Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Fiction    7. Girls & Women    8. Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif    9. Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.)    10. Humorous Stories    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Motion pictures    13. People & Places - United States    14. Performing Arts - General    15. Preschool Picture Story Books    16. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Editorial Review

Baby bat Stellaluna's life is flitting along right on schedule--untilan owl attacks her mother one night, knocking the bewildered batlet out of her mother's loving grasp. The tiny bat is lucky enough to land in a nest of baby birds, but her whole world has just turned upside down. Literally. Stellaluna's adoptive bird mom accepts her into her nest, but only on the condition that Stellaluna will act like a bird, not a bat. Soon Stellaluna has learned to behave like a good bird should--she quits hanging by her feet and starts eating bugs. But when she finally has an opportunity to show her bird siblings what life as a bat is like, all of them are confounded. "How can we be so different and feel so much alike?" one asks. "And how can we feel so different and be so much alike?" asks another. "I agree," Stellaluna responds. "But we're friends. And that's a fact." Anyone who has ever been asked to be someone they're not will understand the conflicts--and possibilities--Stellaluna faces. This gorgeously illustrated book is sure to be an all-time favorite with readers, whether they've left the nest or not. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustration from Read more

Reviews (86)

Friendship is the Compromise of Differences
This is the story of a baby fruit bat, also known as the "flying fox", named Stellaluna who fell off of her mother's belly during an assault on them by an owl, who is bats' natural enemy, as they flew in the night sky. Stellaluna, whose weak wings not being ready to fly yet, finds herself in a bird's nest among chicks. And a beautiful friendship begins as Stellakuna assumes the role of a "good bird" and becomes a member of the family. Soon nature makes them realize how different Stellaluna is from the other birds. Ultimately friendship proves to be the strongest force of nature.

This is how much I love Jannell Cannon books...
I bought Stellaluna even before I had a child! I absolutely fell in love not only with the story and message the book conveyed, but also the wonderful and endearing artwork. I have since had a child and purchased all of her books, the latest one being Pinduli. It is the perfect follow-up to her other books.
A Tale of Finding our Way
Beautifully illustrated, this story is filled with depth and meaning.The message this book carries is one of great sensitivity:how do we fit in with others who are "different", how do we fit in when sometimes we ourselves feel "different"? Most important, Stellaluna learns to accept and be herself:even when she is different from others.This is not necessarily an easy task at any age, and this tale can be a guide for children (and adults) finding their way to self-love.The story evokes "Zen Shorts" and "The Gift of You, The Gift of Me," two other picture books that are also beacons of light for finding our way, and also both beautifully illustrated, as is "Stellaluna." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals - Birds    4. Animals - General    5. Bats    6. Birds    7. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    8. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    9. Children: Grades 1-2    10. Fiction    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Birds   

Reviews (16)

Table Manners & Great Dinosaurs
My boys and I love Yolen's How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? so of course, we had to get this book.I have a four year old and an 18 month old. They both love the funny pictures and the subject matter.I like that I get to talk to my older son about table manners when we read this book.I did have to do some research to learn how to pronounce some of the names of the dinosaurs (ie. quetzalcoatlus) but that's OK-- my four year old now thinks I'm a dino expert.

Great for young dino lovers
This series is great! I have a 2-year-old nephew who loves dinosaurs right now. This was an entertaining book for the both of us.

Encourages Unhealthy Eating Habits
With a childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, the last thing we need is a book that teaches kids to clean up their plates.Though this series of books is generally fantastic, I am terribly disappointed with the eating habits this particular book seeks to instill.Many prominent table problems among toddlers and young children are ignored.Healthy eating and eating until one is full should also be covered, but the author is completely oblivious to modern medical opinions on nutrition and diet.I am dumping this book ASAP.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures    2. Children's Baby - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Dinosaurs    6. Etiquette    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. Social Issues - Manners & Etiquette    12. Stories in rhyme    13. Table etiquette    14. Yolen, Jane    15. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (6)

PINK-cellent!
What fun! This sugar-crazed tale embraces and embodies the wackiness of a young girl and her most recent obsessions. The text and the illustrations both convey the humorous but manic nature of pre-teens and their not-too-infrequent tendency to go a bit overboard. But this is not all just icing on a cake. At the core of this zany romp is a useful message about nutrition and the merits of a balanced diet.

Yummy Yummy!
My friend gave this book to my three-year old daughter and we LOVE reading it together.The story of a cupcake-eating little girl is adorable and the illustrations were among the best I've seen in any childrens' book.Although I thought the book was better for a girl, my friend's son also seems to like it.I highly recommend it for any little girl who has a pink fetish like my daughter has!

My daughter's favorite!
I bought my 3-year-old daughter this book last week and it has instantly become her favorite!It's the first book that she's ever responded this way to.She's always enjoyed listening to stories, but this book has literally taken on a life of its own in our home.We read it several times a day and I can honestly say that I enjoy reading it every time.At this point she has it memorized and she reads it to me!This is a great book for any little girl. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Color    5. Concepts - Colors    6. Family - General    7. Fiction    8. Food habits    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Pink    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (14)

THE AUTHOR HAS NAILED DOGS AND DOG LOVERS PERFECTLY
I loved ever page of this one and so did the kids in class.Most of the children have pets, most of them dogs, and could relate perfectly to Fergus and his owner. I myself have not been with out the company of a dog for well over fifty five years and the author certainly identified me!The illustrations in this work are great...you simply cannot help being attracted to Fergus.Fergus is all dog and does all the things a dog does.I cannot recommend this one highly enough.

Love it!
I love this book!I have a little Westie, Fennis, and this book is exactly him!My family all laughs when they see the book on the coffee table because it is just like the story was written about Fennis.This is a fun book for people of all ages, especially those that love their own Westie.My 7-year-old nephew discovered it.

Good Boy, Fergus!
Absolutely top flight! Young children will enjoy the book, but adult owners of Westies will fall in love with it. First, you'll feel a little sheepish, realizing how often you tell your own little "terror" he's a good dog (regardless of what he does.) Then you'll lose your heart to Fergus.He is the perfect stand-in for all our "itchy bo-bo's" (cf Mr F.,the scratchity man).
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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: Preschool    7. Dogs    8. Fiction    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories    13. Young Children's, Early Learning & Special Book Types   

Editorial Review

Benny adores helping out his Grandpa at the bagel bakery, the best in town. The young Jewish boy loves his grandfather's bagels so much, he wants to thank God for them. But how? One morning, he asks his Grandpa if he could pay him for his work with a big bag of bagels. So equipped, he heads for the synagogue, takes a deep breath, opens the big wooden cupboard that is the Holy Ark, and places the steaming bag inside: "King of the Universe," he whispered. "I brought You some bagels. I know You make them. But You never taste them, because Grandpa sells every last one." Benny keeps this up week after week until he discovers, to his dismay, that a poor man in a tattered coat has been eating his bagels, and not God. How will God know he is thanking Him if someone else is eating the bagels? Grandpa reassures him that by making the world better, he is indeed thanking God. Dusan Petricic's expressive, cross-hatched illustrations, each one as round and warm and brown as a freshly baked bagel, illuminate all of the story's best moments with humor and emotion. This simple, touching Jewish folktale from Spaintranscends Judaism as a story of human kindness and generosity of spirit that will resonate with all children. Read more

Reviews (4)

Great for Christians as well
I am not Jewish but feel this book is wonderful for all children who are trying to grasp the concept of God and for parents who want to impart this important lesson - God wants us to help others.My 7 year old checked this book out from the public library and had me read it to him over and over again.He related to Benny and especially loves the part when the Grandfather is initially horrified with what Benny is doing with the Bagels.This book is a true classic and I am disappointed that I don't find it available in my local bookstores.

Delightful New Twist on an Old Story
_Bagels from Benny_ is a retelling of an old Hasidic Jewish tale (Hasidism is the mystical branch of Judaism).The tale is retold through the eyes of a young child, Benny.Benny helps his Grandfather in his bakery everyday.One day a customer thanks the Grandfather for putting such "love" in his bagels.Benny's Grandfather brushes off the thanks and says that the thanks really belong to God.Benny like most children is earnest in his desire to get the his thanks to God.Benny's dilemma is how to be sure that God "received" the thanks.Benny decides to share some of the bagels with God and places a bag full of bagels in the Holy Ark (a closet in the synagogue that holds the Torahs [5 Books of Moses]).When Benny next goes to synagogue with his family on Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath),Benny is delighted to see that the bagels are gone.He, of course, decides that God ate the bagels and decides to bring some every week for God.After a few weeks Grandpa gets suspicious, what is a little boy doing with all of those bagels?Grandpa follows Benny and like most adults is appalled to find out what Benny is doing and why.But what is happening to the bagels?Where are they going?That is the delightful end to the story and it shows how Benny is thanking God by making the world a better place.
Meaningful
I shed a tear when I read this one.I can't wait to buy it and read it to our Religious School children.It is touching, poignant and meaningful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bagels    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Folklore    5. General    6. Grandfathers    7. Jews    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Religious - Jewish    11. Social Issues - Values    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (35)

WHAT A FASCINATING WORK!
Other reviewers have used the word "strang" to discribe this work.I think the words "haunting" and "mysterious," probably hit closer to the mark.At least they do for me.This is one of those works that will certainly make you think.More importantly, it will make, or should make, the young reader think.That is the key to the fascination of the text of this work.Beyond doubt, the illustrations are quite wonderful, even beautiful.I did not the some of the youth reviews here were not overly enthusiastic.I have found that many young people do indeed "get" the story, while others do not.Some simply do not have the capacity to wonder, to imagine.This is sort of sad in a way, but on the other hand, it is works such as this, that if read with an adult who does have that spark of wonder in them, might allow some of that wonder to rub off.I like a good fantasy and a good mystery, ergo, I liked this book and do recommend it.The art work and stark writing alone are worth it.

can you figure out who the stranger is?
some criticize the tale because it leaves much open to speculation/imagination; that is part of the appeal of this Van Allsburg work; I had to read it 2 or 3 times before I figured out the ID of the stranger; then I wanted to read it again to see all the clues I had missed; it is so clever; I agree that it is not a book for small children, but not because of adult themes or unrealistic elements (driver hitting pedestrian, no injury to pedestrian, driver not punished for crime, stranger going home to family, risk of child abuse when stranger alone w/daughter, etc); it is not a book for small children because they would not understand the complexity of the symbolism; about a 1st grader would understand it for sure; beyond that, any age can enjoy; I can see how teachers like to read it w/classes to spur thinking & discussion

The Three Little wolves and the Big Bad Pig
This book was hilarious! This book was outstanding because it told the original story from a whole different point of view. It has some extra details here and there. The originals story had the houses made up of bricks, straw, and sticks. This story has the houses made up of completely different things.This book is suitable especially for little kids because it has parts that are histerical! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1986    2. Autumn    3. Boston    4. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 1-2    7. Children: Kindergarten    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Massachusetts    11. Nature & the Natural World - Seasons    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Van Allsburg, Chris    14. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (28)

Classic to cherish
I had this Babar book as a child and could not resist buying it for my daughter, and I am so happy that I did.This book is so incredible, the pictures and colors so vibrant and the text so incredibly addictive, that your child wil carry it with her forever.I know I have.I was stunned by how much of the dialogue and how many of the pictures I remembered.This book is a reasure that you and your children will share for years to come.Some people my comment about some of the themes, but as a child they went over my head, and as an adult, I recognized how tastefully done they are.Highest possible recommendation

Lovely story
This is such an awesome story.I can remember reading it when I was a child.My three-year-old son can't get enough of this book.Other reviewers have expressed concern with the sad parts of the story (Babar's mother killed and the elephant king dying,) but they didn't bother my son a bit.We just talked about what was happening and he was okay.This is a classic!

a classic tale to share with your children
I love Babar as much for the pictures as for the story.When I read it again to my daughter, I turned to the page where "Alas, that very day, the King of the elephants had eaten a bad mushroom" and thought wow, I remember that!The resurging memory of that illustration is so keen in my mind, it's as if twenty-plus years had just fallen away.And next comes my very favorite line, for its old-fashioned text and neatness of phrase:"It poisoned him and he became ill, so ill that he died.This was a great calamity."Which is not to say that the story of Babar dwells on sad things, because it doesn't.Whatever happens to Babar he deals with it with grace and moves on.Endlessly adaptable, this is an elephant who so charms the ladies that he woos and wins Celeste in just their brief drive home.The only sticking point for some parents who are encountering this book for the first time and therefore don't have their eyes all misting over with tender rememberances of their own childhood is that Babar is chosen to be the new king of the elephants because he is considered to have "learned so much living among men".If you are trying not to teach your children that humans are above and beyond all other animals, you may not want this subtle message.Overall, I think this book is wonderful and, at the end, when he and Celeste fly away in a hot air balloon to begin their honeymoon, it is clear that the story continues.This can be taken in the vein of allowing for endless opportunity of sequels but I prefer to think of it as the beginning of your child's opportunity to answer "what happens next" and regale you with their own series of stories about the adventures of Babar, the little elephant. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - Elephants    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Classics    7. Elephants    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Elephants   

Reviews (14)

Wild About Animals
The book Wild About Books is a fiction book by Judy Sierra. The main characters are Molly McGrew and animals at the zoo.
Possibly ONE OF THE GREATEST RHYMING BOOKS I've read yet.
This book has a dedication at the end to the author's favorite doctor, Dr. Seuss.The style of this book is quite similar to his famous rhyming stories but in its own style.Judy Sierra, author, really shines in this book with her choice of words and importance of really truly being wild about books.Through one of the main characters, Judy teaches animals to be nice to their books and to read all types of books.She explains haikus and zoolitzer prizes with terrific descriptive words.The paintings, done by Marc Brown, accompany the story perfectly.Marc painted such detail, variety, precision and just plain old fun-looking animals.One of my favorite parts/rhymes from 'Wild About Books' is, "In a flash, every beast in the zoo was stampeding To learn all about this new something called reading." or one of the more clever pages, "Raccoons read alone and baboons read in bunches And llamas read dramas while eating their llunches."I think this story will truly inspire children to read and enjoy it.Definetly great to use in a classroom or be read by a librarian with lots of enthusiasm.

Delightful for all Ages!
Wild About Books is one of my school's favorite read alouds for students who are kinders through fifth graders. The delightful Seuss-like rollicking rhyme accompained by humorous artwork makes this a standard for every classroom.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Zoos    2. Bookmobiles    3. Books and reading    4. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Libraries    10. Zoo animals    11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Zoos   

Reviews (2)

Elsa Beskow books are classic and warm
We love all of her books and buy them 1 at a time as we can afford them. In an age of big in your face pop up books and childrens books that make your eyes hurt these books are a wonderful find. As always the illustrations are beautiful with one big picture per page and the words on the opposite page. I read all the reviews first but few had actual specifics about the actual invdividual stories, so that's what I've done here. I hope it helps others know what wonderful books they are. I wish they were easier to find in Canada. Anyhow this is one of our latest purchases, It's about 2 boys Woody and Little Pip that are supposed to go out and gather acorns for the coming winter. It's very windy and they decide to go for a ride on the leaves that are being tossed high in the air, but the wind carries them far away and they crash in on some old women gnomes who are doing the wash of gnome beards. Pipand Woody end up having to deliver all the dried beards back to their owners. In the meantime Mrs. Acorn their mom is getting worried... along comes Mr. Squirrel who offers to go in search of them. Off he goes but doesn't realize little Hazel is hiding in his tail. He searches for the boys but has to stop and ddrop off hazel on toadstool as she is too dizzy to continue. He tells her to stay there, but she goes to help a lizard who is upset that 2 gnomes are in the hollow tree he cleaned for his friend mr. hedgehog. So she goes to check it out and it turns out to be Pip and Woody disguised as gnomes because of a troll who chased after them. The 3 of them decide to go home on a raft they built and they leave mr. lizard. On the way down the river they come upon the 3 chestnut boys who help them repair the raft after they accidentally damaged it. In the meantime Mr. squirrel finds woody, hazel and little pip and scolds them and takes them home. Mrs. acorn decides to throw a party for them even though mrs. hazelnut wonders if that is such a good idea since the children have been so naughty. The children are very sorry to have disappeared and Mrs. acorn lets them know she is thankful they are home. Mr. acorn arrives home with his 5 beetles in time for the party as they had been out planting oak trees. The party was fun with elves, bumble bees,mrs. fir, fieldmice and glow worms attending as well. Truly a magical tale!

ELSA BESKOW -A GENTLE STORY TELLER!
Elsa Beskow's stories are over a half a century old.They are gentle and beautiful.Woody, Hazel and Little Pip are little forest children, belonging to the Acorn family.The children go on an unexpected adventure when they are swept up by an autumn wind."Swirling and whirling" through the air on a leaf they are greeted by gnomes, a troll, a lizard and three little Chestnut boys.Nature is the essence of this story, as it is in many of Elsa's stories.This tale sparks the imagination of children and adult minds alike.I could sing praises Elsa and her stories for days on end.They are true classics.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Social Issues - Friendship    3. Fiction    4. Picture books   

Reviews (2)

Great read aloud!
As a 6th grade teacher whose students love picture books (though they wouldn't admit it), this is a great read aloud.The kids laughed and laughed and couldn't wait to create their own "bad ideas".Great choice for any age!

Everyone has Bad Ideas
I love this book!It reminds me of growing up in a house with three little brothers.Every family has their own memories of bad ideas.Laura Huliska-Beith tells of hers with flair and creativity.The illustrations are colorful and rich in texture.There is something new to laugh about every time I read it.I'm buying a copy for each of my brothers! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Humor / Jokes    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Conduct of life    5. Human behavior    6. Humor    7. Humor - General    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Social Issues - Manners & Etiquette    10. Humour & jokes    11. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories    12. Picture books   

Reviews (7)

extremely useful!
extremely useful for those who have Chinese as their mother language and have instrests in learning English, espcially for those Chinese who just arrive Ameria. you can find almost all the nouns in English you may meet during daily life. this book will expediate your English learning process.

Good but limited
This is an easy to use picture dictionary organized around themes, such as homes, food, feelings, etc. The illustrations are clear and colorful. There are two big drawbacks, however, the first and biggest being that there is no pinyin used, so a Westerner has no idea whatsoever about how to pronounce the Chinese word, although phonetic spellings for the English words are listed in the index. The second is that the "old style" characters are used, not the simplified versions. This book is definitely for Chinese students learning English but of very limited use for English speakers wanting to learn Chinese. As an ESL teacher in China recently, I found I only used this book as a last resort, when explanations of various words proved impossible, and once when I was teaching a lesson on homes. This book is a useful supplement, but I'm going to try to find something with pinyin when I return to China to teach again.

NOT for people trying to learn Chinese
I am trying to learn Chinese, and in seeing my toddler learn English by repeatedly looking at picturebooks, I thought a picture dictionary in Chinese would be a good way to learn every day objects in Chinese.Unfortunately, this book has the English word and the Chinese IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.NO pinyin, no bopomofo pronounciation.For the non-Chinese reader, you'll have to look up every single word.So, though this book may be good for Chinese students learning English, it is of limited usefulness to students learning Chinese.Frankly, I think this is an extremely stupid mistake by the publishers of this book.The editors should be flogged! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Chinese    3. Chinese Language    4. Dictionaries    5. English language    6. Foreign Language Study    7. Foreign Language Study - General    8. Picture dictionaries, English    9. Bilingual dictionaries    10. ELT dictionaries & reference    11. English    12. English Language Learning (ESL) | Picture Dictionary Programs | Oxford Picture Dictionary Program    13. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language   

Reviews (15)

Great Book
Bought this book for my kids who are ages six and seven.Good mix of hard to find and easier to find items.We also bought I spy books for other kids that we know and they were hooked.Makes a nice gift.

I Spy is a terrific series.
My husband and I have more fun with these books whether it's with our grandson or our friends.We really get into it and found that it helps our eye coordination and our memory.I would highly recommend this to anyone at any age!

Truly a great learning book!
I find these books great mind stretchers, even for us older folks.This book especially is a learning tool because there is a page with all the letters of the alphabet surrounded by little objects that start with each letter.Another page groups things by category with overlapping categories.Really well done. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - Hidden Picture    2. Children's 4-8 - Games / Gamebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Games & Activities - Puzzles    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Picture puzzles    9. Puzzles   

Editorial Review

David, the out-of-control monster-child from David Shannon's Caldecott Honor Book Read more

Reviews (38)

Super Cute!!
David goes to school was such a great book. Not much text but the pictures are wonderful. I bought this book last night for my almost 4 year old who just started preschool. I wanted him to understand that raising your hand to speak and keeping you hands to yourself is very important. On the way to school this morning he mentioned he would NOT be acting like David!! We Highly recommend this book!
David Goes to School
I bought this book for my four year old grandson who will start preschool this year.It's a wonderful book for introducing our toddlers to school.Ben loves this whole series and all of David's antics.Each book in the series is teaching a lesson to our young ones.Your child/grandchild will enjoy it as much as my Ben.

Horrible Awful peice of trash
If there was a rating of O I would have chosen that. This book is just plain awful. Anyone putting this in the hands of a child will certainly have no right to complain when thier kid starts acting like this creepy David. If you laugh at this book, and think what this brat is doing is cute, then you can expect your child to start exhibiting the behavior also, and won't he be suprised when you reprimand him for behaving just like this kid, but when reading it you laughed and thought it was oh so cute. Confusing for your kid dont you think?
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Subjects:  1. Behavior    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Human behavior    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. School & Education    10. School stories    11. Schools    12. Short Stories    13. Early learning / early learning concepts    14. Juvenile Fiction / General    15. Picture books   

Reviews (44)

mytoyfox
I'm gathering together several children's book for my daughter's baby shower. This book is large and the illustrations are beautiful....even more so than I expected, well worth ordering. I'm glad I chose this book over some of the other fairy tale books I could have ordered. I think I may order another one as I've recently learned there will be another grandchild coming along.

worst fairy tale book I've seen
The book is super-barbie-girly, both in terms of illustrations and the texts. Every single story reads silly, simplistic, dry and boring. The stories are basically the same familiar old good fairy tales, but somehow the details are altered to make them "morally correct," and, as sideeffects, become very silly girlish.
An Absolute Treasure
I was reading through the reviews, and so many of us say how our childhood has been touched by this book.I have so many memories of reading this book and admiring the beautiful pictures with my mother.I still have my original copy, although the cover is long gone and the first several stories have fallen out.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Classics    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Anthologies    5. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Astronauts    3. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. Hedgehogs    8. Humorous Stories    9. Janitors    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Science & Technology - Astronomy/Space    13. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    14. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (18)

A Real Family Book!
Finally a book about real families! I teach preschool, two year olds in fact, and Todd Parr is one of their favorite authors.We read all of his books.I was particularly moved by The Family Book because it deals with real families.From single parents, to two moms and two dads.It addresses things like how close some families live to one another to how very far away they live and how some families are the same color or adopt children.It is all done in the cutest pictures.I enjoy all of Todd Parr's books.The Okay Book and Do's and Don'ts are among my favorite.And now The Family Book leads the way!And whether you agree with the description of what a family is or not, they are factual description that apply to many people and children will at some point come across a friend who has two moms or has a single parent.It's a nice way to open the eyes of everyone!

We love Todd at our house!
With a diverse family it is so great to see Todd Parr's work so that my young daughter can see that there are many kinds of families and people. She loves the words and the art work. I love laughing with her during the silly parts of Todd's books.

My kindergarten class loves this book!
I thought I would take a minute to write that my kindergarten class absolutely LOVES Todd Parr books... ALL of them, and so do I.Forget the people who can't acknowledge that some families have two moms and two dads.It's a FACT.Just because some people are scared of that fact, doesn't mean it should be left out of good children's literature.It's like saying, "I don't like the color orange, so I'm going to pretend it doesn't exist."That's just silly.:)I almost always have a student who comes from a same-sex family, and when we study families and read this book, the whole class celebrates those kids when we get to that page.Imagine what would have happened if Todd Parr decided not to include that page in his book because he was afraid of the reaction.Well, I probably wouldn't have read it to my kids because it doesn't acknowledge ALL types of families.So, thumbs up to him! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Family    5. Family - General    6. Fiction    7. Individuality    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Social Issues - Values    11. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Editorial Review

To say that this particular apple tree is a "giving tree" is an understatement. In Shel Silverstein's popular tale of few words and simple line drawings, a tree starts out as a leafy playground, shade provider, and apple bearer for a rambunctious little boy. Making the boy happy makes the tree happy, but with time it becomes more challenging for the generous tree to meet his needs. When he asks for money, she suggests that he sell her apples. When he asks for a house, she offers her branches for lumber. When the boy is old, too old and sad to play in the tree, he asks the tree for a boat. She suggests that he cut her down to a stump so he can craft a boat out of her trunk. He unthinkingly does it. At this point in the story, the double-page spread shows a pathetic solitary stump, poignantly cut down to the heart the boy once carved into the tree as a child that said "M.E. + T." "And then the tree was happy... but not really." When there's nothing left of her, the boy returns again as an old man, needing a quiet place to sit and rest. The stump offers up her services, and he sits on it. "And the tree was happy." While the message of this book is unclear (Take and take and take?Give and give and give? Complete self-sacrifice is good? Complete self-sacrifice is infinitely sad?), Silverstein has perhaps deliberately left the book open to interpretation. (All ages) Read more

Reviews (472)

A Mother's Love
Discriminating readers may find the boy to be quite selfish. Only a mother could love so unconditionally. For the permanent personal collection for the sensitive.A nice gift.

The Real World!
I have loved this book since I was a child and now as I am getting older and my friends and family are having children, I give this book as a present to the new generation being born.Although, for some reason there are reviews that think this book is "horrifying", I think it is a wonderful story about the reality of the world.Sometimes in life you have to give something of yourself even though you know it won't be appreciated.If the only reason why you give is for people to be thankful this would be a very sad world and for some reason my generation is raising children that aren't held accountable and over protected from the reality of the world.Thus, leaving them unprepared to survive in life.This book made an impact on me as a child and I hope it makes an impact on many others in the future.

Love this book since i was a kid
This book for some reason draws real emotion from the reader.Almost like the song Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin.It's about a boy and a tree, and the unconditional love that the tree has for the boy (like parents have for their kids).
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Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Generosity    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Nature & the Natural World - General    9. Silverstein, Shel    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Social Issues - Values    12. Trees    13. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (4)

Ella Sets the Stage
Once again the D'Amico's have made it easy for me to choose gifts for all the little ones in my family!Ella Sets the Stage is a wonderful tale, beautifully told and illustrated and addresses the desire we all have to discover our special talent.It's easy to see why Ella has become a favorite with all of the children I enjoy reading to.

A Round of Applause!
Carmela and Steve have done another outstanding job with "Ella Sets the Stage"!The message is timeless, and one every child wants to hear - we all have special talents to celebrate!The illustrations are charming with just enough detail to keep you interested but not be too cluttered.Lola the monkey is a fun new character in the book that kids will enjoy.My great niece loves Ella and I'm excited to give her this new book for Christmas!
Cute but...
not quite as cute as the first two.The story seemed a little more contrived, especially the part where she needs to use her "lucky hat" (a theme running through all the books).The illustrations are top-notch though! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - Elephants    3. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Elephants    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Performing Arts - General    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. School & Education    12. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    13. Talent shows    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance   

Subjects:  1. Autumn    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Concepts - Time    6. Crafts & Hobbies - General    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Nature & the Natural World - Seasons    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Weather