Baby Books

This is a book from my childhood that I used to love. I just bought another copy so I could have it in my home and share it with my grandchildren. Also, I have 2 sons - Joe & Sam, so that makes the story even better!

The '65 version with illustrator Brinton Turkle gets 5 stars. What is currently showing on Amazon as the photo of the book cover is the original 1965 version. It is shown for the 65 and 1990 version. They have different illutstrators. This photo should only be shown with the '65 version. If you want the original make sure you are not buying the 90s version.

I can remember this book when I was quite young and have passed on the tradition to my little one. We use my old copy which is now about 30 years old and boy, is it a hit! It's just so cute to see the reaction of little ones when they see a bear and a mouse dressed in Victorian finery, try to explore their common interests. However, when they find that their interests are varied, they both break down and cry. But finally, ice cream brings them together in an old fashioned ice cream parlor and the two friends enjoy each other's company. A great first reader but also a great book to be enjoyed by toddlers. A true classic for all libraries.

I'll never forget climbing into my dad's lap back in the early 70's and learning how to read this book. I can still quote the story from memory. What a great lesson about how different people can find common interests! After looking for it on-line for many months, I recently broke down and paid ... for a copy I hope my young son will enjoy as much as I did when I was his age. We both love ice cream, like Joe and Sam, so some things will never change!

I'll never forget climbing into my dad's lap back in the early 70's and learning how to read this book. I can still quote the story from memory. What a great lesson about how different people can find common interests! After looking for it on-line for many months, I recently broke down and paid $... for a copy I hope my young son will enjoy as much as I did when I was his age. We both love ice cream, like Joe and Sam, so some things will never change!

Good book. Good for younger kids. Older kids may be a little bored.

I purchased this book for my daughter when she was two. It was one of her absolute favorite books. She is now six and still asks us to read it to her once in awhile. My son is four and he loves it! It is such a great book and the illustrations are wonderful!

This is the greatest book for grandmas. My grandson loves it and this is our special book that we read together every night he is with me. After we are done reading he tells me how many kisses he wants!

This book should be in every toddlers collection. Counting, rhyming, and animals, can't get much better than that! After counting to ten with animals, a girl says she want 100 kisses, one in each curl. A boy tells his mom he wants a million, then it asks how many kisses do you (your child) want tonight. My daughter loves to tell me, and then get her number of kisses!

I have purchased several of these books for expectant mothers to make sure as many children and parents as possible have a chance to share in the fun and loving theme of this book. I have five grandchildren and this is one of their favorites....as well as mine.

Rather you watch Dr. Phil's show, or have seen him on other shows, you may recognize that phrase.

But have you ever wondered where Dr. Phil has coined that phrase?

This phrase is in Dr. Jess Lair's 1969 copy of "I aint much, baby-but I'm all I've got."

Some really wonderful messages from this book tell us, "We are so busy not just building walls, but being the big judge that we don't have time to find, 'Hey, there are a lot of other people just like me out there.'"

And, "How are you going to teach someone, anyone, if you don't understand that their concerns and your concerns run along the same path."

One of the biggest lessons in this book, and there are many of them for everyone, is to tell the appropriate person, in the appropriate time, "I love you." You may notice that you will choke over saying those three words.

You may also notice that you may want to say more than that. But challenge yourself to say just those three words to that person, while you expect nothing in return.

This will teach you self-acceptance, acceptance of others, trust, love and serenity.

Also, as part of your "get real challenge," find 5 people who you tell, what you fear, what you are sad about, and what you are worried about. See yourself telling these people this, while you notice your internal voice, and their reactions or responses.

Make this part of your lifestyle, while you balance other parts of who you are.

When you are able to do this you enhance not only how you experience life, but you also enhance the possibility that the people who you speak heart-to-heart to, just might feel more free to get real with themselves. They may tell you how it really is for them, in a way that allows them to take responsibility for their own lives.

And although they may not tell you how it really is with them, chances are they will tell someone else how it really is with them - which is great, because the idea is that they decide to be authentic.

And in giving this gift to these people, you are changing the world, because we all know at least 250 people. When they or you are able to see yourselves accepted, unconditionally, we all pass this on.

If you find this challenging for you, and you are determined to do this, especially for yourself, I suggest that you read, "Narcissism: Denial of the True Self," by Alexander Lowen, MD; then read, "Healing the Shame That Binds You," by John Bradshaw.

We are all here to express our unique purpose, and in so doing to make a difference, beyond our wildest dreams.

To fight that truth is playing God.

Have you ever read a book where you felt like the author was right there in the room, connecting with you, there just for you?

This is definitely one of those books. He speaks to your heart and soul, besides your mind. And he anticipates everything that you might object to.

Read this book to accept everything about yourself, the good, bad, ugly and beauty, equally. Because it is when you accept all of this about yourself that you naturally enhance parts of yourself that you want to enhance, not what someone else wants you to do.

And in your self-acceptance, you will become more free to accept others, as they choose to be, without your pressing upon their mind.

The more you practice listening to your soul, and compassionately responding to your soul, the more you at peace you become.

Read this book, more than once, with pen in hand, as you note what you are experiencing - And, oh! How humble you will become.

I first read this book in college, about 15 years ago. I noticed right away that I was sending out and receiving love from people. It was amazing and real, and eventually my "abilities" wore off. Then I read it again 9 years ago, and the same thing happened, without saying a word, people smiled more and were kinder, and went out of their way to be nice to me. Because I was real and accepting of myself, and it flowed out. But again it wore off. Now in 2005 I think I have grown enough spiritually to "get it", and I hope permanently this time. But it does take five minutes at time for a lifetime. The lessons are between the lines and you won't even realize how much you've changed until you notice how well-liked you suddenly become, really! This book is a must-have for any seeker of personal growth or spritual truth because as I'm learning, they are exactly the same thing.

He has a real way of connecting with readers, telling it like it is! Great effort and I'm sure Jess helped a lot of people who's lives were confused messes. Very easy read and information. Still applicable to relationships in the 21st century.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Jess's presentation is one of the most realistic, compassionate treatments of human nature and relationships which I have seen. His stress on being genuine, and on the deep human need for love, is superb.

Where Jess fails is in treating the examples, mostly from his classroom experience, as if the approach he outlines is strictly 'cause and effect.' During the 1970s, when a new generation was exploring being 'open' as opposed to using the conventions of conversation from the past, yet the 'self help' culture had not yet arisen, his approach seemed close to revolutionary. However, reactions other than those of one grateful for love are never presented as possible - and, indeed, one may find that is exactly what one receives.

For example, Jess, whose emphasis on our need to be loved is probably the most honest statement of the century, gives an example of a nurse who phoned her former supervisor, to whom she was grateful, to say 'I love you.' The happy tears of the supervisor are moving - but let no one expect that this was inevitable. Indeed, some people are ill at ease when told of love by close friends.

Regrettably, the current 'self help' culture could spoil the effect of much of Jess's advice. The warmth and affection he suggests could be taken today for a 'violation of boundaries,' or be feared as a technique of manipulation (much as it is not.)

I found Jess's treatment of sex to be wonderfully healthy and refreshing, yet things have changed there as well. He gives an example of a wonderful man he knew who complimented a lady on her figure (saying she had the nicest breasts he had seen), and her wholesome acceptance of this. Indeed, an excellent attitude is shown here - but a man;s compliments on a woman's figure could be
taken, however wrongly, for some sort of harrassment today.
The book can be valuable, but with the caveat that the reader must use it with discrimination.

We stumbled on the Eye Spy books purely by accident, but what a find! While we only have a couple of them, we get them from the library all the time and I can't say enough good things. My older son (almost 4) is into counting all the things he finds and finding things that rhyme. My younger son (19 months) will look at it with me, his brother, his father, and do the signs for the objects he knows. He has also learned more signs from these books as we "read" and sign the book with him. These books are terrific!

My 15 month old daughter loves all the I spy little books. I didn't think she would be ready for them, but after receiving this one as a gift, we've gone out and bought more. Although she loves to read, we find she seems to be more patient when we read this book and sits in our lap trying to spy for 20 minutes at a time (since we reread it).

My 2 year old daughter enjoys this book. She often ask for her I-spy book(s) again and again and sits and looks through the book by herself. It keeps her occupied and sitting still for several minutes and that says alot.

My son is always picking this book these days. He loves to find everything and does pretty well at 2 1/2.

Good starter I spy book for the younger spier in your house. I would say 3 or 4 would be the oldest.

Lucy Micklethwait is a thoughtful children's book creator. When her daughter was small, Lucy would sit with her and look at art books. They would talk about each item in the painting. While they may not have discussed the meaning, the first step in developing art appreciation and understanding is art awareness. What better way to teach a child awareness than literally let the child point out items in the painting?

Even though I am now a children's librarian bringing this book to you, in another life time I was a high school teacher. One course I taught was a kind of art appreciation. The first activity I did was post a dozen famous prints across the board, then ask students to pick their favorite and write why and least favorite and say why. Examining a painting without knowing a thing about it is the first step in art awareness.

In "I Spy" there are 26 famous paintings. The one on the cover is "Son of Man" by Rene Magritte (a man). The words on the left page inside the book say: "I spy with my little eye something beginning with Aa." On the right side is the painting.

Here is a sampling of other included paintings: Picasso's "Sitting Woman with a Fish Hat" (let their little imagination roam with this one!), Goya's "Don Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zuniga," Matisse's "Interior with Etruscan Vase," Renoir's "Umbrellas," and Hockney's "A Bigger Splash."

What a wonderful way to reinforce the alphabet, introduce the child to masterpieces of art, show cultural and time differences in clothing, style, and customs. Perhaps at some point you could locate a book in the library which has those paintings. Take one at a time to discuss meaning, technique, painter.

Ms Micklethwait has several other books to consider:
Colors: A First Art Book
I Spy Two Eyes: Numbers in Art
Child's Book of Art: Discover Great Paintings, A
Animals: A First Art Book

This is not at all like the other books in the I Spy series - and at first I did not like it because of it. The other books have pages filled with tons of things, and you pick out certain items in the poem. This has a series of famous art pieces, and the thing to look for is very obvious... so from a "spy" standpoint it is not the greatest. BUT I do like that it is exposing our young children (5 and 3) to famous works of art. We have tried to make it more difficult by finding different things to seek out in each famous painting. Still, I don't know that I would totally recommend unless you really wanted to expose your children to famous art - your child would likely find a book from the regular "I SPY" series more entertaining.

I highly reccommend this book--it is an excellent introduction to the arts. Some of the references are a bit vague in terms of everyday language, e.g M is for Magpie or H for the teeny heart on the playing card. But it is quite easy to make a substitution or let the kids find their own match. My almost 3yr old son loves it! Thank you for this wonderful intro to a much larger and beautiful world.

My son is autistic and has always been obsessed with the Alphabet. This book is one of his all time favorites. He carries this around with him constantly.

This is a lovely book with which to introduce the alphabet and classical art to your child(ren). Each two-page spread contains, on the lefthand page, the jingle "I spy with my little eye something beginning with ... " and the upper and lower case of a letter of the alphabet, while the righthand page contains a large reproduction of a work of art by one of the masters -- Rousseau, Hogarth, Picasso, Botticelli, Vermeer, Sargent, Renoir, Seurat, etc. Kids can think about the alphabet while being exposed to some great art.

Terrific idea!

My child has a disability, and we've read this book for years as a reminder that everyone is different in their own way and that it's OK to not be just like everyone else. Great story!

A story that show's that everyone is different in their own special way and that it's OK. My children love this book and we all have it memorized. Great to read aloud to a pre-k through about a third grade class. Pictures are wonderful.

This is an AWESOME book. Adorable pictures! It gives an excellent message for all ages. A MUST READ....All of my kids just loved it!

I love this book, and more importantly, kids love it, too!
The graphics are superb, the text reads like Seuss, and I just really, really think this is a cute story.

This is the best kids book. I've read it almost every night for the past six months and I still love it.

When my boys were 2- and 3-years old, I'd read this bedtime book to them regularly because the verse and illustrations were soothing. There were nights when a soft rockabye and some gentle verses were a better way to get them to sleep than a Dr. Suess book.

If you are just building your bedtime reading collection, I recommend this book along with these other rockabye favorites of ours:

* Bedtime: First Words, Rhymes, and Actions (Board book (various authors)

* Rock-A-Bye Farm by Diane Johnston Hamm

* I Love You: A Rebus Poem by Jean Marzollo

You can check my reviews on all of these books. Enjoy.

My children love this book. I am a teacher and buy it for my students EVERY year!

such a great book! a joy to read! I love the artwork and the words just roll off the tongue!

My daughter loves this book. She wants to read this book every night since receiving it for Christmas. She has it memorized! She also enjoys the illustrations, as do I.

Share this with the one you love and enjoy a sweet, and unique picture book that reveals just how magical a love can be. Beautiful pastel portraits liven the pages of this simply sweet love story that is meant to be shared.

As any parent knows, there is a lot of hype out there about television and young kids. But what most of us fail to realize is that much of it isn't backed up by any real research. Take, for example, the highly publicized warning from the American Academy of Pediatrics not to allow children under the age of two ANY screen time whatsoever. I know I've felt guilty about not following this advice perfectly, so I was very relieved to learn that there's no actual research to support a total ban. Many of the other fears about TV's impact on young kids are similarly overblown.

Ms. Guernsey does an excellent job of reviewing the actual scientific findings about television and young kids. The reality is much more nuanced than the hype, and "Into the Minds of Babes" is extremely helpful in sorting out the real things parents should be concerned about when it comes to screen time for their kids.

Highly recommended!

Guernsey does an excellent job of summarizing the current research out there and providing real-world, commonsense solutions that parents can apply.

I found this book very helpful in sorting out all of the fragmented information I had about the effect of television on children. It was a quick read, and her writing style was engaging.

"Into the Minds of Babes" reinforced some of the choices I already am making about my daughter's TV time (Dragontales, Blue's Clues), and made me rethink others (Shrek, Finding Nemo). It helped me to see the television from a kid's point of view and think about what messages my daughter is receiving from the shows she watches. It also reinforced what I already thought about the bad effects of "background TV".

I walked away from reading this book better informed and armed with a great deal of useful information for making good viewing choices in the future. I would recommend it to any parent or caregiver.

This book was first of all interesting and I read it cover to cover in spite of being exhausted (I have 3 small kids). I always felt guilty letting my children watch television, but this book had a wealth of information explaining that its not black and white. Now I'm very careful what I let my daughters watch but less anxious about how much they watch as long as they do not forgo playing outside when the opportunity arises. The best part of this book was the description on the lack of evidence on the connection between ADHD and television viewing. It eased my mind that I'm not destroying their future by letting them watch Dora or Dragontales and in fact may be even helping them educationally and socially. I also was struck by the lack of effect television has on pre-6 month olds. The book made me examine critically what media in general my children are ready for. Is my daughter really ready for computer games?

I obviously loved this book and I bought this book for my sons teacher as a gift since she has a new baby.

I read this book quickly because I couldn't put it down. The research and thought that went into this book are tremendous. It is well organized and unbiased. Maybe the title for this post should be "if you want to tell others how bad TV is, read this book first". The research shows that parents need to parent their kids and take responsibility for kids and their own actions. Yes, some TV is bad, but you wouldn't let your kid listen to Howard on the radio would you? Yes, some TV is good - I won't go into details but given your parental intelligence you know what choices are correct. What Ms. Guernsey does though is break down shows and types of shows for specific age groups and she provides some enlightening insights on how some shows were developed. I recommend anyone who is a parent or works in the children's world read this book.

When Jessi baby sits for Matt Braddock, Matt is a special child. So Jessi teaches him a sign language.

Yes I did like this book because it's by one of my favorite authors and I have almost read every single book in the series.
The book was about this girl called Jessi who has just moved into a new neighborhood. Jessi Jessi has this really great group of friends called the Baby Sitters Club. Jessi gets a sitting job for this deaf boy called Matt. Matt uses sign language instead of lip reading. Jessi is going to be in a ballet show called Coppelia and Matt's mom has been making arrangements so that the 8 kids in Matt's class can go see Coppelia. They have arranged for Haley to be the narrator and for Matt and Haley's mom to stand up on the stage and sign everything that Haley says so that Matt isn't left out. After the show Jessi finds out that Adle came to watch the show. Jessi's cousin Keshia is from Okley, New Jersey came to see Jessi be Swandelia. To celebrate the show being a success everybody who knows Jessi went to a restraunt to have ice cream.
Anybody will like this book.

this book shows jessi to be a passionate, caring and even talented protagonist/narrator of the story. She is very much into ballet and recently joined the babysitters club, so when she babysits for a deaf 7 year old boy who communicates in sign language, she befriends him and is interested in learning it and does so and also teaches it to the neighborhood kids and help matt make friends that way who were very understanding of his situation. Also, jessi had a great awareness of how the deaf and disabled are marginalized by society for their disability and invited a bunch of deaf kids to a ballet she is dancing in and got a translator to do sign language onstage to show what the plot of the story is like as they watch the beautiful dancing, and in turn empowers them and gives them the message that just cause they can't hear music doesn't mean they cannot appreciate the arts. Also because jessi experienced racism from neighbors after moving to stoneybrook from new jersey, she could probably relate to the pain of being marganlized. Great start for jessi I love this book!

i'm taking ASL in school and i was looking on my books shelf and found this book and i decided to re-read it. its really good. the only thing that bugs me is that on the cover jessie is using see sign when the book said it was ASL. it doesn't matter to much though. it is a really good book and shows how people who may seem diffrent at first glance can have a lot ion common with you. i hope you enjoy it.

A very touching and realistic story. It features a young boy named Matt who was born deaf and this family, the Braddocks, move into Stoneybrook. Putting Jessi as the main character in this Babysitter Club book is very interesting because the deaf cannot hear music and therefore, none of them had exactly went to watch a musical or a ballet concert. Jessi's a ballerina and she feels especially sympathetic towards the deaf in that very aspect.
This story touches on the sensitive areas of a deaf person's life, about being ridiculed by others, looked down and thought of as weird. However, the babysitters were intrigued by Sign Language and the other kids int he neighbourhood begin to slowly accept Matt and were fascinated with sign language.
We also find out more about the deaf in this book, we learn some sign language, we learn that it is crucial that the deaf are kept well away from busy roads as they cannot hear cars approaching. We also find out how some families are being inconsiderate in not bothering to take up sign language to communicate with their deaf family member and instead, expect him/her to lip-read instead. Lip reading is extremely difficult.
The story has a happy ending and reveals what Jessi does to make the children in the school for the deaf happy. A must-read.

I listened to the Burl Ives song when I was a little girl. Now that I have my own little boy, I was so happy to find the song in a sturdy board book. You can still find Burl Ives singing "Little White Duck" on iTunes. :)

This is probably my 14 month old son's favorite book. We read (sang) it three times in a row today. I think it helps that the illustrations are incredible, and the lyrics flow nicely.

If you're looking for a baby gift, Little White Duck would be a great choice.

I bought this book for my 21/2 yr old daughter after her Kindermusik teacher read it to her class. The children loved all the animals and quickly learned to anticipate with excitement who is coming next. The rhythm of the words is delightful, and I find myself humming it throughout the day. A real classic that every child should read.

This book is great. I sang this book to my babies when they were only 4 months old, and they loved looking at the pictures. They still love the book and song. We always sing it in the car. After months of reading this book, we put it away for a couple of months but brought it back out when we started sign language. It is fun signing with this book with appearances by a little white duck, green frog, black bug, and red snake sitting, swimming, and playing in the water.

Even if you don't know this song, the rhythm of the lyrics, the story, and the illustrations will keep your child's attention to the end.

The fact that it's been pc'd (everybody lives in the end because it was "just a play") is fine. It's less likely to be traumatic (as opposed to, say, Go Tell Aunt Rhody) for a small child.

Another keeper.

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