Reviews (4)

Excellent book
As a teacher, I have always loved this book. The bold colors hold children's attention, and it fits well with lessons for younger children on what seeds/plants need to grow, the growing process and includes a recipe for making your own vegetable soup. For early childhood teachers,it can become an early science/social studies/math lesson and also a parent/child activity. A must have!

Good lesson for little children
As well as being attractive and quite an easy read (my five year old managed it), it encourages children to be interested in vegetables-both growing and eating them. Great book.

Good Book for Small Children - a review of Growing Veg. Soup
This book has gotten good reviews by others but I am a little less enthusiastic about it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Soups    6. Vegetable gardening    7. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Reviews (1)

Interesting presentation of accurate information.
Bats:Creatures of the Night, is an excellent book which presents very accurate information in an entertaining manner.It also adds some good words, such as "creature", to your child's reading vocabulary. Read more

Subjects:  1. Bats    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Juvenile literature    6. Readers - Beginner    7. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Reviews (7)

It puts my son to sleep
I love this book for many reasons, but the main reason is that the cadence of the story puts my son to sleep.We have been using this book as the third of three bedtime stories for about 1 1/2 years now and it still works.

like magic
Charlotte Zolotow is such a talented writer!This has to be one of the best books about the ocean I have ever seen.It is a true out of body experience.I'm sitting a few hundred yards away from the Chespeake Bay and, reading this book, it was like I was lifted out of my chair and transported straight down to the beach. And the concept of being able to explain something so truly and completely that someone who has never experienced it in real life can still catch a glimmer of the feeling is an intriguing one.I can see this book being used in classrooms to introduce descriptive writing and urban children being asked to describe the sights and sounds of the city in such a way that a child from the country can imagine it.Teachers and homeschooling families could find a penpal for each child in a different part of the country to exchange these letters with.Even for an adult, this would be an amazing experience -- to find someone and try to share a little bit of your world with her, and to imagine hers in turn.
A Lovely, Lyrical Book!
I bought this book for my children shortly after we spent the summer in a beach house on Hatteras Island, NC. This book completely captures the essence of a day there . . . or on any seashore for that matter. It immediately became one of my children's favorite books as the prose is so evocative and the illustrations so lovely. Seven years later, it is still one of their all-time favorites. Mine, too!Over the years, I have given many copies of "The Seashore Book" as gifts and have received nothing but rave reviews from parents and children. I've just ordered another copy from Amazon to give as a new baby gift.You see, this book is truly timeless. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Marine Life    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Imagination    6. Mothers and sons    7. Nature & the Natural World - General    8. Seashore    9. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Subjects:  1. Animals - InsectsSpidersetc.    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Insects    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Nature & the Natural World - General   

Editorial Review

In another wondrous, wordless picture book by Caldecott Medal winner David Wiesner (Read more

Reviews (23)

Would you like to swing on a cloud?
David Wiesner is best described as a light-hearted Chris Van Allsburg.In his books there tends to be a very real and deep fascination with both the sky and breaking away from convention.For example, his book "Tuesday" examines the repercussions of frogs flying at night."The Three Pigs", by contrast, takes a familiar story and loosens it up considerably.With "Sector 7", a wordless tale of a boy and his cloud, Wiesner tells a tale of changing the status quo.It's sometimes very difficult to find noteworthy wordless picture books out there but Wiesner appears to have an excellent grasp on this rarely appreciated genre.
Wiesner's Best
I love how this book can be used by a large variety of ages.the story is so creative and fun, but can be made complicated for older kids.Because it's a picture book, it can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be.Kids really have fun helping tell the story without feeling like the have to read.

Fantastic book
This is an absolutely beautiful book, with a wonderful message about non-conformity and the power of imagination.The illustrations are wonderful, too.The whole book has a very dreamy, magical quality, but at the same time, also a very clear and interesting story line.I pick up new details in the characters' expressions every time I read it.I think I will be buying this book as a gift for children and adults for many years to come.I recently went away to visit relatives in a foreign country, and this book, with a magnificent story but no words (no need for words), was an excellent gift idea for the kids.I've taken out a few of Wiesner's other books from the library and so far, this is my favourite by far.I have already bought three copies to give as gifts.I never manage to keep one for myself, because I always find someone I want to give one to.Within a few years, I think everyone I know will have a copy!I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Clouds    4. Empire State Building (New Yor    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Nature & the Natural World - Weather    9. Photo Essays    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Stories without words    12. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Reviews (2)

A wonderful book!
A Quiet Place is a wonderful book to help kids realize that it is good for them to be quiet and think.With all the noise they experience during the day and their constant activities (including music, television, computers, electronic toys, etc.), it is so important for them to be able to think in quiet and daydream.This book gives wonderful examples of the different places a boy goes in his thoughts, and it shows him imagining himself to be different people or animals.For example, when walking on the beach he becomes an explorer discovering a lost continent, when laying in the snow he's a sleeping polar bear, when climbing a hill he becomes a mountain climber on top of the world, when visiting a museum he's an artist admiring his own masterpiece.It is extremely well written and captivating, and the illustrations are beautiful.I came upon this book at the library and am now on-line to order it for my 6 and 4 year old boys (who loved it).

Timely and Moving
This story beautifully balances a child's inner self-esteem with a wonderful sense of adventure.The young boy in the book looks for "a quiet place" to escape from the intesity of the outside world.My son and I have read it every night for the last week, just before bed.Wonderful writing, truly breathtaking illustrations.The author's earlier work, GRANDAD'S PRAYER'S OF THE EARTH, is one of our favorites. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Adventure & Adventurers    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fiction    6. Imagination    7. Imagination & Play    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Nature & the Natural World - General    10. Solitude    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Body, Mind & Spirit   

Reviews (3)

One word per page, but good for vocabulary.
This book is nice, sturdy, and slick so it's lasted through countless Spanish classes as well as my own three children for close to four years. If you're looking for a story, this isn't it. It has an English word and a Spanish word on each page. The main thing it lacks is the phonetic Spelling. Overall, a good vocabulary builder, or an addition to a comprehensive curriculum's chapter on weather, like Flip Flop Spanish.
Spanish/English fun for little ones
It amazes me to hear my grandson and granddaughter using the Spanish words from this volume and the others in the author's bilingual series. I guess that is the best tribute to the quality of the books in the series--they reach and they teach. The books are thoughtfully put together and have great visual appeal. Lots of fun for the grandkids (and for me) as we learn.

Bilingual Fun for Beginners
Que suerte!What luck!We are so glad we came across this book and the others in Gladys Rosa-Mendoza's series.The author does a nice job of introducing basic English and Spanish vocabulary words in an interesting way.My son enjoys listening and looking at the colorful drawings and trying to repeat the words. All in all it's a nice addition to our children's bilingual collection.Gracias Amazon for providing these great teaching tools!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bilingual    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Concepts - First Words    5. Concepts - General    6. Estado atmosferico    7. Foreign Language Study - Spanish    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Weather    11. Spanish language materials    12. Weather   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Conduct of life    6. Contentment    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Gratitude    10. Holidays & Celebrations - Thanksgiving    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Nature & the Natural World - General    13. Social Issues - Values    14. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Reviews (6)

Easiest book for everyone
I've been teaching in the outdoors using field guides with novices for 18 years, so I offer this advice to assist beginners in choosing a wildflower guide.I have used both this book and the Newcomb book and greatly prefer this one, although Newcomb's is very good.Newcomb's uses a series of keys, which I guess some people find more "sophisticated."Although the key in Newcombs isn't hard to use, I find that the Peterson guide is faster and easier to use in the field.I have also observed that beginners are less likely to make mistakes using the Peterson wildflower guide.The big plus of the Peterson book is the identification system.The flowers are first arranged by color and the book is color coded.Although wild plants may not always be showing their flower colors, 9 times out of ten when the amateur is identifying a flowering plant, it will be in bloom.You can use the Peterson guide to learn the key characterisitics of a blooming plant so that later on when it is not blooming you will still be able to find it in the book and recoginze it. Best For Laymen
I have used this book for 20 years to identify wildflowers successfully; the drawings and paintings capture the essence of the flower in a way no photo does; the book includes many less commonly found plants so you are more likely to find what you're looking for; and it is organized by flower color which is most likely to be what drew your attention in the first place. Excellent reference, easily used.

A Very Useful Guide
I own several wildflower identification books, and this one is among my favorites.I often use it in conjunction with other books, but it also does well on its own.I like the fact that the subjects are listed bycolor - this makes it much easier for me to differentiate species when outin the woods.I have given this book as a gift to flower-loving friends. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Flowers    2. Identification    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. North America    6. Wild flowers    7. Wildflowers    8. Botany & plant sciences    9. Nature / Flowers    10. Trees & wildflowers   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Gardening    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fruit    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Preschool Informational Books    7. Pumpkin    8. Science & Nature - Flowers & Plants    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Flowers & Plants   

Reviews (3)

An Old Favorite, Well Done
There are many, many different illustrations of these verses, but Mr. Keats has certainly done an excellent job of making his book distinctive.
Great Book for Babies, Kids and Adults to Share!
We love this book!I hope it never ever goes out of print.We started reading it with our son when he was about 11 months old.He loved the rhythms and we all loved the illustrations.It is beautiful to look at while you read.Now our son is almost two and I find that this book just gets better and better for us to read.We all have it memorized (my son chimes in at the end of each line).We are trying to teach him to count and he loves animals, both of which are so wonderfully illustated by Keats.A true classic!A "must have" for kids!I am buying it now for a friend who is pregnant and, like me, loves nature.

An excellent rendition!
From the award winner Ezra Jack Keats comes another masterpiece of a picture book.Based on the original by Olive Wadsworth, Keats's animals come alive on the page as the babies perform their mothers' commands.Keats uses bright colors and simple lines to make this a good book forsharing with a large group or single child. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    5. Counting    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Nature & the Natural World - General    10. Stories in rhyme    11. Early learning / early learning concepts    12. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Editorial Review

Mr. Willowby, the unwitting hero of this Christmas classic, looks quitea bit like the little mustachioed mascot from Monopoly. But as befits a Yuletidetale, this diminutive millionaire turns out to be a good bit more generous.Read more

Reviews (24)

Very sweet story
A great family book with beautiful illustrations. It does support trickle-down economics, but this was written before Mr. Reagan was in office.

Once a Year: Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
My sons are 36 and 31. Every Christmas, we share this marvelous story on Christmas Eve. Their Dad reads the story and all of us join him on the parts that we know "by heart"! For two years, one son has been away from home. We were so eager that he not miss this event that we e-mailed every word and sent pictures of Dad reading the story! Our son was overjoyed that he did not miss this happy family tradition. The daughter-in-law and girlfriend were thrilled to at last meet this beloved character, Mr. Willowby, since our sons had even shared this Christmas experience with them!! I am buying a copy for each son so that both may share this special family tradition with their children.

A Classic For Three Decades
I have owned a copy of this book since the 1970's when I first heard Captain Kangaroo read it on his television program.I bought it immediately.It became part of our Christmas tradition.The story is all about sharing. As the treetops continue to get chopped off and shared, even a small child can appreciate that sharing creates enough for everyone. With the cozy, rhyming text, and the charming graphics, this book would be a perfect gift for children of all ages.Today I purchased another copy for my 7 year old granddaughter.She enjoys reading my copy.Mr. Willowby still has the same appeal for kids today.That's a true classic! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Christmas    6. Christmas trees    7. Fiction    8. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    9. Holidays & Festivals - Christmas    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Nature & the Natural World - General    12. Stories in rhyme    13. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Christmas   

Reviews (59)

my favorite childhood book
Sterling NOrth has written a wonderful, touching, memorable book based on his childhood, and a raccoon named Rascal.It is beautifully written, and is suitable for adults as well as children.He describes each aspect of his childhood so well that you almost feel you are there.
Rascal
Rascal
Rascal
When Sterling North, the narrator and author, and his dog find a den of
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Animals - Pets    3. Authors, American    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - General    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    8. Lifestyles - Country Life    9. Raccoons    10. Rascal (Raccoon)    11. Wisconsin    12. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Reviews (1)

Pumpkins
Very simple text describes how a pumpkin seed grows into a pumpkin. Mentions root and shoots, flowering, pollination, and maturity. The book design is simple and the photographs are good. There is a glossary, index, and lists for further study. Karen Woodworth Roman, Children's Science Book Review ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Juvenile literature    5. Pumpkin    6. Pumpkins    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Science & Nature - Botany    9. Science & Nature - Flowers & Plants   

Reviews (5)

Hayley's outrageous review

good book, bad printing
Although the book itself is very interesting, it was mis-printed in a very odd way.The beginning of the book was printed at the end, upside down.So, when you open the front cover, you hit the middle of the story.

A Splashing Debut
"The Magic School Bus: At the Waterworks" is the first in a series of science picture books geared towards young ones.Written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, it marks the debut of one of the most successful concepts in the history of children's literature.Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Hydrology    7. Juvenile Environmental Studies    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. School & Education    11. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Water (Oceans, Lakes, Etc.)    12. Science & Nature - Environmental Conservation & Protection    13. Science & Technology    14. Water    15. Water supply    16. Waterworks    17. Fiction    18. Juvenile Fiction / Science & Technology   

Reviews (8)

Artistic, Poetic and Educational?
Wonderful read for the whole family.This is a book we look forward to reading to our little one, over and over.The art work is fantastic, the words are entertaining and has a section at the end of the book to educate about all the cycles of water.Do not hesitate to add this to your library!

Water Dance is a beautiful way to learn
Thomas Locker's beautiful oil paintings make "Water Dance" a work of art and a wonderful way for kids to learn about the water cycle.I decided to see what's out there for kids about water and began with "Water Dance," "Where the River Begins," and "Cloud Dance," all by Locker. I fell in love with his art and . . . also bought "Sky Tree" and several others. The dance of the water through our world
"Water Dance" by Thomas Locker is one of those books you pick up because you like the look of the cover, a lake nestled amongst the hills beneath the purple sky of dusk, and then when you finish reading it you discovered it was actually teaching you something."Water Dance" is actually about the water cycle, which starts with the rain that becomes a mountain stream that empties in a lake that is linked by a river to the sea.The cycle ends when the seawater becomes mist that forms into clouds and leads to a thunderstorm that once again brings the rain.Locker's thirteen paintings depicting the water cycle and accompanied by a poetic text describing each step of the process.In the back of the book each painting is reproduced in miniature as Candance Christiansen provides scientific information about what Locker is showing us about water.Students will find out about such things as the different types of clouds, what causes rainbows, and how the water in their bathtub might have been part of the Nile River a month earlier."Water Dance" is a marvelous way of introducing young students to the water cycle.They will enjoy Locker's paintings even more once they learn how they all fit together to show one of the basic processes of nature.Teachers will be able to use "Water Dance" as an introduction to all sorts of science lessons. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's All Ages - Picturebooks    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fiction    4. Hydrologic cycle    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Water (Oceans, Lakes, Et    7. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Water (Oceans, Lakes, Etc.)    8. Water    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Water (oceans, lakes, etc.)   

Reviews (2)

Must have for recycling education
This is an amazing book.It covers the major groups of recyclables. It shares facts, tells children how to prepare each item to recycle, and gives a comprehendable description of how they are made into new products.At the end it even gives children ideas of how they can help.

Very informative and entertaining.
This book does a wonderful job explaining exactly how an item getsrecycled.Its thought provoking and entertaining.The illustrations arewonderful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Environmental Studies    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Nature - Environmental Conservation & Protection    7. Recycling (Waste)    8. Recycling (Waste, etc.)    9. Science & Nature - Environmental Conservation & Protection    10. Science & Nature - Environmental Science & Ecology    11. Science & Technology - Environmental Science & Ecology    12. American English    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection    14. Recycling   

Reviews (1)

Where Does It Come From?
Down Comes The Rain is an excellent book that introduces to young children the formation of rain and where it actually comes from.It also discusses the transformation of water into ice and also the evaporation of water. Children can understand the book through its simple terms and colorfulillustrations.Rain is just one of the many things that young childrenoften wonder about.It is a very good book that can be added to anyelementary classroom when discussing a unit on weather or simply to have athome to read togther on rainy days!Many hands-on activities, such asputting a teaspoon of water into a saucer and coming back to see that ithas evaporated into the air, can be done by using this book.I have addedthis book to my list that I plan to use in the classroom! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Clouds    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Rain and rainfall    7. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Water (Oceans, Lakes, Et    8. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Weather    9. Science & Nature - General    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / General   

Reviews (2)

Excellent Educationl Text
I'm a teacher and I find the Eyewitness books highly educational.I like the way the concepts are presented in a form without backgrounds.This gives clear facts to the reader without over taxing the attention span.The books are highly informative, presenting difficult concepts in comprehendable chunks that stimulate interest.I have almost the whole collection for my own children and they LOVE them!

Excellent Pictures and Descriptions
As with the other "Eyewitness" books published by DK Publishing, this one is right on the mark for a beginner and seasoned fossil collector with pictures and descriptions that correllate very well with each other.Includes information of most all common fossils and a few of harder to find fossils.Not for researching significant hard-to-find or rare fossils.Worth the price and is also available in paperback binding. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fossils    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Paleontology    7. Reference - General    8. Science & Nature - Fossils    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Fossils   

Reviews (3)

Great bath book!
My 9 month old daughter loves this bath book!She likes to play with the book in the bath tub and watches me read her the story.

Great Water Fun
My 6 mo old loves the book. He plays w/it in the tub every time he is getting a bath. The poem is very pleasant & the illustrations are informative, bright & colorful. Great find for the chewing babies & their rough/grabby little hands.

Fun to read (and chew on)
This book is fun to read to a baby of any age. My son (who is 6 months) sometimes likes to look at the pictures, but also likes to chew on the book (gums only of course), which is perfectly fine since it is made of a waterproof material similar to that of an inner tube. Not my favorite book in the collection, but I do like taking it out from time to time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Babies & Toddlers    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Juvenile literature    5. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Water (Oceans, Lakes, Et    6. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Water (Oceans, Lakes, Etc.)    7. Specimens    8. Toy and movable books    9. Water    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Water (oceans, lakes, etc.)