Editorial Review

Who can resist the allure of the hidden wilderness water hole? Certainlynot one rhino. Not two tigers. Nor three toucans. Pretty soon the delicious poolis drawing moose, catfish, pandas, tortoises... and more than 100 other crittersfrom Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and beyond. But is it our imaginationor is that rhino-sized water hole dwindling to a mere shadow of its former self,a puddle not fit for eight ladybugs, let alone 10 kangaroos? As the seasonschange across the world, and the animals get thirstier, the water supplydiminishes. Eventually, even the flowery-shirted frog that has stoicallylingered through the drought packs his suitcase and takes off. The only hope nowis a drop of rain on the parched earth...

Reviews (27)

Beautifilly Illustrated Children's Counting Book
I just added this to our collection of Graeme Base Books.We now have three.Anamalia helps teach the ABC's in a fun way -- The Water Hole teaches counting -- and The Eleventh Hour is a thinking book (try to solve the mystery!)All of his books are wonderfully illustrated.All of them have an underlying puzzle/theme to keep the children's interest.My 3 1/2 year old grandson is crazy about the Water Hole.Actually, all three of them are on the top of his list.He can look at the pages for a long time.That is something amazing since he is hyperactive and sitting doesn't happen for long.He's learning and can find many different things on each page.Since my children were young, these books have been cherished.

FABULOUS!!
MY SON LOVES THIS BOOK. HE RECEIVED IT AS A GIFT WHEN HE WAS AN INFANT.NOW HE'S THREE YEARS OLD WE READ IT TOGETHER AND LOVE TO PICK OUT ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS HIDING IN THE PICTURES.IT'S ONE OF OUR FAVORITES.

A Counting Book With a Big Difference
This beautiful counting book is wonderfully illustrated and ingeniously thought out. The book works on many different levels (hidden animals, a range of themes) and has provided hours of fun and discussion for our two year old. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    6. Fiction    7. Hydrologic cycle    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Nature & the Natural World - Ecology    10. Rain and rainfall    11. Water    12. Animal stories    13. Fiction dealing with environmental issues    14. Juvenile Fiction / General    15. Numbers & counting    16. Picture books   

Editorial Review

Borne from actual questions asked by her own daughters, journalist Maria Shriver's Read more

Reviews (56)

very comforting for my 4 year old
This book was very comforting to my 4 year old after the death of her great grandmother.No, it does not go into religious beliefs. Yes, there are some far fetched things in the book like animals being seperated by a white picket fence, but for very young children, the most important thing is that they are comforted and not scared about what happens to a loved one after they die.This book accomplishes that.

A good book to share with your children
Maria Shriver does a beautiful job of putting together a story that helps explain loss to children...and she should know. She has lost many loved ones in her life, among them our country's president, her Uncle Jack (Kennedy), when she was eight. Her family had to endure much intrusion into their private grief during that difficult time for our nation.
Truly helpful for such a painful time
My grandmother died unexpectedly last month. It was difficult enough dealing with my own grief, much less to comfort my daughters as much as they need. Sometimes I feel quite sad and overwhelmed. My middle daughter is a great deal like Kate, you answer one question and many more pour out. This book has been a much needed comfort to us. It helped us to open up and discuss what Heaven could be like and to emphasize to my daughters that we are deeply sad but we will be ok. I'd recommend this to other families who are trying to cope with their grief. I'm sorry that some specific reviewers are offended by the open interpretations of Heaven but I think it's really important to remember that individuals and families from all cultures and religions face the loss of a beloved family member. We should show respect for the different faiths and remember no one person holds all the answers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Death    5. Death, Grief, Bereavement    6. Family & Relationships    7. Fiction    8. Great-grandmothers    9. Heaven    10. Social Issues - Death & Dying    11. Modern fiction    12. Social Situations - Death & Dying    13. Family - Multigenerational    14. Juvenile Fiction   

Reviews (3)

Entertaining and Educational for Children
A change of seasons is in the air. Fletcher the fox doesn't understand and now he's worried.
Beautiful language and art--highly, highly recommended
It's rare that a children's book comes along where both the artwork and the language reach the heights offered up by Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. The story's premise--a young fox attempts to protect his favorite tree from the encroachment of autumn, trying in vain to keep it leaved, literally to the last leaf--could have easily become overly sentimental and cloying.Instead, there is a true sense of sadness and empathy leavened by some wonderfully quirky moments all of which lead to a close that is as satisfying as it is moving.As it is, the story could certainly have stood on its own for plot alone, regardless of language or art.But the artwork is simply sensational, the impressionistic watercolors perfectly matching each page's tone and sentiment, matching the movement of time through day and night, from fall to winter, culminating in perfect pace with the plot in a final illustration of the tree that is simply beautiful.It's a good book for the story, an excellent book for the story plus the art.What makes it a great book, truly a beautiful book, is the language, which never fails to please, to startle, to jostle. The words are sharp and vivid, the rhythm carries you along, and the rhymes and slant rhymes sneak up on you in singular moments of sheer joy in language.The book is a pure clinic in children's picture books as all three elements--plot, art, and language--each alone a superior example, come together to create a whole even greater than its impressive parts.A great book, highly recommended.

Wonderful book, beautiful illustrations
This is a beautiful book.Fletcher is a young fox that has noticed the forest is changing as the summer comes to an end.He has a favorite tree.When he sees the way the leaves are changing he thinks that the tree is sick.He does everything he can think of to help the tree keep it's leaves.Of course in the end he can't save the leaves and he goes home very sad with the last leave that was on the tree. The next day he wakes up and goes to his tree and is mesmarized by the sight of the tree.It's beautiful it's covered in icicles and shining in the morning sunlight.He asks the tree if it is okay and the tree in a sense answers him. The wind blows and the tree shakes and the icicles tingle.To Fletcher it sounds like the tree is laughing and he takes this to mean that the tree is alright. The illustrations are wonderful and the last one of the tree with the icicles is fabulous it is done with a type of glitter.Very pretty effect.I very much recommend this book ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Foxes    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Foxes    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Leaves    8. Nature & the Natural World - General    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Trees    12. Juvenile Fiction / Nature & the Natural World   

Editorial Review

Olivia, like many young pigs, experiences life very intensely. She is utterly obsessed with having her mother make her a red soccer shirt (even though the team color is green), until, of course, she discovers that her favorite toy, her very best toy, is missing, at which point she becomes utterly obsessed with finding it. She looks under the rug, the sofa, and the cat. She shouts accusingly at both her younger brother Ian and her baby brother William, who responds with an unsatisfactory "Wooshee gaga." That night (a dark and stormy one), she hears a horrible sound emanating from behind a closed door, and, in a dramatic scene illuminated by her flaming candelabra and showcased in a fold-out spread, she sees the family dog Perry chewing her favorite toy to bits. As devastating as this is to a passionate young pig, "even Olivia couldn't stay mad forever." She sews up her dismembered toy and falls asleep that very night cozied up with both it and the toy-wrecking Perry. Read more

Reviews (39)

Olivia ...and the Missing Toy
Olivia is the kind of book that is never boring. My children ages six and two absolutely adore this book. Needles to say, that is one of those books you will always remember. We own all of them.

The Magnificent Olivia
The Olivia series of books is simply wonderful.Olivia is a very independent, strong-willed little pig who is not afraid of anything and the result is truly entertaining and very comical.My children love this book the best because it is very well written and with just the right emphasis on certain wording when I read it, they roll on the floor giggling hysterically.My daughter walks around quoting the book out loud as she has most of the book memorized because the children have asked me to read it to them so many times.

Olivia back again
In this thrid adventure we find Oliva once again exerting her individuality, demanding a new uniform color...so she can look different from the rest of the team. She then becomes further self-absorbed in a quest for her lost toy. Also in this installment we meet her father, a somewhat dotng pig, Olivia doesn't seem to mind.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Pigs    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Lost and found possessions    8. Pigs    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Social Issues - Lost & Found    11. Toys    12. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets    13. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Pigs   

Editorial Review

"Here is the book that Romeo would have given Juliet; Charlie Brown would have given Snoopy; and you can give to some very special friend" proclaims the back cover of this small, whimsical book. Written in 1965 by Sandol Stoddard Warburg, it still makes the perfect present for your best friend. Not just any run-of-the-mill best friend, though. This book is for the kind of friend who yells for you when you get lost in Grand Central Station or pretends to save you when you pretend to be drowning. Or, as Warburg puts it, "You know how to be silly / That's why I like you / Boy are you ever silly / I never met anybody sillier than me / till I met you." Read more

Reviews (42)

Wonderful
I happened upon this little red book while searching for a birthday present for my little cousin.I read it through, and teared up because it so aptly describe how I feel about my husband.I bought it and gave it to him...I think this is book is wonderful for expressing how you feel about someone you really really love/like.

Strange Little Book
This book definitely gives some unique and nice reasons for liking someone. I liked most of them. However, for some of them the author is so "real" about why people like other people that he lists not necessarily healthy reasons. For example, one page says that they like the other person because if they get mad at them, they also get mad back...when someone is nice to you when you're mad at them it makes you want to punch them in the nose. True? Sometimes. But not how I want to teach my child to be. Another example is they like the other person because when they say something funny the other person laughs. Does that mean when someone doesn't laugh you shouldn't like them?
A great, funny look at friendship for mature kids and childish adults
I'm sure this is supposed to be a children's book, and kids will definitely enjoy it.But the fact of the matter is that "I Like You" is the warmest love note you could possibly give your spouse or best friend.It contains the reasons we like our friends -- the games we play, the fun we share, etc. -- and also the things that are so true about friendships that are often overlooked, like paying attention when the other person is throwing up ("you don't just pretend to be looking at the birdies") and engaging in a decent fight when the other person's mad ("it's awful when the other person isn't.They're just so nice and oo-hoo you could just about punch them in the nose.")Give this book to someone you love from age 4 to 144! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Holidays & Celebrations - Valentine's Day    7. Holidays & Festivals - Valentine's Day    8. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    11. Social Situations - Friendship    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship    13. Picture books    14. Children's   

Reviews (2)

Fun with a book-loving monkey
"Curious George Visits the Library" is, as the title page notes, "Illustrated in the Style of H.A. Rey" by Martha Weston.In this tale, George--"a good little monkey and always very curious"--visits the public library with his friend, the man in the yellow hat.Chaos ensues as George frolics through the library, but it all ends happily. Curious George is in my favorite place!
Curious George is on another adventure.This time he's in my favorite place, the library.The man with the yellow hat has brought George to the library for story time.He likes the books but sees one on dinosaurs that he hopes the librarian reads next.He gets impatient, takes the book and runs off.This is the beginning of his adventure.He goes through the library finding neat books and making a big mess in the process.The boys and girls at the library, along with a volunteer help clean up the mess.In the end the man with the yellow hat helps George get a library card and they both check out lots of great books. Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - Apes & Monkeys    3. Books and reading    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Libraries    10. Monkeys    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys    13. Picture books    14. Primary / junior schools    15. Self-Help & Practical Interests    16. Zoology & animal sciences   

Reviews (12)

What a great new addition to our book shelf!
As a mom of a pink princess obsessed 4yr. old, this book is right up her alley! The story is fun and well written. I love this Sassie character! The illustrations are bright and eye catching, such a fun and whimsical book that my daughter hasn't let out of her sight! (let alone, let her younger sister even touch!) We've even decided we're going to buy another copy to donate to her preschool so they can fall in love with it as well!

One of the best children's book illustrations I have ever seen... BRAVO!!
I have been a fan of Dena's work for years. Sassafras's illustrations manage to capture the emotions of the spoiled pink poodle perfectly. The illustrations are colorful, whimsical, and utterly delightful. Some of the best children's book illustrations I have ever seen, and it is now my two children's absolutely favorite book.

Sassie is fabulous
I absolutely LOVED Sassafrass.It perfectly captures in a comedic way how success can change and warp a personality, and how when a person (or a dog) starts to believe her own publicity, she can lose track of who she really is.Staying true to yourself and keeping your head on straight in good times and in bad is a great message for children and adults.And this tale is told with such a light touch--that it's like eating a chocolate souffle!Brava Sassie!You are adorable! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Conduct of life    6. Dogs    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Poodles    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    13. Social Issues - Manners & Etiquette    14. Social Issues - Values    15. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs   

Editorial Review

Exotic, beautiful, and instructive, this "mathematical folktale" by author-illustrator Demi emerged from her love of India. The narrative and the evocative illustrations combine to create a real sense of the culture and atmosphere of this romantic land. Read more

Reviews (17)

A lot to learn, including girl-power
This is Demi's re-telling of an old folktale of a king who orders that all rice in his kingdom must be stored in the royal granaries so that there would be food in times of famine; but when his people start to go hungry, he refuses to open the granaries, claiming that the situation was not bad enough to warrant doing so - until a small child outsmarts him by asking for a grain of rice doubled every day for a month.
a tale to delight both young and old
My daughter is three and loves this book -- not just for the gorgeous fold-out illustrated spread of the caravan of elephants carrying the rice on the 30th day -- but because she can follow along with the story.The tale is of a rich greedy rajah who doesn't want to share, but is then outwitted by a young girl and forced to give up all the grain in his storehouses.At the end, he is humbled and vows to be a more fair and wise ruler.My daughter loves to sit with one grain of rice in her hand like Rani on the title page of the book.I can see her forming rudimentary mathematical concepts, but I won't push it.There's plenty of time to return to this book when we introduce the times tables.
One grain of rice = many valuable lessons for students
One Grain of RIce is not only a bookof math, it is also a folktale.It shows how rice can grow from one grain, to two grains,to four grains, to 8 grains to 16 grains and all the way up to a whole barn full of grain.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Asian    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    6. Folklore    7. India    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Mathematics    10. Science & Technology    11. Science & Technology - Mathematics    12. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Ethnic   

Editorial Review

A Ukrainian boy named Nicki wants his grandmother Baba to knit snow-white mittens for him. She warns her grandson that a white mitten will be hard to find if he loses it in the snow, but of course he promptly does just that!What happens next is the surprising part, as a mole takes refuge in the lost mitten, then a rabbit, then a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, and a fox.If you think the mitten might be a wee bit stretched out at this point, just wait: "Then a big bear sniffed at the mitten. The animals were packed in tight, but the bear didn't care. He crawled in anyway." When a tiny mouse squeezes in, her whiskers tickle the bear's nose. He sneezes, and "Aaaaa-aaaaa-ca-chew!" all the animals fly out of their crocheted cave. As the mitten sails through the air, Nicki spots it, reclaims it, and takes it home to show his smiling Baba.Read more

Reviews (39)

Great Book
When I first saw this book I was not impressed - it seemed just ok.But my now 20 month-old daughter loves it. It is definitely one of her favorite books to read.
mitten
The mitten was a good book.It was a good wen thefunnest part when mitten blew.It was a good book at the end it was the funnyest part.

The review of the Mitten
I loved the story becauseit has los of animals.And I love animals.The most part I love is when the mitten shot off the animals.And another thing I like about the story is that
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Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    6. Fairy Tales & Folklore - European    7. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    8. Folklore    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Mittens    11. Ukraine    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (39)

Walter the Farting Dog
Walter the Farting Dog is a great fiction book. Its authors are William Katzwinkle and Glen Muarry. Its main characters are the man at the yard sale, Walter, Betty, Billy, and the dad.
My son loved it
My son loves Walter.He is a typical boy and body noises and it just makes him laugh.He isn't a kid that likes to read, but with the Walter books he is willing sit down and read to me and actually enjoys it.
Didn't hold my interest like the first one did.
Walter is back but not with the same enthusiasm as the first book. I barely laughed at this book and was disappointed because I absolutely fell in love with William Kotzwinkle's original Farting Dog book. Same strange, yet intriguing illustrations but the story didn't hold my interest. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals - Dogs    4. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Digestion    8. Dogs    9. Fiction    10. Flatulence    11. Humorous Stories    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. Preschool Picture Story Books    14. Social Issues - Manners & Etiquette    15. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs   

Reviews (5)

Arthur's Halloween
Arthur's Halloween is about Arthur who is afraid of pretty much everything. When Halloween comes, he is told he has to take his sister. When trick or treating the two get lost behind and D.W. goes in the so-called Witch House, and Arthur has to go get her. The book teaches that you shouldn't judge somebody by what other people tell you. This book is good for kids 4-8. I thought it was an ok book.

entertaining offering from Arthur
If you're looking for entertaining Halloween picture books for 3 and 4 year olds, Arthur's Halloween fits the bill. arthur's halloween
I really like arthur's book's I remeber that I liked this book since I was in kindergarten and I'm in middle school and I still read those books. It is very intersting and I love how some of the words ryum.and I will not stop reading those books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Brown, Marc    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. Halloween    8. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (11)

A fabulous, multi-dimensional book!
Tough Boris a story about a pirate...but the pictures tell a much different story than the words convey.In the end, it seems Boris isn't all that tough after all. I think it's a fabulous book that can really stimulate a child's powers of observation and ability to communicate what they see. It also illustrates different emotions, shows children that things aren't always what they first seem to be, and that people have many different facets and layers to who they are. It shows that we should take the time to look deeper into a person's heart before coming to a conclusion about them.A great social "study"! I use it in my preschool classroom.

Wonderful Book!
My three year old, who loves pirates, adores this book. The text is very simple, and poignant. The pictures allow the reader to create his or her own story about a stolen violin. The predictability of the text ("He was tough! All pirates are tough. He was massive! All pirates are massive . . . ") makes it fun for the child to follow along, and introduces some vocabulary as well. A great book.

So you think you're a tough guy huh?!
This is a wonderful story about a pirate who's rough and tough on the outside, but has a soft side too.Death is treated matter-of-factly with no philosophical overtones (you fill in the blanks when they ask, "why did the parrot die", or "what happened when the parrot died?") and children identify with Boris about their self-concepts and reactions to conflict and fears in their life. In the end, Boris teaches children that it's okay to be a nice guy and still be tough, and that it's okay to be sad and cry sometimes.I recommend this book to children over the age of 4 (mainly because of the slightly scary pirate scenes involving angry faces, swords and scuffling-nothing gorry)- all the way through adulthood!
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Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Fox, Mem    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Pirates    8. Preschool Picture Story Books    9. Social Issues - Special Needs    10. Social Situations - Special Needs    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Special Needs   

Reviews (5)

Another great Bob Barner book
I picked up this book for almost three year old daughter because we loved Bob Barner's Fish Wish.My daughter learned so much about the ocean from that book and I thought Dem Bones would give her an introduction to the body.The book follows an old African folk song called Dem Bones."The ankle bone is conneced to the foot bone, the foot bone is connected to the leg bone" and so on.Since my daughter is so young I just sing the song to her and point out the bones on her body as we see the corresponding ones on the skeletons in the book.If you have an older child there is much more in depth information about the bones provided on each page.That is why I love Bob barner's books so much.My daughter can follow along the simple to read stories now and when she gets older I can go over the more informative parts with her later.She has already learned a great deal from this book and she really loves it.Bob Barner really makes learning fun.

Dem Bones
As an elementary school librarian, I used this book with my classes.We sang the song as we turned the pages.Then, at the end we laughed about the names of the bones and practiced ways of using the "real" names.1)Go to the nurse after you skinned your knee on the playground and ask for a bandaid to put on your patella; 2) You stub your toe and grab it and moan, "Oh, I stubbed my phlanges", etc. We love this book!
This book offers a wonderful introduction to the bone structure of the human body, even for very young children (my 3 year old daughter and niece just love this book).The use of fun, bright skeletons appeals to the reader and balances the use of scientific language in the text.Even mom and dad will learn a thing or two while reading it!You'll have your kids singing Dem Bones (the foot bone connected to the ankle bone, etc.) before you know it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bones    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Health & Daily Living - Anatomy    6. Health & Medicine - Anatomy    7. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    8. Holidays & Festivals - Halloween    9. Human skeleton    10. Juvenile literature    11. Skeleton    12. Fiction    13. Juvenile Fiction / General    14. Picture books   

Reviews (27)

Wonderful story!!
This book is just adorable. The illustrations are incredible and I hope Rob Scotton continues to write more Russell the Sheep books. My two boys ages 6 and 3 adore this bedtime story.A must in every house.

Very beautifully illustrated
A very nice book for start readers (5-6 years old) easy and
Great Story and Illustrations
This book is a great bedtime read for children; I love it, too!Russell struggles with insomnia and can't figure out how to fall asleep until, at last, he counts himself.Sending your child off to bed with the message "you're important... you count" is a positive way to boost self-esteem. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Farm Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Bedtime    4. Bedtime & Dreams    5. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    6. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    7. Children: Kindergarten    8. Concepts - Counting    9. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    10. Counting    11. Fiction    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. Preschool Concepts    14. Preschool Picture Story Books    15. Sheep    16. Sleep    17. Juvenile Fiction / Bedtime & Dreams   

Reviews (42)

Cat Heaven
I read this book the first time one of my cats died, and cried my first healing tears. Since that time, I've given the book to about 16 friends who have lost their cats, knowing the book will help heal the passing over of their loved ones.

Thanks to a caring Vet
My vet sent this to me after my cat died of kidney failure. The story and illustrations made me laugh and cry at the same time.
Not Just for Kids
Though written for children, this book will bring comfort and solace to anyone who's lost a beloved cat. At once poignant and amusing, the book leaves the reader with a smile on his face and a slightly smaller ache in her heart. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Heaven    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Stories in rhyme   

Reviews (41)

wonderful book
My 21 month old daughter can't get enough of this book!I have actually had to hide it!I pull it out of hiding once a day and we read it 3 times in a row and then put it out of sight again!It is such a fun story to read!Your child will love it!

Wonderful Bedtime book/Memorable
I have personally purchased 5 copies of this book.I first read it to my 14 month old granddaughter as a library book.She loved it so much, that she would get the book and just come and sit on my lap.Since then, I bought her a copy and after telling friends about it, have purchased several more.It is easy for a very young toddler to remember and it the perfect bedtime story, about a child's fear of the dark, and wanting Mama to be there constantly.The illustrations are very expressive.I highly recommend it.

My favorite
When my [...] starts the nighttime routine: "I'm thisty" "There's a monster in my room" etc, I reply "no more llama drama" and that (usually!) ends it.Helps reassure children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Bedtime    3. Bedtime & Dreams    4. Children's Baby - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Family - General    8. Fiction    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Llamas    12. Mother and child    13. Preschool Picture Story Books    14. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    15. Stories in rhyme    16. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (13)

A great book for kids
I recently bought this book for my 7-year-old, and was really impressed by both the story and the beautiful illustrations.I felt it was a good story for my daughter to read as it told how the young girl, her mother and grandmother survived a fire that destroyed their home and built a life for themselves afterward.The reward to being able to buy a comfortable chair after all their hard work and savings drives home the point of how much we have and how little we may sometimes appreciate it.

Making the Best of a Bad Situation
Told in the words of a little girl, this story tells of a family making the best of a bad situation.After a fire totally destroyed everything in their house, the family moves to an apartment.The neighborhood brings many things to fill their new home, but they have no couch and no chair.Grandma is old and can't get comfy in the hard kitchen chairs.Plus momma needs somewhere soft to sit after a hard days work.Find out how they get the money to buy the most wonderful chair of all.

One of the Best!
We have read this book numerous times and always consider it among our top ten books ever read - even though all of my children are now teenagers! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chairs    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Classics    7. Family - Multigenerational    8. Family - Parents    9. Family life    10. Fiction    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. People & Places - United States - African-American    13. Preschool Picture Story Books    14. Saving and investment    15. Saving and thrift    16. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    17. Social Issues - Values    18. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    19. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Editorial Review

Nikolai is a boy who believes that if he can find the answers to histhree questions, he will always know how to be a good person. His friends--aheron, a monkey, and a dog--try to help, but to no avail, so he asks Leo, thewise old turtle. "When is the best time to do things? Who is the most importantone? What is the right thing to do?" Leo doesn't answer directly, but by the endof Nikolai's visit, the boy has discovered the answers himself.Read more

Reviews (32)

Beautiful paintings and a lovely story
This sets up the provocative three questions which point at the very reason for us existing so very temporarily on this planet.
Life Changing and Inspiring
Beautiful watercolors. Beautiful story. As the NYT Book Review said, "Quietly life-changing." My five-year-old daughter received it for her birthday and she finds it a likeable and intriguing story. I hope she hears the wisdom in the answers to the three questions.

Three questions, Mama!
Lovely drawings and gently paced words draw the readers in to this adaptation of a short story written by Leo Tolstoy. My daughter is three, and fell in love with this book when we took it out of the library; she is enchanted by the images and the questions being posed by Nikolai - "What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important ones? What is the right thing to do?" This book is sure to remain on her shelf for a very long time to come, and I am sure she will take something valuableaway from each telling at every age. ... 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. Conduct of life    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - General    9. Social Issues - Values    10. Social Situations - General    11. Fiction dealing with specific issues    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Values   

Reviews (11)

A Winner!
My boys (ages 5 & 2.5) have enjoyed this book so much that we quicky hurried back to the bookstore hoping that Mini Grey had written a sequel! A definite winner!

Square-jawed satire
This spoof of superhero comics and their ubiquitous action figures is so darn funny it's impossible to get through a first reading without pausing to hold your ribs. But it has a Shrek problem: its best lines zoom straight over kids' heads and target Mom and Dad.
Best Ever!
This is a fantastic, fun, imaginative children's book that me and my husband love to read to our child. Mini Grey captures a child's imagination with such precision that it brings back hilarious memories of our own fantastic pretend worlds. Great work Mini! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Action figures (Toys)    3. Brooms and brushes    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 1-2    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Humorous Stories    10. Imagination & Play    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Toys    14. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets    15. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Editorial Review

"Witches' brooms don't last forever. They grow old, and even