Book Description

The last time the elephant sneezed, he blew monkeys out of the trees, stripes off the zebra, and spots off the leopard. This rollicking new edition of the favorite nonsense verse again shows the panic that follows the elephant's dreaded announcement. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

THIS BOOK IS GREAT!
I used to read this book to my son, John, when he was little and he absolutely loved it. He never tired of hearing me read it to him.

The story is funny and involves lots of jungle animals. It also has suspense. Will the elephant sneeze or not? This book allows the reader to use a lot of different voices and a lot of drama, something young children love.

Later, when my son had grown older, I joined an acting troupe, memorized this book and performed it in children's theater. It was always a hit.

I highly recommend this story to people who have or work with young children.

THIS BOOK IS GREAT!!
I used to read this book to my son, John, when he was little and he absolutely loved it. He never tired of hearing me read it to him. John will soon be 27 years old, but he still remembers this story and so do I.

The story is funny and involves a variety of jungle animals. It is also filled with suspense. Will the elephant sneeze -- or not? This book allows the reader to use several different voices and a lot of drama, something young children love.

When my son grew older, I joined an acting troupe, memorized this story, and performed it in children's theater, with others acting out the parts of the various animals. It was always a hit!

Somehow my original copy was lost and I have searched for years for another one. No one ever seemed to know about this book. I never even found anyone else who had ever read it. I am so happy that I now have a chance to get another copy and to get additional copies for all of the nieces and nephews in my family and for! ! the children and grandchildren of my friends. It will make a fantastic gift that will be greatly enjoyed and remembered for years.

I highly recommend this story to people who have, know, or work with young children.

A Timeless Classic
This is a wonderful book. It's funny, full of surprises, and the rhythm of the rhyming is so well done. I read this book to my children when they were young and it was one of their favorites. Now I read it to my grandchildren and they love it as well. The humorous but touching story line and the rhyming verses make the children want to learn to read it themselves. It's a classic and should be in every child's reading library.

No no no
I think this book trivialises a horrendous, life-threatening condition. I worked for several months in South Africa, with elephants, some of which had heavy colds. I've seen, close up, the horrific after-effects of an elephant sneezing. It ain't pretty, let me assure you. There can be deaths.

Wonderful and silly
A great book to read before you go to the zoo with the little ones. My 4 year old loves it but I will say there are a lot of words on each page for my 2 year old but he likes the pictures so it works out ok. ... Read more

Book Description

Guess who's
at bat?

Reviews (6)

Amelia Bedelia "literally" plays the game of baseball
Not since Abbot asked Costello "Who's on First?" has the national pastime been taken so literally. Taking things literally is precisedly what Amelia Bedelia has been doing ever since she first became a housekeeper. Tell her to "Dust the furniture" and she will dutifully find the Dusting Powder and do as she was told, even though at her house they undust the furniture. In Peggy Parish's "Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia," the Grizzlies baseball team is in trouble when one of their players gets sick and they need a replacement for their big game with the Tornadoes. Who steps up to the plate to save the day up the literal-minded Amelia Bedelia.

The fun, of course, comes when the kids tell Amelia Bedelia to tag a runner or make a base hit. Then there is the uniform that she comes up with (you need a uniform to play baseball, right?). The illustrations by Wallace Tripp capture the fun as Amelia Bedelia plays the game of baseball like nobody has ever played it before. Besides, you should see what Amelia Bedelia looks like when she swings a bat. Fortunately, one things she knows how to do right is to fix an empty cookie jar because she makes really great cookies (although she has doubts about using home plate to serve them on to her teammates). Fans of Peggy Parish's creation will enjoy seeing her on the baseball diamond while there might be some fans of the sport who will be introduced to the literally-minded housekeeper for the first time.

Great Baseball Story
In this edition of Amelia Bedelia, Peggy Parish has done another wonderful job at telling a wonderful story. Amelia Bedelia is making an attempt to play baseball, and she has managed to take the lessons literally, as always. She learns stealing bases are okay and putting players out. This is a favorite in my household, and we laughed at Amelia Bedelia's attempts of playing baseball.

Our favorite part was when she hit the winning run, 'stole' every single base along the way, and she ran home like everyone told her to with all the bases. The kids were wonderful in this story and patient, and it was a fantastic read.

I recommend the Amelia Bedelia books for every household. Amelia Bedelia is a fun character, and it will make the kids laugh.

Joy.

fun fiction
My son is 7 and he loves Amelia Bedelia. He thinks all of these books are a hoot! I loved thim as a child as well!

Great Baseball Book
I came across this book while looking for books about baseball for my preschooler. Not much to choose from in this niche market, but this book is a hit! My son thinks it's funny when Amelia Bedelia "steals the bases" and "runs home". Wish there were more books like this!

Fun for Adults and Children Alike
As a child, I read many Amelia Bedelia books and never tired of them. As an adult, I am looking forward to sharing so many of the stories with my own child. The fact that Amelia takes everything so literally allows for countless scenarios which children (and adults) will find hilarious. Whether "stealing home plate" or "dressing the turkey," Amelia always surprises and delights. Children will be begging parents to read these stories again and again. We can all use good, clean humor in our lives. The time to instill that love of laughter should begin in childhood, and the Amelia Bedelia books will certainly delight children everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Amelia Bedelia must look for a new job -- Mrs. Rogers has finally had enough. But for poor Amelia Bedelia, each new job is a bigger mess than the last. Can she ever find a place to belong?

Reviews (8)

At least Amelia Bedelia can make perfect cream puffs
In "Come Back, Amelia Bedelia," the trouble begins when Mrs. Rogers asks for some cereal with her coffee. Of course, Amelia Bedleia does exactly what she is told to do and puts the cereal in the coffee. Because of this, Amelia Bedelia is fired by Mrs. Rogers. That means our heroine has to leave the Rogers' home and look for a new job. But no matter where she goes, from the hairdresser to the dress shop, she does what people tell her and she ends up being told to leave. Being a file clerk or helping a doctor with his patients do not seem to suit Ameali Bedelia's peculiar talents either, so it is a good thing that the one thing she always gets right is making perfect cream puffs.

The charm of the Amelia Bedelia stories does not need to be explained to any kid who has been told what to do by their parents. What kid would not want to, just once, literally do what they and told to do the same way as Amelia Bedelia (notice the look on Dickie's face when she puts on the doctor's gloves). Of course, they might only get away with such behavior once, but if a kid picks there moment it could be pretty good (my best moment was when a young woman asked me if I had the time and I said, "Sure, what do you want to do?").

This 1971 story, An I Can Read Book, is illustrated by Wallace Tripp, who does a nice job of capturing both Amelia Bedelia's beguiling smile and her look of confusion when people get upset at her for doing exactly what she was told to do. Young readers will get hooked on this literally-minded lady, so it is a good thing that there are other examples of her misadventures to be enjoyed, such as "Thank You, Amelia Bedelia" and "Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower" (just think of the possibilities with that last one).

Wity
This story is precious and timeless. I laughed and had so much fun reading it. Amelia Bedelia is a riot of a woman. She has a wonderful sense of life. She jumps into whatever she does with a willingness to do as she is told, literally.

It's not a long read. You can be done within five minutes. Hilarious to the end. I recommended reading this gem.

Come Back, Amelia Bedelia
The Book Come Back, Amelia Bedelia is about a woman who takes things to literally. She goes from job to job making total chaos. It seems as if she can do nothing right. Every job she gets fired from, she is left dumbfounded and confused, she doesn't know what she did wrong. The book starts, like it ends, back to cooking the cream puffs.
I personally though the book was quite good. It was very humorous and full of excitment. Some of the things she does, are unthinkable. You may be able to relate the character Amelia Bedelia to people you may know in real life. The book also teaches a good lesson, don't always take things, for how they are said.

Ryan J.

A good book by Peggy Parish
I read a hilarious book called Come Back Amelia Bedelia written by Peggy Parish. Of course Amelia Bedelia is my favorite character. I like her because she seems so friendly but funny. Amelia Bedelia cracks me up because every time she tries to do a job she does it wrong. If I were her I'd keep trying my best. If I could have maid I would pick Amelia Bedelia because she can cook well, ans she isn't hard to get along with. If she left I would be sad. This is why Amelia Bedelia is a good book.

Mrs. Rogers Finallly Gave Amelia Bedelia a Pink Slip!
While Amelia Bedelia was removing her chocolate cream puffs from the oven, Mrs. Rogers asked for cereal and coffe for breakfast, (she should have said "a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee,") Poor Amelia poured coffee over a mug of cereal and Gave it Mrs Rogers. In Return, Mrs. Rogers Fired Her, without consent from her husband. So Amelia Bedelia volunteers as a beautician's assistant and pins up a client's hair with sharp safety pins and sticks her. After that she is hired as an assistant-beautician and cuts up expensive dresses to rags, after she stamps some letters at the Post Office by Jumping on them, and sews up a cut with sewing thread, Amelia Bedelia almost forgets about her cooled dessert at home. So she goes back and makes the chocolate cream, so Mrs. Rogers forgives her and rips up the pink slip. After that, at lunch, She heats Mr Rogers a can of soup without opening it in a no-water saucepan on the gas stove.-DANGEROUS. But since then ther have been many Amelia Bedelia Books, and no pinks slips. ... Read more

Book Description

Most little girls have parents to take care of them, but not Annabel Tippens. She has Gloria, a tiny white dog who talks and wears a gold collar. Annabel never thought it was strange that she had Gloria instead of real parents. Until one day a wicked, wicked cat named Belinda comes to tell her the truth -- she's not just a little girl, she's a half-fairy!

And she can do lots of things that other kids can't do, such as kiss her own elbow and fly around the house. But being a fairy isn't all fun and games, and soon Annabel must make a choice. If she chooses to be a fairy, she'll have to say good-bye to Gloria forever. How can she decide between her newly found magic and her dearest friend?Most little girls have parents to look after them, but not Annabel Tippens. She has Gloria, a tiny white dog who talks and wears a gold collar. And thats not the only thing that makes Annabel different: She can do all kinds of things that other kids cant do, like kiss her own elbow and fly around the house! Could it be true that Annabel is not a little girl at all, but a fairy? Soon Annabel will have to decide. If she chooses to be a fairy, shell have to say good-bye to Gloria forever. But how can she decide between her newly found magic and her dearest friend?

Most little girls have parents to look after them, but not Annabel Tippens. She has Gloria, a tiny white dog who talks and wears a gold collar. And thats not the only thing that makes Annabel different: She can do all kinds of things that other kids cant do, like kiss her own elbow and fly around the house! Could it be true that Annabel is not a little girl at all, but a fairy? Soon Annabel will have to decide. If she chooses to be a fairy, shell have to say good-bye to Gloria forever. But how can she decide between her newly found magic and her dearest friend?

... Read more

Reviews (30)

have been looking for over fifteen years
I have been trying to find this book again since I read it in 5th or 6th grade! I read through all of the reviews and the one of the last ones completely convinced me that this book is it!

For years, I have been asking everyone who read children's books if they knew about a story of a fairy child who is an orphan and has a tiny magical dog that becomes a mechanical dog to save the child. She finds out she is a fairy by having a special mark on her shoulder and since she is able to kiss her elbow. Those were the only details I could remember.

Thanks Amazon for posting all these great reviews! I can't wait to get my hands on the book and read it again.

A Modern Children Class
What can I say about this book? One of my child hood favorites! It has been forever since I've read it, and seemed to have lost mine a long time ago. My story is much like the lady who is just below me. A story read long ago and far away, and so much better than the drivel today! Thankfully, like The Hobbit, I never forgot the title. It made a real impression on me. One of the best parts is Gloria the little dog figurine turning into ... well, just read and you will find out. There was something about kissing elbows, and the villan's name was Belinda. I need to desperately reread it to refresh my memory, however. But this was one of the stories that stuck out most to me when I was a kid. Hardy Boys are good, but a good faerie story is always excellent. One of my chief desires is to be a published fantasy author. This is one of my inspirations. I fell in love with the characters, while at the same time desiring to create characters of mine own. This process is now in development, as I write my own (adult . . . no sex, just aimed at adult) fantasy trilogy.

For the High Schoolers, read Alfred G. Graebner Memorial High School Handbook of Rules and Regulations by Ellen Conford

Stumbled across a very happy memory!
I was actually searching for a children's book on flying for an upcoming trip that we're taking my son on, and this title popped up. Oh, what happy memories I have of this book! I can't remember how many times I read it as a child. I might just have to reorder it for old times sake. Definitely a children's classic that will stick with you for a long time!

An Overlooked Classic!
More people should know about this wonderful book! I first read it when I was in second grade, and I loved it so much I begged my mom to special order a copy for me from the bookstore so I didn't have to keep checking it out millions of times from the school library. The story is so simple, a traditional fairy tale, really, but at the same time unusual, charming, and so enthralling I remember reading it under the covers with my flashlight because I could not sleep until I knew what would happen in the end.

The Green Group from Dairyland Review!
We liked this book because it was a fairy tale. It was cool because it was about a dog that talks and did 367 tricks! It was about a girl that has a dog that acts like her mother. The girl is lonely because she doesn't have her parents. A cat tells her that she has special powers and that she is half fairy and half mortal. The little girl finds out that if she chooses to a mortal her parents will return from the Island of Exile. This book was sad, but had a really, really, really good ending!!! There is a secret surprise at the end! We would recommend that all of our friends read this book! We wish that there was a part 2, 3, 4, and 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Rhymes, Great pictures, Great puns
This is a book for the nursery rhyme set that erudite parents will enjoy as well. It has one or two standards (some not so standard) per page, cleverly illustrated with a wide range of the cutest anthropomorphicanimals since Walt Kelly's "Pogo". The rhymes and pictures alonewould make it a three-star book, a good standard collection. But there'smore. Mr. Tripp has his animals make little asides, much like the penguinin "Oliphant", and scatters sight gags liberally throughout hisillustrations.

For "Higglety-pigglety, my black hen, she lays eggsfor gentlemen", for instance, a happy bear admires the hen and says"egg-squisite".

A list of four dozen contestants at a pieeating contest includes "Sally Forth" and "RobinBanks".

Scattered about the clouds for "There was an old womantossed on a blanket" are a pretty complete set of milestones fromaviation history; spitfire, sopwith camel, X-1, mercury capsule, and afellow with a dozen swans in a silken harness.

I was glad I bought thehardcover edition; the paperback would have worn out. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Great Big Ugly Man Came Up and Tied His Horse To Me
My wife bought our family copy when it first came out in 1973.She was at a conference in Boston and saw it go on display.Our daughter, born 1971, was raised on it and both my wife and I can quote passages at the drop of a word.Favorites are "The Slithergadee" and "The common cormorant or shag...."Our daughter is now expecting her first child (our first grandchild) and we presented her with our copy.We have recently purchased a paperback copy to read when the child is at our home.Our daughter's sister-in-law read our original copy and is now looking for a copy to read to her son.It is great for teaching children reading and an understanding of art and life.(Yes, I have several Wallace Tripp illustrations.)

Witty, Intelligent, and Wonderful
I came across this book when I was in graduate school--living with two commercial artists and studying for my master's in library science.We were in a book store one evening when the woman I lived with started pointing out the cleverness of the illustrations and how well they matched the poetic selections.After all these years I remember my favorite--a little racoon standing in the snow very soberly reciting "I do not like thee Doctor Fell, The reason why I cannot tell..."He is speaking to an old country doctor who is walking through the snow wearing a coonskin hat, carrying his bag, looking soooo tired--and here is this animal lecturing him--the scene is both serious and silly---and they are all like that--there is a depth, an intelligence, that brings the reader back again and again.I read my copy over and over.It was in the children's section, but the humor in the illustrations is definitely aimed at adult appreciation.

Creme de la Creme
There is no way for me to convey the top notch quality of Mr. Tripp's humor and art work in the sketched scenes that decorate both front and back covers and also accompany each verse in this volume.While each of thenonsense verses are wonderful in their own right, the accompanying drawings(with the comments created by Mr. Tripp for the little animal characters hehas sketched for each scene) are absolutely delightful!

I received thisbook as a gift from my husband many years ago and I have worn it to afrazzle enjoying it over and over; it is my healthy tension-reducer andstress manager.Although it is presented as a child's book, I am convincedit was sketched for grownups.I am at a loss for words to tell what anindescribably delicious treat you will find in this book no matter whatyour age!

Creme de la Creme
There is no way for me to convey the top notch quality of Mr. Tripp's humor and art work in the sketched scenes that decorate both front and back covers and also accompany each verse in this volume.While each of thenonsense verses are wonderful in their own right, the accompanying drawings(with the comments created by Mr. Tripp for the little animal characters hehas sketched for each scene) are absolutely delightful!

I received thisbook as a gift from my husband many years ago and I have worn it to afrazzle enjoying it over and over; it is my healthy tension-reducer andstress manager.Although it is presented as a child's book, I am convincedit was sketched for grownups.I am at a loss for words to tell what anindescribably delicious treat you will find in this book no matter whatyour age!

My three year old daughter knew each poem by heart.
When we lived in the mountains, we came across this book at a local small bookstore.We read it to our daughter almost every day, sometimes two or three times a day.We could not stop looking at the illustrations andlaugh so hard once we understood what Mr. Tripp was trying to convey withhis wonderful, fun drawings.After a while, our daughter was able to sitby herself and recite all that she had put to memory just by looking at thepictures.I am also looking for "Granfa Grigg Had a Pig" book. Please locate one of these for us also.Always good to be entertained by aguy who knows which buttons to push. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Heart-wrenching
My Uncle is now retired,but was a publisher for Children's books. He sent "Old Arthur" to my mother when I was a very little girl. It was my favorite book. Occasionally I find myself reading the book and it never fails to provoke happy tears. I urge you to buy a copy if you can possibly find one.

Sniffle!How sweet!
I ran across this book entirely by accident when I was 21. I opened it up and read it in five minutes or less, and that was all it took for tears to well up!It is charming, unforgettable, and one of the best books I have ever come across to introduce children to the concept of old age.It concerns an old farm dog who is taken out to be shot - it is only because his old legs cannot walk as fast as the farmer's that he gets away.When he is taken to the pound a young boy picks him out, and they share a very special friendship.Again, sniffle, sniff, sniff!

Find this book if you can!
This is a wonderful story of how an old dog about to be shot by a farmer because he's too old to work and "no good anymore" comes to be a little boy's best friend.Warning - don't try to read this to your child unless you're very VERY good at controlling that lump in your throat!It would be a great book to read to your kids before you visit the shelter to choose a pet.It teaches them to take a close look at the older dogs who may have more to offer than those unruly puppies.Again, a very lovely book.It's too bad it's out of print.It's well worth trying to track down. ... Read more

Book Description

A collection of amusing verses by a variety of poets, including Emily Dickinson, Spike Milligan, Shakespeare, and others. "The illustrations contain caricatures, puns, ridiculous juxtapositions, and frequent references to other artists . . . Just identifying the various characters can furnish hours of amusement." -- Horn BookBooklist Editors' Choice
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wide range of verse & delightful Wallace Tripp illustrations
I have loved Wallace Tripp's illustrations since I was a child- he puts an amazing amount of character and detail, and wonderful coloring, in hiswork!The verses in this book were penned from authors ranging from EmilyDickinson to Groucho Marx- and the illustrations enrich them in every case!Recommended for adults as well as little folk! ... Read more