Readers Books

One day I stepped into a New Age book store in town and I came across Mountains, Meadows and Moonbeams. I had never heard of the book before but when I opened it I found it intriguing.

This 220 page book is a bit of this and a bit of that. About half the book is filled with cute but rather amaturish black and white illustrations by the author Mary Summer Rain. The back of the book says, "...full of illustrations for coloring. It will help parent's nurture the imagination and creativity of their children...". Well, I do think it fails in that department.

I'm an anti-coloring book mom and the illustrations really don't nurture the imagination and creativity of kids. Children need to draw their own pictures for that to happen. Also, my daughter doesn't seem interested in coloring in the illustration.

Still I like this book very much. My 6 year old has been going through some fears regarding death. She is afraid that I will die soon and she is afraid of facing her own death one day. I bought the book because I felt it would give her comfort and it has.

The book is divided into 4 rather distinct parts. Part 1--The Spiritual Basics of the Universal Truths. It seems to me to have a mix of new-age, pagan, and Christian elements mixed together which I don't have an issue with. Some of the latter parts such as out-of-body-experiences seem too advanced for a 6 year old but the earlier things like "Your Circle of Protection" are very helpful now.

Part 2 is called, Spiritual Lessons from Animals, which include some very nice poetry and a lesson that goes with it. These are appropriate for my child's age. Part 3 is Spiritual Messages from Verse. Part 4 is called Mother Nature's Babies and contains bits of information that would appeal especially to Pagans with discussion of pixies, gnomes, and elves.

It's an odd book. Sometimes we hear of God the Father and at other times the Creator is referred to as Mother Earth. Still the book keeps growinging on me and provides comfort to my daughter. Despite it's imperfection (or because it them) I would reccomend this eccentrically charming book to spiritually open-minded parents and their children.

This book brought a little tear to my eye as I began reading the first 5 pages. It really makes you feel good about the gift of life and how each and every one of us is a special human being.The easy to read format and drawings makes this book a delight to read to my children and is a positive view on life and delves into spiritual awareness e.g. dreams, healing, auras etc.
With all the negativity in media these days, it is refreshing to read something positive. I loved it that much I have bought another as a gift for my close friend.

This is a great book for kids. I bought the book and read it first before I gave it to my daughter. It had the same beliefs I have and although we discussed my beliefs before this brought up more questions for her and gave her deeper insight into the spiritual world. She loves the book. It explains about being born and differant types of psychicness and it is easy for children to understand. With stories at the end that will teach them like children sitting by a grandmothers feet.Great for opening up young minds.

This is an excellent book for teaching the spiritual basics of the universal truths. I have 5 children ages 18, 13,11,9,8. All of them have benefited from this book. This book has helped me explain truths that I could not put in the right words. Mary Summer Rain speaks so well to young minds as well as to adult minds. The pictures are on a childrens level so that where they dont at first understand the words, they can look at the pictures and get an idea of what is being said. By the second time around in the book my children were all understanding. I make this book a nightly bedtime reading. She has broken down the truths in small digestable pieces just enough for understanding. What a wonderful gift we give our children to help them understand and to heal our land. They are the age of peace and harmony.

I had read such glowing reviews for this book, and was disappointed when I ordered my own copy. The simple line art illustration wasn't to my liking and while the book had interesting chapters on dreams, visualization, and wish craft, I found it's basic theology to be inappropriate for my Pagan belief system. I believe in the multiplicity of deity, and was surprised that this book was very monotheist, stressing "one God" who "has a plan for our lives." I would recommend this book for those following a New Age, or Mystical Christian path, but not those raising their children on a Pagan path.

My daughter who is 9.5 asked me to purchase this for her after we read a library copy. It is a sweet tale, well told. She much preferred the illustrations in the 25th anniversary edition.

Nice illustrations, good strong story line. For being such an imaginative story, it's fairly realistic in how to think of solutions, instead of quiting. Very good story for young readers.

Steven Kellogg is an excellent artist and storyteller. This is my favorite of his works. I often wished, when I was young, that my uncle in Scotland would send me a huge tadpole, but my uncle only lived 10 miles away in the desert. Not much chance of that!

This book has a great story and is fun! Children will love the vivid pictures as well as the exciting turn of events! I give it two thumbs up! There are two editions out there, the original, and the second edition which has several different illustrations and a few story differences. I like both, but for different reasons and whichever you get, you'll love it!

Sure, the plot is silly. What do you expect when the premise is that a tadpole caught in Loch Ness turns out to be more than Uncle McAllister bargained for? The Mysterious Tadpole is a rollicking romp, rich in absurdity (Only after Alphonse grows four legs and reaches the size of a Volkswagen does the teacher conclude that he's not an ordinary tadpole.), and chock full of Steven Kellog's usual hilarious illustrations. Grab the nearest child, curl up in a big chair, and enjoy The Mysterious Tadpole.

I loved this book as a child and have loved reading it to my son. He received the 25th Anniversary edition for Christmas and while it's very, very good, it has been rewritten and simply lacks the charm of the original (which I would rate an enthusiastic 5 stars). The story is still wonderful and if this is the only copy you have access to, you won't be disappointed. The original, though, is the best and that's why I have to give this edition 4-stars.

The Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". This is an excellent Bible to get your children to start "hearing" the Word of God by reading it themselves. The translation is true to any good accurate translation, NKJ, NIV, ESV, NASB. We have many Bibles for out twin 5 year olds and this is by far the best though I would also highly recommend Egermeier's Bible Story Book for read aloud time.

You can't get your children to start loving the Word of God soon enough and our kids love this Bible. They are easily able to find the various books and locating specific passages is becoming second nature. This is an excellent, excellent child's Bible.

For a non-native English speaker, this is the perfect study Bible. The language is easy to understand without being childish or condescending.The study helps are fun and informative. The pictures are delightful.

The church where I serve spent several weeks looking to buy Bibles that were age appropriate for our Elementary age children. We chose this Bible because we felt it was great for that age. It is clear and easy to read, but also has lots of "extras" on the pages. It is bright and colorful, catchy for kids to pick up. The illustrations in the book are also wonderful. A great resource for any family or church.
-Rev. Heather Apel
Bethel Lutheran Church

I was looking for a child's edition that was matched as closely to an adult version, but easy to understand. This is the one! I'm very pleased and my child loves it.

I am director of Children's Ministries at an American Baptist church and we give this Bible every year to new First Graders. They use this Bible until they get to 6th Grade. This Bible has wonderful illustrations and does not divert from the meaning of the original text other than using more child friendly words. It is WONDERFUL!

A fun book for kids, with some deeper insight as well.

"When you go beyond Zebra,
Who knows...? There's no telling
What wonderful things
You might find yourself spelling!"

Actually got this for my new tat, but I love this art

This book introduced "paradigm shifting" into my intellectual vocabulary before I even knew what such a thing was.

Many, many, many years ago (Nixon was President, I think) I read this and was changed. I can remember the the images, the textures, the smells (Ah! The ditto machine and its purple perfume!) and all my surroundings. I was sitting in the elementary school library, facing northwest toward the door. Lured by the title and the premise, I had taken the volume to my assigned seat ("Library" was a class back then, as it should have been) and quickly devoured it.

The concept - that our 26-letter alphabet was an arbitrary collection and not a universal constant on a par with gravity - had never entered my cartoon-addled mind. It sparked an awareness of similar cultural and philosophical constrictions that I have expanded and retained to this day.

Hats off to the Dr.!

Loved this book as a child. Fast-forward thirty-some years, I am a computational linguist with a fascination for exotic writing systems. Coincidence? In think not.

This was my favorite book as a kid & still is. I now have ownership of our family's 'ancient' copy (copyright date 1955, Mom's written inscription: Christmas 1962 for my oldest brother who was age 6). I recently read it to my 6 year old son and he also was taken with this book. I am getting a new copy for him for Christmas as the original is pretty fragile now. This book belongs in every family's collection along with The Lorax, The Sneeches, Bartholomew Cubbins, Horton and the rest of the classic/original Seuss stories.

We bought this one used from a library and it was worth looking for. A different look for Mercer Mayer -- and a hilarious, surprise-on-every-page story. We like the Typhoonigator the best, especially when he gets full to bursting and then... SPLATTERS slime on the next page. That's a real hoot. This one makes us all laugh -- I love that!

One of the all time greats. But I was disappointed after ordering a new hardcover copy. It is smaller than the original printing, with the result that the binding cuts across monster faces. Very lame. I am sending it back and ordering a used copy from the original printing.

THE OTHER REVIEWERS ARE RIGHT ON. I NEVER LIKED 'WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE' AS A KID & WASN'T TOO INTERESTED IN TRYING ANY OF MAYERS OTHER BOOKS. I'M SO GLAD I RECONSIDERED. WE LOVE THIS BOOK! PRONOUNING SOME OF THE MONSTERS' NAMES TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO, BUT OUR TODDLER LOVES IT SO MUCH, THAT THE NAMES JUST ROLL OFF OUR TONGUES NOW.

I loved this book, with all the illustrations. I could just sit for hours reading and looking at the pictures of monsters. I plan on reading it to my child someday....

Although now in my mid thirties, I still remember the story and illustrations from this book -- my childhood favorite. Now that my friends' children are almost to reading age, I plan to give this book for birthdays and holidays so that others can enjoy the whymsical tale with ornate illustrations.

I've said it in other reviews and I'll say it again--I love everything by Mary Ann Hoberman that I've read. This book is great for reading aloud, is fun and engaging, and has a great message for children (and adults, for that matter)!

My daughter is 14 yr. and this is still her all time favorite book from her childhood. It is beautifully written. When read aloud, the rhymes are truly lyrical. I also love the underlying message re. the life enriching qualities of friendship and sharing. Illustrations are gorgeous, unique and really hold a child's attention. I just ordered three copies to give to friends with younger children.

I got this book from the library for my 2 year old and he absolutely adores it. He asks me to read it all of the time! I have to force him to pick a different book to read (for my sanity). The illustrations are very colorful and just grab his attention. There is a nice rhyme to the story that makes is pleasant to read aloud. This is one that we will definitely be purchasing!

The illustrations are what really sold me on this book and the story is wonderful too. It is one of those rare kids books (much like Maria Kalmans) that combines beautiful art with a sweet story. It is quirky and dear.

This is a great book for children. It teaches sharing and how to make friends. I like this book becuase Oliver learns about how to treat others. He doesn't know what life is like, becuase he has always lived by himself and never talks to any of the people in his town. He has one of everything in his house. He doesn't know that his house was only made for one person until he makes a friend and invites her to his home. Peggoty Small tells Oliver that his home was made for one person and she couldn't live with him.
My favorite character was Peggoty Small. I like her becuase she told Oliver Toliver what she tought. She wasn't afriad to tell him about her feelings, she just told him flat out what she thought. Even though she hurt Oliver's feelings, she old him anyways because she thought he should know the truth. This book teaches kids how to make friends, and how to share what you have with others.

This is a Joss Whedon book, meaning that not only is PROM DATES FROM HELL a fabulous read, suspenseful and sarcastically funny, but that there are even insights here into high school life, taking a close peek as it does into teenage awkwardness and alienation, peer pressure and clique politics. Y'know, the stuff so engrossingly covered in the Buffy television series. Rosemary Clement-Moore actually writes this book, and it startles me a bit to find that she's not herself a teenager, so in touch is she with that adolescent psyche (or so it seems to me, as I judge from my decades-removed perspective). But, no, Rosemary Clement-Moore, it turns out, is merely a very gifted writer, married and with master's degree and all.

Everyone has bad dreams. But whenever high school senior Magdalena Quinn (or Maggie) sufers a troubling nightmare, then it's time to clench your cheeks down there and start a-frettin'. Maggie happens to have the Sight, her dark dreams tend to be prophetic ones. And, lately, she's been having some doozies. It's all to do with her classmates, and a vindictive nerd suddenly vowing unnerdlike vengeance after one particularly nasty session of shove-around by the popular clique.

Maggie is a misfit, aligning herself somewhere between the in-crowd and the geeks. She holds to a brisk set of standards, which extend to sometimes defending the bullied and dissing on the senior prom, although she doesn't mind taking pictures or writing articles for the school paper and such. But when her long-dormant clairvoyance resurfaces and when weird, horrific accidents begin to befall certain of the jocks and cheerleaders of Avalon High - oh, and when inexplicable shadows and the stink of brimstone begin to manifest at school and then at her home - Maggie has no choice but to get involved. But she's not alone. In the face of paranormal doings and in her probings against the forces of darkness, she gets back-up support from her weird and slightly Goth BFF, her prescient, cookie-baking grandmother, and a college dude investigating occult phenomena. And, being that sort of snarky book, it's probably inevitable that the big denouement, when it arrives, takes place at the prom. This, at least, makes her mom happy.

I happen to think that Rosemary Clement-Moore writes a more sarcastic, wickedly funnier teen heroine than most. The book sets a light tone, although as it progresses, an undercurrent of serious begins to creep in. There's a certain transparency to the plot; alert eyes will easily spot Clement-Moore's clues regarding the spellcaster's identity, but never mind that. There are characters here whom I relished reading about, from Maggie, the Queen of the Smart-Alecky Retort herself, to her best bud Lisa (who wants to someday take over the world), from Maggie's understanding dad to her hip grandma. And I don't want to forget Professor Blackthorne, Maggie's cool chemistry teacher. PROM DATES FROM HELL is Clement-Moore's first Young Adult novel. But Young Adult, Shhmung Adult. I'm no whippersnapper myself. I've got the onset of arthritis, my metabolism's fled in panic, and my distressing cholesterol level is causing my blood pressure to rise - but I loved this book! Anyone can read this, anyone can enjoy this. And thank the Googly Moogly - but mostly thank Clement-Moore - that there's already been a sequel (Hell Week (Maggie Quinn: Girl vs Evil, Book 2)) and another one enroute (Highway to Hell (Maggie Quinn: Girl Vs Evil)). Anyway, if you want to know how to drive away supernatural stalkers or how to rid your bedroom windows of ectoplasmic grime or even learn some snappy comebacks, or mostly if you want to read a terrific story, then absolutely look no further than here.

Prom Dates from Hell introduces us to a smart alec new herione in the Teen supernatural Genre. Maggie Quinn is smart, loyal, and special.

Maggie Quinn has no plans on going to the prom, a girl with her grandmother's sixth sense, but after a demon starts attacking other students she has no choice. The story is addicting and hilarious. It reminds me a lot of (my personal favorite show)BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER.
I hated putting the book down and fell in love with Maggie and the rest of the cast.

Despite the title this book isn't very explicit. Perfect for teens of all ages who enjoy a good demon slaying or just a funny new read!

It is a VERY promising new series Hell Week (Maggie Quinn: Girl vs Evil)

Have you ever heard the cliche that High School can be hell? Well, imagine for a moment that it really is. Not in the figurative sense but literally hell. That's what happens in the book, PROM DATES FROM HELL. Maggie Quinn is on the newspaper staff and is the Yearbook photographer and doesn't want to go to her prom. One day while photographing the Spanish club for the Yearbook, Stanley, the school nerd, asks her out. She's horrified but what happens next is even worse. The resident Jocks and Jennifers come along at that moment and torment Stanley. After Maggie takes a photo and threatens to put it in the newspaper, something happens. Stanley threatens all of them. No one takes him seriously, that is until Maggie starts sensing things and smelling brimstone at the school.



Later things start happening to the in crowd--the same ones who'd tormented Stanley. Now it's up to Maggie to find out what's going on. Putting on her Nancy Drew hat she searches to see what's going on and finds out that the prom is mandatory if she hopes to save the school from demons.

I enjoyed this tale. Think Buffy meets Nancy Drew. The catchy dialog pulled me right into the story. Throw in a cute college student, who happens to be researching paranormal happenings and is in her father's college class, a cute Jock, and a foggy demon, who likes to leave messages on her window. Oh, and also some witchy cheerleaders.

What I really enjoyed about this tale was the interaction of Maggie to her father. So often stories have the parents either obvious to their teen or the bad one. Maggie's father is very supportive of his daughter even when he can't see the demon. And her Debbie Reynolds like Grandmother is a gem.

This is a fun ride that makes you wonder if maybe that smell in high school might be something more sinister!

I loved this book. Suspenseful, clever and funny, Clement-Moore is obviously a skilled storyteller at weaving a complex plot that adults and teens enjoy. I left my teenage years a while ago, but I really liked these characters, especially Justin. Maggie Quinn is a character I want to read in future sequels.

Love it Love Love it! It was kind of sad when Abby didn't get the part she wanted. But then she helped rewrite the script(she's a great writer) so that made me happy and that definitly made her happy.

Have you ever been in a play? Abby had! This book is about Abby wanting to star in the play " PETER PAN ". ( Her teachers had planned it. )But she found out that she was only the Narrater. Miss Bunder told her to rewrite the " PETER PAN " so it would be less old fashion. ( If you want to read more ...... Read The Book!!! )
And I forget to tell you, this is also a very great book!

I love this series. It is apropreite for all ages from 1-100. It teaches morals and is funny at the same time. This book is about a girl named Abby Hayes who wants to be in a play to perform at her school when her grandmother is visiting. Most of the book is about her practicing for auditions but the end at the play is one of the best ending of any book.
I suggest that you read the first and second book of the series so you will understand it a little bit more.

I had fun reading this book. Ms. Bunder and Ms. Kantor are putting on a play. They let Abby do the job of rewriting the script.

The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes Reach for the stars is a great book. It is about a girl that is in fifth grade girl and her name is Abby. Abby has a writing class every Thursday. She loves the class because she loved to write in her journal. Abby's writing teacher decided to do a play. The play was Peter Pan. Abby got to rewrite the play. She was so happy about that. She practiced and practiced for the part that she wanted but she did not get it. Her teacher gave her the part of the narrator. Everyone loved the show she rewrote.
All of the Abby Hayes books are written in two kinds of print, black print and purple lettering. The black print is the author telling us the story and the purple lettering is Abby writing in journal. I love this series because I can relate to what she is going through. I think girls that keep journals would like this book a lot

I found this book very interesting. I wish I had a button to press and help kids actually become passionate readers. Society must help and encourage more reading as entertainment. Too often there are ads for physical activities and they do not show value for reading and academic activities.

Finally, an author who validates my own tried and true method for developing strong readers. Reading an interesting book can teach our students more about reading that we ever will. It's time we again dedicated a part of our reading time for reading, not just reading instruction, but we need to help them by offering the best books to select from. "Build it and they will come." A class library full of rich literature that interests middle school students is a huge challenge, and Ms. Atwell provides tons of titles to get you started. She also offers plenty of ideas for record keeping, and student conferences. The book is very inspiring and full of good ideas and advice.You rock Nanci Atwell!

As a teacher of students who are struggling readers at the high school level, I was somewhat disappointed by Nancie Atwell's latest book. Her approach assumes many things that simply not always possible in the public school class room, especially at the high school level. I applaud her devotion to providing students with time and space to read, but she doesn't understand the time and MONEY constraints that most of us have. For example, I have to spend my own money to provide my students with a classroom library and my department can only afford to provide us with $25 per teacher for classroom supplies like chalk and staples. The $250 that the IRS allows for is usually what I spend just to have art supplies, extra pens and pencils available for my students. I have to reach deep into my own pocket to purchase books.

Over all this book left me disappointed, because Nancie Atwell needs to see what it's like for people like me who are just as devoted, but left with little money to supply my students. How are we supposed to do all the great things she reccommends if we can't have the same resources that she is lucky enough to have?

This is an excellent book that shows how students can become great readers when they are given the chance to have independent reading time and be in control of their reading choices. This is a must read for all teachers!

How does a kid learn to read...by reading. Get your students into the Reading Zone. I was sucked into the guided reading, small groups, centers, rotations, strategies method of teaching too. However, my students just were not progressing or developing that "love of reading" that I wanted for them. Within a month of reading this book and changing my approach, almost all my students have jumped into the ZONE. This book will change how you teach. It's the next step in your evolution as a reading teacher. Happy reading!

The book Sammy Keys and the Psycho Kitty Queen written by Wendelin Van Drannen is an exciting adventure! I would give this book 5 stars because it was a page turner and there were exciting events in every chapter. I just couldn't put this book down.
Join Sammy on a quest to find a mischievous cat killer. On the way she is chased down an alley by a man with a butcher knife and gets hosed down by a psycho kitty queen. If that isn't enough her archenemy Heather Ascota has the same birthday as her! Heather's brother gives Sammy a lucky horseshoe and Heather will do anything to get it back- even fight Sammy for it.
If you're looking for a story filled with adventure, laughs, and a psycho kitty queen, this is the book to pick!

sammy keys and the psycho kitty queen was one of the best books I have ever read. If you haven't read it READ IT! I have read it over and over again and each time it gets better. Other sammy keys books are good but this one is the best. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen was written by Wendlin Van Draanen. It all started when Sammy found a dead cat in the dumpster. She thought a lot about the cats after she found another one in the garbage. After her own cat went missing, Sammy had to see what was going on.
This book was exciting and suspenseful because of all the action. I liked the ending because the problem was solved. Sometimes I find myself a lot like Sammy and I can picture myself as her in the book. The main problem was very unique, weird, and interesting because the author used dead cats. The characters seemed very real to me because the whole book was realistic fiction.
Wendling Van Draanen uses a deep voice throughout the book. Very few of the words she used were unknown to me. It was interesting that every time I came to an unusual word she described it. Unlike other authors, Wendling ended every chapter in a suspenseful way. I think she has a lot of creativity to come up with this great book.
Out of all the books I've read, this one is one of my favorites. I liked it because between the rising action there are many problems. Every time Sammy solved a problem, I thought the book was going to be over. I recommend this book because it's suspenseful, thrilling, and funny.
Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen might be a little weird at the beginning. You'll want to stop reading because a couple of cats died and there's a weird wrestler that doesn't take off his cat suit. There's a reason to all that, and you need to find out.

The book Sammy Keys and the Psycho Kitty Queen written by Wendelin Van Drannen is an exciting adventure! I would give this book 5 stars because it was a page turner and there were exciting events in every chapter. I just couldn't put this book down.
Join Sammy on a quest to find a mischievous cat killer. On the way she is chased down an alley by a man with a butcher knife and gets hosed down by a psycho kitty queen. If that isn't enough her archenemy Heather Ascota has the same birthday as her! Heather's brother gives Sammy a lucky horseshoe and Heather will do anything to get it back- even fight Sammy for it.
If you're looking for a story filled with adventure, laughs, and a psycho kitty queen, this is the book to pick!

This book is written very well and the end is, as always pretty surprising. Now to the story...Sammy's life is a disaster: She lives in her Grams' apartment which is only for seniors, so she always has to sneak up the fire escape. Her mom left her for a career in Hollywood and then suddenly she shows up on Sammy's birthday. She came to tell Sammy that she isn't turning fourteen, she's turning 13 because her mom had made a fake birth certificate. Sammy is really upset but then she and her friend Holly find dead cats all over town in garbage cans and they start solving the mystery. At a new wrestling school, Slammin' Dave's,(where Sammy also learns some nice wrestling moves) there's a wrestler, El Gato who looks very scary since he always has a cat mask and costume on and never takes it off, so Sammy and Holly become very suspicious. In the end El Gato turns out to be someone totally different than they would have thougt. How they solve the mystery and find out who the cat killer was, will grab you and make you want to keep reading and reading. I really enjoyed the book and read it in only two days and I recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries. The characters are described good and likable except for Heather and her friends,Sammy enemies. The book is also a real page-turner and i would recommend the other Sammy Keyes books as well. I hope this review helped and that you enjoy the book as much as I did.