Festivals Books

Loved it. It is out of print so I am lending it around my playgroup. No little girl should be without this charming book! I hope it is reprinted for Christmas 2006. What a great gift.

Tate provides a fun, fresh and informative look into the history of tea and tea parties. The precocious Emma takes us through all the steps of a tea party that should be fun for children of all ages. I bought copies for my nieces who love it. TEATIME is a perfect gift book.

A wonderful and vibrant book both in picture and text, TEA TIME gives young girls an interesting introduction to the history of tea and tea parties. Emma is a precocious narrator and her Aunt Pru a wonderful teacher. It's a perfect gift book -- I bought one for each of my nieces who love it!

What a darling book...I have a tea business and when children come for tea they bring their dolls which are set at the doll tea table...this book is displayed there...my nieces loved it too when I read it to them!

This is an absolutely delightful book that opened my eyes about tea parties. I highly recommend it to the parent of any child with a vivid imagination and sense of fun. Emma Buttersnap, the charming heroine, goes on an intriguing journey to a mysterious land (England). Along the way she learns history (Boston Tea Party), botany (all the varieties of tea), arts & crafts (doily making) and more. There's a juicy mystery that kept my own daughter quite intrigued. The illustrations, by the way, are superb.

This is such a wonderful toddler/preschool book. It teaches colors and counting, it comes in a nice heavy binding, the eggs are 3D (making for a fun tactile addition), the rhymes are tight and a blast to read aloud, and the illustrations are just beautiful.

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

This is a clever book that combines a unique novelty element (plastic eggs on every page) with simple, rhyming text that is a pleasure to read aloud. As other reviewers have pointed out, kids love counting the eggs on each page, so it's a great introduction to counting and also subtraction - there is one less egg on each page. My son enjoyed this book when he was 2 and he still likes it now that he is 4.

Our daughter loves this book and really did help her learn to count. She was counting before age two, but consistently got the numbers out of order or skipped some. Since we got this book she loved reading it with me and she was able to count accuratley to ten by the end of the week.

My only warning is that your child will ove it, and love counting all the eggs on each page (at least one time usually three) and there are eleven pages of eggs (including the cover). At times your sanity will be tested...but if you enjoy your child smiling, having fun...and learning too, this is a great book!

Grandma gave this book to our son for Easter -- he was 10 months old at the time. This has been one of the only books that he will sit through from the start to finish. It is his absolute favorite. He loves the colors and the eggs and sticking his fingers in the holes. He's 14 months now and still loves it. A great first book for baby!

We love Jean Marzollo's books, and this one is a favorite of my son (two years old). He loves to hear the rhymes and follow the rhythym of the book, as well as watch the eggs turn into birds.

Thumbs up. :)

I purchased this book to read to my 2 neices ages 5 and 3. The 5 year old was able to read some of the words to and with me. They both enjoyed the story and ask their mother to read it to them on a regular basis. The story is a wonderful tale of sharing of company and culture with an older couple who would other wise had spent Thanksgiving alone without a proper dinner.

Debbie Atwell created a lovely, poignant story about the fellowship of humanity and brought a collective ideal to reality. Beautiful, happy, colorful folk illustrations and an orginal Polacco-esque tale bring the spirit of Thanksgiving to the reader, and our family. Ageless and timeless, we will share this book together for years to come.

What an enjoyable book! Very different storyline than most Thanksgiving Day books, but the spirit of the holiday is wonderfully, accurately captured and very well conveyed. The writing style also is a bit unusual but fits the story. Our 5-year old really enjoyed the book (as did we!) and right away noticed the Ukrainian heritage (dancing) and names. TERRIFIC BOOK!

In the beginning of the book we meet an older couple who look forward to a great Thanksgiving meal. The lady burns the turkey and they thik that Thanksgiving is ruined. The husband sugest that they try out the new restaurant down the street. The door is open so the couple assumes that they are open for business when in reality they are getting ready for a family celebration. Find out what happens when the grandmother that owns the restaurant tries to show the couple the true meaning of Thanksgiving.


I liked the illustrations in the book. They were done in folk art style.


We would recommed this book to read around the Thanksgiving season. It teaches that the real meaning of Thanksgiving is family and friendship.

Deftly written and colorfully illustrated by Debby Atwell, The Thanksgiving Door is the entertaining story of a family preparing their Thanksgiving celebration in the restaurant they own and run. When suddenly two strangers walk through the door unwittingly left open, the children try to scare away the undesired customers. But Grandmother in her wisdom invites them as guests and the children learn some sage lessons about what the Thanksgiving holiday spirit really means.

We got this book as a gift and it is one of my daughter's favorites. She is now three but we started reading it when she was nearly two. The illustrations are very cute and the text is fun and easy to read aloud. My daughter enjoys lifting the flaps and has memorized the text. My seven year old also enjoys listening to this book.

We got this book for our thirteen month old for halloween and he loves it! Much to our amazement he started responding with a loud "NO" in all the appropriate places. We laugh so much every time we read it with him, which is often. The illustrations are great and they make halloween creatures not scary at all.

My son is 16 months old, and this book has gotten grins and giggles from him since he was just six months old. Of course, we give each "creature" behind the flaps a different voice, so I'm sure that helps. But it's the exclamation on the last page that sends him giggling. All I have to do is say, "who said boo?" and he'll come running from where ever he's gotten off to. Now that he "helps" with the flaps, our copy is looking a bit mangled, so I'll be buying another. And one for a gift, too!

Last year, I bought this reluctantly thinking my son would tear the flaps off. But I needed a little trick or treat gift for an 18 mo that couldn't have candy. A year later and thousands(yes literally)of readings later it is still intact. My son still cracks up at this book and its a must have for any road trips.

My 10 month old daughter and I were going on our first airplane trip and I wanted to keep her occupied on the flight. I bought a whole bunch of new toys and a few books, this being one of them. The entire time, she wanted me to read this book to her over and over. Whenever I was finished reading it and would close the book, she would cry. i must of read it to her 20 times.

Here's a stunning collection of dramatic and magical quilts teaching about winter holidays of various cultures and describing winter sights such as a million-colored aurora borealis and a glowing wash of sunset against darkening snow. Swirling lights and crackling flames flicker bright against deep darkness, and there is a clever depiction of reading by flashlight. An extra treat for adults is the brief explanations of how the quilts were made. "Winter Lights" will warm the senses of young and old. See the author's first quilt book Pieces: A Year in Poems & Quilts

This is a poem book about things that happen in the winter. Each poem is pair with a quilt that was made by the author. The poems are about the quilt that is pictured such as snow themes and holidays that are celebrated in winter time.

All sorts of holidays are featured such as Kwanza and Hanukkah. Christmas was mentioned in one poem but Jesus was not.



This would be great for kids and grandmothers who enjoy quilting to enjoy together.

The poems are lovely, the quilts are spectacular. Yes, the book is great for four and five and ten year olds (I am mother of the latter two ages!) and, pleasing too for 43 and 45 year olds, as well! (the parents of said five and ten year olds) Poetry comes in many forms: letters and words, yes, but also in these fabulous textiles. What a wonderful antidote to a cold, dark grey winter. Check this out; you can't possibly be disappointed, esp. if you notice the figure who looks like he is out of E.J. Keats "The Snowy Day".

i bought this book to read to my daughter who is four. it instantly became her favorite bedtime book. i love the illustrations and the poems -- we savor each page, taking it slowly. The page with the faralitos is incredible. I've never quilted, but this book makes my fingers itch!

This book is absolutely SPECTACULAR! It's hard to believe the immaculate art and intricacies that went into the making of these breathtaking quilts. Coupled with the well-crafted and delightful poetry, this is a great book for kids and adults alike. No wonder it's received so many starred reviews.

This book is a beautifully illustrated treat for children 4 and up, with a Halloween theme. It uses a repetitive word pattern so children can participate in the reading. The illustrations are a little scary for very sensitive children or those under 4. It was a big hit in our kindergarten last year!

I have the Spanish version of this book. I bought it before my child was born since i loved the pictures. Thought if I ever have a child this would be a really wild book to share. I just loved the illustrations. The pictures are scarry, but beautifully drawn. Now my child is 4, I showed it to him & he was fascinated...can't wait till my other friends kids are old enough to send a copy. If your child likes scary things, or if you are looking for a book to read on Halloween, this book is excellent. Hand drawn color illustrations, with a repetitive rhyme...

Don't be scared off by the "Horn" review. This is a great Halloween book for children 4+ unless they are extremely sensitive. Most kids I know are fascinated by monsters and creepy things, and the illustrations in this book, while scary, are rich and beautiful. Any kid who can handle Roald Dahl will like this book.

My daughter 4-year old with English as second language, firstly being attracted by the mysterious but beautiful illustration of this book.Once we started the reading we found the story very attractive and non-stopable(fortunately only 30+ pages).After read together with her for triple, she is able to read aloud by herself. She enjoyed this book very much and likes to share with her friends to scare them.

So well, yes, this book was my daughter's and she is in college. It takes a village to raise a child and a few years for me to get a review written. This book was one she found fascinating in the way she found Roald Dahl fascinating. You just can't believe some of what is there in front of your eyes....it's so very off limits feeling.

I'm a 1st grade teacher. I think this is a great variation on the kind of pattern books we should use to teach 1st graders...like Brown Bear, Brown Bear. They set you up for apprehension. Good readers apprehend and we need to explicate this with children. Pattern books allow you to address this. ( Sometimes it almost feels like mind reading when a book is just rolling along well, but I'm writing these thoughts on Halloween night and the kids are playing with a Ouiji Board someone gave them, of all things, so it isn't really "mind reading", or is it?)

Plot-wise this is the story of a little girl making her party invitations...the guest list.... for her party ("invites" no less). Somehow they come to "life" telling her who their coming is contingent upon her also inviting to the party. The illustrations are outstanding and extremely detailed watercolors and I think pen and ink overworking them. There are so many cool living things invited.... "if" she invites the next named thing, Witch asks for cat, cat owl, owl tree, on and on...Maybe cat asks for scarecrow. ( baboon, snake, dragon, unicorn,goblin, ghost, tree) I just read it and already forget the order. At the end of the list of invited beings we find out "something" that turns the creatures into something much more benign and "of the holiday".

It is always funny to see children make predictions about what will be invited next. I personally do find this a very VIVID set of drawings.Fair warning. I would not read it with a child under 6. But that's me.

As we read today it was so humorous to watch the book hold their attention on an all too exciting day. Also very good to read with ...Where the Wild Things Are and Piggie Pie. So pretty much it feels an obligation to let you know. It's a keeper.

I read Litak's first Christmas book, about his experiences as a Small Town Santa; it was smooth and gentle, but with a real catcher at the end.It was a delight to read, yet it really made you think.

I expected 101 Questions to be similar; the only similarity turned out to be Santa Claus.

This was a smooth and quick read, loaded with humor, but also loaded with insight. That insight and humor make it my choice for that gift for the "hard-to-buy-for" on my list.

The author does not talk down to kids. But the kids love the puns and clever ideas. This will be a great book for all ages this Christmas.

My younger brother (age 10) really loved this book, and I (age 15) got a kick out of it as well. It includes the answers to all the questions that anybody has ever asked or idly wondered about Santa Claus.

Some questions are quite general, and I'm sure every reader thought about them as a kid, for instance, "How can the reindeer fly?" Others are quite specific: "What does Santa eat?"

What makes this book special is that it puts both children and adults in the Christmas spirit: Although the answers to the 101 questions are filled with jokes, they make it seem that Santa really does exist, and gives explanations why. The answers will be too charming to make anybody but a Grinch want to rebut them.

Your favorite answer will most certainly be the one to question #101: It is a short, poignant essay on the nature of Santa. It points out that he will exist as long as children keep on believing and looking forward to his visits.

The questions are answered so children no matter how old 3 to 99 could understand the answer from Santa himself. It's a quick read book that can be picked up and read a page or two at a time. Many answers are funny others make one stop and really think about it. Good book for a gift for all ages I loved the answer to "Do elves have to go to school?"

I'm always surprised at how much my wife can pack for a vacation. But this year she was amazed at how much I could pack into a vacation - thanks in part to this handy little compendium of a country full of festivals. I was able to plot a none-too-circuitous springtime route through New Mexico, Arizona and California, catching everything from the Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show in Albuquerque to the Festival of the West in Scottsdale to the Redwood Dixieland Jazz Festival in Eureka - and a lot more in between. The moral of this book is that wherever you are, there's a lot going on just down the road that you've probably never heard of but that you wouldn't want to miss.

This book is by the people who do festivals.com, so they've got the resources to put out an exhaustive compilation of art shows, fairs and festivals in un-virtual, tangible, thumb-through-able form. Now I'm waiting for their 2004 edition so I can start packing things into next year's vacation.

My sister got this book as a gift and we've had so much fun using it to plan weekend get aways. It's full of great ideas for things we can do with the kids. I'd highly recommend it for anyone looking to explore your own back yard!

We're heading off on our summer roadtrip and just paged through 600 Festivals. I love it! Now we can stop in any state along the way and relax and let the kids run wild at a festival while we gorge ourselves on local fare. I only wish every festival had a full color page!

A perfect resource for summer-time travels. Very easy to use - all of the events are organized by state, plus the book provides brief and informative background information on each of the event(s). Overall great information on local events, festivals, fairs, etc. If you are travelling this summer, this is a great book to check out before you leave or to bring along on your vacation.

We've read a lot of neat Christian children's books in our house, but my little girls especially enjoyed Adeline. I'm not sure if it was the Seusslike rhyme, the whimsical illustrations or the suspense they enjoyed the most. In any case, it kept them interested. Adeline is visited again and again by admirers, only to be reminded that there is one who loves her more. My daughters were surprised by the book's end to be reminded that the one who loves us most is God, an unanticipated surprise. Adeline will certainly give a child a better understanding of the greatest love story of all.

This is a wonderful book of God's love brilliantly conveyed in a charming story of a beautiful little girl named Adeline. My daughter (Adeline) and I received this book as a gift. This is a must buy for any children's literature collection.

This book is my daughter's favorite. I love how it bring's God's love into Valentine's day. The rhymes and words captivate my little one and the pictures are endearing.

The Adeline series of books by Bobby Strickland is fantastic! His books are written in rhyme and flow along smoothly. Both of his books teach a message which is not missed by children. My daughter loves both Adeline and Adeline's Porcupine. They both present a wonderful read!

Anything Shirley Hughes writes is worth reading! She writes about everyday situations with which my 3 year old and I can relate (and we laugh, cry or feel whatever other emotion she provokes) and always enjoy!. She both writes and illustrates her books - and do so beautifully!

I am fond of this book because it incorporates death as part of a continuum of events in a child's life, instead of placing it front and center in a "the-moral-of-the-story-is" type of typical children's story.

Alfie's neighbor loves his old cat, the cat dies, the neighbor is very sad, the neighbor stays sad, and Alfie and friends and family decide to plan a surprise birthday party for the neighbor. Then there are lots of details about the party, including the purchase of presents, the making of the cake, and even getting a new kitten for the neighbor. Then, ta-dum, everybody yells SURPRISE! And the neighbor is happier, and the kitten turns out to be pretty cool, and the party is fun, and even though everybody remembers the old cat fondly, the new cat becomes a part of their life.

I like this approach and so, apparently, do my kids. I've been trying to find good books for kids about death, and this has turned out to be a favorite. And the pictures are *adorable,* I just wanted to reach right in and pinch Alfie's red cheeks.

Shirley Hughes is a wonderful author who uses beautiful illustrations and a quiet writing style in her children's books. My toddler loves her book, Chatting, as well as other Hughes titles. I highly recommend sharing Alfie with your children.

We (my 3-year old son and 2-year old daughter and I) loved Hughes' "All About Alfie," and her story "Dogger," and this book is a wonderful next step for us, especially my son. There's a bit more text per page, and more mature subject matter (the death of a neighbor's pet) which helps ensure it will grow with him. (I was worried that he'd lose the wonderful role model he has in Alfie!) The only negative is that since the stories so completely capture Alfie's point of view, Annie Rose is a little flat, and my daughter is not as engaged by her. Alfie stories are a great example of how to be caring toward your siblings. The illustrations showing a happy family without a spotless house (it looks comfy and lived in!) make me want to give Hughes a hug!