Readers Books

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.

Great book from a great author, you will not be disappointed if you are a Berkeley Breathed fan.

Packed with action and emotion and carried by catapulting rhyme, this hilariously original story reminds us that caring siblings are gifts to be treasured.

The work of Berk Breathed is hauntingly beautiful and heartbreakingly insightful...it is also dead-on hilarious when he wants it to be. Please don't reject this book because of a "dedication" remark that is not so much a political statement as it is a reflection of the fact that somewhere out there, right now, someone is trying to raise future-President Fudwupper. Let us pray that they have purchased this book!

I used this book with primary grades to cover the topic of telling the truth. I found it works best with second graders because they can understand the secondary message of family loyalty. I also purchased "A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue" and this works great with K-1. Both great additions to my collection!

This is a very funny book that teaches a couple of lessons very well. Cause and effect, honesty and family loyalty are all explored in a humorous and insightful way. Great book for kids about 7 and up and adults who need a laugh or a little reminding.

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 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.

I have made it a habit this year to get through many of the classics on audio book during my daily commute. I picked Pilgrim's Progress since it was one of the most influential English books ever published, and I wanted to see what it was all about.

The audio book was published by Blackstone Audio and the reader was Robert Whitfield. The reader did an excellent job and was very easy to listen to. He did some characterization with his voice that made it easy to know which character was speaking. I was a little worried about the older style English, but it gave me no problem. It probably helps that I am familiar with the King James Version of the Bible. Overall, listening to this book worked out very well.

This is the first book length allegory that I have been through and I thought it was an excellent way to teach. There is no doubt which principal each character is supposed to represent by their name, and their actions represented that well also. I can understand why so many families had this book in their libraries. As far as Christian doctrine goes, there are a few things that some would disagree with, but most of the principals taught are still generally accepted today. The path to God's presence is filled with opposition, but there is help available and the reward is worth it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand an important part of our heritage, and to see what an effective tool allegory is.

I love this book. It was written from a jail cell in the 1600s. This version is the original so the text is difficult to read at first but I would not want a watered down modernized version (which can be purchased). I find if I read in chunks it starts to flow nicely. The characters have names like, "Evangelist", "Piety", "Talkative", "Faith", etc. So you know just where someone is coming from. I have marked up this book with pencil just like I do my scriptures! It is like reading one long parable in story form! Cool book. I'm glad to have found it.

We've read this book to our son and he has really enjoyed it. He doesn't yet fully understand everything and we had to stop and explain a lot to him, but it is something that we plan on reading over and over again as our kids continue to grow.
I read a review that stated that a main flaw in this book was the lack of one on one relationship with Christ. I can understand what they are saying, but I think what you have to keep in mind is that while we are here on earth and in our day and age we do not physically see Christ. He was once here walking and living on this earth, but He is now in heaven. He uses other means now to maintain a personal relationship with us. For example, we can know Christ through His word and through prayer. Just as in the book, He often also sends other Christians along in our life to help us and encourage us. This book is a good example of a walk of faith. We can't see and physically touch Christ right now, but when we are in heaven we WILL see Him just as Bunyan talks about in the book. Christian persevered in his walk without physically seeing Christ and he was rewarded in the end for his faith. For now, how much greater our reward is for those who have not seen Him and yet believed!

Enthralling. This book will help every Christian deal with the battles of being a Christian in this life and all the struggles that go with it. It teaches you never to give up even when you feel like you can't go on. Life's struggles are not a new occurrence, but as timeless as human existence itself. It teaches you not to be too concentrated on your struggles, but to look at the great prize which is Heaven and not be distracted or enticed by the struggles of life nor the easy way out. Excellent. It is a must read for every Christian.

The first time that I encountered Christian and his pilgrimage was as a preface and a family favorite in the book Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Unfortunately, it was not until twenty-something years later that I actually got around to reading the book itself. If I were you, I would not wait that long.

The first part of the current combined book appeared in 1678. Bunyan, a nonconformist Protestant minister who was imprisoned for preaching without a license, wrote at least the first part of the book in jail. The second part was first published in 1684. It is likely the most popular allegory ever written, and is still one of the best selling books of all time.

What makes it so popular? The obvious key to its popularity is its simple, crisp style. Even accounting for the language changes between the seventeenth century and now, it is not a struggle to read Progress and it flows well for the modern reader. Although the book is allegory, the characters are full of little realistic details that make them feel quite human. Incidentally, I was reading this book as I was walking some of the old pilgrimage trails of Europe and it was interesting to me how vivid and applicable his version of the pilgrimage experience is. The Slow of Despair rang remarkably true, as did characters such as Talkative and Mr. Worldly Wisdom.

The Oxford University Press edition is bound with a scholarly introduction which is, for a change, worth reading. It also came with explanatory notes and a glossary which were helpful for the modern reader who is not familiar with the everyday language of the period.

I read this book more than a decade ago. It belonged to my cousin and I would raid her bookshelf ever time I went to her house.

I've read several Sweet Dreams series book, but this is the only one whose title I remember. It's a tear-jerker, and even though at 9 years old I was too young to know about boyfriends and girlfriends and those types of relationships, I could still empathize with Mariah's pain.

I wish I had a copy of this book. It's very memorable.

I am surprised by all of the reviews of this book by people who read it several years ago. I thought I was being silly by coming on amazon to find this book that I read when I was [...] (13 years ago), but now I see that I am not the only one that this book had an impact on. I highly recommend P.S. I love You to anyone.

This was one of the most treasured books I have ever read. As it was also the very first teenage romance I read (over twenty years ago), the ending of the book was a huge surprise. It is impossible for anyone reading a review to apppreciate how beautiful this book is, you simply HAVE to read it. This book is timeless. I also loved the sequal "Falling in Love Again."

When I was in 9th grade a friend of mine gave me this book, I didn't even ask for it she just said here read this and let me know what you think. So I read it and I laughed, cried, and fell in love with the characters. I live in Orange County Calif. and I could imagine everything they were talking about even Palm Springs. Im 27 now, I must have read that book at least 20 times. Im here on amazon to purchase another because I gave it to another friend years ago and she gave it to anohter and so on. That book takes me to another place and I will always remember how special this book means to me.

I first read P.S. I Love You by Barbara Conklin 11 or 12 years ago when I happened to come across it at a second-hand book sale. Even as an eleven-year-old, I thought the title was corny. Nevertheless, I was drawn to purchasing the book because of the cover photo - a beautiful girl with the straightest brown hair ever and sad soulful eyes.

At the time, I had had no experience of ever falling in love. The most I'd experienced was a few shy crushes, but once I started reading the book, I absolutely fell in love with it. Barbara Conklin did an amazing job of writing from the perspective of a sixteen-year-old, and it is no wonder that this book was a sure hit with its target audience: teenagers.

Teenagers will be able to identify with all that Mariah (the main character) feels. You can relate to the bliss of falling in love, and even though I myself was inexperienced in love, it described first love in the way I imagined it to be - and also turned out to be. Also, when you read about Mariah's insecurities and what Paul Strobe (the heartthrob) will think of her if he finds out she's never had a boyfriend, it will remind you of your own experiences. Perhaps now as an adult, these matters seem trivial, but as a teen, you could totally understand why she panicked and felt the need to "impress" Paul...

I must have read P.S. I Love You more than a dozen times that first summer I had the fortune of finding it. Each time, I never failed to have tears in my eyes. In fact, it doesn't matter how many times you've read it because the ending will always bring you to tears. But don't misunderstand me: this isn't a book filled with misery and by no means is it a tragedy. The realistic side of portraying what it is like to lose love is surely an important life lesson for all teens, and the humorous parts will also bring you much laughter.

After each reading, I always wish that Barbara Conklin could have written a happier ending. After all, we all have a part of us that wishes for the fairy-tale ending of Mariah and Paul living happily ever after! Admittedly, there is a small part in all of us that wishes first love could last forever...

But Barbara Conklin has ended the book as she has for a good reason: she shows us how it is possible to go on even when love has been lost. You will admire Mariah's strength and courage in overcoming her loss and also the poignancy in how she keeps Paul alive in her memories.

P.S. I Love You was the first teen romance I read, and the one that paved the path to reading more. More than a decade after reading teen romances, P.S. I Love You remains the only story I remember. I recommend this book to all teens who are interested in teen romances. One word of advice: don't throw this book away! I did and regretted it terribly! I've just purchased a used copy online again and am infinitely happy to possess it again. When I read the story now as an adult, it seems a little too simple and innocent, but it is definitely a book I would like to pass on to my own daughter in the future, when she herself becomes a teenager.

I bought this entire series for my female junior high school age students so that they could have books that they could relate to and get much needed life lessons from them. After starting this first book I couldn't bring myself to present the books to them. The book sounds like it's written by somebody's mother trying to teach them write from wrong. The author keeps throwing in spiritual lessons every two lines, rather then letting the story speak for itself. The language was unconvincing and unnatural. Are there really kids out there that talk like that? Reading it was kind of torturous. But I did finish the book so I could see how all the drama was resolved. Will I finish reading the series? Not sure if I can bring myself to do it.

Staying Pure#1 Very well done. Able to see clearly the lettering. Excellent stories, helpful for the elderly as well as the youth.

Originally brought this book for my pre-teen daughter because she read all the books in the "Carmen Browne" pre-teen series. I read this book first and decided it was not for pre-teens. The story lines are too mature for her now. Because the stories are true to life and well written, I plan to save them for her to read later.

Mrs. Moore has an excellent way of addressing real life issues and demonstrating how young people can make God honoring choices in each situation. I read two of the series and plan to read the rest.

I bought this book and book II at my local library book sale. It was in the religion section, and I thought the book cover was interesting, especially after I saw it was written by an African-American writer. I didn't realize at the time that the book was directed towards teen girls, but I enjoyed the book tremendiously. Not only teen females have spiritual blocks...Anyway, I loved both books and even got my mother to read, she enjoyed them as well. I will be reading more books from this author and you should as well!

In the story Staying Pure by Stephanie Perry Moore, this story talks of teenage relationships and decisions one might have to make in those relationships. The main characters in the story start out with Payton Skyy, a senior in school who is the cheerleading captain, president of the honour society, vice president of the Student Goverment Association, senior editor of our newspaper staff, and a debutante.

Dakari Graham, Payton's two-year boyfriend in the begining of the story, an honour student, and the star of thier school. In their relationship Dakari wants to have intimate relations with Payton, but because of Payton's Christian views and her belief's in them she declined to them.

She very much loved Dakari but knew that it was wrong to do so. Dakari, who wanted to have intimate relations with Payton had a one-night stand with a girl named Starr at a restaraunt, and left Payton for this girl. Payton was devistated and did many rash things to win him back even thoughit was the same reason she had retaliated, and even thent her efforts were meaningless.

It took her a long time to ease the pain of what Dakari had done to her and leave her. She stopped eating she was depressed, the usual thing that happens when a girl gets her heart broken. Then after she got passed it a little, she had even more problems with her friends, 1 had cheated on her and the other was tested positive for pregnancy, she helps them through this.

She then starts to get to know another boy of her acquiantance, Tad Taylor and they spend some time together. I think that Tad is a perfect match for Payton and a very good influence on her as well. This book helps young christian woman and men get a good godly view on things.

I think this book could have given a bit of a better ending but it was still a very good book to read. Also i would like to recommend this book for mature audiences only and at the very least 16+ if anything.

When my first born turned one (almost 12 years ago), a friend gave this to her for a birthday present. Over the years, and with the addition of our second child, this book continues to be in our top 3 books. We still pull it out to read -- it's never far away!

I now "pass it forward" and buy it as a gift for baby/young children presents.

This sweet book is one of my four-year-olds favorites, and mine too. I enjoy reading it to her as much as she enjoys hearing it. The illustrations say as much or more than the words. It's a great story for validating the child who loves home and the one who loves to "visit".

I have become a HUGE fan of every Toot and Puddle book available and want to collect them all. I've found they have a wide age appeal, from 2 years on up to....well, I'm 28. Such clever adventures and experiences are depicted in each book and the illustrations could be the artwork in my child's room. In fact, I'd buy the prints if they were available. Great book!

This adventure with Toot and Puddle is one of my all-time favorites. It is an adorable story about two friends, one who loves to travel the world and the other who loves just staying at home in Woodcock Pocket, USA. The postcards that Toot sends Puddle from his world travels are cute and humorous! The illustrations in this book are incredible. This is a book that adults and children alike will enjoy together. I never get tired of reading this one over and over. It is a book my children will keep and pass on to their children!!

The sunny and vibrant watercolor illustrations caught my attention first. The little pigs, Toot and Puddle had so much expression and character, it was impossible not to smile. Then I opened the book and the story line was no less delightful. The idea that it is fine to pursue your own star and return to connect with family and friends is a worthy one, especially in this day and age. And the adventures of Toot were such fun to discover, as were all the activities of Puddle at home. Neither one had an uneventful life. They loved what they were doing and they loved each other. The sheer mirth that I felt reading and following the illustrations was great and I'm sure a child would feel the same. Holly Hobbie has rendered these little guys totally irresistible to all who open the cover.

I read this book for the first time over ten years ago, and it still holds up as one of the best YA novels I have ever read. Superficially, the writing is quick and bright, the characters are engaging, and the pace is spot on. Don't even finish this review, just go read the book.

If you're still on the fence, here is my list of three great things about TURoKB:
1. Kate...Here is a protagonist that anyone love, and bookish young women the world over can identify with. She's intelligent, she's a genuinely good person, and she doesn't spill any ink on youthful indulgences like self-pity or unnecessary rebelliousness. Cheers to strong, self-possessed women.

2. Kate's family...At one point in the novel, Kate decides that her parents are simply too darling and sympathetic, so she makes lists of their faults to incorporate. The resulting lists are some of the funniest moments in the book, and only serve to make her parents seem more endearing. It's hard to write convincingly about a good, stable family without making it seem utterly boring. Plummer succeeds, making us believe that the Bjorkmans really could live down the street.

3. Fleur St. Germaine...She is the revelation of the novel. First, we see one of the loveliest depictions of female friendship and generosity in print when she mentors Kate through romance that the title promises (a necessary counterbalance to the supposed friendship between Kate and Ashley). Second, she makes explicit the undercurrent of feminist ideas that Kate and her family subtly embody. Third, if the reader is so inclines, Fleur can be read as a lesbian. Nothing in the text contradicts a queer reading, and several of Fleur's jokes establish the supporting subtext. As a young woman who's access to even the tamest queer material was restricted, this book was a godsend.

I got this book from the library in the eighth grade and absolutely loved it! Kate's story is so easy to relate to and her commentaries are absolutely hilarious! Every teenage girl I know has been in her situation and she makes it so funny that you can't help but love the story. The Christmas backdrop maskes the book perfect. It's romantic, funny, and a great holiday read!

Kate is a ordinary girl whose had a crush on that she has had forever. When Richard, her older brother's best friend, comes for a visit over the Christmas holiday, Kate gets a chance to show Richard what shes made of. The problem(s): her annoying, overly flirty best-friend Ashley, and Richards firlfriemnd (or not), Fluer. But Kate, who every girl can relate to, deals with it all amazingly. This book is fun and fresh, and a nice read any time you want a little break and some refreshing holiday love and mush.

I picked this up today and just finished it. I don't remember laughing that hard in a book for a long time. Wonderfully cheesy in just the right way, Kate's unlikely romance is, in my opinion, one of the best romance books out there. Kate is a great protagonist that is (thank goodness) nothing like a real romance novel heroine. Her honesty as a story teller and character is what makes the book great. Its an easy, enjoyable read. Louise Plummer has done a fantastic job!

I loved this book so much that I read it every winter-- 6 years later I am still captivated by the story...even at 20 years old. It's like reading it for the first time all over again. You can get emotionally interwined in the pages and there are certain parts that always give me this warm fuzzy feeling accompanied by a smile..no matter how many times I read it.