos from my Grandson
My grandson, Cameron Howard, has checked this book out from the library on numerous ocassions. Despite his generally responsible attitude toward returning books in a timely manner, he just can't get this book back when it's due. Why? Because he is busy reading and re-reading the book. He is captovated by the pictures. He is infactuated with the text and dazzled by the illustrations. He called me up to see if I could get him this book. This seven year old made sure I knew the exact spelling of the author's name and the illustrator's name! It's a hit among the 7 year old crowd! ... Read more