Reviews (1)

Great Book
I thought this book was great - it was really colorful. The overall feel reminded me of the book "Now I Know the Ten Commandments". I recommend it to anyone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - Cats    3. Animals - Pets    4. Cats    5. Children's Baby - Fiction - General    6. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    7. Children: Kindergarten    8. Dwellings    9. Fiction    10. Infancy    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Preschool Religion    14. Religious - Christian    15. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (6)

Poetry combined with pranks
Un petit livre destin� � la jeunesse, "L'histoire qu'on lit au bord du lit" est �crite en vers et, en quelques pages, tourne autour du th�me du lit : le lit tel qu'on l'aime, c'est-�-dire douillet, voyageur, pliant, casse-cro�te, sous-marin ou tremplin. Chaque th�me est travaill� de fa�on amusante, autour de paraboles et d'images hautes en couleur ! Les illustrations sont comiques, sign�es par Rotraut Susanne Berner, les vers sont traduits par Beatrice Vierne. Ce qui est particuli�rement enrichissant, et s'adressant ainsi � un lectorat plus avis�, c'est que l'�dition est bilingue : la page de gauche est en �dition originale, celle de droite en fran�ais. Ainsi de lire les deux versions et de s'extasier sur la plume talentueuse de Sylvia Plath - auteur prometteuse trop t�t disparue !

please, bring this book back!
Embark on a gentle, fantastic trip into a magical world that lies between reality and dream. Your child's imagination (and your own) will drift into sleep with images of acrobats, submarines, elephant beds, and so much more! Not just an ordinary book
"Not just a white little, tucked in tight little, nighty night little, turn out the light little, Bed."Read more

Subjects:  1. Beds    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children: Preschool    4. General    5. Juvenile poetry    6. Nonsense verses    7. Poetry   

Reviews (3)

No morals and teaches socialism to children
I was suckered in by the beautiful watercolors of this Victorian age and the steam engines, etc. My 3 year-old is a train addict and I thought this looked wonderful and a great way to combine Thanksgiving and trains, but didn't read the text before buying it. The moral issue is the girl knows that she is in the room with a wanted criminal and she decides not to turn him in. Later, she again decides not to tell her mother because she is afraid her mother will get scared. The third opportunity is when they meet up with their father and she again decides not to tell that she knows where the criminal is. The reason is that she likes the criminal "as a person" and thinks he is nice. The train robber told her that he robs from the rich and gives to the poor and therefore he is doing good and is a nice person, and the girl believes this, also mentioned by the robber is that the real robbers are the capitalist railroad owners. The author's note at the end again references that the railroad builders/owners were terrible peoplewho had a monopoly on the railroad system--rather than the train robbers being the criminal. WACKO value systems here--not what I want to teach my children. I think children should know right from wrong and that if one is in a situation with a known/wanted criminal, the child should have turned him in.

Give kids a break!
With picture books for children like this, it is no wonder our kids have trouble making choices and identifying real heroes!All that glitters is not gold...but you won't learn it here!May I suggest you save the moneyyou were going to spend on this book to buy a book like Leah's Pony byElizabeth Friedrich instead!

An Outlaw Thanksgiving
Fun and educational reading for the whole family.After reading the book my family would like to learn more about the famous outlaws and the old west. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cassidy, Butch,    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Historical - United States - 19th Century    6. Holidays & Celebrations - Thanksgiving    7. Holidays & Festivals - Thanksgiving    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Law & Crime    10. Railroads    11. Robbers and outlaws    12. Thanksgiving Day    13. West (U.S.)    14. b. 1866    15. Cassidy, Butch    16. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Mirette and the "Great Bellini" traverse the Paris skyline on high wire in the climactic scene of this picture book about conquering fear. The two meet at Mirette's mother's boarding house, where Bellini is staying with a troupe of traveling performers. Mirette persuades Bellini to teach her his art, and soon enough the two are performing above the rooftops of Paris. While Mirette gets to step outside her daily routine of peeling potatoes and scrubbing floors, Bellini manages to reaffirm his mastery. The story affords a spunky, down-to-earth role model for readers who like to dream big dreams. It also offers rich, scenic portraits of 19th century Paris. The book won the 1993 Caldecott Medal. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Mirette on the High Wire
I enjoyed reading this children's novel very much.I liked the unique subject and the author's creative and innovative ideas.The author did an extremely good job illustrating some of the difficulties with walking on a high wire.In addition, the novel had an important morale, never give up.A must read for everyone!

Many valuable lessons for children
Confidence in yourself is everything when your occupation is a dangerous one. Generally, once you lose it, getting it back is impossible. In this book, a retired tightrope walker named Bellini has lost his courage and is staying at a boarding house. Mirette is a young girl who works at the boarding house and she watches him walk on a rope that is only a few feet off the ground. She begs him to teach her how to walk the tightrope, but Bellini refuses. Not to be denied, she learns on her own and so he agrees to teach her. They become friends and she learns of his incredible feats. When she asks him why he retired, he tells her of his lost courage. Bellini is eventually persuaded to walk again but his courage fails after he begins. Mirette then comes to his aid, showing him that he can still perform as the Great Bellini.
Mirette on the High Wire
This book is about how a young girls caretaker owns a hotel and a famous tightroper comes there to stay for a while.The young girl asked him if he could teach her how to walk on a tight rope.After months of pratice she learned how to walk on the tightrope with her teacher.One day Mirette's town was having a celebration and Mirette and her teacher showed the town what they could do. I kind of like this book because it taught me how to never give up on what you're learning. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Classics    4. Fiction    5. Paris (France)    6. Performing Arts - General    7. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    8. Tightrope walking    9. Juvenile Fiction / Sports & Recreation / General   

Reviews (1)

zzzzzzzz
I read this book when I was 11.I was bored to tears and insulted at the simplicity of the plot.Maybe an immature tween, or someone much younger, would appreciate this book more, but if you are not buying this book for someone who fits that description, beware. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. Fiction    3. Friendship   

Reviews (2)

Inventions; persistence and a glimpse of industrial age
An elementary librarian recommended this book to me and I bought it for my elementary school as well. Stories details encourage students to think about life of a young woman during the industrial age as well as being an inventor.Multiple lessons can be off shoots from reading this book. Book could be read alone by 4-5 graders but read aloud to younger grades.

A lively story of one girl's determination to succeed against all gender odds
Emily Arnold McCully's Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became An Inventor is based on the true story of a female inventor around the turn of the century, but reads like fiction and thus is featured here. Mattie loves to make things at an early age and loves to invent whenever a challenge comes up - but she lives during a time when women are believed to be unable to understand mechanical concepts. Her battle for recognition brought her all the way to the patent office and makes for a lively story of one girl's determination to succeed against all gender odds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1838-1914    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 1-2    7. Inventors    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Knight, Margaret E.,    11. United States    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 19th Century   

Reviews (1)

Grandmas At Bat!
In this Grandma Sal and Grandma Nan story, Pip's baseball coach is sick and if the team does not find a new coach, they will not be able to play in the big game on Saturday!Grandma Nan overhears Pip talking on the phone with his best friend, Ski about the big game.Read more

Subjects:  1. Baseball    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Fiction    4. Grandmothers    5. Juvenile Easy Readers    6. Readers - Beginner    7. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    8. Juvenile Fiction / Sports & Recreation / Baseball   

Editorial Review

Originally published in 1973, Read more

Reviews (7)

Only wish I had found it sooner!
I was 17 before I read this book, when a 4yo in the preschool I volunteered at handed it to me.I fell in love with this book immediately!It is so beautifully written.As a bi-racial child, I had seldom seen images of bi-racial families growing up, much less one so like my family (my father is white, my mother is black)!Even at 17 it felt good to have such a beautiful story reflect my own heritage in such a positive light. I am now 22 and have finally bought myself a copy for my own bookshelf. I can't wait to share this with my own children someday.

Absolutely delightful...
This is book is such a delightful treat to read. It's amazing to believe that this book was written decades ago during a time when race relations between blacks and whites were over all less than pleasant.It is just wonderful to read this book.

A must have book!!
Being a proud parent of a child who was born in my heart it is important that my daughter know that families come about in all different ways and that beauty is not just skin deep but also comes from the inside. This book celebrates how beautiful our families are and is done so in a very poetic way! Cheers to both the author and illistrator! I can't wait to purchase more copies of this book for my daughter's future elementary school! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoff, Arnold    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Human skin color    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Multicultural Studies    11. People & Places - General    12. Racially mixed people    13. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Prejudice & Racism   

Reviews (1)

A fun story of animal encounters and lessons learned
Three leprechauns have an important job: they must dig up the pot of gold before the rainbow comes to expose their hiding place - but on the way they can't resist some mischief involving farm animals, putting the pot of gold in danger. A fun story of animal encounters and lessons learned evolves.
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Subjects:  1. Bunting, Eve    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    6. Fiction    7. Holidays & Celebrations - Other, Nonreligious    8. Holidays & Festivals - Other - Non-religious    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Leprechauns    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Other, Non-Religious   

Subjects:  1. Acrobats and acrobatics    2. Aerialists    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fiction    6. Freedom    7. Performing Arts - General    8. Tightrope walking   

Reviews (1)

Beautiful and imaginative pictures.
This story takes place in the late 1800's when Mrs. Stanton-the famous women's rights activist-was still alive.It deals with a young girl, Cordelia, who wants to ride Mrs. Stanton's horse.Mrs. Stanton instead ofletting her ride the horse tells her about her childhood experiences.Mrs.Stanton also also makes a great impact on Cordelia when she tries to voteand is not allowed.This in turn inspires Cordelia to stand up forherself.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Feminists    6. Girls & Women    7. Historical - United States - 19th Century    8. Historical - United States - General    9. History    10. Juvenile literature    11. Suffrage    12. Suffragists    13. United States    14. Women    15. English literature: fiction texts    16. Fiction dealing with specific issues    17. Historical fiction    18. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / General   

Reviews (6)

Leo is magnificent.
This book was given to me to read to my granddaughter after my special cat passed away.My 7 year old granddaughter asked if cats go to heaven.This story shows all the love that this cat has given and the only logical conclusion is that they do go to heaven.

Every church library needs this.
A recent survey found that the death of a pet is one of the times when children most want to talk to clergy---rivalled only by divorce. This bookasks some difficult questions (what is the church? how do we deal withdeath?) and offers, in return, God's love. Churches which celebrate theFeast of St. Francis could have someone read it out loud after the serviceand lead a discussion. This lovely story will appeal to all ages.

A great book for animal lovers
This book is wonderful for anyone who's ever had and loved a cat. It does deal with death, and is very sad at the end. A great way to help a child deal with the death of a pet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Church    6. Fiction   

Reviews (1)

Lovely book about friendship and compassion
While my 6 year old found this book "sad," we both enjoyed the true story of a flood in Vermont and how the community banded together to help each other. A good, gripping read aloud! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Family - Multigenerational    6. Farm life    7. Fiction    8. Floods    9. Grandparents    10. Historical - United States - 20th Century    11. History    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    14. Nature & the Natural World - General    15. Nature & the Natural World - Weather    16. Social Issues - Community & Neighborhood    17. Vermont    18. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational   

Reviews (3)

My students loved it!
I have several of the "If You Grew Up...." titles in my free-reading area of my sixth grade classroom.The George Washington title is one of the most-often chosen titles--probably because they are curious about our first president.This title also gives a good description of what life was like for the gentry class of Virginia in the 1740s-1760s.Students have been able to use the information to write comparison pieces about GW's life and their own.I highly recommend this title and the others in the series for both the literature and social studies classroom.Weak readers have a high interest in the subject matter; strong readers enjoy a quick read.

If you...bought all of these books
Although I don't have all the books in this series("if you..."), the six that I have are so fun and interesting, that I intend to get them all asap.My three children (3-8), my husband and I LOVE them.

superb!
Outstanding look backwards in time to discover what it would have been like to grow up with George Washington. The book answers lots of questions; What kind of clothes would you wear?, What about the bathroom?, What did children do to have fun?, What would you learn in school? How did peoplecarry their tabacco around?, Who made the laws for the colony? and manymore... Loads of cheery illustrations cover the pages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1732-1799    2. Childhood and youth    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. General    6. Juvenile literature    7. Social life and customs    8. To 1775    9. Virginia    10. Washington, George,    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / General    12. Washington, George   

Reviews (1)

Exciting and captivating book for early readers
This is the first book that my 9-year-old, mildly dyslexic daughter read all the way through without stopping.She was captivated by the problems Lulu Witch faces in starting school and making peace with difficult peers in school. "Why aren't there more Lulu books, Mama?" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Readers - Beginner    8. School & Education    9. Schools    10. Witches    11. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

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Reviews (2)

Great Read for Little Angels
My 2 1/2 year-old daughter loves this. I'm always calling her my "angel", but there just aren't that many cute, rhyming books about angels that she can relate to. This one works for her, because it features angels doing lots of things she likes to do (or fantasizes about doing), like eating cake, dancing, playing hide-and-seek, etc.Nice ending refocuses her on mommy's love. Very cute.

From how angels play to the sparkles they wear in their hair
Caldecott medal winner Emily Arnold McCully provides touching, full-color illustrations for Eileen Spinelli's What Do Angels Wear?, and original and highly recommended picture book which depicts a young child's attempt to understand the lives and joys of angels in simple terms. From how angels play to the sparkles they wear in their hair, to their existence being as "real as mama's kiss goodnight," What Do Angels Wear? joyfully portrays holy spirits through a child's eyes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Angels    2. Bedtime & Dreams    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Preschool    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Preschool Picture Story Books    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Stories in rhyme    11. Juvenile Fiction / Bedtime & Dreams    12. Bargain   

Reviews (2)

Grandmas At The Lake!
In this story, Grandma Nan calls Pip and invites him to spend a weekend at her cabin by the lake.Nan has already invited Grandma Sal and told Pip that he could invite his best friend, Ski. Grandmas At The Lake!
In this story, Grandma Nan calls Pip and invites him to spend a weekend at her cabin by the lake.Nan has already invited Grandma Sal and told Pip that he could invite his best friend, Ski.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Family - Multigenerational    3. Family - Vacation    4. Fiction    5. Grandmothers    6. Juvenile Easy Readers    7. Lakes    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Beginner   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful use of words
This book is such a cute story. I used it for a lesson plan on suffixes because the author uses many different ones. I would suggest this book to anyone looking to entertain children in the primary grades. It is a simplistic story and it is an idea that the students can relate with, since many children love popcorn. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. England    5. Fathers and daughters    6. Fiction    7. Popcorn   

Subjects:  1. Adventure & Adventurers    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Children's 4-8 - Biography / Autobiography    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Ireland    8. Juvenile literature    9. Pirates    10. Women    11. Women pirates   

Reviews (1)

Great history for kids
I am a homeschooling Mom living in Maryland and this was a great book to share with my children on local history.The children in the book are fictional, but the adults and the events are historically accurate.My 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter both loved the artwork and the fast-paced story.The book stays with the people of the one town and leaves the reader wondering if the town would survive the night. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fiction    4. Historical - Military & Wars    5. Historical - United States - Colonial    6. Juvenile Easy Readers    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Mccully, Emily Arnold    9. Readers - Chapter Books    10. Running    11. War of 1812    12. Juvenile Fiction / Readers / Chapter Books