Jingles Books

I bought this for my 2-year-old son who loves the Backyardigans. I love that this book has beautiful illustrations and the foils add something extra too. There are a few flips on each page and keeps my son interested in the book when he gets tired of listening to me reading. (he has ripped a few off, though) The text rhymes and I sing the book's words to my son in the tune of "Jingle Bells" sometimes and he laughs. This is one book he wants to look at and have me read to him. In fact, he got two for Christmas (one from me and grandma) and he loves them both!

This book is absolutely adorable, any child that loves the Backyardigans will absolutely love this book. If you are anything like me you find that you will have a hard time just reading the book. It's written to the rhythm of the song Jingle Bells, so I find it almost impossible to just read it. I have to sing the words to the rhythm of the song. My son gets such a kick out of it. We've spent many nights laughing and enjoying this book. I highly recommend it.

My three-year-old loves to be read to, especially from books that have flaps. This book fits right into her wheelhouse and our reading sessions are more interactive as she lifts the flaps, points out what's underneath, and giggles. This is a must for parents who (like myself) are trying to limit that daily tug-of-war with television.

Just like the "Monster Halloween Party" book, this book is wonderful for any Backyardigan fan and budding book lover. The flaps are so cute, and pretty durable. I would recommend this for any Backyardigan fan.

The story is nice and simple for my daughter to follow. But I am not a fan of the flap books. I did know it had the flaps before I bought it, but am always upset when they get ripped off or bent or what have you.. ruined.

This was without reserve the best Christmas music and movie review book I have ever read. The comments were both intelligent and funny. The whole book was both well researched and entertaining. The world is a better place because of this book.

Once you get this book, you may not want to have another Christmas without it.

In more than 280 pages, the authors discuss all things Christmas as they pick their "Top 10" in categories ranging from mistletoe to carols, from rangifer tarandus (reindeer) to animated cartoons. The choices are necessarily subjective, and much of the text is funny, filled with references to pop culture, music, TV and film. Pick your idea of the 10 worst Christmas songs on the radio, and see if your list compares with theirs.

The authors include scads of trivia and the inside scoop on holiday history and traditions you may never have heard of.

As you enjoy the nostalgia you'll also find useless but fascinating stuff like this: Somebody figured out that Santa has to visit 91.8 million homes in 31 hours, which means he has to make 822.6 visits per second and travel at 650 miles per second. Whew!

This would be the perfect book to have on hand for guests at Christmas, and it would make a great conversation-starter. It's fully indexed, and the bibliography includes quite a few Web sites for follow-up.

CHRISTMAS'S MOST WANTED is a reference book about Christmas customs, traditions, songs, films, evergreen trees, music, cards, foods, and a lot more.

Do you associate a certain film with Christmas? Well, this book gives detailed information in the chapter called Holiday Movie Classics. Some of the old movies mentioned are: Holiday Inn (1942), Christmas in Connecticut (1945), It's A Wonderful Life (1946), The Bishop's Wife (1947), Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and White Christmas (1954). With each film, a brief summary of the storyline is given and all of the actors are named. I have to say that was my favorite chapter.

You can also learn about the tradition of mistletoe, sending cards, singing carols, how Santa's reindeer were named and questions you never even thought to ask!

The book answers a lot of questions and I thought it was well researched, but this is primarily a secular book so don't expect many religious topics. Most of the religious references are in the chapter called Nollaig Shona which is Merry Christmas in Irish. The two references that I found to the Magi (Wise Men or Three Kings) was in a paragraph about the song, "Twelve Days of Christmas." In the song, the Twelfth Day is the Epiphany, the day that the Three Kings brought gifts for the Baby Jesus. (That's the reason that many of us leave our Christmas trees up until, January 6, which is the twelfth day of Christmas). The other reference was about a piece that was done by Dave Brubeck.

The word Christmas comes from two words put together. They are Christ's Mass.

This book will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit as you learn everything you wanted to know about Christmas but are afraid to ask! I highly recommend this as a read for yourself and a stocking stuffer for others.

This book is a real treat. It's a lot of fun to read about all the different kinds of trivia in here. I love holiday music, and it talks about all the great ones, and some new ones I haven't heard of before! And the movies and cartoons, brings back a lot of childhood memories.

Tons of short, fun, interesting snippets of holiday information. Just perfect to pick and read for a few minutes. This book is the perfect holiday "bathroom" book, and I don't mean that in a bad way. There's something in here for everyone, and tons of short, fun, and interesting trivia about Christmas. As the other review said, you can read a chapter or two then come back to it later.

Leave it out for guests to read, too. It makes Christmas more fun!

My 4-year-old loves this! He has been through every train book at the library, and I am always on the lookout for a new "angle". Well, this had it!! Much of the lingo was new to him, so he learned a lot. The pictures are both fun and informative. We love this book!

This delightful picture book will thrill young boys and girls alike as they race down the tracks with an ole hogger on engine 417! They'll meet colorful characters along the way, from Ole Joe, the ashcat, to Mabel, the merry-go-round operator, as the illustrations perfectly capture the lingo of this fast-paced E ticket ride. Kids will absolutely love it!

This beautifully illustrated book about the glorious days of steam railroading is one which all proud grandparents will enjoybuying for and sharing with their grandchildren. Grandfathers especially will enjoy the old railroad lingo and the opportunity of sharing what it was like long ago. It isn't only granmothers who read to the children!

A definite must for your home library! Kids love the detailed watercolors and the almost-musical text. Who knew railroading slang was so fun? Pretty soon your kids will be asking for their milk as "whitewash" and telling your their "trick is up" at bedtime. Train enthusiast of all ages will enjoy this trip down the main line.

CAN YOU HEAR THE WHISTLE BLOWING? . . .ummm, yes, you sure can! It's coming down the track, coming down the track, coming down the track!

Patricia Newman delivers a zesty read about the world of trains. Told from the point of the engineer, you will learn train terms, facts, and just a fresh appreciation for the chugging world of transportation.

Perfect resource for a transportation unit in the classroom.

I also love the title. . .and I LOVE THIS BOOK!

Ho, hum. Another unmarried female amateur detective with a hobby or job I'm going to
hear all about and a kid I can watch grow up because it's a series mystery. Well,
it's better than I expected.

I came in at number 11 of the series, but it was good enough that I'll hunt down
earlier volumes and perhaps read the whole series. It was good enough for two or three
more per year, but not good enough to tackle them one right after another. The mystery
part was fairly weak, but the characters were interesting. I found myself not wondering
"who dunit?" but rather "what will so-and-so do next?"

The dog and dog show portion of the story was also interesting. I like dogs but not dog
shows and I found the dog show and preparation scenes interesting. When the investigator
is a cook, I try some of the recipes, but I can not tell you if the dog tips are good or not.

There is a fair amount of humor here; not the laugh out loud kind, but rather the smile or
chuckle kind. The humor is about the interactions of the characters and the business or
busyness of living. I expect there will be similar smiles in the other books of the series,
rather than the same jokes repeated each time.

In Greenwich, Connecticut, Melanie Travis is a special needs tutor at the posh private Howard Academy. She enjoys her work there, but her passion is showing and breeding French Poodles. Her son Davy enthusiastically helps her with the canines when he can. When she takes her son to the school bus, Melanie is surprised that Henry the long time driver has been replaced by Annie. She visits Henry to see if he is okay only to learn that he recently died from a heart attack.

Melanie sees Golden Retrievers inside of Henry's home so feeling compassion and not wanting the dogs to mourn alone, she takes them to her Aunt Peg, a professional breeder and canine lover. The two female relatives learn through the grapevine that Henry was poisoned. His two daughters arrive planning to sell their father's animal companions on E-bay. They also refuse to leave town until their father's killer is caught. Peg wants these coldhearted adult children be gone so she investigates the homicide to expedite their departure, not realizing the danger her decision poses to her and her niece.

JINGLE BELL BARK is a delightful tale that amateur sleuth fans will enjoy especially the canine caper crowd. Laurien Berenson enables readers to glimpse inside the world of dogs through the loving way aunt and niece nurture their beloved barking family members. The audience, like Peg, will find it impossible to determine who the killer is because suspects abound with motives and opportunities. This leads to a surprising climax as Peg and Melanie try to take a bite out of crime before they are nipped permanently.

Harriet Klausner

Melanie Travis has enough to do over the holiday season without worrying about murder. She has a son to shop for, an expecting sister-in-law, a poodle to prepare for all-important showings, a girlfriend to straighten out on buying a respectable dog, and a relationship to get right. When the favorite schoolbus driver is found dead, all Melanie intends to do is make sure his dogs get a proper home. But getting the dogs the right home gets complicated when the driver's daughters roll into town--intent on putting the dogs up for auction (because one of their parents' was a champion, the daughters assumes that the dogs must be highly valuable). The only way Melanie's Aunt Peg figures to get rid of the daughters is to solve the mystery herself. Of course, Aunt Peg's way of solving mysteries turns out to involve a lot of sending Melanie out to do the work.

Author Laurien Berenson does an excellent job combining an interesting character with humor and mystery. Melanie, with her relationship issues, and her obsession with her standard poodles draws the reader in largely because she is a typical suburban mom--caught between a job, her child, and a hobby that demands so much of her time. In Berenson books, the mystery plays second fiddle--it isn't that it isn't being worked on, it's just that the mystery has to come after Melanie takes care of her son and her poodles.

In JINGLE BELL BARK, Berenson makes the combination click. I've enjoyed a number of other novels in this series, but BARK seems to put togther the combination of character, humor, and strong writing even better than the earlier novels. Berenson's writing hooks the reader early and keeps us involved with the story.

I have no hesitation in recommending JINGLE BELL BARK to anyone looking for a light mystery.

Single-parent Melanie Travis wants nothing but to spend a simple, traditional, relaxing Christmas with her eight-year-old son, Davey, and her fiance Sam. But preparing for the holidays can be a major pain when you're attempting to keep a Standard Poodle's fur intact for her upcoming show; racing back and forth between the fancy prep school where you work, your sons elementary school, and Christmas play rehearsals. Throw in holding down the fort, and dealing with your over-bearing, yet kind-natured Aunt Peg, and there seems like there's never enough time in the day. But when Davey's bus driver, Henry Pruitt, disappears without notice, and a surly, despondent, pierced teenager arrives in his place, Melanie is overcome with concern for the kindly old man, and decides to check up on him. However, upon arriving on his front stoop, Melanie learns that Henry died two days earlier, and there's an investigation being conducted, because suspicious circumstances surround the untimely death. Melanie instantly knows that she has to get involved, especially when she discovers that Henry's beloved Golden Retrievers have not only lost their owner, but their home, as well. Taking the two friendly fellows to Aunt Peg's for a little R&R, complete with the tale of their sordid predicament, Aunt Peg decides to do the only thing she possibly can...take the dogs in for the holidays and stick her nose where it doesn't belong, enlisting Melanie's help to do some snooping into the suspicious death of Henry. But just as the two amateur sleuths begin to dig up some incriminating info, they realize that they could be next on the lunatics list, and that they're in for quite a slay ride.

I have looked over Laurien Berenson's novels for years, but have never actually delved into one. However, when I noticed that she had penned a holiday mystery, complete with two puppies and a Christmas tree on the cover, I found myself unable to resist the purchase. While I do not own a dog of my own, I am a dog lover, and found the information regarding various breeds, and the special care they deserve - as well as Melanie and Aunt Peg's true love for each and every furry friend they meet - to be quite enchanting. The parts regarding dog shows, and the preparations (which there isn't much of) were somewhat tedious, and not as interesting - especially if you're not into dog shows. However, these parts did not overshadow the rest of the story, and lent a hand in building up the character's personalities, and interests. Melanie is a delightful character, whose determination to please everyone surrounding her - be it her son, her fiance, or her pregnant sister-in-law - is admirable, and quite enjoyable to discover more about; but it's her Aunt Peg who steals the show with her nutty as a fruitcake ways, and utterly crazy ideas. A delightful, cozy mystery that will leave you howling for more of Melanie, and her misadventures.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I have read all of the Melanie Travis mysteries, and this is definitely the best one yet! It's written with Ms Berenson's usual humor and knowledge of her subject matter. Those who love showing dogs, especially Poodles, and a good light-hearted mystery will enjoy this book immensely. Can't wait for the next addition to the series.

We were late on this book too. My 8 year old and I sung this book together. It is Jingle Bells with the words changed to show children in different countries enjoying Christmas. It is a fun book with great pictures. Recommended for preschool - 2nd grade.

As a storyteller at the local library, I am always looking for new and different books to read to my preschool group." Jingle Bells" was one of the best holiday selections I have read. The illustrations are large enough for a group,and the colors and detail are superb. Trapani tells a story of Christmas around the world, describing how the children in Poland, Sweden, Italy and several other countries celebrate their own special holiday. Great book!

The book is an extention of the Jingle Bells song, with new verses added to talk about how kids celebrate in other countries. It gives very minimal details really, but it's a cute intro with a flying sleigh that flies around the world. They visit Mexico, Philippines, Italy, Sweden, Kenya, & Poland. My 2-year-old enjoys it & I'm sure it will be one that we continue to read in future years as well.

This is a wonderful addition to your Christmas book collection. I just purchased two copies for my niece and nephew's young families. I was really pleased that even I who is muscially challenged could sing the new verses without much difficulty. I loved that the book introduces children to Christmas customs in other parts of the world as I am always on the lookout for books that make my youngest nieces and nephews aware of people beyond their own neighborhoods. I think this will be a must have Christmas offering.

I bought this book because I like adventure stories and the summary review sounded really good. I also liked the cover. That old hand reaching in toward the piles of coins tickled my curiosity. I am in high school, and although the characters in this book are in sixth grade and eighth grade, they reminded me of people I know at my school. Everything in this book seemed so real. I would like to explore caves like the ones in this book. Super Great! As I read it, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. I found the author's website and wrote him an e-mail telling him how much I liked his book. I didn't really think he'd write back, but he did. It was really cool.

This book would make a great movie. I would recommend it to all my friends.

This is my new favorite book. I couldn't put it down and when I finished it, I wanted it to go on. It was very excititing.

When I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Now that I finished, I wish it could go on. It was very exciting.

This is still my favorite children's book of all time. Lots of fun, interesting characters, great art. You can't go wrong here.

The story is the kind of fantasy kids will love, dragons, knights, dark enchanted forest. The illustrations are perfect, and enhance the text. Not scary at all, so even very small children will love this book.

What wonderful colorful illustrations and the animals. They talk ,they are funny and witty and wise. Love this book> Beastly bullies..A tiger with an eye patch..a griffin..dragon..castles and more.. this is a must read for anyone who really wants to get thier grandsons attention... littles boys love this book.. highly recommended ..top 10 this book does what I consider to be the magic of a tale..It makes kids laugh..

As a child this was and still is my favorite story. If you like "Where the Wild Things are" this is a book that needs to be part of your collection. Sir Toby goes out throught the country side and meets with past enimies and at the end tricks them into a happy ending to the amusment of the people they had terrorized before. The pictures add a quality that helps the story. A very good read. My highest recommendation.

This book has such cute pictures and simple words. I would recommend it for all toddlers. My 14 month old wants me to read it over and over. It is his favorite book.

My one-year-old is in love with this book! It has the cutest pictures of babies dressed up as snowman, angels and even a Christmas gift! Babies love looking at other babies, so this is a wonderful book if you have a child between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. I highly recommend it, and all the other books by Tom Arma.

My son LOVES this book. We read it every night, he is so fascinated with the babies and the images. The photographs are very clever and I enjoy looking at them also. The words are sparse and easy to follow for younger children.