Reviews (42)

THIS IS JUST A WONDERFUL BOOK
and it leaves you feeling so darned good after you read it.The main characters, Owen, a baby hippo, and Mzee, a 130 year old Aldabra tortoise, form a remarkably close bond which continues to this day (and can be followed in their caretaker's diary on the website of Laforge Ecosystems, that lost nearly 250 employees in the December 16, 2004 tsunami, and which contributed to Owen's washing up on a coral reef in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Malindi, Kenya).
Owen & Mzee
This is a wonderful story, to be enjoyed by both children and adults. The message is universal and inspirational showing that friendship has no boundries. The book is well illustrated with some incredible pictures.

Every household must have this book
I saw the book while waiting for my flight in the San Francisco airport bookstore.It is just one of those books that grabs every one of every age.A baby hippo is stranded by the huge tsunami, and is rescued and befriended by a most unusual pal. It just oozes goodness and the real life photos are marvelous.As a former elem. school teacher, I've seen many books and this is one of the must haves. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aldabra tortoise    2. Animals - General    3. Animals - Mammals    4. Animals - Reptiles & Amphibians    5. Behavior    6. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    8. Children: Grades 1-2    9. Curiosities & Wonders    10. Hippopotamus    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Kenya    14. Social behavior in animals    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Editorial Review

Chester Raccoon doesn't want to go to school--he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he'll love school--with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that's been in the family for years--the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son's hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm--smack dab in the middle: "Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart." Whenever he feels lonely at school, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother's kiss. Chester is so pleased with his Kissing Hand that he--in a genuinely touching moment--gives his mom a Kissing Hand, too, to comfort her when he is away. Audrey Penn's Read more

Reviews (76)

I Cry Every Time
I cry every time I read this one.We love it.

A Phenomenal Book
I'm a 24 year old soon-to-be married woman.When my parents moved me into my college dorm room, they left little presents wrapped up in all of the boxes I had to unpack.As you can imagine, once they left I was eager to get situated and began unpacking boxes and filling drawers one-by-one.One of the little presents I came across was this book.Of course, I wasted no time reading it, and soon found myself with tears streaming down my face.I was on my own for the first time, but I knew I knew I wasn't alone; nor was I ever far from my parent's love.It brings tears to my eyes just remembering how touched I was reading that for the first time.This is a fantasic book for everyone- whether you're 5 years old and starting kindergarten for the first time, or 18 and in college.

He put his fist up to his cheek...
This is one of my favorite books. The story of little Chester the raccoon, his fear of going away to school, and how his mom gives him a kissing hand so he'll know her love is with him is a priceless story. I've read it to my son and daughter often over the last few years.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mothers and sons    8. Raccoons    9. Separation anxiety    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Social Issues - New Experience    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (20)

great for the imagination
I read this book to residents at retirement center and we all loved it.

Delightful!
The perfect combo of words and pictures makes this book soar. The bats are endearing, the rhyme is soothing - a wonderful bedtime (or anytime) read.

Humor of Jack Prelutzky, Warmth of Stellaluna
This wonderful, charming, witty book is as much a pleasure to recite as it is to look at. The text is clever and inventive; the illustrations spark the imagination. Lies uses a breathtaking palette of dark, nighttime colors for the beginning of the book--but then includes a few scenes in starkly different (and funny) settings. His characters and details are highly engaging and can be enjoyed over and over again--as they surely will be when they become a bedtime or storytime favorite. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Bats    3. Beaches    4. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Picnicking    11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mammals   

Reviews (20)

One of my favorite
My toddler LOVES this book. And the term Be-bo is affectionately used in our house because of this book.You can't go wrong with any Sandra Boynton books but this one is very fun to read.

Love the hippos and their belly b's!
My son, husband and I all love the Belly Button Book!It is so fun to read, funny, and the hippos are so cute!My son is 19 months-old and loves all the Sandra Boynton books.They keep the attention of younger kids and have great pictures.

My baby loves this book!
The product information for this book says "ages 4-8."I would guess that kids that age would enjoy it, but it isdefinitely written for little kids to have read to them by parents, who will love it just as much.It's a board book, so the youngest in your family can chew on it to their heart's content.It's cute.It's funny.It contains puns adults will get without making the kids feel left out.It has a nice rhythm and rhyme.It's just generally a great deal of fun!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Belly button    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Hippopotamus    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Poetry - Humorous    10. Poetry - Nursery Rhymes    11. Stories in rhyme    12. Board books    13. JUVENILE NONFICTION / Poetry / Nursery Rhymes (see also JUVENILE FICTION / Imagination & Play)    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Poetry / Humorous   

Subjects:  1. Amazon River Region    2. Children's 9-12 - Science    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Ecology    5. Juvenile literature    6. Rain forest ecology    7. Science & Technology - Environmental Science & Ecology    8. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mammals   

Editorial Review

This immensely popular children's story is told from the point of view of a dog named Harold. It all starts when Harold's human family, the Monroes, goes to see the movie Read more

Reviews (89)

What kid wouldn't want to read about a vampire bunny?
I don't care how old I get, I'm just not going to turn down a chance to read a book about a vampire rabbit, especially if it's told from the point of view of a dog.Good old Harold was pretty much living the good life until the introduction into the household of a cute wittle bunny wabbit the Monroes brought home with them from the movies one night.(Apparently a Dracula fan, the bunny was all settled in to watch the Count do his thing when one of the Monroe kids sat on him in the theater.)Little Bunnicula doesn't really bother Harold at all, since he sleeps all day and doesn't come between him and his treats.Harold's feline friend Chester, on the other hand, doesn't cotton to Bunnicula at all, seeing what no one else seems to notice - this bunny has fangs, and his coloration pattern sometimes makes it look like he's wearing a cape.Reading up on vampires while the Monroes sleep, Chester quickly becomes obsessed with getting this little bat in bunny's clothing out of the house as soon as possible - especially after healthy vegetables begin to show up completely drained of their color.
This is a great book!
This is a great book.I have read it more than once.I especially like the white vegetables!I think that both boys and girls will like it.This is an interesting book because it helps you imagine how dogs and cats might think.The author of this book has a good imagination!

Bunniculee, Bunnicula, Bunniculee, Bunicula-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Children's librarians have to prepare for certain kinds of questions.When a child walks up to your Reference Desk, you need to be ready to get them the exact book they're looking for at the exact moment that they want it.I get a lot of young kids, mostly girls, who want a good vampire book of their very own.Aside from the usual "Vampire State Building" and "Dracula Is a Pain In the Neck", both by Elizabeth Levy, there's really not a lot out there to recommend wholeheartedly.In fact, nine times out of ten, I find myself suggesting that most accessible of vampirism books, "Bunnicula".It doesn't star a human vampire, but you can hardly blame me.Now just this past week I found myself in the unenviable position of needing to find lots and lots and lots of copies of a single book for the upcoming meeting of my homeschooler bookgroup.And what delightful chapter book did I have enough copies in my library branch to satisfy screaming hoards of homeschooled kiddies?Again, it's "Bunnicula" to the rescue.It may not seem at first glance to have earned itself the moniker of "classic children's book", but I can attest right here and right now that when it comes to lifesaving go-to titles, I'll take "Bunnicula" over "Bridge To Terebithia" or "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret", any day.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Animals - Rabbits    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fiction    6. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    7. Mystery and detective stories    8. Rabbits    9. Vampires    10. Animal stories    11. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (14)

Cute Book!
I was such a big fan of Silverstein when I was a kid.Now my girlfriend's daughter gets to hear me read his works to her.This book in particular is so cute.I think I might like it more than she does but she just turned 2 so time will tell how much she likes it.

A Giraffe and a Half
Silly book.My one year old loves it because it is repetative.Pictures are hilarious.

Keeps Kids Attention
As always Shel Silverstein's books amuse and keep my daughter's attention. I enjoyed them as a child and now my child enjoys them. A giraffe and a half is wonderfully silly and keeps you smiling page after page. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Classics    6. Giraffes    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile poetry    9. Poetry    10. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (4)

Excellent nonfiction
This is a very readable children's book about bats.It helps to dispel some of those nasty myths about our only flying mammal that seem to persist.I use this book as part of my unit on bats that I teach in my second grade classroom.A twin text that I also use is Stellaluna.Pairing fiction and nonfiction works very well with young children.Zipping... is very informative and a very good resource for exposing children to needed symbiosis of man and nature.I will be building a bat house with ny students as a follow up.Think about this book the next time you find yourself swatting at a pesky mosquito.

A Fabulous Book
Have you ever wanted to learn about bats?Well, I did.So after readingAnne Earle's fabulous book, Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats, I learned that bats are innocuous, useful and interesting mammals.Let me tell you what I have assimilated. Interesting, fun and educational
I love this book and so do my 5 year old son and 7 year old daughter.It is filled with great pictures of bats and all kinds of bat facts.It lets you know that bats are nothing to fear and even shows you how to make a bat house in the back of the book.Did you know that bats are the only flying animals that nurse their young?Bat "pups" hang together in large groups called nurseries and each mother returns at least twice during the night to feed her little pup.Did you know that there is a bat in Australia that has a six foot wing span?I didn't until I read this book...don't worry they eat fruit!I liked bats before...now I like them even more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Bats    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Juvenile literature    6. Nature - General    7. Science & Nature - General    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Mammals   

Editorial Review

"If you give a moose a muffin, he'll want some jam to go with it." So begins the most logical silliness to be found anywhere--at least since Laura Joffe Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond's Read more

Reviews (33)

Just plain fun
We love this book. Moose is so perfect for times when we want to enjoy a fun, interactive book with our 2-year-old. We have lots of favorite parts, but the best is when my son yells out "Boo!" He can hardly wait to get to that page. :) Its just a fun book. And for a girl from the midwest its full of lots of things that feel like home to me. I like getting to share that with my son. Not that he knows that's part of why i love it, being 2. Also a book full of opportunities to talk about and encourage sharing and helping and friendship... and housecleaning. :) haha. We highly recommend it.

A fun story for children
Children love this series If You Give....
If you ever give a moose a muffin
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you give a moose a muffin?Well if you read this story it will probably stop your wondering.After you give a moose a muffin he'll probably start to act a little strange.The moose is very believable ,you might not ever give a moose a muffin again.The moose is a very good character because he does things that a human might do if you give them a muffin.It's a great book and it even appeals to first graders .I will recommend this book to other students because it has alot of funny characters and the best thing is that they're all animals.Also it would open up their imagination.Laura Numoroff is a very great auther and I love her book,If You Give A Moose A Muffin. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Moose    9. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (16)

placid and sweet
This is a lovely book for young readers, not only because the story and pictures are sweet, simple, and engaging, but because it is important that children feel loved and not mistake fewer reassurances from the mother for lack of affection. This is an especially great book for children who are about to lose that valued only-child status--Lou's feelings are common among children with new siblings. It is not challenging or particularly rousing as far as reads go, but then I do not think that is its intent.

koala lou
This story is of a little koala. The littie koala thinks that her mom does not like her. She thinks that because her mother got three koala baby. I like this story because I learned that if you mom youstill love all your kids. I will recommend to others so they can learn a lesson.

Great book to prepare children for the birth of a younger sibling!
Have you ever felt like your parents loved your brothers and sisters more than they loved you?Did Dad spoil your siblings, but not you?Did mom spend more time with them than with you?If so, you're not alone.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Family - General    6. Fiction    7. Koala    8. Mother and child    9. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    10. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (6)

a wonderful gift for any age "kid"
This is a perfectly wonderful concept with super illustrations just waiting for a touch from the reader. It is impossible to read this book without laughing. Underlying lessons are as easy to take as a spoonful of sugar making the medicine go down!

How adorable was this book!!!!
The little cuties make outfits with the fuzz from the ball.That in itself is a reason to buy the book.Cook-a-doodle-doo is still my favourite but this one is a close second!

My second and third grade students loved this book!
Picture books must be truly intelligent, creative and entertaining to amuse my second and third grade class. This one was the biggest winner of the year with my students! They laughed UPROARIOUSLY at every detailed picture and continued to talk about it well after the story was over. It's great for Read Aloud because it gives parents/teachers the opportunity to "ham up" the voices of the prairie dogs. The content is appropriate for younger students, but the humor keeps elementary school kids riveted! Fun for adults, too! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    3. Balls (Sporting goods)    4. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 1-2    7. Children: Kindergarten    8. Fiction    9. Greed    10. Humorous Stories    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Prairie dogs    13. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    14. Social Issues - Friendship    15. Social Situations - Friendship    16. Stevens, Janet    17. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / New Experience   

Reviews (29)

Hilarious
I got this book for me, not the kids.It's adorably funny.And the illustrations are wonderful.It will go in my own collection of best-loved children's books.

Who Can Resist a charming wombat?
The illustrations for this book are eye catching right away, the wombat is super cute and cuddly looking as he rolls across the pages.As the title would indicate this is told from the Wombat's point of view, each turn of the page is a new day in his diary.As he learns how to train the humans who have decided to become his new neighbors.This is probably a great book to read aloud to younger children as one could really get into the wombat's character.Its very humorous and with a few words the story is great.Plus it introduces a new sort of animal to children's books, afterall whats a boring old bunny or bear to a wombat?

"I'm a wombat.I live in Australia.As you can see from my picture, I look like a little bear, only smaller..."
This is the funniest book of the decade.I laughed out loud so hard during the 10 minutes it took to read it that my husband was curious enough to listen to me read it the next night.Author Jackie French must hold a record for the most laughs in the fewest amount of words.Her wombat is charmingly innocent, a creature who trains humans to feed him on demand.This short book has gorgeous illustrations and humorously understated narration.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Animals - Mammals    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Preschool    6. Diaries    7. Family - Daily Life    8. Fiction    9. Health & Daily Living - Daily Activities    10. Humorous Stories    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Wombats    14. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Editorial Review

How dull, to be one hippo all alone... until the one calls two other hippos on the phone. Soon three more hippos are at the door, bringing along another four. Before the night is through, a houseful of hippos (and one beast) has joined the one hippo for a boisterous bash. Read more

Reviews (35)

Boynton Hippos are great
This is a classic from Sandra Boynton. Entertained my son, and now entertains his son, my grandson.

Cool little kids book (1-3 year olds)
I think this book is really well put together. It has simple drawing, nice good understandable language and the rimes are short, to the point and the actually rime propperly for at change!

Love this book
This is a great book.We have gotten it out of the library several times and decided to own it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Animals - Mammals    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Children: Preschool    6. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    7. Counting    8. Fiction    9. Hippopotamus    10. Humorous Stories    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Stories in rhyme    13. Animal stories    14. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General    15. Picture books   

Reviews (2)

Very educational
I have bought the Elephants issue and the Bats issue and these books,which come in magazine form, are very educational for kids.My 4 year oldloves them, and makes me read him every word in the magazine!! Highlyrecommended!!

Great education
These "books" come in magazine form. They are highlyeducational, and satisfy my 4 1\2 year old�s curiosity, while giving himfacts in a very interesting way.We have the Elephants issue, and I havelearned things I didn�t know!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Bats    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile Science (General)    7. Juvenile literature    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Editorial Review

Hedgie the hedgehog discovers the wisdom of the adage, "Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong" only after curiosity gets this prickly fellow in a pickle. When Lisa's red and white woolen stocking blows off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and sticks his nose inside, only to discover his prickles prevent him from pulling out of it. Soon all the farm animals are coming around to chuckle at silly Hedgie's stocking hat. But in the end, nimble-witted Hedgie gets the last laugh.Read more

Reviews (12)

THE ART WORK ALONE IS WORTH THE PRICE OF THE BOOK
I loved this one.It is very, very well written, cute and thoughtful story and the art work is some of the best I have seen in this particular genre.The kids I read it to in school love it (and that is really what counts in children's literature, isn't it?) and it is fun for adults to read also.There are several lesson taught in the story and the characters are quite appealing.Actually this is one of the better works I have worked with over the past few years and I do highly recommend it!

Curious Hedgie
Lisa was hanging out her clothes to dry and one sock blew off the clothes line.Curious Hedgie found the sock and thought it was a hat,so he put it on his head. Other animals laughed at Hedgie at first,but then they had an idea. Each animal went to the clothes line and took a piece of clothing off the line . The animals used the clothes to keep warm during the winter. Lisa sees Hedgie wearing her sock and runs after him. She catches Hedgie and pulls the sock off his head.She then goes looking for the rest of her clothes.She finds all the animals wearing her clothes and says "How ridiculous they look. Don't they know that animals don't wear clothes!"
Everyone Should Weat A Hat
A misbegotten woolen stocking becomes a "hat" when it gets stuck on the prickly head of a hedgehog. Hedgehog feels silly, is full of excuses with regard to what he is wearing, but just cannot free himself from this "hat". The ending is a surprise. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Animals - Mammals    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Clothing and dress    7. Fiction    8. Hedgehogs    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Animal stories    12. Early learning / early learning concepts    13. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Reviews (4)

Scary for little ones
My 1st grader said it best: "Cute pictures, but scary story!" She had tears in her eyes as she realized the Mama was gone and the baby was alone. He gets a new mama when he's rescued, but the ghostly outline of his lost mother is present on the last page. Yikes. Terrible for little ones, brings up a whole host of frightening topics.

Winter At Her Absolute Best
As a children's book librarian, I've been following Jeanette Winter's books for many years, and I have always been struck by how child-friendly they are.They are books written and illustrated for children, not for adults, and this is what makes them such welcome additions to any children's book library. With MAMA, we have the ultimate example of this. In life, even in a child's life, difficult things happen.Tsunamis happen. Hurricanes happen. Divorce happens.Rather than being told such things aren't real, children need to deal them, to process them, and in a way that provides comfort.And so it is that Winter, as a children's book author, fearlessly, and with the utmost of grace, tackles a difficult thing that really did happen, ultimately providing much hope and joy. Bravo, Ms. Winter!

A PERFECT Picture Book
This is perhaps the most beautiful and perfect picture book I have ever read. Using just two words throughout the entire text, brilliant author/illustrator Jeanette Winter conveys the most basic of all human emotions: the bond between a mother and child. This most universal of subjects is something every child will understand -- and not just understand, but feel. And with the beautiful, equally minimal illustrations depicting the big, blue ocean, this book is certain to put every child, and every parent, in a trance -- from beginning to end.And the ending is ultimately a very happy, life-affirming, love-affirming one -- that will leave most readers with a big smile tempered with tears, like the sunshine that follows, say, a tsunami. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Animals - Reptiles & Amphibians    3. Children's 9-12 - Animals/Pets    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Environmental aspects    7. Hippopotamus    8. Infancy    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Mammals    12. Nature - Weather/Natural Disasters    13. Parental behavior in animals    14. Preschool Picture Story Books    15. Tsunamis    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Emotions & Feelings   

Reviews (2)

Wonderful Book!
The beautifully written story manages to combine a ton of information about bats with a cute little story, and the illustrations are the best!My little GIRLS love this story and make me read it over and over.It reads like a story but offers information like an encyclopedia.

Bats Galore.....
"Bat is waking, upside down as usual, hanging by her toenails.Her beady eyes open.Her pixie ears twitch.She shakes her thistledown fur..."So begins Nicola Davies marvelous picture book introduction to the world of bats.Follow mother bat as she awakens at dusk, flies out into the night hunting and searching for food, then returns home at sunrise to feed her batling, and sleep again until nightfall.Ms Davies combines a simple and evocative story line with interesting scientific information, fun facts, and trivia.Find out where bats live, how they hang upside down so effortlessly, their special body features, how they navigate at night by echolocation, what they eat, how they hunt...Sarah Fox-Davies' quiet and eloquent illustrations complement the text beautifully, and bring this mysterious little creature and its habitat to life.Perfect for emerging readers, Bat Loves The Night is non-fiction at its very best, and is a fascinating and intriguing book budding scientists will want to study, pore over, and read again and again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Animals - Mammals    3. Bats    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 1-2    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (1)

This trilogy is a great bridge between spirituality and science
"Mammals Who Morph" is Jennifer Morgan's 3rd book of a trilogy that successfully condenses 3.7 billion years of natural history from the big bang beginning to the present into a story told by the universe itself (who else could do it?).She highlights important scientific concepts and presents them in a way that is compelling to children and makes them feel good about being part of a greater whole.Morgan's ability to make difficult scientific concepts easy to understand and to weave spiritual concepts of unity, commonality and community throughout these stories makes them a great bridge for children wrestling with what politicians have made into polarized issues between science and religion.Although Morgan's degree is in theology, she sticks to the facts as they are now known and spins them into an easily readable story that all ages and religions can enjoy and learn from.In this last book of the trilogy she describes the population of the planet by an assortment of mammals in a way that conveys the beauty of evolution without dwelling on the how.Cleverly, the text is written with two type sizes enabling the youngest readers to hear the story without much detail by reading the largest type.Every elementary school, church, synagogue, mosque and parent should have a set and read it to their children.Without a doubt, this is a comforting story that all who ever have seriously asked the question "Where did we come from?" will enjoy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Juvenile Nonfiction    2. Children's 9-12 - Animals/Pets    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    4. Science & Nature - Biology    5. Juvenile Science (General)    6. Animals - Mammals    7. Juvenile literature    8. Children: Grades 3-4    9. Evolution (Biology)   

Reviews (8)

Sammy the Seal
One day, Sammy the seal decides that he wants to go outside of the zoo to see what life is like in the outside world. During his adventures he walks along a busy street, swims in a man's bathtub, and goes to school. I think it is really cute how people don't even notice there is a seal walking down the street, or if they do they don't act like it is any thing out of the ordinary. Classic story for children
Basically the same story as "Danny and the Dinosaur" and not as ingenious. However, Hoff's illustrations are always a joy to look at. And the scoolteacher is definitely hot. I had a crush on her as a child, and still do.

Sammy The Seal
Sammy the Seal lives in a zoo in the city. One day, as Mr Johnson was feeding the seal, he asked Sammy waht was the matter; as Sammy was looking very sad indeed. He told Mr Johnson that he wanted to get out of the zoo, and have a look around the city. He looked at everything, but soon it was too hot for him, and he ended up taking a swim in a man's bath tub. He then found a liune of children waiting to go to school. Sammy learned to read and write, and he was very good at vollyball. After school was out, Sammy went home to the zoo. He was glad to be home--it was supper time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals - Mammals    4. Animals - Zoos    5. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    6. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    7. Children: Grades 1-2    8. Fiction    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Easy Readers    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Seals (Animals)    13. Zoos    14. English    15. English language easy readers    16. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (17)

LOVE IT!!
Awsome book, fun, educational and short (but no to short). My two year old loves it and I look forward to reading it all the time to our new baby as she gets older.

Illustrations great, writing sometimes a mouthful
Fun adventure of a little girl with her stuffed animal friends. Each page is dedicated to a different animal. Some of the poems are fun and witty, others can cause your tongue to fumble and stumble when trying to speak in a lyrical manner. Over all my daughter likes it and thus I have to recommend it.

Boisterous, Sweet, and Instantly Engaging
This story of a little girl and her boisterous, friendly, semi-imaginary wild pets was an instant favorite with my 21-month old daughter.The copy is perfect: it rhymes, it goes with the pictures, and there's isn't very much of it, so for once the story proceeds at the right brisk pace for little page turners.And the pictures of the impish girl and the things she does with the animals are very engaging.The rhino drinks tea, the pig has mud fights, and the dragon needs looking after when he has a cold.We both had this one memorized in less than a day.I can tell it will join "Gorilla" "Moon" and our other favorites on the frequently read list. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Animals - Mammals    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Preschool    6. Fiction    7. Imagination    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Stuffed animals (Toys)    12. Juvenile Fiction / General    13. LITERATURE - LIT CLASSICS TRD PB