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Eloise has always had a rather festive air about her, but when Christmastime rolls around, well, it's "Fa la la la fa la la la lolly ting tingledy here and there," of course. The bunchy-bloused, spindly-legged scamp is speaking in rhyme this time, and in typical Eloise fashion, the verse simply can't be perfectly metered, for what would be the point? She rushes around New York's Plaza Hotel on Christmas Eve, jingling, spreading Christmas cheer, tying tassels on the thermostats, and writing "Merry Christmas" on all the walls. And of course there are gifts to be delivered and wrapped:

For Weenie a roastbeef bone deluxe
For Skipperdee raisin milk
I'm giving the valet a beehive of course
made of safety pins and silk

Her asides, printed in red, are as priceless as ever: "Sometimes there is so much to do that/ I get sort of a headache around the sides and partially under it." Or in a rare vulnerable moment, "For when you are a child of six/ it's difficult to know/ if you deserve a present or not/ at Christmastime/ or so." But enough of that. "We sang Noel for 506/ Silent Night for 507/ We didn't sing for 509/ at the request of 511."

Hilary Knight's pen and ink pink-and-black illustrations are perfect--particularly of the "sugar plums" dancing in Eloise's head on Christmas Eve, complete with crazed elves, Nanny-as-angel, reindeer with glasses, and of course Santa's sleigh with one giant package in it... for Eloise. Kay Thompson's Eloise at Christmastime, first published in 1958 with a different cover, joins Eloise in Paris and The Absolutely Essential Eloise (with additional historical scrapbook) as a much welcomed reissue of the original. And there's always just Eloise. (Ages 5 to 105)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Christmas at the Plaza
I think that this is the strangest of all the Eloise books! I remember that the first time I read it, I'd scratch my head and go, "huh?" when I saw all the weird holiday ideas and gibberish words. Sometimes it makes me wonder what in the heck Kay Thompson was taking at the time! Needless to say, even though it is very good, it's not my favorite Eloise book. I've read all the Eloise books... they provide great maxims for daily living, such as "getting bored is not allowed" (the first book, "Eloise"). I repeat this to my friends a lot of the time. Anybody, whether child or grownup, can learn a lot from Eloise.

good book
I am..... years old and I still like Eloise book. She's my favorite 6 year old! it has nice pictures on each page and of couse one pull out page like the original Eloise book. there are some lyrics on some of the pages of the book to Eloise's favorite christmas song, "Trinkles and Drinkles." When she(Kay Thompson) tells about Eloise Christmas dream it is all in rhyme. I hoghly reccomend it to kids of all ages.

Not a read out loud book. Good for a child that can read.
At the risk of having millions of Eloise fans hate me I'm giving this book one star. At my request my
5 1/2 yr old daughter received three Eloise books for Christmas, this title included along with In Moscow,
and in Paris. She had seen Eloise in Christmas several times on TV & we both enjoyed the character. The
books however are another story. They are *completely* syncopated. Hardly a story line, just Eloise blabbing
and talking off the top of her head. No rhyme or reason, just blurts & outbursts of talk. I always thought Eloise
was the character that caused fun 6 year old havoc at the Plaza, but no that is the tiniest part of these stories.
Again just lines & lines of incomplete thoughts without a single plot other than the girl lives at the Plaza.
I found myself deleting lines and reading ones I made up my self to help make sense to my child. Picture your 5 year old high on a 1 pound bag of sugar, bouncing off the walls....that is Eloise times 1000. If you don't believe me, please go look at the book before you buy it. I have the feeling the author was blessed with accolades from something like the Emperors new cloths syndrome...it's wonderful, it's marvelous, but really there's nothing there at all.

ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME: AN AWSOME GIFT FOR THE HOLDIAYS
Eloise is at Christmastime, at the plaza,
and is spreding X-mas cheer. It's jolly it's happy, and Emily had a pidegon on Christmas day, a slight twist on Twas the Night before Christmas, with the ryhmes and all that, but, Eloise has visions of Sugar Plums in her head. It's Jolly.
FA LA LA LA LA LA
Tis the season to be jolly!

From,
Sean Pollock

Grade: A+
Other reviews:
Eloise
Eloise in Paris
Eloise in Moscow
Eloise takes a bawth

oh how the mighty have fallen
The original Eloise was a sustained thrill. I have avoided all sequels until now for fear of just this sort of crashing disappointment. Think of the difference between Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, then multiply by ten. It is a bore. It is an embarassment. It is rawther godawful. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

The artwork has been underrated
I think the artwork in this book has been underrated, perhaps because only a few colors were used in printing. It's clever: the run-down New York City neighborhood is drawn in meticulous detail. I use it to show Inuit students what a city looks like! By contrast, the royal entourage is cartoon-style, not realistic. Not only does the royal family's entourage grow larger with each repetition of the pattern, but the characters themselves grow larger, until at the end of the book they have to hunch over to fit into the boy's tenement apartment. At the very end, the characters turn into playing cards (only in the art, not in the text) and the royal barber (who, we somehow suspect, is a self-portrait of the author) becomes a doll that has been sitting half-seen on the window sill all along. Lots to look at in this book.

Little boy gets interesting visitor.
One Monday Morning is the story of a little prince who each day of the week brings more friends to visit. However the little boy he's coming to visit isn't home. The story is much like the 12 days of christmas with the addition of interesting characters each day of the week.

Great First Reader. Please re-publish
This book is a great first time reader. It is better than Dick and Jane for several reasons. This book adds people and words as the story unfolds. It is an easy story to follow. It adds words that are pretty common to today's early readers. I am a literacy volunteer and I use this book for my older reading students. ... Read more

Book Description

Ellie Morgan's life would be perfect if she could just get her potentially prize-winning pumpkin, Max, to put on about two hundred more pounds, and if she could lose twenty herself.With the extra weight, Max would be the champion of the Rock River Pumpkin Weigh-In; minus twenty pounds, Ellie would have the courage to approach Wes, the new boy in town. But unpredictable weather is threatening Max, pumpkin thieves are running rampant, and Sweet Corn Coquette contestants are eyeing Wes.Will Ellie be able to go for it all?

"This laugh-out-loud story is a delight . . . Ellie proves herself an all-around winner.So is Max and so is this book." (School Library Journal, starred review) ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Funny and interesting
In another of Joan Bauer's funny teen novels, sixteen-year-old Ellie Morgan is faced with 2 problems: getting her prize giant pumpkin, Max, to put on some major bulk, and losing some of her own in order to approach Wes, the cute new guy at school. Ellie, who learned everything she knows from her consuming love of growing pumpkins, is set to become the youngest winner of her town's festival's Pumpkin Weigh-In. In her way is her father, who definitely thinks farming is a waste of time, and Cyril Pool, a truly detestable being who wins the weigh-in every year despite his stupidity and odor. Ellie, armed only with her common sense and special secret pumpkin booster solution, must touch the inner strength in her roots in order to suceed against adversity, Cyril, and pumpkin thieves.

In classic Bauer style, the story is odd, but you never doubt a word. Ellie is very real to readers, and the story is interesting, funny, and thoughtful the whole way through. My only problem with the book is that Ellie seems shy and unable to defend herself at times, and relies on her friends to speak for her. Come on, Ellie! As she says, "To grow giant pumpkins, you've got to be tough."

Squashed
squashed was another example of joan bauer's hilarious, scarcastic, down-to-earth writing style. this book is about a girl named ellie who strugles with self-confidence the thought of approaching her crush, wes, and then there's max: her soon-to-become champion sized pumpkin which she is entering in the county fair. her main competetor is a grungy, disgusting man named cyril pool (who has a sign reading "home of the whopper" over his surprisingly large pumpkin entitled "big daddy".) i found myself laughing out loud at all ellie's cynical remarks. also, the story draws you in, and i got really excited and even a little bit nervous for ellie and max as the big competition drew closer and the tension mounted. joan bauer took a common young adult plot and put a fun spin on it that made it more intereting and hard to put down. congrats to bauer on another great book!

She's got faith in Max, yet none in herself
Joan Bauer's SQUASHED is a first novel, and yet it doesn't at all read like one. Protagonist Ellie Morgan is fumbling with her confidence and Bauer apparently seems to realize this is an unfortunate thing that many of today's teen girls go through and must overcome. In fact, Ellie is insecure about basically every single option about herself - except for Max. Max is a different story entirely.

Meet Max, perhaps the future champ of the pumpkin contest. Ellie likes growing vegetables and likes cooking - in a way, the two go hand and hand. Ellie is a wonderful cook and family knows it. Cooking reminds Ellie of her deceased mother, who died when she was younger. Still, the memories live on and give Ellie the strength she needs.

Back to Max...

Ellie is the mother of Max - she treats him like a newborn baby, nuturing him daily and chasing off the crows that land on his stem. Now, if only Ellie could drop 20 pounds, while simultaneously, Max put on 200. If Ellie was lighter, she resolutely believes, she'd have the courage to approach Wes, a new hottie at school. And if Max gained 200 pounds, he'd be a shoe-in for the pumpkin contest victory! Cyril, winner of many previous competitions, proves that with his own pumpkin, 46 days prior to the contest, will be a difficult entry to beat. Upon seeing Cyril's pumpkin, Ellie brushes him off with a laugh.

"Is that what you call a pumpkin?" she laughs. Inside, she's nervous, but on the outside, she's perfectly able to play it cool in the presence of nerdy yet all too arrogant Cyril.

Will she be able to work against the unpredictable and unfavorable weather that's threatening her baby? Will her father finally learn to appreciate her love for veggie growing? Will Ellie drop her weight and muster up her bravado to get with Wes? Will Max demolish Cyril's entry in the town's competition for the very first time?

Read and see. :)

SQUASHED is a very nice first effort and worth a read. Bauer tells a story of a protagonist who will make many rejoice, for she is much like them. SQUASHED is, for the most part, a seemingly coming-of-age novel, yet it is laced with wry wit and raw humor at the very same time. Ellie is a girl who is insecure and unbeknownst to her honestly valuable and significant worth. She needs to realize she has the sass, potential, and heart of a truly wonderful 16 year-old girl. And that, quite frankly, is far better than any contest win.

squashed
In the book, Squashed, sixteen year old Ellie Morgan, the main character, is determined to take the first place spot light from her rival, Cyril Pool. Her life would be almost perfect if she could just get her potentially prize winning pumpkin, Max, to put on about two-hundred pounds, and if she could loose twenty herself. It was a perfect time for Ellie to start planting her prize winning pumpkin. Ellie had plain to complete this task with her new secret booster solution to add some more pounds on her pumpkin. With the extra weight, Max would be the champion at the Rock River pumpkin weight in. Ellie could then become a famous pumpkin-growing personality and squash the obnoxious Cyril Pool once and for all. With trimmer figure, Ellie would have the courage to face Wes, the new boy in town and former president of the Agriculture Club at Gaithersville High.
I enjoyed reading the book, Squashed. Because it was fun reading about the many ways Ellie Morgan used to reach her goal and strive to the top. I love how the author, Joan Bauer, wrote in descriptive detail and added interesting dialogue to the story.
The many interesting characters like Wes, which Ellie didn't have the courage to face because of her body weight, and Cyril poor, whom was beaten be Ellie towards the end of the story at the Rock River Weigh-in. Ellie becomes very proud of herself and is always determined to be better and better every time.
The part that interests me the most was when Cyril Pool's pumpkin gave a shocking surprise at the Rock River Weight-in. While Cyril cheers himself on the worst that could happen happened. Cyril's pumpkin started to ooze with orange slime. There was so much of it; it stared to run down the giant scale. Cyril ran to his pumpkin and tried to patch him up, like a little boy who put his finger in the dam, but it was too late. The pumpkin started to shrink. I also enjoyed reading about the part of Ellie's weighing. Ellie's pumpkin weighted in at six-hundred eleven point seven pounds. She set a new record in festival history, which also happened to be there greatest pumpkin in the world.

Ellie Morgan: a sixteen year old who grows giant pumpkins.
Unlike the title, the book Squashed by Joan Bauer is completely the opposite.

Ellie goes through the typical problems of normal teenagers; being overweight, lusting over a new kid in town, and growing giant pumpkins for competition isn't exactly easy, you know.

But, despite the startling plot ("A girl who grows pumpkins. Gee, that'll go far!"), Joan Bauer really makes this book flow; Ellie's feelings, her communication problems with her father (who, actually, dislikes the agricultural side of life, despite living in the middle of Iowa), and the gentle evolution of confidence Ellie has for herself (mainly due to her getting a boyfriend, even being overweight) really makes this book unique. This book is amazing; I cannot stress how little my praise truly means until you read the book - trust me, a complete stranger; once you read the first page, you'll be in love with Ellie for the rest of - and after - the book.

The writing is stunning; I still find myself laughing every few minutes, even though I've reread the book about six times. Joan Bauer made this book as if she was Ellie, living her life and her emotions; one thing that really made me roar with laughter included how Ellie told Max [her pumpkin] parts from motivational tapes of her father's.

Several problems in this book, that I could find, included how the ending never seemed to come - you think, "Gee, this HAS to be the ending!" and in fact, you're nowhere close to it. That is, however, a good thing, considering Ms. Bauer's writing abilities.

Another problem was how, sometimes, the book got slightly 'mushy'; all romance-filled and sad and such. But then again, I AM a teenage male - we think these things.

To stress Ms. Bauer's talents, the whole party scene made me embarassed for Ellie; all of her feelings were mine, for that point in time. I had to constantly look away from the book - this rarely happens, unless the book is so horrible I want to fling it against the wall. This was, however, fantastic; I love it when I feel true empathy for characters in books.

This book is fantastic for all ages, as well; I forced my mother to read the book (seeing as we have similar tastes in books) and she agrees with me: Ellie is a true heroine.

The five stars were, pretty much, all explained; I advise you to buy this book - this is one buy you will never regret. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Four lovely stories
Who doesn't love Cynthia Rylant? I've been a fan of Ms. Rylant's since I discovered her funny/sweet Henry & Mudge series. I borrowed this charmingly illustrated book from the library, and my six-year-old daughter loved it so much we had to order our own copy once the library' book had to be returned. The four short stories contained in this book are tenderly written odes to a family life well-lived in a little white house in the country, told from the perspective of the youngest boy, Willie Meadows. The stories are well-written and contain nothing objectionable. This is a book that will comfort children, and that is safe to read to even the most anxious child.

A beautiful book that tells 4 wonderful family stories
Cynthia Rylant can bring a family to life with just a few simple words. The Meadow family is warm and loving without being sugary-sweet. The stories in this book are delightful and Rylant's prose is wonderful. The watercolor illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. As a mother, I liked the Mother's Day story best, but all 4 of the stories, which correspond with the 4 seasons, had something special. This would be a perfect book to read aloud to children 4-6, or for children 7-9 to read to themselves. I'm a fan of all of Rylant's work. This is one of my favorites. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

one eye laughing the other weeping
This is the story of Julie Weiss who is in Vienna, Austria when Hitler takes over. When he takes over her mom kills herself,but before she does she gets her daughter and son a way to New York to live with her Anut Clara. Before it is time to leave her brother disapears and she goes alone.
When she gets there and finds out her aunt is an actor she gets a part as Wendy in Peter Pan. Soon after that she is offerd a part in a movie,which makes her think about life in Vienna and changes the way she thinks about life.
This is a good book. Its a real easy read. I was dissapointed that it did'nt say a lot about World War II.

A 12-year-old reader
I really enjoyed this book. It's all about a fourteen-year old girl named Julie Weiss, a kinda non-practicing Jewish girl who lives in Vienna, Austria, in 1938. Julie's family aren't serious practicers of the Jewish faith, so Julie doesn't really seem to think about being Jewish until one day, Hitler seems to be everywhere! Radio broadcasts, newspaper articles, even books about Hitler, like "Mein Kampf," his story. But suddenly Julie's life seems to be taken over by this man. Her mother, sensing the war ahead, commits suicide, and her brother wants to escape to Palestine, where Jews would be peaceful and safe. Finally, Julie's father sends Julie to America to live with her aunt and uncle in New York. I thought this was a good book, but it was missing something. I think it would be more powerful if Julie had stayed in Vienna, and maybe had to go into hiding, like Anne Frank, or was sent to a concentration camp but survives to tell the tale, and doesn't go to New York until maybe the very end of the book. But no, Julie goes to New York halfway through the book, and gets involved in acting, which I though took away from the real plot of the story. Overall, it was a good book, but if I would've written it a little differently.

One Eye Laughing The Other Weeping
One Eye Laughing The Other Weeping was an excellent novel. It's about a twelve-year-old Jewish girl named Julie Weiss. Her family and she herself are from Vienna, Austria. Her father was a very wealthy doctor. Her mother was known to be a great beauty, and her brother was known for playing the piano greatly. The family lived a very happy life in the large city of Vienna until World War II broke out there. Hitler invaded Vienna and as you already know, ordered the Jews to be persecuted. Julie's family was beaten by the Nazi's but lived, but did not beat her. Then her brother left Vienna, her mother commited suicide, and Julie and her father were left living in their apartment. Her father told Julie she was to go to New York City to live with her Aunt Clara (who was a famous actress) and Uncle Martin. Julie did not want to leave Vienna. But her father told her that her mother and himself were planning to go to New York City and take Julie and her brother with them. He explained it was not safe in Vienna because of the war. So Julie moved to New York City... I will not tell you more, I will spoil it. But read this book it was excellent!

Survivng Hitler
This is a book about a 13 year old girl and her family lived during the Holocaust and they have to deal with Hitler and he's group of Nazis and their cruel behavior towards Jewish people and other types of people that Hitler didn't like. Some of the things that Hitler and he's group of Nazis did to the Jewish and other types of people were: take all the peoples belongings from their homes, put them in concentration camps and then starve them or kill them with gasses, and lots of different types of things. This book was ok. The beginning was very boring but once it got to the middle was, they talk about the Nazi and Hitler, and it got really sad. People committed suicide and the Nazi sent some people to concentration camps and then starved them or put gasses on the people. I almost started to cry when I read this book, all the things that happened to the people. I would rate this book 41/2 out of 5 stars because it's boring in the begging but then exciting and sad in the middle and end. Some books that relate to this one is Anne Franks diary and it is rated 5 stars compared to One Eye Weeping and the Other Laughing, Which is the book that I read. The title of the book, One Eye Weeping and the other Laughing is Because Julie Weiss, the main character is laughing about the books that she reads and they are funny while the Holocaust is happening and the other eye is weeping because all the people are dying because of how they look or their race or background under Hitler's rule and/or order, and the Nazi's are killing them all.

A real sad book!!!!!!!!
This book is REALLY REALLY sad!!! It almost brought tears to my eyes. If you don't like books that have people dying or you hate
sad books, don't read this one. BUT, I suggest you read it because it is a really really good book!!!! It is about a girl who named Julie who is lives in Vienna. When Hitler comes to her town she sees how badly he treats Jewish people. She being Jewish herself is treated badly. Her father decides that something should change....and you will have to read the rest in order to find out!! I read this book in two days (nights really). It was one of the sadest books I have ever read. It really makes someone understand how badly the Jewish people were treated when Hitler was around! ... Read more

Book Description

Have you ever wondered what life on a farm was like hundreds of years ago? This beautiful book tells the story of one farm and the people who worked on it from medieval times to the present day.

Evocative illustrations by Eric Thomas reflect the rhythm of the seasons and their accompanying tasks, from plowing and sowing to harvesting and haymaking, while flaps lift to reveal changing activities inside the farm buildings. Angela Wilkes's finely crafted text details the changing nature of life on a farm, capturing the atmosphere of days gone by.

Follow the history of a farm as it develops from a small piece of land rented from the local lord of the manor in the 9th century, into a large, mechanized farm of the 21st century.

A Farm Through Time is not only the story of a farm -- it is a portrait of country people, a changing landscape, and of disappearing crafts. It is a book to treasure and return to time and time again. ... Read more

Book Description

Heading into the wild outback, Hank goes in search of his true love, the charming Miss Beulah. Hank is sure he can win Beulah's heart--but first he'll need the help of a powerful aphrodisiac.

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

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

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

Reviews (5)

Hank the Cowdog written by Tara
Hank the Cowdog is a good book that my classmates and I read. It is about faded love. Hank and Drover are in love with Beulah, the collie. Hank was telling Drover that Beulah is his girlfriend and not Drover's, but Beulah likes Hank only as a friend. She said, "Because the way I feel, Hank, is that we should just be special friends. I like Plato."

But Plato was looking out for birds because he a bird watcher. Later, Hank saw Miss Scamper and said, "How do you do you, lovely lady?" Hank was going from one girl to another. Then Hank wrote a song to Beulah and it went something like this, "I have the strangest dream, Beulah, my dear, I'm standing close to you and holding you near. I feel electric shock, just being close by, touching your flaxen hair and seeing you're my love. I can't stop thinking about you, Beulah." Hank rolled around on a dead skunk and went to test it out on Beulah to see if the perfume worked. The "love" perfume smelled bad because he smelled like a dead skunk and Beulah did not like the perfume. But Miss Scamper liked the perfume that Hank was wearing.

(...)

Poor Little Hank and Drover
I love the Hank the Cowdog series books, especially Faded Love, because it's hilarious and cute. My classmates read each character like a play. Each person in our class used how they acted and how they sounded when they read their character. It was very funny and I loved it a lot.

Pete the Barncat is Hank's hated cat. Pete went to the ranch to talk to him that he could be the ranch security. Pete is always thinking that he is always better and that Hank is the worst Cowdog all the time. Hank can't wait to fight him, because Pete always drives Hank crazy. Hank WAS going to fight with him, but he just leaves him alone because he thinks fighting with a barncat is stupid. So Hank quit the ranch security job. On that day, he and Drover go see his sweetheart, Beulah. Drover is his best partner. Drover loves Beulah, too! But they don't know that Beulah is just cheating on Hank, and she goes out with Plato, the spotted bird dog. But when he is on his way to see Beulah, he sees this female Beagle, Miss Scamper, another sweetheart that he loves. Miss Scamper was inviting Hank and Drover to look at the sunset. Drover wants to ask Hank if he can go to see the sunset with his sweetheart, but Hank said no, because Hank doesn't want to get bothered by that noisy Drover. But Hank got kicked out by the owner in the back of the truck. Then they went to see his first sweetheart, Miss Beautiful Beulah. When they went over to her place, they see that she was smooching with her HONEY! Plato! Hank and Drover got so jealous, so they just went to see Miss Sweetheart Sexy Scamper. Then they come back to their own job. But Hank still hates Pete because PETE still thinks that he is super smart and Hank just super stupid.

I love this book, because it's funnier than the other Hank the Cowdog books, and it's more interesting than the other Hank the Cowdog books. Thank you for understanding my opinion.

Jorge's Review on Hank
I think that Faded Love is a good book. It is funny and also it has lots of adventures like the other books of Hank. I read this book with my classmates. Each of my classmates had a part in the book, like a kid was Drover and the other was Hank. Hank and Drover make this oath that they would never return to the ranch, and they would quit their jobs as cowdogs.

Drover told Hank that there was a snake on the ranch. It really wasn't a snake; it was just a cat's tale, which was Pete. Pete became mad at Hank because he thought he was a snake, so Hank left with Drover. On his way he met all kinds of old friends. He also meets new friends like Miss Scamper. She is this dog that Hank meets by a lake. Miss Scamper's owner stops by the lake and puts water in his radiator. Drover and Hank fall in love with Ms. Scamper. He also meets his old friends Rip and Snort; they are coyotes.

We found out that Drover is not that dumb. Hank sings this song to Beulah (she is hank's old girl friends, which was kind of funny. Hank and Drover decided to go back to the ranch. Drover reminds Hank about the oath, but he said that there are different kinds of oaths; one is forever and others are temporary. So they went back to the ranch and they saw the real snake. It was going toward little Alfred. Hank attacked the snake and the snake beat him. Everybody now thinks Hank is a hero.

Hank The Cowdog Faded Love
I thought it was a great book although I read this book for a humor bookreport and I did not think it was that funny. But other than that it really was a great book!

Review
I thought that this book was great, I liked the begining, the road to Bealah's, and the ending. I found interesting twists as well as funny moments. I really think that if you read this book you will like it. I have read other Hank the Cowdog books and this one is just as good. For you boys out there this book isn't about love except for very little in the end. The only thing I didn't like was the song at the end that Hank and Bealah sang. Overall I enjoyed this book. I hope you consider buying it. ... Read more

Book Description

Laura helps Ma and Pa make the little log cabin snug and cozy for the snowy days ahead.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Old Fashioned Winter
"Winter Days" is one of my favorite books in the "My First Little House Books" series, and one of my favorite books about autumn. The Ingalls family prepares for winter with time for the harvest and food storage. Mary and Laura participate in daily chores and entertain themselves with their rag dolls, paper dolls,and by using a thimble to draw on the frosted window. Beautiful illustrations bring Laura's log cabin world to life, and are an excellent starting point for discussing how life is different then it used to be, and how some things never change.

A wonderful introduction to "Little House"!
My almost-four-year old insisted I read it three times in a row the first time we read it! It is a well-written abridged version that manages to retain a feel of the original. ... Read more

Book Description

As Head of Ranch Security, Hank knows that it's his job to clear the ranch of any unwanted visitors&150and that includes gophers. But when his efforts to rid the yard of one such pesky critter causes a stampede in the middle of a roundup, Loper decides that he's had it. It's high time Hank learned some manners. Our hero is going to&150gulp!&150obedience school. Hank can just picture it: dank dungeons, torches burning on the walls, and menacing instructors who wield manners like weapons. How will he ever survive? ... Read more

Book Description

Laura and Almanzo Wilder have finally married. They begin their new life together on their small prairie homestead - but Laura is still not convinced that she wants to be a farmer's wife! The newlyweds have high hopes for their future together. Challenged by storms, sickness, fire, and debt, Laura and Almanzo survive with courage, strength, and most importantly, love.

Reviews (27)

Yadira (B.P, US)
The four first years was the best book I had read from Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote, thats what I think. I loved that book.It was kind of hard in the begining to understand it but at the end it was great.Well, it was boring in the biginning and at the end there were the interesting parts.Especially when Laura and her man Almanzo gets married.Then years later they had a baby girl.But at first Laura didnt wanted to married Almanzo.Then at the end of the story their house gets burned.
Thats why I tink kids of age 10 should read this book.Eventhough its kind of hard to read it and understand it. As I said I didnt understand it at the beginning it was kind of hard also some of the words were hard to understand them.
The only part that I didnt like was when Laura told him that she wasnt sure if she wants to married him.Because es a farmer and she doesnt want to be married to a farmer because they dont get enough money and that shes not going to have a good life with him.But I tink that is she really loves him she doesnt have to be worried about the money or having a good life.The only thing that its important its the love that she has for him.I hope that everyone could enjoy reading this book like I did.

Last But Not Least
All of Laura's books have taken me on a wild adventure, and the last book is no exception.This is the last of Laura's stories but the beginning of Rose's.Almanzo or Manly and Laura have just gooten married.Manly says that they should try the farm life for four years and in the end they'll be happy.This is an amazing book that tells of the start of the Wilder's life together and all the excitement that goes with it.I would highly recommend this glorious story to everyone, especially those who loved the first ones.

Written in a decidedly different style
The First Four Years is dramatically different from the rest of the Little House books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, but is a must-read for all those who have enjoyed her earlier books, and who were left wondering what happened after Laura and Almanzo were married at the conclusion of These Happy Golden Years. As many others have already pointed out, this manuscript was pretty much published as it was found, with no polishing or revisions, and as a result, there is a realism here that makes for a much different reading experience. The way that the book barely touches the subject of the death of Laura's infant son reveals just as much about Laura's feelings at the time as any written words possibly could. Even though the book is very different from the rest of the series, I still highly recommend it!

Nicole's Review
I loved this book. I loved it because it was a great tale. You can make movies in your head about what's going on in the book and how the people are doing it. It may get confusing in the beginning, but it gets good in the end. You can actually picture yourself in the story. I was the little baby (you will learn who that is in the book).

The story tells about when Laura is a grown up and marries a sweet guy named Almanzo Wilder. They had a very tough first year. In the second year Laura has a baby girl named Rose. In the third year Almanzo (Manly) pays to get 100 sheep and his cousin comes to help take care of the sheep. In the fourth, last, and worst year, their house caught on fire and burned. It is a romantic novel.

I personally think that 8 year olds and older should read the book. I think so because there would probably be hard words that young kids would not understand. This is a great book. I hope everyone who reads this review: 1 reads this book and 2 loves the book like I did. Please read The First Four Years By Laura Ingalls Wilder which is the Laura in the book. She put a little twists but that is her autobiography.

Warning! Read This Before Buying!
The Little House series is fantastic for readers of all ages. Laura Ingalls Wilder is a wonderful writer. It was her intention that the series end in the nice, neat little wrap-up she included in "These Happen Golden Years." However, this novel, "The First Four Years," was published after both Laura and her daughter Rose had died. And after reading the text, I can see why these pages were not really written to be published. Foremost, the book is too sad. None of the cheerful quips and passages that fill the other Little House books are included in this one. It is only a detailed account of all the incredible hardships the young couple faces. Second, the book contradicts parts of the other novels (in fact it starts with the same marriage proposal scene captured so sweetly in "Golden Years" only in this version, Laura initially says no because Almanzo is a farmer and she can't stand the idea of being a farmer's wife!) These are things to keep in mind before getting this book. Admittedly, it is interesting to know what happens next to Laura, but this book is not like the others. Be prepared. ... Read more

Book Description

Long, long ago, a little boy named Almanzo Wilder lived on a farm in the New York countryside with his father, his mother, his big brother, Royal, and his big sisters, Eliza Jane and Alice. One special day is Almanzo's birthday. He gets to stay home from school, and even better, Father gives him a yoke for his calves, Star and Bright, and a beautiful hand-sled. Almanzo spends the morning learning how to break the calves, and then he spends the afternoon flying down the hill in his brand-new sled.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now for the first time, the youngest readers can share Almanzo's adventures on the farm in these very special picture books adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved storybooks. Jody Wheeler's warm paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Almanzo and his family lovingly to life.

Reviews (2)

A Farmer Boy Birthday Review
This story reflects the way a birthday boy growing up on a farm in the late 1800's might celebrate his birthday. The editor has done an excellent job of taking a short story from within Laura Ingalls Wilder's original book FARMER BOY and making it a short story for youngsters. The pictures are appealing and the story stays focused. I wish the publishers would print another edition of the book. All the stories we have read from the "My First Little House Books" have been thoroughly enjoyed by my family. We often give copies as gifts to other children and we borrow the copies we can't get from the library.

Another winner for the series.
This is another great story in the Little House series. This one is about Almanzo and his life on the farm when he was a young boy. The day begins like any other but ends with a special gift towards "man-hood" for his birthday. My pre-school children love all the Little House books, but this one is particularly loved and read over and over again. The story also teaches selflessness with a surprise at the end. ... Read more

Book Description

Eloise absolutely loves Valentine's Day at The Plaza.
She is delivering lots of love love love as she plays Cupid
and makes everyone happy happy happy. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

For two sisters a visit to their aunt and uncle's farm means hayloftadventures, woods to explore, mouth-watering country suppers, and thefun and comfort of sharing these delights with each other.

With lyrical verse and lushly detailed images, Reeve Lindbergh andWendy Anderson Halperin draw us into this warm and accessible portraitof a universal childhood experience: the excitement of an away-from- home sleepover visit. Young readers will want to return again and againto itsgentle adventures and firefly nights. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

. . . A Wonderfully Illustrated Tour of San Francisco
I purchased this book, a beautifully illustrated treasure, as a souvenir on one of my trips to San Francisco. The illustrations are so incredible--bright, cheerful, detailed and full of life. Each illustration (i.e. Golden Gate Bridge, The Cable Cars and Lombard Street) is accompanied by a brief history and interesting facts. Other sections include an Overview of the city's history, "Fun Facts" about San Francisco and an "Explorer's Guide". The book is both absolutely beautiful and filled with relevant information about exploring San Francisco including telephone numbers for various attractions. I highly recommend this book both for children and adults. ... Read more

Book Description

If you're happy and you know it shout aloud-hooray! Adapted from the familiar song, children won't be able to resist joining in as they clap, stamp, touch their nose, and shout along with a menagerie of adorable animals. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A bit too long
This is a great book and my daughter likes it, even acting out the actions with me. However, we have to skip a few pages because it is a little too long for younger toddlers. The actions for the most part are things children can act out themselves, however there are a few pages that don't correspond well to human body parts (I haven't figured out yet how to light my tail). The book does a great job of getting my daughter up and moving and we have fun reading it together.

The bugs are also a nice touch. We have several Wee Sing books and I suspect as my daughter matures this one will replace Hokey Pokey as her favorite.

First Book My Son Loved
From the first time we opened it, this book has been a hit. My son loves to dance and do the "body-motions" described on each page. It has been a great tool to teach him where his nose is, how to blink "on purpose", etc. The pictures on each page are bright and engaging as well. It is by far the most worn-out book on the shelf...and he still regularly brings it to me to sing to him. I highly recommend this one! ... Read more