Book Description

Joe Stoshack lives for baseball. He knows everything there is to know about the game -- except how to play well. His specialty is striking out. Stosh feels like a real loser, and when he takes a low-paying job cleaning a bunch of junk out of his neighbor's attic, he feels even worse -- until he comes across a little piece of cardboard that takes his breath away. His heart is racing. His brain is racing. He can hardly believe his eyes. Stosh has stumbled upon a T-206 Honus Wagner -- the most valuable baseball card in the world! And he's about to find out that it's worth a lot more than money....

Reviews (27)

Home Run!!!!!
The book that I read was really good. it is called Honus and Me by Dan Gutman. If you like baseball,then I think you would like this book. It is about a kid names Stosh who plays baseball, he's also a big baseball card collector. One day, he finds a Honus Wagner card! (these are very rare) Stosh isn't rich but he wouldn't call himself poor. His parents split up when he was younger and his mom doesn't make that much money. The card that he was holding was worth half a million dollars! Stosh goes to bed that night and wishes that he could go back in time and meet Honus himself. He feels a tingling sensation in the tips of his fingers just before he falls asleep. It turns out that he has the ability to go back in time! This adventure continues throughout the book as Stosh and Honus play in the world series and sign autograpghs. This action packed adventure is really good and everyone should read it. Even if you don't like baseball, you should also read other books by Dan Gutman.

Cool Book!
When a boy finds a VERY RARE baseball card in someone's attic, he is faced with the decision whether to return it or not. There are only 40 of these cards in the world! With this card he is able to meet the baseball star Honus Wagner. He goes back in time and finds himself an adult, bats for Honus Wagner because Honus's hand was hurt, and actually hits a home run! I am no baseball fan, but I have read ALL of Dan's books about baseball and loved them, and this was probably my favorite. P.S. This has a surprising ending, which is really cool, but I'll let you find out about that for yourself!

A sports lovers adventure
A Sports Lovers Fantasy!!!!!
Honus and Me by
Dan Gutman

This is a book about a kid who loves sports.In this book he finds thathe has a magical he can go back in time and visit famous baseball players from that time.
A exciting part in this book is when Hounus is playing in the world series.((As honus trooted in from his shortstop position at the end of the inning, he looked straight at me and patted his right shoulderwith his left hand.)) (( The signal.)) You will have to read the book to see what is going to happen.
I think probally a boy who likes sports books would like this story.This book has fantasy,history, and many other subjects.It is a great mystery and pepole who like old baseball history would ike this book to.
I would give this book a 4 out of 5. It is a short bookso if you need to do a book project it is very easy to read and a very fun book to read.This is my favorite book of all time and I would recomnd this book.

we love dan gutman's baseball card adventure books!
my 7 1/2 year old son (he's an above-grade reader) has read all five, and loved all of, dan gutman's baseball card books. i had the privilege of listening to one on tape -- this one, honus & me. it is well-told with great morality lessons and interesting historical information. Dan Gutman is the perfect author for baseball loving little boys. We both cant wait for his next.

GREAT BOOK FOR SPORTS FANS BY:KELSEY K
Honus and Me is a great book. It's about this little boy named Joe. He loves to collect baseball cards. One day he bought a pack of cards and found a one-of-a-kind Honus Wagner card, What he didn't know was that the card had a special power, ( You need to read the book to find out)

My favorite character was Joe. He was a good kid who loved baseball. I like him a lot because I am a big sports fan also.

My favorite part of the book was when Joe played in the major league game. He got to experience something that no other kid has done before.

I would encourage SPORTS FANS to read this book. Even if you aren't a big sports fan I still think you would really enjoy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Even during the carefree months of summer, kids can be preparing for First Grade with Daily Summer Activities, Moving from Kindergarten to First Grade. It's packed with daily lessons that will build young learners' confidence for that first step into primary school. As someone who has already tried the series said:

"I wanted to make sure my daughter Kelsey was ready for the next grade in school. Daily Summer Activities did the trick. I'm getting Kelsey another one next summer." - Parent of First Grader, San Diego, CA

Specific content in this volume includes:- beginning and ending sounds
- read short vowel word lists
- short stories followed by questions to show comprehension
- two spelling words to learn each week
- mathematics-counting by ones, tens, fives, reading numbers, addition and subtraction facts to nine, shapes, pennies and nickels, patterns
- practice manuscript handwriting
- readiness for geography skills
- draw and write about it

Counting to 10 was never so fun as counting 10 segments of a caterpillar, unless it's counting the different kinds of cookies in a jar. Future first graders will do both with this book.

The practice cards for Daily Summer Activities, Moving from Kindergarten to First Grade are for upper and lower case letters with matching pictures, and numbers to 30.

The plentiful color and black & white illustrations in this book are cute and clever, with just enough detail to keep this age group intrigued. Even the answer keys are colorful.

All 144 pages, plus eight flash card pages (printed on durable card stock), are perforated for easy removal. $14.95 each. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Engaging
This activity book is well organized and colorful.My son finds the activites interesting, but requires adult assistance with the instructions.Some of the activities are below his ability (average to above average at a better California public school). If your student is above average, consider getting one level higher book.Reasonable amount of work for summer vacation, 2 pages per day.Enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Splendid Read Aloud Bedtime Storybook
It's a tough business to tell a child a favorite story again, and again, and again, both for the storyteller who's tired of telling it and for the child who has, like a true die-hard fan, grown into a very devoted yet demanding critic. The story must be told "just-so", exactly the same way it's been told before and at the same time fresh, new, and even better than ever. Wolf Story is a story about telling a story, and both a parent and their child will recognize themselves in 5-year-old Michael and his father as they share the ritual bedtime story, a story about a very nasty wolf named Waldo. Little Michael seems to "know" the story even before he's heard it, but he isn't altogether conscious of this. He knows it much better than the tale's storyteller/author, his father, and isn't shy at all offering suggestions when his father doesn't tell it right.

Guaranteed this clever book will have you both laughing out loud at times, but I was also very pleased to find an amusing children's book that manages to operate at different levels without the wisecracking or cynical tone so common in children's literature now. Children can easily see the story from the point of view of the father, of little Michael, the scary wolf and the little farmer boy, Jimmy, who stands up to him. This makes the story all the more delightful for them. What a treat!

Captivating for Kids & Funny for the Adult Reader
This is a nearly perfect read-out-loud book. I have shared this book several times with my daughters (now 10 and 12). I am looking forward to the time when I can begin to read it aloud to my three year old son. The story within the story (the struggle between the Wolf, Rainbow and the heroic farmer boy Jimmy) effortlessly keeps the children involved. The external story (the father and son inventing the animal adventure tale over several days) makes me laugh out loud with its sly humor and insight; the boy's missing shoe gets me every time. It's great to see that a reprint edition is available again.

Wolf Story
Every year I read Wolf Story to my second graders and at the end of the year when I ask them their favorite chapter book read to them, Wolf Story is chosen every year to be the favorite. They love to follow the adventures of Rainbow and Michael. When you complete Chapter 1, the kids are hooked. They can not wait for the next day. I have even had kids who have been sick ask if I can re-read a chapter that they missed or if they can stay in at recess to read the missed chapter on their own.

Wolf Story is wonderfully written and captivating to young children. Every year I can not wait to read the book. I find myself anxious to share the next chapter.
When my own children have children, Wolf Story will be the book that I can share with them. I strongly recommend this book to every child and to every adult who enjoys reading to their children at bedtime.

fun, sweet dad-son story
Five-year old Michael is a demanding taskmaster, and his father must be creative to tell a wolf story within the constraints laid down by his son. For instance, the wolf must be named Waldo. A terribly fierce wolf named Waldo. Good natured teasing and realistic conversation make this the humorous and sweet story of a father and son who enjoy each other's company.

It's a mystery!!
I don't know why my children howl with laughter every single time Waldo, the wolf skins his nose, but they do. On the other hand, every single time Michael washes his face being very careful not to disturb the dirt, I break out in giggles.

We've read the book more times than it is possible to count and listened to the audio version even more times than that.(The voice characterizations are delightful!) It still delights my children and tickles my funny bone. How many books can do that? ... Read more

Book Description

Making chess accessible to kids. International Master Michael Basman invites you into the challenging and exciting world of chess. His simple and accessible text presents the beginner with the rules, skills, and techniques of the game. Every aspect is illustrated with clear step-by-step photography, from setting up the board and basic moves, to more advanced tactics and strategy. A must for any budding Grandmaster! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not serious book for kids to learn from
This is indeed a book where pictures are used for entertainment purposes and not a serious book for an older kid to learn from.
OK for smaller kids.

''Checkmate or draw!''
Before this book has been written, there aren't many chess books for kids in those days, but here comes a book that is specially designed for kids and is readily accessible whenever kids wanted it. Since his years as an international master, Michael Basman has devoted his time to teaching schoolchildren chess, and years after that he set up the UK Chess Club, a chess tournament which attracts thousands of players every year.

Since I haven't got time to write down Michael Basman's bio in this review, I feel his kids chess book is worth having and is highly recommended to any kid. You know, many kids will hate a book that is unatrractive and dull and will soon get rid of it but Michael Basman's book has very attractive pictures, that'll show kids the game positions, and they are very clear, only to find them done in digital photography!

Chess is a battle of wits between two players and checkmating the opponent is a very difficult task, requiring your skill and knowledge. Michael Basman explains this in his book with a very accessible text that'll allow kid readers to understand the game concepts and is simple enough to apprehend. Heck, if I'm a kid right now I'll be able to read through the book like water!

Apart from the very clear pictures and simple text, Michael Basman uses his teaching experience to let kids gain a clearer understanding of chess pieces through the ''Check it out!'' section of the book and this section offers a brief explanation of the piece in terms of history and piece effectiveness.

The book is well laid out, thorough and kid-friendly and is always there when kids need it. It covers all of the most important aspects of chess, including the basics. Most of all, it's highly informative and that means kids can have all the info they need in order to play chess correctly.

What more could I say, this is a great book, and I swear Michael Basman made it by heart and by using his chess experience not anything else! The book is well laid out, clear, thorough and easy to use anytime. The book CAN teach kids the game so what're you waiting for, get your chessboard and pieces and let the games begin!

Not that great
I have read about 6 chess books in my school library. I didnot find the teaching to be as serious as it should be for kids over 8 years old. I learned a lot more from "Chess For Juniors" and "ideas Behind the Chess Openings" in the library.

Attractive pictures but not for serious learners of Chess.
A typical DK book full of great pictures illustrating the game. But it has nothing for children who already know how to play the game and are looking for advanced topics. In my opinion, this book can get a kid started on Chess.

Great for children and adults
This book is useful for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Several adults (including myself) have learned something new from the book. It starts with the basics of setting up the board and piece movement. It moves into more complex issues like piece valuation and notation.

Too many people buy a chess book, only to give up because it feels more challenging than War & Peace!

This one fits the bill. It is thin; it has great pictures, and even some drama. Did you know that the bishop used to be represented by an elephant? Buy the book to learn more. ... Read more

Book Description

One hot summer day, George and the man with the yellow hat go to the beach. What fun George has at the beach! What fun he has feeding the seagulls! It's fun, that is, until they fly away with something valuable and George must find a clever way to save the day. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

george is wonderful
George is good to read after an exasperating day with your toddler or preschooler. It reminds you that it could be worse, you could REALLY have a monkey to care for, and your monkeys don't really mean to get into mischief, they are just very very curiouus.

Just as good as the original stories
To date my daughter has been reading the "Curious George" books that belonged to my husband when he was a child. I was a little skeptical that the newly written stories would capture the same spirit as those written more than 30 years ago. However, my daughter absolutely loved it especially as both the storyline and the illustrations were more detailed than usual and made it fun for her to point out different things and extend into a discussion with us about beaches, lifesaving etc. Like her other "George" books she has reread this one over and over. ... Read more

Book Description

Opening this book is like sitting down in a canoe, taking up a paddle, and gliding out into the summer beauty of a hidden lake. In this picture book that is as refreshing and inviting as a perfect canoe day, a fawn peeks out from the trees as ducklings fan out behind their mother. Butterflies pause and fish laze beneath the lily pads. Ruth Wright Paulsen’s sunlit paintings and Gary Paulsen’s poetic text capture all the peace and pleasure of a day when water and sky are one. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Dreamy!
I love books that combine beautiful artwork with rich text. This is a winner in my mind! The words and pictures in this book make you feel like you're right there in the canoe, feeling and seeing all that the author describes. A dreamy little ride I'll enjoy taking again and again!

Canoe Days is entrancing!
Opening this book is like getting into a canoe, taking up a paddle & gliding out into the beauty of a small lake for a day of peace & pleasure where the water & sky are one. Where neighborly deer, heron, mallards, foxes & raccoons come down to the water. A wonderful gift!

Canoe Days
This book takes the reader on a canoe ride across a lake where many animals and types of fish are encountered. Paulens's word choices are excellent. It has excellent color illustrations and is highly recommended for 3rd and 4th graders. ... Read more

Book Description

A favorite of parents and caregivers.Over 300 innovative and easy-to-do activities.Infants. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Lots of great information
It's almost overwhelming. There is no way you can spend this much time teaching everything, but it's nice to be able to pick and choose fun things to do with your baby. It's easy to use in a well thought out layout from birth on, divided by sensory perception.

What do you do with a baby?
As a first time mom,of a child with special needs to boot, I had no idea. This book and the others in the series are great resources for finding things to do with your child other than watching Teletubbies for the thousandth time. If your child needs extra help in a certain area, like fine motor or listening skills, you can easily find a variety of exercises to help here. The later books in the series (Threes, Fours, and Fives) would also be a great resource for a homeschooling parent.

Active Learning for Infants
Not just for daycare! I am a first-time, stay-at-home mom and needed a way to tell if I was "doing all the right stuff" in regards to play, development, speech, music, etc. This book gives you exercises that are so easy for each stage of the first year of life. There is not a lot to read like a typical baby care book, but each section outlines what the child should be accomplishing and gives you exercises to ensure that your child reaches those development milestones. If you can look past the idea that it is written for daycare providers, you will find this book extremely helpful. I knew I was giving my child all he needed because I had these exercises to use as a handy guide. Good luck to you!

wonderful ideas
I absolutly recommend this book for all providers working with infants. It is loaded with ideas and learning expeirences for babies. A must for providers and mothers who want to expand their child's learning!

SAHM loves this series
I have every book in this series which goes from infant to age 5. Each book is laid out into sections for development of gross motor, small motor, imaginative play, language and number concepts. There are finer divisions within each section (eg. music, dramatic play). Each activity is on a 'card' that has the developmental stage of the child, how many can do it, how long it takes, the materials and also what to say to the children as they do it. It is easy to leaf through each section and see which activity you've got the materials for and you think your kids would enjoy doing.

The book is geared mostly for daycare centers, but is wonderful for SAHM (stay at home Moms (and Dads) too especially if you can combine the setup work with other Moms. Includes ideas on charting what you were planning to do with each child so you DO IT but you don't have to use them. They are not big on pushing children, but rather encouraging them to develop at their own pace with lots of opportunities. ... Read more

Book Description

Free Mia Hamm photo inside!

Mia loves playing soccer. That is, until she has trouble scoring a goal when her team is about to lose. Before she can lose, she quits. Fed up with her attitude, Mia's brothers and sisters will not let her play with them anymore. Will Mia learn that beinga team player is more important than winning or losing the game?

This wonderful and motivating story from America's soccer champion shows kids that:

Winners Never Quit!

Book Description

From A for Apple Blossom to Z for Zinnia there is a flower fairy to color for each letter of the alphabet in this popular coloring book. Black-and-white outline pictures have been redrawn from Cicely Mary Barker's well-loved A Flower Fairy Alphabet and reproduced on high quality paper, making this book ideal for paints and markers as well as crayons. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delightful coloring fun
What a find for lovers of fairies! Barker's drawings are the sweetest, most whimsical of all. The flowers are accurately drawn and the fairies enchanting. My daughter and I both adore this book. Caution though - don't use markers, as they will bleed through the pages. A wonderful gift for any girl at a terrific price.

The Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book
This is a beautiful coloring book. The drawings are wonderful and true to Cicely Mary Barker's original artwork. This book is suitable for an older child or an adult collector. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

A startling amalgam of Zulu war-cry and Sherlock Holmes, of practical tips on health and hygiene and object lessons in woodcraft, Scouting for Boys (1908) is the original blueprint and inspiration for the Boy Scout Movement.An all-time bestseller in the English-speaking world, second in its heyday only to the Bible, it is one of the most influential manuals for youth ever published, known and loved around the world. Including all of Baden-Powell's original illustrations, this new critical edition of Scouting for Boys serves up a wonderful hodge-podge of true crime stories, stern moralizing, stock adventure tales, natural history, first-aid tips, advice on observation and tracking, and much more. Readers will find a roughly composed pastiche of jingoist lore and tracker legend, padded with lengthy quotations from adventure fiction--from Rudyard Kipling and James Fenimore Cooper, to Alexander Dumas and Arthur Conan Doyle--and seamed through with the multiple anxieties of its time: fears of degeneration ('the fall of the Roman empire was due to bad citizenship') and a constant worry over imminent war. Alongside practical instructions on how to light fires, build a boat, or stalk animals (or men), it includes sections on chivalry, self-discipline, self-improvement, and citizenship. Indeed, the book brims with Baden-Powell's philosophy of life, one that replaces self with service, puts country before the individual, and duty above all.The introduction by Elleke Boehmer illuminates the book's maverick complexity and her notes clarify obscure references. Though almost a century old, Scouting for Boys continues to fascinate, surprise, and motivate readers today. It will delight anyone interested in popular culture, Victorian history, and literature for children. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"The British Empire wants your help"
At the very beginning of the twentieth century, retired General Robert Baden-Powell, the hero of the siege of Mafeking, coalesced his ideas for an organization to train young British boys in scouting for the British Empire. Not a very organized thinker, Baden-Powell borrowed heavily from all sorts of unrelated resources - newspaper articles, military dispatches, fiction, and much more - and produced this, his first book on scouting. Originally published as six separate books, this book brings all of them together, complete with original illustrations.

Now, as might be expected from its roots, this book reflects a lot of the biases and ways of thinking from Edwardian England. But, leaving that aside, this is a fun and interesting book that shows clearly the forms that have stayed with the Boy Scouts movement to this very day. The introduction was written by Elleke Boehmer, a professor of Colonial and Postcolonial literature, and is a fairly predictable deconstruction/analysis of B-P and his movement.

Now, as a newcomer to Scouting (my son is a Tenderfoot) did I find anything useful in this book? I sure did. Robert Baden-Powell was very knowledgeable about the subject, and this book sure shows it. (I never thought of tying my shoes like that!) Of course some of the information is out of date, especially the first-aid information, so it isn't really usable by the boys "as is." But, this is a nice resource, one that shows you where Scouting started.

Oh, and I must say that I actually enjoyed the somewhat jumbled organization of this book. It isn't as scholarly and antiseptic as modern Boy Scout books, and the stories and tales laced throughout make the reading much more fun. Plus, I did find the focus on some subjects, such as logic and deductive reasoning, to be quite interesting. I loved this book, and highly recommend it to you! ... Read more

Book Description

It is I Spy Mystery's 10th anniversary! To commemorate this event, a new challenge has been added. Just when you thought this classic I Spy could not get any better . . . we give you all new EXTRA CREDIT RIDDLES! More difficult than before, these new mysteries are sure to delight I Spy fans -- both old and new! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Captivating!!
My 5 year-old godson is absolutely enchanted by this book. It is his absolute favorite and the first thing wants when he comes over. It has been a source of countless evenings of entertainment for our family. The layout and photography of each page is very creative. This book is one that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages, over and over again!

My Favourite in the I Spy series
I have been a fan of Walter Wick's photographs and Jean Marzollo's rhymes since I was nine years old and my school friends and I huddled over the mat at school trying to find all the hidden items in the pages. Now that I'm eighteen I still love these books, not so much for the riddles but for the amazing and merticulous photographs, some of which just *beg* to have a story written about them (such as 'The Ghost in the Attic' photograph on pages 14-15). Each photograph has some sort of an enigma or mystery involved in it, whether it be messages written in the letters on building blocks, lost puzzle pieces or clues to a secret birthday party.

A complaint was made that 'I Spy Mystery' has no story to it. This is because this book was one of Wick/Marzollo's earlier editions, and it is only with their latest books - 'I Spy Spooky House' and 'I Spy Treasure Hunt' that they add a plot thread. But there is a theme in the other books, and this one is obviously 'mystery'. Each photograph is intriguing, and each riddle has a specific object to find that harks back to many old mystery and adventure books that you may have read as a child, whether it be 'the missing key to the chest', 'proof that the cat knocked over the can', 'the stolen diamond ring' or 'the pirate's X'. These types of clues add an extra dimension to the pictures and children will be more drawn into the hunt for the objects in the pictures, and as I mentioned before there is no end to the inspiration the photographs create - these are the perfect books to use to kindle a child's imagination.

It isn't just the riddles at the bottom of each page that will keep you occupied, there are more mysteries to be found at the back of the book: riddles that have to be matched to the photos, a charm bracelet that had its charms scattered throughout the pages, a cat that can be found in every page and a heart shaped box that's lost all its contents - these too are concealed throughout the book.

All in all, this is one of the better 'I Spy' books - in particular the photographs 'The Birthday Hunt', 'The Golden Cage', 'The Ghost in the Attic' 'The Secret Note' and 'Chain Reaction' are particularly well made.

P.S. (spoiler) To the reviewer who had trouble finding the 'dolphin' in the photograph 'The Naughty Kittens', it can be found on page 24 in the large tree. Look closely at the green on the right-hand side and you can see that it frames the blue shape of a dolphin against the blue background.

This series is great
These pictures are so great. Have fun with your grand-children or your children. These books are very mesmorizing. I own all the copies and I am anxiously awaiting a new arrival.

No theme to the book makes it uninteresting
After purchasing and thoroughly enjoying I SPY Spooky Night with my young son, I was very eager to buy I SPY Mystery for him. However, both my son and myself were disappointed in I SPY Mystery. The "mystery" in this book is not obvious from viewing the pages. To find out what the mystery is, you must go to the back of the book (which I did just by chance), where it is explained that a charm bracelet has broken and the charms have been scattered; the mystery is to find the charms, one per page in the book. This is not a particularly captivating task, especially when you consider that there is not really a mystery (or any other) theme or consistency across the pages in the book to make them interesting, and the idea of finding charms is, well, boring. As mentioned above, we own I SPY Spooky Night. Each page in the Spooky Night book shows you a different location in a haunted house, from the front gates and the outside of the house, to the living room and the garden outside -- each page has the same haunted, spooky theme which actually makes you feel like you are really exploring a haunted house. We also own I SPY Treasure Hunt, and while we enjoy Spooky Night more, Treasure Hunt is full of consistently themed pages containing glistening gold coins and other treasure related items. By contrast, I SPY Mystery is a collection of seemingly unrelated pages: One page is completely filled with marbles that have tiny images on them, another is a close up of sand with some shells and only a few small items buried in the sand, and another is a view through three or four keyholes of different kinds of toys in the room. In all, the weak "mystery" and the lack of a cohesive theme throughout the book made this book uninteresting reading for me and my son.

Amazing Photography
This is a wonderful series, my family has each book and we get so much enjoyment. The I spy Mystery I really feel has some great creative photography. I thought some of the pictures may be scary for the young but that wasn't so. They seem to be amazed with the photo that is like peeking though a keyhole and especially the pages with all the marbles. The extra credit questions in the back of this one are really a lot of fun. You can't go wrong with this book and is great for all ages! ... Read more

Amazon.com

After mastering the many I Spy books and then moving on to conquer thetougher-riddled I Spy GoldChallenger, kids begged Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick for an evengreater challenge. Naturally, this creative team rose to the occasion, creatingthe ultimate: Extreme Challenger! Open to any page and find amind-boggling array of things: "a lobster, a pig, a guitar, / Two skulls,a button, a spring, a car." Wick's exceptional photographic skill renders everyobject crystal clear, whether on a blank white background or against a backdropof dusty old bookshelves with antique toys, keys, clocks, and tools. Marzollo'srhymes are straightforward yet clever, matching "an ace" with "a missingbottle's space," and "puffball shoes" with "sad blue ooze." Children will haveso much fun "I spying," they won't even realize they're developing their visualdiscrimination ability, as well as their reading and vocabulary skills! Extracredit riddles at the end of the big, colorful book provide an additional testof readers' nimbleness, and the authors also encourage children to write theirown rhyming picture riddles based on the illustrations in the book. Okay, allyou eagle-eyes out there, have at it! (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fun for all ages
This was the #1 request on my wish list for my 2 year old son. Not only can he study the pages to find animals, trucks, and toys, I can keep occupied by the riddles. He cannot find the difficult objects, but enjoys the colors and looking for the more obvious things. All of these books are excellent. They increase concentration and problem solving. They are great for 2 years to 100 years.

Provides hours of intense, enjoyable effort.
This book has been the source of hours of mind-stretching entertainment for my children and several hours of frustration for me. The puzzles are difficult, yet not impossible and there is nothing better in improving your powers of intense observation. They can be enjoyed by all children approximately eight years of age and older. I highly recommend it.

this book is great!
i think the i spy series should have more than 5 stars. it deserves 100 stars! i like them because of the photos and picture riddles, those are both cool. you should definitely try to collect these books because they're SO neat. keep 'em coming, marzollo & wick! and thanks for making such great books. p.s. these books are GREAT for road trips!

Extreme I Spy!
In which we find hidden objects & rhyming riddles in this extremely challenging collection of far-out photos of every imaginable object from hair clips to teething rings, from spiders to masks, from dinosaurs to baseball games.

Some pages have trays from old, old toy boxes & some pages are pure plastic paradises. There's a page of weird & toothy monsters made from pipe cleaners, corks & jelly beans & another of old seed packets, school books, chalk slate boards, ink pens & an abacus.

Boy, these sure are harder than I ever remember the game to be & a lot more fun! For one thing, they don't disappear around a corner as our car drove on!

Great for those long waits in airports or rainy summer days!

Pretty good "Greatest hits"
As others have mentioned, the "Challenger" books compile photos from other I Spy books. I'd say the riddles in this one are a little more difficult than the riddles that accompany the pictures in the original books. The clues tend to be for smaller, more obscured, or otherwise more difficult-to-find items in the pictures, so they are a little more challenging. Therefore still worth getting, I think, even if you have some of the original books.

We and our kids (Almost 4, and 1 1/2 years) love them, but one thing I'd say for small kids is that some of the pictures tend to be a little spooky (creepy clowns, skeletons, etc.). It seems to bother them less than I think it would, but if your kids are particularly sensitive...

Overall, the I Spy books are excellent and highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

Ponies love parties!

Join in the fun with this book filled with beautiful scenes from Ponyville for you to color. It's packed with stickers of all your pony friends.

Book Description

Elmo loves fire trucks! Lift the flaps and discover hidden surprises as Elmo dreams that he and all of his Sesame Street friends are fire fighters. Ride along as they slide down the fire pole, turn on the hose, and send up the ladder in this fun-filled adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lots of Adorable Surprises
Elmo is asleep with his stuffed dalmation and dreaming that he, Zoey, Grover, and Tele are all firefighters. With Zoey at the wheel, the adorable Sesame Street monsters hurry off to fight a fire and rescue Cookie Monster, Oscar, and some kittens.

My toddler loves fire trucks and Sesame Street, so I bought this book without even really looking at it.It exceeded my expectations by far.On each page there are at least 2 or 3 flaps to lift, which is more than you'll find in most "lift the flap" books.The illustrations are wonderful and detailed, the story is humorous throughout, and it's not a bit scary, even during the rescue scenes. ... Read more

Book Description

The latest in this series of lavishly photographed and fact-filled craft books invites children to explore the wildlife and indigenous peoples of Africa. Making masks from Zaire and hats in Nigerian fashion are two of the many ways readers can evoke the spirit of Africa. The crafts use common materials in unusual ways. A group of Kwanzaa projects conclude the book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist and children's picture book author Berkeley Breathed crafts a remarkable, hilarious, and yes, even poignant celebration of "flawed dogs": "The bent and plain,/ The unbalanced bod,/ The imperfect people/ And differently pawed." At the core of this "2004 Catalogue of the Piddleton Dog Pound's Very Available Leftovers" is Heidy Strudelberg, "Garbo, Joan of Arc, and Mother Teresa of the nation's unwanted dogs: a reclusive warrior-saint of poundpups." Breathed reveals how Heidy was ousted from the high-falutin’ vanity dog breeding world when she awarded a muddy three-legged street mutt the Westminster Best in Show ribbon. Now, it seems, Heidy has retreated to the Vermont mountains to run the Last Chance Dog Pound, where defective dogs go for one more attempt at getting adopted. The bulk of Flawed Dogs, once you've laughed your way through the introductions and formalities, is a gallery of pathetic pups with accompanying verses. A picture of an extra-long Dachshund startling the dishes right out of her mistress's hands, is captioned thus: "Here’s Sal, it seems no one wants her./ Her ends will stroll off and wander./ A long doggie weenie/ Of noisy linguine/ Sal barks at her butt way down yonder." Dog lovers will be all in a tizzy to get their hands on this crazy, wonderful salute to blemished beagles and faulty foxhounds everywhere. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great illustrations
With a name like Berkeley Breathed you'd better be a Pulitzer-Prize winning illustrator with the talent to boot; otherwise, you yourself might end up in the Piddleton Last-Chance Dog Pound as just another flawed, unloved, and rejected mammal, whether canine or human. This funny book brings together a gaggle of aesthetically challenged canines for whom Lady Luck seems to have happily passed them by. Some of their owners are almost as unprepossessing, but you know what they say about dog owners resembling their dogs. Some of them are so homely they're almost cute, but I guess that wasn't enough to save them from the pound. This is another funny and beautifully illustrated children's book from Breathed.

Funny and moving...the perfect book!
As someone involved with dog rescue, it was easy to "recognize" all of the dogs and their situations. Dogs (and cats) end up at pounds and shelters by the MILLIONS each year for reasons as diverse as "I'm moving", to "I didn't know they would shed". And sadly, the majority of these dogs end up being put to death. In this wonderful book, Mr. Breathed brings attention to the plight of these creatures while entertaining, fabulously! I recommend this for every animal lover and Berkeley Breathed fan.

SUPERB...Berkeley Is A Genius again and again! Ages 3 - 150
Been an enormous fan of the man for years. Bloom County was epic, a force in the papers that left little else. I've always been amazed at how he's carried the texture and grace of the comic strip to book form, and he has once again. Going far beyond typical illustration, he's evolved the art form into it's next phase...awesome!!

This book is incredible. I said astounding and I mean it, as even I didn't intend to be as moved as I was. There's a thinly veiled metaphor here, and hits its mark completely. Thank you so much, Mr. Berkeley, for once again raising the bar high above the rest. You'll always occupy that space with Shel Silverstein and his like. For all ages, a comedic, emotional masterpiece.

beautiful!!
Everyone who had ever owned a "flawed" animal of any kind should have a copy of this beautiful tribute! The artwork is extraordinary and the rhymes whimsical. Berkely Breathed is magical!

Perfect
I bought this book for myself because I love Berke Breathed's art first, and am a dog lover second. This beautiful, whimsical and charming book made me laugh and pulled my heart strings enough for me to purchase 4 more copies and give them as gifts to my friends who also have dogs of their own, flawed or otherwise. Wonderful for kids of all ages. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With little more than some ink, paper, and your own fingers, you canbecome an artist! Caldecott recipient Ed Emberley, author of Go Away, Big Green Monster!, aswell as many creative art books (Ed Emberley's Great Thumbprint DrawingBook, Ed Emberley'sDrawing Book: Make a World, etc.), shows readers how to turnfingerprints into lions, basketball players, reindeer, "bean buddies,"submarines, rainbow dragons, trees, even watermelon. Emberley providesstraightforward information about materials and techniques on the very firstpage, then sets readers free to discover and explore. Step by step, Emberleytakes artists through the process, showing, for each picture, a fingerprintfirst, then adding simple lines and other fingerprints to make the print evolveinto an entirely new entity. A mouse, for example, starts out as a brown ovalfingerprint. Next, two pink fingertip-print ears are added. A black dot makes anose. Two smaller dots become the eyes, and finally a few lines turn this blobinto a bewhiskered mouse head. Young artists can spend hours creating designs,patterns, and decorative scenes with this fun technique, especially if they moveon to advanced finger-printing on the last page. (Ages 4 to 8) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I LOVE this book!!!
A friend of mine gave me this book, along with some stamp pads and markers for my 39th birthday. I am having so much fun with it! I use the ideas in the book for decorating letters, envelopes and packages, and everyone loves them! I recently taught my 4 1/2 year old niece to make "thumbies" as my friends and I call them, and she was able to follow along easily. She made a balloon-carrying mouse, a butterfly, a "frog with no legs" and a clown. I was really surprised! So, now I'm ordering a copy to give to my sister for her.

Second generation of Ed Emberley artists!
We own four of Emberley's Drawing books and my kids loved them... they are now adults and I plan to use this newest book with my two grandchildren. Kids love to draw, but often get frustrated because the results "don't look right!". These books turn "I can draw??" into "I CAN DRAW!!" with smiles and laughter all around. The directions are very simple and the results satisfying... I recommend this book for all the budding artists you know.

EXCELLENT FOR BEGINNING DRAW-ERS!
I think its so sad when children say "i cant draw"... when all they need is someone to show them that it is easy and fun! This book is fabulous for the beginning drawers in your life...i try not to go by the age ranges as people learn to draw at different stages... i showed this book to my son's teacher who was convinced she couldnt draw only to see the pride in he smile when she made a few little fun pictures...clearly she was re-thinking her artistic ability! the pictures are simple as are the concepts but i think starting with the easy stuff builds self esteem and gives kids courage to move on the more difficult complex things...

I can finally draw!
I purchased this book for my five year old and I have spent all afternoon creating. I am all thumbs when it comes to art and drawing. I have never been able to reproduce drawings--but now I can. Mine look just like Ed's. WOW! There is no need to purchase ink pads- I just used my son's washable markers and colored my finger with them. What a great book!

Don't I Have This One Already?
That's the feeling I had when I received this as a present but, nope, I was wrong: I had the THUMBprint drawing book. And there's very little duplicatioin between this book and the thumb book!

Same premise and target audience, though: If your kids have fingers, they can draw! If they're very young, you can draw the details, but if they can hold a pencil, they can probably add the simple shapes and forms to make their own pictures.

The more drawing I do with kids, the more I realize how these books develop skills. They're a perfect gradient for youngsters just sitting down to draw. The books tell them what shapes to add, and it's a matter of duplicating those shapes in the right places--a skill one needs for more realistic drawing.

This is a great starter for a series of books that your kids will enjoy for years and will give them a comfort level and basic skill set they can use to make more sophisticated drawings later, if they want. ... Read more

Book Description

Who knew that math could be so cool? Crammed with games, puzzles, and trivia, The Everything® Kids’ Math Puzzles Book puts the fun back into playing with numbers!

Inside, you’ll be able to:
·Decode hidden messages using Roman numerals
·Connect the dots using simple addition and subtraction
·Learn to create magic number squares
·Use division to answer musical riddles
·Match the profession to numerical license plates

If you have any fear of math—or are just tired of sitting in a classroom—The Everything® Kids’ Math Puzzles Book provides hours of entertainment. You’ll get so caught up in the activities you won’t even know you’re learning! ... Read more

Book Description

Elmo is too big for a crib! He’s ready to sleep in a big kid’s bed! It may take a little while, but with his favorite snuggly blanket and his teddy bear David by his side, soon Elmo feels comfortable in his new bed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for young children
I was really happy with the purchase of this book. My 20 month old son is getting ready to be moved into another room and a big boy bed to make room for his new brother. Most of the books that I have found on this subject have been a little too detailed for my son. This board book breaks the transition down is simple statements that young children can relate to. Example "Elmo slept in a crib when he was a baby but now he's ready for a big kid's bed." "Elmo knows that sleeping in a big kid's bed will feel different than sleeping in a crib." Etc...

It even has Elmo with his favorite doll, David, and his favorite blankie. My son sleeps with a blankie and therefore can identify with Elmo even more. The pictures are colorful and engaging. Well done! ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you grew up with Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight's Eloise books, someof her eccentricity probably rubbed off on you whether you realize it or not.Frankly, it's difficult to remain unaffected by a 6-year-old girl who lives inNew York City's Plaza Hotel, braids her turtle's ears, talks to Mars through apaper cup, and pours water down the mail chute. Eloise's Guide to Lifepieces together snippets from Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise in Moscow, and Eloise at Christmastime in theinterest of instructing its readers on "how to eat, dress, travel, behave, andstay six forever." Of course, if everyone took this advice, people would putlarge cabbage leaves on their heads when they had headaches, throw occasionaltemper tantrums, comb their hair with forks, and pretend they were orphans toget food from strangers. Like the wee Seuss-isms, this whimsicalsampling of Eloise-isms is sure to renew a sense of rebellion and joie de vivrein nostalgic Eloise fans. This small book is perfect for new graduates or foranyone who has forgotten how much fun it can be to wear toe shoes on their ears.For adults who want absolutely everything Eloise, The Absolutely Essential Eloiseincludes the text and illustrations of the original title, along with ahistorical scrapbook detailing the making of Eloise. (Grownups) --KarinSnelson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

ELOISE!
I've been reading Eloise since I was 6 and I'm now 14! She represents freedom, and her wildness refreshes my mind. It's a great book for kids and it will expand their imagination.

Every child should grow up with Eloise!
Eloise rocked my world when I was little... now I'm 18 and bringing her books to college! She's an inspiration to six-year olds and adults alike. This book is just another great glimpse into the world of Eloise. I consider it a lesson on how to stay young through use of the imagination. It isn't as great as the original Eloise, but it's still wonderful! I read it to children I babysit for (who love her) and I plan on reading it to children of my own someday!

Not an Eloise fan...
My daughter received this as gift from her Aunt(an Eloise fan) for her 6th birthday. I found it to be confusing. I would not pick this for a child. Not my idea of a childrens book.

For Eloise fans only!
Let's face it-you are either an Eloise fan or not. There is no in-between. I happen to be a very loyal fan.

I ran across this by accident one rainy airport day and of course, knew it was going to be great. I was not disappointed. This is a book full of previous work collected into a life "guide".

The illustrations are once again, hillarious! Who couldn't smile at Eloise's antics? The "advice" is superb. But my favorite are the little pink colored advice tidbits on most pages.

I am so relieved that Eloise has not been censored by the politically correct. So many children's books are so soapy clean that you cannot enjoy them. However, all things Eloise remain classic.

Scrapbook of Eloise's Quirks from the Four Books
This book contains highlights of the four Eloise books (Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow), grouped into her habits about eating, dressing, travel, behavior, and staying young (six). The book is like having a brief scrapbook of these stories that capture and remind you of the essential character of Eloise. As such, this book will help you quickly drop the cares of the day . . . and it's healthier than a cocktail.

On the other hand, if you haven't read all four books, I think this assemblage will lose some of its charm. Some of the examples don't make much sense if you don't have the story context for them.

If you have read all four stories but don't have copies, this is the bargain basement way to have a little of each one.

If you can afford to indulge, I suggest Eloise: The Ultimate Edition as a better choice. That has all four stories, plus the wonderful scrapbook material about the development of the Eloise character and biographies of Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight. Once you own that edition, you don't really need this one (unless you just want to tuck it under your pillow for comfort).

Some of my favorite sections from this book include Eloise combing her hair with a fork, ordering room service, insisting on Sabena because they let turtles fly on that airline, and getting a new outfit from M. Dior in Paris. I'm sure you'll find some of your favorites, too.

By the way, Eloise must have authorized this book. Kay Thompson wouldn't have . . . because it's commercial Eloise rather than essential Eloise. The wonderful Hilary Knight drawings carry the edition, even when the context seems lost.

After you have finished enjoying this little souvenir, I suggest that you try boiling down your life into 20 elements of your own habits. Which 20 best capture the real you? If they don't capture you, what does that say? Hmmmm. Something to think about.

Remember the best . . . from midst all of life's little eddies. ... Read more