Editorial Review

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. "As always, the forms are sculptured, the perspectives as dazzling as they are audacious, the colors rich and elegant, the use of light and shadow masterly." -- Horn BookALA Notable Book
Booklist Editors' Choice
Horn Book Fanfare Selection
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of theYear
Reading Rainbow Review Book ... Read more

Reviews

Is Santa Claus real?
This book opens the possibility that Santa Claus -- as presented to most of us -- may not physically exist. It does this in a way that will allow children and their parents to ease into that question, a graceful move from the belief in a living St. Nick, to a belief in the spirit of Christmas.

It begins like this: "On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound -- a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear -- the ringing of Santa's sleigh.

'There is no Santa,' my friend had insisted, but I knew he was wrong."

From here, we follow a beautifully illustrated story of this young boy's quiet night ride with other children, on the Polar Express train to the North Pole, a "huge city standing alone at the top of the world, filled with factories where every Christmas toy was made."

Our narrator is the fortunate child, picked by Santa, to receive the first gift of that Christmas. He knows exactly what he wants, a simple gift that will help him continue to believe in the magic of Christmas, a silver bell from a reindeer's harness.

He gets his wish, but loses it on the train ride home. However, there's a happy ending -- evidently Santa has found the bell, and put it under the tree. The boy and his little sister admire the beauty of the sound it makes, but their parents say, "Oh, that's too bad....It's broken."

Many years later, the boy's sister and all of his friends can no longer hear the bell.

"Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe."

My youngest son at ages 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 has chosen to firmly believe with the narrator, but he's moved around in his reaction to the notion that Santa isn't real. From -- "that's ridiculous, isn't it?" to "Mom...it is ridiculous, isn't it?" This book will let him hold onto the Christmas spirit for as long as he wants, and to return to it whenever he needs it.

This version comes complete with CD's/tapes with readings. Buy the less expensive edition, add a silver bell, and (if you can), read it with the child yourself to give a really special gift.

A wonderful book for those who want to believe in the spirit of Christmas every day of every year.

Simply breath-taking...Christmas through the eyes of a child
"On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound -- a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear ...." And so begins one the of the most beautiful stories of all time. Although I am now a senior in college, The Polar Express has remained the most valued and cherished book in my ever-expanding library. A childhood Christmas gift, Chris Van Allsburg's timeless masterpiece has become a fixture at our family gatherings each and every holiday season. Every member of the family, from the youngest to the oldest, appreciates it's simple but elegant story-telling style illustrated by the soft and soothing silhouettes of Van Allsburg's full-color art. The Polar Express is the story of a young boy and his magical journey aboard a mythical train to the North Pole. The reader is taken along this incredible ride and rediscovers the true joy and pure spirit of a child at Christmas. Van Allsburg's beautiful illustrations become as important to the story as the words themselves. These life-like pictures encourage children of ALL ages to explore their own imaginations and to become active participants in the young boy's journey. In the end, the young boy has grown into an old man, but the spirit of Christmas still rings for him, "... as it does for all who truly believe." I hope you enjoy this book half as much as I do.

The Polar Express
I started reading this book to my children 15 years ago when they were toddlers. I would keep it with my Christmas decorations and bring it out every holiday season. Once they grew too old to be read to, I still brought it out every year and put it on the coffee table. Last year I started reading it to my two-year old son. I still cry with nostaligia each time I read The Polar Express, remembering the magic it held for my older children and how we read it over and over. Well, my second son loved it so much, it never go put away with the Christmas decorations. We read it together constantly, even during the summer! This is a book that never loses its magic -- for children and adults alike. I plan to give this book to my neices and nephews this Christmas.

Sophisticated Children's Christmas Book
My kids love the art and the story is enchanting.

A wonderful train ride full of children who want to believe churns its way to the North Pole and a meeting with Santa. Keeping with traditon, Santa selects one boy to present the first present of Christmas to before he mounts to the sky to visit all the homes of good boys and girls. Rather than ask for a bike, or Pokemon or any other "big" gift, the boy asks for one of Santa's sleigh bells, proof he can hold onto that yes, Santa does exist.

This tale of Christmas belief (in Santa, that is) works well on adults, too. It has a message about belief and wonderment that touch all who want to believe in the magic associated with the gift giving part of Christmas.

Warning, The Polar Express is best for children a little older than mine (5 1/2, 4). It introduces the concept that Santa may not exist. I get around this by not reading two paragraphs in the book, but you should be forwarned if that particular discussion in your household is several years away. (My kids also tell me everytime that the boy in the story should not get on the train at the invitation of a stranger.) At the right age, this is a magical and wonderful Christmas tale of belief.

Beautiful and Magical--A Timeless Classic
It is far too easy to express cynicism about Christmas. Likewise, it is far too easy to put down the Christmas season as too commercial. And it is far too easy to dismiss a seasonal gem such as The Polar Express as simplistic and sentimental. But this tale is one of belief, of keeping something which is childlike, not childish, and that just doesn't grow old.

The narrator, a boy, lies awake listening for the sound of the bells on Santa's sleigh, a sound a friend who doesn't believe in Santa Claus says that he won't hear. Indeed, he does not, but what he does hear is even more wonderful and remarkable. He hears the hiss of steam and the squeak of metal, and when he looks out the window, he sees a train outside his house. It is the Polar Express, heading for the North Pole.

Once aboard, he finds that it is full of children, all in their nightclothes. They sing Christmas carols, drink cocoa and eat candies as the train races northward. Finally, they arrive at the North Pole, and the narrator is selected to receive the first gift of Christmas. He asks for, and receives from Santa Claus himself, a silver bell from the sleigh.

Although the boy loses the bell on the way home, kindly Santa returns it to him, and the boy discovers that the bell has a remarkable quality. Only those who still believe in the wonder of Santa and the spirit of Christmas can hear the bell. His friends and his sister eventually cannot hear the bell, but even when he grows up "the bell still rings for [him] as it does for all who truly believe."

The story is accompanied by beautiful pictures that capture the nighttime journey. The author employs somber tones in most of his scenes, speckled with snow and highlighted with starlight and the glowing lights of the train. He captures the cold and mystery of the night, contrasting it with the warm interior scenes.

Every child should own this book. It is a magical story that they can appreciate for the rest of their lives.

Get the gift pack not just the book!
This is a lovely story. Both the writing and the illustrations are superior. This is one of those books that is definitely worth owning, and in a hardcover version, not a paperback that will wear and tear. Parents: it is a keeper, one that you will save for years and to read to your future grandchildren.

The story is of a boy's journey on a mysterious train, the Polar Express, that takes children (adorned in their pajamas) to the North Pole to Santa's village. I won't spoil the story by telling any more...

There are loads of Christmas themed children's books out there for this age range. Many are mediocre or just plain garbage. This book is in the superior category and a "must own".

Knowing nothing about this story, both my son and I were drawn to it because of his love of trains. If you don't know the story, just be aware it introduces the idea that not all people believe in Santa Claus. This was the first time my (then) three-year-old learned that not everyone believes, whether they are adults or children. It also explains that as some people grow older they change from a believer to a non-believer. Just know that before reading the story to your child. For us it introduced the idea of non-believing. Another family I know read the book after an older child told this young child there is no Santa Claus, and the book helped deal with the issue of when some believe and some don't believe.

The gift pack we purchased had the audio version on CD. Narrator-actor William Hurt's voice is wonderful, slow and flowing...just right to evoke the mood of the story! There is also a CD-ROM for the computer (sold separately), which is a read-aloud story with images that my children watch a handful of times per Christmas season.

The gift pack also comes with a Christmas tree ornament. My children are thrilled to have a Polar Express related ornament to adorn our Christmas tree because they love trains and they love this story.

Absolutely Enchanting!
This book is one of the most magical children's books I have ever come across! As soon as you open the front cover, you enter an exquisite world that has an almost dream-like quality to it. It is told in the first person point of view of an adult recounting his most memorable Christmas experience. And what an experience! The boy in the story is awakened one Christmas Eve by a train whistle and discovers the Polar Express waiting to take him to the North Pole to see Santa. Once there, the boy is chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas. The boy has a touchingly simple request --to have one of the bells from the harness of Santa's reindeer. It is given to him, and he is filled with joy! Yet, on the way home, the boy discovers that there is a hole in the pocket of his bathrobe, and he has lost the treasured bell.He is heart broken. The next morning he finds the bell in a box under the tree, and he rejoices in the new-found bell and its marvelous sound! The catch? Only those who truly believe in the magic of Santa can hear the sound of the bell.
I read this story every year to my children, and every year there is absolute silence as they listen, entranced, to this deceptively simple story. Afterward, they always beg to hear it again and again! They are fascinated by the beautiful illustrations and the language of this very moving story. I have a CD with my version and Liam Neeson does a beautiful job of reading the book, along with superb background sounds and effects that will make you feel as if you had taken the journey yourself. You will not for a minute regret buying this book--I guarantee it will become a treasured favorite with your children!As an adult it will fill you with a wistful yearning to go back to your childhood and experience once again the magic of being a child.

Fortunate Read-aloud parent
I volunteered for my daughters KDG class to be a read-aloud parent. The book was chosen for me. When I brought the book home to preview what I was going to be reading to the class, I vowed I would read it at least a dozen times at home first. Otherwise I would have ended the story in my daughter's class with tears streaming down my face as I had the first time I read it, and several times again. This is such a wonderful story and so beautifully illustrated. I decided that the whole class should have a jingle bell from Santa's sleigh. Luckily I found just what I needed at the craft store! I would like to thank the person who chose the book for me to read, for giving me the opportunity to experience this story in such a way that I was passing it along to not only my own children, but to 25 others. I would also like to thank the author for sharing with me a truly special gift. I will continue to recommend this book to everyone I know, and hope that they appreciate it the way I do. P.S. It is also going to be Christmas gifts for a few of my neices and nephews!

The Ability to Believe Again
This is the best christmas book ever written. I could simply stop there and enough would be said.

I discovered this book in 1985 before the world told me that Santa was only for children. I fell in love with the book the first time it was read to me. However, I did not aquire a copy of my own until I was about 16. By this time I no longer believed in Santa and had not read the book in years. I was wandering through my local book store and saw the familiar cover. I instantly smiled and something happened. I bought the book and took it home. I read the book and cried. I remembered Santa. I remembered how to believe.

It has been 5 years since I "discovered" this book again and I read is all the time now; in the summer and winter. I share the magic of The Polar Express with all of my friends. I even give sleigh bells to friends at Christmas who I think need a boost in their faith.

I highly recommend this book for all ages.

The Polar Express Review
This is a book about a Christmas memory. A little boy gets woken up on Christmas Eve by a trains whistle blowing. He finds a train waiting outside his house to take him to the North Pole. When he gets to the North Pole he sees Santa and he finds out that he has been chosen to receive the first Christmas gift. All he wants is one of Santas bells off his sleigh. He is the happiest boy until on the way home from the North Pole he realizes that there was a hole in his pocket and he has lost his bell. This really makes him upset but he wakes up on Christmas morning to find the bell as one of his presents. The thing is only people that truly believe in Santa Clause can hear the bell when it is rung.
This is a great book. It is beautifully illustrated and it really pulls in the reader. I loved it when I was little and I still love it today. I read it every year around Christmas and love it just as much every time I read it. The pictures really draw the reader in also, and they follow the story greatly. I think through this book, the author was trying to show that you have to have faith sometime. Only the ones that truly believe can hear the bell and I think that goes for a lot of things in life. I think it is a great story for children and adults of all ages. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

A "picture perfect" Children's Book
When so many contemporary Children's Books seem to appeal more to parents than kids, it was quite refreshing to come across this little gem! "The Quiet Book", by Deborah Underwood with illustrations by Renata Liwska, is a perfect example of what a picture book should be. The irresistibly charming art complements the spare text beautifully. It's a deceptively simple book that reveals more with each reading. Although the title might suggest that this is strictly a bedtime storybook, it's really all about the different kinds of "quiet time" a child experiences throughout the day.

This is a special book
The Quiet Book is a precious collection of *different kinds of quiet* such as coloring-in-the-lines-quiet and trying-not-to-hiccup-quiet. The illustrations are a soft palate of earthy pastels and the child-animals are absolutely adorable. There are a couple of reasons why I truly love this book and would highly recommend. 1) It's an entertaining way to help children notice when quiet arises naturally. 2) This book encourages children to discover the emotions behind different kinds of quiet - be it contentment or nervousness, excitement or silent awe. It also makes a perfect gift for the friend in your life (no matter how old) who might need a meditation on quiet and where it can be found. In a world of ever-increasing noise and stimulus, this book is a very special one.

A privilege to write a review for the Quiet Book.
This is a wondrous book about all the different kinds of quiet there are for kids. Happy quiets and worried quiets, scared quiets and "was I being naughty?" quiets.

I have to declare an interest, since I am Deborah Underwood's brother in law. Which means I have had the privilege of knowing the book for many years in draft form (you have NO idea how long it takes for children's picture books to come out.)

The book has always been brilliant but I didn't imagine how great the pictures would be to go with it.

In short I think this is a great book and I don't think you or your children will be disappointed.

bedtime (or anytime!) story
The perfect combo of art and text, this wonderful book is for anyone (big or small) who wants a respite from today's busy - and loud - world. A beautiful little book destined to become a classic!

Get your kids to be quiet!
My two daughters are rarely quiet . . . the one exception is our storytime each night. My 3 yr old regularly pulls this one out of the pile for me and my husband to read again (and again). The artwork is irresistible!

Feelin' quite cozy and ready to write a review for the The Quiet Book
I love children's stories that are short with their words but big in their meaning. The Quiet Book is a perfect blend of soft, effective imagery coupled with simple yet very familiar language that quickly draws in readers young and old. Its message is loud and clear and anyone who reads this story will easily relate to several of its passages. The animal characters are soft and wonderful and each one from the iguana to the bear that drops his jelly sandwich is sweet and lovable. Such a warm and comforting story - perfect for reading before bed or while you are curling up with your young ones on a rainy/snowy day. Lovely work.

My daughter loves it
My daughter and I read this book before naptime, a definite "quiet" time and it helps her unwind and get ready for sleep. The illustrations are so sweet and beautiful. I highly recommend this book to all the parents out there!

Shhhhh!
The Quiet Book lives up to its title. Very gentle text and pictures to soothe a little one whether to sleep or to simply slow down and calm down. Definately a lap and rocking chair book to share.

Shhh...tell everyone
There are all types of quiet--happy quiet, sad quiet, fun quiet and uh-oh quiet. Deborah Underwood captures them with her sweet text and Renata Liwska brings them to life with soft (quiet) illustrations. This book doesn't yell and roar. It grabs you instead with its softness, making you think and smile. A very good thing to do with a little one you love. This is a book I love to read again and again. So will you.

My New Favorite Baby Shower Gift to Give
This is one of my favorite picture books from 2010 and has become my new favorite gift to give for baby showers and little one's birthdays.

The book encompasses the theme of quiet not only in the text, but also the design. It's a smaller than normal size picture book, with adorable little critters depicted in subdued colors, and a gentle narration of the types of quiet throughout. There is also a lot of humor to be found in the illustrations and readers who spend extra time poring over the illustrations will have fun picking up new details.

A couple people have described this book as a "lesson" book, and I think they're missing the point. This is a story that encourages observation and thoughtfulness from children. It's not an instructional book on being quiet. It can be enjoyed simply for the gentle story that it is, but it also can spur additional contemplation and discussion. (Is licking a lollipop a quiet activity for you? What are some things you do during the day that involve quiet? Do you feel different emotions during different quiet activities--maybe "concentrating" while quietly coloring a picture, "anticipation" while waiting for a concert to start.)

I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

... Read more

Editorial Review

Requested again and again, here, at last, is the Thomas Bright and Early Board Book Box Set. All four of the enormously popular Thomas board books are here: Go, Train, Go!; Stop, Train, Stop!; A Crack in the Track!; and Blue Train, Green Train. Boxed together in a nifty little “lunchbox,” these four books are a feast for Thomas’ smallest fans. The box features a sturdy handle and a velcro close and is perfect for Thomas lovers on the go. ... Read more

Reviews

Great
The book was great. By nephews loved it. A lot smaller than I originally thought, but I guess for 3 year olds, it is perfect.

Thomas Books
These are great little books and just the right size for travel. Love the case too.

Must have for your Thomas Fanatic
My son loves anything Thomas - so naturally he loves this book set. The set consists of 4 books in a carrying case. The books are on the smaller side but that makes it easier for my 2 year old to "read" the books by himself. I also love the fact that the set consists of Board Books as my son tends to play a little rough with his books. These books will last a long time and my son loves the stories.

A BIG hit with my 2.5 year old
My daughter was beyond excited when she opened the box. The stories are simplistic, but she likes them and likes identifying all the engines she knows. The size is perfect for her to take a couple of them along when we're out and about.

I also think this is a good value for the money. Board books of this size can sell for $5.00 on their own, so $10.00 for a whole set is a good deal. I'd recommend it as a gift for any Thomas fan!

Great little book set
I bought this book box for my nephew who was turning 2 and absolutely loves Thomas the Tank Engine. The box was small enough that he's able to carry them around by himself and the books were the perfect size for his little hands with thick pages making it easy for him to turn on his own. It's a great present for any little reader who loves Thomas. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Powerful message
This book's powerful message could change the way the children in the world see themselves. This is truly the bedtime stories to end all bedtime stories. When I read it to my daughter again and again, he always feels so special. Wish it could be handed out to new parents as they leave the hospital. Thank you to the author for giving us this special memory. The artwork is also beautiful! Another special title that I recommend above all other children books is Why Some Cats are Rascals ( Book 3).

A beautiful book terrific for even an adoptive child too!
When I saw this book I thought oh, I bet this is an absolutely wonderful book for any child who receives it...but I won't be able to read it to my daughter who was "born in my heart & in another mother's tummy". With both my sister and sister-in-law are pregnant I wanted to check out this book and see if my thoughts on this book where the same as the other reviewers.

Not only did I fall in love with this book, but I was also very surprised that this book also can be given to your adoptive child as well! Unlike other books this book focuses completely on your child and not on her or his birthmother. This book speaks of how special your child is, that there is no other child exactly like them and shows you how the world, moon and animals celebrated the night your child was born.

The illustrations are beautiful and some even have musical notes that swirl about the page. The baby is in a basket and you never see the it's face. The words are pure poetry, speaking to the child in all of us on how special, how rare and how there is only one of each of us IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

An awesome book that every child should be given and read to until they know without a doubt of how special they are! Adults too could learn much from this book! And if you are giving this book as a baby shower gift.... you have picked one of the best baby gifts out there in the world today!

PS: Another wonderful book is Twelve Gifts of Birth.

Every child should be read this book
What a wonderful book! Every child needs to be read this book, slowly so the words sink in. They need to know that they are loved and special. I am a new grandma, my granddaughters are ages 3 and 4, they will be read this book over and over again.
thank you Ms. Tillman

This Wonderful Book Says, "I Love You."
You are a very special, unique, one of a kind child, that's the message conveyed in this wonderful book. On the night you were born, the moon smiled with wonder that the stars peeked in to see you. There are many places throughout the book to say your child's name to personalize it, to make it their very own story. It is written in the lovely rhyming verse all children love. Not once had there been such eyes, such a nose, such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.

In her 4-color illustrations, Ms. Tillman uses geese flying, ladybugs landing, and the moon up at morning to celebrate the birth of a child, it's her hope that even as children grow into adults, whenever they see these events they will be reminded of how valuable they are. The illustrations also contain musical notes floating in the sky, with small messages such as, "You are a miracle." Two giraffes look up at a star filled sky while the moon plays a saxophone surrounded by the words, wonderful...marvelous...you. Instill confidence and self esteem in your child by personalizing each page with their name.

A book your child will cherish for a lifetime.

A lovely, adoption-friendly book.
I first heard this book at the Mother's Day Tea at my daughter's preschool. When I heard the title, my stomach clenched. Because my daughter is adopted, her birth is an event I had no part in. I initially thought that the selection was a little thoughtless.

I should have had more faith in my daughter's wonderful teacher. As "Miss Ro" read the book, I realized that the story was about the birth of a child is a gift to the world of nature (not to her parents and family as most books treat it). I have since given this book to other new children in my world, and consider it one of the loveliest, most magical books I have read. Every child should feel as though her/his birth has impacted the whole world, as this book suggests.

This book is an excellent addition to any pro-adoption collection.

I Love "On the Night You Were Born"
My 4 year old daughter received this book for a Christmas Gift. She loves books, and frequently this is the one she picks for us to read before she goes to bed. One of the things she likes most about the book is that when you are reading it, you insert the child's name. She loves hearing her name as part of the story. It makes it very personal. She also loves the beautifully illustrated artwork. It's a great book, and I would highly recommend it.

You Are Important Too
Dear Nancy,

I can't begin to tell you how much your book, "On The Night You Were Born", has meant to me and my family. Two of my grandchildren were up visiting during their summer vacation; one is a little boy age 9 and the other is his half-sister who is 16. My son is the father of both.

As I read the book it came to me that this was something I should share with both of them. We lay down on the bed together and I explained to them that I wanted to share a very special story with them that would tell them something about themselves. Since my son has been married three times and sees very little of them since he lives 6oo miles away from them.

They were both very quiet as I read the book and after I finished Matthew was smiling and Victoria had tears in her eyes. Matthew said, `Nana, I always knew I was special but I think I know why now'. Victoria's comment was, `Now I understand that I am special and that even though I don't see Dad very often, I am special to him too because I truly the only one of me he ever created.'

I know that this book touched me as an adult also; it is truly a book that I feel will touch the lives of the many who read it or share it with others as I did. My husband is a United Methodist Minister and I plan to share this in Children's Church one Sunday and I know that it will touch the lives of some one who hears it read.

Thank you Nancy from the bottom of my heart.

In HIS love and service,


Sharon H. Holmes

A Book for Every Child
This is a book that every child should have. It is beautifully illustrated and written. The theme focuses on the special qualities that make each of us an individual, unique in all the world. It would make a wonderful gift for any child - and a gift for any parent to share with their child.

A gentle picturebook about celebrating the very special night in which the child reading it was born
On the Night You Were Born is a gentle picturebook about celebrating the very special night in which the child reading it was born. The rhyming verse and colorful, impressionistic art style blend harmoniously, in this story written to boost self-esteem and cultivate wonder for the celebrations of nature. "So whenever you doubt just how special you are / and you wonder who loves you, how much and you far, / listen for geese honking high in the sky. / (They're singing a song to remember you by.)" An excellent read-aloud storybook right before bedtime.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Children eight and up will enjoy this conversational but information-packed introduction to astronomy and stargazing, which includes the achievements of the great scientists, the history of space exploration, the story of our solar system, the myths behind the constellations, and how to navigate the night sky. Whimsical color illustrations on every page and handy definitions and sidebars help engage younger readers and develop their interest. The special star wheel helps locate stars and planets from any location at any time of year. This is the third in Black Dog & Leventhal's successful series including The Story of the Orchestra and A Child's Introduction to Poetry. ... Read more

Reviews

Intended for Children Ages 9 - 12 , but a Fine Backup Guide for Adults!, March 5, 2006
A CHILD'S INTRODUCTION TO THE NIGHT SKY is one of those 'children's books' that should be read by the adults before passing it along! There is much to learn in this colorful, artistic and very informative survey of the stars, making many of the legends behind the constellations and mythologically named configuration of stars easy to visualize and understand. It is bound to provoke questions from the 'child readers', making adult homework or refresher course a must.

Writer Michael Driscoll thankfully does not 'dumb down' his readers but rather stimulates with concise and informed language. After an interesting Welcome to the Universe, he divides the book into sections: What's Up There - both what we can see and what we can't see; and Exploring What's Up There - what astronomers and astronauts do and what the reader can do. He then outlines a brief history of space, maps of the night skies, and adds succinct histories of the mythological characters for whom the star configurations are named.

Accompanying this informative and entertaining take on the night sky is the artwork of Meredith Hamilton that goes beyond illustration into the science of depiction of stars. Included in the book are glow in the dark sticker packs and 'star finders' that, while they may cheapen the book for adults, they probably will please the younger brother and sisters in the family. For an outing of learning about the stars this is a very good beginning - for everyone! Grady Harp, March 06

great astronomy 101 for the middle school and older child, January 28, 2007
The subtitle of the book is the Story of the Stars, Planets and Constellations -- and How You Can Find Them in the Sky. It should read The Stars, The Planets, the Astronomers, the Universe and Everything. The books has definitions, factoids, readable text, stories, illustrations, pictures, a star wheel/star finder, stickers and everything that has anything to do with our world and our universe. Not for small children (too much text/ too much information), but the best introduction to astronomy I have seen for middle school and older children presented in a very very approachable/ user friendly format. Well done!

A Childs Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations and How You Can Find them in the sky, September 16, 2006
This was a birthday present for my great nephew. The book comes with stars to put on the ceiling of the room which he just went crazy for. He finds the book challenging as he is in the 1st grade but reads 3rd and this is a 5th grade book. He loves it and it goes really well with his telecope. I recommend this book for those children who are into the sky.

Can be a great book for elementary age with adult/older child's help, April 25, 2007
We purchased this book for my daughter as a reward for a good report card. Her 1st grade class has been learning about space. While the book may seem a little advanced for first graders it is definitely a book that they can used to reference with an adult's help. The book is broken down in and way and written so that the common person without astronomy knowledge can learn from it and transfer that to the child. This book can also be used as a great resource for teachers teaching younger kids about our universe. Included with this book is a glow in the dark star chart that helps anyone find the constellations. This book provides an easy way to have quality time with a child that is also educational. If you are looking for a one stop shopping book about space that a child can used for a while then this is it!

Not just for children!, February 6, 2009
Incredibly -- despite the title, this book is not just for children.

By far, it is simply the best available, most thorough introduction to the night sky and to astronomy, for curious people of all ages -- the sort of book that motivates every parent to tramp outside, book in hand, wearing eager smiles -- with or without the children!

Beautiful illustrations decorate and enhance the text. Everything is here: models which make it possible to easily visualize the size relationships of the planets in our solar system, as well as their distribution and the distances between them. The visible planets and major constellations are clearly identified, and helpful hints for finding them are provided. Packed with information that is not easily or readily found elsewhere, and packaged in an engaging format which is easily accessible. You don't even need a telescope to use this book in your own backyard. There are clear explanations of what to look for, what to see with the naked eye, and how to use binoculars and telescopes to get a better view. There are even glow-in-the-dark stickers to use in building your own night-sky model on your own bedroom ceiling or elsewhere. Truly, this is the astronomy book I've been looking for, all these years.

Very highly recommended. Simply delightful!

Beautiful book - out of this world, September 20, 2007
My 6 year old son had a class project about the night sky, I purchased this book and was blown away by the detail and artwork, the viewing wheel was a great addition to the book used to great effect by young and old. I gave the book to his Teacher and she was so impressed with it that she used it as a teaching resourse and took inspiration for some lessons out of it, if you only buy one book for your child on astronomy let it be this one

excellent gift, January 9, 2007
I purchased this book as a gift for my 9 year old nephew. He absolutely loved it! He enjoys reading the book with his mom and loves the fact that it came with the glo-in-the-dark stars.

Nice book!, December 30, 2008
I bought this book for my 5 year old as we begin to explore the world of astronomy. She loved it from the very beginning.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!, January 30, 2010
Just received this wonderful book, mere days after ordering. Am an adult who is just beginning to get into stargazing, and ordered this and a telescope as part of my birthday celebration.

This book is just amazing, and I took the reviews to heart that said it was great for adults as well as kids. Honestly, the writer did a fabulous job and the illustrator outdid herself. It's an amazing book, and I can't rave enough about it.

The starfinder wheel will be great when my telescope gets here, and the glow in the dark stickers? I won't admit that I may use them as well! (smiling) Yes, I have never lost my childlike wonder and thrill of many things.

I've got other books arriving any day now, but this one serves as a great foundation to my learning curve before reading the others.

Get this book without delay. You will not be sorry. And you may eventually share it with your kids as well.

A Book of Wonder and Delight, October 6, 2009
A good book can open the mind and heart. This is a VERY good book.
I bought it as a gift for a 4th grader and neither of us could be more pleased.
The text answers many questions in a delightful and informative way. It not only gives names, locating information and descriptions of the planets and constellations, but also information about the mythological beings for which they were named and even lists the attributes of these gods and goddesses.
Artwork is a combination of stunning photographs, maps of the sky and wonderful, imaginative drawings. It truly is a feast for the senses of children ages 9-12.
I recommend this book without reservation for any child in that age group.
... Read more

Editorial Review

This bestselling guide answers all the questions growing girls have about their bodies - from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bra buying, pimples to periods. It offers guidance about basic hygiene and health without addressing issues of sexuality. Over 1 million copies sold! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Why do we have eyebrows? What's a black hole and what happens if you fall into one? What's the fastest a human is capable of running? Why do wet fingers stick to metal in the freezer? Where is the deepest point on Earth? Divided by subject area - humans, animals, environment/nature, technology, and space - and written in an upbeat manner, each answer is accompanied by either a photo or an illustration to show the reasons why. Of course, "Time for Kids" goes beyond answering the question by dipping into the science or history to further explain the answer in an easy-to-follow, straightforward manner. This is a must -have book to satisfy the most curious of kids and provokes a great way to encourage interest and knowledge about a wide range of subjects, as well as to stimulate reading. Kids will be desperate to share what they've learned with their parents, teachers, and friends...and anyone else who will listen. ... Read more

Reviews

Love it!
Love this book! Bought it for my daughter for Christmas this year. She is always curious how things work and I know she will love it. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through it myself.

why mom
the big book of why - helps the busy mom for some of answers that get us when we are not thinking on why mom - the little facts are fun for all ... Read more

Editorial Review

In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes. ... Read more

Reviews

Love to eat them mousies. Mousies what I love to eat.
How trustworthy do you find a reviewer who loves a particular author's work, praises it regularly, and then reviews that writer's next book with predictable kisses, cheers, and thrown rose petals? I admit that I am usually that exact reviewing type. If I like someone's work, I'm more likely to review that same person in the future. That's just how the game goes. But for once, I think I should point out that a positive review is all the MORE impressive when it comes from someone who not usually a fan of a particular author or illustrator. Take Jerry Pinkney, for example. The bloke has won his own fair share of Caldecott Honors in his day. He is prolific. He has an eye for a good story. But prior to the publication of The Lion and the Mouse I would have to admit that the only picture book of his that I really truly enjoyed was his version of Little Red Riding Hood and even that wasn't one of my favorite books of its year. I say all this not to degrade Mr. Pinkney but to point out that his newest book has a singular ability to do something most artists do not even hope to try for. It is appealing to both die-hard Pinkney fans and the folks who could take him or leave him. Everybody likes this book. It's actually a little weird, but who are we to argue? The Lion and the Mouse takes a classic Aesop tale and spins it into wordless picture book gold. A must have, and a must purchase.

Set against the African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya, a single small mouse escapes the claws of a hungry owl, only to find herself trapped within the paw of a huge lion. On a whim, the lion lets the mouse go and then sets about his merry way. Unfortunately, poachers have been putting up traps, and before he knows it the lion is caught and bound in nasty ropes, high above the ground. To his rescue comes the little mouse, and she nibbles the ropes until they give way and free the lion. In her mouth she leaves with one of the knots of rope, which she gives her family of tiny babies at home to play with. On the final endpapers, the lion and his family of cubs prowl with the mouse and her family safely ensconced on the lion's back.

Go into your local library, ask for the Aesop tales, and you'll find a wide variety of takes on the genre. Generally, it is hard to turn a single Aesop fable into a picture book for the simple fact that Aesop's tales are a bit on the short side. That's why you're more likely to either find his book in collections (as in Animal Fables from Aesop as illustrated by Barbara McClintock) or in greatly expanded texts (as in Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes by Margie Palatini). Pinkney's decision to make this book almost entirely wordless is therefore nothing short of inspired. Without words, Pinkney is free to expand his storyline. To show elements and characters that wouldn't deserve a mention in a straight interpretation of the original text. And at forty pages Pinkney hasn't had to skimp on his storytelling either.

Pinkney places his story within the quiet majesty of the Serengeti. Now I'm sure I'm not the only person who, when hearing the title The Lion and the Mouse immediately thinks of the jungle. It doesn't matter how many times you tell me that lions don't live in the jungle. Certain stories have been so battered into my brain that it will take books like Pinkney's do undo the mental imagery there. Pinkney has also given himself over entirely to the Serengeti landscape. Each animal has been meticulously researched and rendered here. On a first read I was skeptical as to whether or not the owl featured in the book would actually exist in this African landscape. The answer? Yep. It would indeed. Pinkney has researched this puppy out the wazoo, and the result is a book that fairly pops with accuracy.

Mouse feet. I have a strange appreciation for any artist who can accurately portray well-proportioned mouse feet. Mice do not have attractive feet. They are long and pink with their toes all scrunched on one end and their heels too far away to look good on the other. So while I am sure that most folks will be ooing and cooing over Pinkney's depiction of the lion in all his mane-y goodness, I'm all about the mouse and her footsies. And from time to time I did also wonder about scale. There's a wonderful moment when the mouse pauses on the lion's tail, unaware that she is close to a new predator. Next to her three ants walk the length of a single piece of grass, even smaller than the mouse herself. Later you see the mouse and her family on the back of the lion, and they seem a bit big, but it's not overly jarring. I doubt a kid would care two cents about whether or not the mouse is always in direct proportion to the lion, but it's worth noting anyway.

According to the publication page, "The full-color artwork for this book has been prepared using pencil, watercolor, and colored pencils on paper." And within that medium, and without becoming cartoonish, Pinkney gives characters expressions but keeps them well within the realm of realism. The mouse can go from terrified to delighted and still look like a real mouse. And the lion's expression when the mouse finds him in the net? If cats feel shame, the big cats must sometimes feel big time shame. Other choices made in the book are worth noting. The white poachers, for example, have their faces obscured when they appear to set up the trap that will snare the lion. In doing so they take on the faceless void of villainy, without the artist having to render them cartoonish in their badness.

There are words in this book, but they tend to be onomatopoetic. The "who who whoooo" of an owl or the tiny terrified squeak of the mouse when caught by the lion. In the scene where the lion is lifted off the Serengeti floor no sound is made. You just see the wide-open mouth and rolling eyes. It isn't until you turn the page that the "RRROAARRRRRRRRRRR" appears at the top of a two-page spread. Below the sound, four panels show the mouse scurrying to the rescue below. This use of panels gives the already near silent book a kind of silent movie feel. Like a graphic novel, The Lion and the Mouse finds use for panels, white space, timing and inserts of dialogue, such as it is. It is able to use the best of both the comic world and the picture book world. One minute you're limited to panels. The next you turn the page and here's a double spread, full-color, lush and gorgeous. Pinkney has expanded his medium with this book and the payoff is evident.

As a children's librarian, sometimes I find wordless picture books a hard sell to parents. Kids are often willing to dig them, but for a parent a wordless book means a lot of interaction with their child, and some folks are squeamish about poring over a single title for too long. The nice thing about The Lion and the Mouse is that it hooks you from the cover onward. Heck, I suspect that there's many a parent that will completely miss the fact that the book even is wordless until they've gotten more than halfway in, so compelling is Pinkney's visual storytelling. It's been a while since an Aesop fable had this many people talking about it. Worth the buzz. Worth the hype. Worthy.

WHAT A LION! WHAT A MOUSE! WHAT AN ARTIST!
This particular Aesop fable is familiar to most - the story of a wee, insignificant mouse who happens to disturb a lion. Well, of course, the little mouse is a mere tidbit for the lion. Nonetheless, this magnificent king of the jungle decides to let the little fellow go.

Later, the lion is entrapped by poachers and the little mouse remembers the lion's kindness and manages to set the lion free. There is so much to be learned from this fable and there are many different interpretations of the story. This wordless version by noted artist Jerry Pinkney is remarkable not only for the beauty of Pinkney's work but because it allows the reader or in this case story teller to offer a different narrative each time the book is shown. One never tires of looking at the artist's stunning full page paintings, and young listeners don't tire of hearing the story over and over again, each time with a slightly different twist.

The mantel at Pinkney's home must sag with the numerous awards he has received - four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards, five Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Awards, etc. All so richly deserved. Since I've no trophy to offer I merely send thanks for one more beautifully illustrated book that will become a part of our permanent collection.

- Gail Cooke

A Visual Feast

Pencil, watercolor and colored pencils on paper...

That's all that was used to create the new children's book, The Lion & The Mouse. But those simple tools were being wielded in the hands of Jerry Pinkney and that, apparently, was enough. The magical combination of the artist and his skill, of tool and medium has resulted in a masterpiece of beauty and creativity.

Because this retelling of Aesop's fable is presented here with almost no words, it will challenge parents, teachers and others doing the "reading" to find words worthy of doing justice to Pinkney's art. It's just that gorgeous.

I've never encountered Pinkney's work previously and am now looking forward to discovering what other wonders have come from his hands and to collecting and sharing them.

And though it goes against all my beliefs as to how a book should be treated, I'm considering purchasing an additional copy solely to snag the dust jacket and have the cover art matted and framed. I simply can't take my eyes off it!

Highly recommended!

Richie's Picks: THE LION AND THE MOUSE
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- Aesop

THE LION AND THE MOUSE is an unusual picture book because Jerry Pinkney -- inspired by living next to a nature preserve with its "vast medley of sounds" -- has retold the beloved Aesop tale of the lion and the mouse wordlessly through his pencil and watercolor illustrations, but has then included in those illustrations the sounds of the lion, the mouse, the poacher's jeep, and the owl (who sets the story in motion by scaring mama mouse who, in turn, runs up the lion's camouflaged back and is caught).

In Pinkney's pictorial retelling, it appears a random act of kindness when the lion leaves mama mouse unscathed and she scurries home to her teensy mouse babies.

Mama mouse is a real show-stealer. Rather than one or two illustrations of the mouse freeing the lion from the poacher's thick-rope trap, we are treated to a fifteen-frame superhero-like action sequence through which mama mouse sits up and sniffs, sensing what has taken place, scurries over and stands (on the rope) eye to eye with the entangled lion, and then "scratch scratch" proceeds to methodically leap from section to section and chew open the ropes. As the lion is freed and is falling to the ground, landing on his back, mama mouse almost appears to be giving him a subtle thumbs-up. The pair then pause and look at one another, before mama mouse grabs up a clump of knotted rope and scurries home, dragging the rope knot along, clearly to become both a plaything and a teaching tool for her young ones who, we can imagine, might someday participate in their own lion-and-mouse tale.

Jerry Pinkney sets THE LION AND THE MOUSE, as he explains, "...in the African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya, with its wide horizon and abundant wildlife so awesome yet fragile..." In the course of the story readers are treated to glimpses of everything from small ants and dragonflies to grand elephants and giraffes. (Be sure to check out the cover which has paintings which are entirely different from the images on the dust jacket.)

THE LION AND THE MOUSE is a truly distinguished picture book which one can literally stare at for hours -- as I can tell you from recent experience.

The Lion & the Mouse
I am 65 and often pick of children's books for the little ones in my life. While strolling Macys yesterday afternoon in Chicago I spotted the cover and went right for it. I added and extra copy for me. It is so beautiful! It will "live" amongst my favorites in my bookcase with a key.

So simple yet so much to talk about.
I love picture books. I bought this one for my 2 year old son for his birthday. I'm Thai and I love it that I could tell him this story in Thai in my version. I do that to many other books but the drawings in this book is just so astonishing and full of lifes.

This beautifully illustrated and practically wordless tale illustrates the kindheartedness that creatures show to one another!
The African countryside was teeming with life. A pair of red-necked ostriches and a family of zebras leisurely stood in the grass while a giraffe family loped through the grass in the background. An eland and her fawn watched a baboon stroll by with her baby on her back. An African water buffalo stared at a lion family while the elephants trumpeted in the distance. When night rolled around and the moon rose all was quiet and a mouse came out of her rock den to look over the landscape. When the light was out an owl came swooping down to catch her and she narrowly escaped her clutches, but ended up in the lion's. "GRRR."

He teased her a bit and when he let her loose she ran back to her babies. "Squeak, squeak, squeak . . . " The proud lion roamed the grasses, but elsewhere some poachers began to set a rope trap, hopefully to catch him. He wandered into a wooded area where the baboons and crows watched him. The trap was weighted and when he stepped on the trap . . . whoosh! He was pulled up and he roared in anger and fear. "RRROAARRRRRRRRR! The little mouse heard him and quickly ran to help him. "Scratch, scratch." Would such a little creature be able to free the king of the jungle?

This beautifully illustrated and practically wordless tale illustrates the kindheartedness that one creature can show to another, despite differences. It is directly patterned after Aesop's fable, "The Lion and the Mouse." This is the type of wordless tale that can be retold by any adult to a young child from his or her own perspective. Each person can say what the fable of the lion and the mouse means to them in their own life. This gorgeous book is so sweepingly beautiful that few people would want to pass it up for their personal library!

What a Delight! (Pinkney's Lion and the Mouse told with pictures)
I just read... no, make that viewed Jerry Pinkney's new book with my kids, and it is most wonderful. Wordless -- or nearly so, there are a few words like 'putt' and 'squeak'-- it retells the classic story of the "Lion and the Mouse" using fabulously detailed artwork done in watercolors and colored pencil.

The book itself is large and title-less. On the front is the beautiful golden lion, while on the back is the adorable (and heroic) little mouse. The author follows the traditional story very closely, only adding one additional detail for both of these creatures of the savanna. He gives them families. The mouse is a mama of a passel of little squeaks, and the lion is a daddy.

Talking Points:::
This is a gorgeous book. The light yellow tinted pages perfectly compliment the large, detailed drawings which are done in browns and golden hues. Exquisitely drawn, the images lie on the spectrum somewhere between realism and impressionism. The lion's eyes are so expressive. We all laughed at the face he made when holding the little mouse.

Without words, the book allows adults and children to choose their own vocabulary. The ultimate read aloud.

One thing you might consider is that artwork is so detailed that babies and even some toddlers might not like it. Which is to say that it's the opposite of the bright, simple art that you see in books dedicated to these youngsters. The pages essentially being 'too busy' for little eyes.

Jerry Pinkney's "Lion and the Mouse" would make a wonderful gift for preschoolers on up to Tweeners. (#1039)

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksForKids-reviews

The Golden Rule
Breathtaking spreads of watercolor illustrations seamlessly tell the fable of "The Lion and the Mouse" with wordless art. The lion plays with the mouse in its claws, but sets him free, only to be caught in a snare by poachers. The mouse sees fit to set the lion free, gnawing the rope of the trap until the golden cat falls to the ground. Abundant wildlife from the African Serengeti share in the pages of this tale. Children from three to six will treasure the art and story of this beautiful book, as they take on the role of storyteller. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Science has never been so easy - or so much fun!With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments.High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.

You'll discover answers to questions like:
Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?

Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms like "photosynthesis," and know fun facts like how many latex balloons per day can be made from a rubber tree.Each section has a great science fair project, complete with all the details you need to wow your teachers and friends.

You won't want to wait for a rainy day or your school's science fair to test these cool experiments for yourself! ... Read more

Reviews

Everything you need to have fun...(and learn, too)
This is a great book, chock-a-block w/ very accessible experiments. One of the best features is the way the experiments are grouped together: a 'theme' (say, Acids, in the Chemistry section) will have a group of experiments of varying degrees of complexity that together add up to a pretty good understanding of the concept. Also, most of the materials are readily at hand- for many of them we really did already have everything in the house. This is esp. gratifying for the kids, who of course want to do the experiment *right now*. I would imagine that home-schooling families would enjoy this, but our school-going kids enjoy doing these experiments after school & on weekends.

p.s., one of the easiest experiments is also a real showstopper, though it takes a couple of days to complete: dissolving the eggshell of an egg, leaving the egg inside intact!

Science fun for kids of all ages!
Wow, what a great book! My kids love it. It is set up as a series of activities that begin with a question followed by an experiment that answers the question. Questions such as "How do you peel a raw egg?", "Does air take up space?" and "Why can't I taste medicine when I plug my nose?" are all examples of questions posed in the book. The fun is in the experiment that answers the question. I think I counted something like 30 different experiments from 5 main science areas (biology, chemistry, physics, planet earth, and the human body). Following each area is a "science fair project" for the kids to use at the next science fair at school! What a great resource it will be for our family in the years to come. All in all a great book at a great price.

Great Resource for Parents!
I wish I had this book 15 years ago as we spent time at home playing "Mad Scientist" with our young children. Our kids are now all teenagers and have enjoyed exploring Robinson's book.
Children LOVE to experiment with their world. "The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book" offers parents and kids alike a wide array of adventures in science including: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, and the Human Body. This book is oriented to kids ages 7-12 but offers information and exploration for budding scientists of all ages. I appreciate this book's easy entrance into the world of science and the three levels of experiments for each area of science: 1)Simple Home Experiments; 2)More Detailed "Kid's Lab Lessons"; 3)Science Fair Projects. The art layout (including multi-color printing, fun-graphics, puzzles, and side-bars), the splashy presentation of information (including fun facts, words to know, dumb-jokes, online science websites and cool quotes) and a complete index make this book an excellent resource for parents, homeschoolers and science teachers. For two other parenting resources, look into "The Family Cloister" and "The Christian Family Toolbox", both by David Robinson (...)

Fun, fun, fun!!!
I have a just turned 5 year old that LOVES science and experiments. Although this book I believe was recommended for older children, there are plenty of experiments that I can do with him at his age and get immediate results. Since there are experiments that are targeted for older children, this is one of the rare books that we'll be able to use for several years down the road. I love it so much it's going to be one of my staples in gift giving - it's easy & fun enough for those even not interested in 'science'.

UPDATE:
It's now been 2 years later and we STILL love this book and now his younger brother (4) enjoys this as well. It's always been a big hit with kids and parents alike when we give it as a gift...GREAT combined with a kids beginning science kit or plastic test tubes.

Kidz Love Science
I bought this book for my son, and liked it so much that I bought 10 copies to give to each child at my son's birthday party. He wanted a science party so this was the perfect take-home gift for the kids. Beats a goody bag full of candy and plastic toys... but I don't want to digress on how I hate goody bags at birthday parties! The experiments here are interesting and easy to set up. And, the puzzles and games on the side make it something the kids can pick up and read on their own.

GREAT!!!!!
2 things - 1) you have to do the dissolving egg experiment... it's fabulous!! 2) pay attention to the age range - my nephew (the intended recipient) loves science (okay, exploding things...) just turned seven and he is definitely too young for the detailed explanations. He didn't like the delayed gratification but he did get a kick out of the results the following week... for the younger kids you might want to do the experiments yourself and then once you have results let them get excited about it... the bouncing egg... after accepting that it didn't happen just then!! ... was a huge hit the next week. This really is just an AWESOME book...

Down to Earth Science
This book provides down-to-earth science using common everyday items that you have in your home to conduct experiments with. My grandchildren were able to have fun during the experiment itself and to come up with simple answers when we reviewed afterwards what occurred during the experiments. And yet, for all the simplicity, it was very exciting for them. And it was fun for me to see that they made the connection and looked forward to conducting yet more experiments. I highly recommend this book to all parents and their youngsters.

great book for young minds
My 6 year old son absolutely loves this book. He was so excited about the experiments that everyone we knew was told about the new experiment. He understanding what he is doing with the experiments. I would recommend this book and I have to his teacher at school.

Great Book For Young Scientists
This book was a great hit with my 8 year old son. It has a lot of great experiments and east to read instuctions. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pig family takes a road trip to the beach for a picnic. The road is packed with hundreds of cars and trucks, vans and motorcycles, tractors and buses. The Pigs find chaos and adventure on the way to the beach and the opportunity to see vehicles they have never seen before.It's an exciting day! ... Read more

Reviews

Have an extra for back-up, February 16, 2005
I grew up with this book as my favorite and it got a lot of use in my readings. After lots of scotch tape repairs, the books binding finally fell apart and my mom had to buy another one for me.

Now I have my own child and even though he is a 16 month old and doesn't fully appreciate everything it has to offer, he loves the variety of pictures and the large pages that he can turn. And as he learns the names of more things, he has more to point to in the book.

The main upside of the book is that there is a lot to look at on every page. Not just vehicles, but scenery and action make each turn of the page a new adventure. While there is a story that goes on through the entire book, you can get lots of enjoyment just by flipping through it and this makes it worthwhile for younger children who don't have the longest of attention spans. The pictures are clear and bright and help with building vocabulary and recognition.

Before "Where's Waldo," there was Goldbug. After a while, children will know exactly where he is on each page but having to hunt for him the first several times through adds something else to the charm of Richard Scarry.

The downsides are small and not worth worrying about. The pages are big but that means they are easily ripped. Just keep the tape handy. Also, pagewise, it is a long book for that age and parents can grow tired of reading it. But the actual amount of words is small. Most of the time is taken by looking at everything and searching for Goldbug. And most kids seem to enjoy looking through the book by themselves.

And I can't complain at all if a book keeps kids interested in reading. And I expect to buy another copy someday.

Cars and Trucks and Things That GO, December 1, 1999
This book was my favorite book when I was a little kid. That is part of the reason I gave it five stars. It is not only a fun book to read but it is also fun to look for this little yellow creature on each page. There is an Officer Flossy who rides on a bike and chases a terrible driver in a sports car throughout the entire book, while the Pig family goes on a picnic to the beach. The pictures of all the different types of vehicles are very interesting and fun to look at.

Great fun for all ages!, July 10, 2003
My kids are hooked on these books. Richard Scarry comes up with an amusing collection of cars and trucks that take on anthropomorphic proportions. He leads the reader along with various devices such as "spotting the bug." The book has been translated into many languages, including Lithuanian, making it one of the most widely read children's books in circulation. Best to buy the hardback as it will get plenty of use.

My sons adore this book and insist on it daily!, August 25, 1999
I AM SO SICK OF THIS BOOK! Both of my sons, ages 2 & 4 are obsessed with this book and I have to read it at least once per day. They can also look at it without me as the many cute, silly pictures speak for themselves. It's an adorable book.

Passing Richard Scarry on to the next generation..., July 19, 2005
I loved Richard Scarry books when I was an older sister looking for library books for my younger siblings--the stories and recurring characters were fun, but the most fun was looking for the little jokes scattered throughout the book...the appearances of Lowly Worm or Bugdozer in the margins of pictures, the mix of fanciful (the alligator mobile) with the mundane cars on the same street. It's a book that can be read aloud for the main story, or provide hours of fun looking at the pictures for all the details. I got this particular Richard Scarry book for my 2 year old nephew as he is a big fan of all "things taht go" and my sister told me that it was an extra big hit, since he had previously had a copy of the book that was destroyed in an unfortunate book tearing incident, and he was overjoyed to have a new copy!

What a WONDERFUL "thinking" book!!!, June 11, 2003
This book is so much more than a vocabulary builder! There are dozens of modes of transportation (from motor-scrapers to locomotives to doughnut cars), real and imagined, represented in the humorous illustrations. The settings take children through various seasons and parts of a community (a farm, a Main street, a campground, a beach, etc.). The questions from your child will be endless...How is a road made? What are the firefighters doing? Has Officer Flossy found Dingo Dog yet, so she can give him a ticket? And where, oh where is that Goldbug hiding? Inside the limousine? Behind the ambulance? Inside the broken-down car that is being towed by a small tow truck, which is being towed by a larger tow truck? This is so much more than just an entertaining story to be read, but an opportunity to ask and answer questions together, to find something new each time you read together, and to explore an imagined version of the world around us. My 3 1/2 year old son has loved this book for two years and hasn't stopped requesting it, even though we own many many quality books. Okay, maybe it helps that he is obsessed with cars, trucks, and things that go to begin with. Well done, Richard Scarry!

Prepare yourself to read it over and over and over..., March 15, 2000
My husband and I are both teachers. Of all the books that we bought and read to our two sons (now ages 18 and 21), this is the only one they insisted we read again and again (every night for months for each of them). We even made up a Goldbug song to accompany the search each time.

my favorite childhood book, November 30, 1999
When I was a little kid, this was my favorite book. Between myself and my brother, we read our first copy so much we wore it out and had to buy another one. If I ever have a son, this is the first book I'll buy him (and a daughter will probably like it too!).

Richard Scarry: Cars and Trucks and Things that Go, January 14, 2007
This is a great book for kids. It was my son's favourite and I bought it for his child. It is a book that a child can spend hours with, however the paper and the binding of the book are quite inferior and low quality. It certainly does not have the sturdiness of the older books. Content is great though.

Popular from generation to generation!, October 10, 2005
This was my husband's favorite book from his childhood; since his copy was very worn, I bought a new copy for him to share with our son.
My son loves the book--he reaches for it and picks it up, and when we're reading to him he grabs for all the pictures; he's very interested!
I've never been the world's biggest Richard Scarry fan, but this book is way better than I thought it would be, too--it's so funny. I love the frightened parking meter and other funny details, and finding Goldbug on each set of pages can be quite challenging.
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go is an entertaining book that can hold the whole family's attention! ... Read more

Editorial Review

-Ideal for babies and toddlers.

-Stunning large format brings images to life.

-Helps to build a child's vocabulary.
... Read more

Reviews

Super Size Mctruck Meal, January 17, 2004
If you have a child who is interested in trucks, this is a good bet. It's a big sturdy board book, great for little hands. It's loaded with photographs of real trucks- farm trucks, fire trucks, big rigs, construction vehicles, many of which we see on a daily basis around town.
My son will soon be two, and he has enjoyed this book practically since he was born. It's one of those books that grows with your child. When he was smaller we would just point to the trucks, identify them, and talk about what they did. When he got older, we would say the name of a truck and he would point to it. Now he's pointing and telling us what each truck is...you get the idea. It's also a great way to learn colors, (Show me the red truck!) and parts of cars. (Where are the headlights?)
Two years ago, I couldn't tell a backhoe from a forklift. Now I'm a pro, and so is my son, thanks in part to this book. Although I do have to say, a couple of the construction vehicles are mislabeled, a minor annoyance. They also have an animal book in this series, which is cute. The Big Train Book, however, is a big yawn.

Pretty good book for kids interested in trucks, June 14, 2003
My 18 month old son LOVES trucks and anything with a diesel engine. When we're driving or out somewhere he is always excited to see them pass by.

Our friend had this book for her son and as soon as my son saw it he had to have it, too. Now he will lie down on the floor and study each picture very closely. He will spend hours looking at this book. After he started to "read" this book (with a little help from me and his dad) he now calls the different vehicles by their proper names. Everything used to be a truck - now it's a BUS! or a FIRE TRUCK! or MAIL TRUCK!(imagine him yelling in excitement).

It is a hard page, large book (about 10" x 10"). It has real photographs with bright colors in the background. Each page is dedicated to a different category of truck such as construction or emergency. Each photo is titled and each page has a question like "Which truck takes away your trash." My husband is mildly annoyed with some of the descriptions because they call a backhoe a digger and a mini excavator a mini digger. This is the reason I have given this book 4 stars instead of 5.

I would highly recommend this book to any young child who is interested in trucks.

My Son Loves It!, August 2, 2006
I bought this for my 18 month old son. I can not tell you how much he loves it. He is constantly dragging it over to me saying "car, car, vroom, vroom" It is too funny. We have had it for a couple of months already and he has never tired of it. I would highly recommend it! PS..My son is pretty strong (and head strong!) so I can tell you that it holds up under any kind of play

Nice book... Needs corrected, however, May 8, 2004
As stated by the previous reviewer, this book does have quite a few errors in the description of the equipment pictured. Yes, definitely a disk and a plow are two different things but I think that the author may have used plow in an attempt to describe what a disk does (sorta but not really). Although not accurate, the book is very interesting but definitely needs to be republished with the corrections. City folks need to know the proper names for all the farm equipment listed. It's very interesting and you just never know when you'll need to know stuff like that. Otherwise, it's a great book and very interesting to read - my son loves it but I also made the corrections! As a published writer myself, I find it very disappointing that the publisher was in too much of a hurry to sufficiently and properly edit the book. Might need a new editing staff there!

This Book Is Not Accurate, May 1, 2004
My three year old son received this book as a gift with mere excitement, only to be devastated. While the pictures are bold and bright the context (name of the pictures) are completely false! Even my three year old knows that a disk (farm equipment picture) is not a Plow. Come on Roger Priddy do you and your high priced publishing firm not do any research before writing your books? It is obvious that this author, Roger Priddy, is more concerned with making money while teaching children wrong information. This picture book contains 40 photographs with name depiction and of the 40 pictures 11 are named incorrectly! There is better children's literature out there, this guy is a joke!

Trucks, June 27, 2009
I am not extremely knowledgable about trucks (I see a review here where a person is disturbed about the accuracy of how the trucks are labelled) but I certainly give the book a big thumbs up for the beautiful imagery and the durability of the book itself. I think that the trucks may be a bit similar for my daughter (17 mths old) to distinguish the differences but going forward I believe she'll be more interested. For the younger set, I think a book covering a broad range of transport vehicles may be more appropriate, I purchased this because what I was looking for was out of stock.

Fun But With Big Words, March 7, 2008
My toddler loves this book, but I'm not sure how age-appropriate it is. I hadn't even heard of the names they call some of the trucks. They include just about everything! Great picture book, though!

Love these books!, March 3, 2008
These books are a great deal for hours of fun! My little guys looks at the pictures over and over and doesn't ever seem to get tired of hearing the names of all the pictures. These books have been great for his vocabulary as he tries to say all the words too!

Fun introduction to things that go VROOOOM!!, January 8, 2008
From the time my son first learned to talk, he has shown a fierce curiosity about what things are called, especially the things he sees when we are driving around. I was so pleased with Priddy's My Big Animal Book (Priddy Bicknell Big Ideas for Little People) that I picked up My Big Truck Book to help him identify various vehicles as well as to build his growing vocabulary. The book was a tremendous success on both levels.

The book features large, sturdy pages that catalog a variety of farm, construction, rescue, and other vehicles. The photos are large and colorful, and never fail to capture my son's attention. Between this book and My Big Animal Book, my son's vocabulary and understanding of the world around him increased by leaps and bounds. I still remember the first time we drove by a construction site and I heard him shouting "Backhoe! Mini excavator! Dump truck!" The book also allowed us to use his curiosity about vehicles and fascination with the pictures to teach him about the vehicles' functions, colors, and sizes.

My son is two years old now and more interested in storybooks, plus he knows the vehicles in this book front to back. That doesn't keep him from taking this book off the shelf time after time just to enjoy seeing his favorite trucks, tractor, and construction equipment.

I highly recommend this durable, colorful, and inexpensive book to all parents of curious toddlers. As teaching aids go, My Big Truck Book has proven far more effective than many a high-priced electronic gadget or DVD.

excellent book, poor binding, December 13, 2006
My 2 year old loves this book, but the binding has broken twice over only a few days. He carries the pages around with him. Granted, he is difficult on books, but this book fell apart way too soon! Content and pictures are outstanding for a toddler that loves big machinery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Snack on science! Make a science of snacks! Potato Chip Science is the book and kit that’s an irresistible introduction to science for 8- to 12-year-olds. Here are 29 incredible experiments—plus one edible project—that use potato chips, potatoes, potato chip bags, tubes, and lids. Included in the bag are a 96-page two-color book and a dozen items that kids can use for the following “snacktivities”:

Bag Blaster - Bird Feeder - Chipmobile - Chip Analyzer - Chip-Ship Challenge - Chip-Tube Gobbler - “Color” Wheel - Compass - Composter - Confetti Can-non - CSI Detective Kit - Dancing Chips - Electric Wave - Flipper - Hydrofoil - Kissing Tubes - Kite - Mini Extermi-tater - Potato Bender - Potato Chip Crunchies - Potato Battery - Saucer Tosser - Shrunken (Potato) Head - Signal Mirror - Sound Spinner - Spud Crud - Spuddy Buddy - Walkie-Talkie - Windmill

Product Features:
-  96-page book providing step-by-step instructions
-  Bag that can be turned into a kite, compass, or “hydofoil”
-  Digital sound chip that plays “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” . . .   powered by a potato! (spud not included)
-  6-inch propulsion pipe that launches spud pellets 50 feet!
-  Biodegradable starch base (makes a great Chipmobile chassis!)
-  6 optical stickers
-  6 chip lids (the wheels of the Chipmobile!)
-  Spud-powered digital clock (once again, potato not included)
-  4 zinc and copper electrodes
-  Googly eyes (Yeah!)
-  Wire connectors
-  Eco-friendly starch knife (to carve the Spuddy Buddy and Shrunken Potato Head)
-  Packing “chips” (used as ammunition for the Confetti Can-non!)

Manufactured in the United States of America.
Potato Chip Science received the Gold Medal from The National Parenting Publication Awards, and a Gold "Brain Child" Medal from Tillywig.
... Read more

Reviews

Super!, September 14, 2010
I love this kit because it teaches so much science. My kids love this kit because it's a blast! My 8 yr old wants to do one experiment after the other, and my 6 year old is able to participate right along. They were also captivated by all the cool stuff in the bag!

great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, September 18, 2010
Great book! I love all the stuff & science! Definitely recommended. I think the Potato Propulsion Pipe is awesome. I had a lot of fun with this kit. I gave it to my best friend for his 9th birthday. He loves it!!!
A must-get for Kurzweil fans

Amazing and Very Clever Kit, September 30, 2010
My 8 year old son received the kit as a present. He loves it. Most of all he loves that he can do most of the experiments himself (the directions are illustrated and incredibly clear). I've been impressed by how clever the book that accompanies the kit is: Kurzweil really has a way of making quite complex scientific concepts (Bernoulli's Principle, for example) both understandable and fun. A really worthwhile gift.

FUN FUN FUN!!! (and educational too!!??!!...ABSOLUTELY!), October 29, 2010
Way cool. Most science kits come in heavy cardboard boxes filled cheap plastic junk. This kit is just the opposite. The packaging is lightweight, and the stuff inside is heavy-weight and great. Personally, I loved the electronic gizmos best. (The digital sound chip and clock that run off potatoes). My wife was more into the optical experiments. (She loves stickers.) My buddy Rob had a blast (literally) with the propulsion pipe. (His personal best was a 74-foot pellet lauch.) I'm guessing there's a dozen weekends worth of experiments in this bag. Not bad for $13. Plus I really like that EVERYTHING (bag and packing chips included) gets up-cycled and re-used in the projects. Can't get greener than that. Oh, and the best part: you get to eat chips for "research purposes."

This one is a no-brainer, folks... ENJOY!

Fun, entertaing and educational - Terrific!, October 15, 2010
My 10 year old daughter had a BLAST with this "Book and Stuff". Fun, funny and smart, this kit was a boon at the family table. Kurzweil has successfully brought science to kids in an entertaining and captivating manner that ANY kid, and their family, can enjoy. Highly recommended.

Fun, November 20, 2010
I got Potato Chip Science after I was surfing the Internet. Also, I had read two of his earlier books including Leon and the Champion Chip. lots of fun.

Great for Kids, October 31, 2010
This is a great book to introduce science to children, grandchildren, science class at school. Real scientific priciples are introduced in a fun way - all using potato chips, chip bags, lids, and potatoes. I now have three copies and I am encouraging parents and teachers to buy more. This could be a gift that will last long after the party.

inspired science for kids, October 19, 2010
My 10-year-old and her friend had a whole lot of fun one afternoon with this kit and a pile of potato chips. Kurzweil is witty, and makes the scientific explanations thoroughly entertaining. There's a wide range of experiments to do. Even my non-scientist daughter got a kick out of using everyday materials in utterly new ways. You do need to look through the book first to make sure you have supplies you may need for certain experiments, but for the most part they're common items, like straws. The packaging is inspired.

fantastic science kit for kids, September 28, 2010
A family member told me I HAD to give this to my grandkids. Science learning by science doing! It's what science teachers should be doing all over the country. The bag of "stuff" is pure science AND pure fun. Makes kids gravitate to science as if it were potato chips. The book alone is worth the money I spent. And then on top of that, you yourself learn science with the kids. My grandkids loved it, and started trying out many of the experiments. Their favorite? Rocket propulsion!!Potato Chip Science: 29 Incredible Experiments

fun and educational science experiments for children of all ages, September 28, 2010
Man oh man, I wish I had Potato Chip Science when I was a kid. It is soooo cool! I thought I was buying a book when I placed the order. I was wrong. I got a book PLUS a whole potato chip bag full of nifty science stuff, too. There was sound chip that played "Twinkle Twinkle" (off a potato), a propulsion pie, optical stickers, a funky starch knife, a clock. I like that it's eco-friendly, goofy and packed with science. Who knew you could learn about navigation and physics and biology and tons of others stuff using potato chips and empty chip bags! PS: I was a science major in college, and I can tell you that the accuracy of the explanations is first-rate, and the step-by-step instructions beautifully illustrated. (Even the material list is illustrated!) I'm planning to buy another kit for my friend's cub scout troop. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A powerful secret. A dangerous path.

Rigg is well trained at keeping secrets. Only his father knows the truth about Rigg's strange talent for seeing the paths of people's pasts. But when his father dies, Rigg is stunned to learn just how many secrets Father had kept from him--secrets about Rigg's own past, his identity, and his destiny. And when Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain.

Rigg’s birthright sets him on a path that leaves him caught between two factions, one that wants him crowned and one that wants him dead. He will be forced to question everything he thinks he knows, choose who to trust, and push the limits of his talent…or forfeit control of his destiny. ... Read more

Reviews

A complex story of intrigue with some time travel thrown in., November 26, 2010
I went into Pathfinder as a relative OSC novice. After having read Ender's Game just recently, I was excited to hear that a new Card book was coming out! It certainly did not disappoint. This is a complex look at the tried and true sci fi theme of time travel and time manipulation. We meet Rigg, a young boy who has recently lost the man he has always known as his father and is now off on a quest to discover his heritage. Along the way he picks up Umbo and Loaf, and together they head off to discover the secrets of Rigg's inheritance and his strange ability. At the beginning of each chapter, we also meet Ram, the only human astronaut awake aboard a ship full of sleeping humans off to colonize a new world. I must admit that I didn't figure out exactly how these two stories connected until about 200 pages in when a light bulb went off and I finally began to see some connections. These are all great characters and the author does quite a bit of world building by just letting us in on what is going on in their heads.

Rigg's relationship with his father and his then masterful handling of the political intrigue that he finds himself immersed in are a shining testament to the power of not merely education, but an education in critical thinking. Reading the character of Rigg is highly entertaining. His verbal sparring with bankers, politicians, and even his friends is so incredibly well written, it turns a book that is essentially driven by a scientific concept into a compelling page turner that I did not want to put down.

This is an adventure tale told in a fashion that will be a bit subtler than some teens are used to. There's plenty of excitement, interesting science concepts to ponder, and memorable moments to keep any sci fi fan reading away. My only fault, and it's a small one, is that the character's constant comments over how difficult the whole time travel thing was to understand got a bit tedious after awhile. The strength of this book lies in the intrigue and mystery surrounding Rigg, and it's this that in the end keeps the plot moving and the reader interested. A recommend for any sci fi fan, whether teen or adult.

Oh, and one final thing: the ending was incredible! I really hope there's a sequel!

Excellent read with some minor flaws, November 29, 2010
This novel features everything Card does well. If you're a fan, or you like characterization and dialogue, and plots that hinge on the decisions of smart characters who care about right & wrong, this has got all that. It's got all the elements that make Card who he is as a writer (and he's a very, very good writer).

However, some of the things that OSC doesn't do as well are also rather prominent in this book. OSC is not a hard sci-fi writer, and his novels shouldn't be expected to have convincing detailed portrayals of terraforming or space-time manipulation like you might expect from Kim Stanley Robinson or Vernor Vinge. Unfortunately Card strayed into this sort of detailed portrayal, but didn't handle it particularly well.

Overall, I confidently recommend this book, but felt the overall experience was knocked down from a 5 star to a 4 star read by the mishandled forays into hard science fiction territory. (Which probably won't even bother anyone who is not a fan of the hard science fiction subgenre.)

Vintage Card, November 25, 2010
Fans of Card will find echoes of many of his past stories in Pathfinder and it was fun to see Card returning to his roots. Fans of the Worthing Chronicle will see echoes of the pilot who guides history, there is the time-shifting from Planet Called Treason and probably a bunch of other references that this reviewer missed. Card's late works spend increasing amounts inside his character's head and a focus on international relations that can sometimes detract from the story. Pathfinder represents a return to the older roots--series such as the Alvin Maker or Homecoming books.

Although released under a teen imprint and despite a few touches that seemed aimed at the younger reader, there is plenty enough for more seasoned readers--particularly those who enjoy Mr. Card's oeuvre. Pathfinder is a coming of age story done with a time traveling twist. It also contains some of the bi-directional narrative arc that has become popular of late. Though I think Card pioneered this idea, others seem to be using it more frequently and thus it has become more familiar. Card also loves to treat the idea of power--power of mind and body--and to have his characters engage each other and learn to respect others. This is a great book for the young because not only does the young hero in prototypical Card fashion outthink and out maneuver his elders, the story teaches the value of education and preparedness both mental and physical.

All in all, a wonderful introduction to Mr. Card and a book that would be an excellent gift for any young reader.

Highly Recommended

Theoretical science fiction disguised as YA fantasy, December 22, 2010
First things first: this book is being marketed as a young adult fantasy novel. It is no such thing, though I see no reason why any young adult would not enjoy the book. PATHFINDER is science fiction, though at first glance it does appear to be a fantasy story. Orson Scott Card has a dual mastery of both the science fiction and fantasy genres--few authors can bring worlds to life like Card can, and it speaks to his strength as a storyteller that through the very different mechanics of worldbuilding in the two genres, he never struggles. You will find all the things in this novel that you find in many of Card's best books: a prodigy of a child hero, Rigg, too smart for his age; political intrigue with Rigg in the thick of it; heavy theoretical and philosophical conversations between characters, etc. The conversations in PATHFINDER often deal with the nature of time travel as it is possible in the realm of the story. Indeed, if the Shadow series was Card's political science series, the Ender series his first contact saga, or the Alvin Maker series his fantastic alternate history series, then this book begins his "time travel" series.

And boy does Card do time travel well. Slow to start, the world of this book envelopes you through its 600-some odd pages. I finished it three days ago, and my first reaction was, "Well, that wasn't Card's best work. But not a bad story at all." My brain has not left the wallfold, however, and my imagination continues to be captivated by the story of PATHFINDER. I absolutely cannot wait for the rest of this series to be released. It has been a very long time since I have been as excited about new work from Mr. Card as I am for the continuation of this series. PATHFINDER will grow on you, if you do not fall in love with it immediately.

Rigg, the main character of the story, is told by his father that there is "a perfectly logical explanation" for why he is able to see the paths of people's pasts. The story also follows other extraordinary human beings who have come to exist on the planet Garden, whose origins we discover with brief side-stories chapter by chapter in typical Card fashion. There is Umbo, who can speed up the perception and clarity of mind of anyone around him. When he does this to Rigg, it enables Rigg to pick out an individual path from the past until it becomes real to him, making the two boys able to change the past with their combined abilities. While they are the two focal points of the story, they are not the only special people in the world. There is a woman who can divert attention with a little "spell," and other characters with unnatural resistances to horror and mental pain that serves them well throughout the story. Rigg's sister, too, has perhaps a power more important than any others combined.

These are the elements of the story that make it seem like fantasy. A few of the powers, however, are explained through the course of the book as having a purely scientific origin, albeit a theoretical one. To be fair, I should not call the book pure science fiction. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it is theoretical physics fiction. Nothing in the book is ever explained off as magic, and the future books in the series can only flesh out the world in a more scientific, grounded way.

I say that it is no more a young adult novel than any of Card's other books because, simply, it is a very intelligent book. PATHFINDER is not heavy on action. Like many of Card's best books, it is the intrigue and mysteries of the plot that keep the reader going. The thoughts and conversations of the characters drive the story, and that is not typical of young adult books, which tend to be plot-driven instead of idea-driven like this story.

Perhaps it is the promise of the series as a whole, and not the individual merits of this first book, that has me most excited. Either way, I regret no part of reading PATHFINDER. If the remaining books in the trilogy (which are scheduled to be released sometime in 2011 and 2012 respectively) are up to par, this promises to be one of Card's best works. Orson Scott Card fans, don't miss out; if you are new to him, this isn't a bad place to start, though elements of this story have been done better in some of Card's other works.

Not his best work, December 13, 2010
Let me begin by saying that I am a huge Orson Scott Card (OSC) fan. I think OSC's work is as good as it gets when it comes to exploring ethical dilemmas and character development in the context of a hugely entertaining story.

By OSC's lofty standards, Pathfinder is pretty pedestrian and would probably deserve about three stars. However, if it is placed in the context of the work produced by the best active 20 SF writers, I think it deserves a solid four stars.

Pathfinder is aimed at a young audience. The sentence structures used in the first couple of chapters have been simplified. I can't comment on whether this carried forward throughout the book, since I became more engrossed in the story and stopped paying attention to the grammar. On the other hand, the vocabulary didn't seem to be restricted.

Some other reviewers have complained the book and/or the way time travel operated was so complicated as to detracted from the story. I did not find this to be the case. The way in which time travel paradoxes are resolved is not any more complicated than any other SF novel that features time travel and attempts to resolve those paradoxes. I also didn't find the way the two plot lines came together to be especially obscure. I thought it was pretty clear how they related to each other about 10-15% of the way into the book.

The good (in no particular order):

Pathfinder is an entertaining story. It is aimed at a juvenile audience but I would also recommend it for adults.

Character development is good by most standards but falls short of other OSC work.

There is some exploration of ethical dilemmas and human motivation (more below).

There is a completely new take on what time travel means and how time travel paradoxes are resolved.

The not so good (in no particular order):

The book ends with the protagonists out of immediate danger, but with none of the plot lines resolved. The novel won't be complete without the sequel(s).

Those that are looking for a self-consistent universe are going to be disappointed. For example, one of the protagonists has the ability to manipulate time in such a way that they can pass through solid objects, but they don't sink into the floor. This sort of thing normally bothers me a lot. However, in the case of Pathfinder, the important part of the story is the protagonists discovering how to manipulate and use their abilities and how they can be combined rather than building a reasonable basis for how the abilities work. Bottom line: I am surprised to find that the inconsistencies didn't bother me nearly as much as they normally do.

The ethical issue that is most thoroughly explored is the nature of friendship. However, it is not done very satisfactorily. The main protagonist consistently places his friends in danger without any apparent internal dilemma. Another protagonist is described as having a deep love for his wife, but has no internal struggle over leaving her, perhaps forever, to help someone he is not certain is his friend. Other ethical dilemmas such as the guidance vs. control of humans by artificial beings is set up, but is not in any way explored.

Bottom line: If you haven't read OSC, read his other work first (starting with Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead). If you have already read them, you will find Pathfinder wanting by comparison, but still a good read. If you are looking for a juvenile book, Ender's Game is still a better choice.

Pathfinder, December 18, 2010
The story centers on a teenage boy named Rigg. He and his father live alone wandering the woods as trappers. When we are introduced to Rigg, we quickly learn that he has an unusual gift. He can see the paths that people or animals have taken in the past. They appear as colorful ribbons in the air, and can go back thousands of years. His father spends every waking moment teaching Rigg about his power and about life in general.

The story really starts going when Rigg's father dies. His dying wish is for Rigg to go on a journey to meet his mother and sister, who Rigg was told were dead. Before he gets the chance to start, however, he meets a boyhood friend, Umbro, who also has a special ability. Umbro's ability is to slow down or speed up perceptions, allowing Rigg to actually "travel" to the past paths that he can see.

Now, right off the bat, I am very worried about this book. Time travel? Talk about a mine field. How many Sci-Fi geeks have spent sleepless nights arguing about time travel and how books and movies screw it up? (I know I do every time I watch Terminator). But, Card does something unusual in this book. He knows the paradoxes that time travel creates, and instead of trying to avoid them, he actually embraces them as part of the story!

Even with the time travel stuff, this story line is actually very interesting. Each chapter starts with a secondary story about how this planet was populated. At first, it is very confusing reading the two stories. However, as the book goes along, the two stories complement each other in such a way that it makes the story whole without you realizing there was something missing. Between the history of their planet, the history of their people, the history of Rigg's family, and the dangers they all bring to our main characters, this story was very compelling.

Orson Scott Card is an interesting author. To say I am a fan of his might be overstating it, but at the same time, understating it. His book "Ender's Game" is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it many times, and I love it every time I do. The rest of his books in the "Ender" series were okay. His other series, however, I did not really enjoy.

This was the first of a series and I can't wait until the rest of the books come out. I am eager to see what the future holds for Rigg and his friends. I would recommend this book to fans of Orson Scott Card, especially if you like time travel Sci-Fi!

This book was sent to me as a complimentary review copy from Simon Pulse, a division of Simon & Schuster Publishing Company.

Card delivers another masterpiece..., November 27, 2010
As expected OSC wrote another amazing piece of fiction. I should start out by mentioning that Card is my favorite author and I have never read one of his Sci-Fi books that I didn't love, as a result it's not surprising that I feel the same way about Pathfinder. This book reminds me of the Alvin Maker series (e.g., Seventh Son, Red Prophet), since the story is about a boy with a special talent who is learning how to hone his skills. It is also similar to Stonefather, in that, the writing is simple yet eloquent. If you are a fan of OSC, or science fiction in general, and you want a book that is exciting, stimulating, and difficult to put down, you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED? ... Read more

Reviews

A Jaw-Dropping Thriller, October 20, 2010
The Scorch Trials picks up right where The Maze Runner left off and it certainly starts with a bang. James Dashner incredibly makes this installment even better than the first. There is non-stop action and unexpected twists and turns in every single chapter. Thomas is once again thrown into this crazy environment, fighting for his life, as well as the lives of his friends.

WICKED is more involved in this one, but we still don't really know much about them. Is WICKED good or is WICKED bad? That really is the question to ask throughout this entire book. Dashner really made me question everything and everyone. Like Thomas, I wasn't sure what to believe.

Be prepared for more than a little creepy action going on because the Cranks sure are terrifying. Dashner vividly describes the pure nastiness that exudes from the zombie-like creatures. The short chapters kept me completely enamored with the story. It was more than a little difficult to put the book down because things just keep on happening. Whenever the action seemed to slow, Dashner did something that had my jaw hanging open. I frequently found myself asking what? How? Why? Why? Why?

Nothing is what it appears in this book and Dashner perfectly captures Thomas' confusion, his anger, his fear, his every emotion about being thrown into this hellish world and trying to come out of it alive and relatively unscathed. His dreams about his memories were one of my favorite aspects about the book and the tiny clues they offered made me want more and more.

The Scorch Trials is a jaw-dropping thriller filled with the most insane and unexpected twists. Dashner will blow your mind with everything that WICKED puts the Gladers through and for every question raised, we get the teeniest insight into what is really going on. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you begging for the final installment.

Opening line: She spoke to him before the world fell apart. ~ pg. 1

Favorite line(s): He didn't care about the others anymore. The chaos around him seemed to siphon away his humanity, turn him into an animal. All he wanted was to survive, make it to that building, get inside. Live. Gain another day. ~ pg. 136

Dark Hard Desparate, October 13, 2010
I loved this book, frankly the crazy, hap hazardous, rushed, psychotic things that happened fit perfectly with the plot line. The whole point of the Maze Runner and the Scorch Trials are to trick the readers' heads. Do we trust Teresa? Who is Brenda? Thomas should be the leader! No Minho should! The whole trilogy is an experiment on us, we don't know what is real, or what is fake, and at the end of the day we don't know if WICKED really is good or bad.

Thomas, wow what a character. Since we're basically living in his head and experiencing his emotions I feel for him. Do you trust your best friend? Isn't she the Betrayer? I completely understand why he's concerned about WICKED when the only things he can remember from it, are tests, subjects and Teresa. Scorch Trials is a harder book than Maze Runner because people die in the book for seemingly no reason. I mean we know it's for `patterns' and `killzones' but it is so seemingly pointless from Thomas and the other Gladers' perspective. How does lightning killing roughly half of your group help these `patterns'? And who do you trust when Cranks try to shoot you and drug you up. I trust Dashner though and know that what he reveals in the final book will be completely unexpected yet perfectly fit with everything we have gone through.

I don't know how I personally feel about WICKED, throughout the entire story they are eluded to being good, to trying to save humanity, yet their actions show otherwise. What was the point in the final battle? Were they really trying to wheedle down their `perspective candidates' but then what about the rest? I read this book in three hours because it was that good and I couldn't put it down. I feel as if Dashner captured human character and emotion perfectly. You have to remember these kids lived together in the Glade first, they know about death and dangers and how WICKED can change things in the blink of an eye. It doesn't take much more to believe that WICKED would set up elaborate games and plans that would force people into doing something they don't want to. They have the power of life and death absolutely. After so long of being under that kind of power you either are dead or accept it. I am anxiously awaiting the third book, and know that it's going to be one heck of a kicker.

Leaves you scratching your head and chomping at the bit to read on., October 18, 2010
Food to eat while reading: Scorched Cr�me Brulee ([...])

I am not usually a fan of middle books in a series, but this middle book in The Maze Runner series reads like a great beginning--all over again.

What I liked:

The setting kept changing and with each new place came dangers, creatures and people that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The main characters remained consistent and believable, yet they changed and grew from their experiences, like good little characters should. In fact, I almost cheered at the end for Thomas on the last page when he makes a difficult decision. Hooray for characters that change and show us that we can too.

Brenda, and Jorge are a great addition to the cast. They throw more variables into the equation and complicate the trials. And I love that Dashner introduced a second love interest for Thomas. Let the cat fights begin!

The balance of intrigue in this story is perfect. The questions and answers are braided together so that I am always wondering what will happen, but satisfied by the questions I have already received. Dashner has gained my trust, and though I still have unanswered questions, I am willing to read through quite a bit before I get the answers because I know that he will deliver.

I am eager to see why all of these horrible things are happening to these kids and how Thomas had a hand in creating the trials that he now is subjected to. I have an idea of why the variables are there and what the patterns are for, but I am content to wait until 2011 for The Death Cure.

I can't wait to see this on the movie screen-it will lend itself easily to media.

What I would have changed:

The Scorch Trials is quite a bit more violent than The Maze Runner. My son is currently reading the first book and I am unsure about giving him the second one just yet.

It bothered me that Aris' character is so underdeveloped. He mozies along with the Gladers, only showing spunk when he is required to act out a role for WICKED. Perhaps the author has hidden Aris from us for a reason and we will see his character unfurl in The Death Cure.

Much of the jeopardy was killed for me by a scene in the middle of the book. I just didn't worry so much for Thomas' safety and that led to a loss of intensity.

The verdict:

The Scorch Trials is an excellent addition to the very popular dystopian genre. It will leave you scratching your head and chomping at the bit to read on.

The Book of Pain, November 1, 2010
I read the first book. I liked it. The second book bothered me. The author did a good job of finding multiple ways of describing pain. The main character, Thomas, is in pain most of the book and with each page the author is challenged to find a new metaphor to describe the most excruciating pain in a new way. He does fairly well at that. But this book is one endless series of unfortunate miseries after another. The primary reason for having an ensemble travel with the main characters is so the author has a group of people to kill off in random ways. The group is supposed to be survivors because they are the fittest or the smartest but the deaths of so many are so random that it is annoying.

Think of the Lord of the Flies where most of the cast wears red shirts marking them for death in the most miserable and gruesome ways. They wander through the most miserable environment populated by zombies who want their noses.

Ok, I keep reading even though I suspect as I do that I could skip 20 chapters and not miss out on anything. When I reach the end, my suspicion is confirmed. I could have skipped 20 chapters and missed very little. The last 15 chapters or so keep telling us on each page that very soon we will have why these kids are subjected to this miserable torture. Each page promises that the next page will have an explanation. That never happens. Wait for book three.

I do care about the main character. I would like to know who is the traitor. I would like to know who WICKED is and what they hope to accomplish by experiments that would make even Hitler shudder. Do I trust the author to answer those questions in book three? No.

Do I want to go through yet another book of pain in hope that there will be answers?

What actually happened here?, December 8, 2010
This book got 3 stars because even though I enjoyed it very much, (although not as much as Maze Runner) I also found it unbearably frustrating. The biggest thing to get me down was that all the characters seemed to go through all the trials from some whacko's say so, without any real motivation that I could see. Or at least it could have been made a bit clearer. After everything they had gone through, one would think that at some point they'd stop and refuse to be an experiment.

Sure, they were told that they had been infected with the flash, but that the same group of people killed half their friends in book one, lied about who they were and their motives, and kidnapped one of the party. Trustworthy? I think not.

The only real motivation I saw was that Thomas wanted to find Theresa, and that along with the question of who WICKED really is was what got me through the book. Was it answered? No. Will I read book 3? Yes. At this point I also dislike Theresa with a passion and if the author has Thomas forgive her in book 3 I will probably tear it in half and burn it.

There was also too much Thomas and not nearly enough of everyone else in the story. I really liked Minho and Newt from the first book and hated seeing them nearly reduced to an afterthought.



DISCLAIMER: I tend to give very harsh reviews. This doesn't mean I didn't like the book. I won't finish a book I didn't like. I just don't have that kind of dedication.

Scorch Trials, November 6, 2010
I don't know how to rate this book. I do know that this book pushed me over the edge to keep my promise NOT to read trilogies until all three books are published.

James is a good writer.

That said, I had a hard time with this story. I knew it wouldn't be easy on the youth who had escaped the Maze. But they never seemed to get a break. They had a day here and there of easiness before James plunged us into another terrible situation.
He made sure the reader didn't know who to trust which is frustrating. The whole time I kept hoping they would get help/food/out.
This book is way more brutal than Maze Runner.
It drove me crazy that they knew who was doing this to them but they couldn't get out. They couldn't do anything to help themselves except get to the place they were told to go. One time WICKED even intervened.
The tats were as big of a deal as I thought they would be.
Thomas is amazing how he just keeps moving forward.
I did skim ALOT in this book. There was a ton of internal dumping (it felt like anyway).
I can't decide if I want to read the next one.
*sigh* But I will! I'll do it for James because he is awesomesauce.

Rating: PG 17
V: Yes. Death, killing, dying, fighting for survival
L: Maze slang
S: No

More of the Same..., November 28, 2010
I read the first book in this series, The Maze Runner, before I started blogging, so I cannot link to a review of it. So to sum up my feelings about book one now: I read it on high recommendation and as part of my dystopia obsession and was largely disappointed. While it is decent, it's not amazing and the lack of information given to the reader about the actual world outside the test makes it hard to know whether Dashner has a neat, unique apocalyptic view of the future or not. The book basically left me kind of lukewarm.

Book two very much follows in the tradition of book one, so I have little to add. The characters did not become any more dear to my heart in this book; in fact, I like most of them quite a bit less. Thomas spends a lot of time being emo because Teresa won't talk to him anymore; then, once she does, he's emo because she doesn't like him and he doesn't like her as much anymore either. That gets a bit trying. And, as much as I generally like for there to be a little romance in my fiction, I really could have done without it here.

If you thought escaping the maze meant that you, the reader, would finally get to find out what is going on in the real world in this dystopia, you are going to be seriously disappointed. I had a feeling that would be the case, what with the title including the word 'trials,' which would tend to indicate that this would be another test. Still, I find myself somewhat annoyed at the fact that there is little to no added to what had been learned in The Maze Runner. I realize this is intentional and it leaves the reader feeling much like the kids in the trials: frustrated. And, although I dislike this gambit, I must admit that it works, as I do intend to keep reading the books to find out what's happening.

If you liked The Maze Runner, read this with dispatch, because you'll love it. If you just want to know what the heck is happening in this dystopian world, then you could, if you want to, read a summary of the plot and wait for a book where the kids do something real. If you didn't like The Maze Runner, you won't like this one any better.

Not as good as Maze Runner, October 30, 2010
I agree with one of the other reviewers, this book is very much like "Lost". Every time you think it's going to solve a riddle, 5 more pop up. It picks up right where the first one left off, which was nice. But then a lot of the main characters get split up and/or killed, and it just becomes total chaos and confusion. The theme of this book is basically about the WICKED people (whoever they are) examining how the kids (but especially Thomas) handle the "variables" (which are never really explored, just mentioned constantly to the point of annoyance). I did not enjoy this one as much as Maze Runner, the focus is completely on Thomas and there is very little on the rest of the kids - which gets a little monotonous/one dimensional. I also wasn't sure how to feel about the big twist with Teresa - they never do make it clear what her deal is. I felt like this one was a little all over the place, but it was still enjoyable and I got through it pretty quickly. A fun, easy read... but I"m hoping the final book gets back up to the caliber of the original.

Killing Time Until The Third Book..., December 9, 2010
The Scorch Trials / 978-0-385-73875-0

As full disclosure, I wasn't a huge fan of The Maze Runner - gave it 3 stars, if I recall correctly - but I really love dystopia fiction and I really hate not finishing a series, so my curiosity got the best of me and I picked up The Scorch Trials at my local library, prepared to dive back down into the futuristic mind games perpetuated by W.I.C.K.E.D.

First impressions were initially good - the book starts off a lot faster than "The Maze Runner", with disaster setting in almost immediately after the daring rescue of the first novel. It's nice to see a dystopian future come up with a creative merge of massive global climate change and zombies, and it's especially good that we start the first chapters off with a strong and steady dose of creepy-bordering-on-terrifying.

After the first few chapters, though, the paces slows drastically, and the novel starts to suffer from "middle series syndrome". Despite being out of the Maze and immersed in the "real" world, we actually learn very little of the details of this dystopian future, which makes it very difficult for the reader to connect to the global problems that W.I.C.K.E.D. is supposedly trying to solve, which makes it hard to get attached to these increasingly nebulous "experiments" that are somehow supposed to come up with some kind of cure...for something. Around the halfway mark, it starts to feel like we're killing time to get to the end of the book so that we can then get the THIRD book and find out some actual answers, and after awhile one starts to wonder if the ending will be worth it. And then the reader actually does get to the ending, only to find that really one could skip over this second novel entirely and be none the worse for wear - just like the first book: nothing is explained, everything is a mystery, please buy the next book, kthxbye.

Some of the things I didn't like about "The Maze Runner" the first time around crop up again here. Thomas continues to have more than a whiff of Mary Sue about him; way too much angst is expended on the designated love interests (and, really, I think Thomas has more romantic chemistry with Newt than with either of the two girls provided here); and almost the entire "cast" of Gladers are anonymous red-shirts - in fact, whenever anyone other than Minho, Newt, or Thomas is suddenly granted a name and/or minor personality, it's pretty much a given that they're about to die horribly for insta-angst. I understand that it's difficult to write a group of 20+ well-rounded individuals, but Thomas' continued insistence on not learning the names or personalities of the people fighting and dying around him starts to inadvertently make him seem like a psychopath or - immersion-breakingly - the only important character in a story.

I guess a recommendation for The Scorch Trials depends on your reaction to The Maze Runner; if you loved the first book and want more of the same, this sequel delivers. If you were less than completely enthralled with the first novel, however, and are more interested in answers than in dragging out the Thomas/Theresa love shipping, I'd recommend giving this book a pass and skipping over to the third book entirely. I didn't feel like it was a waste of time reading this novel, and there were definitely several high notes in the first half, but I just can't help but feel that it could be a lot better with a little less ham-handed "mystery" and a little more character development.

A word about the audiobook for this novel: The audiobook is fairly well-narrated. The reader paces and pauses well, although his voice could perhaps be a little more animated during the "action" scenes. My favorite parts are when he speaks as Newt, because he brings out this wonderfully outrageous accent that I suppose is meant to be Scottish. Overall, though, the audio is well done and worth listening to.

~ Ana Mardoll

As good as the first book... if not better. (No spoilers), October 14, 2010
After reading the first book I thought to myself, "That was an awesome book! The only thing that would make it better is if some blood thirsty zombies were thrown into the mix." And that is exactly what Dashner did in this sequel. This book was every bit as intense, exciting, and mysterious as the first one; with the added bonus of "zombies"! True it doesn't answer all of questions, but if it did, then there would be no need for a third book. I can wait to find out how the trilogy ends! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Illustrated in full color. This car-and- truck-filled alphabet extravaganza

that starts with an ambulance and ends with a zippercar, is shaped like Lowly

Worm's applemobile.




... Read more

Reviews

This will be my second copy!, August 18, 2003
My son (17.5 months) loves this book so much he's completely worn it out. We've taped it with clear packing tape several times, but by now even the tape that's taping the tape needs to be retaped, so it's time for a new copy. This is his stroller book--he *must* read this book while riding in the stroller, pointing at all the pictures and exclaiming "truck!" over and over again. Or turning to the fire truck and making a siren noise, or saying "pickle!" at the pickle car.

*I* love this book because it's just silly. It puts real-life vehicles (like fire engines) and puts them on the page next to vehicles that don't exist (like a peanut car).

This is such a must-have book, especially for toddlers obsessed with vehicles. If your child is one of them, then definitely get this book (and Byron Barton's _Trucks_, too).

Good content, but it is TINY!, March 29, 2005
I love Richard Scarry's books. Great illustrations. I bought this book based on the reviews. I was disappointed in the size of the book, not the length, but the size of it. My sons struggle to see all of the cars because the pictures are so tiny. The lemon car is the size of a pea! The entire book fits in my palm. Great for diaper bags, but not for everyday use in our house.

It won't keep me from getting other books by Richard Scarry.

My son is mezmorized by the this book., January 12, 2000
My 20 month old son has been mezmorized by this book for months now. Typically a book will hold his interest for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. My son can never seem to put this book down. It is ideal for long car trips, traffic jams or fussy days. There is a lot going on in the book so he never seems to get bored.

My four month old loves it!!, August 8, 1999
I bought this book with the idea of saving it on the shelf until my little one was able to learn his abc's. Before I put in on the shelf I showed it to him and he was fascinated! He loved the pictures. The book is rather small in shape so I was therefore thrilled to see how easy it was for him to hold it all by himself. I now know that this will be a favorite of his for quite some time!

My 15 month-old loves this book!, December 11, 2006
It is the perfect size for her small hands and she loves the colorful pictures. Granted, some of the cars are a little strange in order to get through all of the letters in the alphabet (how about a corn car or a zippermobile?). The best things about this book are the size and the fact that it is a relatively indestructable board book. It also brings back my own childhood memories of Richard Scary books.

Great little book for car loving kids, January 3, 2007
This is a fun little board book that is just the right size for little hands to handle all by themselves. (Be aware, this is a small book; if you're looking for a bigger one, this isn't it.) My grandson loves the pictures, especially the 'U'pside down car. (He turns the book upside down each time he gets to that one.) The ABC text flows smoothly; the illustrations are typical Richard Scarry quality; and it's a great bargain from Amazon, especially with free shipping (when bought with other qualifying items.)

The teacher in me gives this one a 'thumbs up' for little toddlers.

Excellent book!, February 1, 2003
My 1-year-old loves this book. She will sit and "read" it to herself. It is a great size for little hands to turn the pages. She also likes to teeth on it! We take it everywhere with us. We are already on our second copy.

VERY Tiny, December 30, 2007
Dimensions of this book are provided, however, I guess the actual size from the dimensions did not register with me. This book is VERY tiny!

Great book for a 1 year old, September 22, 2005
My son is 1 and I just purchased this book for him. He loves looking at all of the cars and trucks and turning the pages. It is also a small book, so it is easy to take in the diaper bag. When we are away from home and he gets fussy, I give him the book to look at and he settles down right away.

Great book for the car!, June 29, 2008
After reading many reviews on here, I bought this book wondering what I'd get. It seems that most reviews here are either very strongly liking this book or very strongly not liking it (it's a kid's book for gosh sakes!)

Anyway, my son loves this book! It's the perfect size to hand him in the car or leaf through and talk about at a restaurant while waiting for food. The book is silly and fun- so please lighten up if you're not sure what a "corn car" is or whatever. Richard Scarry wasn't afraid to use his imagination, and was a lot of fun as a result.

It's an inexpensive book that takes a few minutes to flip through. Golden, in my eyes! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Where are Baby's hands?
Under the bubbles!

Where are baby's eyes?
Under her hat!

Karen Katz's adorable babies play peekaboo in this delightful interactive book. The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps are perfect for parents and children to share. ... Read more

Reviews

Great fun for baby and parents!, October 9, 2001
This is a nice sturdy book with colorful drawings of babies with some part of their body hidden. Each page asks, "Where is baby's ...?" Toddlers delight in lifting the flaps to find the hidden pictures. The pictures are bright and cute with eye-catching fabric and wallpaper patterns. A very attractive book, and perfect for that stage when toddlers become fascinated with their belly buttons! My 17 month old has really enjoyed this book. It can be very helpful in getting kids to name body parts, and it's fun for both the baby and the parents to read. Highly recommended.

Perfect for your baby's first library!, April 7, 2003
Both of my children (now 18 months and 3) learned many body parts from this book, which encourages children to lift the flaps and search for babies' hands (under the bubbles!), toes, and even belly buttons. The illustrations are colorful and simple, which is very engaging for a 12-18 month old. I also love the focus on learning spatial relations (behind, under, etc.), and the great fine-motor skill practice that comes from lifting these oversized flaps. The flaps are as sturdy as most, but they will eventually separate from the book, o keep your wide scotch tape handy!

My 10-month-old lights up when he sees this book!!, September 4, 2001
My son loves all books. The only time he will sit still is when I read to him. The rest of the time, he is on the move (even when he's eating). When I got him this book, he absolutely lit up! I had never seen a book elicit the kind of joy and amazement that this book does. So, it is defintely the favorite one in our house. I've read it to him hundreds of times, but he still giggles when I lift the first flap to expose Baby's eyes. He bends down to kiss every baby on every page. (Some of the pages are starting to stick together from all his wet kisses!) Some of the flaps are wearing down a bit from his uncoordinated hands trying to lift the flaps. But, I won't mind spending the extra $$ for a new one if I need to. The look on his face when I read him this book gets me every time!!

Enjoyable Illustrations, but..., August 15, 2003
I bought this book because it came highly recommemnded and was one of AZ's best sellers. The only suggestion I have is that be careful giving this book to a toddler to look at themselves. Since the book has flaps that reveal "Where things are" they are easily ripped out. My daughter is 11 months old and I thought this would the perfect introduction to books. This may be considered a little young but she absolutely LOVES books and likes turning pages. That is why we opt for board books in the very beginning because the pages can be easily turned and are more durable than regular childrens'[paper] books. My only warning is if you do buy this book and your child likes to tear/pull things, beware. Or just wait until they are older and know not to. Otherwise, you are in for alot of ripped flaps.

Instant "Melt Down" Preventer, October 11, 2004
First of all, I have NEVER reviewed a children's book, let alone a board book. However, I cannot let this one go unrecognized. My daughter received this from an aunt as a baby gift and I started reading it to her at 4 months. She loved the bright colors and would lay next to me transfixed as we looked at it over-and-over again. She is now 8 months old and LOVES IT EVEN MORE!!! It goes with us on EVERY road trip and let me tell you, when she gets tired of sitting in her car seat, all I have to do is show her the book and her fussy face turns into intant smiles and "babble" and kicking legs become motionless! I am NOT exaggerating. My daughter especially loves the "Where's baby's eyes" page and giggles every time I lift the flap. The book has also become a favorite chew toy now that she's beginning to sprout teeth. I'm ordering the authors other books today so that we have a complete set. From a structure standpoint, the pages are very sturdy and the flaps are very secure. I recommend it to any parent looking to spark their child's interest in books. It certainly beats plopping them down in front of the television to watch Baby Einstein videos (which, by the way, my daughter HATES), but I'll leave my dislike for these for another review.

A little worse for wear, June 28, 2001
We couldn't wait to get this book. My 18 month old son has this fascination with his belly button! The book itself is sturdy with big flaps and bright colors that my son loved to lift. He knows where on the body the eyes, mouth, etc., are already. This book shows under and behind things and reinforces what he knows. When reading him this book he liked to point to the parts mentioned on himself and me. Although the book itself is sturdy, the flaps are not attached that way. My son pulled some of them off when I left him playing with it on his own. Little ones might pull them off if not watched when they play with the book.

Enjoy this book with your baby!, September 16, 2000
This a wonderful first book to enjoy with your baby. It is in beautiful bright colors and it's small size is easy for you and baby to handle.

It asks a series of questions of "Where is baby's ..., and when you and your baby lift the flap there is the belly button, or nose or whatever. The baby in the pictures always looks so happy that your baby will laugh and laugh.

This is sturdy book that can withstand lots of handling, and if your baby chews on the book it will just look a little the worse for wear, but won't be harmed.

This is a great book!

My 16 month old's favorite, January 18, 2003
This is a WONDERFUL book. It satisfies my daughter's great love for peek a boo and naming and searching for different body parts. No matter how many times we read this book, she always acts "surprised" to see what is underneath the flap and finds great fun in searching for her own belly button or hands (or whatever the page says). The flaps are sturdy and have withstood my "toddler's terror" even after reading this book over...and over...and over... You and your little one will love this one.

This adorable interactive book teaches body parts and more!, March 15, 2003
Every once in a while, I come across a book that appeals to the adult in me, because it's educational, artistic, amusing or perhaps all of the above, but what fascinates me is when my son discovers the real value in a work, and teaches me a thing or two along the way. To adults "Where is the Baby's Belly Button" written and illustrated by Karen Katz appears to be a simple 14-page book that teaches body parts, but to children it's much more.

This nifty little board book is essentially a peek-a-boo book with flaps. It measures approximately 8 �" x 7 �" x � ", and is constructed of cardboard with heavy card stock for the flaps. The images are simply illustrated, yet brightly colored with creatively contrasted backgrounds that produce interest. The text appears on the left side of the book with bold, solid colored backdrops that emphasis the large black printing, and compliment the illustrations on the opposing page. The writing consists of short, four or five word sentences, such as, "Where are baby's eyes?" The reader lifts the flap and it says, "Under the hat." The picture shows a baby hiding under a hat, and when the flap is lifted the baby's face is revealed. She is pointing to her eyes.

"Where is the Baby's Belly Button" has been one of my son's most requested books for a year now; he's nearly two-years old. He lovingly refers to this book as the "baby" book, and he has taught me that he has learned where his eyes, mouth, belly button, feet, and hands are, in addition to understanding the meaning of the words, hat, cup, shirt, cat, bubbles and WHERE. The question, "Where?" comes out of his mouth probably 20 or 30 times everyday, and I am certain it's because of this book. I wish the flaps were made of a heavier card stock as they have become creased over time, which is expected with use, but also preventable with a heavier stock. This book has been a huge hit, and one I haven't gotten tired of reading over and over again. I recommend this book for one-year olds and up as the interactive feature, (lifting of the flaps) is too advanced for younger babies, however an infant would probably find the images fascinating all the same.

Great Book to Teach the Names of Parts of the Body, April 5, 2003
"Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book" - by Karen Katz.

As an ESL and newcomers classroom teacher (A newcomers classroom is for children who have been in country for less than a year, speak English as a second language and such classrooms use scaffolded methods of teaching in hopes of being able to transition these children to a mainstream classroom), I often have to be innovative in how to teach primary and intermediate children basic language skills that mainstream children of their own grade level would consider "baby" lessons.

Books like this one are a God-send. I can drill this book a few times a week at the beginning of the school year and within a few weeks, all of my students have the parts of the body from this book down pat. My older children (intermediates - 4th to 6th grade) at first objected to the book, but then they started having fun and forgot about the book being a "baby" book.

The book itself is a series of flap pages with big bright easy-to-read text. After one reads the text, they can flip up the flap and reveal the part of the body being taught on the page. It is constructed of cardboard and heavy card stock. The simple language phrases such as "Where is baby's belly button?" are easy for children to memorize and use. The bright colorful illustrations serve to bring out the text and allow easy recognition of the parts of the body.

I highly recommend this book for infants, younger ESL (English as a Second Language) learners, and younger children in general.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Good for Kids., November 14, 2010
If you are expecting something like Guinness World Records, do not buy this book. Ripley's Believe It or Not! is not a record book, but just a book about amazing and incredible things. The book is formatted in a way that you can just flip to any page and start reading. I would recommend this book for younger audiences, as most of the book is pictures. I am skeptical to believe some of the "facts" in this book, as with prior knowledge I know some of these aren't true, and I doubt the researchers really did their research. But this book is aimed towards kids, and my children enjoyed it.

A fascinating book for kids and adults!, December 18, 2010
I get the yearly edition of Ripley's Believe It ot Not for my great-grandson every year for Christmas and he has learned to read using these books. These books are fascinating for young and old alike. There are so many amazing and unusual listings that make up these yearly updates that you never get tired of reading them. A wonderful way to get young children interested in reading. ... Read more

Editorial Review

On a seemingly ordinary day at the beach, a budding young scientist makes a fabulous discovery. A barnacle-encrusted underwater camera has washed up on the shore, holding a reel of film of fantastical images that no human eye has seen. Moving cities, an octopus in a lounge chair, a clockwork fish. And yet, there is one more secret, even more astonishing than these surreal scenes: the camera has journeyed not only through the depths of the ocean but through the past, hiding in its last photo a visual timeline of children from around the world. Author: David WiesnerReading Level: Ages 5-8Format: 40 pages, HardcoverPublisher: Clarion BooksISBN: 978-0618194575 ... Read more

Reviews

Full fathom five thy father lies, September 3, 2006
I suppose that there must be some people in world for whom the name "David Wiesner" means nothing. I can't fathom what this kind of an existence must be like. I suppose it would be the literary equivalent of not knowing what chocolate was. Or snow. The minute the new Wiesner book comes out I, like hundreds of thousands of others like me, rush out to purchase it for friends, relatives, and passing acquaintances I met once in the grocery store. Little wonder that the man has won two Caldecott Medals AND two Caldecott Honors. Now one of those numbers is about to change since Wiesner has produced his most ambitious creation to date. Wordless (as always) and more intense than his light-hearted "Tuesday" and "Sector 7" ever were, this is a book overflowing in deep-water mysteries and delights.

A scientifically minded young man is closely examining the various critters and crabs he finds washed up along the beachshore when he's suddenly doused in a wave. When he emerges he's sitting on the sand with an old-fashioned camera beside him. On its front are the words, "Melville underwater camera". Intrigued, the boy plucks out the film and takes it to a one hour photo store. The pictures he get back, however, are nothing a person could imagine. Mechanical fish swimming with real ones, hot-air pufferfish, entire civilizations living on the backs of gigantic starfish... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. The last photo, however, is the most interesting of them all. In it, a girl holds a picture of a boy holding a picture of a boy, holding a picture of a girl, and so on. Our boy gets out his magnifying glass and sees even more pictures of kids holding pictures of kids. And when he gets out his microscope he can see all the way back to the very first picture in the batch ever taken. When last we see of our hero he has taken a picture of himself holding the last photo with the Melville camera. Then he tosses it into the sea, where we see it acting out a couple of adventures until the last picture in the book. A girl on a tropical beach reaches for the camera, half-buried in the sand.

That was less of a summary and more a retelling of the entire book, I know. I have a hard time with encapsulation when I find myself so deeply in love with a picture book. And now I'm having a very hard time figuring out what to coo over first. Let's talk details. Wiesner may well be the king of them. Some people see his work as a colorful version of Chris Van Allsburg. I can see where these people are coming from, but Van Allsburg is far more interested in tone and mood than in meticulously researched, thought through details. Consider what Wiesner has accomplished with, "Flotsam". First of all, there isn't a single thing that happens in this book that feels out of place or out of the blue. For example, at the end of this story our hero takes a picture of himself with the picture of the multiple kids. So where did he get the film? Well, if you track back to when he was getting the film developed, you see him purchasing some 120 color film (which is Kodak yellow, though Wiesner's too classy to put in any product placement). Another remarkable detail? Look at all the pictures of the children. As they go back in time their hair and clothing styles change accordingly. You can see that the child from the 1980s is holding a picture of a child from the 1970s. Then, after a while, we're in the 50s, the 40s, the 30s, and finally we're at the turn of the century. The film is black and white by this point, but when you consider what kind of camera we're dealing with that makes perfect sense. Wiesner even beveled the edges of the 1950s picture.

So that's the realistic part of the book (so to speak). The crazy underwater stuff is interesting in an entirely different way. Who thinks up gigantic starfish with islands on their heads? Or tiny aliens vacationing alongside some somewhat weirded-out seahorses? It's here that Wiesner really lets himself go all out. Kids who've read his previous books may also enjoy seeing his collection of flotsam items on the title pages. The black and white pig may also look especially familiar to them...

Great story. Great illustrations. Great great book. If the storytelling style (almost comic-like in its use of panels and divisions) doesn't get you then the outright well-thought out wonderfulness of it all will. An amazing addition to any collection. Your kids will never look at the sea the same way again.

Fabulous Wiesner, October 30, 2006
David Wiesner's fans will be tickled pink with his latest book. Flotsam takes for its setting the Jersey seaside and the author's memories of his trips to the beach as a young boy. (The back flap of the dust jacket has a color photo of Wiesner as a five year old looking perfectly suited to slip right into his book!) Painted quite appropriately in watercolors, and utilizing a horizontal format, with pages wider than they are tall, the book perfectly captures the reflection of light at the seaside while framing the spacious broad strech of blue waterline against the long strip of sandy beach. Opening with a long shot of a young boy digging at the tideline with his bucket we turn the page to find ourselves staring face-to-face with an enormous hermit crab! Looking again we realize the crab is not sitting on beach sand but the boy's upturned palm, while an enormous eye - the boy's eye seen through a magnifying glass - gazes down behind the upturned twitching two eyes of the crab. Then things jump back to regular size on the next page but only for a moment as Wiesner constantly shifts the size and format of each step of his silent story. Like the boy we are meant to look carefully and from every possible angle. The title marvelously conveys the narrative method as mysterious snapshots flit back and forth with a young boy's curiousity of what lies out beyond the waves. Mr. Wiesner achieves almost a perfect storyboard, deftly mixing and merging images of varying sizes with his now unequalled mastery of visual storytelling, the sum producing an utterly delightful experience. Large sea turtles, their backs bedecked with villages of shell grottos sail through the water with the same wonderful stillness as the magical pigs in Tuesday. The becharmed juxtaposition of imagination and reality is reinforced in the name of the old-fashioned box camera washed ashore: Melville. And like Melville's epic Moby Dick factual data coexists side by side with the wildest fancies. Here whales can appear as a single enormous eye - the theme of the book is looking and how we record impressions - or as small guppies swimming below gargantuan walking starfish the size of tropical islands. Scale and perspective are handled with Wiesner's virtuoso touch; there is never any sense of heaviness or display for its own sake. His colors have never been richer or more brilliantly managed - the rich hues of a scene with small aliens as underwater tourists is quite the equal of William Joyce's palette. Somehow even the ebb and flow of the waves comes across in this brilliantly achieved work.
Combining the child's eye and imagination of Sector 7 with the dizzying draughtmanship and narrative gamemanship of The Three Pigs, Flotsam finds Wiesner the most brilliant Children's Book illustrator currently active. Despite all the gushing about Van Allsburg in the official notes it's now clear that these days Wiesner is working on a more exalted level of artistry.
P.S. Do take off your dustjacket for a surprise!

Full of surprises, and rewarding to the imagination, January 27, 2007
Flotsam is a wordless picture book, with detailed illustrations that reward close examination. A young boy is at the beach with his parents, with no other kids to play with. He entertains himself by examining crabs with his magnifying glass. Venturing too close to the water, he's toppled by a large wave. In its wake, the wave leaves a boxy, old-fashioned, underwater camera. As any right-minded child would do, he takes the film from the camera to a one-hour photo store, and also replaces it with a new roll of film. Returning to the beach, he examines the photos, and finds documentation of a fantastic underwater world filled with surprises.

The illustrations of the underwater world are different in tone from the illustrations of the boy on the beach. The beachside pages have an old-fashioned look about them, and are fairly sparse. They are frequently framed as a series of smaller pictures set on the same larger page. The scene where the boy is waiting for the one-hour photo captures perfectly his impatience, through a series of small images.

The underwater photos are more colorful, more whimsical, and very detailed. The boy finds photos of mechanical fish, octopuses who sit in armchairs and read to their children, tiny underwater aliens wearing bubble helmets, gigantic starfish with islands on their backs, and giant turtles bearing shell cities. Some of the details will make the reader laugh aloud, like the underwater fishbowl, with fish casually swimming in and out, the blowfish as open-air balloon, the electric eels working as light bulbs, and the spotted fish wearing a collar around its non-neck, with the name-tag Spot.

The last picture that the boy finds is of a girl, who is holding a picture of a boy, who in turn is holding a picture of a girl, and so on. Turning to his trusty microscope, the boy finds that this nesting of photos continues through several levels. Going back far enough, the pictures start to be in black and white, then in sepia, the clothing old fashioned. It's a perfect chain of all of the people who have found the camera.

Realizing what he has to do, the boy takes his own picture, while holding the photo of the girl holding a photo. Then he tosses the camera back into the ocean, where it embarks on another journey, this time with the reader traveling along. In the end, we see the camera swept up onto another beach, where a lonely girl is waiting.

It's amazing what David Wiesner is able to accomplish in this book without any words at all. We see the boy's curiosity and wonder. We follow all of his movements as he finds the camera, shows it to his parents, and checks with the lifeguard to make sure no one has reported it missing. We see vignettes of a hidden underwater world, one that any child would like to imagine really exists. And we see the camera transported by a series of sea creatures, to end up in the lap of another child.

I think that what makes this book work so well is the juxtaposition of the realistic beach scenes with the whimsical deep sea snapshots. The idea of a hidden world just out of view captures the imagination. The chain of photos going back in time gives the story depth, with the child as part of a larger cycle of people, and the camera a constant as time passes. I highly recommend this book for older pre-schoolers and early elementary school children.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on January 27, 2007. Flotsam recently won the 2007 Caldecott award.

the infinite pleasure of having a child 'read' you a story, January 24, 2007
The little one is presently holding steady at age "four-and-a-half-and-three-quarters-but-in-my-head-I'm-seven." And boy, is she ready to read.

We're delighted. And we want to encourage her. (Which does not extend to teaching her how to read; we are old, our reservoir of patience is not what it once was, it's better to let the experts at her high-priced school do the job.) So we get her the picture books of David Wiesner and ask her to tell us their stories.

Wiesner is the acknowledged master of wordless books for kids. (All three of the Wiesner books we own --- Tuesday, Three Pigs and Flotsam, his most recent book --- have won the Caldecott Medal.) It's not just that he draws beautifully and that his pictures allow a child aged 4 through 7 to tell the story. His greater gift is his refusal to talk down. His books are challenging. They are invitations to consider the story later, to broaden a child's sense of the world --- or, more accurately, they reflect the ability of most children to dream big and think poetically.

"Flotsam," for example, takes us to the beach. A well-equipped boy --- he's got a magnifying glass, binoculars and a microscope --- is digging and exploring while his parents read. He's so fascinated by a crab he doesn't see a rogue wave rolling in; when it rolls out, there's an ancient box camera at his feet. He shows it to friends, who are predictably puzzled. (Film inside? What, no digital chip?) And he takes the film to be developed at a one-hour photo shop.

Back at the beach, the boy looks at the pictures. One is of fish --- but some of the fish have gears. In another, sea creatures sit on lounge chairs in an underwater living room. A puffer becomes a hot air balloon. A village of shells travels on the back of a turtle. Aliens have a party on an underwater terrace. Giant starfish walk in the shallows.

And then there is the picture of a Japanese girl. She's holding a picture of another kid, who's holding a picture of another kid, who's holding....The magnifying glass isn't powerful enough; this is a job for the microscope.

And now, as we look deeper into the pictures, we are moving back into time. The decades fly by --- we end in the late 19th century, looking at a boy on the beach. Which gives our inquisitive lad an idea: He'll take a self-portrait using this old camera.

As soon as he snaps the shutter, he's hit by another wave. The photos scatter. The boy thinks for a moment, then throws the camera into the water. We see it float in the moonlight. Get pulled by a squid. Become a carriage for sea horses. Fly in the bill of a pelican. Float on an iceberg. And, at last, wash up on a beach.

A little girl, sitting on the beach, sees the camera. She reaches for it....

That's only half the story. The lesser half, really. The much larger part begins with your kid saying, "I want to read that book." And then, in her little voice, she tells you a story.

A Gem of a Book, May 17, 2007
This book is really a treasure. It will make you and your kids think about the ocean, the past, the future, photography, optics, conservation, and the list goes on! Believe it or not, it isn't really for the very young even though there are no words. The ideas the pictures are trying to convey are fairly complex. Even toddlers who can read would benefit from an adult explaining what is going on and how the story is progressing. Still, babies might enjoy just looking at some of the beautiful art. I think you will love "reading" it to your children.

IS A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS?, July 1, 2007
In the case of a book crafted by David Wiesner, the answer to he old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, is certainly a resounding yes! In the 40 pages this book consists of, it would take at least 300 written pages to tell the same story. In brief, a yound lad finds a strange, old and fascinating camera that has been washed up on the beach. The young boy opens the camera and takes the film found their to be developed. Here the real story begins. The photographs reveal a wonderful world which apparently came out of Mr. Wiesner's head, through his fingers, and into his wonderful, realistic watercolor paintings. This is a world filled with strange mechanical creatures, strange real creatures and even stranger underseas civilizations. Through the use of one of the photographs, in which the artists paints a picture, within a picute, within a picture, many, many times over, we go back through time, from one child, somewhere in the world, to another, to yet even another part of the world. Each painting in this book (an remember, there are absolutely NO WORDS), is finely interlocked with the preceding painting and that painting that follows.
The art work, as with all Wiesner's work, is flawless (probably not to the artist himself as no artist is ever completely satisified), but they are certainly flawless to us, the reader. The paintings are accomplished in a realistic mode, smooth, well executed and as to color, blended well. This is a book of discovery and I do hope you and your child will discover it soon. You will certainly be far richer for it. Recommend this one highly.

Flotsam, May 28, 2007
As An Elementary School Librarian, I was amazed with the pictures in this book. A story is told through a series of events with only pictures. The pictures are very detailed and wonderful, It really lets the reader use his or her imagination, and it is a great book to share with readers of all ages.

Flotsam, January 20, 2007
I bought this book for my son's first grade teacher. The class loved exploring the pictures and anticipating the story. Although this book does not have words, it offers the opportunity to challenge kids to tell the story by identifying expressions and clues into what is happening as the pictures progress as well as getting them to ask the questions. It is a wonderfully imaginative book and shows that books have value beyond the written word even for early readers.

Stokes the imagination, May 29, 2007
Flotsam is a wonderful book. The images are beautifully drawn but that is not the reason for
my excitement. This book allows children as well as adults to become storytellers. Best of all
the story can change with each reading. The three year old in our house has already changed the
his readings at least once if not twice. It holds his interest and mine too.

Absolutely beautiful., April 29, 2007
This wordless book offers a complex, imaginative look at what one can find while exploring the beach. Popular with my younger library patrons who want books that "won a prize," the book would also be a great stimulus for writing with upper elementary or even middle school students (I used to teach 7th and 8th grade language arts, so yes, I'm sure). Also check out Weisner's previous Caldecott winner The Three Pigs. I love to read that one out loud because they way Weisner has the pigs step out of the story really blows kids' minds! Flotsam will appeal to readers of ANY age. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

12 months later... and he's still reading it, November 16, 2009
I bought this book for my son during Christmas of 2008. He had checked out a couple similar books from the library, and seemed to generally enjoy them. In my opinion this book, although shorter than the others, is probably the best. The facts and activities inside are interesting, the layout is clean and easy to read, and the text is targeted to its audience (young adolescent boys - perhaps ages 7 and up). Even almost a fully year later, I still see my son reading the book in bed sometimes before going to sleep. It was probably the most lasting of any of the Christmas gifts I got him last year. And in my personal opinion, anything that will get young boys excited about reading are worthwhile.

Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.

Almost-10-yr-old LOVES this book!, May 9, 2008
My nearly 10-yr-old son begged me to buy this book for him, and he has been transfixed ever since it arrived! He brings it in the car with him to read! He is in the advanced reading section in school, but I think this book would appeal to a wide age range. I wish I'd thought to keep it to give him during our summer vacation, but the way it's going, he'll be completely through it by then! And to parents -- the content isn't really "bad" -- it's just the right kind of intriguing to keep a young boy's attention -- i.e., breaking codes, spy secrets, obscure trivia, etc.

Hands-down the best of the "boy" books!, February 5, 2008
How to make fake blood, how to make a bow and arrow (gulp), and clever card tricks are a few of the things my 8-year-old son has brought up at the dinner table since receiving this as a holiday gift. Some of his friends got it too, and it's fun to overhear them discussing it. In addition to the fun stuff, there's good, meaty info, like US presidents and state capitals, etc. There are a ton of "boy" books out there, but this one has the best content for kids. And the very cool design will appeal to boys of all ages. Highly recommended.

Great book for boys!, April 5, 2009
For Boys Only: The Biggest, Baddest Book Ever
My 8 year old loves to read this book because it states it is for boys only and it actually contains cool stuff that interests him like how to fight a shark, video games, buried treasure and monsters. Perfect for a boy! I bought this to try to find something to capture his interest so he would enjoy reading and it worked!

My son loves the book, January 6, 2008
I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my 9 year old son. It's funny how he's taken right to it. He'll be looking thru the book like he's scheming to find something to pull on his sisters! I think he's enjoying the book more than I expected.

So much fun I stole it for myself, April 17, 2009
My son and I were fighting over this book as we each endeavored to crack the code hidden on the pages. In addition to all the fun information contained within the covers, there is a puzzle to be solved. Not just a little, spend five minutes on it puzzle, but a long, you must solve this part to get to the next part puzzle - thoroughly entertaining. We had to look up looking up Morse Code and ASCII to solve it which made it fun and educational. It is a truly enjoyable little book.

Awesome Fun, December 28, 2008
I purchased this book for my 9 year old son, who is a reluctant reader. He is now asking me if he can go to his room and read. I am only slightly scared of the ideas the book is putting into his head, but he's got a huge smile on his face, and wants to read, so what more can the parent of a pre-teen boy ask for?!?!

great for ADHD attention spans, July 21, 2008
My son doesn't stay focused on reading for long periods. He likes this one very much. It can be enjoyed in short readings and in any order you choose. If you remember Boy Scout Manuals and how much fun they made learning, buy this for your son, he'll like it.

Great Book!!!, June 25, 2008
I gave this to my son for his 12th birthday and he loves it. He read it in a matter of days but I still see him re-reading it all the time. I think even a child who dislikes reading would enjoy this very much.

AWESOME BOOK FOR BOYS!, December 12, 2007
This is THE book for every boy! Safe enough for the family crowd, with just enough edge for the boy in everyone. We need more books from these guys. They understand us . . . and the boys inside. AWESOME BOOK FOR BOYS! (P.S. Can you guys write one for our daughters???) ... Read more

Editorial Review

"Once there was a tree ... and she loved a little boy." So begins a story Of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk ... and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

Reviews

A CONTROVERSIAL Classic to promote family discussion, November 28, 2005
There are two extreme ways to interpret this book, as shown by the multiple ratings of 1 and 5.

The first: This is a beautiful and sad story of unconditional love between a tree and a boy, in which the tree is generous and gives of itself to help the boy whenever he is in trouble. The metaphor in this case is that of a mother and a child, or God and a human.

The second: This is a story of a very selfish boy and a tree who loves him. Whenever he is in trouble, he returns to the tree who gives him another part of her self without ever setting limits, even though it makes her sad (and physically damages her) to do so. In this case, you can compare the story to a metaphor of an abusive, codependent relationship.

I can understand both views of this story, but the fact that the second interpretation is just as valid as the first makes me hesitate to recommend this book. Personally, I would NOT buy this book as a gift, or for my own children. If I had this book, I would wait to read it to my children until they reach the recommended 10 years old (or at least 8), and then I would discuss the book and its concepts (selfishness, limit setting/saying NO) with them. "What did you think of this book?" "Do you think that the tree/the boy did the right thing?" "What would you have done differently if you were the tree/the boy?" "If you were the tree, would you have said 'NO' to the boy at any point?"

A story that may be complementary to this one and more appropriate for younger audiences is "Ladies First", also by Shel Silverstein (found in "A Light in the Attic" or "Free to Be, You and Me"), which is about a girl who always gets to be first to do everything, but in the end that is not to her advantage. At least in that book the message is clear that selfishness is not OK.

If you prefer to avoid this type of discussion, you might be better off sticking to one of the MANY childrens' books that are much less controversial and intended only for entertainment.

A children's book which never loses its power, August 15, 2002
The Giving Tree is a beautiful book about a tree who loves a little boy. In the beginning, the love the two share is enough to make them both happy. As the boy grows older, his needs change and the tree gives him everything in order to help him achieve happiness. When the boy is gone and the tree is left with nothing, she is happy, but not really. Eventually the boy returns and the tree has nothing left to give, but the boy has changed and no longer wants anything from the tree other than the companionship they once shared, and both are happy once again.

I fell in love with this book the first time it was read to me, and my feelings have never changed. As I child I knew it was a sad book, but I didn't know why. Now that I am an adult, I can understand the cost of unconditional love and I know why the tree was sad. The fact that this book inspires so much debate is a testament to the power of Shel Silverstein's writing. There is a lesson in this book and a powerful message. For me, the key point is that in the end, the love the tree had for the boy was vindicated by his return- older, wiser, and more appreciative. My mother bought me this book when I was young because she thought it had a poignant lesson to teach. My mother tells me that the tree is every mother, and that the sadness felt by the tree is the sadness every mother feels when her child grows up and grows apart. She says every mother's hope is that her child will return someday, wanting nothing more than to to sit together in silence and to be happy. Anyone who has ever loved someone enough to let them go will understand the painful choice highlighted in The Giving Tree.

I love this book and I give it to special people in my life to celebrate our friendship. I higly recommend this book to adult and child alike.

What can be read into it, November 23, 2006
Few books are as simple to read and open to interpretation as this children's classic by one of the greats of 20th century children's literature. The story is simple, a boy takes different things from a tree his entire life, the tree gives without question, and at the end, both are together crippled with only each other for company. Out of such a simple story can be drawn many lessons that are appropriate not just for children, but for human beings of all ages. First, total self-sacrifice only leads to happiness as long as those you give to are happy. If the last condition does not hold, then the giver can never truly be happy. Second, always taking will never make you happy, for you will always find something more that you need or want to have. Third, and probably most controversial, this book provides a fitting commentary to the behavior of mankind towards nature. Written in the 1960s at the ascendancy of the modern environmental movement in the USA, the story is a perfect corollary of how man takes from nature for various uses his entire life, without ever thinking of the long term consequences for both him and nature. The tree of course represents nature, as few objects are such a symbol of nature within the American psyche.

Overall, a great book for people of all ages. It is one of those few books that provides morals and lessons for all readers, and each time you reread it, you learn something different.

Not for sensitive young children, January 5, 2008
My four year old son received this book for a Christmas present, and couldn't wait to read it. As the story progressed and the tree slowly got amputated, his face grew somber, and by the end of the book he began sobbing. It took ten minutes to console him enough that he could stop crying, and he was unable to discuss any details about why he found the story so sad. I can appreciate the differing viewpoints expressed in other reviews here - the story could equally represent the selfless parent nurturing the child who eventually perhaps realizes and appreciates that love, or a selfish boy growing into a selfish man who exploits and abuses the self-sacrificing tree to death. I think it could be a useful book to explore themes of morality, love, giving and taking, environmental issues, for an older child or for adults. It was traumatic for my son, however. And personally, from the time I first read this book as a child until now, I have found it a uniquely depressing story.

I wish I COULD give this book 5 stars ..., July 26, 2010
I love Shel Silverstein, and I truly wish I could give this book five stars. However ... I just can't.

I first heard this story as a child, and I have to confess that I loved it ... at first. As I got a little bit older (around age 8 or 9), I started to feel terribly bad for the tree and upset with the boy for the way he treated her.

As an adult reading it ... well, I just can't shake how dysfunctional this whole relationship between the boy and the tree really is. It actually depresses the hell out of me to read the book now. This doesn't mean that I will never read it for my kids, but that we're going to have to use it as a jumping off point for a discussion about what we think of the boy and what we think of the tree.

I'm not sure that this book teaches kids anything healthy about relationships. Even if I use the possible interpretation that the tree is supposed to represent a mother (or parent-figure) and the boy represents the child of that parent ... it's still an unhealthy relationship. For a parent to give and give and give until there is simply nothing LEFT to give isn't remotely healthy -- for the parent OR the child in question.

I have to agree with the person who mentioned the "lifelong cycle of abuse and abandonment" that this story focuses on. As much as I want to love this book, I just can't bring myself to truly recommend it as anything more than a springboard to talk to your children about unhealthy relationships.

We have this book, and I have yet to bring myself to the point where I can actually read it to my 5 year-old daughter. I'm sure I will ... but it has to be on a day when I'm ready to be that depressed, and ready to deal with HER likely reaction to the story. (My daughter is very sensitive, and will very likely cry when the tree is cut down.)

I do think, however, that Shel Silverstein may have written the book deliberately in such a way as to give rise to multiple interpretations.

PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR KIDS READ THIS (at the very least not ALONE!), April 19, 2007
In an interview in the early 60's Silverstein said that he wrote this little book for adults. I remember receiving this book when I was about five years old and it depressed the hell out of me. First off, that ugly little troll of a kid was a brat with a capital B. He later went from being a bratty kid to an ugly, self-centered troll of a man. Talk about taking that little lady (the tree) for a ride! That SOB used her up and used her up but good. And for what? In the end, it didn't even matter and neither one of them were happy. That tree also infuriated me as a kid. Why don't you tell that jerk to take a hike! Why do you let this idiot take advantage of you like this? What kind of friend does that to another friend? The bottom line, this is one of the most depressing books I have ever read. It makes novels like "Crime & Punishment" and "The Jungle" a joy to read. To this day, I still get depressed every time I even see this book. One of my in-laws wanted to buy this book for our new born baby as a gift and I told her that that would be fine as long as it's on his sixteenth birthday.

I know I am going to get a lot of negative votes for this review. Yet, if I can just get one person out there to stop giving their kids this very depressing book to read, then this was worth it. I like the book and I really enjoy most of Silverstein's work. This book is what he is known best for, but unfortunately he has so much other work out there, which is much better and far more conducive for children than this gut-wrenching story. The world is depressing enough as it is. Kids don't need a story like this before they go to bed at night. If they are anything like I was as a child, this book will depress and addle them like no other.

A cautionary tale?, August 18, 1999
I read the same symposium that someone else mentioned hereIt set me to thinking about this book (which I still love) in ways Ihadn't before. If you look at this story as the boy's story and not the tree's, it's possible to see it as a cautionary tale. Remember, the Tree keeps saying, "Take this or that, and then you will be happy." But after chidhood, does the boy ever seem happy? Even after he's attained the wife and family he's looked for, he wants to build a boat to sail away, being "too old and sad to play". (Although, in all fairness, maybe tragedy took his spouse from him.) At the end, he looks dejected and worn. Could Shel have been issuing a warning that anyone who does nothing but take will never be truly content? Perhaps if the boy had learned to give in return, he would have had a more contented life.Although I do see the boy as finally learning his lesson toward the end. When he returns to the stump at the end, he has to know that the tree has nothing left to give. But he is finally ready to give the tree the only thing she ever asked of him...companionship. I kinda see in the old man's face a realization of what he's done and a repentance.There's another metaphor for this as well...the metaphor of parent to child. How many children never see or appreciate the sacrifices their parents have made for them till it is too late, or almost too late? This could have been another warning Shel was issuing. END

the Giving Tree, May 6, 2004
I think the reviewer who was offended by the story missed the whole point of the story. I use this book with my AP students, who are juniors and seniors in high school. At first, many of them say, "Gee, it must have been great to be that little boy in the story and get everything he ever wanted from the tree." But when we really look at the story, they discover that the boy is a very selfish, self-centered person who constantly uses the tree for his own needs. But they also discover that the tree is a willing accomplice. As the story progresses, the tree actually begins to volunteer the sacrifices for the boy, and one has to wonder what the tree is getting in return. Certainly not any great respect fromt the boy for her sacrifice. One would think that the tree would learn over time that the boy is going to use her until she says no, but that doesn't seem to be the nature of the tree. Just as that is not the nature of those pleasers in life who allow others to walk all over them, use them, and never even mumble a simple "thanks." My students spend a lot of time talking about the times in their own lives when they have been the boy and used others to further their own ends. They are very honest about this human failing, with stories of friends, teachers, and parents they've taken advantage of over time. But they also talk about the times they allowed themselves to be the tree and be used by someone else--and how bad and angry that makes them feel. In the final analysis, the book prompts a great deal of soul-searching among my high-school students in terms of the kind of person they want to be in life. To me, that makes is a very moving and worthwhile book.

My favorite book, February 12, 2006
My mom used to read this book to me when I was a little boy and I have loved it ever since. I think its a beautiful story and I plan on reading to my children, if I ever I have any. Even reading this book today almost brings me to tears at 23 years old. The tree gives unconditionally because it loves the boy. The boy takes whatever the tree is willing to give, which is everything, and I think the boy appreciates and loves the tree, too, but is only human and is caught up in his life away from the tree. I think the message is about giving and loving unconditionally, and the boy is a representation of the part of us that tends to forget and ignore sometimes those that love and give to us no matter what. The boy is a symbol of who we often are, and the tree is a symbol of the type of person we should all strive to be.

Happiness is...Being a doormat, January 31, 2001
This book is beautifully written and illustrated, but the message it promotes is horribly disturbing. "Girls: If you love someone, you should give them everything you have, no matter how thoughtlessly they treat you and no matter how little their life plans include you" The (female) tree's unconditional love for the thoughtless little boy is heartbreaking. Who came up with the idea that "unconditional love" is a good or noble concept to teach our kids? Selfish jerks like the little boy in this story do not deserve love. Mature love should be earned; to maintain it requires work and sacrifice from both parties. Shel Silverstein is one of the most gifted children's writers around; buy any of his other books, but think twice about this one. ... Read more