Junior Books

This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books. It really encompasses the hymn that we have known all of our lives. Its multi-cultural theme makes it so relevant for children today. A must have for your child's collection.

Floyd Cooper's luscious illustrations compliment the classic llulaby/campfire song that we all know from our childhood. Cooper's portraits of children and adults from all parts of the world emphasize the true meaning of the song - that we are all human. Cooper, A Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Illustrators winner, uses his talent at portraiture to foster cross-cultural understanding, and this book is a superb example! End pages have the music for piano and guitar. This book would be perfect for schools, scout troops, or your own family campfire!

Realism and beauty make this a truly magnificent mulitcultural addition to anyone's library -- child or adult. The words are simple for children, and familiar for adults. It inspires us to explore who we are as a people, both collectively and individually. It is a great book for launching important dialogue with children.

After checking this book out from the library several times for my daughter, I have decided it would be a beautiful addition to our home library. Cooper illustrates children & adults from all over the world singing, sleeping, working, hurting, laughing, crying, and more. He gives a history of the song and word, cumbayah. We love music & singing and we love this book.

My daughter and I absolutely LOVED this book when she was growing up. The story is beautiful and the drawings are fabulous. A book about the longings of a younger sister, who in her heart is ready to dance, even though she is told she's too little.
This is THE book I give to [kid] girls!! Their mothers will love it too.

Little Tanya loves to dance. Like her sister she practices plies, pirouettes and arabesques and the two often practice together, but as of yet Tanyette (as she is sometimes called) is too young for lessons.

This all changes one day when her family, celebrating the performance of big sister as a flower in Swan Lake, finds out that little Elise is no longer the cute toddler mimicking the actions of her older sister, but a little girl that is ready for academy

Five Stars. A delightful book that shows two sisters who share a love of dance. My five y.o. daughter loves the talk of `first, second, fourth and fifth' positions. Good read-aloud, the artwork is pleasing with it soft watercolor drawings.

A sample of text follows:

And while nobody was looking, Tanya found her tutu,
and her scarf. And Tanya danced too. All alone.

The music played loud and sweet, and she did a plie
and arabesque and five grand jetes right across the floor.

"Dance, Tanya," her sister said, and her mother held her breath.
Grandma looked over her glasses. "You have two dancers
in your family," she said. Everyone in the room clapped. Elise did too.

This was a childhood favorite of mine, and the pages are tattered from reading it over and over. A young girl wants to be a dancer and is saddened because her older sister can take lessons, but she is too young. She looks up to her graceful old sister and dances with her, but wishes she herself could be in the spotlight...The book is a wonderful story for all ages, young and old.

My 3 and 6 year old daughters enjoy the story for the talkabout dancing and for the "little sister looks up to big sister" and "little sister feeling left out" themes. The adults in the family get misty-eyed over a little girl's discovery of the beauty of dance (if you've ever shed a tear of joy when Linnea is finally atop the bridge in Monet's Garden, you'll know what I mean). This will be one to save for the next generation :-)

Beautiful water-color-ish illustrations appealed to all ages in our family.

'Mum, can you help me?' The voice at the end of the phone sounded desperate. What on earth can I do hundreds of miles away in the UK? Cautiously I said of course, if I can.
In the back ground I could hear five year old Thomas, 'Mom, why does the tiger have stripes?' My daughter sighed. 'I wish you were here then you could answer the constant stream of questions, honestly Mum, he drives me mad. All the time he wants to know stuff.'
Thomas had started 'real' school a few weeks ago and had learned to read really fast. An intelligent and curious boy, I knew it was important to feed his curiosity. Being mother to eight children, all very clever, does have its advantages and being a teacher also helps too.
The answer was simple, a children's encyclopedia. I had no idea what to look for but looking through Amazon's booklists, the DK First Encyclopedia seemed perfect. Lots of bright pictures, simple but detailed information.
A little while later my daughter called again.
'Mum the book is brilliant he doesn't need to ask so many questions about everything now.'
Detecting a note of 'but' in her voice, I questioned her.
'Mom, what does this word say?'
'See, he still asks questions, but at least we have the perfect book to look at to find the answers together, thanks Mum.'
I couldn't help laughing, Thomas wanted to run before he could walk. I'd hoped the pictures would do it but no, he wants to read it too. Still at least the questions were simpler to answer now. I know Thomas will soon be reading fluently but I am certain there will be a lot more questions yet for a busy working Mom to answer. Christopher is three, nearly time for him to start asking too, maybe Thomas will tell him. I recommend all children are treated to this encyclopeadia. It is brilliant!
A smiling Grandma in the UK.DK First Encyclopedia

I love that it is alphabetical order with many subjects and photos on each page along with (on many pages) references to other pages in the book that contain related information. I am sure my 6 year old grandson will love this. I also plan on giving a copy to my other grandchildren when they are old enough.

Perfect balance of illustrations and facts. The best encyclopedia for young kids I've found.

I got this book to keep by the toilet (we are potty training). It was a smart move because this book keeps him totally mesmerized and makes him relax. It never gets old because there is so much information in this book for a young mind. It is not cluttered, but seems to be laid out with a child in mind. He particularity likes the castle and knight page. I'm considering getting the other books in this series too.

Great book! Wonderful Appendix resources including Award-Winning books, Common Word Families, Children's magazines, internet sites, and sight word lists. A must for any reading teacher.

Effective Reading Strategies: Teaching Children Who Find Reading Difficult is a wonderful handbook for teachers who need ideas for those children who need extra support in learning to read. The clear writing and the many excellent research-based examples make this title one that teachers will turn to again and again. I particularly like Chapter 6, Nurturing Fluent Reading. Fluency strategies are often neglected, and can not only improve student fluency but also their comprehension. I highly recommend this book!

I often find trouble locating a book centered on EQUALLY helping early childhood teachers and elementary teachers give reading instruction ot children who approach it with difficulty. Mostly the books I find overwhelmingly focus on elementary-aged children while leaving the First, Second, and Third Graders a little out of the limelight.

This book (now in its 3rd and best-yet edition) remedies that vacancy by offering a balanced approach to teaching reading that will work for struggling as well as advanced readers through MOSTLY (not all) developmentally appropriate methods.

Chapters 3-5 (on preparing the reader to read) will change the way you view your instruction.

Dr. Rasinski's book offers a motivational read regarding effective reading strategies for all readers. He refers to many case studies on what current, effective, research proven instructional methods create the most success for struggling readers. This book would be a great read for teacher trainees working in the field of reading, university level professors looking for a text for reading remediation, and any primary level teacher. Information provided in the book is well worth the cost.

I really loved this book. Yes, it was sad, but it was so well-written and compassionate that the underlying story was not about death, but life, and how his illness affected a community, and how one person can become an everyday hero and role model. As one reviewer said: "The story is so well written, before you know it the book is done and your life is changed forever." I totally agree.

This was an excellent book. It was well written, and a fabulous story. We should all take a lesson from how the children rallied around their friend and classmate! This book greatly emphasizes the power of friendship!

one of the most endearing stories ever. A MUST on the reading list of compassionate people.

The story is so well writen, before you know it the book is done and your life is changed forever. Elaine's Circle tells the story of a phenomenal teacher who handled the terminal illness of a student with grace, honesty and true insight into how a childs mind works. Kudo's to all involved!

This book is a teacher's dream come true. I am a fairly new teacher and don't have a lot of time to research all of the behavior issues that have come up in my classroom. Dr. Shore's book was recommended to me by another teacher in my school and I purchased it the next day. I immediately found several good suggestions for dealing with some behaviors that had been troubling me since the start of the year. Dr. Shore's suggestions are straightforward, practical and take into account both the teacher's and child's points of view and needs. Sometimes the advice seems obvious--as in "Why didn't I think of that?--but Dr. Shore's clear explanations helped me to better understand not only what strategies are more effective, but why. Best of all, the book is filled with a wide range of valuable information that is extremely easy to find and use. Every time I have opened the book, I have been able to find what I need in a matter of minutes. That's great news for a new teacher like myself. Thank you Dr. Shore!

I heard the author on the radio and he made sense, so I bought the book. I am really impressed with it. It takes about 60 different problems that all teachers face and offers many different approaches to dealing with them. The variety of approaches is important because everyone has their own preferences and style, and there are many good solutions to try. The layout makes the book very easy to use (the discipline problems are listed in an A to Z format), issues are explained in clear English, and the suggestions seem quite practical. A very useful book for teachers and others dealing with children.

I own Dr. Shore's other book, Special Kids Problem Solver, and found that really useful working with kids with academic, behavioral or medical problems so when I learned that Dr. Shore had a new book out about discipline I was eager to get it. I was not disappointed. It tackles about 70 different problems that every teacher will eventually have to deal with and gives very practical, very helpful strategies. For each problem there are maybe 8 to 10 suggestions and you can almost always find some strategy that applies to your situation. I've been teaching for 14 years and have found many strategies that are new to me. Whether you're a new or veteran teacher, get a hold of this book. It will save you lots of frustration and help give you the time to do what you were trained to do --teach.

EVERY teacher should have this book. This is the first book that I have found that gives practical methods to work with each unique child. Dr. Kenneth Shore covers just about every concern a teacher will encounter in the school setting. This book does not simply cover "problem" students but also gives advice on how to help students with other concerns such as low self-esteem, lack of friends and disorganization. As a special education teacher I have had the opportunity to help students overcome academic difficulties and now with this book I hope I can help them with other difficulties. I just wish I had this book when I first started teaching!!!!!

My daughter is 2.5 years old. Loves this book. Helped her to overcome fears at doctors/dentist. Quality is good. Pictures are so cute. Good for early readers too. Good price. Fast shipping. Very glad I purchased it.

This book is aimed at toddlers and upwards. My 2 year old loves it. It details first experiences in going to the dentist, school, doctors, moving etc. The illustrations are well drawn, bright and lovely (which I am very particular about) and the stories short and easy to read. There is also a little duck hidden on each page which my child loves to find.

Would highly recommend this book!

This book is a wonderful compilation of all the first experiences that children have. The illustrations are amazing and full of so much detail that a child can take his time and really enjoy the book. The stories are written with the short sentences at the top, that the kids can read, and then longer sentences at the bottom of the page so the adult can add more detail to the story. The layout is wonderful and the stories are precious. I loved it!

This collection contains all of the First Experiences books (Going to the Hospital, Going to the Doctor, Going to School, Going to the Dentist, The New Baby, Moving House, The New Puppy, Going on a Plane, Going to a Party). The volume is a smaller format than the individual books, but still large enough for proper reading.

Each of the tales tries to give a well-rounded picture of what to expect from the experience. For instance, in the doctor visit the family has three kids who each need a different type of treatment. Each story starts out by introducing the family and each family is different in composition although none are single parent families. Each page tells an aspect of the experience with a more detailed description at the bottom. Each story also contains a small yellow rubber duck hiding somewhere (my favorite is where he is hiding during the metal detector section of going on a plane).

Obviously the families presented will not always mimic your own and many experiences will be different in some details, but they still offering an excellent way to get into the subject with your children and start a discussion. Each tale has a different expert consultant but they are all delightfully illustrated by Stephen Cartwright. Check it out.

I tend to choose my books from the library mainly based on the strength of the illustrations and only casually flip through the text, checking that the message of the book isn't one I find offensive. I save the really juicy task of reading the books cover to cover for when I get home. This book, both during the flip-through and the first reading alone, didn't really appeal -- but I found when I went to share it with my daughter that in reading aloud this story comes alive! There are only a few words on each page but, since the text is the thoughts inside Fledgling's head as she ventures out into the city on her own, flying for the first time, you really feel that you are taking the flight alongside her. The urban scenery is detailed and realistic although my daughter, never having been on the subway, missed most of the action when the inhabitants of the subway car frantically try to shoo away the confused and frightened bird. The story also has a reassuring message; when Fledgling realizes she doesn't know where home is, she hears the sound of her family calling her and returns safely. This is a fantastic book for any nature lover, or to teach your child about some of the wildlife that has made our cities their home.

Fledging is a beautifully illustrated book with the main character being a kestrel, a small falcon. This is fledging's first day of flight. He has an exciting flight through the canyons of Manhattan, to a Coney Island roller coaster to a being in a subway car. This delightful book is ideal for the pre-school and kindergarten set. Robert Blake's books are exciting because he never illustrates his books just in one style or medium. He paints with earth tones water colors in this book and soft watercolors in The Perfect Spot and wintry oils in Akiak.

Fledgling witnesses a falcon's first flight from its rooftop home in Brooklyn. Not only must the fledgling overcome its fear of flying but once airborne it is chased by a hawk. In escaping the hawk the fledgling takes the reader on a bird's-eye tour of the city from the subway to the rooftops. We enjoy an exhilarating ride and vicarious pride in the fledgling's courage and skill. The realistic watercolors bring Brooklyn to life and give immediacy to the dangers of urban life for wild creatures.
For children from three to six.

When you hear the word, "watercolors", you may immediately think of soft dreamy landscapes and lovely vistas. "Watercolors", the word, does not conjure up vibrant images and exciting chase sequences. And yet that is exactly what you will find in Robert Blake's visually astounding, "Fledgling". A simple tale about the day in the life of a young bird, the illustrations in this book are topsy-turvy twistings of perspective and distance. It can single-handedly change how you feel about the art of watercolors.

Even before you reach the book's title page you see a single page displaying three tentative birdies. Says the text, "Today is the day we are all going to fly". And there you have it. A single kestral (a member of the falcon family that may live in metropolitan areas) is about to learn how to fly. At first the bird is tentative and resorts merely to gliding. Subsequently, however, it's figured out the logistics of good flying. And not a minute too soon. Appearing out of the upper left corner dive a pair of sharp speedy claws. The rest of the book consists of the kestral trying frantically to escape from a hungry hawk. Through the roller coasters of Coney Island! Into the subway car of the D train! Up and up and away they fly, until the kestral is free but lost. Fortunately a friendly cry from its family leads our hero home. Happy and safe.

This is one of those cases where the story is fine but you've undoubtedly seen it one hundred times before. It's the pictures that let it stand out. In his note at the back of the book, Blake explains how he was inspired to create this story. He describes the pains he took to draw falcons, "in every conceivable position". The result is a book that clearly reflects his efforts. Our hero spreads his beautifully spotted wings amid the streets of modern day Brooklyn. Every stripe and feather is in place on this magnificently rendered animal. Blake, having mastered the bird itself, then shifts the viewer's perspective. One minute you're looking up at the kestral from below as it flies by an intricately designed ferris wheel. The next minute you're looking down on it as it searches the city streets for its family. The twisting images and skewed scenes are mesmerizing. Best of all, Blake includes some fabulous details with his story. Be sure to notice the dogs that break away from their walkers to follows the two birds into the subway's depths.

I could go on all day about these pictures. I could mention how well Blake uses light and shadow, or how perfectly the buildings bend within the pages. I could point out the advantage of a blue headed hero (especially when he's poised against a metropolitan background) or the fine-lined illustrations that make every picture interesting. Heck, the book's even occasionally broken up into three or four separate columns, according to the needs of the text. I'm disheartened by the fact that "Fledgling" did not garner its own Caldecott Honor, let alone Award. It's also a little sad to see the Twin Towers standing proud and tall on the cover, though Blake is hardly to blame for that. And there are some slight inconsistencies in the kestral's colors from picture to picture. There ends all my complaints of this book. As it stands, I feel "Fledgling" is one of the strongest picture books out there. Children everywhere will identify with the bird's sense of loss and powerlessness, and will enjoy the ending just a bit more as a result. If you need at least one beautiful picture book in your collection, choose this one. It withstands repeated gazings.

Krovetz haas written a book that will help those involved in thinking about how to make our schools work for all children. The idea is that if we create a nurturing yet academically challenging culture, we can provide a climate in which all chiildren can flourish. Through the case studies we see how each school has encated the ideas, bringing them to life, and showing us the possibilities as well as the difficulties.

As the author, I hope that you will find Fostering Resiliency to be the book for l999 that makes you reflect deeply on the public schools you know well and that helps you ask why the schools in your neighborhood are not more like the seven schools described in this book.

Martin Krovetz published "Fostering Resiliency" with subtitle "Expecting All Students to Use Their Minds and Hearts Well." As a retired administrator and teacher I see his book striking at the heart of what all educators should be doing. This San Jose State U. professor gives narrative with examples of students and happening schools, and he integrates first lists and step-by-step procedures for winning over students of all ages so that they can be taught. The book has incredible import for balancing vital aspects of our children's education. No aspect, e.g. curriculum, assessment, nurturing, can be isolated in schools for students nor all other adults in students' lives. Mr. Krovetz builds the case for fostering resiliency in everyone. It could be the next handbook for restoring a full education to students, including the "basics" which is on everyone's wish list these days. It is a book to be studied. Is it on the shelves at Amazon?

Fostering Resiliency: Expecting All Students to Use Their Minds and Hearts Well, is a well written and easy to read resource for teachers and administrators. Martin Krovetz provides concrete examples of schools which have developed into resilient learning communities for both students and staff. It will leave you with a deeper understanding of what a "good school" does and hopefully, the inspiration to take on the work of making your school a more resilient community.

This is by far the best cookbook I have ever used. I received this as a gift from a friend who lived in Spokane (as I collect Junior League cookbooks) and it's been one of my favorites ever since. My friend also bought one for my cousin as a gift and she and I enjoy sharing our enthusiasm about this cookbook. The quality of the printing is excellent as well, with thorough instructions, nice thick pages and perfect organization. This is a great gift to anyone that enjoys cooking, from the novice to the professional chef!

I am not a great cook, and I don't have time to cook extravagant meals, but whenever I cook something from this book, people always ask for the recipe. They never guess that dishes with such gourmet flair are so simple to prepare.

This is a great cookbook! Recipes are easy to follow and unique. It provides a great combination of creative family fare to fantastic dinner party ideas.Will appeal to people from all over the country not just the Northwest!

This is the cookbook I reach for when someone says, "please bring an appetizer. . . or dessert. . .or a vegetable dish. A true representation of northwest cuisine written in an easy to follow manner and presented beautifully! You will treasure this Junior League cookbook.