Book reviews from annalovesbooks

Exploring Journals and Diaries

by Various Authors

ISBN 0590493027 - This review is for this specific title, all by itself. As an individual book, I fail to find it much use at all but it is possible that, in conjunction with other materials, it serves a purpose. The problem is that nowhere on the book does it point you to that material - which clearly does exist, since it's part of a series. Portions of the journals of Christopher Columbus, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Anne Frank make up the entire book. While their stories are interesting, the snippets don't add up to enough to make them worth reading in place of the full book. As a homeschool or classroom tool, this is bound to be useful - it's just doesn't stand alone well. - AnnaLovesBooks

The Wish in the Bottle

by Morna MacLeod

ISBN 0590629700 - While the multitude of kids' series books are nice, it is always fun to come across the periodic stand-alone story. That The Wish in the Bottle is likely to appeal to both boys and girls is an added plus in my eyes. Lani, Laurie and Mark are siblings: Lani is the oldest, then Mark and, last but not least, Laurie. Their family is spending the summer at Lincoln Pond and today, finally, the children have been allowed to row across the pond alone to picnic. While the older children bird watch, Laurie slinks off with Mark's butterfly net and spots a very unusual looking butterfly. Capturing it and putting it in a jar, Laurie keeps her catch hidden from her siblings until that night, when the glow from the jar keeps her awake. The three children find that Laurie hasn't caught a butterfly at all - she's captured a fairy! Not just any fairy, either. Ocavia is Queen of Avia and she must get home to protect her people from the bats who have been eating them, so a deal is struck: the children will get three wishes and Ocavia will get her freedom. Simple enough? Sure, if things had gone that smoothly! The only real negative for me was the similarity of Lani's and Laurie's names, which - since I just met these characters - sometimes made it difficult for me to remember which was the oldest and which was the baby of the family. There's nothing particularly novel in the "three wishes" story, of course, but MacLeod does a great job of weaving the ongoing story of the fairies and the bats into the story of the children who (aside from an early slip) plan to think very carefully before wasting their wishes. What they learn, the reader learns, so there's a message in here, for parents who look for those, and a fantasy adventure for the kids who look for those. The illustrations (no illustrator listed) are nice pencil sketches, not numerous enough to make an older child feel like he or she is reading a "baby book", but enough to please the younger ones. The back cover says RL5, ages 7-12. -AnnaLovesBooks

Five True Dog Stories

by Margaret Davidson

ISBN 0590424017 - A fan of James Herriot and Lassie (among others!), I was excited to read true dog stories for children. And the inclusion of a talented "bad" dog, in Grip the thief, was a pleasant surprise. Five very short dog stories, each told in a few pages. Dox, a police dog in Italy, is bought by a policeman who just happened to pass a pet store. He'd had no thought of buying a dog at all - but he did it, and then he turned him into a superb detective. Grip, owned by a thief and a successful thief himself, leads a life of crime until his owner is caught and Grip gets a surprising new owner. Author Alfred Payson Terhune's dog, Wolf, lives with many other dogs at Sunnybank Farm. He isn't very sociable, but he does watch out for the other dogs, right up to the very end. Barry is one of the very special St Bernards living at a monastery in Switzerland. The dogs are trained to rescue people, and Barry is even a little more special than the others. Balto is a sled dog in Alaska when Nome calls out to the outside world for help. They need medicine and the only way in is by sled. The town is in terrible trouble, but Balto comes to their rescue. The stories are all true, and the reader can follow up most of them by reading longer books and stories about these dogs. That's a nice thing, a way to encourage reading, and answer some questions that the book leaves unanswered - like why there's a statue of Balto in New York, when his heroic actions were in Alaska. Not superbly written, but the author is hampered by the attempt to keep the stories short. The back cover says RL2, ages 7-9, and that's the only thing I have to disagree there. The stories seem to me to be better suited for younger children. - AnnaLovesBooks

Darwin and the Great Beasts

by Kin Platt

ISBN 0688100309 - A book about dinosaurs, featuring a kid named Darwin, might just be enough to explode the heads of some Christian parents, so I found the choice to be both brave and unwise. Still, those parents aren't likely customers here anyway, so I guess author Kin Platt thought it worth the gamble. Darwin and his class visit the La Brea Tar Pit and the nearby museum to learn about dinosaurs. In alternating chapters, Darwin slips from the museum tour into a world in his own imagination. During the tour, Miss Tell, their teacher, tells them about the dinosaurs - when they lived, what they ate, how much they weighed and some information about how they died. Darwin daydreams about saving each of them from the death Miss Tell tells them about. The book doesn't specifically say, but I think this book is most appropriate to the 9 to 12 age group. There are few illustrations, just small black and white drawings at the top of each chapter; they add nothing to the story. The story itself is all right, nothing spectacular and not terribly well-written; the best thing it has going for it is the information it provides. The alternating chapters doesn't really work particularly well, but kids might enjoy the kid-as-hero aspect. For the parents who worry about messages, Darwin tells several lies - to a pack of dire wolves and a saber-tooth - and, when his classmate, Amy, complains that no one ever believes HER fibs, he suggests that she should practice more. Since the book is overall really average, it might not be worthwhile to get it, only to send your child the "practice makes perfect, even when it comes to lying" message. - AnnaLovesBooks

Manatee Winter

by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

ISBN 1568990782 - While not exactly non-fiction, Manatee Winter is educational, which is always a plus. The involvement of the Smithsonian Institution is a good thing, too, but not quite good enough. A mother manatee and her calf head to warmer waters for the winter, encountering the dangerous propellers of fishing boats along the way. One specific encounter separates the two, scaring Little Calf into weeds which he can't escape on his own. Mother must help him and continue encouraging him so that they can reach the safety of a warm spring, where Little Calf will meet other baby manatees for the first time. Illustrator Steven James Petruccio did a very nice job; the problem isn't his work but the general boring-ness of the relatively accurate images. A manatee under water looks like a manatee under water and there are few images including anything else. In the back of the book, there is a list of "Points of Interest" that name pages where you can find specific things. For pages 22-23, it says "egret, red mangrove trees", but the egret's head is mostly cut off at the top of the page and the trees are represented only by roots. Author Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld did a very nice job, as well, and the book is best, in my opinion, as a vaguely educational text. As a storybook for young children, it's a little boring. - AnnaLovesBooks

Who's In the Jungle?

by Sue Graves~Alison Atkins

ISBN 1405418648 - Novelty books almost always impress me as books that kids will find engaging, and the idea of gold stars certainly sounds like a good one. Who doesn't like gold stars? For the record, on the back cover, it says "The jungle animals are taking naps under the big, shady trees, but Monkey is too hungry to sleep! He soon realizes that waking up the others isn't such a good idea!" In actuality, no one seems to be sleeping and Monkey doesn't wake anyone up. Just in case you're the type to rely on back covers. In very simple words, the reader is asked who they can see in the jungle. A lion, an elephant and a crocodile are introduced. Last is a monkey, sitting in a tree, eating bananas and accidentally tossing the peels onto the animals below - so off he runs as the others give chase. Before the text of the book, there are "Notes for Parents", providing a little guidance for how to use this book and the Gold Stars series to teach your child to read. The advice is easy and sounds like good common sense. In the back of the book are gold stars, awarded to the budding reader when they accomplish certain things: reading the book or finding words in the book. The text by Sue Graves is great for young readers. Easy words used repeatedly and written in a large font, all things designed to make reading easier. The illustrations by Alison Atkins are very cute and, even when the larger animals chase the monkey, the animals appear to be smiling and not especially frightening. All in all, it sounds like a superb book, but it isn't, really. The trouble, surprisingly, comes in the gold stars. The stars are stickers and, once placed, can't be reused. This makes the book, in general, a single-user book - it can't be handed down to another young reader who could make the same use of it because, honestly, the new child is going to want their own stars. Not a bad book, but it's got such a short life-expectancy that I suggest spending your money somewhere else if you're just looking for a BOOK. On the other hand, and worth noting, if you're looking for homeschooling materials, this might fit that need well; no one really expects to re-use school "workbooks". - AnnaLovesBooks

It Chanced to Rain

by Kathleen Bullock

ISBN 0671660055 - There are some books, especially among children's books, that you just know you're going to like. It's an attractive cover, the feel of the book in your hands, it's something - and you don't always know WHAT it is, but you always know that you're going to LIKE this book. That's what I was thinking when I picked up It Chanced to Rain. Told in rhyme, three Rats, three Ducks, three Dogs and three Cats all go out for a walk with... two young Pigs. (I don't know why two pigs when there's three of everyone else) The day takes a turn when it suddenly begins to rain and the whole lot of animals runs for home. Once there, they all dry off and have soup, prepared by the first Pig. As they sit down to eat, they notice that the Ducks aren't there and, leaving the Rats behind to answer the phone, they rush off to search for their friends. They fear the worst when they see the Ducks' hats floating in the river, but it turns out the Ducks just like the rain. The Dogs, Cats and Rats end up with colds and the Pigs punish the Ducks for making everyone worry. What a great rhyme! The text, by Kathleen Bullock, is just perfect. Silly and fun, it will engage every child. A few comments in parentheses ("(They must have been drenched!)") fall outside the rhyming pattern but add a cheeky touch, rather than detract from the story. There's no illustrator listed, so I assume that Bullock might have done double duty on this and, if so, she did a great job in both regards. The tree branches during the storm actually appear to be flying in the wind; the details are great and the images add nicely to the story. A great time-killing, rainy-day read that you'll enjoy reading to your child. - AnnaLovesBooks

Rugrats

by Luke David

ISBN 1416915206 - I've loved the Rugrats for years and I had some doubts about how well author Luke David would handle them in book form. At least half of the funny in the TV show is the way they speak, so the text matters more than usual. David does an all right job. Tommy doesn't understand why his parents think Dil is so special. When his mother says Dil is adorable, Tommy hears that Dil is a doorbell and suggests that he and Chuckie can be doorbells, too. Told to stop the racket, Tommy's ready to try anything. Didi refers to Dil as "angelic" and Tommy hears "Angelica": he thinks that acting more like Angelica will help get the attention he wants, but that plan also backfires. Finally, quite by accident, Tommy acts like a good big brother and gets the praise he's been after. The illustrations, by Louie del Carmen and James Peters, are right out of the TV series and should be - del Carmen is a character designer on the show and Peters is a color designer. The storyline isn't quite up to expectations, it's average at best. Most of the humor of the characters comes from the words that the children misinterpret, but that aspect isn't as played up in the book, so it misses the mark a little. Still, the Rugrats are favorites and if it gets them reading, it's a good thing. The addition of Dil was a great Rugrats moment and this story is one of many that are good picks for families with new babies. - AnnaLovesBooks

Morning Bells

by Rosann Englebretson~Robin Spowart

ISBN 0663546486 - I don't usually review textbooks; this one caught my eye. It doesn't look like a textbook and when I flipped through it, I found a couple stories and authors I think are fantastic. There are no lessons, questions or tests inside, this book is purely for reading. - The English version of "Brother John" (Frere Jacques); nice and short, easy to read, a bit boring. - "Twins, Twins, Twins" by Zachary Judd. Not really a story, more an explanation of who are twins, with photos. The pictures are okay, the text is simple. - "Growing Up" by Henry Behn. Cute poem about going on a picnic as a child and finding it slightly scary, with boulders big enough to hide tigers, and returning to the same place for a picnic as an adult and seeing it as so much smaller. - "Marvin's Moon Flight" by Winston White. Marvin is building a rocket and can't get anyone in his family to go to the moon with him. He goes by himself and brings home moon rocks and the whole family begins planning to go along next time - but Marvin's already moved on to building an underwater diving machine. Silly, in a good way. - "Shoes from Grandpa" by Mem Fox. I've seen this one as a pretty popular stand-alone book. Jessie's father invites the family for a barbecue and her grandfather notices how much she's grown, saying he'll have to buy her some new shoes. One by one, other relatives add to her planned wardrobe, saying they'll buy her everything from socks to a blouse to mittens. Jessie appreciates the offer, but has some wardrobe ideas of her own. A fun read, similar to the popular "Green Grass Grew All Around" folk song, accumulating articles of clothing as it goes. - "The Wrong Start" by (award winning author) Marchette Chute. A short poem about a day that gets off on the wrong foot. The author drops an egg, trips over the cat and other minor problems, making him think he should start over. Easy read and something everyone can identify with! - "One of Three" by (award winning author) Angela Johnson. The youngest of three sisters tells about being one of three, doing many things together - window-shopping at the bakery, riding the subway and more. But sometimes her sisters don't invite her along. She's sad but her parents make her feel better and she's one of a different three! Younger siblings will identify with the story; the text is sparse and simple for young readers. - Last, but by no means, least, is "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by (award winning author) Bill Martin. A popular kids' book, this is one story that makes the purchase of the book worthwhile, all by itself. The alphabet, with some personality! Homeschooling parents may be the best target audience for this book; published 15 years ago, it probably won't be getting picked up by schools, but that's got little to do with whether or not it's a good book. There are at least two tales here that go for a fairly decent price alone - they can be had here for one price! For that, alone, it's worth the price. - AnnaLovesBooks

A Ball of Clay.

by John Hawkinson

ISBN 0807505579 - A Ball of Clay is a fairly simple, instructional book about making things with clay. While it appears to be a children's book, I think it works better as a book for a teacher or other adult who will be working with children. Beginning with where to find clay - a creek bed is best but if you have to buy it, there's information about the kind of clay that's best - the book explains how to handle clay. In some detail, the reader learns how to make everything from basic shapes to various animals. Most directions are accompanied by a photograph that aids in clarifying them. Hawkinson, particularly in the introduction, seems to have a good understanding of children and their fascination with clay. This made me confident that the book would be far less dry than a lot of instructional books. That the book IS a bit dry was a surprise. The instruction is simple to follow, with suggestions that really help a child get the idea - to help make a nose for a mask, the artist is told to feel his or her own nose for an idea of shape, for example. The problem I have with the book becomes obvious pretty early: with hands full of clay, referring to the book, turning the pages and reading, is difficult. This makes it better as a teacher's book but negates most of the value of the photos. - AnnaLovesBooks

Walt Disney's the Jungle Book

Now on my third edition of The Jungle Book, I thought it would be good to merge the reviews for ease of comparison. With that in mind, this review contains three reviews. Mowgli, left in the jungle as an infant, is taken, by Bagheera the panther, to a wolf family's den to be raised. The animals are his friends and he learns from them until, suddenly, Shere Khan returns to the jungle. Like all tigers, Shere Khan hates man - and Mowgli, now ten, is a "man". His friends work to convince him to leave the jungle, but Mowgli doesn't want to go, facing various dangers to stay in the place he knows as his home. Until, that is, he sees a young human girl singing at the water and follows her home to her village. ISBN 0785395458 - 5 stars - Once again, a Disney edition that's different from the others in the details it includes; Kate Hannigan's version goes much more into Mowgli's attempts to stay in the jungle and the animals he comes into contact with. Kaa, the snake, attempts twice to kill the boy, Mowgli attempts to blend in with the elephants until Colonel Hathi discovers him, Mowgli's still kidnapped by monkeys and rescued by Bagheera and Baloo but that part is played down a bit and, finally, he chases Shere Khan from the jungle forever. For action and excitement, this version beats out the other two, by far. ISBN 0717283364 - 5 stars - My faith in Disney is restored. Having just reviewed another Disney edition of this book Disney's the Jungle Book (Little Golden Book) that was a small letdown, I'm thrilled to find Disney really is as good as I think. Disney's illustrations in all three editions are worthy of 5 stars, but the text is much better in this one than 0307003264. Without being excessively wordy, this edition goes into more detail, not leaving out important details (in ISBN 0307003264, Mowgli's adoptive wolf mother doesn't even say a word when the pack votes to send him away, for example). The pace is a little slower here, allowing the story to feel far less hurried. Disney's Wonderful World of Reading series are, indeed, wonderful - a set no child's library is complete without - and the added bonus of introducing your child to Kipling early in their life is just the icing on the cake. ISBN 0307003264 - 4 stars - I have had my illusions shattered by this edition of this book! Believing that Disney books are, essentially, flawless, I'm sad to report that this one doesn't quite reach the high standards of most others. Young fans of the Disney film might enjoy this book, but if this is your first introduction to the story, it's a good one but not a great one. The story, compacted to fit Golden Books' standard 24 pages, feels like it's missing far too much in an attempt to hit just the highlights. From the moment he is "sent away", Mowgli is kidnapped by and rescued from monkeys, and assaulted by and scares off Shere Khan - all of which seems to take place in an amazingly short time span. The illustrations, however, are definitely stellar Disney. Bright and colorful, they depict the action in the story perfectly, from the jungle itself to the facial expressions of everyone in it. As a way to bring Kipling's classic series The Jungle Books (Signet Classics) into your child's life, this is a nice route to take, just lacks in detail. - AnnaLovesBooks

Noisy Nora

by Rosemary Wells

ISBN 0803718357 - It's been a while since I've reviewed a kids' book that needed a note for certain parents with certain child-raising ideas. If you're one of them, you'll want to pass up this book - Nora's sister calls her "dumb" twice and Nora's behavior is... well, bad. If, however, you're able to overlook that, or just don't care about it, and want to get your child into books, this is one that I guarantee they'll love to have read to them. Nora's parents are spending all of their time with Jack, the baby, and their sister Kate. Nora feels neglected and makes noise, hoping to get their attention, but all she gets is shushed. She finally does get it - by announcing that she's leaving! They worry and look for her until she reappears again, quite noisily. Other than the "dumb" comments, some parents might find Nora's behavior bad enough to keep them from getting this book for their child. She slams the door, knocks over the lamp and flies a kite in the house. Personally, she's a mouse, I never expected my child to take his behavioral cues from rodents and he didn't; if you think yours might, then you need to find another book. Those exceptions out of the way, I think this book is adorable. If, at first glance, you think Nora resembles Max, she should - they have the same mother. Author and illustrator Rosemary Wells, mom of Max and Ruby and Nora, seems to understand what will work for children and laughing, something Nora will make them do, is a surefire way to get them to come back again and again. The illustrations are great, Nora is just hilarious in her frustrated efforts to get attention and there's the chance for a parent to talk to their own child about the RIGHT way to get attention - once everyone's stopped laughing at Nora. Parents with a new baby in the house might find that aspect particularly appealing because a new baby's arrival is certainly a time when an older sibling might feel ignored. - AnnaLovesBooks

Huggly Gets Dressed

by Tedd Arnold

ISBN 0590918192 - This series is apparently supposed to be for the 4 to 8 year old crowd, but Huggly will appeal to younger children, as well, if not more. For some of the older kids, Huggly's a nice way to deal with fears that a lot of 7 and 8 year olds don't even want to admit to having, of the monster under the bed. Huggly is a monster and lives under the bed of a people child "named" Sleepyhead. One night, Huggly sneaks out and slips quietly into the room… until he bangs his head on a dresser and causes a drawer of clothes to fall out. Suddenly curious about clothes, Huggly dresses himself and finishes just as Sleepyhead's mother comes to wake him. Huggly's got to hide before he gets caught! Huggly's hilarious, not even remotely scary, which isn't the point of the story but is a nice thing - kids who deal with their own monsters under their own beds will be happy to know that maybe their monster is equally un-scary. His attempt to figure out clothing seems perfectly reasonable, and the illustrations absolutely make the story. Reading "A bright red-and-yellow striped thing had a nice hole for his tail." isn't funny at all if you can't see that the striped thing is a shirt. Arnold's a genius and Huggly's a goofball... You should be warned, of course, that if you read this one once, you'll be required to read it over and over - it's that good. - AnnaLovesBooks

The Giant Who Wanted Company

by Lee Priestly

ISBN 0307021432 - Little Golden Books are currently a large stack on the top of my to-be-read pile, an occasion that always makes me happy. I get to re-visit the ones I loved when I was a kid and, even better, find new ones. The Giant Who Wanted Company is a new one for me and the cover - with the giant shaking hand and hoof with the horse - caught my eye right away. The giant is lonely in his empty, quiet house and he would like someone to talk with, so he set out to visit his friends and invite them to visit him. He visits all of his friends, large and small. All agree that they will stop by soon - and then, they all do! Every one of them, all at the same time. They make a great deal of noise, so much noise that he can't understand any of it. The giant has so many friends to take a walk with that he's afraid to take a single step and possibly step on a small friend. They eat all of his food, leaving him hungry, and they sleep in every available space, leaving him sitting for the night. When morning comes and his guests go home, he thanks them for coming and ask them to come again - but not all at once! Giants often get a bad rap in children's books. They eat people, are mean, etc. I liked the fact that Lee Priestly's giant is a very friendly sort, with a lot of friends. Of course, as an adult, I think if he has so many friends, why wouldn't they ever visit him? But most kids won't question that, they'll just enjoy the slightly silly tale (the kittens sleep in mittens and the llamas... in pajamas!). Dennis Hockerman's illustrations are good, full of color and some funny details (the ants in sleeping bags!). No really specific message here, unless it's "be careful what you wish for". - AnnaLovesBooks

Baby's Christmas

by Esther Wilkin

ISBN 0307601668 - A Little Golden Christmas book! Does it get any better than that? Well, it does, this isn't the best book in the history of Golden Books. In fact, it's pretty average, but it's still a nice addition to both the Christmas shelf and the Golden book collection. Baby comes down on Christmas morning (he's carried down, of course) to see what Santa has left for him. A long list of gifts follows, in a vague rhyming pattern, ending with a big surprise - a toy box for all of baby's Christmas presents! If you're anti-Santa, pass this one up. Jesus makes an appearance, too, so those who don't do that aspect of the holiday might want to forego this one. Greediness pops in, in a way. Not only is most of the book merely a list of toys that baby's gotten, but there's "Santa left a rubber ball To roll along the floor, A picture book, a kitty cat, And more, more, more!", which rhymes... but sounds bad. Still, I like it and I think many young children will as well. Sisters Esther (author) and Eloise (illustrator) Wilkin are a good pair, with Eloise stealing the show in this book. Baby is one cute baby! - AnnaLovesBooks

The Biggest Most Beautiful Christmas Tree

by Amye Rosenburg

ISBN 0307020010 - My Christmas book collection couldn't possibly be complete without Amye Rosenberg's The Biggest, Most Beautiful Christmas Tree. This edition, in paperback, isn't my favorite, only because the book gets a lot of reading and wear; I prefer the hardcover. In the trunk of a large fir tree in the forest, there are three cozy homes. Mr. and Mrs. Fieldmouse live on the first floor and Old Gray Acorn, a squirrel, lives on the top floor. In the middle, there are the Chipmunks, a family of four, including Little Nina and Nutley. Each Christmas, the children prepare for Santa's visit - and each year, he doesn't come. This year, Mom and Dad throw a party to cheer them up. Aunt Mim, their favorite aunt, comes and, when the kids tell her why they're sad, she has a great idea. She thinks Santa doesn't come because their house just looks like any other tree, so they will decorate their tree to be sure Santa can't possibly miss it. Everyone pitches in and they all agree - it's the biggest, most beautiful Christmas tree in the world. When Santa finally does find them, a tradition is born. As a kid, I found the book made me very sad, to think Santa could miss anyone! Even the happy resolution didn't make me feel better about it. Rosenberg is both author and illustrator and she's done a superb job. The illustrations, which take up all or almost all of every page, are engaging, fun and vivid. The details are nice, the colors are bright and they contribute so much to the story. The text is fairly simple and the story, like all good Christmas tales, does have the required happy ending, confirming that Santa doesn't overlook any child intentionally. - AnnaLovesBooks

This Is My Family

by Mercer Mayer, Gina Mayer

ISBN 0307001377 - Little Golden Books and Gina and Mercer Mayer? Now there's a match made in children's book heaven. This edition, published in 1993, is marked inside "Published on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Little Golden Books". Family - what a nice way to celebrate fifty years! Nameless Little Critters are introduced by the oldest child in the family. Dad works, so he buy the family things, and sometimes, when he's not too tired, he plays catch after work. Mom takes care of the family. His little sister is okay, and likes to tag along with him. His baby brother is cute, but boring and sometimes requires quiet so he can sleep. The family's pets are also part of the family, even if the goldfish isn't allowed in the tub. He pitches in to help his parents and be a good big brother. Even if they don't always get along, they love each other and that's what a family is. I've always found the nameless-ness of the critters a little annoying, but the story is very nice and the illustrations are excellent - some are quite funny, too! The relationships between the children are so accurate that you have to laugh. "This is my sister. She's no so bad. When I don't have anything to do, I play with her." Depending on your family structure, this book may or may not fit you. One negative is that, other than the ending, "we love each other a lot. I think that's what a family is all about.", there's no real opening for a parent to say "not all families are the same". Children not in traditional family homes might be bothered by that. If it doesn't reflect your family, young children might enjoy it anyway - you'll have to figure that out, but for the lack of being open to the possibility, I've got to detract a star. - AnnaLovesBooks

Right's Animal Farm

by Joan E. Goodman

ISBN 0307020061 - Reading through several shelves full of Little Golden Books is a great stroll down memory lane. From the classics to the lesser-known stuff, Golden Books is one set of books that gets it right almost every time. Farmer Right lives on a very orderly farm. He gently chastises his cat for getting milk on the floor and the duck for splashing. He cleans everything all the time, forcing order on his farm. That makes him very happy, but his animals don't feel the same way. They stage a revolt, throwing all Farmer Right's order away and driving him crazy - until he finally breaks down, laughing, and admits order isn't everything. Kids will crack up at the meow-ing cow, quack-ing cat and baa-ing chick. Author/illustrator Joan Elizabeth Goodman did a great job of writing a fun, silly book that kids will want to read over and over. The illustrations are nice enough and several are just laugh-out-loud funny, especially the ones of Farmer Right cleaning the farm. If your hope is to turn your child into a reader, turn him or her onto Right's Animal Farm; a book that makes them laugh will keep them reading and this one will definitely do that. - AnnaLovesBooks

Little Cottontail

by Carl Memling

ISBN 0307021076 - Little Golden Books are among the favorite books of generations of children and collecting them is a fun way to re-visit those childhood memories. Little Cottontail, by Carl Memling, is one of those books where the story has stayed in my mind for years, even after I couldn't remember the title. Little Cottontail, like all children, looks forward to being grownup. He has no idea, however, what it will take to get there, so he begins to ask. His mother explains some of the things that he must do before he can be grownup, starting with leaving the nest. Little Cottontail follows her instruction and asks, after each thing, if he is NOW grownup. When his mother teaches him how to know that a fox is approaching and what to do to get away, she has no idea how soon he'll need this skill. Catching the scent of a fox, Little Cottontail alerts everyone and they all scatter. His mother runs, hoping he's learned the lesson well - and when the danger is gone and she finds her son safe, he assures him that NOW he is grownup. The reason this story stuck with me for years could either be the reason you don't want it for your kid or the reason they'll really like: the cottontails know the fox is hoping to eat them. The chase is exciting and, since the end of the book finds everyone safe, it never bothered me, but there's the chance it will bother you. Lilian Obligado's illustrations are mostly average but a few, especially those with bunnies everywhere!, are memorable. - AnnaLovesBooks

Barney

by Mark S. Bernthal

ISBN 0307987906 - As a Little Golden Book collector, I had to have this one. As a parent of a first generation Barney fan, whose kid is now an adult, I don't look forward to Barney anything. I feel Barney-ed out. Baby Bop has a special yellow blankey and a reluctance to share it with anyone. Whenever anyone asks her to share it, she happily offers to share other things in place of the blankey - but she maintains a hold on her most special possession. Until, that is, Snuggles the cat falls into the pool and needs to be dried off so that she doesn't catch a cold; then Baby Bop offers the blankey even before she's asked. As I said, I'm not a Barney fan, but my review has nothing to do with that. Here are the problems I have with the book: "blankey". I don't, and never did, use baby-talk and find it annoying. My kid spoke clearly, early, and I've always believed in the studies that show that children who are spoke to in a normal tone of voice, using adult-speak (as opposed to baby-talk) learn to talk earlier. I also dislike the fact that the book promotes the untrue notion that being wet will cause someone, even if it is a cat, to catch a cold. Colds are caused by germs, not old wives' tales. That all aside, I think Sharing is Caring really does deserve 4 stars. The messages in here - you can share some things but don't have to share everything and sharing with someone in need, when you DO want to, is especially nice - are great for any child, particularly children about to welcome a new baby into the family. Barney fans will, of course, love the book. - AnnaLovesBooks

Fire!

by Beth Sycamore

ISBN 1584852119 - Firemen have always been cool to little kids and this book just might have something parents will appreciate, too. The fact that it comes with a Matchbox car doesn't hurt, either. From the alarm to the fire to the clean up in preparation for the next time, Fire! details what happens when that alarm goes off. Firemen slide down the pole, pull on their boots, coats and helmets and they're off - in under a minute! The last two pages are devoted to helping you create your family's plan in case of a fire and helping your child identify the sounds s/he hears when you're driving around (although it doesn't say why you would want to do this). Board book pages are sturdy but, because this book is much wider than it is tall, it's very easy to sort of twist the bulk of the book in a different direction than the cover, pulling it loose from the binding. Just something to keep an eye out for, because it really is worthwhile to tape it back up and keep it in your collection. Lee MacLeod's illustrations cover every inch of every page with bright, exciting, action-packed images. Your child will find the book a page-turner and will enjoy re-enacting that excitement with the toy fire engine and you might appreciate the chance to work out your own family's emergency plan. The book, itself, might merit 4 stars, but the educational aspect and the vehicle put it over the top. - AnnaLovesBooks

Who Lives Here?

by Playmore

ISBN 0866115471 - Pop-up books are cool, educational books are good, this one has both. Kids won't realize they're learning, they'll just think they’re enjoying a cool book - and if it works, why tell them? 10 pages of rhyming text shows, and tells, where a variety of animals live, not always too specifically. Polar bears "around the ice", squirrels "in the tops of trees". There is no specified illustrator or author on the book. The illustrations, reaching from edge to edge on every page, are colorful and fun: a monkey shooting a basketball at a hoop and forest animals roasting hot dogs over a campfire, among so many other charming details. The pop-ups are a thin cardboard and some care is required to close the book properly or risk trapping the pop-ups wrong, and they'll stop popping up. - AnnaLovesBooks

Bitty Bear Gets Dressed

by Kristi Jacobek

ISBN 1562472151 - It's pocket-sized, it features a cute little teddy bear and it's got a board book binding - all good things. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to add up to a good book. Bitty Bear has seasonal clothing. Rain gear for Spring, a snowsuit for Winter, each outfit on its own page. The first page features Bitty in her underclothes and as you turn the pages the clothes are overlaid on Bitty. Only the front and back covers are full pages; all the pages in between are an inch shorter. This is so that the head on the first page becomes the head of Bitty on every other page. This also means that the covers bend inward very easily. The text, by Kristi Jacobek is simple and short and the illustrations by Peggy Jo Ackley are nicely detailed and very pastel. Bitty is usually better than this, but this one is so easily damaged that it hardly seems worthwhile. - AnnaLovesBooks

Rabbit Food

by Elizabeth Greenaway

ISBN 0679839593 - A small board book with a really sad looking rabbit on the cover - who could pass it up? For the portability alone, it's worth a look. That it's educational is a plus, too! On twelve pages, with illustrations that cover every inch of every page, Elizabeth Greenaway shows what different animals eat. Toad food and fawn food, all the way to my food. The illustrations are a bit boring for me, but I don't think children will see them that way. The colors are pastel-ish and don't seem to have any life to them, but the animals are cute. Rabbit Food seems more likely to teach children the names of the animals inside than anything else, but education is education and parents ought to sneak it in whenever they can. Good, not great, I wouldn't go out of my way to grab a copy. - AnnaLovesBooks

Active Minds' First Words

by Ltd Publications International

ISBN 1412702038 - This pocket-sized board book, geared toward teaching your child his/her early vocabulary, surprised me. With so many "first word" books out there, the idea has begun to seem over-done and I wasn't expecting much from this one. It's much better than I expected. Each pair of facing pages has two images and their names - "apple" and "truck", for example. The second page of each pair has a lift-able flap and under the flap, the two words and images are combined - "The truck carries the apple." Some combinations are quite funny and catch you a little by surprise - "The beans are in the sock." comes to mind. Any series called "Active Minds" really ought to be a good thing, and this one is. The sturdy board book pages are great, the size of the book makes it perfect for travel and the flaps are a nice novelty that lifts First Words just a little above the rest. The flaps are, as always, a little flimsier than the pages, but don't appear to be easily torn. The photographs, from George Siede and Donna Preis, are nice and bright; the only complaint is that the egg is on a white background and blends in a little bit. What a nice, fun way to expand your kid's vocabulary. - AnnaLovesBooks

More Baby Animals

ISBN 1562883089 - A board book with padded covers and a photo of cute puppies on the front cover looks like a great book for little children. They will probably like it more than I do, but there are so many like this one that, unless a copy falls into your lap, it's not worthwhile. Sixteen pages of adorable animal photos, some with an adult animal. The images are bright, vivid and mostly of the animals in what looks like their natural habitat (with the exception of the rhinoceroses - there's a wooden wall in the background - the horses are on a farm and the gorilla appears to be in a zoo). Each photo has the name of the animal it shows. One thing I find annoying is the lack of accurate names for young animals. The kitten is labeled "Kitten" but the rabbits are just "Rabbits", not bunnies; the horses are just "Horses", not foal or colt. The book is very portable, which is a plus, and the board book pages will survive through much use. Good, not great. - AnnaLovesBooks

Mama Do You Love Me

by Barbara M. Joosse

ISBN 0811821315 - Having read mostly positive reviews of this book, with most of the dissenters not making much sense, I was really looking forward to finding out if it could live up to the hype. The cover is appealing, in the same uniquely ethnic way ISBN:1931127700 The Rhythm of My Day (Kindermusik) appeals. This edition is a board book and is probably shortened from the original. A child asks her mother "do you love me?" and, being assured that Mama does, indeed, love her very much, she proceeds to question that love further and further. The daughter wonders if Mama would love her if she did small things - broke eggs by accident or played pranks. Her mother says she would be sorry, or angry, or sad, etc. but that she would still love her daughter. Some reviews have mentioned that the mother's unconditional love is an indication that the mother finds her daughter's suggested behavior acceptable. "What if I turned into a polar bear, and I was the meanest bear you ever saw and I had sharp, shiny teeth and I chased you into your tent and you cried?" the daughter asks and the mother replies "Then I would be very surprised and very scared. But still, inside the bear, you would be you, and I would love you." Mama's replies always include the OTHER feelings as well, from sorry to very surprised and very scared, but she repeatedly insists that she will love her daughter: that's what unconditional love is. A child can do bad things and make a parent angry, but the parent will still love them and Barbara Joosse conveys that message well here. The illustrations by Barbara Lavallee are fantastic. This book opens the door, if you want to step through it, for conversations about other cultures. The only potential negative will be parents stumbling over "ptarmigan", a word no other children's book is likely to introduce them to. - AnnaLovesBooks

Miss Spider's Tea Party

by David Kirk

ISBN 059006519x - Usually, when I come across a board book with a spectacularly illustrated cover, I'm let down when I open it up. David Kirk is absolutely fantastic and so, it turns out, is every single page inside. Miss Spider would like to play, but all the other bugs are afraid of her. Rhyming text counts the bugs, from the two beetles who ran away to the eleven bugs who finally came to visit - bringing twelve flowers as gifts. It's great, the chance to work on numbers with your child, but for me the illustrations are what knocks it out of the park. The details are excellent: the reflection in the teapot and the twelve cupcakes when her eleven bugs come to visit, for example. The colors are vivid and the images nearly 3D. Board book pages are sturdy and can take a bit of a beating. My single complaint is that the cover board seems to be coated with a rubbery plastic layer which peels fairly easily. The bugs aren't particularly creepy or scary, which works for me - I've got a shortage of Halloween-themed board books and this one is going to fill in. I hardly think anyone will mind! - AnnaLovesBooks

Nursery Rhymes

by Playmore Waldman Staff

ISBN 0866115463 - Nursery rhymes are so unoriginal that something else in the book, other than the text, has to be fantastic to make it more appealing than the other million nursery rhyme books out there. The pop-ups in this one are enough to make the book average, but not more. Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Little Bo Peep, Hey Diddle Diddle and Rock-a-Bye Baby are the rhymes inside, each one taking up two full pages. Most of the pages are given to large pop-ups that add a little something extra to the book. No author or illustrator is listed. The illustrations are cute and every one of them has a small extra - mice carrying a stretcher in Humpty Dumpty, blackbirds who appear to be helping Little Bo Peep and more. The small touches make the images just a little more fun. The pages are a thin cardboard which is sturdier than paper but not difficult to damage. The pop-ups, of the same thin cardboard, pop right up when you first open a new book but if you ever happen to close the book wrong and trap a pop-up the wrong way, the popping is over. Slightly tougher pages would be a nice. It's not a bad book, it's not just nothing special. - AnnaLovesBooks

What Bag Do You Grab?

ISBN 0887058167 - The novelty of a pop-up book is always an attraction in childrens' books and the small size (4 1/4" x 3 1/4") makes this one a great take-along. Add to that the fact that What Bag is a counting book, somewhat educational, and you've got a hit with the grown-ups, too. Twelve tiny pages feature a variety of bags, from a pet carrier to a laundry bag. Each bag contains a number of items, in order from one to ten: one iguana and two windows, five books, ten socks. The copyright is held by Mavis Smith - but the cover doesn't indicate if that's the author or illustrator or both. The illustrations are fun, not excessively detailed, which keeps the focus on the counting. The count-able items are clearly visible - no special effort required to find them, again keeping the focus on the purpose. The text is simple and easy to read ("A lunch box with eight cookies and nine ants"). The pages are thin cardboard but are glued to one another, so they're doubly thick and fairly sturdy. The pop-ups are just a single thickness, making them more easily torn. - AnnaLovesBooks

Witzy Wonders

by Suzy Spafford

ISBN 0439365554 - Little Suzy's Zoo has a surprisingly large following, and it exists for a reason. These characters are adorable and often seem very much like the young children who are the target audience. Witzy is very curious and wonders about a lot of things: What does Boof dream about? Why does Lulla like to watch the clouds in the sky? Witzy has so many questions! All of the questions in the book relate to one of Witzy's friends and each friend - and Witzy - can be found on the tabs. On the final page, Witzy sits with all of her friends and just wonders. Sturdy board book tabbed pages stand up to much handling and the tabs are surprisingly strong. While the characters are cuter than cute and Witzy's questions are a reflection most kids will recognize - all those questions, all the time, about everything! - the negative is that there are no answers. This allows for some conversation, so it's not entirely bad, but it is a little weird. - AnnaLovesBooks

Walt Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

by Golden Books Little

In an effort to make comparisons easier, I'm consolidating three reviews for three different editions of Snow White. First, the recap: The Queen is a very vain woman, not happy to see her step-daughter's beauty eclipse her own, so when her mirror finally confirms the dreaded reality, she sends the huntsman into the woods with Snow White with orders to kill her. The huntsman can't bring himself to do it, so he warns her and tells her to run, which she does. Finding a small house, with the help of forest animals who have befriended her, Snow White cleans it up in hopes of being invited to stay. The owners of the house, seven dwarfs, find her there when they return from work and decide that she should stay - and that she should be very careful from now on. When an old woman comes to the cottage, offering Snow White an apple, she fails to see the harm until it's too late. Certain that she's dead, the dwarfs give her a coffin of glass and gold and she lies there until her prince comes and wakes her with a kiss. ISBN 0307010368 - 5 stars - Having read a number of collaborations between Disney and Golden Books recently, I'm so happy to find them back on track with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The illustrations are standard Disney, the story is complete and well told. Unlike recent reads from Disney/Golden Books, Snow White hits every important note of the original without seeming hurried. For those parents who stress about these things, there's no violence and the single presumed death is vague, to say the least. Well worth picking up for your little reader. ISBN 1845770773 - 4 stars - This edition, from the Early Readers Treasured Tales series would probably merit a 3 star review, if not for the "points to help you teach your child to read" in the front. It's such a nice addition to this average re-telling, edited by Claire Black, that it deserves a star all its own. This edition begins a little earlier than the Disney one, with Snow White's pregnant, happy mother and how she chooses Snow White's name. There are questions at the bottom of several pages ("Why was the princess called Snow White?" for example). They are unobtrusive, so they don't interfere if you just choose to read the book, but are useful for comprehension – one "point" to help a child learn to read. Some versions leave out the Queen's order to the huntsman that he must bring back Snow White’s heart in a box - this one does not omit that detail, but it does leave out the Queen's death. If the heart in a box thing is something you think your child will have issues with, this isn't your edition. The illustrations here, by Eric Kincaid, are very well done and more true to the Grimms Brothers version than the Disney one. ISBN 0785310320 – 3 stars – This edition, A Little Rainbow Book, is all right but nothing special. The look of the book is clearly an attempt to look like the Little Golden Books. The cover illustration, by Kenny Yamada, is the best of the lot. The inside illustrations, by Gary Torrisi are just about average, lacking in detail and a bit boring. The adaptation by Dorothea Goldenberg is fair. The text flows well and the words are simple, a plus for young readers. Several small differences in the story made it boring for me but might appeal to others. Snow White is simply banished to the forest – there’s no huntsman and no threat of death at that point. Rather than jump straight to the poison apple, the Queen tries a poisoned comb first, which is a little closer to the original tale. However, it is very strange that, after that attempt, no special warnings to be careful follow. The gold and/or glass coffin is left out here, and the dwarfs place Snow White on a bed of rose petals and moss. The Queen is not killed. Those things add up to a far less violent/scary tale but, again, they make the story boring to me. - AnnaLovesBooks

Snow White

by Dorothea Goldenberg

In an effort to make comparisons easier, I'm consolidating three reviews for three different editions of Snow White. First, the recap: The Queen is a very vain woman, not happy to see her step-daughter's beauty eclipse her own, so when her mirror finally confirms the dreaded reality, she sends the huntsman into the woods with Snow White with orders to kill her. The huntsman can't bring himself to do it, so he warns her and tells her to run, which she does. Finding a small house, with the help of forest animals who have befriended her, Snow White cleans it up in hopes of being invited to stay. The owners of the house, seven dwarfs, find her there when they return from work and decide that she should stay - and that she should be very careful from now on. When an old woman comes to the cottage, offering Snow White an apple, she fails to see the harm until it's too late. Certain that she's dead, the dwarfs give her a coffin of glass and gold and she lies there until her prince comes and wakes her with a kiss. ISBN 0785310320 – 3 stars – This edition, A Little Rainbow Book, is all right but nothing special. The look of this edition clearly attempts to copy the Little Golden Books. The cover illustration, by Kenny Yamada, is the best of the lot. The inside illustrations, by Gary Torrisi are just about average, lacking in detail and a bit boring. The adaptation by Dorothea Goldenberg is fair. The text flows well and the words are simple, a plus for young readers. Several small differences in the story made it boring for me but might appeal to others. Snow White is simply banished to the forest – there’s no huntsman and no threat of death at that point. Rather than jump straight to the poison apple, the Queen tries a poisoned comb first, which is a little closer to the original tale. However, it is very strange that, after that attempt, no special warnings to be careful follow. The gold and/or glass coffin is left out here, and the dwarfs place Snow White on a bed of rose petals and moss. The Queen is not killed. Those things add up to a far less violent/scary tale but, again, they make the story boring to me. ISBN 1845770773 - 4 stars - This edition, from the Early Readers Treasured Tales series would probably merit a 3 star review, if not for the "points to help you teach your child to read" in the front. It's such a nice addition to this average re-telling, edited by Claire Black, that it deserves a star all its own. This edition begins a little earlier than the Disney one, with Snow White's pregnant, happy mother and how she chooses Snow White's name. There are questions at the bottom of several pages ("Why was the princess called Snow White?" for example). They are unobtrusive, so they don't interfere if you just choose to read the book, but are useful for comprehension – one "point" to help a child learn to read. Some versions leave out the Queen's order to the huntsman that he must bring back Snow White’s heart in a box - this one does not omit that detail, but it does leave out the Queen's death. If the heart in a box thing is something you think your child will have issues with, this isn't your edition. The illustrations here, by Eric Kincaid, are very well done and more true to the Grimms Brothers version than the Disney one. ISBN 0307010368 - 5 stars - Having read a number of collaborations between Disney and Golden Books recently, I'm so happy to find them back on track with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The illustrations are standard Disney, the story is complete and well told. Unlike recent reads from Disney/Golden Books, Snow White hits every important note of the original without seeming hurried. For those parents who stress about these things, there's no violence and the single presumed death is vague, to say the least. Well worth picking up for your little reader. - AnnaLovesBooks

The Treehouse Shapes Up

ISBN 0766601145 - Padded board books are nice but for some reason, the ones from Fisher-Price all seem to lose their padded feel fairly easily; not a big deal, just something I've noticed. Hideaway Hollow books are nice, simple and educational and the board book pages here are sturdier than many others so they'll stand up to repeated readings. The Treehouse Shapes Up teaches shapes in a look-and-find way. A short rhyme on each page indicates the shape you're looking for ("Let's look for shapes. They’re everywhere. First tell me where you see a square.") and several items in the illustration have that shape. Most of the rhymes are vague but some point to specific items to help you find the shape you're searching for. No author or illustrator is named on the covers. The illustrations are cute - what wouldn't be cute about bunnies and bears? - and fill the pages from edge to edge. The shapes are simple and easy to find most of the time, although there are some that come as pleasant surprises once you think you've found them all. Learning shapes is fun with this book and once you've found them all, you can look for other fun details in the pictures. - AnnaLovesBooks

The Rhythm Of My Day

ISBN 1931127700 - I've reviewed so many good-but-not-great board books lately that just the look of the cover of this one had me anticipating something great. There's an ethnic, hip look to the cover that I just haven't come across a lot for the still-gnaws-on-books set, but The Rhythm of My Day is here to fill in that gap, at least a little. Waking in the morning, eating, getting dressed, dancing... the rhythm of a child's day is a huge comfort to them. In rhyme, with "Rhythm, the rhythm, the rhythm of my day" as a sort of refrain, the happy day-to-day of a happy child. Sturdy board book pages will take a beating and survive. This book appears to be part of a curriculum and I've found copies of a CD out there, but it does work alone - and that allows you to create your own rhythm for the "song" inside. The text, by Angela R. Yates, is nice and flowing for the most part, although a few rhymes sound cumbersome. The illustrations by Laura DeSantis cover the pages from edge to edge. They're fairly plain but are so bright and lively and so different from the usual that all your child will notice is that they look fun! - AnnaLovesBooks

Kellogg's Froot Loops

by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

ISBN 0694015776 - The first time you come across a play-with-your-food book, you think it's kinda cool, unique, fun... and then you come across another, and another and it ought to wear thin - but it really doesn't. First, the books aren't for you, they're for your kid, and young kids will always think playing their food is grand entertainment. Froot Loops Color Fun Book isn't what it sounds like. There's no coloring, but there IS fun! Toucan Sam glides through the jungle, looking for Froot Loops. Each page is dedicated to one color and each page has a small cut-out, the size of a cereal ring. The idea would be, it seems, to match your Froot Loop to the right color page. Because this book is just a little educational, it earns a five star rating from me. Sure, playing with your food is fun, but learning your colors from Toucan Sam is cool, too. The thick board book pages will take whatever your little eater/reader can dish out. Frank Mazzola's illustrations are nice but earn an extra kudo from me for actually making the Froot Loops nearly blend in. Yep, fun, educational and yummy! - AnnaLovesBooks

Beauty and The Beast

by Christine Deverell

ISBN 0755403231 - The cover illustration is a fairly accurate preview of those inside - a little like watercolors, ok but not great - and of the story itself. Adapted by Christine Deverell and illustrated by David Long, this edition is average all the way around. A merchant with three daughters - two of them a bit greedy and superficial and the third, Beauty, kind hearted and loving - sets off on a long journey, promising to return with the gifts his daughters ask for. All Beauty wants is a white rose, which turns out to be the hardest thing to find. Lost in a snowstorm, the merchant finds shelter in a castle. He sees no one, but everything he wants and needs is there for him, so he takes advantage of the chance to eat and rest in comfort. Before he is able to leave, he meets an ugly beast who will allow the merchant to go if he will promise to return with the first thing that runs out to greet him when he gets home. Sadly, for the merchant, that turns out to be Beauty. She and her father agree he must keep his promise and, in time, Beauty settles into her new life with the Beast. He gives her everything, including the chance to go home when her father is ill and, eventually, Beauty realizes – and admits – she loves him, turning him into the handsome prince he’d been before he was cursed by a witch. The story feels hurried much of the time and drags at others, there's no real flow to the adaptation. Kids won't notice that too much, but the illustrations are likely to disappoint them. Worth reading, but a better edition deserves the shelf space over this one. - AnnaLovesBooks

Safe At Home With Pooh

by Kathleen Zoehfeld

ISBN 0717288676 - Message books from Winnie the Pooh doesn't strike me as a good idea. Pooh is fun, funny, silly... not an overly bright sort and no one's moral compass. I am happy to tell you that author Zoehfeld did a great job staying true to who Pooh is and still managed to convey an important message for young readers about strangers. Christopher Robin comes across Pooh and Piglet as he's leaving the Hundred Acre Wood, alone!, to visit his grandmother. The pair expresses concern, but Christopher Robin assures them that he's been learning the Stay-Safe Rules. He teaches Pooh and Piglet that the most important rules is not to talk to strangers, then he explains strangers to them. Once he has left, Pooh and Piglet go to Pooh's for supper and, while there, they hear noises outside. Frightened, and worried that it may be a stranger, they peer out to find Gopher, who joins them. When more noises disturb them, Pooh calls out to find out who is at the door. It's Christopher Robin and he congratulates Pooh on learning one Stay-Safe rule all on his own: Always make sure you the person at your door before you open it. The last page is made up of a list of Christopher Robin's Stay-Safe Rules, all common sense to adults but definitely things kids need to learn. Pooh and friends offer a nice way to teach those rules, and Pooh's and Piglet's fears are something kids can relate to easily. The illustrations, by Robbin Cuddy, are perfect Disney - bright and colorful, even in the scary moments. Get it and start teaching your kid those Stay-Safe Rules! - AnnaLovesBooks

My First Jumbo Book of Colors

by Melanie Gerth, James Diaz

ISBN 0439324467 - If ever a book's cover was an accurate preview of what you'll find inside, this is the book. It's not just bright and colorful, it's got a rubbery raincoat and a sparkling sun to add a very unique touch. Amazing, what can be fit into a mere ten pages! Starting with basic colors (red, yellow, blue), progressing to mixed colors (orange, purple, green) and ending with two pages of various colors, this book is filled with fun things to do - all aimed at teaching your child colors. There are flaps to lift, tabs to pull and some surprising textured items to feel. A touch and feel fence? How unexpected! The illustrations, by James Diaz and Melanie Gerth, are 99 percent of the book and they are superb. The drawings are basic, perfect since too much detail would distract from the purpose. Learning is good, fun learning is fantastic! - AnnaLovesBooks

Moo Moo Goes to the City

by Jo Lodge

ISBN 0316655821 - If the cover were any brighter, I do believe it might begin to glow. That's not a bad thing, it's actually one of the most attractive things about the book - it is bright, colorful and eye-catching and kids will like that. One thing on the cover is misleading: there are no flaps to lift here, it's all tabs to pull and one pop-up. Moo Moo goes to the city, arriving on the train. She has ice cream, buys a hat and shares her lunch in the park with the pigeons before taking a boat tour. Moo Moo winds up her day by rollerblading in the park and heads home on the bus. Every action is shown in a pull-the-tab graphic, with birds bobbing and a boat moving through the water, among other things. The pages are slightly thicker than the average book page but nowhere near as thick as a board book; the entire thing is easily torn and the moving parts will attract the sort of attention that will lead to tearing. For a new price of 13 bucks, that's a big negative. If you're buying used, particularly books with moving parts, you'll need to take the time to be sure everything is intact. The text is very minimal and simple, great for beginning readers, and the illustrations are every bit as nearly-neon-bright as the cover. The final page is a large pop-up skyline that's absolutely perfect. Jo Lodge did a great job, I just wish the pages were sturdier. - AnnaLovesBooks

Walt Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

by Golden Books Little

In an effort to make comparisons easier, I'm consolidating two reviews for two different editions of Snow White. First, the recap: The Queen is a very vain woman, not happy to see her step-daughter's beauty eclipse her own, so when her mirror finally confirms the dreaded reality, she sends the huntsman into the woods with Snow White with orders to kill her. The huntsman can't bring himself to do it, so he warns her and tells her to run, which she does. Finding a small house, with the help of forest animals who have befriended her, Snow White cleans it up in hopes of being invited to stay. The owners of the house, seven dwarfs, find her there when they return from work and decide that she should stay - and that she should be very careful from now on. When an old woman comes to the cottage, offering Snow White an apple, she fails to see the harm until it's too late. Certain that she's dead, the dwarfs give her a coffin of glass and gold and she lies there until her prince comes and wakes her with a kiss. ISBN 0307010368 - 5 stars - Having read a number of collaborations between Disney and Golden Books recently, I'm so happy to find them back on track with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The illustrations are standard Disney, the story is complete and well told. Unlike recent reads from Disney/Golden Books, Snow White hits every important note of the original without seeming hurried. I still think it's one dwarf, two dwarves… but grammar is nowhere near as important as a fairy tale! For those parents who stress about these things, there's no violence and the single presumed death is vague, to say the least. Well worth picking up for your little reader. ISBN 1845770773 - 4 stars - This edition, from the Early Readers Treasured Tales series would probably merit a 3 star review, if not for the "points to help you teach your child to read" in the front. It's such a nice addition to this average re-telling, edited by Claire Black, that it deserves a star all its own. This edition begins a little earlier than the Disney one, with Snow White's pregnant, happy mother and how she chooses Snow White's name. There are questions at the bottom of several pages ("Why was the princess called Snow White?" for example). They are unobtrusive, so they don't interfere if you just choose to read the book, but are useful for comprehension – one "point" to help a child learn to read. Some versions leave out the Queen's order to the huntsman that he must bring back Snow White’s heart in a box - this one does not omit that detail, but it does leave out the Queen's death. If the heart in a box thing is something you think your child will have issues with, this isn't your edition. The illustrations here, by Eric Kincaid, are very well done and more true to the Grimms Brothers version than the Disney one. - AnnaLovesBooks

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

In an effort to make comparisons easier, I'm consolidating two reviews for two different editions of Snow White. First, the recap: The Queen is a very vain woman, not happy to see her step-daughter's beauty eclipse her own, so when her mirror finally confirms the dreaded reality, she sends the huntsman into the woods with Snow White with orders to kill her. The huntsman can't bring himself to do it, so he warns her and tells her to run, which she does. Finding a small house, with the help of forest animals who have befriended her, Snow White cleans it up in hopes of being invited to stay. The owners of the house, seven dwarfs, find her there when they return from work and decide that she should stay - and that she should be very careful from now on. When an old woman comes to the cottage, offering Snow White an apple, she fails to see the harm until it's too late. Certain that she's dead, the dwarfs give her a coffin of glass and gold and she lies there until her prince comes and wakes her with a kiss. ISBN 1845770773 - 4 stars - This edition, from the Early Readers Treasured Tales series would probably merit a 3 star review, if not for the "points to help you teach your child to read" in the front. It's such a nice addition to this average re-telling, edited by Claire Black, that it deserves a star all its own. This edition begins a little earlier than the Disney one, with Snow White's pregnant, happy mother and how she chooses Snow White's name. There are questions at the bottom of several pages ("Why was the princess called Snow White?" for example). They are unobtrusive, so they don't interfere if you just choose to read the book, but are useful for comprehension – one "point" to help a child learn to read. Some versions leave out the Queen's order to the huntsman that he must bring back Snow White’s heart in a box - this one does not omit that detail, but it does leave out the Queen's death. If the heart in a box thing is something you think your child will have issues with, this isn't your edition. The illustrations here, by Eric Kincaid, are very well done and more true to the Grimms Brothers version than the Disney one. ISBN 0307010368 - 5 stars - Having read a number of collaborations between Disney and Golden Books recently, I'm so happy to find them back on track with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The illustrations are standard Disney, the story is complete and well told. Unlike recent reads from Disney/Golden Books, Snow White hits every important note of the original without seeming hurried. I still think it's one dwarf, two dwarves… but grammar is nowhere near as important as a fairy tale! For those parents who stress about these things, there's no violence and the single presumed death is vague, to say the least. Well worth picking up for your little reader. - AnnaLovesBooks

A Mother's Favorite Lullaby Book

by Judith Barbour Osborne, T. A. Mossman

ISBN 0894712616 - The fact that this looks, from the outside, like a cute little book is due almost entirely to the cover design by Toby Schmidt. The illustrations inside, by Geri Greinke bear no resemblance whatsoever to the cover and are, overall, pretty bad. The inside illustrations look a bit like a cross between antique wood-cut works and collector plates. They are one color - blue - and, although they have some great detail, they couldn't possibly be more boring. The text consists of a dozen lullabies: All Through the Night, Baa! Baa! Black Sheep, Beautiful Dreamer, Greensleeves, Hush Little Baby, London Bridge is Falling Down, Lullaby and Good Night (Brahms' Lullaby/The Cradle Song), My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Rock-a-Bye Baby, Shenandoah, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The Table of Contents lists the lullabies in alphabetical order rather than the more traditional order you'd expect in a book. The lullabies themselves contain verses I've never heard before, which is both interesting and weird. The selection of lullabies stretches the definition for me - Greensleeves is considered a folk song (possibly about a prostitute), as is Shenandoah; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is categorized as an American Negro spiritual. There are much better lullaby compilations out there. - AnnaLovesBooks

Richard Scarry's Things To Know

by Richard Scarry

ISBN 1586050028 - LeapFrog's LeapPad is a fantastic tool that really makes learning an enjoyable, fun experience and Richard Scarry's Busy Town characters are an absolutely perfect match. From cover to cover, this book is bright and engaging. Activities on 24 pages teach Opposites, Seasons, even Manners, and more. The text is kept simple - we are, after all, just learning here - but the illustrations fill the pages with characters children know and love. The cartridge adds to the learning experience with the ability to hear the words on the page, making it simple for a child to learn on their own. The book, the cartridge and the LeapPad are all needed for this book to fully serve its purpose, which is a minor negative. Still, the interactive aspects far outweigh that. Scarry's characters are so recognizable that it's a lot like learning from friends and kids will like that. The book seems a bit slim at first, but it's so jam-packed with good stuff that it turns out 24 pages is perfect. - AnnaLovesBooks

Max's Bath

by Rosemary Wells

ISBN 0803701624 - Every now and then, the critics all agree. The back of Max's bath proclaims they all agree on Max - and like him. I almost feel as if all I can add is "me, too!" Max ends up wearing a good portion of his sandwich, so Ruby orders a bath. While she readies it, he eats sherbet and juice and when it's time to get in the tub, he takes the sherbet along, dying the bath water - and himself - orange. He repeats this in a new bath with the juice and ends up dirtier still. Ruby finally gives up and makes him take a shower and she plans to get him clean. As the nearly tie-died Max becomes his usual fluffy white self, he points to Ruby, now wearing his mess, and pronounces her dirty. Max and Ruby are fun siblings. Ruby, as the older sister, is a bit bossy and Max, as the younger brother, allows himself to be bossed, sort of. It's a cute relationship that anyone can appreciate. Young readers will find the silly tale hilarious and learn, at least, clean and dirty. The illustrations are fun, on plain brightly colored backgrounds without much detail to distract focus from the images which really are a part of the story. - AnnaLovesBooks

Where's Willy

by Martha G. Alexander

ISBN 1564021610 - Toddler siblings Willy and Lily, who failed to impress me in ISBN:1564021645 Good Night, Lily, get a little better in Where's Willy? Sturdy board book pages will stand up to your young reader and a mere 29 words make this book a good beginning reader. Lily and Willy play hide and seek. Willy hides in a bag and, when it tears open, pops out peek-a-boo style. Martha Alexander's illustrations are a little pastel-y for me, making them pleasant rather than good. For some reason, the top layer of the pages peels almost too easily; once they start peeling, there's no stopping it. The story is fun, and funny - little kids will enjoy it, especially because they'll know where Willy is before Lily. - AnnaLovesBooks

Good Night, Blue

by Angela C. Santomero

ISBN 0689829507 - Steve Burns' fans will be thrilled to find him here; current fans of Blue, those who've only known the show with Donovan Patton, might not be so excited by that, but they'll still enjoy a sleep over at Blue's house! The illustrations by Jenine Pontillo are almost straight from the TV show, absolutely perfect. Steve greets you when you arrive for your sleep over at Blue's house. After welcoming you, he and Blue take you step-by-step through the preparations for bed. From brushing your teeth to a bedtime song, you're in bed and ready for a story... until Steve remembers you've just had one! The "story" is told by Steve, just as the show was. Rather than give orders (like Mom does!), Steve asks "What do we do next?", gently leading Blue and the reader. There is a lot of text (by Angela C. Santomero) - this isn't so much a book that you'd read at bedtime, when you've got your kid tucked in, but more something you'd read as you go through your bedtime routine. That might make it a tough book to enjoy for those who like to curl up and read but, then again, it just might make the entire "brush your teeth, go to bed" routine a little less a routine chore. - AnnaLovesBooks

Rhymes with Bug

by Patrick Merrell

ISBN 0785331530 - Beginner phonics books are out there by the thousands, and it's hard to say much bad about anything that interests a child in reading, especially for someone like me - I love books and think everyone should be infected early. It will be rare for me to not see these types of books positively; this one, with the cut-outs on the pages, certainly deserves props. On brightly colored, sturdy board book pages, the text is very simple, to introduce beginning readers to words that rhyme with bug. The cut-out of each page is a little larger than the one before, to show the words added on that page. For example, "A bug", the cut-out shows a bug; "A bug gets a hug", the cut-out has been enlarged to show the same bug getting a hug. It's a very simple novelty that sets this book just a little apart from other phonics books. Illustrator Patrick Merrell really only had to do one illustration, which is shown in increments by the cut-outs, but I still think he earned some credit there. Not only does the illustration work fantastically with the cut-outs, but it is cute, cute, cute. I don't know if this book is part of a series, but I can hope! - AnnaLovesBooks