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   

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   

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 (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   

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 (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 (9)

My favorite baby gift.
I just love ALL the books in this series. My children just loved them when they were little, and if you've ever had babies you know how valuable a good book is -- you get to sit down for a while! They were fun for me to read and really fun for them to explore. In fact, I've already packed them away in their hope chests for when they grow up and have children.
Hopefully the lion won't got bald from all of the touching..
My 4-month-old loves this book.She expecially loves the lion's long fur.She grabs it and will hold on for a long time.Needless to say, we spend most of our time on the lion page!But the other animals are neat too; a bumpy lizard, a smooth dolphin, a frog with sticky pads on its fingers, etc.This is a nice book to share with your child.

My son loves this book!
This book has the greatest variety of different touch sensations that I have seen anywhere.My 2 year old son received this for Christmas last year and it has been his favorite.The sticky tree frog was the best page for him.It did lose the stickiness quickly, but I found an adhesive at a craft store that was specifically for tackiness.I just put it on the spots whenever they wear out and then we have weeks of fun again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Animals - Mammals    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Babies & Toddlers    6. Concepts - Sense & Sensation    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Specimens    10. Textured books    11. Toy and movable books    12. Toys, Dolls & Puppets    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Concepts / Sense & Sensation   

Reviews (4)

Humphrey the lost whale
I think this book is good because it is a true story about a lost humpback whale that goes into the Sacramento River. I like this book because we are studying marine mammals in class.

Reading Rainbow
I first saw this book on Reading Rainbow, one of my favorite PBS shows as a kid. The story fascinated me, and I'm glad I was able to get my hands on a copy. It's about a whale who can't seem to stay with his family (which all kids can identify with at one time or another), and how the community helps him find them again.

The best whale "true story."
The kind of book you think of when you're looking for a good whale story.Lots of personality and drama, and a super read-aloud for kids even asyoung as 4.Another fun whale story is The Whale Comedian, which is morehumorous and whimsical, but, like Humphrey, shows what kids like most: howwe can be friends with these exciting sea creatures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Animals - Marine Life    3. Children's 4-8    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Historical - United States - General    7. Humpback whale    8. Humphrey (Whale)    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. People & Places - United States    12. Whales    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Features

• Large Print

Reviews (1)

Good Meerkat Book.
This book is vey informative. The pictures aregood. Being a meerkat adorer I really enjoyed adding this to my meerkat mdse. collection. ... Read more

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

Reviews (21)

Out of this world!
This is art and one rarely comes across art that is this beautiful and this close to being relevant. It's hard to deny the randomness in the order with which thoughts, figures, questions and answers appear in this book but that's what makes it so much more enjoyable. The story seems to be powered by a secret source of energy that exists at the boundary between "real" and "imaginary." The authors frequently cross this boundary on either direction without missing a beat, reminding us how great it is to think freely. What's really great is that this story has no beginning and no end so you can really go back and read it over and over again. Just make sure you don't read it 12 times...
Totally unexpected!
I bought this book yesterday and haven't stopped laughing. I work at a zoo and we just got Giraffes so I thought it might be educational. Boy was I right! It's the funniest book I've read in a long time. I highly reccommend it if you are wanting a good laugh or need to know how to make sandwiches for them.
Hippoes and Hummus Haters
Haggis-on-Whey's highly educational book on the mating season of hippoes totally rocks.I was so surprised by so many unknown facts.For instance, hippoes wear lipstick when it rains.And did you know that hippoes don't appreciate the efort of penguins in their making of the Cross Continential Railroad?Pig-heels are their favorite food. I was most startled by the picture of a hippo eating cinnimon apple sauce.I highly reccommend this book for squirel monkeys and Ted Nugent and scientists named BENNY. Rock on Madagascar!
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Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Animals - Mammals    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Giraffe    6. Giraffes    7. Humor    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

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

Editorial Review

From pygmy shrews to bandicoots, this book will remind you it's not just Dr. Seuss who created strange and wonderful creatures!Read more

Reviews (1)

Educational and Entertaining
My children, ages 5 and 3, and I love this Dr. Seuss style educational book.It is filled with lots of facts about mammals and distinguishs between mammals and non-mammals.The beginning of the book tells thereader that mammals breathe air, are warm to the touch and grow hair.Therest of the book illustrates these three characteristics.I particularilyliked the page which shows that mammals can live in different types ofenvironments, "Mammals live on cold mountains and hot, burning sand,down deep in the oceans or out on dry land."The ending is delightfulas the child learns that she is a mammal, too.Finally, I enjoyed thisbook because it included a glossary of terms and suggestions for furtherreading on the subject of mammals. ... Read more

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

Reviews (2)

Step Into Reading level 3: Dolphins: Great book, but not the best level
You can call me StoryMaker. Step into Reading: Dolphins is a great book that teaches how dolphins are intellegent and have their own personalities. It's a great book, but they rate it level 3. Step into Reading's level 3 seems too easy for a level 3. More like a level 2. Of course, SIR has lots of levels, but people might think that it will help their 2nd grader read. It probably won't. Overall, a great book about dolphins' reactions with people, but remember, it might not be as challenging as you suspected. Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

A picture book, people's interactions with dolphins
This is a great book for reading to 4-6 year olds.It talks aboutinteresting stories about dolphins and people.An example: 2 pages coverhow a man played with a dolphin in captivity by throwing a ring to thedolphin, and 2 years later, the dolphin recognized the same man and threwthe ring to him.The book talks about how dolphins are intelligent andeach have different personalities, how they like people, and things likethat. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Children's 4-8 - Nature    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Dolphins    6. Juvenile literature    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Animals    9. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Marine Life   

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

Reviews (1)

Time for Kids - Bats
I purchased this book for my first grade classroom.We do a unit of study on the elements of a non-fiction text.The Time for Kids books are wonderful for this unit.They have terrific pictures (which the kids love), and many elements of a non-fiction text, such as labeling, comparisions, captions, glossary, types of print, etc.I would highly recommend this book - really all of the time for kids books - to those looking for appropriate non-fiction books for a first grade classroom.The level 1 and 2 books are most appropriate. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Bats    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile Science (General)    8. Juvenile literature    9. Readers - Chapter Books    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Children's 9-12 - Animals/Pets    3. Individual Species Of Mammals    4. Mammals    5. Mule deer    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. USA    9. Wild animals   

Reviews (2)

Lovely Art - a review of "Raccoons and Ripe Corn"
I've gotten this book from the library twice; once when my children were younger and again now that they are 4 and 6 (boy and girl).Both times this book has failed to capture their imaginations(or in other words they didn't ask for repeat readings like they do for other books).
Beautiful!
We were absorbed by the beautiful life like illustrations.The text is simple, not too wordy. Can be read by a beginning reader. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Children's 4-8 - Nature    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Corn    6. Diseases and pests    7. Food    8. Juvenile literature    9. Nature - General    10. Raccoons    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Mammals   

Reviews (1)

A TOUCHING STORY BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED

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Subjects:  1. Animals - Mammals    2. Bats    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Infancy    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Tadarida brasiliensis   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Birds    2. Animals - Mammals    3. Bats    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Non-Classifiable    9. Nonfiction    10. Preschool Informational Books    11. Readers - Beginner    12. Simon, Seymour    13. Animals    14. Life Skills & Personal Awareness, General Studies   

Reviews (3)

Mahnomen, Minnesota Third Graders
This book was very interesting.Our class read this together.We learned that mammoths are extinct and that hunters used their bones and furs to survive. Aliki has a lot of talent for writing and illustrating.We recommend this book and his book called "Fossils".

beautiful illustrations, clear text
This book encompasses man as hunter, diversity of species, extinction, scientific inquiry --while being firmly grounded and tangible.The phrases are broken up on the page the same way that I pace the story when I read aloud.The explanations and transitions are clear and logical (except the second page which abruptly mentions the dinosaurs and then bounces back to the Ice Age again.) Wonderful book for curious minds.

Akiki Does It Again !
As an elementary school teacher, I am always on the "look out" for books that will enthrall my students.Aliki never disappoints.Wild and Wooly Mammoths is an intersting and enjoyable book.My students lovedthe beautiful illustrations and the easy to read format.The book ispacked with fascinating facts and details.My students looked forward toreading time and asked to read other books by Aliki.We bought class setsof Mummies Made in Egypt and also The Medieval Feast.Children simply lovethese books and the wonderful illustrations.All my students voted Wildand Wooly Mammoths as a class favorite.I recommend this book for allelementary students. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures    2. Animals - Mammals    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. History - Prehistoric    6. Juvenile literature    7. Mammoths    8. Woolly mammoth    9. Dinosaurs & the prehistoric world    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Mammals    11. Zoology & animal sciences