Book Description

Hank has been stricken with "Eye-crosserosis"! Unless he can find a cure for this dangerous condition, his position as Head of Ranch Security is at stake.

USA Today calls the hilarious Hank the Cowdog series "...the best family entertainment in years."

Hank is a scruffy, smart-alecky supersleuth with a nose for danger and an eye for the ladies. And as Head of Ranch Security on a West Texas ranch, he's usually up to his ears in all kinds of amusing trouble. Whether he's called upon to bark up the sun, investigate suspicious goings-on, or defend the ranch against marauders, Hank's hilarious, hair-raising adventures will delight readers young and old alike.

"Rip-roaring fun...[a] marvelous situation comedy." --School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
Hank the cowdog is about a dog named Hank and he lives in a farm.Everything is going right fo Hank because he is the leader of the dogs and nobody ever dared to talk back to him until one day another dog named Rufus came to take over.Then Rufus starts making fun of Hank for having crossed eyes (he got crossed eyes because he tried to see the part where his nose had no skin on it).One time Rufus was acting like Hank (imitating Hank)and Hank ran away.Hank confronted (met) snakes and big birds which he had trouble with.Hank had to deal with Rufus.Do you think he (Hank) might get away with still being the leader?,well if you keep on reading the ending you will know.

A great series for developing readers
My ten year old son is a rapidly developing avid reader who has fallen absolutely in love with this excellent series. Erickson creates rapid narratives filled with honest (and yes, corny) humor and pleasently comic action and an occasional moral or two.

This series provides young readers with a simple, yet appropriately challenging vocabulary. It also provides fine entertainment as it can hold a young man, who favors outdoor activities and sports, and his attention span for countless hours. A most highly reccomended series of books designed to encourage and develop young readers.

Enchanting!
This is my all time favorite Hank the Cowdog book! I love Madam Moonshine and Wallace and Junior. It's witty and humorous throughout the book. I'm impatiently waiting for #34 to come out. I recomend any of these books to children and adult alike.

Hank's stricken with "Eye-Crosserosis". Can he find a cure?
Poor Hank! This makes a great sequel to number one! This is one of the best, and the cure for this terrible disease is hilarious! I would recommend this book to any Hank the Cowdog fan! - MG ... Read more

Book Description

When the Wild Calls

McKinley, a malamute, is a good dog -- he's reliable and trustworthy. Whether it's watching over the other dogs of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, or taking care of his human pup, Jack, McKinley never even thinks of letting anyone down -- until he meets Lupin. Lupin is a she-wolf and she's urging the dogs of Steamboat Springs to leave their domesticated lives and join her wild pack. And though she scares McKinley, he also finds himself drawn to her and the life of freedom that she offers.

For the first time, McKinley's loyalties are torn. Should he stay with his humans and continue to lead the dogs of Steamboat Springs? Or should he join the wolf and live freely, like his ancestors did? When the wild calls, what will McKinley's answer be? ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Avi Does it Again!
I have read several of Avi's books. I must say I have yet to be disappointed. Nearly every one of his stories is written in a different style. Avi does not get type-cast or pigeon-holed... he finds a way to stay fresh and creative in every book he writes. I can't help but be blown away by his originality. Well, enough gushing about the author.
Avi takes a page from Jack London in this story. It is a take on the classics like, Call of the Wild and White Fang. McKinley is a loyal, smart, loving, caring dog. He is devoted to his family, and takes great pride in caring for his human pup. He is loyal to his human family and watches over them carefully.
But, McKinley is also the leader of a community of dogs. So he spends time rounding up the dogs in town and caring for them. One of his dog compatriots says he cares too much for other dogs. And that appears to be true.
When McKinley goes to help a dog named Duchess who has run away
from her abusive master, he meets up with a wolf. His life is forever changed from this point on. McKinley must decide if he will be loyal to his human family or break away and head into the wild with the wolf pack... Interesting stuff. Avi does a wonderful job of getting into the head of the McKinley. He gives us some insight into what he sees as the thought process of a dog.
The ending is dramatic and ties together nicely. McKinley gives an amazing statement on what he sees as a dogs relationship to humans. The care relationships dog's have to humanity is expertly rendered by Avi.
I couldn't put this book down and devoured it in a couple of days. The pace is fast and carries the reader along. I hope you read it... you will not be disappointed! :-)

Fascinating book.
What does it mean to be a good dog? What sorts of things does trying to be good make a dog do?

These questions become very important to McKinley, a sled-dog, who lives in the Colorado Mountains with his human family. He is especially fond of the human pup, Jack. Funny thing about humans: they think they own their dogs. The way McKinley sees it, dogs and people need each other equally.

McKinley always has to protect Jack, who is prone to misadventures and scrapes. Gil and Sarah, Jack's human grown-ups, never seem to know half the trouble Jack dreams up for himself. Sometimes, McKinley doesn't know how he's going to save Jack at all. Like the time when Jack saw a wolf in the mountains and decided to go live with it! How can McKinley stop that?

And what happens when the wolf, Lupin, tries to recruit McKinley to join her pack?
What can McKinley do? Where do his loyalties lie, with dogs or humans or Lupin? Is it love and honor that motivates a good dog?

This fascinating book, told from McKinley's point of view, examines the dilemmas of a conscientious dog.

--- (...)

Woof, Woof!
Wow! This is a fantastic book! It is sure to get dog lovers to wag their tails! Action, creative, original, and it has cute little puppies! What's not to love!!!!

Allen at richview middle
This story is about a dog named Mckinley with a girlfriend named Aspen an enemie named redburn and a wolf named lupin.

The Good Dog
The Good Dog is fiction. There are lots of characters in this book, but the main ones are McKinley, the dog; Jack, McKinley's owner; and Redburn, Duchess' owner.

Redburn is trying to catch Duchess, she has ran away. He wants Jack and McKinley to try to find her. Redburn says that if McKinley hurts Duchess that Jack's parents are going to hear about it.

If you don't like adventures don't read this book. If you like adventures read this book. The Good Dog has lots of adventures that McKinley goes through. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of the Best!
This fantastic book depicts the story of an early farm family who raise animals, work their land, and make just about everything they need. That is only the begining! The story flows well, starting with a family working together preparing goods for papa to trade in town. It continues with papa trading or selling everything he has brought, including the ox team which he rode into town. He comes home bearing new items, (and a few treats!)to give to his family so they can begin preparing for another year, and another harvesting of goods to sell and trade. Gorgeous color illustrations will transport little ones into the more simple setting of a slower paced life, feeling of clean air, no electricity, and the satisfaction of seeing accomplishments and the rewards of patience and tasks well carried out.

Life in Historical America
The journey of a settler who packs up his cart with surplus that was grown, handmade, and raised on a farm in historical New England. The story takes the reader through what a family has to do to survive during this time period and what each part the family had in that survival. From a historical perspective an awesome book. With the love of history that I have on a personal note this story gives me clues to my own ancestors survival needs. I have two copies of this book one at home and one in my classroom. Very detailed illustrations, very accurate information on the settler's way of life and need for trading or selling off goods that the family helped make. The portrayal of the family with no electricity and providing their own means of survival. The story tells us that the farmer travelled ten days to reach the village of Portsmouth. I would've like to know which direction he came from, whether he had to travel from the south, the north or the west of the village. I would've also like to have know what he saw and who he might have met along the way.
Classroom Activities I do with this book:
Math - Seasons, Sequencing, Money, Trading/Selling, Time Art - Draw the seasons, quilts, weaving, looms, broom making, Science - Make candles, grow a pototo from a seed, make maple sugar,
Social Studies - 13 Colonies, Mapping Skills, Clothing, Occupations, Cooking
Reading - Write a sequel or pre-story to this book, illustrate one aspect of story or write about who he might have met along the way and which direction he came from.

Have you seen, the Ox-Cart Man, the Ox-Cart Man...
Most books that focus on continuity and the circle of life/the seasons/etc. like to concentrate on that theme via animals munching on other animals. We sometimes forget that there are subtler ways to present this same theme. Consider the lovely "Ox-Cart Man" by Donald Hall. A 1980 Caldecott Award winner, the tale focuses on the yearly passage of one man selling his goods only to do it all over again the next year. Ultimately this is one of the most comforting books out there.

The book takes place in what looks to be the mid 19th century. A man that is never named lives on a farm with his wife, daughter, and son. The book begins with the family packing his cart with the various goods they have to sell. There are mittens knit by his daughter, shawls spun and woven by his wife, and birch brooms carved by his son. The book catalogues the items packed away in an oddly riveting fashion. Next, the man travels on foot to a harbor town named Portsmouth. There, he sells the items including his beloved ox. There's a shot of the man kissing his ox good-bye on the nose, which (when you consider the slime factor) is simultaneously touching and gross. He next goes out and buys an iron kettle, an embroidery needle for his daughter, a knife for his son, and two pounds of wintergreen peppermint candies. The man walks home to his family waiting for him and as the seasons pass they build up their items to sell once more. One of my favorite lines is the last one. "And geese squawked in the barnyard, dropping feathers as soft as clouds".

Those people who follow poetry will recognize the name Donald Hall and appreciate the simplicity of his writing in this book. I loved that it began without explaining or pausing, immediately launching into a description of the man loading up his cart. When adult writers or poets write for children, they usually haven't a clue how to go about it (paging Madonna...). Mr. Hall does not suffer from this dilemma. He knows exactly how to make a book that could have been dry and dull, fascinating. Therefore, he uses the repetition of lines to catch the ears of kids. There's an entire page in this book that contains ten lines all beginning with the words, "He sold". I'm both old and young enough to remember when "Ox-Cart Man" was read on Reading Rainbow (one of the very few Caldecott winners to appear on that show) and even as a kid I loved the words in this story. I assure you that this book, for whatever other flaws you may chose to find in it, is not boring in the least.

I was especially taken with the illustrations in this book as well. Illustrator Barbara Cooney is no stranger to Caldecott medals. Having already illustrated the magnificent (and I highly recommend it) "Chanticleer and the Fox", her award count is higher than most. For this book, Cooney adopted a style that has a great many similarities to the kinds of outsider art created during the 19th century. The characters in this book have a kind of purposely flat presence on the page. At the same time, Cooney hasn't sacrificed perspective or the illusion of distance in these prints. Each page is both beautiful and simple, matching the text word for word with appropriate pictures. If the book says that there were turnips, cabbages, a wooden box of maple sugar, and potatoes then by gum you're going to see every single one of those objects on the opposing page. As a kid, I'd always be disturbed by picture books where the words failed to match the text. Here I have no such fears.

Some picture books are filled with bright snazzy flash-in-the pan illustrations and narratives that will date themselves in ten years or less. Others are quiet simple offerings that display beauty as well as a kind of central integrity. "Ox-Cart Man" is in the latter category. This is a book that will be loved for decades and that will only grow more precious in the eyes of children as the years go on. For a fun pairing, try reading it to your kiddies with "Swamp Angel", by Anne Isaacs. Books like this one should be treasured. Fortunately, I think this one already is.

My daughter's favorite read aloud
Between my husband and I , we must have read this book hundreds of times. My daughter always found it a source of comfort before bedtime. Why? Who knows for sure, but it is a lyrical, yet matter of fact, tale of a family that produces all it needs to live that is reassuring and lovely.

A fantastic book for teaching history
I used this book with my third grade class in talking about the skills that our ancestors needed in order to survive. The book is about a man who takes a cart load of goods to town and sells everything including the ox! My students loved the ending, but I won't give that away. This is a must have for the classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Joan Allen
Approx. 4 hours
3 cassettes

A few hours after nine-year-old Garnet linden finds a silver thimble in the dried-up riverbed, the rains come and end the long drought on the farm.The rains bring safety for the crops and the livestock and money for Garnet's father.The summer proves to be interesting and exciting in so many different ways.Every day brings adventure of some kind to Garnet and her best friend, Citronella.As far as Garnet is concerned, the thimble is responsible for each good thing that happens during this magic summer--her thimble summer.

Joan Allen has been nominated for an Academy Award three times for her roles in Nixon, The Crucible and most recently The Contender.She has also appeared in a number of other films such as The Ice Storm, Face-Off, and Searching for Bobby Fischer.
... Read more

Reviews (13)

A young girl's life on a farm in the midwest of the 1930s.
This is a book about Garnet Linden, a 10 year old Wisconsin girl, and her summer on her parents'farm. She finds a thimble on a river creek bottom and good things start to happen. I enjoyed all Elizabeth Enright's descriptive details of the sounds and smells of summertime and the small,quiet towns in Wisconsin. I couldn't wait to turn the page to read more of Garnet's adventures. The dialogue and the scenes are very true-to-life. This book should be especially enjoyed by Midwesterners. Recommended for 10-to 13 yr. old girls, but I'm a lot older than that and I loved it.

Thimble Summer
I liked this book because it was an adventurous book and it was just a really neat book. Even though I'm twelve, and this book was probally made for eight through ten year olds, I liked this book a lot. It was fun to read about all of Garnet's (the main charatcher of this book) adventures and how she was happy throughout most of this book. The funnest part is when Garnet is able to get a pig. Garnets parents alow Garnet to enter her pig in a contest. When Garnet and her family got to the fair, something bad happens. Read it and you'll find out what it is. It's an exciting and happy book all the way through. (and of course, that's what I think!)

~

Summertime and the living is easy
The Newbery Award winning books of the 1930s went through an interesting phase that was never again to be repeated. Starting with "Caddie Woodlawn" (1935), continuing with "Roller Skates" (1936), and capitulating with the delightful "Thimble Summer" (1938) these books all followed spunky independent females with little to no regard for the traditional roles women had always carried. But while "Caddie" and "Roller Skates" were period pieces that ultimately ended with the girls giving in to society's restraints, "Thimble Summer" trumps this trend. In it, we have a farm girl named Garnet who has a load of exciting summer adventures and who ends her tale wearing sailor pants doing hand stands over and over again in a pasture.

The tale of "Thimble Summer" begins when Garnet finds a silver thimble in a nearby dried lakebed. According to Garner, the summer's wonderful aspects only take place after this key event. Her father receives a loan from the government allowing him to build a new barn. Her family meets and virtually adopts an adorable homeless boy. Garnet shows her favorite pig at the state fair and wins a blue ribbon. All these events are told with a marvelous simplicity and a real sense of being there with Garnet. From the very first page of this book, you notice the author's excellent writing style. About the heat of the summer Enright writes, "It was like being inside of a drum. The sky like a bright skin was stretched tight above the valley, and the earth too, was tight and hard with heat". You're in safe hands with this writer. Don't believe me? Here's another wonderful descriptive passage. "Her shoes hurt her; and with aching feet and her bundle and empty pocketbook she felt like an old, old woman coming home from seeing grandchildren who didn't love her".

But observe this book within its 1938 context. Here's a girl that does a boy's chores. We never see her darn socks or cook, though she's often seen working in the fields. She's nine or so, so she doesn't go about falling in love (not even with the adorable homeless boy). She wears pants most of the time, is never badgered by either parent to be more feminine and (the coup de grace) at the end of the story she plans to someday have a farm of her own. Fabulous. Then there are those wonderful little details about the past. Kids reading this book may not get the references to G-men, Zeppelin shaped balloons, or the running boards of cars. Fortunately these spots of the past are either
self-evident or mercilessly scant.

Is the book flawless then? Almost. There are a couple tiny flaws here and there. The line drawings accompanying the text (drawn by the author herself) are magnificent. Unfortunately, there's one time they belie the text. If you've a child who's overweight in any way, this may not be the best book to show them. While Garnet's best female friend Citronella is continually called "fat", in the book's pictures she's the most average kid you've ever seen (compared to the waiflike Garnet, of course). Any child with body image problems is going to see the pictures, read the text, and come up with some pretty heart-wrenching conclusions. If Garnet is normal then... You get the picture.

I don't really understand why kids don't know this book better. Anyone who's ever wanted to live on a farm in the country would enjoy it. Anyone who's ever wanted to hitchhike like Garnet, spend a night in a library, or swim rivers on their own would like it. It's a pip, this one. It's got moxie. Don't forgo the pleasures of "Thimble Summer" simply because it's old. You'll be missing out on more than you could have possibly imagined.

melissa1007
When I was a little girl, one of the chapters in this book appeared in a volume of the Childcraft Books. The chapter was "Locked In" where the girls have to spend the night in the library. I absolutely loved the story but it wasn't until I was an adult and had daughters of my own the I found this book and was able to read the whole thing to my children. The book is timeless even though it is set in a much simpler time. I highly recommend it to children and adults alike!!!

A Magic Thimble
I really loved this book because it was about a girl who was easy for me to relate to. One very hot summer Garnet finds a thimble and that summer was the best. It rained that very night, and a new boy comes to live with them. And Garnet thinks it's all because of the thimble. It is really a great book to read. Every day I couldn't wait to read one more chapter. I got wrapped up once I started reading, and couldn't stop.If you want to read it, go read it! ... Read more

Book Description

Long, long ago, a little girl named Laura Ingalls headed west toward the prairie with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their good old bulldog, Jack. They traveled far each day in their covered wagon, driving through tall grass until they found just the right spot for their new home. With the help of their kind neighbor, Mr. Edwards, Pa built a snug little house for the family in the middle of the wide-open prairie.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now for the first time, the youngest readers can share her adventure in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story-books. Renee Graef's warm paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life.

Renée Graef recieved her bachelor's degree in art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is the illustrator of teh paper dolls and the Kirsten books in the American Girls Collection. She is also an avid hat collector, with over 150 hats at last count. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her huisband, Tim, and thier children, Maggie and Maxfeild.Join the Ingalls family as they pick a special spot on the prairie and build their snug log cabin home. Their new neighbor, Mr. Edwards, comes by to help, and after the hard work is through, everyone sings and dances to the joyful music of Pa's fiddle. Renee Graef's enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth William's classic artwork, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life in this eleventh title in the My First Little House Books series, adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks.

... Read more

Reviews (3)

Adaptive book versions for "Little House".
The Series "My First Little House Books" is a great tool for Special Education adaptations of the Core Literature "Little House in the Big Woods". I've used this series in general education classrooms, too, to supplement the Core Lit text. The children's positive responses to the beautiful illustrations made my day! The beautifully portrayed color illustrations capture essential details from the book chapters and make the stories come alive for all of the students. Two thumbs up for this series!

A Little Prairie House (my first little house books)
I bought this book for my 1st grade daughter, hoping she would love the Laura Ingalls Wilder tradition as I had as a child. She did and I was excited because she could read this book herself and she was empowered! I only wish that you could buy the other 13 titles of the "first books" in a collection or gift set like you can the original series.

An Exceptional Series!
I ordered the whole series for my soon to be 4 year old for Christmas. She is absolutely delighted with the stories. The illustrations are beautiful. A must have for younger children. ... Read more

Book Description

Singing and reading to your child are considered two of the most vital ways

parents can stimulate the development of a child's brain during the earlist

years. Raffi's Songs to Read unites the rhythm, rhyme, and repetition that

helps to lay the foundation for later speech, listening, and reading skills.

here with fresh new cover designs are some of Raffi's best-known songs. With

enchanting illustrations they create books that are natural bridges between

music and reading.




... Read more

Reviews (10)

Pacifier and bottle - I'd rather see some breastfeeding
This board book illustrates the catchy tune, "Wheels on the Bus". I haven't been able to read it without singing it! However, I did not care for the illustrations in this version. The style was fine - soft colors in a European city - but the content was disappointing. For example, there is a young girl with a very sour expression, sticking her tongue out at her mother and other passengers. Yuck. In addition, the baby on the bus appears to lose the pacifier in her mouth during the "up and down" and cries until Mama gives her a bottle. Shouldn't Mama be nursing her baby? With so many excellent books out there, I would skip this one and sing the song with your little one while spinning your hands around, jumping up and down, and acting out the song.

My seven month old daughter's favorite book
Every time I pick up this book to read to my daughter, she starts laughing immediately. She bounces along to the music and she especially loves the part about the babies on the bus. My daughter loves books but this is the one that gets her really excited every time. The repetition in the song is perfect for young babies. The illustrations provide many oportunites for vocabulary building. If you are introducing your child to other languages, the illustrations are of a French city. I'm going to buy more of the Raffi sing along books.

Fun to both sing and read!
This is a cute little book. The pictures are darling - such detail! My 17 mth. old son loves this song, and the book provides charming visuals to go along with the words. Previous reviewers have commented on the picture of the baby being bottle fed. Little children are completely unaware of the breast vs. bottle debate and just enjoy the song and pictures. Don't worry so much about small things!

Loved by my 18 month old
My 18 month old LOVES this book. Puppies, ducks, babies, umbrellas. The hand motions (signs) we made up to go with each verse make it even more fun.

I agree the only thing I dont like about this book is that the baby is pacified with a bottle.

Great for toddlers
This is a familiar story and repetitive tune that, of course, you don't need a book to sing. But the book's lively illustrations make it worth reading. It's a great book for conveying to your child your love of reading.

I have to agree with one of the earlier reviewers that it's a bit disappointing to see an illustration of a baby being shushed with a bottle. It's true, though, that some moms can't breastfeed. And the pictures very sweetly convey the parents' love for the baby, and everyone on the bus is concerned about him/her too.

My husband and I are very picky about the books we read to our daughter because we can't stand them ourselves if they're boring, annoying or offensive. This book, however, meets all our criteria. It's lively and fun for us and interesting to our baby. We read it almost every night. ... Read more

Book Description

When former Richmond High School basketball legend Ken Carter agrees to take over his alma mater's floundering team, he has the players sign a contract that demands good grades, perfect class attendance, and suits on game days. With Coach Carter at the helm, the Oilers' record soon stands at 12 and 0. But when the coach learns that some members of his team are cutting class and failing academically, he locks them out of the gym, incurring the wrath of the players, the school, and the community. Coach Carter's determination to adhere to his convictions puts his philosophy and his players' trust to the ultimate test.

Book Description

Reviews (6)

A creative book for kids
The book "Barn Dance" by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault is a cute book for kids. It lets them know that all things arent scary. Like scarecrows, for instance, arent scary their just to keep the crows away. Also if you child was scared of animals, this book might teach them there is nothing to be afraid of. It also is a very catchy book with all the rhymes and pictures. I was very pleased with it.

As much fun to read aloud as it is to hear
Scarecrows aren't really scary unless you're a crow -- or a preschooler. My son was terrified of scarecrows until we found this book. Now, it's torn and tattered, and a favorite of both my boys and their older sister. It's the story of what goes on in the barn when (almost) everyone in the farmhouse is sleeping.

All except the skinny kid with questions in his head, Much too full of wonderment to spend the night in bed, He was up about and list'nin'. . . . . .when the night owl said, Come a little closer. . . Come a little closer. . . Listen to the night. . . There's magic in the air. . . The skinny kid can hear the sound of fiddle strings, and he looks out his window to see the scarecrow leading all the animals into the barn for a hoe-down. Intrigued, the skinny kid sneaks into the barn and hides. Pretty soon, though, the scarecrow spots him and invites him to join in.

Out came the skinny kid, a-tickin' an' a-tockin' An' a hummin' an' a-yeein' an' a rockin' an' a sockin'. An' he danced his little toe through a hole in his stockin'! By this point in the story, my kids are itchin' to get up and dance, too. But, as the night owl points out, the magic can only last so long. The skinny kid sneaks back into his bed in the farmhouse to watch the sunrise. It might have been a dream, except for that hole in his sock.

In addition to the wonderful verse that sets toes a-tappin', my kids love the illustrations. My three-year-old always points out the skinny kid's progress as he sneaks out of the house, past the hound dog, into the barn, and back. All the kids giggle at the whirling pigs, who get so dizzy that they all fall down.

Barn Dance review
Brilliant illustrations. The writing takes you into the story, which is exciting & fun. Get it, you won't be dissapionted!

Barn Dance is a very fun book to read for kids of all ages.
My 7 year old daughter loves this book so much she wants me to purchase it. We originally got it frm the library, My 5 year old son loves to here my voice when the Crow says "Begin! Grab yourself a partner an jump right in"! This is a well writen book that I would highly recommend.

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN AND ENJOY THE HOE-DOWN!
I've come to realize that Ted Rand is an absolutely wonderful illustrator. Coupled with the most rhythmic and lyrical text you'll ever see, this book has become my son's new favorite. Pictures are full and colorful and the text brings out the ham in any reader-aloud. It's fun, fun, fun! Yee-Ha!! ... Read more

Book Description

The world is full of houses. Big houses and little houses. Houses that stay in one place and houses that move from place to place. Some houses are made of wood or stone; others are made from mud or straw. But all of them are made for families to live in.

Reviews (2)

Houses and Homes
This is a beautiful book with gorgeous illustrations. I found it very useful in my second grade social studies unit.

Informative and Stimulating!
Houses and Homes is a great book to stimulate conversation for young beginning readers! The photos alone are worth a thousand words. I used this book as a lead in for a discussion with first graders about different types of homes around the world. The text is simple enough that they'll read it unassisted over and over. The index in the back of the book, along with a world map, is very informative! It states the specific country where each photo was taken and gives detailed information on the uses of the types of homes shown. The descriptions also include information on the relationships between homes, cultures, and climates around the world. My 5 year old nephew, a beginning reader, would not put the book down. If he wasn't actually reading the book, he was spending time looking at the real-life photos! ... Read more

Book Description

Birdie Boyer was a Florida Cracker. She belonged to a large "strawberry family," who lived on a flatwoods farm in the lake section of the state. They raised strawberries for a living.

Through all the hazards of the uncertain crop -- battling against dry weather and grass fires, the roving hogs and cattle of their neighbors -- Birdie dreamed of an education that would include playing the organ. In the end she won not only the title of "strawberry girl," but book learning as well.

This is a story full of enterprise and fun and tire excitement of real life in this interesting part of America.

Lois Lenski has used again her gift for catching the flavor and drama of life in a remote corner of America. It is the second of a series of regional stories through which she promises to introduce other fascinating and little-known backgrounds to boys and girls. This story will take a place beside her popular Louisiana story Bayou Suzette in the affection of readers.

The eighty-four illustrations are distinguished for their action and fascinating detail. They add greatly to this true picture of Florida life at a time when old Florida ways were changing to new.

Reviews (23)

Like strawberries? Here's a good one!
Strawberry Girl is a great book written and illustrated by Lois Lenski. I think that, because every time I started to read it, I couldn't stop reading! Although there are some parts that has violence,it was still very good. I really recommend this book to children ten and up, due to the violence. Strawberry Girl takes oplace in Florida in about the 1900's. It is about a seven member family, and the neighbors. After about a month of settling, the trouble starts, the neighbors get mad, because Birdies dad puts some fences around the fields so that way, Slater's cattle doesn't go into the property. The vegetation, strawberry fields, and cattle are growing very well, Mr. Slater also gets mad, and jealous. Birdie was very helpful in every way, from watering the strawberry fields, to caring for her small sibilings. I like the end a lot, because both families become very good friends. Also people started to call Birdie, Strawberry Girl, because of selling, watering, and arranging the strawberry fields. The rest of the fun is for me to know and for you to find out!

Strawberry Family
Have you ever wondered what is was like to grow up in the early 1900's? Well Strawberry Girl tells you just that. Strawberry Girl is about a young girl named Birdie Boyer. She and her family just moved to the lakes region region of Florida from Marion County Florida. They are a typical strawberry family, with six kids, trying to grow stawberries in the harsh conditions of the Florida climate. This book is a must read for young readers.
This book, Strawberry Girl, is presented in such a way, it makes it easy to follow. The book is in chronological order from start to finish. The vocabulary is easy to understand, and easy to follow.
The book lets you venture into the mind of Birdie Boyer. For example birdie says "I just don't understand why them Slaters just don't come to school anyhow." It is very easy for young readers to understand.
Strawberry Girl is best suited for young readers. The book is geared more towards their understandong of the world. This is one of the greatest books of our time. Children should be able to read this book and learn just a little more about our country's history.
The book Strawberry Girl is a must read. Lois Lenski did a wonderful job of portraying life in the early years of our country.

NeShonda Strawberry sweetness
Strawberry Girl is a good book. I enjoyed it because of all the characters and excitment. The characters gave me a good idea of life a long time ago. I don't think I would have liked to lived in those times. Birdie Boyer worked very hard trying to be a strawberry girl. She had lots of chores to do each day plus go to school. The family worked hard too, things changed for the family when the Slaters came to visit. Birdie knew the Slaters would cause trouble for her family. The family pulled together and things turned out fine.

Strawberry Girl
I liked my bookthe strawberry girl, because the book had and ton of intersiting things that can happen in the book, there is also not alot of conflict or stuff that people don't like to read about,and1 other thing that you don't have to read a book
because this book is really intersting the best part in the book would have to when her father always yells at her because she spends too much time with her friends.

the setting is mostly out in the farm where they can grow strawberrys and stuff like that.

the main character in the book is a ten year old girl named birdie boyer, because she is so cute because she can pick her strawberryin no time at at all that's why they call her the strawberry girl.

A Literary Treasure
When I was a child, Lois Lenski was one of my favorite authors. I read Strawberry Girl when I was around 7, and I loved it. I think it introduced me to a rural poverty that was otherwise out of my experience, and left me with a sense of empathy for people whose lives were very different from my own. Nearly 40 years later, I still remember it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

MILK MAKERS
I understand why this was a reading rainbow book. It is a great experiment activity non-fiction book. This book exaplins how milk is processed. Most children most likely think that the milk in the fridge comes from the store. What they may not realize is that it comes from a farm miles away. This book goes into great detail how milk is made, and the makeup of cattle. it also gives brief descriptions of variuos types of cattle and dairy products. The illustrations use labels and bright colors. I think this is a good non-fiction book for children. It is in a language that they understand and it is easily read. The book is also very accurate as are all, her books. Gibbons was raised on a dairy farm and has made numerous trips to the dairy farm.
In close this is a good book for children, especially for a science unit. I would have this in my classroom library for childen to perhaps complete a report about milk or other products. Gibbons has a great series on the way variuos things are made.

Excellent resource book on farming and dairy production
This book is highly enjoyable and informative for children, and I think that every child with an interest in farming would be happy to own a copy. I strongly recommend this book to parents everywhere!

Excellent book!
this was such a great story for our kids to read - we live near a dairy farm and this book gave them a lot of insight into the real working of a dairy farm - it answered a lot of their questions and ours too! We love this book!

Milk Makers
This is a great book for kids - it is interesting, informational, and fun!

This is a great book to introduce children to milk productio
We took this book out from our local library and found it to be so good we are buying it! My husbands family were dairy farmers and we try to educate our daughters about dairy farming as much as possible. This book give enough educational detail about cows and milk production to be informative for a young child and encourage discussion about cows and the process of milk production. I recommend this book to anyone with a young child interested in cows, milk or farming. ... Read more

Book Description

On a hot, hot day a good old dog just has to get some relief! Around thesteamy country lanes he sniffs and searches until he finds: a chauffeur washing a shiny car, abaker scrubbing some sticky pans, and a florist spraying a pink bouquet. They’re all getting ready for a country wedding and this overheated pup just wants to plunge into the fun—and water!But will the wedding party in their fancy finery welcome this gotta-becool pooch? Zany characters, zingy lines, and high-spirited scenes practically bounce off the pages of thiswitty and affectionate story by debut author Elise Broach and New York Times Best IllustratedBooks Award winner David Catrow. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great adventure to the farm!
When a little girl gets home from school, her mother asks her how the class trip to the farm went. Her daughter tells her it was kind of boring.......until the cow started crying. And then.....a magnificantly absurd story is unleashed about Jimmy's boa constrictor. Children love the sequence that unfolds as the child-narrator answers her mother's questions about what happens next. Delightful illustrations bring this classic from 1980 to life. This story will live on from year to year, generation to generation. Great fun! Great sequencing!

A Comedic Book Everyone Will Like!
The day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash is a unruley fictional story about an exciting field trip to the farm, and the kid foolish enough to bring along his pet boa constrictor. The animals on the farm have an action packed time as the boa constrictor tries to eat them. Kellogg's illustrations can tell the story with without words, they are every color of the rainbow, and are full of details. This would a great book for elementary school kids. The book hooks you and pulls you in. Older children will have a better understanding of how the story is set up. It is also a great book for kids who like action and readers of all ages.

Think of it as "Memento" done as a picture book
Long ago, when I was young and innocent in the ways of the world, I first heard of "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash" on the popular PBS television show Reading Rainbow. After LeVar Burton introduced the child viewers to the nature of farms and farm life we listened to a reading of this book and I took a great deal of pleasure in its pictures and storytelling. Unfortunately, television was then (and remains today to be) incapable of displaying this book properly. Like all Kellogg illustrated creations, the story is filled to the brim with tiny delightful details that compete with one another for the viewer's attention. Reading this book on my own some twenty odd years later, I can finally settle down and enjoy this combination of delicate text and fantastic illustrations as I was menat to all those years ago.

A girl comes home to make herself a sandwich and chat with her mom after a long day on a class trip to the farm. The girl's story works backwards at the beginning. Slowly, tantalizingly, she leaks out the details of the trip. After all, it didn't really get exciting until the cow started crying. When asked, the girl admits that the cow was crying because the farmer hit a haystack on top of her. Why did he do that? Well, he was distracted by the pigs that had overrun the bus. And so it goes. Slowly the mother gets the full story of how fellow classmate Jimmy took his boa constrictor (a dew-eyed sweetie pie of a snake) to the farm and how all havok broke loose as a result. In the end, Jimmy left the boa there and adopted one of the pigs that never left the bus. The parting shot is of our narrator, suited up with Jimmy in silver racing outfits, barreling down a park path with the new pet pig in the back seat.

Kids reading this story get the double pleasure of watching chaos reigning in a farm setting and of reading a rollicking good story. Is there anything a kid likes more than to see a teacher covered in eggs? Or to view the cute animals that make up the farm? Kellogg has a way of drawing cats that I've never seen paralled. Who else could draw wide-eyed smiling felines as well as he does? Jimmy and the narrator apparently have a class of only eight children, so as the book progresses you can see how each person reacts to each and every situation. Kellogg isn't afraid of multiculturalism either, making the book a nice read-aloud for a variety of audiences. Originally published in 1980, you do have to contend with the clothing, an odd combination of 80s fashion and 70s hair, but that's the book's sole flaw (if it can even be called that).

If you have kids that enjoy reading about fiascos (and this is an especially brilliant higgledy-piggledy fiasco if ever there was one) then this book's a pip. From the flying eggs, to the screams of the farmer's wife, to the slow exhaustion of the school's bus driver, it reads brilliantly. Credit Trinka Hakes Noble's witty retelling in a format not usually found in children's literature. Altogether the combination of eloquent text and amusing pictures place this book in the higher echelons of picture books. A brilliant, fun, and rousing book.

What a fun and imaginitive story
This book is an engaging tale about a school field trip that went delightfully awry. The vivid illustrations add to the charm of the story, which is being retold to a mother by her little girl who seems completely unphased by the events that had taken place earlier in the day. I find that everytime I read this to a child, I cannot wait to turn the page to see what happens next. An exciting and comical story that is sure to be a favorite of all ages.

i liked this book
"the day jimmy's boa ate the wash" was very funny and it was a nice book. I think second graders woould like this book a lot. I like this book because the characters were funny and the girl who told the story was interesting. I had a great time reading this. ... Read more

Book Description

Meet Rose Wilder, Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter, and the last of the Little House girls.Going fishing for the first time, starting in a new school, saving the farmhouse from a fire-these are the elements of young Rose Wilder's first year at Rocky Ridge Farm. She has moved there with her parents, Laura and Almanzo, to begin a new life in the Missouri Ozarks. Rose feels out of place as the new girl in her class but gradually gains confidence, and Rocky Ridge truly becomes her home.Little Farm in the Ozarks is the second book in The Rose Years, an ongoing series about another spirited girl from America's most beloved pioneer family.

Reviews (4)

A wonderful story! Five stars!!
This is a great story telling of the early struggles that Rose had to face with her family to build up the farm.Anyone who says this story is poorly written,or things like that are freaks!It's just a childrens book!!These people need a life!

"TWO REASONS TO BE PROUD"
Just when you thought you had read the entire LITTLE HOUSE series, you discover with delight that there are two more books, although not penned by Laura herself. These two Rocky Ridge sequels continue the saga of a grown up Laura Ingalls Wilder--this time focusing on her only duaghter, Rose. This 8-year-old charms us with gentle, homespun tales of their first year in the wilds of the Missouri Ozarks. We have long loved Laura as a spunky prairie girl, so we naturally continue to love her as a maternal figure, still struggling with the harsh realities of farm life.

Written by Laura's adopted grandson, LITTLE FARM can not quite capture the magic of Laura's style, for a biography can never be as vivid as actual memories. Fortunately the family resemblance remains. True, there is less excitement and action in this book, but then, one can not reinvent someone's real life merely to increase the dramatic content of a book. Perhaps the midwest was more tamed by 1895, when Rose won her special prize. We also wonder whose side MacBride champions, when we recall the bitter, posthumous feud between Rose and Laura (advocated by her literary admirers) over authorship of some of the books.

Still loyal LITTLE HOUSE fans will appreciate this latter-day glimpse into Laura's married life. We understand that this is Laura's last move--she yearns to put down roots somewhere, even far from De Smet, Nebraska. Her home at Rocky Ridge still exists and is open to the public as a museum and literary mecca. The simple story unfolds about a young girl meeting the challenges of life on a new farm and in a new, town school. The book appears thick, but it reads quickly. The family values and pioneer virtues are timeless. Read this book to learn why Rose's parents have two reasons to be proud of her. She herself has two reasons to be proud: our beloved Laura (Bess) and Almanzo (Manly), whose own childhood is preserved in my favorite LH book, FARMER BOY. This story will appeal to preteen girls and all LITTLE HOUSE fans. (Will MacBride continue the saga until Laura's death, thus forever dropping the curtain on the Wilders?)

Alright
This was another typical little house style book, but not as well written as the originals. Nothing really happened in the book. Even the things that did, like a fire in the cabin and a storm seemed to have no effect on the book. They spent more time talking about Rose looking out the window. It was alright though and people with obsession for Little house will like it.

Cool book!
This book tells about Rose Wilder's first year at Rocky Ridge Farm in Missouri. She starts school, makes new friends, and saves her house from burning down. Little House fans will love this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Froggie went a-courting, he did ride
A taxicab to the Upper West Side."

The 400-year-old Scottish folk song about the frowned-upon-yet-joyful marriage of a frog and a mouse is splashed with the lights of Times Square in Caldecott Honor artist Marjorie Priceman's clever take on "Froggie Went A-Courting." Where will the wedding party be? On top of the Statue of Liberty. Who will make the wedding gown? Ms. Dragonfly in Chinatown. Auntie Rat is against this amphibian-rodent marriage ("A slimy frog--he's not our kind!" she cried), but she can't stop the happy occasion. (The bold paintings explode with festive wedding-day color, bees, and jazzy melodies.) That's not to say that Ms. Rat herself can't be stopped, as a black-tailed feline guest shows up at the wedding and eats her. While this can't exactly be called a moral story ("Those who exhibit prejudice will be promptly eaten by a predator" just doesn't seem right), Priceman outdoes herself with these splashy, colorful, skewed-perspective glimpses of New York City. (Preschool to age 6) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Too cute for words!
As a music teacher who uses the traditional song "Frog Went A-Courtin'" in class, it was a delight to see this new book based on the old folk song. The story now takes place in New York City. Instead of Froggy going courting with a sword and pistol by his side, now he takes a taxi to the upper west side! All the verses are very cute, incorporating other parts of NYC (Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Broadway, Chinatown, etc). The story goes right along with the old folk song, just adds a modern twist. It's fun to sing the story with the traditional melody (adding the mm-hmm mm-hmm's) as well as reading it as-is. It's also fun to compare the traditional song to this new updated one. There's a book by John Langstaff that uses the traditional song. Great story, great illustrations, GREAT BUY! ... Read more

Book Description

Sydney Taylor grew up among immigrant families on New York City's Lower East Side prior to World War I and wrote the All-of-a-Kind Family stories for her daughter. Based on her family and childhood, these charming books capture the everyday life of a home with little money but lots of love and good times to share. Each book shares the ups and downs in the lives of this special family, through the eyes of Ella, Charlotte, Henny, Sarah, Gertie, and their little brother, Charlie. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A story of family and friends
Although this is the 4th book of the series, it actually takes place between All-of-a-Kind Family and More All-of-a-Kind Family. This story is part of the continuing tale of a Jewish family living in New York's lower East Side in the early 1900's. Although they are poor, they are rich in their love of each other and their friends. Now there is a new baby in the house and talented Ella, mischevious Henny, studious Sarah, dreamy Charlotte, and little Gertie help Mama with the baby and find friends along the way. In this book, we meet Guido, a poor Italian boy who is trying to care for his sick mother and Miss Carey, a nurse who works at the Settlement House. Through the eyes of these characters, we understand what it must have been like growing up in the lower East Side before World War I. We learn about their sorrows and their joy over the little things in life. A highly recommended book.

So real I thought I was there.
I have read All-of-a-Kind Family. It's about five little girls. Their names are Ella, Henny, Sara, Charlotte, and Gertie. This book has so much detail it feels real. One time Sara lost her library bok . She was so upset when she had to tell the library lady about it. The library lady was so nice that she said she could take out more books, but she still had to pay for the book she lost. I thought I was Sara. At the end of the book, their mother has a baby. Its name is Charley. Everyone was expecting a girl, but it was a boy. Gertie used to be the baby and did not want to be a big sister. When she sees the baby she bounces up and down because of him. Everyone was happy, Now that's an all-of-a-kind family! I Like this book a lot. It has lots of adventures. Read one page and you can't stop. ... Read more

Book Description

Tyler's temper is out of control. If he isn't careful, he'll blow his chances of making the All-Star team and being noticed by a scout.But Tyler's coach, a Vietnam War veteran, has seen anger destroy enough people. He knows that if Tyler is ever going to fulfill his dreams, he'll have to learn to fight his battles with his glove, his bat, and his love for the game. Not with his fists.But it all comes down to Tyler. Does he care enough about his future to work through the past?

"A grand slam." (The ALAN Review)

"An ambitious mark that predents a compelling, multilayered story." (School Library Journal) ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Ritter hits one Over the Wall
John Ritter's second novel is an intricate web of baseball, war, and coming of age. Ritter's 14 year old hero, Tyler, almost lets anger destroy his sport. Through his development of self-control, he is able to come to terms with his family and with his country's involvement in the Viet Nam War. The story is seamlessly woven together with humor and insight into the development of adolescents. There are positive adult role models who help Tyler along the way, and even when Tyler does not realize it, the reader will. By the end we care about this young man and appreciate his reflection and growth. In this way, Tyler, too, becomes a role model for the many young readers who will be engaged by this novel. Older readers will appreciate the historical connections and younger readers will enjoy the fast paced story line. This is a great book for a read-aloud and contains enough discussion of the Viet Nam War era to make it a must for an interdisciplinary classroom.

I am eagerly anticipating Ritter's third book and welcome him to the ranks of exceptional writers for young adults.

Over the Wall by John H. Ritter
"Over the Wall" by John H. Ritter was one of the greatest books I have ever read. It is about a boy named Tyler who has many conflicts with his family and his baseball team that he plays for. He has a mom and dad that he lives with in California, but the book takes place in New York where he visits his cousin Louie. He joins a baseball team there. Tyler has a very short temper which gets him in trouble quite a lot. At the end of the book he cleans up and tries out for the league All-Stars. Will he make them? Read the book to find out.

over the wall
this book was absolutely gr8. Not only was it about my favorite sport, baseball, but it was about going through peer pressure, which many people will experience later on in life.

A Sixth Grade Reader from California
The opening lines of Chapter One in your novel, "People say time heals all wounds. . . .Time won't heal anything," can apply to many people's lives, as well as the history of mankind. In putting these lines into the story at an early point, you allow the reader to read their own life into the book, and therefore, understand the emotions of the characters better and more clearly.

I have also noticed the way the fathers in both of your novels, CHOOSING UP SIDES and OVER THE WALL seem to keep their families on their toes in some way or another. In CHOOSING UP SIDES, the father dominated the family by enforcing strict rules with old- fashioned punishments. Luke had to be very careful around him, so he was never quite comfortable. In OVER THE WALL, Tyler felt like his dad was making him "an outsider in his own home." He and his mother had to "talk easy," and "not do anything that might upset Dad." In fact, in both stories, Luke and Tyler seemed to have to hold in their true thoughts and feelings so as not to upset their fathers. Because the cause of this discomfort was different in CHOOSING UP SIDES, the resolution in OVER THE WALL will most likely also be different.

I can't wait to finish reading OVER THE WALL!

A Twelve-Year-Old Thinker
By far, the similes with the most important roles in OVER THE WALL are the many walls. Tyler has many problems, but the main one is his father. In the first chapter, Tyler said, "It was like he was facing a big brick wall. . .and he couldn't see a thing." Then, in the second chapter, Tyler wants to hit a baseball "over the wall". If I took that at face value, I would think that all he wants is to do well in baseball, but there is a deeper meaning. As Tyler makes it clear, baseball is part of him. If he could get a baseball over the wall his dad is facing, it would be like reaching out to him, and hey, maybe the ball would even plonk him on the head and shake him out of the trance he's in. Also, the expression "Get over it" means to let it go, or move on and start fresh. If Tyler's dad were to "get over" that wall, he would be tired of pushing his family away from him, and he could refill that empty shell of his that Alyssa once filled. It is important that he sees what he is doing to his family so he can realize that he is losing them, in addition to Alyssa.

This book is making me think. ... Read more

Book Description

Blue lost one boy to the streets and is determined that this time will be different. And Damon knows that even though he's the "man of the house," there's room for a friend like Blue in his life. At the end of the day, Damon has someone standing steadfast in his corner. Someone true . . . like Blue.Nikki Grimes's moving poems and Jerome Lagarrigue's bold paintings create an emotional and realistic bond of friendship between a man and a boy in a rough world. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent
This book is wonderful. In a time when many boys do not have strong male role models, this book gives a wonderful example of a man mentoring a boy who needs him. The book is full of poetry, and beautiful illustrations. It teaches wonderful values, and is a must for any family. Excellent! ... Read more

Book Description

‘A child comes to terms with the fact that she and her family are leaving the prairie. . . . As she talks herself into acceptance, her Mama helps her let go, commenting that the baby will need someone to tell him where he came from. So the girl gathers mementoes—a bag of earth and a piece of cottonwood tree. . . .A novel hides in these few pages. As with Sarah, Plain and Tall, the subext vibrates. So much is told in each perfectly chosen phrase. The story is deep and specific, but the pain and denial of a child leaving a known and loved place is all too universal. Moser’s finely-wrought engravings, enhanced by moody tints, record the departure.’—SLJ.

1995 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA) ...