Amazon.com

Gaily tied up with two red ribbons, Lucy Cousins's unusual, delightful, virtually wordless "book" is in fact a triple pop-up. When you open the covers (vertically, like a door, rather than horizontally), you are introduced to this endearing rodent's kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, like three little dollhouses. In the boldly colorful kitchen is a pop-up table and chairs, and a pop-out-from-the-wall set of cabinets, complete with a range that opens to reveal a baking pie, and many other distractions. Turn the "page" and you come to a bathroom complete with a mirror on the wall, a liftable toilet seat, and a little figure of Maisy to stand in the shower stall. Each room comes with a sheet containing cut-out objects like clothing and small furnishings, to be arranged at will. In the bedroom, a tab turns a window scene from day to night and back again, and a clothes chest has real sliding drawers. Maisy is a character small children can fall in love with. Ingenious. (Ages 3 to 6) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (14)

My 2 yr old LOVES this book
We just received this book as a birthday present last night and I can't tell you how much my daughter loves it. She played endless for HOURS with it. We finally had to go to bed and she cried for 30 min! She woke up this morning asking for it. If your child loves Maisy, this is perfect. You get to be in Maisy's world. I love that it's not electronic and high tech-it's perfect for little imaginations to explore and invent.

Wonderful playhouse!!!
I was actually pleasantly deceived by this "book" I purchased this via Amazon over the star reviews and the fact that my daughter LOVES Maisy and her books. I didn't even realize that this is a pop up house of Maisy's bathroom, kitchen and bedroom. There are pop out food and plates to put it the cupboard, fridge that all really open. A stand up Maisy doll with multiple outfits to change her in. Even a pop out bed with a cover for her! This is a wonderful toy for a preschooler and enhances their imagination. The only problem that I truly see in this "book" is no where to store all the little pieces it comes with. I just attached a ziplock to the book to prevent the tiny pieces from getting lost. This was my 2.5yr old daughter's favorite Christmas present - I don't think she was quite old enough to keep it very neat but she has played for hours and hours! I purchased another one for when she is a little older. Very reasoable price and a sure pleaser!!

independent play
My daughter received this book when she was just a little over two years old. She was already a Maisy fan. What shocked me was that she disappeared into the bedroom one day, and when I went to go check on her, she was quietly playing all by herself with this. I didn't figure it would last long. Finally, almost an hour later, I had to go in and get her to go to the grocery store. She is almost three now and STILL loves to play independently with this book/toy - it's the only toy which occupies her independently for hours on end. I bought her the farm version too, which she also likes. A definite winner!

A toy not a book
This is a "book" that folds out to a house - complete with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. It has accessories, including Maisy, her toy panda, sailboat, rubber ducky, clothes, toothbrush, hairbrush, food, drinks, etc, etc. The cupboards and fridge open to reveal food, dishes and more. The bathroom has incredible attention to detail, including toilet paper that actually rolls out a little. I have a 3 year old daughter and she will play with this for hours. The toys are made of paper which is pretty durable, but are showing some wear. It doesn't bother her. This is one of her favorite toys and she plays with it every day. At first I was worried about the set getting ruined by little hands, but it is holding out very well. I highly recommend this toy for Maisy fans. There is a Maisy Farmhouse which is a great companion to this one.

Our 2-year Old Always Asks to Play With This Book/Toy
I got this for my daughter's 2nd birthday and she adores it. She always asks for "Mady" (Maisy), so I tie the red ribbons and set up the whole house for her. The only annoying thing about it is the clean-up of all the tiny little cardboard accessory pieces. I think some of them are in our vacuum now. ... Read more

Book Description

This is no ordinary coloring book! With playful drawings, funny scenarios and fun-to-follow instructions, this book is not just for coloring, but for doodling, drawing, imagining and thinking! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A sheer delight!
I bumped into this book in an airport in Minneapolis. My grandaughter did not budge from it for three days when I gave it to her. I am jealous I didn't think of it. It is a wonderful creative expression gift!

Endless Creative FUN
My daughter just received this from her grandmother over the weekend. It has never left our kitchen table. Any free minute Taylor gets, she sits down and draws in this book. It is a creative coloring book that allows children to use their own creativity and thinking. Endless hours of fun and great for any road trip. I am going to buy several for birthday presents which are great with a nice set of thin magic markers!

imaginative fun for all ages
What a great find this book is! Scribbles is full of many zany ideas to get kids imaginations flying. Gomi's simple artistic style is appealing to kids and adults alike. Pages have simple instructions that will guide kids without them feeling hemmed in. Gomi often has several pages in a row with the same simple illustrations but with different leaders: a quaint town drawn at the bottom of several pages has the headings: "Its a beautiful day today: draw a bright sunny sky," Today it is not so nice: Draw a dark cloudy sky," and "Today there's a thunderstorm: draw lighting and rain." Or a simple stick drawn on several pages and children being asked to draw a dragonfly sitting on one, a sparrow on another, a crocodile balancing on another and finally an elephant! Kids will love the crazy ideas. There are also masks, mazes, time- telling exercises etc. I prefer the thin line drawings to the thicker more abstract ones but there sheer abundance of ideas makes up for the few that fall short of perfect. A great score for the classroom or the craft table! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Your 4- to 5-year-old will absolutely delight at how much she or heknows while working with the 300 questions in these Brain Quest decks for preschool children. It's the bunny, of course, that does not live "in a river, swamp, or sea." (That's where the crab and alligator live!) Later,it is not long-lashed Amanda the Panda--the deck's adorable guide figure--"who is eating with chopsticks." (Amanda has a fork. And a light brown bear has a spoon. It's the bunny who has the chopsticks!) Proud of their success in unraveling the answers from these cheerful illustrations, kids will gladly challenge themselves to the harder fare,like finding the rectangle in the picture, or counting the circles on the Olympic flag.

Parents too will enjoy the authors' focus on real-world scenarios andreal-world questions. Woven through these happy academic fundamentals are lessons about getting dressed, colors, body parts, and many other concepts that benefit preschoolers immensely. (Ages 4 to 5) --Jean Lenihan ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I love brain quest pre-school
I love Brain Quest pre-school because it has lots of fun questions.I always bring it with me on long trips.I am in 4th grade now and have Brain Quest 4th grade.

Hours of Fun
My 3-year old and I have looked at these cards many times. She has most of them memorized. That is OK because now she likes to play teacher!

great fun for a 3-4 year old
My 4 year old daughter loves to do the "quiz cards" before bed time. She doesn't mind the fact that we've done the set over and over at least 10 times!

My 4-year old loves this!
Each page has 3 questions and fun illustrations, with the answers on the next page (also with fun illustrations). Covers a wide variety of Preschool level topics, from numbers and colors, to logic, patterns, shapes and thinking skills. A great item to have along anytime you need to "kill time" (like sitting in a restaurant or on an airplane). I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Book Description

Here, for the first time, is your very own collection of paper dolls inspired by the classic Little House books. Inside this book you'll find Laura, Mary, Baby Carrie, Ma, Pa, and their faithful bulldog, Jack. From helping Ma gather food in the garden to watching Pa play his fiddle, now you, too, can be a part of Laura and Mary's happy days in the Little House in the Big Woods.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Little Girl Play Day
The Big Woods Collection of My Book of Little House Paper Dolls is a charming and endearing set of paper dolls and props. You can either be inside the log cabin or outdoors in view of it. Either way, it will provide an afternoon of delight for any little girl ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Christmas present!
Kids from 8 to 12 love jokes and this joke book is for them. Easy to read, predictably corny, these jokes will keep them reading and improve their memory skills.

If you have a long car trip ahead or, better yet, your grandchildren do, get them this joke book. It will keep the kids entertained and the driver thankful for those long car naps when he/she doesn't have to "knock-knock".

A good book
This is a great book the title is really what it is like hilariose. There are a whole bunch of jokes for kids like you and me i loved it so why shouldent you? I read it in about 4 days its great if i were you i would buy it for your kids they will love it. These type of book are great for stocking stuffers to so ENJOY you holidays and enjoy this book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Since Raggedy Ann first appeared in print in 1918, she has charmed millions of readers with her always warm and optimistic outlook and calm approach to difficulties. Now she returns to delight a new generation in this carefully produced reissue, which restores the book to its original appearance.

All the original stories are here, as Raggedy Ann comes to Marcella's nursery and quickly becomes the leader of the dolls. After learning a lesson from a naughty raid on the pantry, Raggedy Ann's adventures show her striving to be good -- and succeeding. She and the other dolls rescue Fido, the family dog, from the dogcatcher. When, in one adventure, Raggedy Ann has to have her stuffing replaced, she gets her famous "I LOVE YOU" candy heart. Raggedy Ann also goes up in a kite, teaches two new dolls to be tolerant, and shares the excitement of a baby brother for Marcella, among several other tales.

Johnny Gruelle's delicate illustrations are the perfect companions to the well-loved stories in this American classic, the only edition authorized by the Gruelle family. A brief biography of the author-artist by his grandson, Kim Gruelle, makes this edition especially valuable. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Unlimited Stars for imagination value
When my daughter was 3, I started reading these Raggedy Ann stories to her from the original book I had as a child. She so loved them I added Raggedy Andy Stories (new) and Stories from the Deep Dark Woods (also my own) to her nightly reading list. Yes, the stories are sweet and moralistic, and the original drawings are beautiful and full of sentimental memories, but what constantly astounds me is the way she has transferred these stories into so many aspects of her daily imaginative play. Did you know that dolls & toys really DO talk and move when she is away? And when one is on the floor in the morning, it is because it just didn't quite make it back on her bed in time. Hours are spent getting them positioned in vignettes where they can be happy and productive while she is at school. Even now that she is older and reads the books on her own, that belief is as strongly rooted as Santa. Any book that can inspire that level and quality of imaginary play not only is NOT old fashioned and outdated, but more timely than many publication out there today. And although she still adores Fairy Tales and many other fantasy related stories, these books are not fantasy to her. No other stories we have read have drawn out that level of continued imaginative interaction.

Sweet stories, sweetly narrated
My daughters, 5 and 3, enjoy listening to this CD of Raggedy Ann Stories, mostly on nights where they are too wound up and need a little more than their usual bedtime routine. The narrator has a pleasant, soothing voice that sounds like she could be Marcella's grandmother. The sweet and simple stories share values and lessons learned by the adventures of Raggedy Ann and her other dollie friends. This CD has inspired my 5 year old to pick out the classic Raggedy Ann books for read alouds. When asked what was her favorite story off of the CD, my daughter said, "They're all cute, but I like the one where Raggedy Ann helps hatch the baby chicks". We have both the audio Tapes (Raggedy Ann & Andy Stories) and this unabridged CD, and I prefer the CD's narrator.

We need more children's books like this
This book was given to me as a gift in 1965, and I have treasured it ever since. It was such a pleasure recently reading it with my 6 year old daughter. We looked forward to reading a chapter or two every night at bedtime. It was so fun for me to hear the anecdotal stories again, but interesting to read it from an adult prospective now. The book is full of humor and whimsy as she gets herself in & out of many interesting predicaments. As an adult, I also appreciate the messages that each story tells. I wish there were more books like this that teach moral values. I'm so thrilled to find it available to buy new for my niece to enjoy too!

Memories Brought to Life
Oh, how this book brought back memories of my childhood. I used to set my Raggedy Ann doll and her friends out at night so they could wake up when I fell to sleep. This way they could go on with their adventures. If Raggedy Ann had slumped over in the morning and not in the upright position I had put her in the night before, I just knew she had bee up and about the night before. She had just not gotten back into the same position I had put her in when I went to bed.

This is a glorious book for children and their imaginations. I recommend it highly - maybe even for adults.

My 8-yr. old Pokemon & Harry Potter lover-loves these books!
I personally think these books have the right mix of fantasy, adventure, and misguided characters (that become redirected into good characters) to hold the interest of younger elementary aged children. The morals are blantant but why not for young children? My mother just gave me back my large collection that I received 35 years ago. I thought my rough & tumble boys (6 & 8)would cringe at the sight of them as they do anything "Barbie" or the like. To my surprise, they love the stories and my 8-yr. old son stays up too late reading them...as he does with Harry Potter. It warms my heart to see how interested they are in them. I think they are sweet books with a good message. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Little pieces of heart in a little book
This book is fun, a charming introduction to dim sum, and even a little bit educational for adults -- I'm hoping I can do more than point next time I go for dim sum. The rhymes are simple and catchy, and the illustrations (with pictures made from scraps of fabric) are intriguing. My baby daughter is mesmerized by the book and stares at each page intently as I read. As an added bonus, after reading "Why oh why, my little sho mai, why do I love you so?" aloud several times, I have taken to calling my daughter shao "sho mai" (little meat ball). This is BY FAR one of our favorite read aloud board books.

Wonderful!
My sister-in-law bought all four Amy Wilson Sanger books for my kids, starting when they were about 6 months old, finally buying this new title recently (the kids are now 18 months.) They absolutely love all her books. The rhythm is perfect for little kids, and the illustrations are colorful and fun. The books are also somewhat educational for grown-ups - I didn't know the names for all the dim sum myself.

My only gripe is that, while she puts definitions on the back of this one, there's no pronunciation guide. ... Read more

Book Description

Even the pickiest of Gungans will eat their fruits and veggies when Bubble City Salad and Boss Nass Broccoli are on the menu. With this exciting new sequel to the best-selling The Star Wars Cookbook: Wookiee Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes, Star Wars fans of all ages can cook up more out-of-this-world fun. From razor-toothed Opee's Sea Crunch (for fish fillets with a real bite) to Darth Double Dogs (doubling as a light saber you can eat!), this intergalactic Star Wars cookbook features healthy snacks, delicious dishes, sweet treats, and easy main courses no Rebel can resist. Featuring hilarious photographs and recipes and wipe-clean pages, The Star Wars Cookbook II even includes a shiny plastic stencil of Darth Maul to help decorate culinary creations. And age is no issue when the Force is with you-adults as well as kids will have a great time with this book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good, but Wookiee Cookiees was better
Star Wars Cookbook was the best cookbook in the world. It hand strange recipes like Tusken Raider Taters and Twin Sun Toasties, but also fancy food like Han-Burgers, Greedo`s Burritos, Princess Leia Danish Dos, Jedi Juice Pops and the king recipe, Wookiee Cookiees.

I got this cookbook before Wookiee Cookiees in Christmas 2003. It was quite nice'. It featured funny names like Sith Speeder Sunrise, Handmaiden Hash Browns and Boss Nass Broccoli. The photos are amusing as in Wookiee Cookiees: Watto over few Watto Melon Cubes and Gungans fighting from Booma Breakfast Tarts. The pages are wipe clean, so Amidala Challah does not damage on it.

I love Sith Slush, so I had to make it on summer with my father.
Good, but Star Wars Cookbook 1 was better.

Another must buy for the true Star Wars fan.
This book is the following volume to the Star Wars Cookbook: Wookie Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes and like its predecessor it has the same beautifully illustrated, spiral-bound, hardcover format. It is another must buy for serious Star Wars fans that want to keep adding delicious Star Wars themed recipes to their lives and want to have fun while preparing their meals.
The book is divided into five sections for easy reference: Breakfasts, Snacks and Sides, Main Courses, Desserts and Treats, and Drinks. Each Star Wars themed recipe is fully and clearly explained (ingredient measurements and preparation instructions) for easy understanding. The book's introduction contains practical advice on cooking safety and includes a guide of the cooking tools you'll need. As an added bonus, the pages of the book are laminated for easy, stain-free cleaning.
You will love all the recipes, and will probably recreate, the wonderfully photographed serving suggestions given in the book like the Booma Breakfast Tarts, the Pit Droid Pizza, and the Qui-Gon Jinn-ger Snaps which are decorated with the action figures of known characters of the Star Wars Episode I movie. Other recipes' presentations feature enjoyable visual puns like the Boss Nass Broccoli, the Protocol Droid Pasta and the Darth Maul Dip (which even includes a plastic template for decoration). Some are even very basic, but really tasty, recipes that have been given clever Star Wars-sounding names like Darth Malt, Panakacakes and Pickle Jar Jar.
Buy this book, share the joy of cooking and your love of everything Star Wars with family (kids and adults) and friends, and May The Force Be With You.
I would also recommend buying the Star Wars Cookbook and The Star Wars Party Book along with this one as they all make a complete, excellent and fun idea source book for everyday cooking and Star Wars themed parties.

Makes me hungry reading it!
Great addition to your cookbook collection and Star Wars collection, but if you're like me your collection is big enough already! Book contains a variety of delicious looking recipes from "a galaxy far, far away". Whether it's Boonta Classic Waffles for Breakfast to start your day, Pit Droid Pizza for a party with friends, or Panakacakes for a sweet evening treat for your loved one, you will have great fun cooking away with this book. Even if you are not too experienced a chef, you will have to give it your Jedi best, but try not - DO or DO NOT...there is no try!

Fun in the kitchen for Star Wars fans of all ages...
Just like the first Star Wars cookbook (Wookiee Cookies), Darth Malt is cover to cover fun! The same wonderful, quirky photography style is employed to display the finished cuisine, and the recipes are no-nonsense and easy to follow. Even though I'm (technically) a grown-up, I get more cooking inspiration from this recipe collection aimed at kids than I ever have from other cookbooks. ... Read more

Book Description

Elmo promises to go to sleep--after he pats the cat and feeds the fish and hears one more story and has one more drink of water. Told with a bouncy beat that winds down to a soothing sway, this story is just perfect for bedtime!
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Super Bed time book
My daughter is a big fan of Elmo and ever since I got this book for her, my husband and I have to read it to her every night. The illustrations are good, the wording is short and to the point so they do not get bored, and most of all the pages are some what glossy and the book is a hardcover so it will last a long a time. I highly recommend this book to any Elmo lover.

I know it by heart!
This book has been out sons favortie since we bought it when he was around 9 months old (he is now 2 1/2). He askes for this particular book at least 4 out of 7 nights aweek. I am acutally at this site right now looking into buying a new copy. The binding did not hold up as well as I would have liked, but I will admitt he falls alseep with it in his bed a couple of times a night (we let him look at a book in bed after we tuck him in for the night) I would highly recommend this book to anyone who child loves Elmo. It is a really cute story and as it goes along, Elmo falls asleep, so my son likes to pretend he is Elmo and lays down on his pillow. I can not rave about it enough. There is lots to talk about as the story goes along and there is even a section where you can count sheep (my sons favorite part)! I recommend this story to everyone! ... Read more

Reviews (41)

A Captivating and Interesting Novel
This novel by David Klass tells the story of sixteen year old Jimmy Doyle and his journey from a small town in Minnesota to an American Dream Team basketball competition in Italy. At first, Jimmy doesn't want to leave his girlfriend Janey and his widowed mother and two younger sisters when basketball scouts recruit him. At his mother's urging, he flies to Los Angles for the team's training. He discovers that all the other members of the team are black and are some of the most well-known high school basketball players in America. The white boy from Minnesota doesn't quit fit in, but begins to learn about the lives of his black teammates. He develops an especially difficult relationship with Augustus, a tough dude from inner city Los Angeles.

When the Dream Team arrives in Italy, it faces neo-Nazi racism against the predominantly black players. Death threats provide a suspenseful plot as the American team accumulates victories on the court. The climax of the book teaches Jimmy that racism can hurt anyone.

I recommend this fast-paced book to any sports minded teenager who wants to see how people from different backgrounds can become friends and brothers under the skin. The conversation between the teenagers is realistic. Their lives are complicated. Jimmy takes risks in this book and learns that
having guts in dangerous zones can bring not just glory but also a deeper understanding of life.

A Great Mix of Basketball and Adventure
Danger Zone is a very good book. I really enjoyed it because it was about basketball and adventure. The Basketball part was easy for me to understand because I have played basketball in the past and I could relate to it, and the adventure part of the book kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. This book was also enjoyable for me because it was full of controversy and that made it very interesting for me to read. The controversy was of race, but David Klass did a great job of integrating basketball into the arguments also.

The main argument in the story is between Jimmy and Augustus. Both Jimmy and Augustus are on the USA's 17 and under American all star team. Augustus is mad at Jimmy because Jimmy took Augustus' cousin's place on the team and he thinks this is because Jimmy is white and his cousin is black. This fuels many arguments and ends up in an eventual temporary kidnap. The problem is still not solved in the last scene, but everyone seems to be happy and both Jimmy and Augustus are competitive but nice at the same time, which leads to a bumpy, but good ending.

All in all Danger Zone was a very intriguing that kept me wanting to read more and think about the book even when I wasn't reading it. This book is great for sports fans, thriller fans, or anyone else who likes to read. I would recommend it to anyone.

Small town Hero, Big Lessons learned
This book is about a small town hero named Jimmy Doyle, when the time is right, can do amazing things with a basketball. This is why he is selected to play for an American High School Dream Team. He will get the chance to travel around Europe. There is just one problem. In the town that he grew up in, there wasn't a lot of racial balance. He had only see a few African Americans in his lifetime, so coming to Los Angeles was a big step for him. He had to deal with his teammates who were predominately black. He has to deal with prejudices people thinking he is only there because he is white. He has some rough times with an LA native standout Augustus LeMay. Through out the book I think it is very interesting and wise that Jimmy tries to learn from Augustus. I think if more people try what Jimmy did, we wouldn't have half the problems we have in society today. Jimmy also get his first confrontation with racism when they travel to Germany and encounter some Skin Heads. This is probably a very tough experience for Jimmy because he has never been in this situation. I think people can learn a lot about this book, it teaches very good lessons. You learn some about the lifestyles people have growing up in large cities. Overall I believe this is probably one of the best books that I have read. I have now read it multiple times and recommend it to all of my friends.

Racism
A Reviewby Ian

Jimmy Doyle is a high school basketball player from Minnesota that is chosen to play on an All-American team that will travel to Italy to play in a tournament. Jimmy is soon to find out that not all of Jimmy's teammates want him on the team, mainly because he is white. Jimmy must endure racism and death threats from people around the world. Jimmy and his teammates must overcome racism to achieve their goals.

I like how this book keeps you on the edge of your seat. You always want to know what happens next in the story, and how Jimmy handles certain situations. I also admire the main character in the story, Jimmy. Not only is he a good basketball player, but he does a good job handling all of the racism and death threats he receives. Another thing I like about this book is how the team must overcome hostility from an entire country to achieve their goals and win. The team does a good job of sticking together to overcome many things, and not letting racism get the best of them.

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who enjoys basketball, and suspense. I always wanted to know what was going to happen to Jimmy next. I think it is a really good book and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Livin' on the Edge
A Review by Stefan

Jimmy Doyle, a seventeen year old from Minnesota, is a supremely skilled basketball player. When two scouts from Los Angeles, California come to talk to Jimmy Doyle about playing in an All National seventeen and under team, he accepts but only after being talked into it by his mother and his girlfriend. The team he plays for actually then goes to play in Europe where all the seventeen and under teams play for the world championship. Along the way, Jimmy makes some good friends, a few enemies while dealing with fear, doubt and concentration.

One thing that I love about Danger Zone is that David Klass portrays Jimmy in his home town of Granham, Minnesota as being the hometown basketball "hero". "Doyle, Doyle, Doyle went the sound of the bleachers as we walked onto the court for the second half". The second thing I like about Danger Zone is the realness it gives me from the coaches despite it being a fictional story. "'Okay, all you get your butts over here,' he shouted. 'Anybody who wises off will be running wind sprints till their legs fall off.'" The third thing I absolutely love about Danger Zone is the way Los Angeles is portrayed with such realism and nothing is held back. (With gangs and violence and such) "'You got the PG-13's, the 18th Street East, West, North and South. They don't like blacks too much. We get out of this car and inside five minutes we got guns to our heads.'"

To every basketball player or fan who has every wondered what its like to be one of the greats in the world at a sport like basketball, this is our book. If you're a kid or an adult who love books about basketball and the realism that lies within basketball, then this book is for you. This is an extremely interesting and intense book and it will keep you on the edge of your seat one hundred and ten percent of the time! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Pumped Up!
It's more than a book. It's more than a toy. It's a glimpse of our world at play. The inclusion of stunning photographs, from cultures and places that most readers have never visited, qualifies this as a "coffee table" book. We have all seen clowns who manipulate balloons into the shapes of dogs or other animals. But, hats? The authors of this book traveled around the world making "crowns" out of balloons, and photographing the people wearing them. Illustrated, step-by-step instructions are given that allow any person with a little creativity to make some fantastic designs. The Balloon Hat Kit provides hours of entertainment for ages 9 to 90. Readers are encouraged to participate in the art of making balloon hats because 30 balloons and a pump are included in the kit. The "Seven Reasons to Make Balloon Hats" will win over even the most doubtful. What I like most about this book is its promotion of the concept that all people of the world are more alike than different. The photos prove that the authors achieved their goal of uniting people across the global through laughter and a sense of fun.

Great
Hi all. You wouldn't believe this, I've met these people! At an Art camp. They came and showed us dozens and dozens of pictures likt the one in Thailand with a flower. It was a couple years back and they had planned to buy a book for us when it came back. They said they are going to go on Jay Leno and Rosie O'donnel. Well, I just got the book and I am advancing in balloon art. From crazy hats to a pup dog. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! All ages!

Downright fun!
This is a great gift for any age. I got this book and kit for my 44th Birthday and did I have a ball with it. The book itself is beautifully photographed. It is amazing to see where the authors went and who they shared their wonderful, creative talents with. Even if you don't want to make balloon hats the book is a coffee table must. The kit part is loads of fun. The directions are easy to understand and within minutes we were making wonderful, goofy, silly hats, including my 5 year old son and his friends. A gift that will bring lightheartedness and lots of laughter and fun to all. I suggest buying extra balloons, once you get started you won't want to stop.

Great for beginers
This book has all the basics. What you learn in this book will help you make any kind of balloon hat you can think of!

The Inflatable Crown Balloon Hat Kit
I've order several balloon book but this is the best! The colorful balloon pictures are magnificant and the instructions are easy to follow. What really stands out in this book is how they have traveled all around the world to bring smiles to people faces with their creativate balloon hats that they have made. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kids love to hammer, saw, turn bolts, and build things. But of coursereal tools are a little too hazardous for those tiny fingers. So Caldecott Honorartist Stephen T. Johnson (Alphabet City) came up with afun and educational solution: a combination toolbox and book! With its sevensturdy cardboard tools, bolts and screws that really turn, and erasable slate,this handy kit will provide hours of entertainment--and may keep thoseyoungsters out of the grownup toolbox. Each two-page spread features a removableworking tool and a different shape to work on. Turn the hand drill in thepremade holes in a triangle. Pound pretend nails into a star shape. Cut a pieceof "wood" into two rectangles--with a satisfying rasping sound! While they'rebecoming amateur carpenters, children will learn some basic skills in counting,shapes, and colors; on each colorful background, readers see one piece of paper,two pieces of wood, three holes, and so on up to six nails. This handsome redbook includes a pencil, ruler, saw, drill, screwdriver, wrench, hammer, andslate for drawing up plans. Smaller children may need some help prying the toolsout of their snug compartments, at least until the tools get a little worn in.(Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Most Favored Christmas Gift!!
I'm a big fan of interactive and pop-ups and this book is no disappointment! My 4 year old son loves this working tool book, and true, if you want it preserved, supervise, but what fun is that? I'd say it's for ages 4 to 9 - to age 94! I had fun with him. The cardboard is as sturdy and thick as possible - get two if you really care about replacing parts. The Sketch pad in the front of the book created all types of creative imagery play for my son. He definitely favored this gift over modern commercial type toys. FUN FUN FUN!!

Great Idea, But Breaking Tools Far From "Toddler-Proof"
A terrific concept, clever and visually appealing, teaches children not just how tools work but also about shapes, colors and counting. Parents and children alike want to love this book, which is why it is so disappointing to find that the "sturdy cardboard" tools break quite easily after being played with just a couple of times by a typical toddler.

My 3-year-old boy was in tears when both the wrench and hammer broke during the first day of use because he bent them. Toddlers will bend toys if they are bendable! When we taped the tools back together, they no longer fit into their slots.

This seems to be a book that evolved from the author's great idea into the publisher's slick package. In the end, it is frustrating and sadly impractical for its recommended age group.

This is a great interactive book
I am a nanny. I get this present almost every year for any family I work with that has 3yr to 5yr old children. This book is not for children who are hard on their toys. This book is great because children can play with the thick cardboard toy tools in the book or around the house. Any child that I have ever sat for has played for about 30 min with this book at a time. You have to remember that this book is not a toy, but children love to play with the tools so much that you would think it was one. Any book that can keep a 4 year olds interest for 5 min. is a keeper in my book. Plus they are learning at the same time...without something that requires batteries!! Goodluck and I hope you find this book as enjoyable as I know your children will.

Boring!
1. It needs an adult to get the pieces out of the book.
2. Once out, they held the attention of our 4-year-old for about 5 minutes. They don't "do" anything.
3. Would have been a complete waste of money, apart from the fact that it kept our 16-month-old amused for 30 minutes.

rapidly destroyed
If you like toys which won't hang around for years this is perfect for you. My son wanted to really screw and pound and had a little difflculty at first understanding the limitations of these tools and keeping them in the context of this book. There are many better choices for play tools out there, save yourself from having to deal with the disapointment of your child when his screwdriver or drill tears in two. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

My son slept with this book.
My son loved this book so much that he slept with it the first couple weeks that he had it. Three years later it's still one of his favorites. The pictures are really detailed and a lot of fun.

AN IBEX-LESS INDEX
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This would have to be one of the best kid's books around. My 5 year-old just loves hunting for all the hidden critters and counting them off. Sometimes all you see is a tail, or an ear, or a familiar silhouette far off on the horizon.

There is no better way to get children developing a sense of the different environments around the globe and the animals that live in all the different habitats: from the arctic to the equatorial rainforests and from the mountains to the deserts; under the water and by the seaside.

We have only one criticism with this book. It was my budding, junior-zoologist that spotted it. Mr Ibex in not in the comprehensive index although there are ten ibices (?) to be seen on page 26. With 300 different kinds of animals in this book, we have to give it a score of 299 out of 300, that is, almost perfect!

100 animals to spot and identify on every double-page
In The Great Animal Search there are some 100 animals to spot and identify on every double-page of this oversized book. Each scenario showcases a different part of the world and the wildlife that lives there. In addition to countless hours of puzzle solving fun, there is a wealth of fascinating animal facts presented in succinct, easy-to-read captions.

Excellent Book!
These books are great! The entire concept of the hidden picture gets the kids really thinking. The adventure of learning that follows each picture just amazes me. The Where's Waldo books did not appeal to our family. We love the " I spy " books and those pictures are magnificent! These books however, the pictures do captivate you but there is a learning process with each picture. My children are 10, 8, and 5 and I notice the difference in what each one asks from these pictures. I think this series is wonderful because it does combine the puzzle concept with so much else. The Great Animal Search is my 5-year-old son's favorite!

One of my son's favorite books
My son loves this book! If you print the number to be found next to the picture to search for (instead of the written words for the number that are already included), younger children can be self-sufficient with it. This and/or the similar books (The Great Undersea Search, The Great World Tour, etc.) are wonderful for road trips. ... Read more

Book Description

Tom Gallagher finds himself in a tight spot. The fate of Dillontown rests on the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. And it's all because Tom had to open his big mouth. If only he could get Dante Del Gato-the greatest hitter to ever play the game-to coach the team. But crazy ol' Del Gato hasn't spoken to folks in years, not after walking away from the game in disgrace just before his team played in its first World Series. Maybe Tom has one more hope: Cruz de la Cruz, the mysterious boy who just rode into town on horseback claiming to know the secret of hitting. Not to mention the secrets of Del Gato . . .

John H. Ritter's new novel celebrates the holy game of baseball, playing larger-than-life games with heroism, redemption, and the making of a legend. Cruz on. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Magical Book from a Writer's Writer!
John H. Ritter is a writer's writer. The way he paints the western landscape and his careful building of a modern day Tall Tale (in the manner of Twain's "Jumping Frog..." story) speak to his brilliance, too rarely available in juvenile literature today.

But Ritter is also a storyteller's storyteller. In no way do his multiple story layers and seamless literary craftsmanship lose the young reader or baseball fan or the middle school language arts teacher (like me) or the fantasy book lover of any age.

In The Boy Who Saved Baseball, Ritter pays great homage to songwriter Bob Dylan, (thus the story's setting, Dillontown, and the wondeful "Blowin' in the Wind" ending) and to Latino writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude (thus the magical 100-year-old ballpark, the Mexican-American setting, and the dip into magical realism in creating the myth of Dante Del Gato).

I highly recommend this funny, uplifting, and brilliant story to readers of all ages.

We need John Ritter's next novel NOW!!!

My Favorite Book of the Year!!
I love this book! I've already read it three times and you have to to see all the cool stuff in it. I really like Cruz de la Cruz and Tom and Maria Flores. But del Gato is my hero because he is so honest and doesn't care what people say. This book is a mystery and a legend and you never see the ending coming-you think you do but you don't. That's why I read it all over again. My dad loved it, too.

how the boy saved baseball
The boy who saved baseball

This book is about a kid named tom and he is at a game and he makes an awesome catch and the team likes him from then on. It is about modern day and the kid is about 13 or14 and he is the type of kid that is really shy and does not like to talk or any thing and wants to be all that he can. The only reason why I read was because it is about baseball. Baseball is an ok sport to play but not as good as others. I do though like this book because fighting for a place for a baseball field. The book in the end ended in a way because they had a deal if they the team did not win the last game the diamond would get bull dozed over and they would never play baseball again. But they did win the last game and the field did not gat bulldozed over and thy cheered a lot. Over all it wasn't a bad book for little kid.

The Boy Who Saved Baseball
The book I read was "The Boy Who Saved Baseball." I really loved this book because baseball is my favorite sport. This book is about a boy named Tom who has to win a game or else his town will be gone, trashed, and bulldozed. However, the team did win an exciting game by the score of 5-4. This book will open your imagination. It can be for anybody who loves sports or baseball. I give this a 5 star. ***** I think this book is appropriate for 6-8 grades.

Best Book Ever!
An exciting book that I could read over and over again.
If you like sports, this is the book for you. It describes baseball, and thrills you to the last page. One can really picture what was happening in one's imagination, it felt as if I was playing the game right there in Dillontown. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Indispensible Resource For Those Dealing with AD(H)D Student
This book is an invaluable aide for parents, educators, and professionals dealing with the challenges faced by AD(H)D students in school. It is a book that can be given directly to students as well. Written in a clear, visually appealing format, it presents worksheets and quick exercises that guide the late grade school, middle school or high school student to an understanding of how this disorder affects their ability to learn. It provides information such as how to choose and adopt various study techniques that will help children with AD(H)D become successful students. It coaches students in using active study techniques to remember what they read, or to develop written reports. Students are not resistant to using the concepts because of how they are presented and is a book that has application to non ADHD students as well. I highly recommend this workbook and have found it much more much more useful that the "Putting on the Brakes" book by the same authors. Of all the self help books I have lent out to people, this is one that people use so much they forget to return it! I just keep buying more copies because I don't want to be without the book.

It makes sense to my students!
"Putting on the Break" has helped several of my students/clients understand what is really happening when they can not stop. One student's mom said, "This is the first time I see Laura interested in a book, any book. She explained why she has trouble paying attention like a pro. Thanks." The book gives the children a perspective they can relate to. Adults can be too wordy, the books helps them "see" and "feel" about ADHD. Thanks for making the book available in Spanish. We need more for the Spanish- speaking population. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the moving story of how Jackie Robinson became the first black player on a major league baseball team and how on a fateful day in Cincinnati, PeeWee Reese took a stand and declared Jackie his teammate.
... Read more

Reviews (6)

the hardship in baseball
Teammates

Teammates is about 2 men named
Pees wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. Both of them were baseball players on the same
Team called the dogers. Pee wee
Reese was white and Jackie rob-
Inson was black. They were both
Friends and helped each other out. The players on their team
Came mostly from the south, men
Had been taught to avoid black
People since childhood. They moved to another table
Whenever Jackie sat down next
To them. Many opposing players
Were cruel to Jackie, calling him mean names from their
Dugouts. A few tried to hurt
Him with their spiked shoes.
It was bad for Jackie. Pitchers
Aimed for his head, and he
Received threats on his life,
Both from individuals and from
Oramizations like the Ku Klux
Klan. Jackie avoided all of it,
And made the team. Jackie and
Pee wee became really great
Friends and baseball legends.

Awesome!
This book teaches you alot about how blacks were treated back in the day. When Jackie Robinsion was signed to the Dodgers the fans and players treated him really badly. People threw stuff at him. Then a young teammate stood up for him and saved him from being ban from the team. So you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

classic
A simple telling of how Jackie Robinson came to play in the major leagues, this book portrays the prejudice he faced in a basic way that children can understand. And it shines a bright light on a quiet moment: PeeWee Reese's brave public declaration of solidarity with his teammate. This book has been my son's favorite for the past two years, since he was five.

Brooklyn Dodger Teammates: Jackie Robinson & Pee Wee Reese
"Teammates" tells the story of one of the more moving moments in the history of baseball that occurred during the 1947 season when the Brooklyn Dodgers traveled to Crosley Field in Cincinnati to play the Reds. Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play in the major leagues, was playing first base and being the target of hostility and abuse from the fans. At shortstop was Harold "Pee Wee" Reese, who born in the South, but who had refused to join other Southerners on the team in signing a petition to kick Jackie off the team. That day in Cincinnati, Reese did something that remains one of the bright moments of that historic season and which deserves to be more than a minor footnote in baseball history.

"Teammates" is written by Peter Golenbock, who heard the story of what happened that day from Rex Barney, who pitched for the Dodgers that day. Usually when the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the "color line" in baseball, the other key person in the story is Branch Rickey, the Dodger general manager. But Rickey could only support Robinson from the front office and not on the field, where it was Pee Wee Reese who decided to do something about that. Consequently, it is Reese who emerges as the hero of this particular story. Certainly it is safe to assume that anyone who reads this book knows something about Jackie Robinson; Golenbock talks about how Rickey needed somebody special to be the first, but does not get into the reasons why Robinson was that man (e.g., All-American football star at U.C.L.A., Army officer). But clearly "Teammates" is not intended to be the first book a youngster reads about the story of Jackie Robinson. Paul Bacon, as he did for the exquisite "Susanna of the Alamo," does both the design and illustration for this volume, combining historic photographs and items with his own watercolor paintings to tell the story.

A few brave men
This book is a true story that vividly describes the era of baseball and the scoial climate of race relations in the early 1940's. The Brooklyn Dodgers were the first Major Leauge Baseball team to hire an African American. Branch Rickey of the Dodgers was looking for "a man strong enough not to fight back". Jackie Robinson was of course that man and it was known as the "Great Experiment". It was tough for Jackie who ws not well recieived by many whites, including his teammates. One teammate was different, he knew he should always do what is right even if everyone around him including family or friends felt differently, that man was Pewee Reese. This book looks at how racism affected many aspects of society and how the strength of one indidual can change many attitudes. There is a variety of mediums used for the illustrations that only enhance the book. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is for non-believers of all ages. It was written especially for children who have been convinced by the attitudes of adults that mathematics is (1) impossible (2) only for bright kids (3) no fun at all anyway. This book says that maths is nothing more than a way of looking at the world and that it can be relevant to everyday life (Street maths) and fun (How many sides does a banana have?). Hundreds of mathematical events, jokes, riddles, puzzles, investigations and experiments prove it! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Great Math Book for Younger Kids Too
The reading level for this book should just be a guideline. If parents are reading it, the examples & games can be done by kids much younger. My son's first grade teacher recommended using this book over the summer to prepare him for 2nd grade math enrichment.
The book gives lots of fun, practical exercises and is loaded with great concepts and ideas.

A Math Lover
This is a great book for math haters or math lovers. There are lots of interesting facts, games, and riddles, whether you think you are great or think you are terrible at math. If you hate math, this book can change your life. We have a copy of this book at home, and I've purchased this book to give to some of my children's friends and some home-schooling parents I know. I think giving this book to anyone who is afraid of math, whatever their age, is a great idea. I also highly recommend "Math for Smarty Pants", also by Marilyn Burns.

I used to, BUT NOW I DON'T
This book make you to love math, to know how to see the nice things in it. If you want your kid to love math, (or at least not to hate it...) you owe him this book.

Great book
Lots of fun things any kid (or grownups) who might or might not hate math, but has a openable mind. All three of our kids have enjoyed things from this book, and I've used some of the activities with 9th graders. Highly recommended.

made my life
I read this book as a kid at least 15 years ago. I can still remember many topics and even the layout of some pages. This is a great gift for a kid interested in math; it is friendly, fun, and yet substantive. It is an infinite well of cool stuff. I seem to have stumbled into a career in research mathematics now. Looking back, this book may be the main reason. I have never stopped thinking of mathematics as "cool stuff". ... Read more

Book Description

Miss Suzy is a little gray squirrel who lives happily in her oak-tree home until she is chased away by some mean red squirrels. Poor Miss Suzy is very sad. But soon she finds a beautiful dollhouse and meets a band of brave toy soldiers.

How Miss Suzy and the soldiers help each other makes a gentle, old-fashioned tale that has captured the imaginations of girls and boys alike for forty years. Arnold Lobel's enchanting pictures are sure to make the kind squirrel and the gallant soldiers the everlasting friends of all who turn these pages. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

I read this book to my two daughters over and over and over.
This has to be my daughters' favorite book while growing up. We read Miss Suzy so many times I had it memorized. I have to admit I loved it as much as they did. Miss Suzy handles herself very well when confronted by the band of red squirrels. She was a positive role model (if you can say that about a squirrel) for my girls. I'd love to present my niece with a copy of this delightful book.

My Long Lost Friend...Miss Susy
I loved this book as a child. I even have a Miss Suzy stuffed squirrel that I have given to my son. I would love to read him the tale of Miss Suzy but I haven't found the book though I have looked many places. Please help me to pass on this wonderful tale to my little one.

My all time favorite
This was my all time favorite book as a child. It was my sister's favorite and my brother's favorite too so that shows how very wonderful it is. It's all about this poor little squirrel and the awful things that happen to her but nothing breaks her spirit and she is content. My parents bought us three copies of this book off of ebay a couple of years ago and I must recommend that everyone buy it for their child. I didn't know that there were more Miss Suzy books but I plan on buying them for my son now that I know!! Please read, it's truly a wonderful book.

I am excited to hear this book is being reissued
My Mom used to read this book to me when I was little. I loved it and exicted that I can share this wonderful story with my niece and nephews. This story has timeless quality about it.
I remember this book fondly.

favorite of mine for 35 years
When I was a little girl, my mom read this bood to me almost everynight. It was one of my favorites. Now I read it to my children almost everynight. Miss Suzy is about a squirrel who loves her tree house, but is chased out. She makes the best of her situation. She befriends toy soldiers along the way. The soldiers chase the squirrels away and then Miss Suzy goes back home.
This is the perfect story to read to kids before bedtime. It will give them warm fuzzys and a cozy dreams. ... Read more