John Lithgow Books

I just love to give this book as a graduation present.....especially to the kids I taught in K/1. Dr. Seuss is loved by all and what wonderful memories. The joy and laughter we shared will last forever!!!!!!

I have to say, who doesn't love Dr. Seuss? My daughter is graduating high school this year...she is going on to be a teacher and in her high school years she has been involved in RIF (Reading is Fundamental) and has "taught" at a local preschool during school class hours. She loves to read to "her kids" and Dr. Seuss is always a favorite. I didn't THINK of this as a Graduation gift, but saw that someone else did and I thought it's the PERFECT gift for her. She loves Dr. Seuss and she loves to read to her kids...this book says it all to her...Oh, the Places You'll Go. I love her so much and don't know what I'll do without her, but...she will go places...she has brains in her head and feet in her shoes...HAPPY GRADUATION BABY.

I love this book. It is honest but hopeful. I have 2 copies of this book. One for my son and one for my daughter. Neither of them know about them. I have been having their teachers sign a little message to them at the end of each school year and will give it to them when they graduate from high school.

A true classic whose message is relevant through almost any stage of a person's career and life.

Forget the multitudes of self-help and inspiration books that are out there to help with your career, busines, and life - all the advice you need is contained in the colorful pages of this slim volume.

"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" was purchased as a gift to my daughter upon her graduation from college. It's message applies to all ages and offers encouragement to anyone undertaking a new adventure. The book was in excellent condition and arrived promptly.

This is a fun book with good repetition and some "big" words. It will make it a book you can revisit when your child is older. I bought it for my 3 1/2 year old who is very picky and talkative. The cd is narrated by the author in front of a live child audience so it is a bit spontaneous and entertaining.

Marsupial Sue is a great song/book for kids. The message of being you is important, and the song sticks with the kids. Having the CD to hear John Lithgow narrate is a must to do this book justice.

My granddaughter introduced me to this book...and it has become my favorite piece of children's literature! I try to give it as a gift to as many children as possible. Perfect for the three year old....and great music for moms to listen to over and over and over...THE GREATEST!

John does it again! My 3-4 year old preschoolers LOVE this book! I love this book. I find myself actually singin along with the book and the kids absolutely love it. One of the best books I have bought them! (and his other ones too!)

I LOVE this book and CD. I have been privileged to use it in my car when having play day with some of the local children aged 2-4. The CD is a big hit! Mr. Lithgow sings this song with the most wonderful exuberance which catches and holds the attention of young and old alike. I find myself singing along! What a wonderful work.

This is a very thoughtful book that includes the wit and wisdom of Mr. Rogers, in an easy-to-read format that is both interesting and educational. I can't imagine anyone who doesn't know who Mr. Rogers is. Like virtually all American Children of the '80s & '90s I grew up watching Mr. Rogers. Of course I didn't know it then, but looking back, Mr. Rogers was a very unique person. Mr. Rogers was perhaps the only man in modern pop-culture who was able to speak to kids in such an honest and intelligent way. Mr. Rogers taught me the importance of compassion and the importance of never taking anyone (or anything) for granted. I recommend this book to anyone with a heart and a mind.

A nice little book full of simple, innocuous sayings displaying a keen grasp of the obvious. But by and large, I didn't find anything that really grabbed me, anything that made me think "Wow!" I did find one or two exceptions to this. Rogers writes:

"Sometimes, though, I wonder if we confuse strength with other words - like aggression, and even violence."

I wonder what Mister Rogers would have made of politicians defining "strength" as "support for war."

this ought to be a required textbook in all the schools and colleges in the world.it is that good without a doubt.

Great book to have on the coffee table. Just a quick read with great thoughts.

When I sat down with this book I intended to give it a quick read and set it aside. And then I read it a second time and TOOK NOTES because I found so many pieces and parts of the book inspiring and eye-opening and comforting.

For instance, Mr. Rogers says that when he was a boy and there were tragedies in the news, his mom would tell him, "look for the helpers; look for the people who are helping others." That shifted his perspective and helped assuage some of his fears.

Another treasure is the introduction by Mrs. Rogers (Joanne) who states, "The person Fred became in his later years came out of growth and struggle. As he got older, it seemed as if the nurturing of his soul and mind became more and more important...Discipline was his very strong suit."

And in another part of the intro she states that if she were to isolate a single thing that changed Fred's life more than anything else, it was a statement made by Dr. Margaret McFarland, a mentor and teacher. "She let him know it was okay to be sensitive."

Reading that was a comfort, since most of us "sensitive souls" are repeatedly admonished to "stop being so sensitive," and yet it is that very sensitivity that should be nurtured and developed in artists and writers.

Several months ago, I made extensive notes of this book and re-read them each morning as part of my daily mediations. That's how much I loved "The World According to Mister Rogers."

It's a well-written, easy-to-read book that leaves a lasting impression.

This is a very good book, but not great. Matthiessen's writing is engrossing and it is difficult to put it down. However, the vileness of some of the subject matter is a bit hard to swallow. This is, no doubt, a realistic tale, written after Matthiessen had traveled throughout the continent. The movie does have an influence, as one keeps thinking of Ms. Hannah. The plight and evolution of the natives and their values is intriguing. The disaster that results from outsiders forcing culture and religion down the throats of the "savages" is thought provoking and relates to many situations one sees. The characters aren't all that likable, but certainly very real. Hazel is a sad case. The jaguar shaman-to-be is a character about which it would be nice to learn more. Matthiessen says that he rewrote the last journey many times. This is the toughest part of the book to follow; is it real or a dream? I actually did reread parts of the end. There's no escaping the depression that comes from dwelling on the conflict in the jungle. I still feel that, despite the author's beliefs, his nonfiction work is better. But this is an enjoyable novel, regardless.

An excellent adventure story that is both fast paced and well developed. I've read a number of books by Matthiessen. This is the best I've read yet by him. His fiction is far better than his non fiction in my opinion.

I see there are many 5 star reviews here on Amazon. I 2nd these reviews. Recommended.

I am reading this book as a book on tape which is a good way to "read" it. This is a "good read" and worth your time. Recommended. Email Boland7214@aol.co

Why do I never hear Matthissen's name come up when there is speculation about who will win future Nobel Literature prizes?
AT PLAY is surely one of the great novels of the last half-century, and the reviewers hit on all of the reasons why. But add to that FAR TORTUGA, and the Watson Florida trilogy; and then add to THAT his brilliant and important non-fiction, from The Tree Where Man Was Born to The Snow Leopard, to In the Spirit of Crazy Horse; then, for good measure add in Matthiessen's involvement in The Paris Review, and you have a resume that is Nobel-quality.
Hey, I love Roth, too (admittedly not everything), but get serious!

This case study of culture clash is the story of Protestant missionaries trying to bring the Word of God to jungle savages. They think themselves heroes of The Lord, but there are no heroes here save, perhaps, Louis Moon a reservation half-breed who lost his faith. Moon is now an aimless mercenary staggering through life, bouncing off one obstacle after another. When it becomes his job to massacre the indigenous people, he is revisited by drug-induced dreams of his youth and instead joins them as their rain god fallen from the sky (and a failing airplane).

Self-righteous missionary Martin Quarier, becomes less certain of his beliefs as the novel progresses, but seems incapable of moving beyond them. He sees the absurdity of the doctrinal feud between Catholics and Protestants, yet cannot think of priests as anything but the Enemy, in league with Satin. And Satin seems to be working on him, as well, churning up lust for the wife of another missionary.

The religious beliefs of the natives give a glimpse of how faith gets started. Their minor gods clearly provide more for them on a day-to-day basis than the major one Quarier tries to serve. He creates a "rice convert" or two, but is ultimately a miserable failure.
At Play in the Fields of the Lord is a classic tragedy of misunderstanding and miscommunication. If you haven't read it, it's worth that first read. If you have, it was probably long enough ago that it deserves a second look.

I love this book!! The squirrel is adorable and I love how he has his own art exhibit in the end!! Great art appreciation! I also love the great use of vocabulary in the text! I had to grab a dictionary on a word and that was great to show my children that even adults are always learning!!!
My 2 1/2 year old and 6 year old fell in love with Micawber as well!! Well written and CF Payne does wonderful illustrations! A perfect gift for a budding artist! I just bought 2!!

My nine year old daughter thinks this was a really good book which was easy to read and very creative. Loved the pictures!!! Great childrens book!!! I completely agree with her. This was a very cute book with a nice message!

It's a cute story, but I'm a little unsure about the morals behind a squirrell using someone's paints without permission. It's kind of...um..stealing. It's cute for a young reader who may not yet have the concept of property.

Might be a little confusing for kids because of the big words (I had to look a few up!) but it is so much fun to read. I really liked that my son questioned a lot of the words he hadn't heard before so he learned some vocabulary too. At first I thought it wasn't a "kid's" book but now I think it's awesome.

With no intended offense to Mr. Lithgow, I've not watched many episodes of "Third Rock from the Sun". I've never seen him on Broadway. Chances are, I'll miss his new show that's slated for TV's fall season. But without a doubt, I am one of his biggest fans, and so are our twins.

Mr. Lithgow's affinity for cadence, rhyme and the wonder of under-used words is nothing shy of invigorating. Mr. Lithgow doesn't shy from vocabulary that may be naively viewed as "daunting" to child readers/listeners. Instead, he embraces the intricacies and beauty of language. How excited I was to be asked to define "peregrination" to my listening audience! Not since Judy Sierra's "Wild About Books" have I discovered a book I so look forward to reading aloud repeatedly; our 5-year-old twins feel the same about hearing it.

Our duo received this book as a birthday gift from great friends, and it's been read almost daily since. For a museum-minded family such as ours, the heroic squirrel (of the title) embodies all our creative and curatorial cravings.

C.F. Payne's inimitable talent, and familiarity with the styles of great masters, facilitates illustrations that visually companion the text pluperfectly.

After enjoying Micawber, I dare you not to rush out and purchase The Remarkable Farkle McBride !

"The Runaway Pancake" has had an impact on the children in my Kindergarten (five-year old) class for a few years now. When I play the cd, they scream and laugh and have a ball. When I read the story, they recite every word, laugh and clap along. I have them draw pictures of their favorite parts and, believe me, they do a bang-up job. Mr. Lithgow is an amazing talent with a Kindergartener's soul. He relates to these children and their fantasies with a charisma one seldom sees. I have enjoyed him for years on television and in the movies, but seeing him one evening reading this story and singing parts of it, well, he simply enchanted me and I ran out and got the book and cd without hesitation. John Lithgow is simply wonderful and the story of the runaway pancake is exceptional in all areas. I truly love it!

We borrowed this book from the library with the CD and played it for the kids in my preschool class (ages 3 & 4). It was requested again and again and again by the entire class. They absolutely loved it! What a fun book. I took it home for my own kids to hear it (ages 8 & 7) and they adored it too. It's so cute to be in the class while the kids are playing and hear them singing "No, no, no, no, no I'm too fast, you're too slow...." while they're building with Legos or playing with puzzles. I can play with CD without the book and it provides the same amusement. John Lithgow is a talented narrator. It was a wonderful discovery.

I picked this book because of an NPR interview with John Lithgow a couple years ago and these favorable reviews. My 4 year old son loves it! He even wanted to take it in for Show and Tell. He likes the book OR the cd version where John L. reads it, but not both at the same time. He has memorized the whole Pancake song and sings it quite jauntily. Now my 2 year old is starting to recite phrases from it!

My 3 year old son absolutely loves this book and CD. He learned about it at preschool, and has been singing us the song at home. We finally bought him a copy for Christmas, and now that we finally heard the true version, we can see why he loves it so much. The CD is great, as are the illustrations. It's based on the gingerbread man, but is very clever in its adaptation, and definitely captures the attention of preschoolers.

She received this book with the CD for her birthday and loved it so much she had to share it with her pre-school class again and again. I ended up donating it to the class and had to purchase another copy for home.

I loved this product. As an English teacher in DCPS I have found my students loved being read to. Sometimes they become a little sick of me reading out loud, so having the CD accompany these fantastic poems worked out well in providing variety.

This is a wonderful book for the beginner or anyone wanting to awaken the lapsed poetry lover within. I haven't read poetry since I was in college (many years ago) and found this book an easy re-entry into the wonderful world of poetry. Everyone will have their favorite poems, but I think the ones chosen for this book are diverse and reflect a treasure of past and contemporary work. I have listened to the CD over and over again as it opens up the other dimension of poetry which has helped me fully appreciate many of the poems. John Lithgow is a wonderful host, and beckons us all to enjoy one of life's truly meaningful and mysterious joys. The brief information about each poet proceeding their poem is very helpful and there are highlighted bits of general information including further reading, links to websites etc. Warning--reading poetry can be addictive...

The most important factor in this anthology is that Lithgow is not a poet! How great is that! No name dropping, no friend of a friend, no academic postulations on the preponderances of poetry's perplexing postulations! He just loves poetry. And that frees him to choose what he likes.

The second important factor is that he provides us with audio. Poetry is an audio art as well as visual one. And it stinks to always be missing out on 1/2 of the art.

As a student a teacher of poetry I was schooled in contemporaries like Collins, Howe, Harjo, Bukowski so I always had an aversion to the masters being a lot of it was now cliche and with that annoying abab rhyme scheme. But Lithgow and company make it come alive for me. Hearing Auden read by Foster blew the doors on my poetic hinges. I think this anthology is important for anyone who loves the arts. It is not condescending or overwrought with analysis. A little history of the poet, a little nostalgia about why he like the poem, and then BAM! the poem PLUS he give you more poems by the same author after his initial pick just for exposure so you get 50 poems on the CD plus more in the book. This is the kind of book you buy everyone you know when you can't think of any really worthwhile and meaningful to give them.

It makes me want to do my own anthology poems I love. I my own quarrel is that I doubt there will be a sequel.

The Poet's Corner, compiled by John Lithgow presents an expansive collection of poetry, and is accompanied by a bonus MP3 CD featuring readings of poetry by Mr Lithgow and his friends [ Glenn Close, Morgan Freeman, Jodie Foster, Sam Waterston etc].

Though not the most comprehensive collection of poetry, it is a worthy compilation of well-known poetry written in the English language and is sure to find fans, both existing lovers of poetry and those just coming to appreciate the genre.

Each poem that is selected is accompanied by a short bio of the poet and Mr Lithgow's own explanation as to how the piece interests him or its emotional pull for him. The poems are presented by the poet [alphabetically by their last names] beginning with Matthew Arnold, and ending with William Butler Yeats. There are 50 poets in all, and the poems cover different eras, varied subjects, yet are all beguiling and unique in their ability to draw us in and affect us in different ways. Reading this compilation impacted me emotionally, engulfing me in feelings of joy, sadness and even silent contemplation. The bonus CD is another plus and together this is a wonderful and enjoyable compilation of poetry.

Lithgow was born in Rochester, New York. His mother was a retired actress, and his father, Arthur Lithgow, was a theatrical producer and director who ran the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey. Because of his father's job, the family moved frequently during Lithgow's childhood. Lithgow won a scholarship to Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1967. He was in the same dorm as former Vice President Al Gore and actor Tommy Lee Jones. After graduation, Lithgow won a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Throughout this child and early adulthood, Lithgow writes that poetry was an important part of his life; in particular his mother and his grandmother taught him the joys of poetry -- "My grandmother was part of the last generation who memorized poetry for pleasure."

Lithgow's love of poetry shines through the fifty short introductions to the poets on offer here: 50 classic poets, from Shelley and Wordsworth to Frost, Eliot, and Wallace Steven. Here's a short sample:

"Among the Victorian poets of England, Matthew Arnold was not as famous as Tennyson and Robert Browning. Unlike them, he did not have the luxury of being able to devote himself full-time to writing. Arnold, the son of a clergyman and private-school head- master, worked for a living his entire life. A ten-year appointment at Oxford University as a poetry professor, combined with his job as a government school inspector, meant he had to squeeze in his poetry on his own time. He wrote most of his poems before he was forty years old, when family life and work were less demanding. After that, he concentrated on writing essays about culture, religion, and literature, and his prose was better received than his poetry, at least during his lifetime. Some say it was his literary criticism that elevated criticism to an art form in its own right. Here is Arnold on poetry: "I think it will be found that grand style arises in poetry, when a noble nature, poetically gifted, treats with simplicity or with severity a serious subject."

To Arnold, no matter how beautiful its language or imagery, if a poem lacked an important subject, he found it unworthy of his attention. Serious and austere himself, he chose lofty subjects for his own poems-faith or the absence of faith, how to live in a meaningful way, politics, the individual in relation to society. He believed his work would endure because it reflected the period's big themes. "For the creation of a masterwork of literature two powers must concur," wrote Arnold, "the power of the man and the power of the moment, and the man is not enough without the moment." Arnold's moment in history happened to be one of great change and flux. You could say all his poetry was about coming to terms with the Victorian age of industrialism and the weakening of religion."

Lithgow chose poems, not necessarily the most famous, but poems that he personally enjoyed the most; for Arnold he chose Dover Beach:

The sea is calm to-night.
The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits; -- on the French coast, the light
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.

You can hear the actor's cadences as you read these lines, and Lithgow adds: "There's just no way around it, this is a downbeat poem. I hear in it a desperate, yearning gloom, a sense of despair about the Victorian world and a personal crisis of faith. But despite the poet's melancholy, the poem is quite beautiful in its specificity. Arnold reveals his feelings very directly and openly."

Lithgow is very aware of the importance of sound, and for folks like me with a tin ear, the accompanying CD is a special delight: great poetry read by great actors like Jodie Foster and Helen Mirren.

Altogether, a delight to savor and perhaps to even encourage the reader to memorize a few lines.

I wish the illistrations were a little brighter. They seemed a bit dark & scary.

The book arrived in perfect timing and is just what we wanted to give to our grandson who graduates from high school on the 20th and to enter college in the fall.

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College is a wonderful book, written by John Lithgow. It comes with a cd of the author narrating the story which is great. The illustrations are vivid and bring the story to life. The story is about a mouse that goes to college. This book is a dedication to the Harvard graduating class of 2005. John Lithgow was the guest speaker at that commencement and having had a son in that class of 2005, this was a must have book for my Harvard graduate as a keepsake which he can share with his children some day.

This is the cutest book to read to children of all ages. It is a great read for an adult. If you went to a college class you will certainly appreciate how this little mouse attends the college classes. It also comes with a CD.You will love this book. I highly recommed it.

Today I found a rare thing -- a book that would be an excellent graduation gift whether the grad in question is departing preschool or university. It's "Mahalia Mouse Goes to College," by John Lithgow (Harvard Class of `67), illustrated by Igor Oleynikov.
When I taught juniors at Penn State this spring, I discovered they believe children do not like books that contain vocabulary beyond their ken. I argued that encountering new words might increase children's vocabulary and thus be a good thing, and they agreed but claimed that kids often don't like what's good for them. True enough, and if you share my students' conviction, then John Lithgow's books -- which include "The Remarkable Farkle McBride," and "Marsupial Sue" -- are not for you.
If, on the other hand, you think kids get a kick out of mastering words like wisteria (rhymes with cafeteria), allayed (rhymes with paid), and zoology (rhymes with psychology), then Lithgow's rollicking texts will appeal to you. In this case, it's not only the wordplay that is fun. Lithgow has written a parable about the ruthlessness involved in leaving home in order to achieve greater things.
Lithgow's opening lines, coupled with Oleynikov's grim, rain-soaked illustration, evoke an almost Dickensian mood. Or maybe they were shooting for Lemony Snicket? Anyway, the story begins:
"The skies of September were bursting with rain
Pelting the old dormitory
It filled every gutter and choked every drain
Chapter 1 of Mahalia's story."
As if the rain weren't bad enough, Mahalia's mother, consumed by sorrow, sends her daughter out foraging, warning that things are so dire "the babies may die." Dutifully, Mahalia departs, is attracted by the smell of cheese in a college student's backpack, finds herself zipped inside, and next thing you know is entranced by a lecture that "concerns the behavior of atoms in space/Their collisions and fissions, their motion and pace."
The dying babies are forgotten, and Mahalia enrolls in college where she excels not only academically but at extracurriculars like squash and, briefly, square dancing.
The story ends in a hail of confetti and sunshine on graduation day with Mahalia and her family reunited -- the babies, apparently, having survived. It's a great story with just the edge of poignance that accompanies one generation's outstripping its predecessor.

The cat in the hat on this CD, with perfect piano accompaniments at key moments, is just perfect. Could not do better.
I don't like the other stories as much, but that one in itself is worth the purchase.

My kids love Dr. Seuss, I love not having to read to them in the car! Great for trips when you just can't take another row row row your boat. These are all read by actors that Mom and Dad know so it's great for us to hear them reading childrens books.

These stories are really well read! I play them in the car for my 4 and 3 year olds and I even enjoy listening along. I like that they don't have the page turn dings.

My son listens to these over and over with or without the book. He enjoys the narrators and has almost memorized the books.

The children enjoy hearing their favorite Dr. Suess read by the familiar voices we all know.

I was given this book as a gift, and our family loves it. Lithgow has an amazing mind--and he's just quirky enough to cater perfectly to kids. We have used many of the ideas in the book, and have even expanded by creating our own "paloozas." You'll never run out of ideas or creativity if you buy this book. He has several others out now too.

Creative, innovative, superlative, outstanding. I just received my copy today and have read through one half of the book so far, but am very impressed. Every new parent should be given this book at baby showers. Lightow writes in an understandable, friendly conversation manner which is easy to understand.

As a left hander in my middle years who has struggled with the challenges and redicule of being "different", I especially appreciated the chapter relating to lefties. Creaping/galloping degeneration in usefulness of my left hand is forcing me to become ambidextrous in performing the simplest daily activities.

Thanks to a very literate and intelligent person for this great resource for parents.

My advise: Throw away the coloring books and remote controls and, buy this book.

Thanks to you Mr. Lightow for this enlighting and entertainig book. By the way, we loved Third Rock also.

CV

This is a playful, richly informative book giving lots of interesting ideas to make kids THINK and HAVE FUN. I checked out the book from the library and now I need my own copy... because the age ranges are so broad, it's a resource you will be using for YEARS. (And yes, even if you are an adult I can almost guarantee you'll find something new and fun!) Lithgow creates interesting paloozas, and side-notes offer more details and resources for further exploration. Some of my favorites:
Labyrinths (no, it isn't the same as a maze!)
Kolam
Backwards Party

I'm a grade school teacher and I picked up this book looking (as ever) for a few new ideas for activities for my students. I hit the mother lode. This is as creative and refreshing a presentation of activities for kids that I have ever come across. These activities show a tremendous respect for the inherent creativity in children and prove that if you give them the time and inspire them with smart ideas, they'll create. And learn.

For example, "Bibliomancy" is a whimsical little "fortune-telling" game that asks the child to randomly choose a word from the dictionary to answer his own question about the future. So he has to read and understand the word, and then use some mighty creative logic to prove how the word points to his optimum outcome. "Color Concentration" adapts the classic memory game by using paint chips from the hardware store. So at once, kids are playing a familiar and fun memory game, becoming aware of the nuance of color, and reading those evocative paint color names. I loved "Museum Hunt," which gives adults a great way to thoroughly involve a child in the museum experience-or even replicate the experience from your own home using online art resources. And I will absolutely do "Palio" with my class next year, when they'll invent their own adaptation of the wild horserace that takes place in Siena, Italy every summer.

For the most part, the activities, or "paloozas," just require the adult to set it up and let the kids have at it. This book is a terrific resource for getting kids genuinely engaged in their own creative possibilities. It is also, by the way, a wonderfully enjoyable read for grownups, who are tossed rich and tasty tidbits on art and literature and culture that remind them of why they want to expose their kids to this stuff in the first place.