Book Description

Everyone -- even a lizard -- needs a vacation now and then.... Even though her "almost sister" Alison mists the room daily with salt spray and sees to it that Iguana has a closet with a heating pad, a free library card, and her own e-mail address, the pet is restive (and peeling). It's winter in Schenectady, and Iguana wants sun -- just what's promised by a travel poster for Key West, Florida. Emboldened, she writes a good-bye to Alison, signing her name "Iguana," and, despite her innate fear of dogs, boards a Greyhound bus headed south, where she has a blast. When her funds dwindle, Iguana takes a dishwashing job, only to learn to her horror that the restaurant's Friday night special is iguana stew and the chef's run out of his principal ingredient. Meanwhile, Alison pines in the snow belt, hardly guessing at the dramatic turn her pet's life has taken. The story is wittily wild (but the iguana facts -- she separates from her tail while fleeing the restaurant's dog -- are all sound science), the pictures burst with our heroine's grand style and pluck, and the ending -- courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service -- is happy for all. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A silly tale about an Iguana's search for something better.
Although the illustrations are very nicely done, very amusing, the story itself could use some help.

A pet iguana's health suffers as she lacks something in her life - outdoors, sunshine...adventure, perhaps. I found it a bit sad that the iguana was able to leave her friend/owner so easily to go off on an adventure on her own.

The direction this story should have gone was for the owner to figure out that the iguana needed a change of scenery. Then the story could have shown how the owner of the iguana went about getting her pet to a happier place, if even just for a vacation.

Megan McDonald's "Night Iguana Left Home" is wonderful !
My grandaughter and I read a lot and Megan McDonald is one of our favorites. "Iguana" is very contemporary and yet charming as are other books by this author. My 4 year old asks for them to be read over and over. Other books By Megan McDonald that we have enjoyed are "Is this a House for Hermit Crab" and "Insects are my Life". Both have a wonderful rhythm to the text. I know that you will enjoy this author.

everykid lives in her skin
Iguana has a wonderful home and (human)sister but she feels a powerful need to go South. In Florida she has adventures both scary and cool. I thought this was a sharp allegory about growing up and becoming independent. Vivid illustrations are true to the modern tone, and the lesson is really warm-hearted. A good choice for a kid with an independent streak, or one whose independence you'd like to foster. ... Read more

Book Description

Introducing the easiest and most enjoyable way for parents to encourage their children to read! Recently selected among the Most Outstanding Children's Books of 1998 by the Parent Council and one of the 100 Best Children's Products of 1998, We Both Read is the first series of books to invite parents and children to share the reading of a book by taking turns reading aloud.Parents read the more sophisticated text on the left-hand pages and the children read the right-hand pages, which have been written at one of three early reading levels.Developed with reading education specialists, this delightful new series brings parents and children together for a wonderful new reading experience and faster reading development!

About this book:Ben, age 7, and Becky, age 9, finally convince their parents to let them have a pet.They go with their father to pick out a pet and cause hilarious mayhem when they accidentally let the pet store's snake loose in the mall. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for children and adults!
This is a great book that not only children will enjoy, but adults as well. It tells the story of a sea turtle's "interrupted journey" and how the animal is eventually returned to the sea. It was interesting and informative. I learned some sea turtle facts I didn't know before. I highly recommend it. It's a good book for the whole family to read together. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A snake's Mistake
Wonderful true story that a kindergarten class was intriguedover. Great for discussions on environment and recycling. Also greatfor discussing Vets.

A Snake Mistake
Charming true tale to show children how snakes can mistake things they should not be exposed to and how they can hurt them. Children in a kindergarten class I subbed in loved the tale and were very concerned for the snake. They were glad to know the snake was ok after the incident. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent children's book with beautiful drawings
The author is a superb artist. I have been collecting this African artist's one of kind ceramics for a number of years so I was excited to find that he wrote and illustrated a book. My seven year old son loves this book. His first grade teacher read the book in class when they were studying the folk stories of the world. The drawings in the book are worth the price of the book.

I read the book in my classroom then saw it come to life!
I loved this book! One day an author named Baba Wague Diakite came to our school to talk about his book "The Hunterman and the Crocodile." Each classroom got a copy of the book which I read. Soon I discovered that the story was going to be performed as part of the first school play of the year! Even though my class wasn't in it I got to meet Baba-Wague while working on the set since he lives right down the street from my school! And though I had to see it performed four times( because I was asked to do sound) I never got tired of hearing the same same story. I guess seeing "The Hunterman and the Crocodile" come to life gave the meaning of the story even more meaning. I would reccomend this book to anyone of any age.

This is the best book in the whole world. I love it!!!
This is a wonderful children's book. I love it!! We need more authentic authors and illustrators of folk tales from Africa. Where did these drawings come from? They're FABULOUS!!! ... Read more

Book Description

A little boy in India longs to become a snake charmer.

Vishnu dreams of being a snake charmer like his father. He already knows how to handle cobras and he is learning to play the special flute. He longs to go to the city to charm snakes while the tourists watch. But his father thinks that education is more important, so Vishnu must stay home.

Life in the village is never dull, though. There are plenty of games and chores to keep everyone busy, and then there's school, which is taught outdoors. And every few weeks Vishnu's father-and the snakes-return home to visit.

A striking introduction to life in India as seen through the eyes of one little boy.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

beautifully done
This book is gorgeous. It tells the story of Vishnu, a boy whose father and grandfather are snake charmers. It's hard to say how much of the actual story is true, but the family clearly is... This book is particularly special in that it gives the reader a taste of village life with a level of quality that I've rarely seen. Many books try to share what someone's life is like, and some succeed. But, I think that few books about Indian families succeed to this degree. And... The book is laid out using colors, designs, and artwork that are distinctly Indian. The folks putting this book together knew what they were doing. It's a book that I'm proud to have in my personal library. ... Read more

Book Description

In this atmospheric tale, a boy and his ailing grandfather pole a small boat out into the Louisiana bayou. When they suddenly come upon Boots, a female alligator the grandfather saved from poachers years ago, the boy wonders how he will face the danger in following his grandfather’s wish: to care for this creature. First-time author Ann Garrett has fashioned a scary but satisfying tale with a strong environmental message. Karen Chandler’s vivid illustrations, using both oil painting and computer imaging, perfectly capture the beauty and loneliness of this remote place and those –– both the humans and the animals –– who inhabit it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Beautiful Tale of Preserving Nature's Beauty
As an educator, I'm always exposed to books that interest children to varying degrees. "Keeper of the Swamp" tells such a new story in such an entertaining way, that my students were captivated by it. Our class has always loved the natural surroundings around our school and now they are fascinated with all of the wildlife it holds. The illustrations are lush and colorful. The story helps convey the importance of how a simple ritual, even a frightening one, can pass on and solidify a child's understanding and respect for nature. This book is a "Must Buy". You'll know when you see it.

This book will give lasting pleasure for kids AND adults.
A suspenseful coming of age story; a beautifully illustrated and written relationship between a boy, his grandfather, and the lush, but sometimes dangerous surroundings which are so much a part of their lives. This book will help kids cope with the things of which they are afraid, and help adults open lines of communication about fear, responsibility, and self-esteem. All in a fascinating, readable, vivid story.

I've never written a review before, but this book is so good
Few things inspire me enough to take action, but after thoroughly enjoying this book with my son, Christian, I had to express my praises. Two-year- old Christian is completely enthralled with alligators, so we decided to take a chance on Ms. Garrett's book. I feared that as with some of his books, he would eventually outgrow it, but I was pleasantly surprised when the book arrived. The illustrations are strikingly vibrant with color and depth; they are beautifully done. But the best part is the story. I know that Christian and I will be able to share this book together for years to come because the story has DEPTH! How refreshing for a children's book to be as interesting to the adult as it is to the child! As Christian is ready, this book introduces concepts of tradition, responsibility, environmental concerns, and even the heavier issues of terminal illness and death. I'm sorry this is sounding like a commercial, so I'll just end with saying that I'm glad we bought the book, and we look forward to Ann Garrett's next adventure! Sincerely, Wendell and Christian Walton ... Read more

Book Description

Young readers will enjoy learning how frogs grow, what they eat, where they live, and the many colors and shapes they come in. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastic Frogs!
This book is a great way to introduce frogs to young children. The rhyming text keeps children's interest and still manages to give accurate information about the life cycle and behavior of frogs. The illustrations of 33 different kinds of frogs are colorful, appealing, and realistic. As a Hello Reader! book, it is accurately leveled for Kindergarten - Second Grade. A great introduction to a thematic unit. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Amphibians, too
Ten cool reptile and amphibian temporary tattoos. Last year I handed some of these out for Halloween, the kids just kept coming. "We heard you have the tattoos!" The yellow and green collared lizard is the best, but it's a very near thing. There's also a really neat green tree frog, a Jackson's chameleon, and a lovely eastern newt. There's an odd-looking crocodile (just the head is shown, from the front), and a disembodied iguana head, but it's probably a matter of personal taste, the neighbor kids seemed to like them all. The other creatures depicted are a red poison dart frog, a pretty blue and yellow poison dart frog, a painted turtle, and a gharial. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Book Review
This book is a wonderful book for kids. It describes the how to take care of Bearded Dragons. This book describes this boy Jamal and how he takes care of his Bearded Dragons and how he got started. This bookn is very easy to follow. It teaches you step by step on how to take care of a Bearded Dragon. I beleive it is a great book for people who are just starting out. So if you are starting out with lizards and you need good information. I would go with this book. I enjoyed this book. Well enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

Presenting wildlife in a fresh and exciting way, DK's classic Look Closer series awaits a new generation. The four revised and updated titles in this beloved series use a combination of simple text and close-up photography to bring readers face-to-face with nature. ... Read more

Book Description

Deep in the swamp, a baby alligator crawls out of its broken shell. What's in store for this little reptile? Follow it through its first adventures, and get a glimpse into the world of these amazing creatures. The easy-to-read text describes how alligators live, from what they eat to how they swim so quickly. You'll also find fun facts about alligators' dinosaur-hunting ancestors and their more contemporary cousin, the crocodile. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Grumpy Garret needs to get a grip.
I disagree with the "reviewer" below who didn't enjoy Baby Alligator. (Actually, it sounds like Garret may be ready for books in the level 3 series.) Baby Alligator is typical of books in the All Aboard Reading series (level 2)--full-page, color illustrations that lure young readers to the simple text. Baby Alligator is a brief introduction to alligators and crocodiles, and the book delighted my 7-year-old daughter. She proclaimed the illustrations "very good," and said, "I sure learned a lot about alligators." We look forward to reading Clarke's next children's book.

A nice book, and a good read for first-graders
As a former teacher and current homeschooling mother, I find Baby Alligator to be at the correct reading level for my first-grader, and at the same time full of facts that a child can grasp at this reading level. The illustrations are well-done and not overly cute. Minus one star for all the exclamation points, but this book brought us much pleasure.

Definitely See You Later, Baby Alligator
Ginjer Clarke's didactic, yet simple and delightful prose, combine with Neecy Twinem's beautifully detailed illustrations of Florida's lush landscape to make "Baby Alligator" an adventurous and unforgettable read from start to finish. Geared toward children in grades 1-3, this book contains many interesting facts about our often misunderstood and sometimes feared animal friend - all told through the eyes of a baby alligator. Perhaps the final page best sums up this book: "Maybe now that you know more about alligators, you will not be too afraid of them. Just be very careful." The author and illustrator teach children (and adults) to respect and like - not fear - an animal that was almost hunted to extinction and that has been around since the time of the dinosaurs. I highly recommend this book to adults and children alike. Even I, practically a native Floridian (and much older than the 1-3 grader age group), learned many new interesting facts about alligators, with Baby Alligator as my guide. ... Read more

Book Description

A colorful and informative first glimpse into the diverse world of reptiles.With the help of beautifully detailed illustrations from noted wildlife illustrator John Sill, ABOUT REPTILES explains the basic characteristics that all reptiles share, while offering a look at the animals that fall into this diverse category.An afterword provides further detail on the animals portrayed to help inspire young readers to learn more.

In this easy-to-read introduction to reptiles for children, elementary school teacher and author Cathryn Sill explains what reptiles are, how they live, and what they do.Author Cathryn Sill and illustrator John Sill have also collaborated on the critically acclaimed titles ABOUT BIRDS and ABOUT MAMMALS. ... Read more