Book Description

Elmo loves animals! Toddlers will love lifting the flaps and discovering all different kinds of animals and the things they do. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It's excellent!
After reading this book, my 20-month-old son would follow what ELMO did in the book, pretending to be a cat, a lion, a worm. For example, he would "meow" and creep when he saw a cat in the book. It was fun for a baby boy to learn about animals in that way. ... Read more

Book Description

The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, Random House is proud to bring the three timeless tales together in one beautiful commemorative edition, complete with the original delightful illustrations.A Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, My Father's Dragon is followed by Elmer and the Dragon ("rich, humorous, and thoroughly satisfying"*) and The Dragons of Blueland ("ingenious and plausible, the fantasy well-sustained"*).Each story stands alone, but read in succession, they are an unforgettable experience.*Library Journal, starred review


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A favorite read aloud book!
These three adventurous tales by Ruth Gannett kept my 5 year old son spellbound night after night--he continually begged me to read "just one more chapter!" and we are almost finished with our second time reading it. The trilogy begins with the main character, Elmer Elevator, venturing away from home to save a baby dragon from being abused by the animals of Wild Island. What follows are a series of Elmer's and the baby dragon's exciting adventures. This is a great read aloud book for ages 5-9!

Outstanding read-aloud book, very clever story
Much like Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm, the My Father's Dragon trilogy is a fun read, and has a mixture of absurdity and humor that appeals on multiple levels. It's an easy read to a toddler, with several pictures throughout, and journey maps on the inner covers.

Since the chapters are short, you can do two or three a night without losing continuity. At the same time, the story has enough depth and cleverness that the parent can remain engaged. Thus, it's a catalyst for bonding.

One of the things that makes it special is the main character. Elmer Elevator, on the advice of a stray cat, starts out on a noble odyssey to free a baby dragon from its animal tormentors. In his preparation, Elmer packs dozens of seemingly useless items, including a magnifying glass, brush, sandwiches, and lollipops. While he travels across Wild Island, all these items become essential, and you wonder if the story was being told by MacGyver :-)

We've read the trilogy to completion five times and it's still a hit with everyone.

Delightful Surprise
I was browsing the list of audiocassettes and happened across "Three Tales of My Father's Dragon." I read the other reviews and decided to buy it for my son (who is 4). We absolutely fell in love with all three stories! We listen to it ALL the time! We leave one cassette in the house to listen to at night and one in the car. We have had the tapes for two months and have not tired of listening to them. My son just laughs and loves all the aspects of these stories. The acting of all the characters is so vibrant and you quickly realize that each character has his own distinct personality and voice! I would HIGHLY reccomend these stories! They are fantastic!

My Fathers Dragon
My Fathers dragon written by R.S.G, may be the best book ever! Elmer is a boy who lives in Evergreen city. One day he meets a cat who tells him about a Dragon .The was trapped on Wild Island and Elmer goes to save him, On the way he tricks a lot of animals. One of them was when he gives lollipops to crocodiles to make a bridge. Does he save the dragon? Read this book to find out!

I love this book and recommend it to anyone who likes to imagine, loves excitement, adventure and danger! It's celebrating 50 years in print, I think it is perfect the way it is! With this book you can experience the magic!

Dragons and Adventure - What Kid Wouldn't Love it?
This volume is the complete set of tales about Elmer and his friend the dragon, including the fun illustrations. The complete set includes "My Father's Dragon," "Elmer and the Dragon," and "The Dragons of Blueland."

These stories are perfect first chapter books for kids. The vocabulary is simple and the chapters are short. I'd forgotten just how short until I started rereading them. Yet the stories are packed full of adventure. Elmer is especially resourceful, and I still get a kick out of how he takes the simplest things and makes them work in whatever situation he finds himself.

Whether kids read these stories themselves or listen to them being read, they're sure to become favorites. And adults will enjoy the clever story lines as well. ... Read more

Book Description

In a search for Big Bird, Elmo hunts all over Sesame Street in Big Bird’s favorite places. Along the way, Elmo recruits Bert and Ernie to help him look for their friend.With sound buttons for each new character, this Pop-up Song Book allows children to interact with the story though singing familiar songs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Need more books like this one!
My 19 month old daughter LOVES this book! She spends more time with this book than anything else. I wish they would make more books like this. I would definitely recommend this book!!! Not only keeps your child busy but gives mom some quiet time. :) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Franklin's New Friend
This is a very good book. I love the Franklin books. This book was about a moose that moved in and no one wanted to be friends with him because he was so big. Franklin ened up being friends with the moose at the end of the book. Moose is really nice and they are glad that they became friends with him.
If you ever get a chance to read this book please do so it is a good book to read!!

Franklin's New Friend
As with all of the books in the Franklin series, the topics are approached in an open and non-judgemental way. Franklin's New Friend presents Franklin with the arrival of a new family in his neighborhood. Franklin is encouraged by his parents and teacher to inbrace the potential of making a new friend, without dwelling on the possible misgivings his has. Franklin learns that making new friends is fun, and he does not have to change the relationships he has with his existing friends. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Maisy at the Grocery Store
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

Maisy visits Charlie only to find his cupboards are bare, so its off to the grocery store. For reasons known only to them, my children aren't real wild about this Maisy book. Still, like all Maisy books, they liked it the first time around; maybe we've just read this one too many times.

Sweet and Simple
Like all Maisy books, this one is sweet and simple. My kids love it!

Great toddler book
In this book Maisy and Charley go grocery shopping. My two year old loves grocery shopping and is fascinated by the book. We read it over and over and over. Actually it is great for me too, because I use it to talk about what kind of foods we can buy at the grocery store. Maisy and Charley buy apples, bananas, yogurt, bread etc... It is a good opportunity to get in a plug for nutritious foods. ... Read more

Book Description

As long as there have been vampires, there has been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, to find them where they gather and to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers.

From the first vampire staking to the last glimpse of Sunnydale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a genre-busting hit, attracting millions of fans worldwide. The last three seasons ran the gamut from an episode without music to a musical episode, from the arrival of a teenage sister to the death of Buffy (again).

Now the third volume in this best-selling series of companions will break down every episode of seasons five, six, and seven -- from the villains and the victims to quotables and love bytes -- as well as take a wide-ranging look back at the entire run of the show.

Additional features:

• Flashback Foreshadowing: A line-by-line deconstruction of the portents in the season four finale, "Restless"

• "Lost" lines of dialogue, stage directions, and descriptions cut from the original teleplays

• The Trio's Pop-Culture Explosion: Mastering the references of Geek Speak

• Critical (and not-so) essays from a variety of contributors on topics from Buffy's romantic optimism to Dawn's unfulfilled potential

Seven years, 144 episodes, 3 Slayers, 3 principals, 2 networks, 2 vampires with souls, 2 Watchers, 2 pigs, 1 Master, 1 Mayor, and 1 hit show (with tons of Potentials): It all adds up to one must-have volume! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Put A Stake Through Volume III
I should have known...Volume III of the television series companion for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, was written by Paul Ruditis, who also wrote the rather bland Star Trek: Voyager episode guide.

The book covers seasons 5 through 7 of the show. First, I don't know why the publisher decided to change the format of the book. Volumes 1 and 2 were clearly written with the fan in mind. Packed with fun, the previous installments had a zippy text that covered, not only what happened in front of the camera, but also gave readers a peek behind the scenes. Ruditis, just as he did in the Voyager book, keeps that to a minimum. Sure, we get excerpts of dialogue cut from every episode and a diconstruction of the script for season 4's "Restless", which forshadowed events that occured throughout the rest of the series--but most of this comes across as filler. The songs section is totally excised in favor of a series of essays written as tributes to the show by various contributors. While the essays work in theory, they still seem out of place, like they belong elsewhere in another book. Christopher Golden, Nancy Holder, and the other contributors for the other guides, matched the show's hip style easily. Here though, volume III is a lot like how Buffy was when she came back from the dead. Comming off the paradise of the other guides, this book is cold, distant, and removed.

The 359 page book has dozens of black and white photos as well as 12 pages of color photos. I wish Ruditis had given readers, at least a glimse of what it was like on the set as the final episode took shape. I will put the book on my shelf for complete-ness sake. But what a letdown...

Where was the Slayer when this book was made?
I had looked forward to the third installment of the series Watcher's Guides for quite sometime and when it came out I ordered it right away...BIG MISTAKE!

Quite on the contrary to the first 2 Watcher's Guide Volumes, this book has NO CHARACTER GUIDE or Bio Guide, my 2 favorite parts! The "Restless" episode teleplay is interesting but, i would have given that up in a second for the character giude.

The Episode Guide is done well but I expect a well done episode guide, that's why i'm buying this book. I could easily live without the essays wich are basically there to take up room, and speaking of room, the Watcher's Guide Volume 2 (containing two seasons) is thicker than The Watcher's Guide Volume 3 (containing THREE SEASONS! ~what's up with that?)

A big let-down for all Buffy Fans and the end of the series. I just hope that the new Angel Casefiles will be better, which is sadly also going to be done by Paul Ruditis who I am ashamed of.

Very Poor
I strongly recommend that you buy Keith Topping's unofficial guide instead of this. "Slayer: The Last Days of Sunnydale" is much more accurate because Mr. Topping bases his opinions on interviews from Joss Whedon and other writers of the show.

"The Watcher's Guide" is just the opinion of the author and is completely inconsistent with what Joss Whedon has stated in multiple interviews.

The sloppiness of this book is shocking.

More of the same for the final Watcher's Guide but also less
First, for those who were wondering, this is the third and final volume in "The Watcher's Guide," the official companion to the late and lamented television cult show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Whereas the first two volumes dealt with a pair of seasons of the series, Volume 3 covers the final three seasons of "BtVS." Again you will find each episode covered in terms of writer(s) and director, complete cast list of guest stars and co-stars, Plot Summary, Quote of the Week, Love in Vein (keeping track of the complicated and often disastrous love lives of the Scooby gang), Pop-Culture IQ (explaining the popular pop-culture references embedded in the episode), Continuity (covering the twists and turns in the Buffyverse), Dramatis Personae (tracking the key personality traits in the main characters), and From the Original Teleplay (dialogue and humorous stage directions cut from the episode). At the start of each season there are a page of freeze frames from all twenty-two episodes; a list of episode numbers, names and original U.S. airdates, and the stars listed in the opening credits. In between seasons six and seven you will find a section devoted to the "Pop Culture Explosion" in season six when the Trio worked in all those references to movies, television, comic books, "Star Wars," "Star Trek," and anything else that came into their warped little minds.

However, fans of the first two volumes of "The Watcher's Guide" are probably going to be disappointed by what else is in this volume. In comparison to what we have seen before, the information about "BtVS" is considerably less. There are neither character guides nor cast profiles, or sections by the writers or crew (and the spine is blue rather than black, as long as we are talking about differences). The rest is that by the standard established by the previous volumes of "The Watcher's Guide" this third one will suffer in comparison and long time fans are going to be disappointed. However, that does not stop "The Watcher's Guide, Volume 3" from being a necessary part of our "BtVS" library.

Volume 3 is put together by Paul Ruditis, who previously put together a "Star Trek: Voyager Companion" and has written novels for the television shows "Enterprise," "Charmed," and "Sabrina." Ruditis does the duty alone, which may explain why the second half of the book comes off in a new direction. The second half of the book consists of a series of essays devoted to the series as whole and not just on the final trio of seasons: Ginger Buchanan's "The Journey of Joanathan Levenson: From Scenery to Sacrifice" covers the interesting transformation of a recurring minor character into a "Superstar" and much more. Hank Wagner's The Family Hour" talks about how he shared watching "BtVS" with his children and finds deep thoughts in the series with regards to parenting.

Rob Francis' "London Calling: 'Buffy' from a British Perspective" explains the show's popularity in the U.K. despite having some American actors playing some of the Brits. Maryelizabeth Hart, who helped out on Volume 2, contributes "Slaying the Big Lies: Love Conquers All and Other Monstrous Myths," which looks at how love never seems to work out in the Buffyverse. Allie Costa's "A Part of Something: Or, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer': My First Long-Term Relationship," is a fan's recollection of being a fan. Scott and Denise Ciencin, "I Know You Are, But Who Am I?" provides an analysis of how Dawn fit into the show over this period. In "Why I Like 'Buffy'" Charles de Lint provides a justification for liking a show with such a weird title, which is certainly something those of us in academia can relate to in terms of trying to foist the show off on students and colleagues. James Moore's "Monsters Made to Order" briefly looks at the similar themes behind key monsters in the show's history.

The chief attraction in the back of the book is "'Restless': A Path to Premonitions," which has Joss Whedon's teleplay for the finale episode of the fourth season with commentary by Ruditis focusing on how Whedon set the stage for some key developments in what followed. For those of us who have figured out most of the connections, Ruditis does a nice job of filling in the gaps in our deconstruction of the episode. The final offering is Micol Ostow's "'Chosen': A Postmodern Postmortem of 'Buffy' as Contemporary Icon" looks at how well Whedon fulfilled his purpose of establishing a pop culture icon by flipping the horror movie standard of the blonde girl being slain by the monster in the dark alley.

Given all the academic collections being published about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" these essays are relatively light reading. Buchanan's essay connects all the dots with regards to Jonathan as do the Ciencins with Dawn, and Francis uses interviews with cast members to provide more of what we expect to find in the back of a "Watcher's Guide." So overall the essays occupy a sort of dead zone in between the musings of doctors of philosophy that are out there and the behind the scenes information we were used to in the previous pair of volumes. Again, the only complain here is that there is less here than what we expected. This is probably our payback for suggesting maybe there was too much in Volume 2. That would teach us except that the series and these guides are obviously both over.

Poorly done
The first hint that this was not a well conceived book is that it's shorter than the Watcher's Guides 1 and 2, which each deal with only two seasons. Considering this current books is suppose to cover the last three years of the show, which contained some of the most controversial and dark plotlines, you'd expect a much thicker book.

The essays are lackluster, the episode commentary sparse and the picture selection disappointing.

This manual might be called the "official" guide but there is no input from Joss or the other writers.

I'd recommend Keith Toppings new book about the series. Much more indepth and interesting. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For kids who can't get enough of television's Blue'sClues, this storybook with 63 stickers should help tide them over until the next episode. In this colorful paperback, the irrepressible Blue is off tothe farm with her earnest pal Steve, who asks readers to help identifyanimal tracks, figure out what kinds of animals belong on the farm, and decipher what Blue's favorite animal is by the clues left throughoutthe book. The illustrations consist of color-drenched, Teletubbies-style panoramas, superimposed withAstroturf, paper cutouts, clay figures,and what appears to be lettuce. The text is straight out of a scriptdesigned to get kids excited about sleuthing: "I was wondering," Steve asks, eyebrows skyward, "do you know what all these animals like to eat? Youdo? Will you get the animals their lunch? Great!" Your kids will hardlynotice this isn't TV! (Ages 3 to 6) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Challenging and fun
My three year old nephew just got this book and loves it. He examines each page carefully and shouts "a clue! a clue!" whenever he sees the trademark blue paw print. He also informed me that he likes "that guy" meaning Steve, the genial young TV host. A cute book with lots of colorful stickers.

Fun Fun Fun
Our daughter spends many hours reading and re-reading this book and interacting with Blue. It comes out for reading especially when Blue's on tv and she points at the book and tv and has really developed her learning and memory retention and recollection. The whole Blue's videos and books are a must and in association with parental teaching your child will improve greatly. Where was Blue many years ago for our other children. One of the best learning shows around. Our daughter is two years old and now has a great imagination and play skills, which, thanks to Blue and Steve, is improving each and everyday of Blues Clues. Buy this book, plenty of fun for your kids.

My son was intranced. It was a great book.
My son just loves Blues Clues. He has learned all the farm sounds from this book. I highly recommend it. My son is 2.

my 4 year old's favorite book
This is my daughter's favorite book. It comes with 2 pages of stickers which go into the book. We had to work together to put the stickers in place and it was like doing a puzzle. Now it is HER book and she has changed around some of the stickers to make it even more hers.

It was a fun way to learn about the animals on a farm.
It is one of the most fun ways for preschoolers to learn about both kinds of animals on a farm. Steve makes learning fun and exciting.The interaction of reality and make-believe is really refreshing. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Steve. ... Read more

Book Description

The subtle invasion is over. Hoards of Yeerk reinforcements are landing on Earth every day, and Visser One is constructing an enormous new Yeerk pool by blasting giant holes in the ground‹obliterating whatever gets in the way. The Animorphs¹ plan to enlist the help of the U.S. military has failed. Now, Jake and the others find themselves trapped in what will soon be the new Yeerk pool. There is no way out . . . unless help comes from the most unexpected form. The Taxxons. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The end is near......
The battle for Earth is now open war. The Yeerks are blowing up everything in site. The public knows the truth of the horrific alien invasion - but it may be too late from anyone to stop it. A new Yeerk pool is being built in the ruins of the devastated city. Jake comes up with a plan to capture the Yeerk pool ship, but it's a dangerous plan - one that will almost surely have a high cost in lives. What the Animorphs don't expect is an offer to form an alliance - an offer that comes from the Taxxons. The Taxxons are desperate to escape their never-ending hunger. They will help the Animorphs, in exchange for the morphing power. Meanwhile, the Yeerk whose host is Jake's brother Tom is planning to betray Visser One - and offers the Animorphs a deal of his own. But can the cannibalistic Taxxons and a Yeerk be trusted? Only one book remains in the Animorphs series, and this was one of the best yet. Written by K. A. Applegate herself, instead of a ghost writer, the story moves at a fast pace. The cliffhanger ending will leave you eager to read the final book in the series.

A rollercoaster ride
I wouldn't call 'The Answer' one of the very best books in the Animorphs series, as it is only at its best the first time you read it. After that, some of the suspense is lowered. But it really blows you away. This is one of the few books I have not been able to put down. Jake's character changes completely, but it is a change that is needed to win the war against the Yeerks. One of my favourite parts in this book was when Jake talks to the Taxxons. I was really glad to see the return of Arbron, as he seemed to have been forgotten after The Andalite Chronicles. You must at least read the others in the ten part mini-series before you read this, but once you do it's a brilliant run-up, along with The Sacrifice, to the conclusion of this series. (The ending of this book is infuriating! I just wanted to grab The Beginning right away!) The end is near....

The Answer
You guys are all smoking something. this book rocked! it was sad to read about the visser killing off james and the others, but jake had to do what was necessary to win. if james and the others hadnt sacrificed themselves then they all wouldve died anyway when the yeerks won the war. anyway, i think The Answer was a very good book. jake allying with Arbron and the other taxxons was a surprise, but a good one. it was awesome to read how jake's plan took effect. highly recommended.

Chris mccoy s awesome book review
The book I read was called ANIMORPHS. It was a good book you should read it. The charectors are awesome they change into animals. But thats not always like that way they. wear changed intoANIMORPHS and they fight thease bugs and trie to save the earth.

Jake ruthless?
I haven't read the book yet becuase I basically stop reading around 40 or something. So what's up with this James and his animorphs stuff? I think I might try to catch up and read all the books and the last one. If someone could catch me up on some of the series I missed that would be great. By the way what happend to that animorphs T.V. show? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

It's funny and cute
My boys love the pictures ~~ and I enjoyed reading the story about Arthur's first sleepovers and his little sister's concern about aliens. After a trick goes bad, Arthur returns the favor to his little sister. And it's just cute.

It's a great book for beginners. If you're a mom of toddlers, this book is just cute to read ~~ it's not repetitive nor boring. It's a fun book.

1-12-04

arthurs first sleepover
i found this book to be very enjoyable my six year old loves it. it s creative, funny and veryattention grabbing. we enjoy this story usually several times a week.

a really great book
Original Reviewer : Tommy Bruzina I liked it because it was funny, because DW played a trick on the boys, then the boys made a trick of their own to scare DW. Arthur had a fun time on his sleepover. ... Read more

Book Description

This story includes your child's favorite characters, colorful pictures, and seven sound buttons. Character voice and story sounds make this already exciting story even more fun to read. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My friend moved away
This is a very touching book. It shows emotions of what happens when a close friend moves away. Frankin takes it out on everybody. But in the end his father figures out that it was Otter's moving that upset Franklin. His father told him how they can still stay in contact with each other. Franklin sent Otter a puzzle that he made.

Another lesson by Franklin
Franklin, our favorite little turtle, struggles through the day after his good friend Otter moves away. Everything seems to go wrong until he finally has a relieving talk with dad and realizes that he hasn't really lost his buddy, but that their relationship simlpy has to take on a new dimension. This is yet another greatly illustrated, wonderful book in the Franklin series, which helps teach life's lessons and morals to our young ones. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ms. Frizzle, science teacher extraordinaire (in the tremendously popularMagic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen),parachutes into social studies in the first of the new series from the samecreative pair. On the first day of school vacation, the inimitable, redheadedMs. Frizzle joins a tour group bound for Egypt. When the plane trip gets toomonotonous, Ms. Frizzle invites the group to jump ship with her. Somehow, tourguide Herb ends up in contemporary Cairo, while everyone else lands in ancientEgypt! Here's where Ms. Frizzle's teaching skills come in handy. By the end ofthe vacation, members of the tour group--and readers--have learned more aboutmummies, pyramids, Re the sun god, and ancient Egyptian's teeth than they everimagined.

With their familiar blend of information sharing and humor, Cole and Degenpresent what might in any other format be an overwhelming amount of informationin a lively, entertaining, easy-to-absorb style. Full-color cartoon-style textand illustrations allow readers to explore Egypt even as Ms. Frizzle and herinadvertent students do the same. Witty asides take the shape of travel diaries,postcards home, and messages on Herb's megaphone ("I'm the tour guide!","Help! I lost my tour group!"). Ms. Frizzle's sly pretended ignorance at timesalso makes for high hilarity. "I can't imagine how that happened. Can you?" shesays, after the airplane door somehow swings open. If only all education wasthis much fun! (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Book!!!!!
This book is great! I got this book when I was 4 3/4 and I am now 13 1/2 years old and it's still wonderful!!! It shows wonderful examples of hieroglyphs and demotic writing!!! It shows you detailed pictures of an Egyptian market, scribes house, and tells you how mummys were made!!! After reading I ( to my mom's extreme annoyance) turned our basement in to an Egyptian town, and you can imangine what I went as that Halloween!!

Mostly good!
My daughter loves this book. The information is packed tightly into the book, much as in the Magic School bus books. The one major problem that really upsets my daughter is that in one picture the Sphinx does not have a beard. Really, this upsets her a great deal. There is a scene when Ms Frizzle opens an airplane door and jumps out, which I do feel is not good to put in a kids book. It gives them ideas, in my opinion.

Other than that, the book has good information in it.

My 2nd graders love this book!
Doing a unit on Ancient Egypt this Summer, and was THRILLED to see this book at the library. I wish they had made a video too! My kids love it. Ms. Frizzle is her usual self sans the class. She's taking a vacation in Egypt during Summer break but just can't let go of being a teacher. She jumps out of the plane on the way there and the other passengers become her students. They go back in time thanks to Ms. Frizz's Time Travel Watch. Great illustrations, captions. Very historically faithful and fun.

a funny and informative book for children
This new adventure with the loving teacher Ms. Frizzle will enchant kids of all ages. Splendidly illustrated with accurate details, this book is a delight to read: funny, informative, colorful, clear and comprehensive. An excellent, highly recommended book for children ages 8 to 12.

Ms. Frizzle and Ancient Egypt... What Could be Better?
My children absolutely love the Magic School Bus Adventures. Now, combining Ms. Frizzle with one of their favorite times in history is a magical success! My children learned about Ancient Egypt in the exciting, fun and descriptive way only Ms. Frizzle could portray. I'm so glad Ms. Frizzle "took chances and got messy" with social studies! Hooray! ... Read more

Book Description

KNOCKIN' ON EVIL'S DOOR

Werewolves. Trolls. Sea Monsters. Rain of toads. Skyquakes. Sunnydale is being besieged by dark forces. But even with Buffy providing her unique style of damage control while Giles is hospitalized out of town, it's more than one Slayer can handle -- especially since the abominations are coming from a centuries-old portal through time and space.

Somehow, the hell-hole must be found and corked at its source. For Buffy, Angel, and the rest of her gang, that means a road trip to Boston where an ailing Gatekeeper resides over a supernatural mansion that has been, until recently, holding the world's worst monsters at bay. Once there, Buffy discovers the catastrophic truth: the magical structurehouses thousands of rooms, all of which are doorways to limbo's "ghost roads," and all of which may bring her face-to-face with the most nefarious forces in hell and on earth -- forces bent on horrific plans far worse than the Slayer ever imagined. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Best Book I've Read In Ages
Being a big fan of Buffy, when I heard about this book I decided it it was a must have. I was proved right. Golden and Holder have written a book that combines all the esentials of Buffy, monsters, love, despair to name but a few. I love this book because it not only provides a good plot, but also lets us see how the characters have developed. These books are all based after the second or third series. If you live outside the UK then you'll know that Buffy's mum has already found out she's the Slayer. This carries on from there. There are some new faces in these books, but as they go on a few familiar faces appear.

These books are so gripping, that you never want to put them down. I've just finished the second one Ghost Roads and I have to say it's better than the first. It continues to tell the story and also brings the characters together more than they have ever been. I can't wait to buy the third and find out if the Gatekeeper's son ever reaches Boston.

A true Buffy epic
Chris Golden and Nancy Holder prove themselves once again to be true Buffy fans with this novel. While they can't advance the characters further than what we've seen on TV, they explore their thoughts and personalities in detail and with a depth not usually found in licensed fiction. This is a well-written full-fledged horror/adventure novel that just happens to feature characters who originated on TV instead of on the page. Freed from bugetary restraints, the authors craft a continent- (and in later books, apparently globe-) spanning adventure with a cast of hundreds, and monsters that would push the show's resources to the limits. Buffy fans should love this story. Can't wait to read the second part!

punch! kick! punch!
One of the things I love most about Buffy as a whole, is character development. This book was so busy with endless action sequences, that the character's personalities were largely ignored.

When the book stops for emotional moments it's hard to care, because the character's have all become cardboard cut-out's of themselves.

I'll go ahead & read the next one- I'm hoping that Golden & Holder will let up a bit on the constant barrage of battle- it gets tedious after awhile.

Proceed with caution.

1st Book is a tad confusing and slow
Like I said above, the first book is slow and confusing. However near the end of the book things really REALLY picked up, and I finished it and the other 2 in less than a week and a half!! The series rocks!! Guess what happens to Xander?? ;)

The Best...
Really. The Gatekeeper Trilogy books are the best Buffy novels to date. The characterization is dead-on accurate, the writing perfect and descriptive. Well worth reading. ... Read more

Book Description

Listen to your body when it's time to use the potty! When Tutter, Ojo, and Treelo have questions about going to the bathroom, Bear provides the reassuring answers and guidance that they -- and readers -- need to hear. Pip and Pop also have a great idea that will delight Bear fans who are just starting to use the potty! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A solid, but not excellent, choice
Our son is just beginning the process of toilet training. This book brings forward familiar characters. The pictures are colorful,the word choice is good and the story is good for youngsters. It gets a bit long, but my son stays with it.

I always prefer books that are board pages and not paper so we can let him have the book for his own parousal without supervision. I see this as the only drawback on what is becoming a favorite for my son.

Great for older toddlers!
If, like me, you have an older toddler, who understands the concept of using the potty, but isn't fully trained yet, this is a GREAT book! My 3 yr old daughter just loves the idea of becoming a Toileteer. We read this book every day. So far, no other book has motivated her the way this one has. However, if you are just starting potty learning, you might want to get another book to go with this one, a book that would explain more about how to use the potty. I don't think this would be an effective book for a child who had no clue what the potty was. But for a child who has the basic idea down, and just needs a little reassurance, this is an awesome book. My favorite part is the end, where Luna reassures kids that they can still be kids, and Mommy and Daddy will still take care of them, even when they use the potty.

Great Introduction to Potty Concepts
If your child enjoys books a little on the longer side, than this one might be for him/her. The story is nearly identical to the "Potty Time" video, if you have seen it. The only difference I noticed is that it also includes a brief discussion by Bear to Treelo about where it all goes (through the plumbing).
The story also includes the idea that accidents do happen sometimes (as they do with Ojo in the story), as well as what to say when you're not at home and you have to use the bathroom, and remembering to flush (along with the other processes of using the potty). Included is a special "toileteer" sticker with Pip and Pop on it.
My (just-turned) 2 year old has just begun the potty training process, and she asks me repeatedly to read this book to her while she is sitting on the potty.

reassurance rather than training
This is not a terribly effective book for training a youngster to use the toilet, but it is very reassuring and answers questions about the process. While I think it is too wordy for little ones, I like that handwashing and flushing are mentioned several times and the picture of the pipes taking the pee and poop away is interesting. Tutter, Ojo and Treelo all use the big toilet, and Pip and Pop induct them into the Toileteers. (A Toileteer sticker is included with the book.) In conclusion, Bear and Luna discuss how growing up doesn't mean you won't be cared for and loved.

Not the best book for teaching -- for that use Sears' excellent 'You Can Go to the Potty' -- but a gentle reassuring book for kids who might be a little skeptical about the whole process. Good luck, Toileteer parents!!

Great toilet-training book for parents and kids
You or your child(ren) do not have to be fans of "Bear in the Big Blue House" to use and appreciate this very helpful book. (I'm lucky that it's my 2½ year-old's favorite show). The pictures and words are uncomplicated and easy for children to understand, and I like that when covering the basic bodily functions, they used the words "poop" and "pee" rather than cutesy names. It's not really gender-specific, since it doesn't cover or show genitalia/ differences between boys and girls, but it handles everything else in a fun and educational manner. Parents may also like how it emphasizes wiping and hand washing after using the toilet, and it shows (with a clever illustration) where poop and pee go when flushed away. There's even a Toileteers Club that the characters form at the end, and the book comes with a Toileteer sticker as a bonus. There are plenty of reassurances along the way: that accidents happen, and that's normal and OK; that it's alright to leave what you're doing to go to the potty, and your things will still be there when you come back; and that giving up diapers does not mean that the other great things about being a kid--like cuddles and hugs and love from mommy and daddy--go away. The episode this is based on is also available on video, and is equally good. Very highly recommended, along with "Once Upon a Potty" (separate books and videos for girls and boys) and "The Potty Book," also separate for boys and girls. ... Read more

Book Description

Blue, Steve, and all their friends are making treats for a special snack party, and there is a lot to do! Preschoolers can help count ingrediens, follow recipes, and play a delicious round of Blue's Clues. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

lift-the-flap and recipes make a winning combination
Blue is having a snack party. All her friends are bringing snacks. We discover what each is by lifting flaps that show the ingredients and recipe with the finished dish underneath. These are healthy snacks made by Steve, Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper, Mailbox, Tickety Tock, Shovel & Pail, and Magenta. In the meantime we help Steve solve Blue's Clues to discover what snack Blue will bring. A final picture of everyone with their snacks suggests the upcoming party will be festive indeed.

A nice addition to the Blue's books. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Arthur's Teacher Trouble
Marc Brown creates the Arthur adventure, Arthur's Teacher Trouble with a moral in mind. Also it proves that if you work hard and give it your all, you'll be more successful. The book is told for children to understand that a little hard work gets you somewhere. With no effort at all, you won't come out with your best.

Arthur gets stuck with a hard teacher. The teacher starts out tough on the students, assigning homework right away. Arthur isn't very confident in himself and isn't used to the work and extra effort that he has to give to 3rd grade. With all of his hard work he actually gets awarded with something even better...and by reading this book you'll be sure to find out!

Arthur is my favorite character in this particular Arthur book. He isn't very confident in himself, but we all relate to that. And in the end we sometimes get surprised by unexpected turns.

Neat!
This game is great for young computer-users! Each page has at least 15 "interactions" -- i.e. clicking on the salt shakers in the kitchen makes them dance. The story can read itself to you are you can read it silently. Even clicking on one word makes the computer say it. Great for children just learning to read. However, using it TOO many times can get tiring...after all, it is just a computerized book. Great value for the money!

I learned from Arthur's Teacher Trouble.
I learned to do my best, but that if my best isn't better than everyone else's best, it is okay. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Maisy Gets Ready for Bed
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

This is great to read at bedtime, esspecially if you can convince your child to pretend they are Maisy going to sleep. Maisy's preparing for bed and her preparations include a trip to the potty. The first time you see that page, it's actually kind of funny. This is one of my daughters' favorite Maisy books.

Kat's Kind Review
The children's book Maisy's Bedtime by Lucy Collins was not a very interesting book. I think the only reason that it was not very interesting to me was because I am an older child and the book was angled towards younger children. The book basically tells how Maisy gets ready for bed. It tells every single step that she takes in order to get to bed. For instance she has to close her bedroom curtains, then she had to put on her pajamas, brush her teeth, use the bathroom etc; I would only recommend this book to children that are the ages 2 to 6.

Maisy to the rescue - bedtime ritual
If you have a reluctant toddler, Lucy Cousins' Maisy can help reinforce bedtime rituals and good habits. Maisy washes up, uses the potty and puts on pajamas. She even reads in bed - just like Mommy and Daddy read their child. Bright, clear pictures and soothing text make this our daughter's favorite go-to-sleep book.

My infant son loves them!!
I've been reading to my son since he was first born, and he is now 5 1/2 months old. Out of all the books I've bought for him, he by far loves his Maisy books!! His eyes light up at the pictures, and he starts babbling (talking) to the book! My husband and I love reading them to him because the stories are so cute and easy to read. Thank god for Amazon because I haven't been able to find all of the books anywhere else. This book in particular is a life saver, because at night he often gets a little fussy and I read this to him before bedtime--it helps to calm him down!

Maisy RULES!
These books are FANTASTIC! My two and a half yr old has been enjoying this series since DAY ONE! No matter what maisy book, she loves it. This one is all about getting ready for bed, brushing teeth, using the potty and a special little teddy bear. These books rule. We've even bought them in italian versions because they are so appealing. The illustrations are perfectly suited to toddlers, bright, simple and cheerful!(I Love Them TOO! ) You can't go wrong with maisy! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Maisy Demonstrates Her Driving Talents Again
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

This is a lift the flap book, always a winner with the preschool set who love to keep lifting those flaps again and again to see what is underneath. Maisy is demonstrating her varied talents as she drives planes, trains, and automobiles (among other machines). My two-year old loves this book. Highly recommended for ages two-to-four, as are nearly any Maisy book. ... Read more