4 comments about The Ring Bear.

1. The Ring Bear by N. L. Sharp is the story of Robert, a young boy who loves bears - real bears and stuffed bears, bears in books and even bear crackers to munch! So when Robert learns that he is to be a "ring bear" in his aunt's wedding he is excited - until he learns that his aunt isn't expecting a real bear! A whimsically told story artfully supplemented with amusing color illustrations by Michael T. Hassler, Jr., The Ring Bear is a welcome and highly recommended addition to school and community library picture book collections for young readers.



2. This is a delightful, thoughtful creation. The author has masterfully pieced together an idea that has come up in the minds of so many youngsters--the misinterpretation of ring bearer as ring bear. This is not only a superb gift for any ring bearer, but it is also a great buy for all children. It is extremely humorous, yet so realistic. A must have!



3. Fun way to explain the duties of a ring bearer without being to overwhelming.



4. Selecting gifts for the bridal party was one of the more challenging aspects of planning our wedding. Our nephews are big into books so this was a great gift. I also wrote a personal message on the inside flap so it is now a keepsake. The story is very cute as the child thinks he is going to be a ring bear not a ring bearer. I'm glad I found it.

2 comments about Lighting a Lamp: A Diwali Story (Festival Time).

1. I really am pleased how it approaches its subject matter. Most children's books about international holidays are too technical and long to be used as a read aloud. This book can be useful and provide useful information. If a student wants more they can read a more complex book later. It also helps include an ESOL child's holiday in class, even young kids.



2. Its a great book and worth the money.
   I hope the writer does more books like this simple for kids to understand.

5 comments about Mrs. Muddle's Holidays.

1. This book is for those who celebrate life, wish they could celebrate life, or who just want to teach their children to value good times with friends and family.
   
   How do you spell a great gift and a fantastic example for your children? "M-u-d-d-l-e"



2. This is just a wonderful children's book of fun! It's like splashing through your favorite water ride at your favorite theme park. We all know the main holidays, but how about celebrating Earthworm Appreciation Day" or "Inventor of the roller-skate Day" or having a Garlic Jubilee Day? It's all just crazy creativeness and all brought about because of a fun neighbor -- Mrs. Muddle. It's the type of book you just what to cuddle up with a grandchild and read. It inspires everyone to be a little more joyous and have fun with any ordinary day. The [...] gives some excellent ideas for creating your own family holidays. The illustrations make the mood for each holiday with splashes of color! You'll want to re-read it again and again just to see the fun pictures. It's a five star ride of fun!



3. This book is filled with humor for mom and dad. Wonder and imagination for all children (including mom and dad). This is definitely a book I'll be giving to all of my family members this year. I loved the ending. Mrs. Muddle will always be a favorite character of mine.



4. Are you a person who celebrates Tuesday, just because? "Mrs. Muddle's Holidays" is definitely the book for all of you who like to celebrate the big AND the little things in life! The illustrations are warm and make you feel included in the story, and the story itself inspires me to enjoy every day a little more. My kids love the book, too, and we've curled up several times to read it and imagine our own holidays.



5. I've loved reading and rereading "Mrs. Muddle's Holidays." It celebrates the diversity of people and customs, and encourages each person to make discoveries and celebrations of their own. The writing is perfect for a read-aloud, and the illustrations enhance the text with beautiful splashes of color and warm-hearted appeal. This is a wonderful "holiday" book that is perfect all year round.

2 comments about Summer Solstice, The.

1. Excellent book to teach children about the different ways the solstice is celebrated in various countries



2. I read this book to my eighth grade physical science students before they started a project about the summer solstice. It lends itself well to a teacher read-aloud. The pictures are beautiful and the information is comprehensible. It is a great way to bring cultural diversity into a science lesson.

1 comments about The Birthday Tree.

1. The words "Illustrated by Barry Root" on a dust jacket immediately tell me that young eyes will find some very special pictures accompanying a story. That is certainly true of The Birthday Tree, a mythic tale filled with birds, landscapes, and billowy clouds all rendered in Root's warm watercolors.
   
   As the story opens a sailor and his wife had "lost three sons to the waves," so they are leaving the sea far behind. When at last they reach a green valley where the sailor can no longer hear the sea, smell it or even see it with his spyglass, they build a little house.
   
   In time they have another son whom they call Jack, and they plant an apple seedling to commemorate his birth. Jack and the tree grow tall and strong together. In fact, they almost seem as one because "the branches of the tree hung heavy when was Jack sad. When he was happy, the limbs stood out straight and proud...."
   
   Although the sailor and his wife never spoke of the sea to Jack they sensed he was curious about it, and one morning Jack was gone. There was a meadowlark sitting atop the apple tree which they took as a sign that Jack was traveling over land. Then one day a white gull took the meadowlark's place and they knew Jack had gone to sea. Of course, they were worried and lonely without him.
   
   Their fears were realized one night when a storm came up and lightning struck the tree cracking a limb that fell to the ground - they knew Jack had been in a shipwreck. They could only watch and wait as the branches of the tree drooped and its leaves curled.
   
   Finally they couldn't bear to look at the tree any longer and decided to move to a place where people had never even heard of the sea. At this point author Fleischman has a surprise in store for them and for readers as well.
   
   The Birthday Tree is a unique, imaginative tale that both youngsters and parents will enjoy.
   
   - Gail Cooke

3 comments about Corduroy's Party.

1. The true test of a preschooler's book is whether the child ignores it or simply can't put it down. Corduroy's Party passes that test with flying colors at our house!

   Corduroy?s Party is about a teddy bear who throws a birthday party. When we first saw the book at the library, we thought it would be a good tool for teaching our daughter about her upcoming 2nd birthday. She really loves plush toys and teddy bears in particular. Corduroy is an especially cuddly little bear. Our little girl simply adores balloons and this book is profusely adorned with balloons, confetti and other festive decorations! Overall, the watercolor illustrations are very pleasant.

   The book covers the entire process of having a children?s party, from sending out invitations, to welcoming guests, blowing out the candles and saying goodbye. Corduroy?s guests are of course various plush toys, including a dog, bunny rabbit and rag doll.

   Your child will have fun learning about a party and looking at the various toy guests. The opening of the gifts will also introduce him or her to the concept of giving.

   When it was time to return the book, our daughter kept taking Corduroy?s Party from the stack of due library books. We had to hide this book in order get it out of the house! Which is of course why we?re here at Amazon to order it. We hope your child will enjoy Corduroy?s Party as much as ours did!




2. My son who is 2 1/2 loves this book, its very colorful and the pictures are great. Corduroy definately knows how to have a party.



3. Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

   To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. Corduroy's Party was one of her picks.

   When a child either goes to her or his first birthday party or is the birthday boy or girl, this can cause a lot of puzzlement for your child. What better way to help fill in this ignorance than by seeing what Corduroy does?

   The book starts with Corduroy working on his birthday party. First, he invites all his friends. He also gets the house ready by decorating it, which includes blowing up some large balloons and putting up a donkey's picture for Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

   Then Corduroy's friends come bearing presents. My daughter really loved that part. Corduroy opens his presents and loves them all.

   Then, he blows out the candles on his cake while the other guests wish him a happy birthday! The other children are playing with horns and confetti.

   With the blindfold on, Corduroy tries to pin the tail on the donkey on the wall.

   Then everyone goes home, and thanks Corduroy for having had a good time!

   As you can see, this book not only covers the fun and details of a birthday party, but it covers all of the essentials of appropriate behavior (except for thanking others for the gift, but no book is perfect -- this leaves something for you to talk about with your child).

   Help your child develop an interest in social events by reading and talking about this delightful book! People often think that children aren't interested in social activities, but very soon they start enjoying being with each other. This is a good way to start developing that healthy interest.

3 comments about The Best Tea Party Ever! (Jewel Sticker Stories).

1. this is a great sticker book for young girls that like tea parties!



2. My Daughter wanted this book before bed for 6 months running, and now we are doing her 4th birthday around it, complete with painted tea set for her gift and this sweet book for party favors. Slim paperback, but nice illustrations and perfect for ages 3 to 6.



3. Daughter loves for me to read this to her. We haven't used the jewels that come with it; we just read the story. It has peaked her interest in tea parties and make believe in general which I think is great for her.

No comments about Memorial Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

5 comments about A Birthday for Frances.

1. Our daughter is planning to be an elementary school teacher, so we are building her a children's book "library"
   
   A Birthday for Frances by the Hobans is a magnificent addition to that collection!



2. This is a wonderful story, I love Hoban's books as they work well on both the adult and the child levels. This is bascially the story of Frances, a badger who is struggling with the fact that her little sister Gloria is having a birthday. Frances does not say it out loud, but rather through her actions and her little rhymes we realise that she is unhappy about it, that her sister seems to have all the birthdays and she doesn't have as many. Something which almost all children struggle with at some stage or another.
   
   The lovely hting about this book is that the parents are so lovely and patient, and the sub-text is really fun for adults reading it. What Frances does makes for great fun. She borrows two weeks pocket money from her mother to buy Gloria a present, but then she ends up 'accidentally eating half of it - and the other half looks distinctly threatened by her justification.
   
   I will guarantee your family will enjoy this story, and the other Frances stories as well - they are highly recommended as great good fun.



3. Frances was a favorite of mine as a child, so I bought the books for my daughter who is 2yrs old. She doesn't quite get it yet, but likes listening to it nonetheless, and I've discovered that these stories are fun for the grown-up reading them too.



4. I work in a tutoring program for elementary children. Birthday for Frances is a good book to reinforce what the kids are learning at school.



5. I remember my mother reading Frances books to me when I was little, and I couldn't wait to read them to my daughter. The Frances books are wonderful children's stories.

5 comments about A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays.

1. The charming drawings, accounts of Tasha Tudor's family fun on holidays, and its sweet and peaceful themes make this one of Tasha's finest books. A book to delight all ages.



2. Nice book, with wonderful illustrations. Evokes old-world charm and return to core idea of family in holiday spirit. Very charming.



3. I thought this favorite from my childhood would be great for our girls. But the illustrations are not the same at all. They are fuzzy, oddly colored and lacking in those sharp details I loved. How could I get the 1972 edition?



4. This is my favorite of all her books, bar none! It tells of their unique family celebrations throughout the year. Written and illustrated by Tasha, children of all ages will wish to join right in!



5. This is a treasure of a book... both for the eyes and the ears. Tasha Tudor's detailed paintings infuse life into her words, and draw the reader into the delightful ways to relish each month.