Book Description

What do you do when your life goes from righter than right to a million miles beyond wrong?

1. Try to scare away the new neighbors with signs and posters that warn things like "Typhoons Known to Occur Here -- Water Rats Abound."
2. Avoid eye contact and word contact, with Mama and Daddy in particular.
3. Stay away from the orchard and the brook and the old tree and anything else that reminds you of how good things used to be.
4. Put together the best plan you've ever created to get things back to just-about-perfect again.

Book Description

The Grumpy Old Troll was mean to his friend Mouse -- and now he needs help from Dora and Boots for Mouse to forgive him. But what should he say? Join Dora and Boots as they help the Troll, and learn about manners along the way! ... Read more

Book Description

Nam-Huong is miserable living in a new country without her beloved family. Then why can't she cry?

Reviews (4)

This is from the back of the soft cover book!!!!
The swallows are here again. They have come south looking for summer. Did they fly over my country? Did they see my mum amd dad? Did they see my little yellow canary?

Nam-Huong cries lots of onion tears...It's only when she laens to smile inside, andd finally laugh, that her tears fall like drops of dew.

GREAT book!
I loved this book; it shows a girl of great courage coping with grief. Even though it is sad in parts, it is about healing and is immensely positive. I highly recommend it.

Coping with adoption
I attempted to use this book as an intervention for a foster care child whose parental figures terminated parental rights as it was what I could find in the Muncie Public Library. This book has the potential for helping a child in Foster Care cope with his or her tragic situation. However, this book is fairly long and probably best read by the child instead of read to the child. So, the child needs to be higher functioning. Also, the setting of the story may be hard for a child in North America to relate to (a Vietnamese war orphan in Austrailia who spends sometime working in the restaurant owned by the foster parent.) Last, this story may be more appropriate for a girl to read or listen to. Nevertheless, it is a potential intervention that could be considered for kids who are either orphaned or legally orphaned to address bereavement.

Onion Tears
Onion tears is written by Diana Kidd and is about Nam - Hong who losses her family in war it is set in a restarant and a school The main characters are Nam-Hong ,Chin Min , Miss Lilly and Aunty. Nam-Hong has a bucket of feelings .She losses her family in war when she is very young and she lives with a lady she calls aunty .She has only ever cried onoin tears .Will she ever cry real tears? Onion Tears would be recomended for children aged 8 and over because of its realistic matters . Onion Tears is a sad and emoional book. ... Read more

Book Description

Cookie Monster really wants a cookie. What's the magic word?
Elmo knows! Toddlers will have loads of fun as they help Elmo think of the right words to say in Elmo's Good Manners Game. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Gimmie Cookie Please!
This book is my son's favorite bedtime book, as it has been for over a year now. This book has been instrumental in creating a good foundation of manners for my son. We also use this book to reinforce sign language for "Please" and "Thank You."

Concerning the language used: If one reads Cookie Monster's request in the Cookie Monster voice, then children recognize the difference between human language and monster language.

I highly suggest this book. It is a fast read with great results!

You can't lose with Elmo!
My almost 10 month old son loves Elmo. But truthfully, I think he likes holding the book (great for diaper changes) more than he likes to hear it read to him. But I do use this book bedtime, and it works like a charm!

I love it and my son does too!
This book is wonderful. Not only did it motivate my 2 year old to learn the words please and thank you, he seems to have learned alot more with his Sesame Street pals here. The picures are so vivid and life like (or should I say character like :>)we've used this book to identify his pals, learn body parts (where is Cookie Monsters eyes...) and learn colors. Great book at an amazingly low price!

nice try
I didn't like their definition of manners. When Cookie monster wanted a cookie he said "gimme cookie-me want cookie". In the book elmo teaches that cookie monster should actually say "gimme cookie, please". I just don't consider that good manners. Other than that it's O.K.

A fun way to learn
Elmo's Good Manners Game is a great way to teach toddlers (especially Elmo fans!) common manners, such as saying please and thank you.

With colorful illustrations, Elmo helps teach Cookie Monster how to ask for a cookie nicely; Bert to greet someone politely; the monsters how to excuse themselves from the table; Big Bird how to share and Herry how to apologize.

It's a simple way to (hopefully) help ingrain good habits into little reader's minds! ... Read more

Book Description

Friends every day

Reviews (8)

Day with Frog and Toad
Hi, my name is George. I have just read a book named Day with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. It is about two frogs. They were together. They played together.

I liked this book because it is about friendship. Some of the parts are funny. This book is great for 2nd graders. I give this book five stars. I enjoyed this book.

Nostalgia
Even the title sounds a bit nostalgic. This is the last in the series about Frog and Toad, who are different but very good friends. Published in 1979, the two have not changed a whole lot, though the stories have gotten funnier - droll is perhaps a better word.

The pessimistic Toad is procrastinating in "Tomorrow" until he realizes that he's down in the dumps because of all he has to do tomorrow - so he does it all today and tires himself out.

In "The Kite," Frog's optomism pays off. "Shivers" has some scary tales that Frog enjoys telling, and Toad enjoys hearing. On Toad's birthday, in "the Hat" Frog gives a present that's a little too big, but Toad insists on keeping it. When Frog secretly fixes the problem while Toad is sleeping, Toad believes his head has grown. In the final story, "Alone," the two friends learn they can still be friends, even if they are alone sometimes.

In all the books, the stories are short, sweet and about friendship, but in a simple manner. Drawings of Frog and Toad are on almost every page, and are detailed enough to warrant a lengthy view and some comments from young readers. The words are understandable and readable enough for very young readers, yet they manage to tell a story with an amusing message.

Heartwarming and endearing
I read the Frog and Toad series when I was very young. Now, 15 years later, I still occasionally take the books out and read them. Mr. Lobel's books are excellent for both children and adults. You will be heartwarmed by these charming stories about two best friends.

Frog and Toad books...
The entire Frog and Toad series are all good. They are funny and easy to read. They are one of the best children's books for a mom or dad to read as a bedtime story. I read them to my kids and my kids (five) grew to love the stories and the books contributed greatly to their ability and their joy of reading. Please get the whole series NOW. The paperbacks can be had for just a few dollars each... you can't go wrong!

Excellent short stories about two best friends!
I grew up reading the frog and toad series and recently purchased it for my future children. These books are perhaps the last true symbols of what friendship, honesty, and innocence are all about. In our modern-day world of mass media, this series offers basic themes and lessons every child should be taught. I strongly believe books like Mr. Lobel's sparked my imagination and taught me to love reading. Now, I have a master's degree in language arts. Thank you Mr. Lobel! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anyone who has ever let go of a balloon string and watched the brightobject go up and up and out of sight will appreciate this whimsical picturebook that ponders the age-old question Where Do Balloons Go? This"uplifting mystery"--examined in singsong rhyme by Jamie Lee Curtis andplayfully explored with Roz Chast-like illustrations by Laura Cornell--is a newoffering from the team behind Today I Feel Silly, When I Was Little, and Tell Me Again About the Night I WasBorn.

Where do they go
when they float far away?
Do they ever catch cold
and need somewhere to stay?

"Do they tango with airplanes? / Or cha-cha with birds? / Can plain balloonsread / balloons printed with words?" Cornell's splashy colorful spreads (onewhich folds out to four full pages) pop with plenty of witty details. Oneballoon, for example, waits nervously with a suitcase outside the Bates Motel.In a balloon-ridden urban scenario, advertisements promote balloon-friendlyservices such as "The Detanglers, professionals since 1934." This exuberant bookwill have you half-believing that balloons are people, too. A page of vinylreusable stickers in the back can be used on the sky-and-cloud wash on the frontendpaper, or the space-scape (complete with comets) on the back endpaper. Nexttime your child's balloon drifts away, it'll be much easier for him or her toimagine it dancing in Bolivia than caught up in phone wires! (Ages 4 to 8)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A Wonderful, Colorful Book
That dynamic duo, Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell ponder the age-old question, Where Do Balloons Go?, in their fourth collaboration of the same name. Written in rhyme, Curtis' gentle, witty, imaginative story will delight and amuse children of all ages as they explore the possibilities of what might happen when you let go of a balloon. "Do they tango with airplanes? Or cha-cha with birds? Can plain balloons read balloons printed with words?" Cornell's busy, expressive illustrations add just the right touch to this wonderful story and will keep youngsters entranced reading after reading as they find new hidden pictures and scenes. This is a real gem of a book, the whole family will enjoy, that is sure to become a classic in years to come.

Fun, Open-Ended, Imaginative Speculations!
This book clearly deserves more than five stars!

Most good children's books have a primary story line that entertains the children, and brings home an important lesson. The outstanding children's books manage to combine more than one lesson. The great children's books appeal to adults as much as to children. The classic children's books take children and adults to places, thoughts, and lessons that they would never otherwise have considered. Where Do Balloons Go? has all of the elements of a classic children's book, with some novel improvements in combining text and illustrations to expand your imagination.

Where Do Balloons Go? begins with this query:

"Where do balloons go when you let them go free?

It can happen by accident. It's happened to me."

Now, if you are like me, you assume that the helium-filled balloons are carried high into the air until they either develop a hole and burst or explode from the expansion of the helium into the near-vacuum around the balloon. Not very exciting as alternative thoughts, are they? That dead-end in your mind, though, sets you up for the wonderful, mind-expanding speculations in this interesting book.

"Are they always alone? Do they ever meet up in pairs?

Do they ever get married and make balloon heirs?"

To fully appreciate this set of questions, you have to imagine the illustrations that complement the queries. Balloons are dining in a restaurant, having a romantic time. Using that illustrative vision to launch into the idea of balloon "heirs" (pun obviously intended for "airs") is hilarious. I just loved it.

The illustrations are done in vibrant colors, emphasizing lots of purples, that create a play with the text and vice versa as the above example shows to greatly expand the meaning of the book.

For a further example, the text says that balloons are

" . . . always concerned that they'll POP --

maybe caught up in wires

pushed by the breeze . . . or tangled in trees . . . . "

The corresponding illustration emphasizes professional human balloon detanglers with advertisements and all kinds of specialized gear untangling balloons from trees. The illustrations have a Richard Scarry-type appearance combined with a New Yorker-style sophistication that effortlessly engage these illustrations to nicely bridge the gap between children and adults, without excluding either side of the audience. In this sequence, you have an additional reversal in that people are serving the balloons, rather than our usual conception of the object serving the person. Without this illustration for the text, that final visual play on the verbal concept would not have been possible.

A standard technique for children's books is just to anthromorphize the objects. This book goes well beyond that. First, different types of anthromophization are employed (as objects with senses "twisted by clowns" as well as self-animate objects "Do they tango with airplanes?"). The balloons are also made into creatures with animal-like qualities ("Or cha-cha with birds?") and spiritual beings (with a relationship to the stars).

You will have to read the book to appreciate its full power. Along the way, you will be exposed to concepts that explore balloon communication methods, how balloons relax, benefits achieved by floating away, activities they pursue unseen in the sky, and the mental perceptions of the balloons as all this occurs. In one nice surprise, there's an enormous fold-out illustration. At the end, you also have stickers that your child can put on the book or anywhere else that she or he wants to.

The ending is brilliantly done, in closing the seemingly open-ended circle of the questions and the action. You will appreciate the way the ending connects parent and child in a particularly nice way.

After you have enjoyed the mind-expanding, humorous, and versatile perspectives in this book, I suggest that you take another question to which there is a scientific answer available, and build your own set of speculations and interactions. In the process, you and your child can create the story together . . . along with your own illustrations. If you cannot think of any other question, I suggest "Why does popcorn pop?" as a starting point. The punny potential of that question could even take you beyond the heights reached in Where Do Balloons Go?

Reach mentally for the stars and grab the physical and emotional closeness that rewards both you and your child!

Great Book!
It amazes me how many talents Jamie Lee Curtis has! This is an absolutely great book and my daughter and I have read it so many times I remember it by heart! "Where do balloons go when you let them go free? It can happen by accident, it's happened to me!":o)

Helped my son get over losing a balloon
My 5yo son, then 4yo, lost a balloon at a birthday party. He was totally traumatized by the experience and always worried that balloons would fly away, fly out the door of our house, etc. This caused him great stress.

I bought this book hoping it would get him over that anxiety. Not only did it accomplish that, but he fell in love with the book. I bought it for therapeutic reasons, but he also enjoys it because of the wonderful illustrations, fun story, and clever rhymes. Bravo, Jamie Lee. Quit your day job, you're a gifted children's book author!

Can't say enough good things about it!
My son was very interested in balloons, so I bought him a couple books about them. Where do Balloons Go? quickly became our favorite. The illustrations are beautiful, vibrant watercolors. The story is funny, with a touching ending. I found myself with a bit of a lump in my throat reading the closing line ("Where do balloons go? It's a mystery, I know. So just hold on tight till you have to...let go."). The sentiment is so meaningful. Some reviewers have commented that this book would be a good way to explain to a child how to deal with the death of a loved one. I can see it as applying to many other aspects in life where you have to "let go." The main idea is to appreciate what you have in the present moment.

Of course, most of the "meaningful" stuff goes right over my toddler's head. He just likes that it's a silly story about balloons and where they might go when you let them go free. The story is written in rhyme, so you can't help but use a sing-song voice when you read it. My son eats that up. He also loves that the center pages fold out to reveal "a big balloon dance." It's his favorite part. I was concerned that the special fold out pages would end up damaged or torn, but he's very careful with them. Well, as careful as a two year old can be. The book has held up just fine, though. The ages listed for this book are 4 through 8 years, but I think that even younger children can appreciate it, as well as parents. It's a fabulous book, and sure to be a favorite for any family. ... Read more

Book Description

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sisters, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena's affection--he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love?

Reviews (75)

An Excellent Book
This tale of romance and courage kept me reading for hours. I couldn't stop reading it at home and school. I loved that book that I could read it again and again.This story is about a young swan that came into the world without a voice. He is determined to win the money he needs for his father's dept, because Louis's father stole a trumpet from a music store. Determined to raise the money needed.He travels from his beautiful home in Montana to places all over the country.He even got jobs like leading a swan boat in one place. Playing his trumpet at another and playing the trumpet at his human friend Sam Beaver's camp.Soon he raises the money he needs and his father pays back his dept.He also wins the heart of a female swan he loves Serena. This is a tale that'll have everyone reading for hours. I like this story and I'm sure others will too.

A Great Book
The Trumpet of the Swan is about a swan named Louis who was born mute. However, he was determined to do something to prove himself. He then asked a friend to help him to learn things that are taught in school. His parents were still not satisfied because they still could not communicate with their son. It was Louis's father who did a great sacrifice to help his son. Louis wanted to clear his father's debts and so he ecountered many adventures. However, what he wanted most was to have Serena (a beautiful female swan) for his wife. Did he succeed? Read this book and you will find out.

This book is a little touching and very exciting.

Trumpet of the Swan
I loved Trumpet of the Swan. It taught me basically everything with the situation that Louis had. It was a very good book. I think everyone will enjoy it at all ages. When I read it, I could not stop reading. Even when it was time to sleep, I took a flashlight and read it. It was a wonderful book. Everyone will definetly love The Trumpet of the Swan.

The Trumpet of the Swan
This book is about a young Trumpeter Swan named Louis who was born with a speech defect problem. He learns to play the trumpet and travels all over America. I was obsessed with it. In fact, I'm reading it again right now. I can't put it down. HELP!!!!!!!!!

It was a great book
It was a great book. I think it was a book that would calm people down. It could be something you can read in your spartime. ... Read more

Book Description

"Some of your words are kind. But some of them are not. Words are not for hurting. What do hurtful words do?" Children are known for speaking their minds. We can’t expect them to watch every word, but we can help them to understand that their words affect other people. We can gently guide them to choose words that are helpful instead of hurtful, and to say two very important words—"I’m sorry"—when hurtful words come out before they can stop them.

Like our earlier board books HANDS ARE NOT FOR HITTING and TEETH ARE NOT FOR BITING, WORDS ARE NOT FOR HURTING helps little ones learn big ideas: that they are responsible for what they do and say; that their actions and words affect others; and that they can make positive choices. Simple words and delightful full-color illustrations make it perfect for reading aloud one-on-one or in small groups. The book also includes helpful tips for parents and caregivers. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Great First-Aid Manual on Teen Depression
A great starting point for teens who are going through unipolar or bipolar disorders (whether they are currently receiving treatment or not), Bev Cobain presents the complex issues at hand in very understandable terms and constantly reiterates the important points that depressed teenagers or teenagers who know friends who suffer from depression must take to heart. The little footnotes at the bottom of most pages are very helpful, just in case the reader decides to skim through or jump around the pages so that every necessary information is readily accessible. The useful diagrams and tips also give depressed adolescents a great way to take action immediately and perhaps feel some sense of accomplishment and progress (in fact the mood chart was something two of my past therapists used). The anecdotes, which represent teenagers each coping with different circumstances, put real faces to the more clinical aspects of the book and serve as examples of points made in the previous pages. There are a few holes in the book, however. Perhaps more information on the specific medications will have a reassuring effect on teens who will be taking them. Also, the issue of hospitalization was covered, but more facts about what actually goes on in them may have helped (although, yes, the experience differs with the quality of the hospital itself). Finally, a small section on the various personality disorders may help those teens who suffer from them because they share similar symptoms. Despite these questions, however, the book is an excellent aid for teens who go through what is often described as the "downward spiral."

this book really helped me with my depression
The day that i started reading this book i couldn't put it down because it was teaching me about my depresion. Now that i have completed it i feel that i know more about depression then i knew before.I shared it with my mom who is also depressed and she wants a copy of her own. iI think it is a very good book and i would defently would think that this book should be for depressed teens that want to learn more about depression. Even a teen without depression that wants to learn more about depression should read it. Thanks bev for writing this wondreful book.

Not Like Most
Of all the self-help books I found, this one struck me the most.

Bev Cobain doesn't treat us like we're five years old or treat us like we're idiots for being depressed. She gives us help, and advice in an organized handbook like format. She steps this into two phases - What's Wrong and Getting Help and Staying Well. I also like how she makes it personal - adding things about her cousin Kurt Cobain but also including other depressed teen stories - proving I'm not alone. I'm almost finished with the book and am into getting some help for my depression.

I'd recommend this book to any depressed teen, any school councelor, or any one interested in teen depression and want to be informed on it incase they stumble upon it sometime in their lives. Good Book -.

This Book Helped Me Alot
I took this book from the libraray after being kind of sad for a few months, and it actually helped me. If you are a teenager and you think that you might be depressed, then buy this book. After reading it I felt much more happier.

The tehniques that she gives are very easy-to-do, and they help! What else could you ask for? The book also includes personal stories of teenagers who were depressed and now are getting much better. (Not all of them are better because of the actions they took before they got help)

Love it
This book is helping me understand that I am not the only teenager that goes throught depression. It is a helping book for me. I love it. I know that this book is going to help other teenagers with depression. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Excellent Children's Book!
I first read about this book in one of my parenting magazines and decided to give it a try.It has quickly become my 9 1/2 month old daughter's favorite book - she actually squeals with joy when I turn the pages and she sees the little boy and his teddy bear.I enjoy reading this book to her as it truly captures the unconditional love a parent has for their child.I bought several copies for baby shower gifts for my friends.I think this will definitely become a true children's book classic.

Wonderful Book
I bought this book for my 2 years old daughter. Whenever I read this book to her, she will follow what the child does in the book. When I read 'I love your topside', she shows me her topside, 'I love your bottomside', she shows me her bottomside, and we have good laugh together until I finish the whole book. The illustrations are so cute that even I enjoy reading it. Simply wonderful book! Highly recommended.

Perfect lesson on love
I bought this for my 17-month old daughter for Valentine's Day and she loves to have me read it to her. The illustrations of the little boy (great also for object lessons on fingers, toes, ears, nose, hair, eyes) and his teddy bear are charming and the story reinforces a message of the unconditional love parents have for their children. Overall just a wonderful book. Friends and family will be receiving copies along with their baby shower gifts.

SIMPLY WONDERFUL BOOK FOR TODDLERS
Not sure why [...] has this one listed in the 4 - 8 years old category as this one is clearly aimed at pre-schoolers and toddlers.It's just a beautifully written and illustrated book.A toddlers love from head to toe, teddy bear in hand.The illustrations magically capture the expression of this little boy.A loving book!And a great gift idea for kids or grandparents with Valentine's Day right around the corner.A sure to be classic!

I Love this book through and through
This book is very cute and the pictures are really good as well as the words that guide the pictures. Good Job Mom! ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. Trans. by Pilar de Cuenca & Inés Alvares. "The presence of the English text beneath the Spanish makes it especially helpful in the primary-grade bilingual classroom."--Booklist. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great book and translation!
Unlike a lot of other books that are translated into Spanish, this one doesn't lose much of the rhythm or the fun when translated. It also has the English text along with the Spanish text. My 1 1/2 year old son really enjoys this book, along with the tape recording of his Tio Raul reading it. I highly recommend it!

I loved this book as a child!
I think one of the many bonuses of the bilingual version of this book is that the text is simple and does not overpower the page. This is a great book for a great price.

easy to understand
A wonderful book for begginers at a really cheap price. The pictues show the text really well and just in case there are some misunderstandings about the meaning of the spanish sentenes, the english version is witten right below it. I am teaching my 2-year old spanish along with improving mine, and this book is really helpful. HIghly recommended to all ages.

Excellent starter book
I bought this book for my son, and think i'll have to get another pretty soon, he can't let go, either i have to read it to him every night or he has to read it to me, It's getting pretty worn out.
Some times we alternate, I read in spanish he reads in english.
So if your looking for a billingual book for your children look no further

Opposites Attract
This book does an excellent job of exploring the concepts of size, color and opposites using a storyline about two dogs who are very different, but also the best of friends. English text is displayed under the Spanish, making it an excellent choice for a bilingual classroom in the primary grades. ( or for English as a second language learners.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fifteen-year-old wannabe philosopher Luther T. Farrell knows a few things about life. He knows the Sarge (his rich, shrewd, slumlord mom) is tougher than nails and that he better not cross her. He knows his chances of using Chauncey, the ancient condom in his wallet, are slim to none. And, he knows that despite his goal to attend Harvard, he may end up stuck in Flint, Michigan, cleaning toilets in his mom's loathsome empire. Luther spends much of his time helping the Sarge run "Happy Neighbor Group Homes" around the city, including shaving and bathing elderly men and driving residents around with an illegal license. In spare moments he tries to win first place in the science fair at school and hang out with his best friend Sparky, all the while fantasizing mightily about his one true love, the beautiful Shayla.

Readers will be moved as Luther, a thoroughly decent if sometimes naive boy, rails against his mother's cold, ruthless notions of what it takes to get ahead in the world. Up-to-the-minute slang and pop culture references will resonate with teen readers, as will the funny, first-person narrative; crisp, often hilarious dialogue; and wonderfully vivid characters. Christopher Paul Curtis, winner of the Newbery Medal for Bud Not Buddy tells a warm, witty, heart wrenching story where the good guy gets his due. (Ages 12 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Book Description

One night a very lonely firefly goes off in search of friends. Each time he sees a flicker of light he flies off toward it, but none of them turn out to be fireflies. He sees a lantern, an owl's eyes, even headlights shining in the darkness. Will the lonely firefly ever find creatures like himself?

A classic in its own time, The Very Lonely Firefly is finally available in a beautiful board book format, perfect for the youngest readers and the smallest hands. And just as in the hardcover edition, the fireflies' lights actually light up, delighting children of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The Very Lonely Firefly
My children (ages 2&4) adore this book. The text is a bit boring, but they look forward to the last page. They also have a tendency to leave it open, and the batteries have been replaced twice in the last 5 months -- (it takes 4 batteries that retail for $2-3 each, and I've only been able to find them at one electronics store). This seems to be too much maintenance for a children's book -- especially given that we enjoy Eric Carle's "no-maintenance" books just as much or more.

Great First Bedtime Book
I've been sharing this with my daughter since she was about 7 months old. She was a little antsy the first time through, but when we reached the lights she fell in love with the book. It is her favorite of the Eric Carle books (although she really likes sticking her fingers in the holes of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.) My daughter is now 20 months old and asks for this story every night. Her vocabulary is growing with each rereading and she is able to point out most objects (firefly, candle, lantern, dog, cat, flashlight, lights) to me. I am surprised at how much she enjoys it and find this is one book I don't mind reading every night.

The batteries are the only problem. The first set finally died after a year of steady use, and the second set didn't last very long. (I suspect she left the boook open all day.) I am having trouble finding replacements that don't cost more than the book, but the book is so enjoyable I don't mind.

The Very Lonely Firefly
My children love this book. The flashing lights for fireflies at the end is the icing on the cake! We have been out for the past 4 nights catching fireflies in a jar (and then letting them go) to watch them glow. My boys (ages 3 and 5) love all the Eric Carle books.

Buy it!
Okay, don't even hesitate on this book, just buy it! The fireflies light up at the end of the book and there just couldn't be any child anywhere that wouldn't be thrilled with this book. Mine just played and played with it and couldn't put it down. Still is one of his favorites and has to be read VERY frequently! This is such a cute, cute book and very well done. Plus, it has fireworks in it - another household favorite! It goes through and shows the many things that light up at night, explaining them very well. Just grab it and run - you won't be disappointed!

Where Are You?
The Very Lonely Firefly is a good book. This firefly is in search for another. He shines his light to attract others but can never find anyone. This book keeps you in suspense. He always finds a light but...It's never a firefly. To find out the ending of this book read The Very Lonley Firefly! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (43)

Parents Gone and Trouble Comes.....
Everything on a Waffle is an interesting and engrossing realistic fiction book by Polly Horvath, the author of The Trolls. Primrose Squarp is the main character. She is a type of person that does not care what other people say; she will always believe what she believes. Coal Harbor, B.C. Canada is the setting of Everything on a Waffle. Don't be surprised about the cars in this book because it is modern times!
Awful things are about to happen to Primrose, will she manage? One stormy day Mr. Squarp and Mrs. Squarp are lost at sea in the thundering storm. An old lady called Ms. Perfidy's house turns into Primrose's new home. Ms. Perfidy is a stubborn selfish old lady charging $5 per hour day and night. Primrose's uncle, Uncle Jack, was willing to let her live with him for free. Primrose meets many unfortunate things but stays tough. If you want examples of the unfortunate things here are some of them; she loses all her sweaters, sets fire to a guinea pig called Herman, and loses a toe... The solution if her parents are alive, is what you need to find out yourself.
I am recommending this book to others because this book tells you what having no parents and being singled out feels like. It would be a good interesting book for realistic fiction fans. No matter what type of reader you are it would be exciting, guessing what is going to happen to Primrose next. At last I should tell you that if you like waffles, read Everything on a Waffle!

Funny and Emotional
Everything on a Waffle, a Newbery Honor winning book, captures your attention as the main character Primrose Squarp captures your heart. The setting takes place in British Columbia with the plot of the story moving along at a good pace keeping the attention of the reader.
Mr. Squarp, Primrose's father is a fisherman and is out at sea when a typhoon occurs. Her mother, worried, decides to go out on the water to search for her husband. They both are missing! Primrose an eleven-year-old girl experiences hard times after both her parents are lost at sea. Throughout the story, she must live with several different people including an uncle. Primrose also becomes great friends with a restaurant owner who serves everything on a waffle.
Through good characterization, the author Polly Horvath allows the reader to understand the characters. The book demonstrates through these characters how everyone needs friends. Here a young girl and her adult friend show kindness, trust, and compassion for each other. Primrose also begins a relationship with an older couple that becomes her foster parents, once again demonstrating warmth and love between these characters. Not only do these adults influence Primrose's life, but she impacts their lives as well.
The readers will find themselves experiencing many emotions throughout this book. One will feel compassion for Primrose as she longs for her parents and her old life and then quickly burst out laughing at some of the comical situations in which Primrose finds herself. Situations such as almost baking the class pet and actually losing a couple of body parts! I enjoyed the character because she is likeable, vulnerable, comical, and has a good heart.
I think most children around grades 4, 5, and 6 will enjoy this book because of both the trials and comedy the characters experience. This book would be a good book to read aloud or together. It would be an asset when teaching children about friendship, grieving, determination and believing in something.

Everything On A waffle
Every Thing On A Waffle

Primrose is 11 year old. Her parents left to sea and she never saw them again, because a storm came. So she lived with several different people.They were Bert and Evie; Miss Perfidy, who smelled like mothballs; and Uncle Jack.
How the book got its title is they would go to a diner that served waffles for plates. They even have recipes in the book.
Primrose believed that her parents were still alive, But people would tell her that her parents were dead. She wouldn't believe them.
Do you want to know if they are alive or dead? Read this book and you'll
find out.

Everything on a Waffle
The book is about a girl named Primrose Squarp's problems in life. She has had problems ever since that one rainy day when her dad was out on his boat and rhe waves were brewing when her mom went out on their skiff to save him.

In this book it starts out slow but it gradually gets better. This book also has large amounts of suspense. One thing I didn't like about the book is that it ended the way I thought it would.

This book is about one girls fight to impress her uncle fit in and keep belief that her parents are still alive. My favorite thing about this book was that it was interesting through the whole thing and it always kept you guessing. This was a good book.

age-appropriate reading
I bought this book for my 11-yr-old granddaughter and decided to read it before sending it to her. In spite of some of the other reviews which criticize the happy ending, I believe tht it is age-appropriate for the intended audience. For my granddaughter, life's cruel realities will evidence themselves in good time, but for now I would like her to have happy stories to read. Primrose sounds like a little girl that I would like to meet, and I hope her story will encourage my granddaughter to read more. I give this book 4 stars only because I have not read enough children's literature lately to form a superlative opinion for the time being. ... Read more

Book Description

1845 children’s book relates the consequences that befall children who torment animals, play with matches, suck their thumbs, etc.
... Read more

Reviews (11)

Twisted Moral Tales fur Kinder
Ever wonder what early German television programs for children must have been like? A bit of the Grimm brothers, with a dash of Weimar dada and an big dose of the unintentionally sick humor of the classic Struwwelpeter by today's standards. This is a classic on some level, not sure where or what. It is not that unusual a children's book when compared to other mid-Victorian attempts at the moral edification of youth. Perhaps a fear of the wages of infantile sins consisting of thumb sucking, poor grooming, cruelty, matches and finicky eaters would help with some of the childish monsters many parents raise today. I have a dream to place copies of Struwwelpeter in every waiting room in America for the kiddies enjoyment. Maybe the injections & dental drills will not seem so bad after all. Herr Hoffman, we thank you for disturbing innocent lullaby land with the dark creatures dwelling in the deep shadowy Tuetonic forests from whence you sprang, an unsung hero to real family values. I guarantee you cannot pick up this book without giggling. Enjoy & sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite...

A children's book unlike any other
I was raised on this book, given to me by a favorite aunt who was raised in Austria. The stories and drawings are simultaneously grim and clever, with lessons for children that have not been sugarcoated in the least.

The book was originally written in German and one English version (not this one) was translated by Mark Twain. This book has lasted 150 years with good reason.

A Grim Delight
I read this little gem in 4th grade--my best friend stumbled across it somehow and showed it to me and we were both fascinated and disgusted (and a little frightened) by the stories and, more directly, by the charmingly rustic drawings. The now infamous story of Little Suck-a-Thumb made us both very relieved that we were, neither one, thumb-suckers. (the Red Long-Legged Scissor Man haunts me to this day...such a vivid and menacing figure, doncha think?) With Augustus--many modern women wish it were so easy to "become a little string". And as far as Harriet and the matches--I only wish my kitties would cry for me as Harriet's did...But I recommend this book heartily for adults who love the grim aspects of the Grimm fairy tales and anyone who liked the any Victorian/Edwardian "fairy stories" as a child (the original "Little Black Sambo" is another good vintage child's book...anyone reading it will see the racial aspects of the book are virtually non-existent. It only makes me hungry for pancakes!). Parental cautions? I am buying this for not only me but for my 7-month-old daughter. As to whether she will get to read it or not...well, I dunno. I think I will also buy a copy of "Peter Rabbit" as well. Mr MacGregor is a little less scary than the nasty red-long-legged Scissor Man.

There's a lesson in this....
It's hard not to burst into xenophobic raptures when contemplating this bizarre little book. I mean, where else could a children's book of such an austere and humourless moral tone have originated than nineteenth century Germany? Have you heard the story of Harriet who played with matches? She BURNS TO DEATH! What should happen to naughty Conrad who sucks his thumbs when his mother isn't looking? The Long Legged Scissor Man leaps out of a door and CUTS HIS THUMBS OF WITH A HUGE PAIR OF SHEARS, OF COURSE! And what of Augustus, who wouldn't eat his soup? HE STARVES TO DEATH! Naturally!

The only thing more ghastly than reading this to your lovely child as she or he is tucked up in bed is reading it in the original German: fear not if you don't understand German; in fact it's even better that way: far more scary!

And all illustrated in the most grotesque fashion, sure to surprise, delight and permanently derange even the most pleasantly disposed child. Well, it never did me any harm...

Gesundheit!
My little sister and I were born in Germany (1950,1952), & our older sister learned German fluently. Mom brought this wonderful book (written in German) back from Germany and hid it in her closet, but we found it and frequently "read" it with great enjoyment, thrilled by the gruesome pictures of what happens to naughty little children who don't do as they ought. When Mom caught us she always scolded us. Over the years the book disappeared. We once reminisced, wondering what happened to this eccentric book, a link in our happy past. When I found it on the internet listed under German children's books, I bought several copies and passed them out - to everyone's delight & amazement. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

I Wish I Could Find this Book!
I remembers this book as a child, when my mother bought it for me at the Book Fair. At the time, I didn't like it, for I didn't appreciate the funny cartoons and splendid way of managing manners and being nice, but now that I have a scroungy little 6 yr. old, I wish I could find it and give it to my son, I think he'd think it was hilarious, which it is. If you find this book, grab it!

Excellent and poignant look at how kids can learn manners.
Mr. Leaf's book was one of the cornerstones of our household, and my brother and I were constantly instructed to "sit down and read the manner's book." This book is very easy for children to comprehend, and it is an excelent way for parents to get their kids to a more "civil" state. I still love this book!

The only antidote to psychobabble
Lost in a sea of new-age mumblings, half-congealed PC semi-truths and "value-neutral" nonsense? Then, if you never do anything else for your kids, find a copy of this and Leaf's other gems and use them as often as you use the TV's remote control. They're full of the no-nonsense, boiled down "rules to live by" that so well defined the simpler ages gone by. To agree with another reviewer, this and the others probably would be banned today. But, when you consider who it is that bans books along with what's acceptable and what isn't by today's standards, it might be time to resurrect ol' Munro and let him have another go at our kids. Until somebody with the wisdom and resource to do that comes along and does, a well-used copy suits me just fine, thank you.

One of my creepiest childhood memories!
This is a book I had as a child and destroyed as a child. Perhaps that is the most accurate review one could ask for. Rife with creepy images of etiquette outlaws such as The Winey (has a permanent lump in his throat) and the kid who ran with a lollipop in his mouth, this book would be banned if published today. I recommend it for adults recovering from an overly-punitive upbringing, to be read in conjunction with Al Franken's 'I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me' for a good, well rounded laugh at parenting of the past. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If anyone tried to determine the most common rite of passage for preteen girls in North America, a girl's first reading of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret would rank near the top of the list. Judy Blume and her character Margaret Simon were the first to say out loud (and in a book even) that it is normal for girls to wonder when they are ever going to fill out their training bras. Puberty is a curious and annoying time. Girls' bodies begin to do freakish things--or, as in Margaret's case, they don't do freakish things nearly as fast as girls wish they would. Adolescents are often so relieved to discover that someone understands their body-angst that they miss one of the book's deeper explorations: a young person's relationship with God. Margaret has a very private relationship with God, and it's only after she moves to New Jersey and hangs out with a new friend that she discovers that it might be weird to talk to God without a priest or a rabbi to mediate. Margaret just wants to fit in! Who is God, and where is He when she needs Him? She begins to look into the cups of her training bra for answers ... ... Read more

Reviews (252)

It exposed my inner child! Ahhhhhhh!
I read this book in sixth grade. I remember PRAYING that my period would start and I'd look at bras in department stores and wonder if I would be better off getting an operation to make my breasts bigger since I'd never even fill my training bra on my own. It happened for me, just as it began to for Margaret.

I will be giving this book to my own daughters in a year or two as I find that talking directly about sex is often uncomfortable and easier to discuss if happening to someone else, especially a character in a book! Yes, Maragret and her pals DID get silly, like making names of boys that they liked and discussing them. So did I with my friends. It is so cool to know that this book is still in print and I can talk to my own kids about this type of goofy behaviour and tell them waht is normal and what isn't and what they'll die thinking of what they had done at their ages when they grow up!

Must Read For Young Girls
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is written by Judy Blume. It is a fantastic book. It takes place in New Jersey. The charters are Margaret Simons, an eleven year old girl, and her eleven-year-old friend Nancy. Margaret wants to become a woman just like her friends. She's lonely and needs someone to talk to.
Are You There God It's Me Margaret is a must read book. This book is a must read because Margaret is going through her teen stages, as well as her whole life changing. Margaret feels like there's no one to talk to and turns to God. Margaret's family moves from New York City, to the New Jersey Suburbs. This changes everything for Margaret. She has a new home, new friends, and a new school. Margaret's new friends have gone though physical changes to become young women and Margaret wishes to do the same. Margaret is very lonely, so she starts to talk to God .She tells him all her problems and asks for his help.
Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey making up stories inside her head. She spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing but now on paper. More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold and her work has been translated into twenty something languages. She receives thousands of letters a mouth from all ages. Judy lives up and down the East cost with her husband George Cooper, who writes nonfiction. They have three grown children and one incredible grandchild. If you want more information on are you their god it's me Margaret your going to have to read it.

So unrealistic, it's hilarious.
I can't relate to anything these girls were going through. I was busty at grade 6 and it was annoying as hell, so it's not all that great. I also got my period at grade six, I didn't tell my mom to "come see, come see" and all that crap. At grade six we had fights, we gossipped and spread rumours, slapped our enemies, played chinese jump rope, walked around and did nothing, played on the playstructure, hung upside down on bars... we didn't do any of the stuff that JB focusses on - we were never that open about our period or our boobs. We didn't form clubs that gave us sheets to rate a guy, or tips on how to increase your bust size and get a bigger bra. There weren't even clubs, period. Not only that, but who get's that hung up in a rumour? Margaret needs to smarten up, and at grade six that's gotta be old enough to realize that you can't completely believe what someone - even a good friend - tells you. I hated her emotional problems, her personality, everything about her and it was hell ploughing through the book knowing that there would be one more page about dear old Margaret. Grade six is nothing like what JB says it is - everybody's fun and easy going and all the girls just wanna have fun. And at fourteen, it's still like that - the flat people don't care that much, none of us obsess about boys, or being popular, or blah blah blah. The religious part was meaningless in my opinion, and I thought it was crazy how she was walking from one religion to another - if you're going to pick a religion, you need to some actual research, not listen to what your friend's say about it. This book is best read by someone who's bypassed Margaret's grade, age, and problems so that way you won't be fed with trash and can realize how ridiculous this book is.

Tug of War over Religion
Margaret Simon dreads leaving NY city to move to a town in NJ, where she will start in a new school. Making friends does not prove to be a problem after all, plus her entire 6th grade class
has to break in a brand new teacher. Still there are two underlying themes which cause her great concern: one is the slow growth of her body into maturity. She and the other Pre Teen Sensations obsess over filling their bras and getting their periods. (This book is definitely not of interest to boys.)

The serious issue, however, is her dual religious heritage. The only chld of a Christian mother and a Jewish father, Margaret is a pawn in a tug of war on the part of her grandparents in the opposing camps. Her parents prefer to raise her to be Nothing--calmly assuming that she wil be able to make up her mind as a young adult without any guidance from either of them. Meanwhile Margaret carries on private conversations with God in her own mind, confiding to him as if by phone--begging him to reveal himself to her and reminding him to help her body mature. When
she has a big fight with God over a grandparent disaster, she stops talking to him. The author does not resolve Margaret's religious dilemma. How will she make up with God--if she still believes in him? There is also a more subtle theme about not believing vicious gossip about people you don't really know. Also a mild warning about the issues of pre teen posturing and snobbery. A good read if you are entering 6th grade.

A Fave Since Age 9!
Judy Blume's writings were often deemed controversial. Oddly enough, Margaret's concerns placed this book, in the year 1970, under that label. Whether it be because of sex talk, periods, or Playboy references, this is a book that all preteens ought to read. Why? Margaret is a regular girl dealing with normal adolescent troubles. She's moved to New Jersey, she suspects, because her parents wanted to distance herself from her grandmother, who paid for Margaret's private school tuition, knit her cute little sweaters, and doted on her in a big way. Now, Maragret will go to public school. You can already see the transition to a new neighborhood won't be all too rough - she and Nancy Wheeler become fast friends and find they will be in the same sixth grade class. She, along with Nancy, Gretchen Potter and Janie Loomis, start the Four Preteen Sensations.

Blume frankly addresses puberty, as well as religion. I like the fact that Margaret feels she can talk to God without actually belonging to any particular organized religion. She is technically half Catholic and half Jewish and a pivotal part of the book is her search to find which religion is right for her. She visits a synogague and a church, yet does not feel God in either place. This exploration of faith is actually something I have seen quite a few younger kids go through today in society - it really is no different from 1970!

Margaret constantly wants her period. Why? I don't know. It will make her feel more grown-up, more womanly, I guess. Yes, I know, I know, I just answered my own question! :) Margaret also wants the body of a woman. She and her friends gossip about Laura Danker, a buxom sixth grader with a bad reputation, seemingly only because of her figure. Margaret wants breasts and goes bra shopping, only because the Four PTS girls are required to wear one as club rules - she doesn't even fill a double A. As some of the girls begin getting their periods, Margaret wonders when her time will come and we wonder if it will come during the 149 pages of the book.

Blume captures the essence of the preteen age in this long acclaimed novel. Believable characters and a believable plot, as with other books of hers, will make this one enjoyable. Margaret asks herself questions that we ask ourselves everyday. She worries about the same things we worried about at her age - maybe even now. She has similar thoughts, concerns, and feelings and does not seem at all contrived or mechanical. This way, many will be able to relate with Margaret and her story. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Big Kick
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a chance to be a millionare? The Million Dollar Kick by Dan Gutman is about a shy seventh grader named Wisper Nelson that enters a huge contest and gets a chance to kick a penalty shot past a professional goal keeper for 1000000 dollars! The only problem is,she hasn' t played soccer since she was 8. What is she to do? She decides to get training from a goalkeeper that plays high school soccer. She works extremely hard. When the big day comes something goes terribly wrong. will Whisper make the kick? Read and find out!

I think this is a spectacular book! I would recommend this book to anyone who is into sports. This book also has a lot of twists and turns so if you like surprises, this is the book for you!

the greatest book
in the book million dollar kick a girl plays soccer. she scored her own team and then she won a prize and gets to kick a million dollar kick. she had to score on her teacher. will she make it.

Another Kick!
Dan Gutman has done it again with "The Million Dollar Kick", a sequel to "The Million Dollar Shot".

I know Dan Gutman through e-mails, I once met him at my school two years ago in Oklahoma City.

The character in this book "Carmen Applegate" was the name of my librarian at my elementary school. Also, another small character "Dan Mills" is the librarian at my middle school. "Bobbie Frisk" is the name of a teacher in the same district, though I have to tell you I don't her.

Please try to read all of Dan Gutman's books, they are very good, and I am sure you will enjoy them.

And also go to [their website] and find out about Dan's books, do some cool activities, read some of his rejection letters for "Honus & Me", and a lot more cool stuff! ... Read more