Baby Books

When I first got this set as a gift, I didn't think it was anything special. Plus, my daughter immediately started destroying the books by ripping off the flaps, so I put them away. My daughter is now 20 months old and loves books but will not sit still through a whole book . . . except these. She wants me to read them over and over, and they have replaced her regular bedtime book. She's completely mesmerized by them! I just ordered four more of Karen Katz's lift-the-flap books so that my daughter (and my husband and I) have something else to read.

The books were just what the baby ordered. They are fun, colorful and are perfect for a 1 year olds birthday, plus they arrived just in time for the party. They made a perfect gift.

My daughter loves these books now... She didn't love them when I first purchased them, when she was 9 months old. But by about 13 months they were her favorites since she had figured out how to lift the flaps on her own. The books have held up well to her rough handling. I think the price is excellent for 4 board books of this quality and will use these as shower gifts in the future. The books are very colorful, cute and fun and help build baby's vocabulary without being too heavy on the amount of words per page.

This is a very cute little box set. My daughter has always enjoyed books by Karen Katz. I love the interactive aspect of it. However, as is the case with all Karen Katz's books, the flaps come off way too easily when a child pulls on them slightly. I have to use clear tape to attach the flaps back where they belong in all of the books. We already had to buy 3 replacements for the books my daughter enjoys the most. Perhaps it's the publisher's way to ensure constant demand. I found these books at local TJMaxx and Marshall's for $2-$4.

These books are a must-have for all babies! The artwork is adorably colorful, and the interactivity of the flaps makes reading more fun; it gives baby something to do while you read.

This book has been a life saver. I have been referring to it constantly since my baby was born 10 months ago. I have not needed to access other nutritional resources as this book follows all the nutritional recommended guidelines. The recipes are very easy to follow, and turn out just like the book states. It has allowed me to feel empowered and creative with healthy meal planning, even with a very busy schedule. My baby has enjoyed all the recipes so far, and I can't wait to try the toddler recipes that can be used for the whole family. Great Book!

I absolutely loved this book! As a mother of a picky eater I was so pleased to find receipes that were easy and actually tasted great! It's particularly reassuring to cook meals using whole foods that follow the Canadian guidelines. I highly recommend The Baby's Table for mom's looking for quick healthful meals.

I was quite pleased with my copy of the Baby's Table. It is very helpful when you are just beginning to make your own baby food and need some practical help and direction. Make sure to buy it early on, as I found the first couple of chapters not as useful seeing that my son is 6 months old. The recipes are simple and straightforward. The advice is good - but I did find some of their information contradicts what my Pedatrician told us and what the Health Unit Nutritionist said ie: Egg Yolks before 1 year. Altogether though, a very good book to use as a resource guide.

I just got this book and I love it. The recipes have been easy to prepare and actually taste great. Also, the nutritional information included in the book has been extremely helpful and informative. The fact that its written by a Doctor makes me feel much better about the choices I'm making. This is a great "one stop shop" resource for most of my "baby" questions!!

Baby's Table is a great book for Grandmothers as well as new moms. Want to give advice but don't know how to do it tactfully? The Baby's Table has it all. The added advantage is that you now have an authoritative source to back you. Your daughter can argue with you but not with Baby's Table. Written by a doctor and a teacher, both new moms themselves, you get the nutritional information written in a reader friendly manner. It's well laid out and begins at birth with breast as well as formula feeding. Working moms can use Baby's Table as well and be confident that they are giving their baby the best start.

This book is a gem. Remaining fresh over decades, by virtue of its originality and its pointed, yet warm, wit, it now deserves to be called a classic.

I loved it as a child and now, six months pregnant with my first baby I have rediscovered it, much to the amusement of my husband! The pictures are just great and the story is so sweet. Really one of the GOOD children's books.

Our family first read this book when my mother was expecting one of my younger sisters. It was a family favorite and I searched in vain for a copy when I was expecting my second child. We were so happy to find it back in print again!! The pictures are beautifully drawn and I love the ending!

This book was a lot of fun to read even though we're not expecting!

I am so thrilled to see that this fantastic book is back in print. It is the ideal book to read to a child when a little sibling is on the way. Not only is the book delightful, charming, and sweet, but it perfectly captures the essence of family love, and delves beautifully into the psyche of the pregnant woman. It is a favorite among children in my son's day care center, and as a child deveopment expert myself, I strongly recommend it.

This book is great for children of all ages and adults. I have been using this book in my adult literacy class. I found if my student could relate to the item or animal the student gained knowledge much quicker

My daughter loves this book. It is always the one she picks. She especially loves the ending and can't wait to see the little girl (my daughter calls the little girl "Mommy") come out to give the cat milk.

This is a counting book (1-10) with rhyming text. Azarian's illustrations are fantastic. Children familiar with a rural setting will quickly identify with this book, and all children will enjoy this beautiful book.

I judge a good children's book, from the number of times my two-and-a-half year old daughter makes me read it to her. From a selection of 5-10 books borrowed from the library each month, the one that gets the most attention, are the ones worth writing a review about, but this one especially was a favorite! I must've read it about 40 times, and it she still asked "Read it again mommy"! The ending is really cute, the Barn Cat is enticed by many things throughout the story - crickets, butterflies, birds, etc.. - but she was not in the slightest bit interested in any of them... until... you'll have to read and see. Its a charming book, with a catchy rhyme and was definitely given the seal of approval.

Barn Cat is a well-illustrated book, which aims at teaching children to count. Throughout the book, Barn Cat is looking for something unknown to the reader. While the readers continue through the book to discover what item the cat is searching for, the cat sees one grasshopper, two crickets, and three butterflies, continuing until he sees ten sparrows. Being completely unaffected by most of the creatures with which he comes into contact, Barn Cat continues to sit at the red barn door until his owner pours his milk. In "On Some Burdens Carried by Pictures," David Topper states that well illustrated books are a source from which an array of information can be obtained in a clear and effective way. For him, a picture in a book is a "tour de force," meaning a strong convergence of emotional response and intellectual process by the reader. The exposure to pictures, which represent an important, specific object, will make the readers "catch," or in other words, learn, the idea. Barn Cat's illustrations employ this learning technique and help to teach the readers to learn to count. The readers of Barn Cat understand the printed word and see the visual images in the book, which aids in their understanding of counting and numbers. One technique used in Barn Cat, which helps readers to learn to count, is number recognition. Number recognition is emphasized with large, bold numerals appearing in black in the right hand corner of the pages. These numbers are not a part of the picture on the page, but instead are set aside, in order to be obvious to the readers. The viewers hear or read the word representing the number "seven," for example, then see the actual number on the same page. This ingrains the number into the readers' minds and associates the word with the visual image of the written number. This association is important for readers who are beginning to learn to the concept of numbers and counting. Topper emphasizes this importance when he says that the illustrations must be similar to the important issues expressed in the story. By this, he means that the illustrations must have an important purpose in the story. In Barn Cat, the purpose of the number illustrations is to help the readers learn to count. Another technique used in Barn Cat, which helps readers to learn to count, is the use of a specific number of objects on each page. The viewers read or hear the word representing the number "three," for example, then count the objects on the page from one to three. All of the objects are beautifully illustrated in colorful drawings, which help to capture in the readers' attention. For example, the readers count three golden butterflies that appear to be fluttering across the page. Now, the readers can associate the word "three" with the actual amount of objects on the page. Topper emphasizes the importance of this technique when he discusses that illustrations make the printed word concrete. This technique is especially useful to readers because they look through the cat's eyes into the cat's world and count the objects that the cat counts, which can draw the readers into the pages of the book. The readers have the feeling of looking through the cat's eyes because of the plot and illustrations of the book. The last technique used in Barn Cat to help readers learn to count is the use of the plot in the book. On each page, the narrator repeatedly asks, "Barn cat, what are you looking for?" The readers of the book make a journey with Barn Cat to discover the answer to this question. Throughout the search for what Barn Cat is looking for, the readers see the world and count the objects with the cat. For example, when the cat sees ten flying sparrows, his eyes are looking into the air. The readers follow the cat's gaze and are looking and counting with Barn Cat all ten sparrows in the air. Another example is when the cat sees "eight barking, leaping pups," he hisses. This makes the reader see the eight pups as frightening, like the cat sees them, rather than playful. The sequential order of numbers is also taught in this book through the plot. The question, "what are you looking for," which the narrator asks the cat, and indirectly the readers, makes the readers excitedly turn the pages to find the answer to the question with the cat. This emphasizes to the readers the sequential order of numbers from one to ten as the cat finds his milk. The viewers either read or hear the order of the numbers as they count the objects and see the numbers, both in word and numeral form, which reinforces the sequential order of the numbers. An example of this reinforcement is seen when the cat sees ten sparrows. The text reads, "A flock of sparrows-8, 9,10?" Each technique used in Barn Cat makes this a wonderful book for teaching the readers how to count. After reading this book, one should have knowledge and understanding about the numerals, amounts, words, and sequences associated with specific numbers, which are all necessary to know how to count.

I purchased this book based on the reviews of it here, and I'm happy to add my own ringing endorsement. I began reading this book to my three-month old daughter (she is now six months old), and she loves it each time. We read it daily. The rhyming is strong and simple; the repetition makes my little girl laugh. She gets excited and babbles from the first page. It's actually fun to read aloud, since "Moo Moo Moo" and "Caw Caw Caw" and "Squeak Squeak Squeak" are fun sounds to make (along with all the other sounds). What is especially sweet is that Goose -- or some part of her -- is on every panel, and she is chasing a little yellow butterfly throughout the book. The repetition of "But where's Goose?" provides the opportunity to look for her and point out other animals. The artwork is eye-catching, vivid, and sophisticated enough for an adult to appreciate too. This one belongs on every child's bookshelf, and I'll be buying Fleming's other books as well.

I got this book for my daughter when she was a newborn, and she started reacting to it when she was only 2 months old. She smiles at the rhymes and at the brightly colored illustrations. It is also fun for the parent b/c you can embellish the story in so many ways while reading it--talking about the colors, counting animals, finding the goose & the butterfly on each page, etc. I'm sure there are several years of wondeerful readings ahead of us yet!

This is one of my toddlers favorite books. She loves the rhyming and the colors on the book and will ask us to read it over and over to her. Simply one of the best books to teach barnyard animals and their sounds to your children. I can't say enough praise about this book and how much my daughter loves it!!

This book is simple yet fantastically fun and educational. My 7 month old loves to hear it and smiles as soon as I begin the first page. He can be in the throws of whaling anytime, anywhere and I begin to recite the rhyming animal noises and he just giggles! It is amazing how such a simple idea, so well written, can bring so much fun! You have to get this one!

It's a back-handed compliment, to say the least, to mention that every time I read a new Denise Fleming book I'm shocked by how much I enjoy reading it. When I haven't perused a Fleming creation in a while, I have a nasty tendency to lump her in with fellow author/illustrators Lois Ehlert or Eric Carle. But Fleming has something those two will never have. A keen sense of what makes a colored cotton pulp illustration funny. Ever since I first laid eyes on her clever "Lunch" (a title I highly recommend) I became a real fan. And with "Barnyard Banter", I can clearly state that this is a children's picture book writer with a highly entertaining gaggle of tricks up her sleeve.

This is a book that initially seems to be best categorized as one of those baryard sound titles. The first two-page spread shows a three cow herd of red-eyed (some might say demonic) heifers accompanied by the words, "Cows in the pasture, moo, moo, moo". On the next page are two strutting birds with a, "Roosters in the barnyard, cocka-doodle-doo". You get the idea. Each two-page spread rhymes with the next, which makes for some creative stretches on the part of the author (apparently frogs say "burp burp burp"). As this jouncy book continues, once in a while the words, "But where's Goose?" appear in a corner. The goose, for its part, actually appears in every single animal's spotlight in some way. When we're viewing pigeons in the rafters, goose is far below perpetually chasing an elusive butterfly. When we're amidst the crows of the cornfield, the goose's beak peeks out from the lower right-hand side, stretching towards the flutterby above. This means that kids can have a lot of fun going through the book and finding that semi-obsessive goosey.

The words of the book are catchy, especially in a section that is simply every three-letter animal cry we've read combined into a bouncy rhythmic poem. So points should be given for the kind of text that gets little pre-schoolers involved (any book you can sing to usually falls into that category). But many a slap-happy sing-n-dance text has been brought low by dull colorless or otherwise blah illustrations. Not so here. Using her customary technique of (and I'm quoting the book jacket here), "pouring colored cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils" in a method described as "pulp painting", this book's a ribald explosion of color and form. Though you'd swear, just glancing at it, that this was yet another cut paper picture book, closer inspection reveals the complicated process that "Barnyard Banter" required. You've got coffee grounds for soil! You've got kernels of oats for grain bins! You've even got portions of burlap sacks disguised as chicken-wire fences. And the colors... oh the colors. Part of my love for Fleming's other book, "Lunch" was due to her firm grasp of the primaries. That love can now be transferred to this book as well. The whole tale's awash in bright clear-cut images that could easily leave you blinking your eyes from sunspots.

Whether you're searching for a book that follows the whole "the says" genre, or you want a book that uses rhythm in a novel way, or even if you just want a story where kids can locate an elusive naughty animal, "Barnyard Banter" fulfills all these needs and more. I tip my hat to Denise Fleming and promise her that I will never ever ever confuse her again with Lois Ehlert. Ever. In fact I'll do more than that. I'll remember how much I like Fleming's books and recommend them to all I see. That, I feel, is a perfectly appropriate penance. And one that I am not the least bit reluctant about carrying out.

I liked the book, but most of all I liked Ryan, the co-author of The Beanie Encyclopedia. I got a chance to meet him at a book signing while I was on vacation in Florida. He looks so cute in person. I LOVE YOU RYAN

This book was great. No other Book has taught me so much. Thanks Dr. Carey and Ryan

It even has Attic Theasures

I was impressed with the accuracy and the way that it gave such great information, this is a must for all Beanie enthusiasts like myself, and I must agree Ryan is soooo cute.....xoxox

Absolutely wonderful. The authors really know their stuff. There isn't a more complete Beanie Anthology available anywhere! A perfect companion to my book.

One of my three kidlets learned to read at age 3, and the book that he learned to read first was "Bear by Himself." He had a great pre-school teacher named Mary. One day I came home from work, and he had this book and was reading from memory, or so I thought. I began to listen carefully, and then after he read the book, I pointed out some words to him at random, and by gosh, he was reading! And, he understood what he was reading and what the story was about. I thank Mary for her patience in teaching him, wherever she may be. She was wonderful! My son is a voracious reader, and continues to read, just like all of us in our family. I am ordering him a copy for Christmas!

When I was little, my parents (mostly my dad) read this to me all the time and I loved it! It is so sweet and I think every partent should read it to their kids!

I used to read this book to my children when they were very small. It was a reminder to them that everyone needs quiet time. I was hearbroken when it got lost and searched everywhere for it. Now that it is back in print I can read it to my youngest! I would love to get a copy of the original as the illustrations were so peaceful and beautiful.

I love this book. The text is tender and thoughtful (although perhaps a tad on the precious side), the illustrations are sweet but not overly so--Bear comes across as an energetic little guy, even though he is alone. But I do have two suggestions, don't know if anyone from the publisher will read this to hear them! One is to publish it as a board book; the hardback version might not last long with the intended age group. And the other is to publish a "Bear by Herself" version, with a little girl bear, sort of like the two versions of "Once Upon a Potty." ;-) I'm not rabid about being politically correct, but this seems to me to be a book that particularly lends itself to personalization; I think young kids will really identify with Bear.

I went to my local book store and they couldn't find "Bear by Himself". I bought the original when my son was 3 years old and misplaced it. He's been asking about it recently and wished he had it. It warmed MY heart to know it still had a special place in HIS. I was so happy to see I could obtain another copy of it through amazon.com, but feel I may be disappointed as the more recent version has different illustrations as one reader shared. I still plan to order one, though, because the text is unchanged. The original illustrations were so beautiful and calming...I remember it so vividly. My son is now 12 and still loves being alone at times. He really relates to the bear. It was great to share the same feelings with all of you! I'm willing to spend a bit more for the book to get the original. If any of you know how I can obtain one, please email me. Thanks so much.

We started reading to our baby when he was just a few weeks old. This was the one book that stimulated his senses right away. The bright and contrasting colors captured his attention as an infant and now as a toddler, this is still his favorite book.

My daughter loves this book. She has to have it at least once a day--if not 15 times. One of the first things she would do once she could walk was carry it to me so I could read it to her. As her vocabulary has developed she asks for it by name and loves to point out the things she knows the words for. And after having read it hundreds of times, I still find the art freash and amusing. How many children's books hold up to that test?

My son usually can't sit still for long periods of time and this book is PERFECT. He loves my exaggerated pronounciation of the text and the pictures are big, bright, and appealing. His favorite book, by far!!

This book is very cute. Its size and the bright colors grab babies' attention. The pictures and writing are bright and big. Although my daughter is not yet 1, I think she'll enjoy it for a couple of years as she learns colors, articles of clothing, etc. Definitely different from typical childrens books and lots of fun.

This is a bright and exciting book (it's on our list for the grandparents as a "not-before-bedtime" book) with fun pictures for toddlers. Our toddler loves to look through the pictures and although she is WAY too young to think about reading, the words are also very appealing and large and attract her attention too.

The drawings are bright and bold and show children of diverse skin colors (including green and blue) in outlandish clothes that are way too big for them. The underlying message is one of diversity, but it's not sappy or pushy.

Keith Haring was one of the great artists of our time, and it's tremendous to have a children's book that introduces children to his art in a casual way. This is not a "let's study the art of great artists" book, it's just a children's book filled with great illustrations that happen to be by a great artist. I suspect that many of the children who are enjoying this book as toddlers or preschoolers may have one of those tremendous "ah-ha" moments five or ten years from now when they end up on a school field trip to an art gallery and think, "I KNOW that artist."

This book is adorable. It is great for children who speak Spanish or English!

This is a great book for the beginner child. very short and easy read. i highly recommend

Normally I would say that my daughter is a little old for this type of book. At 5 she is a bit beyond little board books without many words. But for laying a foundation for Spanish, this book is just what both she & I need. The simple sentences allow us to see what exactly each word means, as well as get an intuitive grasp on the grammer, and the pronunciation guide in the back is VERY helpfull.

I know that we will quickly move beyond this book, but for now I view it as essential for our grasping Spanish. In fact, I plan on buying the other books in this series.

This is another book that I enjoyed by this author. My children have asked me to continue to purchase this books and they read them all the time. I see the joy and excitement on their faces as they say different words in Spanish and actually know the meaning. I feel that it is important for the and myself to learn a second language, and books like these have been able to serve as a base for my entire family. It's easy to read and grasp, and a good reference to look at when necessary. Keep up the great work Gladys and I'll keep reading your books. Learning is a continuous process and now it's become really fun!

I am bilingual and am raising my son bilingual, too. This is an excellent book and series with adorable pictures, and each page has both english and spanish on it. The back includes pronunciation guides for all the vocabulary (both for english and spanish) which is helpful for my husband, a non-native speaker. It's very hard to find quality bilingual books- I've looked around a lot and loved these so much I have even given them as gifts to friends who want to introduce their kids (and themselves) to the language.

My 2 year old is crazy about Bing Bunny and the adorable Flop! The stories are so appropriate and appeal directly to the toddler mind; calling to attention all the things that toddlers' notice. The crisis concerning the loss of Flop in Bing Bed Time is especially important: one cannot go to bed without Flop! (or in our case, Dee). We plan to purchase all the books. Great quality and excellent illustrations!

I wish Bing were as popular in America as Barney is. These books are a hoot and my son just can't get enough of them. I checked all 8 out from the library and had to end up buying them.

Bing is a bunny who interacts with his stuffed animal Flop. The books show Bing learning colors, foods, potty training, etc., all in the course of a day.

Adults will enjoy the '60s vibe of the cars, houses and furniture in the books.

Maybe an animated Bing show in America will make these books as popular as they deserve to be.

my son loves reading the Bing and Flop books. His favorite is the night time book. teaching him our bedtime routine is so much easier. the colors and shapes are simple and easy to understand.

My daughter Kylie, now 2 1/2...LOVES! LOVES! LOVES! the Bing series! She now "reads" the stories to us since she has memorized them all!

The Bing Bunny books appeal to both my 4-year-old and my 1-year-old. They're simple in format and style but manage to ably relay the oh-so-important-for-kids message that it's okay to make mistakes. "Paint Day" is held together by the repeated refrain of, "Don't spill the water, Bing!" Of course, he does eventually spill that water, but it's okay - it's a Bing thing. In "Bing Gets Dressed", Bing labors to get himself all dressed and then wets his pants. It's a sweet and accepting message for little kids who do make mistakes and need to hear that these things happen. We all love Bing - one read and you just can't help it.