Book Description

Before he introduced the world to butts gone beserk, Andy Griffiths unleashed the JUST books: outlandish collections of silly stories that turned him into a bestselling sensation. Now Andy brings his insane brand of humor to this side of the Pacific -- and American readers won't believe what they've been missing!

Ever skipped out on school by pretending you're dead? Ever convinced a friend that they're invisible? Ever been stuck in a gorilla suit and nearly put in a zoo? Andy has. In JUST KIDDING, join this joker as he attempts some of the best -- and worst -- practical jokes in history! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

funny and smart
I loved this book it was realy funny and the storys were smart and realy well written. I also realy liked the little elistrations on the sides ( most dont have anything to do with the storeys so be prepared) My favorite picture is the one where it says on the top right corner " If you flip this corner your sure to get a fright" and you flip the corner and it has a scary face that says " BOO" I loved this book 5 stars!

The Crazy Joker
Have you ever looked for a book that kills you with laughter? Well, here is your answer. Just joking is a book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. The mission of this book is just plainly making you get a heart attack (of laughter). In the book every chapter has a different joke. It is not a normal book of jokes but it is a story in which the character does the jokes. Read it!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Pathetic Stories for Young Children
Allow your children to read these stories with parental discretion. Current day authors like the ones mentioned in the review are liberals with an agenda that is both immoral and anti-traditional family. I can't vouch for all the stories listed because I have not read them. However, I have read works by quite of few of the authors listed and they do not support conservative ideology. "Scout's Honor" by Avi is in my child's 6th grade "literature" textbook. The so-called comedy is about three arrogant Boy Scouts that earn a badge by lying, cheating and stealing. This story not only depicts the Boy Scouts in a bad light - has anyone heard about their pro-traditional family stand which they took recently - but it promotes the path of the ends justifying the means.

A WONDERFUL BOOK , ESPECIALLY FOR PRE-TEENS !
The original tales presented in this book are actual memories of childhood penned by notable children's book authors. Although most of the stories have 8-10 year-olds as their protagnonists, they deal with emotions and predicaments more easily understood, I think, by slightly older children.

Pre-teenage can be such an awkward time; these tales can be healing/instructive to those in this time of life. The authors all have written beautiful stories which really should not be missed. And, as an extra special "gift" to the reader, each story is followed by a one-page explanation/note written by the tale's author. It's a relief to realize that each author not only survived growing up, but also flourished. And I loved being allowed to share private memories of these marvelous authors.

As a great fan of Katherine Paterson, I was especially touched by her story, which involved her older, prettier sister. Perhaps even more revealing, however, is the note she wrote to accompany this story. I am sure that the feelings here expressed were the souce of her poignantly beautiful novel "Jacob Have I Loved." (Great for girls age 12 and up.)

This book also provided an introduction (at least for me) to several authors with whom I was not familiar; I look forward to reading more by them.

I am a 40-something, well-educated mom. I bought this book for my own family, but I will be purchasing more copies to give as gifts. And I look forward to the sequel to this book, already in print! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like all best friends, George and Martha do everything together--go to the movies, play at the beach, and just hang around not doing much of anything. No matter that they happen to be gigantic hippopotami, they learn the same lessons humans do about the ups and downs of true friendship. George and Martha teach each other (and adoring readers) that even in a close friendship, privacy is important, practical jokes can sometimes backfire, and among other things, pouring split pea soup into your loafers to spare the chef's feelings is not the best laid plan.

What's remarkable about the stories in this wonderful collection is the emotion James Marshall infuses into his understated, charming text and illustrations. Each brief tale is always humorous, never preachy, and his drawings--deceptively simple in appearance--are guaranteed to spark feelings of empathy, delight, and self-recognition. Maurice Sendak, in his foreword to this 25th anniversary compilation edition of all 35 stories, notes, "Those dear, ditzy, down-to-earth hippos bring serious pleasure to everybody, not only to children. They are time-capsule hippos who will always remind us of a paradise in publishing and--both seriously and comically--of the true, durable meaning of friendship under the best and worst conditions." (Ages 4 and up) ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Life Lessons
We started watching the George and Martha TV series while living in Australia. I don't know who is more enamoured with the series - my daughters, or myself. These stories, different from the tv show as far as I can tell, all teach a lesson in friendship. It's a fun way to let those lessons about being a good friend sink in with your child. George and Martha are hilarious, and we love following their adventures. It is a book that even an adult without children might enjoy reading. A real page turner and a well made, quality book!

The Best Book on Friendship Ever Written
Have you or anyone you know ever been troubled by the complexities of friendship? This endearing collection of vignettes in the lives of two very dear friends, models how to get through the peaks and troughs of human relations. I have had two best friends for over thirty years and I know friendships take a lot of work. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote wonderfully about friendship but James Marshall wrote these profoundly simple, almost poetic stories about two hippos who err, forgive, sacrifice, love, and put up with each other in a most charming and edifying fashion that everyone can understand. George and Martha books are adored by children and adults; they are well illustrated, in simple language and highly allegorical. I have given them as greeting cards to celebrate, apologize, teach, support, and grovel. I bought this full collection as a birthday present for a teenager who loved the stories as a child, and deeply appreciates the lessons as an emerging adult. (Frankly, I wanted to keep it for myself -- but that would have been too selfish, so I bought another.) Enjoy this book and benefits of dear friends.

Gently Playful Humor -- Great for beginning readers
Add my enthusiatic review to the many others for the George and Martha series. James Marshall has combined a simple text with delightful pictures to create short tales that are gently playful and sensitive. First rate material for beginning readers that will also give adults a few warm chuckles.

In one word...adorable
When I bought this book I couldn't imagine it would turn out to be one of my favorites! Everything in it is simply delightful: the drawings, the situations, the hippos (how lovely they are!)...but what catches me up more is the lack of judgement the author does, as we notice reading...it's a simple but highly intelligent book. I always read some of the stories when I need some cheering up. And I'm an adult. I recommend to anyone who has the sensitivity to understand the tenderness of the stories.

My Daughter Loves It
My daughter loved this book when she was 4 and still likes it years later. The stories are very funny and tell very important and subtle lessons without being condescending. It's really a great book for kids. ... Read more

Book Description

Jamie "Mongoose" Hills finds the little blue card among the candy he's shoplifted. Brenda is saved by the card during the Great TV Turn-Off. And April Mendez takes a ride in a bookmobile unlike any other. Four unforgettable stories from a master storyteller. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The Best Book In The World
The Library Card is a great book. This book has three cool stories in it. The first story is about two trouble making kids called Mongoose and Weasel. Mongoose and Weasel are best friends ,until the library card comes in. It changes mongoose's life. This a very interesting book I reccomend it.

A good starter book for non-readers in grades 4 - 6
Four rather disconnected short stories. Each short presents a different type of non-reader: the budding vandal in a gritty urban setting, your middle-class "vidiot" tv drone, one homeless teen with a hot temper, and a girl who flags down the local book-mobile, only to find that it has been hi-jacked. Mr. Spinelli treats some of his short story characters rather poorly when compared with those found in his full length books... one becomes a nerd and another a twit. This book borders on sci-fi/fantasy, a first for Mr. Spinelli, so perhaps we can excuse him for certain transgressions. And yet, He has written so many outstanding works for young readers that it pains me to discribe this book as average. Perhaps that is the answer: he has written a good book for non-readers in the hopes that they will be hooked on real kids, doing real kid things, while thinking real kid thoughts. Tempt your favorite non-reader with "The Library Card", wait for it to digest, mix in some "Maniac Magee", "Dump Days", and watch for the next outstanding Spinelli work.

Not So Good
I have read several Spinelli books and have rated them all a four or above-except this one. This book builds up two characters only to stop the story once they are known to us and start a completely different story. This happens 3 times!!! Different characters, incomplete story. If he had started and finished with any one of these characters, it could have been a decent book. As it is, I just feel like I was left hanging and wasted time I could have spent on another book. Synopsis: Great author, just read his other books.

Knots in my Yo-Yo String
Hi! If you read this story you will get grossed out. You want to know why? In this story the author Jerry Spinelli, a kids author, tells about how he grows up and goes step by step about how being a kid helped him to become a writer. So what is the gross part? Well, he tells all about stuff like kissing girls and hitting his friend with a rock. I like this story because it is interesting and has alot of details about his life as he was growing up and this book is good. Farewell!

The Big Blue Library Card
The Library Card

In my second period L.A class my teacher Mrs. Donohue (Mrs. D short for Donohue) has us read 3 books per quarter. We have to do a critical review each quarter. Our first quarter, we have to do a critical review on the first book we read. I have to tell you some information about this book. So here we go.

My first book I read was called The Library Card. The author is Jerry Spinelli he writes a lot of different books like Loser, Stargirl, Wringer, etc. The Library Card is a story. There are different sections of it. The Library Card falls into a mystery/adventure category. This book is about to boys that are bestfriends. They always sit on top of a tall building. They go to a market and steal quite a bit of candy and sell it, to buy spray paint cans. Then they go around and spray paint things. As they do this one of the boys find a blue card in his pocket. Then he realizes that it's a library card so he goes to the library and starts to check out books. Then the library card gets passed around to different people, and they use the library card.

The books have strengths and weaknesses. The strength part of the book is that at the end of every chapter it leaves sentences that make you want to keep reading. This is called a narrative hook. The weakness in the book is that when the library card gets past around to different people it kind of goes into a different story so it's a little confusing. Jerry Spinelli is a great author to write books. He has adventure, drama, mystery, and so much more in his books. I think this book is a great book, if people have a chance they need to go to the library and check out The Library Card. This is a great book for readers from 5th to 8th grade because they can learn a lot from this book. They could learn that going to the library and checking out books is a great thing to do for your education. ... Read more

Book Description

If you could see with your eyes closed, how would you use your power? That’s what Henry has to decide in "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,"one of the seven stories in this extra-ordinary collection. In addition to imaginative and magical tales, this book also contains the true story of how Roald Dahl became a writer, as well as a copy of the very first nonfiction story he wrote for The Saturday Evening Post. Packed with wit and adventure, the collection is a clever mix of fantasy and reality — and a stunning showcase of Dahl’s prose. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Marvelous tales from a master
A recent discussion with several friends left me fending off accusations that the only material I read or watch pertains to the horror genre. I had some difficulty convincing these misguided souls that I do indeed like to read literature and watch films that don't contain a masked maniac. Exhibit A in my defense is Roald Dahl's "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More," a book I adored as a child and one that fully deserves to sit alongside the author's better known "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "James and the Giant Peach." Dahl the man had an interesting life; he worked in the oil business in Africa before joining the RAF during World War II to fight the Luftwaffe. Injuries incurred from a plane crash briefly sidetracked Dahl's military career, but eventually gave the world something to sing about because it directly led to the beginning of his writing career. You get all of this information from one of the stories in the book, but Dahl's fiction deservedly receives the most attention. Fortunately, we get a lot of that here too. Roald Dahl died in 1990.

The non-fiction pieces here are wonderful. His first story, "A Piece of Cake," is here, along with an account of how Dahl became a writer. Entitled "Lucky Break," this story is really a short autobiography of the writer from his early school days through his war experiences. The sections outlining his years at one of England's public schools should be read by anyone who thinks American places of learning are terrible. English public schools, Dahl writes, are actually very private academies devoted to the total education of their pupils. During the writer's childhood, this meant harsh, rigid discipline of a type usually seen in the military. The brutality exhibited by teachers and elder classmates at the school is shocking: the older students routinely whipped younger pupils with switches, an activity mirrored by the teachers whenever students misbehaved. There are great, tension filled descriptions of the beatings endured by Dahl at the hands of these tormentors. The author advises that wearing thick pajamas and undergarments will protect one's posterior from the brunt of a switching administered by a fellow classmate, but nothing will save you from the headmaster's canes. Yikes! And to think the worst thing that happened to me in school involved losing my locker combination. School wasn't a total loss for the young author, however, as it was the place where he learned to love literature.

The centerpiece story, "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar," is one of the best in the book. It's really two stories in one, about a wealthy but frivolous soul named Henry Sugar and his discovery of an unusual book in a friend's library. The book tells the story about a man in India who has learned to see through objects without the use of his eyes. Sugar gets the sudden inspiration to attain this ability and soon discovers that he is a natural at it, one of the rare people with the amazing gift to learn this art in just a few years. Henry's motivations are highly suspect at first: he wishes to use this newfound talent to cheat at the casino, thereby earning himself a fortune. But something rather odd occurs during his training process when Sugar soon discovers that he has little interest in accumulating money for selfish ends. He decides instead to use his gift to fund orphanages for the world's poor, and over the next several decades bilks casino after casino out of millions of dollars. Sugar soon becomes so well known to the owners of these gambling houses that he must assume disguises to keep the game going. Dahl writes the story in such a way that the reader becomes convinced Henry Sugar was a real, breathing person.

"The Swan" is another gem about a precocious child named Peter Watson who runs into two local tormentors, Ernie and Raymond, while out bird watching. The two goons march Watson around at the point of a gun for no other reason then alleviating their boredom on a weekend. They first tie Peter to the railroad tracks and trick him into believing he will be hit by a train. The final indignity occurs when Raymond and Ernie shoot a beautiful swan, tie its wings to Peter's arms, and force him to climb a tree so they can see him "fly." No spoilers here, but there is something magical and memorable about what happens next as Peter learns that he is one of those precious souls which all the bullies in the world will never triumph over. Along with "The Swan," you get "The Hitchhiker" and the less interesting "The Boy Who Talked With Animals."

"The Mildenhall Treasure" is an incredible story about an amazing discovery. On a cold winter morning, a farmer plowing another man's land stumbled upon the greatest cache of Roman silver ever found in Britain. Regrettably, Gordon Butcher didn't know what he had found because the silver had tarnished during its years in the ground. His boss did know what it was and took the stuff home where hid it for a few years before the authorities discovered it. The crux of the story centers on a British law that says the person who FINDS any treasure receives compensation for the full market value of the items. The Mildenhall plates, bowls, and spoons would have netted Butcher nearly a million pounds. By allowing his boss to walk off with the silver, Butcher received only one thousand pounds. In a way, this book is similar to the Mildenhall Treasure: a great find even if you have little idea of it at first glance. Roald Dahl's works are genius and everyone should read a few of them.

Delightful Stories by the Exciting Author Roald Dahl
Contains: THE BOY WHO TALKED WITH ANIMALS A wierd tale about a boy who decides to run away on a giant sea turtle. I gave away the end, but you'll have to read the well-written middle. THE HITCHHIKER The short tale of a fingersmith ( talented pickpocket ). THE SWAN A dramatic story of an intelligent, unconquerable young boy and the child thugs who terrorize him. THE MILDENHALL TREASURE From the back of the book:"A true tale of a fortune found and an opportunity lost." THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR Tells of the deep, Indian ( that is, from India ) secret: how to activate the senses without their instrument functioning ( i.e., to see without eyes, smell without the nose, hear without the ears, etc. ), and of the two people, Imhrat Khan and Henry Sugar, who dared to use it improperly. LUCKY BREAK-HOW I BECAME A WRITER Exactly what the title says. Includes some interesting characters we didn't see from "BOY" and some other great moments. PIECE OF CAKE FIRST STORY-1942 A poorly written story about the author's accident as a RAF fighter that changed his life. Then again, it was his first story, so I shouldn't be so critical.

Simply the best
As far as I'm concerned, this book should be reachable on every child's bookshelf (and by the way - every child should have a bookshelf). I read it years ago and can still recall the way the book made me feel - truly wonderful. I still remember the story of the hitchhiker so many years after I read it. Dahl is one of the best storytellers of our time.

a piece of cake
this is the only story i have read from the book so far, having just read it this last saturday to my 7 year old cousing before he drifted off to sleep. I'm seventeen and have read a fair share of literature. I enjoy Vonnegut, Lewis, steve Martin, Camus etc..., and I must say that this was one of the most captivating stories I have ever read, taking into account its short length of course. It wasn't epic, but I was driving and caustic. I loved it, and I will buy the book, even that one story would be all that was worth reading, which I highly doubt. I'm just rebuffing the last reviewers oppinion on the "Piece of Cake" story, so that someone might be given a second oppinion. Fusion is awesome, chech out billy cobham, I'm a Christian but I won't be voting for Bush when my first valid election comes around, I play the drums but I don't care for metal or rock n roll, stocks to watch are eag, emrg, almi, orch, and adzr, I'm single as might be assumed, and yes, I have a physics test tommorrow.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More
This is a great book. There are seven stories each one as fun and interesting as the next.

In the first book entiled the The Boy Who Talked to Animals a man goes to Jamaica and as he was sitting on his balcony several fisherman bring up a turtle. Now you may be thinking so they bring in a turtle so what. Well heres what. This was no ordinary turtle. It was atleast five ft. long and four ft. across and a big crowd of hotel guests had come to stare at this magnificent creature. In this crowed of people was a certain very special boy, the boy who talked with animals. He begs everyone to let the turtle go as here kneels down and hugs it. What happens after that is for you to find out.

In the next story entitled The Hitchhiker a man pickes up a hitchhiker who turned out to be a fingersmith (also known as pickpocket). The man drives too fast and is pulled over what happens next is for you to find out.

The next story is The Mildenhall Treasure which is a true story - in fact one of the only true stories that Roald Dahl has ever written. He wrote this story because it was so interesting that he just had to. This true tale takes place in 1946. This story is about a treasure found and a man who lost a great oppertunity. Read this story and you wont be dissapointed.

The Swan is a story about two child thugs Ernie and Raymond who go hunting and find bird wathcing Peter Watson. The two boys tourture Peter and kill a swan while their at it. Does Peter get shot? Does he live or die? find out in Roald Dahls The Swan.

After this is a story about a man named Henry Suger. In this story Henry reads a story about a indian man who learned to see without his eyes. Henry learned to do this in order to make millions off casinos but in the years it took he seemed to have a change of heart and though still making millions, he finds a way to bring joy to orphans and fear to casino owners around the world. Read to find out more.

In Lucky Break Roald Dahl explains the amazing way he became a writer.

And lastly in the true story A Piece of Cake Roald Dahl has the story that led him to his lucky break. ... Read more

Book Description

Magic turns up in the most unexpected places in E. Nesbit's madcap fairy tales--and so do dragons: One flies out of the pages of an enchanted book and eats an entire soccer team.... Two children try to wake St. George when a plague of dragons descends on modern England.... Wicked Prince Tiresome sets forth to hunt a fiery dragon with a pack of trained hippopotamuses.... One hundred years after its first publication, this collection of 8 of Nesbit's most delightful fantasy stories returns and is still every bit as fun as when it was first published. Its original 16 black-and-white illustrations are also included in this must-have for all Nesbit fans. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My review
I think this book is cool. it was about adventure, magic, action and even humor!!!
I did a book report on this book to!!

A classic, like all of Nesbit's children's books.
E. Nesbit's books have a well-deserved place on my shelf next to the C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, and more recently, Harry Potter. I discovered her books through those of Edward Eager; if you have read and enjoyed any of E. Nesbit's books before, I recommend you take the opposite journey and check out Eager's books now (start with Half Magic.) A real treat. ... Read more

Book Description

The stories of Milly-Molly-Mandy and her family and friends have charmed generations of children since they first appeared in 1925. This collection of twenty-one classic tales about this resourceful and thoughtful little girl reflect with accuracy the dilemmas and challenges of a child's world. Young children today will love to hear how Milly-Molly-Mandy decides to spend her first penny, looks after a hedgehog, and spends her first night away from home. These timeless stories are perfect for reading aloud, for older children to read by themselves, or as a story before bedtime, and will bring back many happy memories for many parents and grandparents.The book's endpaper feature a two-page map of Milly-Molly-Mandy's village complete with drawings of cottages, fields, streets, and shops making it easy for children to follow Milly-Molly-Mandy from place to place. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Tender, sweet and endearing! A must read for all children!
I was given my first Milly-Molly-Mandy book by my grandparents when I was 6. I spent hours reading about MMM & Little Friend Susan and could not wait until the next book arrived. The series follows the antics of a young girl in England and is well worth the read. Boys and girls alike will take interest in the adventures and learn some life lessons along the way. This series is truly one of my all-time favs. I hope you'll feel the same way!

A sweet nostalgic bit of childhood for all ages.
I have four children ranging in age from 11 to 5 and all of them love the Milly-Molly-Mandy stories, even my two very active boys. The stories are delightfully old-fashioned tales of the everyday adventures of the heroine, Milly-Molly-Mandy. They are the perfect tone and length for a good bedtime read. I love them for their idyllic depiction of rural life in an English village.

Bridging the generation gap
This book was the first I was able to read myself, at age 4. It had been my mother's book as a child, and I still have her copy. I was amazed to see that it is still being printed and is still so popular. Somehow I thought it was unknown to most people (my little secret!)

My own granddaughter is now old enough to read about Milly-Molly-Mandy, so I will purchase the new edition for her. She looks just like Milly-Molly-Mandy! Also, it is fascinating to learn that the stories take place in Holland, not England. My sisters and I still use the phrase "little-friend-Susan" to describe the perfect friendship!

Memories of a childhood
I was amazed when i came across this title in my search. I got both the Milly Molly Mandy books as a gift when I was little. I had to wait to read them as i couldnt read very well when i received them. The became my favourite books and I still have them packed away somewhere to this day, dog-earred and with torn covers. I never tired of reading the same stories over and over again, wishing that I could have adventures like Milly Molly Mandy.

All kids should read this one!
What a sweet book! I'm 23 and always pre-read any books that i intend to give as gifts to the various kids i know. Usually i find that they eventually turn into scary stuff which isn't too good for the younger ones. When i read this story book i went out and got six copies, one for each of the young children i baby-sit, age ranging 3 to 9, even the 9 year old loved it. There is no violence, no bad language and is a wonderful way of showing young children how people lived in days gone by without taking on a lecturing tone. You know what, even the two young boys liked it!:-) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Jubal's Wish...a wonderful children's book!
I bought this book for my son when he was 2..now he is 5 & still loves this book. Jubal is an engaging character that children can't help but love. The colors in this book are what first made me pick it up. It is so cheerful & exciting. I highly recommend this and all Audrey & Don Wood books.

Sara's Review on Jubal's Wish
I think Jubal's Wish is a very good story. The illustration is very colorful and lively. I love Audrey Wood, she is one of my favorite authors and her stories are really cool. Of all of Audrey Woods books I would have to say that Jubal's Wish is my favorite, it's a really good book.

Charming!
Jubal the bullfrog is so happy on this bright and sunny day, that his feet barely touch the ground as he skips along with his picnic basket. In time, he meets up with two of his neighbors, Gerdy, the toad and Captain Dalbert, the lizard. Both are tired, angry, overworked and depressed. It makes Jubal sad that his friends are so miserable on this beautiful day and so he wishes they could be as happy as he is. With that, a wizard appears and gives him a twinkling wishing star...."Dreams and wishes, wishes and dreams. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. You never know how they'll turn out in the end." And as Jubal watches, his wish comes true in a very unusal and special way..... Audrey and Don Woods have done it again, writing a simple, gentle story of generosity, caring and love. Their warm and expressive text is only outdone by their vibrant, larger than life artwork, that will entrance youngsters as it almost spills off the page. Together, they have produced a charming fairy tale that's perfect for 3-7 year olds. Jubal's Wish, with it's endearing hero, will delight children of all ages and is a wonderful addition to all bookshelves.

A review of Jubal's Wish
Jubal's wish is a beautifully illustrated (as expected from Don Wood) story with a nice theme about doing for others. It also shows that sometimes when something negative happens that something good can come from it. My two children LOVED it and read/requested it to be read four times in the 24 hours after I gave it to them. My kids are 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 and actually the 5 1/2 year old boy is the more enamoured.

Jubal is a jewel!
The Woods' have done it again. Another first-rate picture book. This book has a delightful story as well as captivating pictures. This book reminds its readers that sometimes wishes do come true even though you may feel like you are at your lowest point. The pictures show a lot of emotions and help the reader empathize with the characters. This would be a welcome addition to anyone's picture book collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Gregory and his family are moving to Japan for his dad’s job. After the long flight, they arrive at their new apartment. Gregory is surprised to find lots of things that are different: he needs to remove his shoes and wear slippers, he has to sit on pillows at the table, and he has to take a shower before getting into the bathtub! As Gregory’s dad points out, "That’s the way they do it in Japan."

When Gregory starts school, he’s afraid that the kids won’t like him. That morning, he works hard writing the letters of the Japanese alphabet and is glad when it’s time for lunch. But he’s embarrassed when he takes out his peanut butter sandwich and sees everyone else eating rice and soybeans. Gregory wonders if he’ll ever fit in. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"Adjusting to a New Culture"
Gregory moves with his Japanese father and Caucasian mother from San Francisco to Japan. The author captures the boy's eagerness for adventure, yet his timidity as he faces the unknown. While Gregory and the reader learn "the way they do it in Japan," they will learn to speak some Japanese words.

The author has depicted loving parents who do all they can to help their son fit in to a new way of life. The surprise comes in the end when Gregory's classmates learn "the way they do it in America."

A great book to encourage children to value another culture. Adult and child will gain information about Japan that could lead to a whole unit of study. But what I liked best was the author's theme of love and friendship, where there could be fear and alienation. The principles of the book could be applied to the study of any culture.

First Graders Read It Again and Again
The Way We Do It In Japan is a warm story relating a child's honest and positive reactions to his family's move from
San Francisco to Tokyo, Japan. Gregory's experiences and reactions to new and unfamiliar situations prompted much discussion in my first grade classroom. Every child identified with Gregory on some level. This book was a welcome re-read in my classroom! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Splish, clomp, pleep, plop, plunk, sloosh, slosh, slink, zing." Who canresist a read-aloud featuring sounds like these? When, "Down by the marsh, bythe sleepy, slimy marsh, one duck gets stuck in the muck," who comes to therescue? Two fish, splishing, for starters. Then three moose clomping, fourcrickets pleeping, and so on. Still, "No luck. Still stuck." It takes a wholelot of teamwork to get this particular stuck duck unstuck from the muck, butthis cheerful bunch is definitely up to the task.

From one duck to 10 dragonflies, the muddy fun never stops in Phyllis Root'schunky little board book. Young readers will giggle their way through thenumbers, and by the time the duck's foot is released with a "Spluck!" countingwill be a cinch. Jane Chapman's lush illustrations are full of marshy colors andmuddy detail. The right side of each two-page spread shows the hapless duckearnestly waiting for liberation by its lively rescuers, while on the oppositeside the featured number is printed, large and bold, over the text, and thesplishers and ploppers are depicted again for easy counting. Chapman'senchanting art is also found in The Emperor's Egg, among othertitles, and Root's other popular stories include Kiss the Cow!. (Baby topreschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (14)

One Duck Stuck -- What Luck!
One Duck Stuck is a darling children's book -- that moms and dads will love, too! We checked this out of the library, and liked it so much we went to amazon.com and bought 3!

It's rhythmic verse is enchanting and the kids recite it like a song. The alliteration is clever, as well.

The illustrations are colorful and alive!

The whole book just draws you in and makes you want to read it over and over again.

It's a feel-good, happy, sing-song little story the whole family will love.

VERY CUTE
A fun book with bright colorful pictures. My son loves to help "read" the book's repeating sentence - HELP HELP WHO CAN HELP?. A nice happy ending as all the animals work together to help the duck.

A fast favorite with my toddler.
My one year loves books - but not just any books. They have to be quick paced (to keep up with his fast page turning), have colorful and interesting illustrations, and have a repetitive but catchy story-line.

ONE DUCK STUCK delivers on all three counts and became a favorite the day we got it. The cheerful rhyme "no luck, still stuck" repeats on almost ever page, the story is cute with a good moral (all the animals work together to free the stuck duck) and the pictures are vibrant and interesting to the youngest of readers. We own tons of books but this is one of my son's top four and is re-read time and time again without him losing interest.

Board Book Edition ONLY - regular edition gets 5 stars
I checked this book out of the library and my daughter and I loved it. So, I ordered the board book version for her (she's 1 1/2), and found that a good 1/2 of the book is cut out. I'm returning it and getting the regular edition. So, if you like the toungue twisting verses, don't buy the board book.

GREAT!
Great Book! My 3 year old loves it. She makes up games and says words and phrases from this book months after we borrowed it from the local library. Great Buy! Everyone needs a copy of this book! I even like it! ... Read more

Book Description

Before he introduced the world to butts gone beserk, Andy Griffiths unleashed the JUST books: outlandish collections of silly stories that turned him into a bestselling sensation. Now Andy brings his insane brand of humor to this side of the Pacific -- and American readers won't believe what they've been missing! In JUST ANNOYING, you'll meet Andy, a boy with a dream: to become the most annoying kid in the world. Watch Andy bug his friends, irritate his sister, and drive his parents crazy -- and find out how much fun annoying people can be! ... Read more

Book Description

Compiled by the author of the Unicorn Chronicles, these twelve tales find unicorns in far-reaching times and places, from the fantastical world of Luster and the mystical land of ancient China to modern-day America. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

"Glorious!"
This book was wonderful! When I read the introduction, I had tears in my eyes and it made me want to race outside and find a unicorn waiting for me. The unicorns starring in these stories are not all pretty and pink, but some are ugly, and some are horselike. If you read The Unicorn Chronicles, there is a story in this book called The Guardian of memory and it is part of the unicorn chronicles and is absolutely wonderful! The story Tearing Down the Unicorns was also very good. A girl started tearing down the pictures of her peaceful colorful unicorns off her wall for some reason that you will have to find out! I highly reccomend this book to anyone who loves unicorns and that when you finish reading it, if you believe with all your heart, then you will find "a glory of unicorns waiting to sweep you away!"

A Glory of Unicorns
Do you believe in fantasy and magical creatures? Then you'll love A Glory of Unicorns. As you read A Glory of Unicorns by Bruce Coville, you'll learn that you have to follow what you want to do and not what someone else wants you to do. This book is about kids believing and losing something or someone dear to their heart. One story takes place in Luster, the unicorn world. A mare, Cloudmane, decides she wants too become the Guardian of Memory and asks for help from Grimwold, the keeper of the story that started the choosing of the Guardian. A Glory of Unicorns also has a poem called "Dream Child". A story for learning a lesson is "Tearing Down the Unicorns"; it takes place mostly in the woods where Stacey meets a unicorn that teaches her a lesson. There are many other stories like the ones I have mentioned.
Bruce Coville has written other books such as The Unicorn Chronicles series, Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher, The Skull of Truth, The Monster's Ring, Sarah's Unicorn, The Dragonslayers, and many more. He seems to have people believe in fantasy than in real life the more you read his books. Although A Glory of Unicorns does have some reality in it, the reality just makes the stories more believable. In this book Bruce Coville can make you visualize without using too many descriptive words.
Some might get confused when the book doesn't give enough descriptions or doesn't say who's talking. But most of the time you don't really need too many descriptions to visualize. The book can definitely confuse younger kids because of the problems the main characters encounter. The book is very good for older children who love to dream. It's hard not to believe and fantasize about unicorns and magic after you read A Glory of Unicorns.

A beautiful, inspiring book!!
I LOVE this book. It is a collection of several beautiful stories, and they are all about unicorns. One of my favorites was "Stealing Dreams". "A Song for Croaker Nordge","The Guardian of Memory",and "Tearing down the Unicorns" were all amazing as well. This book is a stunning piece of art, and anyone who loves horses, unicorns, or fantasy read it. ( I love all three!)

THE BEST BOOK!!!
I would recommend this book to anyone who reads my review. If there really is a secret world of Luster( the world of unicorns), I would be willing to go there! My favorite part is when Cara jumps from the church and into Luster. Please read it! It is a great book!

Not quite what the introduction promises
Bruce Coville (the complier and editor of this anthology) promised in his introduction no sappy unicorns, tells us that unicorn love is hard and demanding, and unicorns themselves neither safe nor sweet. However, four stories into this book I found that was exactly what the book was delievering - sweet, dreamy, dear little unicorns. Contradicting his own words Coville brings us the story of 'The Guardian of Memory' in which unicorns have names such as 'Arabella Skydancer' and 'Manda Seafoam' and are entirely domesticated, speaking unicorns. Likewise, nearly every other author in this book seems to have no knowledge of true unicorn lore - that these incredibly shy creatures, who dwelt in the Garden of Eden, could only possibly be approached by a pure virgin maiden and even then *never* ridden. Many of the stories have unicorns as tame, human-loving creatures, and one only need read the poem 'The Dream-Child' to get the general attitude towards unicorns in this collection: lines like "starlight spinning down your spiraled horn/the dream-child, the cloud-maned". *Sigh*.

However, I am being rather harsh in this assessment, as this book is obviously meant for young girls, and my expectations were no doubt far too high. Young unicorn lovers, who are quite happy to view unicorns as magical horses will be quite content with such a collection and some of the stories aren't so sickly-sweet that parents won't find enjoyment in reading them aloud.
A few that rise above the par are 'Tearing Down the Unicorns', the only story that addresses the issue of today's views on unicorns being adorable little ponies; 'Child of Faerie', a nicely written and conceived story of Afton, a faerie child who chose to live for a while in the human world, but is now being called back to her true home when her human family needs her most; and 'The Ugly Unicorn', the creation of an Oriental myth of a young blind girl mistakingly believing that the ugly Liu-mu is the beautiful Poh unicorn.

Girls already initiated into Coville's 'Luster' series will no doubt love his 'Guardian of Memory' story, set in the same world, and parents as well as children should like 'The Healing Truth', the story of a complusive liar that finds a unicorn in a supply closet; 'A Song for Croaker Nordge' of an old man who places his hopes of finding a unicorn on his grand-daughter and 'Story Hour', the tale of an old woman teaching her grand-daughter the secrets of finding a unicorn but keeping it secret by telling her the story of the Goblin King.

Other stories destined to be less popular because of their ambiguity are 'Beyond the Fringe,' in which an old woman weaves a carpet for her family as bandits raid their village, 'The Unicorns of Kabustan' in which a boy hiding from war releases a series of unicorns that try to put an end to the fighting, 'Stealing Dreams', of a boy who finds a unicorn in his wallpaper and 'The New Girl', a short tale of a unicorn caretaker desparate to leave the confines of her small village. And of course, the sugary-sickness of the poem 'The Dream-Child.'
Another saving grace is Alix Berenzy's lovely black-and-white illustrations.

Read this book at your own enjoyment, but be aware that you are not reading about 'real' unicorns - only the idealised, modernised unicorns by authors who have forgotten what a unicorn really is. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this quietly affecting story, award-winning author Karen Hesse and artist Jon J. Muth deftly capture the magnificence of a sudden rainstorm on a swelteringly hot day. Much more than a simple tale of weather, Come On, Rain! also portrays the tenderness of mother-daughter relations, the rhythms of urban society, and the power of nature to transform and reinvigorate all forms of life.

The book's collaborators, more like alchemists, work wonders. Muth's sunbaked watercolors perfectlyconvey the washed-out, drought-stricken world, while Hesse's gripping narrative--a detailed prose poem written in the voice of the watchful, pigtailed Tessie--conveys undaunted hope and anticipation. Like a long-limbed little bird--all twiggy arms and legs--Tessie moves through the neighborhood, observing her Mamma, her friends, the skies, even the streets:

Up and down the block,
cats pant,
heat wavers off tar patches in the broiling alleyway....

I stare out over rooftops,
past chimneys, into the way off distance.
And that's when I see it coming,
clouds rolling in,
gray clouds, bunched and bulging under a purple sky.

A creeper of hope circles round my bones.
"Come on, rain!" I whisper.

Reviews (17)

Lyrical picture book
This lyrical ode to the coming rain, accompanied by the soothing wash of lush watercolors, make Hesse's Come on, Rain! sure to please young children. In prose that reads like poetry, young Tessie bemoans the heat of summer while waiting with confidence that rain will soon come. Along with her multicultural friends and all their mammas, Tessie dances in gratitude for the refreshing wetness the rain bestows. While the lyrical prose is of such beautiful quality it could stand on its own, the soft watercolor illustrations portray the emotions of the characters in such lovely detail; the two, the prose and illustrations, combine to create a delightful work of art. Even with the vertical lines of rain which one would expect to stop the motion of the story, Muth manages to create a sense of flowing from left to right, page to page, in keeping with the cadence of the text by using achromatic colors for the backgrounds of most pages. Recommended for children ages 4-8. Public librarians may want to share this title in a storytime about rain, along with Bill Martin's Listen to the Rain.

Beautiful
The art work which accompanies this magnificently written, poetic tale is just as remarkable as the carefully chosen delightful words. If you live in the desert, as we do,this is a must-have-book. Over the stifling summer months I read the book time and again with my two year old daughter as we eagerly awaited the arrival of the monsoon rains and each time the simple joy of summer rain leapt out at us from both the pictures and the words. I'm not a writer, so it would take me an eternity to express how very special this book is. Simply put, you will have missed something very special if you never allow yourself the pleaure of soaking up the atmosphere created by this small masterpiece. Invest in a real treasure. If I could give it 10 out of 5 I would. BUY IT.

"Come On, Rain!" A Truly Beautiful Book!
I found the book "Come On, Rain!" at our local library and immediately picked it up. The first thing you will notice about this beautiful book are the gorgeous ilustrations! The pictures in this book are lovely and the prose is so happy and full of the anticipation everyone feels on a hot summer day while waiting for a cooling rain. You and you children will love this book!

This is more than just another weather story!
"Come on, rain!" are the fervent words of Tess, as she looks toward the sky with a great deal of anticipation and hope. It has not rained in 3 weeks. Therefore, everyone in Tess's neighborhood and city was hoping for rain to bring relief from the scorching heat. Well, the best part of this story is that it seems her fervent words finally reached the clouds; for "over rooftops, past chimneys, into the way off distance . . . clouds came rolling in." As soon as Tess realizes that her wish for rain was on the way, she quickly gathers her close friends together (and their mothers too) to run, dance and play in the wonderful rain showers that fall upon the city.

The watercolor illustrations of Jon Muth do an excellent job of enhancing the movement of Ms. Hesse's story. The opening illustrations of bright yellow and gold give readers a sense of how hot and oppressive the heat was for Tess's neighborhood and city. Gradually as the rain clouds moves in, hues of soft grays, brown, and greens are used to depict the moments just before rain falls from the sky. By the time rain actually comes, the illustrations are filled with splashes of pink, violet and blues, which represent the renewal of spirit and feelings of relief for all in the city. You know, this is more than just another weather story! It is a story that shows how rain, a powerful element of nature, has the ability to invigorate all of life!

Keep on Coming!
Karen Hesse captures a beautiful moment in this book. She expertly creates a scorching, wilting summer day with vivid images. My mouth was parched just reading it, and then the rain came. You'll love the images created here of the "bare-legged mamas" and girls, both from Hesse's beautiful writing and Muth's spectacular watercolor illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

A Book for Brothers & Sisters of Hospitalized Children.

Anna's little sister, Molly, has been very ill and had to have an operation. Anna tells us all about the experience from her point of view. Sensitive, insightful, heartwarming story. A support and comfort for siblings and those who love them. The story is moving and rings with authenticity, for author Debbie Duncan based it on her family's personal experiences. Artist Nina Ollikainen's beautiful black and white drawings are accurately detailed and capture the emotional atmosphere of Anna and Molly's tender relationship. (Ages 3 - 12)

Winner of 1995 Benjamin Franklin Award: Best Children's Picture Book ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Mom/Teacher Highly Recommends;Outshines all Others!
When our baby was suddenly and unexpectedly whisked off to the operating room, it was all my husband and I could do to retain our compsure and strength. Despite my extensive training and experience in early childhood, we had a hard time knowing where to begin with helping our three-year-old understand and cope. I knew from experience that books can be a great tool and came across this one and ordered it. What an amazing book!
Duncan tells of her baby's hospitalization through the eyes of an older sibling. It is filled with enough detail to be satisfying and at the same time is general enough that most everyone can find something to identify with. We found it to be a great starting point for meaningful and informative discussions with our three-year-old. It even brought up the issue of the sibling feeling he/she caused the illness in the sick child and the feelings of resentment that some siblings have toward critically ill brothers and sisters. We were also able to put to rest the fears that 'this will happen to me' in our preschooler and her friends. It is much more realistic and accurate than any other book on this subject that I have read.
Ollikainen's illustrations reinforce and support this touching, informational story. I felt that even our baby, at one year, could look at some of them and identify elements from his hospital stay. The illustrations are authentic, timeless, meaningful and so telling they could stand on their own.
I cannot say enough possitive things about this book. As an educator and as a parent I highly recommend it to families attempting to cope with ill children, preparing a child for hospitalization or as an informational resource for anyone in the elementary age range. No collection is complete without it! It truly sets the standard all others will have to live up to for me.

Superb illustrations accompany a story for siblings
This sensitive book describes the feelings of an older sibling and a family when a young child is hospitalized for a severe medical problem. It helps normalize the feelings that a sibling might have, and indicates that adults are available for support. The black and white drawings do a good job of being accurate, but still showing warmth and emotion.

This book is specifically aimed at children who are about four to eight years old. When one of my own children was hospitalized and had surgery, I thought of this book and brought it out for my other children.

This book tells the story of a young girl, whose baby sister is admitted into a hospital. The baby sister needs surgery, and the older girl is very unhappy. The older sister is initially angry at how Molly is getting all the attention. Later, she feels guilty and wonders if she somehow caused Molly's illness.

The author had a child who had a chronic condition and underwent surgery. She saw how her older children experienced the sibling's illness. The illustrator is a physician who left the clinical practice of medicine to pursue her artwork and to raise her own family. Her medical background may help account for the superb, sensitive illustrations.

Kind-hearted, intelligent, and such a delight.
The moving story of Molly's illness and her family's loving, worried response informs children about what a hospitalization means. What's more, it validates the feelings that come when a loved one needs help. Duncan beautifully evokes the atmosphere of a hospital -- not just the physical place but the environment of caring professionals, friends, and family members who work together to get someone better. For kids who've experienced hospitalizations (their own or others) or who are trying to imagine what things are like at the hospital (whether or not someone they love is in the hospital now), this book rings equally clear and true. Brava!

A great book!
I'm 11 years old, and when my sister was in the hospital my mom bought me this book. It was like reading my own story in a real book! Like Anna, the main character, I felt sad, jealous, worried, and even angry at my sister. This book helped me to understand that other kids felt the same way. I also enjoyed the happy ending!

Perfect for young siblings of hospitalized children
When Molly Was in the Hospital is wonderful! It is a touching story about a child who becomes ill, needs lots of tests and doctor visits, has surgery and a hospital stay. It is written from the sibling's point of view and addresses the sibling's many feelings including fear, guilt, anger, and joy as her sister recovers. It is rare to find something acknowleging the needs of siblings of disabled or sick children, and this book does it extremely well. It is written simply, but factually, and is very true to real hospital stays. The illistrations are gorgeous. An absolute MUST if you children and one is ever hospitalized. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Self-described "scalawag" Brian Jacques (venerable author of the beloved Redwall series ) sets out to spook young readers with six scary (but, of course, not too scary) tales, steeped in a mulligan stew of folk fables, ancient myths, and horror-flick fiends.

The star of the sextet is undoubtedly Jacques' eccentric style--his diction, humor, and unmistakable brogue--which (in context) shouldn't give young readers too much trouble, and often makes for very-fun reading besides: "No, sir, I h'arrived too late. But I knows me rats, sir. If the h'Oriental chap says that's wot 'appened, then I'll back 'im h'all the way." Kids, of course, figure prominently in each story, too--whether as protagonists or as more scurrilous lads and lasses getting their well-deserved comeuppance. One such schoolboy causes much mayhem in the book's first (and by far best) story, in which an aspiring scoundrel named Archibald Smifft summons an occult creature, the Ribbajack, to do his evil bidding. Other stories riff off various other creepy creatures, from werewolves to ghosts to even Medusa, usually with some winking moral woven in by Jacques.

Some of the tales (the title story and "Miggy Mags and the Malabar Sailor," in particular) pack more punch than others, but there's more than enough fun here for a few late-night, flashlight reads. (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Book Description

Like every fifth grader, Esmé Raji Codell spent her days within the small world of school, neighborhood, and family. But this small world provides rich material for the often hilarious, always engrossing stories and vignettes in this book. Esmé tells us about: the night she and her mother became "egg vigilantes" against an illegally parked car; her freewheeling first school, where kids could choose disco dancing instead of math; her dangerous neighborhood, which her father made seem friendly and wondrous; the Passover dinner when she stole a matzoh right out from under a rabbi; the awe-inspiring, life-threatening Chicago snowstorms; and lessons about love from tea-reading gypsies and Popeye cartoons. ... 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 (3)

Sequels and Science......what a joy!!
This book follows the wonderful story set down by Cameron in her first book of the series. As a science teacher, I am still captivated by the wonderful work and research that went into the book in light of the volume of space knowledge known at that time. A wonderful flight to worlds unseen where you can relax with well developed characters and charming guests as well. A book that will grab you by your imagination and never let go! Well worth the read, well worth a reasonable price to own the series. A book I look forward to reading again.
I would love to see the entire series reprinted in paperback in order to have extra copies of it.

Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet
Two very smart boys who like to study the solar system,Chuck and David,invite a man who likes everything for himself over to give a lecture to their space society.The man's name was Horatio.At the lecture Horatio over-hears David,Chuck,and Theo,a Mushroom man from the Mushroom Planet, talking about the space ship and when they are taking off.Horatio asks to stay the night so he can see what they were planning to do.He sneaks aboard the ship without anyone noticing him.Theo,David and Chuck find Horatio in the back of the space ship when they were half way to The Mushroom Planet,Basidium. When they reach,they begin to speak in Basidiumite language. They didnt remember how to speak english.Horatio takes notes about Basidium so he can prove his dicovery on earth. Horatio steals jewels from the Basidiumites to bring back proof.He did this so he can be famous on earth.Because the Basidiumites didn't want there land to be exposed the king,Ta gave Horatio The Drink Of Forgetfulness.Horatio goes back to earth and doesnt remember basidiumite language so his notes were useless.

Two kids my age who go to an invisible satellite of earth's.
Two kids my age who go to an invisible satellite of earth's, only 50000 miles away. The book started when there was this mysterious disappearing man. Theo, the disappearing man, is a bisadiamite, a relative of Tycho Bass. The day before they left to go to Bisadiam with Theo, this guy named Horatio (or Professor Peabody) came and gave a lecture. That night they left for the satellite and met Mr. Bass. Horatio ruined the cemetary. The humans were captured in the cemetary, but they eventually found a way out. ... Read more

Reviews (9)