Rosemary's Baby Books

Of all the books I received as baby gifts, this book has had the longest lifespan. It was my daughter's favorite book as soon as she was old enough to turn regular pages, and almost a year later, it still is. Unlike shorter board books which become very repetitive, this book still has poems that seem "fresh" to me. Everytime we read it's a different experience, depending how many pages we turn at a time. It can be a short book or a long book, depending on the day. The illustrations are incredibly detailed. Even after what seems like a thousand reads, I'm finding clever twists and recognizing characters from elsewhere in the book. This book is a classic and offers lots of bang for your buck.

The illustrations for the rhymes are all of cats and other animals as stand in for humans and are very cute. As for the rhymes, there are not many of them and some are truncated.

When my kids were small, I went into a "Mother Goose" kick. I bought and checked out from the Library every Mother Goose I could find, we read them all, and THIS was by far our favorite. The selection of poems was varied, with old favorites and new poems I'd never heard from my childhood as well. The illustrations are beautiful and very fun, Rosemary Wells knows just how kids minds work!

This is a very good book, but it's not quite what I'd imagined. Most of the rhymes were not familiar to me. The illustrations are beautiful, though, and it's fun to read. We enjoy it, but if I had seen it before buying, I probably wouldn't have bought it.

Publisher's Weekly called this book "exuberant" and that's exactly the right word for it. Bright primary colors make up this book, and Rosemary Wells' adorable characters populate the rhymes. Unlike some Mother Goose books, this one is meaty -- it boasts 108 pages, with a rhyme on almost every page. That's a lot of nights of Mother Goose at bedtime.

Nursery rhymes help build phonological awareness, an important pre-reading skill. Research has actually shown that children who memorize nursery rhymes go on to become better readers than those who do not.

This book makes a great baby gift, and a terrific birthday or holiday gift for a toddler or preschooler. It's the one I grab first when I recommend nursery rhymes to library visitors.

When I was a working librarian, I read this books (and the others)to my storytimes. When I retired I started to volunteer in an inner city school. I was not certain how the children would react to the book. I am now in my sixth year reading to Preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade. They hear the first four books each year and they always ask me to repeat the books. The line about "no one had ever asked him to come in" always gets a great response. I think everyone should read these McDuff books. So many classes can't be wrong!

Dear old Rosemary Wells. If you've ever read her books about that famous bunny Max or classic titles like, "Morris' Disappearing Bag" then you know that her stories, while disjointed, can often be truly charming works of preschool art. So when I discovered the McDuff books (written by her but illustrated by someone else entirely) I was ill at ease. I mean, Wells draws such cute little bunnies. How could anyone else adapt to her words? On reading the first book of the McDuff series, "McDuff Moves In", I was amazed to find myself suddenly on the oposte side of the fence. The pictures in this book are really quite charming. From the cute little Scottie named McDuff to the 1950s setting, visually this story's a charmer. But strange as it may seem, Wells's words are out-of-place here. Though a brief tale with little in the way of plot, somehow this book is not as direct or understandable as it might be. A pity.

On our first view of little white McDuff, he's sitting in the back of a city pound truck. After a providential bump in the road and a quick escape, the solitary doggy goes down a nice suburban street in search of food and shelter. Door number one at the first house growls at him. Door number two at the second house hisses at him. But door number three at the third house is just right. There, a friendly couple take him in, feed him, give him a bath, then decide they haven't room for a doggy. Fortunately an attempted car ride to the pound proves that maybe this couple has grown a bit attached to their shaggy new friend. Happy ending and shortbread biscuits for all.

The book bears a striking resemblance to Lyn Rossiter McFarland's subsequent similarly plotted picture book, "Widget". The difference, however, is that "Widget" is the stronger story. Though I was with "McDuff" through the beginning, about the time he stumbles on the kindly couple I found my eyebrows slowly beginning to lift. For example, when McDuff appears outside the third home, the book says the following: "Somebody opened the door and asked him to come in. It was Lucy. 'This is Fred', said Lucy". Looking at the picture of both Fred and Lucy staring at the pup on their porch, I naturally assumed that now the dog was named Fred. Not so much. The text and the pictures don't mesh particularly well either. When the book says that Fred checks McDuff's collar, the picture shows Fred sitting on a chair with McDuff hiding underneath. Plus the language is oddly stilted. It ends with the words, " 'How happy we are!', they said in their dreams", which is half an inch shy of hokey and a sneeze away from outright saccharine. I don't think I'm conveying the book's inability to tell its story convincingly to you. Nevertheless, I strongly urge you to flip through this story long before you decide to buy it. Long before.

Which is not to say that the pictures don't almost make up for its narrative flaws. Illustrator Susan Jeffers has a Caldecott Honor Award under her belt and it shows. From Lucy's painted toenails and felt hat spotted bathrobe to the image of the three new friends happily munching on McDuff's shortbread biscuits at the tale's end, this book seeks to enchant. Seeks and, were it not for the words, would succeed. I loved the fabulous 40s-50s decor. I liked the scared little McDuff turning into a confident happy pup in a loving home. I liked how realistic these images were and how original the setting became. Obviously if Rosemary Wells had illustrated this tale herself she would've done it in an entirely different way. It's just her own bloody good luck that she found herself paired with such a supremely talented artist.

So it's entirely up to you. "McDuff Moves In" has much in its favor and much against it as well. Personally, I suggest that if you are looking for a tale of a cute little white Scottie finding a home then you should seek out "Widget" by Lyn Rossiter McFarland forthwith. If, however, you're a fan of the period picture book genre and you like Susan Jeffers's work, "McDuff" may be a great choice for you and yours. It is not Rosemary Wells's best writing and the story is pretty touch n' go. Still, there are things to recommend it. Definitely give it a trial run.

I am a 2nd grader at Anna Merritt Elementary School. My name is Ashleigh. I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells. My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home.

I own this book, as well as others in the series. They are just great! My mom owns a Westie, perfectly named Duffy(he got the name before we new about the books), and the illustrator captures the essence of the Westie. Every picture is perfectly drawn to show the character of a Westie. I love the author as well. I have been a teacher and have always read Ms. Wells' books to my students and the McDuff series is loved by all. McDuff moves in is just a fun book to read and I recommend it to all ages.

I am a 2nd grader. My name is Ashleigh. I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells. My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN. I like this book because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home.

We love Max & Ruby! My daughter was so surprised to see the TV version of the story after having read the book a milliion times!

My daughter (3) and I love this book. The story is so cute and the mixture between drawing and realistic photos is very visually stimulating.
We are hooked on Rosemary Wells.

I recently checked out Max's Christmas at the library and my daughter loved it. I knew that after christmas she would still want Max, so I bought her Max Cleans Up. This is very cute story and you just gotta love Max and his sister Ruby. We also have Ruby's Beauty Shop and it also is a very cute story.

My son really enjoys this story. He thinks it's funny that Max sticks everything in his pocket while Ruby is trying to clean his room. Kind of mirrors the nonsense that goes on when trying to get my son to clean his room. ;-)

My daughter is ALL cbout Max. Max, Max, MAX...and yes, I've read this book to her SO many times I know it by heart.

The Nick Jr. show is OK (why did they change Ruby's voice? ARGH!) but the books are TERRIFIC! Rosemary Wells is a phenomenal children's writer and as an adult I enjoy all of her writing...that's impressive!

These books will be classics.

Max's Toys is another wonderful little Max book for children and adults. They capture a young child's world with humor and empathy. As Max asserts his "needs," Ruby perceives them as "wants" much like parents. I am a child/family therapist and I use the Max and Ruby books frequently.

The two-year old (plus 4 months) I bought this book for LOVES it and makes her parents touch all the different things there are to touch in the book.

My little Grandson Loves this book. He is 15 months old and carries it everywhere with him.

Because my []son does the same exact things. Sherbert in the tub, favorite shirts, worm cakes...he does it all. This book is a fantastic buy for your [] boy or girl.

Max wants Ruby's doll, Emily, but Ruby will not part with her. Max has a house with 2 chimneys, 3 soldiers, 4 bears, etc. but all he wants is Emily.

This is a cute counting book, especially for fans of this charming brother-sister bunny duo. But the ending is rather abrupt and always leaves my child wondering what happens next.

This book is well laid out with glossy pages, beautiful illustrations and a fun and simple text for young children to enjoy. My daughter loves quoting McDuff books and we take pleasure in sharing this series with her.

Being the owner of a Scottie, Westie and a Cairn, I am so impressed with how the expressions and nuances of the Westie are so realistic and well captured. This is a story/picture book for children of all ages. I am a 39 year old child and I just love the pictures as I have seen the expressions in my own real life "McDuff" - actually his name is Bentley.

As the owner of an adorable Westie puppy, I couldn't resist this book. Even tho' I'm an adult, I enjoyed this book immensely, because of the cute little stories and the incredibly cute Westie drawings. I could be a little biased (that could be my little Katie!), but I think it's the cutest children's book I've ever seen! It's quite obvious the author & artist are Westie owners, and they've put their experiences to good use!

The McDuff stories are so much fun. The illustrations are so unique and rich. My 6 year old daughter really loves to read these books. Not only are they about a really adorable dog, but they are fun to read, too. After your second or 3rd McDuff story, you really get attached to this dog! We're on a mission to collect all the McDuff stories, so this is a great book to start with!

I love that they've combined 4 of the McDuff stories under one cover. This is a great gift for a child who does not have any McDuff books. The illustrations are gorgeous and right on the mark as far as capturing the Westie personality. My children love the McDuff tales almost as much as they love their own Westie, Auggie.

I have been searching for this book since we had our first grandchild five years ago. I read it to my girls; it was one of their favorites. I'm sure our copy fell apart from "too much love" and I want to be sure our grandchildren have a chance to experience Morris.

This charming little book has been an important part of our children's Christmas for 15 years. We have had to replace it several times due to loving wear. Now we give it regularly to friends young and old. A perfect story, gentle and understanding, for everyone who remembers being a little kid at Christmas.

From the first reading this book was an instant top of the bookshelf for my two sons,and then later my niece. It is simple, but somehow entertains the imagination magically. Just what does go on inside of that bag??? Even though the kids are now teenagers, they still argue over who truely owns "Morris". This Christmas all three "kids" will receive their own copy, but mom is keeping the orignal hardback version!

This was one of my favorite books when I was a little girl. In my early 20s, I somehow thought of this book and tried to find it again, but I couldn't remember the author's name or the title of the book. All I remembered were bunnies and a "disappearing bag." I am ordering this book right away. This book is a must for all children.

Like all of Rosemary Wells' work, this book could not be improved upon! I grew up on her books, and still collect them. Her characters are illustrated in such a way that their every expression enchants, and not a word is wasted in the creation of a perfect story. In Morris' Disappearing Bag, youngest child Morris feels left out on Christmas morning while his three older siblings exchange turns playing with each others' new toys. Morris will not be consoled by his parents or by his new teddy bear. But (in characteristic Wells fashion) a surprise is in store for us that will make this Christmas a magical one for Morris--and an unforgettable read for everyone. (I've read this book every year since 1980, and I assure you, it's a must-have!)

Rosemary Wells always knows how to touch the heart, be the reader adult or toddler. Max and Ruby and her Bunny Planet books are fantastic, but please keep a look out for her older (and just as perfect) ones as well.

I frequently buy books for my granddaughters, ages two and four, and the McDuff books are real favorites of theirs. The illustrations are wonderful in all the McDuff books. These books are always picked by the girls for me to read. They love them.

I just wanted to point out that the synopsis of this book says that McDuff is a Yorkshire. He is clearly a West Highland White Terrier ("Westie"). Whatever you call him, though, McDuff's stories are wonderful.

I am a 2nd grader...I have been reading books by RosemaryWells. My favorite book is McDUFF COMES HOME. I loved the part in the book when McDuff went over the fence and saw a rabbit.

I am a 2nd grader at Anna Merritt Elementary School. My name is Ashley. I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells. My favorite book is McDUFF COMES HOME. I loved the part in the book when McDuff went over the fence and saw a rabbit. It was cute!

My name is Ashley. My class has been reading a lot of books by Rosemary Wells and McDUFF COMES HOME is my favorite book. I loved the part in the book when McDuff went over the fence and saw a rabbit. It was so cute!

A friend bought our two year-old "McDuff's New Friend" for Christmas, and we all liked it so much that we went out and bought this set of the earlier stories, too. These are beautifully illustrated little books, and the small format versions are perfect for our toddler's hands. McDuff is charming, and his adventures are told with an economy and subtle humor that parents can appreciate as much as the little ones. We read all three of these every day, and none of us have gotten tired of them yet.

These are great books for gifts to children or the people who read to them. They might be especially appreciated by grandparents and greatgrandparents, who will enjoy the books' mild humor and 1930s setting.

The McDuff series lovingly recreates a small New England town of the late 1940''s or early `50's. The frontispiece shows a neighborhood of gables two and three-story house, some with curved roofs, masonry, and picket fences, all with tall chimneys nearly touching the treetops. It's immediately welcoming. When we meet a cute (!), big-eyed, white terrier, our hearts are completely won over. McDuff is a dog's dog: He's got a nose for food, a watchful eye, and he's full of terrier energy.


This review will focuse on "McDuff Comes Home," one of three stories included here. In "McDuff Comes Home," our canine hero discovers that the kitchen window is closed. Alas! He can't bask on his Adirondack chair and savor the usual "snappy scent of Fred's frying sausages, the velvety smell of Lucy's vanilla rice pudding." (In a book set in the post-war era, I wonder if this is a thinly veiled reference to Fred Mertz and Lucille Rcardo...). Undistracted by food, McDuff notices and then chases a large brown rabbit, loses his collar, and finally collapses in a cozy vegetable patch--just the spot for a snooze.

The garden owner heads for the police station with the lost dog in her motorcycle sidecar--another wonderful touch--but McDuff's "woofs" guide them back to his home instead. Here, Fred and Lucy serve a lavish 1950's lunch: Period dishes piled high with apple pie, perhaps a dozen thick sandwiches, an entire ham, and various cheeses and dessert. McDuff, looking very content, sits in his Adirondack, about to eat a favorite treat, "a small dish of vanilla rice pudding with a sausage slice on top."

Veteran writer Rosemary Wells (the "Max and Ruby" series) keeps things moving, and the story is neither too dense nor too blandly simple. Some writers seem to slap on contrived "funny" endings but Welles blends an unforced comic twist with an integrated, reassuring conclusion. Caldecott Honor winner Susan Jeffries' great sense of period style adds to the series' appeal. The colors are smooth and saturated; the contours rounded and inviting--the book exudes welcoming, friendly warmth. Jeffries takes chances with her youngest audience in one 2-page spread that shows a curving trail of repeated Cuffs and the rabbit meant to show the zigzagging trail of their chase. This may confuse some small fry, but it's a delightfully energetic scene, enjoyable on its own (and somewhat older kids will have little difficulty understanding an adult's explanation). "McDuff Comes Home" is just one great story in this collection of three, and it masterfully blends active and soothing scenes to delight child and adult, both day and night. The McDuff series is another winner from Rosemary Wells (with copious help from illustrator Susan Jeffers), the author who gave us the bunny antics of Max and Ruby.

In the first three books of this charming series, McDuff finds his new "forever" home with a happy young couple, explores the neighborhood and deals with the homecoming of a new baby into the family. Warm, innocent and beautifully illustrated, the McDuff books capture the impish and loyal character of Westies-- and a simpler era that is a welcome antidote to our recent times. Buy them, by all means-- for adults or children of any age!

If you love darling little fluff-muffin dogs, it doesn't get any better than this! The cute purse-like container has McDuff's sweet face on it. Inside are three of the best McDuff books, plus stickers. Any kid would LOVE this. I bought one for myself, it was so darn cute and reminded me so much of my own precious terrier. This is the present I'm going to give every small child from now on. The illustrations of McDuff are absolutely on the mark: This illustrator REALLY knows what terriers are like--their poignant, wistful looks; the way they hold their bodies; and a million other endearing characteristics. Also, children are sure to be stimulated by these wonderfully simple but thought-provoking and unsentimental little stories about, for example, how McDuff gets jealous over a new baby, and how McDuff gets lost but finds his way home. All of the McDuff books are absolutely top-notch. They will warm your heart!

I loved this book when I was a kid!! I have many fond memories of it. My mother refuses to let me have my copy (she claims its hers--goes to show you she liked it as much as me!), so I came here, in search of buying a copy for a friend's child and I am shocked and upset to find that it is out of print! How could they do that?! They need to start reprinting it again. It would be such a shame for so many children to miss this funny and poignant book.

Rosemary Wells is my favorite children's author and this is my favorite of all her books (except now that she has written a book with a protangonist named Emily I may have to change my mind). Few books make a frustrated older sibling feel understood as well as this one -- A Baby Sister for Frances is another that comes to mind -- while reminding them that being the older one is an important job. Every pair of siblings should have this one read to them.

Stanley and his consistently befuddled sister Rhoda are memorable. This book will make you laugh at any age. It's hilarious! I read it to my younger sister, every kid I babysat while I was in high school and even took it with me to college for a little light reading.

Stanley is Rhoda's older brother and he has to look after her. He finds ways to do this and make it more fun for him. This is a really good book and I loved it as a child. It will especially please any child who has a younger sibling as I did. They will feel understanding for Stanley. This is definately one to treasure.

One of the treasured delights from my childhood, this book is still on my shelves. With the aid of a watermelon, long-suffering Benjamin finally comes to grips with his nemesis, Tulip.

I adore this book! It was one of my favorites when I was small, and my very dog-eared copy still sits on my shelf. My dad would read it to me, and although I felt very sorry for Benjamin, I lived vicariously through Tulip! This is a darling book!

Every time Benjamin meets Tulip she says "I'm gonna beat you up" and she does. Tulip is a little horror, gleefully dropping from the trees to mess up Benjamin's new suit with mud, an unruly, fearsome girl, as different as can be from the little goody-goody Ruby of the Max and Ruby books. Max eventually finds a watermelon helpful in taming the tyrannical Tulip and the book has a happy ending. Very amusing and much less bland than Rosemary Wells' other books.