Big Books

This is such a cute funny book. My girls love it and love to say " you throw him out!!" My husband had this book when he was a little boy and now my girls have it and i know it will be passed down forever. Great book for years to come

I've owned this book for twenty years. I was a small child when I first got it as a present, and forced my parents to read it to me again and again and again. Now that I am an acting and storytelling teacher for young children, I was looking through old books to use in my class. I came across this one, read through it again, and was won over all over again. Whether you are a young child, a parent of a young child or a teacher of young children (or perhaps just young at heart) you will no doubt have a wonderful time reading this book. (And, even if you're all alone, I suggest reading it out loud.)

What to do? Great introduction to problem solving and the silliness of animals. A joy to read using your best animal voice!

This book is on the Kumon required reading list. Wonderful illustrations, amusing, and easy to read. You and your child will laugh.

This was the longest book my two-year-old would sit through... again and again and again. She loved acting the part of the little heroine and readily recited "you throw him out!" with much enthusiasm. The drawings are entertaining and the end is lovely. I would whole-heartedly recommend this darling story.

I have been a preschool teacher for 15 years and this is one of those books we read often - sometimes every day! It is sure to become one of your child's favorite stories, too!

My 3 year old loves fish, and she was immediately drawn to this book. The illustrations are soft, and the story, about a scary looking fish who is really nice, is a good message.

This has a charming story, and wonderful illustrations. Kids can learn about being themselves and being a good friend by Big Al's example. It has a heroic main character who saves the fish who had refused his friendship. What I think could have been done better/differently is to play up the ideas that no matter what you look like, you can be a good friend, and that it's important to be yourself. Clements ends the story a little too suddenly to explore that idea, in my opinion. It does, however, leave room for classroom or parental discussion once the story has been read. This is a sweet book, with a nice message, even if it's not terribly obvious.

Big Al is truly the scariest-looking fish, but - like all of us - he just wants to be accepted by his peers. In fact, he does everything to be accepted: Wraps himself up in seaweed, puffs himself up, hides in the sand so others will come close, changes color to match a passing school of fish, but to no avail. Then comes Al's chance to save the day and make some friends.

Yoshi's illustrations are rich and give life to Al's world underwater.

I've used this book in my classroom for kids to understand how we are all unique in our own way, but we each have a strength to offer others.

So many kids books that deal with real life issues often cop out by having the character solve the problem in a way that kids couldn't possibly apply to their own life. This book is a shining example of how to achieve what so many authors cannot: solving a real problem in a real way that can be applied to real life. Beyond the beauty of the lesson, "Don't judge by appearance", is the beauty in the way the story is told. The artwork is a superb extension of the text. Buy this for every child you care about.

I enjoyed the book. It was a very interesting concept and it kept my interest and attention.

My rating of 3 stars can be explained by my feeling that only a classic should get 5 stars and 4 stars would be a really outstanding book.
I did enjoy the book very much.

This book is easy reading, very entertaining and very insightful.

Far better than even the recommendation - I really enjoyed this book. Both intellectually fascinating and meaningful, I finished the book both thoughtful and inspired. A great read.

I loved this book. It is very fresh, unlike any other story I've read, extremely creative. I particularly enjoyed the spiritual aspect of the book and universal energy. I became attached to the characters. It was fascinating to join them as they examined life on other planets. I thought about the universe in ways I never had before. The book was stimulating, thought-provoking, and emotional. I highly recommend it.

Wow! Being a fan of both Edgar Casey and Carl Sagan, this is a book that appeals to me both spiritually and intellectually. Creating a universe and watching it evolve - how original! This story gives a new look on life. What fun!

This is one of my daughter's favourite books when she was in pre-K. Now she is going to[...], and still loves to read it and look at the pictures in this book from time to time. It is a lovely one!

Snappy rhyme and funky, expressive illustrations tell a quick and entertaining tale of boundaries, bad behaviour and the baby inside the bully. Our girls are just as tickled by this book now, at ages 5 and 7, as they were during its billions of readings in their toddler years.

My daughter LOVES this book and it's a bedtime favorite. Great artwork, kinetic style. We've been working on please and thank you, and this book brings it all home in a cute, engaging way. Beware though- at the zoo last weekend she yelled at the black bear "NO MANNERS AT ALL!" and told me he was trouble :)

This is a hilarious book! My daughter is 3 and she loved the fact that the misbehaving bear is her age. We read this book so much that she took over the part of the little girl's voice. It can be a little scary during the first read, because the bear implies he wants to "eat" her, but like other little kids, he's just all bluster when he can't get what he wants. So, for the first couple of reads, I inserted the word "tickle" for "eat", and read the book in a normal voice, just in case. Now, I act out the bear in a growly voice, with the "eat" word, of course, and she screams and laughs.

Don't worry, the bear's mother comes along to remind him to use his manners in the end! It also reminds my daughter to use her "please" and "thank you"! LOL.

My 3-year-old girl got this for her birthday, and just loves it. It's a bit scary, as the bear misbehaves, but it's also silly, and she enjoys seeing him get his come-uppance. The rhymes are fun, too. The art is a bit crude, but the story is very enjoyable.

THE BIG BURN is a fascinating and harrowing historic novel set in the midst of a forest fire that trashed Northern Idaho and Western Montana in 1910. It was a large forest fire. "How large?" you may ask. Okay--If there are 640 acres in a square mile and there were nearly three million acres affected by THE BIG BURN, then we're talking an area nearly 4700 square miles. Sonoma County, where I live, is one-third that size. If you consider the San Francisco Bay Area counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, AND Sonoma together, then you've got a sense of the scale of the destruction. For those of you on the East Coast, we're talking Long Island, plus all of New York's boroughs, and the counties of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Columbia.

"Field Notes: In the summer of 1910, rangers who were used to working in isolation suddenly found their forests filling with strangers. With new fires breaking out daily through July and older ones stubbornly resisting control, the Forest Service's District One had no choice but to hire more and more men to fight them. By the end of the month, there were almost three thousand firefighters scattered across the district's several forests...W.B. Greeley, would later write, 'It was a case of hiring anyone we could get. We cleaned out Skid Road in Spokane and Butte. A lot of temporaries were bums and hobos. In a bad fire year, the temporary is the weakest link in the chain'...They went into the burning forests wearing the clothes they'd been recruited in, and the ones wearing street shoes or snug wool suits would regret that. They worked for twenty-five cents an hour with board, thirty if they provided their own food..."

In THE BIG BURN we do meet a few scoundrels. But the main characters here are three young people--Jarrett, a local boy who leaves his harsh dad; Seth, a southern kid in a black regiment who is trying to live up to the memory of his dead father; and Lizbeth, a young woman originally from New England, who is falling in love with the land she's found herself homesteading with her young, widowed aunt. All three cross paths before finding themselves in the midst of Hell on Earth.

Perhaps the publisher is calling this an "ages 12 and up" to spare younger children potential nightmares from the vividly drawn scenes of towering flames bearing down on our heroes. But for any kid whose tastes run to disaster and survival, mixed into a coming of age story, THE BIG BURN is a riveting read.

Jeanette Ingold has pulled out all stops in her book called The Bug Burn. In this exciting tale of Idaho's wildfires in 1910, three young adults battle the forces of nature. Seth, Jaret, and Lizbeth each fight life in their own way, and overcome personal obstacles. Seth is an African American trying to fit-in in the army. Jaret is a rebel son as he goes looking for a job in firefighting after he got fired from his railroad job. Lizbeth is a niece who is trying to convince her aunt not to sell their homestead. I like this book because it is full of action and adventure, but educational at the same time. I would give it five out of five stars because I had a fun time reading it and learned a lot from it. I can't tell you the ending, but I can give you a little sneak peek. The strong wind blows many fires together, creating a giant blaze. That blaze charges forward, burning everything in its path. Eventually it comes to a city named Wallace, and everyone has to work together to try to stop it. Do they succeed? Read the book, The Big Burn, to find out.

I think that The Big Burn was a very precice and educational book. The main carachters were Jarett, a young man wanting to fight fires with his older brother; Seth, An afircan American young man trying to show his pride for his country by joining the army; and Lizbeth, a young women trying to stay and keep her aunt from selling their home. The setting is 1910's, in Idaho and Montana. They over come some goals, and others are crushed. This all adds up untill the climax were all the flames come together and

In light of the recent wildfires in Colorado and Arizona, THE BIG BURN is an interesting book, but it would certainly be noteworthy under any circumstances. The story follows two young men and a young woman as they encounter and combat the infamously ferocious Montana wildfires of 1910. Jeanette Ingold deftly switches perspectives throughout the tale to keep the reader interested in this well-crafted historical novel.

Jarrett, the brother of a forest ranger, is on a quest to prove himself to his gruff father; Lizbeth, living with her widowed aunt, wants to preserve her adopted Western home; and Seth, a young black soldier, is dedicated to serving his country and overcoming racial prejudice. Apart and together, they transcend traditional teenage roles and attempt to save their homes from the fires that ravaged the Montana and Idaho wilderness during the summer of 1910. Some of the plot developments may seem cliché (romance blooms where you'd probably expect --- close calls end with last-second rescues, etc.), but overall the adventure is unlike any other book available. This overlooked event in US history provides a wealth of excitement for a talented writer. The parallel stories of the three protagonists allow for several viewpoints of every episode; Ingold paints a comprehensive portrait of the true historical events of the period.

Ingold intersperses the chapters with "field notes" chronicling the wildfires and wilderness firefighting from an objective standpoint. These sections are actually where she writes best and they are a testament to the thorough research that went into writing the book. Both historically accurate and dramatically engaging, THE BIG BURN is a great choice for anyone who is interested in learning about the phenomena of forest fires while also reading a great story.

--- Reviewed by Lowell Putnam

Ingold tells the reader that if you talk with anyone in Idaho or Montana for long enough, the subject of the Big Burn will come up, and the person telling you about it will expect you to know all about it. After reading Ingold's well-researched book, any reader would be able to contribute to the subject. Set in 1910, when forest rangers were new, railroads were huge, and immigrants were still flooding the country, The Big Burn tells the story of the wild fires of the northwestern United States. Ingold gives us three main characters: Jarrett, Lisbeth and Seth. These teenagers each deal with the fire in their own way, and find that there is more to fighting fires than a little water or ditch digging. The three do meet in the tale (it is plausible), and each tell their view of the events in concurrent chapters. Ingold breaks in with facts and accounts of actual events, which makes the fictitious story feel all the more real.

Ingold has done her homework, and it shows in the story. Her afterword, acknowledgements, and list of suggested reading at the end all provide valuable information. The only problem I had with the book was a bit of charaterization--the relationships between the characters felt forced and unbelievable, particularly the budding romance between Jarrett and Lisbeth. On their own, the characters were strong, interesting, and contributed to the story. But when they came in contact with the others, even the minor characters became a bit forced in the relationships in which they were observing or participating. Otherwise this is a wonderful example of great historical fiction.

The Big Drop is by John Log. This book is a wonderful surfing book full of very colorful stories told by the people that had surfed the waves, or were there at the moment if the person had died. The way the people tell the stories make it feel like you are there feeling their pain. If you do not feel like reading the book then you might just want to get the movie Riding Giants. About fifty percent of the movie Riding Giants is in the book. In the book there is a colorful picture almost every chapter of the people riding the wave. I would defiantly recommend the book to anyone, especially if you like to surf. The book also teaches you a lot about surfing vocabulary and even has a couple pages at the end that are the glossary, in case you don't know the terms of surfing. The Big Drop shows the dangers of surfing and makes you wonder why people even risk their life just for a little thrill. I would give this book 9 out of 10, because there are some stories in there that aren't very interesting compared to others in the book. There is only a couple of the stories that are not as interesting, so it does not take away from the book at all.

Provides great insight on the pioneers of the sport, but doesn't come across like a history lesson. It makes you understand the ballz it takes to paddle into a wave the size of an apartment building, along with the consequences those guys have faced.

Thoroughly enjoyable for non-surfers too. My dad has never been on a board and he couldn't put the book down.

I am a grom, at the age of 17 right now, and I rarely read a book cover to cover.I've always been interested in big wave surfing, but never the old timer stuff. This book has revealed the truth about riding big waves in and interesting perspective to the new generation such as myself, and I will never forget some of the stories in here. I reccomend that if you're a surfer, and are even remotely interested in attempting to tackle large surf, that you pick up this book. It will give you second thoughts about venturing out at places like Mavericks, Waimaii Bay, and Todos Santos.

Not just a surfing book but focusing on the Big Wave surfing crew, that elite group of athletes that live to challenge the ocean's fury. This is a collection of short stories but it does a great job of covering the total history of Big Wave surfing, particularly paying attention to the heroes of the 50s and 60s the water skills necessary to challenge large waves. With complete coverage and analysis of all big wave sites and legends, I can't imagine what it left unturned.

This exciting sport has elevated itself recently with "ski in" surfing and these stories do a great job of covering the controversy of this sport's growth and it's trailblazer, Laird Hamilton.

I strongly recommend this book if you like surfing or are enthralled by the culture of these people who devote their lives to the ocean.

...of Big Wave surfing - many of the stories are haunting and memorable. It was hard putting the book down once I started reading. I actually found it more interesting and insightful than watching film of surfers going over the edge - you actually get into their excitement, awe, and fear of what they've gotten themselves into - not only when they've caught the waves, but gut-wrenching accounts of what they were thinking and feeling when driven under (or saw their friends driven under) by these monsters.

This is as close as you're going to get, short of paddling out yourself! BTW, I just finished reading "Caught Inside" before "The Big Drop" and reading these stories made reading CI seem like a waste of time.

You won't regret reading this one - highly recommended!!!

Even though I am NOT a lawyer, I enjoyed the 'Ode' 'The Big Firm'. The funniest and best read I had at Christmastime....I want to buy every one of my lawyer friends and NON lawyer friends a copy. POETIC JUSTICE??????? The illustrations tell the story in their OWN way . NOT TO BE MISSED! GFL

I have worked in big law firms, and this book captures the essence of what happens behind the scenes with a lot of humor and fun. The book identifies characters we have all encountered in working in any large business. It is entertaining to read, and certainly meant to be shared with others.

This is a very clever take on the "big firms". The writing is exceptional and the illustrations are fabulous. I would recommend this book to anyone who has worked in a law firm or knows someone who works in a law firm. Very entertaining!

My former spouse worked at a big law firm. This book is a must read for those spouses of lawyers out there who don't quite understand what their spouse is going through at a big law firm. Great humor about very real truths! My personal favorite was the section on the "Backbone Removal Machine." Non-lawyers working for big corporations will see many insights into their work world as well. You won't be disappointed.

This book is an excellent gift not only for lawyers but for everyone who has worked in or with big corporations. You will enjoy and recognize the characters and stories created by the authors. Is is hilariously true!

My son's absolute favorite book. The boy could read this book forever and still not get enough of it.

This is a wonderfull book!!!!! It's realistic, the pictures are very good, the words used are perfect for my 3 year old son. He loves this book, and I love reading it to him over and over again.

What is impressive about this book is it's appeal to any age. The book follows a firefighter during his typical 24-hour shift. All information is based on realistic circumstances - from responding to a car accident, to inspecting stores/restaurants, to teaching children fire safety, to the infamous fighting of brush fires.
Artwork is detailed but easy (and fascinating) for a two-year old to view. Lots of little details are imbedded in the pictures for older children to find and learn about firefighting.
The book is slightly wordy for a two-year old, but perfect for ages 4 and up. We summarize each page for our 2-year old son.
I am excited that this book will continue to be one of his favorites as he grows.
A must for children who love Firemen/Fire Trucks!

My son who is 2.5 years old and is very much into fire trucks nowadays, absolutely loves this book. Everytime when I ask which book he wants to read, he says "Big Frank's Fire Truck!" He's memorized pretty much the entire book. I'm now on the lookout for another fantastic book. He also loves Fireman Small.

My five year old son loves firefighting books. I am a volunteer firefighter/EMT in NY so my son always has a lot of questions. This book is fine without explanations. My son always has to know, "Is that how you do it Daddy?"

This book stays close to reality with the help of Big Frank! Big Frank is a very likeable character for my son. I first started to read this book to him at 4 and he has loved it since.

Wish this book would be reprinted! I can't believe it's no longer available. Anything with illustrations by Maurice Sendak is great. It is suspenseful, with sly humor. I read it to many classrooms and kids loved it. Bring it back.

I had this as a child and I have looked for years to find a copy to give my niece and nephews. I know they are big readers and I wanted them to have the same experience I had with this book. It is one of the fondest memories of my childhood and I will not give up the hope of finding a copy.

I loved this book and have never forgotten it. I remember it as a book that you would read while sitting in a secret place on a rainy day. It was very much like having a secret friend. I wish it was back in print - a big, green hardcover book.

I too had this when I was a kid, and re-read it so many times that it fell apart. There was something about the wit and charm of both story and illustrations that was just adult enough to make me feel sophisticated that I could get it, but childish enough to be endlessly appealing. BRING IT BACK, please!

This is truly a wonderful book. I notice it is being reprinted in Spanish, but not in English. Publishers take note and bring this charming book back!

If you have ever read any of Travis Pastrana's articles written in the old Racer X column he had, you would know of his ability to make you feel as though you are right in the heart of the story being told. The same holds true with this book. He brings you right in with vivid descriptions and details that are easily understood by the average everyday person and yet belies an attention the to english language that is quite comprehensive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as well as my husband, his riding buddies and racing buddies and the kids in our family as well. I would definitly give it to anyone considering riding/racing or any other adventure. It's not about the sport/adventure it about taking the chance!!

I sat down and read the book cover to cover. It's a great read for every age.

I purchased this for my son who is a freestyler, and not one to read books, but he enjoyed (and read) the book cover to cover. Great photography, interesting text, and a fantastic insight into Travis Pastrana.

This book was amazing, very well written and i didnt put it down after i picked it up! I read the entire thing in a night, it was a very good read, but i felt like there werer parts when he was braggin about himself. But all in all i strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes motocross or xtreme sports.

This book is written very much in Pastrana's own voice, which leads it to be not only personal at times, but also hilarious. Actually some of my favorite parts of the book were the little notes on the side either from Travis himself or his friends/colleagues/parents. It gives readers a view of what its like living his life, something I certainly don't envy.

He covers everything from his beginnings in racing, his schooling, his injuries, the many wild stunts he has done and more. If you are a fan its a must read, even if you're not its entertainment value makes it worthwhile.