Beginners Books

I loved this book growing up, and longed to be strong like Squeakers and share my abuse with a loving adult. Finding it again I can now be sure that my children, when they come, will have the courage and understanding to deal with situations that hurt them.

My mom and Dad gave me this book when I was about five years old and to this day I remember how much it meant to me. I understood the message even though I had never experienced any form of abuse. I think this is a book all parents should get for their children - it is a great way to let them know they can come to you no matter what and to approach a very disturbing topic - This book has never left me I am so glad I found it again!!

Squeekers is an excellent way to start a conversation withchildren about abuse and saying no to peer pressure. It makes iteasier for parents to talk to their kids about a very tough topic.

A survivor of abuse myself I wanted a way to teach my children that I want them to learn to say "no" if they have to. I also wanted to teach them we would support them no matter what. This book is such a beautiful way to do that. The art and story are written for just them. All of the Serendipity Books deal with issues that face children in a way that they can feel safe and stronger for reading them. I strongly urge anyone interested in buying these books to do so. You will not be dissapointed.

This is one of the best books I have ever seen for young children who have either been abused or could be. It alerts young children of the dangers of "secrets" that are hallmarks of child abuse either about to happen or having already occurred. It also provides encouragement to those children who have already been abused to start talking about the abuse with an adult who can do something to help them. I have even see this story provide assistance for adults who have abuse issues to deal with.

I enjoy this stories at the age of 60 plus almost as much as my grandchildren have over the years. Each one of the Serendipity Series has beautiful and imaginative illustrations to go along with tales that always have an important lesson to teach.

I'm so surprised this is out of print - it's a great book for rhyming and reading ! Bookstores say the get many requests for it - wonder how we can get another edition run.
It's delightful.

This book is the one I remember most from childhood -- the images,the fun! You're child will love this book for YEARS. Am ordering two - for my 25 month old niece, and for my baby-to-be.

Every year my first grade students tell me this is a great story. The book rhymes and the children love the rhyme. The children love the illustrations and the action that happens to the main characters ball.

The problem with this book is that kids love it--but it's torture for parents. It's like the Monty python joke that never ends, or like a Kafkaesque tunnel with no apparent termination. While your child sits enthralled with the repetitive, bizarre narrative, you will be rubbing your face in misery, JUST WANTING IT TO END. Other than that, it's an OK book, I guess.

Stop that ball is an hilarious story about a boy that is playing tether ball when all of the sudden, he knocks the ball off and follows it on an adventure all over town. The red ball gets into all kinds of silly trouble with the boy always one step behind. The ending with the little neighbor girl is classic. I have read this book to kids of all ages and we always have a great time. A fantastic story start to finish!!!

Susan laughs, sings, cries, is happy & sad, waves, paints, grins - just like most children. The end picture you see her sitting in a wheelchair with the words "That is Susan through and through - just like me, just like you."
Very simply, but effectively, written. As a Nursery Nurse I have used this book in the nursery, particularly when I have had SEN children in the class. The picture of Susan in her wheelchair always generates surprise. It provides discussion on what can be a difficult subject, helping to teach understanding and care.
Highly recommended.
One Starry Night: Stop and Smell the Roses Series (Stop and Smell the Roses)

Amazon is so great. I can get the item within a week.
(Standard International Shipping From USA to Hong Kong)

I personally found Susan Laughs to be a wonderful book and an excellent addition to any classroom. The book itself is fun to read with rhyming words and expressive pictures. Children would easily be engaged by the rhythm of the text and the interest created by the illustrations.

The purpose of this book is to show that the character, Susan, is like all children, she is good, she is bad, she is strong, she is weak. I appreciate the perspective of her that is developed of her leading up the last page. Of course, the last page of the book reveals that Susan actually had a wheelchair.

I think this book could be used as an excellent tool to facilitate conversations in a classroom about a child that may be coming to your classroom that uses a wheelchair. The book could also be easily tailored to talk specifically about a particular child by simply changing the name as your read the story.

I would encourage all teachers to include books such as Susan Laughs in their classroom library regardless of whether they have a student in their class that uses a wheelchair or not.

Susan is so much fun! I wish I had a friend who was so willing to try new and exciting things. Congratulations to the author for recognizing that children with disabilities must be presented as any other children would be: active, energetic, involved and above all else, fun!

The perfect marriage of art and words, Susan Laughs blends pastel crayon illustrations and two-words-a-page text into a delightful read. With such meager text, the book relies on the illustrations. Somehow the pictures seem European, and when one discovers that the author and illustrator are both from England, it confirms the impression. Susan's piquant face and the idyllic landscapes remind me of the Madeline series, with softer colors.

The plotless `story' follows Susan through school days, home days, park visits and pony rides: "Susan trots, Susan rows, Susan paints, Susan throws". Only on the last page do we discover why this is a special needs book - Susan uses a wheelchair. The message is brought home, "That is Susan through and through - just like me, just like you." I was compelled to backtrack through the book looking for pictures of Susan doing all these things. In none of them is she standing unassisted, but the reader doesn't notice any of this until it's brought into focus in the final panel. Does one's opinion of Susan's abilities change after learning this? Not really, and that's why the book succeeds.

How can anyone not love Amelia Bedelia? The entire series is great and kids love the humor involved.

Amazing news! Amelia Bedelia has been mistaken as the new classroom teacher, and you just know she will take her duties very seriously. Look out! Amelia will follow every direction to the letter, and amaze every student with her interpretation of schoolwork.

There are lots of laughs here for young readers!

Recommended!

amelia bedelia is teaching a classroom but she does everything wrong but in such a funny way! Calling the roll, practicing a "play", "painting" pictures, planting "bulbs" and literally doing math problems with apples has never been funnier than in this book! Read it and you'll see why

One day, while Amelia Bedelia, the housekeeper who literally takes everything literally, was cleaning, the phone rang. It was Mrs. Rogers, calling from the airport. She was supposed to meet the new teacher, but the plane was late. To further complicate matters the phone was out at the school. Mrs. Rogers wants Amelia to go by the school and tell them the teacher will not be there today. Amelia attempts to do just that, but the principal mistakes her for the new teacher and that's when all the fun starts. Amelia Bedelia teaching a classroom full of children, imagine that. Well, my almost three-year-old son Devon and I imagine it all the time.

Devon already knows his letters, upper and lower case. He knows they make words and he loves to sit while I read Amelia Bedelia stories to him. We've been doing it for over a year now. At first I made up the story line as his didn't have the attention span or the ability to understand. Now I've started reading, pointing to the words as I go along. Ms. Parish has written an excellent series for children and in this one, Lynn Sweat's illustrations set off Amelia's tales to a tee. If you want your toddler to read early, and I do, then this is a series for you.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

One day, while Amelia Bedelia, the housekeeper who literally takes everything literally, was cleaning, the phone rang. It was Mrs. Rogers, calling from the airport. She was supposed to meet the new teacher, but the plane was late. To further complicate matters the phone was out at the school. Mrs. Rogers wants Amelia to go by the school and tell them the teacher will not be there today. Amelia attempts to do just that, but the principal mistakes her for the new teacher and that's when all the fun starts. Amelia Bedelia teaching a classroom full of children, imagine that. Well, my almost three-year-old son Devon and I imagine it all the time.

Devon already knows his letters, upper and lower case. He knows they make words and he loves to sit while I read Amelia Bedelia stories to him. We've been doing it for over a year now. At first I made up the story line as his didn't have the attention span or the ability to understand. Now I've started reading, pointing to the words as I go along. Ms. Parish has written an excellent series for children and in this one, Lynn Sweat's illustrations set off Amelia's tales to a tee. If you want your toddler to read early, and I do, then this is a series for you.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

This book is unique, has great colors and pictures, and is a fast, fun read for any little one. It's one of our favorites and is a must-have in your child's library.

Although I am not a mother myself, I can appreciate the excitement children of all ages can feel when they guess themselves through 'What is it?'. We all appreciate being rewarded when we do well and in this book, what can be better than learning by being rewarded with each page of colourful and fun illustrations?

What a wonderful book! So simple, yet so fun. My squirmy two year old instantly loved it and insisted we read it time and again. I can tell it will be one of those books he spends time "reading" alone in his bed. Hope for more from Amy Allen!

I have an 8 month old son who can't get enough of this book. He loves it! I think he also likes the way it tastes. :-) We are probably going to have to buy another one because he keeps eating the corners.

We have to read it at least 3 times in a row every time he sees it.

Could you write some more books like this one please??!!!

When I first read "What is it" my children instantly took to it. They are 5, 3 and 2 and it is a favorite of all of them. So much so that I had to purchase one for each as they would fight over it! We have read it so many times that they now "read " it to me, which isn't a difficult task as it is very age appropriate. It gives them a huge self-esteem boost to think they are really reading it "like mommy and daddy". We love the simplicity and surprise of each page. I am going to add it to my gift giving list for all my friends with little ones!

I read this book to my son's kindergarten class and they all loved it. They were very excited while I read the story! All of Keiko Kasza'a books are great!!!

I found this story to be very clever and funny. My 3 1/2 yr son thoroughly enjoyed the main character, the wolf, who at first is the typical wolf but shows his loving and caring character at the end. My son enjoyed this story not only for its humor but also because the wolf is so likable. Keiko Kasza's other similar book, Lucky Day, is also funny but my son did not find it as enjoyable simply it didn't have that same likable main character.

The students love this book, we usually read it on 100's day, and hide chicks around the room. The students enjoy how the author always makes the prey in her books smarter than the hunters.

This terrific book says alot with few words. The watercolor pictures are beautiful, and the text is carefully written. We adore the picture of the wolf carrying a 100 pound cake to fatten up the chicken before he eats her. The ending is so sweet it leaves you feeling like life is great. I consider this one of my favorite read alouds.

With all the wonderful picture books out there for children, it seems silly to say that children need only one book on such n' such a topic. Unfortunately, that's sometimes how my little mind works. Take, for example, this book. Now I had been familiar with the amazingly funny and well-written, "My Lucky Day" by Keiko Kasza. What I didn't know was that almost ten years before its publication, Kasza preceded her modern-day classic with something called, "The Wolf's Chicken Stew". Intrigued by other works by this author/illustrator, I decided to seek out this earlier work. After all, "The Wolf's Chicken Stew" appears on the New York Public Library's list of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know. Unfortunately, my reaction was akin to those fans who listen to an artist's mature works and then go back to that same artist's earlier (and weaker) material. Using almost exactly the same formula that would later appear in "My Lucky Day", Kasza tries to send up the classic predator/prey fight for supremacy with a twist at the end. But instead of knowing laughs, we're left with a sweet but weak finish.

Says the book, "There once lived a wolf who loved to eat more than anything else in the world". Some of us can sympathize. When he spots a lone chicken ah-walkin' in the woods one day, the wolf sets his heart on a delicious chicken stew. Just the same, he can't deny that the chicken is a scrawny critter. One that undoubtedly needs some fattening up. So off the wolf goes to bake some tasty treats to fill the chicken's belly. He whips up 100 pancakes, 100 doughnuts, and "a scrumptious cake weighing a hundred pounds". Each gift is left on the chicken's doorstep and when he believes the time is right, the wolf peers into bird's home only to be welcome by a still thin chicken. The reason for this is clear enough. It appears that Ms. Chicken has quite a brood of young. The baby chicks thank the wolf profusely and instead of popping them in his mouth, the soft-hearted fellow finds himself charmed and thinking about possibly baking them a hundred scrumptious cookies in the future. The last shot in the book is of a basket filled with cookies and various fluffy chicks vying for a treat.

The ending is unexpected and kids will love the abrupt turnaround the wolf goes through. He starts out snarky and ends up a softy. Kids love it when supposedly "bad" characters go through this kind of redemption. I was impressed especially with Kasza's grasp of subtle words and phrases that dot this book. You don't find the term "scrumptious" in every book (though you probably should) and certainly not in the ones that come from authors that are just as comfortable writing in Japanese as they are English. The illustrations compliment the text beautifully. The wolf is both menacing and oddly fuzzy. Even when he is mere steps away from the oblivious fowl in his pounce position, you never really fear that he's gonna go through with it. Kasza shades and details her pictures with delightful watercolors. You can detect shadows in the wolf's thick fur and every last doughnut is nicely rounded.

Of course, I much prefer "My Lucky Day". THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of picture book brilliance. Just the same, there's a lot to be said for "The Wolf's Chicken Stew". It's fun and funny to the kiddies and has all the makings of a fine family classic. Definitely a pick that would be better for younger picture book readers than older ones. A good readaloud to groups of little ones as well.

My son loves mysteries and we have been delighted with the Cam Jansen books. In this one she must not only use her great photographic memory but also a little deducing to figure out the culprit that took the cookie. Recommended for ages 5-8 years.

My daughter is 5 (almost 6) and in kindergarten. She progressed very quickly this year from sounding out words, to reading simple picture books to needing something at the next level - easy enough that she could read it on her own but more challenging, with a real plot. I went to the library and read and looked at a lot of books with her - Magic Treehouse, Cam Jansen (the older version), Junie B. Jones - and found that Young Cam Jensen was just right (as they say!) - it captured her interest, she can read one in one or two sittings, and she has a great feeling of acocmplishment since it's a "big-kid" chapter book. Once she's read through this series I think she'll be ready for the others I mentioned, which are just a bit too hard for her to read on her own now. (Personally I find the writing flat and dull - I prefer the books we read together, like Roald Dahl - but she's happy!)

I have a 2nd grader who is an average reader. We have a great time readying these together. It's fun but also gives her a bit of a challenge. She feels great as she can now read "Chapter" books! LOVE THE SERIES!

Cam is a woderful girl, helps people uncover mysteries and finding things.Cam's amazing memory clicks into action"Cam jansen can find mysteries everywhere even in the store, inside a classroom or in a house.In young Cam Jansen and the missing cookie Cam is finding out who stoled Jasons with what? if you know if you want to know who stoled Jason's cookie read this Cam Jansen book.Who do you think is going to be? I like this book so much that I didn't want to put it down because Cam Jansen are my favorite books.I love Cam Jansen books and I want to read them all beacause I only read 3 books so far.I recomend this book to everyone and anyone who likes to read Cam Jansen books and the people who likes mysteries.

You have to love Cam Jansen. When you're a kid, you read all of these stories about magic powers, mystery, and adventure. But everyone tells you magic can't exist. Cam Jansen manages to solve every case without the use of magic... she's a real girl. That's what makes her special and what makes you want to red more and more. Cam Jansen is a real kid superhero, and the thought that a person like her could actually exist... makes her the best kid detective ever!

If you trying to make a transition to non-fiction for your young one,nothing could beat this book.Real photography complement the beautiful illustrations along with a fun storyline which is sure to appeal to your young one.Without sounding preaching or boring, it teaches the young ones to respect nature and the varied life that goes along with it..

I also love the local art depicted in the footnotes.

If you're going on a safari and you you have small children - it's unlikely that you're packing them and taking them with you. So this book was great to help the kids (and us) see what we would experience on safari. Upon return, I see how much the book really does mirror what happens on a typical vacation/safari.

Also, educational for kids.

Uncle Max takes Riley on a child's dream tour-a South African safari. Smart cartoon figures overlay outback snapshots, including interesting facts and figures. We like that the story flows through each page, while the illustrations aren't overburdened with educational information. A handy glossary tells us what we need to know, and there's even a pullout passport in the back.

This book is wonderful! I would recommend it to anyone with young children.

Love this book, so does my Daughter. I've read it to her hundreds of times and I still enjoy the zen-ness of this book. Great twist on an age old tale.

Beautiful pictures and simply written story. It's a great story about patience and perseverance, and the pictures keep the kids (2&3 yrs old)engaged. They want it as a bed time story ever night.

As a mother of a 2 year old who is half Tibetan, I am a ravenous consumer of children's books that relate to this culture. This is our most often read book in that collection! The simple, timeless message is presented so beautifully and in a way that is easily accessable to even very young children, yet profound enough to engage all readers. When we first started reading this book at night, my son began building "the Holy city of Lhasa" with legos and blocks and having his little people make the long journey there. It certainly has made an impact upon him!

This is a gorgeous book, with a beautiful story. My 2 year old daughter wants to read it every single night.

A beautifully illustrated book for children of all ages. My three year old and 1 yr. old both love it. The artwork is ethereal yet engaging. A must-have for any child's collection.

Almost every page in my copy of this book is stained from being used in the kitchen. This book provides some of the most basic , perfect-every-time recipes you can find...cheese pie, clam chowder, creamy onion soup, chinese noodle salad, quiche, roasted chicken and more. It has a wonderful glossary, a great section on vegetables including how to buy them and variations on preparation. This would be a wonderful gift, paired with a new cooking tool for the aspiring young cook/chef.

I am the kind of cook who routinely misreads tbl. for tsp., wonders how long "browning" should take (and keeps poking to see what the underside looks like), and tries to substitute ingredients--all with disasterous results. The Basic Gourmet has been a lifesaver for me in this regard: it tells me exactly what I need to know when I need to know it, and it doesn't leave me guessing or, god forbid, interpreting.

The book's first section lists and discusses equipment in detail, setting a teacherly--not bossy or condescending--tone that continues throughout its many delicious recipes, each of which is followed by tidbits such as when you might want to substitute one herb for another, what might make a good accompaniment, etc. The book is detailed and packed full of tips and suggestions, but it doesn't bury the information so that a beginning cook can't see the forrest for the trees. From scrambled eggs and omlet flipping techniques to stuffed pork chops, this cookbook covers all the basics while managing to treat its readers like the potential gourmands they are: even the scrambled egg recipe makes me feel like I'm sitting down to really appreciate a meal rather than taking baby steps or just "making do" for dinner that night. The authors anticipate common mistakes and questions, explain their terminology, give a range of preferred options for altering a recipe, and, best of all, have included all the information you need for each recipe with the recipe itself--not in an index or introductory section somewhere else in the book.

I love my Joy of Cooking, and I refer to it and the Silver Palate often, but this is the cookbook that I learned from and to which I regularly return. This is a great cookbook for beginners, well-conceived and well-executed, and very well designed.

As a cook who has over 15 cookbooks this is the one I reach for most often. The recipes are simple but exceptionally tasteful. An experienced cook will find a multitude of useful variations and substitutions listed for each recipe, as well as forgotten techniques. For once there is a whole cookbook full of items you can find in a regular supermarket.

The beginning cook will appreciate this beautifully photographed book. In addition to 100 simple recipes, complete with variations and tips, the book offers advice on cookware, terms and ingredients, buying and cooking vegetables, fresh fish, even eggs.

Many recipes include information on freezing, doing ahead and cutting calories. Well-organized and easy to use, featuring dishes as simple as roast chicken or mashed potatoes, as impressive as chilled salmon with mayonnaise, and as hearty as braised lamb shanks, this is an all-round useful and attractive volume

This is great cookbook for dedicated beginners who want to learn to really cook not just get by. The recipes are varied and once you master them are easily adapted and changed around to suite your sense of adventure. The zucchini bread and chocolate gingerbread are always a hit and the tabbouleh page is the dirtiest page in the book...always a sign of a good cookbook...pages that stick together!