Reviews (9)

Amazing
The GG books are the greatest books written. Between Blair and her jelousy and Serena with her flings there was just so much action. It was non stop amazment and I think it only fit that every teenage girl experiance the GG phenomenon, it's worth the time spent in your room to read these amazing books!

Extraordinary Books!
I absolutely love the Gossip Girl book series! I read all five of the books in about 8 or 9 days ... they were that good!! Although the characters in the Gossip Girl series are mind-blowingly rich, it seems that they deal with the same problems as average teens, such as drugs, back-stabbing friends, and break-ups. When you think about it, that's really the messege of these books: that we're not all as different as we think we are. Also, Cecily von Ziegesar is such a convincing writer, sometimes I feel like I know Blair, Serena, Nate, and the rest of the gang, instead of them just being fictional characters! I recommend the Gossip Girl series to anyone who enjoys romance, drama, comedy, and rich people making fools of themselves!

It's actually pretty good!
Ok...This book wasn't like OMG I love it, but it was a really good book for teenagers. It has plenty of characters that you can get a feel for. It's a great book once you really get into it. You're kind of always wondering what's going to happen next.

AWSOME BOOKS!!!
this is such an awsome book, if your into girlie girlie type books...'ve 3 of them and am currently reading the 4th...you should tottally read these books. they're a little hard to get into but once you do your hooked! i hear the 5th is best so get reading...also i suggest the A-List novels...those are WAY better then these even though these books are good.

THE best books ever!
My friend gave me the first book. I was reluctant to read it. It didn't look great. The next week i had finished all 5 of them. My new favorite series. I loved them all sooooo much. i instantly felt compassion for blair, hatred toward serena, and attracted to nate, except for the weed. They were characters almost no one can relate to, but we love them anyway. If you haven't read these 5 treasures, do it now or regret it forever. ... Read more

Reviews (78)

Beginnings of a Very Good Series for Teenage Girls
Anna, a high school girl from New York's elite society decides to make the move across the country to live with her father in "Hollywierd." She is trying to reinvent herself into a new, more exciting Anna and within her first 24 hours in California she does just that.

Anna meets a college boy on the plane trip who invites her to a celebrity wedding. Anna accepts his invitation and attends the wedding where she meets Cammie, Sam, and Dee- The A-List. Cammie, Sam, and Dee are not overly happy with a new girl showing up to the wedding with the guy they all secretly have crushes on themselves. Anna's first few days in her new hometown are quite an adventure. This book ends with Anna attending her first day at the same school as the rest of the girls, setting up what is sure to be an entertaining school year to come.

What makes this book different from other series featuring young girls in California is that this one has some class. There are various references to classical music, poets, and theater which is refreshingly different. Anna, is very smart, well educated, and has good morals. Also, all the characters have at least some likable qualities. Cammie, who is easily the most difficult to like character even has a secret tender side that the reader is let in on. If the rest of the series keeps up these qualities then it should be an entertaining but intelligent read.

The Best Book Since A long Time
The A-List is a novel about a privileged girl named Ana who moves from New York to live with her dad in California for an internship with a literacy company. Ana is not your typical rich girl, she has depth, feeling, and wants more out of life than her new off the runway Prada handbag. Her parents are divorced, and her dad was hardly around since his work is his life and her mother will only do whats in her How to Live Rich Book. She leaves behind her best friend, Cynthia. Cynthia is everything that Ana isn't. Shes aggressive, outgoing, and not afraid to voice what she feels. Ana wishes to have some of these characteristics, and those wants are put to test the very moment she arrives on the plane heading towards Beverly Hills, California. She will encounter drunken old men, Cali. girls that have their noses stuck so far up that they don't even know whats bellow them, and a guy that could ultimately be "the one." Read and find out how Ana's life will end, or begin?

Wannabe Gossip Girl
It was interesting at first. It was catty and entertaining but as i turned each page, I could see how superficial and unrealistic the events in this book were. Its about a rich girl, Anna Percy, who decides to move to LA for a while so she can let loose. She gets to attend a celebrity wedding and meets hot guys and mean girls. All the characters in this book are spoiled, mean, brats with Louis Vuitton bags and money doesnt matter to them. Its too unrealistic and like Anna Percy said, "are these bad lines from a trashy teen novel?"...or something like that.

It tries to be like Gossip Girl and Sloppy Firsts but it doesnt succeed. I say, don't waste your time on this. Instead, try the ones I just compared with: Gossip Girl and Sloppy Firsts.

mediocre, at best
I picked up this book because it was recomended in the Gossip Girl series. I was, however, disappointed. The story is too slow-moving and the narrator was quite boring. I didn't like the style in which it was written, because it gave no depth or excitement to the story. I couldn't even get through the entire book, and had to stop midway. The A-List is one of those books that you have to keep putting down to go and do something else, otherwise your brain will explode from boredom. That's how I saw it, anyway. None of the characters were especially interesting, the plot pretty much reeked, and it moved. so. slowly. I definitley wasted my money on this book. (...)

very average
plotless. dry. there are many other words to describe dean's THE A-LIST, but most of them are too foul for FCC regulations.

The book is basically one girl's journey through L.A, while she falls in love with the wrong guy and gets on the bad side of the "a-list": bitchy Cammie, insecure Sam, and oversexed pseudo-hippie dee. when i first bought it and read it, i thought wow, this is like MEAN GIRLS, when it's really not. rereading it, it seemed boring, unfunny, and not even in the LEAST way similar to Gossip Girl, it's obvious parent.

there's a line between catty and stupid. THE A-LIST is neither. ... Read more

Book Description

Star Crossed Lovers

When Romiette Cappelle meets Julio Montague, she feels as though she has met the soul mate who can rescue her from her recurring nightmare about fire and water. But like the Shakespearean characters whose names echo theirs, Romiette and Julio discover that not everyone approves of their budding romance. In their case, it is because Romiette is African-American and Julio is Hispanic, and the Devildogs, a dangerous local gang, violently oppose their interracial relationship.

When the Devildogs threaten to teach them a lesson, Romiette and Julio come up with a risky plan to escape from the gang's fearsome shadow. But things go terribly awry, and the two find themselves caught up in a deadly reality more frightening that Romiette's nightmare -- and in a desperate struggle to avoid the tragic fate of Shakespeare's famous young lovers. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Good Book!
A modern version of Romeo and Juliette with some twists kept me turning the page for more excitement. Julio Montague moves from Texas to Ohio because of gangs at his old school and falls in love with the beautiful, African American girl Romiette Cappelle. What happens though, is that the Devil Dogs - a gang at this school - threatens the Hispanic boy of the dangers of seeing Romi. When both of them reufse to stop liking each other, the Devil Dogs take matters into their own hands and create a nightmare for both Romiette and Julio that they will never forget. This wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was still pretty good. Don't judge it based on the title because you'll be surprised at how different it is from Shakespeare's version considering you can only take the story line so far...very good book overall.

Great modern twist to Shakespeare's classic play
For my ninth grade English class, we were assigned to read the play Romeo and Juliet. That's why, when at the library, I spotted this book and decided to read it. Compared to the original play, this book was wonderfully sweet and romantic. African-American Romiette Cappelle (called Romi) and Hispanic Julio Montague are the two heros this time. Both sixteen and juniors in high school, they meet over the internet and develop a strong relationship, that even objections from a local gang cannot deter. This book chronicles thier journey to an open relationship that overcomes racial boundaries. I recommend this book for approximately ages 9-14.

Romiette and Julio
Romiette and Julio have become very close since Julio moved to Cinncinati from Texas, but a gang in their school( the devil dogs) decide that their diffrent cultural relationship should be put to a stop. The young couple with the help of there friends Ben and Destiney come up with a plan to get the gang off there backs. The plan goes wrong and Romiette's worst nightmares come crashing down on her and Julio is the only one who can save her. The novel is appealing to your sense of love and adventure. If you like to read about young love that has a strain put on it and pulls through you will love this novel that follows along the lines of Romeo and Juliette.

A pretty good book
Jimmy Gross

Romiette & Julio; Sharon Draper; New York; Simon Pulse, 1999. 320 pages.

Romiette & Julio is a pretty good book. I would highly recommend it to young people

that have just finished reading Romeo & Juliet. The plot is similar to Romeo & Juliet,

with a twist on names and places, but the story takes place in the world of today.

Romiette & Julio can be used to better understand Romeo & Juliet because it is

about gangs and the psychology of today's youth, particularly in cities full or crime,

drugs, and shootings. Romiette is an African American girl. Julio is Mexican teenager.

When they fall in love, their parents and the gang at school do not exactly like the idea of

them being together.

The story begins when Julio moves to Ohio from Texas. He first gets in a fight with

another boy, and when the fight is over, they became best friends. His new friend is Ben.

When Julio is on the computer, he begins talking to a girl. When he asks

her what school she goes to, he finds that they attend the same school. They meet

up with one another for lunch at school and quickly fall in love. The gang has

something against Julio and threaten him all of the time. The gang kidnaps Romiette and

Julio, and I suppose that you will have to read the book to find out what happens to

them, because I don't want to give anything away.

The author's writing style is exciting and entertaining. Sharon M. Draper does a very

good job of making the book suitable for teenagers. She has a very good style, relating to

teenagers in today's time using today's language. She uses gangs and real life situations,

showcasing kids who are having similar problems today, as the Romeo & Juliet of

yesterday.

The book makes it very clear as to the time period, place, and setting of the story.

The author tells a lot about who the characters are. The book describes Destiny, who is

Romiette's best friend, who happens to be psychic. The book also portray Ben, who is

Julio's best friend. The author also descriptively depicts the gang called the Devildogs.

The story takes place in Cincinnati, Ohio. Julio moved from Corpus Christie, Texas.

The author's voice is very good. The author does a great job of changing tones, and

sounding either emotional or angry. She can make Romiette and Julio sound like poets,

and have the gangs always sounding angry or against everything.

I feel that the book achieved its goal. I feel that the way Romeo & Juliet is

written makes it just about impossible to understand. The author made a book with

today's English and made it easy to understand.

I think the book left out very few things. I cannot think of anything. One thing

I think is the book should have gone further into the future instead of just a few

weeks. (at the end).

I am not sure how the book compares to others on the subject, because I have not read

any others. Compared to Romeo & Juliet, I think it is a lot better because kids can

actually read and understand what they are reading, and also they can relate with it a lot.

I think that Romiette and Julio was a very good book. If a kid is reading Romeo &

Juliet and doesn't understand it, they should read Romiette & Julio. I would recommend

this book to anyone.

Could have been written better
I was so disapointed at the phony plot details in this book. For example, Romi's parents make good money and are educated, but they live in a really nice house with a spacious yard that happens to be in a rough, inner-city school district? And when Ben gets sucker-punched by Julio he gets up and says "It's okay. I can tell you've had a rough day." Or Julio, who for much of the book speaks like an average hispanic teen, says "Don't worry, the principal has dispersed the crowd." Come on. The book's basic premise was cool, but the bad writing blew it. ... Read more

Book Description

The best of friends

From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other -- just as best friends should be.

Reviews (27)

Great For a first time reader!
My 6 year old loves this book! 5 wonderful storys! Every time we read it he wants me to send him a letter so he can get mail like frog and toad! I read these books when I was a very small child so its wonderful being able to read these books to my step-son! Great book!

Wonderful Books for Children
The "Frog and Toad" series have been around now for several decades. Each book contains several stories of the many adventures Frog and Toad have together. The age group recommended for the series is 4-8, but I think 8 is bit optimistic. The books are more appropriate for the 5 and 6 year olds. I read all these books to my children, and the Frog and Toad series were, in fact, some of the very first books they read by themselves. The language used is uniform and appropriate for the age group specified, and each story had a simple truth to it. On top of all this, the Frog and Toad books have always been wonderful value as well.

Friendship. Just the perfect blendship.
Recently I had the exceedingly wonderful chance to see the new musical of "Frog and Toad" at the Minneapolis Children's Company. A fabulous production in and of itself, it got me to thinking about the original books on which the musical is based. Like many children I was raised on such books as the lovely, "Frog and Toad Are Friends" and I've remembered some of the stories fairly well. It's amazing to me that Arnold Lobel was able to write stories that are patient simple without ever being dull or pedantic. These stories are clear and concise and unaccountably lovely. For your average early reader I not only recommend, "Frog and Toad Are Friends" but I recommend it to the reader's parents, grandparents, school crossing guards, dentists, air traffic controllers, and anybody else who might just happen to be able to speak the English language.

In "Frog and Toad Are Friends" the book consists of roughly five short stories. The first is one of my favorites. In it, Frog has decided to wake Toad from his hibernation and introduce him to the new spring. Toad's response is, "Blah". Frog tries a number of different methods of luring his friend into the warm beautiful day, the most touching of which is his simple argument, "But, Toad, I will be lonely". Frog's eventual solution is to fast-forward Toad's calendar a little, making it instantly May. Toad is a little shocked at the date but he's happy to see the spring weather. In the second tale, Frog is sick and Toad attempts to take care of him. His different methods of coming up with a story to tell his friend inevitably lead to his own illness, however, and soon it is Frog telling Toad a story instead. The story "A Lost Button" shows Frog and Toad out looking for one of Toad's lost buttons. They find a variety of them but none are Toad's. He walks off in a huff only to find the missing item on his living room floor. Feeling guilty about yelling at his best friend he sews all the buttons onto his jacket and then gives it as a gift to Frog. The next story is an atypical tale, mostly because it doesn't end with a preachy moral (not that Lobel's stories tend to, but this one was ripe for it). In it, Frog and Toad go swimming. Frog prefers to swim au naturale but Toad has a fastidious bathing suit that he is certain everyone will laugh at. After the two swim Toad refuses to get out of the water until the crowd that has gathered at the water's edge to see his suit disperse. They don't and Toad reveals a suit that was probably in style in 1923. Even Frog laughs too. Finally, in the last story Toad mentions to Frog that he is unhappy because he never gets letters. Frog writes him one but delivers it via their friend Snail (a character that in the play version of this tale says that he, "Puts the go in escargot"). The two wait and long before the snail arrives Frog tells Toad what is in the letter so that the two are better friends for it. Three days later, Toad is happy to receive his message.

This particular collection of Frog & Toad tales doesn't contain ALL the classics. You will not find the cookie eating tale here, nor the story about Toad dreaming about Frog growing smaller and smaller. Still, this is an excellent collection. I guess I never really noticed the subtlety of Lobel's illustrations. When you think of "Frog and Toad" you think of their realistic eyes and bodies. You think of their tweed jackets and elegant striped pants. What you may not think of is their capacity for subtle expressions. The image of Toad walking in his bathing suit, head held high, away from his fellow animals by the river is worth the price of admission alone. Ditto the shot of Toad clutching his aching noggin after ramming it into a wall.

I can't really stress the simple elegance of "Frog and Toad" to you if you haven't read them before. Needless to say, you won't even mind the fact that not a character in any of these tales ever uses a contraction. It's sometimes near impossible to write really good early reader books. I think Arnold Lobel set the bar way too high when he penned these extraordinary tales. If you've never read them, you are seriously missing out.

My almost 3 year old's favorite
The three book collection was hidden on my son's shelf from the time he received it from our priest as a gift when he was a new born. I found it a couple of months ago, and since then we have been reading the stories every evening and often during the day too. No matter how many of the stories I have read, my son asks for more and more. Since I have to read the stories every night, I am happy that they are adorable and entertaining for even the adult.

I Love Frog and Toad
Frog and Toad Are Friends is a great book. Frog is smart. Toad is not. Toad just copies other people. Frog thinks for himself. Frog and Toad are best friends, and they take care of each other. I like the pictures in this book. They tell a lot about the story. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nancy Holyoke's user-friendly guide to manners, brought to you by the beloved American Girl Library, is for girls who are "getting older, going new places, and doing new things." The introduction explains that "Manners can help. Manners are a common-sense guide to getting along with other people. They prevent you from being selfish or annoying. They remind you to be kind. They make you better company--and a better person." This cleverly designed, comically illustrated 116-page manual covers topics such as first impressions, introductions, invitations, thank-yous, table manners, good sports, embarrassing moments, family gatherings, and more. Holyoke's tips and suggestions, enlivened by numerous, humorous cartoons, are funny, easy to digest, and informative without being heavy-handed. Girls will be happy to know what to do and how to act in different situations. No doubt this tool will help them radiate confidence even when eating gristle, meeting new people, or having tea with the Queen of England. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

If you want to improve your manners....
...then get this book! It's filled with tons of practical advice for ages 8 and up. If your manners need some polishing up, then I would suggest reading this book. Like all of the American Girl Library books, it's in a fun-to-read, easy-to-understand format and includes valuable information that girls really can use.

"Oops!: The Manners Guide For Girls" includes ettiquette advice for basic manners, greetings and introductions, manners with friends, gifts and presents, table manners, special occasions, embarrasing moments and horrors, and so much more. Sprinkled throughout the book are quizzes to test your ettiquette, answers to questions sent by real girls, and advice for sticky situations. This is one of the best books I've read for improving your manners. If you're a girl (or parent of one) with manners you think could use improvement, read this book.

Prim and Proper
I got this book when I was twelve. I knew I had to improve my manners yet I didn't want to go to to a school for etiquette. This book teaches girls the fundmentals of having good manners (i.e. first impressions, body language, house guests, nosy questions, etc. ) without being fussy and too prudish. They have quizzes that you can take to test your etiquette when it comes to hosting parties, the outdoors and how to deal with horrible house guests. The book is divided into chapters that put you in compromising positions where your manners can make or break you. They cover absolutely everything you could possibly think of; traveling in a foreign country, how to write the perfect party invitation, how to act in public, everything. They even have solutions on how not to interrupt people when they are talking and how not to bore people when you're initiating a conversation and how to address unmarried women, married women and young girls (i.e. Mrs. Ms. or Miss?) Since reading the book, I am no longer intimidated by how to act at a wedding, funeral, at a friends house, a fancy dinner or even meeting presidents and royalty. I even know how to make the perfect curtsy since reading "Oops!: The Manners Guide for Girls".

GREAT BOOK
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!! I'M 10 AND I READ THE BOOK, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL BOOK! IT IS ABOUT ALL DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU MIGHT WONDER WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. THE BOOK HAS FUN QUIZES. IT TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANNERS IN A FUN WAY. IT HAS CARTOONY PICTURES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU. IT IS A LONG BOOK, BUT DOSEN'T GET BORING. YOU SHOULD BUY IT.

Soooooooo Totaly Coooooool
I love this book.I have read it a lot of times very thoroughly.I usually look at it when I am going to go to a nice restraunt.I like it because it has lots of tips,letters from girls,cute illustrations,and quizzes.Even though it's supposed to be for girls,I think boys could probably learn some things from it.Also if you get it for your child, you might want to look at it.Once my family was hosting a fancy dinner, so my mom had to look at it to remember which silverware and drink glasses go where.I love this book!!

Every child (not just girls) needs this book!
We purchased this for our 8-year-old daughter, and I wish we would have had it years ago. It teaches all children to correct way to act in many different situations. This book has been great for our daughter, but also for me to teach our four sons the same manners lessons! ... Read more

Book Description

Inspired by the issues discussed in Loving Your Body / Loving Yourself, this journal gives teens the opportunity to explore their own feelings about their bodies, themselves, and other related topics in a unique, personal way. Author Kimberly Kirberger provides commentary, questions, and suggested writing activities to help girls use the journal to work toward loving their bodies and themselves. Body image is the #1 issue among preteen and teen girls. This journal is specifically designed to help them express and work through their feelings on this powerful, important topic.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great journal!
This is a great journal for teenage girls to discover their personality, values and stuff like that. lol. It's really fun to fill in! I recommend this to every girl from age 11-16. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Richard Carlson has written numerous books encouraging folks not to"sweat the small stuff", and his title for teens is as warm, wise, and witty ashis previous works. His tone is one of an older family friend who manages toadvise while still maintaining the minimum level of coolness that teens requirefrom those who intend to guide them into adulthood.

With 100 different chapters, each just a few pages in length, this littlebook works especially well as a bedside companion or tucked in a backpack forthe morning commute to school. Each chapter is devoted to a single, simple ideasuch as "trust your inner signals" and "root for the underdog," and plenty ofreal-life examples from teens are used to illustrate principles. In the secondchapter, a teen volunteering at an animal shelter is used to show how just oneperson can make a difference, as she takes the time for one more phone call thatresults in saving a dog's life. The concepts are appropriate for both early highschool students and new graduates--who doesn't need an occasional reminder to"be ok with your bad hair day"? Incorporating sports, theater, literature, videogames, teachers, and parents into stories make these examples accessible to kidsof all interests, and a sprinkling of tales from the author's own teenage yearsadds an effective personal note. With plenty of suggestions for addingactivities into a teen's life--volunteer opportunities in particular--your childmay even feel encouraged to seek out new forms of positive expression simply forthe joy of the activity, rather than the old standbys of "my friends are doingit" or "I need it to get into college." --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great For Any Teen
When I first got this book I looked at it as another book with an adult telling you useless ways to keep your cool in weird situations. Then one day I picked it up and I was amazed. The write of this seems to understand our life and doesn't lecture us about how we blow things out of proportion. All the chapters pertained to me and really helped me not to stress out so much. I think I am now a better friend and person from it. He (Richard Carlson, author) really shows us good examples and you remember things from the book as you go. I suggest this for every teen.

STRESS REDUCTION FOR TEENS
If you're "stressed out" and would like to look at ways to be a happier more contented person, you may find something in these pages that ring true for you. The book title indicates "for teens", but anyone could benefit from some of the author's suggestions. For example, when someone is talking, avoid the words, "I know."; or "dare to show enthusiam. Be a volunteer in your community-- find something that you really enjoy doing and do it! - Don't infect your friends with negative thoughts if you're in a low mood.-- Instead of making unkind, caustic comments, stay away from those close to you until you feel better; that way, you don't have to feel guilty, make apologies or re-ignite your stress worrying about any inappropriate hurtful words you might have used --Try some meditation or contemplation or yoga exercises to be more relaxed." Richard Carlson's hypothesis is- if you don't get stressed out about the small things, then dealing with more complex issues becomes easier. The book offers advice without lecturing and the topics are brief. One could read a few pages daily. Highly recommended reading. Quite inspirational, and not just for teens. Contains practical information for anyone

The best advice I've ever been given!
I admit, this was lying on my shelf for two years before I picked it up (almost). Being somewhat hard-headed, I never accepted that someone could tell me how to make life easier. But Mr. Carlson's methods and exmaples put his 100 tips into perspective... and reality. Although not all his examples are good, the principles have certainly helped me through a lot of stressful times, including keeping my cool in arguments with my boyfriend & family. It's a definite must-read for any teenager, and even parents.

*~ Some helpful Tips in this Book*~
I liked this book~ It was easy to read in 101 sections divided up. The only thing I think this book lacked was a teenager's point of view. Unlike Chicken Soup, Teen Love, and Teen Ink, a grown man is writing these tips. He had some good advice but I think some of the tips couldve been made fresher by having some kind of teenager input. Other than that theres many valuable lessons in this book and Richard Carlson did a good job (even if he is grown and not a teenager himself.) I suggest you read it! I'm sure you'll get some kind of help or advice outta it~

much needed
Being the uncle of an out-of-control teen with siblings I felt obligated to provide them with whatever I could without appearing overly concerned. This book fit the bill perfectly. All four kids have read it, each one commenting on it differently. I wish the school system was conscious enough to have "living life" classes in addition to the 3 Rs, you know something that helps kids with real-world issues they face. ... Read more

Book Description

Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1867. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a
family she has never met. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place. Just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit"s friendship with Hannah Tupper, believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined and ultimately forces Kit to choose between her heart and her duty.
Elizabeth George Speare"s Newbery Award–winning novel portrays a heroine whom readers will admire for her unwavering sense of truth as well as her infinite capacity to love. ... Read more

Reviews (293)

ThE wItCh Of BlAcKbIrD pOnD--a GrEaT bOoK--
Kit Tyler was once a rich girl of Barbados, but upon her grandfather's death, she finds out that she now is poor. She goes aboard the ship, the Dolphin, heading for Connecticut Colony, and wishes to live a better life at her aunt's house. While on the way, she becomes friends with the captain's son, Nat Eaton, John Holbrook, a man planning on becoming a minister, and Prudence, a little girl. When she finally arrives at her destination, she tries to fit in with the Puritans, and to keep up with her lively cousin, Judith, and her gentle one, Mercy. After a number of different accidents in the family and outside, she finds becomes friends with an old Quaker woman named Hannah, that lives at Blackbird Pond, who is said to be a witch. Kit does not believe this, and she keeps on being friends with the old woman. But, the villagers see Kit as a threat to the community, since they do not trust her as being a friend to their witch, and she goes on trial. Just as she thinks she is doomed, Nat Eaton and Prudence save her. However, Kit discovers that she will never fit in with the Puritans, and planned on going on the Dolphin the next time the ship came. Finally, the ship docks, and she goes on it, for what seems to be a much better future.

My favorite part of the book was where Kit goes on trial. I thought of this at my favorite part for I think it is very interesting to hear how other people act to problems and try to blame it on someone else. I think it is very funny how people think of small problems and turn them into what sounds like a major disasters performed by a witch. I like the part where Prudence comes in, and stuns her own parents by doing what they had never thought she would be able to do, which was reading the Bible and writing her own name. I think it is not right when parents think very little about kids and think they are still their little babies that always need their parents to help them.

I recommend this book to kids the ages of 10 and up. I also recommend adults to read this book and learn the facts of how kids can do things without any help from their parents or any one else. I believe Elizabeth George Speare is a great author who has written many books that I have enjoyed. After reading this book, I came to really enjoy it. At first I thought it was very boring, but in the end, it became more interesting and fun. I also learned not to judge anyone by what people say about them, but you should always think about your judgement before actually thinking about if it is true or not. I now understand the meaning of "Never judge a book by its cover."

A FASCINATING TALE!
A witch? Someone thinks you are a witch? When Kit leaves Barbados on the lovely Dolphin ship to live in America with her Uncle, she is unprepared for what she encounters. What a surprise when she discovers that being able to read, swim, wear fancy clothes, as well as befriending a kind old woman is odd behavior for this town. In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Spears sends you on a reading adventure. The story includes a number of surprising and suspenseful events including a frightening witch hunt and a big outcry among some angry villagers against their government. Some parts of the story are a little boring, but the elaborate language and unpredictable moments bring you right back into the book. The climax of this book is the best part. It's unbeleivable and exciting. The main character, Kit, is very interesting. You will feel like you know her only after reading a few pages. Fiesty, wise, and stubborn are some of Kit's personality traits. You will also become very familiar with many of the other characters including Kit's two cousins, her Aunt and Uncle, Nat a seaman, and John and William two very interesting men, plus many more! This book has many hidden lessons in it. It teaches you about friendship, trust, bravery, genorosity, and happiness, It will fill you with sorrow and joy, and is a very adventurous story loved by many!

Diverse Religions, and History
Kit comes over to the 13 colonies becuae her grandfather died. When she arrives, she finds a place very diffrent from her former home, Barbados. She is forced by her strict uncle to be a solemn as the puritans, and to set aside her silk gowns and wear homespun dresses. she feels completly stifled by her new life, and one day, after almost cuasing her crippled cousin her teaching job, she breaks. She runs to the "meadow" where she meets Hannah Tupper, a Quaker who is shuned and thought to be a witch by many. All she really is is a kind old lady. She takes kit home and feeds her, and helps her be brave and get her cousins job back. kit goes back to Hannahs house and eventually meets Hannahs seafaring friend, none other than Nat, the son of the man who brought her to America.And yes Nat was on the boat the whole time kit was. Then one day Kit is accused of being a witch. Something not to be taken lightly in the 1600's. She is rescued by none other than Nat. Then hannah is going to be burned out of her house, or if the people have their way, in her house. But Kit goes and helps Hannah get out before the evil people come, and she gets her on a ship... whose ship? Guess. Nats. And so Hannahs gone and Kits life is drudging on a usual.... and then someone comes... like you can't guess who... and something happens...

Now that's what I call a "living" book
I just finished reading this book aloud to my 3 children. They are a tough audience but this book made the history lesson extra smooth. They were begging for "just one more chapter".

This book delves into the Puritan lifestyle,touches a bit on some of the sentiments of the colonists and their fierce independence, briefly touches on some of the archaic medical practices of the times, shows how easily innocent circumstances turned into witch hunts and sparked a conversation about how people can fall into a mob mentality and much more.

There is tons of information here to spark an interest in children to dig deeper. Our family highly recommends it!

Excellent lesson to be learned
I discovered this book years and years ago in the fourth grade. The thought of it stayed with me through the years. I bought the book for my friend's son a couple years ago and reread it to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was even better because as an adult I can see some of the most important themes of the book that weren't evident to a child. Tolerance and acceptance are perhaps the biggest lessons of all to take away from it. Independence is another. I will continue to buy this book every time a child close to me comes to the age where they can understand it. The plotline is enough to keep them interested while at the same time teaching them valuable life lessons, without them even knowing it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I'M SMARTER NOW!
This story is about kids that have difficulties with their friends and try to get them back. The story that I'm reading doesn't have 1 character, it has
millions of them. But most of all, my favorite character is JENNA. The setting is in a house, in a car, and in a school. My story also has lots and lots of photos and
d it also has tests in it. I chose this book because it is helping me to realize about my
friendship and the problems that I have with my friends. This is a book that teaches kids
about friendship troubles and how to get your friends back. I enjoyed the part I read with
JENNA and this new girl coming to the school that JENNA went to. But I know that this
story doesn't have tragedy or anything. The author of this book I'm reading is PATTI
KELLE and the illustrator is ANGELA MARTINI. This book makes me feel better now!

A SMART GIRLS GUIDE TO FRIENDSHIP TROUBLES
The art rocks!The story was great. But it was the illustration that I loved the most. ... Read more

Book Description

It only takes a few hours for Turner Buckminster to start hating Phippsburg, Maine. No one in town will let him forget that he's a minister's son, even if he doesn't act like one. But then he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a smart and sassy girl from a poor nearby island community founded by former slaves. Despite his father's-and the town's-disapproval of their friendship, Turner spends time with Lizzie, and it opens up a whole new world to him, filled with the mystery and wonder of Maine's rocky coast.
The two soon discover that the town elders, along with Turner's father, want to force the people to leave Lizzie's island so that Phippsburg can start a lucrative tourist trade there. Turner gets caught up in a spiral of disasters that alter his life-but also lead him to new levels of acceptance and maturity.
This sensitively written historical novel, based on the true story of a community's destruction, highlights a unique friendship during a time of change.Author's note. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Richie's Picks: LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY
"From so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved."
--Charles Darwin, THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

"Like angels appearing in the sky,
whales are proof of God."
--Cynthia Rylant, THE WHALES

Because it is based upon a series of true, race-related events in Maine during the early 1900s, LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY might make you think of Karen Hesse's WITNESS. Several of the "good guy" characters--Mrs. Carr and the elder Mrs. Hurd, for example--have a charm reminiscent of the idiosyncratic folk in BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE. But, because of the depth of the evil behind the tragic real events upon which the fictional story of Lizzie and Turner is built, the feelings of despair and anger with which we're left evoke memories of such books as MISSISSIPPI TRIAL, 1955 and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.

The enchanting Lizzie Bright Griffin, a girl of great strength and few words, belongs to the youngest of many generations of African Americans who have called Malaga Island home.

"Lizzie held close against her grandfather as the people of Malaga Island came out from the pine woods, gathered around their preacher on the shore to hear what had been said. Before they turned, Lizzie felt her grandfather ebb as though his soul were passing out of him, the way the last waves of a falling tide pass into still air and are gone. "She took a deep breath, and she wasn't just breathing in the air. She breathed in the waves, the sea grass, the pines, the pale lichens on the granite, the sweet shimmering of the pebbles dragged back and forth in the surf, the fish hawk diving to the waves, the dolphin jumping out of them.
"She would not ebb.
"Then she turned with her grandfather to tell the gathering people of Malaga that times had moved on, and they would have to leave their homes."

Across the water, on the mainland, Turner is the new kid in town. And even worse--from his perspective--he's the new minister's son.

"Turner Buckminster had lived in Phippsburg, Maine, for almost six whole hours.
"He didn't know how much longer he could stand it."

Here, as with the fight over the towers in Elaine Konigsburg's THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE, the root of conflict involves money and property values. Phippsburg's shipbuilding industry is dying, and the local "boys with the bucks" reckon that tourism may be the source of future prosperity if only the "less desirable" portion of the community can be run out of town.

" 'Would you look at that monkey go? Look at her go. She climbing down or falling?' Deacon Hurd watched the last leap to the ground. 'Sheriff Elwell, I believe she thought you might shoot her.'
" 'Wouldn't have been any trouble, Mr. Hurd. One less colored in the world.' "

The character who is most difficult to decipher in this story of Turner's coming of age is his father. Reverend Buckminster was hired by the church leadership and is supposed to be serving God. However, he is being pulled in various directions: by the white community, by his own knowledge and conscience (or sometimes lack thereof), and by the beliefs of the maturing son he apparently loves, albeit in a stiff, 1912 Congregationalist ministerial fashion.

"And suddenly, Turner had a thought that had never occurred to him before: he wondered if his father really believed a single thing he was saying.
"And suddenly, Turner had a second thought that had never occurred to him before: he wondered if he believed a single thing his father was saying."

Reverend Buckminster is but one of several characters who end up throwing Turner a curveball.

The innocent, against-all-odds friendship that develops between Turner and Lizzie repeatedly caused me shivers, delight, and despair. It is first among the many reasons why LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY is an entertaining and important piece of YA historic fiction. (...) ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Read this book!
The scene: 1844, Caldwell, Colorado, high in the Rocky Mountains. Fourteen-year-old Daniel LeBlanc lives with his aunt and uncle while his father is out hunting and fishing. Daniel's father is a Mountain Man, an experienced trapper who knows the mountains, forests, and streams like he knows the back of his hand. Then one day he disappears! No one can find any trace of him.

Daniel is, understandably, hit hard by the loss of his father. He swears that he is hearing a voice --- a voice that is telling him frightening things about his father. He's also having severe dreams at night. Frightened by these hallucinations and omens, Daniel goes out to search for his father. Daniel has many escapades and adventures. One particular stormy night, Daniel sees a scar-faced man stealing horses. The thief sees Daniel, too, and Daniel barely escapes being shot. In fear, he joins a wagon train heading west. After many long months and many obstacles, Daniel finally finds his father. How does Daniel come to understand that he and his father aren't the only ones in danger? Read this book to find out!

I like to learn about the lives of people in America's past, so I thought this book was really informative and awesome. I also liked this book because it was exciting and full of adventure and action, and I never knew what was going to happen next! If you want an exciting book to read then read this book!

--- Reviewed by Ashley, age 13, Book Boss

Can't agree with School Lib Journal
(...) This is an adventure story, and on that level it works very well. In addition, the characters are diverse, rich, three-dimensional, funny, and complex. No simple formula writing here, though you can see the capture-escape-recapture-escape rhythm that you also see in the best of authors in this genre. Plus, it's a coming-of-age novel. Daniel goes off to find his father, and ends up finding himself. I'd compare it to Gary Paulsen's _Tucker_ series, or even (if you're old enough to remember) _True Grit_. Many YA readers and adult readers alike will find this book a very rewarding read.

Furthermore, this book shows a more accurate picture of the impact of white settlement in the Amer West than most of the popular YA historical fiction. There is no whitewash of the settlers, and no romantic images of the native Americans, either. Compared to some of the "Dear America" books, for example, _Daniel's Walk_ is far and away more historically accurate.

Students especially should get hold of it. (...) It's rare enough that we come across a decent story based on decent historical research.

An exciting new historical novel.
Daniel's mother died in childbirth when he was just a small boy. After that, his father, a fur trapper, left Daniel to be raised by relatives in Missouri. Aunt Judith believes Daniel's father is a good-for-nothing responsible for her sister's death. She and her husband discourage Daniel from ever searching for his father. But a mysterious voice in the night warns Daniel that his father is in danger. Determined to save him, he sets out to cross the country and find his father in the Rocky Mountains. Daniel joins up with a wagon train and meets a headstrong girl named Rosalie as well as a horse thief determined to kill him. But even if Daniel survives the dangers of the overland journey, can he escape the horse thief's vengeance and find his father before it's too late? This was an exciting historical novel with a new perspective on the Oregon Trail. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Grace of Picasso; The Sensibility of Chagall
I'm a big fan of author/illustrator Patricia Polacco, and this book is one of the best of her incredible catalogue: It contains all the essential ingredients that go into a "Polacco." She returns here to her Michigan childhood, and her loving memories of her grandmother "Babushka." Polacco's detailed reminiscence describes how Babushka helped her overcome a fear of thunderstorms.

We identify with the frightened young heroine partly because Polacco so convincingly describes the power and noise of a Midwest thunderstorm. Gradually, Polacco shows how Babushka's patient, strong doses of hugs, distraction, reassurance, and the promise of a special treat gave her the self-confidence to face and surmount her fear. Analyze this too deeply and you'll recognize some basic child-rearing techniques, but Polacco infuses these with so much warmth that they seem to spring, sui generis, from some old folk wisdom held by Babushkas everywhere. The result is a genuinely exciting and lovingly told story enlivened by the fact that it is true.

Polacco's illustrations are a treasure. She has a unique style that combines American influences (Rockwell, American primitives, early cartoons) with eastern European folk art, all drawn in her trademark loopy style. She paints brightly colored, organic looking objects, people, and animals that convey emotion and invite empathy. This is a visual equivalent of a great short story, it seems that every color and line adds to the value of the narrative; yet her achievement remains informal and friendly; it never feels studied or precious. Polacco's sense of fun and tradition, her celebration of family, loved ones, and reminiscence, and her bold imagination remind me of Chagall (though not nearly as abstract.) As usual, she includes her signature goat drawings, recalling as well Chagall's animal motifs.

There's a satisfying warm glow one gets after reading this book; her other books evoke similar feelings. Although praised by many for her outstanding talents, I still somehow feel that she deserves even more recognition as one of the best ever children's book writers/illustrators. Enthusiastically recommended!

The Sensibility of Chagall; the Grace of Picasso
I'm a big fan of author/illustrator Patricia Polacco, and this book is one of the best of her incredible catalogue: It contains all the essential ingredients that go into a "Polacco." She returns here to her Michigan childhood, and her loving memories of her grandmother "Babushka." Polacco's detailed reminiscence describes how Babushka helped her overcome a fear of thunderstorms.

We identify with the frightened young heroine partly because Polacco so convincingly describes the power and noise of a Midwest thunderstorm. Gradually, Polacco shows how Babushka's patient, strong doses of hugs, distraction, reassurance, and the promise of a special treat gave her the self-confidence to face and surmount her fear. Analyze this too deeply and you'll recognize some basic child-rearing techniques, but Polacco infuses these with so much warmth that they seem to spring, sui generis, from some old folk wisdom held by Babushkas everywhere. The result is a genuinely exciting and lovingly told story enlivened by the fact that it is true.

Polacco's illustrations are a treasure. She has a unique style that combines American influences (Rockwell, American primitives, early cartoons) with eastern European folk art, all drawn in her trademark loopy style. She paints brightly colored, organic looking objects, people, and animals that convey emotion and invite empathy. This is a visual equivalent of a great short story, it seems that every color and line adds to the value of the narrative; yet her achievement remains informal and friendly; it never feels studied or precious. Polacco's sense of fun and tradition, her celebration of family, loved ones, and reminiscence, and her bold imagination remind me of Chagall (though not nearly as abstract.) As usual, she includes her signature goat drawings, recalling as well Chagall's animal motifs.

There's a satisfying warm glow one gets after reading this book; her other books evoke similar feelings. Although praised by many for her outstanding talents, I still somehow feel that she deserves even more recognition as one of the best ever children's book writers/illustrators.
Enthusiastically recommended!

The cat is the star!
This book is adorable! My daughter's second-grade teacher read it to the class, and told me that my daughter loved it, so I went out and bought a copy. The relationship between the little girl and her grandmother is endearing. The recipe looks good. And I love all the farm animals. Perhaps, my favorite is Grandmother's cat. It twists and turns into different shapes like a pretzel --and not unlike a real cat. Another added attraction about this book. Recommended!

Travel thru Time with Patricia Polacco...
I am a 3rd grade teacher who finds Polacco's work to be exceptional, not only in its' written form, but with its' vibrant, eye-catching illustrations. Polacco has a remarkable way of taking the reader back in time with her, to her very own childhood, as in "Thundercake." "Thundercake" is a universal story of a little girl overcoming her fear of thunderstorms while baking a cake with her grandmother.It is a story that speaks to many children in showing them that they can overcome their fears. I highly recommend any of Polacco's books. She will take the reader to such simple places as her grandparent's farm in Michigan,as well as to such exotic places as Old World Russia, where her family is from. Polacco is a jewel that sparkles above the rest!

Thunder fear
The story takes place in the summer in Michigan on a farm. It is summer storm season and the grandmother has her grandaughter over. The grandaughter is afraid of thunder, so the grandmother bakes a cake to take away her fears. They quickly got all the ingredients and made the cake. If you make the cake before the storm hits, you made thunder cake. I highly recommend this book for children 4 and up. This is a humorous book by Patricia Polacco.
Eric C. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

an excellent read for any human being, regardless of age
Self esteem is absolutely essential in dealing with the challenges of life. Feeling good about yourself because of who you are rather than who your friends think you should be is what will help your child (and you) deal with peer pressure and making positive decisions. This book offers examples and suggestions that will help you develop a healthy and secure sense of yourself and your world. I bought it for my kids, but found it a great read for myself and a great resource for helping my children feel good about themselves and easing the pressure they often feel from their peers. It tells you not only how to take responsibility for your feelings, needs, and behaviors, it explains why that's important. A great find. Our whole family will benefit from this book.

Breakthrough in identifying my own ADULT feelings & needs!
I bought this for my 12-year old daughter, but once I glanced through it, I couldn't put it down! Especially helpful for women with stoic upbringings, martyre complexes, or rescue tendencies. This book actually lists, describes and illustrates the emotions and needs we all possess. Yet, being written for 9 to 12 year olds, can be quickly and easily read, understood and put into practice. ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers a unique approach to one of the most pressingproblems of our time.Child psychologist, Dr. Jerry Wilde, speaksdirectly to children and adolescents in a language they can easilyunderstand.Hot Stuff to Help Kids Chill Out is an empowering bookdesigned to encourage today's youth to manage their anger rather thanbe controlled by it. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Needs some modifications!
I bought this book for two preteen boys I provide skill/therapy sessions with. It was hard for them to understand some of the sarcastic humor in the book - however if this had been left out it would have been a great book for them. Ideal for a parent, or professional to spark conversation with children.

Help children get in control of their angry reactions
Jerry Wilde, Ph.D., author of Hot Stuff to Help Kids Chill Out, proves to youth that it is their thoughts, beliefs, and ideas that make them angry, not their parents or teachers or family. This is good news. Because if other people and things made you angry, what would be the point of trying to learn to handle your anger? You would have no control. This is the basis of a branch of therapy called Rational-Emotive Therapy, and Dr. Wilde does an impressive job in this book of teaching adolescents how to use these skills all by themselves to solve their anger problems. I have used this in my practice of Child and Family Therapy with boys who were always getting into fights. They were quickly able to apply the concepts to identify rational vs. irrational thoughts, and learned that if they changed their thoughts, they could change their behavior. Other methods of anger management or problem-solving don't always work when a child is being provoked by a bully, but this method rarely lets you down. This amazing interactive workbook will really engage your child, and the author's sense of humor reaches out to young and old.

How this book helped my eight year old.
My eight year old son has a pretty hot temper and was getting in trouble at school because of it. He was also having trouble making and keeping friends. Does this sound familiar? Read on. We liked this book because he could read it himself. It also has questions as you go through to help reinforce the different concepts and apply them to your own situation. It is amusing, I colud hear my son laughing as he was reading it and he would say "Mom come and look at this, It's really funny". The book gives clear guidelines regarding how to 'Chill Out' which my son is beginning to use with VERY good effect. I would recommend this book to anyone with an angry child.

Hot Stuff to Help Kids Chill Out, The Anger Management Book
I think this book is already helping my 11-year old son. Although I could not get him to read the book himself, he was willing to listen and interact as I read it to him. Because it is very focused and relatively short, this approach worked for us. The real breakthrough came in doing one of the distraction exercises recommended. -- My son was truly amazed as a smile played over his face and he said, "It works, I can't stay mad." He still has a long way to go, but he has some new tools now to try to change his life.

This book is awesome.
I bought this book for my son, he and I sat down and started reading it and laughed from the start. My son took a great interest in reading it and is normally pretty resistant to the subject in general. The authors approach is straightforward and humorus at the same time. It is hard work trying to change a difficult trait at a young age, but this book gives good advise in a way that young people can understand, relate, and open up too. Thanks! ... Read more

Book Description

When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. This book helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one's death. Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, these books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The story lines are simple and direct--easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page. (Ages 4-7) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This IS the book for answering kids questions!!
This book covers much more than things live and then they die. It talks about how you feel and invites the child to tell how they are feeling. Besides talking about death it explains funerals and what the purpose is. The thing I liked best about this book was how it explained the after life. No matter what your religious beliefs their explanation of after life is perfect and doesn't limit it's self to any specific belief. It goes on to discuss this in terms a child can understand "sometimes it helps if you think of a soul as a single rain drop, joining a great big ocean". We got a few books to help us explain and answer our 4 ½ year olds questions but this one covers everything, it's the only one we would have needed.

GREAT!
I bought this book for my 5 year old when his grandmother died. My son was dealing with some serious grief. We were searching for any way that we could to help him. He loves this book. It has questions to go over with your child that really open up the communication and help children deal with the emotions that they are feeling. This book is a favorite in our house that we read every night and have great happy memories of our loved one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For anyone who ever doubted it, Todd Parr is here to tell us all thatit's okay to be different. With his signature artistic style, featuring brightlycolored, childlike figures outlined in heavy black, Parr shows readers over andover that just about anything goes. From the sensitive ("It's okay to beadopted"--the accompanying illustration shows a kangaroo with a puppy in herpouch) to the downright silly ("It's okay to eat macaroni and cheese in thebathtub"), kids of every shape, size, color, family makeup, and background willfeel included in this gentle, witty book. In this simple, playful celebration ofdiversity, Parr doesn't need to hammer readers over the head with his message.

Parr is well known for his funky feel-good titles, including Things That Make You Feel Good/ThingsThat Make You Feel Bad, Underwear Do's and Don'ts, andThis Is My Hair. (Ages 3to 6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (10)

I agree, It IS OKAY TO READ THIS BOOK! ..and to be you...
Maybe some people's kids like reading old stuff like aesops fables..stuff that doesn't relate to the REAL WORLD. BUT MOST kids in TODAY'S WORLD have issues. Issues like- why do I have freckles and why do I have curly hair and why do I wear glasses and why can't I be like her... or him ...or them! That's why this book is SO WONDERFUL..it teaches a wonderful lesson - IT'S OKAY..TO BE DIFFERENT, IT'S OKAY TO BE YOU! This is certainly an enriching book for any child - it builds self esteem, self confidence, and shows kids how everyone can be different, but that's what makes us special!...

Wonderful book about different types of diversity
This book has quickly been added to my story time collection. The illustrations are bright, colorful and charming for reading aloud or simply browsing. Children are reminded that it's okay to be different, no matter what their differences or similarities. While tolerance of others is one of the themes, self-acceptance is the most important message. This is a great book for showing that differences are perfectly fine and acceptable. The book does not reek of politically correct messages as much as it comforts us that being different is just fine. I, as an adult, liked myself a little better after I read it the first time. I think children will feel the same way.

A friend of mine took the book to read at her local children's hospital where it was a big hit with the patients who often feel very different. This is a must for any library, big or small.

A superficial idea of what it means to be
THIS IS A VERY BRIEF BOOK WRITTEN PRIMARILY FOR CHILDREN--UNHAPPY, DEPRESSED, "ABNORMAL" CHILDREN. THE GIST OF THE THING IS TO INSTILL IN THE KIDS THAT IT IS "OK" TO BE DIFFERENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY "ARE" DIFFERENT, BUT THAT'S "OK." OUR OUTWARD & INWARD DIFFERENCES ARE TO BE "CELEBRATED."
I AGREE, BUT...

DO YOU SEE ANYTHING WEIRD ABOUT THIS? IT'S SUCH A PARADOX, A CONUNDRUM OF THE BACK AGAINST THE WALL, WHAT CAN I DO TO FIT IN WITH THESE ADULTS AND OTHER CHILDREN VARIETY. I CAN'T GET MY MIND AROUND THIS CONCEPT (OR ACCEPT IT), SO HOW CAN ANYONE EXPECT "ABNORMAL CHILDREN" TO COMPREHEND WHAT IS BEING IMPLIED? THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LIFE EXPERIENCE!

THE INTELLIGENT CHILDREN (AND MOST "WEIRD" KIDS ARE INTELLIGENT FOR SOME REASON) ARE LEFT TO INFER THAT FEELING GOOD HAPPENS WHEN YOU BEHAVE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

THE BOOK DOES WORK ON ONE LEVEL AT LEAST; HOWEVER, AND THAT IS THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE HAPPY, IF FOR JUST A MINUTE OCCASSIONALLY, THIS WORKBOOK-TYPE TOME IS FULL OF FUN ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEIR "STRANGE, UNHAPPY" LITTLE MINDS OCCUPIED.

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Read to ANY Child, regardless of Chronological Age
I was at Storytime today and this book leaped off the shelf and into my hands begging to be read. The first thing I thought was, this is SUCH simple, pure, rock solid truth that everyone should have a copy regardless of their age.

Whether you are 4 years + 36 or 4 years + 52 or 4 years + 2, this book has a message for you.

It's okay to be you!
This is probably the best book in the whole world. Kids especially like "it's okay to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub." This is the best approach to diversity I've ever seen, and it's cute and funny as well as having a serious undertone. Buy it for someone unique! ... Read more