Boards Books

Seabiscuit is a great story, book, and movie. If you have not read it, buy it today and start reading. You will not be disappointed.

This book is a true American legend at its best. "Seabiscuit" was written by Laura Hillenbrand based on a true story of one horse and jockey's incredible life. This biography is set in the 1930's and 1940's and takes you on a journey with someone and something that no one believed in until they were given a chance to prove themselves. The perseverance of these two characters is admirable; they never give up, no matter what. The jockey, John Pollard, was struggling in life until given the shot to show he was more than just an average jockey. Seabiscuit, on the other hand, is my favorite character; he never accepts the possibility of losing. Pollard and Seabiscuit's relationship started when trainer Tom Smith paired them together out on the racetrack. I love that they were given a chance to prove everyone wrong by winning race after race with odds stacked against them; both had been injured numerous times. Read about how they smashed people's disbelief and made history, performing one of the greatest comebacks in all of sports. The theme of "never giving up no matter what" would most likely interest people who enjoy sports novels. "Seabiscuit" is truly the greatest sports story of all time.

This narrative leaps out of the first paragraph in the same way Seabiscuit learns to bolt from the starting gate. From the start, Laura Hillenbrand draws the reader into the story with colorful, taut writing. There are no meaningless side stories in this book - each detail weaves itself back into the tale of a horse who beat the odds to become one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.
This story is gripping even if you have no interest in horseracing.

I loved this book !! It made me feel as though I was there watching the drama unfold as the unknown underestimated horse rose to champion status. The characters are real and the story is built piece by piece. If you like rooting for the underdog and enjoy the thrill of competition, this book is for you. The large print of this edition was easy on the eyes as well.

This book follows the life of Seabiscuit, an incredible racehorse in the 1930's, and the three men who were entwined in his life: live-wire owner Charles Howard, taciturn trainer Tom Smith, and reckless jockey Red Pollard. WOW. This is an amazing book. I read it because I had watched the movie and loved it, but I wasn't thinking I would actually enjoy the book. I felt obligated to read it. Well, it's probably my favorite book to read this year. The author sets up each character carefully, going back to the man's birth, or further back, and the reader really gets a sense of what drives each person. The character development for "the Biscuit" is truly great, as well. His personality really shines, and I wish I could have met him! Her insertion of anecdotes is masterful, as well. The era (the Depression), the nation's mindset, the men who loved Seabiscuit, the means jockeys undertook to maintain racing weight are all described and explained wonderfully, without the author ever becoming pedantic or talking down to us folks who don't know racing. One doesn't have to be a "race person" or a "horse person" to enjoy this beautifully crafted book. The rave reviews are well-deserved. It's the story of underdogs achieving great things. It was an exhilarating and enthralling read; better than any fiction I read this year. After reading this, I would read anything this author put out.

I had to buy a new copy of this book because the one I got for my oldest daughter was worn out! This is my youngest daughters new favorite book! She already knows her colors but she loves the rhyming and animals are always a big hit with her.

We actually own TWO of these books... one for the car and long trips, one for home. It is definitely a favorite!

This is a great book. My 3 yr old daughter loves it! It is the one she asks for over and over.

My 7 month baby girl can't get enough of this book. She loves the rhyming verse and the big color pictures. I definately recommend it!

This is my daughter's favorite book of all time. I read it to her daily. This is definitely a book that all children should have. The colorful animals in the book are fun to look at, while the words are pleasant to read and listen to. Very nice book!

Want to learn chess? If you are an absolute beginner or someone who has mastered the very basic skills then look no further! CHESS FOR JUNIORS will do the job for you. Yes, I am into advertising, but not as a profession for this book (if you know "Mr. Clean", "Hey, Mikie likes it" or "Where's the Beef" I was the person who made this possible on national TV". OK, you have got it! I am an old timer writing about a book with the "Youth Market" in mind. But then why has it been since it publication date of 1991 the #1 best selling chess book? It is GOOD, VERY GOOD!

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WHY:

1. VERY CLEAR (Mr. Clean can see everything)
2. VERY UNDERSTANDABLE (an 8-year-old or older name Mikie will like it)
3. LOTS OF MATERIAL (you will not be left saying, "where is the beef!")
4. WELL ORGANIZED (just like a "box of chocolate" - I was involved in that too!)
5. BEST SELLER (couldn't be all that bad! - it is ranked as #1)

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SOME THINGS I LIKE:

1. If you are using this book to teach someone who doesn't know a thing about chess (maybe you or your kid or your student?) then it starts off assuming no knowledge (everyone was once a beginner)
2. Once you finish you can go back and find almost every important term or concept in the index (doesn't require a college education to find something - Gommer Pyle would find what he wants!)
3. Written in a mature manner that an old guy will appreciate, yet the humor that kids will like in the book offers a perfect balance to make this a book for anyone who can read. (must only be beyond the reading level of - see spot run, run spot run)

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HOW:

1. You have ordered here before (go for it you button pusher!)
2. New, Used, or a Collectible Autographed Copy (like I have - I try and get whatever I can autographed just click on the right button of your choice)

Now I absolutely love this book. My grandkids, parents and I all have a copy and so should you. Next time you are watching TV and see a commercial, or see the author's students "Will Smith" or "Nicolas Cage", then you will be reminded of this particular book!

I run two after school chess programs at elementary schools and use "Chess for Juniors" as the text book. At first I was disapointed to see that this book has become difficult to get (if you can get a used copy grab it!). However, I found out is is going through a complete revision and will be a second edition when released later this year (as well as the entire "Chess for Juniors" series of books, including some new ones to be released).
"Chess for Juniors" is the perfect text book for teachers who are running a class for elementary age students on up (yes, it is suitable for a class for adults) beginning with an introduction to the basic rules and leading into a lot of basic material on strategy found in all aspects of the game.
What I found that sets "Chess for Juniors" (and the entire series) in a class by itself is the readability (ease of understanding the material) and comprehensiveness of the book.
Whereas, a 3rd grade reader of average reading skill can understand it, it is not going to insult an adult who wants to learn from it. It is is structured so any teacher conducting a class can easily follow the building lessons (it provides the perfect format for a ready-made class outline!).
Please hurry with the second edition!!!

I got this book a couple of years ago and now am chess club presendent at my school chess club in 7th grade. I loaned it out so many times it is getting worn out.

When I went to get a copy now I found out it is temporarily not in print because it is going to be made a new edition. I plan to get the new edition for the chess club.

What I liked about this book is that it isn't a silly little kids picture book. It teaches serious material using an easy to understand method by making the language basic enough and organizing it in an order to make it learning friendly. It would be good for anyone who can read as well as an average third grader right on up to adults. The index in the back makes it easy to find things and relook things up like terms, openings and rules.

Everyone in the school chess club likes it and uses it for continued reference even after having read it. I think this is the best first book for kids and adults.

"Chess for Juniors" is easy to read and understand for anyone who is a third grade reader on up to an adult. It makes learning everything from the basic rules of chess right on up to important strategies (tactics, endgames, openings, traps at all parts of the game).

In addition to containing a nice quantity of material it is organized so you can learn and grow in chess as you progress through the 20 lesson chapters. It has two very nice games toward the back of the book that spends lots of time going over all of the moves. When it teaches openings it tells you the ideas behind the moves. If you are starting out without knowing anything about chess, then it explains about the rules very clearly, without taking up most of the book to do it.

I had another beginning book before getting this one. It was one that was for kids, but when I was done I still felt like I was a beginner. It didn't have enough learning material and was not serious enough (it dwelled on the basic rules for like half the book and took up too much space with fancy pictures). When you finish "Chess for Juniors" you will feel plenty advanced enough to move on to more advanced books.

"Chess for Juniors" is obviously the work of superb teacher whose mind and heart have fully committed themselves to the playing and teaching of chess over a number of years. It's perfectly organized and will turn any prospective or current player who carefully studies and absorbs its twenty lessons into a 1200-1300 player at least. I'm looking forward to diving into Snyder's "unbeatable Lessons" books if they're as valuable as this one.

Since I already knew the basics of chess before I bought this book, I was most interested in the approach Snyder took once he directed his readers on to the next step, since this is where introductory books on chess really show their true colors.
Snyder covers the pins/forks/skewers tactics as well as anyone, but the best part is the in-depth attention he gives to openings, defenses, and what he calls "Tactical Motifs." What this entails are insightful, detailed looks at the Ruy Lopez (the "Spanish") and Giuoco Piano (the "Italian") openings, and a group of the best-known gambits (From's, King's accepted and declined, Bishop sacrifices, Petroff's Defense). He also looks at those three to four-move checkmates like the Fool's and Scholar's--how they can be sprung on novice/unsuspecting opponents and how they can be avoided so easily if you develop the sound opening principles Snyder sets forth. If you play over and completely absorb all these openings and the basic variations as Snyder sets them down here, you'll develop a strong sense of space and begin to understand the tactical and strategic consequences of the moves you make.

Snyder also gives great explanations of some defensive responses, especially the Sicilian, the King's Indian and the Nimzo-Indian if you're playing black. The depth of Snyder's explanations is perfect, so that you learn what to do and why to do it without getting bogged down in needless details and variations. His lessons on King-Pawn, Queen and Rook endings are also perfectly set out. End games are essential of course but they are a bit dull to have to study. Again, I feel Snyder gives you just what you need to know so that you won't blow an end game with a loss, draw or stalemate when the use of a few core techniques could have made the game yours. Finally, there are a couple of instructive games which look especially at attacks on the weak f7/f2 squares and their outcomes, around which many wins or losses can revolve.

All in all, this is a superb beginner's book, either for youths or adults. I would say that there are other good ones out there too which can be fruitfully studied in conjunction with Snyder--the beginner's books by Yasser Seirawan (Play Winning Chess), John Nunn (Learn Chess), and I. A. Horowitz (Chess for Beginners). I do think it's shameful that many advocates of Snyder's fine work try to undermine these other works by pumping "Chess for Juniors" and pushing down all positive reviews of his competitors by marking these reviews "unhelpful." There seems to be some kind of strategy at work, since they always put Snyder's title in upper case letters, recommending it after they have put down the other work. Sometimes they won't even review the other work, but will just mention Snyder's. It all seems orchestrated. I'm sure an author and lover of chess such as Snyder must be too classy a man to advocate this kind of lowball campaign. Apparently his students are not.

LOVE this book - perfect gift for an adult or a child - beautiful pictures and wonderful, meaningful story.

I work with children with Autism and have given this book to each of them once they do not need my services anymore. This book is a rare find! Excellent story and great pictures!

This is an excellent message for children that they are special and not to place too much importance on what other people may think. My 2 and 3-year olds are captivated by the story.

This is a timeless story that teaches a wonderful lesson.
The book was shipped in wonderful condition without defect.

I received this on Christmas morning. I'd wanted it for quite some time, as an aspiring teacher and future parent, and thought it'd make a wonderful addition to my growing collection of children's books. I couldn't have been more right.

You Are Special is a sweet story about a doll maker whose wooden dolls take it upon themselves to dole out stickers to each other based on how they look, or their talents/lack thereof. What happens when one of the "gray dot" dolls meets a doll with NO stickers?

One of the deepest stories I've ever read, the message spans literature levels and ages, touching the hearts of both children and adults as the pages turn and the story unfolds. By the end, you realize what really makes one special, and it has nothing to do with stickers.

I cannot say enough about how beautiful this book is.

My 2 yr old loves this book and constantly requests to have it read to him. He tries to participate with every page. Very fun, very family friendly book. Would highly reccommend.

We got this book for my daughter when she was a baby, and it became a family favorite almost immediately, especially when I imitated Grover's voice and read it to her. "Read it again, Daddy" was the inevitable response I would get after finishing the book, and there were times where "Grover" would read it 3-4 times a night. We gave the book away years ago, but my daughter -- who is now 18 -- said she always remembered me reading that book to her in Grover's voice. A couple of years ago, I surprised her with a miniature version of the book as a Christmas present, and we substituted the traditional family reading of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" and sat down and read the book -- in Grover's voice. Her two younger cousins, who weren't around when I read this to my daughter, laughed with their older cousin as their uncle used Grover's voice to read the story. There are so many great memories my family has of this book, and it's a fun read -- even if you can't do Grover's voice.

My kids loved this book so I purchased multiple copies for friends Kids. Great if your kids are having questions/fears about monsters. The more dramatic your reading style, the more they'll love it

I bought this for my 20 month old and he just isn't that interested yet. He doesn't get the humor or the anticipation yet. I will hand on to it until he is older.

This book allows the reader to have fun with the story too.
A great book.

A cute concept and gentle story. However, our 25 month old guy never gets past the second page before casting it aside and going for Duck in a Truck, The Going to Bed Book, Goodnight Moon or Where's My Dog Scruff.

Try as I do to make this story more engaging for him by pointing, asking him to find things, imitating animal noises, etc., it just doesn't appeal to him.

Perhaps when he's older and understands the joke better...

My son just turned one and this is his first favorite book! We've already broken the binding on our first copy (my son gets so excited to point to the gorilla he manhandles the book) so now I'm going to order the box set with the book and the toy gorilla. This has also become MY favorite kids' book. It is so clever and I just love the sneaky gorilla character who just wants to snuggle up in bed! I am still noticing new elements in the pictures after reading it dozens of times. In the future I will definitely buy this book as a gift. It is just so darn cute.

This book was a long time favorite of our son's. It was a regular request at story time, and always brought a smile to his face. Great for infants and up starting on their first board books.

This has become, far and away, my favorite picture book of all time! Now I need a large hard cover format to be happy! Kudos!

I have lost track of how many copies I have bought of this title! It is my MUST gift for baby showers. I recently ordered ninety copies for a project called BOOKS AND BIBS. Every child born at our local hospital will receive GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA and a bib that has "Read to Me" on it! I am a retired elementary librarian and I can guarantee a positive response to this book used as a read-aloud. My not-quite-two year old granddaughter came home one evening and went all through her house calling "Rilla! Rilla! Where are you?"

I love this book. I love to read it to my little boy before we go to bed. It is a nice, short, sweet little book going through the bedtime routine of a bunch of cute little animals. It rhymes and flows well. I really have nothing bad to say about any of Sandra Boynton's work. In the three years we've had it the cover has worn a lot, but the inside pages have held up really well and are in great condition.

Cute bedtime book! My child liked it, but we lost it while traveling already :( I'll have to pick up another copy sometime.

We like most of Sandra Boynton's books. This, is not my favourite but we were looking for bedtime books so this one works well for that. I just hope the baby outgrows it before I have to explain why they go exercise AFTER they get ready for bed - LOL

Beautiful! An instant hit with my 9 month old grandson, who loves books but is already selective. Simply written, illustrations perfect and capture the story. Loved it.

There is something about this book that has stuck with me for years. I'm almost 30 years old, and still the words "to take a bath in one big tub with soap all over-scrub, scrub, scrub!" are as clear to me as they were when I was about five years old. This is just a wonderfully simple and fun book that I imagine most kids would want to read every single night before bedtime like I did. Clearly the benefits of storybook time with kids works! I highly recommend!

My family loves Boynton and this book. It is a fun, catchy story that my 2 and 4 year-olds enjoy dancing to. Though it's tough to choose, this is probably our favorite Sandra Boynton book of all!

This book is so fun to read with little ones because it has a song-like rhythm to it.

Stomp your feet! Clap your hands! Everybody ready for a barnyard dance! This is just great read-aloud fun and was one of my youngest son's first "favorite" books - even when he was too young for it, he liked to hold it and look at it. Also, if you're familiar with the Turkey from "Red Hat, Green Hat" - my two-year-old likes to point him out in this book and say "Oops!"

This was my very first taste of Sandra Boynton's writing and I was hooked. She has a great writing style that's fun and snappy. That makes you want to sing and dance. Believe me, my 1st child and I did!! :)

My daughter is 18 months old and I have bought every Sandra Boynton book that amazon.com offers. "Barnyard Dance" is by far the best (in my opinion) out of all of them. And even though my little girl can't read yet, even she squeals with delight and laughs out loud the most when I read this one. If you only buy one Boynton book, this is the one! (although, like me, you'll be buying all of them soon because you'll be hooked!)

my daughter had a copy of this that she loved so much! It was read and loved until it fell apart. We got her a second copy for her second birthday, and it's still a hit. Great rhymes, great illustrations. a classic

Have had this book for a long time, so had to get a new one. We read it every other night, our son knows it by heart and he is 2.

I love this book! We have several Boynton board books, but this one still is at the top of my list and is a must-have for any toddler's bookshelf (with Barnyard Dance running a close second). We have video of our daughter doing the animal sounds to this, and then eventually reading it all herself, because the rhythms make it an easy one for them to memorize.

While all of this is cute and makes for nice photos and video, etc., the more important factor is how this book fosters a love of reading. It's fun, it's energetic, and it makes both parents and kids look forward to reading together. One warning -- be prepared to read it over and over and over (and over!). When they memorize and "read" it to others (my daughter wanted to do it for anyone who came over and would be willing, they feel such pride and joy. To this day, my daughter still feels this way about reading.

Great book for your own child, and perfect gift from birth until about 18 months. If you are even considering buying this...do it. You'll be delighted!

While this a great book for those kids who love rhyming, it is too short and there is not really a connection throughout the book. My son does not love it like other Boynton books such as the Goin to Bed Book.

This has been in our family library for all our kids to read. The best thing I can say about it is that our 15 year old still quotes it upon occasion. The 8 & 10 year old are enjoying sharing it (and other Boynton books) with their 18 month old baby brother as well. They all know it by heart and no longer need the book in front of them. One of those must have items for getting your children to love books and foster the love of reading, poetry and silliness.

This is a great book to add to your toddlers bedtime routine. The illustrations are beautiful and the words have a simple rhyme that cues your little one that it's time for bed/time for sleep. Each animal is with their parent preparing them for sleep, and the last two pages is a mother and her child. My 1 year old seems to really enjoy it.

If your kids are like mine, these sweetest illustrations will actually make them cuddle into you by the second page turn! One you can read from birth on, these sweet, short rhymes, reinforce the love of a parent and baby child in a beautiful, creative way.

Time for Bed is a gorgeous children's bedtime book with wonderful watercolor illustrations. It has been my granddaughter's favorite book and so I ordered several for baby shower gifts. As one who does watercolors myself, I am delighted with the work of the artist as well as the writer. It sets the right comforting tone for putting a little one to sleep.

This book is full of sweetness ,beautiful pictures and sing song prose. We love it and will keep giving it as a gift.
This book will create sweet dreams for sure!

This is a great book for babies or toddlers who are getting a bed time routine. The rhyming throughout the book and beautiful pictures keep my 16 month old entertained throughout the book. And,when she sees the little girl on the last page she knows it's time for her to go to bed as well. Highly recommended!