Reviews (5)

My Hank Review
This is one of my favriote books it is funny and exciting. It takes the perspective of a cowdog on a ranch in east texas. That thinks he is head of ranch security and goes through a lot of hillarius storys.

Kayla Pryor's review on The Wounded Buzzard on Christmas Eve
In this book a buzzard gets hurt, and he gets taken care of.Well,one day Slim,Little Alfred, Drover(the dog),and Hank(the dog)was driving to town to get Christmas presents,and a buzzard named Wallace flew into the wind shield.He got hurt pretty bad,and Little Alfred begged Slim to take him home and take care of him.Slim took him home after he went shopping,and cured him.Then Wallace flew away with his son happily ever after.

The best book ever!
Its about a dog who gets into a lot of adventures and mysteries and always solves them. It is a good book and is really funny.

Great western humor for all ages
This is a book that will truly make you cry with laughter. Who ever knew that buzzards could be portrayed so humorously. Besides, you not only get the misadventures of Jr. but also his father.Throw a bachelor cowboy and two children in the mix and look out. Erikson is a master of midwestern cowboy culture and style. I live just next to Texas and people really do act and talk that way down there. This is not a farce but real. The people are also warm, kind hearted, and well intentioned as well as being, occassionally, misguided as we all are. Give this book a try. You will be glad you did.

Heart-warming; one of the best of the Hank tapes.
Slim, Little Alfred, Hank and Drover are headed to town for Slim's last-minute Christmas shopping, and who but Wallace the Buzzard flies into the truck windshield. Wounded and out of his mind, Wallace won't make it through the night without a little help from his friends. Fortunately, Slim is a soft touch, so he agrees to nurse Wallace back to health. After putting Wallace in an empty feed bag, they all continue on their way to the mighty metropolis of Twitchell, Texas. While Slim does his Christmas shopping for Sally May and Miss Viola, Little Alfred discovers why you should never, ever let the bird out of the bag! This tape includes two of my all-time favorite songs: "My Daddy Had a Wreck Today" and "A Pox, A Pox on Emily Post!". This is a heart-warming tale, performed to perfection by the author, that you won't want to miss ... Read more

Book Description

From farm animals to the colors you'll find around the farm, this book is packed with cows, horses, tractors, and so much more.

DK proudly reintroduces 10 favorite board books from the beloved My First series, all with beautifully redesigned covers for a fresh new look. Filled with full-color photographs and large, easy-to-read text, My First Board Books provide children with an excellent platform for early learning. A variety of first concepts, such as colors, numbers, letters, and more are introduced in a fun, informative way to help children build the vocabulary and basic language skills that form the foundation of learning. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Bilingual choice for active boy
Trying to bring up our children with english and german, this book offers a great opportunity to read, as the pictures are obvious and beautifully photographed, and I can translate quickly, without the need of a dictionary. My boy doesn't sit still for long, so single images are great, he can concentrate for as long as possible, without a story being interupted, if he's patient I can make a story around an item, if not we just move from image to image. I love the series, and we have the other titles as well.

Good
I probably have about 6 books in the "My First" series and found this is yet another good book in this series. I like the way that the "My First" books categorize things (noisy animals, farm colors, etc.) and this one is well done. They are all essentially picture dictionaries and a bit boring for parents but our kids love looking at them.

Fantastic!
This series of board books are fantastic.

I started collecting these for my daughter after she was given one at 6 months and this is what we started to read to her every night. She woud sit and demand it to be read over and over and over again. The board pages and are easy for baby and toddler to turn and the pictures (real photography not illustrations) are wonderful.

The farm one has lots of animals, fruit and vegetables and reading them over and over my toddler can now read and say the names of each thing herself while pointing to them. She recognises things she sees on her dinner plate and goes and gets the book to compare.

If your looking for a great picture book to share with your baby this is the one (and the series of books) to buy. You can never have too many books to read with your children.

reading in louisiana
I bought this book for my 14 month old little boy. He loves it - he carries it around the house. Of course, he can't read it yet, but he loves to point at the different, beautifully pictured animals in the book and listen to me say their names. He can even point to some of them after I say their names now! I love this book - great for toddlers. Easy to read, durable!

My first farm board book
We like the board book for several reasons. The bright colors and the shape of the animal characters. The board pages are great because they stand upright and are durable. The babies love the stimulation. It's a good way to encourage the development of colors and shapes while they are here in our Intensivecare Nursery. One of our baby who is on a ventilator for a long time loves to look at Zebra until he goes back to sleep. Thank you for letting me write this review. Books are great for

everyone. And we are very fortunate that the colorful books are available for sick infants as well. NICU RN ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Well Written Kids' Story
Mermaids Don't Run Track is a good book for 3-5th graders. The characters are action oriented from the first page, and immediately face two interesting mysteries concerning the camp director and the track coach. The Bailey School kids suspect one is a werewolf and the other a mermaid. The art work is also very good and adds detail and interest to the story. The book is approximately 7,000 words long.

A similar book for the same age group which I would recommend is "Abby and the bicycle caper."

Liked how Eddie was always trying to be the big shot.
My name is Leigh. I liked that Eddie tried to be always a smart aleck. And how he said that he would prove that Mrs. Waterford wasn't a mermaid. And whenever they got in the lake, Eddie would try to splash her. And I liked when Eddie pulled Liza in the water. ... Read more

Book Description

Bold bright graphics, a simple clean design, engaging rhyming text that appeals to young kids, and big pop-ups on each spread; this is the appeal of the Snappy series. A day on the farm has never been quite so much fun -- or quite so noisy -- thanks to this mooing, baaing, neighing menagerie of pop-up surprises. And what better way to learn than with this happy, snappy pop-up! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Pop Up Heaven!
This is a favorite of my 15 month old. He has had this book since he was about 6 months old and has enjoyed it since the start. All the Snappy books are fantastic and we have most of them. Snappy Farm Animals is colorful and simple to read. Babies love the colors and the animals. The farm starts out nosiy and slowly calms down as the animals go to sleep and the farmer waves goodbye.

Outstanding Pop-Up Book
I bought this for my little niece, and it is much beloved. It is an amazingly well-designed pop-up book, with vivid, humorous images and pop-up features that work well and stand up to repeated (and repeated and repeated) readings. Highly recommended.

Good for young childres
I am buying the 2nd copy of this book for my 2 year old grandson. It is one of his favorite books but due to his age and the fact he looks at this book a lot, it has some torn pop-ups. The pictures and pop-ups are large and colorful and are a good learning tool for a young child because there is not so much on a page that it overwhelms them. I highly recommend this book.

Favorite in "Snappy" series
We have most of the SNAPPY books but this is one of our favorites. My 2 year old son absolutely loves all of these books. I would highly recommend the whole set.

You must have this book!
We received this book as a gift and it has become THE BOOK to be read often and daily to my daughter. She has learned what all the animals say and at 18 months pages through the book, making the sounds all on her own. The book is very sturdy so despite the test my daughter is giving it most of the pop-ups are still intact. I plan on purchasing all the other books in this series. ... Read more

Book Description

Winter is coming to Tennessee and there's no money to buy a new coat, so a little girl's mama sews one for her out of rags. The little girl wears it to school proudly, and when the other children laugh, she gives them a quick lesson about what it means to be rich. Judith Sutton's beautiful paintings bring one of Dolly Parton's best-loved songs to life. "The heartfelt verses are imbued with the same genuine, infectiously likeable spirit Parton herself projects."'Publishers Weekly.

Reviews (10)

This is a true story that Folks should take to hart!
Dolly Parton wrote this wonderful children's book from a wonderful hit song that she had in the 70's. This book serves as an emotional booster for anyone who reads it! I hope that you will buy a copy for both your child and self!

Coat of Many Colors is an A+
This story based on Dolly's famous song, Coat of Many Colors, brings back great memories of the times I've spent in the mountains, and memories of my own mother. I sing the story to my son and he just loves it. Thanks Dolly, for the heart tugging song and book.

"One is only poor, only if they choose to be"
I'm happy to see so many teachers using this in their class. It sets a great example of being gratefull for what you have. The way dolly showed how sentimental her coat was to her at such a young age was touching. I don't know any kids these days who want anything without a designer name on it seems like. Let that be a lesson to ya. *smiles*

From a teacher's perspective
This book is truly one of my most treasured books! I use this book with my first grade students each year at Christmas time. It gives the kids a whole new meaning of what the spirit of the holidays is really about. It's not what you get from someone, but how you feel when you have done something special for someone else! We write what we are thankful for instead of letters to Santa. It's a must have to anyone's collection!

Fan of this book, if not country music
I do *not* like country music, so was surprised to find this book beautifully poignant and touching. Most of the children I know actually have too much stuff --clothes, toys, etc. -- so I think it is important for them to hear and read this story. Children from any background -- affluent or poor -- need to know that it isn't what they own that is important, but how they feel about themselves inside, and how much they are loved. This book shows a family that is strong, loving, and good, despite the hardships of poverty. The illustrations are wonderful and eye-catching for children. I can't say enough good things about this book. ... Read more

Book Description

After Nathaniel's leg is crushed in an accident, his father brings home an orphan boy, John Worth, to help work the fields. Worth has come to Nebraska from New York City on the Orphan Train, which brings homeless children west to find new lives.

Nathaniel feels increasingly jealous of the boy who has taken over not only his work but the attention of his father, who has barely spoken to him since his injury. In school for the first time he is far behind even his youngest classmates, and he feels as useless there as he does at home.

Meanwhile, Worth is still grieving for his family and his old life. As the farm chores prevent him from going to school, he also resents losing his dream of an education and a good job. And for all the work he does, he knows he will never inherit the farm that he's helping to save.

But a battle between ranchers and farmers -- and a book of Greek mythology that Nathaniel reads aloud each evening -- forges a connection between the two boys, who begin to discover that maybe there is enough room on the farm, and in the family, for both of them.

A. LaFaye's dynamic portrayal of two boys longing for something they no longer have -- and finding the resources to face the future -- offers a fresh perspective on the thousands of children who moved west via the Orphan Trains in the late nineteenth century. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Well Worth the Read
This book is definitely one of those books that really make a person wonder about their own worth. This is a book about family, friendship and honor. Nate and John Worth are two boys struggling with their own problems, and finding problems with each other as well. The events that mold them and cause them to discover their own inner worth are not only realistic but exciting. This book is well worth the read.

A boy's worth
This is one of those books that will stick with you long after you've closed the cover. It's bad enough that Nate breaks a leg in an accident on the farm - lightning strikes and spooks the horse pulling the wagon he's on, causing him to fall under a wheel and leaves him unable to help fulfill his duty to the family and he's told he may never walk normally again - but when his father brings home an Orphan Train boy named John Worth to take his place, Nate feels like a complete burden. Worse than useless. Worthless. He ostracizes John, punishing the boy for his own inadequacy, but John is suffering, too, and is still grieving the loss of his own family. Nate's parents are grieving the loss of their little girl, too. When events in the community create a crisis pitting farmer against rancher, the boys are forced to call a truce and forge an alliance to stop the hostilities that threaten their very livelihood, but will they ever be friends? If this one doesn't show up on the Newbery short list, I'll be really surprised.

(...) ... Read more

Book Description

In this inventive take on the traditional Cinderella tale, Fanny Agnes is a sturdy farm girl with a big dream. Someday, she believes, she will marry a prince. When the town mayor announces he is throwing a grand ball, Fanny is convinced her time has come. She puts on her best calico dress and goes out to the garden so that she'll be ready when her fairy godmother arrives. As the seconds tick by, Fanny waits and waits. Finally, she hears a voice. It isn't her fairy godmother-but it is someone who will change her life forever.

Illustrated by Mark Buehner. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

a Realistic fairy tale!!!
My girls and I fell in love with this book! Beautiful illustration's and story. Teaches what is truely important ingredients to a happy life!!!

Another Heber and Fanny
It's amazing how there can be so much impact on one's emotions from a simple children's book! When you and your wife put yourselves in the places of Heber and Fanny and start to look at the simple tasks that need to be completed to make a happy home and the satisfaction that comes from having a trusting mate, your partner for life with you no matter what your occupation or appearance, you will start to experience real love and happiness. My wife and I both had happy tears after reading this with our youngsters because the story shows that there is a Heber and Fanny in every couple that is aching to scream "I love you no matter what!" Read this book. Shed the plasticity of the world and learn from the simple example of true love that is portrayed in this wonderful story. We're going to be giving copies as anniversary gifts to our friends!

A Cinderella with her head on straight
Every parent should encourage her children to read this book! Fanny is a role-model for all young girls. She puts true love and moral convictions over wealth and stature. It's a touching testament to strength of character!

Good, Good
Fanny Anges lives in Wyoming. Though it's kinda set up for like Kansas, Oklahoma......... yeah. I thought this would more likely be like Cinderella, though it wasn't. It was very well done though, but the cover just dosen't match the story. I mean she doesn't go anywhere or have a pretty dress. So remember these tips while reading.

From,
Sean a scenere reader

Wonderful. Beautiful.
We have tons and tons of books for our kids. This is my favorite -- or at least one of the top five. The clouds are so beautiful. The color/tint of the night -- to die for. And such a heart-warming, life-affirming story. This is one of those rare books that kids and their folks will love. ... Read more

Book Description

Seneca is the perfect horse, and when the young narrator meets him, she knows at once that he is the horse for her. Young readers will enjoy going along for the ride as she enjoys the privileges--and learns about the responsibilities--of having a horse of her very own. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for kids who have or would like a horse
The book's illustrations are pleasing on the eye. It is a perfect book for children who have a horse or would like a horse, and the hard work as well as the pleasures assiciated with them. My daughter loves it! ... Read more

Book Description

As he rides through cowboy country, an old buckaroo tells how he became a cowboy, what the work was like in the old days, what it's like now, and what a beginner needs to know. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a good book for children that fantisize about being a cowboy
This book tells what it means to be a cowboy these days, and how not that much has changed sence the open range days. It will give children the idea of what being a cowboy is really about and what it takes to be one. The story has a fun adventure to it that any child would love. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

a book about loyalty
This is a fun book for anyone who loves tractors. But it is more than that--it illustrates the bond of loyalty in a way children can relate to. Micah and his Grandpappy are approached by a tractor dealership owner about replacing Grandpappy's rusty, old tractor with one of his new, feature-loaded, electronic models. Grandpappy is not so sure about the new ones, said his faithful old tractor has served him well and he would wager on getting through this season with it. The tractor salesman is stubborn and makes Grandpappy a deal--what happens next isn't what you might think!

The Rusty, Trusty Tractor
Great book according to my 2 year old son! I have to agree with him but probably our reasons differ -- he loves the colorful, fun pictures of tractors, a small boy and his grandfather's farm. The story is not his main draw yet although it does keep him listening. I love the idea presented by the author that an old tractor has value and is maybe even worth more than a newer piece of farm equipment. It's one of those stories with a moral that doesn't scream "Important! Moral Ahead!"

The Rusty, Trusty Tractor
This book is a very nice book for keeping children aware of the fact that sometimes "old is best" and maybe more reliable in some cases. Also it teaches that you don't have to have everything new in life to be happy. The relationship between the boy and his grandfather is wonderful. My 5 year old grandson is well aware of these facts, and this book reinforced these feelings. Thank you for a well-written children's book.

"The Rusty, Trusty Tractor" by Joy Cowley
Humble thanks to Cowley for a heartwarming story of truth and purity in relationships. Standing ovation to Dunrea for the perfection in illustrations and attention to realistic detail. We live in farm country and our ranch is full of the tractors of which dwell within these pages. Everything about this book is awesome!

The Rusty, Trusty Tractor
Joy Cowley's new book has at its core a strong message about ties that bind and relationships that last a lifetime. Granpappy and grandson Micah are approached by Mr. Hill of Hill's Tractor Sales with a tempting offer to buy a shiny new tractor. But Granpappy has farmed using his rusty but trusty tractor, ever since his old plow horse died. There is no way the old tractor should last another season, and Mr. Hill even bets 20 jelly donuts (one for every acre Granpappy plants in hay) that it will break down before the end of the summer. It doesn't. Mr. Hill pays up, and in a humorous conclusion that ol' rusty tractor even rescues Mr. Hill when he's bogged down in mud. This book is a lovely story about valuing people and things for their true worth, not their looks. All children are tempted by the "new," especially when it's bright and shiny and offers all the bells and whistles. But just as Granpappy cares for Micah and for the land, he cares lovingly for his old but reliable tractor. When he burdens it with nearly impossible chores, he talks to it and coaxes it to perform. The language of the story is just as delightful as the message. It is perfect for read-alouds or storytime. The characters come to life with their dialogue ("Wang-a-dang, sir! You got more good luck than a hound dog in a butcher's shop!"). I recommend this book 100% for young readers and non-readers. The illustrations are lovely, with the old-fashioned farm warmly created in glowing tones. Joy Cowley has created another wonderful story! ... Read more

Book Description

In Boston Harbor a barge maneuvers a huge floating section of a steel tunnel into place, then sets it gently onto the harbor floor.High above the Charles River workers place ten lanes of roadway on what will be the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world.Boston will never look the same.Since 1991 Boston has been the scene of the largest public construction project in American history.The Central Artery/Tunnel Project-the "Big Dig"-is the solution to problems that for decades have caused major headaches for people driving in and out of this major American city.Peter Vanderwarker takes us behind the scenes of this complex, awe-inspiring project.Informative text accompanied by remarkable photographs, illustrations, and maps explain these concepts and introduce us to some of the people who have worked on this project. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Big Dig Photography at it's best
Wonderful book for Children. Great Photography. A must for the Christmas Stocking from Santa Claus

Vanderwalker King of The Big Dig
This book is so much fun to read. The photography is wonderful. Vanderwalker has such a good "eye" for beauty, even in construction.

A must buy for the kids at Christmas

Bought it for a kid; kept it for myself
Living in Boston, you are constantly affected by Big Dig-related twists, turns, and upsets. One day the one-way street heads east; the next it has been re-routed west. Few of us venture into the heart of this truly amazing engineering feat, but this book shows us why we should pay more attention. Vanderwarker's spectacular photographs are thrilling to see and they give a glimpse of just why so much money has been poured into this project. We get to see things only the workers would normally see. But perhaps best of all is the glimpse it gives of cutting-edge engineering and technology. Seldom have I seen so clearly how yesterday's sci-fi has become today's "sci" and tomorrow's business as usual. ... Read more

Book Description

20 Interactive Mini-Books That Help Every Child Get a Great Start In Reading
Great for Emergent Readers!
Build literacy in school or at home with 20 skill-building Spanish mini-books for new readers! Each reproducible word/picture book teaches a group of key sight words about school, clothing, farms, weather, and more. Includes write-on lines and a matching game! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great pre-writing activity
This is a great activity for preschool and kinder students who are not yet writing and can't quite copy from the board. There are a couple of words in the spanish version that I changed because my students use a different word, but for the most part this is a wonderful resource. Includes commonly taught thematic words for preK-K-1. The English version of the same book is great for ELD and for Dual Immersion/2 way classes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A COLORFUL BRIDGE TO ANOTHER CULTURE
Cultures and customs are explored in Chinatown by William Low.

Young readers visit a city within a city, where streets of herbalists, tai chi masters, and outdoor fish market abound. This colorful section of New York City will prove fascinating to young eyes as they're introduced to people with a different heritage.

As always, knowledge and understanding promote friendship.

A Beautifully Illustrated Story of A Child's Day in the City
In this story, with beautiful jewel-toned illustrations reminiscent of Hopper's paintings, a young child, accompanied by his grandmother, shows the reader various aspects of his life in an urban Chinatown. The busy urban setting takes on the elements of smalltown life as the pair cross a street, watch tai chi practicioners, greet the street cobbler, and visit the produce market, the fish market, the herbalist, a kung fu class and other fascinating places. The story culminates at a parade celebrating Chinese New Year. The colorful pictures, rich with detail, and simple, informative text give lots of opportunities for discussion. My two-year-old son has loved this book from the first time we read it, and requests it over and over again. ... Read more

Book Description

A long-lost map holds the key and Kate is determined to find it!

Kate, Anders and Eric have traveled to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where Kate's Irish relatives live as caretakers of an enormous mansion. Kate is excited to meet her cousin Megan for the first time, and it turns out the two girls could be twins except something about Megan is very different. Will it keep Kate and Megan from being best friends?

Soon after their arrival, Kate, Anders and Eric learn about a treasure map hidden somewhere on the grounds of the estate but when two shady-looking men are seen lurking around the mansion, Kate is worried they will steal the missing treasure. Danger trails the foursome as they race to find the missing map and the treasure it promises before the thieves catch up.

What secrets lurk in the shadows of the mansion?

Reviews (2)

The most thrilling book ever
This has to be the most stupidest book i've ever read in my life after I read the first page it put me to sleep, to all those who like mysteries, solve this, why is Lois Walfrid Johnson so famous?

More Than Just a Missing Map Mystery!
Since I had to add to my library with my own money, I couldn't purchase this whole series after I read them back in sixth grade. I only bought this one, and today at seventeen, I still have it! I used to re-read all of "Missing Map" over and over, but I especially loved Megan--each of her lines, her personality--and of course in sixth grade I was fascinated by her blindness and all the things she was able to do anyway. Megan manages to "see" things other people miss, even without her eyes. This is a great story to acquaint girls 5th--7th grade with the blind and their abilities as well as their limitations. And Megan is more than just a story pawn--she's a real person, just like Kate and everyone else. No girl who reads this book will want to avoid people like Megan; instead, she'll be eager to get to know them, knowing that they're just as important as anybody else. ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time in the history of the Little House books, this new edition features Garth Williams’ interior art in vibrant, full color, as well as a beautifully redesigned cover.

The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they move from their little house on the banks of Plum Creek to the wilderness of the unsettled Dakota Territory. Here Pa works on the new railroad until he finds a homestead claim that is perfect for their new little house. Laura takes her first train ride as she, her sisters, and their mother come out to live with Pa on the shores of Silver Lake. After a lonely winter in the surveyors' house, Pa puts up the first building in what will soon be a brand-new town on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake. The Ingallses' covered-wagon travels are finally over.

Reviews (17)

The journey finally ends
The days of moving from place to place are finally over for the Ingalls family.
After going through a very hard time on Plum Creek, good news comes in the form of Aunt Docia, who hasn't seen them since they left the Big Woods. She's married now, and her husband works for the railroad in the Dakota Territory. He's in desperate need of help, so Pa decides to leave the Plum Creek area and move west with the railroad.
After they've moved west, they have the job of setting up their new home in the wilderness all by themselves. The last workmen have moved out and they are all alone. Or so they think. One man remained behind and he and his new wife become the family's closest friends.
Little by little, new people start arriving and making their own homes. Pa has to act fast if he's to claim the homestead he'd picked out!

Maggie's Review
The main character is Laura.Her family is travel from Minnesota to South Dakota.Laura's older sister, Mary, is blind from scarlet fever.Jack, their dog, died from old age.One day Aunt Dakota came and told Pa about a job.Pa was going back with Aunt Dakota.Then Ma and the girls would come on the train.They wouldn't travel with him because Mary is blind.They got to Silver Lake and stayed in a shanty.They decided to stay for the winter.The surveyors said they could stay in their house.Everybody was leaving. Everybody was coming back.Is Pa going get their claim?I really like this book and recommend it to all readers.

Sharlene's Review
This book is about a girl named Laura. Laura was standing at the doorway when she saw a wagon coming up the road; Laura never saw the wagon before.The wagon was Aunt Docia.She just wanted to tell Pa that Uncle Hi needed help at the store, because of the guys who were working on the railroad.So Pa said that he would go with Aunt Docia and Ma, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Grace would come on the train when Mary got strong enough.She was blind.Ma and the girls went by train to a little depot.Pa was not there yet to pick them up.But he got there after supper.Early the next morning they were all in the wagon and ready to go, to Sliver Lake.Pa built a little shanty by Sliver Lake.One day Pa was hunting and found their homestead.Will Pa get the claim?I really liked this book, because it was non fiction and about Laura and Mary.I recommend this to all readers, because it entertains you and it is interesting.

good but not...
This isn't AS good as other titles, but is still pretty good. it seems rushed.

By the Shores of Silver Lake
I thinks This is the graatest bok I has evver reed.It was AUSOME!!!!I ca'nt thinks of a diffarent bokk I wuld love to reed! ... Read more

Book Description

Farmer Small takes care of hungry cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and more—all in just one day! Throughout the year, he keeps his farm running smoothly by plowing the fields and selling fruits and vegetables. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Little Farm is Big on Cute
My two year old loves Lenski's books (So do I). They are simple and clear in their concepts and illustrations. It seems somewhat of a "beginner" reading book in its literacy level, but it still is just enough to hold my interest while reading it aloud to my two kids.

Lenski's books are more about providing factual information than giving character lessons or having an underlying meaning.

(Our favorite Lenski book so far that we've purchased is _Cowboy Small_. I give that one 5 stars!)

A Lovely Little Book
The sweetly illustrated, simply written story of Farmer Small's very busy day and the four seasons on his farm. My three year old finds the details of Farmer Small's life enormously interesting: the way he leaves the mail box open while he reads his mail, the apple that drops off the cart he is using to haul his apple harvest, the size of the tractor's wheels (you get many glimpses of this tractor, a big plus for the farm vehicle fan), the milk can he leaves for the dairy truck to pick up, the contents of his roadside stand. The text that accompanies these evocative illustrations is rhythmic and reassuring, and so this is an often-read bedtime and naptime book. One final terrific thing about the book: the hardcover edition is nicely produced, with good paper and clear bright pictures. When my son sits on my lap to hear the story, he always runs his fingers over the book's cover before I open it: maybe out of reverence for Farmer Small, who goes through farm life with apple-cheeked tranquility or maybe just because the cool, smooth cover is nice to touch. Either way, this would be a sweet gift for a two or three year old.
And that's all ... about Farmer Small. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A Midnight Fox Rocks!
I read this book 3 years ago, in April 2001. I can still remember that really sweet story. Tommy is reluctant to leave Petie Burkis, his home and toys to stay at his aunt Millie's farm for the holidays. To please his parents however, he goes. The story describes how a city boy like Tommy can really learn to love a farm, and how he meets the midnight fox, black as the night. This is the real excitement to the story!
I would recommend this book for 7-11year olds because it is short and sweet. The only reason it is one star down is the tendancy for the author to go on a bit and not really stick to the story. I think I'll remember this story when I'm old- It's a definate MUST READ!!!

Jakes Midnight Reveiw
I chose this book because of the front cover. The front cover has lots of detail, attitude, and acts like a hook the author would use to get a reader interested. But the cover is not the reason why I like the book. The author, Betsy Byars, really develops her characters. She backs up all the character's feelings. One example of that is when Tommy, the main character, is left on the farm. The author explains how alone he feels. That one whole chapter is about how Tommy feels abandoned, which me, the reader, made me feel terrible. She also gives you a good clean-cut picture of what's happened and how the character feels in your mind. That's why anyone could read this book, The Midnight Fox.

The story, the Midnight fox, is about a boy named Tommy, having to stay with some relatives on a farm while his parent's bike around Europe. His relatives include Uncle Fred, Aunt Millie, and Hazeline his cousin. One day on the farm bored as usual Tom was in the field when he saw a Black Fox. As the days passed he became more fascinated by the Black Fox, and he followed her to her den and saw her baby and swore to himself that he would never go back there to disturb them again. The days passed fast one of those days Aunt Millie noticed her turkey was missing as well as some chickens. Aunt Millie told Uncle Fred about and she knew it was a fox, will Uncle Fred the great hunter catch the Black Fox who knows? To find you'll have to read the book.

The Mysterious Fox
If you like mysteries and stimulating books, then you will love this book. The book is about a kid named Tom who goes to spend his summer at his uncle's farm and finds a mysterious fox. Read how he will save the fox from getting killed by his uncle. This takes place at his uncle's farm and at a gorgeous forest. This book contains no pictures so you could use your imagination in this astonishing book. I enjoyed how he would trick his uncle into saving the fox. There is some tragedy in this story for Tom. It was difficult to move away from his parents for the whole summer. The author of this book is Betsy Byars. So if you want to find an exciting book like this one, look for books that Betsy Byars wrote and I think they will be as magical as this one.

one of the best childrens books
This book has it all; an interesting plot, interesting characters and children can really relate to the characters. I read this book for the first time when i was seven and it captivated me then and still does now.

Tom lives in the city but when his parents go oin holiday and leave him spending the summer with his uncle on a farm he isn't happy. Soon he finds a Black Fox and learns to like it there. When his uncle finds out he wants to kill the fox and Tom is determined to stop that.

Through the book the characters grow and develop true sense of self. Perfect for children!!!!

Total Cool
The main character, Tom, has a bleak outlook on everything. He won't try new things and if he didn't like something when he was tiny, he is convinced that he won't now. This is until he is sent away to his aunt and uncle's farm and, one little fox changes his whole outlook on life. It is a great book and I recomend it to 9-13+ year olds as below 9, I don't think they would understand the meaning. Overall, great book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Conservative social critic and former Bush "drug czar" William J.Bennett collects here over 30 secular fables, prayers, Bible stories, and poems,all devoted to a central theme: "reinforcing the vital lessons all parents mustteach" about home and family life.

Some of the entries address intersibling relations (like "The Hill," adaptedfrom Laura Richards, and Aesop's classic "The Bundle of Sticks"), while othersfocus on the love of husbands and wives for their children ("What Bradley Owed,"adapted from Hugh T. Kerr) and for one another ("The Water of Youth," adaptedfrom Rudolph Baumbach). Poems and prayers from Alfred, Lord Tennyson ("What DoesLittle Birdie Say?") and Robert Louis Stevenson ("Prayer for Home and Family")help class up the book, complementing Michael Hague's '50s-style,quasi-Rockwellian illustrations.

While many of the lessons imparted here are inarguably "vital," parents shouldbeware that the book still carries some not-so-subtle political freight, whichyou might or might not buy into: As Bennett makes clear in his grownup books(The Broken Hearth: Reversing theMoral Collapse of the American Family, etc.), references to "husband andwife" mean that and only that. Likewise, don't be surprised by antiquated takeson gender roles (as in "The Husband Who Was to Mind the House") and that theonly black characters in the book have tribal names like Keen-Eyes, Sharp-Ears,and Strong-Arms. (The sole Hispanic family lucks out with some good Catholicnames, but Hague's proto-Israelites in a King Solomon story still look prettyconventionally European.) (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The nurturing qualities of home and family.
I've recommended this book to family and friends. It's filled with delightful stories, poems and quotations that celebrate the love of husband and wife, parents, grandparents and children. It contains some of the best from Robert Louis Stevenson, Louisa May Alcott, Lord Tennyson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and the Old and New Testament. (A few illustrations merit 4 stars instead of 5.)

A very disappointing book.
A very disappointing book. Poorly presented. Uninteresting. Badly written. Morally unedifying. This is how my 10 year old summed up his present (this book) after a day long read. After perusing it myself I must agree. Buy Dr.Seuss's The Lorax instead. Do not buy unless as a gift for a child you do not like. ... Read more