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.

No comments about Happy Birthday (P.K. Hallinan Board Books).

No comments about Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

1 comments about Merry Fairy Holidays: Three Enchanted Christmas Stories (Flower Fairies Friends).

1. "Christmas comes but once a year, and with it brings..." a collection of wintry fairy stories that will have the whole family gathering around the Christmas tree for a heaping dose of Christmas spirit.
   
   HOLLY'S CHRISTMAS RIDDLE - Out of all of the Flower Fairies in the Flower Fairies Garden, there is no one who loves Christmas as much as young Holly. Holly is known for his talented hand when it comes to decorating the Fairy Grotto for the annual Christmas Eve celebration, when Flower Fairies of all different shapes and sizes join together to sing carols, and indulge in tasty treats. Of course, as always, Holly has gotten caught up in the Christmas spirit, and forgotten to decorate the Fairy Grotto until the last minute. Luckily, he has many friends who can assist him in getting the job done in no time. But when someone vandalizes the Fairy Grotto after all of Holly's hard work, he doesn't know what to do. Decorations have been destroyed, and Holly is convinced that Christmas will be ruined. Unless he catches the culprits, of course. But no one has seen who is behind the vandalism, the only trace of them is merry laughter, as they do their dirty work. Holly knows there must be some way to catch the fairies behind this, but if he doesn't find it soon, there may not be any Christmas Eve festivities this year. 4 stars.
   
   THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS DISCOVERY - If there is one thing that the Christmas Tree Fairy is devoted to, it is taking care of all of the lovely trees in the woodland of the Flower Fairies Garden. Each and every year, the Christmas Tree Fairy works to decorate the woodlands, and hold an enormous holiday party for the Wild Fairies underneath the boughs of a luxurious fir tree. While the Christmas Tree Fairy is honored to be delegated this exciting job, she can't help but feel pressured to create the perfect holiday for everyone. But the pressure is worth it, when she sees the happiness that all of the Wild Fairies experience each and every year. This year, however, the Christmas Tree Fairy has been struck with an unusual sadness. When her good friend, Burdock, informs her that the humans living close by have taken one of her beloved fir trees into their home, and begun decorating it, she can't understand. She believes that her fir tree is in danger, and must be rescued; so she decides to go where no fairy from the Flower Fairy Garden has ever gone...inside the humans home. In her mind, it is the only way to ensure that the fir tree is safe from harm, and being treated kindly. But her mission might just leave the Wild Fairies out in the cold this Christmas, with no celebration. Unless, of course, the Christmas Tree Fairy can convince her friends to help her plan the greatest holiday party ever. 4 stars.
   
   SNOWDROP'S WINTER WONDERLAND - Unlike the other fairies in the Flower Fairyland, Snowdrop spends much of her time sleeping. Hibernating until her brave little plants find the courage to push their way through the hard ground, and display their beauty for everyone in Flower Fairyland. While her constant slumber means that she is always well-rested, however, Snowdrop can't help but feel as if she is missing out on something, as her sleep cuts into the time she can spend with her friends - Box Tree and Winter Jasmine - and prevents her from experiencing Christmas. That's right, Snowdrop has never stayed awake long enough to attend the Christmas celebrations, or taste the yummy holiday treats prepared by the other Flower Fairies. But Snowdrop is okay with that; as long as her flowers are happy. When Snowdrop encounters a blackbird waiting for her mate to return, she can't help but feel worried. The poor blackbird can't leave her nest - for her eggs must stay warm - therefore, she can't search for her missing mate. Snowdrop knows that she can assist the little blackbird - with a little help from her friends, that is - and begins her mission. But when she finds herself getting tired, Snowdrop wonders if she'll be able to keep her promise to the blackbird, or ruin the holiday for her newfound feathered friend. 4 stars.
   
   I love Christmas, and I love fairies, so I thought that MERRY FAIRY HOLIDAYS would be the perfect collection of stories to delve into. Pippa Le Quesne has done a lovely job of weaving three very delightful, holiday-oriented stories that will appeal to readers young and old, male or female. HOLLY'S CHRISTMAS RIDDLE and THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS DISCOVERY are, without a doubt, the most holiday-oriented stories out of the three. Holly is an adorable character, whose passion for Christmas truly puts the reader into the holiday spirit, and leaves you wanting to plan a holiday party of your own. And the Christmas Tree Fairy's concern for her fir tree friends is an interesting topic that brings Christmas trees to life, sort of making the reader see the benefit of using fake trees for the holidays. I found that SNOWDROP'S WINTER WONDERLAND was the least Christmas-oriented, simply because the story rarely mentioned the Christmas holiday at all, whatsoever. It seemed more like a story predominantly about the Winter season, but was still fun to read - especially if you like animals. The fact that the illustrations throughout the book aren't colored slightly detracts from the stories, and truly makes the reader want to grab a crayon, and start scribbling; but, aside from that, the collection was quite enjoyable. MERRY FAIRY HOLIDAYS will help you to have a fairy merry Christmas!
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Freelance Reviewer

5 comments about My Mother Is Mine.

1. This book is terrific coming from a child to his/her mom. It teaches and at the same time shows appreciation. If you want to give a gift to a mother, this is the best and is worth more than I could say ..



2. I found this book at a book fair at my sons daycare and got it for myself as a Mothers Day gift. The words are very heart warming, and the pictures are wonderfully done. This book also came with a card which I found so moving that I have framed it. I would highly recommend it to any mother(or father) to read for their children, or just to keep for themselves as a little 'pick me up' when parenting gets tough.



3. This is a precious book. When I read it to my little ones, I confess I get a lump in my throat every time. It reminds me how precious a mother's love is to a child, and in it's own simple way, challenges me to be a better mother each time I read it. A special thrill has been watching my six year old learn to read and read this book back to me. Hearing him say these sweet words in his own voice is a treasure.



4. I got this for my daughter when she had her first child. Her eyes were teary the entire time. I now have a copy here at my house too!



5. I gave this to my Daughter for Christmas as she has a year old and she cried. She just loved the book and the idea behind it.

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

5 comments about The Spring Equinox: Celebrating the Greening of the Earth.

1. great way to explain pagan rites to Children. We will use this in our children's circle. Also briefly mentions Christianity in relation to pagan symbols



2. These Equiox and the Solstice books are cute and fun to read, at the end of the book are crafts and ideas to do with your children for the Equinox. I also like all the history it has in it, I learned quite a bit myself!! :)



3. Another reviewer said this book has crafts or ideas at the end. NOPE!!! It is a set of 1 page stories about how different cultures in the past waited for the suns return. I liked the short tale at the end and the page that explains the science of what makes the seasons change.
   Overall, I found this book too boring to hold the attention of my kids. I expected some fun ideas for the season and the book didn't include any.
   
   Some of the facts were fun and the author nicely tied them to modern day.
   "Romans gave presents to their friends and relatives, like we do now at Christmas." The pictures were also nice and bright.
   This book is completely non-denominational, which is a nice change but not what I expected from the title and description. Sadly, I was kind of hoping that this book would be a good introduction to Yule for kids. It is not!
   The part about sacrificing llamas made my kids angry. I don't really like that they now have to bring that one point up every time we mention Yule.
   While this book isn't a total waste, it is not at all what I had hoped for. I look forward to seeing good books that will actually explain the old holidays to kids. This book just doesn't do it.



4. My son has family members that celebrate both Christian and Pagan holidays. I found this book and others are a great way to put all of our traditions in a historical and equal light. We've been reading it since he was four but I recommend it for 1st graders and older doing a few pages a night.



5. It would be nice to have the whole collection, which I plan to do for my granddaughters. Either to read to them, or have them read on their own, as it's easy to understand. I enjoyed reading it myself.

2 comments about My Mom.

1. 
   Sure to be a family favorite artist/author Anthony Browne pays a tribute to all Moms just as he did to fathers with "My Dad." Once again he provides whimsical illustrations accompanied by a funny, loving text.
   
   We first meet Mom with the simple line, ""She's nice, my mom." Next, we're reminded of how well she can cook and juggle a myriad of tasks - housekeeping, shopping, carpooling, the list never ends.
   
   Of course, Mom is so wonderful that she can do everything - she has a green thumb and makes flowers grow, she can cheer others up, sing like an angel (and, when the necessity arises she can "roar like a lion).
   
   Truth is, if she weren't so busy being a Mom she could be a dancer or even an astronaut. Of course, her most important job is simply being a Mom. And the most important lesson that youngsters will learn is that she loves them and she always will.
   
   - Gail Cooke



2. My grandson loves to have this book read to him. It is easy for a young child to relate to the pictures and simple words.

1 comments about Los Osos Berenstain y Demasiada Fiesta (First Time Books(R)).

1. Este libro es divertido leer. La hermana osa tendra seis anos. Su papa y hermano y ella le gusta una celebracion muy grande. Sin embargo, La hermana osa tiene demasiados cumpleanos.

2 comments about Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story (Festival Time).

1. I really like this series. Students can read these books on their own and get a lot out of them. They can also be easily read for a read aloud. They are fun and interesting!



2. This is a nonfiction book aimed at the preK-K level, and it contains just the right amount of information for kids aged 3-5. The illustrations are lovely and there is simple text on each page. I paired this book along with Dragon Dance (author: Holub) and D is for Dragon Dance (author: Compestine), which have more lyrical text, for a preschoolers' storytime about Chinese New Year.