5 comments about Jack and the Leprechaun (Pictureback(R)).

1. There is no excuse for not buying this book if you are looking for a way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your child. The paperback is very inexpensive and as such one might think it doesn't have much to offer but it does.
   
   Ivan Robertson managed to write a cute story of a leprechaun while packing a lot of Irish culture and history into this little book. For instance we learn about the date and type of celebration one has in Ireland, what a shillelagh (shaw lay lee) is, what "Cead mile failte" (cade meela fall-cha) expresses, that Gaelic is their oldest language, why shamrocks are important, that green is the national color of Ireland, soda bread is traditional, and "Danny Boy" is a song special to the Country.
   
   Katy Braun's illustrations are fun, festive, and green. This is the best St. Patrick's day book I have found so far for my wee lass.



2. Ivan Robertson writes a delightful yarn about Irish customs and folklore. The story mentions Gaelic, the oldest language in Ireland, the oak club called a shillelagh, and the importance of the three-leaf clover. The 24-page book is recommended for children 3 to 7 years, which I think is appropriate for the age group. The text is easy to read, and doesn't bite off more than it can chew like many works attempt to do.
   
   Jack and the Leprechaun is illustrated in watercolor, which is bright and cheerful and bursting with details. One could literally spend an hour looking at all the fine points painted into the scenes. The only inharmonious feature of the book is Katy Bratun's version of the Irish flag. The Irish flag is green, white, and orange not orange, white, and orange. Most readers won't notice such minutia, but it is curious with all the research required for this work, the illustrator got it wrong. I only spotted it because I have a bit of Irish in me.
   
   My son, William, is currently into leprechauns, and it's no wonder with his beautiful red hair, and traditional name. He's taking a liking to Jack and the Leprechaun I think mostly because Liam is short for William, and everybody knows leprechauns have red hair. Somehow at five, I think it's okay to identify with the fairies even though their fabled creatures. Had I known when I purchased this book that there were so many well-written leprechaun stories, I surely would have settled on another. Although, considering the economical price, it's hard to be critical.



3. My son's name is Liam so he LOVED reading about Liam the Leprechaun. It kept his interest and the illustrations were great. We read this book several times a night for days!



4. Bought this book to read to my 4 year old granson. He LOVED it! Nice illustrations and good story. Perect for the holiday.
   J.



5. This book looked very cute, but it's not a very fun read for me or for my 3 yo. The author tries to pack way too many Irish words and phrases into the story, which gets in the way of the narrative. After reading it once, she never asked for it again. St. Patrick's Day in the Morning, illustrated by Jann Brett, is a much more engaging read.

1 comments about Estrella's Quinceañera.

1. This is truly a page turner...my kids love'd it and read it in one day...'fur real! Now only if they can make school text books as a fun...humm, now there's a thought... Keep reading - readers are leaders!!
   
   "Big Dave" Burleigh.

5 comments about The Winter Solstice.

1. This lovely picture book is a great over-view of Winter Solstice history, tradition, science and celebration. The illustrations are satisfyingly detailed and brightly colored, many of them double page spreads. The book covers an ancient Scottish family's Winter Solstice experience, shows us an ancient viewpoint featuring Stonehenge, explores anicent Roman, Scandinavian, Celtic, Peruvian, and Native American celebrations. It shares some of the features of modern day Winter Solstice celebrations. It ties in the celebrations of Christmas and Hanukkah and traces where some of those holiday traditions originated. It includes a brief and easily understood scientific explanation for the Winter Solstice. The book is nicely rounded off with a solstice story from a Cherokee tale of creation. The illustrations feature yew and mistletoe, blazing bonfires, antlered ancients encouraging the return of the Sun, changing seasons, and children celebrating. It is a lively and entertaining book that will enrich anyone's understanding of this special night of the year and will be especially useful to Wiccan and other pagan parents.



2. I got this and "The Shortest Day" by Wendy Pfeffer to try to provide a non-denominational explanation of Christmas to my toddler. I think "The Winter Solstice" is a little too dark and scary for young kids. It emphasizes the fears ancient peoples felt at this time of year as the reason for the mid-winter holiday. Talks a lot about driving away evil spirits and even human sacrifice. I'm sure it's very historically accurate, but "The Shortest Day" glosses over some of the darkest information and provides very similar history but in a lighter way.



3. Though the book is written from a Judeo-Christian perspective, it is an excellent book for educating children about the many ways the winter solstice is celebrated throughout the world. Some Pagans have criticized the book for not representing modern Paganism; however, I feel it is unreasonable of Pagans to presume that Judeo-Christians even know of our faith, let alone to expect them to write about it as if it were the truth. I take it for what it is, a very well-written children's book that is exploring the multicultural aspect of the winter solstice festival. When I read it to my son and it said something like "ancient people once believed in ghosts, witches, and trolls . . . " I paused to explain to him that there are real ghosts (spirits) and real witches (people who perform witchcraft) and that I'd never seen a troll, but I wouldn't say they don't exist either! I'm teaching my child to be a critical reader. I personally feel that some of those who reviewed the book negatively don't know how to read critically! I hope any of you with children will consider picking up this book for them! It has very beautiful illustrations and a lovely Native American story at the end about why the evergreens stay green through winter! Definitely worth the purchase price!



4. I purchased this book thinking it would be a nice story for my son, who along with the rest of our extended family, celebrates the Winter Solstice. The book seemed to mock the traditions of this season. Especially of concern was how the book continues to refer to "Christmas" as a holiday "We" all celebrate.
   
   I dont recommend this book for any family that observes the tradition of Solstice, as it isn't a respectful view of our tradition.



5. We (my son is 8) love knowing where our traditions came from. This book covers all religions and beliefs equally and with history. The stories are always pared with great pictures and not too wordy for elementary ages.

1 comments about The Story of America's Birthday.

1. This book and the authors many others are so perfect for toddlers. Simple words and pictures help explain the meaning and customs of many holidays and traditions, making it a nice way for toddlers to understand. The board book style allows for little fingers to request multiple readings. And we all know how repetition helps them learn. They make great gifts, too.

2 comments about Biscuit Loves Father's Day (Biscuit).

1. Unlike BISCUIT'S GRADUATION, this holiday book goes right to the point. The-girl-with-the-purple-sneakers wakes up and tells Biscuit that it is Father's day.
   
   After giving dad a card, the rest of the book is spent doing one of Dad's favorite things (they even wish a father bird a happy Father's Day). In the end you can feel that the reader has some idea of what Father's Day is about and what it honors.
   
   The artwork is up to the usual cute standards of the series. The flaps are standard for the holiday books and reveal some of the surprises of what Biscuit is up to. A pretty good book.



2. The book begins on Father's Day morning and tracks the daily activities of a girl, her father, and her dog. The daily progression is easy for children to recognize and compare with their own. There are plenty of "woof woof"s, which my 3 year old and my 1 year old follow. My three year old can point out the words and my 1 year old can say them after me (and does so eagerly).
   
   My three year old daughter unfolds each flap for me to read.
   At the end of the book, she could tell me more than three things that happened in the book. One of the events was memorable to her even later that day.
   
   I have heard mothers say that their children love Biscuit. This was our first Biscuit book, but it was so perfectly balanced for preschoolers that we are eager to read others.

2 comments about Biscuit Loves Mother's Day (Biscuit (Paperback)) (Biscuit).

1. Another Biscuit holiday flap book that gets right to the point. This time it is Mother's Day and The-Girl-In-Purple-Sneakers and Biscuit are going to make it a special day for Mom and show how much they care. Gifts are made, Mom seeps in, and a special breakfast in bed are just the beginning of Mom's special day.
   
   The book is packed with the typically adorable artwork that has been a backbone to the Biscuit series. The end flaps reveal what Biscuit is up to in his usual puppyish ways. All in all another good holiday book that is attractive and fun to read.



2. I believe that all the Biscuit books are written very well and I know that my child loves them all. This book shows how the little girl and her dog Biscuit prepare for Mother's Day. It is written very well and I would recommend it to anyone with small children.

5 comments about Ring Bearer, The.

1. I found this at the library for my 2.5-year-old son simply as an intro to what a wedding is, as we'll be going to one soon. It doesn't talk about the child actually being the ring bearer, which is good in our case. It does focus some on the ring bearer, but shows the overall wedding as well with pictures of the bride groom, wedding guests, etc. It's a pretty simple book & is great for our purposes!



2. Well crafted illustrations and a simple, yet descriptive story line tells the tale of a young man and his duties, concerns, and adventures while being a ring bearer. My "little men" (we had two ring bearers) requested this read over and over in anticipation of their role in our big day. Highly recommended and appropriate for children ages 2-8.



3. I bought this book for my 4yr old ring bearer. It is so sweet and just what I was looking for. I would recommend it to anyone!



4. I bought this book for my 2 year old nephew who will be our ring bearer. I love the poem style as well as the illustrations. I think it is a great choice for younger children to understand what goes on at a wedding.



5. I bought this book for my nephew who is three and will be the ring bearer at my wedding in the summer. It is very age appropriate for this age group. He wouldn't understand anything more than this book tslks about. Very cute.

1 comments about Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise: Candlewick Sparks.

1. Houndsley is sad. He doesn't know what date his birthday is on. When he tells Catina, she seems sad, too. She doesn't know, either. In fact, she doesn't know what day to celebrate her birthday, either.
   
   Houndsley didn't mean to make Catina sad, so he decides to make her a surprise. Little does he know that Catina has a plan, too!
   
   Young readers will get a lot out of this book. Birthdays are so important to children that they tend to obsess about it. What about those who don't get to be so excited for their birthdays (for whatever reason)? After reading this short chapter book, kids may be inspired to do something special for others. Even if they aren't, they will still enjoy the sweet illustrations and kind message.
   
   Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
   03/05/2007

4 comments about Cinco de Mayo (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

1. This is a great teaching source for young children learning about Mexico.



2. Another great Rookie Reader! These books are great for ESOL students of all ages who read at a beginning level. This book provides a very clear idea of how Cinco de Mayo is celebrated.



3. I teach First Grade and I find the Rookie Read-About Holidays series to be a good starter for a lesson. The holiday is explained in a simple way and can lead into a Social Studies or multicultural lesson. I used the Cinco De Mayo book this past Friday. I have about 8 books and I highly recommend them.



4. I love this series. Great photos, appropriate vocabulary, rich language. These books are an excellent resource for teachers.

No comments about Mother Knows Best (Spongebob Squarepants Chapter Books).