Beginners Books

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books, Florrie Binford-Kichler
Founder of Patria Press, Inc. - an award-winning independent publisher, President of PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book is an honored recipient of this distinguished award.

hey this has some coolio illustrations in it huh aneurin?!I like illustrating too). The storyline is unusual so I'm sure it will be very popular!Sarah is Aneurin's aunt too!!! buybuybuybuy!!its worth it!!! 5 stars!!!

August 30, 2004

Nine-year-old Riley travels to Brazil to visit his uncle Max, aunt Martha, and cousin Alice. While sightseeing Riley and Alice spot some unfamiliar animals called Capybara's. They follow them. Without realizing the children have strayed too far from camp. In their quest to find home Riley and Alice encounter the many wonders of the Amazon.

This is a delightful book that children as well as adults will enjoy. Teachers and librarians everywhere can also use the Adventures of Riley -- Amazon River Rescue, as a great learning tool!

The book contains a glossary, hidden compass and a passport to Riley's world. A portion of the proceeds will also go to help save animals.

Reviewed by Betsie

The storyline of this book is amazing but the illustrations are out of this world! ( By the way my aunt, Sarah, illustates them!) I would by this book now! 5 stars!

This work certainly may be aimed at children but I was totally absorbed in every page that I read, and excited to see how the story would unfold.
Riley is going on a river expedition through the Amazon Rainforest while visiting his Uncle Max, who just happens to be a world-famous conservation biologist.
Riley is excited, and with his cousin Alice, he sets out to help discover new plant and animal species. The adventure begins as the children stray too far from camp and use a very interesting tree to be rescued. Quite an amazing tree I might add. Who would have thought a tree could do what this one did?

During their adventure, the authors give insightful facts about the Rainforest. Interweaving them within the storyline, children will learn without even realizing that is what they are doing, about the importance of the Rainforest to the earth and the unbelievable amount of plant and wildlife that live there.

The illustrations are dramatic, colorful and realistic and will totally draw any young person along the story trail,and make them wish they too could be there to discover a new insect, plant or animal that the world has yet to know.
This is an outstanding work, a beautiful book and a resource of great educational value.
Highest recommendation.
Shirley Johnson

We're on our second copy of this book because the first one literally fell apart from being read so often. The three stories are very funny and the artwork's lovely. You'll likely find your kids are memorizing the stories in short order -- which of course means no shortcuts as you're reading!

We've piles of books for our two children and this one's perhaps one of the top five favorites.

Snail's teacher can't figure out what is going on with snail. In each of the 3 chapter's snail shows he has quit an imagination or does it really happen. This is a great book to read to young children 3 and 4 years old or to have your 5 to 7 year old read to you. It will keep a girl's or boy's interested. I have read this book to many children and they have all enjoyed the snails adventures in the hallway at his school. And that frustrated teacher.

My son is only 4, but is an advanced reader/listener. He really enjoys the book. Initially I got it for him because he was interested in snails, but I think he likes the school aspect, and the three different adventures in the book (his first chapter book). If this book was part of a series I would definitly try others.
I also found some of the dialogs and illustration to be amusing for adults as well.

There are 3 stories in this 64 page book, illustrated with large, colorful, interesting pictures. All the stories involve a little snail at school and how he/she engages in fantasy play. Or is reality and not fantasy, or a bit of both? Read it and you be the judge. In every adventure Snail must grapple with Mrs. Harvey the teacher, who likewise must grapple with snail's adventures, and whether they are real or imagined. Mrs Harvey never seems to push the point of how much of snail's adventures are real. As she is about to ask snail, she restrains herself; the stories end with Mrs. Harvey saying "Never mind, snail, never mind". Tom Keresztes Princeton, N

This book made me laugh out loud, and my six year old still talks about the stories in it. The stories and pictures work together to get beginning readers to want to keep on reading. My son was especially excited because he could read a real chapter book, just like big brother. I wish there were more Snail books like this one!

Delightful book. Funny,sad and keeps your interest in the book. Enjoyable reading for a pre-teen and middle school youngster.

Agnes Parker Girl in Progress, is one of the most sensational books I have read this year The story has an unique power to clasp and wrench it's readers into the realistic and charming life of the witty Agnes Parker. I related in depth with the story... Kathleen O' Dell has created a deep, and fascinating masterpiece. Agnes's emotions, life, friends and family are so alive. Their words and activity are like those of yours: we, as well as the cast of charcters in this story, face descions every day, it is our responsibilty to choose the right path KathleenO' Dell makes that possible with a fabulous novel suh as this.

From the eye-catching start to the twist at the end, Agnes has always seemed so real. The crispness of new glasses, her conversations with friends, and her reaction to people were so similar to mine that I could imagine she existed.

Kathleen O'Dell also wrote 'Ophie Out of Oz' for a slightly younger age group, about 3rd-5th grade instead of 5th-6th.

Kathleen O'Dell has hit the jackpot for "tweens" with her wonderful book, Agnes Parker...Girl in Progress. O'Dell's writing is superb, though the present-tense narration takes a few pages to get used to.

Agnes's character will jump out at anyone (girl or boy) going into 6th grade, and will cause those of us who remember our 6th grade year to alternately laugh, cry, giggle, or want to scream "That's not fair!" In describing Agnes's reactions from everything from enduring bullying at the hands of Peggy Neidermeyer, to needing glasses, to breaking her arm (and having to deal with a cast), to the ins-and-outs of friendship with her best friend Prejean and Joe, the new boy in school, O'Dell helps readers to understand the range of emotions and experiences a 6th grade girl feels.

The book begins the week before Agnes enters sixth grade, and should be a hit among 5th, 6th, and 7th graders, as well as any older "kids" who want to look back on the final year of elementary school. Highly recommended.

I love Agnes Parker, I feel like she could be my best friend!! There are so many favorite parts in this book, I don't think I could even list them all. Agnes is going through changes in her life now that she is in sixth grade, and is not sure how things are going to be with her best friend Prejean. And then the new boy comes to town with a sad, sad secret, and Agnes is the perfect person to help him through the hard times. I also love the bully Neidermeyer, even though she can be so mean, I've known girls just like her, and the competition that happens between her and Agnes is so real, I couldn't believe how good this book is! Read it for yourself and see.

At a sleepover party, Nancy and her friends read a story about a pending alien invasion of Earth! The Queen of Planet Zagon is supposed to be on her way. Sleepovers are a great place for scary stories. Nancy and her crew are ready to forget it all -- until a new substitute teacher shows up in school named Mrs. Zagon!

Sit back and watch the rumors fly, and imagine how Nancy will have a hard time proving to her pals that Mrs. Zagon is not an alien!

Alien in the Classroom is a fun read that young readers will love.

Did you ever think about having an alien in your classroom? Alien in the Classroom from the Nancy Drew Notebooks series is written by Carolyn Keene. Alien in the Classroom is about a girl named Nancy Drew who has to figure out if their substitute teacher is an alien. If she doesn't, Brenda, another girl in her class is going to put the story about an alien in the school newspaper! Can Nancy find out if Ms. Zagon is an alien? Read Alien in the Classroom to find out.
I liked this book because it has a very good ending. It is also a good mystery to solve. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this book a 9.
I think Carolyn Keene wrote this book to tell kids not to be afraid of aliens.

This book is one of the best books I have read I am 12 and in Australia that means you are a good reader if you read books like this so I dont think you should write that it is for 4 to 8 year olds because in Australia 4 year olds cant read and 8 year olds can bearly read..

I love Nancy Drew Books.I think that they are good books for 8-12.I read the ones for older girls and these are just as good.I liked this one espescially,because it is a very hard mystery.It is Great.If you want a good book,get this book.It is the perfect book!

I am 9 years old. I would reccomend it for ages 8-11. If you are a VERY good reader you can try it at 7. If you are very good at remembering things, at the end of the book there is still something that I couldn't figure out. Try it!

I really liked this book. Ruby the Red Fairy is safe in 'the pot at the end of the rainbow', but now Amber the Orange Fairy is caught in a seashell! Can the feather they found in one of the bags that King Oberon and Queen Titania gave them get her out?

Our 6 year old loves this series. She can't wait for the other books to be released.

my (just turned) 6 year old niece loves these books- she's currently reading the rainbow magic "color" series, i bought her inky and preordered the next few. i have even created a wishlist just for all the books i'm going to order her in the near future. i'm a little confused about the different series, party fairies, weather fairies, jewel fairies etc... but she was VERY particular in telling me- she's reading THIS color series, she didn't express a very definate desire to read the other series. regardless of her interest i'm going to send her a few of each of the series. i'm a little afraid she's going to burn out of these books because there are so many of them. but then again i think i had a hundred baby sitters club books when i was a kid! but for those just as confused as i am----- i'm almost positive that if the kid is saying- "i want rainbow magic!" get them the color fairy's because they seem the most popular and well loved by my niece and all of her school mates. (she goes to an all girl school)

We started this series for our four year old daughter as a read aloud. She can not wait to get the next book and she has us reading the book again and again. We love seeing her soo excited about books!

Kirsty and Rachel already found Ruby...now they found Amber hidden in a seashell! But problem after problem happens...Jack Frost's elves come, and the pot freezes.

Your reviewer,
Lydia, age 9

I remember this book so well from kindergarden!!! I'm almost 18 now, but I still remember a few things from those Amelia Bedeilia books! (forgive me if my memories aren't exact,it's been amost 12 years since I've read one!):

-She stole the base, took it home, & brought it back with cookies!

-She was told to soe the seeds & she literally sewed them in the ground!

-When she was told to draw the drapes so the furniture won't fade, she actually drew them!! And she said you have to "undust the furniture!"

I also remember a girl in my class named Amelia & we all teased her by calling her "Amelia Bedelia", but it was out of love!

By the way, if you (or kids you know) love these books, go read "Eloise" & see the movies!! They're so adorable!!!!!!! <3

This is a great series for a child learning to read. It is filled with mixups that will keep the teacher as well as the student entertained. The stories teach children about "play on words" as well as being able to accept mistakes (because we all make them). This is a great series!

I always loved the stories of Amelia Bedelia as a child. Nothing could make me laugh more. I especially loved when she would try to do housework, and take things a little too literally!

Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia series stands as a monument in children's literature --- not only for the young, but for the young at heart as well. Amelia Bedelia is one of the whackiest characters ever conceived ---she's constantly caught up in adventures (or shall we say misadventures) of the most humorous sort. If you love to laugh, I highly recommend these classic tales of mischief, laughter, and delight!

The Amelia Bedelia stories are about a young woman who is hired to work for a wealthy family. Amelia is from the country and gets everything mixed up, almost all the time. Her two saving graces are that she is very kind and a fabulous cook. These simply written books (appropriate for a 7-9 age range) do not seem to provoke the sense of anxiety that many 'crazy mixed-up' books seem to. Best of all, of course, is Amelia Bedelia's name itself.

beautifully illustrated, heartwarming childrens stories. Even though the Angelina stories are geared towards girls, my little boy, at 8, enjoyed these as well, especially when mom read to him. These are good stories to read to your child at bedtime.

The artwork is detailed and delightful to look at-you'll see new things each time you look, and children love that that every scene is filled with many little mice.

This Angelina story deals with a sometimes hard topic to talk about-jealousy. Each book is filled with wonderful life lessons told in a gentle, non preachy way.

I highly recommend this series for any child.
5 stars!

Some of the other reviews mentioned toddler girls liking this book, well I guess some middle-aged "girls" like this book too! I'm almost 50 and don't have kids, but even I enjoyed this book.

I thought there were 2 good lessons presented:

1. Having a boy (Henry) want to dance and be in the ballet.
2. Showing Angelina being jealous, but putting that aside to help Henry when he needed it.

Learning not to stereotype and to forgive are lessons we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

We're slowly working our way through the Angelina Ballerina books, based on the fanatic love of several of my daughter's friends for Angelina. Angelina loves to dance, and gets the opportunity to be in a real ballet as a magic fairy. One slight problem is that Angelina's cousin Harry, who looks very silly dancing, is also in the ballet as an elf. When Harry gets a line, Angelina must deal with her feelings of jealousy.

This is a relatively short book, with some great artwork, that parents won't mind reading multiple times. Like some of the other Angelina books, a part of the story is about Angelina dealing with her feelings, and happily, it all works out in the end.

In this next book in the Angelina Ballerina series, Angelina finds herself pursued by her cousin Henry, who wants to dance just like her. She is overjoyed when an adult ballet asks her and Henry to dance in one of their performances. However, her joy turns bitter, when the other dancers become enamored of Henry, and Angelina finds herself in the background. However, when Angelina decides to soldier on, she finds that things can go her way anyway.

As with the other books, my daughter and I loved this story, and Helen Craig's charming illustrations. A quick read, this book also has a wonderful lesson. We both highly recommend this book.

This was a great book! I especially liked it because I am very much interested in ballet. This book was about a mouse named Angelina and her being invited to perform in a "grown up" ballet. She got a good part just like she wanted, but became upset when her couin Henry got a part and got more attention then her. She felt better though when the star of the ballet gave ger a flower. I think that this book is very good for both children and adults because you can learn a good lesson from it that you can be jelous, but it often doesn't pay to be.

I teach computer classes in Maryland and bought "Ask Mr. Modem" for my classes. I love the book! I love Mr. Modem's lighthearted approach, because I too feel that computers are not mysterious, inhabited beings, but tools or appliances.

The question-and-answer format makes it very easy to read, and you can pick up the book anywhere and just read some questions about email or browsers or any other topic. You don't have to read the book from cover-to-cover, though you probably will.

The questions Mr. Modem answers are questions from real people and it's true what he says, "There is no such thing as a dumb question."

Thanks for a great book, Mr. Modem. I hope you're working on Volume 2.

Mr. Modem has done it again with this new book helping all of us who have questions about our computers and the internet. With a thorough and extensive index and an easy-to-read question and answer format, you'll easily be able to find clear and concise answers to your questions.

How refreshing and what a joy to read a computer book that will make you smile and laugh along the way! Richard Sherman has a gift for demystifying the computer and making it fun. Forget the laborious manuals- just turn to "Ask Mr. Modem".

Five stars and three hearty cheers for Mr. Modem - keep those books coming, as you're the only one we know who can give us clear, easy-to-understand "geekspeak-free" answers. Bless you!

This book is fabulous! I use computers and the web a lot and there are PLENTY of things in this book I find useful. And the price is right: perfect to bring instead of a stupid bottle of wine when you're invited to someone's home for dinner! The recipients of Ask Mr. Modem have been tickled at this gift! Also a perfect holiday gift for someone who I know not that well but wanted to give something. I'm here ordering my fifth copy of the book!

I received a copy of "Ask Mr. Modem!" this past Christmas and it's the best computer book I've ever received (or purchased). I have a shelf of computer books, most of which I can't understand. This book, which is in question and answer format, is very easy to read. Just thumbing through it and seeing all the questions Mr. Modem answers, these are the same questions I've had. It's been a huge help to me and I've already given several copies of it to friends.

Mr. Modem has done it again with this new book as he helps all of us who have questions about our computers and the internet. With a thorough and extensive index and an easy-to-read question and answer format, you'll easily be able to find clear and concise answers to your questions.

How refreshing and what a joy to read a computer book that will make you smile and laugh along the way! Richard Sherman has a gift for demystifying the computer and making it fun. Forget the laborious manuals - just turn to "Ask Mr. Modem".

Five stars and three hearty cheers for Mr. Modem - keep those books coming, as you're the only one we know who can give us clear, easy-to-understand "geekspeak-free" answers! Bless you!

"On Wednesday morning, Josh had a notion. Josh having an idea is not anything new. But this time, it is a notion not like any he has had before. It is a very BIG notion. A very BROWN notion. A very BIG, BROWN, BAG notion..."

While in his bedroom Josh cut holes in a big paper bag. The holes are for his eyes and mouth, he puts the bag over his head and sets out down the stairs for breakfast. His family was a tad surprised.

After breakfast and still wearing his paper bag, Josh leaves for a busy day working at school and taking part in his soccer practice. The adults in his life, parents, teacher, the bus driver, and especially his soccer coach are less than satisfied when they see Josh and bag covered head

All day he hears, 'You can't eat breakfast with a paper bag on your head!' 'You crazy kid! You can't go to school like that!' 'How do you plan to play like that?' and so it goes.

On the other hand, and to the astonishment of the adults, Josh has a pretty successful day. He eats breakfast with little difficulty, gives his book report, in fact he even scores three goals during his soccer game.

At last during dinner, his little sister asks the question all have been wondering: 'Why are you wearing a bag, Josh?'

My resident critics eyed the cover of Baghead with interest. As a teacher of many years' experience; one look at the cover and I was certain what we were going to learn about the boy in the bag.

Jarrett Krosoczka's uncomplicated, amiably entertaining account connects with children from the outset. I like the vivid, expressive illustrations. Individual sketches delivered in broad, layered brush strokes accompany short sentences presented in a childlike script.

Using various colors and font styles set to accompany the current page intrigues children as they follow the narrative. Curiosity piqued by the cover, carries into the reading.

We have now read the tale several times, and it is chosen by little people for free time reading or for taking into a DEAR office for reading during our Drop Everything and Read time.

Fifteen first graders exclaimed in one voice, 'I knew it,' when Josh answered his sister's question

Because I tried to cut my own hair.

Next morning his sister comes up with a very COOL idea per my resident critics. She has a mega hold gel plan and it works just fine. Josh looks pretty cool and happy too with his spiky hair standing up.

I knew we needed this book for our classroom library the moment I saw the cover, so far this year two of our students have come to school with new hair cuts, not of their own making, but worrisome to them none the less as they contemplated life with the new 'do.

One boy didn't want to go against our school no hat rule, on the other hand, his buzz had him very upset. The little girl in the pretty new blunt cut felt shy to remove her 'hoodie'.

We are learning empathy in our first grade. It didn't take long as fourteen classmates praised and exclaimed over how nice the new do looks before the hoodie or the hat disappeared into a back pack.

Writer Krosoczka has provided an excellent tool for classroom use. Every teacher I know or have ever known has had students come to school wanting to disappear into the cupboard, or wishing they had a paper bag in which to hide. Baghead is going to be one of the books I read on the first day of school from now until I no longer am teaching. It will be joining, Stand Back Said The Elephant, I'm Going to Sneeze , which I have used for years to prepare children for the inevitable sneeze, which rattles the windows, and is part and parcel of Mrs. M.

Baghead received 30 thumbs up from Osage County first grade, Mrs. Martin's class. The book is a good choice for the home, classroom, school and public library list. It is a nice addition to a children's pleasure reading collection. Happy to recommend.

Molly Martin
Reviewer

My son loves this story...and reading it together gives us wonderful opportunities to talk about fun new concepts and phrases like "wierd" "spiky" "why - why would a boy wear a bag on his head?" "why would a boy cut holes in the bag first" "what do you think happened to his hair?" etc...It strikes a perfect balance of telling a fun story, while keeping a little bit of mystery for the parents and kids to discuss. Cool ilustrations too.

krosoczka, being both illustrator and author, has created an amazing book. sure to make your child comfortable with their own creativity and individuality. high 5.

Baghead is terrific - fun and funny and engaging on every page, with a surprise ending every kid will adore. I read it to a group of eleven-year-olds, and they loved it, too. What a delightful story - I'm glad I stumbled across this book!

"On Wednesday morning, Josh had an idea. A very BIG idea. A very BROWN idea. A very BIG, BROWN, BAG idea..." After cutting holes for his eyes and mouth, Josh dons a paper bag and heads downstairs for breakfast, and then off for his busy day at school and soccer practice. None of the adults in his life, his parents, bus driver, teacher, or soccer coach is pleased when they see his bagged head... "You can't eat breakfast with a paper bag on your head!" "You crazy kid! You can't go to school like that!" "How do you plan to play like that?" But to their surprise, he has quite a successful day, even scoring three goals during his game. Finally at dinner, his little sister asks the big question we've all been waiting for... "Why are you wearing a bag, Josh?" Jarrett Krosoczka's simple, charming, humorous story engages, and is complemented by bold, bright and expressive illustrations. The inevitable answer to Josh's unusual heargear is revealed at the end, and youngsters 4-8 are sure to enjoy his sister's creative solution to the "baghead" problem.

This is a great book for fans of Sesame Street, especially those just learning to read with familiar faces, and a fun story. My two and a half year old son adores this book. He'd ask to it read every day for quite a while. The rhyming is great, the Sesame Street characters are very recognizable and it focuses on Cookie Monster, my son's new favorite monster. While we haven't used it to help learn to read I think the repetition will be good for beginning readers and the story has a happy ending.

The story is simple and the short upbeat rhymes are really well written and though repetitive, not at all annoying. My 3.5 yo son asked it be read six times straight when he first heard it and I happily obliged. Most books are too dull for the parent to read for the sixth time in one sitting. My 2 yo loves it too!!

This is a wonderful book. Not only does it feature characters that my two-year old daughter is already familiar with, but she loves the story and even feels bad for Cookie Monster when it appears that he will never get a cookie for himself. The illustration is wonderful and lively, and the text is large and easy to follow. The is a great beginner book for children.

My daughter and I love this book (since about 18 months). The rhyming pattern is wonderful, the pictures are exciting, all in all, a great book. We like to try and find all the different characters on the page and see what they're doing. The ending is also a pleaser. It's a great transition book from picture books to short strories with a plot This is one of the best Early Step into Reading books.

A great read that invites lots of animation on the part of parents. My son started loving this book at about 14 months and is still reading it at 19 months. He gets excited every time a character he has seen on TV appears. The rythm is excellent, the book is exciting, and has a very happy ending. We take this one in the car and my son 'reads' it by himself. A gotta have....