Junior Books

"Otto's Orange Day" is a rare treat -- geared towards young readers, the book offers simple vocabulary and stunning graphics to keep kids engaged and, more importantly, pleased with their reading experience. I gave the book to my 7 year old cousin for his birthday, and he LOVED it -- the combo of comic book pleasure reading and fun, rhyming vocabulary was perfect for him. And, he completely understood the moral of the story. This book would be a fantastic gift for any young reader (and any parent yearning for beautiful presentation to accompany nightly readings).

What strikes me most about this Toon title is the wonderful personality in its pages. The lively, believable characters come to life in the comic. My children love this book and it's difficult find books my children will actually ASK to read again and again. Our beautiful, orange novel is already showing some wear because of how frequently it is taken off the shelf-- I may have to order another!

Possibly the most frustrating situation I encounter in my work as a school librarian is when I run into the one track kid. These youngsters have a genre/subject that must be present in the books they read. Scary books, truck books, princess books, funny books - the list goes on. I usually do my best to find some titles in their topic of choice, but this type of reader can be picky. "Otto's Orange Day" is for every kid who is set in their ways and could use a nudge toward a broadening of horizons. Buy two copies - it's a page-turner that beginning readers will likely wear out from dangerously high levels of enjoyment.

Otto (a cat) has a favorite color - orange. If he had his druthers, the whole world would be one big orange explosion. One day Otto receives an orange oil lamp from his Aunt, and a genie appears to grant his wish. Just like that, everything is tangerine. It starts out great, but Otto soon learns that some things are better off in full color. Food, for instance. And traffic lights, they are different colors for a reason. It's also handy to be able to describe someone as something other than orange, especially if said person is a fugitive from the law. Pretty quick, our hero is a bit spooked and looking for ways to change things back to the good ol' days of brown colored lamb chops. That task proves to be difficult, since the genie only grants one wish. Otto must use his wits to bring back the Technicolor.

The illustrations are suitably cartoonish in style, with heavy outlines and vibrant colors. The dialog is spoken using word bubbles. As for the way the book is put together, much love to Françoise Mouly. I dig the design. I'm always a sucker for paper on board covers. The title has this cool floating effect that I like. The cover art shows glimpses of panels, letting the reader know that they're about to read a comic-style book. In other words, it looks like fun. This is one that kids will be drawn to and proud to carry.

Having read a few of the new TOON Book releases, I'll concur with the masses of critics that have already weighed in on the subject by saying that "Otto's Orange Day" and its kin are going to make a lasting impact on young readers.

I have had the privilege of seeing advance copies of all of the new Toon Book titles, and I must say they are exactly what I have been waiting for.My five year old son is fascinated by comics, but I've had a difficult time finding any that are age-appropriate. I've had to resort to ordering vintage comics from the 50s and 60s online.

"Otto's Orange Day" is great fun! Josh loves the colors, the internal rhymes, and the playful layouts. He feels that he's reading "grown-up" books. Already, he has remembered certain words and wants us to read it together every day.As a comic lover myself, I find that this book is fun for the both of us. Highly recommended! More, please!

I ordered Volumes I and II of the audiotape version of The Island Story (history of Britain from mythology through Queen Elizabeth I) and listened to it with my boys aged 10 and 12 before we went to England this spring. We all really enjoyed it. While written for children, the history and color (eg tie ins to words/expressions we use today) were fascinating for me too. The book was written in the early 1900's which makes a few of the references to Britain's current day "empire" amusing but no less interesting. I will be saving this set of tapes for my grandchildren!

I read this aloud last spring to my 3 boys, ages 10, 12, and 13. They all really enjoyed it and I enjoyed reading it.
The only (small) negative I could give it is that there are several spelling mistakes-mostly a missing letter in a word. I corrected that as we went along for the next time I read it aloud. It really wasn't a problem but I just thought I should point that out.
We are now reading the sequel about our own country (America) called "This Country of Ours" and enjoying that one as well. I can highly recommend both books, as well as "Fifty Famous Stories Retold" which is usually bought along with these two. That one is especially easy to narrate from as the stories are very short-often just 2 pages.

This is a such a fun history of England. My children love reading this book. We read a couple of chapters aloud each week. We have just started our second time through.

The chapters are relatively short. For the most part, the book is organized chronologically by King (or Queen). Each chapter (or sometimes several chapters) hits the high points of each King or Queen's reign.

Make history come alive for your children by reading this book to them.

This is a nice softcover edition. Check out the publishers other books. You can pretty much assume it is going to be interesting to your children if they have published it. I have several of their books and every one has been a hit with our family.

We have been reading about one a week for over a year. My girls love these stories! One of our rabbits ended up with the name "Boudacia" after we read her story.
At the beginning they might be more folklore than fact, but none the less they are wonderful. There are some great moral lessons to be learned from many of the stories.
After I bought the Yesterday's Classics I found an old hardback with great color pictures. It cost a bit, but what a treasure!
Highly recommend.

I thought I wouldn't be able to get a copy of this cookbook for my sister.
Thank you! Since this cookbook is out of print, I was sure it would be impossible to find.

I received this cookbook as a gift in 1992, I think, when I spoke for a women's business organization in Salt Lake City. I finally used it at Thanksgiving in 2004, and was really blown away by the results.

The biggest hit of the meal was the apple-sausage stuffing. This particular recipe is meant for Christmas goose, but I used it with Thanksgiving turkey, and substituted turkey sausage and buttersquash soup for the sausage and milk it called for. It was absolutely the best stuffing I have ever had in my life, and our guests all agreed.

The book is loaded with unusual recipes like that one, including suggestions for drinks and hor d'oeuvres, bunches and breads, soups and stews, salads, vegetables and side dishes, seafood, meat, poultry, as well as desserts and pies and cookies and cakes.

It's a really special set of recipes, filling more than 230 pages. Even if you seldom cook (like me), go for it.

A Pinch Of Salt Lake is an impressive and diverse compilation of easy-to-prepare recipes for beverages, hors d'oeuvres, brunches, breads, soups, stews, salads, vegetable and side dishes, seafood, poultry, meats, desserts, pies, cookies, and cakes. From Bacon-Wrapped Scallops; Cucumber Sandwich Canapes; Onion Corn Bread; and Cold Tortellini Salad; to Sweet Fried Corn; Fusilli with Shrimp and Roasted Peppers; Poached Chicken Breasts in Tarragon; and Raspberry Walnut Torte, A Pinch Of Salt Lake will soon become a family kitchen favorite. An extensive index is provided which will ably assist in planning meals appropriate and suitable for all occasions and circumstances.

I own many cookbooks but have yet to find one as good as this one. The many recipes I've prepared are very delicious, have nice presentation and use ingredients that are easy to find. There are quite a few recipes with a "quick & easy" icon on the side which makes it nice when you're in a hurry but would like to make something good. It's a beautiful cookbook that's well laid out. It makes an excellent gift.

Great practical and valuable information on dealing with challenging behaviors in a positive way. I would definitely recommend this for every parent's bookshelf and teachers as well. Another book I recently read,
Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying- don't get misled by the title- is all about parenting and teaching in a positive way to empower children...the best way to avoid raising bullies or victims. Scripts,lessons, techniques, and stories to teach deal with important issues of setting limits, building self-esteem, managing anger,expressing feelings and conflict resolution. Children learn cooperation, getting along and kindness thru detailed lesson plans laid out in the book. Highly recommended.

This is written as a text book but it is readable and practical and it is perfect for parents. Reading it is much like sitting down with a friend and talking about real day-to-day problems babies, toddlers and young children have as they learn to cope with their feelings and to comply with parents' rules for safe, responsible behavior.

The book has simple, practical lists of things to do when toddlers bite, preschoolers fight and school-aged children pick up bad words. It gives help on potty training, sleep problems and thumb-sucking. An in depth index makes it easy to find topics.

You will want to order a second copy to lend to friends so they don't take yours!!

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I am a 2nd year Early Childhood Education student and my brilliant professor suggested that we read this book for his class "Child Profile." So many teachers struggle with challenging behaviour and this book describes positive techniques to use with children of all ages. Behaviour guidance is about helping children develop self-control, it's not about pleasing the teacher. Every teacher should read this book!!

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I am a 2nd year Early Childhood Education student and my brilliant professor suggested that we read this book for his class "Child Guidance." So many teachers struggle with challenging behaviour and this book describes positive techniques to use with children of all ages. Behaviour guidance is about helping children develop self-control, it's not about pleasing the teacher. Every teacher should read this book!!

Great resource! I use the stories and questions with at risk special education students. The book includes many activities to encourage comprehension of text by using experiential activities.

This is a terrific teacher aid. It walks you through an entire lesson or you can adapt and use it as a literacy center activity.

This book could be a valuable addition to any teacher's resources. It is full of leveled stories. Each story has a series of work sheets that give students practice using higher level thinking skills. Most of the answers require short written responses. Writing is almost always a weak area for young children. This book provides good directed practice in answering questions.

Primary Level : 45 High-Interest Lessons With Reproducible Selections and Questions That Make Kids Think is an excellent resource for elementary school teachers. The lessons and stories are categorized by grade levels. One of the best books I have come across in a long time. A vast array of pre-reading and post-reading activities are included. Best of all are the fifteen questions at the end of each story. These questions include descriptive, sequential, and builds up to effect, summarization, fact and opinion. This book is a must for any teacher with struggling readers who need extra practice and strategies in learning how to comprehend reading materials.

This book has become a staple for my at home daily cooking. The Breakfast Casserole and the Lemon Squares are particularly good. This cookbook will serve as an outstanding guide for anyone who is intersted in adding the delicious flavor of Louisiana cuisine to their everyday meals!

I got this cookbook as a gift, and so far the recipes have been easy to follow! My family loves the Banana Nut Bread on page 58 any time of the day. I was afraid the recipes would all be too spicy, but they were yummy! I am going out to buy River Roads Recipes III this week.

When I say that this cookbook is one of my favorites, topped only by Talk About Good, that is saying a lot. I have found myself pulling this off of my mother's shelves after she has 'borrowed it'.

When I got this as a gift from my Sister In Law, I didn't know what a treat I was in for. Thank you!

The recipes are fairly easy to prepare and the results turn out great meals.

My only issue with any cajun cooking is that it sometimes calls for those Louisiana type of ingredients that are hard to get anywhere else but Louisiana (tasso for example!)

Having lived in New Orleans for 8 years, I acquired a taste for the unbelievable food there. In 1988, I moved away and some of the most important items to pack were my copies of the River Road cookbooks. I have just discovered my son has "borrowed" my Second Helping cookbook only to inform me it is his now. I now find myself having to reorder it as it contains so many easy to prepare and outstanding recipes. Congratulations to your contributors for a job well done.

Allington and Cunningham provide excellent insight as to what all schools need to ensure quality instruction to students. This book is a must for all educators, especially administrators. I am a Special Education teacher and a graduate student. I refer to this text often.

With over fifty combined years of experience between them, educational researcher/ consultants Richard Allington and Patricia Cunningham have many ideas to offer in their new book, Schools That Work: Where All Children Read and Write. The book is a natural follow-up to their first collaborative effort, Classrooms That Work: They Can All Read and Write. It is lengthy, but highly engaging, and offers practical, research based ideas for those who envision and want to work toward moving their school or school system toward being one where all children become literate. Because American society has changed, and is changing, at such a rapid pace, Allington and Cunningham contend that the current organizational structure of schools, while being well intentioned, is outdated. Existing structures do not effectively meet the needs of all children, especially those who are at the highest risk of school failure. Therefore, they believe that educational interventions that offer "more of the same" will not work to fix the inadequacies in today's schools. Because many schools are stuck, looking toward traditional solutions, huge amounts of federal and state money are being poured into educational programs such as developmental kindergarten, transitional K-1 classes, retention, and remedial, resource and bilingual programs that aren't effective in helping all at risk learners learn to read and write. Throughout the twelve chapters of the book, examples of effective large and small-scale school restructuring efforts in real schools are described. These descriptions are very helpful in illustrating the authors' key points. Models such as the Coalition of Essential Schools, Success For All, the Accelerated Schools Model, Reading Recovery, School Power and Schools for the 21st Century are included. Chapters of the book are organized around central themes of school organizational plans such as instruction, professional roles, allocation of time, parent involvement, assessment and curriculum materials. I will briefly summarize these chapters to give an overview of their content. In the chapter on curriculum, Cunningham and Allington offer many ideas for getting real reading material into the hands of children. Popular methods of literacy instruction are also described, but it is clear that the authors do not believe there is one best way to teach reading and writing. Instead, they advocate for quality instruction delivered in a multifaceted approach. This position is similar to that taken in Best Practices in Literacy Instruction, edited by Gambrel, Morrow, Neuman and Pressley, a resource text for teachers of literacy. Allington and Cunningham then go on to describe essential components of quality literacy instruction. One of the important points of the book is that "good schools are a collection of good classrooms" and that the job of everyone who works at a school is to support and enhance classroom instruction. An important point is made that while most instruction for at risk students slows down the pace of instruction, what is most effective is accelerating their learning through more and better instruction so that they are able to catch up with their peers. Concerning the issue of how instructional time is used; a chapter is devoted to describing effective classroom management practices that maximize the amount of time available for actual reading and writing. Innovative ways of creating more instructional time such as allowing teachers to work on flexible schedules opens up the possibility of students receiving extended amounts of instruction before and after school, in Saturday School and summer school. In the chapter on assessment, strategies for evaluating literacy programs and progress are given. Ideas for utilizing authentic assessments such as observational records, writing samples, narrative comments, interviews, self-evaluations, portfolios and anonymous student testing are presented.

Because schools can change only as fast as the instructional practices of teachers change, Allington and Cunningham devote a chapter to advice for supporting the professional development of teachers. The authors believe that systems need to allocate greater amounts of their resources toward professional development, as well as offer administrative and collegial support in order for teachers to remain life long learners who continually develop new areas of expertise. As our changing society affects schools, it affects families too. Most children now come from single parent families or families where both parents work. Because the authors believe that schools cannot be fully effective without parent support and involvement, ideas for improving parent outreach programs are described. Innovative ways to improve communication between schools and families, involve parents in school decision making processes, and create family literacy programs and interagency family support services that help break cycles of illiteracy and poverty are provided. A chapter is set aside for offering additional ideas for developing the literacy skills of special populations of children, such as those with learning disabilities and those who speak English as a second language. In another chapter, a tour is given through a hypothetical school that reflects some of the basic themes in the book. Readers are then prompted to take a tour through their own school and look for examples of effective practices they would like to see more of, as well as ineffective practices they would like to see decreased. The final chapter of the book offers some relief to the reader, who may at this point be overwhelmed with the scope and scale of school restructuring that needs to be done. Allington and Cunningham caution, though, that there are no quick fixes in education, and that successful reform efforts are done gradually with the long view in mind. Restructuring often begins with a small group of people, or even with one person at a school. Is that person you? Do you believe that all children can learn to read and write, and would you like to help them do so? If you think so, this book could be an invaluable resource that gets you thinking about large-scale changes by starting small. Read it and pass it along to someone in your school, as someone in my school passed it along to me. Who knows what might happen next?

Because their other book, "Classrooms That Work," is such a hit with my preservice students, I ordered this one. Receiving it just today, and after browsing through and discovering on the final page reference to the the critical words, "common sense initiatives," I have a feeling we may have another winner with this book, as well.

With over ten years as a primary, intermediate, and junior high teacher, I have read lots of education books. This may end up being the book that helps me the most in helping improve myself as an educator, and in helping the school improve itself. This book was jam-packed with great ideas of what truly makes a good school. "Schools That Work" is geared for both principals, teachers, and anyone else in the education field. After reading this it makes for a great reference book. The book is well organized into the different components that make a good school. Also, it has great book, magazine, and web resources throughout the entire book. In short, buy this book without hesitation--it is that good!

Brian Campbell was my 5th grade teacher also, and he is a great teacher and a great person. When he taught science, we had to log things into our science notebooks, and sometimes we had to draw what we looked at. We would record our observations, questions, thoughts, and the results of our tests. Mr. Campbell used some entries from his previous students and put them into this book. Science Notebooks will show you what science notebooks should look like, and it will help teachers teach science to their students.

AWESOME book by a great teacher, for great teachers.

GET IT NOW

I love Science Notebooks. I wanted to do a notebook this year with more inquiry type investigations. This resource helped me to figure out what I wanted the kids to record and how to organize it. It is easy-to-read and understand.

Brian Campbell was my fifth grade teacher. He worked long and hard gathering information from STUDENT NOTEBOOKS! This is not just any old book, this is THE BOOK! If you are looking for some inside information on science notebooks look nowhere else because you have found the book! This book is for teachers young and old. SO what are you waiting for?!? Go out and buy this book now!

Whether for a valuable collection at home, or a sight while swimming or scuba diving, this will prove very reliable in the field. A MUCH more advanced field guide than the Golden First Guides, this lists over 600 shells in all and will quickly identify any strange seashell you happen to find beachcombing. This guide contains: Augor shells, chitons, whelks, limpets, and many other valuable collectibles. Each shell species entry has a description added to the side, explaining: abundance, range, and habitat. After the first Golden Guide to Seashells intrigues you, try your luck out with this field reference.
There are several editions made of this guide, from cheap paperback to hardcore turtleback. The paperback and hardback are the best to buy, as they are both great deals and cost less than the turtleback, which is also durable. Any edition will serve you very well in shell collection ID or snorkeling discoveries.

Yes it's way out of date. Yes the super rare shells listed in the book are often no longer even mildly rare. Yes it is drawings only. Sigh. But this is the book that got me and all too many others hooked into this area. 30 years later I still love the hobby. Give it to a child and watch him/her grow.

This was exactly the book on shells that I was looking for for my grandson. I remember the "Little Golden Guides" when I was a child and was so happy to see that they still exist. Good illustrations and compact easy to carry size.

If you like to collect seashells, then this handy key to the typical shells found on a beach may be of interest. It comes in a handy soft cover and is pocket sized, so it will easily fit in one's bathing suit's waist. It is slender, although several of the easy to find shells are listed, photos are reasonable and of good quality. It is similar to other such books, although not quite a book and not quite a pamphlet. It's in a league of its own!

This is a fun book for any Elmo fan. It helps teach body parts, as well as coordination, and it's a cute book besides!

I ordered a second copy of this book after the first one was destroyed by rain! We used to read it to my oldest daughter and decided to buy it again after our third child was born... not only does it teach different parts of the body, it is a great way to get your kids moving!

This is one of my daughter's favorite books because it's very involving in a physical and non-threatening way. You read the text, you show her the movement, she sees the movement depicted, and does it. She had lots of fun and was very interested in learning the names of various body parts.

This is a wonderful book, but not before a nap or bedtime. For that, I'd recommend the related Elmo book "Quiet Time."

Elmo and his friends perform various easy to imitate actions in their muppet exercise class. My two year old loves to follow along and do each step like 'honk her nose' and 'rub her tummy'. It's a great book for 1-3 year olds.