Big Books

I grew up in the 70's and my parents encouraged my love of drawing by getting me several of Ed Emberly's books. They contain easy step-by-step instructions using basic shapes to create worlds of characters, animals, vehicles, monsters, etc.
Now I'm able to get those same books I cherished as a child for my own 6-year old. He's spent hours drawing and his love of drawing continues to grow.
Mr. Emberley's style helps anyone learn to draw. If your child shows an interest in drawing I would highly recommend this or any other of his books.
We actually purchased several, including his fingerprint and thumbprint books along with some washable stamp pads so you can combine finger painting with drawing.

I have bought several Ed Emberley books for my 4 kids. They are all good. People are always amazed at how well my kids can draw. You can learn to draw, too! Like most activities, drawing is only part natural talent, part practice and part taking lessons. These books provide those lessons.

Way back in the 80's I used to grab this book from our small, quaint library at Steeple Valley Middle School. I renewed the book frequently and would have a mild heart attack when it wasn't available in the library for me to check out.

Edward Emberley, among other artists, put me on the course to my semi-successful cartooning career. In hopes of passing on the cartooning torch, I'm purchasing these books for my two nieces so they can continue to create vast worlds and numerous creatures on a simple notebook.

These books are the greatest. I own all of the Emberly books. They are fun for adults and kids alike. You are never too old or young to learn to draw. This book will make you the most hip doodler in school or at work. Ed makes it really easy!
This book is from a series of 4 books from Emberly are the easiest books on drawing there are, period. Anyone young or old can learn to draw some great critters and vehicles from these books. ANYONE! All of his Big Color books are great, (They are a series, each named after a color). This one is famous for the easy way it shows you how to draw step by step a great big green dragon, but it is simple when you do it his way. This book includes a number of fun ideas including Frankenstein, sailboat and trees. He even shows you how to make yours unique rather than a copy of his drawings. You can be the doodle hero of your classroom or office after using this book. He does it simply using very simple steps, lines, and basic shapes to start you off. My favorite in the series would be the Purple Book, but they are all good.
If you want to move up from here and learn the terminology of what you are doing, and really become an accomplished artist, the next step after these are the terrific books by "Jack Hamm". If you just want to have some fun, get this book!

I spent hours creating entire worlds based on these books. They are a wonderful introduction to basic drawing skills and are FUN!!!

I love this book! Excellent artwork and great message. This is THE book for every princess-obsessed little girl out there.

Shirley Hughes' retelling of the Cinderella story set in the jazz era is really beautiful! Her illustrations alone could tell the story, but the text is wonderfully written and humorous as well. The book is enjoyable from cover to cover!

this book was awesome.the illastrations were great and the story was very livly and 30's!

Knowing that this Cinderella-themed book won the "Kate Greenaway Medal for Children's Illustration," I decided to look at the illustration before reading the text. I was looking for authenticity and creativity in the pictures, as well as a hint of the story to come. I'm also a fan of jazz, and although the music isn't synonymous with the "age," I was curious to see whether author/illustrator Shirley Hughes incorporated any musical elements.

It didn't take long to discover the sweep and style of the 1920's, for Hughes' 2-page opening title shows a glossy ballroom floor, inhabited by a small jazz band, self-assured men in tuxedoes and tails, fashionable women in full length gowns (plunging either in front or back), and a white-coated "manservant" offering martinis. (Zelda, we have arrived!) As the story begins, pictures show the middle and under classes, and the scornful looks of the social "betters." The latter are dressed in chiffon, feathers, fancy hats, and jewelry, and a man sports a pinstripe suit with a rose boutonnière and impeccable black and white spats. You can sense the texture of their clothes, just as you can feel the conflicting attitudes of the haves and have-nots. I cheated and looked at the endpaper: The rich colors come from gouache, accented and shaded with pen. In addition (and, as noted by another reviewer), Hughes' original dress designs were inspired by 1920's French couture; her ballroom scenes by the décor and set designs of the glorious RKO-produced Astaire/Rogers musicals. The book's remaining pictures convey emotion (especially in cinematic-like close-ups), dramatic lighting, subtle and grand action, and swirls of gorgeous, opulent color. Hughes captures the look of money and the face of disenfranchisement with equal magnificence.

OK, so I'm completely sold on the pictures. What about the story? As you may have gathered, the Cinderella here is "Ella Cinder," a comely woman who's an expert helper in her father's dress shop. When she can, she laughs with almost- boyfriend "Buttons." As for the scornful women mentioned above, they're her dad's new wife (Cinder's stepmother) and her daughters (the stepsisters!). The stepmother takes over running the shop, the stepsisters model, lounge about, and call Cinder names, and Cinder herself has to work harder than ever. Mr. Cinders is a broken man in this power play, and he can do nothing to help his daughter.

Buttons, however, scrappy American that he is, "stays on the job for [Cinder's] sake." "Privately he called the [stepsisters] a couple of puffed-up, made-up, stuck-up, brainless parakeets." He also plays his guitar" in Ella's ratty basement room, and sometimes, "they even danced together...moving softly in and out among the bales of cotton." This is pure literary magic, Hughes' words and pictures mesh like a slow dance; they're consistently evocative and note-perfect.

I'll now cut to the chase of this modernized (to a point) fairy tale: An elite ball is planned, and the stepsisters scoff at the neglected Cinder. Very soon, however, an efficient yellow-hatted woman with a purple umbrella (her wand, it turns out) does her magic, and Ella turns into the Queen of the Jazz Age, the Belle of the Ball, and the Delight of the Duke who dances with her. Hughes wisely keeps the stroke of twelve and missing slipper motifs, but like any good 1920's film, Ella turns down the rich duke for her true love, Buttons, who can promise only his winning and constant love, a dream of owning their own shop, and his famous bacon and eggs. This book from 2003 is a complete delight, excelling in every conceivable way, and it's hard to imagine any child (or adult) not enjoying and treasuring it immensely.

Note: The book is so cinematic in illustration, plot, and dialogue, that I'm already having fun casting a hypothetical "movie": Perhaps director Frank Capra (or George Cukor) would insist on a dulled-down Carole Lombard as "Cinder"; Stewart , Cagney, or a relatively new, "nice guy" actor as "Buttons," and S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall or Lionel Barrymore as the beleaguered father. Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell would reprise their cat-fighting roles from "The Women," with Katherine Hepburn (cast against type) or Bette Davis as the (wicked) stepmother, and Franchot Tone or Leslie Howard as romantically tragic Duke. Indulge yourself as I did, and buy this book for a child, and, especially, for yourself.

There are several authors and illustrators of children's picture books that should be essential reading experiences for every child, created by artists that meld whimsy, humour, poignancy, wisdom and humanity with such grace that you just know that the memory of that book will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Shirley Hughes is one of these authors/illustrators, best known for her `Alfie and Annie Rose' books, but also of several other stories that capture all the above traits. "Ella's Big Chance" is one such book, taking the traditional tale of Cinderella and changing it in several vivid, exciting ways. It is old and refreshingly new at the same time.

Mr Cinders and his daughter Ella run a dress shop, along with their delivery boy Buttons (who almost always appears as the narrator in any production of a pantomime Cinderella). They are a happy family, but all that changes when Mr Cinders marries Madame Renee, who has two daughters of her own: Ruby and Pearl. Ella's new stepfamily takes over her existence, reducing her to a servant in her own home. Her only ally is Buttons with whom she has a warm and kind friendship.

Then the news arrives that the handsome Duke of Arc is having a ball. You all know what happens next: Ella is denied an invitation, a fairy godmother transforms her rags, and Ella makes her magnificent debut. The clock strikes twelve, Ella flees and the Duke begins his search for her, using the glass slipper she left behind as his guide.

One might at this stage think that this is simply another rehash of the Cinderella tale; if you've read one, you've read them all. But Shirley Hughes' version differs in several key ways. First is the setting; Parisian France in the 1920's, where the streets are quaint and sunlit, a silver limousine takes the place of the pumpkin carriage, the dancing mirrors that of Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire, and the costumes are the quintessential gowns of Doucet, Poiret and Patou. It is a visual feast for the eyes, romantic and glamorous.

Second is Ella's physique. Whereas her stepsisters are slender and lovely (not *ugly* stepsisters at all), Ella herself is a little on the voluptuous side - and she looks fantastic. It's a great step up from the stick-figures that frequent children's fairytales, especially those targeted toward girls.

Lastly are several story elements; such as the fact that Ella's father does not pass away but remains a hen-pecked husband who is powerless to rescue his daughter. Then there is Hughes' delightful interpretation of the fairy godmother, as an umbrella-wielding granny with a secret plan for Ella. Most important of all is the twist regarding Buttons - I won't give it away (though you've probably already guessed what it is now that I've mentioned it). I'll say no more except that it's great.

So that's Shirley Hughes's Cinderella retelling, a fantastic reading experience that everyone (especially your daughters) will love, with several subtle but truthful messages on *real* beauty, *real* kindness and *real* happiness.

I am a secondary literacy coach and I am always very concerned about having my daughters read nonfiction as well as fiction. These high quality books from Candlewick Press are an impressive series. The Read and Wonder books encorporate both excellent text and engaging illustrations. They are great read-aloud titles and I have used them in guest readings with my older daughter's preschool class. Next week I am going to take The Emperor's Egg with me. I know that the class will love it as much as my daughter does.

What a fabulous book! I laughed out loud ... and actually learned a thing or two about Emperor penguins. A great choice for Father's Day - shows the importance of dads in bringing up little ones (penguins, in this case), which is refreshing. Makes a great read aloud for one-on-one, or in group settings, with just the right language to keep preschoolers interested while teaching them about penguins.

I collect books specifically about the emperor penguin breeding cycle. When I choose a book, I want the emperor penguin pictures to be fairly accurate (not cartoony or wacky) as well as beautiful, vivid, elegant, etc.. And I want the writing to reflect love for the story of these penguins.

I love this book.

I purchased this book for my three year old after I took him to see "March of the Penguins." He loves it! It's a really great companion for this movie as it follows the story line almost exactly. For a long time he had to carry it around the house with him everywhere - even to bed at night. This book has great illustrations. It is a little "text heavy" for his attention span - but it's easy to just skip over some of the more "science -y" parts.

I have a penguin-mad 4 yr old who can't understand why I can't go buy him the 'March of the Penguins' dvd yet. This book is a close substitute until that happens. It follows the movie pretty close without the munching and dying. He is pleased... for now. Very sweet and fun to read.

Jan Brett again blends beautiful artwork and easy to follow text that parents and child alike enjoy. My daughter enjoys the complex artwork and tries to predict the next page by the preview drawings. Highly recommend for ages 4-10.

The First Dog is truely a wonderful book. I run a day care and this book is the favorite of all the children. We have all of Jan Brett's book yet this one remains the most requested. Thank you Jan Brett for bringing so much pleasure to so many children!

To date this is my favorite of all of Jan's Bretts wonderful books! It's beautiful and it tells a heart warming story!

Brett's artwork (as usual) is tremondous! The action is so real you can't help but exclaim at the turn of every page (even if you're an adult)! In addition Brett's technique of putting clues as to what will happen next in the borders of each picture also helps build the suspense. My 5-year-old quickly spys a tusk on one page's border and shouts "Oh no! Look out Kip a Big Mammoth is coming! Hey wolf! Warn Kip that a Big Mammoth is coming!" My boy couldn't be more into the story if he is was Kip himself. The best part of the border art is that it is very thematic. For example on the saber-toothed tiger page there are carved figurines and cave art of saber-tooths based on actual archeological finds! I wish I could give 5 stars but saber-tooth cats didn't really climb trees...

I'm usually very critical of children's books & movies. In my opinion too many are either boring, plotless, or hopelessly inaccurate. Don't get me wrong, I love fantasy and other imaginitive works. But, for example elephants don't drink through their trunks like a straw! So why do we tell/show kids that they do?

Thankfully Brett would not make such an insulting mistake (saber-tooth in a tree is excuseable). This story is told so well, I assume that Brett actually did some serious research about Dog Domestication (she even uses the word Pleistocene!). The wolf befriends Kip the Cave Boy not just because it would make a cute story, but because Kip and the wolf have many things in common and while acting in each others self-interest they unite against common problems. AT LAST! Accurate Anthropology & Biology in a kid's book that KIDS ACTUALLY ENJOY!

P.S. looking for another excellent Kid's book on life in the Pleistocene? Try "Grunt the Primative Cave Boy" by Timothy Bush

The first dog reminded me of my dog an me. If you
have a dog of your own you willl like The First Dog so come an buy the book for your self you will
like the story. The First Dog.

There were lots of animals in the story that are cool.

The First Vice Lord: Big Jim Colosimo and the Ladies of the Levee is the thoroughly researched biography of mobster Big Jim Colosimo, and how he ruled Chicago's notorious segregated red-light district. Jim Colosimo was an Italian immigrant who grew up in Chicago's tenements; he rose from sweeping streets to operating a brothel to earning the title of vice lord. The First Vice Lord is a true crime story not for the faint of heart, as it tells of the most brutal excesses of the prostitution trade - luring women from across the nation with false promises of good jobs or other perks and effectively enslaving them into years of sexual violence for profit. Corruption within Chicago was endemic; the efforts of reformers to end white slavery and close down the red-light brothels was only gradually successful. Big Jim Colosimo would see the virtual end of the Levee's days as a red-light district, and scale back his operations significantly, yet his ultimate downfall came not from the law, but from his rivals - he was gunned down in middle age, most likely through the machinations of a rival mobster. A fascinating account that lay readers and Chicago history scholars alike will surely appreciate.

Colosimo is the reason Torrio and Capone came to be. This generally footnoted Chicago boss is finally brought to the forefront where he belongs. No one better to do so than a man who actually bucked the mob on many occaisions himself. Art Bilek brings the era back to life with Colosimo's humble beginnings, his rise to power and his eventual downfall.
A must have for anyone who follows early Chicago gangdom.

Mario Gomes
Myalcaponemuseum.com

My tendency to either skim books or proofread them (from early magazine days) has finally encountered one from former Cook County police chief Art Bilek that I can't put down: The First Vice Lord (Big Jim Colosimo and the Ladies of the Levee), by Arthur J. Bilek (Cumberland House).

This is a masterpiece of writing and excruciatingly accurate research that describes how Big Jim Colosimo rose from a lowly street-sweeper to the most prominent operator of whorehouses, gambling joints, and low-life restaurants in the days leading up to Prohibition, with the collusion of the police and politicians and the managerial skills of John Torrio and Al Capone. When his increasingly notorious Colosimo's Café combined with his growing desire for respectability, love for a young songbird, and failure to exploit the opportunities afforded by Prohibition, Torrio (we must presume) had him murdered in the vestibule of his elegant restaurant in 1920--and the band marched on.
Nowhere has Chicago's graft and corruption been so carefully and entertainingly documented, with special attention to the backgrounds of Torrio and Capone, who worked hard to weld the new and competing bootlegging gangs into the greatest illicit booze empire the country has ever known--one that did not factionalize into Chicago's bloody Beer Wars that began with the killing of North Side mob-leader Dean O'Banion four years later. My own work has concentrated on the years following Prohibition, so I'm especially happy to report that Bilek's book explains what made the Roaring Twenties possible.

I've been looking forward to this book since the day I learned that Art Bilek intended to do a biography of Big Jim Colosimo. Colosimo was Chicago's first Italian crime lord, a distinction that the less informed have bestowed upon Al Capone. Those with only a passing knowledge of Chicago's organized crime history are not aware that years before Capone's machine gunners decimated his challengers, Big Jim Colosimo headed a vice trust with nationwide connections, enjoyed political alliances that rendered him immune to anything but cursory arrests, and hobnobbed with socialites and entertainers at his famous cafe.

Bilek has done a marvelous job of reconstructing Colosimo's life story, beginning with his humble birth in Colosimi, Italy, progressing through his days as a padrone, precinct captain for First Ward Aldermen Mike Kenna and John Coughlin, brothel operator and vice trust magnate, and ending with his assassination in the vestibule of his celebrated nightclub, Colosimo's Cafe. His profitable marriage to madam Victoria Moresco, his fatal alliance with lily-white singer Dale Winter, and his relationship with his protege from New York, Johnny Torrio, inject tones of betrayal and tragedy that make the book read in parts like a gripping novel.

Bilek also traces the rise and fall of the Levee, Chicago's primary red light district, which brought wealth to Colosimo and the crooked cops and politicians who protected him in exchange for a piece of the pie. It was also an international embarrassment for the city, and routinely targeted by evangelists, reformers, and civic betterment committees. When a second deputy police superintendent was appointed to head a 'Morals Squad', a battle of wills began between the morals men and the establishment that favored segregated vice. There were shootouts in the streets, informers were murdered, and Chicago's reputation as a modern-day Gomorrah worsened. When the Levee was finally 'closed' in 1912, Colosimo and his advisor, Torrio, began opening roadhouse brothels outside the city, to cater to pleasure-loving motorists. They corrupted village governments in the process, and spread what had formerly been a contained evil.

"The First Vice Lord" does not disappoint. Bilek successfully demonstrates that were it not for Big Jim, there would probably never have been a Big Al. Well done.

I've been gathering research on early 20th century organized crime in Chicago myself, and can say without fear of contradiction that this is the definitive work on James Colosimo. Art Bilek, with the assistance of researchers like Michael E. Schiltz and Prof. John Binder, has compiled everything there is to know about Big Jim in a factual way, clearing up some of the myths that have been spread about him. There are a few typos and some minor problems that could have been cleared up with better editing, but nothing that would prevent me from giving this book five stars.

I got this for an airline ride with my 6-year-old puzzle lover. I may have had more fun with it than him!

The book arrived on time with no damages to the books. I use this book at the recommendation of my occupational therapist to regain functional brain activities that were damaged in my car accident in 2005. I found the book very interesting and helpful for me. As it is for children, I also sent a copy to friends of mine for their children to have fun working with as they learn.
A great book for all the family.
Thank You
Jean Marie Naples

I use this book with 7th and 8th graders to get their brains working during class. I love it and use it often.

Wonderful collection of games. My children (age 6 and 8) have thoroughly enjoyed this. Well thought out and great for the car too.

I purchased this book to use with my students to help them develop their visual perceptual, perceptual motor, and problem solving skills. The puzzles vary in presentation and level of complexity, so you will be sure to find something to suit. The kids are having fun, so they forget about the fact that they are also learning important skills.

Jim Davis has once again used his expertise to charm and captivate our minds in his explosive 10th collection of comics. His wit and humor make America's favorite fat cat come to life, now more gluttonous and hilarious than ever before. My only complaint is that the Sunday strips are not printed in color, but overall this is a wonderful arrangement of comics.

Garfield is a puffed up caricature of all cats. They truly believe that the world revolves around them and their food better be there when they want it. Like Garfield, my cat, appropriately named Sassy, wants attention when she wants it and then will bite you when she is done. Yet, like Garfield, she is a lovable creature that would be missed if she was gone. Garfield is funny, a bit demented and always a good read.

My book title is Garfield makes it Big. It is about a fat cat that does not like to do anything. It's a good book because he sleeps all of the time. The mice are his friends. He likes lasagna so every time John cooks it Garfield eats it. The authors name is Jim Davis. I would recommend this book to the people who like comely. My name is Bryant Mathaw Stevens. Hop you like this book.

It is hard for me to pick out a favorite Garfield book because everything Garfield does makes me laugh. "Garfield Makes It Big" is a non-stop laugh riot. One of my personal favorite moments in Garfield history is when Jim Davis used the classic Xmas story "T'was the Night Before Christmas" and just visualized the story using his comic characters. It was both funny and appropriate at the time he did that back in '83. I love Garfield's neverending practical jokes on Jon, like loosening up the top of the salt shaker. And of course I just love it when Nermal comes to visit and manages to make Garfield look bad in front of Jon's eyes. The reader also sees Garfield attempt to mail Nermal to Abu Dhabi for the first time. And of course there are the times that Garfield terrorizes the mailman. I love it when Jon takes Garfield on vacation. The strip where Jon tries to board the plane in peace is hilarious because he doesn't want to be known for having to sit in third class. Whenever I am down, I can always count on Garfield making me laugh.

Everybody out there keep buying Garfield books! They can be worth a lot of money someday and can become collector's items! I'm always going to keep all of mine so when I have kids they can read them!

My husband and I have done 1-2 Jumble puzzles every morning of our 15 year marriage. Some are easy, some are so hard that we spend the morning thinking and then going back to it. We have differing ways of approaching it - I must be looking at the letters to make a word, he keeps the letters in his head while solving it. It must reflect how our brains solve problems - he's an engineer, I'm a writer. The picture puzzles are usually clever and amusing. I like this much better than crossword puzzles - I'm not sure why because I like words. These are mostly words we all recognize, you wouldn't think they would be so hard. Keeps the synapses snapping!

I use these Jumbles in my English classroom on a daily basis, both as extra credit and team-building exercises. The students love the challenge of solving these puzzles, and the best part: they don't realize they are building vocabulary.

My Mom loves Jumble, and this book delivers the goods! Great deal compared to the smaller Jumble books. It could use some more of the challenge puzzles at the end though.

I was thrilled with this book. It was bought as a gift and was a great choice! The book has over 500 full page jumbles, each 81/2 by 11 inches in size. Worth every penny.

This is the second 500 puzzle book I have purchased. I use it every morning with my mom who is 93. We do the puzzles together and sometimes she does them by herself. It is great to keep her mind active. The large print is wonderful. We have had lots of fun over the years doing these puzzles in the daily newspaper. Now the book is terrific! We can do more than one each day and have the answers if we mess up!

This childrens book of the classic Beatrix Potter stories is hardbound in a large attractive cover. The illustrations are all wonderfull, and average three pictures per page next to the text which goes along with the scene. My now three year old loves this book.

My mother bought this for my kids, and this is an excellent gift for bedtime, or anytime stories for children. Classics like these are wonderfull to read to children so they can be passed on from generation to generation.

I had several of the small Beatrix Potter books as a child. The drawings and stories enchanted me, and the books were just the right size for my hands. This book is much bigger. It also includes more stories than my original collection--nineteen. It is easy to find the Peter Rabbit stories and some of the others in the small books--but some of the stories in this book (such as the wonderful "The Story Of A Fierce Bad Rabbit") I've never seen for sale in individual form. So, if you loved these stories as a child or if you want to introduce them to a child in your life, this large and beautiful book is a good choice. However, when I have children of my own I'll probably also buy a set of the small books, because I enjoyed them so much in that form myself.

I got this book when i was seven from my grandmother i'm 19 now and still love to read it from time to time. I have loved this book most of my life and i'm buying it today for my sisters kids.

It is wonderful to find all of these stories in one volume, and the illustrations are as beautiful as ever. Beatrix Potter was truly a great artist and storyteller. The lessons young ones learn from these tales are priceless, like many of the greatest fables. Over the years, I have acquired many Beatrix Potter books and collectibles. This volume stands out as one of the most prized items in my collection.

As a father, I'm looking for what's best for my little girl. Other than The Bible, a book of tales filled with mischief and fun such as this is always something you can go back to. I remember my parents reading me "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", yet picking this up, I flipped through it with my daughter like a pirate who discovered a hidden treasure.

I knew all about Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin, even the Two Bad Mice! Getting the treasury of Beatrix Potter was like WOW! This is a lot of good stuff, and while a little advanced, kids normally get the meaning and lesson through every story. I loved reading stuff like "The Floppsy Bunnies" and going to Tom Kitten, while wondering about stuff I don't remember reading like Jemima Puddle-Duck. Also remembering the hilarity of "The tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan", to the somberness of "The Tailor of Gloucester.

Do your kids a favor and get them this Potter, the one we grew up with! This is what I've been looking for, and hopefully parents who actually give a care will do the same. Awesome stuff!

I first discovered this book over 10 years ago when I was studying to become a teacher. Whilst on practical teaching placement, the Preschool teacher I was studying with introduced this book as her book of the week. The children were enthralled by the story, the sense of impending danger as the fox begins to emerge, the repetitious remarks that the animals make and the beautiful water coloured illustrations, all add up to a classic story for young children.
This story is so simple that children memorize it within a couple of tellings. You will find that you no longer needed to read the story yourself, the children will do it for you.

This is a great book for Readers Theatre and fluency. Teachers your students will really enjoy reading this book in conjunction with the readers theatre.

Hattie is a favorite at our house. My two-year-old niece wants to hear it when she comes over as well. The repetition in this book works so well because of the natural rhythm it creates. That rhythm will please toddlers and preschoolers will love pointing out the approaching fox. You'll be reading this for years.

By the way, my son loves this book so much he named our Little People hen Hattie.

A really enjoyable book and great fun for inspiring a love of reading early on. This book is about Hattie, a hen in the farmyard, first she sees a pair of eyes, then two eyes and two ears, two eyes, two ears and a nose - and so on. She tells the other farmyard animals who always react in the same way.

My younger kids (3 and 4) really enjoy this, they can read along and anticipate the story as it is repetitious and builds up great suspense. We can see the fox slowly forming out of the bushes, but the other animals are oblivious to it just going about their novmal business - until the fox comes out of the bushes!

The last picture is priceless, all the animals have been illustrated with enormous eyes literalloy popping out of their heads. My kids just love this book and I am so glad to see it has been reprinted.

The illustrations are vaguely reminiscent of the kind of artwork in the very hungry caterpillar (ERic Carle) but darker colours and more realistic. A truly lovely book and highly recommended.

Being a children's librarian is all about trial and error. You think a book is going to make for a good readaloud during your storytime, but then you find that it's either too long or too boring or the wrong age level for your group or any other millions of reasons why you've failed to capture your audience's attention. This situation happens with even the best of authors. It does not happen, however, with Mem Fox. Now obviously you shouldn't go about reading aloud EVERY Mem Fox title you come across. I love, "Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge" but it really is more of a one-on-one book. However, when it comes to books like "Hattie and the Fox" you are in safe safe hands. I was shocked when I discovered that it was not considered one of Fox's best-known book (curse you, Koala Lou!). It should be though. A great use of repetition and a title that knows how to ratchet up the tension, "Hattie and the Fox" takes the old predator v. prey model and gives it a bovine twist.

One day Hattie, the resident big black hen, happens to look up and see a long reddish nose with a black tip sitting in a nearby bush. "Goodness gracious me! I can see a nose in the bushes!". You might think this kind of statement might provoke a bit of interest in the other farm animals, but it apparently does no such thing. The goose says "Good grief!", the pig says, "Well, well!", the sheep says, "Who cares?", the horse says, "So what?", and the particularly blasé cow says, "What next?". Well I'll tell you what next. Next Hattie happens to notice that the nose has been joined by two eyes in the bushes. Again the other animals say their customary responses. Even if Hattie notices a nose, two eyes and two ears in the bushes (she's always careful to say just how many body parts she sees), no one is paying much attention. About the time she gets to, "a nose, two eyes, two ears, a body, four legs, and a tail" she puts two and two together (no more, as needed) and screams out, "It's a fox! It's a fox!". The other animals apparently didn't see this coming and are provoked into a panic. All the other animals, that is, except the cow who lets loose a rousing "MOO!" that scares the fox away. The last two pages show utterly silent animals standing stock still as the text tells us, "And they were all so surprised that none of them said anything for a very long time".

A good readaloud picture book isn't afraid of a little repetition. What's particularly nice about "Hattie and the Fox" is that the tension not only escalates but takes on a kind of familiar series of steps. Mem Fox is doing something rather similar to that old Little Red Riding Hood storytelling technique of, "But Grandma, what big EYES you have" and drawing it out. The contrast between Hattie (who lives in spite of the fact that she doesn't recognize a fox until she sees the tip of his bushy bushy tail), the nonplussed animals, and the fox with dinner on his mind is reflected beautifully in the text. I like to think that any illustrator could have pulled off a nice book with this excellent writing, but Patricia Mullins style using a collage technique of tissue paper and conte crayon works particularly well. Firstly, the colors are marvelous. From the goose's bright blue eye to the red crest atop Hattie's head, the pictures burst with life. I've always suspected that books of repetition like this one must be particularly difficult to make images for. If the words are the same on every other two-page spread, how do you go about distinguishing between them? For Mulins's part, she likes to change her perspective, where the animals actually are, and how they are set up. She even drops in little details like the flies that buzz around the animals' heads. The dark eyebrowed fox for his part is definitely malicious. The only question that remains is why does he wait so long to pounce?

I guess I definitely fell in love with the book when I got to the last two pages. There stand six shell-shocked animals. You can't put a price on the horse's expression. Mister "So what?", has finally been put in his place. The pig also looks particularly appalled but the cow seems almost content. She was, after all their savior. So really, "Hattie and the Fox" has it all. Great reading aloud potential, beautiful illustrations, and a plot kids of many ages can get behind. Rather good stuff.