Book Description

Inch and Miles have one last assignment before summer vacation begins. Their wise teacher, Mr. Wooden, has asked them the meaning of success. Using a magic silver whistle, Inch and Miles set out on a journey to discover the blocks of the Pyramid of Success and learn how to try 100 percent to be their personal best. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Inch & Miles: The Journey to Success
This is a great book for parents and children to read together. In the competitive world that we live in today where so many times you are judged by winning or losing, it's refeshing to have a book like this to help explain to your child that it is not so much winning but knowing that you tried your best and gave your best effort. I had read Wooden:A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections and became a big fan of his Pyramid of Success and his philosophies, so it was great to hear that there was a book with this information written at a child's level. I read Inch and Miles with my 8 year old son and he loved the characters, the poems and the pictures. I found that we were able to stop and talk about different parts of the book and that he was able to understand a little about how to try to achieve his personal best and to be proud of that. The building blocks in the pyramid are a great way to teach my son because we can focus on one at a time instead of overwhelming him with information. I'll be able to use the book as a reference for when my son gets frustrated or upset about a result he has received, so I'm sure we'll be reading it over and over again.

Inch and Miles, a book for every parent and child...
I have always been a huge fan of Coach John Wooden for his unparalleled success and accomplishments as coach of the UCLA basketball dynasty. After reading the book, Wooden, A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections and learning all about the Pyramid of Success, I became even more of an admirer. His philosophy and wisdom is truly unique in this world today, so when I heard about Inch and Miles, I just had to run out and get myself a copy. I would recommend this book for every parent, child, and teacher. Based on Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success, this book is a valuable learning tool and along with it's beautiful illustrations, this book is a MUST! It's a book that every child and parent/teacher can enjoy together. The collaboration of the authors on this project is a .....Journey to Success. Well done!!!

Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success
This book is an absolute gem! One of the things we learn from an early age is the faulty notion that in life there are winners and losers. What makes this book so wonderful is that it teaches children how to be the best in what they do and that everyone is a winner!

Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success is a book that will empower and affirm the best in our children and in ourselves.

Inch and Miles: A Message for All Ages!
It is a real treat to have a captivating storyline, colorful and very creative illustrations and a wonderful message conveyed all in one book! This is an exciting story which teaches self-esteem, teamwork, and positive values. Inch and Miles is not only a fun pleasure read but also each of the fifteen components of "success" adapt beautifully in classroom lesson plans!

Mr. Wooden's Inch & Miles-- Great Reading for Kids!
Thank you, Mr. Wooden, for writing such a wonderful book for parents, teachers and coaches to share with our children! As executive director of an organization that works with elementary-age children and their families, I'm always on the look-out for books that reinforce important lessons for the children in a format that the children will enjoy and want to read over and over. You have surely done that in Inch and Miles! It is very well written, with a story and characters that guide the children through adventures that encourage them to think about important values -- in a fun way. Just last night, my 10-year-old daughter brought me the book again, and said she wanted to read it with me before she went to sleep! That, if you ask me, is the best review of all!
Midge Wilson, Executive Director of the Tenderloin Family Center at Tenderloin Community School, San Francisco. ... Read more

Book Description

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild. . . .

A day in the life of parent and child-full of smiles and giggles, messes and meals, boundless energy and well-earned naps. Not to mention lots of love.

Illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa ... Read more

Reviews (50)

My 2 year old's favorite book
I am astounded at the Publisher's Weekly review - way off base. What a sourpuss! My 2 year insists that I read this book to him 3-4 times a night and he still hasn't had enough. We've read it over 100 times and he never tires of it. This is my third child and never before has a book captivated any one of them at this age the way this one has - not even close. I am going to buy it for every new parent I know. The illustrations are well done - with four little animal dolls emulating the child bear and his parent - and my son picks out something new every night we read it. I do think the bears look male, but perhaps it's just that my son and I are male and I want to identify with them. The rhymes are captivating for him, and touching and clever for me. I highly recommend this book. If 2 year olds could write, you would see even better reviews.

If you read ONE book to your child it should be this one!!!
I am totally and utterly disgusted with the publishers weekly review above. My mother bought me this book for my 3 year old. We both wept after reading it. My daughter LOVES the book. After reading it the first time she walked around asking everyone, "am I your giggle?". When we would reply, "well of course", she would run around giggling! Because we both get so excited about reading this book we now have put this book in her "special" book pile that contains now only 4 books, all her most favorites. I NEVER get tired of reading this book to her because it conveys exactly how I feel about her, in her way of understanding. My 6 month old son also likes to listen to us reading it, he gets excited because his sister laughs at every page. With each page she asks, "am I your wild?" or "am I your wiggle?", and so on. I can't wait for him to be old enough to understand the words and the message, "YOU ARE MY I LOVE YOU".

You Are My I Love You
This book is just the best!! I'm buying it for all the new parents I know...what a great book to include with a baby gift.....I'm also giving one to my high school senior who will be graduating in a few weeks....no matter what the child's age....I want her to know the she is my I love you!!

I am your way home, you are my new path
My mother gave me this book for my birthday last week. Being on the other end (the receiver of the book) my mother expressed more by giving me (her young adult daughter) this book than she could have said in any card. It is a toast to the parent/child relationship. I will treasure this book forever, because it has given me a sense of how parents feel of thier children. It feels very good! Every parent should buy thier child this book.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS TO SHARE W/ YOUR CHILD!
The publishers review is way off!! This book is an endearing tale of the parent-child bond. It tells a quaint story of how our roles as parent & child vary. And I feel it shows how our view of the world as a parent differs from that of our child. Whenever I read this book to my son, I feel am expressing how special he is to me in a way that he can understand. This book is definitely one of my favorites!!! ... Read more

Book Description

•Noah, who quite by accident was best man at the wedding of Ethan's grandmother and Nadia's grandfather

•Nadia, a hybrid with a halo of red hair, a dog that's a genius, and a fondness for baby turtles

•Ethan, the silent second son of one of Epiphany's oldest families, who discovers he likes halos

•Julian, the strangest person on the school bus, who starts everything by inviting the others to a tea party

How did Mrs. Olinski, returning to teaching ten years after being paralyzed in an automobile accident, choose these four to be her sixth-grade Academic Bowl team? And how did this unlikely foursome become even unlikelier champions, in far more than just the state middle school competition? The View From Saturday is a rich and rewarding journey that answers these questions and raises many more. ... Read more

Reviews (217)

Great Book!
:

E.L. Konigsburg has come up with a great book again! The View From Saturday is a great book for middle-schoolers. Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division published it in 1996. A View From Saturday is a great book because it teaches and is great to read. Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian are four sixth-graders each with a different story that changed their lives. Noah ends up being best man at Ethan's grandmother's and Nadia's grandfather's wedding. Nadia has the greatest time of her life saving turtles from strong winds and high waves. Ethan is on the bus and realizes that he must help Julian, a new kid, fit in at school. Julian is tortured by school bullies and realizes that something is in him and the other three. This is a great book. The point of view changes from one student to the other as they tell their stories. By simply reading the chapter titles you can see whose point of view it is. If there's no chapter title, then the point of view does not change. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read books that make sense in the end.

Book Review
Noah, Nadia, Ethan and Julian started out as sixth grade classmates, but evolved into The Souls. Each Year,Mrs. Olinsky, the sixth grade teacher chooses as four person academic bowl team. This team competes in the grade and if they win they go on to compete in other competitions. Together this team accomplished wonderful things, such as winning the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade competitions. Nobody knew why they were chosen, and Mrs. Olinsky, the teacher, doesnt exactly know why she chose them either. So, fate brought them together to create a wonderful friendship that will last a lifetime and this shows through an extraordinary story of sucess of a team, calss, school and friends. In my opinion Noah is the most interesting character in this story. He likes to write in calligraphy, and enjoys spending time with relatives. At times he also complains about his family. Noah tells the long story of how he was the best man at the wedding of his grandparents' friends. I enjoyed reading about each of the diverse characters. The View from Saturday can appeal to a wide spread of people because of the interesting plot and way it is written. Many people have loved reading this book as you can see because it has won many awards, and I think E.L. Knonigsburg is a fantastidc author.

Teaspoons and afternoons
As you may know, the Newbery Award is the highest honor a children's book can garner in the United States. Newbery winners are a touch and go lot, and a lot of kids avoid them like the plague. I've always been particularly interested in those award winning books that appeal to kids just as much as they appeal to the adults that shower them with praise, moolah, and awards. For instance, many adults felt that the book "A Single Shard" was well written, while a host of kids looked on it as dulldy dull dull. Both children and adults have agreed that "Holes" and "The Tale of Despereaux" are great books that are fun to read. Then you come to "The View From Saturday". Honestly, I thought this was a fabulous book. It was the rare children's novella that took the great risk of offering wisdom to its readers. It dares to make you think about life, the world, and how one interacts with other people. I can tell you a million reasons to love it, but I honestly haven't a clue if kids would enjoy it. Therein lies the mystery.

"The View From Saturday" follows the lives of four sixth grade quiz bowl champs and their paraplegic coach/teacher. Alternating their final quiz bowl championship match with short stories about the different journeys each kid has had to make, the book is adept at distinguishing between each individual in the group. We begin by listening to a story told by Noah. Noah reminded me of nothing so much as the spaz boy in the spelling bee documentary "Spellbound". A bit of a nerd, but pleased with his own inventive thoughts and ideas, Noah becomes the best man at a geriatric wedding. Then we hear Nadia's story about staying with her divorced father and newly remarried grandfather (hence the Noah connection) in Florida. This flows nicely into Ethan's story. His grandmother married Nadia's grandfather, and he overcomes his reluctance to interact easily with others with the help of his new friend Julian. Julian is the least troubled of the bunch, a boy of Indian heritage who is coming to America after living on a cruise ship. Together, the four band together into a group called The Souls. They are selected by Mrs. Olinski (though for a long time she doesn't know why) as her newest Quiz Bowl team and work effortlessly together in a group as friends and teammates.

A synopsis of this tale really doesn't do it justice. Konigsburg is an adept writer and she knows exactly how to balance a story with both emotion and humor. I was particularly taken with Nadia's tale about living in Florida. Somehow, the author was able to conjure up feelings of being ignored and abandoned perfectly. As Nadia feels an (in my opinion) entirely justified sense of self-pity, we as readers understand what she's going through perfectly. Little triumphs are measured with small defeats. One of the things this book dares to say, and says so well, is how awfully mean people can be. That's a pretty loaded idea. Books today enjoy showing a mean person and then revealing the back story to their crimes. Here, we understand that sometimes a person's just mean to be mean, and it makes them unsuitable as friends as a result.

Then there's Konigsburg's usual jabs at adults in positions of authority. In this particular case she's aimed her sights at people who naturally expect themselves to be smarter than children, yet constantly make mistakes regarding multiculturalism, grammar, pronunciation, etc. And she doesn't drill this idea home by ever putting the adults in situations where they spar with the kids. Instead, they tend to spar with Mrs. Olinski, assuming that because she is a) Just a teacher and b) Confined to a wheelchair she must therefore be less worthy of intelligent human discourse. The result is usually both funny and profound.

Funny and profound is a good way to describe this entire offering, actually. It has its oddities, that's for sure. You have kids in this book saying sentences like, "Oh, that is too bad. Dad is picking me up before supper, and he will be disappointed if I do not eat with him". Not a contraction in sight. Do sixth graders actually act like the ones in this book? Probably not. Will you be amused by them anyway? Probably so. Will actual living breathing sixth graders be amused, intrigued, and challenged by this book? I have absolutely no idea. Maybe yes, maybe no. Whether or not they will, the book is fabulous, fun, and wise beyond its years. It's like a little dose of Zen religion without hokey mysticism or flowery prose. This book respects you, it respects your opinions, and it respects your sense of self-worth. If you have any desire to read something that accomplishes all this and more, pick it up for a glance.

Quotables
E.L. Konigsburg uses descriptive nouns and vivid modifiers to paint a vivid picture of the characters in your head in The View from Saturday. First you get to know the charcter. She does this by painting the vivid picture and you feel like you know the character personally. You also feel like you are a "Soul." She does this by making you feel like you are there during their conversations, and there while they win the Champion Bowl. Also seeing the vivid picture makes you feel like you are watching them. You feel you are watching them because you really can picture the conflicts between the Noah and Nadia . So in conclusion, this book really shows that character desciption delivers an emotional message. You should definitly read this book.

unique and intriguing
First off, the book is about four SIXTH graders. I note this because some of the reviews on Amazon erroneously say the characters are in seventh grade. Anyway, these four sixth graders go onto defeat the seventh, then eighth graders in their schools, and eventually take the regional trivia bowl championship.

The four children "can spell and define puberty but have not yet gone through it." Given this, I can accept the tea parties and some of the other pastimes they engage in in "The View." Also, they are NOT presented as perfect without any character flaws or problems. The "Souls' as they call themselves are exceptionally intelligent and compassionate, but they - at least for Ethan and Nadia - do not make the "right" decisions instantly. Nadia, for example, wavers between helping some stranded baby turtles, or holding on to her grudge against her grandfather and father.

This book also has some wonderful imagery. For example, ELK compares painting Nadia without her freckles to brushing the cinnamon off cinnamon toast.

In summary, I would highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Chester Raccoon doesn't want to go to school--he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he'll love school--with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that's been in the family for years--the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son's hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm--smack dab in the middle: "Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart." Whenever he feels lonely at school, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother's kiss. Chester is so pleased with his Kissing Hand that he--in a genuinely touching moment--gives his mom a Kissing Hand, too, to comfort her when he is away. Audrey Penn's The Kissing Hand, published by the Child Welfare League of America, is just the right book for any child taking that fledgling plunge into preschool--or for any youngster who is temporarily separated from home or loved ones. The rough but endearing raccoon illustrationsare as satisfying and soothing for anxious children as the simple story. (Ages 5 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Review of The Kissing Hand
Chester Racoon and his mother prepare for Chester's first "night" at school. He is a little apprehensive, and, of course, he wants to stay home with his mom. Mrs. Racoon shares a secret with Chester called the Kissing Hand. She kisses Chester's palm and tells him to put it to his cheek when he begins to feel lonely at school. This book makes a great gift for a child entering school or going to camp for the first time, or for any occasion where a child will be temporarily separated from home and loved ones. It can also be used to help a child through the death of a parent or special loved one, and for children placed in foster families and residential facilities. For teachers, this book would be super to read the first day of school. It could also lead up to wonderful science, social studies, and reading/writing activities.

A Mother Reviews The Kissing Hand
Chester is about to start school and he's terribly nervous. In a single, calming gesture, his Mom helps him feel loved and secure by kissing the center of his hand. She reminds Chester that her love is always right there and if he should feel frightened or scared or lonely he should simply hold the hand to his cheek and he will feel her love.
We read it just before our son began kindergarten on September 5, 2001 for several days in a row. Although he had been attending Day Care since birth, this was still a new experience for him and he was naturally nervous. So now, each morning we kiss his palm and send him off on the bus. It's a wonderful new ritual.
September 11, 2001 began a tremendously difficult time in our country. Our children are 4 and 5, and we have been reading this nearly every night since then. A friend's daughter was having terrible nightmares and great fears about not seeing her Daddy (he's a Police Officer currently assigned to Ground Zero). We lent them the book to read to her. Her Mom now tells me she is sleeping soundly as long as she has been kissed in the palm of her hand.
Sweet Dreams, America and the world.

We love The Kissing Hand!
This story is about a racoon who is scared to go to school. His mom gives him a kiss in his hand and tells him to put it on his cheek when he gets upset. This book is about love. Our favorite part was when the little racoon gave his mom a kiss in her hand. We think you should read this book because it shows how much a mom loves her child.

Text and Illustrations Don't Work Together
No matter how sweet the plot (and it does edge a bit on the saccharine for my taste), no matter how beautiful the illustrations, this book just doesn't work as a whole.

The story has animals going to school--probably to the supermarket and church too, for all we know!!! Meanwhile the illustrations are glorious, naturalistic works that would be great for a nature book, but look TOO real here. Combined, there is a discordance that really spoiled the book for me.

There are tons of books with anthropomorphized animals, and they serve the purpose of letting children identify with their feelings, regardless of race or gender. But in books of this ilk that WORK, either the animals are more cartoonish or the setting is clearly human based(houses, schools, etcetera), so it's easy to accept the idea of the animals acting out human roles.

Too bad--it's a nice idea, and has a lot of potential as a back to school or starting school book.

One of the best
This is an excellent book. I first checked it out from our library and the first time I read it to my 3 year old son I could barely finish it because it touched me. My son is going through some regression right now as we are expecting our second child and he has shown a lot of increased anxiety away from me. This book was so appropriate for children who are feeling anxious about being away from their parents whether it be school or for any reason. Change is hard and this book reminds children that they will always have your love. I cannot recommend enough. We had to own this one!! ... Read more

Book Description

Max was interested in helping children understand their value—not from the world’s perspective, but from God’s. Wemmicksville is a land created by Eli, the “God” figure of the story. He creates each Wemmick in Wemmicksville uniquely, each with its own look and personality. Each story and video is a new adventure with the citizens of Wemmicksville. Punchinello is the central character, along with his friends Lucia, Splint, and Chip. When Punchinello strays from Eli, he begins to have problems. Only when Punchinello stays close to Eli does he clearly see how to walk through his life in Wemmicksville.

In this heartwarming tale, Eli helps Punchinello understand how special he is—no matter what other Wemmicks may think. Children will learn a vital lesson—regardless of how the world sees them, God loves each of them just as they are.

Reviews (116)

Punchinello Through A Child's Eyes
I am not a reader by nature but when I heard this story read, I ran to the nearest book store to purchase it. More than what I cared to pay for a book, I purchased it anyway and I found it to be a wonderful addition to our home. The illustrations are beautiful and follow the story so well that my 3-year-old can tell me the story by looking at the pictures. Her most favorite part is when Punchinello visits the Woodcarver. Each and every time we read it, my heart is humbled and I am reminded to be a nicer person and not to judge others. It is a beautiful story about our Maker and the love he has for all of his children. Read this and enjoy!

Everybody needs to read this wonderful book.
I feel so lucky that I had the chance to read this book. I don't have kids and seldom think of looking at children's books. But a mom friend showed it to me and we both cried as we read it together. It's a book for children of all ages. The text and illustrations just shine with love, and everybody needs to hear the messages of self-acceptance and self-esteem in this book. I'm buying copies of it for Xmas gifts for my favorite aunt, my favorite child friend, and my therapist.

Wonderful children's book
This book is so touching. It was just the message my seven-year-old son needed to hear, growing up in the midst of a world that so often judges by appearance and popular opinion, rather than by a person's heart and faith. I highly recommend it for children and adults alike.

Awesome Message!!!
This book is an awesome tale with a message for young children. This book teaches children to love themselves just as they are, no matter what anyone else says. This book is good for the heart and soul. It even helped me to learn a lesson or two. This is one book I would recommend to all parents for their children.

Wonderful parable for children
My family found this book heartwarming. While relaying the message that what others think of you doesn't matter if you don't let it the book entertains and endears you to it's main character Punchinello. While the message has religious undertones it does not preach or relay any specific references to faith. My 5 year old son LOVES this story. ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 2 hours
2 cassettes

From the best-selling author of Because of Winn-Dixie comes the moving story of an eleven-year-old-boy, Rob Horton, who finds a caged tiger in the woods behind the hotel where he lives with his father.With the help of his new friend, Sistine Bailey, Rob must decide what to do with his discovery and at the same time come to terms with his past. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Book Review:The Tiger Rising
Tiger Rising, by Kate DiCamillo, is about a girl named Sistine who has just moved to a town in Florida, and meets a boy named Rob. Rob doesn't have to go to school for a while because he has a rash on his leg. One day he is out in the woods and he finds a tiger. The owner of the Kentucky Star Motel, where he is living, pays him to feed the tiger. Rob shows Sistine and she thinks he should let it go. In the end Rob ends up letting his emotions out of his "suitcase" that have been closed up for years. This book is about Rob finding himself. I thought it was a great book. I loved how Kate DiCamillo created the characters. They weren't really described very much, but you could picture them in your head. I really enjoyed reading this book. I'm sure you will to.

almost as good as the first one
The book The Tiger Rising is an excellent book.It is about how this kid named Rob finds a tiger in a cage in the woods who meets someone and becomes best freinds.One of the friends wants to free the tiger. This book
is recommended for grades 3rd to 5th.The characters have a lot of emotion. The author's style makes the book more interesting.This book is good for people who like characters that are always changing their minds about something. The Tiger Rising has characters that are very willing to save something.This book's author has many books relating to The Tiger Rising.

AGAIN AND AGAIN
Kate DiCamillo has done it again. Along the same lines as "Because of Winn-Dixie" this story gets deep into the heart of it's main character.

As a media specialist, I highly recommend ALL of DiCamillo's books. Buy them, check them out at a library, borrow them. Whatever you have to do...just read them. WONDERFUL!

Tiger Rising
Rob Horton, a young, brave boy who is about to find something amazing in his life. As he lives in the "Kentucky Star Motel" with his dad, and he finds a tiger in the back of the Motel. A new person comes to his scool, called Sistine, and they both become best friends. Together they go and visit the tiger after school everyday. Whenone day they let the tiger out of his cage and the tiger runs to the motel. When they hear screams and shoots of a gun they knew what happened. The best friends learn what its like to lose something close to them, and how to get through it.
"Tiger Rising" is a great book of family, bravery, and friendship. Dicamillo keeps you reading this book. Dicamilo also has you visualize whats happening in the book. I learned what it was like to lose something close to you. From this book I also learned what frindship really is.
"Tiger Rising" is an exciting, page-turning book. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes an exciting, page-turning book. Also to someone who like's when they can visualize whats happening in in the story. And a story with friendship and family.

The Tiger Rising
Title of Book: The Tiger Rising
By: Kate DiCamillo
Reviewed by: R. Gabayeron
Period: 5

The book The Tiger Rising is about a young boy named Rob Horton getting used to his surroundings after this mother died. Everyday on the school bus, his two brothers always tease him. Their names are Billy and Norton Threemonger. One day before the bus arrived, Rob went out into the woods and discovered a tiger locked in a cage. On that same day, there was a new girl named Sistine Bailey. At school, Rob was called into the office because the principal was concerned about something he had on his legs. The principal told him that his parents thought what was on his leg was contagious. He gave Rob a note to give to his father. Rob's father disagreed with what was on the note. While Rob wasn't at school, he did a lot of woodcarvings and helped his father. When his father didn't need any help, Rob helped Willie May, the housekeeper. Rob told Sistine Bailey about the tiger, and she wanted to free him. Rob wasn't sure it was the right thing to do. Beauchamp, the owner of the motel (where Rob lives) gives him the keys to the cage to feed the tiger everyday. Later on, Rob asks Willie May if he should free the tiger and she told him about her bird and when she let it free. Her bird died and it reminded Rob when his dad shot a bird. When Rob and Sistine freed the tiger, it ended up dying because Rob's father wanted to protect him. They had a funeral for the tiger, and everyone had some words to say. Sistine said a poem about him. Rob went back to school with Sistine and they became best friends.

I thought the book was okay because Rob and Sistine freed the tiger, but it died. "It ain't our tiger to let go," said Rob. This showed that Rob didn't touch things that weren't his. In one part of the book, Rob was scared to let the tiger out because he thought it might eat him. Sistine told Rob that it wouldn't eat them unless it was hungry. At the end, Rob let the tiger out because he wanted it to be free.

"You want to get introduced proper?" said Beauchamp. Beauchamp, the owner of the motel, asked Rob to feed the tiger everyday. Rob asked him if he was going to free the tiger. Beauchamp said he might sell it or just kill it and make a coat out of the skin. The owner didn't seem to care about the tiger. Beauchamp told Rob to keep the tiger a secret, but he told Sistine and Willie May.

My favorite part of the book was when Beauchamp gave Rob the keys to the cage of the tiger. This was my favorite part because Rob told Sistine that he got the keys. Sistine was so excited and then they freed the tiger. The sad part was when the tiger died and they gave it a funeral. Everyone loved the tiger very much. Rob's father was sorry to kill the tiger. He just wanted to protect his son. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This book is a great book for us young girls
This book is great for us young girls because it talks about relationships with boys, and everything in that book helped me a lot! I think that it's great about telling really young girls about 9-12, about puberty etc.

3 and a half stars for a helpful book!
As a 12 year old just begging to think of boys in any romantic way, this book helped a lot with crushes, imtroducing yourself, dealing with friends who are jelous, ect, ect. Then, once you gte into a relashionship, there is a big question mark. I would still reccomend this book, but only for 11-13 year olds who havn't had a real relashionship yet.

A GIRLS GUIDE
THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR US GIRLS CAUSE IT HELPSWITH MANY SIRUTIONS WERE ALWAYS IN. I LOVED THIS BOOK IT HELPED ME GET OUTY OF MANY SITUTIONS. ... Read more

Book Description

Published four years after her phenomenally successful first novel, The Outsiders, That Was Then, This Is Now confirmed S. E. Hinton's place in the canon of young adult literature. Returning to the same working-class landscape, Hinton paints a deeply-felt portrait of best friends Bryon and Mark, as they grow up and grow apart. Puffin is proud to publish this award-winning classic for a new generation of readers.A mature, disciplined novel which excites a response in the readerhard to forget. --The New York TimesBrutal, harsh, yet always credibleone of the best. --Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Reviews (171)

That Was Then This Is Now
A friend of yours is killed because of your life style. Do you continue to live like that or change?
Mark and Bryon are like brothers. They grow up together hustling pool and street fighting. A friend Charlie dies during a street fight, Bryon then turns his life around. Mark sells drugs and is turned in by Bryon. Mark then goes to prison. Mark and Bryon who onced loved each other hate each other in the end. The book That Was Then This Is Now is a realistic fiction story. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read The Outsiders. It's a spin off of this wonderful novel. This book however, is slow moving. It has excitement, but it is slow to reaching its climax. It is a story based off of choices. It relates to everyone; we all have a choice how we choose to live our lives. I enjoyed the book, but not as well as The Outsiders.

The Best Book In The World
What will Bryon do now that he's found out about Mark's secret, how will he handle this?"
The name of this book is That Was Then, This Is Now and the author of the book is S.E. Hinton. This book takes place back in the 70's and 80's, back when there were socials and greasers. This book is about a boy named Bryon and his friend Mark who grew up together like brothers. Now Bryon and Mark are starting to grow apart from each other Bryon has a new girlfriend, which he spends more time with now, and does not really, spend as much time with Mark. Until one day, Bryon finds out a shocking secret about Mark, and faces difficult decisions that will change his life forever.
That Was Then, This Is Now is one of the greatest books in the world, because it is so dramatic and intriguing. In this book, the author talks about real life incidents that happen to teenagers when they get in bad crowds. This book is very encouraging to many teenagers, because of its realistic features. The author includes different incidents that teenagers face once they grow up and go to high school; it has a good moral because it shows readers what they should not do. You should read this book because, once you read it, you will imagine that you are the protagonist, facing everything. In this book, a teenager faces very difficult decisions, which he does not really know how to solve.

Sequel to The Outsiders is outstanding
This book, which has some of the same characters from The Outsiders, such as Ponyboy Curtis, is a great read. I read this book in practically one sitting it was so good. I don't think this book is as good as the first one, but it still is a great book. The main characters, such as Byron, Cathy, Mark, and M&M, really kept me captivated and kept me wanted to read on. This book deals woith some serious issues, such as drugs, fighting, and betrayal between friends. I honestly couldn't believe it when Byron told on his almost brother, Mark for what he did. In the end, Mark, Byron's former soul brother, ends up in jail. The books end is so sad, with Byron not really caring about anyone, and Mark hating him while he's in jail. It is for all these interesting plot twists, and captivating chracter conflicts that make this this book so interesting that you don't want to stop reading it. This book is a must-have, for anyone looking for a great read.

...
That was then, this is now is a great story. It has an ending that is unpridictable and in my opinion not very well written though.

Great book
I liked reading the book, That Was Then This Is Now by S.E. Hinton.This story was about two teenagers named Bryon and Mark. Bryon wants to think of a future for himself. As for Mark,he lives like whatever happens,happens and is waiting for more thrills in life. They go to a pool hall everyday and play pool,but they have an outstanding tab for the coco-cola they drink. So the bar tender told them to get the money or they would get hurt. And another inciddent was when they were almost beaten up by a lot of Black people because Bryon broke this girl's heart and he wanted to get back at Bryon. This would be a good book for anyone(...). ... Read more

Book Description

When a charming polar bear cub climbs into bed one night, she asks her Mama a very important question--one that little "human cubs" often wonder about, too:"Where did I come from?"

As Mama bear tucks her youngest cub under the quilts, she gently, tenderly, and reassuringly communicates the message loving parents everywhere (bears and non-bears alike) want their little ones to hear: "We wanted you very, very much, and we are so very glad because--"God gave us you."

Perfect for bedtime, naptime, storytime or anytime, God Gave Us You provides a valuable opportunity to build children's self-esteem every day and assure each one that he or she truly is a welcomed, precious, and treasured gift from the Lord. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Beautiful story!
This book is a beautiful way of explaining where baby comes from without giving an adult answer. The simple message that your child was a gift from God sums it up, and in a sweet story. The illustrations are soothing, and the story is a good bedtime read.

Heartwarming and Delightful
This beautiful story is very appropriate for my three year old daughter's questions about where she came from. This book chronicles a the birth of a baby bear from when her parents pray for a baby bear all the way through birth without all of the medical details. It simply shows the Mommy bear's tummy growing and the parents preparing for their new arrival. It tastefully omits the actual parts of conception and delivery. It leaves these details for parental discretion. My daughter loved it!

Wonderful!
As a reading teacher of 12 years, I found this book to be beautifully written and illustrated. Enjoy!

it was a very good book
This is a very sweet book, but it wasn't my favorite. I guess I wasn't ready to talk about where babies come from yet, and this book mentions that the baby was in the mother's tummy. I know kids know a lot at an early age, but I just wasn't ready to explain why the mother's tummy was big. I think my daughter was incredulous that babies grow in 'tummies.'

What a sweet, sweet story
My husband and I love to read this book to our daughter who is 6 months old (we have read it to her since she was in my belly) It is such a sweet story about a mommy bear and a baby girl bear. The story tells the baby what a blessing she is to her mommy and daddy and how God had given her to them. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes life can change in an instant

Martha Boyle and Olive Barstow could have been friends, but they weren't. Weeks after a tragic accident, all that is left are eerie connections between the two girls, former classmates who both kept the same secret without knowing it. Now, even while on vacation at the ocean, Martha can't stop thinking about Olive. Things only get more complicated when Martha begins to like Jimmy Manning, a neighbor boy she used to despise. What is going on? Can life for Martha be the same ever again?

Reviews (45)

Olive's Ocean
Olive's Ocean is one of the best books I have ever read.I could relate to it very well.It's about a girl named Martha who goes to New England to spend time with her Godbee (grandmother).While she's there, she starts crushing on Jimmy Manning, but realizes that he doesn't really care about other people's feelings, just his camera.She's also trying to spend as much time with her Godbee as she can, because she knows that this may be the last summer she has with her.When all of this is happening, she is also learning to cope with the loss of a girl who went to her school, but was killed when she was hit by a car.Martha has a hard time getting her hands around the whole situation.
One of the characters in the book is Martha, she's the main character.She's dealing with the hardships, and good times of growing up.There's also Godbee.Martha loves Godbee, and learns a lot from her.She really enjoys spending time with her.Godbee is a very peaceful kind of a person, who loves life and loves being near the ocean.She also enjoys spending time with her family.Then there's Jimmy Manning.Jimmy Manning is the boy that Martha had the crush on in the beginning of the book, but definitely not in the second half of the book.He's making a movie, and uses Martha in it, Martha realizes that he's only using her in the movie though.There's also Tate,Tate is Jimmy Manning's younger brother.Tate is Martha's age, and can sometimes be a little jealous of Jimmy Manning.
I would definitely recommend this book because you can really relate to all the characters in the book, and it teaches you about life and how you should be happy for what you have.You also realize what it's like to be a teenager and what one has to go through.I liked it because I could relate to it.Every summer around the fourth of July my grandparents get a cottage on the ocean, we all go out there to the beach and hang out.After that, we go to the farm where all my relatives are.We all have a lot of fun and enjoy spending time together.This reminds me a lot of when Martha goes and visits Godbee.There were lots of surprises with what happened with Jimmy Manning and staying at the ocean that surprised me.I enjoyed reading about them.I also liked the style of writing, it was very easy to understand at my age and it flowed very easily which I liked.I think that girls would enjoy this book more because it's from their point of view, and girls would understand Martha more I think.It's a very good realistic fiction book, which is my favorite genre so I also enjoyed that.I would definitely recommend it.

Was this REALLY Kevin Henkes???
I didn't know that Kevin Henkes wrote books like this. The style is very different, yet I found the moral to be quite interesting, but as I read in one reviewer's rating, I agree that the character depth was very poor and that there were some "things" in the book not suggested for kids under 11.

The book starts out with Martha Boyle revieving a page from Olive Barstow's journal, which spoke of how Olive--a timid, unnoticed child--wished to become friends with Martha, be a writer, and see the ocean. The problem is, Olive has died from a bycicle wreck, and now Martha wishes to turn back the time and regret it. The book talks about how Martha gets to do things like write and see the ocean and how Olive never had the chance to experience some of the issues a 12-year-old goes through.

I was dissapointed that the author mentioned very little of Olive in parts of the book. Sometimes, I even forgot about her!! They focused so much on Martha, Olive was sometimes forgotten. The book "could have happened" without Olive's exsistence, it just would have had a different ending (I won't tell why!!!). Also, I HATED the three-paged chapters. The book has, I think, 67 chapters, yet some chapters aren't even a page long! I hated how the book was broken up with little chapters; it messed up your thought. It is also slow-moving and, I will say, the reccomended age should be OVER 11 years old, due to some bad words and behavoir that young children shouldn't be exposed to (such as, at only 12 years old, Martha falls in love with a boy named Jimmy Manning, and sometimes that was the entire focus of the story. Jimmy also films a love scene with Martha in his video. If I was the author, I would have left that out, or made Martha 17!)

The book has a good moral about life and death, and is a good TEEN reader.

Got a Good Book? well here's one
Olive's Ocean was a great book.I usually don't like to read, but I was hooked on the book and couldn't put it down.I loved it so much; I really grew attached to the relationship between Olive and Martha. It was a very strong and emotional book that took place in the present and so many devastating things happened.The author was extremely creative with how he ended the book.I discovered many clever happeneings in this book; it just changed how I thought about simple things.Another thing is it made me realize to be thankful for what you have now and in front of you, because in just one second, things could be gone.I found the book satisfying and delightful, the way it ended just sent a sigh and smile to me.I truly recommend this book if you like to read a book just for fun, not adventurous, not mystery, just something nice and sweet to enjoy on a Sunday morning.

A Girl Like Me
In the novel Olive's Ocean, a series of young thoughts, childish dreams, a search for love, and beautiful images of one's mind eye are among the ideas explored in this well written, intriguing story. Written by Kevin Henkes, this book begins with the introduction to the main character Martha and to a major idea in the story concerning the death of Martha's peer Olive, a outcast from school who Martha barely knew but who seemed to have taken special notice of her. After receiving a letter from the dead Olive Barstow containing proof of her admiration of Martha, we follow Martha to a trip to her grandmother's house by the sea, and through her young, vivid mind filled with exciting aspirations and insightful thoughts. We watch Martha confess her longing to be a writer, her longing to find love and hold onto it, her longing to repay Olive for noticing the person she truly was, and her search for the strength within herself.

I found this story to be beautifully simple, homey, and a definite feel good novel. As a teenage girl, I found myself easily connecting to many of the themes and ideas in the story and even to Martha's character. I enjoyed seeing some my own thoughts through the eyes of another girl like me. I would recommend this novel to women looking to reminisce back to their days of searching for their place in the big world around us, or to younger girls looking for a story filled with things to connect to. The author's wonderful insight into the life of the main character and the mind imagery of the story are truly worth experiencing.

Great
I have enjoyed Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes so much. This is a great book for everyone to read because I think itdeals witholder people too,not just little kids. The book is about a girl named Martha who feels really bad because a girl named Olive Barstow, died of a hit and run. Martha feels bad because her and her friends made fun of Olive because she was different, she didn't talk to anyone she just stared at them most of the time. So when Olive died Martha felt so bad, that her parents thought it wouldbe a good time for a vacation to Godbee's. Her brother Vince went away to find his old friends the Manning boys. To make it short and simple it's about a girl named Martha andeverything she does relates to Olive, the girl who died. I would recommend this book because it'sa very good book to read for fun it doesn't matter how old you are you can still read this book. I bet if you read this book you will fall in love with this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you read this very popular book just before bed, and the light is still on in the hallway, you can make the rainbow scales glitter on the page, and realize why the Rainbow Fish was so proud of his beautiful decoration. Sometimes, though, being too proud of outside beauty can blind a fish, or a child (or even, heaven forbid, a parent) to the beauty people hold inside. That's the lesson of this simple tale, imported from Switzerland. It's a useful one for future sneaker and designer clothing shoppers, for rainbow fish--and for quieter, plainer minnows, too. ... Read more

Reviews (116)

A Wonderful Book About Sharing
Although some would argue that this book teaches people to buy friends, I do not see it in this light. The book simply encourages children to give of themselves to others. As the rainbow fish shares his scales, he feels good about giving a part of himself to make others happy. I don't see how giving oneself to others qualifies as buying friends. My three-year-old son absolutely LOVES this book. He memorized the whole storyline in about a week. He loves to tell me the story as we flip the pages. The illustrations are colorful and exciting for a three-year-old. I would recommend this book as the basis for a discussion on sharing, not on buying friends, but sharing of yourself. This oldfashioned concept is threatened in our ME world.

Bad message for children.
My cousins, who live in a socialist European country, recently visited us in the U.S., and gave this book to my children as a gift. I love my cousins but think this is a horrible book. The message is clear: if you are better than anyone else, or rise above your peers in any way, no one will like you, and you will be lonely and miserable, as well as the target of envy and sometimes hatred. However, if you bring yourself down to their level, or pay them off, you will be most popular! The book reflects the mentality of the socialist, and demonstrates altruism at its worst. Everyone must be the same, and no one can excel at anything or in any way. The rainbow fish teaches children that it is good to strip yourself raw for the benefit of others, who were never your true friends to begin with, but only wanted something from you and based their acceptance of you on what you could provide for them. You know, kind of like that bad friend in school who loves you when you're down and out, but can't stand it when you lose weight and are looking good or happy or successful. Once the rainbow fish has taken off and given away all its beautiful scales, it is no longer the prettiest fish. The other fish, who each got a scale, are not elevated, but rather, they're all dragged down to the lowest common denominator. One scale each. Not enough to make anyone prettier than anyone else -- no one can really shine. It's not about sharing and love, but more like emotional bribery. I give this book one star, only because I have to, and the illustrations are pretty. Steer clear.

Under the sea
A great children's author (who, for the sake of her privacy, shall remain nameless) once commented that "The Rainbow Fish", was the third in the triumvirate of picture book mediocrity. The first two being, of course, "Love You Forever" and "The Giving Tree". I don't feel like explaining why this statement is not only brilliant but sublime, so instead I'm going to review this seemingly innocent little picture book. Here we have a very dull book with a very poor message. In my humble opinion, it hardly deserves much notice.

Originally a Swiss picture book (who knew?), "Rainbow Fish" tells the tale of a little sparkly fellow below the sea. The Rainbow Fish glitters and glides in the ocean's depths, ignoring the calls of the other fish to come out and play. One day a little fish asks for one of his shiny scales. The Rainbow Fish is not exactly polite in his refusal, but for some reason this is the comment that causes all the other fish to make him a social pariah. The Rainbow Fish is a little upset by this and asks the advice of a wise old octopus. Unfortunately the octopus is of the opinion that Rainbow Fish should give away the very things that make him special. His shiny scales. Once he has given a scale to all the other fishes he'll look exactly like everyone else and be happy. He does and then is. The end.

I suppose if you looked at this book from a religious context it might make a little more sense. But even then the moral would still run along the lines of give-up-your-worldly-possessions-and-everybody-will-like-you. Hm. What makes this book so offensive to some readers is the simple fact that it's is preaching a kind of same = good mentality. Tis better to meld with the crowd than to hold onto that which makes you an individual and unique, it sayeth. Then there are the illustrations to contend with. In an interesting marketing technique, the shiny scales Rainbow Fish sports are small hologram-ish cut-outs that line his body. Little kids will, presumably, see the shiny things on the cover of the book and immediately grab it. But how stand the rest of the illustrations? Certainly the colors in this tale are luminous and lovely. Pfister has developed a lovely watercolor technique wherein the blended shades of the scenes work perfectly within the context of the story. Unfortunately, the actual illustrations themselves are fairly hum drum. Don't expect the breathtaking loveliness of Eric Carle's "Mister Seahorse" or even the originality of a similar seaside tale, Irene Haas's, "The Maggie B.". Characters here never change expression (except that once in a while their little fishy mouths curl either up or down as appropriate). As a gimmick, the shiny scales work well. Just don't pay much attention to anything else in this tale.

The best advice I can give regarding "The Rainbow Fish" is to recommend Leo Lionni's classic picture book, "Swimmy". Like The Rainbow Fish, Swimmy's a little guppy who's different from everyone else. But rather than, oh say, changing his scale color to blend in, Swimmy uses his unique position in society to help those around him while remaining true to himself. A powerful statement that "The Rainbow Fish" sorely lacks. I'm not saying this is the worst picture book ever written, mind you. Just a mediocre one. With all the wonderful picture books out there, why not grab the best and leave the rest? Or, if we're going to take the advice of the Rainbow Fish to heart, do what everyone else is doing and strive for mediocrity. Hey, it worked for him!

Celebration of Appeasement and Mediocrity
We own this book only because my wife ordered it from a book club. Had we looked at the book, we never would have bought it. My two-year old has not seen it, nor will he. He has enough good books. And this book is bad. The book is so bad, destructive, immoral, and wrong that I have trouble figuring out where to start. Well, let's start with the "moral(s)" of the book, which can be summed up as follows: (1) being special is evil, and worthy of hatred; (2) if you do not give your possessions away to others on their demand and pursuant to their coercion, you will be rightfully hated; (3) you will be happy only if you are mediocre; (4) you need to bribe people to be your friends. And the message here is not about sharing. Notice, the Rainbow Fish does not "share" his scales (sharing would imply that his friends were going to give the scales back when they are done.) No, the Rainbow Fish is compelled (by emotional coercion) to give away that which makes him special. What part of this story is supposed to be edifying? It is garbage.

Pretty pictures, emotionally damaging story
I was relieved to see so many other bad reviews of this book, because I had thought I was crazy. I knew this was a very popular book (posters, puppets, etc.) so I bought it and was shocked at how bad the story was. When the Rainbow Fish chooses not to give his beautiful shining scales to another fish, all of the fish swim away and leave him "all alone". Thanks to a wise octopus, he discovers the only way to win friends and be the "happiest fish in the sea" is to give away his scales. I'm a teacher and a parent, and this is just a really bad lesson to be giving to a child, especially one under three years old who has little experience interacting with other people and forms ideas and expectations about the world based on books, tv, familial messages, etc. It is just beyond bad if your child is already sensitive and non-aggressive.

I changed the words to this book, but my daughter is almost three now and can pick out certain words (that she knows I'm not reading!) and asked me to read the "real" story. I explained that I wasn't crazy about the story, and promptly disposed of the book. I did not even consider donating it to the library or selling it to a used bookstore, because I don't want to be part of perpetuating this story! It is that bad.

Please do your children and society a favor and skip this book. Unless "give other kids all of your special, favorite things or else they'll all hate you and you'll be lonely and sad forever" is a moral lesson you want to teach your children, you'd be better off choosing one of the gazillion excellent children's books out there. Try anything by Richard Scarry, Byron Barton, Sandra Boynton, Eric Hill, Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, etc. etc. etc................ ... Read more

Book Description

The worst vacation ever!

Thirteen-year old Kyle thought spending a vacation on the Oregon coast with his family would be great. He'd never flown before, and he'd never seen the Pacific Ocean.

Kyle's perfect vacation becomes a nightmare while he's babysitting his sister, BeeBee. An earthquake hits the coast and starts afire in their hotel. While fighting their way through smoke and flame, Kyle remembers seeing a sign at the beach that said after an earthquake everyone should go uphill and inland, as far from the ocean as possible. Tsunamis, giant waves that often follow earthquakes, can ride in from the sea and engulf anyone who doesn't escape fast enough.

Can Kyle and BeeBee outwit and outrun nature's fury to save themselves from tsunami terror? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Terrific!
Peg Kehret has written many wonderful books and she is well known for her "disaster" books.This is one of the best books Kehret has ever written. I could not put it down. Kyle Davidson is winding up his 6th grade year when his father wins a vacation to Oregon.the family is excited about staying on the beautiful Oregon coast in a luxury hotel.When they arrive, they find the accommodations are not what they expected.Still the beach is beautiful and Kyle and his sister BeeBee are enjoying their stay until bully Daren Hazelton and his family arrive. The reader knows as the family reads the warning sign about tsunamis that they are going to be running for their lives before the book is over.His sister BeeBee is a great character. Terrific and exciting read.

A gripping, fast-paced adventure story
Kyle is looking forward to the family's Oregon vacation, but when an earthquake starts a fire in their hotel and leaves he and his sister stranded, the adventure really begins. As the two struggle to escape a tsunami, vacation time becomes a confrontation with nature, life and death in this gripping, fast-paced adventure story. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Look out--quite inappropriate
I hate to write a negative comment because this is basically a fun book with great illustrations. I was looking to buy this for use in my classroom. OOPS! Thank goodness I read through it first. The, "Oh, Poop" comment wasn't too bad, but the reference to grandmother's bosom, which I could live with in and of itself, comes complete with illustration. YIKES! (...)-cleavage and all! Perhaps for reading at home this would be a fun book, but not for a group of children.

What are YOU So Grumpy About?
I was very disappointed in the "Oh Poop" comment written out to the side of the picture where the boy received underwear for a present. I was also disappointed in the suggestion that the boy had been lost in his grandmother's bosom. I guess I am just old fashioned but I didn't find either one of these things appropriate for what I want to show to my child. As a result, I returned the book for a refund. It was cute but those two things in the book offended me.

my son laughed until tears were running down his face
we just read that one page where the boy gets a birthday present over and over and over again at least twenty times and my four year old laughed and laughed and laughed. i only have the recite the line "oh poop" and he laughs and laughs. it is a lovely lovely book. i love it when someone comes up with abook for kids that is just funny, no educational bits, no fights in it, no conflicts,- just silly funny.

Who are YOU kidding...?
You guys are all nuts! This book is not just for kids! My aunt showed me this book (she had bought it for her grand-nephew) and I couldn't stop laughing! I'm now ordering it for my girlfriend to give her for her 18th birthday! This is a great book for ANY age!
Sure to cure any bout of grumpiness, keep this one in a safe place for those bad days!

Excellent Book
This book is hilarious for young children and adults. My 6 year old Grump asks me to read it to him repeatedly. He loves it! The illustrations are beautiful. The inside cover with tips on curing grumpiness are an ingenious bonus to the story. As a teacher and a parent, I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Molly Lou Melon may be tiny, clumsy, buck-toothed, and with a voice"like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor," but she doesn't mind. Hergrandmother has utmost confidence in her, and tells her at every turn to believein herself. "Sing out clear and strong and the world will cry tears of joy,"Grandma says. But Molly Lou's self-assurance is put to the test when she movesto a new town, away from her friends and beloved grandmother. During her firstweek of school, Ronald Durkin taunts Molly Lou Melon in the dull-witted butsharp-edged manner of career bullies, calling her "shrimpo" and "bucky-toothedbeaver." Our heroine barely flinches as she systematically sets out to proveherself, and Ronald Durkin ends up feeling pretty foolish.

First-time author Patty Lovell's message is clear and simple, and the theme isfamiliar enough to strike chords with every reader, young and old. David Catrow,illustrator of Take Me Out of theBathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs, Rotten Teeth, and other popularpicture books, depicts a very weird-looking, very appealing little girl withwarmth and cartoonish humor. Any child who is less than perfect will cheer withjoy to meet Molly Lou Melon, a girl who doesn't let anything--or anyone--shakeher belief in herself. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Molly Lou Melon is a Winner.....
Molly Lou Melon is the shortest girl in the first grade, has buck teeth that stick out so far she can stack pennies on them and has a voice like a bull frog squeezed by a boa constrictor. But she also has a very wise Grandma who has always told her to walk proudly, smile big, sing out loud and clear and "Believe in yourself and the world will believe in you too!" Unfortunately, her family moves away from Grandma and now Molly Lou Melon has to go to first grade in a new school. And on her first day she meets Ronald Durkin, class bully. He calls her shrimpo and bucky-tooth-beaver and follows her around calling out honk-honk and making fun of her schoolwork. But Molly Lou remembers everything her Grandma told her and soon Ronald Durkin is put firmly in his place..... Patty Lovell has written an uplifting and engaging picture book with a gentle message that won't be lost on young readers. Her simple, yet powerful text is complemented by David Catrow's bold, bright and joyous artwork and together they've authored a terrific story that's summed up on the book's last page, in Molly Lou's letter to her Grandma..."Everything you told me was exactly right." Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon is a treasure you'll want to read and share, told with great insight, wisdom and humor.

My favorite story
I bought this book for my own Molly Lou Melon complete with buck teeth. What an uplifting book teaching great self esteem. I could read it over and over. The illustrations make the story even cuter. I read it to my daughters kindergarten class and they LOVED it. Brings a smile to everyones face. This book is a treasure.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!
I absolutely love this book! Everything about it! I can't help but smile when thinking of Molly Lou Mellon.

www.getsmartoregon.org

We love Molly Lou!
This is an excellent book for young kids. It teaches kids to be proud of who they are. The colors are vibrant and the artistry is wonderful.

one of the best books ever
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon is such a wonderful, heartful book. Its message, to believe in yourself, is so important and its delivered in a funny, nonthreatening way that is fun but gets the important messages across. It is so wonderful on so many levels...it teaches about self confidence, how to deal with bullies, how to deal with moving, positive influences of other adults, like grandparents. The art is also so wonderful and playful. You'll just fall in love with Mary Lou Mellon, even if you are a boy! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fun Stuff - Loved It!
I highly recommend this story.My friends and I all loved it and it reminds us of our group.I am so happy that it is going be a series of books because I am waiting to start on the next one.Definitely read this as it is a really fun book.

awesome read!
I LOVED this book, it was so great! I can't wait for the next one! ... Read more