Schoolhouse Rock! (Special 30th Anniversary Edition)
Average Customer Review:
DVD (27 August, 2002)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $22.49
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Editorial Review

It's a good bet that any American kid growing up in the '70s or '80s learned some elementary lesson from the seminal musical series Schoolhouse Rock!. Airing from 1973 to 1984 (and often revived), the ABC Saturday morning shorts effortlessly introduced kids to grammar, science, multiplication, money, and American history--three minutes at a time. In one smart, comprehensive 2-disc set, all 46 songs and plenty of extras are collected. The four creators developed the series slowly, a welcome diversion from their advertising agency jobs, and ended up taking home four Emmys over the years. The background material includes 10 audio commentaries and a making-of feature for the new song, "I'm Gonna Send Your Vote to College." The DVD subtitle option is a great bonus for those who need to know every word from such favorites as "Three Is a Magic Number," "Interjections," "I'm Just a Bill," and "Conjunction Junction." (Ages 3 and older) --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Features

• Animated
• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby

Reviews (108)

nostalgic, and still effective, edutainment
This material does seem a bit dated, so it's easy to forget that this was a radical idea when it first came out -- learning can be fun! It still is, thanks to the reissue of the material found on this two-disc set. Shortly after receiving a complimentary copy, my husband was singing along to old favorites and our toddler was having a grand old time learning the songs. All original 46 songs from the show are here, as well as the brand new "I'm Gonna Send Your Vote to College", about the electoral college, and a lost song, "The Weather Show". There are also three songs with the series' only continuing characters, Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips.

You can view a full selection list or see items grouped into categories of Grammar Rock, Science Rock, Multiplication Rock, America Rock or Money Rock, and a jukebox capability allows you to make playlists of songs to be played in order or on shuffle. There's a short trivia game with quizzes and word scrambles, puzzles, four music videos (by the Lemonheads and others) singing SHR songs to the SHR video, a featurette about the show's Emmy wins, a Nike commercial using a SHR song, and fun, interesting commentary by several of the SHR team. This dvd version is terrific, demonstrating that the Schoolhouse Rock team is still just as dedicated to quality programming and education as it ever was. The accompanying booklet is packed with color and information -- including the words to eleven songs.

Very nicely done and highly recommended, not only for nostalgic value, but for its continuing ability to inform and entertain.

Schoolhouse Rock totally rocks!
I'd been waiting to see if I'd get this for my birthday, but I couldn't wait anymore. I bought it today and had to pop it in. These great animated shorts helped kids learn multiplication, science, grammar, american history and money. You want an explanation of our national debt? - watch Tyrannosaurus Debt :-).

The first DVD has all the original shorts categorized by groups, you can play them by group, or play them all in order or play them all or shuffle. If you choose a particular group, you can pick the ones you want to play in the playlist or select the Play All button. I was having a blast seeing remembering how many of these I could still sing.

The 2nd DVD is the Extra Credit portion of the set. You can watch with Captions or Audio Commentary. I really had fun with the "Earn Your Diploma" Trivia and the Arrange A Schoolhouse Rock song. The Earn Your Diploma gives you a set of questions to answer to each group (Science, Money, etc). When you get them all right, you get a clue which when you solve all the groups you can then solve the Master Jumble to become a Schoolhouse Rock Graduate. The Arrange A Schoolhouse Rock Song has 3 of the Schoolhouse rock songs mixed up and its up to you to get the lyrics in order. When you get them right, the song clip will play. The music videos section was funny - the first 3 had the original animated shorts but the music/voices were redone by Better Than Ezra ("Conjunction Junction"), Lemonheads("My Hero Zero") and Deluxe Folk Implosion("I'm Just A Bill"). I didn't care for the last one by Goodness ("Electricity, Electricity"). That was just a music video but that one doesn't take away from the rest of the DVD.

I saw one review here getting a little too deep in reviewing the american group. I say, don't worry about it - these were meant to help kids learn and I can say they definitely did me good. This collection was well done and it's worth the price :-)

School House Rock
I learned more from this as a kid than in school. To expensive on Amazon, I got it cheaper at my local Vons grocery store. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JKTY
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Bob Books First! Level A, Set 1
by Bobby Lynn Maslen John R. Maslen
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 2000)
list price: $16.95 -- our price: $11.86
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Features

• Box set

Reviews (47)

My Four Year Old is Reading
As a former educator, I tend to stress educational development with my four year old. I recently began teaching him the sounds of his letters. A co-worker told me about the Bob Books. My son was able to read the first two books within 1 week. I was truly impressed with the books. They are excellent for beginning readers. My son is now confident in his ability to learn. The books made it easy for him to learn how to put sounds together to form words.

5 star or 1 star -- depends on who you buy it for
I bought these books for my four year old when he first started learning to read. Discovered that he was too advanced to enjoy them. They were a flop after the first three days.

Then I pulled them out to use with my three year old. She loves them. She is just learning the sounds and how to sound out words. It gives her a great sense of pride to be able to read a whole book.

The stories are short and boring. Not worth reading to a child. The pictures are uninspiring. Nothing to spur a child on to great heights of imagination.

However, for a child on the verge of reading, these books can server as a step ladder to success. Each small book (more like a pamphlet really) has a page where the new sounds are highlighted. (A couple of new sounds introduced with each book in the set). Then there are pages with simple line drawings and short sentences like "Sam sat on the mat."

Boring to anyone who knows how to read - but very satisfying to a little girl who is sounding words out by herself for the first time. Plus, the books are short enough that she doesn't find it a strain to go through a whole book in one sitting. Repetition of words and sounds allows her to catch on and improve by the end of the book.

I dare say that using the Bob books, my daughter will be reading well before she turns four. But it takes something this easy, this short, and this repetitive to do that.

Bob Books are either totally cool or else a total waste of money. Just depends on who you are buying them for.

The BEST beginner books I've found!!
I am a parent of two boys - ages 4 and 5. I've recently started teaching them how to read and have been looking for good beginner books. These are the best I have found. They are simple and follow the simple words. I've bought other preschool/kindergarden level first level books, only to found that they are not simple and have to many hard words. These are far better and follow simple phonetic words. I highly recommend!! ... Read more

Isbn: 0439145449
Sales Rank: 1355
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Concepts - Alphabet    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Readers - Beginner   

Leappad
Average Customer Review:
Toy
list price: $49.99
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Editorial Review

This talking book comes with an interactive "magic pen" that works like a hand-held computer mouse pointer. Children can opt to turn the paper pages and listen to the story read with different voices for each character. Or they can interrupt the read-aloud session to play with the magic pen (permanently attached with a wire). They can point the pen tip to any word on a page and hear it pronounced, or touch a picture and hear a sound effect (such as "Strike one!" for the baseball bat). Very similar to the popular Living Books computer games, this 10-by-11-inch book is more portable than a home computer. Stories in this set include Lil's Loose Tooth, Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever, and Winnie the Pooh in A Sweet Good Morning. The set also includes a paper piano keyboard and map and human anatomy games.--Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (366)

Wonderful Tool / Toy
They are a wonderful tool to teach reading, reinforcing the relationship between the word on the page and the sound of the word. They will be used by both my grandsons (one of which is slightly behind in his speech development). I do advise getting some of the other books though.

We bought several of the books, the best ones for language development seem (so far) to be the Richard Scarry, Leap Frog & Pooh books. The Learning Life series doesn't have the phonetic or spelling options (on the 1 book in that series we bought).

Design considerations are good too, as it seems I can replace the "pen" with no more than a phillips screwdriver if it gets damaged by an overzealous child. Overall seems nice & well designed. Wasn't too fond of the "Press the green button" bit, but at least it reminded you every time you change the page if you didn't do it right off. Love the headphone jack - I'd advise getting the Radio Shack earphones that are designed to not go too loud & hurt the kids hearing. Great in the car while driving, or on a long plane ride.

A worthwhile fun and educational toy
General Review:

Leappad is a fun toy and a very good educational program. Our kids (4 and 5 years old - and 6 years old - see "Special Needs" review below) took to it quickly and began mastering its use within minutes and seemed to enjoy using it for about 15 minutes at a time - which is considerable.

The educational books seem to be well developed, require some thought, and establish basic educational concepts while keeping the story interesting.

Durability:

The unit seems well constructed, and we have no durability complaints as listed in other reviews (our son can be particularly rough with toys).

Books:

The books are well established and varied, but still able to hit the major educational themes and concepts.

Negative:

1.....Base Expensive, Books Somewhat Reasonable
I think it is a little too expensive for some people. Let's face it, kids are expensive, and anyone with children is short on money!

The base unit is a bit expensive but seems well made. Also, it is complex enough so that the cost may be a function of the technology and manufacturing. The books seem to be priced right given the quality and the cost of the electronic insert required for the interactive reading.

2.....Availability
We have had some difficulty getting some desired books because they have been on "back order", or "soon to be available".

Special Needs / Handicapped Child Review:

I was a little skeptical about whether my oldest daughter (6 years old) would enjoy the book / unit. She has severe cerebral palsy and while she is exceptionally bright, she dislikes trying to hold pens, pencils, crayons and things of that sort - I think due to her own frustration. Also, she is exceptionally bright and intellectually very far advanced for her age, so many age appropriate books and movies tend to quickly bore her.

However, I was very pleasantly surprised that she could (and would) hold the pointer, could use it to point to the story and quiz elements and kept playing the game (with my physical help).

The book's content was challenging and interesting enough to keep her attention, and to make her do some intellectual work, but was also easy enough for her to physically use so she did not give up.

(This is not meant to be a general "Special Needs Review", but only the Review for "1 Special Needs Child".)

Leap Frog?
My wife and I have been greatly disappointed about this product. It was intended to be a birthday gift for my daughter and it turned out to be a miserable experience of returning this product a total of three times. The first one had malfunctioned on the right side of the pad, the second one was completely nonfunctional and the third worked for a total of five minutes before the right sided portion of the pad became nonfunctional. If this is to be a an educational product then the manufacturer should put more research and developement into their product so that children and parents can be proud to own a quality educational product. ... Read more

Asin: B00003GPTI
Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Alphabet    4. Phonics    5. Reading    6. Talking    7. Electronic    8. Math    9. Counting   

Raising a Thinking Child: Help Your Young Child to Resolve Everyday Conflicts and Get Along with Others
by Myrna Shure
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1996)
list price: $13.00 -- our price: $9.75
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Reviews (6)

The best book I've read teaching parenting skills
I echo what's been written about this book. I kept checking it out of the library over and over until I finally decided just to buy it. My 3 year old has been figuring out a DIFFERENT way to solve problems since we started ICPSing. Beginning with word concepts that can be started at a very early age (same/different, is/is not, good idea/not a good idea) then moving into more complex problem solving is a great approach. This book gives parents, or anyone working with children solid approaches on how to teach problem solving. I highly recommend this book.

Required reading for parents
This book and its successor, Raising a Thinking Preteen, are going to be required reading for prospective parents when I am king of the world. There are so many cliche phrases that we learn from our parents, TV, etc. that are very destructive, and certainly not constructive, and this book teaches parents how to talk to their children to foster many positive traits, including the "hungry mind" attitude.

Love this book! Fewer tantrums, better social interaction!
My six year old son loves to play the ICPS games and has shown a marked improvement in conflict resoution with peers. He now knows the meaning of the word "frustrated" and how to avoid frustration (and how to avoid temper tantrums) by thinking of and evaluating his own alternatives in many cases. Instead of yelling or pushing to get his way, he offers to trade or works out a deal for sharing. It is a pleasure to watch his self-confidence grow and his self-esteem rise. As he grows older, he will be able to think for himself and avoid being controlled by others or becoming controlling himself. This book has been helpful for the whole family. This Mom now has some training in how to model good problem solving skills for the rest of the family, as well. Communication skills in our home have improved greatly at all levels due to Shure's book. It is one of the best parenting/communication books that I have ever read. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671534637
Sales Rank: 99008
Subjects:  1. Child Care    2. Child Development    3. Child rearing    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. Interpersonal conflict in chil    6. Interpersonal conflict in children    7. Parenting - General    8. Problem solving in children    9. Social skills in children    10. Family & Relationships / Child Care   

The Toddlers Busy Book
by Trish Kuffner
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 November, 1999)
list price: $9.95 -- our price: $8.96
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Reviews (23)

A great resource, even if you have plenty of activity books
Trish Kuffner writes, "Toddlerhood is a precious stage in the life of both parent and child, and one which can be enjoyed immensely if you are prepared to slow down a little, sit on the floor a lot, and worry about picking up the toys only when your child goes to bed at night."

The toddler age is the most mystical age for child and parent - you'll never again have such a rich opportunity to entertain your children with ordinary items and activities!

Kuffner gives us an enormous number of ideas for fun things to do with our children. This is an arts and crafts type of book, and she does something I haven't seen in other activity books. She spends a chapter telling you how to organize for a toddler. She also provides a list of items to buy and old household items to save (dried magic markers, for example).

The rest of the book is laid out equally well. There are chapters on rainy day play, water play, kitchen activities, outdoor adventures, how to entertain the kids when you're on errands or travel, nursery rhymes, learning activities, music, arts & crafts, and even birthday/holiday activities. The appendix lists craft recipes, "crazy can" activities, and best toys/books for toddlers. Very comprehensive and varied.

Reading through this book makes me want to do most of the activities myself if my toddler doesn't want to!

My husband tends toward other fun activities rather than arts and crafts when he entertains the kids. But even he flipped through the book and got interested in some of the activities.

a blessing for caretakers of young, energetic children
I was home with a sick toddler and a cranky youngster the day this book arrived, and it saved me. The first page I flipped to had an idea for a simple game that I put together in two minutes and had us all laughing for twenty. Bless you, Trish Kuffner!

This book is nicely organized. A chapter of introduction helps you plan, supply and mentally prepare for those long days when you are running out of ideas. The author writes with humor and affection. Subsequent chapters are organized into Rainy Day Play, Kids in the Kitchen, Water Play, Outdoor Adventures, Out and About, Nursery Rhymes and Finger Plays, Early Learning Fun, Music and Movement, Arts and Crafts, and Holidays. Most activities are simple to set up, generally using about three or four household items. Appendices list recipes for basic paints, doughs, glues and clay; a list of activities for a Crazy Can (a random drawing of activities that aren't messy and need little supervisoin so you can, for example, get dinner ready); best toys for babies and toddlers; best books for same; and resources. The index lists projects (but not materials, which would be helpful in later editions).

The book subtitle, 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1-1/2- to 3-Year-Old Busy, sells the book short, as I've used these ideas successfully with older children as well.

For those of us who are not good at dreaming up artsy fun things-to-do, this book is a wonderful resource. For those of you who *are* good, you will probably still find some fun ideas in this well-organized, friendly guide.

Great book to stash in the glove compartment of the car
We keep THE TODDLER'S BUSY BOOK in the glove compartment of our car in case we find ourselves running out of ideas of things to do when we are visiting out-of-town relatives. It's compact enough to fit in there, and because most of the craft projects in book involve items that people are likely to have on hand (e.g., string, crayons, other basic craft supplies) or that we can pick up really quickly at a convenience store, it's a good book to have with us on the road.

I also highly recommend PLAY AND LEARN by Parents Magazine for great "on the go" activities, as well as the terrific play chapter in THE MOTHER OF ALL TODDLER BOOKS by Ann Douglas for a range of different activities (arts and crafts, beginner science projects, music play, active play, and more). THINGS TO DO WITH TODDLERS AND TWOS by Karen Miller is another book that has also gotten a lot of use at our house, thanks to the fabulous activity ideas. You'll probably find that you want to have more than one activity book on hand. Toddlers are busy people, after all! ... Read more

Isbn: 0671317741
Sales Rank: 858
Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Child Care    3. Child Care/Parenting    4. Children    5. Creative activities    6. Creative activities and seat w    7. Creative activities and seat work    8. Family & Relationships    9. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    10. Infants & Toddlers - Toddlers    11. Parenting - General    12. Toddlers    13. Family & Relationships / General   

Guide to the Human Body: A Photographic Journey Through the Human Body
by Richard Walker
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 May, 2001)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $13.59
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Reviews (3)

No Ordinary Guide!
I assure you that once you pick up this book you will not want to put it down.It's slim but over-sized with captivating close-up photography on almost every human organ you can think of accompanied by terse explanatory text. This book sure does justice to the saying "A picture can say more than a thousand words". It has the kind of photographs you might not see anywhere else. I loved the fact that it also lists major medical discoveries and some very good websites to explore.

Everything you ever wanted to see inside the Human Body
I actually managed to make it through high school and college without ever taking biology, mainly because I had no desire whatsoever to dissect a frog or pig and find out everything there is to see in there. Richard Walker's "Guide to the Human Body" provides a photographic journey through the human body that is just great for timid little souls such as myself. Inside you will find computer-enhanced, three-dimensional pictures of everything from your skeleton to your chromosomes. There are photos of blocked arteries, T cells attacking a cancer cell, an eardrum, and gigantic taste buds. Maybe that is why I like this book: because even if I had taken biology, with a super microscope that was certainly well beyond the budgetary resources of the Albuquerque Public School system, I still would not have been able to see all of the wonders depicted in this oversized book. Dr. Richard Walker does a fine job of explaining everything in terms that even I can understand. Maybe this science stuff is more important than I had thought way back when. Final note: The picture shown above of the cover to this book does not do it justice; the colors are so vibrant they border on neon.

Fascinating Detail! Even adults will love this book...
This book will take you on a journey through the systems of the body in computer-enhanced, three-dimensional pictures. The power of close-up photography allows you to see surfaces and the interior of the human body as never seen before.

The items shown include: the skin, hair, nails, skeleton, joints, muscles, brain, nerves, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, hormones, heart, blood, circulation, blood vessels, body defenses, respiratory system, lungs, teeth and mouth, digestion, intestines, liver, urinary system, reproduction, fertilization and pregnancy, genes and chromosomes, growth and aging.

The section on circulation has a big fold out section. There is a great section on "body data" which includes facts like: "our eyes are closed for half an hour a day due to blinking" or 'humans use 200 different muscles to walk."

The major medical discoveries from c.420BC to the year 2000 are also listed. I thought this would be an excellent book for children who are especially interested in perhaps becoming a doctor one day or show an interest in the medical profession at a young age.

The author Richard Walker, B.Sc., PhD., is a biology professor and an accomplished author of numerous books on human biology. You might also want to look up the Visual Dictionary of Human Anatomy.

If you want to know what is going on in those 22 feet of small intestine or find out what happens to food as it travels through your body, or maybe you want to know how the kidneys process the body's entire blood volume 15 times each hour, 24 hours a day...then this is the book for you. ... Read more

Isbn: 0789473887
Sales Rank: 288347
Subjects:  1. Body, Human    2. Children's 9-12 - Science    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Human anatomy    5. Human physiology    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Physiology    9. Science & Technology - Anatomy & Physiology    10. Science & Technology - General   

Sesame Street - Learning About Letters
Director: Randall Balsmeyer, Stan Lathan, Eva Saks, Bob Schwarz, Jon Stone, Jim Henson
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (17 June, 1997)
list price: $9.99 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Big Bird and Telly Monster lead young viewers through the alphabet, letter by letter, in a magical and imaginative half-hour discovery of letters and their sounds. The perfect tape for young Sesame Street fans who are just beginning to get the hang of what letters are all about, it includes short skits, songs, and other bits of business--some original, some culled from the Sesame Streetshow--featuring a variety of Muppet characters as well as the human residents of that famously educational thoroughfare. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (14)

Excellent Learning Aid
Sesame Street learning about Letters, Has helped my 22 month old twin boys, and my daughter who is 3 1/2 to learn the alphabet, and have fun at the same time. They all ask to watch this video almost every day!

The BEST alphabet video on the market!
I bought this tape for my little boy when he was 16 months old.
This is by far the best alphabet movie I have seen to date. It's not all annoying loud songs like so many of the movies are now. My son is allowed to watch one movie per day, and this is usually his first choice. Believe it or not, by 17/18 months he was saying the entire alphabet. His pediatrician was shocked at his 18 month visit! There are lots of neat songs and video clips from Sesame Street episodes from the early 70's I remember myself on this tape!

Great entertainment and Great learning!!!
This video has been around for a while; my now 14yr old daughter used to watch this video everyday from 9months old on. No kidding, by the time she was 18 months old, she could identify ALL the letters if you asked her to point to any one!
Now, I have a 4yr old, 3yr old, and twin 2yr olds who are really learning alot from this video, albeit not as fast as my 14yr did.
I would recommend this to anyone with kids from 6months up! ... Read more

Asin: 630227608X
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Sesame Street - 123 Count With Me
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (01 February, 1999)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Editorial Review

Join Ernie at The Furry Arms Hotel for a musical lesson in just howuseful counting can be.When Ernie finds and returns a misplaced key, heuses his knowledge of numbers to return the key to the correct guest.AsErnie begins to learn about the hotel business, he finds many common situations in which counting is essential. Throughout the 30-minute video, Ernie and his friends help children learn tocount from 1 to 20 with such songs as the jazzy "That's How the NumbersGo," an original version of the Chorus Line show tune "One," and"Rap Song #11."Favorite Sesame Street characters Elmo and TheCount are joined by new characters including Ding the Dinger, a furry fellowwith a bell on his head, and Benny, the bellboy that responds to Ding theDinger's dings.Children as young as 18 months will bounce happily alongwiththe catchy tunes and 2-year-olds will be inspired to count aloud withErnie. Kids up to age 5 will hone their counting skills and laughat the increasingly frustrated Benny as he delivers everything from1 bucket of ice to 15 stampeding elephants!If you're looking for afunvideo that teaches counting skills, here it is. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Animated
• NTSC

Reviews (62)

MUCH better than "The Great Numbers Game"
When Ernie drops by "The Furry Arms" hotel to return a missing key he found, he ends up giving everyone a lesson in counting, and also ends up getting hired as hotel manager! Ernie soon discovers that when he "Dings The Dinger", Benny The Bunny (Kevin Clash-who also does Elmo) will bring him something different everytime, depending on the number of times he dings. For example, when Ernie dings 3 times, Benny brings 3 pillows. Ernie however, does not need the pillows, and tells Benny he's glad he now knows what happens when he dings 3 times. This running gag goes during the entire video, and it gets quite funny. Most of the segments in this video are well chosen, such as a neat segment with singing crows, and the fantastic "Honk Around The Clock"! I also find the new songs very catchy, and have found myself sing them quite often! This not only gets five stars becalse it's much better then "The Great Numbers Game", but also becalse it's extremely funny! In recent years, The Furry Arms seems to have been deleted from the show. Why? It was such a great place, and I liked Natasha's parents having a job! Oh, well. At least we have this video!

Extremely educational and visually pleasing.
My 21 month old son has watched this video countless times. It is hands down one of his favorites. This tape spotlights Ernie (one of his favorite Sesame Street characters) and includes Elmo in several segments - always a plus. The best part is he's already learned to count to ten. And although he's watched this many times , I'm not at all sick of it. The songs are fun and catchy and in typical Sesame Street fashion, the muppets are clever and entertaining, even for adults. I highly recommend this video.

great video
This one is funny and entertaining. Very cute and educational at the same time. You'll find yourself singing along! ... Read more

Asin: 1573305677
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Sesame Street - Getting Ready to Read
Director: Randall Balsmeyer, Stan Lathan, Eva Saks, Bob Schwarz, Jon Stone, Jim Henson
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (03 September, 1996)
list price: $9.99 -- our price: $9.99
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Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (4)

Getting Ready To Read 1986
Parents,
This video is about sounding out words,rymeing,and reading. Songs are Mud and Op. Enjoy this video/VHS,movie

effective
This video shows kids how to sound out simple words. Great intro to reading for kids who know the letter sounds. The songs and skits are fun even for younger kids.

Sesame Phonics!
I LOVE this video. It is the only one I have seen which includes sounding out words. It made me remember how much phonics Sesame Street used to teach. I've been watching the show and haven't seen any phonics. This video has a lot of old clips and some 'new' live action to tie it together. It is fifteen years old and shows it, but I wish there were more letter sounds and phonics offerings from Sesame street. ... Read more

Asin: 6304132670
Sales Rank: 5118
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Sesame Street - Learning to Share
Director: Randall Balsmeyer, Stan Lathan, Eva Saks, Bob Schwarz, Jon Stone, Jim Henson
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (01 February, 1999)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (8)

"Very, best favorite "
My two year old daughter would watch this twice a day if we let her. Fortunately we don't mind listening to it. The message is good, the story is cute & the songs are catchy. We find ourselves walking around the house humming, "this is Elmo's train, chugga-chugga whoo whoo!" Since we won't let her watch TV all day, now my daughter want to play with trains.

Dull, long-winded, and not the right message
I have many Sesame St videos from the great (123 Count With Me, Bert and Ernie's Word Play) to the not so great (Get Up and Dance), but I absolutely HATE this one!

Firstly the "sharing" message is delivered in a heavy way with very few songs to liven it up. Then the newsreader/interviewer format used doesn't work at all - it is just incredibly boring. Even the introduction of familiar characters like Jack and Jill and the Three Little Pigs cannot save this dud.

I think it may even teach children to be more selfish and "MINE" oriented than they were before they watched it. Elmo constantly talks about Elmo's train, and it's clear that he absolutely hates to share. At the end he only agrees to share due to purely selfish reasons (otherwise Zoe won't play with him anymore), and he tries to share as little as possible (as little as Zoe will let him get away with).

This DVD portrays sharing as a strict case of quid pro quo - I'll give you a cookie, but ONLY IF you give me half your glass of milk. Never mind that I have lots of cookies (more than I can eat). I think sharing should be portrayed as motivated by friendship, affection and caring, not only selfish "what's in it for me?" thinking.

OK overall; high points for educational value.
My 3-year-old finds it impossible to share trains, which must be a common problem, as the video opens to Elmo and "Elmo's Train." Although not as good as "Big Bird Gets Lost," I think this video has value in a preschooler's collection. The message is clear: it's boring to play by yourself, but nobody wants to play with someone who doesn't treat them with respect. Sharing strategies like playing different parts of a game, taking equal turns, putting different games or toys together, and splitting things into parts are outlined by Elmo, Zoe, Big Bird and the Grouches in the main plot.

Katie Couric (who is not an actress - bear with her) cuts in occasionally as a newscaster for "Cooperation Today" solving conundrums like how Jack & Jill can get up the hill, and how the 3 little pigs can keep themselves safe by helping them work together. A few vintage clips "What is Friend?" with Cookie Monster, and "Two Heads are Better than One" are included. Unfortunately, the rest of the music on this tape is not up to Sesame Street standards. Joe Raposo's "Share" by Elmo, Zoe, and Big Bird isn't too bad - but the Elmo's Train song is annoying, and the Cooperation Song is unpleasantly saccharin.

That being said, my 3 year old preschooler was riveted to his seat, and cried for me to rewind it when it was over. He just started school, and is struggling with this issue - the video seemed to help him collect his thoughts. Again, as in "Big Bird Gets Lost," we had a great discussion afterwards. I'd definitely recommend this to parents whose kids are having a tough time learning to play. ... Read more

Asin: 6303911560
Sales Rank: 314
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Why?: The Best Ever Question and Answer Book About Nature, Science and the World Around You (Questions & Answers Storybook)
by Catherine Ripley Scot Ritchie
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 July, 2001)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $13.57
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Reviews (1)

Very good, except not as complete (big)as I would have liked
My 3 year old has already asked me many questions in this book,
so it hits the mark on being full of real questions that a real child would ask. The explanantions are short (about 1 paragraph)
and easy to understand - although I found the vocabulary sometimes a bit tough for my 3 year old. I often used simpler words while reading to her. I expect therefore that the rated age range beginning with 4 years is probably accurate from the point of view of understanding the explanations completely. The questions are arranged in groups such as "bathtime questions" and in a "story" order revolving around a child in that particular situation (ie. the child is getting a bath and is asking questions that start with "how does hot and cold water run out of the same tap" and ending with "why do my hands get all wrinkly after I've been in the bath a long time"). Each question and it's associated exaplanation and illustration cover a full two-page spread of the book. My only complaint is that the book does not actually contain as much detailed "science" content as I had hoped to find - since it is based on questions that children ask, not on concepts someone wanted to include purely for the sake of completeness. I would guess that 8 year olds might be left wanting more information that is given in the answers (which could be considered a good thing, spurning them on to further research). Certainly for the younger ages though, this is a great book. (More questions from the book: "Do the doors at the grocery store open by magic?" "Why do stars Twinkle?" "Why does it smell so good outside after it rains?" "Why do I have to use the toilet and where does it go when I flush?") ... Read more

Isbn: 189437925X
Sales Rank: 128688
Subjects:  1. Biology    2. Children's 4-8 - Science    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Games & Activities - Questions & Answers    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Miscellanea    8. Natural history    9. Nature - General    10. Science    11. Science & Technology - General   

The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
Director: Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers
Average Customer Review:
DVD (07 October, 2003)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $22.49
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Editorial Review

Not an ideal choice for younger kids, this hip and violent animated feature from Disney was nevertheless a huge smash in theaters and on video, and it continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed Broadway production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is sabotaged by a rivalrous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the "circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking, and the music is more palatable than in many Disney features. But be cautious: this is too intense for the Rugrat crowd. --Tom Keogh

How good-looking is the DVD restoration of Disney's popular animated film? Take a look at the serviceable but dull film clips incorporated in the plethora of extras and compare them to the vivid gorgeousness of the film presentation. This "special edition" also adds a 90-second song ("Morning Report") that originated in the lavish stage musical. To Disney's credit, the original theatrical version is also included, both restored and featuring two 5.1 soundtracks: Dolby Digital and a new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, which does sound brighter. As with the Disney Platinum line, everything is thrown into the discs, except an outsider's voice (the rah-rahs of Disney grow tiresome at times). The excellent commentary from the directors and producer, originally on the laser disc, is hidden under the audio set-up menu.

The second disc is organized by 20-minute-ish "journeys" tackling the elements of story, music, et cetera, including good background on the awkward Shakespearean origins at Disney where it was referred as "Bamlet." The most interesting journey follows the landmark stage production, and the kids should be transfixed by shots of the real African wildlife in the animal journey. Three deleted segments are real curios, including an opening lyric for "Hakuna Matata." Most set-top DVD games are usually pretty thin (DVD-ROM is where it's at), but the Safari game is an exception--the kids should love the roaring animals (in 5.1 Surround, no less). One serious demerit goes to the needless and complicated second navigation system that is listed by continent, but just shows the same features reordered. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Features

• Animated
• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (339)

Well worth your hard earned money
This new two disc set for the Lion King is yet another masterful DVD production job by the Disney folks. The video and audio quality are top notch, with plenty of choices how to see the film (both original and extended). There are an amazing amount of extras included on disc two, it will take some hunting to find them all, and quite a bit of extra time to view the entire contents. A few are overly self promotional, but there is so much stuff here, just skip to the next item if that bothers you. Some of the games are actually fun too.

With both Lion King and Sleeping Beauty being newly released on DVD right now, if you can only get one of them, there is no question this is by far the better choice. The impressive animation, the story, the fantastic sound, the extras are all superior in this Lion King package. This still isn't my favorite Disney release (Roger Rabbit will always have that honor), but maybe top 5--certainly top 8.

Lion King Platinum is well worth the investment for your DVD collection. Your family will get many years of enjoyment from it.

A True Work of Art and a Top Notch DVD
The Lion King Platinum Edition DVD was announced over three years ago. Folks, it is well worth the wait. Shame on Disney for putting this work of art on moratorium for all these years. Disney is batting 1.000 on its Platinum Edition Movies.

The Lion King is a wonderful story of how the young cub, Simba is deceived and betrayed by his uncle. Simba runs away from the kingdom to start a new life. He returns as an adult to challenge his uncle for the throne. The animation is both stunning and original. You quickly forget you are watching an animated movie. The characters are well developed and the film moves along at a fast pace.

The picture quality on this THX certified DVD is nothing short of remarkable. I would say the best animated DVD I have seen to date. The color is so vibrant it leaps of the screen. The images are crystal clear. The picture will blow you away.

The sound track is a very well balanced Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Exceptional voice clarity is noticeable right away. The soundtrack itself, is legendary.

I cannot say enough good things about this movie and this DVD. I have my beefs with Disney sometimes, but this DVD takes my breath away. This is how ALL DVD's should be authored. Thank you Disney.....this was done right.

Splendid DVD!! Disney does it again!
The folks at Disney are experts at putting together fantastic special edition DVDs. "The Lion King Special Edition" is no exception. From the hilarious introduction by Timon and Pumbaa, to the enjoyable new musical number by Zazu (Rowan Atkinson), to the myriad of special features, this DVD is a must have for any kid, kid at heart, or animation fan.

I was thrilled to get my hands on my copy of the DVD weeks before the release date. This is, after all, one of my favorite animated features of all time (and favorite films of all time, for that matter). Like "Snow White" and "Beauty and the Beast" before it, Disney packed this fabulous DVD with all the behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos and games any die-hard fan would want. Plus, the digital and sound transfers are excellent. There are two versions of the film - the theatrical version and the special edition version that includes the new song "Morning Report" - on DVD. The second DVD contains 3 games, 2 music videos, a sing-along track, deleted scenes, loads of behind the scenes footage and featurettes (covering music, animation, storymaking, etc.) and a fun virtual safari hosted by everyones favorite warthog and meerkat.

If you enjoy Disney animation and especially if you are a fan of this film to begin with, then you should get your hands on this DVD as soon as possible. Disney, after all, has finally given Simba a DVD treatment worthy of a king. ... Read more

Asin: B00003CXB4
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

The Secret of the Unicorn (The Adventures of Tintin)
by Herge
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (30 June, 1974)
list price: $9.99 -- our price: $8.99
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Editorial Review

The Secret of the Unicorn was one of the first truly great Tintin adventures and Herge's personal favorite, combining a puzzling mystery with a ripping pirate yarn.When Tintin finds a magnificent model ship in the street market, his attempt to buy it for Captain Haddock leads him on a trail of pickpockets, burglars, and secret treasure, and Haddock enthralls him with a tale of his seafaring ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock (who was exclaiming "Thundering typhoons!" generations before the Captain ever did), and his fateful encounter with the fearsome pirate Red Rackham. The story is also notable for Herge's fantastic eye for ship detail as well as the first appearances of Nestor and Marlinspike Hall. The Secret of the Unicorn was Tintin's first official two-book adventure, continued in Red Rackham's Treasure. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Sea Adventure Everyone Will Like
This is the first part, the second part is 'Red Rakham's Treasure'. This is also the series when Marlinspike Hall makes its appearance. The second part is also when Prof Cuthbert Calculus enters Tintin cast for the first time. This is a story every Tintin lover will cherish and other readers will also enjoy. Despite being more than half a century old the story has lost nothing of its charm and sense of fun.

The plot concerns miniature models of boats that bear a striking similarity to a boat in a portrait of one of Capt Haddock's ancestors. From there begins a tale of pirates, of a treasure, of theives after the same treasure, of three hundred year old rum, of our adventurers' attempts at getting to it. The story finally culminates in the Marlinspike Hall, with Capt Haddock being restored to what turns out to be his ancesteral home.

This is the first and perhaps the best of the three adventures Herge wrote that ran into two books. The others two book adventures are 'The Seven Crystal Balls' and 'Prisoners of the Sun', and 'Destination Moon' and 'Explorers on the Moon'.

All in all, an excellent comic book to read, anytime, anywhere.

Tintin begins the search for Red Rackham's Treasure
First off, be forewarned that "The Secret of Unicorn" is only the first half of a two-part Tintin adventure, which is concluded in "Red Rackham's Treausre." So do not get all bent of shape when you get to the end of this 1943 adventure and Tintin looks out and you and tells you to find out what happens next in "Red Rackham's Treasure."

As our story opens, the Thompsons are trying to solve a rash of pockets being picked and Tintin decides to buy on impulse a model of an old galliard ship. But suddenly two other gentleman want to buy the model from Tintin, who refuses because he intends the model to be a gift to his friend, Captain Haddock. Then Tintin finds a small piece of parchment that was hidden in one of the masts talking about a treasure and a ship called the Unicorn. The mystery deepens when it turns out that Sir Francis Haddock, an ancestor of Tintin's good friend, was the captain of the Unicorn. After the captain tells the exciting story of Sir Francis and his glorious victory over the dreaded Barbary buccaneers, Tintin races off to track down the final pieces of the puzzle that will tell where the treasure of the Unicorn can be found.

This is only Captain Haddock's third Tintin adventure but he is already as important to the story as Snowy. Nestor and Marlinspike Hall make their first appearance in "The Secret of the Unicorn" with Professor Calculus making his unforgettable first appearance in the second half of the tale. Herge is obviously staying as far away as he can from what is happening in Europe during World War II, but that does not take away from the fact this is a first rate tale of detective work by our intrepid hero and the second half is an equally fun adventure as Tintin and company race for "Red Rackham's Treasure."

The Secret of The Unicorn; A Funny Mystery Book
How would you feel if you bought a boat and found a treasure note inside? How would you feel then, if the boat got stolen? This is what happens to TinTin and his dog, Snowy, in The Secret of the Unicorn, by Herge. Once they try to find the boat, but are not successful. After looking for the boat, they start looking for the treasure. They search by submarine, by scuba diving,and by swimming in shark infested water. Do they find the treasure? Read The Secret of the Unicorn to find out. ... Read more

Isbn: 0316358320
Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    5. Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels   

Sesame Street Presents Elmo's Musical Adventures - Peter & The Wolf
Average Customer Review:
DVD (16 January, 2001)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $10.38
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Features

• Color

Reviews (24)

Not only one of the better Elmo Sesame Street videos, but...
...also one of the best visual versions of Peter and the Wolf, itself. The humor is infectious. Sesame Street gets around the issue of the wolf eating the duck quite well. This is one of the videos that my son and I can sit down together and watch over and over with enjoyment. A wonderful way to introduce little ones to the world of classical music. I hightly recommend this tape. The Boston Pops are excellent, and the introductory and closing materials involving Sesame Street characters and their attempt to form a band is also well done.
Bravo to all concerned.

A classic in every sense...
I am completely in love with this DVD, as is my 2 year old daughter. I picked it up wanting not only to entertain her, but also educate. Happily, this does both, and it will still be watchable when my little ones are older.
Baby Bear is taken by Papa Bear to see the Boston Pops Orchestra perform Peter and the Wolf, and the story is set in motion as Baby Bear listens to the music and imagines his Sesame St friends as the characters. Each character is followed in the story by a Boston Pops member playing the instrument respective to them, which will give children a clearer understanding of how the instrument voices the character. Elmo is adorable as Peter, Big Bird plays Grandfather, Oscar and Zoe accompany Elmo on his hunt as the Cat and Bird, and the wolf is of course, the Wolf!
The Boston Pops are at their finest here, and everything about the instruments, musicians, and the musical work itself are explained in a fun, funny, and educational way. One of the most wonderful things about the story was a slight change made in the fates of the Duck and the Wolf - when Telly (Duck) discovers he is to be eaten in the story, he is a bit shocked and decides to sit out, (a particularly funny moment!). And rather than shooting the wolf, the creative team here decided to catch him with butterfly nets and ropes and capture him without violence. For this mom, that was a welcome surprise.
For anyone with kids 2 to 12, Elmo lovers, or an adult like me who just appreciates great music and loves to see their little ones smile at a great show, pick this one up today.

cute dose of culture
It took my 2-year-old a couple of viewings to get interested in this one, but now he's hooked and asks for it every day. He seems especially amused by seeing familiar characters like Elmo, Telly, and Zoe "disguised" as Peter, the Duck, and the Bird. The Wolf is growly without being too scary for a little one. The actors who play the musicians are really appealing -- the only false note is Keith Lockhart's incredibly stiff performance. But he is a conductor, after all, not an actor, so that doesn't matter to my toddler, who sits enraptured through the whole thing, singing along with Elmo and his band, and then wants to see it again. I'd love to see Sesame Street do the "Carnival of the Animals" next. ... Read more

Asin: B000056MMG
Sales Rank: 4923
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
by Siegfried Engelmann Phyllis Haddox Elaine Bruner
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 June, 1986)
list price: $20.00 -- our price: $13.60
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Reviews (201)

Great for young gifted children!
My son is (...) very bright. He had letter recognition and understood most of the letter sounds before we started this book (since he was about [quite young]), so this method gave me a format to teach him. When he kept insisting to learn how to read and began sounding out words on his own, often incorrectly, I knew it was time to start a program.

Now he's so excited that he's learning how to read... he loves reading lesson time! For him, the pace is slow, and repeatative, but I'm able to modify. We're doing two to three lessons every day. I've caught him picking out letter sounds in every day life: a sign at the grocery store, a word on a magazine etc..

This is a perfect method for the child who is ready to launch into reading. After establishing the basics this book offers, then you can go onto more complex methods.

I strongly suggest simply reading to your child often. The method in this book will teach the fundamentals, but only enjoying stories will foster the love of reading.

A real life saver.
I bought this book while my son was in first grade. The school he attended used phonics and whole language in an "integrated" approach. This sounded great at the outset... the best of both worlds. We quickly found, however, that this "integrated" approach meant a disorganized approach. After three quarters of first grade, my son still could not read basic words and ranked at the bottom of his class for reading. He was placed in a special reading group for children below grade level. Although my son received additional help, this special class was very hard on his self esteem and we eventually removed him from it and increased the time we spent tutoring him at home. We began using the book at the recommendation of a retired special education teacher. My son's reading progress was very slow at the beginning of the book and we became somewhat frustrated but continued on. After completing 70 lessons, things began to click. A foundation had been built. We completed the book and later bought several other books based on direct instruction methods. We have been enormously pleased with the results. My son was tested during the first quarter of second grade and placed in an advanced reading group of children reading at the third grade level. This progress occurred over six months!! If schools used this method it would markedly improve the literacy rate in the USA. Our 4 year old son is currently completing the book and now reads at a first grade level. Buy this book if your child is having difficulty with reading. For the price, it is a great investment!

Outstanding Book-- my son looks forward to lessons!
This book has aided me in one of the most rewarding experiences in parenting so far. I started teaching my 4 yr old to read without any guidance and found myself misleading him. This book helped me teach him clearly and covered many aspects of reading I hadn't anticipated such as reading comprehension and punctuation. We spend good quality time together and to keep it interesting I find myself coming up with creative ways of keeping it fun. This is probably the best buy I have ever made for my child. He is reading extremely well now and will be more than prepared for kindergarten. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671631985
Sales Rank: 1189
Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Child Care/Parenting    3. Education    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. Education / General   

Monkey Trouble (Brand New Readers)
by David Martin Scott Nash
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 May, 2000)
list price: $5.99 -- our price: $5.99
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Reviews (2)

Great Beginnings!
What a great book for beginning or struggling readers. Children have been very successful with this book. I love the length of the story and the characters are delightful. My favorite features are the Introduction for each book, a strategy used in Reading Recovery, and a part called, Helping Your Brand-New Reader . I've bought the whole collection for my first grade readers. Great series!

Great Readers
What a wonderful idea for beginning readers! Children need books like these in order to feel successful. The size of the book is perfect for small hands to hold. The repetitive story line allows children to be successful while reading the book and the book uses familiar sight words. The surprise ending makes the book fun for children, so they will want to pick it back up over and over again.

The illustrations are adorable! Children will enjoy each and every one of them beacause they show the actions on each page so clearly.

The front and back covers offer many good ideas to help children benefit from their reading experiences. ... Read more

Isbn: 0763607711
Sales Rank: 118134
Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Monkeys    8. Readers - Beginner   

Jog Frog Jog: Level 1 (Start to Read! Library Edition Series)
by Barbara Gregorich
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 1992)
list price: $3.99 -- our price: $3.99
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Reviews (4)

The first book I ever read!
...And I still have most of it memorized! It's a great first read, with just enough words so the kids feel good about reading it, but not so many that they get frustrated and overwhelmed. "This is a frog. He likes to jog. Jog frog, jog..."

Great for First Graders
As a first grade teacher, I have used this book and others in this series to help emerging readers become beginning readers. Because of the phonemic approach, the interesting plot and illustrations from which to get picture clues, the students are able to read this book readily. You should see their faces when they are able to read it. It causes them to want to read more. It's also not a "baby book". The children feel that this is a more grown-up book. Thanks from a grateful teacher and her students.

Great first reading book!
Most "first readers" are much too advanced for true beginners. But its short sentences, repeating words, and a relatively engaging story make this one just perfect for the child who's ready to read their first book. My daughter was thrilled that she could read it all by herself. :) ... Read more

Isbn: 0887434045
Sales Rank: 130807
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Readers - Beginner   

Clifford the Big Red Dog Phonics Fun (Clifford)
by Scholastic
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 September, 2002)
list price: $12.99 -- our price: $9.74
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Features

• Box set

Reviews (5)

Great for all ages
My daughter is almost two and loves these books. They are simple enough for her to hold her short attention. She has me read them over and over again and has even learned several words from the books. Don't think you can only buy these for beginning readers. They are a great way to introduce stories to toddlers as well!

wonderful books
I bought these as a gift for my 5 year old nephew - what a hit! He calls me on the phone so he can read them to me. His mother loves them too, she told me that other books were not keeping his interest, or were frustrating him, so that he wouldn't read them. She actually had to tell him they could call me back to read some more because he just wanted to read ALL the books to me at once! Highly recommend

Brilliant
I have got four children and I have been through many early reading series. This is by far the best. My children love Clifford and love these books. They went from knowing nothing to being able to read within about a month of getting these books (including the first set). They still like to read them even though they are now able to tackle far more advanced books. I wish there were more sets for them to continue to learn with. ... Read more

Isbn: 0439403820
Sales Rank: 396910
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Education    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Movie Tie - In    5. Study Aids - Reading