Animals Books

I LOVE reading this book to my kids.

Julia Donaldson works her magic again. In this book we meet a growing cast of instantly likable characters who become friends and end up sticking together to fight off a baddie.

The story is so beautifully written it feels like I'm singing when I read it, and my kids are not the only ones who, despite the fact we have read it countless times, still travel the full emotional road along which this story leads us.

This book is so much fun to read! Both my kids love it, but my 3 year old especially.
It's a cute story, with a little adventure and a fun ending, and the pictures are adorable. My kids where never scared, even though the main character is a witch. (she smiles all the time)
I definitely recommnend it.

My 3 1/2 yr old grandson LOVES this book. Great pictures Just enough drama! Discovery possibilities on the pages for a second look. Wonderful pictures and some anticipation on the right hand pages of what will come when the page is turned.

Both my 4 year old daughter and I love this book. It is so much fun to read and so much fun to hear. She laughs everytime I read it. The story is adorable and pictures are great. It is a nice story about friendship and rewarding acts of kindness. I bought this book for Halloween and we are still reading it several times a week.

My son loves this book so much, we wore out the first copy to the point that it was beyond me being able to tape the binding back together anymore. We bought him a second copy that has been "loved" as much as the first, and so we had to buy a third copy for my toddler so she had her own book that didn't have pages falling out while we were reading it. At one point, I had all the words in the book memorized, which came in handy while we awaited the arrival of our replacement book. At first glance, it may seem that this is a Halloween book. Let me assure you, you will enjoy reading this book all year long (I believe that my son asked to have this read to him every night for about 6 months) and the verse never gets tiresome. The story teaches children about compassion and the need to help others, despite the fact that you may not really be in the best position to help at the time it is needed most. Random acts of kindness by the witch thoughout the book are rewarded at the end of it when her friends save her from a fire-breathing dragon, and in return, she builds an even better broom to house her friends as a way of saying thank you. It teaches kids how important it is to be nice to everybody, and to be ready to lend a helping hand, because you never know when you might need a little help yourself.

This is another winner in this board book series, written by the "touchy-feely" team of Watt, Fiona, and Usborne. It's essentially a monologue by an unseen narrator (perhaps a young toddler like the book's audience),who notes why various breeds of dogs are NOT his or her own.

The illustarions are bright primary colors, against similar but contrasting backgrounds. Embedded within the triple-thick board book pages is some texture-rich material described in the book. These attributes enable the narrator to label and categorize the various dogs, and to deduce that the pictured dog is NOT "my puppy."

Ultimately, after you and your young charge touch the materials, enjoy the bright volotd and varying breeds, and delight in the repetitive; "that's not my puppy," refrain, the tenacious reader/listener will celebrate the ultimate discovery of the beloved dog. A nice little vocabulary buikder and an all-around suinpke but fun boatd book that imaginative adults can enahnce with a nicely dramatic reading.

This book is cute. It has a different texture on each page. I would recommend using it for read-alouds for awhile. Young children may eat or tear off the "feely" parts.

I really like the "thats not my.." series. All the books are colorful, quick and cute. We also own "thats not my dragon" which I think my son (17 months) likes better than this one but all the books in this series are cute and I would recommend any of them!

This is great as far as touchy feely books go. There are a variety of textures for baby to explore. But it is very short with a total of five page of text. And the text itself is fine but not very rich.

That's Not My Puppy: Its Coat Is Too Hairy is short and sweet on length, but wonderfully entertaining with textures. This is a great, sturdy board book that very little readers will enjoy multiple times.

And, when you've explored all you want about the dogs, you can always discuss that cute little mouse who seems to appear on every single page!

Cute, educational, and very, very entertaining. This is a must for your toddler's library.

Wonder and Ashleigh make the best team in the world. Wonder is such a great filly who loves to race and win. It waz really great that Ashleigh got to ride Wonder in th Breeders Cup Classic due to Jilly's injury but Wonder couldnt have done it without Ashligh. Wonder runs like she is flying with wings. I really hated when Jennings and Brad tried to ruin Wonders chances in the race, but luckily they never harmed another horse, well Jennings. I give this book 5 stars cauz this is the last book where Wonder is the star and she sure showed she was one in this book. Wonder races in the Kentucky Derby and wins but loses in the Preakness Stakes cauz she was bumped and won the Belmon Stakes and Breeders Cup Classic with Ashleigh in the saddle. If it wasnt for her being bumped, Wonder would have been a Tripple Crown winner. But she still made us all proud except for Brad. Im sure Ashliegh was overwelmed when Clay Townsend gave her half intrest in Wonder and her offsprings. If that was me getting half intrest in Wonder, I would be bouncing off the walls. If u want to read a book of a lost filly almost loosing her chances in being a champion and a girl's dreams over flow, read Wonders Victory and u will just get your story. If u want to talk Thoroughbred, u can reach me at Blades60@aol.com

This is by far, the best Thoroughbred book. I actully think the first four Thoroughbred books are better than the rest, because they include Wonder, my favorite horse charector. I have almost the whole series and never get tired of reading: A Horse Called Wonder, Wonder's Promise, Wonder's First Race, Wonder's Victory and the Ashleigh series which come before the Thoroughbred series and take place before Ashleigh (Wonder's groom and half owner) and her family are still living at Edgardale (where they lived before Townsend Acres.)Definatly read the series and especially this book. GO WONDER!

This book is AWESOME! You should definatly read this book. I think this is the best Thoroughbred book there is. I have almost the whole series, and I never get tired of it. When Wonder's jockey is injured, who will ride Wonder? This book is filled with excitement and fun great for all horse-lovers.GO WONDER!
(and Jilly)

This book follows Ashleigh and Wonder as they make their way to the Breeder's Cup Classic. Beyond the fact that this world is well written and engrossing, probably the best part of this book is reading about Ashleigh and Mike's growing relationship. We finally see our self-consicous, horse crazy, fashion despising Ash fall for Mike. It's really great to see this side of Ash; the side that isn't always in control and doesn't always know what to do. I also found the "mystery" surrounding Wonder's freakish behavior before races to be really interesting. The conclusion of this book is just, well, wonderful...
This book is the perfect example of how you close a story and give the reader a sense of closure and satisfaction. It ends perfectly. After reading these great, old generation TB books, I'm even more saddened at the fact that the publisher, Harper Collins is planning on terminating the series abruptly after book #72. Please HELP SAVE THOROUGHBRED! Go to www.whitebrookfarm.com to find out more. I would hope that Harper will listen to the faithful readers of this series and give us the closure that we deserve. Don't end TB like this! We found out how it ended for Ash and Wonder, let us find out about Mel, Chris, Allie, and Sammy's twins too! Please SAVE TB!

This is one of my favorite Thoroughbred books ever. Everyone who ever doubted will see that she is a champion in this book. Wonder wins the Belmont and Breeders Cup Classic in a breeze. Ashleigh Wonder's favorite person rode her in the Breeders Cup Classic at the age of 15! The youngest ever I'm sure. Wonder proves to the world that she is a champion and that she is the best horse out there. This is the best book about Wonder ever written. Can't wait to see what her foals do.

Awesome book! Great pictures, not too much text, opportunities to make animal noises. Our youngest adores this book and the older ones love to sit and "read" outloud making all the noises.

I've been reading this book to my son since he was 2 months old before bedtime and he LOVES it, especially when I say "boo... hooo... hoo". He smiles everytime I bring it out and looks at me funny if I bring something else out before bedtime. He loves to look at the pages and I do too! It's a simple, fun story that gives you the opportunity to perfect your mooing, mewing, barking and quacking skills. (I assume I'll be using these skills for a while).

I started reading this book to my daughter when she was 17-months-old. At that age, she was saying simple words, so she loved pointing at the pictures of the animals and saying "kitty" and "dog." I enjoyed making the animal sounds and having her repeat them. It's a fun story --- following the animals' attempts to soothe the crying baby --- and a fun book to read.

Great for your boo-hoo baby. Lots of animal noises, cute illustrations, a fun story and a happy ending for the sleepy sobbing baby. I read it to my son, and get lots of smiles.

My 11 month old baby requests this book everyday, several times a day. She selects it from 30 other books and brings it to us to read. She loves the illustrations, especially the depiction of baby's big head. She makes a "Zzzzz" sound in anticipation of the last page where all the characters except the baby is sleeping.

She likes it so much that if she is crying in the back seat of the car, I can calm her by reciting this book. (It's not hard for an adult to recite this book from memory.)

I absolutely LOVE this book! It's one of my childhood favorites, and I was excited to be able to replace it! The pictures are dream-like, and the book is great for introducing color concepts/words to young children. The book is so much fun; they'll read it over and over! I know I did! : D

Unfortunately, this isn't the full-sized book I remember from my childhood (it's a rather cheap imitation that probably won't hold up to multiple readings). But the pictures and story are still the wonderful ones I remember.

The Color Kittens (Little Golden Book) I am so excited!!! This was my favorite book my mother read to me in the late sixties. I have searched garage sales, etc hoping to someday find a copy. I searched for it on amazon.com and sure enough I found it. I felt like a little girl again when I opened the package containing this book! The cover is the same as I remember. I quickly read it to my little girl. It has it's own special spot in my china cabinet amongst many antique and childhood favs.

I was positively excited to get this book for my friend's Christmas present. When the seller said excellent condition, they should have said absolutely perfect! She will be thrilled! Thank You!

I have my original book from the 50s and another copy I found maybe about 10 years ago. You will never forget it. I am buying this one for my niece. It is my favorite book to this day. The best childrens' book I have ever seen.

Reading this book is like having an aquarium-expert friend to take shopping with you. The author tells you which fish are best for beginners, what fish shouldn't even be sold, what qualities a dealer should have, what equipment you should buy, what equipment is a waste of your money, what products are dangerous, what plants are no good but are sold for aquariums anyway, etc. I finally found answers to a lot of questions that other books didn't cover. The book discusses cleaning schedules, necessary floor strength, and moving concerns. It explains water chemistry as simply as possible. There is list of the author's favorite aquarium books and other info sources. He even tells you how you can reach him.

The reasons why I didn't give this book 5 stars are trivial: Hard to make out black + white photos and substandard proofreading. Still, everyone who has or wants an aquarium needs this book.

This is a very good quide for the beginner. Mike walks through all the steps required for setup and maintaince of an aquarium. Gives good suggestions on fish & plants selections. If the steps in this book are followed the aquarist will have minimal problems to deal with.

Not much here for the experienced aquarist.

This is an informative, clear, funny, and brilliant book.
If you are just starting an aquarium, this is the book to get.
The beginning is all about the tanks, lights, and everything before the fish.
There is a section about fish but the photos are black & white so if you want to know more about the actual fish you probably want another book too.
Overall, a great book for beginners!

Are you starting an aquarium? Well, I've been running one for a while, and my dad used to keep one, and I can definitely tell you that it is absolutely critical to have at least one fish book on hand in order to set up your fish tank properly.

To the book. So why is this so hyped and high rated? First of all, it doesn't lie. You will learn why water changes are important, what pH is, and why you don't keep oscars with neon tetras. You will learn how to position and set up your tank, and you will learn the difference between a canister and undergravel filter. And most importantly, you will learn how to keep fish. Like some others have said, this book does mainly focus on the care and setting up on the aquarium, so for the fish and plants it would help a lot to get a separate book that specializes in those, because his descriptions are not that detailed. However, I can nearly guarantee you that you will not fail in your aquatic endeavor with this guide at hand. Good luck, and may your filter never crash when you are on vacation.

WOW! This book was ESSENTIAL to our successful (and fun) entry into the world of fish and aquariums. Great tips, easy to follow directions and explanations of "what, why, when and why NOT", written in a funny (if somewhat corny) manner, this book is easy and fun to read. I actually found myself taking it on a trip - and trust me, I have NEVER taken a reference book on vacation unless I was expecting to work on vacation. So, this book gets five stars. Buy it used if you have to do so (we did). We bought five different aquarium books, and this one was the best, and we refer back to it often.

Absolutely marvelous! This simple story induces you to think about morals, existence, and adventure. By having virtue, anyone can lead a life filled with wonderful encounters and a way of life that can only lead you to a good future.

I loved this book a kid and bought it for my own children. Each of the three joined my enthusiasm for our dear friend, Dominic.

My son is in the Army and now has a son of his own. I used to read "Dominic" at bedtime, until I knew the story by heart. If I tried to skip a line or a paragraph, my son would interrupt and tell me I had missed a part! Recently, he asked if I would get the book for my grandson. Now my son is reading to his son. I love it! Christina

Throughout my life, I'd always remembered the "first book I ever read" as about some dog who played the piccolo and traveled around with his possessions in a sack on a stick. I remembered it so fondly, like one of those few, golden memories you hold onto from childhood, when you still believed in the tooth faerie and unicorns.

I never remembered the title, though, and the book had long since disappeared from my parent's house. One day I did an extensive Google search with only the words "dog," "piccolo" and "traveler" and managed to stumble across William Steig's website.

I just bought myself a new copy of "the first book I ever read" and can't wait to read it again. It really is a book that has stayed with me my entire life. I just found it astonishing that so many other people wrote the exact same thing in their reviews. How can it be that one book has been the "first book" for so many people? I don't know, but I do know that if you can let it be your kid's first book, they will cherish it forever. I sure did.

This was the first "real book" I remember reading as a little boy. I suppose I was about 6 or 7. I read and re-read Dominic many times and loved it more each time. I suppose it has be something like 35 years since I first read this book and I still remember it fondly. How many things can you say that about?

This is a wonderful book any child should have in their collection. The book can become part of a yearly tradition celebrating their birthdays!

I bought this book for my son to read to him on his birthday. It is a lovely book that my three year son enjoyed very much. We will be making the reading of this book a yearly tradition!

I just love all Dr Seuss books! This one is just as good. I'd never heard of it but when I saw it I had to get it for my son. I got it for his 1st birthday party for everyone at the party to sign like a yearbook and give him wishes for when he's older since he won't remember the party. We love the book too though!

I bought this book for all 3 of my children for birthdays.
We read it every year on their birthday--it is an amazing book.

I highly recommend for birthday gifts or just because you love Dr. Seuss!

Because I had put off buying a gift until the last minute, I was able to order the books and they arrived 2 days before the birthday party. I consider that great service. The 2 and 3 year olds loved it and it made me happy to know I got something they would enjoy longer than a few days. The Dr. Seuss Birthday books were a hit.

"We are a band." Soren makes this statement many times throughout the book. He is telling his friends, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger, that they are a family and always need to stick together.

This book is about four little owls. They are trying to find The Great Ga'Hoole Tree. They are hoping to find Soren's family there. I felt really bad for the little owlets because they are orphans. They are trying to survive out in the wild on their own. At least they know how to fly, hunt, and fight.

They don't end up finding Soren's family at The Great Ga'Hoole Tree. The four owls, and Soren's old nest made Mrs Plithiver, end up living there. They each go into trainings and got picked for a job. I felt really bad for Soren because he didn't get what he wanted and everyone else did.

Near the end of the book, Twilight and Digger had the job to rescue owls and put them back into there nests. Well, there were no hollows around, so they brought them to The Great Ga'Hoole Tree. Digger was on the ground and saw an owl. It was Eglantine, Soren's baby sister. This was such a happy moment in the book. I am so glad that they found her. I was really sad though to find out she is sick. Soren stayed with her day and night. The real question I had after they found Eglantine was, "Where is the rest of Soren's family?"

The book The Journey is a very well put together book. I would recomend this book to anyone who loves books about animals and adventure. This would be a good book for teenagers, adults, and even younger kids. This series also leaves you hanging for the next book. I can't wait to read them.

Cameron Sparks


IS THIS A GREAT BOOK?
"A wise old owl sat on an oak; the more he saw the less he spoke; the less he spoke the more he heard; the more he heard the more knowledge he gained; why aren't we like that wise old bird?" ~ Old English Proverb.
The Journey is one of the best books in Kathryn Lasky's Guardians of Ga'Hoole series of twelve books. This book which is a fantasy fiction is about four young owls Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger who recently escaped from St. Aggies Academy, which is a school that mistreated them. The owls go in search of the Great Ga'Hoole tree where a group of dignified owls live. The dignified owls are considered the guardian of Great Ga'Hoole Tree. It is rumored that they live in the tree; however, most owls in the kingdom do not believe that the dignified owls or the tree exist. According to legend, the four owls have heard that the dignified owls have done great things to help other owls. They believe that the dignified owls can help rescue others from St. Aggies Academy. After a long journey to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, the four owls experience even more adventure.
The Journey to me is a really good book, and I think that this would be an excellent book for grade school and middle school students to read because of the following reasons: First, it describes the events in the story very realistically. Second, it shows good characterization of the owls and other characters that are introduced throughout the book. Third, it surprises you with events you were not expecting. For Instance, when Digger and Twilight were on a search rescue mission to bring back some injured baby owls and they stumbled upon Soren's sister who was badly hurt.
This book was a definite page turner because each chapter made me want to find out what's going to happen in the next chapter. The plot was exciting and adventurous. Even though the characters were owls, I related to them as if they were human beings experiencing the same difficulties that human beings face. I definitely connected to what they went through during their journey; especially Soren because he had a sister that he cared a lot about, like I care about my sister. The biggest surprise in the story that kept me reading was when they rescued Soren's sister. I recommend this book to kids between the ages of 10 through 13. Overall, The Journey is an amazing book and a must read!

After leaving St. Aggie's with his friend Gylfie, Soren, Ms. P., Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger leave to go find the great Ga'Hoole tree. The tree is full of magical owls who perform great deeds at night. While on the journey to this wonderful tree, the "band" stops at many different places. First, the band stops by the Mirror Lakes. This scene is summer all year long. To owls, this place is a paradise! After leaving the Mirror lakes, the four owls completly miss the great tree and run into a little home called the Narrows. Here, a group of puffins survive using certian skills to hunt and nest. After having the puffins look after them, the gang sets off once agian to find the glorious tree.
Once they reach the tree, the four owls are greeted by the king and queen of the tree: Barran and Baron. These two help find a home in the tree for each owl and show them how the tree works or operates. The next night, Soren and the band find out that they will be placed in different chaws or classes in the tree to learn certian skills. Soren is unhappy with the idea of the band being broke so he talks with the teachers of the tree to see if somehow the band could be placed in the same chaw so they could be together. The king and queen talk Soren into spitting up the band for a better cause.
Later that month, Soren's long-lost sister,Eglantine, is found. Unfortunatly, his sister is under a certian spell that almost sounds like moonblinked(when owls go crazy because they sleep at night). Luckly, the owl singer and harp player was able to brake the curse with her songs and harmonising. Now that Eglantine is cured, Soren is releived for the moment.
Suddenly, an urgent message indictates that Ezylryb, Sorens teacher of his chaw and loving, caring, mentor is missing! On a exciting search and rescue mission, Ezylryb is lost and can't be found! Will Ezylryb be found? Will Soren and Eglantine ever find their family? The story contineus in the next book of the series.

Book two had an interesting beginning but it explained a little too much of the first book. My favorite part was when Soren got picked to be a collier (who carries coals). This also required him to know the weather. I liked when Eglantine got shaken out of a trance with music.

This series has taught me a lot about owls and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

On their journey to the Great Ga' Hoole tree Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, Digger, and Mrs.Plithiverget moobed by crows. During the mobbing Digger gets his wing badly hurt. Mrs. Plithiver fixes up Digger's wing. The four owls and Mrs.Plithiver start back on their journey to the Great Ga'Hoole tree. While on the sea of Ga'Hoole they get blown off course to the ice narrows. When they finally get to the Geat Ga'Hoole tree they learn about navigation weather and much more. Soren along with the weather and cothering chaws go to a foresrt fir to collect coals for the Great Ga'Hoole tree. When Soren gets back he finds out that Digger, Twilight, and Gylfie are out rescuing owl chicks.

I read this book when I was a kid and it's wonderful. Anyone who loves dogs should read all of Terhune's books.

As long as you can ignore the bigotry of the author (he was a rich, white aristocrat of the pre WWI variety, so he was a snob and a bigot), his writing about the nobility of dogs, his ability to make them live in your mind is still unsurpassed. The author wouldn't pass a modern "political correctness" test, but if you love dogs and you are mature enough to understand that authors are people and thus flawed, this is a book you should NOT miss.

I asked my grandma if she could take me to the library. We were looking around for books together, her boring adult books, me books by Margaret Peterson Haddix and dog books. I was in the aisle R-V and spoted a book with the word "dog" on it. I quickly grabbed the book and held on to it tightly glad no one else had seen it. I looked at the cover and saw an adorable dog on it and decided to check it out. When I got home the first thing I did was start reading it. It was new stile of writing for me; a bunch of chapters that were in order but SOMEHOW a bunch of short stories about one dog, put together. It got my interest right away. I stayed up till about 3:00 A.M reading it. It still hadn't finished it. The next day I continued to read it and I finished it. It was the most wonderful, exellent, heart-warming, special, terrific, best, most interesting book I have EVER read (until I read Terhune's other books)! I bought the book shortly after. I discovered there was more Lad books and got them all. I decided I loved Terhune's books and went on a book shopping spree.

For the REAL review: I HIGHLY recommend this book as well as all of Terhune's dog books to everyone young and old. It changed my life dramaticly and I am very thankful for the day I found the book. But, this book is different from Terhune's other books. Not the best, but in my opinion, the very most special. After all, it IS Albert Payson Terhune's firt book and the first book of his I read.

Here's my sister, Shannon Hyle's feelings for this book:
"Reading about Lad, a Dog by Albert Payson Terhune fired my desire to own a dog, not just any dog but a faithful tawny collie who would keep me company, lick away my tears and save my life (it might have been from falling through the ice or from that car speeding around the corner or maybe from our cantankerous cow with the cock-eyed horn. Terhune's book series was based on the very real Sunnybank Lad, "a thoroughbred in body and soul."
I also found Terhune's books very satisfying reading and couldn't get enough of them or of Thomas Hinkle's horse stories.

are now legion, as they say. But Terhune was the first person to make them worthwhile to read! I recently came across Albert Payson Terhune's oeuvre, Sunnybank, and Lad, etc. while preparing to purchase a collie for our home. Although we did not eventually get the 'dog of our dreams,' all of my hopes and aspirations, which had been fueled by watching "Lassie" almost fifty years ago, were codified, given life, and made literate in the many books by Mr. Terhune.

His way of writing, (though repetitive in terms and phrases from book to book- a relatively minor point, for the writing is evocative, even if repetitive) is nevertheless easily on a par with many 'good' modern authors today, and is therefore of more merit, than perhaps when they were first written!

As Chronicles of history (the era when cars were first being mass-produced & made available by the 'monthly payment with interest scheme,' so burdensome to modern life) when gentlemanly conduct and lady-like manners were not 'chauvinistic,' all of Terhune's books would make a very nice study of American mores and morals of the 1910-1930's era, especially for boys aged 9-12. Where he [Terhune] shines most evocatively, is in giving that sense of awe and wonder, as one looks with love and affection on a dog that many consider the noblest examplar of the breed as a whole!

What was also pleasant to read, is the honest way in which Terhune describes how literate, intelligent, and societally well-to-do [white] folks looked upon the world, their neighbors, the rise of crime as a mobile menace with the advent of said motorcar (and thus, Terhune makes an eloquent 'apologia' for limiting, rather than expanding[!] mass transportation from inner city to outer suburbs in modern metropolises!) with a frankness that is woefully missing today. In short, when needed, Terhune, like almost all men of his era, is willing to 'call a spade a spade.' Some might call his use of terms for some of the less seemly characters he portrays, 'racially insensitive,' but that is only because we have been brainwashed into thinking civility and crassness are interchangeable cogs on a multicultural wheel!

I, for one, found this utter frankness of Terhune and his overt masculinity (in his descriptions of events and persons) a breath of fresh air- especially after the 'Illegal Alien May First walkout of 2006,' Hurricane Katrina and the Superbowl, the Million Man March, and all the other 'minority grandstanding' one has to endure in this "PC" mad era. Terhune's evocation of an era that should come again reveal that civility, proper manners, respect for property, life, and livestock on a working farm or kennel, are things that any child (or adult!) could/should take a lesson from. Along with Knight's "Lassie-come-home,' these books (in their original issue, and not in modern reprints, which clearly would be 'santized' for 'modern dumbed-down readers') are now prize possessions in my antiquarian bookcase. I will return to them every year, (and read them to my children, whom I homeschool!) to read of a lifestyle, a culture, that once defined what it is to be free, noble, and American. IF I could put it into the fewest words possible, I would say Terhune writes of: Man, dog, and nature. If one could sum up Terhune, these three qualities shine through resplendently in all of his works. I can honestly say, that, for a work of fiction, I am a better man for reading them.