1 comments about One Minute Easter Stories.

1. I first found this book at the library. It is wonderful. The stories are very interesting (to the young and not so young). It is a great book for bedtime because "just one more" doesn't take too long!

1 comments about The Night Before Christmas In New York City (Night Before Christmas (Gibbs)).

1. This tiny, 4 inch book is not at all what I was expecting. I teach New York State History and Geography, and was hoping I could use this book with my class. Instead, I found a Santa headed for Sing-Sing...not exactly the uplifting, positive role-model-type book I want to read to my class. Quality of book and writing VERY disappointing.

No comments about The Day the Animals Came: A Story of Saint Francis Day.

No comments about Good Morning, Chick!.

No comments about When the King Rides by.

3 comments about A Fine St. Patrick's Day.

1. Every St. Patrick's Day two towns compete to see who could decorate better. Sick of losing every year a young girl in one of the towns comes up with the idea of painting everything in the village green (except the mailboxes - they're government property and fire hydrants - which must be yellow so they can be seen). When a stranger comes asking for help the town must decide whether or not to abandon their painting to help. The illustrations feature bold colors and are well suited for this delightful folk tale.



2. Looking for a book with a fun St. Patrick's Day tale, bright illustrations, a moral and a wee bit `o leprechaun magic? Here it is.
   
   Wojciechowski spins an original folktale of two Irish towns engaged in an annual St. Patrick's Day decorating competition. Preparations are getting heated and judging time draws near when a stranger arrives asking for help. How each town reacts teaches a moral lesson about helping others and working together.
   
   The folk-art illustrations by Tom Curry complement the mood of the story and are fun to look at. I can't wait to read this to my kids.
   
   Dawn Mena
   www.bookbuds.net



3. I love this tale for it offers the perfect opportunity to discuss generosity and service to ones community. In the story the whole community comes together to paint the town Limerick Lime. They also unite to help the traveling stranger with his problem. There's so much selfishness in society today, and every now and then it's nice to be reminded of the things that matter most in life, friendship, love, and community. Well, those things matter most to me anyway...
   
   The illustrator, Tom Curry, has a folksy style that lends itself to Wojciechowski's countrified fable. Reminiscent of Grandma Moses' folk art, Curry's pastoral scenes are charming, and out of the ordinary for children's literature.
   
   Susan Wojciechowski generally known for the Beany series succeeds in writing a noble tale of charity verses greed. She has a pleasing way with words as the text flows along page after page. There's a lilt to her writing, and she's thrown in a bit of the Irish brogue as well. All in all, A Fine St. Patrick's Day is a worthwhile read.

No comments about Halloween (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

2 comments about Paper Parade.

1. What a great book for children and adults. The paper illustrations are wonderful. Hope you do more of these. thanks!



2. My 2 year old daughter loves this book. She has me read it numerous times to her before bed and can now recite parts of the book back to me. Great read!

1 comments about Days of the Dead.

1. this was a pretty good book. however, i am not too interested in the mexican war, so i was not very interested in some parts of the story line, but if u r interested in the mexican war, this book is definetly 4 u!

2 comments about Celebrate Connections among Cultures.

1. Through photographs and well-designed text placement, Jan Reynolds demonstrates the common ways we celebrate. We gather together, we eat and drink, we play music, we dance, we use fire!
   
   Children will recognize themselves dressed-up in Halloween costumes then admire the Inuit boy in a real wolf skin and the Sami girl in beautiful reindeer hide shoes. They will appreciate a view of a familiar birthday cake decorated with candles and then, connect the use of fire to burn a ceremonial mandala painting in a Tibetan celebration.
   
   Reynolds examines Tibetans and Sherpas from the Himalaya, Aborigines in Australia, the Yanomami from the Amazon rain forest, the Balinese, the Tuareg of the Sahara, the Sami who live above the Artic Circle, and the Inuit! A well-designed map helps place these cultures on the globe. Her photographs are rich with color and life.
   
   I usually do not like books that scream, "Buy me because I am multicultural!" as so often, they are preachy-teachy. Celebrate is just a terrific book and it rejoices in how similar the people of this planet are.



2. Celebrate!: Connections Among Cultures by Jan Reynolds is a superbly illustrated descriptive survey of diverse cultures around the world, and the similarities many of them share. Carrying young readers ages 5 to 9 through an outstanding collection of photographs combined with a "kid friendly" text, Celebrate! offers an intriguing look into the celebrations of such different people and cultures as those of the Australian Outback, Bali, the Amazon basin of South America, the tropical islands of Indonesia in South Asia, and so many more. An important contribution to school and community library "Other Lands, Other People" reference collections for children, Celebrate! is very strongly recommended for anthropological compendium of facts for elementary school level social studies and world culture curriculum supplemental reading lists.