Book Description

A lyrical, humorous tale of those creatures we love to hate-bees!

These bees are happy! They cause mischief at picnics, in the backyard, and just about everywhere else. Who can resist them when they have such a good time doing it? And here, of course, comes a silly old bear determined to get at their hive for honey. What is he thinking!? Yorinks and Armstrong-Ellis, highly praised for her popular Twelve Days of Kindergarten, have created a silly, poetic, and oh-so-fun look at everyone's favorite garden menace. Also included is a bonus CD of ten silly sing-along songs about these buzzy, fuzzy yellow fellows. AUTHOR BIO: Arthur Yorinks is the author of 25 books for children, including Hey, Al, which won a Caldecott Medal. He divides his time between New York City and Cambridge, New York. Carey Armstrong-Ellis's two previous books are The Twelve Days of Kindergarten and Prudy's Problem. She lives in Maine. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A rollicking fun read-aloud story
Energetically illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis, Happy Bees! by Arthur Yorinks is a picturebook that comes with a bonus CD of ten festive bee songs. Young readers are treated to the dilemma that a swarm of bees presents, causing havoc among humans at a picnic, chasing a bear after their honey, or just playing tag. The exuberant color pictures have a hidden ladybug in each spread, and the very simple text encourages beginning readers to sound out their first words. A rollicking fun read-aloud story.
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"They came from outer space. They landed in Minnesota.They were... Tomatoes from Mars"! While earthlings sleep, gianttomatoes swoop down to shmear the country with their hallmark redstain. No one can stop this diabolical red plague... untilscientist Dr. Shtickle shows up with a plan. Given 12 hours by apanicking president, Shtickle (who bears a mysteriously strikingresemblance to a certain other nutty scientist named Einstein) andhis faithful niece scheme. "If only we could communicate with thetomatoes," Shtickle says, "I know we could end this madness." Andat last, with the help of a shpritzer bottle, a little extravirgin olive oil, and some red wine vinegar, Shtickle's saucysolution succeeds.

What a team! Caldecott medal recipient Arthur Yorinks's utterlynonsensical tall tale pairs perfectly with the melodramaticcaricatures of Mad magazine's Mort Drucker. Both Yorinksand Drucker obviously enjoy poking fun at paranoid politicians,unstrung citizens, and pretty much anyone else who gets in theirway. This red scare is sure to be a hit with any reader with afiendish sense of humor and a passion for Mad. Hungry formore from these two? Try Whitefish Will Rides Again!. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Attack of the Tomatoes.
While reading TOMATOES FROM MARS, I couldn't but help be reminded of the cult movie ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES. In some ways, this story is a G-rated version of that movie, but there are several differences. Instead of Killer Tomatoes, these Tomatoes from Mars are only interested in dying everything red with their alien juice. That's what they did with Mars and that's what they want to do with Earth. When most other plans fail, the President calls upon a famed scientist, who was ridiculed at the beginning of the story, to form a plan to rid the Earth of the menacing fruits. His first plan fails, but then he is inspired by his niece with a second plan which seems to save the day.

The illustrations in the story are quite vivid and somewhat lifelike. Kids like this book for the story, but adults will enjoy it for the illustrations. For example, the scientist in the story resembles Albert Einstein and his foxy niece looks like a swimsuit model. A delightful book and for less than seven dollars, it is a bargain.

Dr. Schtickle and a Schpitzer Saves the Day!
The day the 'Tomatoes from Mars' invaded Minneapolis was something to be reckoned with. These giant trouble-making invaders has the whole planet painted red. Now, that's what I call painting the town red :)! The President at the White House call on all scientists to find a solution to stop those bad tomatoes. Will nothing stop them? Until Dr. Schtickle (who is an amazing likeness to Albert Einstein) calls the President with an idea to keep the tomatoes at bay. When the peace messages don't work, the President has other plans to blast the menacing over-sized veggies. When Dr. Schtickle asked for a second chance to stop them, the President gives him just 24 hours.

In the meantime, Dr. Schtickle is so nervous with so little time to act on a plan. His niece Sally suggests he'd eat something to help him think better. Sally goes makes him a salad in the kitchen. From out of the sky the tomatoes make their way to Dr. Schtickle's apartment. Oh, my what will the good Dr. and his niece Sally do? Make a salad? He gets an idea to grab a schpitzer and fill it with a secret weapon. The secret?-olive oil, vinegar and lots of herbs! The fate of the world rest in the hands of Dr. Schtickle and a schpitzer? He schpitzed those giant red menaces into a salad frenzy. Sending them back into outer space. In the end Dr. Schtickle gets a red badge of courage and declares that there are onion rings around Saturn. Arthur Yorinks writes really humorous children's books a kind-of Dr. Seuss meets The Far Side. Yorinks has also written 'Louie the Fish' and 'Christmas in July.' If you like to make your kids laugh. You're sure to find a tickle bone with Yorinks' books. ... Read more

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In this slyly humorous tale of visitors from outer space and a nicecouple from Bellmore, we learn that the key to intergalactic human-alienrelations is... spaghetti and meatballs. That and a few common courtesies. Whena spaceship quietly lands next to Moe and Shirley's tool shed and two aliens askto use the bathroom, Moe becomes slightly hysterical while Shirley tries to keepher cool. Later that evening, when Shirley's cousins arrive for a spaghettidinner, the aliens return, bearing a gift. Meanwhile, Moe has alerted the FBI,the Pentagon, the Army, the Air Force, and the Marines. The relatives and Moetake turns fainting while Shirley politely offers her new visitors appetizers.But what is in the gift box the aliens have brought? "It's a bomb! It's gas!It's a laser!" Cousin Etta yells, before swooning again. Ever the charminghostess, Shirley slowly unwraps the gift, which, as it turns out, is none of theabove.

First published in 1988, Company's Coming received several prestigioushonors, including The New York Times Book Review's Notable Books and theRedbook Children's Picture Book Award. It's one of those rare books thatwill delight adults as well as children, passing on an easy-to-swallow messageof human kindness and grace under pressure. Al Yorinks is the author of theCaldecott-winning Hey,Al, and David Small is well known for his artwork in Caldecott HonorBook The Gardener. (Ages5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Amusing and Enlightening
This was a clever children's book that definitely opens up topics for discussion. It explores discrimination, fear and acceptance. A great read for children in 1st and 2nd grade, but younger children would be amused as well. The illustrations are imaginative and fun. The writing is perfect for the younger reader (6 to 8 years old).

Delightful book with a great twist of humor.
This book is delightful blend of humor with great wit. It has become one of our families favorites. ... Read more

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The plot of this book, for 4-year-olds and up, involves the travails of Al, a janitor who lives in a dingy apartment on Manhattan's West Side with his dog Eddie. One day, a funny-looking bird sticks its huge head through Al's bathroom window and proposes a journey to a terrific place where there are "no worries" and "no cares." Al agrees and takes Eddie with him. What the two experience is paradise--butterflies, wildflowers, chirping birds and cool streams--but it soon gives way to the uncertainties of being away from home, and a moral: that home is where the heart is. This sharp, wry and tender story, which won the 1987 Caldecott Medal, marks Yorinks' and Egielski's fourth highly praised collaborative work. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great book for teaching values!
"Paradise lost is sometimes heaven found" is the closing line in Hey, Al, a wonderful book that has a timeless moral for both kids and adults. Al is a janitor who is not happy with how is life is going. He lives in a room with his dog, Eddie, who is also not happy with his situation. One day a bird appears at the window promising to bring them to a better place, "no worries, no cares". Of course, something that sounds that good probably isn't.

This book is definitely an entertaining story. The pictures are colorful and very detailed. Kids will love looking at them and pointing out all the different birds and laugh at the silly transformation that Al and Eddie go through. I think they will also get the story, that what you have is usually better than what you lust for. Everyone, at some point in their life, dreams about something better. This book is a great reality check for us, giving a serious message in a kid's book.

This book is fun to read!!
Hey, Al, by Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski, is a story about Al and Eddie, the dog, going to paradise.
Al, a nice, quiet, janitor, lived in a small but very neat apartment on the West Side of New York City with his faithful dog, Eddie. They were always struggling. Eddie hoped for a house with a backyard.
All that changed one morning when Al was startled by a huge bird said, "tommorow I will bring you to paradise." The bird offers Al and Eddie a change. The next morning, both are ready and waiting in the bathroom.the bird carries them to the paradise.
The theme of this story is that "your own home is the best place to be." Al and Eddie were much happier in their own house than in the paradise. Everyone will like this book, because it has beautiful pictures and ideas.

Not one to read over and over
This book had a very imaginative and fun beginning and middle. But then it just abruptly ended and was over. My 5 year old boy likes long chapter books, and then he likes short books like this to be read over and over again. He hasn't wanted to read this one again.

Almost Trapped in Paradise!
A janitor named Al and his faithful friend, a dog named Eddie live in New York in a cramped, rather dingy apartment. They are pretty sick of it and Eddie gripes about it to Al. One day they fall into a bit of magic and escape the world that they are tired of and end up on a flying island in the air that is populated by all kinds of fantastic tropical birds. They feel like they are in paradise but, of course, they find out that paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be.
What I love about this book is the wonderful illustrations, full of bright colors and gentle humour, and the dialog that sounds just the way a janitor from the West Side of New York City might. I love the way Al and Eddie learn to make their lives better by the end of the story. What I don't particularly like is that the "moral" seems to say that you really shouldn't dream of paradise on earth because it's not okay to kick back and luxuriate and live in leisure because that's just not naural for human beings. It's just too preachy and simplistic. Why can't magic take you to paradise and it all turns out GREAT? Why do we have to feel like if we're not struggling along and doing what we've always done, then it's going to come back and haunt us eventually? I did like the way the book emphasized how precious friendship is and how lost we are without it.
This is a book for little ones and they will love the pictures and characters. They will love, as I do, the friendship between Al and Eddie. It got the 1987 Caldecott medal for Illustrations for a reason! I think it's a good book but I was bummed that Al and Eddie couldn't have their cake and eat it, too. I mean if a giant tucan can hoist you aloft to a fantasy island, why can't the fantasy be perfect?!

Gorgeous Illustrations and a Timeless Story of Values
This book won the Caldecott Medal as the best illustrated children's book of 1987. The wistful, bright water colors will entrance you and your child as you follow this excursion into fantasy.

Al, who is a janitor, lives in a one room, one bathroom apartment on the West Side of New York City. His only companion is his loyal dog, Eddie. Not only is the place small, it is not very neat and tidy. Eddie yearns vocally for a house with a back yard.

All this changes one morning when Al is startled by a huge rainbow-beaked toucan-like bird poking his head into the bathroom while Al prepares for work. The bird offers Al and Eddie a change. The next morning, both are ready and waiting in the bathroom.

The bird carries them to a misty island high in the sky filled with beautiful pools, waterfalls, vegetation, birds, and butterflies. "Unbelievable" is their reaction. "They never had it so good." They lazed in pools of water, and ate wonderful ripe fruit. What a change from a small apartment!

But one morning, Al and Eddie started to turn into birds. Al said, "I don't want to be a bird. I'd rather mop floors!"

They head back, flapping their wings. Eddie tires and falls into the sea. Al barely gets to the apartment, where he is heartbroken over Eddie's loss. But Al has regained his human form in the process.

Then, Eddie returns, having swum from where he dropped into the ocean back to the shore.

Al realizes that "Paradise lost is sometimes Heaven found."

The last scene shows Al starting to paint the apartment a bright yellow as Eddie looks on.

The story follows the general theme of many children's stories where the reality of experiencing something more that has been yearned for makes the characters realize the greater value of what they already have had. You will find this theme in stories as diverse as Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew.

Naturally, this story is a set-up to help you and your child discuss and count your blessings, including each other. You can also relate the story back to experiences about being glad to return home from a trip or a vacation, even though everyone had a wonderful time.

Put what you have in perspective of the lesser alternatives, and strive to make the best of what you do have! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I never laughed so hard--it's simply hilarious
The book "Ugh" written by Arthur Yorinks and illustrated by Richard Egielski was one of the funniest books that I have ever read. It kind of reminded me of "Cinderella" but it had its own sense of pre-historic mystic and plot.I truly hoped that the author will be inspired to tell us a little bitmore about "Ugh." Perhaps a sequel would be nice . . . Either way this book is great. I never laughed so hard-- its simply hilarious!

I never laughed so hard--it's simply hilarious
The book "Ugh" written by Arthur Yorinks and illustrated by Richard Egielski was one of the funniest books that I have ever read. It kind of reminded me of "Cinderella" but it had its own sense of pre-historic mystic and plot.I truly hoped that the author will be inspired to tell us a little bitmore about "Ugh." Perhaps a sequel would be nice . . . Either way this book is great. I never laughed so hard-- its simply hilarious!

"Ugh" be great book
"Ugh" be story of Ugh, cave boy with big ideas. But Ugh nothappy.Ugh have mean sisters, mean brothers.Ugh do all the work--painting the cave walls, rubbing sister's feet-- while the world plays. But things change when Ugh invent bicycle. --For the first time since"Louis the Fish" introduced adult-style fictional minimalism,complex psychology, and maybe even reincarnation [as well as thuggishsalamis and hamburger patties] to the American picture book audience,Yorinks and Egielski have created an equally charming fictional world, inwhich a perfectly modulated narrative voice is wed to perfectly articulatedillustrations."Hey, Al!" may be the Caldecott winner from thisduo, but "Ugh" and "Louis the Fish" are the trueclassics. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Wonderful story and illustrations
An avid reader even at a very young age, this is one of the books that lingered in my memory. A very simple tale, but beautifully-written. Twenty years later, I have just put in an order for a new copy as my old copy was lost sometime in my youth.

Louis The Fish
This book is about a man who is brought up surrounded by meat and he hated it. He would always get meat for his birthdays. Then he got a job cleaning out fish tanks at the doctor's office. He would spend hours looking at the fish. Then at the dinner table one day his Louis's mother said that he should get a job at the meat shop. So the next day after school Louis started working at the store. His father told him that one day the store would be his. His parents died shortly after. Louis spent his days working at the shop. He was so unhappy; his only time happy was when he would draw fish in the refrigerator. Then all the sudden Louis started to feel sick and then he started to see people as fish. One night he had an awful nightmare. He dreamed that he was attacked by meat. When he woke up he found out that he had turned into a fish. On his way to work Al who owned the pet store saw him and invited him to his store to stay in a tank. From that day on he lived happily ever after ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Mighty Dog YES!
My daughter borrowed this book from the library without even looking at the cover.She just pulled it from the shelf and ran for the checkout counter.What a gem!She loves it and it's the first book her 17 month old brother has ever taken an interest in.Maybe it's because I read it with a cornpone accent.But whatever it is, he never tires of reading it.I read it to him 4 times in one day and he was still begging for it at bedtime.The illustrations are fun and complement the writing beautifully.I had a hoot reading it!

A WESTERN BOOK??!!!
No Question about this book, kids are going to love this one and this is A WESTERN BOOK??!!!

I heard of that book and loved Whitefish Will Rides Again!

Sheriff Whitefish Will is so strong that he can lift up a horse. One day Jesse James came to town. Will was so good at rassling rustlers that soon theres no more left and the townsfolk put poor Whitefish Will out to pasture.

So heck, what was this guy supossed to do all day? He raised roosters, rode in the rodeo on his horse to rope a calf and at his lovely rio rancho in the hills Whitefish Will played the harmonica.

The bad people took all their horses.

The barber is so scared of the bad guy named Bart he laughs and yells, "Go Ahead, Take The Friggen Horses, We'll walk."

B - Y - R - DB - I - R - D The barber laughs at and is scared of it and it makes him think of Tracy Byrd.

Bird.

Great rip roarin' western book for those as young as 2...
I purchased this book for my 5 year-old step-son and not only does he enjoy it, but so does my 2 year-old daughter.The illistrations are spectactular and colorful, and the exciting story is written so that anyparent can speak as if they were from the West.My daughter and step-sonreally get a kick out of how I sound when I'm reading this book to them. The use of out-of-the-ordinary words such as "varmit" and"gosh, dang dingle darn it" make reading this book a delight.Igive this book my best recommendation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Plain old fun
Long after this story joined our vast family collection, our son especially took to the pranks of Milton and Morris, twins who accidentally blow up the ship carrying them from England to New York--and their parents, too.

"It was an accident at sea many years ago" the story begins, following illustrations of the boys sneaking into the ship's hold and lighting some fuses. (Devils!)

They wash up in New York, shuffle from orphanage to orphanage, and finally escape from Rotten's Home for Lost Boys to the circus. Then they, oops, try lifting a pocket watch from a clever old man. He catches them red-handed, and takes them home.

Nathan, it turns out, is a fine tailor. When he dies, they are bereft. But they know tailoring. Dressed as old men, they start selling suits to the fanciest of people.

One day, a delighted Mrs. Guggenheim declares, "You two simply must come with us to meet the Queen." Milton and Morris find themselves in England wowing the court--everyone, that is, except the Queen's gardener and his wife. Yup, you guessed it, their parents.

This story is just plain old fun. Alyssa A. Lappen ... Read more

Reviews (2)

speaking duck is fun!
Of all of our children's books, my one year old daughter enjoys it when I read this one to her the most. She laughs when I "quack, quack, quacked quack!" It's amazing, but I understand duck!

Quacking Hilarious!!
I'm a manager in a bookstore and I began a shift meeting by reading this book aloud to my booksellers: we range in age from 19-40 and we all laughed and were charmed by this very original book. It's tooooo funny! We'll be using this for a storytime and I just know that the kids will fall in love too. Quack is a duck who longs to quack to the moon. But he soon discovers that such adventuring is not all it's "quacked" up to be. The funniest, but saddest and most touching part is when he's on the moon all alone: "Quack quacked, and quacked..." meaning that Quack the duck cried and cried for loneliness. That part may not sound particularly funny, but an expressive reader makes all the difference at a storytime. It can really be a hoot--oops! Sorry! I mean a QUACK! :) I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

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Hungry from the lack of appetizers (Mother doesn't believe in them) one Chanukah, Uncle Izzy and Uncle Shecky start arguing over what kind of car cut them off recently, a Buick or a Ford. Shecky shakes a pickle so hard it bounces off Izzy's forehead, and the food fight is on. Borscht, chicken, sour cream, even the chocolate Chanukah gelt--nothing is sacred. But when one last latke soars out the window, it just keeps flying! Soon news reporters and FBI agents are swarming the house, seeking the source of the mysterious UFO. The family is stranded in the house, with almost no food, until everything blows over.

In Arthur Yorinks's fantastically wacky version of the traditional Chanukah story, the remaining plate of latkes, which, in that crowd, should have lasted "about seven and a half minutes," lasts for eight days! An all-star (or mostly-star) cast of actors and illustrators were "cast" for this unusual book, staged and photographed by Yorinks and Paul Colin. Newbery- andCaldecott-award winning illustrator William Steig (Sylvester and the Magic Pebble) provided the background art, as Yorinks and Colin digitally transferred photos of the posed actors into the illustrations. This hilarious take on the Jewish holiday, while wildly offbeat, remains true to the spirit of the Chanukah miracle; ultimately, the fighting stops and forgiveness reigns. (Ages 4 to 10) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Latke-licious
I happened upon this book by chance but it was love at first bite! Absolutely hilarious version of a family gathering for Chanukah. Goofy, but almost too true to life for some Jewish families at holiday times. Must be shared with all, especially those Jewish familes that tend to get a little rowdy when brought together for functions!

what a hoot
I loved this book. I loved the rhythm and pattern of the dialogue, and I loved being able to share that sound with my kids. The kids were engrossed in the illustrations as I read. What's not to like?

Blooper mars otherwise charming story
A Jewish holiday, a funny and fanciful Jewish story make this book in many ways utterly charming. Even nominally traditional Jewish dietary laws are ignored, however, when the author serves the story's assembled family latkes, sour cream, and chicken (among other things) for dinner. An unfortunate error in judgment, in this reader's view.

Secret in-jokes in the book explained
Pssssst.... while many of the characters in the book look like photos of stock characters, upon closer look you may notice that some of the roles are played by the children's book publisher David Saylor; famed artists Maurice Sendak and Vladimir Radunsky; the illustrator William Steig; and the publisher Judith Rovenger.

Wacky and warm and funny and quite unique
A Hanukkah book by not one, but two, count them two, Caldecott Medal winners. Steig has been illustrating The New Yorker magazine for what? something like over 60 years! And Yorink is famous for "Hey Al" and that story about Whitefish. This is quite a unique Hanukkah book that combines pictures of real people (better than stock characters) and illustrations, and text and cartoon bubbles, to show what Hanukkah is really like in a large extended family. ... Read more

Book Description

The vibrant quilt illustrations of an award-winning artist, the illuminations of a master calligrapher, and engaging text from an esteemed children's book author combine to make an unforgettable and original alphabet book designed to introduce young readers to different countries of the world. ... Read more

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This is an applique quilter's dream book!
Forget the kids and buy this book for yourself if you're a quilter! In years to come it will serve as documentation for quilt historians of the fabrics available to late 1990's quilters. The quilted illustrations are each to-die-for wonderful pieces--even the title page is a spectacular quilt. If you let your children read it, make sure they have clean hands, just as you would with your own quilts. ... Read more

Book Description

The Seven Little Monsters love a good story, but they do not like to go to bed! A bedtime story from Mama helps the monsters go to sleep. ... Read more

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An exceedingly wonderful and twisted way to explore identity
Arthur Yorinks is a spare writer with the gift of hitting the comic and serious simultaneously and with deadly accuracy. This book sings its humor and moves along with the pace of a keystone kop two reeler. And the picture of a man with no head trying to eat a bagel alone is worth the entire price of this prince of children's books. Read it and don't laugh. I dare you ... Read more

Book Description

Five wants to learn to tell time just like his brothers and sisters. The monsters set out to help. Soon time is flying by as they have fun teaching an important lesson. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My one year old loves Frank and Joey!
My one year old loves the Frank and Joey books! He picks the Frank and Joey books out of the stack. He loves the combination of photos and drawings. His father is a big guy in construction like Frank. My two year old nephew and four year old niece also loved the stories when they came to visit for summer vacation. I logged on to Amazon to see if there were any additional adventures...

short and sweet!
This book is funny from cover to cover; for myself and my three year old. Good natured fun, reminds me of Stan and Oliver. ... Read more

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Great fun for kids and parents!
This is one of my favorite children's books. Oh, and my kids love it too! I had to write a review when I saw that no one else had written one on this terrific book.

Arthur Yorinks infuses his story with sophisticated humor that adults will enjoy and kids will giggle at. The illustrations by Martin Matje are the perfect complement to this delightful story. You will go Lulu over "Harry and Lulu." ... Read more