Puppets Books

16 Sept. 2008
I have both the paperback and the hardcopy edition of this book. I recommend the hardback because of how much it is used. I have read this book to my nephews dozens of times. When the two of them leave I always tell them, "Remember, You are Special!" They came in from out-of-state last week and the first thing one of them said to me was, "You are special." The book is a good reminder for adults as well as youngsters!

I love this story and was planning on getting it for my daughter at some point- when I saw it as a board book I decided to get it right away! The book seems well made and has nice bold, vibrant illustrations. The only negative thing I noticed about it- and I noticed it right away when I received it- is the fact that it has pointy edges. Most board books are rounded at the corners. It's not a huge deal, but for young kids/babies who are clumsy and put everything in their mouths, it seems like a poor design.

Max Lucado has an touched a nerve with his delightful stories. This book reaches the heart of all of us.
We all want to know our worth. This beautifully written and illustrated story reminds us that we are all of infinite worth, in the eyes of our creator.

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!

So it turns out that the "monster" is actually the protagonist which, while having shades of postmodern antihero angst that wil reverberate strongly with fans of, say, Kafka or Burroughs, really threw me for a loop as a kid.

My two year old, on the other hand, has no problem with this conceit, and wants me to read it to him regularly.

He'll understand how cruel this all is when he get a bit older.

Oh yes.

In the meantime, I'll read it for him over and over and over and over, and never get tired of it.

When I was little this was my favorite book. We would read it over and over, and I would pretend I was struggling to turn the pages that Grover had tied, nailed, and bricked over.
So when we had a daughter, this was one of the first books I bought for her. At 2 years old the book sat on the shelves for a while, but she is 3 now, and I recently took it down again to read for her at bedtime. It is now a favorite, we read it every night. I read the pages, then she turns them to give poor old Grover a hard time.
One recommendation...this review is for the standard Little Golden Books version, which is great, but we also found a board book version in stores, so the hard pages are great when you have toddlers turning the pages for you every night. They can really 'struggle' against Grover's efforts without hurting the book.

The Monster at the End of this Book is a wonderful tale with the infamous Grover at the center. Grover believes that there is a monster at the end of this book and he is begging you, the reader, not to read to the end because he is scared of the monster.

This is a wonderful book for toddlers. When toddlers are defying you at every second, this book gives them a great, fun excuse to be defiant and keep turning pages. The Monster at the End of this Book is very easy to read and is ideal for making loud noices and being dramatic.

I read this book to my two year often and she loves it. I remember reading this book when I was young and I love being able to share this book with my children.

I used to read this book to my own children and bought this copy for my grandchildren. The book is still as much fun for the grandchildren as it was for my children -- and the best part is I get to watch my children enjoy reading it to their children! It means they have fond memories of me reading to them.

I received great service and the book was promptly delivered. This book was read to me as a child and to my children when they were little. I purchased it to read to my grandaughter which I have happily done. It's a great "fun" book for children.

Okay, so this is probably as preachy as Dr. Suess gets, and it just might get on the nerves of some people, but the tree hugger in me salutes him for it, even as he paints a grimmer picture of environmental destruction than Al Gore ever thought of.

Even so, it's clearly Suess with his imaginative worlds and funny characters.

It's a solemn book of warning that it pretty darn good into scaring kids into being careful with the environment.

And that's not a bad thing.

I could not wait to present this lesson to the class this year. Teaching seventh grade and the 5 themes of geography this book lends itself to many of those themes but mostly human-environmental interaction (how human interact and change the environment to fit their needs). Not only does this book show that but it really visualizes how we negatively impact the Earth for our own selfish needs. Again my students are in love with the facts that I am reading them a storybook and after the discussion they see that it isn't a plain, old storybook but it really does have a significant meaning.

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

While most Dr. Suess stories are pure fun without any heavy message, The Lorax delivers an extremely blunt lesson on ecology. What's amazing is that Dr. Suess does this with a narrative that is engaging, entertaining and ultimately inspiring. You might think a book with such a heavy message could be a turn-off to young children, but I have found the opposite. My preschoolers find this story absorbing. I think they understand there is something truly important at stake, so the book means more to them than other Dr. Suess titles.

Is it a coincidence that Thneed rhymes with Deadly Sin #3? Growth for the sake of growth is where we are today. This too shall pass, UNLESS....

Dr. Seuss, turned holier-than-thou by his elevated status in society, decides to preach to us about the evils of industrialization. Does he realize that the many millions of copies of "The Lorax" were all made in factories, using paper that came from trees?

This is a book that my mother read to me as a child and, later, as I learned to read, would read to her. Now, 30 years later, I am reading this to my daughter and sharing one of my childhood favorites with her. Some of the ideas are a little dated, Miss Suzy is a stay-at-home squirrel who enjoys cooking and cleaning, but it also a tale of kindness and respect.

My Mom read this to me when I was a little boy and it was my favorite book. Now, thirty-some years later, I was delighted to find it in a box. It's the same copy, which sadly, the cover had been ripped off somewhere, with "Property of Tony" scrawled proudly in pencil on the first page. It brought a tear to my eye remembering sitting in my Dad's recliner in the living room and having my Mom read Miss Suzy to me. I don't have any children myself, but I ordered two copies for friends with small children, and would recommend this book to anyone in a second. I think I'll order a new copy for myself just so I have a new one but my old copy, I will cherish forever.

My mom gave away our books when we were teens and I've been restoring the collection bit by bit as an adult. I found Miss Suzy a few years ago in an antique store and bought it, but now that it's back in print I'll be able to give it away to friends.

My favorite part was the big spider Miss Suzy scares away and the soldiers helping her get her house back.

This was my absolute favorite book when I was a little girl. I discovered it in first grade at my school's library. I just loved the tall oak tree where Ms. Suzy had her little house. My parents purchased a copy for me to have at home. Everything about this book stuck with me into adulthood. Many, many years later I just had to get it for my little girl, I know that she loves it too. I was so happy to see that it is still in print and children are still enjoying this adorable story.

When I was growing up I owned very few books thankfully I went to the library often but out of the few books I did own this was one of them! I finally introduced it to my own little girl and its as timeless today as it was 25 yrs ago. Any reader is sure to fall in love with sweet little Miss Suzy she has a heart of gold!

This is my 20 month old son's FAVORITE book. He constantly wants it to be read and re-read to him....and this is the only book that he asks for (even though we have a lot of other good ones). For any kids that love trains, this is a great book. And for parents, it's an enjoyable/easy read. And the illustrations are very nice too.

I have read this book to a baby I babysit for, and he loves it! I've been reading it to him since he was 4 months old and he still likes to have it read to him over and over again! The primary colors in the book make it so vivid and colorful and you can be very animated when you read it, they love it! I ordered one for my sister's new baby!

My 2 year old son loves this book. He's loved it since he was about 9 months old. It's rhyming and fun to read out loud with bright and interesting illustrations. Sure to be a hit for any boy who loves trains!

This simple, rhyming book about a toy train has been read and re-read in this house. My girls absolutely MUST hear this book at least five times a day. We're on our third copy, as the first two were destroyed from overuse. My only criticism is that the book is not of more sturdy construction. If you have toddlers and pre-school age children, this book is a must have!

Our boy already loved Tugga-Tugga Tugboat and My Truck is Stuck, so I had an idea that he would like this book by the same author/illustrator combo, especially because he likes trains.

Well, this was his favorite of the three. The drawings are charming, the story sufficiently uncomplicated for a nearly-three-year-old, and he wanted us to read nothing else for weeks. Highly recommended.

Any kid who reads The Doll People and the sequel, The Meanest Doll In The World would be very excited if they knew there would be a third book. I'm one of those people, I read both of them and I LOVED THEM. I decided it was my favorite book so far (I'm only 10 so I know that won't be forever). I recommended them to everyone who was looking for a good book at the right level, I think if you are 8 or up, you would love the idea and l ove the way Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin writes and how Brian Selznick illustrates. They're all a really good team. One of the things I LOVED were the illustrations. For someone who doesn't know how to picture things in your mind while you're reading, this is the book to get in the book store. If you feel interested to read this book then grab it out of the bookstore or buy it anywhere, please. Both of those books are great!

Anntie Sarah was lost for 47 years ago, then 47 years later, Annabelle got a hold of her diary. She kept it very safe until the Funcrafts came to the house. Annabelle Doll shared the diary with the Funcrafts daughter, Tiffany, and everything in the diary they both read is a step closer to find Anntie Sarah.

By Rose

This is an excellent book with fun and adventure abound. Good reading for people of all ages. My 70 year old Father loved it, so much so I bought him his own copy. A fun read over and over.

The Doll People
By: Ann M. Martin

Book Review by: Caroline Le

Have you ever lost someone near and dear to you? Well that's exactly what happened to Annabelle Doll in this book, The Doll People. It's about a family of dolls trying to find their lost family member, Auntie Sarah, but the problem is that Auntie Sarah could be anywhere in the house and the whole family is only about an inch in height. The whole family includes mama, papa, Uncle Doll, nanny, Annabelle, her little brother Bobby, Baby Betsy, and of course Auntie Sarah. Along the way they get into a lot of problems, with The Captain (the humans cat) and getting lost, plus they can't move while the humans are around, it'll jeopardize their secret, but they also have a lot of fun too so don't worry. Personally I think that one of the best parts in the story is all the adventures they have. Read the book to find out what happens to the Doll family and Auntie Sarah. Enjoy reading it, I know I did.

Who says that you can read and enjoy children's books? This book is on par with some of the great children's literary classics like the Wizard of Oz. The author creates a world in which a Doll family comes to live unknown to the human residences around them. While the Dolls remain forever the same age, Annabelle Doll had remained an eight year old girl for a hundred years. She is on the search for her missing aunt Sarah who disappeared 45 years ago. She and the Doll family travel without getting human detection which means that they can be forever frozen in time. The Doll life is very fragile and human detection can determine their frozen state. A fear that the Doll family must have while Annabelle and her sister yearn to break free from the dollhouse that is their home. They remind me of Anne Frank and her sister hiding in the attic. They have so many rules of their own without being detected from humans. It's quite an entertaining novel for both adults and children alike. I could see an animated movie come alive and popular quite easy. The illustrations are in black and white. I don't have any complaints about the book but hope to get back into it soon enough.

Hi, I am 9 years old and I LOVED this book its about a doll that's a hundered years old and is named Anabelle who lives with her mom, dad, brother, uncle , and baby sister. While Anabelle is looking for Auntie Sarah, who has been missing for 45 years, she finds another doll family, the Funcrafts. They are newer dollhouse dolls. The Funcraft family & Anabelle's family become good friends. And the Funcrafts have modern things the old dolls don't understand, like a microwave & Bar-B-que. And when Anabelle's birthday comes around they have a party for her at the Funcraft's dream house. The dolls have to be careful that the humans don't see them moving around & talking or else they will be in "doll state" (this is where they get frozen for 24 hrs). This book would be good for girls 7-12. The words are easy to read & the story is easy to understand. It's a long book, about 260 pages, but all totally entertaining. No boring parts. If you are looking for a great book to read, get this book NOW.

I purchased the book for my friend's grandchildren in the US, they were delilghted with the book, they enjoyed grandma reading the stories and loved looking at the pictures.

I am fifteen and I LOVE these stories!!! They really are just that good!
Each story makes you wonder what intriguing adventure or silly mishap the next will hold in store for you. Whenever I take out the book or simply look at the cover, I get a comfortable, warm feeling inside; because I know that each story is filled with the timeless, treasured tales of a talented author. I was somewhat surprised (and a little humored), however, in the manner in which the characters sometimes acted and spoke. For example, when Rabbit, Piglet, and Pooh are trying to think of a plan to capture Baby Roo (which is also a little disturbing), Rabbit "gently" tells Pooh that he "has no Brain" and Piglet "no Pluck." Why must he be so harsh? Eeyore, though, surprised me the most. The most I knew of Eeyore from Disney's viewpoint was that he was a poor, sad, and mostly forgotten creature. I always felt sad for him. However, after reading the stories, it is very difficult to feel bad for him when he is constantly going around throwing insults whenever he gets the chance. For example, when Piglet goes to visit Eeyore to give him some violets, he sees Eeyore staring at three sticks on the ground that are in the shape of the letter "A". Eeyore proceeds to tell Piglet that the "A" represents "Education, it means all the things that you and Pooh haven't got...but to the Educated--mark this, little Piglet--to the Educated, not meaning Poohs and Piglets, it's a great and glorious A." See my point? But overall, it is a very satisfying story that no child (or adult, for that matter) should miss out on. What is also a great plus is that it's a beautiful and durable hardcover edition that also has a ribbon bookmark.

I bought this book years ago for my oldest son when he was only 2 years old. He loved it immediately and still loves it. This is a family favorite. I need to get a new one since the old one has gotten a bit worn.

Okay, first I'm a huge fan of Winnies Hollywood career and I also thought his apperance in the movie Top Gun as Tom Cruise's stunt double was amazing! Also playing Elizabeth Turner in the popular TV series, Pirates of the Mediterranean, was an astonishing role. But was that ever mentioned in the book? No! And that is what makes me lie awake in bed at night, hoping to one day claim vengeance on the editor and publisher. If you like this book, I will hunt you down and make you throw the book into a fire, do the tango, sing zip-a-dee-doo-da-zippada-da, then force you to alphabetize my sock drawer! So beware, and always know, I, Fartsy Magee, am always watching you. Right now your scrating your butt like a madman. I'm watching. Watching. Watching. Still watching. Okay, anyway I'm watching you every day. And I'm watching you like a blind man watching his glasses. BEWARE!!!!!!!!! BEWARE!!!!!!!!
But otherwise a great book and the author deserves a lot of credit.

Who doesn't love Winnie The Pooh? Don't answer that. This is an excellent and charming book to use for bedtime stories for children. I grew up with it and I still love it! It endears the simplicity of life and love...and honey.

Despite the fact that his books feature anthropomorphic mice, Kevin Henkes' characters are always strikingly realistic. Lilly is no exception.

When she gets a COOL PURSE from her grandma, she has a predictably hard time waiting until Show-and-tell... so hard a time that she doesn't wait. And it's confiscated.

Then she - predictably - is upset at her teacher instead of herself. So she writes him a nasty letter... which she repents from when she realizes he doesn't totally hate her after all.

The descriptions of her feelings are just right, and she settles her problem in just the way I'd suggest to a kid in her situation.

I bought this book for my two year old granddaughter and she loves it. It is well made with wonderful pictures.

This story is about a girl who got a brand new purse. She really wants to show it to her classmates, but her teacher Mr. Slinger wants her to wait at an appropriate time.
I love this book because Lilly is very precious and for giving. I think this book is good for k-2nd grade. So they can have reading.
I think this is a wonderful story. Lilly loves her purse. Plus she's very anxious to show it off, that's why like this book.

This is a great book, especially if you have an independent, free-thinking, stong-willed little person to share this with. Lilly is a spunky little mouse that exhibits typical traits of every 4, 5 and 6 year old. This is one book that I don't mind reading over and over again.

A very fun and whimsical story that illustrates Lilly's emotional experience and how she deals with her emotions. I highly recommend. My 3 year old son loves it, and is a common birthday gift, especially for girls.

We recently bought this book and I have instantly fallen in love! My little boy (10 mo) lets me read it over and over and over to him. So happy we found it.

I bought this book as a gift for my son on his first Valentine's Day, at 5 months old. I fell in love with the adorable pictures and the sing-song verse. He loved the way I would act out the words, touching or tickling the body parts mentioned. It is a perfect book for any parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or caregiver to read to a young child. My son still gets a kick out of it at nearly 4, although he has it well memorized.

As soon as my sister found out she was pregnant, I bought this book for her baby. She enjoyed reading it to her belly throughout her pregnancy. It is such a cute book and a really good "go to bed" book, too.

Hope you enjoy it as much as my family still does.

There book is wonderful!!! Our only complaint is that the pages are a little thin so it has some creases in it from three toddlers playing with it.

My 2 y/o asks to read this every night before bed. We've had it for months now and she still loves it. A great story... very sweet!

I bought this book for our 18 month old daughter. It is probably better suited for 8 months and up, but it is still an adorable little book. Highly recommended.

My favorite teacher at my son's daycare was leaving - going to a new job. I found this book to be a perfect gift for her. I thought it could also represent the balloons as a metaphor for someone going away. Excellent story with beautiful illustrations.

As an elementary school counselor I used this book to help students cope with grief and loss.

I wish there was a way to promote her books more. I bought one of Jamie's earlier books for a little boy a couple years ago. Recently, I was very surprised when his Mother said that it was the only book he enjoyed reading and wanted "Where Do Balloons Go?" for a birthday presnt. This little boy doesn't read very much but spends a lot of time in front of the television or computer, so it was very uplifting to know he realized there is more to life than visuals.

Our grandson has this book & loves it so much that we purchased another as a gift for our nephew.

I think every young child whose ever accidentally released a balloon into the wild blue yonder has wondered what happens to them...and this book gives kids some whimsical ideas about the secret life of balloons that should ease their minds about what happens...I suppose this is a better way for kids to think about it than just popping somewhere up there and plummeting to the ground. The words are written in silly rhymes and the illustrations are lush and whimsical...just plain silly and loads of fun for young readers. Younger kids (2-4) will like having the opportunity to explore each page and older kids (5-8) will enjoy reading all the additional text loaded onto each page (balloons writing post cards, signs for various things, ect...) that should help keep their interest when the simple rhyme is, well, too simple for them to enjoy. Each page feels rather like an explosion of art and whimsy...it is that chaotic splendor that kids can't help but love!! Where to Balloons Go? doesn't provide any scientific explanation...but it's not meant to, it's just plain fun!! Kids and adults alike will have fun reading this and diving right into the incredible illustrations...if you've got a kid 4-8, this is a must read!!