5 comments about Penina Levine Is a Hard-boiled Egg.

1. You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate the wit and wisdom of Penina. Rebecca O'Connell's book taps in to the frustration we all have felt when an authority figure (in this case, a teacher with a fixation on the Easter bunny) disregards our most diligent efforts to be understood. Start with a Passover feast, add an annoying younger sister, an empathetic friend, and a rich seasoning of humor...and you have the recipe for a rewarding reading experience.



2. Tenacious sixth-grader Penina struggles to retain her beliefs, trust in adults, and humor while going through what seems like unfair obstacles in the course of growing up. Will an impossible assignment, troublesome younger sister, unsympathetic parents, tricky friend, and attending a school where her heritage is in the minority, weaken her or give her strength? Is telling the TRUTH and self-control always better than just DARING to pay for the consequences of one's actions?
   Rebecca O'Connell manages to have all readers experience with Penina the joys and struggles of one's heritage in this flowing story. It is not until the reader of any background has finished enjoying the book that they realize the wealth of information they've gleaned not only about the Jewish culture, but the unique beauty of their own as well.
   As a school librarian I recommend this must-have library book to students who want to laugh at the important daily issues of grouping up, as well as to students and teachers interested in diversity. This is one of the few young adult books that lovingly DARES to be sensitive to such major topics.



3. The girl is spunky, truthful, hardheaded, true to her beliefs and most importantly, very believable. Although written for maybe 8-11 year olds, Penina is very much beloved by my 6 year old, a self described "agnostic" and myself a tripped off the religion wagon ex-Catholic with a Jewish father. It is a great book for helping my daughter explore her Jewish heritage and a great starting point to discuss religion, faith, beliefs, traditions, and how much she dislikes dealing with her little sister. It has a wonderful "conversation starter" in my house. Penina Levine is a real find.



4. Penina Levine is one of only two Jewish sixth graders in Mrs. Anderson's class in public school. The class has been given an assignment to write letters "from the Easter Bunny" to kindergarten kids in the nearby Holy Family School. Penina strongly believes she should not write the letter because she is Jewish and Easter is a Christian holiday. She doesn't tell her parents about the assignment because she feels they don't listen to her and favor her younger sister, Mimsy. She does tell her grandmother however, when they are preparing the meal for the Passover Seder. Her grandmother says she is like a hard-boiled egg because when you boil it, it gets hard, just like the Jews: "When the heat is on, we don't turn to mush-- we get tougher." Her grandmother is proud of her for sticking up for her religion and not writing the letter. Eventually Penina tells her parents about the assignment and they tell the principal, who then talks to the class about diversity. Mrs. Anderson, Penina's teacher, apologizes and Penina and her family invite her to a Shabbat dinner. The story moves along briskly and Penina is an appealing and feisty Jewish character with much humor. The various black and while line drawings complement the text. For ages 9 -12.



5. My 9 year old granddaughter cried when she finished the book. Not because it was sad but because her " favorite book EVER " ended. Can there be a better review ?
   I am a little sad too, because we have to wait till September for the next Penina book. But, Ahh, the anticipation.

3 comments about The Best Easter Egg Hunt Ever (Read With Me Paperbacks).

1. It so cool.There are many kids trying to find the eggs.You have to find out who got the most eggs,but i don't play like that i find all the eggs and the Hard to find eggs!Buy it now!



2. I love collecting the books for my grandsons (and daughters). thank you



3. Find hidden eggs in drawings of the town. A classic hidden picture book with simple line drawings.
   
   Not my favorite hidden picture book, but an inexpensive Easter basket option.

5 comments about Carrot Soup.

1. The hero of John Segal's "Carrot Soup" is obsessed with his garden. In particular, he's obsessed with his carrot crop.
   
   "Carrot Soup" begins in the spring, "Rabbit's favorite season," when Rabbit orders seeds and begins planting. He orders Early Horn, Lunar White, Short 'n' Sweet, Bolero, Thumbelina, Sugarsnax, Paris Market and Autumn King carrots. And to think I thought carrots came in "regular" and "mini" sizes! Children will love Segal's illustrations of the different carrots in all their glory.
   
   Rabbit plants his carrots, takes care of them in the proper way by weeding and plowing and watering. Oh, and waiting. And waiting and waiting and waiting.
   
   When it's time to harvest and make carrot soup, the carrots have disappeared. Rabbit is highly distressed. He darts about asking all the animals in the neighborhood if they've seen his carrots. All's well that ends well, though, and Segal concludes his story with a great recipe for carrot soup.
   
   "Carrot Soup" is an enchanting tale about friendship and hard work--perfect for a garden-themed read aloud. Segal's illustrations are infectious fun and the soup recipe a treat. Enjoy!



2. I never knew there were so many varieties of carrots. Through the book and colorful pictures, a rabbit is trying to plant, nurture, grow, and harvest its carrots. But when harvest time comes, they are gone. As the rabbit visits various other animals in search of the carrots, the reader notices some funny antics in the background, until we reach the surprise ending.



3. This is such a wonderful book. I'm honestly surprised it hasn't been reviewed more. The story line is great--complex enough to make reading it over and over bearable, but simple enough that even my 2-year old has started to memorize it. The surprise at the end is fantastic and brings a huge smile to my child's face each time.



4. Speech Language Pathologists (OK, and parents too):
   
   This is one of the best books I have found for teaching theory of mind. Even though we can see the animals in the background, hauling carrots, THE RABBIT CAN'T SEE THEM AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. The rabbit even talks to animals that we have seen with the carrots, so if the child is ready for several perspectives within the book, this makes for an interesting discussion. For example, we see the dog wheeling carrots in the background while the rabbit talks to the mole. On the next page, the rabbit asks the dog if he's seen the carrots (meanwhile, the cat is carrying carrots). We can talk about who knows where the carrots are and who doesn't know. We can even talk about whether the dog probably knows what the cat is doing and why. Mind blowing, I know.
   
   Even more advanced concept: When the rabbit asks where the carrots are, none of the animals tell him, yet none of them lie and say that they don't know. It's quite oblique. You can read into what they're saying. You can talk about their motives. Why would the dog say that he doesn't like carrots and to ask the cat? For many autistic children, the desire to keep a "fun" social secret like a surprise party is unfathomable.
   
   This simple children's book is not so simple. And yet it IS, because it's comprehensible to typical 3-year-olds. I like it more each time I use it in therapy.
   
   p.s. Another great theory of mind picture book is Rosie's Walk, by Pat Hutchins.



5. CARROT SOUP
   
   What a darling little book! I purchased two as Easter gifts; one for my grandson, three, and granddaughter who is ten months old. When I read this book to my grandson, all we did was laugh!
   
   The illustrations are wonderful -- cute little animals, all with a secret for Rabbit. What first caught our eye was the balloons in the background with each animal -- cute and sweet and fun for kids!
   
   We enjoyed the story line which deals with friends, working together, and, what else? CARROTS! Being big carrot eaters, we truly enjoyed the book and this made THE perfect Easter gift!! But it is a great book anytime of the year.
   
   Get this book, get a bag of baby carrots and some ranch dressing, grab a kid or two and read and reread! You will truly love this book. There is also a wonderful recipe included for carrot soup.
   
   Enjoy!
   
   Thank you!
   Pam

5 comments about Ten Little Eggs.

1. We love Jean Marzollo's books, and this one is a favorite of my son (two years old). He loves to hear the rhymes and follow the rhythym of the book, as well as watch the eggs turn into birds.

   Thumbs up. :)




2. Grandma gave this book to our son for Easter -- he was 10 months old at the time. This has been one of the only books that he will sit through from the start to finish. It is his absolute favorite. He loves the colors and the eggs and sticking his fingers in the holes. He's 14 months now and still loves it. A great first book for baby!



3. Our daughter loves this book and really did help her learn to count. She was counting before age two, but consistently got the numbers out of order or skipped some. Since we got this book she loved reading it with me and she was able to count accuratley to ten by the end of the week.
   
   My only warning is that your child will ove it, and love counting all the eggs on each page (at least one time usually three) and there are eleven pages of eggs (including the cover). At times your sanity will be tested...but if you enjoy your child smiling, having fun...and learning too, this is a great book!



4. Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby
   
   This is a clever book that combines a unique novelty element (plastic eggs on every page) with simple, rhyming text that is a pleasure to read aloud. As other reviewers have pointed out, kids love counting the eggs on each page, so it's a great introduction to counting and also subtraction - there is one less egg on each page. My son enjoyed this book when he was 2 and he still likes it now that he is 4.



5. This is such a wonderful toddler/preschool book. It teaches colors and counting, it comes in a nice heavy binding, the eggs are 3D (making for a fun tactile addition), the rhymes are tight and a blast to read aloud, and the illustrations are just beautiful.

2 comments about Tom Rabbit.

1. Being lost can be frightening; being found and returned to safety is warmly reassuring, as Tom Rabbit, an adorable plush bunny discovers.

   Sammy and Tom Rabbit live on a farm. Early one day Sammy takes his beloved floppy eared toy to the back field so Tom Rabbit can see real rabbits. But, there's so much to do on a farm that when Sammy sees the cows being moved to another pasture he runs off to help, leaving Tom Rabbit perched on a stone wall.

   Tom Rabbit knows that Sammy will come back for him, but as the day turns into evening and Tom Rabbit sees the moon for the first time his long ears seem to droop even more. Then, his eyes widen in alarm as he finds himself surrounded by real rabbits.

   But Sammy hasn't forgotten his favorite toy - he returns for Tom Rabbit so they can both snuggle safely in bed.

   Children who have waited to be picked up will easily relate to Tom Rabbit's predicament, and be reassured by a happy ending. Barbara Firth's soft watercolor illustrations add depth to this gentle story.




2. I ordered this sight unseen for a Christmas present just because of the author and Barbara Firth's pictures. My 2year old granddaughter likes this one even better than the Bear books. It's easy to read and she already can tell you what comes next. The illustrations are so sweet she hugs and kisses every page. It was well worth the price.

1 comments about First-Grade Bunny (Ready-to-Read. Level 1).

1. This book was good for my son who is in 1st grade, but not an early reader. The story line, as in the entire series, is slightly different from other early readers. In this case, one of the students is afraid of rabbits. My son was proud to be able to read the book and used it for an optional book report. The illustrations are good and there is a lot of detail worthy of discussion. At the same time, it is relatively simple and not one a child would want to read over and over. Get free shipping and share the book with other children or donate to the class. I highly recommend the Robin Hill School series by Margaret McNamara.

2 comments about Last One in Is a Rotten Egg! (Gilbert and Friends).

1. Let me tell you a feel-good story. It involves love - the love of a mother for her daughter, and a child's passionate, exhilarated, uncomplicated love for books. This is the true story of Deb Raymer, and her daughter Sabrina, and how I came to know them. This holiday season, I am grateful that Deb has shared parts of her story, and that through her mom, Sabrina has shared a wonderful cast of characters previously unknown to me.
   
   A couple of months ago, Deb asked me to help her find a series of books. All Sabrina wants for Christmas is "Gilbert". Deb needed to order multiple copies of each book in the collection, she explained. Sabrina loves the "Gilbert" books so much, that she reads them to pieces. Literally. While I am always thrilled to see someone who loves books that much, that's not even the best part of the story. Sabrina is mentally and physically handicapped. She has a job at Partners in Progress that she enjoys. Whenever she rides to work on the bus, she has a "Gilbert" book - or two, or three - in her bag, and she "reads" them to the other passengers. Sabrina has memorized her favorite books. Her mother needs to keep buying new copies of them because Sabrina pages through them so much and so often that they fall apart.
   
   Gilbert, the hedgehog, and his sister Lola, are creations from the paintbrush and pen of Diane de Groat. This author/illustrator started working in children's literature by doing the artwork for some well-known children's authors, such as Lois Lowry and Eve Bunting. De Groat started on her Gilbert series in 1996 with "Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink", which is still Sabrina's favorite.
   
   I hadn't heard of de Groat, and Deb gave my literary ego a boost by reassuring me that I'm not alone. Often, when Deb and Sabrina have searched for Gilbert in libraries and bookstores, he is nowhere to be found. So, it's time to spread the word. Diane de Groat has created a fun, inexpensive series with sympathetic characters, situations that kids can relate to, and a little lesson that doesn't come across like a 2"x 4" to the forehead. The titles themselves produce a smile for kids and adults alike. Now there's a Gilbert for every season in a child's life. A reader can start school with Gilbert in "Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books" and end the school year with the companion volume, "No More Pencils, No More Books! No More Teacher's Dirty Looks!" In these final months of the year, we have been enjoying "We Gather Together, Now Please Get Lost" for Thanksgiving, and "Jingle Bells, Homework Smells" for Christmas.
   
   The Gilbert books have been so successful that now his sister Lola has her own series, books for slightly younger children, that often include Gilbert, but from Lola's point-of-view. When Lola can't decide what to be for Halloween, she finally decides to be "a Gilbert", because she knows he's an original. I think Sabrina and Lola are on to something good.
   
   Author,"Hobo Finds A Home"



2. If you have a child at home in preschool or early elementary school, and are looking for a good book, this book is for you! This is a wonderful Easter-time story about a hedgehog named Gilbert, who meets up with his seldom seen cousin, Wally. Though related, Wally and Gilbert are the opposite when it comes to manners. I am a substitute teacher, and I read this to a class of first graders. Even though it was time for recess the kids were "begging" me to turn the page so they could find out what happens next!

4 comments about Where Are Baby's Easter Eggs?: A Lift-the-Flap Book (Lift-The-Flap).

1. Karen Katz is whiz when it comes to entertaining babies and toddlers. The writing is short and simple enough for a child to follow, my 16 month old daughther loves to lift the flap (which is sturdy and has lasted through several toddler attacks) and discover whatever we are looking for and while I read the short text she doesn't have to wait too long and can easliy understand it. The shiny and colorful pictures keep her interest and she learns new vocabulary as we look for easter eggs and point at what we find. I have several of Katz's books and they are an excellent way at teaching body parts and new words. I recommend these lift the flap books for any toddler.



2. I bought this book for my 2 year-old twins, and they really like it. They also have Where Is Baby? which they love. What I like about it is that it's not about religion---it's purely about eggs, hats, chicks, baskets and bunnies, which is all a 2 year old needs to hear about now.



3. Very nicely done - colorful pictures on each page. A wonderful book for the Easter or spring season.



4. We love all Karen Katz books! My daughter has me read them over and over, and even though she is almost 4, she still enjoys them. She also "reads" them to me, and she thinks it is hilarious when I pretend not to know what is behind all the flaps. We have a book for every occasion!

5 comments about My Catholic Lent and Easter Activity Book: Reproducible Sheets for Home and School.

1. Great resource for Faith Formation classes - the kids love it!



2. I know some reviews have been great and even though I still use this book I am still searching for something with more "meat". The illustrations are poor (though the children don't complain). And it's content is lacking in my opinion. It does touch on all the important moments of Lent....the Stations, Ash Wednesday, the Crucifixtion etc but I was hoping for more.



3. Teaching 2nd grade CCD classes can be a challenge when the textbook material just isn't enough to keep the kids engaged for 75 minutes. Ms. Galvin's books (and I do have all of them) are one of the few "outside" materials I've been given permission by my Director of Religious Education to use. Her research is solid, her artwork appeals to my students, and the activities appeal to a wide range of interests and abilities. (I've used them with students in grades 1-5 when I've taught combined classes, and there is something there for everyone.) I've recommended them many times over and will continue to do so!



4. Ms. Galvin knows what appeals to the younger set in terms of interesting religious ed materials. If you're a religious education director looking for something other than the same-old, same-old, give Galvin's Catholic Lent and Easter Activity Book at try, along with her other titles. I'm sure you won't be disappointed!



5. This book seems to be perfect for helping my 4th grade CCD class understand more about the Lenten season and, particularly, Easter. I'm afraid this is only based on a perusal of the book since Lent of 2008 doesn't begin until February.

5 comments about Dumb Bunnies' Easter (Dumb Bunnies').

1. We bought six copies of this book to give as birthday party favors...The invitation says 'They Dumb Bunnies are so dumb, they send the party favor before the party. Read this book, and be prepared for a funny bunny time!'
   
   We love the silliness of this book. It's like Amelia Bedelia for younger kids, and it helps develop a sense of comedy. I only gave it four stars because I cannot make the case for it to be fine children's literature.
   
   It's just fun.



2. I hesitated to give this book a 5 star rating, since it hardly is a work of "fine literature." However, what pushed me into the 5 star category was the sheer delight of seeing my 6 year old son laugh out loud as he read the pages. If the goal of this book was to get my son to really get into a book he was reading, then the goal was met. The Dumb Bunnies' Easter is great for the K-2 crowd - because the pictures are funny, the sentences and word selection is manageable for them, and the jokes are not over their heads. In fact -the jokes are right at their level - which is often hard to find in the "Easy Reader" literature. For these reasons, I rate it a 5 star book - It is actually more clever than dumb. But it still is pretty dumb! Also - FYI, if I had to pick one holiday to break out this book, I'd choose Christmas time - since most of the references are more about Christmas than any other holiday. It definitely has a Christmas-y sort of feel despite the Easter title.



3. One of my granddaughters at the age of 8 is a very somber, old soul. We have to work hard to try to coax the child out of her.This book is just so dumb that she was smiling,laughing and glowing as she read it aloud to us for the first time as we sat around at the table after dinner. The next night her little sister asked to have it read again because "she loved this book". So far ages 4 through 10, boys and girls, know enough about what holiday traditions should be to 'get' the ridiculous humor.
   
   Simply delightful. We'll have more of Pilkey's books in this family.



4. DUMB BUNNIES' EASTER
   
   I purchased this book for my three year old grandson, Colton. Colton says the DUMB BUNNIES are SILLY! He is right! I also purchased it for my ten month old granddaughter, Paige, who is too young to appreciate the humor now but certainly will as she gets older and wiser!
   
   The Dumb Bunnies ROCK. They are for everyone! They are just so dumb that you have to laugh at them! The story line is goofy and the illustrations are great. In this book Easter is combined with every other holiday you can possibly think of. Kids enjoy the humor and the pure happiness of the story, and there is plenty of humor for adults too. This is one book you will enjoy reading over and over and over to your grandkids.
   
   I will definitely be purchasing ALL of Dav Pilkey's books to add to my grandkids book collections. Shh, don't tell anyone! They are REALLY for MY enjoyment!
   
   Thank you!!!!
   Pam



5. This is another great Dumb Bunnies title and our family are looking forward to getting more. The Dumb bunnies are really dumb, but they are good hearted - well sort of. This is a play on a whole lot of holidays. It might be a bit harder for kids outside the USA to understand them (we don't do Thanksgiving, or 4th of July for instance) but there is still a lot of great laughs in here - my kids still fall about laughing everytime poppa bunny gets dressed up to go out in the snow!
   
   An appealing and humourous book.