Buzz Buzz
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 January, 2001)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

Anybody who's gotten a boogie-inducing earful of Buzz Buzz will back the claim that Laurie Berkner sailed right past the sophomore slump. On this, her 1998 release, the Ani DiFranco of kids' music, as she's been tagged, inspires still more hands-in-the-air at-home hoe-downs among the 6-and-under set with her evenhanded blend of zany, zingy original songs and well-chosen traditional numbers. Crying out for special mention in the former category are "The Pretzel Store," on which a gang of "twisty, curly, hole-y, and straight" salty characters escape from the clutches of eager snackers in a variety of inventive ways; "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)," a surefire vehicle for revving up round-the-living-room arm-flappers; "Ice Cream Cone," a handy directive for Ben and Jerry's beginners ("You can eat it from the side / You can eat it from the top / You can lick it round and round / Like you're never gonna stop"); and "The Cookie Bakers of the Night,"which is bound to get a brood of wannabe cookie monsters mixing pretend batter and waving wooden spoons in the air. Traditionals, especially the rocking rendition of "The More We Get Together," the voices-only "Rum Sum Sum" with its souped-up lyrics, and the bass- and alto-sax enhanced "Erie Canal," roundly impress. Berkner's much-lauded flair for firing up little ones' imaginations aside, what's perhaps best about her is her sharpshooting when it comes to crowd pleasers. Her smooth singing and can't-be-denied guitar chops keep Barney-bombarded grownups from wanting to climb out the car window. With the right sort of luck, the buzz on this record will transcend its title and win Berkner an extended band of intergenerational admirers.--Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Wonderful CD!Highly recommend for pre-school, day care...
and Kindergarten classes!We've seen Laurie on Noggin and totally fell in love with her and her "folky" tunes.It is most certainly a folk type of music; but really easy to dance and sing to!We have it on all the time in the car and my son's pre-school class listens to their copy on a regular basis. It's a great way to control the class if they get a tad out of hand...the kids just get into the music and have a ball..or just for background music!My husband and I find ourselves listening to it...even when my five year old isn't in the car !!

Very Disappointed
I had never seen Laurie's show on Noggin, but this CD got such great reviews that I took a chance, which I am now regretting.I was expecting an upbeat fun CD, and I felt like this was too folk-like and too mellow.I'm hoping my son will like it down the road.

If you don't like folk music, don't buy this CD.

Family Fun
We absolutely LOVE this CD.I bought it after seeing Laurie on the Noggin channel.My two year old twins would stop and dance whenever her music came on.Our whole family loves to dance to it.It is also wonderful for distracting them from TV and arguements.All I have to do is put this CD on, and my girls are happy and dancing.Every night after dinner we put it on and dance.Thanks, Laurie for making a wonderful CD.I'm online now, trying to buy another!!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00004S36S
Subjects:  1. Childrens    2. Pop    3. Sing-Along   

Return to Pooh Corner
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 May, 1994)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

The appeal of this album isn't limited to children--though the gentle repertoire and soft acoustic musical accompaniment will surely soothe little ones at the end of a long day, adults will find the silky-smooth vocals, beautiful harmonies, and creative production just as engaging. Parents will enjoy listening to the metamorphosis of Loggins's 1969 Top 40 hit "House on Pooh Corner" to the updated '90s version. And with titles like the traditional "All the Pretty Little Ponies" and "To-Ra-Loo-Ra" and covers of Paul Williams's "Rainbow Connection," Jimmy Webb's "The Last Unicorn," and John Lennon's "Love," Mom might find herself borrowing this CD from the nursery when it comes time to kick back and relax after the kids are asleep. --Deborah Moore ... Read more

Reviews (119)

A pleasing find
I have not seen this noted yet, but the song "Horses" was written by Rickie Lee Jones and can be found on her "Flying Cowboys" CD and the Jerry Maguire soundtrack. This is a very nice CD. A great collection of songs written for or about children. They play it at my son's daycare all the time.

Wonderful!
When I was in high school, a lllooonnnggg time ago, some one gave me a record with Return to Pooh Corner on it.I sang it to my sister when she was a baby and now I sing it to my son.But I'd forgotten who wrote the song - just knew all the lyrics and that it made me cry the first time I sang it to my newborn son.

One Saturday afternoon, I was holding my son and channel surfing and saw Kenny Loggins on Ice and stopped.Just as I started watching, he introduced Pooh Corner and started to sing his updated version.I sat there and cuddled my little boy and cried.And the next day bought the disc!I love all the songs and am learning them to sing, too.But I'll always love the Bear the best!

A wonderful soundtrack for rocking your little one to sleep
I buy this CD for every new mother I know. When my son was born, we listened to this CD before bedtime. When the music started he would always sigh and you could feel his body relax. Often he would be asleep before the second song started. I then purchased it for my friend and her son also responded the same way. A few months later my friend and I were attending a baby shower and we had both purchased this CD for the new mom-to-be.
As a parent, I have found no better songs to cherish those sweet moments with your newborn. Often the lyrics have brought me to tears because they speak so well to the emotional bonds of parenthood and the love of your child. ... Read more

Asin: B0000029FW
Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Childrens    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Soft Rock   

For Our Children: 10th Anniversary Edition
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 October, 1999)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

For Our Children launched in 1990 and in many ways inspired the bounty of celebrity-philanthropy records for kids in its wake. From Bob Dylan and Sting to Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, and Elton John, the roster on this cornucopia of great kid songs--and even greater interpretations--has donated all proceeds to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Although tilted toward baby-boomer parents, the tracks have a timeless, ageless appeal. You'll be hard-pressed to find another five-star children's recording this satisfying, including the follow-up effort, For Our Children, Too. Little Richard rocks "Itsy Bitsy Spider," McCartney turns his sweet, melodic gifts toward "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and Bruce Springsteen makes a lively stew of "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips." Other noteworthy moments include Jackson Browne and Jennifer Warnes doing the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" and Carole King reprising the Disney Dumbo love theme, "Child of Mine." But surely the crowning touch is Dylan's unforgettable version of "This Old Man," phrased and delivered as only Dylan can with his mercurial invention and powerful character. This belongs in your children's collection. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Something for children and adults!
My kindergarten teacher introduced me to this album by playing it in her classroom. A few weeks into the school year I had a copy of it for myself. Thankfully this CD was around to replace the tape I wore out over the course of several years.

Some childrens tapes are by artists who cater to children and are good at it. Sharon, Lois, and Bram are a prime example. Other childrens tapes are made by amateur producers and it shows when somone is singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" off key in a five year old voice. While groups like Sharon, Lois, and Bram are liked by parents, the amateur tapes will often drive them nuts.

This album is unique. The artists should be familiar to most people, and include Bette Midler, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson (from the Beach Boys), Sting, Elton John, Harry Nillson, Carole King, Paula Abdul, Ziggy Marley (Bob Marley's brother), Bob Dylan...the list just goes on. Some of the songs are actual tracks recorded by those artists. Others, such as Little Richard's Itsy Bitsy Spider, are rock versions of classic children's fare. However, the songs are all well-done, as one would expect from familiar artists.

For some reason I put the tape away sometime in third grade. As a freshman in high school I rediscovered it and found out I still liked the songs--perhaps because I had discovered the fare of most of the artists on the tape by that point. Parents also love this tape for that reason.

This is something you can't go wrong with.

So Excited To Find This CD
I played this album for my first son when he was an infant.That was over 13 years ago.How delighted and surprised I was when I discovered it again.I have since had two more children.Although they are a little older, I think this will be a fun CD for them to listen to.My sister has two little ones as well, and they should love it.It is truly a wonderful album.Little Richard's Itsy Bitsy Spider is priceless as is Barbra Streisand's A Child is Born.I also purchased the other CD, For Our Children Too.It looks like it will be as fun as the original.

Remembering.....
When i was little my mom sang these songs and so i grew up knowing them......its great to go back and sing these songs 9 years later! Blueberry pie is the most rememberable. I love these songs and will for years on. ... Read more

Asin: B00001WRKW
Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Album Rock    3. Arena Rock    4. Brill Building Pop    5. Childrens    6. Dance-Pop    7. Film Music    8. Folk-Rock    9. Hard Rock    10. Movie Themes    11. Original Score    12. Pop    13. Pop/Rock    14. R&B    15. Rap    16. Reggae    17. Rock & Roll    18. Singer/Songwriter    19. Soft Rock    20. Teen Idol   

For Our Children Too!: To Benefit Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (03 September, 1996)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

The 1996 follow-up CD to For Our Children packs less romp and more hush. Although the stellar lineup includes Celine Dion, Seal, Faith Hill, Natalie Cole, Cher, Luther Vandross, and others, For Our Children, Too is really a lullaby album and its predecessor is a party record. There are more ballads, more R&B singers, and more arrangements mired in overproduction. That said, if you want a gentler collection of songs, this might be your first choice. Seal turns in a poignant rendition of "Puff the Magic Dragon," while Natalie Cole's "Both Sides Now" shows how universal that old Joni Mitchell classic really is. James Taylor and Carly Simon's memorable hit "Mockingbird" is also featured, along with Cher doing a predictable interpretation of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Cinderella. Celine gives "Brahm's Lullaby" her trademark Dion treatment and Luther Vandross turns the protest anthem "If I Had a Hammer" into a moving meditation on peace and equality. Did someone say this music might be too sophisticated for kids? Still, it's for a great cause. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Perfect CD for all my children.
I bought this CD 8 years ago when my daughter was born.She listened to it each night up until her brother was born in 2002.Now we're expecting to pass it on to their new sibling in Aug of 2005.Amazing how one CD can put 3 different children to sleep so peacefully!

For Our Children is much better
I was so disappointed with this CD I am writing my very first review for Amazon.The first CD in this "collection" is so fun and very charming.This one lacks on many levels.

A must have
We received this CD as a gift when our first child was born. I have bought it for all our friends who have babies since then. It contains the most beautiful renditions of many songs from our own childhood. Everyone who has received it, loves it!!! In addition, the few songs we were unfamiliar with turned out to be some of our favorites! ... Read more

Asin: B0000033UA
Subjects:  1. Childrens    2. Pop   

Planet Sleeps
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (06 May, 1997)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Editorial Review

Everything about this CD, from its eye-popping cool packaging to its beautiful booklet, is wonderful, perhaps peerless. It's a study that spans 16 countries, catching paeans to childhood sleep from varied traditions. The set traverses the Cape Breton Gaelic tradition with the Rankin Family, Haiti with pop stars Boukman Eksperyans, and the African continent with music from Tonga, Algeria, and Cameroon. Despite their distances from each other, at times the songs sound quite alike. Voices might begin alone but then gather into choral size, with a reliance on wordless passages to emphasize the flow of time as sleep encroaches. In execution, the surprises are many. Algerian Houria Aïchi sounds East Indian; the Traditional Japanese Music Ensemble of New York sounds poised somewhere between a stately concert of historical court music and a touching homage to childhood; and German singer Michelle sounds pop-music ready even as she toes the line on singing a sleep-triggering song. Beyond being a great collection of international music, this is probably the most interesting mix available of cultural voices approaching the issue of children sleeping. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (41)

Music for everyone to enjoy
You don't have to be a child to enjoy the beautiful songs on this album.This is a wonderful change from the "typical" lullabye collections.In addition to loving the songs themselves (and their calming effect on both my infant and me), I especially appreciated the detailed booklet that explains the origin of each song and gives some background information about the different cultures represented on the album.This collection truly has something for everyone, no matter what your age.

Superb!
This is one of the best musical investments you'll make, regardless of whether you purchase this album to soothe your children or to soothe yourself.The disc is VERY reasonably priced, and for your money you'll get a superb collection of incredibly relaxing songs from around the globe that I PROMISE you will not grow tired of.Our daugther is seven months old, and it is not an exaggeration to say that I listen to this CD at least 4-5 times in any given 24 hour period (once during her morning nap, once during her afternoon nap, and at bedtime when we put it on "repeat").That's a lot of time spent listening to one CD, yet I never, ever tire of it.In fact, on many occasions I am nursing or rocking my daughter while The Planet Sleeps is playing, and I nod off before she does!You truly will not regret purchasing this album (especially given how inexepensive it is), and it makes a terrific gift as well.

great cd!
i just recieved this a few days ago and it's awesome!first of all the packaging is really cool.not your typical boring jewel case with sleeve insert.it's made of beautifully printed heavy stock paper and opens to reveal the cd and the sleeve is tucked neatly away in it's own pocket.but the magic really happened when i put the cd in.i played it for my parents first and the kitchen was instantly filled with a beautiful ethereal voice in a gaelic melody.as the songs continued, they were equally as good as the first.i haven't played it for my 9 month old daughter yet, but i like it enough to have gotten it for me!my dad even wants a copy for his car! ... Read more

Asin: B000002BOW
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indian Classical    3. Int'l & World Music    4. Lullabies    5. Pan-Global    6. Pop    7. Worldbeat   

Go, Dog. Go! (Bright & Early Board Books)
by P.D. Eastman
Average Customer Review:
Board book (08 July, 1997)
list price: $4.99 -- our price: $4.99
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Reviews (38)

Keep your hat on
What a travesty. What a big travesty. They did not condense this book--they gutted it of all its wit and humor. Buy the original "Go, Dog. Go!"

A Favorite!
I love this book, it is one of those books that makes you giggle everytime you open the pages.
In this book we are introduced to dogs, all sizes, all colors and doing all sorts of different activities.
Some aregoing up, some are going down, some are going round and round. Some are going fast and some are going slow.
Children learn many different concepts in this read about time, color, direction and numbers. It's a fun book with great illustrations that little ones will surely enjoy as they giggle their way from beginning to end.
Shirley Johnson

Where IS your hat?
I am a "Go, Dog. Go" purist, my favorite part of the book was where one dog asked another:"do you like my hat?"I have a problem with the board-book edition...that whole exchange that took place in many parts of the book is missing, rubbed out like it is unimportant.What happened?Does PD Eastman know about this?When I made the purchase, I thought I was buying a whole book, not some edited version that cut out 3 or 4 pages of a 12 page book.The only thing I can pass on from this is percentages:25% is missing and I am 100% disappointed. ... Read more

Isbn: 067988629X
Sales Rank: 32960
Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    3. Children: Preschool    4. Transportation - General    5. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs   

Where Does Maisy Live?
by LUCY COUSINS
Average Customer Review:
Board book (26 June, 2000)
list price: $4.99 -- our price: $4.99
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Editorial Review

Guess where Maisy the mouse lives. Does she live in the pigpen? "Oink!The pigs live here." Does she live in the hen house? "Cluck! The hens livehere." Does she live in the stable? "Neigh! The horses live here." With large,sturdy flaps, this pint-sized board book will appeal to every toddler's gigglysense of humor. (Silly! Maisy doesn't live in the dog house!) In her picturebooks about the endearing Maisy, the talented Lucy Cousins rustles up the idealpreschool picture-book recipe: simple, repetitive text and boldly outlined,brightly colored pictures. As Maisy's many devotees will attest, pretty muchanything she does is worth reading about. Need proof? Try another Maisy title--or take two, they're small!--Where Are Maisy's Friends?,Maisy Goes to School,Maisy Goes Swimming, andlots more. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Another Fun Lift the Flap Book from Maisy
If you are the parent of a young child, you probably know who Maisy is. She's a mouse with a duck, a squirrel, an elephant, and a crocodile for friends. Why the crocodile isn't trying to eat the others is beyond me, but that's life in Maisy's world.

Both of my daughters love the Maisy books; there's something about their simple stories and colorful pictures that even appeals to adults. The books are short and easy to read. But, the stories are never obnoxiously simplistic, like so many other books for small children.

This is a lift the flap book in which the childen are lifting flaps trying to figure out where Maisy lives. Naturally, we don't find out untilt he end of the book (hey, it would ruin the plot to reveal earlier, right?). One caution, the kids might get a little aggressive with the flaps and tear a few, resulting in the purchase of a new lift the flap book.

Maisy is a new favorite of 16 month old
Ayla, my 16 month old grand-daughter, just loves this book.She also loved the Karen Katz books, too, as she is into lifting the flap books.

Maisy's a winner
My two year old son loves the Maisy books and so do I - the illustrations are so appealling!He really enjoys this book.The premise is very simple - does Maisy live in the stable? no, the horses do etc - but it lends itself to racuous shouts of "no" as he lifts the flap on each page, which is a lot of fun.It's also very robust, which I appreciate.So far none of the flaps have been torn off.My only criticism is that it's very short.I feel a bit cheated by that.If you're after one fun flap book, I would recommend "Where's Spot" ahead of Maisy. ... Read more

Isbn: 0763611638
Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Children's Baby - Lift the Flap    3. Children: Preschool    4. Concepts - General    5. Domestic animals    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Mice    9. Movie Tie - In    10. Specimens    11. Toy and movable books    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

The Going-To-Bed Book
by Sandra Boynton
Average Customer Review:
Board book (30 November, 1982)
list price: $5.99 -- our price: $5.99
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Editorial Review

For a little one who is reluctant to go to bed, sometimes a silly bookis just the ticket. And when it comes to silly books, Sandra Boynton is theundisputed queen. In The Going to Bed Book, an ark full of animalswatches the sun go down and then prepares for bed. They take a bath ("in one bigtub"), find pajamas, brush their teeth, do exercises up on deck (imagine anelephant jumping rope, a moose lifting weights, and a pig doing handstands), andfinally say good night.

The moon is high. The sea is deep.
They rock
and rock
and rock
to sleep.

Boynton's inimitable animal characters have graced the pages of scads of picturebooks over the years. She has an extraordinary knack for knowing what appeals tosmall children: simple rhymes, goofy animals in goofy settings, and sweet,comforting stories. This book, along with her many other board-book titles(Moo, Baa, La La La!,But Not the Hippopotamus,and others) will surely remain a favorite. (Baby to preschool) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Bedtime charmer
I've read this to our little girl since she was one year old. She loves the pictures, likes to name the animals, point to the moon, etc. Now that she's two, we're using it to spell out the whole "going to bed" routine -- bath, pajamas, brush teeth, exercise, sleep. ESPECIALLY the "brush their teeth" part.
But there are times that I can't get her calmed down unless I have the lights completely off. The verse is so simple, I've memorized it and can just recite it to her, with fast results.

Boynton's Best Bedtime Bet!
This book is one book we truly adore.My son seemed magnetized to this book.This was one of the first books I read to him at bedtime...whether nighttime or naptime.We love this better than Goodnight Moon.I actually can read the book to my son with my eyes close after a couple of readings.The rhyming text flows so smoothly, that makes reading so fun, easy and addicting.I never liked reading but this hooked me to doing so daily.I'd even whisper the repetitive texts to my son's ear, which he likes so much.He gives me a rewarding giggle for that.Phrases we like most are:

"The sun has set not long ago.
Now everybody goes below
To take a bath in one big tub
With soap all over, SCRUB-SCRUB-SCRUB!!!"

"They hang their towels on the wall
And find pajamas, big and small.
With some on top and some beneath,
They BRUSH and BRUSH and BRUSH their teeth."

"And when the moon is on the rise,
They all go up to exercise!
And down once more but not so fast,
They're on their way to bed at last."

"The day is done, They say goodnight,
And somebody turns off the light.
The moon is high. The sea is deep.
They ROCK and ROCK and ROCK to sleep."

One great buy, One great treasure to keep forever in our hearts.I highly recommend this Boynton Book.

Best Bedtime Book!
We have several bedtime books for our 22-month old son (Goodnight Moon, Pajama Time, etc.) but this one is our favorite!We always save it for last and enjoy snuggling as we "rock, and rock, and rock to sleep." ... Read more

Isbn: 0671449028
Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Bedtime    3. Bedtime & Dreams    4. Children    5. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    6. Children: Babies & Toddlers    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile fiction    9. Night    10. Sleep    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (Caldecott Medal Book)
by SimmsTaback
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 1999)
list price: $15.99 -- our price: $10.87
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Editorial Review

When Joseph's favorite overcoat gets old and worn, he makes a jacket out of it. When the jacket is more patches than jacket, Joseph turns it into a vest. When the vest's number is up, Joseph makes a scarf. This thrifty industry continues until there's nothing left of the original garment. But clever Joseph manages to make something out of nothing! (And that's the foreshadowed moral of the story.)

In today's throwaway world, Joseph's old-fashioned frugality is a welcome change. Based on a Yiddish song from Simms Taback's youth (lyrics and music reproduced on the last page), the book is filled with rhythms and arresting colors that will delight every reader. As more and more holes appear in Joseph's coat, die-cut holes appear on the pages, hinting at each next manifestation. The illustrations are striking, created with gouache, watercolor, collage, pencil, and ink. Every inch of space is crammed with fanciful, funny details, such as the headline on a discarded newspaper: "Fiddler on Roof Falls off Roof." Taback, esteemed creator of the Caldecott Honor-winning There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and the classic Too Much Noise, has produced a picture book that is as well turned out as its dapper hero. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Joseph Had A Little Overcoat
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is based on a song from author Simms Taback's own youth. It is the tale of a man named Joseph who has a favorite coat. As the coat becomes worn, torn, and un-wearable, Joseph cuts it into something smaller and more useful. The coat becomes a vest and the vest becomes everything in between until it finally ends up as a button that is eventually lost.
The story has a wonderful moral to it. It teaches children that sometimes changes must be made in life in order to mold circumstances into something useful. As Joseph learns, it is better to turn a worn-out coat into a vest than it is to have to discard of your favorite coat. The story is destined to become a classic tale for children all over the world to love and enjoy.
The illustrations are equally as effective to the telling of the story. Dark and brilliant colors catch the reader's eye and pull him in. They are varied in their design, with pencil, ink and collage all helping to create the right "blend" of artistic perfection to suit the story. The illustrations yield a sense of the Jewish culture and help to express the idea of multi-culturalism to young readers.

College student
In this story, Joseph has an overcoat that is worn and old.He makes the overcoat into a jacket.As the story progresses, the jacket becomes a vest.The vest becomes a scarf.The scarf becomes a necktie.The necktie becomes a handkerchief.The handkerchief becomes a button. In the end, the button is lost.Joseph writes a book about his overcoat down to his lost button.He claims that you can take nothing and make something.
The pages in the book have cut-outs.Children can use their imagination and guess what Joseph will make next.There is more to this story than the text itself.The reader should look at the illustrations and read the newspaper clippings.There are several cultural items in the illustrations that a teacher could use to discuss the culture.I truly enjoyed this book.

A Symphony of Color.
Poor Joseph works on a farm and wears a little overcoat that is old and worn. It becomes so old and worn that Joseph has to cut and sew it into a jacket, but then the jacket becomes old and worn and Joseph turns it into a vest. And so on and so forth until Joseph learns that you can always make something out of nothing.

There really isn't a whole lot of story here. However, what the book is full of are brilliantly bright colors and inside Yiddish-cultural references.Each page of the book is filled with vivid colors that draw one's eyes all over the page like a motion picture, hoping not to miss a single thing. The book strongly appeals to children because of this color scheme and also because of the cutouts on every other page that allow children an opportunity to guess what Joseph will make next.

However, as delightful as children will find this book, adults with a background in Jewish culture might find it even more enjoyable than children do. On almost every page there are pictures, tiny letters, miniature newspapers, illustrations, etc. that allude to Jewish culture. I admit that I don't know very much about the Jewish culture, but was able to figure out a few of the references. I particularly was amused by the tiny hand-written letter and newspapers that had English headlines but the rest of the story was written in Hebrew. I think someone who could actually read Hebrew would appreciate things like that even more. This edition of the story also includes the lyrics and music to a song the author adapted, "I Had a Little Overcoat". Thanks, Simms Taback! ... Read more

Isbn: 0670878553
Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Preschool    3. Classics    4. Europe, Eastern    5. Folklore    6. General    7. Jews    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Specimens    10. Toy and movable books    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Board Book)
by Eileen Christelow
Average Customer Review:
Board book (23 March, 1998)
list price: $5.95 -- our price: $5.95
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Reviews (29)

Do You Ever Just Feel Like Jumping on a Bed?
This book is an excellent children's book.I really enjoy reading it to my kindergarten class because they have so much fun listening to it and helping me say the words.It teaches counting down and repetition.It would be a fun book to act out for kids at home.There are many other versions of this book and they are all just as fun as the first...collect them all!!! You can even use a Velcro hand puppet with Velcro monkeys to do a finger play and sing the book as a song.The kids really enjoy this!!!

Not the most interesting book for babies
My 9 month old has lots of favorite board books (Mirror Me, Pat the Bunny, Goodnight Moon, etc) and this has never been one of them.I think this book is a little too much for babies, although it sounds like toddlers really enjoy it.I guess we'll pull it out again in another six months or so!

cute but dangerous
this book - a gift from gran - had to disappear because it caused my active toddler to yes - jump on the bed = nonstop, before the book he never did such a thing, and after i couldn't get him to stop, he and his little sis really got worked up instead of calmed down for bed, cute pics though ... Read more

Isbn: 0395900239
Sales Rank: 4515
Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys    2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    3. Children's poetry    4. Children: Preschool    5. Concepts - Counting    6. Humorous Stories    7. Nursery rhymes    8. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

The Tales of Three Trees : c
by Angela Elwell Hunt
Average Customer Review:
Board book (25 March, 2004)
list price: $7.99 -- our price: $7.99
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Reviews (49)

A simple and timeless story, beautifully told
For three little trees who dream of what they will be someday - a holder of treasure, a fine ship, a hilltop beacon pointing to God - life proves to have something rather different in store. They are disappointed that their lives are so mundane. And, as the years pass, "the three trees nearly forgot their dreams." Yet each eventually gets its wish, although not in the way it had foreseen. When that happens, each discovers that things turned out just the way they should have. This is a moving andeloquent story. Its illustrations are simple yet powerful. Readers will be reminded that God has plans for every one of his creations, that He never loses sight any of us. Children will learn that when they don't get what they want, it may be because something even better is in store for them. Adults will understand the concept of true happiness coming when we align our will with God's.

Those who enjoy "Trees" may also enjoy another picture book: Ruby Lee the Bumble Bee - A Bee's Bit of Wisdom. It concerns a young girl who is uncertain of her abilities, but forges ahead regardless. Books like Ruby Lee the Bumble Bee and The Tale of Three Trees are valuable tools in teaching children that God has a special plan for each of us, and through patience, persistence and faith amazing rewards will be revealed.

NOWHERE near as good as other versions!
This version is really bad comparitively.The trees are all the same, and it doesn't tie in the meaning of the book for youngsters as well as the version by Catherine McCafferty.In her book, each tree is a different type showing its own strenghths, and it states clearly that God has fulfilled the dreams of the trees but in much bigger ways than the trees could ever dream.This book just ends the story and doesn't tie it all up for the kids.I recommend the Catherine McCafferty version highly!There ia also a really nice video narrated by Hal Holbrooke based on the Catherine McCafferty version.

Good, easy read for Christian children
My homeschooled children (grades 1 & 3) enjoy reading this from time to time.The binding is great, the pictures are good, the print is large, and the text is easy to read.A touching classic. ... Read more

Isbn: 0745945937
Sales Rank: 125117
Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    2. Children: Babies & Toddlers    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    4. Family - Stepfamilies    5. Holidays & Festivals - Easter    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Religious - Christian    8. Board books    9. Fairy tales, folk tales, fables, magical tales & traditional stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

The Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats
Average Customer Review:
Board book (01 January, 1996)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.29
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Editorial Review

The Snowy Day, a 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the simpletale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night.Keats's illustrations, using cut-outs, watercolors, and collage, are strikinglybeautiful in their understated color and composition. The tranquil story mirrorsthe calm presence of the paintings, and both exude the silence of a freshlysnow-covered landscape. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with aday of humble adventures--experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from atree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day.Awakening to a winter wonderland is an ageless, ever-magical experience, and onemade nearly visceral by Keats's gentle tribute.

The book is notable not only for its lovely artwork and tone, but also forits importance as a trailblazer. According to Horn Book magazine, TheSnowy Day was "the very first full-color picture book to feature a smallblack hero"--yet another reason to add this classic to your shelves. It's asunique and special as a snowflake. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

A timeless favorite
This was one of my favorite books as a kid. I would read it over and over. So glad I can read it now to my little girl.

Very cute, and the illustrations are lovely
I agree with other reviewers that the story in this book isn't heart-stopping exciting and it does drag on a bit toward the end, but frankly, I'm not sure that's a bad thing. The slow, languid pace of this story makes it a very calming and relaxing bed time read.The chunky, colorful illustrations are adorable, and the fact that the little boy is not very detailed makes him sort of a child's "Everyman."The story is really about a little boy whose imagination is maybe a little too big for the fact that he's only 4 and not able to do everything he'd like, but it's cute and engaging and well worth reading.

Let it snow (y day)
When "The Snowy Day" first came out, it was considered groundbreaking.Unprecedented.Here, at last, was a picture book in which the protagonist is black.It's not an overtly political book, mind you.Just a nice story about a kid in the city playing in the snow.Having heard about this story for a long time, I decided now was the moment to see how well this book has stood up over time.Ezra Jack Keats has long passed from idle picture book author to a somewhat god-like figure of the children's book world, so does this early work stand out even today?If it was introduced for the first time now, would it be considered as good as it is?Yes and no.The book is both a fabulous creation, and a very simple, very normal, tale that everyone on one level or another is familiar with.

In this book, Peter wakes up to discover that snow has covered the city in the night.Delighted, he pulls on his bright red (and now world known) snowsuit and plunges into a day of exploring and playing.He makes fun tracks, and hits snow off the branches of trees.He constructs a smiling snowman and slides down steep mountains of snow.At the end of the day his mother gets him out of his wet clothes and gives him a nice hot bath.The next morning the snow is still there, and an ecstatic Peter calls up a friend to do the whole day over again.

When I was a child I loved (and still do) stories that took place in the big cities.Keats never draws an inordinate amount of attention to Peter's surroundings.So while you won't see skyscrapers or taxi cabs, there's a distinctly urban feel to the lay of the land.The text is nice and easy for the youngsters to understand.As for the cut-outs, they're a delight to look at.Picture books featuring cut-outs may be remembered best as belonging to such artists as Eric Carle or Leo Lionni, but I consider Mr. Keats to be the granddaddy of the art form.Aside from the beauty of the landscaping in this pictures, I loved the papers used in the book.The section in which Peter sits on the snow, a snowball embedded on his chest, the black sky is a-swirl in greens, blues, and browns.When Peter slides down a snow covered embankment, the sky is then a delightful twisty series of white smoke-like curlicues.And Peter's home itself is eloquently rendered.From the wrought iron bed frame to the multicolored wallpaper and tiles that enhance the setting, the book is the best possible combination of elegance and realism.

If it came out today, "Snowy Day" wouldn't garner an overly enthusiastic response from publishers and critics.Which isn't to say that it's unworthy of the praise already received.As I've tried to show, the book is a wonderful amalgamation of text, pattern, and emotion.One of the finest books written for children, and a great evocative story. ... Read more

Isbn: 0670867330
Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    3. Children: Preschool    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Lifestyles - City Life    8. Snow   

Blueberries for Sal (Picture Puffins)
by Robert McCloskey
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 September, 1976)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.99
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Editorial Review

Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk go the blueberries into the pail of a little girl named Sal who--try as she might--just can't seem to pick as fast as she eats. Robert McCloskey's classic is a magical tale of the irrepressible curiosity--not to mention appetite--of youth. Sal and her mother set off in search of blueberries for the winter at the same time as a mother bear and her cub. A quiet comedy of errors ensues when the young ones wander off and absentmindedly trail the wrong mothers.

Blueberries for Sal--with its gentle animals, funny noises, and youthful spirit of adventure--isperfect for reading aloud. The endearing illustrations, rendered in dark, blueberry-stain blue, will leave youcraving a fresh pail of your own. (Picture book) ... Read more

Reviews (46)

I Found My Thrill...On Blueberry Hill
Famed author Robert McCloskey ("Make Way for Ducklings," "One Morning in Maine," and others) wrote and illustrated this gently humorous parallel tale of two moms and their daughters on a blueberry hunt.One pair is human, and the other pair is bear!.As they proceed up opposite sides of rolling hill covered in blueberries, each member of the species copies the other:The moms focus on the task at hand, remembering the harsh winter ahead; the children ("Little Sal" and "Little Bear") focus on the immediate pleasures of eating blueberries--so much so, that each gets lost.

In a deftly portrayed switch, McCloskey shows the Little Bear following Little Sal's mom, and Little Sal following the Little Bear's mom. The two lost children are unafraid of following the mismatched grown-ups (ok, so McCloskey takes some liberties in this very light book).Eventually the two moms turn around and see who is following:Little Bear's mother discovers Sal and turns away:("She was old enough to be shy of people, even a very small person like Little Sal.")Meanwhile, Little Sal's mom discovers Little Bear, and the mother back away:("She was old enough to be shy of bears, even very small bears like Little Bear.")Each pair reunites and returns home, with an adventure and berries to savor over the winter.

McCloskey's deep blue-black drawings complement the appealing symmetry and innocence of the book, and the period furnishings, uncluttered landscape, and fashions add to the book's sentimental and enduring attraction.This is a very good bedtime story for little ones who can appreciate an affectionate and tender book.

Blue Berries For Sal
I did not like it that much because bears do not talk because bears are bad.The pictures do not have color.I like it a little bit.

Doctor DeSoto
I like the book because we got to chsnge the names.Ilike the little mouse.I like book because it funny.I like the animals.I like the book because it shows people to take good care of your teeth. ... Read more

Isbn: 014050169X
Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Children's Baby - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Mother and child   

Corduroy
by Don Freeman
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (11 March, 1968)
list price: $15.99 -- our price: $10.87
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Editorial Review

Have you ever dreamed of being locked in a departmentstore at night? The endearing story of Corduroy paints a pictureof the adventures that might unfold (for a teddy bear at least) insuch a situation. When all the shoppers have gone home for thenight, Corduroy climbs down from the shelf to look for his missingbutton. It's a brave new world! He accidentally gets on anelevator that he thinks must be a mountain and sees thefurniture section that he thinks must be a palace. He tries topull a button off the mattress, but he ends up falling off the bedand knocking over a lamp. The night watchman hears the crash,finds Corduroy, and puts him back on the shelf downstairs. Thenext morning, he finds that it's his lucky day! A little girl buyshim with money she saved in her piggy bank and takes him home toher room. Corduroy decides that this must be home and thatLisa must be his friend. Youngsters will never get tired of thistoy-comes-alive tale with a happy ending, so you may also want toseek out Dan Freeman's next creation, A Pocket forCorduroy. (Ages 3 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (54)

A Very Sweet Story
This is a very nice story of a teddy bear in a store who has a missing button and goes off in the middle of the night to find it. It's a very simple story that really any age child can understand, and the illustrations have that feel of the 60s, at least to me which makes it charming. It's not too long, or too short, so it's the perfect bed time read for my 2 year old. I also liked that the human characters appear to be African-American which is not something you find too easily in most children's books. Overall, this is a classic and one that will be around for awhile and won't be outgrown.

Corduroy review
I loved the book Corduroy. It remindes me of a stuffed animal i have called Spot.The main charecter in the book is Corduroy.Corduroy is abear missing a button that is on a quest to find his button and a friend to take him home.Corduroy is curious, a little naive, and is looking for a friend.I would rate Corduroy a 10 out of 10 every time.

Corduroy review
I loved the book Corduroy. It remindes me of a stuffed animal i have called Spot.The main charecter in the book is Corduroy.Corduroy is abear missing a button that is on a quest to find his button and a friend to take him home.Corduroy is curious, a little naive, and is looking for a friend.I would rate Corduroy a 10 out of 10 every time.

BY Da Biff ... Read more

Isbn: 0670241334
Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Picturebooks    2. Children: Preschool    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    7. Toys    8. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Jamberry Board Book
by Bruce Degen
Average Customer Review:
Board book (30 December, 1994)
list price: $7.99 -- our price: $7.99
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Editorial Review

Hat and boot in hand, a boy and a bear set off on a delicious and raucous romp through Berryland. They frolic in strawberry fields forever, rumble and ramble in blackberry brambles, and topple their canoeberry with blueberries. Silly rhymes and a musical beat practically beg to be read aloud, preferably accompanied by dancing. New readers will giggle as they follow the fruit-frenzied pals on their berry adventures. Jamberry builds quickly in intensity and complexity, starting with "One berry, Two berry, Pick me a blueberry," and working up to "Raspberry, Jazzberry, Razzmatazzberry, Berryband, Merryband, Jamming in Berryland." Children will love discovering the subtle touches in Bruce Degen's illustrations: a frog climbing out of a hat, crackers and butter instead of lily pads, and a sign by the raspberry skating rink imploring skaters not to pick the jelly rolls planted nearby. Every character seems giddy with well-fed joy in this veritable jamboree of flavorful fun. Jamberry is a book best enjoyed on a gloomy day with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (65)

I cannot get this out of my head.
I have this memorized.I did a terrible thing the other day when my daughter brought the book over for me to read.I flipped through the pages telling the story without looking at the book and was reading something else.My one-year-old daughter noticed, and was upset.So, don't let this happen to you.The pictures are highly detailed, colorful and creative so much that I crave jelly and preserves all the time now.I recommend the boardbook for its ruggedness because you will be reading this story again and again and again and again....

LOVE IT!!
This is a must have book!The rhymes are real rhymes and not "almost rhymes".Both my husband and I have this book memorized ~ it was easy and quick.
When chaos is about to erupt, all we have to do is say. "One berry, two berry...".Our sons quiet down, we can get their attention very easily, and we get broad smiles to boot.
It is very soothing.As I am writing this, the poetry is ringing in my ears and it is not as annoying as a song in your head, it's actually quite pleasant.

Get this book for yourself or as a gift.It makes me eager for berry picking season!

Moonberry, Zoomberry, Rockets Shoot By!!
WE LOVE THIS BOOK! I love reading it and our son loves listening to it! It was the first book that he really memorized - and he had it mostly memorized by age 2.5 years! It is the most requested bedtime story and it is easy for a sleepy adult to read and read quickly if you need to get to bed! The illustrations are so fun and we play an adapted version of "I Spy" with the beautiful pictures! BUY THIS BOOK! At age 3, our son is still enjoying it regularly! ... Read more

Isbn: 0694006513
Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Animals - Bears    3. Bears    4. Berries    5. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    6. Children: Preschool    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Stories in rhyme    10. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (If You Give...)
by Laura Joffe Numeroff Felicia Bond
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (30 June, 1985)
list price: $15.99 -- our price: $10.87
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Editorial Review

Who would ever suspect that a tiny little mouse could wear out anenergetic young boy? Well, if you're going to go around giving an exuberantly bossy rodent a cookie, you'd best be prepared to do one or two more favors for it before your day is through. For example, he'll certainly need a glass of milk to wash down that cookie, won't he? And you can't expect him to drink the milk without a straw, can you? By the time our hero is finished granting all the mouse's very urgent requests--and cleaning up after him--it's no wonder his head is becoming a bit heavy. Laura Joffe Numeroff's tale of warped logic is a sure-fire winner in the giggle-generator category. But concerned parents can rest assured, there's even a little education thrown in for good measure: underneath the folly rest valuable lessons about cause and effect. Felicia Bond's hilarious pictures are full of subtle, fun details. Fans will be happy to know that this dynamic author-illustrator pair teamed up again for If You Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake. (Great read aloud, ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (80)

this is a good book
this book is a very interesting. I think its a classic. The pictures are very funny and i like the little mouse.

Favorite of both my boys
"Cookie" is my almost 3 year old's favorite book.He can almost recite it to me after reading it so many times.My almost 6year old still loves it too.A great book that will be a favorite for many years!

do you have a cookie?
This book, written by Laura Joffe Numeroff, is a story about a greedy little mouse and a very generous young boy.When the polite young boy offers a cute little mouse a cookie, it naturally asks for a glass of milk to go with it, and then he takes the boy on a ride for all he's worth.The mouse wants milk, a straw, scissors, a place to sleep crayons and many other things.The young boy, trying to be a good host, grants all of the mouse's requests, and just when he thinks the mouse is finished, he asks for a glass of milk. Oh no... here we go again.
With its graphic and colorful illustrations from Felicia Bond, this book was, and still is an instant hit.Written in 1985 "If you give a mouse a cookie" became a favorite among children of all ages.Every page contains illustrations which are brightly colored and keep the reader interested.Even the end pages are a bright blue color and invite the reader in and welcome them to enjoy the book.The text is simple and the story is easy to follow.The only problem is, the story leaves you kind of hungry.By the way.... do you have a cookie?
... Read more

Isbn: 0060245867
Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mice    8. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.   

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business
by Esphyr Slobodkina
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (31 October, 1987)
list price: $5.99 -- our price: $5.99
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Editorial Review

Subtitled A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their MonkeyBusiness, this absurd and very simple story has become a classic, selling hundreds of thousands of copies since its first publication in 1940. A peddler walks around selling caps from a tall, tottering pile on his head. Unable to sell a single cap one morning, he walks out into the countryside, sits down under a tree, checks that all the caps are in place, and falls asleep. When he wakes up, the caps are gone--and the tree is full of cap-wearing monkeys. His attempts to get the caps back generate the kind of repetitive rhythm that 3- and 4-year-olds will adore. (Preschool and older) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Childhood Favorite
This book is amazing!When I was a child my mother would read it over and over and over AND over to me.It's a classic!

A Timeless Classic
I remember reading this book when I was a child, and both of my children are enchanted when I read it to them.A must read a bedtime or anytime!

Monkey See, Monkey Do, What Else Can You Expect?
This is a book I loved as a child. It was originally written and illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina before WWII and obviously takes place in a European village. It tells the story of a peddler who sells caps, so instead of carrying his wares on his back, he wears them on his head, hats pilled as tall as he is. Our peddler has to walk very straight (we tell Devon to walk straight like the hat man all the time) so he won't spill his hats.

One morning the peddler couldn't sell any caps, so he went for a walk in the country and fell asleep under a tree, caps piled high on his head. When he woke all the caps were gone but one. The poor peddler had fallen asleep under a tree full of monkeys and each one was high in the tree, wearing one of the peddler's new hats. The peddler gets angry and shakes his finger at the monkeys, they shake their fingers back. He shakes both his hands at them, they shake their hands back. He stamps his feet, they stamp theirs. And you guessed it, he throws his hat on the ground and they throw their hats on the ground too and the peddler gets his hats back.

This story is timeless. Devon likes it and I'm sure years from now, his children will like it as well. Reading books like this is much better for toddlers than television. Sara and I think so anyway and we hope you do to.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training ... Read more

Isbn: 0064431436
Subjects:  1. Animals - Apes & Monkeys    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Hats    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Monkeys    10. Peddlers and peddling    11. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Apes & Monkeys   

Stellaluna
by Janell Cannon
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (30 April, 1993)
list price: $16.00 -- our price: $11.20
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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 Stellaluna, © 1993 by Janell Cannon, reproducedby permission of Harcourt Brace & Company) (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Read This Book!
I liked this book.The part I liked the best was when Stellaluna started acting like a bird.She tried to sleep like a bird, she tried to look like a bird, she ate worms, insects.She tried to fly like a bird and in the end she finds her mother and she goes back home.
By: Edwin R.

Stellaluna ISBN 059048379X
A must have for all early childhood teachers. This is a heart warming story about a baby bat who falls from her mother's grasp after they were attacked by an owl. Stellaluna falls into a bird's nest and becomes friends with the baby birds in the nest. This story teaches children everything about bats. The way they live, what they eat, and how they see at night to name a few. The story also teaches the children why they should not be afraid of bats. Especially Stellaluna, she eats fruit!This story is a classic.
Maria Mahoney

School Book Review
Would you ever want to get lost from your mother when you are just a baby?I read a book about a baby bat that did.This book is called Stellaluna by Janell Cannon.Stellaluna's mother gets attacked by an owl and lets go of her baby, Stellaluna.Stellaluna lands in a birds nest and makes friends with the baby birds and mama bird.Stellaluna teaches the baby birds how to hang upside down.I think this book is funny because it has funny pictures.You sometimes might think you are actually there!This is a great book.I think the author was trying to tell us not to panic if anything wrong happens.Read this book to find out if Stellaluna will ever find her mother. ... Read more

Isbn: 0152802177
Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Animals - Birds    3. Animals - General    4. Bats    5. Birds    6. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    7. Children: Grades 1-2    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Charlie Parker Played Be Bop
by Chris Raschka
Average Customer Review:
Board book (01 March, 2004)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.99
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Editorial Review

It would seem a riddle worthy of the sphinx: how do you give children a sense of jazz music without playing a note? Chris Raschka answers loudly and clearly with the illustrated, syncopated Charlie Parker Played Be Bop. This sparse, rhythmic, repetitive text (inspired by a recording of Parker's "A Night in Tunisia") embraces and reflects the sound and feel of jazz when read aloud: "Charlie Parker played be bop. / Charlie Parker played saxophone. / The music sounded like be bop. / Never leave your cat alone." Whether in complete phrases or in nonsense refrains that taste like music in your mouth ("Alphabet alphabet, alphabet, alph, / Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee, chick, / Overshoes, overshoes, overshoes, o, / Reeti-footi, reeti-footi, reeti-footi, ree."), Raschka brings melody to the page, and rhythm to eager ears.

Raschka, whose Yo! Yes?won a Caldecott Honor, and whose MysteriousThelonious--another ebullient, musical exploration of a jazz legend--was named a 1997 ALA Notable Book, proves once again that he is just as at home with a paintbrush as he is with a pen. His bold, quirky illustrations add movement and light to the words, buoying their already lyrical effect. Charlie Parker Played Be Bop is a colorful, whimsical romp through the world of jazz, sure to set young and old toes a-tapping. (Ages 4 to 8)--Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Addictive to toddlers and moms
I searched for this book after my 22 month old son's daycare provider shared how he had memorized it, and when prompted with "Charlie Parker plays..." would delightedly shout out "bee-bop!"We found it when on a trip for my sister's wedding, and we astounded all the relatives when he had essentially memorized the book.He would scat "fisk fisk" and "overshoes overshoes overshoes oh."He literally knows half the book.He had us all in stitches.

The illustrations in this book are fun, bright, and playful.The words trip across the page like the music does.It doesn't grow tiresome after repeated readings.

I highly recommend this book.And maybe play a little Bird while you're reading it!

My 13-month old is OBSESSED with this book.
I purchased this book because I love Charlie Parker and wanted to share that love with my then 6-month-old son (he's been listening to Charlie Parker on Phil Schaap's Birdflight since he came home from the hospital).

It immediately became his favorite book (he has over 100) and INSISTS that it be read to him 4-5 times per day.Frequently, we will have just finished it and he reaches for it again.One of his first 7 words is pa-ka (Parker)...it is his first two-syllable word!I would teach him to say "Bird," but I think that would confuse him right now.:-)

The pictures are wonderful!I particularly like the one of "Charlie Parker Played No Trombone" which shows Bird looking at a trombone and scratching his head.

The words and sounds are wonderful and convey the feeling and flavor of "Be Bop."

My son particularly loves the mysterious kitty...

My son is now 13 months old and it's still his favorite book BY FAR!

"Never leave your cat a-lone..."

Letters and Sounds
My daughter is nearly three years old.She is just now learning her alphabet and the sounds of the letters.As we read Charlie Parker Played Be Bop, she points to each word.I feel it is a great asset in her learning.In addition, I have noticed that she plays with sound more, sings more, and yes... I've even seen her dancing to her own songs.Maybe it is simply an age thing, but I would give some credit to this wonderful book.It demonstrates the power of sound beyond the meaning of words.We find ourselves learning that skill unaware that it is being taught. ... Read more

Isbn: 043957823X
Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Music    3. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    4. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    5. Children: Preschool    6. Jazz    7. Jazz musicians    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Music - Jazz    11. Musicians    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. United States    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Music / Jazz