Animal Books

All of the images in this book are noteworthy; some are truly spectacular. The only thing that the various images have in common is that the images cannot be seen by an unaided human eye; the images span from the microscopic to astronomic. Considering the quality of the images in this book, it's too bad that the paperback version is so small (under 9x6). Given the quality of these images, the larger size of the hardback would have been well worthwhile the slightly higher price.

The pictures are beautiful, varied, and amazing. Looking at them I felt the wonder of being a human in the universe. This is completely sappy as a review, I know, but the photos are of wonderful things, most of which you can't see any other way than in a photo (because they would require special microscopes or telescopes or other equipment or an unusual place to stand to take the picture).

The book makes a good gift too.

This is a superb book. I'm 73 with a scientific background and still very active in my field. The book has also been devoured by my 3 teenage grandchildren. They have been fascinated. The photographs are outstanding. The brief text for each picture is well written, succinct, relevant, interesting and scientifically accurate. I found the introduction stimulating and thought provoking. It's a great book. I'm glad I found it.

This is a facinating book that both my husband and I could not put down. Highly recommended.

This book contains one of the best set of images I have ever seen. There are pictures of different subjects on a whole variety of scales and colours, which are fantastic design sources for many arty/crafty people who lack inspiration for various projects. Some images are unidentifyable and are impossible to understand without reading the blurbs - I spent a while guessing what some of the pictures were & quite often got them completely wrong. It's one of those books which make you realise that you are glad that you cannot see to microscopic levels, especially of bedbugs & flies etc..! Well worth getting & some amazing photography.

My five year old has been loving Henry and Mudge for months now and we have checked every one of them out of the local library. We finally decided we just had to know how the story all began and saw a reference to The First Book. We quickly ordered it and couldn't be more pleased. The story explains the beginnings of Henry's deep attachment to Mudge. These are wonderful books. I don't know anyone we have recommended them to who hasn't fallen in love with Henry and Mudge.

My sons adore Henry and Mudge. These books are fun for them to read, and the classic "boy and his dog" characters are very endearing, particularly big, drooly Mudge. Well-written and entertaining, this series is great for kids who think they don't like to read or who have trouble reading, because they're funny and easy enough so that the child won't get bored or frustrated trying to read it. A definite must-have for any kid's bookshelves.

I bought some of these Henry & Mudge books for my 9 year old nephew Buddy when he was in the second grade. I gave him one or two, he read them, and kept asking me Are you bringing anymore of Henry & Mudge. I said Yes do you like them and he said Yes. Now my youngest son Ramon who is 7 loves them. The stories and the pictures are great for children and are perfect for second graders. I would recommend them to any second grader in a HEARTBEAT.

My son was reluctant to read in his elementary school days. This series caught his attention and by the time he finished all the books in the series that we could find he was intrigued enough with reading to go on to other books. Now, he is a high school senior with stellar SAT scores. I'll give partial credit to Henry and Mudge!

As of this writing, there are some 20+ Henry & Mug books, each one a small masterpiece. However, this is the one that started it all!!

Everything great or small has it's beginning, and in the beginning of THIS book, which begins, in turn, the whole series, we meet our hero, Henry. Henry lives with mom and dad, but he really doesn't have any friends. No other children live on his block, he doesn't have any brothers or sisters. So, he asks for a dog. That dog is Mudge who swiftly goes from a teeny, handful-sized puppy to the 180-pound pooch we know and love through the rest of the series.

What makes H&M books so wonderful are the bright, simple illustrations that mirror the text and the easy realism of Mudge the dog. Unlike other fictional dogs, Mudge doesn't talk, walk about on his hind legs or save the universe: he is just a big, happy, loving pooch who, like dogs everywhere, is totally dedicated to his pal, Henry. He's like a real dog... a real BIG dog, but a real dog nonetheless. He falls asleep when he's bored, he follows Henry everywhere and is unhappy when Henry's not around, and occasionally he eats things he's not supposed to. Practically any child would love to have a companion like Mudge.

H&M are one of those rare types of books that easily fall between two categories: picture books and chapter books. They're well illustrated and the text is simple and easy to read, but the story is also divided up into chapters (usually three). This makes these books perfect for young readers who may feel that they are starting to move beyond picture books but may not be ready for full-blown chapter books with little or no illustrations. The stories are simple and comfortable and the stuff of everyday life, so a child doesn't need to have a great deal of worldly experience climbing mountains or leaping tall buildings in a single bound to see that reading can be fun.

If you start here with Henry & Mudge, by all means, don't stop here! Go on to enjoy all the other adventures that these two share! You and your children will never be disappointed!

I love this book!! It is a very simple but a very cute story. This book is perfect for a pizza theme and kids love it!

I loved this book when i was 4! My mom would read it for me every night!It was great!My mom thinks that too!Now i am 10 and i still love the book!If u want a great book for your kid buy this one!! I bet your kid will love it!!!IT IS THE BEST!!!I think u should buy it!! by Melanie

My boys (ages 3.5 and 21 months) love this book. They can connect with the whole "Pizza Man" coming to the door thing, and the book is simple enough that my 3.5yo can read it by himself (well not really "read" it, but he feels like he can because it was easy for him to memorize). The illustrations are very creative, and the boys really enjoy how fun they are. It is a very participatory book for the kids, and a great way to instill in your kids a love of books. I have no clue why this book is out of print! I got a brand new one off ebay for a reasonable price.

I am just so sorry that this book is out of print and soooo expensive. It is just wonderful and my kids (boy and girl; now 3 and 5) ask for it at least 3 times a year (and I know we would read it even more often if we owned a copy).

Principally, this is a story all about waiting for dinner to arrive. Little Vivian has been patient but now toys can no longer distract her, which is when Mom steps in to exercise a little imagination. She asks Vivian what she will say when the door bell rings and they open the door. Vivian answers, "Hi Pizza man". Mom then asks what she will do if it's not pizza man, but instead pizza woman. Real silliness ensues when the question becomes what will she say to pizza cat/dog/duck/cow/snake/dinosaur.

The pictures are rich, fun and exotic (by Ponder Goembel). Pizza Duck has jewelry, ear rings and a turban: very grand. Pizza Snake wears 3 bow ties and a bowler hat. Overall it is silly and imaginative fun, a great mental exercise for toddlers and adults alike. If you can't afford this steep price, look for it at the library.

Finally: "Ring, Ring!" Who is it?

Some books should never be allowed to go out of print. Virginia Walter's Hi, Pizza Man! is one such book. This deceptively simple picture book about pizza delivery and imagination delivers the kind of story toddlers and preschoolers can enjoy over and over again. My kids at the library routinely request the "pizza man" book every time we have picture book reading.

The premise of this book is pretty basic: a young girl is waiting in her apartment for the pizza man to arrive with dinner. While they are waiting, the mother plays a game with her child, having her guess what they will say when the pizza man comes and they open the door. Of course, soon the pizza man is a pizza lady, then a pizza kitty, all the way to a pizza dinosaur! Each time the audience guesses what the response will be with animal sounds corresponding to each creature. ("Meow, Meow, Pizza Kitty", etc.) On its own, this plot is pretty bare bones, and wouldn't invite much praise, but Ms. Walter's illustrations transform it into a much loved book. Engaging in a realistic style with colored pencil as her chosen medium, Ms. Walter's creates fantastic images of pizza delivery creatures at the door. From the pizza lady in her mink stole and baseball cap, to the pizza duck in his turban, to the pizza cow all decked out with a rose in her mouth, each image is detailed, funny and interesting.

This is a book that hinges on participation of the audience. Children will quickly pick up the pattern of the plot. The texts asks what they will say if it's a pizza kitty at the door. The audience volunteers the answer as the page turns to reveal the kitty in a tophat with a pizza resting on one paw. By the end of the story, children are well primed when the doorbell finally rings and they know exactly who will be at the door. As a concept book, this picture book introduces animal sounds, allows the children to predict what will be said next, and provides comfortable repetition. One of the reasons I enjoy using this book is that it involves the use of animal sounds in a more urban environment. Children who live in the city will readily identify with the concept of a pizza delivery man coming to the door where many of them may never have been to a farm or out in the country. Another level you can add to the reading of this book is to ask the child or children where the animals are holding the pizza (it changes in every picture) and this can reinforce parts of the body.

As a whole, it's just a delightful read that children will ask for. And while adults may sigh at the endless rereads, it's a light read, and your children's pleasure will be worth it. For those who enjoy this book and are looking for similar reads, I'd recommend Bark, George! by Jules Feiffer and Lemons are Not Red by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.

Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it when I was young, but I still enjoy it. It is on the longer side (though not too long), so for kids it's not necessarily a quick bedtime read but might be better read in a few sittings. It does have chapters, but they are short. Great story, great illustrations, and it's funny.

I bought this book because I loved it when I was little, but my 4 year old is not quite as capitvated as I remember being... She will probably like it more when she is a little older, though the moral is a good one...also a little bit longer book, so be prepared for some wiggling!

When I was showing dogs, I had the pleasure of spending time with a "coven" of Sealyhams - they were playful little witches, for sure. This book conveys the basic disposition of the breed and the deep love an owner can have for his Sealy. Highly recommended.

I purchased for my grandkids ages 4-6. They like chapter books now so they have something to look forward to. This book has a sort of sing-song rhyming theme they really seem to like. My only objection was I thought it should have more illustration. I love the dog !!!

This is my absolute all-time favorite book from childhood. When I got pregnant the first book I bought for my little guy was this one. Every child must have one. It doesn't follow the usual guidelines for children's literature, which is usually boring and has some obvious moral theme. Higglety Pigglety Pop can be thought of as somewhat nonsensical and stimulating to the imagination. Your little one will love it! The characters are genius.

my 2 year old loves this book. she knows it almost by heart. very fun to read!

My daughters (3 and 4) LOVE this book and so do I. It has been one of our favorites for over a year. We also like others by this author.

My 18 month old daughter and I first heard this book at Story Time in the Library and we checked it out that day. We fell in love with it and I had to purchase it immediately to add to our collection. My daughter LOVES the sound effects and begs to have me read the "dancing" book to her. The book just flows and is so much fun to read, and the pictures adorable and brightly colored. This has become one of our favorite books!

I love this book! The illustrations are beautiful and cheerful. The rhyming text is fun, and the message is positive.

My two year old wanted this book read every night for almost a month. By the third or fourth time she realized that there was a lady bug on each set of two pages. She had to make sure she found the lady bug with each turn of the page.

What a beautiful story about compassion, love and friendship. It's perfect for all ages and everyone loves receiving this book as a gift. I can't wait to read more books by this very talented author, Corey Rosen-Schwartz.

The language is sharp, the images bright, and any toddler would delight in following an adult reading the book. A definite delight.

"Hop! Plop!" begins with two bored friends on a sunshiny day. They decide to head down to the playground for a little fun.

And that's when the trouble begins. You see, our two friends are physically incompatible--one is an elephant, the other a mouse. The seesaw is complete failure, with poor mouse set flying with a "hop," a "plop," a "boom," and a "bop." Mouse tries to eat an entire watermelon to even up their weight, but all that water content doesn't help. Needless to say, "the swings were a total flop" as well. As is the whirlybird.

Finally, the elephant discovers some playground equipment that will work for the two friends. He creates a slide from his own trunk. The two are delighted and celebrate with rounds of "you're my favorite."

Written in compact prose by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Tali Klein, "Hop! Plop!" is, on the surface of things, a simple tale. But it offers so much more. "Hop! Plop!" is the perfect choice for a preschool or kindergarten unit on weights and measures. It's also a classic sibling or friend "finding a compromise" story. With a little ingenuity, two friends or siblings can work anything out, despite their differences. "Hop! Pop!" is also an excellent early reader title. Schwartz and Klein have kept the difficult words to a minimum and there are plenty of excellent onomatopoeic words just perfect for sounding out.

Olivier Dunrea's cheerful, warm illustrations really drew me in. They suggest a languid summer's day when kids (or mice and elephants) have the freedom to find something to do.

"Hop! Plop!" is highly recommended for children ages three to eight.

This book is so wonderful. It was reccomened to me by a customer of mine. The wording is great and big enough for kids. The illustrations are out of this world. My son loves it. I have decided that I will be giving this book to all the kids in my extended family this holiday.

I am a child and family therapist as well as a mother of 3 year old twins and a 5 year old. I am a Mom first so when I first read this book I was so impressed with the concepts being taught behind the story of two friends whom appear to be from opposite worlds. As a professional who works with small children I can see myself using this book within play therapy to help teach problem solving, tolerance of personal and physical differences, how to make those differences be a positive not a negative and the benefits of compromise within relationships whether it be friends (as it was in the book) or family. It has wonderful lessons carefully woven throughout the delightful text and captivating illustrations. A must have for any pre-schooler. It is a daily request in our household.

How to be a Pirate


How to be a Pirate is one book you have to read sometime in your life! This book from Cressida Cowell is about pirates dragons and thieves! I recommend this book to people the like adventure and dangerous books. A boy named Hiccup his dad is the chief of the Harry Hooligans Hiccup must become the heir. He must go to the island of the scullions and get the treasure of Grimbeard the Ghastly. But there are a few problems they come acrossed a guy named Alvin the Treacherous. He wants in on the treasure so he says he is "Alvin the poor but honest farmer". They sail to the island of the skullions on the Lucky 13. Alvin stays in the boat Snout Lout finds the fake treasure but Grimbeard booby-trapped it. They almost get killed. Will Hiccup find the treasure first and become the heir? Find out in the book How to be a Pirate.

How to be a Pirate
By Cressida Cowel

Have you ever been with Vikings? Now you can. This book is very funny and imaginative, recommended for all ages.

The book's point of view is from Hiccup, the main character. The action begins on a pirate ship named the Lucky Thirteen where Hiccup and the Hairy Hooligans are practicing to be pirates. Each boy has a dragon for a pet. They find a coffin floating in the water. They open it and out pops a character named Alvin, the poor but honest farmer. This is an example of this wild, wonderful, heartwarming fiction. Toothless is the name of Hiccups dragon. Although Toothless is very lazy he is also very funny. An example of a funny quote is "He leapt forward and bit that wobbling rear end as hard as he could".

I liked this book because its funny and adventurous. The characters have hilarious names, like Dogs Breath the Duh Brain, Snotlout, Baggy Bum. Hiccup and his best friend, Fish legs are both wimps. This book will show that even wimps can save the day. Don't read this book without reading How to Train Your Dragon, the first book in the series of three. You will find yourself going on an adventure and laughing hysterically.

My 9 year old read all three of these books within a few days and giggled his whole way through. Highly recommend!

My Name is Jack and I'm 8 years old and I love to read. I read this book in three days because I just couldn't stop reading. I loved it because it was funny, surprising, and one of the best books I've read. My favorite part was when the boat sinks and Hiccup ends up in an underwater cave and finds the treasure of Grimbeard the Gastly. It's all about Pirates, Vikings and Dragons which I love. Now I am gong to find the other books in the series too!

I read this book and "How to Train Your Dragon" to my fifth grade class. When I finished they begged me to go on Amazon and look up the next book - which we discovered will be published in May. I ordered it right then and they have circled the anticipated delivery date. The characters are amusing, the writing is fresh, the vocabulary (especially the character's names) is right up an adolescent's alley - and they loved having a grown up having to pronounce names like Snotlout and Baggybum. Practically every one of the kids (average to above average readers) have read both of the books on their own, also.

This is the best book on miniature bear making I've encountered. The author leads you thru the easiest to the most difficult with ease. You don't have to buy this book for one or two favorite patterns, all of them will be your favorite. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to make miniatures.

If you love making miniatures you will love making this gorgeous little bears the only porblem is once you start you cannot stop.

The instructions and patterns are very easy to follow specially if you start from 1st project and go right through the book.

How to Make Enchanting Miniature Teddy Bears by Debbie Kesling is as perfect a book as the tiny teddies she makes. Just as each bear is executed with thought, planning, and skill, so is this book. The text provides not only an excellent guide to the world of miniature bears, their design, and creation, but is a very enjoyable read. The photos are sharp and detailed and give the user an excellent picture of each step in the process. This book is absolutely number one!

Filled with a wealth of information and beautifully photographed, Debbie Kesling's book is an absolute neccessity for the beginner as well as the more experienced bear maker. Every bear lover should have a copy. It is a wonderful coffee table book as well!

Debbie Kesling's book has given me hope that even I could make a miniature teddy bear. After seeing her work up close, I was certain I could never manage the mastery evident in each bear she creates. During the years I taught crafts, I never ran across a more clearly written how-to book, especially with such detailed photographs and a willingness to share secrets to success learned from years of experience. Her book is typical of her work... precise, well-composed and full of substance.

I first read Hunter's book as a teenage boy and was transported by his stories of hunting dangerous game in the African bush. Hunter's influence was one of the reasons that I became a big game hunter, myself, hunting all over the world including much of Southern Africa and Ethiopia. Still, it is with regret that I couldn't see Africa in a more pristine age as did John Hunter.

It is pitiful that Kenya, the site of many of Hunter's adventures, subsequently banned big game hunting and the traditions of one of the greatest of all hunting nations have largely been lost. I keep hearing rumors that Kenya is "opening up", again. Let's hope so.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Conquest of Mexico

This is the best book on African Dangerous Game Hunting that I have read to date. John Hunter (coincidence of name and profession) hunted in Africa (mostly Kenya) in the first half of the 20th century and with his 'cropping' activities for the Kenya Game Department shot staggering numbers of the 'big five'. His unassuming old world style is engaging and I found the book difficult to put down and was disappointed when I reached the end - I was left craving more. That he survived to write his books is testimony to his skill as a hunter.

A great book, one of the best on African hunting I have ever read. Hunter is right up there with Pondoro Taylor as knowledgeable yet entertaining as well.

This book is a timeless classic and definitely, definitely worth reading. If you are a big game hunter (or an aspiring big game hunter), this book is an essential addition to your library. This is quite possibly the best hunting book ever written. Better than Hemingway's accounts, in my opinion.

I first read "Hunter" when I was in college more than 40 years ago, and I can still remember J.A. Hunter's sadness and lament when he described his feelings upon the loss of his dog. In that instance he said "that you grow too fond of a dog. I sometimes wonder whether the pleasure in owning a dog is worth the misery caused by his death." An excellent book that I would recommend to all readers, but especially teenagers and young adults.

This is a beautiful story and the illustrations are superb! I've given this as a gift... always a big hit!

From the book - I'm coming, Mama, I'll see you soon. I know just how... I'll follow the moon (how sweet is that?)

This is one of the best children's books I have ever read! My [...] son, who loves turtles, is inpired to read with this book. Stephanie Lisa brilliantly incorporates the adventure of a baby sea turle hatchng from his egg to his trip into the sea, all the while following the moon to find his mother. The illustrations are beautiful. A must read!

A neighbor sent me the link to this author's website and I immediately became entranced with her style, it is unique, captivating and totally engaging - my kids (5, 6 and 8) LOVE it! I sent the web site link to all my friends - everyone adores her books, they are fun, inspirational and this mom wants to put the word out for others: With the oversaturated, overabundant children's picture book market, why not choose books with sweet, thoughtful and positive messages?! It helps us moms do our jobs better! From one mom to another - thanks Stephanie Lisa Tara!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, Founder of Patria Press, Inc.- an award-winning independent publisher and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

I stumbled across this book quite by accident, and I found it to be a treasure. The verse is lovely and calm, as are the illustrations. It also depicts fairly accurately a remarkable natural phenomenon. As a new mom who longed for a child for many years and eventually adopted internationally, I found the symbolism achingly beautiful. I have since given the book to several friends who have also waited for their children to find them. This book is far too beautiful to be limited to the adoption genre, however. It is very meaningful on a number of different levels!