No comments about Christmas is Here!: Station Stop 1 (Strawberry Shortcake).

3 comments about Elmo ABC's Storybook With Sound (Sesame Street).

1. This is one of my daughter's favorite books and it also the best ABC book that I've come across. Elmo tries to decide what his favorite letter is, from "D" is for dogs, "I" for imagination, and "Z" for Zoe. Each page has the letter highlighted and a reason why Elmo likes the letter. This books has a good pace and pleasing pictures. It's a great addition for anyone trying to teach the alphabet in a fun and exciting way.



2. I am usually a big fan of books for children, and I bought this for my 2-year-old son because he is crazy about Elmo and is learning the alphabet. While the drawings in this book are cute (expect nothing less from Elmo!), the text is completely inane. I dread reading this book to my son because it is mind-numbingly dull and poorly written.
   
   Elmo is searching for his favorite letter. Fine. It's cute that E is for Elmo and M is for Monster -- those things are directly relevant to Elmo and his little life. But then the book tosses in random items ("T is for turtles and turtles are terrific!") that just come out of nowhere and are not at all related to Sesame Street -- they just don't fit, and it makes it sound as if this book was thrown together. Basically, I think the problem is that there's no real overarching "theme" to the book (other than the fact that Elmo appears on every page) to make it hang together. Example: "Elmo can make lots of noisey noise. Wheeee! And so can an octopus!" (Used to illustrate N and O) It's just... well, boring, and it all seems forced.
   
   I'm still searching for a good alphabet book that can help my son easily recognize letters and sounds. This one is definitely not it.



3. My daughter loves this Elmo book with all the words that begin with the letters of the alphabet. Great learning tool for a toddler.
   
   My only complaint is the pages of the book are thin and tear easily.

4 comments about The Perfect Christmas Gift (Gigi, God's Little Princess).

1. Princess Gigi is a little girl who is waiting impatiently for the arrival of Christmas Day and all the gifts for her that will be under the tree on Christmas morning. Being a princess, Gigi is positive that this is the Christmas that she will be receiving her royal crown. But when Christmas morning finally arrives, there is no crown-sized box or package. That's because there is no crown! Instead, Gigi will be getting a gift more wonderful than any crown she could ever imagine! Children's author and Christian communicator Sheila Walsh has crafted a simply wonderful and inspiring picturebook story for young readers that is delightfully enhanced by the colorful illustrations of Meredith Johnson. "Gigi, God's Little Princess: The perfect Christmas Gift" is the perfect addition to family, elementary school, and community library Christmas season storey books for young children.



2. The Perfect Christmas Gift is Book #3 in the Gigi, God's Little Princess Series. This is less a Christmas book and more a Gigi book that takes place at Christmas. Fans of Gigi will love it.
   
   Gigi cannot wait for Christmas to come! She knows she is getting a big gift and the anticipation is killing her. This must be the year she finally receives her royal tiara with jewels befitting the princess she knows she is.
   
   On Christmas Eve, Gigi's daddy reads to her about the birth of Jesus. She decides a stable and manger are not nearly good enough for a baby king. "But at least He got gifts...that must have made Him feel royal." Her father replies: "He was the gift. God's perfect present to all of us."
   
   On Christmas morning Gigi tears through the mountain of gifts, hunting for the tiara she knows is there. She can't find it. Finally, with a tear on her cheek, she opens the biggest present, knowing there will be no princess crown this year. Inside is something she loves even more than a jeweled crown. That night she decides the shepherds were probably just as surprised as she was. "Who would have ever thought that the very best gift in the world would come in such an unexpected package?"
   
   The last page of the book quotes Luke 2:10-12 and Matthew 2:10-11.
   
   What I Like: Gigi is endearing. She's precocious and sweet with a tender heart. Using such an adorable character, this book makes a wonderful point: that sometimes the best gifts are not at all what we expect; sometimes we don't even know what we really want the most -- a message which the target audience (girls who think they're princesses) need to learn. I love the illustrations! The book would not be the same without them. Also, the price is nice. Usually hardcover picture books of this size and quality are much more expensive.
   
   What I Dislike: This book is long and, like the main character, seems to lose focus in a couple spots. My daughter loved The Pink Ballerina (Gigi, God's Little Princess), but this book didn't hold her attention. She is below the suggested age range, so the length may be perfect for older kids. Another minor detraction, the mountain of gifts she receives on Christmas is daunting. I understand Gigi is an only child, but I felt this reinforced the materialism with which princess-crazed girls already struggle.
   
   Overall Rating: Very Good.
   
   Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review



3. We love GiGi and this book certainly doesn't disappoint. My 4yr old daughter loves the stories and videos that always bring the message home for her.



4. I bought this book for my daughters, and they really enjoyed as did I. If you want a good Christmas story with references to God instead of Santa, this is the book for you.

5 comments about How Murray Saved Christmas.

1. I have received everything from quiet snickers to loud guffaws, as I read this book to the students in my school. What a "thinking person's" twist to the Santa Claus story! This can be read again and again, each time picking up more clever turns to the Christmas night adventures of Murray and his elf buddy.



2. We bought "How Murray Saved Christmas" for our annual Christmas book (year 11). The author has created a fun story with witty writing and wonderful illustrations. Kids and adults are sure to find this book filled with Christmas fun! This is not your typical Christmas tale, but it is sure to become a family favorite! Give it a try.
   
   I also recommend Mike Reiss' "Santa Claustrophobia" ; you will not be disappointed!



3. This book is a hoot! My 5 year old loves it, I thought it was hilarious, and my husband thought the illustrations were great, too. I intend to buy additional copies--for my adult friends.



4. This is the best Christmas book written since "Twas the Night Before Christmas." We love this book so much it has disappeared and we have to buy a new one. Even my sister-in-law, who has no children, loved it so much she went out to buy it. She reads it to her high school students every christmas. They love it too. This is definately a book for everyone. I have read it to classrooms full of 2,3,and 4th graders and it has always been a hit. You will love this book!



5. This is a fun book to read aloud to kids and adults. The characters add a bit of whimsy to Christmas!

1 comments about Elf Elementary.

1. This book is cute for children, it answers all their Santa questions in a very nice way. I think it will be a family favorite read every Christmas season.

1 comments about Mingus Mouse Plays Christmastime Jazz (Baby Loves Jazz).

1. We've loved the other Baby Loves Jazz books (Ella Elephant & Miles the Crocodile), so we were really excited for this Christmas one. When it came my daughter recognized it and wanted to listen to it right away. The music was great, and I enjoy listening to it, but through the whole CD my daughter (3 1/2) kept asking when there was going to be a song with words, and sure enough she loved the two that had even a little bit of singing. Great music and we'll keep it around, but a bit disappointing due being primarily instrumental which wasn't what we were expecting.

2 comments about Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas.

1. As a Pre-K teacher my students and I are big fans of Mrs. Wishy Washy. This plot is similar to the original in that she is trying to bathe them so the children can really relate to it. When the animals have a good ole time bathing in Mrs. Washy's bathroom my class can't stop giggling. You can't go wrong with a Mrs. Wishy Washy book in an early childhood classroom.



2. I had never heard of Mrs. Wishy Washy before but saw it on a list of books for purchase from my 3 year old daughter's preschool. We LOVE this book. We've had it about a month now and we read it at least twice per day. And the thing is, I love it too, not just my daughter. The rhymes are great, the pictures are fun and its such a cute story. It's a lot of fun to read out loud. I like this book so much I quickly ordered another Mrs. Wishy Washy book that turned out to be much shorter and not too great. So that was a disappointment, but this book of hers is really fun and children will love it.

No comments about The Gift of the Magi.

5 comments about The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy.

1. This book was fun to read. Dogs looking for a boy/that's so funny! My favorite part is when the dog is chasing a car. You should really buy this book!!



2. This was one of my favorite books when I was little, it's so cute it's almost disgusting (it's not, though!). The illustrations are very well done, as well as the whole idea of the story itself. A great children's book for the holidays, or any other day for that matter.



3. The Puppy who wanted a Boy is a book by Jane Thayer is a wonderful Story. It's a good story for kindergartners through second graders. The story is about a puppy that's looking for a boy. This book has a lot of things first graders will especially enjoy.
   
   The illustrations are the cutest part .The illustrator, Lisa Mcue, did a great job. She made them so cute. It looks so realistic! Most of the pictures tell more of the story than the words do!
   
   The puppy, whose name was Petey, is looking for a dog who'll give his boy away. But, he has no luck. All of them say, "NO"! What will Petey do? His mommy tries to help, but she had no luck either.What's Petey going to do? Read the story to find out.
   
   Remember, this book is easy to read. A kindergartener can read it (with a little help from mom and dad of course)! There are a few hard words like perhaps, frighten, and thought. Other than that, I highly recommend it. It's a must-read!
   
   The Puppy who wanted a Boy is the book to read. Kids who like a cute little puppy should totally take this book to consideration. Shoot, with a those cute animals you'll love it, especially if you're an animal lover! After you read it once, you'll read it again and again! Kids should definitely read this book.



4. I love this book I have a really old copy from at least 17 years ago and since I've come to see its out of print, boy do I handle it gingerly! This story is so touching for the Holiday season or all year round. It's a tad long for some 2 year olds but my toddler doesn't care she just can't wait to see if the puppy finds a boy! "Puppy who wanted a boy" is sure to be the kind of story you carry with you always.



5. I read this to my almost-6 yr old in one setting. She is trying to read and the book is easy enough for her to chime in with many of the words. She remembered the book and the story and the plot for over a week. I recommend it for communication with a child and just plain fun.

1 comments about Santa's Eleven Months Off.

1. SO THRILLED TO HAVE THIS BOOK TELLING HOW SANTA DOES HIS CHILLIN!
   JUST LOVE THE WORDING STYLE & PICTURES R LARGE & COLORFUL TO SEE! EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR IS LISTED AS TO WHAT HE DOES DURING EACH OF THEM!!! IT'S A KEEPER! WE R GETTING A REAL COOL "TIS THE SEASON" BOOK STASH PUT TOGETHER! THANKS AMAZON GREAT PRICES & SELECTION RIGHT FROM HOME!!!
   PLUS LOTS OF frreeeee shipping too!