Children's Books

A staggering book on the heroism of people who stood up for the rights of basic human dignity. This book should be required reading in every school in America.

This takes you through the civil rights movement. It is very interesting and proves to be an inspiring historical journey. This is a great audio book. The reader was exceptional.

David Halberstam has written so many great works, but THE CHILDREN may be his greatest achievement. From the outset, this book takes readers on a journey through the civil rights movement through the eyes of both the courageous young people who had decided that our society had to change and the adults who helped them to bring this needed change to America. The book captures readers from the beginning as Halberstam gives a very intimate look at the fear Diane Nash experienced as one of the leaders of Nashville's sit-in movement. The first chapter gives readers a window through which to see the conflicting forces that collided in the heart and mind of Ms. Nash as she contemplated the enormity of what she was doing: changing the south against the wishes of many who, if they had their way, would just as soon hang her as look at her.

The chapters of this work flow so well, and the reader is introduced to so many who made the civil rights movement what it was: Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, Jim Lawson, James Bevel, C.T. Vivian, etc. etc. etc. The book, a work of historical non-fiction reads almost like a novel. Readers are drawn in by the stories of these heroes, and their triumphs and tragedies take readers on a roller-coaster ride of emotion as they are thrust into this amazing struggle.

Halberstam tells a great story, but the story he tells in this book tops them all. I have read many, many books on the movement, and this is my favorite. I had the tremendous honor to meet John Lewis last summer, and as we talked about much of what he experienced during this period, he asked me "Have you read THE CHILDREN?" When I told them that I had, he commented about what a great book he thought it was and how Halberstam had perfectly captured, as much as possible, what that time was like for those of us who weren't there. John Lewis is a personal hero of mine, and I can think of no better praise for this book. On that note, I would also highly recommend Mr. Lewis' book WALKING WITH THE WIND for those who haven't read it and want another good civil rights title.

Halberstam has produced another masterpiece, perhaps his best since B&B. As with Vietnam, this book is permeated by his personal experience as a young reporter full of ambition and working hard to find a story. The story here are the young people, who appeared as if out of nowhere in Tenessee, and entered history with their courage and dignity.

What distinguishes this book from others on the civil rights campaign is its focus not on the most visible leaders of the fight - ML King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers - but on the students who served as foot soldiers and then leaders in their own right. These were young people whose names are not household words, but whose courage and action did as much to change American society and politics as King and the others. It is a truly amazing and inspiring story, as they started in Nashville with solid training in Ghandian non-violence techniques and then went into the deep south, where they were beaten and threatened with a viciousness that shocked the world. In the process their audacity not only pushed a reluctant and cautious MLK to greater ambition, but they matured as political actors and many went on to outstanding careers as politicians, teachers, and preachers.

Halberstam delineates how their non-violence and charismatic dignity in the face of these threats dovetailed with the development of television, broadcasting the brutality of the old south into the living rooms. It was this combination - a mass movement addressing centuries-old injustices, the bad-guy thugishness of their primitivie adversaries, and TV's images - that culminated in the Civil Rights and then Voting Acts of 1965. It is a fascinating analysis of how politics was changing at the time.

But Halberstam doesn't stop there: he also chronicles the aftermath, when new "separatist" leaders emerged, like Stokely Carmichael, who split the extraordinary unity of the movement for more selfish purposes. He also evokes the deterioration of the inner cities as the issues shift to the far more difficult and ill-defined challenges of poverty and personal identity. It is the other half of the story - the disappointing aftermath - when lesser politicians took over and disillusionment set in after a series of terrible assasinations. Perhaps it was inevitable, as the society digested such fundamental change and moved on to the Vietnam war period.

Most interestingly, Halberstam follows many of these students leaders through their entire careers, which serve as the vehicles to portray the issues in the paragraph above. We see some of them unable to sustain the intensity of their purpose, sometimes degenerating into self-destructive paths or irrelevancy as single mothers, demagogues of questionable sanity, and drug abusers. But there were many who became great leaders, entering politics as congressmen and demonstrating that the right to vote really did change America into a more inclusive society, or becoming business men - they were able to participate fully in an integrated society, the first generation of blacks to do so. These individual portraits are masterpieces of depth reporting and the humanistic impulse, which are the hallmarks of Halbertam's unique voice.

This book rises to great eloquence, his best since B&B. Warmly recommended as one of the best books I read in years.

David Halberstam's publication "The Children" is an exciting overview of the Civil Rights Movement from an enamored journalist through the eyes of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. (SNCC) The author focuses on the major players such as Diane Nash, James Bevel, Jim Lewis, Curtis Murphy, Bernard Lafayette and James Lawson, with heavy emphasis on the Nashville Sit-In Movement and Freedom Rides. The strength of his work is that it reads much more like a fast paced novel than an academic analysis. He does however at the same time provide plenty of background material and socio-economic, political and cultural variables within his work. Halberstam also revisits these former SNCC workers after the "high" of the movement and even much later in life. It's quite obvious the work of a journalist within the pages.

This is a good overview of Civil Rights through the eyes of SNCC rather than a broader based examination of the movement. Halberstam's book is quite impressive, and what I admire is the length of information he was able to attain from the vast interviews he received, largely because he had already covered and had known many of the players as a journalist covering the Civil Rights Movement. If you are just starting out or have little knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement this book would be a good starting point. Journalists make great writers because they simply know how to tell a story. Well done!

This is a good book. I don't agree with all it says but that is ok it still has a lot of thought provoking information

This book is a great resource for any astronomy lover who wants to know more about the background and history of astronomy. It has lots of information on historical people in astronomy as well as great stories about their discoveries. Great book, must have for history of astronomy.

Excellent chronology of physics from Aristotle to the present. I will use it as a reference. Excellent index and other aids to finding what you want in physics and other sciences.

An Excellent exposition of the history of astronomy and astrophysics. Mr. Ferris writes with a lucidity and thouroughness not often found in books on this fascinating subject.

What a story! And yes, I said story because the author has taken subjects most of us take for granted (the size of the heavens, the age of the Earth, the intricacies of the atom) and turned these into a wonderful almost joyous tale of intellectual achievement. I am still stunned at the depth of scholarship, the vast research and the almost magical manner in which Ferris manages to make what appears to be an arcane dry topic into an intriguing saga.

Ok, I admit it. I love science books written for the educated layman - from "The Singularity is Near " to "Wonderful Life" to the philosophical tomes of Pagels and Hardison. But this is more than science - it is also a history of who we are and our physical, mental and dare I say it, spiritual evolution. In this sense it reminds one of "The Discoverers" by Boorstin with its chronological structure, emphasis upon individual genius and captivating storyline. Beginning with the ancients, we see how our ideas fashion our intellectual quests. The overwhelming success of Western culture depended on our ability to break with age-old traditions, to absorb ideas from the outside and most importantly, to challenge the traditional religious beliefs. Very few cultures have been able to accomplish this and their lack of scientific prowess is evidence.

The individual tales could occupy a volume themselves - mind-boggling examples of thought that are so rare we have trouble believing them. Not only are Darwin (Evolution challenged the prevailing age of the Earth) and Newton (the greatest human who ever lived?) are found but all the unknown heroes of the ages are given their due. The author has an uncanny way of simplifying tremendously dense concepts into language for the layman. This was never truer than his discussion on the weird world of quantum physics with its seemingly magical and nonsensical qualities. I would say that this should be required reading for all high school graduates except that a vast number would be bewildered by the concepts presented, unaware that science has a history of more than video games and cars. My grade - A+++

I wasn't sure children wrote these letters until I showed this book to our school nurse. She assured me these were not the worst she had heard. These letters should be read by all adults who have or work with children.

This book should be read by anyone directly involved in divorces that involve children.

The book is a collection of letters written by children to the judge handling the divorce/custody case of their parents.

Some letters or funny, some are sad and some will make you cry.

It is such a shame that the parents and their advocates often seem to forget that the children have an interest in the outcome of any divorce/custody case. From these letters it becomes obvious that in many cases the children are pawns used by one or both spouses to take out their rage toward the other.

The following are excerpts from some of the more poignant letters:

Letter 75. Dear Judge, Please send me the definition of Best Interest of the Child.

Letter 91. Dear Judge, I want to divorce my parents. Since they got divorced I do not like either one of them.

Letter 97. Dear Judge, I promise You and God to never do this to my children.

Letter 121. Dear Judge, Dont you care how I feel?

Letter 141. Dear Judge, It doesn't hurt any more. It doesn't feel any more.

It is very sobering reading. While I understand the hatred that can develop over a divorce, it seems inhumane for parents to take out their frustrations on the children or to put the children in the middle of a fight.

It is well worth reading for anyone dealing with the process of divorce involving children.

This book will make you laugh and cry, and in the end will leave sad about the state of families today.
The best argument for family court reform and the end of no-fault divorce I have ever seen.

Children are the real casualties of divorce and custody battles. The most important figures in their lives - their parents - often regress to belligerent and narcissistic infantilism. In their anguish, some kids turn to the only reliable grownup around: the judge.

This is a compilation of c. 190 letters (some of them mere heartbreaking one-liners) allegedly written by children embroiled in court proceedings to judges on the bench. A must read for parents who are contemplating ugly divorces. These quivering voices of tiny shattered lives put in perspective all that we "adults" hold dear and "worth fighting for". Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited".

Parents choose to bring a child into our world. In making this choice, parents have a solemn obligation to nurture that child and see that he discovers the plan the Almighty has for his life. During the turmoil of a divorce, parents often forget this obligation and may come to view a child as a possession rather than as a person with his own special purpose.

Dear Judge has given a group of children the chance to remind us all that they are people not possessions. Possessions can be divided and shared. Children however, continue to need love and nurturance from those who chose to bring them into the world. Some children may also need to be protected from parents who brought them into the world to exploit rather than to nurture them. Heartbreaking letters from these children may also be found in this book.

Dear Judge is a must read for divorcing parents and those who advise them. It is good reading material for the waiting rooms of legal and mental health professionals. It is my hope that those who write our laws and those that interpret our laws will also read the children's letters. These letters are after all addressed to them.-Liane J. Leedom, M.D. ParentingtheAtRiskChild.com.

I love this series, being an Aussie and all, it's nice to be able to share a part of my first reading experiences with my American kidz!
Unfortunately this amazon provider was extremely slow on shipping (ony coz it was free) I ended up finding that barnes and noble were soo much faster I have two now but am happily going to give this copy to another young reader as a gift:)

I had great expectations for this book, since my (3-year-old) son loves Slinky Malinki so much that he can recite virtually the entire book. Our family found this one rather disappointing. There is very little story, and the word choice is not nearly as colorful as in Slinky Malinki. Still, my son does enjoy this one, although I suspect it won't hold his attention as long as Slinky, since it's so much simpler. Now that I know this is one of Lynley Dodd's early books, I understand that better. It's probably best for a slightly younger child (right around 2) who loves dogs.

I got this to read to my three year old. It is the first in a series. This is a fun quick book to read. My daughter likes it. She enjoys guessing which dog is next. The characters come in and out of the story in the same sequence. I think it is a cute book and I will buy more in the series.

Lynley Dodd is a FANTASTIC author. I own a ton of her books. I love them, children love them. The characters are characters you instantly fall in love with. The vocabulary Dodd uses is creative and intelligent, and leads to great conversations with kids. The books rhyme and remind me of Dr. Seuss without the nonsense words.

You won't be disappointed with Dodd's books.

I love this book. I won this book as a readathon prize 20 years ago when I was seven. I think the target audience for this book is probably more likely to be kids aged 3-6. It was a definite favorite of my little brother's - he learnt the words off by heart before he could read. It is also a favorite of my nieces and nephews, and I have just ordered one for my baby who is due any day now. The really fantastic thing about this book is that it is actually a fun read for adults too - If my nieces ask me to read them a book I always grab a Hairy Maclary. They are just the right length, and have enough of a storyline to keep you entertained as well.

Sorry, I just didn't find this book realistic at all. The author tries very hard, but does not succeed in writing a well written book about childhood cancer.

It is extremely hard to do and the author was very unsuccessful with this book.

Skip it!

As if being a 13-year-old, eighth grade male isn't bad enough, (there's girls to impress, homework to catch up on, drums to practice), try finding out your five-year-old brother has leukemia. It started the morning Steven left his little brother, Jeffrey, on a stool while he made his "moatmeal." Jeffrey fell and the bleeding started. Their mother races out the front door to take Jeffrey to the emergency room with an ice pack on his nose. Steven dreads the lecture he knows he'll get once he's home from school. Instead he's told his mother and brother will be leaving for Philadelphia and tests.

Steven tries to hold it together. But before long, he's feeling invisible, left out, guilty, angry. lonely, helpless, and wondering "what's the point?" His mother is totally wrapped up in caring for Jeffrey, his dad has become a worried zombie, and there's nothing Steven can do to help. Or is there?

For me, the single most important criteria for a gold star book is that it must make me "feel". It must make me reevaluate life as I see it, and wonder if I'm doing all I can to 1)appreciate my own blessings, and 2)make life better for others. This book does that and more. Jordan Sonnenblick gives the reader an honest, gritty look into the life of a family dealing with childhood cancer. He does it with amazing sympathy and humor. My 13-year-old son recommended this book to me. Two of his friends read it as well. If you haven't had the chance to read DRUMS GIRLS & DANGEROUS PIE, I highly recommend it.

This book is about an 8th grade kid trying to deal with life: school, girls, and playing in the band. He is the lead drummer for the all-city band. However, this all changes when his brother gets cancer. His whole life is turned upside-down. now he has to deal with school, girls, band, and a brother with cancer. It is an intriuging book and easy to read. I would reccomend it to someone in middle school or, maybe, in the early years of high school.

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie is a realistic- fiction book where a kid named Steven finds out his little brother has leukemia. On top of that Steven has school, drums, and girls to think about. I gave Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because it was one of the best books i have ever read. It makes you cry and laugh at the same time. I like books were i can not predict the ending and this was definitely one of those books. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is a heartwarming book that left me thinking about the difficulties of having someone with cancer in your family. I mean imagine having cancer or the medical bills that need to be paid. What about the family falling apart? Find out about this and much more in Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick.

It is not the typical male YA author who tackles cancer as a dominating subject for a novel. Jordan Sonnenblick takes on the "disease of the week" idea and succeeds heroically with this book geared for the middle school reader.

I, too, am a male middle school English teacher (like Sonnenblick was until recently), and I am impressed that he is able to handle a tragic subject and wrap it up in a humorous first-person journal-like novel. Clearly he has both ends of the spectrum well placed in his book. My feelings that the parts in between these ends -- character development of parents especially -- is not at the same caiber. True, when taken from the perspective of the narrator (thirteen-year-old Steven), his way of seeing things does account for more pointed, if not two-dimensional, characterizations.

I did find the story a tad melodramatic and predictable, but, that said, Sonnenblick creates an honest middle school experience (sans graphic doodlings typical of every thirteen-year-old boy). Steven and Renee and Annette are not stereotypical and that is where the author truly shows his strength. When it is very easy in a humorous tale of middle school angst to go for the caricature, Sonnenblick creates more realistic, three-dimensional teens.

Overall, DRUMS, GIRLS & DANGEROUS PIES definitely deserves a read by the middle school audience, but unlike works like AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS, PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, ONCE UPON A MARIGOLD, or STARGIRL, it won't break out of the pack and become one of those YA novels that adults pick up and savor regardless of whether they have children or not.

My mother-in-law gave this book to my kids when they were young and they still remember the story of the little boy and his pet fish. A must for any kids' book collection.

Almost every nite we read "Mr. Carp" as my son calls it. Such a sweet story. I don't even mind reading it 700 times. I take it on vacation too. You'll love it.

This was one of my favorite books as a child and it was my daughter's absolute favorite book as a child.
Every new child in our family gets a copy of this book and it has become a favorite for all of them.

When my son was a little boy, this was his favorite book. He wanted to take it out of the library so many times that I finally bought a copy and gave it to him for Christmas.

My little grandson is two years old and he has 3 goldfish. I thought the book would be appropriate for him -- and he loves it.

This book is so cool. You just got to read this book. You'll laugh your pants off. You just got to read this book.

My students loved this book. Not only were my students able to make predictions, but they were able to create funny predictions that were more elaborate than the story provided. They loved making their own cause/effect book. It was a great way to teach the concept, read fun literature that connected to their lives, and try a different type of writing. They loved sharing their books they created.

I remember this book from the dentist's office as a child and rediscovered it as a teacher. I have used it at the beginning of the year in all grades Kindergarten through fourth grade and they ALL love it. For the little ones they just want to hear it over and over and even memorize what happens next. Also, they love the sharks, tigers, and especially the haystack with the pitchfork. Third graders rewrite and illustrate their own versions. I read this to my neice, and by age three "fortunately" was one of her favorite words! I am getting ready to start reading it to my two year old and I am preparing for MANY, MANY, repetitious reads!

I read a rave review of this book and sometimes it is really hard to live up to that kind of advance notice. It is a small book and it has some big ideas and it tells it's story economically. I am planning on giving it to my nephew who, I am certain, will enjoy what it has to say.

A wonderful book to use as a Read Aloud to teach the concept/meaning of "fortunately" and "unfortunately". Lovely colorful illustrations, a fun twist at the end that kids will love. A lively, clever picture book, a must have for every elementary library in my opinion.

I bought this book for my son's fourth birthday. We sat down to read it at bedtime, and he was completely riveted. When we finished, he said "read it again, Mommy." We went through this four more times, then I had to promise we'd read it again the next day in order to get him to go to sleep.

The story is gripping, and the artwork is amazing. Switching between color and black/white for the fortunately/unfortunately pages is a stroke of genius. My son has flipped through these pages on his own, staring at the pictures and telling himself the story. Wonderful book.

This is such a beautiful SC book. Carole bonds with the mare and it is really thrilling! Then Carole rides the wild mare to set her free. When Carole gets hurt as when the mare stops at her herd, the wild stallion stands over her. Then everyone on the Bar None discovers her, and Carole must explain why she set the mare free.

This book is about a horse who seems sad at Kates ranch and Carole wants to find out why. Then Carole and the horse get a special bond and the horse will do anything Carole tells him to. This book is a must read book. One of my favorites.

I LOVED this book! It's definetly one of the best ones ever! I think that more of the Saddle Clb books need to focus more on Carole, (she's my fav). I recomend this book to anyone who loves horses, or takes riding lessons like I do. Other Saddle Club books I recomend are #13 Starlight Christmas, #68 Summer Rider, #2 Horse Shy, (be warned, it's really sad,)#77 Rocking Horse and #76 Horse Care.

I love this book! I have almost all the saddle club books this is one of my favorites. Stevie Lisa and Carole head out West.Stevie and Lisa run into lots of kitchen trouble. Carole finds something about herself she never knew before. This is a book for new and old Bonnie Bryant fans! Sarah

I just loved the parts with Lisa and Stevie in the kitchen! They were so funny! And I also loved Carol's horse whispering! I recomend this book to all Bonnie Bryant fans!

My kids and I came to know Little Bear through the cartoons on TV first. Perhaps part of the appeal of the books for my kids is that they know these stories well from the cartoon, but the books are much more engaging!

Best of all, unlike the cartoons, you have the amazing illustrations of Maurice Sendak. They give the books a timeless appeal.

Perfect to read to little ones, and an excellent reader for K-2.

Other titles in the Level 1 - Beginning Reading series are:

- "Father Bear Comes Home"

- "A Kiss For Little Bear"

- "Little Bear's Friend"

- "Little Bear's Visit"

This is a warm, nurturing view of childhood. My children and many others have loved it for years.

I purchased the Little Bear (An I Can Read Book) for a first grader that I mentor and she had asked for this book. I have given her other books and can't wait to give her this one

Little Bear, first published in 1957, is a true classic in children's literature. The book is about a bear cub who is a good friend to Owl, Cat, Hen, Duck and Emily, the little girl who visits in the summer. Elsa Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak teamed up to create these stories. The stories are filled with quiet humor, affection and imagination as Little Bear and his friends celebrate birthdays, play games, meet new friends and explore their neighborhood.

The first of five classic Little Bear books, written for beginning readers, Little Bear contains several stories. In one story, "Birthday Soup," Little Bear can't find his mother and thinks she's forgotten his birthday so he sets out to make birthday soup for his friends only to find out his mother hasn't forgotten his birthday. In "Little Bear Goes to the Moon," Little Bear decides that he'll fly to the moon and Mother Bear lets him as long as he's back by lunch.

This book and the others will delight young readers, and encourage them to keep reading.

My 6 year old has listened to this CD a million times, reading along with the book, and still hasn't gotten tired of it. We even listen to it at bedtime, as it's very soothing and doesn't have a lot of distracting sound effects to startle her as she falls asleep. We couldn't be happier with it, and I plan to purchase other copies as gifts.

This is such a sweet (and sad) book. I have it in my school library and it is a wonderful book for children to read. I love how the little boy loves his dog and the depth of his feelings. My son and I have reread it everytime we have had to say goodby to one of our beloved pets. I gave this book to our family vet recently and this is the one he liked best for his young son. I highly recommend it.

Read it cried as usual. Great for my daughter. Did not do much for me on the healing process.

Of the three books I purchased for my two young friends (boys, aged 6 and 10) who was experiencing the loss of their life-time friend, Charlie-the beagle... this was the BEST BOOK of the three.
The pictures are wonderful, the text simple but meaningful, and most of all.. it tells us all that we should love and express that love while our 'friends' are with us. "I'll Always Love You" brought tears to even the adults reading it with the children; also a good lesson that it ok to cry and grief for our four-legged friends even if we are a grownup.
I'd recommend this book for any age child.

Sweet story. The best book I've seen so far to handle, in a children's story way, the death of a dog. The kid moves on pretty fast. That was the only discordant part for me, but i think i understand where the author was going with that...we don't need things to help us remember (except for me, i have the worst memory ever). Extremely cute illustrations. I am 36 years old and I cried when I read it. I had a best pal like the kid in the book, who lived with me for 13 years until July 2007. The ham hitting the floor reminded me of my buddy. Other books I found helpful, as an adult, before and after having to choose the time and day to let my best friend go. The authors give some contacts and advice if you are hitting a wall with your grief and how to take care of yourself. The Loss of a PetandGrieving the Death of a Pet, i also saw a journal for remembering that i am planning to buy. My Personal Pet Remembrance Journal.

Wilhelm, H. (1985). I'll always love you. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Synopsis: Can pets live forever? This is the story of a young boy and his pet dog, Elfie. Elfie and the boy do everything together. As the boy grows older, Elfie grows older at a much quicker rate. Not a night goes by when the boy tells his best friend, Elfie, how much he loves her. This is without a story for all families that have a pet. Young children learn the importance of loving and caring for their pets.

Evaluation: The concept of dying is a subject many families do not explore until the time comes when it is necessary to discuss. This gentle tale allows readers to ready their minds for the inevitable time when a family pet will pass away. Wilhelm's story provides children with positive, upbeat way to handle a difficult time in life. Young children will find the text to be heart warming and easy to understand. The watercolor illustrations are soft and cheerful which adds to tone of this story. In addition the simple illustrations provide children an uncluttered view into Elfie's world. Having a pet, is an experience many young children can relate to in today's world. Families will find joy in the humor of this story as they watch Elfie and the boy grow up. It is a charming story for any family that has both young children and pets. Wilhelm writes this story in simplistic text that allows young children to read and understand the concept of death and dying. Parents and educators will find that while the text is simple; it is a book that will allow children to open up to the process of grieving. Readers ages 4-10 will find this book appealing. This story is a bright, happy and upbeat book needed in every child's collection.