Book Description

A story filled with suspense and humor, this classic tale of a town mouse and a country mouse takes a new twist in the imaginative and talented hands of Jan Brett. She introduces two engaging mouse couples eager to get away from their everyday lives. But when they agree to swap homes, they find unexpected adventures around every corner. Lush green scenes alternate with the elegant details of a fine Victorian townhouse to make a sumptuous and stunning picture book. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

PEEKING ENCOURAGED
Children often hear "No peeking!" A clever book designer encourages them to peek in this story of two mice cousins who temporarily trade residences.

Cleverly placed peepholes encourage youngsters to peek and see what new adventure awaits each mouse before turning the page.

Not only is this a fun book, but there's also a moral to the story: There's no place like home!

Classic tale with beautiful illustrations
This book tells the "grass-is-always-greener" story of the city mouse and the country mouse. One day, the city mouse wakes up and decide he is unhappy with his lot in life. He and his wife pack a picnic lunch and go off for a holiday in the country. There they meet the country mouse, who is enthralled by the smell of city cheese, and the mice decide to do a house swap. However, they each find that they don't have the skills and knowledge necessary for survival in the other's environment. Attacked by cats and besodden in a thunderstorm, they rethink the arrangement and return home. Very young children may find some of the predators a bit scary, but older children should be able to handle the tension and enjoy the humor as well. The book has about 1100 words.

SWITCHING PLACES =)
A good moral book. I agree! It talks about how these mouse familys switch places to see how eachother lives and to see what it is like to live like eachother! A GOOD BOOK!

Good Moral
In this Fable there are two mouse couples. One couple lives in the town the other in the country. One day the two mice cross paths and decide to switch homes because both couples have always wanted to live in the opposite place. After a short while in the town the country mice decide that rather than being refined and interesting it is way to loud and busy. They are so scared by the town. Meanwhile in the country the town mice are going crazy with the dirt and the noise of nature, after all they expected it to be peaceful. The Town mice come across an owl and are so frightened that they decide to leave so they run as fast as they can. The town mice end up bumping into the country mice that are running from a scary cat they met up with. In a hurry the two couples exchange comments and return to their original homes and have never been so happy to be there.
I loved this story. It well told with vivid pictures that immediately catch the eye. This is a great story because there is a lesson to be learned. The author wants to illustrate the importance of appreciating where you are. Although it may not be perfect, it is always better then somewhere else. Also things are not always what they seem or as easy as they seem. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Enjoyable
I generally love Jan Brett's work and "Town Mouse Country Mouse" is no exception. As with all of Brett's stories, there is the title story and usually one or two going on in the margins. The title story was superb and beautiful. However, the margin story of the cat and the owl I disliked. I understand they were necessary as an element of suspense when they entered the title story, but they detracted not only from the presentation of the book but the actual fable as well. I like this book, but Brett's "The Hat," "The Mitten," or "Beauty and the Beast" are much more unified in coherance between the title story and the margin stories. Happy Reading! ... 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 (3)

all of a kind family uptown
I think all of a kind family is a wonderful story with a bit of everything. Happy times,sad times and even times of love.

The family moves to the Bronx
Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, Gertie, and baby Charlie move with their parents from New York's lower East Side to the Bronx in this wonderful sequel. In this story, Ella's beau joins the army to fight for the cause in WWI. You briefly learn about how the city was coping with the war over seas and about more Jewish traditions. This story is an educational delight for all ages and should be reprinted for the next generation of readers.

A great children's book - why is it out of print?
...I loved the entire series as a child, and this book was noexception. This book is also an excellent learning tool for children,Jewish or non-Jewish looking to learn more about Jewish culture in the earlier part of this century. The author writes with such a genuine affection for her subjects (her own family, apparently), the reader can't help but be drawn into the world of the story...END ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Following up on the classic children's novel The Saturdays, Elizabeth Enright continues the engaging tale of the Melendys family—Mona, Rush, Randy, Oliver, Father, and Cuffy, the housekeeper—and their move from an old brownstone in New York City to a charming house in the country. Called the Four-Story Mistake for its odd look and confused architectural history, the house offers the Melendys wonderful quirks and surprises.And though they are disappointed about leaving the city, the four children soon become absorbed in the adventures of the country, discovering the many hidden attractions that the Four-Story Mistake has to offer! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Move To The Head Of The Class
Elizabeth Enright's The Four - Story Mistake (1942) focuses on a once - strong tradition that has all but disappeared from the American home: individual and family cultural development. Today, when America has largely become a nation where most people view rather than do, a novel like The Four - Story Mistake can be a healthy inspiration for children and young people concerned with improving themselves in addition to simply enjoying life. The second title in Enright's Melendy family series, the book focuses on the four children's (Mona, Rush, Randy, and Oliver) adventures after moving from New York City to a fairly isolated house in the country.

Though the story follows the children as they explore the meadows, brooks, pastures, cellars, cupolas, and mysterious locked rooms of their new home, the book also subtly focuses on the children's developing talents and cultural interests. These include Rush's composing, piano lessons, and classical musicianship, Mona's acting, Randy's sketching, painting, and dancing, and the sibling's love of producing musical and dramatic variety shows for interested audiences. Enright is clearly so comfortable and familiar with this forwarding - reaching lifestyle that she is able to illustrate it without the slightest sense of pretension or priggish self - consciousness. The Melendy children are merely living life as they have been raised to live it; they accept their father's guidance but constantly discover new enthusiasms of their own as well. For instance, when Rush is sick and confined to bed, he's either reading a book or writing a short story called "The Ghost In The Dumbwaiter." Mona, a budding actress, naturally also devotes time to amateur playwriting. Readers won't find it difficult to imagine the family's library or the leather - bound volumes of The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, My Antonio, Roughing It, The House of the Seven Gables, or War And Peace that line its shelves.

However, the Melendy children are not merely sensitives or hermits happily sequestered away in an ivory tower. They also build tree houses, buy war bonds, sneak out of the house when they're supposed to be in bed, get into fist fights, struggle with their arithmetic, tune into radio programs, crash their bicycles into the backs of buses, knit, solve historical mysteries, ice skate, keep a small alligator in a bathtub, and make friends with the garbage collector as well as the local family of eccentrics.

The Four - Story Mistake is the kind of book that will cause readers to briefly wonder why children's fantasy novels are necessary. Enright had a special gift for revealing the miraculous in the commonplace and for showing readers that wonders never cease if people not only know where to look, but how. The book is also illustrated with Enright's own beautifully fluid drawings, each which suggests carefree days, happy comradery, and easy fellowship.

The Four-Story Mistake
Although I bought this book for my 9-year old daughter, I decided to read it one Saturday afternoon when my supply of reading material ran out. I thoroughly enjoyed the book - it's a terrific story, the characters are wonderful, and the focus on family and the lack of "electronic entertainment" make it a book full of important lessons that have been mostly lost for kids today.
I wish, however, that I had realized that the book reveals the secrets behind Christmas - because of this, I have hidden the book until my daughter discovers this truth on her own. Kids today have too little magic in their lives, so I'm thankful that I read the book BEFORE she did. Please keep this in mind before ordering it for your child.

Momentum Retained
This second in the Melendy series is at least as good as the first, and perhaps even better. Not only do all the "family"--the four children, their father, housekeeper Cuffy, and handyman Willy Sloper, plus dear friend Mrs. Oliphant--return, but there's a wonderful new (actually Victorian) house in upstate New York, new friends (many of them adult), and the beginning of Mona's longed-for career as a serious professional actress. Slightly accident-prone Randy continues her pattern (running her bike into the back of the Carthage bus, spraining her ankle while ice-skating), and Rush finds a way to contribute to the family finances. Like all the best juvenile writers of her era, Enright "talks" to her audience as if they were intelligent human beings, which makes the book thoroughly as enjoyable by adults as by kids, and in fact an excellent family read-aloud. Not to be missed.

Rechauffe The Saturdays
The Saturdays is one of my childhood favorites, upon which I look back and sigh. Gone-Away Lake did not have the same snap. The old people living alone beside a lake, each in a house by him or herself; the lonesome scenery; the uninteresting kids; all in all it's a weird and unnourishing read. The story itself is no gem, but what bothered me more was the hollow echo of the rest of Enright's works throughout the story: half the phraseology is taken from her other stories. This is bothersome in large part because her other stories are so deliciously good. Why this one won an award is way beyond me.

Best book of my childhood
For my 11th birthday my aunt gave me "The Melendy Family". I would list it as one of my top, desert-island, comfort reads. The quality of Mrs. Enright's writing is excellent; these books should never be out of print. I appreciated children who had experiences which made me want to broaden my knowledge. Mrs. Enright drops Shakespearean quotes, references to classical music and such-like into ordinary, everyday experiences, treating her readers with an intelligent sensitivity. These are books that grow with you, even if a child doesn't understand all the references, it's delightful to go back to and get the gist at a later age. (Even Beatrix Potter dropped the word "soporific" into "The Flopsy Bunnies"!) This is how a good writer should treat young readers, and this is how they learn with pleasure and enjoyment of a shared experience. Not to mention that the characters and situations make for a wonderful read. I have just ordered the other available Enright books, and expect to enjoy them as much as the Melendy series. ... Read more

Book Description

The relatives' station wagon: it smelled like a real car, looked like a rainbow, and was roomy enough for a crowd.

Lucky! Because a big crowd in all shapes and sizes piled into that old wagon at four o'clock one summer morning and piled out of it the next day at their relatives' place on the north side of the mountains. All in good moods.

The visitors settled in everywhere throughout the house, laughing and making music and hugging everyone from the kitchen to the front room. And they stayed for weeks.

Cynthia Rylant's words and Stephen Gammell's pictures take warm delight in the time the relatives came -- when two sides of a family made one roomy middle. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Hug after hug after hug!
This children's book is a joyous and hilarious visit by a very large family to relatives in another State. Although everything gets very hectic, when the relatives finally leave, everyone seems to miss the visitors right away and already are looking forward to the next visit. I think that every family can relate to this story. The book was illustrated by Stephen Gammell and it was a 1986 Caldecott Honor book (that is, a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.

Wonderful Memory of a Family Reunion
This is a delightful and sweet story of a family traveling to visit relatives. The illustrations really bring the book to life. This is a great summer story for any child, but is especially fun and perfect for my 5 year old son who does better with new situations if he is able to have a sort of preview of what it is going to be like. We originally checked this book out from the library but have purchased a copy to keep. He loves to read the book and look at our photos from our family reunion trip.

Reminds me.....
I and my family are from Virginia. This is just the way we are when we visit family in other states...we sleep on the floor, eat lots of food, everything! I am going to purchase this book to send to my niece. I hope that she remembers when her family comes from Virginia to do all the things in the book. When she misses us, she can read the story and think about us.

the relatives came
This is a great book for kids ages 3-9. It is a good book for young people because I think it teaches kids no matter what all ways love your family and they will love you back. I read this for English class and if I have a choice to read it again I would. It is about a family that comes from another state to visit their relatives, they get there hug for hours on end and eat dinner then go to bed. There's not enough beds for everyone so each person has a arm or leg on them but, they don't mind at all because there with family. I loved the book personally and I think kids would too. After the age 10 or so they might think the book is childish, any age 9 and under I think would love it.

Challenged Book
This book was selected to be included on a banned book list. While taking Children's Literature at West Virginia State College I was given the opportunity from Mr. Samples to explore the possible reasons why this book was challenged. After unlimited amount of time researching this book I never found a concrete answer why. Also, I did not find who had selected the book to be on the list. I did however have my own opinion of the possible reason. One of the illustrations in the book showed two cousins sleeping together, each were of the opposite sex. This would be the only "flaw" this book would have, overall this is a great book. I would highly recommend using this book with your students in a classroom. This book celebrates the meaning of family with hugs and more hugs. Please enjoy reading and re-reading The Relatives Came. ... Read more

Book Description

Long, long ago, a little girl named Laura Ingalls lived in a little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their good old bulldog, Jack. One spring day Pa has a wonderful surprise--he is taking the family on a trip into town! Laura is very excited, for she has never been to a town, and this special visit is everything she imagined and more.

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 storybooks. RenÉe Graef's warm paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life.

1995 ‘Pick of the Lists’ (ABA) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Perfect Introduction to the Little House Series...
Adapted deftly from the Little House series made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this gorgeous picture book tells of Laura's first day trip with her family from the Big Woods to the nearby town of Pepin Wisconsin. The writing is charming and warm, the typeface perfect for reading aloud or independently. The illustrations, inspired by Garth Williams' originals, are extraordinary...absolutely beautiful! I would not consider this adaptation to be a "dumbed down" version of the originals, nor it is too juvenile for older readers. Rather it is a perfect transition piece which lends itself to wonderful cuddling and conversation, both of which are important for developing strong readers no matter how old they may be.

I would also recommend the hardcover editions. They last longer through many readings and make reading aloud feel like a real treat.

Enjoy.

Great series of books
When I was a kid my dad got me the whole Little House series of books. I loved them and read them for years. Now I have 2 daughters of my own and I'm thrilled to be able to introduce them to the Little House books at a younger age. The illustrations are great and the stories are well written. As I'm reading them to my daughters I remember the stories when I read them as a kid. Fun for all of us!

enchanting book for all youngsters
THIS INTRODUCTION TO THE LAURA INGALLS' BOOKS IS EASY TO READ, DELIGHTFUL TO LOOK AT AND AN ENCHANTMENT, IN MY OPINION, FOR YOUNGSTERS OF ALL AGES. EVEN OLDER CHILDREN WILL APPRECIATE ITS GENTLE HONESTY AND GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's springtime, and Farmer Brown is shearing his sheep: "Clip-clip,buzz-buzz, / He took their wool and left them fuzz." Naked, the pink-cheekedsheep begin to shiver as the temperature drops. They watch in dismay when FarmerBrown gathers up the bags of wool to deliver to Mr. Greene, who cleans and cardsit. "'BAAA!' they cried. 'We want it back!'" But their bleating is to no avail.Farmer Brown continues on his rounds, visiting the yarn spinner and the dyerbefore he finally realizes that his poor lambs are frigidly following him. Hescurries back to his farm and sets to work--knitting each one a bright, colorfulsweater!

The third in the Farmer Brown series, after Farmer Brown Goes Round andRound and The Thing ThatBothered Farmer Brown, this "yarn about wool" is as charmingly silly asits predecessors. Children can learn about the process of turning wool into theyarn that becomes the sweaters on their backs, while sympathizing with thesomewhat ineffective sheep who must become all tangled up in yarn beforeclueless Farmer Brown catches on to their plight. However, never let it be saidthat Farmer Brown doesn't have a heart. His magnanimous solution to the sheep'ssituation teaches a perfectly palatable lesson in thoughtfulness. Nadine BernardWestcott's stubbly-chinned Farmer Brown and rosy-bottomed sheep are positivelyhuggable. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Super great!
This tale of Farmer Brown has quickly become one of our family favorites. My two year-old loves the rhyming text, and my six year-old enjoys knowing how the wool is made into yarn and eventually into clothing. Also, as a teacher, it is wonderful to have such an educational book with interesting, rhyming text. We are looking forward to new adventures with Farmer Brown!

From Sheep to Sweater and back to Sheep
This book is just wonderful. My 3 year-olds love it. It's silly and entertaining and also educational. If anyone in your family is a knitter, spinner or weaver buy it for them (no matter how old they are). It's a great book for grandparents who knit, etc. to share with little ones.In this time when we are more and more removed from the land this book does a great job of showing children how the sweater came to be on their back. You just can't go wrong with this one.

Amusing, great for little ones.
This is a great book for 3-5 year olds. Everything rhymes, so it's fun to read and the "plot" is even better! The farmer shears his sheep, has it washed, carded, made into yarn and dyed. All the while, his sheep are chasing after him, wanting their wool back! Finally, the farmer knits them "brightly-colored cardigans" and from then on, the sheep can't wait to be sheared. If only life were that simple.... :)

Farmer Brown Teaches Us Again
Not only is our favorite farmer up to many new adventures--this time fighting with sheep shearing, but this book is a great way to introduce young readers to the literary term "onomatopoeia". With the buzzes, clips, and host of animal noises, the term can be easily explained with a favorite character. This book shares what I love about all Teri Sloat's books, they are well written with great imagery and the pictures are excellent! ... Read more

Book Description

Every day, children the world over sing, shout, and celebrate Mother Goose rhymes. And now there's a new reason to cheer: Nina Crews has added her own remarkable, jazzy style of illustration to a collection of forty-one favorite verses. Whether it's Jack jumping over a candlestick (atop a cupcake), Georgie Porgie kissing the girls (at the playground), or a fine lady riding a white horse (on the carousel), this exuberant treasury is sure to be read and enjoyed over and over again.

Reviews (1)

The Best Goose
My two boys love this book. Each night they pick 4 of their favorites for me to read. After two weeks of reading this book - they know almost all the words to all of the poems. This is a great way to teach kids the old rhymes with cool hip photos and computer manipulations which make the tales leap off the page and in to your home.

An English professor told us that the best way to instill a love of reading in to your child is to encourage them to memorize and enjoy nursery rhymes and tales. This book is the perfect first intro. ... Read more

Book Description

Right in the middle of Marcy's city block is a littered vacant lot. Then one day she has a wonderful idea that not only improves the useless lot but her entire neighborhood as well. "DiSalvo-Ryan's warm text is enhanced by her soft pencil-and-watercolor illustrations depicting a diverse neighborhood drawn together by a community project."--Booklist. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Story for a Community or Garden Unit
This is a wonderful story about a little girl who works with her neighbors to turn a vacant lot into a garden. Over the course of the story the grumpy old man changes because of the garden. It's a great story, high readability for middle to end third grade students on grade level. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Henry gets a bee in his bonnet to build a cabin in the woods, hisfriends all help out--mostly with advice. Henry, a bear character based on19th-century writer Henry David Thoreau, hears from his pal Emerson as theyraise the beams. "Henry," he says, "your cabin looks too small to eat in!" But,"it's bigger than it looks," says Henry. He shows Emerson a bean patch he hasplanted behind the cabin. "When it's finished, this will be my dining room," heexplains. A sunny spot beside the cabin will be the library, he tells his friendAlcott, and a path curving down to the pond will be the ballroom with a grandstairway.

The many devout fans of author D.B. Johnson's award-winning Henry Hikes to Fitchburg willbe tickled to see another title featuring the placid, self-contained Henry.Johnson's kaleidoscopic colored-pencil and paint illustrations are asfascinating as Henry's perspectives on what a home can be. As in his firsttitle, Johnson makes quiet allusions to other luminaries of Thoreau's time,including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bronson Alcott. (Ages 5 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

makes your eyes think!
What a delightful book! Based on Henry David Thoreau's time at Walden pond, this simple, direct little tale first recounts how and with what he built his cabin. By emphasizing Thoreau's skill and his use of recycled old house parts, the book enlivens his self-sufficiency and his critique of materialism.

The best parts are the three guests who interrupt Henry's work, each one suggesting some shortcoming in Henry's construction. The cabin is too small to eat or dance in, they suggest, too dark to read in. Each time, Henry beautifully and effortlesy turns these criticisms upside down. He patiently (and with quiet enthusiasm) explains that by living in nature he has annexed all of the space and sun and beauty around him. His cabin is the entire woods and the whole pond. Thoreau's individualism emerges through these confounding, whimsical dialogues.

D. B. Johnson, the author, conveys all of this in graceful, clear, subtle little exchanges. The talk is all quite concrete and easily grasped, so kids have no problem with the story. Yet Johnson's language also carries Thoreau's deeper meaning, in clever and refreshing ways.

The zestful, kinetic pictures provide rich pleasure. Click on the sample pages and see for yourself! Reminiscent of early cubism and of the figurative work of Kazimir Malevich, the illustrations divide the picture plane into coutless little segments. Johnson blends them pleasingly yet also uses them to demonstrate the wonder that every little corner of nature holds for the alert eye. In his fragments of the field of view, Johnson might include a butterfly, a squirrel, a rabbit, a cardinal or bluejay, rain drops, falling leaves, on and on. Trees and pond, sky and clearings all appear active, filled with spirit. Kids will love finding and noticing and searching, for these illustrations continually surprise: they make your eyes think! Pieces of nature intersect through the cabin windows, and the wonderfully broken view swirls around Henry and his visitors in a vivid depiction of our connectiveness to nature--one of Thoreau's central beliefs.

In sum, an efficient and expressive meeting of story, thought, and imagery.

Perfect Baby Shower Gift!!
We borrowed this book from the library and I must buy a copy for my 3yr old. He loves it. The illustrations are unique and so pleasing to the eye. They are a little abstract but not too much so you can't see what is being conveyed.

Henry builds a cabin but his friends doesn't think it's big enough. Henry says it's big enough for all kinds of things. In the end, you find out what the cabin is perfect for.

Delightful read and a sure bet for a Baby Shower Gift!

A book for all ages
I'm 12 but I really like this picture book. I learned a lot about what Henry Thoreau was trying to do when he built a cabin by Walden Pond, and it was fun learning it through this book. The illustrations are funny and I like how Henry solves his problems. I also like Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, which is even funnier because Henry makes his friend learn a lesson in a funny way. I also recommend another great book about Henrey Thoreau, that especially girls of all ages will like, Louisa May and Mr. Thoreau's Flute. It talks about how Henrey Thoreau helped Louisa May Alcott learn to like the outdoors and learn to like writing. Henry's funny in that book too so I think readers will like it too.

The Perfect Home.....
Henry, a sturdy looking bear wearing a large hat and workclothes, is building a cabin in the woods. He borrows an ax and cuts down twelve trees for framing, buys an old shed, takes it apart and uses the wood for the walls and floor. He builds a front door, finds two used windows and some old shingles for the roof. As he's building, friends stop by to look at the cabin and check on his progress. Emerson comments that it seems too small to eat in. "It's bigger than it looks," replies Henry and shows him his garden out back. "When it's finished, this will be my dining room." Friend, Alcott thinks the cabin will be too dark to read in, but Henry shows him a sunny spot right outside. "This will be my library." And when Miss Lydia shows concern that there won't be room for dancing, Henry shows her the pathway down to the pond, his grand stairway to the ballroom. On July 4th, Henry's cabin is finished and he moves in. He eats in the "dining room", reads in the "library" and dances in his "ballroom". When it begins to rain, he hurries back to his cabin, where in a very wise and amusing way he shows us that his new home is just perfect..... D.B. Johnson is back with a marvelous sequel to his award winning first picture book, Henry Hikes To Fitchburg, based on the life of Henry David Thoreau. His simple and inspiring text is sure to be a springboard to interesting and thoughtful discussions. What does a home really need, and how big does it have to be? Mr Johnson's creative and expressive, light-filled illustrations enhance the story beautifully, and capture the imagination. With an author's note at the end "About Henry's Cabin", to help fill in the details of how and why Thoreau built his cabin, its cost, and his two years living at Waldens Pond, Henry Builds A Cabin is an engaging and unique little treasure youngsters 4-8 shouldn't miss. "Most men appear never to have considered what a house is, and are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think they must have such a one as their neighbors have." ... Read more

Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Laura lives apart from her family for the first time, teaching school in a claim shanty twelve miles from home. She is very homesick, but keeps at it so that she can help pay for her sister Mary's tuition at the college for the blind. During school vacations Laura has fun with her singing lessons, going on sleigh rides, and best of all, helping Almanzo Wilder drive his new buggy. Friendship soon turns to love for Laura and Almanzo in the romantic conclusion of this Little House book.

Reviews (33)

Laura Grows Up
If you look at Laura's life before and after this book, you will see that the title is perfect. Her life before this was always a struggle, never having enough, never being satified.
It was the same way after this book. Sure, things were good many times. There were happy moments and happy times. But never in her history before or after were things so consistently good. Pa and the family are totally successful: no locusts, no droughts, no long winters. Their wealth steadily increases. Thanks to Laura's teaching job, they can afford the blind college for Mary. Laura can buy fancy dresses and hats, She is a beautiful teenager and many boys are asking her out for a buggy ride. She will only go with Almonzo, and they have many pleasant times together. Finally at the end of the book she is married at age 18. This book teaches things like the other books in the series. This time we learn the manners of dating and how a young woman is to act both in her career and in her relationship. Laura doesn't always follow the "rules" but we learn what they are. And Mary asks an interesting question of Laura when she finds she will be married: Why do you want to go live with that Wilder boy? It's a question for us all. Why do we want to get married? There are a million answers and we all have our own. Laura gives only one answer.
It doesn't really answer Mary's question and yet I believe the engaged can relate to it.

In learning about the Amish I find their life is similar: a long boring childhood filled with lots of work, married life that is even more work and always a struggle, and in between, These Happy Golden Years where a person reaches young adulthood
and spends a good deal of time socializing and meeting friends and having many happy times.

This is the perfect place for the "Little House" series to end. But if you're like me, You'll keep reading: The First Four Years(Laura and Almonzo's new marriage), Farmer Boy(Almonzo's childhood), and Little House in the Ozarks(a collection of newspaper articles Laura wrote as an adult). Then I guess it will be time to visit the "Little House" museum in Minnesota!

Interesting, but with a few things I didn't like....
This book tells of 3 years of Laura's life between ages of 15, when she first goes out to teach school - to 18, when she gets married.

We witness Laura's growing up and realization that life is changing all around her. Mary is in college, and is independent enough to want to stay with a friend for the summer instead of coming home. It's obvious that Laura's relationship with her sisters and friends in school are changing - in 'Little Town on the Prairie' her school life for example, and her after school or weekend social activities with her friends are a large part of the book, but now we only hear of a few remote incidents, and we hardly hear anything about the going ons there, for instance we don't really get to know Florence, the new 'big girl'. This is partly due to the increasing role of Almanzo Wilder's part in Laura's life, but I think that is also partly due to the fact Laura isn't attending school full time anymore, but rather teaches school herself for a term or two a year.Except for Ida's small part in Laura's wedding, we don't hear of them any more for the rest of the series.

We also see Laura herself change: part of it is what I just mentioned about the change in what she describes in her social life. Another one would be her very detailed description of her clothes and fashions - even though we do hear about her dresses in previous books, she seems much more occupied with them this time, like any teenage girl... In betwen the lines, we do see that the Ingles family is doing better financially - they are improving their house, and can often afford luxuries such as a sewing machine and an organ for Mary.

I did find a few points I didn't like in this book, compared to the previous books in the series:

1) Instead of giving an account of a relatively short period (a year or 2, like in the previous books), we are now covering 3 years, and we usually get an 'in depth coverage' of a relatively short period, or a few remote incidents, then run through a long period which is skipped. Laura only described her first school with as much details as I was used to in her previous books, but the next 2 schools are hardly mentioned... It isn't as bad as her descriptions in 'The First Four Years', but it's still noticeable.

2) We get a lot more of Almanzo, while we get less of the pioneer life of that era... This is an semi - autobiography of Laura's life, not a history book, I admit, but I think that the historical and cultural element of these books has been a major attraction for readers, especially the older ones.

A golden review
The book These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder is wonderful! The story is about Laura who is teaching because her sister Mary has gone blind. Laura has to become a teacher to live up to her mothers expectations. Almanzo Wilder and Laura are dating and Almanzo proposes. Almanzo's family hears about it and his mother and sister are coming to plan the wedding their way! Laura and Almanzo have to figure out a way to get married their way! I would recommend this book to a friend my age. I suggest you read the whole collection first so you can understand it better.

A great read...and re-read
This book was one I read and read again over the course of my childhood. I enjoyed the beauty of Wilder's fiction and Garth William's fine illustration. Definitely discover the books in order and rediscover them often!

A Wonderful Conclusion to Laura's Teenage Years!
This book tells about Laura Ingalls Wilder's teenage life. She goes from care free child to grown school teaching adult. The book shows what it was like to be a teenager in the late 1800's. What kind of parties they had, for instance sleigh rides and birthday. Plus, what it was like falling in love and courting!This book is a lot of fun and a wonderful conclusion to the "Little House" books. If you have any time at all I would really recommend reading this delightful book! ... Read more

Book Description

My First Farm Board Book in Spanish continues DK's line of bilingual My First Books, offering children an exciting, visual approach to new words. Each page introduces a new category of words on each theme, and children will love pointing to the pictures and identifying objects in both English and Spanish. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is one of a great series of books by DK
This book is a great introduction to a farm. It lists items on the farm, some farm animals including their parts of body, farm vehicles, fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products. One of the best things about this book is that it is bilingual--the vocabulary is offered in both English and Spanish. I hope that DK continues to purchase bilingual versions of their "My First Board Book" series. They are great vocabulary builders. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"In the universe, on a planet, on a continent, in a country, in a city,on a block, in a house, in a window, in the rain, a little girl named Madlenkafinds out her tooth wiggles." To further illustrate where exactly this girl fitsinto the universe, Peter Sís's endpapers depict a tiny blue planet Earthwith a red dot, then a bigger Earth and a bigger red dot, then an aerial view ofthe south part of Manhattan Island, then city blocks, then lo! a small Madlenkain an apartment window. And, since she has a loose tooth that wiggles, shesimply must tell everyone.

As she traipses around New York, she sees the whole world in the way a childmight peer into a sugar egg at a colorful three-dimensional diorama within. AtMr. Gaston's patisserie, he tells her about Paris as he bakes croissants andmadeleines. Readers peer through a die-cut square in his bakery window toglimpse the Eiffel Tower. Turn the page, and an exciting blue landmark map ofParis unfolds. (Is that a tiny petit prince we see as well?) At Mr. Singh'snewspaper stand, our window on the world takes us to winged elephants and oniondomes and the many-armed gods of India. Mr. Ciao from Italy ("Buongiorno, Maddalena") makes visions of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and cats ongondolas and the Coliseum dance through our heads. Throughout Sís'senchanting, moody illustrations dances blonde-haired, lavender-clad,yellow-booted Madlenka with her yellow umbrella--reminding us of what is reallyimportant. "Madlenka! Where have you been?" "Well... I went around the world.And I lost my tooth!"

Fans of Sís's gorgeous work in Caldecott Honor Books Tibet: Through the Red Box andStarry Messenger: GalileoGalilei will find an equally stunning, but more accessible book inMadlenka. Children will discover enough fascinating details to stand upto hours of fierce page perusal, and adults will, as ever, marvel atSís's breathtaking artistry. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Can't bring myself to give it 5 stars
I can't get over the fact that all the people Madlenka meets are identified with their specific cultures and nations of origin -- except for the Asian shopkeeper and the Latin American grocer. It reinforces the stereotype of "All Asians (or Latinos) are the same" -- Sis would never say that about Europeans! This to me is a huge flaw, and I can't believe an editor would let it slide (I'm a children's book editor myself). It's really too bad because otherwise it would be a great book.

Around the world in an afternoon...!
Two of kids' most exciting themes -- loose teeth and international travel! -- are delightfully captured in this sophisticated book by Peter Sis. Madlenka's tooth sends her on a journey through her multi-cultural neighbourhood, visiting shopkeeper friends from Asia, France, Latin America, and beyond.

Though the thrill of the loose tooth seems to disappear into the background somewhat through all her marvellous adventures, it comes back with a bang in the terrific "surprise" ending. This book perplexed my kids (5 and 6) somewhat initially; they were expecting a story about the tooth. But they enjoyed the easy-going, "world beat" plot tremendously nevertheless, particularly the detailed illustrations of the shopkeepers' home cultures, delightfully woven around the facing pages.

I'd highly recommended this book for urban families or anyone who wants their kids to know we're not alone on this big crowded planet.

Everyone has Something to Offer
Whether it be for children or adults, Madlenka has sent us a message that everyone has something to offer. Everyone will fall in love with little Madlenka who looks at the world through innocent eyes. Although the story is centered around a child who has a loose tooth, the real story is about the richness of all the people in her neighborhood. As Madlenka journeys through her neighborhood, the reader journeys from Italy to Latin America. Peter Sis' illustrations are marvelous in that they add background information that the text does not provide. Although the illustrations have almost too much information embedded in them, the story still falls into place. In addition, Peter Sis does a remarkable job of illustrating a child's world from a spot on the planet to a spot in a city to Madlenka standing in her neighborhood. Excluding the text within the illustrations, the vocabulary and text size are appropriate for the intended age level. When deciding whether to share this book with children, the decision should be simple if you are considerate of what they have to offer.

The Blue Book
Since opinions abound here on Amazon, I shall give my own on this item that I purchased directly through Amazon due to the rave reviews.

A six year old boy whom I know well, calls Madlenka "The Blue Book" since the illistrations seem to hover around the blue/grey spectrum, and that is what stands out in his head... not the story so much as the monotone of the illustrations.

The absolute excitement of a loose tooth is not lost on children, and Madlenka's travels are indeed fanciful and fun. This is an interesting and insightful book that will most likely appeal more to the adults who read it than to the children who are lucky enough to have adults who read to them.

I don't know Sis, but I know good books for children!
To read many of the reviews, you might think this was a lengthy volume of work, in order for it to "take us around the world". It does it's job in as few words as possible, and can be read easily to young children or savored. A child in my preschool class recently shared this book and I am now ordering it as a "must have" for my classroom. Particularly required if you live in or near New York City. ... Read more

Book Description

It’s an exciting day for Almanzo as the Wilder family visits the county fair in this second My First Little House Book adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic Farmer Boy. There are contests, races, and good things to eat, and Almanzo can’t wait to see what the judges think of his special pumpkin. Jody Wheeler’s luminous illustrations bring Laura’s beloved farmer boy to life.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful idea!
This is wonderful! A Little House Book for even the youngest of readers! The complete books of the series may seem a little long for the little ones, this is great to get them familiar with the series. This book is kid sized, and is very well illustrated, the colors are vibrant, Laura would be proud, it is a very cute book! I will be buying more of these books in the future, the Farmer Boy Books are great for getting little boys interested in the Little House Series. A true Winner!

These books are great for new readers
I have always been a Little House fan, and I wanted to pass on the enjoyment of Laura and her friends to my 5 year old niece. She loves them so much and asks me when she is going to receive another one. It is our special thing because she will only let me read them to her!! ... Read more

Book Description

A salty, wrenchingly honest collection of stories set on one block of 145th Street. We get to know the oldest resident; the cop on the beat; fine Peaches and her girl, Squeezie; Monkeyman; and Benny, a fighter on the way to a knockout. We meet Angela, who starts having prophetic dreams after her father is killed; Kitty, whose love for Mack pulls him back from the brink; and Big Joe, who wants a bang-up funeral while he’s still around to enjoy it. Some of these stories are private, and some are the stories behind the headlines. In each one, characters jump off the page and pull readers right into the mix on 1-4-5.
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Reviews (14)

145 the Street
In the book called 145th street,things happend that don't happen anywhere else in the world.There is mysteries and secrets on that street that nobody has revealed.People on 145th street acted different.Billy is the best fighter of the street.The author of the book is Walter Dean Mayers.

I like this book because I like the weird things that happend on that street.I also like the book because in some parts of the book there was action, like the part when Billy and Vegas were fighting, Billy was throwing right and left shots to Vegas' face.What I like the most about the book was the short story called,Block party 145th street style, because it has a wedding with a lot of action.

I recommend this book to teenagers because its like a middle school book.Also I recommend this book to teenagers because is a good book that talks about 14 or 15 year old kids, it has action and funny things that grab your mind so you want to read more.

145th Street: Short Stories
In the book there are ten short stories. Each of the are different but are in the same settings with some of the same characters. The story I liked best was "Kitty and Mack." It took place at a school. Mack was a great baseball player until he go hit with a bullet and had to get his leg amputaded. At that point Kitty and Mack were going through relantionship problems. Then they worked it out fine. I thought this was a breeze to read. I didn't like all the stories in the book, but i didlike some. I recommend this book to young adults because they can relate to it better.

145th street
In the book 145th street weird things happend.Big Joe's funeral was gay becuase it didn't have any action.I think that the best story was block party because it was tight all the things that happened ience they started doing the party.

The part of the book that i most like was when they did the wedding and it was really cool and exciting.Also i like that part because it was tight and i feel like reading that book again more and more times.

I recommend that book to all the people specially to the middle school kids because it is very interesting for the people to read.And i recommend this book to the people that like action and that want to have fun for a while.

145th street
In the beginning of the book their is a guy called Big Joe and he had a funeral because he die,but then he stand up and gets out of the coffin and partyies then the cops come to the party and said"what the heck is going on?"The book is short stories that happend in te street.Weird stuff happends in 145th street that dont happend nowhere else.

The story that I like in the book was Kitty and Mack:A love story because it was romance. The story that I did not like was Big Joe's funeral because it saids that he was dead and then its says that it was not dead.That got me confused.The story that ilke the most was Block Party 145th street style because it was the best block party in the story then Big Joe's funeral party.

I recommend this book because the short stories are great,cool,and funny.Also because one of this things could happend to your street.

145th Street
In the book 145th Street Short Stories by Walter Dean Myers he talks about all things that happen in this street. There are some gansters but best of all some great friends that are always there when you need them. In this book you will meet some teenagers that are faced with hard decisions.

WhatI liked about the book was how the author used descriptive language ,I can vizualize and connect. I like almost all of the stories because its like you learn lesson from the story.In this book I connected a lot but I learned three lessons for life.

I recommend this book to anyone that is in 5th grade and up, but I think its more of a middle school book.In this book you will learn some new things. Read on to discover a book that has some interesting stories or experiences. ... Read more

Book Description

Laura is delighted when a soft, thick snow falls in late spring in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. A late snow helps the trees make more sap for maple syrup, and maple syrup means sweet sugar cakes and sticky fingers for Laura! Doris Ettlinger's enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth Williams's artwork, perfectly capture Laura and her family in this My First Little House Book, adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods.

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Reviews (3)

Beautiful book.
My students are learning English and American culture. They learn to read these books and are highly motivated because the television show mirrors the books so closely. They can go on to read the real little house on the prarie books and enjoy them.

Kids are fascinated
Life in the "Little House" days is so different from my own kids' suburban lives that they are fascinated by this series. The reviewer who wrote that these are a poor substitute for the real thing is wrong. These are a great introduction for kids to these books, help them get a historical perspective of earlier American life, and will wet their appetite to read the original Little House books when they are old enough.

First Snow
This is a good way to give your kids a taste of the Little House on the Prairie that they can read themselves. Easy to read and a delightful story. Soft watercolored pictures throughout the story. I recommend this series to get your child reading. ... Read more

Book Description

When the train arrived in Cottondale, the summer at Bigmama's house in Florida began. Donald Crews brilliantly evokes the sights, sounds, and emotions of a memorable childhood experience. "A very special book by a superb artist and storyteller."--Horn Book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A warm oportunity to reflect on special people and places.
Donald Crews departs from his usual simple text about such things as trucks and boats to share his childhood memories. The bold and colorful illustrations we usually find in his work are replaced by soft gentle colors and lines. Perhaps my endearment to this book stems from my own fond memories of riding the train back to my grandmother's home in Davenport, Iowa. Yet, there is more to this story than shared memories of days gone by. Even young children have memories of warm moments with someone special. As a first grade teacher I share this book with my students. It is a delight to see the special smiles that illuminate their faces, like the sweet smell of Spring, when they think of their special someone. For some children they think, like Crews, of grandma and her special cooking, for others their thoughts are of a visit to mom in a distant state. There thoughts are not meloncholy, like Crews, they are pleasant reminders of the treasures we find in each other. ... Read more

Book Description

a rush of air
a car is there
hop, hop, hop
on the subway!

Come along for the ride as a little girl and her mother hop on the subway. From spinning turnstiles and musicians performing on the platforms to people hopping off and on and lights flashing past in the tunnels, the sights and sounds of the subway have an energy all their own. Anastasia Suen’s sprightly text and Karen Katz’s brightly colored patterns and lively perspectives combine for a pitch perfect celebration of an underground train ride, where the hustle and bustle is only part of the fun. ... Read more