Baby Books

Owen clearly has a problem. Kevin Henkes doesn't shy away from letting us know, through the illustrations, that his problem is a buttinsky neighbor.

Unfortunately, Owen's parents listen to their neighbor and keep taking her dubious advice about his blanket. Of course, Owen really *can't* bring his blanket to school - but his parents finally stop thinking of Mrs. Tweezers' view of things and come up with a bright idea - they turn Fuzzy into handkerchiefs! Perfect solution and everybody's happy.

Great ending, and I do love Owen's passive resistance to his parent's obsession.

We give children's books as presents for new babies. This is a special book that will be reserved for our daughter at the event (if) of her first child.

Absolutely love all the Kevin Henkes books we have, This is especially cute because we have a boy who loves his blankie. I know a lot of little girls who love Lilly...but I would definitely recommend this and Chester's Way for the boys!

for a child of any age that has a favorite blanket (blankey)
a plot a young child can follow and relate to.

I read Owen. I would recommend this book. The reason I would recommend it is because it was funny and it made me crack me up. In the book Owen, Owen and Fuzzy were playing captain plunger. They looked silly. This helped me convince me that it was a grate book.

Helen Lester's books all combine sweet stories with terrific humor that both children and adults can enjoy. The stories are just the right length and have a nice hidden message as well--you may be different but that can be a plus! The whole Tacky series is wonderful.

I love this series. Besides being silly and fun to read, they also point out that it is ok to be different. This is a great message for kids, especially with the terrible shootings that have plagued our country. A message of acceptance is needed for all. Of course, my class just loves Tacky. He is a character everyone must get to know.

Very cute story, very engaging with hilarious illustrations. This is a great book - we travel alot so I tend to purchase a lot of paperback picture books (portable!) and this is one of our favorites.

It's been many, many years since I read this book, the last time being in my childhood. It's been a while, but I still remember Tacky with fondness. In fact, I was just thinking about him earlier today. I loved this book sooo much when I was a child, and highly recommend it for both kids and parents alike.

My son from an early age marched to a beat of a different drummer. We discovered this book when he was 5, and it was a great thing in his life. I was recently asked to name the most influential non-religious book in our lives and believe it or not this was it. Tacky helped our son believed that there was a place in the world for both the straight-laced run-of-the-mill kids and the more creative types. He is leaving to college today, his third year , and I just had to write this review in thanks. Our son has a lot of self-esteem and this book helped him find it. If you have a quirky kid, this book is a must. If you have a 'normal' kid, but they have a quirky friend this is a good book too, because it doesn't put down either sets of people, or penguins as the case may be. We of course have the whole book memorized and can make any of us smile by starting any of the phases in the book. If we save one of the children's books in our library, Tacky would be by FAR it.

Breastfeeding Made Simple is my favorite basic breastfeeding book for new moms. As a Childbirth Educator and Doula I work with new parents all the time. Nancy has laid out excellent information in a clear and readable style. The information is based in current research and years of experience. The format is chronological so a new mom can read about the first few days, then the first weeks, then the first months, etc. Changes that occur over time are explained. I give this book to my students to help their knowledge, skills and courage.

I am currently living abroad and had my first child. There are no english-speaking lactation consultants in the area, so I wanted to make sure I was prepared as possible to breastfeed. This book was amazing at clearly explaining a good latch, and gave me the confidence to breastfeed exclusively...and pain free! Thank you for writing this book. If you are considering breastfeeding, this book is a blessing.

This book has all of the information needed for succesful breastfeeding. I read this after my third child and learned so much. An absolute MUST read for every expecting or seasoned mom. Explanations are so easy to understand. Photos and drawings to show techniques. Gives you all of the who, what, when, and how. Great support and encouragement offered by author. I will be giving this to every new mother I know. I'm a pediatric nurse and teach mothers how to nurse but I learned so much from reading this. Mothers, trust your instincts! You can breastfeed!

This book has made my life so much easier. I have read lots of books out there and I would have saved a lot of time and money if I had only gotten this book first! It gives simple solutions to problems that most women have after having a baby and trying to breastfeed. This is definately a book worth buying!

I had a lot of difficulty breastfeeding my first child. I wish I had this book seven years ago, it would of eliminated a lot of problems. It is an easy read, with very helpful info not only on technique but avoiding the pitfalls that can sabotage breastfeeding.

From the early morning wakeup by the Birthday Bird and special Katroo birthday aso-see-eye-ation handshake to being flown home asleep from the "Birthday Pal-alace" on a soft pillowed platter, this special day story delights readers young and old. From as far back as I remember this was my main birthday treat, and then years later I enjoyed reading it to all my children as much as they loved hearing it (and then having it read to me! when they could do the honors). This is the good Doctor at his best - great story, fine graphics, wonderful rhymes! (I'm amazed anyone would have a spare copy to sell as used....)

My children---ages three and five---request this book over and over all through the year and quote it on numerous occasions. It's one that I truly don't mind reading over and over as well. The incredibly colorful illustrations are fantastical and yet the small, wondering boy who experiences all these grand events somehow keeps them almost believable. My favorite part is when the birthday boy stands atop a mountain and shouts, "I am me! I am I! I may not know why but I know that I like it." It teaches children to celebrate their special individual quality without being selfish about it. The book is simply overflowing with a sense of love and nurturing without being maudlin in the least.

I ordered this book for my grandaughter, and she loved it. It was a little long for her, but I enjoyed it as much as she did.

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

When I was a child, this book took my breath away. I felt like I was living the incredible adventures in the story, from riding the Birthday Bird to choosing the tallest pet to eating the giant cake. I think this story inspired the adventures I try to create in my own writing.

Now that I'm a mom, I still love this book. It is a little long to hold the attention of toddlers or preschoolers, though, so I recommend it for Kindergarten & up.

I bought this book for both my youngest daughter and our cousin, both who were turning one.

Of course this book is way too advanced for them but I brought it to their 1st birthdays and had everyone who was in attendance sign it. I love looking at all the adorable things people have said and can't wait to show it to them as they get older.

I got this book for my granddaughter when she was pregnant. She has read and referred to this book so much, it's showing signs of wear and tear. She loves this book. Her husband has read it too. They find it very informative and a great guide for first-time parents.

"Perfect Parenting" is not about being a perfect parent. As a mom of two, I've come to realize we do the best we can with what we've got, and there's no such thing as perfect. Elizabeth Pantley's book is a solid guide that offers a nurturing hand in moments of distress or cluelessness. She's a mom of four. And she REALLY knows her stuff!

I found the book especially helpful in dealing with issues of lying or rough behavior. Kudos to Elizabeth for another job well done.

~Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of DIARY OF A MOTHER and SAHM I AM: TALES OF A STAY-AT-HOME MOM IN EUROPE.

I bought this book after reading the rave reviews here, but I was somewhat deceived by it.

I think that some the deception stems out of the fact that I already owned a book by E. Pantley ( Kid Cooperation, which I recommend) and I found the author repeating itself in this book.

Also, I do not like the title, which I find lousy .

Moreover, unlike Kid Cooperation, this book places issues in alphabetical order so that you can browse through them, and does not dwell much into details ( psychological insights etc) . This can be great if you already know the basics of healthy parenting, but in the hands of the average parent, many of the hints could actually do more harm than good.
I don't like that much the "user's manual " style and I did like Pantley before reading this book more than I do now.

I've come to believe that before facing parenting issues and "misbehavior" most parents should work it out with THEIR own issues. Books like this may deceive into thinking that parenting is a matter of knowing the "right tricks" instead of a matter of attitude... Actually it is both, but the right attitude comes first, and without it the tools provided by this book will not work consistently.

I still give 3 stars to this book because it actually has some good hints and ideas ( although almost all of them, plus interesting insights on parental issues/behavior, can be found in Kid Cooperation). It can be useful as a reminder or a quick fix for those parents who are already "perfect" most of the time.

I loved the ideas this book suggests. I've been dealing with my daughter's tantrums due to the new baby, and this book has been extremely helpful. It not only gives me ideas on how to calm my daughter down, but it also shows me how to calm myself down. I think every parent knows what I'm talking about.

This is a great handy book to keep around to pick up a few tips anytime you have an issue with your kids and you don't know what to do. Once you look up your topic you get various options -- one of which is bound to work. The A to Z format makes it a snap to find what you're looking for. Includes typical stuff like sibling fights and dawdling to more unusual like won't eat vegetables or doesn't like her hair being washed and shoplifting and being a poor sport and even typical but weird things like nose picking. I keep it on the counter and use it often.

This book is fantastic - it has become my standard baby gift. The book starts with a picture, and then zooms into smaller and smaller views of the same picture. It can start long conversations with your kids. I am a college professor and many of my colleagues use it in their classes to start discussions on perspective and diversity. But my young kids love it just for it's colorful pictures.

My students loved how this book started from extremely close up and zoomed out. It's a great way to teach prediction from context clues.

How can you not love this book? It teaches children to think about the way we view the things around us. It is fun and exciting to see what something will morph into next. Because there are no words, children can set the pace to "read" this book. The conversational opportunities are endless.

Just flip the pages slowly - forwards and at times, back again. You're in for a good surprise-one after another. Enjoy!

A friend gave me this book when I was in a super slump. I was amused and amazed as the pictures zoomed away from each other how they put both objects and actions into perspective, not only in terms of size, but also in terms of time and space. The artist cleverly starts with a rooster, a symbol of cockiness, and shows just where he really stands in the giant scheme of things.

This book was EXCELLENT!! I love it!

The excitement of the book kept me reading!! Even thought there was fictional parts in the book, like how Man O' War's Dam was not gentle and sweet but nervous and A LOT like her Sire. And other fictional things like how the new owner did not see Man O' War until after he bought him. Even though these things were false in the story, I think it is great and helps people learn the life of one of the greatest horses in history!! When I read the book I felt like I was there, And I love when books help you do that! I really hope they can mke more books like this on othr famous horses!

I was able to enjoy this book immensely! The details Walter Farley gave were incredible. You didn't miss a thing! You always knew everything that was going on with Man O' War. There wasn't too much detail either. It wasn't 350 pages of blah. In this book you were able to live through all of the races, dissapointment, and momentous occasions of Man O' War and his stable hand Danny. Danny was a loyal young man who more than anything wanted to be with his horse Man O' War. Any horse lover who has a special horse close to their heart or just loves horses in general will be able to relate to Danny's love for Man O' War!
I definitely recommend Man O' War as a must read for any horse lover!
I hope this was of some help for you! Happy Reading!!

It is really goood
the beginning is a little slow but then it grips you and you can hardly put the book down!
it is one of the best books that he has ever written!
If you love horses, or horse racing then this is the book for you!!

This is one of my favorite books ever. I read it a few years ago (in 8th grade), and am still looking for another racehorse book like it. Farley throws you into the story of a colt and his groom. Although in real life, Danny didn't exist, "Red" did and the information on the horse and his races is true. It gives all of the history without getting boring and sounding like a History book. I think everyone who even just likes horses should read it.

I adore this book, though it is not completely factual. Of course, Walter Farley never says it was:) It is extremely well written and I strongly recommend it to everyone who enjoys Walter Farley's books, horse racing, Man O'War, or just plain horses!

However, there are a few little facts that are incorrect. In the book it is mentioned that Mahubah, Man O'War's dam, is a gentle, good-natured mare that they bred to "tame the hot blood of Hastings". But in real life, Mahubah was noted to be a nervous, rather high-strung mare, much like her father Rock Sand. Rock Sand was very alert and nervous and had to literally have a padded stall because he would pace and kick so much they worried he would injure himself!

Second, Mr. Riddle did not see Man O'War until after he was purchased. He had an agent buy him at the Saratoga Sale.

Also, I think Walter Farley should have given some credit to Preston M. Burch and his book "Training Thoroughbred Horses" because Man O'War's entire training process was copied step-by-step from that book (which I also own).

Overall though, a great book and one of my favorites by the author. Very much recommended and enjoyed!

It will only take the reading of at most 10 pages before you will reach the conclusion that Bill Watterson is a genius. He captures the lament of all children whose imagination overpowers them, leading them to other places when they "should" be concentrating on more mundane things like schoolwork. Calvin is a young boy who is always in trouble, yet his problems are a consequence of his tenuous grip on reality. If he can maintain his imagination into adulthood, he no doubt will be very successful as a writer, but as a child, there are strong forces that will strongly dampen his wandering mind.
I was such a child, often preferring to play off by myself on the playground and pretend that I was doing greater things than simply kicking a ball or swinging in a swing. My teachers often wondered about my being alone, yet those were my favorite times during the school day. Elementary school teachers have a collective abhorrence for any child that is "different."
Some people enjoy C & H for the amusement, yet some of us recognize something deeper, the imaginative nonconformist who struggles to hold that characteristic into adulthood. For it is not till adulthood that it is appreciated.

I ordered this item and received it within a week. Very good timing.

I love this book!When my friend got a Calvin and Hobbes book, I did'nt really like it because it was not in color. But once I got this book I loved it! I colored in the ilistrations so now I don't have ANY problems with this book! I want to collect all of the Calvin and Hobbes books, but right now I only have 4. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes funny books. They are so good my dad reads them! Other good Calvin and Hobbes books are Revenge of the Baby-Sat,Scientific Progress Goes Boink, and Attack of the Deranged Muntant Killer Monster Snow Goons. Well, I guess that's it. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!

This is a funny book about a kid named Calvin and his stuffed tiger named
Hobbes. They do funny stuff and they have adventures. Calvin is a funny six year old. Hobbes is a smart tiger! YOU NEED TO READ IT!

Forgive me if my review runs a bit on the sappy side, but I grew up with Calvin and Hobbes, and I sometimes think they are among the best friends I've ever had. Bill Watterson's comic is gentle, sincere, and magical. At its core it is an examination of what it means to be human, and the value of friendship. Watterson's philosophy of the comic strip was that it should be based around characters rather than gags; we should feel as though we know the protagonists as real people, rather than as interchangeable vehicles for jokes. That comes through on every page, even from the very beginning. Calvin's world has a cast you can probably count on two hands, but every character (except possibly Moe, the bully) has at least a hint of fully-rounded personality. Watterson's world is one of simple pleasures shared with good company.

As with any comic strip, the first collection is rather crude in pretty much every aspect--the drawings, the humor, the personalities--but as a prototype for what would come later, it is not without its own charms. Even at this stage I would hardly call Calvin and Hobbes a forgettable, generic strip. It still has heart and a sense of profundity, even if Watterson had not yet figured out the most effective way to illustrate these things in his strip. It's interesting to see the origin of Hobbes (even if this version was discarded later), the genesis of Calvin's relationship with Susie (the love-hate romance, which will later be toned down, is at the forefront here), the first appearance of Spaceman Spiff, the introduction of a then-unnamed Rosalyn, and so forth. Also, early Calvin and Hobbes are somehow a bit more adorable here than their later incarnations, but you didn't hear that from me.

In an age of disposable comics, Calvin and Hobbes is one of the few childhood experiences of my life that I can actually appreciate more with age. I would not find it an exaggeration to say that Watterson's perspective of life heavily shaped my own, as I find myself much less concerned with superficiality and the plastic culture of Hollywood than many of my reality-TV-addicted, Nike-sporting, iPod-blasting peers, and more appreciative of the little things in life that we tend to take for granted. All Calvin needs to be content is a good friend and a search for adventure, and even as I grow, kicking and screaming, into adulthood, I find I can still relate.

When I worked as a children's librarian, the children loved the adventures of the big lovable bear and his friends. Karma Wilson has written an entire series of books following the predictable pattern that preschoolers love. They love to be able to anticipate what will happen next. The illustrations are beautiful and charming. I love her books for this reason. I bought them for the library and I buy them for my grandchildren.

Not only do I adore the illustrations and rhythmic text of these too-cute bear books, my 1-year-old daughter has LOVED them since the day I bought them (I got this one when she was about 7-8 months old). She makes me read them each 10 times a day, and she laughs every time when the bear sneezes in Bear Snores On. They are exactly the kind of book I would have loved to come up with myself. Beautiful work! We want them all!

My kids have taken this out of their school library several times. The story is sweet and the illustrations are charming. I purchased it for them this Christmas-now we have one of our own forever! This author and illustrator have achieved a winning combination for kids with these books.

We love Bear Snores On so this was a must-have as it takes up where we left off, after Bear's hibernation. I love the pictures, the story and most importantly - my 4 year old loved the book as well.

This is a great follow-on to Bear Snores On and doesn't disappoint. The vivid colors and sweet storyline keeps my little one's attention. While Bear Snores On is still our favorite, Bear Wants More is a good addition to our growing book collection.

For those who are lost in this area, and looking for a great no-nonsense guide for how to proceed, You have found your guide!! The information is wonderful, and laid out in such an easy to follow format. This book is a must have for anyone who faces the estate sale dilema.

Author Julie Hall (a.k.a. The Estate Lady) promises, "This book will provide you with the trustworthy counsel you need when facing the monumental task of walking your parents through their final days and then settling their estate." She keeps that promise in fifteen chapters that deal with things like:
- how to tell your parents are failing,
- the importance of a will,
- what an executor is and does,
- how to protect the estate from grasping neighbors, friends and relatives,
- how to ascertain the value of estate items,
- how to clean out your parents' house, and more.

Important points covered in each section are repeated within the chapter as lists, definitions, and words of advice in sidebar-type boxes. Each chapter concludes with "What Can I Do Now?" - a checklist of three pertinent actions for the reader to perform at that particular juncture of the process.

The book ends with three appendices:
- a checklist for parent care,
- a list of helpful resources, and a list of estate documents,
- information that children should locate and keep accessible.

Though the subject matter makes this a hard book to read, Hall's sympathetic tone and reasoned approach helps the reader quell naturally arising angst in favor of paying attention to what needs to be done. Her wealth of stories and anecdotes keeps the book interesting. If the story of neighbors who cleaned out the valuables of a senile lady's house, paying her mere dollars when the pieces were worth hundreds, doesn't outrage you, some of the stories of family treachery will.

Hall's real goal is to move the reader beyond outrage to action. If you are a boomer with aging parents, this book will motivate and guide you. It will show you how to set things up now while your parents are still alive so the estate isn't a nightmare to settle later when there is no will, no knowledge of where important papers are kept, and no list of who gets what. (However, if your parents have died intestate -- without a will -- it walks you through that scenario as well.) If you are a boomer or a boomer's parent, this book was written to motivate you to look after your stuff yourself and not leave it to your kids.

If you're a boomer with failing parents, get this book. As someone who was executor of my mother's estate two years ago, I can vouch for how bang-on its advice is. I only wish I had had it then.

If you're a boomer or younger, get this book in any case, not for your parents' estate but for your own. Follow its advice and leave your children one of the best gifts you can give them - a straightforward and well-administered estate.

Dealing with the death of a parent can be very difficult. Emotions run high and feelings are in a state of volatility and turmoil. If this wasn't enough, there is also the problem of dividing up the deceased person's estate and this problem is compounded further when there is no will; no official document that says exactly how to distribute assets. Add to that the problem an adult child experiences when emptying out a parent's home that is overloaded with things, and you have all the ingredients for a highly stressful situation.

This is where The Boomer Burden can help. Written by a woman with plenty of experience with estates, wills, and other related issues, this book is intended to serve as a guide to adult children who want to do the right thing, honor their parents, and get through the ordeal with as few hard feelings as possible. The book begins with the topic of wills and it drills into the reader's head just how important it is to have a will- not just for parents who are nearing the end of the line, but also for themselves. Without a will, a court will decide how to divide up the assets of an estate and, more often than not, the division of property will be unacceptable to the children and will probably not coincide with the desires of the parents. This is why it is so important to have a will, and the author stresses and then re- stresses this point over and over as you read.

After the issue of wills has been emphasized to excess, The Boomer Burden then brings up some other important issues that many may relate to. One is the problem associated with older parents who are still alive but are too sick to care for themselves and need to enter an assisted living facility. Many seniors will stubbornly refuse to leave their homes for a multitude of reasons; some valid, and others bogus. The Boomer Burden offers some tips on ways to convince reluctant parents that they would be better off if there was someone around the clock to help them. The book also offers some alternatives that might be more acceptable to certain people, like having a nurse check in periodically throughout the week, at the senior citizen's own residence. The book also offers some tips on ways to convince older parents to start the cleanup process by eliminating the accumulation of things they have held onto over the years- particularly those things that have little value.

What to do with so much stuff is another important component of this book. As The Boomer Burden points out, there are likely to be some surprises along the way when adult children walk through a deceased parent's house and start to open boxes, check cupboards, open drawers, etc. Many children are shocked at the large accumulation of stuff stored in attics, garages, basements, cupboards, and other places. Bread bags, cool whip containers, old newspapers, and old magazines are among the many discoveries just waiting to be found and the decision on what to do often comes down to either making a charitable donation or renting a large dumpster to discard the old magazines, papers, etc. Always check through things first- there could possibly be a collectable among that garbage. An old newspaper from an ordinary day of the week is worth nothing, but a newspaper with an important world news headline story could be worth some big bucks, so check before you toss.

The Boomer Burden is geared toward baby boomers whose parents are nearing their final days and it was written to address some of the issues common to senior citizens of this generation. Parents of baby boomers grew up during difficult times and this is part of the reason why they have a greater tendency to hoard things. Their generation is often very frugal and believes you shouldn't throw away anything that might have some use in the future. This is why it is so common to find certain items in such abundance in the homes of individuals of this generation.

The Boomer Burden is written in a practical style, but with a friendly and helpful tone. The author wants everyone to be prepared and wants to minimize family trauma. She also realizes that there is plenty of work to be done both before and after the passing of a parent, so she wastes no time rolling up her sleeves and telling you, the reader, what needs to be done each step of the way. The author is friendly, but firm. Wills need to be completed, houses need to be cleaned, and other important decisions have to be made. There is little time to procrastinate, and this highly useful guide offers estate advice that, while not necessarily something we like to think about, is practical and sensible. Following its many words of wisdom will not only save you loads of garbage, it will also save you loads of grief during this especially difficult time.

I bought this book because the advice given applies to my specific situation, a baby boomer getting close to having to deal with end-of-life issues for my parents. The author bases her suggestions and advice on experience and has good credibility. The information is not only useful for dealing with parents, but preparing for my own end-of-life situation as well. There are many hard truths in the book that many of us fail to face up to, but need to in a responsible way. I'm buying more copies of this book for a sibling and for my estate executor. It's a very practical book with excellent advice. It's easy to read.

The author did an excellent job in detailing the process of cleaning up your parents house, dividing the stuff and liquidating the estate. She was in-depth, followed through with details, experiences and multiple options. Really a great book for trying to tackle estate division with ease. I only wished I read the book prior to my parents slowing down. Once they are gone you cannot asked them any questions -- like "who's in the picture". The author has great tips on supporting your parents during the later years, knowing when your parents need more help than you can offer and easing the burden of their wonderful lifetime of memories. The lawyers get to handle the formal legal notifications but this book is really for the executors who have to clear up the STUFF. A great buy!