Donkey-Donkey Review

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(More customer reviews)I had a very old, very worn, very loved copy of this book and just recently replaced it with this hard cover copy. The book is just as a remember it as a child. The art work is done in beautiful, soft watercolors. The story is about a donkey who is sad because he compares his ears to all the other animals ears in the barnyard. He takes advice from each of them on how to improve his appearance, much to his dismay. The story has a happy ending and is wonderful for teaching children to appreciate themselves and others just as they are.

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Donkey-Donkey thinks that he looks ridiculous with long ears that stick straight up, so he consults his friends on the farm. Each animal has its own idea of beautiful ears—all remarkably like their own. Poor Donkey-donkey becomes sadder and sadder as he tries to follow their advice, with hilarious results. Finally, a little girl visiting the farm admires his long ears and, with new self-esteem, Donkey-donkey keeps his beautiful long ears upright from then on. This charming picture book was first published in 1933 with black-and-white illustrations and then in 1940 with beautiful fullcolor pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations. Knopf is proud to reissue a fascimile of the 1940 edition that sold more than one million copies before it became unavailable about 25 years ago.

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Ella The Elegant Elephant Review

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(More customer reviews)I love everything about this book! I love the vintage, sweet quality of the illustrations. I love the message of kindness in the story. I even love the font. As a former bookseller and elementary school teacher, I have read a LOT of books and this instantly became one of my favorites. My son just turned 2 and I originally thought a bit young for this story. I changed my mind after he insisted that we read it 6 times one afternoon, and multiple times a day since then. We are definitely buying copies for all our friends.

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The Star Pupil: A Dot's Quest to Find His Place in the World Review

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(More customer reviews)"The Star Pupil" is a wonderful little story -- timeless and ageless. Everyone everywhere will relate to this beautifully woven tale about finding one's path - navigating life's twists and turns. "The Star Pupil," with it's very simple illustrations and very strong message stands head and shoulders above any other story of its kind -- and will be a wonderful reading experience for anyone -- young or old -- embarking on a journey of the soul. Take a few minutes with Carole Hamburger's book...and you very well may find that it helps you connect a few of the dots in your own life. Truly a gem of a story.....

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The Littlest Owl Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this story! As the youngest of 2 siblings who are about 10 years my elders, I could relate when thinking back to my childhood. This is a great book for any child who has siblings, but especially for the youngest child, who might struggle to do the things older siblings can do. It also has warm, cozy, beautiful illustrations that move along with the child-centered story. There is a scene of great suspense in which The Littlest Owl must overcome apprehensions and fears. One of my favorite children's books.

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Deep inside a willow tree, three newly hatched owlets curiously examine the fourth, quiet egg. Is there an owl in there, they wonder. When at last the fourth owlet struggles free, he doesn't look much like the others.
Dumpy, small, and downy white, he is left behind while his siblings learn to fly. No matter how hard he tries, he can't quite do it. "I will," he says. "Just you wait and see!"
Will the littlest owl ever grow big and strong enough to fly from the tree?
From the illustrator of five Book Sense Children's Picks comes the perfect story for any child who is a little nervous about venturing too far from home.

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The Little Engine That Could: Deluxe Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I read this book as a child. As a result, I grew up with the realization that if I tried hard enough and kept at it long enough, almost anything was possible! I also came away from this book realizing that it was good to help others. I believe that it is the SINGULAR most important book that a child 1-5 can have read to them!
Having said that, over the years I have given this story to many children and adults. You DO NOT WANT TO GIVE A PAPERBACK OF THIS STORY!!! Because it is the kind of tale that DESERVES being in a child's life for a long, long time. It is the kind of story that DESERVES to be passed down from generation to generation.
This book is WORTHY of that distinction. And believe it or not, I can recall that even last year I had a difficult time finding a hardback edition of The Little Engine... that was in print.
I can honestly say that this is the NICEST edition of The Little Engine That Could that I have seen. It is surrounded by red foil paper on the edges and on the back! And the pictures are reproduced from the ORIGINAL deluxe editions and are just GORGEOUS.
Does this cost a little more than the paperback? Yes. But it is a book that hopefully your child will even pick up when he is a teenager or a young adult....just to remind himself that yes...he really CAN accomplish a formidable task.

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The Magically Mysterious Adventures of Noelle the Bulldog Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is adorable and well written and well illustrated. I guess that singers/songwriters carry over their writing skills to the pages, because I know Gloria writes some of her own music and it's another form of story telling. Therefore this book is great and being a mother herself, I guess she knew exactly the kind of stories young children love to hear. I have read this to a little cousin of mine and he was enthralled the whole way through. Noelle is a cute little character (that is actually one of her real dogs) and it tells a story of all these things that happen to her very interestingly. The real message is really about the dog having a hard time fitting in and it's a metaphor for kids feeling left out and not included and different. My cousin also loved all the colors and pictures. This is a great book that I really recommend parents to read to their kids (and enjoy yourself too).

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For a young bulldog named Noelle, the joy of being adopted by her very own little girl is overshadowed by the worry that she won't fit in to her wonderful new home. What can an odd–looking brown pup possibly have to offer in a world where shimmering fish, glittering fireflies, and beautiful Dalmatians play games that Noelle's short legs can barely keep up with? Five–time GRAMMY® Award–winning singer–songwriter Gloria Estefan's first book for children is a heartwarming story. Exuberantly illustrated by Michael Garland, it captures all the worry of an outsider trying to fit in – and all the joy of discovering that everyone has a talent that matters, and that true beauty comes from inside. o Includes CD single of Gloria Estefan's latest release Noelle's Song Ages 3+

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A, My Name is Andrew Review

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(More customer reviews)A My Name is Andrew is a delightful romp through the alphabet. Each letter is its own story and my children each have their favorite. Beautiful illustrations enhance the smart verse. Kudos to McManus for creating a readable alphabet book! I even learned a few things in the glossary!!!!

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Being the youngest elephant in the herd makes Small One quite impatient to grow up. One day under the blazing African sun, when all the elephants have gathered at the watering hole to quench their thirst, she decides it's time to show her family how big she really is. Yet Small One discovers that being in a hurry to grow up isn't all that it seems, and mother knows best after all. Children will identify with Small One's feelings of wanting to mature, while adults will welcome the op-portunity to reassure their own small ones in a loving -environment. Sumptuous illustrations by Parker Fulton accompany this tenderhearted story of taking little steps, and learning patience. Doris Mueller's articles, stories and poems have appeared in numerous children's periodicals. She lives in suburban St. Louis with her husband and miniature dachshund named Pedro.Parker Fulton's love of animals and her familiarity with elephants combine to enhance her illustrations for Small One's Adventure. Known for her wildlife illustrations, Parker lives in Gibson Island, Maryland, where she paints to her heart's content.

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The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had Review

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(More customer reviews)I typically buy 75-100 books a year through Amazon[.com] and spend hours and hours reading reviews before I ultimately make my purchase. When I [got]Bauer's book, I just couldn't put it down. Not only does she lay out in detail the necessary steps in developing an appreciation and understanding for the "Great Books of Civilization" she actually shows you how to do it and gives you an abundant of resources to aid you if you need more help. Not since Mortimer Adler's book "How to Read a Book" have I ever come across such a lucid approach to raising one's awareness of the world's greatest writers.

In addition to laying out the groundwork for setting up a self-study program, Bauer provides a detailed approach to each of her recommended readings, from "The Epic of Gilgamesh, c. 2000 B.C. to Elie Wiesel's "All Rivers Run to the Sea", 1995.

A warning however for the "undisciplined mind". Unless you are prepared to commit the necessary time (Bauer recommends 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week) to do some "really serious reading" using a personalized "commonplace book" (which she describes in detail) to record your learnings and critiques -- you are wasting your time. It's akin to losing 25 pounds through disciplined dieting or getting out of debt in 12 months through focused efforts. You either commit yourself to a life-long learning plan to raise your consciousness and self-awarness or simply go back and waste away by watching T.V. and munching on your doritos. The choice is yours.

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Life Before Life: Origins of the Soul...Knowing Where You Came From and Who You Really Are Review

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(More customer reviews)I thought I would share a personal word or two with Amazon members (I am the author). More than any of the other 27 books I have written, this one touched (and drew from) my heart. I have decided that "self help" is ultimately an oxymoron...we all come to points where we need a higher help...and a higher sense of identity. Knowing that there is more to us than some physical genetic coincidence, that our spirits came from a higher and much older place, can change our perspective, our confidence, and our faith. For me, Life Before Life is not just the story of my own spiritual experiences, it is the paradigm in which I see both the relationships and the circumstances of my own everyday life. May it help you in the same way!

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The Wisdom of Strategic Learning: The Self Managed Learning Solution Review

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(More customer reviews)The two core themes in this book are:
learning as a strategic process for both the individual and the organisation, and
an approach that the author calls Self Managed Learning (SML) and distinguishes in great detail from other approaches to teaching and learning, while recognising similarities and overlaps.
The author makes a lot of use of 'I'. He insists that the views expressed are his own - and some of them are distinctly idiosyncratic. This adds to, rather than detracting from the quality of the book, because he also discusses other views in considerable detail. This helps to make the distinction between his prescription and those of others, in a field in which the terminology is decidedly 'muddy'. As an example, 'action learning' can be used to refer to anywhere up to half a dozen distinct training/learning approaches.
Right at the heart of his concern is learning how to learn. The specific program content of a program of learning and the techniques of learning employed are means to the end of becoming a skilled learner both as an individual and in relationship with others. What distinguishes his prescription is a consistent focus not simply on how well people learn marketing, quality management or whatever but on how the strategy and processes of learning combine to meet both immediate learning goals and improve learning capacity. He is primarily concerned with what is variously described as second order learning, 'reframing' or 'metalearning'.
Everyone engaged in organisational change and, in particular, in the difficult shift from a bureaucratic mind-set will find a great deal to think about. They will also encounter both challenges and useful ideas and tools.
For those who have read the first edition, the second edition adds a chapter on the learner in context, and has maintained and improved the sideline headings throughout the book. Other changes are relatively minor and certainly do not change the thrust of the argument.

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The author posits the idea that learning must be integrated with the strategic direction of the organization. This second edition updates and expands on the importance of the approach to create focused, active and committed employees. New to this edition is a chapter on the role and development of staff in self-managed learning programmes, along with a new appendices, for example on the selling approach. Using case material, the book shows how the ideas behind the learning organization can be applied for strategic advantage.

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A Frog Thing (with Audio CD) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is amazing! The pictures are unique in that they make you feel sorry for the charaters, but also laugh at the same time. It also delivers a powerful message about how you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter who or in this case "what" you are. This book is a must have for any childs library no matter the age.

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Mi Enemiga Secreta (Spanish Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)Monica, a "tween" (8-12) is facing the ugly truth about subtle bullying. Her former friend Katie makes snide comments about her to other girls; excludes her from games and tells Monica who she can and cannot talk to.
Monica is devastated; she and Katie had been friends since they were in kindergarten. She cannot understand why Katie turned against her. She tells her mother about the problem, but the two are at a loss as to what to do. To Monica's mother's credit, she does not tell her to be nicer to Katie or blame her; I know from personal experience that when I was a tween that was the kind of atrocious advice I would have been given.
When Katie's insidious hostility becomes so aggressive, Monica suffers from tension and stomach pains. She dreads school. Naturally, this forces her hand into telling her mother about the problem. Monica is empowered once she learns her mother is an ally and not beguiled and duped by Other People's Children, as I always believed mine was. (I never understood why people who are blessed with children sing the praises of Other People's Children to their own.)
Monica's mother comes up with an excellent solution. She said to confront Katie using mental strategy; instead of stooping to retaliation, Monica might say, "Does it make you feel good to say mean things to me in front of other people?" and comments of that ilk. That way the bullying behavior would be on record and Monica could stand tall and walk away, knowing she'd called Katie on her behavior.
Sadly, such insidious nastiness is very common among girls. This is to date the best book I've come across in openly and intelligently dealing with this subject. I highly recommend it to all parents and educators.

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Violet the Pilot Review

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(More customer reviews)Violet, a mechanical genius, could repair almost any appliance by the time she was two. At age eight she started to build elaborate flying contraptions from spare parts and machinery that she salvaged from the family business, a junkyard next door. Accompanied by her faithful and fearless dog (aptly named Orville), Violet flies the local skies in her innovative flying machines. She reads Popular Science Monthly for new ideas and dreams about winning a prize at the upcoming air show. Perhaps a blue ribbon would end the relentless teasing from the children at school and garner her some newfound respect. En route to the air show, Violet uses her latest flying invention to become a hero in an entirely unexpected way.
This book is superb. With its gifted female protagonist and clever storyline, Violet the Pilot packs a powerful punch with lessons about innovation, human resources, and women in science. Steve Breen's delightful illustrations are marked by a sense of humor, expressive facial features, and skillful attention to detail (witness the posters of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart in Violet's bedroom). The blend of entertainment, emotional fluctuations, and substantive content make this book an utterly satisfying read for children and adults alike.

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So Much Closer Review

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(More customer reviews)Brooke has had a crush on Scott Abrams forever, but he barely knows she exists. When she finally gets up the courage to tell him how she feels, she's shocked to discover that his family is moving from their New Jersey suburb to New York City. Brooke is devastated--until she comes up with the perfect solution. She'll move in with her dad, who lives in the city, for senior year and track Scott down. And her plan works perfectly--she's practically Scott's neighbor in New York--until she discovers that Scott has wasted no time in getting himself a girlfriend in their new neighborhood. But luckily for Brooke, the city is packed with opportunities and she's not about to give up on having the year of her life.

So Much Closer is a fun, romantic, and endearing novel with a terrific setting. Colasanti describes New York vividly, with an eye for the unexpected details that really make the Brooke's neighborhood come to life with energy, and invites the reader right in. Brooke is a very dynamic narrator, and her narrative is very fun, relatable, and authentic. She's naturally smart and talented, but she's never been pushed to do well or pursue academic goals, which is frustrating to those around her. She's full of contempt for the school systems she has been through, but when she gets to the city, becomes friends with John (a cute guy who is driven but struggles academically), is pushed by good teachers, and inspired by her environment, she begins to grow and realize her foolishness in wasting her talents. This is a great coming-of-age story as Brooke not only finds Scott and figures out what it's like to get what you want and discover that maybe it's not all that you has hoped, but as she also deals with her parents' divorce and her feelings about it and finds her passion in life. So Much Closer is an unexpected, funny, and real novel that is charged with energy and life. Once again, Colasanti doesn't disappoint.

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When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

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Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake": Book and CD Review

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(More customer reviews)When I learned there was a new "Marsupial Sue" book out I knew I had to get it for my daughter's fourth birthday. The original "Marsupial Sue" is now tattered and taped from many fun-filled readings. After perusing the reviews I was hesitant to order the book because the critics thought it might be confusing for small children. Not so! My kids (2.5 and 4) are asking to read it over and over. They are not confused at all about the characters' costumes and they picked up on the rhyme immediately. We're now laughing about the costumes the animals put together and singing "No No No No No" joyously! Thanks Mr. Lithgow for more great memories.

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Your Song: The First Growing Field Adventure Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is a magnificent tool for parent and child. It encourages dialogue, self-esteem and decision making. Mark Hoog has done and excellent job with his use of words and images. The illistrations are brilliant and children and adults will have a wonderful time finding fascinating and amusing objects. This is a sweet story of a fledgling finding his way and I highly recommend it for children of all ages.

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Today a Walden boy named Maxx learns he has much in common with Nightingale, a young eagle living in the Growing Field.This flying lesson teaches both of our young friends where to look when searching for unique gifts and talents in life.Invite your child to soar with Your Song and experience the magic that occurs when we learn to look deep inside ourselves for our gifts, talents and self-esteem.Leadership elements: Self-confidence, self-esteem, uniqueness, power of confirmation and positive self-image JUV000000

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We're All Special (Environmental Adventure Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Arlene Maguire touches a special place in my heart for understanding the beauty of differences. A welcome thought in a world of divided factions, intolerance and separation from others. Illustrations are both colorful and delightul! This book is a must-read for children of all ages.

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This delightful picture book stresses the uniqueness and importance of every individual in a multicultural, multifaceted world. Told through an interplay of rhyme and illustration, We're All Special conveys its message without preaching, lecturing--or boring--young readers.--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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