Book Description

To look at Oscar Westerwit, you might think, Hey, just another New York City squirrel. Only thing is, you'd be wrong. . . .

For Oscar, life is good in New York City in the year 1900. He's the Mayor of Central Park -- the greatest place on earth for the squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and other animals who live there. He's the manager of his baseball team, the Central Park Green Sox, and shortstop, too. What could be bad?

Plenty, that's what! Big Daddy Duds, jewel thief, all-round thug, and leader of rats, is about to invade the park with five hundred of his closest friends. And when he does, the other animals who live there will be turned out of their homes. Everyone looks to the Mayor to save them, but he may not even be able to save himself from the invaders.   The Mayor of Central Park is a rich and fragrant evocation of old New York, with a community of animals who are as lively as characters in a Damon Runyon story, brought to life in a blend of humor and heartbreak that is vintage Avi.

Reviews (1)

fairly good story
The setting of this book takes place in 1900.The main character in the book is Oscar Westerwit, a squirrel who loves baseball and Broadway musicals.He heads up a team of animals to over come a gangster rat named Big Daddy Duds who ties to bring trouble to the park area.Find out if their plan works in The Mayor Of Central Park!


The book was easy and fun to read.


The characters in the book are animals.Children enjoy animal stories most of the time. ... 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

Reviews (5)

Highly motivating book for 3 year old w/ speech/motor delay
My son LOVES this book(and also the mouse about the house version). These books are GREAT for fine motor/motor planning...AND great for high affect speech and language therapy. "Oh, oh dear...what happened to his nuts?" "where could they be?" "who do you think hid them?" "what will happen next?" ...Highly recommended book!

My daughter's favorite
I got this book because my then two-year-old had delayed fine motor skills. I had no idea how much she was going to love it. We've taken it everywhere and she tells the story of the squirrel as she tracks him through the book over and over again. The squirrel is looking a bit worn but has held up remarkably well. EXCELLENT!

Unique gift book -- lots of fun
In this story a squirrel can't remember where he has stored his nuts and sets off to find them. Your 3 or 4 year old child will have lots of fun pushing the squirrel (located in a see-through pouch on the cover) through a slot on each page as the search unfolds. The dialogue in the story seems weak to me, but the novelty of pushing that squirrel through that slot seems to make up for it -- at least for my kids. This is a nice book to give as a gift as it is rather unique and not likely to be something that the recipient will already have.

I teach 4 year olds, and this is a favorite!
I teach a preschool class of 4 year olds, and they love this book! They love me to read it to them, then they always want to manipulate the squirrel through the various pages as it looks for its hidden nuts. The story is easy to follow, with colorful pictures. It is always a favorite every year in my class. The kids have just about worn out our school's copy! I would highly recommend it for any preschool child.

Entertaining, while sharpening the fine motor skills .
This book can entertain children(adults too!) of all ages, but is best suited for the pre-schooler. A removable suirrel who has a slot on every page to slip through goes on a journey to find his nuts, asking all the animals in the forrest along the way. He even gets tangled in a spiders web. It encourages fine motor skills and will make even the most active preschooler sit still. A must for every home with a child under 5!!! Once it is read the same thing is always said, "Let's do it again!" ... Read more

Book Description

A squirrel named Micawber loves the paintings he sees through the windows of the nearby art museum. One day he notices an artist copying the old masters, and he decides to do the same -- with surprising results.

In their second collaboration, best-selling author-illustrator team John Lithgow and C. F. Payne introduce children to the world of art through the eyes -- and paint-splattered tail -- of a highly creative squirrel. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Excellent Book John!
this is an excellent book to read to kids& a cute story about squirrel that learns how paint by watching a human painter. john lithgow words make it enjoyable even for adults to read it over & over again & the pictures are full of life & color. it comes with a cd of john reading his story so parents can take a rest .

Highly recommended for bedtime reading for children.

Still my 3 year old's favorite
In this wonderful book about a little squirrel's adventures, Lithgow seems to know that even a small child can understand the elaborate, descriptive words he uses to rhyme. I love the fact that he doesn't speak down to children, but brings them up to his level. C.F. Payne is also an amazing artist that brings Micawber and all of his escapades to life. His friends are a little too realistic for me, but it gives me the opportunity to show my daughter nature without actually having to touch the real thing!! :) My daughter loves to find things we may have overlooked or simply forgotten about and she is now asking about the Monet "depicting a haystack at twilight" as well as the other artists mentioned. We recently used this as an opportunity to see more art in books and the museum. She also loves to hear Lithgow reading the story and I use it as a special treat just for her. I purchased this book for her over a year ago and it is still one of her favorites.

Interesting rhymes and unusual word choices
In this charming book, John Lithgow uses clever rhymes, avoiding one syllable words and expected endings. As his little squirrel adventures through New York City on his journey to become a self-made artist, vocabulary words and artistic concepts are skillfully introduced to children. My 2 year old daughter loves to have this book read over and over, and fortunately it is sweet and intelligent enough that I enjoy it nearly as much as she does. Every squirrel we see is now called Micawber and she wonders aloud if he might have paint on his tail if she could just get close enough to see. I highly recommend it for any young, curious child, just be prepared for him or her to develop an unusal interest in your neighborhood squirrels!

Great for kids of all ages
At least one other reviewer claims 'Micawber' is inappropriate for younger kids, based on the reaction of one 4-year old. I would just like to say that my 17-month old chooses both 'Micawber' and the other Lithgow/Payne collaboration, 'The Remarkable Farkle McBride', from the shelf for me to read to her, and listens all the way through to both books, laughing at and pointing to the illustrations along the way (especially Micawber's self-portraits). I believe she is responding not just to the pictures, but to the rhythm and lilt of the poetry as well. This is NOT just a book for grownups!

An inviting story
Kids ages 4-8 will find this an inviting story of a squirrel who loves the paintings he sees through the window of an art museum. One day he notices a street artist copying the masterpieces - and he decides to try his own hand at art, with some unexpected results. A CD of the author reading this story is included. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A teacher recomends the "Animal Ark" series
I am thrilled to finally find a book that both boys and girls enjoy equally well. The "Animal Ark" books have the "aaw" factor of cuddly animals that the girls love and the suspense factor to hold the fleeting attention of the boys. These books NEVER sit on the shelf! Although the target audience and reading level are younger students, the 12-14 set like them just as much. A lovely respite from Harry Potter, too.

Do You Like Animals?
Would you like to work at Animal Ark? You will find out what it is like to help animals.
Mandy and James find squirrels in the school. The janitor wants to get rid of them by putting poison down. Will Mandy and James save the family of squirrels? Read Squirrels in The School by Ben M.Baglio and find out. It is a very exciting book because of all the action.

Squirrels in the School
The wonderful series "Animal Ark" is always gaining more and more readers. Each book in the series has a fascinating story going on. "Squirrels in the School" is certainly no disappointment and is suspenseful to the very last page.

Animal loving Mandy Hope (the main character) is helping out behind the scenes of the school play making costumes, with her humorous friend James, who is taking care of the lighting and cables. What they don't know is that a family of squirrels is causing for major trouble in the play, damaging costumes and biting through cables. Mandy and James find out and tell the director of the play. News travels quickly, the head wants them evicted and calls in Pest Control! Will Mandy and James be able to stop them?

"Squirrels in the School" is a wonderful and enchanting book which will keep all readers (Ages 9 to 15) excited to the very end!

By Ellen Bruffaerts

Squirrels in the School A Must Read
The name of the book I read was Squirrels in the School. This book was written by Ben M. Bagilio. In the beginning Mandy's school is having a play. She met a pair of squirrels outside of the school building and names them Salt and Pepper. The next day Mandy came back to see her headdresses ruined. Was it Salt and Pepper? Are they causing havoc throughout the school? To find out simply read the book Squirrels in the School. ... Read more

Book Description

Every child has a purpose. Every child asks the question...who am I going to become?

In this groundbreaking work, A Simple Brown Leaf tells the touching story of an old autumn leaf who discovers that its life has many different purposes. Caught by a squirrel preparing for the winter, the leaf is taken on a journey of discovery that will have children and adults thinking about their futures and the interconnection of all living things.

Reading the story is an opportunity for parents and grandparents to create a dialogue that may provide the foundation for growth and self-exploration. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A moving story about discovery and finding meaning
What could well become a classic children's picturebook for young readers ages 4 to 8, A Simple Brown Leaf is the collaborative effort of author L. J. Davis and illustrator Lisa Victoria. This is the story of an old autumn leaf caught by a squirrel preparing for winter's onslaught. The leaf's journey reveals that its life has more than one purpose. When it was young and green, it was part of the tree; when it turned brown and fell, the squirrel needed it to survive the bitter cold of winter. A moving story about discovery and finding meaning. "You are meant to do something wonderful! Someone loves you! Someone needs you... just like the squirrel needed the simple brown leaf."

An Educator's Review
A Simple Brown Leaf is a fantastic piece of work that promotes character development in an artistic and poignant way.Ms. Davis clearly understands the need of today's youth for self-confidence and a sense of self-purpose.As a school teacher I see children each day struggle with insecurities and apathy as they fight to find their place in society.I highly recommend this book to parents and school teachers as a platform for encouraging and strengthening our young people.

I really liked this book!
I think the book is really enjoyable. It really gives you the idea in the story about the simple brown leaf and how it has a purpose. It made me feel like I am special. I really liked when the squirrel catches the leaf and runs into her tree den. I really like when the squirrel and the leaf cuddle in the tree. They needed each other like me and my mom. This is a good book with lots of really pretty pictures. Kids will like it! I did and I'm six. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (23)

it is animal packed and you"ll love it!
Gooseberry Park was a berry fun book! i could not stop reading it! this great book is about a choclate lab called Kona, a squarel called Stumpy and her babies Top, Bottum and Sparrow,and a bat named Murry. there is also Gwendolyn the old hermit crab. soon after Stumpy meets Murry she has Top,Bottum, and Sparrow. then a storm stirkes Gooseberry park, were Stumpy, Top, Bottum, an Murry live. Kona goes to save them and only finds Murry, Sparrow, Bottum, and Top. they can not find her and so Kona takes them to his house. if you read this book then you will find all about there wacky adventures and how they find Stumpy!

Gooseberry Park
I think people should read Gooseberry Park because it is exciting.It was hard to put down.

Can a dog be a hero?
Would you belive that a dog would help a squirrel instead of chasing the squirrel? Well belive it or not, in the story "Gooesbeery Park", a dog named Kona has a friend named Stumpy that is a squirrel. When a terrible storm hits Gooseberry Park, Kano begins to think that Stumpy and her newborn babies are in deep trouble. Kano goes on the most dangerous adeventure for Stumpy.He will have to go through the most difficult part. That is to go throught the ice cold park. Will he be able to do this in time? He will just have risk anything just for his best friend! Will Kano make make it to Stumpy before the weather gets worser or will he fail his adventure? Who knows what will happen to Kano?

I'm bats about Murry!
This is such a funny book. The characters all seem so real.I kept forgettting they were animals not people.I wish they could be my friends.

Wonderful Read-Aloud
I used this in my 3rd grade class as a teacher read-aloud and the students loved it. It had characters that all students could relate to --whether it was the sense of humor and crazy antics of Murray,the bat,the heroic deeds of Kona,the labrador retreiver,the straight talk from Gwendolyn,the hermit crab or the motherly sweetness of Stumpy,the squirrel--all children of various learning abilities could enjoy the story. When Stumpy lost her children in an ice storm that toppled her tree, the children were interested in how she would get back to them. When Murray was caring for the babies in the basement, the students would laugh at the bat's appetite for junk food and television. They were delighted and so was I. A real pleasure to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Bear brags that he can do anything-even stop the sun from rising. Brown Squirrel doesn't believe him, so the two wait all night to see if the sun will rise. Sure enough, the sky reddens and the sun appears.Brown Squirrel is so happy to be right that he teases Bear. What happens when a little brown squirrel teases a big black bear?Brown Squirrel gets stripes and is called chipmunk from that day forward . . . Joseph and James Bruchac join forces to create this buoyant picture book, based on a Native American folktale.

Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. ... Read more

Book Description

The fun-filled story starring Lexi, the street-smart squirrel, and

his friend PeeWee, the well-read guinea pig, is now available in paperback. Lexi

doesn't trust humans. But when a homeless stranger rescues PeeWee from the jaws

of a vicious dog, Lexi has a change of heart. Can two rodents make a difference

in the life of a man living hungry and friendless in Central Park? ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Big hit with 10 month old AND his Papi
I could recite every word of this book to you. My 10 month old son loves it more than any other book. I'm not sure what it is, but it may be the repetition of the word "No" e.g., "No! Bird's nest is full" and "No! That's foxes hole!" I love the pictures of the squirrel who looks really dense. It's fun to read, and since it takes about 60 seconds to do the book I don't mind doing it 3-4 times a day. Highly recommended.

simple
my baby love this book. colorful and simple. for the first time he can sit down and enjoy the book

Great book for young ages!
Squirrel is on a mission to store his walnut, but finding the perfect place is hard work! My 1 year old daughter thinks this book is funny! She giggles at all the silly places the squirrel tries to put his prize. She also stares wide-eyed when the squirrel runs into trouble. A great book to entertain your child!

Our daughter loves this book
Our daughter loves her "Squirrel is Hungry" book. The pictures are very cute. We read this book to her everyday (she is one year old). This is a good book for babies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

COLORFUL AND IMAGINATIVE
Creator of that sparkling phenomenon The Rainbow Fish and the Hopper series, Swiss artist/story teller Marcus Pfister has now crafted Hopper's Treetop Adventure (North-South Books, $15.95). When Hopper, the inquiring arctic hare, yearns for hazelnuts, his mother tells him that hares don't usually eat nuts because rabbits can't climb trees. Don't be too sure of that.

Pfister's radiant pastels bring Hopper's woodland adventure to beguiling life. Ages 5-8.

Beautiful Illustrations
The illustrations in this book are beautiful. The story is good with animals that do not frighten most children. My 3 year old daughter wants us to read it again and again. She really likes the detailed illustrations. The illustrations in this book are among the best I've seen. Can't believe it didn't win an award. ... Read more

Book Description

As most of the world settles down to sleep, the nighttime creatures are just waking up!Gifted nature poet Joanne Ryder takes readers on a magnificent journey with one of those nocturnal animals -- the flying squirrel.Join these special creatures as they glide, run, and leap through the night.Exquisite illustrations by Melissa Bay Mathis complement the lyrical text.

An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must for read-aloud!
The rhyming words are just right, not trite. Young learners adore pointing out the rhymes as well as counting the number of flying squirrels, eyes, etc. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (16)

PUMPKIN SOUP- A CHILDREN'S CLASSIC
What a lovely book. My friend's little girl,who is 3, just loves this book. Her mum raves that she can't go to sleep without hearing it. They gave it to my 2 year old as a birthday gift. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is charming. It's fastly becoming my child's favorite book. It must be...I read it to him at least 3 times a day. Enjoy! I'm going to buy more of her books.

Warm and satisfying¿ just like soup.
There is something so warm, satisfying and homey about this book. The three animals live happily together in their warm and cozy house eating their regular supper of pumpkin soup. Each member of this little family has his own role in the soup making process; however, happiness cannot last forever and one morning the duck decides he wants to trade parts! HE wants to be the one stirring the soup... This wish causes chaos in the little house and the duck decides to leave....
I am sure you can guess the ending, but nevertheless this is a rich, beautiful and lovable story which has several surprises along the way.
The paintings are beautiful and colorful (I especially love the pumpkin garden) and my son always ends the reading with his wish "please make me a pumpkin soup"...

Great Read Aloud
This is a delightful story for young children. I read it aloud to my sons' Kindergarten and First Grade classes and they all loved it. The pages are big and beautifully illustrated - the squirrel, cat and duck are adorable, lovable characters. Their surroundings are brought to life in rich, warm colors and lovely details. The story addresses the age old problem of sharing and taking turns with humor and a gentle lesson that we need to keep in perspective what - or rather who - is really important to us.

Great for social skills groups!
This is a fabulous book about sharing, making and keeping friends, and all of the feelings and dynamics which go along with working together. I use this in the Fall with my social skills group in the school where I work. The children love it! It generated great discussion about about friendship, cooperation, how to/not to fight, learning to share, changing roles in friendships, and feelings (anger, jealousy, guilt, etc., etc.). Then, we usually make a "pumpkin" (out of felt pieces) as a cooperative group activity--of course, the children have to make the pumpkin WITHOUT saying a word and WITHOUT a "...squabble, a row, a racket, [or a] rumpus." :-)

Children Love This Story
My youngest daughter checked out this book from our local library last year and fell in love with it. I borrowed it from her and read it to my students because my daughter insisted I share this story with her friends. My students fell in love with this story, too, and it was so much fun to read aloud to a group and get interaction from them about it. This year I ordered my own copy and a copy for the school where I teach. The story is wonderfully told because it is sweet and caring. The young listener fully understands the story and I think the author did a splendid job of presenting it. Many of my students identified with the little duck and they were so happy when the duck returned (and got things his way for a change). The illustrations are beautiful. The "scary" parts of the story are told gently, in wording and phrasing exactly right for the age group it is intended to reach. The little duck's rebellion is charming and the message stays with the children. This book is more than wonderful. It is tasteful, and appeals in a big way to the best critics and the only critics who really matter when it comes to children's books -- young children. Thank you Helen Cooper for a marvelous book. ... Read more

Book Description

Harold is a squirrel living a happy if sheltered life in his park on New York City's Upper West Side. But when a streetwise rat persuades him to take part in an experiment, Harold suddenly finds himself without his tail fur-and without a home. Mistaken for a rat and forced out on the unfamiliar streets of New York, Harold encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, including a neurotic pigeon, a vain cat, and a tribe of hostile squirrels. But it's not until Harold discovers allies in an unusual trio of rodents that his adventures really begin. . . . By turns funny, poignant, and suspenseful, Harold's Tail will appeal to fans of Stuart Little and The Cricket in Times Square as it celebrates the courage of an unexpected hero and the resilient power of friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Funny and entertaining for Parents and Children
My son(8 years old) and I just got this book recently.
It is a great book to read together with your children.
Very funny and cute! You'll never look at a squirrel the same way after reading this book.
What are you waiting for, just go buy it! You will not be disappointed!!! ... Read more

Book Description

The third Park Pals adventure is now available in paperback. When pretty Plush ends up in Central Park, PeeWee thinks he'll have a family soon. But Plush couldn't be less interested in exploring the wild outdoors with him. Then, PeeWee finds out that winter will be coming. Will these two guinea pigs overcome their differences in time to prepare for the bitter cold? This action-packed tale about building friendship and conquering fear is full of surprises! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Suburban animals made exciting and important in an ecosystem
For those of us surrounded by the omnipresent gray squirrel they seem banal and often a pest. But for my inner city Latino children in a bilingual first grade, this book made real the interaction of animals in a suburban neighborhood. They understood how the squirrel interacts with other animals - often stealing their food; how the squirrel helps grow trees by hiding acorns (we learned about acorns the same week). The picture of the squirrel eating acorns was perfect. We learned how birds depend on feeders for their food. The illustrations were lovely and inventive - they especially liked the photo of the squirrel sleeping with his tail over his head for a shade (we acted it out with our hands) and the dog chasing the squirrel and cat. The neighborhood was unfamiliar to them as the housing was very different but they loved the animals. This book was a most positive teaching aide. ... Read more

Book Description

Each of these libraries of six delightful titles was created especially to help children understand and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.Each book, which has been written and illustrated by award-winning authors and artists, tells the story of an animal in its natural environment. Accurate in detail and rich in storytelling tradition, these books are perfect for giving and collecting.

Authenticated by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Reviews (1)

Very nice child's animal book
Smithsonian wildlife/animal books are generally very good, and this is no exception. It's a small book, but the illustrations of the gray squirrel are very lifelike and charming. This is a brief narrative of exciting events in the day of a gray squirrel: stealing acorns from a chipmunk; looking for food; brief danger, and excape, from a cat and dog (but with a happy ending, of course). A good reader for young children. ... Read more

Book Description

After countless phone calls and letters from fans, we've brought back these time-honored tales. Sharing life lessons and memorable morals, the Serendipity books are a seasoned favorite with children and parents alike. So, journey to the magical, mystical land of Serendipity with these four cherished editions featuring newly revised text from the author.

A sweet young squirrel named Squeakers is scampering through the forest when he comes upon a dangerous Crickle-Crack tree.He knows he should stay away, but curiosity gets the best of him.Squeakers learns the hard way that some things are best left alone. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Crickle Crack
I'm a 16 year old girl and I still love these books. Crickle Crack was a good one, dealing with problems in today's society. A squirrel is told to stay away from the crickle crack tree and he doesn't listen. The blossoms bring poor squeakers trouble when he eats them. The books are really timeless.

Crickle-Crack
I grew up reading the Serendipity Series written by Stephen Cosgrove and illustrated by Robin James. Even today, almost 20 years later, this series stands out among the best. As a 5th grade teacher, I am continuously on the look-out for quality books that will instill character within my students. These stories offer young people excellent advice without being too "preachy". As anyone can see, I am a strong advocate of these writings. This story in particular approaches the subject of drug abuse in a very discreet way. ... Read more

Book Description

This delightful collection of story books has important lessons about growing up and understanding the emotional side of life.Each book includes a series of discussion questions and easily-implemented extension activities. By sharing these developmentally appropriate stories, you help children from 5 to 12 acquire important insights and learn to cope with many of life’s stressing issues.

Each book is 64-80 pages, 8-1/2 x 11, paperback, illustrated ... Read more