Siblings Books

This is a good book and it is about two kids named Marty and Will. They are bad. Their mom makes them go to the library so they won't do anything bad. But all of the kids know that the librarian has a spud gun under her counter. They are all scared of the librarian. When the Spud comes in she tells them that they have to stay on the carpet and can't step on the floor. Marty doesn't like to read, but one time he gets a book and he likes it and he finishes it. He tells Will to go get a book from the big people's section that is on the floor. Read the book so you know what happens next.

What a fun book! My 9 year old finished half of it yesterday and on a whim I snuck into his room and read it this morning with my coffee. Hilarious! Definitely a great boy book, but should be enjoyed by girls,too. Parents can read this out loud to reluctant readers and will enjoy it as much as their children (I know I did!). Thank you Mr. Colfer.

I have two boys - my oldest is in third grade and is a capable reader but just does not like to pick up a book! This one book is the exception - he loved it and could not stop laughing - I highly recommend it for any 8+ year old boy. Even as a parent I thought it was an enjoyable and funny book to read. We just ordered his sequel to this book and have high hopes for it.

This was a fun book to read with my 10 year old. It was funny and exciting. Spud brings every childs fear of a librarian to life. Everyone will enjoy this wonderful book

I was looking on-line at the library webpage and my Dad requested this book and the other on about the pirate's teeth. I read the one about the teeth because I like Pirates of the Caribbean and other stories like that. I didn't care for it. Then I read this one and begged my Dad to let me stay up so I could finish it.My Mom is a librarian so it was funny to hear about Spud Murphy the librarain with the potato gunand is a sneaky librian.This book shows the readers and the two boys (in the book)that reading can be fun and don't believe evrything you hear. So if you're a girl with nothing to read try this book out!!! - Rachel Balzano

Referenced in a Thesis for Masters of Education: "My Mommy Died, Is there A Book About Me?: Death and Dying in Children's Picture Books 2000-2006. By Kelly Nowak. Types of grief: Alarm, Searching, Mitigation, New Identity, Result: Successful.

All of my books were referenced in this Thesis. All were successful on the gradient submitted. I am thankful to all of those who made my books possible and to those who have yet to realize my dreams. Thank you. Cristine Thomas: Mother of angel Brittany, Author, Illustrator, Publisher.

This is an ideal book for discussing death and loss with young children. The illustrations are cheerful and appealing and the boys' faces are very expressive.

Luke, the elder of two sons loses his baby brother Jake to crib death/Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Jesus is part of this deeply moving story and one picture that will surely spark many conversations is the one of Jesus reaching towards the baby from heaven.

The story is told in Luke's young voice so children will be able to identify with it. Cristine Thomas discusses the human spirit and what happens to that spirit when someone dies. The gentle illustrations and frank discussions of spirituality will help grieving families bond during a time of loss. I just can't read this one with dry eyes, so I admit passing the buck on to someone else to read aloud.

While the death of a loved one, especially a child is an indescribably painful one, this book is helpful in that it discusses Jake's brief life in happy terms; the love he had from his brother and others who knew him and of God's universal love for all of His children.

Our family recently lost our Baby Jake in a tragic accident. The first book was purchased for Jake's older sibling. I then purchased two other books for Jake's grandparents. The book touched all of us as we were able to relate the book to our Jake and the book seemed to be written just for us and was helpful to us during our time of grief.

I bought this book for my son, who lost his baby brother to SIDS, He is five years old. What stood out for me the most was the truly visual instances of Jesus Christ holding little Jake, these images helped my son to visualize our little Bobby in the arms of our lord. As we read the book together I felt so comforted that my baby is with the lord and living as he should. Marky loves this book and carries it with him to show everyone that Jesus and Bobby are together like Jake and Jesus. He seems to want to tell the whole world about his little brother and Jesus.

On an Adult note: My grief process is also taking place, and to know that books like this are out there to help me help my son in our time of need, makes me breath a sigh of relief. All the questions were answered and in a way that I know Marky understands, because he tells others about it when he sees that they are down. Thank you for this book. I have told my friends about this book.

I chose this book for my five-year-old son who lost a young friend in an accident. He loved the cute and colorful illustrations, especially the one of Jesus reaching out and accepting baby Jake. The story is told through the eyes of a young boy, so other children can really relate to it. Cristine explains the concept of our spirit and what happens to it after we die in a way that children can understand. My son seemed to grasp it better than when we had tried to teach him ourselves. While I can't read it with dry eyes, I think it has helped my son understand and accept our loss.

I strongly suggest this book for anyone who wants to help a child cope with the loss of a friend or young family member because it focuses on the positive aspect by reminding us of God's love for us.

After reading Natalie and Naughtily, the Three Silly Chicks immediately wanted to adopt these two charming girls. Or rather, we wanted them to adopt us. You see, the Nopps sisters live in a house on top of "the greatest department store in the world." And it truly is a fabulously grand store, filled with chandeliers and toys and potted plants and fussy customers and toys and little dogs and foofy hats and the rarest of rarities...oh, and did we mention toys? The toy floor alone is enough to make Santa's elves turn holly green with envy.

On one very busy day, Natalie & Naughtily are kindly asked by their parents not to play in the store. So the intrepid girls decide that they will "help" instead. As the girls go from floor to floor finding ways to help -- such as spritzing everyone with Mischief #5 in the perfume department -- two boys simultaneously tour the store using Natalie's floor-by-floor list of favorites and Naughtily's hilariously drawn map. In addition, six silly pooches have their own bit of fun as the make their way through the store. Vincent X. Kirsch's gorgeously detailed illustrations provide a delicious hide-and-seek game for readers as they try to follow all four kids and all six pooches throughout this whimsical romp of a book.

Do not be fooled by the title, this is not a "Goofus and Gallant" lesson for girls. Rather its a story that follows two sisters with slightly different modus operandi as they work their way to the top of their parents glamorous department store. Department store?! Oh no, but it's not about buying stuff. Or fashion. Or a big finale. To this reviewer, its about savoring the journey. The quirky, joyful sometime mischievous journey one can make on even the rainiest of days.

Kirsch's unique illustration style appears both effortless and mind-bogglingly complex. He packs each page with so many delicious details and small strokes of artistic genius, readers will be sure to uncover new surprises and delights with every re-reading. His vision is so fully developed and unique, it makes you wonder where he has been hiding all these years. Surely he must have closets stuffed with antique maps, tap shoes, Tuscan sketch books, puppets, screenplays, and dapper vintage suits. Let us hope we soon see more of what springs from his playful pen.

Natalie & Naughtily is a whimsical children's picturebook about two young girls (Natalie always does things one way, and Naughtily always does things another way) who live in a house on top of the greatest department store in the world. They love to play in the many-storied department store, but one day their butler hands them a note from their parents, reading "Today is going to be a very, very busy day. It would be a great help if you did not play in the store." So the girls resolve that today they will go to the store to help out! But being helpful isn't as easy as it seems, and they're told to move on at floor after floor - until they find just the right people to help out after all! Colorful artwork of the happy-go-lucky girls and a kid-friendly narrative style distinguish this charming tale.

I can't remember ever seeing abook filled with so many beautiful details, clever ideas, and adorable characters. I would give this book to every child I know between the ages of 4 and 7. It is pure fun. And just because it takes place in a luxurious department store does NOT make it about materialsim whatsoever! It is pure style, humor, and it comes with a little hide and seek game on the back endpaper that kids will want to do over and over again. I admit that I may have had a little something to do with publishing this book, but I still have a right to review it, don't I? I guarantee you will love this book and so will the children you buy it for. Trust me!

Natalie and Naughtily Nopps are two of the cutest, most original characters ever to grace the pages of a childrens picture book. A charming story about two wonderful little girls you can't help but fall in love with. The illustrations alone will leave you breathless. With every page Vincent X. Kirsch brings to life the fascination and awe a child can find in a deluxe department store. A perfect gift. Kids will love to read this story over and over again. Mr. Kirsch's book is certain to become an instant classic.

this is a sensible and often humorous way of dealing with a persistent, difficult issue. And it's something that they will actually read.

I think American Girl is the BEST series about handling stuff properly for teens everywhere! Take this book for example. It has EVERYTHING from how to handle sticky situations with siblings to fun punch-out frames and stuff. It has really fun quizzes and silly pictures. This book has helped me and my younger sister become closer too. So, if you need a girl's guide to getting along, "Oh Brother, Oh Sister" is THE BEST book out there!

I really loved this book. It told me why not to insult or say rude or mean things to my sister, and why to give her compliments and her own personal space. It also made me feel good about having a sibling and gave me some really fun ideas to do with her! I am very glad I have this book. It helped my sister and I ALOT.

This book was helpful to me and my sibling. I learned some different ways to handle stuff. I borrowed it from a friend and she liked it too. The only issue with it was that it didn't cover everything that I thouht it would. It is still a good book though. I'd buy it.

A wonderful book...
Helped me ALOT!!!! I have 3 brothers and 1 baby sister so things can get HECTIC!!! So this helped.
Thank American Girl!!!!

Evan Brandaw
The Pull of The Ocean
By Jean-Claude Mourlevat
Fairy Tale


One night, little Yann wakes to the sound of his parents arguing. He slips out of the bed that he shares with his two out of six brothers as quietly as he can, but still manages to wake one of his brothers, all of which are twins. Yann simply explains in his clear personal sign language that he is going downstairs to hear their parents' argument better. His older brother nods, and Yann silently slips downstairs. When Yann returns to the room, he has a look of fear on his face, and nervously wakes his brother. He signs that their parents are planning to kill them in the morning, and that all of them must leave now if they wish to survive. Yann's brother asks in a hushed tone where they are going to go. Little Yann calmly answers, "The Ocean". So as the seven boys step out into the pouring rain, they start their epic adventure towards the great Atlantic Ocean, with little Yann, the youngest, as their leader. Along the way, they encounter various people who aid them on their journey, including a truck driver, a baker, a police officer and a writer, all of which give the part of the tale they witnessed and helped. As the journey comes near it's end, the brothers bond and truly support each other like few have ever done before.

I give this remix of the original Tom Thumb stories 5 stars, because it really was one of the better books I've read before, and I recommend it to any person who would like a really intriguing book to read. This book had the same feeling as the Giver, by Lois Lowry. It gave you that feeling of mystery, of not really knowing what is going on until the very end, where the curtain is flung away and reveals what is really going on. I say Kudos to Jean-Claude Mourlevat for creating a masterpiece of suspense, and weaving in the story through the eyes of everyone who encountered Yann and his brothers on their journey. I enjoyed reading this book for many reasons, but mainly because of the wisdom of Yann, and having him not say a word or give a reason for his actions. I think that this book in some way is like the Lord of the Rings series because of the sense of adventure and danger as you try to get to a destination, knowing that someone might be following your every move.

The Pull of the Ocean is about a family in France, the Doutreleaus that have seven sons. Six of them are twins, the oldest pair 14 years old, the middle pair 13, and the youngest pair 11. The youngest son, Yann is 10, but is no more than the size of a 2-year-old. Yes, Yann is a midget, but really has none of the deformations that most dwarves carry with them. He is just small. Yann also is mute- but only by choice. Instead of talking, he communicates perfectly in his own version of sign language, making himself perfectly clear. But really, the only reason that his rigid parents kept him was because they thought that he would be useful in getting into small areas that others could never fit in. Yann's father, Louis, is a, cold, heartless man that only wants work out of his boys, and really doesn't give a care about school. Which gives him one ore reason to outcast Yann. The small boy loves school more than anything, given it's one of the few things that his small size doesn't affect. Louis also gets into many arguments with his wife who has a somewhat similar attitude but is slightly more forgiving.

One night, though, Yann wakes to the sound of his parents arguing. He slips out of the bed that he shares with his two oldest brothers as quietly as he can, but still manages to wake one of his brothers. Yann simply explains in his sign language that he is going down stairs to hear their parents' argument better. His older brother nods, and Yann silently slips downstairs. When Yann returns to the room, he has a look of fear on his face, and nervously wakes his brother. He signs that their parents are planning to kill them in the morning, and that all of them must leave now if they wish to survive. Yann's asks in a hushed tone where they are going to go. Little Yann calmly answers, "The Ocean". So as the seven boys step out into the pouring rain, they start their epic adventure towards the great Atlantic Ocean, with little Yann, the youngest, as their leader. Along the way, they encounter various people who aid them on their journey, including a truck driver, a baker, a police officer and a writer, all of which give the part of the tale they witnessed and helped. As the journey comes near the end, the brothers bond and support each other like few have ever done before.

Yann is the seventh son, and the only one born alone. His six older brothers are three sets of twins. Yann has never really grown and he doesn't speak. Oddly, he communicates to his brothers much more accurately than they do to each other. When he wakes them up one night, explaining wordlessly that their father plans to harm them, they follow him without question.

Their journey is to the ocean, a place where they all anticipate feeling safe. With nothing but the clothes on their backs, Yann leads them from their home and into the unknown. Yann alone knows which path they are on, and that is enough for the others.

Each section is told by a different voice, the mom, the dad, each brother, people who help them, people who don't... The only person who knows the true and complete story is Yann, and we don't hear from him until nearly the end. Rest assured, there is a method to it all.

This is one of those stories where you just have to follow where it takes you. And the cool thing is, it doesn't feed you any judgments or ideas. I think every person who reads this will take something slightly different from it, and I really like that. I also really like the way it was written. I could see this being one of those required books that you actually really enjoy.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

The Pull of the Ocean is about seven, young brothers--three sets of twins and one very intelligent dwarf who cannot, or will not, speak. The story follows the brothers on their escape from an abusive father and unaffectionate mother. It is told through the eyes of the brothers and the many people who meet them on their journey to the Ocean. It is a re-telling of Tom Thumb, along with bits of a few other fairy tales.

The fellowship and love between the seven brothers is very loving, especially the care taken of Yann, the dwarf. The narrative is refreshingly simple and straightforward. It "pulls" you in until the satisfying close which is sure to bring a smile to your face, as it did mine.

Jean-Claude Mourlevat's THE PULL OF THE OCEAN tells of seven children who flee a violent father, and begin a journey which will ultimately involve many outsiders in their uncertain life. Each person they encounter provides a different story to the social worker investigating their family; but it's not until all voices are joined that a complete picture is presented - and a blueprint for change.

I bought the book for my grandchildren, and the 4 and 6 year olds loved it--and I enjoyed it, kept turning the pages along with them. As a librarian and teacher, I also appreciated the quality of this imaginative, colorful book.; it arrived quickly and had secure packaging. It is a well-made, reasonably priced hardcover and am looking forward to seeing more of this author's books.

What a delightful story. The words flow from beginning to end. I was very impressed with the unusual visual ending. When you finish the story, not before, remove the book sleeve and the art on the cover produces a sense of de ja vous. A perfect story for young readers and for even younger listeners.
Sylvia Mirisola

Let me list the things I love about it: the story; the illustrations; the way it reads aloud for pre-readers; its suitability for reading kids; and the rich possibilities for talking with more advanced kids about some Big Ideas sure to come out of this tale of delicious dilemmas.

What a cute story. I loved it. The text was well done, and the illustrations were fitting for the book. When I tried to flip through the pages without reading I could not follow a clear story line; the text definitely is necessary. But the combination of text with pictures works very well. The illustrations reminded me of many graphic files I have created using Adobe Illustrator. There are 16 scenes (mostly 2-pages long) in this book.

The story is about a pumpkin farmer with 5 sons who work the farm. At the end of their pumpkin season they save what they consider to be the best pumpkin seeds so they will have something to plant for the next year. The less-than-best seeds must be discarded. And when you read the book you will see where those discarded seeds went and the problems they created.

I would have liked the book better if the illustrations had been a little more involved. And, of course, I wish I had been able to flip the pages at the outset and understand the story without having to read the text. But the finished product is one that I am sure children will like to have read to them time and time again. 5 stars!

Subtitled: Or, Nothing Is Better and Worse Than Pumpkins

Pumpkin Town! is a lively tale of brothers who grow pumpkins for a living. They unknowingly scatter seeds on a neighboring town causing an avalanche of pumpkins to grow. Though their actions were unintentional, the brothers take responsibility for the mountain of pumpkins that has overrun the town.

They harvest all the pumpkins and clean up the vines to bring in a tidy profit for the town. The townspeople are so overjoyed that they reward the brothers with large, sweet watermelons. The open ending encourages young readers to speculate on what will happen during the next growing season.

Pumpkin Town! is a delightful story of values that honors the reader's ability to draw conclusions for themselves. While many children's books offer a "knock you over the head" moral, this story subtly guides the reader to discover the values of taking responsibility and having a strong work ethic. The lyrical language and bright pages keep even the most distractible children entertained. The illustrations, a colorful and creative mix of paste paper, photographs, fabrics, and computer imaging provide a rich visual texture to the story.

Pumpkin Town! is recommended for ages 4-8. For the younger set, it is a funny tale to be enjoyed. For slightly older children, it can serve as a springboard to develop the logical skill of cause and effect as well as a fun creative writing "what happens next" project.

Armchair Interviews says: Children can draw their own conclusions.

I actually give this book 10 stars!!!
What a wonderful imagination, and beautiful illustrations.
A real treasure of a children's book.

This sweet little book has been in my house for more than 20 years. After taking it out from the library a few times, I bought one, and then another when the first copy wore out. A favorite read-over-and-over-over for my now-grown daughter and now my granddaughters. I'm so happy to see this timeless classic is back in print!

This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, and I eagerly bought a copy when it was reprinted. The little sister has a plain room and yearns to visit her big sister's room, but she's kept out because she always messes it up. One day she reaches the latch and goes in, and her whole family finds out that she hasn't just grown in size, but also in responsibility. The book isn't preachy at all and doesn't use words like caring and responsibility, but that is why the message comes through so clearly and so poetically. Little Jenny imagines a glass cow wants a blade of grass and brings her a thimblefull of fresh grass. Big sister Sarah comes home shocked that her sibling is in her room, but finds the room clean. Jenny can now play in big sister's room anytime.

The story is beautifully written in a rhyming fashion that will appeal to young children, and Sendak's illustrations are, as always, wonderful to look at and also full of expression.

Jen and Sarah are sisters. Jen wants to have a room like her older sister Sarah's. Jen's family thinks that she's too young to care for nice things like dollhouses and wallpaper. One day Jen sneaks into Sarah's room and plays very nicely. Her mother and realize that she is growing up and can take care of nice things. They decide to redo Jen's room!



The book was short but I did like it because it was fun and full of imaganation.
It's great for children of all ages. Especially girls who have sisters. They will be able to relate to the characters in the book.

Poor Little Jen! She's too little and careless and messy to have a nice room like her big sister Sarah. In fact, she's banned from the room by a lock because she made such a mess out of it. But in a dream, Jen realizes she's grown enough to reach the lock. Later, while awake, she can in fact get inside and plays nicely. When she's discovered, she's praised and she too ends up with a beautiful bedroom of her own.

Maybe it's being a little sister, or perhaps it's Sendak's fantastic artwork or Doris Orgel's sweet rhymes, but this book always intrigued me as a little girl. I identified with Jen and was so happy for her for growing up. I also liked the idea of having a room in such beautiful, Sarah-like shape. Dollhouses all perfectly set up, glass animals on shelves, toys all in their place, wallpaper in pristine condition. I was always a slob and had to share a room, so this was a fantastic fantasy for me.

Children, especially girls, will love this simple and timeless story of sisters and growing up. It's a nice tiny edition that is a lovely gift for a child with a library or book collection. I had searched for it for years and am delighted to have it for my daughter.

This book has a lot of very easy activities. I bought the book to help keep my toddler busy this winter when the weather gets yucky, but I was pleasantly surprised how many activities there are! I esp. like the different age variations as we have a newborn and 2 year old.

The activities in this book are fantastic; they're fun and engaging and pretty simple to set up. I love how well organized it is with a grid to guide you on what materials you will need for what age groups are involved. I am a mom to a one little girl so no siblings here yet so I like to think of this book as a great little two in one - great for activities with one child and perfect for when number two (or more) comes along. I highly recommend it!

This is a wonderful addition to the busy books series. I love that this book can be used for families of any number of children (even 1). This book easily gears and adapts the activities for each age group and can grow as your child(ren) do. The chart at the beginning of each activity highlights what is needed and for which age group. I will be using this book for years to come.

I love this book! I have frequently used the Toddler Busy Book, but this is even better. It's packed with activities that are appropriate for children of various ages. From the baby to the school-age child, the activities are creative, unique and categorized: Let's pretend, outdoor adventures, team family, rainy day fun, and more. If you have multiple young children, this book is fun for the whole family.

I love the Siblings Busy Book! The many, many activies are all simple to do using materials that are usually on hand. The ideas for how to engage children of different ages (baby through school age) are developmentally appropriate and realistic. These activites do more than keep kids busy; they provide imaginative ways to engage kids of all ages with the world around them while having fun. I got one for home and one for our day care provider, and I know the investment will be more than returned in the hours of fun and learning to be had together.

Ahh, sibling rivalry! The little boy in this story (about ten years old) has asked God to help him sell his innocently energetic, pig-tailed, little sister, Ally Grace. He tells how annoying and mean she can be, then assures others she will be nice to them. He's ready to bargain with anyone interested in buying her.

As he mentions all of the bad things Ally Grace is capable of, he begins to wonder what it would be like not having her around. After some thought, he begins to see the good she is capable of and changes his mind.

God is mentioned twice in this book. Once, in the beginning, and then at the end. At first, it appears the young boy is asking God for help. Later, it's clear he is asking God to help him do a terrible thing. The little boy doesn't turn to God for good.
I think the author should have taken the opportunity to create a good relationship between God and the little boy. Maybe there should have been an adult in the picture helping the older brother understand he needs to ask God to help him cope with his sister. It's cute, comical, and even made me laugh, but I would not consider it to be a children's Christian book.

This is a really great book! I bought this book for my son when he was having a hard time loving his sister. It went over really well and he loves this book!

Great fun for me to share with my grandchildren as well as my own sister and brother. For Christmas I put old pictures of my brother, sister and I in a book for each of them. I then responded to the thoughts on each page with little quips of my own, remembering our own childhood memories. I put a brother or sister poem on the back inside cover and because we were all lucky enough to share the Christmas holiday with each other, I put one in each of their stockings for Christmas morning. What a special memory for all of us about being sisters and brothers growing up and what a special way to teach my grandchildren about the value of having a sibling. Humor is a grand way to get a message across!

This book is a fun way to be able to address the issue of sibling rivalry. Michelle writes in a way that makes it enjoyable to read with your children. You will definitely laugh when you read how a big brother comes up with a creative way to get rid of his pesky little sister. This would make a great gift for an older sibling when a new baby arrives!

Michelle Adams made me laugh. Then she made me laugh again and again as I moved quickly through this delightful story about a loving brother and his "bothersome" little sister.

With four brothers, I've been there. Most likely so has everyone else who grew up in a house with one or more siblings. That's what makes "Sister for Sale" such a special little tale. It's true, it's real, and it's funny.

Michelle writes in a simple, rhythmic fashion that helps you glide through this story and never miss a beat. The facial expressions in the illustrations are priceless!

I loved this little book. So did my wife, and 13-year-old son.

Sister for sale. How about a brother for free?

Hey there,

This is just the cutest little lift the flap book. My daughter loves Charlie and Lola, but even if she wasn't familiar with the characters she would love the lifting of flaps on door, cabinets, bushes etc...trying to find Sizzles.

Just well made and adorable.

Kind regards.

Sincerely,
Shannon

Love Chalrie and Lola and we LOVE this book! The flaps are plentiful and in interesting locations, you really have fun hunting for them. The story is a cute one too w/ a surprise ending that will make everyone smile! There are clues on each page to reassure your child tha Sizzles really is close by...of course a very happy and super adorable book. This one goes w/ us in the car and to restruants and drs. appointments...keeps her searching and smiling! Quality product, very sturdy like a board book w/ flaps!

An excellent lift the flap book where quirky things are discovered. Our daughter wants to read it over and over again.

As lift-the-flap books go, this one is top notch. It has over 50 flaps and they are all well incorporated into the pictures. For instance, you get to open their refrigerator, cupboards and lunchbox. Any fan of Charlie & Lola will especially love it because it's filled with objects that are well known from the books and tv series, such as Lola's mermaid doll hidden under her tutu. It's quite sturdy, though not for babies. My 2 1/2 year old has no problem lifting the flaps, though I make sure read it with him because he is still at the age where he occasionally likes to rip things for fun. This is probably the most well made flap book I have seen.

This is a great book that I purchased while on vacation. My son and I absolutely love Charlie and Lola on Disney TV and their DVD's, so we decided to buy the books. I use my British accent and my son loves it. Where we live, they didn't have them so we had to order them. They are very colorful and vivid and very funny. I would recommend this book to children through age 5. My son is 4 and started loving them at 2.
Thanks!