Beginners Books

Great pictures and information in an easy to carry guide. The author is worth listening too, if you get an opportunity.

This is really a great little book on a specialized but interesting area of insect identification. Although considered primitive insects (since they undergo incomplete metamorphosis) dragonflies are just cool because they're so big and conspicuous and such strong fliers, and can maneuver at lightning speed, almost like hummingbirds. During the Carboniferous period or Coal Age 340 million years ago, there were dragonflies with 3 foot wingspans, according to the fossil evidence.

They also know how to "play the game." I've watched them many times patrolling the edge of ponds since they know that's "where the action is," during their hunts for prey.

This is an excellent book on indentifying these important insects. If I remember right, 30 or 40 species get covered, which is a good number, and the photos and descriptions are excellent. I found it an excellent guide to learn from and to improve my knowledge of this area, my main interest being in botany, and in identifying flowers, trees, and fungi. This is the best book I've seen on this specialized topic.

As a beginner in the study of these fascinating and beautiful creatures, I found this book clear, concise, and easy to understand and use. The text is simple and complete, and the illustrations are excellent. The small size of the volume makes it fit easily into your pocket for quick reference. Anyone interested in dragonflies will find the book an absolute MUST!

This is really nice field guide to have. The photographs are great. Each entry is succint and includes one or two photographs together with a bold line the length of the dragonfly and printed in one of the dominant colors of the dragonfly. There is a checklist in the back so that you can keep track of what you see, and the introductory information in the front of the book is well-written. Though I bought this book for myself, I think that it also would make a great field guide for a child since the book is small, easy to use, and the photos are clear and attractive. It is well worth the price.

Common Dragonflies of California is an uncommon book. Full of sound advice and chock full of excellent color photos, this book will be of great interest to any California nature lover. I am the kind of person who loves to know the name of every tree, shrub, flower, reptile, bird and fish that I see. Now that I have this little jewel, I'm going to learn how to identify the dragonflies too. The more we learn about nature, the more enjoyment we get from it. I highly recommend this fine book! I expect it would make a great present too, for the right person. Tom Ogren, author of Allergy-Free Gardening

Great Conga book. Was recommended to me by others. The only thing that I don't like about this books is that it doesn't use standard notation.

I found this book invaluable for learning the basics of conga drumming without a teacher. I used it for several months before hitting my first conga class, and was really glad I had worked with the book. I was able to pick up right away with the rest of the class on several of the rhythms. However, I will warn anyone using the book that this drumming world is steeped with "variations". That is, you'll frequently find that your teacher is using a slightly different variation than the one taught in the book. This is fine, however, since it's usually easy to alter what you're doing slightly.

One of the more impressive aspects of the methods in this book is the holistic approach, for example, teaching how to feel the clave underneath the rhythms you're playing. The book also does about as good a job as any book can at teaching the hand technique, although I highly recommend complementing this with good videos of accomplished conga players. Youtube, for example, is a great resource. Here again, though, you will find different philosophies of technique, and again your teacher may have his own emphasis.

This book is extremely readable and it teaches you terrific grooves right from the get-go. I'm a pianist who has decided to learn some percussion and I am having a blast learning to play the conga. Even my non-musician girlfriend has learned some of this stuff!

Very recommended! I think Alan Dworsky used a very clear graphic way of teaching the Conga playing, without getting into music reading instead, he uses symbols for the diferent strokes, and easy numbers. It is great for begginers but stil a good book for advanced players, because it goes through many aspects of the conga.
If you are into conga playing, get this book for the price of half a conga lesson I am sure you will get some mileage out of it. I have been playing congas for years and I discovered a few things in this book I didn't know. Go for it! (...)

I agree with all the other reviewers... this is a great book for beginners and advanced (as well as folks somewhere in the middle, like me).

One thing I didn't expect to like, since I can read regular music notation, was their concocted music notation. To my surprise, I like theirs better. It's very intuitive, and after a while, you can pretty much sight-read the rhythms. If I hear/see a conga pattern I like in the future, I'll probably write it down using their notation.

This is the second series of "Rainbow Magic" fairy books written by Daisy Meadows, picking up where the seven-part Rainbow Fairies series left off. These books are innocent and engaging, focusing on two young girls, Kirsty and Rachel, who meet while on vacation with their parents, and are drawn into the magical world of the fairies, who are in conflict with the mischievous Jack Frost. The structure of this series is nearly identical to the first: the girls are given a quest in which they must help seven fairies (each with sparkles aplenty and cute, super-girly outfits and princess-y names such as Hayley, Heather, Iris, Amber and Iris... ) who have been bothered by Jack and his goblin helpers. In each book they complete one part of the quest and meet one new fairy.

It is important to know going in that these books are interconnected -- each individual volume ties in with the others, so you will want to start with book #1, then go on to #2, etc. The plots are not very complicated, but they do make reference to each other, and the idea is to read them all together.

The other thing to know is that these books are not very scary or troubling - there is action, but not much real danger (the goblins are easily beaten, and not very frightening) so if you are looking for longer narratives for young kids to read, but don't want anything disturbing, this series is good option. One criticism is that the books are pretty WASP-y, and while a couple of the fairies might be seen as Asian, basically the entire series takes place in an all-white, middle-class world, populated with thin, blonde girls and a few brunettes. Other than that, though, this is a good series for families looking for light, engaging, age-appropriate stories. Not much depth, but they are very readable and engaging. (ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

My Daughter Loves this book & looks forward to read the rest of the series. Its very easy to read.

My daughter liked Crystal so much she wanted to get the rest of the weather fairies. We have since bought the Rainbow Fairies and Jewel Fairies. She loves reading them! They are captivating and have super illustrations. She also enjoyed Holly The Christmas Fairy as a Christmas surprise!

My seven-year old daughter Clare has read 12 books by Daisy Meadows and we've ordered several more. She especially liked Crystal the Snow Fairy. It has great pictures. Some of her other favorites include: Pearl the Cloud Fairy and Heather the Violet Fairy. What a great series!

I love this book! I would recommend this book for ages 5 and up. In this book Jack Frost's evil goblins stole Doodle's, the rooster who gives the weather faries their weather feathers so they can control the weather in FairyLand, tail feathers which are the weather feathers! Kirsty and Rachel are best friends, who are friends with the fairies so they can help! Their first mission is in this book when they have to find Crystal the snow fairies weather feather. Read this book to find out more!

The colorful language in this book hits just the right tone for the re-telling of a beloved tale, and the accompanying pictures are delightful. This got two thumbs up from our 4 1/2 year old, who is a pretty discriminating reader!

This is a wonderful redo to the classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Here we have a western flavor thrown in and our heroine is a grubby little girl with really bad manners. The whole twist on the story is an absolute hoot, right down to the author's syntax. The illustrations are absolutely great and go with the story perfectly. I have read this story to second, third and forth graders and they all loved it. I must admit to this being one of my favorites and I usually don't like it when someone misses with a classic. In this case the author and illustrator were able to pull it off. I actually think this one might be better than the first. At the very least, kids can relate to it better. I cannot recommend this one highly enough.

One of the five year olds in my Pre K class gave me a standing ovation after I read this and the rest of the class listened intently. Fun to read and fun to hear! A must have.

It stands to reason that if you're going to redo the classic story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" then you need some kind of a hook. First of all, the story's a classic lesson in rudeness. Goldilocks is rude rude rude. So why not go a step further? Why not make her rude AND stinky? Better yet, rude, stinky, AND mean to her mama? And if you're going to do all that, you'd best be changing her name as well. Goldilocks? Heck no. This child is now Dusty Locks. Now place this entire story in the West, somewhere around Colorado maybe, and you've got yourself one heckuva story. Author Susan Lowell and illustrator Randy Cecil have come together to tell a version of Goldilocks that surpasses the original. You want to tell the story of the three bears but do it in a fun way that kids are sure to love? "Dusty Locks" has your number.

Now what kind of bears live out west? Grizzly bears, that's who. So three cowboy boot wearing, vest doffing, huge belt buckle sporting bears one day go for a walk. While they do so, the nefarious Dusty Locks, outfitted in grass-stained overalls and oversized boots of her own, breaks into their home. After all, "those grizzlies were fine, upstanding, law-abiding critters, honest as the day is long, and they never locked their door". More fool they, for Dusty begins to meticulously tear apart their little home. First she devours their beans. I liked the detail that the great big grizzly bear liked his beans, "chock-full of chile peppers". Then she pounds their chairs into smithereens. Finally, she proceeds to find somewhere to sleep and rest her weary rotten little head. The bears return, discover the destruction in full, and wake the stinky gal up. After she flees home her mother loves her into an entirely new little girl and the bears never saw her again, "or if they did... they never recognized her".

Much like fellow drawl-infused picture book, "Swamp Angel" by Anne Isaacs, this book is a pleasure to read aloud. From the gruff big bear to the squeaky little bear to the southern ladylike mama bear, you can get a lot of mileage from this puppy. Couple that with Randy Cecil's inventive illustrations and you've got yourself a magnificent storytime tale. Cecil's pictures seem cartoony and none too inventive at first. But then you start noticing little details here and there. For example, why do the three bears have three chairs to sit on? To play their instruments and sing at night, of course. How does Dusty Locks stumble on their abode? She (evil child that she is) chases a skunk there. A skunk, I might add, that pops up more than once throughout this story. So with funny pictures and a one-of-a-kind narrative voice this book's a surefire winner with any childlike crew. Consider it recommended tenfold, and then some.

I am an elementary art teacher and I checked out this book from my school library to read to my 3rd grade classes before they started work on fairy tale puppets. We all loved it! So I brought it home for my husband and my infant son. My 10 month old sat through the book with out a peep -except for giggles- over and over again. So we bought it for my husband for father's day. I am ordering more books by this author right away. It is just so fun to read it with a southern drawl and do all those crazy bear voices! I also love the illustrations. The characters have great facial expressions! I LOVE THIS BOOK! BUY IT RIGHT AWAY!

Adorable pictures and rhymes, and the 2-year old I read it to, loves piping in with the "achoos".

My son is now 3-1/2, and this has been one of his favorite books for nearly 2 years. He can recite the whole book along with me. I like it too, for the colorful pictures and clever rhymes. Where else are you going to see "gift" rhymed with "sniffed"? A very cute book!

My 3 year old loves this book. It's my favorite too. It's so easy for my son to remember the words because of the rhyme plus the illustration shows him what happens when Elmo says "Achoo!". My son loves saying the "Achoo!" part everytime we read it and we giggle everytime. It's a fun book to read. I highly recommend it.

My 19 month old daughter LOVES this book. It's been her favorite for several weeks and I'm not tired of reading it either! I chose it because I heard them read it to her daycare class and all the kids loved it!!

This is my Baby Daughter's absolute favorite book. I bought it when she was five months old, because she had the Chicken Elmo toy that she really liked. She just loves this book. She's eight months old and it's really the only book that captures her full attention. (The Hungry Caterpillar comes in second.) We've tried buying other Elmo books, but she's just not as interested in them.

This book lets you teach 49 vowel-spellings with 257 vocabulary words.

We have the three-pack set of Voyage to the Bunny Planet. First Tomato is my 3 year old daughter's favorite story. We read it last night, and she had to have tomato soup for lunch today. But after she had looked at the bowl for a minute she said, "But mom, you forgot to say you love me so!" So I had to say, "I've made you first tomato soup because I love you so." That made it perfect. Every parent and child will love the cozy, comforting stories that rescue the characters from their realistic, very ordinary bad days. They are a joy.

I have a friend who actually reads "First Tomato," the first visit to the Bunny Planet written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, to her bunnies. A friend gave her the book as something of a joke present, since my friend has bunnies but no children, but she really likes this book. Like all great children's literature it has that special something that immediately grabs you. Claire does not have a good day at school and needs a visit to the Bunny Planet: "Far beyond the moon and stars, Twenty light-years south of Mars, Spins the gentle Bunny Planet, And the Bunny Queen is Janet." Just the idea of the Bunny Planet is enough to make a child smile and you know that it is a marvelous place where fun things happen. But who would expect that what awaits our heroine is a ruby red tomato? There is nothing like the simple logic of a child's mind and Rosemary Wells story speaks to it perfectly. As for how it speaks to the mind of a bunny, I leave that to your imagination.

Of the three Bunny Planet books, this one is definitely the hands-down favorite for both me and my daughter, who is not yet 2-1/2. I love the way the text changes from normal speech to lilting rhythms after Queen Janet shows Claire "the day that should have been." The phrase "because I love you so" quickly became a part of my toddler's speech as well as my own.

I'd like to add that the 4-8 age range suggestion is too restrictive--this is a picture book that toddlers AND their parents will thoroughly appreciate. Let's face it, we ALL deserve a visit to the Bunny Planet!!

In our family, First Tomato is a favorite. For my daughter, who is named Claire, the book was a thrill as a 3-year-old. She was sure it was written about her! For my son, the book captured the frustrations of a kid in school who has everything go bad. For my husband and myself, "bunny planet" is our secret phrase for where we want to go when life with the business gets tough. Wells is a wonderful and magical author. You must read everyone of her books!

I was lost. I had just read Al Gore's book, Earth in the Balance, and, of course, I was shocked at what we are doing to the earth, and how it is being destructed. I decided that I wanted to start an advocacy organization. But where to start? I was troubled. In a Las Vegas, Nevada bookstore I found answers to my problems. A book on how to cope with the woes of starting an advocacy organization, that gave tips on anything ranging from student rights to lobbying. This book is highly informative, yet Seo talks about everything with such a great blend of comic satire, that the hard facts never became lectures. All of these tips coming from a master protester and veteran of the business. As a thirteen year old who is highly concerned about the environment I would give this book five stars. As a learned scholar who has read many texts, the rating remains five stars. Whether kid or adult, you are sure to love this Seo "thriller".

Rarely do you find a book that talks about ACTION instead of PROBLEMS. Danny Seo's "Generation React" provides inspring ideas and practical information on how to change the world around you, whether you are an activist or not. The author shows that everyone can make a difference, no matter how old you are. The amazing truth is, what Danny has done can be and could have been done by anyone else. To quote Danny's description of starting Earth 2000 at age 12, "Sure, we couldn't drive -- heck, we couldn't even cross the street -- but we had the three things every great activit group needs: dedication, enthusiasm, and tenacity." It's simple. Everyone can do it. So read it, be inspired, take action, and make the world a better place.

This book is for anybody who wants to make a change in their global or local world, not just teens. Though Danny's only 20, he knows more from his time as an activist than most people three times his age. If you are unhappy about anything from a problem with your town or school to the nation's environmental policies, this book gives the nuts and bolts of how you personally can make a change. It's wonderful to see someone who cares and is doing something about it. Danny should be a role model for any concerned citizen of any age - and his book should go on to become THE reference guide for a generation.

I was lost. I had just read Al Gore's book, Earth in the Balance, and, of course, I was shocked at what we are doing to the earth, and how it is being destructed. I decided that I wanted to start an advocacy organization. But where to start? I was troubled. In a Las Vegas, Nevada bookstore I found answers to my problems. A book on how to cope with the woes of starting an advocacy organization, that gave tips on anything ranging from student rights to lobbying. This book is highly informative, yet Seo talks about everything with such a great blend of comic satire, that the hard facts never became lectures. All of these tips coming from a master protester and veteran of the business. As a thirteen year old who is highly concerned about the environment I would give this book five stars. As a learned scholar who has read many texts, the rating remains five stars. Whether kid or adult, you are sure to love this Seo "thriller".

I saw Danny Seo on an old re-run of Leeza during a summer-camp break. (We never watch day time TV) & called my daughter to come listen. We then bought the book & read it together. Reading of this book should be a school project or requirement...it will produce softer, gentler more caring kids & transform them into bright young active citizens. I will send this book to school for her second grade class teacher to have a peak at & hopefully she can do something & perhaps create a "learning-sharing project" for the kids....maybe near Thanksgiving or Earth Day??

Because her kids demand that she read this book to them everynight before bed. It's gross kid humor, but the story is too cute to dismiss.

My eight-year old son loves these books. He is not an avid reader, so it is wonderful when we come across a series that excites him. I only wish that they would publish more!

I hope more Stinky Boys Club books are written because they are great. All kids would enjoy them alot

I like this book so much. I don't know which Stinky Boys Club books is best they are all so funny. I think all kids would enjoy them especially the fart parts.

I'm pretty sure I have never written a review for any books other than the three Stinky Boys Books. I love them, my kids LOVE them. They are all equally funny. My two sons (even my 13 year old) recite lines from the Stinky Boys Club books by heart around the house. If I didn't think they were so funny, I'd probably be sick of hearing about them. My 10 year old brought them to his class (fifth grade) and the teacher liked them so much he told the librarian about them. And my god daughters love them as much as my sons do. Thank you to the authors.

My 7yr old son and I made this book our Daily Devotional before school each day this year. With about 7 more days to go....on May 14, 2008 my son asked Jesus to come into his heart and decided to accept Him as his Savior.

This book blessed our family in a big way. We've now started from the beginning all over again....and now my son garners even more from it.

Reviewed by: Stephanie Rollins for ReviewYourBook.com 1/2008

Sheri Rose Shepherd wrote a book for little girls, instructing them on how to be God's princess. I loved that one! I was really excited to receive His Mighty Warrior. The concept is the same. This is a book to teach boys how to be followers of Christ by leading a life full of righteousness.
This book tells the readers how much God loves them. He does want the best for each child. His Mighty Warrior addresses money, parents, respect, anger, teachers, death, and rejection. Each letter from God addresses the reader as a mighty warrior that God both loves and respects. After each letter is a prayer to God.
Isaac (age 2) is a bit young to fully grasp the greatness of His Mighty Warrior. However, I will keep this. This book is relevant for elementary school children, college students, and every age in between.
This book would make a great gift. For any rite of passage, such as christenings, baptisms, and graduation, this book is an ideal gift. This also would be welcomed as a baby shower gift. I love this book!

This book is great! It is a wonderful way to teach God's truth to young boys. It is very interesting to young kids, and it is very age-appropriate. It addresses God's purpose for their lives and how to live for Him. I highly recommend this book.

I bought this for my 9 year old son (and it's princess counterpart for my 4 year old daughter). I have found it to be a wonderful part to add to our bedtime routine that doesn't take long but imparts profound wisdom. The letters to the boys "from God" really speak to their identities as young men and gives a parent the opportunity to put to words the different personality traits we hope our children grow up with.

My son, who I struggle with to get him to read, couldn't put the book down. He kept saying "Mom, I'm on page 9!" "Now I'm on page 30"
His eyes were full and he kept smiling. He knew it was God speaking to him telling him what his purpose in life is. That God needs and depends on him. Most importantly, that my son is not in it alone. That God is with him every step of the way.
My son feels so loved from reading that book.
Kids need to feel important by their parents but when they know God thinks their princes and princesses. Wow! Nothing can top that.

Horrible Harry is a good book because Harry gets in a lot of trouble. Once you read all the books you will see that he is not very horrible at all. His books have lots of information. Horrible harry has a lot of exciement in his books and he gets scared when he gets in trouble. I wish I can have as much fun as he does.

Horrible Harry is a good book because Harry gets in a lot of trouble. Once you read all the books you will see that he is not very horrible at all. His books have lots of information. Horrible harry has a lot of exciement in his books and he gets scared when he gets in trouble. I wish I can have as much fun as he does.

Horrible Harry and the Dungeon is a good book. I like Horrible Harry books they are good. I would recommend this book because it is like an adventure at school. I think it would be pretty cool if we could do fun things like that at my school.

I like it when Doug thought Harry might get chains on his hands. Becauase Harry got in trouble.
You should really read it. It is really fun. But I cant believe Harry and the teacher talked about fruit! It was wierd!
By Jennae

Horrible Harry and the Dungeon is a story that gives a realistic view of young children. In this story Harry, like most children his age, lets his imagination run wild. The principal has instituted a detention room for children who do not follow the rules. Harry and his buddy have decided that the detention room must be a dungeon. When presented with an opportunity to visit the dungeoun Harry can't resist. Horrible Harry allows the reader to follow as Harry learns a valuable lesson and has a change of heart. This is a great story for young children who will be able to relate to all the characters in Room B.