Junior Books

Alligator baby
I read the alligator baby. It was a woman who had a baby in the zoo. The parents keep going back and forward because they thought they grabbed the baby but they grabbed baby animals. This time the little girl went and got her little baby brother back. This book is five stars because it is funny!

Another weird book by Munsch.

Kristen's clueless parents drive to the zoo instead of the hospital when her mom is in labor. Three times, they ignore their daughter's warnings that their son is another's, and three times they get whapped in the face by the not-a-people-baby.

Finally, Kristen has to save the day, which she does in a quick and admirable way (the illustrations in the zoo are funny in and of themselves, by the way). Everybody gets their own baby back, and we're told that everything is fine from then on... until Kristen's mom had twins. (Uh-oh.)

This book is so absurd, you can't not love it. I really recommend it to anybody having a second child. It's a wonderful change of pace from standard "new baby" books.

My 20 month old daughter loves it. I'm not sure that she connects it to her 2 month old brother, but she sure enjoys having us read it to her. She pulls it out again and again and screams along!

I read Alligator Baby. I liked this book because it has funny pictures. In the book I read that the "gorilla grabbed her mom's ear and the father's ear and they both yelled Aaaaaaahhhhhaaaaa!" This helped convince me that it was a good book.

I love Robert Munsch and this is one of his books that the kids in my 2nd grade class loved the most!

No matter how many times I read this to my son, I never tire of it. He loves the beautiful pictures and I love those plus the clever, sweet, soothing bedtime story. This is now one of my very favorite children's books.

Goodnight Mr. Night was an instant hit for both my children. They have never been afraid of the dark knowing Mr. Night is looking after them.

A beautiful bed time book that the entire family can enjoy. This is one of my all time favorites.

Good Night, Mr. Night is a book that was written as a night time aid to parents of small children. Some children are very reluctant to fall asleep and this book, with its somber mood and colorful yet peaceful drawings, is intended to be used as a means to get little children to stop resisting the inevitable, close their eyes, and get a good night's sleep.

What I like best about this book are the drawings. Each drawing is colorful, but yet the mood of the book remains somber. And the drawing of Mr. Night is very effective. Instead of drawing this figure as a cartoon- like person, the illustrator of the book wisely decided to add some creative flair by depicting Mr. Night as a person whose body is comprised of stars set against a black background- just like looking at the night time sky. Mr. Night even has crescent moons for his eyes. This creative angle on the drawing makes Good Night, Mr. Night, a better book than it otherwise might have been.

The message of falling asleep is pretty clear in this book and reading it to little children usually accomplishes the book's main goal. However, the writing of this book isn't really anything special. Not only are the words very bland and lacking creativity, but there is also no rhyming or rhythm. Kids generally enjoy rhymes, and it would have taken little effort to add rhyming patterns or something rhythmic to the book. This would have improved its effectiveness.

There are several good books to read to little children to get them to go to sleep. Good Night, Mr. Night is one book in a large market that continues to grow as more and more individuals come forward with books designed for children. This book isn't the greatest in its class, but that doesn't mean it has no useful value. It is still a good book for small children and it does accomplish its main task. It offers a good degree of success at getting youngsters to fall asleep and for that reason alone, it is worth buying.

I agree with the previous reviews that this is a great bed time story with stunning paintings.
But.....I personally preferred hard cover stories for kids especially when it will be read at bed time.

I absolutely love "The James Bond Lifestyle Seminar," but this audiobook fell short. The plot was decent, but nothing better than you'd expect based on the synopsis. The main character is supposed to be 33 years old, yet his voice sounds like an old man. He sounds very unsure of himself. Also, a lot more could have been done with the sound effects. They did not immerse me in the scenes, as another reviewer claimed.

Mr Kyriazi's production of Hard Rock Lovers was just fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat on a daily basis! I put the audio book on my iPod and listened while I jogged. I gotta say it motivated me to get out there and I am so sad it is over! I cannot wait for his next Audio production!

The story is fantastic, gripping and sexy. I absolutely loved it!

Bravo!!!!

From the moment Hard Rock Lovers comes on ... it takes you by the hand and mind, and immediately draws you into this intriquing story, narrated by the imcomparable Rod Taylor, of revenge, love, lust, cold reality and spiritual enlightenment.

Robert Culp kept me laughing with his perfect low-life agent performance, always the best! James Darren was the perfect rock star, mean, talented but sad, his performance was # 1. Ishtar Uhvana was great as Medusa, she added the sweetness to keep some reality in the rock world and her ending dialoque brought tears to my eyes. Loved Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris was brilliant as the evil Reynaldo, and Nefta Perry as Connie played the perfect Rosie Perez.

The ending gives you hope and leaves you with happy feelings. You will want to play it again and again; it only gets better each time you listen.

Paul Kyriazi is my hero. I am his BIGGEST fan.

Thank you Paul for the fun and exciting adventure!

The "Hard Rock Lovers" audio book was not at all what I expected, but what a wonderful surprise! It's a twisted, tangled web of events played out by a handful of multi-leveled, intertwined characters. The story is well written, beautifully told and convincingly enacted centering on the heights of a successful rock star and the terrible costs that are paid when that success is abused. People and events are manipulated by all the characters to satisfy their own needs and agenda.


"Good" and "evil" are blurred. "Life" and "death" are blurred. Relationships are blurred, but the irony of fate is boldly presented and it's made abundantly clear that our "next" existence offers another chance to hopefully do better. The inevitability of change, the subtle and sometimes dramatic interrelationships between cause and effect as well as the ever-present, ever-looming scales of divine and poetic justice are persistent threads. A beautiful blending of drama and melodrama are used to develop both the story and the characters. The audio presentation is top-notch entertainment, particularly when you consider that all acting is accomplished solely through vocal artistry. The actors do a fantastic job of inviting the listener into their world and moving you effortlessly through the story.


I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. It is wonderful from start to finish and my congratulations go out to all involved. It's a winner on all levels.

Wow! My sister pointed me to this audio book and I couldn't believe my ears. I just relaxed on my bed to listen and was absolutely delighted with the movie-quality of the sound effects. Not only is this a masterful, well-written plot, it's also a quality production. The best I've heard.

And those stars that the magnificent author/director Paul Kyriazi lined up for this special version of his book!!! Well, all I can say is that I remember swooning each time I saw any of them on the big screen. (I hope my hubby doesn't read this.) But when I saw Rod Taylor--who narrates this story, with such a come-hither voice--starring in The Birds with that gorgeous Tippi Hedren, I almost fainted. Yes, he was that much of a hunk ... and still is, according to my sister!

Incidentally, people used to say I looked like Tippi. Ah-hhh, memories ... But getting back to this audio book, I loved it to pieces.

Keep up the excellent work, Mr. K. You're terrific, and almost as handsome as the great Rod! Ciao, baby ...

Not only are my children middle school age, I'm also co-leading a young teens ministry at my church. This book is very practical in helping understand what this age group is going through and how Bernie Schein has approached their challenges in a very untraditional style. Specifically, I've learned how to become a deeper listener and partner in middle school children's development.

Unlike a few other commentors, I had to read through several seatings. The book is filled with dialog between the author and his students; which, I personally find harder to read - not that it's bad, I just have to re-read to fully understand. The conversations do add texture and excitement to the main story. The mini stories, which are written by Bernie's students are written very well, some of which are deeply emotional, some that I've read out loud to my children.

Mr. Schein on pre- and early adolescents, "Certainly he is larger than life, easily outsizing the conventional lens through which we obstinately pursue him; grander, subtler, and more passionate than the conventional mirror we stubbornly hold up to him."

I highly recommend this book to teachers, principals, counselors, mentors, and parents. We need more people on the planet seeking truth and ready to inspire our future leaders.

As I read Bernie's book, and "listened" to these kids incredible stories, I was overcome with feelings of how empty and shallow I was as a young teenager in middle school. If only I, and many others, could half been half as emotionally present as the kids Bernie taught there might be a lot more love, patience and understanding in this world. That is a tribute to Bernie's teaching methods and Bernie.

Read this book. It's still not too late to learn...about yourself.

Catcher in the Rye protagonist Holden Caulfield was a classic example of an introverted child who showed no enthusiasm for his schoolwork. "If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom: Inspiring Love, Creativity, and Intelligence in Middle School Kids" is a guide for teachers who want to reach out for these children who are trapped in their own shells. With plenty of tips to approach these children carefully so that they don't retreat further, "If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom" grants everything educators need to reach the hardest to reach kids, enthusiastically recommended.

Don't think this book is just for teachers or others in education, this book can benefit anyone. As a student in Bernie's class, he provided me the 2 years of my life that still have taught me more about myself than the other 27 combined. I have always wished that there was some way people in my life, who never had the opportunity to be transformed by Bernie, could in some way. I believe with this book, there is finally a way for those not as lucky as myself, at least in some small way, to as Conroy states in the introduction to the book, "encounter ... a man on fire."

Do yourself a favor. Read this book.

Another mother told me about this book and now I'm sending it to all of my friends who have kids entering middle school.

Bernie Schein's book is amazing not so much for what he tells us about his teaching methods as it is for the quality of the kids he has taught. The writing he pries out of pent up, isolated, bored, and anguishing teenagers (many of whom have learing disabilities)is unbelievable.

Bernie Schein shows us how to drag intelligence and creativity out of young teenagers by breaking down the barriers that block intimacy. His book demonstrates a unique ability to cut through BS and see people for who they really are. Kids trust him because he loves them and he doesn't judge.

This book had me crying shamelessly in a crowded airport but it was also instructive. It helped me to see how I can hang onto a good relationship with my kids. I have 11-year-old boy/girl twins who slip back and forth between youth and childhood and I'm scared of the teenage years, but Schein shows how to get through, how to keep them close by understanding them.

His book is both heart breaking and useful. I recommend it to parents.

Bought this for my niece. Had to get another for myself, I liked it so much. This is the way children's books should be. Better for older child maybe 6 (if read to by an adult) and up.

This novel is great. I have loved it since I was a little boy. My father read it to me and my brothers every night for a few months. And when he finished, I read it again.
When I pick it up now I am filled with fond memories of those months. And I must say that this book is one of my favorites.

I, with all due respect, disagree with one of the other reviewers who reviewed this item and said it was not for kids. This is the perfect book for kids, and is perfect to read aloud. The drama is engrossing, but is not too intense for youngsters. It is the perfect dog book.
A dog-lover myself, I have read a great many dog books. And this tops the list. Never before or since has an author captured so poignantly the affection between a boy and his dog. And never before or since has an author tried that affection with so many difficulties and set-backs. But, as we all know, in the end Lassie is there to greet Joe by the school gate. It's in the best three endings I've ever read (the other two being TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and A TALE OF TWO CITIES).

This is a classic, and it's one of my favorites. I honestly cannot even begin to understand why a person would give this book anything but five stars. HIGHLY recommended.

Everything runs smoothly in the Carraclough household when Lassie, their wonderful Collie, is around. But when desperate times takes desperate measures... it minuses Lassie out of the family. While everything is going hay-wire in the Carraclough home, the Collie is on a thousand-mile trek to get back with her family again. Lassie will come across many unbearable situations and obstacles, but the calling to get home overrides anything she may run into.

I loved everything about this book! The dedication of the homebound dog, to the quaint villages of England and Scotland, and all the characters within... I savored every word! It is one of my all time favorite books, and I'd recommend it to any dog or book lover!

Other than the language being like in ancient times, "Thy, thee" this book was excellent and a good savory book. It is not a fast read though.

Still an interesting, emotion-provoking and relevant read for the 21st century's jaded youth. It's about the most basic kind of friendship and loyalty, where an animal exhibits more of both than do the humans. Some of the Depression-era references and rigid class distinctions probably aren't as relevant today, but the core of the book, the love of and for an animal, remains. Highly recommended.

Dog's Colorful Day is a delightful book for ages 3 through 6. It provides very specific learning opportunities in the areas of color and number recognition, as well as beatifully illustrated, fun pictures. At the conclution of the book, the child's visual memory is challanged with a color and number review. I am a preschool teacher and always have fun reading this book to my classes. I can highly recommend it!

Ruth Atkins, San Diego

We have almost all the dog books and our daughter loves them. She is older now but still loves these books. They were a great way to teach her colors when she was a toddler. The series always has a fun story and wonderful eye catching art work. You can't go wrong with "Dog"!

A clumsy dog gets messy on his day outside. My girls love to read this book. As Dog obtains each new stain, they count all the previous stains and name all the previous colors. The end of the book gives children a chance to count to ten and to identify ten different colors. The illustrations are large, bold, and simple, making color identification easy. The illustrations are also given from a dog's eye view, which has my girls gleefully identifying every pair of shoes in the picture.

My son (now 4 1/2) knew his colors by the time he was two because he just LOVED this book. We used to borrow it from the library but I just bought it for my youngest who is now two and beginning to master his colors as well. It's such a pleasant, well written book great for all ages through kindergarten. There's not too many words per page with fun illustrations, making it great for a toddler. It touches upon counting to ten but the primary focus is colors. You won't be disappointed!

In addition to the other review I read, I would like to add that this book has a third component: sounds. There are 1) colors, 2) counting, and 3) sounds. Some of the sounds are splat and squish. There is a different sound for each spot. The other nice thing is a double page review of each spot's color and sound at the end before dog gets a bath.

Reading books about cats to a preschooler, you come upon many books with more wishful thinking than actual knowledge of how cats behave. I'm thinking of those sweet, sweet books in which cat 1 happily accepts cats 2, 3, 4, etc. and they are all best buddies. Alas, that is not how real cats interact. But Charlotte Voake obviously knows cats better than that. Her story of captures the territorial instinct of a cat confronted by a newcomer as perfectly as her illustrations capture the marvelous range of expression in feline posture. Despite the realism, she manages a plausible happy ending that made me laugh out loud. A little gem for cat lovers aged 3 to 300.

I have read many books to my two children over the years (we love to read together) and this is one of our favorites. It is especially good for the younger ones. The story is sweet and gentle and yet full of humor. The illustrations are really engaging -- for both adults and children. Charlotte Voake draws the best cats ever! Funny and warm, this is the perfect bedtime book.

Here is another good book by Charlotte Voake, a woman who obviously knows something about cats.

In this book Ginger gets a new 'friend'. The kitten though proves to be more friend that Ginger can handle and Ginger stocks off to pout.

As a mom I like that this book can be used to teach sensitivity to the needs of others. And though it's not a problem we have, I could certainly see using this book as a segway to discussing certain impending family changes... such as a new child coming.

Four Stars. [B+]. Artwork is even better than in "Ginger Finds a Home". [Ginger is a fat cat now.] Very good read-aloud. Very good art. My two children (boy and girl) love this book.

This is a book about Ginger, a lovely orange tabby who belongs to a little girl who loves him. However, she rocks Ginger's world by bringing home a new kitten, who wants to play with Ginger, eat his food, sleep in his basket, etc. Ginger takes the slightly implausible way out of going and hiding in the garden in the rain (behind the refrigerator is more like it.) But all's well that end's well, with everyone friends.

This book is often pigeon-holed as the book for introducing toddlers to the idea of a baby brother or sister, but it also speaks to the cat lover in all of us. We have a cat and a 21-month old, and this book is right at the top of her list. The illustrative style is whimsical without being saccarine, and the kitten's penchant for muscling in on Ginger's food, bed, etc. is true to cats as well as babies everywhere. We both love this book, and look forward to its 101th reading. You will too.

This book is so sweet and the illustrations so simple that I enjoy it as much as my son. It is also a very calm and tender read, perfect for bedtime!

Your child (and you too!) will have some good laughs reading this fun loving book together! My kids couldn't stop laughing! Worth every page of reading........Jamie

Great for beginning readers! Kids listen to the nonsense word the townpeople hear and guess what the monster is really saying. Playing with word sounds is an important part of learning to read, and this book is excellent for this. Fun to read aloud because of good story cadence!

THE HUNGRY THING SHOWS UP IN A VILLAGE & MISPRONOUNCES EVERYTHING HE WANTS TO EAT, SO THE VILLAGERS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE WANTS. I REALLY LIKE THIS BOOK, BUT DIDN'T THINK OUR TODDLER WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IT RIGHT NOW, BUT ON THE CONTRARY, IT'S REQUESTED ALOT.

This is a great book for SLPs (speech-language pathologists) who work with groups of K-2nd grade kids who aren't "getting" rhyming. The kids love to try to be the first to guess what the Hungry Thing is asking to eat. For example, the book reads "tickles, you know, are curly tailed hot dogs that grow in a row. 'Of course,' said the cook, 'tickles taste yummy, and you giggle and laugh with ten in your tummy!' 'I think,' said the little boy, 'it's all very clear. Tickles sound like sickels sound like......pickles to me!'" Great read aloud.

This was one of the first books I could read by myself, back in the '70s. I am now a school librarian and a parent, and this book is still a big hit with the kindergarten and first grade crowd. They laugh out loud and LOVE that they are smarter than the assembled townspeople. Our school's ancient copies have been borrowed to the point that the covers are worn and the pages are falling out. Time to purchase replacements!

Notably Nashville is a cookbook on which I have come to rely. Each and every recipe is delectable and easy. Everything that I have prepared tastes as if I slaved all day, yet that is never the case. I am constantly asked for the recipe's I prepare. Some of my favorites are the Phyllo Sausage Cups, the Summer Peach Pie, Minnie Pearl's Chess Pie, and the Goat Cheese Dip. Notably Nashville is a treasure trove for any cook, a novice or one that is well seasoned!

Dont be fooled by the high prices. This great cookbook is still in print and available for $28.95 at the Junior League of Nashville www.jlnashville.com and Davis Kidd Booksellers. Happy cooking and my favorite recipe is the broccoli salad.

A must have for anyone who collects cookbooks or loves fast, easy, and delicious recipes. Makes a great gift.

Notably Nashville is that rare cookbook that effectively blends interesting information about Nashville (historic, cultural, etc.) with recipes that give the cook a traditional taste of the South with enough updated twists to keep it interesting. I use this cookbook when I'm looking for something special or just something my family will like. Personal favorites are Marinated Cheese, Cornbread Salad and Showhouse Chocolate Pecan Pie. I highly recommend it to all who use and enjoy not just Jr. League cookbooks - but all cookbooks. A great addition to the collection.

The Notably Nashville Cookbook has quickly become one of my favorites in my cookbook collection. I especially like the Mexican Roll-ups, Bacon and Cheddar Pinwheels, and Not Your Mother's Ham Biscuits. Every recipe that I have tried has turned out really well and has gotten rave reviews!

This is a very good book for reviewing for the EC-4 Generalist exam. I graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Ed. 15 years ago and am Lifetime certified 1-8. I have taught K in private and 1st in public and am seeking early childhood certification so that I can teach K again in public. I feel confident that this book will be all that I need in order to study for the EC-4 Generalist exam.

I bought this book to study for the EC-4 Texes exam. The test had some of the same study questions that were in this book! So glad I studied! And I passed! :)

THis has been very helpful in preparing me for the TExES test. I recommend it to all

Janice Nath's book is the first textbook I actually read cover to cover. I not only passed the test on my first attempt with a 284 but I learned things I hope to use in my future classroom. The book is set up in sections based on the content areas covered in the test and gives an excellent review of the overwhelming amount of information a grade school teacher needs to know to be an effective teacher. I was really at a loss to know where to start studying for this test as the subject matter was so diverse. This textbook gave me direction. I got it only two weeks prior to taking the test and read every page. If you choose to purchase the book I hope you enjoy it just as much and good luck on the test. In fact I liked it so much I just wrote my first review on Amazon so others nervous about taking the test will get the help they need. :)

This is an excellent, thorough guide to help you prepare for the EC-4 TExES. I looked at several books, but felt like this one had the best information. Though there is not a full practice test, there are practice questions throughout, which are just as (if not more)helpful. Each answer is explained fully (not only why answer A is correct, but why B, C, and D are incorrect).

Several professors contributed to the text, and I know that many others choose it as required reading for their courses.

I made a very high score on the exam, and I owe that score in part to this guide.