Book Description

Well, she just adores lots of things -- The Plaza Hotel, Room Service of course, taking walks with Nanny, and Weenie's whiskers (which are wonderful). But there's one more thing that Eloise is rawther fond of... ... Read more

Book Description

When Wesley Boone writes a poem for his high school English class and reads it aloud, poetry-slam-style, he kicks off a revolution.Soon his classmates are clamoring to have weekly poetry sessions. One by one, eighteen students take on the risky challenge of self-revelation. Award-winning author Nikki Grimes captures the voices of eighteen teenagers through the poetry they share and the stories they tell, and exposes what lies beneath the skin, behind the eyes, beyond the masquerade. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Bronx Masquerade
February 2, 2004

Bronx Masquerade is wonderful blend of student journal entries and poetry. It will move you, as you read about the students' feelings as they grow to learn and understand themselves and then reach out and help each other. The students grow and begin to understand their differences as their English teacher has them read poetry out loud once a month on "Open Mike Fridays." In this book, Latinos, Latinas, African Americans, and Caucasian students share their feelings and break past their stereotyped opinions of each other and become friends. Even street hard Tyrone, who does not like school, reads his poetry and compliments all the other students' poetry as they share. Nikki Grimes does an incredible job of bringing about the issues and struggles many students go through each day, from troubles at home to problems with friends and relationships. This book was a joy to read; the poetry gave the students so much life and depth as you read about what they think and go through and then see how they express it in their poetry. I give this book a 4 star rating and recommend that you should read it.

Awesome portrayal of minority life
Bronx Masquerade is about an English class of a bunch of minority students in the Bronx. Mr. Ward, the teacher, is very good with the students, even though some of them doubted him in the beginning. When one student, Wesley, asks to read a poem in class, Mr. Ward says that would be great. Many of the other students ask to read their stuff, and soon Mr. Ward has started Open Mike Fridays. Once a month the students get to read what they have written and share their feelings in front of the class. Most of these kids think that because of their race, people don't notice them and they won't make a bit of difference in the world. But through their poetry they get to know each other and find out new things. Most of the kids write their poems to disguise what they feel, but then again, most of the kids can pick up on what they are trying to say. I loved this book because it helped me get to know the kids, too. I usually don't like poetry and can't really understand it, but in Bronx Masquerade there was a lot of understandable poetry. I got the messages and when I didn't, it also had a little background of the author of the poem, and I could understand a little better from the description. I think Bronx Masquerade is a very good book and everyone should read it!

Poetry Blowout
This book is about these students who are in middle school and they are going to find whoj they really are. This book has a lot of poetry in it if you are a poetry fan. Bronx Masquerade is a very interesting story because each little poem tells a story about someone's life. It shares so much passoin in one little book. One day there teacher tells them they are going to explore the world of poetry. Thye decide that they want to share their poems with the class and so the teacher comes up with "Open Mike Fridays". This is when you get up in front of the class and share your poems on Fridays. This book is really good because there is this boy named Tyrone. Tyrone is his own person and he is a street boy who doesn't care about school one bit. But when they have these Open Mike Fridays he tells about each little poem that someone wrote and expresses what he fells. To me that is very interesting. The characteration in this book is so real. There are so many people expressing themselves. It is just incredible. I really liked this book a whole lot. I hope that you like it too.

Hide your face so the world will never find you
Nikki Grimes's, "Bronx Masquerade" won the 2002 Coretta Scott King Award without debate. It has inspired numerous poetry slams in high schools across the country. The book is beloved and honored everywhere. I'm saying all this because I have a shameful shameful secret. I didn't love this book like the rest of the world. It was well-written, for the most part, and dealt with issues that are very rarely touched on in ANY books today, let alone books for young adults. And yet I wasn't taken with it.

"Bronx Masquerade" follows the individual stories of the students of a poetry class taught in a New York public high school. Each kid in the class begins with his or her own preconceptions about their fellow students. During the course of the book/class, these preconceptions are pounded to dust as the kids write and recite poetry about their problems and dreams. Grimes is adept at making each individual in the class a different and distinct personality. In the end, no one dislikes anyone else and everyone has high hopes, or at least highER hopes, for their future.

The book is brave and endearing in what it wants to teach kids today. But there are some real problems with it that make me doubt its future staying power. To make this book realistic and applicable, Ms. Grimes has given the main character of the piece, Tyrone, some very slangy text. Tyrone refers to his "homies". He ends sentences with the phrase, "Word". Now, it's 2004 as I write this, and already I know that these terms are out of date. Any kid reading these phrases is going to doubt the legitimacy of the text. In five years, the book is going to seem dated. And in ten years it's possible the slang will obscure the message and render this book more of a historical piece than anything else. This is a real shame too. There's a lot in this book that the author is trying to convey, and in her opinion slang was the best way to become "real". The fact that it may doom this book to future obscurity is a shame, but there's nothing to be done about that now. It was a choice made.

Another slightly odd writing choice is how the author uses Tyrone. As every single person reads a poem the Tyrone point-of-view says something along the lines of, "Frankly, I didn't know Raul had it in him", or, "So, the daydreamer speaks". Tyrone, tough guy, never really ridicules any of the readers. Not even the ultra-religious Sterling. This strained my suspension of disbelief. The story takes on the feeling of a fantasy when EVERYBODY is accepted by everybody else. Couldn't Tyrone have disliked just one person and not accepted them instantly after reading a poem?

Ah well. It's a nice book just the same. Nikki Grimes is a poet in her own right. And each child's writing is unique and distinct from anyone else's. For those interested in poetry written by REAL kids in the Bronx, you might want to consider "I Heard A Scream In the Street: Poetry By Young People In the City", selected by Nancy Larrick. It may have been written in 1970, but it speaks loud and clear to kids living today.

Bronx Masquerade is a ok book
I am a 7th grade literature student at ....... This book was pretty good. The only complaint I would have against this book is that it doesn't have much of a conflict. It also did not excite me that much. Nikki Grimes did a good job of making the characters in this book and their backgrounds. She also made good problems for each character. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes poetry. I would recommend it to people in the 5th through 10th grade range. Tyrone, a boy in this book, used to not like school, is now interested in Open Mike, an event held every Friday where everyone reads their own poems. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Subversive Reading For Elementary Kids
Shortly before I made the jump from young adult books to adult novels and college texts, I read The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill and I've never been the same since. It was the late-60's/early-70's and I was attending elementary school in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. The area was politically to the right of moderate. This little volume was in the library of the school. I've never been able to get the story out of my head. People protesting perceived injustices. People destroying property to make a point. Sounds like monkeywrenching to me! The story of the war between the pushcarts and the trucks in NY City is as relevant now as it was 30 years ago. Lot's of elementary school kids around our fine nation would benefit from reading this fine book. Donate a copy to your local school library. Gift suggestion for a family that reads: get the pre-teens in the family a copy of The Pushcart War and get the adults a copy of Ed Abbey's The Monkeywrench Gang.

The Pushcarts Won't Be Pushed Around
I read Jean Merrill's The Pushcart War when I was in the fifth grade and loved it. I remember it as one of the books that started me to reading, and so, I wanted to reread it now, years later. It hasn't diminished a bit. In fact, I may like it more.

It's an absurd story, saturated with humor. The trucks have decided to take over the streets of New York, and the first target is the motley crew of pushcart drivers. The pushcarts won't be pushed around, though. These eccentrics such as General Anna, Morris the Florist, Frank the Flower, and Maxie Hammerman, the Pushcart King, fight back with every means possible with hilarious results.

The books is so entertaining, but there is some depth to it. At its base, it reveals the absurdity of humanity and our petty drives and acts of selfishness that escalate even into war. There is a lot here for adults. There is also a lot of lessonse to be learned by children. It's truly a book for everyone to laugh at and learn from.

yo
This book's setting is in New York. The book is about a bunch of pushcarts and their drivers. The relationship between the pushcart drivers is very close and the pushcart drivers get mad at the truckers for running over a flower pushcart driver and start ordering pins to puncture truck tiers so they can get back at the truck drivers for what they have done Business couldn't have been better because the trucks are blocking the way of traffic. The story didn't really make sense in some spots. I didn't really like it that much. It gets kinda lame after the first 56 pages because he keeps rambling on about something completely off the subject like truck sizes. But I will give it 3 out of 5 stars because that the author can put more action in to it, way more action, if you read this story, I think you will agree.

the pee shoter
In this book you met the pushcart war king.The story takes place in the 70'.Where a war has broken out on the streets. the war is with the pushcarts and truckes.The pushcarters use an old weapon.The peeshoter which pops the trucks tires.The bisness's called the trucker to do bisenss.I do not whant to give to much of this story.ok.Gust read it and see what happens to the people.

A humorous account
The Pushcart War offers a humorous account of a social and economic dispute in New York City. As a 6th grade teacher, I am going to use this book in my lessons. The story had good humor but also good facts. It takes a very casual tone with the reader. I couldn't put it down! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Another Winner by Sharon Flake
Sharon Flake has successfully written another inspiring book dealing with inner-city youth. Money Hungry was another breath taking story about the problems that inner-city youth face today. Just as she did in The Skin I'm In, Sharon created characters so true to life that the reader feels so in touch with each character. In Money Hungry,Raspberry is so worried about living on the streets again, she is obsessed with having a security fund so that she and her Mother never have to face that horrific ordeal again. I already miss Raspberry and her friends. Finally, an author that grabs and holds the attention of my students who are so reluctant to read. With her books, my students do not want to stop reading, this being a major accomplishment. Don't expect to be able to put this one down. Thanks Sharon Flake for giving my students stories they can relate to. We are waiting for many more.

Truly Amazing!!!
I loved Money Hungry because Sharon Flake really captures the way life is. This book isn't a fantasy, it's life for some people. This book really made me appreciate what I have. Since I'm 10 years old I know what it's like to have money. You don't have to borrow your mom's money to buy things. I felt that this is what Rasberry (the main character) liked. She also seemed to like being able to have the feeling that she wouldn't ever have to live on the streets or be hungry, again. I would definatly(SP?)reccomend this book to everyone. I also read the sequel to this book: Begging for Change.

A masterpiece!
Money Hungry is a very good book for teens to read when they love stories that involve real life and real things. I love this book because I can realate to it, and I can picture myself being Raspberry Hill (the main character). Raspberry seems like she will really go places, like all of us want to. This is a great book by Sharon Flake. I recommend it very highly.

FROM A SHARON FLAKE READER
I THOUGHT THAT THE BOOK MONEY HUNGRY WAS EXCELLENT ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS TO READ IF THEY ARE OR THEIR FAMILY IS STRUGGLING WITH MONEY PROBLEMS .

SO I WOULD DEFIENTELY(SP?) GIVE THIS BOOK TEN STAR AS THE BEST BUT U CAN ONLY GIVE UP TP 5 SO I GIVE IT A FIVE!!

Money Makes the World Go ¿Round
Money Makes the World Go 'Round

Raspberry Hill is a young girl on a mission. After she and her mother left her crack-addicted father, they find themselves living on the streets. Raspberry is determined to make enough money so that she and her mother will never be forced to be homeless or hungry again. She enlists the help of her friends Ja'nae, Mai, and Zorro to make money by any legal means necessary.

Raspberry finds herself making a great deal of money and becomes obsessed with stashing enough money away that nothing else seems to matter. When one of her friend begins to borrow money without paying it back, Raspberry is faced with a dilemma, having to decide what she values more-money or friendship.

Sharon Flake has done an excellent job with this book. It is entertaining and shows the devastating affects of poverty. Flake also introduces several sub-plots through Raspberry's friends. Issues of abandonment, divorce, and being biracial are also discussed within the book. I highly recommend this novel to children and young adults as an eye opener about homelessness and poverty. I look forward to more works from this author, and would love to see a sequel or a separate book about each of Raspberry's friends.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kindergarten is just about to let out for the summer, and room 9 isgoing on a field trip to a farm. All the children squeal with joy--all but JunieB. Jones.

'Cause guess what? Farms are not my favorites.

Award-winning author Barbara Park has joined with illustrator Denise Brunkus tocreate a charmingly outrageous character with a precocious yet childish voicethat readers will never forget: "After that my heart got very poundy inside.'Cause I heard the sound of footprints, that's why." Brunkus's comical drawingsof Junie and her friends are the "bestest" ever. Don't miss any of thelaugh-out-loud titles in the Junie B. Jones series. (Ages 5 to 8)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (19)

mild giggle but fun
Junie B. Jones, the notorious protagonist of an extensive series of books for ages 4- 8, grapples with fear in the fifteenth of the series. Consistent with the rest of the series with the wordplay misunderstandings and farfetched children's logic that delights an adult reader as much as an early reader, Junie B. Jones has a Peep in her Pocket contains a more-existent plot cycle than the other members of the series. Preparing to participate in an end-of-year Kindergarten field trip to a farm, Junie becomes fearful first of ponies-due to an unfortunate "When Ponies Attack" movie she watched with a babysitter-then of roosters since "Meanie Jim" tells her that roosters "can peck your head into a nub."
After futilely trying to talk her way out of the farm visit, Junie grudgingly tours the farm until reaching the henhouse. The mild climax revolves around the henhouse visit where she holds-and becomes enamored with-a tiny, yellow peep that will grow to be a rooster. The farmer's explanation of the peep's future adult life gives Junie some confusion and the book ends soon thereafter.
Although sparse in plot suspense, substance, and character depth, the book is sure to delight readers looking for a light dose of humor. Many of the protagonist's amusing language errors will be overlooked by the younger child; the Kindergarten lingo has the danger of becoming grating to older children. The older reader can, however, sympathize with the trials of the adult characters who strive to bring enlightenment to a confused Junie. If the reader desires mild humor and a giggle, Junie B. Jones has a Peep in her Pocket is sure to be a hit.

A mom's opinion
My daughter discovered the Junie B. Jones books sometime in the middle of her elementary grade years. She is now in 7th grade, and still eagerly awaits each new addition to the series. We have had the most fun sharing them together. Long after she didn't really feel the need for me to read to her at bedtime anymore, we still spent that precious time reading the newest book to each other whenever we brought one home. I cherish not only that opportunity, but the fact that certain expressions or phrases or word combinations that come up in everyday life will remind both of us: "that sounds like Junie B. Jones!" It happens more often that one would think, and we have an instant inside joke that we can chuckle over together. Sometimes an awkward or difficult moment can be gotten through more easily because one of us will adopt Junie B's way of expressing her feelings. I must comment on the complaints about the grammar. I agree that it is not poor grammar - it is just Junie's unique way of naming and expressing from her naive point of view. If a parent feels worried that her child will be confused or mislead by Junie's usage, perhaps it is best to wait a year or two before reading these books, when the child can better appreciate Junie's naive, childlike viewpoint. In fact, it is all the more funny as the reader gets older and can better appreciate how really innocent she is at her kindergarten level. We all have our memories of how blind we were to certain realities of life when we were little. Thanks to Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones tells us how it is for her in the most hilarious way!

Junie B Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket
Junie B's class is going to a farm! But Junie B is scared of roosters! Will she go to Farm Day? Read it to find out!

Junie B. jones Has a Peep in her pocket
I thouht it was a really good book.I think it was very funny book.I loved raeding it because I like to read.It was cool.

If You Like Farms Read this Junie B Jones
In Junie B Jones has a Peep in her Pocket by Barbra Parks, Junie B Jones is scared of roosters! She doesn't want to go on the field trip to the farm.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did .You will have to find out what happens next, because I won't give away the ending!

Student from G.P ... Read more

Book Description

Let's round 'em up and move 'em along! In words and pictures, Gail Gibbons captures all the excitement and adventure of the Wild West. Her colorful watercolors deftly re-create cowboys' clothing, equipment, and lifestyle, and the lively text includes descriptions of famous cowboys and cowgirls, as well as historical facts. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A nice introduction to farming.
This book provides basic information on farms and has colorful illustrations. The book shows what farms look like during the four seasons and describes the necessary chores for each season. It also discusses different types of farms and different farm animals. My second grade class enjoys reading this book as part of our farm unit. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Refreshing
This is the first time I've ever read an S.E. Hinton book, and I must say that it's iffy if I read another. Taming the Star Runner had a great plot, but it could have been given a more in depth look. Taming is about a 16 year old boy going through problems and is sent to live with his uncle. His uncle happens to live on a ranch where he meets a girl named Casey who he starts to like. A friend of his comes to visit and he realizes that change doesn't have to be a bad thing.
Although the book is quick paced and thrilling, it is pretty 2 dimensional. I felt no real depth within the characters to feel more close to them - and depth in character makes a book more enjoyable.

This was the best story I have ever read.
If I had to choose from a rating of 1-10, Taming the Star Runner, would be a 10. I have always wanted to live on a farm. I thought this book had alot of emossional ups and downs. I like how a bad, non-emossional, punk, turns into a caring, emossional, young man. There was a little bit of everything in the story. There was love, anger, sadness, and happiness. It gave me a good lesson on drinking and its consequences. It really shows me what a bad step-father is like. My step-father is no where near as bad as Stan. It taught me to be sure to choose the right friends and the right descisions in life. Taming the Star Runner was the best book I have ever read.

Good plotline, but its end was unsatisfying
This was a great book, and I really liked how it progressed, but at the end everything stopped way too abrubtly. It was almost like S.E. Hinton wanted to kill off all her characters, but settled with ending a blossoming relationship, killing a horse, and taking a person's newfound view on life and destroying it. I think that the end of a book is the most important part, and this one left me unsatisfied and angry at the author.

Travis the main character
Taming the star runner is about a boy that goes to jail for attemted murder for trying to kill his step father because he saw him throwing his books and writings in the fire. Once he got out of jail he went to live with his uncle to help around the ranch and to stay from stand the step father, but he is have a hard time with making friends at his new school.

Great book by S.E Hinton
Anyone that is a fan of the book The Outsiders should definitly read Taming the Star Runner. Both books are by S.E Hinton. Taming the Star Runner is a typical teenage novel that involves drugs, murder, and love. I would reccomend it for anyone between the ages of 13 and 20.
In the book, Travis is ordered by the court to go live with his uncle. Trvis is a punk teenager that lives in the city with his Mom and his Step-dad. Travis is also a very good writer. In the book he writes a novel and tries to sell it to a publisher. at one point in the book his uncle says "I didn't think you were capable of writing a compound sentence".This book's moral is that people shouldn't judge other people before they get to know them.
This truly is a great book. I, for one, love books by S.E Hinton. However, most greay things in life have a downfall just like this book. This book is very hard to get into. there are 181 pages and the climax is around page 160. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a book about farm animals, and what happens during one year on a farm.

In January, the cows stay in the barnyard, and the chickens don't lay many eggs. By March, you can tell spring is coming: the barn is filled with baby animals. Month by month, the animals at Maple Hill Farm sense the changing seasons and respond to the changes.

Through gently humorous text and charming illustrations, Alice and Martin Provensen capture one year at their beloved Maple Hill Farm in a way sure to delight city slickers and country folk alike. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Outstanding in every way
This has been a favorite book of ours for years and years and years. "The Year at Maple Hill Farm" is written and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provenson. It documents, from January through December, the hard tasks and simple pleasures inherent in life on a farm--everything from bird migrations to the foaling of the horses to lazy summer days spent doing nothing more important swatting flies.

Humans and animals co-exist peacefully here. The illustrations are simple and gently colored, with subtle detail sprinkled throughout. The animals are given a great deal of personality (see especially the cats, who are wonderfully quirky) and the story itself, while utterly basic and free of frills, has an undertow of narrative propulsion that makes each page seem a natural outgrowth of the previous page.

I can't recommend the book highly enough. If you live in the country, you will recognize so much of what is here. If you live in the city, you will welcome the peaceful rhythms of this charming book. ... Read more

Book Description

Madison in New York, co-authored by the first lady of New York State, Libby Pataki, takes children on a tour of wonderful New York City, from the Brooklyn Bridge and Chinatown to Central Park and Times Square.Eight-year-old Madison wants to show her puppy, New Yorkey, her favorite city in the world, New York! ... Read more

Book Description

Whooo-ooo!Train's a' coming!James can't wait to get on board and go visit his uncle way up north in New York City. But he also just wishes he could take a little bit of home along with him-things like baseball games, and the special birthday cake Mama always makes. Will Uncle Romie, who's some kind of artist, know about things like that?

Young readers will feel as if they're discovering the city's wonders, and making an unexpected friend, right along with James in this vibrant story, expressively illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Jerome Lagarrigue.

A how-to section on storytelling collages and a short biography of Romare Bearden are included. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Doesn't Do the Artist Justice
Maybe it's because I'd just read "Uncle Andy's"-- another children's book about a famous artist--that I so disliked this one. Where the former is light and hip and fun, the latter is heavy-handed, preachy and uninspiring. The tone is far too serious for the subject, and for the age range of its intended audience. The illustrations, while interesting to adults, don't seem vibrant enough to catch a child's attention.

Finally, there's a minor event in the story that could, and should have been omitted or changed to something else: in order to get the child narrator alone with his uncle Romare, the author uses the literary device of having Aunt Nettie receive a phone call that an old aunt has died and she has to go to the funeral. What a thoughtless detail that cannot possibly remain minor! This book, remember, is directed at four to eight year olds. At the latter end of that range, some children *might* be coming to an awareness of death--but it's not a given, and certainly not the case for a four-year-old. Just the word funeral is a show-stopper. You can be sure it won't be glossed over by any curious child, and so we're stopped in our tracks, diverted from the main story, while we veer off into a discussion of funerals and death. I'm not saying we need to avoid these discussions--far from it-- but in a book about an artist and the joy of art it's intrusive and inappropriate.

I bought this book, along with Uncle Andy's, for my two grandsons, aged 4 and 6. I'm not giving them this one, at least not yet. I don't want to spoil the fun of the Warhol book, and the death talk can wait until they're ready for it.

This Is The Perfect Book
When I bought this book for my kid, I didn't quite know what to expect. I was very excited to find that this is a book that I can enjoy with my child. This wonderful book with a heart-warming story and beautiful pictures was able to do something I thought no book could: teach something important to a child and allow the child to have fun. This book is good for kids of all ages and for parents of all ages too. ... Read more

Book Description

When Bo spots what he thinks is a "rip-roarin', rootin'-tootin', shiny red armadillo," he knows what he has to do. Follow that armadillo! Bo leaves his mother and three brothers behind and takes off for a two-stepping, bronco-bucking adventure. Jan Brett turns her considerable talents toward the Texas countryside in this amusing story of an armadillo on his own. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Armadillo Befriends Boot
A slightly different tale from Jan Brett. Gone is the European feel of so many of her books. It is replaced by a healthy jargon-filled dose of American Western. Gone are the hedgehogs; welcome the armadillos.

Bo is one of four armadillo brothers. He tends to be curious and wander so his mother tries to keep a close watch on him. Like all armadillos, Bo's eyesight is not very good. So one day while he is following a lizard, he sees a red cowboy boot and thinks it is a red armadillo.

The boot in question is being worn by a young girl who is trying to scuff them up so she won't look like a tenderfoot at the rodeo. But Bo does not see the girl, or the other boot for that matter. Instead, he thinks he has found a playful new friend.

Chasing after the boot, Bo has many experiences while his mother and brothers search for him (as seen in the side panels). Bo's adventure takes him across the rodeo arena, to a bar-b-que, into an encounter with a jalapeno, to a barn dance, a hayloft, and ultimately to the truth about his new friend.

In the end we learn that while Bo has learned the truth of his day's adventures, he knows just what to do when he feels a little mischievous.

I usually give Jan Brett's books five stars but gave this one only four. I did that only because of the heavy use of Western jargon that needs to be explained to young ears in order for the story to make sense. But it is still a very fun book with beautiful illustrations.

The book I have the most fun reading aloud to my 7-year old!
My sister, a nearby neighbor of Jan Brett's, discovered this book and sent it to my then 5-year old son for his birthday. Bo's nearsighted adventures entertain; and his being lost and not knowing he's lost delights my son. Most children will envy Bo's adventure to the rodeo and understand his curioisity. Having developed quite the Texas "accent and attitude" while reading this book, it's at the top of our list of all-time favorites. Thank you Jan Brett!

A book this Texas girl loved!
In my opinion, this is one of Jan Brett's best. Her thorough research aided in her creating a book my second grade, rural,Texas students really enjoyed reading. So much media gives a distorted view of Texas life. This book gave a picture that my kids could relate to. Bo, the armadillo, searched for adventure in a setting that truly depicted our Texas countryside, from the prickly pear cactus to the bluebonnets. Bo's troubles finding a friend made the children laugh and want to read to find out what would happen next. I plan to use this book in my classroom for many years to come

Exciting adventure story for young children.
Bo is a lovable Texas armadillo who longs for adventure. Because he is near sighted, he mistakes a cowboy boot for a fellow armadillo. Together they romp through the Texas countryside. All the while, Bo's mother is looking for her missing son. You'll love reading about Bo's adventures. I attended a luncheon at which Jan Brett described how she went about writing this book. She and her husband went to Texas and researched the region and life style. Hearing her story of the background search greatly enhanced my pleasure in reading this book to my first grade students. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (12)

Miracles on Maple Hill is an outstanding book.
Miracles on Maple Hill is an outstanding book that warms your heart. Miracles on Maple Hill is about a family who moves to their grandmother's house on Maple Hill and there are changes that appear in everyone. The father is more easy-going. The mother is happier because her husband isn't morose anymore. The kids are more adventurous. It's a really good family adventure story that is beautifully written by Virginia Sorensen. Characters: Marly is a little bit cowardly and generous and she kind of jealous of her older brother. Joe is courageous and very, very outgoing. Miracles on Maple Hill is a great book that you can read anytime and anywhere!

Wonderful Book!
I can't say anymore than that!The experiences of a family helping old friends with their maple syrup crop are told from the little girls point of view. The descriptions of the countryside, it's flowers, trees, animals are so vivid and beautiful! Get your flora and fauna guides out for this one! It's a charming story with happy ending. Is there a sequal?

The Best!!
This is an awesome book!I think Everyone will like it as much as i did ! It had great facts about Maple trees. I enjoyed the ending and I think Everyone Will Love this book!!!

Deidre
I think that the book was very interesting. It has a lot of details that help you understand the book. I also like the ending.

Adequate
Somewhat interesting period piece with "back-to-the-farm" as its basis. Think: "Field of Dreams" but with maple syrup as the common theme ("If you tap them, they will come"?). Also, the book addresses adult subjects such as psychological damage from WW II in a very matter-of-fact and appropriate way. However, the book doesn't really deliver anything extraordinary. OK for your 10-year-old girl to read, or to read to her. Not on par with "Little House in the Big Woods" or "The Young Master." ... Read more

Book Description

This special lift-the-flap book transforms the Little People® town into a wonderful place to explore early learning concepts. Children can learn about colors, food, vehicles, counting, matching, and what people do by opening dozens of surprise-filled flaps. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

not as good as the little peoples farm book
My son and I have really enjoyed the Little People Lift Tabs books but this one was not as enjoyable as some of the others. ... Read more

Book Description

Mile 1 books entice brand-new readers with rhyme, rhythm, andrepetition.The type is big, the words are easy, and the art is bright andbold., , Poor Dog.He's awfully hot!But Momwon't share her lemonade.Catwon't share his shady spot on the porch.And Skunk's making a real stinkaboutsharing his hollow log.What does a hot Dog have to do to get cool? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Love This Book
The illustrations in this book are hilarious, The text is perfect for children that are just starting to read.Simple one syllable words with two to three words per page. But the best part of this book is the illustrations, I just love them. The dog spends the entire book hot and trying to cool off. Every attempt he makes fails until the very end. You find your yourself rooting for the dog. This is one of my son't favorite books, he wants to read it every night.

Fun Story
I am a Pre-Kindergarten teacher and I introduced this story to my class on the first day of school after we get in from the playground. They love it and relate to the hot little dog in the story.

This book is ideal for a child and an adult to sit and read together. It has predictable and easy words and the kids have fun watching the dog do anything to cool off on a hot day.

When I read it to the class, they enjoy it so much they take it from storytime and read it themselves. This is the kind of book that enspirers young people to have a love for reading. They realize that reading is fun and can be easy too. This book was favorite from the first day.

"Hot Dog" Rates #1 in my Classroom!
I have begun to use these Road to Reading books in my resource classroom and the students love them. They especially loved Hot Dog. Many of the words are on the state mandated word lists for K-2. The pictures are terrific and the story is interesting and funny to the kids. I thought it was great too-in fact we all fell in love with the little "Hot Dog".

Excellent Kids starter book
This book was the first one our daughter (4) read by herself. It's pretty good and is at the level of the old "see spot run" books. It's about thirty pages and has nice color pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Join Laura and her family on their journey across the flat Kansas prairie. There are gophers and rabbits to play with in the daytime, and a cozy camp awaits at night. Renée Graef's enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth Williams' classic artwork, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life in this ninth title in the My First Little House Books series, picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Trip Down Memory Lane
I am the mother of a two year old daughter and was delighted to find the magic of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books captured in a format that is perfect for small children. As a child, I became fascinated with the adventures of Laura, Mary and their baby sister Carrie. Prairie Day is a synopsis of the Little House on the Prairie book. With vivid drawings that have been inspired by the artwork on the original covers by Garth Williams, Renee Graef manages to convey the story in pictures that have captured the imagination of my daughter. I look forward to sharing with her the original books in the future, but meanwhile we will continue to enjoy the series of books that Prairie Day is a part of. ... Read more

Book Description

With the forces of nature conspiring against them, Papa Bear perseveres and finds the perfect spot for the Bear family picnic. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Ode to the Misconception Stall for Papa Bear!
This story was a favorite of our four children for many years!If you don't know it, check it out!

Papa Bear is an impetuousfellow. In this humorous and beautifully illustrated poem, he promises to take Mother Bear and their son "to the very best place in the world" for a picnic. The poem nicely lays out many examples of stalled thinking, and will encourage youngsters reading the book to check out their assumptions before they leap.

Papa Bear actually has a spot in mind where he and Mother Bear used to go. The only problem is . . . there's a smoky train that goes by that formerly idyllic spot now. Unwilling to admit that he may have been subject to the tradition stall (believing that things are unchangingly perfect), he charges off to try again. Before the Bear family is done, they will have found a big picnic full of other rowdy animals, mosquitos, trash in a dump, an airplane glide path, rain, and dangerous lightning.

Sure enough, they trudge home . . . and have their picnic on their dining room table. Which is a round about way of saying that there's no place like home.

Children will learn to question authority as well, having seen that Papa Bear can be so wrong.

These are a lot of good lessons in one short, enjoyable book.

Overcome your stalled thinking about how soon your children can start to improve their thinking with this book!

Trouble again for the Bear Family!
The Bear Family is at it again in another wonderful book from the Berenstains. As usual, Papa Bear's ideas and plans backfire on the whole whole family as they try to find the perfect place for a picnic. My children loved this book and I did as well.

The Bears Picnic
I thought this book was cute for kids between the ages of 4-8. Its not a learning book, but its cute and it also rhymes, what kind of kid doesnt like a rhyming book? I read this book when i was younger, I thought it was so funny how they had to keep leaving the "perfect picnic spot". Now that I'm older I don't think its as funny. But it will keep any child occupied, i would recommend this book to any young child.

The berenstain's picnic
The berenstain's picnic is about bears going on a picnic but they cant find a place to stop and eat without troble.The lesson is dont go on picnic's. The age level is 1st grade. It was a good book.

this book was kind of annoying
ok we get the point you couldn't find a picnic spot i mean wow that book was just ratteling on and on about how they couldn't find a picnic spot.. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

See How the Rest of the World Lives
I thought this was a great book. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. The characters are well-drawn, especially Joe and Luisa. The ending is quite suspenseful. The situations are thought-provoking. This is one of the best multicultural books I have ever read. I recommend it highly, especially for every American kid who feels deprived because they don't have enough. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Trixie Keeps Plenty Busy on this Vacation
Christmas vacation is coming, but the Bob-Whites aren't dreaming of a white Christmas. Their hopes are set on Di's Uncle Monty who has promised all of them a vacation to his dude ranch in Arizona. But the trip almost doesn't come off. Trixie needs to study to bring her grades up. And when they arrive, Monty is having a crisis. Seems most of his staff has vanished with no warning and no explanation during the busiest time of the year. Where did they go? The Bob-Whites agree to take over the chores, but with Trixie's studies, will she ever get to have any fun? And that doesn't take into account the mysteries surrounding the other staff members and a few guests. Will these distract Trixie from her studies?

This was the last book series creator Julie Campbell wrote. It's not her best with lots of background on Arizona and Indian culture slowing the story down. The mystery, once it does get going, focuses on what is going on in people's lives. There are so many things happening I found it interesting even if it's not a traditional type mystery. Spending time with Trixie and her friends is always enjoyable, and the efforts they go through to make Christmas enjoyable for all is entertaining as well.

This was the second book I read many years ago when I was first getting into the series. While it's not up there with Julie Campbell's best, it's still and entertaining read that holds a special place in my heart.

Trixie, Honey and the Other Bob-Whites are Back!
Rereading the Trixie volumes is an annual summer celebration for me, and I am in my 50's.

I grew up reading about the adventures of Trixie and Honey. Since we did not live near a library, my mom would buy me two novels a week for pleasure reading during the summer. She picked up the SECRET OF THE MANSION after she noticed that in the first paragraph that the main character was "horse crazy," just like me! Actually, Volume #6 MYSTERY IN ARIZONA was my most favorite since it takes place closer to home and on a ranch.

That was it! I was hooked! I still have my original volumes and have collected many used ones in the entire collection. Since some of my volumes have increased in value, I would hesitate rereading them every year. So now I am buying the entire new collection (well, the first 15 that they are reprinting) in the library binding. As long as Random House reprints additional volumes (hopefully up to #39), I'll buy them.

Also, I am hooked on audio books and am purchasing the audio books that they are making available.

What a treat! If you are revisiting the adventures as an adult, or introducing your sons and daughters to these wonderful and wholesome stories, happy reading! ... Read more

Amazon.com

One sunny day on Merryhill Farm, all the trucks are busily toiling,including Trundle the Tractor and Bee-Bee the Backhoe. All, that is, except forone rusty old forgotten fellow: Dumpy the Dump Truck. Relegated to the weedsbehind the barn, Dumpy has been gathering dust and mouse nests for a long time.And it looks like the end is near when Farmer Barnes decides it's time for theold barn to come down, and Dumpy to be, well, dumped. "But I love Dumpy," saysCharlie, the farmer's son. "It's so sad to get rid of something you love just tomake room for something new." His grandfather, Pop-Up, agrees, and before theyknow it, the two are up to their ears in grease, paint, and tools. But can theyfinish sprucing up Dumpy before the barn has to come down?

Dumpy the Dump Truck is the first in a series about the trucks andtractors of Merryhill Farm by Julie Andrews Edwards (author of The Last of the Really GreatWhangdoodles and LittleBo: The Story of Bonnie Boadicea , and beloved star of MaryPoppins and The Sound of Music) and Emma Walton Hamilton. Loyalty,teamwork, and an ever-so-subtle message about the value of the elderly are atthe heart of this book. After all, Pop-Up isn't ready to be dumped yet either!Tony Walton's watercolors are filled with friendly-featured vehicles andpleasantly scratchy-looking farm animals and humans. If you like Dumpy, don't miss Dumpy at School! (Ages 4 to 7) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I have grown to HATE this book!!!
I have read this book at least once a day for the past year. I HATE IT! My son loves it. He is 2.5 now, but dumpy was one of his first vocab words. This is not a modern book, but a slow paced family oriented view of life as it was/ought to be. Be prepared to be animated and read with lots of noises. The whole collection is full of them. Thanks to these books, my son can tell the difference between a backhoe and a bulldozer and a rooster and a chicken.

Refreshing alternative to glitzy materialism and violence
Dumpy and its sequels tell the story of a seemingly abandoned truck that is discovered, refurbished, and given a new life. It is such a delightful parable about objects discarded in haste and a metaphor for what people may do to each other. The story is the begining of a collaboration between actress/singer Julie Andrews Edwards and daughter Emma Kate Walton Hamilton. Emma Kate's father, Tony Walton, is the ilustrator.

I trust this will be the beginning of a long collaborative effort.

A Sweet, Gentle Story
As the story begins, everyone is hard at work on Merryhill Farm...Bee-Bee the Backhoe, Trundle the Tractor. Everyone, that is except Dumpy. He's old, rusty and broken and stuck in the tall grass behind the barn. There are birds and mice living in the stuffing of his leather seats and it looks like his work days at Merryhill Farm are over. Farmer Barnes is planning on having him towed away to make room for a new and bigger barn and this makes his son, Charlie sad. "It's so sad to get rid of something you love just to make room for something new." His grandfather, Pop-Up agrees and they hatch a plan to save Dumpy. First they pull him out of the tall weeds and clean him up. They scrub and polish, mend and paint, get him new tires and then go to work on the engine. And in no time, Dumpy's better than ever, looking good and back to work, helping to raise the new barn..... Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Hamilton have written a charming, endearing story about love, teamwork and purpose that will delight youngsters aged 3-7. Their gentle text, full of imagery and sound effects, is complimented by Tony Walton's colorful and expressive artwork and together, they have authored a story with the subtle message that big and new isn't always better. Dumpy the Dump Truck is the first in what should be a wonderful new series, that you little ones are sure to enjoy.

Dumpy the Dump Truck
This book tells a nice story with fun illustrations. Readers might also enjoy The Little Black Truck by Libba Moore Gray, which was written before Dumpy and tells a similar story with wonderful illustrations "that blanket rural life and the little black truck in an aura of affection.." Booklist

Apple Harbor is adorable!
This is a sweet children's story. It's charming, beautifullyillustrated, and seems destined for classic status; the fact that it is first in a series makes it even more appealing. ... Read more