Editorial Review

Until Chrysanthemum started kindergarten, she believed her parents when they said her namewas perfect. But on the first day of school, Chrysanthemum begins to suspect that her name is far less thanperfect, especially when her class dissolves into giggles upon hearing her name read aloud. That evening,Chrysanthemum's parents try to piece her self-esteem back together again with comfort food and a nightfilled "with hugs, kisses, and Parcheesi." But the next day Victoria, a particularly observant and mean-spirited classmate, announces that Chrysanthemum's name takes up 13 letters. "That's half the letters in thealphabet!" she adds. Chrysanthemum wilts. Pretty soon the girls are making playground threats to "pluck" Chrysanthemum and "smell her."Read more

Reviews (46)

YOU REALLY CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE
What a wonderful, sensitive and timely book.School is hard for kids.It is harder for some than others, but all children go through some sort of ordeal similar to our little heroine mouse.If not, then they are the kids that are dishing out the grief and need the lesson this book teaches even more than the child that is taking all the teasing.Eather way, this is a good work, excellent to read to the class as a whole or excellent to read with your child one on one.The illustrations are great and very much go with the text.This is one of my favorites, but more importantly, it seems to be the favorite of many of the children at the school.Recommend this one highly.

A great way to start a new school year
This story is sweet and a great way to start off a new school year talking about names of our new friends and classmates.Story lends itself to discussions about feelings, friendships, as well as activities in math and language.

Mercedes
My daughter Mercedes had a very similar experience. She loved her name until children started teasing her about having a "car" for a name. She was also frequently disturbed by the fact that she could never find anything with her name printed on it. This story helped her remember how special her name is. Just like her! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Names, Personal    6. School & Education    7. Schools    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Social Issues - New Experience    10. Social Issues - Peer Pressure    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

Editorial Review

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, 11-year-old Parvana has rarely been outdoors. Barred from attending school, shopping at the market, or even playing in the streets of Kabul, the heroine of Deborah Ellis's engrossing children's novel Read more

Reviews (55)

Good book about real life
This book is a very good book that puts you inside of 11 year old Parvana's shoes. It depicts the horrors of life under the taliban rule well. While it is grusome, the auther shows the horrors without too much detail, so it is safe for younger readers, though i wound not recemend it to anyone younger than 10. You see life in this war torn land from the eyes of a girl worring about her father in jail, while forced to hide her true identity so her family can survive.
Best educational book ever
this book was my chosen summer reading book.I thought that it was going to be realy bad but it wasn't it ended up realy good.I read it in three days it was sogood.The book is about Parvana the 2nd eldest in a family of 6.Her Parents are educated very wellHer mother is an author and her father taught history in a high school.But that was before the Taliban took over Afghanistan and now women are not allowed to go out of their house,So parvana's Father writes and reads letters for the family to make moeny however because of her fathers bad leg she has to go walk with him.until he gets arested.then Parvana has to dress up like a boy and cntinue her father's work until he gets out of prison.Then she meets an old school mate who is a girl and is doing the same thing she is.So they decide to go into buesiness together.The her sister got a letter saying that an old neighbor would like to marryher but the family would have to travel.Parvana has to stay back with a friend.

A Story With A Lot Of Feelings
This book is a really good that it could make you feel something. It made me feel sad and some parts ade me cry.One reason you should buy this book because this book is something ture and something that really happen. Also you should buy this book because it gives you complete information. - A.T. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Disguise    5. Fiction    6. Girls & Women    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. People & Places - Asia    9. Sex role    10. Social Issues - Violence    11. Social Situations - Violence    12. Women's rights    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship    14. Juvenile Fiction / Girls & Women   

Reviews (85)

My kid's love "Little House" books
I have 5 childern and do not get to read aloud the quanity of books I would like to, so we invest in audio.They can be enjoyed time and time again.My kids play the "Laura" books we own over and over. Great for long car trips or when layed up with illness too.

The story conitnues...
Little House On The Prairie is a longer read than Little House In The Big Woods and deals more with action and adventture.While the first book seemed to be a guide book on survival in the wild this book is more of a tale with Indians, bush fires and other dangers.Living on the prairie is not the same as living in the big woods, so we do learn some new things about prioneer life and the problems the family faced.In same ways the second book is superior to the first.
Illustration of Life on the Frontier
After the Civil War, the Wilder family has decided to make a big move - join the migration to the frontier, from the little cabin in the woods of Wisconsin. The main character and author, Laura, tells about the difficulties and advantages of life on the praire. Even though the journey there is difficult, and, at time, tragic, the family is able to pull through, and arive in the praire of Kansas to make their new life and create their new adventures.
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Subjects:  1. 1867-1957    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Classics    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Frontier and pioneer life    9. Great Plains    10. Historical - United States - 19th Century    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Social Issues - New Experience    13. Wilder, Laura Ingalls,    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 19th Century    15. Wilder, Laura Ingalls   

Reviews (8)

The MOST INVALUABLE book for a child facing an IMPENDING death
This book is an absolute must have for anyone with a child who is about to face the loss of someone special and close -- due to an illness, accident, or age, -- Children have such difficulty expressing their emotions because in times of such sorrow and anxiety, they are experiencing things they have NEVER felt before. They are confused, distraught, fearful, and so terribly hurt - and when all the adults around them are suffering too -- it makes it all the harder to discuss such delicate and sensitive things -- we want to be strong for them, we don't want our angst to invoke their own.....
For you or your child to Write /draw out your feelings
I purchased this book for my daughter and now also plan to purchase it for my niece and nephew. After reading the other reviews I knew I needed to get this book and set it aside for when one or both of her grandparents pass away.
5 Stars
Art therapy is a wonderful way to let children release their emotions.Good ideas, great presentation.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children and death    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Death    4. Death / Grief / Consolation    5. Death, Grief, Bereavement    6. Grief    7. Inspirational - General    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Loss (Psychology)    10. Social Issues - Special Needs    11. Family & Relationships / Death, Grief, Bereavement    12. Family & relations    13. Personal awareness: family, relationship & social issues   

Reviews (10)

Helping parents raise an awkward but important issue with their young children
In my experience, young children are profoundly intuitive. That is to say, they `know' some things by means other than personal experience or having been instructed or shown.
This Book Has Just the Right Touch
An excellent, pro-active tool to help families empower themselves regarding child molestation.The text is gentle and direct and the illustrations are flowing and visually soothing.This book has the right touch of intelligence, compassion and clarity that is needed to discuss this very serious topic.
an important book!
Endorsed by many child abuse prevention programs and counselors, this is the perfect tool for parents to teach children about inappropriate touching. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child sexual abuse    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Readers - Beginner    7. Social Issues - Physical & Emotional Abuse    8. Social Issues - Sexual Abuse    9. Early learning / early learning concepts    10. Fiction dealing with social issues    11. Peer group pressure    12. Sexual abuse   

Editorial Review

Lois Lowry's magnificent novel of the distant future, Read more

Reviews (253)

It Completes
When I first reviewed The Giver years ago, I loved it.Until I got to the end.It felt woefully incomplete.It wasn't simply that the reader was required to imagine possibilities.It felt like the author hadn't finished showing us her theme.Now she has with this sequel, and I only wish I could go back to increase the stars on The Giver, for the sequel has pulled up that book as well.
Gathering Blue
Kira is a child that is left with no family.Her mother now gone and taken to the field, with nowhere to live and no one to take care of her.Many people wouldn't mind if Kira and her twisted leg were left in the field to die. People thought that she was no good and couldn't do anything for the community.One of the women of the community had taken her land and made it into a place for their small children.These same women didn't agree that Kira should stay; she had gone to the Council of Guardians with the situation.
Gathering Blue, the best of Lois Lowry
The book Gathering Blue is about a crippled girl named Kira. After her mother dies from sickness, Kira is left an orphan. Most of the town is more than happy to get ridof her, especially Vandara. In an angry attempt o kill Kira, she reminds them that "If there is any death, the causer of death must die." She is brought to trail with Vandara as her accuser. Vandara's charges against Kira are that she is worthless, eats a lot yet she doesn't earn her food. Kira is speechless and has no idea how she is going to defend herself. It doesn't matter because the Council of Elders has plans for her. Kira's mother was an talented seamstress and Kira is even better. She has been asked to repair the Singer's robe and in time, create her own section of work onto the robe. Her encounters with people who know the real truth changes her life forever. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Orphans    8. People with disabilities    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Science fiction    11. Social Issues - Special Needs    12. Social Situations - Special Needs    13. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic    14. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (1)

INCANTATION
The burning of Jewish books in the town square is the first portent that life for sixteen-year-old Estrella is going to change.Set in Spain during the Middle Ages, the story is about secrets and self-knowledge.Estrella's family are Conversos, who practice Judaism in secret at home and in a church where all of the congregation plus the priest are like themselves.As the persecution of Jews draws ever closer to Estrella's own family, she is told about their secret, given a ring to buy herself safe passage to Amsterdam if need be, and taught the rudiments of kabbalah by her learned grandfather.This unlikely act is undoubtedly a gesture toward the current popularity of kabbalah and it does little to mar the credibility of the plot, consisting only of a few "kabbalistic" customs like wearing a red thread and learning the names of the ten gates of Paradise.More central to the story is Estrella/Esther's development from a carefree girl to a young woman fated to pass on her family's heritage virtually alone. As in other of Hoffman's books, nature and magic are intertwined.Estrella's mother is a dyer and a healer; her grandfather is a surgeon and a scholar.The witchcraft of which they are accused is practical magic, the kind that works not through the supernatural but through knowledge heightened by insight.Throughout the book, Estrella's mother teaches her about the natural world and how humans use it for good or evil. At the conclusion, after some horrific scenes of torture and burnings, she flees, having learned that "a Jew can never be attached to a place...We cannot have roots in the earth of any country, only in the garden that we carry inside us."This is a somber message for the teens of today and it is offset by other conflicts that they may find more appealing: the true nature of a false friend, and rivalry over a boy friend.Admirers of Alice Hoffman will enjoy her evocative writing style but Incantation is one of her lesser works.For teens and adults.Reviewed by Linda R. Silver ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Fiction    4. Girls & Women    5. Historical - Europe    6. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    7. Identity    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    10. Marranos    11. Prejudices    12. Religious - General    13. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    14. Juvenile Fiction / Girls & Women   

Reviews (60)

should be part of every pet-loving child's and adult's library
this book really helped me get over the loss of my beloved pet fish, Mr. Furious. Well, not "get over"- those who've loved animals know there is no "getting over" the loss of a dearly departed pet. There is only solace in the good memories we have of them. I enjoyed this lovely book. It gave a very warm and hopeful portrait of the after life. I intend to buy a copy for myself and for my young niece who recently lost her favorite kitty. Sylvia is a terrific author!

Great book for children with loss of pet
This book is great if you have children who has lost a pet or a loved one that has a hard time coping with a loss of their pet. They do a wonderful job easing the pain and explain that our pets will also be on the other side for us.The loss of our pets are similar to a loss of a person, we interact with each on a daily basis.If any of you have pets then you know each one has their own personality and are the closest thing to angels.They protect us and always have unconditional love for us. The book is full of drawing and pictures for children.

This book answers a lot of questions!
I know this book will help people who have lost pets they loved dearly.As it has helped me very much!It also eases your mind on common questions about heaven and what to expect.I read it often and have even bought one for a friend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Children's 9-12 - New Age    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Future life    7. Human-animal communication    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Social Issues - Death & Dying    11. Social Situations - Death & Dying    12. Spiritualism    13. Animals    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Death & Dying    15. Suicide, death & bereavement   

Reviews (17)

Great Way to Prepare an Older Sibling!
I bought this book for a friend that's pregnant and has a little boy that will be 3 when new baby comes.I looked thru the book when I got it and loved the idea of no words.This way they can fit their wording into their lifestyle that best fits them.They can put in their own names and family names and all with this book along with gender.I love the whole book especially the end where the parents along with the bigger sibling tuck the baby into bed.Then, the parents have their night time reading with the bigger sibling who can stay up later!In my house, that is definitely how it works!!It makes my 4 year old feel big and prevents jealousy!

I love this book!
And so does my two-year old son!It shows all the things that will happen with the baby and his big brother (my chosen genders).It even shows mom nursing which is a very big part of newborn life and I'm glad the author addresses it!And dad changes diapers too.I really like both of the books in this series and we got them both.They are favorites in this house!

My 17 month-old loves this book, and so do I
My daughter particularly enjoys looking at books with pictures but no words right now: I tell the story and we discuss the pictures.She brings me this book and says, "Baby!"She really enjoys pointing to the baby and pointing out other objects in each picture (bunny, ball, snake doll, frog doll, bathtub, duck, etc.)
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Subjects:  1. Babies    2. Brothers and sisters    3. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    4. Children: Babies & Toddlers    5. Family - New Baby    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Stories without words    9. Babies & children    10. Board books    11. Brothers & sisters    12. First experiences   

Editorial Review

It is 1924, and a small Vermont town finds itself under siege--by the KuKlux Klan. Using free verse, Newbery Medal-winning author Karen Hesse (

Reviews (97)

Witness by Karen Hesse
The white-hooded knights of the fiery cross have been the subject of a lot of research, some focusing on the influence of religion, socialism, and Christian Socialism in the group and in government. Much of the work expresses worries of a future filled with religious persecution and totalitarianism. Those worries have relevance to the enormous size and scope of government in the USA and its growing police state.
A good read
This is a really good book.As I was reading this book I felt as if I was in the Vermont town. It showed me that not everyone agreed with the ku klux klan and that they sometimes they had to had to join even though they really didn't agree.

A lyrical book with much depth = this one!
While the Ku-Klux-Klan swarmed around the small town in Vermont in 1924, Leonora Sutter and Esther Hirsh and their families were focusing on staying alive. Witness is a book that puts the lives of these two girls as well as the nine other characters in the book into perspective. Leonora Sutter and her family are African Americans and Esther and her father are Jewish. These two characters have the greatest impact on the perspective of those against the Klan at that time. The book puts across a point of view from the different characters that you wouldn't usually think of. It is a very well written book and has many memorable characteristics to it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Ku Klux Klan    6. Prejudices    7. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    8. Vermont    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (15)

Great book for kids!
This is a fabulous book on autism acceptance.This is great for teachers or parents that want their kids to better understand someone that is "different" than the others.It is well written and really presents a creative way of introducing Autism and other spectrum disorders to kids.

Must have.
I purchased this book after reading the reviews.Our seven year old son is on the Autism Spectrum and his daycare friends had lots of questions about his behaviors and his limited language skills.I brought this book in for the teacher to read.The comment from the teacher was "They got it."

The Best book for Kids to Understand
I bought this book for my sons K-1 class. The book explains what autism is on a level for young children to understand and the kids loved the coloring aspect of it. His teacher loved the adult explainations of each page. My 8 year old borrowed the book to read to his 2nd grade class so that they could understand his brother! I read this book to my Introdution to Early Childhood class and my teacher agreed, this book should be purchased. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone whose child is going into a different learning environment. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - Coloring Books    2. Activity Books - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Social Issues - Friendship    7. Social Issues - Special Needs    8. Autism    9. Autism in children    10. Autistic children    11. Children's Books/Ages 4/8 Nonfiction    12. Friendship    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Activity Books    14. Juvenile Nonfiction/Social Issues - Friendship    15. Juvenile Nonfiction/Social Issues - Special Needs    16. Topical/Mentally Challenged   

Reviews (2)

Outstanding book for both parent & child to read.
This book should be a requirement in every home.It is wriiten for a teen but shoul dbe read by both parent and child.The concept of the 40 assets is fundamentally simple.The book defines the assets and then gives adviceon how the adolescent, parent(s), community,school, and congregation canhelp to ensure that a child is brought up with all of the assets they needto be a successful person. It has examples of the successes thatcommunities across the country have had setting the concepts of the assetsinto into motion.The excellence of the book is reinforced by a lecture Iattended by Dr. Benson 2 months ago.The concept of the developmentalassets being the framework for a successful, well-rounded person makesperfect sense.It should be adopted as a National standard.

A wonderful book for teens and their parents!
We like the book so much that we are adopting the asset building concepts featured!Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Conduct of life    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Life skills    7. Life skills guides    8. Social Issues - General    9. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    10. Social Issues - Values & Virtues    11. Teenagers    12. United States    13. Adolescent children    14. Coping with personal problems    15. Self-Help & Practical Interests    16. Sociology & social issues   

Reviews (1)

A Kids book about War
This is the most unusual book that I have ever bought for my children!And perhaps the most important!If you are concerned about war and what you can do to help your children understand what creates it then get this book.You will thank Dr. Webster-Doyle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. General    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Militarism    8. Military socialization    9. Peace    10. Social Issues - Violence    11. War    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Violence   

Editorial Review

In this beautiful picture book, winner of the 2005 Caldecott Medal, Kevin Henkes, captures the sweet, sometimes slapstick struggle of Kitten, who sees her first full moon and thinks it's a bowl of milk in the sky.Read more

Reviews (42)

Gorgeous and Charming
A black-and-white picture book that is more gorgeous than any color book I've seen in a long time. Henkes' kitten is charming and beautifully drawn; the text is simple enough for a child to memorize but as rhythmic and elegant as haiku. A great book to read aloud at bedtime. Deserves the Caldicott medal fifty times over. My two-year-old niece was captivated by the bold lines of the illustrations; my four-year-old nieces loved the simple but clever story about the kitten who longs for that little bowl of milk waiting for her in the sky - the full moon.

Disappointed
I'd read good reviews about this book, but I found it very
Enchanting
This is a wonderful gift for young children. Actually cat lovers of all ages will love this book. It's beautifully illustrated and the story is endearing. My niece insisted on carrying this book with her everywhere for several days, and my nephew liked it too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - Cats    3. Cats    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Preschool    6. Fiction    7. Henkes, Kevin    8. Humorous Stories    9. Infancy    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Moon    12. Social Issues - New Experience    13. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Editorial Review

This book, the latest in the hugely popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series, contains stories,poems, and cartoons relating to the specific troubles that traumatize teenagers everywhere. There are plentyof stories about dating ("HE KISSED MY TEETH!"), friendships (don't gossip), and school.But Read more

Reviews (468)

This book was so moving.
I read it as a teenager- and it moved me.
Chicken Soup for everyone!
This book was very inspiring, and informative on many matters in the life of teens. I thought this book was great and not only had fun reading it, but I also learned from it. I learned mistakes of other people, and many great lessons of life. While some stories were sad, others were cute, and happy. There are a wide variety of different stories that all contribute to the overall greatness of the book!

Is Chicken Soup Good for the Soul?
Thoughout the past couple weeks I've read Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul.This book contains tons of stories from all different authors.There is sectuions on topics such as friendships, family, love, and loss.In each section there are muiltiple stories about people who have dealt with the most extremes in these areas.
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Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Religion    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Conduct of life    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Religion - Inspirational    7. Social Issues - Adolescence    8. Teenagers    9. Adolescent children    10. Family & Relationships / Adolescence    11. Mind, body, spirit: thought & practice    12. Popular psychology   

Reviews (10)

DISAPPOINTED!!
VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE BOOK.NOT ENOUGH DETAIL FOR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PARTS OF THEIR BODY CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT
A Grandmother's Review
This book discusses a difficult subject in a kid-friendly manner. We want to arm our children with information, without making them distrustful of all people. The author and illustrator have presented a strong subject in a format that is informative, friendly, and reassuring.I highly recommend YOUR BODY BELONGS TO YOU.

Your Body Belongs to You
I was looking for a book to help me explain to my children ages 3 and 5 that their body is theirs and they are the only ones who can touch their private parts. Also, that they have the right to refuse any kind of touch that makes them uncomfortable and this book illustrated this concept very well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child sexual abuse    2. Children and strangers    3. Children's 4-8 - Psychology    4. Children: Preschool    5. Concepts - General    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Psychology    9. Social Situations - Physical & Emotional Abuse   

Editorial Review

Maniac Magee is a folk story about a boy, a very excitable boy. One that can outrun dogs, hit a home run off the best pitcher in the neighborhood, tie a knot no one can undo. "Kid's gotta be a maniac," is what the folks in Two Mills say. It's also the story of how this boy, Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee, confronts racism in a small town, tries to find a home where there is none and attempts to soothe tensions between rival factions on the tough side of town. Presented as a folk tale, it's th