Book Description

The international best-seller that makes mathematics a thrilling exploration.

In twelve dreams, Robert, a boy who hates math, meets a Number Devil, who leads him to discover the amazing world of numbers: infinite numbers, prime numbers, Fibonacci numbers, numbers that magically appear in triangles, and numbers that expand without . As we dream with him, we are taken further and further into mathematical theory, where ideas eventually take flight, until everyone-from those who fumble over fractions to those who solve complex equations in their heads-winds up marveling at what numbers can do.

Hans Magnus Enzensberger is a true polymath, the kind of superb intellectual who loves thinking and marshals all of his charm and wit to share his passions with the world. In The Number Devil, he brings together the surreal logic of Alice in Wonderland and the existential geometry of Flatland with the kind of math everyone would love, if only they had a number devil to teach it to them.
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Reviews (47)

Easy read, but good book....
Crossing the story Alice in Wonderland with a small, red, fiery-tempered devil with a passion for numbers gives you The Number Devil, a perfect tale with funny and curious characters.

Robert hates math, and he gets irritated because his math teacher doesn't allow calculators in class. In addition to that, he has peculiar dreams all the time. Then, one night, completely out of the blue, he dreams about a Number Devil, who takes him away to a fantastic world of numbers. Robert learns all about different mathematical ideas and concepts in a fun way. Over the course of 12 different nights, Robert learns about simple math ideas like factorials, fractions, the importance of zero, and the idea of infinity. But Robert's adventures don't stop there; Robert also learns about more complex things like triangle numbers, Fibonacci numbers, imaginary numbers, and irrational numbers. The Number Devil makes up funny terms in order to explain these to Robert. Square roots are called "rutabagas," prime numbers are "prima donnas," squaring becomes "number hopping," the Fibonacci sequence is called "the Bonacci numbers, " and factorials are named "vrooms."

Did you know that you can take any even number larger than two and find two prime numbers that add up to it? The Number Devil presents different mathematical ideas to Robert, using funny things like furry calculators and coconuts. Even Robert uses what he learns in his dreams in class. For example, the Number Devil uses coconuts to show Robert what triangular numbers are. He uses the coconuts to make triangles on the ground, and he comes up with the first ten triangular numbers: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, and 55. Next, he comes up with a little rule for triangular numbers: Any number greater than 1 can be the sum of two or three triangle numbers. Try 83, for example. It is the sum of 10 + 28 + 45.

Not only does the Number Devil show Robert different math principles, but he takes him to Number Paradise, and there Robert meets different mathematicians like Carl Friedrich Gauss (of course, the Number Devil makes up names for the mathematicians as well, so Gauss is called Professor Horrors), Georg Cantor (Professor Singer), and Leonhard Euler (Owl). Robert also meets Felix Klein (Dr. Happy Little), and he sees the famous 'Klein Bottle' (the Little Bottle). The Number Devil shows how one can't tell the inside of this object from the outside!

I thought this book was very enjoyable and funny. The illustrations were amusing and the characters were hilarious. I especially liked the Number Devil himself. I would give the book an eight out of ten only because some of the concepts described were very elementary, and it became boring for me at times. Overall, I didn't learn a lot, but the little tidbits of information and the more complex ideas were interesting. I would recommend this book for all ages as a good read aloud or for a bedtime reading book. Happy reading!

THE NUMBER DEVIL
THE NUMBER DEVIL WAS A VERY INTERESTING BOOK,IT HELPED ME IN MATH A LOT.AT THE FIRST BEGING OF THE BOOK I DID NOT AT ALL LIKE THE BOOK. IN THE BOOK THEY ALSO TAUGHT ME LANGUAGE.I THINK I WILL GET A VERY GOOD GRADE ON THE BOOK. By.MARKEL

The number devil
Well, this book was really interesting. It was alright to me, It was different from other books. This book talks about math more than any other books. It will teach you about something that you don't know anything about in math,and you will learn it easier if you do what he teaches you.
Well, not only does the book help with math,it has a lot of metephors. Well it has a lot of funny things in it. The book is really about Robet is having dreams aboout math and the The Number Devil is teaching him. He is learning things that he doesn't understand in school. Every night he has a dream, and it helps him every day he goes to school. At the end his teacher is amazed at what he can do. IF you read this book you will find out what happens.
Epiphany.

The Number Devil
I like the way it made it more fun for me to learn how do to the math skills in this book. This book was good, because it was really better learning a math lesson instead of just opening a math book and studying. It was a very fun way to learn how to do the triangle math skill and all the others. This book has very good pictures to help show how Robert learned from the coconuts and the 1's forest. It showed how the Number Devil was a great teacher to Robert and how he was able to understand everything the Number Devil said and taught. This book made it fun for kids my age to learn math skills. The way we read this book is that we read a chapter everynight. When we came in everyday for class we talked about the math in that chapter and that was our lesson in class. It was more fun that just having a teacher sit in his/her desk and not showing us anything of anyway to work these problems. I learned these things the year beforI didn't understand any of it. Now that I have read the book, I really understand everything a lot better that before.

-Chelsea-

The Number Devil
I liked and disliked this book because it was a good way for other kids to learn math and get better at reading at the same time. I also disliked this book because it just didn't interest me a lot. Another reason I liked this book is because it showed you how to work math problems in different ways. It taught me that you can make math fun if you make a game out of it or use food to make fractions. This book is an easy, fun book to read. If you get into the book you will like it. And if you like pretzels you will like this book too. By:Justin ... Read more

Book Description

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

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Reviews (9)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (1)

A Really Fun Math Adventure
Introducing Geometry has now been made more fun. Cindy Neuschwander has given upper grade teachers an exciting way to introduce a somewhat complex subject through the adventures of Radius, son of Sir Cumference and Lady Di of Ameter. This beautifully written and illustrated book has Radius out on an adventure with only a circular medallion (a protractor which is included with the book) to use to find his way through a maze of angles. Students will love the twists and turns the hero Radius encounters but solves and will be excited to learn how to use their own "circular medallion." I enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to appropriate teachers who I work with as a student teacher supervisor. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A planet where men descended from apes?
It takes guts to write a picture book. Putting your work out there to speak for you. The criticism of hundreds of thousands of adults just waiting to tear you apart. It takes even more guts to write a non-fiction picture book. Now you have to deal with parents passing over your story for, oh I dunno, "Mr. Peabody's Apples" because they're afraid that they themselves will be bored. Pompous adults like that. And finally, it takes a kind of bravery most humans would be lucky to possess to write a non-fiction picture book that sports the word, "evolution", on its cover. So please take a moment to mentally applaud the gutsy efforts of one Ms. Lisa Westberg Peters and one Ms. Lauren Stringer for their moxie laden little number, "Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story".

A delicate rendering of Lascaux acrylics on watercolor paper, the story is one of the oldest ones on earth. Peters begins, "All of us are part of an old, old family. The roots of our family tree reach way back to the beginning of life on earth. We've changed a lot since then". Slowly we learn about DNA and the birth of cells in the seas. We hear about oxygen filling the planet and how the seas rose and fell, changing the landscape. About how animals crawled up onto the land and how after an asteroid our particular branch of the family tree survived. Finally, the monkeys evolved, and we evolved out of the monkeys. The book ends with further details for the inquisitive child about each step of the family tree. A helpful timeline follows these facts at the end.

For those human beings that dislike the notion of evolution and prefer a more creation-laden viewpoint, this is not the book for you. It's pretty darn clear in the text that life began 3,800 to 3,600 million years ago. End of story. You will not find a religious note in this book. It's scientifically written and happy to remain that way. Not that the facts presented are full-proof. I may be wrong, but I don't believe the asteroid theory has ever matter-of-factly killed off the dinosaurs as it does here. Also (as more professional reviewers have pointed out) the timeline really does make it look as if it was just a hop, skip, and a jump from single celled organisms to wormlike vertebrates.

On the whole, however, this is a good informative text. Children reading it should be a little older, in order to fully grasp exactly what is being said. For them, however, this book serves as an excellent resource. The pictures are lovely and the facts are mostly on the ball. A lovely addition to any children's evolution library. ... Read more

Book Description

Morgan Menzie takes readers through a harrowing but ultimately hopeful and inspiring account of her eating disorder. Her amazing story is told through the journals she kept during her daily struggle with this addiction and disease. Her triumphs and tragedies all unfold together in this beautiful story of God’s grace.

Features include: daily eating schedule, journal entries, prayers to God, poems, and what she wished she knew at the time. It’s the true story of victory over a disease that is killing America’s youth.

Reviews (10)

Awesome Book
Definitely one of the best books I've read. I've been through anorexia myself, so I could really relate to it. It also kind of helped me, in a way. Morgan is a wonderful writer. I have re-read the book twice and have enjoyed it every time! I lent it to my friend who also struggled with anorexia, and she feels the same way about the book as I do. Definitely a great buy.

Good For Both Adults and Teens
Although the book is fictional, it is based on the wuthor's real-life experiences. This makes it more realistic than quite a lot of fictional books. The story is written in the style of a diary, from the point of view of Blythe. At the outset, she is 13, but gradually gets older as the book progresses. It is set in America. I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but Blythe's problems begin when she starts to compete with Laurie, another girl in her year who has anorexia. It spirals from there. I would recommend this book to both teenagers and adults as it's very good for an afternoon's reading. It's not too heavy, either.

Worth your time!
I read this book a year ago and by far it is one of my most favorites. Over a time period of four years i was anorexic and to see that i was not the only only one and that someone has had it a lot worse than me shows that i can make it. I recommemnd this book to all teenage girls everywhere. Even if they are not anorexic or do not think they have a weight problem it will make them understand how t help people around them who are!

As honest as STICK FIGURE: A DIARY OF MY FORMER SELF
After reading Lori Gottlieb's STICK FIGURE: A DIARY OF MY FORMER SELF, I didn't think I'd find another collection of diaries that spoke about anorexia with such honesty and compassion. I've struggled with anorexia, and both books (STICK FIGURE and this one) have been by my bedside because I find it helpful and comforting to read parts of them over and over. I strongly recommend both books for not just anorexics, but for families and friends who truly want to understand the experience and what they can do to help.

Excellent!
My friend asked for this book as a birthday present. When I went to buy it, I read the back and wanted to read it for myself. I ended up reading the whole book (after I gave it to my friend) within 2 and a half hours. This book was definantly a page turner. I have known people (my grandma and my mother) that were anorexic, and they have read it as well, and liked it. The story line seems very real. It's a definant must read! ... Read more

Book Description

In this international bestseller, a child finds the light within his heart and his common link with all of life. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Oh, LOVELY!
"I used to think that I was small...a little body, that was all." With these words, the reader immediately identifies with this small child's wonder at all that is around him. The trees seem so tall as he looks upward through their branches! The magnificence of the night sky, so filled with glorious points of light, seems so immense. Who could ever know why those many stars are so bright and beautiful or where they get their vibrant light, and how could he possibly fit into this wondrous place - and most of all, where could he go for answers?

This book tells its story by speaking of things that children see: trees, plants, animals, and people - plus the moon, the sun, the stars, and even candy bars. Amazingly, children who read this book seem to automatically understand its deeper meaning; "Your body is just a little part of the light that shines within your heart." All I See Is Part Of Me is about innocence and wonder, and it is beautifully written for small children. I highly recommend enjoying this book with your child. The poetry is charming and the colorful illustrations are innovative and imaginative - perfect for viewing the world and the universe through a child's eyes.

Reviewed by Ruth

Beautiful Book for Children and Adults!
This books uplifts the spirit and helps children to realize they are part of everything they see,hear,touch, and smell. A spiritual book with no suggestion of whom they should believe in. They simply mention prayers being said to all that "IS". The illustrations are beautiful and very enchanting. Our 2 1/2 yr old son wanted this book read to him every night for several months and is still one of his favorites. Most of the sentences rhyme and our son has memorized the entire book and often reads along with me! Highly recommended to those who are seeking a sweet bedtime book w/ deeper thoughts for children to ponder.

This is my FAVORITE children's book!
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would.

I am raising my family with an earth-centered faith, and have been searching since before my 2 year old was born for a book that is simple enough for him to stay focused on through the whole reading, yet one that conveys a message of oneness with the world around us. This book does that in the most beautiful, sweetest way. When I opened it and read it to myself, I realized I had tears in my eyes. It is the sweetest story of a child who is questioning himself and the world around him. By asking questions of the Sun and the Star, he realizes that he is part of everything in this world, and everything is part of him. At the end of the story, he falls asleep knowing in his heart that he goes on everywhere, and everything beautiful in the world exists within himself.

I read it to my son this afternoon and he was totally captivated with the illustrations and the short rhymes on each page. This book will be our bedtime book each night, and I'm sure will become the gift to give to other children we know. This is a must have for any family who appreciates the innate wisdom and beauty of nature and the fact that we are all connected to the world and each other.

A Picture Book About Non-Duality
ALL I SEE IS PART OF ME is written for the child in each of us who longs to feel a sense of wonder and mystery. It conveys the idea of being at one with all that is -- with the plants, animals, people, Earth, sun, moon, and stars. This story is told as a poem with beautiful full-color illustrations on every page to accompany its lyrical prose. This book is a keeper -- one that you'll be glad to have on the bookshelf long after your little ones have grown up and moved out!

All I See Is Part of Me
Great book to enhace a person's self-esteem and feeling of connectedness to the world around them.

The narrative is in verse, a joy for young children. And the illustrations are just right, drawings increase the richness of the text immensely. You can see the grain of the paper on which they were drawn adding to the flavor and delightfullness of the book.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for everyone. It's message of connectedness is uplifting and important for someone raised in our society of separateness. After I read it I knew I wanted to buy it. ... Read more

Book Description

When Ms. Frizzle, the strangest teacher in school, takes her class on a field trip to the waterworks, everyone ends up experiencing the water purification system from the inside. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Splashing Debut
"The Magic School Bus: At the Waterworks" is the first in a series of science picture books geared towards young ones. Written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, it marks the debut of one of the most successful concepts in the history of children's literature.

Cole and Degen successfully blend fun and learning into their stories, striking a resonant chord with kids and parents alike. Because, let's face it, education - no matter what subject you're delving into - can be a tad boring at times. But anyone who's ever worked with children knows that adding a pinch of excitement and a smidgeon of enjoyment into the knowledge pot takes an otherwise bland topic and transforms it into something delectable.

"At the Waterworks" introduces us to Ms. Frizzle, a one-of-a-kind instructor who knows how to take seemingly uninspiring themes and metamorphose them into action-packed adventures. The kids in her class consider Ms. Frizzle "the strangest teacher in school." And they are less than enthused when they find out their first class trip is the local waterworks; it seems to pale in comparison to field trips other classes are taking, such as to the circus or to the zoo. But these students have obviously never gone on a class trip with Ms. Frizzle; nor have they ever taken a ride in her magic school bus.

Before they know it, Ms. Frizzle has sent them on a splashing journey. They learn all about the wonders of water; how it is the only substance in nature that can form into a solid, liquid or gas. They come to understand the water cycle; how water evaporates into a gas to form clouds and liquefies as it falls to the ground as rain. They even take a tour of the local waterworks; how water is filtered and purified for people to drink, and how it is distributed throughout the city in underground pipes to businesses and homes.

Needless to say, the children in Ms. Frizzle's class experience a once-in-a-lifetime voyage, one they won't ever forget! And for those "serious students who do not like any kidding around when it comes to science facts," the final pages distinguish what things were true in the story and what things were made up.

Cole and Degen hit the children's literacy jackpot with this series, and it all started with "At the Waterworks." This book was written in 1986, and the "Magic School Bus" is still riding strong - it has spawned numerous picture books, chapter books, a cartoon show, television tie-in books, computer games, etc. The key to its success lies in the fact that it mixes education with a hearty dose of humor and fun. And when you stir those ingredients together, you have a winning formula.

You cannot go wrong with Ms. Frizzle and her magic school bus. These books are so enjoyable, children and parents alike delight in them. I don't know why it took me so long to discover this series, but I'm glad it happened! I cannot say enough great things about it! Do yourself a favor and read a few of these stories; you will not regret it.

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "It's time to take chances! Make mistakes! And get messy!"

Many layers of detail
This is one of the older Magic School Bus books which has layers of detail in it. You can chose how many layers to read, depending on the child's interest and on the time you have available for reading.

The obvious layer is the text. There is plenty of information from just reading the text. If you want to add more, read the dialogue between the characters, written cartoon style in balloons. The most detail would come from the children's sketches and notes that are in the (very wide) margins.

I like the scheme of taking the children through the system and coming out the other end. Children usually find the fantasy of changing size to be fascinating as well. To my knowledge, the book is factual and fairly well up to date.

As a seamstress, I love Ms Frizzle's clothing and accessories.

The Magic School Bus: At the Waterworks
I taught a unit on water to three second grade classes this year and this book helped the students understand where our city drinking water comes from, how it is treated for impurities and how it gets moved through the system and into our homes. The pictures and text are informative as well as humorous and entertaining. This book kept the students' attention and promoted discussiom. I highly reccommend it! ... Read more

Book Description

Science has never been so easy - or so much fun!With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments.High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.

You'll discover answers to questions like:
Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?

Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms like "photosynthesis," and know fun facts like how many latex balloons per day can be made from a rubber tree.Each section has a great science fair project, complete with all the details you need to wow your teachers and friends.

You won't want to wait for a rainy day or your school's science fair to test these cool experiments for yourself! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Everything you need to have fun...(and learn, too)
This is a great book, chock-a-block w/ very accessible experiments. One of the best features is the way the experiments are grouped together: a 'theme' (say, Acids, in the Chemistry section) will have a group of experiments of varying degrees of complexity that together add up to a pretty good understanding of the concept. Also, most of the materials are readily at hand- for many of them we really did already have everything in the house. This is esp. gratifying for the kids, who of course want to do the experiment *right now*. I would imagine that home-schooling families would enjoy this, but our school-going kids enjoy doing these experiments after school & on weekends.

p.s., one of the easiest experiments is also a real showstopper, though it takes a couple of days to complete: dissolving the eggshell of an egg, leaving the egg inside intact!

Great Resource for Parents!
I wish I had this book 15 years ago as we spent time at home playing "Mad Scientist" with our young children. Our kids are now all teenagers and have enjoyed exploring Robinson's book.
Children LOVE to experiment with their world. "The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book" offers parents and kids alike a wide array of adventures in science including: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, and the Human Body. This book is oriented to kids ages 7-12 but offers information and exploration for budding scientists of all ages. I appreciate this book's easy entrance into the world of science and the three levels of experiments for each area of science: 1)Simple Home Experiments; 2)More Detailed "Kid's Lab Lessons"; 3)Science Fair Projects. The art layout (including multi-color printing, fun-graphics, puzzles, and side-bars), the splashy presentation of information (including fun facts, words to know, dumb-jokes, online science websites and cool quotes) and a complete index make this book an excellent resource for parents, homeschoolers and science teachers. For two other parenting resources, look into "The Family Cloister" and "The Christian Family Toolbox", both by David Robinson (...)

Science fun for kids of all ages!
Wow, what a great book! My kids love it. It is set up as a series of activities that begin with a question followed by an experiment that answers the question. Questions such as "How do you peel a raw egg?", "Does air take up space?" and "Why can't I taste medicine when I plug my nose?" are all examples of questions posed in the book. The fun is in the experiment that answers the question. I think I counted something like 30 different experiments from 5 main science areas (biology, chemistry, physics, planet earth, and the human body). Following each area is a "science fair project" for the kids to use at the next science fair at school! What a great resource it will be for our family in the years to come. All in all a great book at a great price. ... Read more

Book Description

This best-selling book-and-doll package includes a newly designed Joshua or Prudence doll and potty, paired with the Once Upon a Potty picture book.

Just like you, Joshua has a body, and this body has many nice and useful parts:
A head for thinking
Eyes for seeing
Ears for hearing
A mouth to talk and eat with
Hands for playing
A pee-pee for making Wee-Wee
Legs for walking and running
A bottom for sitting and in it a little hole for making Poo-Poo

Dear Fellow-Parents,

Once Upon a Potty is best used as a companion volume to a child's new potty. I wrote this book when my own child was toilet training to help him better understand the process. My son was encouraged and excited by this story. It motivated him to make the developmental leap from diaper to potty.

Learning to use the potty is often a lengthy process, taxing the patience of both parent and child. When success finally comes--and it should come in its own good time, without undue pressure or haste--it enhances the child's confidence and pride. He has taken another step toward independence. He sat on the potty as a little child and got up feeling ten-feet tall.

It's one small step for mankind, but a giant one for your family.

Love,
Alona

Reviews (43)

loved the book, even with the pitcher shaped potty!
I received this book as a gift when my son was starting to potty train. He loved the book and I found it very helpful in getting him to make the transition from diapers to potty chair. I've read the other reviews and was surprised to see so many complaining about the look of the potty in the book. Yes it does look like a pitcher and it does not look anything like my son's potty chair, but it didn't seem to matter. People need to remember that books are just a tool to help in potty training. It's not going to be accomplished any quicker just because the potty in the book looks more modern. I just bought the girl version for my daughter and hope it works for her as well.

This is my second copy.
I got one copy of this book that came with a potty that I bought from Babies R Us. I read it to my 18 month old once and then sat him on the potty. Within a minute's time he yelled "Pee Pee!" and low and behold there it was. OK so it hasn't happened since then but my son adores this book. Normally we have house toys, car toys, and going out toys but every since I bought it (just 4 days ago) it's the only toy we carry everywhere we go or else I'd hear "Potty book, potty book!" all day. I lost it last night at the supermarket and we went to sleep asking for it and woke up asking for it. Needless to say, I put in an order for it this morning.
Maybe by the fourth or fifth copy he'll be a pro at this potty thing:-)

Cute, but better for younger children
My son was a very reluctant 3.5 year old when he finally potty trained. We had gotten this book when he was much younger and he did enjoy it, but as he got older it became a bit babyish for him. It's much more sing song than practical, but it is cute. I did not find it offensive, as other reviewers may have.

My 2 year old loves it
Yes, the pictures are a bit outdated. Yes, the author uses "wee-wee" for penis. But it says right in the front that she recommends parents replace any words she has chosen for terms you, the parent, would rather use. (You don't HAVE to read a book exactly as the author wrote, you know).

Also, the white ceramic pot looks just like the white plastic pot that is inside our Safety 1st potty chair that I bought in May, 2004. Just take apart the potty and show it to your child.

don't read this to your child.
I found this book way far on the edge of what any parent would really want to teach their child.
The pictures are graphic, which for me is fine as they are nature (but may not be to all.)However he pees in something that looks like a bowl then a toilet. Also they seem to stray from potty training itself a bit. However the biggest part that bothered me was the reference to where you poop from. They refer to it as a "HOLE". Now I find nothing wrong with 'bottom' personally but even if someone was more inclined to use another word I would hear 'tush' or 'rear' but never have I heard hole. Often you here hole used in terminology as rude (ex: "shut your hole") I can't understand why the author chose to use a word that sounds more insulting the realistic or informational. There are many other book out there that teach the poitives and cover the same subjects in a better way. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

What's that Smell?
The Gas We Pass by Shinta Cho, is a hilarious book of the reasons we pass gas. The illustrations are great. The color scheme of the pictures themselves helps the imagination grow, and suitable for children. It helps them learn the scientific concept of why gas is passed. It also tells which foods make gas stink, and how much gas actually comes out in a fart. It's really amazing what some never know. There is some inappropriate content in the book; it is a picture of a little boy and his father in the bathtub, both of whose genitals are exposed. Besides that, it is great for people of all ages. It is a book everyone should take the chance to read. I promise you, this book doesn't just let off gas; it's educational and funny and these are the two important elements of learning. So the next time you pass gas, you will think about how it happens, and there won't be anymore smell-raising questions. Enjoy!

Gas is Good
Book Review: The Gas We Pass What was Shinta Cho smoking when she wrote this ghastly book? The Gas We Pass is a very informative and educational book about farts, farts, and, yep, you guessed it, more farts. Everything you ever wanted to know about farts is in this book. It splurges into the stinky subject of why farts smell, why it is healthy to fart, and why you should not hold your farts. Cho even put a diagram of the human body in the book, which shows how farts are processed. The illustrations are fantastic if you have a sick sense of humor. They are of different animals farting and burping. The illustrations show a naked man and a naked boy in the bathtub together watching their farts bubble and rise to the surface. This book is suitable for two age groups: young pre-adolescent kids and teenage boys. If you have a problem with flatulence, do not go to the doctor, read this book. It will save you an expensive trip to the doctor's office.

Not that Great
This books starts off pretty good. I like the fart humor, but then it gets into the scientifics. i am not against kids learning the science of gas, but it almost feels like two different books. the beginning seems like a good book to give a young child who is just learning about bodily functions. but then it starts getting into specifics and it feels like it needs an older audience. it's not a bad book. it's just not the books i was expecting.

The Gas We Pass Review
This Book is sooo groovy! I loved the illistrations, that brought a smile to my face! :) This book was very informational. I actually learned more about my passing gas. I enjoyed reading this book because it brings me happiness and makes me even more individualed! I recamend this to people who want to get a smile goig on their face! Try it!

Only good as a joke good for nothing else
Yes people with a sense of humour or an 11 year old love to laugh at farts, and it seems this is the book to give them. All though it says its intended to teach kids about farting/gas the mere thought of this book acutally helping a child with that is farfecthed. It tells vertually nothing except when you eat you can fart/burp and that all animals fart. Infact i think this book would be bad for children as it shows a elpehant farting witch knocks its trainer over (again its joke purpose appears again) Also it shows a picture of a naked boy (its a drawing nothing graphic but still) I think most monkeys would know the facts in this book but its pictures are mildy ammuseing and its pretty funny as a joke to give to someone as a present. All in all its pretty funny as a gag but useless as giveing children information on farting. Its humour for ages 6 and up pretty much thats all i think the authour ment for it to be... ... Read more

Book Description

From the award-winning author of the best books on puberty — A completely new book written especially for 8-11-year-old girls, playfully illustrated in an appealing, two-color design.

Young girls before the onset of puberty have a curiosity about their soon-to-be changing bodies that needs addressing in a simpler way than for their older sisters. In the proven, trust-worthy, Madaras-friendly voice and style, this entirely new book now brings them the same kind of thoughtful, down-to-earth information—but at a reading and understanding level that's just right for them.

Responding throughout to real-life questions and observations from younger girls, Madaras explores the strange and thrilling changes that are happening, or about to happen, to them, including: the development of breasts, body hair, and body fat; the changes in their reproductive organs, both inside and out; their first period and all the complex feelings surrounding it; the unwelcome appearance of acne and new body odors; and, perhaps most important, how to respect and celebrate their unique bodies, even when the outside world is not always so accepting.

Lively cartoon drawings throughout make the book not only helpful, but fun to read, too. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

What a great help!
I just bought this book for my 8 year old daughter. I was still getting over the shock of my baby starting puberty so early, when I read the reviews of this book. We picked it up last night and read the whole thing. With each chapter, she became more and more interested and even kind of excited. It let her know she was normal, and showed her what will be happening in the future so she won't be so confused. The little cartoons in it were so funny. They helped keep it light. We talked very openly about everything. I am so glad that we got this book. I think it is going to make this whole thing much easier...espcially on me!My baby is growing up! BUY THIS BOOK!

Ready, Set ,Grow
I bought this book for my nine year old daughter. This book is informative and not too technical or too mature for her level. We are reading this book together in steps and talking about it. It's a great choice for a young girl who may be a little embarrassed about the changes she is starting to experience or not starting to experience yet . I'ts great for self esteem, because it lets girls know they are all normal just different.
It's a good book !

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this book is great for any girl going through puberty. It answers everything you need to know but can't ask! Go but it NOW!
I would reccomend it for ages 8 and up.

Hey, you're still here. Go buy it!!!!!!

Ready, Set, Grow!: What's Happening to My Body? Is GREAT!!
I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter, who has recently been developing in area that were never thought of before. She had been asking questions and I was afraid to give too little or too much information. We read this book together and let me tell you what a great experience. I recommend this book to all parents/guardians of girls between 8 - 11 that are possibly thinking they aren't quite "Normal", because of these changes that are naturally happening to their bodies. ... Read more

Book Description

Where do rocks come from? When Ms. Frizzle asks her students to bring rocks to class, almost everyone forgets. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Rocks, Rocks, Everywhere!
"The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth" immediately picks up where its predecessor, "At the Waterworks", left off. At the end of each book, Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen provide a subtle clue as to the nature and content of their next collaboration - a sly wink to those of us who catch such details.

"At the Waterworks" concludes with Ms. Frizzle looking at a map of a volcano, which tells us the next book in the series will probably be about our world's physical structures. And that's where "Inside the Earth" steps into the spotlight. Written in 1987, Cole and Degen prove in their second effort that there is no such thing as the dreaded sophomore jinx. This story is just as, if not more, educating and entertaining than "At the Waterworks."

The book starts out with the kids in Ms. Frizzle's class appearing restless over their current learning topic, animal homes. They've been researching the subject for almost a month and "were pretty tired of it." So the class jumps for joy when the Friz announces they're starting something new. "We are going to study about our earth!" she exclaims.

However, things don't go exactly as planned. Only four kids actually bring their homework to class the next day - "Each person must find a rock and bring it to school," said Ms. Frizzle. So she decides to take them on a field trip to collect rock specimens . . . and that's when the fun begins!

Ms. Frizzle lives up to the expectations she set in "At the Waterworks." By the time this field trip is done, her class has learned all about the physical features of the earth. The kids discover how rocks are made of minerals. They delve deep into the ground, getting up close and personal with Earth's crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Ms. Frizzle educates them on the three classes of rocks - igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. She relates to the kids how processes inside the earth take millions of years. She even takes them on a tour through a volcano! All throughout the field trip, the class receives hands-on experience with various rocks - basalt, granite, limestone, obsidian, pumice, sandstone, shale, etc.

And these details are only scratching the surface of what Cole and Degen, not to mention Ms. Frizzle, have lined up for readers in this book. Blending comedy with truth, this is a welcome addition to any children's bookshelf, either in the classroom or at home. And just as they did with their first story, Cole and Degen use the final pages to distinguish what things were accurate in the story and what things were made up.

As is her fashion, Ms. Frizzle leaves readers a hint at what is to come in her next adventure. My guess is that it has something to do with the human body. Talk about an inside-job!

Cole and Degen surpass the benchmark they set in "At the Waterworks" with "Inside the Earth." There are facts and figures, hilarity and humor, bursting from every page. Don't miss out on a chance to ride the magic school bus.

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "This way, class!"

Inside The Earth
This storyis about a class of students that is bord then one day they all go on a journey inside the earth and the kids have all these questions that all get answered. the reason I like this book so much is because it tells so much about the earth in a way that is fun for the students.

Awesome Book
This book is a great book to teach kids about the inside of the earth, and other scientific stuff. It gets your imagination flowing! Its fun and interesting; I always loved the Magic School Bus series! Ms. Frizzle is so funny!

Review
This book was about Miss Frizzle's class. Miss Frizzle's classes are always taking wild journeys everyone. On minute they are in the classroom like a normal class, the next they are somewhere very unusual. In this book they traveled inside the earth to study about it. The book talks about all the things inside the Earth and there are great explanations to many questions that children might have about the earth.
I like this book because it teaches children a lot about what the earth is made up of and it does it in such a way that children will stay interested and amused. A lot of children are really fond of science and things and this book teaches them about science in a fun way. Even children that don't really enjoy science would like this book because it's a fun book. Things happen that wouldn't really happen in real life so in a way it is fantasy like and a lot of children would like that.
I think the author was trying to teach children something and do it in such a way that it is fun. They will enjoy the story of the class traveling into the middle of the earth but there is a lot of science in there for the children to learn also.

The Frizz Does a Jules Verne
This best-selling children`s science series is excellent for reading aloud, while older kids (and parents) will appreciate the range and depth of information, as well. The story-text of the original series is at once humorous, engaging, and packed with facts. Lively and amusing illustrations include cartoon bubbles, as well as "reports" by the students in the story. Ms Frizzle is a Mary Poppins-like teacher with oomph, and a wardrobe to match, who challenges and leads her students, recurring characters who reflect the multicultural nature of the US, on amazing fieldtrips.

In INSIDE THE EARTH, the fabled bus turns into a steam shovel, provides the kids and the Frizz with workclothes and digging equipment, to explore to the earth`s core, Jules Verne-style. Along the way, they learn geology, but with the Frizzle spin. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Great Parent, Teacher and Student resource
As a middle school math teacher, I frequently have parents tell me, "It has been so long since I took math, I just need a resource to help remember how to do these things". (ie fractions) I tell them to order this book. The examples are clear and well illustrated. The book is colorful and engaging. Our school has bought class sets of this book and we are going to organize a bulk order of books for parents. I think the topics covered would help students in grades 3-10.

A must in every home
This is a great book that covers a wide range of Middle School subjects. My kids like me to use this wonderfull book because it gives examples used by their teachers at schools. I believe that there is nothing wrong with teaching kids different ways to solve a problem, but I start with this book and most of the time they tell me that the examples in the book are exactly the way how the teacher explained the problem in class. This way they don't get confuse between my way, my wife's way, and the teacher's way.
My kids are not afraid anymore to go upfront and show the class how simple math can be.

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK WITH SIMPLE EASY TO FOLLOW EXAMPLES!

S.A.

When ever you need math its just a Call away!
Math on Call is a great handbook for students or even adults having trouble in specific areas of Mathematics. The book is split up into sections, subsections, and types of the shown subsection. Rather than looking all over the place, you can find something simply by looking for what section it is in then looking in that section to find the subsection and so on. The best part is that the book does not put in a bunch of confusing mathematics terms but instead gives clear and fast examples. It also shows more than one method of solving the type of problem so you can find what method is best for you. This book is worth every penny and is vital to success in mathematics. Take it from me, I struggled in math until I found this.

Math On Call Rocks
I was a B student in Math. But after I bought this book I have been getting A's on all my test and quizes!! I love this book and I will keep it forever. I think that is really helpful and if I dont get something Instead of going to my parents I get Math On Call out. Thank you so much Math on Call!!!

~Jake~

The best darn math reference book ever
My son's 7th grade math teacher recommended this. I don't know what we would have done without it. The school's math textbook was useless. If there was any problem not understanding a math concept, we would just whip this baby out and it was easy to understand. Math homework couldn't have been any less frustrating.

My younger son now takes it with him to school for doing his math work at school. It is invaluable. ... Read more

Book Description

"It seems like everyone else has the script. Everyone else knows what's happening and I look around and say, Duh."

Of course, the truth is that no one has the script because there is no script to follow. Chances are you'd find that almost everyone else has questions and worries a lot like yours, if you could get them to admit it. This brand-new, completely updated and revised edition of Changing Bodies, Changing Lives is full of honest, accurate, nonjudgmental information on everything teenagers need to know about today.

Am I the only one who

• can't get up the nerve to ask someone out?
  
• got my period so early?
  
• doesn't even know the right way to kiss?
  
• feels pressured to use drugs?
  
• still hasn't hit puberty yet?
  
• wants to avoid the gang scene?
  
• worries when my mom doesn't come home at night?
  
• is scared that I might have AIDS?
  
• can't decide what form of birth control to use?
  
• has no idea how to tell my friends I'm gay?
  
• goes on eating binges?
  
• has never had an orgasm?
  
• is shut out of the popular crowd?
  

Being a teenager is tough. With the information and the ideas inside this book, you'll have what you need to make these years the best they can be.
... Read more

Reviews (8)

a great resource for any preteen or teen
I am 20 years old and recieved this book at the age of 12. It was an amazing resource for me throughout my preteen year, and teen years. I was able to get non biased information, just the facts, whenever I was too embarased to ask someone. I am now looking at buying one for my 11 year old brother, so that he can learn from it the way I have.

Book for talking to preteens about many topics
This book is a very good spring board to help talk or at least begin talking about key topics to,or with preteens. This could be at own home or home of grandparent/friend/sister/brother/aunt/uncle/Godparent/spouse/neighbor/or at a pediatrican's/orthodontist's/dentist's/nurse's/psychiatrist's/psychologist's office or waiting room. At school,camp,business office or waiting room,local or school library, bookstore reading room,hospital,or at a shelter, wherever preteens are. It can be helpful for the preteen to browse through, read independently, and/or together with parent,guardian, significant other,teacher, friends, doctor,school administrator . Some kids could be ready to read it on their own independently,in privacy or out in the open in conjunction with others, now, or in the future. It could also be used as a gage to see where a child is developmentally by a parent,significant other,teacher,groups of adults or/preteens/researcher, college or graduate school student(eg. in a book club, study group, school course,and with others eg.those listed above).
As you can see Knowing and Changing;a Guide For Preteens is a book for many places,many uses, and for many people.

Every teen and parent should own one
This is the best book on being a teenager that I have ever read! And this should mean a lot to you coming from a teen (I'm a 15 year old male). It's different from other books in that it encourages teens to make their own decisions in life. It doesn't come out and say, "No! Sex is bad! You will rot in hell if you have sex before you are married!" Instead, it gives equal reasons of why to have sex and why not to and then describes all the means of birth control. But it doesn't just deal with sex, it also touches on emotions that you might have through adolecence, masturbation, what you can do if you do become pregnent, and even drugs.

Review from a High School Student
My Human Development class was required to read this book during this school year (freshman year). I have to say that I found this book informative but the majority of the information I already knew in some form of another. The quotes are very interesting yet one becomes drawn in by them, ignoring the point the quotes try to make. Any teen should be given this book or one like it, just to reasure him or her that (s)he is not alone in being a teenager.

Every teen should have this book!
This book is an outstanding volume for all teens. It is full of information that they need for making healthy choices through their teen years. It does not promote any single ideology, or push a certain set of values or choices. It gives information that the teen may only get hodge-podge through friends, conversations with parents or some school programs. Also, the book is full of quotes from interviews with teens. So, the teen hears the feelings and ideas in a form that they can "hear", not an adult voice telling them what to do. Far more approachable for teens. This one's a must! ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (53)

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

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

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

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

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

Anthony Trendl

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

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

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

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

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