5 comments about The Jolly Christmas Postman.

1. What a great book! Lots of play on fairytale characters. The book has 'envelopes' with really fun items to discover stuffed inside on each page. I enjoyed exploring this book as much as my son did.



2. This book is adoreable and great for anyone over age 4. When I read it with my son I realized that he doesn't know his fairy tales and nursery rhymes very well, so some of it was lost on him, but it was still a fun read. He loved pulling out the letters and discovering what surprises were inside.



3. If you liked the Jolly Postman, you will love this book too! It's all the fun of opening up your favorite fairy tale characters' mail with a Christmas theme! This book is super cute. I love opening up the letters from their individual envelopes. I am also always amazed by the art work. Every time I look through this book, I notice new little details that I didn't see before. Two big thumbs up!



4. Simply one of the best holiday books for children! Interactive, which makes it very fun for kids. My kids were given this book when they were little (they're both in college now). The memories of reading this book with my kids really stuck with me; this year I bought two copies to give to my niece and nephew (now 2 and 3 yrs. old) and a third copy for a friend's children.



5. I bought this for my daughter and later I bought it for friends' children. I'll probably search for it for my grandchildren too. You can probably guess that I like it! Buying for kids is such fun because you get the wow factor, and then you get to see whether they really take to it by reading/playing with it. Kids don't fib about this stuff, do they! I can report 100% success. The enthusiam they have for all the hidden messages, cards, games is so sweet. This truly is a gift that grows and grows on them.
   
   Note - if you have to get a used one, verify all the bits are included. The book wouldn't work without those.

2 comments about Stanley's Christmas Adventure (Flat Stanley).

1. Great addition to the Flat Stanley collection. Stanley really appeals more to 1st and 2nd Graders and children a little older who are reading at a lower level. They are always intrigued about "being flat?"



2. More flat stanley was on his christmas list, and he has spent more hours reading and re-reading the 6 books in this series than on any of his other also much requested christmas presents. He does love his legos but half of the sets are being opened only now, a month on, while these were his evening companions right away -- totally sweet stories with two little boys in a nice family that a beginning reader can relate to.
   
   He finds them more amusing and adventurous than horrible harry or junie B which for the most part are restricted to a classroom environment. He does like those, or Jigsaw Jones etc, but none of them so firmly captured his imagination that he actually chose to read these books rather than request video game time ! the ultimate test!!! ...

5 comments about The Candy Corn Contest (The Kids of the Polk Street School).

1. I've read this book with my third graders for the past several years. They love it. They enjoy having a candy corn contest of their own while reading the book.



2. My third grade teacher read us this book during the fall holidays. At the age of 23, I still remember the title and how it made me like candy corn. I think it's a great story. I'm going to buy this book for my nephew.



3. Publisher and Amazon, ect., should list the cover artist as well, if it is different from interiors. Many reasons for this... Public can find the specific book they are looking for, and equal time is given to each artist. (instead of leaving the cover artist out altogether-which, unfortunately has been done since paperbacks were invented. I know, because I am a children's book cover artist. We get neither money or fame, but our work helps sell the book....It is criminal if someone else gets all the credit.



4. I read this book when I was in the third grade and I loved it!!! I probably read the book 20 times during my childhood. I am now 24, and still remember the yummy candy corn contest described in this book. :)



5. I discovered this series in my classroom two years ago and after reading Pickle Puss aloud I've decided to invest in the series. I've started from the first book reading it aloud to my third graders during breakfast and they LOVE it!! It's humorous, VERY relatable and great for teaching reading skills as you move through the story. I truly love these stories and all the characters within. I can't wait until we get to the next book...

5 comments about The Princess Present: A Princess Diaries Book (Princess Diaries, Vol. 6 1/2).

1. Am I the only one who is annoyed at how much time Carbot skipped. She went from May (Princess in Pink) to December! In the first 3 books Mia wrote everyday, but look at all the time she missed. This book is funny and well written though, but too short.



2. Mia is super excited about spending Christmas in Genovia with Grandmere- for once. Usully, she would have hated spending the season with nagging, careless Grandmere. But this time, her best friend Lilly and boyfriend Michael are coming to visit her-and she hopes it will be the best Christmas ever. But what to get Michael? What will be the perfect present?
   A cute addition to the Princess Diaries Series.



3. This was enough to keep me entertained for the moment inbetween novels, but if it would have been any longer I would have fallen asleep. I honestly don't get the point, except Lilly and Michael are coming to Genovia for Christmas and Lilly makes a mess and Mia is trying to find the perfect gift for Michael. Funny how it turns out...
   I guess it was okay, but I really like the novels better than the novellas.



4. It was an ok book. Loved the part with the cats. That made me laugh.



5. Princess Mia is celebrating Christmas in Genovia with her Grandmere, father, and her visiting best friend Lily and boyfriend Michael. A touch of the Gift of the Magi and some soap opera in the form of rebellious Lily, the short novella is an nice addition to the series. It's interesting to see this wonderful heroine in the country she will one day rule. Grade: A-

1 comments about Christmas Catastrophe (Geronimo Stilton).

1. As usual Geronimo is up to his wonderful self. My daughter & I love these books, wonderfully written and illustrated.

2 comments about The Night Before Christmas (Little Golden Book).

1. Thanks to this special story, children across the globe go to sleep every Christmas Eve dreaming magical, wonderous dreams that only kids can dream! Save this book for a special, single reading that takes place just once a year - on the night before Christmas. It will become a holiday memory your little elves will cherish for life!



2. Professor of Biblical Learning, Clement C. Moore wrote the timeless story of The Night Before Christmas, which has become a classic for generations throughout the world.
   
   If your family celebrates Christmas, this book belongs in your household!

2 comments about Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday.

1. The flashiness quotient has been upped for the first ever team-up between Judy Moody and her younger brother Stink. How does that flashiness make itself known? Well,
   
   Exhibit A: A holiday theme. This makes it clear that, just like Christmas, this sort of thing doesn't happen all the time.
   
   Exhibit B: Color illustrations. A first for the Moody family. This is especially different for Judy herself, who's simple brown paper bag covers stood out precisely for their lack of a wide color palate.
   
   Exhibit C: Sparkly cover. This would normally not be a good thing for me (just call me Glitter Magnet), but the saving grace is that it's not the rub off on your hands kind of glitter - it's a permanent, part of the paper sparkle. (Note to book cover designers: consider this technique for new glitter-applying standard?).
   
   But enough of that - on to the story. The Holidays are nigh and the Moody children are making their Christmas wish lists. Judy's is a sprawling masterpiece that cannot be contained by standard paper, while Stink (spurred on my an unexpected visitor) has just one gift in mind - snow. Judy takes great big sisterly pleasure in telling Stink that in Virginia, there's no such thing as a white Christmas.
   
   In the meantime, Judy and Stink take part in the annual Holiday program at their school. Judy's class puts a new spin on Christmas with a Hawaiian theme, while stink puts his own unique stamp on the event.
   
   On the Eve of the big day, Judy and her brother place a bet on the likelihood of snow by midnight. All they have to do is stay awake to find out.
   
   While not quite as winning as previous Judy Moody and Stink solo adventures, "The Holly Joliday" will be read eagerly by fans of the series. Some good fun.



2. Great Book. My daughter wanted Judy Moody and Stink Books for Christmas. This combination book with a Holiday theme worked out perfect for her Christmas gift! Great Book!

5 comments about The Sweet Smell of Christmas (Scented Storybook).

1. Very cute book for little ones. Was not impressed with the scratch and sniff. The odors were not strong enough or were not there at all.



2. I got this book for Xmas when I was 5...i remember making my mom read and re-read it over and over again, no matter what the holiday.
   
   When perusing the bookstore one day I saw it on the shelf and HAD to get it for my 1 year old son on his first christmas. I seriously almost cried when i saw it as my original had recently gotten lost somewhere at my parent's house.
   
   This book is an 80s classic that never gets old...I loved it as a child and now love reading it to my boys...no matter what the holiday is!



3. I had this book as a child. I'm now 26 and my mom pulls it out every year. The one I had finally lost all the scent so we repurchased this so that my niece and nephews could have the same great experience I had. This book is a wonderful reminder of my childhood and Christmas



4. My child loves this book ( she assumes it is the Little Bear from the TV series she loves too) and after enjoying it at someone else's house, I bought it only to find only one of the scratch & sniff stickers that works (the pine tree). One was entirely missing (chocolate) , and the rest have absolutely no smell and are shiny like they never had the microencapsulated smell particles applied. Such a disappointment, since the story is all about smelling the smells! Seems like others have had this problem too.
   I decided to buy smell stickers myself from a website and put them in the book. More expensive, but at least it will work for sure. We will have to get by with cinnamon smell for the gingerbread boy as I couldn't find gingerbread stickers.
   I also wrote to Random House, but am not really expecting them to have replacement stickers.



5. I purchased this book for my daughter for Christmas. When it first arrived we enjoyed the story along with the scratch and sniff stickers that did initially release a scent. Within 4 weeks of first opening this book, most of the stickers had lost their scents. I must add that it had only been read about 5 times during this month. I noticed from the reviews that this has been a problem for many purchasers. The story is cute, but without the scratch and sniff portion, you may as well get a different Christmas book. I wrote a letter to the publisher to complain and never got a response. I would not recommend buying this edition.

5 comments about Going Home (Trophy Picture Books).

1. This story is well told, with a nice pace and sense of language. Diaz is up to his usual standards, creating a colorful world that you just want to hop right into. Judge this book by its cover - it's beautiful!



2. This book is very touching...it sensitively portrays the sacrafices Mexican immigrants have to make to move to America for their children to have a better life. Very well done themes of parental love, long car trips, the sadness of leaving one's home country, sibling realtionships, husband and wife being romantic (tasteful and age-appropriate), and a child's growing understanding of the complexities of life. Buy and read it to every child (and adult) you know.



3. Eve Bunting takes her readers on journey with a Mexican family going home for Christmas. The text she uses is elegantly written. Through the feelings expressed by Carlos and his family you get a real sense of the Mexican culture and the importance of family. David Diaz's illustrations lead you into the journey with Carlos and his family. With the use of collaged background and inset illustrations the pages come alive. The text of Bunting and the illustrations of Diaz give you the sense of being there. This is a book that a child of any age would enjoy.



4. Eve Bunting's books have a wisdom that transcends their simple stories. As an ESL teacher and a teacher in classes with immigrant students, I have often shared this book with middle school students and adults. In a brief and poetic narrative, it tells the universal story of parents sacrificing so their children will have a better life, through the eyes of a child. The adults in my ESL classes love it and take it home to read to their children.



5. The country where you were born rarely stops being home. Especially if you lived there for very long. This book highlights a family from the United States whose parents come from Mexico. The parents still feel very strongly that Mexico is home though they are firmly planted in the US. The kids are very uncomfortable with the knowledge. They prefer to speak English and feel that the US is home. What is this place their parents call home? What if they want to stay there? How do their parents really about about home in the US which the kids consider home? It's a confusing dilemma for kids and parents have to have mixed feelings too.

1 comments about All Things Bright and Beautiful (Jats 8x8).

1. All Things Bright and Beautiful is an excellent book. The story line was clear and easy to follow. The art work is similar to the name of the book...bright and beautiful. You will enjoy reading this book to your children.