Amazon.com

Parents will be quick to jump to the conclusion that there can benothing appealing in a tale of an ugly kid who breaks things. And certainly--from that adult perspective--there's something off-putting about the illustrations of David, with his potato head, feral eyes, and a maniacal grin that exposes ferociously pointed teeth. But 3- and 4-year-olds see things differently, and will find his relentless badness both funny and liberating."No, David," wails the off-stage mother, as David reaches for the cookie jar. "No! No! No!" as he makes a swamp out of the bathroom. "Come back here, David!" as he runs naked down the street. Each vivid double-page illustration is devoted to a different youthful indiscretion and a different vain parental plea. Readers will be amused to know that the protagonist's name is no accident: award-winning writer-illustrator David Shannon wrote the book after discovering a similar effort that he had made, again with himself at the center of each drawing, at the age of 5. (Ages 3 to 6) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (113)

I love David!
This book is hilarious! My 3 year-old loves all three of the David books and wants to read them over and over (he already knows all three books by heart) It is a great book for introducing reading to a young child since the text is so simple. The message at the end is positive (even though David's actions are rather negative) since it reinforces unconditional love. No matter what trouble David gets into, his mom still hugs him and says she loves him. I'm sure most parents can relate to having "David-like" moments with their children and often feel like all they say is "No". In an ideal world, all children would be perfect and would never break a vase, splash in a bath, or have a messy room, but in the REAL world...kids aren't perfect and do have to hear, "No." If you are concerned about David's naughtiness, turn the reading experience into a teachable moment and discuss what David could do instead of the behavior that gets him in trouble. On the whole, though, it's nice to see a realistic child in a book...not all children can behave all the time.

Disturbing?? Maybe...but engaging also!
My son's daycare has these (among many other books). He chooses these same books every day to read! He knows them by heart and now points at the words as he says them! Now, when I first saw him with the books, and looked at them myself, I was a little disturbed at the content. But, you know what? It's REAL! You can't protect your children from every situation, but you can teach them how to recognize bad behavior and respond to it. Let's face it, some kids are not taught right from wrong and are just plain mean. If they're not exposed to it, they won't learn it! There are consequences to David's actions...he has to stay after school and clean the desk, etc. Because David is so bad, they learn to recognize bad behavior and how they should be acting. And it encourages reading because it is engaging!! And isn't that really what we need?? It's the parent's responsibility to discuss the content with the child and guide them in appropriate behavior...not prohibit them from reading it. But, others believe in book burning events I guess!

What part of no doesn't he understand?
Not that you'd necessarily know it from this book, but David Shannon is perhaps one of the best children's author/illustrators out there today. Are you at all familiar with "Duck on the Bike"? You should be. How about the gorgeous "The Rough-Faced Girl"? Run and purchase it immediately. "No, David!" strays a little from these other books, not only in terms of picture quality but also in text and narrative. Though certainly an original idea and a fun creation on the whole, I'm afraid that this particular Shannon offering is a little less impressive than its picture book brethren.

David Shannon was sent a small book by his mother, prior to writing this story. A little book that he created as a boy, the only words that appeared in the text of the tale were the words, "No" and "David". The pictures showed David doing the very things he was not allowed to do. Using this idea as his springboard, Mr. Shannon has remade his little book into a wild raucous retelling. Here's David once again, doing all the things he shouldn't. His antics aren't particularly vile or disgusting. In one picture David has tracked mud into is living room. In another, we see the merry naked backside of the boy springing down the street. All this culminates with the moment David accidentally breaks his mother's vase and is relegated to the corner of the room. With big arms we see him run towards his mom, finally enveloped in a big ole hug with the final words, "Yes, David...I love you". Thereby reinforcing the idea that no matter how bad David gets, he's still loved at the end.

The illustrations for this tale are a kind of slightly modified version of the one's Mr. Shannon presumably drew as a young 'un. David has the triangle notes and closed off body parts usually found in children's pictures. Just the same, there's sophistication clearly apparent from page to page. The final shot of David being held by his mother gives the boy a sweet loving countenance (complete with the first appearance of his eyelashes). I've read some reviews of this book that complain that children might be scared by David's teeth. And honestly, they have a point. David has anywhere from six to nine sharp pointy objects in his mouth that become more or less pronounced as his activities grow more or less violent. Some children are not going to like 'em, while others will love pointy-tooth David and his antics. The best way to gauge a kid's reactions to this book would be to simply show them the cover. If they think it's swell or horrific, you'll know right away.

As for me, the book's not too terribly original. There are plenty of books drawn to look like their authors are four (both intentionally and not) and as for bad boys you need only locate Max from "Where the Wild Things Are". This isn't a bad book but nor it is particularly striking or memorable. Feel free to purchase it. Just understand its limitations beforehand.

No, David!
I like this book becuse it is hilarious. I like it when
David gets in trouble. I like when David said, "Do you love me?"
His mom said, "I love you very much David. Don't let anyone tell
you I don't love you because if they do, you call me, but make
sure I'm home. Then call me at work if I'm not."

No, David, better for older preschoolers than toddlers
As the parent of two preschool boys, I certainly see the humor as intended by the author. Answer the door, answer the phone, or use the bathroom, and kids are bound to do something they shouldn't to grab attention! Didn't we all?

My kids love the book, and the best part is the hug at the end. However, my oldest child,(...) never picked his nose until we started reading this book, when he was [young]. (And obviously, not every kid will pick up on this.) My oldest child is a very visual learner, and I don't like the part about negative images (like nose-picking) being filed in my child's brain. So, this book was pulled from our repertoire until we resolved the whole nose picking issue.

When a child is old enough to grasp the concept of the humor and a conversation about making a better choice (like getting a kleenex), instead of imitating the funny pictures, it's a great book. I'm probably not going to read this to my youngest son until he is 4 or 5. That being said... this book is fun and funny, and kids love it! ... Read more

Book Description

It's the Grouchy Ladybug's 20th birthday. To celebrate, we are introducing a new, larger format edition with brighter, more colorful pages created from Eric Carle's original artwork using the latest reproduction technology. The Grouchy Ladybug is bigger and brigher, as irascible but irresistable as ever and will surely delight new generations of readers, as well as her devoted fans of all ages. Happy Birthday, Grouchy Ladybug!

Reviews (38)

Great for all ages!
I am a mother of 3 aged 5,3 & 1 year. All three of my children love this book. They think the Grouchy Ladybug is a silly bug. They enjoy "reading" along with me because the book is so repetitive! Even my one year old sits & listens intently to the pattern. "Ya' wanna fight! " "If you insist..." "Oh- you're not big enough." Repetition is the best tool in teaching to read & Eric Carle books are PERFECT for that! The other concepts he introduces in his books such as TIME & DAYS are helpful in teaching too. GREAT WORK, MR. CARLE!

The Wonderful World of Insects
The Grouchy Ladybug is a wonderful Eric Carle book. I love his mosiac illustrations, and the moral he projects. The grouchy ladybug is mean to all the other insects that he meets. He does not want to share the aphids on his leaf with the friendly ladybug. He ends up making no friends at all, and the animals he is rude to are getting bigger and fiercer as the book goes on. In the end the grouchy ladybug ends up on the same leaf he started out on, and shares the aphids.

Note to teachers: This is a great book to introduce a unit on insects. Most students probably don't understand what aphids are, and the ladybugs feed on them. You could also incorporate all of the other animals in the text to do a unit on animals. There are so many wonderful teaching oportunities with all of Eric Carle's books, but this is one of my favorites.

Wonderful book--one of my child's favorites
This is a great book and the repetition is great for a emerging young reader. My 3 year old can "read" this book to himself and his baby sister because he can anticipate what will happen when he turns the page. He has language delays due to hearing problems when he repeated ear infections and these repetitious books that Eric Carle has done have been wonderful with slowly introducing him to language.

Repetition, repetition, repetition....
After reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to my son enough times to have it memorized, I bought this book thinking that it would be a nice change, and expecting The Grouchy Ladybug to have a moral somewhere along the lines of Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (if you haven't read that to your kids, get it). I found The Grouchy Ladybug to be repetative to the point of parental abuse. Eric Carle has good children's books, but this one was definitely not my favorite. The only thing my son has learned from it is "Hey, You, Wanna Fight?" It was okay to read once or twice, but the next garage sale, it's going to mysteriously vanish. I would suggest The Very Hungry Caterpillar instead, if you don't have it.

This book is crap
Eric Carle has done better. Read the "Very Quiet Cricket". This book is extremely repetitive and isn't really even a story so much as an excuse for the mediocre illustrations and a kind of irritating gimmick of having differently sized pages. These pages are have for my son to turn also.

I love reading real children's stories to my kids, and I don't mind some repetition (e.g., "Guess how much I love you" and "Are you my Mother?" are great...) But the ladybug keeps saying the same thing over and over and over. Yeah, I've hid the book from my kids and they don't miss it. ... Read more

Book Description

Even the most angelic babies sometimes hit or bite, and no one-not Mommy, or playmates, or even the family pet!-is exempt when the adorable, but frustrated, toddlers in No Biting! decide to act out. But just lift the flaps, and you'll discover that these babies know a better way to act after all. Refreshingly honest and all-too-true, this funny book is one that babies and parents will want to share again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

NOT ALL ABOUT BITING
I bought this book because I thought it was all about biting. The book title is misleading. It includes biting, hiting, kicking, spitting.... There's only one page about biting. I'm not even going to show this to my daughter because she doesn't have a brother (referenced on--don't spit on your brother) nor do we have a dog (referenced on--don't kick the dog). Don't want to confuse her.

Great learning tool
My 19-month old son can't get enough of this book. He loves it. He was a slow talker, but this book helped him to say new words. He took pride in the fact that he knew all the answers before we lifted the flaps! The book is simple and holds toddlers' attention well too. I'd highly recommend it.

An excellent book for toddlers!
We bought this book for my daughter when she started biting other kids at her daycare (around 17 months old). It was such a hit with her, I also bought a few more copies for the daycare. Besides biting, it also addresses all the other negative behaviors we don't want our children engaging in. My daughter loves to lift the flaps and yell out the answers. When she does slip with one of the behaviors, I gently say, "No hitting. What can you hit?" She knows the answer right away and knows to apologize. At 2 years old, the book is still a hit and one we continue to ready daily. Fidning fun interactive books that teach a good message can be hard. This one makes it very easy for the parent!

Be careful with this one
I got this to teach my son not to bite, and it works fine for him and that behavior. However, my daughter who is 3 1/2 and who has had no problems with biting or causing trouble read it to herself. The book covers biting, hitting, and pushing, which she has long heard were wrong because they can hurt people. The book also covers spitting. This is really weird. I don't think toddlers have problems with spitting unless someone teaches them to do it. They do a page on "Don't spit on your brother" -- I don't think my daughter would have ever thought about this on her own, but next thing I know that evening she spits on her brother. We had to have a discussion about even though spitting doesn't hurt people, it is still wrong.

I wouldn't recommend it, since it basically teaches children how to spit, and that they can spit at people -- even though they mention it is wrong, it puts the idea into the child's head. I think the author just needed one more page of bad behavior to finish the book and came up with spitting, which really doesn't fit as a bad toddler behavior.

My toddler loved it so much we had to buy a replacement book
My daughter is now a little over a year and a half and she's been so attached to this book for MONTHS. In fact, she loves this book so much that she's torn the lift up flap pages because she gets so eager to see what's next. There is so much scotch tape holding up her current book that my husband and I thought we should just get a replacement book as well as order other Karen Katz books. I hope your little one enjoys the book as much as my little one has. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has been wildly popular with children and adults for over 50 years. Children adore her because she understands them--and because her upside-down house is always filled with the smell of freshly baked cookies, and her backyard with buried treasure. Grownups love her because her magical common sense solutions to children's problems succeed when their own cajoling and yelling don't. For the child who refuses to bathe, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle recommends letting her be. Wait until the dirt on her body has accumulated to half an inch, then scatter radish seeds on her arms and head. When the plants start sprouting, the nonbather is guaranteed to change her mind about that bath.

Hilary Knight's (Eloise, Sunday Morning) delightful pictures provide lively, droll accompaniment to Betty MacDonald's refreshing stories. Whether Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is curing Answer-Backers or Slow-Eater-Tiny-Bite-Takers, her remedies always work like a charm. More than one parent over the years has surreptitiously turned to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle when Dr. Spock failed to come through. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

This series inspired the love of reading in me.
My mother read these books to me as a child. Every night my brother and I would listen to fantastic tales of a woman who lived in an upsidedown house and taught naughty children lessons in genlte, understanding and creative ways. I can say without a doubt that my love for Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle fostered my love for books. Definately a book to share with the children you love.

This Book is Wonderful for all Ages!
Since I was in 3rd grade I read all of of the Mrs.Piggle Wiggle books and I think they are all wonderful for everybody to read. I have little cousins and siblings and I love to read them Mrs.Piggle Wiggle books, and they love them. I think her cures are very funny, cute, and some can be used in real-life if you would like! But all I can say is that I think and most people will agree with me that all Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books are the best!!!

My favorite book as a child
I wanted to live in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's house as a child. This is one of the best children's books ever.

An Excellent Book for All Children
I first read these books when I was young. While some of the themes may at first seem outdated for todays generation, the lessons that these books teach span all ages and cultures. Every parent has had a situation with one of their children that resembles one of these stories. Children can get a laugh out of the lighthearted humor, and still learn valuable lessons about their behavior and about right etiquette.

If Only Problems Went Away This Easily
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is the neighbor everyone wishes they had. She's the widow of a pirate, lives in an upside down house, and is always ready for a tea party with freshly baked cookies. She's such an expert on kids that parents have started calling on her wisdom to cure their kids when they start misbehaving. And whether it's making chores into a game or getting kids to take a bath, she's sure to have the answer to make everyone happy again.

I loved these books as a kid, and this book is just as fun now. The stories fall into a predictable pattern, but that hardly diminishes their enjoyment. Each chapter is a self-contained story, so it's easy to read just a little bit at a time. Unlike other books in the series that feature magic cures, these stories feature what I recognize now as psychology to cure the kids. The humor comes from the exaggeration of the problem and what the child goes through to get "cured." For example, the parent's fighting in the "Fighter Quarrelers Cure" or the tiny dishes in the "Slow Eater Tiny Bite Taker Cure." Heck, by the time the "Never Want to go to Bedders" are cured, they are actually begging to go to bed at their normal bedtime.

Reading the book as an adult, I got a few good laughs out of the names of the parent's friends. I also found it interesting that very few of the adults have an identity apart from their kids. Then again, as a kid's novel, it presents a kid's eye view of the world. I hope these books continue to entertain for years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

"When Mama Bear's efforts to improve her family's manners are unsuccessful, she devises a Politeness Plan--a chart listing a chore as a penalty for each act of rudeness. Basic etiquette is presented in a practical way. Berenstain illustrations add humor and understanding."--School Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Prince Charles wanna-be
This book was an excellent influence on my child's rude behavior. My son, (being a huge fan of this line of books) has gone from a barnyard animal to a Prince Charles wanna-be. He now thinks twice before belching in public, he asks to excuse himself from the kitchen table, the list goes on and on. Thank you Jan Berenstain!

The Berenstein Bears Forgot Their Manners
The Book the berenstein bears forget their manners is about brother, sister, and papa bear. They slowly forget about what they are doing. Everything goes wrong, brother and sister fighting. Papa Bear Yelling telling them to stop. Mama Bear is getting mad and starts a new manners plan. This books lesson is to always be grateful with you got, and be respectful. I think the age level on this book is the ages 4-7. I really like this book it teaches kids manners and what do, and what not to do.

"An Educating Book"
The story "The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners" by Stan and Jan Berenstain is a very educating book. There are two specific reasons for why it is educating. It teaches children a lesson and it helps parents. The first reason for why this story is an educating book is because it teaches children a lesson. It teaches them that if you don't follow the rules or do what's polite, there are consequences. In the story brother and sister bear learn to be polite after getting a certain punishment every time they said or did something rude and discourtious. The other reason is that the story helps parents. Parents can not only read this to their children to entertain them but can at the same time get ideas on how to teach their children about remembering their manners and being polite. They can take what they've read from the book and apply it to their own home life.In conclusion, this story is very educational. It should be read to all young children.

The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
I have read a good many Berenstain Bears books and have always found them to be entertaining and filled with valuable lessons. In this story The Bear family who live "in the big tree house down a sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country" are having trouble with manners. Forgetting to say "please" and "thank-you", reaching across the supper table and name-calling are just a few of the bad habits that have been picked up. Therefore Mama Bear decides on a politeness plan: she makes a list of all the rude habits she wants stopped and beside each one is a specific chore to be performed if the habit is repeated. For example, if one interrupts that person has to dust the downstairs. I find this to be an effective way to teach children proper behavior instead of shouting at them or sending them to their room. I highly recommend this book, it is helpful, funny and filled with colorful, animated drawings.

Chores are NOT appropriate punishment for bad manners . . .
My 4-year-old son LOVED The Berenstain Bears' New Baby and it was a big help in preparing for the arrival of his baby sister. So when we were struggling with remembering manners, I bought this book, certain that it would help. However, I ended up disagreeing with the approach to correcting bad or forgotten manners and rude behavior. This book outlined specific chores as punishments for various offenses. As parents, we have learned that allowing children to help around the house with things like sweeping, taking out the garbage, and helping Mommy empty the dishwasher (the plastic stuff!) is very empowering and makes kids feel like they can contribute to the household and they enjoy being part of the "family team" (hopefully this will continue into their teens since we've started them as toddlers!). Also, I learned that I should probably read through any new book by myself at least once before sitting down to read it to my children (parents can learn too!). Just a thought. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

"Have you ever done something and then thought, "Uh-oh, that was a bad idea"?We thought so.How about the time you asked your best friend to give you a haircut?Or when you went skating with your dog (who had just been kicked out of obedience school)?What if you put all you bad ideas into one book?Then you would have...

THE BOOK OF BAD IDEAS!" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great read aloud!
As a 6th grade teacher whose students love picture books (though they wouldn't admit it), this is a great read aloud. The kids laughed and laughed and couldn't wait to create their own "bad ideas". Great choice for any age!

Everyone has Bad Ideas
I love this book! It reminds me of growing up in a house with three little brothers. Every family has their own memories of bad ideas. Laura Huliska-Beith tells of hers with flair and creativity. The illustrations are colorful and rich in texture. There is something new to laugh about every time I read it. I'm buying a copy for each of my brothers! ... Read more

Book Description

Ms. Piggle-Wiggle's left her upside-down town house and has moved to a farm in the country. With the help of her cows and pigs and horses, she's still curing girls and boys of their bad habits. So whatever the problem-from pet forgetter-itis to fraidycat-ness-the parents all exclaim, "Better call Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle!"

Reviews (3)

Read this!
This is the last of the four Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books, but it was probably my favourite when I was little - I loved horses as a little girl, and these stories include a pony. My parents read the Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books when they were kids, and these books have been a family tradition.

The stories aren't coy about the fact that they set out to show how kids ought to behave, but they're so much fun that I don't think anyone minds that they teach a lesson. After all, who minds when Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is the teacher? These stories, unlike those in the other 3 books, are set on a farm, and teach kids about responsibilty, self-reliance, and trust. Read them if you have kids, read them if you don't have kids. Just read them!

A children's classic
I grew up reading the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series. I loved every single story and I still remember them vividly. They may be a little dated but the lessons are still current and they are still very amusing.

Excellent book. I'm ordering them for my daughter!
I remember sitting in the library when I was little reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books over and over again. I loved everyone one of her "cures" and now that I have a daughter of my own I want her to have her own copies of these classics from my childhood. ... Read more

Book Description

While in the park Sophie decides she wants a cookie and throws a tantrum when her mother will not give her what she wants. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

We love this book!!
What a fun and wonderful book this is. My 3 1/2 year old son loves it and even reads aloud with me his favorite parts (THE COOKIE! THE COOKIE!). We really relate to how Sophie feels when she gets really angry and what it feels (and looks)like to have a tantrum. There are no judgements in this book, only real feelings and patience and understanding from a mom. And it has a peaceful loving ending too. Bravo! to Harvey Stevenson and Deborah Blumenthal.... encore! encore!

At last, a parent allows their child to have feelings!
Sophie sees another child with a cookie, (and she's cranky and hungry and it's naptime) and she REALLY wants a cookie, but her mom says "no", they don't have one today, and Sophie has a tantrum, while her mom stands and listens and watches- she's there for her daughter without interfering, and when Sophie is done with her feelings, they go home, there is no judgement or shaming directed at Sophie for her "freak out", just matter-of-fact kindness. It's SO refreshing! I particularly like the message of the book which is that adults don't have to give children whatever they want or try to reason with them, distract them, etc.. They simply need to let children have their feelings about not getting what they want.

This is a wonderful book for toddlers and their parents!
Deborah Blumenthal puts her finger on the frustrations experienced by two-year-olds who don't know how to stop their tantrums once they start. The colorful and charming illustrations keep kids' attention, and the text is simple enough for your toddler to follow and memorize. It's a "universal," captivating book that really struck a chord with my own young son. Anyone dealing with the so-called "terrible twos" should like this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Top Secret

Sshhh!!! Don't tell...

Eat your vegetables -- they're good for you.
Don't jump on the bad or it will break.
And don't play with your food!

Parents are always spouting these rules. Do they really care about nutrients and mattresses, or are they hiding something? Luckily, one fearless grown-up will risk his neck and his dignity to find out. Disguised as everything from a chocolate milk scuba diver to a giant nose, this counterspy uncovers the disturbing truth. And what he learns will shock you like nothing before. Startling suckface emergencies! Dangerous digit gangs! Powerful sumo cells! Those are just some of the secrets revealed in this book by Caldecott medalist David Wisniewski. But don't let anyone catch you reading it-especially grown-ups. Who knows what could happen if they knew that you knew?

Reviews (18)

The Real Reasons Behind All Those Rules.....
Have you ever wondered why your parents are always telling you to eat your vegetables or comb your hair? Is there really a sensible reason why you shouldn't blow bubbles in your milk, jump on your bed or bite your fingernails? David Wisniewski has gone undercover and after years of investigating has discovered the terrible truths to these and other age-old directives kids have blown off as just "parents being parents". Now the terrifying explanations are all here for the entire world to see and life as we know it, will never be the same..... With the clever look of a confidential, classified, top secret folder, Mr Wisniewski has written a zany, entertaining, over the top dossier that will have youngsters laughing out loud and rolling in the aisles. The hilarious, text, told in hip, kid-speak language is full of jokes and puns and complemented by bright, bold, wacky artwork. Kids will really love poring over these amazing, detailed illustrations. Perfect for youngsters 8-12, The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups is just pure fun and a book you don't want to miss.

The Secret Knowledge Of Grown-Ups
This book was a great book if you want some excitement and laughter. Of course it isn't true, although I had to question myself about that at first. The rules David Wisniewski (author) talks about in this book are rules you've probably heard your parents say a million times. Now, (if you read the book), you'll know the reasons why parents say these rules. The reasons David Wisniewski makes up are funny and seem so real. They'll make you laugh. The exciting part is that these reasons are parts of secret files that haven't ever been shown to kids before. Also, the illustrations are lively and colorful. They are interesting and the fun to look at. You won't be able to put this book down, and you'll never get tired of reading it. Every time I read it, it makes me laugh. (The author, David Wisniewski, is a Caldecott Medal winner.)

A Visit From the Truth Fairie by garrie keyman
At last the truth has been revealed thanks to David Wisniewski, winner of the 1997 Caldecott Medal for excellence in children's literature. I knew there had to be a better reason than "because I told you so!" In the clever vehicle of a top-secret file (even the cover is designed to look like one of those yellow intra-office manila folders), Wisniewski drives home his points with wry humor and fantastic photography of his cut-paper illustrations.

Peruse the pages of this wildly creative take on the hidden truth behind the rules grown-ups impose on children and you will find the answers to such conundrums as why kids are always being told to eat their vegetables (millions of years ago man-eating vegetables ruled the earth and eating them became a necessary means of preventing vegetables from regaining power) and to drink their milk (doing so in fact stops atomic cows from exploding - read book for fascinating details!).

Other truths finally revealed include why kids are told not to blow bubbles in their milk, not to play with their food, not to jump on beds and not to bite their fingernails. A great addition to your home library (or one you can borrow from your local public variety) if you have anyone under ninety-nine living in your house who has an imagination and likes to laugh.

When you're through reading Wisniewski's uncovered truths, you might want to do a little sleuthing of your own (and feel free to send me your discoveries). After all, I'm still waiting to have a few things explained to me, like why everyone constantly worries kids will spoil their appetite when they're always hungry anyway, and why picking up toys is so important since they just wind up right back on the floor the following day? And what about that washing-behind-the-ears thing? Who looks behind other people's ears? And how about eating the crust of your bread, and then how about -- well, you get the idea.

Parents Always Tell You To Read Because You'll Grow Up Smart
But the REAL reason is to keep hillarious books like this from literally JUMPING OFF THE SHELVES. Yes, it's true. Researchers have discovered from the secret files of adults that unless books constantly have the ink read off of them by studious kids, ink build-up on pages leads to inkblot concentrations that cause special smudge protons (SPs) to destabilize (and Rorshack test-givers to completely whack out,) thus making books highly projectile. A copy of Roberts Rules of Order, having been unread for about 60 years, once flew off the shelves of a library in Shelbyville, Indiana, travelled thousands of miles, leaving a plume of library dust over 5 western states and landed in the swimming pool of a Hollywood film producer, leaving the movie maker so shocked he had to discontinue production of a screen adaptation of Huckleberry Finn starring cute computer generated alien creatures and a giant green bean.

So kids, if you don't want your overhyped PG movies delayed or you don't want to wear helmets in study hall...READ THIS AND MANY OTHER BOOKS!

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups
I think The Secret Knowledge Of Grown-Ups is hilarious. The reasons make some sense, and sometimes it is hard to tell whether he is telling the truth or not. (Although the book is found in the fiction section). I think the book is great for laughs and after his reasons you might want to follow those rules. I got the book in nineteen ninety eight and probably did not read it until the year two thousand. Once I read the book I could not stop reading it until I memorized the basic reasons. Overall I think it is a great book. ... Read more

Book Description

Frog has a problem. Burping makes him happy, but all the other frogs think it's disgusting. When he finds a town where everyone loves to burp, he finally realizes that the other frogs may have been right after all.

This comedy of bad manners will have children laughing out loud. And they will discover, like Frog, that a little manners can go a long way. Lisa Kopelke's lively text and witty illustrations showcase Frog and his overly gassy friends.

Reviews (3)

Excuse Me!
What a great birthday gift! My nephew (5 years old) loved it, and though he did play burp all day after reading it, he also started to say excuse me too!

A Hilarious Book for Everyone!
As a parent and teacher, I'm always on the lookout for quality children's books. Excuse Me by Lisa Kopelke has creatively textured and detailed illustrations, and the story keeps kids giggling the whole way through. When we finish reading this book, I hear a chorus of young voices say, "More Frog!" A successful lesson in manners and a hilarious read. This picture book a real winner!

Booyea for boisterous, buoyant burping!
Frog's brazen love of food and burping gets him trouble with those who love him. Though it was cute as a tadpole, poor Frog finds he really offends when he lets fly all those raucous belches. Too much fun! The illustrations are hilarious, the words funny and expressive, it encouraged A LOT of audience participation, and many rereadings! ... Read more

Book Description

Playing in the dirt, staying up all night, and leaving clothes strewn across the floor are not a problem if you're a wild animal. Dunking food, burping, and splashing -- no problem either. Human kids, who are expected to follow rules, rules, rules, will squeal with delight as the pages reveal wild animals getting away with all kinds of outlandish behavior and will relish "knowing better!" ... Read more

Book Description

Bertie's personal hygiene leaves a lot to be desired. He eats candy off the floor. He picks his nose. He gives the dog a furry lick hello. "No, Bertie! That's dirty, Bertie!" says his disgusted yet caring family. Will Bertie ever stop being so gross?

In the spirit of David Shannon's Caldecott Honor book No, David!, Dirty Bertie teaches without preaching. David Roberts's hilarious illustrations and wacky-yet-wise story will have young readers laughing out loud--and promising never to be "dirty Bertie" again! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hilarious
What a great book. It is short but it's so incredibly funny that my girls (4 and just about to turn 3) are laughing hysterically at Bertie's disgusting habbits that when we are finished we read it all over again.

They love saying out loud - "THAT'S DIRTY BERTIE!".

It's just a great fun book to read with your kids and have a good laugh with them as well.

Wondeful illustrations.

Very funny and quite gross at the same time!
I'm always looking for fun and interesting books to give my mother, who is a Kindergarten teacher, to read to her class. This one is no exception. The illustrations are great and the story, though short, is hilarious. Little Bertie has many bad habits, all of them quite gross. The members of his family are trying to teach him manners, but it is no easy task. Along the way, Bertie finds that these bad habits are not always wise.

This book is not your conventional method for teaching a "lesson," but it will have the kids laughing up a storm and they might even take a hint from Dirty Bertie.

tickles the funny bone in kids
My 6,4 and 2 year old all love this book. They think it is hilarious. They love to shout out "No Bertie, that's dirty Bertie" . I thought it may have been a little young for my 6 year old but I think the "oooh yuck factor" won him over. He liked it so much he couldn't wait to take it to school so his teacher could read it to the class. It makes everyone giggle and I recommend it highly , so do my kids! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delightful!
My 21 month old daughter loves this book! We read it four times last night and she wanted to hear it again this morning. Heather Solomon's watercolor illustrations are Gorgeous! and fun (howling with coyotes, roaring like a lion, pushing the wild animals back into the toy box, shrugging her shoulders with "Who me?" and sitting so endearingly with hands clasped on the very last page... well, we just loved every single page of this book). And thank you Sarah Weeks for a perfect job with the rhythm and words (thank you, especially, for words like: absurd, precocious, polite and apologize). My daughter is not yet two years old, but she "gets" the humor and sweetness in this very fun book. I have just ordered another copy for a gift, and suspect I'll order several more for upcoming birthdays.

Beautiful pictures, don't be put off by the "bad girl" theme
A book with beautiful pictures and really good story. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If Pulitzer Prize-winning Nobel laureate Toni Morrison and her son Slade hope to reach children with their rhyming message of personal freedom and individuality, they may have missed the mark. But if even a few excessively controlling grownups learn to "let children be children," this big, colorful picture book might serve its purpose after all. Patty, Mickey, and Liza Sue live in a big brown box (locked from the inside) with all the amenities a modern child dreams of: TV, Barbie, pizza, Spice Girls T-shirts, beanbag chairs, and Pepsi. All this, but no liberty. They've been placed in this box because the adults in their lives believe "those kids can't handle their freedom." They have too much fun in school, sing when they should be studying, feed honey to the bees, and play handball where they shouldn't. Parents, neighbors, and teachers are uncomfortable with these irrepressible children, and hope to control them with strict boundaries. Meanwhile, the younger-yet-wiser children just want the freedom to become themselves: "Even sparrows scream/ And rabbits hop/ And beavers chew trees when they need 'em./ I don't mean to be rude: I want to be nice,/ But I'd like to hang on to my freedom."

Giselle Potter's lovely, childlike paintings create an atmosphere of naïve bewilderment, as the plaintive children wail, over and over, "If freedom is handled just your way/ Then it's not my freedom or free." Morrison's first foray into children's literature is a puzzling, thickly ironic book that asks more questions than it answers. Even as a celebration of the unfettered exuberance of children in the face of societal oppression, a lighter touch would have done wonders. (Click to see a sample spread. Text copyright 1999 by Toni Morrison. Illustrations copyright 1999 by Giselle Potter. With permission of Jump at the Sun, Hyperion Books for Children.) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A different approach to discussing freedom
This is a wonderful story for both children and adults. It tells of three children that get into trouble in the adult world and are placed in a big brown box. The children are simply displaying typical childish actions, yet are misunderstood by their parents. Very authentic for children to understand.

I have shared this book in my fourth grade classroom for the past three years. Each time I share it the students seem to understand the message and what it means to them in their own way. Although some think that this story is inappropriate for children I feel that it is wonderful for all ages. Don't underestimate what children can understand and take away from good literature. This can be a great piece of literature to use to discuss the idea of freedom with children.

Insightful..profound!
The first few pages made me uncomfortable (I'm not sure why). Then as I read on, I found myself cheering for the children and their freedom. I began to love the words and the rhyme. It certainly resonated for me..having raised one child (now 30)who epitomizes the concept of allowing children freedom of expression. She has grown into a creative, fearless woman who is living her dreams.

Perhaps most importantly, parents should read this book alone, then again with their children, followed by a discussion about what freedom means. While I do not believe children should run the show, they do need an environment in which they feel safe while expressing themselves. This would be a wonderful book for the Montessori Schools!

Thinking Outside The Box?
Patty, Mickey and Liza Sue all must live in a big brown box with doors that open only one way because they "can't handle their freedom." Patty's infraction is that she went four times to the toilet and talked in class; Mickey hollered in the hallway of his apartment; and Liza Sue, who lives in the country, let the chickens keep their eggs. These three kids do good things, however. They fold their socks, hang up their clothes, do fractions and give up peanut brittle, for example. Written by Toni Morrison and her brother Slade and lushly illustrated by Giselle Potter, this little book sends the message that parents should let their children be given a chance to handle their freedom.

What a wonderful lesson for parents to learn!

plastic toys & dolls with names
Feeling twinges of regret at my own childhood, this story resonated with me on a deep emotional level.

There is a tendency in today's society to replace experience with material objects, and for parents to protect their children by sheltering them from the world as opposed to guiding them through life experiences. Unlike other reviewers, I do not find the children in this story to be victims of emotional or behavioral disorders, but rather, alive with all the creativity and awareness that a child new to the world finds innate. The adults, unable to reconcile the self expression of each child finds it necessary to lock the child in "a box"-- a metaphor for over-protective adults encouraging conformity as opposed to creative thinking-- and further drives the point home by medicating the child with commercialism and imitations of real experience: plastic toys, televisions, dolls that have "already been named", Spice Girl tee shirts, pictures of the sky and small boxes of actual dirt.

This book does hold a strong message for adults, but I think that children who read this book should not be underestimated. Discussion about the themes could encourage children to think more about their role in society as creative thinkers.

Such as: What does it mean that the children receive dolls that are already named? Ask the child, "Do like naming your own dolls? What do you think about getting a toy that already has a name?" Questions along these lines explore ideas about self-expression and ingenuity, and hopefully looking at these parts of the story will allow most to get past their knee-jerk reaction that the book encourages rebellion against adults and instigates fear or disobedience in children.

Great message but too confusing for most kids
I go to Harwich Junior Thheatre for classes. Were doing an adaption of it to perform in the park. I play Mickey. This is a great book but I diidn't understand it's moral at first. But rating it as a book for all ages. i give it 5 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

"Schnorrrkle!"

Frog and his friends can't stop sniffling. What's worse, they wipe their noses on their arms. Frog's runny nose is making it hard to concentrate in dance class, and it's disgusting his teacher, Miss Tutu. What Frog and his friends need are tissues!

Frog discovers nirvana when he finally uses a tissue to blow his nose. But what will happen when Frog is caught in the middle of his dance recital with a runny nose -- and no tissue? Lisa Kopelke's humorous text and exuberant art enliven this comedy of manners. ... Read more

Book Description

In order to avoid expulsion after committing various offenses, six very different high school students are required to meet with the school counselor, in a group, every Wednesday afternoon for a semester.

Susan Callaway, whose weight has kept her a shy, lonely outcast, narrates the story. Only Brendan, a gay classmate in the group, knows what landed her there. Susan is more than the sweet girl everyone thinks she is. She's had to cope with a lot more than anyone realizes. When the crank calls start-a male voice asking her to go out on a date-she's sure the calls were made by one of the guys in the group. But why is her brother never home when the calls come?

In her second novel, Atkins paints a gripping portrait of an overweight girl coming to terms with her father's estrangement, her brother's hostility, and the slow torture she's received at the hands of her classmates. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful Young Adult Literature
As a fantasy novel addict, I decided to try a new genre of literature. And I honestly wanted Alt Ed to be my first young adult novel choice. Surprisingly, I found a lot in common with the Character susan and myself. Which makes novels are the more interesting. In my honest opinion it matches the exact same High School enivornment I used to be in. It's a wonderful Book to read and gives and insight on what it's like not to fit in. I give this book an outstanding A+

A Good Book
I thought it was a good book. It is very similar to what it is like in high school today. The differences between us by our looks make us feel that that person is bad or that person is strange. It really follows life like today. I would recommend this book to others because it really makes you think about what you are doing to others or thinking about others by the way that you see them as and you can be friends with people that you may never even consider to acknowledge.

Characters you can relate to
I loved the book, ALT ED by Catherine Atkins, because the characters were really people I could relate to from people I've known in my life. All her life, Susan has struggled with her weight and with getting acceptance. It's been especially hard because her mother is dead and her father doesn't understand her very well (He is her school's athletic coach and really into that). She doesn't feel like she can talk to him. She has a big crush on this nice guy at school, but this other guy, Kale, always picks on her. When Brendan, a fellow outcast, trashes Kale's truck, Susan gets blamed for it and is almost glad that people thought she struck back. She, Brendan, and Kale are all ordered to attend an after-school detention program, along with Susan's crush and two girls -- one, a popular cheerleader, and the other, a girl with a reputation (Amber, who was my favorite character). Although the six have little in common, they eventually develop some grudging friendships or at least a little bit of understanding. I thought the plot unfolded realistically and the characters were true to themselves too. Everything didn't end up perfect in the end, because that wouldn't really have happened with these people. Most of them still had prejudices, but at least they'd made some steps in the right direction. Fans of the classic movie, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, or other "group therapy" type books like Chris Crutcher's IRONMAN or STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES or Alex Flinn's BREATHING UNDERWATER will really like this book!

The Kids of Small Town America
Just when you think you know all you need to know about the school life of teenagers, along comes Catherine Atkins' novel Alt Ed to show us another aspect of it. Atkins' teens are neither urban nor suburban. They live in the rural town of Wayne where options are few and daily lives are lived in pods -- Balkanized by town tradition -- and the threat of the Other rules the day. This is particularly true among the youth at Wayne High. Atkins does a great job of bringing individual students out of their pods and into a room at the school where they must interact. Over the course of a semester, each of the Others spend time attacking, defending, moralizing, venting, and some of them even learning to see the flesh and bone beneath the armor each of them wear. What I particularly like about Alt Ed is that there are no stereotypes in it. No one is perfect and some of them don't even want to be. Some of the characters seem clueless, but even those (Dad, Kale) end up on the plus side. Maybe they only finish up with a 51 or 52 out of 100, but still. . . there is some forward progress in their thinking. Teen life in small town America can be every bit as gritty as it is in places with greater pizazz. Read Alt Ed -- or better yet hear it on audio as you read it --if you want a looksee at the milieu in which Susan Calloway, Kale Krasner, Randy Callahan, Tracee Ellison and Amber Hawkins operate. It's an eye opener, and it will make you a Catherine Atkins fan, as I am.

Trite characters, predictable plot
As a reader of Young Adult fiction, I always cheer when an author puts together a book that gives credit to the intelligence of the average teen. Unfortunately, I could find little here to cheer for.

Overdrawn character stereotypes, unbelievable events, and a predictable plot all combine to make this work a mild insult to the intelligence of young adult readers.

The basic "Breakfast Club" idea is sound, and it would be interesting to see this book completely rewritten with an eye towards fresher, more believable characters and plot events that aren't so hard to swallow. ... Read more