Book Description

Reviews (46)

Beautiful art and peaceful story make a great combo
The Napping House covers a whole family falling asleep: granny, child, dog, cat, mouse... until the wakeful flea bites the mouse... and then everyone wakes up! Audrey and Don Woods have written a gentle bedtime story pre-schoolers will want to hear over and over. The text is easy to read and repetitive, perfect for young children. The gorgeous, expressive and detailed illustrations, provide enjoyment to children and to adults alike. It's fun to sit and just look at the pictures and point out the details that are there. My kids love that! This is a classic book and is a wonderful addition to anyone's library. I've used it sucessfully in children's literacy programs - kids never seem to get tired of reading it and looking at the pictures.

A Must Read at Bedtime
This is the Napping House, where everyone is sleeping. It's dark, raining and very subdued. First there's the cozy bed, followed by the snoring granny, the dreaming child, dozing dog, snoozing cat, slumbering mouse and finally, the wakeful flea. And then the wakeful flea bites the mouse... The team of Audrey and Don Woods has put together a wonderful, gentle bedtime story pre-schoolers will want to hear again and again. With easy to read, repetitive text and beautifully detailed, expressive illustrations, youngsters watch the ever growing pile of sleeping bodies move, change position and then slowly lighten and brighten as one by one, everyone wakes up. As the book ends, the last page shows the napping house where no one is sleeping. It's sunny and cheerful with a rainbow in the sky. This is a classic the whole family will enjoy and a must for all home libraries.

A Book My Son & I Love
I think alot of great things have been said by the reviewers that have come before me, but I want to add my two cents! My toddler son just loves this book. He particularly loves to search for the flea and the mouse on each page--even though he now knows where they are! He never tires of hearing it and I never tire of reading it. A great purchase.

great book!
This is the story of a house where everyone sleeps in one bed
and how they all wake up, when the mouse sneezes.

It is a great repetitive book that children relate to and they can follow very easily.

The Napping House
I really liked this book. It was a good book for sequencing. I thought the pictures were very colorful. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (25)

Lovely and Imaginative Illustrations
The premise of the story is silly: King Bidgood is having so much fun in the bath that he won't get out. Whenever anyone tries to lure him away to other activities, he carries out the activities in the tub - fishing, eating, celebrating, etc.. Courtiers join him in full dress, and have a merry time while the page tries desperately to get the king to get out of the bath.

These are some of the most beautiful and detailed illustrations I have ever seen! My favorite is the page on which King Bidgood is fishing in the tub. There are water grasses, lilies, fish, and an amazing array of colors. All the pictures are lovely! It's a great book for sparking kids' imaginations because the illustrations are realistic although the story is fanciful.

I would recommend this book for any child who loves detailed pictures. There is always something else to be found, no matter how many times a child examines the pages. And, it's a great book for dreamers or kids who don't like to get out of the bath!

This will make you laugh!
When I was in 5th grade, I read King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, and got to hear the tape with it. It was so good, my brother and I would read it constantly. We would even walk to school singing the song (at the top of our lungs, of course!). A great children's book, all in all, with beautiful illustrations. The absurdity of fishing in a tub, going to war in a tub, eating lunch, and even having a royal ball in a bathtub will have you laughing in no time. Get it for the kids in you life, but I bet some adults will like it too!

Fun-filled and Satisfactory for Readers of All Ages
I am 20 and babysit my nephew (he's 3) weekly. I remember reading this book in Elementary School and being captivated by the beautifully done and action packed illustrations. Now it is a favorite of my nephew. The rhythm and pattern of the writing is just as fun to read as it is to listen to. He loves to try to remember every page and always chimes in with "King Bidgood's in the bathtub and he won't get out! Oh who knows what to do?" Kids can relate to this kooky king in wanting to stay in the tub, the story is imaginative and the vocabulary is kid-friendly but also helps kids to learn new words. I appreciate books that don't get old fast because children love to hear favorites again and again. King Bidgood, like Heggledy Pegg is a keeper.

We know what to do!
King Bidgood's in the bath tub and he won't get out cries the page who knows what to do. The queen, the duke the knite and the court all try to get the king out of the bath tub. instead of helping the page, it makes more for for him. Until the page knows what to do, he pulls the plug, glub glub glub! The pictures are beautiful! You have to spend time looking at the pictures because they are so detailed. My so loves this book. It gose in our favorite pile.

Audrey Wood is great
She did it again with this book. A cute story with good illistrations. The only thing I didn't like was that the book was a little dark. I usually like bright vibrant colors. My children enjoy the book and ask me to read it often. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (17)

The rhymes and silliness of this book make it a real winner!
Silly Sally is so very well done. My kids received it as a gift and it only took a couple of reads for them to be in love. They memorized the verse and began singing it through the house! What a delight -- even parents will have funn with this one as Silly Sally goes to town....

Neddy Buttercup walking forwards right side up!
A very fun book with great pictures. It is also really great for kids to act out and use their imagination. It can really get them moving. Bright pictures and rhyming text are just two of the many things I love this book and you should too! Can you rate higher than 5? =)

Great book for little ones!
My 7 1/2 month old adores this book. The sing song rhyming text amuses her like nothing else (I have memorized the story to tell when she's particularly grumpy). We love Audrey Wood and Silly Sally!

Easy words, easy reading!
This book is cute and funny to children and they can enjoy this book.

The pictures are adorable and the words rhyme and they love it.

Ellen

review for Silly Sally
Silly Sally is a great childrens book, it's a book for bigginer readers. It's fun and easy to read with an easy vocabulary and its rhyming format. The book Silly Sally is about a girl named Sally who goes to town walking backwards upside down. On her trip through town she meets different animals who she engages in different activities with. Then she meets Ned Buttercup who walks forward rightside up. Ned tickles all the animals as well as Sally who is sleeping. He wakes them up and they continue there journey together animals and all. ... Read more

Book Description

A book for pre-school and early primary readers, The Big Hungry Bear is the story of a little mouse and you (you are the only one who speaks).What you try to do is trick the mouse into giving you his 'red, ripe strawberry' by making him think 'a big hungry bear' is chasing him, wanting to take it away. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Adorable, Colorful, and Funny.
The Story: A mouse is in the process of picking a red ripe strawberry when you, the reader, come upon him. You warn the mouse about "The Big Hungry Bear" who loves "Red Ripe Strawberries." Though the darling little mouse looks up at you with wide, worried eyes, he really wants that strawberry and continues to pick it and drag it back to his little home, where he tries hiding it, guarding it, disguising it, etc. Finally, the reader tells the little mouse the only way he can save his strawberry from the "Big Hungry Bear" is to "Cut it in two, share half with me, and we will eat it all up."

Your little mouse will love this book, and so will you. The illustrations are absolutely fantastic, and the mouse is one of the most expressively drawn characters in children's books. It's a quick read accompanied by bright, colorful, beautifully painted pages that will keep the attention of even the youngest child, and have your older child giggling and reading along with you.

Delightful, clever, and fun!
This is one of my 3 year old son's favorite books. The illustrations are GREAT; I recommend the larger hard cover book. This book starts with "Hello little mouse, what are you doing?", as you "catch" the mouse picking a strawberry. The adult gets to enjoy the mischief of the narrator, who tricks the mouse into sharing and eating the strawberry by convincing the mouse that the big hungry bear is on the way to eat the strawberry. The finer point that there probably is no bear is not necessary for the child to understand to enjoy and participate in the story. My son enjoyed from the age of 2 the clever ways in which the mouse tries to hide the strawberry, and always acts out his part of taking his half of the strawberry and eating it.

A PEACH OF A BOOK
This is one of my very favorite kids' books. There is no
particular moral, the story line is minimal, there is no bear!
But there is a little mouse with one of the most expressive
faces in all of kids' picture books, a huge strawberry, and a
very happy and satisfying ending.

Don and Audrey Wood are an extremely talented couple, both when
they work on separate projects and especially when they work
together.

Suspenseful without being scary
The Little Mouse book has a wonderful interplay between the reader and story as it introduces concepts of sharing and how to deal with the threat of a bully.

Pictures Make this Story - The Strawberry Seems Edible
Both my kids loved this book and I have given it to lots of people. I like the big hardcover because the pictures are so great (although the smaller Board Book is nice). In The mouse offers up the strawberry to the reader to share, and even Mom and Dad feel like they ought to take a piece. Simple story - and although the narrator tells the mouse he ought to take care of his strawberry or a great big hungry bear will eat it, my kids were never scared. ... Read more

Book Description

Engaging alphabet books are perennial bestsellers with unlimited demand. As in their previous collaboration, the Woods bring lower-case letters to life in a fun adventure. Little x has left, upset he's hardly used, and the other letters set out to find him. They find x playing the castle xylophone for the mysterious Master, capital M, who threatens to turn them into alphabet soup! Some quick thinking by Little x saves the day, and soon they are all on their way home--just in time to make Mom's birthday surprise: a cake with Little x all over. He's the only one who stands for kisses! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent follow up to Alphabet Adventure
I bought this book for my four year old daaughter because we both loved Alphabet Adventure so much. The story centers on little x this time. He decidedes to run away because he is a letter that isn't used very much. All of the other letters embark on an adventure to bring him home. This book is especially perfect for this time of year. There is a spooky castle and a monster M that evokes images of Halloween. At the end of the story little x realizes that he is a very special letter after all. Children love the idea of a mystery and the illustrations in this book are really wonderful. Everytime you read it you will see something new. My daughter especially loves the page where the letters match up to an object that they begin with. My daughter has learned a lot from this book and Alphabet Adventure. I highly recommend them both. ... Read more

Book Description

Mrs. Honey and her cat find themselves in each other's dreams.They fly and fall and fight off sharks with knitting needles.They almost drown and are rescued by sailors, attacked by pirates and saved by Mrs. Honey's cakes, only to end up walking the plank into the briny drink!And then...and then...they wake up!So, that's how you get rid of pirates! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Wonderful book!
My son (2 years old) absolutely adores this book! We typically read a minimum of three books together every evening, and this, is always one of them! (The other constant is another Don and Audrey Wood book - The mouse, the red ripe strawberry and the big hungry bear). The "quick as a cricket", "slow as a snail" similies through the book are wonderful. I would highly recommend it!

Great book for toddlers!
My one year old daughter is a book-a-holic. She loves me to read ot her and I have, in the process, been given an opportunity to become quite adept in my knowledge of great children's books. This book is a winner! It is her very favorite. She loves the illustrations and the story delights her. She loves animals and is able to see many of her favorites, namely, the dog and cat. She also loves the end of the book where the boy has his arms overhead. She likes to mimic this gesture everytime we come to the end. If your kid loves to read, loves animals and you want a book that is not too wordy this book is for your child. Happy reading!

I'm as Quick as a Cricket
My children all grew up with this book. My oldest child is handicapped and ABSOLUTELY loves this book over all the others. When read with enthusiasm and accents on the words, it makes it all the more enjoyable. The last page with the big smile is the ultimate ending and my daughter pulls the book to her face with glee. If you enjoy reading to your kids and enjoy wonderful pictures---this is a keeper. This is at the top of my list and has been for years. All of the new nieces and nephews recieve this as a gift. Absolutely the greatest!!

Quick as a Cricket
This lovely book has won the heart of my 2 year old daughter. She requests the "cricket book" perhaps a little too often :-). I do really enjoy reading the quick paced, bouncy rhyming style of Audrey Wood. She is one of my favorite children's authors and with her husband Don Wood, they have created beautifully illustrated pages to go along with it. It is colorful, fun, interesting, and predictable enough so that the toddler can help you finish the sentences and join in the story FUN!

All-time Favorite
I got this book for my son, when he was three years old. And it's been his favorite book ever since. At age 5, he still asks for it at least once a week.

The pictures are great and the child is drawn in a gender-neutral way that lets each child relate to the story as they want. I've given this one as a gift several times, and the boys always assume the character is a boy and the girls see a girl.

The story reinforces the concept that we can all be different ways at the same time -- and that ability is to be celebrated. ... Read more

Book Description

Best-selling author Audrey Wood collaborates with her son Bruce Wood on ALPHABET ADVENTURE, a wonderfully different ABC book that tells the story of an alphabet that sets off to teach a young student his letters. But along the way, the lowercase letter ³i² loses her dot, which later reappears. Kids will delight in looking back through the pages to find the dot hidden in every illustration. In colors as bright as sunshine, children will learn the names of each letter of the alphabet, in order and out of order! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Alphabet intrigue with a dotted "i" or two.
Bold and captivating, this alphabet concept book is a must have for the beginning reader. Not only is the story of the missing dot on the "i" appealing, but children can learn and enjoy the letter characters and detailed illustrations. This book would also be great for library story times and back to school themes. Another jewel from the ever-popular trove of the Wood family!

A "Must Have" alphabet book
Charley's alphabet approaches the first day of school in time to "help a child learn the a-b-c's." However, along the way there are some mishaps and confusions that require sifting and sorting, searching, and trying again until words are formed and learned. This book is not only a wonderful alphabet book for children, it is also a view of the reading process for teachers. Alphabet Adventure is a delight of vibrant colors that cascade the pages of this book. The carefully written story invites inquiry and higher level thinking. The language and illustraions provide opportunities for not only enjoying the story, but for conversation between parent and child, teachers and children. I love alphabet books and was so delighted to find this book that I bought two. It is a "must have" book for Kindergarten and first grade teachers. Parents and grandparents need to share with young children as well.

Exciting adventure for PreK and K ages
My children are 5 (boy) and 3 (girl) years old. They both loved this book. The first time we read it it kept their interest. Wonderful story and beautiful illustrations. When you get to the end of the book, you realize that the book is also an "I spy" or "Where's Waldo" type, looking for the book character, little i's, dot. The kids were so excited to read the book again and hunt for the hiding dot.

Excellent Book!
We bought this for our 3 year old son and he loved it (and learned the upper and lowercase alphabet without any stress at all). Great, colorful illustrations too.

Colorful And Fun
My son and I enjoyed this story. It felt like we were part of the adventure. The colors are vibrant and fun. Audrey Wood is great. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (14)

A perfect book in a less than perfect format
"Piggies" is a classic. Mirthful with beautiful illustrations, this book would be perfect for any youngster under the age of seven. Audrey and Don Wood have collaborated on several award-winning books, and of the ones we've seen, "Piggies" is our favorite.

The story is simple. The child narrator discusses his/her five pairs of piggies (fingers, thumbs), assigning a temperament to each pair. The pairs go through several kinds of environments, changing with the environment. The ten little piggies cavort and act up according to the situation. In the end there is a bedtime coming together of the piggies.

That rather perfunctory summary does no justice to this charming book, especially since the illustrations by Don are spectacular.

And this is the main beef with this board book format of the story (and the sole reason for losing a star.) Several full-size versions of this book exist. At this larger size, the amazing detail of the little pigs emerges. But in the board book format, the illustrations get squeezed down, losing the details that bring out the personalities of the piggies.

This leads to a tough decision: go with the sturdier board book or with the regular hardback. Much depends on how hard your children treat books. Very small children would do better with the board book, while older children would be better off with a larger, less sturdy format.

Still, either way, this is an admirable addition to any young child's library and comes highly recommended.

Piggies Review
Piggies by Audrey and Don Woods is an excellent book for children. The authors used simple content to make this book easy to understand. The book is about ten little piggies. All of the piggies are very active and different. Two are silly, two long, two fat, two small and even two smart. The authors describe each set of piggies in twos, which is very significant because it will help readers to learn the number two and counting by twos. The text of this book can be compared with the story "This little piggie went to the market," a story that many parents have shared with their children. The illustrations in this book are bright and precise. The Woods' use of bright colors help capture your attention and expand your imagination. This oversized book will attract readers immediately with its big, yellow outside cover. The illustrations help to show not only how the piggies are similar but also how different. The Woods did a great job of writing and illustrating Piggies. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to let their imagination explore the world of these little piggies.

You'll fall in love with this book!
I bought this book for my son because I just loved the illustrations. It's a simple, fun story and he absolutley loves the book. I have to read it to him several times a day and I have yet to tire of it (after several months!).

Do You Like Pigs You Will Like This Book!
In the book Piggies by Audrey Wood and Don Wood there are lots of pigs. The pigs are really funny. They sing, they take baths, they read, they eat watermelon, and get muddy. Something you have to know, though, is that the pigs are on hands. They are really fingers. I liked the book because I thought the pigs were really cute.

Student from G.P.

Great book for reading with your Mommy and Daddy
I am an 18 month old toddler. My Mommy and Daddy first started reading this book to me when I was only 1 year old. I didn't like it at first. I just wanted to read my book about farm animals. But my Mommy and Daddy seemed to think it was so charming that they kept reading it to me and soon, I started to like it.

What makes it fun for me is that my Mommy and Daddy play along with the book. Each page has a unique hand position or hand play that they can imitate. Towards the end, one of the hand plays involves tickling my tummy, so I look forward to that. Now that my parents know the entire book from memory, they sometimes "read" the book to me without the book by reciting the words along with the hand gestures, and it is still a lot of fun.

The pictures are very bright, colorful, and complicated. For me, the pictures are too complicated to understand, but I hope to understand them one day when I am older, so I am going to hang on to this book for a little while. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Simple and Sweet
My son loves this book as a must read every morning when he wakes up and every night before he goes to bed. We love searching for the mouse and the flea and seeing the movement of the characters before they end up on the bed or off of it. The colors and the change from night to day are so smooth you almost dont notice it.

Good Book
Spanish is our native language and we speak Spanish at home so that our kids learn both Spanish and English. This book is a simple story with rather rich language, my daughter got 3 or 4 words she had never heard before. Besides, my daughter loves the story and the pictures; she likes to look for the mouse and the 'pulga' in all of the pages.

La Casa Adormecida
The language is simple and repeptitive, making this a great book to teach Spanish in Elementary and Middle grades. Illustrations are great. It's also a good book for native speakers practicing reading. I use it as a check-out book for English as a Second Language students, to motivate literacy acquisition. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Jubal's Wish...a wonderful children's book!
I bought this book for my son when he was 2..now he is 5 & still loves this book. Jubal is an engaging character that children can't help but love. The colors in this book are what first made me pick it up. It is so cheerful & exciting. I highly recommend this and all Audrey & Don Wood books.

Sara's Review on Jubal's Wish
I think Jubal's Wish is a very good story. The illustration is very colorful and lively. I love Audrey Wood, she is one of my favorite authors and her stories are really cool. Of all of Audrey Woods books I would have to say that Jubal's Wish is my favorite, it's a really good book.

Charming!
Jubal the bullfrog is so happy on this bright and sunny day, that his feet barely touch the ground as he skips along with his picnic basket. In time, he meets up with two of his neighbors, Gerdy, the toad and Captain Dalbert, the lizard. Both are tired, angry, overworked and depressed. It makes Jubal sad that his friends are so miserable on this beautiful day and so he wishes they could be as happy as he is. With that, a wizard appears and gives him a twinkling wishing star...."Dreams and wishes, wishes and dreams. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. You never know how they'll turn out in the end." And as Jubal watches, his wish comes true in a very unusal and special way..... Audrey and Don Woods have done it again, writing a simple, gentle story of generosity, caring and love. Their warm and expressive text is only outdone by their vibrant, larger than life artwork, that will entrance youngsters as it almost spills off the page. Together, they have produced a charming fairy tale that's perfect for 3-7 year olds. Jubal's Wish, with it's endearing hero, will delight children of all ages and is a wonderful addition to all bookshelves.

A review of Jubal's Wish
Jubal's wish is a beautifully illustrated (as expected from Don Wood) story with a nice theme about doing for others. It also shows that sometimes when something negative happens that something good can come from it. My two children LOVED it and read/requested it to be read four times in the 24 hours after I gave it to them. My kids are 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 and actually the 5 1/2 year old boy is the more enamoured.

Jubal is a jewel!
The Woods' have done it again. Another first-rate picture book. This book has a delightful story as well as captivating pictures. This book reminds its readers that sometimes wishes do come true even though you may feel like you are at your lowest point. The pictures show a lot of emotions and help the reader empathize with the characters. This would be a welcome addition to anyone's picture book collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

A must-have addition to any classroom or childrens' library!
This is one of my favorites. It is a lively, imaginative book that is fun to read aloud. I just read it today in fact to a group of second graders and they loved it so much they all clapped at the end. You will captivate your audience and have opportunities to discuss a wonderful alternative to profanity that is logical. As one other reviewer said, this book does lend itself well to a follow up discussion or activity where children can come up with their own strong words. While I don't always appreciate Audrey and Don Wood's illustrative style as as much as others might, it is fun to look through how very elaborate and imaginative they are. You will likely notice new details several times after the first time you read it due to this aspect of the illustrations.

The Good Word about Bad Words
If your child has ever "caught" a bad word, as a character in this book phrases it, then Audrey and Don Wood's "Elbert's Bad Word" is the cure you're seeking. Rather than being one of those pseudo-psychological books of the values and feelings genre, this is a lively, witty, sophisticated story that delivers its message with subtlety and humor. Even adults will love how the Woods have depicted the bad word; it's creative and clever to say the least. It also, and this children and adults will likely find enjoyable, satirizes adults' parties, poking fun at adult party foods, clothes and entertainments. Very enjoyable--and useful for the parent dealing with a case of the "bad word."

A how-to on reducing the power of bad words.
My kids borrowed this book at the library and enjoyed it so much I am purchasing it. My four-year-old enjoys saying and creating his own expressive words - words that "sparkle and crackle." My two-year-old recognizes bad words and is learning acceptable replacements. He reads the book daily. They both tell everyone they meet about bad words. Again, the illustration of the bad word is excellent - much better than having used a word.

Course I will never be able to wash out my kids' mouths because they now know that won't get rid of the word. Replacing it with more appropriate words is what they have learned from this book.

Powerful words conquer bad words any day and are fun to use.
A bad word is overheard at a garden party. It's use by Elbert leads to abuse - are bar of soap in the mouth. The word is strong, it's still not gone. In fact it's growing stronger! Elbert seeks a wizard's aide - the gardener in a fantastical shed. A spell is made. Powerful words bearing social acceptance, enter Elbert's head. After a second painful mishap - the guests all waiting breathless - Elbert uses his new strong words and finds both relief and acceptance. The bad word is deflated and crawls away defeated. Not one bad word is used in the book. It is drawn as and angry tangle. The art work is fun. One can search for all the relevant party guests in each picture. The gardner's hut shows magical items is great detail. The sotry lends itself to inventing ones own powerful words. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Buy this book and let your imagination soar!
This is an excellent, imaginative book that my 3 1/2 year-old son absolutely loved. We are big fans of Mark Teague's illustrations and found this book because of him, but we now love Audrey Wood, as well. This book is adventurous, but not scarey, as well as fun and playful. It would be an excellent gift for ages 2.5-5 years.

A springboard for imagination
I particulary enjoyed this book by my favorite picture book author because I was able to take my children to see Ms. Wood and Mr. Teague when it came out. I have used it in my classroom as a springboard for a writing activity because it is a wonderful reminder that with imagination and books you can go anywhere and do anything. The characters drift from room to room without any particular plot, but it is forgivable because the book celebrates the "can-do" spirit of childhood. My three year old wants to read it over and over to watch where "Baby Sarah" ends up and look at the cornucopia of images on every page. I always prefer Don Wood's illustrations with her books, but if you can relinquish that expectation the pictures are a lot of fun. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Great Book to Read Aloud!
My good friend read this book aloud to a group of 20-25 children. A great discussion book! Went over well!! Lots of lessons to be learned.

Rude Giants
This is a great read aloud for young children. The pictures are colorful and inviting. The story is fantasy/folk-tale like. It reminds me illustation wise of Jack and the Beanstalk. It is written in understandable text. Beatrix has a wonderful cow. The Rude Giants are hungry and want to eat the cow. Beatrix manipulates the giants into becoming clean, well-mannered giants while saving her cow. The pictures of the giants are humorous, not scary for young readers. The characters are well-developed; as well as, the storyline. Audrey Wood has another enjoyable book, written and illustrated, to be loved by all. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Look At Me!
My son (3 years old) received this book as a gift and it is one of our favourites to read together. I think the rhythm of the book makes it easy to read out loud and the pictures are very interesting and fun to look at. I recommend this book and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Teacher from Texas
This is a delightful story about a mischievious little penguin and his adventures. My students loved this story and so did I.

My Least Favorite Penguin Book
Being an avid penguin collector, I have many, many penguin books, but this is definitely my least favorite. The story is about a grown-up penguin telling a group of little penguins what will happen if they do things they shouldn't. In the meantime, one of the little penguins is doing all these things. Even though the story the Nanny penguin tells is supposed to be exciting, I found it a little on the boring side. I do like the pictures; they are bright and pleasant to look at. However, the rest of the story is, in my opinion, somewhat lacking. True, it does have a well-developed plot line, but it just did not seem very thrilling at all. Younger children might like it, say maybe through kindergarten, but the rest would probably not. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (19)

Terrifying to my daughter at age 4!
My eldest was terrified by this book when she was 4- I don't blame her!- but started to like it a couple of years later. The storyline is dark as are the illustrations, but they're also well rendered.

There are many obvious messages in the story- the mother leaves the children alone with explicit directions, which they disregard to their detriment! The witch is portrayed as the post-Pagan era Evil Witch, and not a positive Healing Witch. Even worse, she wants to eat the children. Yikes! The Mother though, is able to Save Her Children because she loves and understands them well and pays attention to their needs.

My daughter's fears stemmed largely (I believe) from her fear of bad things happening to young children. If your child feels that way, this might be a scary book for her. My younger daughter never disliked the story though, but she has a different kind of analytical mind and probably didnt' suspend reality to allow the children to turn to food. :-)

My Family's Favorite Childrens Book
I discovered the Woods with "The Mouse, Strawberry and Big Black Bear" and sought out more. When they were very young, my boys and I loved the books as much for the illustrations as the text. And then we found "Heckedy Peg" at the library. My gosh. Granted, this story is not for every child - it could be viewed as quite scary. But at 2 and 5, my boys couldn't get enough (especially the 2 yr. old!). Examine the illustrations to add to the text of the book. Look for the blackbird in nearly every picture. Notice the "pie boy's" shirt before and after his rescue - after the witch has taken a "lick" of the pie, and too many more to mention. I bought a book to set aside for my grandchildren and one for each of my boys to read to their own kids when that time comes. My 2 year old, now 15, still sits down to read it now and then and we still discuss the illustrations.
And there are some very good lessons to be learned, too (WHY you don't talk to strangers!) and the Mother is a real hero.

AMAZING!
I LOVED this book as a child and have been searching for it for almost a year! I would ask people if they had ever heard of it and everyone would give me funny looks, but once you read it, you will understand! The illustrations definetely make the book!

My favorite children's book ever!!
This is a wonderful, beautifully illustrated book that has delighted me for ages! The story is about a mother and her seven children (each named for a day of the week) and the witch Heggedy Peg. On the day the mother goes out she asks the children what they want; she then leaves warning not to admit or give light to anyone. While she is gone Heggedy Peg comes and tricks the children into giving her a light for her pipe - and she turns them all into food. It is then up to their mother to turn them back into humans by naming each dish the right child. The pictures in this book are absolutely charming! Definitely worth buying!

good but upsetting to me later in life
I read this book as a child and liked it a lot; I still think it's an entertaining story with beautiful pictures. However, it is one of many stories about a witch, in this case a devalued version of the ancient Greek goddess Hecate. This just saddens me a bit because children tend to be exposed to few stories about positive interpretations of ancient goddesses from the before-Christ era, so I recommend that parents look into providing a more balanced repertoire. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

The best childrens book ever!!
I have to say that I fell in love with the little mouse. Each page is a colorful new experience. I felt his horror when he heard about the terrible Big Hungry Bear, and his frantic attempt to save the red, ripe strawberry from him. What a clever and entertaining book. I am a storyteller and this is the favorite of all. Children young and old can enjoy the beautiful illustrations and the creative storyline. It definetly makes me want a big, red, ripe strawberry. ... Read more

Book Description

Imagine a pie made of chocolate, gumdrops, licorice, and every sweet ingredient you love.Audrey Wood and Mark Teague have concocted a pie so irresistible it can¹t be forgotten - and so sweet it leads to the most incredible dreams! Here is an entertaining story for bedtime or anytime that children and adults will share again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fabulous book for children of all ages
Both my three-year old girl and seven-year old boy request this book every night. They love the colorful illustrations. It is also a wonderful book to give to kids with allergies, who will relate to Amy (pie makes her sneeze).

Sweet Dream Book!
My daughter, who is 2, loves this book! She loves to hear over and over again how the the Brindles Sweet Dream Pie cast a sweet spell over Willobie street, enticing all but Amy McPhearson who was not a fan of pie as it made her sneeze! It is so much fun to read out loud at bedtime! We took this book out of the library and we had to buy it! It's a great addition to any childs collection!

Craving for a delicious book
Welcome to the wonderful fantasy land of Ma and Pa Brindle's. This book tells a delicious and fulfilling tale of one Sweet Dream Pie and what happens when people indluge in this enormous pie. Through colorful and rich pictures and such descriptive words as: "clouds of powdered sugar, a chocolate tornado, or a thick, sweet syrup bubbled and oozed down the sides," Audrey Wood allows the reader to feel as if they too are enjoying a piece of Ma Brindle's Pie. Come and allow your dreams to indulge in a piece of Sweet Dream Pie.

Sweet Dream Pie
For parents who like to read aloud, this book is an absolute must. The story and characters are brought to life by vibrant, fun illustrations, and the story is equally entertaining to children and adults (doesn't everyone know at least one "Pa Brindle?"). Audrey Wood is an outstanding story-teller.

Too much is not enough
My boys, ages 5 and 7, can't get their fill of this colorful, wacky book. The love indulging their imaginations with it each night before bed and "sweet thirds and fourths" of it in a single sitting would not be enough if they had their way! ... Read more

Book Description

When Old Grandfather Winter disappears into his ice palace high in the mountains, Young Robin chirps her wake-up song to the Root Children deep underground. ³Wake up,² she sings, ³it¹s time for the masquerade!² Right away, the Root Children set to work sewing their flowering costumes and painting bugs with rainbows until they sparkle like jewels. Then they frolic out into the world in a joyous chorus of frolic and song all through Summer, until the frosty Autumn winds blow away the leaves and flowers. The Root Children return to their underground bed with gentle Mother Earth until Spring returns again. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A treasure!
This is a beautiful book! The artwork in this book is among the best I've seen in a child's book. It's a wonderful version of a classic story & the words flow like poetry. It's a great starter book to introduce young children to the wheel of the year & the changing seasons.

The only flaw is the typeface is so artistic it is sometimes hard to read, just read slowly & savor each word.

You'll love this book, go ahead & buy 2 copies! You're going to want to share it with everyone you know!

I like it!
Being very familiar and in love with the 1902 version of this book, I didn't know what to make of this new version, at first. But it grows on you! I especially like the way Mother Earth is portrayed, not as a Grandmotherly figure, but a beautiful woman maybe in her early thirties - an image of fertility and fruitfulness. The illustrations are lush and a bit overdone in places, but they represent the bounty of the seasons well. The introduction of Aunt Spring, Cousin Summer, Uncle Fall and Old Man Winter is different than the original, but not offensive or upsetting even to a die-hard fan, like me. The text is shorter and, for that reason, may appeal to younger children who can't sit through Sibylle von Olfers' word-ier original story. Overall, when I compare the two, the 1902 original has a certain charm that is hard to deny. Von Olfers' illustrations are simple and the text is straightforward, although a bit wordy. This new remake is beautifully done and has a different feel altogether: it's lush, full of life, color and movement. Audrey Wood has taken a risk to remake such a beloved classic, but I believe she made a good effort and successfully made it her own. I can't say it's better than the original, but I like it!

Exploring the Four Seasons
This elegantly crafted book is a pure delight! The light-hearted text and the beautiful evocative oil paintings that illustrate the story lead us on a whimsical journey through the changing seasons. We are re-introduced to delightful characters from an old German story about birth and rebirth and treated to the colorful adventures of the Root Children as they awaken in Spring and begin painting the bugs and making lovely flower costumes. We also meet Old Grandfather Winter, Mother Earth, Kind Aunt Spring, Jolly Cousin Summer, and Studious Uncle Fall. The joyous adventures of the Root Children as they meet their older relatives and a host of woodland creatures out in the world are brimming with color and fun. The multi-racial children sport colorful butterfly wings and flower garlands as they frisk about the abundant earth revelling in Nature. The expressions and body language of real children are reflected in these lovely illustrations. The double page spreads draw one in to the festivities and are complimented by a beautiful, uncharacteristic font style for added ambiance. The dust jacket is a smooth silvery paper with a glossy full color picture of the Root Children and a lovely tangle of budding trees. The endpapers are a silvery blue with the same lovely trees and the covers of the book itself are a simulated embossed soft brown leather with a picture of a little Root Child girl holding a lighted candle, oak leaves in her hair. No detail was spared in this lovely book and it is sure to become a beloved treasure. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not a very good Wood book
Virtually all of Audrey Wood's books are really good (especially the one's illustrated by her husband Don), but not this one. This book was just ok.

A treasure for any child's book collection
This book is beautifully illustrated and has such a warm and wonderful message. As someone whose father sent her to school with peanut butter, raisin, honey and banana sandwiches, I felt this book spoke directly to me. It's beautiful and funny to watch how this little boy just crumples with embarrassment over the eccentric behavior of his parents, but then comes to realize how their love is what is truly exceptional about them.It's just a great tale to which many of us can relate. By the way, you have to try peanut butter, banana, raisin and honey sandwiches! They're great.

What a hoot!
All parents seem a bit odd to their kids.This book makes you laugh at your differences.Very cleaver.Teaches love and acceptance and respect of our uniqueness. ... Read more