Readers Books

What a fantastic book to help children and adults alike to see and appreciate the heaven on earth that we are surrounded by! This book is truly delightful! I have used it to base lessons on for my Sunday school class of 3 year olds & they LOVE it! Earl & Mooch are THE BEST!

I adore this book! It's simply drawn yet the message is so profound. Read this and think about how you can make your own world heaven on earth. Makes a wonderful, thoughtful gift for all your loved ones, children and adults alike!

I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but Patrick McDonnell is the next Charles Schulz. Mooch and Earl and the rest of the gang never fail to give an endearing, cheerful, often funny view of the tender issues that face our furry friends as well as the world at large. I have converted many, many folks into Mutts fans - and I give this particular book "Just Like Heaven" to every child I know. Birthdays, Easter, Christmas, and for no occasion at all other than I love them, and I love Mutts.

As a children's librarian, I am always on the lookout for new books that will get kids involved. This one is such a book!

As I read it to a rowdy bunch of 1st graders, you could almost feel the "quiet" enter the room as they looked and listened to what heaven may really be like. By the time we got to "hug time" they were so enthralled that with just a little bit of direction, we had a huge group hug and laugh together.

As I read it later to 4th graders, they were more interested in talking about their own ideas of heaven and perfect days, but they agreed that sometimes it is nice to just take a nap and wake up wanting to hug someone.

This would be a wonderful book to just have around to remind yourself that heaven is not made up of possessions, but of people (and animals).

Short, sweet, and to the point. I read it to my two daughters and the story makes you stop, thank God for what you have and take in the moment.

In this book Garzooka, Odious, Starlena, Abnermal, and Compooky find them selves in another adventure to save the universe. This is the third book in the seris and the best. I liked the Pet Force books because they are exciting and funny. Vetvix, the pet force's archenemy creats a brain boosting device and increeses a dovermen's intellagence and strength. Then went around the universe increeseing dogs intellagence and strength. K-Niner gives the dogs collars to put on their owners. The colars make the owners act like dogs. If you liked this book you should read other Garfield books by Jim Davis

if you read this book youl probley enjoy it. Garzooka: It's just Garfield only more mussle then fat. Odious: It's just Odie only more mussl less brain. Starlena: chill out it's just Arlene who sings more. Abnermal: Be afaid Be verry afaid it's nermal. Compooky: relax it's just your every day teddy bear. If you take my advice this is a funny book.This book is about jon a dimwited emporor the evial Vetvixs, whois odie and garfield,s veterinarian, has created a diabolical scheme. then she created k niner for her scheme.

I think kniner dog of doom is by, far the best book in the series. In this book Vetvix creates a brain bosting machine and increeses a dovermen's intellagence. I really liked this book because it's exciting and funny. K-niner went to kennel (a planet with a lot of dogs), used the brain bosting machine and bosted all the dogs intelagence so they could walk and talk. Then he starts going to other planets and bosting dogs brains. If you liked this book you should read other books by Jim Davis.

I really liked this book. It is without a doubt the best book of the series. In this book Vetvix has created K-niner and tries to brainwash all dogs everywhere. This book was very funny as well as action packed. I would highly recommend it for any Garfield fan or for anyone who likes an adventure with a little bit of humor as well.

I'm in 5th grade and I liked this book because it makes me laugh. When I read Garfield's PET FORCE, Garfield and his friends had super powers. They transformed into big masled dogs. This made them stronger. Then they go fight K-niner and the other villans. They fought K-niner,a big dog,because K-niner put collors on humans to make them act like dogs. I would recommend this book to people of all ages,especially if they like Garfield and PET FORCE books. In the real world there would not be animals that have super powers and can fly. Also, there is no such thing as dogs that can think,talk and walk on two feet,like Garfield and the other super heros. The PET FORCE real names are Garzooka,a cat,Odious,a dog,Starlena,a cat,Abnermal,a cat, and compooky is a teddy bear. There's a bad person and his name is K-niner: Dog of Boom.His master is Vetvix's. There's also a wizard who has very strong powers;evil powers that can destroy people. I liked this book because there were animals with super powers who could go in space. Animals are qreat,like Rosco and Soloman,my cats. I wonder what it would be like if my cats had super powers.

What kid doesn't love pizza? You cannot go wrong with this book. The illustrations are extraordinary!!!

This is a children's book that sweeps away the viewer, young and old alike, into a light, colorful fable about sharing and fun. The illustations are wonderfully vibrant and richly bring to life the delightful story of an eccentric King discovering pizza for the very first time. I highly reccommend it!!

When you are a kid growing up in the US, pizza is undoubtedly your favorite food...a definite treat that instantly brings a huge smile even from a tear-stained kindergartener. Mr.Sanzari captures this feeling beautifully, and reminds us adults what it was like when we were young...how we loved to be in the kitchen watching and helping mother cook. In fact I was a student of Mr.Sanzari, and remember very well how he appreciated and accepted the emotions of children..their wonders, disappointments, inconsistencies, and joys. This book proves that he is still unchanged. I am greatly looking forward to his next book.

This is an engaging story that teaches a valuable lesson about the good that comes from sharing--how it benefits both the giver and the receiver. The moral of the story is clear without being overdone or preachy. As a teacher, I read books to kids, but it is rare that I find a book that I really enjoy reading! This book is just charming!

If you love kids' books like I love kids' books, you've also found a few that are simply perfect. No other word describes them adequately. The characters are delightful, the plot expands with charm and insight, every word is exactly the right word, and to change even a simple punctuation mark would be a crime. The King of Pizza is one of these books. Ah, to be ruled by such a wise and caring king, to have subjects as generous as Salvatore, the pizza chef, to have a national decree of pizza every Saturday night! Life is good and The King of Pizza in my lap has made it even better. Thanks, Mr. Sanzari and Mr. Hurst. Keep cooking up more magic.

Disfrute muchisimo esta lectura. Perez Reverte fue un gran escritor, su facilidad con las palabras es envidiable y tiene una imaginacion incontrolable. Sentia que yo era parte de la guerra que describia. Es un libro corto, muy ameno, que no pude soltar hasta que lo termine.

La fama literaria de Arturo Perez-Reverte se sustenta en sus grandes novelas de tramas intrincadas (el Club Dumas, la Tabla de Flandes, la Reina del Sur) y en su serie de Alatriste. Injustamente sus "obras cortas" quedan a veces relegadas a un segundo plano que no merecen.
"La Sombra del Aguila" fue el primer texto que lei de Perez Reverte, cuando aparecio como serial en varios numeros consecutivos del diario El Pais, en plan "Lecturas de Verano". Por aquel entonces Reverte ya habia publicado El Husar, El Maestro de Esgrima, La Tabla de Flandes y estaba en plena promocion del Club Dumas. Absurdamente yo no lo conocia pues desde hacia anhos evitaba la nueva literatura espanhola como una segura fuente de aburrimiento. Craso error. Desde la primera linea de La Sombra del Aguila supe que estaba ante un prodigio.
La trama de "La Sombra..." es relativamente simple: durante la campanha de Rusia el emperador Napoleon y su alto mando contemplan desde una colina como, en lo mas crudo de una batalla, cuando la Grand Armee esta recibiendo mas candela, un batallon se lanza desesperadamente contra las baterias enemigas.
La emocion del emperador ante tal heroismo se torna en estupor cuando es informado que el batallon esta formado por soldados espanholes alistados a la fuerza en Dinamarca. El Emperador ordena una carga de caballeria para socorrer a esos heroes anonimos que soportan el estandarte del Imperio.... desconociendo que en realidad esta presenciando una desercion masiva, los espanholes estan intentando pasarse a los rusos.
La trama se reduce a poco mas que esta anecdota pero entrevetada con chistes ingeniosos, juegos de palabras, onomatopeyas, comparaciones geniales. Nunca la guerra es tan real como cuando la describe Perez Reverte: cruel, sucia, pero tambien comica, con un absurdo humor surrealista.
La Sombra del Aguila es un gran chiste, una pequenha leccion de historia y mucho, mucho mas.

Despues de ver varios de sus libros en las vitrinas, me decidi por algo corto. Una buena muestra con la que seguramente seguiran otras obras.

La Historia narrada es bien compuesta y podria pasar por real. Una entre miles de enfrentamientos, afortunadamente este libro nos lo compone.

La lectura es rapida y entretenida. El autor usa un lenguaje sencillo ademas de comico-critico que permite que la obra se haga entretenida.

Lo recomiendo para aquellos que les guste breves novelas historicas o simplemente quieran una breve pausa de la lectura formal.

La Sombra del Aguila es un extraordinario relato sobre la conquista Napoleónica, pero es narrado por un soldado español, que detesta (como hicieron la mayoría de los españoles) al "emperador", petit cabrón como le llaman. El humor llega a extremos brillantes. Y así, en el mejor estilo pérez-revertiano, lo que fue una batalla cruel y carente de sentido, se convierte en un jolgorio de cañonazos y catapunes cinematográficos. Es un libro breve, directo, con todo el calé español necesario para sentir la clásica irreverencia de los hispanos. La lectura es rápida, ágil, y aporta una visión magnífica desde las botas de un soldado que sólo quiere desertar. Imaginen que el profesor de historia les va a contar una guerra, pero de ella hará una anécdota. No importa la sangre, ni la muerte. Sólo importa que la burla al tirano se mantenga viva por siempre. Vale la pena!

Perez-Reverte nos hace reir con un hecho tan lamentable como la guerra. Es corto y amable. No se pierde el tiempo leyendolo.

If you have a Basset-or just love Basset Hounds- or Opus-- this is the cutest book! get it!

I am one of those father's who truly enjoys reading to his son, but every now and then I prefer to read a story which is as entertaining for me, as for my child. If you enjoy reading, but ocassionally want to read something well written, a little on the edge, and with great moral value. This author's children stories are a great change of pace, with a rhyming gate that works for all. This story, along with "Edward Fudwupper Fibbed Big" and "A Wish for Wings that Work", will forever be fond memories of stories read many times, with my favorite little man. Happy reading!

A true classic and a rowdy read for youngsters. My children loved this rollicking tale of the mythical beastie. You don't have to be an Opus fan to love this one.

I was a big Bloom County fan [back in the day]and got to know Opus and Bill the Cat from there. I finally got this book and am very pleased with it. It is classic Opus -love the Basselope too. I find it a sweet story that my kids will enjoy while still entertaining the Bloom County fan in me.

Opus is hunting for the world's last basselope, a creature so fierce, so mean, that in olden times "the mere sight of one of them in a dinosaur neighborhood would inspire ripsnorting dinosaur pandemonium lasting for weeks." This is a story of misunderstanding and discovery. If you remember Opus and Bloom County and the basselope, Rosebud, this is for you. It will takes you back twenty years. Breathed does a fantastic job with the artwork, and the story is exquisite, too. On it's surface it is just a fun book to read together and laugh out loud. Without too much of a stretch, you can teach kids about what happens when creatures misunderstand each other.

I got this book as a present. I wasn't sure about it because the character is a boy, but I LOVED it. It was a really great adventure and I loved the time travel part. It made some of the things I learned in school more real and interesting to me. Now I went back and read the first book in the series, The Enchanted Runner. Are there more books like thses?

Kendall, age 14, treasures his Native American heritage. His beloved great-grandfather had taught him the ancient Acoma tribal ways and the Keresan language, and when the old man died Kendall became the last living member of the Snake Clan. Kendall also mourns the death of his mother, and when his father remarries and his new wife displays pride in her Spanish conquistador heritage-though they were the enemies of his Acoma ancestors-Kendall is infuriated. He takes off for the reservation, and while exploring a crevice in the mesa he finds that he has somehow traveled through time, back hundreds of years to when his ancestors lived there and the conquistadors first came into the area. He is befriended by a young Acoma Indian and his beautiful sister, and becomes part of the tribe, participating in the ancient, dangerous snake dance ceremony, which involves capturing and dancing with live rattlers. When the conquistadors arrive, demanding food, a terrible massacre ensues and Kendall witnesses the subjugation, enslavement, and horrific amputations inflicted on what remains of his tribe. He returns to his own time at last, sadder and wiser, reconciled to the changes in his life. This sequel to Enchanted Runner can stand on its own, and the carefully researched details of Kendall's time with the Acoma, the snake dance, and the battle with the conquistadors in 1599 (further explained in an Author's Note at the end) will captivate readers who like historical fiction, gruesome details of violent deaths and amputations notwithstanding. Kendall's bravery, his love of running, and his respect for tradition come through clearly, and this dramatic story will inform and enthrall YAs. KLIATT: JS-Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2002

This book has everything!!!! Time travel, suspense, Native American folklore and history, woven together in a story that sweeps you away from the first page to the last. Little's depiction of the Snake Clan and the Acoma resistance was mesmerizing, the brutality of the Spanish Conquistadors was haunting, and the struggle for Kendall to reconnect with his heritage was gripping. I felt myself carried back in time, just like Kendall. Buy this book, but be careful, because once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down.

This is a wonderful book that weaves together brilliant threads of a boy's search for answers to unacceptable changes in his life. His Native American heritage leads him to the reservation and a subsequent sci-fi journey through time back to his ancient ancestors. Little's handling of one of the more chilling chapters of Native American history -specifically the fascinating culture of the Snake Clan and it's tragic fate at the hands of the conquistadors-is powerful and beautifully written. A fascinating book not easily forgotten!

Gr 6-10-A sequel to Enchanted Runner (Avon, 1999), this book stands on its own as a work of historical fiction and a time-travel story. Kendall, 14, has rediscovered his Native American roots in New Mexico at the Acoma Pueblo, ancestral home of his mother's family. He is the last of the Snake Clan, a long line of warriors and mystics responsible for carrying out the yearly ceremonies that propitiate the gods and bring rain. In his modern existence, he is struggling to deal with the death of his mother. When his father remarries, the teen cannot accept the woman, and he flees into the desert. Transported back to 1598, he becomes part of the vibrant life of the Acoma people, who live on a mesa and farm the surrounding land. The tribe's interaction with a group of Spaniards outfitted in armor results in tragic and devastating consequences, with Kendall a participant, witness, and one of the few survivors. The violence and brutality are powerfully portrayed in this action-filled story. Details of everyday life on the mesa and the people's strong spiritual connection to the land are what make this book stand apart from many other time-travel stories. An author's note explains that the historical events described are based on an eyewitness account by one of the Spanish soldiers. The novel succeeds as a fast-paced adventure and as a meditation on the consequences of a clash of dissimilar cultures.-David Pauli, Hillsboro Public Library, OR Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

It's guaranteed the entire series of "Petit Nicolas" can bring you all the joy / laughters / tears (joyful one) + a total satisfaction. You never have enough after reading and always want to read it again and again. Try the original French version for it's using the "easy understanding" child French. Vive "Petit Nicolas"! J'adore Goscinny Sempe!!!

Our French class is enjoying the escapades of this charming little boy and his friends.

This is the best book ever It helped me a lot while learing French it's much easier and funnier than any other book i've rea d in french It makes french seem fun

I too found this book at a (used) bookstore and immediately fell in love with the characters, however oblivious they are of the trouble they cause. And the french is definitely navigable by even the lowest-level speakers!

I spent the past year learning French and found this book at a local bookstore. It is HYSTERICAL! It has made learning and maintaining French truly an enjoyable experience. There is so much wonderful humor in this book. I am excited to learn there are more in the series. The situations are funny, nothing is too precious, the kids seem to act like real kids and those poor adults...! I wish I could find an English version to send to my nephew. This is great reading and if you disagree, je vous donnerai une claque!

I must say I agree with the reviewer who said this book deserves more than 5 stars. The illustrations are gorgeous! I have read this book so many times that I am on my third copy. All my students, grades K through 3 have loved this book. It's a great book to talk about prediction since many boys and girls know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They like finding out these bears are friendly and kind. The illustrations by Melodye Benson Rosales are just outstanding. The colors she uses are gorgeous. I have my students draw their favorite parts and then we put them together in sequence. The pictures are always so colorful and cheerful (except for those of the dark woods). I can't read it enough I love it so much.

This well-written tale is entertaining and is very much like the original version (Goldie Locks and the Three Bears). The story has a quick beginning. On the first two pages, Leola is shown helping her grandmother with the laundry, and chasing milkweed seeds into the woods. Then all of a suddden, the action begins as she makes her way out of the dark and dangerous woods and heads towards the Honeybears' house. The setting removes the tale from the real world when Leola meets a talking weasel and three talking bears. The main character and the plot are simple and direct. In this tale, the action never slows down, and the events move quickly to a happy ending. The language used is lively and engaging. It keeps to the oral tradition by using a minimum of descriptive words, rich dialogue, and repetitious phrases. Some of the language used by the grandmother has a southern dialect to it (e.g., listen child, folks, mind me). The illustrations are vibrant and they add to the story. The illustrations also help extend the story. For instance, the first two illustrations show a wide-open grassy field, with a small cottage in the middle. This allows the reader to see that Leola and her grandmother live in the country. All the illustrations help depict the events in the story splendidly. After reading this book to my third graders, they made a comparison chart to compare this tale with the original tale. Then they made paper bag puppets to retell the story. This is a must have book. Readers are sure to fall in love with Leola and the beautiful illustrations.

Leola and the Honeybears is a timeless classic recreated to fit the African American world. Leola is a sweet, stubborn little girl who is just waiting for an adventure. But, when Leola wanders off into the Pine Hollow Woods and meets Ol' Mister Weasel, she was in big, big trouble. What seemed to be a little house there to save the day became the house of an angry bear family. And, of course, they were mad at little Leola. What's a girl to do?
I really loved this book. Although it was basically the same story as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Melodye Benson Rosales did a terrific job bringing it into the African American world. Melodye used excellent word choice and showed off the story with beautiful pictures. Leola and the Honeybears is a fantastic children's book and definitely deserves two thumbs way up. I recommend this book for all ages.

I found this book because my name is also Leola. I was so excited to see something that shared my name I had to buy it. The frist thing i noticed apon receiving the book was the beautiful pictures. This will be a book that your children want to read over and over again!

This book is a wonderful addition to your home library whether you have a youngster or not. My 3-year-old daughter actually received this book as a present from her nana and made her read it about 5 times that same evening. It is a delightful re-telling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears that you don't mind reading over and over again (as most children insist that you do). The southern flavor and colorful pictures make it a very unique treasure. Not to mention that now the typical blond and blue-eyed Goldilocks is now a bright-eyed, brown-skinned beautiful little girl whom my daughter can better relate to. A definite must have!

I like teaching this novel, but I don't have time to teach the full text. This abridgement does a good job of capturing the fullness of the story and the characters in about 40% of the pages. I like the historical timelines at the beginning and the Notes sections at the end. My students find the novel easy to manage, too.

If you ever thought Hey, it must be easy to be an actor, just pay attention to Michael York, who's using only his voice! He keeps separate several characters, male and female, with nuances and accents that we can understand instantly.
Pity about this abridgement is that the translation was never edited. There is no distinction between that and which, for instance. "Which" is used exclusively.
But I'll keep listening to M. York, c'est formidable!

If you are the kind of person thirsting for the image of Man as a being to whom nothing is impossible - and to whom everything great is possible, then "Les Miserables" is the novel for you.
With a few exceptions, such as Ayn Rand, there is no writer in world literature who has portrayed such a grand, noble, sublime and inspiring image of man as Victor Hugo.
In "Les Miserables", Hugo has given the best expression that his genius could to this element.

The theme of this masterpiece is : "The projection and glorification of a moral-spiritual force based on Love, Compassion and above all Conscience, aimed at overthrowing the existing order of human existence and establish a new world where these cardinal values will guide human life."

Such an important, profound and philosophical theme could only have been selected by a visionary such as Victor Hugo - whom I consider the greatest novelist of the 19th Century.

Other than Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" I do not know any single novel in world literature which seeks to present a unique philosophy to change the world and give a new direction to human existence.

According to me, the plot-theme is : "The step-by-step purification of a man's soul and his achievement of spiritual perfection."

Jean Valjean is the hero of the novel. The best years of his life have been wasted because of the iniquities and injustice of the prevailing social order. Emerging from prison after 19 years, his soul is immersed in anger, bitterness, hatred and a feeling of vengeance against society. How he acieves spiritual perfection, as viewed by Hugo, is what the story is all about.

However, this point has not been recognised by many. While most say that the theme is : "The injustice of society towards the lower classes", Hugo's intention was to dramatise "Man's struggle against the laws of society".

Keeping this in view, the accepted plot theme is (as best defined by Ayn Rand) : "The lifelong flight of an ex-convict from a ruthless representative of the law", this representative being Javert.

However, the struggle of Jean Valjean continues long after his conflict with Javert is resolved.
Victor Hugo is not just showing that Conscience is above Law, but this: what is the highest level of selflessness and self-sacrifice a man is capable of and what makes it possible.
As far as I can see, the accepted plot-theme has been identified the way it has been, because it defines a specific purpose(i.e., Javert's pursuit of Jean Valjean). Perhaps critcs would dismiss my point of view because neither is it Jean Valjean's explicit goal to become perfect nor does he set himself an objective which would symbolize his attainment of perfection.
But I look at the plot to have been construsted in a manner which inevitably leads Jean Valjean to perfection.

Bishop Myriel is the guiding image for Jean Valjean:his role represents how love and compassion can resurrect a man's conscience.

Fantine is the symbol of the woman and Cossette is the symbol of the child who are the victims of social evils.

Javert-the implaccable, ruthless and awe-inspiring policeman who shall never compromise on his values - is the symbol of blind conformity to the existing legal and social order.

One of the greatest achievements of "Les Miserables" is its sweeping sense of drama. What I love most about Hugo is the superb dramatic situations - suspenseful, thrilling, emotionally intense - he creates.
The scenes are so breathtakingly grandiose and mind-blowing that one can only think : "How did he get such a brilliant idea??!!"
The best part of the novel is the fighting at the barricades during the July Revolution in Paris - led by, perhaps the most admirable hero in 19th Century Romantic fiction - Enjolras.
Enjolras - despite a minor role - made a greater impact on me than the two central characters - Jean Valjean and Marius. One also cannot forget the lovable, heroic, 12 year old Gavroche.

The greatest drawback of "Les Miserables" is the plethore of esssays on various social, historical, religious and other issues, which are exasperatingly long, which interrupt the plot, make the novel cumbersome and the reader impatient.
However, they give the reader a picture of the world which Hugo had in mind (and which he wanted to revolutionize-and how) while writing the book.
They may not be directly related to the plot, but are certainly related to the meaning of the novel.

Further, the plot tends to become loose at times. The coincidences are rather naive and force the reader to conclude that they are meant solely to bring coherence in the story or to present a particular aspect of Hugo's philosophy.
Some may find the descriptions unnecessarily meticulous, though in poetic terms they are stunningly beautiful.

However, all this seems irrelevant if we concentrate on the profound pschycological analysis of the value-conflicts of Jean Valjean (and Javert) rarely matched in world literature; the scope and intellectual value of the novel; its immense social and philosophical significance and its wonderful portrayal of man as a heroic being.

But above all is the unsurpassable dramatic treatment rendered by Hugo's genius : the sheer artistry, the incomparable ingenuity, the soulful emotional content, the startling originality and compelling suspense-there is NO OTHER SINGLE WRITER IN THE WORLD who has equalled Hugo in this aspect-make, in addition to its numerous merits, "Les Miserables" one of the greatest achievements of the human mind.

I have had the CD of the Original London Cast Musical of Les Miserable for about 10 years and have been a huge fan but nothing could prepare me for the book which although a long and hard read, is the most amazing book I have ever read. Everyone has something to learn from it and if you are looking for a reason to read it heres a reason: in the words of the great Victor Hugo himself : "As long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this can never be useless."

You look at this book cautiouly, circling it warily. 1,260 pags?!! (Do not even consider an abridgement, for that is wicked) To read this massive work, you must be brave and determined. It is not easy or light, and, although it is far and away my favorite book, there were many times when I would lay it aside and blink with that slow, "God give me strength" air. Yet what epic journey worth its scratch is fluffy, over-in-a-day fun? Jean Valjean has hardship, so does the reader. One doesn't so much read as inhabit Les Miserables. I lived with this book for an entire semester, and had been dipping my toes into itt for over a year. When I finally read the last pages, there were tears streaking my face. That is a rare compliment to Hugo. My tears were not only for the sad fate of the convict-saint, but for th completion of such a long journey. I never rea Les Miserables to finish it. Perhaps this is merely an indication of insanity, perhaps an accurate reflection of the mind set necessary to read and enjoy Hugo. Get lost in his page-long sentences and revel in the vrebiosity! Be brave, and don't give up.

I got advice from two three-year-olds about what had been their favorite book when they were two. Lois Lenski topped both lists. The child for whom I got this one was very happy with it.

This is one of the classic books you will want to add to your children's library. It is simple, engaging, and also very informative about trains. There's just something about Engineer Small that draws the children in! All of the Lois Lenski books in this series are wonderful!

Another great Lois Lenski book. (This one and Cowboy Small are our favorites.) My son was 2 when we started reading all the train books we could find. This one and Chugga Chugga Choo Choo (by Lewis and Kirk) are our picks for best toddler train books. Both can be read over and over and over without getting boring, and this one is actually educational, as well as fun.

We keep getting this book from the library and it's so informative - much more information about how trains work and such compared to Thomas books. Our 3 year old boy is a train fanatic and this book is even fun for ME to read to him because I learn right along with him. We study the pictures and he can point out the semaphores and he even takes what he has learned about how the train fills up with water to his toys. When he plays with his GeoTrax, he is using his imagination along WITH the factual things he has learned in this book. It's a must read - at LEAST from the library, but that just won't cut it for us, we need to purchase it!

My 4 year-old Thomas and Friends fan likes this little book which features Engineer Small and his black and shiny engine. While the book doesn't have the Thomas-and-Percy-like personalities which so engage small fry, it does have plenty of drawings of trains and a great deal more factual information than the Rev. Awdry series.

For example, I had no idea that trains have anything called a `sand dome'. This is a dome that looks like the steam dome only -according to Wikipedia-it holds sand in case the tracks get icy or slick and the engine can't gain traction. (huh-who knew?) The book also demonstrates how coal and water are added to the tender, and how switches and what-not are dealt with.

Four Stars. An informative book about trains for young children.