Junior Books

I love this book. I bought it for my 3 yr old who loves anything to do with princesses. The stories are a good length for her attention span. My only criticism is that some of the wording is a little advanced for her and I found myself explaining the meaning quite a bit. Over all though I thought it was a great buy and it will be something that we can re-read together for a few years.

We checked this out from the library, and my 4-year old daughter loved it so much she didn't want to return it. So, we bought it and she still loves it and has me read it to her at every chance.

My little girl loves Disney princess and when she saw this at the store and her daddy and I couldn't resist getting it when we saw her little face light up even though its big and has paper pages. She "reads" this book all the time and hasn't ripped any of the pages. She loves it and lets me read to her sometimes and sometimes she just looks at the pictures. Great little book for your princess! She is 19 months old :)

I bought this for my two year old grandaughter. This is a very nicely written book. The stories are different and short enough to hold her attention. I would deffinitely buy this book again.

My two girls (ages 2.5 and 4) and I LOVE this book (the first one too)! They ask to read it ALL the time and I love that the stories are NOT the same as the classic ones - it is nice to read something different and yet still princess.

The story is lovely, and the facts are true to science. A very nice combination.

Farfallina and Marcel is a true story of friendship. It teaches us that even through natural changes in life we can remain friends. This is a favorite story of my 4 year old son who likes to hear it over and over again. The water color pictures are beautiful and add a soft warm feeling to the book. I believe it's message is timeless and we will enjoy reading it to our children for years to come.

This wonderful, gentle story is a perfect end to a busy day. Our two ball-of-energy boys gladly climb into our laps at bedtime for another rereading of "Farfallina and Marcel." It's one of my husband's favorite bedtime stories to read aloud, and it always gives us all a warm, snuggly feeling (very conducive to quickly falling asleep!). This tale of enduring friendship and loyalty is enhanced by Keller's precise, yet accessible prose and the quiet beauty of her watercolor illustrations. Everyone from Papa to our kitties enjoys curling up on the bed together for this one.

I came across this gentle book while shopping for gifts for my daughter's 6th birthday. This is a book about friendship and that is a very important subject to kindergarteners. I felt the author approached the subject in a beautiful and touching way, showing how friendship can endure through the many changes that life will bring. I can't wait to read the book to my daughter. I plan on buying more copies to give to my friends, too.

Holly Keller's story of growing up and changing is a fantastic story wrapped in beautiful watercolor illustrations. She weaves the story of everlasting friendship that we all long for and cherish in a charming and simple way. Keller's accomplishments include more than 30 books that she has written with "as many illustrated (that were) written by other people." It's easy to see why she has accomplished so much. I love this book.
Keller's story opens with little Farfallina, a caterpillar, munching on a leaf during a gentle spring rain. Her munching disturbs a handsome gosling that quickly befriends the caterpillar. Despite the fact that they make an unlikely pair, they become the warmest of friends. Their friendship is rocked by separation however when one day Farfallina must rest. For weeks she is gone and Marcel realizes that he must grow up without her. A happy reunion finds them still fast friends despite the growth and change each has had to face.
The illustrations in this book are fantastic. Kellers use of watercolors, is alive with bold vibrant colors that capture the attention of any reader. Her pictures are incredibly cute and resemble the sweet friendship Marcel and Farfallina share. Keller's illustrations encourage readers to peruse each page liesurely. I have always loved finding hidden pictures, and although Keller does not necessarily intend this, children can look for Farfallina's cocoon in the tree tops or note the changes in Marcel's feathers. Without the pictures, the story wouldn't be the same.
I look forward to sharing this book with little ones during story time at the public library. Allowing the children the opportunity to visualize the colorful pictures as this heartwarming story is told will truly be a pleasure. I hope that they enjoy the story as much as I have. I've added it to my wish list and look forward to giving a second copy to my nieces.

You must buy this book and make the Gourmet Cheese Grits!! They are out of this world. This book is a must for entertaining recipes!!!

I love to cook and this is my absolute favorite cookbook! The food is amazing. I've given this cookbook as a gift many times.

I have been extremely pleased with this cookbook. The recipes are not complicated and can be served for a weeknight dinner or a special occassion. Would love for the Birmingham JL to release another edition!

My husband and I cook a LOT and this is, by far, our favorite cookbook. Each and every recipe is simply delicious. You can prepare a fantastic meal without being a culinary graduate. Everything is well laid out and -- again -- DELICIOUS. I am so confident in this book that I will try new recipes from it on company. Buy it NOW!

This is one of the best cookbooks we own. The recipes are easy to follow and execute. There are a number of new ways to cook old dishes. Not one recipe has been a clunker. This cookbook gets used more than any other around our house. We have enjoyed preparing the recipes and tasting the wonderful results.
This is a cookbook worth having whether you have only a few cookbooks or a few rooms of cookbooks.

I had the distinct privilege of working with Ben as his teaching assistant a few years ago, and I can say that he created pure magic in the classroom!! The way he works with children and their ideas is very respectful and provocative at the same time. Children are encouraged to try things, to make mistakes, and to learn. It was one of my favourite teaching experiences to date, and I looked forward to all that we did in the classroom every day. I read this book while working with him, and found that the real life experience of working with Ben was very memorable and amazing, as he showed his enthusiasm and dedication in all he did. And the children love him!! I would highly recommend this book to all who are interested in early childhood education, and to all who want to encourage children to do their best learning in the classroom and at home.

I am a kingergarten teacher, and I learned so much from this book. It was amazing cover to cover. Every teacher should read this book, this man has the teaching motivation and philosphy that all teachers should have! Teach what you love, create excitement and sucess in your students. Also if you want to learn more about project approach, this is it. I love this book.

This is an excellent book about reaching very young children by teaching what one loves.

It is only natural that the Beatle reference and title would draw the attention of many. Including the Beatles in the curriculum is a wonderful way of sharing culture; it is a form of cultural enrichment.

I know someone in the Midwest who teaches preschool students and has included a unit on the Beatles. Some of the Beatle themed projects have been to make a Yellow Submarine bulletin board; point out which pupils have Beatle haircuts; having the children identify each Beatle and learning Beatle songs. As a major Beatle fan, it is only natural that I would love this and delight in seeing Beatles 101 included in the curriculum.

I am a early childhood major so I decided to read this book to come up with new ideas on how to make teaching interesting to young students. Ben Mardell does a great job in writing this book and letting us experience the type of curriculum he, along with his students, discovered. Before reading this book, I was not sure on how to go about teaching young children lessons in life that will stick with them for a long time. I was also afraid seeming boring to them and not getting their attention. Mardell showed me that by incorporating in my curriculum the subjects that I love and the things they love at that age, the school year will benefit them not only at school, but at home. He also has them doing activities that relate to that part of the subject. He not only has them reading and listening, he has them role-playing, singing, dancing, and doing project both in school and on fieldtrips. He seems not only to be their teacher but most importantly, their friend.

I am a early childhood major so I decided to read this book to come up with new ideas on how to make teaching interesting to young students. Ben Mardell does a great job in writing this book and letting us experience the type of curriculum he, along with his students, discovered. Before reading this book, I was not sure on how to go about teaching young children lessons in life that will stick with them for a long time. I was also afraid seeming boring to them and not getting their attention. Mardell showed me that by incorporating in my curriculum the subjects that I love and the things they love at that age, the school year will benefit them not only at school, but at home. He also has them doing activities that relate to that part of the subject. He not only has them reading and listening, he has them role-playing, singing, dancing, and doing project both in school and on fieldtrips. He seems not only to be their teacher but most importantly, their friend.

I remember when I bought this book back in 1990. I still use it and keep it on my shelf as a book that will not go out of use. Every recipe you ever needed is here including those made with your cornstarch and baking soda. I like the book because it does not tell the child what to make; it simply offers the recipes and lets kids make what they want. Some of the illustrations give good ideas for what is possible to make, but it is low key and kids are encouraged to be creative in their own way. This book has the best playdough I've ever made -- an entire chapter of different playdoughs, but my favorite is on page 29. All you need is flour, salt, and water. My copy says this book received a "Best of the Best" rating from the American Library Association.

This book has clays and doughs made from every imaginable ingredient (dryer lint!!). It is not only thorough but the directions are clear and easy to follow. The book is arranged in a way that makes it easy to find the perfect recipe to meet your needs; cooked vs. non-cooked for example. I use it often for my preschool classroom.

"Preschoolers, art teachers, adventurous parents, and most anyone who likes to play in mud, peanut butter, playdough, papier-mache, and similar mediums will be ecstatic over Kohl's book. There are more than 100 recipes for dough, plaster, clay and other modeling mixtures that can be used for just plain fun or serious art."--ALA Booklist. Recipient of the 1990 Benjamin Franklin Award and the ALA Booklist Starred Review.

I guess this book has been around since the late 80's, but it's new to me! My kids and I are on #12 of the 30 playdough possibilities. Cinnamon Dough has been my daughter's favorite, while Shampoo Dough is my son's. I like plain old salt/flour playdough with color added. This book has all the recipies you will ever need for doughs, and other squishy modeling compounds. We haven't tried any plaster of Paris projects yet, but we will! I think we will try the one that you do at the beach -- making some kind of sand casting.

I have loved this book for a long time - TONS of great activities and kids really love getting squishy. The Peanut Butter Playdough recipe is worth it alone! Now I heard that Bright Ring Publishing is putting this book out in a Bilingual Spanish Edition! I can't wait to use it in the classroom! What a wonderful resource and bold move! Bravo! And thank you from all of my Spanish-speaking students! They will love to see projects in their own language!

"My Friend Isabelle" is a book that ALL parents should have on their bookshelf. It celebrates the relationship between two children who are different from one another. It is an important book because today's classrooms are becoming more and more diverse. This book is a great tool to introduce these differences. I have been waiting for a book like "My Friend Isabelle". Thank you Ms. Woloson for being so insightful.

My Friend Isabelle is the story of two young friends that have lots of differences, but manage to find some common ground in which to build a friendship. Though Isabelle is a child with Down Syndrome, it is never mentioned in the text of the book. The wonderful illustrations only give a hint to why Isabelle and Charlie are different. This book is a great addition to any preschool classroom library because it celebrates the differences in all people. The amount of text is perfect for a young audience to listen to and is written at the appropriate age level. This book is a great tool for teaching young children about the differences in people and helping them to understand that they can be friends with people who are different from them.

Charlie and Isabelle are the same age but they have some differences. For example, Charlie is tall and Isabelle is short, and whereas Charlie runs fast, Isabelle likes to take her time. The last difference that Charlie explains is when he tells us: "I know a lot of words. Isabelle's words are sometimes hard for me to understand." In the text of "My Friend Isabelle," author Eliza Woloson never comes out and says that Isabelle has Down syndrome and I was thinking that any indication of her condition in Bryan Gough's illustrations might well be too subtle for young children to pick up. But then it occurred to me that if a parent was reading this book to young children, or let them read it on their own, and then there was probably already a child with Down syndrome in the family or in the neighborhood.

This works either way in terms of teaching the lesson that is at the heart of "My Friend Isabelle." Either the child will recognize that Isabelle has Down syndrome and figure out what is really going on in the story, or the child's curiosity will compel them to ask their parent to explain why Charlie has trouble understanding Isabelle. Once Charlie gets to the key difference between himself and his friend, Charlie recalls the words of his Mommy, that "differences are what makes the world so great." Having advanced the idea that differences are a good thing, the rest of the book focuses on the many things that Charlie and Isabelle have in common when they play together each Friday. They both like to twirl, to drink apple juice, and to go down the big slide at the park. At the end, the words of Charlie's mother provide the stories benediction.

The explicit goal of "My Friend Isabelle" is to have young children do their small part to make the world a more tolerant place. The idea that friendships are special and that our differences can make the world more interesting certainly extends beyond children with Down syndrome. Beyond the idea that Isabella can do many of the things that Charlie can do, although sometimes it take her a little longer to them, the book does not get into the specifics of Down syndrome. But the inside back cover provides web sites for finding out more information on Down syndrome from either the National Down Syndrome Society or the National Down Syndrome Congress. Parents will easily be able to find other resources on the Internet as well.

This book was realy sweet in that it talked about a simple friendship between two kids. We were looking for books that included children with Down Syndrome, but did not ever actually say they had it, and this book did that. It also talked about people being different, so I think it is really good for everyone, not just in regards to children with Down Syndrome.

This book is great. I was looking for a book for preschool children that included a child with Special Needs. Isabelle isn't pitied, excused, or glorified -- she simply IS! Fabulous story, good pictures, and highly recommended by me!

Illustrations are warm and fun. Rhyming is done very well. It is not the sometimes stiff and unusual vocabulary you can get in childrens' books that is used just to get a rhyme.

I did not give it 5 stars b/c the story was just a little bit awkward. It wasn't always evident why one more monkey would have been the cause of the problem as opposed to it just being attributable to the rowdiness of the monkeys. Never-the-less, it is an above average and fun to read kid book.

My son and I first checked this book out of the library, but he kept wanting to read it, so we bought it and it was been one of his favorites ever since. I enjoy reading it to him too. The illustrations are fantastic and the verses are light, flowing and fun to read. The rhythm of the text lures my son into a read-a-thon and we end up reading it not once, not twice but three times or more.

This is a fun counting book about monkeys who break the rules about how many people can do certain things at a time. Whenever one monkey too many joins the group, it starts off fun, but inevitably ends in disaster. The book is not exactly scary, but a lot of objects get broken, so it might be an uncomfortable read for kids with anxieties about breaking things. The story is quite humorous, and it has about 500 words.

This is a wonderful book. The text has a lilting, easy-to-read flow to it, and the phrases are often hilarious, but the illustrations are what really make it a classic! My children love seeing what the naughty little monkeys will get themselves into next. The "twist" at the end of the book is the best part - we all laughed ourselves silly. What a fun, fun book for children and grownups alike!

This is one funny book! The story begins with a bear bikeseller telling the monkey, "This bike is for one. / One monkey can ride it, / and one can have fun." True to its title, it doesn't take long for "one monkey too many" to jump on the bike-with predictably disastrous results. "It started to wobble. / It started to pitch. One monkey too many crashed into the ditch!"

Left with a busted bike, the two monkeys are given a cart by a golfing tiger. "Two," said the golfer. / "This cart is for two. / If you're looking for fun, / this is perfect for you." Would have been perfect, that is, if "one monkey too many" hadn't hopped right on.

The story continues in this vein with the monkeys trying out a canoe, an elegant restaurant, and, finally, a large bed.

At story's end, the book's author tells the monkeys, "This book is for six. The pages are full, / so no more of your tricks." Of course, as soon as the author goes out to lunch . . . you guessed it . . . one monkey too many gets into the book-literally-making a huge, hilarious mess all over the last page.

Lynn Munsinger was the perfect choice for illustrating this clever creation. Her pen and ink and watercolor cartoons capture perfectly the rambunctious action and gleeful expressions of the monkeys, as well as the horrified-yet comical-faces of the onlookers.

The book is a delight to read aloud. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff.

It's guaranteed the entire series of "Petit Nicolas" can bring you all the joy / laughters / tears (joyful one) + a total satisfaction. You never have enough after reading and always want to read it again and again. Try the original French version for it's using the "easy understanding" child French. Vive "Petit Nicolas"! J'adore Goscinny Sempe!!!

Our French class is enjoying the escapades of this charming little boy and his friends.

This is the best book ever It helped me a lot while learing French it's much easier and funnier than any other book i've rea d in french It makes french seem fun

I too found this book at a (used) bookstore and immediately fell in love with the characters, however oblivious they are of the trouble they cause. And the french is definitely navigable by even the lowest-level speakers!

I spent the past year learning French and found this book at a local bookstore. It is HYSTERICAL! It has made learning and maintaining French truly an enjoyable experience. There is so much wonderful humor in this book. I am excited to learn there are more in the series. The situations are funny, nothing is too precious, the kids seem to act like real kids and those poor adults...! I wish I could find an English version to send to my nephew. This is great reading and if you disagree, je vous donnerai une claque!

bought this for my daughter-in-law for her speech pathology degree. It was suggested by her instructors.
It came in a timely manner, no complaints

This book arrived quickly and in an excellent condition. A wonderful and useful guide to teaching phonemic awareness to our youngest learners.

I am a new teacher and I am trying to build up a library of resources. I bought this book hoping it would be helpful. I am so glad I purchased it. The activities are simple and concise, but they were developed with the children in mind. They will enrich your higher kids and strengthen your lower readers. Great for Kindergarten to intro basic phonics, super for first grade!! They will be fun to use in the classroom. The book is also FULL of information about phonics and linguistics. Do not hesitate purchasing this book.

This is a great book to use with prek students as well as kindergarten and first graders. The lesson plans are there to use as is or to be modified to fit the needs of your students.

I have found this book wonderful. It brings us tools to teach phonemic awareness to children that are struggling readers. It has a lot of activities they like and step by step are taking them to the beautiful world readers have.
This book is a must for every teacher!

Octavia's Fried Chicken is the best, most foolproof fried chicken in the world. Octavia: whereever you are out there, thanks for making me EXTREMELY popular!

Being born & raised in Southwest Louisiana, I learned how to cook from generations before me. This cook book is the closest thing to real Southwest Louisiana food. I have had my copy for numerous years and have worn it out but continue to use it. I give this book as a gift on every occasion that is appropriate (& some that are not). This is the only book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in Cajun food. It's awesome! Karen - Lake Charles, Louisiana transplanted to Omaha, Nebraska.

I've had (earlier printing - plastic bound) version of this cook book for at least 25 years. I absolutely love it. Unfortunately, after much use the binding broke and my cook book was a total mess, although I still frequently used it. I actually went online to order one for my new daughter-in-law and was delighted to see it in hard cover. So, I bought four (my daughter-in-law, my daughter, one as a gift for a friend and another for myself). I am delighted with the quality of this cook book. I come from a long line of great cajun cooks (my mom and both sister also have the cook book). I've eaten cajun food all of my life. These recipes are delicious, truly cajun and easy to prepare. The informative welcome to each section is a delightful extra. I would strongly recommend this cook book for anyone who enjoys cooking delicious meals. I will purchase them again for gifts for friends and family.

I think every single woman I know has this cookbook. It's as if you get one after a certain age as a "right of passage" or something in this town. I have this cookbook, my mother has it and my Grandmother had it. We have never ran across a recipe in this book that was not great! Buy it! You will NOT be disappointed.

I have had this cookbook for many years. I first purchased it back in 1977, and it is without a doubt the best in authentic Cajun cooking. My original Pirate's Pantry finally fell apart from many years of use; but, although I recently replaced it, I still have my old original stuffed into a manila envelope. I love this cookbook!!!