Book Description

A long time ago there lived over the waters,
A Duchess, a Duke and their family of daughters.
Everything went smoothly and happily in this large family, until one day the Duchess decided to make:
A lovely light luscious delectable cake.

Would she take the cook's advice? No, she would not. The Duchess put many things into the cake, adding the yeast six times for good measure. So the cake rose, and the Duchess with it -- and how were they to get her down again?

It is Gunhilde, the youngest of the daughters, who suggests a happy solution. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Still baking after all these years...
This book is the reason I got a library card as a child. I loved (and still love) the predicament of the duchess. She was only trying to bake "a lovely light luscious delectable cake" for her family--but things get a bit out of control when she adds too much leavening to the batter. The rhyme and meter are lilting and memorable, the names of her daughters (e.g. "Gunhilde") sound exotic and old-fashioned to a child's ear, and the illustrations are delightful. I'm now in my 30's, and am pleasantly surprised to find that the book is still in print. Even though I don't have any children, I have purchased the book so that I can read it to my siblings' kids and pass on the laughter (and memories) to another generation in my family.

Pure Joy
This is a lyrical, rhythmic, rhyming book of pure joy. Read to a toddler, it will sooth and enchant; to a pre-reader, it becomes a lesson in language and a memory exercise; as an adult with grandchildren of my own, it is a sweet remembrance of my childhood to share with the little one in my lap. It comes with my own personal five star rating.

A Treasured Memory!
What wonderful memories of reading this book as a child! My oldest sister would bring me and my siblings to the library. We would sit in the corner and read The Duchess Bakes A Cake. The rhymes quickly capture a child's attention. The book is an engaging tale of the royal Duchess' mishap in the kitchen. Solving the problem was difficult because their poor brains were such that they hadn't thought often and they hadn't thought much. My own children quickly learned the chorus,so to speak, of the lovely light lucious delectable cake. I know they, too, will treasure this memorable book.

A wonderful book, to which I refer occasionally, even now.
I bake a lot, and so my kids have heard all about the Duchess and her cake. If I could only show them the actual book, which for me, exists only as an ephemeral memory, and for my kids, is only a concept. They have never enjoyed reading the book, or relished the great illustrations.

Delightfully whimsical story in captivating "musical" verse
I checked this book out of the library numerous times as a child and I wish it were in print. The story is quite simple but highly imaginative. It is the music in the poetry that makes this book a delight. This was written before any thought was given to "dumbing down" children's books and the vocabulary is surprisingly advanced. Not only does the Duchess set out to bake "a lovely, light, luscious, delectable cake" but my very favorite line when I was a child was where the Duke exclaims "I fear an improper proportion of leaven has carried our dear Duchess right up to heaven!" The uncomplicated illustrations do a good job of supporting the story. ... Read more

Book Description

In Greenwich Village, an orphaned black cat — the beguiling Jenny Linsky — lives happily with her sea-captain master. Jenny longs to join the local Cat Club, whose members include Madame Butterfly, the fancy dancer Macaroni, and stately, plump Mr. President. But can she prove that she, too, has a special gift? Join Jenny and her friends, including fearless Pickles the Fire Cat, mascot of Hook and Ladder Company 7X, on their spirited and sweet downtown adventures and discover the wonderful world of this special feline and her friends. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Cat Club is a favorite of this teacher
I was a full-time teacher for 25 years. I have been substituting in the elementary schools in two states. The book, Jenny and the Cat Club followed me in my semi-retirement from IL to MI. Children in both states, in first and second grade classrooms enjoy my reading this book, which I have in falling apart paperback.

A favorite book as a kid, still good as an adult
I still have my worn out yellow paperback copy of this book with the picture of Jenny Linsky, the little black cat with the red scarf, on the cover. When a little black cat came and hid in my childhood backyard, I insisted on naming him (yes, him) Jenny. He wore a red collar, because my parents thought a scarf would drag on the ground and choke him.

I have been an ardent cat-lover as long as I can remember, and as a child I was fascinated by the stories of the Cat Club who gathered outside at night and had all kinds of adventures. Given that I was an intensely fact-driven kid, I admit to a little confusion about whether cats could actually act the way they did in the books, how Pickles would keep (or want to keep) his fire hat on, and how much of the book was real. The fact that it was based on real cats made this more confusing, and as a kid I didn't understand the idea of blending cat and human features to make an amusing but quite fantastical story. I don't remember any other kids having that particular problem with the book, though, so I'll chalk it up to my having been a weird kid.

I just pulled this book down off my bookshelf today, and after all these years it's still a book I enjoy. My favorite story is still "Jenny's Adopted Brothers", in which Jenny invites two stray cats home to stay with her. If I ever had children, I would definitely give them this book, and a number of adults would probably enjoy it as well. It could also be a good opportunity to teach the sort of kid I was about the possibilities of creatively blending fact and fiction when writing -- it was one of the few books I was willing to suspend disbelief for, because the stories were so interesting.

We love the Cat Club!
Over a period of days, I read my 7 and 4 year old the stories in this lovely book. We all just loved them - the stories are such a refreshing change from more modern stories. They are old-fashioned, but still relevant and engaging to children. Jenny Linksy is charming, but has her faults. She admirably faces challenges and is willing to admit when she's wrong. My kids kept asking questions about the stories and making comments about Jenny and her friends for days after each reading. They totally looked forward to the next story. Echoing a prior reviewer's comment - Please publish the rest of the stories!

Thank You Jenny!
After years of struggling with my son to interest him in reading, I came upon this wonderful book that features the one thing that I thought might make him read...A cute little black cat and her adventures. This book now has the distinction of being the first book my 9 yr old son has read by himself from cover to cover. Thank you Jenny! Hopefully the publisher will re-release the other Jenny stories as well.

Jenny Linsky taught me to read.
There's a time most of us probably don't remember when we make the conceptual leap from looking at a bunch of letters on a page to reading. Jenny did this for me.

My grandmother sent me the first Jenny Linsky books before I was old enough to start school. My parents read them to me--at first. For the rest of his life my Dad said that he, too, adored Jenny Linsky because all he had to do was put me in his lap, open the book, and turn the pages. I did all the rest.

Years ago, before internet use was common, I asked a woman who owned a children's bookstore if she carried the Jenny Linksy books. She condecendingly told me that she never heard of them. No wonder that store went out of business.

Later, when I went online and tried to find the books, all I could find were rare collectors copies.

I'm thrilled to see these reprinted. I owe Jenny for a lifetime of happy reading. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lanky lizards! The slinkster-cool novels in Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat series have finally been compiled into one delicious volume. All of the ethereal, mesmerizing titles are here--Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan, and Baby Be-Bop--together like the big, beautiful family described on their pages. Block's unique, poetic style immediately draws readers into an intoxicating magical-realist world populated by empathetic, original characters (as well as a few ghosts, fairies, and genies): "He kissed her. A kiss about apple pie à la mode with the vanilla creaminess melting in the pie heat. A kiss about chocolate, when you haven't eaten chocolate in a year. A kiss about palm trees speeding by, trailing pink clouds when you drive down the Strip sizzling with champagne. A kiss about spotlights fanning the sky and the swollen sea spilling like tears all over your legs."

We cheer for these young women and men as they struggle with the universal trials of growing up, finding love, and letting go--all within the vivid, glittering, urban embrace of Los Angeles. Block's stories about finding yourself, being true to your dreams, and believing in what might seem impossible will inspire teens and adults alike with the resounding messages of hope and the transformative power of love.--Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (116)

Love is a dangerous angel...
I'd read the whole Weetzie Bat series before purchasing this book, but the problem was that no-one I'd loaned my individual copies of the stories to ever returned them. (Which may, in and of itself, be a testament to the kick-butt slinkster coolness that is intrinsically a part of this book.)

So anyway, as I was falling in love with a girl with whom I go to college, I read her Weetzie Bat. It was really cool. Especially the part in which My Secret Agent Lover Man expresses his undying love for Weetzie (I liked the part about "You are my martini..."). Since that time (about a month ago), however, this person has emotionally crucified me, and started dating an extremely goofy-looking boy.

Alas, that's the life portrayed in Ms. Block's novellas: hartbreaking and inspiring, exhilirating and melancholy. Read as modern day fairy-tales, they are wonderfully crafted pieces of fiction. Not surprisingly, however, I've read many scathing reviews of this series on Amazon.com. I think that for people to review it poorly, they have to miss the point--that these are fairy-tales. I wouldn't want a 13-year-old kid reading this as an instruction guide to life, but then again, how many people take fiction that seriously? (At least a few people do, as evidenced by the reviews.)

As with all fairy-tales, there is a moral behind the narrative: that love and universal acceptance goes a long way to make people happy, to heal hurt, and to generally make the world a better place--but also that things that some people take for love (that is, sex) can be devastating and hurtful. Love *IS* a dangerous angel. On that level, this book is not only a beautiful piece of prose, but of perhaps immeasurable value to a world torn by conflict, hurt, and hate. I just wish that more people would see the good in this book, instead of the bad.

(Good for high-school aged and up readers, but I'd probably have it tempered by parental guidance for anyone younger than, say, 15.)

Lanky Lizards, it's a strange world!
When I first set eyes on this in a mid-town book shop, I put myself under the impression that it was going to be a mystical fantasy type book. I bought it. A few pages in and i'm thinking "What have I gotten myself into?" but I continued on and next thing I know i've read the first two Weetzie Bat books and am in awe. It's a strange world Francesca Lia Block creates for us. It's a mixed scene of retro 80's punk glam and spiritual awakening. Very odd indeed. Not only that but she has an amazing way of describing things that at first make you go "Who the hell speaks like that?" and then you re-read and think "My God! That makes perfect sense". There is one particular description of the first time Weetzie Bat kisses My Secret Agent Lover Man that really just made me sort of melt and laugh at the same because really is that not how kisses are? I don't know how she does it but she manages to find the words that you would never think of to say and describe things.

My only small complaint is the lack of timeline. With each new book time has passed between since the last one but yet we are never told how many years, months or whatever it has been. We're only given a vague idea. That made it somewhat frustrating and confusing.

I have read in some places of the suggested reading age being 12 and up but I think I would probably raise it more to somewhere around 14-16 as a good starting age for Weetzie Bat books. Not graphic or anything but there still is sex, drug abuse, self-mutilation and other things that I think make it more appropriate for teenagers than pre-teens. And though designed for young adults I do think anyone older could read these and still be just as thrilled with the world of Weetzie Bat.

good
Well i havent quite finished this book yet... but so far it is kinda confusing. It is a really good book tho. It has love in different kinds of places. It tells about homosexuals, regular love, and different kinds of things about finding yourself and who you are. But i do plan on reading this book fully. It seems very good and the author is great. I plan on reading Girl Goddess #9.

Tapestry Of Eye Pooping Words
While some characters may seem shallow and flat. Block does a beautiful job with her writing.
This is a very good strange romance series. I love it because it's so off beat and not like other romance novels.

Dangerous Angels
I loved this book. My grandmother bought it for me on the 16th and I was done reading it on the 17. I read the entire book in two sit down sessions. The story is very realistic with just the right touch of fairy tale for it to be wonderful. I know this is a bad reviev but I'm only 13!! ... Read more

Book Description

One of the greatest children's books of all time, Just So Stories is a collection of timeless classics, including "How the Whale Got His Throat," "How the Camel Got His Hump," and "How the Elephant Got His Trunk." Written in the tradition of Indian and African oral storytelling , this volume is beautifully illustrated in color by well-known artist, Safaya Salter. An English novelist and poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907, Kipling's popular stories have garnered attention for generations. This book is an ideal and inexpensive way to start building a classics library for any child, class set, or library. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Asked why the writing of the My Side of the Mountain trilogy took JeanCraighead George more than 40 years, she responds, "My mother disapproved ofsequels. 'Those are trashy books,' she told me when I was a child. So I grew upand did not write them.

"But kids are wiser than adults, I learned. Letters kept arriving from schoolsand homes, saying, 'We want to know more about Sam, Frightful, and thewilderness.' 'Sequels,' they said, 'are important.' They were right."

Now, all three of George's remarkable novels about the wilderness adventures ofyoung Sam Gribley and his falcon, Frightful, are available in one handsomevolume. In My Side of theMountain, a Newbery Honor Book, Sam leaves home to fend for himself inthe Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. For a year he lives in ahollowed-out tree, befriending animals and depending on his wits for survival.In the sequel, On the Far Side ofthe Mountain, Sam's sister has now joined him, and his falcon isconfiscated by a conservation officer. Frightful's Mountain is aninteresting departure for George. Written from the perspective of Frightful thefalcon, the concluding novel in the trilogy follows her efforts to learn todepend on her own instincts in a world crawling with dangers.

Jean Craighead George is the beloved author of more than 80 books, including theNewbery Medal winner, Julie ofthe Wolves. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (13)

My favorite book ever!!!
I found this book originally when I was about 9 years old. It immediately became my favourite book, and to this day, thirty-five years later I still think of it that way. I re-read it about four years ago, in order to make sure I remembered it properly, so that I could feel confident recommending it. I still loved it. This is a great book for young people, and hopefully one that may turn young people on to reading. I'm sorry Annabella C. did not like this book, perhaps she doesn't realize it was written for young people. Oh well. Young boys should love this book, and maybe a lot of young ladies, too. Buy it.

My Side of the Mountain
I have read the first book, and it's wonderful. It gives useful information as well as adventure. It's a great, although easy, read for ALL ages! READ IT!

Excellent outdoor adventures
I loved this trilogy because I like the outdoors and falcons. They are a great read because it shows examples of how humans can take care of the earth and keep our beautiful animals safe. It teaches you skills you can use if you get lost; what to eat, how to find shelter; etc. Just a wonderful series.

Awesome book
My Side Of The Mountain is a great book for all ages. If you're thinking of running away definitely take this book with you. If you're want an adventurous book this is a book for you. This book tells you what foods to eat how to make the food and how to train wild animals. This is the kind of book that you probaly won't put down until you're finished with it. So you should read this book.

My Side of the Mountian
I think this book was great because it was one of the best books I have ever read. It is about a boy, named Sam Gribley. He ran away to live in the Catskill Moutains.
He has some friends, like the Barron weasel, and Jessie C. James, the raccoon. I recommend this book 9-12 year olds!!!
... Read more

Book Description

In print since the 1950's, the Mushroom Planet series is back with a new design by illustrator Kevin Hawkes.Don't miss the adventures of Chuck and David, two boys who travel to the alien planet Basidium in their homemade spaceship.This timeless series is a classic that is sure to be read over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

A true classic
David and Chuck are just a couple of regular, ordinary, everyday kids, with a regular, ordinary, everyday chicken, named Mrs. Pennyfeather. One day they happen to answer a regular, ordinary, everyday newspaper ad. Suddenly they find themselves blasting off in a tiny spaceship, headed for a tiny planet that a local astronomer has just discovered! Before they know it, they are on a mission to save the tiny Mushroom Planet from a terrible fate. All they have to depend upon are their wits, the astronomer's mysterious advice, their own love of science -- and their regular, ordinary, everyday chicken, Mrs. Pennyfeather. What will become of them? What will become of the chicken? What will become of the inhabitants of the little planet, the Mushroom People?

I remember first reading this story, in about third grade. Eleanor Cameron makes the story so interesting, and so fun, I didn't even want to go to sleep until I had finished the book. After I finished it, I couldn't decide which was more interesting to me: reading, or doing science. Just remember -- if the kids didn't know their science, the story wouldn't have a happy ending! That's all I'll say here. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone.

This happens to be a really good time to be reading this neat little book. Did you know that real astronomers recently discovered something new in our solar system? They can't decide if they should call it a planet or not. Would you like to learn more about it? See if you can use the Internet to learn about the word "Quaoar," which is what astronomers are calling the object. Or, you could ask your science teacher about it. Who knows -- maybe we'll even find some mutant mushrooms up there, someday!

I would like to recommend another astronomy book that I loved in third grade. It's called "Powers of Ten," by Philip Morrison. I haven't been in third grade for quite awhile, but I STILL love that book. Please take 2 minutes and see if you can find it on Amazon.com -- I bet you'll love it.

Anyway -- "The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet" is amazing. Two thumbs up!

One of the most enjoyable kid's books out there.
The first of Cameron's Mushroom Planet books, The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet still casts a spell many years after its first publication. David and Chuck, two best friends, build a rocketship (well, a full-sized model of one) after reading a mysterious newspaper advertisement asking for just such a spaceship and promising "adventure" to the boys who bring the best spaceship to an address that they're not even sure exists. Mystery piles atop mystery and revelation on revelation, until the two boys find themselves on a rescue mission to a tiny, invisible planet orbiting only a short distance (astronomically speaking) from the Earth itself!

The writing is smooth, straightforward, and engaging, and Cameron's characters are sketched out with clear and emphatic detail. There is a bizarre, almost dreamlike quality to the book itself, due at least in part to the juxtaposition of a strong and clear respect for and use of scientific approaches and terminology with truly mystical phenomena that cannot be explained by any science known to man. The scientific wizard Mr. Bass -- there's no better way to describe him -- creates inventions that sound scientific, may even BE scientific in a way, and yet his work is surrounded by all the enigmatic atmosphere of the most mysterious sorceror. At the same time, the rescue and its conclusion rest on firm, rational grounds, so that we keep being anchored back to reality.

A fascinating book and well worth the read even if -- or perhaps especially if -- you are an adult who is trying to remember why some kids' books still stick with you.

Classic Sci-Fi For The Younger Set
I first read "The Wonderful Flight To The Mushroom Planet" more years ago than I care to remember.
I loved it then and my grandchildren love it now!
This story about 2 ordinary kids who encounter a mysterious scientist and build a spaceship is sure to enchant readers of all ages.
Can David and Chuck save the endangered Musroom Planet?
Will they make it back to Earth?
Just exactly who is Mr. Bass?
You'll just have to read this wonderful book to find out!

Revisit an innocent childhood! First Sci Fi Read as a child!
This wonderful book has touched people from every corner of the planet! I live in Australia, and I vividly remember, this was the first book I ever bought for, and by, myself, in a primary school book club.

It is this book which shaped my love of reading, and awakened in me a sense of wonder, of anything being possible, I was 9 years old when I read it. It is written in such a way as to be perfectly understandable to young children, and reading the online exerpts.. it is as exciting, innocent, and fresh today, as it was some 22 years ago, when I first read it!

And now that I have found it again, after searching for so many years, it will be a great priviledge to buy it, and read it to my children, and help to awaken their sense of wonder!

If you want to encourage your child to read, and make their imagination bloom.. then do them a favor, and buy this book!

Blast Off Into This Good Book
The book I read was The Wonderful flight to the Mushroom Planet. Most of the story takes place on the planet Basidium. Two boys, Chuck and David, answer an ad to save the people on Basidium. Do they figure out the problem and save them? Read to find out!
I liked this book because of how it explained things so well. It gave very good descriptions. ... Read more

Book Description

As part of a public execution, a young boy forlornly helps to sing his sister down. . . . A servant learns about grace and loyalty from a mistress who would rather dance with Gypsies than sit on her throne. . . . A terrifying encounter with a demonic angel gives a young man the strength he needs to break free of his oppressor. . . . On a bleak and dreary afternoon a gleeful shooting spree leads to tragedy for a desperate clown unable to escape his fate.

In each of Margo Lanagan's ten extraordinary stories, human frailty is put to the test by the implacable forces of dark and light, man and beast. black juice offers glimpses into familiar, shadowy worlds that push the boundaries of the spirit and leave the mind haunted with the knowledge that black juice runs through us all. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Sense of Wonder
Read this collection. The stories are strange and different, the language is wonderful, the characters heartbreakingly real. This book is not particularly for teens -- these stories are sophisticated and some are quite dark. But more than that, these stories are full of that elusive "sense of wonder" that so many SF and fantasy readers are looking for. Look no further -- it's all here.

Buy this book
This is Lanagan's first collection published in the US (she has a # of other titles available in Australia) and it is a cracker! I almost recommend reading the first story last: it is so good and odd and different that you might have to take a break after reading before you read the rest. And you won't want to take that break, because this is one of the best collections you will read this year.

Recommended for smart readers of any age. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Childhood Favorites
This was my favorite book growing up, the illistrations are great and the story keeps you on your toes. Great bedtime story book as something is always happening (beware you can't finish in night though). Dragons, demons, giants, dark woods, and angels. A good introduction to the Christian walk in a way a small child can enjoy and still savor as an adult.

I'm certain that even God keeps this one in His library.
John Bunyan has created a story that will, regardless of your religious affiliation, profoundly move your heart. The author has created settings and characters that boldly reflect the best and worst of all things experienced within a lifetime, for all time. Bunyan's book is as relevant and necessary today as at any point since being written in 1676. If you read only one version of Pilgrim's Progress, make sure that "Dangerous Journey," is it. The poetic flow and wonderful illustrations grab and hold onto to you at word one and never let go.

A very good revision of Pilgrims Progress.
I found the book to be very good 12 years ago. I read it to my children when they were able to understand it. I also found the illustrations to be extrodinary and helped explain the story very well. I am going to purchase this book again today for my daughter.

Beautiful pictures and wonderful prose Ages 2 - 100
This is the favorite book of my 2 and 5 year old sons. The pictures are gorgeous and hold their attention while I read the story of Christian. Each chapter is the perfect length for reading before bedtime. Most of the time though my sons want me to read the WHOLE book! ... Read more

Book Description

Here are
Little Guy,
Little Pumpkin,
and
Little Bird.

Their grownups
love them.
So will you.

Reviews (39)

A love story for your baby
I bought this book for my daughter, who is 18 months old. It took all of one reading to be added to her list of favorites--she constantly asks for "more more babies". The pictures are wonderful for toddlers, simple and brightly colored. Not only do little ones love the story--lots of repeated elements, little people like them--it's virtually impossible to read it to a child without cuddling. This has become part of my standard baby gift package.

Our whole family fell in love with this book!
This is a beautifully illustrated book with a sweet, touching text that should be "cooed" rather than read aloud. Author Williams tells anecdotes about parents and grandparents playing with and cuddling their babies. When my son was fifteen months old, this was his favorite book. He loved it so much, it soon became everyone's favorite book. One of my best memories is of listening to my husband reading the story of Little Guy being swung in the air by his daddy. Inevitably, when the story was over, my husband would swing his own little guy in the air.

However, don't believe the age range listed for this book in the on-line catalog. This is a book for and about BABIES. As soon as your little one has had enough of being known as "the Baby", you need to put this book aside and move on to another good book. My son outgrew this book with his toddler clothes.

Baby and Mom's favorite
We love this book. Super cute. It is written like you would talk to baby and you can do the cute things to your baby that the grown-ups in the book do to theirs-kiss toes, rock... I would get it!

I hate this book but my daughter loves it.
I have 20 month old twins and one absolutley loves this book while the other one could care less. The illustrations are what bug me. I know I should judge the book on its outdated artwork, but when you have to stare at it all day long and read it over and over it gets to you! The dad wears flip flops and short shorts. If you're a stickler for proper grammar, you'll hate this book.

Really cute book!
This book is different from most other children's books I've seen. I love it - hubby hates it. The grammer is creative (and described in other reviews) so it takes a few readings for it to be easy to read aloud, but the stories are sweet and multicultural, and each story has a nice, repetitive rhythm to it. We read this to our 4-month-old daughter as a bed time story, and she loves it. The rhythm is great for soothing her at bedtime. ... Read more

Book Description

This handsome book, illustrated in the finest tradition of classic children's literature, will give your child an appreciation of the Bible that will last a lifetime.

Sixty-three favorite stories are retold here in simple, traditional language that can be easily understood by children of all ages. Each story is short enough to be read aloud in a single sitting and is printed in large, clear type so young readers can enjoy it on their own.

More than 150 full-color illustrations capture the spirit and excitement of the Bible. These memorable, richly detailed pictures will make reading Bible Stories for Children and endless source of enjoyment and inspiration.

This is a book you will want to share with your child. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Best Children's Bible I've Found
I looked at several children's bibles before picking up this one, and I have been very happy with this purchase. All the major Bible stories are here, and the author has broken them down into manageable bits for children to read and understand. The stories are told in an entertaining, can't-put-the-story-down manner, yet never fail to teach the lesson intended.

This is a fabulous book to read to your children, for them to read to themselves, or for adults to read when they want a quick review of everything biblical. Definitely deserving of five stars.

A Wonderful Bible Book
If you buy this book,you will turn a bad boy into a good boy.It's the same way with girls.The book taught me to be a wonderful Christian!

Great Gift for kids
I bought this book for my son who made his first Communion. It is an excellent book. All the best stories of the Bible are in this book. The kids are actually intrested in it! How better to learn about Jesus and the Old Testament than reading this book. We love it and I am thinking about buying it for my religious Education class for a Christmas gift.

Bible Stories for Children
I purchased this book in February, 1989 and have read it cover to cover at least six times for each of my three children. It is the best children's Bible that I have found. Children are interested as early as 3-4 and remain interested through 10-12. It is outstanding. I recommend reading from start to end, two chapters per night. It is well illustrated, Biblically sound, and well written with appropriate size print. Enjoy and God Bless. Makes a wonderful Christmas Gift. ... Read more

Book Description

A sweet little cat drives a man to insanity and murder....

The grim death known as the plague roams a masquerade ball dressed in red....

A dwarf seeks his final revenge on his captors....

A sister calls to her beloved twin from beyond the grave....

Prepare yourself. You are about to enter a world where you will be shocked, terrified, and, though you'll be too scared to admit it at first, secretly thrilled. Here are four tales -- The Black Cat, The Masque of the Red Death, Hop-Frog, and The Fall of the House of Usher -- by the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. The original tales have been ever so slightly dismembered -- but, of course, Poe understood dismemberment very well. And he would shriek in ghoulish delight at Gris Grimly's gruesomely delectable illustrations that adorn every page. So prepare yourself. And keep the lights on. ... Read more

Book Description

There is "The Ugly One," whose only solace comes when she is locked inside her own head. In "Wanted: A Thug," a teenager seeks advice on how to steal her best friend's bad-guy boyfriend. And then there's Erika, who only likes white boys. Sharon Flake takes readers through the minds of girls trying to define themselves while struggling to remain relevant to the boys in their lives. This is a complex, often humorous, always on-point exposition of black youth resolving to find self-worth . . . any way they know how. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Laugh for 10 seconds, then cry....
Sharon Flake's expertise in telling it like it is rings out in this collection. She and Chris Crutcher would make a great team! It is hard to say that girls and boys will 'enjoy' these stories, but they will not be able to stop reading them because they hit on the exact things my students witness, if not experience, every day. Each story has its humor and its pain. That's life, isn't it? As you read these stories, you see what is coming, and you want to shout "Don't do it!!!" But each one of us has to learn by our own mistakes and successes. By reading, we learn from others. ... Read more

Book Description

This spooky addition to Alvin Schwartz's popular books on American folklore is filled with tales of eerie horror and dark revenge that will make you jump with fright.

There is a story here for everyone -- skeletons with torn and tangled flesh who roam the earth; a ghost who takes revenge on her murderer; and a haunted house where every night a bloody head falls down the chimney.

Stephen Gammell's splendidly creepy drawings perfectly capture the mood of more than two dozen scary stories -- and even scary songs -- all just right for reading alone or for telling aloud in the dark.

Reviews (54)

Stephen Gammel is a genius!
The first book I read out of the three in the series was "More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark," but this is my favorite one by far. No other scary story book(s) alive will EVER compete with this one and its two other sequels. Like almost everyone has said, it's not so much the stories that make this one and it's counterparts scary, it's the damn illustrations! Now let me tell you, Alvin Schwartz does do a very good job of putting stories of old folklore together with a couple of his own stories that he made up himself, but without the help of Stephen Gammel I highly doubt this book (and the other ones) would be so popular. These books are definitely not for the little ones, well maybe they would be if you don't show them the illustrations because there's a VERY good chance they will have nightmares. I swear though if I could draw and paint like Gammel does I would be a happy man, that's for sure! Anyhoo, let me get to the part of where I tell you why this book is my favorite. Not only does it have the best stories in it (in my opinion anyways) but out of the entire series this one has the most unbelieveably nightmarish drawings. "The Thing" and ESPECIALLY "The Haunted House" are VERY good examples! "The Thing"'s illustration is pretty scary but while reading "The Haunted House," I have to put a piece of paper over the illustration to cover it up while reading the story itself, it's that bad trust me. Overall, while I wish very badly that Alvin and Stephen would collaborate again to make more of these books (and I don't think they will, tis very sad) I am glad I have all three of these books, they are well worth the price. However I very rarely read them anymore, it's not like I'm tired of them or anything it's cuz they're too damn scary! I just read all of them yesterday and I predict it's gonna be another 3 years or so before I read them again. That being said, if you don't buy all 3 of these books ..., plain and simple.

Awesome
I read these books (all three of them) when I was in third grade. They were so popular at my school, the library had 4 copies of each book, and you still had to put your name on a waiting list. The first time i read them, I was totally freaked out (Steven Gammell's illustrations added imensly to the horror that Schwartz weaved), I remember not sleeping well the first night after I read them. Its now 8 years later (I'm a senior in high school) and I had completly forgotten that they existed. I stumbled upon them when I was searching for Stephen King (I've always been a fan of the horror genre) and ordered all three of them. If you're into fokelore and scary stories, these three books (Scary Stories, More Scary Stories and Scary Stories 3) are all must-haves in your collection. Enjoy, they're WICKED good :)

I am still totally creeped out.
So ten or fifteen years ago, when I was in elementary school, this was definitely the NUMBER ONE MOST FREQUENTLY CHECKED-OUT LIBRARY BOOK, EVER. If you wanted this book in your hot little hand for just two days, you had to stand at the counter and wait for someone to turn it back in, just so you could snatch it up before the librarian got it back onto the shelf. No joke.

America's a young country, of course, so our idea of "American folklore" often falls into the sphere of Urban Legend. That doesn't mean this book is any less literary, of course: children will learn what REAL short story pacing is, thanks to Alvin Schwartz's suspenseful collection of concise, tense, and often outright nightmarish stories.

But the real thing that will haunt kids a decade or two later will be Stephen Gammell's illustrations. Yipes! I've asked my peers, and not one of us has forgotten those awful, macabre, dripping-flesh-decay illustrations. Ick! Just remembering this book gives me the creeps!

But parents, don't worry: this book is a must-have for any well-rounded childhood, so long as you don't mind sharing your bed with your kid for a week or two.

Great collection of scary stories for kids
This is the greatest collection of scary stories for kids and pre teens ever. I have collected many scary stories books through out my childhood and this is the only one whos storys have actually stuck with me and the only ones i can remember. Every book in the series , this one , more scary storys to tell in the dark and scary stories 3 are all good. The storys were so creepy i can still remember them to this day and i have recently got the other scary stories books so i can see if they were as good as i remember and they are. I first got this book when i was about 10 years old and lost it over the years then i re ordered a copy and the stories still have same effect and value as i remember. They have great illustrations and even some songs in a couple of the books. I used to stay up at night and read this with my friend and we would read the stories to eachother , i was so excited cause the book was so good and most of the stories gave me chills and i was not one to scare easy. For 6 bucks this is well worth it and the memories and storys will last forever.

Scary Stories to tell in the Dark
My book is the best book ever! It is called Scary Stories to tell in the Dark. Since there is more than one story you can never get bored with it. There is a scary part of about 5 chapters long, and there is a funny part. (It is only one chapter.) One of the scary stories you will love is the White wolf. In this story a pack of wolves keep eating farmers' sheep. Then a butcher says he will help get rid of the sheep even though he has retired from hunting. I will not tell you any more of the story, you will just have to read it. One of the funny stories is the Viper. In this story a widower gets a phone call from the Viper, and he calls about 3 times. Then the widower calls the police. I will not tell you any more, but I will tell one more thing. I highly and truly recommend this book. On a scale of 0-10 I would give this a 9. ... Read more

Book Description

Who was the largest baby ever born in the state of Maine? Who dug the Great Lakes? Who gouged out the Grand Canyon? Why, Paul Bunyan, of course, America's finest, fastest, funniest lumberman and favorite tall-tale hero. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jeff's Book Review
This book is very funny and entertaining.It was funny to see how Paul Bunyan, who was gigantic as both a baby and an adult, delt with all of the people and monsters who were much smaller than him. This book has great pictures and will make you laugh.

Wonderfully Illustrated!
This is a very enjoyable story retold with the most captivating illustrations. The vocabulary telling this story is wonderful and is a great book to read to the young and an excellent book for the early reader. Children will enjoy this enhanced version! This is not a book to miss.

fun with tall tales
Students are sure to enjoy this hilarious account of how many of our nation's wonders were created. This tall tale has been "spruced up" with a rich and colorful vocubulary, and is combined with illustrations that will keep the reader coming back for discovery time and time again. Steven Kellog's series of tall tales are invaluable in the classroom as students experience various literary elements such as: genre, author/illustrators, and theme related impressions. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

8 year old loved it!
My son was recently diagnosed with ADHD and I wanted to get him some books so that he realized he wasn't one in the world with ADHD. He loved it. He has started writing a journal -- red pencil and all.

Just Wonderful For Everyone Involved With An ADD Child!!
I bought this book along with several others when my 8 year old son was diagnosed with ADD. Along with the ADD came depression and anxiety, due, of course, to a high IQ and stresses in school. I wanted to buy some books for children about ADD to donate to his classroom, to better help my son's peers understand why he acted "goofy" sometimes. This book is absolutely fabulous. I read it first, and I had to laugh. My son read it next and he laughed and laughed. He was delighted to see his own personal thoughts and feelings, expressed by another kid (Sparky), written about in a journal format. He was joyous!! He thought Sparky was awesome! He couldn't wait to bring it to school! I can promise you that your ADD child will be so happy to read this book, as will you. I even gained alot of knowledge and insight into my son's FEELINGS and thoughts! YOU NEED THIS BOOK!! You absolutely will not regret it!!

A wonderful journey into ADD
"Sparky's Excellent Misadventures" is a wonderful little "journal" by Sparky, who takes us into his life at school and home as he copes with ADD. Sparky's misadventures acquaint us with those events which sometimes get him into trouble. After visiting the doctor, Sparky learns about ADD and discovers how the "little pills" help him to do better in school and control his behavior. This "journal" will help children and parents understand ADD from a child's point-of-view both before and after treatment. An easy-to-read, humorous approach to appreciating each child's unique qualities.

Sparky Touches The Heart
Sparky's Excellent Adventures should be a required reading for all educators, parents and grade school children. It touched me emotionally more than any other children's book. It speaks to the pain and to the joy of living with ADD (attention deficit disorder). Sparky addresses the heart, and enlightens the mind, unlike any medical or professional description.

Sparky's Excellent Misadventures
It's about time! This book is written for all the children with ADD - and for their parents too. Sparky is an endearing character, the book is good for a wide range of ages, and everyone will relate to Sparky's feelings and adventures. A must-read for anyone who knows an ADD child. You will enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

JoJo's Circus is a stop-motion animation series which follows the adventures of JoJo, an adorable and curious clown who lives in Circus Town with her family and best friend, a pet lion named Goliath.JoJo's Circus encourages kids at home to try movement activities along with JoJo and her friends, while learning about the values of kindness, teamwork, and a sense of belonging. ... Read more

Book Description

Here are twelve deeply moving short stories from the perceptive pen of Cynthia Rylant. Each captures the moment when someone's life changes -- when an animal causes a human being to see things in a different way, and, perhaps, changes his life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Touching stories about people and animals
"Every Living Thing," by Cynthia Rylant, is a collection of 12 short stories. Although different characters appear in each tale, the collection as a whole is unified by style and by theme. Each story deals with an encounter or ongoing relationship between a human being and one or more non-human animals. Since the book is only 81 pages long, each tale is quite brief.

This is a gentle, moving book. Rylant has a gift for capturing resonant details. She also writes with great compassion for both her human and non-human characters. Her non-human characters come in many different species: a turtle, dogs, a parrot, squirrels, and more. Her human characters are also diverse: both adults and children, both male and female. I found one of the most memorable characters to be an alcoholic wartime veteran (from "Drying Out").

My overall favorite story in the collection, "A Pet," is about a girl who becomes the owner of a blind old goldfish. I would recommend this book especially to those interested in the short story as a literary form and to those interested in literature about animals. If you like this book, I would also recommend Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's novel "Shiloh."

Just a plain old good book
This may be the last in the series, but was my first read. Each chapter is a minnie story depicted in the rolling hills of Scotland. The humble vet brings his interesting account of his practice to the reader in such a way that you cannot put the book down. That's not just a cliche, either. It IS a very good book.

For lovers of animals and people!!`
Wonderful stories!! Life as it is!! Having read these stories aloud to adults in nursing homes on numerous occassion and found them to satisfy our need to hear good resolves, we can all recommend this good read. "A Bad Road for Cats", one of the favorites, that hits the hard realities of human relationships and good resolves in our dealing with others when things aren't right. Stories of people finding there way through realationships with others and the place that animals play in our lives to make bridges. Read them! You will love them if you love people and animals. Write more of these Cynthia! ... Read more

Book Description

"Ms. Frizzle warps her students back to the late Triassic period, where they begin a journey forward through time in search of Maiasaura eggs. . . .Sidebar information provides the hard science, timelines, and maps of continental drift. . . . Grades two to five." ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Adventure Millions of Years in the Making!
As if Ms. Frizzle's field trips weren't time-consuming enough, now she's decided to take her class back to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! Has the Friz gone mad? Who knows what kind of animals stalked the very land we stand on millions of years ago? This joyful journey to the Jurassic could end up a perilous predicament in the past!

Written in 1994, "The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs" is yet another wonderful collaboration between Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. It's Visitor's Day in Ms. Frizzle's class. Parents, relatives and friends are coming to see the students' work in all things dinosaurs. But not before the Friz makes a special announcement.

"Our class has been invited to a dinosaur dig," she informs her students. "We'll be leaving right away."

And, just like all the other field trips Ms. Frizzle has taken, this one ends up being bigger than originally planned. So big, in fact, it can only be described in prehistoric terms!

The students learn all about fossils (anything left from ancient animals or plants), as well as the scientists who study them (paleontologists). They also get to see how these scientists go about their work, using chisels and shovels and burlap and plaster. Then the real adventure begins when the Friz suggests to the class that they all go looking for some Maiasaura nests. And the only way to do that, of course, is to blast into the past!

Students will recognize some of the more well-known dinosaurs featured in this tale - Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex. But they will also be introduced to lesser-known plants and animals from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods - Cycads, Ferns, Elasmosaurus, and Lambeosaurus. Each different geological period represents a variety of creatures, habitats and temperatures.

Were dinosaurs part of a herd (meaning, did they live in packs?), or were they solitary creatures? Were some dinosaurs caring parents, or did they leave their young to fend for themselves? What brought about the end of a species that existed for so many millions of years? But most importantly, will Ms. Frizzle's class ever return to the present day?

As with every book in the "Magic School Bus" series, Cole and Degen wrap up their latest narrative with two things: 1) "From the Author's Desk and the Artist's Drawing Board" helps distinguish fact from fiction in the story; and 2) another clue as to the next riveting field trip the Friz has planned for her class. To weather that storm, the students had better be packing umbrellas and windbreakers! Things could get a little foggy!

Six excellently executed books into this series, and Cole and Degen haven't missed a beat. The writing is superb, the story engaging, and the artwork as clever and informative as ever. Parents and children alike will delight in a story that offers all the thrills of an amusement park ride, yet all the comforts of a favorite reading chair. So hop aboard the magic school bus!

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "Goodness gracious, we've reached the Late Cretaceous!"

Not accurate information, be careful using this one
The info in this book doesn't follow the Bible facts about the creation of Earth, man and animals. Be careful using this book. Make sure it follows an explaination to your youngster about Bible truths. This is a FICTION book and not based on facts.

While I usually like Magic School Bus books; not this one!
There are so many "info-narrative" books about dinosaurs for children I was disappointed in this one. I am sorry to be the dissenting opinion but I am not impressed with this book. I would use a different book.

The Frizz and Co. in the Land that Time Forgot, via Heinlein
It is not surprising that this is one of the best-selling children`s science series`. My five-year-old loves the pictures and story, while the seven-year-old also appreciates the plethora of facts, as well. The engaging and humorous text is packed with information and complemented by lively and amusing illustrations. The boys love the cartoon bubbles and the short "reports" by the kids in the story. The indomitable teacher, Ms Frizzle and her morphing wardrobe challenges her students on these amazing fieldtrips.

IN THE TIME OF THE DINOSAURS is about: dinosaurs and fossils. Obviously too broad a subject to cover thoroughly in this slim volume, but there`s plenty to whet the appetite. There is a real paleontologist at a real dig. And the bus turns into a time machine. The colorful charts and final class display keep us in perspective. The kids always have questions about something. Thank you Ms Frizzle, Ms Cole, and Mr Degen for answering and encouraging them.

great presentation of just the right amount of information
My son, who is 3 and a half, loves this book. Everytime we go to the library he asks to borrow it again. It's time to own it now. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

We love this book
My 1 year old son just got two Maisy books for his birthday. This book was one of them. It is amazing to see how much he loves this book. He brings it to us and makes us read it over and over and loves to lift the flaps. This has made bedtime stories much easier (since he is never still).

KIds Love These Lift the Flap Books
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

This is a lift the flap book in which the childen are lifting flaps in search of Maisy. They find all of her friends before finally locating Maisy. That sneaky little mouse; hiding at the end of the book. One caution, the kids might get a little aggressive with the flaps and tear a few, resulting in the purchase of a new lift the flap book.

She loves it!
My 5 month old simply loves this books. She gets excited whenever we bring it out to read. It's almost like she's anticipating to see what's behind the flip cover.

Mother of 14-month old
My daughter has had this book for about 6 months now and it's still her favorite (she has dozens of other books). I'm here ordering more of the Maisy series. Among her other favorites are the Baby Einstein books from their website.

Grandmas Take Notice
My two year old granddaughter thinks Maisey is the best. She has been fascinated by all the books and videos. Quiet, kind, simply presented characters teach colors, letters, and friendship. ... Read more